The Chess Angle

🎤Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @TheChessAngle ♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable. Chessable uses science-backed learning and the concept of spaced repetition to ensure retention. Check out their courses today!♟ The French Defense (1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5) is one of the most respected openings for Black, and is particularly effective at the amateur level. This is recommended as a complete repertoire against 1. e4. Some of this episode's talking points include: Why amateurs should avoid the Sicilian defense (1...c5) and open games (1. e4 e5) Why the French Defense is so effective at the club level Three variations that will cover 95% of your games versus 1. e4 Some additional thoughts about confidence and patience Recommended Resources: Starting Out: The French by Byron Jacobs (Amazon) Why Simon Loves the French Defense by GM Simon Williams (chess.com) Master the French Defense by NM Bryan Tillis & GM Alex Lenderman (Chessable) The resources above include affiliate links, which earn us a commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you. Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

🎤Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @TheChessAngle ♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable. Chessable uses science-backed learning and the concept of spaced repetition to ensure retention. Check out their courses today!♟ This week I spoke with my friend Jay Kleinman, a fellow chess amateur and social worker in NY. Jay recounted some fascinating experiences from the amateur tournament scene, and an overriding theme in our conversation was how becoming a parent changes the narrative of adult improvement. Some of our talking point include: The unfortunate decline of OTB post-mortem analysis The dangers of mimicking super-GMs How Jay almost gave a lesson to the late William Lombardy (Fischer's coach) Jay's encounters with some now-famous GMs ("I knew them when...") Chess improvement beyond parenting Opening choices Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

🎤Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @TheChessAngle ♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable. Check out their courses today!♟ Happy Father's Day to all the chess dads out there! In this episode, I will discuss the chess thought process through the lens of two of my recent OTB games. Some of the talking points include: Confidence against higher-rated opponents Trusting your analysis Playing experience vs. studying A suggested tip for the opening phase Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

🎤Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @TheChessAngle ♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable. Neal is currently enjoying the course entitled The Agile London System, based on the book of the same name.♟ We've all been there: the opponent who won't sit still or who keeps adjusting every piece. Distracting behavior at the chess board can be so infuriating that it adversely affects your results. In this episode, we discuss many of these behaviors and offer some solutions (hint: SAY SOMETHING to your opponent or call the TD over). Some of the behaviors mentioned include: repeated draw offers incessant fidgeting "acknowledgers" and "sighers" tapping hand hovering Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

🎤Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @TheChessAngle For this interview episode, I spoke with USCF Expert Jarrod Tavares. Jarrod is an amateur/club player who has achieved tournament success with an unconventional, anti-book style. Amateur players and adult improvers of all levels should find this conversation enlightening and provocative. Some of our talking points include: Should the London System be banned from chess?😉 Endgame theory and the amateur player Making unconventional moves to get into your opponent's head The importance of confidence The psychology of draw offers Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

🎤NEW Twitter page for the podcast: @TheChessAngle 🎤Be sure to follow us! While some favor slower time controls, blitz & rapid games are more popular than ever, mainly due to the explosion of online chess. Can speed chess actually help you in slow games and improve your chess overall? National Master Tyrell Harriott believes it can. Tyrell is very active in the New York chess scene and runs the Kings of Queens Chess Club. He also streams on his YouTube channel. Tyrell shared some great insight on the benefits of speed chess, as well as his approach to playing and his thought process. Some of our talking points include: Chess in the parks of New York City The importance of time delay/increments Mindset & attitude Using a consistent opening repertoire How quick time controls can help you improve Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

Are you constantly comparing your chess progress to that of others? Are four, five, or six-hour-a-day study plans effective for amateur players? I offer opinions on these topics and more. The segments in this episode include: The "tournament hall" vs. the "study hall" Handling decision fatigue from all the available study material The essential areas of focus for beginners OTB vs. online strategy The comparison game Talent vs. hard work Is studying several hours a day actually necessary at the amateur/club level? Mentioned: The Amateur's Mind (Amazon) The link above is an affiliate link, which earns us a commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

This episode is a book review/discussion of the acclaimed text The Seven Deadly Chess Sins (Amazon) by Jonathan Rowson. This is a follow up to Episode 16 which discussed Chess for Tigers (Amazon) by Simon Webb. I believe these two outstanding books are probably the only resources you need for chess psychology at the amateur and club level. Chess for Tigers is an excellent primer, while The Seven Deadly Chess Sins is more advanced. The seven chess sins include the following: Thinking (erroneously) Blinking Wanting Materialism Egoism Perfectionism Looseness All links above are affiliate links, which earn us a commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you. Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

Grandmaster Romain Edouard joins the podcast this week to explain how players of all levels can minimize mistakes in their games. Be sure to check out Romain's chess.com lesson on this subject (affiliate link), as well as his chessable course on facing the English opening (1.c4). I caught up with Romain during his current visit to the US for his stint as GM in Residence for the St. Louis Chess Club. Romain's books discussed in this episode: The Chess Manual of Avoidable Mistakes Chess Calculation Training (bundle) My Magic Years with Topalov As mentioned, Romain is offering Chess Angle listeners a discount on all books from his website, thinkerspublishing.com. Use the code ROMAIN15 to receive 15% off all books from the site. This discount does not apply to sale items or bundles. Affiliate links earn us a commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you. Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

This is the second episode in our Game Analysis Series where I thematically discuss one or more of my OTB games. Some of the concepts from this episode include: Positional ideas vs. tactics Adults vs. kids Unconventional openings Thoughtless one-move attacks As mentioned in this episode, please follow us on Twitter and comment on our pinned post about your rating goal for 12/31/22. Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com