The Chess Angle

For this interview episode, I spoke with Fide Master Roger LaFlair. Roger teaches high school chemistry and chess at a private school here on Long Island in NY. He also has an active roster of private chess students. Roger can be reached at rlaflair@gmail.com. We touched on a variety of topics regarding tournament play and chess improvement. Some of our talking points include: The dangers of "me chess" Awareness of your opponent's ideas Avoiding impulsivity & impatience The London System for club/amateur players Chess education Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

This episode details some of my experiences as a club player and tournament director in three parts: Why I started the Long Island Chess Club What it's like directing and playing in the same tournament Some funny stories from the club Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

This is the first episode for our new Game Analysis Series. I will thematically break down one or more of my OTB games, covering a variety of chess concepts and ideas for the amateur and club player. Some of the themes from this episode include: Why you shouldn't fear higher-rated opponents How to play against lower-rated opponents How to handle draw offers The French Defense advance variation Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

**Note: Alex King earned the FM title after this was recorded. The episode title has been updated but the original show notes are below. This week I spoke with National Master Alex King who resides in Memphis, Tennessee. Alex is an active tournament player, teacher, and writer. His 6-part article series for Chess Life magazine on the Tarrasch Defense begins with the March 2022 issue. Alex is also an accomplished musician, and he composed and performed all the music in this episode. Some of our talking points include: Chess improvement tips for amateurs The prevalence of chess cheating The relationship between music and chess Alex's links & info: Marshall Spectator articlechess.com: AlexanderKing lichess: OjaiJoao E-mail: snarkusmusic@gmail.com Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

I spoke with Candidate Master and renowned chess educator Brian Karen. He is one of the most active teachers in the country. Some of our talking points include: Tournament players vs. hobbyists A rating system based on norms, rather than individual games Studying chess Does preparing for a specific opponent actually make a difference at the club level? Links referenced in this episode: Chess Book Collectors FB Group Fide World Chess Championship FB GroupThe Seven Deadly Chess Sins (affiliate link) Chess for Tigers (affiliate link) Brian's email: briankaren@usa.net Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

Arguably, certain "theoretical advantages" often have less significance at the amateur level. For example, material imbalances such as "having the two bishops" or "being up the Exchange" are often overrated when non-titled players face off. Our Links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

For the podcast's first interview format, I spoke with National Master Tim Mirabile. This is our uncut, unedited conversation. Below, Tim shared a list of some favorite books and a link to an article about the growth mindset: Bobby Fischer – My 60 Memorable Games Robert Burger – The Chess of Bobby Fischer Alexander Kotov – Think Like a Grandmaster, Play Like a Grandmaster Andrew Soltis – The Art of Defense in Chess Vladimir Vukovic – The Art of Attack in Chess John Nunn & Peter Griffiths – Secrets of Grandmaster Play Alex Dunne – How to Become a Candidate Master Mauricio Flores Ríos – Chess Structures: A Grandmaster Guide Reuben Fine – Basic Chess Endings Jonathan Speelman – Analyzing the Endgame Eduard Gufeld – Exploiting Small Advantages Mark Dvoretsky & Artur Yusupov – Original 5 book series (Training for the Tournament Player, Opening Preparation, Technique for the Tournament Player, Positional Play, Attack and Defense) Chess Informant, Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, Encyclopedia of Chess Middlegames: Combinations, Encyclopedia of Chess Endings (somewhat obsoleted by database, training software, tablebases) Growth Mindset article Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

Dive into the intriguing world of chess puzzles and discover their true impact on skill enhancement. Explore common mistakes made by players of all levels, illustrated by a surprising blunder from a recent tournament. Uncover time-wasters in chess improvement, along with practical tips for more effective study habits. Delve into the importance of quality over quantity in puzzle practice, and find out about a recommended puzzle book tailored for amateurs. It's a treasure trove of insights for anyone looking to sharpen their game!

Certain chess mistakes appear in amateur games with unwavering consistency. For the best online chess experience, we recommend chess.com (affiliate link). Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

Some chess players use gamesmanship to beat their opponent. Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com