The Chess Angle

In this jam-packed episode, return guest Grandmaster Daniel Gormally discusses the upcoming 2024 Candidates Chess Tournament: the players, controversies, history, and more. The winner of this event will challenge Ding Liren for the title of World Chess Champion. The Candidates begins on 4/3/24 in Toronto, Canada. Links for the Candidates Tournament: Chess.com Article  FIDE Article Links for GM Daniel Gormally: Ep. 96: GM Daniel Gormally on Adult Chess Improvement, the Cheating Epidemic, & More Mating the Castled King (Amazon) Pandemic Shark: A Journey Through the World of Chess Improvement (Amazon) Play Chess Like the Pros (Amazon) Sharp Middlegames (Chessable) Facebook Twitter (X) 🎯 Support the Show:  Patreon  Buy Me a Coffee 📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🔗 Our links: Website Twitter (X) YouTube    

Welcome to our 100th episode! Be sure to check out our new and improved website. Same address, updated look. This week, we explore five universal responses for Black. These can be played against any first move by White.  In this episode: Listener Mailbag 1…g6 (Modern Defense) Hippopotamus Defense 1…e6  1…b6  1…Nc6  Referenced: 10 Black "Opening Systems" (ThePawnSlayer chess.com blog) The Amateur’s Mind Winning Chess Strategies Simple Chess 🎯 Support the Show:  Patreon  Buy Me a Coffee 📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🔗 Our links: Website Twitter (X) YouTube

Navigating chess improvement can feel overwhelming for beginners and advanced beginners. The discussion emphasizes key strategies and resources to boost your game, from mastering essential king and pawn endgames to understanding practical play. Recommended readings include classics like 'Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess' and essential online lessons that help build foundational skills. Personal experiences highlight the importance of regular play and targeted study, ensuring you develop a chess repertoire that suits your unique style.

The host delves into the connection between music and chess, exploring how similar memory techniques play a role in both arts. He addresses the emotional toll of tournament losses, offering strategies for recovering and moving forward. The discussion highlights the importance of maintaining a flexible mindset and adapting strategies when facing different opponents. Listeners also learn about common pitfalls in chess thinking, emphasizing the value of focusing on actual moves instead of rigid principles. It's all about enhancing your chess psychology!

This week's guest is National Master Daniel Lowinger, a high school Chinese teacher who cut his teeth playing chess on the New York scene. Dan offers some thoughtful and philosophical ideas about amateur chess improvement, titles, being honest with oneself, and much more. Chapters: (00:00) - Intro (03:48) - Dan's Beginnings (06:24) - Thoughts on Chess Titles (23:44) - Honesty with Oneself (29:43) - Adult Improvement (44:18) - 3...Qd8 Scandinavian Defense (55:29) - Opening Originals: Strong Sidelines for Club Cats (58:37) - Outro Links for NM Daniel Lowinger: The 3...Qd8 Scandinavian: Simple and Strong Opening Originals: Strong Sidelines for Club Cats Facebook 🎯 Support the Show:  Patreon  Buy Me a Coffee 📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🔗 Our links: Website Twitter (X) YouTube

Our guest this week is English Grandmaster Daniel Gormally. Daniel is a professional chess player and coach who has written several books on the game. He is also the author of a 3-part Chessable series entitled Sharp Middlegames. In addition, Daniel has represented England in the European Team Championship and is a two-time winner of the English Rapid Play Championship. He earned his final GM norm in 2005 in a tournament where he scored a 2693 performance rating.  Chapters: (00:00) - Intro (01:32) - English Chess Scene (10:25) - Computers, AI, & Engines (21:24) - Chess Cheating Epidemic (33:15) - Adult Improvement & Daniel's Instructional Content (58:59) - Outro Links for GM Daniel Gormally: Mating the Castled King (Amazon) Pandemic Shark: A Journey Through the World of Chess Improvement (Amazon) Play Chess Like the Pros (Amazon) Sharp Middlegames (Chessable) Facebook Twitter (X) 🎯 Support the Show:  Patreon  Buy Me a Coffee 📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🔗 Our links: Website Twitter (X) YouTube

This week we discuss how to analyze your chess games with an engine to increase learning, avoid mistakes, and explore your thought process. Neal addresses some listener mail and then reviews one of his OTB games where he was having an off night. There were miscues from both players throughout which is typical at the club level. Referenced: Ep. 45: The Truth About Chess Engines for Club Players Bellon vs. 1630:  1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d6 3. e3 Nbd7 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Be7 6. h3 b6 7. c4 Bb7 8. Nc3 d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 Bxd5 11. O-O O-O 12. Rc1 c5 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. b3 Bd6 15. Bxd6 Qxd6 16. Qd4 Rfd8 17. Rfd1 Qe7 18. Qf4 Bb7 19. Ne5 f6 20. Nc4 e5 21. Qh4 Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 Rd8 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. Qg4 Nd3 25. Qe6+ Kf8 26. Nd6 Qe7 27. Qxe7+ Kxe7 28. Nxb7 Nc1 29. Bf3 Nxa2 30. Kf1 f5 31. Be2 Nb4 32. Ke1 Kd7 33. Kd2 Kc7 34. Kc3 a5 35. Nxa5 bxa5 36. Kc4 Kb6 37. f3 f4 38. exf4 exf4 39. Kd4 Nc2+ 40. Ke4 g5 41. Bc4 Ne1 42. Kf5 h6 43. Kg6 Nxg2 44. Kxh6 Kc5 45. Bf7 Kb4 46. Kxg5 a4 47. bxa4 Kxa4 48. h4 Nxh4 49. Kxh4 1-0 Chapters: (00:00) - Intro (01:36) - Opening Repertoire (Listener Mailbag) (09:10) - Puzzle Rush and Skill Retention (Listener Mailbag) (17:58) - Using a Chess Engine (1:03:10) - Outro 🎯 Support the Show:  Patreon  Buy Me a Coffee 📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🔗 Our links: Website Twitter (X) YouTube

Happy New Year! For our first episode of 2024, Neal answers some questions from our listener mailbag and shares his chess study plan for 2024.  Chapters: (00:00) - Intro (01:20) - Neal's 2024 Study Plan (09:57) - Are YouTube Videos Helpful? (14:43) - Chess Club Attendance (34:37) - Sicilian vs. Caro-Kann (41:33) - Aggressive vs. Timid Opponents (48:02) - Outro Referenced: Practical Chess Exercises (Amazon) 🎯 Support the Show:  Patreon  Buy Me a Coffee 📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🔗 Our links: Website Twitter (X) YouTube ♟The Amazon links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

Happy Holidays! This week, Neal shares a brief holiday message. Thank you to everyone for supporting the show. We saw a major uptick in downloads in 2023. We'll be taking an extended holiday/end-of-year break and will resume on Sunday, January 14, 2024.  If you're a new listener, now is a great time to binge and catch up. We hope you win your next game! 🎯 Support the Show:  Patreon  Buy Me a Coffee 📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🔗 Our links: Website Twitter (X) YouTube

Many club-level players consistently have trouble facing 1. d4. This week, we explore why that is, and offer some practical and philosophical advice. Chapters: (00:00) - Intro (01:40) - 1. d4 General Thoughts (07:00) - Social Media and 1. d4 (12:12) - 1. d4 vs. 1. e4 (15:10) - Nimzo & Q. Indian Defenses (22:30) - Fighting the London System (26:54) - Fighting the Catalan Opening (34:05) - Outro Referenced: Ep. 48: The Nimzo & Queen's Indian Defenses: A Complete System Against 1. d4 🎯 Support the Show:  Patreon  Buy Me a Coffee 📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🔗 Our links: Website Twitter (X) YouTube