The Chess Experience

032 Another chess journey update from your favorite podcast host! Every few months, I serve up a solo show that offers my latest insights and struggles, all from my hard-working path toward improvement.No matter your rating, you’ll find some snackable morsels of chess wisdom (even if it comes from my failures!)Highlights you can expect:Is King safety a chess problem or a psychological problem?Coach IM Andras Toth spots one of my top barriers to improvement (hint: it’s not more tactics or chess books.)The worst chess advice I’ve ever received.--------Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers? Check out all the membership benefits here.---------How You Can Support the Pod:Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick here to join the Patreon for The Chess Experience.Or you can…>>Support this pod by grabbing a chess.com membership which will help you improve your chess & defeat your enemies. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)

031 Making chess simple for club players isn’t easy. But GM Alex Colovic has a special ability to do just that. It’s why his opening courses are known for simple, clear instruction... How Alex is able to simplify opening theory is one of the key points we discuss in this episode.The other great topic we discuss is that Alex strived for years in his 30s to earn the GM title - a rare feat at that age.His story is an inspiration with key lessons for all of us, no matter our rating.In this episode:Why you should play your preferred style (with one caution.) How Alex makes opening theory simple to learn.2 qualities from Bobby Fischer that inspired Alex’s chess.--------Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers? Check out all the membership benefits here.---------A Freebie I Created:>> Download my latest, FREE audio content: 7 Quick Tips for Rock-Solid Chess Improvement (From Guests of The Chess Experience)---------More From Alex Colovic:Chessable CoursesTwitterWebsite & BlogHow You Can Support the Pod:Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick here to join the Patreon for The Chess Experience.Or you can…>>Support this pod by grabbing a chess.com membership which will help you improve your chess & defeat your enemies. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)

030 To some, chess is just a game. But it can also be a valuable tool for giving us powerful life lessons. And these lessons can teach us how to achieve our goals better. Or improve our career. Sometimes, though, those insights aren’t always obvious to us...So, we need a little help or awareness in uncovering them.That’s what today’s guest, FM Alisa Melekhina, explains in my conversation with her.And it’s also the subject of her superb book, Reality Check. In this episode, you’ll discover:How chess teaches you more effective decision-making in your career.The best mindset for adult improvers who want to excel in chess but struggle with limited time.The chess “life lesson” of being calm or objective in the face of a problem.How to find meaning in your chess beyond just rating climbs.--------Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers? Check out all the membership benefits here.--------->> Download my latest, FREE audio content: 7 Quick Tips for Rock-Solid Chess Improvement (From Guests of The Chess Experience)---------More From Alisa Melekhina:Alisa’s Book, Reality CheckAlisa’s Course: The Melekhina MethodWebsiteYouTubeTwitterInstagramFacebookHow You Can Support the Pod:Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick here to join the Patreon for The Chess Experience.Or you can…>>Support this pod by grabbing a chess.com membership which will help you improve your chess & defeat your enemies. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)

029  Eric Rosen is perhaps best known for off-beat openings and stalemate traps. But don’t underestimate his incredible coaching skills. In this interview, Eric offers powerful advice in answering questions from my Twitter followers on improving as adults.Before we get into the heart of sharpening your chess skills...The episode first covers Eric’s career as one of the world’s top chess streamers and content creators…Including his favorite types of content and how he strikes a balance between entertainment and education.Later, we cover:The unexpected secret to increasing your rating.Does studying endgames or openings lead to better growth as a player?How does an adult balance their chess ambitions with the limits of everyday life?How do you bust through a rating plateau?Eric’s “dream content” that he hopes to one day create. --------Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers? Check out all the membership benefits here.---------More Eric Rosen:TwitchYouTubeTwitterInstagramFacebookWebsiteResources Mentioned: Eric’s article Chess Life Online on how to overcome rating plateaus-----How You Can Support the Pod:Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick here to join the Patreon for The Chess Experience.Or you can…>>Support this pod by grabbing a chess.com membership which will help you improve your chess & defeat your enemies. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)

028 Bruce Pandolfini is arguably America’s greatest chess coach. His impact on growing the game throughout the world is immeasurable. Bruce is the author of dozens of superb chess books. All are great, and many are still must-reads for beginners and club players.He’s been the coach for such top players as Fabiano Caruana and Josh Waitzkin.Bruce has also been the consultant for the most popular chess stories ever put to screen: Searching for Bobby Fischer & The Queen’s Gambit.In this episode, we cover:The common traits of his most successful students.Has chess coaching improved over the years?Did he expect The Queen’s Gambit to cause a chess boom?Were his coaching methods accurately represented in Searching For Bobby Fischer?--------Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers? Check out all the membership benefits here.---------More From Bruce Pandolfini:Amazon Author Page (all of his books---------How You Can Support the Pod:Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick here to join the Patreon for The Chess Experience.Or you can…>>Support this pod by grabbing a chess.com membership which will help you improve your chess & defeat your enemies. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)

027 If you've studied chess, then you know development is vital. Yet there’s more to this principle than just the obvious “get your pieces out.” Even titled players can struggle with effective development…Which means club players should always be working on this nuanced skill.To help, this episode discusses the subject at length with WGM Ekaterina Atalik. Katya (for short) is the European Women’s Chess Champion and the 5-time Women’s Champion of Turkey.She’s also authored the Chessable course, The Method of Quick Development. In this latest episode, we cover: The “Development Score” technique that teaches you when to attack.Critical defensive ideas if you fall behind in development. Why development is not just an opening principle.Why playing with an isolated pawn shouldn't be feared (lessons that will be part of her upcoming course on pawn structures!--------Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers? Check out all the membership benefits here.---------More From Katya:Chessable Course: The Method to Quick DevelopmentInstagramMy Latest YouTube Video with IM Andras Toth: https://youtu.be/VtsVYPk5VFo ---------How You Can Support the Pod:Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick here to join the Patreon for The Chess Experience.Or you can…>>Support this pod by grabbing a chess.com membership which will help you improve your chess & defeat your enemies. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)

026 How do you ensure chess improvement? The old magic pill would be nice, but we know that doesn’t exist. The next best thing? Put energy and work into five key areas…This may not guarantee improvement, but doing them will give you the best fighting chance to see results.And, hey, given the mysterious ways of chess improvement, that’s sometimes the best we can do.So, what are the key areas? FM Nate Solon explained them in his 2021 article entitled, The Chess Improvement Checklist.Impressed with the list he created…I  thought it would be great to do a deep dive into these core areas and discuss the ins, outs, and whys of this list. Enjoy!Nate is a superb chess player and has written articles for Chess Life and Chessable’s blog. For more of his work:Connect with Nate:Upcoming Book: Evaluate Like a GrandmasterNate’s NewsletterNate’s TwitterArticle: The Chess Improvement Checklist--------How You Can Support the Pod:Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick here to join the Patreon for The Chess Experience.Or you can…>>Support this pod by grabbing a chess.com membership which will help you improve your chess & defeat your enemies. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)

025 There are several ways to #GrowTheGame. One is through helping folks play better. Another is to find ways to make chess more appealing and accessible for everyone - regardless of where you live or your skill level.This week’s guest, Nigarhan (or Naycir, as she’s known online), has chosen to make the second option her mission.A fellow adult improver and amateur player herself…Nigarhan has become well-known in chess circles as a streamer with an irresistible wit and passion for the game. She brings top-level humor and a magnetic joy to the sixty-four squares - which is much needed given how difficult this game is.And her chess life doesn’t stop there…Nigarhan is also the Director for International Growth at Chess.com.Impressive, right? There, she helps translate the site’s chess content into dozens of languages. This helps the non-English speaking world more easily learn and enjoy the game.In this episode, we discuss: How she began a full-time job in chess before learning to play.The challenges posed by chess’ over-serious “gatekeepers.”Overcoming her online bullying experiences as a streamer.Nigarhan’s favorite openings (it’s not the London.) Connect with Nigarhan:Twitch channelYouTube channelTwitterInstagram----------How You Can Support the Pod:Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick here to join the Patreon for The Chess Experience.Or you can…>>Support this pod by grabbing a chess.com membership which will help you improve your chess & defeat your enemies. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)

024 The 2022 Candidates was a wild ride. Predictions were shattered. A dominant performance surprised many. And the looming question of “Does second place matter?” hung in the air.For the first time, The Chess Experience is reviewing a world-class tournament!To help discuss the highlights (and lowlights) of the event, along with some lessons that can help club players…I interviewed WIM Fiona Steil Antoni, a professional commentator of top chess events,Fiona has been commentating for the past eight years and now works for Chess.com. Most recently, she had the incredible opportunity to be one of the regular commentators on Hikaru Nakamura's Twitch channel while he competed in the Candidates.In this episode, we discuss: Which players exceeded her expectations? Which fell below them?Three lessons from this event that can help club players in their own tournaments.Fiona’s two favorite games from the event.Should FIDE change the World Championship format to entice Magnus to defend the title?Will Magnus defend his title?More From Fiona:Twitch channelYouTube channelTwitterInstagram---------How You Can Support the Pod:Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick here to join the Patreon for The Chess Experience.Or you can…>>Support this pod by grabbing a chess.com membership which will help you improve your chess & defeat your enemies. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)

A brief 2-minute update about the next episode (coming later this week) which reviews the Candidates. And a little message of motivation to keep striving with your chess!