The Chess Experience

023 Adult improvers, ironically, have limited time to improve. Which is why it’s so helpful to know the answer to this question: “Of all the mistakes we make, which ones are the most important to fix?” That’s what today’s episode is about…Identifying the key mistakes made at the board by adult improvers (most of whom are club players) and finding solutions to them. To help, I’ve brought back for a second time National Master, Dan Heisman. He is the ultimate coach for adult improvers.Dan has written over a DOZEN chess books and has a popular YouTube channel with over 200 videos - all of which are gold.There are very few chess instructors who are as good as Dan Heisman. He gets to the heart of what club players need to improve, and articulates those problems and solutions so well.In fact, there’s so much on this topic to dig into with Dan, that I’m calling this episode Vol. 1, as there will likely be one or two more on the same subject down the road.In this episode, we discuss:How to tell if you’re playing “hope chess.”The sure way to avoid playing too fast.Why do club players overemphasize strategy over tactics?Is it "ok" to spend too much time on openings? Resources Referenced In This EpisodeBook: A Guide to Chess Improvement - Dan HeismanBook: Logical Chess: Move by Move - Irving ChernevBook: Winning Chess Strategy for Kids - Jeff Coakley Video: How Much Strategy Needed to Play Reasonably - Dan HeismanMore  From Dan HeismanDan’s WebsiteDan’s YouTube ChannelDan Heisman TV on Chess.com---------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)

022 If you’re over 30, you might wonder: “Will aging affect my chess improvement? Should I adjust my program any differently due to my age?” These are compelling but often difficult questions to answer... On the one hand, we want to be optimistic and aim for whatever chess goal we desire, without concern over biology getting in the way... And, yet, biology is real. Athletes understand this - both amateur and professional alike. Which is why it’s worth taking a look at this subject with clear eyes. To discuss this further, I brought the esteemed Grandmaster Jesse Krai, co-founder of Chess Dojo.In this episode we discuss: Would he coach someone differently if they’re 25 versus 45?Have adult improvers proven the upper limit of their potential yet? Is Viktor Korchnoi’s astonishing late-career run in his 70s instructive for adult improver potential? Where To Find More of Jesse & Chess Dojo’s Content: Chess Dojo - TwitchChess Dojo - YouTubeChess Dojo - TwitterChess Dojo - WebsiteTraining Programs by Chess DojoJesse on TwitterJesse’s novel, Lisa---------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)

021 This week’s format is different. Every few months, I’ll create a solo episode where I update you on my own chess journey: The top challenges I’m having, the best insights I’ve gained, and the latest wisdom my coaches, Andras Toth & Dan Heisman, have offered me.I’ll try to frame it in ways that benefit you, so that you get a heap of value from listening. This week’s topics:Why I no longer play the French Defense and key resources for determining how/when to change your openings.The top 3 insights from my coaches that'll help me see some massive rating gains.Why dealing with a rating plateau is a true test of character and how I intend to bust through this phase.Resources Referenced:NM Dan Heisman, “Selecting An Opening Repertoire” (YouTube Video)IM Andras Toth, “A Big Rant About How to Choose Opening Lines.” (YouTube Video)IM Andras Toth, “Private Lesson with Chess Podcaster Daniel Lona.” (YouTube Video)---------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)

020 You may have first heard of WGM Irene Sukandar in 2021, when her popularity soared after defeating Dewa Kipas, a man who infamously cheated in an online game against IM Levy Rozman.But, in this interview, we discuss what I believe Irene should be what be most well-known for:1) Growing the fame and respect of chess in her home country of Indonesia, and 2) Being an inspiration to chess players throughout the world who wish to make chess a major part of their lives.Irene is a professional player who is a 2-time Asian Woman’s Chess Champion and has been one of Indonesia’s top players for many years.In addition to discussing her incredible rise as one of the most talented players in her country… We also discuss:Her efforts and passion to grow the game in Indonesia (which could be a model for other countries.)How to manage your nerves before an OTB tournament.Hitting “reset” during a tournament if you’ve lost several games.How long after the tournament should you resume studying chess?More From Irene: TwitterInstagramWebsite---------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)

019 With so many hours put into our chess practice. The experience of a long-term rating decline or plateau can be frustrating. Even painful. Shouldn’t we see positive rating results if it’s been X number of months or years?Not always.But that doesn’t mean you’re not improving. Or that the tide won’t eventually turn.In this episode, Woman International Master and popular chess streamer, Anna-Maja Kazarian, tell us about her struggle with a long-term rating decline.First, though, we discuss her chess origin story, her rapid ascent as a chess player, and a bit about her Twitch channel.Then we explore the topic of dealing with and overcoming a rating plateau.More From Anna-Maja :TwitchYouTubeTwitter InstagramTikTok---------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)

018 You just finished a Rapid or Classical game. Now it’s time to pluck some hard-earned lessons from the experience. But wait: should you turn on the engine? Annotate the game with notes? Review it intensely for an hour or more? Or maybe just glean one key lesson and call it a day?These issues and more are discussed in this episode with the phenomenal WGM Katerina Nemcova.First, we learn about Katerina’s exciting journey to the top of women’s chess in the Czech Republic. And how she later became one of America’s top female players.In the second half of the interview, she offers helpful tips on how to best analyze our games so we’re not making typical mistakes…Follow Katerina Here:Twitter Twitch---------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)

017 Kostya is one of the co-founders of the incredible Chess Dojo. It's a channel and business designed to help chess improvers (most of whom are adults.)In this episode: Why you should bother reading annotated game books.An answer to the age-old question: how many of the endless variations should you go over?Should you read an annotated game book more than once?A rarely talked about benefit to playing classical games that can make a huge impact on your improvement.Where To Find More of Kostya/Chess Dojo’s Content: Chess Dojo - TwitchChess Dojo - YouTubeChess Dojo - TwitterChess Dojo - WebsiteTraining Programs by Chess DojoKostya on TwitterKostya’s Endgames courseKostya’s Book---------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)

0016 Offering live commentary of world-class chess is no easy task. Your audience is often club-level players and beginners. So, you'll have to strike a balance between explaining obscure GM strategy…While also delivering fun commentary that keeps your viewers engaged…That’s what this week's guest, WGM Keti Tsatsalashvili, does all the time for  Chess.com and FIDE. In this episode, we dive into the story of a commentator for these incredible events. Keti makes top-level chess easy to follow for those of us who were never pros…Plus, she has an incredible, positive energy that makes listening to her a pleasure. In this episode ,we discuss: How Keti got unexpectedly swept into commentating for chess’ elite tournaments.Balancing commentary of world-class chess events for all skill levels.Keti’s top advice for all adult improvers.Where To Find More of Keti’s Content: Keti’s Twitch ChannelKeti on TwitterKeti on Instagram---------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)

015 All chess players struggle to improve. But there are some mistakes made along the way that are unique to adults. Thankfully, there are easy solutions that’ll remove these roadblocks and get you back on the road to faster improvement…To help identify and fix these mistakes, I interview the straight-talking FM Peter Giannatos. Peter is the founder of the Charlotte Chess Center, a powerhouse chess club in the United States.Plus, he’s the author of the book & course, Everyone’s First Chess Workbook, which is phenomenal for folks under 1200 who want to master their basic tactics and checkmates.In today’s episode we discuss: Six key mistakes adult improvers make and solutions to each one.How to better manage (maybe even eliminate!) a fear of losing in chess. Why poor opening play or weak strategy doesn’t matter if you’re below 1200 Chess.com Rapid. The #1 way to speed up your chess progress.More From Peter: Book: Everyone’s First Chess WorkbookCourse: Everyone’s First Chess WorkbookCharlotte Chess CenterPeter on Twitter---------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)

014 Today you get a 2-topic episode: 1) Adult chess improvement tips from WGM Jennifer Shahade; and 2) A discussion on her new book, Chess Queens, about the celebration & deeper understanding of women in chess.There’s hardly anyone who has done more to make this game more inclusive for women and girls than Jennifer...She’s a true inspiration in our community.Not only is she a 2-time US Women’s Champion and Woman Grandmaster…Jennifer has also tirelessly spent the past two decades improving chess culture for females everywhere…In today’s episode we discuss: The little-used secret to better performance in your games without having to spend more time improving your chess.   Redefining what it means to be “great at chess” (it’s not just ELO!)  The impact she wants her book to have on the chess world.   More From Jennifer: Book: Chess QueensPodcast: Ladies KnightWebsiteTwitterFacebookInstagram---------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)