The Chess Experience

050 We are finally back after a 6-week health hiatus! Today’s guest is the #1 rated woman in Romania: IM Irina Bulmaga. Irina is a professional chess player who is working full-time chasing the GM title as an adult.Another impressive stat?Irina has been in the FIDE Top 100-rated Women in the world since 2012.In a career full of amazing accomplishments, Irina has represented Romania in seven Chess Omplyiads since 2010.As a humble club player, I’m always impressed by those who are so good at chess they can make it a competitive career.So, in this episode, we chat about the lessons she’s learned in her many years of chess.Plus, we discuss what will it take for her to make the leap from IM to GM?More From Irina:Irina’s Chessable coursesIrina’s TwitterHow 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)

Sorry for my absence the past few weeks. Here's why. (But I hope to be back very soon.)

049 After 800 hours of chess, you should learn some stuff. That’s roughly the amount of time I spent playing and studying the game in 2022. And, yes, for all that effort, there’s a nagging concern that I should be way better. But I did learn a few things along the way...In fact, 2022 marks my second full year of being a serious student of chess since my middle school days, when I first took the game seriously. Much of the year required an "aggravating patience" - is that a thing? - as my rating refused to climb for the first six months.Thankfully, I had two great coaches to guide my way, and eventually, I had some notable progress and rating gains. Plus, I always keep my eyes open for insights so that I can share them with my fellow chess community.Some are about the game itself, others about the overall journey.  So, here are my Top 5 Chess Lessons of 2022! Enjoy!Want to share a comment about this episode with me?Tag me on Twitter or send me an email.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)

048 Few Grandmasters are as entertaining as Ben Finegold. His blend of humor, truth-telling, and exceptional chess skill are rare in the streaming world.Ben hails from Detroit, Michigan. Raised in a chess family, he ultimately tied as the highest-rated American-born player in the US with a USCF rating of 2662.He now lives in Atlanta, where he streams regularly on Twitch with his wife, KarenThe channel has amassed over 124K followers, and his YouTube channel has 113K subscribers. Those numbers are well-deserved and I highly recommend checking out each of his channels.In this episode, we discuss:Why not being afraid of losing is critical for amateur players.What makes his Twitch channel stand out from other chess streamers?If you’re getting burned out on chess, what should you do?Would Ben do stand-up comedy?More From Ben:Twitch ChannelYouTube ChannelBen's Merch StoreHow 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)

This is a brief 3-minute "episode" to announce a brief holiday break and to encourage some reflection on your chess progress.  As described, please let me what you've achieved this year in chess that you feel good about. You can do so by tagging me in a post on Twitter (@Lona_Chess), emailing me  (scroll to the bottom for my address), or sending me a message here.Happy Holidays! And I'll talk to you soon!>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com<< (PROMOTION)

047 Many chess players fall into a trap. They get too obsessed with chess and their progress. Stress and worry can replace joy and discovery. But not for this week’s guest. Fellow adult improver, Amy Shaw, has found a great balance between striving for consistent improvement and loving the game…And she’s done it without the sometimes unhealthy drive for rating gains that can plague chess players.In addition to working as an English professor by day and playing in a rock band by night…Amy has also become well-known in the chess adult improver circles on Twitter with 2K followers.In this episode, we discuss:If she could travel back 2 years, what would she tell herself at the start of her chess journey?Two major benefits she’s received from working with a coach.If she could pick anyone in the chess world to hang out with, who would it be?Why she no longer focuses on rating goals (and where she puts her energy instead.)More From Amy:Amy’s TwitterAmy’s Website for her band Dr. MartinoAmy’s band on SpotifyHow 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)

046 When you’re in bad position or down material, it’s easy to lose hope. We’ve all been there. But today’s guest, NM Jeremy Kane, explains how and why you should usually keep fighting.His book, The Next To Last Mistake, teaches folks specific strategies needed to hold a draw or even win in losing positions.Plus, we discuss his work building the vast library of fun, unique, and helpful chess lessons for Chess.com as their Curriculum Director.Finally, Jeremy shares his somewhat “relaxed” approach to consistent chess improvement.-------Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers?Chess Improver Monthly offers:Group coaching & game review from titled players to help your chess.Submit guest questions & private episode discussions for The Chess Experience Podcast.Live video chats w/ me & fellow adult improvers to have fun & stay motivated.Much more!Check out all the membership benefits here.---------More From Jeremy:His Book: The Next To Last MistakeJeremy’s TwitterChess.com LessonsHow 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)

045  Have you ever put a ton of energy and work into chess…but your results failed to match your expectations? So, you became frustrated. Dejected. Maybe even disillusioned with the process.This is the potential downside that comes with a passion for chess:Burnout.That happened to my guest, Omar Mills.Omar is my inaugural adult improver guest (it’s about time I feature some fellow adult club players!) He has been serious about chess for the past two years, studying and playing for hours nearly every day.In this episode, we discuss:A healthier way to approach chess improvement beyond just chasing ratings and wins. When the magic of The Queen’s Gambit clashes with reality, what keeps you excited about the game?A “chess genie” tells Omar he can have any one chess wish he wants, what does he ask for? (Spoiler: he has two wishes.)Where to Find Omar:TwitterTwitchThe Morphy book referenced in the episode.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)

044 Few American women in chess are as inspiring as Irina Krush. That may be obvious from the title of this episode alone.  But to listen to Irina tell her story in this interview…To hear her wisdom, strength, and charisma - you get the full measure of why she’s so inspiring to chess players worldwide.No surprise, though from the person who's been an unprecedented 8x US Women’s Champion.AND the only American woman to have earned the GM title.In this episode, we discuss:Her feelings on her nail-biting loss in the 2022 US Women’s Championship.Why she loves doing chess commentating.Her favorite top player that she has yet to play.Practical advice for overcoming a difficult tournament.More From Irina:GM Chess: Irina’s coaching business for scholastic players-------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)

043 Born in Romania. Daughter of two International Masters. The young chess star, WGM Sabina Foisor, moved to America as a young adult and conquered the women’s chess scene by winning the 2017 US Women’s Championship.In this episode, we discuss: What it’s like growing up in a chess family with high expectations for success.The emotional journey of preparing & competing for the 2017 US Women’s Championship while her mother became seriously ill.Improvement questions on pawn structures, the “right time” to trade queens, and creating an opening repertoire that excites you.The surprising career Sabina would’ve attempted if not for chess.--------Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers?Check out all the membership benefits here.---------More from Sabina:Website (coaching)TwitterTwitchHow 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)