The Chess Experience

042 The #1 female player in Germany for many years: GM Elisabeth Paehtz. Even beyond her impressive accomplishments as a chess player, which include:Winning the 2018 European Women’s Championship in rapid chess.Representing Germany for the Women’s Chess Olympiad over 10 times.Elisabeth has some refreshing and pleasantly unexpected insights about the game. In this episode, we discuss:Why she never “loved chess” but still has a deep passion for the game.How being an adult has changed her playing style.Writing a book on her life as a female chess player.What caused her unexpected late-career rating climb. --------Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers?Chess Improver Monthly offers: Check out all the membership benefits here.---------More From Elisabeth:Elisabeth’s TwitterElisabeth’s InstagramThe Paehtz Method (her course on iChess.net)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)

041 You may know her as one of the featured students from the 2012 documentary, Brooklyn Castle.  A superb film that covered a low-income, junior high school’s talented chess team. One of the main students the film explored was the inspiring story of Rochelle Ballantyne.Ten years after its release, Rochelle is now a 3rd-year law student at New York University.She also recently re-committed to her goal of becoming the first American Black woman to earn the NM title.In this episode, we cover:Reflections on the impact Brooklyn Castle has had on her life.Why Rochelle chose to put more effort and time into earning the NM title.Her insights on being a black woman in a predominantly male, white chess community.The shifting importance and meaning of chasing the NM title in her life.Where to Watch Brooklyn Castle:YouTube Link for Brooklyn CastleAmazon DVD of Brooklyn Castle--------Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers?Chess Improver Monthly . 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)

040 Few people today are creating as many highly praised chess courses as IM Christof Sielecki. Since the start of this podcast, I’ve looked forward to one day having him as a guest on the show. Now he’s here!His story may resonate with other adult improvers...It wasn’t until age 13 that he began his chess journey in earnest. And it wasn’t until his late 30’s that he strived for his biggest achievement: earning his IM title.After discussing his chess life, in this episode we talk about: What inspired him to update his most popular course: Keep It Simple: 1.e4Why you need to be cautious when evaluating your games using the accuracy percentages.Balancing opening repertoires with best move lines and those you’d see at the club level.How should you approach a game with a balanced position and no clear advantage for either side?--------Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers?Chess Improver Monthly. Check out all the membership benefits here.---------More From Christof:Christof’s Chessable CoursesTwitterYouTube ChannelWebsiteHow 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)

039 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. But this isn’t just an audio “chess diary.” I try to bring everything back to lessons we can all use and learn from. Hope you enjoy!In this episode:Why emotions caused an avoidable & heartbreaking loss in my recent OTB tournament.Does a recent 200-point blitz rating increase suggest my chess will soon improve in other areas?The four biggest contributors to my chess improvement over the past 18 months.How OTB tournaments are fueling my fire to become a better chess player.Resources Referenced:Episode 2: Top 7 Lessons Learned After My 1-Year Return To ChessEpisode 7: The Importance of Your Thought Process In Chess (with Dan Heisman)Dan Heisman’s YT Video: Intermediate Time Controls Can Hinder ImprovementPeter Giannotos: Everyone’s First Chess Workbook (Tactics book)John Bain: Chess Tactics for Students--------Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers,Chess Improver Monthly? 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)

038 Yuanling wowed me. Of course, her accomplishments as a chess player are mighty: She’s been the #1 female Canadian player and the youngest Canadian female to earn the WIM title.And, as you’ll hear, Yuanling has a great ability to find meaningful connections between chess and life - a topic we discuss at length in this episode.If that weren’t enough, she has a compassionate heart.In 2009, she launched the non-profit Chess in Library program that offers chess instruction to underprivileged people in Toronto.While Yuanling has since built a separate career from chess, having attended Yale University and become a successful investment analyst…She’s still deeply connected to her lifelong passion for chess and is a great ambassador for the game, as well as an advocate for women and girls in chess.Also in this episode:Redefining the meaning of “losing” in chess and life.The myth of talent for becoming a chess master.A helpful approach anyone can use to encourage more girls to get involved in chess.More From Yuanling:WebsiteTwitter>> Download my latest, FREE audio content: 7 Quick Tips for Rock-Solid Chess Improvement (From Guests of The Chess Experience)--------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)

037 IM Greg Shahade always brings a good time.His charisma and relaxed humor make for a dynamic, fun conversation in every interview he gives.And this one is no different!We cover a range of topics, including the difference between improving at chess versus trivia (it helps explain why chess is so difficult!), his spontaneous approach to life, and:Why blitz can improve your chess if you follow his two suggestionsTime management advice for those who play too slow (and too fast!)Will he ever do chess boxing?Classic trash-talking segment against his recent rival, IM Lawrence Trent--------Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers? Check out all the membership benefits here for Chess Improver Monthly .---------More From Greg:Greg's Video on Avoiding Blitz TiltFollow Greg 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)

036 Jovanka Houska is a bright star. Anyone who’s watched her live can see she imbues her top-notch commentating at Chess24 with a joy for the game. Plus, she helps us club players more easily understand top-level play.Jovanka is, of course, not only a star in the chess commentating world…She’s also conquered the competitive scene as an eight-time British Women’s Chess Champion.And her competitive spirit still burns. She regularly attends tournaments and works to raise her rating to previous heights.In this episode, we discuss:Thoughts on her fellow co-commentators: David Howell, Simon Williams, & Kaja Snare.How she simplifies chess for an amateur audienceWhat she needs to do bring her rating back up--------Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers? Check out all the membership benefits here.---------More From Jovanka:TwitterBooks---------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)

035  It’s easy to think of chess improvement as only involving the study of specific areas of the game like strategy or openings.But there are other, critical parts to improvement, as well.Which is why I chat with NM Bryan Tillis and discuss: The importance of having a WHY for your chess goalsHow to balance fun with doing what’s necessary to improveAsking whether your training is matching your goalsAnd, towards the end of the episode, Bryan offers several pieces of great advice for OTB tournaments.--------Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers? Check out all the membership benefits here.---------More From Bryan: All of Bryan’s Chessable coursesBryan’s YouTube ChannelPalm Beach Chess (coaching)Bryan’s Book: Become a Chess Champion----------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)

034 Carissa is a shining star. The youngest American woman to earn the IM title. Winner of the 2021 US Women’s Championship. Top-ranked female US player in 2019.If that weren’t enough, Carissa is the youngest female ever to beat a Grandmaster (she did so at age ten.)Even with so many accomplishments, Carissa remains humble and down-to-Earth.And she has a great sense of humor. In this episode, we discuss: What caused her sudden rating climb?The ups and downs of her 5-year journey to win the US Women’s Championship. Her first-ever experience competing in the 2002 Chess Olympiad.Will she try to earn the GM title while in college?--------Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers? Check out all the membership benefits here.---------More From CarissaTwitch 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)

 033 Angelika is rapidly building a name in the chess world as a dynamic coach, streamer, & course creator. Hailing from Ukraine, and now living in Germany, Angelika is a superb chess player with a FIDE rating of 2075 (and on her way to earning the WGM title.) She’s been coaching kids and adults alike for the past 7 years.After years of building a strong following on her Twitch channel, this year she released her first opening repertoire course for 1.d4 on Chessable. We talk about all these facets of her chess career, including her love of Game of Thrones (hence the episode title!) In addition, we answer a couple of improvement questions from my Twitter followers.And, as a fun change-up for the show’s format, Angelika invited her friend and co-creator of her 1.d4 course, Hungarian Grandmaster Gyula Pap.Gyula appears on some of the show to discuss their course and give his insights on chess improvement, too.--------Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers? Check out all the membership benefits here.---------More From Angelika:Angelika’s 1.d4 Course on ChessableTwitch ChannelTwitterInstagramMore From GM Guyla Pap:Coaching Profile---------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)