Best Chess Tournament Podcasts (2025)

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Ep. 165: Why I (Probably) Will Never Play in a Weekend Tournament Ever Again 58:43

Play Pause

19d ago58:43

58:43

This week we discuss the dark side of weekend chess tournaments in the US. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (X) YouTube Buy Me a CoffeeBy Long Island Chess Club

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EP 452: GM Daniel King — The Grand Swiss, Candidates Spots, and What It Takes to Win High-Stakes Swiss Tournaments 59:39

26d ago59:39

59:39

The FIDE Grand Swiss always seems to deliver drama, and this year’s edition was no exception. To help break it all down, I am joined by popular commentator, Chessable author, and host of the Power Play Chess YouTube channel, GM Daniel King. In our conversation, Daniel shares his takeaways on: • The common thread that fueled the successes of GMs Ani…

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Ep. 168: How "Find a Better Move" Ruined My Chess 44:26

10h ago44:26

44:26

You’ve heard the quote: “When you see a good move, look for a better one.” Sounds smart - until it makes you overthink every position. In this episode, we talk about why perfectionism hurts amateur chess improvement and how to play more practical, confident moves. Referenced: When You See a Good Move, Look for a Better One (chesscom blog) 📧 If you …

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EP 455- Marcos Patricio Macedo: A Forensic Detective’s Reflections on Chess, Balance, and Burnout 1:02:17

5d ago1:02:17

1:02:17

The Adult Improver Series returns with a fascinating story that highlights the broad appeal of chess. Marcos Patricio Macedo is a Brasília-based forensic detective, dad, and chess enthusiast who rediscovered the game in 2018 and hasn’t stopped since. Chess has become a welcome escape from the pressures of his homicide-investigation work, and he’s h…

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Ep. 167: The Casuals Strike Back: How to Beat Chess Diehards 34:21

4d ago34:21

34:21

They study eight hours a day - you study between work meetings and bedtime. They’ve memorized the entire Najdorf - you’ve memorized your kids’ soccer schedule. In this episode, we talk about how to take on the true chess diehards with solid fundamentals, smart preparation, and the right mindset. Referenced: Did chesscom recently make puzzles easier…

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EP 454 — Hanging Pawns (Stjepan Tomić) Shares Chess Book Recs for Every Level & Discusses His Big New Project 1:17:41

9d ago1:17:41

1:17:41

By Ben Johnson

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Ep. 166: The Busy Adult's Guide to Chess Success 44:48

15d ago44:48

44:48

Early release! This week we share some thoughts on chess improvement while "adulting." Referenced: Ep. 25: Chess Club Stories (First segment: LICC origin story) Ep. 76: Decision Fatigue and Brain Fog at the Chessboard (Game Analysis #6) (Mailbag Segment: starting a chess club) Guide to a Successful Chess Club 📧 If you have a question, comment, or t…

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EP 453- IM-elect Tatev Abrahamyan on the Long Road to her New Title. 1:01:39

19d ago1:01:39

1:01:39

Despite an impressive chess résumé as one of the U.S.’s top women players, Tatev Abrahamyan has had moments when she questioned whether it was all worth it. After a prolonged slump, she not only considered giving up on ever earning the International Master title, but she nearly quit competitive chess altogether. Fortunately, Tatev persevered. Earli…

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Ep. 164: Why Is My 900-Rated Opponent Playing Like a Master? 43:03

28d ago43:03

43:03

So your opponent is rated "only" 900 or "only" 1200 but is playing extremely well. He's not hanging anything or falling victim to tactical traps and is also demonstrating a working knowledge of positional and strategic ideas. Welcome to modern tournament chess! This episode is a response to this Reddit post. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or to…

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EP 451: GM Elshan Moradiabadi on Intuition, Coaching, and Why Fun Is Vital for Chess Improvement 59:45

1M ago59:45

59:45

North Carolina–based trainer and author Elshan Moradiabadi has won over 25 tournaments and was the 2001 National Champion of his native Iran. Despite his many accomplishments, Elshan is deeply reflective about the proper role chess should play in one’s life. While he has no regrets about the sacrifices he made, his experiences have given him valuab…

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Ep. 163: Adult Chess Improvement & Content Creation From a Gen-Z Perspective feat. Anthony Arena 43:17

1M ago43:17

43:17

This week's episode features Anthony Arena, a 27-year-old data analyst, amateur player, content creator, and Long Island Chess Club regular. Our conversation focused on chess improvement in the digital era, tournament play, and more. Links for Anthony Arena: TikTok YouTube Instagram Chess Masters 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for…

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EP 450 – Hikaru in Louisiana: Stories from His Surprise Appearance in the Louisiana State Championship 1:52:11

1M ago1:52:11

1:52:11

As you may have heard, ⁠GM Hikaru Nakamura made a surprise appearance ⁠at the Louisiana State Championship, as part of fulfilling FIDE’s World Championship qualification criteria. In return, the players he encountered gained memories and stories they’ll never forget. In this multi-guest special episode, I speak with several of Hikaru’s opponents, a…

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Ep. 162: Chess Burnout, Defending Against the London, Flagging Your Opponent & More (Listener Mailbag Exclusive) 57:56

1M ago57:56

57:56

Our summer hiatus is over and the pod is back! In this Listener Mailbag exclusive we dive into a number of chess improvement topics. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (X) YouTube Buy Me a CoffeeBy Long Island Chess Club

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EP 449- GM Jesse Kraai on Confronting Tournament Fears, Mental and Physical Fitness, and What’s Next for Him and ChessDojo 1:01:49

2M ago1:01:49

1:01:49

ChessDojo’s GM Jesse Kraai is always one of my favorite people to talk chess with, yet somehow it had been five years since his last visit to the pod. Jesse returned at a great time, having been both studying and competing actively, and recently achieving his goal of qualifying for the 2026 U.S. Senior Closed Championship. His recent over-the-board…

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EP 448- NM Max Farberov on Beating Plateaus, Springing Opening Surprises, and Why Speed Chess Matters 1:01:43

2M ago1:01:43

1:01:43

NM Max Farberov is a 27-year-old chess instructor, Chessable author, and online speed-chess specialist with a Chess.com blitz rating north of 2600. He joined me after a busy chess summer that included his first European open and one of his best OTB results to date: winning clear first in the Under-2300 section of the Washington International. As Ma…

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EP 447: Going Pro at 57- GM Alex Fishbein on How New and Challenging Training Methods Fueled an Upset win at the US Senior Invitational 1:04:45

2M ago1:04:45

1:04:45

Going Pro at 57: `GM Alex Fishbein on How New and Challenging Training Methods Fueled an Upset win at the US Senior Invitational At 57 years old, Tennessee-based Grandmaster and Author, Alex Fishbein, has built an impressive chess résumé, with 12 state-championship titles across four states and multiple appearances in U.S. Championship events. But …

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EP 446- IM Greg Shahade on The State of Professional Chess, Why He Loves the Daily and Classical Formats & Adult Improving at Trivia 1:09:11

2M ago1:09:11

1:09:11

IM Greg Shahade was the very first guest of Perpetual Chess and has remained a frequent and insightful contributor ever since. A former youth national champion, Greg has subsequently been involved in the chess world in an array of capacities —founder of the US Chess School (which provides free training to top American juniors), creator of the now-d…

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EP 445- “It Worked So Well That I Stopped Doing It”: Adult Improver Nicholas Sloan on Dealing with Burnout After a Rapid Rating Rise 58:48

3M ago58:48

58:48

Nicholas Sloan is a Wisconsin-based Network Engineer, a dad of 4, and an extremely motivated chess improver. Usually. But after an incredible run of gaining 500+ rating points in two years, fueled by consistent hard work and a unique study approach, Nick hit a wall. He gave back 150 rating points, and lost his motivation to work hard on chess. That…

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EP 444 – Dr. Benjamin Balas on Chess Streaks, Blunders, and Brain Science 53:11

3M ago53:11

53:11

Dr. Benjamin (Ben) Balas is an MIT-educated professor of psychology at North Dakota State University, where his research focuses on visual recognition. He’s also a passionate chess player who blogs frequently about the intersection of science and chess. On his popular LiChess blog, Ben (aka NDPatzer) has explored topics like whether streakiness exi…

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Ep. 161: Resetting the Board (Back in the Fall) 1:02

3M ago1:02

1:02

The Chess Angle will be taking a break for the remainder of the summer. I realized I needed more time to recharge after Season 9, and this pause will allow me to refocus and come back stronger. Thanks for your support - see you in the fall! ♟️🎙️ 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]…

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EP 443- GM Jan Gustafsson on Building Opening Repertoires, Freestyle Chess, Father Time, and the Usual Array of Nonsense 1:14:36

3M ago1:14:36

1:14:36

Opening expert, Twitch streamer, former Team Magnus member, and longtime friend of the pod, GM Jan Gustafsson is back for another fun and far-reaching interview! We talk about the origins of his new Chessable course on the Austrian Defense, how his approach to repertoire building has evolved, and get his take on the recent Freestyle Chess drama in …

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Ep. 160: “Old Man” Chess: The Slow, Boring Way to Win More Games 38:05

3M ago38:05

38:05

This week's show begins with some Listener Mailbag questions about opening choices. We then discuss the concept of "Old Man" Chess, which emphasizes a safe, ultra-solid, and risk-averse playing style that is often very effective at the club level. The conversation also explores the balance between tactical and positional play, the advantages and di…

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EP 442- GM Johan Hellsten: Why Defending Is So Difficult — And How to Improve At It 1:07:18

3M ago1:07:18

1:07:18

EP 442- GM Johan Hellsten: Why Defending Is So Difficult — And How to Improve At It GM Johan Hellsten returns to Perpetual Chess for a deep dive into one of the most overlooked yet essential chess skills: defense. Johan is the 2006 Swedish National Champion, and a renowned author and coach, best known for his Mastering Chess series. In this intervi…

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Ep. 159: Chess Opening Systems for White & More 39:51

3M ago39:51

39:51

In this episode, Neal shares his experience from a recent night at the LI Chess Club, discussing the challenges of tournament conditions and the nature of 'ugly wins.' The conversation transitions into listener questions, covering topics such as the value of attending chess clubs, the etiquette surrounding draw offers, and the effectiveness of coac…

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Ep. 158: Why Your Fancy Chess Study Plan and Four-Year Book Hierarchy Aren't Working 40:38

4M ago40:38

40:38

Many club-level players follow a highly structured study plan but have poor tournament results. We explore this phenomenon and offer some possible solutions. Referenced: Reset: How to Change What's Not Working (Amazon) Chess for Tigers (Amazon) 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]…

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EP 441- WCM Hannah Sayce: The 24-year old Twitch Streamer on the Key Factors Behind Her Rapid Rise to the WCM Title 43:12

4M ago43:12

43:12

In just a few years, 24-year-old Australian Twitch streamer Hannah Sayce went from playing casual online games during lockdown to earning the Woman Candidate Master (WCM) title and competing in international tournaments. Her post-lockdown rise has taken her from below 1000 to a 2300 Chess.com blitz rating. In this conversation, Hannah shares the hi…

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Ep. 157 (S10 Premiere): 1...e6 vs. EVERYTHING, Does Blitz Mess Up Your Thought Process?, & More 43:02

4M ago43:02

43:02

Welcome to Season 10! This week we discuss 1...e6, blitz chess, using the King in the endgame, and more. Referenced: Blitz is Screwing Up Your Thought Process Ep. 100: The Hippopotamus Defense and Other Chess Opening Systems for Black 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🎯 Our L…

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EP 440- GM Alexandr Fier: “I Blunder a Lot” – One of the World’s Most Active Grandmasters on Intuition, Endgame Studies, and Maintaining His Love For the Game 1:07:24

4M ago1:07:24

1:07:24

GM Alexandr Fier is a 5 time champion of Brazil and 9 time chess Olympian. He also recently qualified for the FIDE World Cup for the 8th time by finishing tied for first at the American Continental tournament. But aside from all of his impressive accomplishments, what interests me most about GM Fier is how frequently he competes. Last year alone, h…

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EP 439 — Samuel Sonning (Founder of NoctieAI): The Instructive Value of Memorizing Games, the Benefit of Losing Rating Points, and a Deep Dive on Chess and AI 50:32

4M ago50:32

50:32

This week’s guest is Samuel Sonning, a Swedish computer scientist, former Google engineer, and founder of NoctieAI—a user-friendly chess platform featuring rating tests and bots designed to play like humans. In our conversation, Samuel discusses his unique improvement philosophy as an adult learner, including how memorizing famous games helped him …

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EP 438- Tony Ballard: Chess, Freedom, and Lessons Learned From 26 Years in Prison 1:06:02

4M ago1:06:02

1:06:02

In this memorable episode of Perpetual Chess, we welcome back Tony Ballard, who spent 26 years incarcerated and credits chess with helping him change the course of his life. When we last spoke in Episode 289 (2022), Tony was still in a minimum-security facility. Now fully free, he’s making the most of his second chance. He’s working full-time at th…

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Ep. 156 (S9 Finale): The THREE Things You Need to Know to Beat 1. d4, Common Beginner Mistakes, Spite Checks, and Stalemate Fantasies 39:35

4M ago39:35

39:35

This is the S9 Finale. S10 Premiere coming soon. In the meantime, check out the Long Island Chess Club YouTube Channel which has instructional videos for busy adult players. We're looking to get the channel fully off the ground and add more content on a consistent basis. Game Referenced: 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 e6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. c3 Be7 6. h3 O-O 7…

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EP 437- Coach Jay Stallings and NM Adam Weissbarth talk Chess Teaching, Chess in the Movies and The Challenges and Rewards of Running a Chess Business 1:25:42

5M ago1:25:42

1:25:42

This two-part episode of Perpetual Chess features two of the most impactful figures in American chess education: Coach Jay Stallings and Adam Weissbarth. First up, Coach Jay shares insights from his decades of experience teaching over 30,000 students,and also discusses his recent work consulting on the chess scenes in the new Hollywood blockbuster …

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Ep. 155: Why Many Adults Give Up on Chess, and How You Can Be the Exception 37:45

5M ago37:45

37:45

In this episode, we dive into the hidden challenges adult players face when returning to chess after a long break, and the powerful mindset shifts that separate those who thrive from those who quit. Whether you’re battling self-doubt, time constraints, or rating plateaus, this episode offers real talk and practical strategies to help you stay motiv…

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EP 436- Adult Improver Torkil Jara Bårdsgjerde on How Workplace Trash Talk Sparked a Lifelong Passion for Chess 1:16:31

5M ago1:16:31

1:16:31

EP 436- Adult Improver Torkil Jara Bårdsgjerde on How Workplace Trash Talk Sparked a Lifelong Passion for Chess In this inspiring and relatable installment of the Adult Improver Series, we meet Torkil Jara Bårdsgjerde, a 39-year-old father of two, from Norway who discovered competitive chess after a bit of playful banter with a workplace rival. Tha…

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Ep. 154: Wasted Prep? Why Your Opponent-Specific Prep Might Be Useless Below 2000 37:08

5M ago37:08

37:08

In this Listener Mailbag exclusive, we discuss whether prepping for specific opponents is worth it at the amateur level, and a bunch of other stuff too... 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (X) YouTube (Chess Angle Podcast) YouTube (LI Chess Club) …

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EP 435- IM Alex Ostrovskiy on Opening Prep, Norm Tournaments, and His Core Chess Improvement Advice & 1:03:23

5M ago1:03:23

1:03:23

IM Alex Ostrovskiy is a former Scholastic National Champion, New York State Champion, and accomplished coach who has earned one GM norm, and reached a peak USCF rating of 2560. In addition to his coaching work, Alex is a regular commentator on GM Hikaru Nakamura's Twitch channel, and a tournament organizer who runs frequent invitational tournaments…

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Ep. 153: There is NO Advantage to Having the White Pieces at the Amateur Level 39:50

5M ago39:50

39:50

This week is all about chess opening philosophy. We discuss a number of ideas about opening prep and argue that having the White pieces does not provide any meaningful advantage at the club level since most amateur games are littered with mistakes, thus negating any possible benefit of moving first. The basis of this episode is a response to the ex…

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EP 434- GM Mauricio Flores Rios: The Acclaimed Chess Structures Author on How to Approach Different Chess Imbalances, Chess & A.I., and The Missing Ingredient in Freestyle Chess 56:44

5M ago56:44

56:44

GM Mauricio Flores Rios' first book, Chess Structures, is a modern classic which is seemingly recommended on a weekly basis on Perpetual Chess. After nine years of work, Mauricio has recently released its follow-up, Chess Imbalances: A GM Guide. Like Chess Structures, it is a highly instructive book with a beautiful selection of games and useful gu…

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Ep. 152: Grinding Out Endgame Wins at the Club Level (Game Analysis #14) 38:37

5M ago38:37

38:37

This week we discuss endgame strategy for club players and some other stuff as well. Grinding out a win in an "even" endgame is a mixture of patience, stubbornness, and luck. A .pgn for the game we analyze is below. We reference the highly recommended book The Survival Guide to Competitive Chess (Amazon) by GM John Emms, who was a previous guest on…

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EP 433- GM Kenneth Rogoff: From the World Juniors to the World Bank. Dr. Rogoff on His Remarkable Transition from Top Young Chess Talent to Renowned Economist. 1:09:02

6M ago1:09:02

1:09:02

Dr. Kenneth Rogoff has undoubtedly had one of the highest-profile and most interesting careers of any Grandmaster working outside of chess. He is an author and Harvard professor who was once singled-out by none other than Bobby Fischer, as a player who had shown remarkable chess improvement. As a young chess star, Dr. Rogoff actually dropped out of…

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Ep. 151: You Have 8 Years to Improve, Then It’s Game Over: A Discussion & Debate About Adult Chess Improvement feat. NM Tim Mirabile 47:39

6M ago47:39

47:39

A number of years ago, GM Andy Soltis claimed that once a chess player becomes serious about the game, there is an 8-year window during which he achieves 90% of his maximum chess potential. Anything beyond that time frame is just squeezing out the remaining 10%. NM Tim Mirabile returns to the podcast to discuss this theory and a bunch of other ches…

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EP 432- NM Dana Mackenzie: The 5 Steps to Becoming a Chess Master & Other Chess Stories and Advice 1:07:50

6M ago1:07:50

1:07:50

NM Dana Mackenzie is a former math professor turned science writer who has maintained a passion for chess throughout his life and career changes.He is a USCF Life Master and was the 2 time state champion of North Carolina. Dana had a long running and popular chess blog which has now been turned into a book Did You Come Here to Play Chess or Have Fu…

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Ep. 150: The Jobava London System: A Chess Opening for Busy Adults 40:28

6M ago40:28

40:28

The Jobava London (1. d4, 2. Nc3, 3. Bf4) is an opening system that is easy to learn, yet still has a lot of sting, especially against ...g6 set-ups by Black. It can easily throw off an opponent who's expecting to face a standard London formation. The theory and ideas are fairly simple, making it a great choice for those with limited study time. Mu…

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EP 431- GM Mihail Marin:The Award-Winning Author shares Chess Wisdom from Across the Generations 1:12:47

6M ago1:12:47

1:12:47

GM Mihail Marin is a prolific and popular author, trainer, and 3-time Romanian national champion. He has made numerous contributions to the chess canon but is probably best known for the book Learn from the Legends, published in 2005, which received high praise from GM Daniel Naroditsky, IM Jeremy Silman, and many others. In 2025, its much-anticipa…

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Ep. 149: Build Your Technique, Build Your Rating: The Game-Changer You Need 38:05

6M ago38:05

38:05

This episode is a review of the chess.com course "Build Your Technique" by FM Thomas Wolski. This is a highly recommended training module for adult players looking to improve. We also share some chess club stories, dive into the Listener Mailbag, and react to a chess.com article about common online time controls. 📧 If you have a question, comment, …

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EP 430: GM Susan Polgar on Perseverance and Empowering the Next Generation 1:05:41

6M ago1:05:41

1:05:41

GM Susan Polgar is a World Chess Hall of Famer and former Women’s World Champion. She is also the holder of numerous records, including being the first female “triple crown winner” and the first woman to earn the Grandmaster title by norms and rating. She is also an author, and Chessable author. Her latest book, Rebel Queen: The Cold War, Misogyny …

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Ep. 148: Can An Adult Beginner Reach 1600? 38:35

6M ago38:35

38:35

This week we discuss ratings and improvement for busy adults. You may wish to check out the Reddit post referenced in this episode. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (X) YouTube (Chess Angle Podcast) YouTube (LI Chess Club) Buy Me a Coffee…

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EP 429- Omar Mills: Chess and Life Lessons Learned from Not Improving as Much as He Expected 1:03:11

6M ago1:03:11

1:03:11

The Adult Improver series returns to Perpetual Chess to welcome Omar Mills (aka ChessvonDoom) to the podcast. Omar fell in love with chess during the pandemic and has learned some unexpected lessons through the thousands of games he has played in subsequent years. He learned that chess improvement and maintaining a disciplined study routine is much…

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Ep. 147: Bird's Opening (1. f4), When to Sac a Piece (and when not to) at the Amateur Level, Material vs. Initiative & More (Game Analysis #13) 40:03

7M ago40:03

40:03

This episode is a thematic analysis of an amateur game with takeaways that are instruction rich. Topics covered: Bird's Opening (1. f4) Unnecessary defensive moves Sacrificing pieces Material vs. Initiative Calculation Central Control Referenced: Guide to a Successful Chess Club Game analyzed (G/90;d10): 1. f4 b6 2. Nf3 Bb7 3. e3 Nf6 4. b3 e6 5. Bb…

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EP 428- IM Danny Rensch of Chess.com: Combating Cheats and Charting Chess's Future 1:10:49

7M ago1:10:49

1:10:49

IM Danny Rensch is a former child prodigy turned Chief Chess Officer of Chess.com, the largest chess website in the world. Danny rejoined me 8 years after his first visit to the podcast (Episode 18) to discuss all that is new with Chess.com. Inevitably, this means a detailed discussion of online cheat detection, and whether Chess.com thinks that th…