Ep. 191 (Midseason Finale): Is YouTube Actually Better For Adult Chess Improvement Than Chessable? feat. Steve Rosenblatt
In this midseason finale episode, Neal talks with Long Island Chess Club regular Steve Rosenblatt for a wide-ranging conversation on adult chess improvement. The two debate whether YouTube videos or C...
24 Touko 52min
Ep. 190: Boost Your Chess Rating by Checking Your Ego
Most adult chess players are not held back primarily by calculation or opening knowledge. They are held back by ego: the need to look smart, play "real chess," attack beautifully, avoid embarrassment,...
17 Touko 45min
Ep. 189: The Amateur's Mind (Chessable Version) - Still the Most Important Chess Book for Adult Players
This week, we revisit The Amateur's Mind by IM Jeremy Silman, this time through the Chessable edition. We've long argued this is the most important book for adult improvers, not because it hands you l...
10 Touko 51min
Ep. 188: Why Study Beats Play for Chess Improvement
Most adult players default to playing more games when they want to improve, but that instinct is often backwards. In this episode, we argue that structured study is the real driver of progress for clu...
3 Touko 56min
Ep. 187: The 2200 Myth: Why Most Adult Chess Players Won't Make Master
Most adult amateurs quietly carry the same goal: reach Master. In this episode, we take an honest look at why that milestone is so elusive: time constraints, training demands, a competitive player poo...
26 Huhti 1h 3min
Ep. 186: GM Daniel Gormally on "Untold: Chess Mates," the Netflix Special About the Magnus/Hans Cheating Controversy
GM Daniel Gormally returns to the pod to unpack Netflix's Untold: Chess Mates, the documentary covering the Magnus Carlsen - Hans Niemann controversy. We separate the signal from the noise, offering a...
19 Huhti 52min
Ep. 185: The Adult Amateur's Guide to Defeating Chess Prodigies
In this episode, we react to a recent article on how to beat chess prodigies and what adult amateurs tend to get wrong when facing underrated kids. We break down practical strategies like avoiding tac...
12 Huhti 31min
Ep. 184: Real Talk on Chess Improvement for Adults feat. Nick Visel
Fellow chess amateur and blogger Nick Visel returns to the pod to talk about the nuts and bolts of improving as an adult player. We cover endgames, openings, and the psychological habits that separate...
5 Huhti 1h 7min
