Ep. 59: Why Is My Lower-Rated Opponent Playing So Well?

In this episode, Neal confesses a hard truth: his most dreaded opponents aren't Masters - they're "unrated" and "lower-rated" opponents who absolutely do not play like their numbers suggest. We talk a...

22 Feb 36min

A new year means a fresh chance to improve, but only if you have a plan that actually fits your real life. In this Season 11 premiere, Neal dives into the Listener Mailbag and then shares a practical,...

15 Feb 45min

It's the Season 10 finale, so we're emptying the mailbag and tackling your chess improvement questions head-on, from study habits and rating plateaus to tournament nerves and adult time constraints. S...

14 Dec 202530min

In this episode, we explore how small, almost trivial adjustments can quietly transform your chess over time. From simple blunder checks to minor mindset shifts, these micro-tweaks often deliver more ...

7 Dec 202548min

In this episode, Neal is joined by fellow amateur and LI Chess Club regular Austin Olson, a 25-year-old merchandising specialist, to break down the long-standing Lichess vs. Chess.com debate from the ...

30 Nov 202556min

This week, we continue our conversation about best practices for online chess and riff about blitz vs. rapid for the amateur player.  📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future epi...

23 Nov 202542min

In this episode, we discuss how to play online chess in a way that actually helps your over-the-board results. Neal shares his simple, practical method for structuring online sessions so you train wit...

16 Nov 202531min

It's another listener mailbag episode! We answer your questions about adult chess improvement, balancing study with real life, and everything in between. Plus, we share a few listener comments that hi...

9 Nov 202537min