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The Chess Experience — Games
The Chess Experience

Chess improvement as an adult is harder than it should be. Plus, the journey can sometimes feel too stressful and serious. This show aims to fix that by 1) interviewing experts who can offer clarity on the best ways to improve; and 2) giving you a heap of fun with “chess entertainment” shows that discuss chess culture, events, movies, etc. Most episodes feature a guest, but sometimes I’ll do a solo show on a topic. This is all brought to you by me, Daniel Lona. I’m a dedicated chess amateur and the owner of Adult Chess Academy. After listening to this podcast, I want you to have a clearer idea of how to improve, and have a more fun, dynamic chess experience. Please follow the show so you don’t miss an episode!

Copyright: © 2022 The Chess Experience

Latest Episodes:

Updates: Susan Polgar, Submit Qs for Her, Video Pod Episodes Feb 25, 2025

News updates for this week: 1) GM Susan Polgar is coming to the show very soon! 2) You can submit a question for Susan by joining my Patreon membership (deadline to submit Q is 2/27 at 1pm CT.) 3) Because I’m prepping so much for that interview, there won't be a show this week. 4) Videos of my pod interviews will be coming soon on my new YouTube channel. See you all soon!

How to Build Attacking Intuition w/ WGM Thalia Cervantes Landeiro Feb 19, 2025

117 Hailing from Cuba, and now one of the top American women players, WGM Thalia Cervantes is a chess powerhouse. For the past four years, she’s been invited to and played at the elite US Women’s Chess Championship.

And her competitive pursuits are nowhere near finished. Thalia is working diligently with a coach to earn her IM title, with one norm already achieved.

She’s also just released her first Chessable course, called, “Building an Attacking Intuition in Chess,” a subject we explore at length in the second half of the episode.

We also discuss:

How a club player can develop an attacking intuition through pattern recognition.
Thalia’s thoughts on her performance at the 2024 US Women’s Chess Championship (and how she prepares for these events.)
The highlights of her early years in the thriving Cuban chess culture and the importance of Capablanca.
Her plans post-college and what goes into earning the IM title.

More From Thalia:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

GM Boris Avrukh: How to Play Better Defense, Coaching Fabi, & Playing Against Tal Feb 11, 2025

116 What a chess career! GM Boris Avrukh cracked the World Top 50 in 2005 and achieved a peak rating of 2668. He has coached the world’s best players like Fabiano Caruana, Vladimir Kramnik, and Wesley So. And he even got to be the last person to ever play the legendary Mikhail Tal.

Of course, Boris has had an exemplary competitive career representing Israel in six chess Olympiads and winning the World U12 Championship in 1990.

In addition to years of coaching the world’s best and club players alike, Boris has also written countless opening books and published five Chessable courses.

Boris and I talk at length about his course called “Resourceful Chess: Defense & Counterplay,” which will give you some excellent advice on how to play better defense.

We also discuss:

Why it’s important to recognize key defensive patterns.
His experience coaching Fabiano Caruana.
Why Boris choose to highlight Hans Niemann for defensive play in his course (and whether he did so knowing he’d be controversial.)

More From GM Boris Avrukh

Daniel's Twitter account to follow for the giveaway.

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Nigerian Star Uses Chess to Improve Others’ Lives & Her Own w/ WFM Perpetual Ogbiyoyo Feb 04, 2025

115 She learned the game at 19. The next year she became a titled player with an 1800+ FIDE rating. Then, several years later, WFM Perpetual Ogbiyoyo founded an organization to spread chess to girls and women throughout Nigeria. Now, she’s expanded her connection to the chess world by moving to New York City. In this episode, we talk about her incredible journey, including:

How she rose from complete beginner to Woman FIDE Master in one year.
A window into the culture and community of chess in Nigeria.
Why she created the organization Promoting Queens and its mission to empower girls everywhere through chess.
Her aspiration to become the first Nigerian woman Grandmaster.

How You Can Support the Pod:

You can greatly help this pod with a donation. Much time and expense goes into creating this show. And, I’d be very grateful if you could support this endeavor which aims to give you the best in chess interviews. Leave a brief note with your donation and I’ll respond personally to you. Donate here.

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)

More From WFM Perpetual Ogbiyoyo

Adult Improver Pod: Nicholas Sloan - A 400+ Rating Rise in 2 Years (& Chasing the NM Title) Jan 28, 2025

114 Leaping 400 rating points in classical, rated chess as an adult in just two years? That requires a huge effort and rare dedication. Two qualities that describe well this week’s guest, fellow adult club player, Nicholas Sloan. Specifically, in a relatively brief period, Nick went from 1400 USCF to 1849 USCF.
And it’s all part of his plan to earn the National Master title - something that he wants to prove is possible for us adults.
But exciting progress doesn’t come easy. Nick advocates consistency, discipline, and a willingness to face your chess weakness.
In this episode, we discuss:

The top 3 reasons Nick was able to make such massive and fast progress in his USCF rating.
Why he doesn’t believe “one size fits all” training programs are that effective.
Why he has preferred self-guided learning to studying under a coach.

More From Nick:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

GM Josh Friedel - Common Middlegame Mistakes & Coaching Insights Jan 21, 2025

113 Rarely do grandmasters focus on helping club players and beginners. But when they do it’s rare and exciting. Their extra skill and understanding of the game deliver insights that even other titled players may not possess. That’s what GM Josh Friedel offers as a course creator and coach. And it can be heard throughout this interview.
Of course, Josh has had an impressive chess career. Competitively, he tied for 6th place at the US Chess Championship in 2009 and competed at the World Cup.
He has passed along this hard-earned chess knowledge for decades by coaching club players.
And for nearly as long, he’s been creating courses, most recently for Chessable on common mistakes in the opening and middlegame.
In this episode, we chat:

Common middle-game mistakes and how to avoid them.
Josh’s unique qualities as a coach that separate him from the pack.
Why is it so difficult to convert a won position - and how to get better at it.

GIVEAWAY: To win Josh’s Chessable course on avoiding middlegame mistakes, follow Daniel Lona on Twitter for details and updates (for the week of 1/21/25 only.)

More From Josh:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Adult Improver Pod: Sydney Strauss - Moving to NYC to Chase Her Chess Dreams Jan 14, 2025

112 Would you move to a new city for chess? Few have that level of commitment to the game. But our guest this week did exactly that. Adult improver Sydney Strauss moved to New York City this past year to pursue her relatively new passion for chess.
After learning the game just two years ago, she fell in love with it and began studying and playing every day. The following year, Sydney knew she wanted to take her pursuit to the next level and be fully immersed in chess through clubs, tournaments, and friends.
New York City, with its venerated Marshall Chess Club and thriving chess scene, provided her with that experience.
In a brief time, Sydney has now reached an inspiring FIDE rating of 1581.
This episode explores her story, why chess has impacted her life so greatly, and what her future ambitions may be within the game.

Plus: will she get a chess tattoo?

Connect with Sydney Strauss:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

WIM Svitlana Demchenko - Insights on Imbalances and Her Dynamic Chess Life Jan 08, 2025

111 She does it all. WIM Svitlana Demchenko is a course creator, coach, streamer, and high-level chess competitor. Born in Ukraine and a long-time Canadian citizen, Svitlana proved herself early in chess, becoming a five-time Canadian girls champion. In more recent years, she’s competed in the Chess Olympiad three times as part of the Canadian women’s team.
She’s also published several fantastic opening and strategy courses for ChessBase. And, each week, she streams chess on Twitch.
Finally, rounding out her chess activities, is a regular video show called Smart Moves, where Svitlana coaches an amateur player. In the process, she focuses on key topics that’ll help any club player improve their chess.
In this episode, we discuss:

The undervalued topic of imbalances in chess and why club players should probably spend more time on this concept.
How Svitlana juggles her pursuit of a medical career and a robust chess life.
Her chase for the WGM title.
Her thoughts on the World Championship event and Gukesh as the new champ.

More From Svitlana:

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

WGM Maria Gevorgyan - 5x-Armenian National Champion & Chess Coach Dec 18, 2024

110 Today’s guest is the inspiring and talented WGM Maria Gevorgyan. Few have managed to become a national chess champion, let alone do it five times. But Maria has! In addition to becoming the women’s chess champion of Armenia multiple times…

Maria is now taking all that she’s learned from her competitive career and helping her students as a chess coach.

These days, she is the head coach at the Abu Dhabi Chess Academy for women and girls.

In this interview, we discuss:

Is blitz a helpful tool for improvement or just a fun way to play the game?
How an accidental illegal move by Maria was missed at the tournament where she earned her the WGM title!
The #1 book recommendation that Maria believes every club player should read.

More From Maria:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Schedule Update for December '24 Dec 04, 2024

A quick update on this month's (12/24) release schedule. The holidays make it a little more difficult to schedule guests, so I'll be only releasing two episodes this month. The next will be on Tuesday, December 17th. The other will be on the 31st. But if you'd like to hear me share a little more detail (and a fun teaser at the end) play the 90-second update :)
We'll be back to the normal, weekly episodes starting the first week of January. Thank you SO much for your support of the podcast!

Ding vs. Gukesh - World Championship Preview w/ FM Carsten Hansen Nov 22, 2024

109 The upcoming World Championship should be a fascinating one! GM Ding Liren is the reigning world champ. While he’s an extraordinary talent, his rating and performance have backslid this past year. And, sadly, Ding has been struggling with psychological issues...
Meanwhile, India’s brightest chess talent and Ding's opponent, GM Gukesh Dommaraju, will be the youngest player to ever compete in the World Championship at 18 years old.
Gukesh, though he’s been stellar in his recent competitive performances, will have to face a lack of experience at the highest level.
To help explore and illuminate the different issues at play, FM Carsten Hansen returns to the podcast for another World Championship preview.
Carsten is one of the most prolific chess authors around we discuss the unique challenges for each player, whether their styles will be a factor, and clues to look for in the early games to help you know who may win the match.
The event begins on November 25th, 2024…
BUT…this episode will be worth listening to even several days later to help understand the match and gain some fascinating chess insights.

More From FM Carsten Hansen:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Aggressive Openings & Innovative Strategies for Club Players w/ FM Midas Ratmas Nov 19, 2024

Our guest this week is a self-taught FIDE Master, coach, and popular course creator hailing from the Netherlands: Midas Ratmas.
Midas has built his chess career around helping club players and beginners.
As such, he’s developed a special talent for teaching chess to players at this level.
Midas has already published over a dozen Chessable courses covering areas like the opening, tactics, and strategy - with many more on the horizon.
In this episode, we talk about:

The 3 ways he makes opening courses more accessible and easier for club players to manage.
Why beginners - and maybe even club players - should learn the strategies that stem from each of the individual chess pieces.
How he plans to achieve his goal of earning the IM title.
Straightforward advice on endgames & calculation from his upcoming courses.

Midas’s Chessable course page

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Adult Improver Pod - Nick Visel: Pursuing Chess Improvement Without Burnout Nov 12, 2024

107 Few adult club players are as committed to the game as Nick Visel. For years, he’s been racking up countless OTB classical games, poring through books and courses, and sharing his wisdom on Chess Twitter. Currently, Nick stands at 1600 USCF with ambitions of becoming a Class A player and reaching National Master.

Nick shares great tips from his earned wisdom, plus how he’s willing to scale back his chess when other areas of his life take priority.

In this episode, we discuss:

A better way to learn openings beyond just tedious memorization.
Why he’s reduced his chess study workload and how it helps him avoid burnout.
Why he thinks Karpov would have beaten Fischer had they played in 1975.
The importance of a poker face in OTB chess

More From Nick:

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

WCM Adriana Palao: Pursuing Chess Titles & Movie Magic Oct 31, 2024

106 Adriana is a dynamic titled player, coach, and content creator from Spain. She’s already reached a 2000+ FIDE rating and is working regularly towards her WFM title. This year alone, she’s competed in ten OTB classical tournaments.
Adriana also coaches students ranging from beginner up to 1800.
Outside of chess, she has a degree in film studies and is pursuing a career in film. Recently, she helped distribute an award-winning short film thriller.
As a fun detour, this podcast takes a rare opportunity to chat with Adriana about our favorite movies for a few minutes.
As always, we close with questions about her favorite player of all time, her favorite openings, and what her one “chess wish” would be.

More From Adriana:

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Evaluation: A Vital But Overlooked Skill For Club Players w/ GM Eugene Perelshteyn Oct 22, 2024

105 Today’s guest is a huge help to countless adult improvers.

GM Eugene Perelshteyn is a highly regarded coach, author, and course creator.

In more recent years, he went beyond helping his private students and extended his chess wisdom to writing a book and publishing courses.

His 2022 book, Evaluate Like A Grandmaster, is a huge help to almost every club player. And we discuss at length the benefits of improving your often-overlooked evaluation skills in chess.

But this is also a wide-reaching interview…

In our chat, we discuss the recent controversy with GM Christopher Woo at the US Chess Championship and why mental health is a critical topic for competitive players (even amateurs!)

Plus, we cover:

How studying gambits can make you a better chess player.
Who is likely to win the World Chess Championship between Ding & Gukesh.
Hikaru’s trick to playing better competitively that applies to all players.

Follow me on Twitter to win Eugene's "Every Gambit Refuted" Chessable course (and other future giveaways!)

More From Eugene:

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Behind The Scenes of Chess Journalism with Vanessa Sun Oct 15, 2024

104 This week’s guest is Vanessa Sun, a former chess journalist. For years, she covered events for US Chess, from major national tournaments like the US Open to local competitions.
She was also a tournament director at the famous Marshall Chess Club in New York City. Plus, she’s volunteered for IM Greg Shahade at the US Chess School, which is a nonprofit that offers free chess coaching to the most promising juniors in the country.
Beyond her chess experiences, she’s an atmospheric chemist and is currently in a Ph.D program.
In this episode, we chat about her chess journey, including:

What unique insights about chess she’s gained from covering tournaments and doing interviews as a chess journalist.
Why she prefers classical and calls herself a “blitz hater.”
Whether there’s any link between playing chess and intelligence.
The powerful impact chess can have on people’s lives, even if they don’t make a career of it or work on the game regularly.

Find Vanessa on Twitter

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Adult Improver Pod: Dr. Ryan Thomas - Revamping His Approach to Chess Study Oct 08, 2024

103 Our guest is an inspiring adult improver, Dr. Ryan Thomas. Ryan is a surgeon, a cancer researcher, and a father of two. With all that, he’s still highly dedicated to chess improvement and his love of the game. Ryan regularly attends OTB classical tournaments, and his current USCF rating is 958 with a goal of 1200.

In this episode, we discuss:

Ryan’s journey from casual high school player to avid tournament competitor later in life.
How all chess players share common bonds regardless of their skill level.
What Ryan did to solve the problems of information overload & inconsistent practice.
The courses Ryan revisited to ensure he practiced chess fundamentals.
The parallels between chess and medical training, and how each has informed the other in Ryan’s life.

Find Ryan on Twitter

Resources Referenced:

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

IM Boroljub Zlatanovic - How Amateurs Can Play Like GMs & Making Chess Principles a Top Priority Oct 01, 2024

102 Learning from a prolific chess author and course creator is always exciting. Today we dive into various chess improvement topics from Serbian International Master, Boro Zlatanovic. Boro has published over two dozen courses and books. And in just five years! And his two most recent courses have been published with Chessable, including Masterpieces of Amateur Play and Conversion in the Endgame.
One thing that stands out about Boro, and that I find refreshing, is that while we’re in an era where most published works are focused on openings, Boro prefers to write and teach about strategy, endgames, and chess psychology.
In our discussion, we chat about:

What you can learn from annotated amateur games, not only master games.
The psychology and attitude you ought to have when playing higher-rated opponents.
Why you should focus on understanding chess ideas & principles as the guiding star of your chess journey, not just memorization or what engine analysis tells you.

More From Boro:

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

FM Megan Lee - Achieving New Heights as an Adult in OTB Chess Sep 25, 2024

101 Megan Lee is an inspiration to all of us adult improvers. Even with a busy work life running two businesses, Megan has had an incredible year: reaching her lifetime rating peak (2297 FIDE), earning the FM title, and competing in the US Women’s Championship.
In fact, this year will be her third invitation to that prestigious event.
Yet she does this all on the side while she juggles a typical but heavy load of adult responsibilities.
In this episode, we discuss:

Why Megan can achieve more in chess as an adult than she did as a junior.
Megan’s experiences competing at the US Women’s Chess Championship (including her prep for this year’s event.)
What areas of her game she’ll need to strengthen to achieve the IM title.

More from Megan: Snippet Studios (her lifestyle brand business)
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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Podcast Schedule Update: Sept 3rd, 2024 Sep 03, 2024

A quick update on why the show has been MIA for three weeks (spoiler: COVID.) And when I'll resume...

Sicilian Advice: WIM Tea Gueci, A Top Italian Female Player & Chess Coach Aug 14, 2024

0100 She’s rated one of Italy’s top female players and has coached adult improvers for years. And she is this show’s first Italian guest! WIM Tea Guecci has had an impressive chess career. She broke records by age twelve, becoming the youngest ever to win the Italian Women’s Chess Championship.
She’s also played and represented her country in two Chess Olympiads.
Recently, she launched her first Chessable course called, “My Secret Sveshnikov: The Sicilian by a Sicilian.”
NOTE: To win the full video version of Tea’s course for free, follow me on Twitter for instructions on the giveaway Chessable & I will be doing between 8/14 and 8/19.
In this episode, we discuss:

The most common mistakes her adult improvers students make (and how to avoid them.)
How well can you really learn from reviewing games on your own versus with a coach?
What factors to consider in choosing which Sicilian to play.

More From Tea:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Chess Coach, Streamer, & Psychologist: WFM Fruzsina Szente-Varga Aug 06, 2024

099 She’s been awarded “Chess Coach of the Month” by Chess.com. Plus, she has a master’s degree in psychology. Meet WFM Fruzsina Szente-Varga! Hailing from Hungary, Fruzsina has spent the past several years coaching adult club players and beginners.
Additionally, she regularly creates excellent chess content through her Twitch & YouTube channels.
In this interview, we discuss:

How she uses her master’s degree in psychology to help her students.
Common mistakes she sees club players making in their improvement journey (and strategies to avoid them.)
How to set expectations for an OTB tournament so that you don’t get frustrated or disappointed if the event doesn’t go your way.
Why she dislikes when coaches scold their students for mistakes and how it’s harmful to their development as chess players.

More From Fruzsina:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
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DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Leveling Up the Chess Community for Adult Club Players w/ Kamryn Heller & Omar Mills Jul 30, 2024

098 Adult club players are a fast-growing part of the chess community. But this growth is relatively new. And the community may not have fully caught up to our sizeable presence. So, in a first for this podcast, I’ve brought in two guests to help me discuss this subject and propose some ideas to make the community more engaging for us adult amateurs.
Kamryn Hellman is an adult improver who rose to 2000 Chess.com Rapid in less than a year. Since then, she’s launched a YouTube channel and created a Chessable course for beginners.
Omar Mills is a super-dedicated and inspiring club player who’s built a large chess Twitter following.
In this episode, we discuss:

The need for more adults-only OTB tournaments.
The exciting opportunity for more online, adult amateur events a la Pogchamps (Omar suggests “Survivor: Chess Edition!”)
Whether chess media should feature notable achievements or stories of adult club players.

Kamryn:

Omar:

Twitter

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

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Click 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)

Why Club Players Struggle Against 1.d4 (And Solving This Challenge) w/ IM Mateusz Kolosowski Jul 16, 2024

097 Playing against 1.d4 can be awkward. Many club players say they’re less sure of what to do positionally and have more difficulty finding tactical possibilities. Even the most popular, and arguably best, opening responses like the Slav or the Queen’s Gambit Declined can leave club players unsatisfied.

Why is that?

And are there any openings that can at least ease this challenge?

My guest, IM Mateusz Kolosowski, is here to help.

He brings a decade of coaching experience to bear on this subject. And, he’s recently created a course on an opening that works well to ease these problems: the Albin Countergambit.

But what we discuss is far more than the details of a single opening.

In our chat, we also cover why club players inherently struggle with 1.d4 positions and openings. Which reveals some interesting insights.

Hopefully, this episode is both therapeutic regarding 1.d4 woes...and helpful for you!

More From Mat:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
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Click 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)

State of the Podcast: New Plans & Goals for 2024 Jul 09, 2024

096 After a two-week break, we are back! For the first time, I explain what I have in store for the podcast for 2024…and beyond. (Hint: it’s all good news!) From new episode formats to a different category of guests, I share my ambitions for this show.
I also preview the upcoming launch of my community-themed membership for adult chess improvers, which will also have some connections to the podcast.
The final part of this brief episode updates my struggles with regaining my former chess skills.
Last, I’d love to hear from you directly! In this episode, I ask your thoughts on two different questions.
Please send me your thoughts to either of those questions at either of the links below.
Message me on my website contact page.
DM me on Twitter.
Not only will it help to get your feedback, but I’ll also respond to you within a couple of days. Thank you!

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
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Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Grandmaster Insights On Mindset & Openings with GM Alex Colovic Jun 18, 2024

095 GM Alex Colovic is an exceptional course creator and an engaging writer on all things chess. He returns to the pod to discuss some intriguing subjects from his weekly newsletter. I hand-picked three topics Alex wrote about that I found fascinating. We dive deep into each one:

Why pro chess players (outside the Top 50) can't make a living competing anymore?
Can you create a certainty of winning before the game begins that helps you play better?
How can you ensure you bring a fighting spirit to each game you play?

Finally, we discuss his latest opening courses for White that have been released on Chessable, and why it may be worth learning to play 1.e4 and 1.d4.

More From Alex:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
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Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
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Click 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)

Growing Chess's Popularity With Better Live Coverage with Kaja Snare Jun 11, 2024

094 Kaja Snare, a pro chess broadcaster, has been leading chess into a new and more accessible era of live coverage. Gone are the days of top-level chess being watchable only for the most dedicated to the game. With her co-hosts, GM David Howell and WGM Jovanaka Houska, Kaja anchored one of the most popular live chess broadcasts our sport has ever seen.
And for good reason…
At Chess24, Kaja was part of a team that worked hard to make chess more accessible and more exciting for the general public with its live coverage.
In our chat, Kaja shares how they helped move chess into era with greater reach and relatability.
We also discuss:

Hilarious stories Kaja shares from her interviews with Hikaru, Magnus, and Ivanchuk.
How Kaja went from covering sports to focusing exclusively on chess - even as someone who originally knew very little about the game.
A behind-the-scenes look at how the now-famous Chess24 broadcast team was assembled with Kaja, David, and Jovanaka.

More From Kaja:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

NM Robert Ramirez: A Rising Chess Coach Star (with Tons of Improvement Tips!) Jun 04, 2024

093 An exciting new chess coach has hit the scene. NM Robert Ramirez has seen a huge growth in popularity in the past several years. Already, his YouTube channel has grown to 140K subscribers at the time of this episode. He’s launched two Chessable opening courses in the past year alone...
And his coaching advice and videos are being shared all over Chess Twitter.
As you watch his videos and listen to Robert speak, it’s no surprise.
His advice is extremely helpful (he may have solved my time trouble woes in this episode alone.)
And he has a calm, assuring charisma.
In this episode, we discuss:

How he uses simplicity to balance his chess life with his work/home life.
A powerful strategy to solve your time trouble issues if you play too slow.
Why the Stonewall opening can be an aggressive surprise against your opponents if you’re a club player.

More From Robert:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
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DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Elaynah: All In With Chess - Chasing a Title & Rising Content Creator May 22, 2024

092 It’s rare to see an adult chase a title and work full-time as a chess content creator. With passion and confidence, that’s exactly what this week’s guest, Elaynah, is doing with her chess life.
It's an inspiring journey because, only two years ago, she was an absolute beginner who was beaten easily by her cousin at a Christmas party.
Now?
She’s rated 1800 Chess.com Rapid and has 22K followers for her chess Twitch channel - with both of those numbers quickly rising!
In this episode, we chat:

Her interest in getting chess media to focus more on adult improvers.
What it’s like having IM Kostya Kavutskiy, of the Chess Dojo, as her coach.
Why she expanded her chess content beyond streaming and into podcasting.
Her plans to reach 2000 Chess.com Rapid this year.

More From Elaynah:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
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Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Emilia Castelao: Improving Chess Worldwide For Women & Becoming the Rare Chess Historian May 14, 2024

091 This week’s guest, Emilia Castelao, approaches chess in rare but special ways. First, she’s making chess her career. Though not as a player, coach, or content creator. Instead, she’s pursuing a Ph.D in chess history.
For most folks, that would take up a majority of their waking hours. Emila, however, has another major chess ambition.
To improve the chess world for women.
To that end, she recently co-founded a non-profit organization called the Women in Chess Foundation. Its goals are 1) to make OTB tournaments safer for women and 2) to help market women’s chess events.
It already has the direct support of Jennifer Shahade, Jovanka Housaka, and the CEO of Chessable.
In our interview, Emilia and I discuss her two chess endeavors, plus how her journey with the game led to these unique projects.
More From Emilia:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

WGM Dina Belenkaya: A Born Chess Entertainer, Her New Course, & Chasing the IM Title May 07, 2024

090 With natural charisma and exceptional chess skills, Dina Belenkaya is perfect for this new era of chess. A serious student of the game all her life, she competed professionally and earned the WGM title in 2016. In 2020, Dina began her new career as a streamer and content creator...
Just two years later, her popularity soared. Dina delivered bold and funny interviews with the world’s top players at the FIDE Grand Prix, and the videos went viral.
Dina has a sharp wit and a sense of joy in her videos that are rarely seen even amongst other chess celebrities.
These days, she focuses on her chess YouTube channel, where she often plays super GMs in trash-talking blitz games. And, this year, she released her first course and online chess community: Russian Chess School.
We chat:

Will she continue to beat Levy (Gotham Chess) in Titled Tuesday?
Why her course is unique and groundbreaking in the chess world.
Her goal of earning the IM title and what she needs to achieve it.

More From Dina:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Adult Improver Pod: How To Make Progress with Limited Time & Should Club Players Coach? w/ Ono Apr 30, 2024

089 It’s rare to see an adult club player make a career in chess. This week’s guest, Ono, has done just that. He started like many of us: inspired to dive into the game after watching the Queen’s Gambit. Which progressed into working studiously on his chess.
Then, he embarked upon a chess blog, called The Ono Zono. Not long after the blog gained traction, Ono started coaching beginners.
Since then, he’s developed a roster of students, appeared on several chess podcasts, and continues to create content for the adult improver community.
In this episode, we discuss:

3 strategies for managing limited study time as an adult so you can still make progress.
Why tackling difficult puzzles too early in your chess journey can be a mistake.
The top trait Ono observed in his most successful chess students.

More From Ono:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
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Click 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)

Discussing Strategy For Club Players with IM Thomas Willemze Apr 23, 2024

088 Like many chess subjects, knowing what to study for strategy is a bit murky. Especially if you’re a semi-confused club player like myself. So, who better to chat with about this topic than an author who has written three books on the subject? Welcome today’s guest: IM Thomas Willemze.

Over the past six years, Thomas has published three popular books and several courses on the subject of strategy, all specifically aimed at the club player.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why it’s helpful to study both master and amateur games to improve your strategy knowledge.
Why Thomas chose less common strategy ideas for his foundational book on the subject (like exchanging pieces and utilizing your rooks.)
The benefits of studying the games of the most recent world champions.

More From Thomas:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
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Click 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)

7 Insights From 2 Years of Chess Podcasting With Daniel Lona Apr 16, 2024

087 Rarely have I publicly reflected on my experiences from running this podcast. Or what I’ve learned from talking to so many titled players, coaches, and commentators. But it’s been a little over two years since the show’s launch. And it has recently crossed 250K downloads (woohoo!)
To top it off, we’ve delivered eighty guest interviews and counting.
So, I figured a little reflection was due.

In this episode, I share insights on the improvement, insights on the chess community, and a few “behind-the-scenes” thoughts from years of being a chess podcast host.
I also dive into:

My five most personally meaningful episodes.
Why I believe the chess community is better than most other skill/hobby communities.
Why this podcast has only just begun.

My membership relaunch is just weeks away! Sign up for the waitlist here to be notified.

Links to Other Episodes Cited:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
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Click 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)

Countering the Effects of Aging on Chess Plus Tips on Strategy w/ WIM Natasha Regan Apr 02, 2024

086 She’s a rock star of chess accomlishments. WIM Natasha Regan has represented England in two chess Olympiads. She’s co-authored two award-winning chess books with GM Matthew Sadler. And, in recent years, Natasha has co-created three Chessable courses on strategy.
Even outside of chess, Natasha impresses.
She earned a degree in mathematics from Cambridge University, has had a career as a professional actuary, and is an accomplished Go player.
In this episode, we cover:

Three strategies to fight back against the effects of aging on your chess.
Why counterattacking is often better (and smarter) than pure defense.
How learning to recognize intermediate moves can help you become an overall better chess player.

More From Natasha:

Her Chessable Courses:

Her Books:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

GM Noël Studer: Adding Fun to Chess Improvement & Helpful Ideas From His New Beginner Course Mar 26, 2024

085 GM Noël Studer is a fountain of superb chess advice. Many folks loved his first appearance on the show (Ep. 67.) And that’s why he’s here a second time! It’s rare and special to have a Grandmaster working hard to help club players improve their game.
And, now, he even helps beginners.
A former Swiss chess champion and the youngest GM ever from Switzerland...
Noël has just released a comprehensive course to help beginner players (links are below.)
In this episode, we discuss:

Three strategies to make your chess study experience more fun.
Help your beginner friends and family improve by understanding what will help them get better results (and which resources they should avoid.)
Two beginner-level concepts that even Grandmaster Noël didn’t know until he created his course.
If you want consistent improvement, you MUST separate these two types of chess activities.

More From Noël:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
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Click 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)

Adult Improver Pod: Chasing the WFM Title at 1900 FIDE w/ Kincső Toth Mar 14, 2024

084 Hungary has a rich history of producing chess stars. Even at the adult improver level, you have the impressive accomplishments of our guest, Kincső Toth.
She’s already reached 1900 FIDE and is gunning for the Woman FIDE Master (WFM) title - which requires a 2100 rating plus norms.
And she does this all while earning her computer engineering degree in Budapest.
Kincső infuses even more chess into her life by moderating online events for Chess.com and running a Twitch channel with thousands of followers.

In this episode, we discuss:

What she changed in her chess to leap 250 FIDE rating points in just one year.
Are amateurs qualified to coach chess?
Will she pursue a full-time career in chess if she earns the WFM title?

More From Kincső:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Rare Insights Into Chess & Psychology w/ Julia Rios Mar 05, 2024

The life of a chess player is often emotional. There can be huge wins and the joy of learning, but also painful losses and sluggish improvement. Helping me gain new insights into how to address these challenges is clinical psychologist and co-host of the ChessFeels podcast, Julia Rios.
Julia combines her professional knowledge with her chess experience to offer some brilliant insights into “chess psychology.”

In this episode, we discuss:

Does chess offer more emotional challenges than other endeavors?
Should you not care about your rating?
Does the expectation to improve hinder our enjoyment of chess?
Bonus: A chess genie offers Julia one wish but she insists on getting three.

More From Julia:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Chess Coaching: What To Look For & Getting The Most From It w/ IM Yuriy Krykun Feb 27, 2024

082 Many adult improvers ask this question at least once: Should I get a chess coach? This episode is designed to help you figure out what to look for in a coach and how to maximize the experience.
Helping me discuss this topic is IM Yuriy Krykun.
Yuriy is a well-known course creator with Chessable, and a superb coach who’s helped countless students.
In this episode, we cover:

What are some of the qualities you should look for in a chess coach?
Do you need to work towards a specific goal with your coach?
Does it matter which title your coach has? (NM, FM, IM, etc.)
What if you’re not improving after working with a coach?
What are some of the traits of Yuriy’s most successful students?

More From Yuriy:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

IM Kostya Kavutskiy - GM Goals, Candidates Controversy, & Improvement Q&A Feb 20, 2024

Renowned chess coach and co-founder of the Chess Dojo, IM Kostya Kavutskiy, returns to the podcast! Previously, we talked mostly about how to read annotated game books (Episode 17).
This time, we cover a wide variety of topics. Including:

What new insights the Chess Dojo has learned on helping adult improvers from running their online membership, called “Training Program.”
Kostya’s recent OTB tournament experiences and how he chooses which ones to attend.
His improvement approach for his personal chess goals, including earning the GM title.
Whether the 2024 Candidates tournament had a fair qualifying process (and Kostya’s predictions for who might win.)
Improvements questions from my Twitter followers.

Where To Find More of Kostya/Chess Dojo’s Content:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
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Click 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)

Five Essential Lessons From My Coaching with IM Andras Toth Feb 14, 2024

080 What can you learn from a year of coaching from one of the world’s best chess coaches More than can ever be packed into a single podcast episode! BUT we cover the top five lessons I learned from IM Andras Toth - with Andras doing a deep dive into each one.
Andras is an extraordinary chess coach. He has a YouTube channel full of entertaining videos on powerful chess improvement help.
Plus, he has a wide variety of Chessable courses on essential topics every adult club player should learn.
In this episode, we cover:

Why losing material is the last variable that matters in chess.
Does Puzzle Rush help with calculation speed?
Why do adults struggle to seize attacking opportunities?
Is age a barrier to improvement?

More From Andras:

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Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

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A shout-out of your name on the pod
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Click 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)

Turning A Passion For Chess Into a Career w/ WIM Charlize van Zyl Feb 06, 2024

079 Sometimes a passion for chess runs so deep you want to make it your life. That’s the story of South Africa’s WIM Charlize van Zyl. While she earned the WIM at just age 13, she didn’t fully realize her passion for the game until she left it for five years and then returned to it as an adult.

From there, she earned her way to multiple Chess Olympiads and is now gunning for the WGM title.
Plus, she has a chess business and recently became a reporter for FIDE’s most elite tournaments.
We also discuss:

What chess skills she needs to develop to go from WIM to WGM
What it’s like interviewing Magnus Carlsen
What top chess player she’d most like to hang out with

More From Charlize:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
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Click 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)

The Adult Improver Chess Life with Sam Canciobello Jan 30, 2024

078 Dedicating three years of your life to chess as an adult is huge. Especially when it includes OTB classical tournaments and running a chess YouTube channel. That’s been the story of Sam Canciobello.
Inspired by the Queen’s Gambit, her passion for chess - now in its fourth year - has been consistent and impressive.
In this episode, we cover the different stages of her chess life, her long-term goals, and lessons she’s learned along the way. We also discuss:

Was it worthwhile for her to spend a large volume of time on openings at the beginning of her journey?
What factors have helped her improve the most?
Why great women players had a big impact on her chess life.

More From Sam:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
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Click 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)

How to Make Losing Less Painful In Chess w/ Daniel Lona Jan 26, 2024

077 Part of being a chess player is losing many games. But what if those experiences didn’t have to be so painful? To that end, I solicited advice on how to deal with the most difficult losses.

I received feedback from the adult improver community on social media, a handful of chess coaches, and a dash of my insights.
Then, I collected what I felt was the most helpful advice, categorized them, and put them into a 5-step process. It can be used anytime you endure a particularly emotional or upsetting loss.
The advice here ought to help you reduce some of that emotional bite from a loss, as well as ensure you don’t beat yourself up too much over it.
Here’s to making your chess journey more enjoyable!
>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com<< (PROMOTION)

WGM Jennifer Shahade: Her New Tactics Book, Appearing on Jeopardy, & Leaving US Chess Jan 16, 2024

076 Jennifer Shahade returns to the podcast! 2023 was a major one for her, and we discuss the major milestones of her year.

If you’re not familiar, Jennifer is a 2-time US Women’s Chess Champion, author of 4 chess books (including the recent hit Chess Queens), and a long-time advocate of making the chess community a better place for women and girls.
In this episode, we talk about:

A recent, fun chess experience she’s had on Jeopardy.
Her new tactics book, Play Like a Champion, that features well-known women chess players (and why the book helps if you’ve only been doing online tactics.)
The challenges she’s faced by stepping down as head of the US Chess Women and leaving US Chess.
A peek into Jen’s next book, Thinking Sideways.

More From Jen:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Essential Chess Tips From 6 Books By NM Dan Heisman Jan 09, 2024

075 NM Dan Heisman is a world-renowned chess coach and author. He’s on the verge of publishing his thirteenth, and perhaps final, chess improvement book. In this episode, we take a retrospective of some of Dan’s best books and offer improvement advice relevant to each book.
It’s an honor to celebrate Dan’s amazing multi-decade career as a chess author and his third appearance on the podcast.
Some tips we discuss:

Surprising advice from Dan on the #1 principle that should guide your study plan.
How to avoid a common mistake club players make when choosing annotated game books.
Three key categories of what to study to improve your chess - and how much time to focus on each one.

Later this year (2024), Dan will publish a book based on his ongoing “Chess Tip of the Day” series that he’s posted daily for years on Twitter. Look for that soon!
In the meantime, here are links to all of Dan’s fantastic books, his YouTube channel, and his website.
More From Dan Heisman:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Elevating Your Chess With Great Women Players w/ WIM Luciana Morales Jan 02, 2024

074 Many great women players deserve more attention. Consider that even the games of women's world champions are rarely studied. This shouldn't be the case any longer since their chess is instructive, and their personal lives are rich and inspired.
Thankfully, WIM Luciana Morales (along with co-author NM Bryan Tillis) shines a light on the first five women world champions in a new and unique course.
Not only does it contain a hefty dose of chess improvement lessons for club players...
But it’s also an important work that brings more attention to women and their impact on the chess community.

In this interview, we dive into the surprising stories & lessons of these great women world champions, as well as some behind-the-scenes making of Luciana’s course. We also discuss Luciana’s unique upbringing as a rising talent in Peru.
More From Luciana

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Positional Play for Club Players w/ FM Nate Solon Dec 19, 2023

A second visit to the pod from chess coach & author, FM Nate Solon! In recent years, Nate has become a well-known chess educator.
He’s co-authored the highly-praised book, Evaluate Like a Grandmaster.
In 2023, he released his first Chessable course on the Reti opening for White.
Plus, Nate regularly publishes a popular e-newsletter on improvement advice called, Zwischenzug. (Links to all these are below!)
In this interview, we discuss:

Preparation and performance lessons learned from Nate’s victory at the adults-only, classical tournament, called ALTO, at the Charlotte Chess Center.
Why should you study positional play as a club player when everything is supposedly tactics and more tactics?
How does playing the Reti (1.Nf3) - Nate’s new course! - give a club player a helpful advantage over 1.e4?

More From Nate:

>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com<< (PROMOTION)

Make It Club-Player Friendly: Elite Events & Courses with WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni Dec 12, 2023

072 She’s been making a splash in the chess world. Not only is WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni a regular commentator for top-level tournaments...she’s also become a key commentator for Hikaru’s Twitch channel while he competes at the Candidates and other key events.
Plus, this year she’s created video instruction for two Chessable courses.
One is for the Scotch opening. The other covers tactics. Both courses are aimed at us: club players.
This speaks to her strength of making complex chess easy to understand for adult improvers.
Fiona has also had a rich competitive history. She’s represented her country, Luxembourg, in every Chess Olympiad since 2002 and has earned the title of Woman International Master.
In this episode, we discuss:

A behind-the-scenes look at attending the FIDE Grand Swiss
Why is the Scotch opening ideal for club players?
How many openings should a club player learn before it becomes harmful to improvement?
Which players have the best chances in the 2024 Candidates tournament?

To Win A Giveaway of Fiona's Course, follow me here on Twitter.

More From Fiona:

Fiona’s two Chessable courses: Starting Out: The Scotch & 1001 Chess Exercises for Beginners
Twitch channel
YouTube channel
Twitter
Instagram

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Podcast Crossover: NM Ben Johnson on His New Book: Perpetual Chess Improvement Dec 05, 2023

Not many chess resources are aimed directly at helping the adult improver. But the superb new book by well-known chess podcast host, Ben Johnson, does exactly that. Released this fall, it’s called Perpetual Chess Improvement.
The book covers a broad range of topics for not only boosting your chess abilities but also answering difficult questions like: “Do you need to study endgames?” “How should you approach rating plateaus?”
Ben’s book is pure gold for us adult improvers. Each page is chock full of helpful guidance, and it’s as easy to read as a page-turning novel.
In this interview, we discuss:

Why engaging with the chess community is just as vital as improvement for our chess experience.
Is consistent study & play an overemphasized trait for our chess journey?
Ben’s dream guests who have yet to appear on his show (other than Magnus!)

More From Ben:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Update on Podcast - We'll Be Back! Sep 26, 2023

This is a brief 1-minute update on the state of the podcast. Don't worry - we'll return soon!

A Rapid Rise to 2000 with Adult Improver Kamryn Hellman Aug 29, 2023

070 A small number of chess players make remarkably quick progress. Perhaps even fewer of those are adults. Which is why the achievements of this week’s guest, Kamryn Hellman, are so remarkable.
She started playing chess for the first time as an adult. And, in just a little over a year, Kamryn rose to a 2000 Rapid rating on Chess.com.

Because progress this fast is rarely seen by adults, we explore her journey and how she achieved it.
We discuss:

Her top three “difference makers” for reaching a 2000 Chess.com rating in 15 months
Why competing in OTB classical tournaments was such a powerful factor in her improvement
Was her approach to be a tactics machine or was there room for studying strategy and positional chess?

More from Kamryn:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

IM Dean Ippolito - Tales of a Premier Chess Coach & How To Manage Rating Deflation Aug 15, 2023

For two decades, IM Dean Ippolito has been one of America’s top coaches. Throughout his career, he’s coached several scholastic talents to national titles. Plus, he’s authored six chess books. Dean’s own chess journey is just as impressive. He was a rising child star and competed professionally for a few years after high school.
Today, he runs a successful coaching business called Dean of Chess Academy, which offers online classes and camps.
In this episode, we also discuss the scourge of adult improvers who compete at OTB tournaments: rating deflation.
We discuss what it is, how it affects adult club players like yourself, and some advice that Dean offers on how to deal with it.
Finally, we talk about Dean’s new book, Tricks, Traps, and Tips in the Chess Opening. The book offers a unique (and much more fun!) approach to learning opening ideas and principles.
More From Dean:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

FM Mike Klein: Building the Next Generation of Chess Players Aug 09, 2023

068 You may know him as best as “Fun Master” Mike, the face of ChessKid. For the past decade, Mike has been the Chief Chess Officer of ChessKid, the scholastic version of Chess.com. His mission has been to make the game fun and accessible for an ever-growing audience of young chess players.
While my show primarily focuses on adult improvers, I’m always interested in how we grow this great game of ours, and reaching kids is a big part of that.
And who better to discuss this subject than with Mike Klein!?
Plus, if you’re a parent, Mike offers some great advice on how you can your kids’ school involved in teaching chess.
We also discuss:

Which top youth player he thinks has the best chance to stay in the game and make an impact for many years to come.
The highlights of Mike’s journalism career, including which former world champ he would’ve loved to interview.
His game and experiences with Josh Waitzkin, of Searching For Bobby Fischer fame.

More From Mike:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

How To Maximize Your Time For Chess Improvement w/ GM Noël Studer Aug 01, 2023

067 How should you spend your chess time if you want to improve? The problem for adult improvers isn’t always about having too little time or energy to get better. Often, the challenge is knowing how to use that time effectively. That’s where GM Noël Studer comes in to help us.

A former Swiss chess champion, and the youngest GM ever from Switzlerland, Noël is now helping chess improvers fine-tune their study programs.
The result?
Better progress without having to spend countless hours each day studying or playing.
In this interview, Noël discusses:

How the One-Third Rule can simplify your study process and give you greater progress without any additional demands on your time.
The surprising reason you can improve at openings with less study time instead of more.
How to keep your energy high before going into an OTB tournament with a simple training strategy used by professional athletes.

More From Noël:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

South Africa's Chess Star: WIM Jesse February Jul 25, 2023

This week features South Africa’s most charismatic chess streamer and commentator:
WIM Jesse February. Jesse has had an impressive tournament career that’s still going strong as she works toward the WGM title.
Some of her accomplishments include representing the South African Women’s Team in three Chess Olympiads. Plus, she's a two-time winner of the South African Women’s Chess Championship.
We chat about Jesse’s incredible and recent experience doing commentary for the inaugural Global Chess League tournament - a unique mixed-team event that featured some of the world’s best men and women players.
And we talk about what Jesse feels she needs to work on to get the WGM title, her best advice from years of coaching, and whether she can give up bullet at 3am.
More From Jesse:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

On the Rise: Streamer & Adult Improver, WCM Alexandra Prado Jul 18, 2023

065 WCM Alexandra Prado is a strong amateur player with a fast-rising chess Twitch channel. Rated 1859 FIDE, she has a renewed interest in competing in OTB classical.
Plus, she’s aiming for the Woman FIDE Master (WFM) title. On that goal, she’s getting coaching help from Chess Dojo’s IM Kostya Kavutskiy, which we discuss in this episode.

We also chat about her chess life in Bolivia, what has helped her improve the most as a player, and her unexpected opportunity to play in-person blitz against Andrea Botez.
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More From Alexandra:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

A Reenergized Tournament Career with WGM Anna Zatonskih Jul 11, 2023

064 For the past two decades, WGM Anna Zatonskih has been a powerhouse among women chess players in America. She is a 4-time US Women’s champion (06’, 08’, 09’, and 11’.) Plus, she’s been a member of every US Women’s team for the Chess Olympiad since 2004.
And while she has struggled a bit competitively in recent years, Anna just achieved an incredible first-place victory at the prestigious Cairn’s Cup in St. Louis in June of 2023.
This event gathered some of the world’s best female chess players, including former World Champion GM Alexandra Kosteniuk.
Not only did Anna win the event - she did so with no losses.
This has renewed the fire for Anna’s competitive career
In this interview, we discuss highlights from the tournament, what she learned from the event, and her goal of proving that “age is just a number.”

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

A Trio of Talents: Grandmaster, Educator, & Commentator w/ GM Daniel King Jul 05, 2023

063 In the best possible way, Daniel King is a “triple threat” of chess: A GM professional competitor who’s played against some of the world’s best…A commentator who delivers GM-level analysis that’s easily accessible for us club players… And an educator who’s served up a library of phenomenal books, courses, and videos that’ll sharpen our chess skills.
Not enough?
He’s also a skilled and passionate musician who regularly plays in bands.
Daniel launched his chess life with an exciting competitive career. He earned his IM title in ‘82, his GM title in ‘89, and scored some notable achievements like placing 4th in the British Championship in ‘87.
In the early 90s, he launched a career as a chess commentator. Later, he published countless books, DVDs, and online courses.
These days, Daniel runs his popular YouTube channel, Power Play Chess. There you can find top-notch, insightful commentary on the biggest chess events.
In this interview, we discuss:

A few thrilling stories of Daniel defeating some of the world’s best as a professional player.
Daniel’s favorite moments as a commentator covering World Champion Garry Kasparov.
Why you shouldn’t be afraid to play the Open Sicilian as White (and how to get excited if your opponent plays an anti-Sicilian.)

More From Daniel King:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Update: New Episodes & Upcoming Membership for The Chess Experience Jun 28, 2023

After a brief break, the latest on the next episode's release. Plus, a little info on the upcoming membership for this podcast, The Chess Experience. If you don't want to miss its announcement, sign up here:
Get the info here when The Chess Experience Membership releases.

Two Decades of First-Rate Chess Journalism with Peter Doggers Jun 13, 2023

062 Few people have attended the world’s top chess tournaments. Or interviewed the most talented chess players on the planet, including legends like Garry Kasparov. But Peter Doggers has lived this life for nearly the past twenty years.
In 2007, he launched the company Chess Vibes. At its peak, it was one of the world’s biggest online news sites for chess. It covered top events and offered in-depth journalism.
Six years later, Peter sold Chess Vibes to Chess.com and became their Director of Content. Currently, he is Chess.com's Director of News and Events.
In this interview, we discuss:

What top chess player before his time Peter would have loved to interview.
His favorite books for improvement that helped him rise to the level of 2292 FIDE and earn two IM norms.
The strengths and weaknesses of modern chess journalism.

More From Peter:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Adventures in Course Creating with NM Laura Smith Jun 06, 2023

061 It’s not often a chess content creator is an everyday superhero who’s also a school teacher and mother of three. But that’s what makes NM Laura Smith so special. She gives much of her free time to helping others in chess, both as a coach, a Twitch streamer, and now…a brand-spankin’ new Chessable author!
Laura was one of my first guests to appear on the show, and the first interview I ever recorded.
So, I’m thrilled to have her back on the podcast to update the latest in her chess life.
Her new course, Forcing Moves for Beginners, is now available and was a labor of love. (Link to the course is below.)
In this episode, we discuss:

Why solving “easy” tactics very fast is critical for club players.
Laura’s new & deeper connection with the online chess community in the past year.
An exciting forthcoming course collaboration between Laura and an esteemed, well-known chess coach.

More From Laura:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Building a Dynamic Chess Life with Solveig, aka Rookie Redhead May 31, 2023

060 Diving head-first into chess as an adult beginner ain’t easy. Yet some folks do it incredibly well. And with inspiring dedication. That’s the adult improver story of Norway’s Solveig.
After watching the Magnus-Nepo World Championship match, she committed to the game in January ‘22.
At the time, she was rated well below 1000.
Since then, she’s worked with two coaches, attended over half a dozen OTB classical tournaments, and follows weekly study plans.
Now, her FIDE rating is already over 1200 and on the rise.
Topping it off, Solveig launched a YouTube channel, Rookie Redhead, detailing some of her chess journey and lessons learned. (Link below.)
In this interview, we discuss:

Whether you can ever really feel like you’re good at chess
The value of breaking some “rules” of chess improvement
The struggle of feeling confident in your chess abilities

More From Solveig:

Solveig’s Twitter
Solveig's YouTube channel
Solveig’s video with IM Andras Toth on confidence
Solveig’s coaches: WIM Sheila Barth Stanford and IM Petter Haugli

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

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A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
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DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Top 8 Chess Lessons From A Successful Adult Improver w/ Stacia Pugh May 23, 2023

059 Need some inspiration on your chess journey from a fellow adult improver? This week’s guest is a powerhouse. Even though she didn’t begin chess until adulthood, Stacia Pugh has soared to 1800 USCF - and still rising!
Plus, she’s attending OTB classical tournaments nearly every month and has a chess coaching business called, Chess Is Best.
In this episode, we discuss:

Stacia’s Top 8 Chess Improvement Lessons
How switching from d4 to e4 dramatically improved her chess - and why other club players should also play 1.e4
Why tactics are by FAR the most important area of chess for improvement

More From Stacia:

How You Can Support the Pod:

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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)

Overcoming Setbacks on Your Chess Journey w/ Daniel Lona May 18, 2023

058 Ah! The dreaded “life got in the way” scenario. When it does, our chess progress stalls or suffers. In this journey update, I explain how a prolonged health problem threw a monkey wrench into my chess goals.
The good news is that during these months, while my tactical vision waned, I eventually gained two key insights into how to manage a setback in my chess studies.
I hope nothing ever slows down your chess progress…
But if that happens, this episode may give you some camaraderie and helpful advice...
How You Can Support the Pod:

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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)

From Harlem to Grandmaster Goals with IM Kassa Korley May 09, 2023

057 Becoming a titled player without a chess coach is no easy feat. Yet that’s exactly what Kassa Korley achieved. When he was 15, he became the youngest Black American to earn the NM title.
Since then, he’s become an International Master.
And, in recent years, he garnered two of the three norms needed in his pursuit of the Grandmaster title.
Again, all on his own. No coach.
Kassa’s chess journey is wildly impressive. Yet, as you hear him tell his story, it’s surprisingly relatable for a club player.
In this interview, Kassa shares some superb improvement insights that he’s gained from over two decades in chess.
Adult improvers: you can soak up a lot of wisdom from his lessons!
Plus, Kassa delves into what impact he’s excited to make in his new position as Head of Community with Chess.com. Finally, Kassa offers what career(s) he would pursue if it had to be something other than chess.

Follow Kassa on Twitter
How You Can Support the Pod:

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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)

Expanding Connections in the Chess Community w/ WIM Lena Miladinovic May 02, 2023

056 Coach. Titled player. Entrepreneur. These are just a few of the impressive achievements of WIM Lena Miladinovic. Hailing from Serbia, and becoming a 3-time national champion, Lena has experienced nearly every major corner of the chess world.
She’s also run tournaments, become a FIDE-certified arbiter, and in recent years built a unique chess business.
Lena wants to make it easier for the chess community to connect. To find each other. And expand on their love for the game.
So, she created a company called Outpost, which does exactly that.
In this episode, we discuss Lena’s exciting chess journey, a key lesson she learned from years of coaching that’ll help adult improvers, and the details of her “LinkedIn for Chess” business.
More From Lena:

How You Can Support the Pod:

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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)

Rapid Chess Growth with Jules Gambit Apr 25, 2023

055 Quick rating gains. Thousands of new followers on Twitch. As she revived her love for chess, Jules Gambit has shown an impressive record of improvement. Not to mention she's made a splash in the chess streamer community - all in the same short period of time!

In less than a year, Jules has seen a 600+ rating increase. And, at the recent US Amateur Team tournament, she achieved an OTB classical rating performance of 2000 USCF!

Jules is a dynamic, engaging personality with a lot of insights and fun stories to share. Hope you enjoy this episode!

More from Jules:

How You Can Support the Pod:

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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)

Powerful Improvement Advice with IM David Pruess Apr 18, 2023

054 This episode features one of the three "senseis" of Chess Dojo, IM David Pruess, for a deep dive on a variety of chess topics. Whether it’s discussing if the latest World Championship is worthy of our time, or what he still wanted to contribute to chess after decades of being in the game - you can count on David to bring depth and sharp analysis to our chat.
Plus, as the co-founder of one of the best chess education platforms in the world, David offers great improvement insights for you in this episode, including:

What would he do differently to improve faster if he started chess all over again?
Why having a training partner is one of the best strategies for accelerating your chess skill that’s rarely taught or followed.
Clear and straightforward advice on balancing fun with chess improvement.

More From David Pruess and Chess Dojo:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

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Click 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)

World Chess Championship Preview with FM Carsten Hansen Apr 07, 2023

053 The next World Chess Championship match is around the corner! While there’s no Magnus, there’s still plenty to be excited about. This preview episode is made for the club player or casual chess fan - meaning it’s accessible and easy to follow.
I interview FM Carsten Hansen, one of the most prolific chess authors around, and in our discussion, he’ll help you:
1) understand what makes this a rare match-up,
2) the styles of each player and how they’ll clash, and
3) who’s expected to win and why
The match begins Sunday, April 9th. But this episode will be worth listening to even several days after that to help you understand what’s happening.
More From FM Carsten Hansen:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

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Click 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)

What Makes A Good Chess Commentator With GM Jon Ludvig Hammer Mar 21, 2023

052 How do we grow the game? A major way has been the huge popularity of live-streamed events with star players and world-class commentary. But whether that commentary is engaging and accessible to chess fans is critical to our game’s popularity.

So, what should you look for in chess commentary?
That’s a major theme that I discuss with GM Jon Ludvig Hammer in this week’s episode.
Hammer has been a professional commentator for nearly a decade. He regularly works for TV 2 Norway. He’s also been a contributor for Chess.com and GM Hikaru Nakamura’s Twitch channel.
Prior to his commentator career, Hammer reached Super GM status with a 2705 FIDE rating. And he was Magnus Carlsen’s second in the 2013 and 2014 World Chess Championships.
In this episode, Hammer and I also discuss a key improvement topic:
Do you need to play classical chess to become a better player? (We take different views!)
Plus, enjoy an episode that’s more discussion-style instead of the usual interview format, per Hammer’s request.
More from Jon Ludvig Hammer:

Photo Credit: The superb photo used for this episode comes from photographer and WFM Maria Emelianova. You can follow her on Twitch and Twitter.
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Please Leave a Positive Rating If You Enjoyed This Episode

If you enjoyed this or other episodes, please leave a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple. Then, DM me on Twitter or email me (scroll to the bottom) and let me know you did. I'll reply personally with a thank you!
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How You Can Support the Pod:

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Click 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)

How to Study Endgames (for Club Players) w/ IM Yuriy Krykun Mar 08, 2023

051 Like many areas of chess, it can be difficult to study endgames. There’s an ocean’s worth of books and courses on the subject. But where to begin? To help me simplify this subject for club players, I’m excited to bring IM Yuriy Krykun back on the show.
For starters, Yuriy is renowned as one of Chessable’s top course creators (his Dynamic Italian course is one of my favorites!)
Plus, from years of coaching amateur students, Yuriy understands well how to teach endgames in a practical way.
In this episode, we discuss:

How to boost your motivation to study endgames (if, like me, yours is low!)
What’s a good percentage of your study time to spend on endgames?
Should you focus on practical or theoretical endgames?
Why you may not need to study endgames at all!

More From Yuriy:

Books Mentioned In This Episode:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

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Click 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)

Lessons & Lifestyle of a Pro Chess Player with IM Irina Bulmaga Feb 28, 2023

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:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

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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)

Quick Show & Health Update Feb 07, 2023

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

My Top 5 Chess Lessons of 2022 - Daniel Lona Jan 17, 2023

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 guests
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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)

GM Ben Finegold - Streaming, Comedy, & Improvement Advice Jan 10, 2023

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, Karen
The 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:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
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Click 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)

Holiday Update & Brief Message Dec 27, 2022

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)

An Adult Improver Tale of Chess, Goals, & Rock & Roll with Amy Shaw Dec 20, 2022

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:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

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Click 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)

Fighting Back From Losing Positions With NM Jeremy Kane Dec 13, 2022

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.
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Much more!

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More From Jeremy:

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Click 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)

Overcoming "Chess Burnout" With Omar Mills Dec 06, 2022

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:

The Morphy book referenced in the episode.

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

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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)

GM Irina Krush: The First & Only American Woman to Earn the GM Title Nov 29, 2022

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

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Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers? Check out all the membership benefits here.
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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
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Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

The Romanian-American Powerhouse: WGM Sabina Foisor Nov 22, 2022

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.

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Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers?
Check out all the membership benefits here.

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More from Sabina:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
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Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

A Passion For Chess Without Loving the Game w/ GM Elisabeth Paehtz Nov 08, 2022

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.

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More From Elisabeth:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
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Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

A Journey To Be The First US Black Woman Chess Master w/ Rochelle Ballantyne Nov 01, 2022

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:

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Chess Improver Monthly . Check out all the membership benefits here.

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Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

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Click 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)

Teaching Openings & The Perils of Engine Game Analysis w/ IM Christof Sielecki Oct 25, 2022

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.e4
Why 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?

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Chess Improver Monthly. Check out all the membership benefits here.

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More From Christof:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
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Click 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)

How Emotions Can Cost You a Game with Daniel Lona Oct 18, 2022

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:

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Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers,Chess Improver Monthly? Check out all the membership benefits here.
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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Life Lessons From Chess & The Talent Myth With WIM Yuanling Yuan Oct 13, 2022

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:
Website
Twitter

>> Download my latest, FREE audio content: 7 Quick Tips for Rock-Solid Chess Improvement (From Guests of The Chess Experience)

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
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Click 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)

How Blitz Can Help, Time Management, & Trash-Talking w/ IM Greg Shahade Oct 04, 2022

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 suggestions
Time 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

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More From Greg:

Greg's Video on Avoiding Blitz Tilt

Follow Greg on Twitter
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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Surprising Stories & Insights of a Joyful Chess Commentator w/ WGM Jovanka Houska Sep 27, 2022

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 audience
What she needs to do bring her rating back up

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Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers? Check out all the membership benefits here.
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More From Jovanka:

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Optimizing Mental Strategies & Training Methods w/ NM Bryan Tillis Sep 20, 2022

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 goals
How to balance fun with doing what’s necessary to improve
Asking whether your training is matching your goals

And, towards the end of the episode, Bryan offers several pieces of great advice for OTB tournaments.

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Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers? Check out all the membership benefits here.
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More From Bryan:

All of Bryan’s Chessable courses

Bryan’s YouTube Channel

Palm Beach Chess (coaching)

Bryan’s Book: Become a Chess Champion
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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Conquering US Women's Chess with IM Carissa Yip Sep 13, 2022

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?

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Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers? Check out all the membership benefits here.
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More From Carissa

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Angelika Valkova, Lady of 1.d4, the First of Her Name Sep 08, 2022

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.
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More From Angelika:

More From GM Guyla Pap:

Coaching Profile

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Ditching Bad Chess Habits & Follower Q&As with Daniel Lona Aug 30, 2022

032 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.

No matter your rating, you’ll find some snackable morsels of chess wisdom (even if it comes from my failures!)

Highlights you can expect:

Is King safety a chess problem or a psychological problem?
Coach IM Andras Toth spots one of my top barriers to improvement (hint: it’s not more tactics or chess books.)
The worst chess advice I’ve ever received.

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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 guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Simplifying Openings & Chasing the GM Title as an Adult w/ GM Alex Colovic Aug 23, 2022

031 Making chess simple for club players isn’t easy. But GM Alex Colovic has a special ability to do just that. It’s why his opening courses are known for simple, clear instruction...

How Alex is able to simplify opening theory is one of the key points we discuss in this episode.

The other great topic we discuss is that Alex strived for years in his 30s to earn the GM title - a rare feat at that age.

His story is an inspiration with key lessons for all of us, no matter our rating.

In this episode:

Why you should play your preferred style (with one caution.)
How Alex makes opening theory simple to learn.
2 qualities from Bobby Fischer that inspired Alex’s chess.

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Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers? Check out all the membership benefits here.
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A Freebie I Created:
>> Download my latest, FREE audio content: 7 Quick Tips for Rock-Solid Chess Improvement (From Guests of The Chess Experience)

---------

More From Alex Colovic:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

How Chess Offers Life & Career Lessons with FM Alisa Melekhina Aug 16, 2022

030 To some, chess is just a game. But it can also be a valuable tool for giving us powerful life lessons. And these lessons can teach us how to achieve our goals better. Or improve our career. Sometimes, though, those insights aren’t always obvious to us...

So, we need a little help or awareness in uncovering them.

That’s what today’s guest, FM Alisa Melekhina, explains in my conversation with her.

And it’s also the subject of her superb book, Reality Check.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

How chess teaches you more effective decision-making in your career.
The best mindset for adult improvers who want to excel in chess but struggle with limited time.
The chess “life lesson” of being calm or objective in the face of a problem.
How to find meaning in your chess beyond just rating climbs.

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Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers? Check out all the membership benefits here.
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>> Download my latest, FREE audio content: 7 Quick Tips for Rock-Solid Chess Improvement (From Guests of The Chess Experience)

---------

More From Alisa Melekhina:

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

IM Eric Rosen - Improvement Q&A and Chess Content Creation Aug 09, 2022

029 Eric Rosen is perhaps best known for off-beat openings and stalemate traps. But don’t underestimate his incredible coaching skills. In this interview, Eric offers powerful advice in answering questions from my Twitter followers on improving as adults.

Before we get into the heart of sharpening your chess skills...

The episode first covers Eric’s career as one of the world’s top chess streamers and content creators…

Including his favorite types of content and how he strikes a balance between entertainment and education.

Later, we cover:

The unexpected secret to increasing your rating.
Does studying endgames or openings lead to better growth as a player?
How does an adult balance their chess ambitions with the limits of everyday life?
How do you bust through a rating plateau?
Eric’s “dream content” that he hopes to one day create.

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Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers? Check out all the membership benefits here.
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More Eric Rosen:

Resources Mentioned:

Eric’s article Chess Life Online on how to overcome rating plateaus
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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
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Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

NM Bruce Pandolfini: 50 Years of Growing the Game Aug 02, 2022

028 Bruce Pandolfini is arguably America’s greatest chess coach. His impact on growing the game throughout the world is immeasurable. Bruce is the author of dozens of superb chess books. All are great, and many are still must-reads for beginners and club players.

He’s been the coach for such top players as Fabiano Caruana and Josh Waitzkin.

Bruce has also been the consultant for the most popular chess stories ever put to screen: Searching for Bobby Fischer & The Queen’s Gambit.

In this episode, we cover:

The common traits of his most successful students.
Has chess coaching improved over the years?
Did he expect The Queen’s Gambit to cause a chess boom?
Were his coaching methods accurately represented in Searching For Bobby Fischer?

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Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers? Check out all the membership benefits here.
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More From Bruce Pandolfini:

Amazon Author Page (all of his books

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Quick Tips on Development with WGM Ekaterina Atalik Jul 26, 2022

027 If you've studied chess, then you know development is vital. Yet there’s more to this principle than just the obvious “get your pieces out.” Even titled players can struggle with effective development…

Which means club players should always be working on this nuanced skill.

To help, this episode discusses the subject at length with WGM Ekaterina Atalik. Katya (for short) is the European Women’s Chess Champion and the 5-time Women’s Champion of Turkey.

She’s also authored the Chessable course, The Method of Quick Development.

In this latest episode, we cover:

The “Development Score” technique that teaches you when to attack.
Critical defensive ideas if you fall behind in development.
Why development is not just an opening principle.
Why playing with an isolated pawn shouldn't be feared (lessons that will be part of her upcoming course on pawn structures!

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Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers? Check out all the membership benefits here.
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More From Katya:

My Latest YouTube Video with IM Andras Toth:

https://youtu.be/VtsVYPk5VFo
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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

5 Keys To Chess Improvement with FM Nate Solon Jul 19, 2022

026 How do you ensure chess improvement? The old magic pill would be nice, but we know that doesn’t exist. The next best thing? Put energy and work into five key areas…
This may not guarantee improvement, but doing them will give you the best fighting chance to see results.
And, hey, given the mysterious ways of chess improvement, that’s sometimes the best we can do.
So, what are the key areas? FM Nate Solon explained them in his 2021 article entitled, The Chess Improvement Checklist.
Impressed with the list he created…
I thought it would be great to do a deep dive into these core areas and discuss the ins, outs, and whys of this list. Enjoy!
Nate is a superb chess player and has written articles for Chess Life and Chessable’s blog. For more of his work:

Connect with Nate:

--------
How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Expanding Chess to More Amateurs & Cultures w/ Naycir (Nigarhan) Jul 12, 2022

025 There are several ways to #GrowTheGame. One is through helping folks play better. Another is to find ways to make chess more appealing and accessible for everyone - regardless of where you live or your skill level.
This week’s guest, Nigarhan (or Naycir, as she’s known online), has chosen to make the second option her mission.
A fellow adult improver and amateur player herself…
Nigarhan has become well-known in chess circles as a streamer with an irresistible wit and passion for the game. She brings top-level humor and a magnetic joy to the sixty-four squares - which is much needed given how difficult this game is.
And her chess life doesn’t stop there…

Nigarhan is also the Director for International Growth at Chess.com.

Impressive, right?

There, she helps translate the site’s chess content into dozens of languages. This helps the non-English speaking world more easily learn and enjoy the game.

In this episode, we discuss:

How she began a full-time job in chess before learning to play.
The challenges posed by chess’ over-serious “gatekeepers.”
Overcoming her online bullying experiences as a streamer.
Nigarhan’s favorite openings (it’s not the London.)

Connect with Nigarhan:

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Candidates Recap with WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni Jul 07, 2022

024 The 2022 Candidates was a wild ride. Predictions were shattered. A dominant performance surprised many. And the looming question of “Does second place matter?” hung in the air.

For the first time, The Chess Experience is reviewing a world-class tournament!

To help discuss the highlights (and lowlights) of the event, along with some lessons that can help club players…

I interviewed WIM Fiona Steil Antoni, a professional commentator of top chess events,

Fiona has been commentating for the past eight years and now works for Chess.com.

Most recently, she had the incredible opportunity to be one of the regular commentators on Hikaru Nakamura's Twitch channel while he competed in the Candidates.

In this episode, we discuss:

Which players exceeded her expectations? Which fell below them?
Three lessons from this event that can help club players in their own tournaments.
Fiona’s two favorite games from the event.
Should FIDE change the World Championship format to entice Magnus to defend the title?
Will Magnus defend his title?

More From Fiona:

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Update: Next Episode Coming In 2-3 Days (& Keep Going With Your Chess!) Jul 05, 2022

A brief 2-minute update about the next episode (coming later this week) which reviews the Candidates. And a little message of motivation to keep striving with your chess!

Top Mistakes Made By Club Players (Vol. 1) With NM Dan Heisman Jun 28, 2022

023 Adult improvers, ironically, have limited time to improve. Which is why it’s so helpful to know the answer to this question: “Of all the mistakes we make, which ones are the most important to fix?” That’s what today’s episode is about…

Identifying the key mistakes made at the board by adult improvers (most of whom are club players) and finding solutions to them.

To help, I’ve brought back for a second time National Master, Dan Heisman.

He is the ultimate coach for adult improvers.

Dan has written over a DOZEN chess books and has a popular YouTube channel with over 200 videos - all of which are gold.

There are very few chess instructors who are as good as Dan Heisman. He gets to the heart of what club players need to improve, and articulates those problems and solutions so well.

In fact, there’s so much on this topic to dig into with Dan, that I’m calling this episode Vol. 1, as there will likely be one or two more on the same subject down the road.

In this episode, we discuss:

How to tell if you’re playing “hope chess.”
The sure way to avoid playing too fast.
Why do club players overemphasize strategy over tactics?
Is it "ok" to spend too much time on openings?

Resources Referenced In This Episode

More From Dan Heisman

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>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)

How Aging Affects Chess Improvement with GM Jesse Kraai Jun 21, 2022

022 If you’re over 30, you might wonder: “Will aging affect my chess improvement? Should I adjust my program any differently due to my age?” These are compelling but often difficult questions to answer...

On the one hand, we want to be optimistic and aim for whatever chess goal we desire, without concern over biology getting in the way...

And, yet, biology is real.

Athletes understand this - both amateur and professional alike.

Which is why it’s worth taking a look at this subject with clear eyes.

To discuss this further, I brought the esteemed Grandmaster Jesse Krai, co-founder of Chess Dojo.

In this episode we discuss:

Would he coach someone differently if they’re 25 versus 45?
Have adult improvers proven the upper limit of their potential yet?
Is Viktor Korchnoi’s astonishing late-career run in his 70s instructive for adult improver potential?

Where To Find More of Jesse & Chess Dojo’s Content:

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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)

Switching Openings & Defeating Rating Plateaus with Daniel Lona Jun 14, 2022

021 This week’s format is different. Every few months, I’ll create a solo episode where I update you on my own chess journey: The top challenges I’m having, the best insights I’ve gained, and the latest wisdom my coaches, Andras Toth & Dan Heisman, have offered me.

I’ll try to frame it in ways that benefit you, so that you get a heap of value from listening.

This week’s topics:

Why I no longer play the French Defense and key resources for determining how/when to change your openings.
The top 3 insights from my coaches that'll help me see some massive rating gains.
Why dealing with a rating plateau is a true test of character and how I intend to bust through this phase.

Resources Referenced:
NM Dan Heisman, “Selecting An Opening Repertoire” (YouTube Video)

IM Andras Toth, “A Big Rant About How to Choose Opening Lines.” (YouTube Video)

IM Andras Toth, “Private Lesson with Chess Podcaster Daniel Lona.” (YouTube Video)
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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)

Tournament Advice & Building a Strong Chess Culture with WGM Irene Sukandar Jun 07, 2022

020 You may have first heard of WGM Irene Sukandar in 2021, when her popularity soared after defeating Dewa Kipas, a man who infamously cheated in an online game against IM Levy Rozman.

But, in this interview, we discuss what I believe Irene should be what be most well-known for:

1) Growing the fame and respect of chess in her home country of Indonesia, and

2) Being an inspiration to chess players throughout the world who wish to make chess a major part of their lives.

Irene is a professional player who is a 2-time Asian Woman’s Chess Champion and has been one of Indonesia’s top players for many years.

In addition to discussing her incredible rise as one of the most talented players in her country…

We also discuss:

Her efforts and passion to grow the game in Indonesia (which could be a model for other countries.)
How to manage your nerves before an OTB tournament.
Hitting “reset” during a tournament if you’ve lost several games.
How long after the tournament should you resume studying chess?

More From Irene:

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>>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)

Beat the Rating Slump Blues with WIM Anna-Maja Kazarian May 24, 2022

019 With so many hours put into our chess practice. The experience of a long-term rating decline or plateau can be frustrating. Even painful. Shouldn’t we see positive rating results if it’s been X number of months or years?

Not always.

But that doesn’t mean you’re not improving. Or that the tide won’t eventually turn.

In this episode, Woman International Master and popular chess streamer, Anna-Maja Kazarian, tell us about her struggle with a long-term rating decline.

First, though, we discuss her chess origin story, her rapid ascent as a chess player, and a bit about her Twitch channel.

Then we explore the topic of dealing with and overcoming a rating plateau.

More From Anna-Maja :

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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)

How to Analyze Your Games with WGM Katerina Nemcova May 17, 2022

018 You just finished a Rapid or Classical game. Now it’s time to pluck some hard-earned lessons from the experience. But wait: should you turn on the engine? Annotate the game with notes? Review it intensely for an hour or more?
Or maybe just glean one key lesson and call it a day?
These issues and more are discussed in this episode with the phenomenal WGM Katerina Nemcova.
First, we learn about Katerina’s exciting journey to the top of women’s chess in the Czech Republic. And how she later became one of America’s top female players.
In the second half of the interview, she offers helpful tips on how to best analyze our games so we’re not making typical mistakes…

Follow Katerina Here:

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Click 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)

How to Study Annotated Game Books w/ IM Kostya Kavutskiy May 10, 2022

017 Kostya is one of the co-founders of the incredible Chess Dojo. It's a channel and business designed to help chess improvers (most of whom are adults.)

In this episode:

Why you should bother reading annotated game books.
An answer to the age-old question: how many of the endless variations should you go over?
Should you read an annotated game book more than once?
A rarely talked about benefit to playing classical games that can make a huge impact on your improvement.

Where To Find More of Kostya/Chess Dojo’s Content:

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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)

The Journey of a World-Class Chess Commentator w/ WGM Keti Tsatsalashvili May 03, 2022

0016 Offering live commentary of world-class chess is no easy task. Your audience is often club-level players and beginners. So, you'll have to strike a balance between explaining obscure GM strategy…

While also delivering fun commentary that keeps your viewers engaged…

That’s what this week's guest, WGM Keti Tsatsalashvili, does all the time for Chess.com and FIDE.

In this episode, we dive into the story of a commentator for these incredible events. Keti makes top-level chess easy to follow for those of us who were never pros…

Plus, she has an incredible, positive energy that makes listening to her a pleasure. In this episode ,we discuss:

How Keti got unexpectedly swept into commentating for chess’ elite tournaments.
Balancing commentary of world-class chess events for all skill levels.
Keti’s top advice for all adult improvers.

Where To Find More of Keti’s Content:

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Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
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Click 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)

Common Mistakes Made By Adult Improvers (& How To Fix Them) With FM Peter Giannatos Apr 26, 2022

015 All chess players struggle to improve. But there are some mistakes made along the way that are unique to adults. Thankfully, there are easy solutions that’ll remove these roadblocks and get you back on the road to faster improvement…

To help identify and fix these mistakes, I interview the straight-talking FM Peter Giannatos.

Peter is the founder of the Charlotte Chess Center, a powerhouse chess club in the United States.

Plus, he’s the author of the book & course, Everyone’s First Chess Workbook, which is phenomenal for folks under 1200 who want to master their basic tactics and checkmates.

In today’s episode we discuss:

Six key mistakes adult improvers make and solutions to each one.
How to better manage (maybe even eliminate!) a fear of losing in chess.
Why poor opening play or weak strategy doesn’t matter if you’re below 1200 Chess.com Rapid.
The #1 way to speed up your chess progress.

More From Peter:

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
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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)

WGM Jennifer Shahade: Unstoppable Chess Queens & Rare Tips to Improve Apr 19, 2022

014 Today you get a 2-topic episode: 1) Adult chess improvement tips from WGM Jennifer Shahade; and 2) A discussion on her new book, Chess Queens, about the celebration & deeper understanding of women in chess.

There’s hardly anyone who has done more to make this game more inclusive for women and girls than Jennifer...

She’s a true inspiration in our community.

Not only is she a 2-time US Women’s Champion and Woman Grandmaster…

Jennifer has also tirelessly spent the past two decades improving chess culture for females everywhere…

In today’s episode we discuss:

The little-used secret to better performance in your games without having to spend more time improving your chess.
Redefining what it means to be “great at chess” (it’s not just ELO!)
The impact she wants her book to have on the chess world.

More From Jennifer:

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
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Click 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)

Mental Strength, Positivity, & Banning the Haters with FM James Canty Apr 12, 2022

013 There’s a small percentage of people who can inspire us to be better at chess. One of those rare folks is FM James Canty III. Few would bet money that a guy in his late 20s could go from National Master to Grandmaster. It’s almost never done.

Why?

Because, like us club players, he grapples with adult responsibilities that make improvement difficult: a full-time job, limited energy, and time.

But James is a powerhouse of positivity, discipline, and a tireless work ethic.

In this interview, James shares:

The single biggest “non-chess” activity you should do to improve your chess.
The demystifying truth about people who doubt your goals.
The surprising reason James got to be rated 2200 USCF with very little endgame study.

More From James Canty:

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
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Click 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)

Success Strategies For Adult Improvers With NM James Altucher Apr 05, 2022

012 There are nitty-gritty ways to improve: like focusing on tactics or endgame study. But what about big picture improvement skills? For discussion on that, I brought National Master, James Altucher, who is also a successful author and entrepreneur…

James has written several business & personal development books…

Most relevant is Skip the Line, which teaches you how to improve at a skill faster than expected…

Plus, on his podcast, The James Altucher Show, he talks with highly successful people about the lessons & strategies that helped them achieve so much…

Including Garry Kasparov and Judit Polgar!

My interview with James covers lessons he's learned from these experiences…

Exciting lessons in this episode:

Why age is not holding you back from chess improvement
How to emotionally deal with losing in chess
A must-know strategy for increasing your speed of improvement
Why your chess journey should be about more than getting better at the game itself

More From James Altucher:

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
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Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

How to Fix Chess’ Gender Gap With Ingrid Gayle (CEO of Girl Boss Chess) Mar 29, 2022

011 We all know chess is for everyone. Yet there are dramatically fewer women and girls in chess. It’s an issue we ought to tackle head-on so we can make the game more welcoming to women and girls. Thankfully, this week’s guest doesn’t just wonder how to solve the problem…

Ingrid Gayle, the owner of Girl Boss Chess (GBC), is taking action every day to make chess a better community.

How?

GBC’s primary mission is to bring more women into the game from the ground up: By giving young girls a safe space where they can learn chess in online classes from top women coaches. In addition, GBC offers private and group coaching to women.

In This Week's Episode:

What caused Ingrid to dedicate her life to a company focused on bringing chess to girls & women?
Why is it important that girls learn chess?
Ways men can make the chess community more welcoming to girls & women.
Reasons to be hopeful for the future of women & girls in chess.

Resources from This Episode:

The Girl Boss Chess Website

Coaching for Women

Coaching for Girls
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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
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Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

How to Choose an Opening With NM Bryan Tillis Mar 22, 2022

010 Choosing an opening is both exciting and terribly confusing. A new opening is a thrill in chess. But it’s hard to know which opening is best for YOU.

What factors should you consider?
How long do you stick with an opening before trying something new?
How many moves deep should you study?

In this episode, I interview someone who I consider to be one of the best opening and all-around chess instructors out there…

National Master Bryan Tillis.

Bryan helps me answer all of the above questions and more.

Where to find Bryan’s Work:

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
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Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
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Click 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)

Making Chess More Entertaining - With Lula Robs Mar 15, 2022

009 Does the chess community need to relax and have more fun with its game? Not long ago, "chess content" meant either a lesson to improve or an update on the latest elite tournaments. It was a very serious affair.
Nothing wrong with that.
But maybe chess players would like to have an experience that also includes some fun and humor?

The past 5 years are proof they do with the boom in “chess entertainment.” And now there’s a new, up-and-comer in this scene: Lula Robs.

A fellow adult improver with an ability to create highly creative and hilarious chess content (and a Grandmaster at memes)...

Lula is rising fast in the chess world. Her Twitch and Twitter followings have seen exponential growth in the past year.

She discusses with me why chess entertainment is a positive for the community, as well as her own journey and story.

More From Lula:

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How You Can Support the Pod:

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Submitting questions to guests
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Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
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Click 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)

A Guide to Your First OTB Tournament - Daniel Lona Mar 08, 2022

008 Thinking about your first OTB classical tournament? Or perhaps you still want some guidance for your 2nd or 3rd event? This episode will help you successfully navigate an OTB chess tournament.

While you may still have to face down an adorable 7-year-old in battle…

It WILL reduce the number of surprises you encounter and help calm your nerves. Inside you’ll find:

What to do before, during, and after the tournament to have a smooth experience.
The 2 often-overlooked truths that determine which section you should compete in.
5 incredibly simple ways to be fully prepared for your next tournament.
A powerful cure to placing too much pressure on yourself.

>> FREE DOWNLOAD: A Guide to OTB Tournaments<< (This is the guide I created & referenced in this episode.)
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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

The Importance of Your Thought Process in Chess – NM Dan Heisman Mar 01, 2022

007 Are you studying chess like crazy but not improving? You may be missing a critical component to your potential chess improvement: A well-developed thought process.

Sure, this topic may lack the allure of studying the Sicilian Dragon or becoming a tactical wizard who shreds your opponents in minutes. But as my guest, NM Dan Heisman, says, “Chess is a thinking game.”
So, you must - at some point - focus on your thought process, or you’ll limit your development as a chess player.

Dan is the ultimate coach for adult improvers and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have him on the show. He’s written over a dozen chess books, has a popular YouTube channel with over 200 videos, and is well-recognized in the chess world as one of the premier coaches for amateurs.

Here, you’ll learn:

The most common mistakes players under 1500 USCF make in their thought process - and how to fix them.
2 questions to almost always ask when it’s your move and you’re out of book.
How do you choose among different candidate moves?

Resources Referenced In This Episode

BOOK: A Guide to Chess Improvement - Dan Heisman
BOOK: The Improving Chess Thinker - Dan Heisman
VIDEO: Thought Process Playlist - Dan Heisman
VIDEO: Basic Material Playlist - Dan Heisman
ARTICLES: Dan Heisman’s Article Library on Chess.com

More Resources From Dan Heisman

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
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Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
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Click 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)

Time Crunch: What Should You Study? with NM Laura Smith Feb 24, 2022

006 One of the hardest parts of being an adult improver is making the most of your limited (and energy-drained?) free time for chess. To help me dive into this subject and reach a few solutions for this problem, I talk with NM Laura Smith, who brings a refreshing positive energy and enthusiasm to our discussion of chess.
Born and raised in Queens, New York, she now lives in Brooklyn. Laura is an elementary school teacher who also coaches chess at both the scholastic and adult levels.
Laura has also recently led the adult beginner classes for the US Chess Women program.
A few ideas you'll find in this episode:

Why you should do fewer puzzles online, not more.
Do you really need to dive deep into endgames?
A unique approach to delving into strategy.

Want To Save Using the Steps Method? Go to Chess Steps and use her affiliate code, "LauraLovesChess" and get 10% off
You can also find Laura streaming live with her husband on their Twitch Channel.
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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Chess in Film: The Executive Producer of Critical Thinking, Carla Berkowitz Feb 22, 2022

005 In 2020, the chess world was gifted an extraordinary film. Yet not nearly enough of us saw it. The pandemic blunted its theater release. So, it never received the attention it deserved. That movie is Critical Thinking, starring John Leguizamo, who also directed the movie.

The film is about the true story of a high school chess teacher who leads the first inner-city school to win a US National Chess Championship, and uses the game to teach them life lessons.

In this episode, I chat with the film's creator and Executive Producer, Carla Berkowitz. We discuss:

The amazing story of how it took 20 years for the film to get made.
Behind-the-scenes of recreating realistic chess for a Hollywood film.
The profound life lessons of chess.
How chess serves as a refuge for those struggling in life.
Will there be a "sequel" to this film?

NOTE: There are no spoilers in the interview, so you can enjoy it without seeing the film. But you’ll get even more out of our discussion if you see it first. So, to that end...
Rent or Watch the Film Here:

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
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Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
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Click 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)

How to Create An Effective Study Plan with IM Andras Toth Feb 15, 2022

004 What makes chess improvement so difficult? Crafting a study plan you're confident will work has to be high on the list. In this episode, I dive into what makes a great study plan for any rating level with IM Andras Toth.
Plus, he busts some harmful myths.

Andras is a renowned coach to adults with a blunt, no-nonsense approach to teaching that's refreshing.

He has a highly regarded YouTube channel, plus he's the author of many great courses on Chessable.

In this episode, you'll learn:

The real reason engine analysis is of limited help to your chess improvement (no matter what your amateur rating is.)
Why it's so important to work with a coach if you want to see long-term progress.
The vital importance of studying annotated games.
A critical, overlooked component to studying tactics that's rarely considered in most people's study plans.

Supplemental Content:
"How to Master Calculation? What Difference Can a Coach Make?" - Andras recommends this video to further some of the ideas he talked about in this podcast episode, especially the difference of having a coach.

More From Andras:

Resources in this Episode

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How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Overcoming Psychological Barriers in Chess with IM Yuriy Krykun Feb 08, 2022

003 Sure, chess is a game of logic. But it’s also a game of emotions - both on and off the board. Often, the negative emotions that join us on our chess journey can get the best of us. This episode is designed to help you reduce their harmful impact on your game and enjoyment of the experience.
To help me, I’m joined by International Master and renowned chess coach, Yuriy Krykun.
Yuriy has had a successful 10-year competitive career in elite chess, has coached over 100 students, is a contributor to Chess.com, and is a course creator on Chessable.
In this episode, you’ll learn:

The best perspective to take the emotional sting out of losing games.
The cure for being addicted to playing, even when you know you should study more.
How playing too much online chess can harm your nerves at OTB tournaments.
The right attitude when facing higher-rated opponents.

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

Top 7 Lessons Learned After My 1-Year Return To Chess Feb 08, 2022

002 In 2021, I made a HUGE return to chess after decades away. Yep, all inspired by that little Netflix series. But this was no ordinary return to chess. I spent roughly 3-4 hours a day, 7 days per week studying and playing chess. For an entire year.
That’s at least 1100 hours.
I’ve boiled it down to 26 minutes of my Top 7 Lessons.

If you’re hoping to boost your rating, I'm confident these lessons will help you.

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

A Fresh Spin on Chess Podcasts Jan 30, 2022

001 The newest chess podcast has arrived! And it’s a bit different than the others. The goal is to make improvement at chess for adults easier and simpler. Plus, I’ll inject some fun and humor into the experience.
This is a down-to-earth approach to chess for amateurs and enthusiasts who want to improve.
In this episode, I dive into why I created this show, what you can expect, and a little about me, your chess-obsessed host, Daniel Lona.

How You Can Support the Pod:

Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like:

Submitting questions to guests
A shout-out of your name on the pod
Vote on future topics/guests
Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the show
DM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodes

Click 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)

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