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:

• Chessable Course: My Secret Sveshikov: The Sicilian by a Sicilian
• Twitch
• 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)

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:

• Twitch
• Lichess Coaching Page
• Chess.com Blog
• YouTube
• 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)

 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:

• Course: Russian Chess School
• YouTube Channel
• Instagram
• Twitch
• 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)

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:

• Amazon
• Hulu
• YouTube
• Starz

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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)

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:

• YouTube 
• Andra's Chessable Courses
• Twitch 

Resources in this Episode

• BOOK: Best Lessons of a Chess Coach
• BOOK: How to Beat Your Dad At Chess
• VIDEO: Andras's YouTube Amateur Mind Series

---------
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)

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)

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)

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)

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: 

• Ono’s Website
• Ono’s Free Coaching Lesson
• Ono’s Blog
• Ono’s 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)

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:

• Thomas’ Chessable Courses
• Thomas’ Books (Amazon Link)

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)

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:

• NM Bruce Pandolfini
• Rochelle Ballantine
• GM Irina Krush
• IM Eric Rosen
• WGM Jennifer Shahade

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)

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: 

• Zwishensuzg: A Comprehensive Guide to Intermediate Moves 
• Learn to Counterattack: Essential Guide to Active Defense
• Game Changer

Her Books:

• Game Changer
• Chess For Life
• Natasha’s 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)

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:

• Course: Beginner Chess Mastery
• Course: Next Level Training
• Website
• Blog
• 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)

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: 

• Twitter
• Instagram
• Twitch
• TikTok

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 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:

• ChessFeels Podcast 
• ChessFeels Twitter
• Julia’s 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)

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:

• Yuriy’s Chessable Courses
• Yuriy’s Website (including contact form for coaching)
• Yuriy’s Twitter
• Yuriy’s Coaching 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)

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: 

• Training Program by Chess Dojo
• Chess Dojo - Twitch
• Chess Dojo - YouTube
• Chess Dojo - Twitter
• Chess Dojo - Website
• Kostya on Twitter
• Kostya’s Endgames course
• Kostya’s Book

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)

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: 

• Chessable Course: 50 Essential Chess Concepts
• YouTube 
• Twitch
• Twitter

Omar:

• 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)

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:

• Andras's Chessable Courses
• YouTube Channel
• Twitch Channel 
• 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)

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:

• Charlize’s Twitter
• Charlize’s Instagram
• Charlize’s business, Chess Kidding

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)

 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:

• Sam’s Twitter
• Sam’s YouTube channel

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)

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)

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:

• Book: Play Like a Champion
• Book: Chess Queens
• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook
• 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)

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:

• Dan’s Website
• Dan’s YouTube Channel
• Dan’s Books
• Dan’s Twitter
• Dan’s guide to annotated game books (scroll down to “Game Collections”)

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)

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

• Luciana’s course: Queens of the Chess Board
• Luciana’s 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)

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:

• Nate’s e-newsletter on chess improvement: Zwischenzug
• Nate’s new Chessable opening course: Reti (1.Nf3)
• Nate’s book: Evaluate Like a Grandmaster
• Nate’s Twitter

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

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)

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:

• Ben’s Book: Perpetual Chess Improvement
• Ben’s Podcast: The Perpetual Chess Podcast
• Ben’s 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)

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:

• Albin Countergambit Course
• Chessable Courses 

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)

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

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: 

• YouTube 
• Twitch
• 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)

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: 

• Dean’s website
• Dean’s Twitter
• Dean’s new book, Tricks, Traps & Tips in the Chess Opening

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)

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:

• Twitter
• ChessKid.com
• Chess Grant for Schools Through ChessKid

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)

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:

• E-Book: The Art of Chess Training
• Course: Next Level Training
• Website
• Blog
• 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)

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: 

• Twitch channel
• YouTube channel
• Twitter
• Instagram
• TikTok

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)

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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I NEED YOUR HELP: Want to have a say in my upcoming chess membership? Please fill out this super-short survey about what features you want most.

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More From Alexandra:

• Twitch Channel
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Website
• Games against Andrea Botez
• Lesson with IM Kostya Kavutskiy

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)

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)

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:

• Daniel’s YouTube Channel
• Daniel’s Chessable Courses
• Daniel’s Books
• Daniel’s Website
• Daniel’s Twitter
• Book: How To Win At Chess

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)

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.

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
• 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)

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:

• The game that earned Peter an IM norm
• Peter’s Interview with Kasparov at Fischer’s Grave
• Peter’s Reporting on Whether FIDE Was Going Bankrupt
• Kasparov Playing the King’s Gambit

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)

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:

• Laura’s new course, Forcing Captures for Beginners, on Chessable
• Laura’s Twitch channel
• Laura’s 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)

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: 

• 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)

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:

• Stacia’s Website 
• Stacia’s YouTube channel
• Stacia’s 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)

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:

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)

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:

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)

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: 

• Outpost Chess website
• Lena’s Twitter
• Lena’s 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)

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: 

• Jules’ Twitch 
• Jules’ YouTube 
• Jules’ Twitter 
• Jules’ 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)

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:

• David’s Twitter
• Chess Dojo’s Training Program
• Chess Dojo’s Twitch
• Chess Dojo’s YouTube
• Chess Dojo’s 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)

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: 

• Carsten’s chess books 
• Carsten’s website 
• Carsten 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)