The Chess Underground – Details, episodes & analysis

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The Chess Underground

US Chess

Leisure

Frequency: 1 episode/21d. Total Eps: 52

Welcome to US Chess’ latest podcast, Chess Underground, the show that explores eccentricities, peculiarities, and theoretical novelties. The Chess Underground is hosted by NM Pete Karagianis, the US Chess Assistant Director of Events

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Apple Podcasts

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28/09/2025
#98
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27/09/2025
#70
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04/07/2025
#96
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03/07/2025
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30/06/2025
#99
🇩🇪 Germany - games
29/06/2025
#56
🇨🇦 Canada - games
05/05/2025
#75
🇨🇦 Canada - games
04/05/2025
#41
🇬🇧 Great Britain - games
20/02/2025
#59
🇬🇧 Great Britain - games
19/09/2024
#60

Spotify

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https://new.uschess.org/podcasts
10 shares
https://lichess.org/@/Vitamixbrand/blog
4 shares
https://imrosen.com/
1 share

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Score global : 48%

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Episode #52: Life After Master

Episode 52

Monday, November 6, 2023 • Duration 01:02:51

In the October installment of Chess Underground, Pete and Gopal ask themselves the question: “What are the things you learned about chess after becoming a master?”

Also, is Kramnik better than Stockfish?

Link to video mentioned in the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fN_8Ehinrg

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Episode #51: What Will Chess Be Like in 2050?

Episode 51

Monday, November 6, 2023 • Duration 49:57

The September edition of Chess Underground asks the question, "What will chess be like in 2050?" Pete and Gopal put on their wizard hats and offer prognostications galore.

EP #42: ”Do No Harm”

Episode 42

Wednesday, September 28, 2022 • Duration 54:09

The September edition of the Chess Underground assesses the idea of “Do No Harm,” stemming from an earlier discussion on the podcast. Host Pete Karagianis submits an oath to the Greek Gods of old. Gopal suggests that sometimes, the most important thing is to actively NOT try to improve one’s position.

Plus, a bonus hypothetical matchup between Princess Elsa and the one and only GM Judit Polgar.

Games and articles mentioned on this episode:

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1328830 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1324924 https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-art-of-doing-nothing https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-art-of-doing-nothing-part-two https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-art-of-doing-nothing-part-three https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-art-of-doing-nothing-part-four

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EP#41 - ”Bullet Binges, All-Nighters, and TMI”

Episode 41

Thursday, August 25, 2022 • Duration 01:27:02

Chess Underground, with host Pete Karagianis and Gopal Menon, returns in August to discuss some spicy interviews as hot as the Miami heat, chess internet (degeneracy?), mouse slips and slams, pre-moves, FICS and much more. Also, who would win a hypothetical 24-game match between John Wick and the Terminator? "This Month in Chess" also recaps the 2022 Olympiad, including some impressive performances. Enjoy!

Gopal Menon, based out of Chicago, Illinois, is a national master with a peak standard rating of 2394 and blitz rating of 2558. He has more than ten years of coaching experience and is the three-time coach of Illinois high school state champions Whitney Young. He has worked as the second for multiple grandmasters, and has worked for Nikola Mitkov since late 2014.

Follow Gopal on Twitter and read his LiChess blog.

"Chess Underground" is a monthly US Chess podcast hosted by US Chess Assistant Director of Events NM Pete Karagianis that explores eccentricities, peculiarities, and theoretical novelties.

Listen to the whole family of US Chess podcasts at https://new.uschess.org/podcasts

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EP#40 - ”What Makes Your Best Results?”

Episode 40

Thursday, August 4, 2022 • Duration 01:12:01

Chess Underground returns! Pete and Gopal try to answer the question, "What makes your best results?" How do we perform at our best over the board? Can any connections be drawn from anecdotal cases? Also, the two debate a hypothetical chess match between Michael Scott and Andre the Giant. Who will be the king of the ring?

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EP#39 - ”He’s a 10, but He Plays the French”

Episode 39

Wednesday, June 29, 2022 • Duration 01:11:46

Season 4 of Chess Underground continues with Gopal Menon and host Pete Karagianis. The topics this month include: Shrek vs. Beth Harmon in a 24-game match; a philosophical discussion of chess Twitter; psychology, mind games, and stare-downs; and the return of "This Month in Chess."

Follow Gopal on Twitter and read his LiChess blog.

"Chess Underground" is a monthly US Chess podcast hosted by US Chess Assistant Director of Events NM Pete Karagianis that explores eccentricities, peculiarities, and theoretical novelties.

Listen to the whole family of US Chess podcasts at https://new.uschess.org/podcasts

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EP #38 - Gopal Menon, ”Chess Variants”

Episode 38

Tuesday, May 24, 2022 • Duration 01:08:58

Season 4 of Chess Underground continues with Gopal Menon and host Pete Karagianis, who go deep into some of their favorite -- and least favorite -- chess variants.

Have you ever heard of "Secret Queen"? What happens when 36 pawns meet a chess set? How fast do you have to be to win a game of "Racing Kings"? What’s the best method to detonate a radius of squares?

Which of the many chess variants get the official seal of approval and which ones will be poo-pooed into the annals of obscurity? Check out the May episode of Chess Underground to find out!

Follow Gopal on Twitter and read his LiChess blog.

"Chess Underground" is a monthly US Chess podcast hosted by US Chess Assistant Director of Events NM Pete Karagianis that explores eccentricities, peculiarities, and theoretical novelties.

Listen to the whole family of US Chess podcasts at https://new.uschess.org/podcasts

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EP #37 - Gopal Menon, ”What is Chess Most Like?”

Episode 37

Tuesday, April 26, 2022 • Duration 01:09:55

Season 4 of Chess Underground is here!

Host Pete Karagianis and Gopal Menon approach the question: "What is chess most like?" The answer(s) may surprise you! Also Pete and Gopal catch up on "This Month in Chess" with a rundown of hot chess news topics from April 2022.

Follow Gopal on Twitter and read his LiChess blog.

"Chess Underground" is a monthly US Chess podcast hosted by US Chess Assistant Director of Events NM Pete Karagianis that explores eccentricities, peculiarities, and theoretical novelties.

Listen to the whole family of US Chess podcasts at https://new.uschess.org/podcasts

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EP #36 - IM Kassa Korley

Episode 36

Tuesday, March 29, 2022 • Duration 58:10

This month, Pete Karagianis sits down with IM Kassa Korley for the Chess Underground.

Born and raised in New York City, Kassa learned to play chess at the age of five and has been passionate about the game since. Having never had a coach or formal instruction, he has always learned by playing, losing, and making adjustments.

At 15, Kassa became the youngest African-American National Master in history, a mark that has since been broken. In 2010, Kassa became a FIDE Master and, in 2014, he became an International Master. The same year, he switched federations and became a member of the Danish federation, where he also holds family ties as a dual-citizen. After graduating from Duke University in 2015, Kassa worked at Codecademy, a tech startup that teaches millions of people how to code. In 2019, Kassa left this full-time position to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a Grandmaster.

Follow IM Kassa Korley on Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch.

"Chess Underground" is a monthly US Chess podcast hosted by US Chess Assistant Director of Events NM Pete Karagianis that explores eccentricities, peculiarities, and theoretical novelties.

Listen to the whole family of US Chess podcasts at https://new.uschess.org/podcasts

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EP #35 - IM Kostya Kavutskiy

Episode 35

Friday, February 25, 2022 • Duration 57:58

This month Chess Underground sits down with IM Kostya Kavutskiy of ChessDojo, taking a deep dive into chess coaching, improvement, streaming, and much more! Kostya shares his plans for the future of ChessDojo, discusses the recently concluded Chess Sensei series, and gets deep into chess pedagogy and content production. Enjoy!

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The Chess Underground – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

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Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

The Chess Underground – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other31

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other31

Youtube14

Twitter9