Podcast
The Chess Angle
Hosted by Long Island Chess Club · EN
The Chess Angle is the official podcast of the renowned Long Island Chess Club in NY. We discuss chess, tournament play, and improvement at the amateur and club level. Featured guests include titled players and dedicated amateurs. New episodes drop on Sundays. Web: www.thechessangle.com. Twitter (X): www.twitter.com/TheChessAngle. Email: info@thechessangle.com. Thank you for listening and we hope you win your next game!
32episodes
Episodes
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Ep. 191 (Midseason Finale): Is YouTube Actually Better For Adult Chess Improvement Than Chessable? feat. Steve Rosenblatt
2w ago00:52:12Tap to summarizeIn this midseason finale episode, Neal talks with Long Island Chess Club regular Steve Rosenblatt for a wide-ranging conversation on adult chess improvement. The two debate whether YouTube videos or Chessable courses are more effective for gaining rating points, while also diving into tournament psychology, study habits, content overload, and the realities of balancing chess with a demanding career. Steve, founder and CEO of a recruiting firm, brings the perspective of a serious adult competitor who climbed to nearly 1950 USCF without pretending chess is a full-time job. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (X) Buy Me a Coffee
Transcribe →Ep. 190: Boost Your Chess Rating by Checking Your Ego
3w ago00:45:13Tap to summarizeMost adult chess players are not held back primarily by calculation or opening knowledge. They are held back by ego: the need to look smart, play "real chess," attack beautifully, avoid embarrassment, prove their strength, or force results. The paradox is that the less emotionally attached you are to proving something over the board, the better your decisions become. This episode adapts ideas from golf psychology about pressure, identity, unrealistic expectations, and emotional overinvestment into practical chess improvement concepts. Referenced: How I Made Golf Easier - and a Lot More Fun (WSJ article) Feel freely, but always acknowledge the loss (YouTube video) 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (X) Buy Me a Coffee
Transcribe →Ep. 189: The Amateur's Mind (Chessable Version) - Still the Most Important Chess Book for Adult Players
4w ago00:51:04Tap to summarizeThis week, we revisit The Amateur's Mind by IM Jeremy Silman, this time through the Chessable edition. We've long argued this is the most important book for adult improvers, not because it hands you lines to memorize, but because it rewires how you think. The Chessable version preserves Silman's voice and structure while adding a layer of engine-checked accuracy that quietly cleans up a few rough edges from the original. What stands out most is how well the core teaching holds up. Silman's focus on imbalances, plans, and practical thinking remains exactly what club players need. The interactive format makes it easier to engage with positions rather than passively read them, and the corrections remove small distractions that modern readers might otherwise fixate on. If you're an adult player trying to improve efficiently, this is still required material. The format has evolved, but the message hasn't: stop playing random moves and start understanding what the position demands. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (X) Buy Me a Coffee
Transcribe →Ep. 188: Why Study Beats Play for Chess Improvement
May 300:56:43Tap to summarizeMost adult players default to playing more games when they want to improve, but that instinct is often backwards. In this episode, we argue that structured study is the real driver of progress for club players, and explain why playing alone tends to reinforce bad habits. If you've been stuck at the same rating for a while, this might be the shift you need. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (X) Buy Me a Coffee
Transcribe →Ep. 187: The 2200 Myth: Why Most Adult Chess Players Won't Make Master
Apr 2601:03:33Tap to summarizeMost adult amateurs quietly carry the same goal: reach Master. In this episode, we take an honest look at why that milestone is so elusive: time constraints, training demands, a competitive player pool, and the realities of adult learning. More importantly, we talk about what is achievable, and how to pursue improvement in a way that's both realistic and rewarding. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (X) Buy Me a Coffee
Transcribe →Ep. 186: GM Daniel Gormally on "Untold: Chess Mates," the Netflix Special About the Magnus/Hans Cheating Controversy
Apr 1900:52:32Tap to summarizeGM Daniel Gormally returns to the pod to unpack Netflix's Untold: Chess Mates, the documentary covering the Magnus Carlsen - Hans Niemann controversy. We separate the signal from the noise, offering a candid, player-level perspective on one of chess's most bizarre modern sagas. Links for GM Daniel Gormally: YouTube channel Chessable 3-Part Series: Sharp Middlegames 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (X) Buy Me a Coffee
Transcribe →Ep. 185: The Adult Amateur's Guide to Defeating Chess Prodigies
Apr 1200:31:56Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we react to a recent article on how to beat chess prodigies and what adult amateurs tend to get wrong when facing underrated kids. We break down practical strategies like avoiding tactical chaos and forcing long, patient games. If you've ever sat down across from a 10-year-old and immediately felt in trouble, this one's for you. Referenced: How to Beat A Chess Prodigy 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (X) Buy Me a Coffee
Transcribe →Ep. 184: Real Talk on Chess Improvement for Adults feat. Nick Visel
Apr 501:07:45Tap to summarizeFellow chess amateur and blogger Nick Visel returns to the pod to talk about the nuts and bolts of improving as an adult player. We cover endgames, openings, and the psychological habits that separate steady improvers from those stuck in place. Think of this as a reality check - with a roadmap. Referenced: Nick's Substack: Nick Plays Chess 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (X) Buy Me a Coffee
Transcribe →Ep. 183: Online Chess Has a Clock Problem
Mar 2900:43:36Tap to summarizeTime delay or an increment has become the norm in over-the-board tournaments, but online chess still largely ignores it. In this episode, we break down why using an increment leads to better games, fairer outcomes, and more instructive endgames, and why the current no-increment culture misses the mark. We also react to a lively Reddit debate on why no-increment chess still dominates online play. Referenced: Lichess Study: Study Creators & Friends Reddit Post: Why is no increment the norm in online chess? 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (X) Buy Me a Coffee
Transcribe →Ep. 182: Chess Ratings and the Luck Factor
Mar 2200:34:06Tap to summarizeWe like to think chess is pure skill, but at the amateur level, luck plays a bigger role than most players realize. In this episode, we break down how blunders, pairings, time pressure, and your opponent's mood can all influence your results and rating. More importantly, we talk about how to think about luck the right way so you don't misjudge your own progress. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (X) Buy Me a Coffee
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