Ep. 198: Move Noise: The Mental Clutter Costing You Games
Sometimes the problem isn't that we aren't thinking enough at the chessboard — it's that we're thinking about too much. In this episode, we explore "move noise": the unnecessary calculation, imaginary...
16 Aug 46min
Ep. 197: Chess Openings and the Law of Diminishing Returns
Many adult club players don't study too little opening theory - they study too much. In this episode, we explore the trap of diminishing returns in opening study, why understanding ideas matters far m...
9 Aug 43min
Ep. 196: Rook Slides, Queen Slides, & Other Chess Blind Spots
Many chess blunders aren't caused by poor calculation - they're caused by visual blind spots. In this episode, we explore why certain types of moves consistently escape our attention, how those blind ...
2 Aug 26min
Ep. 195: Why Your Chess Rating Swings So Much
Your chess rating can easily swing 100 points or more, but it doesn't necessarily mean you've become a better or worse player. In this episode, we react to a fascinating article on rating variance and...
26 Jul 32min
Ep. 193: The Yellow Zone: Where Adult Chess Improvement Actually Happens
If you're holding off until you're fully rested, completely focused, and free from distractions before playing or studying chess, you may be waiting a very long time. Most adult improvers live in the ...
12 Jul 34min
Ep. 192: Zapp Chess: The One App That Hooked Me
I break my long-standing rule about not playing chess on my phone to talk about Zapp Chess, a listener-recommended app that surprised me. It blends fast, gamified play with real competitive chess deci...
5 Jul 43min
Ep. 191 (Midseason Finale): Is YouTube Actually Better For Adult Chess Improvement Than Chessable? feat. Steve Rosenblatt
In 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 C...
24 Mai 52min
