The Chess Experience

The podcast is taking a short break for the month of May 2025. It will return in early to mid-June. We'll be back soon! If you want to contact me in the meantime about an episode or anything chess-related, you can do so here.

123 He went from beginner to 2150 FIDE in just four years. And that's without receiving any coaching! Later, he became one of Chessable's most popular course creators, recently winning Author of the Year in 2024.CM Can Kabadayi is a rare and impressive chess talent: he excels both as a player and a coach.In this episode, we chat about his journey from a Ph.D in cognitive science to becoming an in-demand course creator and popular chess YouTuber.Can also offers some great insights for chess improvement. He shares his unique “CLAMP” method for preventing blunders – a systematic framework to help you identify Checks, Loose Pieces, Alignments, Mobility Restrictions, and Passed Pawns.We also discuss the most popular video from Can's YouTube channel and his new show, called The Chess Congnition Podcast.More From Can:Chessable CoursesYouTube ChannelTwitterInstagramHow You Can Support the Pod:Join this show's Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick 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)

122 You hear the positives of competing in OTB classical events all the time (including from me on this podcast). And their improvement benefits are undeniable. However, they have some serious downsides: money, time, and energy, just to name a few. To the point where I've become uncertain whether they're worth it. And so has my guest, FM Nate Solon.In this episode, we discuss:The many challenges of OTB classical events, like creating difficult situations for proper eating, sleeping, and recovery.​​The identity component of "serious chess players play OTB classical" creates unnecessary pressure.Potential solutions like shorter time controls, more desirable tournament experiences, or online classical competitions. FM Nate Solon is a coach, Chessable course creator, and author of a popular weekly newsletter, Zwischenzug. Here are links to all of that:More From Nate Solon:Article: I Don't Like Chess TournamentsArticle: What Would a Fun Chess Tournament Look Like?Chessable CoursesWeekly Newsletter: ZwischenzugTwitterHow You Can Support the Pod:Join this show's Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick 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)

121 Latvian GM Arturs Neiksans earned his Grandmaster title relatively late. At age 28. But that didn't stop him from becoming a force in the chess world.Not only did he climb to an impressive 2631 FIDE rating…But even outside of competition, Arturs developed a dynamic career as a coach to top youths, a premier Chessable course creator, and a YouTuber with awesome chess content.In our interview, we discuss:How he helped promising young talent become GMs while working as head coach at the historic Riga Chess School.His approach to making even his most robust opening courses accessible to club players.Why he likes to play provocative openings like the Dutch and Scandinavian to take opponents out of their comfort zone.Building a YouTube channel with popular bootcamps and reviews of classic games.Does a club player need to worry about which Silician makes the most sense to play at their level?More From Arturs:Chessable CoursesYouTube ChannelTwitterFacebookHow You Can Support the Pod:Join this show's Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick 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)

120 Daniel Lona is interviewed by guest host Omar Mills, fellow club player, in the second part of a special episode celebrating The Chess Experience podcast's third anniversary.Three years ago, Daniel Lona launched The Chess Experience with a simple yet unique mission: to create chess content by and for adult improvers - a rare thing in the chess world at that time. In this episode, he discusses:What makes chess "real"? Is a 3-minute blitz game fundamentally the same as a 5-hour classical battle?Finding a balance between growing chess through Esports vs preserving traditional formats.Daniel's #1 chess wish (and all of his answers to the rapid-fire questions he asks his guests.)PLUS: Get a chance to win Omar Mills' new Chessable course (with full video) this week: "Chess Destiny: Lessons from an Adult Improver and His Coach.”Get info on how to enter to win by following Daniel Lona on Twitter.How You Can Support the Pod:Join this show's Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick 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 quick schedule update. Alas, no episode this week due to being very sick :( But we'll return on Tues, March 25th with the second part of me being interviewed by Omar Mills for the 3rd anniversary of this show. Then on April 1st, I'll have GM Arturs Neiksans as a guest! Finally, I do these quick updates so that you never wonder "Hey, what happened to the show?" Lol. See you soon. And thank you for your patience.

119 Daniel Lona celebrates the third anniversary of hosting The Chess Experience by sitting in the guest chair, interviewed by previous guest and adult club player Omar Mills.Three years ago, Daniel Lona launched The Chess Experience with a simple yet unique mission: to create chess content by and for adult improvers - a rare thing in the chess world at that time.Now, with over 100 episodes and countless insights from his guests shared, Daniel talks about the journey, philosophy, and future of his podcast.In this episode, he discusses:Why the podcast has had a goal of 50% women guests since Day 1. The uniqueness of a club player as a host, bringing questions that resonate with amateur players but rarely get asked in chess media. Daniel's top four dream guests for the show. Plans to expand the podcast into a YouTube channel to grow the show and create exciting, new content formats.Submit a comment for Daniel on something you've enjoyed about this podcast. He may read it in the next episode (or a future one!):Website contact formTwitter DMInstagram DMFollow Omar on TwitterHow You Can Support the Pod:Join this show's Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick 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)

118 GM Susan Polgar is a once-in-a-lifetime talent. She became the first-ever woman to earn the GM title by rating and norms. By age 15, she became the highest-rated female chess player on the planet.In 1996, she became the Women's World Champion and the first-ever player to earn the Triple Crown: holding the world title in all formats: blitz, rapid, and classical.Not only that…But she did so against relentless obstacles from sexist chess federations who did not want a woman to succeed the way she did.In this episode, we discuss her many competitive achievements, her unique upbringing in Hungary with her father and sisters, and why it led to their success.We also cover Susan's incredible influence on the game in her post-competitive chess career.For decades, Susan has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of professional chess in America, and to grow the game for women and girls throughout the world.We discuss all this through the topics raised in her new and thrilling autobiography, Rebel Queen.More From Susan:Susan's new book, Rebel Queen (hardcover)...or KindleSusan's websiteTwitterInstagramFacebookHow You Can Support the Pod:Join this show's Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick 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)

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

117 Hailing from Cuba, and now one of the top American women players, WGM Thalia Cervantes is a chess powerhouse. For the past four years, she's been invited to and played at the elite US Women's Chess Championship.And her competitive pursuits are nowhere near finished. Thalia is working diligently with a coach to earn her IM title, with one norm already achieved.She's also just released her first Chessable course, called, “Building an Attacking Intuition in Chess,” a subject we explore at length in the second half of the episode.We also discuss:How a club player can develop an attacking intuition through pattern recognition.Thalia's thoughts on her performance at the 2024 US Women's Chess Championship (and how she prepares for these events.)The highlights of her early years in the thriving Cuban chess culture and the importance of Capablanca.Her plans post-college and what goes into earning the IM title.More From Thalia:Chessable Course: Building an Attacking Intuition in ChessInstagramHow You Can Support the Pod:Join this show's Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick 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)

116 What a chess career! GM Boris Avrukh cracked the World Top 50 in 2005  and achieved a peak rating of 2668. He has coached the world's best players like Fabiano Caruana, Vladimir Kramnik, and Wesley So. And he even got to be the last person to ever play the legendary Mikhail Tal.Of course, Boris has had an exemplary competitive career representing Israel in six chess Olympiads and winning the World U12 Championship in 1990.In addition to years of coaching the world's best and club players alike, Boris has also written countless opening books and published five Chessable courses.Boris and I talk at length about his course called “Resourceful Chess: Defense & Counterplay,” which will give you some excellent advice on how to play better defense.We also discuss:Why it's important to recognize key defensive patterns.His experience coaching Fabiano Caruana.Why Boris choose to highlight Hans Niemann for defensive play in his course (and whether he did so knowing he'd be controversial.)More From GM Boris AvrukhChessable CoursesWebsiteYouTubeTwitterHow You Can Support the Pod:Join this show's Patreon, called “Podcast Perks,” and get a ton of benefits like: submitting questions to guests, a shout-out of your name on the pod, a DM convo w/ me each month about chess or latest episodes, and more! Join Podcast Perks here.Or you can…>>Support this pod by grabbing a chess.com membership which will help you improve your chess & defeat your enemies. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)

115 She learned the game at 19. The next year she became a titled player with an 1800+ FIDE rating. Then, several years later, WFM Perpetual Ogbiyoyo founds an organization to spread chess to girls and women throughout Nigeria.  Now, she's expanded her connection to the chess world by moving to New York City. In this episode, we talk about her incredible journey, including: How she rose from complete beginner to Woman FIDE Master in one year.A window into the culture and community of chess in Nigeria.Why she created the organization Promoting Queens and its mission to empower girls everywhere through chess.Her aspiration to become the first Nigerian woman Grandmaster.How You Can Support the Pod:You can greatly help this pod with a “pizza slice” donation. Much time and expense goes into creating this show. And, I'd be very grateful if you could support this endeavor which aims to give you the best in chess interviews. Leave a brief note with your donation and I'll respond personally to you. Donate here.Or you can…>>Support this pod by grabbing a chess.com membership which will help you improve your chess & defeat your enemies. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)More From WFM Perpetual OgbiyoyoPromoting Queens websiteTwitter

114 Leaping 400 rating points in classical, rated chess as an adult in just two years? That requires a huge effort and rare dedication. Two qualities that describe well this week's guest, fellow adult club player, Nicholas Sloan. Specifically, in a relatively brief period, Nick went from 1400 USCF to 1849 USCF.And it's all part of his plan to earn the National Master title - something that he wants to prove is possible for us adults.But exciting progress doesn't come easy. Nick advocates consistency, discipline, and a willingness to face your chess weakness.In this episode, we discuss:The top 3 reasons Nick was able to make such massive and fast progress in his USCF rating.Why he doesn't believe “one size fits all” training programs are that effective.Why he has preferred self-guided learning to studying under a coach.More From Nick:YouTube ChannelSubstack NewsletterBlueskyTwitterInstagramHow You Can Support this Podcast:Support this pod by signing up for my Patreon called, “Podcast Perks.” Get exclusive voting on guests, a shout-out of your name on the pod, a DM convo w/ me each month about chess or episodes, and more!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)

113 Rarely do grandmasters focus on helping club players and beginners. But when they do it's rare and exciting. Their extra skill and understanding of the game deliver insights that even other titled players may not possess. That's what GM Josh Friedel offers as a course creator and coach. And it can be heard throughout this interview.Of course, Josh has had an impressive chess career. Competitively, he tied for 6th place at the US Chess Championship in 2009 and competed at the World Cup.He has passed along this hard-earned chess knowledge for decades by coaching club players.And for nearly as long, he's been creating courses, most recently for Chessable on common mistakes in the opening and middlegame.In this episode, we chat:Common middle-game mistakes and how to avoid them.Josh's unique qualities as a coach that separate him from the pack.Why is it so difficult to convert a won position - and how to get better at it.GIVEAWAY: To win Josh's Chessable course on avoiding middlegame mistakes, follow Daniel Lona on Twitter for details and updates (for the week of 1/21/25 only.)More From Josh:Chessable coursesTwitterYouTubeHow You Can Support the Pod:Patreon: Support this pod by signing up for my Patreon called, “Podcast Perks.” Get exclusive voting on guests, a shout-out of your name on the pod, a DM convo w/ me each month about chess or episodes, and more!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)

112 Would you move to a new city for chess? Few have that level of commitment to the game. But our guest this week did exactly that. Adult improver Sydney Strauss moved to New York City this past year to pursue her relatively new passion for chess.After learning the game just two years ago, she fell in love with it and began studying and playing every day.  The following year, Sydney knew she wanted to take her pursuit to the next level and be fully immersed in chess through clubs, tournaments, and friends.New York City, with its venerated Marshall Chess Club and thriving chess scene, provided her with that experience.In a brief time, Sydney has now reached an inspiring FIDE rating of 1581.This episode explores her story, why chess has impacted her life so greatly, and what her future ambitions may be within the game.Plus: will she get a chess tattoo? Connect with Sydney Strauss:TwitterInstagramTwitchBushwick Chess Club IG----NEW! I've launched a Patreon for the show called, "Podcast Perks." Get the following:A monthly DM with me about anything chess-related or the podcastA shout-out of your name thanking you on a future episodeExclusive voting on future guests, topics, and direction of the showMore!Click here to join the Patreon for The Chess Experience!---->>Support this pod, improve your chess, & defeat your enemies by getting a chess.com membership. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Check out Daniel's chess.com profile. Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests.

111 She does it all. WIM Svitlana Demchenko is a course creator, coach, streamer, and high-level chess competitor. Born in Ukraine and a long-time Canadian citizen, Svitlana proved herself early in chess, becoming a five-time Canadian girls champion. In more recent years, she's competed in the Chess Olympiad three times as part of the Canadian women's team.She's also published several fantastic opening and strategy courses for ChessBase. And, each week, she streams chess on Twitch.Finally, rounding out her chess activities, is a regular video show called Smart Moves, where Svitlana coaches an amateur player. In the process, she focuses on key topics that'll help any club player improve their chess.In this episode, we discuss: The undervalued topic of imbalances in chess and why club players should probably spend more time on this concept.How Svitlana juggles her pursuit of a medical career and a robust chess life.Her chase for the WGM title. Her thoughts on the World Championship event and Gukesh as the new champ.------NEW! I've just launched a Patreon membership for the show called, "Podcast Perks." Get the following:A monthly DM with me about anything chess-related or the podcastExclusive voting on future guests, topics, and direction of the showA shout-out of your name thanking you on a future episodeConnect to the pod's community through episode discussions with me and other listenersExclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showSupport the show's ongoing production of new episodesClick here to join the Podcast Perks patreon for The Chess Experience!----------------------More From Svitlana:Courses on ChessbaseSmartMoves YouTube PlaylistTwitchTwitterInstagram

110 Today's guest is the inspiring and talented WGM Maria Gevorgyan. Few have managed to become a national chess champion, let alone do it five times. But Maria has! In addition to becoming the women's chess champion of Armenia multiple times…Maria is now taking all that she's learned from her competitive career and helping her students as a chess coach.These days, she is the head coach at the Abu Dhabi Chess Academy for women and girls.In this interview, we discuss:Is blitz a helpful tool for improvement or just a fun way to play the game?How an accidental illegal move by Maria was missed at the tournament where she earned her the WGM title!The #1 book recommendation that Maria believes every club player should read. More From Maria:TwitterInstagramCoaching with Maria (DM her about lessons)Book recommendation: My System by Aaron Nimzowitch >> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

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

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

Our guest this week is a self-taught FIDE Master, coach, and popular course creator hailing from the Netherlands: Midas Ratmas.Midas has built his chess career around helping club players and beginners.As such, he's developed a special talent for teaching chess to players at this level.Midas has already published over a dozen Chessable courses covering areas like the opening, tactics, and strategy - with many more on the horizon.In this episode, we talk about:The 3 ways he makes opening courses more accessible and easier for club players to manage. Why beginners - and maybe even club players - should learn the strategies that stem from each of the individual chess pieces. How he plans to achieve his goal of earning the IM title.Straightforward advice on endgames & calculation from his upcoming courses.Midas's Chessable course page>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

107 Few adult club players are as committed to the game as Nick Visel.For years, he's been racking up countless OTB classical games, poring through books and courses, and sharing his wisdom on Chess Twitter.Currently, Nick stands at 1600 USCF with ambitions of becoming a Class A player and reaching National Master.Nick shares great tips from his earned wisdom, plus how he's willing to scale back his chess when other areas of his life take priority.In this episode, we discuss:A better way to learn openings beyond just tedious memorization. Why he's reduced his chess study workload and how it helps him avoid burnout.Why he thinks Karpov would have beaten Fischer had they played in 1975. The importance of a poker face in OTB chessMore From Nick:TwitterNick's Substack>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

Just a quick update on why there won't be an episode this week. But we'll be back on November 12th!

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

105 Today's guest is a huge help to countless adult improvers.GM Eugene Perelshteyn is a highly regarded coach, author, and course creator.In more recent years, he went beyond helping his private students and extended his chess wisdom to writing a book and publishing courses.His 2022 book, Evaluate Like A Grandmaster, is a huge help to almost every club player. And we discuss at length the benefits of improving your often-overlooked evaluation skills in chess.But this is also a wide-reaching interview…In our chat, we discuss the recent controversy with GM Christopher Woo at the US Chess Championship and why mental health is a critical topic for competitive players (even amateurs!)Plus, we cover: How studying gambits can make you a better chess player.Who is likely to win the World Chess Championship between Ding & Gukesh.Hikaru's trick to playing better competitively that applies to all players.Follow me on Twitter to win Eugene's "Every Gambit Refuted" Chessable course (and other future giveaways!)More From Eugene:Eugene's Chessable CoursesBook: Evaluate Like a GrandmasterTwitterWebsite>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

104 This week's guest is Vanessa Sun, a former chess journalist. For years, she covered events for US Chess, from major national tournaments like the US Open to local competitions.She was also a tournament director at the famous Marshall Chess Club in New York City. Plus, she's volunteered for IM Greg Shahade at the US Chess School, which is a nonprofit that offers free chess coaching to the most promising juniors in the country.Beyond her chess experiences, she's an atmospheric chemist and is currently in a Ph.D program.In this episode, we chat about her chess journey, including:What unique insights about chess she's gained from covering tournaments and doing interviews as a chess journalist.Why she prefers classical and calls herself a “blitz hater.”Whether there's any link between playing chess and intelligence.The powerful impact chess can have on people's lives, even if they don't make a career of it or work on the game regularly.Find Vanessa on Twitter>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

103 Our guest is an inspiring adult improver, Dr. Ryan Thomas. Ryan is a surgeon, a cancer researcher, and a father of two. With all that, he's still highly dedicated to chess improvement and his love of the game. Ryan regularly attends OTB classical tournaments, and his current USCF rating is 958 with a goal of 1200.In this episode, we discuss:Ryan's journey from casual high school player to avid tournament competitor later in life. How all chess players share common bonds regardless of their skill level.What Ryan did to solve the problems of information overload & inconsistent practice.  The courses Ryan revisited to ensure he practiced chess fundamentals. The parallels between chess and medical training, and how each has informed the other in Ryan's life.Find Ryan on TwitterResources Referenced:FM Paul Giannotos: Everyone's First Chess Workbook (Chessable)IM Andras Toth: Chess Principles Reloaded: Development (Chessable)GM Artur Yusopov: The Fundamentals 1: Build Up Your Chess (Chessable)>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

102 Learning from a prolific chess author and course creator is always exciting. Today we dive into various chess improvement topics from Serbian International Master, Boro Zlatanovic.Boro has published over two dozen courses and books. And in just five years!And his two most recent courses have been published with Chessable, including Masterpieces of Amateur Play and Conversion in the Endgame.One thing that stands out about Boro, and that I find refreshing, is that while we're in an era where most published works are focused on openings, Boro prefers to write and teach about strategy, endgames, and chess psychology.In our discussion, we chat about:What you can learn from annotated amateur games, not only master games.The psychology and attitude you ought to have when playing higher-rated opponents. Why you should focus on understanding chess ideas & principles as the guiding star of your chess journey, not just memorization or what engine analysis tells you.More From Boro: Boro's Chessable coursesBoro's Books on Amazon>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

101 Megan Lee is an inspiration to all of us adult improvers. Even with a busy work life running two businesses, Megan has had an incredible year: reaching her lifetime rating peak (2297 FIDE), earning the FM title, and competing in the US Women's Championship.In fact, this year will be her third invitation to that prestigious event.Yet she does this all on the side while she juggles a typical but heavy load of adult responsibilities.In this episode, we discuss:Why Megan can achieve more in chess as an adult than she did as a junior.Megan's experiences competing at the US Women's Chess Championship (including her prep for this year's event.)What areas of her game she'll need to strengthen to achieve the IM title.More from Megan:  Snippet Studios (her lifestyle brand business)>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

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

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 SicilianTwitchTwitterInstagram>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

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:TwitchLichess Coaching PageChess.com BlogYouTubeTwitterInstagram>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

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 ConceptsYouTube TwitchTwitterOmar:Twitter>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

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 CourseChessable Courses >> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

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!

095 GM Alex Colovic is an exceptional course creator and an engaging writer on all things chess. He returns to the pod to discuss some intriguing subjects from his weekly newsletter. I hand-picked three topics Alex wrote about that I found fascinating. We dive deep into each one:Why pro chess players (outside the Top 50) can't make a living competing anymore?Can you create a certainty of winning before the game begins that helps you play better?How can you ensure you bring a fighting spirit to each game you play? Finally, we discuss his latest opening courses for White that have been released on Chessable, and why it may be worth learning to play 1.e4 and 1.d4.More From Alex:Weekly NewsletterChessable CoursesTwitterWebsite & Blog>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

094 Kaja Snare, a pro chess broadcaster, has been leading chess into a new and more accessible era of live coverage.  Gone are the days of top-level chess being watchable only for the most dedicated to the game. With her co-hosts, GM David Howell and WGM Jovanaka Houska, Kaja anchored one of the most popular live chess broadcasts our sport has ever seen.And for good reason…At Chess24, Kaja was part of a team that worked hard to make chess more accessible and more exciting for the general public with its live coverage.In our chat, Kaja shares how they helped move chess into era with greater reach and relatability.We also discuss: Hilarious stories Kaja shares from her interviews with Hikaru, Magnus, and Ivanchuk. How Kaja went from covering sports to focusing exclusively on chess - even as someone who originally knew very little about the game.A behind-the-scenes look at how the now-famous Chess24 broadcast team was assembled with Kaja, David, and Jovanaka.More From Kaja:TwitterInstagram >> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

093  An exciting new chess coach has hit the scene. NM Robert Ramirez has seen a huge growth in popularity in the past several years. Already, his YouTube channel has grown to 140K subscribers at the time of this episode. He's launched two Chessable opening courses in the past year alone...And his coaching advice and videos are being shared all over Chess Twitter.As you watch his videos and listen to Robert speak, it's no surprise.His advice is extremely helpful (he may have solved my time trouble woes in this episode alone.)And he has a calm, assuring charisma. In this episode, we discuss:How he uses simplicity to balance his chess life with his work/home life.  A powerful strategy to solve your time trouble issues if you play too slow.Why the Stonewall opening can be an aggressive surprise against your opponents if you're a club player.More From Robert:YouTube channelChessable coursesWebsiteTwitter >> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

092 It's rare to see an adult chase a title and work full-time as a chess content creator. With passion and confidence, that's exactly what this week's guest, Elaynah, is doing with her chess life. It's an inspiring journey because, only two years ago, she was an absolute beginner who was beaten easily by her cousin at a Christmas party.Now?She's rated 1800 Chess.com Rapid and has 22K followers for her chess Twitch channel - with both of those numbers quickly rising!In this episode, we chat:Her interest in getting chess media to focus more on adult improvers.What it's like having IM Kostya Kavutskiy, of the Chess Dojo, as her coach.Why she expanded her chess content beyond streaming and into podcasting.Her plans to reach 2000 Chess.com Rapid this year. More From Elaynah: TwitchTwitterInstagramPodcast>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

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

Send me a message about this episode! 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 SchoolYouTube ChannelInstagramTwitchTwitter>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

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 WebsiteOno's Free Coaching LessonOno's BlogOno's Twitter>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

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 CoursesThomas' Books (Amazon Link)>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

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 PandolfiniRochelle BallantineGM Irina KrushIM Eric RosenWGM Jennifer Shahade>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

Quick update: No full episode this week. But we'll return on 4/16/24. Wanna tell me how your chess journey is going? Or have any feedback for the podcast? You can send me a message here.Also, I asked my Twitter followers what their answer would be to my frequently asked pod question below.  Send me your answer and I may read it on next week's solo pod!"If a chess genie existed and could grant you one chess wish, what would you wish for?"Send your answer through my website or reply to this Twitter post.

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 DefenseGame ChangerHer Books:Game ChangerChess For LifeNatasha's Twitter>>Join my official FREE Club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

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 MasteryCourse: Next Level TrainingWebsiteBlogTwitter>>Join my official FREE Club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

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: TwitterInstagramTwitchTikTok>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

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 TwitterJulia's Twitter>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

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 CoursesYuriy's Website (including contact form for coaching)Yuriy's TwitterYuriy's Coaching Page>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com

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 DojoChess Dojo - TwitchChess Dojo - YouTubeChess Dojo - TwitterChess Dojo - WebsiteKostya on TwitterKostya's Endgames courseKostya's Book

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 CoursesYouTube ChannelTwitch Channel Twitter>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com