Podcasts about Chess

EP 354 — Hanging Pawns (Stjepan Tomić) Shares Book Recs for Every Level & Discusses His Big New Project Stjepan Tomić has built a sizable following through his beloved Hanging Pawns YouTube Channel, but good old-fashioned chess books remain his true passion. That passion has led to his ambitious new project, ChessReads.com, a free platform designed to help players of all levels find the right book for their needs through crowdsourced reviews. The project already features its own YouTube channel, Discord server, and a growing website filled with helpful writeups. To celebrate the site's launch, Stjepan joined me for a wide-ranging conversation about the enduring value of chess literature. We answered listener questions about whether books are still as vital as ever, how Stjepan chooses what to read next, and we shared recommendations across nearly every rating band. Stjepan also updated us on his own chess improvement goals and upcoming tournaments. As a fellow chess bibliophile, I'm excited about the ChessReads project and enjoyed catching up with Stjepan. Timestamps for all topics and rating ranges are below, along with Amazon affiliate links to the books mentioned. If you know a scholastic player who could use high quality online group lessons, be sure to check out Silver Knights Chess Academy..  chessacademy.com/online  Use coupon code- "pod"  to save 50% on the first month.  Below are shortened show notes, for more complete show notes with links for all of the book recs, click here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19Io2RMjGWDpncNDRcUMOlNmYHKMvdxUP1TGmGJFtdB4/edit?tab=t.0 0:03- Stjepan joins the pod! What is the chessreads.com origin story?  Mentioned: Chessreads Discord- https://discord.gg/gbFZGDw4 0:05- Patreon mailbag question: 1) Are chessbooks useful/optimal as chess improvement tools in the modern digital era? 2) Are modern books and older classics equally useful? 15:00- Patreon mailbag question: Could Stjepan recommend a few books that can be read without a chessboard?  Mentioned: Perpetual Chess Improvement, Thinking Inside the Box  19:00- Patreon mailbag question: How does Stjepan select which chess book to read next?  21:00-  Patreon mailbag question: What recommendations does Stjepan have for books about thinking processes? 26:00- Book Recommendations by rating range, starting with under 1000 32:00- Recommendations for the 1000-1200 level 33:00- - Recommendations for the 1200-1400 level 37:00- Recommendations for the 1400-1600 level 41:00- Recommendations for the 1600-1800 level 44:00- Recommendations for the 1800-2000 level 47:00- Recommendations for the above 2000 level 56:00- Chess improvement update from Stjepan 1:00:00- Impromptu discussion- what makes some countries better at chess (and other competitive endeavors)  than others?  1:00:00-  Check out Stjepan's interview with me about my book on the Chessreads channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plMpTaO3Z2Y Perpetual Chess Improvement is finally available on Audible! https://www.amazon.com/Perpetual-Chess-Improvement-Practical-World-Class/dp/B0FHWWC2ZX/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0 1:10:00- Thanks to Stjepan for joining me again, here is how to keep up with him and the ChessReads project.  Hanging Pawns YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@HangingPawns Chessreads YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChessReadsCom Chessreads Discord- https://discord.gg/gbFZGDw4 Chessreads chessreads.com X x.com/chessreads Instagram instagram.com/chessreads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this wide-ranging conversation, Natalie Brunell is joined by Matthew Pines, Executive Director of the Bitcoin Policy Institute and advisor at Skywatcher, to discuss how Bitcoin is influencing U.S. policy and the global financial order. Topics discussed: Washington's plans for Bitcoin: Is it our secret weapon against China? The role of stablecoins in maintaining dollar dominance The intersection of AI, quantum computing, and decentralization UAPs: Is there physical evidence? The future of human freedom in an age of accelerating technology Follow Matthew Pines on X https://x.com/matthew_pines  ----- Coin Stories is powered by Gemini. Invest as you spend with the Gemini Credit Card. Sign up today to earn a $200 intro Bitcoin bonus. The Gemini Credit Card is issued by WebBank. See website for rates & fees. Learn more at https://www.gemini.com/natalie  ---- Coin Stories is powered by Bitwise. Bitwise has over $10B in client assets, 32 investment products, and a team of 100+ employees across the U.S. and Europe, all solely focused on Bitcoin and digital assets since 2017. Learn more at https://www.bitwiseinvestments.com  ---- Bitdeer Technologies Group ($BTDR) is a global leader in Bitcoin mining and high-performance computing for AI, with operations spanning four continents. Learn more at https://www.bitdeer.com ---- Ledn is the global leader in Bitcoin-backed loans, issuing over $9 billion in loans since 2018, and they were the first to offer proof of reserves. With Ledn, you get custody loans, no credit checks, no monthly payments, and more. Get .25% off your first loan, learn more at https://www.Ledn.io/natalie  ---- Natalie's Bitcoin Product and Event Links: For easy, low-cost, instant Bitcoin payments, I use Speed Lightning Wallet. Play Bitcoin trivia and win up to 1 million sats! Download and use promo code COINSTORIES10 for 5,000 free sats: https://www.speed.app/coinstories  Block's Bitkey Cold Storage Wallet was named to TIME's prestigious Best Inventions of 2024 in the category of Privacy & Security. Get 20% off using code STORIES at https://bitkey.world   Master your Bitcoin self-custody with 1-on-1 help and gain peace of mind with the help of The Bitcoin Way: https://www.thebitcoinway.com/natalie  Genius Group (NYSE: $GNS) is building a 10,000 BTC treasury and educating the world through the Genius Academy. Check out *free* courses from Saifedean Ammous and myself at https://www.geniusgroup.ai Earn passive Bitcoin income with industry-leading uptime, renewable energy, ideal climate, expert support, and one month of free hosting when you join Abundant Mines at https://www.abundantmines.com/natalie  Bitcoin 2026 will be here before you know it. Get 10% off Early Bird passes using the code HODL: https://tickets.b.tc/event/bitcoin-2026?promoCodeTask=apply&promoCodeInput=  Protect yourself from SIM Swaps that can hack your accounts and steal your Bitcoin. Join America's most secure mobile service, trusted by CEOs, VIPs and top corporations: https://www.efani.com/natalie   Your Bitcoin oasis awaits at Camp Nakamoto: A retreat for Bitcoiners, by Bitcoiners. Code HODL for discounted passes: https://massadoptionbtc.ticketspice.com/camp-nakamoto      ---- This podcast is for educational purposes and should not be construed as official investment advice. ---- VALUE FOR VALUE — SUPPORT NATALIE'S SHOWS Strike ID https://strike.me/coinstoriesnat/ Cash App $CoinStories #money #Bitcoin #investing

Albert Cheng has led growth at three of the world's most successful consumer subscription companies: Duolingo, Grammarly, and Chess.com. A former Google product manager (and serious pianist!), Albert developed a unique approach to finding and scaling growth opportunities through rapid experimentation and deep user psychology. His teams run 1,000 experiments a year, discovering counterintuitive insights that have driven tens of millions in revenue.What you'll learn:1. How to use the explore-exploit framework to find new growth opportunities2. How showing premium features to free users doubled Grammarly's upgrades to paid plans3. What good retention looks like for a consumer subscription app4. Why resurrected users drive 80% of mature product growth5. Why “reverse trials” work better than time-based trials6. The three pillars of successful gamification: core loop, metagame, and profile —Brought to you by:Vanta—Automate compliance. Simplify security.Jira Product Discovery—Confidence to build the right thingMiro—A collaborative visual platform where your best work comes to life—Where to find Albert Cheng:• X: https://x.com/albertc248• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertcheng1/• Chess.com: https://www.chess.com/member/Goniners—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—Referenced:• How Duolingo reignited user growth: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-duolingo-reignited-user-growth• Inside ChatGPT: The fastest-growing product in history | Nick Turley (Head of ChatGPT at OpenAI): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/inside-chatgpt-nick-turley• Explore vs. Exploit: https://brianbalfour.com/quick-takes/explore-vs-exploit• Grammarly: https://www.grammarly.com/• Reforge: https://www.reforge.com/• Chess.com: https://www.chess.com/• Everyone's an engineer now: Inside v0's mission to create a hundred million builders | Guillermo Rauch (founder & CEO of Vercel, creators of v0 and Next.js): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/everyones-an-engineer-now-guillermo-rauch• Building Lovable: $10M ARR in 60 days with 15 people | Anton Osika (CEO and co-founder): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/building-lovable-anton-osika• Figma: https://www.figma.com/• Cursor: https://cursor.com/• The rise of Cursor: The $300M ARR AI tool that engineers can't stop using | Michael Truell (co-founder and CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-rise-of-cursor-michael-truell• Claude Code: https://www.anthropic.com/claude-code• GitHub Copilot: https://github.com/features/copilot• Noam Lovinsky on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noaml/• The happiness and pain of product management | Noam Lovinsky (Grammarly, Facebook, YouTube, Thumbtack): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-happiness-and-pain-of-product• Kyla Siedband on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylasiedband/• The Duolingo handbook: https://blog.duolingo.com/handbook/• Lenny's post on X about the Duolingo handbook: https://x.com/lennysan/status/1889008405584683091• The rituals of great teams | Shishir Mehrotra of Coda, YouTube, Microsoft: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-rituals-of-great-teams-shishir• Duolingo on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@duolingo• Kasparov vs. Deep Blue | The Match That Changed History: https://www.chess.com/article/view/deep-blue-kasparov-chess• Magnus Carlsen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_Carlsen• Elo rating system: https://www.chess.com/terms/elo-rating-chess• Stockfish: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockfish_(chess)• AlphaGo on Prime Video: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/AlphaGo/0KNQHKKDAOE8OCYKQS9WSSDYN0• Statsig: https://www.statsig.com/• The State of Product in 2026: Navigating Change, Challenge, and Opportunity: https://www.atlassian.com/blog/announcements/state-of-product-2026• Erik Allebest on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikallebest/• Daniel Rensch on X: https://x.com/danielrensch• Chariot: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chariot_(company)• San Francisco 49ers: https://www.49ers.com/• Breville Barista Express: https://www.breville.com/en-us/product/bes870—Recommended books:• Snuggle Puppy!: A Little Love Song: https://www.amazon.com/Snuggle-Puppy-Little-Boynton-Board/dp/1665924985• Ogilvy on Advertising: https://www.amazon.com/Ogilvy-Advertising-David/dp/039472903X• Dark Squares: How Chess Saved My Life: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Squares-Chess-Saved-Life/dp/1541703286—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. To hear more, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com

Air Week: October 6-12, 2025 Atlantic Records, Pt. 12 – 1957 Atlantic Records was the most influential, significant and important independent record label to come out of the late-1940s, during a time when there were many great, small indie labels being born. What gave Atlantic the advantage over Specialty, Chess, Modern, Vee-Jay, Exclusive, King, etc […]

Early release! This week we share some thoughts on chess improvement while "adulting." Referenced: Ep. 25: Chess Club Stories (First segment: LICC origin story) Ep. 76: Decision Fatigue and Brain Fog at the Chessboard (Game Analysis #6) (Mailbag Segment: starting a chess club) Guide to a Successful Chess Club

The 1952s reconvene at the Smith home to make future plans. Martha and Credence continue their investigation. | Olympus Dale was created, written, and directed by Tom Durham. CAST: Madeline Jayne as Valkyrie Smith, Jefferson Hunter as Niels Newton Smith, Mia Bagley as Reina Galadriel Gomez, K-ets Yah Khai as Alastair "Skinny" Bones, Eric Villasmil as Chesterton "Chess" Wardle, Ali Durham as Martha Smith, Crystal Buras as Bonnet "Bonzy" Smith, Aria Love Jackson as Doctor Credence Brown, Sila Agavale as Major John Howling Wolf, Danor Gerald as Captain Dolittle, Isaac Akers as Corporal Clayton Coldpepper, Chris Miller as Bet Lee, Ali Durham as Annie Lee, Luiz Laffey as Dr. Hector Gomez, Ana Yslas as Dr. Ana Gomez, Emily Tucker Latham as Trooper Alice Bones, and Joe Rising as Trooper David Bones. | The sound team was led by Trent Reimschussel, Cayson Renshaw, and Dan Carlisle, with dialogue editing by Hannah Evans, sound design and music editing by Branden Haynie, and mixing by Hannah Evans and Luke Gunnerson. The Olympus Dale theme is by Daniel Davis. | Olympus Dale is produced by Brian Tanner, Sam Payne, Wendy Folsom, and Heather Bigley, with production coordination by Trent Hortin, Evie Hendrix, and Hannah Harlan. | For more exciting audio adventures for the whole family, subscribe to Kaboom: An Audio Adventure Podcast wherever you're listening to this podcast. Olympus Dale comes from the Kaboom: An Audio Adventure Podcast team, and is a production of BYUradio.

The 1952s finally learn where Bonzy has been sneaking off to. Martha and Credence uncover the truth about the traitor. | Olympus Dale was created, written, and directed by Tom Durham. CAST: Madeline Jayne as Valkyrie Smith, Jefferson Hunter as Niels Newton Smith, Mia Bagley as Reina Galadriel Gomez, K-ets Yah Khai as Alastair "Skinny" Bones, Eric Villasmil as Chesterton "Chess" Wardle, Ali Durham as Martha Smith, Crystal Buras as Bonnet "Bonzy" Smith, Aria Love Jackson as Doctor Credence Brown, Danor Gerald as Captain Dolittle, Isaac Akers as Corporal Clayton Coldpepper, Kaylin Jones as Olympia, and Joel Bishop as Pastor Dan Anders. | The sound team was led by Trent Reimschussel, Cayson Renshaw, and Dan Carlisle, with dialogue editing by Lauren Sandberg, sound design by Lauren Sandberg and Kiplin Merrill, and music editing and mixing by Kiplin Merrill. The Olympus Dale theme is by Daniel Davis. | Olympus Dale is produced by Brian Tanner, Sam Payne, Wendy Folsom, and Heather Bigley, with production coordination by Trent Hortin, Evie Hendrix, and Hannah Harlan. | For more exciting audio adventures for the whole family, subscribe to Kaboom: An Audio Adventure Podcast wherever you're listening to this podcast. Olympus Dale comes from the Kaboom: An Audio Adventure Podcast team, and is a production of BYUradio.

Ben Kirschenbaum is back in the 2 Kramers studio and everything goes according to plan. We talk the perfect best man speech, writing while swimming, and watching the Oscars in Mexico. Kind of impressive when you realize it took a full calendar hour to finally hit record.Follow Max Spinelli / https://www.instagram.com/maxagazillion/Follow Chris Metcalfe / ⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/chrismetcalfecomedy/Follow Ben Kirschenbaum / https://www.instagram.com/benkirschenbaum/Follow 2 Kramers / https://www.instagram.com/2kramerspod/Finish Your Croissant | Max's Special:⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MokZUzRkZbc&t=1s

Send us a textJoin director and former child actor Moosie Drier, and author Jonathan Rosen, as they chat with the star of the musical CHESS and the hit song One Night in Bangkok!Murray discusses being the original singer in the concept album of Jesus Christ Superstar, starring in the musical CHESS created by Sir Tim Rice, and Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of ABBA, appearing in the movie Sunday Bloody Sunday directed by John Schlessinger, & much more!Support the show

Send us a textJoin director and former child actor Moosie Drier, and author Jonathan Rosen, as they chat with the star of the musical CHESS and the hit song One Night in Bangkok!Murray discusses being the original singer in the concept album of Jesus Christ Superstar, starring in the musical CHESS created by Sir Tim Rice, and Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of ABBA, appearing in the movie Sunday Bloody Sunday directed by John Schlessinger, & much more!Support the show

Illegal Move Exercise: The audio will lead you through a series of moves from the beginning of a game. Somewhere in there, a player will make an illegal move but the game will continue anyway. Find the illegal move. To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization PGN for today's exercise: 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. e3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bd6 7. Nf3 e4 8.dxe5 Bc5 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Ng5 Ke7 11. Be2 h6 12. Nf3 * And the answer is... White's move 8.dxe5 is illegal because en passant can be done only when the pawn moves two squares from its starting square.

In a little midweek episode, we bring you red carpet interviews from London and New York. On Sunday, Rachel Zegler picked up the Best West End Debut Performer award at The Stage Debut Awards in London for her performance leading Evita in the West End, while over in New York, the stars of the forthcoming production of Chess came together to discuss making all the right moves in the upcoming revival of the much-loved show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A quick lesson in conceptualization from Aiden at Don't Move Until You See It. To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

Music by Benny Andersson & Björn UlvaeusBook & Lyrics by Tim RiceDirected by Trevor Nunn (Replacing Michael Bennett)Starring David Carroll, Philip Casnoff, Judy Kuhn, Harry Goz & Marcia MitzmanOpened on Broadway April 28, 1988Closed after 68 performances!

For the first time in its more than 70 year history, a woman has won the South Island Chess Championship and she's a 16 year old high school student. Year eleven student from Auckland's Kristin School Isabelle Ning won 6 out of 8 of her games and drew two seeing her finish top competitor. Chess champ Isabelle Ning spoke to Lisa Owen.

Position Exercise: The audio will tell you where each of the pieces on the board are and whose turn it is. Find the best move! To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization FEN for today's exercise: 8/8/8/8/1pkn4/8/PP6/KR6 b - - 0 1 And the answer is... 1... Nc2#

Air Week: September 29-October 5, 2025 Atlantic Records, Pt. 11 – 1956 Atlantic Records was the most influential, significant and important independent record label to come out of the late-1940s, during a time when there were many great, small indie labels being born. What gave Atlantic the advantage over Specialty, Chess, Modern, Vee-Jay, Exclusive, King, […]

This week we discuss the dark side of weekend chess tournaments in the US. 

In Episode 174 of the Polyhedron Collider Cast, we dig into Earth, Leaders, Prowl: Clans & Cunning, and Classified Information—a mix of ecosystems, animal politics, and top-secret espionage, with the usual Collider banter along the way. Why not buy a board game from our sponsors Kienda: kienda.co.uk/polyhedroncollider In Episode 174 of the Polyhedron Collider Cast, the boys dig into some very different tabletop experiences—from lush engine-building to sneaky strategy and top-secret dossiers.  First is Leaders, quite literally hot off the press from Tabletop Scotland Then we get our hands dirty with Earth, the card-driven tableau builder where ecosystems bloom and combos flourish. We then engage in a little two-player espionage in Classified Information and provoke all out chaos in Prowl: Clans & Cunning Alongside the reviews, there's the usual Collider mix of banter, tangents, and questionable metaphors (and of course discussions about the best motorway). And don't forget—you can join the discussion over on our [Discord server]!   Podcast Contents 00:02:00 Tabletop Scotland 00:05:19 Leaders 00:13:59 The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship 00:17:51 Earth 00:32:50 Classified Information 00:46:38  Prowl: Clans & Cunning For a 10% discount at Tabletop Dominion (the amazing makers of the dice cubes), go to tabletopdominion.com/POLYHEDRONCOLLIDER or use the code POLYHEDRONCOLLIDER at checkout ⭐Show Sponsor: Kienda When you sign up to an account with Kienda use this link to bag yourself a wee discount and help support the show.  Let's face it, you were going to buy a board game anyway

Synopsis: The true Worship of God should not be limited to once a week but should include regular commemorations of God's saving grace so frequently demonstrated in our communal lives. Fasts, feasts and Holy Days should be a regular aspect of church life; the major events of Scripture and church history being the foundation of our liturgical calendar. Sermon Text: Esther 9:20-10:3

Illegal Move Exercise: The audio will lead you through a series of moves from the beginning of a game. Somewhere in there, a player will make an illegal move but the game will continue anyway. Find the illegal move. To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization PGN for today's exercise: 1. b3 a5 2. Nc3 e6 3. a4 b6 4. d4 b5 5. Be3 bxa4 6. bxa4 d6 7. Qd2 Bd7 8. g3 Nc6 9. f3 Na7 10. Bg2 Nb5 11. Nh3 Nxc3 12. Bxc3 Nf6 13. Bxa5 Be7 14. O-O O-O 15. e4 Qc8 16. Nf4 Qa6 17. Bc3 Bxa4 18. Rfb1 d5 19. Bb4 Bxb4 20. Rxb4 Qc6 21. e5 Nd7 22. c4 dxc4 23. Ng6 hxg6 24. f4 Qa6 25. Bxa8 Rxa8 26. Rbxa4 Qxa4 27. Rxa4 Rxa4 * And the answer is... White's move 12… Bxc3 is illegal as White's dark-squared bishop is on e3 and cannot capture Black's knight on c3.

♟️Play With Us: https://www.chess.com/join/csqpod?ref_id=207174611

Vi har været på eventyr og oplevet både What is love? på Fredericia Teater. De vilde kaniner på Østre Gasværk og Chess på Det Ny Teater og så har vi desuden fundet en række eventyrlige musicals frem til jer. Og op den måde håber vi at leve lykkeligt til vores dages ende. 

Aiden answers your questions about conceptualization and making the adult brain better at Chess. Send your questions to @AidenAtDontMove on Twitter, or aiden@dontmoveuntilyousee.it To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

Ghost takes listeners deep into the high-stakes geopolitical shifts shaping the Middle East. This episode unpacks Trump's behind-the-scenes diplomacy with Arab and Muslim leaders, his firm stance against Israel's annexation of the West Bank, and the fallout from Netanyahu's settlement expansion plans. Ghost explores revelations from Israeli journalist Barak Ravid's interview with Trump, the hidden tensions of the Abraham Accords, and how Netanyahu's maneuvers clash with both Arab leaders and global stability. From Turkey's surprising nuclear and LNG deals with the U.S., to shifting alliances across the Arab world, Ghost shows how the “sovereign alliance” may be quietly reshaping the region's power balance. With analysis that ties today's headlines to decades of history, he highlights why annexation could be the tripwire for wider conflict, and how Trump's 21-point peace plan might be the last line against escalation.

Game Exercise: Close your eyes and follow along with an entire Chess game using the audio below. On each move, try to conceptualize the position clearly and understand how it has changed. Try to follow the game until the end to stretch the amount of moves you can see ahead. To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization PGN for today's exercise: 1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 d6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Nbd2 Qe8 9. c4 Qh5 10. e3 Ng4 11. h3 Ngf6 12. Nh2 Qg6 13. Ndf3 Ne4 14. Nh4 Bxh4 15. gxh4 Ndf6 16. Kh1 Nh5 17. Rg1 Neg3+ 18. fxg3 Nxg3# 0-1

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with Solomon, aka The Chess Giant). We covered a lot of topics such as his childhood chess journey, his pursuit of 2200, making chess content/courses, and his advice for adult improvers. Solomon reflected on the role of ratings, studying, and teaching. It was great to hear Solomon's perspective as a child rapidly improving as an adult chasing the master title. https://www.youtube.com/c/TheChessGiant https://thechessgiant.gumroad.com/ Use the code ChessJourneys for 40% off Solomon's courses through October. My Chessable Course! https://www.chessable.com/chess-journeys-tactics-workbook-turning-knowledge-into-skill/course/268850/ Chessnut Link/Code: Code - KEVINSCULL https://www.chessnutech.com?sca_ref=7643464.HueBIKWTYE Get 20% off GM Noël Studer's courses with Coupon chessjourneys20 The Simplified Chess Improvement System: https://courses.nextlevelchess.blog/courses/simplified-chess-improvement-system?ref=04f5d8 My Road to 2200 Youtube series: https://youtu.be/BzKYDt5oBU8 Be sure to check out the Chess Journeys Merch Store! You can support the show and look amazing in the process. https://chess-journeys.creator-spring.com/ I've been streaming somewhat regularly on https://www.twitch.tv/drskull_tinygrimes If you would like to be a guest on Chess Journeys, contact me on Twitter or fill out the following Google Form:  https://forms.gle/gSnvmUnvpykkgT1y5 As always you can support the show at https://www.patreon.com/ChessJourneys.  Also, be sure to check out my Chessable page at www.chessable.com/chessjourneys   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Walk through a conceptualization exercise with Aiden from Don't Move Until You See It. To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

Today, we're hear a conversation between Rebecca Grandy, Director of Pharmacy at CHESS and Debi Hueter, Executive Director of WakeMed Key Community Care, a clinically integrated network focused solely on primary care. Discover how integrating pharmacy services is transforming provider workflows, reducing emergency visits, and improving patient outcomes.

A Note from JamesThis might be the most insane chess story I've ever heard—not even really a chess story, but a cult story. It's wild, intense, and ultimately inspiring. Danny Rensch grew up in a cult in Arizona. At just 10 years old, the cult leader noticed his chess ability, took him away from his parents, and he wouldn't see his mother again for a decade.I first heard Danny's story when we met at Norway Chess a year and a half ago. Over dinner, he told me pieces of what would become his book Dark Squares: How Chess Saved My Life. I worried later that I'd pushed him into podcast mode before he was ready, but Danny said he was actually grateful for the chance to practice sharing his story out loud. Now, with his book out, he's ready to open up fully.Episode DescriptionDanny Rensch, Chief Chess Officer at Chess.com and author of Dark Squares: How Chess Saved My Life, shares the extraordinary story of how growing up in a cult shaped his childhood, his chess career, and his path to resilience.From being separated from his mother at age 10, to navigating indoctrination, hierarchy, and trauma, Danny explains how chess became both his prison and his salvation. This conversation is about more than chess—it's about control, identity, purpose, and how to reclaim your life from the stories others force on you.What You'll LearnHow a cult leader used chess as propaganda—and how Danny reclaimed the game as his own.The three pillars of cult life Danny experienced: like vibration, the process, and purpose.Why vulnerability and storytelling can be healing—but also how they can be weaponized.The psychological toll of being told your “purpose” at age 12—and how to build a new one.What Danny learned about resilience, family, and community after leaving the cult.Timestamped Chapters[02:05] A Note from James: introducing Dark Squares[02:34] Danny's childhood in a cult and separation from his mother[03:40] How Danny first shared his story with James in Norway[05:09] Learning to talk about trauma without fear of judgment[07:00] The challenge of context—why cult stories get misunderstood[08:20] Headline version: growing up in the Church of Immortal Consciousness[10:18] Cult hierarchy, trance teachings, and the Shelby School chess team[12:12] Was it spiritual belief—or a scam?[14:15] The role of Trina and Steven Camp, cult leaders and channelers[17:00] How hierarchy and “like vibration” destroyed marriages and families[23:00] The three pillars: like vibration, the process, and purpose[32:28] “The process”: group confession, alcohol, and weaponized vulnerability[41:54] “Purpose”: how chess became Danny's imposed destiny[46:41] What it meant to be told at 12 that chess was his life's purpose[50:18] Family secrets, hidden paternity, and the dangers of indoctrination[55:20] Processing trauma as an adult and writing Dark Squares[02:05] A Note from James: introducing Dark Squares[02:34] Danny's childhood in a cult and separation from his mother[03:40] How Danny first shared his story with James in Norway[05:09] Learning to talk about trauma without fear of judgment[07:00] The challenge of context—why cult stories get misunderstood[08:20] Headline version: growing up in the Church of Immortal Consciousness[10:18] Cult hierarchy, trance teachings, and the Shelby School chess team[12:12] Was it spiritual belief—or a scam?[14:15] The role of Trina and Steven Camp, cult leaders and channelers[17:00] How hierarchy and “like vibration” destroyed marriages and families[23:00] The three pillars: like vibration, the process, and purpose[32:28] “The process”: group confession, alcohol, and weaponized vulnerability[41:54] “Purpose”: how chess became Danny's imposed destiny[46:41] What it meant to be told at 12 that chess was his life's purpose[50:18] Family secrets, hidden paternity, and the dangers of indoctrination[55:20] Processing trauma as an adult and writing Dark Squares[63:28] Early aptitude signs: multiplication tables and ADHD focus[65:22] Childhood acting dreams and practicing “the eyebrow lift”[72:24] The most painful mother–son conversation: loyalty to the cult vs. family[73:39] Giving away belongings before leaving home—grieving his mother alive[87:31] Medical breakdown, ears exploding, and a failed chess career[88:16] Bedridden but discovering the internet: early lessons in tech and online chess[89:16] Buying domains, teaching online, and meeting Eric and Jay[114:25] On Magnus Carlsen: confidence, health, and the “Great White Shark” mindset[116:20] Chess.com and the post-COVID boom: making a living beyond world championshipAdditional Resources

In this episode of Future Finance, Hosts Glenn Hopper and Paul Barnhurst sit down with Franz Faerber, Co-founder and CTO of Everest Systems, and one of the key minds behind SAP HANA. Franz shares his remarkable journey from leading SAP's real-time database revolution to building Everest, a next-generation ERP platform designed from the ground up to embrace AI and modern business needs. Franz Faerber is the Co-founder and CTO of Everest Systems, a next-gen AI-native ERP company. Before Everest, Franz spent over 26 years at SAP, where he served as Executive VP of Technology and was the original architect behind SAP HANA, one of the most advanced in-memory databases in the world. His work helped transform data processing and analytics for thousands of global enterprises. Now, at Everest, he is on a mission to revolutionize ERP from the ground up, embracing AI and agile development to tackle the inefficiencies of traditional systems.In this episode, you will discover:Why the ERP space is finally ready for disruption, and how Everest is leading that charge.How Everest built a fully functional inventory management system in just four months without writing a single line of code.The role of AI in accelerating ERP development, reducing costs, and enabling mass personalization.Why Franz believes the future of ERP lies in integration, automation, and adaptability.Franz Faerber's insights offer a compelling vision for the future of ERP, one where AI, speed, and simplicity are no longer optional but essential. His journey from SAP HANA to Everest showcases what's possible when innovation meets experience. Follow Franz:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/franz-faerber/Company - https://everest-systems.comJoin hosts Glenn and Paul as they unravel the complexities of AI in finance:Follow Glenn:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiiiFollow Paul:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguyFollow QFlow.AI:Website - https://bit.ly/4i1EkjgFuture Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai. Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.In Today's Episode:[02:18] - Meet Franz Faerber[03:53] - The SAP HANA Revolution[09:00] - Leaving SAP for Everest[10:39] - Why Build a New ERP?[18:36] - Dev & Release Cycles at Everest[21:20] - What Sets Everest Apart[25:48] - Leadership & Vision[29:32] - Chess, Books & Strategy[33:20] - Final Thoughts

Are you into trivia? Calling all connoisseurs of the cryptic to the only quiz played live, all around Australia. Join the host of Nightlife Philip Clark for The Mighty Challenge!   

Position Exercise: The audio will tell you where each of the pieces on the board are and whose turn it is. Find the best move! To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization FEN for today's exercise: [FEN "8/6pk/6pp/5n2/6b1/8/5BPP/4R1K1 w - - 0 1"] And the answer is... 1. h3 Bh5 2. g4

Written by Simon Chadwick⭐Check out our new sister podcast! ⭐Super Silly Stories for KidsHi! Welcome to Super Silly Stories For Kids!I'm Billy, and I'll turn your wacky ideas into a story and read it on my show! The more madcap, the better!You can find us here and all podcast platforms!APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/super-silly-stories-for-kids/id1813628878SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/500ATWI2FgtksZnxItd4Hx?si=kldBrFUJR9-H6yvtIsvtJAI upload a new story every Tuesday and Friday! If you want a silly story, leave your ideas in the Apple Review section or email me at supersillystories4kids@gmail.comOkay. Here we go! :)Come and follow more adventures on our animated TV show on Youtube!

Amy is joined by Danny Rensch, author of Dark Squares: How Chess Saved My Life, for a courageous reckoning with his life lived under the oppressive patriarchy of a cult, plus learning forgiveness, his path to healing, and how chess helped him become the best version of himself.Donate to Breaking Down PatriarchyDanny Rensch is an American International Master, world-class commentator, tournament organizer, co-founder and Chief Chess Officer of Chess.com, and a chess celebrity. As a scholastic player, Rensch won multiple national championships and still holds the record for the youngest chess master in the state of Arizona. As an adult, he has become the face of Chess.com and is the author of Dark Squares: How Chess Saved My Life.

Checkers looks simple—hop, hop, king me. But here's the catch: that's exactly how the system wants you to live. In this episode of The Morning Drive, Jason breaks down the Checkers traps that keep us distracted while the elites play Chess five moves ahead. You'll discover how to: ✅ Spot the “checker moves” that look like progress but actually keep you stuck. ✅ Shift into long-term thinking that builds margin, options, and freedom. ✅ Use the 5-Move Audit to make decisions that pay off five steps down the line. Jason shares his own path—from breaking out of paycheck-to-paycheck living, to refusing the car-payment game, to rebuilding health through his Comeback Challenge. These aren't theories—they're the moves that flipped the board in his life.

The chess set—reported to be custom-carved so the pieces resembled Epstein and those in his orbit—wasn't a quirky conversation piece; it was theatrical signaling. A chessboard is a compact metaphor for control, hierarchy, and calculated sacrifice; to populate it with likenesses of yourself and your closest aides weaponizes that metaphor into an assertion: you stage the board, assign the roles, and you decide who moves and who gets sacrificed. The grotesque intimacy of turning people into game pieces collapses bodies and agency into objects of play, and that deliberate objectification is itself an accusation—an unsettling admission that the house was designed as a theatre of power, not a warm home.Worse, the set functioned as social shorthand for everyone who tolerated it. Sitting across from those carved pawns, Epstein's guests were offered a choice: read the scene or pretend not to. That so many wealthy, powerful people treated such staging as “eccentric décor” rather than a glaring red flag reveals the moral rot behind the glamour. Either they were willfully blind, or they understood perfectly and accepted their place in the performance. Either way, the chess set stands as a tiny, obscene manifesto of an ecosystem built on predation and polished denial—taste turned into cover, symbolism into complicity.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Epstein and his young female pawns: Billionaire paedophile had chess set made that featured him as the king… and had models pose to be turned into hand-crafted pieces | Daily Mail Online

The chess set—reported to be custom-carved so the pieces resembled Epstein and those in his orbit—wasn't a quirky conversation piece; it was theatrical signaling. A chessboard is a compact metaphor for control, hierarchy, and calculated sacrifice; to populate it with likenesses of yourself and your closest aides weaponizes that metaphor into an assertion: you stage the board, assign the roles, and you decide who moves and who gets sacrificed. The grotesque intimacy of turning people into game pieces collapses bodies and agency into objects of play, and that deliberate objectification is itself an accusation—an unsettling admission that the house was designed as a theatre of power, not a warm home.Worse, the set functioned as social shorthand for everyone who tolerated it. Sitting across from those carved pawns, Epstein's guests were offered a choice: read the scene or pretend not to. That so many wealthy, powerful people treated such staging as “eccentric décor” rather than a glaring red flag reveals the moral rot behind the glamour. Either they were willfully blind, or they understood perfectly and accepted their place in the performance. Either way, the chess set stands as a tiny, obscene manifesto of an ecosystem built on predation and polished denial—taste turned into cover, symbolism into complicity.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Epstein and his young female pawns: Billionaire paedophile had chess set made that featured him as the king… and had models pose to be turned into hand-crafted pieces | Daily Mail OnlineBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Mike and Bobby interviewed Dave Hilbert, the marketing manager of The Silver Slipper, and Nicholls State head football coach Tommy Rybacki. The guys discussed the upcoming SEC showdown between LSU and Ole Miss. Mike and Bobby spoke to a WWL listener about the Saints' blowout loss to the Seahawks.

Air Week: September 22-28, 2025 Atlantic Records, Pt. 10 – 1955-56 Atlantic Records was the most influential, significant and important independent record label to come out of the late-1940s, during a time when there were many great, small indie labels being born. What gave Atlantic the advantage over Specialty, Chess, Modern, Vee-Jay, Exclusive, King, etc […]

So your opponent is rated "only" 900 or "only" 1200 but is playing extremely well. He's not hanging anything or falling victim to tactical traps and is also demonstrating a working knowledge of positional and strategic ideas. Welcome to modern tournament chess! This episode is a response to this Reddit post.

Week 2 is in the books, and Adam and Mike are back on the 4D Chess Dynasty Football Podcast with a jam-packed episode. The guys break down the fallout from JJ McCarthy's injury and discuss what his struggles mean for your dynasty squads moving forward.This week's topics include: ✅ The impact of JJ McCarthy's injury on Minnesota's offense ✅ How to handle struggling rookie QBs in dynasty ✅ The art (and ethics) of QB hoarding — when it wins leagues ✅ Leveraging your QB depth for trades and long-term dynasty successIf your dynasty roster has been rocked by early-season QB injuries, this episode will help you think ahead, build leverage, and stay one step ahead of the competition.

Danny Rensch stopped being a pawn in his family's cult and broke free to rebuild his life and found Chess.com. He and Rainn unpack what life is like growing up in a cult, the painful process of leaving, and the long journey of healing and reconnecting with his mother. Together they explore resilience, forgiveness, and how meaning can be rebuilt after spiritual manipulation and control. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! Green Chef (50% OFF!)

Egypt and Ethiopia, A Tale of Two Dams

North Carolina–based trainer and author Elshan Moradiabadi has won over 25 tournaments and was the 2001 National Champion of his native Iran. Despite his many accomplishments, Elshan is deeply reflective about the proper role chess should play in one's life. While he has no regrets about the sacrifices he made, his experiences have given him valuable lessons to share, including: Why you should keep chess enjoyment as your North Star The importance of intuition, and the nine cues for evaluating a position  The tradeoffs that come with pursuing excellence How chess parenting has changed since his own youth We also touch on the professional chess landscape, and make a few predictions about the FIDE Grand Swiss (a tournament which is now over, but hadn't started when we recorded on September 1). Whether you're a chess hobbyist, parent, or coach, you'll find plenty of wisdom and inspiration in this wide-ranging conversation. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 0:02- Welcome Elshan to the pod- we begin by discussing a poignant post Elshan wrote about what chess has given him, and what is has taken away: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EExhz3qbC/ Prior interview with Elshan, Episode 58-  https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2018/2/6/episode-58-gm-elshan-moradiabadi 0:09- Why Elshan has grown to love the English language as a non-native speaker  Mentioned: Cover Stories with Chess Life Episodes #44 and #48 https://new.uschess.org/news/cover-stories-chess-life-44-gm-elshan-moradiabadi https://new.uschess.org/news/cover-stories-chess-life-48-gm-elshan-moradiabadi 0:11- Elshan's typical day of coaching 0:13- The challenge of improving chess intuition  Read more about Elshan's 9 cues for evaluating a position here: https://gmelshan.com/how-to-master-chess-the-9-imbalances/ 19:00- Elshan's approach to helping new students 27:00- Elshan's reflections on his OTB chess game  30:00- Reflections on a poor performance in the 2022 US Championship  Mentioned: So-Moradiabadi 2022 https://www.chess.com/events/2022-us-chess-championship/11/So_Wesley-Moradiabadi_Elshan 33:00- Does Elshan follow top chess tournaments? Mentioned: Quantbox Chennai Invitational https://www.chess.com/events/info/2025-quantbox-chennai-grand-masters 37:00- Patreon mailbag question: What did Elshan like about the Chicken Chess Club Podcast (may it rest in peace)  Mentioned: GM Jan Gustafsson 39:00- Elshan's plans for the rest of 2025 Mentioned: USA vs. India match in Dallas, Texas, October 2025 https://www.texaschesscenter.com/usa-vs-india?srsltid=AfmBOooUe_kOJfuugQMW1JtCezBWX7DPRYRK05I6w2LQ4Bzb6H9Pc9Lq 41:00- Elshan's favorite players Mentioned: GM Mikhail Tal, Capablanca, Fischer, Positional Decision Making in Chess by GM Boris Gelfand  45:00- Elshan's big picture chess advice Mentioned: Searching for Bobby Fischer  51:00- Last minute FIDE Grand Swiss predictions (this was recorded before it started)  55:00- Thanks so much to Elshan for joining me again! You can reach him via his website: https://gmelshan.com/contact/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we're headed back to the 80s to talk about the almost forgotten single One Night In Bangkok by Murray Head, released in 1984. Turns out this is just one of many chess themed songs from Chess the Musical! It just gets stranger from there this week, won't you join us? Also in this prepisode music news of the weird, listener emails and we announce next week's album.  In this episode we discuss Tim's dramatically better Plaque Psoriasis, Indiana's upcoming sale to another country, less popular things to do in Thailand, Tim's alter ego Max California, top 3 flute solos of all time, why LIVE is spooky, Dog Day Afternoon and other forgotten films, a murder at Burning Man, we debate the size of horse teeth and so much more!  Hatepod.com | TW: @AlbumHatePod | IG: @hatePod | hatePodMail@gmail.com Episode Outline: Quick update on the goings on at the world headquarters Discuss our history with the song/band Song discussion - lyrics and music Music Video How the song did worldwide Amazon reviews Listener email (just 2) Music news of the weird Announce next week's album

Today we are very excited to welcome Danny Rensch to the podcast! Lovers of chess may know Danny as an international chess champion and co-founder of Chess.com—but did you know he was also raised in a cult?In this interview, Danny discusses the release of his new book, Dark Squares: How Chess Saved My Life, which tells the story of his upbringing in the Church of Immortal Consciousness. Groomed by the cult's leader, Steven Camp, to become a chess grandmaster, Danny was separated from his family at a young age and taught that his ultimate purpose in life was to bring awareness to the religion through chess.Listen along to learn more about:-The Church of Immortal Consciousness, their beliefs, and its founders-Danny's training with alcoholic chess master Igor Ivanov-Danny's struggles with substances and addiction, and how these were fostered by “the collective”-Danny's career as a chess master and how it ultimately led him to co-found Chess.comDanny Rensch's book Dark Squares: How Chess Saved My Life is out now! Let's help him get on the bestseller list by purchasing the book here!Show NotesYouTubeMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:One-time or recurring donation through DonorboxSupport us on PatreonPayPalVenmoOur Platforms:YouTubePatreonSpotifyApple PodcastsContact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117Social Media:Insta: @mormstoriesTikTok: @mormonstoriespodcastJoin the Discord