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The Chess Angle

Long Island Chess Club

The Chess Angle is dedicated to practical chess improvement for busy adult players. Join Neal as he plays online games, analyzes them, and shares practical lessons to help club players improve and make the most of their limited study time. New episodes are produced in a video-first format and are best experienced with the accompanying video. The first 200 episodes feature the original audio podcast. YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thechessangle. Web: www.thechessangle.com. X: www.x.com/TheChessAngle

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All Episodes

26:38

Ep. 205: An Easy Nimzo-Indian Setup for Club Players...

The Chess Angle ·

2026/10/01

In this game, I use a practical Nimzo-Indian setup that avoids a lot of heavy main-line theory while still giving Black an active position. It's a great option for busy adult club players who want a sound opening without spending hours memorizing variations. 🎯 Our Links: YouTube Website X Buy Me a Coffee Email: info@thechessangle.com

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33:33

Ep. 204: How to Play Chess in Time Trouble | 5+3...

The Chess Angle ·

2026/09/27

This video features two 5+3 games with very different challenges. After a quick London System game, the second turns into a lesson in managing serious time pressure, with less than 30 seconds on my clock while my opponent still has more than three minutes. We'll look at practical ways busy adult amateurs can simplify decisions, manage the clock, and continue playing good chess when time is running out. 🎯 Our Links: YouTube Website X Buy Me a Coffee Email: info@thechessangle.com

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30:38

Ep. 203: How to Stop a London System Attack | 10+5...

The Chess Angle ·

2026/09/24

The London System can become dangerous quickly if Black allows a comfortable kingside attack. In this video, we look at practical ways to defend accurately, create counterplay, and keep the position under control. 🎯 Our Links: YouTube Website X Buy Me a Coffee Email: info@thechessangle.com

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45:36

Ep. 202: Want a Simple Opening Repertoire? Try This...

The Chess Angle ·

2026/09/21

Introducing our 5+3 Amateur Run series: Fast enough to create pressure, slow enough to still play real chess (mostly😂). In this video, I play one game with the French Defense and another with the London System - two openings that work extremely well together as a simple, practical repertoire. For busy adult amateurs, the goal isn't to memorize endless opening theory, but to reach playable positions you understand and spend more of your limited study time on the parts of chess that matter most. 🎯

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43:13

Ep. 201: This Is Why You Don't Give Up After a...

The Chess Angle ·

2026/09/20

Welcome to the 10+5 Amateur Run. In this first game, I make an embarrassing early mistake, fall behind, and have to figure out how to stay in the game and fight back. This series is about practical chess improvement for busy adult amateurs, using real games to explore better decisions, stronger habits, and more efficient ways to improve. 🎯 Our Links: YouTube Website X Buy Me a Coffee Email: info@thechessangle.com

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12:41

Ep. 200: The Chess Angle Is Going Video

The Chess Angle ·

2026/09/20

After 200 episodes, The Chess Angle is making its next move. I explain why the show is shifting to a video-first format where I play games against fellow amateurs, talk through my thinking, and analyze the games afterward - with the wins, losses, mistakes, and everything in between becoming part of the learning process. Same philosophy, same focus on practical chess improvement, but a completely new way of doing it. 🎯 Our Links: YouTube Website X Buy Me a Coffee Email:

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36:17

Ep. 199 (S11 Finale): You're Doing Chess Puzzles All...

The Chess Angle ·

2026/08/23

This episode is our Season 11 Finale. We'll be taking a break and will be back soon. Chess puzzles can be one of the most effective ways to improve, but only if you're actually training, rather than guessing, rushing through a daily quota, or chasing a streak. This week, we look at how to get more value from puzzle training by calculating before moving, repeating difficult positions, and working on everything from tactics and endgames to positional ideas and quiet moves. 📧 If you have a question,

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46:47

Ep. 198: Move Noise: The Mental Clutter Costing You...

The Chess Angle ·

2026/08/16

Sometimes the problem isn't that we aren't thinking enough at the chessboard — it's that we're thinking about too much. In this episode, we explore "move noise": the unnecessary calculation, imaginary threats, second-guessing, and search for the perfect move that can interfere with good practical chess. Learn how to separate signal from noise, trust your chess, and save your thinking time for the positions that actually require it. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future

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43:28

Ep. 197: Chess Openings and the Law of Diminishing...

The Chess Angle ·

2026/08/09

Many adult club players don't study too little opening theory - they study too much. In this episode, we explore the trap of diminishing returns in opening study, why understanding ideas matters far more than memorizing endless lines, and the importance of building a practical repertoire that consistently leads to playable middlegames. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (X) Buy Me a Coffee

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26:02

Ep. 196: Rook Slides, Queen Slides, & Other Chess...

The Chess Angle ·

2026/08/02

Many chess blunders aren't caused by poor calculation - they're caused by visual blind spots. In this episode, we explore why certain types of moves consistently escape our attention, how those blind spots lead to missed tactics and costly mistakes, and what you can do to start seeing more of the board. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (X) Buy Me a Coffee

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32:12

Ep. 195: Why Your Chess Rating Swings So Much

The Chess Angle ·

2026/07/26

Your chess rating can easily swing 100 points or more, but it doesn't necessarily mean you've become a better or worse player. In this episode, we react to a fascinating article on rating variance and discuss why amateur players often experience even bigger swings than they realize. Referenced: Why Your Rating Swings More Than You Think 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (X) Buy Me a

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42:57

Ep. 194: Are You a Chess Improver... or a Course...

The Chess Angle ·

2026/07/19

In engineering, a single point of failure is the one weak component capable of bringing down an entire system. Chess improvement often works the same way. In this episode, we explore why your rating may be determined less by your average skill level and more by the one recurring weakness that keeps showing up in your games - and why identifying and fixing that weakness may be the highest ROI work you can do as an adult improver. Buying more books or courses may not be the answer. Referenced: Did

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34:54

Ep. 193: The Yellow Zone: Where Adult Chess...

The Chess Angle ·

2026/07/12

If you're holding off until you're fully rested, completely focused, and free from distractions before playing or studying chess, you may be waiting a very long time. Most adult improvers live in the "yellow zone" - not at their absolute best, but far from their worst. In this episode, we explore what I'm calling the "Perfect Time Fallacy" and why consistency in imperfect conditions often beats waiting for perfect ones. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail

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43:52

Ep. 192: Zapp Chess: The One App That Hooked Me

The Chess Angle ·

2026/07/05

I break my long-standing rule about not playing chess on my phone to talk about Zapp Chess, a listener-recommended app that surprised me. It blends fast, gamified play with real competitive chess decisions in a way that actually kept me engaged. I walk through my experience and why, despite my usual skepticism, this one feels different. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (X) Buy Me a Coffee

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52:12

Ep. 191 (Midseason Finale): Is YouTube Actually...

The Chess Angle ·

2026/05/24

In this midseason finale episode, Neal talks with Long Island Chess Club regular Steve Rosenblatt for a wide-ranging conversation on adult chess improvement. The two debate whether YouTube videos or Chessable courses are more effective for gaining rating points, while also diving into tournament psychology, study habits, content overload, and the realities of balancing chess with a demanding career. Steve, founder and CEO of a recruiting firm, brings the perspective of a serious adult competitor who

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45:13

Ep. 190: Boost Your Chess Rating by Checking Your Ego

The Chess Angle ·

2026/05/17

Most adult chess players are not held back primarily by calculation or opening knowledge. They are held back by ego: the need to look smart, play "real chess," attack beautifully, avoid embarrassment, prove their strength, or force results. The paradox is that the less emotionally attached you are to proving something over the board, the better your decisions become. This episode adapts ideas from golf psychology about pressure, identity, unrealistic expectations, and emotional overinvestment into

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51:04

Ep. 189: The Amateur's Mind (Chessable Version) -...

The Chess Angle ·

2026/05/10

This week, we revisit The Amateur's Mind by IM Jeremy Silman, this time through the Chessable edition. We've long argued this is the most important book for adult improvers, not because it hands you lines to memorize, but because it rewires how you think. The Chessable version preserves Silman's voice and structure while adding a layer of engine-checked accuracy that quietly cleans up a few rough edges from the original. What stands out most is how well the core teaching holds up. Silman's focus on

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56:43

Ep. 188: Why Study Beats Play for Chess Improvement

The Chess Angle ·

2026/05/03

Most adult players default to playing more games when they want to improve, but that instinct is often backwards. In this episode, we argue that structured study is the real driver of progress for club players, and explain why playing alone tends to reinforce bad habits. If you've been stuck at the same rating for a while, this might be the shift you need. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (X)

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01:03:33

Ep. 187: The 2200 Myth: Why Most Adult Chess Players...

The Chess Angle ·

2026/04/26

Most adult amateurs quietly carry the same goal: reach Master. In this episode, we take an honest look at why that milestone is so elusive: time constraints, training demands, a competitive player pool, and the realities of adult learning. More importantly, we talk about what is achievable, and how to pursue improvement in a way that's both realistic and rewarding. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website

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52:32

Ep. 186: GM Daniel Gormally on "Untold: Chess Mates,"...

The Chess Angle ·

2026/04/19

GM Daniel Gormally returns to the pod to unpack Netflix's Untold: Chess Mates, the documentary covering the Magnus Carlsen - Hans Niemann controversy. We separate the signal from the noise, offering a candid, player-level perspective on one of chess's most bizarre modern sagas. Links for GM Daniel Gormally: YouTube channel Chessable 3-Part Series: Sharp Middlegames 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website

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206 results

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