Chess improvement as an adult is harder than it should be. Plus, the journey can sometimes feel too stressful and serious. This show aims to fix that by 1) interviewing experts who can offer clarity on the best ways to improve; and 2) giving you a heap of fun with “chess entertainment” shows that discuss chess culture, events, movies, etc. Most episodes feature a guest, but sometimes I'll do a solo show on a topic. This is all brought to you by me, Daniel Lona. I’m a dedicated chess amateur and the owner of Adult Chess Academy. After listening to this podcast, I want you to have a clearer idea of how to improve, and have a more fun, dynamic chess experience. Please follow the show so you don’t miss an episode!
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Chess Coach, Streamer, & Psychologist: WFM Fruzsina Szente-Varga
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<< (PROMOTION)
Leveling Up the Chess Community for Adult Club Players w/ Kamryn Heller & Omar Mills
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<< (PROMOTION)
Why Club Players Struggle Against 1.d4 (And Solving This Challenge) w/ IM Mateusz Kolosowski
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<< (PROMOTION)
State of the Podcast: New Plans & Goals for 2024
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!
Grandmaster Insights On Mindset & Openings with GM Alex Colovic
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<< (PROMOTION)
Kaja Snare: Growing Chess's Popularity With Better Live Coverage
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<< (PROMOTION)
NM Robert Ramirez: A Rising Chess Coach Star (with Tons of Improvement Tips!)
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<< (PROMOTION)
Elaynah: All In With Chess - Chasing a Title & Rising Content Creator
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<< (PROMOTION)Send me a message about this episode!
Emilia Castelao: Improving Chess Worldwide For Women & Becoming the Rare Chess Historian
Send me a message about this episode!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<< (PROMOTION)
WGM Dina Belenkaya: A Born Chess Entertainer, Her New Course, & Chasing the IM Title
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<< (PROMOTION)
Adult Improver Pod: How To Make Progress with Limited Time & Should Club Players Coach? w/ Ono
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<< (PROMOTION)
Discussing Strategy For Club Players with IM Thomas Willemze
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<< (PROMOTION)
7 Insights From 2 Years of Chess Podcasting With Daniel Lona
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<< (PROMOTION)
Pod Update: Your "Chess Wish" & Next Episode on 4/16
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.
Countering the Effects of Aging on Chess Plus Tips on Strategy w/ WIM Natasha Regan
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<< (PROMOTION)