Mike Klein

068 You may know him as best as “Fun Master” Mike, the face of ChessKid. For the past decade, Mike has been the Chief Chess Officer of ChessKid, the scholastic version of Chess.com. His mission has been to make the game fun and accessible for an ever-growing audience of young chess players.While my show primarily focuses on adult improvers, I’m always interested in how we grow this great game of ours, and reaching kids is a big part of that.And who better to discuss this subject than with Mike Klein!?Plus, if you’re a parent, Mike offers some great advice on how you can your kids’ school involved in teaching chess.We also discuss: Which top youth player he thinks has the best chance to stay in the game and make an impact for many years to come.The highlights of Mike’s journalism career, including which former world champ he would’ve loved to interview.His game and experiences with Josh Waitzkin, of Searching For Bobby Fischer fame.More From Mike:TwitterChessKid.comChess Grant for Schools Through ChessKid&gt;&gt;Join my official FREE Club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)

068 You may know him as best as “Fun Master” Mike, the face of ChessKid. For the past decade, Mike has been the Chief Chess Officer of ChessKid, the scholastic version of <a href="http://Chess.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chess.com</a>. His mission has been to make the game fun and accessible for an ever-growing audience of young chess players. While my show primarily focuses on adult improvers, I’m always interested in how we grow this great game of ours, and reaching kids is a big part of that. And who better to discuss this subject than with Mike Klein!? Plus, if you’re a parent, Mike offers some great advice on how you can your kids’ school involved in teaching chess. We also discuss: <ul><li>Which top youth player he thinks has the best chance to stay in the game and make an impact for many years to come.</li><li>The highlights of Mike’s journalism career, including which former world champ he would’ve loved to interview.</li><li>His game and experiences with Josh Waitzkin, of Searching For Bobby Fischer fame.</li></ul>More From Mike:<ul><li><a href="https://twitter.com/ChessMike" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a></li><li><a href="https://www.chesskid.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ChessKid.com</a></li><li><a href="https://www.chesskid.com/learn/articles/2023-chesskid-grants-for-schools" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chess Grant for Schools Through ChessKid</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.chess.com/l/ChessExperiencePodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&gt;&gt;Join my official FREE Club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)</a>

FM Mike Klein: Building the Next Generation of Chess Players

067 How should you spend your chess time if you want to improve?  The problem for adult improvers isn’t always about having too little time or energy to get better. Often, the challenge is knowing how to use that time effectively. That’s where GM Noël Studer comes in to help us. A former Swiss chess champion, and the youngest GM ever from Switzlerland, Noël is now helping chess improvers fine-tune their study programs.The result?Better progress without having to spend countless hours each day studying or playing.In this interview, Noël discusses: How the One-Third Rule can simplify your study process and give you greater progress without any additional demands on your time.The surprising reason you can improve at openings with less study time instead of more.How to keep your energy high before going into an OTB tournament with a simple training strategy used by professional athletes.More From Noël:E-Book: The Art of Chess TrainingCourse: Next Level TrainingWebsiteBlogTwitter&gt;&gt;Join my official FREE Club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)

067 How should you spend your chess time if you want to improve?  The problem for adult improvers isn’t always about having too little time or energy to get better. Often, the challenge is knowing how to use that time effectively. That’s where GM Noël Studer comes in to help us. A former Swiss chess champion, and the youngest GM ever from Switzlerland, Noël is now helping chess improvers fine-tune their study programs. The result? Better progress without having to spend countless hours each day studying or playing. In this interview, Noël discusses: <ul><li>How the One-Third Rule can simplify your study process and give you greater progress without any additional demands on your time.</li><li>The surprising reason you can improve at openings with less study time instead of more.</li><li>How to keep your energy high before going into an OTB tournament with a simple training strategy used by professional athletes.</li></ul>More From Noël:<ul><li><a href="https://nextlevelchess.blog/free-ebook/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">E-Book: The Art of Chess Training</a></li><li><a href="https://nextlevelchesscourses.teachable.com/p/next-level-training" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Course: Next Level Training</a></li><li><a href="https://nextlevelchess.blog/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Website</a></li><li><a href="https://nextlevelchess.blog/articles/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Blog</a></li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/NoelStuder" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.chess.com/l/ChessExperiencePodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&gt;&gt;Join my official FREE Club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)</a>

How To Maximize Your Time For Chess Improvement w/ GM Noël Studer

This week features South Africa’s most charismatic chess streamer and commentator: WIM Jesse February.  Jesse has had an impressive tournament career that’s still going strong as she works toward the WGM title. Some of her accomplishments include representing the South African Women’s Team in three Chess Olympiads. Plus, she's a two-time winner of the South African Women’s Chess Championship.We chat about Jesse’s incredible and recent experience doing commentary for the inaugural Global Chess League tournament - a unique mixed-team event that featured some of the world’s best men and women players.And we talk about what Jesse feels she needs to work on to get the WGM title, her best advice from years of coaching, and whether she can give up bullet at 3am.More From Jesse: Twitch channelYouTube channelTwitterInstagramTikTok&gt;&gt;Join my official FREE Club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)

This week features South Africa’s most charismatic chess streamer and commentator: WIM Jesse February.  Jesse has had an impressive tournament career that’s still going strong as she works toward the WGM title. Some of her accomplishments include representing the South African Women’s Team in three Chess Olympiads. Plus, she's a two-time winner of the South African Women’s Chess Championship. We chat about Jesse’s incredible and recent experience doing commentary for the inaugural Global Chess League tournament - a unique mixed-team event that featured some of the world’s best men and women players. And we talk about what Jesse feels she needs to work on to get the WGM title, her best advice from years of coaching, and whether she can give up bullet at 3am. More From Jesse: <ul><li><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/jesse_feb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitch channel</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwj-mzfVYpqhCswtrANYPLQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a></li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/Jesse_Feb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a></li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/jesse_feb/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a></li><li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@jesse_feb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TikTok</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.chess.com/l/ChessExperiencePodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&gt;&gt;Join my official FREE Club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)</a>

South Africa's Chess Star: WIM Jesse February

065  WCM Alexandra Prado is a strong amateur player with a fast-rising chess Twitch channel. Rated 1859 FIDE, she has a renewed interest in competing in OTB classical. Plus, she’s aiming for the Woman FIDE Master (WFM) title. On that goal, she’s getting coaching help from Chess Dojo’s IM Kostya Kavutskiy, which we discuss in this episode.We also chat about her chess life in Bolivia, what has helped her improve the most as a player, and her unexpected opportunity to play in-person blitz against Andrea Botez.----I NEED YOUR HELP: Want to have a say in my upcoming chess membership? Please fill out this super-short survey about what features you want most.----More From Alexandra:Twitch ChannelInstagramTwitterYouTubeWebsiteGames against Andrea BotezLesson with IM Kostya Kavutskiy&gt;&gt;Join my official FREE Club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)

065  WCM Alexandra Prado is a strong amateur player with a fast-rising chess Twitch channel. Rated 1859 FIDE, she has a renewed interest in competing in OTB classical.  Plus, she’s aiming for the Woman FIDE Master (WFM) title. On that goal, she’s getting coaching help from Chess Dojo’s IM Kostya Kavutskiy, which we discuss in this episode.We also chat about her chess life in Bolivia, what has helped her improve the most as a player, and her unexpected opportunity to play in-person blitz against Andrea Botez. ----I NEED YOUR HELP: Want to have a say in my upcoming chess membership? <a href="https://forms.gle/ZaDHZ3y7dHXFPV3T7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Please fill out this super-short survey about what features you want most.</a>----More From Alexandra:<ul><li><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/alexandrachess" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitch Channel</a></li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/alexandra.chess/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a></li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/Alexandra_chess" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLT1G7fG2LmiQeJ5Em7TprA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube</a></li><li><a href="https://www.alexandrachess.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Website</a></li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/3mqB33qD39A" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Games against Andrea Botez</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz6RwS-HVgA&amp;t=159s&amp;ab_channel=ChessDojo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lesson with IM Kostya Kavutskiy</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.chess.com/l/ChessExperiencePodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&gt;&gt;Join my official FREE Club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)</a>

On the Rise: Streamer & Adult Improver, WCM Alexandra Prado

064 For the past two decades, WGM Anna Zatonskih has been a powerhouse among women chess players in America. She is a 4-time US Women’s champion (06’, 08’, 09’, and 11’.) Plus, she’s been a member of every US Women’s team for the Chess Olympiad since 2004.And while she has struggled a bit competitively in recent years, Anna just achieved an incredible first-place victory at the prestigious Cairn’s Cup in St. Louis in June of 2023.This event gathered some of the world’s best female chess players, including former World Champion GM Alexandra Kosteniuk.Not only did Anna win the event - she did so with no losses.This has renewed the fire for Anna’s competitive careerIn this interview, we discuss highlights from the tournament, what she learned from the event, and her goal of proving that “age is just a number.” &gt;&gt;Join my official FREE Club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)

064 For the past two decades, WGM Anna Zatonskih has been a powerhouse among women chess players in America. She is a 4-time US Women’s champion (06’, 08’, 09’, and 11’.) Plus, she’s been a member of every US Women’s team for the Chess Olympiad since 2004. And while she has struggled a bit competitively in recent years, Anna just achieved an incredible first-place victory at the prestigious Cairn’s Cup in St. Louis in June of 2023. This event gathered some of the world’s best female chess players, including former World Champion GM Alexandra Kosteniuk. Not only did Anna win the event - she did so with no losses. This has renewed the fire for Anna’s competitive career In this interview, we discuss highlights from the tournament, what she learned from the event, and her goal of proving that “age is just a number.” <a href="https://www.chess.com/l/ChessExperiencePodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&gt;&gt;Join my official FREE Club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)</a>

A Reenergized Tournament Career with WGM Anna Zatonskih

Daniel King

In the best possible way, Daniel King is a “triple threat” of chess: A GM professional competitor who’s played against some of the world’s best…A commentator who delivers GM-level analysis that’s easily accessible for us club players… And an educator who’s served up a library of phenomenal books, courses, and videos that’ll sharpen our chess skills.Not enough?He’s also a skilled and passionate musician who regularly plays in bands.Daniel launched his chess life with an exciting competitive career. He earned his IM title in ‘82,  his GM title in ‘89, and scored some notable achievements like placing 4th in the British Championship in ‘87.In the early 90s, he launched a career as a chess commentator. Later, he published countless books, DVDs, and online courses.These days, Daniel runs his popular YouTube channel, Power Play Chess. There you can find top-notch, insightful commentary on the biggest chess events.In this interview, we discuss:A few thrilling stories of Daniel defeating some of the world’s best as a professional player.Daniel’s favorite moments as a commentator covering World Champion Garry Kasparov. Why you shouldn’t be afraid to play the Open Sicilian as White (and how to get excited if your opponent plays an anti-Sicilian.)More From Daniel King:Daniel’s YouTube ChannelDaniel’s Chessable CoursesDaniel’s BooksDaniel’s WebsiteDaniel’s TwitterBook: How To Win At Chess

In the best possible way, Daniel King is a “triple threat” of chess: A GM professional competitor who’s played against some of the world’s best…A commentator who delivers GM-level analysis that’s easily accessible for us club players… And an educator who’s served up a library of phenomenal books, courses, and videos that’ll sharpen our chess skills. Not enough? He’s also a skilled and passionate musician who regularly plays in bands. Daniel launched his chess life with an exciting competitive career. He earned his IM title in ‘82,  his GM title in ‘89, and scored some notable achievements like placing 4th in the British Championship in ‘87. In the early 90s, he launched a career as a chess commentator. Later, he published countless books, DVDs, and online courses. These days, Daniel runs his popular YouTube channel, Power Play Chess. There you can find top-notch, insightful commentary on the biggest chess events. In this interview, we discuss:<ul><li>A few thrilling stories of Daniel defeating some of the world’s best as a professional player.</li><li>Daniel’s favorite moments as a commentator covering World Champion Garry Kasparov. </li><li>Why you shouldn’t be afraid to play the Open Sicilian as White (and how to get excited if your opponent plays an anti-Sicilian.)</li></ul>More From Daniel King:<ul><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMBATpFb--uLNAODOVWvCTA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Daniel’s YouTube Channel</a></li><li><a href="https://www.chessable.com/author/DanielKing/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Daniel’s Chessable Courses</a></li><li><a href="http://www.danielking.biz/books/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Daniel’s Books</a></li><li><a href="http://www.danielking.biz/home/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Daniel’s Website</a></li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/DanielKingChess" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Daniel’s Twitter</a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-At-Chess-Checkmate/dp/0753478285/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=how+to+win+at+chess+daniel+king&amp;qid=1688596516&amp;sprefix=daniel+king+chess%2Caps%2C97&amp;sr=8-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Book: How To Win At Chess</a></li></ul>

A Trio of Talents: Grandmaster, Educator, & Commentator w/ GM Daniel King

After a brief break, the latest on the next episode's release. Plus, a little info on the upcoming membership for this podcast, The Chess Experience. If you don't want to miss its announcement, sign up here: Get the info here when The Chess Experience Membership releases.

After a brief break, the latest on the next episode's release. Plus, a little info on the upcoming membership for this podcast, The Chess Experience. If you don't want to miss its announcement, sign up here: <a href="https://www.adultchessacademy.com/CIM-coming-soon" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get the info here when The Chess Experience Membership releases.</a>

Update: New Episodes & Upcoming Membership for The Chess Experience

062 Few people have attended the world’s top chess tournaments. Or interviewed the most talented chess players on the planet, including legends like Garry Kasparov. But Peter Doggers has lived this life for nearly the past twenty years.In 2007, he launched the company Chess Vibes. At its peak, it was one of the world’s biggest online news sites for chess. It covered top events and offered in-depth journalism.Six years later, Peter sold Chess Vibes to Chess.com and became their Director of Content. Currently, he is Chess.com's Director of News and Events.In this interview, we discuss:What top chess player before his time Peter would have loved to interview.His favorite books for improvement that helped him rise to the level of 2292 FIDE and earn two IM norms.The strengths and weaknesses of modern chess journalism.More From Peter:The game that earned Peter an IM normPeter’s Interview with Kasparov at Fischer’s GravePeter’s Reporting on Whether FIDE Was Going BankruptKasparov Playing the King’s Gambit&gt;&gt;Join my official FREE Club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)

062 Few people have attended the world’s top chess tournaments. Or interviewed the most talented chess players on the planet, including legends like Garry Kasparov. But Peter Doggers has lived this life for nearly the past twenty years. In 2007, he launched the company Chess Vibes. At its peak, it was one of the world’s biggest online news sites for chess. It covered top events and offered in-depth journalism. Six years later, Peter sold Chess Vibes to <a href="http://Chess.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chess.com</a> and became their Director of Content. Currently, he is <a href="http://Chess.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chess.com</a>'s Director of News and Events. In this interview, we discuss:<ul><li>What top chess player before his time Peter would have loved to interview.</li><li>His favorite books for improvement that helped him rise to the level of 2292 FIDE and earn two IM norms.</li><li>The strengths and weaknesses of modern chess journalism.</li></ul>More From Peter:<ul><li><a href="https://www.chess.com/video/player/my-best-game-peter-doggers" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The game that earned Peter an IM norm</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UztHjWyu-xc&amp;ab_channel=Chess.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Peter’s Interview with Kasparov at Fischer’s Grave</a></li><li><a href="https://www.chess.com/news/view/is-fide-going-bankrupt-3846" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Peter’s Reporting on Whether FIDE Was Going Bankrupt</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQpp0IJ9nnU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kasparov Playing the King’s Gambit</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.chess.com/l/ChessExperiencePodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&gt;&gt;Join my official FREE Club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)</a>

Two Decades of First-Rate Chess Journalism with Peter Doggers

Laura Smith

061 It’s not often a chess content creator is an everyday superhero who’s also a school teacher and mother of three. But that’s what makes NM Laura Smith so special. She gives much of her free time to helping others in chess, both as a coach, a Twitch streamer, and now…a brand-spankin’ new Chessable author!Laura was one of my first guests to appear on the show, and the first interview I ever recorded.So, I’m thrilled to have her back on the podcast to update the latest in her chess life.Her new course, Forcing Moves for Beginners, is now available and was a labor of love. (Link to the course is below.)In this episode, we discuss: Why solving “easy” tactics very fast is critical for club players.Laura’s new &amp; deeper connection with the online chess community in the past year.An exciting forthcoming course collaboration between Laura and an esteemed, well-known chess coach.More From Laura:Laura’s new course, Forcing Captures for Beginners, on ChessableLaura’s Twitch channelLaura’s Twitter&gt;&gt;Join my official FREE Club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)

061 It’s not often a chess content creator is an everyday superhero who’s also a school teacher and mother of three. But that’s what makes NM Laura Smith so special. She gives much of her free time to helping others in chess, both as a coach, a Twitch streamer, and now…a brand-spankin’ new Chessable author! Laura was one of my first guests to appear on the show, and the first interview I ever recorded. So, I’m thrilled to have her back on the podcast to update the latest in her chess life. Her new course, Forcing Moves for Beginners, is now available and was a labor of love. (Link to the course is below.) In this episode, we discuss: <ul><li>Why solving “easy” tactics very fast is critical for club players.</li><li>Laura’s new &amp; deeper connection with the online chess community in the past year.</li><li>An exciting forthcoming course collaboration between Laura and an esteemed, well-known chess coach.</li></ul>More From Laura:<ul><li><a href="https://www.chessable.com/forcing-moves-for-beginners-/course/123996/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Laura’s new course, Forcing Captures for Beginners, on Chessable</a></li><li><a href="https://t.co/MISAONMRpJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Laura’s Twitch channel</a></li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/lauraloveschess" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Laura’s Twitter</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.chess.com/l/ChessExperiencePodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&gt;&gt;Join my official FREE Club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)</a>

Adventures in Course Creating with NM Laura Smith

Diving head-first into chess as an adult beginner ain’t easy. Yet some folks do it incredibly well. And with inspiring dedication. That’s the adult improver story of Norway’s Solveig. After watching the Magnus-Nepo World Championship match, she committed to the game in January ‘22. At the time, she was rated well below 1000.Since then, she’s worked with two coaches, attended over half a dozen OTB classical tournaments, and follows weekly study plans.Now, her FIDE rating is already over 1200 and on the rise.Topping it off, Solveig launched a YouTube channel, Rookie Redhead, detailing some of her chess journey and lessons learned. (Link below.)In this interview, we discuss:Whether you can ever really feel like you’re good at chessThe value of breaking some “rules” of chess improvementThe struggle of feeling confident in your chess abilitiesMore From Solveig:Solveig’s TwitterSolveig's YouTube channelSolveig’s video with IM Andras Toth on confidenceSolveig’s coaches: WIM Sheila Barth Stanford and IM Petter Haugli&gt;&gt; Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)

Diving head-first into chess as an adult beginner ain’t easy. Yet some folks do it incredibly well. And with inspiring dedication. That’s the adult improver story of Norway’s Solveig.  After watching the Magnus-Nepo World Championship match, she committed to the game in January ‘22.  At the time, she was rated well below 1000. Since then, she’s worked with two coaches, attended over half a dozen OTB classical tournaments, and follows weekly study plans. Now, her FIDE rating is already over 1200 and on the rise. Topping it off, Solveig launched a YouTube channel, Rookie Redhead, detailing some of her chess journey and lessons learned. (Link below.) In this interview, we discuss:<ul><li>Whether you can ever really feel like you’re good at chess</li><li>The value of breaking some “rules” of chess improvement</li><li>The struggle of feeling confident in your chess abilities</li></ul>More From Solveig:<ul><li><a href="https://twitter.com/RookieRedhead" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Solveig’s Twitter</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@RookieRedhead" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Solveig's YouTube channel</a></li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/RookieRedhead/status/1657735931141537794?s=20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Solveig’s video with IM Andras Toth on confidence</a></li><li>Solveig’s coaches: <a href="http://www.sjakksheila.no/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">WIM Sheila Barth Stanford</a> and IM Petter Haugli</li></ul><a href="https://www.chessable.com/the-dynamic-italian-game/course/42964/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; </a><a href="https://www.chess.com/l/ChessExperiencePodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)</a>

Building a Dynamic Chess Life with Solveig, aka Rookie Redhead

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!

059 Need some inspiration on your chess journey from a fellow adult improver? This week’s guest is a powerhouse. Even though she didn’t begin chess until adulthood, Stacia Pugh has soared to 1800 USCF - and still rising!Plus, she’s attending OTB classical tournaments nearly every month and has a chess coaching business called, Chess Is Best.In this episode, we discuss: Stacia’s Top 8 Chess Improvement LessonsHow switching from d4 to e4 dramatically improved her chess - and why other club players should also play 1.e4Why tactics are by FAR the most important area of chess for improvement More From Stacia:Stacia’s Website Stacia’s YouTube channelStacia’s Twitter&gt;&gt; Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)

059 Need some inspiration on your chess journey from a fellow adult improver? This week’s guest is a powerhouse. Even though she didn’t begin chess until adulthood, Stacia Pugh has soared to 1800 USCF - and still rising! Plus, she’s attending OTB classical tournaments nearly every month and has a chess coaching business called, Chess Is Best. In this episode, we discuss: <ul><li>Stacia’s Top 8 Chess Improvement Lessons</li><li>How switching from d4 to e4 dramatically improved her chess - and why other club players should also play 1.e4</li><li>Why tactics are by FAR the most important area of chess for improvement</li></ul> More From Stacia:<ul><li><a href="https://chessisbest.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stacia’s Website </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn2k14U03rNRHApDIloxOkA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stacia’s YouTube channel</a></li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/StaciaMelinda" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stacia’s Twitter</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.chessable.com/the-dynamic-italian-game/course/42964/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; </a><a href="https://www.chess.com/l/ChessExperiencePodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)</a>

Top 8 Chess Lessons From A Successful Adult Improver w/ Stacia Pugh

058 Ah! The dreaded “life got in the way” scenario. When it does, our chess progress stalls or suffers. In this journey update, I explain how a prolonged health problem threw a monkey wrench into my chess goals.The good news is that during these months, while my tactical vision waned, I eventually gained two key insights into how to manage a setback in my chess studies. I hope nothing ever slows down your chess progress…But if that happens, this episode may give you some camaraderie and helpful advice...&gt;&gt; Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)

058 Ah! The dreaded “life got in the way” scenario. When it does, our chess progress stalls or suffers. In this journey update, I explain how a prolonged health problem threw a monkey wrench into my chess goals. The good news is that during these months, while my tactical vision waned, I eventually gained two key insights into how to manage a setback in my chess studies. I hope nothing ever slows down your chess progress… But if that happens, this episode may give you some camaraderie and helpful advice... <a href="https://www.chessable.com/the-dynamic-italian-game/course/42964/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; </a><a href="https://www.chess.com/l/ChessExperiencePodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)</a>

Overcoming Setbacks on Your Chess Journey

057 Becoming a titled player without a chess coach is no easy feat.  Yet that’s exactly what Kassa Korley achieved. When he was 15, he became the youngest Black American to earn the NM title.Since then, he’s become an International Master.And, in recent years, he garnered two of the three norms needed in his pursuit of the Grandmaster title.Again, all on his own. No coach.Kassa’s chess journey is wildly impressive. Yet, as you hear him tell his story, it’s surprisingly relatable for a club player.In this interview, Kassa shares some superb improvement insights that he’s gained from over two decades in chess.Adult improvers: you can soak up a lot of wisdom from his lessons!Plus, Kassa delves into what impact he’s excited to make in his new position as Head of Community with Chess.com. Finally, Kassa offers what career(s) he would pursue if it had to be something other than chess.Follow Kassa on Twitter&gt;&gt; Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)

057 Becoming a titled player without a chess coach is no easy feat.  Yet that’s exactly what Kassa Korley achieved. When he was 15, he became the youngest Black American to earn the NM title. Since then, he’s become an International Master. And, in recent years, he garnered two of the three norms needed in his pursuit of the Grandmaster title. Again, all on his own. No coach. Kassa’s chess journey is wildly impressive. Yet, as you hear him tell his story, it’s surprisingly relatable for a club player. In this interview, Kassa shares some superb improvement insights that he’s gained from over two decades in chess. Adult improvers: you can soak up a lot of wisdom from his lessons! Plus, Kassa delves into what impact he’s excited to make in his new position as Head of Community with <a href="http://Chess.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chess.com</a>. Finally, Kassa offers what career(s) he would pursue if it had to be something other than chess.<a href="https://twitter.com/kassamartei" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Follow Kassa on Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.chessable.com/the-dynamic-italian-game/course/42964/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; </a><a href="https://www.chess.com/l/ChessExperiencePodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)</a>

From Harlem to Grandmaster Goals with IM Kassa Korley

056  Coach. Titled player. Entrepreneur. These are just a few of the impressive achievements of WIM Lena Miladinovic. Hailing from Serbia, and becoming a 3-time national champion, Lena has experienced nearly every major corner of the chess world.She’s also run tournaments, become a FIDE-certified arbiter, and in recent years built a unique chess business.Lena wants to make it easier for the chess community to connect. To find each other. And expand on their love for the game.So, she created a company called Outpost, which does exactly that.In this episode, we discuss Lena’s exciting chess journey, a key lesson she learned from years of coaching that’ll help adult improvers, and the details of her “LinkedIn for Chess” business.More From Lena: Outpost Chess websiteLena’s TwitterLena’s Instagram&gt;&gt; Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)

056  Coach. Titled player. Entrepreneur. These are just a few of the impressive achievements of WIM Lena Miladinovic. Hailing from Serbia, and becoming a 3-time national champion, Lena has experienced nearly every major corner of the chess world. She’s also run tournaments, become a FIDE-certified arbiter, and in recent years built a unique chess business. Lena wants to make it easier for the chess community to connect. To find each other. And expand on their love for the game. So, she created a company called Outpost, which does exactly that. In this episode, we discuss Lena’s exciting chess journey, a key lesson she learned from years of coaching that’ll help adult improvers, and the details of her “LinkedIn for Chess” business. More From Lena: <ul><li><a href="https://outpostchess.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Outpost Chess website</a></li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/lenachess" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lena’s Twitter</a></li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lenamiladinovic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lena’s Instagram</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.chessable.com/the-dynamic-italian-game/course/42964/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; </a><a href="https://www.chess.com/l/ChessExperiencePodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)</a>

Expanding Connections in the Chess Community w/ WIM Lena Miladinovic

055  Quick rating gains. Thousands of new followers on Twitch.  As she revived her love for chess, Jules Gambit has shown an impressive record of improvement. Not to mention she's made a splash in the chess streamer community - all in the same short period of time!In less than a year, Jules has seen a 600+ rating increase. And, at the recent US Amateur Team tournament, she achieved an OTB classical rating performance of 2000 USCF!Jules is a dynamic, engaging personality with a lot of insights and fun stories to share. Hope you enjoy this episode!More from Jules: Jules’ Twitch Jules’ YouTube Jules’ Twitter Jules’ Instagram&gt;&gt; Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)

055  Quick rating gains. Thousands of new followers on Twitch.  As she revived her love for chess, Jules Gambit has shown an impressive record of improvement. Not to mention she's made a splash in the chess streamer community - all in the same short period of time!In less than a year, Jules has seen a 600+ rating increase. And, at the recent US Amateur Team tournament, she achieved an OTB classical rating performance of 2000 USCF!Jules is a dynamic, engaging personality with a lot of insights and fun stories to share. Hope you enjoy this episode!More from Jules: <ul><li><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/julesgambit" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jules’ Twitch </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Julesgambit" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jules’ YouTube </a></li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/julesgambit" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jules’ Twitter </a></li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/julesgambit/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jules’ Instagram</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.chessable.com/the-dynamic-italian-game/course/42964/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; </a><a href="https://www.chess.com/l/ChessExperiencePodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)</a>

Rapid Chess Growth with Jules Gambit

054 This episode features one of the three "senseis" of Chess Dojo, IM David Pruess, for a deep dive on a variety of chess topics. Whether it’s discussing if the latest World Championship is worthy of our time, or what he still wanted to contribute to chess after decades of being in the game - you can count on David to bring depth and sharp analysis to our chat. Plus, as the co-founder of one of the best chess education platforms in the world, David offers great improvement insights for you in this episode, including:What would he do differently to improve faster if he started chess all over again?Why having a training partner is one of the best strategies for accelerating your chess skill that’s rarely taught or followed.Clear and straightforward advice on balancing fun with chess improvement.More From David Pruess and Chess Dojo:David’s TwitterChess Dojo’s Training ProgramChess Dojo’s TwitchChess Dojo’s YouTubeChess Dojo’s Twitter&gt;&gt; Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)

054 This episode features one of the three "senseis" of Chess Dojo, IM David Pruess, for a deep dive on a variety of chess topics. Whether it’s discussing if the latest World Championship is worthy of our time, or what he still wanted to contribute to chess after decades of being in the game - you can count on David to bring depth and sharp analysis to our chat.  Plus, as the co-founder of one of the best chess education platforms in the world, David offers great improvement insights for you in this episode, including:<ul><li>What would he do differently to improve faster if he started chess all over again?</li><li>Why having a training partner is one of the best strategies for accelerating your chess skill that’s rarely taught or followed.</li><li>Clear and straightforward advice on balancing fun with chess improvement.</li></ul>More From David Pruess and Chess Dojo:<ul><li><a href="https://twitter.com/DPruess" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">David’s Twitter</a></li><li><a href="https://www.chessdojo.shop/training" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chess Dojo’s Training Program</a></li><li><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/chessdojolive" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chess Dojo’s Twitch</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/ChessDojo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chess Dojo’s YouTube</a></li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/chess_dojo?lang=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chess Dojo’s Twitter</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.chessable.com/the-dynamic-italian-game/course/42964/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; </a><a href="https://www.chess.com/l/ChessExperiencePodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)</a>

Powerful Improvement Advice with IM David Pruess

053 The next World Chess Championship match is around the corner! While there’s no Magnus, there’s still plenty to be excited about. This preview episode is made for the club player or casual chess fan - meaning it’s accessible and easy to follow.I interview FM Carsten Hansen, one of the most prolific chess authors around, and in our discussion, he’ll help you: 1) understand what makes this a rare match-up, 2) the styles of each player and how they’ll clash, and 3) who’s expected to win and whyThe match begins Sunday, April 9th. But this episode will be worth listening to even several days after that to help you understand what’s happening. More From FM Carsten Hansen: Carsten’s chess books Carsten’s website Carsten on Twitter&gt;&gt; Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)

053 The next World Chess Championship match is around the corner! While there’s no Magnus, there’s still plenty to be excited about. This preview episode is made for the club player or casual chess fan - meaning it’s accessible and easy to follow. I interview FM Carsten Hansen, one of the most prolific chess authors around, and in our discussion, he’ll help you: 1) understand what makes this a rare match-up, 2) the styles of each player and how they’ll clash, and 3) who’s expected to win and why The match begins Sunday, April 9th. But this episode will be worth listening to even several days after that to help you understand what’s happening. More From FM Carsten Hansen: <ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Carsten-Hansen/author/B002BLU5Y2?ref=ap_rdr&amp;store_ref=ap_rdr&amp;isDramIntegrated=true&amp;shoppingPortalEnabled=true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Carsten’s chess books</a> </li><li><a href="http://winningquicklyatchess.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Carsten’s website </a></li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/CazHansen" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Carsten on Twitter</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.chessable.com/the-dynamic-italian-game/course/42964/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; </a><a href="https://www.chess.com/l/ChessExperiencePodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)</a>

World Chess Championship Preview with FM Carsten Hansen

052 How do we grow the game? A major way has been the huge popularity of live-streamed events with star players and world-class commentary. But whether that commentary is engaging and accessible to chess fans is critical to our game’s popularity.So, what should you look for in chess commentary?That’s a major theme that I discuss with GM Jon Ludvig Hammer in this week’s episode.Hammer has been a professional commentator for nearly a decade. He regularly works for TV 2 Norway. He’s also been a contributor for Chess.com and GM Hikaru Nakamura’s Twitch channel.Prior to his commentator career, Hammer reached Super GM status with a 2705 FIDE rating. And he was Magnus Carlsen’s second in the 2013 and 2014 World Chess Championships.In this episode, Hammer and I also discuss a key improvement topic:Do you need to play classical chess to become a better player? (We take different views!)Plus, enjoy an episode that’s more discussion-style instead of the usual interview format, per Hammer’s request.More from Jon Ludvig Hammer:Hammer’s Twitch channelHammer’s Twitter Hammer’s Chess.com educational contentPhoto Credit: The superb photo used for this episode comes from photographer and WFM Maria Emelianova. You can follow her on Twitch and Twitter.---- Please Leave a Positive Rating If You Enjoyed This EpisodeIf you enjoyed this or other episodes, please leave a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple. Then,  DM me on Twitter or email me (scroll to the bottom) and let me know you did. I'll reply personally with a thank you!-----&gt;&gt; Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)

052 How do we grow the game? A major way has been the huge popularity of live-streamed events with star players and world-class commentary. But whether that commentary is engaging and accessible to chess fans is critical to our game’s popularity.So, what should you look for in chess commentary? That’s a major theme that I discuss with GM Jon Ludvig Hammer in this week’s episode. Hammer has been a professional commentator for nearly a decade. He regularly works for TV 2 Norway. He’s also been a contributor for <a href="http://Chess.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chess.com</a> and GM Hikaru Nakamura’s Twitch channel. Prior to his commentator career, Hammer reached Super GM status with a 2705 FIDE rating. And he was Magnus Carlsen’s second in the 2013 and 2014 World Chess Championships. In this episode, Hammer and I also discuss a key improvement topic: Do you need to play classical chess to become a better player? (We take different views!) Plus, enjoy an episode that’s more discussion-style instead of the usual interview format, per Hammer’s request. More from Jon Ludvig Hammer:<ul><li><a href="https://t.co/zNE7ebvp5J" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hammer’s Twitch channel</a></li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/gmjlh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hammer’s Twitter</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.chess.com/lessons?keyword=hammer" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hammer’s Chess.com educational content</a></li></ul>Photo Credit: The superb photo used for this episode comes from photographer and WFM Maria Emelianova. You can follow her on <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/photochess" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitch</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/photochess" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter. ---- </a> Please Leave a Positive Rating If You Enjoyed This EpisodeIf you enjoyed this or other episodes, please leave a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple. Then,  <a href="https://twitter.com/Lona_Chess" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DM me on Twitter</a> or <a href="https://linktr.ee/Daniel_Lona" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">email me</a> (scroll to the bottom) and let me know you did. I'll reply personally with a thank you!<a href="https://twitter.com/photochess" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> ----- </a><a href="https://www.chessable.com/the-dynamic-italian-game/course/42964/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; </a><a href="https://www.chess.com/l/ChessExperiencePodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)</a>

What Makes A Good Chess Commentator With GM Jon Ludvig Hammer

051 Like many areas of chess, it can be difficult to study endgames. There’s an ocean’s worth of books and courses on the subject. But where to begin? To help me simplify this subject for club players, I’m excited to bring IM Yuriy Krykun back on the show.For starters, Yuriy is renowned as one of Chessable’s top course creators (his Dynamic Italian course is one of my favorites!)Plus, from years of coaching amateur students, Yuriy understands well how to teach endgames in a practical way.In this episode, we discuss:How to boost your motivation to study endgames (if, like me, yours is low!)What’s a good percentage of your study time to spend on endgames? Should you focus on practical or theoretical endgames? Why you may not need to study endgames at all!More From Yuriy:Yuriy’s Chessable CoursesYuriy’s TwitterYuriy’s Coaching PageBooks Mentioned In This Episode:Capablanca’s 100 Best Endgames for ChessChess Endgames for Club Players&gt;&gt; Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)

051 Like many areas of chess, it can be difficult to study endgames. There’s an ocean’s worth of books and courses on the subject. But where to begin? To help me simplify this subject for club players, I’m excited to bring IM Yuriy Krykun back on the show. For starters, Yuriy is renowned as one of Chessable’s top course creators (his Dynamic Italian course is one of my favorites!) Plus, from years of coaching amateur students, Yuriy understands well how to teach endgames in a practical way. In this episode, we discuss:<ul><li>How to boost your motivation to study endgames (if, like me, yours is low!)</li><li>What’s a good percentage of your study time to spend on endgames? </li><li>Should you focus on practical or theoretical endgames? </li><li>Why you may not need to study endgames at all!</li></ul>More From Yuriy:<ul><li><a href="https://www.chessable.com/author/YuriyKrykun/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yuriy’s Chessable Courses</a></li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/KrykunYuriy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yuriy’s Twitter</a></li><li><a href="https://lichess.org/coach/darkhorse_98" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yuriy’s Coaching Page</a></li></ul>Books Mentioned In This Episode:<ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Capablancas-Hundred-Best-Games-Chess/dp/487187575X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1U8RJ32BYDE6O&amp;keywords=capablanca+100+games&amp;qid=1678239022&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=capablanca+100+games%2Cstripbooks%2C93&amp;sr=1-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Capablanca’s 100 Best Endgames for Chess</a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Chess-Endgames-Club-Players-Essential/dp/9493257495/ref=asc_df_9493257495/?tag=hyprod-20&amp;linkCode=df0&amp;hvadid=598244024349&amp;hvpos=&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=1688789354906697798&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvqmt=&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=9021715&amp;hvtargid=pla-1662113230200&amp;psc=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chess Endgames for Club Players</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.chessable.com/the-dynamic-italian-game/course/42964/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; </a><a href="https://www.chess.com/l/ChessExperiencePodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)</a>

How to Study Endgames (for Club Players) with IM Yuriy Krykun

Irina Bulmaga

050 We are finally back after a 6-week health hiatus! Today’s guest is the #1 rated woman in Romania: IM Irina Bulmaga. Irina is a professional chess player who is working full-time chasing the GM title as an adult.Another impressive stat?Irina has been in the FIDE Top 100-rated Women in the world since 2012.In a career full of amazing accomplishments, Irina has represented Romania in seven Chess Omplyiads since 2010.As a humble club player, I’m always impressed by those who are so good at chess they can make it a competitive career.So, in this episode, we chat about the lessons she’s learned in her many years of chess.Plus, we discuss what will it take for her to make the leap from IM to GM?More From Irina:Irina’s Chessable coursesIrina’s Twitter&gt;&gt; Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)

050 We are finally back after a 6-week health hiatus! Today’s guest is the #1 rated woman in Romania: IM Irina Bulmaga. Irina is a professional chess player who is working full-time chasing the GM title as an adult.Another impressive stat? Irina has been in the FIDE Top 100-rated Women in the world since 2012. In a career full of amazing accomplishments, Irina has represented Romania in seven Chess Omplyiads since 2010. As a humble club player, I’m always impressed by those who are so good at chess they can make it a competitive career. So, in this episode, we chat about the lessons she’s learned in her many years of chess. Plus, we discuss what will it take for her to make the leap from IM to GM?More From Irina:<ul><li><a href="https://www.chessable.com/author/IrinaBu/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Irina’s Chessable courses</a></li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/IrinaBulmaga" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Irina’s Twitter</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.chessable.com/the-dynamic-italian-game/course/42964/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; </a><a href="https://www.chess.com/l/ChessExperiencePodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com&lt;&lt; (PROMOTION)</a>

Ep 50:  Lessons & Lifestyle of a Pro Chess Player with IM Irina Bulmaga

The Chess Experience

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