The Jobava London (1. d4, 2. Nc3, 3. Bf4) is an opening system that is easy to learn, yet still has a lot of sting, especially against ...g6 set-ups by Black. It can easily throw off an opponent who's expecting to face a standard London formation. The theory and ideas are fairly simple, making it a great choice for those with limited study time. Much of the info in this episode is referenced from the book The Jobava London System (Amazon) by GM Simon Williams. You may also wish to check out our previous episode on the standard London System: Ep. 37: The London System for Club Players.

📧 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)
• YouTube (Chess Angle Podcast)
• YouTube (LI Chess Club)
• Buy Me a Coffee

The Amazon link above is an affiliate link. Qualifying purchases help support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

This episode is a review of the chess.com course "Build Your Technique" by FM Thomas Wolski. This is a highly recommended training module for adult players looking to improve. We also share some chess club stories, dive into the Listener Mailbag, and react to a chess.com article about common online time controls.

📧 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)
• YouTube (Chess Angle Podcast)
• YouTube (LI Chess Club)
• Buy Me a Coffee

This week we discuss ratings and improvement for busy adults. You may wish to check out the Reddit post referenced in this episode.

📧 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)
• YouTube (Chess Angle Podcast)
• YouTube (LI Chess Club)
• Buy Me a Coffee

This episode is a thematic analysis of an amateur game with takeaways that are instruction rich. Topics covered:

• Bird's Opening (1. f4)
• Unnecessary defensive moves
• Sacrificing pieces
• Material vs. Initiative
• Calculation
• Central Control

Referenced:

• Guide to a Successful Chess Club
• Game analyzed (G/90;d10):

1. f4 b6 2. Nf3 Bb7 3. e3 Nf6 4. b3 e6 5. Bb2 Be7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O d6 8. c4 Nbd7 9. Nc3 c5 10. Qc2 Qc7 11. d4 cxd4 12. exd4 d5 13. Ne5 dxc4 14. bxc4 Rad8 15. Bd3 a6 16. Rae1 Qd6 17. Nb1 Qc7 18. f5? Nxe5! 19. dxe5 Bc5+ 20. Kh1 Ng4! 21.fxe6 Rxd3? 22. Qxd3 Nf2+ 23. Rxf2 Bxf2 24. exf7+ Rxf7 25. Rd1 Bxg2+?? 26. Kxg2 Qc6+ 27. Qd5 Qg6+ 28. Kh1 1-0

📧 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)
• YouTube (Chess Angle Podcast)
• YouTube (LI Chess Club)
• Buy Me a Coffee

This episode is a response to FM Nate Solon's excellent blog posts I Don’t Like Chess Tournaments and What Would a Fun Chess Tournament Look Like?

Neal reacts and shares his thoughts on weekend events including the following:

• The ideal time control & round times
• Delay vs. increment
• Club events vs. weekend tourneys
• Practical matters

📧 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)
• YouTube (Chess Angle Podcast)
• YouTube (LI Chess Club)
• Buy Me a Coffee

In this conversation, Neal and return guest NM Andy Ansel dive into the world of correspondence chess, exploring its nuances, challenges, and Andy’s pursuit of the International Master (IM) norm. They discuss the differences between over-the-board and correspondence chess, the importance of openings, tips for those new to correspondence play, and the impact of technology on the game. Andy explains the dynamics of playing multiple games simultaneously and the strategies he employs to stay competitive. Additionally, he details his passion for archiving chess games, highlighting the significance of preserving historical games and the challenges involved.

Referenced:

• International Correspondence Chess Federation
• Ep. 88: Amateur Chess Legend Andy Ansel on his Massive 15,000+ Book Collection
• I Don't Like Chess Tournaments (blog by FM Nate Solon)

📧 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)
• YouTube (Chess Angle Podcast)
• YouTube (LI Chess Club)
• Buy Me a Coffee

5-0 blitz games can be an excellent chess improvement tool when used properly and judiciously. In this episode, we offer tips, tricks, and best practices.

Referenced:

• Ep. 122: Online Blitz Chess and Adult Improvement

📧 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)
• YouTube (Chess Angle Podcast)
• YouTube (LI Chess Club)
• Buy Me a Coffee

This week we discuss whether highly structured study plans are practical for busy amateurs. Neal concludes by sharing his own plan (HINT: it’s not complicated).

Referenced:

• Ep. 61: Do Chess Training Programs Work?
• Ep. 105 (S7 Premiere): Declutter Your Chess Study Plan
• Build Your Technique by FM Thomas Wolski

📧 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)
• YouTube (Chess Angle Podcast)
• YouTube (LI Chess Club)
• Buy Me a Coffee