Shows
The Chess ExperienceBishops, Bullet, and Bobby Fischer: Daniel Lona Interviewed By Omar Mills, Part II120 Daniel Lona is interviewed by guest host Omar Mills, fellow club player, in the second part of a special episode celebrating The Chess Experience podcast's third anniversary.Three years ago, Daniel Lona launched The Chess Experience with a simple yet unique mission: to create chess content by and for adult improvers - a rare thing in the chess world at that time. In this episode, he discusses:What makes chess "real"? Is a 3-minute blitz game fundamentally the same as a 5-hour classical battle?Finding a balance between growing chess through Esports vs preserving t...
2025-03-2553 min
The Chess ExperienceBehind the Mic: Daniel Lona Interviewed By Omar Mills on 3 Years of The Chess Experience - Part I119 Daniel Lona celebrates the third anniversary of hosting The Chess Experience by sitting in the guest chair, interviewed by previous guest and adult club player Omar Mills.Three years ago, Daniel Lona launched The Chess Experience with a simple yet unique mission: to create chess content by and for adult improvers - a rare thing in the chess world at that time.Now, with over 100 episodes and countless insights from his guests shared, Daniel talks about the journey, philosophy, and future of his podcast.In this episode, he discusses:Why the podcast...
2025-03-1155 min
The Chess ExperienceGM Boris Avrukh: How to Play Better Defense, Coaching Fabi, & Playing Against Tal116 What a chess career! GM Boris Avrukh cracked the World Top 50 in 2005 and achieved a peak rating of 2668. He has coached the world’s best players like Fabiano Caruana, Vladimir Kramnik, and Wesley So. And he even got to be the last person to ever play the legendary Mikhail Tal.Of course, Boris has had an exemplary competitive career representing Israel in six chess Olympiads and winning the World U12 Championship in 1990.In addition to years of coaching the world’s best and club players alike, Boris has also written countless opening books and published five...
2025-02-121h 03
The Chess ExperienceGM Josh Friedel - Common Middlegame Mistakes & Coaching Insights113 Rarely do grandmasters focus on helping club players and beginners. But when they do it’s rare and exciting. Their extra skill and understanding of the game deliver insights that even other titled players may not possess. That’s what GM Josh Friedel offers as a course creator and coach. And it can be heard throughout this interview.Of course, Josh has had an impressive chess career. Competitively, he tied for 6th place at the US Chess Championship in 2009 and competed at the World Cup.He has passed along this hard-earned chess knowledge for decades by c...
2025-01-2152 min
The Chess ExperienceState of the Podcast: New Plans & Goals for 2024096 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 di...
2024-07-0917 min
The Chess ExperienceGrandmaster Insights On Mindset & Openings with GM Alex Colovic095 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 f...
2024-06-181h 03
The Chess ExperienceGrowing Chess's Popularity With Better Live Coverage with Kaja Snare094 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...
2024-06-111h 04
The Chess ExperienceNM 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 episo...
2024-06-041h 11
The Chess ExperienceElaynah: All In With Chess - Chasing a Title & Rising Content Creator092 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 int...
2024-05-2255 min
The Chess ExperienceEmilia Castelao: Improving Chess Worldwide For Women & Becoming the Rare Chess Historian091 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 m...
2024-05-1455 min
The Chess ExperienceWGM 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 othe...
2024-05-071h 11
The Chess ExperienceAdult Improver Pod: How To Make Progress with Limited Time & Should Club Players Coach? w/ Ono089 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.I...
2024-05-0157 min
The Chess ExperienceDiscussing Strategy For Club Players with IM Thomas Willemze088 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 improv...
2024-04-2445 min
The Chess Experience7 Insights From 2 Years of Chess Podcasting With Daniel Lona087 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 podcas...
2024-04-1634 min
The Chess ExperienceCountering the Effects of Aging on Chess Plus Tips on Strategy w/ WIM Natasha Regan086 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 bette...
2024-04-021h 14
The Chess ExperienceGM Noël Studer: Adding Fun to Chess Improvement & Helpful Ideas From His New Beginner Course085 GM Noël Studer is a fountain of superb chess advice. Many folks loved his first appearance on the show (Ep. 67.) And that’s why he’s here a second time! It’s rare and special to have a Grandmaster working hard to help club players improve their game.And, now, he even helps beginners.A former Swiss chess champion and the youngest GM ever from Switzerland...Noël has just released a comprehensive course to help beginner players (links are below.)In this episode, we discuss:Three strategies to make you...
2024-03-261h 06
The Chess ExperienceAdult Improver Pod: Chasing the WFM Title at 1900 FIDE w/ Kincső Toth084 Hungary has a rich history of producing chess stars. Even at the adult improver level, you have the impressive accomplishments of our guest, Kincső Toth.She’s already reached 1900 FIDE and is gunning for the Woman FIDE Master (WFM) title - which requires a 2100 rating plus norms.And she does this all while earning her computer engineering degree in Budapest.Kincső infuses even more chess into her life by moderating online events for Chess.com and running a Twitch channel with thousands of followers.In this episode, we discuss:What she...
2024-03-141h 00
The Chess ExperienceRare Insights Into Chess & Psychology w/ Julia RiosThe life of a chess player is often emotional. There can be huge wins and the joy of learning, but also painful losses and sluggish improvement. Helping me gain new insights into how to address these challenges is clinical psychologist and co-host of the ChessFeels podcast, Julia Rios.Julia combines her professional knowledge with her chess experience to offer some brilliant insights into “chess psychology.”In this episode, we discuss:Does chess offer more emotional challenges than other endeavors?Should you not care about your rating?Does the expectation to improve hinder our enjoyment of c...
2024-03-051h 11
The Chess ExperienceChess Coaching: What To Look For & Getting The Most From It w/ IM Yuriy Krykun082 Many adult improvers ask this question at least once: Should I get a chess coach? This episode is designed to help you figure out what to look for in a coach and how to maximize the experience.Helping me discuss this topic is IM Yuriy Krykun.Yuriy is a well-known course creator with Chessable, and a superb coach who’s helped countless students.In this episode, we cover: What are some of the qualities you should look for in a chess coach?Do you need to work towards a specific goal with you...
2024-02-2752 min
The Chess ExperienceIM Kostya Kavutskiy - GM Goals, Candidates Controversy, & Improvement Q&ARenowned chess coach and co-founder of the Chess Dojo, IM Kostya Kavutskiy, returns to the podcast! Previously, we talked mostly about how to read annotated game books (Episode 17).This time, we cover a wide variety of topics. Including:What new insights the Chess Dojo has learned on helping adult improvers from running their online membership, called “Training Program.”Kostya’s recent OTB tournament experiences and how he chooses which ones to attend.His improvement approach for his personal chess goals, including earning the GM title.Whether the 2024 Candidates tournament had a fair qualifying process (and Kostya’s predic...
2024-02-201h 10
The Chess ExperienceFive Essential Lessons From My Coaching with IM Andras Toth080 What can you learn from a year of coaching from one of the world’s best chess coaches More than can ever be packed into a single podcast episode! BUT we cover the top five lessons I learned from IM Andras Toth - with Andras doing a deep dive into each one.Andras is an extraordinary chess coach. He has a YouTube channel full of entertaining videos on powerful chess improvement help.Plus, he has a wide variety of Chessable courses on essential topics every adult club player should learn.In this episode, we...
2024-02-141h 22
The Chess ExperienceTurning A Passion For Chess Into a Career w/ WIM Charlize van Zyl079 Sometimes a passion for chess runs so deep you want to make it your life. That’s the story of South Africa’s WIM Charlize van Zyl. While she earned the WIM at just age 13, she didn’t fully realize her passion for the game until she left it for five years and then returned to it as an adult.From there, she earned her way to multiple Chess Olympiads and is now gunning for the WGM title.Plus, she has a chess business and recently became a reporter for FIDE’s most elite tournaments.
2024-02-061h 01
The Chess ExperienceThe Adult Improver Chess Life with Sam Canciobello 078 Dedicating three years of your life to chess as an adult is huge. Especially when it includes OTB classical tournaments and running a chess YouTube channel. That’s been the story of Sam Canciobello.Inspired by the Queen’s Gambit, her passion for chess - now in its fourth year - has been consistent and impressive.In this episode, we cover the different stages of her chess life, her long-term goals, and lessons she’s learned along the way. We also discuss:Was it worthwhile for her to spend a large volume of time on openin...
2024-01-301h 02
The Chess ExperienceHow to Make Losing Less Painful In Chess w/ Daniel Lona077 Part of being a chess player is losing many games. But what if those experiences didn’t have to be so painful? To that end, I solicited advice on how to deal with the most difficult losses.I received feedback from the adult improver community on social media, a handful of chess coaches, and a dash of my insights.Then, I collected what I felt was the most helpful advice, categorized them, and put them into a 5-step process. It can be used anytime you endure a particularly emotional or upsetting loss.The ad...
2024-01-2633 min
The Chess ExperienceWGM Jennifer Shahade: Her New Tactics Book, Appearing on Jeopardy, & Leaving US Chess076 Jennifer Shahade returns to the podcast! 2023 was a major one for her, and we discuss the major milestones of her year.If you’re not familiar, Jennifer is a 2-time US Women’s Chess Champion, author of 4 chess books (including the recent hit Chess Queens), and a long-time advocate of making the chess community a better place for women and girls.In this episode, we talk about:A recent, fun chess experience she’s had on Jeopardy.Her new tactics book, Play Like a Champion, that features well-known women chess players (and why the book he...
2024-01-161h 02
The Chess ExperienceEssential Chess Tips From 6 Books By NM Dan Heisman075 NM Dan Heisman is a world-renowned chess coach and author. He’s on the verge of publishing his thirteenth, and perhaps final, chess improvement book. In this episode, we take a retrospective of some of Dan’s best books and offer improvement advice relevant to each book.It’s an honor to celebrate Dan’s amazing multi-decade career as a chess author and his third appearance on the podcast.Some tips we discuss:Surprising advice from Dan on the #1 principle that should guide your study plan.How to avoid a common mistake club players make whe...
2024-01-091h 10
The Chess ExperienceElevating Your Chess With Great Women Players w/ WIM Luciana Morales074 Many great women players deserve more attention. Consider that even the games of women's world champions are rarely studied. This shouldn't be the case any longer since their chess is instructive, and their personal lives are rich and inspired.Thankfully, WIM Luciana Morales (along with co-author NM Bryan Tillis) shines a light on the first five women world champions in a new and unique course.Not only does it contain a hefty dose of chess improvement lessons for club players...But it’s also an important work that brings more attention to women and...
2024-01-0256 min
The Chess ExperienceMake It Club-Player Friendly: Elite Events & Courses with WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni072 She’s been making a splash in the chess world. Not only is WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni a regular commentator for top-level tournaments...she’s also become a key commentator for Hikaru’s Twitch channel while he competes at the Candidates and other key events.Plus, this year she’s created video instruction for two Chessable courses. One is for the Scotch opening. The other covers tactics. Both courses are aimed at us: club players.This speaks to her strength of making complex chess easy to understand for adult improvers.Fiona has also had...
2023-12-121h 04
The Chess ExperiencePodcast Crossover: NM Ben Johnson on His New Book: Perpetual Chess ImprovementNot many chess resources are aimed directly at helping the adult improver. But the superb new book by well-known chess podcast host, Ben Johnson, does exactly that. Released this fall, it’s called Perpetual Chess Improvement.The book covers a broad range of topics for not only boosting your chess abilities but also answering difficult questions like: “Do you need to study endgames?” “How should you approach rating plateaus?”Ben’s book is pure gold for us adult improvers. Each page is chock full of helpful guidance, and it’s as easy to read as a page-turning...
2023-12-051h 07
The Chess ExperienceA Rapid Rise to 2000 with Adult Improver Kamryn Hellman070 A small number of chess players make remarkably quick progress. Perhaps even fewer of those are adults. Which is why the achievements of this week’s guest, Kamryn Hellman, are so remarkable.She started playing chess for the first time as an adult. And, in just a little over a year, Kamryn rose to a 2000 Rapid rating on Chess.com. Because progress this fast is rarely seen by adults, we explore her journey and how she achieved it.We discuss:Her top three “difference makers” for reaching a 2000 Chess.com rating in 15 monthsW...
2023-08-2959 min
The Chess ExperienceIM Dean Ippolito - Tales of a Premier Chess Coach & How To Manage Rating DeflationFor two decades, IM Dean Ippolito has been one of America’s top coaches. Throughout his career, he’s coached several scholastic talents to national titles. Plus, he’s authored six chess books. Dean’s own chess journey is just as impressive. He was a rising child star and competed professionally for a few years after high school.Today, he runs a successful coaching business called Dean of Chess Academy, which offers online classes and camps.In this episode, we also discuss the scourge of adult improvers who compete at OTB tournaments: rating deflation.We d...
2023-08-151h 20
The Chess ExperienceFM Mike Klein: Building the Next Generation of Chess Players068 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...
2023-08-091h 07
The Chess ExperienceHow To Maximize Your Time For Chess Improvement w/ GM Noël Studer067 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...
2023-08-021h 06
The Chess ExperienceSouth Africa's Chess Star: WIM Jesse FebruaryThis 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...
2023-07-2558 min
The Chess ExperienceOn the Rise: Streamer & Adult Improver, WCM Alexandra Prado065 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 HEL...
2023-07-1847 min
The Chess ExperienceA Reenergized Tournament Career with WGM Anna Zatonskih064 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...
2023-07-1255 min
The Chess ExperienceA Trio of Talents: Grandmaster, Educator, & Commentator w/ GM Daniel King063 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, an...
2023-07-061h 13
The Chess ExperienceTwo Decades of First-Rate Chess Journalism with Peter Doggers062 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....
2023-06-131h 08
The Chess ExperienceAdventures in Course Creating with NM Laura Smith061 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.
2023-06-0636 min
The Chess ExperienceBuilding a Dynamic Chess Life with Solveig, aka Rookie Redhead060 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 laun...
2023-05-311h 07
The Chess ExperienceTop 8 Chess Lessons From A Successful Adult Improver w/ Stacia Pugh059 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 impo...
2023-05-231h 07
The Chess ExperienceOvercoming Setbacks on Your Chess Journey w/ Daniel Lona058 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...How You Can...
2023-05-1819 min
The Chess ExperienceFrom Harlem to Grandmaster Goals with IM Kassa Korley057 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....
2023-05-091h 09
The Chess ExperienceExpanding Connections in the Chess Community w/ WIM Lena Miladinovic056 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 thi...
2023-05-0257 min
The Chess ExperienceRapid Chess Growth with Jules Gambit055 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!...
2023-04-2554 min
The Chess ExperiencePowerful Improvement Advice with IM David Pruess054 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 wou...
2023-04-181h 12
The Chess ExperienceWorld Chess Championship Preview with FM Carsten Hansen053 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 be...
2023-04-0757 min
The Chess ExperienceWhat Makes A Good Chess Commentator With GM Jon Ludvig Hammer052 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 H...
2023-03-211h 10
The Chess ExperienceHow to Study Endgames (for Club Players) w/ IM Yuriy Krykun051 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 discu...
2023-03-081h 00
The Chess ExperienceLessons & Lifestyle of a Pro Chess Player with IM Irina Bulmaga050 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 co...
2023-02-2851 min
The Chess ExperienceMy Top 5 Chess Lessons of 2022 - Daniel Lona049 After 800 hours of chess, you should learn some stuff. That’s roughly the amount of time I spent playing and studying the game in 2022. And, yes, for all that effort, there’s a nagging concern that I should be way better. But I did learn a few things along the way...In fact, 2022 marks my second full year of being a serious student of chess since my middle school days, when I first took the game seriously. Much of the year required an "aggravating patience" - is that a thing? - as my rating refused to climb for...
2023-01-1729 min
The Chess ExperienceGM Ben Finegold - Streaming, Comedy, & Improvement Advice048 Few Grandmasters are as entertaining as Ben Finegold. His blend of humor, truth-telling, and exceptional chess skill are rare in the streaming world.Ben hails from Detroit, Michigan. Raised in a chess family, he ultimately tied as the highest-rated American-born player in the US with a USCF rating of 2662.He now lives in Atlanta, where he streams regularly on Twitch with his wife, KarenThe channel has amassed over 124K followers, and his YouTube channel has 113K subscribers. Those numbers are well-deserved and I highly recommend checking out each of his channels.
2023-01-101h 07
The Chess ExperienceHoliday Update & Brief MessageThis is a brief 3-minute "episode" to announce a brief holiday break and to encourage some reflection on your chess progress. As described, please let me what you've achieved this year in chess that you feel good about. You can do so by tagging me in a post on Twitter (@Lona_Chess), emailing me (scroll to the bottom for my address), or sending me a message here.Happy Holidays! And I'll talk to you soon!>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com
2022-12-2702 min
The Chess ExperienceAn Adult Improver Tale of Chess, Goals, & Rock & Roll with Amy Shaw047 Many chess players fall into a trap. They get too obsessed with chess and their progress. Stress and worry can replace joy and discovery. But not for this week’s guest. Fellow adult improver, Amy Shaw, has found a great balance between striving for consistent improvement and loving the game…And she’s done it without the sometimes unhealthy drive for rating gains that can plague chess players.In addition to working as an English professor by day and playing in a rock band by night…Amy has also become well-known in the chess ad...
2022-12-201h 04
The Chess ExperienceFighting Back From Losing Positions With NM Jeremy Kane046 When you’re in bad position or down material, it’s easy to lose hope. We’ve all been there. But today’s guest, NM Jeremy Kane, explains how and why you should usually keep fighting.His book, The Next To Last Mistake, teaches folks specific strategies needed to hold a draw or even win in losing positions.Plus, we discuss his work building the vast library of fun, unique, and helpful chess lessons for Chess.com as their Curriculum Director.Finally, Jeremy shares his somewhat “relaxed” approach to consistent chess improvement.-------
2022-12-1345 min
The Chess ExperienceOvercoming "Chess Burnout" With Omar Mills045 Have you ever put a ton of energy and work into chess…but your results failed to match your expectations? So, you became frustrated. Dejected. Maybe even disillusioned with the process.This is the potential downside that comes with a passion for chess:Burnout.That happened to my guest, Omar Mills.Omar is my inaugural adult improver guest (it’s about time I feature some fellow adult club players!) He has been serious about chess for the past two years, studying and playing for hours nearly every day.In this...
2022-12-061h 14
The Chess ExperienceGM Irina Krush: The First & Only American Woman to Earn the GM Title044 Few American women in chess are as inspiring as Irina Krush. That may be obvious from the title of this episode alone. But to listen to Irina tell her story in this interview…To hear her wisdom, strength, and charisma - you get the full measure of why she’s so inspiring to chess players worldwide.No surprise, though from the person who's been an unprecedented 8x US Women’s Champion.AND the only American woman to have earned the GM title.In this episode, we discuss:Her feelings on her nai...
2022-11-291h 05
The Chess ExperienceThe Romanian-American Powerhouse: WGM Sabina Foisor043 Born in Romania. Daughter of two International Masters. The young chess star, WGM Sabina Foisor, moved to America as a young adult and conquered the women’s chess scene by winning the 2017 US Women’s Championship.In this episode, we discuss: What it’s like growing up in a chess family with high expectations for success.The emotional journey of preparing & competing for the 2017 US Women’s Championship while her mother became seriously ill.Improvement questions on pawn structures, the “right time” to trade queens, and creating an opening repertoire that excites you.The surprising career Sabina would’...
2022-11-221h 12
The Chess ExperienceA Passion For Chess Without Loving the Game w/ GM Elisabeth Paehtz042 The #1 female player in Germany for many years: GM Elisabeth Paehtz. Even beyond her impressive accomplishments as a chess player, which include:Winning the 2018 European Women’s Championship in rapid chess.Representing Germany for the Women’s Chess Olympiad over 10 times.Elisabeth has some refreshing and pleasantly unexpected insights about the game. In this episode, we discuss:Why she never “loved chess” but still has a deep passion for the game.How being an adult has changed her playing style.Writing a book on her life as a female chess player.What caused her unexpected late-career rating c...
2022-11-0856 min
The Chess ExperienceA Journey To Be The First US Black Woman Chess Master w/ Rochelle Ballantyne041 You may know her as one of the featured students from the 2012 documentary, Brooklyn Castle. A superb film that covered a low-income, junior high school’s talented chess team. One of the main students the film explored was the inspiring story of Rochelle Ballantyne.Ten years after its release, Rochelle is now a 3rd-year law student at New York University.She also recently re-committed to her goal of becoming the first American Black woman to earn the NM title.In this episode, we cover:Reflections on the impact Brooklyn Castle has had on...
2022-11-0156 min
The Chess ExperienceTeaching Openings & The Perils of Engine Game Analysis w/ IM Christof Sielecki040 Few people today are creating as many highly praised chess courses as IM Christof Sielecki. Since the start of this podcast, I’ve looked forward to one day having him as a guest on the show. Now he’s here!His story may resonate with other adult improvers...It wasn’t until age 13 that he began his chess journey in earnest. And it wasn’t until his late 30’s that he strived for his biggest achievement: earning his IM title.After discussing his chess life, in this episode we talk about: What inspired hi...
2022-10-251h 18
The Chess ExperienceHow Emotions Can Cost You a Game with Daniel Lona039 Another chess journey update from your favorite podcast host! Every few months, I serve up a solo show that offers my latest insights and struggles, all from my hard-working path toward improvement. But this isn’t just an audio “chess diary.” I try to bring everything back to lessons we can all use and learn from. Hope you enjoy!In this episode:Why emotions caused an avoidable & heartbreaking loss in my recent OTB tournament.Does a recent 200-point blitz rating increase suggest my chess will soon improve in other areas?The four biggest contributors to my chess...
2022-10-1837 min
The Chess ExperienceLife Lessons From Chess & The Talent Myth With WIM Yuanling Yuan038 Yuanling wowed me. Of course, her accomplishments as a chess player are mighty: She’s been the #1 female Canadian player and the youngest Canadian female to earn the WIM title.And, as you’ll hear, Yuanling has a great ability to find meaningful connections between chess and life - a topic we discuss at length in this episode.If that weren’t enough, she has a compassionate heart.In 2009, she launched the non-profit Chess in Library program that offers chess instruction to underprivileged people in Toronto.While Yuanling has since built a sepa...
2022-10-131h 03
The Chess ExperienceHow Blitz Can Help, Time Management, & Trash-Talking w/ IM Greg Shahade037 IM Greg Shahade always brings a good time.His charisma and relaxed humor make for a dynamic, fun conversation in every interview he gives.And this one is no different!We cover a range of topics, including the difference between improving at chess versus trivia (it helps explain why chess is so difficult!), his spontaneous approach to life, and:Why blitz can improve your chess if you follow his two suggestionsTime management advice for those who play too slow (and too fast!)Will he ever do chess boxing?Classic trash-talking segment against...
2022-10-0459 min
The Chess ExperienceSurprising Stories & Insights of a Joyful Chess Commentator w/ WGM Jovanka Houska036 Jovanka Houska is a bright star. Anyone who’s watched her live can see she imbues her top-notch commentating at Chess24 with a joy for the game. Plus, she helps us club players more easily understand top-level play.Jovanka is, of course, not only a star in the chess commentating world…She’s also conquered the competitive scene as an eight-time British Women’s Chess Champion.And her competitive spirit still burns. She regularly attends tournaments and works to raise her rating to previous heights.In this episode, we discuss:Thoughts...
2022-09-2758 min
The Chess ExperienceOptimizing Mental Strategies & Training Methods w/ NM Bryan Tillis035 It’s easy to think of chess improvement as only involving the study of specific areas of the game like strategy or openings.But there are other, critical parts to improvement, as well.Which is why I chat with NM Bryan Tillis and discuss: The importance of having a WHY for your chess goalsHow to balance fun with doing what’s necessary to improveAsking whether your training is matching your goalsAnd, towards the end of the episode, Bryan offers several pieces of great advice for OTB tournaments.--------Want to joi...
2022-09-2051 min
The Chess ExperienceConquering US Women's Chess with IM Carissa Yip034 Carissa is a shining star. The youngest American woman to earn the IM title. Winner of the 2021 US Women’s Championship. Top-ranked female US player in 2019.If that weren’t enough, Carissa is the youngest female ever to beat a Grandmaster (she did so at age ten.)Even with so many accomplishments, Carissa remains humble and down-to-Earth.And she has a great sense of humor. In this episode, we discuss: What caused her sudden rating climb?The ups and downs of her 5-year journey to win the US Women’s Champion...
2022-09-1358 min
The Chess ExperienceAngelika Valkova, Lady of 1.d4, the First of Her Name 033 Angelika is rapidly building a name in the chess world as a dynamic coach, streamer, & course creator. Hailing from Ukraine, and now living in Germany, Angelika is a superb chess player with a FIDE rating of 2075 (and on her way to earning the WGM title.) She’s been coaching kids and adults alike for the past 7 years.After years of building a strong following on her Twitch channel, this year she released her first opening repertoire course for 1.d4 on Chessable. We talk about all these facets of her chess career, including her love of Game...
2022-09-081h 15
The Chess ExperienceDitching Bad Chess Habits & Follower Q&As with Daniel Lona032 Another chess journey update from your favorite podcast host! Every few months, I serve up a solo show that offers my latest insights and struggles, all from my hard-working path toward improvement.No matter your rating, you’ll find some snackable morsels of chess wisdom (even if it comes from my failures!)Highlights you can expect:Is King safety a chess problem or a psychological problem?Coach IM Andras Toth spots one of my top barriers to improvement (hint: it’s not more tactics or chess books.)The worst chess advice I’ve ever receiv...
2022-08-3033 min
The Chess ExperienceSimplifying Openings & Chasing the GM Title as an Adult w/ GM Alex Colovic031 Making chess simple for club players isn’t easy. But GM Alex Colovic has a special ability to do just that. It’s why his opening courses are known for simple, clear instruction... How Alex is able to simplify opening theory is one of the key points we discuss in this episode.The other great topic we discuss is that Alex strived for years in his 30s to earn the GM title - a rare feat at that age.His story is an inspiration with key lessons for all of us, no matter our r...
2022-08-231h 04
The Chess ExperienceHow Chess Offers Life & Career Lessons with FM Alisa Melekhina030 To some, chess is just a game. But it can also be a valuable tool for giving us powerful life lessons. And these lessons can teach us how to achieve our goals better. Or improve our career. Sometimes, though, those insights aren’t always obvious to us...So, we need a little help or awareness in uncovering them.That’s what today’s guest, FM Alisa Melekhina, explains in my conversation with her.And it’s also the subject of her superb book, Reality Check. In this episode, you’ll discover:How chess...
2022-08-161h 13
The Chess ExperienceIM Eric Rosen - Improvement Q&A and Chess Content Creation029 Eric Rosen is perhaps best known for off-beat openings and stalemate traps. But don’t underestimate his incredible coaching skills. In this interview, Eric offers powerful advice in answering questions from my Twitter followers on improving as adults.Before we get into the heart of sharpening your chess skills...The episode first covers Eric’s career as one of the world’s top chess streamers and content creators…Including his favorite types of content and how he strikes a balance between entertainment and education.Later, we cover:The unexpected secret to increa...
2022-08-091h 01
The Chess ExperienceNM Bruce Pandolfini: 50 Years of Growing the Game028 Bruce Pandolfini is arguably America’s greatest chess coach. His impact on growing the game throughout the world is immeasurable. Bruce is the author of dozens of superb chess books. All are great, and many are still must-reads for beginners and club players.He’s been the coach for such top players as Fabiano Caruana and Josh Waitzkin.Bruce has also been the consultant for the most popular chess stories ever put to screen: Searching for Bobby Fischer & The Queen’s Gambit.In this episode, we cover:The common traits of his most s...
2022-08-021h 09
The Chess ExperienceQuick Tips on Development with WGM Ekaterina Atalik027 If you've studied chess, then you know development is vital. Yet there’s more to this principle than just the obvious “get your pieces out.” Even titled players can struggle with effective development…Which means club players should always be working on this nuanced skill.To help, this episode discusses the subject at length with WGM Ekaterina Atalik. Katya (for short) is the European Women’s Chess Champion and the 5-time Women’s Champion of Turkey.She’s also authored the Chessable course, The Method of Quick Development. In this latest episode, we cov...
2022-07-2646 min
The Chess Experience5 Keys To Chess Improvement with FM Nate Solon026 How do you ensure chess improvement? The old magic pill would be nice, but we know that doesn’t exist. The next best thing? Put energy and work into five key areas…This may not guarantee improvement, but doing them will give you the best fighting chance to see results.And, hey, given the mysterious ways of chess improvement, that’s sometimes the best we can do.So, what are the key areas? FM Nate Solon explained them in his 2021 article entitled, The Chess Improvement Checklist.Impressed with the list h...
2022-07-191h 07
The Chess ExperienceExpanding Chess to More Amateurs & Cultures w/ Naycir (Nigarhan)025 There are several ways to #GrowTheGame. One is through helping folks play better. Another is to find ways to make chess more appealing and accessible for everyone - regardless of where you live or your skill level.This week’s guest, Nigarhan (or Naycir, as she’s known online), has chosen to make the second option her mission.A fellow adult improver and amateur player herself…Nigarhan has become well-known in chess circles as a streamer with an irresistible wit and passion for the game. She brings top-level humor and a magnetic joy to the...
2022-07-1247 min
The Chess ExperienceCandidates Recap with WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni024 The 2022 Candidates was a wild ride. Predictions were shattered. A dominant performance surprised many. And the looming question of “Does second place matter?” hung in the air.For the first time, The Chess Experience is reviewing a world-class tournament!To help discuss the highlights (and lowlights) of the event, along with some lessons that can help club players…I interviewed WIM Fiona Steil Antoni, a professional commentator of top chess events,Fiona has been commentating for the past eight years and now works for Chess.com. Most recently, she had the...
2022-07-0745 min
The Chess ExperienceTop Mistakes Made By Club Players (Vol. 1) With NM Dan Heisman023 Adult improvers, ironically, have limited time to improve. Which is why it’s so helpful to know the answer to this question: “Of all the mistakes we make, which ones are the most important to fix?” That’s what today’s episode is about…Identifying the key mistakes made at the board by adult improvers (most of whom are club players) and finding solutions to them. To help, I’ve brought back for a second time National Master, Dan Heisman. He is the ultimate coach for adult improvers.Dan has written over...
2022-06-281h 05
The Chess ExperienceHow Aging Affects Chess Improvement with GM Jesse Kraai022 If you’re over 30, you might wonder: “Will aging affect my chess improvement? Should I adjust my program any differently due to my age?” These are compelling but often difficult questions to answer... On the one hand, we want to be optimistic and aim for whatever chess goal we desire, without concern over biology getting in the way... And, yet, biology is real. Athletes understand this - both amateur and professional alike. Which is why it’s worth taking a look at this subject with clear eyes. To discuss this further...
2022-06-2153 min
The Chess ExperienceSwitching Openings & Defeating Rating Plateaus with Daniel Lona021 This week’s format is different. Every few months, I’ll create a solo episode where I update you on my own chess journey: The top challenges I’m having, the best insights I’ve gained, and the latest wisdom my coaches, Andras Toth & Dan Heisman, have offered me.I’ll try to frame it in ways that benefit you, so that you get a heap of value from listening. This week’s topics:Why I no longer play the French Defense and key resources for determining how/when to change your openings.The top 3 insight...
2022-06-1430 min
The Chess ExperienceTournament Advice & Building a Strong Chess Culture with WGM Irene Sukandar020 You may have first heard of WGM Irene Sukandar in 2021, when her popularity soared after defeating Dewa Kipas, a man who infamously cheated in an online game against IM Levy Rozman.But, in this interview, we discuss what I believe Irene should be what be most well-known for:1) Growing the fame and respect of chess in her home country of Indonesia, and 2) Being an inspiration to chess players throughout the world who wish to make chess a major part of their lives.Irene is a professional player who is a 2-time A...
2022-06-071h 11
The Chess ExperienceBeat the Rating Slump Blues with WIM Anna-Maja Kazarian019 With so many hours put into our chess practice. The experience of a long-term rating decline or plateau can be frustrating. Even painful. Shouldn’t we see positive rating results if it’s been X number of months or years?Not always.But that doesn’t mean you’re not improving. Or that the tide won’t eventually turn.In this episode, Woman International Master and popular chess streamer, Anna-Maja Kazarian, tell us about her struggle with a long-term rating decline.First, though, we discuss her chess origin story, her rapid ascent as...
2022-05-2458 min
The Chess ExperienceHow to Analyze Your Games with WGM Katerina Nemcova018 You just finished a Rapid or Classical game. Now it’s time to pluck some hard-earned lessons from the experience. But wait: should you turn on the engine? Annotate the game with notes? Review it intensely for an hour or more? Or maybe just glean one key lesson and call it a day?These issues and more are discussed in this episode with the phenomenal WGM Katerina Nemcova.First, we learn about Katerina’s exciting journey to the top of women’s chess in the Czech Republic. And how she later became one of Amer...
2022-05-171h 08
The Chess ExperienceHow to Study Annotated Game Books w/ IM Kostya Kavutskiy017 Kostya is one of the co-founders of the incredible Chess Dojo. It's a channel and business designed to help chess improvers (most of whom are adults.)In this episode: Why you should bother reading annotated game books.An answer to the age-old question: how many of the endless variations should you go over?Should you read an annotated game book more than once?A rarely talked about benefit to playing classical games that can make a huge impact on your improvement.Where To Find More of Kostya/Chess Dojo’s Content: Chess Dojo...
2022-05-101h 21
The Chess ExperienceThe Journey of a World-Class Chess Commentator w/ WGM Keti Tsatsalashvili0016 Offering live commentary of world-class chess is no easy task. Your audience is often club-level players and beginners. So, you'll have to strike a balance between explaining obscure GM strategy…While also delivering fun commentary that keeps your viewers engaged…That’s what this week's guest, WGM Keti Tsatsalashvili, does all the time for Chess.com and FIDE. In this episode, we dive into the story of a commentator for these incredible events. Keti makes top-level chess easy to follow for those of us who were never pros…Plus, she has an incredi...
2022-05-031h 12
The Chess ExperienceCommon Mistakes Made By Adult Improvers (& How To Fix Them) With FM Peter Giannatos015 All chess players struggle to improve. But there are some mistakes made along the way that are unique to adults. Thankfully, there are easy solutions that’ll remove these roadblocks and get you back on the road to faster improvement…To help identify and fix these mistakes, I interview the straight-talking FM Peter Giannatos. Peter is the founder of the Charlotte Chess Center, a powerhouse chess club in the United States.Plus, he’s the author of the book & course, Everyone’s First Chess Workbook, which is phenomenal for folks under 1200 who want to master...
2022-04-261h 10
The Chess ExperienceWGM Jennifer Shahade: Unstoppable Chess Queens & Rare Tips to Improve014 Today you get a 2-topic episode: 1) Adult chess improvement tips from WGM Jennifer Shahade; and 2) A discussion on her new book, Chess Queens, about the celebration & deeper understanding of women in chess.There’s hardly anyone who has done more to make this game more inclusive for women and girls than Jennifer...She’s a true inspiration in our community.Not only is she a 2-time US Women’s Champion and Woman Grandmaster…Jennifer has also tirelessly spent the past two decades improving chess culture for females everywhere…In today’s ep...
2022-04-1955 min
The Chess ExperienceMental Strength, Positivity, & Banning the Haters with FM James Canty013 There’s a small percentage of people who can inspire us to be better at chess. One of those rare folks is FM James Canty III. Few would bet money that a guy in his late 20s could go from National Master to Grandmaster. It’s almost never done.Why?Because, like us club players, he grapples with adult responsibilities that make improvement difficult: a full-time job, limited energy, and time.But James is a powerhouse of positivity, discipline, and a tireless work ethic.In this interview, James shares: The singl...
2022-04-1256 min