- 26 minutes 38 secondsEp. 205: An Easy Nimzo-Indian Setup for Club Players | 10+5 Amateur Run
In this game, I use a practical Nimzo-Indian setup that avoids a lot of heavy main-line theory while still giving Black an active position. It's a great option for busy adult club players who want a sound opening without spending hours memorizing variations.
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1 October 2026, 12:30 pm - 33 minutes 33 secondsEp. 204: How to Play Chess in Time Trouble | 5+3 Amateur Run
This video features two 5+3 games with very different challenges. After a quick London System game, the second turns into a lesson in managing serious time pressure, with less than 30 seconds on my clock while my opponent still has more than three minutes. We'll look at practical ways busy adult amateurs can simplify decisions, manage the clock, and continue playing good chess when time is running out.
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27 September 2026, 10:30 am - 30 minutes 38 secondsEp. 203: How to Stop a London System Attack | 10+5 Amateur Run
The London System can become dangerous quickly if Black allows a comfortable kingside attack. In this video, we look at practical ways to defend accurately, create counterplay, and keep the position under control.
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24 September 2026, 2:30 pm - 45 minutes 36 secondsEp. 202: Want a Simple Opening Repertoire? Try This Combo | 5+3 Amateur Run
Introducing our 5+3 Amateur Run series: Fast enough to create pressure, slow enough to still play real chess (mostly😂). In this video, I play one game with the French Defense and another with the London System - two openings that work extremely well together as a simple, practical repertoire. For busy adult amateurs, the goal isn't to memorize endless opening theory, but to reach playable positions you understand and spend more of your limited study time on the parts of chess that matter most.
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21 September 2026, 2:18 am - 43 minutes 13 secondsEp. 201: This Is Why You Don't Give Up After a Blunder | 10+5 Amateur Run
Welcome to the 10+5 Amateur Run. In this first game, I make an embarrassing early mistake, fall behind, and have to figure out how to stay in the game and fight back. This series is about practical chess improvement for busy adult amateurs, using real games to explore better decisions, stronger habits, and more efficient ways to improve.
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20 September 2026, 10:00 am - 12 minutes 41 secondsEp. 200: The Chess Angle Is Going Video
After 200 episodes, The Chess Angle is making its next move. I explain why the show is shifting to a video-first format where I play games against fellow amateurs, talk through my thinking, and analyze the games afterward - with the wins, losses, mistakes, and everything in between becoming part of the learning process. Same philosophy, same focus on practical chess improvement, but a completely new way of doing it.
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20 September 2026, 8:00 am - 36 minutes 17 secondsEp. 199 (S11 Finale): You're Doing Chess Puzzles All Wrong
This episode is our Season 11 Finale. We'll be taking a break and will be back soon.
Chess puzzles can be one of the most effective ways to improve, but only if you're actually training, rather than guessing, rushing through a daily quota, or chasing a streak. This week, we look at how to get more value from puzzle training by calculating before moving, repeating difficult positions, and working on everything from tactics and endgames to positional ideas and quiet moves.
📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].
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23 August 2026, 8:00 am - 46 minutes 47 secondsEp. 198: Move Noise: The Mental Clutter Costing You Games
Sometimes the problem isn't that we aren't thinking enough at the chessboard — it's that we're thinking about too much. In this episode, we explore "move noise": the unnecessary calculation, imaginary threats, second-guessing, and search for the perfect move that can interfere with good practical chess. Learn how to separate signal from noise, trust your chess, and save your thinking time for the positions that actually require it.
📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].
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16 August 2026, 8:00 am - 43 minutes 28 secondsEp. 197: Chess Openings and the Law of Diminishing Returns
Many adult club players don't study too little opening theory - they study too much. In this episode, we explore the trap of diminishing returns in opening study, why understanding ideas matters far more than memorizing endless lines, and the importance of building a practical repertoire that consistently leads to playable middlegames.
📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].
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9 August 2026, 8:00 am - 26 minutes 2 secondsEp. 196: Rook Slides, Queen Slides, & Other Chess Blind Spots
Many chess blunders aren't caused by poor calculation - they're caused by visual blind spots. In this episode, we explore why certain types of moves consistently escape our attention, how those blind spots lead to missed tactics and costly mistakes, and what you can do to start seeing more of the board.
📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].
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2 August 2026, 8:00 am - 32 minutes 12 secondsEp. 195: Why Your Chess Rating Swings So Much
Your chess rating can easily swing 100 points or more, but it doesn't necessarily mean you've become a better or worse player. In this episode, we react to a fascinating article on rating variance and discuss why amateur players often experience even bigger swings than they realize.
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📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].
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