GM Daniel Gormally returns to the pod to unpack Netflix's Untold: Chess Mates, the documentary covering the Magnus Carlsen - Hans Niemann controversy. We separate the signal from the noise, offering a candid, player-level perspective on one of chess's most bizarre modern sagas.

Links for GM Daniel Gormally:

• YouTube channel
• Chessable 3-Part Series: Sharp Middlegames

📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

🎯 Our Links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• Buy Me a Coffee

In this episode, we react to a recent article on how to beat chess prodigies and what adult amateurs tend to get wrong when facing underrated kids. We break down practical strategies like avoiding tactical chaos and forcing long, patient games. If you've ever sat down across from a 10-year-old and immediately felt in trouble, this one's for you.

Referenced: How to Beat A Chess Prodigy

📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

🎯 Our Links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• Buy Me a Coffee

Fellow chess amateur and blogger Nick Visel returns to the pod to talk about the nuts and bolts of improving as an adult player. We cover endgames, openings, and the psychological habits that separate steady improvers from those stuck in place. Think of this as a reality check - with a roadmap.

Referenced:

• Nick's Substack: Nick Plays Chess

📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

🎯 Our Links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• Buy Me a Coffee

Time delay or an increment has become the norm in over-the-board tournaments, but online chess still largely ignores it. In this episode, we break down why using an increment leads to better games, fairer outcomes, and more instructive endgames, and why the current no-increment culture misses the mark. We also react to a lively Reddit debate on why no-increment chess still dominates online play.

Referenced:

• Lichess Study: Study Creators & Friends
• Reddit Post: Why is no increment the norm in online chess?

📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

🎯 Our Links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• Buy Me a Coffee

We like to think chess is pure skill, but at the amateur level, luck plays a bigger role than most players realize. In this episode, we break down how blunders, pairings, time pressure, and your opponent's mood can all influence your results and rating. More importantly, we talk about how to think about luck the right way so you don't misjudge your own progress.

📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

🎯 Our Links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• Buy Me a Coffee

Many adult chess improvers start with the same plan: just play a lot of games and the rating will climb. At first, that actually works - until it doesn't. In this episode, we talk about why the "just play more games" philosophy causes most amateurs to eventually hit a plateau and why deliberate study is the key to breaking through it.

Referenced:

• Research Study (2005): The Role of Deliberate Practice in Chess Expertise
• Reddit Post (2024): What rating would the average person reach if they played daily but never studied?

📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

🎯 Our Links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• Buy Me a Coffee

This week, Neal discusses why he recently made a full switch to lichess.org for playing his online games and why the platform works better for his day-to-day chess routine. He still uses chesscom, but only for news, articles, and their lesson library.

📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

🎯 Our Links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• Buy Me a Coffee

In this episode, we tackle one of the most tempting (and dangerous) questions in amateur chess: when should you sacrifice a piece? Instead of carelessly chasing "!!" moves, we break down when your sac might be sound and when it's likely to fail.

Referenced:

• Netflix Documentary On Carlsen-Niemann Scandal Gets 2026 Release Date
• Why Masters Crush Lower-Rated Players (and You Struggle) by FM Dalton Perrine

📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

🎯 Our Links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• Buy Me a Coffee

In this episode, Neal confesses a hard truth: his most dreaded opponents aren't Masters - they're "unrated" and "lower-rated" opponents who absolutely do not play like their numbers suggest. We talk about underrated players, rating lag, adult improvers on the rise, and why underestimating your opponent is the fastest way to donate a point. If you've ever sat down thinking "this should be fine" and immediately regretted it, this one's for you.

📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

🎯 Our Links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• Buy Me a Coffee

A new year means a fresh chance to improve, but only if you have a plan that actually fits your real life. In this Season 11 premiere, Neal dives into the Listener Mailbag and then shares a practical, no-nonsense framework for building a 2026 chess improvement plan that works for busy adult players. Whether you're aiming to gain rating points, play more confidently, or just stop spinning your wheels, this episode will help you start the year with purpose.

📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

🎯 Our Links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• Buy Me a Coffee

It's the Season 10 finale, so we're emptying the mailbag and tackling your chess improvement questions head-on, from study habits and rating plateaus to tournament nerves and adult time constraints. Season 11 coming soon...

📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

🎯 Our Links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• Buy Me a Coffee