Best TD Daniel Podcasts (2024)

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Ep. 106: GM Max Illingworth on Adult Chess Improvement, Why YouTube Videos May Not Help, "Potholes & Detours" on the road to 1600, "Unlearning" Chess, & More 57:50

9m ago57:50

57:50

This week's guest is Australian Grandmaster Max Illingworth. Max is a coach, author, and blogger who has lots of experience working with adult chess improvers and a sincere interest in helping them get better. His chess.com blog is instruction rich and formed the basis of our conversation. Max shared his thoughts on why many adult players have trou…

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Ep. 105 (S7 Premiere): Declutter Your Chess Study Plan 35:10

5d ago35:10

35:10

Welcome to Season 7! As a reminder, you can become a Patreon member of The Chess Angle. For just $2 a month, you can support the show while receiving a few perks including access to a members-only blog, Neal's personal episode notes/outlines, priority consideration for questions/topic suggestions, and early access to select episodes. If you're inte…

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Ep. 104 (S6 Finale): Ten Ways to Lose a Chess Game 35:21

28d ago35:21

35:21

This episode is our Season 6 finale. We'll be taking a short break and will return with Season 7 on April 14, 2024. This week, we discuss ten common reasons why players at the club level lose games: 1 - Non-processing 2 - Rushing against odd opening moves 3 - Neglecting development/premature attacks 4 - Misplaying castling 5 - Rook posing 6 - Too m…

1
Ep. 103: Wild Chess Tournament Stories: Cheating, Collusion, Pushy Parents & Other Tall Tales from the Amateur Chess Scene feat. Tim Just, National TD and US Chess Rulebook Editor 48:58

1M ago48:58

48:58

This week's guest, Tim Just, is a major figure in tournament directing and chess administration. He is a National TD, editor of the 5th-7th editions of the US Chess Rulebook, author, and columnist. When it comes to directing amateur chess tournaments, he's done it all and seen it all. In this episode, Tim shares a number of wild and entertaining an…

1
Ep. 102: Chess Improvement & Tournament Skills Roundtable feat. Nick Visel 1:05:56

1M ago1:05:56

1:05:56

Nick Visel is a dedicated club player with a long term goal of achieving the title of National Master. He is well known in the adult improver community and is very popular on Twitter/X. You may be interested in subscribing to Nick's Substack where he shares book reviews, analysis of his OTB tournament games, and more. This week, Nick joined Neal fo…

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Ep. 101: Candidates Tournament Preview 2024 feat. GM Daniel Gormally 1:02:45

2M ago1:02:45

1:02:45

In this jam-packed episode, return guest Grandmaster Daniel Gormally discusses the upcoming 2024 Candidates Chess Tournament: the players, controversies, history, and more. The winner of this event will challenge Ding Liren for the title of World Chess Champion. The Candidates begins on 4/3/24 in Toronto, Canada. Links for the Candidates Tournament…

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Ep. 100: The Hippopotamus Defense and Other Chess Opening Systems for Black 42:34

2M ago42:34

42:34

Welcome to our 100th episode! Be sure to check out our new and improved website. Same address, updated look. This week, we explore five universal responses for Black. These can be played against any first move by White. In this episode: Listener Mailbag 1…g6 (Modern Defense) Hippopotamus Defense 1…e6 1…b6 1…Nc6 Referenced: 10 Black "Opening Systems…

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Ep. 99: How to Approach Chess Study as a Beginner or Advanced Beginner (Tips and Suggested Resources) 37:22

2M ago37:22

37:22

Chess improvement can be overwhelming and daunting for beginners looking to reach the intermediate level and beyond. This is especially true for busy adults with limited study time. In the episode, we provide a general overview of what we believe beginners and advanced beginners should focus on and provide a number of suggested resources to get you…

1
Ep. 98: The Worst Chess Mindsets for Tournament Players 51:20

2M ago51:20

51:20

The week, Neal dives into the listener mailbag to discuss the parallels between music and chess, handling losses, and dealing with frustration at the chessboard. This is followed by an open and candid discussion about mindset and attitude at the chessboard during OTB tournaments. There's definitely an emphasis on chess psychology for this episode. …

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Ep. 97: Chess Ratings, Improvement, the 3...Qd8 Scandinavian & More feat. NM Daniel Lowinger 59:27

3M ago59:27

59:27

This week's guest is National Master Daniel Lowinger, a high school Chinese teacher who cut his teeth playing chess on the New York scene. Dan offers some thoughtful and philosophical ideas about amateur chess improvement, titles, being honest with oneself, and much more. Chapters: (00:00) - Intro (03:48) - Dan's Beginnings (06:24) - Thoughts on Ch…

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Ep. 96: GM Daniel Gormally on Adult Chess Improvement, the Cheating Epidemic, & More 59:39

3M ago59:39

59:39

Our guest this week is English Grandmaster Daniel Gormally. Daniel is a professional chess player and coach who has written several books on the game. He is also the author of a 3-part Chessable series entitled Sharp Middlegames. In addition, Daniel has represented England in the European Team Championship and is a two-time winner of the English Ra…

1
Ep. 95: How to Use a Chess Engine as a Developing Player 1:03:56

3M ago1:03:56

1:03:56

This week we discuss how to analyze your chess games with an engine to increase learning, avoid mistakes, and explore your thought process. Neal addresses some listener mail and then reviews one of his OTB games where he was having an off night. There were miscues from both players throughout which is typical at the club level. Referenced: Ep. 45: …

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Ep. 94: Sicilian vs. Caro-Kann, Neal's 2024 Chess Study Plan, & More 49:09

3M ago49:09

49:09

Happy New Year! For our first episode of 2024, Neal answers some questions from our listener mailbag and shares his chess study plan for 2024. Chapters: (00:00) - Intro (01:20) - Neal's 2024 Study Plan (09:57) - Are YouTube Videos Helpful? (14:43) - Chess Club Attendance (34:37) - Sicilian vs. Caro-Kann (41:33) - Aggressive vs. Timid Opponents (48:…

1
Ep. 93: Holiday Message 2023 3:21

4M ago3:21

3:21

Happy Holidays! This week, Neal shares a brief holiday message. Thank you to everyone for supporting the show. We saw a major uptick in downloads in 2023. We'll be taking an extended holiday/end-of-year break and will resume on Sunday, January 14, 2024. If you're a new listener, now is a great time to binge and catch up. We hope you win your next g…

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Ep. 92: Stop Being Afraid of 1. d4: Tips for Club-Level Chess Players 35:05

4M ago35:05

35:05

Many club-level players consistently have trouble facing 1. d4. This week, we explore why that is, and offer some practical and philosophical advice. Chapters: (00:00) - Intro (01:40) - 1. d4 General Thoughts (07:00) - Social Media and 1. d4 (12:12) - 1. d4 vs. 1. e4 (15:10) - Nimzo & Q. Indian Defenses (22:30) - Fighting the London System (26:54) …

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Ep. 91: The Botvinnik System: An Easy-to-Learn Opening for White 26:33

5M ago26:33

26:33

The Botvinnik System is a solid opening choice for White that is easy to learn. We also discuss system openings generally and how they can benefit club players with limited study time. **Errata: In the episode at (23:31), it should be 8. d3, not e3. Please refer to the .pgn below. Chapters: (00:00) - Intro (00:37) - System Opening Benefits (15:54) …

1
Ep. 90: Common Club-Level Chess Mistakes: Matching, Punishing, “Temper Tantrum” Chess & More 47:47

5M ago47:47

47:47

This week we take a deep dive into some of the most common thematic mistakes that club players make on a regular basis. Most of them have to do with misguided tournament strategies and mishandling your opponent, rather than a lack of chess theory. Chapters: (00:00) - Intro (04:08) - The 3 Most Missed Moves (08:19) - Misreading Defensive Moves (11:2…

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Ep. 89: Chess "Backsplaining" & the "Null Move" Strategy for Club Players feat. FM Alex King 1:00:55

5M ago1:00:55

1:00:55

FM Alex King returns to the podcast to share his journey from NM to FM. In addition, we discuss some practical improvement topics that club players of all levels should find useful. Check out Episode #23 if you missed Alex's first appearance on the pod. Alex resides in Memphis, TN and is an active player, coach, and writer. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro …

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Ep. 88: Amateur Chess Legend Andy Ansel on his Massive 15,000+ Book Collection, Playing 3 World Champions, & Whether Club Players Should Use Classic or Modern Books for Improvement 52:45

6M ago52:45

52:45

Andy Ansel is a devoted chess enthusiast who is well known for his impressive book collection which features over 15,000 items. He also has an extensive tournament background with a peak rating of USCF 2100. His playing experience includes games against three World Champions (Symslov, Tal, and Kasparov). Currently, Andy is active in correspondence …

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Ep. 87: David MacEnulty, Renowned Chess Coach Portrayed in the 2005 Film "Knights of the South Bronx," on Teaching, Learning, Improving, Tournament Skills, Cheating, & More 50:11

6M ago50:11

50:11

David MacEnulty is a legendary chess coach best known for his work with disadvantaged children at Community Elementary School #70 in the South Bronx in New York City. He took them from beginning players to national scholastic champions, an astonishing feat. David was portrayed by famed actor Ted Danson in the 2005 TV-film Knights of the South Bronx…

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Ep. 86: Chess Improvement Without Books feat. Xilin Chen (USCF 2144) 50:21

6M ago50:21

50:21

For this season's first interview episode, Neal spoke with Xilin Chen, a 24-year old student at Stonybrook University and a Long Island Chess Club regular. Xilin described his chess improvement activities: lots of 3-0 and 1-0 online games, analyzing his own games, chess.com study resources, and virtually no chess books. He also shared his thought p…

1
Ep. 85: Trendy Chess Improvement Advice 35:14

6M ago35:14

35:14

There's a lot of chess advice out there, but is all of it sound? Will these suggestions really help you, especially if you're an emerging player looking to get to the intermediate level? While this episode is primarily aimed at players rated about 1000 USCF, we believe improvers of all levels will enjoy it. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 07:22 - Classic G…

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Ep. 84: Mastering the Middlegame, Part 2: Are There Flaws With Silman's Imbalances? 37:07

6M ago37:07

37:07

This week we continue our discussion of IM Jeremy Silman. Some are critical of his method, and while Neal considers Silman's system to be essential for improvement, he shares a few nitpicks of his own in the spirit of thoroughness. Referenced: Silman's response to his critics. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 02:45 - Nitpicks 24:46 - Other Criticism of Silm…

1
Ep. 83 (S6 Premiere): Mastering the Middlegame for Club Players: The Legacy of IM Jeremy Silman 35:06

7M ago35:06

35:06

Welcome to Season 6! Sadly, renowned chess educator IM Jeremy Silman passed away recently. Many consider his content to be essential for amateur improvement. He is probably best known for his system of imbalances and its application to the middlegame. This week, we'll give an overview of his approach and discuss some of his books and online content…

1
Ep. 82 (S5 Finale): My Opponent is Smoking a Cigarette: Chess Clubs Then vs. Now feat. Brian Karen (Chess Coffee Talk #3) 45:18

7M ago45:18

45:18

This episode is our Season 5 Finale. Season 6 coming soon! Our guest this week is Brian Karen, a Candidate Master, chess educator, historian, and regular contributor to the podcast. We discussed the evolution of chess clubs and the amateur tournament scene, specifically from the 80s, 90s, and early 00s until now. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 09:26 - Ris…

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Ep. 81: The English Opening (1. c4) from Black's Perspective 27:29

8M ago27:29

27:29

In this episode, we unravel the English Opening from Black's point of view for club players and adult improvers. We tackle the unfamiliarity and anxiety that comes with confronting 1. c4 and share three variations that will boost your confidence as Black. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 05:50 - Symmetrical Var. (1...c5) 10:33 - Nimzo-English (1...Nf6) 16:5…

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Ep. 80: Chess Opening Surprises to Trick Your Opponent 42:10

8M ago42:10

42:10

Ready to shake up your chess game with some unconventional openings? In our latest episode, we make a case for occasionally adding complexity to your game. By getting higher-rated opponents out of their comfort zone early on, you can create an unbalanced, non-theoretical position that might just give you the upper hand. We also bring attention to t…

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Ep. 79: Everybody Loves Ratings 55:32

8M ago55:32

55:32

Did you know that the world of chess ratings can be as intriguing and mysterious as the game itself? How significant are tactics, game analysis, and a consistent opening repertoire for players rated below 1800? We go a step further, shedding light on the pros and cons of competing in higher rating sections and the unreliability of online ratings. A…

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Ep. 78: Cheating at Local Chess Clubs feat. NM Nick Panico (Chess Coffee Talk #2) 1:20:20

8M ago1:20:20

1:20:20

Have you ever wondered what goes on inside a chess tournament? Join us as we converse with return guest National Master Nick Panico, who takes us on a captivating journey. This episode is a deep dive into the world of chess, the importance of taking lower-rated opponents seriously, and much more. The discussion gets even more interesting as Nick re…

1
Ep. 77: Phantom Tactics, Impatient Pawn Pushes, the Power of 1...Nf6, Nimzo-Indian Defense, Stopping Counterplay, & More (Game Analysis #7) 33:52

9M ago33:52

33:52

This week, we'll be exploring some common themes for club-level players by analyzing a typical amateur game that featured a lot of miscues. Concepts include: stopping counterplay, open vs. closed center, impatient pawn pushes, "phantom" tactics, and much more. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:50 - Nimzo-Indian Defense 14:12 - Phantom Tactics 15:15 - Impa…

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Ep. 76: Decision Fatigue and Brain Fog at the Chessboard (Game Analysis #6) 46:50

9M ago46:50

46:50

Our episode features an engaging analysis of a chess game from the Long Island Chess Club. We dissect every plan, delving into the nuances of a Queen's pawn opening and strategies for preventing Black's e5 idea from White. We also unravel the mystery around the hyper-modern idea of striking in the center. In addition, we're sharing our insights on …

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Ep. 75: Jessica Hyatt, the Highest-Rated Female African-American Chess Player (with NM Tyrell Harriott) 32:40

9M ago32:40

32:40

Meet high school student and Candidate Master Jessica Hyatt, the highest-rated female African-American chess player, and National Master Tyrell Harriott, her coach and mentor. Be intrigued as the duo sheds light on Jessica's inspiring journey from her initial rating of USCF 350 in fifth grade to her current rating of USCF 2100, and her quest to ach…

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Ep. 74: Inside the Mind of a Tournament Chess Player feat. Dan Levin 51:46

9M ago51:46

51:46

Tune in as we delve into the mind of a seasoned tournament player, Dan Levin. A regular at the Long Island Chess Club, Dan brings a unique perspective to this episode as he shares his experiences from the recent Eastern Class Championships in Connecticut, and the National Open in Vegas. Listen in as we uncover the reasons behind a peculiar resignat…

1
Ep. 73: The Chess Conundrum: Balancing Online and OTB Play 36:26

9M ago36:26

36:26

Have you ever wondered about the differences between playing chess online and over-the-board? How does it impact your strategies and even your enjoyment of the game? Welcome to the first solo episode of the fifth season of The Chess Angle. We're making our podcast experience more user-friendly by introducing chapter markers and experimenting with v…

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Ep. 72: NM Jerald Times on Mastering the Chessboard: Insights, Strategies, and Transformations 52:42

10M ago52:42

52:42

Get ready to sharpen your chess skills with National Master Jerald Times, a revered chess educator and CEO of Chess Across Borders. We'll traverse across the chessboard of Jerald's experiences, from his nostalgic moments playing chess on a Navy ship to his enlightening journey of teaching and transitioning to a more dynamic playing style. Ever wond…

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Ep. 71 (S5 Premiere): A Journey to Chess Mastery feat. NM James Altucher 50:26

10M ago50:26

50:26

Are you ever too old to get better at chess? Join me as I sit down with National Master, top podcaster, successful entrepreneur, and best-selling author James Altucher, who is on a thrilling journey to regain a rating of 2200. Despite being in his 50s, James is determined to prove that age is just a number when it comes to mental capacity and impro…

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Ep. 70 (S4 Finale): Chess Openings & Using a "Forever" Repertoire (Ep. 1 Reboot) 30:43

11M ago30:43

30:43

This week's episode is our Season 4 Finale. SEASON 5 COMING SOON! This is an updated version of the very first episode of this podcast, "Chess Openings and the Club Player." We cover: The main goal of the opening System and thematic openings Is there an advantage to having the white pieces? Should you play complicated, theoretical openings? The imp…

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Ep. 69: Passed Pawns, Piece Sacrifices, & More (Game Analysis #5) 50:18

12M ago50:18

50:18

We cover: Touch move Trapped pieces Does playing through Master games really help? Is a knight on the rim always dim? Should you move the same piece twice? Speculative vs. combinational sacrifices "Shuffling" moves Initiative vs. development Referenced: Winning Chess Tactics (Amazon) Introduction to Tactics (chess.com) Step Up In Tactics (chess.com…

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Ep. 68: Weekend Tourneys, Rating "Donators" & More feat. NM Nick Panico (Chess Coffee Talk #1) 1:29:34

12M ago1:29:34

1:29:34

National Master Nick Panico returns to the podcast for our first "coffee talk" episode. These episodes will feature a guest and include the full conversation, including the pre/post interview segments that are typically off-air. Essentially, we'll press "record," let it run, and publish the whole thing. We covered a variety of topics for amateur pl…

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Ep. 67: The "Puzzle Rush Plus One" Chess Study Plan for Busy Adults 37:44

12M ago37:44

37:44

Neal plays a round of Puzzle Rush during the episode! For most of us, "life happens," and lengthy chess study sessions are not possible on a consistent basis. Neal recently created a simple, condensed study routine that can be used intermittently when life gets busy. This allows your chess abilities to stay sharp during those times. The basic idea …

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Ep. 66: Starting Chess at a "Late" Age feat. NM Anthony Levin 1:00:13

1y ago1:00:13

1:00:13

For this interview episode, Neal spoke with National Master Anthony Levin, a NY based chess player and the News Manager for chess.com. Anthony shared his insights on adult improvement and his own personal journey. Talking points include the following: Puzzle Rush vs. speed chess The mythical "phase out" of classical chess Anthony's role as News Man…

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Ep. 65: Your First Chess Tournament - Tips & Tricks 57:46

1y ago57:46

57:46

Live, over-the-board (OTB) tournament play is the ultimate in chess competition. It's fun, exciting, and aesthetically pleasing. However, rated chess events are not always unicorns and rainbows. There's a harsh reality to tournament play that is often omitted from the discourse on chess. Neal discusses some hard truths about tournaments, shares som…

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Ep. 64: Beating Higher-Rated Opponents: It's Easier Than You Think at the Club Level... 27:48

1y ago27:48

27:48

This episode offers some direct and pragmatic ideas for club players when facing a higher-rated opponent. Talking points include the following: Why chess generally hates the underdog Why there's often more pressure on the higher-rated player Upsets happen quite often at the amateur level Is creating complications the ONLY way to beat these players?…

1
Ep. 63: The French Steiner Variation, 1. e4 e6 2. c4!? & More (Game Analysis #4) 34:43

1y ago34:43

34:43

This week's episode is a thematic analysis of an amateur game featuring the Steiner Variation of the French Defense (1.e4 e6 2. c4!?). Some other common French sidelines are discussed as well. Additional talking points include the following: Queenside castling The Hedgehog formation Does it make sense to to "prep for an opponent" at the club level?…

1
Ep. 62: How To Succeed At Club-Level Time Controls (G/90, G/75, etc.) 41:31

1y ago41:31

41:31

This episode covers so-called "club-level" time controls, such as G/90 and G/60. These usually include a time delay ranging from 5 - 30 seconds per move. Neal also shares his thoughts on speed chess as it relates to amateur players and improvement. In addition, some helpful resources that may be underutilized by many are discussed. Additional talki…

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Ep. 61: Do Chess Training Programs Work? 40:37

1y ago40:37

40:37

This week's episode discusses study plans, training programs, and improvement as it relates to the amateur and club player. If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. Our links: Website Twitter YouTube Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable. Check out a …

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Ep. 60: Review of "The Complete Book of Chess Strategy," the Best All-In-One Reference Book for Improvers 40:01

1y ago40:01

40:01

This episode is a review of The Complete Book of Chess Strategy (Amazon) by IM Jeremy Silman. This is an excellent all-in-one reference book for improvers and club players, covering all phases of the game as well as practical matters (blunders, time pressure, chess psychology, etc.). Neal shares his thoughts on how the concepts in this book apply t…

1
Ep. 59: Why Is My Lower-Rated Opponent Playing So Well? 45:39

1y ago45:39

45:39

This episode explores the psychology of facing a lower-rated opponent who is playing really well. This is often highly frustrating for tournament players. Many times, however, it's more about your own mindset than your opponent's abilities. Conversely, this episode will explain the "ratings walk" phenomenon when facing a higher-rated opponent. Have…

1
Ep. 58: Gambit Openings, Students Cheating During Lessons, Bishop & Knight Mate, Sandbagging, Time Controls, Improvement & More feat. NM Nick Panico 1:35:28

1y ago1:35:28

1:35:28

This week I spoke with National Master Nick Panico. Nick is a fellow educator with a background in science and has also been active as a storm chaser. Nick shared his vast experience from the amateur chess scene and our conversation went in a lot of interesting directions. Some of our talking points include the following: Tips for improvers The ama…

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Ep. 57 (S4 Premiere): GM Alex Lenderman on Adult Improvement, Chess Cheating & More 58:16

1y ago58:16

58:16

To kick off Season 4, Neal spoke with Grandmaster Alex Lenderman. Alex resides in Brooklyn, NY where he was a member of the famous chess team at Edward R. Murrrow HS that won multiple national high school titles. This was depicted in the 2007 book The Kings of New York (retitled Game of Kings) by Michael Weinreb (Amazon). Alex was the winner of the…

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