Best TheOnoZone Podcasts (2024)

1
Ben Johnson (solo pod): Synthesizing the Key Lessons About Chess Role Models from Season 3's Guests 10:08

7M ago10:08

10:08

The final episode of Season 3 of How to Chess is a rare solo pod, where Ben succinctly summarizes the key lessons about chess role models that were imparted by the How to Chess guests. As Ben notes, the guests have highlighted role models ranging from elite players to local players to renowned endgame specialists, and luckily we don't need to choos…

1
WIM Luciana Morales on Learning from Queens of the Chess Board 22:08

7M ago22:08

22:08

Luciana Morales is a Peruvian Woman International Master with a resume full of impressive accomplishements! She has won the Pan-American Youth Championship no less than 3 times. She also won the Zonal Tournament 2.4 in São Paulo. The win qualified her for the 2004 Women's World Championship, making her the first Peruvian player to do so. And when s…

1
IM Alex Astaneh on How His Coach Accidentally Taught him Board Visualization Skills 45:30

8M ago45:30

45:30

Alex Astaneh is an Irish International Master, chess coach, and author. Astaneh's chess journey began at a young age, and he quickly found success on the Irish chess circuit. At the age of 11, he represented Ireland at the World Youth Championships, which got him hooked on the game. His successes continued, having won the Irish Championship on thre…

1
GM Jorden van Foreest on What Kasparov's Books Taught him about Attacking...and the Tarrasch Defense 17:42

8M ago17:42

17:42

Jorden van Foreest is a well accomplished Grandmaster from the Netherlands. Some of the highlights of his career includes winning the Dutch Championship in 2016, winning the prestigious Tata Steel Chess Tournament in 2021, and serving as Magnus Carlsen's second in the 2021 World Championship. But what does he have to say about role models in chess?…

1
#8 Fionn O’Donovan: Non-Titled Chess Coaches + Social Learning 1:17:23

8M ago1:17:23

1:17:23

Ono (⁠⁠⁠@TheOnoZone⁠⁠⁠) talks to Fionn O'Donovan who was his first chess coach and inspired Ono to start coaching Adult Improvers as well. Fionn is the founder of the #chesspunks tactics group, has a PhD in Philosophy and works as a professional tutor. On this episode: (01:53) What does Fionn love most about chess? (05:07) How Ono met Fionn (07:32)…

1
NM Laura Smith on Her Chess Role Models 19:05

8M ago19:05

19:05

Laura Smith is an American chess teacher and educator. She began learning the game at the fairly young age of 5, taught by her father. By the time she was 6, she was already enrolled in chess classes. Her accomplishments include becoming the highest-rated 13-year-old, male or female, in the US in 2002. She competed in the US Women's Chess Champions…

1
TheOnoZone on His Endgame Role Models 16:41

8M ago16:41

16:41

Ono is an Adult Improver, chess blogger, chess podcaster and chess coach. Some say he is obsessed with chess. But, what does he have to say about role models in chess? Mastering Endgame Strategy: https://www.chessable.com/mastering-e... Arkell's Endings: https://www.chessable.com/arkells-end... Ono's socials: https://www.theonozone.com/ Youtube: h …

1
#7 NM Ben Johnson: Perpetual Chess Improvement 57:37

8M ago57:37

57:37

Ono (⁠⁠⁠@TheOnoZone⁠⁠⁠) talks to NM Ben Johnson about the Adult Improver endeavour of perpetual chess improvement against the backdrop of a busy adult life. Ben is the host of the legendary Perpetual Chess Podcast, creator of the weekly Perpetual Chess Linkfest + the author of the recently published book Perpetual Chess Improvement, among other thi…

1
IM Alex Banzea on What he Learned from One of Romania's All-Time Greats 20:02

9M ago20:02

20:02

Alex Banzea is a Romanian International Master, growing Twitch streamer, YouTuber, chess coach, and acclaimed Chessable author. Since early age, Alex has received coaching of the highest level: Grandmaster Constantin Lupulescu, one of the most accomplished Romanian players ever. What does Alex has to say about role models in chess? The Caro-Kann: S…

1
IM Yuriy Krykun on the Importance of FInding Local Chess Role Models 20:34

9M ago20:34

20:34

International Master Yuriy Krykun is a chess player, coach, and author. This rising star of the chess world has shined so bright that he’s gotten attention from beginners and grandmasters alike. But, what does he has to say about role models in chess? IM Yuriy Krykun's author page: https://www.chessable.com/author/Yuri... Black is Back: Old Benoni:…

1
#6 Ono + Yara: Being Married to a Chess Player (with Ono's wife) 1:08:03

9M ago1:08:03

1:08:03

Ono (⁠⁠⁠@TheOnoZone⁠⁠⁠) talks to Yara about being married to an Adult Improver as a non-chess player. Yara is Ono's wife and they share life, parenthood and a chess business (TheOnoZone) together. Yara + Ono talk about their experiences with chess in their family, as well as general emotion regulation, shame and community in chess. On this episode:…

1
GM Ivan Sokolov on Coaching and Mentoring and What he Learned from Other Chess Legends 39:30

9M ago39:30

39:30

Ben Johnson talks role models in chess with gold-winning player/trainer/coach, GM Ivan Sokolov. Ivan Sokolov is a Grandmaster, author, coach, and formerly one of the top-ranked chess players in the world. Sokolov was the coach and captain of the gold-winning Uzbek team in the 2022 Olympiad. GM Ivan Sokolov's author page: https://www.chessable.com/a…

1
Teaser- How to Chess Season 3 Starts Friday! 1:15

9M ago1:15

1:15

Just a quick announcement that Season 3 is finally here! The topic of this season is chess role models.By Ben Johnson

1
#5 Sara Herman: Chess Content Creation, Chess Tournaments + Rating Anxiety 1:01:38

9M ago1:01:38

1:01:38

Ono (⁠⁠⁠@TheOnoZone⁠⁠⁠) talks to Sara Herman (@ZefCatt) about Chess Content Creation, Chess Tournaments + Rating Anxiety, and more. Sara is a chess streamer + YouTuber as well as a chess tournament veteran. On this episode:(01:42) What Sara loves most about chess (03:06) Struggles of being a content creator (06:16) Is chess Sara’s job? (07:31) Sara…

1
#4 Julia Rios: Chess Psychology, Chess Culture + Why Losing Hurts 47:28

10M ago47:28

47:28

Ono (⁠⁠⁠@TheOnoZone⁠⁠⁠) talks to Julia Rios of the chessfeels podcast about Chess Psychology, Chess Culture + Why Losing Hurts (so much), and more.On this episode:(01:18) What Julia loves most about chess(03:50) What Ono loves most about chess(04:32) How your psyche influences your chess(07:36) Julia’s chess style + personality(10:26) Chessfeels on…

1
#3 Ché Martin: Blind Chess, Visualisation + Overcoming Ego 1:06:53

10M ago1:06:53

1:06:53

Ono (⁠⁠@TheOnoZone⁠⁠) talks to his friend + student Ché Martin about playing chess when you're blind, blindfold chess, visualisation exercises + overcoming your ego for chess improvement. Ché is an Emmy award winning Visual Effects artist who went blind in adulthood and has a unique perspective on chess improvement. In this episode: (01:23) Why Ché…

1
#2 Ono: Online to OTB 42:57

11M ago42:57

42:57

Ono (⁠@TheOnoZone⁠) talks to himself about his first experiences with OTB after only playing chess online + encourages other Adult Improvers to join their local chess club. In this episode: [2:10] My first experience of OTB with GM Anish Giri + GM Jorden van Foreest [7:32] How dealing with the 3D pieces affected my play + what I'm doing to improve …

1
#1 Chris Callahan: Women in Chess, Chess Journalism + Lichess Behind-The-Scenes 53:15

11M ago53:15

53:15

In this first-ever episode of Ono Another Chess Podcast, Ono (@TheOnoZone) interviews Lichess community manager: Chris Callahan. In this episode: [1:21] What Chris loves about the game of chess + what drew him to chess [5:48] How to speak up about women being abused in chess if you're not a woman [12:33] Why it's bad for the chess world if women le…

1
CM Vjekoslav Nemec- How to Improve Your Speed Chess Game 22:40

2y ago22:40

22:40

CM Vjekoslav "Vjeko" Nemec is a Chessable Author, a chess blogger and journalist, and a fierce blitz player with ratings over 2600 on both Lichess and Chess.com. In our conversation, Vjeko shares some tips for improving your blitz game, but also discusses the dark side of a love for blitz, as it can be addicting and sometimes causes him to wonder i…

1
GM Johan Hellsten- How to Analyze Your Own Chess Games 15:36

2y ago15:36

15:36

This week's guest on How to Chess is Chessable author and renowned trainer GM Johan Hellsten. He joins the podcast this week to share some tips about how to analyze one's one chess games. Johan touches on how to utilize engines, and the different types of mistakes he sees in his students games. Johan's landmark Mastering Chess books/ Chessable seri…

1
NM Bryan Tillis- How to Remember Opening Sequences 18:46

2y ago18:46

18:46

NM Bryan Tillis is a popular Chessable Author, an accredited FIDE trainer, and the founder of the Florida based chess academy, Palm Beach Chess. In our conversation, Bryan shares some practical tips to help adult chess players remember their openings. Bryan discusses the concept of "memory markers" and shares a few other tips that can help us make …

1
GM Sahaj Grover- How to Approach Studying the Endgame 22:21

2y ago22:21

22:21

GM Sahaj Grover is an Indian born, South Africa based chess trainer and Chessable Author. He amassed many youth titles, and was the 2017 and 2018 South African Open Champion. Sahaj is also the co-author (with FM Daniel Barrish) of Timeless Technique: Strategic Endgames, a great practical guide to endgames for intermediate and advanced players. In o…

1
Omar Mills- Lessons Learned from My First OTB Chess Tournament 34:57

2y ago34:57

34:57

Omar Mills is a Florida based Product Manager at Disney parks by day, and a recently converted chess die-hard by night. As a follow up to Neal Bruce’s suggestions before one’s first chess tournament (in Episode 4), I thought it would be fun to hear from a player after he had played his first tournament. Omar has quickly built a loyal Twitter follow…

1
Cognitive Scientist and USCF Master Dr. Christopher Chabris on the Importance of Having "Chess Culture" 21:15

2y ago21:15

21:15

Dr. Christopher Chabris is a renowned cognitive scientist and the best-selling co-author of the book The Invisible Gorilla. In this conversation, Chris discusses what it means to have "chess culture" and how one can go about acquiring it. Check out Dr. Chabris' website here: http://www.chabris.com/ In addition to the books we discussed, here are a …

1
Adult Improver Andrew Webb on the Key Lessons he Learned from his Chess Coaches 20:29

2y ago20:29

20:29

Andrew Webb works in Product Management for a software company and is also a "chess dad" and a dedicated chess amateur who has managed to gain about 250 FIDE points in his 40s. Andrew credits a lot of his success to lessons he learned from working with his coaches, NM Dan Heisman and GM Nigel Davies, and in this conversation he shares a few of thos…

1
NM Han Schut on Getting to the Root Cause of Your Chess Mistakes 18:49

2y ago18:49

18:49

USCF National Master, Chess Steps trainer, and Chessable Author Han Schut on how to learn from your chess mistakes. Links: Han Schut's Chessable Courses: https://www.chessable.com/author/HanSchut/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pmax_17331070731&utm_content=&gclid=CjwKCAjwoMSWBhAdEiwAVJ2ndl04_FPMT5YzkK45f63EsAkp4ppCSFKDMrBi1_CBjthMlkY…

1
How to Chess Season 2 is coming soon! 1:27

2y ago1:27

1:27

I briefly discuss the pending return of How to Chess !! :)By Ben Johnson

1
HowToChess 21- FM Dalton Perrine on Common Calculation Mistakes and How to Improve Your Defensive Skills 25:40

3y ago25:40

25:40

Chessable author and Founder of Next Level Coaching, FM Dalton Perrine joins the pod to discuss an oft-neglected aspect of chess thinking- how to defend against tactics. Check out his Chessable course in the link below: https://www.chessable.com/survive-thrive-how-to-blunder-less-and-defend-better/course/80629/ Follow Dalton on Twitter here: https:…

1
HowToChess 20- IM Kostya Kavutskiy on How to Learn from Endgame Compositions 17:47

3y ago17:47

17:47

Popular Author, Trainer, and Founding Member of the ChessDojo, Kostya Kavutskiy stops by to discuss his excellent new Chessable course, Endgame Studies 101. Check out ChessDojo's YouTube here Follow IM Kostya Kavutskiy's Twitter hereBy Ben Johnson

1
Bonus Vignette- GM Vladimir Kramnik on his first win against a GM 3:20

3y ago3:20

3:20

In his own words, GM Vladimir Kramnik answers the trivia question from How to Chess Episode 19 about the first time he beat a GM in a simul.By Ben Johnson

1
HowToChess 19 - GM Vladimir Kramnik on Questions to Ask Yourself When Its Your Move 23:12

3y ago23:12

23:12

Legendary former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik stops by to discuss 3 things to think about when its your move in a chess game. As GM Kramnik details in his Chessable course, Thinking in Chess, A How to Guide, it can be useful to use the following framework when its your move... Look for tactics (can i win material?) Is there a threat? (are pieces…

1
How to Chess 18- FM Peter Giannatos on How to Adapt Your Game when Playing Against Kids 23:46

3y ago23:46

23:46

FM Peter Giannatos is the Founder and Executive Director of the Charlotte Chess Center and Scholastic Academy (CCCSA), and an accomplished chess teacher and improver. Follow the CCCSA on Twitter here Twitch here Info on the Corporate Chess League here. Perpetual Chess Podcast Episode 241 with FM Peter Giannatos here Follow Ben Johnson on Twitter he…

1
How To Chess 17- IM Lawrence Trent Shares the Best Chess Advice He Has Gotten 27:32

3y ago27:32

27:32

IM Lawrence Trent shares some memorable advice that has been imparted to him from his GM friends, plus gives an update on his GM title chase and his rivalry with IM Greg Shahade. Ben Johnson https://twitter.com/Bennyficial1 Lawrence Trent https://twitter.com/LawrenceTrentIM Greg Shahade https://twitter.com/GregShahade/status/1430546789065658377 If …

1
How To Chess 16- How to Prep During a Tournament with WIM Jesse February 14:31

3y ago14:31

14:31

WIM Jesse February shares some great advice on how to analyze games, prepare and manage your energy during a tournament. Make sure to drop Jesse a follow on Twitch and keep in touch via her socials: Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/jesse_feb Twitter - https://twitter.com/jesse_feb?lang=en Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jesse_feb/?hl=en…

1
How To Chess 15- How to Choose a Chess Coach with IM Yuriy Krykun 16:22

3y ago16:22

16:22

IM Yuriy Krykun shares some tips for choosing and working with a chess coach. Check out Yuriy's Chessable courses here: https://www.chessable.com/author/YuriyKrykun/By Ben Johnson

1
How To Chess 14- GM Peter Svidler on How to be a Good "Practical Player" 16:48

3y ago16:48

16:48

The 8 time Russian Champion, commentator and Chessable Author, GM Peter Svidler joins the show! Check out Peter's Chessable Course here- https://www.chessable.com/lifetime-repertoires-peter-svidlers-grunfeld-part-1/course/63116/ Follow Peter on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/polborta?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Follow …

1
How To Chess 13- How to Make an Award Winning Chessable Course 17:07

3y ago17:07

17:07

This week's guest, Alex Belsky (chessforlife on Chessable) is a Quantum Physics Ph.D. student, 2100 FIDE player, and prize winning Chessable course creator! Check out Alex Belsky's course of the year, The Best Chess Moves of All Time here: https://www.chessable.com/the-best-chess-moves-of-all-time/course/80952/ Free preview of the course here: http…

1
How To Chess 12- How to Improve Your Chess Away from the Board with Dr. Benjamin Portheault 14:54

3y ago14:54

14:54

This week's guest is Dr. Benjamin Portheault . Benji is a data scientist and performance coach who has worked with Super GMs to help them improve their performances. Benji shares some tips for ways we can improve our own games through better lifestyle and preparation habits. Follow Benji on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/benjiportheault?lang=en…

1
How to Chess 11- Lessons from a 2000 Day(!) Chessable Streak. Featuring Chessable Legend Christophe Thiéry 14:38

3y ago14:38

14:38

Christophe Thiéry is a programmer by day, and a chess loving Chessable Legend by night! Tune in to find out what he has learned from achieving a 2000 day Chessable streak! You can see Christoph's stalemate trick on move 53 of this game. Here is the link to the variation where he learned the pattern: https://www.chessable.com/variation/353838/ it is…

1
How to Chess 10- How to use Data to Help Your Chess Game with FM Nate Solon 13:53

3y ago13:53

13:53

Episode 10 - FM Nate Solon on How analytics and analysis can help your chess How to use analytics in your chess? What’s the difference between analytics and analysis? How can club players benefit from them? What chess tools help to collect data and analyze it? FIDE Master Nate Solon joins Ben to share some ideas on the subject. Nate is the Massachu…

1
How to Chess 09- How To Review Grandmaster Games with GM Davorin Kuljasevic 13:53

3y ago13:53

13:53

Visit howtochess.com and stay in touch with the show. Episodes every Thursday. Ben Johnson https://twitter.com/Bennyficial1 Davorin https://www.chessable.com/beyond-material/course/71438/ If you want to build your repertoire visit: www.chessable.com/free for hundreds of free starter repertoiresBy Ben Johnson

1
How to Chess 08- How to Return From a Chess Hiatus 13:24

3y ago13:24

13:24

Chess Twitch Streamer and Former British Girls Youth Champion, Cleomina, has returned to chess after a 14 year hiatus. She shares tips for how to retrain your chess brain and re-acclimate oneself to the chess world. Ben Johnson https://twitter.com/Bennyficial1 Cleomina https://twitter.com/cleominattv?lang=en Cleomina's Twitch Channel- https://t.co/…

1
How to Chess 07- How to Choose Your Opening Repertoire with IM Christof Sielecki 13:39

3y ago13:39

13:39

Episode 7 - IM Christof Sielecki on How to Choose your repertoire How to choose your opening repertoire? International Master and opening specialist Christof Sielecki races the clock to answer as many of Ben’s questions as possible in under 15 minutes. Christof is the mastermind behind the popular Chessexplained Twitch and YouTube channels, and a C…

1
How to Chess 06-How to Know When to Attack with the Ginger GM, Simon Williams 15:15

3y ago15:15

15:15

How to attack in chess? GM Simon Williams joins NM Ben Johnson to share his expert advice for a 15-minute masterclass. Simon is well-known in the chess world for his attacking style, and he’s the author of the hit Chessable course The art of attack in chess. https://www.chessable.com/the-art-of-attack-in-chess/course/24575/ When to attack and when …

1
How to Chess 05- The Right Way to Read Chess Books with IM Andras Toth 16:42

3y ago16:42

16:42

For this week's How to Chess we bring in a popular Chessable author to answer a crowdsourced question- IM Andras Toth shares tips for the proper way to read a chess book (or course!). He touches on what types of books are best for chess improvement, whether one should review the material, and even offers a few specific book recommendations. For mor…

1
How to Chess 04- What to Expect when Attending a Chess Tournament- with Adult Improver Neal Bruce 13:02

3y ago13:02

13:02

This week on How to Chess, we are joined by software startup executive and Adult Improver Extraordinaire, Neal Bruce. With so many chess enthusiasts trying out or returning to competitive tournament chess, it is great to get some advice from about things to keep in mind when competing in a chess tournament. Chess tournaments are a unique world, wit…

1
How to Chess 03- How To Get Past a Rating Plateau- with Adult Improver Braden Laughlin 13:12

3y ago13:12

13:12

Braden Laughlin brought his rating from 0 to 2200 in online blitz in less than 2 years - how did he do it? Ben sits down with Braden in this week’s episode of How To Chess to find out, and impart some advice on any player looking to increase their rating. Particular topics include breaking through plateaus, finding weak spots in your game to fix, a…

1
How to Chess 02- How To Choose An Opening with YouTuber Hanging Pawns 12:59

3y ago12:59

12:59

There are so many good chess openings out there, but how do you know which one is right for you? Ben asks opening expert and host of the HangingPawns channel Stjepan Tomic how to choose the right opening. Stjepan explains how to find an opening you like, how to go about studying openings, what openings you should avoid, and plenty of other useful a…

1
How to Chess 01- GM Eugene Perelshteyn on How to Limit Blunders in Chess 13:00

3y ago13:00

13:00

Episode 1 - How Not to Blunder in Chess In the inaugural episode, Ben sits down with renowned chess coach and author Eugene Perelshteyn to ask him the big question on every budding chess player’s mind: “How can I stop blundering?” Grandmaster Perelshteyn explains what causes players to blunder and offers practical advice on what you can do both dur…

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