A quick update on why the show has been MIA for three weeks (spoiler: COVID.) And when I'll resume...

0100 She’s rated one of Italy’s top female players and has coached adult improvers for years. And she is this show’s first Italian guest! WIM Tea Guecci has had an impressive chess career. She broke records by age twelve, becoming the youngest ever to win the Italian Women’s Chess Championship.

She’s also played and represented her country in two Chess Olympiads.

Recently, she launched her first Chessable course called, “My Secret Sveshnikov: The Sicilian by a Sicilian.”

NOTE: To win the full video version of Tea’s course for free, follow me on Twitter for instructions on the giveaway Chessable & I will be doing between 8/14 and 8/19.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The most common mistakes her adult improvers students make (and how to avoid them.)
• How well can you really learn from reviewing games on your own versus with a coach?
• What factors to consider in choosing which Sicilian to play.

More From Tea:

• Chessable Course: My Secret Sveshikov: The Sicilian by a Sicilian
• Twitch
• Twitter
• Instagram

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099 She’s been awarded “Chess Coach of the Month” by Chess.com. Plus, she has a master’s degree in psychology. Meet WFM Fruzsina Szente-Varga! Hailing from Hungary, Fruzsina has spent the past several years coaching adult club players and beginners.

Additionally, she regularly creates excellent chess content through her Twitch & YouTube channels.

In this interview, we discuss:

• How she uses her master’s degree in psychology to help her students.
• Common mistakes she sees club players making in their improvement journey (and strategies to avoid them.)
• How to set expectations for an OTB tournament so that you don’t get frustrated or disappointed if the event doesn’t go your way.
• Why she dislikes when coaches scold their students for mistakes and how it’s harmful to their development as chess players.

More From Fruzsina:

• Twitch
• Lichess Coaching Page
• Chess.com Blog
• YouTube
• Twitter
• Instagram

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098 Adult club players are a fast-growing part of the chess community. But this growth is relatively new. And the community may not have fully caught up to our sizeable presence. So, in a first for this podcast, I’ve brought in two guests to help me discuss this subject and propose some ideas to make the community more engaging for us adult amateurs.

Kamryn Hellman is an adult improver who rose to 2000 Chess.com Rapid in less than a year. Since then, she’s launched a YouTube channel and created a Chessable course for beginners.

Omar Mills is a super-dedicated and inspiring club player who’s built a large chess Twitter following.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The need for more adults-only OTB tournaments.
• The exciting opportunity for more online, adult amateur events a la Pogchamps (Omar suggests “Survivor: Chess Edition!”)
• Whether chess media should feature notable achievements or stories of adult club players.

Kamryn:

• Chessable Course: 50 Essential Chess Concepts
• YouTube
• Twitch
• Twitter

Omar:

• Twitter

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097 Playing against 1.d4 can be awkward. Many club players say they’re less sure of what to do positionally and have more difficulty finding tactical possibilities. Even the most popular, and arguably best, opening responses like the Slav or the Queen’s Gambit Declined can leave club players unsatisfied.

Why is that?

And are there any openings that can at least ease this challenge?

My guest, IM Mateusz Kolosowski, is here to help.

He brings a decade of coaching experience to bear on this subject. And, he’s recently created a course on an opening that works well to ease these problems: the Albin Countergambit.

But what we discuss is far more than the details of a single opening.

In our chat, we also cover why club players inherently struggle with 1.d4 positions and openings. Which reveals some interesting insights.

Hopefully, this episode is both therapeutic regarding 1.d4 woes...and helpful for you!

More From Mat:

• Albin Countergambit Course
• Chessable Courses

>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com<< (PROMOTION)

096 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 directly! In this episode, I ask your thoughts on two different questions.

Please send me your thoughts to either of those questions at either of the links below.

Message me on my website contact page.

DM me on Twitter.

Not only will it help to get your feedback, but I’ll also respond to you within a couple of days. Thank you!

095 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 for White that have been released on Chessable, and why it may be worth learning to play 1.e4 and 1.d4.

More From Alex:

• Weekly Newsletter
• Chessable Courses
• Twitter
• Website & Blog

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094 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 our chat, Kaja shares how they helped move chess into era with greater reach and relatability.

We also discuss:

• Hilarious stories Kaja shares from her interviews with Hikaru, Magnus, and Ivanchuk.
• How Kaja went from covering sports to focusing exclusively on chess - even as someone who originally knew very little about the game.
• A behind-the-scenes look at how the now-famous Chess24 broadcast team was assembled with Kaja, David, and Jovanaka.

More From Kaja:

• Twitter
• Instagram

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