Category: Blog

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with Emily Plays Chess. Emily hasn’t been playing chess long, but she is all in! We talked about her improvement journey from discovering chess, streaming, tournaments, and resources. Emily discussed the challenges of balancing the learning opportunities with the stress of big tournaments. She also highlighted the social…

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with David. We talked a lot about his journey into chess and having fun with the game. We also discussed his first tournament and his recent success in tournaments. David talked about his transition into a more serious chess player and resources such as Silman, Naroditsky, and The…

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with NM Gopal Menon. He’s a coach, player, author, and openings guru. We discussed his journey playing chess as a child and beyond. He provided suggestions for improving one’s chess, which focuses on learning that you can apply. We wrapped up the episode with an examination of my…

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with Rob. He’s trying to juggle career, family, and chess improvement. We discussed his recent rapid success, reaching 1600, and where to go next. Rob has decided to focus on studying for a few months to outline a process that will help him improve more. He’s been focused…

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with Shaun. He’s an ICU nurse trying to juggle a demanding career with chess improvement. We discussed a wide range of topics such as his study plan, chess bootcamps, living in St. Louis and Charlotte, and chess anxiety. Most notable is Shaun’s emphasis on the positive aspects of…

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with Mike. He’s a newer chess improver that has made quite a bit of progress in a short time. He talked about the importance of tactics. Mike emphasized doing them despite not enjoying them. To him they are simply essential building blocks for a successful chess player. Mike…

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with Tony. He’s a busy family man and co-founder of the Chess Sharkz. In addition to constant streaming, Tony squeezes in tactics whenever possible. We discussed the claim that everyone under 2200 should be focusing on tactics, Tony’s career in chess, his move to Charlotte, and why he…

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with Deven. We talked about his journey into chess as an adult. He quickly rose to 1200, but got stuck there for a while. We discussed the challenges of finding a coach that works for you, and his approach to chess improvement. Deven credits much of his rise…

This week on Chess Journeys, friend of the show Jay Garrison hosted my recap of 2024. We examined the highs and lows of the year, including massive rating loss and winning the club championship (U1700). We discussed goals, study plans, and results. We also brainstormed new ideas for an adult chess tournament scene like the…

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with Dave. He’s 69 and recently gained 200 points in 2 months. We talked a lot about his journey in chess tournaments spanning 20 years. We discussed the role videos and playing games have in his improvement. Dave’s story is certainly an inspiring one, chess improvement can happen…