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The Chess Angle

Long Island Chess Club
Chess
Chess Improvement
Long Island Chess Club
Online Chess
Chess Ratings
Amateur Chess
Chess Tournaments
Chess.com
Chess Tactics
Psychology Of Chess
London System
Time Management
Endgames
Chess Psychology
Chess Openings
Online Chess Cheating
Over-the-Board Tournaments
Higher-Rated Opponents
Tournament Play
Tactics

The Chess Angle is the official podcast of the renowned Long Island Chess Club in NY. We discuss chess, tournament play, and improvement at the amateur and club level. Featured guests include titled players and dedicated amateurs. New episodes drop on Sundays. Web: www.thechessangle.com. Twitter (X): www.twitter.com/TheChessAngle. Email: info@thechessangle.com. Thank you for listening and we hope ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes192Founded5 years ago
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Artwork for The Chess Angle

Latest Episodes

In this midseason finale episode, Neal talks with Long Island Chess Club regular Steve Rosenblatt for a wide-ranging conversation on adult chess improvement. The two debate whether YouTube videos or Chessable courses are more effective for gaining ra... more

Most adult chess players are not held back primarily by calculation or opening knowledge. They are held back by ego: the need to look smart, play "real chess," attack beautifully, avoid embarrassment, prove their strength, or force results. The parad... more

This week, we revisit The Amateur's Mind by IM Jeremy Silman, this time through the Chessable edition. We've long argued this is the most important book for adult improvers, not because it hands you lines to memorize, but because it rewires how you t... more

Most adult players default to playing more games when they want to improve, but that instinct is often backwards. In this episode, we argue that structured study is the real driver of progress for club players, and explain why playing alone tends to ... more

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Recent Guests

Steve Rosenblatt
CEO of a recruiting firm and strong club player, guest on the episode
Unknown (Long Island Chess Club connection)
Episode: Ep. 191 (Midseason Finale): Is YouTube Actually Better For Adult Chess Improvement Than Chessable? feat. Steve Rosenblatt
Tim Morabile
National Master playing in the club's tournament; first guest on the show
National Master, Long Island Chess Club
Episode: Ep. 188: Why Study Beats Play for Chess Improvement
Austin Olson
Fellow Long Islander and chess club member who plays online
Long Island Chess Club
Episode: Ep. 174: Lichess vs. Chess.com, and the Busy Adult Club Player (Online Chess Cleanup Plan, Part 3, feat. Austin Olson)
Anthony Arena
Data analyst and member of the Long Island Chess Club
Long Island Chess Club
Episode: Ep. 163: Adult Chess Improvement & Content Creation From a Gen-Z Perspective feat. Anthony Arena
Tim Mirabile
National Master, active tournament player, and chess educator.
Long Island Chess Club
Episode: Ep. 151: You Have 8 Years to Improve, Then It's Game Over: A Discussion & Debate About Adult Chess Improvement feat. NM Tim Mirabile
Andy Ansel
National Master and game archivist
Episode: Ep. 145: Correspondence Chess Success feat. NM Andy Ansel
James Nidds
Retired from Verizon and a regular at the Long Island Chess Club
Long Island Chess Club
Episode: Ep. 127: Chess Study Plans & Formulas, the Club-Level Thought Process, Tournament Strategy & More feat. James Nidds
Nick Panico
National Master and chess contributor
Episode: Ep. 112: Chess Tournament Savvy, Playing Amid Distractions, Prepping for OTB Play & More feat. NM Nick Panico (Chess Coffee Talk #4)
Michael Rahal
International Master and professional trilingual chess coach
Freelance chess coach
Episode: Ep. 110: IM Michael Rahal on the Challenges of Adult Chess Improvement & More

Host

Neal Bellon
Host of The Chess Angle; Director of the Long Island Chess Club; engages in practical improvement topics and club life.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 959 ratings
  • Great start

    I learned the rules of chess 60 years ago but never learned more until I started learning chess from this podcast. I enjoy the interviews with the higher level players and learned essential skills as well as simply enjoying the game.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dr 3
    United States24 days ago
  • EPISODE 186

    I had to rewind to the part when your guest said he just went to the memorial of a chess master Jonathan Hawkins author of the book Amateur to IM who died in his early 40’s. You just went right into the Netflix series without even an inquiry. That was a little cold man. Great show as mostly always.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cocodojo
    United States2 months ago
  • Amazing

    Really useful and interesting Im a new ish player and play just for fun keep up the good work!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HenryG98
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Fall Season

    It’s been sweater weather since September with a few warmer days. Every year it gets cold by mid November in NYC. Perfect for chess indoors!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cocodojo
    United States7 months ago
  • This podcast is awesome!

    Great!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    David Huoen Wu
    China7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Valuable for adult improvers; actionable and well-produced.
Engaging host with practical, no-nonsense chess tips.
Strong mix of solo topics and guest interviews keeps it fresh.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#157
United States/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#97
United Kingdom/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#125
Canada/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#62
Italy/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#143
France/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#216
Australia/Leisure/Hobbies

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep. 177 (S11 Premiere): Your 2026 Chess Improvement Blueprint (Busy Adult Edition)
Q: What can I do to avoid making ego-based moves in chess?
Try not to think too much on your opponent's time, as it can lead to bias. Count to a few seconds to clear your head and only think about general plans during their time.
Ep. 177 (S11 Premiere): Your 2026 Chess Improvement Blueprint (Busy Adult Edition)
Q: Is it illegal to write your thoughts down during a rated chess game?
You absolutely cannot do that. Taking notes during a rated event is not allowed.
Ep. 177 (S11 Premiere): Your 2026 Chess Improvement Blueprint (Busy Adult Edition)
Q: When assessing bishops in a position, how do you determine if they are good or bad?
A good bishop has scope due to being outside of the pawn chain, while a bad bishop is blocked by your own pawns and can't move freely.
Ep. 177 (S11 Premiere): Your 2026 Chess Improvement Blueprint (Busy Adult Edition)
Q: What tips do you have to improve visualization?
You can use Lee Chess puzzles, particularly focusing on different motifs like Hanging Pieces.
Ep. 177 (S11 Premiere): Your 2026 Chess Improvement Blueprint (Busy Adult Edition)
Q: What are your thoughts on the rampant cheating on chess.com?
In theory, having players use their real names verified by government ID might sound good, but practically it could create friction for users and is unlikely to be adopted.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Chess Angle

What is The Chess Angle about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, club-focused chess show that blends interviews with titled players and in-depth solo guidance aimed at adult improvers and casual players. Episodes frequently explore study methods, mindset, and realistic improvement paths, balancing online tools with over-the-board play, and managing life commitments while pursuing steady progress. Noteworthy is the emphasis on actionable tactics, endgames, and process-oriented goals, plus candid discussions about issues like online cheating and platform changes. The format often includes listener questions and club-life anecdotes, making it especially helpful for active players juggling work, family, and chess aspirations.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Chess Angle?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Chess Angle. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Chess Angle and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Chess Angle get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Chess Angle?

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How many subscribers and views does The Chess Angle have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Chess Angle has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Chess Angle?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Chess Angle:

1. Perpetual Chess Podcast
2. Dojo Talks: A Chess Podcast
3. C-Squared Podcast
4. Chess Journeys: Tales of Adult Improvement
5. NextLevelChess

How many episodes of The Chess Angle are there?

The Chess Angle launched 5 years ago and published 192 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Chess Angle?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Chess Angle?

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What guests have appeared on The Chess Angle?

Recent guests on The Chess Angle include:

1. Steve Rosenblatt
2. Tim Morabile
3. Austin Olson
4. Anthony Arena
5. Tim Mirabile
6. Andy Ansel
7. James Nidds
8. Nick Panico

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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