Chess improvement as an adult is harder than it should be. Plus, the journey can sometimes feel too stressful and serious. This show aims to fix that by 1) interviewing experts who can offer clarity on the best ways to improve; and 2) giving you a heap of fun with “chess entertainment” shows that discuss chess culture, events, movies, etc. Most episodes feature a guest, but sometimes I'll do a solo show on a topic. This is all brought to you by me, Daniel Lona. I’m a dedicated chess amateur and the owner of Adult Chess Academy. After listening to this podcast, I want you to have a clearer idea of how to improve, and have a more fun, dynamic chess experience. Please follow the show so you don’t miss an episode!

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GM Arturs Neiksans: From Late-Blooming GM Who Reached 2600+ to a Premier Coach & Course Creator

April 01, 2025 1:05:40 12.06 MB ( 35.25 MB less) Downloads: 0

121 Latvian GM Arturs Neiksans earned his Grandmaster title relatively late. At age 28. But that didn’t stop him from becoming a force in the chess world.Not only did he climb to an impressive 2631 FIDE rating…But even outside of competition, Arturs developed a dynamic career as a coach to top youths, a premier Chessable course creator, and a YouTuber with awesome chess content.In our interview, we discuss:How he helped promising young talent become GMs while working as head coach at the historic Riga Chess School.His approach to making even his most robust opening courses accessible to club players.Why he likes to play provocative openings like the Dutch and Scandinavian to take opponents out of their comfort zone.Building a YouTube channel with popular bootcamps and reviews of classic games.Does a club player need to worry about which Silician makes the most sense to play at their level?More From Arturs:Chessable CoursesYouTube ChannelTwitterFacebookHow You Can Support the Pod:Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick here to join the Patreon for The Chess Experience.Or you can…>>Support this pod by grabbing a chess.com membership which will help you improve your chess & defeat your enemies. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)

Bishops, Bullet, and Bobby Fischer: Daniel Lona Interviewed By Omar Mills, Part II

March 25, 2025 0:53:51 9.75 MB ( 29.05 MB less) Downloads: 0

120 Daniel Lona is interviewed by guest host Omar Mills, fellow club player, in the second part of a special episode celebrating The Chess Experience podcast's third anniversary.Three years ago, Daniel Lona launched The Chess Experience with a simple yet unique mission: to create chess content by and for adult improvers - a rare thing in the chess world at that time. In this episode, he discusses:What makes chess "real"? Is a 3-minute blitz game fundamentally the same as a 5-hour classical battle?Finding a balance between growing chess through Esports vs preserving traditional formats.Daniel’s #1 chess wish (and all of his answers to the rapid-fire questions he asks his guests.)PLUS: Get a chance to win Omar Mills' new Chessable course (with full video) this week: "Chess Destiny: Lessons from an Adult Improver and His Coach.”Get info on how to enter to win by following Daniel Lona on Twitter.How You Can Support the Pod:Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick here to join the Patreon for The Chess Experience.Or you can…>>Support this pod by grabbing a chess.com membership which will help you improve your chess & defeat your enemies. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)

Schedule Update: Sick Delay, Part II of Anniversary Interview, & GM Arturs Neiksans

March 20, 2025 0:00:43 0.54 MB Downloads: 0

A quick schedule update. Alas, no episode this week due to being very sick :( But we'll return on Tues, March 25th with the second part of me being interviewed by Omar Mills for the 3rd anniversary of this show. Then on April 1st, I'll have GM Arturs Neiksans as a guest! Finally, I do these quick updates so that you never wonder "Hey, what happened to the show?" Lol. See you soon. And thank you for your patience.

Behind the Mic: Daniel Lona Interviewed By Omar Mills on 3 Years of The Chess Experience - Part I

March 11, 2025 0:55:05 39.69 MB Downloads: 0

119 Daniel Lona celebrates the third anniversary of hosting The Chess Experience by sitting in the guest chair, interviewed by previous guest and adult club player Omar Mills.Three years ago, Daniel Lona launched The Chess Experience with a simple yet unique mission: to create chess content by and for adult improvers - a rare thing in the chess world at that time.Now, with over 100 episodes and countless insights from his guests shared, Daniel talks about the journey, philosophy, and future of his podcast.In this episode, he discusses:Why the podcast has had a goal of 50% women guests since Day 1. The uniqueness of a club player as a host, bringing questions that resonate with amateur players but rarely get asked in chess media. Daniel’s top four dream guests for the show. Plans to expand the podcast into a YouTube channel to grow the show and create exciting, new content formats.Submit a comment for Daniel on something you’ve enjoyed about this podcast. He may read it in the next episode (or a future one!):Website contact formTwitter DMInstagram DMFollow Omar on TwitterHow You Can Support the Pod:Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick here to join the Patreon for The Chess Experience.Or you can…>>Support this pod by grabbing a chess.com membership which will help you improve your chess & defeat your enemies. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)

GM Susan Polgar: A Chess Legend on How She Broke Barriers & Elevated the Game

March 04, 2025 0:59:43 43.03 MB Downloads: 0

118 GM Susan Polgar is a once-in-a-lifetime talent. She became the first-ever woman to earn the GM title by rating and norms. By age 15, she became the highest-rated female chess player on the planet.In 1996, she became the Women’s World Champion and the first-ever player to earn the Triple Crown: holding the world title in all formats: blitz, rapid, and classical.Not only that…But she did so against relentless obstacles from sexist chess federations who did not want a woman to succeed the way she did.In this episode, we discuss her many competitive achievements, her unique upbringing in Hungary with her father and sisters, and why it led to their success.We also cover Susan’s incredible influence on the game in her post-competitive chess career.For decades, Susan has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of professional chess in America, and to grow the game for women and girls throughout the world.We discuss all this through the topics raised in her new and thrilling autobiography, Rebel Queen.More From Susan:Susan's new book, Rebel Queen.Susan’s websiteTwitterInstagramFacebookHow You Can Support the Pod:Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick here to join the Patreon for The Chess Experience.Or you can…>>Support this pod by grabbing a chess.com membership which will help you improve your chess & defeat your enemies. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)

Updates: Susan Polgar, Submit Qs for Her, Video Pod Episodes

February 25, 2025 0:02:13 1.63 MB Downloads: 0

News updates for this week: 1) GM Susan Polgar is coming to the show very soon! 2) You can submit a question for Susan by joining my Patreon membership (deadline to submit Q is 2/27 at 1pm CT.) 3) Because I’m prepping so much for that interview, there won't be a show this week. 4) Videos of my pod interviews will be coming soon on my new YouTube channel. See you all soon!

How to Build Attacking Intuition w/ WGM Thalia Cervantes Landeiro

February 19, 2025 1:09:57 50.4 MB Downloads: 0

117 Hailing from Cuba, and now one of the top American women players, WGM Thalia Cervantes is a chess powerhouse. For the past four years, she’s been invited to and played at the elite US Women’s Chess Championship.And her competitive pursuits are nowhere near finished. Thalia is working diligently with a coach to earn her IM title, with one norm already achieved.She’s also just released her first Chessable course, called, “Building an Attacking Intuition in Chess,” a subject we explore at length in the second half of the episode.We also discuss:How a club player can develop an attacking intuition through pattern recognition.Thalia’s thoughts on her performance at the 2024 US Women’s Chess Championship (and how she prepares for these events.)The highlights of her early years in the thriving Cuban chess culture and the importance of Capablanca.Her plans post-college and what goes into earning the IM title.More From Thalia:Chessable Course: Building an Attacking Intuition in ChessInstagramHow You Can Support the Pod:Join this show’s Patreon called “Podcast Perks” and get benefits like: Submitting questions to guestsA shout-out of your name on the podVote on future topics/guests Exclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showDM me any month for a brief chat on chess or episodesClick here to join the Patreon for The Chess Experience.Or you can…>>Support this pod by grabbing a chess.com membership which will help you improve your chess & defeat your enemies. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)

GM Boris Avrukh: How to Play Better Defense, Coaching Fabi, & Playing Against Tal

February 11, 2025 1:03:44 45.92 MB Downloads: 0

116 What a chess career! GM Boris Avrukh cracked the World Top 50 in 2005  and achieved a peak rating of 2668. He has coached the world’s best players like Fabiano Caruana, Vladimir Kramnik, and Wesley So. And he even got to be the last person to ever play the legendary Mikhail Tal.Of course, Boris has had an exemplary competitive career representing Israel in six chess Olympiads and winning the World U12 Championship in 1990.In addition to years of coaching the world’s best and club players alike, Boris has also written countless opening books and published five Chessable courses.Boris and I talk at length about his course called “Resourceful Chess: Defense & Counterplay,” which will give you some excellent advice on how to play better defense.We also discuss:Why it’s important to recognize key defensive patterns.His experience coaching Fabiano Caruana.Why Boris choose to highlight Hans Niemann for defensive play in his course (and whether he did so knowing he’d be controversial.)More From GM Boris AvrukhChessable CoursesWebsiteYouTubeTwitterHow You Can Support the Pod:Join this show’s Patreon, called “Podcast Perks,” and get a ton of benefits like: submitting questions to guests, a shout-out of your name on the pod, a DM convo w/ me each month about chess or latest episodes, and more! Join Podcast Perks here.Or you can…>>Support this pod by grabbing a chess.com membership which will help you improve your chess & defeat your enemies. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)

Nigerian Star Uses Chess to Improve Others’ Lives & Her Own w/ WFM Perpetual Ogbiyoyo

February 04, 2025 0:39:20 28.41 MB Downloads: 0

115 She learned the game at 19. The next year she became a titled player with an 1800+ FIDE rating. Then, several years later, WFM Perpetual Ogbiyoyo founds an organization to spread chess to girls and women throughout Nigeria.  Now, she’s expanded her connection to the chess world by moving to New York City. In this episode, we talk about her incredible journey, including: How she rose from complete beginner to Woman FIDE Master in one year.A window into the culture and community of chess in Nigeria.Why she created the organization Promoting Queens and its mission to empower girls everywhere through chess.Her aspiration to become the first Nigerian woman Grandmaster.How You Can Support the Pod:You can greatly help this pod with a “pizza slice” donation. Much time and expense goes into creating this show. And, I’d be very grateful if you could support this endeavor which aims to give you the best in chess interviews. Leave a brief note with your donation and I’ll respond personally to you. Donate here.Or you can…>>Support this pod by grabbing a chess.com membership which will help you improve your chess & defeat your enemies. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)More From WFM Perpetual OgbiyoyoPromoting Queens websiteTwitter

Adult Improver Pod: Nicholas Sloan - A 400+ Rating Rise in 2 Years (& Chasing the NM Title)

January 28, 2025 1:02:48 45.27 MB Downloads: 0

114 Leaping 400 rating points in classical, rated chess as an adult in just two years? That requires a huge effort and rare dedication. Two qualities that describe well this week’s guest, fellow adult club player, Nicholas Sloan. Specifically, in a relatively brief period, Nick went from 1400 USCF to 1849 USCF.And it’s all part of his plan to earn the National Master title - something that he wants to prove is possible for us adults.But exciting progress doesn’t come easy. Nick advocates consistency, discipline, and a willingness to face your chess weakness.In this episode, we discuss:The top 3 reasons Nick was able to make such massive and fast progress in his USCF rating.Why he doesn’t believe “one size fits all” training programs are that effective.Why he has preferred self-guided learning to studying under a coach.More From Nick:YouTube ChannelSubstack NewsletterBlueskyTwitterInstagramHow You Can Support this Podcast:Support this pod by signing up for my Patreon called, “Podcast Perks.” Get exclusive voting on guests, a shout-out of your name on the pod, a DM convo w/ me each month about chess or episodes, and more!Or you can…>>Support this pod by grabbing a chess.com membership which will help you improve your chess & defeat your enemies. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)

113 GM Josh Friedel - Common Middlegame Mistakes & Coaching Insights

January 21, 2025 0:51:28 37.12 MB Downloads: 0

113 Rarely do grandmasters focus on helping club players and beginners. But when they do it’s rare and exciting. Their extra skill and understanding of the game deliver insights that even other titled players may not possess. That’s what GM Josh Friedel offers as a course creator and coach. And it can be heard throughout this interview.Of course, Josh has had an impressive chess career. Competitively, he tied for 6th place at the US Chess Championship in 2009 and competed at the World Cup.He has passed along this hard-earned chess knowledge for decades by coaching club players.And for nearly as long, he’s been creating courses, most recently for Chessable on common mistakes in the opening and middlegame.In this episode, we chat:Common middle-game mistakes and how to avoid them.Josh’s unique qualities as a coach that separate him from the pack.Why is it so difficult to convert a won position - and how to get better at it.GIVEAWAY: To win Josh’s Chessable course on avoiding middlegame mistakes, follow Daniel Lona on Twitter for details and updates (for the week of 1/21/25 only.)More From Josh:Chessable coursesTwitterYouTubeHow You Can Support the Pod:Patreon: Support this pod by signing up for my Patreon called, “Podcast Perks.” Get exclusive voting on guests, a shout-out of your name on the pod, a DM convo w/ me each month about chess or episodes, and more!Or you can…>>Support this pod by grabbing a chess.com membership which will help you improve your chess & defeat your enemies. A small portion will fund this pod - and every bit helps! Just click this link.>> Neither? How about checking out Daniel's chess.com profile? Witness his countless, embarrassing blitz losses. He even accepts some friend requests. (Ad)

Adult Improver Pod: Sydney Strauss - Moving to NYC to Chase Her Chess Dreams

January 14, 2025 1:00:52 43.92 MB Downloads: 0

112 Would you move to a new city for chess? Few have that level of commitment to the game. But our guest this week did exactly that. Adult improver Sydney Strauss moved to New York City this past year to pursue her relatively new passion for chess.After learning the game just two years ago, she fell in love with it and began studying and playing every day.  The following year, Sydney knew she wanted to take her pursuit to the next level and be fully immersed in chess through clubs, tournaments, and friends.New York City, with its venerated Marshall Chess Club and thriving chess scene, provided her with that experience.In a brief time, Sydney has now reached an inspiring FIDE rating of 1581.This episode explores her story, why chess has impacted her life so greatly, and what her future ambitions may be within the game.Plus: will she get a chess tattoo? Connect with Sydney Strauss:TwitterInstagramTwitchBushwick Chess Club IG----NEW! I've launched a Patreon for the show called, "Podcast Perks." Get the following:A monthly DM with me about anything chess-related or the podcastA shout-out of your name thanking you on a future episodeConnect to the pod's community through episode discussions w/ me & other listenersExclusive voting on future guests, topics, and direction of the showMore!Click here to join the Patreon for The Chess Experience!---->>Support the podcast by upgrading your Chess.com membership - just click this link and choose any of the options.<<

WIM Svitlana Demchenko - Insights on Imbalances and Her Dynamic Chess Life

January 08, 2025 0:42:11 30.46 MB Downloads: 0

111 She does it all. WIM Svitlana Demchenko is a course creator, coach, streamer, and high-level chess competitor. Born in Ukraine and a long-time Canadian citizen, Svitlana proved herself early in chess, becoming a five-time Canadian girls champion. In more recent years, she’s competed in the Chess Olympiad three times as part of the Canadian women’s team.She’s also published several fantastic opening and strategy courses for ChessBase. And, each week, she streams chess on Twitch.Finally, rounding out her chess activities, is a regular video show called Smart Moves, where Svitlana coaches an amateur player. In the process, she focuses on key topics that’ll help any club player improve their chess.In this episode, we discuss: The undervalued topic of imbalances in chess and why club players should probably spend more time on this concept.How Svitlana juggles her pursuit of a medical career and a robust chess life.Her chase for the WGM title. Her thoughts on the World Championship event and Gukesh as the new champ.------NEW! I've just launched a Patreon membership for the show called, "Podcast Perks." Get the following:A monthly DM with me about anything chess-related or the podcastExclusive voting on future guests, topics, and direction of the showA shout-out of your name thanking you on a future episodeConnect to the pod's community through episode discussions with me and other listenersExclusive behind-the-scenes updates about the showSupport the show's ongoing production of new episodesClick here to join the Podcast Perks patreon for The Chess Experience!----------------------More From Svitlana:Courses on ChessbaseSmartMoves YouTube PlaylistTwitchTwitterInstagram

WGM Maria Gevorgyan - 5x-Armenian National Champion & Chess Coach

December 18, 2024 0:43:16 31.24 MB Downloads: 0

110 Today’s guest is the inspiring and talented WGM Maria Gevorgyan. Few have managed to become a national chess champion, let alone do it five times. But Maria has! In addition to becoming the women’s chess champion of Armenia multiple times…Maria is now taking all that she’s learned from her competitive career and helping her students as a chess coach.These days, she is the head coach at the Abu Dhabi Chess Academy for women and girls.In this interview, we discuss:Is blitz a helpful tool for improvement or just a fun way to play the game?How an accidental illegal move by Maria was missed at the tournament where she earned her the WGM title!The #1 book recommendation that Maria believes every club player should read. More From Maria:TwitterInstagramCoaching with Maria (DM her about lessons)Book recommendation: My System by Aaron Nimzowitch >> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com<< (PROMOTION)

Schedule Update for December '24

December 04, 2024 0:01:21 1.04 MB Downloads: 0

A quick update on this month's (12/24) release schedule. The holidays make it a little more difficult to schedule guests, so I'll be only releasing two episodes this month. The next will be on Tuesday, December 17th. The other will be on the 31st. But if you'd like to hear me share a little more detail (and a fun teaser at the end) play the 90-second update :)  We'll be back to the normal, weekly episodes starting the first week of January. Thank you SO much for your support of the podcast!