Ep. 199 (S11 Finale): You're Doing Chess Puzzles All Wrong

This game is a good reminder that the London is not always a quiet opening. At the amateur level, tactical opportunities come up all the time, and recognizing them can make a big difference in your results. 🎯 Our Links:  YouTube Website X Buy Me a Coffee Email: [email protected]

In this video I explore a tricky question: Is 10+0 actually one of the most challenging time controls in online chess? It starts like rapid, but without an increment it often turns into a frantic blitz finish. In this game, I held my own in the position but eventually got into time pressure — a good reminder that in 10+0, clock management is often just as important as the moves themselves. 🎯 Our Links:  YouTube Website X Buy Me a Coffee Email: [email protected]

In this first 10+0 Amateur Run, I play the Sicilian, an opening that I'm still learning. I was able to rely more on general opening principles than memorized theory. Busy adult amateurs don't need to memorize a ton of obscure lines they'll never see in practice. Understanding development, king safety, central control, piece activity, and the general plans can often get you through most openings just fine. 🎯 Our Links:  YouTube Website X Buy Me a Coffee Email: [email protected]

In this video, I play three 5+0 blitz games followed by an analysis of each. The main focus is on the difference between playing the French and playing the Sicilian — two defenses that lead to very different kinds of positions and decisions. For busy adult amateurs, the question isn't just which opening is "best," but which type of game fits your style, comfort level, and available study time. This episode is sponsored by Chessbook, an online chess training platform that helps players build, organize, and remember their opening repertoires through personalized training. 🎯 Our Links:  YouTube Website X Buy Me a Coffee Email: [email protected]

In this first 5+0 Amateur Run, I play three blitz games and then review the key moments afterward. We'll look at the advantages, the drawbacks, and what changes when there's no increment to bail you out in time trouble. Errata: While recording, I accidentally forgot to analyze the third game because I was still used to the two-game format from the 5+3 Amateur Run. The omission was simply an oversight. 🎯 Our Links:  YouTube Website X Buy Me a Coffee Email: [email protected]

Here, we look at an important London System question: when (and on which side) should you actually castle? For busy adult amateurs, the key is to avoid playing opening moves automatically and instead understand when castling improves your position, and when waiting can give you more flexibility. 🎯 Our Links:  YouTube Website X Buy Me a Coffee Email: [email protected]

In this game, I use a practical Nimzo-Indian setup that avoids a lot of heavy main-line theory while still giving Black an active position. It's a great option for busy adult club players who want a sound opening without spending hours memorizing variations. 🎯 Our Links:  YouTube Website X Buy Me a Coffee Email: [email protected]

This video features two 5+3 games with very different challenges. After a quick London System game, the second turns into a lesson in managing serious time pressure, with less than 30 seconds on my clock while my opponent still has more than three minutes. We'll look at practical ways busy adult amateurs can simplify decisions, manage the clock, and continue playing good chess when time is running out. 🎯 Our Links:  YouTube Website X Buy Me a Coffee Email: [email protected] 

The London System can become dangerous quickly if Black allows a comfortable kingside attack. In this video, we look at practical ways to defend accurately, create counterplay, and keep the position under control. 🎯 Our Links:  YouTube Website X Buy Me a Coffee Email: [email protected] 

Introducing our 5+3 Amateur Run series: Fast enough to create pressure, slow enough to still play real chess (mostly😂). In this video, I play one game with the French Defense and another with the London System - two openings that work extremely well together as a simple, practical repertoire. For busy adult amateurs, the goal isn't to memorize endless opening theory, but to reach playable positions you understand and spend more of your limited study time on the parts of chess that matter most. 🎯 Our Links:  YouTube Website X Buy Me a Coffee Email: [email protected]