The Chess Pit

Twitter Facebook Twitch YouTube Website Phil is joined by WIM Natasha Regan and Matt Ball, co-authors of 'Zwischenzug!', a new course on Chessable. Find out how much looking at the little in-between bits has been inspired by other games, and how much it's inspired them in their own chess. Natasha on twitter Matt on twitter

Twitter Facebook Twitch YouTube Website Phil is joined by England performance coach, snooker fan, and token Frenchman Benji Portheault to round off our series on the 2023 World Chess Championship. Please also see below for details of Benji's new mindfulness series for tournament players: Isabelle Choko Benji's new course

Twitter Facebook Twitch YouTube Website Phil and Robin offer a brief summary of the latest two games of Ding Liren vs Ian Nepomniachtchi, and then go into detail of the context this World Championship can be placed in, and what it means for chess going forward.

Twitter Facebook Twitch YouTube Website This time Phil and Robin are joined by Dan Gallagher to dissect the middle tranche of games in the 2023 World Chess Championship. How exciting has it been, gang! Dan's twitter is @BishopPair.

Twitter Facebook Twitch YouTube Website Phil and Robin are back to give you their thoughts on Games 1-4 of the 2023 World Chess Championship between Ian Nepomiachtchi and Ding Liren. Come back next week for Games 5-9!

Twitter Facebook Twitch YouTube Website Our late-night recordings are often tired and always somewhat beligerent. This one is no different! We pay tribute to Mike Basman, espouse the delights of Chess 960, and argue whether dragons exist.

Twitter Facebook Twitch YouTube Website The guys are back with more of the usual. The usual, in this case, being everything BC (Before Cheating). So expect a smattering of chess alongside a helping of romance, nostalgia, geography and etiquette.

Twitter Facebook Twitch YouTube Website Phil and Robin add to the dodgy chess journalism going round at the moment by giving an update to The Drama/The Beef/THAT. We promise we'll talk about something else soon but for now, here you go.

Twitter Facebook Twitch YouTube Website For the brand new Season 4, Jon and Phil are joined by new semi-regular panellist Rhys Cumming to discuss the Carlsen-Niemann furore, what it says about the modern game, and why chess seemingly always seems to eat itself.

Twitter Facebook Twitch YouTube Website Well, then. Magnus Carlsen has confirmed that he won't be retaining his World Championship crown in 2023. Phil and Robin round up the Candidates in the knowledge that the top two now qualify for a title match, and ask what Magnus's abdication means for chess.

Twitter Facebook Twitch YouTube Website Jon and Robin are joined by Dan Gallagher to review Rounds 7-9 of the Candidates in Madrid, where everything appears to be falling into place for Ian Nepomniachtchi to repeat. You can find Dan's twitter here!

Twitter Facebook Twitch YouTube Website Phil and Robin are fresh from Round 1 of the Pimlico Open as the world takes a breather from the Candidates. Hear what all three guys think of Rounds 4-6 as we approach the halfway stage. Can Nepo do it again?

Twitter Facebook Twitch YouTube Website Hear what Jon, Phil & Robin made of the first three days of the Candidates in Madrid, with particular focus on Hikaru Nakamura who's certainly helping worldwide popcorn sales.

Twitter Facebook Twitch YouTube Website Our candidates preview special is live! We give in-depth assessments of each player's chances, as well as wondering whether the extreme heat in Madrid will have an effect.

This week, Jon and Robin spend a lot of time talking about age, Jon moving back to London and Robin's ongoing travails at the board. Twitter Facebook Twitch YouTube Website

Twitter Facebook Twitch YouTube Website This week Robin and Phil quite simply want you to join a (good) chess club! Hear about their own experiences and follow their advice of what to look out for, and what to avoid.

Twitter Facebook Twitch YouTube Website This week the guys discuss how they could tutor a child in the ways of chess righteousness, while also offering adults tips on their first serious tournament games. A full lifespan in one episode! Also includes curry etiquette. You lucky people. Here's part two of Martin Justesen's chess boom substack we talk about: https://saychess.substack.com/p/is-the-chess-twitch-boom-over-looking?s=r

Twitter Facebook Twitch YouTube Website This week the guys plumb new depths of dorkery while wondering whether the chess boom is diminishing. Silly questions are back, and the Rookbusters clues might be somewhat familiar... Here's the article by Martin Justesen that we discuss.

Twitter Facebook Twitch YouTube Website This week Robin is a reasonably-established adult, while Phil and Jon are both nervous about football. We discuss the Candidates qualification process, being accused of being elitist, and the demographics of our listenership.

Twitter Facebook Twitch YouTube Website 0:00 Intro 3:40 Phil has a quiz 5:01 Online chess as a gateway drug 14:11 Robin played a tournament 22:15 Mandatory women's/girls' boards in national league teams 34:37 Phil has quiz answers This week Robin has seven friends, Jon misses composing crosswords, and Phil seemingly casts aspersions on great mathematicians. The guys ponder encouraging female participation from the bottom up, and declare themselves to be far too busy for online chess.