Thickness of a Cigarette Paper

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

The guys are still on a high from their first studio outing since March 2020 so please forgive the higher quality of chat than usual this week. The Belgrade Grand Prix is nearing its conclusion and we also set a rating metric which is superior to Elo.

Published 1 year ago

Being Suspended from the Ceiling

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

We have a completely new combination of humans this week as Chris, Phil & Robin get together to solve all the world's problems. Shining brightly from the gloom we discuss the futility of an easy win, the Belgrade Grand Prix, and topless panellists.

Published 1 year ago

The Law of Large Numbers - Young Talents special

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

Chris Russell, formerly of this parish, is back! He joins Phil for a look at their parallel chess careers from age 7 onwards within the English junior infrastructure and beyond. What went right? What went wrong?

Published 1 year ago

Advice on How to Dress

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

The guys sound croaky this week. But it’s February, what do you expect? We go through our mailbag from two weeks ago, cover the ongoing Grand Prix, and Robin updates us on his over-the-board exploits.

Published 1 year ago

What's Your Favourite Western Intervention?

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

How can a world governing body claim to support women when its track record and people with contemporary influence don't? Once again we ask how chess has embarrassed itself this week, and we do a preview of the upcoming Grand Prix series.

Published 1 year ago

Peanut Butter and Banoffee Cheesecake

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

This week we largely discuss the mask and default controversy at the ongoing Tata Steel Masters in Wijk aan Zee. In addition, Phil is full of Beatles trivia, Robin is full of war, and Jon is full of decrepitude.

Published 1 year ago

The Svidler on the Roof

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

We're a bit more free-flowing this week as we invoke all manner of allegories to continue our chess training methods episode from last week. Also includes a feature on the ongoing Tata Steel Masters at Wijk aan Zee.

Published 1 year ago

64: A Chess Podcast

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

The boys pay a return visit to David Vizgan after the home leg, to discuss chess media, sport metaphors, and whether improvement is every really worth it.

Published 1 year ago

Unknown Tomb of Queen Nefertiti

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

This episode is specifically about chess training methods. And Wem, Shropshire. Okay, mainly about training methods. Hear the guys discuss the various technologies available, and how you can make your existing regime more efficient and effective.

Published 1 year ago

It Was An Open Goal

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

The guys are back with a brand new series in a brand new format in a brand new year! The new format will be launched in earnest next week but for now, have a review of 2021 in chess, and a small preview of 2022.

Published 1 year ago

World Rapid & Blitz Recap - Blitz Day Two

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

It's our final show of 2021! Thank you for all your support, particularly through our World Championships coverage over the last six weeks. We conclude with a review of the World Blitz which ended yesterday.

Published 1 year ago

World Rapid & Blitz Recap - Blitz Day One

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

Levon Aronian leads on 10/12 going into Day Two of the World Blitz, but there are host of big names including Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura trailing in his wake. Can they catch him?

Published 1 year ago

World Rapid & Blitz Recap - Rapid Day Three

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

The chess world has a new star in the shape of 17-year-old Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Find out how he won the World Rapid and how Phil and Jon felt the event went as a whole.

Published 1 year ago

World Rapid & Blitz Recap - Rapid Day Two

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

Magnus Carlsen is half a point clear going into the final day of the World Rapid but, as you'd expect, he has a host of top names on his tail. Phil and Robin round up Day Two from Warsaw and also respond to Maxime Vachier-Lagrave's complaints about the event.

Published 1 year ago

A Distinct Lack of Brits - World Rapid & Blitz preview special

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

Just like with the World Chess Championship, the guys will be doing daily recaps of all the World Rapid & Blitz action in Poland from 26-30 December. For now they provide a history of the Championships, assess the leading contenders, and make some dodgy predictions!

Published 1 year ago

World Chess Championship Recap - Game Eleven

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

It's all over! We congratulate Magnus Carlsen on his fifth World Championship victory and ask what's next for him. We also put his legacy into an historical context and wonder how likely it is that Nepomniachtchi can recover to challenge Carlsen again in 2023.

Published 1 year ago