That's An Amazing Cash Grab - Women's Chess Special

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

We are not our normal mirthful selves this week because we have more serious things to discuss. Is it appropriate for FIDE to associate themselves with a breast implant company, and what does the association say about FIDE's attitude to women's chess in general?

Published 1 year ago

To Have That Much Power

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

This week Jon is yawny, Chris is croaky, and Phil is full of football. The guys also discuss opening choices for amateurs, Nona Gaprindashvili's lawsuit against Netflix, and tributes for deceased chess players.

Published 1 year ago

Some Sort Of Feudal King - with special guest Robin Sarfas

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

Phil is absent and everything falls apart without him. Sort of. Chris and Jon are joined by previous Adult Improvement guest Robin Sarfas to cover the return of real-life, over-the-board amateur chess in the UK!

Published 1 year ago

Someone's Talking About Geoff Club

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

This week Chris is surrounded by applause, Jon has the silly question blues, and Phil tells an unbroadcastable joke. Chris also reveals how his FIDE Trainer exam went, and Vladimir Savon's life is examined.

Published 1 year ago

Plumbed the Depths of Worms

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

This week Jon brings back the Gregorian chanting first heard in Episode 5, Phil parades his knowledge of Thomas the Tank Engine, and Chris celebrates Mr Philidor.

Published 1 year ago

Quite Like Getting Dressed Up

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

This week the boys discuss monkeys at the North Pole, chess dynasties, and pay tribute to Evgeny Sveshnikov. May also contain a special guest for the quiz...

Published 1 year ago

Brimful of Gad and Asher

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

The gang's back together as the discussions this week include chess neologisms, psychotropic drugs, and... yep... cheating.

Published 1 year ago

My Table's A Bit Rickety - with special guest IM Lorin D'Costa

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

Chris and Phil are joined by International Master Lorin D\Costa, who is well placed as founder of She Plays To Win and captain of the England Women's Team to discuss the current and future state of girls' chess.

Published 1 year ago

A Hammock in a Volvo

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

Fresh from football almost coming home, the guys are here for a twilight recording. Phil gets boisterous, Jon gets sleepy, and Chris celebrates underwhelming headlines.

Published 1 year ago

Bring Down The Feudal System

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

England are doing well at football, so the boys decide to bring chess home instead. They also set up a Lonely Hearts Chess Agency and celebrate Ulf Andersson.

Published 1 year ago

Trend On An Upward Path

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

This week Phil gets sociable, Jon invokes 55 years of hurt, and Chris resorts to verse.

Published 1 year ago

Never Too Early To Resign - Tournament Guide special

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

This week the special treat comes right at the end. But along the way Phil, Chris and Jon give an impassioned introduction to chess tournament play. Many people who learned during lockdown will soon be playing their first serious games and the boys would like to help!

Published 1 year ago

Confidence was a Huge Factor - Adult Improvement special with FM Rhys Cumming

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

In 2015, at age 21, Rhys Cumming was rated 2115 but gained only 40 points over the next three years. He has since reached 2360, gained the FM title and his first IM norm. Rhys's approach to chess improvement is very much his own but is equally applicable to anyone looking to make serious strides.

Published 1 year ago

You Can't Have Fake Rooks

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

A late night recording sees the guys go full rabbit hole as topics as diverse as clay court tennis players, chess pieces eating themselves, and the logistics of hybrid chess tournaments get attacked.

Published 1 year ago

X-Rayed in a Local Hospital

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

The boys are back with their latest witterings, including but not limited to the 1978 World Chess Championship, distracting one's opponent, and centrist dads.

Published 1 year ago

Our Monthly Quota Of Singing

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

This week we ponder how successful a 3-1-0 scoring system would be in chess tournaments, celebrate Cuban footballers not being recognised, and wonder how much room there is in the chess world for commercial interests.

Published 1 year ago