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 3 years 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 3 years 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 3 years 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 3 years 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 3 years ago

Flick It Over The Top

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

This week we wonder which items of clothing should be thrown at professional chess players, consider how England's ageing Olympiad team can regenerate, and evoke 80s TV shows in the quiz.

Published 3 years ago

You're Tearing Me Apart, Policer

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

This week we celebrate chess variants, chess-themed burgers, and ask whether the pandemic will undermine the integrity of the FIDE rating system.

Published 3 years ago

About To Hit The Skids

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

The Candidates has resumed, so we give our initial impressions on Rounds 8-10. We also mark the brief distraction of the European Super League by discussing the Professional Chess Assocation and the twin World Chess Championships from 1993-2006.

Published 3 years ago

The World Of Ageing Sportsmen

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

This week we discuss which chess grandmaster has eight legs, which member of the world elite looks like Bob Ross, and celebrate longevity in all its forms.

Published 3 years ago

Everyone Wants To Be Chandler

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

The murky underworld of social media and British intelligence services get a hearty airing this week. We also ask for your opinions on chess servers, and want your chess five-a-side teams.

Published 3 years ago

As Noble As The Adversary

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

This week Jon hates mornings, Chris stretches the concept of a chess anniversary to its breaking point, and Phil offers some textual healing. May also contain long walks.

Published 3 years ago

Do Laps Around The Board

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

This week we mark International Women's Day by celebrating Koneru Humpy and Vera Menchik while bemoaning the lack of equivalent opportunities for contemporary British female chess players. Otherwise, Jon is svelte, Phil is triumphant, and Chris is silent.

Published 3 years ago

Hoover Up The amoebic Mass

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

This week Chris's dog is pining, Jon has a heavy visitor, and Phil has a problem with carbs. May also include actual white hot chess content.

Published 3 years ago

There is a General Optimism

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

This week the guys discuss the effect PogChamps might have on the future of chess, and try to inflict the world's largest roundabout on the Isle of Man.

Published 3 years ago

Play One Move Each Orbit

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

This week we ponder chess in a velodrome, celebrate South American Grandmasters, and ask whether the Dubai World Championship match is just another case of 'sportwashing'.

Published 3 years ago

He Could Be A Quarterback

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

The unholy trio of Chris, Jon & Phil are reunited for a waltz through the latest happenings in the chess world, but not before they've solved naming Chris's dog and the age-old question of how many elite players you can fit in a Mini.

Published 3 years ago