A Pirate Eating a Lemon

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

The guys are back together for the first time in a month and get straight down to it with the nonsense this week including Spanish restaurants and boring names for pets. We also build on our visit from the chessfeels podcast to pep Robin up for his tournament this week.

Published 2 years ago

Actors and not Professional Footballers

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

Jon and Phil are joined by chess analytics human and resident Frenchman Benji Portheault to discuss chess on film, snooker, and whether Phil's French Rookbusters are better than Robin's English ones.

Published 2 years ago

Men Clutching Their Plastic Bags - with special guest Jim Stevenson

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

This week, Phil is yanking around the US of A, Jon is hibernating during football's international break, but Robin in here in his cave to hold the fort. He's joined by his good pal Jim Stevenson to talk about Jim's new Chessable course on Alexander Tolush, a little-known (by Jon at any rate) Soviet grand master. Enjoy!

Published 2 years ago

You're Tuned Into Beefcake FM

The Chess Pit By The Chess Pit

This week Phil has been to the seaside, Robin has been in a moving van, and Jon has simply stayed at home. Hear the guys discuss the latest FIDE sanctions against Sergey Karjakin, the latest from the Grand Prix, and... what is the English Chess Capital of the World?

Published 2 years ago

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 2 years 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 2 years 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 2 years 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 2 years 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 2 years 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 2 years 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 2 years 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 2 years 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 2 years 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 2 years 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 2 years 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 2 years 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 2 years ago