The Chess Angle

Long Island Chess Club

The Chess Angle is the official podcast of the renowned Long Island Chess Club in NY. We discuss chess, tournament play, and improvement at the amateur and club level. New episodes drop on Sundays. Web: www.thechessangle.com. Twitter (X): www.twitter.com/TheChessAngle. Email: info@thechessangle.com. Thank you for listening and we hope you win your next game! read less

Our Editor's Take

The Chess Angle is not a typical podcast for enthusiasts of the game. It offers guidance for people who consider themselves amateur players. It helps them feel immersed in the language and culture of chess. The podcast also seeks to help those who compete in tournaments and play in high-rated games. The content is for busy adults who are serious about chess but have limited study time.

The host of The Chess Angle is an experienced tournament director with an evident passion for the game. Neal Bellon is a music teacher at Berner Middle School in Massapequa, New York. He is also a long-time fan of chess and an avid player. He founded the Long Island Chess Club in 2007, which hosts weekly matches. It began with only a dozen players. In 2023, the club had about 40 regular participants.

On his podcast, Bellon has solo episodes where he provides practical and concise tips. In one installment, he talks about thematic amateur mistakes. Those missteps are common to most hobbyists, and Bellon explains how to avoid them. In another episode, he discusses how some chess players use mind games to beat their opponents. Bellon also talks about the psychological aspect of the game and different openings. Another way that Bellon helps listeners to improve is by analyzing matches. He dissects an amateur game to demonstrate the different strategies.

Often, Bellon invites other players to join him on the podcast. Sometimes, they have a casual conversation about their love of the game and the history of clubs. On other occasions, they discuss their journey into the sport and what they do to improve their game.

The Chess Angle provides accessible recommendations for any level of player. It is usually helpful for people with a 2000 USCF rating and below. However, experts can also learn tricks and hacks from interviews with professionals.

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Episodes

Ep. 87: David MacEnulty, Renowned Chess Coach Portrayed in the 2005 Film "Knights of the South Bronx," on Teaching, Learning, Improving, Tournament Skills, Cheating, & More
Nov 5 2023
Ep. 87: David MacEnulty, Renowned Chess Coach Portrayed in the 2005 Film "Knights of the South Bronx," on Teaching, Learning, Improving, Tournament Skills, Cheating, & More
David MacEnulty is a legendary chess coach best known for his work with disadvantaged children at Community Elementary School #70 in the South Bronx in New York City. He took them from beginning players to national scholastic champions, an astonishing feat. David was portrayed by famed actor Ted Danson in the 2005 TV-film Knights of the South Bronx which details his experience at CES #70. In this episode, David shares his remarkable story, including some wild cheating incidents his students encountered. He also provides some insight on teaching, learning, developing a "warrior mentality," preparation, and much more. Be on the lookout for David's upcoming book (release date TBD) entitled "Sunrise in the Bronx" where he recounts his experience at CES #70 in vivid detail. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 03:50 - Bruce Pandolfini & Teaching 05:00 - Teaching at CES #70 06:33 - David's Background 17:55 - Guiding Principles 31:10 - Cheating Incidents 43:19 - Knights of the South Bronx film 48:45 - Outro   πŸ“š Referenced: Knights of the South Bronx (YouTube full film) Knights of the South Bronx (DVD) My System (Nimzovitch) 1000 Best Short Games of Chess (Chernev) Complete Chess Strategy (Pachman) How Not to Play Chess (Znosko-Borovsky) Oceana (Ted Danson) β™ŸLinks for David MacEnulty: Amazon Author PageCBS News FeatureThink Like a King 🎯 Support the Show:  Patreon Buy Me a Coffee πŸ“§ If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. πŸ”— Our links: WebsiteTwitter (X)YouTube