The Chess Experience
Chess improvement as an adult is harder than it should be. Plus, the journey can sometimes feel too stressful and serious. This show aims to fix that by 1) interviewing experts who can offer clarity on the best ways to improve; and 2) giving you a heap of fun with “chess entertainment” shows that discuss chess culture, events, movies, etc. Most episodes feature a guest, but sometimes I'll do a solo show on a topic. This is all brought to you by me, Daniel Lona. I’m a dedicated chess amateur and the owner of Adult Chess Academy. After listening to this podcast, I want you to have a clearer idea of how to improve, and have a more fun, dynamic chess experience. Please follow the show so you don’t miss an episode!
The Chess Experience
Adult Improver Pod: Dr. Ryan Thomas - Revamping His Approach to Chess Study
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Daniel Lona
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Episode 103
103 Our guest is an inspiring adult improver, Dr. Ryan Thomas. Ryan is a surgeon, a cancer researcher, and a father of two. With all that, he’s still highly dedicated to chess improvement and his love of the game. Ryan regularly attends OTB classical tournaments, and his current USCF rating is 958 with a goal of 1200.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Ryan’s journey from casual high school player to avid tournament competitor later in life.
- How all chess players share common bonds regardless of their skill level.
- What Ryan did to solve the problems of information overload & inconsistent practice.
- The courses Ryan revisited to ensure he practiced chess fundamentals.
- The parallels between chess and medical training, and how each has informed the other in Ryan’s life.
Resources Referenced:
- FM Paul Giannotos: Everyone’s First Chess Workbook (Chessable)
- IM Andras Toth: Chess Principles Reloaded: Development (Chessable)
- GM Artur Yusopov: The Fundamentals 1: Build Up Your Chess (Chessable)
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