The Chess Pit

A second consecutive draw, but again not one without intrigue. Phil and Jon also ask whether chess coverage is negatively affected by referral to engines' opinions of heavily-nuanced positions.

The World Chess Championship has begun in Dubai! Join Jon and Phil for the first of many daily game recaps.

It's here! No fluff this week as we do The Big Chess Pit World Chess Championship Preview Podcast with Phil, Robin & Jon. Find out what's occurring in Dubai over the next three weeks.

This week Phil is guarding against scurvy, but still gets his metro rail system opinions trashed by Jon and Robin. We also round up the FIDE Grand Swiss and do a preview of next week's World Chess Championship, er... preview.

This week the guys discuss talent vs hard work in chess and other sports, the aesthetic of autumn, and the quiz gets all scientific!

This week Phil is spotty, Jon is fishy, and Robin is masonic. Among other things we preview the FIDE Grand Swiss, and also assess the first artefacts offered to Robin's Organic Bobbin Store!

Robin Sarfas joins Jon and Phil as a regular panellist this week, and heartily joins in the nonsense. We cover the current state of chess within the pandemic context, including the FIDE Grand Swiss and the recent British Championship. And we introduce Robin's Organic Bobbins Store!

The lads get somewhat philosophical this week in the context of adult chess improvement, and Chris reveals just how inspired he is by dishwasher repair folk.

More of the usual this week as our decidedly croaky triumvirate deal in spoonerisms, sportswashing and Stephens.

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?

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.

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!

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.

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.

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...