The Chess Pit

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...

Chris and Phil are joined by our webmaster, Michael Meadows, for a romp through cuttlefish, bad chess websites, and theology. Jon also makes a pleasing guest appearance.

The gang's back together as the discussions this week include chess neologisms, psychotropic drugs, and... yep... cheating.

This week Jon and Phil are joined by London club player Benji Portheault, who happily mucks in with the regular nonsense, but also brings news of a recent visit to a legendary French player.

Chris and Phil are joined by International Master Lorin D'Costa, who is well placed as founder of She Plays To Win and captain of the England Women's Team to discuss the current and future state of girls' chess.

Jon and Phil are joined by Jenny Long, who is bursting with chess and was one of the organisers of the ChessFest satellite event in Liverpool.