logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2018
36m 42s

Why are Russians so good at Chess?

iHeartPodcasts and Kaleidoscope
About this episode

Will and Mango go deep into their chess cave to determine: what's the most dangerous styles of chess, why did the game move from the battlefield to the royal court, and if a billion people to play chess, can that stop an alien invasion?

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Jul 8
9 Bizarre Areas of Expertise
Have you ever met a pharologist? Neither have we, but we know Princess Anne is one—she’s a lighthouse expert! Also, apparently there are lighthouse experts! Today Will and Mango explore nine weird and wonderfully specific fields of study, from bell-ringing to bats to the end of t ... Show More
22m 45s
Jul 4
What's the Most American Place in the World?
We all know the American places in America (Cleveland is one). But where should a U.S. citizen go to feel at home abroad? Will and Mango visit a wee America in Brazil (?!), tour the territories, and look for the Kentucky in Japan’s KFCs. Featuring our pal and Snack Stack author D ... Show More
40m 20s
Jul 1
Debunking Muscle Myths with Casey Johnston!
Should men and women work out differently? Are rest days really necessary? And how did a group of 19th century German gymnastics enthusiasts transform America? Casey Johnston, author of the She’s a Beast newsletter and the new book A Physical Education, stops by to share some fit ... Show More
29m 9s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2023
Chess Cheater
From a young age, Hans Niemann knows he loves chess and wants to face off against his hero, Magnus Carlsen. Hans grows into a brash and intense player who makes questionable moves during online chess tournaments, but he doesn’t want that to define him. When he finally gets the op ... Show More
42m 45s
Jan 2021
Chess Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura on Twitch Streaming and “The Queen's Gambit”
We're in a rare moment where chess is popular in the United States. There are two big factors driving it. One is the smash hit Netflix show "The Queen's Gambit." The other is the rise of Twitch streaming, as gamers play online for thousands of fans. On this episode, we speak with ... Show More
47m 18s
Apr 2024
How The Team Behind Chess.com Turned A $55,000 Domain Into A $100 Million Annual Revenue Business
Today’s podcast is with Erik Allebest, the co-founder and CEO of Chess.com. We discuss the growth of chess, how much the world’s best players make, the future of chess as a spectator sport, the qualities that set the best chess players apart, chess in virtual reality, building co ... Show More
33m 54s
Jan 2023
The Bad Boy of Chess
Magnus Carlsen, the greatest chess player in the world, accused 19-year-old Hans Niemann of cheating. Why? Because Niemann beat him twice. Carlsen and the chess world can't prove Niemann is cheating, but they're convinced he is. The accusations are tearing apart the chess world a ... Show More
24m 41s
Dec 2020
Beyond The Queen's Gambit with Chess.com's Danny Rensch
The Queen's Gambit on Netflix has reinvigorated the world's interested in chess. Or has it? Chess.com has been slowly but surely developing online chess into a vibrant and exciting community. Their innovative Chess.com/tv has folks playing and analyzing chess games like EPSN. Sco ... Show More
36m 41s
Feb 2022
Overcoming Psychological Barriers in Chess with IM Yuriy Krykun
003 Sure, chess is a game of logic.  But it’s also a game of emotions -  both on and off the board. Often, the negative emotions that join us on our chess journey can get the best of us. This episode is designed to help you reduce their harmful impact on your game and enjoyment o ... Show More
42m 24s
Feb 2024
Memory in Chess
On today’s show, we are joined by our co-host, Becky Hansis-O’Neil. Becky is a Ph.D. student at the University of Missouri, St Louis, where she studies bumblebees and tarantulas to understand their learning and cognitive work.   She joins us to discuss the paper: Perception in Ch ... Show More
48m 39s
Jun 2021
ELI5 Chess - why is the queen the most powerful piece?
Is chess a sport? Why is it so popular? How did it become a global game? Why is the queen the most powerful piece on the board? When playing with a computer on low difficulty, how does it know how to play a not so great move? Do men and women play in separate tournaments?   ... W ... Show More
9m 29s
Nov 2022
Episode 248: Checkmate, Grasshopper
In this podcast we examine a recent argument for the view that chess is not, in fact, a game. We discuss the Grasshopper’s claim that all games must have a prelusory goal, as well as Skepticus’ objection to the giant Grasshopper concerning chess. We then turn to a broader analysi ... Show More
1h 23m
Oct 2022
Worst Cheating Scandal EVER!
Chess streamers Alexandra and Andrea Botez join the Banter boys to give their thoughts on the biggest chess cheating controversy ever. What are their opinions on the chess world drama, content creators boxing, and how to blow up on YouTube? Hear it all on this episode of BANTER. ... Show More
54m 6s