Back Rank Mates

In this week's episode, Brendan and guest host Cem vaguely mention that Cameron is somewhere far away. Then, they discuss draws in top-level chess. We promise it's more interesting than it sounds. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Enjoy a much more relaxed episode of Back Rank Mates this week as Brendan and Cameron catch up after Brendan returns from his chess tournament in Banff, Alberta! The Mates talk about scenery, getting the black pieces three times out of fives, new highest ratings, Brendan's panic attacks and the Great Canadian Chess Tour!If you'd like to get in touch with the Back Rank Mates you can email them at: backrankmates@gmail.com or send them a direct message on Instagram under the handle "Back Rank Mates". While you're there, be sure to leave comments on the most recent reel so Brendan and Cameron can become famous chess influencers.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backrankmates/?hl=en See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, Cameron and Brendan discuss the (many) things that make them bad chess players, while also discussing the best ways to get better at chess. The Back Rank Mates also debate how good someone can become at chess, and if it's possible to become a National Master, FIDE Master, International Master or Grandmaster when starting your chess journey later in life. If you'd like to get in touch with the Back Rank Mates you can email them at: backrankmates@gmail.com or send them a direct message on Instagram under the handle "Back Rank Mates". While you're there, be sure to leave comments on the most recent reel so Brendan and Cameron can become famous chess influencers.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backrankmates/?hl=en See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's episode, the Back Rank Mates share their thoughts on draws in chess. What is a draw? How can you draw? Did you know about the "50 move" rule? Cameron didn't. Brendan and Cameron also share some fond stories from tournaments in which draws took place. From match fixing to relying on your opponent's fatigue, they discuss it all!If you'd like to get in touch with the Back Rank Mates you can email them at: backrankmates@gmail.com or send them a direct message on Instagram under the handle "Back Rank Mates". While you're there, be sure to leave comments on the most recent reel so Brendan and Cameron can become famous chess influencers.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backrankmates/?hl=en See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's episode, Cameron and Brendan welcome their second guest: Cem.Cem is a new chess player who, like many, took inspiration from "The Queen's Gambit". With just eight months of chess playing experience, Cem has become the president of his college's chess club and embarked on the journey to become the best chess player he can be. He offers insight as a once ambitious and naïve chess player who now holds a more grounded understanding of chess development and improvement. The Back Rank Mates share their thoughts on what they think is the best way to develop as a chess player, including a heated debate that sees Cameron and Brendan's friendship come close to it's end.If you'd like to get in touch with the Back Rank Mates you can email them at: backrankmates@gmail.com or send them a direct message on Instagram under the handle "Back Rank Mates". While you're there, be sure to leave comments on the most recent reel so Brendan and Cameron can become famous chess influencers.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backrankmates/?hl=en See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Cameron and Brendan give you everything you need to know before participating in your first over the board tournament! The boys discuss what not to do, some rules that might not be made clear, transition from online chess to over the board, as well as what to expect (hint: not much).f you'd like to get in touch with the Back Rank Mates you can email them at: backrankmates@gmail.com or send them a direct message on Instagram under the handle "Back Rank Mates". While you're there, be sure to leave comments on the most recent reel so Brendan and Cameron can become famous chess influencers.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backrankmates/?hl=en See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's episode, Cameron and Brendan discuss their favorite chess variants, such as: Chess 960, CrazyHouse and BugHouse, among other unique games within chess! The pair also share their thoughts on the pros & cons that chess variants have on the development of chess players, the possibility of competitive tournaments for chess variants, and much, much more! If you'd like to get in touch with the Back Rank Mates you can email them at: backrankmates@gmail.com or send them a direct message on Instagram under the handle "Back Rank Mates". While you're there, be sure to leave comments on the most recent reel so Brendan and Cameron can become famous chess influencers.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backrankmates/?hl=en See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's episode, Brendan and Cameron discuss winning: something neither of them know much about but still manage to talk about for over 40 minutes. The two compare the value of wins against weaker vs stronger players, time wins/handicapped wins vs hard fought wins, among other variables that lead us questioning the validity of our victories. If you'd like to get in touch with the Back Rank Mates you can email them at: backrankmates@gmail.com or send them a direct message on Instagram under the handle "Back Rank Mates". While you're there, be sure to leave comments on the most recent reel so Brendan and Cameron can become famous chess influencers.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backrankmates/?hl=en See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's episode, Cameron and Brendan discuss their thoughts on tournament prize money. Cameron also explains why he thinks you don't deserve prize money in an attempt to change society's view on rewarding mediocrity, while Brendan does his best to stop Cameron from losing Back Rank Mates' target audience.If you'd like to get in touch with the Back Rank Mates you can email them at: backrankmates@gmail.com or send them a direct message on Instagram under the handle "Back Rank Mates". While you're there, be sure to leave comments on the most recent reel so Brendan and Cameron can become famous chess influencers. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's episode, Cameron and Brendan discuss what it takes to get someone to resign, and question if giving up is bad. Is resigning in chess related to player maturity, or does it come from lack of self belief? We don't know, and we hope you don't either! If you'd like to get in touch with the Back Rank Mates you can email them at: backrankmates@gmail.com or send them a direct message on Instagram under the handle "Back Rank Mates". While you're there, be sure to leave comments on the most recent reel so Brendan and Cameron can become famous chess influencers. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this weeks episode, Cameron and Brendan talk about losing, how it affects them and their game, as well as how often a loss affects them and to what degree. They also try to list as many Olivia Rodrigo songs from her smash hit album "SOUR" while discussing today's topic. Can you count how many references were made? If you'd like to get in touch with the Back Rank Mates you can email them at: backrankmates@gmail.com or send them a direct message on Instagram under the handle "Back Rank Mates". While you're there, be sure to leave comments on the most recent reel so Brendan and Cameron can become famous chess influencers. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In their tenth episode, Brendan and Cameron discuss how players cheat in chess, past experiences with cheaters, and why the pain of being cheated on will never go away. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's episode, Brendan and Cameron discuss their thoughts on the varying time controls chess players have played at one point or another. Does playing bullet damage your chess skill? Are rapid time controls the future of competitive chess? Is 10+0 really the best time control for chess clubs? (answer: it is.) All that and more on this week's episode! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's episode, Cameron and Brendan discuss how they feel when they play different types of opponents. Strong or weak, young or old, do you play differently based on who your opponent is? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's episode, Cameron and Brendan discuss their first times learning and playing chess, the first chess clubs they visited and the first tournaments they participated in. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's episode Brendan and Cameron discuss chess etiquette. What are the do's and don'ts in chess? Should you offer unsolicited advice? Should you tip your king over when you've lost to show that you have lost and risk being judged by Cameron? All that and more in this week's episode. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's episode, Cameron and Brendan welcome their first guest: Jonathan Di Feo. Jonathan is a director at the Vaughan Chess Club, full-time lawyer, and a good friend of the Back Rank Mates. The Back Rank Mates talk about their local chess club, The Vaughan Chess Club, and how it compares and competes with other chess club's in the greater Toronto are and the world. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's episode, Cameron and Brendan discuss the way chess has been viewed in the media. From movies to Twitch and YouTube, from past, present and future, they discuss it all in this week's episode. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's episode, Cameron and Brendan discuss what it means to be a "good" chess player, how much of their effort determines their chess improvement and if they think they'll ever consider themselves "good" at chess. All that and more, in this episode of Back Rank Mates! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's episode Cameron and Brendan relive some of their fondest and most painful tournament memories. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.