Jennifer Shahade
@jenshahade.bsky.social
3x National Chess Champ and PokerStars Pro and author.
https://jenshahade.substack.com/
Thinking Sideways comes in early 2026! Pre-orders are my love language: https://geni.us/ThinkingSideways
https://jenshahade.substack.com/
Thinking Sideways comes in early 2026! Pre-orders are my love language: https://geni.us/ThinkingSideways
I made day FIVE of the North American Poker Tour event! 16 remain! Updates here: www.pokernews.com/tours/napt/2...
November 11, 2025 at 5:18 PM
I made day FIVE of the North American Poker Tour event! 16 remain! Updates here: www.pokernews.com/tours/napt/2...
My October in Review: Poker in Baltimore, a Banana at the Art Museum, DeepReads on Man Ray & Confirmation Bias, a Thinking Sideways update, and lots and lots of videos🍌
jennifershahade.com/stack/octobe...
jennifershahade.com/stack/octobe...
October Review: A Banana at the Art Museum
A round-up of October's content from anime and art to banana and books
jennifershahade.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:47 PM
My October in Review: Poker in Baltimore, a Banana at the Art Museum, DeepReads on Man Ray & Confirmation Bias, a Thinking Sideways update, and lots and lots of videos🍌
jennifershahade.com/stack/octobe...
jennifershahade.com/stack/octobe...
Today’s costume: a six million dollar banana
Tomorrow: tens of millions of Americans at risk of losing access to SNAP benefits/food stamps 💔
Tomorrow: tens of millions of Americans at risk of losing access to SNAP benefits/food stamps 💔
October 31, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Today’s costume: a six million dollar banana
Tomorrow: tens of millions of Americans at risk of losing access to SNAP benefits/food stamps 💔
Tomorrow: tens of millions of Americans at risk of losing access to SNAP benefits/food stamps 💔
New video! Learn how to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat! jenshahade.substack.com/p/never-resi...
October 31, 2025 at 12:34 PM
New video! Learn how to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat! jenshahade.substack.com/p/never-resi...
From losing to quad queens to checkmating with four chess queens. My latest: jenshahade.substack.com/p/four-queen...
Four Queens: Checkmate or Bust
A trip to Maryland and the difference between quad queens on the board and on the felt
jenshahade.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:30 PM
From losing to quad queens to checkmating with four chess queens. My latest: jenshahade.substack.com/p/four-queen...
In my latest video with Fab, we talk about countering the Scotch Opening. 😀https://jennifershahade.com/stack/chess-openings-explained-countering
Chess Openings Explained: Countering the Scotch
In another addition of How to Beat Your Mom at Chess, I show you how to defend against the Scotch as Black
jennifershahade.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:11 PM
In my latest video with Fab, we talk about countering the Scotch Opening. 😀https://jennifershahade.com/stack/chess-openings-explained-countering
A very sad day. RIP to a wordsmith, a chess genius, and most importantly a kind person.
jenshahade.substack.com/p/daniel-nar...
jenshahade.substack.com/p/daniel-nar...
Daniel Naroditsky, 1995-2025
A wordsmith, a chess genius, and most importantly a kind person
jenshahade.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:24 AM
A very sad day. RIP to a wordsmith, a chess genius, and most importantly a kind person.
jenshahade.substack.com/p/daniel-nar...
jenshahade.substack.com/p/daniel-nar...
An underrated secret to success: prove yourself wrong! I dive into a chess study showing this effect in my latest: substack.com/home/post/p-...
DeepReads #1: Prove Your Move Wrong
A new series where I dig into a book, study or article for insights on decision making, writing & happiness
substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:31 PM
An underrated secret to success: prove yourself wrong! I dive into a chess study showing this effect in my latest: substack.com/home/post/p-...
Reposted by Jennifer Shahade
Many thanks to @jenshahade.bsky.social for linking to my lichess blog in her most recent substack post! Check out her piece about the role of falsification in #chess here.
DeepReads #1: Prove Your Move Wrong
A new series where I dig into a book, study or article for insights on decision making, writing & happiness
jenshahade.substack.com
October 19, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Many thanks to @jenshahade.bsky.social for linking to my lichess blog in her most recent substack post! Check out her piece about the role of falsification in #chess here.
My latest video with my son, on the Sicilian vs the Caro-Kann, Reti vs Tartakower, and Xie Jun-Galliamova.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Chess Explained: Why the Sicilian is Better Than the Caro
With Halloween looming, Fabian and I go over some famous chess discoveries, including one that hits close to home.
substack.com
October 15, 2025 at 11:19 PM
My latest video with my son, on the Sicilian vs the Caro-Kann, Reti vs Tartakower, and Xie Jun-Galliamova.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Why are preorders are such a big deal for authors? Planet Money just did a great piece on this question here: www.npr.org/sections/pla...
Why preorders are such a big deal for authors
Special gifts. Great stories. And economics too!? Can it be true? The Planet Money book is available for preorder.
www.npr.org
October 15, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Why are preorders are such a big deal for authors? Planet Money just did a great piece on this question here: www.npr.org/sections/pla...
I wrote about a new book about Man Ray & Chess and why the pawn is the most important piece.
jenshahade.substack.com/p/pawns-on-a...
jenshahade.substack.com/p/pawns-on-a...
Why the Pawn Was a Man Ray Muse
A new book on Man Ray & Chess by Larry List gave me insight into the art of chess and Dada.
jenshahade.substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:09 PM
I wrote about a new book about Man Ray & Chess and why the pawn is the most important piece.
jenshahade.substack.com/p/pawns-on-a...
jenshahade.substack.com/p/pawns-on-a...
The How to Beat Your Mom at Chess series is back with "Chess Tactics Explained: The Block"!
jenshahade.substack.com/p/chess-tact...
jenshahade.substack.com/p/chess-tact...
Chess Tactics Explained: The Block
I show Fabian a historic win by Fischer, and some puzzles from my book
jenshahade.substack.com
October 6, 2025 at 10:10 PM
The How to Beat Your Mom at Chess series is back with "Chess Tactics Explained: The Block"!
jenshahade.substack.com/p/chess-tact...
jenshahade.substack.com/p/chess-tact...
Reposted by Jennifer Shahade
The Grid by @jenshahade.bsky.social has been a marvelous poker journey. Check out her latest. thepokergrid.com/2025/09/25/t...
The Grid 093 ft. Cindy Spier – Queen Seven Offsuit
Urgent care physician and poker player Cindy Spier enters the GRID to discuss one of her impressive tournament victories. At the Senior’s Event at a WSOP circuit event in Pompano, Florida, Dr. Spier h...
thepokergrid.com
October 3, 2025 at 2:53 AM
The Grid by @jenshahade.bsky.social has been a marvelous poker journey. Check out her latest. thepokergrid.com/2025/09/25/t...
The most fun I ever had giving a chess lesson jenshahade.substack.com/p/the-joys-o...
The Joys of an Anime Chess Lesson
The most fun I've ever had teaching the basics of chess
jenshahade.substack.com
October 3, 2025 at 2:46 AM
The most fun I ever had giving a chess lesson jenshahade.substack.com/p/the-joys-o...
Fischer's famous 1963 win against Pal Benko, and last night's Eagles game.
jenshahade.substack.com/p/the-block-...
jenshahade.substack.com/p/the-block-...
The Block of the Century
This Bobby Fischer game is exactly like last night's Eagles game
jenshahade.substack.com
September 22, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Fischer's famous 1963 win against Pal Benko, and last night's Eagles game.
jenshahade.substack.com/p/the-block-...
jenshahade.substack.com/p/the-block-...
My latest piece: jennifershahade.com/stack/the-ar...
"Many chess (and poker!) players prefer to play well on an absolute scale, not just a relative scale. They want to make fewer mistakes and blunders, even if it means winning less often."
"Many chess (and poker!) players prefer to play well on an absolute scale, not just a relative scale. They want to make fewer mistakes and blunders, even if it means winning less often."
The Art of Chess Variants
A show at the World Chess Hall of Fame and the joy of mixing it up
jennifershahade.com
September 21, 2025 at 4:35 PM
My latest piece: jennifershahade.com/stack/the-ar...
"Many chess (and poker!) players prefer to play well on an absolute scale, not just a relative scale. They want to make fewer mistakes and blunders, even if it means winning less often."
"Many chess (and poker!) players prefer to play well on an absolute scale, not just a relative scale. They want to make fewer mistakes and blunders, even if it means winning less often."
Reposted by Jennifer Shahade
I’m gonna be crass and say, preorder *my* book!
Kiese Laymon calls it “the most politically audacious book I’ve read in decades”
and
Moiya McTier calls it “deft weave of quantum physics and cultural wisdom”
😻
#BookSky
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/746817...
Kiese Laymon calls it “the most politically audacious book I’ve read in decades”
and
Moiya McTier calls it “deft weave of quantum physics and cultural wisdom”
😻
#BookSky
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/746817...
September 16, 2025 at 1:44 AM
I’m gonna be crass and say, preorder *my* book!
Kiese Laymon calls it “the most politically audacious book I’ve read in decades”
and
Moiya McTier calls it “deft weave of quantum physics and cultural wisdom”
😻
#BookSky
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/746817...
Kiese Laymon calls it “the most politically audacious book I’ve read in decades”
and
Moiya McTier calls it “deft weave of quantum physics and cultural wisdom”
😻
#BookSky
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/746817...
Fun chess match I'm a coach for: Advent vs. Justice: starts at 8 PM ET:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aum...
Yesterday's coaching session (soooo much fun)
www.youtube.com/live/4g9JyWS...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aum...
Yesterday's coaching session (soooo much fun)
www.youtube.com/live/4g9JyWS...
Advent VS Justice: Chess Battle【#AdVSJus】
YouTube video by hololive English
www.youtube.com
September 14, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Fun chess match I'm a coach for: Advent vs. Justice: starts at 8 PM ET:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aum...
Yesterday's coaching session (soooo much fun)
www.youtube.com/live/4g9JyWS...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aum...
Yesterday's coaching session (soooo much fun)
www.youtube.com/live/4g9JyWS...
Reposted by Jennifer Shahade
There's something about accomplished gaming women who write wonderful books, care about their communities, and who are kind people. An extraordinary combination. The sideways idea seems rather magical. @queenfive.bsky.social @mattmatros.bsky.social @thinkingpoker.bsky.social @mjr1.bsky.social
Thinking Sideways Cover Reveal ‼️
Chessplayers are known for thinking really far ahead. But great players THINK SIDEWAYS: chess is the art of the possible.
It's been a lifelong dream of mine to write this book, and I can't wait to share it with all of you!
www.simonandschuster.com/books/Thinki...
Chessplayers are known for thinking really far ahead. But great players THINK SIDEWAYS: chess is the art of the possible.
It's been a lifelong dream of mine to write this book, and I can't wait to share it with all of you!
www.simonandschuster.com/books/Thinki...
September 12, 2025 at 7:34 PM
There's something about accomplished gaming women who write wonderful books, care about their communities, and who are kind people. An extraordinary combination. The sideways idea seems rather magical. @queenfive.bsky.social @mattmatros.bsky.social @thinkingpoker.bsky.social @mjr1.bsky.social
Reposted by Jennifer Shahade
Can't wait to read it!
Congrats, Jen!
Congrats, Jen!
Thinking Sideways Cover Reveal ‼️
Chessplayers are known for thinking really far ahead. But great players THINK SIDEWAYS: chess is the art of the possible.
It's been a lifelong dream of mine to write this book, and I can't wait to share it with all of you!
www.simonandschuster.com/books/Thinki...
Chessplayers are known for thinking really far ahead. But great players THINK SIDEWAYS: chess is the art of the possible.
It's been a lifelong dream of mine to write this book, and I can't wait to share it with all of you!
www.simonandschuster.com/books/Thinki...
September 12, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Can't wait to read it!
Congrats, Jen!
Congrats, Jen!
Thinking Sideways Cover Reveal ‼️
Chessplayers are known for thinking really far ahead. But great players THINK SIDEWAYS: chess is the art of the possible.
It's been a lifelong dream of mine to write this book, and I can't wait to share it with all of you!
www.simonandschuster.com/books/Thinki...
Chessplayers are known for thinking really far ahead. But great players THINK SIDEWAYS: chess is the art of the possible.
It's been a lifelong dream of mine to write this book, and I can't wait to share it with all of you!
www.simonandschuster.com/books/Thinki...
September 12, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Thinking Sideways Cover Reveal ‼️
Chessplayers are known for thinking really far ahead. But great players THINK SIDEWAYS: chess is the art of the possible.
It's been a lifelong dream of mine to write this book, and I can't wait to share it with all of you!
www.simonandschuster.com/books/Thinki...
Chessplayers are known for thinking really far ahead. But great players THINK SIDEWAYS: chess is the art of the possible.
It's been a lifelong dream of mine to write this book, and I can't wait to share it with all of you!
www.simonandschuster.com/books/Thinki...
Reposted by Jennifer Shahade
So #EdgeOfSpaceTime has a twin! My dear friend and favorite Chess Queen @jenshahade.bsky.social also has a new book coming out on April 7, 2026!!
Preorder today — especially if you’re someone who has always felt intimidated by chess!!
“Chess is the art of the possible” #BookSky
Preorder today — especially if you’re someone who has always felt intimidated by chess!!
“Chess is the art of the possible” #BookSky
Thinking Sideways
Essential life lessons from the world of chess—from making smarter choices to building focus and confidence—from a former U.S. champion.Chess is th...
www.simonandschuster.com
September 12, 2025 at 4:08 PM
So #EdgeOfSpaceTime has a twin! My dear friend and favorite Chess Queen @jenshahade.bsky.social also has a new book coming out on April 7, 2026!!
Preorder today — especially if you’re someone who has always felt intimidated by chess!!
“Chess is the art of the possible” #BookSky
Preorder today — especially if you’re someone who has always felt intimidated by chess!!
“Chess is the art of the possible” #BookSky
What happens when a chess simul ends you in time pressure? I write about playing a Freestyle Chess simul in London @yasqueenchessclub.bsky.social
jenshahade.substack.com/p/yas-freest...
jenshahade.substack.com/p/yas-freest...
YAS Freestyle Queens: When Simuls Get Scrambled
While in London for the PokerStars Women Summer Festival, I got a chess simul in--with a twist.
jenshahade.substack.com
September 9, 2025 at 1:22 PM
What happens when a chess simul ends you in time pressure? I write about playing a Freestyle Chess simul in London @yasqueenchessclub.bsky.social
jenshahade.substack.com/p/yas-freest...
jenshahade.substack.com/p/yas-freest...
New episode of my podcast the GRID with the wonderful Alex O'Brien!
We discuss a hand I played at the Women's Summer Festival with ten-eight offsuit!
thepokergrid.com/2025/09/06/t...
We discuss a hand I played at the Women's Summer Festival with ten-eight offsuit!
thepokergrid.com/2025/09/06/t...
The Grid 092 ft. Alex O’Brien – Ten-Eight Offsuit
Jennifer Shahade welcomes author, poker player, science writer and commentator Alex O’Brien to the GRID. The two break down a hand from Jennifer’s final table at the Women’s Summer Festival, where she...
thepokergrid.com
September 8, 2025 at 2:01 PM
New episode of my podcast the GRID with the wonderful Alex O'Brien!
We discuss a hand I played at the Women's Summer Festival with ten-eight offsuit!
thepokergrid.com/2025/09/06/t...
We discuss a hand I played at the Women's Summer Festival with ten-eight offsuit!
thepokergrid.com/2025/09/06/t...