WCM Zara Majid shares a lesson from a recent tournament where she lost a pawn to a simple pin because she forgot to ask herself one crucial question: “What is my opponent’s threat?” Inspired by Anatoly Karpov’s habit of asking this before every move, Zara explains how this practice can help players avoid blunders. She breaks it down into practical steps — scanning for new threats each turn, asking why the opponent made their move, and checking for checks, captures, and threats. She ends by challenging listeners to use this habit in their own games to play stronger and avoid preventable mistakes.

In this inspiring episode, WCM Zara Majid shares the incredible true story of Phiona Mutesi, a girl from the slums of Uganda who rose to become a Woman Candidate Master — and the star of the Disney film Queen of Katwe. Zara reflects on how Phiona’s courage, resilience, and refusal to give up helped break gender barriers in chess and inspired movements like Queens United. Zara also shares her emotional reaction to the film and the impact it had on her own chess journey through mentors and coaches.

With powerful lessons about believing in yourself — even when others don’t — this episode is a tribute to every girl who’s ever been told she doesn’t belong at the board.

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Tune in to hear about Martha Fierro, a highly accomplished women’s grandmaster and international master. She won the American Continental Women's Chess Championship in 2009 and won silver at the Chess Olympiad held in Armenia. She is also Vice President of FIDE for eight years and Chairperson of the Women's FIDE Commission.