Ace of Spades HQ

April 07, 2012

Sat. Nite Chess Thread 04-07-2012 [OregonMuse]
— Open Blogger

Good evening, fellow wood-pushers, patzers, fish, 'C' players, and other assorted USCF ratings list bottom dwellers. It's time once again for the Saturday Nite AoSHQ Chess Thread.

First, a shame-faced, belated thank-you to rdbrewer, who posted the original chess thread a couple of weeks ago and who graciously didn't get too mad at me when I stole the idea from him and ran with it.

rdbrewer is the actual father of the chess thread.

So, why play chess? What does it do for you?

Lurking moron R.C. Speck writes:

Humility.
The most important thing chess has given me is humility.
When I tell people that I used to play chess, they often ask, Â“How good were you?Â” My answer is always, Â“Good enough to know how bad I really am.Â”

I suppose all sports do this to a certain extent, but I think chess gets you there quicker. Nothing like going 0-5 or 0.5-4.5 in a weekend tournament to hammer home the point that you just suck, you suck so bad you're a towering monument of suckitude on display in the International Museum of Suck in Sucktown, U.S.A.

The rest of Mr. Speck's article is worth reading. For example, I did not know that General Winfield Scott went a couple of rounds with a 9-year-old Paul Morphy in 1846. Predictably, Old Fuss and Feathers got his clocked cleaned by the young lad. And, he was a poor loser, which I guess is also no surprise. Unfortunately, I don't think the games were recorded.

And now, another modern classsic. This one is Kasparov-Topalov, 1999. Kasparov has called it the greatest game he has ever played.

Thanks to all of you who sent me tips. It's amazing to me how many lurkers are out there reading this blog that you never see in the comments. I wonder what the ratio is. For every commenting moron, there are X number of lurking morons, so what is X? 10? 100? 1000?

Chess tips for this thread may be sent to me at

OregonMuse
and then the at sign
followed by yahoo
and then dot
com

Question: what is your favorite chess site? When I started getting back into chess, I discovered there is just no end of chess sites, and I keep discovering good ones. So please post your favorite ones worth checking out in the comments, and we will all benefit.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 02:00 PM | Comments (195)
Post contains 408 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Chess makes my brain ache. Must be good for me.

Posted by: Pecos, at April 07, 2012 02:05 PM (2Gb0y)

I used to play in grad school, but haven't since for lack of time.

Who was the grandmaster who in his waning days upset the board, threw the pieces, and bellowed, "How can I lose to this idiot?"

Posted by: Jay Guevara at April 07, 2012 02:05 PM (dGe54)

3 Who was the grandmaster who in his waning days upset the board, threw the pieces, and bellowed, "How can I lose to this idiot?"

I think this was John Kerry after the 2004 elections

Posted by: OregonMuse at April 07, 2012 02:07 PM (xm1A1)

4 NERDS!

Posted by: Ogre at April 07, 2012 02:07 PM (MMC8r)

I learned humility in college. Getting you butt kicked in 3 straight chess games and not even being able to figure out how to counter it does that to people.

Posted by: rd at April 07, 2012 02:07 PM (9sUlj)

6 I like chess. There was a time when I played Chess so much that I couldn't but dream of white and black pieces. I stopped though because I lose too often.

And this is me pre-empting the usual "have you tried Go?" post that tends to show up on internet chess threads. You're welcome.

Posted by: fb at April 07, 2012 02:08 PM (/cFW6)

7
Humility, thy name is chess. One of my college housemates went on to become the chess champion of Canada: he taught me most emphatically that chess is not my game.

Posted by: Brown Line at April 07, 2012 02:09 PM (/mLin)

8 Queen to king's level four.

Posted by: Spock at April 07, 2012 02:11 PM (KwX0v)

9 And this is me pre-empting the usual "have you tried Go?" post that tends to show up on internet chess threads. You're welcome.

I have tried Go. It is a great game. It is probably more subtle and complicated, hence harder to master, than chess. It has what, 5 or 6 simple rules, which give rise to unbelievably complex play.

Unfortunately, I just cannot get the hang of it. So it's chess for me.

Posted by: OregonMuse at April 07, 2012 02:11 PM (xm1A1)

I used to play at the Berkeley Chess Club, which apparently is very strong.

Worst butt kicking I ever saw was a guy who was getting whomped by one of nationally ranked players there finally conceded, whereupon his tormentor told him his position was viable, turned the board around, and proceeded to whomp him again.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at April 07, 2012 02:12 PM (dGe54)

11 Back from the silent movie, very entertaining it was.

Posted by: toby928© at April 07, 2012 02:12 PM (GTbGH)

Chessos is not a bad site

http://www.chessos.com/p/

I used to play on it awhile ago - got a bit toooo suspicious when I kept going into the toilets every five minutes at work though.

And my boss didn't like me playing chess on my iphone either ...

Posted by: Humberfloob at April 07, 2012 02:12 PM (qQfjE)

13 I prefer talkies.

Posted by: soothie at April 07, 2012 02:14 PM (vanqS)

14 Is this a naked Sat. nite chess thread?

Posted by: mike at April 07, 2012 02:17 PM (gtydd)

15 But the great Go Master forgot, when he was playing the greatest game of poker in his life, that the Americans invented poker.

Posted by: Fox 2! at April 07, 2012 02:18 PM (RJOgX)

16 I am 42.

Posted by: Right here at April 07, 2012 02:18 PM (JIDLg)

17 Used to be good, had a 1800+ rating. Nowadays cheap computer programs can kick my ass. Tried playing casually on the internet but too often the site doesn't use all the rules of chess (Repeat the same position three times? Keep going! See how fast you can click that mouse!). Played a couple of rated games on msn zone, won one and drew the other. Checked my history later and it showed I had lost both! WTF. If there is a site that keeps records accurately and uses all the rules I'd like to hear.

Posted by: waelse1 at April 07, 2012 02:19 PM (VaU8E)

18 Jim Bowie's body servant was played in blackface.

Posted by: toby928© at April 07, 2012 02:19 PM (GTbGH)

19 The thing about sucktitude. There is no towering monument. There is no Museum. When you suck, there is nothing but emptiness. I know from experience.

Posted by: Jimbo at April 07, 2012 02:20 PM (O3R/2)

20

When given the choices of chess or pussy, I'm sticking with the pink taco.

Posted by: Anthony Weiner, Unemployed Dick at April 07, 2012 02:20 PM (TkGkA)

21 sausage party

Posted by: Dr. Varno at April 07, 2012 02:21 PM (pyRCu)

22 6 Have you read The Master opf Go by Yasynari Kawabata? Good book.

Posted by: Pecos, at April 07, 2012 02:22 PM (2Gb0y)

23 When I ran my blog and compared posts to visits it would vary from 100 to 300 lurkers for each comment.

Posted by: Tantor at April 07, 2012 02:23 PM (ypgsk)

24 I'll take black

Posted by: El Sharpton at April 07, 2012 02:25 PM (EL+OC)

What...are you calling that thing a "Bishop"?

No, no, no...we can't have that. That's offensive to Muslims. That piece shall now be referred to as a "Mullah".

And what is this Black vs. White shit? That's veiled racism. New executive decree..er...edict...ORDER! Colors will now be Mauve vs. Sunflower.

Ah, screw this whole thing. I'll find some way the EPA will just have to ban this pastime of the rich and wealthy. Too many trees killed in the making of the board, you know...

Posted by: The Real BHO at April 07, 2012 02:26 PM (wHj25)

26 Who was the grandmaster who in his waning days upset the board, threw the pieces, and bellowed, "How can I lose to this idiot?" Posted by: Jay Guevara at April 07, 2012 06:05 PM (dGe54) Aaron Nimsowitch

Posted by: The Narrative at April 07, 2012 02:26 PM (BB0/w)

27 Queen to queen's level three.

Posted by: lieutenant-commander scott at April 07, 2012 02:29 PM (6RnvM)

28 I see your zugzwang and raise you zwischenzug.

Posted by: Paul Morphy at April 07, 2012 02:29 PM (BB0/w)

29 Humility. The most important thing chess has given me is humility. When I tell people that I used to play chess, they often ask, Â“How good were you?Â” My answer is always, Â“Good enough to know how bad I really am.Â” Reminds me of Chet Atkins, who used to describe his guitar playing as "a little bit above below-average".

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at April 07, 2012 02:30 PM (FIE/L)

30 These are all coded messages instructing Romney as to what he really believes after the convention, right?

Posted by: Gerry at April 07, 2012 02:32 PM (rNmq0)

31 Why does white always get to go first!? But for a "small" Rainbow PUSH Coalition donation I'll let it slide.

Posted by: rev jesse jackson at April 07, 2012 02:32 PM (6RnvM)

32 Anyone care to play? [Event "Sat Open"] [Site "AoSHQ"] [Date "2012.04.07"] [Round "1"] [White "Morphy, Paul"] [Black "UNKNOWN"] [Result "*"] 1.e4 *

Posted by: Paul Morphy at April 07, 2012 02:32 PM (BB0/w)

33 What's that horsey called and how does it move?

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at April 07, 2012 02:33 PM (JIDLg)

34 And this is me pre-empting the usual "have you tried Go?" post that tends to show up on internet chess threads. You're welcome. Posted by: fb at April 07, 2012 06:08 PM (/cFW6) And I'll bet that a majority of the folks that make that Go comment only do it because they read about Go vs Chess in Trevanian's novel Shibumi.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at April 07, 2012 02:33 PM (FIE/L)

35 I advise my children to not play black, or play against black, or play with blacks.

Posted by: John Derbyshire at April 07, 2012 02:34 PM (BB0/w)

36 Whenever I play chess, and my opponent and I build one of those insanely complicated structure of threaten and counter-threaten and counter-counter threaten and so on, I just can't resist the urge to set off the mine.

Posted by: Trimegistus at April 07, 2012 02:34 PM (w4QuJ)

37 22 Haven't read it, but I'll put it on my reading list.

Posted by: fb at April 07, 2012 02:36 PM (/cFW6)

38 When given the choices of chess or pussy, I'm sticking with the pink taco.

Posted by: Anthony Weiner, Unemployed Dick at April 07, 2012 06:20 PM (TkGkA)

What Anthony said.

Posted by: Rosie O'Donnell at April 07, 2012 02:36 PM (dGe54)

Anyone care to play tic-tac-toe?

Posted by: Barack Obama at April 07, 2012 02:37 PM (dGe54)

40 White goes first? We'll be investigating this so-called game.

Posted by: Eric Holder at April 07, 2012 02:37 PM (EL+OC)

41 Oh, not just a sausage thread, there are a few pink tacos lurking!

I have nothing of value to add ( not that that ever stopped me on any other thread! ) but I think y'all chessies are teh sexy. Brains and all.

Bet at least one of you also fences or is a blacksmith......

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 07, 2012 02:39 PM (SsG4J)

42 would you like to play a game ?

Posted by: WOPR at April 07, 2012 02:40 PM (w4QuJ)

43 Steroid hearings?

Posted by: hutch1200 at April 07, 2012 02:40 PM (YzN0z)

44 I never got the feeling that Weiner was sexual beyond his fetish of exhibitionism.

Posted by: mike at April 07, 2012 02:40 PM (gtydd)

45 My son saw "Searching for Bobby Fisher" and went through a chess phase. I'd play him without my queen and it was enjoyable for both of us. Then we got a wii.

Posted by: Trimegistus at April 07, 2012 02:41 PM (w4QuJ)

46 I'm a lurker. 2nd comment in 7 years. Read EVERY day!

Posted by: John at April 07, 2012 02:42 PM (c72da)

47 This thread is not complicated enough for me.

Posted by: Emanual Lasker at April 07, 2012 02:43 PM (BB0/w)

48 My favorite piece is the "death blossom"

Posted by: Jimbo at April 07, 2012 02:43 PM (O3R/2)

49 48 This thread is not complicated enough for me. Posted by: Emanual Lasker at April 07, 2012 06:43 PM (BB0/w) Shut up and have a drink.

Posted by: Wilhelm Steinitz at April 07, 2012 02:44 PM (BB0/w)

50 Hey John!

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 07, 2012 02:44 PM (SsG4J)

51 Chess will teach you humility.
And golf.

Posted by: navybrat at April 07, 2012 02:44 PM (/eSN8)

52 I've played chess and Go, but I prefer Go. I could never get into chess in the same way. That said, I respect anyone who puts in the effort to get good at chess.

Posted by: Alex at April 07, 2012 02:44 PM (tlK1P)

53 Just up on NRO's Corner: they've bounced Derbyshire.

Posted by: Darles Chickens at April 07, 2012 02:45 PM (NsRPe)

54 Shut up and have a drink. Posted by: Wilhelm Steinitz at April 07, 2012 06:44 PM (BB0/w) If he won't, I will!

Posted by: Alexander Alekhine at April 07, 2012 02:45 PM (BB0/w)

55 Don't ever turn your back on the black pieces.

Posted by: John Derbyshire at April 07, 2012 02:46 PM (BB0/w)

56 I am pushing my wood at the moment.

Posted by: Paul Morphy at April 07, 2012 02:47 PM (BB0/w)

Grand Master Flash was my favorite chess player.

Posted by: Joe Biden at April 07, 2012 02:52 PM (lSmdC)

58 May I humbly recommend "The Immortal Game" game played by Adolf Anderssen and Lionel Kieseritzky on 21 June 1851 in London, during a break of the first international tournament. Anderssen shockingly sacrificed both rooks, a bisghop, and his queen, and checkmated Kieseritzky with what is known as a pure minor piece checkmate - totally amazing (things were different in those days - much more attacking and sacrificing, and lots of moves that would be considered suspect and/or flat out bad by today's standards). Annotated game: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immortal_Game Youtube: http://youtu.be/mrWC-H3R8zQ

Posted by: Paul Morphy at April 07, 2012 02:53 PM (BB0/w)

59 I know a thing or TWO about chest, wait,...what?,.....never mind.

Posted by: Christina Hendricks at April 07, 2012 02:54 PM (3xuDv)

60 That R. C. Speck article is good.

Posted by: rickl supports SMOD/Supervolcano 2012 at April 07, 2012 02:55 PM (sdi6R)

61 #60, can I play chest with you?

Posted by: Jimbo at April 07, 2012 02:55 PM (O3R/2)

My son is an IM. The last time I played him some years ago. It took him about 15 minites to beat me.

He was blindfolded. I wasn't.

Posted by: Alaskan at April 07, 2012 02:56 PM (vdMyh)

63 I am currently commenting on 24 threads while wearing a blindfold.

Posted by: boris spazz-key at April 07, 2012 02:57 PM (6RnvM)

64 I tried to post a comment to the Rich Lowry NRO Corner post. They are not accepting comments. The great and powerful OZ has spoken.

Posted by: Jimbo at April 07, 2012 02:57 PM (O3R/2)

Chess will teach you humility.
And golf.

Posted by: navybrat at April 07, 2012 06:44 PM (/eSN

Golf just teaches you that some games are more enjoyable when you drink heavily.

Posted by: ErikW at April 07, 2012 03:00 PM (4Pbqc)

66 I tried to post a comment to the Rich Lowry NRO Corner post. They are not accepting comments. The great and powerful OZ has spoken.

I don't blame them.

Posted by: Alex at April 07, 2012 03:02 PM (tlK1P)

67 Golf just teaches you that some games are more enjoyable when you drink heavily.
Or avoiding the wife.

Posted by: president o'bumbles at April 07, 2012 03:02 PM (6RnvM)

68 don't blame them.

Posted by: Alex at April 07, 2012 07:02 PM (tlK1P)

Some people can't handle the truth.

Posted by: Cast Iron at April 07, 2012 03:05 PM (EL+OC)

69 Fuck it. It's Saturday night, I'm goin' out to get laid.

Posted by: Deep Blue Balls at April 07, 2012 03:07 PM (MMC8r)

70 Saw Rich Lowry tweet that fella is gone.

FWIW: I skimmed a minute of it, I actively avoid crowds of teenagers of any race, gender, or class. Sure there is always a chance you could be assaulted verbally, physically, or financially. However, you will definitely will be irreparably assaulted intellectually if they are speaking their "minds" as is teenagers wont.

Posted by: Shiggz RocketSurgeon at April 07, 2012 03:08 PM (RfvTE)

71 I stink at chess so I'm watching Dragnet instead.

This is the city, Los Angeles, California.

Posted by: mpfs at April 07, 2012 03:08 PM (TlwCF)

72 Some people can't handle the truth.

I would disagree with the "truth" of Derbs comments. That's neither here nor there. Rich Lowery's comments suggest that there has been some long time tension between Derb and NRO. The latest column may have been a very heavy straw, but it wasn't the first one.

Posted by: Alex at April 07, 2012 03:09 PM (tlK1P)

73 There aren't any Jews on this thread, are there?

Posted by: Bobby Fischer, Jr. at April 07, 2012 03:10 PM (BB0/w)

74 6 And this is me pre-empting the usual "have you tried Go?" post that tends to show up on internet chess threads. You're welcome.

-------

Many years ago, Scientific American published an article in one of their recreational columns towards the end of the magazine (Metamagical Themas? I forget the title) a description for a kind of reduced instruction set chess called gess.

It is a chess-like game played on a Go board with Go pieces. Each chess equivalent piece is constructed from a 3x3 grid of the board. The position of the Go stones within the 3x3 grid indicate which moves are valid for the piece. A stone around the rim of the 3x3 grid indicates the piece can move in that direction. A stone in the center indicates the piece can move as far as it wants; lack of a stone indicates it can move one position. A queen equivalent has stones on all nine squares in the 3x3 grid; it can move in any direction as far as it wants. A king equivalent is a ring with an open square in the center; it can move only one position in each direction. Knights are not supported because their moves cannot be described with the stones.

Making a move in gess involves selecting the 3x3 grid containing the piece you want to move, then moving the stones within that grid.

A major piece of the strategy involves constructing additional kings; your opponent wins when you have no kings left.

I've long forgotten all of the details, having lost my copy of the magazine. I have on occasions searched for information about the game online to no avail.

Posted by: Anachronda at April 07, 2012 03:10 PM (6fER6)

75 NRO is smart to not accept those comments. I certainly know what mine would be. What a shame there aren't any republicans with spines--I wonder when mine is going to go soft.

Posted by: dagny doesn't want to forget Andrew at April 07, 2012 03:11 PM (CMM9V)

It's amazing to me how many lurkers are out there reading this blog that you never see in the comments. I wonder what the ratio is. For every commenting moron, there are X number of lurking morons, so what is X? 10? 100? 1000?

Who knew that chess was such a magnet ... or that a virtual magnetic chess set would attract a following ... on the internet.

... and, since this is a chess thread, X is likely somehow related to psi ...

Posted by: Arbalest at April 07, 2012 03:12 PM (tlpoM)

77 No joking, I currently live in a small town and one time at the grocery store there were a half dozen 13-14yr old (white) girls huddled around jabbering we deliberately ordered our shopping around having to over hear them.

Guess that makes me racist according to some peoples definitions.. sobeit. At least I was spared a incident like the one Lewis Black had, where he overheard a young girl once say:

"If it hadn't been for my horse, I wouldn't have spent that year in college."

Posted by: Shiggz RocketSurgeon at April 07, 2012 03:12 PM (RfvTE)

78 76 NRO is smart to not accept those comments. I certainly know what mine would be. What a shame there aren't any republicans with spines--I wonder when mine is going to go soft. Posted by: dagny doesn't want to forget Andrew at April 07, 2012 07:11 PM (CMM9V) I'm sure some reporter is planning to ask Romney and other leading Republicans to "answer" for that article. And I'm sure most of said Republicans still haven't figured out how to handle such intellectually bankrupt questions.

Posted by: Paul Morphy at April 07, 2012 03:13 PM (BB0/w)

79 Whenever I play chess, and my opponent and I build one of those insanely complicated structure of threaten and counter-threaten and counter-counter threaten and so on, I just can't resist the urge to set off the mine.

Yep. My daughter and I played a game like this. We now refer to such hair-trigger structures as the "Tarantino Defense".

Posted by: OregonMuse at April 07, 2012 03:14 PM (xm1A1)

80 I guess Derbyshire missed the memo about not being allowed to say certain things even satirically. You are NOT ALLOWED.

I'm reminded of that Star Trek where the planet wants to put Wesley Crusher to death for walking on the grass. Picard wrings his hands for an hour. 'Cept here Derb had read the sign.

Posted by: dagny doesn't want to forget Andrew at April 07, 2012 03:14 PM (CMM9V)

81 I tried playing chess once by using those little magnetic pieces on my laptop. OT: anyone know how to replace a laptop screen?

Posted by: Paul Morphy at April 07, 2012 03:15 PM (BB0/w)

My best friend in my junior year of high school was a senior who was vice-president of the school chess club. We'd play games when we got bored and he'd kick my ass seven ways to Sunday in about ten moves.

Shockingly, he never taught me any strategies. I never turned down a game, tho'. Humbling it was...

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at April 07, 2012 03:17 PM (d0Tfm)

83 I'm sure some reporter is planning to ask Romney and other leading Republicans to "answer" for that article. But Obama gets a pass on his pastor, his professors, his appointees, his mentors...

Posted by: nickless at April 07, 2012 03:19 PM (MMC8r)

84 Partially related, Spengler once had an excellent line about foreign policy that Americans play Monopoly the rest of the world plays chess.

His point was replace properties for military bases + most money and you how Americans see the game. For chess, its all "wheels within wheels" brute force and eventual decapitation for the opposition, with always a pawn or two to spare for the bigger cause.

For instance their diplomats used to be convinced our electing stupid people is some sort of trick.

.02 Have a great evening everyone!

Posted by: Shiggz RocketSurgeon at April 07, 2012 03:20 PM (RfvTE)

85 NRO's purging of Derbyshire here: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/295514/parting-ways-rich-lowry

Posted by: The Political Hat at April 07, 2012 03:21 PM (a9dim)

86 Someone needs to ask Obama about that film of the guy in Baltimore. Does he condone such things. Why do you think that happened? Did the guy have it coming? Do you think that any of the current rhetoric is responsible? Do you bear any responsibility for this kind of attitude? What do you have to say to the young blacks in Baltimore who took part in this?

Posted by: dagny doesn't want to forget Andrew at April 07, 2012 03:21 PM (CMM9V)

87 Yep. Better not say anything that your elitist overlords wouldn't like.

Posted by: dagny doesn't want to forget Andrew at April 07, 2012 03:22 PM (CMM9V)

88 90 grumble... grumble... damn italics Posted by: Grand Master Flash goes to see Eldon Tyrell at April 07, 2012 07:24 PM (S7ZyK) Many are my constituents - a salt of the Earth people.

Posted by: Senator Pat Geary at April 07, 2012 03:26 PM (BB0/w)

89 Well, I guess it's a step up from Dungeons & Dragons.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at April 07, 2012 03:29 PM (pyRCu)

90 Anyone wanna see me sacrifice my queen?

Posted by: Frank Marshall at April 07, 2012 03:29 PM (BB0/w)

91 Can you play chess with Peeps?

Posted by: mpfs, I Murder Peeps at April 07, 2012 03:29 PM (TlwCF)

92 NRO's purging of Derbyshire here: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/295514/parting-ways-rich-lowry Nation(al Review) of Cowards.

Posted by: E. Holder at April 07, 2012 03:34 PM (MMC8r)

93 When I play chess a dead rat could beat me. But when I watch other folks play I can see at least four or five moves ahead. Oh well.

Posted by: eman at April 07, 2012 03:34 PM (SkRNT)

94
I guess what sticks in my throat is trying to tie a social issue to genetics-i.e. purported lower IQ's according to a "documented study".

That is reprehensible and doesn't show much intellectual depth. All he's seeing is the effect of generations of a culture that has been instilled in blacks. I don't need to go into detail there, y'all are quite aware of what has been done, I'm sure.

Posted by: irongrampa at April 07, 2012 03:34 PM (SAMxH)

95 Ed Morrissey of Hotair.com, on twitter: I honestly thought the Derbyshire column was badly-handled satire until it got to point 11. Jaw-dropping. @RichLowry made right decision. Apparently Ed's jaw drops at statistically proven facts.

Posted by: Frank Marshall at April 07, 2012 03:35 PM (BB0/w)

Can you play chess with Peeps?

What, exactly, are you implying about my Peeps?

Posted by: Eric Holder at April 07, 2012 03:35 PM (lSmdC)

97 Someone needs to ask Obama about that film of the guy in Baltimore. Does he condone such things. Why do you think that happened? Did the guy have it coming? Do you think that any of the current rhetoric is responsible? Do you bear any responsibility for this kind of attitude? What do you have to say to the young blacks in Baltimore who took part in this? Posted by: dagny doesn't want to forget Andrew at April 07, 2012 07:21 PM (CMM9V) ------------------------------------------------------- Baltimore is a lost cause. I haven't stepped foot downtown Bmore for at least a decade. It is just not worth it.

Posted by: Truck Monkey at April 07, 2012 03:36 PM (jucos)

98 >> Can you play chess with Peeps?

Last Easter we roast peeps over the fire. They are better that way.

Posted by: sTevo at April 07, 2012 03:36 PM (VMcEw)

99 97 I guess what sticks in my throat is trying to tie a social issue to genetics-i.e. purported lower IQ's according to a "documented study". Where did he try to tie it to genetics?

Posted by: Frank Marshall at April 07, 2012 03:36 PM (BB0/w)

100 I can't find a link to that Derbyshire Article upthread...

Posted by: garrett at April 07, 2012 03:36 PM (lSmdC)

101 For those Chess AND Star Wars geeks, I present to you The Queen Amidala Trap: http://youtu.be/5Q8KK5kI6UY

Posted by: Paul Morphy at April 07, 2012 03:38 PM (BB0/w)

102

Posted by: irongrampa at April 07, 2012 07:34 PM (SAMxH)

Gee, i guess i am not seeing what you see, perhaps you could be more specific

Posted by: Velvet Ambition at April 07, 2012 03:39 PM (mFxQX)

103 I played in USCF tournaments from 1970, won a few smaller events and even a state championship, qualified for the Finals of the US Open correspondence event (Golden Knights) seven times, played in six, best finish 3.5-2.5 in the final section (twice).

I like Chess.com for its interface and variety, it's free, also for games and research Chessgames.com is good. For news, try Chessbase.com and the Russian site WhyChess.com is also very good. ChessVibes.com used to be great at keeping up with ongoing events, but after their redesign I rarely visit anymore.

Oh, and ChessCafe has a wide range of articles, too.

My screen name honors Hungarian GM Andreas Adjoran, whose sparkling play inspired me back in the '70s - he's still active.

Posted by: Adjoran at April 07, 2012 03:40 PM (VfmLu)

104

Chess is for fags!

Posted by: Spicoli at April 07, 2012 03:43 PM (Nlk2X)

105 Here's the column in my sock, Garrett, although the traffic is so huge it'll probably take several tries to get it loaded.

BTW, the stimulus to its writing was CNN running a piece on how black fathers have to have a "Black Talk" with their kids about how whitey is out to kill them.

Posted by: andycanuck at April 07, 2012 03:43 PM (6RnvM)

106
Chess is for fags!

Posted by: Spicoli at April 07, 2012 07:43 PM (Nlk2X)

Oh yeah sweet cheeks. Stop the hate!

Posted by: B. Frank, Peni-Puller at April 07, 2012 03:44 PM (TkGkA)

107 Remember that chess whiz kid from Peru or Chile who played a tournament in Brazil? He fell into a den of strippers and refused to go home.

Posted by: mike at April 07, 2012 03:44 PM (gtydd)

108 107 Chess is for fags! Posted by: Spicoli at April 07, 2012 07:43 PM (Nlk2X) I'm seeing a Queen...but enough about my personal life...

Posted by: Paul Morphy at April 07, 2012 03:44 PM (BB0/w)

109 ... as part of CNN's hatefest re. Trayvon.

Posted by: andycanuck at April 07, 2012 03:44 PM (6RnvM)

110 Fuck NRO, Derby is 100% correct.

Posted by: Velvet Ambition at April 07, 2012 03:44 PM (mFxQX)

111 I once got rooked in a poker game. I don't get the fascination.

Posted by: Jerry Yang at April 07, 2012 03:45 PM (Nlk2X)

112 I'm no Derby fan, but they shouldn't have fired him. Debate him. What is the pussy Lowry afraid of?

Posted by: mike at April 07, 2012 03:45 PM (gtydd)

113 Chess is for fags! The Queen is the most powerful piece.

Posted by: nickless at April 07, 2012 03:46 PM (MMC8r)

114 Wow, you really should check out RedState sucking Satan's cock for Ericksons media access.

Leon H. Wolf: Oh, you've personally experienced any of 10a through 10h? Well, that's because you're a racist.

This guy really needs to be dropped into a city like Baltimore or Buffalo. We'll see how long he survives trying to reason with people who just want to kill him because of his skin color.

I don't even feel that harshly toward NRO, given the media world we live in, but RedState has NO excuse.

Posted by: witty username at April 07, 2012 03:46 PM (iZ6fL)

115 I'm no Derby fan, but they shouldn't have fired him. Debate him. What is the pussy Lowry afraid of? I don't blame NRO for not wanting to take the heat for what Derb does at his night job.

Posted by: nickless at April 07, 2012 03:47 PM (MMC8r)

116 115 I'm no Derby fan, but they shouldn't have fired him. Debate him. What is the pussy Lowry afraid of? Posted by: mike at April 07, 2012 07:45 PM (gtydd) A fight that they cannot win, even if the facts are on Derb's side. Sucks, but that's the way the chess board is arrayed against them/us.

Posted by: Paul Morphy at April 07, 2012 03:47 PM (BB0/w)

117 80 Yep. My daughter and I played a game like this. We now refer to such hair-trigger structures as the "Tarantino Defense". I like that! I like games like that, too.

Posted by: rickl supports SMOD/Supervolcano 2012 at April 07, 2012 03:48 PM (sdi6R)

118 Go Lefty! I was out most of the day, but I see Phil had a great round today at the Masters.

Posted by: Y-not is baaaack! at April 07, 2012 03:48 PM (5H6zj)

119 I just asked Goldberg if he could have acted more like a whiny twerp thru this. He seems to think that he could. I thought he was pretty hysterical about being associated with anything that could piss off the obamanation.

Posted by: dagny doesn't want to forget Andrew at April 07, 2012 03:49 PM (CMM9V)

120 In honor of Thomas Kinkade, I will go to my country cottage and turn the fusion wood stove up to about 7000F.

Posted by: Cincinnatus at April 07, 2012 03:49 PM (JaLid)

121 Is Baldilocks on? I think her Twitter account got hacked.

Posted by: Polliwog, Hobbit Teahada at April 07, 2012 03:50 PM (tD5no)

122

Thanks, andy.

BTW, the stimulus to its writing was CNN running a piece on how black fathers have to have a "Black Talk" with their kids about how whitey is out to kill them.

and, well, yeah...that's the talk right before the 'birds and the bees' talk...

Everybody knows that. It comes right after, 'don't run with scissors'.

I think the Cosby Show touched on it in a 'very special' episode during Season 2.

Posted by: garrett at April 07, 2012 03:50 PM (lSmdC)

123 I learned humility in college. Getting you butt kicked in 3 straight chess games and not even being able to figure out how to counter it does that to people.

Posted by: rd at April 07, 2012 06:07 PM (9sUlj)

Me too...with the added fillup of my opponent saying things like: 'I don't understand why you did that', and 'that makes no sense'.

Posted by: trainer at April 07, 2012 03:51 PM (DGxyd)

124 The best thing to do at the start of a game is move your pawn to e4 and say "Mate in 20."

Posted by: Paul Morphy at April 07, 2012 03:52 PM (BB0/w)

125 I haven't read this column or article or whatever it was. I'm trying to access it but my connection keeps timing out. As a general rule, I don't think there should be things that we aren't "allowed" to talk about. Present ideas, dispute them, refute them, debate them , dismiss them. But to not discuss something out of fear smacks of totalitarianism. That said, everyone who runs a blog has the authority to do what they wish with their site. However, I do not want to be a person who is afraid of ideas.

Now. Still trying to get to the article so I can see for myself what all the fuss is about.

Posted by: mama winger at April 07, 2012 03:53 PM (P6QsQ)

126 Is Baldilocks on? I think her Twitter account got hacked. Posted by: Polliwog, Hobbit Teahada at April 07, 2012 07:50 PM

Oh dear.

Posted by: mama winger at April 07, 2012 03:54 PM (P6QsQ)

127 My mother in law was always telling me that southerners were racists (she included northern va in southern). I was always explaining to her that we lived with black people and by-and-large had a pretty good understanding of how to get along, where to go, where to stay away from, etc. In her part of Brooklyn the guidos would just kill blacks if they wandered into the wrong territory---hell sharpton marched people around in circles for just that reason.

Meanwhile, she and I are crossing a busy street in broad daylight in a nice part of town and a young very very dorky sweatervested and glasses wearing black guy shows up to cross at the light. I thought she was going to climb in my coat. It scared her to death.

These libs who live places where there aren't large communities of black youths don't have the first clue what's going with #10.

Posted by: dagny doesn't want to forget Andrew at April 07, 2012 03:55 PM (CMM9V)

128

Used to play chess back in H.S. and College.

Man is that a draining game. Total concentration if you want to win.

Oddly enough, Checkers is also a very tough game.

Posted by: HH at April 07, 2012 03:57 PM (KB0hv)

129
Read him carefully--the implication is there about low IQ, it is carefully structured, but present.

   I'll repeat--to tie social behavior to genetics is wrong.

     Done debating, I can't stick around, much as I'd like to.

      I may be back on the ONT if circumstances allow.

Posted by: irongrampa at April 07, 2012 03:58 PM (SAMxH)

130 Has anyone here ever played Fischerrandom chess?

Posted by: Paul Morphy at April 07, 2012 03:58 PM (BB0/w)

131 We have black youths rioting at amusement parks all the time. Last spring and summer, there were numerous riots at beaches populated by black youths. They stopped 7/4 fireworks in LA County for a while because of the violence by black youths. Those are facts.

Posted by: mike at April 07, 2012 03:59 PM (gtydd)

132 So irongrampa, do you think if you were raised in a Korean household you'd be smarter?

Posted by: dagny doesn't want to forget Andrew at April 07, 2012 03:59 PM (CMM9V)

133 how black fathers have to have a "Black Talk" with their kids

Does this 'talk' include not using the word Hoe and Bitch?

Posted by: Cast Iron at April 07, 2012 04:01 PM (EL+OC)

134 132 Read him carefully--the implication is there about low IQ, it is carefully structured, but present. It is not implied, it is flat out stated, linking to a couple of studies that backs up the bell curve numbers he cites. Still don't see the part you refer to that has any mention of genetics...

Posted by: Derb Derb Derb at April 07, 2012 04:01 PM (BB0/w)

135 I tried to go see Bobby Blue Bland but was told I would get my ass kicked if I went in. Once I went to a shopping mall in a black area and was told be a group of elderly black women that it was too dangerous for me to be walking alone and the insisted on walking me to the entrance. I'm sure there are places where blacks can't go to but we can talk about those.

Posted by: mike at April 07, 2012 04:02 PM (gtydd)

136 mama winger Try this. http://tinyurl.com/7mzm64b They appended the article to the bottom of the Twitchy feed.

Posted by: Y-not is baaaack! at April 07, 2012 04:02 PM (5H6zj)

137 (11) The mean intelligence of blacks is much lower than for whites. The least intelligent ten percent of whites have IQs below 81; forty percent of blacks have IQs that low. Only one black in six is more intelligent than the average white; five whites out of six are more intelligent than the average black. These differences show in every test of general cognitive ability that anyone, of any race or nationality, has yet been able to devise. They are reflected in countless everyday situations. Â“Life is an IQ test.Â” This is #11. The question is....is it true? If it's true, why is noting it taboo?

Posted by: nickless at April 07, 2012 04:03 PM (MMC8r)

138 Well I can't get to the taki site at all.

Is it published somewhere else in its entirety? I have no interest in reading excerpts.

Posted by: mama winger at April 07, 2012 04:04 PM (P6QsQ)

139 Derbyshire is a biological determinist, from what I've seen in his book. The fact that he extends this view to race doesn't make him a racist, it makes him logically consistent.

Posted by: LIGuy at April 07, 2012 04:04 PM (+usC4)

140

Mama Winger, I think she caught it. Don't open any private massages though.

P.S. The link in your sig's coming back as "long string of text" again.

Posted by: Polliwog, Hobbit Teahada at April 07, 2012 04:04 PM (tD5no)

141 This is #11. The question is....is it true? If it's true, why is noting it taboo? Posted by: nickless at April 07, 2012 08:03 PM (MMC8r) Exactly, and that text is laced with linked to studies and reports that support his statements. Also, nothing about genetics in this point.

Posted by: Derb Derb Derb at April 07, 2012 04:04 PM (BB0/w)

142 If it's true, why is noting it taboo?

Because, shut up, that's why.

Posted by: Cast Iron at April 07, 2012 04:05 PM (EL+OC)

143
A small town just north of West Palm Beach named Lake Park would every year sponsor a parade on MLK's birthday. Two years ago the unruly crowds behavior was so abhorrent, the town permanently cancelled the parade. Yes, they're racist and the offended should burn down the town hall.

Posted by: Doctor Fish at April 07, 2012 04:05 PM (TkGkA)

144 Thanks Y-not . Checking that out now.

Posted by: mama winger at April 07, 2012 04:05 PM (P6QsQ)

145 This works for me at the moment: http://thecampofthesaints.org/john-derbyshires-the-talk-nonblack-version/

Posted by: Derb Derb Derb at April 07, 2012 04:05 PM (BB0/w)

146 Mama Winger, I think she caught it. Don't open any private massages though.

P.S. The link in your sig's coming back as "long string of text" again.

Posted by: Polliwog, Hobbit Teahada at April 07, 2012 08:04 PM (tD5no)

Okay, good for Baldilocks. And thanks for the signature heads up.

Posted by: mama winger at April 07, 2012 04:06 PM (P6QsQ)

147

If there were more female chess players, it's be easier to get up a game of strip chess.

Posted by: Count de Monet at April 07, 2012 04:06 PM (4q5tP)

148 150 If there were more female chess players, it's be easier to get up a game of strip chess.

Just what in the hell do you mean by that?

Posted by: NOW at April 07, 2012 04:07 PM (EL+OC)

149 150 If there were more female chess players, it's be easier to get up a game of strip chess. Posted by: Count de Monet at April 07, 2012 08:06 PM (4q5tP) I just use my computer...and a full length mirror...

Posted by: Paul Morphy at April 07, 2012 04:07 PM (BB0/w)

150 Re: Derb...a 90 yr old woman was raped and beaten in the past week by a gang of thugs in Tulsa. She died of the injuries in this home invasion. Her WWII veteran husband was wounded. They were married 65 years. Senseless. Horrific. Animals did this, and no MSM is reporting outside of Tulsa (note: I saw this in the UK Daily Mail). I don't care what color these murdering rapists were, they are animals. The one caught (a black guy) lived 4 blocks from them. The robbed this couple of a tv, $200 in cash, and a bb gun.

Drudge has a video of a white man beaten by a gang or drive by racists in Baltimore. He was drunk on St. Patrick's Day and had no memory of attack until he was identified in video. From the fall he took I am sure he had a concussion in addition to being drunk, so the amnesia is not surprising. He was stripped of his clothing and robbed while a crowd (on film) watched and laughed and kicked him.

Rich Lowry should walk a block or two in Newark, NJ, or any inner city, and he might agree with what Derb posted. In daylight it is dangerous. And it is going to get worse. If you did not live during the race riots of the late 60's get ready, as they are about to repeat. "Leaders" such as Jug Ears, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Holder, are not helping the problem. True leaders would make some attempt to fix this problem...they fan the flames. I agree with above morons, Derb should not have been fired. This is political correctness and covering NRO's butt. What he wrote is common sense, however racist it is perceived.

Posted by: ChristyBlinky: ABO 2012 at April 07, 2012 04:09 PM (baL2B)

151 See, I think that growing up in and american asian household would probably make your iq test score higher. Driving would be worse, but iq higher. That doesn't mean a thing about genetics. Although I wouldn't be surprised if there were some intelligence derivation among the races. Why is that so incredibly wrong to say?

Posted by: dagny doesn't want to forget Andrew at April 07, 2012 04:10 PM (CMM9V)

152 154 See, I think that growing up in and american asian household would probably make your iq test score higher. Driving would be worse, but iq higher. That doesn't mean a thing about genetics. Although I wouldn't be surprised if there were some intelligence derivation among the races. Why is that so incredibly wrong to say? Posted by: dagny doesn't want to forget Andrew at April 07, 2012 08:10 PM (CMM9V) concur

Posted by: Paul Morphy at April 07, 2012 04:11 PM (BB0/w)

153 Error to above email: the late Nancy Strait of Tulsa was 84 yrs old prior to being raped and beaten to death by animals.

Posted by: ChristyBlinky: ABO 2012 at April 07, 2012 04:12 PM (baL2B)

154 Why is that so incredibly wrong to say? Because it's politically incorrect. The Left uses race, both as a club, and as a herding mechanism to keep their voters on their plantation. Race issues are supposed to be the fault of White People. To suggest anything else is badthink, and unacceptable.

Posted by: nickless at April 07, 2012 04:13 PM (MMC8r)

155 Polli, you still here???

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 07, 2012 04:13 PM (SsG4J)

156 So I guess we're finally starting to have that "national conversation about race" that Holder wanted. But I don't think it's going to go as he intended. A lot of whites are finally getting over their white guilt.

Posted by: rickl supports SMOD/Supervolcano 2012 at April 07, 2012 04:16 PM (sdi6R)

157 Well, I read it, and I have to say that I've never had such a talk with my children nor would I be inclined to do so. Other than the strictly limited areas of personal safety, I've never even come close.

Posted by: mama winger at April 07, 2012 04:16 PM (P6QsQ)

158 Derb is a devout evolutionist, and when you take evolutionism seriously, that is where you end up.

Posted by: Gerry at April 07, 2012 04:17 PM (rNmq0)

159 OK morons - what is your preferred opening move? e4? d4? c4? other?

Posted by: Paul Morphy at April 07, 2012 04:18 PM (BB0/w)

160

I worked in Newark NJ for two years. Demolition. Downtown.

During that time 10 guys on our site were murdered...all walking; to get a meal or from parking off site to save a couple of bucks or to hit an ATM across the Street.

The crew was 40 / 60 split of Black and Non-Black.

100% of the victims were Non-Black.

The majority of those were white ( , the other two were Portuguese guys from a roofing sub (who were killed for a gold chain and twenty dollars, respectively).

If you left the building without a 'guide' you were flirting with disaster.

I know. I'm a racist.

Posted by: garrett at April 07, 2012 04:20 PM (lSmdC)

161 OK morons - what is your preferred opening move? e4? d4? c4? other? I usually go for the boobies.

Posted by: nickless at April 07, 2012 04:20 PM (MMC8r)

162

... preferred opening move ...

I usually start with a line from Robert Goulet (who knows what to say ...)

Posted by: Arbalest at April 07, 2012 04:21 PM (tlpoM)

163 164 OK morons - what is your preferred opening move? e4? d4? c4? other? I usually go for the boobies. Posted by: nickless at April 07, 2012 08:20 PM (MMC8r) Ah - a gambit player, I see.

Posted by: Paul Morphy at April 07, 2012 04:22 PM (BB0/w)

164 1 E4. 'Best by test!" -Bobby Fischer

Posted by: blogforce one at April 07, 2012 04:22 PM (IBzeA)

165 That should have been an 8 not a 'cool' emoticon.

Posted by: garrett at April 07, 2012 04:22 PM (lSmdC)

166 Danielle Simpson and two accomplices (his brother and his wife) broke into the home of 84-year-old Geraldine Davidson to burglarize her home. Unfortunately for Mrs. Davidson, she returned home and cuaght the trio of thugs in the act. Simpson duct-taped her mouth and bound her hands and feet with more duct tape. Simpson then put a pillow case over her head and dumped her in the trunk of her own car. Simpson and his family of animals then drove to several different locations before heading to the Neches River, where they dumped Mrs. Davidson in the river, tied to a cinder block. Think about that for a moment: these animals gagged-and-bound an 84-year old woman, tied her to a cinder block, and dumped her Â— while she was still alive and undoubtedly terrified beyond imagination Â— into a river to drown. Now, imagine that it was your grandmother. These animals drove around for hours, stopping to party, and showing her off, to their fellow thugs. http://goo.gl/9RkvC

Posted by: The Easter Puppeh at April 07, 2012 04:23 PM (gtydd)

167 I always use 1.e4.

Is it true, as I've heard, that most GMs are playing 1.d4 these days?

Posted by: OregonMuse at April 07, 2012 04:23 PM (xm1A1)

168 Back when I was playing actively, I preferred d4 (or P-Q4 in oldtimey lingo). I like those Tarantino positions. Lately playing against the computer, I've been trying e4, but I'm not all that good at attacking.

Posted by: rickl supports SMOD/Supervolcano 2012 at April 07, 2012 04:24 PM (sdi6R)

169 170 I always use 1.e4. Is it true, as I've heard, that most GMs are playing 1.d4 these days? Posted by: OregonMuse at April 07, 2012 08:23 PM (xm1A1) Yes, 1.d4 is the most common opening at master level and above play - 1.e4 is most common for everyone else

Posted by: Paul Morphy at April 07, 2012 04:25 PM (BB0/w)

170

- what is your preferred opening move?

I usually just take it out.

Posted by: Phil Titola at April 07, 2012 04:25 PM (lSmdC)

171 I love the Internet chess club. www.chessclub.com

Posted by: Splash at April 07, 2012 04:27 PM (Qs0VT)

172 173 - what is your preferred opening move? I usually just take it out. Posted by: Phil Titola at April 07, 2012 08:25 PM (lSmdC) Ah, the old Clinton counter-gambit!

Posted by: Paul Morphy at April 07, 2012 04:27 PM (BB0/w)

173 Still here Tammy, rotating through different sites.

Posted by: Polliwog, Hobbit Teahada at April 07, 2012 04:29 PM (tD5no)

174 1. a4! Always. And then spend the rest of the game defending a4. If black takes a4, tip your king.

Posted by: I want a cylon wife-hammering machine please at April 07, 2012 04:32 PM (+6ZZN)

175

e4 is the one I play the most, I hate studying openings, there are so many thick ( i mean really thick ) books with opening variations that it is not funny

The most fun is blitz chess.

There used to be an online program with a heckuva chat area, hmm, thinking, I think ChessMaster before they moved to ChessMaster 5000; there was this one clown named IGetMyKingOutFirst that was a real hoot, taught all the young-uns and old-uns the snarky way to comment in chess chat rooms. But playing him was even worse, he must have have the text You Suck on some keyboard shortcut, but when he lost he also had I Suck on one too.

Posted by: Tom_Ohio at April 07, 2012 04:33 PM (ysWJ9)

176

173 - what is your preferred opening move?

A sudden, short stop.

Posted by: Frank Costanza at April 07, 2012 04:33 PM (4q5tP)

177 Hi, I'm Milesdei and I am chess addict. When I play badly I am depressed for the rest of the day. My entire sense of worth as a human being depends on how well I play. My wife and daughter can tell when I have spent the afternoon having my ass handed to me. I am fucked up.

Posted by: Milesdei at April 07, 2012 04:40 PM (d3mlu)

178 Hello Milesdei. Welcome aboard.

Posted by: Pecos, at April 07, 2012 04:49 PM (2Gb0y)

179 Kramer pulled up short with me!

Posted by: boris spazz-key at April 07, 2012 04:59 PM (6RnvM)

180 Question: what is your favorite chess site? When I started getting back into chess, I discovered there is just no end of chess sites, and I keep discovering good ones. So please post your favorite ones worth checking out in the comments, and we will all benefit.

I'm addicted to the chess site redhotpawn.com. It's a great site for chess, but it also has a forum (called "Debates") that is frequented by people the world over in which American conservatives do verbal battle with liberals and outright commies. It is my dream that 100 of the moron horde would join the site (it's free) and give the conservatives a leg up in battling the smug liberal a-holes.

Posted by: Oregon lurker who never ever posts at April 07, 2012 05:00 PM (sXB+h)

181 Thanks Pecos. You know why I play? Because chess is the perfect merger of art and science. It is the only game where a work of art can be created by two antagonists at crossed purposes with each other. It's fascination is endless. The great players are like gods to me. I've been thinking about quitting because I don't know if I'll ever be able to put in the time necessary to play well enough against the better players in my club. But whenever I contemplate quitting, I feel craven.

Posted by: Milesdei at April 07, 2012 05:04 PM (d3mlu)

182 chess isnt inherently racist its antiMuslim, I would like the bishop renamed the mami. This administration should not tolerate less.

Posted by: Barely serious at April 07, 2012 05:07 PM (6YCf+)

183 Milesdei: I don't know your age or skill level, but what you said sounds a lot like me when I was a teenager. I was passionate about chess for a few years and studied constantly, but soon learned that I just wasn't as good as I hoped and got burned out and pretty much quit when I was 18. I'm 54 now and have played only occasionally in the ensuing years. I've gotten rusty and am probably not as good now as I was back then. But these chess threads are starting to pique my interest again. So I guess my advice is, if you're not championship caliber, just find opponents who are in your class and play for enjoyment. It might be necessary to just walk away from it for a while and clear your head, then go back to it with a more casual attitude. However, I do feel a tinge of regret for all the years I've let go by without playing.

Posted by: rickl supports SMOD/Supervolcano 2012 at April 07, 2012 06:12 PM (sdi6R)

184 It is an honor to be called a Moron on the pages of the World's Finest Moron Blog (WFMB). Thank you.

Posted by: RC Speck at April 07, 2012 07:03 PM (qkrBd)

185 Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

Posted by: steevy at April 07, 2012 07:16 PM (7W3wI)

186 I joined the Chess Club my junior year in the high school I transferred to after my father passed. I am blind in one eye, but I did play a player who was completely blind. Not only did he consistenly win against me, I learned to appreciate what I do have, not what I do not.

Posted by: Mike G. at April 07, 2012 07:35 PM (bH/96)

187 ICC. Internet chess club. It has all of the top Grandmasters as well as plenty of wiseguys and patzers. There is chat rooms for everything . Religion- ch. 103. political stuff is ch. 97. Huge flamewars between the Bolshevik-Obommunist cabal against the Radcons of which I am proud to be called many times. A great site. $50.00 a year but free for the first week. Check it out!

Posted by: blogforce one at April 07, 2012 08:12 PM (IBzeA)

188 Played that same game as a teenager. Just sayin'...

Posted by: torabora at April 07, 2012 08:22 PM (95soh)

189 Great game ! If you missed the opening, you would think you'd time tunneled back to the 19th century. White sacrifices multiple pieces, black tries to hold on, but his king is driven to the 8th rank. Former C/B class player myself, my standard opening as white, f4, Bird's Opening. Generally did well with it, but tended to be drawish. Also used e4, and dealt with whatever black played. If the response was e5, I liked the Vienna Game. As black against e4 I almost always played e5. Against d4, mostly played d5, or sometimes Nf6. Chess sites, been a while but I remember chess base as being good.

Posted by: jbarntt at April 07, 2012 11:44 PM (UNFot)

190 GameknotDOTcom

best chess site on the web, I've been playing on it for 2 years, and I'm really improving.

Posted by: Rob at April 08, 2012 06:50 AM (XOtYi)

191 I'm a lurking reader. I've just been spending 5-6 years (including 3 years in the Army as a counter-insurgency trainer and a little over a year at Dept. of State as an encryption analyst) hyper-engaging myself in quiet study. NRO, Ace, HotAir, Powerline, Bill Whittle, Real Clear Politics, Archer (not sure if that really belongs), etc. On the paper-based front, I've been reading Andy McCarthy, Fouad Ajami, stuff on the Iranian hostage crisis in 1979 (the book by Mark Bowden, specifically), global economy (Niall Ferguson's Civilization was excellent), etc. So, that makes me a lurking reader. I've wanted to comment numerous times, but I see that as a sort of duty - once you start, you have an obligation to offer opinions and share information that happens to be in your personal purview. For me, that includes international affairs, military science, and the Middle East (I also speak/read/write/study Arabic). That's a potentially serious investment of time for a 27-year-old single father taking 14 credits this semester. But I'll try to throw my 2 cents in from time-to-time.

Posted by: SterlingtheBandit at April 08, 2012 07:42 AM (m55qO)

192

http://chesstempo.com/

Thousands and thousands of problems (from real games)

and endgame practice. Watch your rating climb as you

practice. Basic access if free. For a few bucks the site becomes very powerful. The best online chess site I've seen. And I've seen a few.

Posted by: Bobby Fisher at April 08, 2012 11:30 AM (bBjHO)

193 My favorite chess site is Chess.com. It is probably THE BEST chess site out there on the web.

Posted by: Jared A. at April 08, 2012 11:16 PM (wZO96)

194 My chess blog is great! Linked on my name...okay chess.com and Free Internet Chess Server are both very good, too.

Posted by: Robert at April 09, 2012 11:18 AM (ChdQf)

195 Oh yeah, also lurker NO MORE!