Chess: Do you play?

[Pgballer17]

I play once in a while and I think its really fun.

 

[gambitnut]

I enjoy playing over the board and have several chess sets, including a shot glass chess set, but I find it easier to play online these days. I usually play on the FICS, but I've played on Yahoo in the past and am willing to play elsewhere if anybody has a good site to play chess. I'm always looking for a game.

 

[Dumpy]

I used to play a lot. My highlight was probably finding a 14-move forced mate in the U.S. Open, that started with a queen sac, which got some attention from some masters. The funny thing was that I was playing poorly up to that point. I could never find something like that now. The problem with modern chess is that you have to spend a lot of time memorizing openings to play well, and as a result everyone studies the wrong things. Anyway, I used to play exclusively the pirc against 1.e4 and the king's indian against 1.d4. Now, I prefer the sicilian against 1.e4 and any indian defense against 1.d4. As White, I used to play 1.d4 exclusively (well, sometimes I'd play the KIA), but I don't like facing the Nimzo-Indian. I recently learned that you can avoid facing the Nimzo by swapping the move order, and opening with 1.Nf3, and following with 2.d4 or 2.c4. That's Kramnik's trick. I'd like to start playing that way, but first I am trying to get a collection of Kramnik's games to study.

 

[Lavalamp]

Lol, well compared to Dumpy and some other players. I'm definitely a total noob, but I enjoyed playing chess when it wasn't against people better than me.

And although I don't think its a sport, its a great game, and its better than some sports. Race walking for example, and in my personal preferences I enjoy it more than Golf, Tennis, and Hockey as long as I don't play the same undefeatable opponent more than once.

 

[Dumpy]

I can't focus anywhere nearly as well as when I was younger. Once I played a grandmaster and as expected, he absolutely crushed me. It was a lot of fun. It's a rare opportunity where amateurs--even average or below-average amateurs--can play some of the top players in the country or world. Imagine entering a tennis tournament and facing Agassi? Never happen. Also, you have an opportunity to interact with some of the top players in the world, also. I have a friend who used to play, and once he was playing in a tournament, and after one game he was analzying the moves with his opponent [it is common to go over the game with your oppponent afterwords and discuss what you were thinking before each move; can you imagine opposing NFL headcoaches getting together to discuss their game plans?], and the then-U.S. Champion came over and helped them analyze it. Again can you imagine getting a tutorial and being able to interact with the U.S. Champion in any other environment? A lot of high-level chess players stick to themselves--many don't even speak English--but some are down-to-earth and friendly and helpful.

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy @ Jan 21 2008, 08:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I used to play a lot. My highlight was probably finding a 14-move forced mate in the U.S. Open, that started with a queen sac, which got some attention from some masters. The funny thing was that I was playing poorly up to that point. I could never find something like that now. The problem with modern chess is that you have to spend a lot of time memorizing openings to play well, and as a result everyone studies the wrong things. Anyway, I used to play exclusively the pirc against 1.e4 and the king's indian against 1.d4. Now, I prefer the sicilian against 1.e4 and any indian defense against 1.d4. As White, I used to play 1.d4 exclusively (well, sometimes I'd play the KIA), but I don't like facing the Nimzo-Indian. I recently learned that you can avoid facing the Nimzo by swapping the move order, and opening with 1.Nf3, and following with 2.d4 or 2.c4. That's Kramnik's trick. I'd like to start playing that way, but first I am trying to get a collection of Kramnik's games to study.</div>

I ran this post through Babel Fish, but no matter what language I tried it just came up gobbledygook.

 

[Dumpy]

Bogart played chess, and there's a story about how once he was filiming a movie in north africa (may have been casablanca, but I don't know the full story), and playing chess by mail with someone in the U.S., and the C.I.A. intercepted his moves and thought he was sending coded messages and was involved in espionage.

 

[Lavalamp]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy @ Jan 21 2008, 11:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I can't focus anywhere nearly as well as when I was younger. Once I played a grandmaster and as expected, he absolutely crushed me. It was a lot of fun. It's a rare opportunity where amateurs--even average or below-average amateurs--can play some of the top players in the country or world. Imagine entering a tennis tournament and facing Agassi? Never happen. Also, you have an opportunity to interact with some of the top players in the world, also. I have a friend who used to play, and once he was playing in a tournament, and after one game he was analzying the moves with his opponent [it is common to go over the game with your oppponent afterwords and discuss what you were thinking before each move; can you imagine opposing NFL headcoaches getting together to discuss their game plans?], and the then-U.S. Champion came over and helped them analyze it. Again can you imagine getting a tutorial and being able to interact with the U.S. Champion in any other environment? A lot of high-level chess players stick to themselves--many don't even speak English--but some are down-to-earth and friendly and helpful.</div>

Well that is definitely a neat atmosphere that can happen in Chess that less unlikely to happen in other competitions, Basketball, Tennis, etc. Possibly because the top sports stars are in the media all the time, and wouldn't be able to walk into a building with 10 people jumping on them. But to learn from/talk with the best in the competition is cool.

They are probably also more comfortable sharing knowledge with amateurs, because they know that amateurs have absolutely no chance of getting anywhere near the level they are at. I'd be surprized if the top 5 competitors were helping each other out. (unless they are like childhood friends)

 

[Dumpy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lavalamp @ Jan 21 2008, 01:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy @ Jan 21 2008, 11:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I can't focus anywhere nearly as well as when I was younger. Once I played a grandmaster and as expected, he absolutely crushed me. It was a lot of fun. It's a rare opportunity where amateurs--even average or below-average amateurs--can play some of the top players in the country or world. Imagine entering a tennis tournament and facing Agassi? Never happen. Also, you have an opportunity to interact with some of the top players in the world, also. I have a friend who used to play, and once he was playing in a tournament, and after one game he was analzying the moves with his opponent [it is common to go over the game with your oppponent afterwords and discuss what you were thinking before each move; can you imagine opposing NFL headcoaches getting together to discuss their game plans?], and the then-U.S. Champion came over and helped them analyze it. Again can you imagine getting a tutorial and being able to interact with the U.S. Champion in any other environment? A lot of high-level chess players stick to themselves--many don't even speak English--but some are down-to-earth and friendly and helpful.</div>

Well that is definitely a neat atmosphere that can happen in Chess that less unlikely to happen in other competitions, Basketball, Tennis, etc. Possibly because the top sports stars are in the media all the time, and wouldn't be able to walk into a building with 10 people jumping on them. But to learn from/talk with the best in the competition is cool.

They are probably also more comfortable sharing knowledge with amateurs, because they know that amateurs have absolutely no chance of getting anywhere near the level they are at. I'd be surprized if the top 5 competitors were helping each other out. (unless they are like childhood friends)
</div>

You have to understand, there are no secrets in chess. Everyone has access to and studies the games of the other top players. In world championship matches, the contenders will hire some of the best players in the world to help them prepare--that is, help them find "novelties"--moves that have never been played before. Psychology plays a large part of the game also.

 

[Lavalamp]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy @ Jan 21 2008, 02:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lavalamp @ Jan 21 2008, 01:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy @ Jan 21 2008, 11:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I can't focus anywhere nearly as well as when I was younger. Once I played a grandmaster and as expected, he absolutely crushed me. It was a lot of fun. It's a rare opportunity where amateurs--even average or below-average amateurs--can play some of the top players in the country or world. Imagine entering a tennis tournament and facing Agassi? Never happen. Also, you have an opportunity to interact with some of the top players in the world, also. I have a friend who used to play, and once he was playing in a tournament, and after one game he was analzying the moves with his opponent [it is common to go over the game with your oppponent afterwords and discuss what you were thinking before each move; can you imagine opposing NFL headcoaches getting together to discuss their game plans?], and the then-U.S. Champion came over and helped them analyze it. Again can you imagine getting a tutorial and being able to interact with the U.S. Champion in any other environment? A lot of high-level chess players stick to themselves--many don't even speak English--but some are down-to-earth and friendly and helpful.</div>

Well that is definitely a neat atmosphere that can happen in Chess that less unlikely to happen in other competitions, Basketball, Tennis, etc. Possibly because the top sports stars are in the media all the time, and wouldn't be able to walk into a building with 10 people jumping on them. But to learn from/talk with the best in the competition is cool.

They are probably also more comfortable sharing knowledge with amateurs, because they know that amateurs have absolutely no chance of getting anywhere near the level they are at. I'd be surprized if the top 5 competitors were helping each other out. (unless they are like childhood friends)
</div>

You have to understand, there are no secrets in chess. Everyone has access to and studies the games of the other top players. In world championship matches, the contenders will hire some of the best players in the world to help them prepare--that is, help them find "novelties"--moves that have never been played before. Psychology plays a large part of the game also.

</div>

I find there are a lot of secrets in chess. lol, I only know a few moves. Like the 4 move checkmate lol.

 

[pegs]

I like playing chess. Not that I'm all that great at it...but I can at least beat my friends.

 

[M Two One]

Good to know you're always up for a game, Gambitnut.