SA Footy

anybody a chess fan? rating online, good sites and hints? favorite openings?

unknown source wrote:favorite openings?

Must resist the temptation for humerous quip, must resist the temptation for humerous quip, struggling.............

I had never played chess until Mrs ZZ taught me a few years ago. Really enjoyed it and thought I was the bees knees, with the apprentice consistently beating the master. But then I tried my luck against a friend who had been playing chess all his life. He defeated me in about 3 moves. Don't think I've ever played since

unknown source wrote:anybody a chess fan? rating online, good sites and hints? favorite openings?

In my 20s I used to say International Olympic Strip Chess was my favourite sport.
I wasn't bad at chess, but I wasn't consistent, just like my golf - I'm the sporting type and can't resist the risky options, which sometimes pay off and sometimes don't.
I'm not disciplined enough by nature to stick to the conventional moves in any game, or any sport.

Don't play it myself, but I know at least three blokes who play it seriously, as a formal "sport", for want of a better word. One of them used to read books of chess moves, committing them all to memory as best he could. Another one of them represented Australia internationally when he was a kid, or so I am led to believe. The same guy also knocked off a grandmaster a few years ago. Not surprised, since he is also related to a Fields medallist.

I don't see the attraction myself, but I think this variant would make for a good spectator sport:

http://wcbo.org/content/e14/index_en.html

I can play.

But never been able to beat a computer @ beginner level...

Can win in 3 moves.

Played at school a little bit and enjoy the odd game now and then.
Generally can beat social players but anyone who ever went into the chess centre on the weekends or school holidays usually has my number.

Openings? Not sure what it's called but my favourite start is fairly simple, I like getting the bishop out and moving the knight up going for the fork on the Queen/Rook combo.

Trader wrote:s fairly simple, I like getting the bishop out and moving the knight up going for the fork on the Queen/Rook combo.

If there is an award for "most double entendres employed in a single post", then I nominate the above.

Pseudo wrote:

Trader wrote:s fairly simple, I like getting the bishop out and moving the knight up going for the fork on the Queen/Rook combo.

If there is an award for "most double entendres employed in a single post", then I nominate the above.

Played chess thru high school, and had the privelige of beating one of the school's science teachers, who was regarded as one of the best players in town.

Don't think I've played since, except against the computer..

any good sites for beginners that you can play online?

I'm registered with www.chesscorner.net - find it quite relaxing to have a few games on the go against international players and every evening when I come home from work I go to the website and continue with the ongoing games. Most of the players are UK/USA/Europe so you generally spend only a few minutes making your move, which the website then sends an email to your opponent notifying them of your move. If by chance your opponent happens to be live on the website, then you can sit there and play move for move.You can enter into tournaments or you can just play casual games - they have a rating system so you can choose the likely ability of your opponent. You have the choice of paying about $20-$25 to become a member of the site - I did that just so it opened up all the features of the website to me and made it easier to set up matches or you can remain a non-paying member if you choose to.

Ah...............CHESS............... MASTER.....
I have been schooled in this form of competition from the age of 5.
I initially have partaken in tournaments through school and won most.
I became involved in competition after that for SA Chess.
Wow if you want to see rugged and tough competition join that club you will be surprised.
But please be able to cope with losing to someone you would believe to be below your level.
I have played internationally and done well, but look out for the young prodigy’s they leave you for dead and if winning/loosing is the big driver in your push forward well go elsewhere.
(I note the teaching in the sport to the kids seems to be positive.)

Love playing chess, but I am utter tripe at it.

They say chess is the "thinking mans game"

hence why I've never quite got it

Even a chess genius by the name of Alan (I think - he used to write the chess column in the advertiser/Sunday Mail back in the day) could teach me the game, not for a lack of trying!

That and Canasta - could never get my head around either...

My dad taught me how to play chess when I was a kid. I only ever beat him once - when I was 17. He never let me win - plus he's one of those people that can't stand to lose but are INSUFFERABLE when they win - so I was pretty proud of myself that day!

fisho mcspaz wrote:My dad taught me how to play chess when I was a kid. I only ever beat him once - when I was 17. He never let me win - plus he's one of those people that can't stand to lose but are INSUFFERABLE when they win - so I was pretty proud of myself that day!

I didn’t have a daughter but that is how I treated my son’s! Isolate those days they may triumph against me, so I can “show off” for longer. Hated loosing. That competitive streak is interesting to watch when I now watch them partake in sport themselves. It can destroy (or make) Saturday nights/weekends/weeks. But we all have it, makes the life of the one woman in the family hard to deal with no matter how involved with the clubs she is, just cannot understand the competitive streak.