"The words of truth are simple." ― Aeschylus

"It is only after our basic needs for food and shelter have been met that we can hope to enjoy the luxury of theoretical speculations." ― Aristotle.

"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain." — Dolly Parton

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." — Groucho Marx

"If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things." — Albert Einstein

"Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." — Babe Ruth

John 14:6
"<I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.>" ― Jesus Christ

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned." ― Buddha

"No legacy is so rich as honesty." ― William Shakespeare

"Of chess it has been said that life is not long enough for it, but that is the fault of life, not chess." ― William Napier / Irving Chernev

"Winning needs no explanation, losing has no alibi." ― Greg Baum.

"A determined soul will do more with a rusty monkey wrench than a loafer will accomplish with all the tools in a machine shop." ― Robert Hughes

"Chess is a fairy tale of 1,001 blunders." ― Savielly Tartakower

"Pawns are the soul of the game." ― François-André Danican Philidor

"The king pawn and the queen pawn are the only ones to be moved in the early part of the game." ― Wilhelm Steinitz

"I believe that it is best to know a 'dubious' opening really well, rather than a 'good' opening only slightly." ― Simon Williams

"There is no such thing as an absolutely freeing move. A freeing move in a position in which development has not been carried far always proves illusory, and vice versa, a move which does not come at all in the category of freeing moves can, given a surplus of tempi to our credit, lead to a very free game." ― Aron Nimzowitsch

"You may knock your opponent down with the chessboard, but that does not prove you the better player." ― English Proverb

"For a period of ten years--between 1946 and 1956--Reshevsky was probably the best chessplayer in the world. I feel sure that had he played a match with Botvinnik during that time he would have won and been World Champion." ― Bobby Fischer

"I believe that true beauty of chess is more than enough to satisfy all possible demands." ― Alexander Alekhine

"We cannot resist the fascination of sacrifice, since a passion for sacrifices is part of a chessplayer's nature." ― Rudolf Spielmann

"To play for a draw, at any rate with white, is to some degree a crime against chess." ― Mikhail Tal

"Boring? Who's boring? I am Fredthebear. My mind is always active, busy. If you're bored, follow your uncle around or go ride your bike."

"Capa's games looked as though they were turned out by a lathe, while Alekhine's resembled something produced with a mallet and chisel." ― Charles Yaffe

"Whereas Anderssen and Chigorin looked for accidental positions, Capablanca is guided by the logicality of strong positions. He values only that which is well-founded: solidity of position, pressure on a weak point, he does not trust the accidental, even if it be a problem-like mate, at the required moment he discovers and carries out subtle and far-sighted combinations..." ― Emanuel Lasker

"Capablanca possessed an amazing ability to quickly see into a position and intuitively grasp its main features. His style, one of the purest, most crystal-clear in the entire history of chess, astonishes one with its logic." ― Garry Kasparov

"Chess is an infinitely complex game, which one can play in infinitely numerous and varied ways." ― Vladimir Kramnik

"It's all to do with the training: you can do a lot if you're properly trained." ― Queen Elizabeth II

"The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat. So people who don't know what they're doing, or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self." — Joe Fox (Tom Hanks), You've Got Mail

"The future reshapes the memory of the past in the way it recalibrates significance: some episodes are advanced, others lose purchase." ― Gregory Maguire, A Lion Among Men

"Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic weapons." ― Douglas MacArthur

"Old habits die hard, especially for soldiers." ― Jocelyn Murray, The Roman General: A Novel

"In chess, as in life, a man is his own most dangerous opponent." — Vasily Smyslov

"Win with grace, lose with dignity!" ― Susan Polgar

"What does it take to be a champion? Desire, dedication, determination, personal and professional discipline, focus, concentration, strong nerves, the will to win, and yes, talent!" ― Susan Polgar

"No matter how successful you are (or will be), never ever forget the people who helped you along the way, and pay it forward! Don't become arrogant and conceited just because you gained a few rating points or made a few bucks. Stay humble and be nice, especially to your fans!" ― Susan Polgar

All that glitters is not gold – this line can be found in a text from c.1220: ‘ Nis hit nower neh gold al that ter schineth.'

A friend in need is a friend indeed – a proverb from c.1035 say this: ‘Friend shall be known in time of need.'

All's well that ends well – a line from the mid-13th century is similar: ‘Wel is him te wel ende mai.' Meanwhile, Henry Knighton's Chronicle from the late 14th-century one can read: ‘ If the ende be wele, than is alle wele.'

Hay dos maneras de hermosura: una del alma y otra del cuerpo; la del alma campea y se muestra en el entendimiento, en la honestidad, en el buen proceder, en la liberalidad y en la buena crianza, y todas estas partes caben y pueden estar en un hombre feo; y cuando se pone la mira en esta hermosura, y no en la del cuerpo, suele nacer el amor con ímpetu y con ventajas. (There are two kinds of beauty: one of the soul and the other of the body; that of the soul shows and demonstrates itself in understanding, in honesty, in good behavior, in generosity and in good breeding, and all these things can find room and exist in an ugly man; and when one looks at this type of beauty, and not bodily beauty, love is inclined to spring up forcefully and overpoweringly.) ― Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616)

Cuando una puerta se cierra, otra se abre. (When one door is closed, another is opened.) ― Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616)

Dijo la sartén a la caldera, quítate allá ojinegra. (The frying pan said to the cauldron, "Get out of here, black-eyed one." This is believed to be the source of the phrase "the pot calling the kettle black.") ― Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

<chess writer and poet Henry Thomas Bland.

Another example of his way with words is the start of ‘Internal Fires', a poem published on page 57 of the March 1930 American Chess Bulletin:

I used to play chess with the dearest old chap,
Whom naught could upset whatever might hap.
He'd oft lose a game he might well have won
But made no excuse for what he had done.
If a piece he o'erlooked and got it snapped up

He took it quite calmly and ne'er ‘cut up rough'.>

"You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore." ― William Faulkner

"Sometimes in life, and in chess, you must take one step back to take two steps forward." — IM Levy Rozman, GothamChess

So much, much, much better to be an incurable optimist than deceitful and untrustworthy.

Old Russian Proverb: "Scythe over a stone." (Нашла коса на камень.) The force came over a stronger force.

"It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things." ― Leonardo da Vinci

* Tic-Tac-Toe is Easy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNF...

* A Brief History of Chess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeB...

* A Brief History of the Game of Chess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2a...

* Chess for Beginners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU6...

* Learn Chess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adY...

* Learn Chess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGu...

* Learn ALL the Rules of the Royal Game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej_...

* Ladder Checkmate with Two Rooks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaQ...

* Checkmate with King and Rook vs lone King: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yf...

* Checkmate with Two Bishops: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN7...

* Chess Equipment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLA...

* The Opposition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52y...

* King and Pawn vs King (both kings want to be in front of the pawn to affect it's progress): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvB...

* How dumb is it? Game Collection: Diemer-Duhm Gambit

* Jupiter, Pluto, or Mars? https://www.urduchess.com/chess-gra...

* Kolisch: https://chessgospinny.blogspot.com/...

* Basic Endgames: Game Collection: Basic Endings Compiled by avidfan 100 Best Books

* Three Dog Night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l52...

* Son of Three Dog Knight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4N...

* Arabian Checkmate Pattern: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejh...

* Basic Checkmates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y-...

* Most Common Opening Mistake (Four Knights, Italian Variation): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xrp...

* Scotch Game, Four Knights Variation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcn...

* Top 4 Traps in the Center Game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8f...

* Top 4 Vienna Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb7...

* Top 4 Scholar's Mates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr4...

* More Scholar's Mates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUN...

* Top 4 Fishing Pole Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11N...

* Top 4 Excellent Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTS...

* 1.d4 Response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ-...

* Top 3 Versions of the Italian Game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CP...

* Top 5 Versions of the Italian Game Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-2...

* Top 4 Aggressive 1.e4 e5 Openings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Tm...

* Top 5 Traps after 1.e4 e5 for White: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YW...

* 5 Chess traps in Giuoco Piano Opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny7...

* Italian Game Variations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xh...

* Garry Kasparov's Checkmate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuP...

* 5 Best Traps for White: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5t...

* Max Lange Attack instead of the Fried Liver Attack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI7...

* Top 5 Traps in the Bishop's Opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9l...

* Top 5 King Pawn Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS2...

* King's Gambit critique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrW...

* Top 5 More Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar9...

* Top 5 Famous Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJU...

* Top 5 Fastest Traps to Know: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veZ...

* Top 5 Underrated Openings Against the Sicilian Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hsh...

* 1.d4 d5 Ryder Gambit, Halosar Trap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZq...

* Top 6 Opening Checkmates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRu...

* Top 7 Aggressive Chess Openings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib8...

* Wing Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODK...

* Mengarini Gambit?! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecd...

* MC plays the Mengarini: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XH...

* Top 8 Versions of the Scotch Trap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbu...

* Underrated Scotch Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8n...

* Scotch Gambit for White: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYP...

* Scotch Gambit Trap for White: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC-...

* Learn the Scotch Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Nr...

* Scotch, Goring Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0F...

* Haxo Gambit vs Nge7?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgm...

* Haxo Gambit hammer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3om...

* Top 10 Fastest Checkmates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctP...

* Find Mate-in-One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOa...

* 10 Well-Known Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf8...

* 10 Most Deadly Opening Traps to Know: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyE...

* 10 Ruy Lopez Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ztm...

* Common Mistakes in the Ruy Lopez Opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y96...

* You are going to lose a lot of chess games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W4...

* Don't Hang Your Piece! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hz...

* DGT North American Chess Clock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qkh...

* Electronic chessboard isn't necessary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOn...

* Elements of Chess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2C...

* Easy to Learn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--D...

* No such thing as "Best Opening": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agU...

* Endgame Fundamentals: King & Pawn vs King: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLy...

* Types of Opposition of the Kings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3o...

* Pillsbury's Greek Gift: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNC...

* Punish Opening Errors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkL...

* A Thought Process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rZ...

* A Practical Thought: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ-...

* Quick Smothered Mate in the Budapest Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpe...

* Tips for Knights & More: http://www.chesssets.co.uk/blog/tip...

* Beautiful Knight Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_3...

* Knight's Tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab_...

* Knight vs Pawn Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4f...

* Trompowsky Attack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrK...

* Trompowsky vs Naroditsky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILY...

* Top 10 Tactics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpl...

* Rajnish Das Tips: https://enthu.com/blog/chess/chess-...

* Removing the Defender: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6Y...

* Decoy onto the square for ambush there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdI...

* All 54 Tactics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY8...

* Alapin Sicilian for Beginners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY-...

* Alapin Sicilian Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ezy...

* Alapin Sicilian Never Disappoints: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzd...

* Chess Rules: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk1...

* Chess Clock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a10...

* Crazy Ending: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM_...

* Cultural History of Chess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWN...

* First Chess Game Ever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC4...

* Nelson explains his thought process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KN...

* How the Chess Clock Works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tgg...

* How to Handle Losing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrg...

* His First OTB Chess Tournament: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUi...

* How Not to Blunder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8Y...

* A Thought Process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rZ...

* Analysis Made Easy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y4...

* Attack the Fianchetto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF6...

* Destroy g6, Bg7 Modern Robatsch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv_...

* The Modern Defense: Wikipedia article: Modern Defense

* Attack w/the London System: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmq...

* London System vs KID: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU2...

* Rosen's London System vs KID: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W2...

* Anti-London System: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUB...

* Beat the London System: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U-...

* Crush the London System: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qg...

* London System Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTu...

* Beginner Guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR-...

* Don't Blunder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jO...

* Blunder Less: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYy...

* Nimzo-Larsen Attack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwC...

* 1.b3: Game Collection: Nimzo Larsen attack (1. b3!) - Opening Ideas

* Black against 1.b3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpw...

* Owen's Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkf...

* Owen's Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF7...

* Queen's Fianchetto for White and Black: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O24...

* IM Lawrence Trent (not speaking) advocates 1...b6 against ALL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlW...

* More ...b6 against ALL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKn...

* Naselwaus Gambit vs Owen's Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBv...

* Botvinnik System: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmi...

* Basics of the Caro-Kann Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8a...

* Brief Caro-Kann Defense Variations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ-...

* Black stops losing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgX...

* Use the Caro-Kann Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtP...

* Three Caro-Kann Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNp...

* The Caro-Kann Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3H...

* Beat the Caro-Kann Quickly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhj...

* Crush the Caro-Kann: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXv...

* The Caro-Kann, Advance Variation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npq...

* Gokerkan vs Niemann 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gw...

* Classical Caro-Kann Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA1...

* Main Ideas of the Caro-Kann Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pN...

* Magnus plays the Caro-Kann Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDa...

* Karpov's Caro-Kann Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa4...

* ...c6 against all by Hansen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCZ...

* ...c6 speedrun by Hansen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDU...

* Instructive Caro-Kann: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLp...

* Dangerous Caro-Kann: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI_...

* C-K Advance, Botvinnik-Carls Variation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWb...

* Caro-Kann, Fantasy Variation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4e...

* Caro-Kann, Korchnoi Variation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF3...

* Complete Caro-Kann: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmZ...

* Chessbase: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZl...

* Chessbase: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS_...

* Chess Evolution: Game Collection: # Chess Evolution Volumes 1-50

* Faster Learning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClS...

* Flashcards Fix Your Failures by reminding you of the right way to go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvH...

* Flashcard Converter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B4...

* Flashcard Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isy...

* Free Tools: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-n...

* French Defense, Rubinstein Variation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jR...

* Five Gambits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48W...

* King's Gambit, Queen's Gambit in Style: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-w...

* Halloween Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XK...

* Icelandic Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gj...

* Improvement is COMMITTMENT, DEDICATION, DESIRE, and PERSEVERENCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCB...

* Improvement Book Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Up... This book appears to be for advanced players who already know the material listed above.

* Solve Puzzles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWz...

* How to Solve (Don't immediately look for your next move -- survey the board instead!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUr...

* Save the Game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGz...

* Magnus sees a way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xkq...

* Amazing Stafford Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uh...

* Killer Stafford Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUL...

* Stafford Gambit Tricks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q2...

* Stafford Gambit lines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFb...

* Best Stafford Gambit Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIe...

* Improved Stafford Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_p...

* The Bob Ross of Chess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag0...

* The Pride of the Yankees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPy...

* The detailed history of chess: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show...

* Englund Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSh...

* Crush the Englund Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABg...

* Crush the Englund Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5q...

* Englund Gambit Queen Sacrifice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcM...

* Englund Gambit Famous? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXX...

* Englund Gambit Stockholm Variation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx2...

* Oh no, my knight! Trap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oks...

* One Year 0-1700: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYC...

* Find the Best Move: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmF...

* Three Most Common: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6x...

* d4 Disclaimer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5z...

* Fundamentals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSv...

* Alireza Firouzja Attacks with the Jobava London System! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wG...

* Facing ...Bf5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6p...

* Learn Danya's: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLb...

* Magnus sends g4 early: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNE...

* Hansen has a go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTG...

* Roswell, GA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgE...

* Sidelines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-T...

* Slav Lines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3s...

* 3...a6 Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFS...

* 3...g6 Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3S...

* Naroditsky's Lab: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN8...

* New JLo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnG...

* Rapport System: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBj...

* Nutty Tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAF...

* No such thing as Free ELO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMt...

* Rapport Speedrun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGb...

* Run to 2000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBn...

* Romanian Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8p...

* Benoni Indian ...c5, ...Qb6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2P...

* KID: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKy...

* KID: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4O...

* Na6 Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhF...

* Middlegame: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=261...

* Jim's Middlegame Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vC...

* What happens if...? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnS...

* Queen Endgames: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxG...

* Hubner vs Kasparov 1992: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwR...

* Karpov's Immortal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUd...

* Queen's Gambit Complete: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfO...

* Queen's Gambit Fast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEm...

* Queen's Gambit According to BoJanglles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXM...

* Top 5 Queen's Gambit Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqI...

* Queen's Gambit Accepted Tricks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx2...

* Magnus opens classically: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbs...

* Kostya's QGD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie_...

* Queen's Gambit Concepts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYB...

* Queen's Gambit Tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAt...

* QGD, Slav D: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HT...

* The Slav D in 10 minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs5...

* Slav Main Line dxc4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnH...

* 4...Bf5? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDY...

* 4...a6 Slav: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcp...

* Beginner Mistakes in the Slav: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTL...

* Cheery Slav: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq-...

* Chessbase Slav: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Suk...

* Chameleon Slav: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rW...

* ...a6 Slav: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsD...

* Beat the Slav: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeY...

* MC plays the Slav: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAT...

* Defeat the Slav: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQX...

* Lifetime Slav: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGD...

* Unbreakable Slav: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBN...

* Ben's QGD lecture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOW...

* Fundamentals of the Semi-Slav: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFc...

* Kevin's Semi-Slav: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ll...

* Kostya's Semi-Slav: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgy...

* MC plays the Semi-Slav: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqT...

* Semi-Slav Pathways: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB7...

* Semi-Slav, Meran Action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykn...

* Last Play of Every Super Bowl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9J...

* Learn the Stonewall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_b...

* Pillsbury's Stonewall Attack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR5...

* The Stonewall Sucks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwv...

* Stonewall Alteration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzI...

* Against the Stonewall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33M...

* Black Stonewall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeW...

* Simon's Classical Dutch w/d6, not d5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt8...

* 2.Bg5 Hopton Attack vs the Dutch Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dr...

* Another 2.Bg5 destroys the Dutch Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cvo...

* Crush 2.Bg5 with the Dutch Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeK...

* Prep for a Tournament: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpv...

* Never Do This: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b1...

* Unnecessary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz0...

* IM Rosen Stalemate Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB_...

* How to Sicilian Taimanov: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiv...

* MC goes nuclear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLo...

* Regrettable Pawn Moves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI0...

* Shortcuts: Game Collection: 21+ Too Fast French Kisses

* She's right, but there are plenty of others: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw5...

* Space Advantages: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLL...

* Time Controls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljp...

* Tricks to Turn It Around: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxV...

* Trading Pieces: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wg...

* Trade Queens? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIG...

* Evaluate Exchanges: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNG...

* When to Exchange: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D2...

* What is YOUR study plan? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6Y...

* Wild Africa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlk...

* The Opposition and Outflanking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X1...

* King and Pawn vs King: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z52...

* Knight and Pawn Endgames: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHW...

* Queen vs Knight Endgames: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex1...

* Principles of Rook and Pawn Endgames: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXl...

* Unusual Openings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJQ...

* A trap in Grob's Opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P50...

* Pulverize Grob's Opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTs...

* Tricks in Grob's Attack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESt...

* The Grob is TERRIBLE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wB...

* Basman's / Borg's Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThK...

* Mike explains Borg's Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Res...

* Last Play of the World Series 1943-1973: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzt...

* Last Play of Every Modern World Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkD...

* Tricks to Trap the Queen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmU...

* Tricks to Win a Queen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfS...

* Queen Traps in the Scandinavian D: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syr...

* Trap the Queen in the Tennison Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZt...

* Top 10 Traps of the Queens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZh...

* White, Black Trap the Queen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olz...

* Win the Queen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ8...

* More Tricks to Trap the Queen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd0...

* Qxb2 Poisoned Pawn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74h...

* Levy shows us more traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fot...

* Richard Reti Does It Again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9z...

* Five Step Thinking Method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eeg...

* 100 Laws of Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCq...

* Top 10 Chess Moves Ever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I32...

* Zwischenzug: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U9...

The Raven Wishing To Imitate The Eagle

The bird of Jove bore off a mutton,
A raven being witness.
That weaker bird, but equal glutton,
Not doubting of his fitness
To do the same with ease,
And bent his taste to please,
Took round the flock his sweep,
And marked among the sheep,
The one of fairest flesh and size,
A real sheep of sacrifice –
A dainty titbit bestial,
Reserved for mouth celestial.
Our gormand, gloating round,
Cried, "Sheep, I wonder much
Who could have made you such.
You're far the fattest I have found;
I'll take you for my eating."
And on the creature bleating
He settled down. Now, sooth to say,
This sheep would weigh
More than a cheese;
And had a fleece
Much like that matting famous
Which graced the chin of Polyphemus;
So fast it clung to every claw,
It was not easy to withdraw.
The shepherd came, caught, caged, and, to their joy, Gave croaker to his children for a toy.

Ill plays the pilferer the bigger thief;
One's self one ought to know; – in brief,
Example is a dangerous lure;
Death strikes the gnat, where flies the wasp secure.

The most common wild bird in the world isn't the sparrow or blue jay—it's the red-billed quelea, which live in Africa and have an estimated population of 1.5 billion.

"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." — Charles R. Swindoll

"When you have the better of it, play simply. When the game is going against you, look for complications." — Frank J. Marshal

"We are addicted to our thoughts. We cannot change anything if we cannot change our thinking." ― Santosh Kalwar, Quote Me Everyday

Elephants can't jump.

Octopuses have three hearts.

Cows don't actually have four stomachs; they have one stomach with four compartments.

The Two Mules

Two mules were bearing on their backs,
One, oats; the other, silver of the tax.
The latter glorying in his load,
Marched proudly forward on the road;
And, from the jingle of his bell,
It was plain he liked his burden well.
But in a wild-wood glen
A band of robber men
Rushed forth on the twain.
Well with the silver pleased,
They by the bridle seized
The treasure-mule so vain.
Poor mule! in struggling to repel
His ruthless foes, he fell
Stabbed through; and with a bitter sighing,
He cried, "Is this the lot they promised me?
My humble friend from danger free,
While, weltering in my gore, I'm dying?"
"My friend," his fellow-mule replied,
"It is not well to have one's work too high.
If you had been a miller's drudge, as I,
You would not thus have died."

Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

"Happiness is not the absence of problems, it's the ability to deal with them." ― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

If the game is well-played, the rook's first move is usually sideways.

The Winds of Fate
Ella Wheeler Wilcox

One ship drives east and another drives west
With the selfsame winds that blow.
Tis the set of the sails
And not the gales
Which tells us the way to go.
Like the winds of the seas are the ways of fate, As we voyage along through the life:
Tis the set of a soul
That decides its goal,
And not the calm or the strife.

Matthew 17:20
Our faith can move mountains.

'Finders keepers, losers weepers'
No, turn it over to Lost and Found.

Drive sober or get pulled over.

"For surely of all the drugs in the world, chess must be the most permanently pleasurable." — Assiac

Two artists had an art contest. It ended in a draw.

FACTRETRIEVER: Gummy bears were originally called "dancing bears." Sea otters have the thickest fur of any mammal, at 1 million hairs per square inch.

Golf clubs

InkHarted wrote:

Checkmate.
I started off as an equal
I have everything that they do
my life was one and the same as my foe
childish battles of lesser
I won baring cost of a little
but as time outgrew my conscience
I found that the pieces were moving against me
with time my company reduced
they left one by one
all in time forgetting me
my castles collapsed
my religion dissuaded
my protectors in hiding
I could not run anymore
I have been cornered to a wall
as the queen left silently
without saying goodbye
I could not live any longer
she was most precious to me
I could not win without her by my side
so the king knelt down and died.

They that sow the wind, shall reap the whirlwind. ― Scottish Proverb

Mark 3:25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

'Finders keepers, losers weepers'
No, turn it over to Lost and Found.

Drive sober or get pulled over.

"For surely of all the drugs in the world, chess must be the most permanently pleasurable." — Assiac

Once I asked Pillsbury whether he used any formula for castling. He said his rule was absolute and vital: castle because you will or because you must; but not because you can.' — W.E. Napier (1881-1952)

"Believe in yourself. Have faith in your abilities. Without humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy." ― Norman Vincent Peale

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." ― Martin Luther King Jr.

Psalm 107:1
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; his love endures forever.

"To what greater inspiration and counsel can we turn than to the imperishable truth to be found in this treasure house, the Bible?" — Queen Elizabeth II

"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." ― Benjamin Franklin

Better be ill spoken of by one before all than by all before one. ~ Scottish Proverb

* Weird is what you're not used to: https://chessentials.com/weird-ches...

limerick, entitled ‘The Solver's Plight' was by ‘A.J.F.' A.J. Fink and was published on page 22 of Chess Potpourri by Alfred C. Klahre (Middletown, 1931):

There was a man from Vancouver
Who tried to solve a two-mover;
But the boob, he said, ‘"Gee",
I can't find the "Kee",
No matter HOW I manouvre.'

Proverbs 14:29-35

29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who is quick-tempered * exalts folly.

30 A tranquil heart is life to the body, But passion is rottenness to the bones.

31 He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.

32 The wicked is thrust down by his wrongdoing, But the righteous has a refuge when he dies.

33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, But in the hearts of fools it is made known.

34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.

35 The king's favor is toward a servant who acts wisely, But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.

64All Zajogin cldnt login but sumhou managd tosign outr space, force, time, android K safety b4 Zamikhovsky started the clock o' time: https://24timezones.com/#/map

Chess Squares Riddle
Question: How many squares are in a chessboard?

"Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education." ― Martin Luther King Jr.

"It ain't over 'til it's over, no matter how over it looks." ― Yogi Berra

Riddle Answer: 204 squares: 64 one-by-one squares, 49 two-by-two, 36 three-by-three, 25 four-by-four, 16 five-by-five, 9 six-by-six, 4 seven-by-seven, and 1 eight-by-eight

* https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/oth...

Phone scammers are getting smarter with their tactics like AI voice scams. And if you're not careful, they could make big bucks off of you, the unsuspecting caller. Aside from hanging up if you hear this four-word phrase, there's something else you can do to avoid becoming a victim and to keep up with your smartphone security and privacy.

Certain area codes can warn potential targets that the call isn't safe, according to Joseph Steinberg, CEO of SecureMySocial. Although scam callers once used a 900 number, they've changed their methods as the general public became aware of their tactic. Now, many scam phone numbers have different area codes, including 809, which originates in the Caribbean.

Another area code to look out for may look like it's coming from the United States, but isn't. "Criminals have been known to use caller IDs with the area code 473, which appears to be domestic, but is actually the area code for the island of Grenada," Steinberg says. Watch out for these phone call scams that could steal your money, too.

By the way, those calls add up fast. You could be charged for taking a call from any of these foreign countries, according to AARP. Plus, scammers can swindle you out of your money through phony vacation scams and fake stories about danger or money problems. iPhone scams and Uber scams are also on the rise, making Apple fans and Uber users alike more wary. Make sure you know how to avoid Uber scams and how to stop spam texts on your phone.

To play it extra safe, Steinberg recommends never answering or returning a call from a number you don't recognize. If you actually know the person, they can always leave a voicemail. "Remember that it's unlikely that someone you do not know—who is in distress at a location with which you are not familiar—would dial a random number in another country and ask you to help them," he says. "They would call the police."

It can't hurt to be wary of possible scam phone numbers with the following international area codes. And watch out for these Facebook Marketplace scams before you go shopping.

Scam phone numbers: International Area Codes with a +1 Country Code

232—Sierra Leone

242 — Bahamas

246 — Barbados

268 — Antigua

284 — British Virgin Islands

345 — Cayman Islands

441 — Bermuda

473 — Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique

649 — Turks and Caicos

664 — Montserrat

721 — Sint Maarten

758 — St. Lucia

767 — Dominica

784 — St. Vincent and Grenadines

809, 829, and 849 — The Dominican Republic

868 — Trinidad and Tobago

869 — St. Kitts and Nevis

876 — Jamaica

It's important to note that scammers can create scam phone numbers by spoofing numbers from many area codes, not just the ones listed above. Remember, a good rule of thumb is if you don't recognize the phone number, don't pick up your phone and let it go to voicemail. This can help you avoid falling for common phone scams, such as those pesky car extended warranty calls.

By the way—if you are charged for picking up a scam call, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recommends contacting your phone company to try and take care of the matter. You can also file a complaint about the scam call with the FCC.

Next, read about these online scams you need to be aware of and how to avoid them. Also, read up on what doxxing is and how it sets you up to be hacked.

* The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played: 62 Masterpieces of Chess Strategy by Irving Chernev - https://lichess.org/study/KMMrJvE1

* Legendary: Game Collection: The 12 Legendary Games of the Century

"Even though chess isn't the toughest thing that computers will tackle for centuries, it stood as a handy symbol for human intelligence. No matter what human-like feat computers perform in the future, the Deep Blue match demands an indelible dot on all timelines of AI progress." ― Steven Levy

The Sofia Rules forbid agreed draws before 30 moves. The "Bilbao" scoring system awards 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss.

Q: Why are pizza jokes the worst?
A: They're too cheesy.

<"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security." ― Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence>

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) played chess. It was one of his favorite games. He started playing in his 20s and owned several nice chess sets. Dr. William Small probably introduced chess to Jefferson around 1762. Dr. Small was a professor of mathematics at the College of William and Mary who taught Jefferson.

Q: What do you call a lazy baby kangaroo?
A: A pouch potato.

"Bad company corrupts good character." ― Menander

"The man who makes everything that leads to happiness depends upon himself, and not upon other men, has adopted the very best plan for living happily. This is the man of moderation, the man of manly character and of wisdom." ― Plato

"Energy and persistence conquer all things." ― Benjamin Franklin

"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't." ― Jack Dempsey

"It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things." ― Theodore Roosevelt

"Feeling sorry for yourself, and your present condition, is not only a waste of energy but the worst habit you could possibly have." ― Dale Carnegie

Take care of your pennies and your dollars will take care of themselves. ~ Scottish Proverb

The Words Of Socrates

A house was built by Socrates
That failed the public taste to please.
Some blamed the inside; some, the out; and all
Agreed that the apartments were too small.
Such rooms for him, the greatest sage of Greece! "I ask," said he, "no greater bliss
Than real friends to fill even this."
And reason had good Socrates
To think his house too large for these.
A crowd to be your friends will claim,
Till some unhandsome test you bring.
There's nothing plentier than the name;
There's nothing rarer than the thing.

Better be ill spoken of by one before all than by all before one. ~ Scottish Proverb

Drive sober or get pulled over.

"For surely of all the drugs in the world, chess must be the most permanently pleasurable." — Assiac

Feb-23-23 FSR: Thanks, Susan. I never saw Albert after my freshman year of high school (he and his family moved to the Chicago suburbs, where he went to a different school and played for a different chess team). Super nice guy. I was very surprised many years later to learn that he and your son had started this site.

Thank you Lord for another day,
The chance to learn, the chance to play.
Now as I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
Please, guard me Jesus through the night,
And keep me safe till morning's light.
But if I should I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
And should I live for other days,
I pray that God will guide my ways.
Amen.

"There just isn't enough televised chess." — David Letterman

"Do the things that interest you and do them with all your heart. Don't be concerned about whether people are watching you or criticizing you. The chances are that they aren't paying any attention to you. It's your attention to yourself that is so stultifying. But you have to disregard yourself as completely as possible. If you fail the first time then you'll just have to try harder the second time. After all, there's no real reason why you should fail. Just stop thinking about yourself." — Eleanor Roosevelt

"Many have become chess masters, no one has become the master of chess." — Siegbert Tarrasch

For free, confidential support, reach out to <988>. Whether you call, text, or chat, we want you to reach out in whatever way is most comfortable for you. We are here to help.

St. Marher, 1225:
"And te tide and te time þat tu iboren were, schal beon iblescet."

Q: What's a polar bear's favorite song?
A: "Ice, Ice, Baby."
Vanilla sang it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rog...