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16 E Steinitz <'Eres tú, Guadarrama, viejo, amigo' Was it you, Guadarrama, ancient friend mountains of white and grey mountains of my Madrid evenings, I saw there, brushed on the blue? Among your deep gullies and bitter heights, a thousand suns, a thousand Guadarramas rode with me, there, into your heart.> by Antonio Machado Here’s another Spanish-language poet who was born, and who lived, in Spain: Machado was born there in 1875 and grew up in Madrid. He and his brother sought careers in writing and acting when their father lost his fortune and the brothers had to make their own way in the world. He died in 1939 after leaving Spain during the Spanish Civil War. “Every master was once a disaster.” – T.S. Wood “It takes a dream to get started, desire to keep going, and determination to finish.” ― Eddie Harris, Jr. What do Alexander the Great and Winnie the Pooh have in common? Same middle name. “There should be no boundaries to human endeavor. We are all different. However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there’s life, there is hope.” ― Stephen Hawking Why is it sad that parallel lines have so much in common? Because they'll never meet. “Chess is the art of analysis.” ― Mikhail Botvinnik “Chess is imagination.” ― David Bronstein “Chess is as much a mystery as women.” ― Cecil John Seddon Purdy “Take wrong turns. Talk to strangers. Open unmarked doors. And if you see a group of people in a field, go find out what they are doing. Do things without always knowing how they’ll turn out.” ― Randall Munroe Dec-12-16 DrGridlock: Q: When is a pin not a pin? A: When the piece is: (i) not pinned to the king and (ii) in moving the piece threatens either mate or greater material gain than what it was pinned to. (iii) in moving the piece now defends the unit it was pinned to, such as Nf3xd4 and protects the Be2 that was behind the knight. <First And Last Author Riddle: What belongs to you, but other people use it more than you? By 2024 India will overtake China as the world’s most populous country China currently has 1.4 billion inhabitants, closely followed by India with 1.3 billion. Together they make up 37% of the world’s population. Riddle Answer: Your name.> Is it ignorance or apathy that's destroying the world today? I don't know, and I don't care. One of Bobby Fischer’s famous utterances is that “Chess is life.” “Chess is my life, but my life is not chess.” ― Anatoly Karpov “Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” ― Forrest Gump “Life is like a game of chess. To win you need to make a move. Knowing which move to make comes with insight and knowledge and by learning the lessons that are accumulated along the way. We become each and every piece within the game called LIFE.” ― Alan Rufus “The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow. Don’t give up.” ― Robert Tew “Life is like a cup of coffee or tea. No matter how bitter it may be, it is always enjoyable.” ― Jason Wong Never criticize someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you'll be a mile away, and you'll have their shoes. “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” ― Mahatma Gandhi “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.” ― Dalai Lama “The game of chess is not just an idle amusement. Several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired or strengthened by it… Life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often pointed to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with.” ― Benjamin Franklin “Chess is played with the mind and not with the hands.” ― Renaud & Kahn, The Art of the Checkmate “Out of difficulties grow miracles.” ― Jean de la Bruyere What do you call a bee that can't make up its mind? A maybe. “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” ― Albert Einstein What did the swordfish say to the marlin? "You're looking sharp." “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” ― Albert Einstein “I have seen two geniuses in my time. One was Tal. The other was Fischer.” ― Russian GM Yuri Averbakh “Failure is success in progress.” ― Albert Einstein “Failure happens all the time. It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.” ― Mia Hamm How do celebrities stay cool? They have many fans. "The broader the chess player you are, the easier it is to be competitive, and the same seems to be true of mathematics - if you can find links between different branches of mathematics, it can help you resolve problems. In both mathematics and chess, you study existing theory and use that to go forward." ― Viswanathan Anand “A quitter never wins and a winner never quits.” ― Napoleon Hill “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” ― Robert. H. Schuller “By perseverance the snail reached the ark.” ― Charles Spurgeon “Don’t be discouraged. It’s often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock.” ― Unknown “Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity.” ― Louis Pasteur "All of the real heroes are not storybook combat fighters either. Every single man in this Army play a vital role. Don't ever let up. Don't ever think that your job is unimportant. Every man has a job to do and he must do it. Every man is a vital link in the great chain.” ― General George S. Patton, U.S. Army Which branch of the military accepts toddlers? The infantry. “Soldiers generally win battles; generals get credit for them.” ― Napoleon Bonaparte, French military and political leader After winning a good game, I always ask myself: "Where did I go right?" ― Tom Wiswell (1910-1988) who made a quote regarding playing checkers worth using in chess circles. “Life is like a chess. If you lose your queen, you will probably lose the game.” — Being Caballero Why couldn't the bicycle stand on its own? It was two tired. “Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practicing patience and being persistent.” — Billy Graham Why were the teacher's eyes crossed? She couldn't control her pupils. “Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn’t mean they’re lost forever.” — Professor X “If you’re positive (attitude) you can get through it OK. When you think negatively, you’re putting poison in your body. Just smile. They say laughter is the best medicine there is.” — Elsa Bailey, athlete, 100 years old “If plan A doesn’t work, the alphabet has 25 more letters – 204 if you’re in Japan.” — Claire Cook Exaggerations have become an epidemic. They went up by a million percent last year. “Life is like a game of chess. I cannot undue the moves but I can make the next step better.” — Edwin Tan “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us.” — Alexander Graham Bell I told my physical therapist that I broke my arm in two places. He told me to stop going to those places. “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” — Maria Robinson “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I know I can.” – Watty Piper “The winner of the game is the player who makes the next to last mistake.” — Savielly Tartakower “Part of being a champ is acting like a champ. You have to learn how to win and not run away when you lose.” — Nancy Kerrigan “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” — Martin Luther King Jr. * 15 Life Lessons: https://herculeschess.com/life-less... “I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” — Pablo Picasso “I stand corrected!” said the man in the orthopedic shoes. “Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you, and act accordingly.” — Thomas Jefferson You're not completely useless. You can always serve as a bad example. “Work like you don’t need the money, love like you’ve never been hurt and dance like no one is watching.” — Satchel Paige “If you’re doing something just to make money, it’s easy to quit. Most people do. But if you’re doing something because it makes you come alive, then removing the restrictions life throws at you clears the path.” — Evan Carmichael “I believe where there is a will, there is a way. You just can’t give up, you have to keep going.” — Charmaney Bayton “Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” — Harriet Beecher Stowe “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” ― C.S. Lewis “I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald “You just can’t beat the person who won’t give up.” — Babe Ruth I was wondering why the ball was getting bigger, then it hit me. Don't Quit Poet: Edgar A. Guest When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit - Rest if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns. As everyone of us sometimes learns. And many a fellow turns about when he Might have won had he stuck it out. Don't give up though the pace seems slow - You may succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than it seems To a faint and faltering man; Often the struggler has given up when he Might have captured the victor's cup; And he learned too late when the night came down, How close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out - The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And when you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems afar; So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit - It's when things seem worst, You must not quit. “Rest if you must but don’t you quit!” — Anonymous “Courage doesn’t always roar, sometimes it’s the quiet voice at the end of the day whispering ‘I will try again tomorrow’.” — Mary Anne Radmacher “The future rewards those who press on. I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I don’t have time to complain. I’m going to press on.” — Barack Obama I saw Usain Bolt sprinting around the track shouting, "Why did the chicken cross the road?" It was a running joke. $ $ $ “Elon Musk, the world's richest person, recently revealed his strategy for investing alongside record inflation. According to the WSJ, since February 2020, the Fed increased the nation’s money supply by a staggering 40%. To some experts, it explains why the U.S. is experiencing its highest inflation rate since 1981. The Tesla and SpaceX founder told investors, in his experience, it’s “better to own physical things than dollars when inflation is high.” That’s especially shocking from Musk, who has historically passionately supported cryptocurrencies and other digital goods. The “physical goods” he mentioned could include oil, metals, and grains, which have all soared in prices…” — Nigel Glenday, Chief Financial Officer “If you do what you need, you’re surviving. If you do what you want, you’re living.” — Unknown "Stick to the prepared plan, man. Don't let others down who expect you to do your part. Do no harm. Fools rush in. Be calm, composed, wise; obey boundaries. Control your impulses, urges, your emotions, your words and actions. Respectfully play by the rules, or willful recklessness will burn you soon enough. All God's ambular creatures must stay back off thin ice. Mother Nature and Father Time always have their say. Be safe and sound as you explore." — Anonymous Bear <Luke 8:16-18 New King James Version The Parable of the Revealed Light Jesus said: 16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”> And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2:9, 10. “You can only get good at chess if you love the game.” ― Bobby Fischer “Be active. I do things my way, like skiing when I’m 100. Nobody else does that even if they have energy. And I try to eat pretty correctly and get exercise and fresh air and sunshine.” ― Elsa Bailey, first time skier at age 100 “Don't look at the calendar, just keep celebrating every day.” ― Ruth Coleman, carpe diem at age 101 1953 Zurich: move 29 Zukertort retort. zooter Frit z drip drip drip Kh7? lubes hiz own Szabo freechrgbl electrk shavr oodd bbee hiveior. What sits at the bottom of the sea and twitches? A nervous wreck. This game an Indian Brahmin did invent, The force of Eastern wisdom to express; From thence the same to busy Europe sent; The modern Lombards stil'd it pensive Chess. — Sir John Denham You don’t have to be a polymath like Beth Harmon in The Queen’s Gambit to improve your game Stephen Moss Sat 14 Nov 2020 01.56 EST The first thing to say about chess is that we are not all natural geniuses like Beth Harmon, the star of The Queen’s Gambit, who is taught the game by grumpy but lovable janitor Mr Shaibel at the age of nine and is very soon beating him. The daughter of a maths PhD, she sees the patterns and movement in chess immediately, can visualise effortlessly – being able to memorise moves and play without a board is the sign of chess mastery – and sees whole games on the ceiling of her orphanage dormitory. She is a prodigy, just like world champion Bobby Fischer, on whom Walter Tevis based the novel from which the TV series is drawn. We are mere mortals. So how do we get good? First, by loving chess. “You can only get good at chess if you love the game,” Fischer said. You need to be endlessly fascinated by it and see its infinite potential. Be willing to embrace the complexity; enjoy the adventure. Every game should be an education and teach us something. Losing doesn’t matter. Garry Kasparov, another former world champion, likes to say you learn far more from your defeats than your victories. Eventually you will start winning, but there will be a lot of losses on the way. Play people who are better than you, and be prepared to lose. Then you will learn. If you are a beginner, don’t feel the need to set out all the pieces at once. Start with the pawns, and then add the pieces. Understand the potential of each piece – the way a pair of bishops can dominate the board, how the rooks can sweep up pawns in an endgame, why the queen and a knight can work together so harmoniously. Find a good teacher – your own Mr Shaibel, but without the communication issues. Once you have established the basics, start using computers and online resources to play and to help you analyse games. lichess.org, chess.com and chess24.com are great sites for playing and learning. chessbomb.com is a brilliant resource for watching top tournaments. chessgames.com is a wonderful database of games. chesspuzzle.net is a great practice program. decodechess.com attempts to explain chess moves in layperson’s language. There are also plenty of sophisticated, all-purpose programs, usually called chess engines, such as Fritz and HIARCs that, for around £50, help you deconstruct your games and take you deeply into positions. But don’t let the computer do all the work. You need to engage your own brain on the analysis. And don’t endlessly play against the computer. Find human opponents, either online or, when the pandemic is over, in person. Bobby Fischer was stripped of his world title in 1975 after he refused to defend the title due to a row over the format. Photograph: RFS/AP Study the games of great masters of the past. Find a player you like and follow their careers. Fischer is a great starting point – his play is clear and comprehensible, and beautifully described in his famous book My 60 Memorable Games. Morphy (Harmon’s favourite), Alekhine, Capablanca, Tal, Korchnoi and Shirov are other legendary figures with whom the aspiring player might identify. They also have fascinating life stories, and chess is about hot human emotions as well as cold calculation. Modern grandmaster chess, which is based heavily on a deep knowledge of opening theory, is more abstruse and may be best avoided until you have acquired deep expertise. The current crop of leading grandmasters are also, if we are brutally honest, a bit lacking in personality compared with the giants of the past. Children will often find their school has a chess club, and that club may even have links with Chess in Schools and Communities, which supplies expert tutors to schools. Provision tends to be much better at primary than secondary level, and after 11 children will probably be left to their own devices if they want to carry on playing. If a player is really serious, she or he should join their local chess club. There is likely to be one meeting nearby, or there will be once the Covid crisis is over. At the moment, clubs are not meeting and there is very little over-the-board chess being played. Players are keeping their brains active online, where you can meet players from all over the world. That is fun, but be aware that some players are likely to be cheating – using chess engines to help them, making it hard for you to assess how good your play is. And you also get some abuse online from players who want to trash-talk. You are also likely to be playing at very fast time controls – so-called blitz chess – and that is no way to learn to really think about chess. If you want to start playing over-the-board tournaments (when they resume), you will need to join the chess federation in your respective country. After you’ve played the requisite number of official games, you will get a rating – a bit like a handicap in golf – and can then start being paired with players of your own strength in matches. But until then, the key is to keep enjoying chess and searching for the elusive “truth” in a position. If you see a good move, look for a better one. You can always dig a little deeper in the pursuit of something remarkable and counterintuitive. Beauty and truth: the essence of chess. Stephen Moss is the author of The Rookie: An Odyssey through Chess (and Life), published by Bloomsbury * YS Tactics: Game Collection: Yasser Seirawan's Winning Chess Tactics “God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.” ― Voltaire Q: When does a joke become a ‘dad’ joke? A: When it becomes apparent. “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?” ― Martin Luther King, Jr. "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." ― Harry S Truman, 33rd President of the United States, and former Colonel in the U.S. Army CAISSA or The Game at Chess; a Poem. (written in the year 1763, by Sir William Jones) (pronounced ky-eé-sah) Of armies on the chequer'd field array'd, And guiltless war in pleasing form display'd; When two bold kings contend with vain alarms, In ivory this, and that in ebon arms; Sing, sportive maids, that haunt the sacred hill Of Pindus, and the fam'd Pierian rill. Thou, joy of all below, and all above, Mild Venus, queen of laughter, queen of love; Leave thy bright island, where on many a rose And many a pink thy blooming train repose: Assist me, goddess! since a lovely pair Command my song, like thee devinely fair. Near yon cool stream, whose living waters play, And rise translucent in the solar ray; Beneath the covert of a fragrant bower, Where spring's nymphs reclin'd in calm retreat, And envying blossoms crouded round their seat; Here Delia was enthron'd, and by her side The sweet Sirena, both in beauty's pride: Thus shine two roses, fresh with early bloom, That from their native stalk dispense perfume; Their leaves unfolding to the dawning day Gems of the glowing mead, and eyes of May. A band of youths and damsels sat around, Their flowing locks with braided myrtle bound; Agatis, in the graceful dance admir'd, And gentle Thyrsis, by the muse inspir'd; With Sylvia, fairest of the mirthful train; And Daphnis, doom'd to love, yet love in vain. Now, whilst a purer blush o'erspreads her cheeks, With soothing accents thus Sirena speaks: "The meads and lawns are ting'd with beamy light, And wakeful larks begin their vocal flight; Whilst on each bank the dewdrops sweetly smile; What sport, my Delia, shall the hours beguile? Whall heavenly notes, prolong'd with various art, Charm the fond ear, and warm the rapturous heart? At distance shall we view the sylvan chace? Or catch with silken lines the finny race?" Then Delia thus: "Or rather, since we meet By chance assembled in this cool retreat, In artful contest let our warlike train Move well-directed o'er the field preside: No prize we need, our ardour to inflame; We fight with pleasure, if we fight for fame." The nymph consents: the maids and youths prepare To view the combat, and the sport to share: But Daphnis most approv'd the bold design, Whom Love instructed, and the tuneful Nine. He rose, and on the cedar table plac'd A polish'd board, with differing colours grac'd; Squares eight times eight in equal order lie; These bright as snow, those dark with sable dye; Like the broad target by the tortoise born, Or like the hide by spotted panthers worn. Then from a chest, with harmless heroes stor'd, O'er the smooth plain two well-wrought hosts he pour'd; The champions burn'd their rivals to assail, Twice eight in black, twice eight in milkwhite mail; In shape and station different, as in name, Their motions various, not their power the same. Say, muse! (for Jove has nought from thee conceal'd) Who form'd the legions on the level field? High in the midst the reverend kings appear, And o'er the rest their pearly scepters rear: One solemn step, majestically slow, They gravely move, and shun the dangerous foe; If e'er they call, the watchful subjects spring, And die with rapture if they save their king; On him the glory of the day depends, He once imprison'd, all the conflict ends. The queens exulting near their consorts stand; Each bears a deadly falchion in her hand; Now here, now there, they bound with furious pride, And thin the trmbling ranks from side to side; Swift as Camilla flying o'er the main, Or lightly skimming o'er the dewy plain: Fierce as they seem, some bold Plebeian spear May pierce their shield, or stop their full career. The valiant guards, their minds on havock bent, Fill the next squares, and watch the royal tent; Tho' weak their spears, tho' dwarfish be their height, Compact they move, the bulwark of the fight, To right and left the martial wings display Their shining arms, and stand in close array. Behold, four archers, eager to advance, Send the light reed, and rush with sidelong glance; Through angles ever they assault the foes, True to the colour, which at first they chose. Then four bold knights for courage-fam'd and speed, Each knight exalted on a prancing steed: Their arching course no vulgar limit knows, Tranverse they leap, and aim insidious blows: Nor friends, nor foes, their rapid force restrain, By on quick bound two changing squares they gain; From varing hues renew the fierce attack, And rush from black to white, from white to black. Four solemn elephants the sides defend; Benearth the load of ponderous towers they bend: In on unalter'd line they tempt the fight; Now crush the left, and now o'erwhelm the right. Bright in the front the dauntless soldiers raise Their polish'd spears; their steely helmets blaze: Prepar'd they stand the daring foe to strike, Direct their progress, but their wounds oblique. Now swell th' embattled troups with hostile rage, And clang their shields, impatient to engage; When Daphnis thus: A varied plain behold, Where fairy kings their mimick tents unfold, As Oberon, and Mab, his wayward queen, Lead forth their armies on the daisied green. No mortal hand the wond'rous sport contriv'd, By gods invents, and from gods deriv'd; From them the British nymphs receiv'd the game, And play ech morn beneath the crystal Thame; Hear then the tale, which they to Colin sung, As idling o'er the lucid wave he hung. A lovely dryad rang'd the Thracian wild, Her air enchanting, and her aspect mild: To chase the bounding hart was all her joy, Averse from Hymen, and the Cyprian boy; O'er hills an valleys was her beauty fam'd, And fair Caissa was the damsel nam'd. Mars saw the maid; with deep surprize he gaz'd, Admir'd her shape, and every gesture prais'd: His golden bow the child of Venus bent, And through his breast a piecing arrow sent. The reed was hope; the feathers, keen desire; The point, her eyes; the barbs, ethereal fire. Soon to the nymph he pour'd his tender strain; The haughtly dryad scorn'd his amorous pain: He told his woes, where'er the maid he found, And still he press'd, yet still Caissa frown'd; But ev'n her frowns (ah, what might smiles have done!) Fir'd all his soul, and all his senses won. He left his car, by raging tigers drawn, And lonely wander'd o'er the dusky lawn; Then lay desponding near a murmuring stream, And fair Caissa was his plaintive theme. A naiad heard him from her mossy bed, And through the crystal rais'd her placid head; Then mildly spake: "O thou, whom love inspires, Thy tears will nourish, not allay thy fires. The smiling blossoms drink the pearly dew; And ripening fruit the feather'd race pursue; The scaly shoals devour the silken weeds; Love on our sighs, and on our sorrow feeds. Then weep no more; but, ere thou canst obtain Balm to thy wounds, and solace to thy pain, With gentle art thy martial look beguile; Be mild, and teach thy rugged brow to smile. Canst thou no play, no soothing game devise; To make thee lovely in the damsel's eyes? So may thy prayers assuage the scornful dame, And ev'n Caissa own a mutual frame." Kind nymph, said Mars, thy counsel I approve; Art, only art, her ruthless breast can move. but when? or how? They dark discourse explain: So may thy stream ne'er swell with gushing rain; So may thy waves in one pure current flow, And flowers eternal on thy border blow!" To whom the maid replied with smiling mien: "Above the palace of the Paphian queen Love's brother dwells, a boy of graceful port, By gods nam'd Euphron, and by mortals Sport: Seek him; to faithful ears unfold thy grief, And hope, ere morn return, a sweet relief. His temple hangs below the azure skies; Seest thou yon argent cloud? 'Tis there it lies." This said, she sunk beneath the liquid plain, And sought the mansion of her blue-hair'd train. Meantime the god, elate with heart-felt joy, Had reach'd the temple of the sportful boy; He told Caissa's charms, his kindled fire, The naiad's counsel, and his warm desire. "Be swift, he added, give my passion aid; A god requests." - He spake, and Sport obey'd. He fram'd a tablet of celestial mold, Inlay'd with squares of silver and of gold; Then of two metals form'd the warlike band, That here compact in show of battle stand; He taught the rules that guide the pensive game, And call'd it Cassa from the dryad's name: (Whence Albion's sons, who most its praise confess, Approv'd the play, and nam'd it thoughtful Chess.) The god delighted thank'd indulgent Sport; Then grasp'd the board, and left his airy court. With radiant feet he pierc'd the clouds; nor stay'd, Till in the woods he saw the beauteous maid: Tir'd with the chase the damsel set reclin'd, Her girdle loose, her bosom unconfin'd. He took the figure of a wanton faun, And stood before her on the flowery lawn; Then show'd his tablet: pleas'd the nymph survey'd The lifeless troops in glittering ranks display'd; She ask'd the wily sylvan to explain The various motions of the splendid train; With eager heart she caught the winning lore, And thought ev'n Mars less hateful than before; "What spell," said she, "deceiv'd my careless mind? The god was fair, and I was most unkind." She spoke, and saw the changing faun assume A milder aspect, and a fairer bloom; His wreathing horns, that from his temples grew, Flow'd down in curls of bright celestial hue; The dappled hairs, that veil'd his loveless face, Blaz'd into beams, and show'd a heavenly grace; The shaggy hide, that mantled o'er his breast, Was soften'd to a smooth transparent vest, That through its folds his vigorous bosom show'd, And nervous limbs, where youthful ardour glow'd: (Had Venus view'd him in those blooming charms, Not Vulcan's net had forc'd her from his arms.) With goatlike feet no more he mark'd the ground, But braided flowers his silken sandals bound. The dryad blush'd; and, as he press'd her, smil'd, Whilst all his cares one tender glance beguil'd. He ends: To arms, the maids and striplings cry; To arms, the groves and sounding vales reply. Sirena led to war the swarthy crew, And Delia those that bore the lily's hue. Who first, O muse, began the bold attack; The white refulgent, or the mournful black? Fair Delia first, as favoring lots ordain, Moves her pale legions tow'rd the sable train: From thought to thought her lively fancy flies, Whilst o'er the board she darts her sparkling eyes. At length the warrior moves with haughty strides; Who from the plain the snowy king divides: With equal haste his swarthy rival bounds; His quiver rattles, and his buckler sounds: Ah! hapless youths, with fatal warmth you burn; Laws, ever fix'd, forbid you to return. then from the wing a short-liv'd spearman flies, Unsafely bold, and see! he dies, he dies: The dark-brow'd hero, with one vengeful blow Of life and place deprives his ivory foe. Now rush both armies o'er the burnish'd field, Hurl the swift dart, and rend the bursting shield. Here furious knights on fiery coursers prance, but see! the white-rob'd Amazon beholds Where the dark host its opening van unfolds: Soon as her eye discerns the hostile maid, By ebon shield, and ebon helm betray'd; Seven squares she passed with majestic mien, And stands triumphant o'er the falling queen. Perplex'd, and sorrowing at his consort's fate, The monarch burn'd with rage, despair, and hate: Swift from his zone th' avenging blade he drew, And, mad with ire, the proud virago slew. Meanwhile sweet smiling Delia's wary king Retir'd from fight behind the circling wing. Long time the war in equal balance hung; Till, unforseen, an ivory courser sprung, And, wildly prancing in an evil hour, Attack'd at once the monarch and the tower: Sirena blush'd; for, as the rules requir'd, Her injur'd sovereign to his tent retir'd; Whilst her lost castle leaves his threatening height, And adds new glory to th' exulting knight. At this, pale fear oppress'd the drooping maid, And on her cheek the rose began to fade: A crystal tear, that stood prepar'd to fall, She wip'd in silence, and conceal'd from all; From all but Daphnis; He remark'd her pain, And saw the weakness of her ebon train; Then gently spoke: "Let me your loss supply, And either nobly win, or nobly dir; Me oft has fortune crown'd with fair success, And led to triumph in the fields of Chess." He said: the willing nymph her place resign'd, And sat at distance on the bank reclin'd. Thus when Minerva call'd her chief to arms, And Troy's high turret shook with dire alarms, The Cyprian goddess wounded left the plain, And Mars engag'd a mightier force in vain. Strait Daphnis leads his squadron to the field; (To Delia's arms 'tis ev'n a joy to yield.) Each guileful snare, and subtle art he tries, But finds his heart less powerful than her eyes: Wisdom and strength superior charms obey; And beauty, beauty, wins the long-fought day. By this a hoary chief, on slaughter bent, Approach'd the gloomy king's unguarded tent; Where, late, his consort spread dismay around, Now her dark corse lies bleeding on the ground. Hail, happy youth! they glories not unsung Shall live eternal on the poet's tongue; For thou shalt soon receive a splendid change, And o'er the plain with nobler fury range. The swarthy leaders saw the storm impend, And strove in vain their sovereign to defend: Th' invader wav'd his silver lance in air, And flew like lightning to the fatal square; His limbs dilated in a moment grew To stately height, and widen'd to the view; More fierce his look, more lion-like his mien, Sublime he mov'd, and seem'd a warrior queen. As when the sage on some unfolding plant Has caught a wandering fly, or frugal ant, His hand the microscopic frame applies, And lo! a bright hair'd monster meets his eyes; He sees new plumes in slender cases roll'd; Here stain'd with azure, there bedropp'd with gold; Thus, on the alter'd chief both armies gaze, And both the kings are fix'd with deep amaze. The sword, which arm'd the snow-white maid before, He noew assumes, and hurls the spear no more; The springs indignant on the dark-rob'd band, And knights and archers feel his deadly hand. Now flies the monarch of the sable shield, His legions vanquish'd, o'er the lonely field: So when the morn, by rosy coursers drawn, With pearls and rubies sows the verdant lawn, Whilst each pale star from heaven's blue vault retires, Still Venus gleams, and last of all expires. He hears, where'er he moves, the dreadful sound; Check the deep vales, and Check the woods rebound. No place remains: he sees the certain fate, And yields his throne to ruin, and Checkmate. A brighter blush o'erspreads the damsel's cheeks, And mildly thus the conquer'd stripling speaks: "A double triumph, Delia, hast thou won, By Mars protected, and by Venus' son; The first with conquest crowns thy matchless art, The second points those eyes at Daphnis' heart." She smil'd; the nymphs and amorous youths arise, And own that beauty gain'd the nobler prize. Low in their chest the mimic troops were lay'd, And peaceful slept the sable hero's shade. Red means stop. The truth hurts. “If a disciple is old, a master should be mature. If a disciple is young, a master should be accessible. If a disciple is brave, a master should be fearless. If a disciple is shrewd, a master should be wise. If a disciple is strong, a master should be powerful. If a disciple is learned, a master should be enlightened. If a disciple is contented, a master should be joyful. If a disciple is faithful, a master should be devoted. If a disciple is tolerant, a master should be peaceful. If a disciple is intro inspective, a master should be self-aware. If a disciple is focused, a master should be determined. If a disciple is exceptional, a master should be perfect.” ― Matshona Dhliwayo comment by C.J.S. Purdy on page 34 of the February 1960 Chess World: ‘Zugzwang just doesn’t happen in a middle-game. There is a win by Nimzowitsch against Sämisch in the middle-game which one annotator has called a “Zugzwang” finish. It is true that any move by Sämisch loses, but he would lose just as surely if his opponent had to move. It is not the compulsion to move that hurts him; his position is lost anyway. So it is no more Zugzwang than any other resignable position.’ / 94 games, 1834-2010 16 Gamebits vs French Gambit openings against the French. As white I enjoy playing these lines than traditional French Defense lines . Reti Gambit referred to as French Defense: Horwitz Attack. Papa-Ticulat Gambit on this site. The Reti Gambit in this collection begins with the Reti Game. (Reti vs Maroczy, 1920) Thomas Johansson who wrote the Fascinating Reti Gambit posted this video on youtube about it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w53j... he also has this blog http://borgchess.blogspot.com/ I started out playing the alapin gambit but now prefer the reti gambit. I'll also list some Caro-Kann gambit games as well. The Euwe Attack. - takchess “Every master was once a disaster.” ― T.S. Wood “It takes a dream to get started, desire to keep going, and determination to finish.” ― Eddie Harris, Jr. What do Alexander the Great and Winnie the Pooh have in common? Same middle name. “There should be no boundaries to human endeavor. We are all different. However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there’s life, there is hope.” ― Stephen Hawking Why is it sad that parallel lines have so much in common? Because they'll never meet. “Chess is the art of analysis.” ― Mikhail Botvinnik “Chess is imagination.” ― David Bronstein “Chess is as much a mystery as women.” ― Cecil John Seddon Purdy “Take wrong turns. Talk to strangers. Open unmarked doors. And if you see a group of people in a field, go find out what they are doing. Do things without always knowing how they’ll turn out.” ― Randall Munroe Dec-12-16 DrGridlock: Q: When is a pin not a pin? A: When the piece is: (i) not pinned to the king and (ii) in moving the piece threatens either mate or greater material gain than what it was pinned to. (iii) in moving the piece now defends the unit it was pinned to, such as Nf3xd4 and protects the Be2 that was behind the knight. <First And Last Author Riddle: What belongs to you, but other people use it more than you? By 2024 India will overtake China as the world’s most populous country China currently has 1.4 billion inhabitants, closely followed by India with 1.3 billion. Together they make up 37% of the world’s population. Riddle Answer: Your name.> Is it ignorance or apathy that's destroying the world today? I don't know, and I don't care. One of Bobby Fischer’s famous utterances is that “Chess is life.” “Chess is my life, but my life is not chess.” ― Anatoly Karpov “Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” ― Forrest Gump “Life is like a game of chess. To win you need to make a move. Knowing which move to make comes with insight and knowledge and by learning the lessons that are accumulated along the way. We become each and every piece within the game called LIFE.” ― Alan Rufus “The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow. Don’t give up.” ― Robert Tew “Life is like a cup of coffee or tea. No matter how bitter it may be, it is always enjoyable.” ― Jason Wong Never criticize someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you'll be a mile away, and you'll have their shoes. “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” ― Mahatma Gandhi “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.” ― Dalai Lama “The game of chess is not just an idle amusement. Several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired or strengthened by it… Life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often pointed to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with.” ― Benjamin Franklin “Chess is played with the mind and not with the hands.” ― Renaud & Kahn, The Art of the Checkmate “Out of difficulties grow miracles.” ― Jean de la Bruyere What do you call a bee that can't make up its mind? A maybe. “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” ― Albert Einstein What did the swordfish say to the marlin? "You're looking sharp." “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” ― Albert Einstein “I have seen two geniuses in my time. One was Tal. The other was Fischer.” ― Russian GM Yuri Averbakh “Failure is success in progress.” ― Albert Einstein “Failure happens all the time. It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.” ― Mia Hamm How do celebrities stay cool? They have many fans. “The broader the chess player you are, the easier it is to be competitive, and the same seems to be true of mathematics - if you can find links between different branches of mathematics, it can help you resolve problems. In both mathematics and chess, you study existing theory and use that to go forward.” ― Viswanathan Anand “A quitter never wins and a winner never quits.” ― Napoleon Hill “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” ― Robert. H. Schuller “By perseverance the snail reached the ark.” ― Charles Spurgeon “Don’t be discouraged. It’s often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock.” ― Unknown “Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity.” ― Louis Pasteur "All of the real heroes are not storybook combat fighters either. Every single man in this Army play a vital role. Don't ever let up. Don't ever think that your job is unimportant. Every man has a job to do and he must do it. Every man is a vital link in the great chain.” ― General George S. Patton, U.S. Army Which branch of the military accepts toddlers? The infantry. “Soldiers generally win battles; generals get credit for them.” ― Napoleon Bonaparte, French military and political leader After winning a good game, I always ask myself: "Where did I go right?" ― Tom Wiswell (1910-1988) who made a quote regarding playing checkers worth using in chess circles. “Life is like a chess. If you lose your queen, you will probably lose the game.” — Being Caballero Why couldn't the bicycle stand on its own? It was two tired. “Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practicing patience and being persistent.” — Billy Graham Why were the teacher's eyes crossed? She couldn't control her pupils. “Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn’t mean they’re lost forever.” — Professor X “If you’re positive (attitude) you can get through it OK. When you think negatively, you’re putting poison in your body. Just smile. They say laughter is the best medicine there is.” — Elsa Bailey, athlete, 100 years old “If plan A doesn’t work, the alphabet has 25 more letters – 204 if you’re in Japan.” — Claire Cook Exaggerations have become an epidemic. They went up by a million percent last year. “Life is like a game of chess. I cannot undue the moves but I can make the next step better.” — Edwin Tan “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us.” — Alexander Graham Bell I told my physical therapist that I broke my arm in two places. He told me to stop going to those places. “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” — Maria Robinson “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I know I can.” – Watty Piper “The winner of the game is the player who makes the next to last mistake.” — Savielly Tartakower “Part of being a champ is acting like a champ. You have to learn how to win and not run away when you lose.” — Nancy Kerrigan “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” — Martin Luther King Jr. * 15 Life Lessons: https://herculeschess.com/life-less... “I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” — Pablo Picasso “I stand corrected!” said the man in the orthopedic shoes. “Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you, and act accordingly.” — Thomas Jefferson You're not completely useless. You can always serve as a bad example. “Work like you don’t need the money, love like you’ve never been hurt and dance like no one is watching.” — Satchel Paige “If you’re doing something just to make money, it’s easy to quit. Most people do. But if you’re doing something because it makes you come alive, then removing the restrictions life throws at you clears the path.” — Evan Carmichael “I believe where there is a will, there is a way. You just can’t give up, you have to keep going.” — Charmaney Bayton “Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” — Harriet Beecher Stowe “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” ― C.S. Lewis “I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald “You just can’t beat the person who won’t give up.” — Babe Ruth I was wondering why the ball was getting bigger, then it hit me. Don't Quit Poet: Edgar A. Guest When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit - Rest if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns. As everyone of us sometimes learns. And many a fellow turns about when he Might have won had he stuck it out. Don't give up though the pace seems slow - You may succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than it seems To a faint and faltering man; Often the struggler has given up when he Might have captured the victor's cup; And he learned too late when the night came down, How close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out - The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And when you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems afar; So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit - It's when things seem worst, You must not quit. “Rest if you must but don’t you quit!” — Anonymous “Courage doesn’t always roar, sometimes it’s the quiet voice at the end of the day whispering ‘I will try again tomorrow’.” — Mary Anne Radmacher “The future rewards those who press on. I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I don’t have time to complain. I’m going to press on.” — Barack Obama I saw Usain Bolt sprinting around the track shouting, "Why did the chicken cross the road?" It was a running joke. $ $ $ “Elon Musk, the world's richest person, recently revealed his strategy for investing alongside record inflation. According to the WSJ, since February 2020, the Fed increased the nation’s money supply by a staggering 40%. To some experts, it explains why the U.S. is experiencing its highest inflation rate since 1981. The Tesla and SpaceX founder told investors, in his experience, it’s “better to own physical things than dollars when inflation is high.” That’s especially shocking from Musk, who has historically passionately supported cryptocurrencies and other digital goods. The “physical goods” he mentioned could include oil, metals, and grains, which have all soared in prices…” — Nigel Glenday, Chief Financial Officer “If you do what you need, you’re surviving. If you do what you want, you’re living.” — Unknown "Stick to the prepared plan, man. Don't let others down who expect you to do your part. Do no harm. Fools rush in. Be calm, composed, wise; obey boundaries. Control your impulses, urges, your emotions, your words and actions. Respectfully play by the rules, or willful recklessness will burn you soon enough. All God's ambular creatures must stay back off thin ice. Mother Nature and Father Time always have their say. Be safe and sound as you explore." — Anonymous Bear <Luke 8:16-18 New King James Version The Parable of the Revealed Light Jesus said: 16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”> And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2:9, 10. “You can only get good at chess if you love the game.” ― Bobby Fischer “Be active. I do things my way, like skiing when I’m 100. Nobody else does that even if they have energy. And I try to eat pretty correctly and get exercise and fresh air and sunshine.” ― Elsa Bailey, first time skier at age 100 “Don't look at the calendar, just keep celebrating every day.” ― Ruth Coleman, carpe diem at age 101 1953 Zurich: move 29 Zukertort retort. zooter Frit z drip drip drip Kh7? lubes hiz own Szabo freechrgbl electrk shavr oodd bbee hiveior. What sits at the bottom of the sea and twitches? A nervous wreck. This game an Indian Brahmin did invent, The force of Eastern wisdom to express; From thence the same to busy Europe sent; The modern Lombards stil'd it pensive Chess. — Sir John Denham You don’t have to be a polymath like Beth Harmon in The Queen’s Gambit to improve your game Stephen Moss Sat 14 Nov 2020 01.56 EST The first thing to say about chess is that we are not all natural geniuses like Beth Harmon, the star of The Queen’s Gambit, who is taught the game by grumpy but lovable janitor Mr Shaibel at the age of nine and is very soon beating him. The daughter of a maths PhD, she sees the patterns and movement in chess immediately, can visualise effortlessly – being able to memorise moves and play without a board is the sign of chess mastery – and sees whole games on the ceiling of her orphanage dormitory. She is a prodigy, just like world champion Bobby Fischer, on whom Walter Tevis based the novel from which the TV series is drawn. We are mere mortals. So how do we get good? First, by loving chess. “You can only get good at chess if you love the game,” Fischer said. You need to be endlessly fascinated by it and see its infinite potential. Be willing to embrace the complexity; enjoy the adventure. Every game should be an education and teach us something. Losing doesn’t matter. Garry Kasparov, another former world champion, likes to say you learn far more from your defeats than your victories. Eventually you will start winning, but there will be a lot of losses on the way. Play people who are better than you, and be prepared to lose. Then you will learn. If you are a beginner, don’t feel the need to set out all the pieces at once. Start with the pawns, and then add the pieces. Understand the potential of each piece – the way a pair of bishops can dominate the board, how the rooks can sweep up pawns in an endgame, why the queen and a knight can work together so harmoniously. Find a good teacher – your own Mr Shaibel, but without the communication issues. Once you have established the basics, start using computers and online resources to play and to help you analyse games. lichess.org, chess.com and chess24.com are great sites for playing and learning. chessbomb.com is a brilliant resource for watching top tournaments. chessgames.com is a wonderful database of games. chesspuzzle.net is a great practice program. decodechess.com attempts to explain chess moves in layperson’s language. There are also plenty of sophisticated, all-purpose programs, usually called chess engines, such as Fritz and HIARCs that, for around £50, help you deconstruct your games and take you deeply into positions. But don’t let the computer do all the work. You need to engage your own brain on the analysis. And don’t endlessly play against the computer. Find human opponents, either online or, when the pandemic is over, in person. Bobby Fischer was stripped of his world title in 1975 after he refused to defend the title due to a row over the format. Photograph: RFS/AP Study the games of great masters of the past. Find a player you like and follow their careers. Fischer is a great starting point – his play is clear and comprehensible, and beautifully described in his famous book My 60 Memorable Games. Morphy (Harmon’s favourite), Alekhine, Capablanca, Tal, Korchnoi and Shirov are other legendary figures with whom the aspiring player might identify. They also have fascinating life stories, and chess is about hot human emotions as well as cold calculation. Modern grandmaster chess, which is based heavily on a deep knowledge of opening theory, is more abstruse and may be best avoided until you have acquired deep expertise. The current crop of leading grandmasters are also, if we are brutally honest, a bit lacking in personality compared with the giants of the past. Children will often find their school has a chess club, and that club may even have links with Chess in Schools and Communities, which supplies expert tutors to schools. Provision tends to be much better at primary than secondary level, and after 11 children will probably be left to their own devices if they want to carry on playing. If a player is really serious, she or he should join their local chess club. There is likely to be one meeting nearby, or there will be once the Covid crisis is over. At the moment, clubs are not meeting and there is very little over-the-board chess being played. Players are keeping their brains active online, where you can meet players from all over the world. That is fun, but be aware that some players are likely to be cheating – using chess engines to help them, making it hard for you to assess how good your play is. And you also get some abuse online from players who want to trash-talk. You are also likely to be playing at very fast time controls – so-called blitz chess – and that is no way to learn to really think about chess. If you want to start playing over-the-board tournaments (when they resume), you will need to join the chess federation in your respective country. After you’ve played the requisite number of official games, you will get a rating – a bit like a handicap in golf – and can then start being paired with players of your own strength in matches. But until then, the key is to keep enjoying chess and searching for the elusive “truth” in a position. If you see a good move, look for a better one. You can always dig a little deeper in the pursuit of something remarkable and counterintuitive. Beauty and truth: the essence of chess. Stephen Moss is the author of The Rookie: An Odyssey through Chess (and Life), published by Bloomsbury * YS Tactics: Game Collection: Yasser Seirawan's Winning Chess Tactics “God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.” ― Voltaire Q: When does a joke become a ‘dad’ joke? A: When it becomes apparent. “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?” ― Martin Luther King, Jr. "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." ― Harry S Truman, 33rd President of the United States, and former Colonel in the U.S. Army CAISSA or The Game at Chess; a Poem. (written in the year 1763, by Sir William Jones) (pronounced ky-eé-sah) Of armies on the chequer'd field array'd, And guiltless war in pleasing form display'd; When two bold kings contend with vain alarms, In ivory this, and that in ebon arms; Sing, sportive maids, that haunt the sacred hill Of Pindus, and the fam'd Pierian rill. Thou, joy of all below, and all above, Mild Venus, queen of laughter, queen of love; Leave thy bright island, where on many a rose And many a pink thy blooming train repose: Assist me, goddess! since a lovely pair Command my song, like thee devinely fair. Near yon cool stream, whose living waters play, And rise translucent in the solar ray; Beneath the covert of a fragrant bower, Where spring's nymphs reclin'd in calm retreat, And envying blossoms crouded round their seat; Here Delia was enthron'd, and by her side The sweet Sirena, both in beauty's pride: Thus shine two roses, fresh with early bloom, That from their native stalk dispense perfume; Their leaves unfolding to the dawning day Gems of the glowing mead, and eyes of May. A band of youths and damsels sat around, Their flowing locks with braided myrtle bound; Agatis, in the graceful dance admir'd, And gentle Thyrsis, by the muse inspir'd; With Sylvia, fairest of the mirthful train; And Daphnis, doom'd to love, yet love in vain. Now, whilst a purer blush o'erspreads her cheeks, With soothing accents thus Sirena speaks: "The meads and lawns are ting'd with beamy light, And wakeful larks begin their vocal flight; Whilst on each bank the dewdrops sweetly smile; What sport, my Delia, shall the hours beguile? Whall heavenly notes, prolong'd with various art, Charm the fond ear, and warm the rapturous heart? At distance shall we view the sylvan chace? Or catch with silken lines the finny race?" Then Delia thus: "Or rather, since we meet By chance assembled in this cool retreat, In artful contest let our warlike train Move well-directed o'er the field preside: No prize we need, our ardour to inflame; We fight with pleasure, if we fight for fame." The nymph consents: the maids and youths prepare To view the combat, and the sport to share: But Daphnis most approv'd the bold design, Whom Love instructed, and the tuneful Nine. He rose, and on the cedar table plac'd A polish'd board, with differing colours grac'd; Squares eight times eight in equal order lie; These bright as snow, those dark with sable dye; Like the broad target by the tortoise born, Or like the hide by spotted panthers worn. Then from a chest, with harmless heroes stor'd, O'er the smooth plain two well-wrought hosts he pour'd; The champions burn'd their rivals to assail, Twice eight in black, twice eight in milkwhite mail; In shape and station different, as in name, Their motions various, not their power the same. Say, muse! (for Jove has nought from thee conceal'd) Who form'd the legions on the level field? High in the midst the reverend kings appear, And o'er the rest their pearly scepters rear: One solemn step, majestically slow, They gravely move, and shun the dangerous foe; If e'er they call, the watchful subjects spring, And die with rapture if they save their king; On him the glory of the day depends, He once imprison'd, all the conflict ends. The queens exulting near their consorts stand; Each bears a deadly falchion in her hand; Now here, now there, they bound with furious pride, And thin the trmbling ranks from side to side; Swift as Camilla flying o'er the main, Or lightly skimming o'er the dewy plain: Fierce as they seem, some bold Plebeian spear May pierce their shield, or stop their full career. The valiant guards, their minds on havock bent, Fill the next squares, and watch the royal tent; Tho' weak their spears, tho' dwarfish be their height, Compact they move, the bulwark of the fight, To right and left the martial wings display Their shining arms, and stand in close array. Behold, four archers, eager to advance, Send the light reed, and rush with sidelong glance; Through angles ever they assault the foes, True to the colour, which at first they chose. Then four bold knights for courage-fam'd and speed, Each knight exalted on a prancing steed: Their arching course no vulgar limit knows, Tranverse they leap, and aim insidious blows: Nor friends, nor foes, their rapid force restrain, By on quick bound two changing squares they gain; From varing hues renew the fierce attack, And rush from black to white, from white to black. Four solemn elephants the sides defend; Benearth the load of ponderous towers they bend: In on unalter'd line they tempt the fight; Now crush the left, and now o'erwhelm the right. Bright in the front the dauntless soldiers raise Their polish'd spears; their steely helmets blaze: Prepar'd they stand the daring foe to strike, Direct their progress, but their wounds oblique. Now swell th' embattled troups with hostile rage, And clang their shields, impatient to engage; When Daphnis thus: A varied plain behold, Where fairy kings their mimick tents unfold, As Oberon, and Mab, his wayward queen, Lead forth their armies on the daisied green. No mortal hand the wond'rous sport contriv'd, By gods invents, and from gods deriv'd; From them the British nymphs receiv'd the game, And play ech morn beneath the crystal Thame; Hear then the tale, which they to Colin sung, As idling o'er the lucid wave he hung. A lovely dryad rang'd the Thracian wild, Her air enchanting, and her aspect mild: To chase the bounding hart was all her joy, Averse from Hymen, and the Cyprian boy; O'er hills an valleys was her beauty fam'd, And fair Caissa was the damsel nam'd. Mars saw the maid; with deep surprize he gaz'd, Admir'd her shape, and every gesture prais'd: His golden bow the child of Venus bent, And through his breast a piecing arrow sent. The reed was hope; the feathers, keen desire; The point, her eyes; the barbs, ethereal fire. Soon to the nymph he pour'd his tender strain; The haughtly dryad scorn'd his amorous pain: He told his woes, where'er the maid he found, And still he press'd, yet still Caissa frown'd; But ev'n her frowns (ah, what might smiles have done!) Fir'd all his soul, and all his senses won. He left his car, by raging tigers drawn, And lonely wander'd o'er the dusky lawn; Then lay desponding near a murmuring stream, And fair Caissa was his plaintive theme. A naiad heard him from her mossy bed, And through the crystal rais'd her placid head; Then mildly spake: "O thou, whom love inspires, Thy tears will nourish, not allay thy fires. The smiling blossoms drink the pearly dew; And ripening fruit the feather'd race pursue; The scaly shoals devour the silken weeds; Love on our sighs, and on our sorrow feeds. Then weep no more; but, ere thou canst obtain Balm to thy wounds, and solace to thy pain, With gentle art thy martial look beguile; Be mild, and teach thy rugged brow to smile. Canst thou no play, no soothing game devise; To make thee lovely in the damsel's eyes? So may thy prayers assuage the scornful dame, And ev'n Caissa own a mutual frame." Kind nymph, said Mars, thy counsel I approve; Art, only art, her ruthless breast can move. but when? or how? They dark discourse explain: So may thy stream ne'er swell with gushing rain; So may thy waves in one pure current flow, And flowers eternal on thy border blow!" To whom the maid replied with smiling mien: "Above the palace of the Paphian queen Love's brother dwells, a boy of graceful port, By gods nam'd Euphron, and by mortals Sport: Seek him; to faithful ears unfold thy grief, And hope, ere morn return, a sweet relief. His temple hangs below the azure skies; Seest thou yon argent cloud? 'Tis there it lies." This said, she sunk beneath the liquid plain, And sought the mansion of her blue-hair'd train. Meantime the god, elate with heart-felt joy, Had reach'd the temple of the sportful boy; He told Caissa's charms, his kindled fire, The naiad's counsel, and his warm desire. "Be swift, he added, give my passion aid; A god requests." - He spake, and Sport obey'd. He fram'd a tablet of celestial mold, Inlay'd with squares of silver and of gold; Then of two metals form'd the warlike band, That here compact in show of battle stand; He taught the rules that guide the pensive game, And call'd it Cassa from the dryad's name: (Whence Albion's sons, who most its praise confess, Approv'd the play, and nam'd it thoughtful Chess.) The god delighted thank'd indulgent Sport; Then grasp'd the board, and left his airy court. With radiant feet he pierc'd the clouds; nor stay'd, Till in the woods he saw the beauteous maid: Tir'd with the chase the damsel set reclin'd, Her girdle loose, her bosom unconfin'd. He took the figure of a wanton faun, And stood before her on the flowery lawn; Then show'd his tablet: pleas'd the nymph survey'd The lifeless troops in glittering ranks display'd; She ask'd the wily sylvan to explain The various motions of the splendid train; With eager heart she caught the winning lore, And thought ev'n Mars less hateful than before; "What spell," said she, "deceiv'd my careless mind? The god was fair, and I was most unkind." She spoke, and saw the changing faun assume A milder aspect, and a fairer bloom; His wreathing horns, that from his temples grew, Flow'd down in curls of bright celestial hue; The dappled hairs, that veil'd his loveless face, Blaz'd into beams, and show'd a heavenly grace; The shaggy hide, that mantled o'er his breast, Was soften'd to a smooth transparent vest, That through its folds his vigorous bosom show'd, And nervous limbs, where youthful ardour glow'd: (Had Venus view'd him in those blooming charms, Not Vulcan's net had forc'd her from his arms.) With goatlike feet no more he mark'd the ground, But braided flowers his silken sandals bound. The dryad blush'd; and, as he press'd her, smil'd, Whilst all his cares one tender glance beguil'd. He ends: To arms, the maids and striplings cry; To arms, the groves and sounding vales reply. Sirena led to war the swarthy crew, And Delia those that bore the lily's hue. Who first, O muse, began the bold attack; The white refulgent, or the mournful black? Fair Delia first, as favoring lots ordain, Moves her pale legions tow'rd the sable train: From thought to thought her lively fancy flies, Whilst o'er the board she darts her sparkling eyes. At length the warrior moves with haughty strides; Who from the plain the snowy king divides: With equal haste his swarthy rival bounds; His quiver rattles, and his buckler sounds: Ah! hapless youths, with fatal warmth you burn; Laws, ever fix'd, forbid you to return. then from the wing a short-liv'd spearman flies, Unsafely bold, and see! he dies, he dies: The dark-brow'd hero, with one vengeful blow Of life and place deprives his ivory foe. Now rush both armies o'er the burnish'd field, Hurl the swift dart, and rend the bursting shield. Here furious knights on fiery coursers prance, but see! the white-rob'd Amazon beholds Where the dark host its opening van unfolds: Soon as her eye discerns the hostile maid, By ebon shield, and ebon helm betray'd; Seven squares she passed with majestic mien, And stands triumphant o'er the falling queen. Perplex'd, and sorrowing at his consort's fate, The monarch burn'd with rage, despair, and hate: Swift from his zone th' avenging blade he drew, And, mad with ire, the proud virago slew. Meanwhile sweet smiling Delia's wary king Retir'd from fight behind the circling wing. Long time the war in equal balance hung; Till, unforseen, an ivory courser sprung, And, wildly prancing in an evil hour, Attack'd at once the monarch and the tower: Sirena blush'd; for, as the rules requir'd, Her injur'd sovereign to his tent retir'd; Whilst her lost castle leaves his threatening height, And adds new glory to th' exulting knight. At this, pale fear oppress'd the drooping maid, And on her cheek the rose began to fade: A crystal tear, that stood prepar'd to fall, She wip'd in silence, and conceal'd from all; From all but Daphnis; He remark'd her pain, And saw the weakness of her ebon train; Then gently spoke: "Let me your loss supply, And either nobly win, or nobly dir; Me oft has fortune crown'd with fair success, And led to triumph in the fields of Chess." He said: the willing nymph her place resign'd, And sat at distance on the bank reclin'd. Thus when Minerva call'd her chief to arms, And Troy's high turret shook with dire alarms, The Cyprian goddess wounded left the plain, And Mars engag'd a mightier force in vain. Strait Daphnis leads his squadron to the field; (To Delia's arms 'tis ev'n a joy to yield.) Each guileful snare, and subtle art he tries, But finds his heart less powerful than her eyes: Wisdom and strength superior charms obey; And beauty, beauty, wins the long-fought day. By this a hoary chief, on slaughter bent, Approach'd the gloomy king's unguarded tent; Where, late, his consort spread dismay around, Now her dark corse lies bleeding on the ground. Hail, happy youth! they glories not unsung Shall live eternal on the poet's tongue; For thou shalt soon receive a splendid change, And o'er the plain with nobler fury range. The swarthy leaders saw the storm impend, And strove in vain their sovereign to defend: Th' invader wav'd his silver lance in air, And flew like lightning to the fatal square; His limbs dilated in a moment grew To stately height, and widen'd to the view; More fierce his look, more lion-like his mien, Sublime he mov'd, and seem'd a warrior queen. As when the sage on some unfolding plant Has caught a wandering fly, or frugal ant, His hand the microscopic frame applies, And lo! a bright hair'd monster meets his eyes; He sees new plumes in slender cases roll'd; Here stain'd with azure, there bedropp'd with gold; Thus, on the alter'd chief both armies gaze, And both the kings are fix'd with deep amaze. The sword, which arm'd the snow-white maid before, He noew assumes, and hurls the spear no more; The springs indignant on the dark-rob'd band, And knights and archers feel his deadly hand. Now flies the monarch of the sable shield, His legions vanquish'd, o'er the lonely field: So when the morn, by rosy coursers drawn, With pearls and rubies sows the verdant lawn, Whilst each pale star from heaven's blue vault retires, Still Venus gleams, and last of all expires. He hears, where'er he moves, the dreadful sound; Check the deep vales, and Check the woods rebound. No place remains: he sees the certain fate, And yields his throne to ruin, and Checkmate. A brighter blush o'erspreads the damsel's cheeks, And mildly thus the conquer'd stripling speaks: "A double triumph, Delia, hast thou won, By Mars protected, and by Venus' son; The first with conquest crowns thy matchless art, The second points those eyes at Daphnis' heart." She smil'd; the nymphs and amorous youths arise, And own that beauty gain'd the nobler prize. Low in their chest the mimic troops were lay'd, And peaceful slept the sable hero's shade. Red means stop. The truth hurts. “If a disciple is old, a master should be mature. If a disciple is young, a master should be accessible. If a disciple is brave, a master should be fearless. If a disciple is shrewd, a master should be wise. If a disciple is strong, a master should be powerful. If a disciple is learned, a master should be enlightened. If a disciple is contented, a master should be joyful. If a disciple is faithful, a master should be devoted. If a disciple is tolerant, a master should be peaceful. If a disciple is intro inspective, a master should be self-aware. If a disciple is focused, a master should be determined. If a disciple is exceptional, a master should be perfect.” ― Matshona Dhliwayo comment by C.J.S. Purdy on page 34 of the February 1960 Chess World: ‘Zugzwang just doesn’t happen in a middle-game. There is a win by Nimzowitsch against Sämisch in the middle-game which one annotator has called a “Zugzwang” finish. It is true that any move by Sämisch loses, but he would lose just as surely if his opponent had to move. It is not the compulsion to move that hurts him; his position is lost anyway. So it is no more Zugzwang than any other resignable position.’ / 61 games, 1861-2018 16 Hippo --- White Geller system Black Hippopotamus formation. White plays a Geller system with P-K4, P-Q4 and P-QB3. “Chess is a fairy tale of 1,001 blunders.” ― Savielly Tartakower “The pawns are the soul of chess.” ― Francois-Andre Danican Philidor “A pawn, when separated from his fellows, will seldom or never make a fortune.” ― Francois-Andre Danican Philidor “Remember us, Should any free soul come across this place, In all the countless centuries yet to be, May our voices whisper to you from the ageless stones, Go tell the Spartans, passerby: That here by Spartan law, we lie.” ― Frank Miller, 300 “Chess is a war over the board. The object is to crush the opponent’s mind.” ― Bobby Fischer “The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers. The Soldier is also a citizen. In fact, the highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country.” ― George S. Patton Jr. “The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” ― Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States, and former U.S. Army Colonel * Assorted Good games Compiled by rbaglini: Game Collection: assorted Good games * GK's Scheveningen: Game Collection: Kasparov - The Sicilian Sheveningen Luke 2:9, 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. “You can only get good at chess if you love the game.” ― Bobby Fischer “Be active. I do things my way, like skiing when I’m 100. Nobody else does that even if they have energy. And I try to eat pretty correctly and get exercise and fresh air and sunshine.” ― Elsa Bailey, first time skier at age 100 “Don't look at the calendar, just keep celebrating every day.” ― Ruth Coleman, carpe diem at age 101 <Dec-12-16 DrGridlock: Q: When is a pin not a pin? A: When the piece is: (i) not pinned to the king and (ii) in moving the piece threatens either mate or greater material gain than what it was pinned to. (iii) in moving the piece now defends the unit it was pinned to, such as Nf3xd4 and protects the Be2 that was behind the knight.> 'tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all To err is human; to forgive divine Too many cooks spoil the broth Truth is stranger than fiction Virtue is its own reward The wages of sin is death Walls have ears What can't be cured must be endured “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” — Pele, Brazilian soccer player Unless your experience is unique, hard work and perseverance most often lead to success. If we’re scared of hard work, we likely will have a harder time reaching success. “People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.” — George Bernard Shaw, playwright shawExperienced business people distinguish between pessimists and defeatists. Pessimists are more willing to acknowledge red flags and take corrective action than optimists. Defeatists oppose change of any kind on the grounds it might not work. In any kind of business, it’s an unwelcome viewpoint. Keep an eye out for defeatist attitudes — refuse to let them infiltrate your organization. “I do not know anyone who has got to the top without hard work. That is the recipe. It will not always get you to the top, but should get you pretty near.” — Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister The recipe for success contains a lot of hard work. Sometimes it can be luck, but it’s primarily hard work. “You can't get there by bus, only by hard work and risk and by not quite knowing what you're doing. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover will be yourself.” — Alan Alda, actor We may set out on our journey to success with an idea of how we want to get there, but sometimes we need to pivot along the way. Being okay with not knowing what your next step is and allowing yourself to simply be on the journey can be hard, but it pays off and helps us learn more about ourselves. “I am who I am today because of the choices I made yesterday.” — Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the U.S. Entrepreneurs face tough choices. One of the biggest might be quitting your existing job to run your own business. Many entrepreneurs report making tough decisions that changed their lives for the better. Be willing to make the challenging calls and push through the difficult times. “Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.” — Sam Ewing, author Most of us love Cinderella stories about companies that turned into overnight sensations. We love the idea of making a lot of money without working too hard, but we fail to acknowledge that overnight successes usually don’t happen overnight. “Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability comes true for us.” — Susan L. Taylor, journalist Sometimes we base our success and progress on the success and progress that others make, but doing this can hold us back. We’re better served by believing in ourselves and basing our ideas of success on ourselves because, if we believe we can, we will. “Sometimes, you have to give up. Sometimes, knowing when to give up, when to try something else, is genius. Giving up doesn’t mean stopping. Don’t ever stop.” — Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike What do you do when it’s time to change course because the concept you’re pursuing isn’t working? It’s O.K. to acknowledge that something isn’t working. Keep moving, whichever direction you choose. “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” — Isaac Newton, mathematician, physicist, and author By leveraging the work of major thinkers before him, Newton was able to make even more intellectual progress. In this way, success is a collaborative effort. What can you learn from others? “The only thing standing between you and outrageous success is continuous progress.” — Dan Waldschmidt, business strategist Very often, we fail to act on an idea or a concept because it isn’t perfect. We fail to realize that "imperfectly done is better than perfectly planned." While it’s good to do your best work, it’s worthless to allow the fear of imperfection to paralyze you. “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” — Thomas Jefferson, American Founding Father Think of luck as an opportunity. We all have access to it. Humble people capitalize on luck because they remain open to help from others. Their willingness to admit vulnerability invites others to engage with them. Be vulnerable enough to admit you don’t have all the answers. Seize opportunities when they appear and you’ll likely find that success will follow. “If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.” — Steve Jobs, co-Founder of Apple Inc. Oftentimes the media shows us depictions of success that make it seem effortless, like it happened overnight. Few of these success stories actually happen overnight, save for freak occurrences. Instead, success stories come along after periods of significant work. Maybe success did come all at once, but there was likely a period of hard work, a tipping point, and then success happened quickly. “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” ― Tony Robbins, American author, and speaker It can sometimes seem intimidating to set goals if we don’t know how to achieve them, but goals can help illuminate the path to success as they bring a sense of direction and, when achieved, confirm that we’re on the right path. “On any given Monday I am one sale closer and one idea away from being a millionaire.” — Larry D. Turner Florence Chadwick set out to swim from Catalina Island to the coast of California in 1952. After swimming for 15 hours, she was physically and emotionally exhausted. She asked to be taken from the water. Chadwick didn’t know that she was less than a mile away from her goal, but fog obscured the shoreline and she didn’t realize how close she was. When you can’t see the shoreline, keep working. You’re likely closer than you think. “Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” — Stephen King, author Combining natural talent and hard work most often leads to success, or at least more often than simply relying on talent and nothing else. “Impossible is just an opinion.” — Paulo Coelho, Brazilian lyricist, and novelist “Hard work is a prison sentence only if it does not have meaning. Once it does, it becomes the kind of thing that makes you grab your wife around the waist and dance a jig.” — Malcolm Gladwell, journalist, speaker, and author When hard work is driven by passion, it's easier to push through hard times with determination and optimism. “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” — Muhammad Ali, Black professional boxer and activist famous hard work quotes Your definition of success is determined by your own individual goals. However, what always holds true is that achieving success involves taking risks. Place yourself out of your comfort zone and discover the benefits it can bring. “There are no traffic jams on the extra mile.” — Zig Ziglar, author, and motivational speaker Endurance runner Calum Neff learned a fellow runner was stranded in a flooding house during Hurricane Harvey. The runner had a broken leg and children to care for, so Neff rushed over with a raft and a truck and rescued them. Neff then set up a command post and organized nearby rescue efforts and resources. Ultimately, his team rescued 600 families from the floodwaters. Be willing to do extra work — even if it doesn’t benefit you. Few people do it, so you’ll set yourself apart from the crowd. “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” — Walt Disney, founder of Walt Disney World Doing hard things requires courage. But, having the courage to do hard things can make our dreams come true and bring the success we desire. Consider yourself courageous for doing hard things every single day. “The greater the difficulty, the more the glory in surmounting it.” ― Epicurus, Greek philosopher Doing hard things can make us want to give up, but sometimes doing hard things can make achieving our goals feel better, as we know we’ve put in hard work to get there. “You are your greatest asset. Put your time, effort and money into training.” — Tom Hopkins, sales leader People are your greatest resource. You spend money to recruit, hire, and onboard new candidates — but you shouldn’t stop there. Training helps your employees improve and gain confidence. It increases job satisfaction and elevates your company’s reputation among customers and potential employees. Cut costs where you must but refuse to sacrifice training for your team. “There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, there are no limits.” — Michael Phelps, Olympic swimmer Our tendency toward instant gratification sometimes undermines our best efforts. Colonel Harland Sanders was old enough to retire when he landed a deal to sell his chicken for a nickel a piece. He then franchised his chicken idea and eventually sold the franchise for $2 million. Legend claims he was rejected 1,009 times before he found success. Sanders' restaurant career started when he was 40, and more than 20 years passed before he found financial success. Do not impose limits on yourself. “I can say the willingness to get dirty has always defined us as a nation, and it's a hallmark of hard work and a hallmark of fun, and dirt is not the enemy.” — Mike Rowe, actor, and producer Perhaps we’ve become too comfortable in our jobs and less confident in our own abilities. Don’t be afraid to get dirty. “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” — Babe Ruth, former professional baseball player The path to success can make us feel as though we’re being beaten, especially if the path comes with failures. In reality, the only thing that can have us beat is giving up. We can stand to learn something from our failures, and when we don’t give up, they instead become stepping stones to future success. “Do or do not. There is no try.” — Yoda Yoda offers his blunt, but effective wisdom to Luke Skywalker in response to Skywalker saying “I’ll try.” To achieve goals, people have to take the plunge and fully commit. “Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.” — Oprah Winfrey, media mogul Sometimes doing the best we can, even if not perfect, is what sets us up for success in our next venture. “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” — Michael Jordan, Black professional basketball player Michael Jordan is a basketball player, well known throughout his career for being a successful shooting guard. However, even though he achieved success, it still came along with missed shots and lost games — which he credits as the reasons why he succeeded. “There is no royal flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it, for whatever success I have attained has been the result of much hard work and many sleepless nights.” — Madam C.J. Walker, Black entrepreneur, philanthropist, and activist The road to success isn’t a diamond-pleated catwalk, despite how nice that would be. It requires hard work, and sometimes sleepless nights. “If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it.” — Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX Entrepreneurship is important. Entrepreneurs create new businesses, introduce new jobs, develop communities, and start social change. Smartphones, for example, have revolutionized the world economy. They've even spread to countries not considered wealthy by world standards. And they've empowered entrepreneurs in underdeveloped countries to wade into the marketplace. Never stop doing important work. “The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses — behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.” — Muhammad Ali, Black professional boxer and activist Every conversation has the potential to be a career-changing opportunity. No matter what industry you’re in, there are likely parts of your process you don’t enjoy. It’s easy to motivate yourself to work hard on the parts of your job that naturally lend themselves to a payday. It’s also easy to forget the less-important parts of your job also contribute to your organization’s earning potential. Don’t overlook the behind-the-scenes work in pursuit of the high-profile stuff. It’s all-important. “If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant. If we did not sometimes taste adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” — Josh Billings, humorist Over time, many entrepreneurs find their passion for the business fades. Long hours, demanding schedules, and work-life imbalance likely contribute to a sense of loss. Expect your passion to wane, but don’t ignore the situation. The moments of doubt will make you appreciate the moments of unbridled joy even more. “We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes – understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.” — Arianna Huffington, author, and co-founder of The Huffington Post Sometimes we work really hard at something and find that we’ve made a wrong decision. It’s disheartening, but it’s not the end of the world. As Huffington says, we should view wrong decisions and failures as key pillars of our journey towards making the right decisions. “Obstacles can't stop you. Problems can't stop you. Most of all, other people can't stop you. Only you can stop you.” — Jeffrey Gitomer, author, speaker, and business trainer Most of us are painfully unaware of the self-limiting thoughts we harbor. Once we adopt a negative belief about ourselves, we tend to ignore evidence that it’s incorrect and embrace evidence that suggests it’s true. In other words, we double down on negative thoughts. When you identify a self-limiting thought, use the "Five Whys" practice to drill down to the source of the belief. Refuse to be your own worst enemy. “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” — Charles R. Swindoll, author and educator The path towards success is never a straight shot. But with the right attitude, you can overcome any misstep or obstacle. Attitude, then, is greater than failure or circumstance. “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” — Thomas Edison, inventor Anyone can be patient and understanding when things are going well and life is good. But when adversity comes knocking, our true character is tested. Don’t let obstacles knock the wind out of your sail or cause you to sink into negative thinking. “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” — Arthur Ashe, tennis player When Arthur Ashe first picked up a tennis racket at seven, do you think he was ready to win a Grand Slam? Not quite. In fact, due to his slight build, his childhood nicknames were "Skinny" and "Bones." So how did he win his first Grand Slam 18 years later? Most notably, he was willing to be a beginner. After all, it's often the doing that is more important than the outcome. By fine-tuning his craft — and learning hard lessons about composure and perseverance along the way — he became one of the most prominent tennis figures of his generation. “Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.” — Dr. Mae Jemison, first Black female astronaut The work you do should be based on you and how you want to be successful. Don’t quantify your abilities based on what others do — set your own limits and expectations, and go from there. “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” — Dale Carnegie, author, and lecturer A recent study by Statistic Brain revealed 50% of U.S. companies fail after five years and 70% fail after 10 years. Why do some businesses succeed while others fail? Successful companies have leaders who stay the course despite struggles — leaders who value patience and persistence. “You’re not obligated to win. You’re obligated to keep trying to do the best you can every day.” — Marian Wright Edelman, Black activist for children's rights Consider this: we’re not always obligated to win. Instead, we should feel like we’re succeeding based on the fact that we get up every day and do the best we can do. “Success isn't always about greatness. It's about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.” — Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, actor Consistency allows you to measure your progress. It allows you to create accountability and spread your message. Don’t give up on an idea or a process before you’ve had time to practice it consistently. Many entrepreneurs allow six months to determine whether a concept is effective. Pursue consistency before greatness. “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” — Thomas Paine, American Founding Father Conflict occurs when you employ different people with unique personalities and ideas. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t have to be bad. When you address conflict, you help people feel as though their concerns are heard. Consensus increases, communication improves, and relationships grow. Don’t avoid conflict. Address it quickly and fairly to see its benefits. “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston S. Churchill, former Prime Minister Success doesn’t have to be our final stage. We can always continue innovating, learning, and discovering new things, but this takes courage, whether you’ve experienced failure or already succeeded. “When you do more than you’ paid for, eventually you’ll be paid for more than you do.” — Zig Ziglar, author and motivational speaker A baseball coach I know once told his players to "always be looking for work." Never stand flat-footed while the ball is in play. Instead, find a way to contribute to the team. Create a culture that encourages people to prioritize team success. When someone else has a good idea, do everything you can to promote and support it. Seek ways to contribute to the concept even if it isn’t your responsibility. Your leadership will appreciate your initiative. And your coworkers will likely respond in kind when it’s your project. “The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.” — Vidal Sassoon, hairdressing business tycoon Goals don’t self-actualize on their own. Entrepreneurs have to work hard to achieve their success — unless you’re living in a dictionary. “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven played music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, `Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” — Martin Luther King, Jr., Black Baptist minister and activist “I have seen two geniuses in my time. One was Tal. The other was Fischer.” ― Russian GM Yuri Averbakh <Shakespearean Puns Perhaps no writer is better known for the use of puns than William Shakespeare. He plays with "tide" and "tied" in Two Gentlemen of Verona: "Panthino Away, ass! You'll lose the tide if you tarry any longer. Launce It is no matter if the tied were lost; for it is the unkindest tied that ever any man tied. Panthino What's the unkindest tide? Launce Why, he that's tied here, Crab, my dog." In the opening of Richard III, the sun refers to the blazing sun on Edward IV's banner and the fact that he is the son of the Duke of York: "Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York." In this line from Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare plays on the different meanings of heavy (which also means sad) and light: "Give me a torch: I am not for this ambling; Being but heavy I will bear the light." Later in Romeo and Juliet, a morbid pun comes from a fatally-stabbed Mercutio, where grave means serious, but also alludes to his imminent death: "Ask for me tomorrow, you shall find me a grave man." If you open any Shakesperean play, you're likely to find at least one pun on the page! Keep an eye out for a clever play on words example the next time you read Hamlet or watch As You Like It on the stage.> CAISSA or The Game at Chess; a Poem. (written in the year 1763, by Sir William Jones) (pronounced ky-eé-sah) Of armies on the chequer'd field array'd, And guiltless war in pleasing form display'd; When two bold kings contend with vain alarms, In ivory this, and that in ebon arms; Sing, sportive maids, that haunt the sacred hill Of Pindus, and the fam'd Pierian rill. Thou, joy of all below, and all above, Mild Venus, queen of laughter, queen of love; Leave thy bright island, where on many a rose And many a pink thy blooming train repose: Assist me, goddess! since a lovely pair Command my song, like thee devinely fair. Near yon cool stream, whose living waters play, And rise translucent in the solar ray; Beneath the covert of a fragrant bower, Where spring's nymphs reclin'd in calm retreat, And envying blossoms crouded round their seat; Here Delia was enthron'd, and by her side The sweet Sirena, both in beauty's pride: Thus shine two roses, fresh with early bloom, That from their native stalk dispense perfume; Their leaves unfolding to the dawning day Gems of the glowing mead, and eyes of May. A band of youths and damsels sat around, Their flowing locks with braided myrtle bound; Agatis, in the graceful dance admir'd, And gentle Thyrsis, by the muse inspir'd; With Sylvia, fairest of the mirthful train; And Daphnis, doom'd to love, yet love in vain. Now, whilst a purer blush o'erspreads her cheeks, With soothing accents thus Sirena speaks: "The meads and lawns are ting'd with beamy light, And wakeful larks begin their vocal flight; Whilst on each bank the dewdrops sweetly smile; What sport, my Delia, shall the hours beguile? Whall heavenly notes, prolong'd with various art, Charm the fond ear, and warm the rapturous heart? At distance shall we view the sylvan chace? Or catch with silken lines the finny race?" Then Delia thus: "Or rather, since we meet By chance assembled in this cool retreat, In artful contest let our warlike train Move well-directed o'er the field preside: No prize we need, our ardour to inflame; We fight with pleasure, if we fight for fame." The nymph consents: the maids and youths prepare To view the combat, and the sport to share: But Daphnis most approv'd the bold design, Whom Love instructed, and the tuneful Nine. He rose, and on the cedar table plac'd A polish'd board, with differing colours grac'd; Squares eight times eight in equal order lie; These bright as snow, those dark with sable dye; Like the broad target by the tortoise born, Or like the hide by spotted panthers worn. Then from a chest, with harmless heroes stor'd, O'er the smooth plain two well-wrought hosts he pour'd; The champions burn'd their rivals to assail, Twice eight in black, twice eight in milkwhite mail; In shape and station different, as in name, Their motions various, not their power the same. Say, muse! (for Jove has nought from thee conceal'd) Who form'd the legions on the level field? High in the midst the reverend kings appear, And o'er the rest their pearly scepters rear: One solemn step, majestically slow, They gravely move, and shun the dangerous foe; If e'er they call, the watchful subjects spring, And die with rapture if they save their king; On him the glory of the day depends, He once imprison'd, all the conflict ends. The queens exulting near their consorts stand; Each bears a deadly falchion in her hand; Now here, now there, they bound with furious pride, And thin the trmbling ranks from side to side; Swift as Camilla flying o'er the main, Or lightly skimming o'er the dewy plain: Fierce as they seem, some bold Plebeian spear May pierce their shield, or stop their full career. The valiant guards, their minds on havock bent, Fill the next squares, and watch the royal tent; Tho' weak their spears, tho' dwarfish be their height, Compact they move, the bulwark of the fight, To right and left the martial wings display Their shining arms, and stand in close array. Behold, four archers, eager to advance, Send the light reed, and rush with sidelong glance; Through angles ever they assault the foes, True to the colour, which at first they chose. Then four bold knights for courage-fam'd and speed, Each knight exalted on a prancing steed: Their arching course no vulgar limit knows, Tranverse they leap, and aim insidious blows: Nor friends, nor foes, their rapid force restrain, By on quick bound two changing squares they gain; From varing hues renew the fierce attack, And rush from black to white, from white to black. Four solemn elephants the sides defend; Benearth the load of ponderous towers they bend: In on unalter'd line they tempt the fight; Now crush the left, and now o'erwhelm the right. Bright in the front the dauntless soldiers raise Their polish'd spears; their steely helmets blaze: Prepar'd they stand the daring foe to strike, Direct their progress, but their wounds oblique. Now swell th' embattled troups with hostile rage, And clang their shields, impatient to engage; When Daphnis thus: A varied plain behold, Where fairy kings their mimick tents unfold, As Oberon, and Mab, his wayward queen, Lead forth their armies on the daisied green. No mortal hand the wond'rous sport contriv'd, By gods invents, and from gods deriv'd; From them the British nymphs receiv'd the game, And play ech morn beneath the crystal Thame; Hear then the tale, which they to Colin sung, As idling o'er the lucid wave he hung. A lovely dryad rang'd the Thracian wild, Her air enchanting, and her aspect mild: To chase the bounding hart was all her joy, Averse from Hymen, and the Cyprian boy; O'er hills an valleys was her beauty fam'd, And fair Caissa was the damsel nam'd. Mars saw the maid; with deep surprize he gaz'd, Admir'd her shape, and every gesture prais'd: His golden bow the child of Venus bent, And through his breast a piecing arrow sent. The reed was hope; the feathers, keen desire; The point, her eyes; the barbs, ethereal fire. Soon to the nymph he pour'd his tender strain; The haughtly dryad scorn'd his amorous pain: He told his woes, where'er the maid he found, And still he press'd, yet still Caissa frown'd; But ev'n her frowns (ah, what might smiles have done!) Fir'd all his soul, and all his senses won. He left his car, by raging tigers drawn, And lonely wander'd o'er the dusky lawn; Then lay desponding near a murmuring stream, And fair Caissa was his plaintive theme. A naiad heard him from her mossy bed, And through the crystal rais'd her placid head; Then mildly spake: "O thou, whom love inspires, Thy tears will nourish, not allay thy fires. The smiling blossoms drink the pearly dew; And ripening fruit the feather'd race pursue; The scaly shoals devour the silken weeds; Love on our sighs, and on our sorrow feeds. Then weep no more; but, ere thou canst obtain Balm to thy wounds, and solace to thy pain, With gentle art thy martial look beguile; Be mild, and teach thy rugged brow to smile. Canst thou no play, no soothing game devise; To make thee lovely in the damsel's eyes? So may thy prayers assuage the scornful dame, And ev'n Caissa own a mutual frame." Kind nymph, said Mars, thy counsel I approve; Art, only art, her ruthless breast can move. but when? or how? They dark discourse explain: So may thy stream ne'er swell with gushing rain; So may thy waves in one pure current flow, And flowers eternal on thy border blow!" To whom the maid replied with smiling mien: "Above the palace of the Paphian queen Love's brother dwells, a boy of graceful port, By gods nam'd Euphron, and by mortals Sport: Seek him; to faithful ears unfold thy grief, And hope, ere morn return, a sweet relief. His temple hangs below the azure skies; Seest thou yon argent cloud? 'Tis there it lies." This said, she sunk beneath the liquid plain, And sought the mansion of her blue-hair'd train. Meantime the god, elate with heart-felt joy, Had reach'd the temple of the sportful boy; He told Caissa's charms, his kindled fire, The naiad's counsel, and his warm desire. "Be swift, he added, give my passion aid; A god requests." - He spake, and Sport obey'd. He fram'd a tablet of celestial mold, Inlay'd with squares of silver and of gold; Then of two metals form'd the warlike band, That here compact in show of battle stand; He taught the rules that guide the pensive game, And call'd it Cassa from the dryad's name: (Whence Albion's sons, who most its praise confess, Approv'd the play, and nam'd it thoughtful Chess.) The god delighted thank'd indulgent Sport; Then grasp'd the board, and left his airy court. With radiant feet he pierc'd the clouds; nor stay'd, Till in the woods he saw the beauteous maid: Tir'd with the chase the damsel set reclin'd, Her girdle loose, her bosom unconfin'd. He took the figure of a wanton faun, And stood before her on the flowery lawn; Then show'd his tablet: pleas'd the nymph survey'd The lifeless troops in glittering ranks display'd; She ask'd the wily sylvan to explain The various motions of the splendid train; With eager heart she caught the winning lore, And thought ev'n Mars less hateful than before; "What spell," said she, "deceiv'd my careless mind? The god was fair, and I was most unkind." She spoke, and saw the changing faun assume A milder aspect, and a fairer bloom; His wreathing horns, that from his temples grew, Flow'd down in curls of bright celestial hue; The dappled hairs, that veil'd his loveless face, Blaz'd into beams, and show'd a heavenly grace; The shaggy hide, that mantled o'er his breast, Was soften'd to a smooth transparent vest, That through its folds his vigorous bosom show'd, And nervous limbs, where youthful ardour glow'd: (Had Venus view'd him in those blooming charms, Not Vulcan's net had forc'd her from his arms.) With goatlike feet no more he mark'd the ground, But braided flowers his silken sandals bound. The dryad blush'd; and, as he press'd her, smil'd, Whilst all his cares one tender glance beguil'd. He ends: To arms, the maids and striplings cry; To arms, the groves and sounding vales reply. Sirena led to war the swarthy crew, And Delia those that bore the lily's hue. Who first, O muse, began the bold attack; The white refulgent, or the mournful black? Fair Delia first, as favoring lots ordain, Moves her pale legions tow'rd the sable train: From thought to thought her lively fancy flies, Whilst o'er the board she darts her sparkling eyes. At length the warrior moves with haughty strides; Who from the plain the snowy king divides: With equal haste his swarthy rival bounds; His quiver rattles, and his buckler sounds: Ah! hapless youths, with fatal warmth you burn; Laws, ever fix'd, forbid you to return. then from the wing a short-liv'd spearman flies, Unsafely bold, and see! he dies, he dies: The dark-brow'd hero, with one vengeful blow Of life and place deprives his ivory foe. Now rush both armies o'er the burnish'd field, Hurl the swift dart, and rend the bursting shield. Here furious knights on fiery coursers prance, but see! the white-rob'd Amazon beholds Where the dark host its opening van unfolds: Soon as her eye discerns the hostile maid, By ebon shield, and ebon helm betray'd; Seven squares she passed with majestic mien, And stands triumphant o'er the falling queen. Perplex'd, and sorrowing at his consort's fate, The monarch burn'd with rage, despair, and hate: Swift from his zone th' avenging blade he drew, And, mad with ire, the proud virago slew. Meanwhile sweet smiling Delia's wary king Retir'd from fight behind the circling wing. Long time the war in equal balance hung; Till, unforseen, an ivory courser sprung, And, wildly prancing in an evil hour, Attack'd at once the monarch and the tower: Sirena blush'd; for, as the rules requir'd, Her injur'd sovereign to his tent retir'd; Whilst her lost castle leaves his threatening height, And adds new glory to th' exulting knight. At this, pale fear oppress'd the drooping maid, And on her cheek the rose began to fade: A crystal tear, that stood prepar'd to fall, She wip'd in silence, and conceal'd from all; From all but Daphnis; He remark'd her pain, And saw the weakness of her ebon train; Then gently spoke: "Let me your loss supply, And either nobly win, or nobly dir; Me oft has fortune crown'd with fair success, And led to triumph in the fields of Chess." He said: the willing nymph her place resign'd, And sat at distance on the bank reclin'd. Thus when Minerva call'd her chief to arms, And Troy's high turret shook with dire alarms, The Cyprian goddess wounded left the plain, And Mars engag'd a mightier force in vain. Strait Daphnis leads his squadron to the field; (To Delia's arms 'tis ev'n a joy to yield.) Each guileful snare, and subtle art he tries, But finds his heart less powerful than her eyes: Wisdom and strength superior charms obey; And beauty, beauty, wins the long-fought day. By this a hoary chief, on slaughter bent, Approach'd the gloomy king's unguarded tent; Where, late, his consort spread dismay around, Now her dark corse lies bleeding on the ground. Hail, happy youth! they glories not unsung Shall live eternal on the poet's tongue; For thou shalt soon receive a splendid change, And o'er the plain with nobler fury range. The swarthy leaders saw the storm impend, And strove in vain their sovereign to defend: Th' invader wav'd his silver lance in air, And flew like lightning to the fatal square; His limbs dilated in a moment grew To stately height, and widen'd to the view; More fierce his look, more lion-like his mien, Sublime he mov'd, and seem'd a warrior queen. As when the sage on some unfolding plant Has caught a wandering fly, or frugal ant, His hand the microscopic frame applies, And lo! a bright hair'd monster meets his eyes; He sees new plumes in slender cases roll'd; Here stain'd with azure, there bedropp'd with gold; Thus, on the alter'd chief both armies gaze, And both the kings are fix'd with deep amaze. The sword, which arm'd the snow-white maid before, He noew assumes, and hurls the spear no more; The springs indignant on the dark-rob'd band, And knights and archers feel his deadly hand. Now flies the monarch of the sable shield, His legions vanquish'd, o'er the lonely field: So when the morn, by rosy coursers drawn, With pearls and rubies sows the verdant lawn, Whilst each pale star from heaven's blue vault retires, Still Venus gleams, and last of all expires. He hears, where'er he moves, the dreadful sound; Check the deep vales, and Check the woods rebound. No place remains: he sees the certain fate, And yields his throne to ruin, and Checkmate. A brighter blush o'erspreads the damsel's cheeks, And mildly thus the conquer'd stripling speaks: "A double triumph, Delia, hast thou won, By Mars protected, and by Venus' son; The first with conquest crowns thy matchless art, The second points those eyes at Daphnis' heart." She smil'd; the nymphs and amorous youths arise, And own that beauty gain'd the nobler prize. Low in their chest the mimic troops were lay'd, And peaceful slept the sable hero's shade. Red means stop. The truth hurts. “If a disciple is old, a master should be mature. If a disciple is young, a master should be accessible. If a disciple is brave, a master should be fearless. If a disciple is shrewd, a master should be wise. If a disciple is strong, a master should be powerful. If a disciple is learned, a master should be enlightened. If a disciple is contented, a master should be joyful. If a disciple is faithful, a master should be devoted. If a disciple is tolerant, a master should be peaceful. If a disciple is intro inspective, a master should be self-aware. If a disciple is focused, a master should be determined. If a disciple is exceptional, a master should be perfect.” ― Matshona Dhliwayo comment by C.J.S. Purdy on page 34 of the February 1960 Chess World: ‘Zugzwang just doesn’t happen in a middle-game. There is a win by Nimzowitsch against Sämisch in the middle-game which one annotator has called a “Zugzwang” finish. It is true that any move by Sämisch loses, but he would lose just as surely if his opponent had to move. It is not the compulsion to move that hurts him; his position is lost anyway. So it is no more Zugzwang than any other resignable position.’ % 6 games, 1967-2008 16 Koshevarov's Games Koshevarov's collections, combined. French Nc6 Exchange line: 1.e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. ed ed 4. Nf3 Bd6 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. c3 Bg4 7. 0-0 Nge7 8. Re1 Qd7 9. Nbd2 0-0-0 French Advance, Milner-Barry Gambit: 1. e4 e5 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3 bd7 7.0-0 cd 8.cd Nd4 9. Nd4 Qd4 10.Nc3 Qb6/a6 French 3.Nd2 Tarrasch Line: 1. e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3. Nd2 Be7 4.e5 c5 “Every master was once a disaster.” – T.S. Wood “It takes a dream to get started, desire to keep going, and determination to finish.” ― Eddie Harris, Jr. What do Alexander the Great and Winnie the Pooh have in common? Same middle name. “There should be no boundaries to human endeavor. We are all different. However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there’s life, there is hope.” ― Stephen Hawking Why is it sad that parallel lines have so much in common? Because they'll never meet. “Chess is the art of analysis.” ― Mikhail Botvinnik “Chess is imagination.” ― David Bronstein “Chess is as much a mystery as women.” ― Cecil John Seddon Purdy “Take wrong turns. Talk to strangers. Open unmarked doors. And if you see a group of people in a field, go find out what they are doing. Do things without always knowing how they’ll turn out.” ― Randall Munroe <First And Last Author Riddle: What belongs to you, but other people use it more than you? By 2024 India will overtake China as the world’s most populous country China currently has 1.4 billion inhabitants, closely followed by India with 1.3 billion. Together they make up 37% of the world’s population. Riddle Answer: Your name.> Is it ignorance or apathy that's destroying the world today? I don't know, and I don't care. One of Bobby Fischer’s famous utterances is that “Chess is life.” “Chess is my life, but my life is not chess.” ― Anatoly Karpov “Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” ― Forrest Gump “Life is like a game of chess. To win you need to make a move. Knowing which move to make comes with insight and knowledge and by learning the lessons that are accumulated along the way. We become each and every piece within the game called LIFE.” ― Alan Rufus “The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow. Don’t give up.” ― Robert Tew “Life is like a cup of coffee or tea. No matter how bitter it may be, it is always enjoyable.” ― Jason Wong Never criticize someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you'll be a mile away, and you'll have their shoes. “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” ― Mahatma Gandhi “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.” ― Dalai Lama “The game of chess is not just an idle amusement. Several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired or strengthened by it… Life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often pointed to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with.” ― Benjamin Franklin “Chess is played with the mind and not with the hands.” ― Renaud & Kahn, The Art of the Checkmate “Out of difficulties grow miracles.” ― Jean de la Bruyere What do you call a bee that can't make up its mind? A maybe. “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” ― Albert Einstein What did the swordfish say to the marlin? "You're looking sharp." “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” ― Albert Einstein “Failure is success in progress.” ― Albert Einstein “Failure happens all the time. It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.” ― Mia Hamm How do celebrities stay cool? They have many fans. "The broader the chess player you are, the easier it is to be competitive, and the same seems to be true of mathematics - if you can find links between different branches of mathematics, it can help you resolve problems. In both mathematics and chess, you study existing theory and use that to go forward." ― Viswanathan Anand “A quitter never wins and a winner never quits.” ― Napoleon Hill “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” ― Robert. H. Schuller “By perseverance the snail reached the ark.” ― Charles Spurgeon “Don’t be discouraged. It’s often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock.” ― Unknown “Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity.” ― Louis Pasteur "All of the real heroes are not storybook combat fighters either. Every single man in this Army play a vital role. Don't ever let up. Don't ever think that your job is unimportant. Every man has a job to do and he must do it. Every man is a vital link in the great chain.” ― General George S. Patton, U.S. Army Which branch of the military accepts toddlers? The infantry. “Soldiers generally win battles; generals get credit for them.” ― Napoleon Bonaparte, French military and political leader After winning a good game, I always ask myself: "Where did I go right?" ― Tom Wiswell (1910-1988) who made a quote regarding playing checkers worth using in chess circles. “Life is like a chess. If you lose your queen, you will probably lose the game.” — Being Caballero Why couldn't the bicycle stand on its own? It was two tired. “Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practicing patience and being persistent.” — Billy Graham Why were the teacher's eyes crossed? She couldn't control her pupils. “Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn’t mean they’re lost forever.” — Professor X “If you’re positive (attitude) you can get through it OK. When you think negatively, you’re putting poison in your body. Just smile. They say laughter is the best medicine there is.” — Elsa Bailey, athlete, 100 years old “If plan A doesn’t work, the alphabet has 25 more letters – 204 if you’re in Japan.” — Claire Cook Exaggerations have become an epidemic. They went up by a million percent last year. “Life is like a game of chess. I cannot undue the moves but I can make the next step better.” — Edwin Tan “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us.” — Alexander Graham Bell I told my physical therapist that I broke my arm in two places. He told me to stop going to those places. “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” — Maria Robinson “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I know I can.” – Watty Piper “The winner of the game is the player who makes the next to last mistake.” — Savielly Tartakower “Part of being a champ is acting like a champ. You have to learn how to win and not run away when you lose.” — Nancy Kerrigan “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” — Martin Luther King Jr. * 15 Life Lessons: https://herculeschess.com/life-less... “I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” — Pablo Picasso “I stand corrected!” said the man in the orthopedic shoes. “Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you, and act accordingly.” — Thomas Jefferson You're not completely useless. You can always serve as a bad example. “Work like you don’t need the money, love like you’ve never been hurt and dance like no one is watching.” — Satchel Paige “If you’re doing something just to make money, it’s easy to quit. Most people do. But if you’re doing something because it makes you come alive, then removing the restrictions life throws at you clears the path.” — Evan Carmichael “I believe where there is a will, there is a way. You just can’t give up, you have to keep going.” — Charmaney Bayton “Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” — Harriet Beecher Stowe “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” ― C.S. Lewis “I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald “You just can’t beat the person who won’t give up.” — Babe Ruth I was wondering why the ball was getting bigger, then it hit me. Don't Quit Poet: Edgar A. Guest When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit - Rest if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns. As everyone of us sometimes learns. And many a fellow turns about when he Might have won had he stuck it out. Don't give up though the pace seems slow - You may succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than it seems To a faint and faltering man; Often the struggler has given up when he Might have captured the victor's cup; And he learned too late when the night came down, How close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out - The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And when you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems afar; So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit - It's when things seem worst, You must not quit. “Rest if you must but don’t you quit!” — Anonymous “Courage doesn’t always roar, sometimes it’s the quiet voice at the end of the day whispering ‘I will try again tomorrow’.” — Mary Anne Radmacher “The future rewards those who press on. I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I don’t have time to complain. I’m going to press on.” — Barack Obama I saw Usain Bolt sprinting around the track shouting, "Why did the chicken cross the road?" It was a running joke. $ $ $ “Elon Musk, the world's richest person, recently revealed his strategy for investing alongside record inflation. According to the WSJ, since February 2020, the Fed increased the nation’s money supply by a staggering 40%. To some experts, it explains why the U.S. is experiencing its highest inflation rate since 1981. The Tesla and SpaceX founder told investors, in his experience, it’s “better to own physical things than dollars when inflation is high.” That’s especially shocking from Musk, who has historically passionately supported cryptocurrencies and other digital goods. The “physical goods” he mentioned could include oil, metals, and grains, which have all soared in prices…” — Nigel Glenday, Chief Financial Officer “If you do what you need, you’re surviving. If you do what you want, you’re living.” — Unknown "Stick to the prepared plan, man. Don't let others down who expect you to do your part. Do no harm. Fools rush in. Be calm, composed, wise; obey boundaries. Control your impulses, urges, your emotions, your words and actions. Respectfully play by the rules, or willful recklessness will burn you soon enough. All God's ambular creatures must stay back off thin ice. Mother Nature and Father Time always have their say. Be safe and sound as you explore." — Anonymous Bear <Luke 8:16-18 New King James Version The Parable of the Revealed Light Jesus said: 16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”> And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2:9, 10. “You can only get good at chess if you love the game.” ― Bobby Fischer “Be active. I do things my way, like skiing when I’m 100. Nobody else does that even if they have energy. And I try to eat pretty correctly and get exercise and fresh air and sunshine.” ― Elsa Bailey, first time skier at age 100 “Don't look at the calendar, just keep celebrating every day.” ― Ruth Coleman, carpe diem at age 101 803 zerpl: move 29 Zukertort retort. zooter Frit z drip drip drip Kh7? lubes hiz own Szabo rechrgbl electrk shavr What sits at the bottom of the sea and twitches? A nervous wreck. Truth will win out Two is company, but three's a crowd There are two sides to every question Walls have ears What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander When in Rome, do as the Romans do When the oak is before the ash, then you will only get a splash; when the ash is before the oak, then you may expect a soak Why keep a dog and bark yourself? 20 games, 1889-2022 16 KP Caricatures Compiled by Fredthebear “Chess is a fairy tale of 1,001 blunders.” — Savielly Tartakower “Pawns are the soul of chess.” — François-André Danican Philidor “To free your game, take off some of your adversary's men, if possible for nothing.” — Captain Bertain, The Noble Game of Chess (1735) “Chess is all about stored pattern recognition. You are asking your brain to spot a face in the crowd that it has not seen.” ― Sally Simpson Fred Wilson explains in "303 Tricky Chess Tactics": “A combination is a tactical maneuver in which you sacrifice material to obtain an advantage, or at least to improve your position. So, strategy then, is your general plan, while tactics are your specific means of carrying it out.” “For me the starting point for everything - before strategy, tactics, theories, managing, organizing, philosophy, methodology, talent, or experience - is work ethic. Without one of significant magnitude, you're dead in the water.” ― Bill Walsh “Persistence isn't using the same tactics over and over. Persistence is having the same goal over and over.” ― Seth Godin “If you don't play to win don't play at all.” ― Tom Brady “Every time you win, you’re reborn; when you lose, you die a little.” — George Allen “I play my king all over the board. I make him fight!” — Wilhelm Steinitz “A righteous wife can make a poor man feel like a king.” — Boonaa Mohammed “In my opinion, the King's Gambit is busted. It loses by force.” ― Bobby Fischer, A bust to the King's Gambit (1960) “Touch the pawns before your king with only infinite delicacy.” ― Anthony Santasiere “You can retreat pieces… but not pawns. So always think twice about pawn moves.” ― Michael Stean “The passed pawn is a criminal, who should be kept under lock and key. Mild measures, such as police surveillance, are not sufficient.” ― Aron Nimzowitsch “There are two kinds of idiots - those who don't take action because they have received a threat, and those who think they are taking action because they have issued a threat.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Devil and Miss Prym “Life is very much about making the best decisions you can. So I think chess is very valuable.” ― Hikaru Nakamura “If you’re too open-minded; your brains will fall out.” ― Lawrence Ferlinghetti * Anderssen vs Steinitz, 1866: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BF... * Adolf Anderssen according to Ben Finegold: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BF... * Morphy vs Anderssen, 1858, Game 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5d... * Morphy Miniatures: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... * Monster Knights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ2... * Morphy Lecture, Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-b... * The Original Immortal Game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaK... * King's Bishop Gambits: Game Collection: rajat21's kings gambit * KBG, Gunsberg vs Capablanca, 1914: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xG... * King's Gambit, Muzio Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pij... * King's Gambit, McDonnell Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCv... * King's Gambit Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P0... * Anderssen crushes the KGD, Falkbeer Countergambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-b... * Falkbeers: Game Collection: FALKBEER COUNTERGAMBIT * Heed Stan's Warning: Do Not Play 3.fxe5 in the KGD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJh... * nandychess plays the Falkbeer Countergambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvV... * Finegold on the King's Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpV... * Morphy's King's Gambit lesson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzJ... * Murderous King's Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZi... * Ian Nepomniachtchi Explains King's Gambit Accepted 3...g5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viC... * 1.e4 e5 flavor flav: Game Collection: The Open Games: 1.e4 e5 * 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 What does Jim say? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8_... * Bill Wall should have been on beer commercials crushing empty beer cans with his bare hands: Bill Wall * 6 Blast Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nn... * 6.Ne5 against the Center Counter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE8... * 8 Things to See in Benoni: https://girlinbluejeans.com/2018/08... * 8 Traps in the Smith-Morra Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9o... * 10 Crazy Gambits: https://www.chess.com/blog/yola6655... * Latvian Gambit lesson by Tchigorin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzd... * Latvian Gambit for Latvians & Crazies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw-... * Latvian Gambit Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkK... * Latvian Gambit for Black: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5U... * Lekhika Dhariyal Chess Ops: https://www.zupee.com/blog/category... * Checkmate patterns: Game Collection: Checkmate: Checkmate Patterns * Chessbase India Call: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=290... * Chess in old newspapers: https://www.schach-chess.com/chess-... * Gambits Against the French Defense: Game Collection: alapin gambit -alapin diemer gambit + reti gam * Glossary: https://www.chess-poster.com/englis... * How to Play Chess! http://www.serverchess.com/play.htm... * h-file attacks: Game Collection: h-file Attacks, some Greek Gifts by Fredthebear * h-pawn lever, exchange sacrifice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8t... * Imagination: Game Collection: Imagination in Chess * Immortal Games: Game Collection: Immortal games * IQP Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack by GM Naroditsky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srN... * Surprise Knockouts: Game Collection: quick knockouts of greats * King's Knight Opening: Konstantinopolsky Opening (C44): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgi... * Lasker's Manual: Game Collection: Manual of Chess (Lasker) * Miniatures: Game Collection: 200 Miniature Games of Chess - Du Mont (III) * Monday Puzzles: Game Collection: Monday Puzzles, 2011-2017 * Nuremberg 1896: Nuremberg (1896) * Nunn's Chess Course: Game Collection: Lasker JNCC * Old P-K4 Miniatures: Game Collection: Games for Classes * Oskar plays 1e4: Oskar Oglaza * Punish the Fried Liver Attack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap8... * P-K4 Theory and Practice: Game Collection: Chess Openings: Theory and Practice, Section 1 * Become a Predator at the Chessboard: https://www.chesstactics.org/ * PB Friday Puzzles: Game Collection: Friday Puzzles, 2011-2017 * PB Miniature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXJ... * PB Remembrance: https://gameknot.com/stats.pl?phony... * Daily Chess PB: https://www.dailychess.com/chess-ga... * POTD 2023: Game Collection: Puzzle of the Day 2023 * 25 Blast Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8o... * C42 Russian Game/Petrov Defense, Cochrane Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ber... * C42 Russian Game, Kaufmann Attack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRG... * Agadmator's C42 analysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0l... * Schallop Defense to the King's Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38U... * The Rock Scrapbook: https://www.chess.com/article/view/... * Ruy Lopez Trix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__P... * Ruy Lopez Sorcery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uQ... * Ruy Lopez, The Ukrainian Immortal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B7... * Ruy Lopez, Tal vs Unziker, 1961: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owt... * Ruy Lopez Game 4, FIDE World Chess Championship 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmO... * Hikaru Nakamura's Reaction to Game 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psT... * 100+ Scandinavian Miniatures: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... * Scotch Game Trix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj-... * Scotch Game, Greek Gift: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0S... * Scotch, Anti-Max Lange for Black: Game Collection: ANTI MAX LANGE * Short Selection for White: Game Collection: Repertoire for White * Sicilian Alapin Miniature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLk... * Sicilian Brilliancy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyw... * Sicilian Closed B23: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD-... * Sicilian, Smith-Morra Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWE... * Sicilian, Smith-Morra Gambit Main Line: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZU... * Anderssen vs Staunton, 1851: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAi... * Universal 150 Attack vs Bg7: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH4... * Vienna Gambit, Legall's Mate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAa... * Vienna Gambit Trix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGE... * Vienna Gambit for Black: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXU... * Vienna Game Stanley Variation 3.Bc4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW4... “I've played a number of interesting novelties lately. Mostly that's because I haven't got a clue what I am doing in the opening.” ― Nigel Short “When you see a good move – WAIT! – look for a better one.” ― Emanuel Lasker The Portuguese chess player and author Pedro Damiano (1480–1544) first wrote this in his book "Questo libro e da imparare giocare a scachi et de li partiti" published in Rome, Italy, in 1512. “Without technique it is impossible to reach the top in chess, and therefore we all try to borrow from Capablanca his wonderful, subtle technique.” — Mikhail Tal “I was brought up on the games of Capablanca and Nimzowitsch, and they became part of my chess flesh and blood.” — Tigran Petrosian “Capablanca was among the greatest of chess players, but not because of his endgame. His trick was to keep his openings simple, and then play with such brilliance in the middlegame that the game was decided - even though his opponent didn't always know it - before they arrived at the ending.” — Robert Fischer “If the student forces himself to examine all moves that smite, however absurd they may look at first glance, he is on the way to becoming a master of tactics.” — C.J.S. Purdy “The tactician knows what to do when there is something to do; whereas the strategian knows what to do when there is nothing to do.” — Gerald Abrahams “Winning is the science of being totally prepared.” — George Allen “What you do in the off season determines what you do in the regular season.” — George Allen “People of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because they don’t know when to quit.” — George Allen “Try not to do too many things at once. Know what you want, the number one thing today and tomorrow. Persevere and get it done.” — George Allen “Examine moves that smite! A good eye for smites is far more important than a knowledge of strategical principles.” — C.J.S. Purdy “It's a short trip from the penthouse to the outhouse.” ― Paul Dietzel “Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom.” ― Francis Bacon “Discipline is wisdom and vice versa.” ― M. Scott Peck “The punishment of every disordered mind is its own disorder.” ― St. Augustine of Hippo, Confessions “In chess, as in life, a man is his own most dangerous opponent.” — Vasily Smyslov (1921-2010), 7th World Chess Champion “We learn by chess the habit of not being discouraged by present bad appearances in the state of our affairs, the habit of hoping for a favorable change, and that of persevering in the search for resources.” ― Benjamin Franklin 'April showers bring forth May flowers “When a player keeps a calm demeanor on the court, it's easier for his ability to shine. The best response to an opposing player's physical or psychological tactics is to keep cool and come right back at him with the force of your game, not your fists. Revenge is always sweeter if your team wins the game.” ― Walt Frazier “I've never met a checkers player I didn't like; they're all even-tempered. Chess players are egotistical. They think they're intellectuals and that everyone else is beneath them.” ― Don Lafferty, draughts grandmaster “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 “Forget the past – the future will give you plenty to worry about.” — George Allen <1903: Marie Curie becomes the first woman to receive Nobel Prize The chemist and physicist is most famous for her pioneering work in the field of radioactivity. She discovered the chemical element polonium in 1898, which she named after her native country Poland. Together with her husband Pierre, the duo announced the existence of another element—radium. In 1903, they were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work. Curie received her second Nobel Prize in 1911, making her the only person to win in two different science fields (physics and chemistry). Her work was crucial in the development of x-rays in surgery.> The current version of castling was established in France in 1620 and in England in 1640. https://new.uschess.org/news/evolut... WTHarvey: There once was a website named WTHarvey, Where chess puzzles did daily delay, The brain-teasers so tough, They made us all huff and puff, But solving them brought us great satisfaction today. There once was a website named WTHarvey Where chess puzzles were quite aplenty With knight and rook and pawn You'll sharpen your brain with a yawn And become a master of chess entry There once was a site for chess fun, Wtharvey.com was the chosen one, With puzzles galore, It'll keep you in store, For hours of brain-teasing, none done. There once was a website named wtharvey, Where chess puzzles were posted daily, You'd solve them with glee, And in victory, You'd feel like a true chess prodigy! * Mr. Harvey's Puzzle Challenge: https://wtharvey.com/ * Women: https://www.thefamouspeople.com/wom... * Pawn sacrifices: Game Collection: The Gambiteer * Common gambits video: https://saintlouischessclub.org/blo... * Internet tracking: https://www.studysmarter.us/magazin... * Happy Days! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slv... * KG Video: Game Collection: Foxy Openings - King's Gambit * Forney's Collection: Game Collection: Brutal Attacking Chess * Fred Reinfeld could've written this if only they had cell phones back when: https://socialself.com/blog/how-to-... * Online safety: https://www.entrepreneur.com/scienc... * Flip the Finish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWH... <Sep-12-21 offramp: "Yeah I'm sorry, I can't afford a Ferrari, But that don't mean I can't get you there I guess he's an X-box, and I'm more Aryan Tari But the way you play your game ain't fair."> * CG Biography: Aryan Tari * Capablanca: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C... “Once in a lobby of the Hall of Columns of the Trade Union Center in Moscow a group of masters were analyzing an ending. They could not find the right way to go about things and there was a lot of arguing about it. Suddenly Capablanca came into the room. He was always find of walking about when it was his opponent's turn to move. Learning the reason for the dispute the Cuban bent down to the position, said 'Si, si,' and suddenly redistributed the pieces all over the board to show what the correct formation was for the side trying to win. I haven't exaggerated. Don Jose literally pushed the pieces around the board without making moves. He just put them in fresh positions where he thought they were needed. Suddenly everything became clear. The correct scheme of things had been set up and now the win was easy. We were delighted by Capablanca's mastery.” ― Alexander Kotov “Capablanca had that art which hides art to an overwhelming degree.” ― Harry Golombek “I have known many chess players, but only one chess genius, Capablanca.” ― Emanuel Lasker “I think Capablanca had the greatest natural talent.” ― Mikhail Botvinnik Maximo wrote: My Forking Knight's Mare Gracefully over the squares, as a blonde or a brunette, she makes moves that not even a queen can imitate. Always active and taking the initiative, she likes to fork. She does it across the board, taking with ease not only pawns, but also kings, and a bad bishop or two. Sometimes she feels like making quiet moves, at other times, she adopts romantic moods, and makes great sacrifices. But, being hers a zero-sum game, she often forks just out of spite. An expert at prophylaxis, she can be a swindler, and utter threats, skewering men to make some gains. Playing with her risks a conundrum, and also catching Kotov’s syndrome. Nonetheless, despite having been trampled by her strutting ways my trust in her remains, unwavering, until the endgame. “Chess is played with the mind and not with the hands.” ― Renaud & Kahn “Chess is a terrific way for kids to build self-image and self-esteem.” ― Saudin Robovic “Chess is a sport. The main object in the game of chess remains the achievement of victory.” ― Max Euwe “Life is like a chess. If you lose your queen, you will probably lose the game.” ― Being Caballero “If you wish to succeed, you must brave the risk of failure.” — Garry Kasparov “You win some, you lose some, you wreck some.” — Dale Earnhardt “In life, unlike chess the game continues after checkmate.” ― Isaac Asimov <The Fooles Mate Black Kings Biſhops pawne one houſe. White Kings pawne one houſe. Black kings knights pawne two houſes White Queen gives Mate at the contrary kings Rookes fourth houſe — Beale, The Royall Game of Chesse-Play Beale's example can be paraphrased in modern terms where White always moves first, algebraic notation is used, and Black delivers the fastest possible mate after each player makes two moves: 1.f3 e6 2.g4 Qh4# There are eight distinct ways in which Fool's Mate can be reached in two moves. White may alternate the order of f- and g-pawn moves, Black may play either e6 or e5, and White may move their f-pawn to f3 or f4.> “Chess is life in miniature. Chess is a struggle, chess battles.” — Garry Kasparov “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. “Don’t blow your own trumpet.” — Australian Proverb Old Russian Proverb: "Scythe over a stone." (Нашла коса на камень.) The force came over a stronger force. “Continuing to play the victim is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Blaming others for your station in life will indeed make you a victim but the perpetrator will be your own self, not life or those around you.” — Bobby Darnell <“Sestrilla, hafelina Jue amourasestrilla Awou jue selaviena En patre jue Translation: Beloved one, little cat I love you for all time In this time And all others” ― Christine Feehan> morfishine: "I like the Schliemann Defense, along with the Falkbeer counter-gambit and other chancy openings. Enterprising chess is the most fun, even if one meets with disaster from time-to-time. I'd rather go down swinging." <1942: Women serve in the armed forces during World War II The U.S. Army established the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (later known as Women's Army Corps, WAC) and recruited around 150,000 women in roles such as radio operators, mechanics and laboratory technicians during World War II. In 1978, the WAC was disestablished by an act of Congress, as a means to assimilate women more closely into the structure of the Army.> Archie Griffin is the only college football player to win two Heisman Trophies, in 1974 and 1975, as a junior and senior running back at Ohio State University. This poem is dedicated to all Caissa members who strive to checkmate their opponents. The Aroused Bishop Whispered the pawn to the curious knight You jump one square up and two to the right On the diagonal where our queen lays in wait. I will move up from b-seven to b- eight. On the opposite side, no, no screamed the queen Realizing she should have been heard not seen. Because there, only hidden partially by the walls She saw him standing juggling his little balls. The bishop so aroused by all of this inter-play Could not, no he could not help but howlingly say: Oh, oh sweet queen you are mine for the take While your checkmated king will burn at the stake. Collection assembled by Fredthebear. Jude Acers set a Guinness World Record for playing 117 people in simultaneous chess games on April 21, 1973 at the Lloyd Center Mall in Portland, Oregon. On July 2-3, 1976 Jude played 179 opponents at Mid Isle Plaza (Broadway Plaza) in Long Island, New York for another Guinness record. “Funny, funny Jude (The Man in the Red Beret). You play with little pieces all day long, and you know what? You’ll live to be an old, old man someday. And here I am.” — Janis Joplin Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER Q: How do poets say hello? A: "Hey, haven’t we metaphor?" On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified prohibiting any U.S. citizen from being denied the right to vote based on sex. Q: What do you call a cow jumping on a trampoline? A: A milkshake. <Steinitz's Theory 1. At the beginning of the game, Black and White are equal. 2. The game will stay equal with correct play on both sides. 3. You can only win by your opponent's mistake. 4. Any attack launched in an equal position will not succeed, and the attacker will suffer. 5. You should not attack until an advantage is obtained. 6. When equal, do not seek to attack, but instead, try to secure an advantage. 7. Once you have an advantage, attack or you will lose it.> King's Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Accepted/Abbazia Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5 4.exd5 Nf6 Accepted/Abbazia Defence/Main Line: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5 4.exd5 Nf6 5.Bb5+ c6 6.dxc6 bxc6 7.Bc4 Nd5 Accepted/Allgaier Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ng5 Accepted/Allgaier Gambit/Thorold Attack: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ng5 h6 6.Nxf7 Kxf7 7.d4 Accepted/Allgaier Gambit/Urusov Attack: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ng5 h6 6.Nxf7 Kxf7 7.Bc4+ Accepted/Australian Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.h4 Accepted/Basman Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Qe2 Accepted/Becker Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 h6 Accepted/Bishop's Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Accepted/Bishop's Gambit/Bishop's Countergambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 b5 Accepted/Bishop's Gambit/Bledow Countergambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 d5 4.Bxd5 Nf6 Accepted/Bishop's Gambit/Boden Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 Nc6 Accepted/Bishop's Gambit/Bogoljubow Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6 Accepted/Bishop's Gambit/Bogoljubow Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Accepted/Bishop's Gambit/Cozio Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Nf6 Accepted/Bishop's Gambit/Cozio Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 d6 Accepted/Bishop's Gambit/First Jaenisch Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 Nf6 Accepted/Bishop's Gambit/Gianutio Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 f5 Accepted/Bishop's Gambit/Greco Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 Bc5 Accepted/Bishop's Gambit/Kieseritzky Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 b5 Accepted/Bishop's Gambit/Lopez Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 c6 Accepted/Bishop's Gambit/Lopez Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 g5 Accepted/Bishop's Gambit/MacDonnell Attack: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 g5 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.d4 Ne7 7.g3 Accepted/Bishop's Gambit/Maurian Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Nc6 Accepted/Bishop's Gambit/Sec. Jaenisch Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 Qf6 Accepted/Bishop's Gambit/Semi-Classical Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 g5 Accepted/Blachly Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Nc6 Accepted/Bonsch-Osmolovsky Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Ne7 Accepted/Breyer Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Qf3 Accepted/Bryan Countergambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 b5 Accepted/Carrera Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Qh5 Accepted/Cunningham Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Be7 Accepted/Cunningham Defence/Bertin Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Be7 4.Bc4 Bh4+ 5.g3 fxg3 6.0-0 gxh2+ 7.Kh1 Accepted/Cunningham Defence/McCormick Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Be7 4.Bc4 Nf6 Accepted/Dodo Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Qg4 Accepted/Double Muzio/Young Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.0-0 gxf3 6.Qxf3 Qf6 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.d4 Qxd4+ 9.Be3 Qf6 10.Nc3 fxe3 Accepted/Double Muzio Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.0-0 gxf3 6.Qxf3 Qf6 7.e5 Qxe5 8.Bxf7+ Accepted/Double Muzio Gambit: Main Line: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.0-0 gxf3 6.Qxf3 Qf6 7.e5 Qxe5 8.d3 Bh6 9.Nc3 Ne7 10.Bd2 Nbc6 11.Rae1 Accepted/Eisenberg Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nh3 Accepted/Fischer Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d6 Accepted/Fischer Defence/Schulder Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d6 4.b4 Accepted/Gaga Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.g3 Accepted/Ghulam-Kassim Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.d4 gxf3 6.Qxf3 Accepted/Gianutio Countergambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 f5 Accepted/Greco Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.h4 h6 6.d4 d6 Accepted/Greco Gambit/Calabrese Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.h4 h6 6.d4 d6 7.Nc3 c6 8.hxg5 hxg5 9.Rh8 Bxh8 10.Ne5 Accepted/Hanstein Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.O- O Accepted/Kieseritsky Gambit/Anderssen Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nf6 6.Bc4 d5 7.exd5 Bd6 Accepted/Kieseritsky Gambit/Anderssen-Cordel Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nf6 6.Bc4 d5 7.exd5 Bd6 8.d4 Nh5 9.Bf4 Nxf4 Accepted/Kieseritsky Gambit/Berlin Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nf6 6.Bc4 Accepted/Kieseritsky Gambit/Berlin Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nf6 Accepted/Kieseritsky Gambit/Brentano Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 d5 Accepted/Kieseritsky Gambit/Cotter Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 h6 6.Nxf7 Kxf7 Accepted/Kieseritsky Gambit/Kolisch Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 d6 Accepted/Kieseritsky Gambit/Long Whip: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 h5 Accepted/Kieseritsky Gambit/Neumann Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nc6 Accepted/Kieseritsky Gambit/Paulsen Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Bg7 Accepted/Kieseritsky Gambit/Paulsen Defence Deferred: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nf6 6.Bc4 d5 7.exd5 Bg7 Accepted/Kieseritsky Gambit/Rice Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nf6 6.Bc4 d5 7.exd5 Bd6 8.0-0 Bxe5 Accepted/Kieseritsky Gambit/Rosenthal Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Qe7 Accepted/Kieseritsky Gambit/Rubinstein Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nf6 6.d4 Accepted/King's Knight Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Accepted/King's Knight Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Accepted/Kotov Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.d4 gxf3 6.Bf4 Accepted/Leonardo Gambit: see: Stamma Gambit Accepted/Lolli Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Bxf7+ Accepted/MacDonnell Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Nc3 Accepted/Mason-Keres Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nc3 Accepted/Mayet Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.d4 d6 6.c3 Accepted/Middleton Countergambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 d6 5.0-0 Bg4 6.h3 h5 7.hxg4 hxg4 Accepted/Modern Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5 Accepted/Muzio Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.O-O Accepted/Muzio Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.0-0 Accepted/Muzio Gambit Accepted: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.0-0 gxf3 6.Qxf3 Qe7 Accepted/Orsini Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.b3 Accepted/Paris Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Ne2 Accepted/Philidor Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.h4 Accepted/Philidor Gambit: Schultz Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.h4 h6 6.d4 d6 7.Qd3 Accepted/Polerio Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.d4 Accepted/Quade Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Nc3 Accepted/Rosentreter Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.d4 Accepted/Rosentreter Gambit/Soerensen Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.d4 g4 5.Nc3 gxf3 Accepted/Salvio Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Ne5 Accepted/Salvio Gambit/Cochrane Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Ne5 Qh4+ 6.Kf1 f3 Accepted/Salvio Gambit/Obsolete Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Ne5 Qh4+ 6.Kf1 Nf6 Accepted/Salvio Gambit/Silbershmidt Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Ne5 Qh4+ 6.Kf1 Nh6 Accepted/Salvio Gambit/Viennese Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Ne5 Qh4+ 6.Kf1 Nc6 Accepted/Schallop Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Nf6 Accepted/Schallop Defence/Tashkent Attack: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e5 Nh5 5.g4 Accepted/Schurig Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bb5 Accepted/Stamma Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.h4 Accepted/Steinitz-Krause Gambit: see Polerio Gambit Accepted/Tartakower Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Be2 Accepted/Tartakower Gambit/Weiss Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Be2 f5 4.e4 d6 Accepted/Traditional Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7 Accepted/Tumbleweed: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Kf2 Accepted/Villemson Gambit: see Polerio Gambit Declined/Classical Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 Declined/Classical Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.c3 Declined/Classical Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.c3 Bg4 5.fxe5 dxe5 6.Qa4+ Declined/Classical Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.b4 Declined/Keene Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Qh4+ 3.g3 Qe7 Declined/Mafia Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 c5 Declined/Norwalde Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Qf6 Declined/Petrov's Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Nf6 Declined/Senechaud Countergambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 g5 Falkbeer Countergambit/Accepted: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 Falkbeer Countergambit/Anderssen Attack: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.Bb5+ Falkbeer Countergambit/Blackburne Attack: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.Nf3 Falkbeer Countergambit/Charousek Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.d3 Falkbeer Countergambit/Charousek Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.d3 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd2 e3 Falkbeer Countergambit/Charousek Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.d3 Nf6 5.Qe2 Falkbeer Countergambit/Charousek Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.d3 Nf6 5.dxe4 Nxe4 6.Nf3 Bc5 7.Qe2 Bf5 Falkbeer Countergambit/Charousek Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.d3 Nf6 5.dxe4 Falkbeer Countergambit/Charousek Gambit: Keres Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.d3 Nf6 5.Nd2 Falkbeer Countergambit/Hinrichsen Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.d4 Falkbeer Countergambit/Marshall Countergambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 c6 Falkbeer Countergambit/Miles Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 Bc5 Falkbeer Countergambit/Nimzowitsch Countergambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 c6 Falkbeer Countergambit/Pickler Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 c6 4.dxc6 Bc5 Falkbeer Countergambit/Staunton Line: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 My Wage by Jessie Belle Rittenhouse I bargained with Life for a penny, And Life would pay no more, However I begged at evening When I counted my scanty store; For Life is a just employer, He gives you what you ask, But once you have set the wages, Why, you must bear the task. I worked for a menial’s hire, Only to learn, dismayed, That any wage I had asked of Life, Life would have paid. Mar-07-13 Abdel Irada: In case anyone wonders who Kermit Norris is/was, he's an expert in Santa Cruz against whom I used to play a great deal of blitz. His specialty, when a particularly complex position arose (especially in his pet Owen's Defense), was to lean forward, fix his opponent with a scowl and a withering stare, and say, in a deep and solemn tone, "Chicken parts!" <Below is a Morphy acrostic by C.V. Grinfield from page 334 of the Chess Player’s Chronicle, 1861: Mightiest of masters of the chequer’d board, Of early genius high its boasted lord! Rising in youth’s bright morn to loftiest fame, Princeliest of players held with one acclaim; Host in thyself – all-conquering in fight: – Yankees exult! – in your great champion’s might.> Riddle: I break, but never fall. And I fall, but never break. What are we? Thank you, Qindarka! Answer: Day and night. The Lion and the Rat To show to all your kindness, it behoves: There's none so small but you his aid may need. I quote two fables for this weighty creed, Which either of them fully proves. From underneath the sward A rat, quite off his guard, Popped out between a lion's paws. The beast of royal bearing Showed what a lion was The creature's life by sparing – A kindness well repaid; For, little as you would have thought His majesty would ever need his aid, It proved full soon A precious boon. Forth issuing from his forest glen, T" explore the haunts of men, In lion net his majesty was caught, From which his strength and rage Served not to disengage. The rat ran up, with grateful glee, Gnawed off a rope, and set him free. By time and toil we sever What strength and rage could never. Alaska: Kodiak Established in: 1792 Kodiak is the main city in Kodiak Island and was founded in 1792 by Aleksandr Andreyevich Baranov. It was first called Pavlovsk Gavan, which is Russian for Paul's Harbor, and was the first capital of Russian Alaska. You can still find a large Russian Orthodox church there, as well as plenty of beautiful views. * Chess History: https://www.britannica.com/topic/ch... < <<Charlotte Chess Center Tuesday Night Action Charlotte Chess Center EVENT OVERVIEW Tuesday Night Action-Weekly Rated Play The CCC conducts a weekly US Chess rated game every Tuesday night. This is a great way for players to get weekly practice without committing a whole weekend to play a tournament. The Top Section also FIDE-rated - offering the only free weekly FIDE-rated game in the country! In addition, there is a free lecture before the games begin. HOW IT WORKS CCC opens Tuesdays at 5:45pm Lecture with FM Peter Giannatos prior to rated games from 6:00pm-6:45pm Players must register weekly and in advance using the online registration system Each Tuesday evening will be limited to the first 62 players to register TNA registration will close at 6:30pm if not already full Once spots are filled, players may email events@charlottechesscenter.org to be placed on the waitlist. ​ REQUIREMENTS Players must be members of the CCC Players must have a US Chess membership Open to all players in grades 9-12 and adults Students in grades K-8 must be rated over 1000 ​K-8 players rated under 1000 - See Wednesday Action Quads and Friday Action Quads ​ START TIME Lecture: 6:00pm Game: 7:00pm GAMES 1 Round Weekly, Rated After 4 Rounds/Weeks ​ SECTIONS TOP (1600+) Under 1600 Under 1200 "Playing up" not permitted in TNA TIME CONTROL Top Section: G/85 mins; inc/5 - FIDE and US Chess Rated U1600 & U1200 Sections: G/60 mins; inc/5 - US Chess Rated ENTRY FEE Free, must be a CCC Member​ - CCC membership only $40/year - join today!​ OTHER NOTES​​ Top Section is FIDE-rated - FIDE rules apply, except for US Chess penalties for cell phone infractions. Tournament Directors will accelerate pairings to pair players close in rating when possible Most recent "live" US Chess regular ratings used for all sections to ensure close matchups Open to high schoolers and adults of any rating, including unrated Students in grades K-8 must be rated 1000 Players in grades K-8 and rated under 1000 - see Wednesday Action Quads and Friday Action Quads For all CCC events, bookmark our events calendar All players must use CCC equipment - wooden sets and digital clocks provided Address: 10700 Kettering Drive Unit E Charlotte, NC 28226 > >> 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. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER <Oct-04-23 HeMateMe: I play 3/2 blitz occasionally on Lichess. I find it an excellent site, none of the delays/cancellations that ruined chess.com (for me). Oct-04-23 Cassandro: Yes, lichess is by far the best site for online chess. And you never know, apparently you may even get to play against a living legend like the highly esteemed Leonard Barden there!> FTB plays all about but has always been happy with FICS: https://www.freechess.org/ The fear of running out of something to read is called "abibliophobia." Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' Researchers from India recently discovered a new species of green pit vipers. They named the snake after Salazar Slytherin, one of the founders of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the Harry Potter universe. The Boy and the Schoolmaster Wise counsel is not always wise, As this my tale exemplifies. A boy, that frolicked on the banks of Seine, Fell in, and would have found a watery grave, Had not that hand that plants never in vain A willow planted there, his life to save. While hanging by its branches as he might, A certain sage preceptor came in sight; To whom the urchin cried, "Save, or I'm drowned!" The master, turning gravely at the sound, Thought proper for a while to stand aloof, And give the boy some seasonable reproof. "You little wretch! this comes of foolish playing, Commands and precepts disobeying. A naughty rogue, no doubt, you are, Who thus requite your parents" care. Alas! their lot I pity much, Whom fate condemns to watch over such." This having coolly said, and more, He pulled the drowning lad ashore. This story hits more marks than you suppose. All critics, pedants, men of endless prose, – Three sorts, so richly blessed with progeny, The house is blessed that does not lodge any, – May in it see themselves from head to toes. No matter what the task, Their precious tongues must teach; Their help in need you ask, You first must hear them preach. What may be done at any time will be done at no time. ~ Scottish Proverb Riddle: What invention lets you look right through a wall? In a match between Mason-Mackenzie in London in 1882, there were 72 consecutive Queen Moves. Riddle Answer: A window! Acts 20:35 “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” <In Congress, July 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. 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 to 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.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.> “When you have the better of it, play simply. When the game is going against you, look for complications.” — Frank J. Marshall * Pawn Endgames: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUq... * Crafty Endgame Trainer: https://www.chessvideos.tv/endgame-... A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush ― Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, "Don Quixote" Cajun: Joie de vivre (Jhwa da veev) – Joy of living. "Zeitnot" is German for "time pressure." “....his countrymen, Kolisch and Steinitz, are greatly indebted for their later success to their having enjoyed early opportunities of practicing with the departed amateur whose death is also greatly deplored amongst all who knew him personally.” — Wilhelm Steinitz, regarding Karl Hamppe The first appearance of the (John) Cochrane gambit against Petrov's defense C42 was in the year 1848 against an Indian master Mohishunder Bannerjee. “Sorry don't get it done, Dude!” — John Wayne, Rio Bravo “Gossip is the devil’s telephone. Best to just hang up.” — Moira Rose Question: What’s the brightest star in the sky? Answer: Sirius – also known as the Dog Star or Sirius A, Sirius is the brightest star in Earth’s night sky. The star is outshone only by several planets and the International Space Station. Fredthebear created this collection. Question: What’s the difference between a cemetery and a graveyard? Answer: Graveyards are attached to churches while cemeteries are stand-alone. Patty Loveless "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" https://www.bing.com/videos/rivervi... * Opening Tree: https://www.shredderchess.com/onlin... 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 (The Bishop's Opening, Berlin Defense) Then 3.d4 (Ponziani's Gambit) and some variation thereafter. Wikipedia shows that the following are closely related: * 3...exd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 (Center Game, by transposition) * 3...exd4 4.Nf3 (Urusov Gambit) o 4...Bc5 5.0-0 Nc6 (Max Lange Attack, by transposition) o 4...Nc6 (Two Knights Defense, by transposition) o 4...Nxe4 5.Qxd4 (Urusov Gambit Accepted) The Triple Muzio Gambit starts with 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 g4 5. O8. Bxf7+ Kxf7 9. d4 Qxd4+ 10. Be3 – it’s a sequence that looks like you’re deliberately giving up pawns, but in reality, you’re setting up for a quick strike against your opponent’s king while they are still trying to coordinate their forces. The Nakmanson Gambit is as follows: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O Nxe4 6. Nc3 dxc3 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7 8. Qd5+ The beauty of this gambit lies in its aggression and unpredictability. It forces your opponent to think on their feet right from the get-go. By sacrificing pieces early on, it may seem like you’re falling behind but don’t be fooled! The goal is not necessarily material gain but rather seizing control of the board and leaving your opponent with tough decisions to make under pressure. The Lucchini Gambit: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 f5 5. Ng5 f4 – an aggressive sequence of moves designed to unsettle any adversary right from the get-go. But don’t be fooled by its audacious start; this gambit isn’t for the faint-hearted or inexperienced player! The Lucchini Gambit requires careful planning and sharp tactical vision to navigate through its complex mazes, using each piece efficiently while maintaining a strong position on the board. The Stafford Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nc6 4.Nxc6 dxc6. The beauty of the Stafford Gambit lies not in material gain but in seizing control over the center board swiftly and launching an unyielding attack against unsuspecting opponents. Even if they manage to cope with initial pressure, they must continuously be on guard for tactical blows throughout the middle game phase. The Orthoschnapp Gambit: 1. e4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. cxd5 exd5 4. Qb3 dxe4 5. Bc4 – adding a thrilling twist to your arsenal that’ll leave your opponents stunned! The Hyper Accelerated Dragon is like stepping onto a high-speed roller coaster. It offers thrilling turns and tactical maneuvers that’ll keep your opponent on their toes. It’s an aggressive yet flexible opening for black. It comes into play when you make the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6. This chess opening derives its strength from its versatility in creating a solid positional game while also allowing explosive counterplay opportunities. The key to mastering this opening lies in understanding the pawn structures and knowing exactly when to strike back against your opponent. The fianchettoed Bg7 applies pressure on the center and prepares for d7-d5 in one go if possible. This allows you to break open your opponent’s central control early in the game, leading to dynamic positions that often catch them off guard. Moreover, this unique setup gives you greater flexibility with your knights. They can be developed according to how white responds. What sets this opening apart is how quickly it drives at white’s center without committing too many pieces early on. The accelerated development not only provides an element of surprise but also forces white into defensive mode right out of the gate. So next time you’re looking for an adventurous ride through complex tactical terrains while maintaining a secure position, don’t hesitate – hop onto the Hyper Accelerated Dragon! With practice and careful study, you’ll soon become adept at navigating its twists and turns to outmaneuver your opponents. Pharrell Williams - Happy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZ... “Happiness depends upon ourselves.” ― Aristotle Old Russian Proverb: A good laugh is sunshine in a house. “Don't just follow your dreams; chase them down, grab hold and don't let go.” ― Kellie Elmore Chess is but a Game As he secretly rode his knight out of the castle's gate, still believing that he could escape this inevitable fate, the sky broke open with an array of incredible light. and there smitten to the earth lay nova under his knight. I am who I am and always am, spoke this thundering voice and you, my friend nova, do not at all have another choice but to go forth south and north, west and east loudly proclaiming the good Word to man and beast. Thus beset by the compelling voice from the broken sky nova set about explaining through the word the how and why. He travelled north and south, west and east never losing aim to let all Caissa's members know: chess is but a game. “The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist “It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” ― Theodore Roosevelt French Proverb: “Tout est bien qui finit bien.” ― (All’s well that ends well.) zpoof! 16 The Zoltan of Swat sang like a rollin' stone without a Mick. TowRdboy watched Zdanovs glory in Barcza style while Zelinsky truth freeze bought out4 Zhuravliov. 500 games, 1497-2019 16 Men of Nature Release This game an Indian Brahmin did invent, The force of Eastern wisdom to express; From thence the same to busy Europe sent; The modern Lombards stil'd it pensive Chess. — Sir John Denham You don’t have to be a polymath like Beth Harmon in The Queen’s Gambit to improve your game Stephen Moss Sat 14 Nov 2020 01.56 EST The first thing to say about chess is that we are not all natural geniuses like Beth Harmon, the star of The Queen’s Gambit, who is taught the game by grumpy but lovable janitor Mr Shaibel at the age of nine and is very soon beating him. The daughter of a maths PhD, she sees the patterns and movement in chess immediately, can visualise effortlessly – being able to memorise moves and play without a board is the sign of chess mastery – and sees whole games on the ceiling of her orphanage dormitory. She is a prodigy, just like world champion Bobby Fischer, on whom Walter Tevis based the novel from which the TV series is drawn. We are mere mortals. So how do we get good? First, by loving chess. “You can only get good at chess if you love the game,” Fischer said. You need to be endlessly fascinated by it and see its infinite potential. Be willing to embrace the complexity; enjoy the adventure. Every game should be an education and teach us something. Losing doesn’t matter. Garry Kasparov, another former world champion, likes to say you learn far more from your defeats than your victories. Eventually you will start winning, but there will be a lot of losses on the way. Play people who are better than you, and be prepared to lose. Then you will learn. If you are a beginner, don’t feel the need to set out all the pieces at once. Start with the pawns, and then add the pieces. Understand the potential of each piece – the way a pair of bishops can dominate the board, how the rooks can sweep up pawns in an endgame, why the queen and a knight can work together so harmoniously. Find a good teacher – your own Mr Shaibel, but without the communication issues. Once you have established the basics, start using computers and online resources to play and to help you analyse games. lichess.org, chess.com and chess24.com are great sites for playing and learning. chessbomb.com is a brilliant resource for watching top tournaments. chessgames.com is a wonderful database of games. chesspuzzle.net is a great practice program. decodechess.com attempts to explain chess moves in layperson’s language. There are also plenty of sophisticated, all-purpose programs, usually called chess engines, such as Fritz and HIARCs that, for around £50, help you deconstruct your games and take you deeply into positions. But don’t let the computer do all the work. You need to engage your own brain on the analysis. And don’t endlessly play against the computer. Find human opponents, either online or, when the pandemic is over, in person. Bobby Fischer was stripped of his world title in 1975 after he refused to defend the title due to a row over the format. Photograph: RFS/AP Study the games of great masters of the past. Find a player you like and follow their careers. Fischer is a great starting point – his play is clear and comprehensible, and beautifully described in his famous book My 60 Memorable Games. Morphy (Harmon’s favourite), Alekhine, Capablanca, Tal, Korchnoi and Shirov are other legendary figures with whom the aspiring player might identify. They also have fascinating life stories, and chess is about hot human emotions as well as cold calculation. Modern grandmaster chess, which is based heavily on a deep knowledge of opening theory, is more abstruse and may be best avoided until you have acquired deep expertise. The current crop of leading grandmasters are also, if we are brutally honest, a bit lacking in personality compared with the giants of the past. Children will often find their school has a chess club, and that club may even have links with Chess in Schools and Communities, which supplies expert tutors to schools. Provision tends to be much better at primary than secondary level, and after 11 children will probably be left to their own devices if they want to carry on playing. If a player is really serious, she or he should join their local chess club. There is likely to be one meeting nearby, or there will be once the Covid crisis is over. At the moment, clubs are not meeting and there is very little over-the-board chess being played. Players are keeping their brains active online, where you can meet players from all over the world. That is fun, but be aware that some players are likely to be cheating – using chess engines to help them, making it hard for you to assess how good your play is. And you also get some abuse online from players who want to trash-talk. You are also likely to be playing at very fast time controls – so-called blitz chess – and that is no way to learn to really think about chess. If you want to start playing over-the-board tournaments (when they resume), you will need to join the chess federation in your respective country. After you’ve played the requisite number of official games, you will get a rating – a bit like a handicap in golf – and can then start being paired with players of your own strength in matches. But until then, the key is to keep enjoying chess and searching for the elusive “truth” in a position. If you see a good move, look for a better one. You can always dig a little deeper in the pursuit of something remarkable and counterintuitive. Beauty and truth: the essence of chess. Stephen Moss is the author of The Rookie: An Odyssey through Chess (and Life), published by Bloomsbury * YS Tactics: Game Collection: Yasser Seirawan's Winning Chess Tactics “God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.” ― Voltaire When does a joke become a ‘dad’ joke? When it becomes apparent. “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?” ― Martin Luther King, Jr. "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." ― Harry S Truman, 33rd President of the United States, and former Colonel in the U.S. Army 409 zspray: move 35. zooter Frit z drip drip drip Kh4? Vermontoad ah wideload down down down theroad w/all sorts of yella flagz warn warning us. Don't Quit Poet: Edgar A. Guest When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit - Rest if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns. As everyone of us sometimes learns. And many a fellow turns about when he Might have won had he stuck it out. Don't give up though the pace seems slow - You may succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than it seems To a faint and faltering man; Often the struggler has given up when he Might have captured the victor's cup; And he learned too late when the night came down, How close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out - The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And when you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems afar; So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit - It's when things seem worst, You must not quit. “Rest if you must but don’t you quit!” — Anonymous “Courage doesn’t always roar, sometimes it’s the quiet voice at the end of the day whispering ‘I will try again tomorrow’.” — Mary Anne Radmacher “The future rewards those who press on. I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I don’t have time to complain. I’m going to press on.” — Barack Obama I saw Usain Bolt sprinting around the track shouting, "Why did the chicken cross the road?" It was a running joke. $ $ $ “Elon Musk, the world's richest person, recently revealed his strategy for investing alongside record inflation. According to the WSJ, since February 2020, the Fed increased the nation’s money supply by a staggering 40%. To some experts, it explains why the U.S. is experiencing its highest inflation rate since 1981. The Tesla and SpaceX founder told investors, in his experience, it’s “better to own physical things than dollars when inflation is high.” That’s especially shocking from Musk, who has historically passionately supported cryptocurrencies and other digital goods. The “physical goods” he mentioned could include oil, metals, and grains, which have all soared in prices…” — Nigel Glenday, Chief Financial Officer “If you do what you need, you’re surviving. If you do what you want, you’re living.” — Unknown "Stick to the prepared plan, man. Don't let others down who expect you to do your part. Do no harm. Fools rush in. Be calm, composed, wise; obey boundaries. Control your impulses, urges, your emotions, your words and actions. Respectfully play by the rules, or willful recklessness will burn you soon enough. All God's ambular creatures must stay back off thin ice. Mother Nature and Father Time always have their say. Be safe and sound as you explore." — Anonymous Bear <Luke 8:16-18 New King James Version The Parable of the Revealed Light Jesus said: 16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”> CAISSA or The Game at Chess; a Poem. (written in the year 1763, by Sir William Jones) (pronounced ky-eé-sah) Of armies on the chequer'd field array'd, And guiltless war in pleasing form display'd; When two bold kings contend with vain alarms, In ivory this, and that in ebon arms; Sing, sportive maids, that haunt the sacred hill Of Pindus, and the fam'd Pierian rill. Thou, joy of all below, and all above, Mild Venus, queen of laughter, queen of love; Leave thy bright island, where on many a rose And many a pink thy blooming train repose: Assist me, goddess! since a lovely pair Command my song, like thee devinely fair. Near yon cool stream, whose living waters play, And rise translucent in the solar ray; Beneath the covert of a fragrant bower, Where spring's nymphs reclin'd in calm retreat, And envying blossoms crouded round their seat; Here Delia was enthron'd, and by her side The sweet Sirena, both in beauty's pride: Thus shine two roses, fresh with early bloom, That from their native stalk dispense perfume; Their leaves unfolding to the dawning day Gems of the glowing mead, and eyes of May. A band of youths and damsels sat around, Their flowing locks with braided myrtle bound; Agatis, in the graceful dance admir'd, And gentle Thyrsis, by the muse inspir'd; With Sylvia, fairest of the mirthful train; And Daphnis, doom'd to love, yet love in vain. Now, whilst a purer blush o'erspreads her cheeks, With soothing accents thus Sirena speaks: "The meads and lawns are ting'd with beamy light, And wakeful larks begin their vocal flight; Whilst on each bank the dewdrops sweetly smile; What sport, my Delia, shall the hours beguile? Whall heavenly notes, prolong'd with various art, Charm the fond ear, and warm the rapturous heart? At distance shall we view the sylvan chace? Or catch with silken lines the finny race?" Then Delia thus: "Or rather, since we meet By chance assembled in this cool retreat, In artful contest let our warlike train Move well-directed o'er the field preside: No prize we need, our ardour to inflame; We fight with pleasure, if we fight for fame." The nymph consents: the maids and youths prepare To view the combat, and the sport to share: But Daphnis most approv'd the bold design, Whom Love instructed, and the tuneful Nine. He rose, and on the cedar table plac'd A polish'd board, with differing colours grac'd; Squares eight times eight in equal order lie; These bright as snow, those dark with sable dye; Like the broad target by the tortoise born, Or like the hide by spotted panthers worn. Then from a chest, with harmless heroes stor'd, O'er the smooth plain two well-wrought hosts he pour'd; The champions burn'd their rivals to assail, Twice eight in black, twice eight in milkwhite mail; In shape and station different, as in name, Their motions various, not their power the same. Say, muse! (for Jove has nought from thee conceal'd) Who form'd the legions on the level field? High in the midst the reverend kings appear, And o'er the rest their pearly scepters rear: One solemn step, majestically slow, They gravely move, and shun the dangerous foe; If e'er they call, the watchful subjects spring, And die with rapture if they save their king; On him the glory of the day depends, He once imprison'd, all the conflict ends. The queens exulting near their consorts stand; Each bears a deadly falchion in her hand; Now here, now there, they bound with furious pride, And thin the trmbling ranks from side to side; Swift as Camilla flying o'er the main, Or lightly skimming o'er the dewy plain: Fierce as they seem, some bold Plebeian spear May pierce their shield, or stop their full career. The valiant guards, their minds on havock bent, Fill the next squares, and watch the royal tent; Tho' weak their spears, tho' dwarfish be their height, Compact they move, the bulwark of the fight, To right and left the martial wings display Their shining arms, and stand in close array. Behold, four archers, eager to advance, Send the light reed, and rush with sidelong glance; Through angles ever they assault the foes, True to the colour, which at first they chose. Then four bold knights for courage-fam'd and speed, Each knight exalted on a prancing steed: Their arching course no vulgar limit knows, Tranverse they leap, and aim insidious blows: Nor friends, nor foes, their rapid force restrain, By on quick bound two changing squares they gain; From varing hues renew the fierce attack, And rush from black to white, from white to black. Four solemn elephants the sides defend; Benearth the load of ponderous towers they bend: In on unalter'd line they tempt the fight; Now crush the left, and now o'erwhelm the right. Bright in the front the dauntless soldiers raise Their polish'd spears; their steely helmets blaze: Prepar'd they stand the daring foe to strike, Direct their progress, but their wounds oblique. Now swell th' embattled troups with hostile rage, And clang their shields, impatient to engage; When Daphnis thus: A varied plain behold, Where fairy kings their mimick tents unfold, As Oberon, and Mab, his wayward queen, Lead forth their armies on the daisied green. No mortal hand the wond'rous sport contriv'd, By gods invents, and from gods deriv'd; From them the British nymphs receiv'd the game, And play ech morn beneath the crystal Thame; Hear then the tale, which they to Colin sung, As idling o'er the lucid wave he hung. A lovely dryad rang'd the Thracian wild, Her air enchanting, and her aspect mild: To chase the bounding hart was all her joy, Averse from Hymen, and the Cyprian boy; O'er hills an valleys was her beauty fam'd, And fair Caissa was the damsel nam'd. Mars saw the maid; with deep surprize he gaz'd, Admir'd her shape, and every gesture prais'd: His golden bow the child of Venus bent, And through his breast a piecing arrow sent. The reed was hope; the feathers, keen desire; The point, her eyes; the barbs, ethereal fire. Soon to the nymph he pour'd his tender strain; The haughtly dryad scorn'd his amorous pain: He told his woes, where'er the maid he found, And still he press'd, yet still Caissa frown'd; But ev'n her frowns (ah, what might smiles have done!) Fir'd all his soul, and all his senses won. He left his car, by raging tigers drawn, And lonely wander'd o'er the dusky lawn; Then lay desponding near a murmuring stream, And fair Caissa was his plaintive theme. A naiad heard him from her mossy bed, And through the crystal rais'd her placid head; Then mildly spake: "O thou, whom love inspires, Thy tears will nourish, not allay thy fires. The smiling blossoms drink the pearly dew; And ripening fruit the feather'd race pursue; The scaly shoals devour the silken weeds; Love on our sighs, and on our sorrow feeds. Then weep no more; but, ere thou canst obtain Balm to thy wounds, and solace to thy pain, With gentle art thy martial look beguile; Be mild, and teach thy rugged brow to smile. Canst thou no play, no soothing game devise; To make thee lovely in the damsel's eyes? So may thy prayers assuage the scornful dame, And ev'n Caissa own a mutual frame." Kind nymph, said Mars, thy counsel I approve; Art, only art, her ruthless breast can move. but when? or how? They dark discourse explain: So may thy stream ne'er swell with gushing rain; So may thy waves in one pure current flow, And flowers eternal on thy border blow!" To whom the maid replied with smiling mien: "Above the palace of the Paphian queen Love's brother dwells, a boy of graceful port, By gods nam'd Euphron, and by mortals Sport: Seek him; to faithful ears unfold thy grief, And hope, ere morn return, a sweet relief. His temple hangs below the azure skies; Seest thou yon argent cloud? 'Tis there it lies." This said, she sunk beneath the liquid plain, And sought the mansion of her blue-hair'd train. Meantime the god, elate with heart-felt joy, Had reach'd the temple of the sportful boy; He told Caissa's charms, his kindled fire, The naiad's counsel, and his warm desire. "Be swift, he added, give my passion aid; A god requests." - He spake, and Sport obey'd. He fram'd a tablet of celestial mold, Inlay'd with squares of silver and of gold; Then of two metals form'd the warlike band, That here compact in show of battle stand; He taught the rules that guide the pensive game, And call'd it Cassa from the dryad's name: (Whence Albion's sons, who most its praise confess, Approv'd the play, and nam'd it thoughtful Chess.) The god delighted thank'd indulgent Sport; Then grasp'd the board, and left his airy court. With radiant feet he pierc'd the clouds; nor stay'd, Till in the woods he saw the beauteous maid: Tir'd with the chase the damsel set reclin'd, Her girdle loose, her bosom unconfin'd. He took the figure of a wanton faun, And stood before her on the flowery lawn; Then show'd his tablet: pleas'd the nymph survey'd The lifeless troops in glittering ranks display'd; She ask'd the wily sylvan to explain The various motions of the splendid train; With eager heart she caught the winning lore, And thought ev'n Mars less hateful than before; "What spell," said she, "deceiv'd my careless mind? The god was fair, and I was most unkind." She spoke, and saw the changing faun assume A milder aspect, and a fairer bloom; His wreathing horns, that from his temples grew, Flow'd down in curls of bright celestial hue; The dappled hairs, that veil'd his loveless face, Blaz'd into beams, and show'd a heavenly grace; The shaggy hide, that mantled o'er his breast, Was soften'd to a smooth transparent vest, That through its folds his vigorous bosom show'd, And nervous limbs, where youthful ardour glow'd: (Had Venus view'd him in those blooming charms, Not Vulcan's net had forc'd her from his arms.) With goatlike feet no more he mark'd the ground, But braided flowers his silken sandals bound. The dryad blush'd; and, as he press'd her, smil'd, Whilst all his cares one tender glance beguil'd. He ends: To arms, the maids and striplings cry; To arms, the groves and sounding vales reply. Sirena led to war the swarthy crew, And Delia those that bore the lily's hue. Who first, O muse, began the bold attack; The white refulgent, or the mournful black? Fair Delia first, as favoring lots ordain, Moves her pale legions tow'rd the sable train: From thought to thought her lively fancy flies, Whilst o'er the board she darts her sparkling eyes. At length the warrior moves with haughty strides; Who from the plain the snowy king divides: With equal haste his swarthy rival bounds; His quiver rattles, and his buckler sounds: Ah! hapless youths, with fatal warmth you burn; Laws, ever fix'd, forbid you to return. then from the wing a short-liv'd spearman flies, Unsafely bold, and see! he dies, he dies: The dark-brow'd hero, with one vengeful blow Of life and place deprives his ivory foe. Now rush both armies o'er the burnish'd field, Hurl the swift dart, and rend the bursting shield. Here furious knights on fiery coursers prance, but see! the white-rob'd Amazon beholds Where the dark host its opening van unfolds: Soon as her eye discerns the hostile maid, By ebon shield, and ebon helm betray'd; Seven squares she passed with majestic mien, And stands triumphant o'er the falling queen. Perplex'd, and sorrowing at his consort's fate, The monarch burn'd with rage, despair, and hate: Swift from his zone th' avenging blade he drew, And, mad with ire, the proud virago slew. Meanwhile sweet smiling Delia's wary king Retir'd from fight behind the circling wing. Long time the war in equal balance hung; Till, unforseen, an ivory courser sprung, And, wildly prancing in an evil hour, Attack'd at once the monarch and the tower: Sirena blush'd; for, as the rules requir'd, Her injur'd sovereign to his tent retir'd; Whilst her lost castle leaves his threatening height, And adds new glory to th' exulting knight. At this, pale fear oppress'd the drooping maid, And on her cheek the rose began to fade: A crystal tear, that stood prepar'd to fall, She wip'd in silence, and conceal'd from all; From all but Daphnis; He remark'd her pain, And saw the weakness of her ebon train; Then gently spoke: "Let me your loss supply, And either nobly win, or nobly dir; Me oft has fortune crown'd with fair success, And led to triumph in the fields of Chess." He said: the willing nymph her place resign'd, And sat at distance on the bank reclin'd. Thus when Minerva call'd her chief to arms, And Troy's high turret shook with dire alarms, The Cyprian goddess wounded left the plain, And Mars engag'd a mightier force in vain. Strait Daphnis leads his squadron to the field; (To Delia's arms 'tis ev'n a joy to yield.) Each guileful snare, and subtle art he tries, But finds his heart less powerful than her eyes: Wisdom and strength superior charms obey; And beauty, beauty, wins the long-fought day. By this a hoary chief, on slaughter bent, Approach'd the gloomy king's unguarded tent; Where, late, his consort spread dismay around, Now her dark corse lies bleeding on the ground. Hail, happy youth! they glories not unsung Shall live eternal on the poet's tongue; For thou shalt soon receive a splendid change, And o'er the plain with nobler fury range. The swarthy leaders saw the storm impend, And strove in vain their sovereign to defend: Th' invader wav'd his silver lance in air, And flew like lightning to the fatal square; His limbs dilated in a moment grew To stately height, and widen'd to the view; More fierce his look, more lion-like his mien, Sublime he mov'd, and seem'd a warrior queen. As when the sage on some unfolding plant Has caught a wandering fly, or frugal ant, His hand the microscopic frame applies, And lo! a bright hair'd monster meets his eyes; He sees new plumes in slender cases roll'd; Here stain'd with azure, there bedropp'd with gold; Thus, on the alter'd chief both armies gaze, And both the kings are fix'd with deep amaze. The sword, which arm'd the snow-white maid before, He noew assumes, and hurls the spear no more; The springs indignant on the dark-rob'd band, And knights and archers feel his deadly hand. Now flies the monarch of the sable shield, His legions vanquish'd, o'er the lonely field: So when the morn, by rosy coursers drawn, With pearls and rubies sows the verdant lawn, Whilst each pale star from heaven's blue vault retires, Still Venus gleams, and last of all expires. He hears, where'er he moves, the dreadful sound; Check the deep vales, and Check the woods rebound. No place remains: he sees the certain fate, And yields his throne to ruin, and Checkmate. A brighter blush o'erspreads the damsel's cheeks, And mildly thus the conquer'd stripling speaks: "A double triumph, Delia, hast thou won, By Mars protected, and by Venus' son; The first with conquest crowns thy matchless art, The second points those eyes at Daphnis' heart." She smil'd; the nymphs and amorous youths arise, And own that beauty gain'd the nobler prize. Low in their chest the mimic troops were lay'd, And peaceful slept the sable hero's shade. / 95 games, 1620-2006 16 Middle game ideas Interesting ideas in the middle game <'Eres tú, Guadarrama, viejo, amigo' Was it you, Guadarrama, ancient friend mountains of white and grey mountains of my Madrid evenings, I saw there, brushed on the blue? Among your deep gullies and bitter heights, a thousand suns, a thousand Guadarramas rode with me, there, into your heart.> by Antonio Machado Here’s another Spanish-language poet who was born, and who lived, in Spain: Machado was born there in 1875 and grew up in Madrid. He and his brother sought careers in writing and acting when their father lost his fortune and the brothers had to make their own way in the world. He died in 1939 after leaving Spain during the Spanish Civil War. ^ ^ ^ Stay young at heart so you don't become a grouchy old feart. * Get 1 Day Better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_n... * 3 Minute Mini-Game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hof... * Top 3 Beginner Openings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcG... * Middlegame Concepts in 3 Minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT9... * 4 Traps to Know: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvS... * 4 Ways to Win Minor Pieces in the Opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxr... * 4 Common Chess Mistakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tT... * 5 Common Chess Mistakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI1... * 5 Magic Tricks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhQ... * 5 Habits of Chess Masters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFz... * 5-Year-Old Drummer? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Uk... * 7 Important Chess Principles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kV... * 8 Cool Experiments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u7... * 9 Optical Illusions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ku... * Top Ten Fastest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fey... * Top Ten Games of the 1920s: https://www.chess.com/blog/SamCopel... * 10 Ways to Lose: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuY... * 10X Better Sleep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvS... * 12-year-old demolishes racing record: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtQ... * 13 Songs from the 60s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbA... * 15 Best Games of Capablanca: https://thechessworld.com/articles/... * 18 Riddles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be9... * 20 Questions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zho... * 20 Brilliant Moves?! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFb... * 30 Country Flag Names: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASu... * 64 Squares: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT0... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QE... * When I'm Sixty-Four: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUD... * 111 Instruments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOv... * What's a 720 Big Twist? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uuw... * 2021 National Spelling Bee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP3... * Attack the Castle! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh5... * Alekhine film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMR... * Ancient Mayan Culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaK... * Avoid Blunders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8Y... * B&N Checkmate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHu... * Bohemian Catsody: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXe... * Brain Science: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaN... * Capablanca footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiR... * Concept of Counting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE1... * Checkers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ry... * Defend Against Miniatures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIq... * Don't check -- cut-off the King instead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpB... * D vs G: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0b... * Draws in Chess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xb... * Eagle Pass Out of Hand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWv... * Hanging Pieces: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaT... * H2 Break Outta Jail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gs... * H2 Draw a Cat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTP... * H2 Win at Chess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF8... * H2P Against Strange Openings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3p... * H2P The Caro-Kann Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE5... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p_... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNp... * Don't play the C-K like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzC... * H2P The French Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6b... * How Bobby Fischer Beat the French Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr5... * Hyperbole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuz... * Firouzja Tata Steel 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOA... * Your First Gambit? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIM... * The Anti-Max Lange? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=915... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPA... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANM... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kS... * Gambit in the Bishop's Opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_p... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GU... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXD... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PU... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DX... * Greek Gift: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30k... * Anish Giri Sacrifices Everything: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tR... * GothamChess played the Alien Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYd... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYm... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaQ... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h8... * Guide to In-Person Chess Tournaments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H9... * Guovanni Jiorgio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W06... * HaUI Chess Club - ICC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3A... * How Capa learned to play: https://www.chesshistory.com/winter... - https://theculturetrip.com/caribbea... * I'm not a robot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Uu... * Impossible Saves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3o... * Indoor Soccer Workout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9f... * Insane Ruy Lopez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh0... * Intellectual Benefits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5e... * King Tut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T47... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmk... * Lasker - Capablanca: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eev... * Lichess analysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv1... * London Falling Down: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYI... * Lucky Shots, and I do mean LUCKY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvK... * Magic with N: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YS... * Magnetic Accelerator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rn... * Meta4s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVN... * Milling and Turning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iK... * Milner-Barry Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc_... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bD... * Magnus Carlsen destroys the French: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIG... * Most Common Opening Mistake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJu... * Middlegame Strategies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkO... - Game Collection: Concise Chess Middlegames - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cc... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oU... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TA... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0f... * Mined Squares: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCJ... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yF... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRo... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lql... * Mona Lisa 4Kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCO... * Never play the Caro-Kann: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXd... * Nimzowitsch Shocker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVf... * NYPD Attacked: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zuj... * Online Privacy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiK... * Opposite Sides Castling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtU... * Orthoschnapp Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDT... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab-... * Pawn Storms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skh... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3om... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wB... * Play Like A Champion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTH... * Poisoned Pawn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGV... * Premature Celebrations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3I... * Preschool Prayer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d21... * Put Opposing Pieces in Jail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScV... * Pirc Defense, Chinese Variation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpz... * Rainbow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVD... * Reinfeld's book on Capablanca: https://britishchessnews.com/2023/0... * RFK Jr.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rtc... * Rook Endgames: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8O... * Jonathan Schrantz Gambits the French: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW-... * San Sebastián 1911: https://en.chessbase.com/post/110-y... * Shouldering EG concept: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxZ... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Pj... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHL... * Short Shots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVK... * Short side/Long side EG positions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xk... * Sicilian Kan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7Y... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmz... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVn... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuK... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPZ... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-9... * Simple Machines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSf... * Simple (maybe) Petrov: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uv... * Snoop Dogg Jumps On: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oye... * Stonehenge: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rTfg... * Smothered Mate Opening Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbA... * Social Skills: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Myf... * Solar System: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi2... * Spot the Country Flag: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N70... * Stafford Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM9... * Tactics on the f-pawns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAM... * This is Sparta!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUm... * Trick Plays of 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRN... * Capablanca's Technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY1... * Underpromotion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvW... * Vancura endgame position: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2D... * Vienna Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Cn... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpe... * Wei Yi's Immortal Game! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pH... * When to Trade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGa... * When Not to Castle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cto... * Who invented cell phones? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75a... * That Day is NOW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erV... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhG... * Bobby Fischer could best these kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mur... * Xceptions to Chess Principles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8Z... * Zuckerberg Ap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk0... “Every master was once a disaster.” ― T.S. Wood “It takes a dream to get started, desire to keep going, and determination to finish.” ― Eddie Harris, Jr. What do Alexander the Great and Winnie the Pooh have in common? Same middle name. “There should be no boundaries to human endeavor. We are all different. However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there’s life, there is hope.” ― Stephen Hawking Why is it sad that parallel lines have so much in common? Because they'll never meet. “Chess is the art of analysis.” ― Mikhail Botvinnik “Chess is imagination.” ― David Bronstein “Chess is as much a mystery as women.” ― Cecil John Seddon Purdy “Take wrong turns. Talk to strangers. Open unmarked doors. And if you see a group of people in a field, go find out what they are doing. Do things without always knowing how they’ll turn out.” ― Randall Munroe Dec-12-16 DrGridlock: Q: When is a pin not a pin? A: When the piece is: (i) not pinned to the king and (ii) in moving the piece threatens either mate or greater material gain than what it was pinned to. (iii) in moving the piece now defends the unit it was pinned to, such as Nf3xd4 and protects the Be2 that was behind the knight. <First And Last Author Riddle: What belongs to you, but other people use it more than you? By 2024 India will overtake China as the world’s most populous country China currently has 1.4 billion inhabitants, closely followed by India with 1.3 billion. Together they make up 37% of the world’s population. Riddle Answer: Your name.> Is it ignorance or apathy that's destroying the world today? I don't know, and I don't care. One of Bobby Fischer’s famous utterances is that “Chess is life.” “Chess is my life, but my life is not chess.” ― Anatoly Karpov “Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” ― Forrest Gump “Life is like a game of chess. To win you need to make a move. Knowing which move to make comes with insight and knowledge and by learning the lessons that are accumulated along the way. We become each and every piece within the game called LIFE.” ― Alan Rufus “The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow. Don’t give up.” ― Robert Tew “Life is like a cup of coffee or tea. No matter how bitter it may be, it is always enjoyable.” ― Jason Wong Never criticize someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you'll be a mile away, and you'll have their shoes. “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” ― Mahatma Gandhi “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.” ― Dalai Lama “The game of chess is not just an idle amusement. Several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired or strengthened by it… Life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often pointed to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with.” ― Benjamin Franklin “Chess is played with the mind and not with the hands.” ― Renaud & Kahn, The Art of the Checkmate “Out of difficulties grow miracles.” ― Jean de la Bruyere What do you call a bee that can't make up its mind? A maybe. “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” ― Albert Einstein What did the swordfish say to the marlin? "You're looking sharp." “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” ― Albert Einstein “I have seen two geniuses in my time. One was Tal. The other was Fischer.” ― Russian GM Yuri Averbakh “Failure is success in progress.” ― Albert Einstein “Failure happens all the time. It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.” ― Mia Hamm How do celebrities stay cool? They have many fans. “The broader the chess player you are, the easier it is to be competitive, and the same seems to be true of mathematics - if you can find links between different branches of mathematics, it can help you resolve problems. In both mathematics and chess, you study existing theory and use that to go forward.” ― Viswanathan Anand “A quitter never wins and a winner never quits.” ― Napoleon Hill “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” ― Robert. H. Schuller “By perseverance the snail reached the ark.” ― Charles Spurgeon “Don’t be discouraged. It’s often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock.” ― Unknown “Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity.” ― Louis Pasteur "All of the real heroes are not storybook combat fighters either. Every single man in this Army play a vital role. Don't ever let up. Don't ever think that your job is unimportant. Every man has a job to do and he must do it. Every man is a vital link in the great chain.” ― General George S. Patton, U.S. Army Which branch of the military accepts toddlers? The infantry. “Soldiers generally win battles; generals get credit for them.” ― Napoleon Bonaparte, French military and political leader After winning a good game, I always ask myself: "Where did I go right?" ― Tom Wiswell (1910-1988) who made a quote regarding playing checkers worth using in chess circles. “Life is like a chess. If you lose your queen, you will probably lose the game.” — Being Caballero Why couldn't the bicycle stand on its own? It was two tired. “Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practicing patience and being persistent.” — Billy Graham Why were the teacher's eyes crossed? She couldn't control her pupils. “Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn’t mean they’re lost forever.” — Professor X “If you’re positive (attitude) you can get through it OK. When you think negatively, you’re putting poison in your body. Just smile. They say laughter is the best medicine there is.” — Elsa Bailey, athlete, 100 years old “If plan A doesn’t work, the alphabet has 25 more letters – 204 if you’re in Japan.” — Claire Cook Exaggerations have become an epidemic. They went up by a million percent last year. “Life is like a game of chess. I cannot undue the moves but I can make the next step better.” — Edwin Tan “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us.” — Alexander Graham Bell I told my physical therapist that I broke my arm in two places. He told me to stop going to those places. “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” — Maria Robinson “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I know I can.” – Watty Piper “The winner of the game is the player who makes the next to last mistake.” — Savielly Tartakower “Part of being a champ is acting like a champ. You have to learn how to win and not run away when you lose.” — Nancy Kerrigan “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” — Martin Luther King Jr. * 15 Life Lessons: https://herculeschess.com/life-less... “I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” — Pablo Picasso “I stand corrected!” said the man in the orthopedic shoes. “Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you, and act accordingly.” — Thomas Jefferson You're not completely useless. You can always serve as a bad example. “Work like you don’t need the money, love like you’ve never been hurt and dance like no one is watching.” — Satchel Paige “If you’re doing something just to make money, it’s easy to quit. Most people do. But if you’re doing something because it makes you come alive, then removing the restrictions life throws at you clears the path.” — Evan Carmichael “I believe where there is a will, there is a way. You just can’t give up, you have to keep going.” — Charmaney Bayton “Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” — Harriet Beecher Stowe “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” ― C.S. Lewis “I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald “You just can’t beat the person who won’t give up.” — Babe Ruth I was wondering why the ball was getting bigger, then it hit me. Don't Quit Poet: Edgar A. Guest When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit - Rest if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns. As everyone of us sometimes learns. And many a fellow turns about when he Might have won had he stuck it out. Don't give up though the pace seems slow - You may succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than it seems To a faint and faltering man; Often the struggler has given up when he Might have captured the victor's cup; And he learned too late when the night came down, How close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out - The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And when you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems afar; So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit - It's when things seem worst, You must not quit. “Rest if you must but don’t you quit!” — Anonymous “Courage doesn’t always roar, sometimes it’s the quiet voice at the end of the day whispering ‘I will try again tomorrow’.” — Mary Anne Radmacher “The future rewards those who press on. I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I don’t have time to complain. I’m going to press on.” — Barack Obama I saw Usain Bolt sprinting around the track shouting, "Why did the chicken cross the road?" It was a running joke. $ $ $ “Elon Musk, the world's richest person, recently revealed his strategy for investing alongside record inflation. According to the WSJ, since February 2020, the Fed increased the nation’s money supply by a staggering 40%. To some experts, it explains why the U.S. is experiencing its highest inflation rate since 1981. The Tesla and SpaceX founder told investors, in his experience, it’s “better to own physical things than dollars when inflation is high.” That’s especially shocking from Musk, who has historically passionately supported cryptocurrencies and other digital goods. The “physical goods” he mentioned could include oil, metals, and grains, which have all soared in prices…” — Nigel Glenday, Chief Financial Officer “If you do what you need, you’re surviving. If you do what you want, you’re living.” — Unknown "Stick to the prepared plan, man. Don't let others down who expect you to do your part. Do no harm. Fools rush in. Be calm, composed, wise; obey boundaries. Control your impulses, urges, your emotions, your words and actions. Respectfully play by the rules, or willful recklessness will burn you soon enough. All God's ambular creatures must stay back off thin ice. Mother Nature and Father Time always have their say. Be safe and sound as you explore." — Anonymous Bear <Luke 8:16-18 New King James Version The Parable of the Revealed Light Jesus said: 16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”> And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2:9, 10. “You can only get good at chess if you love the game.” ― Bobby Fischer “Be active. I do things my way, like skiing when I’m 100. Nobody else does that even if they have energy. And I try to eat pretty correctly and get exercise and fresh air and sunshine.” ― Elsa Bailey, first time skier at age 100 “Don't look at the calendar, just keep celebrating every day.” ― Ruth Coleman, carpe diem at age 101 1953 Zurich: move 29 Zukertort retort. zooter Frit z drip drip drip Kh7? lubes hiz own Szabo freechrgbl electrk shavr oodd bbee hiveior. What sits at the bottom of the sea and twitches? A nervous wreck. This game an Indian Brahmin did invent, The force of Eastern wisdom to express; From thence the same to busy Europe sent; The modern Lombards stil'd it pensive Chess. — Sir John Denham You don’t have to be a polymath like Beth Harmon in The Queen’s Gambit to improve your game Stephen Moss Sat 14 Nov 2020 01.56 EST The first thing to say about chess is that we are not all natural geniuses like Beth Harmon, the star of The Queen’s Gambit, who is taught the game by grumpy but lovable janitor Mr Shaibel at the age of nine and is very soon beating him. The daughter of a maths PhD, she sees the patterns and movement in chess immediately, can visualise effortlessly – being able to memorise moves and play without a board is the sign of chess mastery – and sees whole games on the ceiling of her orphanage dormitory. She is a prodigy, just like world champion Bobby Fischer, on whom Walter Tevis based the novel from which the TV series is drawn. We are mere mortals. So how do we get good? First, by loving chess. “You can only get good at chess if you love the game,” Fischer said. You need to be endlessly fascinated by it and see its infinite potential. Be willing to embrace the complexity; enjoy the adventure. Every game should be an education and teach us something. Losing doesn’t matter. Garry Kasparov, another former world champion, likes to say you learn far more from your defeats than your victories. Eventually you will start winning, but there will be a lot of losses on the way. Play people who are better than you, and be prepared to lose. Then you will learn. If you are a beginner, don’t feel the need to set out all the pieces at once. Start with the pawns, and then add the pieces. Understand the potential of each piece – the way a pair of bishops can dominate the board, how the rooks can sweep up pawns in an endgame, why the queen and a knight can work together so harmoniously. Find a good teacher – your own Mr Shaibel, but without the communication issues. Once you have established the basics, start using computers and online resources to play and to help you analyse games. lichess.org, chess.com and chess24.com are great sites for playing and learning. chessbomb.com is a brilliant resource for watching top tournaments. chessgames.com is a wonderful database of games. chesspuzzle.net is a great practice program. decodechess.com attempts to explain chess moves in layperson’s language. There are also plenty of sophisticated, all-purpose programs, usually called chess engines, such as Fritz and HIARCs that, for around £50, help you deconstruct your games and take you deeply into positions. But don’t let the computer do all the work. You need to engage your own brain on the analysis. And don’t endlessly play against the computer. Find human opponents, either online or, when the pandemic is over, in person. Bobby Fischer was stripped of his world title in 1975 after he refused to defend the title due to a row over the format. Photograph: RFS/AP Study the games of great masters of the past. Find a player you like and follow their careers. Fischer is a great starting point – his play is clear and comprehensible, and beautifully described in his famous book My 60 Memorable Games. Morphy (Harmon’s favourite), Alekhine, Capablanca, Tal, Korchnoi and Shirov are other legendary figures with whom the aspiring player might identify. They also have fascinating life stories, and chess is about hot human emotions as well as cold calculation. Modern grandmaster chess, which is based heavily on a deep knowledge of opening theory, is more abstruse and may be best avoided until you have acquired deep expertise. The current crop of leading grandmasters are also, if we are brutally honest, a bit lacking in personality compared with the giants of the past. Children will often find their school has a chess club, and that club may even have links with Chess in Schools and Communities, which supplies expert tutors to schools. Provision tends to be much better at primary than secondary level, and after 11 children will probably be left to their own devices if they want to carry on playing. If a player is really serious, she or he should join their local chess club. There is likely to be one meeting nearby, or there will be once the Covid crisis is over. At the moment, clubs are not meeting and there is very little over-the-board chess being played. Players are keeping their brains active online, where you can meet players from all over the world. That is fun, but be aware that some players are likely to be cheating – using chess engines to help them, making it hard for you to assess how good your play is. And you also get some abuse online from players who want to trash-talk. You are also likely to be playing at very fast time controls – so-called blitz chess – and that is no way to learn to really think about chess. If you want to start playing over-the-board tournaments (when they resume), you will need to join the chess federation in your respective country. After you’ve played the requisite number of official games, you will get a rating – a bit like a handicap in golf – and can then start being paired with players of your own strength in matches. But until then, the key is to keep enjoying chess and searching for the elusive “truth” in a position. If you see a good move, look for a better one. You can always dig a little deeper in the pursuit of something remarkable and counterintuitive. Beauty and truth: the essence of chess. Stephen Moss is the author of The Rookie: An Odyssey through Chess (and Life), published by Bloomsbury * YS Tactics: Game Collection: Yasser Seirawan's Winning Chess Tactics “God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.” ― Voltaire Q: When does a joke become a ‘dad’ joke? A: When it becomes apparent. “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?” ― Martin Luther King, Jr. "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." ― Harry S Truman, 33rd President of the United States, and former Colonel in the U.S. Army CAISSA or The Game at Chess; a Poem. (written in the year 1763, by Sir William Jones) (pronounced ky-eé-sah) Of armies on the chequer'd field array'd, And guiltless war in pleasing form display'd; When two bold kings contend with vain alarms, In ivory this, and that in ebon arms; Sing, sportive maids, that haunt the sacred hill Of Pindus, and the fam'd Pierian rill. Thou, joy of all below, and all above, Mild Venus, queen of laughter, queen of love; Leave thy bright island, where on many a rose And many a pink thy blooming train repose: Assist me, goddess! since a lovely pair Command my song, like thee devinely fair. Near yon cool stream, whose living waters play, And rise translucent in the solar ray; Beneath the covert of a fragrant bower, Where spring's nymphs reclin'd in calm retreat, And envying blossoms crouded round their seat; Here Delia was enthron'd, and by her side The sweet Sirena, both in beauty's pride: Thus shine two roses, fresh with early bloom, That from their native stalk dispense perfume; Their leaves unfolding to the dawning day Gems of the glowing mead, and eyes of May. A band of youths and damsels sat around, Their flowing locks with braided myrtle bound; Agatis, in the graceful dance admir'd, And gentle Thyrsis, by the muse inspir'd; With Sylvia, fairest of the mirthful train; And Daphnis, doom'd to love, yet love in vain. Now, whilst a purer blush o'erspreads her cheeks, With soothing accents thus Sirena speaks: "The meads and lawns are ting'd with beamy light, And wakeful larks begin their vocal flight; Whilst on each bank the dewdrops sweetly smile; What sport, my Delia, shall the hours beguile? Whall heavenly notes, prolong'd with various art, Charm the fond ear, and warm the rapturous heart? At distance shall we view the sylvan chace? Or catch with silken lines the finny race?" Then Delia thus: "Or rather, since we meet By chance assembled in this cool retreat, In artful contest let our warlike train Move well-directed o'er the field preside: No prize we need, our ardour to inflame; We fight with pleasure, if we fight for fame." The nymph consents: the maids and youths prepare To view the combat, and the sport to share: But Daphnis most approv'd the bold design, Whom Love instructed, and the tuneful Nine. He rose, and on the cedar table plac'd A polish'd board, with differing colours grac'd; Squares eight times eight in equal order lie; These bright as snow, those dark with sable dye; Like the broad target by the tortoise born, Or like the hide by spotted panthers worn. Then from a chest, with harmless heroes stor'd, O'er the smooth plain two well-wrought hosts he pour'd; The champions burn'd their rivals to assail, Twice eight in black, twice eight in milkwhite mail; In shape and station different, as in name, Their motions various, not their power the same. Say, muse! (for Jove has nought from thee conceal'd) Who form'd the legions on the level field? High in the midst the reverend kings appear, And o'er the rest their pearly scepters rear: One solemn step, majestically slow, They gravely move, and shun the dangerous foe; If e'er they call, the watchful subjects spring, And die with rapture if they save their king; On him the glory of the day depends, He once imprison'd, all the conflict ends. The queens exulting near their consorts stand; Each bears a deadly falchion in her hand; Now here, now there, they bound with furious pride, And thin the trmbling ranks from side to side; Swift as Camilla flying o'er the main, Or lightly skimming o'er the dewy plain: Fierce as they seem, some bold Plebeian spear May pierce their shield, or stop their full career. The valiant guards, their minds on havock bent, Fill the next squares, and watch the royal tent; Tho' weak their spears, tho' dwarfish be their height, Compact they move, the bulwark of the fight, To right and left the martial wings display Their shining arms, and stand in close array. Behold, four archers, eager to advance, Send the light reed, and rush with sidelong glance; Through angles ever they assault the foes, True to the colour, which at first they chose. Then four bold knights for courage-fam'd and speed, Each knight exalted on a prancing steed: Their arching course no vulgar limit knows, Tranverse they leap, and aim insidious blows: Nor friends, nor foes, their rapid force restrain, By on quick bound two changing squares they gain; From varing hues renew the fierce attack, And rush from black to white, from white to black. Four solemn elephants the sides defend; Benearth the load of ponderous towers they bend: In on unalter'd line they tempt the fight; Now crush the left, and now o'erwhelm the right. Bright in the front the dauntless soldiers raise Their polish'd spears; their steely helmets blaze: Prepar'd they stand the daring foe to strike, Direct their progress, but their wounds oblique. Now swell th' embattled troups with hostile rage, And clang their shields, impatient to engage; When Daphnis thus: A varied plain behold, Where fairy kings their mimick tents unfold, As Oberon, and Mab, his wayward queen, Lead forth their armies on the daisied green. No mortal hand the wond'rous sport contriv'd, By gods invents, and from gods deriv'd; From them the British nymphs receiv'd the game, And play ech morn beneath the crystal Thame; Hear then the tale, which they to Colin sung, As idling o'er the lucid wave he hung. A lovely dryad rang'd the Thracian wild, Her air enchanting, and her aspect mild: To chase the bounding hart was all her joy, Averse from Hymen, and the Cyprian boy; O'er hills an valleys was her beauty fam'd, And fair Caissa was the damsel nam'd. Mars saw the maid; with deep surprize he gaz'd, Admir'd her shape, and every gesture prais'd: His golden bow the child of Venus bent, And through his breast a piecing arrow sent. The reed was hope; the feathers, keen desire; The point, her eyes; the barbs, ethereal fire. Soon to the nymph he pour'd his tender strain; The haughtly dryad scorn'd his amorous pain: He told his woes, where'er the maid he found, And still he press'd, yet still Caissa frown'd; But ev'n her frowns (ah, what might smiles have done!) Fir'd all his soul, and all his senses won. He left his car, by raging tigers drawn, And lonely wander'd o'er the dusky lawn; Then lay desponding near a murmuring stream, And fair Caissa was his plaintive theme. A naiad heard him from her mossy bed, And through the crystal rais'd her placid head; Then mildly spake: "O thou, whom love inspires, Thy tears will nourish, not allay thy fires. The smiling blossoms drink the pearly dew; And ripening fruit the feather'd race pursue; The scaly shoals devour the silken weeds; Love on our sighs, and on our sorrow feeds. Then weep no more; but, ere thou canst obtain Balm to thy wounds, and solace to thy pain, With gentle art thy martial look beguile; Be mild, and teach thy rugged brow to smile. Canst thou no play, no soothing game devise; To make thee lovely in the damsel's eyes? So may thy prayers assuage the scornful dame, And ev'n Caissa own a mutual frame." Kind nymph, said Mars, thy counsel I approve; Art, only art, her ruthless breast can move. but when? or how? They dark discourse explain: So may thy stream ne'er swell with gushing rain; So may thy waves in one pure current flow, And flowers eternal on thy border blow!" To whom the maid replied with smiling mien: "Above the palace of the Paphian queen Love's brother dwells, a boy of graceful port, By gods nam'd Euphron, and by mortals Sport: Seek him; to faithful ears unfold thy grief, And hope, ere morn return, a sweet relief. His temple hangs below the azure skies; Seest thou yon argent cloud? 'Tis there it lies." This said, she sunk beneath the liquid plain, And sought the mansion of her blue-hair'd train. Meantime the god, elate with heart-felt joy, Had reach'd the temple of the sportful boy; He told Caissa's charms, his kindled fire, The naiad's counsel, and his warm desire. "Be swift, he added, give my passion aid; A god requests." - He spake, and Sport obey'd. He fram'd a tablet of celestial mold, Inlay'd with squares of silver and of gold; Then of two metals form'd the warlike band, That here compact in show of battle stand; He taught the rules that guide the pensive game, And call'd it Cassa from the dryad's name: (Whence Albion's sons, who most its praise confess, Approv'd the play, and nam'd it thoughtful Chess.) The god delighted thank'd indulgent Sport; Then grasp'd the board, and left his airy court. With radiant feet he pierc'd the clouds; nor stay'd, Till in the woods he saw the beauteous maid: Tir'd with the chase the damsel set reclin'd, Her girdle loose, her bosom unconfin'd. He took the figure of a wanton faun, And stood before her on the flowery lawn; Then show'd his tablet: pleas'd the nymph survey'd The lifeless troops in glittering ranks display'd; She ask'd the wily sylvan to explain The various motions of the splendid train; With eager heart she caught the winning lore, And thought ev'n Mars less hateful than before; "What spell," said she, "deceiv'd my careless mind? The god was fair, and I was most unkind." She spoke, and saw the changing faun assume A milder aspect, and a fairer bloom; His wreathing horns, that from his temples grew, Flow'd down in curls of bright celestial hue; The dappled hairs, that veil'd his loveless face, Blaz'd into beams, and show'd a heavenly grace; The shaggy hide, that mantled o'er his breast, Was soften'd to a smooth transparent vest, That through its folds his vigorous bosom show'd, And nervous limbs, where youthful ardour glow'd: (Had Venus view'd him in those blooming charms, Not Vulcan's net had forc'd her from his arms.) With goatlike feet no more he mark'd the ground, But braided flowers his silken sandals bound. The dryad blush'd; and, as he press'd her, smil'd, Whilst all his cares one tender glance beguil'd. He ends: To arms, the maids and striplings cry; To arms, the groves and sounding vales reply. Sirena led to war the swarthy crew, And Delia those that bore the lily's hue. Who first, O muse, began the bold attack; The white refulgent, or the mournful black? Fair Delia first, as favoring lots ordain, Moves her pale legions tow'rd the sable train: From thought to thought her lively fancy flies, Whilst o'er the board she darts her sparkling eyes. At length the warrior moves with haughty strides; Who from the plain the snowy king divides: With equal haste his swarthy rival bounds; His quiver rattles, and his buckler sounds: Ah! hapless youths, with fatal warmth you burn; Laws, ever fix'd, forbid you to return. then from the wing a short-liv'd spearman flies, Unsafely bold, and see! he dies, he dies: The dark-brow'd hero, with one vengeful blow Of life and place deprives his ivory foe. Now rush both armies o'er the burnish'd field, Hurl the swift dart, and rend the bursting shield. Here furious knights on fiery coursers prance, but see! the white-rob'd Amazon beholds Where the dark host its opening van unfolds: Soon as her eye discerns the hostile maid, By ebon shield, and ebon helm betray'd; Seven squares she passed with majestic mien, And stands triumphant o'er the falling queen. Perplex'd, and sorrowing at his consort's fate, The monarch burn'd with rage, despair, and hate: Swift from his zone th' avenging blade he drew, And, mad with ire, the proud virago slew. Meanwhile sweet smiling Delia's wary king Retir'd from fight behind the circling wing. Long time the war in equal balance hung; Till, unforseen, an ivory courser sprung, And, wildly prancing in an evil hour, Attack'd at once the monarch and the tower: Sirena blush'd; for, as the rules requir'd, Her injur'd sovereign to his tent retir'd; Whilst her lost castle leaves his threatening height, And adds new glory to th' exulting knight. At this, pale fear oppress'd the drooping maid, And on her cheek the rose began to fade: A crystal tear, that stood prepar'd to fall, She wip'd in silence, and conceal'd from all; From all but Daphnis; He remark'd her pain, And saw the weakness of her ebon train; Then gently spoke: "Let me your loss supply, And either nobly win, or nobly dir; Me oft has fortune crown'd with fair success, And led to triumph in the fields of Chess." He said: the willing nymph her place resign'd, And sat at distance on the bank reclin'd. Thus when Minerva call'd her chief to arms, And Troy's high turret shook with dire alarms, The Cyprian goddess wounded left the plain, And Mars engag'd a mightier force in vain. Strait Daphnis leads his squadron to the field; (To Delia's arms 'tis ev'n a joy to yield.) Each guileful snare, and subtle art he tries, But finds his heart less powerful than her eyes: Wisdom and strength superior charms obey; And beauty, beauty, wins the long-fought day. By this a hoary chief, on slaughter bent, Approach'd the gloomy king's unguarded tent; Where, late, his consort spread dismay around, Now her dark corse lies bleeding on the ground. Hail, happy youth! they glories not unsung Shall live eternal on the poet's tongue; For thou shalt soon receive a splendid change, And o'er the plain with nobler fury range. The swarthy leaders saw the storm impend, And strove in vain their sovereign to defend: Th' invader wav'd his silver lance in air, And flew like lightning to the fatal square; His limbs dilated in a moment grew To stately height, and widen'd to the view; More fierce his look, more lion-like his mien, Sublime he mov'd, and seem'd a warrior queen. As when the sage on some unfolding plant Has caught a wandering fly, or frugal ant, His hand the microscopic frame applies, And lo! a bright hair'd monster meets his eyes; He sees new plumes in slender cases roll'd; Here stain'd with azure, there bedropp'd with gold; Thus, on the alter'd chief both armies gaze, And both the kings are fix'd with deep amaze. The sword, which arm'd the snow-white maid before, He noew assumes, and hurls the spear no more; The springs indignant on the dark-rob'd band, And knights and archers feel his deadly hand. Now flies the monarch of the sable shield, His legions vanquish'd, o'er the lonely field: So when the morn, by rosy coursers drawn, With pearls and rubies sows the verdant lawn, Whilst each pale star from heaven's blue vault retires, Still Venus gleams, and last of all expires. He hears, where'er he moves, the dreadful sound; Check the deep vales, and Check the woods rebound. No place remains: he sees the certain fate, And yields his throne to ruin, and Checkmate. A brighter blush o'erspreads the damsel's cheeks, And mildly thus the conquer'd stripling speaks: "A double triumph, Delia, hast thou won, By Mars protected, and by Venus' son; The first with conquest crowns thy matchless art, The second points those eyes at Daphnis' heart." She smil'd; the nymphs and amorous youths arise, And own that beauty gain'd the nobler prize. Low in their chest the mimic troops were lay'd, And peaceful slept the sable hero's shade. Red means stop. The truth hurts. “If a disciple is old, a master should be mature. If a disciple is young, a master should be accessible. If a disciple is brave, a master should be fearless. If a disciple is shrewd, a master should be wise. If a disciple is strong, a master should be powerful. If a disciple is learned, a master should be enlightened. If a disciple is contented, a master should be joyful. If a disciple is faithful, a master should be devoted. If a disciple is tolerant, a master should be peaceful. If a disciple is intro inspective, a master should be self-aware. If a disciple is focused, a master should be determined. If a disciple is exceptional, a master should be perfect.” ― Matshona Dhliwayo comment by C.J.S. Purdy on page 34 of the February 1960 Chess World: ‘Zugzwang just doesn’t happen in a middle-game. There is a win by Nimzowitsch against Sämisch in the middle-game which one annotator has called a “Zugzwang” finish. It is true that any move by Sämisch loses, but he would lose just as surely if his opponent had to move. It is not the compulsion to move that hurts him; his position is lost anyway. So it is no more Zugzwang than any other resignable position.’ 8zxyp nerf Ale Moro zevich semi-sweet slav toad zee wheel Reggio NO! Emilia knot Wesley So familah 2010/11 lika chameleon Zahedifar degfrees butter Zhu izn't sow shurt but ton zee marc ghettow! Zooom! Did blue sea dat scat zanz peppr? Two mucho sea son king -- ugh. Justice A00 pinch next thyme in Wijk aan zee slamma. "California D4 reaming" missyng Mommaz man Poopaz folk roock "Deadickatd to thest One I Loath" fan "Titld Tuez day" nvr grits mee downtown Charlie man Freddie "Brown ice blue" crystal gail sang tune Kris owin' Kringle jingle maeks luv cents buttr spellin izsh awfull thesaurus fossilized. "Why zshaek handz with thee enemee whoo whants too skill you?" ― Lakerz HOFr Jerry West doze snot understand whyte two day's playas rso fryndlie lika wolf n sheep's chloething doze bought maek da Turk Automaton . Let 'er rip! FTB wood nut think ov holdin' it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih9... Acronyms and Initialisms: An acronym is a pronounceable word that is formed using the first letters of the words in a phrase (sometimes, other parts of the words are also used). Some common acronyms include NASA (which stands for "National Aeronautical and Space Administration"), scuba ("Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus") and laser ("Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation"). An initialism is a word that is formed using the first letters of the words in a phrase -- it is pronounced like a series of letters, not like a word. Some common initialisms include UFO (which stands for "Unidentified Flying Object") and LOL (which stands for "Laughing Out Loud"). Note: Some people consider both of these to be acronyms. Some common acronyms (and initialisms) include: AC - Air Conditioning AD - Anno Domini ("In the Year of Our Lord") AKA - Also Known As AM - Ante Meridiem (before noon) AM - Amplitude Modification (radio) ASAP - As Soon As Possible ATM - Automated Teller Machine B&B - Bed and Breakfast BC - Before Christ or Because BCE - Before the Common Era BLT - Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato BTW - By The Way CC - Credit Card CIA - Central Intelligence Agency CO - Commanding Officer CST - Central Standard Time DOA - Dead on Arrival DOT - Department of Transportation DST - Daylight Saving Time EST - Eastern Standard Time ET - Extra-Terrestrial FAQ - Frequently-Asked Questions FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation FDR - Franklin Delano Roosevelt FM - Frequency Modification (radio) FYI - For Your Information GI - Government Issue GMO - Genetically Modified IM - Instant Message IMO - In My Opinion IMHO - In My Humble Opinion HAZ-MAT - Hazardous Material HMO - Health Maintenence Organization ID - Identification IQ - Intelligence Quotient ISBN - International Standard Book Number JFK - John Fitzgerald Kennedy JV - Junior Varsity KO - Knockout laser - Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation LCD - Liquid Crystal Display LED - Light Emitting Diode LOL - Laughing Out Loud MC - Master of Ceremonies MLK - Martin Luther King, Jr. MO - Modus Operandi MRE - Meals Ready to Eat MS - Manuscript MST - Mountain Standard Time MTG - Magic: The Gathering MTD - Month To Date NIB - New In the Box NAFTA - North American Free Trade Agreement NASA - National Aeronautical and Space Administration NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization NBA - National Basketball Association NIB - New In the Box NIMBY - Not In My Backyard OJ - Orange Juice OPEC - Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries PBJ - Peanut Butter and Jelly PC - Politically Correct PI - Private Investigator PIN - Personal Identification Number PM - Post Meridiem (after noon) POTUS - President of the United States POW - Prisoner of War PPS - Post-Postscript PS - Postscript PR - Public Relations PSI - Pounds Per Square Inch PST - Pacific Standard Time Q&A - Question and Answer R&R - Rest and Relaxation RAM - Random Access Memory RGB - Red, Green, Blue RIP - Rest in Peace (from the Latin, "Requiescat In Pace") ROM - Read Only Memory ROTC - Reserve Officers Training Corps ROYGBIV - Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet RPG - Role Playing Game RSVP - Répondez S'il Vous Plaît (in French, this means "Please respond") RV - Recreational Vehicle scuba - Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus SNAFU - Systems Normal, All Fouled Up SOP - Standard Operating Procedure SOS - Save Our Souls (decided after the fact - SOS was chosen because it was short in Morse code) SPF - Sun Protection Factor (how sunscreen lotion is rated) TBA - To Be Announced TEOTWAWKI - The End Of The World As We Know It TGIF - Thank God It's Friday TLC - Tender Loving Care TV - Television UFO - Unidentified Flying Object UN - United Nations UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund UPC - Universal Product Code VIP - Very Important Person VP - Vice President WASP - White Anglo Saxon Protestant WHO - World Health Organization WOM - Word of Mouth WoW - World of Warcraft WYSIWYG - What You See Is What You Get YTD - Year To Date ZIP (code) - Zone Improvement Plan 19 games, 1904-2013 16 Middlegames Essential Knowledge Averbakh Games from this small excellent book: Chess Middlegames: Essential Knowledge by Yuri Averbakh; translated by Ken Neat https://archive.org/details/chessmi... More Action: * American Chess Bulletin 1904: Game Collection: American Chess Bulletin 1904 * Aronian, Levon: Ding Liren vs Aronian, 2013 (kibitz #49) * Averbakh, Yuri: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/09/... * Best Games of Vol 51-100: Game Collection: # Chess Evolution Volumes 51-100 * Caruana - Move by Move: Game Collection: Move by Move - Caruana (Lakdawala) * Chess Siberia: http://www.chessib.com/index.html * RJ Fischer: Robert James Fischer: Bobby Fischer * GOTM: http://www.ajschess.com/thegotmman/... * Karpov: Game Collection: Karpov : Chess At The Top 1979-1984 * Learn: Game Collection: "Learn from the Legends" - Mihail Marin * Pillsbury's Lucky Square: Game Collection: Pillsbury winning on f5. * Positional: Game Collection: Positional Chess Handbook II * Pro or Con: Game Collection: Apocalypse now - Chess, Controversy and charges * Puzzles: Game Collection: Tactical Problem solving of Star level * QGD: Semi-Slav: Game Collection: A001 QGD: Semi-Slav (White) * Tim Krabbe's Records 2021: https://timkr.home.xs4all.nl/records/ * Rubinstein, Akiba: Game Collection: Rubinstein's Chess Masterpieces * Sacrifices: Game Collection: Great Tactical Sacrifices * Videos: Game Collection: ChessNetwork Videos: Part 2 * Wade Defence: Game Collection: 1...d6. A very interesting opening with no name * Yates: Game Collection: Frederick Dewhurst Yates - Remarkable games * Lodz 1908: Game Collection: Lodz triangular tournament 1908 * New York 1916: Game Collection: New York 1916 (Rice Memorial) * Montreal 1979: Montreal (1979) * 2004 Non-Fide World Chess Championship: Kramnik - Leko Classical World Championship Match (2004) * 2005 FIDE World Chess Championship Tournament: FIDE World Championship Tournament (2005) * FIDE Grand Prix Thessaloniki 2013: https://thessaloniki2013.fide.com/e... 80 games, 1750-2023 16 White's Kingside Attack in QGD-like openings 88 games, 1894-2023 17 Chess Prehistory by Joe Stanley * Amazing: Game Collection: Amazing Chess Moves (Emms) * First of each ECO: Game Collection: First of Each ECO * Famous King's Gambits: Game Collection: Famous King's Gambits. * Giuoco Piano: Game Collection: GIUOCO PIANO * How to Analyze: https://thechessworld.com/articles/... * Instructional Games: Game Collection: Coaching Corner * Italian Repertoire: Game Collection: My Repertoire * Old Checkmates: Game Collection: As Far as the checkmates go * P-K4 Miniatures/du Mont: Game Collection: 200 Miniature Games of Chess - Du Mont (I) * Recommendations: https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/wiki... * Short and Long: Game Collection: Long games (72+). Short games (28-) “Life has, indeed, many ills, but the mind that views every object in its most cheering aspect, and every doubtful dispensation as replete with latent good, bears within itself a powerful and perpetual antidote. The gloomy soul aggravates misfortune, while a cheerful smile often dispels those mists that portend a storm.” ― Lydia Sigourney “If you are not big enough to lose, you are not big enough to win.” ― Walter Reuther “Every Pawn is a potential Queen.” ― James Mason “What gives chess its great fascination is that the K, Q, R, B, N, and P move in different ways. In consequence we get a colorful diversity of possibilities unequaled in any other board game.” ― Fred Reinfeld “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War “Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” ― Napoleon Bonaparte “Intuition in chess can be defined as the first move that comes to mind when you see a position.” ― Viswanathan Anand “It is quite an advantage to have the initiative, and once you have it you must keep it. If your opponent has it, and relinquishes it through some accident or other, you must take it.” ― Jose R. Capablanca “There is no remorse like the remorse of chess.” ― H. G. Wells. “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” ― Harry S Truman, 33rd President of the United States, and former Colonel in the U.S. Army “All of the real heroes are not storybook combat fighters either. Every single man in this Army play a vital role. Don't ever let up. Don't ever think that your job is unimportant. Every man has a job to do and he must do it. Every man is a vital link in the great chain.” ― General George S. Patton, U.S. Army <This game an Indian Brahmin did invent, The force of Eastern wisdom to express; From thence the same to busy Europe sent; The modern Lombards stil'd it pensive Chess. — Sir John Denham> Due to gravitational effects, you weigh slightly less when the moon is directly overhead. “Encouragement is like water to the soul, it makes everything grow.” ― Chris Burkmenn Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER Be slow in choosing a friend but slower in changing him. ~ Scottish Proverb In July 1849, Hippolyte Fizeau became the first person to measure the speed of light on Earth. I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud William Wordsworth I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced; but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company: I gazed—and gazed—but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils Do You Have It? Riddle Question: Poor people have it. Rich people need it. If you eat it you die. What is it? Thank you, Qindarka! Riddle Answer: Nothing. The Triumph of Life Percy Bysshe Shelley Swift as a spirit hastening to his task Of glory & of good, the Sun sprang forth Rejoicing in his splendour, & the mask Of darkness fell from the awakened Earth. The smokeless altars of the mountain snows Flamed above crimson clouds, & at the birth Of light, the Ocean’s orison arose To which the birds tempered their matin lay, All flowers in field or forest which unclose Their trembling eyelids to the kiss of day, Swinging their censers in the element, With orient incense lit by the new ray Burned slow & inconsumably, & sent Their odorous sighs up to the smiling air, And in succession due, did Continent, Isle, Ocean, & all things that in them wear The form & character of mortal mould Rise as the Sun their father rose, to bear Their portion of the toil which he of old Took as his own & then imposed on them; But I, whom thoughts which must remain untold Had kept as wakeful as the stars that gem The cone of night, now they were laid asleep, Stretched my faint limbs beneath the hoary stem Which an old chestnut flung athwart the steep Of a green Apennine: before me fled The night; behind me rose the day; the Deep Was at my feet, & Heaven above my head When a strange trance over my fancy grew Which was not slumber, for the shade it spread Was so transparent that the scene came through As clear as when a veil of light is drawn O’er evening hills they glimmer; and I knew That I had felt the freshness of that dawn, Bathed in the same cold dew my brow & hair And sate as thus upon that slope of lawn Under the self same bough, & heard as there The birds, the fountains & the Ocean hold Sweet talk in music through the enamoured air. And then a Vision on my brain was rolled. As in that trance of wondrous thought I lay This was the tenour of my waking dream. Methought I sate beside a public way Thick strewn with summer dust, & a great stream Of people there was hurrying to & fro Numerous as gnats upon the evening gleam, All hastening onward, yet none seemed to know Whither he went, or whence he came, or why He made one of the multitude, yet so Was borne amid the crowd as through the sky One of the million leaves of summer’s bier.— Old age & youth, manhood & infancy, Mixed in one mighty torrent did appear, Some flying from the thing they feared & some Seeking the object of another’s fear, And others as with steps towards the tomb Pored on the trodden worms that crawled beneath, And others mournfully within the gloom Of their own shadow walked, and called it death … And some fled from it as it were a ghost, Half fainting in the affliction of vain breath. But more with motions which each other crost Pursued or shunned the shadows the clouds threw Or birds within the noonday ether lost, Upon that path where flowers never grew; And weary with vain toil & faint for thirst Heard not the fountains whose melodious dew Out of their mossy cells forever burst Nor felt the breeze which from the forest told Of grassy paths, & wood lawns interspersed With overarching elms & caverns cold, And violet banks where sweet dreams brood, but they Pursued their serious folly as of old …. And as I gazed methought that in the way The throng grew wilder, as the woods of June When the South wind shakes the extinguished day.— And a cold glare, intenser than the noon But icy cold, obscured with [[blank]] light The Sun as he the stars. Like the young moon When on the sunlit limits of the night Her white shell trembles amid crimson air And whilst the sleeping tempest gathers might Doth, as a herald of its coming, bear The ghost of her dead Mother, whose dim form Bends in dark ether from her infant’s chair, So came a chariot on the silent storm Of its own rushing splendour, and a Shape So sate within as one whom years deform Beneath a dusky hood & double cape Crouching within the shadow of a tomb, And o’er what seemed the head, a cloud like crape, Was bent a dun & faint etherial gloom Tempering the light; upon the chariot’s beam A Janus-visaged Shadow did assume The guidance of that wonder-winged team. The Shapes which drew it in thick lightnings Were lost: I heard alone on the air’s soft stream The music of their ever moving wings. All the four faces of that charioteer Had their eyes banded . . . little profit brings Speed in the van & blindness in the rear, Nor then avail the beams that quench the Sun Or that his banded eyes could pierce the sphere Of all that is, has been, or will be done.— So ill was the car guided, but it past With solemn speed majestically on . . . The crowd gave way, & I arose aghast, Or seemed to rise, so mighty was the trance, And saw like clouds upon the thunder blast The million with fierce song and maniac dance Raging around; such seemed the jubilee As when to greet some conqueror’s advance Imperial Rome poured forth her living sea From senatehouse & prison & theatre When Freedom left those who upon the free Had bound a yoke which soon they stooped to bear. Nor wanted here the true similitude Of a triumphal pageant, for where’er The chariot rolled a captive multitude Was driven; althose who had grown old in power Or misery,—all who have their age subdued, By action or by suffering, and whose hour Was drained to its last sand in weal or woe, So that the trunk survived both fruit & flower; All those whose fame or infamy must grow Till the great winter lay the form & name Of their own earth with them forever low, All but the sacred few who could not tame Their spirits to the Conqueror, but as soon As they had touched the world with living flame Fled back like eagles to their native noon, Of those who put aside the diadem Of earthly thrones or gems, till the last one Were there;—for they of Athens & Jerusalem Were neither mid the mighty captives seen Nor mid the ribald crowd that followed them Or fled before . . Now swift, fierce & obscene The wild dance maddens in the van, & those Who lead it, fleet as shadows on the green, Outspeed the chariot & without repose Mix with each other in tempestuous measure To savage music …. Wilder as it grows, They, tortured by the agonizing pleasure, Convulsed & on the rapid whirlwinds spun Of that fierce spirit, whose unholy leisure Was soothed by mischief since the world begun, Throw back their heads & loose their streaming hair, And in their dance round her who dims the Sun Maidens & youths fling their wild arms in air As their feet twinkle; they recede, and now Bending within each other’s atmosphere Kindle invisibly; and as they glow Like moths by light attracted & repelled, Oft to new bright destruction come & go. Till like two clouds into one vale impelled That shake the mountains when their lightnings mingle And die in rain,—the fiery band which held Their natures, snaps . . . ere the shock cease to tingle One falls and then another in the path Senseless, nor is the desolation single, Yet ere I can say where the chariot hath Past over them; nor other trace I find But as of foam after the Ocean’s wrath Is spent upon the desert shore.—Behind, Old men, and women foully disarrayed Shake their grey hair in the insulting wind, Limp in the dance & strain, with limbs decayed, Seeking to reach the light which leaves them still Farther behind & deeper in the shade. But not the less with impotence of will They wheel, though ghastly shadows interpose Round them & round each other, and fulfill Their work and to the dust whence they arose Sink & corruption veils them as they lie And frost in these performs what fire in those. Struck to the heart by this sad pageantry, Half to myself I said, “And what is this? Whose shape is that within the car? & why”- I would have added—”is all here amiss?” But a voice answered . . “Life” . . . I turned & knew (O Heaven have mercy on such wretchedness!) That what I thought was an old root which grew To strange distortion out of the hill side Was indeed one of that deluded crew, And that the grass which methought hung so wide And white, was but his thin discoloured hair, And that the holes it vainly sought to hide Were or had been eyes.—”lf thou canst forbear To join the dance, which I had well forborne,” Said the grim Feature, of my thought aware, “I will now tell that which to this deep scorn Led me & my companions, and relate The progress of the pageant since the morn; “If thirst of knowledge doth not thus abate, Follow it even to the night, but I Am weary” . . . Then like one who with the weight Of his own words is staggered, wearily He paused, and ere he could resume, I cried, “First who art thou?” . . . “Before thy memory “I feared, loved, hated, suffered, did, & died, And if the spark with which Heaven lit my spirit Earth had with purer nutriment supplied “Corruption would not now thus much inherit Of what was once Rousseau—nor this disguise Stained that within which still disdains to wear it.— “If I have been extinguished, yet there rise A thousand beacons from the spark I bore.”— “And who are those chained to the car?” “The Wise, “The great, the unforgotten: they who wore Mitres & helms & crowns, or wreathes of light, Signs of thought’s empire over thought; their lore “Taught them not this—to know themselves; their might Could not repress the mutiny within, And for the morn of truth they feigned, deep night “Caught them ere evening.” “Who is he with chin Upon his breast and hands crost on his chain?” “The Child of a fierce hour; he sought to win “The world, and lost all it did contain Of greatness, in its hope destroyed; & more Of fame & peace than Virtue’s self can gain “Without the opportunity which bore Him on its eagle’s pinion to the peak From which a thousand climbers have before “Fall’n as Napoleon fell.”—I felt my cheek Alter to see the great form pass away Whose grasp had left the giant world so weak That every pigmy kicked it as it lay— And much I grieved to think how power & will In opposition rule our mortal day— And why God made irreconcilable Good & the means of good; and for despair I half disdained mine eye’s desire to fill With the spent vision of the times that were And scarce have ceased to be . . . “Dost thou behold,” Said then my guide, “those spoilers spoiled, Voltaire, “Frederic, & Kant, Catherine, & Leopold, Chained hoary anarch, demagogue & sage Whose name the fresh world thinks already old— “For in the battle Life & they did wage She remained conqueror—I was overcome By my own heart alone, which neither age “Nor tears nor infamy nor now the tomb Could temper to its object.”—”Let them pass”— I cried—”the world & its mysterious doom “Is not so much more glorious than it was That I desire to worship those who drew New figures on its false & fragile glass “As the old faded.”—”Figures ever new Rise on the bubble, paint them how you may; We have but thrown, as those before us threw, “Our shadows on it as it past away. But mark, how chained to the triumphal chair The mighty phantoms of an elder day— “All that is mortal of great Plato there Expiates the joy & woe his master knew not; That star that ruled his doom was far too fair— “And Life, where long that flower of Heaven grew not, Conquered the heart by love which gold or pain Or age or sloth or slavery could subdue not— “And near [[blank]] walk the [[blank]] twain, The tutor & his pupil, whom Dominion Followed as tame as vulture in a chain.— “The world was darkened beneath either pinion Of him whom from the flock of conquerors Fame singled as her thunderbearing minion; “The other long outlived both woes & wars, Throned in new thoughts of men, and still had kept The jealous keys of truth’s eternal doors “If Bacon’s spirit [[blank]] had not leapt Like lightning out of darkness; he compelled The Proteus shape of Nature’s as it slept “To wake & to unbar the caves that held The treasure of the secrets of its reign— See the great bards of old who inly quelled “The passions which they sung, as by their strain May well be known: their living melody Tempers its own contagion to the vein “Of those who are infected with it—I Have suffered what I wrote, or viler pain!— “And so my words were seeds of misery— Even as the deeds of others.”—”Not as theirs,” I said—he pointed to a company In which I recognized amid the heirs Of Caesar’s crime from him to Constantine, The Anarchs old whose force & murderous snares Had founded many a sceptre bearing line And spread the plague of blood & gold abroad, And Gregory & John and men divine Who rose like shadows between Man & god Till that eclipse, still hanging under Heaven, Was worshipped by the world o’er which they strode For the true Sun it quenched.—”Their power was given But to destroy,” replied the leader—”I Am one of those who have created, even “If it be but a world of agony.”— “Whence camest thou & whither goest thou? How did thy course begin,” I said, “& why? “Mine eyes are sick of this perpetual flow Of people, & my heart of one sad thought.— Speak.”—”Whence I came, partly I seem to know, “And how & by what paths I have been brought To this dread pass, methinks even thou mayst guess; Why this should be my mind can compass not; “Whither the conqueror hurries me still less. But follow thou, & from spectator turn Actor or victim in this wretchedness, “And what thou wouldst be taught I then may learn From thee.—Now listen . . . In the April prime When all the forest tops began to burn “With kindling green, touched by the azure clime Of the young year, I found myself asleep Under a mountain which from unknown time “Had yawned into a cavern high & deep, And from it came a gentle rivulet Whose water like clear air in its calm sweep “Bent the soft grass & kept for ever wet The stems of the sweet flowers, and filled the grove With sound which all who hear must needs forget “All pleasure & all pain, all hate & love, Which they had known before that hour of rest: A sleeping mother then would dream not of “The only child who died upon her breast At eventide, a king would mourn no more The crown of which his brow was dispossest “When the sun lingered o’er the Ocean floor To gild his rival’s new prosperity.— Thou wouldst forget thus vainly to deplore “Ills, which if ills, can find no cure from thee, The thought of which no other sleep will quell Nor other music blot from memory— “So sweet & deep is the oblivious spell.— Whether my life had been before that sleep The Heaven which I imagine, or a Hell “Like this harsh world in which I wake to weep, I know not. I arose & for a space The scene of woods & waters seemed to keep, “Though it was now broad day, a gentle trace Of light diviner than the common Sun Sheds on the common Earth, but all the place “Was filled with many sounds woven into one Oblivious melody, confusing sense Amid the gliding waves & shadows dun; “And as I looked the bright omnipresence Of morning through the orient cavern flowed, And the Sun’s image radiantly intense “Burned on the waters of the well that glowed Like gold, and threaded all the forest maze With winding paths of emerald fire—there stood “Amid the sun, as he amid the blaze Of his own glory, on the vibrating Floor of the fountain, paved with flashing rays, “A shape all light, which with one hand did fling Dew on the earth, as if she were the Dawn Whose invisible rain forever seemed to sing “A silver music on the mossy lawn, And still before her on the dusky grass Iris her many coloured scarf had drawn.— “In her right hand she bore a crystal glass Mantling with bright Nepenthe;—the fierce splendour Fell from her as she moved under the mass “Of the deep cavern, & with palms so tender Their tread broke not the mirror of its billow, Glided along the river, and did bend her “Head under the dark boughs, till like a willow Her fair hair swept the bosom of the stream That whispered with delight to be their pillow.— “As one enamoured is upborne in dream O’er lily-paven lakes mid silver mist To wondrous music, so this shape might seem “Partly to tread the waves with feet which kist The dancing foam, partly to glide along The airs that roughened the moist amethyst, “Or the slant morning beams that fell among The trees, or the soft shadows of the trees; And her feet ever to the ceaseless song “Of leaves & winds & waves & birds & bees And falling drops moved in a measure new Yet sweet, as on the summer evening breeze “Up from the lake a shape of golden dew Between two rocks, athwart the rising moon, Moves up the east, where eagle never flew.— “And still her feet, no less than the sweet tune To which they moved, seemed as they moved, to blot The thoughts of him who gazed on them, & soon “All that was seemed as if it had been not, As if the gazer’s mind was strewn beneath Her feet like embers, & she, thought by thought, “Trampled its fires into the dust of death, As Day upon the threshold of the east Treads out the lamps of night, until the breath “Of darkness reillumines even the least Of heaven’s living eyes—like day she came, Making the night a dream; and ere she ceased “To move, as one between desire and shame Suspended, I said—’If, as it doth seem, Thou comest from the realm without a name, ” ‘Into this valley of perpetual dream, Shew whence I came, and where I am, and why— Pass not away upon the passing stream.’ ” ‘Arise and quench thy thirst,’ was her reply, And as a shut lily, stricken by the wand Of dewy morning’s vital alchemy, “I rose; and, bending at her sweet command, Touched with faint lips the cup she raised, And suddenly my brain became as sand “Where the first wave had more than half erased The track of deer on desert Labrador, Whilst the fierce wolf from which they fled amazed “Leaves his stamp visibly upon the shore Until the second bursts—so on my sight Burst a new Vision never seen before.— “And the fair shape waned in the coming light As veil by veil the silent splendour drops From Lucifer, amid the chrysolite “Of sunrise ere it strike the mountain tops— And as the presence of that fairest planet Although unseen is felt by one who hopes “That his day’s path may end as he began it In that star’s smile, whose light is like the scent Of a jonquil when evening breezes fan it, “Or the soft note in which his dear lament The Brescian shepherd breathes, or the caress That turned his weary slumber to content.— “So knew I in that light’s severe excess The presence of that shape which on the stream Moved, as I moved along the wilderness, “More dimly than a day appearing dream, The ghost of a forgotten form of sleep A light from Heaven whose half extinguished beam “Through the sick day in which we wake to weep Glimmers, forever sought, forever lost.— So did that shape its obscure tenour keep “Beside my path, as silent as a ghost; But the new Vision, and its cold bright car, With savage music, stunning music, crost “The forest, and as if from some dread war Triumphantly returning, the loud million Fiercely extolled the fortune of her star.— “A moving arch of victory the vermilion And green & azure plumes of Iris had Built high over her wind-winged pavilion, “And underneath aetherial glory clad The wilderness, and far before her flew The tempest of the splendour which forbade Shadow to fall from leaf or stone;—the crew Seemed in that light like atomies that dance Within a sunbeam.—Some upon the new “Embroidery of flowers that did enhance The grassy vesture of the desart, played, Forgetful of the chariot’s swift advance; “Others stood gazing till within the shade Of the great mountain its light left them dim.— Others outspeeded it, and others made “Circles around it like the clouds that swim Round the high moon in a bright sea of air, And more did follow, with exulting hymn, “The chariot & the captives fettered there, But all like bubbles on an eddying flood Fell into the same track at last & were “Borne onward.—I among the multitude Was swept; me sweetest flowers delayed not long, Me not the shadow nor the solitude, “Me not the falling stream’s Lethean song, Me, not the phantom of that early form Which moved upon its motion,—but among “The thickest billows of the living storm I plunged, and bared my bosom to the clime Of that cold light, whose airs too soon deform.— “Before the chariot had begun to climb The opposing steep of that mysterious dell, Behold a wonder worthy of the rhyme “Of him whom from the lowest depths of Hell Through every Paradise & through all glory Love led serene, & who returned to tell “In words of hate & awe the wondrous story How all things are transfigured, except Love; For deaf as is a sea which wrath makes hoary “The world can hear not the sweet notes that move The sphere whose light is melody to lovers—- A wonder worthy of his rhyme—the grove “Grew dense with shadows to its inmost covers, The earth was grey with phantoms, & the air Was peopled with dim forms, as when there hovers “A flock of vampire-bats before the glare Of the tropic sun, bring ere evening Strange night upon some Indian isle,—thus were “Phantoms diffused around, & some did fling Shadows of shadows, yet unlike themselves, Behind them, some like eaglets on the wing “Were lost in the white blaze, others like elves Danced in a thousand unimagined shapes Upon the sunny streams & grassy shelves; “And others sate chattering like restless apes On vulgar paws and voluble like fire. Some made a cradle of the ermined capes “Of kingly mantles, some upon the tiar Of pontiffs sate like vultures, others played Within the crown which girt with empire “A baby’s or an idiot’s brow, & made Their nests in it; the old anatomies Sate hatching their bare brood under the shade “Of demon wings, and laughed from their dead eyes To reassume the delegated power Arrayed in which these worms did monarchize “Who make this earth their charnel.—Others more Humble, like falcons sate upon the fist Of common men, and round their heads did soar, “Or like small gnats & flies, as thick as mist On evening marshes, thronged about the brow Of lawyer, statesman, priest & theorist, “And others like discoloured flakes of snow On fairest bosoms & the sunniest hair Fell, and were melted by the youthful glow “Which they extinguished; for like tears, they were A veil to those from whose faint lids they rained In drops of sorrow.—I became aware “Of whence those forms proceeded which thus stained The track in which we moved; after brief space From every form the beauty slowly waned, “From every firmest limb & fairest face The strength & freshness fell like dust, & left The action & the shape without the grace “Of life; the marble brow of youth was cleft With care, and in the eyes where once hope shone Desire like a lioness bereft “Of its last cub, glared ere it died; each one Of that great crowd sent forth incessantly These shadows, numerous as the dead leaves blown “In Autumn evening from a popular tree— Each, like himself & like each other were, At first, but soon distorted, seemed to be “Obscure clouds moulded by the casual air; And of this stuff the car’s creative ray Wrought all the busy phantoms that were there “As the sun shapes the clouds—thus, on the way Mask after mask fell from the countenance And form of all, and long before the day “Was old, the joy which waked like Heaven’s glance The sleepers in the oblivious valley, died, And some grew weary of the ghastly dance “And fell, as I have fallen by the way side, Those soonest from whose forms most shadows past And least of strength & beauty did abide.”— “Then, what is Life?” I said . . . the cripple cast His eye upon the car which now had rolled Onward, as if that look must be the last, And answered …. “Happy those for whom the fold Of … “The weak are always anxious for justice and equality. The strong pay no heed to either.” — Aristotle “A species that enslaves other beings is hardly superior — mentally or otherwise.” — Captain Kirk “Now, I don’t pretend to tell you how to find happiness and love, when every day is a struggle to survive. But I do insist that you do survive, because the days and the years ahead are worth living for!” — Edith Keeler “Live long and prosper!” — Spock “The most important thing in life is to stop saying 'I wish' and start saying 'I will.' Consider nothing impossible, then treat possibilities as probabilities.” — Charles Dickens Calories 160 “I am no bearded Dumbledore, but it was impossible not to see Magnus as a type of Harry Potter, a super-talent destined to become one of the greatest and to leave a deep mark (a lightning bolt?) on our ancient game.” ― Garry Kasparov “Above the clouds I lift my wing To hear the bells of Heaven ring; Some of their music, though my fights be wild, To Earth I bring; Then let me soar and sing!” ― Edmund Clarence Stedman Feb-13-11 keypusher: <scutigera: They give this as one of Myagmarsuren's notable games with 162 others in the database?> notable games are selected based on how many games collections they are in. Dec-12-16 DrGridlock: Q: When is a pin not a pin? A: When the piece is: (i) not pinned to the king and (ii) in moving the piece threatens either mate or greater material gain than what it was pinned to. (iii) in moving the piece now defends the unit it was pinned to, such as Nf3xd4 and protects the Be2 that was behind the knight. Fact: There are parts of Africa in all four hemispheres For people whose education was largely focused on the Western world, it may be surprising to find out exactly how huge the continent of Africa is. For instance, it spans all four hemispheres and covers nearly 12 million square miles. Riddle Question: A man who was outside in the rain without an umbrella or hat didn’t get a single hair on his head wet. Why? According to Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity, it is possible to go slower than light and faster than light, but it is impossible to go at the speed of light. Riddle Answer: He was bald. Fact: The world’s oldest wooden wheel has been around for more than 5,000 years. It was found in 2002, approximately 12 miles south of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, and is now housed in the city’s museum. Radiocarbon dating was used to determine the wheel’s age, which is somewhere between 5,100 and 5,350 years old. Riddle Question: What gets wet while drying? If you add up the numbers 1-100 consecutively (1+2+3+4+5 etc) the total is 5050. Riddle Answer: A towel Fact: Sudan has more pyramids than any country in the world Not only does Sudan have more pyramids than Egypt, but the numbers aren’t even close. While 138 pyramids have been discovered in Egypt, Sudan boasts around 255. <The Chess Player by Howard Altmann They’ve left. They’ve all left. The pigeon feeders have left. The old men on the benches have left. The white-gloved ladies with the Great Danes have left. The lovers who thought about coming have left. The man in the three-piece suit has left. The man who was a three-piece band has left. The man on the milkcrate with the bible has left. Even the birds have left. Now the trees are thinking about leaving too. And the grass is trying to turn itself in. Of course the buses no longer pass. And the children no longer ask. The air wants to go and is in discussions. The clouds are trying to steer clear. The sky is reaching for its hands. Even the moon sees what’s going on. But the stars remain in the dark. As does the chess player. Who sits with all his pieces In position.> Capitonyms are words which change their meaning if the first letter is capitalized. For example: Turkey (the country) and turkey (the bird). 2008 zb2kr: move 24. zooter Fritz xp dope on a rope Kh3? trolly pickled hiz puter Navarovszky What sits at the bottom of the sea and twitches? A nervous wreck. Tucson, Arizona Established in: 1775 Tucson is the second largest city in the state. It began as a small Spanish presido, or walled fortress, and was once considered part of Mexico. Today, the city is home to the University of Arizona. 75 games, 1497-1927 170 Major Chess Tournaments 1882-2007 Copied from RonB. Last updated Monday 1/14/08 This is an index of 170 game collections by other chessgames.com users, each assembling the games from a major tournament. It does not include any world championship matches or FIDE world championship knockouts (see Game Collection: WCC Index) and Steinitz - Zukertort World Championship Match (1886). (I include the foregoing link to the Steinitz/Zukertort match here merely as a jumping-off point to the emerging chessgames.com index of all wcc matches.) Nor does it include the Anand rapid matches 2001-2006, which you can find here: Trudodyr's Game Collections, or the <cg.com> Amber collections, which you can find here: Amber Rapid (2003) Amber Blindfold (2003) 13th Amber Blindfold (2004) 13th Amber Rapid (2004) 14th Amber Tournament: Rapid (2005) 14th Amber Tournament: Blindfold (2005) Amber Blindfold (2006) Amber Rapid (2006) For tournaments after 2001 collected by <chessgames.com>, see the New Games Page. The game collections below are organized in two ways: first, by tournament (e.g., all of the Linares tournament game collections together); and second, all tournaments, in chronological order. ♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔ Selected tournaments, grouped together (for all tournaments arranged in chronological order, see below): Dortmund Game Collection: Dortmund 1992 Game Collection: Dortmund 1993 Game Collection: Dortmund 1995 Game Collection: Dortmund 1996 Game Collection: Dortmund 1997 Game Collection: Dortmund 1998 Game Collection: Dortmund 1999 Game Collection: Dortmund Sparkassen 2000 Game Collection: Dortmund Sparkassen 2001 Game Collection: 0 Game Collection: Dortmund 2006 Dos Hermanas Game Collection: Dos Hermanas 1995 Game Collection: Dos Hermanas 1996 Game Collection: Dos Hermanas 1997 Game Collection: Dos Hermanas 1999 Hastings Chess Congress Game Collection: Hastings 1895 Game Collection: Hastings 1922 Game Collection: Hastings 1926/27 Game Collection: Hastings 1927/28 Game Collection: Hastings 1945/46 Linares Game Collection: Linares 1989 Game Collection: Linares 1990 Game Collection: Linares 1991 Game Collection: Linares 1992 Game Collection: Linares 1993 Game Collection: Linares 1994 Game Collection: Linares 1995 Game Collection: Linares 1998 Game Collection: Linares 2000 Game Collection: Linares 2001 Game Collection: Linares 2002 Game Collection: Linares 2005 [***] Madrid Game Collection: Madrid 1994 Game Collection: Madrid 1997 Game Collection: Madrid 1998 Moscow Game Collection: Moscow 1925 Game Collection: Moscow 1935 Game Collection: Moscow 1936 Game Collection: Moscow 1981 Olympiads Game Collection: 1927 Men Chess Olympiad: 1st ever Game Collection: 1928 Men Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1930 Men Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1931 Men Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1933 Men Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1935 Men Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1936 Unofficial Men Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1937 Men Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1939 Men Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1950 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1952 Men Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1954 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1956 Men Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1958 Men & 1957 Women Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1960 Men Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1962 Men Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1964 Men & 1963 Women Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1966 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1968 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1970 Men and 1969 Women Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1972 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1974 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1976 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1978 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1980 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1982 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1984 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1986 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1988 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1990 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1992 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1994 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1996 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1998 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 2000 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 2002 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 2006 Chess Olympiad Tilburg Game Collection: Tilburg Interpolis 1977 Game Collection: Tilburg 1978 Game Collection: Tilburg Interpolis 1980 Game Collection: Tilburg Interpolis 1981 Game Collection: Tilburg Interpolis 1982 Game Collection: Tilburg Interpolis 1983 Game Collection: Tilburg Interpolis 1984 Game Collection: Tilburg Interpolis 1985 Game Collection: Tilburg Interpolis 1990 Game Collection: Tilburg Fontys 1997 Game Collection: Tilburg Fontys 1998 US Open Game Collection: US Open 1946, Pittsburgh by User: Phony Benoni Game Collection: 1946 US Open, Pittsburgh, PA by yours truly Game Collection: US Open 1967, Atlanta Game Collection: US Open 1968, Aspen Wijk an zee Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1976 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee 1977 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee 1977 B Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1978 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1979 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee 1983 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee 1983 B Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1996 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1997 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1998 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1999 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Corus 2000 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Corus 2001 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Corus 2002 Game Collection: Corus 2005 by User: isrxjs Game Collection: Corus 2005 by User: VishyFan [***] Game Collection: Annotations v.07: Corus Edition ♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔ And now, for something completely different... All tournament collections, in chronological order: 1882-1900 Game Collection: Vienna 1882 Game Collection: Hastings 1895 Game Collection: Nuremberg 1896 1901-1910 Game Collection: Cambridge Springs 1904 by User: suenteus po 147 Game Collection: Cambridge Springs 1904 games by User: CambridgeSprings1904 Please see also this website, http://home.wi.rr.com/etzel/cs1904...., which is maintained by User: CambridgeSprings1904 and contains in-depth information about the 1904 tournament Game Collection: St Petersburg 1909 1911-1920 Game Collection: Capablanca Spanish Tournaments: S.Sebastian 1911 [**] Game Collection: Bad Pistyan 1912 Game Collection: San Sebastian 1912 Game Collection: St Petersburg 1914 1921-1925 Game Collection: Hastings 1922 Game Collection: London 1922 Game Collection: Vienna 1922 Game Collection: Lake Hopatcong 1923 (9th American Chess Congress Game Collection: New York 1924 Game Collection: Baden Baden 1925 Game Collection: Moscow 1925 1926-1927 Game Collection: Dresden 1926 Game Collection: Hastings 1926/27 Game Collection: Bad Niendorf 1927 Game Collection: London 1927 Game Collection: 1927 Men Chess Olympiad: 1st ever Game Collection: Hastings 1927/28 1928-1929 Game Collection: Bad Kissingen 1928 Game Collection: 1928 Men Chess Olympiad Game Collection: Capablanca Spanish Tournaments: Barcelona 1929 [**] Game Collection: Carlsbad 1929 1930 Game Collection: Liege 1930 Game Collection: 1930 Men Chess Olympiad Game Collection: San Remo 1930 1931 Game Collection: Bled 1931 by User: Benzol Game Collection: Bled 1931 international tournament by User: cuendillar Game Collection: Bled 1931 international tournament part 2 by User: cuendillar Game Collection: 1931 Men Chess Olympiad 1932-1933 Game Collection: London International Chess Congress, 1932 Game Collection: 1933 Men Chess Olympiad 1934-1935 Game Collection: Syracuse 1934 Game Collection: Zurich 1934 Game Collection: 1935 Men Chess Olympiad Game Collection: Moscow 1935 1936-1937 Game Collection: Moscow 1936 Game Collection: Nottingham 1936 Game Collection: 1936 Unofficial Men Chess Olympiad Game Collection: Zandvoort 1936 Game Collection: Kemeri 1937 International Tournament Game Collection: 1937 Men Chess Olympiad Game Collection: Parnu 1937 1938-1940 Game Collection: AVRO 1938 Game Collection: 1939 Men Chess Olympiad 1941-1943 Game Collection: USSR Absolute Championship 1941 Game Collection: Sverdlovsk 1943 1944-1945 Game Collection: Hastings 1945/46 1946-1947 Game Collection: US Open 1946, Pittsburgh by User: Phony Benoni Game Collection: 1946 US Open, Pittsburgh, PA by yours truly 1948-1950 Game Collection: Bronstein at the 16th USSR Championship [*] Game Collection: Bronstein at the Moscow - Budapest Match, 1949 [*] Game Collection: 17th USSR Championship - Bronstein's Momentum [*] Game Collection: 1950 Chess Olympiad 1951-1955 Game Collection: Hollywood, 1952 Game Collection: 1952 Men Chess Olympiad Game Collection: Zurich International Chess Tournament 1953 by User: bennyr Game Collection: 1954 Chess Olympiad 1956-1960 Game Collection: Alekhine Memorial International Tournament, 1956 Game Collection: 1956 Men Chess Olympiad Game Collection: Third L. J. Rosenwald Trophy Tournament, 1956 Game Collection: Dallas, 1957 Game Collection: 1958 Men & 1957 Women Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1960 Men Chess Olympiad 1961-1965 Game Collection: 1962 Men Chess Olympiad Game Collection: First Piatigorsky Cup 1963 Game Collection: 1964 Men & 1963 Women Chess Olympiad 1966-1970 Game Collection: 1966 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: Second Piatigorsky Cup 1966 Game Collection: US Open 1967, Atlanta Game Collection: 1968 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: US Open 1968, Aspen Game Collection: 1970 Men and 1969 Women Chess Olympiad 1971-1976 Game Collection: 1972 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: San Antonio 1972 Game Collection: 1974 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1976 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1976 1977-1978 Game Collection: Tilburg Interpolis 1977 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee 1977 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee 1977 B Game Collection: Bugojno 1978 Game Collection: 1st Burroughs Computers Grandmasters Tt New Zealand 1978 Game Collection: 1978 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: Tilburg 1978 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1978 1979-1980 Game Collection: Banja Luka 1979 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1979 Game Collection: 1980 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: London Phillips & Drew 1980 Game Collection: Tilburg Interpolis 1980 1981-1983 Game Collection: Moscow 1981 Game Collection: Tilburg Interpolis 1981 Game Collection: Bugojno 1982 Game Collection: 1982 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: Tilburg Interpolis 1982 Game Collection: Torino 1982 Game Collection: Tilburg Interpolis 1983 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee 1983 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee 1983 B 1984-1989 Game Collection: 1984 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1984 Phillips & Drew GLC Kings Tt Game Collection: Tilburg Interpolis 1984 Game Collection: Tilburg Interpolis 1985 Game Collection: 1986 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: 1988 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: Plaza International Chess Tt 1988 Game Collection: US Championship 1988 (Cambridge Springs) Game Collection: Linares 1989 1990 Game Collection: 1990 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: Linares 1990 Game Collection: Tilburg Interpolis 1990 1991 Game Collection: Linares 1991 Game Collection: Reggio Emilia 1991/92 Game Collection: Reykjavik World Cup 1991 Game Collection: US Championship 1991 1992-1993 Game Collection: 1992 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: Dortmund 1992 Game Collection: Linares 1992 Game Collection: Dortmund 1993 Game Collection: Linares 1993 Game Collection: Munich 1993 1994 Game Collection: 1994 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: Las Palmas 1994 Game Collection: Linares 1994 Game Collection: Madrid 1994 Game Collection: Novgorod 1994 1995 Game Collection: Dortmund 1995 Game Collection: Dos Hermanas 1995 Game Collection: Linares 1995 1996 Game Collection: 1996 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: Dortmund 1996 Game Collection: Dos Hermanas 1996 Game Collection: Las Palmas 1996 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1996 1997 Game Collection: Dortmund 1997 Game Collection: Dos Hermanas 1997 Game Collection: Madrid 1997 Game Collection: Ter Apel Klooster 1997 Game Collection: Tilburg Fontys 1997 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1997 1998 Game Collection: 1998 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: Dortmund 1998 Game Collection: Linares 1998 Game Collection: Madrid 1998 Game Collection: Tilburg Fontys 1998 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1998 1999 Game Collection: Dortmund 1999 Game Collection: Dos Hermanas 1999 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1999 2000 Game Collection: 2000 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: Dortmund Sparkassen 2000 Game Collection: Fujitsu-seimens giants rapid tournament 2000 Game Collection: Linares 2000 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Corus 2000 2001-2004 Game Collection: Dortmund Sparkassen 2001 Game Collection: Linares 2001 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Corus 2001 Game Collection: 2002 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: Linares 2002 Game Collection: 0 Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Corus 2002 Game Collection: 2004 Chess Olympiad 2005 Game Collection: Corus 2005 by User: isrxjs Game Collection: Corus 2005 by User: VishyFan [***] Game Collection: World Chess Cup 2005 [***] Game Collection: Linares 2005 [***] Game Collection: Mtel 2005 [***] 2006-2007 Game Collection: 2006 Chess Olympiad Game Collection: Dortmund 2006 Game Collection: Mayor's Cup Invitational 2006 Game Collection: Annotations v.07: Corus Edition ♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔ [*] These three collections contain only Bronstein's games from the tournament shown. I am keeping them here because they may serve as a starting point for more complete tournament collections. [**] Only Capablanca's games. [***] Warning! Very incomplete. I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud William Wordsworth I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced; but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company: I gazed—and gazed—but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?" ― Martin Luther King, Jr. EG Tactics: Game Collection: End game tactics REMOVE BELOW This game an Indian Brahmin did invent, The force of Eastern wisdom to express; From thence the same to busy Europe sent; The modern Lombards stil'd it pensive Chess. — Sir John Denham “In chess the most unbelievable thing for me is that it's a game for everybody: rich, poor, girl, boy, old, young. It's a fantastic game which can unite people and generations! It's a language which you'll find people "speak" in every country. If you reach a certain level you find a very rich world! Art, sport, logic, psychology, a battlefield, imagination, creativity not only in practical games but don't forget either how amazing a feeling it is to compose a study, for example (unfortunately that's not appreciated these days but it's a fantastic part of chess!).” ― Judit Polgar “Nowadays tournaments are for nurseries. Look at those kiddies.” ― Miguel Najdorf “Young players calculate everything, a requirement of their relative inexperience.” ― Samuel Reshevsky “When I start to play a game I try to forget about previous games and try to concentrate on this game. This game is now the most important to me. But of course I am not a computer and you cannot simply press a button, delete, and everything you want to forget disappears automatically. But if you want to play well, it's important to concentrate on the now.” ― Vassily Ivanchuk “The pawns are the soul of chess.” ― Francois-Andre Danican Philidor “A pawn, when separated from his fellows, will seldom or never make a fortune.” ― Francois-Andre Danican Philidor “It so often happens that, after sacrificing a pawn, a player aims not to obtain the initiative for it, but to regain sacrificed material.” ― Efim Geller “If you wish to succeed, you must brave the risk of failure.” ― Garry Kasparov “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War Tom Wiswell (1910-1988) made a quote regarding playing checkers worth using in chess circles. After winning a good game, I always ask myself: "Where did I go right?" “I was surprised by his ability to figure out complex variations. Then the way he sets out the game; he was not interested in the objectivity of the position, whether it's better or worse, he only needed room for his pieces. All you do then is figure out variations which are extremely difficult. He was tactically outplaying me and I made mistakes.” ― Mikhail Botvinnik (on Tal) “Discovered check is the dive-bomber of the chessboard.” — Reuben Fine “One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War “I think Capablanca was one of the most important world champions for me. I studied his games, and a good book about Capablanca's games was written by International Master Vasily Panov, a Russian master. There was quite a strong influence of Capablanca's style.” ― Anatoly Karpov “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” ― John F. Kennedy You cannot play on this website. It is just a database for players to check out GM games, talk about them and discuss the game in general. Sites where you can play chess include: www.playchess.com (need chessbase software) www.freechess.org www.net-chess.com Old Russian Proverb: "Strike while the iron is hot. (Куй железо, пока горячо.)" Use the opportunity while it’s possible or lose it. “There are more adventures on a chessboard than on all the seas of the world.” – Pierre Mac Orlan “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church....a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes.” ― Charles Swindoll * Fireside book: Game Collection: Fireside Book of Chess * Giuoco Pianissimo: Game Collection: GIUOCO PIANISSIMO * Two Knts Defense: Game Collection: Two Knights Defence by Beliavsky mikhalchisin Uncompromising Chess, by Belyavsky, Alexander (User: Resignation Trap) Game Collection: Uncompromising Chess by Alexander Beliavsky ♖♖♖ http://www.amazon.com/Uncompromisin... Understanding Chess Move by Move: A Top-Class Grandmaster Explains Step-by-Step How Chess Games Are Won, by Nunn, John (User: PhilipTheGeek) Game Collection: Nunn's Understanding Chess Move by Move ♖♖♖ http://www.amazon.com/Understanding... * Best Games of 2018: Game Collection: Best Games of 2018 * Cheating: https://www.chess.com/article/view/... * Glossary: https://www.peoriachess.com/Glossar... * Opening Tree: https://www.shredderchess.com/onlin... Romans 15:13 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. “Remember us, Should any free soul come across this place, In all the countless centuries yet to be, May our voices whisper to you from the ageless stones, Go tell the Spartans, passerby: That here by Spartan law, we lie.” ― Frank Miller, 300 Adapt on the fly. “A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.” — General George S. Patton And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2:9, 10. Conceive a man by nature and misfortune prone to a pallid hopelessness, can any business seem more fitted to heighten it than that of continually handling these dead letters and assorting them for the flames? For by the cart-load they are annually burned. Sometimes from out the folded paper the pale clerk takes a ring: - the finger it was meant for, perhaps, moulders in the grave; a bank-note sent in swiftest charity: - he whom it would relieve, nor eats nor hungers any more; pardon for those who died despairing; hope for those who died unhoping; good tidings for those who died stifled by unrelieved calamities. On errands of life, these letters speed to death. Ah Bartleby! Ah humanity! — Herman Melville THE HOOSIER'S NEST by John Finley, Mayor of Richmond, Indiana from 1852 - 1866 Untaught the language of the schools, Nor versed in scientific rules, The humble bard may not presume The literati to illume; Or classic cadences indite, Attuned "to tickle ears polite;" Contented if his strains may pass the ordeal of the common mass, And raise an anti-critic smile, The brow of labor to beguile. But ever as his mind delights To follow fancy's airy flights, Some object of terrestrial mien Uncourteously obtrudes between, And rudely scatters to the winds The tangled threads of thought he spins. Yet why invoke imagination To picture out a new creation, When nature, with a lavish hand, Has formed a more than fairy land For us - an El Dorado real, Surpassing even the idea? Then who can view the glorious West, With all her hopes for coming time, And hoard his feelings unexpressed In poetry or prose, or rhyme? What mind and matter, unrevealed; Shall unborn ages her disclose! What latent treasures, long concealed, Be disinterred from dark repose! Here Science shall impel her car* O'er blended valley, hill, and plain; While Liberty's bright natal star Shines twinkling on her own domain. Yes, land of the West! thou art happy and free! And thus evermore may thy hardy sons be, Whist thy ocean-like prairies are spread far and wide, Or a tree of thy forests shall tower in pride. Blest Indiana! in thy soil Are found the sure rewards of toil, Where honest poverty and worth May make a Paradise on earth. With feelings proud we contemplate The rising glory of our State; Nor take offense by application Of its good-natured appellation. Our hardy yeomanry can smile At tourists of "the sear-girt isle," Or wits who traveled at the gallop, Like Basil Hall or Mrs. Trollope. 'T is true among the crowds that roam To seek for fortune or a home, It happens that we often find Empiricism of a kind. A strutting fop, who boasts of knowledge, Acquired at some far eastern college, Expects to take us by surprise, And dazzle our astonished eyes. He boasts of learning, skill, and talents Which, in the scale, would Andes balance; Cuts widening swaths from day to day, And in a month he runs away. Not thus the honest son of toil, Who settles here to till the soil, and with intentions just and good, Acquires an ample livelihood: He is (and not the little-great) The bone and sinew of the State. With six-horse team to one-horse cart, We hail here from every part; And some you'll see, sans shoes or socks on, With snake-pole and a yoke of oxen; Others with pack-horse, dog, and rifle, Make emigration quite a trifle. The emigrant is soon located- In Hoosier life initiated: Erects a cabin in the woods, Wherein he stows his household goods. At first, round logs and clapboard roof, With puncheon floor, quite carpet proof, And paper windows, oiled and neat, His edifice is then complete. When four clay balls, in form of plummet, Adorn his wooden chimney's summit. Ensconced in this, let those who can Find out a truly happier man. The little youngsters rise around him, So numerous they quite astound him; Each with an ax or wheel in hand, And instinct to subdue the land. Erelong the cabin disappears, A spacious mansion next he rears; His fields seem widening by stealth, An index of increasing wealth; and when the hives of Hoosiers swarm, To each is given a noble farm. These are the seedlings of the State, The stamina to make the great. 'T is true, her population, various, Find avocations multifarious; But having said so much, 't would seem No derogation to my theme, Were I to circumscribe the space, To picture but a single case: And if my muse be not seraphic, I trust you'll find her somewhat graphic. I'm told, in riding somewhere West, A stranger found a Hoosier's Nest - In other words, a buckeye cabin, Just big enough to hold Queen Mab in; Its situation, low but airy, Was on the borders of a prairie; And fearing he might be benighted, He hailed the house, and then alighted. The Hoosier met him at the door - Their salutations soon were o'er. He took the stranger's horse aside, And to a sturdy sapling tied; Then having stripped the saddle off, He fed him in a sugar-trough. The stranger stooped to enter in - The entranced closing with a pin - And manifested strong desire To seat him by the log-heap fire, Where half-a-dozen Hoosieroons, With mush-and-milk, tin-cups, and spoons, White heads, bare feet, and dirty faces, Seemed much inclined to keep their places. But Madam, anxious to display Her rough but undisputed sway, Her offspring to the ladder led, And cuffed the youngsters up to bed. Invited shortly to partake Of venison, milk, and johnny cake, The stranger made a hearty meal, And glances round the room would steal. One side was lined with divers garments, The other spread with skins of varmints; Dried pumpkins overhead were strung, Where venison hams in plenty hung; Two rifles placed above the door; Three dogs lay stretched upon the floor - In short, the domicile was rife With specimens of Hoosier life. The host, who centered his affections On game, and range, and quarter sections, Discoursed his weary guests for hours, Till Somnus' all-composing powers Of sublunary cares bereft 'em; And then - No matter how the story ended; The application I intended Is from the famous Scottish poet, Who seemed to feel as well as know it, That "buirdley chiels and clever hizzies Are bred in sic' a way as this is." *Railroads were problematical in 1830, when this was written. “The weak are always anxious for justice and equality. The strong pay no heed to either.” — Aristotle “If your opponent cannot do anything active, then don't rush the position; instead, you should let him sit there, suffer, and beg you for a draw.” ― IM Jeremy Silman “A species that enslaves other beings is hardly superior — mentally or otherwise.” — Captain Kirk “Now, I don’t pretend to tell you how to find happiness and love, when every day is a struggle to survive. But I do insist that you do survive, because the days and the years ahead are worth living for!” — Edith Keeler “Live long and prosper!” — Spock “The most important thing in life is to stop saying 'I wish' and start saying 'I will.' Consider nothing impossible, then treat possibilities as probabilities.” — Charles Dickens 38 zrPg: move 29. zootter Frat z mumbo slops Qa2? trollie pokd hiz cputer Nimzo anthem Indian went two dinnr but 4got 2bring-a-ding Amr I can XPress Wesley So that startd fraze donut Levy homer widow zit; sandwhich wuz latr altrd two Watts riotz senior face Wallace? Pour William, 4evr famous footwear but betrayed by veggiez man sour dip. Thin dis en spird Fredo-Lay motorbike chips compass ftb llc. Now Jeni Garnr iza Q oddz advrtizmntz. EG Tactics: Game Collection: End game tactics 3 games, 1873-1939 18 KGs for White * Amazing: Game Collection: Amazing Chess Moves (Emms) * First of each ECO: Game Collection: First of Each ECO * How to Analyze: https://thechessworld.com/articles/... * Recommendations: https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/wiki... “It's always fascinating when the King’s Gambit is played by a top player, even more so when he actually wins. But, as chess has its strict rules, there are always a few blunders needed for such a miracle to happen.” ― GM Anish Giri Source: Chess Vibes Training #36 “Above the clouds I lift my wing To hear the bells of Heaven ring; Some of their music, though my fights be wild, To Earth I bring; Then let me soar and sing!” ― Edmund Clarence Stedman “Life has, indeed, many ills, but the mind that views every object in its most cheering aspect, and every doubtful dispensation as replete with latent good, bears within itself a powerful and perpetual antidote. The gloomy soul aggravates misfortune, while a cheerful smile often dispels those mists that portend a storm.” ― Lydia Sigourney “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” ― Harry S Truman, 33rd President of the United States, and former Colonel in the U.S. Army “All of the real heroes are not storybook combat fighters either. Every single man in this Army play a vital role. Don't ever let up. Don't ever think that your job is unimportant. Every man has a job to do and he must do it. Every man is a vital link in the great chain.” ― General George S. Patton, U.S. Army “Chess is a sea in which a gnat may drink and an elephant may bathe.” ― Indian Proverb “In chess the most unbelievable thing for me is that it's a game for everybody: rich, poor, girl, boy, old, young. It's a fantastic game which can unite people and generations! It's a language which you'll find people "speak" in every country. If you reach a certain level you find a very rich world! Art, sport, logic, psychology, a battlefield, imagination, creativity not only in practical games but don't forget either how amazing a feeling it is to compose a study, for example (unfortunately that's not appreciated these days but it's a fantastic part of chess!).” ― Judit Polgar “Nowadays tournaments are for nurseries. Look at those kiddies.” ― Miguel Najdorf “Young players calculate everything, a requirement of their relative inexperience.” ― Samuel Reshevsky “When I start to play a game I try to forget about previous games and try to concentrate on this game. This game is now the most important to me. But of course I am not a computer and you cannot simply press a button, delete, and everything you want to forget disappears automatically. But if you want to play well, it's important to concentrate on the now.” ― Vassily Ivanchuk “The pawns are the soul of chess.” ― Francois-Andre Danican Philidor “A pawn, when separated from his fellows, will seldom or never make a fortune.” ― Francois-Andre Danican Philidor “It so often happens that, after sacrificing a pawn, a player aims not to obtain the initiative for it, but to regain sacrificed material.” ― Efim Geller “If you wish to succeed, you must brave the risk of failure.” ― Garry Kasparov “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War Tom Wiswell (1910-1988) made a quote regarding playing checkers worth using in chess circles. After winning a good game, I always ask myself: "Where did I go right?" “I was surprised by his ability to figure out complex variations. Then the way he sets out the game; he was not interested in the objectivity of the position, whether it's better or worse, he only needed room for his pieces. All you do then is figure out variations which are extremely difficult. He was tactically outplaying me and I made mistakes.” ― Mikhail Botvinnik (on Tal) “Discovered check is the dive-bomber of the chessboard.” — Reuben Fine “If your opponent cannot do anything active, then don't rush the position; instead, you should let him sit there, suffer, and beg you for a draw.” ― IM Jeremy Silman “One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War “I think Capablanca was one of the most important world champions for me. I studied his games, and a good book about Capablanca's games was written by International Master Vasily Panov, a Russian master. There was quite a strong influence of Capablanca's style.” ― Anatoly Karpov “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” ― John F. Kennedy I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud William Wordsworth I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced; but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company: I gazed—and gazed—but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils “Chess is a miniature version of life. To be successful, you need to be disciplined, assess resources, consider responsible choices and adjust when circumstances change.” ― Susan Polgar “I do not know how old I was when I learned to play chess. I could not have been older than eight, because I still have a chessboard on whose side my father inscribed, with a soldering iron, “Saša Hemon 1972.” I loved the board more than chess—it was one of the first things I owned. Its materiality was enchanting to me: the smell of burnt wood that lingered long after my father had branded it; the rattle of the thickly varnished pieces inside, the smacking sound they made when I put them down, the board’s hollow wooden echo. I can even recall the taste—the queen’s tip was pleasantly suckable; the pawns’ round heads, not unlike nipples, were sweet. The board is still at our place in Sarajevo, and, even if I haven’t played a game on it in decades, it is still my most cherished possession, providing incontrovertible evidence that there once lived a boy who used to be me.” ― Aleksandar Hemon, The Book of My Lives “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” ― Winston Churchill “All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson “Chess is everything: art, science, and sport.” ― Anatoly Karpov “Every Pawn is a potential Queen.” ― James Mason “A King may be the most important piece on the chessboard; however, the Queen is the most powerful.” ― Karim R. Ellis “In order to improve your game, you must study the Endgame before everything else.” ― José Raúl Capablanca “Play the opening like a book, the middlegame like a magician, and the endgame like a machine.” ― Rudolph Spielmann “He who fears an Isolated Queen’s Pawn should give up chess.” ― Siegbert Tarrasch “Nothing excites jaded Grandmasters more than a theoretical novelty.” ― Dominic Lawson “Really deep opening research has been a hallmark of [Garry] Kasparov’s domination of world chess. He does not just try to find new moves, but whole new plans and strategies.” — Graham Burgess “It doesn’t matter how strong a player you are, if you fail to register some development in the opening, then you are asking for trouble.” — John Emms “Never play to win a pawn while your development is yet unfinished.” ― Aron Nimzowitsch “Up to this point, White has been following well-known analysis. But now he makes a fatal error: he begins to use his own head.” ― Siegbert Tarrasch “Could we look into the head of a chess player, we should see there a whole world of feelings, images, ideas, emotion, and passion.” ― Alfred Binet “Chess is so inspiring that I do not believe a good player is capable of having an evil thought during the game.” ― Wilhelm Steinitz “A chess game in progress is… a cosmos unto itself, fully insulated from an infant’s cry, an erotic invitation, or war.” ― David Shenk “Chess is above all, a fight!” ― Emanuel Lasker “I will never quit. My nation expects me to be physically harder and mentally stronger than my enemies. If knocked down I will get back up, every time. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect my teammates and to accomplish our mission. I am never out of the fight.” ― Marcus Luttrell, Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 <“Look for forced moves first! What is a forced move? It could be a check, a capture, or an attack of the enemy piece. Basically, a move that forces your opponent's response.” ― GM Eugene Perelshteyn “Look for common tactical motifs! Almost all tactics are made up of basic patterns or motifs. For GMs, these motifs become second-nature after solving thousands of puzzles when we were kids. Some of the most common tactical motifs are: Pin Fork Back Rank Skewer Double Attack Discovered Check Removing the Guard Interference In-Between-Move (also known as zwischenzug or intermezzo)” ― GM Eugene Perelshteyn> “For in the idea of chess and the development of the chess mind we have a picture of the intellectual struggle of mankind.” ― Richard Réti “The reason I like the game chess is because each move has countless repercussions, but you're in charge of them. And it's your ability to see into the future and the effects of the decisions you've made that males you either a good or not a good chess player. It's not luck.” ― Bono, Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas “Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece.” ― Ralph Charell. “The beauty of a move lies not in its' appearance but in the thought behind it.” ― Aaron Nimzovich “It is no easy matter to reply correctly to [Emanuel] Lasker's bad moves.” — W.H.K. Pollock “One doesn’t have to play well, it’s enough to play better than your opponent.” ― Siegbert Tarrasch “Chess is the art of analysis.” ― Mikhail Botvinnik “In chess you might find a good move. Then you might find a better move. But take your time. Find the best move.” ― Josh Waitzkin “It is my style to take my opponent and myself on to unknown grounds. A game of chess is not an examination of the knowledge; it is a battle of nerves.” ― David Bronstein “If your opponent offers you a draw, try to work out why he thinks he's worse off.” ― Nigel Short “Chess is as much a mystery as women.” ― C.J.S. Purdy “Once there is the slightest suggestion of combinational possibilities on the board, look for unusual moves. Apart from making your play creative and interesting, it will help you get better results.” ― Alexander Kotov “There are two types of sacrifices: correct ones and mine.” ― Mikhail Tal “Without error there can be no brilliancy.” ― Emanuel Lasker “Chess holds its master in its own bonds, shackling the mind and brain so that the inner freedom of the very strongest must suffer.” ― Albert Einstein “I don’t believe in psychology. I believe in good moves.” ― Bobby Fischer “Stay flexible. Be ready to transform advantages from one type to another.” — John Nunn “In chess, just as in life, today's bliss may be tomorrow's poison.” ― Assaic “You may learn much more from a game you lose than from a game you win. You will have to lose hundreds of games before becoming a good player.” ― Jose Raul Capablanca “As a rule, the more mistakes there are in a game, the more memorable it remains, because you have suffered and worried over each mistake at the board.” ― Viktor Korchnoi, My Best Games “There is no remorse like the remorse of chess.” ― H. G. Wells “I try not to worry, I just try to live. And I try to have enough trust and confidence in myself to deal with things as they come.” ― Katharine Weber, adventurer, 103 years old “Humor is a life force, a way of surviving the difficulties of living.” ― Bel Kaufman, author and teacher, 103 years old “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” ― Albert Einstein <Shakespearean Puns Perhaps no writer is better known for the use of puns than William Shakespeare. He plays with "tide" and "tied" in Two Gentlemen of Verona: "Panthino Away, ass! You'll lose the tide if you tarry any longer. Launce It is no matter if the tied were lost; for it is the unkindest tied that ever any man tied. Panthino What's the unkindest tide? Launce Why, he that's tied here, Crab, my dog." In the opening of Richard III, the sun refers to the blazing sun on Edward IV's banner and the fact that he is the son of the Duke of York: "Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York." In this line from Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare plays on the different meanings of heavy (which also means sad) and light: "Give me a torch: I am not for this ambling; Being but heavy I will bear the light." Later in Romeo and Juliet, a morbid pun comes from a fatally-stabbed Mercutio, where grave means serious, but also alludes to his imminent death: "Ask for me tomorrow, you shall find me a grave man." If you open any Shakesperean play, you're likely to find at least one pun on the page! Keep an eye out for a clever play on words example the next time you read Hamlet or watch As You Like It on the stage.> “Chess is a sea in which a gnat may drink and an elephant may bathe.” ― Indian Proverb “For beginning chess players, studying a Carlsen game is like wanting to be an electrical engineer and beginning with studying an iPhone.” ― Garry Kasparov “All warfare is based on deception.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War “Opportunities multiply as they are seized.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War I tried to win a suntanning competition. But all I got was bronze. (That Fredthebear has a sense of humor.) Feb-13-11 keypusher: <scutigera: They give this as one of Myagmarsuren's notable games with 162 others in the database?> notable games are selected based on how many games collections they are in. Dec-12-16 DrGridlock: Q: When is a pin not a pin? A: When the piece is: (i) not pinned to the king and (ii) in moving the piece threatens either mate or greater material gain than what it was pinned to. (iii) in moving the piece now defends the unit it was pinned to, such as Nf3xd4 and protects the Be2 that was behind the knight. Riddle: I have branches, but no fruit, trunk or leaves. What am I? The typical bolt of lightning heats the atmosphere to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Riddle Answer: A bank Riddle: What can’t talk but will reply when spoken to? Cellophane is not made of plastic. It is made from a plant fiber, cellulose, which has been shredded and aged. Riddle Answer: An echo “Encouragement is like water to the soul, it makes everything grow.” ― Chris Burkmenn Be slow in choosing a friend but slower in changing him. ~ Scottish Proverb Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER Luke 2:9, 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Conceive a man by nature and misfortune prone to a pallid hopelessness, can any business seem more fitted to heighten it than that of continually handling these dead letters and assorting them for the flames? For by the cart-load they are annually burned. Sometimes from out the folded paper the pale clerk takes a ring: - the finger it was meant for, perhaps, moulders in the grave; a bank-note sent in swiftest charity: - he whom it would relieve, nor eats nor hungers any more; pardon for those who died despairing; hope for those who died unhoping; good tidings for those who died stifled by unrelieved calamities. On errands of life, these letters speed to death. Ah Bartleby! Ah humanity! — Herman Melville “Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” ― Thomas A. Edison “It's not how you start that matters, it's how you finish.” “Friend, you don't have to earn God's love or try harder. You're precious in His sight, covered by the priceless blood of Jesus, and indwelt by His Holy Spirit. Don't hide your heart or fear you're not good enough for Him to care for you. Accept His love, obey Him, and allow Him to keep you in His wonderful freedom.” ― Charles F. Stanley 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. If the game is well-played, the rook's first move is usually sideways. Oct-04-10 I play the Fred: said... You're distraught because you're not able to cope feel like a dope when Lasker hits Puttin on (the Fritz) “Many have become chess masters, no one has become the master of chess.” ― Siegbert Tarrasch “In the end, it is important to remember that we cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” — Max De Pree <Luke 8:16-18 New King James Version The Parable of the Revealed Light Jesus said: 16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”> 807 zem: move 21. zooter Frit z drip drip drip Kh4? partly sunny is mostly cloudy or Steinitz foot. When you die, what part of the body dies last? The pupils… they dilate. “Some endgames are more equal than others.” — Antonio Radić a.k.a. agadmator Antonio Radić (born 16 June 1987), better known as agadmator ( Serbo-Croatian pronunciation: [agad'mator̩] [2] ), is a Croatian YouTuber and chess player. He has one of the most popular chess channels on YouTube, and he previously had the most subscribers of any YouTube chess channel from 2018 until late 2021 when he was surpassed by GothamChess. 52 games, 1839-2016 18 King's Gambit Accepted The King’s Gambit is an exciting and aggressive chess opening that has fascinated players for centuries. Here are some of its key variations: King’s Gambit Accepted (Classical Variation): After 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4, Black accepts the pawn sacrifice by capturing on f4. White’s main move is 3.Nf3, entering the King’s Knight’s Gambit line. The goal for White is to quickly castle and apply pressure on the f7-square using the light-squared bishop, knight, and the open f-file. King’s Gambit Accepted (Fischer Defense): In this variation, Black plays 2…d6 after accepting the pawn. The idea is to solidify the center and avoid the wild complications that arise from capturing the pawn on f4. Named after the legendary chess player Bobby Fischer, who explored this line. King’s Gambit Accepted (Bishop’s Variation): After 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4, White enters the Bishop’s Gambit. Black can play 4…Qh4+, forcing the white king to f1. White accepts this and later plays Nf3, gaining a tempo on the black queen. From there, White aims to build a strong center and launch an offensive. King’s Gambit Declined (Falkbeer Countergambit): Black declines the gambit by playing 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5. Instead of capturing White’s wing pawn, Black strikes at the center immediately. This variation aims to open up the center and explore the weaknesses White created around their king after the f2-f4 push. King’s Gambit Declined (Classical Variation): Black develops the dark-squared bishop to Bc5 after 1.e4 e5 2.f4. The bishop on c5 prevents the white king from castling kingside, keeping it exposed. Black refuses to engage in the wild games that would unfold after accepting the gambit. The King’s Gambit offers rich tactical possibilities and exciting play, but it can be risky. Players who enjoy sharp, aggressive positions often find it appealing. Whether you accept or decline the gambit, there are plenty of ways to operate this classic opening! * King's Gambit Origin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Me... * IM David Pruess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of4... * Dereque Kelley says: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVi... * GM Ian Nepomniachtchi explains the KGA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viC... * Hanging Pawns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmi... * He's hooked: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZb... * GM Marian Petrov explains: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8Z... * Schallop Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38U... * Magnus Carlsen vs Ding Liren: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsk... * Master Boogie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSL... * Norway Chess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xy... * Play the Falkbeer CG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E-... * ChessPod: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvV... * Chess School: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-b... * Hinrichsen Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tty... * GM Finegold lecture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpV... * 48 Variants: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbM... * GM Naroditsky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qx... * Crushing the King's Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEy... * 23 yr old vs 17 yr old: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjq... * 2 F4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZi... * 2..F5?! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd4... * The Nkight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28c... * Triple Crown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--F... * Cicero, IL USA simultaneous: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dc... * Adolf Anderssen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4X... King's Gambit Accepted by KingG, modified by Fredthebear 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 click for larger view This is a games collection that shows how to play the King's Gambit Accepted(1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3). I have tried to include only the most theoretically sound moves, so that means no dubious double Muzio gambits, that seems to have a clear refutation(9...Qf5!). On the other hand, i have included a few games on the Allgaier Gambit, because it's not completely clear that there is an easy refutation, and it's even less likely that your opponent will know it. The Fischer defence is one of the most testing defences to the King's Gambit, and some people get put off by the main-line 6.Ng1 variation, so a couple of good alternatives are given: Gallagher's 5.d3!?, and the modern 5.b3!?, inspired by a similar line in the Becker. The lines are mainly chosen based on the excellent book by Thomas Johansson, The King's Gambit for the Creative Aggressor, although i have used a few other sources as well. In the King’s Gambit Accepted, the main lines typically involve Black accepting the gambit by capturing the pawn on f4 and defending it. Here are some key moves in the main line: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5: This is the starting position of the main line. White sacrifices the pawn on f4, and Black captures it with the pawn on f4. The move g5 by Black aims to control the center and prepare for a kingside attack. 3…g5 is the hallmark move of the King’s Gambit Accepted. Black boldly pushes the g-pawn forward, challenging White’s center and creating threats against the f4 pawn. 4.h4: White can play 4.h4, attacking Black’s pawn on g5. This move aims to break up Black’s pawn structure and open lines for an attack. 4…g4: Black can respond by capturing the pawn on g4. This move opens up the g-file for Black’s rook and maintains control over the f4 pawn. 5.Ne5: White develops the knight to e5, attacking Black’s pawn on f7. This move puts pressure on Black’s position and threatens to fork the f7 and g7 squares. 5…h5: Black can play h5 to defend the g4 pawn and prevent White’s knight from jumping to g6. The King’s Gambit Accepted leads to sharp and dynamic positions, where both sides have chances for an aggressive play. It’s a fascinating opening that often results in exciting tactical battles. Remember that chess is full of variations and creative ideas, so players often explore different moves beyond the main lines. Enjoy your games! “Above the clouds I lift my wing To hear the bells of Heaven ring; Some of their music, though my fights be wild, To Earth I bring; Then let me soar and sing!” ― Edmund Clarence Stedman Feb-13-11 keypusher: <scutigera: They give this as one of Myagmarsuren's notable games with 162 others in the database?> notable games are selected based on how many games collections they are in. Dec-12-16 DrGridlock: Q: When is a pin not a pin? A: When the piece is: (i) not pinned to the king and (ii) in moving the piece threatens either mate or greater material gain than what it was pinned to. (iii) in moving the piece now defends the unit it was pinned to, such as Nf3xd4 and protects the Be2 that was behind the knight. <Riddle Question: You walk into a room that contains a match, a kerosene lamp, a candle and a fireplace. What would you light first? Extremely high-pressured water can easily cut through a steel beam. Riddle Answer: The match Riddle Question: A man dies of old age on his 25 birthday. How is this possible? The number Zero was invented by Aryabhatta. Riddle Answer: He was born on February 29.> "The broader the chess player you are, the easier it is to be competitive, and the same seems to be true of mathematics - if you can find links between different branches of mathematics, it can help you resolve problems. In both mathematics and chess, you study existing theory and use that to go forward." ― Viswanathan Anand "All of the real heroes are not storybook combat fighters either. Every single man in this Army play a vital role. Don't ever let up. Don't ever think that your job is unimportant. Every man has a job to do and he must do it. Every man is a vital link in the great chain.” ― General George S. Patton, U.S. Army “Soldiers generally win battles; generals get credit for them.” ― Napoleon Bonaparte, French military and political leader After winning a good game, I always ask myself: "Where did I go right?" ― Tom Wiswell (1910-1988) who made a quote regarding playing checkers worth using in chess circles. “Discovered check is the dive-bomber of the chessboard.” — Reuben Fine Istanbul, Turkey is the only city in the world located on two continents, Europe and Asia. It is connected by bridges. “If your opponent cannot do anything active, then don't rush the position; instead, you should let him sit there, suffer, and beg you for a draw.” ― IM Jeremy Silman “One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War “I think Capablanca was one of the most important world champions for me. I studied his games, and a good book about Capablanca's games was written by International Master Vasily Panov, a Russian master. There was quite a strong influence of Capablanca's style.” ― Anatoly Karpov “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church....a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes.” ― Charles Swindoll "God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well." ― Voltaire “What gives chess its great fascination is that the K, Q, R, B, N, and P move in different ways. In consequence we get a colorful diversity of possibilities unequaled in any other board game.” ― Fred Reinfeld Gerald Abrahams' dictum: "Good positions don't win games; good moves do". “Chess is a miniature version of life. To be successful, you need to be disciplined, assess resources, consider responsible choices and adjust when circumstances change.” ― Susan Polgar Q: What do you call malware on a Kindle? A: A bookworm. CAISSA or The Game at Chess; a Poem. (written in the year 1763, by Sir William Jones) (pronounced ky-eé-sah) Of armies on the chequer'd field array'd, And guiltless war in pleasing form display'd; When two bold kings contend with vain alarms, In ivory this, and that in ebon arms; Sing, sportive maids, that haunt the sacred hill Of Pindus, and the fam'd Pierian rill. Thou, joy of all below, and all above, Mild Venus, queen of laughter, queen of love; Leave thy bright island, where on many a rose And many a pink thy blooming train repose: Assist me, goddess! since a lovely pair Command my song, like thee devinely fair. Near yon cool stream, whose living waters play, And rise translucent in the solar ray; Beneath the covert of a fragrant bower, Where spring's nymphs reclin'd in calm retreat, And envying blossoms crouded round their seat; Here Delia was enthron'd, and by her side The sweet Sirena, both in beauty's pride: Thus shine two roses, fresh with early bloom, That from their native stalk dispense perfume; Their leaves unfolding to the dawning day Gems of the glowing mead, and eyes of May. A band of youths and damsels sat around, Their flowing locks with braided myrtle bound; Agatis, in the graceful dance admir'd, And gentle Thyrsis, by the muse inspir'd; With Sylvia, fairest of the mirthful train; And Daphnis, doom'd to love, yet love in vain. Now, whilst a purer blush o'erspreads her cheeks, With soothing accents thus Sirena speaks: "The meads and lawns are ting'd with beamy light, And wakeful larks begin their vocal flight; Whilst on each bank the dewdrops sweetly smile; What sport, my Delia, shall the hours beguile? Whall heavenly notes, prolong'd with various art, Charm the fond ear, and warm the rapturous heart? At distance shall we view the sylvan chace? Or catch with silken lines the finny race?" Then Delia thus: "Or rather, since we meet By chance assembled in this cool retreat, In artful contest let our warlike train Move well-directed o'er the field preside: No prize we need, our ardour to inflame; We fight with pleasure, if we fight for fame." The nymph consents: the maids and youths prepare To view the combat, and the sport to share: But Daphnis most approv'd the bold design, Whom Love instructed, and the tuneful Nine. He rose, and on the cedar table plac'd A polish'd board, with differing colours grac'd; Squares eight times eight in equal order lie; These bright as snow, those dark with sable dye; Like the broad target by the tortoise born, Or like the hide by spotted panthers worn. Then from a chest, with harmless heroes stor'd, O'er the smooth plain two well-wrought hosts he pour'd; The champions burn'd their rivals to assail, Twice eight in black, twice eight in milkwhite mail; In shape and station different, as in name, Their motions various, not their power the same. Say, muse! (for Jove has nought from thee conceal'd) Who form'd the legions on the level field? High in the midst the reverend kings appear, And o'er the rest their pearly scepters rear: One solemn step, majestically slow, They gravely move, and shun the dangerous foe; If e'er they call, the watchful subjects spring, And die with rapture if they save their king; On him the glory of the day depends, He once imprison'd, all the conflict ends. The queens exulting near their consorts stand; Each bears a deadly falchion in her hand; Now here, now there, they bound with furious pride, And thin the trmbling ranks from side to side; Swift as Camilla flying o'er the main, Or lightly skimming o'er the dewy plain: Fierce as they seem, some bold Plebeian spear May pierce their shield, or stop their full career. The valiant guards, their minds on havock bent, Fill the next squares, and watch the royal tent; Tho' weak their spears, tho' dwarfish be their height, Compact they move, the bulwark of the fight, To right and left the martial wings display Their shining arms, and stand in close array. Behold, four archers, eager to advance, Send the light reed, and rush with sidelong glance; Through angles ever they assault the foes, True to the colour, which at first they chose. Then four bold knights for courage-fam'd and speed, Each knight exalted on a prancing steed: Their arching course no vulgar limit knows, Tranverse they leap, and aim insidious blows: Nor friends, nor foes, their rapid force restrain, By on quick bound two changing squares they gain; From varing hues renew the fierce attack, And rush from black to white, from white to black. Four solemn elephants the sides defend; Benearth the load of ponderous towers they bend: In on unalter'd line they tempt the fight; Now crush the left, and now o'erwhelm the right. Bright in the front the dauntless soldiers raise Their polish'd spears; their steely helmets blaze: Prepar'd they stand the daring foe to strike, Direct their progress, but their wounds oblique. Now swell th' embattled troups with hostile rage, And clang their shields, impatient to engage; When Daphnis thus: A varied plain behold, Where fairy kings their mimick tents unfold, As Oberon, and Mab, his wayward queen, Lead forth their armies on the daisied green. No mortal hand the wond'rous sport contriv'd, By gods invents, and from gods deriv'd; From them the British nymphs receiv'd the game, And play ech morn beneath the crystal Thame; Hear then the tale, which they to Colin sung, As idling o'er the lucid wave he hung. A lovely dryad rang'd the Thracian wild, Her air enchanting, and her aspect mild: To chase the bounding hart was all her joy, Averse from Hymen, and the Cyprian boy; O'er hills an valleys was her beauty fam'd, And fair Caissa was the damsel nam'd. Mars saw the maid; with deep surprize he gaz'd, Admir'd her shape, and every gesture prais'd: His golden bow the child of Venus bent, And through his breast a piecing arrow sent. The reed was hope; the feathers, keen desire; The point, her eyes; the barbs, ethereal fire. Soon to the nymph he pour'd his tender strain; The haughtly dryad scorn'd his amorous pain: He told his woes, where'er the maid he found, And still he press'd, yet still Caissa frown'd; But ev'n her frowns (ah, what might smiles have done!) Fir'd all his soul, and all his senses won. He left his car, by raging tigers drawn, And lonely wander'd o'er the dusky lawn; Then lay desponding near a murmuring stream, And fair Caissa was his plaintive theme. A naiad heard him from her mossy bed, And through the crystal rais'd her placid head; Then mildly spake: "O thou, whom love inspires, Thy tears will nourish, not allay thy fires. The smiling blossoms drink the pearly dew; And ripening fruit the feather'd race pursue; The scaly shoals devour the silken weeds; Love on our sighs, and on our sorrow feeds. Then weep no more; but, ere thou canst obtain Balm to thy wounds, and solace to thy pain, With gentle art thy martial look beguile; Be mild, and teach thy rugged brow to smile. Canst thou no play, no soothing game devise; To make thee lovely in the damsel's eyes? So may thy prayers assuage the scornful dame, And ev'n Caissa own a mutual frame." Kind nymph, said Mars, thy counsel I approve; Art, only art, her ruthless breast can move. but when? or how? They dark discourse explain: So may thy stream ne'er swell with gushing rain; So may thy waves in one pure current flow, And flowers eternal on thy border blow!" To whom the maid replied with smiling mien: "Above the palace of the Paphian queen Love's brother dwells, a boy of graceful port, By gods nam'd Euphron, and by mortals Sport: Seek him; to faithful ears unfold thy grief, And hope, ere morn return, a sweet relief. His temple hangs below the azure skies; Seest thou yon argent cloud? 'Tis there it lies." This said, she sunk beneath the liquid plain, And sought the mansion of her blue-hair'd train. Meantime the god, elate with heart-felt joy, Had reach'd the temple of the sportful boy; He told Caissa's charms, his kindled fire, The naiad's counsel, and his warm desire. "Be swift, he added, give my passion aid; A god requests." - He spake, and Sport obey'd. He fram'd a tablet of celestial mold, Inlay'd with squares of silver and of gold; Then of two metals form'd the warlike band, That here compact in show of battle stand; He taught the rules that guide the pensive game, And call'd it Cassa from the dryad's name: (Whence Albion's sons, who most its praise confess, Approv'd the play, and nam'd it thoughtful Chess.) The god delighted thank'd indulgent Sport; Then grasp'd the board, and left his airy court. With radiant feet he pierc'd the clouds; nor stay'd, Till in the woods he saw the beauteous maid: Tir'd with the chase the damsel set reclin'd, Her girdle loose, her bosom unconfin'd. He took the figure of a wanton faun, And stood before her on the flowery lawn; Then show'd his tablet: pleas'd the nymph survey'd The lifeless troops in glittering ranks display'd; She ask'd the wily sylvan to explain The various motions of the splendid train; With eager heart she caught the winning lore, And thought ev'n Mars less hateful than before; "What spell," said she, "deceiv'd my careless mind? The god was fair, and I was most unkind." She spoke, and saw the changing faun assume A milder aspect, and a fairer bloom; His wreathing horns, that from his temples grew, Flow'd down in curls of bright celestial hue; The dappled hairs, that veil'd his loveless face, Blaz'd into beams, and show'd a heavenly grace; The shaggy hide, that mantled o'er his breast, Was soften'd to a smooth transparent vest, That through its folds his vigorous bosom show'd, And nervous limbs, where youthful ardour glow'd: (Had Venus view'd him in those blooming charms, Not Vulcan's net had forc'd her from his arms.) With goatlike feet no more he mark'd the ground, But braided flowers his silken sandals bound. The dryad blush'd; and, as he press'd her, smil'd, Whilst all his cares one tender glance beguil'd. He ends: To arms, the maids and striplings cry; To arms, the groves and sounding vales reply. Sirena led to war the swarthy crew, And Delia those that bore the lily's hue. Who first, O muse, began the bold attack; The white refulgent, or the mournful black? Fair Delia first, as favoring lots ordain, Moves her pale legions tow'rd the sable train: From thought to thought her lively fancy flies, Whilst o'er the board she darts her sparkling eyes. At length the warrior moves with haughty strides; Who from the plain the snowy king divides: With equal haste his swarthy rival bounds; His quiver rattles, and his buckler sounds: Ah! hapless youths, with fatal warmth you burn; Laws, ever fix'd, forbid you to return. then from the wing a short-liv'd spearman flies, Unsafely bold, and see! he dies, he dies: The dark-brow'd hero, with one vengeful blow Of life and place deprives his ivory foe. Now rush both armies o'er the burnish'd field, Hurl the swift dart, and rend the bursting shield. Here furious knights on fiery coursers prance, but see! the white-rob'd Amazon beholds Where the dark host its opening van unfolds: Soon as her eye discerns the hostile maid, By ebon shield, and ebon helm betray'd; Seven squares she passed with majestic mien, And stands triumphant o'er the falling queen. Perplex'd, and sorrowing at his consort's fate, The monarch burn'd with rage, despair, and hate: Swift from his zone th' avenging blade he drew, And, mad with ire, the proud virago slew. Meanwhile sweet smiling Delia's wary king Retir'd from fight behind the circling wing. Long time the war in equal balance hung; Till, unforseen, an ivory courser sprung, And, wildly prancing in an evil hour, Attack'd at once the monarch and the tower: Sirena blush'd; for, as the rules requir'd, Her injur'd sovereign to his tent retir'd; Whilst her lost castle leaves his threatening height, And adds new glory to th' exulting knight. At this, pale fear oppress'd the drooping maid, And on her cheek the rose began to fade: A crystal tear, that stood prepar'd to fall, She wip'd in silence, and conceal'd from all; From all but Daphnis; He remark'd her pain, And saw the weakness of her ebon train; Then gently spoke: "Let me your loss supply, And either nobly win, or nobly dir; Me oft has fortune crown'd with fair success, And led to triumph in the fields of Chess." He said: the willing nymph her place resign'd, And sat at distance on the bank reclin'd. Thus when Minerva call'd her chief to arms, And Troy's high turret shook with dire alarms, The Cyprian goddess wounded left the plain, And Mars engag'd a mightier force in vain. Strait Daphnis leads his squadron to the field; (To Delia's arms 'tis ev'n a joy to yield.) Each guileful snare, and subtle art he tries, But finds his heart less powerful than her eyes: Wisdom and strength superior charms obey; And beauty, beauty, wins the long-fought day. By this a hoary chief, on slaughter bent, Approach'd the gloomy king's unguarded tent; Where, late, his consort spread dismay around, Now her dark corse lies bleeding on the ground. Hail, happy youth! they glories not unsung Shall live eternal on the poet's tongue; For thou shalt soon receive a splendid change, And o'er the plain with nobler fury range. The swarthy leaders saw the storm impend, And strove in vain their sovereign to defend: Th' invader wav'd his silver lance in air, And flew like lightning to the fatal square; His limbs dilated in a moment grew To stately height, and widen'd to the view; More fierce his look, more lion-like his mien, Sublime he mov'd, and seem'd a warrior queen. As when the sage on some unfolding plant Has caught a wandering fly, or frugal ant, His hand the microscopic frame applies, And lo! a bright hair'd monster meets his eyes; He sees new plumes in slender cases roll'd; Here stain'd with azure, there bedropp'd with gold; Thus, on the alter'd chief both armies gaze, And both the kings are fix'd with deep amaze. The sword, which arm'd the snow-white maid before, He noew assumes, and hurls the spear no more; The springs indignant on the dark-rob'd band, And knights and archers feel his deadly hand. Now flies the monarch of the sable shield, His legions vanquish'd, o'er the lonely field: So when the morn, by rosy coursers drawn, With pearls and rubies sows the verdant lawn, Whilst each pale star from heaven's blue vault retires, Still Venus gleams, and last of all expires. He hears, where'er he moves, the dreadful sound; Check the deep vales, and Check the woods rebound. No place remains: he sees the certain fate, And yields his throne to ruin, and Checkmate. A brighter blush o'erspreads the damsel's cheeks, And mildly thus the conquer'd stripling speaks: "A double triumph, Delia, hast thou won, By Mars protected, and by Venus' son; The first with conquest crowns thy matchless art, The second points those eyes at Daphnis' heart." She smil'd; the nymphs and amorous youths arise, And own that beauty gain'd the nobler prize. Low in their chest the mimic troops were lay'd, And peaceful slept the sable hero's shade. Red means stop. The truth hurts. “If a disciple is old, a master should be mature. If a disciple is young, a master should be accessible. If a disciple is brave, a master should be fearless. If a disciple is shrewd, a master should be wise. If a disciple is strong, a master should be powerful. If a disciple is learned, a master should be enlightened. If a disciple is contented, a master should be joyful. If a disciple is faithful, a master should be devoted. If a disciple is tolerant, a master should be peaceful. If a disciple is intro inspective, a master should be self-aware. If a disciple is focused, a master should be determined. If a disciple is exceptional, a master should be perfect.” ― Matshona Dhliwayo -> 111 games, 1846-2010 18 Think Ahead by SamAtoms1980 Based on the book by I.A. Horowitz and Fred Reinfeld. * Amazing: Game Collection: Amazing Chess Moves (Emms) * First of each ECO: Game Collection: First of Each ECO * How to Analyze: https://thechessworld.com/articles/... * Recommendations: https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/wiki... <“Above the clouds I lift my wing To hear the bells of Heaven ring; Some of their music, though my fights be wild, To Earth I bring; Then let me soar and sing!” ― Edmund Clarence Stedman> “Life has, indeed, many ills, but the mind that views every object in its most cheering aspect, and every doubtful dispensation as replete with latent good, bears within itself a powerful and perpetual antidote. The gloomy soul aggravates misfortune, while a cheerful smile often dispels those mists that portend a storm.” ― Lydia Sigourney “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” ― Harry S Truman, 33rd President of the United States, and former Colonel in the U.S. Army “All of the real heroes are not storybook combat fighters either. Every single man in this Army play a vital role. Don't ever let up. Don't ever think that your job is unimportant. Every man has a job to do and he must do it. Every man is a vital link in the great chain.” ― General George S. Patton, U.S. Army “Chess is a sea in which a gnat may drink and an elephant may bathe.” ― Indian Proverb “In chess the most unbelievable thing for me is that it's a game for everybody: rich, poor, girl, boy, old, young. It's a fantastic game which can unite people and generations! It's a language which you'll find people "speak" in every country. If you reach a certain level you find a very rich world! Art, sport, logic, psychology, a battlefield, imagination, creativity not only in practical games but don't forget either how amazing a feeling it is to compose a study, for example (unfortunately that's not appreciated these days but it's a fantastic part of chess!).” ― Judit Polgar “Nowadays tournaments are for nurseries. Look at those kiddies.” ― Miguel Najdorf “Young players calculate everything, a requirement of their relative inexperience.” ― Samuel Reshevsky “When I start to play a game I try to forget about previous games and try to concentrate on this game. This game is now the most important to me. But of course I am not a computer and you cannot simply press a button, delete, and everything you want to forget disappears automatically. But if you want to play well, it's important to concentrate on the now.” ― Vassily Ivanchuk “The pawns are the soul of chess.” ― Francois-Andre Danican Philidor “A pawn, when separated from his fellows, will seldom or never make a fortune.” ― Francois-Andre Danican Philidor “It so often happens that, after sacrificing a pawn, a player aims not to obtain the initiative for it, but to regain sacrificed material.” ― Efim Geller “If you wish to succeed, you must brave the risk of failure.” ― Garry Kasparov “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War Tom Wiswell (1910-1988) made a quote regarding playing checkers worth using in chess circles. After winning a good game, I always ask myself: "Where did I go right?" “I was surprised by his ability to figure out complex variations. Then the way he sets out the game; he was not interested in the objectivity of the position, whether it's better or worse, he only needed room for his pieces. All you do then is figure out variations which are extremely difficult. He was tactically outplaying me and I made mistakes.” ― Mikhail Botvinnik (on Tal) “Discovered check is the dive-bomber of the chessboard.” — Reuben Fine “If your opponent cannot do anything active, then don't rush the position; instead, you should let him sit there, suffer, and beg you for a draw.” ― IM Jeremy Silman “One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War “I think Capablanca was one of the most important world champions for me. I studied his games, and a good book about Capablanca's games was written by International Master Vasily Panov, a Russian master. There was quite a strong influence of Capablanca's style.” ― Anatoly Karpov “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” ― John F. Kennedy Daniel 12:2 "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Bughouse Rules Bughouse is an outrageously fun team game in which one partner plays White and the other plays Black. As a player captures an opponent's piece, that captured piece is passed to the partner. The partner can either make a regular chess move, or place any one of the pieces passed by the partner anywhere on the board! (well, almost anywhere - there are certain rules to follow that we go over in class). To add to the excitement, Bughouse is played with clocks at a quick pace (5 minutes) and players are allowed to TALK!! In fact, you have to talk in order to effectively communicate strategies with your partner. Of course, your opponents might overhear you and plan their counter strategy. So you could whisper, or even talk in secret codes! But you can't hide captured pieces - they have to stay out in the open where everyone can see them. Not fair pulling a rook out from under your beard! These rules and others are contained in he official USCF Bughouse Rules 5th Edition, which will be posted on the walls for Bughouse events. It was interesting to note, during Grandmaster Nigel Davies' recent instructional clinics, that he greatly encouraged Bughouse as a tool for developing the imagination. IMPORTANT! Because of the high level of noise, Bughouse will be played only on pre-advertised Bughouse tournament days (normally around Halloween, plus or minus a week, and sometimes at other times during the year). BUGHOUSE RULES (adapted from http://raleighchessacademy.com/wp-c... ) 1. Number of Players - There are exactly two players on a team; they are called 'team members,' 'partners' or 'pardners' (Texas only). No substitutions of players are allowed at any time during the tournament. Ya dances with the pardner what brought ya. A Tournament can have many competing teams. 2. Bughouse Game - A 'Bughouse Game' matches one team member against one opponent, and the other team member against that opponent's partner. Play is conducted by the four players on two regulation chess boards, each starting from the normal chess starting position, with white moving first and each using a chess clock (digital takes precedence over analog). One partner plays White; the other Black. The first checkmate or time forfeit on either board ends the Game. If either partner on a team wins their board, then their team wins the Game. Just as in regular chess, there are multiple Games (rounds) per tournament. 3. Colors - For each Game, the team decides which partner is to play white and which is to play black. Once a Game is started, partners may not switch boards (and although you can always give advice to your partner, you cannot touch your partner's pieces). 4. Time control - The time control is Game in 5 minutes. Use 2 second delay when possible. 5. Bring a clock- Each team is responsible for providing a clock. If a team does not have a clock and their opponents do have a clock, the team without a clock forfeits. If neither team has a clock then both teams forfeit. 6. Completion of Move - If a player's hand has released a piece then that move cannot be changed, unless it is an illegal move. A move is not Completed until the piece is released AND the clock is pressed. If the clock has not been pressed then the opponent may not move (this is under review) 8. Illegal moves lose, if they are caught before the next move is made. I. If an opponent makes a move and starts the opponent's clock, they have forfeited the right to claim that illegal move. II. Before play begins both players should inspect the position of the pieces and the setting of the clock, since once each side has made a move all claims for correcting either are null and void. The only exception is if one or both players have more than five minutes on their clock, then the tournament director may reduce the time accordingly. III. Illegal moves, unnoticed by both players, cannot be corrected afterwards, nor can they become the basis for later making an illegal move claim. If the King and Queen are set up incorrectly when the game begins, then you may castle short on the queen side and castle long on the kingside. Once each side has made a move, incorrect setups must stay. 9. Passing pieces - When a piece is captured, the captured piece is passed to the partner only after the move is completed (opponent’s clock is started). 10. Placing or moving pieces- A player has the option of either moving one of their pieces on their board or placing a piece their teammate has captured and passed to them. I. A captured piece may be placed on any unoccupied square on the board, with the exception that a pawn may not be placed on the first or last rank. II. Pieces may be placed to create or interpose check or checkmate. (under review - some variants do not allow "drop mates") III. A promoted pawn, which has been captured, reverts to a pawn and not the promoted piece. 11. Displaying captured pieces- A player may not attempt to hide pieces captured by their partner from the opponent. The first attempt will be a warning and the second attempt will result in forfeiture of the game. 12. Communicating allowed- Partners may verbally communicate throughout a game. It is legal for one partner to make move suggestions to the other partner. It is illegal and grounds for forfeiting the match if one partner physically moves one of their partner's pieces. 13. Clock Hand- Each player must push the clock button with the same hand they use to move their pieces. Exception: only during castling may a player use both hands. When capturing only one hand may be used. The first infraction will get a warning, the second a one minute penalty and the third will result in the loss of the game. 14. Touching a Clock- Except for pushing the clock button neither player should touch the clock except: I. To straighten it; II. If either player knocks over the clock his opponent gets one minute added to their clock; III. If your opponent's clock does not begin you may push their side down and repunch your side; however, if this procedure is unsatisfactory, please call for a director; IV. Each player must always be allowed to push the clock after their move is made. Neither player should keep their hand on or hover over the clock. 15. Define a win- A game is won by the player: I. who has mated their opponent's king; II. If the checking piece is not a knight or is not in contact (on an adjacent square) with the defending king and the defending player does not have any material to block the check, the defending player may wait until his or her partner supplies a piece provided their time does not run out. III. whose opponent resigns; IV. whose opponent's flag falls first, at any time before the game is otherwise ended, provided he/she points it out and neutralizes the clock while their own flag is still up; V. who, after an illegal move, takes the opponent's king or stops the clock; VI. an illegal move doesn't negate a player's right to claim on time, provided he/she does so prior to their opponent's claim of an illegal move. If the claims are simultaneous, the player who made the illegal move loses. 16. Defining a draw- A game is a draw: I. By agreement between the teams during the game only. II. If the flag of one player falls after the flag of the other player has already fallen and a win has not been claimed, unless either side mates before noticing both flags down. Announced checkmate nullifies any later time claims. 17. Replacing pieces- If a player accidentally displaces one or more pieces, he shall replace them on his own time. If it is necessary, his opponent may start the opponent's clock without making a move in order to make sure that the culprit uses his own time while replacing the pieces. Finally, it is unsportsmanlike to knock over any pieces then punch the clock. For the first offense the player will get a warning (unless this causes his flag to fall, in which case the opponent will get one extra minute added to his clock). For a second offense a one minute add-on for the opponent will be imposed. For a third offense the offender shall forfeit the game. Thereafter, the tournament director may use other penalties or expel a player from the event for repeated offenses. 18. Dispute between players - In case of a dispute either player may stop both clocks while the tournament director is being summoned. In any unclear situation the tournament director will consider the testimony of both players and any reliable witnesses before rendering his decision. If a player wishes to appeal the decision of a tournament director, the player must first appeal to the section chief then, if necessary, the player may appeal to the Chief floor director, whose decision in all cases is final. 19. TD touching the clock - The tournament director shall not pick up the clock; except in the case of a dispute. 20. Observer conduct - Spectators and players of another match are not to speak or otherwise interfere in a game. If a spectator interferes in any way, such as by calling attention to the flag fall or an illegal move, the tournament director may cancel the game and rule that a new game be played in its stead, and he may also expel the offending party from the playing room. The tournament director should also be silent about illegal moves, flag falls, etc. (unless there is an agreement with the players, before the game, to call them) as this is entirely the responsibility of the players. 21. Replacing a promoted pawn - If a player promotes a pawn they must leave the pawn on the board and clearly indicate to their opponent to what piece the pawn is being promoted too. The promoted pawn will be laid on it's side to indicate that it is a promoted pawn (MCS&C local rule - to prevent later disagreements about what piece the pawn was promoted to, and to avoid pawns annoyingly rolling about and off the board, a spare piece quickly found from another set should be used and placed in the normal upright position, an upside down rook still signifying a queen. The argument against this is nuclear proliferation of Queens, but I don't think it is a strong argument). 22. Replacement clock - Only a tournament director may determine if a clock is defective and change clocks. 23. Player behavior - Excessive banging of pieces or clock will not be tolerated and the offending player may be penalized with loss of time (Director discretion) 24. Insufficient Losing Chances- Insufficient losing chances claims cannot be made in Bughouse games. 25. Rules Not Covered Above - The Official Rules of Chess, 5th edition, shall be used to resolve any situation not covered by these rules. You cannot play on this website. It is just a database for players to check out GM games, talk about them and discuss the game in general. Sites where you can play chess include: www.playchess.com (need chessbase software) www.freechess.org www.net-chess.com Old Russian Proverb: "Strike while the iron is hot. (Куй железо, пока горячо.)" Use the opportunity while it’s possible or lose it. “There are more adventures on a chessboard than on all the seas of the world.” – Pierre Mac Orlan “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church....a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes.” ― Charles Swindoll * Fireside book: Game Collection: Fireside Book of Chess * Giuoco Pianissimo: Game Collection: GIUOCO PIANISSIMO * Two Knts Defense: Game Collection: Two Knights Defence by Beliavsky mikhalchisin Uncompromising Chess, by Belyavsky, Alexander (User: Resignation Trap) Game Collection: Uncompromising Chess by Alexander Beliavsky ♖♖♖ http://www.amazon.com/Uncompromisin... Understanding Chess Move by Move: A Top-Class Grandmaster Explains Step-by-Step How Chess Games Are Won, by Nunn, John (User: PhilipTheGeek) Game Collection: Nunn's Understanding Chess Move by Move ♖♖♖ http://www.amazon.com/Understanding... * Best Games of 2018: Game Collection: Best Games of 2018 * Cheating: https://www.chess.com/article/view/... * Glossary: https://www.peoriachess.com/Glossar... * Opening Tree: https://www.shredderchess.com/onlin... The Wishes Within the Great Mogul's domains there are Familiar sprites of much domestic use: They sweep the house, and take a tidy care Of equipage, nor garden work refuse; But, if you meddle with their toil, The whole, at once, you're sure to spoil. One, near the mighty Ganges flood, The garden of a burgher good Worked noiselessly and well; To master, mistress, garden, bore A love that time and toil outwore, And bound him like a spell. Did friendly zephyrs blow, The demon's pains to aid? (For so they do, it's said.) I own I do not know. But for himself he rested not, And richly blessed his master's lot. What marked his strength of love, He lived a fixture on the place, In spite of tendency to rove So natural to his race. But brother sprites conspiring With importunity untiring, So teased their goblin chief, that he, Of his caprice, or policy, Our sprite commanded to attend A house in Norway's farther end, Whose roof was snow-clad through the year, And sheltered human kind with deer. Before departing to his hosts Thus spake this best of busy ghosts: "To foreign parts I'm forced to go! For what sad fault I do not know; – But go I must; a month's delay, Or week's perhaps, and I'm away. Seize time; three wishes make at will; For three I'm able to fulfil – No more." Quick at their easy task, Abundance first these wishers ask – Abundance, with her stores unlocked – Barns, coffers, cellars, larder, stocked – Corn, cattle, wine, and money, – The overflow of milk and honey. But what to do with all this wealth! What inventories, cares, and worry! What wear of temper and of health! Both lived in constant, slavish hurry. Thieves took by plot, and lords by loan; The king by tax, the poor by tone. Thus felt the curses which Arise from being rich, – "Remove this affluence!" they pray; The poor are happier than they Whose riches make them slaves. "Go, treasures, to the winds and waves; Come, goddess of the quiet breast, Who sweet'nest toil with rest, Dear Mediocrity, return!" The prayer was granted as we learn. Two wishes thus expended, Had simply ended In bringing them exactly where, When they set out they were. So, usually, it fares With those who waste in such vain prayers The time required by their affairs. The goblin laughed, and so did they. However, before he went away, To profit by his offer kind, They asked for wisdom, wealth of mind, – A treasure void of care and sorrow – A treasure fearless of the morrow, Let who will steal, or beg, or borrow. * Riddle-zap-sky: https://chessimprover.com/chess-rid... Q: Where does a waitress with only one leg work? A: IHOP. Checkmate by treecards In front of the king, white moves his pawn. The opponent begins, with a sign and yawn. White Bishop from C, moves to F five. Followed by adrenaline, Queen is more than alive. Black moves his pawn, foolishly to B four. It looks tragically close, to the end of his war. The white Queen glides, elegantly to the right side. Shocks her opponent, and rips out his pride. It was a beautifully executed, and efficient checkmate. Opponent lacked caution, and now rest with his fate. This wonderful game, that we all call chess. Your odds are reduced, each time you guess. Remember to follow, your strategy and tact. When you see opportunity, make sure you act. At the end of the day, hope you enjoy. Many sweet games, it’s much more than a toy. Sound travels through water 3 times faster than through air. Old Russian Proverb: "A drop hollows out a stone." Drive sober or get pulled over. “For surely of all the drugs in the world, chess must be the most permanently pleasurable.” — Assiac Air becomes liquid at about minus 190 degrees Celsius. <The Delights of Chess by Assiac (Heinrich Fraenkel) The popular Assiac column ran in the New Statesman ran non-stop for more than 400 issues, and had the great gift of inspiring readers with his own boundless enthusiasm for chess. A brilliant and witty writer, he saw it essentially as a game – a game played for enjoyment. Thus he sets out not only problems, illuminating the infinite range and symbolic beauty of the game, but tells us fascinating behind the scenes anecdotes of chess and its masters. The Delights of Chess will appeal to the most advanced players without going beyond the range of the beginner.> Q: What does a house wear? A: Address! Romans 15:13 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Dec-12-16 DrGridlock: Q: When is a pin not a pin? A: When the piece is: (i) not pinned to the king and (ii) in moving the piece threatens either mate or greater material gain than what it was pinned to. (iii) in moving the piece now defends the unit it was pinned to, such as Nf3xd4 and protects the Be2 that was behind the knight. The Hare and the Partridge Beware how you deride The exiles from life's sunny side: To you is little known How soon their case may be your own. On this, sage Aesop gives a tale or two, As in my verses I propose to do. A field in common share A partridge and a hare, And live in peaceful state, Till, woeful to relate! The hunters' mingled cry Compels the hare to fly. He hurries to his fort, And spoils almost the sport By faulting every hound That yelps on the ground. At last his reeking heat Betrays his snug retreat. Old Tray, with philosophic nose, Snuffs carefully, and grows So certain, that he cries, "The hare is here; bow wow!" And veteran Ranger now, – The dog that never lies, – "The hare is gone," replies. Alas! poor, wretched hare, Back comes he to his lair, To meet destruction there! The partridge, void of fear, Begins her friend to jeer: "You bragged of being fleet; How serve you, now, your feet?" Scarce has she ceased to speak, – The laugh yet in her beak, – When comes her turn to die, From which she could not fly. She thought her wings, indeed, Enough for every need; But in her laugh and talk, Forgot the cruel hawk! Feb-09-12 ray keene: nimzos best endgames v lasker zurich 1934 v spielmann carlsbad 1929 v lundin stockholm 1934 v maroczy bled 1931 v henneberger winterthur 1931 v thomas frankfurt 1930 v sultan khan liege 1930 v marshall berlin 1928 v reti berlin 1928 v alehine ny 1927 v tchigorin carlsbad 1907 and for a joke entry duras v nimzo san sebastian 1912 !! “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.” ― Dalai Lama “Never run after a man or a bus, there's always another one in five minutes.” ― Cherry Adair, Kiss and Tell Q: Why should you never trust stairs? A: They’re always up to something. Radio waves travel so much faster than sound waves that a broadcast voice can be heard sooner 18,000 km away than in the back of the room in which it originated. Dover publishers have downsized their chess book offerings as decades have passed, but many of the all-time classics written in English descriptive notation remain available at affordable prices: https://doverpublications.ecomm-sea... Those who pitch their tent on the Rogoff page having no use for classic chess books can find adult coloring books at Dover publishers. It's a great, versatile publishing company! For club players, I would recommend "Chess Master vs. Chess Amateur" by Max Euwe and Walter Meiden (as well as Max Euwe's "The Logical Approach to Chess," "Strategy & Tactics in Chess," and "The Road to Chess Mastery" from other book dealers, likely used) before reading James Mason's "The Art of Chess" which is 340 pages! Mason does not spoon-feed the reader as much as Euwe does IMHO. Those readers demanding an algebraic notation offering from Dover Publishers would do well to buy any book by Tim Harding. Also, if memory serves correctly, there are two tournament books published in algebraic notation: Carlsbad International Chess Tournament 1929 by Aron Nimzovich, translated by Jim Marfia (30 games) and Zurich International Chess Tournament, 1953 by David Bronstein (210 games). The sign says "free shipping" on orders over $25.00. Several chess offerings are available as e-books. You can bundle -- get both versions and save a bunch. For those wondering about adult coloring e-books, well... I'll have to get back to you on that one, the pace of new technology being what it is. 1st Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. “Remember us, Should any free soul come across this place, In all the countless centuries yet to be, May our voices whisper to you from the ageless stones, Go tell the Spartans, passerby: That here by Spartan law, we lie.” ― Frank Miller, 300 Adapt on the fly. “A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.” — General George S. Patton Luke 2:9, 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Fact: German chocolate cake was invented in Texas The “German” part of German chocolate cake comes from an American man—not a European country. Specifically, it’s named after Sam German, who in 1852 created the formula for a mild dark baking chocolate bar for Baker’s Chocolate Company, which was subsequently named Baker’s German’s Sweet Chocolate. Fast-forward to June 13, 1957. The Dallas Morning Star published the recipe for the cake, invented and submitted by a reader identified as Mrs. George Clay, according to What’s Cooking America. Riddle Question: The more of this there is, the less you see. What is it? The 111th element is known as “unnilenilenium.” Riddle Answer: Darkness Fact: The cornea is one of only two parts of the human body without blood vessels. The cornea is the clear part of the eye that covers the pupil and other parts of the eye. Cartilage and the cornea are the only types tissue in the human body that do not contain blood vessels, according to scientists at the Harvard Department of Ophthalmology’s Schepens Eye Research Institute. Riddles for Kids Riddle Question: David’s parents have three sons: Snap, Crackle, and what’s the name of the third son? 20.9% of the gas in the atmosphere is oxygen. Riddle Answer: David Fact: The world’s first animated feature film was made in Argentina Even if you know a lot of Disney trivia, you might assume that the honor of first animated feature film belongs to Walt Disney’s 1937 movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. But 20 years earlier, a full-length animated feature film was made in Argentina. It was a political satire called El Apóstol made up of 58,000 drawings and had a running time of 70 minutes, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. “Life is fun. It’s all up to the person. Be satisfied. You don’t have to be ‘happy’ all the time, you need to be satisfied.” — Lucille Boston Lewis, eternal optimist 101 years old “A man either lives life as it happens to him, meets it head-on and licks it, or he turns his back on it and starts to wither away.” — Dr. Boyce “Everything you've ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” — George Adair “He who imagines himself capable should attempt to perform. Neither originality counts, nor criticism of another’s work. It is not courage, nor self-confidence, nor a sense of superiority that tells. Performance alone is the test.” — Emanuel Lasker “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” — Colin Powell “The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” ― Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States, and former U.S. Army Colonel - ? + 19 games, 1620-2001 19 Destroy the Caro Cap Lid Pin I won “Life is like a chess. If you lose your queen, you will probably lose the game.” — Being Caballero “Chess is life in miniature. Chess is a struggle, chess battles.” — Garry Kasparov “Life is like a game of chess. To win you need to make a move. Knowing which move to make comes with insight and knowledge and by learning the lessons that are accumulated along the way. We become each and every piece within the game called LIFE” ― Alan Rufus “Age brings wisdom to some men, and to others chess.” — Evan Esar “Once you say you're going to settle for second, that's what happens to you in life.” ― John F. Kennedy “Methodical thinking is of more use in chess than inspiration.” ― C.J.S. Purdy “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” ― Maya Angelou "There are three constants in life...change, choice and principles." ― Stephen Covey "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?" ― Martin Luther King, Jr. “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” ― Abraham Lincoln “I don't want unnecessary violence, sergeant," said Blouse. "Right you are, sir!" said the sergeant. "Carborundum! First man comes through that door runnin', I want him nailed to the wall!" He caught the lieutenant's eye, and added: "But not too hard!” ― Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment “Insufficient facts always invite danger.” — Spock “Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” ― Sun Tzu “I think Capablanca was one of the most important world champions for me. I studied his games, and a good book about Capablanca's games was written by International Master Vasily Panov, a Russian master. There was quite a strong influence of Capablanca's style.” ― Anatoly Karpov “By strictly observing Botvinnik’s rule regarding the thorough analysis of one’s own games, with the years I have come to realize that this provides the foundation for the continuous development of chess mastery.” ― Garry Kasparov <Magnus Carlsen, who has been ranked the No. 1 chess player in the world since 2011, announced he will not defend his world championship title. "The conclusion is very simple that I am not motivated to play another match," the five-time world champion said on his podcast, The Magnus Effect. The championship matches are held every two years and the next is scheduled for 2023. "I simply feel that I don't have a lot to gain," Carlsen added. "I don't particularly like it, and although I'm sure a match would be interesting for historical reasons and all of that, I don't have any inclinations to play and I will simply not play the match."> * Glossary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloss... * Oskar plays 1e4: Oskar Oglaza “What gives chess its great fascination is that the K, Q, R, B, N, and P move in different ways. In consequence we get a colorful diversity of possibilities unequaled in any other board game.” ― Fred Reinfeld “A game played by men of equal strength, if played accurately, will end in a draw, and it is apt to be dull.” ― Emanuel Lasker “Chess is all about stored pattern recognition. You are asking your brain to spot a face in the crowd that it has not seen.” ― Sally Simpson “Chess is a miniature version of life. To be successful, you need to be disciplined, assess resources, consider responsible choices and adjust when circumstances change.” ― Susan Polgar “I don't believe in psychology. I believe in good moves.” ― Bobby Fischer Gerald Abrahams' dictum: "Good positions don't win games; good moves do". “I won't be lectured on gun control by an administration that armed the Taliban.” ― voter “Chess is a miniature version of life. To be successful, you need to be disciplined, assess resources, consider responsible choices and adjust when circumstances change.” ― Susan Polgar “I think any student of military strategy would tell you that in order to attack a position, you should have a ratio of approximately 3 to 1 in favor of the attacker.” ― General Norman Schwarzkopf Bishops are better in open positions, and Knights are better in closed positions. The Ass Carrying Relics An ass, with relics for his load, Supposed the worship on the road Meant for himself alone, And took on lofty airs, Receiving as his own The incense and the prayers. Some one, who saw his great mistake, Cried, "Master Donkey, do not make Yourself so big a fool. Not you they worship, but your pack; They praise the idols on your back, And count yourself a paltry tool." It's thus a brainless magistrate Is honoured for his robe of state. Q: What is the number of possibilities of a Knight’s tour? A: Over 122 million. Riddle: When is homework not homework? Thank you, Qindarka! Answer: When it's done at school. Q: Who is credited for creating the longest Chess Problem, mate in 290 moves? A: Blathy, Otto (1860-1939) The Blossom by William Blake Merry, merry sparrow! Under leaves so green A happy blossom Sees you, swift as arrow, Seek your cradle narrow, Near my bosom. Pretty, pretty robin! Under leaves so green A happy blossom Hears you sobbing, sobbing, Pretty, pretty robin, Near my bosom. "Be active. I do things my way, like skiing when I’m 100. Nobody else does that even if they have energy. And I try to eat pretty correctly and get exercise and fresh air and sunshine.” ― Elsa Bailey, first time skier at age 100 "Don't look at the calendar, just keep celebrating everyday." ― Ruth Coleman, carpe diem at age 101 "Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them--that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like." ― Lao Tzu Checkmate by treecards In front of the king, white moves his pawn. The opponent begins, with a sign and yawn. White Bishop from C, moves to F five. Followed by adrenaline, Queen is more than alive. Black moves his pawn, foolishly to B four. It looks tragically close, to the end of his war. The white Queen glides, elegantly to the right side. Shocks her opponent, and rips out his pride. It was a beautifully executed, and efficient checkmate. Opponent lacked caution, and now rest with his fate. This wonderful game, that we all call chess. Your odds are reduced, each time you guess. Remember to follow, your strategy and tact. When you see opportunity, make sure you act. At the end of the day, hope you enjoy. Many sweet games, it’s much more than a toy. "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." ― Winston Churchill "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." ― John F. Kennedy Daniel 12:2 "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." 2 is the only even prime number. A prime number is a special number that is only divisible by 1 and itself. 2 is a prime number that is divisible by 1 and 2. The remaining even numbers cannot be prime numbers as they are always divisible by 2. Don’t believe us? Try it yourself! Q: Where does the word “checkmate” come from? A: The Arabic word “shah mat” translates to “The king is dead” in English. Riddle Question: There’s a one-story house in which everything is yellow. Yellow walls, yellow doors, yellow furniture. What color are the stairs? Jericho is the oldest walled city in the world. Riddle Answer: There aren’t any—it’s a one-story house. Riddle Question: What can you break, even if you never pick it up or touch it? The city name “Dublin” comes from the Irish Dubh Linn which means Blackpool. Riddle Answer: A promise Q: How long did the longest official chess game last? A: 269 moves (I. Nikolic – Arsovic, Belgrade 1989) and ended in a draw. 35 games, 1927-1997 19 Essential CE's: The tournament players Copied from 2021 * Amazing: Game Collection: Amazing Chess Moves (Emms) * First of each ECO: Game Collection: First of Each ECO * How to Analyze: https://thechessworld.com/articles/... * Recommendations: https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/wiki... “Above the clouds I lift my wing To hear the bells of Heaven ring; Some of their music, though my fights be wild, To Earth I bring; Then let me soar and sing!” ― Edmund Clarence Stedman “Life has, indeed, many ills, but the mind that views every object in its most cheering aspect, and every doubtful dispensation as replete with latent good, bears within itself a powerful and perpetual antidote. The gloomy soul aggravates misfortune, while a cheerful smile often dispels those mists that portend a storm.” ― Lydia Sigourney “On the chessboard lies and hypocrisy do not survive long. The creative combination lays bare the presumption of a lie; the merciless fact, culmination in checkmate, contradicts the hypocrite.” ― Emanuel Lasker “What gives chess its great fascination is that the K, Q, R, B, N, and P move in different ways. In consequence we get a colorful diversity of possibilities unequaled in any other board game.” ― Fred Reinfeld “Tactics is knowing what to do when there’s something to do. Strategy is knowing what to do when there’s nothing what to do.” ― Savielly Tartakower Gerald Abrahams' dictum: "Good positions don't win games; good moves do". “It is quite an advantage to have the initiative, and once you have it you must keep it. If your opponent has it, and relinquishes it through some accident or other, you must take it.” ― Jose R. Capablanca “To win against me, you must beat me three times: in the opening, the middlegame and the endgame.” ― Alexander Alekhine “Lack of patience is probably the most common reason for losing a game, or drawing games that should have been won.” ― Bent Larsen “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” ― John F. Kennedy Daniel 12:2 "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." “There is no passion to be found playing small--in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” ― Nelson Mandela “Life is like a chess. If you lose your queen, you will probably lose the game.” ― Being Caballero “The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” ― Oprah Winfrey “Nowadays there is more dynamism in chess, modern players like to take the initiative. Usually they are poor defenders though.” ― Boris Spassky “Chess is life in miniature. Chess is a struggle, chess battles.” ― Garry Kasparov “Chess as a sport requires a lot of mental stamina, and this is what that makes it different from a physical sport. Chess players have a unique ability of taking in a lot of information and remembering relevant bits. So, memory and mental stamina are the key attributes.” ― Viswanathan Anand “Almost immediately after Kasparov played the magic move g4, the computer started to self-destruct.” — Sam Sloan “Boxing is like a chess. You encourage your opponent to make mistakes so you can capitalize on it. People think you get in the ring and see the red mist, but it is not about aggression. Avoiding knockout is tactical.” ― Nicola Adams “There is no remorse like the remorse of chess.” ― H. G. Wells. “In the endgame, it's often better to form a barrier to cut-off the lone king and keep shrinking the barrier than to give check. The mistaken check might give the lone king a choice move toward the center when the idea is to force the lone king to the edge of the board and then checkmate.” — Fredthebear * How to Play Chess! http://www.serverchess.com/play.htm... * Glossary of Chess Terms: http://www.arkangles.com/kchess/glo... * Garry Kasparov Teaches Chess (Batsford 1986): Game Collection: Garry Kasparov Teaches Chess * General chess advice from Joe Brooks: https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comm... * Endgames of WCs: Game Collection: Endgames World champions - part two * Teaching Moments: Game Collection: Teaching Moments in Chess * JC shows the way: https://chessplayeratlarge.blogspot... * Forney's Collection: Game Collection: Brutal Attacking Chess * Morphy Miniatures: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... * Video of common gambits: https://saintlouischessclub.org/blo... * Don't Steal: https://www.openbible.info/topics/s... * Cheating: https://www.chess.com/article/view/... * Opening Labels: https://allchessopenings.blogspot.c... * First of each ECO: Game Collection: First of Each ECO * Topalov Sicilians: Game Collection: World Champion on Sicilians * Winning Chess Brilliancies, by Seirawan, Yasser (User: dac1990) Game Collection: Yasser Seirawan's Winning Chess Brilliancies ♖♖♖ http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Chess... * Winning Chess Tactics, by Seirawan, Yasser (User: Bears092) Game Collection: Yasser Seirawan's Winning Chess Tactics * Winning With the French, by Uhlmann, Wolfgang (User: MidnightDuffer) Game Collection: Uhlmann's 60 French Defence Games ♖♖♖ http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Frenc... I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud William Wordsworth I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced; but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company: I gazed—and gazed—but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils 20.9% of the gas in the atmosphere is oxygen. A cesium atom in an atomic clock beats over 9 billion times a second. Q: What kind of shorts do clouds wear? A: Thunderpants The Wishes Within the Great Mogul's domains there are Familiar sprites of much domestic use: They sweep the house, and take a tidy care Of equipage, nor garden work refuse; But, if you meddle with their toil, The whole, at once, you're sure to spoil. One, near the mighty Ganges flood, The garden of a burgher good Worked noiselessly and well; To master, mistress, garden, bore A love that time and toil outwore, And bound him like a spell. Did friendly zephyrs blow, The demon's pains to aid? (For so they do, it's said.) I own I do not know. But for himself he rested not, And richly blessed his master's lot. What marked his strength of love, He lived a fixture on the place, In spite of tendency to rove So natural to his race. But brother sprites conspiring With importunity untiring, So teased their goblin chief, that he, Of his caprice, or policy, Our sprite commanded to attend A house in Norway's farther end, Whose roof was snow-clad through the year, And sheltered human kind with deer. Before departing to his hosts Thus spake this best of busy ghosts: "To foreign parts I'm forced to go! For what sad fault I do not know; – But go I must; a month's delay, Or week's perhaps, and I'm away. Seize time; three wishes make at will; For three I'm able to fulfil – No more." Quick at their easy task, Abundance first these wishers ask – Abundance, with her stores unlocked – Barns, coffers, cellars, larder, stocked – Corn, cattle, wine, and money, – The overflow of milk and honey. But what to do with all this wealth! What inventories, cares, and worry! What wear of temper and of health! Both lived in constant, slavish hurry. Thieves took by plot, and lords by loan; The king by tax, the poor by tone. Thus felt the curses which Arise from being rich, – "Remove this affluence!" they pray; The poor are happier than they Whose riches make them slaves. "Go, treasures, to the winds and waves; Come, goddess of the quiet breast, Who sweet'nest toil with rest, Dear Mediocrity, return!" The prayer was granted as we learn. Two wishes thus expended, Had simply ended In bringing them exactly where, When they set out they were. So, usually, it fares With those who waste in such vain prayers The time required by their affairs. The goblin laughed, and so did they. However, before he went away, To profit by his offer kind, They asked for wisdom, wealth of mind, – A treasure void of care and sorrow – A treasure fearless of the morrow, Let who will steal, or beg, or borrow. The double-helix structure of DNA was discovered in 1953 by James Watson and Francis Crick. The length of a single human DNA molecule, when extended, is 5’5″ (1.7 m). * Riddle-zap-sky: https://chessimprover.com/chess-rid... Q: Where does a waitress with only one leg work? A: IHOP. Checkmate by treecards In front of the king, white moves his pawn. The opponent begins, with a sign and yawn. White Bishop from C, moves to F five. Followed by adrenaline, Queen is more than alive. Black moves his pawn, foolishly to B four. It looks tragically close, to the end of his war. The white Queen glides, elegantly to the right side. Shocks her opponent, and rips out his pride. It was a beautifully executed, and efficient checkmate. Opponent lacked caution, and now rest with his fate. This wonderful game, that we all call chess. Your odds are reduced, each time you guess. Remember to follow, your strategy and tact. When you see opportunity, make sure you act. At the end of the day, hope you enjoy. Many sweet games, it’s much more than a toy. Old Russian Proverb: "A drop hollows out a stone." Drive sober or get pulled over. “For surely of all the drugs in the world, chess must be the most permanently pleasurable.” — Assiac Q: What does a house wear? A: Address! The Hare and the Partridge Beware how you deride The exiles from life's sunny side: To you is little known How soon their case may be your own. On this, sage Aesop gives a tale or two, As in my verses I propose to do. A field in common share A partridge and a hare, And live in peaceful state, Till, woeful to relate! The hunters' mingled cry Compels the hare to fly. He hurries to his fort, And spoils almost the sport By faulting every hound That yelps on the ground. At last his reeking heat Betrays his snug retreat. Old Tray, with philosophic nose, Snuffs carefully, and grows So certain, that he cries, "The hare is here; bow wow!" And veteran Ranger now, – The dog that never lies, – "The hare is gone," replies. Alas! poor, wretched hare, Back comes he to his lair, To meet destruction there! The partridge, void of fear, Begins her friend to jeer: "You bragged of being fleet; How serve you, now, your feet?" Scarce has she ceased to speak, – The laugh yet in her beak, – When comes her turn to die, From which she could not fly. She thought her wings, indeed, Enough for every need; But in her laugh and talk, Forgot the cruel hawk! Feb-09-12 ray keene: nimzos best endgames v lasker zurich 1934 v spielmann carlsbad 1929 v lundin stockholm 1934 v maroczy bled 1931 v henneberger winterthur 1931 v thomas frankfurt 1930 v sultan khan liege 1930 v marshall berlin 1928 v reti berlin 1928 v alehine ny 1927 v tchigorin carlsbad 1907 and for a joke entry duras v nimzo san sebastian 1912 !! Luke 2:9, 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. “Never run after a man or a bus, there's always another one in five minutes.” ― Cherry Adair, Kiss and Tell Q: Why should you never trust stairs? A: They’re always up to something. The Road Not Taken Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. “The game of chess is not just an idle amusement. Several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired or strengthened by it… Life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often pointed to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with.” ― Benjamin Franklin “In life, as in chess, one’s own pawns block one’s way. A man’s very wealth, ease, leisure, children, books, which should help him to win, more often checkmate him.” — Charles Buxton “Chess is imagination.” ― David Bronstein “Lack of patience is probably the most common reason for losing a game, or drawing games that should have been won.” ― Bent Larsen “Boxing is like a chess. You encourage your opponent to make mistakes so you can capitalize on it. People think you get in the ring and see the red mist, but it is not about aggression. Avoiding knockout is tactical.” ― Nicola Adams “Nowadays there is more dynamism in chess, modern players like to take the initiative. Usually they are poor defenders though.” ― Boris Spassky “The computer age has arrived, and it influences everything: analysis, preparation, information. Now a different talent is required - the ability to synthesize ideas.” ― Boris Spassky “Chess as a sport requires a lot of mental stamina, and this is what that makes it different from a physical sport. Chess players have a unique ability of taking in a lot of information and remembering relevant bits. So, memory and mental stamina are the key attributes.” ― Viswanathan Anand “A man either lives life as it happens to him, meets it head-on and licks it, or he turns his back on it and starts to wither away.” — Dr. Boyce “Life is fun. It’s all up to the person. Be satisfied. You don’t have to be ‘happy’ all the time, you need to be satisfied.” ― Lucille Boston Lewis, eternal optimist 101 years old <This game an Indian Brahmin did invent, The force of Eastern wisdom to express; From thence the same to busy Europe sent; The modern Lombards stil'd it pensive Chess. — Sir John Denham> “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.” ― Dalai Lama “There are three constants in life...change, choice and principles.” ― Stephen Covey “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?” ― Martin Luther King, Jr. “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them--that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” ― Lao Tzu “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” ― Albert Einstein “When life is too easy for us, we must beware or we may not be ready to meet the blows which sooner or later come to everyone, rich or poor.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church....a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes.” ― Charles Swindoll “God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.” ― Voltaire “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” ― Winston Churchill “All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” ― Maya Angelou “Once you say you're going to settle for second, that's what happens to you in life.” ― John F. Kennedy “There is no passion to be found playing small--in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” ― Nelson Mandela “If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.” ― Jim Rohn “I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” ― Michael Jordan “The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” ― Oprah Winfrey “Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become.” ― C.S. Lewis Bishops are better in open positions, and Knights are better in closed positions. Feb-13-11 keypusher: <scutigera: They give this as one of Myagmarsuren's notable games with 162 others in the database?> notable games are selected based on how many games collections they are in. Dec-12-16 DrGridlock: Q: When is a pin not a pin? A: When the piece is: (i) not pinned to the king and (ii) in moving the piece threatens either mate or greater material gain than what it was pinned to. (iii) in moving the piece now defends the unit it was pinned to, such as Nf3xd4 and protects the Be2 that was behind the knight. Riddle Question: What month of the year has 28 days? Tokyo was once known as Edo. Riddle Answer: All of them Riddle Question: What is full of holes but still holds water? In England, the Queen, the Church of England and Trinity College, Cambridge are some of the largest landowners in the country. Riddle Answer: A sponge <Luke 8:16-18 New King James Version The Parable of the Revealed Light Jesus said: 16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”> 144z xyp Awaiting a knoose Zirab Zeus in peril eight red herring afta sunset gravel knightmarz of Al in Wonderland kneedz knew batriez 4hez flashliet. So very dark sand cold sand covrd sin mold band mildew south carolina kan. Q: What’s the difference between a hippo and a zippo? A: One is really heavy and the other’s a little lighter. SIX REASONS WHY CHESS IS SO FUN! 01) Hardly any luck is involved in chess. 02) Chances of the same exact game being repeated is highly unlikely. 03) Chess can be played anytime, anywhere. 04) There is no age, gender, or language barrier in chess. 05) Chess takes your mind away from your problems. 06) Playing chess makes you feel special. 11 games, 1959-2014 19 King's Indian Attack J. Emms Everyman Press; book by John Emms “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” ― Maya Angelou “If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.” ― Jim Rohn “Chess is a simple game, but it is that very simplicity that makes the player’s personalities come out.” ― Gamou Jirou “The Japanese fought to win - it was a savage, brutal, inhumane, exhausting and dirty business. Our commanders knew that if we were to win and survive, we must be trained realistically for it whether we liked it or not. In the post-war years, the U.S. Marine Corps came in for a great deal of undeserved criticism in my opinion, from well-meaning persons who did not comprehend the magnitude of stress and horror that combat can be. The technology that developed the rifle barrel, the machine gun and high explosive shells has turned war into prolonged, subhuman slaughter. Men must be trained realistically if they are to survive it without breaking, mentally and physically.” ― E.B. Sledge, With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa “Chess is the art of analysis.” ― Mikhail Botvinnik “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” ― Mahatma Gandhi “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.” ― Dalai Lama “I have seen two geniuses in my time. One was Tal. The other was Fischer.” ― Russian GM Yuri Averbakh * Benefits of Chess: https://blog.amphy.com/11-surprisin... * Good Historical Links: https://www.saund.co.uk/britbase/in... * Internet tracking: https://www.studysmarter.us/magazin... * C-K for White: Game Collection: Caro Kann & French * Cheating: https://www.chess.com/article/view/... * Endgames of WCs: Game Collection: Endgames World champions - part two * Master Boogie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSL... * Teaching Moments: Game Collection: Teaching Moments in Chess * The World's Great Chess Games, by Fine, Reuben (User: GeauxCool) Game Collection: 0 ♖♖♖ http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b... “Above the clouds I lift my wing To hear the bells of Heaven ring; Some of their music, though my fights be wild, To Earth I bring; Then let me soar and sing!” ― Edmund Clarence Stedman “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” ― Abraham Lincoln “The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” ― Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States, and former U.S. Army Colonel “I don't think about it (representing African-Americans) during the games, but I certainly do think about how few African-Americans there are at the top level. So, I try to do my best to motivate more people like us to give it a try and hopefully succeed.” ― 13-year-old FM Brewington Hardaway from New York “Invest in quality pieces, they never go out of style.” ― Ruth Coleman, fashionista at age 101 “There is no need to ever retire, but if one must, it should be a lot later than 65.” ― Dr Shigeaki Hinohara, one of the world’s longest-serving physicians at age 101 poem by B.H. Wood, entitled ‘The Drowser’: Ah, reverie! Ten thousand heads I see Bent over chess-boards, an infinity Of minds engaged in battle, fiendishly, Keenly, or calmly, as the case may be: World-wide, the neophyte, the veteran, The studious problemist, the fairy fan ... “What’s that? – I’m nearly sending you to sleep? Sorry! – but this position’s rather deep.” Source: Chess Amateur, September 1929, page 268. “Encouragement is like water to the soul, it makes everything grow.” ― Chris Burkmenn Be slow in choosing a friend but slower in changing him. ~ Scottish Proverb Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER <Shakespearean Puns Perhaps no writer is better known for the use of puns than William Shakespeare. He plays with "tide" and "tied" in Two Gentlemen of Verona: "Panthino Away, ass! You'll lose the tide if you tarry any longer. Launce It is no matter if the tied were lost; for it is the unkindest tied that ever any man tied. Panthino What's the unkindest tide? Launce Why, he that's tied here, Crab, my dog." In the opening of Richard III, the sun refers to the blazing sun on Edward IV's banner and the fact that he is the son of the Duke of York: "Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York." In this line from Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare plays on the different meanings of heavy (which also means sad) and light: "Give me a torch: I am not for this ambling; Being but heavy I will bear the light." Later in Romeo and Juliet, a morbid pun comes from a fatally-stabbed Mercutio, where grave means serious, but also alludes to his imminent death: "Ask for me tomorrow, you shall find me a grave man." If you open any Shakesperean play, you're likely to find at least one pun on the page! Keep an eye out for a clever play on words example the next time you read Hamlet or watch As You Like It on the stage.> May-07-12 Domdaniel: I'll believe that computers are intelligent -- well, vaguely sentient anyway -- the day they start to have slanging matches and call one another 'idiot' and 'moron'. - Your motherboard was an egg timer! A *failed* egg timer! - Were you built by *humans*? May-07-12 Shams: <Domdaniel> There's always Alex P. Keaton's "I'd get a better game from the microwave!" He was playing against whatever you could buy at Radio Shack in 1986 though, so he may not have been far off. Feb-09-12 ray keene: nimzos best endgames v lasker zurich 1934 v spielmann carlsbad 1929 v lundin stockholm 1934 v maroczy bled 1931 v henneberger winterthur 1931 v thomas frankfurt 1930 v sultan khan liege 1930 v marshall berlin 1928 v reti berlin 1928 v alehine ny 1927 v tchigorin carlsbad 1907 and for a joke entry duras v nimzo san sebastian 1912 !! People believe what they want to believe, truth or not. “Search for the grain of truth in other opinions.” ― Richard Carlson James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” The Ass and the Little Dog One's native talent from its course Cannot be turned aside by force; But poorly apes the country clown The polished manners of the town. Their Maker chooses but a few With power of pleasing to imbue; Where wisely leave it we, the mass, Unlike a certain fabled ass, That thought to gain his master's blessing By jumping on him and caressing. "What!" said the donkey in his heart; "Ought it to be that puppy's part To lead his useless life In full companionship With master and his wife, While I must bear the whip? What does the cur a kiss to draw? Forsooth, he only gives his paw! If that is all there needs to please, I'll do the thing myself, with ease." Possessed with this bright notion, – His master sitting on his chair, At leisure in the open air, – He ambled up, with awkward motion, And put his talents to the proof; Upraised his bruised and battered hoof, And, with an amiable mien, His master patted on the chin, The action gracing with a word – The fondest bray that ever was heard! O, such caressing was there ever? Or melody with such a quaver? "Ho! Martin! here! a club, a club bring!" Out cried the master, sore offended. So Martin gave the ass a drubbing, – And so the comedy was ended. Luke 2:9, 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Conceive a man by nature and misfortune prone to a pallid hopelessness, can any business seem more fitted to heighten it than that of continually handling these dead letters and assorting them for the flames? For by the cart-load they are annually burned. Sometimes from out the folded paper the pale clerk takes a ring: - the finger it was meant for, perhaps, moulders in the grave; a bank-note sent in swiftest charity: - he whom it would relieve, nor eats nor hungers any more; pardon for those who died despairing; hope for those who died unhoping; good tidings for those who died stifled by unrelieved calamities. On errands of life, these letters speed to death. Ah Bartleby! Ah humanity! — Herman Melville “Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” ― Thomas A. Edison The Shepherd by William Blake 1757 (Soho) – 1827 (London) How sweet is the shepherd's sweet lot! From the morn to the evening he strays; He shall follow his sheep all the day, And his tongue shall be filled with praise. For he hears the lambs' innocent call, And he hears the ewes' tender reply; He is watchful while they are in peace, For they know when their shepherd is nigh. “Whatever you are doing in the game of life, give it all you've got.” — Norman Vincent Peale “What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.” — Ralph Marston Feb-13-11 keypusher: <scutigera: They give this as one of Myagmarsuren's notable games with 162 others in the database?> notable games are selected based on how many games collections they are in. Dec-12-16 DrGridlock: Q: When is a pin not a pin? A: When the piece is: (i) not pinned to the king and (ii) in moving the piece threatens either mate or greater material gain than what it was pinned to. (iii) in moving the piece now defends the unit it was pinned to, such as Nf3xd4 and protects the Be2 that was behind the knight. Riddle Question: The more of this there is, the less you see. What is it? A compass does not point to the geographical North or South Pole, but to the magnetic poles. Riddle Answer: Darkness Riddle Question: David’s parents have three sons: Snap, Crackle, and what’s the name of the third son? The smallest transistor is 50-nanometres wide – roughly 1/2000 the width of a human hair. A compass does not point to the geographical North or South Pole, but to the magnetic poles. Riddle Answer: David Relish: In 1090, a Chessboard with alternating light and dark squares was introduced in Europe. * Riddle-e-dee: https://chessimprover.com/chess-rid... During World War II, several of the world’s best chess players were code breakers. In India, chess was initially known as the ‘Game of Kings.’ “In life, as in chess, one’s own pawns block one’s way. A man’s very wealth, ease, leisure, children, books, which should help him to win, more often checkmate him.” — Charles Buxton “Play the opening like a book, the middlegame like a magician, and the endgame like a machine.” — Rudolph Spielmann “A thorough understanding of the typical mating continuations makes the most complicated sacrificial combinations leading up to them not only difficult, but almost a matter of course.” — Savielly Tartakower. “Knowing which pieces you want to be exchanged is a great help in finding the right moves.” — Graham Burgess “Life is like a chess game. Every decision, just like every move, has consequences. Therefore, decide wisely!” ― Susan Polgar “When people insult and disrespect you, the best revenge is to continue to win, and win, and win….” ― Susan Polgar “The mind has no restrictions. The only restriction is what you believe you cannot do. So go ahead and challenge yourself to do one thing every day that scares you.” ― Susan Polgar “I don’t think you can really compare anyone to Fischer and I have high respect for him – he’s one of the greatest chess players who ever lived!” — Wesley so “Fischer…is abnormally sensitive to the slightest noise in the hall…Then there are other players, among them Spassky, [Viktor] Korchnoi, and myself. For us, it is simply boring to play in an empty hall. When we appear on the stage, we are artistes.” — Mikhail Tal “He went out of his way to provoke the opponent to attack, and, reeking of contempt and crusader’s zeal, devoted himself to consolidating some of the most hideously unconsolidated positions ever seen on a chessboard.” — Robert Byrne on Wilhelm Steinitz “The defensive power of a pinned piece is only imaginary.” ― Aaron Nimzowitsch Bobby Fischer on Paul Morphy: “Perhaps the most accurate player who ever lived, he would beat anybody today in a set-match. He had complete sight of the board and seldom blundered even though he moved quite rapidly. I've played over hundreds of his games and am continually surprised and entertained by his ingenuity.” “He (Jose R. Capablanca) makes the game look easy. Art lies in the concealment of art.” ― Philip W. Sergeant “Beautiful, cold, remorseless chess, almost creepy in its silent implacability.” ― Raymond Chandler (on a Capablanca game) “What others could not see in a month's study, he saw at a glance.” ― Reuben Fine (on Capablanca) “Capablanca invariably chose the right option, no matter how intricate the position.” ― Garry Kasparov. “Capablanca's games generally take the following course: he begins with a series of extremely fine prophylactic maneuvers, which neutralize his opponent's attempts to complicate the game; he then proceeds, slowly but surely, to set up an attacking position. This attacking position, after a series of simplifications, is transformed into a favorable endgame, which he conducts with matchless technique.” ― Aaron Nimzowitsch “The greatest compliment one can pay a master is to compare him with [Jose] Capablanca.” — Irving Chernev “The peculiarity of his style is that only rarely does he make moves which no one else would make.” — Max Euwe on Vassily Smyslov “When his opponent forces him into wild play, his performance is stunning.” — Robert Byrne on Tigran Petrosian “You can never relax. I keep the same amount of energy and concentration during the tournament.” ― 13-year-old FM Brewington Hardaway from New York “Most promises featuring the word 'always' are unkeepable.” ― John Green, The Anthropocene Reviewed “You should never say never. Just like you should never say always; because, always and never are always never true.” ― J. R. Krol “Never and Always Never take advantage of someone whom loves you Never avoid someone whom needs you Never betray anyone whom has trust in you Never forget the people that always remember you Never speak ill of a person who is not present Never support something you know is wrong or unethical Always speak to your parents on their birthday and anniversary Always defend those who cannot defend themselves Always forgive those you love whom have made mistakes Always give something to those less fortunate than you Always remember to look back at those who helped you succeed Always call your parents and siblings on New Year’s Eve.” ― R.J. Intindola “I learned that you have to study more to keep improving (to avoid plateauing). (...) I also realized I had to move slower because I was moving very quickly and making easy blunders.” ― 13-year-old FM Brewington Hardaway from New York “It's a lot of things [that I consider (what opening to play)]. Obviously, my opponent's rating—I don't want to play an equal game where I don't have many winning chances. But also, my mood is important, and my opponent's styles themselves.” ― 13-year-old FM Brewington Hardaway from New York “You can never relax. I keep the same amount of energy and concentration during the tournament.” ― 13-year-old FM Brewington Hardaway from New York “I don't think about it (representing African-Americans) during the games, but I certainly do think about how few African-Americans there are at the top level. So, I try to do my best to motivate more people like us to give it a try and hopefully succeed.” ― 13-year-old FM Brewington Hardaway from New York Take care of your pennies and your dollars will take care of themselves. ~ Scottish Proverb Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER Alaska: Kodiak Established in: 1792 Kodiak is the main city in Kodiak Island and was founded in 1792 by Aleksandr Andreyevich Baranov. It was first called Pavlovsk Gavan, which is Russian for Paul's Harbor, and was the first capital of Russian Alaska. You can still find a large Russian Orthodox church there, as well as plenty of beautiful views. * Chess History: https://www.britannica.com/topic/ch... * Chess Principles: https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comm... * List of gambits: https://detailedpedia.com/wiki-List... * Fried Fox is awful: https://allchessopenings.blogspot.c... * The Gaw-Paw? Game Collection: GA PA Wins Draws by Black * Chicago, 2007: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEp... * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEp... * Defensive Replies to the Queen's Pawn: Game Collection: e6 after 1.d4 * QP Bg2: Queen's Pawn Game (E00) * Game with ...e6: Game Collection: Partidas modelo con temas variados * Sicilians: Game Collection: Sicilian/French/Westerimen and other ...c5,...e6 * Sicilian O'Kelly leaves White all kinds of choices: Opening Explorer * Wikipedia on Computer Chess: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compu... * elmubarak: my fav games: Game Collection: elmubarak: my fav games * Assorted Good Games by rbaglini: Game Collection: assorted Good games * Golden Treasury of Chess (Wellmuth/Horowitz): Game Collection: 0 * LAST COLLECTION by Jaredfchess: Game Collection: LAST COLLECTION * Mr. Harvey's Puzzle Challenge: https://wtharvey.com/ WTHarvey: There once was a website named WTHarvey, Where chess puzzles did daily delay, The brain-teasers so tough, They made us all huff and puff, But solving them brought us great satisfaction today. There once was a website named WTHarvey Where chess puzzles were quite aplenty With knight and rook and pawn You'll sharpen your brain with a yawn And become a master of chess entry There once was a site for chess fun, Wtharvey.com was the chosen one, With puzzles galore, It'll keep you in store, For hours of brain-teasing, none done. There once was a website named wtharvey, Where chess puzzles were posted daily, You'd solve them with glee, And in victory, You'd feel like a true chess prodigy! 'A rising tide lifts all boats' 'Don't put the cart before the horse' “Examine what is said, not who is speaking.” ~ African Proverb “Chess is played with the mind and not with the hands.” ― Renaud & Kahn “Chess is a terrific way for kids to build self-image and self-esteem.” ― Saudin Robovic “Chess is a sport. The main object in the game of chess remains the achievement of victory.” ― Max Euwe “Life is like a chess. If you lose your queen, you will probably lose the game.” ― Being Caballero “If you wish to succeed, you must brave the risk of failure.” — Garry Kasparov “You win some, you lose some, you wreck some.” — Dale Earnhardt “In life, unlike chess the game continues after checkmate.” ― Isaac Asimov <The Fooles Mate Black Kings Biſhops pawne one houſe. White Kings pawne one houſe. Black kings knights pawne two houſes White Queen gives Mate at the contrary kings Rookes fourth houſe — Beale, The Royall Game of Chesse-Play Beale's example can be paraphrased in modern terms where White always moves first, algebraic notation is used, and Black delivers the fastest possible mate after each player makes two moves: 1.f3 e6 2.g4 Qh4# There are eight distinct ways in which Fool's Mate can be reached in two moves. White may alternate the order of f- and g-pawn moves, Black may play either e6 or e5, and White may move their f-pawn to f3 or f4.> “Chess is life in miniature. Chess is a struggle, chess battles.” — Garry Kasparov “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. “Don’t blow your own trumpet.” — Australian Proverb Old Russian Proverb: "Scythe over a stone." (Нашла коса на камень.) The force came over a stronger force. “Continuing to play the victim is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Blaming others for your station in life will indeed make you a victim but the perpetrator will be your own self, not life or those around you.” — Bobby Darnell Feb-09-12 ray keene: nimzos best endgames v lasker zurich 1934 v spielmann carlsbad 1929 v lundin stockholm 1934 v maroczy bled 1931 v henneberger winterthur 1931 v thomas frankfurt 1930 v sultan khan liege 1930 v marshall berlin 1928 v reti berlin 1928 v alehine ny 1927 v tchigorin carlsbad 1907 and for a joke entry duras v nimzo san sebastian 1912 !! People believe what they want to believe, truth or not. “Search for the grain of truth in other opinions.” ― Richard Carlson James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” The Bear ~ Author Unknown ~ Here is a cave, (make a fist) Inside is a bear. (put a thumb inside fist) Now he comes out To get some fresh air. (pop out thumb) He stays out all summer In sunshine and heat. He hunts in the forest For berries to eat. (move thumb in circle) When snow starts to fall, He hurries inside His warm little cave, And there he will hide. (put thumb back inside fist) Snow covers the cave Like a fluffy white rug. Inside the bear sleeps All cozy and snug. (cover fist with other hand) Old Russian Proverb: Чему́ быть, того́ не минова́ть Pronunciation: ChiMU BYT’, taVOH ni mihnoVAT’ Translation: You can’t avoid that which is meant to happen Meaning: Whatever shall be, will be. Engineer Ralph Baer is often held to be the "father of video games." His "Brown Box" video game system, designed in 1967, paved the way for all future consoles. “mãos frias, coração quente“. In English, it means “a cold hand, a warm heart” Drive sober or get pulled over. “For surely of all the drugs in the world, chess must be the most permanently pleasurable.” — Assiac “mais vale um passarinho na mão do que dois a voar“ Contrary to popular belief, the first video game was not Pong. It was preceded by Tennis for Two in 1958 and Spacewar! in 1962. Q: What do you call something that goes up when the rain comes down? A: An umbrella. Q: What do you call a doctor who fixes websites? A: A URL-ologist. Q: What do you call a sleeping dinosaur? A: A dinosnore. Q: What do you call a Christmas tree that knows karate A: Spruce Lee. Q: What does a triangle call a circle? A: Pointless. Q: What do you call a piece of sad cheese? A: Blue cheese. Q: What do you call a cow in an earthquake? A: A milkshake. Q: What do you call an M&M that went to college? A: A smarty. The Man And His Image To M. The Duke De La Rochefoucauld. A man, who had no rivals in the love Which to himself he bore, Esteemed his own dear beauty far above What earth had seen before. More than contented in his error, He lived the foe of every mirror. Officious fate, resolved our loverFrom such an illness should recover, Presented always to his eyes The mute advisers which the ladies prize; – Mirrors in parlours, inns, and shops, – Mirrors the pocket furniture of fops, – Mirrors on every lady's zone,[13] From which his face reflected shone. What could our dear Narcissus do? From haunts of men he now withdrew, On purpose that his precious shape From every mirror might escape. But in his forest glen alone, Apart from human trace, A watercourse, Of purest source, While with unconscious gaze He pierced its waveless face, Reflected back his own. Incensed with mingled rage and fright, He seeks to shun the odious sight; But yet that mirror sheet, so clear and still, He cannot leave, do what he will. Before this, my story's drift you plainly see. From such mistake there is no mortal free. That obstinate self-lover The human soul does cover; The mirrors follies are of others, In which, as all are genuine brothers, Each soul may see to life depicted Itself with just such faults afflicted; And by that charming placid brook, Needless to say, I mean your Maxim Book. This is one of La Fontaine's most admired fables, and is one of the few for which he did not go for the groundwork to some older fabulist. The Duke de la Rochefoucauld, to whom it was dedicated, was the author of the famous "Reflexions et Maximes Morales," which La Fontaine praises in the last lines of his fable. La Rochefoucauld was La Fontaine's friend and patron. The "Maximes" had achieved a second edition just prior to La Fontaine's publication of this first series of his Fables, in 1668. "The Rabbits" (Book 10, Fable 15.), published in the second collection, in 1678-9, is also dedicated to the Duke, who died the following year, 1680. “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 “True power is expressed in quiet confidence; it was the sea's very calmness that epitomized its mighty force.” ― Emile Habiby “Remember that there are two kinds of beauty: one of the soul and the other of the body. That of the soul displays its radiance in intelligence, in chastity, in good conduct, in generosity, and in good breeding, and all these qualities may exist in an ugly man. And when we focus our attention upon that beauty, not upon the physical, love generally arises with great violence and intensity. I am well aware that I am not handsome, but I also know that I am not deformed, and it is enough for a man of worth not to be a monster for him to be dearly loved, provided he has those spiritual endowments I have spoken of.” ― Miguel Cervantes 4$drivz u nokt mee crazy wheelr. 4$fare iz fair evn 4all hairy bearz no shirts no shoez still get servd biden court 2appear b4 congress 2testify on internet caught see lionz zandi drownd outta noiz. So sad. “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” — Calvin Coolidge Psalm 96: 1-3 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. A TISKET A TASKET A tisket, a tasket A green and yellow basket. I wrote a letter to my love And on the way I dropped it. I dropped it, I dropped it And on the way I dropped it. A little boy he picked it up And put it in his pocket. 16 yellow #2 pencilz “When you’re lonely, when you feel yourself an alien in the world, play Chess. This will raise your spirits and be your counselor in war.” ― Aristotle “The habit of holding a Man in the hand, and moving it first to one square and then to another, in order to engage the assistance of the eye in deciding where it shall actually be placed, is not only annoying to the adversary but a practical infraction of the touch-and-move principle.” ― Howard Staunton “A bad plan is better than none at all.” ― Frank Marshall <Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" Bombardment of Fort Fisher, near Wilmington, New York, 1865 The poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, in the middle of the Civil War, wrote this poem which has more recently been adapted as a modern Christmas classic. Longfellow wrote this on Christmas Day in 1863, after his son had enlisted in the Union's cause and had returned home, seriously wounded. The verses which he included and are still generally included, speak of the despair of hearing the promise of "peace on earth, goodwill to men" when the evidence of the world is clearly that war still exists. And in despair I bowed my head; "There is no peace on earth," I said; "For hate is strong, And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!" Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men." The original also included several verses referring specifically to the Civil War. Before that cry of despair and answering cry of hope, and after verses describing the long years of hearing of "peace on earth, goodwill to men" (a phrase from the Jesus birth narratives in the Christian scriptures), Longfellow's poem includes, describing the black cannons of the war: Then from each black, accursed mouth The cannon thundered in the South, And with the sound The carols drowned Of peace on earth, good-will to men! It was as if an earthquake rent The hearth-stones of a continent, And made forlorn The households born Of peace on earth, good-will to men!> *At some time or other tournament player learns a few opening lines, some tactical ideas, the most basic mating patterns, and a few elementary endgames. As he gets better and more experienced, he significantly adds to this knowledge. However, the one thing that just everybody has problem is planning. From Z to class E (under 1200) D to Master, I get blank stares when asking what plan they had in mind in a particular position. Usually the choice of a plan (if they had any plan at all) is based on emotional rather than chess-specific considerations. By emotional, I mean that the typical player does what he feels like doing rather than the board "telling him what to do. This is somewhat cryptic sentence leads us to the following extremely important concept: if you want to be successful, you have to base your moves and plans on the specific imbalance-oriented criteria that exist in that given position, not your mood, taste and/or feared. Literally every non-master's games are filled with examples of "imbalance avoidance". Beginners, of course, simply don't know what imbalances are. Most experienced players have heard of the term and perhaps even tried to make use of them from time to time, however once the rush of battle takes over, isolated moves and raw aggression (or terror, if you find yourself defending) push any and all thoughts of imbalances out the door. In this case, chess becomes empty move-by-move, threat-by-threat (either making them or responding to them) affair. What is this mysterious allusion of the chessboard's desires (i.e., doing what the chess board wants you to do)? What is this "imbalance-oriented criteria? ― How To Reassess Your Chess by Jeremy Silman “To a good listener, half a word is enough” – Portuguese Proverb The Old Man And His Sons All power is feeble with dissension: For this I quote the Phrygian slave. If anything I add to his invention, It is our manners to engrave, And not from any envious wishes; – I'm not so foolishly ambitious. Phaedrus enriches often his story, In quest – I doubt it not – of glory: Such thoughts were idle in my breast. An aged man, near going to his rest, His gathered sons thus solemnly addressed: "To break this bunch of arrows you may try; And, first, the string that binds them I untie." The eldest, having tried with might and main, Exclaimed, "This bundle I resign To muscles sturdier than mine." The second tried, and bowed himself in vain. The youngest took them with the like success. All were obliged their weakness to confess. Unharmed the arrows passed from son to son; Of all they did not break a single one. "Weak fellows!" said their sire, "I now must show What in the case my feeble strength can do." They laughed, and thought their father but in joke, Till, one by one, they saw the arrows broke. "See, concord's power!" replied the sire; "as long As you in love agree, you will be strong. I go, my sons, to join our fathers good; Now promise me to live as brothers should, And soothe by this your dying father's fears." Each strictly promised with a flood of tears. Their father took them by the hand, and died; And soon the virtue of their vows was tried. Their sire had left a large estate Involved in lawsuits intricate; Here seized a creditor, and there A neighbour levied for a share. At first the trio nobly bore The brunt of all this legal war. But short their friendship as It was rare. Whom blood had joined – and small the wonder! – The force of interest drove asunder; And, as is wont in such affairs, Ambition, envy, were co-heirs. In parcelling their sire's estate, They quarrel, quibble, litigate, Each aiming to supplant the other. The judge, by turns, condemns each brother. Their creditors make new assault, Some pleading error, some default. The sundered brothers disagree; For counsel one, have counsels three. All lose their wealth; and now their sorrows Bring fresh to mind those broken arrows. from the simpleton poet: Roses are red. Violets are blue. Chess is creative. And a journey too. Good in the morning. Or just before bed. Play cheater_1, with engine. Or OTB, all in your head. “Only those who want everything done for them are bored.” — Billy Graham “My home is in Heaven. I'm just traveling through this world.” — Billy Graham “Whatever you are doing in the game of life, give it all you've got.” — Norman Vincent Peale “What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.” — Ralph Marston * Riddle-z-dee: https://www.briddles.com/riddles/ch... “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” ― Martin Luther King Jr. “Never reply to an anonymous letter.” ― Yogi Berra, MLB Hall of Fame catcher “Even Napoleon had his Watergate.” ― Yogi Berra, 10-time World Series champion How many chess openings are there? Well, White has 20 possible 1st moves. Black can respond with 20 of its own. That’s 400, and we’re ready for move 2. I don’t know them, but I would not be at all surprised if there was a name for each of them. People are like that. You really, really don’t need to know them all. If you follow the rules of thumb for good opening play, I promise you that you’ll be playing a named opening. Just put the 1st 3 moves in google, and you’ll get the opening’s name. With that information you can find other games that started the way your game started, likely by some very good players. Also, with the name you can read about it on Wikipedia, and find out what people think of it, who plays it, and its particular traps and idiosyncrasies. Once again, The Rules of Thumb for Good Opening Play: - Develop your pieces quickly with an eye towards controlling the center. Not necessarily occupying the center but controlling it certainly. - Castle your king just as soon as it’s practical to do so. - Really try not to move a piece more than once during the opening, it’s a waste of valuable time. - Connect your rooks. This marks the end of the opening. Connected rooks means that only your rooks and your castled king are on the back rank. - Respond to threats appropriately, even if you have to break the rules. They’re rules of thumb, not scripture, or physical laws. If you and your opponent follow these rules of thumb, you’ll reach the middle game ready to fight. If only you follow these rules of thumb, you’re already winning! Good Hunting. -- Eric H. * Opening Tree: https://www.shredderchess.com/onlin... <Chess has six different kinds of pieces, and they all interact in myriad ways. Your opponent’s own pieces can often be used against him. While the Queen is the strongest piece, it is the weakest defender; and while the pawn is the weakest piece, it is the strongest defender. José Raúl Capablanca used the principle "Cutting off pieces from the scene of action."> [Site "Kiev RUE"] [Event "Simul, 30b"] [Date "1914.03.02"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "?"] [Result "1-0"] [White "Jose Raul Capablanca"] [Black "Masyutin"] [ECO "A83"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "37"] 1.d4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 c6 5.f3 exf3 6.Nxf3 e6 7.Bd3 d5 8.O-O Nbd7 9.Ne5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.Qh5+ Ke7 12.Bxh7 Nf8 13.Qf7+ Kd6 14.Nc4+ dxc4 15.Ne4+ Kd5 16.Rf5+ Kxe4 17.Re1+ Kxd4 18.c3+ Kd3 19.Rd5# 1-0 Discovered Double Checkmate!! “As an adult, Capablanca lost only 34 serious games.[88] He was undefeated from 10 February 1916, when he lost to Oscar Chajes in the New York 1916 tournament, to 21 March 1924, when he lost to Richard Réti in the New York International tournament. During this streak, which included his 1921 World Championship match against Lasker, Capablanca played 63 games, winning 40 and drawing 23.[49][94] In fact, only Marshall, Lasker, Alekhine and Rudolf Spielmann won two or more serious games from the mature Capablanca, though in each case, their overall lifetime scores were minus (Capablanca beat Marshall +20−2=28, Lasker +6−2=16, Alekhine +9−7=33), except for Spielmann who was level (+2−2=8).[95] Of top players, only Keres had a narrow plus score against him (+1−0=5).[96] Keres's win was at the AVRO 1938 chess tournament, during which tournament Capablanca turned 50, while Keres was 22.[97]” ― Wikipedia The Chess Machine: https://chessville.com/jose-raul-ca... Learn from the World Champions: https://www.chessable.com/blog/famo... According to Chessmetrics, Lasker was #1 for longer than anyone else in history: 292 different months between June 1890 and December 1926. That's a timespan of 36 1/2 years, in which Lasker was #1 for a total of 24 years and 4 months. Lasker was 55 years old when he won New York 1924. Q: What’s the best thing about Switzerland? A: I don’t know, but the flag is a big plus. The City Rat and the Country Rat A city rat, one night, Did, with a civil stoop, A country rat invite To end a turtle soup. On a Turkey carpet They found the table spread, And sure I need not harp it How well the fellows fed. The entertainment was A truly noble one; But some unlucky cause Disturbed it when begun. It was a slight rat-tat, That put their joys to rout; Out ran the city rat; His guest, too, scampered out. Our rats but fairly quit, The fearful knocking ceased. "Return we," cried the cit, To finish there our feast. "No," said the rustic rat; "Tomorrow dine with me. I'm not offended at Your feast so grand and free, – "For I have no fare resembling; But then I eat at leisure, And would not swap, for pleasure So mixed with fear and trembling." The 20-40-40 rule in chess is a rule for players rated below 2000 that states 20% of your study should be dedicated to openings, 40% to the middlegame, and 40% to the endgame. Drive sober or get pulled over. “For surely of all the drugs in the world, chess must be the most permanently pleasurable.” — Assiac Mar-12-23 FSR: <jnpope: Is <Jegar Sahadutha> related to <chrisowen> or is this just a <chrisowen> parody account?> Apparently the latter. <Jegar Sahadutha>'s user profile shows that his account was only opened on February 10, 2023. His first comment, on March 9, 2023, was: <I never thought I would live to see the day a GOTD was named in honor of chrisowen.> Jegar's comment was made to A Braun vs S Siebrecht, 2005, after it became GOTD using the pun <Braun Over Brain>. The genesis of the pun was evidently an uncharacteristically lucid comment <chrisowen> had made on December 27, 2009 that began <Sad case of Braun over brain.> This episode, it seems, inspired <Jegar Sahadutha>. His aforementioned comment <I never thought I would live to see the day a GOTD was named in honor of chrisowen.> was the first and last "normal" one he has made. Mar-12-23 Jegar Sahadutha: True — we shall not return to the heartland, for the heartland hath forsaken us. Rise! Rise, vaunted shipmen; your time is come, and with it sacral vestments. Slay the serpent, moor the ship; repast on all gifts divine. But in your exultation, may your heart hold fast; forsake not the heartland whence you came. “Thirty Days Hath September” Lyrics Thirty days hath September, April, June and November; All the rest have thirty-one, Excepting February alone. Which only has but twenty-eight days clear And twenty-nine in each leap year. French Proverb: “Il ne faut rien laisser au hasard.” ― (Nothing should be left to chance.) “There are more adventures on a chessboard than on all the seas of the world.” ― Pierre Mac Orlan “You can only get good at chess if you love the game.” ― Bobby Fischer “As long as you can still grab a breath, you fight.” — The Revenant Weord Maze: 3z Darby's samichz haz da bst pigz eyez, no birdz eyez annie pig snoutz. Shout, shout, let it all out. Theez rtha things Ivan do without. C'mon Mikhail Talkin youtube. A pencil maker told the pencil 5 important lessons just before putting it in the box: 1. Everything you do you will always leave a mark. 2. You can always correct the mistakes you make. 3. What is important is what is inside of you. 4. In life, you will undergo painful sharpening which will only make you better. 5. To be the best pencil, you must allow yourself to be held and guided by the hand that holds you. Lead Pb 82 207.2 1.8 41 games, 1962-2013 19 Perceptive Bubo bubo These fine games are quite well-known, but not famous enough to be listed among the all-time classics (although many of them would deserve that). * Amazing: Game Collection: Amazing Chess Moves (Emms) * First of each ECO: Game Collection: First of Each ECO * How to Analyze: https://thechessworld.com/articles/... * Recommendations: https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/wiki... “Above the clouds I lift my wing To hear the bells of Heaven ring; Some of their music, though my fights be wild, To Earth I bring; Then let me soar and sing!” ― Edmund Clarence Stedman Knock, knock. Who's there? Figs. Figs who? Figs the doorbell, it's not working! “Life has, indeed, many ills, but the mind that views every object in its most cheering aspect, and every doubtful dispensation as replete with latent good, bears within itself a powerful and perpetual antidote. The gloomy soul aggravates misfortune, while a cheerful smile often dispels those mists that portend a storm.” ― Lydia Sigourney "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." ― Harry S Truman, 33rd President of the United States, and former Colonel in the U.S. Army Knock, knock. Who's there? Annie. Annie who? Annie thing you can do, I can do better! "All of the real heroes are not storybook combat fighters either. Every single man in this Army play a vital role. Don't ever let up. Don't ever think that your job is unimportant. Every man has a job to do and he must do it. Every man is a vital link in the great chain.” ― General George S. Patton, U.S. Army * Monument: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monum... * Unsung: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article... I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud William Wordsworth I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced; but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company: I gazed—and gazed—but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils * Cloud Types: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_... * Images: https://www.bing.com/images/search?... Knock, knock. Who's there? Dozen. Dozen who? Dozen anyone want to let me in? “Every Pawn is a potential Queen.” ― James Mason “Chess is everything: art, science and sport.” ― Anatoly Karpov “Chess is as much a mystery as women.” ― C.J.S. Purdy “Without error there can be no brilliancy.” ― Emanuel Lasker "Chess is all about stored pattern recognition. You are asking your brain to spot a face in the crowd that it has not seen." ― Sally Simpson “Chess demands total concentration.” ― Bobby Fischer “Chess is mental torture.” ― Garry Kasparov ''The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it.'' ― General Norman Schwarzkopf, U.S. Army "A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent." ― General of the Army, Douglas MacArthur * Glossary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloss... “I’m convinced, the way one plays chess always reflects the player’s personality. If something defines his character, then it will also define his way of playing.” ― Vladimir Kramnik Knock, knock. Who's there? A little old lady. A little old lady who? How cool! I didn't know you could yodel! “If we can use an H-bomb--and as you said it's no checker game; it's real, it's war and nobody is fooling around--isn't it sort of ridiculous to go crawling around in the weeds, throwing knives and maybe getting yourself killed . . . and even losing the war . . . when you've got a real weapon you can use to win? What's the point in a whole lot of men risking their lives with obsolete weapons when one professor type can do so much more just by pushing a button?' Zim didn't answer at once, which wasn't like him at all. Then he said softly, 'Are you happy in the Infantry, Hendrick? You can resign, you know.' Hendrick muttered something; Zim said, 'Speak up!' I'm not itching to resign, sir. I'm going to sweat out my term.' I see. Well, the question you asked is one that a sergeant isn't really qualified to answer . . . and one that you shouldn't ask me. You're supposed to know the answer before you join up. Or you should. Did your school have a course in History and Moral Philosophy?' What? Sure--yes, sir.' Then you've heard the answer. But I'll give you my own--unofficial--views on it. If you wanted to teach a baby a lesson, would you cuts its head off?' Why . . . no, sir!' Of course not. You'd paddle it. There can be circumstances when it's just as foolish to hit an enemy with an H-Bomb as it would be to spank a baby with an ax. War is not violence and killing, pure and simple; war is controlled violence, for a purpose. The purpose of war is to support your government's decisions by force. The purpose is never to kill the enemy just to be killing him . . . but to make him do what you want him to do. Not killing . . . but controlled and purposeful violence. But it's not your business or mine to decide the purpose of the control. It's never a soldier's business to decide when or where or how--or why--he fights; that belongs to the statesmen and the generals. The statesmen decide why and how much; the generals take it from there and tell us where and when and how. We supply the violence; other people--"older and wiser heads," as they say--supply the control. Which is as it should be. That's the best answer I can give you. If it doesn't satisfy you, I'll get you a chit to go talk to the regimental commander. If he can't convince you--then go home and be a civilian! Because in that case you will certainly never make a soldier.” ― Robert A. Heinlein, Starship Troopers <David's Father Riddle: David's father has three sons: Snap, Crackle, and _____? Rice Krispies: https://www.ricekrispies.com/en_US/... Riddle Answer: David.> * Tal's book: Game Collection: Life and Games (Tal) Knock, knock. Who's there? Shore. Shore who? Shore hope you like bad jokes! “The game of chess is not just an idle amusement. Several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired or strengthened by it… Life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often pointed to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with.” ― Benjamin Franklin “In order to improve your game, you must study the endgame before everything else. For whereas the endings can be studied and mastered by themselves, the middle game and opening must be studied in relation to the end game.” — Jose Capablanca Knock, knock. Who's there? Isabel. Isabel who? Isabel not working? “In chess, we get a fighting game which is purely intellectual and excludes chance.” Indeed, this is what draws some of us to chess! — Richard Reti “Never play to win a pawn while your development is yet unfinished.” ― Aron Nimzowitsch Knock, knock. Who's there? Dishes. Dishes who? Dishes your mother, open up! “The blunders are all there on the board, waiting to be made.” — Savielly Tartakower “It is not a move, even the best move, that you must seek, but a realizable plan.” ― Eugene Znosko-Borovsky Knock, knock. Who's there? Scold. Scold who? Scold outside, let me in! “When you play chess the idea is to make good moves, not quick ones!” — Jeremy Silman “Stay flexible. Be ready to transform advantages from one type to another.” — John Nunn Knock, knock. Who's there? Icy. Icy who? Icy you in there! “Knowing which pieces you want exchanged is a great help in finding the right moves.” — Graham Burgess Knock, knock. Who's there? Anita. Anita who? Anita use the bathroom, please open the door! Fabulous chess brilliancies: https://www.chess.com/article/view/... Source: page 58 of Poems and Chess Problems by J.A. Miles (Fakenham, 1882). Blackburne our Champion’s praise we sing, Long may he reign of Chess the King; And forth, triumphant from the fray, Crowned with the Victor’s wreath of bay, King-like may come. On checker’d fields Blindfold his battle-axe he wields; Undaunted by the loss of sight, Relentless he displays his might. Now, covered with undying fame, England exalts her Hero’s name. “Learn to play many roles, to be whatever the moment requires. Adapt your mask to the situation.” ― Robert Greene “Get a great education. That is something that no one can take away from you." ― Margie Hammargren, former CIA agent, 101 years old <Head And Tail Riddle: What has a head, a tail, is brown, and has no legs? A brown trout? Riddle Answer: A Penny. My teenage daughter can't decide whether she wants to be a hairdresser or a short story writer... I guess she'll have to flip a coin.... Heads or Tales.> The Old Man and the Ass An old man, riding on his ass, Had found a spot of thrifty grass, And there turned loose his weary beast. Old Grizzle, pleased with such a feast, Flung up his heels, and capered round, Then rolled and rubbed on the ground, And frisked and browsed and brayed, And many a clean spot made. Armed men came on them as he fed: "Let's fly," in haste the old man said. "And why so?" the ass replied; "With heavier burdens will they ride?" "No," said the man, already started. "Then," cried the ass, as he departed, "I'll stay, and be – no matter whose; Save you yourself, and leave me loose. But let me tell you, before you go, (I speak plain French, you know,) My master is my only foe." The Road Not Taken Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. “Chess is a simple game, but it is that very simplicity that makes the player’s personalities come out.” ― Gamou Jirou “The Japanese fought to win - it was a savage, brutal, inhumane, exhausting and dirty business. Our commanders knew that if we were to win and survive, we must be trained realistically for it whether we liked it or not. In the post-war years, the U.S. Marine Corps came in for a great deal of undeserved criticism in my opinion, from well-meaning persons who did not comprehend the magnitude of stress and horror that combat can be. The technology that developed the rifle barrel, the machine gun and high explosive shells has turned war into prolonged, subhuman slaughter. Men must be trained realistically if they are to survive it without breaking, mentally and physically.” ― E.B. Sledge, With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa “Chess is the art of analysis.” ― Mikhail Botvinnik "There is more to life than increasing its speed." ― Mahatma Gandhi "Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them." ― Dalai Lama * Good Historical Links: https://www.saund.co.uk/britbase/in... * Internet tracking: https://www.studysmarter.us/magazin... * C-K for White: Game Collection: Caro Kann & French * Cheating: https://www.chess.com/article/view/... * Endgames of WCs: Game Collection: Endgames World champions - part two * Teaching Moments: Game Collection: Teaching Moments in Chess * The World's Great Chess Games, by Fine, Reuben (User: GeauxCool) Game Collection: 0 ♖♖♖ http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b... “Life is fun. It’s all up to the person. Be satisfied. You don’t have to be ‘happy’ all the time, you need to be satisfied.” — Lucille Boston Lewis, eternal optimist 101 years old “A man either lives life as it happens to him, meets it head-on and licks it, or he turns his back on it and starts to wither away.” — Dr. Boyce “Everything you've ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” — George Adair “He who imagines himself capable should attempt to perform. Neither originality counts, nor criticism of another’s work. It is not courage, nor self-confidence, nor a sense of superiority that tells. Performance alone is the test.” — Emanuel Lasker “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” — Colin Powell “The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” ― Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States, and former U.S. Army Colonel # Knock, knock. Who's there? Tank. Tank who? You're welcome! REMATch: Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now. * Assorted Good games Compiled by rbaglini: Game Collection: assorted Good games * Cheating: https://www.chess.com/article/view/... * GK's Scheveningen: Game Collection: Kasparov - The Sicilian Sheveningen I was kidnapped by mimes once. They did unspeakable things to me. <First And Last Author Riddle: What belongs to you, but other people use it more than you? By 2024 India will overtake China as the world’s most populous country China currently has 1.4 billion inhabitants, closely followed by India with 1.3 billion. Together they make up 37% of the world’s population. Riddle Answer: Your name.> Is it ignorance or apathy that's destroying the world today? I don't know, and I don't care. It's not the quantity that counts; it's the quality. What do you call a woman who sets fire to all her bills? Bernadette. This game an Indian Brahmin did invent, The force of Eastern wisdom to express; From thence the same to busy Europe sent; The modern Lombards stil'd it pensive Chess. — Sir John Denham Why is England the wettest country? Because the queen reigned there for decades. What did the full glass say to the empty glass? "You look drunk." Drive sober or get pulled over. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2:9, 10. The Chess Poem by Ayaan Chettiar 8 by 8 makes 64 In the game of chess, the king shall rule Kings and queens, and rooks and knights Bishops and Pawns, and the use of mind The Game goes on, the players think Plans come together, form a link Attacks, checks and capture Until, of course, we reach a mate The Pawns march forward, then the knights Power the bishops, forward with might Rooks come together in a line The Game of Chess is really divine The Rooks move straight, then take a turn The Knights on fire, make no return Criss-Cross, Criss-Cross, go the bishops The Queen’s the leader of the group The King resides in the castle While all the pawns fight with power Heavy blows for every side Until the crown, it is destroyed The Brain’s the head, The Brain’s the King, The Greatest one will always win, For in the game of chess, the king shall rule, 8 by 8 makes 64! "Be active. I do things my way, like skiing when I’m 100. Nobody else does that even if they have energy. And I try to eat pretty correctly and get exercise and fresh air and sunshine.” ― Elsa Bailey, first time skier at age 100 "Don't look at the calendar, just keep celebrating every day." ― Ruth Coleman, carpe diem at age 101 When you die, what part of the body dies last? The pupils… they dilate. <Luke 8:16-18 New King James Version The Parable of the Revealed Light Jesus said: 16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”> %. What sits at the bottom of the sea and twitches? A nervous wreck. A bear walks into a restaurant. He tells his waiter, "I want a grilled… cheese." The waiter says, "What's with the pause?" "Whaddya mean?" the bear replies. "I'm a bear!" Why were they called the Dark Ages? Because there were a lot of knights. Which branch of the military accepts toddlers? The infantry. Did you know you can actually listen to the blood in your veins? You just have to listen varicosely. Where do young trees go to learn? Elementree school. Did you hear about the cheese factory that exploded in France? There was nothing left but de-Brie. Why don't math majors throw house parties? Because it's not good to drink and derive. What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta. What washes up on very small beaches? Micro-waves. Why don't male ants sink? Because they're boy-ant. How much space will free up in the EU after Brexit? Approximately one GB. Why do oranges wear sunscreen? So they don't peel. Where are average things manufactured? The Satisfactory. What do you call a hippie's wife? A Mississippi. Why do birds fly south? Because it's faster than walking! What's a baby bear with no teeth called? A gummy bear! What's orange and sounds like a parrot? A carrot! What's a pirate's favorite letter? Arrrrrrrr! “The weak are always anxious for justice and equality. The strong pay no heed to either.” — Aristotle “A species that enslaves other beings is hardly superior — mentally or otherwise.” — Captain Kirk “Now, I don’t pretend to tell you how to find happiness and love, when every day is a struggle to survive. But I do insist that you do survive, because the days and the years ahead are worth living for!” — Edith Keeler “Live long and prosper!” — Spock “The most important thing in life is to stop saying 'I wish' and start saying 'I will.' Consider nothing impossible, then treat possibilities as probabilities.” — Charles Dickens Why did the dinosaur cross the road? Because the chicken wasn't born yet! Question: How many times will your heart beat over the course of your lifetime? Answer: Around 2.5 billion times Thank you, Qindarka! Question: Where is the smallest bone in your body? Answer: In your ear In the Catholic Church, the Bishop of Rome is a title more commonly known as what? Answer: Pope Known mainly for spreading a specific type of food, what Massachusetts-born 19th-century man was also fond of spreading religion throughout the country on his journeys? Answer: Johnny Appleseed From 1944 to 1945, the Germans increased their troops surrounding the the Ardennes Forest for what World War II Battle and major counteroffensive? It gets its name from the rounded swelling of German troops in the region. Answer: Battle of the Bulge Michael Joseph Blassie, who died in the Vietnam War, was identified through DNA testing in 1998 and was reinterred after having been buried in what specific location for the previous 26 years? Answer: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Which is the highest-grossing R-rated film in North America? Answer: The Passion of the Christ In which city is Studio 54 located? Answer: New York What was the first Disney animated feature movie that was not based on an already existing story? Answer: The Lion King How many Harry Potter books and movies are there? (Hint: They are not the same number!) Answer: 7 books & 8 movies What is the longest-running Broadway show? Answer: The Phantom of the Opera What is Rihanna’s real name? Answer: Robin Fenty What day is known as Star Wars Day? Answer: May 4th (May the 4th be with you!) Directing Schindler’s List gave who their first Oscar for Best Picture? Answer: Steven Spielberg What magic duo performed at the Mirage casino in Las Vagas from 1990 - 2003? Answer: Siegfried & Roy How many Star Wars movies are there (not including spin-offs like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Solo)? Answer: 9 Who was Walt Disney's favorite princess? Answer: Cinderella Who was the actor to first portray James Bond? Answer: Barry Nelson What is the highest-grossing romantic comedy movie? Answer: My Big Fat Greek Wedding What was the first cable television series to win an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series? Answer: The Sopranos In which country did the first season of Survivor take place? Answer: Malaysia Who won the first season of American Idol? Answer: Kelly Clarkson Before he was the frontman for Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl was the drummer for which band? Answer: Nirvana Which duo won the first Grammy for Best Rap Performance? Answer: DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince What singer holds the most Grammy nominations? Answer: Beyoncé (88 nominations, including the 9 with Destiny's Child) Who is the most recent person to achieve EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) status? Answer: Viola Davis Which country originated the sport of curling? Answer: Scotland 3What is the national sport of Canada? Answer: Lacrosse In what year were the first Air Jordan sneakers released? Answer: 1984 What US city hosted the 1994 World Cup final? Answer: Pasadena (California) What sporting event is held every Memorial Day? Answer: The Indy 500 Which athlete has won the most Olympic medals? Answer: Michael Phelps (28 medals) What is the national sport of Japan? Answer: Sumo wrestling Where is the largest bowling center located? Answer: Japan What is the signature food dish served at Wimbledon? Answer: Strawberries and cream Which NFL player has scored the most touchdowns? Answer: Tom Brady Who is the all-time leading NBA scorer? Answer: LeBron James The first sport invented was what? Answer: Wrestling How long is a marathon? Answer: 26.2 miles What is Muhammad Ali’s real name? Answer: Cassius Clay Which country has the most Olympic medals in swimming? Answer: The USA In bowling, three strikes in a row is called? Answer: A turkey Bruce Lee was famous in what sport? Answer: Wushu How many players are on each side of the net in beach volleyball? Answer: 2 players Which athlete won the Tour de France every year from 1999 - 2005? Answer: Lance Armstrong Who is the youngest golfer ever to win the U.S. Junior Amateur title? Answer: Tiger Woods Ping-pong is an alternative name for which sport? Answer: Table tennis In which sport can you win the Davis Cup? Answer: Tennis How old are the horses that run in the Kentucky Derby? Answer: Three years old What was Wilt Chamberlain’s record for most points in a single game? Answer: 100 points Who is the all-time home run leader? Answer: Barry Bonds (762 on steroids) What is the only country to have played in every single soccer World Cup? Answer: Brazil What sport were women allowed to play in the Olympics for the first time? Answer: Tennis What six-letter word names both a seed company and an exercise that combines a squat, a pushup and a jump in the air? Answer: Burpee Celebrated for its ability to improve athletic capacity and glucose metabolism, HIIT is typically a cardiovascular exercise strategy alternating periods of intense exercise with recovery. What does HIIT stand for? Answer: High-Intensity Interval Training Greg Lemond, who won the Tour de France three times in the late 1980s, was the first cyclist to appear on the cover of which American sports magazine? Answer: Sports Illustrated It can be played indoors or outdoors. It's notable for attracting a wide range of ages and fitness levels. It combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. Its highest governing body is the IFP. What sport is it? Answer: Pickleball Since he pitched 749 games in his 22-year career (including a perfect game in 1904), which MLB player has an award for great pitchers named after him? Answer: Cy Young Mount Whitney is the finish line for the ultramarathon race that starts 135 miles earlier at Badwater, the scorching basin of what national park? Answer: Death Valley 44 games, 1834-2022 19 Start Out : The Pirc by Gallagher by howardb86 Starting Out: The Pirc by Gallagher * Amazing: Game Collection: Amazing Chess Moves (Emms) * First of each ECO: Game Collection: First of Each ECO * How to Analyze: https://thechessworld.com/articles/... * Recommendations: https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/wiki... “Above the clouds I lift my wing To hear the bells of Heaven ring; Some of their music, though my fights be wild, To Earth I bring; Then let me soar and sing!” ― Edmund Clarence Stedman “Life has, indeed, many ills, but the mind that views every object in its most cheering aspect, and every doubtful dispensation as replete with latent good, bears within itself a powerful and perpetual antidote. The gloomy soul aggravates misfortune, while a cheerful smile often dispels those mists that portend a storm.” ― Lydia Sigourney "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." ― Harry S Truman, 33rd President of the United States, and former Colonel in the U.S. Army "All of the real heroes are not storybook combat fighters either. Every single man in this Army play a vital role. Don't ever let up. Don't ever think that your job is unimportant. Every man has a job to do and he must do it. Every man is a vital link in the great chain.” ― General George S. Patton, U.S. Army I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud William Wordsworth I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced; but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company: I gazed—and gazed—but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils “Life is like a chess game. If you play the right move, at the right time you’ll win the game.” – Sruti “Life is like a chess. If you lose your queen, you will probably lose the game.” – Being Caballero “I prefer to lose a really good game than to win a bad one.” – David Levy “Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state.” ― Thomas Jefferson “Chess is life in miniature. Chess is a struggle, chess battles.” ― Garry Kasparov “Age brings wisdom to some men, and to others chess.” ― Evan Esar * Good Historical Links: https://www.saund.co.uk/britbase/in... * Internet tracking: https://www.studysmarter.us/magazin... The Charlatan The world has never lacked its charlatans, More than themselves have lacked their plans. One sees them on the stage at tricks Which mock the claims of sullen Styx. What talents in the streets they post! One of them used to boast Such mastership of eloquence That he could make the greatest dunce Another Tully Cicero In all the arts that lawyers know. "Ay, sirs, a dunce, a country clown, The greatest blockhead of your town, – Nay more, an animal, an ass, – The stupidest that nibbles grass, – Needs only through my course to pass, And he shall wear the gown With credit, honour, and renown." The prince heard of it, called the man, thus spake: "My stable holds a steed Of the Arcadian breed,[24] Of which an orator I wish to make." "Well, sire, you can," Replied our man. At once his majesty Paid the tuition fee. Ten years must roll, and then the learned ass Should his examination pass, According to the rules Adopted in the schools; If not, his teacher was to tread the air, With haltered neck, above the public square, – His rhetoric bound on his back, And on his head the ears of jack. A courtier told the rhetorician, With bows and terms polite, He would not miss the sight Of that last pendent exhibition; For that his grace and dignity Would well become such high degree; And, on the point of being hung, He would bethink him of his tongue, And show the glory of his art, – The power to melt the hardest heart, – And wage a war with time By periods sublime – A pattern speech for orators thus leaving, Whose work is vulgarly called thieving. "Ah!" was the charlatan's reply, vere that, the king, the ass, or I, Shall, one or other of us, die." And reason good had he; We count on life most foolishly, Though hale and hearty we may be. In each ten years, death cuts down one in three. Apr-05-23 WannaBe: Can a vegan have a 'beef' with you? Or Vegans only have 'beet' with you? I am confused. Apr-05-23 Cassandro: Vegan police officers should be exempt from doing steak-outs. poem by B.H. Wood, entitled ‘The Drowser’: Ah, reverie! Ten thousand heads I see Bent over chess-boards, an infinity Of minds engaged in battle, fiendishly, Keenly, or calmly, as the case may be: World-wide, the neophyte, the veteran, The studious problemist, the fairy fan ... “What’s that? – I’m nearly sending you to sleep? Sorry! – but this position’s rather deep.” Source: Chess Amateur, September 1929, page 268. “For beginning chess players, studying a Carlsen game is like wanting to be an electrical engineer and beginning with studying an iPhone.” ― Garry Kasparov “Learn to play many roles, to be whatever the moment requires. Adapt your mask to the situation.” ― Robert Greene “Get a great education. That is something that no one can take away from you." ― Margie Hammargren, former CIA agent, 101 years old Head And Tail Riddle Question: What has a head, a tail, is brown, and has no legs? A brown trout? Riddle Answer: A Penny. Luke 2:9, 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Conceive a man by nature and misfortune prone to a pallid hopelessness, can any business seem more fitted to heighten it than that of continually handling these dead letters and assorting them for the flames? For by the cart-load they are annually burned. Sometimes from out the folded paper the pale clerk takes a ring: - the finger it was meant for, perhaps, moulders in the grave; a bank-note sent in swiftest charity: - he whom it would relieve, nor eats nor hungers any more; pardon for those who died despairing; hope for those who died unhoping; good tidings for those who died stifled by unrelieved calamities. On errands of life, these letters speed to death. Ah Bartleby! Ah humanity! — Herman Melville “Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” ― Thomas A. Edison “Learning from our mistakes is critical for improving, but even I don't have patience for ranking my regrets. Regret is a negative emotion that inhibits the optimism required to take on new challenges. You risk living in an alternative universe, z where if only you had done this or that differently, things would be better. That's a poor substitute for making your actual life better, or improving the lives of others. Regret briefly, analyze and understand, and then move on, improving the only life you have.” ― Garry Kasparov The Road Not Taken Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. “Life is fun. It’s all up to the person. Be satisfied. You don’t have to be ‘happy’ all the time, you need to be satisfied.” — Lucille Boston Lewis, eternal optimist 101 years old “A man either lives life as it happens to him, meets it head-on and licks it, or he turns his back on it and starts to wither away.” — Dr. Boyce “Everything you've ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” — George Adair “He who imagines himself capable should attempt to perform. Neither originality counts, nor criticism of another’s work. It is not courage, nor self-confidence, nor a sense of superiority that tells. Performance alone is the test.” — Emanuel Lasker “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” — Colin Powell “The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” ― Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States, and former U.S. Army Colonel SIX REASONS WHY CHESS IS SO FUN! 01) Hardly any luck is involved in chess. 02) Chances of the same exact game being repeated is highly unlikely. 03) Chess can be played anytime, anywhere. 04) There is no age, gender, or language barrier in chess. 05) Chess takes your mind away from your problems. 06) Playing chess makes you feel special. 32 games, 1931-2002 19 Stella's Fresh Oysters Compiled by Stella Mar * Amazing: Game Collection: Amazing Chess Moves (Emms) * First of each ECO: Game Collection: First of Each ECO * How to Analyze: https://thechessworld.com/articles/... * Recommendations: https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/wiki... “Above the clouds I lift my wing To hear the bells of Heaven ring; Some of their music, though my fights be wild, To Earth I bring; Then let me soar and sing!” ― Edmund Clarence Stedman “Life has, indeed, many ills, but the mind that views every object in its most cheering aspect, and every doubtful dispensation as replete with latent good, bears within itself a powerful and perpetual antidote. The gloomy soul aggravates misfortune, while a cheerful smile often dispels those mists that portend a storm.” ― Lydia Sigourney "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." ― Harry S Truman, 33rd President of the United States, and former Colonel in the U.S. Army "All of the real heroes are not storybook combat fighters either. Every single man in this Army play a vital role. Don't ever let up. Don't ever think that your job is unimportant. Every man has a job to do and he must do it. Every man is a vital link in the great chain.” ― General George S. Patton, U.S. Army I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud William Wordsworth I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced; but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company: I gazed—and gazed—but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils “Chess is life and every game is like a new life. – Eduard Gufeld “Life is like a chess. If you lose your queen, you will probably lose the game.” – Being Caballero “It’s an eminently and emphatically the philosopher’s game.” – Paul Morphy “The ability to work hard for days on end without losing focus is a talent. The ability to keep absorbing new information after many hours of study is a talent.”– Garry Kasparov * Yum! http://stellamaroysters.com/ * Good Historical Links: https://www.saund.co.uk/britbase/in... * Internet tracking: https://www.studysmarter.us/magazin... * Glossary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloss... Leeeena wrote: Chess Upon the marble foundation stood kings of light and dark. Each towered above their noble men, each watched from their royal mark. The queens faced off where they stood, while the knights mounted their horses. The bitter players sat on each side considering their forces. The bishops were positioned beside the rooks, the pawns in a line up front. Up there they would take the attacks, up there they would take the brunt. The pieces were arranged in perfect order the match was about to begin. The players shook hands, one stone faced the other with a stretching grin. The pawns of ivory made their move while the ebony ones looked on. And so it went, one piece at a time until most of them were gone. There the queens were protecting their kings before one made a fatal mistake. With a slash from a knight, the queen was brought down and it left the king to quiver and quake. The pieces that were left quickly moved in and the king was pushed to his knees His crown fell off and rolled away to the sounds of his dying pleas. “Chess is a sea in which a gnat may drink and an elephant may bathe.” ― Indian Proverb “For beginning chess players, studying a Carlsen game is like wanting to be an electrical engineer and beginning with studying an iPhone.” ― Garry Kasparov “All warfare is based on deception.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War “Opportunities multiply as they are seized.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War Discord The goddess Discord, having made, on high, Among the gods a general grapple, And thence a lawsuit, for an apple, Was turned out, bag and baggage, from the sky. The animal called man, with open arms, Received the goddess of such naughty charms, – Herself and Whether-or-no, her brother, With Thine-and-mine, her stingy mother. In this, the lower universe, Our hemisphere she chose to curse: For reasons good she did not please To visit our antipodes – Folks rude and savage like the beasts, Who, wedding-free from forms and priests, In simple tent or leafy bower, Make little work for such a power. That she might know exactly where Her direful aid was in demand, Renown flew courier through the land, Reporting each dispute with care; Then she, outrunning Peace, was quickly there; And if she found a spark of ire, Was sure to blow it to a fire. At length, Renown got out of patience At random hurrying over the nations, And, not without good reason, thought A goddess, like her mistress, ought To have some fixed and certain home, To which her customers might come; For now they often searched in vain. With due location, it was plain She might accomplish vastly more, And more in season than before. To find, however, the right facilities, Was harder, then, than now it is; For then there were no nunneries. So, Hymen's inn at last assigned, Thence lodged the goddess to her mind. The Sun and the Frogs Rejoicing on their tyrant's wedding-day, The people drowned their care in drink; While from the general joy did Aesop shrink, And showed its folly in this way. "The sun," said he, "once took it in his head To have a partner for his bed. From swamps, and ponds, and marshy bogs, Up rose the wailings of the frogs. "What shall we do, should he have progeny?" Said they to Destiny; "One sun we scarcely can endure, And half-a-dozen, we are sure, Will dry the very sea. Adieu to marsh and fen! Our race will perish then, Or be obliged to fix Their dwelling in the Styx!" For such an humble animal, The frog, I take it, reasoned well." Conceive a man by nature and misfortune prone to a pallid hopelessness, can any business seem more fitted to heighten it than that of continually handling these dead letters and assorting them for the flames? For by the cart-load they are annually burned. Sometimes from out the folded paper the pale clerk takes a ring: - the finger it was meant for, perhaps, moulders in the grave; a bank-note sent in swiftest charity: - he whom it would relieve, nor eats nor hungers any more; pardon for those who died despairing; hope for those who died unhoping; good tidings for those who died stifled by unrelieved calamities. On errands of life, these letters speed to death. Ah Bartleby! Ah humanity! — Herman Melville What is the loudest animal on Earth? Answer: The sperm whale What is the tallest breed of dog? Answer: Great Dane How many hearts does an octopus have? Answer: Three What are the only two mammals that lay eggs? Answer: Echidna and platypus What color is a giraffe's tongue? Answer: Black How many bones do sharks have? Answer: Zero! What is the fear of spiders called? Answer: Arachnophobia What is the largest animal on the planet? Answer: Antarctic Blue Whale Which animal is the fastest on land? Answer: Cheetah While often confused with llamas, what breed of camelid is used for fleece production, while its cousin the llama is not? Answer: Alpaca What creature with an equine name has no teeth or stomach, mates for life, and is the only species on Earth where the male carries the unborn offspring? Answer: Seahorse What is the name of the second tallest (standing) bird on the planet? This animal is found only in Australia and is related to the ostrich. Answer: Emu The largest living lizard can't breathe fire, but it does have a venomous bite that inhibits blood clotting. What creature is this? Answer: Komodo dragon The Sumatran species of what famously horned mammal officially went extinct in Malaysia in November 2019? The animal is not yet extinct globally as a few dozen live in Indonesia. Answer: Rhino What does the bat use to navigate and locate its prey? Answer: Echolocation What is the fastest fish in the ocean that can reach up to 68 MPH? Answer: Sailfish What is the color of the most poisonous frog in the world? Answer: Yellow What are male honeybees called? Answer: Drones How many compartments do cows have in their stomach? Answer: Four What are the only birds that can fly backward? Answer: Hummingbirds What do you call animals that eat everything (meat, plants and fish)? Answer: Omnivores What shark is thought to be the largest to have ever lived on Earth? Answer: Megalodon Besides elephants and rhinoceroses, what other animals are considered pachyderms? Answer: Hippopotamuses What is the largest land predator? Answer: Polar bear What fish is known as a poor man’s lobster? Answer: Monkfish What is a rhinoceros horn made of? Answer: Hair This is the only snake that builds a nest. Answer: King cobra Which bird has the largest wingspan? Answer: Albatross What was the first animal placed on the endangered species list? Answer: Peregrine falcon What are rhinoceros horns made of? Answer: Hair The age of a lion can be determined by its? Answer: Nose What bird cannot move their eyeballs? Answer: Owls A group of crows is called what? Answer: Murder What kind of creature is a Portuguese Man O' War? Answer: Jellyfish 22 games, 1911-2005

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