MSteen Member since Oct-02-14 I've been playing chess for about 45 years now, have been to the World Open twice, have participated in the PA State championships, and have played in various tournaments. And I still STINK. I love the game, love doing tactics problems, love playing over master games, and even watching chess videos. But nothing has ever gotten me much above 1300--ever. But that's OK. It's the love of the game that keeps me coming back, not the stellar rating. My greatest achievement, though, has been defeating a 2000+ player in a rated tournament game, giving away over 800 points at the time. To say we were both surprised is an understatement. Aside from chess, I was an English teacher fo 34 years, and have been retired and substitute teaching at my school now for 12 years. It's the best job I've ever had. So far, I'm thoroughly enjoying chessgames.com! Its "Guess the Move" is fantastic, and the number of ways one can search the database is unsurpassed. It's a wonderful companion site to chess.com, where I also have a membership. I'm hoping the two together can raise my rating--maybe--into the 1400s. My other hobbies include reading thrillers, crossword puzzles, going to the gym, harvesting firewood with a chainsaw and an axe, and playing crokinole (look it up), with my grandchildren. By the way, I chose Doc Savage as my avatar because I've been a huge fan of those (terrible and wonderful) books since I was 14.

MSteen has kibitzed 43 times to chessgames   [more...]

Dec-26-23 Bodhana Sivanandan    MSteen: Just watched a video on this young lady on Gotham Chess on YouTube. He is blown away by the sophistication of her play, and he predicts great things from her. If she continues to play and improve as rapidly as she has already, she may push Carlsen off his throne as the most famous ...      Nov-19-23 N Theodorou vs Radjabov, 2023    MSteen: I was stunned by 7 Qd5+!! Yes, Morphy would approve.      Apr-22-23 Nepomniachtchi vs Ding Liren, 2023    MSteen: Of course, I did mean 44. Nxf5. My mistake. Still, I thought saddling Ding with doubled pawns might have made it more difficult for him.      Jan-14-23 G Bono vs R Eberlein, 1978    MSteen: Just relentless! Love the way White bats away every one of Black's attempts at defense, all the while letting his rook just hang.      May-19-22 Ivanchuk vs J Polgar, 2010    MSteen: I missed a mate in one on chess.com today. And then I lost on time. I was beating myself up. Now I don't feel so bad.      Dec-05-21 Carlsen vs Nepomniachtchi, 2021    MSteen: Is it possible that, being 2 points behind, Nepo feels an overwhelming pressure to save the match and begins to crack under the strain? Yes, we know what their past results have been, but Magnus has a commanding lead, and he can get a draw against anyone seemingly without effort. My ...      Oct-29-20 Morphy vs Schrufer, 1859    MSteen: I have been playing over this collection of 57 of Morphy's best games, and every one is an astonishment! In game after game, I see threats to a major piece that would have me retreating in terror. And, every time, Morphy just ignores it and goes about crushing his opponent with a ...      Oct-23-20 T Barnes vs Morphy, 1858    MSteen: What astonishes me about Morphy every time, aside from his almost supernatural tactical ability, is the blithe way he simply ignores threats that would have me paralyzed and ready to resign. Over and over he allows his opponents to eat up his pieces in a mad material grab while he ...      Oct-04-20 Morphy vs Le Carpentier, 1849    MSteen: I don't care if it's chicanery or the devil's work. Who among us mortals would have the vision, courage, and sheer chutzpah to play 11. Bxf7 instead of 11. Rxd1? Sure, you can see it easily AFTER you've seen it, but it still reeks of genius.      Sep-13-20 J Sunye Neto vs Romanishin, 1980    MSteen: This looks like the kind of game where White thought he was winning right up until he lost.

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