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 36 times to chessgames   [more...]

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 W 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.      Jul-31-20 M Karttunen vs Stellwagen, 2011    MSteen: Don't usually play over games this long, but into the endgame by move 16!? Brilliant play and well worth playing over repeatedly to see this endgame technique.      Jul-25-20 Quinteros vs L Fernandez Novas, 1995    MSteen: Terrific game! I tried to imagine being black, and all I could think of was being strangled. Quinteros never let up for a moment. Shades of the 19th century immortal tacticians.      Jun-28-20 A Giri vs Morozevich, 2012   MSteen: Just amazing. Ignores one threat after another and pulls out a stunning win. Just like the great 19th century tacticians.      Apr-19-20 chessgames.com chessforum    MSteen: Just adding my 2 cents: Playing over games is incredibly jumpy and annoying. The pieces leap out to beyond where they should be, and then rocket back to the correct position. Since 99% of the usefulness of this site is playing over classic and current games, this glitch has rendered      Feb-02-20 Lautier vs Vaganian, 2004   MSteen: Paul Hoffman discusses this game and it's aftermath in "King's Gambit," his memoir about growing up playing chess and meeting some of the world's top players. Fascinating. If Lautier had won this game, he would have pocketed $18,000. As it was, he got $800. WOW! Imagine losing ...      Jan-31-20 Vachier-Lagrave vs R Rapport, 2019    MSteen: To come up with something this brilliant in a rapid game?? Mind-boggling.

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