Today, we report from the 1650-1750 range.

Of the last 11 games I have played as White in this range, no fewer than (count 'em) 6 opponents have played <Philidor>.

Of these 6, 3 played <Bg4>, allowing <Morphy's> Bc4 after the pawn exchange.

Question: Haven't any of these people looked at the <Morphy> game with <Fischer's> snotty annotations?

At this level of play, shouldn't they know that <Bg4> is "already a weak move," as <Fischer> pointed out?

End Transmission... All Rights Reserved, FROGSPAWN INC.- The Magazine that STILL thinks you're a Frog....

Wasn't <Philidor> a Frenchman?

I must have seen at least 20 such books. And the (slightly higher level) exceptions said things like "Morphy's Opera miniature is too well known to cite here..." It's also in the top 5 games in the CG database, as measured by the number of game collections which include it.

Personally, I think it's a mismatch: like using an exquisite samurai sword to unblock a toaster. But I assumed that everyone knew it, even apart from Fischer's comments.

As a result of all this, the Philidor itself had an undeservedly bad reputation, and *nobody* played ...Bg4.

Not any more. I must conclude that the post-literate chessplayer can 'get good' (up to a point, Lord Copper) without ever encountering famous games in a structured form. They just play a lot of chess online.

Or maybe they actually *are* Yahoos, in the Swiftian sense. The Yahoo Variation of the Philidor?

♔ Balnibarbi, Grand Academy of Lagado

<The other project was, a scheme for entirely abolishing all words whatsoever; and this was urged as a great advantage in point of health, as well as brevity. For it is plain, that every word we speak is, in some degree, a diminution of our lunge by corrosion, and, consequently, contributes to the shortening of our lives. An expedient was therefore offered, “that since words are only names for things, it would be more convenient for all men to carry about them such things as were necessary to express a particular business they are to discourse on”... which has only this inconvenience attending it, that if a man’s business be very great, and of various kinds, he must be obliged, in proportion, to carry a greater bundle of things upon his back, unless he can afford one or two strong servants to attend him. I have often beheld two of those sages almost sinking under the weight of their packs, like pedlars among us, who, when they met in the street, would lay down their loads, open their sacks, and hold conversation for an hour together; then put up their implements, help each other to resume their burdens, and take their leave.>

I deserve to be hanged for this.. I know..
It's just one of those days.. You know..

The queen symbol looks like a veti.. nah better not go there.

Do you teach? Anything?

I need a mentor (I pay generously)

I'll consult <brankat> and <hitman> as well.

My time management is the worse.

(Lack of experience obviously)

I'm not sure about the study angle. If chess clubs still have a function in the 21st century, it's to provide a venue to actually play lots of OTB games, fast and slow ... and meet people, of course.

In theory, I suppose the studying and the playing of many games should complement each other. I was lucky, aged 18, to be in a college club with some very strong players (you know, back in ancient history, people like Philidor, Bourdonnais and MacDonnell... Elias Stein with his crazy 'Dutch Defence', and good old 'Captain' Evans with his gambit...)

There were even some actual girls there, if my old memory isn't playing tricks with me.

<Kidding aside, I phoned the club secretary and indicated my willingness to join... I haven't actually tried *going* there yet...> GO! ;-)

And an added chance to meeting people slow and fast, so that's cool.

Nah, the staunton set must be out of reach for me. Like 50's Jazz.. It will never be the way it was.

So what crowd is left now to *hang out* with?

Judit's Students? Kasp's wasps? Kurtz's nerds.. I am despaired by now..

First step coming friday..

Ah Spring! When young men's fancies turn to CHESS CLUBS???

?????

Excuse me?

Ok that's it I'm joining one too then.

(trying to keep up with the Jonessess)

Archggggh (hork) blinks, etc.

Nought's as good as a wink to a blind vote counter....

Could be... chess club pictures taken on holiday... bathing suits...

Remember I suggested making a spring break film and putting it on <Youtube>?

Don't forget, I'm looking forward to this.

I wanted to be a bactraophile cuz I love Frogs, but I accidentally became a bactrianophile instead (lover of two humped camels). What should I do?