Ok, back from <baba> and I wasn't kidding about plan 3- a dual wing assault.

So I looked hard at <a3>, <a4>, <Kb1>, and <Na6> (strange but flexible).

I also have looked at <e3>, <f3>, and <Ne7>.

But I see no immediate reason, after all this, to give up my <h pawn> just yet. Your control of the <g> file is making your <Kh8> look good now, I think I made a mistake there a few moves back.

So, I launch Plan 4 with <23.Rh1>. Looks passive, but I have a secret "idea."

I just got back from <baba board> looking at the many, many Candidate moves for Black including <h6>. I wouldn't have chosen that one, so I'm relieved. I think you had other moves that would cause me more long term structural problems.

I can play 4 at a time in my forum, but on <gameknot> you have to make the deadlines, it's more of a committment.

<MannBee> gets the next spot, He wants to play on <gameknot>, which I've never tried before.

I believe you are next in line, and you can choose <gameknot> or my <forum>. I prefer my <forum>, since we can "trash talk" and I also let opponents take back moves occasionally. They are informal workshopping "friendly" kinds of games, and <Dom> and <Eyal> very kindly do analysis post game for the benefit of me and my opponents. However, either way.

I have zero criteria for opponents except one-- they must be friendly people. You qualify. Oh wait there's another one. I'm ducking <Bill> and <Shropshire> cuz I'm afraid to play them. <Shrop> slaughtered me twice in my first two Correspondence games I ever played. He's a monster in Correspondence.

BTW, I have won every game against lower rated players and against higher rated opposition I have lost every time except one win against <samikd> and a draw against <wilson>.

Ratings matter!!

Mine is approximately 1650 at the moment, <Yahoo rating>. I haven't played enough games on FICS to get a rating yet, I'm one win one loss there. I find the site confusing. In fact, in the game I won, I didn't even realize he had resigned for about ten minutes.

At any rate, I now take the initiative back a pawn up, unless I've missed something dreadful.

I play <24.e4>

I wouldn't know an <exchange variation> from a <pink elephant>, btw.

When I started studying chess seriously for the first time in my life, just about a year ago, everything I read said the same thing.

Study endgame first and most, study tactics problems, pick two openings for White and two for Black and do your best, playing players at least 50 points higher than you.

With black, I play <c5> against <e4> and <d5> against <d4>.

If I'm prevented from playing these four, I have to "wing it."

But I ALWAYS avoid Spanish Game.

My favorite thing about Ruy Lopez is you never, ever, have to play it if you don't want, Black or White.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?d...

Heh.

PS can I call you <Deffi> like the guys do? I was going to try <OD> but it didn't look right.

Awaiting permission.

<SQUARES, TACTIC, DURANGO, ELIXIR> Your move, buds.

I don't have any OTB tournament rating yet, but my Yahoo rating has been in 1600's like an year ago, since I play on playchess (1600+) these days.

Playing chess here is fine with me since I like some trash talk too. But I don't know how 'trash talking' works in chess and especially how to make an optimal use of it to gain advantage. On the contrary, you seem to have gained a lot of expertise in that area thru the games above ;) Neways, am ready to jump in the correspon<dance> bandwagon.