I'm never going back, even when I have the choice.

The only reason to have windows now is to run the stuff that still doesn't support Linux, which is admittedly a lot of the things we are interested in unfortunately.

Do you actually know the rules of the Gothic chess game that Fischer was supposed to be thinking about playing with Karpov?

I looked it up and there is a link to a game in my forum.

It looks plain stupid to me. The King has nowhere to hide with three Mega-Pieces roving the board IMO, Queen plus:

The Chancellor = Knight + Rook

The Archbishop = Knight + Bishop

I was reading into the dozens of different chess variants available on Wiki.

Even though the game has been modified for centuries with people coming up with various new ideas, I actually like Fischer Random the best of all of them.

If I was forced to play a variant, FR would be the only choice for me.

I used to think FR was nothing like chess, but having looked at some of the other ideas, it could be a lot worse!

haha

Anyway I was wondering if you have ever been tempted by any of the chess variants?

All this talk about them made me curious.

The only reason <FischerRandom> is not an abomination is because it has Bobby's name in it.

I call it <Bobby's Folly>, myself.

I don't play chess "variants."

I don't eat "food variants."

I don't walk on "sidewalk variants."

And I don't care for people who do.

Chess is sacred, and it shall only be played the way it's been played for the last 500 years.

If it has to be changed, they should reverse the rules to even older times.

In it's oldest version, chess had only two pieces:

<The Grand Croupier> and <The Wheel>.

I'm not sure how they moved though.

Mrs. I didn't spend the last three years of my life memorizing openings and the grand tradition of chess as it was meant to be played for nothing.

I have an antidote for you though.

Find that honking big book that has every single opening collected-- I have it in paperback. It's in the "old notation" as well, so it's virtually incomprehensible.

I think you should get ahold of this book and memorize it-

That will keep you from "bad influences," I hope.

What the heck is the name of it.

Cripe I have it at home in Vancouver.

"Subitzky's ECO Coloring Book"?

hmm....

It's a good thick book- it was handy for anchoring down the newspaper on my porch on windy days.

Yeah I can see what you mean.

I think the only people that really like chess variants are the ones that are not very good at the real thing.

Or the ones with a lot less time already invested in the original like you and me.

I forgot to mention Seirwan chess, I read about that too and I think that is better than the Capablanca or Gothic versions.

I would never play that junk though over the real thing.

Never!

So please don't worry about me defecting to www.gothic-chessgames.com

anytime in this lifetime.

Interesting article!!

I'm glad I'm not a <South Korean Diplomat>.

Did you know the Chinese are now three deep?

Hypothetically?! You are not ready for the red pill...

---

Zarg: I imagine that right now you're feeling a bit like Alice. Tumbling down the rabbit hole?

Neo: You could say that.

Zarg: I can see it in your eyes. You have the look of a man who accepts what he sees because he's expecting to wake up. Ironically, this is not far from the truth. Do you believe in fate, Neo?

Neo: No.

Zarg: Why not?

Neo: 'Cause I don't like the idea that I'm not in control of my life.

Zarg: I know exactly what you mean. Let me tell you why you're here. You're here because you know something. What you know, you can't explain. But you feel it. You felt it your entire life. That there's something wrong with the world. You don't know what it is, but it's there. Like a splinter in your mind -- driving you mad. It is this feeling that has brought you to me. Do you know what I'm talking about?

Neo: The Matrix?

Zarg: Do you want to know what it is?
(Neo nods his head.)

Zarg: The Matrix is everywhere, it is all around us. Even now, in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window, or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, or when go to church or when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth. Neo: What truth?

Zarg: That you are a slave, Neo. Like everyone else, you were born into bondage, born inside a prison that you cannot smell, taste, or touch. A prison for your mind. (long pause, sighs) Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself. This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. (In his left hand, Zarg shows a blue pill.)

Oh! The horrid Chinese snoops!

Luckily, we live in a democracy that doesn't snoop on our every phone call, keystroke or visit to the shops.

*cough* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECHELON

Heh- I know INTERPOL monitors every keystroke I make.

<BABUSHKA>

I'm assuming you have a super busy year now since you have abandonded us!!

We miss you a lot.

This is a new series in opening knowledge inspired by <Boomie> who taught me about the concept of the "tactic not played".

The idea being that you can't really get better past a certain level unless you gain the ability to play sound positional chess in the opening.

More specifically, coffee house tactical fireworks that might work against weaker players won't work against stronger players.

So <Part One: NO FREE PAWN>

In the <English Attack> against the <Schvenigen>, here is a position that is often reached:

1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 e6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 d6
6. Be3 a6
7. f3 Be7
8. Qd2 Nc6
9. O-O-O O-O 1
0. g4 Nd7
11. h4

Black to move:

click for larger view

Why is it a really BAD IDEA for Black to nab the "free pawn" and play <11...Bxh4??>

I actually had this position as White and the guy DID take my pawn <11...Bxh4> and I did not find the way to punish him OTB.

This was last year sometime. Embarrassingly, I went on to lose that game. I remembered the game and the loss today, by accident, when I was watching a <Kingscrusher video> where the exact same postion was reached and it brought me "bad memories" as I recognized it immediately.

This position is well <in theory>, but I didn't know the theory when I played the game from here.

###################

Ok- Explain why this is a bad move and please give <SPECIFIC VARIATIONS> that show how White best punishes this <coffee house> error.

Hint-- you have to show a couple of variations at least 2 or 3 moves deep to illustrate why <11...h4?> is ALWAYS a bad move in ALL variations.

Five Burritos will be mailed to the person who gives the most accurate answer.