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Jun-29-23
 | | moronovich: How about your chess, recently ?
Are you satisfied with it ? |
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| Jun-29-23 | | virginmind: Well, my chess playing has ups and downs, in the past 2 weeks I noticed a decrease in rating, but in the last couple of days there is a certain tendency to the contrary. There are moments of chess blindness from time to time, failing to perceive evident moves (once I didn't see I had a mate in one). Not to mention getting outplayed right from some openings, due of course to my lack of specific preparation. But I still get the same drive and pleasure out of each game. |
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Jun-29-23
| | moronovich: <But I still get the same drive and pleasure out of each game.> And that is what matters most. Anytime, in my book. Better to be lower rated and feeling the pleasure, than higher rated, where chess can sometimes be a heavy duty and endless struggle. |
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Jul-19-23
 | | Fusilli: <Better to be lower rated and feeling the pleasure, than higher rated, where chess can sometimes be a heavy duty and endless struggle.> I started playing competitive chess at 12. When I was 21, I stopped playing because chess was consuming my life. Losing was extremely painful and winning was only a relief. Three years later, my friends talked me into playing an open tournament. (I was still living in Argentina.) I played with a different attitude... just to enjoy my games and hang out with my friends. And I did very well (I still remember I scored +3 =3 -1 against good opposition). Then I didn't play again until my last year of grad school in Philly, 11 years later. At that point, in my mid-30s, chess was just for fun. To my surprise, I got a USCF rating in the mid-2200s... That is, about the same strength I had 11 years earlier. And I had not prepped or anything, and was totally out of date with openings and such. Since then, I have tried to play with that carefree attitude, though sometimes anxiety comes back. But there is no doubt in my chess experience about which approach works best for me. |
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| Jul-20-23 | | virginmind: Hi <Fusilli> and <moronovich>! Well, I guess once you've played competitively for some 10 years, you've got enough strength to keep you going even after 10/20 years...Sure, there's the preparation part, and lack of practice that may draw you back, but getting again that rating probably means you never lost your talent for the middle game and endings. Great! As of me, I've never got past 1700 Fide - then again, played semi-competitively only for 2-3 years. But indeed, looks like once you really enjoy what you're doing, you're able to recover much more quickly the playing strength you may have lost. |
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Jul-20-23
| | moronovich: Hi´guys !
Great to see you in da house. Like a tribute to the joy of playing. And there is actually a book out there, called "The joy of chess" which is hereby highly recommended. Not like anyother book. All the best
-moro- |
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| Jul-20-23 | | virginmind: And by the way: many happy returns of the day!
How so? Because today is the international chess day! :) https://nationaltoday.com/internati... Hugs. |
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Jul-20-23
| | moronovich: Thanks <virginmind> ! Let us have a toast in the name of chess !
Hugs to you too. |
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Sep-01-23
| | moronovich: Good evening, dear <virginmind> ! Hope everything is fine in Iasi and that you are doing well ! Here things are ok, besides from minor issues with my eyesight, but tomorrow Hannah and I, are heading for the local optician, who will make a thougroghly test. Otherwise I am enjoying the "Vuelta" immensely, here where the indian summer has taken over, my favourite part of the year. All the best and hugs to you and Maria ! |
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| Sep-02-23 | | virginmind: Hi, dear <moronovich>, I am doing well, apart from a bout of dizziness last week. I talked by phone with the (other) neurologist's assistant and again she said I should come for an assessment of my benign MS. They scheduled an MRI for me, but only in Nov (if I want it for free). I don't know why this happened, the last time I got such an attack was in 2016. Anyhow, I have no intention to start their treatment, as symptoms are very sparse. Not so hot anymore, as we move into autumn, we even got some rain 3 days ago.
We might go to Spain by mid September, if all goes well (the air company not cancelling our flight) and visit Madrid, Salamanca, Leon and other cities.
I kept playing chess over the net, not with bad results if I may say so.
La Vuelta, yeah, I can imagine is quite entertaining. Hugs for Hannah and you. And take care with the eyesight. I too had a visit to the optician a month ago, and she said that the pain behind my right eye is not ophtalmology related. Besides, I see quite well. |
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| Sep-08-23 | | virginmind: On Sept. 17 La Vuelta cyclists will pass through Madrid and we'll be there, maybe I'll get to see them. |
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Sep-08-23
| | moronovich: Hey that is great news, my dear <virginmind> ! And may you enjoy your trip to the spanish capital. A fine city it is. But I suppose you have been there before ? All the best for the upcoming weekend and to good health. Hugs to both you and Maria. Here we are enjoying the Vuelta and today it was Jonas ! ;) The great little dane. |
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| Sep-08-23 | | virginmind: Thank you <moronovich>, and no, I haven't yet been to Madrid, nor to Spain for that matter. We're still debating, actually, as dizziness has been present in the past days (although in a mild form, not like the one in Aug. 25), if to shorten the itinerary. It's possible that we will stick to Madrid for 5 nights and to Salamanca for 6, to reduce the risks should my dizziness won't go away.
Good luck to Jonas! |
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Sep-17-23
| | moronovich: God morning dear <virginmind> ! Hope your health, dizziness is ok/fine on your planed trip to the spanish capital !? May be I can spot you on the tele, when the riders come to town ? ;) When I was in Madrid, some decades ago, I vividly remember their beautiful parks. The best I have ever been to. So here´s to hopefully a pleasant trip and many hugs to you and to Maria. See you up the road. |
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| Sep-25-23 | | virginmind: Hi <moronovich> dear, we just returned from Spain and it was pretty charming. I did have another bout of strong dizziness in the day after we arrived in Madrid, but it slowly receded and then it was all right. Like I said, we kept for Madrid and Salamanca, with a day trip to Toledo and one to Avila. Indeed, we were to Retiro park in Madrid and we liked it a lot. But I didn't have time to catch the passing La Vuelta cyclists. Havent been to Bernabeu stadium either. Other than that we enjoyed Madrid over all, it's art nouveau buildings etc. We only been to Reina Sofia museum, not to Prado (the latter would have took a full day to visit). Salamanca was a very nice surprize, with it's gorgeous cathedrals. Also, we enjoyed visiting Toledo, the interior of its cathedral being, I think, the most impressive we've seen so far. Equally impressive, the exterior of Old and New Cathedrals in Salamanca. Avila on the other hand, was a bit of a let down, in my opinion - maybe due to high expectations I had after reading on some tourist forums...The weather was great too while in Spain, but for 2 windy and colder days. Hugs to you and Hannah and hoping you are both fine. |
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Oct-13-23
| | moronovich: Hello again, my friend <virginmind> ! Great to hear you had such a fine trip to Spain and hopefully your dizziness has improved or better : Vanished. Sorry I am a bit to the late side, but not so much to write about, but he autum, for shure is here, with wind and rain. The psykologists are always busy (ier) at the end of semptember, but thankfully I am one of the lucky ones, who like the conditions. So I´ll send all my best wishes to you and hopefully you and Maria will enjoy the upcoming weekend. Many hugs !
At St. Louis tonight with a lot of interesting chess and, off course, good old Yasser ;) |
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| Oct-14-23 | | virginmind: Hi my dear, after returning from Spain dizziness indeed seems to have stopped. I will talk to the neurologist in a few days and so then I'll know better what to do about it. I'm glad you are fine and what do you think about Magnus' loss 2 days ago? I didn't have a chance to watch Saint Louis yet, and in the next days I'll have some more work scheduled for my job. Today 26 degrees Celsius in Iasi, can you believe it? But starting from Monday they say a polar wave will arrive above Romania, so good bye summer time... Maria left 2 days ago to Onesti/Pancesti and so I'm alone in this weekend. I should start working already on some writing requirements, but am not in the mood. I prefer to watch the last sunny&warm moments of this autumn, while also looking at the 4th round in Qatar. Maybe I'll play a chess game a bit later. At 59 life's still cool, and I'm sure you know it :)
God help those at war though, they are having a terrible time... Hugs. |
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Oct-18-23
| | moronovich: Hello again, my dear <virginmind> ! Yes life is still cool, because of and despite having turned 70 this year ;) And I am very pleased to hear that the dizziness have stopped and I pray to, it will continue that way and that the neurologist have had some good advice(s) for you, perhaps !? Have tried dizziness several times myself and it is nothing to joke about. Hannah and I did some gardening today as it is October at its finest hour. Also before it may be too late. In a little more than 2 months it is Chrismas Eve ! ;) Personally I think it is the best for chess, that our norwegian friend doesn´t run away with it all, so I am fine with his loss. All the best from Denmark and greetings from Hannah too ! Hugs to you and Maria. |
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| Oct-18-23 | | virginmind: But again today Magnus losing with white to Murali Karthikeyan! Chess is great! :) I've seen the neurologist yesterday and he put me on a waiting list to get the (free) treatment for SM. As it happens, right after I returned home dizziness started again (lighter though) and continues all day long today, but I should be all right. Of course life can be great too at 70 and I am glad you're having a good time together. Hugs and have fun in Denmark! |
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Oct-21-23
| | moronovich: Good morning dear <virginmind> ! Here autum has started for real. Stormy and with heavy rain.The appels have left our big tree in the garden and though the clock says 8.15, it is still dark outside. But we are cousy inside and looking forward to this weekend. And I really hope your dizziness has gone, or has become less dominant. But when will you see the neurologist ? Best wishes for your weekend, in good old Iasi ! Hugs to you and to Maria. |
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| Oct-22-23 | | virginmind: Hi my dear, 32 degrees Celsius yesterday and 27 today, in Iasi, now that's my kind of autumn, no doubt...:) But I think the stormy weather from your place is heading this way, which I don't particulary like. The neurologist said he will call me when my turn (on the list) will come, but he also said not to expect this to be very soon - either there are too many waiting, or the government money is scarce. I am in no rush though, at least while my condition is in a mild form. I am winning at chess again, and that swiss in Isle of Man is about to start. Good times. |
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| Oct-31-23 | | virginmind: Hi! Here's a 15 min rapid I played this evening, for fun. I was black. Can you believe I missed both his hanging queen, and then the queen fork in the end (did he just offered it to me?)? Well, the game is marred by mutual overlooks around moves 23-26 anyway... 1. c4 2 e5 3 2. Nc3 1 c6 2 3. Nf3 2 d6 8 4. d3 1 g6 1 5. g3 2
Bg7 1 6. Bg2 3 Nf6 2 7. Rb1 4 O-O 15 8. O-O 2 Re8 2 9. b4 6
Nbd7 17 10. Bd2 2 Nf8 3 11. a4 3 Ne6 2 12. b5 11 c5 15 13. Bg5
15 Rb8 10 14. Nd5 $2 25 (14. Bh4 $14 stays ahead.) 14... h6 $2 9 (
14... Nxg5 $19 15. Nxg5 Nxd5 16. Nxf7 Kxf7 17. Bxd5+ Be6 18. Bxe6+ Rxe6) 15.
Nxf6+ 16 Bxf6 16 16. Bxf6 58 Qxf6 2 17. h4 3 Kg7 15 18. e3 6 Rg8
16 19. Nh2 2 b6 23 20. Qc1 41 Nf8 19 21. Bd5 24 Nh7 41 22. e4 17
Bd7 18 (22... Bh3 $11) 23. f4 14 Kf8 $2 20 (23... Rgf8 $14) 24. Qe3 $2
24 (24. fxe5 Qg7 (24... Qxe5 25. Qxh6+) 25. Rxf7+ Qxf7 26. Bxf7 Kxf7 27. Qxh6
) 24... Bh3 $2 18 (24... Rg7 25. fxe5 Qxe5 26. Qxh6 Be6) 25. Rf2 8 Rg7 119
26. g4 $15 42 (26. fxe5 $18 Qe7 27. exd6) 26... Qxh4 17 27. fxe5 2 dxe5
17 28. Rf3 21 Bxg4 16 29. Nxg4 3 Qxg4+ 3 30. Rg3 3 Qf4 28 31. Qe1
26 Qf6 26 32. Rb2 2 Ng5 38 33. Rf2 3 Qe7 17 34. Rh2 15 h5 23
35. Qe3 6 Ne6 17 36. Qh6 6 Kg8 111 37. Rf2 44 Rh7 56 38. Qe3 13
Rf8 13 39. Rf5 47 Nf4 7 40. Qf3 42 Qh4 27 41. Rfg5 31 Rg7 30 42.
Qe2 45 Nh3+ 17 43. Kg2 10 Nxg5 3 44. Rh3 9 Guest32778793 resigns 0-1 |
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Nov-01-23
| | moronovich: Good morning my dear <virginmind> ! Thank you so much for sharing your game with me. And it has been a pleasure going through it with all its twists and turns. An interesting battle I´ll say and I guess we have all been there with hanging queens and kings ;). Once in a rated game my opponent left his king (!!) en prise and then I simply took it ;) My opponent, a good chessfriend, never fullly recovered after this incident. But I graciously gave him his king back after the incident. Have just send Hannah off to her university and it is very apropiate for November, that the first frost has arrived. Together with a beatiful sun. For the first time in around ten days. Who knows what the new day will bring ? But I have faith and the old body is quite cooperative ! And when you can play a game like this, I, so far, take it as a sign, that your dizziness is on an okeyish level, n´est pas ? All the best and many hugs from good old Denmark and to Maria as well. May you enjoy the new day ! |
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| Nov-01-23 | | virginmind: Hi my dear, and thank you! During the game I was not dizzy (usually I don't play when I can't concentrate well), but in the past 2 days it's back again, especially during the night and the mornings. Fortunately it's slowing down/disappearing for the rest of the day. It's been a rather warm October here, and prediction is the same for November :)
Hugs to Hannah and you, and good luck at the university! |
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Nov-04-23
| | moronovich: Good morning in Iasi, my friend !
All is fine here and we are looking forward to enjoying the weekend. As well as today I´ll root and cher for Deac, your compatriot ! Best wishes and to good health too to you, from
Denmark !
Hugs |
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