chess

  Humans are competitive. I'm not going to pay to get better, but I do as many free puzzles as I can each day on Chess.com.  My lowest ranking came when I had Covid and I played anyway because I was bored. I thought I was heading to 700, 800, 900. I have to admit, my rating has dipped. I've gone on spurts of playing and if my rating goes up I get quite excited, but the habit of playing often takes over and I enjoy the game and I keep playing even if my rating goes down.  I think I have this idea that if I play a few games and really concentrate and put pressure on myself to win, then my rating will go up. Sometimes I like to play instinctually and there are unseen consequences to it. I like blitz games, 5 minutes each, because there's not too much thinking.  11/22/24 Ding Liren is the world champion. I thought it was Magnus Carlsen, who I learned relinquished his title in 2022. Didn't know it was Ding Liren who took the crown in 2023.  Gukesh Dommaraju is...

“ We have detected that one or more of your recent opponents has violated our Fair Play Policy. As compensation for potentially unfair rating losses, we adjusted your following ratings: Blitz: 709 + 9 => 718” I found an old post I wrote about Bong Cloud .

My best friend and I played 5 minute speed chess for hours and hours. I love playing chess.  My father taught me. I remember copying his every move, and then when he took my queen he said, "stupid." That stung, but it was stupid, I'm less afraid of that word now at my age. I'm going to be 56 soon, and I've enjoyed chess my whole life.  Played chess when I did a year abroad at a university chess club, and got excited when I won a game. I had some glorious comeback wins, down two pieces to come back and win. I like my fight.  Got my friend a book that explained why premature queen development wasn't good. I was looking for it on my bookshelf, he gave it back to me when he konmaried his books. I can't find it at the moment, maybe I konmaried it or gave it to my son. I have 3 children and only one likes to play chess.  As a chess tutored, I just play and think aloud with kids. I taught chess at a Yeshiva after school program to kids. Forgot about that, that w...