off topic - any of you guys play chess?

just wondering if any of the investment board guys are chess players like me. 

Funny you put this up. I was thinking of putting up a thread in the genral discussion forum.

 

I started playing again and got into it trying to improve as fast as possible working on my endgames and middlegames. Been playing a lot of Chessmaster 9 and Chessmaster Grandmaster lately going over games and videos. I'm somehat rusty but I'm ranked at 1250 -1300 possibly higher and I've beaten people much higher ranked and rarely lose to anyone ranked below me.

 

I'm trying to improve my game as fast as possible without having to memorize opening lines  and theory. I found this worked best for me over the years when I stopped and haven't played for a long period and then play someone who wants to challenge me. I've found that I improve faster studying games, mostly endgames and middlegames as opposed to just playing and repeating bad habits ( kinda' like golf - you can work on your game or you can go on the course and play and keep on enforcing bad habits)

 

We should get something going with all these members. I'll look into it.

ziggydawg,

 

you should join chess.com.  if there is a way to give me your email address without posting it, i will invite you and get credit for a referral.  it's free to play and has a LOT, and i mean A LOT of resources on the site to help you get better.  i had been a perrennial 1400 player.  i'm an 1850 right now after 4 months on that site. 

 

you can play live chess, or correspondance chess.  i prefer the correspondence chess, because you have up to 14 days to make a move in some cases.  i usually do 3 days per move.  so i can make a move or 2 at work and then not worry about it for a day.  it also gives you more time to think about your moves and you start to minimize your mistakes.  mistakes are made quickly by moving fast or playing timed games.  correspondance chess is much better for someone looking to improve

 

anyone else that's interested in joining, let me know.

 

Wallstreet, how can i get people's email addresses without putting them in a post??  thanks

Gunners,

here's my secondary e-mail address

 

 

I'll look for your post

 

==================

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gunners,

 

I've heard of correspondence chess a long time ago but never bothered to try it. I've often wondered what's to stop the opponent from using a computer program like Fritz just so he can keep his rating up. Maybe I'm just being too cynical. I'm willing to try it. It can't hurt, maybe I'll end up liking it. It sounds to me that you have a really good plan and experience on how to improve rapidly.

 

 I use to play 45 min - hour games with others over the internet. Now I just play against the computer while I'm watching TV ,lol. I'.ll play against a much higher ranked profile and give him 15 to 30 minutes whilte I give myself 2 hours so I don't run out of time and I can hear when he makes a move. I'll almost always save these games so I can replay middle game or endgame to see if I can make stronger moves.

 

With football season and all these movies I've downladed and rented I haven't had the patience to sit for an hour or two to play a game. I also don't want to do that unless I do it consistently.

 

BTW do you use Chessmaster or Fritz at all ? I have a couple of questions about them.

 

 

i have the email address

the invite will come from username gigliott2000 (michael).

 

people cheating is always a risk, but i have not had one circumstance on chess.com where it happened.  and there are ways that chess.com monitors players to make sure they aren't cheating.  it is a no tolerance policy as well.  once you're caught, you're out. 

 

plus, you can start out by just playing me, and then slowly grab a few other opponents.  i usually play about 15-20 games at once.  but it is so relaxed that it doesn't really feel like it. 

i don't use chess computers much.  i use the tactics trainer and the chess mentor on chess.com, but i rarely actually play a game against a computer, except on my blackberry while taking a dump, haha. 

Gunners,

 

Just registered under ZiggyV through your e-mail. BTW I'm Vincent.

 

Thanks and cheers.

Ah yes, chess

Anyone else want to join up and play with us on chess.com?  i need your email addresses and i'll refer you to it.  it is a great site