Shivsky's Blog

Welcome to the Blog.  These blog posts are often patzer-like in terms of their content and should be read for entertainment only. It is certainly not for those seeking instruction. ( Unless you happen to think I remotely know something about this game. :) )

• A Simple endgame?

  I got into this position as black in a G/30 game with 4:00 minutes on the clock and blundered into a draw. Black to move and squeeze out the win. With best/tricky play by white, the sheer number of "only" moves for Black makes this a fun exerci... | Read More

  • Shivsky
  • | May 24, ‘12
  • | 577 views
  • | 2 comments

• Fun with the Baltic

  I've been shopping around for a sharp (and slightly insane) opening response to 1.d4 d5 2.c4 (and friends) for quite a while. I decided to have a little fun with the Baltic defense against a similar rated (USCF 1700ish) player. Quite rare and defi... | Read More

  • Shivsky
  • | May 24, ‘12
  • | 621 views
  • | 5 comments

• Personal Chess Journal on a stick

    I've hacked up a helpful tool (it is nothing but a big html file) that makes maintaining a personal chess journal the easiest thing in the world.  The improving player will find it really helpful given the usual difficulties they might face... | Read More

  • Shivsky
  • | May 24, ‘12
  • | 1365 views
  • | 2 comments

• My wife hates chess

  Not really, she tolerates me running off a weekend every month to a tournament and has made her peace with my daily chess addiction - both offline and online. This is more of a chess anecdote relating to how she reluctantly learned how to play th... | Read More

  • Shivsky
  • | May 24, ‘12
  • | 392 views
  • | 2 comments

• Fun Simul vs IM game on the ICC

  It is always reassuring to know that even IMs are human.  In Simuls, they are even more human. Play through this if you have the time, but if you want to get to the shot and see if you can spot it, fast-forward to move 18.Rac1?? Enjoy! | Read More

  • Shivsky
  • | May 24, ‘12
  • | 363 views
  • | 2 comments

• Sokobanesque Puzzle (Solution included)

  I gave this puzzle that name because it reminded me of a fun Japanese puzzle-game I played on the computer when I was younger. According to NM Dan Heisman, this problem falls in the category of "indicative" in that the way you tackle this problem... | Read More

  • Shivsky
  • | May 24, ‘12
  • | 259 views
  • | 5 comments

• Retro Puzzle

  I like collecting bizarre chess problems and this is one of my favorites. It's more of a whodunit mystery than a chess problem. Mate in 2. Make no assumptions.  Everything should be proven :) Note that the FEN string is intentionally incorr... | Read More

  • Shivsky
  • | May 24, ‘12
  • | 261 views
  • | 1 comment

• An interesting article I picked up on a chess forum ages ago

  Disclaimer : This is a mere copy-paste from a forum and I wish I could quote the author but I can't seem to find the source any more. Apologies to whoever it is ... you deserve to be cited for writing something this interesting!!!! (warning: Very... | Read More

  • Shivsky
  • | May 24, ‘12
  • | 192 views
  • | 0 comments

• One of my first OTB combinations

    Everyone has a fancy game they are really proud of. This one happens to be the game that made me start taking chess more seriously. | Read More

  • Shivsky
  • | May 24, ‘12
  • | 226 views
  • | 4 comments