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Sylvano's Chess Blog

Middle aged and learning...


    • People really do love chess

      Ever since I added the following link to chess.com from my personal website, I have gained six extra months of premium membership time, because people like you have followed the link, joined chess.com and signed up for premium membership themselve... | Read More

      • Sylvano
      • | Sep 24, ‘10
      • | 356 views
      • | 0 comments
    • Critical move in chess

      After playing on chess.com for over one year, I have finally made the most critical move ever. I've paid up to become a premium member. So for my $30, I get one year of advertisement free site usage, faster move times and access to special featu... | Read More

      • Sylvano
      • | Oct 20, ‘09
      • | 457 views
      • | 0 comments
    • Playing to mate

      It is never satisfying to be on the run in chess. But we often find ourselves in that situation, I believe, because of self sabotage;  a part of our brain seeks the comfort gained by being on the defensive as it provides a clear motivation for ... | Read More

      • Sylvano
      • | Sep 14, ‘09
      • | 379 views
      • | 1 comment
    • 7 tips to spot a cheater

      Every so often someone will post a "new" item to the chess forum about chess cheaters.  The thread will grow in a very typical way with people bemoaning the cheaters and others advising us all to just get over it.  Once you've read one, you've ... | Read More

      • Sylvano
      • | Jan 8, ‘09
      • | 9636 views
      • | 35 comments
    • Chess: managing the addiction

      Over the few months I've been with chess.com, it is clear that there is a serious addiction issue for many of us.  I've had to enforce strict rules of engagement to ensure that other areas of my life don't suffer and I have met other player... | Read More

      • Sylvano
      • | Jul 24, ‘08
      • | 3901 views
      • | 9 comments
    • A bug in the rules?

      Someone on Chess.com will have a greater knowledge than me on this issue.  I figure that I am not the first in the history of the game to wonder if this is some kind of bug in the rules and seek reference to historical arguments on this kind ... | Read More

      • Sylvano
      • | Feb 18, ‘08
      • | 444 views
      • | 5 comments
    • Practice helps

      I thought staring at the board would do it.  But it doesn't.... You have to stare at the board and imagine the moves ahead, and then you actually have to think! | Read More

      • Sylvano
      • | Feb 1, ‘08
      • | 285 views
      • | 0 comments
    • Thanks to chaingan20

      chaingan20 gave me a short but very informative reason as to why he wouldn't play another game with me: I didn't take to think about my moves and it showed... I contemplated these words and I am now playing the better for it.  I... | Read More

      • Sylvano
      • | Jan 22, ‘08
      • | 271 views
      • | 0 comments