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carlos_b's Blog

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Then and Now

Submitted by carlos_b on Sat Oct 31, 2009 7:22pm.

I played a lot of chess in my teens. I didn't seriously study openings. As black I used to play the French defence against my friend, Guppy, just to annoy him more than owt. Twenty-odd years on from that time, and after a long long break from che... Read more »

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71 reads | 2 comments

Blunders!

Submitted by carlos_b on Fri Oct 9, 2009 5:45pm.

I hate losing because of a blunder, especially when I have worked hard to gain a game-winning advantage. If I look at all the games I play though, as often as I lose because of my blunders, I win because of my opponents' blunders. There must be ... Read more »

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123 reads | 4 comments

Midnight Xiangqi

Submitted by carlos_b on Sat Aug 22, 2009 3:19pm.

Yesterday me and Gorby took a Xiangqi set, a didgeredoo and a drum to the woods at midnight and had a candlelit game with musical accompaniment. It was great. Carry a chess set (or Xiangqi set) with you at all times. Read more »

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Chess Zeitgeist

Submitted by carlos_b on Sat Aug 15, 2009 11:06am.

Summat special is happening with chess and its allied games.  As a youngster I played at club level, but upon discovering women and beer I neglected the game for over twenty years. In April this year I stumbled across chess.com and ever since ch... Read more »

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Why don't people reply to draw requests? (And other thoughts)

Submitted by carlos_b on Mon Aug 10, 2009 5:56am.

Yesterday Summer seemed to have returned at last and me and Pasha the Turk were playing chess in a park off London Road. Sun, beer, chess and the company of good friends - it was the perfect Sunday. Things continued to be good and, as the evening ... Read more »

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85 reads | 3 comments

Chess 960 - Xiangqi is Better

Submitted by carlos_b on Fri Jul 10, 2009 7:50am.

I was quite excited by Chess 960. I even entered a tournament.  But I don't like it much.  Somehow it lacks something that centuries old games like real chess have.  I'm not very good at it so this might sound like sour grapes.  If you want t... Read more »

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More Thoughts on Sportsmanship

Submitted by carlos_b on Thu Jul 9, 2009 5:54am.

I have become aware over the few months that I have played at chess.com that the issue of time taken over moves and resignation is a great source of argument.  On the one hand there is a group of people who are incensed by people who slow-time wh... Read more »

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Street Chess

Submitted by carlos_b on Mon Jun 29, 2009 7:00am.

Every Sunday at 5pm I take my chess board down to London Road (Sheffield, England) and I play chess with my friend Pasha the Turk. He's a very strong player. Sometimes passers-by join us and ask for games. And we oblige. We also play any passing ... Read more »

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How important is your Rating?

Submitted by carlos_b on Fri May 29, 2009 7:34am.

I imagine the rating at chess.com exists so that we can easily pick opponents who will present an appropriate challenge. For many players, however, the rating is something of an obsession. I must admit it's nice when your rating is climbing and qu... Read more »

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120 reads | 5 comments

Blunders - Damage Limitation

Submitted by carlos_b on Sun May 3, 2009 2:15pm.

There is nowt worse than making a blunder.  However, there are things you can do to minimise the damage. Firstly and most importantly don't tell your opponent you have made a blunder. Don't type "oooops!"  This way there is a hope that he will ... Read more »

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