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madpawn's Blog


    • Proud moments volume 2

      I was enormously pleased to have won the very first tournament I entered (King's Indian Defence tourney with 100% score on 22 games. I have since won three more tournments, with pretty good scores, and this gives me the greatest pleasure becau... | Read More

      • madpawn
      • | Dec 25, 2010
      • | 405 views
      • | 5 comments
    • Caution be blown - I am going for the bloke with the crown

      Well, it was inevitable. Having started many years ago as a purely tactical player, throwing pieces at the enemy until I had only my elbow and an ear lobe to deliver checkmate... for some reason I turned into a fussy, cautious positional player... | Read More

      • madpawn
      • | Oct 12, 2009
      • | 614 views
      • | 2 comments
    • I have had it with these blogs

      There I go writing about what works for me in terms of improving my chess - even in the lean times when one's grade yo-yo for whatever pscho-emotional reasons (or simply because you left a piece en prise Buster!). Anyway, having posted 'Where's M... | Read More

      • madpawn
      • | Oct 10, 2009
      • | 493 views
      • | 2 comments
    • Where's My Philosopher's Stone?

      I am reliably informed by a rather weasel-like opponent that what I write here is strictly for my eyes only and will not be privy to others who desire to improve their chess beyond a few grade points here and there. Whilst this is not the Philos... | Read More

      • madpawn
      • | Aug 10, 2009
      • | 550 views
      • | 4 comments
    • How to spot when someone is over or under-graded

      Have you ever noticed that some players have got these enormously high grades that even a super grandmaster would be proud of?  Well, these grades are impressive and the people with them have obviously worked very hard for them. However, to what ... | Read More

      • madpawn
      • | Jul 27, 2009
      • | 532 views
      • | 4 comments
    • The loneliness of the gunfighter

      Since joining Chess.com I have seen my grade rise and rise to 2051, settling to around 1900ish, though I have always felt it should be between 1850-1900. However, of late, I would add approximately 50 to 100 points to that range - except when ... | Read More

      • madpawn
      • | Apr 3, 2009
      • | 636 views
      • | 4 comments
    • Proud moments

      Hi all. I have long been the guy who did kind of ok in a chess tournament in the days when I played frequently.  I am sure there are a few of you guys who emphathise with all this. I always dreamt of being in the top section of the top team - b... | Read More

      • madpawn
      • | Jan 31, 2009
      • | 612 views
      • | 2 comments