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Speaking of learning (and therefore learning chess), my new book about self-education is now available.
Secrets of a Buccaneer-Scholar is available in ebook form on the Kindle and for other devices (or PC). Harcover will be available in September... | Read More
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I was inspired, tonight, by this fascinating analysis, no part of which did I understand. I have no idea what happened in that game. I'm pretty sure they were using special rules revealed only to grandmasters. So, I'd like to try my own ha... | Read More
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Here's a lesson about the importance of maintaining the initiative. At one point in this game, I was down more than 20 pawn-equivalency points (according to my chess analysis software). Gulbrandsen's pawns were like the crooked white teeth... | Read More
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When Deckers sent his g-pawn forward, I didn't take the threat seriously. It was like a little harmless bunny. So fuzzy. So cute... | Read More
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I'm "competing" in a freestyle tournament. That means the games aren't rated, and players can use any tool or reference or help of any kind, during the game, to win. At first I thought of it as a sort of tongue-in-cheek com... | Read More
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I was playing a guy, tonight, who told me that his job was printing cardboard boxes. He works third shift, which is how he can play me in the middle of the night. I imagine him in a noisy printworks, making sure "This End Up" is printed ... | Read More
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Here's how chess helps me think about life: I'm in a technical vocation. The big picture is that I develop and test software. More specifically, I travel around teaching large companies how to make better software. And more specifically s... | Read More
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After the fifth or six move, announce loudly "Aha! I recognize this position. Capablanca vs. Lasker, Havana, 1921, round 5. I believe Capablanca answered THUS!" (then make your move dramatically) | Read More
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Wait until your opponent's fourth move and say "Ah, the Sagerwall attack! But don't you find that the Reimman variation cancels it out? I believe THIS is the recommended move. (make your move with a flourish)" (doesn't work o... | Read More
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I always thought of myself smart kid. I thought chess was for smart people. So I expect to win a lot. Instead I lost. I lost and lost and lost. I tried to read chess books, but I didn't have the patience to work through all the variations of ... | Read More