Then and Now
Submitted by on Sat, 10/31/2009 at 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 chess, I wonder if I'm as good as I was back then.
My opening repetoire is slightly broader and I think I have a better understanding of strategy. But my mind isn't as sharp. But I am physically stronger, so I could pummel my 18 year old self into submission!
Of course when I was 18 there was no internet. And the only true test of a chess player is playing over the board. So tomorrow I will journey down to London to fight against my good friend Pasha the Turk.