I submit Chess as a new off topic subject.

[Buckeye]

Not checkers.

[thaskalos]

And here is the best chess book for those who have learned the basic moves...and are now looking to take their chess game to the next level. :ThmbUp:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0713484640/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

[Buckeye]

Thanks thaskalos, I'll put you down as a supporter of the idea.

Anna Karenina

One of the best ever written.

[VigorsTheGrey]

This is the free site I play on...sign up and I will play you a game or two...https://lichess.org/

You can even chat while you play...great site always can find a game fast...

[incoming]

An excellent free chess computer game at google's app store......The Chess lv. 100

[Track Collector]

Used to play in tournaments when I was in High School and a little bit later.

Highest USCF rating was 1781. Currently at 1600 due to inactivity, and I think the last tournament I played in was way back in 1992.

Have not played a casual game in many years, and never played over the internet in the on-line era. While not a high priority, the thought has crossed my mind about renewing my United States Chess Federation membership and going to a tournament or two just to see even if I can hold my own again. One notable difference of now vs. then is that the time control limits are much faster.

Anyone else here have a USCF rating?

[ElKabong]

This is the free site I play on...sign up and I will play you a game or two...https://lichess.org/

You can even chat while you play...great site always can find a game fast...

Lichess is awesome. Some really good players hang out there. Humbles me repeadly.

My wife and I hold classes for beginners to intermediate players around the metroplex five evenings a week. Brings in a nice side income. Summer camps and tournaments (3 x per year) it starts to add up. Lot of work but if you're patient with children it's fun and rewarding. As soon as our kids get over 850 or so, we urge the parents to get personal instruction from UTDallas students / players.

If instruction is of interest to anyone here, go for it. We use Think like A King (program) and it's perfect for kids. Somewhat costly at first, but pays for itself quickly if you have access to a recreation center. If your kids learn and have fun, their parents will be the best advertisement possible. Parents are begging us to hold classes in Plano, MCKinney, Frisco, we just can't do it. We're booked solid every night of the week in suburbs with high concentration of Asian Indians (Asians and Hispanics as well... These cultures are so deep into chess it's amazing. You have to know how to motivate kids while keeping it fun)

[VigorsTheGrey]

Used to play in tournaments when I was in High School and a little bit later.

Highest USCF rating was 1781. Currently at 1600 due to inactivity, and I think the last tournament I played in was way back in 1992.

Have not played a casual game in many years, and never played over the internet in the on-line era. While not a high priority, the thought has crossed my mind about renewing my United States Chess Federation membership and going to a tournament or two just to see even if I can hold my own again. One notable difference of now vs. then is that the time control limits are much faster.

Anyone else here have a USCF rating?
No, not a USCF rating...but I play on Lichess a lot. I play 4 minute games and mostly play white...Get lots of games with 1600 players who mostly whip me pretty good so my own score is around 1200-1300. If I play steady and for longer games I can get up to 1500...but I like the challenge of a fast game with good players...I like to open with Bishop’s opening or some variation of knight, pawn, Bishop...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2X13-Zmd8TM

[VigorsTheGrey]

Lichess is awesome. Some really good players hang out there. Humbles me repeadly.

My wife and I hold classes for beginners to intermediate players around the metroplex five evenings a week. Brings in a nice side income. Summer camps and tournaments (3 x per year) it starts to add up. Lot of work but if you're patient with children it's fun and rewarding. As soon as our kids get over 850 or so, we urge the parents to get personal instruction from UTDallas students / players.

If instruction is of interest to anyone here, go for it. We use Think like A King (program) and it's perfect for kids. Somewhat costly at first, but pays for itself quickly if you have access to a recreation center. If your kids learn and have fun, their parents will be the best advertisement possible. Parents are begging us to hold classes in Plano, MCKinney, Frisco, we just can't do it. We're booked solid every night of the week in suburbs with high concentration of Asian Indians (Asians and Hispanics as well... These cultures are so deep into chess it's amazing. You have to know how to motivate kids while keeping it fun)

That is so cool...! Perfect thing for young people nowadays...I admire your efforts here:):):)

[ldiatone]

ok:ThmbUp:

[newtothegame]

I am all for it.....
I am not good at all as I have just taken up the game in the last month or so. I play on chess.com (but will look at the one referenced above).
I got interested after watching Agadmator's chess channel on You tube.
He covers a lot of past games and gives thoughts and input.

Following.......

[VigorsTheGrey]

I’m starting to think that winning at chess is more a function of being familiar with all the openings, followed by remembering all the tricks and traps that could result from these distinct openings...

..this leads me to think that chess for many is more “mechanical” than “brilliant”, that less “original thinking” is involved for many players...

..that many good players have simply memorized the numerous variations stemming from these openings BETTER than their counterparts, and that THIS is really the difference between the players...and not that one player is more intelligent.

[FakeNameChanged]

This is the free site I play on...sign up and I will play you a game or two...https://lichess.org/

You can even chat while you play...great site always can find a game fast...
When I first retired, I was on that site an inordinate amount of time.

[Buckeye]

I’m starting to think that winning at chess is more a function of being familiar with all the openings, followed by remembering all the tricks and traps that could result from these distinct openings...

..this leads me to think that chess for many is more “mechanical” than “brilliant”, that less “original thinking” is involved for many players...

..that many good players have simply memorized the numerous variations stemming from these openings BETTER than their counterparts, and that THIS is really the difference between the players...and not that one player is more intelligent.

I disagree, the key to winning Chess is pattern recognition and calculation.

Rinse, repeat and pay attention to Susan Polgar.

[VigorsTheGrey]

I disagree, the key to winning Chess is pattern recognition and calculation.

Rinse, repeat and pay attention to Susan Polgar.What is rinse, repeat..? I’d like to bring my game up a notch but not sure how...what do you think separates average players from good players; and great players from good ones..?

[newtothegame]

I’m starting to think that winning at chess is more a function of being familiar with all the openings, followed by remembering all the tricks and traps that could result from these distinct openings...

..this leads me to think that chess for many is more “mechanical” than “brilliant”, that less “original thinking” is involved for many players...

..that many good players have simply memorized the numerous variations stemming from these openings BETTER than their counterparts, and that THIS is really the difference between the players...and not that one player is more intelligent.

If you go back and look at some of the interviews with Bobby Fischer, you will see him say the same things you mention here......

Much has been said about Magnus' play as well.......There is little to no creativity when you draw time after time ....

[ElKabong]

I disagree, the key to winning Chess is pattern recognition and calculation.

Rinse, repeat and pay attention to Susan Polgar.

Susan is a great person. Not saying I know her, because I don't. She was talking to my wife a few years ago and gave us a few boards with the Texas Tech logo (when she was associated with Tech). We still use those at one of our locations. Really nice and down to earth.

[VigorsTheGrey]

If you go back and look at some of the interviews with Bobby Fischer, you will see him say the same things you mention here......

Much has been said about Magnus' play as well.......There is little to no creativity when you draw time after time ....

Thanks for reaffirming what I thought...it makes a lot of sense really that the play would be more mechanical than creative...There is a saying that “good chess players are thinking and planning their moves 5-7 moves ahead...I never understood this...how could a player do this...when his opponent COULD move any number of moves in response to his next move...? The move permutations would be too large.

I thought I was deficient or incapable of being an excellent player...

But NOW, I understand HOW this can be the case...if you have memorized the openings, and the counter-moves to the openings, the traps and tricks for each, and understand how after a certain sequence of likely responses has occurred, you can “force” your opponent to move either through check or common sense...THEN...I can understand how a player can “think” 5-7 moves ahead...but that is not really creative play, but mechanics...

So yes, I think I now understand what Fisher and Magnus are saying...it’s sort of like an “If X is played, then respond with Y” and memorize all the permutations and response sequences...AHEAD OF TIME...

Where’s the fun in that...? You are NOT really PLAYING chess anymore...are you?

[Actor]

Anyone else here have a USCF rating?I had one many years ago. How long do they keep the records?

[ronsmac]

Not checkers.
If we can limit it to the 70s chess of my childhood. The true golden age.

[VigorsTheGrey]

I was wondering if Actor or anyone else good at science could read the following article and paraphrase the conclusions in laymans’ Vocabulary...it doesn’t seem too difficult to understand...

https://archive.org/stream/arxiv-cs9808001/cs9808001#page/n0/mode/1up

[Buckeye]

What is rinse, repeat..? I’d like to bring my game up a notch but not sure how...what do you think separates average players from good players; and great players from good ones..?

One thing's for sure, it's not memory.

Calculation and vision to begin with-- like I said.

Good players are not necessarily intelligent, although great players probably are.

[thaskalos]

Good chess players take the game seriously...and dedicate the time to it that the game demands. When I was much younger, I loved the game...and I would buy finely-detailed chess books where the authors would report and comment on instructive chess matches that had occurred in the past. And I would laboriously replay those games on my own board...while trying to align myself with the thought process of the original players. It took me HOURS...but I enjoyed it.

Of course, gambling came along...and there wasn't enough time in my life for TWO heart-felt passions. "Why is our life so short?"...I remember lamenting back then. And now, after 37 years of serious gambling...I've come to the realization that life is long enough. :)

[ReplayRandall]

I'm sure a great many of you in this thread have seen this movie, but for those that haven't, check it out...Good stuff.

https://youtu.be/8khmNiamBxo

[ElKabong]

I had one many years ago. How long do they keep the records?

Google 'uscf player lookup'

Plug in your name and voila.

[ElKabong]

I'm sure a great many of you in this thread have seen this movie, but for those that haven't, check it out...Good stuff.

https://youtu.be/8khmNiamBxo

That was a good one. My favorite is Life of a King, loosely based on a true story. Inspiring. Best performance by Cuba gooding IMO.

Queen of Katwe was good also.

[ElKabong]

One thing's for sure, it's not memory.

Calculation and vision to begin with-- like I said.

Good players are not necessarily intelligent, although great players probably are.

Three things our best of the best students current and past have in common.

No fear of failure. None. Supreme confidence, yet not afraid to experiment and lose in prep matches to less talented players.

They have no less than two solid openings. If you're a member of a chess team this is an absolute must

They're the equivalent of gym rats, in regards to chess. We end each class with masters games (we create the notation paper and give to everyone in class) and walk thru them on a demo board. You can tell who the better players are and will be. They break down key moves and comment all the way thru. They can't get enough information.

[ReplayRandall]

That was a good one. My favorite is Life of a King, loosely based on a true story. Inspiring. Best performance by Cuba gooding IMO.

Queen of Katwe was good also.


Pawn Sacrifice is worth watching as well...

[Buckeye]

Three things our best of the best students current and past have in common.

No fear of failure. None. Supreme confidence, yet not afraid to experiment and lose in prep matches to less talented players.

They have no less than two solid openings. If you're a member of a chess team this is an absolute must

They're the equivalent of gym rats, in regards to chess. We end each class with masters games (we create the notation paper and give to everyone in class) and walk thru them on a demo board. You can tell who the better players are and will be. They break down key moves and comment all the way thru. They can't get enough information.

I believe Napoleon said it best, “Toujours l’attaque!”

[VigorsTheGrey]

Three things our best of the best students current and past have in common.

No fear of failure. None. Supreme confidence, yet not afraid to experiment and lose in prep matches to less talented players.

They have no less than two solid openings. If you're a member of a chess team this is an absolute must

They're the equivalent of gym rats, in regards to chess. We end each class with masters games (we create the notation paper and give to everyone in class) and walk thru them on a demo board. You can tell who the better players are and will be. They break down key moves and comment all the way thru. They can't get enough information.

What notation are you using and how is it displayed, vertically in 2 columns...?

I once talked with a guy who was always wanting to play chess without a board, strictly mental game...he would simply begin calling out his moves and expected me to play along...and remember what the board looked like in my head...I never doubted he was serious, but I simply wasn’t very good at it: homey don’t play that game..;) very well at least...

[ElKabong]

What notation are you using and how is it displayed, vertically in 2 columns...?

I once talked with a guy who was always wanting to play chess without a board, strictly mental game...he would simply begin calling out his moves and expected me to play along...and remember what the board looked like in my head...I never doubted he was serious, but I simply wasn’t very good at it: homey don’t play that game..;) very well at least...

Yes, vertically. The format used in books is hard to follow for kids so my wife created our own. We keep the storage box with masters games at our Irving location, I'll snap a photo of one next week and post it.

[Actor]

I’m starting to think that winning at chess is more a function of being familiar with all the openings, followed by remembering all the tricks and traps that could result from these distinct openings...Bobby Fisher proposed a form of chess that went something like this.

Number the files 1 through 8, so that 1 corresponds to the 'a' file, 2 corresponds to the 'b' file, etc., etc., and 8 corresponds to the 'h' file. Now toss two dice. If the sum of the two is greater than 8 then subtract 8. This determines the file in which a white and black knight begin.
Renumber the files 1 through 7, skipping the file now occupied by two knights. Toss the two dice again, subtracting 7 if the sum is more than 7. This determines the file in which the other two knights begin.
Set one die aside, renumber and toss to determine, in order, the beginning files of the bishops, rooks and the queens.
The two kings begin on the last remaining file.

Fisher believed that this would do away with the opening and every game would go into mid-game instantly. He must have hated memorizing openings.

[VigorsTheGrey]

Bobby Fisher proposed a form of chess that went something like this.

Number the files 1 through 8, so that 1 corresponds to the 'a' file, 2 corresponds to the 'b' file, etc., etc., and 8 corresponds to the 'h' file. Now toss two dice. If the sum of the two is greater than 8 then subtract 8. This determines the file in which a white and black knight begin.
Renumber the files 1 through 7, skipping the file now occupied by two knights. Toss the two dice again, subtracting 7 if the sum is more than 7. This determines the file in which the other two knights begin.
Set one die aside, renumber and toss to determine, in order, the beginning files of the bishops, rooks and the queens.
The two kings begin on the last remaining file.

Fisher believed that this would do away with the opening and every game would go into mid-game instantly. He must have hated memorizing openings.
This is difficult for me to understand Actor...sorry, but there is this, which says that Fisher approved of...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess960

[Actor]

This is difficult for me to understand Actor...sorry, but there is this, which says that Fisher approved of...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess960Thanks for the link. I had not realized that Fischer's proposal was not original, or that it had such a history.

[Buckeye]

Do what I did: join https://www.chess.com and start playing.

Take advantage of the feature "Tactics."
It's even more fun than arguing in Off Topic.

And if all that fails, go to the library.

Now I'm a 20!

[classhandicapper]

Coming up soon.

The World Chess Championship 2018 is an upcoming chess match between the reigning world champion since 2013, Magnus Carlsen, and challenger Fabiano Caruana to determine the World Chess Champion.

[Track Collector]

Coming up soon.

The World Chess Championship 2018 is an upcoming chess match between the reigning world champion since 2013, Magnus Carlsen, and challenger Fabiano Caruana to determine the World Chess Champion.

Thanks for reminding me!

I usually follow a few of these games in real time. Takes a lot of patience as games can last 5 hours or more. I find it interesting to watch the analysis programs which are running concurrently with the actual plan. They "assess" who and when a player is believed to have an advantage and by how much. Players are of course only human and sometimes end up making less than the most optimal moves.

I have followed Magnus from the time he first appeared on the World chess scene, so I will again be pulling for him. His last world championship match with Sergey Karjakin was very close and not decided until very late in the match.

[Tom]

I remember following Bobby Fischer vs Boris Spassky in the papers every day...in the SPORTS section!

[Actor]

Bobby Fischer once pushed a pawn and exposed it to immediate capture, puzzling onlookers. His opponent did not take the pawn. Afterwards the opponent was asked why he did not take the pawn. "I never even considered taking it" he responded. "Bobby Fischer does not give away pawns for nothing."

I wonder if the chess masters have examined the move. Was Fischer laying a trap? Was he psyching his opponent? (Play the man, not the board.) Or was it a blunder?

[VigorsTheGrey]

Bobby Fischer once pushed a pawn and exposed it to immediate capture, puzzling onlookers. His opponent did not take the pawn. Afterwards the opponent was asked why he did not take the pawn. "I never even considered taking it" he responded. "Bobby Fischer does not give away pawns for nothing."

I wonder if the chess masters have examined the move. Was Fischer laying a trap? Was he psyching his opponent? (Play the man, not the board.) Or was it a blunder?
Probably not a blunder...he most likely would have worked out the consequences of taking versus not taking and the various counter-move set-ups that would follow...

[Buckeye]

Bobby Fischer once pushed a pawn and exposed it to immediate capture, puzzling onlookers. His opponent did not take the pawn. Afterwards the opponent was asked why he did not take the pawn. "I never even considered taking it" he responded. "Bobby Fischer does not give away pawns for nothing."

I wonder if the chess masters have examined the move. Was Fischer laying a trap? Was he psyching his opponent? (Play the man, not the board.) Or was it a blunder?

Sometimes you just gotta trick em.

Never assume your opponent is not a dope.

[Tape Reader]

I was in a freshman Gym class with Bobby Fisher. (Erasmus, Brooklyn). Gym teacher was having about 100 students dribble, and sink a basket. Bobby refused.

Bobby Fisher never combed his hair, rarely tied his shoes, and never tucked in both sides of his shirt. He was fodder for the masculine Gym teacher, Mr. … (I do remember his name!)

Door opens and Mr. …, math teacher, walks through. Gym teacher uses Bobby Fisher as an example for the most stubborn individual he has ever come across.

Math teacher: Well, that is Robert Fisher, the smartest in my class. He is near genius.

[VigorsTheGrey]

I was in a freshman Gym class with Bobby Fisher. (Erasmus, Brooklyn). Gym teacher was having about 100 students dribble, and sink a basket. Bobby refused.

Bobby Fisher never combed his hair, rarely tied his shoes, and never tucked in both sides of his shirt. He was fodder for the masculine Gym teacher, Mr. … (I do remember his name!)

Door opens and Mr. …, math teacher, walks through. Gym teacher uses Bobby Fisher as an example for the most stubborn individual he has ever come across.

Math teacher: Well, that is Robert Fisher, the smartest in my class. He is near genius.
Why didn't he want to dribble and sink a basket...? Sometimes these brilliant types live breathe and eat their specialty... When you get them off their topic, they plunge into personal zeros...was Bobby like that...?

[PhantomOnTour]

Great chess player or not, in the end Fisher turned out to be a pretty despicable guy

[VigorsTheGrey]

Great chess player or not, in the end Fisher turned out to be a pretty despicable guy

How so..?

[Buckeye]

It's Chess Time!

What a joke.

I have tried to introduce a new idea into this Forum.

God help me.

[Actor]

In the James Bond movie From Russia With Love there is a chess match early in rhe movie. The SPECTRE villain Kronstein makes a move and says "check." While the opponent ponders his move someone brings Kronstein a glass of water. As he drinks we see a message on a paper on the bottom of the glass "You are wanted at once." The opponent makes his move, Kronstein makes his, the opponent resigns.

There are two things wrong with the scene.

1. In world class tournament play players do not say "check." Players are assumed to know when they are in check.

2. No one would be allowed to bring a player a drink with a message on the bottom. Advice from seconds could be transmitted to a player in this manner.

[Boomer]

Check out Queens Gambit on Netflix. Very good

[ElKabong]

Life of a King.

Cuba gooding jr. Based on a true story. Excellent acting all around

[Actor]

Check out Queens Gambit on Netflix. Very goodAnalyses of the games on this show are showing up on You Tube. I started to watch one before realizing it was the last game of the show. I'm only up to episode 6 so I quickly clicked out of it.

[kingfin66]

I saw this thread and wondered, what happened to Buckeye. I would say that I miss him, but I prefer to be honest.

[fast4522]

He pissed off PA, and got toasted.

[Actor]

Great chess player or not, in the end Fisher turned out to be a pretty despicable guyI think he was a High Functioning Autistic. Probably had Asperger's Syndrome.

[ElKabong]

We have an Asperger's kid in one of our classes. Highly talented at chess but has a tough time relating to, or conversing, with other kids.

I feel sorry for him, he's in for a life of emotional pain. He can't maintain a relationship outside his parents. Very logical and intelligent- yet unable to connect with kids

It's odd, some of our kids are mini me's of people I've worked with in professional settings. Has given me a more broad understanding of the human condition so to speak. Most folks are very normal, some have real issues that, as I have learned, will never be normally functioning human beings regardless of the support they may rec'v. Very sad. VERY sad.

[Actor]

We have an Asperger's kid in one of our classes. Highly talented at chess but has a tough time relating to, or conversing, with other kids.

I feel sorry for him, he's in for a life of emotional pain. He can't maintain a relationship outside his parents. Very logical and intelligent- yet unable to connect with kids

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome

Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger's, is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but differs from other ASDs by relatively unimpaired language and intelligence. Although not required for diagnosis, physical clumsiness and unusual use of language are common. Signs usually begin before two years of age and typically last for a person's entire life.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_rights_movement

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autistic_Pride_Day

[Dahoss2002]

Check out Queens Gambit on Netflix. Very good

Yes it is

[RichieP]

I started playing a bit about 4 months ago after prolly a 35 year layoff. I really loved the game and was a decent tourney player. A friend told me about this app "play Magnus" so I went and downloaded it. Been playing and I have beaten him at age 9 and 10 but I'm 0 for like 7 playing him at age 11. My goal is to beat him but crap I have a ton of work to do! I am consistently outplayed in the opening and that's the good part!:lol:

Wishing everyone a healthy and Blessed holiday season!

[ElKabong]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_rights_movement

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autistic_Pride_Day

Thanks for telling me something I already knew... :rolleyes:

[mountainman]

We have an Asperger's kid in one of our classes. Highly talented at chess but has a tough time relating to, or conversing, with other kids.

I feel sorry for him, he's in for a life of emotional pain. He can't maintain a relationship outside his parents. Very logical and intelligent- yet unable to connect with kids



Warmest respect for what you and your wife are doing. But how does MY son ("Little Bear") manage to attend your chess classes?? lol....

Seriously, the asperger's mind is a beautiful thing, linear and direct. But if you should ever be so unfortunate as to choose your own hell, take ANY door but the one labeled "friendless child." Trust me.

Pertaining to chess: I play a good game proceeding basically on talent. But exceptional opponents invariably beat me. When I get time, I do intend to learn, really learn, about chess.

Shane is 25, stands 6'2, and weighs in at 240, btw.

[ElKabong]

Warmest respect for what you and your wife are doing. But how does MY son ("Little Bear") manage to attend your chess classes?? lol....

Seriously, the asperger's mind is a beautiful thing, linear and direct. But if you should ever be so unfortunate as to choose your own hell, take ANY door but the one labeled "friendless child." Trust me.

Pertaining to chess: I play a good game proceeding basically on talent. But exceptional opponents invariably beat me. When I get time, I do intend to learn, really learn, about chess.

Shane is 25, stands 6'2, and weighs in at 240, btw.

If your son is fit & that big, plz remind me not to anger him... That's a big boy

JMO, online classes are a rip off. Nothing takes the place of over the board instruction

A better alternative for those who already know how to move pieces is to go to lichess.org, learn by diving into puzzles. They aren't as strong as ours (we use Think Like A King software) but they're very good. Also you'll find some master level players there that will humble you. Some do, me. But like tennis, when you play better players it raises your game if the desire is there

Notate your games, see where you won / or lost. Lichess notates for you

In our classes we sometimes replay games from books we have. The greatest 500 games, etc. We go over mistakes, winning moves etc.

But the best chess players from our classes that went on to be highly competitive absolutely dived into puzzles, and were never afraid to lose games to lower level players in class. It was practice. They learned more than 2 openings. Some studied harder than I'd like. Chess to me is like playing a musical instrument. Do it for pleasure and recreation, something you can enjoy until the day you die. Our classes are fun and educational, one without the other & our business model goes down the drain (coronavirus did that already tho)

[mountainman]

If your son is fit & that big, plz remind me not to anger him... That's a big boy

JMO, online classes are a rip off. Nothing takes the place of over the board instruction

A better alternative for those who already know how to move pieces is to go to lichess.org, learn by diving into puzzles. They aren't as strong as ours (we use Think Like A King software) but they're very good. Also you'll find some master level players there that will humble you. Some do, me. But like tennis, when you play better players it raises your game if the desire is there

Notate your games, see where you won / or lost. Lichess notates for you

In our classes we sometimes replay games from books we have. The greatest 500 games, etc. We go over mistakes, winning moves etc.

But the best chess players from our classes that went on to be highly competitive absolutely dived into puzzles, and were never afraid to lose games to lower level players in class. It was practice. They learned more than 2 openings. Some studied harder than I'd like. Chess to me is like playing a musical instrument. Do it for pleasure and recreation, something you can enjoy until the day you die. Our classes are fun and educational, one without the other & our business model goes down the drain (coronavirus did that already tho)

Tx for the thoughtful advice.

Also, as a very high functioning aspie, Shane never angers. He does get perturbed, but tries mightily to hide even that.

[ElKabong]

Your son has a great deal of self control, then.

Our "kid" had a terrible temper when he lost months ago. 3rd grader, his dad told us to not be easy on him, losing is a part of life etc... But he didn't take it well

His best therapy has come with an adult that also is a student, a big kid himself (aged in 40s, chiropractor) . They basically go at it for 90 minutes of the 2 hr class and have a ball. The kid wins maybe 40% of the time, but when he loses he keeps his composure now. Lot of friendly trash talking between them (I'm about to depose your queen! etc) which we don't allow, but for those 2 we give a pass, It's entertainment

His parents love having the kid in class, the kid eats it up. He's tournament ready but has no appetite to get his USCF license. Maybe, for the best

As an aside, I went 1 for 3 playing on lichess tonight. Humbling. Some really solid players on there

[Actor]

I've had the idea for some time now of using the Elo rating system for handicapping. The idea is to come up with a list of all horses that race in a given circuit and then treat each race as an all-play-all tournament. Each horse would be given a rating of 1000 to start (or whatever). Of course shippers would present a problem. And of course the resultant ratings might not be very useful, sort of like BRIS's Prime Power rating. However, I understand that the Elo ratings generate a rather accurate probability of winning and could be used to generate an odds line. I have never found time to develop this idea but maybe some day...