Have you seen IT?

Of the 20 possible first moves from White, 1.b4 ranks 9th in popularity.

Some of the variations are the following:
1.b4 a5 � Ware Defense
1.b4 b5 � Symmetrical Variation
1.b4 c5 � Birmingham Gambit
1.b4 c6 � Outflank Variation
1.b4 Nc6 � Grigorian Variation
1.b4 f5 � Dutch Defense
1,b4 d5 2.Bb2 Nf6 � Main Line
1.b4 d5 2.Bb2 Qd6 � German Defense
1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 d6 � Czech Defense
1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 e5 � Advance Variation
1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.Bxe5 � Exchange Variation 1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 Bf5 � Baltic Defense
1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 f6 3.b5 � Bugayev Advance Variation 1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 f6 3.e4 Bxb4 � Sokolsky Gambit Accepted 1.b4 Nf6 2.Bb2 e6 3.b5 b6 � Queen�s Indian Variation 1.b4 Nf6 2.Bb2 g6 � King's Indian Variation

ECO Opening Notation Moves
A00 Anderssen's Opening 1. a3
A00 Polish Gambit, Anderssen's Opening 1. a3 a5 2. b4 A00 Creepy Crawly Formation 1. a3 e5 2. h3 d5
A00 Andersspike 1. a3 g6 2. g4
A00 Ware; Meadow Hay; Crab 1. a4
A00 Wing Gambit, Ware Opening 1. a4 b5
A00 Cologne Gambit, Ware Opening a4 b6 d4 d5 Nc3 Nd7 A00 Ware Gambit a4 e5 a5 d5 e3 f5 a6
A00 Polish; Orangutan; Sokolsky; Hunt b4
A00 Birmingham Gambit, Polish b4 c5
A00 Outflank Variation, Polish b4 c6
A00 Schuhler Gambit, Polish b4 c6 Bb2 a5 b5 cxb5 e4 A00 Myers Variation, Polish b4 d5 Bb2 c6 a4
A00 Bugayev Attack, Polish b4 e5 a3
A00 Wolferts Gambit, Polish b4 e5 Bb2 c5
A00 Schiffler-Sokolsky; Tartakower Gambit b4 e5 Bb2 f6 e4 Bxb4 A00 Brinckmann Var, Polish b4 e5 Bb2 f6 e4 Bxb4 Bc4 Nc6 f4 Qe7 f5 g6 A00 Bucker Defense, Polish b4 Na6
A00 Grigorian Variation, Polish b4 Nc6
A00 Polish Spike b4 Nf6 Bb2 g6 g4
A00 Karniewski; Tubingen Variation, Polish b4 Nh6

* Many gambits from all openings by ECO code: https://www.jimmyvermeer.com/openin...

Here are some opening traps with 1.b4

Wall � Tefotime, Internet 2001, 1.b4 Nc6 2.b5 Nb4 3.e4 Nf6? 4.a3, winning the knight

Wall � GFX, Internet 2002, 1.b4 d6 2.Bb2 Bf5 3.e3 b6? 4.Qf3, threatening rook and bishop

Wall � Walthour, Dayton 1983, 1.b4 d5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.b5 Nb4? 4.a3 wins the knight

Wall � Xavier, Internet 2003, 1.b4 h6 2.Bb2 f6 3.e4 a6?? 4.Qh5+ g6 5.Qxg6 mate 1-0

Wall � WCII, Internet 2002, 1.b4 d5 2.Bb2 a6 3.a4 Nc6 4.b5 Nb4? 5.c3, wins the knight

Boldetsky � Tardel, Germany 2003, 1.b4 c6 2.Bb2 Qb6 3.c4 e6 4.c5 Bxc5 5.Bxg7?? Bxf2 mate

Meybohm � Grosch, Germany 1988, 1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.f4 d6 4.e4 Nc6 5.f5? Qh4+ 0-1

Wall � Vivo, Internet 1998, 1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 f6 3.a3 d5 4.e3 Bd6 5.c4 Ne7? 6.c5, wins the bishop

Brichinova � Alexandrova, Pernik 1979 1.b4 c6 2.Bb2 Qb6 3.a3 a5 4.c4 e6 5.c5 Bxc5 6.Bxg7?? Bxf2 mate 0-1

* Intro: https://chesspathways.com/chess-ope...

* Basic Sokolsky: https://www.chess.com/clubs/forum/v...

* Punish the Polish: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...

* Some Polish: Game Collection: A5 A3 SOKOLSKY VS BALTIC DEFENCE.

* Santasiere opened 1.Nf3: https://www.chessgames.com/perl/che...

* Black has many choices:
Opening Explorer

Here's how Sokolsky played 1.b4:
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches...

* Another collection by defensive position:
Game Collection: 1. b4: Sokolsky Opening

* Develop the knight first: Opening Explorer

* Bill Wall's History of the Sokolsky: https://www.chessmaniac.com/1-b4-a-...

* Eery...
Polish Opening 1.b4
Polish Opening: Baltic Defense 1.b4 d5 2.Bb2 Bf5

Polish Opening: Birmingham Gambit 1.b4 c5

Polish Opening: Bugayev Attack 1.b4 e5 2.a3

Polish Opening: Bugayev Advance Variation 1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 f6 3.b5

Polish Opening: Czech Defense 1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 d6

Polish Opening: Dutch Defense 1.b4 f5

Polish Opening: German Defense 1.b4 d5 2.Bb2 Qd6

Polish Opening: Grigorian Variation 1.b4 Nc6

Polish Opening: Karniewski Variation 1.b4 Nh6

Polish Opening: King's Indian Variation 1.b4 Nf6 2.Bb2 g6

Polish Opening: King's Indian Variation, Schiffler Attack 1.b4 Nf6 2.Bb2 g6 3.e4

Polish Opening: King's Indian Variation, Sokolsky Attack 1.b4 Nf6 2.Bb2 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.e3 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.d4

Polish Opening: Kucharkowski-Meybohm Gambit 1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.f4 exf4 4.Bxg7 Qh4+ 5.g3 fxg3 6.Bg2 gxh2+ 7.Kf1 hxg1=Q+ 8.Kxg1

Polish Opening: Myers Variation 1.b4 d5 2.Bb2 c6 3.a4

Polish Opening: Orangutan-Diemer Gambit 1.b4 d5 2. Bb2 Qd6 3. a3 e5 4. e4 dxe4 5. f3

Polish Opening: Orangutan-Hartlaub Gambit 1.b4 Nf6 2. Bb2 e6 3. a3 c6 4. d3 a5 5. bxa5 d5 6. e4

Polish Opening: Outflank Variation 1.b4 c6

Polish Opening: Queen's Indian Variation 1.b4 Nf6 2.Bb2 e6 3.b5 b6

Polish Opening: Queenside Defense 1.b4 Nf6 2.Bb2 e6 3.b5 a6

Polish Opening: Rooks Swap Line 1.b4 Nf6 2.Bb2 e6 3.b5 a6 4.a4 axb5 5.axb5 Rxa1 6.Bxa1

Polish Opening: Schiffler-Sokolsky Variation 1.b4 Nf6 2.Bb2 d5 3.e3 e6 4.b5

Polish Opening: Schühler Gambit 1.b4 c6 2.Bb2 a5 3.b5 cxb5 4.e4

Polish Opening: Symmetrical Variation 1.b4 b5

Polish Opening: Tartakower Gambit 1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 f6 3.e4

Polish Opening: Tartakower Gambit, Brinckmann Variation 1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 f6 3.e4 Bxb4 4.Bc4 Nc6 5.f4 Qe7 6.f5 g6

Polish Opening: Wolferts Gambit 1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 c5

"Whatever you are doing in the game of life, give it all you've got." — Norman Vincent Peale

"What you do today can improve all your tomorrows." — Ralph Marston

"A wise man never knows all; only a fool knows everything." — African Proverb

Question: Which fruit floats because 25% of its volume is air? Answer: Apple – they float because of their high volume of air. If an item is denser than water, it will sink – otherwise, will float.

Question: What's the only food that never expires? Answer: Honey – when excavating ancient Egyptian tombs, archaeologists found pots of honey thousands of years old, and still edible. As long as the container is sealed, raw honey will never spoil. Although it never truly expires, honey can crystallize or granulate but is still safe to consume.

Fun fact: the oldest jar of honey was found in the tomb of a noblewoman in Georgia. As far as archaeologists have found, this is considered the world's oldest honey – about 5,500 years old.

This poem is dedicated to all Caissa members
who strive to checkmate their opponents.

The Aroused Bishop

Whispered the pawn to the curious knight
You jump one square up and two to the right
On the diagonal where our queen lays in wait.
I will move up from b-seven to b- eight.
On the opposite side, no, no screamed the queen
Realizing she should have been heard not seen.
Because there, only hidden partially by the walls She saw him standing juggling his little balls.
The bishop so aroused by all of this inter-play
Could not, no he could not help but howlingly say: Oh, oh sweet queen you are mine for the take
While your checkmated king will burn at the stake.

Alabama: Mobile
Established in: 1702

The city of Mobile is a port city on the Gulf Coast in Alabama that has a lot of French influence (which makes sense, since it was founded by the French). Mardi Gras celebrations originated there, and you can experience the history of the holiday at the Mobile Carnival Museum.

My Wage
by Jessie Belle Rittenhouse

I bargained with Life for a penny,
And Life would pay no more,
However I begged at evening
When I counted my scanty store;

For Life is a just employer,
He gives you what you ask,
But once you have set the wages,
Why, you must bear the task.

I worked for a menial's hire,
Only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I had asked of Life,
Life would have paid.

Below is a Morphy acrostic by C.V. Grinfield from page 334 of the Chess Player's Chronicle, 1861: Mightiest of masters of the chequer'd board,
Of early genius high its boasted lord!
Rising in youth's bright morn to loftiest fame, Princeliest of players held with one acclaim;
Host in thyself – all-conquering in fight: – Yankees exult! – in your great champion's might.

You go at red and stop at green. What am I?

Answer: A watermelon.

The Lion and the Gnat

"Go, paltry insect, nature's meanest brat!"
Thus said the royal lion to the gnat.
The gnat declared immediate war.
"Think you," said he, "your royal name
To me worth caring for?
Think you I tremble at your power or fame?
The ox is bigger far than you;
Yet him I drive, and all his crew."
This said, as one that did no fear owe,
Himself he blew the battle charge,
Himself both trumpeter and hero.
At first he played about at large,
Then on the lion's neck, at leisure, settled,
And there the royal beast full sorely nettled.
With foaming mouth, and flashing eye,
He roars. All creatures hide or fly, –
Such mortal terror at
The work of one poor gnat!
With constant change of his attack,
The snout now stinging, now the back,
And now the chambers of the nose;
The pigmy fly no mercy shows.
The lion's rage was at its height;
His viewless foe now laughed outright,
When on his battle-ground he saw,
That every savage tooth and claw
Had got its proper beauty
By doing bloody duty;
Himself, the hapless lion, tore his hide,
And lashed with sounding tail from side to side. Ah! bootless blow, and bite, and curse!
He beat the harmless air, and worse;
For, though so fierce and stout,
By effort wearied out,
He fainted, fell, gave up the quarrel.
The gnat retires with verdant laurel.
Now rings his trumpet clang,
As at the charge it rang.
But while his triumph note he blows,
Straight on our valiant conqueror goes
A spider's ambuscade to meet,
And make its web his winding-sheet.

We often have the most to fear
From those we most despise;
Again, great risks a man may clear,
Who by the smallest dies.

Question: I have married many times, but have always been single. Who am I?

Answer: A priest.

M.Hassan: <Eggman>: Scarborough Chess Club which is said to be the biggest chess club in Canada, arranges tournaments under the name of "Howard Rideout" tournaments. Is he the same Rideout that you are mentioning?. I only know that this is to commemorate "Rideout" who has been a player and probably in that club because the club is over 40 years old. This tournament is repeated year after year and at the beginning of the season when the club resumes activity after summer recession in September. Zxp

PeterB: Eggman and Mr. Hassan - you are right, Howard Ridout was a long time member of the Scarborough Chess Club! He was very active even when I joined in 1969, and was still organizing tournaments at the time of his death in the 1990s. This game is a good memorial to him! Theodorovitch was a Toronto master rated about 2250 back then, perhaps about 2350 nowadays.

< <<Charlotte Chess Center Tuesday Night Action

Charlotte Chess Center

EVENT OVERVIEW
Tuesday Night Action-Weekly Rated Play
The CCC conducts a weekly US Chess rated game every Tuesday night. This is a great way for players to get weekly practice without committing a whole weekend to play a tournament. The Top Section also FIDE-rated - offering the only free weekly FIDE-rated game in the country! In addition, there is a free lecture before the games begin.

HOW IT WORKS
CCC opens Tuesdays at 5:45pm

Lecture with FM Peter Giannatos prior to rated games from 6:00pm-6:45pm

Players must register weekly and in advance using the online registration system

Each Tuesday evening will be limited to the first 62 players to register

TNA registration will close at 6:30pm if not already full

Once spots are filled, players may email events@charlottechesscenter.org to be placed on the waitlist.

​
REQUIREMENTS
Players must be members of the CCC

Players must have a US Chess membership

Open to all players in grades 9-12 and adults

Students in grades K-8 must be rated over 1000

​K-8 players rated under 1000 - See Wednesday Action Quads and Friday Action Quads

​
START TIME
Lecture: 6:00pm

Game: 7:00pm

GAMES
1 Round Weekly, Rated After 4 Rounds/Weeks

​
SECTIONS
TOP (1600+)

Under 1600

Under 1200

"Playing up" not permitted in TNA

TIME CONTROL
Top Section: G/85 mins; inc/5 - FIDE and US Chess Rated

U1600 & U1200 Sections: G/60 mins; inc/5 - US Chess Rated

ENTRY FEE
Free, must be a CCC Member​ - CCC membership only $40/year - join today!​

OTHER NOTES​​
Top Section is FIDE-rated - FIDE rules apply, except for US Chess penalties for cell phone infractions.

Tournament Directors will accelerate pairings to pair players close in rating when possible

Most recent "live" US Chess regular ratings used for all sections to ensure close matchups

Open to high schoolers and adults of any rating, including unrated

Students in grades K-8 must be rated 1000

Players in grades K-8 and rated under 1000 - see Wednesday Action Quads and Friday Action Quads

For all CCC events, bookmark our events calendar

All players must use CCC equipment - wooden sets and digital clocks provided

Address:
10700 Kettering Drive
Unit E
Charlotte, NC 28226 > >>

Drive sober or get pulled over.

"For surely of all the drugs in the world, chess must be the most permanently pleasurable." — Assiac

Feb-23-23 FSR: Thanks, Susan. I never saw Albert after my freshman year of high school (he and his family moved to the Chicago suburbs, where he went to a different school and played for a different chess team). Super nice guy. I was very surprised many years later to learn that he and your son had started this site.

* Jan-29-22 MissScarlett: There are no rules, only guidelines. Premium members such as User: chrisowen get extra leeway.

The Boy and the Schoolmaster

Wise counsel is not always wise,
As this my tale exemplifies.
A boy, that frolicked on the banks of Seine,
Fell in, and would have found a watery grave,
Had not that hand that plants never in vain
A willow planted there, his life to save.
While hanging by its branches as he might,
A certain sage preceptor came in sight;
To whom the urchin cried, "Save, or I'm drowned!" The master, turning gravely at the sound,
Thought proper for a while to stand aloof,
And give the boy some seasonable reproof.
"You little wretch! this comes of foolish playing, Commands and precepts disobeying.
A naughty rogue, no doubt, you are,
Who thus requite your parents" care.
Alas! their lot I pity much,
Whom fate condemns to watch over such."
This having coolly said, and more,
He pulled the drowning lad ashore.

This story hits more marks than you suppose.
All critics, pedants, men of endless prose, –
Three sorts, so richly blessed with progeny,
The house is blessed that does not lodge any, – May in it see themselves from head to toes.
No matter what the task,
Their precious tongues must teach;
Their help in need you ask,
You first must hear them preach.

"The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times." ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

"It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed." ― Theodore Roosevelt

French Proverb: "Tout est bien qui finit bien." ― (All's well that ends well.)

Free dom iz sweet unless our air, water, and land are polluted and our streets are full of criminalz with more rights than the victimz.