<The ascension of the improbable new chess world champion Ding Liren (April, 2023) altered that category. Ding Liren, age 30 is the highest rated Chinese player ever and the first to play in the candidates matches. That is a story in itself.

Ding Liren was the highest rated blitz player in the world at 2875 in 2016. GM Ding's skill at speed chess served him well with a mere minute remaining in the dramatic fourth and final rapid tiebreaker when he eschewed a certain perpetual check draw to play for the win and did indeed win in dramatic fashion over Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi. GM Ding had found himself in time trouble throughout the match.

Magnus Carlsen of Norway ruled classical chess for 10 years from 2013-2023. He is a five-time world champion. Carlsen, just days before his 23rd birthday, defeated Viswanathan Anand. He defeated Anand in a rematch in 2014. Carlsen defended his title against Sergey Karjakin in 2016, Fabiano Caruana in 2018, and Ian Nepomniachtchi in 2021. Carlsen declined to defend his title against Nepomniachtchi in 2023.

Gee, was there an actual checkmate between Ding and Nepo?>

"You cannot play at chess if you are kind-hearted." ― French Proverb

"The first principle of attack–Don't let the opponent develop!" ― Reuben Fine

"You may knock your opponent down with the chessboard, but that does not prove you the better player." ― English Proverb

'An army marches on its stomach

"For a period of ten years--between 1946 and 1956--Reshevsky was probably the best chessplayer in the world. I feel sure that had he played a match with Botvinnik during that time he would have won and been World Champion." ― Bobby Fischer

"I believe that true beauty of chess is more than enough to satisfy all possible demands." ― Alexander Alekhine

"We cannot resist the fascination of sacrifice, since a passion for sacrifices is part of a chessplayer's nature." ― Rudolf Spielmann

"To play for a draw, at any rate with white, is to some degree a crime against chess." ― Mikhail Tal

"Boring? Who's boring? I am Fredthebear. My mind is always active, busy."

"When you see a good move – WAIT! – look for a better one." ― Emanual Lasker

"There are two kinds of idiots - those who don't take action because they have received a threat, and those who think they are taking action because they have issued a threat." ― Paulo Coelho, The Devil and Miss Prym

'As you make your bed, so you must lie upon it

"It is impossible to keep one's excellence in a glass case, like a jewel, and take it out whenever it is required." ― Adolf Anderssen, 1858

"It's a short trip from the penthouse to the outhouse." ― Paul Dietzel

'As you sow so shall you reap

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend." — Melody Beattie

"Chess was Capablanca's mother tongue." ― Richard Reti

"Without technique it is impossible to reach the top in chess, and therefore we all try to borrow from Capablanca his wonderful, subtle technique." ― Mikhail Tal

"Alekhine was the rock-thrower, Capablanca the man who made it all seem easy" ― Hans Ree

"Chess is an infinitely complex game, which one can play in infinitely numerous & varied ways." ― Vladimir Kramnik

"The chess heroes nowadays should not forget that it was owing to Fischer that they are living today in four- and five-star hotels, getting appearance fees, etc." ― Lev Khariton

"Pawns are such fascinating pieces, too...So small, almost insignificant, and yet--they can depose kings." ― Lavie Tidhar, The Bookman

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." — Albert Einstein

"To find something, anything, a great truth or a lost pair of glasses, you must first believe there will be some advantage in finding it." — Jack Burden, All The King's Men

"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination." — Jimmy Dean

"Chess is above all, a fight!" — Emanuel Lasker

"In chess, at least, the brave inherit the earth" — Edmar Mednis

"The harder you fall, the heavier your heart; the heavier your heart, the stronger you climb; the stronger you climb, the higher your pedestal." ― Criss Jami

"In the end, it is important to remember that we cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are." — Max De Pree

James 1:5
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

"Reflect upon your present blessings -- of which every man has many -- not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some." ― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings

'April showers bring forth May flowers

"Once in a lobby of the Hall of Columns of the Trade Union Center in Moscow a group of masters were analyzing an ending. They could not find the right way to go about things and there was a lot of arguing about it. Suddenly Capablanca came into the room. He was always find of walking about when it was his opponent's turn to move. Learning the reason for the dispute the Cuban bent down to the position, said 'Si, si,' and suddenly redistributed the pieces all over the board to show what the correct formation was for the side trying to win. I haven't exaggerated. Don Jose literally pushed the pieces around the board without making moves. He just put them in fresh positions where he thought they were needed. Suddenly everything became clear. The correct scheme of things had been set up and now the win was easy. We were delighted by Capablanca's mastery." ― Alexander Kotov

"Capablanca had that art which hides art to an overwhelming degree." ― Harry Golombek

"I have known many chess players, but only one chess genius, Capablanca." ― Emanuel Lasker

"I think Capablanca had the greatest natural talent." ― Mikhail Botvinnik

"The greatest compliment one can pay a master is to compare him with Jose Capablanca." — Irving Chernev

"The peculiarity of his style is that only rarely does he make moves which no one else would make." — Max Euwe on Vassily Smyslov

"When his opponent forces him into wild play, his performance is stunning." — Robert Byrne on Tigran Petrosian

"You can never relax. I keep the same amount of energy and concentration during the tournament." ― 13-year-old FM Brewington Hardaway from New York

"Most promises featuring the word 'always' are unkeepable." ― John Green, The Anthropocene Reviewed

"You should never say never. Just like you should never say always; because, always and never are always never true." ― J. R. Krol

"<Never and Always>

Never take advantage of someone whom loves you
Never avoid someone whom needs you
Never betray anyone whom has trust in you

Never forget the people that always remember you

Never speak ill of a person who is not present

Never support something you know is wrong or unethical

Always speak to your parents on their birthday and anniversary

Always defend those who cannot defend themselves

Always forgive those you love whom have made mistakes

Always give something to those less fortunate than you

Always remember to look back at those who helped you succeed

Always call your parents and siblings on New Year's Eve." ― R.J. Intindola

"Tal has a terrifying style. Soon even grandmasters will know of this." - Vladimir Saigin (after losing to 17-year-old Tal in a qualifying match for the master title) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5S...

* Assorted good games: Game Collection: assorted Good games

* Brutal Attacking Chess: Game Collection: Brutal Attacking Chess

* Black Defends: Game Collection: Opening repertoire black

* Capablanca's Double Attack — having the initiative is important: https://lichess.org/study/tzrisL1R

* Center Fork Trick: https://lichess.org/study/tzrisL1R

* C53s: Game Collection: rajat21's italian game

* 10 Crazy Gambits: https://www.chess.com/blog/yola6655...

* Common gambits: https://saintlouischessclub.org/blo...

* 1908 WC Match: Game Collection: Lasker vs Tarrasch WCM 1908

* En Passant Mate: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/tech...

* Frank Marshall - Edward Lasker 1923 Match:
Game Collection: Marshall -- Ed. Lasker 1923 match

* Chess in old newspapers: https://www.schach-chess.com/chess-...

* Opening Tree: https://www.shredderchess.com/onlin...

* Chicago, 2007: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEp...

* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEp...

* Lekhika Dhariyal Chess Ops: https://www.zupee.com/blog/category...

* List of gambits: https://detailedpedia.com/wiki-List...

* The Gaw-Paw? Game Collection: GA PA Wins Draws by Black

* Defensive Replies to the Queen's Pawn: Game Collection: e6 after 1.d4

* Del's: Game Collection: Del's hidden gems

* Evolution Newsletter: Game Collection: # Chess Evolution Volumes. 151-200

* Fried Fox is awful: https://allchessopenings.blogspot.c...

* Forney's Collection: Game Collection: Brutal Attacking Chess

* Collection assembled by Fredthebear.

* Flip the Finish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWH...

* Fischer's Best Games by KingG (127 games, a ton of quotes): Game Collection: Robert Fischer's Best Games

* Fischer Rediscovered/Andrew Soltis (97 games): Game Collection: Bobby Fischer Rediscovered (Andy Soltis)

* 1992: Game Collection: Spassky-Fischer Match 1992

* 21st Century: Game Collection: 21st Century Masterpieces - First decade (2000)

* GPA: https://chesstier.com/grand-prix-at...

* GK Sicilian: Game Collection: Kasparov - The Sicilian Sheveningen

* Glossary W: Wikipedia article: Glossary of chess

* CFN: https://www.youtube.com/@CFNChannel

* Glossary P: https://www.peoriachess.com/Glossar...

* Games with ...e6: Game Collection: Partidas modelo con temas variados

* How to Play Chess! http://www.serverchess.com/play.htm...

* h-file attacks: Game Collection: h-file Attacks, some Greek Gifts by Fredthebear

* Happy Days! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slv...

* Imagination: Game Collection: Imagination in Chess

* Immortal Games: Game Collection: Immortal games

* Internet tracking: https://www.studysmarter.us/magazin...

* KG Video: Game Collection: Foxy Openings - King's Gambit

* King's Pawn Theory and Practice: Game Collection: Chess Openings: Theory and Practice, Section 1

* Surprise Knockouts: Game Collection: quick knockouts of greats

* Knightly done!! https://www.youtube.com/shorts/W1tt... - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aT1H...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2Vod...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LmUp...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/D9E6...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gr1C...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vWtU...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9pBV...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/B1-9...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oxkF...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/c6Ig...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/OoEi...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4MsU...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hiyO...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UKGX...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/T5wy...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UCBI...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iRJ4...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qyDs...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tiqr...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5lkO...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ubmr...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BHV1...

- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EIZe...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/d8lc...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CunN...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cUHM...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/I3ra...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/n0p5...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WKbT...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8dao...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/C0E3...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2xCZ...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gdIa...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HANT...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WLRT...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RQTw...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ATcz...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RMhN...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Rl8U...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JM8y...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2dbh...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/OPHd...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rWbR...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hKKx...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IT_N...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1gWZ...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/y2Xu...

- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/N1ww...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tvPh...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YCyf...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nwbB...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/apPf...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jlWU...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2YEt...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BSr7...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vTIU...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ych5...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aOAe...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0aci...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BHlm...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CK0d...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PNFc...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DC2t...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/svkr...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kOrN...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fx-T...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZGOu...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qWtC...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JrfF...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TJ2N...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TDBb...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nTYM...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Shu8...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kWlV...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iViR...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BVGZ...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2J1H...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7Qz_...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IFSy...

* Everlasting L4U: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jNMN... - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ObeV...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZuGb...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pruD...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qQxO...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/T21_...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Zako...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9nvJ...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dSom...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7U_C...

* Lasker's Manual: Game Collection: Manual of Chess (Lasker)

* Masterful: Game Collection: FRENCH DEFENSE MASTERPIECES

* Miniature Mates: Game Collection: Checkmate miniatures

* Miniatures: Game Collection: 200 Miniature Games of Chess - Du Mont (III)

* Monday Puzzles: Game Collection: Monday Puzzles, 2011-2017

* Most Common Openings: http://www.chesskids.org.uk/grownup...

* Nakhmanson Gambit: https://chesstier.com/nakhmanson-ga...

* Nuremberg 1896: Nuremberg (1896)

* Nunn's Chess Course: Game Collection: Lasker JNCC

* Old P-K4 Miniatures: Game Collection: Games for Classes

* Only in blitz (and not in public!): Opening Explorer

* Online safety: https://www.entrepreneur.com/scienc...

* KO After KO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwP...

* Become a Predator at the Chessboard: https://www.chesstactics.org/

* Pawn sacrifices: Game Collection: The Gambiteer

* Pawns are the Soul of Chess: Game Collection: 0

* POTD 2023: Game Collection: Puzzle of the Day 2023

* QP Bg2: Queen's Pawn Game (E00)

* Fred Reinfeld could've written this if only they had cell phones back when: https://socialself.com/blog/how-to-...

* 2023 in Review: https://www.chess.com/news/view/202...

* RL Minis: Game Collection: Ruy Lopez Miniatures

* Spassky could bring the heat: Game Collection: Spassky's Best Games (Cafferty)

* Short history: Game Collection: A history of chess

* Sports Clichés: http://www.sportscliche.com/

* Stunners: Game Collection: Stunners

* Scandinavian Miniatures: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches...

* B20s: Game Collection: Grand Prix (Ginger's Models)

* Sicilian Wing Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMe...

* Sicilians: Game Collection: Sicilian/French/Westerimen and other ...c5,...e6

* Sicilian O'Kelly leaves White all kinds of choices: Opening Explorer

* Tartakower Defense: https://www.chess.com/blog/MatBobul...

* Can you whip Taimanov's Sicilian? http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches...

* Ten books for aspiring masters: http://chessskill.blogspot.com/2023...

* Tactical Mix: Game Collection: mastering Tactical ideas by minev

* Three pair

* The Unthinkable: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9z...

* Wall's APCT Miniatures:
http://billwall.phpwebhosting.com/c...

* BF playing White against the Sicilian: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches...

* Wild: Game Collection: Wild Games!

* Wonders and Curiosities: Game Collection: Wonders and Curiosities of Chess (Chernev)

* Six Ways: https://takelessons.com/blog/6-tips...

* Will Power: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9S...

* Wonders and Curiosities: Game Collection: Wonders and Curiosities of Chess (Chernev)

* Wikipedia on Computer Chess: Wikipedia article: Computer chess

* Yasser's Book: Game Collection: Yasser Seirawan's Winning Chess Tactics

* Z Vol 105: Game Collection: 0ZeR0's collected games volume 105

* Mr. Harvey's Puzzle Challenge: https://wtharvey.com/

WTHarvey:
There once was a website named WTHarvey,
Where chess puzzles did daily delay,
The brain-teasers so tough,
They made us all huff and puff,
But solving them brought us great satisfaction today.

There once was a website named WTHarvey
Where chess puzzles were quite aplenty
With knight and rook and pawn
You'll sharpen your brain with a yawn
And become a master of chess entry

There once was a site for chess fun,
Wtharvey.com was the chosen one,
With puzzles galore,
It'll keep you in store,
For hours of brain-teasing, none done.

There once was a website named WTHarvey,
Where chess puzzles were posted daily,
You'd solve them with glee,
And in victory,
You'd feel like a true chess prodigy!

"Chess is played with the mind and not with the hands." ― Renaud & Kahn

"Chess is a terrific way for kids to build self-image and self-esteem." ― Saudin Robovic

"Chess is a sport. The main object in the game of chess remains the achievement of victory." ― Max Euwe

"Life is like a chess. If you lose your queen, you will probably lose the game." ― Being Caballero

"In chess, as in life, a man is his own most dangerous opponent." — Vasily Smyslov

"If you wish to succeed, you must brave the risk of failure." — Garry Kasparov

"You win some, you lose some, you wreck some." — Dale Earnhardt

"In life, unlike chess the game continues after checkmate." ― Isaac Asimov

New York: Albany
Established in: 1624

Henry Hudson (the Hudson River is named after him) arrived in Albany in 1609, but it was already home to a Dutch trading post and the Haudenosaunee tribe, Iroquois Native Americans.

The capital of New York is also its oldest city. Originally founded as Fort Orange by the Dutch settlers in 1624, the city was officially chartered by the British government as Albany in 1686. It didn't become the capital of the state until 1797. Albany was the point of origin for the first long distance airplane flight and the first passenger railroad.

* Chess History: https://www.britannica.com/topic/ch...

* Chess History: https://www.uschesstrust.org/chess-...

* World Chess Championship History: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkO...

* History of Chess: https://boldchess.com/history/

* Chess Aps: https://www.wired.com/story/best-ch...

* Chess Principles: https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comm...

PRF

Lord Dunsany wrote what is perhaps the finest chess poem ever written. It marked the death of R.H.S. Stevenson and was published on page 74 of the April 1943 BCM:

One art they say is of no use;
The mellow evenings spent at chess,
The thrill, the triumph, and the truce
To every care, are valueless.

And yet, if all whose hopes were set
On harming man played chess instead,
We should have cities standing yet
Which now are dust upon the dead.

'Attack is the best form of defence

morfishine: "I like the Schliemann Defense, along with the Falkbeer counter-gambit and other chancy openings. Enterprising chess is the most fun, even if one meets with disaster from time-to-time. I'd rather go down swinging."

Why do banks have branches if money doesn't grow on trees?

This poem is dedicated to all Caissa's members who understand that chess is but a game.

Chess is but a Game

As he secretly rode his knight out of the castle's gate, still believing that he could escape this inevitable fate, the sky broke open with an array of incredible light. and there smitten to the earth lay nova under his knight. I am who I am and always am, spoke this thundering voice and you, my friend nova, do not at all have another choice but to go forth south and north, west and east
loudly proclaiming the good Word to man and beast. Thus beset by the compelling voice from the broken sky nova set about explaining through the word the how and why. He travelled north and south, west and east never losing aim to let all Caissa's members know: chess is but a game.

'Ashes to ashes dust to dust

"Chess is life in miniature. Chess is a struggle, chess battles." — Garry Kasparov

"Sometimes in life, and in chess, you must take one step back to take two steps forward." — IM Levy Rozman, GothamChess

So much, much, much better to be an incurable optimist than deceitful and untrustworthy.

"Don't blow your own trumpet." — Australian Proverb

Old Russian Proverb: "Scythe over a stone." (Нашла коса на камень.) The force came over a stronger force.

"Continuing to play the victim is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Blaming others for your station in life will indeed make you a victim but the perpetrator will be your own self, not life or those around you." — Bobby Darnell

<"Sestrilla, hafelina
Jue amourasestrilla
Awou jue selaviena
En patre jue

Translation:

Beloved one, little cat
I love you for all time
In this time
And all others"
― Christine Feehan>

"There are more adventures on a chessboard than on all the seas of the world." ― Pierre Mac Orlan

"You can only get good at chess if you love the game." ― Bobby Fischer

Take care of your pennies and your dollars will take care of themselves. ~ Scottish Proverb

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Feb-09-12
ray keene: nimzos best endgames
v lasker zurich 1934
v spielmann carlsbad 1929
v lundin stockholm 1934
v maroczy bled 1931
v henneberger winterthur 1931
v thomas frankfurt 1930
v sultan khan liege 1930
v marshall berlin 1928
v reti berlin 1928
v alehine ny 1927
v tchigorin carlsbad 1907
and for a joke entry duras v nimzo san sebastian 1912 !!

People believe what they want to believe, truth or not.

"Search for the grain of truth in other opinions." ― Richard Carlson

James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

The Bear
~ Author Unknown ~

Here is a cave, (make a fist)
Inside is a bear. (put a thumb inside fist)
Now he comes out
To get some fresh air. (pop out thumb)
He stays out all summer
In sunshine and heat.
He hunts in the forest
For berries to eat. (move thumb in circle)
When snow starts to fall,
He hurries inside
His warm little cave,
And there he will hide. (put thumb back inside fist) Snow covers the cave
Like a fluffy white rug.
Inside the bear sleeps
All cozy and snug. (cover fist with other hand)

Old Russian Proverb:
Чему́ быть, того́ не минова́ть Pronunciation: ChiMU BYT', taVOH ni mihnoVAT' Translation: You can't avoid that which is meant to happen Meaning: Whatever shall be, will be.

Engineer Ralph Baer is often held to be the "father of video games." His "Brown Box" video game system, designed in 1967, paved the way for all future consoles.

"mãos frias, coração quente". In English, it means "a cold hand, a warm heart"

Drive sober or get pulled over.

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

"mais vale um passarinho na mão do que dois a voar"

Contrary to popular belief, the first video game was not Pong. It was preceded by Tennis for Two in 1958 and Spacewar! in 1962.

Q: What do you call a cat that likes to eat beans? A: Puss 'n' Toots!

Q: What do you call a clown who's in jail?
A: A silicon!

Q: What do you call a deer with no eyes?
A: No eye deer!!

Q: What do you call a three-footed aardvark?
A: A yardvark!

Q: What do you call a dancing lamb?
A: A baaaaaa-llerina!

Q: What do you call a meditating wolf?
A: Aware wolf!

Q: What do you call a witch who lives at the beach? A: A sand-witch!

Q: What do you call an avocado that's been blessed by the pope? A: Holy Guacamole!

The Old Man And His Sons

All power is feeble with dissension:
For this I quote the Phrygian slave.
If anything I add to his invention,
It is our manners to engrave,
And not from any envious wishes; –
I'm not so foolishly ambitious.
Phaedrus enriches often his story,
In quest – I doubt it not – of glory:
Such thoughts were idle in my breast.
An aged man, near going to his rest,
His gathered sons thus solemnly addressed:
"To break this bunch of arrows you may try;
And, first, the string that binds them I untie." The eldest, having tried with might and main,
Exclaimed, "This bundle I resign
To muscles sturdier than mine."
The second tried, and bowed himself in vain.
The youngest took them with the like success.
All were obliged their weakness to confess.
Unharmed the arrows passed from son to son;
Of all they did not break a single one.
"Weak fellows!" said their sire, "I now must show What in the case my feeble strength can do."
They laughed, and thought their father but in joke, Till, one by one, they saw the arrows broke.
"See, concord's power!" replied the sire; "as long As you in love agree, you will be strong.
I go, my sons, to join our fathers good;
Now promise me to live as brothers should,
And soothe by this your dying father's fears."
Each strictly promised with a flood of tears.
Their father took them by the hand, and died;
And soon the virtue of their vows was tried.
Their sire had left a large estate
Involved in lawsuits intricate;
Here seized a creditor, and there
A neighbour levied for a share.
At first the trio nobly bore
The brunt of all this legal war.
But short their friendship as It was rare.
Whom blood had joined – and small the wonder! – The force of interest drove asunder;
And, as is wont in such affairs,
Ambition, envy, were co-heirs.
In parcelling their sire's estate,
They quarrel, quibble, litigate,
Each aiming to supplant the other.
The judge, by turns, condemns each brother.
Their creditors make new assault,
Some pleading error, some default.
The sundered brothers disagree;
For counsel one, have counsels three.
All lose their wealth; and now their sorrows
Bring fresh to mind those broken arrows.

"No one has ever won a game of chess by taking only forward moves (What about Scholar's Mate?). Sometimes you have to move backwards in order to be able to take better steps forward. That is life." — Anonymous

Drive sober or get pulled over.

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

"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." ― Thomas Jefferson, chess player

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." ― Mahatma Gandhi

<Sarah wrote:

checkmate
It's like we're playing chess.
Moving strategically, testing boundaries,
all while watching each other's expression.

We all know how this games ends…
The queen destroys you and steals your heart.>

According to Chessmetrics, Lasker was #1 for longer than anyone else in history: 292 different months between June 1890 and December 1926. That's a timespan of 36 1/2 years, in which Lasker was #1 for a total of 24 years and 4 months. Lasker was 55 years old when he won New York 1924.

"The great thing about chess is it's a game for oneself. You don't work on what you can't control, you just work on yourself. And I think if more people did that, we'd all be a lot better off." — Daniel Naroditsky

Blogger: J. Delarosa

Some say the first American chess champion of the world was Paul Morphy of New Orleans. He was clearly the strongest player of his day, though his "reign" was brief.

If you are interted in reading more about Morphy, I suggest Paul Morphy: The Pride and Sorrow of Chess, by David Lawson.

I think the case can be made that the first "American" world champion was Wilhem Steinitz! "American" can describe anyone who lives in the Americas. And the United States is a country of immigrants.

Steinitz, a Bohemian by birth (Prague, 1836), was sent to the 1862 London tournament as the representative of the Austrian Empire. He stayed there, married, and eventual became a British subject.

Steinitz was widely considerd the strongest active player in the world after he defeat the German Aldof Anderssen in 1866. But so long as Morphy was alive, Steinitz never claimed a world chanionship.

In 1882, Steinitz was invited to Philadelphia by the chess patron, David Thompson. Steintiz, feeling somewhat ostracized in England (feeling a "foreigner for 20 years"), relocared to the United States. He took up residence in New York City, which remained his home for the rest of his life.

After Morphy passed away in 1884, a match between the two strongest recognized players at the time, was organized between Steinitz and Zucktort. The match was adverized and widely recognized as for the World Championship.

The 1886 match was played in New York, St. Louis, and New Orleans. New York resident Wilhelm Steinitz secured the title with 10 wins, 5 draws, and 5 losses.

Wilhelm Steinitz - first American world champion of chess.

The Chess Poem by Ayaan Chettiar

8 by 8 makes 64
In the game of chess, the king shall rule
Kings and queens, and rooks and knights
Bishops and Pawns, and the use of mind

The Game goes on, the players think
Plans come together, form a link
Attacks, checks and capture
Until, of course, we reach a mate

The Pawns march forward, then the knights
Power the bishops, forward with might
Rooks come together in a line
The Game of Chess is really divine

The Rooks move straight, then take a turn
The Knights on fire, make no return
Criss-Cross, Criss-Cross, go the bishops
The Queen's the leader of the group

The King resides in the castle
While all the pawns fight with power
Heavy blows for every side
Until the crown, it is destroyed

The Brain's the head, The Brain's the King,
The Greatest one will always win,
For in the game of chess, the king shall rule,
8 by 8 makes 64!

Childhood Games
Judy Ponceby, Ohio Feb 2011

Hopscotch

Girlfriends running, twirling, too.
Taking turns out in the sun.
Skip and hop across the board.
Leap over the marked one.

Twister.

Red right foot,
Bodies blend.
Green left hand
Twist and bend
Blue left foot,
Over extend.
Yellow right hand
In a body pile, again.

Chess

Pawns in play,
Knights abound.
King in check,
Queens around.
Pieces falling one by one
Check and Mate is the sound.

Tag

Tag! You're It.
Running wild.
Laughing, screaming,
Swift little child.

Jumprope

Rope atwirling overhead.
Jump when its under.
Singsong chanting
Sounds like thunder.

Checkers

Red men, Black men.
Jump on a diagonal.
King me, king me
Gonna jump a handful

Kick the Can

Running down the street.
Kicking that can.
Swarm of kiddies
Chasing past the man.

Hopscotch. Twister. Chess. Tag.
Checkers. Kick the Can. Jumprope.

*At some time or other tournament player learns a few opening lines, some tactical ideas, the most basic mating patterns, and a few elementary endgames. As he gets better and more experienced, he significantly adds to this knowledge. However, the one thing that just everybody has problem is planning. From Z to class E (under 1200) D to Master, I get blank stares when asking what plan they had in mind in a particular position. Usually the choice of a plan (if they had any plan at all) is based on emotional rather than chess-specific considerations. By emotional, I mean that the typical player does what he feels like doing rather than the board "telling him what to do. This is somewhat cryptic sentence leads us to the following extremely important concept: if you want to be successful, you have to base your moves and plans on the specific imbalance-oriented criteria that exist in that given position, not your mood, taste and/or feared. Literally every non-master's games are filled with examples of "imbalance avoidance". Beginners, of course, simply don't know what imbalances are. Most experienced players have heard of the term and perhaps even tried to make use of them from time to time, however once the rush of battle takes over, isolated moves and raw aggression (or terror, if you find yourself defending) push any and all thoughts of imbalances out the door. In this case, chess becomes empty move-by-move, threat-by-threat (either making them or responding to them) affair. What is this mysterious allusion of the chessboard's desires (i.e., doing what the chess board wants you to do)? What is this "imbalance-oriented criteria? ― How To Reassess Your Chess by Jeremy Silman

Proverbs of Solomon 4
A Father's Instruction

1Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction;

pay attention and gain understanding.

2For I give you sound teaching;

do not abandon my directive.

3When I was a son to my father,

tender and the only child of my mother,

4he taught me and said,

"Let your heart lay hold of my words;

keep my commands and you will live.

5Get wisdom, get understanding;

do not forget my words or turn from them.

6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you;

love her, and she will guard you.

7Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom.

And whatever you may acquire, a gain understanding.

8Prize her, and she will exalt you;

if you embrace her, she will honor you.

9She will set a garland of grace on your head;

she will present you with a crown of beauty."

10Listen, my son, and receive my words,

and the years of your life will be many.

11I will guide you in the way of wisdom;

I will lead you on straight paths.

12When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;

when you run, you will not stumble.

13Hold on to instruction; do not let go.

Guard it, for it is your life.

14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked

or walk in the way of evildoers.

15Avoid it; do not travel on it.

Turn from it and pass on by.

16For they cannot sleep

unless they do evil;

they are deprived of slumber

until they make someone fall.

17For they eat the bread of wickedness

and drink the wine of violence.

18The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,

shining brighter and brighter until midday.

19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;

they do not know what makes them stumble.

20My son, pay attention to my words;

incline your ear to my sayings.

21Do not lose sight of them;

keep them within your heart.

22For they are life to those who find them,

and health to the whole body.

23Guard your heart with all diligence,

for from it flow springs of life.

24Put away deception from your mouth;

keep your lips from perverse speech.

25Let your eyes look forward;

fix your gaze straight ahead.

26Make a level path for your feet,

and all your ways will be sure.

27Do not swerve to the right or to the left;

turn your feet away from evil.

The Bear and the Amateur Gardener

A certain mountain bear, unlicked and rude,
By fate confined within a lonely wood,
A new Bellerophon, whose life,
Knew neither comrade, friend, nor wife, –
Became insane; for reason, as we term it,
Dwells never long with any hermit.
It's good to mix in good society,
Obeying rules of due propriety;
And better yet to be alone;
But both are ills when overdone.
No animal had business where
All grimly dwelt our hermit bear;
Hence, bearish as he was, he grew
Heart-sick, and longed for something new.
While he to sadness was addicted,
An aged man, not far from there,
Was by the same disease afflicted.
A garden was his favourite care, –
Sweet Flora's priesthood, light and fair,
And eke Pomona's – ripe and red
The presents that her fingers shed.
These two employments, true, are sweet
When made so by some friend discreet.
The gardens, gaily as they look,
Talk not, (except in this my book;)
So, tiring of the deaf and dumb,
Our man one morning left his home
Some company to seek,
That had the power to speak. –
The bear, with thoughts the same,
Down from his mountain came;
And in a solitary place,
They met each other, face to face.
It would have made the boldest tremble;
What did our man? To play the Gascon
The safest seemed. He put the mask on,
His fear contriving to dissemble.
The bear, unused to compliment,
Growled bluntly, but with good intent,
"Come home with me." The man replied:
"Sir Bear, my lodgings, nearer by,
In yonder garden you may spy,
Where, if you'll honour me the while,
We'll break our fast in rural style.
I have fruits and milk, – unworthy fare,
It may be, for a wealthy bear;
But then I offer what I have."
The bear accepts, with visage grave,
But not unpleased; and on their way,
They grow familiar, friendly, gay.
Arrived, you see them, side by side,
As if their friendship had been tried.
To a companion so absurd,
Blank solitude were well preferred,
Yet, as the bear scarce spoke a word,
The man was left quite at his leisure
To trim his garden at his pleasure.
Sir Bruin hunted – always brought
His friend whatever game he caught;
But chiefly aimed at driving flies –
Those hold and shameless parasites,
That vex us with their ceaseless bites –
From off our gardener's face and eyes.
One day, while, stretched on the ground
The old man lay, in sleep profound,
A fly that buzz'd around his nose, –
And bit it sometimes, I suppose, –
Put Bruin sadly to his trumps.
At last, determined, up he jumps;
"I'll stop your noisy buzzing now,"
Says he; "I know precisely how."
No sooner said than done.
He seized a paving-stone;
And by his modus operandi
Did both the fly and man die.

A foolish friend may cause more woe
Than could, indeed, the wisest foe.

from the simpleton poet:

Roses are red.
Violets are blue.

Chess is creative.
And a journey too.

Good in the morning.
Or just before bed.

Play cheater_1, with engine.
Or OTB, all in your head.

"Friend, you don't have to earn God's love or try harder. You're precious in His sight, covered by the priceless blood of Jesus, and indwelt by His Holy Spirit. Don't hide your heart or fear you're not good enough for Him to care for you. Accept His love, obey Him, and allow Him to keep you in His wonderful freedom." — Charles F. Stanley

"Only those who want everything done for them are bored." — Billy Graham

"My home is in Heaven. I'm just traveling through this world." — Billy Graham

"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

* Riddle-z-dee: https://www.briddles.com/riddles/ch...

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." ― Martin Luther King Jr.

"Never reply to an anonymous letter."
― Yogi Berra, MLB Hall of Fame catcher

"Even Napoleon had his Watergate."
― Yogi Berra, 10-time World Series champion

"To a good listener, half a word is enough"
– Portuguese Proverb

The Man And His Image
To M. The Duke De La Rochefoucauld.

A man, who had no rivals in the love
Which to himself he bore,
Esteemed his own dear beauty far above
What earth had seen before.
More than contented in his error,
He lived the foe of every mirror.
Officious fate, resolved our loverFrom such an illness should recover, Presented always to his eyes
The mute advisers which the ladies prize; –
Mirrors in parlours, inns, and shops, –
Mirrors the pocket furniture of fops, –
Mirrors on every lady's zone,13
From which his face reflected shone.
What could our dear Narcissus do?
From haunts of men he now withdrew,
On purpose that his precious shape
From every mirror might escape.
But in his forest glen alone,
Apart from human trace,
A watercourse,
Of purest source,
While with unconscious gaze
He pierced its waveless face,
Reflected back his own.
Incensed with mingled rage and fright,
He seeks to shun the odious sight;
But yet that mirror sheet, so clear and still,
He cannot leave, do what he will.

Before this, my story's drift you plainly see.
From such mistake there is no mortal free.
That obstinate self-lover
The human soul does cover;
The mirrors follies are of others,
In which, as all are genuine brothers,
Each soul may see to life depicted
Itself with just such faults afflicted;
And by that charming placid brook,
Needless to say, I mean your Maxim Book.

This is one of La Fontaine's most admired fables, and is one of the few for which he did not go for the groundwork to some older fabulist. The Duke de la Rochefoucauld, to whom it was dedicated, was the author of the famous "Reflexions et Maximes Morales," which La Fontaine praises in the last lines of his fable. La Rochefoucauld was La Fontaine's friend and patron. The "Maximes" had achieved a second edition just prior to La Fontaine's publication of this first series of his Fables, in 1668. "The Rabbits" (Book 10, Fable 15.), published in the second collection, in 1678-9, is also dedicated to the Duke, who died the following year, 1680.

"There just isn't enough televised chess." — David Letterman

"Do the things that interest you and do them with all your heart. Don't be concerned about whether people are watching you or criticizing you. The chances are that they aren't paying any attention to you. It's your attention to yourself that is so stultifying. But you have to disregard yourself as completely as possible. If you fail the first time then you'll just have to try harder the second time. After all, there's no real reason why you should fail. Just stop thinking about yourself." — Eleanor Roosevelt

"Many have become chess masters, no one has become the master of chess." — Siegbert Tarrasch

"True power is expressed in quiet confidence; it was the sea's very calmness that epitomized its mighty force." ― Emile Habiby

"Remember that there are two kinds of beauty: one of the soul and the other of the body. That of the soul displays its radiance in intelligence, in chastity, in good conduct, in generosity, and in good breeding, and all these qualities may exist in an ugly man. And when we focus our attention upon that beauty, not upon the physical, love generally arises with great violence and intensity. I am well aware that I am not handsome, but I also know that I am not deformed, and it is enough for a man of worth not to be a monster for him to be dearly loved, provided he has those spiritual endowments I have spoken of." ― Miguel Cervantes

4$drivz u nokt mee crazy wheelr. 4$fare iz fair evn 4all hairy bearz no shirts no shoez still get servd biden court 2appear b4 congress 2testify on internet caught see lionz zandi drownd outta noiz. So sad.

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." — Calvin Coolidge

Psalm 96: 1-3
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

A TISKET A TASKET
A tisket, a tasket
A green and yellow basket.
I wrote a letter to my love
And on the way I dropped it.
I dropped it, I dropped it
And on the way I dropped it.
A little boy he picked it up
And put it in his pocket.

16 yellow #2 pencilz