"Si vis pacem, para bellum" ― Cicero

"Winning is about commitment, discipline, hard work, dedication, determination, courage and sometimes even luck!" ― Susan Polgar

"Every defeat is an opportunity to learn from our mistakes! Every victory is a confirmation of our hard work!" ― Susan Polgar

"A chess player uses his/her knowledge to prepare for next game while a passionate coach prepares for next generation!" ― Susan Polgar

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." ― Lao Tzu

"God has given you one face, and you make yourself another." ― William Shakespeare

"I started chess around the age of seven. I was inspired by the game, but soon legends like Kasparov, Karpov, Fischer, Anand and many other world champions captivated me." ― Anish Giri

"Chess is a game where all different sorts of people can come together, not a game in which people are divided because of their religion or country of origin." ― Hikaru Nakamura

"In chess, you have to bring all the pieces into the game. It is about development. In writing, you have to develop the story." ― Gza

"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one." ― Albert Einstein

"Chess is a lot of fun for me. Football is a physical game, and in chess you can just beat someone mentally - you outwit somebody, outmaneuver them, think ahead of them." ― Larry Fitzgerald

"Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world." ― Archimedes

"The most powerful weapon in chess is to have the next move." ― David Bronstein

"Young men preen. Old men scheme." ― Mason Cooley

"Chess and me, it's hard to take them apart. It's like my alter ego." ― Bobby Fischer

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." ― Henry David Thoreau

"Chess is the art of analysis." ― Mikhail Botvinnik

"Patience is the companion of wisdom." ― Saint Augustine

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

"There are no adequate substitutes for father, mother, and children bound together in a loving commitment to nurture and protect. No government, no matter how well-intentioned, can take the place of the family in the scheme of things." ― Gerald R. Ford

"My biggest competitor was my mum. I used to try to beat her at Chinese chequers, chess, carrom, volleyball, badminton, football, wrestling." ― Sunil Chhetri

"Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances." ― Thomas Jefferson

"The human element, the human flaw and the human nobility - those are the reasons that chess matches are won or lost." ― Viktor Korchnoi

"In chess, you should be as cool as a cucumber." ― Yuliya Snigir

"O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive!" ― Walter Scott

"It is a profound mistake to imagine that the art of combination depends only on natural talent, and that it cannot be learned." ― Richard Reti

"To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift." ― Steve Prefontaine

"I love to play chess. The last time I was playing, I started to really see the board. I don't mean just seeing a few moves ahead - something else. My game started getting better. It's the patterns. The patterns are universal." ― Forest Whitaker

"God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say 'thank you?' " ― William Arthur Ward

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters." ― Epictetus

"I think a gentleman is someone who holds the comfort of other people above their own. The instinct to do that is inside every good man, I believe. The rules about opening doors and buying dinner and all of that other 'gentleman' stuff is a chess game, especially these days." ― Anna Kendrick

Never judge a book by its cover.

"You cannot say, 'Go! Go! Rah! Rah! Good move!' People want some emotion. Chess is an art and not a spectator sport." ― Garry Kasparov

"My passions were all gathered together like fingers that made a fist. Drive is considered aggression today; I knew it then as purpose." ― Bette Davis

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." ― Winston Churchill

"I spend hours playing chess because I find it so much fun. The day it stops being fun is the day I give up." ― Magnus Carlsen

"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." ― Mark Twain

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." ― Eleanor Roosevelt

"I may not be where I want to be, but thank God I am not where I used to be." ― Joyce Meyer

"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment." ― Jim Rohn

"I have a scheme for stopping war. It's this - no nation is allowed to enter a war till they have paid for the last one." ― Will Rogers

* Starting Out 1d4: Game Collection: Starting Out: 1 d4!

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

* Bearly Thinking: https://www.etsy.com/listing/972054...

* Checkmate patterns: Game Collection: Checkmate: Checkmate Patterns

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

* Alpha Glossary: https://www.chess-poster.com/englis...

* Best Games of 2018: Game Collection: Best Games of 2018

* 21st Century: Game Collection: 0

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

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

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

Proverbs 29:25
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

Кто не рискует, тот не пьет шампанского Pronunciation: KTOH ni risKUyet, tot ni pyot shamPANSkava) Translation: He who doesn't take risks doesn't drink champagne Meaning: Fortune favours the brave

"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...

"I like to grasp the initiative and not give my opponent peace of mind." — Mikhail Tal

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.

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

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

Here's a poem a dad wrote:

<ODE TO CHESS

Ten times I charged the grim, foreboding walls

and was pitched into the pit of defeat.

But, heedless of humiliating falls,

I clambered bravely back onto my feet

and charged again, again to be down thrust

onto the scrap heap of people who lose

onto the mound of mortifying dust

whilst my opponent sat without a bruise

upon his pedestal. We changed sides

and fought again, but I was defeated

whilst he with arrogant and haughty strides

took the throne upon which I had been seated.

Ha! Win or lose, it's how you play the game.

But I would like to beat him just the same.>

"Chess can be described as the movement of pieces eating one another." — Marcel Duchamp

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

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

"The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them." — Ernest Hemingway

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

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

"Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous." ― Albert Einstein

* Short history: Game Collection: A history of chess

* A07, B23-B25: Game Collection: Sicilian Closed / Grand Prix Attack

* Ataman's Minis: Game Collection: Instructive Chess Miniatures (Ataman)

* 107 battles: Game Collection: 107 Great Chess Battles: 1939-45 Alekhine

* Opening Ideas/Novelties: Game Collection: Great opening ideas

* C53s: Game Collection: rajat21's italian game

* RL Minis: Game Collection: Ruy Lopez Miniatures

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

* The Donner Party of Misery: https://www.chessgames.com/perl/che...

* Don't Steal: https://www.openbible.info/topics/s...

* C-K Examples: Game Collection: Caro Kann Lines

* GK: Game Collection: Kasparov - The Sicilian Sheveningen

* Common Gambits Video: https://saintlouischessclub.org/blo...

‘May your Departures equal your Landfalls!'

* Notable Games: Game Collection: List of Notable Games (wiki)

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

* She's a Stonewaller: Eneida Astolfi Perez

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

* Post-Beginners Book: Game Collection: Chess training for post-beginners

"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

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

"When in doubt, don't." ― Benjamin Franklin

Riddle Question: If you drop a yellow hat in the Red Sea, what does it become?

The Persian epic Explanation of Chatrang and the Invention of Nard tells the story of chess being introduced to the royal court by an envoy from India.

Riddle Answer: Wet, duh!

Catalan Opening
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5

Catalan Opening (Classical Line)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 Be7

Catalan Opening (Closed Variation)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O

Catalan Opening (Open Variation)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4

Grünfeld Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5

Grünfeld Defense (Classical Line)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4

Grünfeld Defense (Exchange Variation)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4

Grünfeld Defense (Neo-Grünfeld)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5

Grünfeld Defense (Prins Variation)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Bg4

Grünfeld Defense (Reversed)
1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. d4

Grünfeld Defense (Smyslov Variation)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Bg4

"When you're lonely, when you feel yourself an alien in the world, play Chess. This will raise your spirits and be your counselor in war" ― Aristotle

"A bad plan is better than none at all." ― Frank Marshal

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!

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

The Fly and the Ant

A fly and ant, on a sunny bank,
Discussed the question of their rank.
"O Jupiter!" the former said,
"Can love of self so turn the head,
That one so mean and crawling,
And of so low a calling,
To boast equality shall dare
With me, the daughter of the air?
In palaces I am a guest,
And even at your glorious feast.
Whenever the people that adore you
May immolate for you a bullock,
I'm sure to taste the meat before you.
Meanwhile this starveling, in her hillock,
Is living on some bit of straw
Which she has laboured home to draw.
But tell me now, my little thing,
Do you camp ever on a king,
An emperor, or lady?
I do, and have full many a play-day
On fairest bosom of the fair,
And sport myself on her hair.
Come now, my hearty, rack your brain
To make a case about your grain."
"Well, have you done?" replied the ant.
"You enter palaces, I grant,
And for it get right soundly cursed.
Of sacrifices, rich and fat,
Your taste, quite likely, is the first; –
Are they the better off for that?
You enter with the holy train;
So enters many a wretch profane.
On heads of kings and asses you may squat;
Deny your vaunting I will not;
But well such impudence, I know,
Provokes a sometimes fatal blow.
The name in which your vanity delights
Is owned as well by parasites,
And spies that die by ropes – as you soon will By famine or by ague-chill,
When Phoebus goes to cheer
The other hemisphere, –
The very time to me most dear.
Not forced abroad to go
Through wind, and rain, and snow,
My summer's work I then enjoy,
And happily my mind employ,
From care by care exempted.
By which this truth I leave to you,
That by two sorts of glory we are tempted,
The false one and the true.
Work waits, time flies; adieu:
This gabble does not fill
My granary or till."

Around the World
Riddle Question: What travels around the world but stays in one spot?

FACTRETRIEVER: Even though dragonflies have six legs, they cannot walk.

Riddle Answer: A stamp.

Maximo wrote:

My Forking Knight's Mare
Gracefully over the squares, as a blonde or a brunette, she makes moves that not even a queen can imitate. Always active and taking the initiative,
she likes to fork.
She does it across the board,
taking with ease not only pawns, but also kings, and a bad bishop or two.
Sometimes she feels like making
quiet moves,
at other times, she adopts romantic moods,
and makes great sacrifices.
But, being hers a zero-sum game,
she often forks just out of spite.
An expert at prophylaxis, she can be a swindler, and utter threats,
skewering men to make some gains.
Playing with her risks a conundrum,
and also catching Kotov's syndrome.
Nonetheless, despite having been trampled
by her strutting ways
my trust in her remains,
unwavering,
until the endgame.

<<Tips to calm down> Here are some helpful, actionable tips you can try the next time you need to calm down.>

1. Breathe
"Breathing is the number one and most effective technique for reducing anger and anxiety quickly," says Scott Dehorty, LCSW-C, of Delphi Behavioral Health.

When you're anxious or angry, you tend to take quick, shallow breaths. Dehorty says this sends a message to your brain, causing a positive feedback loop reinforcing your fight-or-flight response. That's why taking long, deep calming breaths disrupts that loop and helps you calm down.

There are various breathing techniques to help you calm down. One is three-part breathing. Three-part breathing requires you to take one deep breath in and then exhale fully while paying attention to your body.

Once you get comfortable with deep breathing, you can change the ratio of inhalation and exhalation to 1:2 (you slow down your exhalation so that it's twice as long as your inhalation).

Practice these techniques while calm so you know how to do them when you're anxious.

2. Admit that you're anxious or angry
Allow yourself to say that you're anxious or angry. When you label how you're feeling and allow yourself to express it, the anxiety and anger you're experiencing may decrease.

3. Challenge your thoughts
Part of being anxious or angry is having irrational thoughts that don't necessarily make sense. These thoughts are often the "worse-case scenario." You might find yourself caught in the "what if" cycle, which can cause you to sabotage a lot of things in your life.

When you experience one of these thoughts, stop and ask yourself the following questions:

Is this likely to happen?
Is this a rational thought?
Has this ever happened to me before?
What's the worst that can happen? Can I handle that?
After you go through the questions, it's time to reframe your thinking. Instead of "I can't walk across that bridge. What if there's an earthquake, and it falls into the water?" tell yourself: "There are people that walk across that bridge every day, and it has never fallen into the water."

4. Release the anxiety or anger
Dehorty recommends getting the emotional energy out with exercise. "Go for a walk or run. Engaging in some physical activity releases serotonin to help you calm down and feel better."

However, you should avoid physical activity that includes the expression of anger, such as punching walls or screaming.

"This has been shown to increase feelings of anger, as it reinforces the emotions because you end up feeling good as the result of being angry," Dehorty explains.

5. Visualize yourself calm
This tip requires you to practice the breathing techniques you've learned. After taking a few deep breaths, close your eyes and picture yourself calm. See your body relaxed, and imagine yourself working through a stressful or anxiety-causing situation by staying calm and focused.

By creating a mental picture of what it looks like to stay calm, you can refer back to that image when you're anxious.

6. Think it through
Have a mantra to use in critical situations. Just make sure it's one that you find helpful. Dehorty says it can be, "Will this matter to me this time next week?" or "How important is this?" or "Am I going to allow this person/situation to steal my peace?"

This allows the thinking to shift focus, and you can "reality test" the situation.

"When we're anxious or angry, we become hyper-focused on the cause, and rational thoughts leave our mind. These mantras give us an opportunity to allow rational thought to come back and lead to a better outcome," Dehorty explains.

7. Change your focus
Leave the situation, look in another direction, walk out of the room, or go outside.

Dehorty recommends this exercise so you have time for better decision making. "We don't do our best thinking when anxious or angry; we engage in survival thinking. This is fine if our life is really in danger, but if it isn't life threatening, we want our best thinking, not survival instincts," he adds.

8. Have a centering object
When you're anxious or angry, so much of your energy is being spent on irrational thoughts. When you're calm, find a "centering object" such as a small stuffed animal, a polished rock you keep in your pocket, or a locket you wear around your neck.

Tell yourself that you're going to touch this object when you're experiencing anxiety or frustration. This centers you and helps calm your thoughts. For example, if you're at work and your boss is making you anxious, gently rub the locket around your neck.

9. Relax your body
When you're anxious or angry, it can feel like every muscle in your body is tense (and they probably are). Practicing progressive muscle relaxation can help you calm down and center yourself.

To do this, lie down on the floor with your arms out by your side. Make sure your feet aren't crossed and your hands aren't in fists. Start at your toes and tell yourself to release them. Slowly move up your body, telling yourself to release each part of your body until you get to your head.

10. Drop your shoulders
If your body is tense, there's a good chance your posture will suffer. Sit up tall, take a deep breath, and drop your shoulders. To do this, you can focus on bringing your shoulder blades together and then down. This pulls your shoulders down. Take a few deep breaths.

You can do this several times a day.

11. Identify pressure points to calm anger and anxiety Going for a massage or getting acupuncture is a wonderful way to manage anxiety and anger. But it's not always easy to find time in your day to make it happen. The good news is, you can do acupressure on yourself for instant anxiety relief.

This method involves putting pressure with your fingers or your hand at certain points of the body. The pressure releases the tension and relaxes your body.

One area to start with is the point where the inside of your wrist forms a crease with your hand. Press your thumb on this area for two minutes. This can help relieve tension.

12. Get some fresh air
The temperature and air circulation in a room can increase your anxiety or anger. If you're feeling tense and the space you're in is hot and stuffy, this could trigger a panic attack.

Remove yourself from that environment as soon as possible and go outside — even if it's just for a few minutes.

Not only will the fresh air help calm you down, but also the change of scenery can sometimes interrupt your anxious or angry thought process.

13. Fuel your body
Being hangry never helps. If you're hungry or not properly hydrated, many relaxation techniques won't work. That's why it's important to slow down and get something to eat — even if it's just a small snack.

Try nibbling on some dark chocolate. ResearchTrusted Source shows it can help boost brain health and reduce stress.

Wash it down with a cup of green tea and honey. Studies show green tea can help reduce the body's stress response. Research has found that honey can help relieve anxiety.

14. Chew gum
Chewing on a piece of gum can help reduce anxiety (and even boost mood and productivity). In fact, research shows people who chew gum regularly are typically less stressed than non-gum chewers.

15. Listen to music
The next time you feel your anxiety level cranking up, grab some headphones and tune in to your favorite music. Listening to music can have a very calming effect on your body and mind.

16. Dance it out
Get moving to your favorite tunes. Dancing has traditionally been used as a healing art. ResearchTrusted Source shows it's a great way to combat depression and anxiety and increase quality of life.

17. Watch funny videos
Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine. Research has found that laughing provides therapeutic benefits and can help relieve stress and improve mood and quality of life. Do a quick internet search to find funny videos for an instant mood boost.

18. Write it down
If you're too angry or anxious to talk about it, grab a journal and write out your thoughts. Don't worry about complete sentences or punctuation — just write. Writing helps you get negative thoughts out of your head.

19. Squeeze a stress ball
When you're feeling stress come on, try interacting with a stress-relief toy. Options include:

stress ball
magnetic balls
sculpting clay
puzzles
Rubik's cube
fidget spinner

20. Try aromatherapy
Aromatherapy, or the use of essential oils, may help alleviate stress and anxiety and boost mood. Those commonly used in aromatherapy include:

bergamot
cedarwood
chamomile
geranium
ginger
lavender
lemon
tea tree
Add a few drops of essential oil to a diffuser, or mix it with a carrier oil (like coconut oil) and apply to your skin for quick relief.

21. Seek social support
Venting to a trusted friend, family member, or coworker can do wonders. Even if you don't have time for a full play-by-play phone call, a quick text exchange can help you let it all out and help you feel heard.

Bonus points if you engage with a funny friend who can help you laugh for added stress relief.

22. Spend time with a pet
Interacting with your favorite furry friend can decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol and lower blood pressure. Quality time with a pet can also help you feel less alone and boost your overall mood.>

"....his countrymen, Kolisch and Steinitz, are greatly indebted for their later success to their having enjoyed early opportunities of practicing with the departed amateur whose death is also greatly deplored amongst all who knew him personally." — Wilhelm Steinitz, regarding Karl Hamppe

The first appearance of the (John) Cochrane gambit against Petrov's defense C42 was in the year 1848 against an Indian master Mohishunder Bannerjee.

"Sorry don't get it done, Dude!" — John Wayne, Rio Bravo

"Gossip is the devil's telephone. Best to just hang up." — Moira Rose

pages 24-25 of The Year Book of the United States Chess Federation 1944 (Chicago, 1945), which published ‘Brave Heart', Anthony Santasiere's tribute to Frank J. Marshall. Written in August 1942 for Marshall's 65th birthday, it began:

Brave Heart –
We salute you!
Knowing neither gain nor loss,
Nor fear, nor hate –;
But only this –
To fight – to fight –
And to love.

Santasiere then gushes on in a similar vein for another 40 lines or so, and we pick up the encomium for its final verse:

For this – dear Frank –
We thank you.
For this – dear Frank –
We love you!
Brave heart –
Brave heart –
We love you!

According to Chessmetrics, Emanuel 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.

"Just because you know stuff doesn't mean you are smart... You have to know how to use that information." ― Josh Keller

The Three Kings By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Three Kings came riding from far away,
Melchior and Gaspar and Baltasar;
Three Wise Men out of the East were they,
And they travelled by night and they slept by day, For their guide was a beautiful, wonderful star.

The star was so beautiful, large and clear,
That all the other stars of the sky
Became a white mist in the atmosphere,
And by this they knew that the coming was near
Of the Prince foretold in the prophecy.

Three caskets they bore on their saddle-bows,
Three caskets of gold with golden keys;
Their robes were of crimson silk with rows
Of bells and pomegranates and furbelows,
Their turbans like blossoming almond-trees.

And so the Three Kings rode into the West,
Through the dusk of the night, over hill and dell, And sometimes they nodded with beard on breast, And sometimes talked, as they paused to rest,
With the people they met at some wayside well.

"Of the child that is born," said Baltasar, "Good people, I pray you, tell us the news;
For we in the East have seen his star,
And have ridden fast, and have ridden far,
To find and worship the King of the Jews."

And the people answered, "You ask in vain;
We know of no King but Herod the Great!"
They thought the Wise Men were men insane,
As they spurred their horses across the plain,
Like riders in haste, who cannot wait.

And when they came to Jerusalem,
Herod the Great, who had heard this thing,
Sent for the Wise Men and questioned them;
And said, "Go down unto Bethlehem,
And bring me tidings of this new king."

So they rode away; and the star stood still,
The only one in the grey of morn;
Yes, it stopped—it stood still of its own free will, Right over Bethlehem on the hill,
The city of David, where Christ was born.

And the Three Kings rode through the gate and the guard, Through the silent street, till their horses turned And neighed as they entered the great inn-yard; But the windows were closed, and the doors were barred, And only a light in the stable burned.

And cradled there in the scented hay,
In the air made sweet by the breath of kine,
The little child in the manger lay,
The child, that would be king one day
Of a kingdom not human, but divine.

His mother Mary of Nazareth
Sat watching beside his place of rest,
Watching the even flow of his breath,
For the joy of life and the terror of death
Were mingled together in her breast.

They laid their offerings at his feet:
The gold was their tribute to a King,
The frankincense, with its odor sweet,
Was for the Priest, the Paraclete,
The myrrh for the body's burying.

And the mother wondered and bowed her head,
And sat as still as a statue of stone,
Her heart was troubled yet comforted,
Remembering what the Angel had said
Of an endless reign and of David's throne.

Then the Kings rode out of the city gate,
With a clatter of hoofs in proud array;
But they went not back to Herod the Great,
For they knew his malice and feared his hate,
And returned to their homes by another way.

The first chess legend, called the wheat and chessboard problem, illustrates the power of exponential growth.

The first chess movie, called Chess Fever, was a silent comedy released in 1925 in the Soviet Union.

The word checkmate comes from the Persian phrase shah mat, meaning "the king is helpless".

The Lion Beaten By The Man

A picture once was shown,
In which one man, alone,
On the ground had thrown
A lion fully grown.
Much gloried at the sight the rabble.
A lion thus rebuked their babble:
"That you have got the victory there,
There is no contradiction.
But, gentles, possibly you are
The dupes of easy fiction:
Had we the art of making pictures,
Perhaps our champion had beat yours!"

Fools look to tomorrow. Wise men use tonight. ~ Scottish Proverb

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

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude." ― Denis Waitley

The Hog, the Goat, and the Sheep

A goat, a sheep, and porker fat,
All to the market rode together.
Their own amusement was not that
Which caused their journey there.
Their coachman did not mean to "set them down"
To see the shows and wonders of the town.
The porker cried, in piercing squeals,
As if with butchers at his heels.
The other beasts, of milder mood,
The cause by no means understood.
They saw no harm, and wondered why
At such a rate the hog should cry.
"Hush there, old piggy!" said the man,
"And keep as quiet as you can.
What wrong have you to squeal about,
And raise this devilish, deafening shout?
These stiller persons at your side
Have manners much more dignified.
Pray, have you heard
A single word
Come from that gentleman in wool?
That proves him wise." "That proves him fool!"
The testy hog replied;
"For did he know
To what we go,
He'd cry almost to split his throat;
So would her ladyship the goat.
They only think to lose with ease,
The goat her milk, the sheep his fleece:
They're, maybe, right; but as for me,
This ride is quite another matter.
Of service only on the platter,
My death is quite a certainty.
Adieu, my dear old piggery!"
The porker's logic proved at once
Himself a prophet and a dunce.

Hope ever gives a present ease,
But fear beforehand kills:
The wisest he who least foresees
Inevitable ills.

"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

Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Isolated pawns require a very expensive therapy, for keeping them alive.

Carlsen vs D Gukesh, 2025

Rockzy sayz that a teenager was put out to pasture?? When you don't know what you're doing, don't bite off more than you can chew: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ctPw...

Here's a very useful tip for all levels: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/e8_U...

Another useless post from puffi just for the sake of posting. Let's not bow to a bland Nok+1 sentence. Try to do the impossible and tell us something we don't know that is not a lie. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NZKY...

Those who like lifetime 700 wood pusher comments will want to see this one: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RVKX...

What?! https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ff-f...

It's time to join 21st Century chess...

2.Nc3 3.Bc4 is the D01 Jobava London System.

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6LQm... > https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yWtJ...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JpuG...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/No7z...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Zdsg...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EqgW...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/q5Br...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aolo...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Y4fm...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/R5_X...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/boau...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/W75y...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FskX...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/L5sV...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/67qz...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yxuQ...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3-L3...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IgEU...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/t94C...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/R5_X...

> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU7...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8uds...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/awbf...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/USSR...

> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb-...

> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sia...

> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Guu...

> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSB...

> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmR...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5Rbj...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NwIz...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2-z1...

> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSW...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SmV6...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KzNC...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/siQS...

> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ef...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oMc8...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wV8p...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Q7wp...

> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8olj...

> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3S...

The "explore this opening" link does not work correctly on this page because CGs has the D02 ECO code, which absolutely insists that all game examples have 2.Nf3, which was not played until 7th ply in the game above.

In other words, the link is all but useless for those searching for 1.d 2.Nc3 3.Bc4 games. Not a single Baddur Jobava game appears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9V...

The Jobava London System is a chess opening named after Georgian grandmaster Baadur Jobava. It is a variant of the London System, characterized by the moves 1.d4 2.Bf4 3.Nc3. This opening is known for its flexibility, allowing White to launch attacks on both the kingside and queenside, making it a great choice for players looking for an aggressive yet straightforward approach. The Jobava London System is easy to learn, as the ideas and moves remain consistent regardless of the opponent's responses. https://www.chessgeek.org/learn-che...

% https://lichess.org/study/8OjcvA95

% https://www.newinchess.com/media/wy...

% https://en.chessbase.com/post/jobav...

% https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell...

% https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzA...

% https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLb...

% https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSG...

% https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAS...

In classical time controls, Baduur Jobava no longer plays this opening system named after him (as well as Richard Rapport and Eric Prie). Yet, grandmasters continue playing the Sarratt Attack/Accelerated London System 1.d4 2.Bf4 at all time controls. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NB...

A more important piece makes a good target: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjM...

Shocking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7D...

In some respects, the similarities and differences are comparable to those of the Giuoco Piano, and Giuoco Pianissimo, or the Nimzo-Indian and Bogo-Indian. You know what I mean? https://www.youtube.com/shorts/AGRc...

Barry's $200K per year sure added up to multi-millions fast, or perhaps all those Dem kids are using the Hunter laptop method of foreign affairs. When and where one spends their knights makes a big difference where their game ends up. How do you tie on? https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wbjH...

If your ship comes in, you could end up on doing one of those bluefin jobs: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7b0f...

Phil says this is how to live: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/R4Tx...

No, it's not an older Phil. It's not Uncle Si either: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RZcF...

A different look, but the same message: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/C1jv...

Who is this RJ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgV...

You're right Cliff. One of 'em is The Way to the Kingdom: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nkYv...

Don't misunderstand. Cliff spells it out: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/OEYG...

Commercial break. Don't you dare turn that channel! Even a cold, heartless curmudgeon cyberbully shalike this one... https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Pdn_...

What about green onez? https://www.youtube.com/shorts/sZHP...

Luke! https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZjPN...

A mystery guest:
1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6x...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Idz...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi9...

Alireza Firozja's way according to ChessDawg:

2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wG...

3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-I...

4) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTu...

5) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e3...

g6s) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBb... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toj...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3dvU...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4O...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_x...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxJ...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFf...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH4...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq3...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQL...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4Z... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBH...

So Magnus gave it a try: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZy... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YY...

Even Kramer had a sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNA...

Ben Knows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgE...

Nicholas believes: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2L2j... - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CwOE...

Nakamura defends: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYO...

Naka does the Job: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blo...

MC is late, mad! https://www.youtube.com/shorts/E39l... - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/GYYj...

Here's one reason why MC skips Tata Steel nowadays: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qG...

Some deliberately refuse to agree with FTB, so listen to Epi's pen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0F... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygH...

Agadmator uses the ECO code A45 for games that begin 1.d4 Nf6, a single queen pawn opening. This is technically correct. However, 2.Nc3 d5 (White is threatening 3.e4 if allowed which would become a B07-9 Pirc defense, a single king pawn opening) transposes to D01, a double queen pawn opening. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yx...

Don't be this dad: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7X_e...

She has her own Nc3 version (apparently a 1.e4 C-K): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHG... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FW...

Pay close attention when you play: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TvGn... How 'bout dat?

Halosar tricked 'em this away: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/570F...

If you stand upside down on your head, these kingside Italian games will appear to be the Jobava London system on the queenside: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zq5Y... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feA...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u__...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86F...

If you continue to post rubbish without paying attention to the game, you might get your eyebrows raised: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/enzn...

Boot Camp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSt...

Upside down practically can't be done w/a piano, but if anybody can, she might be the one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FW...

Oh, Black might play 3...Na6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Nw... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhF...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lno...

Back to Basics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCE... - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/znUy...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8V...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgo...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RxM7...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDC...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0J...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOp...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDi...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5F...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvW...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pfXp...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG_...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZE...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hc...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsM...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXY...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_L...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt8...
-
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/emtL...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/b7aQ...

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-2...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2O...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNX...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwI...

If that doesn't work, then soak your toes in Epsom assault: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/L3mC... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRh... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6Q...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1511...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2K...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/K5rP...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zc-V...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRh...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/V8xt...
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7BlN...
-
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/G4Xj...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-e...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDq...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thp...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJ6...
-

An example of how American champion Frank James Marshall (August 10, 1877 – November 9, 1944) liked to shock his opponents:

John R. Orton – Frank James Marshall Wikipedia article: Frank Marshall (chess player) Montreal, date?
Queen's Gambit Declined

1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 c5 4 e3 Nc6 5 Nf3 Nf6 6 a3 cxd4 7 exd4 dxc4 8 Bxc4 Be7 9 Be3 O-O 10 O-O a6 11 Qc2 b5 12 Bd3 Bb7 13 Rfd1 Rc8 14 d5 exd5 15 Nxd5 15…Qxd5 (‘Done, no doubt, in a spirit of adventure, which at all times moves the United States champion to place his head in the lion's mouth. By rights the jaws should have snapped upon him, but he escaped by the skin of his own teeth. Instead of the text, he should have played 15…Nxd5.') 16 Bxh7+ Nxh7 17 Rxd5 Nb4 18 Qxc8 Rxc8 19 Rd7 Bxf3 20 axb4 Bxb4 21 gxf3 Nf6 22 Ra7 a5 23 Rb7 Rc2 24 Rb1 Nd5 25 Rxb5 Nxe3 26 fxe3 Re2 27 e4 Bd2 28 h3 f6 29 Rf1 Kh7 Drawn.

Source: American Chess Bulletin, February 1920, page 35. https://www.chess.com/article/view/...

Stop pretending to be offended, troll. You have read/said so much, much, much worse on Kibitzer and Rogoff.

An hour of play discovers more than a year of conversation does. ~ Portuguese Proverb

"You don't play against opponents; you play against the game of basketball." ― Bobby Knight

"The chess pieces are the block alphabet which shapes thoughts; and these thoughts, although making a visual design on the chess-board, express their beauty abstractly, like a poem." ― Marcel Duchamp

The Two Friends — Bidpai

Two friends, in Monomotapa,
Had all their interests combined.
Their friendship, faithful and refined,
Our country can't exceed, do what it may.
One night, when potent Sleep had laid
All still within our planet's shade,
One of the two gets up alarmed,
Runs over to the other's palace,
And hastily the servants rallies.
His startled friend, quick armed,
With purse and sword his comrade meets,
And thus right kindly greets:
"You seldom com'st at such an hour;
I take you for a man of sounder mind
Than to abuse the time for sleep designed.
Have lost your purse, by Fortune's power?
Here's mine. Have suffered insult, or a blow,
I have here my sword – to avenge it let us go." "No," said his friend, "no need I feel
Of either silver, gold, or steel;
I thank you for your friendly zeal.
In sleep I saw you rather sad,
And thought the truth might be as bad.
Unable to endure the fear,
That cursed dream has brought me here."

Which think you, reader, loved the most!
If doubtful this, one truth may be proposed:
There's nothing sweeter than a real friend:
Not only is he prompt to lend –
An angler delicate, he fishes
The very deepest of your wishes,
And spares your modesty the task
His friendly aid to ask.
A dream, a shadow, wakes his fear,
When pointing at the object dear.

"The cat has nine lives: three for playing, three for straying, three for staying." ― English Proverb

"We do not stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." ― Author Unknown

"The cat's play is the mouse's death." ― German Proverb

"Many people can pack the cards; fewer can play the game." ― Italian Proverbs

"It's no time to play chess when the house is on fire." ― Italian Proverbs

"If you must play, decide on three things at the start: the rules of the game, the stakes, and the quitting time." ― Chinese Proverb

"The one who wins plays best." ― German Proverbs

"The ball always looks for the best player." ― French Proverb

"At a young age winning is not the most important thing… the important thing is to develop creative and skilled players with good confidence." ― Arsene Wenger

"If you whoop and holler all the time, the players just get used to it." ― Paul Bryant

"Just because Fate doesn't deal the right cards doesn't mean you should give up… it just means you have to play the cards you get to their maximum potential." ― Les Brown

Rule of Thumb #135 is

"Recognize five characteristics of a critical position:

When the game changes from known theory into unknown territory, from opening to middlegame, or from middlegame to endgame.

When any pieces are exchanged, especially queens.

When there is any change, or possible change in the pawn structure—especially in the center.

When you have a tactical (short-lived) advantage which will disappear if not exploited now.

When you see a move which seems to win."

Their very next Rule of Thumb, #136, is:

"A critical position is one about which you should think long and hard."

A critical position is one where if the best move(s) are not chosen, then the likely outcome of the game is affected.

‘Some of Marshall's most sparkling moves look at first like typographical errors.' ― W.E. Napier (1881-1952)

Chessgames.com will be unavailable August 9, 2024 from 10:30AM through 10:50AM(UTC/GMT) for maintenance. We apologize for this inconvenience.

"I regard Bobby Fischer as a mythological combination of sorts, a centaur if you will, a synthesis between man and chess." ― Garry Kasparov

* Know the five fundamental rules of firearm safety:

- Treat every gun as if it is loaded.

- Never point a weapon at anything you don't intend to destroy.

- Never put your finger on a gun's trigger until you make a conscious decision to shoot.

- Always be sure of your target, what's beyond it, and what's between you and your target.

- When not in use, a firearm needs to be locked in some kind of secure container—a gun vault is best. If it cannot be secured in a locked location, then a trigger lock should be applied. A loaded firearm should never be unattended.

1.Nf3 is the third most popular of the twenty legal opening moves White has, behind only 1.e4 and 1.d4.

"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

French Proverb: "Il ne faut rien laisser au hasard." ― (Nothing should be left to chance.)

"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

"As long as you can still grab a breath, you fight." — The Revenant

worbdftun:
R18 Editor Steinitz perjury iz worse than danidze surgery becuz an op fixes yu up.

06z Zebco Kahnn fish spawn d4 fidi zoccolo fesso zborris29 Zaitsev system, which defends the Rhook, Zelic 12...BxN tactics fo breakfast tuna on a troll fo lunch an aftanoon bicycle rodeo william give u game sum need edward punch.

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.

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

JACK BE NIMBLE
Jack be nimble
Jack be quick
Jack jump over
The candlestick

yza//