"A game played by men of equal strength, if played accurately, will end in a draw, and it is apt to be dull." — Emanuel Lasker

"Fischer is like Zeus; he is the God of the gods." — Nigel Short

"Books are a uniquely portable magic." ― Stephen King

* Suggested book: King's Indian Attack: Move by Move by Neil McDonald, Everyman Chess 2014

* Chessable KIA: https://www.chessable.com/blog/the-...

* D. Kelly introduces the KIA: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...

* Mato replays legendary matchup: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...

* Good instruction: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...

* Jerry plays KIA online: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...

* Roman explains: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...

* Renaissance Lute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G2...

* Pathways 1.Nf3: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...

* The Ghasi Trap (trap no. 1146): https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...

* Simplest Opening 1.Nf3: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...

* IM Alex Banzea ratings climb: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...

* Black's plan: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...

* Black's update: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...

* GM Dariusz Swiercz instructs: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...

"Life is a gameboard. Time is your opponent. If you procrastinate, you will lose the game. Make a move to be victorious." ― Napolean Hill

"When your house is on fire, you cannot be bothered with the neighbors. Or, as we say in chess, if your King is under attack, do not worry about losing a pawn on the queenside." ― Garry Kasparov

"The consensus seemed to be that if really large numbers of men were sent to storm the mountain, then enough might survive the rocks to take the citadel. This is essentially the basis of all military thinking." ― Terry Pratchett, Eric

"Chess is a miniature version of life. To be successful, you need to be disciplined, assess resources, consider responsible choices, and adjust when circumstances change." ― Susan Polgar

"We do not remember days, we remember moments." ― Cesare Pavese

* Black Repertoire: Game Collection: Black Repertoire: Flank Openings

* If White knows the way: https://www.chessable.com/blog/mati...

* C53s: Game Collection: rajat21's italian game

* RL Minis: Game Collection: Ruy Lopez Miniatures

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

* Clean, Clear: https://chess-site.com/

* GK: Game Collection: Kasparov - The Sicilian Sheveningen

* LG - White wins: Game Collection: Latvian Gambit-White wins

* Plenty to see: http://www.schackportalen.nu/Englis...

* 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!

'A rising tide lifts all boats'

'Don't put the cart before the horse'

Create protected outposts for your knights.

"Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game." ― Voltaire

"What we think, we become." ― Buddha

"Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game." ― Michael Jordan

"Man only plays when in the full meaning of the word he is a man, and he is only completely a man when he plays." ― Johann Friedrich Von Schiller

"There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living." ― Nelson Mandela

"Attack! Always Attack!" ― Adolf Anderssen

"A sacrifice is best refuted by accepting it." ― Wilhelm Steinitz

"Chess is a matter of delicate judgment, knowing when to punch and how to duck." ― Bobby Fischer

"It's a great huge game of chess that's being played—all over the world—if this is the world at all, you know. Oh, what fun it is! How I wish I was one of them! I wouldn't mind being a Pawn, if only I might join—though of course I should like to be a Queen, best." — Lewis Carroll Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832–1898)

The Doctors

The selfsame patient put to test
Two doctors, Fear-the-worst and Hope-the-best.
The latter hoped; the former did maintain
The man would take all medicine in vain.
By different cures the patient was beset,
But erelong cancelled nature's debt,
While nursed
As was prescribed by Fear-the-worst.
But over the disease both triumphed still.
Said one, "I well foresaw his death."
"Yes," said the other, "but my pill
Would certainly have saved his breath."

Tall When Young

Riddle: I'm tall when I'm young and I'm short when I'm old. What am I?

Answer: Candle or Pencil.

PROVERBS 3
Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
2for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.
3Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
9Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
10then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof,
12for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.
Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.
15She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.
19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding he established the heavens;
20by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
and the clouds drop down the dew.
21My son, do not lose sight of these—
keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22and they will be life for your soul
and adornment for your neck.
23 Then you will walk on your way securely,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
26for the Lord will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it"—when you have it with you. 29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
who dwells trustingly beside you.
30 Do not contend with a man for no reason,
when he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a man of violence
and do not choose any of his ways,
32for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence.
33 The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34Toward the scorners he is scornful,
but to the humble he gives favor.
35The wise will inherit honor,
but fools get disgrace.

Aristotle once asked "What is it about a thing that makes a thing what it is?"

"To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born, is to remain always a child." ― Cicero

Spooky music
A man is walking in a graveyard when he hears the Third Symphony played backward. When it's over, the Second Symphony starts playing, also backward, and then the First. "What's going on?" he asks a cemetery worker.

"It's Beethoven," says the worker. "He's decomposing."

— Submitted by Jeremy Hone

* Renaissance Lute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G2...

* A 400-year-old Scottish tune on the Lute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I27...

* Relax by the Water: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-g...

1.e4 e5 Ponziani Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxK...

1.e4 e5 Halloween Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzi...

1.e4 e5 Evans Gambit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vss...

1.e4 e6 French Defense Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCQ...

1.e4 e6 French Defense, Classical Trap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz0...

Burn the midnight oil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhu...

1.d4 Traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMg...

Modern Dutch Stonewall Defense, Greco's Mate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rr...

"A game played by men of equal strength, if played accurately, will end in a draw, and it is apt to be dull." — Emanuel Lasker