My philosophy when playing chess has changed quite a bit ever since I became a member of <chessgames.com.> The fundamental lesson that I have learned is that one's eyes have to be conditioned to identify the <most forcing moves> in a given position. All checks, captures, & threats must be examined, FIRST! The player who truly masters this methodology will be a force to be reckoned with. Thanks to this terrific site, I feel that I'm on the road to becoming one of those players.I was deployed to the Middle East for over 5 very long years and <chessgames.com> was invaluable in sustaining my sanity while insanity raged all around me. Big time thanks to this site.
Favorite Quotes:
"I missed a shot." <Every Chess Player>
"Activate the Rook." Karsten Mueller
"Many have become Chess Masters, but no one has become the Master of Chess." Siegbert Tarrasch
"The stomach is an essential part of the Chess Master."
Bent Larsen
"Whoever sees no other aim in the game than that of giving checkmate to one's opponent will never become a good chess player." Max Euwe
"I have never defeated a healthy opponent" Savielly Tartakower
"It is always better to sacrifice your opponent's men." Savielly Tartakower
"The blunders are all there on the board, waiting to be made." Savielly Tartakower
"I don't believe in psychology. I believe in good moves." Robert James Fischer
"Petrosian has an incredible tactical view, and a wonderful sense of danger…No matter how much you think deep…He will smell any kind of danger 20 moves before." Robert James Fischer
"It is to Petrosian's advantage that his opponents never know when he is suddenly going to play like Mikhail Tal." Boris Spassky
"Nobody see's combinations like Rashid Gibiatovich Nezhmetdinov." Mikhail Botvinnik
"To win against me, you must beat me three times: in the opening, the middlegame, and the endgame." Alexander Alekhine
"There are two types of sacrifices-sound ones and mine." Mikhail Tal
"Centralize and Sacrifice." Mikhail Tal
"They can only take one at a time." Mikhail Tal
"I drink, I smoke, I gamble, I chase girls, but, postal chess is the one vice I don't have." Mikhail Tal
I play in the U1800 section in tournaments and in my club. My favorite players are Spassky, Capablanca, Tal, Alekhine, Tartakower and Robert James Fischer.
I have a special fondness for Paul Morphy. Chess would not be what it is today, if not for Morphy.
Of the current championship contenders, I really like Fabiano Caruana. I think Fabiano is destined to topple Magnus Carlsen.
I think <chessgames.com> is an amazing website. I have learned so much and had tons of fun everytime I visit. Keep up the good work. I would like to see a bit more humility from some members. Bragging about how quickly they can solve a puzzle or taking special delight at making the first post on a page, does not enhance my online experience.
<My Forum is open to anybody who wishes to post something constructive> Chess topics are the priority. I'll post some positions of interest either from my own games or from puzzles I run across. Everybody is encouraged to post a solution.
Kibitzing
