Former chess player. I played competitively up until about age 17. My national rating (Canada) peaked at ~2200 (probably putting me around (2000-2100 in FIDE terms), but didn't play in enough FIDE-rated tournaments.
Once I started studying engineering, I had neither the time nor energy to stay competitive enough to keep going. I'm early 30's now. The only chess I play now is with the occasional stranger at the public library or to surprise someone giving a chess exhibition with one of those giant chess boards ;)
What blows my mind now is that I used to have better concentration abilities as a youngster (12 to 17 years old) than I do now. I was notorious for playing marathon games and getting into time trouble (imagine flagging after 6 hours of play!). Now I can't fathom sitting for 30 minutes to decide on a single move. That being said, I would say it has transferred over to other parts of my life. My wife will be the first to tell you that I love to analyze (and over-analyze) decisions and will hold off on making them until I'm very sure about things.
I suck at chess but I recommend a holiday in Indonesia. People don't drink alcohol much but socialise by playing chess. I ended playing chess nearly every day. I didn't win at all. The coffee is also awesome.
I'm unrated and without a particular talent for the game, but I've always enjoyed it. I managed one draw and one win (out of dozens of matches) against someone supposedly rated >1800 (not sure if FIDE or US) ... 20 years ago. I haven't even had a game in over a year so I'm not really a "player" if I ever was. :)
I like chess but i suck at it.I would like to have sparing partner(tutorial,book recommendation will do it too), someone who can teach me how to think like a chess player precisely explaining why at any given moment you would move a piece instead of another. To me there are so many options that it would take hours to make a sure move.
I play chess, but not very often anymore. In my peak I drew an IM during a simul on ICC, but probably was only rated 1800-1900. I stopped studying it and took up the violin because I got tired of sitting by myself for hours. With music I can at least play with others, and my wife can enjoy it!
I play every once in a while, but I've never studied or practiced enough to go beyond around 1200. I have trouble forcing myself to spend more than about 3 seconds per move. I also don't think about playing while its my opponent's turn. That's probably not ideal.
* I've never beaten my dad in a game in 20 years
* I took up the offer from a guy in a NY park and got my ass royally whooped (not to mention the 20 dollars heh)
He comments on professional matches, but the part of his feed that I enjoy are the 1/3/5 minute time control games he plays. He is very good at articulating his thoughts during the game, and I find that much more engaging that listening to analysis of alternate lines that's more common in commentated chess matches.
[+] [-] kohanz|12 years ago|reply
Once I started studying engineering, I had neither the time nor energy to stay competitive enough to keep going. I'm early 30's now. The only chess I play now is with the occasional stranger at the public library or to surprise someone giving a chess exhibition with one of those giant chess boards ;)
What blows my mind now is that I used to have better concentration abilities as a youngster (12 to 17 years old) than I do now. I was notorious for playing marathon games and getting into time trouble (imagine flagging after 6 hours of play!). Now I can't fathom sitting for 30 minutes to decide on a single move. That being said, I would say it has transferred over to other parts of my life. My wife will be the first to tell you that I love to analyze (and over-analyze) decisions and will hold off on making them until I'm very sure about things.
[+] [-] papaf|12 years ago|reply
http://www.shunya.net/Pictures/Indonesia/Yogyakarta/Chess.jp...
[+] [-] dl8|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] chrisweekly|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ricsteb|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] iends|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] phaus|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Rami114|12 years ago|reply
* I've never beaten my dad in a game in 20 years * I took up the offer from a guy in a NY park and got my ass royally whooped (not to mention the 20 dollars heh)
[+] [-] tptacek|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] velikos|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] deeteecee|12 years ago|reply
Just watching it got me excited and I picked up the basics and was having fun learning the game.
[+] [-] cabacon|12 years ago|reply
He comments on professional matches, but the part of his feed that I enjoy are the 1/3/5 minute time control games he plays. He is very good at articulating his thoughts during the game, and I find that much more engaging that listening to analysis of alternate lines that's more common in commentated chess matches.
[+] [-] adultSwim|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] akbarnama|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] FurrBall|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mseidl|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] davidsmith8900|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|12 years ago|reply
[deleted]