by greenpawn34 on Aug 05 2022 10:27 | 1033 views | 2 edits | Last edit on Aug 06 2022 11:30
This year The Edinburgh Chess Club celebrates it’s 200th anniversary..
Rather than go into other details about events planned and ruined (Covid)
I thought here, on my blog thingy, I would just concentrate on the match
that secured the club it’s place in history. (though being the second oldest
chess club in the world that is still running, that too is quite noteworthy...
The player formerly known as the world champion has actually done what he
threatened to do and become the player formerly known as the world champion.
Kitchen table philosophy has been rife all over the net as to the why and what not.
The general consensus appears to be he needs a new target to get back his interest in
the game and the world title was just in the way of his real ambition. A rating of 2900!
...
by greenpawn34 on Jun 16 2022 10:20 | 8879 views | 1 edit | Last edit on Jun 16 2022 22:50
Every Thursday and Sunday afternoon there is chess in Edinburgh’s
Princes St. Gardens. I go along most days to meet some old buddies
(and I mean old), catch up with the gossip and play a few blitz games.
Last Sunday a bunch of artists turned up to sketch Edinburgh Castle.
(I have since invented the collective term for artists is a ‘paint pot’.)
...
by greenpawn34 on May 26 2022 21:39 | 8335 views | 1 edit | Last edit on May 26 2022 21:43
I bought a bag of small plastic babies for 20p and did this (it took me ages.)
A term given to Kings that are getting hounded all over the board often picking up
material on the way with Rooks, Queens, Knights and Bishops shooting at the them.
...
I have ordered one, watch this space for soon to seen pictures of me wearing it
(with my chess hat!) and parading along a catwalk at a fashion show in Paris.
I was going through an old scrap book of chess cuttings from ‘The Scotsman’
dated from the mid to late 1800’s. I came across this printed a few weeks apart.
...
by greenpawn34 on Mar 19 2022 01:23 | 7343 views | 1 edit | Last edit on Mar 19 2022 02:43
When ever I want a new freshly printed chess book I have a number of choices.
A) Buy it from a retailer. (sometimes I have to do this but books are expensive these days.)
B) Approach the publishers for a freebie to review. This occasionally works even if
you have nowhere to publish your review. For it to work just make up a blog page,...
by greenpawn34 on Mar 02 2022 20:05 | 8214 views | 1 edit | Last edit on Mar 04 2022 00:03
A Zwischenzug is when a player seems to have only one move at their disposal,
usually a recapture, but instead of playing it they slip in another move which has
to be dealt with right away (often a check). Then they play the expected move.
...
by greenpawn34 on Feb 18 2022 12:16 | 8709 views | 2 edits | Last edit on Feb 19 2022 09:29
This is me showing off my super-duper looking Edinburgh Chess Club
jersey and club cup and coaster. By all means ‘checks al checks’ and
watch out for those loose piece, but always and I mean this, look cool.
I posted this on Face Book to make them jealous but there I called the
‘cup’ a ‘mug’ very soon one wise guy quipped; ‘I can see two mugs!’
...
I asked you to guess how many pawns in the goldfish bowl.
The answer was (and Russ will confirm) 71 pawns and the winner
was Contenchess who came closest when he guessed at number 72.
{imgblock=/imgu/blog/1/b4u437199-1490275699.png}green pawns{/imgblock...
How about that for a nerd gold medal, look at the time for a New Year post.
One minute past midnight. This must be the first blog in my time zone for 2022.
(originally the claim was to be first anywhere but I've been reminded
that other places celebrated the New Year a long time before me.)
...
by greenpawn34 on Dec 10 2021 17:50 | 7458 views | 1 edit | Last edit on Dec 11 2021 15:21
That is it then, it’s all over. Magnus retains his world title 4-0 with 7 draws.
Nepomniachtchi took a big gamble and played 23.g3 when a draw with
sensible risk free play was on the table. A draw of course was no good
as that would leave Carlsen just needing a draw with the white pieces in
the next round and winning the next three games to just tie the match did
not appeal to Nepomniachtchi so he rolled the dice and the throw was bad...
That is the header I was going to use for the tie breaks when cartoon chess
takes over. Now it looks very much like we will not be seeing tie breaks.
Nepo has a few games left to put a victory on the board, Carlsen won't take his foot
of the gas, the idea of whitewash will appeal so we should get a few good games.
...
by greenpawn34 on Dec 07 2021 18:55 | 1664 views | 1 edit | Last edit on Dec 08 2021 11:46
After going 2-0 down the vultures have started circling over the
head of Nepomniachtchi and everyone (me included ) has been
offering him advice on what to do next (I want him to play 1.a3.)
His team must have a few opening twists in their locker to be used
in case their man fell behind. If so then now is the time to open it...
by greenpawn34 on Dec 04 2021 15:59 | 1622 views | 1 edit | Last edit on Dec 08 2021 20:36
After yesterdays game, 7 hours 45 minutes and a Carlsen win, it will be
interesting to see how Nepomniachtchi’s reacts. He may go for a quick
strike back or play safe to recover and recuperate. One thing is for certain,
if Carlsen senses Nepo has been shaken and is unsteady, he will go for him.
by greenpawn34 on Dec 03 2021 22:17 | 1334 views | 1 edit | Last edit on Dec 03 2021 23:11
And before you start writing in and asking the answer is ‘No’
you cannot buy my chess waistcoat. I saw a picture years ago
of it being worn by an arbiter and contacted them to see if I
could have it as they surely will never wear it again. I got it!
And here is the original of the doctored picture I used above...
by greenpawn34 on Nov 27 2021 21:31 | 1452 views | 2 edits | Last edit on Nov 27 2021 21:47
First of all the eagerly awaited result of the anagram competition.
I asked for the best anagram of ‘Carlsen Nepomniachtchi’ and the
winner who came up with best answer was the R.H.P. member
‘Charlie the Racoon’ with his entry: ‘Nepomniachtchi Carlsen.’
Charlie wins a sets of door hinges and 16 self tapping screws....