Anyone play?
I found this rather nice free chess program recently
It's over 40 years since I played regularly ( wasn't good then) but the program has provided me with hours of entertainment
http://computerchessonline.net/chess-online-against-computer/
Odd that the strictures issued by a bunch of bizarre puritans engender an ever more secular society or grossly materialistic rather and ever worshipful of mammoth.
As for the Tale of a Tub, it's where Jack buttons his coat so tightly, his eyes bulge. That's a brilliant synonym (sic).
Maybe that type of thing will come to our shores one day in a PC form, eg No Black v White, No King or Queen , the leaders would have to be ungenderassigned and be democratically elected from the other pieces, no divisions of rank and all the men(?) would have to be the same size etc
And the bishops would have to accept the reality of same-sex marriages
Unless we've been frequenting different threads you've been notable for your absence recently, Pent.
Everything OK?
Been cruising Oman and Emirates. Better than OK, to be honest.
Better if you could see my tan, but I couldn't make it from Glasgow to Cambridge in 20 mins the other day to show it off. Bugger.
couldn't make it from Glasgow to Cambridge in 20 mins the other day
You're getting old Pent. In your younger days it would have taken you half that time!
Right. See you, Anchs? And all you say about not drinking and shit? If I ever get the motorbike down your way, will you come out for a beer, yes or no?
Day times are difficult six days a week April to November due to work commitments but other than that yes.
I thought this was an excellent article. I was particularly struck by the observations on the pain of losing being much greater than the pleasure of winning. I remember when I used to play, the fear of losing was such that often even in a better position my instincts would be to look for how I can make a draw.These days I only play on the internet where it's easier because it's anonymous and if you lose just move on and start another game. Mind you, one needs a certain fear of losing to be motivated enough to engage in the degree of mental effort and focus needed to calculate accurately and quickly.
I take a more detached view - I consider it very important to lose at least half of the games that I play, otherwise it means I am tending to play people who are worse at it than me, which can only lead to smug stagnation.
I do get tense/adrenaline when playing face to face or timed online games though.
I find the tension of time shortage beneficial. When I'm playing on increments it concentrates the mind remarkably. Long think, wrong think, as they say.
I hope someone is still subscribed to this thread because I think they'll enjoy this podcast from Inquiring Minds:
http://www.motherjones.com/category/secondary-tags/inquiring-minds
It's the current episode at the moment and is an interview with Grandmaster Patrick Wolfe covering lots of topics, nature/nurture, how the brain reads a board, the rise of the machines and more.