Your Time / My Time

  In the past chess was played in tents under the Arabian sun, by the fire in a Russian dacha, in the library of an English country house, in the captain's quarters on a sailing ship far out in the South Pacific...Your opponent just a few feet away, your pride and talent right there in the room with you both.  You probably knew your opponent pretty well; so you played your best to pass the time and maybe gain a little respect in victory and defeat.

  I'm guessing you started the game with the intention of finishing it, barring a sand storm or typhoon.            

  Chess.com brings a fantastic dimension to chess in that it exposes you to players from all over the world right from the comfort of your home; ways to play and improve your game in the blink of an eye compared to Captain Cook.

  The downside is you can't look your opponent in the eye.  The bonds of respect and decorum aren't established.  It's too easy to let the rest of your life pull you away from the game.

  If I've challenged you, or accepted your challenge; I'm attempting to finish the game in a reasonable amount of time.  If I need to get away, I'll let you know when I can get back. Maybe our surroundings aren't as nice as that English country house, but maybe the spirit of our game can be as strong as the game is old...