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DrawMaster's Blog


    • Avatars and the Art of Drawing

      I've created a number of pieces of avatar 'art' over the years, mostly for fun and many to support my user name in some respect. Most have been very simple, like the following one: Simple is a form of elegant, in my view - but then I've never ... | Read More

      • DrawMaster
      • | May 23, 2011
      • | 951 views
      • | 7 comments
    • A Most Powerful Steed

      Question: Can K+N mate K+P? Answer: Yes and no. Explanation: Well, we all pretty much know that K+N vs K is a draw. Now, if we give the underprivileged lone king a pawn to help out, surely K+N can't make K+P. Of course not ... UNLESS the player ... | Read More

      • DrawMaster
      • | Feb 9, 2011
      • | 597 views
      • | 5 comments
    • Ratings Comparison: Chess.com Blitz v USCF OTB

      (Personal opinion below, and does not necessarily represent the views of chess.com management or anyone else with authority or insight.) Hardly a day goes by in Live Chess Main Hall chat without at least one member asking some form of the follo... | Read More

      • DrawMaster
      • | Dec 17, 2010
      • | 5455 views
      • | 18 comments
    • Kings, Knights, and Mates ... Oh My!

      Most of us are aware that a King with the help of a single knight cannot deliver mate. Some of us are aware that even with the help of a second knight, the King cannot force mate, but needs the help of his opponent. Here we see Black accommodating... | Read More

      • DrawMaster
      • | Aug 23, 2010
      • | 707 views
      • | 11 comments
    • DrawMaster's Rules of Thumb for Live Chess

      (Personal opinion below, and does not necessarily represent the views of chess.com management or anyone else with authority or insight.) OK, I've been around here long enough to have assayed the lay of the land, at least in Live Chess. Notwithsta... | Read More

      • DrawMaster
      • | Jul 11, 2010
      • | 1021 views
      • | 4 comments
    • Premium Membership correlates with Player Rating

      (Personal opinion below, and does not necessarily represent the views of chess.com management or anyone else with authority or insight.) Not many minutes go by in Live Chess chat without some player asking the question: "Is a premium membership w... | Read More

      • DrawMaster
      • | Aug 7, 2009
      • | 1359 views
      • | 9 comments
    • How to Calculate the Effect of Bonus Time

      After you've played in Live Chess for a few days or more, you recognize that there are three separately rated game types: Quick, Blitz, and Long. You also note that time controls of 1 0 and 2 0 games are Quick, that 3 0 through 14 0 are Blitz, and... | Read More

      • DrawMaster
      • | May 3, 2009
      • | 2203 views
      • | 8 comments
    • Average Player Rating? It Depends.

      Many people ask, "What is an average player rating?" Well, there are many answers to that, but here I'll present just two possible measures. You can decide if these are representative and helpful. The first of these is a snapshot of the ratings ... | Read More

      • DrawMaster
      • | Apr 10, 2009
      • | 7837 views
      • | 11 comments