This is something that I just thought of. It may be brilliant, it may not.

It's obvious that different members want different things from a chess site. So the perfect balance is hard to strike. Using the current rather complicated layout and options, some will be happy and some not-so-experienced internet users not. As an example, when I recommended this site to a friend I had to eventually go round his house and set everything up for him as all he could figure out how to do was play Little Chess Partner over and over again.

So my suggestion is this: Have 2 main site sections. When any member logs on, before they can see anything else they are greeted by a page consisting of 2 simple options: To play a basic game of chess on a simple inter-face that anyone will know how to use, or to go to the main site area which could be left as it is now.

Thoughts? Refinements to the idea?

good idea

I don't think there are that many people that don't know how to use the Internet anymore to constitute a feature like that.

I don't know, I suspect you may be surprised.. My friend has actually been using the internet for a while.