Has anyone else come across any practitioners in Chesstrology? They claim to be able to analyse your character - and guide you in future decisions - based on one of your board positions after 12 moves. Is this total baloney - or could there be some sound science behind it?

just look at the name!

I bet they wish they'd named it: Chesstronomy.

*laughs* Indeed

I don't even need to even blow the dust off my baloney detector for this one.

I don't think I buy that one for a minute....if it were true, I'd be inevitably classed as a hopeless loser, pitifully blind to the doors life opens for me and unable to develop or execute a plan. And I like to consider myself at least modestly successful in life.

"Those with the chess sign F are never content with what they are and aspire for things better to the point of denying everything they really are and adopting a new identity out of sheer desperation. You will never meet someone who openly admits to being an F, who is an actual F and not just a C looking for attention."

bwahaha!!! :)

seriously, I think I am that bad...

Art, if the book can forecast your 13th move, then we'll buy a billion copies! :))

13 is my lucky number. I've never lost a game on the 13th move (though I've often lost a game by the 13th move).

Chess Sign B: "You’re facing some pretty serious openings today — and there’s not much you can do to avoid it. The good news is that you’re equipped to handle almost anything, so push the pawn that you think is right."

I think it has probably about as much merit as astrology.  That is, none at all.  They could probably throw darts at a dartboard and come up with something that someone will believe.

The problem with things like astrology and fortune telling is that they give you characteristics that you will recognize that you have, or ones you wish you had, while you ignore the ones that you disagree with.

My take is that someone decided that there were a bunch of gullible chess players who would fall for this.

Chesstrology does have *some* logic in it; the name clears up the issue - everything after "chess-" is nonsense.

Is Chesstrology internally consistent?   That is, a 4 year-old who plays his first game will have the same fortune as he'd have 25 years later when he is a super-GM?   

13 isn't a good number if you have triskaidekaphobia

 lol

I had Quadrophenia when I was younger.

Of course it's total baloney!

http://www.chem1.com/acad/sci/pseudosci.html

http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/pseudo.html

http://www.skepdic.com/pseudosc.html