This thread is for you to introduce yourself, meet the players in the group and get that warm welcome to the family. :)

Some Ideas in your post:

Name

Age

Location

How long have you played chess

Is Chess a hobby, club level, tournament level, or professional level.

Favorite opening

:)

Me:

My name is Wally Reichard.  I am 16 and live in Smyrna Tennessee U.S.A.  I have know how to play chess since as long as I can remember, but just picked it up and began my pursuit of the game two months ago.  After just 3 weeks I played the chess club teacher and won 4 times in a row, he suggested me to go to the State Regionals Tournament.  I got 8th place out of many who showed up and am now one of the invited to go to the State Tounrament out of 32 people. So I am craming all I can with chess now to hopefully get at least 16th place.

My Favorite opening is the D4 Pawn.  I don't have openings made by others, I have 3 variations from the D4 pawn that I use which can create either a queen side game, king side game, or a very closed game.

Hi, my name is Eric and am 47 years young:-)  I am from near Binghamton NY but now I live in Greenville South Carolina. I have been playing chess off and on most of my life but started going to tournaments in the late 90's. I took the last 7 years off from playing chess as I was going to college and working full time as well as raising my family of 2 young children (who also enjoy chess here as miteybishop and QueenoftheCastle).

My favorite openings are the Queens gambit, Sicilian, and the Ruy Lopez.

I love talking about tactics, strategies and other chess related topics and hope to help make this group one of the best.

Very Interesting backround Eric.  :) Very awesome to hear of a tournament backround :)

Perhaps we should play a Live Chess Unrated sometime :)

blah.........

my name shall remain micheal untill futher notice.

i am not ripe and not premature, so that makes me 15 years of age, i have known how to play this game for quite some time know. i live and thrive with my dads in boys town,chicago illinois, they dont like the city schools so they inroled me in a suburban public school, west leyden high school, and ive loved it ever since

"chess is gymnastics for the mind" it leaves me brused and hanging by my bony decrepid peice-moving hand, i have played 4 highschools my team winning all of them, and i have just yesterday played a 13 hour tornament winning 2 out of the 5 games (the last game i was put with a board one person and i compleatly threw a fit) anyway it was really good experiance. this month on the 14th and 15 im going to state!!!!!!!!!! lol im happy :)

my favorite opening has to be the scandinavian, or the sciciliam dragon variation

Sweet Micheal, the tournament you did I belive was the Scholastic Regional Tournament 12th Grade down to 10th.  Thats where I went and my State match is also on the 14th :)

Hi my name is Ian Sinclair im 31yrs old i live in Taree  NSW  Australia

I started playing chess when i was 19yrs old got all passionate about it for 5yrs entered a few tournements won a coupld a minor local type ones not much really. I gained and Australian Chess Federation rating (A.C.F.) of 1699 at my max, now its about 1646 since i havent played serious OTB since late 2001, and then on and off in 2004. My friend richard introdued me to another chess site in mid 2006 i believe it was and  1963super told me about this site in sept 2007 been here since hahaha.

My fav openings u have to play me to find out or check my games out hahaha.

HI littleman, welcome to our group. I see you are a pretty strong player!! It looks like you have a propensity towards the Ruy Lopez when offered. And if I'm not mistaken, the French defense. I would be willing to play a game if you want, although it looks like I would be in for a tough fight!:-)

My name is Michael. I'd prefer not to reveal name last name if that's ok with you

I'm 11 turning 12 in April

I live in the suburbs of Chicago

I've played chess at least a year or 2

in between club and tournament lvl

Larson's opening or my very own

This is ironic... I'm Michael West... that makes 3 Michael's here.

I'm 25...

Location is just Illinois... Though I do wonder where the before Michael lives in the suburbs of Chicago...

I've played chess since I was about 9. Only worked in tournaments for the last few years.

I don't really know the name of my opening move, and it varies.

Welcome SirTwilight

Thanks KnightLite! i would be glad to play u sometime, but right now im busy and have enough on my plate. I tend to like 4 knights and Sicilian defence alot but i can play lots of openings with a fair degree of understanding. Yeah 2000+ on here is respectable i guess, enough to say i give u a good game hahaha....

nobody said hi do me <(-_-)> 

:'(

Hi I'm David And I and 27 years old.. I live just outside of New Orleans Louisiana.. the Creole Cockpit!!!!!! I have been playing chess on and off all of my life but jusst got back into it when i found this  site in december.... since then i have tried to play as much as possible..lol It's just a hobby right now but look out all U NM and IM players out there..I'm movin On up like the Jeffersons!!! Just joking but I Don't have a Special opening I just kinda Play it by ear.. I am reading a book By Bruce Pandolfini on openings so i might have one by the end of the month.. Glad to be a part of the group and welcome any freindly competition!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Monkey-Michael! Hi David the Blue Haze!

Hello Monkey-Michael and welcome, we are glad to have you aboard

Lol hey all :) Sorry I haven't been watching this thread to well :)

Hi. My name is Rick. I live in the Seattle, Washington area and Safeco Field is where the Mariners play thier home games. So who decided on the background picture?

I am 58 and have played chess quite a lot in my earlier life. 1973 was the last time I played until recently. I am getting better, but it is slow.

I am a member of the USCF and enjoy playing the game a lot. My favorite opening is the Palidor Defense and play it quite well. I used to use the Ruy Lopez, but found that it hung a Bishop to the King side and left it quite useless for most of the game.

I am a member of another site as well and am looking forward to playing in team games on this site. Currently I have lent my services to the site as a greeter and play 10 games just for new people to the site. Very interesting and never a dull moment when the game gets past the first move.

hi im shane i 29 i live about 45 min south of adelaide right near the beach.  i am new chess first started playing a few mounths ago when my wife got a ds for her birthday and she said it was cool for me to use so i got chess master and with in a few days i was hooked now i am reading books , using the chess mentor and learning by playing                                                                                                                

Welcome rickcpm and scorpio 1979 happy to have you on board!

Good evening!! My name is john and i am 42 yrs old. I have just got back into playing chess when i finally got a computer. I played some chess more into my early 20's and enjoyed the game immensely, but stopped to raise a family. Now i am not the greatest player here im sure, but my heart and soul go into every game i play. Always learning and hope to learn more!!!