goldendog
tom pierce
beertopia, United States 
Member Since: May 1, 2008
Last Login: Nov 20, 2009
Profile Views: 3468
Points: 2128
Birthday: Feb 3, 1962
About Me:
I was lucky that I first got into organized chess just when Fischer was playing Taimanov. Historic chess events don't come around all that often and I loved my ringside seat to Fischer's matches with Larsen and Petrosian and, finally, Spassky. Little did I suspect that the era of great Fischer victories had ended. Sad and in no little way frustrating.______________________
I have had long-standing interests in chess history and culture, collecting in the pre-computer days chess magazines and chess books that talked about the great players and the stories of tournaments and important games. Nowadays the internet has permitted me to assemble an excellent collection of chess photos._____________________________________________________
If I'd kept all the chess books I ever had I'd probably have 350 of them, but I go through periods where I get rid of surplus volumes so I hover around 40 books these days. As Donaldson once said, "What's the point in having 5 books on the endgame if I never use any of them." So true, though I tend to keep the ones about trivia, stories, and the like.
I have a modest collection of chess sets. A set for every occasion, from home study to playing in the park to tournament play. From the nice, like the HOS Collector, to the solid plastic pieces I got in 1971 at a tournament and used for more than 20 years.
I'm also keen on antique sets, especially the Jaques ones. Just the sweetest sets ever made in my opinion.____________________________
I've had a fascination with blindfold play from even before I played in a tournament, from reading Kolty's book on the subject. I love the effect it has on non-chess playing spectators as they are taken by it as something almost mystical. Of course it's not that hard and even the most average tournament player can usually do it if he cares to try. The most simultaneous games I've tried is two, and the experience is ten times as taxing as one game. I've seen a local master do five at once and I was impressed by that. I suppose he thought it was just another day at the office.______________________________________________________________________
Will I ever play chess here? Not CC. I like my games to end. Maybe some live someday if the bugs are ironed out and I am in a playing mood.