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Member Since:
Nov 3, 2010
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Last Login:
May 21, 2013
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Profile Views:
4431
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Points:
2668
USCF 1600 floor, OTB. Highest rating, 1863. Highest Quick rating, 1808. And I resign lost endgames. Everyone should. For a good belly laugh, read the twin threads "Will all Trolls post here please" and "Everything that you do or say will be misconstrued on a chess site." Very entertaining, for those of us who don't suffer fools (or windbags) gladly. A more recent thread, "Is everyone getting more angry or is it just me?" is hilarious. On balance, if you're a tool, lack self deprecating humor, or have a thin skin, you might think twice about posting in the forums. The Marquess of Queensberry Rules don't apply. Some VERY clever people are active in the forums (myself excluded). More power to them. Many chess players are hyper-competitive, and that trait shows up clearly in forum discussions. As for me, I am well over 30 years old, live in an Eastern U.S. city, and keep my privacy while online. My chess goals are breaking USCF 1900, and (eventually) getting an honorable mention on the forum thread "Chess Player of the Month," the latter being somewhat harder to achieve. I grow orchids, have a black belt in Judo (not Karate), and subscribe to the Financial Times. Many years ago, I placed 4th in the NCAA Judo Championships, 205 pound class. The first three finishers won a place on the U.S. National Team to the Pan America Games, while I got the door prize. I started playing competitive chess at the ripe old age of 31 years. Needed a competitive outlet after wearing out my knees in Judo and asphalt basketball. Was looking for a way to avoid writing my Ph.D. dissertation, while working full-time. Bought some opening books by (the notorious) Raymond Keene, and David Hooper. Rating went from @1300 to USCF 1814 in nine months, with a lot of sweat and a touch of O.C. Disorder. Others books, by Averbakh (Endgames, Essential Knowledge) and Znosko-Borovsky (The Art of Chess Combination) also helped. Haven't broken USCF 1900 yet, but have learned to play fairly well at Quick Chess speeds. Great fun. Finished dissertation later. Not much fun at all. I try to combine both Yin and Yang. Grew up "In The Hood," but went to college at a Big Three Ivy (HYP). Have a Butterfly Garden in my yard, but take my Ruger Security-Six to the pistol range for practice. My favorite people of distinction on Chess.com were @Chrisr2212 and @Snakesbelly. If you're a serious student of Chess, enjoy sharp competition, and are willing to accept your normal share of losing (without whining about chess engines), then Chess.com is a great place. And the ONLY thing easy in chess is to play badly. On balance, I'm not a big fan of the positivist and syllogistic logic permeating our forum discussions. To wit, IF pigs could fly, THEN pork would surely be a low fat food (see avatar picture above). Lastly, I switched to "Zborg" as username in April 2012. Small change. So many "BORG" on this site, and there's more privacy at the end of the alphabet. Yes, I write (way) too much. But all is authentic. Best Wishes to all Chessnut Colleagues, and especially my friends.