Some kind words (or cold facts)

So it's time to get creative, time to give something back to this great community. Who am I, well, I guess I'm just a fellow human, born in Sweden but I live in a wooden cabin outside Vienna, in the Austrian woods. I'm 52 years young, been playing chess for 4 months now.

Okay, it really started when I was 5-6 years old, my father wanted to teach me how to move those figures he had setup on that strange board. But, as always - life gets in between - he got sick and died. We never got to more than how the pieces move, so that and everything else sucked BIG TIME! Grief is hard work and life just keeps on rolling.

I do have something on my mind, in my heart, I'd like to share, so here it goes:

For about five months I stumbled across Twitch and there was this guy streaming chess - Myteachersam - he had energy, passion - you could really feel it - this crazy guy really liked what he was doing. So I watched and in the corner of the screen there was a logo - chess.com.

My mind travelled back in time, like - it reset!

My father, the figures and that strange board in black and white. It just struck me. I clicked my way to chess.com, read a bit, got an account and started playing - it didn't go that well but one thing I've learned through my path of life - never give up, just go for it - straight ahead.

Like Robin Hoods arrow.

I've got my diamond, started to follow different streamers and I had fun but that wasn't enough, I wanted to improve and Myteachersam was talking about his coach - Gmoves - so I contacted him and we clicked. I started doing tactics, bought a board (I want a real board in front of me). My diamond membership allows me to watch very instructive videos - like the video "Pawn Structure 101: Every Opening Explained".

Thanx for the tip Gmoves - love you buddy. 

All these wonderful streamers - Myteachersam - who I consider a friend after hours and hours of craziness straight from the heart. Eric Hansen and his Robin - Aman. Chessbrah's, right! Sam Copeland and his tactics. Robert Hess and his analytic abilities, like a Boss. Anna Rudolf, she's so positive that it could drive you crazy - also that in a good way! It sticks to you like a bumpersticker.

GmGinger and his Harry - who want's to go into space. Voja and his Simuls. Bikfoot and his taste in music - a nice lad and a fast player. The Chesscouch - two brothers doing their thing - like Blitz Lightning with Daniel Rensch - it was crazy funny. Colin and Jeremy - two pearls in cyberspace. Chesscoach and his aching tooth - true story (I'm so curious about his adventure in Italy).

And and and ...  Jon Ludwig Hammer - what a guy - Hammertime - go visit! Krikor from Brazil and even though he also streams in english I sometimes watch his streams in his native tongue. Soon I can speak portuguese too. He's not into football which is odd - but he's into chess. And yes, it's called football, not soccer, only suckers say that ... *big smile*.

And all the people following these streamers - Kelticfrost88, Tatteredgreen, Sparrie etcetera ... moderators - like chessbae94 - she is everywhere - like air.

What I want to say is this:

I just love this community, bringing chess and people together - all around the world. Of course, you can't love everyone - differences in taste are for real but the big picture is clear - chess is growing as a game and as an e-sport (I'd like to call it e-game though). Somehow I want to give something back - I'm improving in chess, I'm starting to really get it! Slowly but for sure. I know I'm 52, I have my limits but then again, I'm not trying to be the best, just better.

I also see chess as poetry, music even, because it's so beautiful. Tricks and sneaky knights are all over the place. Those bishops cutting the board like a knife. The proud King and his Lady General. Towers standing strong and at the same time breaking all walls. Pawns, working hard as all of them did through history, time and space. Chess is all about time and space, that's what my coach says and folks - he is right about that. Chess is like life. Tactics.

Dad - I guess I'm learning the game now - I'll try my very best to make you proud.

Your's 'JackieTheSwede'