So hot that...

I’d like to add something to my last post. It was REALLY hot! So hot, that things started going haywire all over the place. My dad’s car broke down several miles out of town, and I had to rush there and collect the melting ice cream from his car and return it back home to the freezer. We still don’t know what’s wrong with it. I’m no car guy. I’m a chess guy. If the car was a chess position, I think I could easily find out what’s wrong with it. It may be too late to fix it, in which case it would be easier to diagnose. But if I was given a position with a little problem for white, a teeny miniscule problem that could become catastrophic later in the game, would I be able to discover it?

I think it all depends. My rating is like a rollercoaster. It really is. One day, it’s 1900, next I drop down to 1600. I’m creeping my way back up now, but it all depends on my mood, how well I’ll be able to analyze a position.

My chess mood is a little better lately, and I’m starting to be able to beat opponents that I never thought I could. I don’t use any chess training tools. I just… play!

In my chess club, we where discussing how to teach chess to children. What’s the most effective way to get better? I said the best way to get better is just playing. There was someone in my other club that had a very strong opinion on this subject. They said, “Playing chess does not make you a better player! You can’t get any better by playing! The only way you’re going to be any good is if you read. Read all kinds of things: articles, books, blogs… But don’t think you’ll be any better at chess after playing a game with a strong opponent, because it’s not going to happen!”

I was stunned at this statement. I though this guy must be off his rocker. And now, months later, I’m sure I was right! He was a raving lunatic! I’m sure he still is. He was also about the most obnoxious person I’ve ever met.

In the world of chess, you’ll probably run into a lot of people like this. People that think just because they play chess, they’re smarter than everyone else, and that must give them the right to go and say anything they want. Also the obnoxious thing. Chess clubs will be full of people like this.

Here on chess.com, I’ve run into a few raving loons, some obnoxious people, and met some extremely  uncouth, bad-mannered, big-headed people,  and I’m sure you have too.  But, if you look at chess.com as a whole, you’ll find that most of the people are kind, courteous, peaceful, and gentle with their words.

I don’t want to mention some of the other chess websites where this is the absolute opposite! I’m sure you know which ones I’m talking about. You can go anywhere, and you’ll find that chess.com’s community is as polite and helpful as you’ll find anywhere on the internet. It’s a site that’s been minimally corrupted with trash talk and bad manners that seem to plague the net today. This is because of the wonderful management. The people that are always running chess.com in the background, hidden from sight, are to thank for it’s community’s success.

Keep an eye out for more posts.