October 2024

I came back to chess in July after a year's break. I'm starting to find my form, but in recent games I have occasionally blundered. I'm trying to play fairly casually, and try not to worry too much about winning or losing. I'm trying to keep it fun, and not stress.

Summer 2020

I learned to play chess at the age of 8, when taught by my two older brothers, aged 11 & 13. However, before long, they refused to play against me! In an era before the Internet was invented, I had very few opponents. Unfortunately, my school chess club closed, so I barely played from the age of 11 to 19. I rediscovered chess while at Reading university, playing some games for the university team. After this I played for several teams in Berkshire, and then later in Bristol, and competed in many chess tournaments.

Chess has been interwoven into my life. I have found both joy and frustration, and there have been times when I have tried to give it up - even stopping for three or four years at a time - but always I have come back to the game.

At one stage I had the dream of achieving Master status, but now 49, it seems highly unlikely. However, after a recent year-long break, I have come back to the game, and seem to be playing probably as well as I ever have. I also seem to have new insight, and a better grasp of how to place my pieces for best effect; so often in the past I would get to the middle game, and be stuck for ideas of how to continue. Now, suddenly, I see plans and opportunities on the board.

fysh99