A Brutal Sport

I gave up chess when I met my wife and discovered life. The year was 1981. I had reached a reasonable intermediate club/tournament level of ECF 175 (about 2000 ELO). Chess had taken over my life, but I realised the obsession would never pay bills or was I going to reach any Master levels.

Over many years my wife and children tried to encourage me to play again, but I resisted as chess can be all-consuming.

In 2020, I semi-retired, my wife brought me a DGT Centaur. I began playing again, rusty as hell. I will never regain the sharpness of 40 years ago, but chess is becoming a hobby, a pastime, something to sharpen the brain. I don't think the "Chess-a-holic" will return, so I doubt I will play OTB again, but I have a newfound love for chess, puzzles and enjoy online rapid. I might even reach 2000+ online if I can stop blundering.

Online blitz 3.0 & 5.0 is too fast. By the time I have focussed, the game is all but done. If I get sharper, I might try Blitz again.

Blitz 5.5 is almost identical to rapid 10.0, so I haven't bothered too much with that style. For now, I will stick to puzzles and rapid 10.0.

My wife also encouraged me to write about my early chess life; if you would like to read "A Brutal Game", here is the link.

https://www.chess.com/blog/Araho_kram/the-brutal-game

Please note spelling and grammar are left as an exercise for the reader.  

I know what you mean brother.  If I'm going to work that hard, I want to get paid.