Chess for Oldtimers --- Good Idea !

mmmm, hi psychadelic mother in law! good to see you again. (although i can't really see you.)

Thank for the new posts.

I do think that my Memory is changing a bit as time goes by. I am sure tho that I'm still a truly wonderful person after all these years on this planet and anyone that does not agree is full of Horse S--- !

I'm eating some purple potatoes right now. Purple through and through.

That is quite interesting ConflagrationPlanet. I like mashed potatoes or potato pankakes or even potato salad. These special purple potatoes that you were eating there could they perhaps be Brain-food like certain types of fish ? 

Chess is a great way for anyone to keep their brain healthy, not just the elderly.

and we will be able to hide our own Easter eggs.

it is for all the generations and there are different reasons to play

They're supposed to have antioxidants like blueberries. They taste just like white spuds.

Thanks for the info, sounds like some very good food.

Some time ago I came across a quote from an Indian Philosopher that I was going to post here. It is from a fair number of years back and written in the style of that time: " Count no man as fortunate until you have seen him have a good death ". Quite an interesting way to look at it.

Meanwhile, according to Broadway philosopher Auntie Mame:  "Live!  Live!  Live!  Life is a Banquet! --- And most poor suckers are starving to death!"

(hint for chessplayers:  try a queen sacrifice sometime, because, well, what the hell, it's only a Game! !)

Thanks for the optimism Motherinlaw. I felt a bit of a cold coming in earlier today so I had an Irish Coffee and I feel good now ( needless to say I'm not driving anywhere ).  

   I came across an ad for a new book on "intuition"  in chess.  The book is reported as saying that chess intuition declines as we get older. 

My own experience seems the opposite:  calculating ability has REALLY slipped (leading to some hilarious blunders!) but I have a better intuitive sense for possible tactical opportunities, for the overall strategic requirements of a position, etc. (Of course there are those games where I have absolutely no idea what's going on!)

 It would be good to find  some of you think about this. . . 

I've had the same experience.  Here's my latest hunch:  One of the big advantages of "oldness" is increasing "openness" to intuitive ideas generated unconsciously.  We think of young people as the biggest risk-takers, but as we get older, I think we get better at distinguishing between risks with significant consequences and those without.

If I lose a chess game because I acted on some unexplainable sense about tactical or strategic positioning, well, hell ....who cares?  The older I get, the less need I have to "prove" myself ...

Anybody remember the Bill Murray movie Meatballs?   There's a scene set the night before a basketball game in which Murray's not-so-athletically-gifted campers know they're doomed to be defeated the next day by the way-better team from the wealthy kids' camp.  Murray's response is to lead his kids in a rousing cheer as they dance around the room:  

"It just doesn't Matter!  It just doesn't Matter!  It just doesn't Matter! ...(etc.)"

(Isn't that freeing?) !

Good point about not having to prove yourself.  Personally, I like to win, but if I never won, I would still enjoy playing, I think.  It sure beats spending the rest of your life working crosswords puzzles to keep your mind active.

Thanks for the recent posts.

As I look at the 4 of us that have posted here in the last 2 days I'm going to make an assumption here and forgive me if I'm off track ( and as an old Railroader I can tell you that I hate to be off track  ). However looking at the ratings that we have I think that the likelihood of any of us reaching the GM level is somewhat remote and yes I know that I'm bringing up the rear here ( someone has to be the caboose on this train ). Therefore losing a game here and there is not the end of the World of course but the important thing is to get the mental exercise that Chess provides ( that is not to say that we cannot improve or level of play a bit here and there ).

What, ME?!  With only a "remote" potential to become a Grandmaster?!  --- Why, I've never been so insulted!  ............. not .......... !

Thanks for the post Motherinlaw, I got a chuckle out of that. In my defence tho I must mention that I only said " Somewhat " remote  ( & that I might be off-track as well ). I do agree that one must be optimistic, maybe I'll sign up for Astronaut training tomorrow.  

All right!! That gives me the courage to go back and finally take action to fulfill my childhood dream, abandoned so long ago:  By next week, I Swear, I'll be on the Radio City Music Hall stage in New York City, auditioning to become one of The Rockettes!

76  and 1700 !!!!!!