Chess for Oldtimers --- Good Idea !

I have great ambivalence about Tactics Trainer -- as is clear from the fact that I've spent a total of 21 hours on it in 8 years!  I finally got up to 1200 on it recently, and then quit using it for now, because 1200 is such a Triumph! ... and whenever I do go back to it, I know it's going to go down again.  (This proves I've got my priorities right - - - right?)

I sympathize with you, mil.  As I wrote about Tactics Trainer in another thread:

It drives me nuts that no partial credit is given for the same number of moves but different move order that is equally valid.  Got docked one time for moving the "wrong rook" when either rook would do; I checked it thoroughly afterward to confirm this.

The scoring is unbalanced as well.  For example, if you take too much time on a difficult combination you receive a mere +1 for a correct answer, but if you select a less than optimal move anywhere in the variation you might end up -10 or more down.  You have to be inordinately quick, even on deeper, more complicated combinations, to get a decent score.  Oh, and no sidelines or alternate, instructive variations are given.

I'll stick with combination books and encyclopedias, of which I have a slew.

On that note and to you specifically Mr. Cashen (MickinMD), I highly, highly recommend the book Improve Your Chess Tactics: 700 Practical Lessons & Exercises because it names the common tactics of pins, skewers, forks and double attacks, but explains the concepts behind the tactical motifs of deflection, decoying, eliminating defenders, clearing squares and lines, interference and cutting-off, unpinning and any combination of these.  Chess.com's Tactics Trainer does none of that.  I say understanding comes before over-the-board practice and is more conducive to rapid improvement, and least it was for me.

Thanks for the new posts.

Fightingbob: Thanks for the Yogi Berra clip, he was a real character.

MikinMD: Glad to hear that you are enjoying Chess again.

Motherinlaw: Training for Chess ? Interesting, I'll have to try that   lol. 

Thanks for the comment Fightingbob ( whatever it was   lol ).

Many years ago when I was a lot younger I overdid the alcohol thing from time to time. This cute item from Joe E. Lewis reminded me of those days: " You're not drunk if you can lay on the floor without holding on. " ( a true classic   lol ).

Sorry, badenwurtca.  My comment was an edited version of Post #1972, or at least I thought it was but I accidentally quoted my own post.  We don't need two of the same thing.

By the way, after a  fifth of gin I couldn't hold onto my bed as it wanted to toss and turn and sail away.  That was a long time ago, back in the late 1970s.  I still like a gin and tonic every now and then, but I never went "overboard" after that.

Thanks for the new posts.

Fightingbob: Nowadays I stick mainly to the odd glass ( or two ) of Beer. However if I feel a cold coming on I have a nice strong cup of Irish coffee in the morning, if I'm staying home for the day that is.  

Jacynth: Wow that is quite a project to walk all the way around a 7,000 yard course each day, you seem to be keeping quite busy. 

Age can be frustrating. I am coming up to 57 and am feeling something, but I am not sure if it's old or not. I teach 18-22 year olds, so that might have something to do with it.

Yes from about 50 you start to notice little imperceptible changes to your body. If you are a man you will be peeing a lot at night. Good news is it just gets worse..until you have the op that is. You know they stick somthing up your peepee and cut your Prostate from the inside.

The aging trick is good diet and keep active. Not an American trait . Do that and you will enjoy life for a long time yet..

I am living in Japan, so my wife is trying to keep me healthy. I still have a fairly big bladder, but my nights at the bar with not using the mens are recently gone.

It's not the size of a mans bladder that's at issue..it's the enlarging prostate... Not to be ignored. You say your wife is trying. .Just remember husband's are even more trying..Oh yes they are.