Hi from an eager learner

Hi everyone. My name is Alexander, aka Alxndr. I found chess.com through facebook, when I was looking for a game to play on there. I never really checked out this website, much less this forum, until recently.

I'm not that new to chess, but I cannot say I am that good either. I was in a chess club in high school, over 5 years ago. I entered a tournament in my school, and I won all the pre-games, but lost the very first game that actually counted (no more break from my classes ;_;).

I love chess very much. Though I knew how to play, I wanted to learn more, so I got an Idiot's Guide to Chess written by Patrick Wolff, and I never realized chess was as deep as it is, and it just made me love it even more. I am eager to learn all I can, and it would be cool if I could even become a professional player (though I am far from it). Sad thing is, I have no cless clubs in my home town, so internet is all I have.

How good am I? I can beat my brother in law quite well, as well as some brothers in the faith over the internet, but I cannot say at the moment I have a chance against a really good player, an experienced one. I would like to become a great player, and even teach my son chess when I have him.

I guess this is my introduction to chess.com. I hear some good things about you guys on this site, so hopefully I will be able to experience those good things, and learn from some of the great players here.

Thank you for, essentially, being my chess club, and God bless :)

Have you read the book yet?

I just finished the Pawn Shop chapter where he goes in details about the strategies and structures of the pawns, I never would have thought they could be so useful. Now I am on the chapter about taking spaces and the importance of them.

If you want to improve, then playing Live Chess is a good place to start:

http://www.chess.com/livechess/myhome.html

Start with a longer time controll, say 10 or 15 minutes each.

Thank you for the offer :-) As soon as I get back to my own laptop I will do so, I am currently in a power outage on my home so at my mom's house on my old computer.

Thank you.

Alright I haven't read it, but it sounds good from your description, so I'd say you're on the right track.

You've been here over seven months.

So have you, and noone minds.

 A space is required between no, and one.

Noone cares.

By the way, just because he's been registered for 21 months doesn't mean he's been active.

Hey Alxdnr,

I recommend the Chess Mentor lessons, as well as tacticts trainer to improve your skill. It's also helpful if your can get a higher rated player (1800+) to give you tips.

 Who's Noone? I've never met anybody by that name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Noone

You're noone.

The Idiot's Guide to Chess is a great book. I recommend it to my students. Check out the suggested reading as well. I would do a lot of chess problems as well. If you decide to do chess problems, start with some simple problems to get used to that type of tactical/strategic exercise. The move on to more advanced problems. Play as much as possible.

I got that book too, a while back. Haven't read much of it yet though. 

Why do you dwell on the irrelevant?

 I don't dwell on you, and as far as I'm concerned, you're irrelevant.

That's not even facepalm, that's just sad.