http://www.chess.com/blog/kiwi_overtherainbow/chess-history--the
http://www.chess.com/blog/kiwi/chess-aporia-strategic-living
I also strongly recommend reading H.J.R. Murray's 'A History of Chess' copies can be found online in the form of pdf's.
http://history.chess.free.fr/history.htm
Also read around Batgirl's blog, she has an archive of blogs and articles regarding chess and many famous chess personalities.
http://www.chess.com/blog/batgirl
Anyone else got anything to say?
Thanks, Kiwi!
I'd love to hear what more people have to say on the matter, though.
That is a wonderful perspective, bb_gum! Thank you very much for contributing. Inexperienced as I may be, I already had similar thoughts myself.
I'm still happy to hear what other people might want to add to this discussion. The more, the better!
A most interesting discussion. unfortunately, perhaps a little too philosophical for the chess.com community.
I definitely appreciate bb's excellent post. and I think chess is alive and well and the 21st century.
perhaps the biggest thing yet to say is to comment on the way time has changed our sport. chess was always an esoteric yet determined fight between countries and even cultures; and we have seen the balance of power shift from britain, to germany, to russia (soviets) and Lastly to china.
but what has really changed is IMHO the internet. the ability for people in other countries to connect and game. This is an epic time to be a patzer and be interested in chess as an engaging hobby; and the internet opens competition when local options are scarce and difficult to do.
on the professional scene, the pefection of chess playing programs have clearly strained international competition as even people in high places have been caught using computerized help.
Just as acrimonious is the situation where a winning chess player is publically accused. IMHO, we haven't dealt with the whole chess cheating very well indeed.
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I would welcome you to a most interesting and engaging hobby. I enjoy many things about chess. but one thing I really like about it , as how you can learn in perhaps and hour and never completely understand it in a whole lifetime. the board can be dull and uninsightful for move after move- and then something unexpected; and the king is fighting for his life and all the kings men are scrambling.
the key is to find the insight and the win before your opponent.
Greetings everyone. I am new to these forums, and this is officially my first post.
I am also 'new' to chess. I use inverted commas because even though I've known how to play chess since I was a kid, I've never had a genuine interest in the game that prompted me to improve my game (which is beyond dreadful), nor play very often. Until now, that is. So I ask you kindly to please be patient with me.
(1) I'm writing this post because I'd like to hear from the community, if possible, what their opinion is with regards to the place chess, as a competitive game & art form, occupies in our postmodern 21st century society. I'd love to hear both objective and personal viewpoints.
(2) I'd also be interested to find some good & reliable literature on the history of chess. I'm interested in the trajectory the game's made until the present, and the history & facts behind its greatest names.
I know this might be a lot to ask, but this is indeed very important to me. I would be eternally grateful if people could oblige me, even if briefly. This is the beginning of a research I'm conducting, and since I don't know any chess experts, I thought that these boards, which gathers chess fanatics from all over the world, would be the most suitable place to get started.
Many thanks to everyone in advance for their patience and time!