I've been playing chess since I was about 9 (many years ago) as a game.

I taught my own son to play and we played occasionally through his childhood. Then, as a young adult he started to play a few games, neither of us having any real clue as to what we were doing, but he got interested, got better, and soon started to beat me regularly. So I also started to brush up (and made good progress, although sadly I've yet to catch up to him again) - and so started a new hobby.

Chess is an odd game - very simple to learn the rules and moves, but also highly complex.

Sometimes I hate it, but usually I love it. I'm a technical systems data analyst and programmer, so looking for patterns and general analysis is something I understand - and chess keeps me more than occupied in this regard. Slowly (very slowly) I am building up a repertoire of solid openings as black and as white that I know well - it's good to learn in this way but it does mean some hard knocks along the way.

My games are mainly 15+5 but I also enjoy the focus of more thinking time so I am always happy to accept Daily challenges. I'm online most days (evenings, London UK time) but best to set it with a 7-day limit just in case I am occupied elsewhere.

My competence varies - if I could play every game to my potential my rating would be quite a bit higher than it is - but I seem to come and go in phases, a few great moves, then a few dumb ones to balance it out.

But fortunately I don't give up easily, I'm English!

AndyBelcher