Writer, Co-owner of Chumly; Chumly, Emacs, Linux (#!), Python and barefoot evangelist. Minimalist. Bush hippie. Prepper. Survivalist. #testicularcancer

I've been playing chess, on and off, for about 40 years. My grandfather taught me, and we stopped playing when I started to beat him. I was about 8 at the time. Same thing with my father a few years later. The only chess club I've ever been a part of during my younger years was at school in West Africa; not the coolest extra-curricular activity, but I enjoyed it. After that I played my friends and family on and off. Noting serious, no tactics, no strategy, just turn by turn.

Until a few years ago, I played turn by turn, but knew that this was not the correct way. Slowly I read a few books and played over a few games by certain GMs, namely the One. I still play over games by the One GM, but also games by others, trying to understand why they make a certain move in a certain place at a certain time. Rarely do I understand why until a few moves further. Still I enjoy doing this and whether I understand it or not is besides the point for me, I am doing something that I like doing.

I also play in ICCF, and truth be told, I am getting my backside whipped seriously over there; a bit less so at Schemingmind. I do not have a FIDE rating yet as this depends on a minimum of 9 games at ICCF (besides OTB at chess clubs.)

People resigning too early is a bummer, sure it raises my rating, but rarely do I understand why, and then I go over and over the game and try to see a few and more moves ahead, and sometimes that chess genius spark hits me, and I understand why they resign. But the game wouldn't necessarily have gone into that direction. Playing in a lot of tournaments at the same time -if you have the time- helps too in learning.

Note that I play, study and read about chess about 10 hours per day on average. As of late I have had extra time on my hands due to being diagnosed with cancer, but I still work on project basis, just less than I used to. When at work, I'll use the mobile app and when at home the website. I dream in chess, I see chess moves while walking to the store and I rehearse openings in my head when cycling to and fro work. I am also a ferocious reader and have read many of the recommended chess books, and I treasure the games of Bobby Fisher, although I rarely fully understand them. But, I've noticed my play style go from turn by turn to some minor form of tactics and occasionally strategy.

Don't resign too early, offer a draw, it may get accepted.

mhoogkamer