Comments for LaughingVulcan's Chess Blog http://laughingvulcan.org/blog A Club Player and TD's Observations on Chess Fri, 29 Apr 2011 01:36:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on U.S. Championships 2011 – St. Louis by Dennis Bourgerie http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/2011/04/23/u-s-championships-2011-st-louis/comment-page-1/#comment-8192 Dennis Bourgerie Fri, 29 Apr 2011 01:36:26 +0000 http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/?p=881#comment-8192 It really was a great experience seeing the U. S. Championship in St. Louis. There is something about actually being there that cannot quite be experienced simply by seeing a video of the event. In addition the St. Louis chess club has an outstanding selection of chess books and videos----this is my second year at the U. S. Championship and each time I found the best book that I purchased that year. The drive and the experiences with friends who go make the day even more memorable. Three cheers for the championship in St. Louis. It really was a great experience seeing the U. S. Championship in St. Louis. There is something about actually being there that cannot quite be experienced simply by seeing a video of the event. In addition the St. Louis chess club has an outstanding selection of chess books and videos—-this is my second year at the U. S. Championship and each time I found the best book that I purchased that year. The drive and the experiences with friends who go make the day even more memorable. Three cheers for the championship in St. Louis.

]]> Comment on Normal Open Chess by Dennis Bourgerie http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/2011/04/17/normal-open-chess/comment-page-1/#comment-8188 Dennis Bourgerie Mon, 18 Apr 2011 04:30:59 +0000 http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/?p=876#comment-8188 Our game is good illustration of how to learn openings. White's first 3 moves are fine. Move 4. Bd3 ?! is probably not correct. So White could play 4. e4-e5 or 4. Bc1-g5 or 4. e4xd5. So gradually one can increase the depth of one's openings. Another thing to keep in mind when playing or against the French Defense is that White's light-squared Bishop is his best minor piece and Black's dark-squared Bishop is his best minor piece. So neither side wants to trade his best minor unless he gets something for it! Enjoying your blog! Our game is good illustration of how to learn openings. White’s first 3 moves are fine. Move 4. Bd3 ?! is probably not correct. So White could play 4. e4-e5 or 4. Bc1-g5 or 4. e4xd5. So gradually one can increase the depth of one’s openings. Another thing to keep in mind when playing or against the French Defense is that White’s light-squared Bishop is his best minor piece and Black’s dark-squared Bishop is his best minor piece. So neither side wants to trade his best minor unless he gets something for it! Enjoying your blog!

]]> Comment on Decompression starting…. by Dennis Bourgerie http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/2011/03/10/decompression-starting/comment-page-1/#comment-8184 Dennis Bourgerie Sat, 26 Mar 2011 03:21:25 +0000 http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/?p=874#comment-8184 The music from the Musical "Chess" was great. Can you get "One night in Bangkok"? Anyway, I loved the music while looking at your blog. The music from the Musical “Chess” was great. Can you get “One night in Bangkok”? Anyway, I loved the music while looking at your blog.

]]> Comment on 2nd Annual Gerald Anderson Memorial, Decatur by January 15, 2011 – Decatur « Twin City Chess Club http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/2011/01/14/2nd-annual-gerald-anderson-memorial-decatur/comment-page-1/#comment-8179 January 15, 2011 – Decatur « Twin City Chess Club Sat, 22 Jan 2011 14:47:56 +0000 http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/?p=860#comment-8179 [...] Crosstable from the event is available at the U.S. Chess Federation here.  Live blogging was done from the event at Darren’s chess blog, post available here. [...] [...] Crosstable from the event is available at the U.S. Chess Federation here.  Live blogging was done from the event at Darren’s chess blog, post available here. [...]

]]> Comment on Blogging Live from DeKalb by January 2, 2011 – 2011 Illinois Kick-Off, DeKalb « Twin City Chess Club http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/2011/01/02/blogging-live-from-dekalb/comment-page-1/#comment-8157 January 2, 2011 – 2011 Illinois Kick-Off, DeKalb « Twin City Chess Club Sun, 02 Jan 2011 14:01:38 +0000 http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/?p=830#comment-8157 [...] Darren will be attempting a live blogging after his rounds.  The post is at http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/2011/01/02/blogging-live-from-dekalb/ [...] [...] Darren will be attempting a live blogging after his rounds.  The post is at http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/2011/01/02/blogging-live-from-dekalb/ [...]

]]> Comment on The Return of the King! by Dennis Bourgerie http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/2010/12/23/the-return-of-the-king/comment-page-1/#comment-8148 Dennis Bourgerie Thu, 30 Dec 2010 03:25:52 +0000 http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/?p=817#comment-8148 I think improving at chess is like climbing a massive mountain (think Everest) and that you can get better stage by stage, although sometimes you fall back, don't get discouraged. Normally, you get higher up the mountain bit by bit, but not in huge jumps. If you can learn (and apply) 15 points of knowledge a month, at the end of a year you will have improved 180 points. And even if we don't improve we can still get satisfaction from the game. I think improving at chess is like climbing a massive mountain (think Everest) and that you can get better stage by stage, although sometimes you fall back, don’t get discouraged. Normally, you get higher up the mountain bit by bit, but not in huge jumps. If you can learn (and apply) 15 points of knowledge a month, at the end of a year you will have improved 180 points. And even if we don’t improve we can still get satisfaction from the game.

]]> Comment on The Return of the King! by LaughingVulcan http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/2010/12/23/the-return-of-the-king/comment-page-1/#comment-8147 LaughingVulcan Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:32:15 +0000 http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/?p=817#comment-8147 Thanks! It's great to get comments that it is being read. :D And you are welcome and you certainly deserve the comments. :) Thanks! It’s great to get comments that it is being read. :D And you are welcome and you certainly deserve the comments. :)

]]> Comment on The Return of the King! by Nathaniel Sobery http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/2010/12/23/the-return-of-the-king/comment-page-1/#comment-8146 Nathaniel Sobery Wed, 29 Dec 2010 15:03:27 +0000 http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/?p=817#comment-8146 It is fun to read your blog posts and to play our chess games. Thank you for your efforts and your kind comments. It is fun to read your blog posts and to play our chess games. Thank you for your efforts and your kind comments.

]]> Comment on The limit of Chess Devotion by DeKalb December Tourney « Twin City Chess Club http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/2010/12/12/the-limit-of-chess-devotion/comment-page-1/#comment-8126 DeKalb December Tourney « Twin City Chess Club Sun, 12 Dec 2010 22:24:23 +0000 http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/?p=786#comment-8126 [...] There is a pic-heavy report now up at this link on LV’s Chess Blog. [...] [...] There is a pic-heavy report now up at this link on LV’s Chess Blog. [...]

]]> Comment on Playing my first Master by LaughingVulcan http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/2010/12/06/playing-my-first-master/comment-page-1/#comment-8125 LaughingVulcan Sun, 12 Dec 2010 00:30:17 +0000 http://laughingvulcan.org/blog/?p=776#comment-8125 Interesting. That's the sort of quiet pawn move which influences the board that all too frequently I miss. ;) Thanks for the comment and the read, Dennis! Interesting. That’s the sort of quiet pawn move which influences the board that all too frequently I miss. ;)

Thanks for the comment and the read, Dennis!

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