Mark's Chess Blog August 2005 Archive

For nearly 100 years, from the mid-18th century to the mid-19th century, French chess players were the strongest in the world. The line from Philidor, to Deschapelles, to La Bourdonnais, ... Read More

According to web search statistics, the phrase 'free chess' is one of the top-10 phrases used for searching chess sites. We passed along the news that ChessWise.com is free, and wondered if ... Read More

Since our last report on computer chess (see Elsewhere on the Web Computer Chess News, 4 June 2005), the summer has been full of high profile events : the 13th World Computer ... Read More

The moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 (Ruy Lopez) 3...a6 (Morphy Defense) 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 (Closed Variation) 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O, lead to the most common position ... Read More

As we mentioned a few months ago (see Elsewhere on the Web, USCF on the Move, 23 April), the USCF held Executive Board elections in July. We documented the results, which mark a significant ... Read More

The international chess scene has seen some big summer happenings: annual top-level events at Dortmund, Biel, and Mainz; Continental Championships in Europe and the Americas; the European Team, British, and World Youth Championships; as ... Read More

What's the most important link on About Chess? It's the How to Play Chess link in the left column under 'Essentials'. Each of its lessons ('How to set up a chess board, ... Read More

Time for a little fun with eBay. In eBay chess (descending price), your Chess Guide asks, 'Too much spare change in your pocket?' and flags the highest value chess auctions at the ... Read More

Most of the controversies in chess -- short draws, rating abuses, unification -- have little impact outside the game. The one big exception is what we call the drug issue. ... Read More

Developing your own repertoire takes a lot of knowledge about the comparative strengths and weaknesses of different opening variations, not to mention a lot of time. Many players prefer to ... Read More

In Forbid resignations?, a well known International Master (IM) proposes, 'A recent Bulgarian organizer introduced an idea of forbidding draw offers in chess. I would like to suggest another improvement idea for ... Read More

Susan Polgar does at least two things very well. (1) She knows how to play chess and (2) she knows how to make people pay attention when she plays chess. ... Read More

Was the fantastic success of 20th century Soviet chess a school or a hegemony? Answers.com: 'hegemony : The predominant influence, as of a state, region, or group, over another or ... Read More