Chess

I know it's only an app and not Bobby Fisher, but I just won a game of chess for only the second time in my life. Hells bells boys!

Boring Chess Post

For the last few weeks I've been really into chess, ever since reading Stalin's Ghost, which features a chessmaster as a minor character.

(Lest I never get a chance to mention it, I've also recently read and enjoyed Lincoln Child's Deep Storm. I really like the name Lincoln, btw, for a boy)

Anyhow, I try to play a game or two a day online at Yahoo. On that site I boast a powerful 9-78 record with 13 abandoned games and a current losing streak of 11.

[I've also been blessed by finding a 10 games in 1 set at Goodwill for a mere $3, though I've only played a human (my Dad) face to face once with it.]

As you can imagine I suck at chess, although in fairness I'd only played a few dozen games in my life before this recent splurge. There just seems to be a mental gap between desire and execution and it is not condusive to victory.

Of those nine 'wins' on Yahoo, all but two were via TKO - the other guy quit for unknown reasons (certainly not because I was near victory). However, this week I notched my first two genuine wins EVER, sucessfully checkmating two oponents online.

Then, last night I had the most enjoyable match of my life. I didn't win - it came out a draw - but I was in control the whole time. I even drove the first player away from the table when the going got rough.

The second opponent took his place and I hounded him to no end, eliciting howls of protest and cries of "Why are you doing this??" on the message board. Basically, I kept him in check until the match was declared a draw.

Here's the complete blow by blow of the match. Experienced hands will no doubt point out a dozen moves where I could have sealed the deal, but OFW - I had a good time, and I'm proud.

I played black; the '+' denotes a move that placed the king in check.

1. e2-e4 e7-e5
2. d1-h5 g7-g6
3. h5xe5+ f8-e7
4. e5xh8 e8-f8
5. b2-b3 e7-f6
6. c1-a3+ d7-d6
7. h8xf6 d8xf6
8. b1-c3 c8-g4
9. c3-d5 f6-e5
10. a1-c1 e5xe4+
11. f1-e2 g4xe2
12. g1xe2 e4xg2
13. h1-f1 g2xh2
14. d5xc7 g8-e7
15. c7xa8 b8-a6
16. a3xd6 h2xd6
17. f1-h1 h7-h5
18. d2-d4 h5-h4
19. e2-c3 d6-b4
20. e1-d2 b4xd4+
21. d2-e1 d4-f4
22. c3-e2 f4-f5
23. c2-c4 h4-h3
24. e2-d4 f5-g4
25. c1-d1 g4-g2
26. e1-e2 g2-e4+
27. e2-d2 e4xd4+
28. d2-c2 d4xf2+
29. c2-c1 f2xa2
30. b3-b4 a2-a3+
31. c1-d2 a3xb4+
32. d2-d3 b4-b3+
33. d3-d4 g6-g5
34. d1-b1 b3-f3
35. h1-f1 f3-g2
36. f1-d1 g2-g4+
37. d4-d3 g4-f5+
38. d3-e2 f5-g4+
39. e2-e1 g4xc4
40. d1-c1 c4-f4
41. e1-e2 h3-h2
42. c1-h1 g5-g4
43. b1-f1 f4-g3
44. f1-f2 g3-e5+
45. e2-f1 g4-g3
46. f2-g2 e5-a1+
47. f1-e2 a1-a2+
48. e2-f3 a2-a3+
49. f3-g4 a3-a4+
50. g4xg3 a4-a3+
51. g3xh2 a3-d6+
52. h2-g1 d6-d1+
53. g1-h2 d1-d6+
54. h2-g1 d6-d1+
55. g1-h2 d1-d6+

BTW -

One of the confusing aspects of having a site like this for years is that posts run together in my memory. Sure everything's documented, but whoopedeedo. After all, did I really post about how I couldn't tolerate another bad year from the Brewers after years of turmoil and a single glorious season of .500 ball? How can I tell, short of sorting through years of posts?

Why does it matter? Becasue the bleepin' Brewers are in the process of breaking my heart right now! 14 games above .500 and 7.5 games up in the standings, only to fall to 1 game under .500 and 2.5 games back in a little more than a month. They're in THIRD place for pete's sake, or at least were for a day. C'mon!

I know, I know - there's still time, and plenty of opportunity.

It isn't just about this year. After this taste of glory how can I ever have faith in future seasons? Do I have to be like my Dad and check my emotions by saying 'If they're still ahead halfway through September I'll be confident'?

Is that any way to enjoy the game?

Ugh.