Chess on TV?

Would you, or anyone you know, actually watch a game of chess on TV for entertainment?

ChessBase News has an interesting article that proposes an idea that might work. Hey, if it can work for TV poker why not chess?

ChessBase columnist, Steven A. Lopez, makes the claim "Yes, chess on TV works if you do it right. The whole trick is to engage the audience."

Read the article - I think he might have a workable idea. What do you think?

Technology Making This Blog Possible

Although not chess related, I really do want to put in a plug for two pieces of technology that have made this blog possible.

Having suffered repetitive stress injuries (RSI), I am not able to use a computer for extended periods of time using ordinary means. With the help of a "Tablet PC" and voice recognition software (see Dragon NaturallySpeaking) things have become much more tolerable.

The Tablet PC provides great flexibility in terms of how you can position the computer for working with it and it offers numerous alternative methods for inputting data - from handwriting and pointing to voice recognition.

Voice recognition software has actually become practical - as the very existence of this blog proves. If you are still a skeptic concerning just how good it can be check out the following three links: Dragon Naturally Speaking — First Impressions, David Pogue's New York Times Review, and jkOnTheRun - Dragon Naturally Speaking 9 Released

All is not perfect using these two tools - there are many computer tasks - like application development and programming for example - that you just can't do in any kind of practical way with voice recognition software and other alternate input methods.

And I still haven't found a workable way to play Internet or computer chess using only my voice for making moves. If anyone one has any advice or suggestions as to how to accomplish that, I would love to hear your comments.

Just a final note. If you find it painful working at a computer, do not ignore the pain. Permanent injury can result. For more information please see Computer Injury? Me? and Your computer may be a pain in the neck.

My Third Chess Tournament - Good Results

Well, after an embarrassing start, I have finished up my first Internet Chess Club tournament with positive score of 2.5 out of a possible 4 - two wins, a 1/2-point bye, and one loss. This was also my first "rated" tournament, the other two tournaments I have played being unrated OTB (over-the-board) beginner tournaments.

I had to take a 1/2 point bye in the first round since I had a scheduling conflict. I then lost the first game by putting myself into a back-rank mate - that just happened not to be on the back rank but along the g and h files. On the bright side, a painful lesson is a lesson well learned. But I played well in my last two games and won both of them.

All in all, I am very happy with how well I played. I am now looking forward to three more tournaments – the September Standard Time Tourney at the Internet Chess Club, another OTB unrated beginners tournament in September, and my first USCF (United States Chess Federation) "rated" OTB tournament (if I am physically up to it) in October.

Humphrey Bogart - Chess Expert

Here's something I didn't know. In looking over the "Famous Games" in Chessmaster 10, there is an entry from 1952 "George Koltanowksi vs Humphrey Bogart!" Turns out that this was a game played by Humphery Bogart against chess writer and columnist George (Kolty) Koltanowski who "in his newspaper office played without sight of the board against movie star and chess expert Humphrey Bogart, who lost by a mere pawn."

According to GameColony.com "It turns out that Bogart was a very accomplished chess player. (Bogart's rating would probably be equivalent to modern 2100.)"

The City Collge Chess web site has some more interesting details: "Before becoming a movie star, Humphrey Bogart hustled strangers at 5-minute chess for 50 cents a game in chess parlors in New York Times Square. In 1943 the FBI prevented him from playing postal chess, thinking the chess notation were secret codes. He was a USCF tournament director and active in the California State Chess Association. He once drew a game against Reshevsky in a simultaneous exhibition. He made 75 films and chess appears in several of his movies. He and his wife, Lauren Bacall, appeared on the cover of CHESS REVIEW in 1945 playing chess with Charles Boyer."

Play it again, Sam... :-)

Exercise Smartens Up the Aging Brain

To play chess well, don't negelect the body. Exercise is important for chess players as well.

Susan Polger, the #1 female player in the US and #2 rated in the world, was asked how she prepares for a big chess event and replied in the Susan Polgar Chess Blog: My weekly commentary "One of the most important parts of training for me is physical fitness. I cannot stress this enough. I worked very hard on my physical condition before World Championships, Olympiads, Women’s World Chess Cup and big events..."

Lack of physical fitness is something old Rook Van Winkle will have to address even with his disabilities. One can always find excuses... but neglect of physical health has such serious consequences that excuses cannot be tolerated. Trust me on this one :-)

The following recent article form HealthDay lends even more truth to this:

Review of the data finds activity keeps mental decline at bay
-- Robert Preidt

(HealthDay News) -- Exercise may slow age's impact on brain function, helping maintain whip-smart cognitive ability well into the senior years and preventing dementia-like illness, a new review of the data shows.

While there are varying opinions on the brain benefits of exercise and activity, "our review of the last 40 years of research does offer evidence that physical exercise can have a positive influence on cognitive brain functions in older animal and human subjects," wrote the study authors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

"We have found that physical and aerobic exercise training can lower the risk for developing some undesirable age-related changes in cognitive and brain functions and also help the brain maintain its plasticity -- [the brain's] ability to cover one function if another starts failing later in life," the authors wrote.

The researchers presented their findings Friday at the American Psychological Association's annual convention in New Orleans.

Some studies that included men and women over age 65 found that those who exercised three times a week for at least 15 to 30 minutes a session were less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease -- even if they were genetically predisposed to the condition.

And a study that examined the association between exercise and brain function in people ages 62 to 70 found that "those who continued to work and retirees who exercised showed sustained levels of cerebral blood flow and superior performance on general measures of cognition as compared to the group of inactive retirees."

Another study that compared older adults who walked and those who did stretching and toning found that those who walked were better able to ignore bothersome distractions.

"Aerobically trained older adults showed increased neural activities in certain parts of the brain that involved attention and reduced activity in other parts of the brain that are sensitive to behavioral conflict," the review authors said.

Pasted from <http://health.msn.com/centers/alzheimers/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100142626>

Book Review: Chess for Children

Here is a good book with some great ideas for teaching chess to young and old alike. Although written for children ages 9 to 12, I think its best use is for a teacher or parent wanting to teach a a young child (or anybody for that matter) the game of chess in an easy-to-understand kind of way.

The book succeeds splendidly at this by introducing small “chunks” of chess knowledge. Using a variety of chess game variations, puzzles, and activities, the student gradually learns all the rules of the game in a fun and interesting way.

Take for example “The Pawn Game”. What’s so great about this is that you can begin to play a simplified form of chess having only learned how a single piece moves and captures! Even better, you are actually learning solid chess fundamentals as to how to use pawns in the full game of chess.

In addition to “the Pawn Game” the authors introduce many other “mini” chess activities like the “Attack of the Mad Queen” game and the “Knight Driving Test” challenge.

Because of this approach, learning the rules of chess becomes something fun and not a confusing and overwhelming experience for the new player.

Highly recommended!

Chess for Children (Paperback)

• by Ted Nottingham, Bob Wade, Al Lawrence
• Reading level: Ages 9-12
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Sterling; New Ed edition (June 30, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806904534
• Product Dimensions: 10.0 x 8.0 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.88 ounces
• Average customer review: 4 out of 5 based on 8 reviews

My copy was purchased from http://www.amazon.com/.com re-seller the_book_depository_ltd. To buy from the Amazon listing click this link Used & new then select the "New" tab and you'll see them. Good price - total with shipping from the U.K. was only $13.85. Got it delivered in about 10 days. New and used copies are also available from other re-sellers too.

Why Should You Play Chess? What are the Benefits?

For about a dozen years I was a certified teacher teaching computer skills to children and adults here in the state of Michigan. As a teacher I think chess could and should be just as an important curriculum subject as computer skills, math, social studies, or science. I'd would not be surprised if chess as a subject for students and for baby boomers is really going to take off in the next several years because of the tremendous benefits it can provide. Not convinced? Consider then this comphrehensive list from the Chess Dominion web site:

Chess is a game for people of all ages. You can learn to play at any age and in chess, unlike in many other sports, you don't ever have to retire. Age is also not a factor when you're looking for an opponent --young can play old and old can play young.

Chess develops memory. The chess theory is complicated and many players memorize different opening variations. You will also learn to recognize various patterns and remember lengthy variations.

Chess improves concentration. During the game you are focused on only one main goal -- to checkmate and become the victor.

Chess develops logical thinking. Chess requires some understanding of logical strategy. For example, you will know that it is important to bring your pieces out into the game at the beginning, to keep your king safe at all times, not to make big weaknesses in your position and not to blunder your pieces away for free. (Although you will find yourself doing that occasionally through your chess career. Mistakes are inevitable and chess, like life, is a never-ending learning process.)

Chess promotes imagination and creativity. It encourages you to be inventive. There are an indefinite amount of beautiful combinations yet to be constructed.

Chess teaches independence. You are forced to make important decisions influenced only by your own judgment.

Chess develops the capability to predict and foresee consequences of actions. It teaches you to look both ways before crossing the street.

Chess inspires self-motivation. It encourages the search of the best move, the best plan, and the most beautiful continuation out of the endless possibilities. It encourages the everlasting aim towards progress, always steering to ignite the flame of victory.

Chess shows that success rewards hard work. The more you practice, the better you'll become. You should be ready to lose and learn from your mistakes. One of the greatest players ever, Capablanca said, "You may learn much more from a game you lose than from a game you win. You will have to lose hundreds of games before becoming a good player."

Chess and Science. Chess develops the scientific way of thinking. While playing, you generate numerous variations in your mind. You explore new ideas, try to predict their outcomes and interpret surprising revelations. You decide on a hypothesis, and then you make your move and test it.

Chess and Technology. What do chess players do during the game? Just like computers they engage in a search for the better move in a limited amount of time. What are you doing right now? You are using a computer as a tool for learning.

Chess and Mathematics. You don't have to be a genius to figure this one out. Chess involves an infinite number of calculations, anything from counting the number of attackers and defenders in the event of a simple exchange to calculating lengthy continuations. And you use your head to calculate, not some little machine.

Chess and Research. There are millions of chess resources out there for every aspect of the game. You can even collect your own chess library. In life, is it important to know how to find, organize and use boundless amounts of information. Chess gives you a perfect example and opportunity to do just that.

Chess and Art. In the Great Soviet Encyclopedia chess is defined as "an art appearing in the form of a game." If you thought you could never be an artist, chess proves you wrong. Chess enables the artist hiding within you to come out. Your imagination will run wild with endless possibilities on the 64 squares. You will paint pictures in your mind of ideal positions and perfect outposts for your soldiers. As a chess artist you will have an original style and personality.

Chess and Psychology. Chess is a test of patience, nerves, will power and concentration. It enhances your ability to interact with other people. It tests your sportsmanship in a competitive environment.

Chess improves schoolwork and grades. Numerous studies have proven that kids obtain a higher reading level, math level and a greater learning ability overall as a result of playing chess. For all those reasons mentioned above and more, chess playing kids do better at school and therefore have a better chance to succeed in life.

Chess opens up the world for you. You don't need to be a high ranked player to enter big important competitions. Even tournaments such as the US Open and the World Open welcome players of all strengths. Chess provides you with plenty of opportunities to travel not only all around the country but also around the world. Chess is a universal language and you can communicate with anyone over the checkered plain.

Chess enables you to meet many interesting people. You will make life-long friendships with people you meet through chess.

Chess is cheap. You don't need big fancy equipment to play chess. In fact, all you may need is your computer! (And we really hope you have one of those, or else something fishy is going on here.) It is also good to have a chess set at home to practice with family members, to take to a friend's house or even to your local neighborhood park to get everyone interested in the game.

CHESS IS FUN! Dude, this isn't just another one of those board games. No chess game ever repeats itself, which means you create more and more new ideas each game. It never gets boring. You always have so much to look forward to. Every game you are the general of an army and you alone decide the destiny of your soldiers. You can sacrifice them, trade them, pin them, fork them, lose them, defend them, or order them to break through any barriers and surround the enemy king. You've got the power!

Pasted from: library.advanced.org/10746/reasons.html

What Happened to the Woodpushers?

Is it just me or are people playing chess a lot better than they did 25 or 30 years ago?

Since I've taken up chess again I've played maybe 50 games over the Internet, first mostly using Chessmaster 10 and lately at the Internet Chess Club (http://www.chessclub.com/). I also played in only my second OTB tournament - an "Unrated Beginner's Open" (my only other tournament experience being another "Unrated Beginners" tournament I played over 25 years ago).

Now I'm not great stuff by any means, but it sure seems like I have to fight a lot harder to win a game nowadays than I used to 25 years ago when I played in the school lunchroom or even in the low key college chess club I ran. And the kids I played in the beginner's tournament were remarkably skilled - I played one 5 year-old in particular that could very well have beaten me!

Chess players seem to be just plain better than they were 25 years ago - at least in terms of beginners, students and casual players.

Why is this? My best theory is younger people (and everyone in general) today have so much more resources for playing and learning the game.

More games...

Thirty years ago I had a heck of a time just finding someone to play chess with. Now you can find thousands of opponents on-line day or night. And if you can't do that you can use any dozens of chess playing software programs.

Side Note: Speaking of chess playing software programs - they are so tough to beat at any setting I think those that persevere beyond the initial novelty of playing against the computer simply must get better or simply give up. I wonder what percentage of Chessmaster buyers immediately put the program aside because of frustration at losing. Let's face it - a computer just can't play like novice even as much as the programmer's try to throw in "human behavior" characteristics.

More Instructional Materials…

For the motivated student of chess there are dozens of excellent training software packages out there - so many I can hardly keep track of them. And they're a lot more engaging than trying to read through a 400 page chess book by a Capablanca or a Nimzovitsch. Years ago the best thing I had as a beginner was the "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess" book - thanks to a diagram on every page - but that was the closet we came to the likes of the "chess tactics" software packages of today.

More of Everything...

And my goodness - speaking of books, there were a good number of chess books back in the 70's but how many hundreds of thousands can you get now? But that is not the end to it. We have:

• chess TV (DVDs)
• chess radio (www.chessfm.com)
• chess web sites (thousands upon thousands)
• chess databases (on-line and off-line CD and DVD's)
• live Internet chess match relays
• chess coaches (locally and on-line)
• chess curriculums (for use in the schools)
• etc., etc.

Good grief!

Information overload for most, but to a motivated player there has never been a time in history were such a wide array of learning resources were so available.

My conclusion is that because of this huge mass of chess material the average player is no longer an average player.

As for me, I'm still trying to work through Fred Reinfeld's "Complete Chess Course" that I purchased at age 10 and still haven't finished :-D

Hope For Me Yet - At 40, The Brain's Best Years Are Still Ahead!

Need some incentive to take up chess or to reacquaint yourself with the game?

Based on the recommendations from Gene Cohen, M.D., PH.D from a recent article in Newsweek, playing chess accomplishes at least 4 of the five recommendations on his list - 5 if you include "chess boxing." :-D

Research has identified several types of activity that can, if practiced regularly, help boost the power, clarity and subtlety of the aging brain.

• Exercise physically. Numerous studies have linked physical exercise to increased brainpower. This is particularly true when the exercise is aerobic—meaning continuous, rhythmic exercise that uses large muscle groups. The positive effects may stem from increased blood flow to the brain, the production of endorphins, better filtration of waste products from the brain and increased brain-oxygen levels.
  
• Exercise mentally. The brain is like a muscle. Use it and it grows stronger. Let it idle and it will grow flabby. So choose something appealing and challenging—and don't be surprised if, once you start, you want to do more. One of the programs I co-chair, the Creativity Discovery Corps, strives to identify unrecognized, talented older adults in the community. A 93-year-old woman we recently interviewed advised us that she might find scheduling the next interview difficult because she was very busy applying for a Ph.D. program.
  
• Pick challenging leisure activities. Getting a graduate degree isn't the only way to keep your brain fit. An important 2003 study identified five leisure activities that were associated with a lower risk of dementia and cognitive decline. In order of impact (from highest to lowest), the winners were dancing, playing board games, playing musical instruments, doing crossword puzzles and reading. Risk reduction was related to the frequency of participation. For example, older persons who did crossword puzzles four days a week had a risk of dementia 47 percent lower than subjects who did puzzles only once a week.
  
• Achieve mastery. Research on aging has uncovered a key variable in mental health called "sense of control." From middle age onward, people who enjoy a sense of control and mastery stay healthier than those who don't. The possibilities for mastery are unlimited, ranging from playing a musical instrument to learning a new language to taking up painting or embroidery. Besides improving your outlook, the sense of accomplishment may also strengthen the immune system.
  
• Establish strong social networks. Countless studies have linked active social engagement to better mental and physical health and lower death rates. People who maintain social relationships during the second half of life enjoy significantly lower blood pressure, which in turn reduces the risk of stroke and its resulting brain damage. Social relationships also reduce stress and its corrosive effects, including anxiety and depression.
  
  Pasted from <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10753221/site/newsweek/page/3/>

A Chess Confession...

Several years went by before I played chess again.

When I went to college in the late seventies, I earned a “student life” scholarship. One of the requirements for continuing the scholarship was to play a part in campus activities. "Aha!" I thought, "I could get involved in the college chess club." The college administration responsed: “College Chess Club? We don’t have a college chess club – we did a few years ago but not now. You could start it up again!” Gulp. So the die was cast. With trepidation (afraid that my chess skill and experience was inadequate for the title of club “president”) I volunteered to run the chess club.

As it turned out, it was great thing for me – I met a lot of nice people. For the first time in my life I played against a wide variety of opponents with unique chess styles. There really were people playing something other than 1. P-K4 to open their games! Even though there was never a tremendous interest in the chess club we did average about a half-dozen to a dozen students dropping by each week.

Now for my chess confession: In my senior year we established contact with a local city chess club who wanted us to host a USCF tournament on campus. This was a great opportunity – I had never even played in a tournament! Even better, this would be an official USCF sanctioned event and I could establish a provisional rating! Now I could get at least a rough answer to the question that plagues every chess player - just how good am I really?

The tournament was scheduled the weekend before winter break began – and although I could attend on Saturday I had to leave on the Sunday for home. Darn! As a compromise I ended up entering the unrated “beginners” section since it was a one day event held on that Saturday.

Much to my surprise I won the event 4-0 "free-and-clear" and took home the $40 first place prize. Yikes! To this day I still feel sort of guilty about it – was it not a conflict of interest for the “President of the University Chess Club” to take home a cash prize? And worse, should the “President of the University Chess Club” have entered the unrated “beginners” tournament in the first place?

Two other things I remember about the tournament. My final round opponent (another college student) tracked me down before the last round and proceeded to psychologically brow-beat me by telling me how fast he was going to beat me and words to the general effect that I might as well resign before even sitting down at the chess board. I had the last laugh however; I beat him in 12 moves! Even I could have told him not to bring out his queen on the second move!

The other thing I remember is that they did not give out a trophy or a ribbon or a certificate - just the cash prizes! I still regret they did that to this day. So a few weeks ago (more than 25 years later) I decided to go on-line and buy my own trophy (it cost me only $15 engraved!) I must say it feels good to have it – even if technically, as chess club president, it may have been a little unfair to enter the beginner’s tournament in the first place. However, since this may be the only chess trophy I may ever have – I won’t feel too badly about that. :-D

My Early Days with Chess

I think I learned to play chess from a book in 5th grade. Each week Mrs. Sawyer would take the entire class to the school library and our assignment was to find a book to read and enjoy. I have no idea what the title of the book was or who wrote it – but it must have been a pretty good book for me to learn the rules of chess using only it to help.

I also remember getting my very own first chess book soon after - I think I was in the sixth grade at the time. My parents would let us pick out our own Christmas gifts at the large and distant department store 30 miles from our small home town. There I found “The Complete Chess Course" by Fred Reinfeld. Wow - over 700 pages of chess goodness.

Finding someone to play was my biggest problem. No one in my family played. It wasn’t until a few years later in about 8th or 9th grade that I learned my best friend knew how to play chess too! From then on we played when we could – mostly during lunch hour (and if we could sneak it in – even during class time). We even occasionally played chess over the telephone calling out our moves using descriptive notation. I think I won the majority of our games – my secret weapon being some of the advice good old Fred gave me in that huge tome of chess wisdom. I never did get more than half way through that book – there was just so much there!

I still remember to this day how in Orchestra class my friend and I set up a chess set (my treasured “Cardinal” folding magnetic chess set - which I still own to this day) on the chair between us so we could play. The music teacher had a terrible habit of lecturing nearly the whole class period instead of having us play our instruments. So why not take advantage of all this wasted time with a game of chess? Oh my god, did the sparks fly when he spied us blissfully playing chess and not at all paying attention to him! Just another example, I am sure, of how we all have suffered anguish and pain at one time or another for love of the game of chess!

Later in high school I met others kids who played chess and I would play during lunch hour with them too. I even played several teachers who had an interest in chess – even beating them occasionally. Sadly our school had no chess club – and the idea of even having a chess club never occurred to any of us! After high school I really had no one to play chess with. It wasn’t until my last two years of college that I found an opportunity to play chess again. But that’s a story for another post…

Why this Blog...

You’ve probably figured out the name of this blog is a take-off on “Rip Van Winkle”. Why? Because just as Rip Van Winkle slept for 25 years as the world went by, as far as chess goes, I have had a similar experience. I have had nothing to do with chess for about 25 years. Although I once really enjoyed chess, ordinary living got in the way and I "resigned" myself to a life without “the game of kings”. What a shame!

But now, for reasons of mental health and general well being, I have taken up chess again. What a joy it is to rediscover the thrill and excitement of the game again after all these years.

So here I am – Rook Van Winkle – awake from my 25 years of chess slumber with this blog detailing my new adventures in the realm of the world’s most fascinating game!

It is my sincere hope that others new to chess, or those like me getting reacquainted with the game will find some entertainment – if not useful information – reading this blog.

If you have any suggestions related to chess improvement (or any observations concerning the posts on this blog) please feel free to add your comments…