English Chess Forum

Every time a FIDE election comes along, it reminds me of Tom Lehrer's song about Wernher von Braun, in which he says, "A man whose allegiance is ruled by expedience."

I used to eagerly play the Lopez and score very well with it, but then when I returned to it later, even players graded 70 points lower than me knew enough theory to keep the game going. So David is right. One game in particular I only won as I forgot the theory and it so confused my opponent that n...

"He then used TuroChamp (Turing's chess programme) on a laptop against "seasoned club player Olivia", who as expected won the game." It's worth noting that Alan Turing wasn't being incredibly optimistic with the name there - his colleague was "David Champernowne", so he included both their names in ...

"The programme is being televised on Tuesday 4th September at 9.00 p.m on BBC 4. The programme is called “ The Joy of AI”." This also featured Demis Hassabis talking on AI. Amusingly, one of the AI experts said that the biggest threat to the future did not come from artificial intelligence, but real...

I suggest putting car parking details on the website somewhere. The one off Penrhyn road is a bit confusing to get to (as is the one near the station)and you don't want to circumnavigate the one-way system too much! The big car parks next to the shopping centres do get full at weekends sometimes. I'...

"I don't know how far back it's reasonable to look, but weren't similar incidents alleged to be common practice by the winning side in the campaigns of 2006, 2010 and 2014?" And even the losing side. I was told that one small federation accepted a bribe from one candidate, and in the same election, ...

"No on-site parking and £ 1 per hour elsewhere is something of a discouragement for players outside London. It's not even as unlike Olympia, Kingston is not Central London." And if you use a car, the local council is very eager to punish anybody who strays into a bus lane, or yellow hatched lines at...

"The Oldway is one of the ten endangered Victorian buildings listed here."

And as a reader of Private Eye, you will know what tends to happen to such buildings... Let's hope it isn't the case this time.

"Maybe we need to bring in VAR in chess "

Great idea, and use "ultra edge" to detect if someone touched a piece or not!

"I would certainly hope they can keep this up, it's great fun"

I don't know how Surrey and Essex can compete with this.

"Forty years ago is before my time, Kevin, so if there's something you need to get off your chest by all means do so. But the occurrence I am thinking of was not so long ago, and was rather serious."

No - we just thought, oh good, I'm playing an IM on Board 4!

"Putting aside the legal question, there is certainly a fear amongst many players, which may or may not be well-founded, that earpieces can be used for cheating."

Another reason I remove mine.

Actually, I quite enjoy the sound of silence, especially the "Disturbed" version.

"When I go on holiday I want to switch off."

Holiday? - I assume I wasn't the only player at Hull seeking the weekly TWIC download!

"I appreciate there is some danger of going completely off-topic, but I seem to recall some adventures in the wonderful world of Surrey CCA regarding clubs (well, one particular club) operating very much that kind of loose definition." True - I recall about 40 years ago Streatham fielding all sorts ...

"Hearing aids - I assume you refer to the ICCD team, though not everyone uses them - are already prohibited." I always openly remove mine before the game starts, to make it clear to the opponent that any offers of draws, tea, coffee, etc. should be clearly communicated. Then they don't hear my draw ...