English Chess Forum

Is Tim Wall actually happy working with anybody else? whilst the news of his appointment to the Women's Recruitment Officer post would be welcome because its good for the ECF to embrace enthusiastic organisers - I know nothing of that appointment process (didn't know there was a vacancy), and given ...

'I have a bit of sympathy with the sentiment. But one mans accumulation of criticism is another mans polite enquiry why there are no election addresses' World's apart. A polite inquiry and suggestion/observation really isn't the same as criticism and nor is it in the same ball-park as suggesting an ...

I've read the note produced by Angus French for Bronze members and without agreeing with everything I think this is a useful document and suggests he takes his role seriously. I share his concern at the absence of any election address from the candidates. I recall there were also gaps in this regard...

The internet is clogged up with toxic and intemperate debate often on trivial things. When intelligent people use words like 'conspiracy' all it really does is make them look silly, and gives succour to the trolls and less intelligent keyboard warriors.

Indeed David has previously admitted to not implementing a significant ''policy' in his life. Can you give chapter and verse for that, please? You have admitted in previous exchanges to having implemented relatively modest initiatives whilst spending much of your time defending the status quo in a ...

There is scrutiny and there is scrutiny. Unfortunately there are those who frequent the internet and don't know the difference. Its very much a matter of degree. A slight and debateable error on the part of the Board doesn't mean a free for all with the criticism of that error. It is important that ...

Brendan - it's not worth it. The statement was intended to be correct. Any inaccuracy is un-intended. You know how these things work, those complaining have far less idea. Indeed David has previously admitted to not implementing a significant ''policy' in his life. You would have hoped that running ...

I think that provided it is understood which time-frame the information relates to - whether date of meeting or date of papers being issued - it doesn't matter. Nor is this sort of thing uncommon in the public sector, voluntary organisations or I suspect private bodies where the data is not price se...

Our club AGM considered a proposal to raise membership fees this week, and in response those seniors present proposed waiving their half price memberships. The demographic is such that we were able to leave fees at the existing level as a result. I wouldn't wish to generalise about the relative weal...

Ah - I suspected that but having generally paired for double rounds wasn't sure if that was what you were hinting at.

'Berger tables aren't especially difficult and a boon to scheduling league fixtures. You have to be aware of the trick of awarding the bye to the highest pairing number when there's an odd number of participants.' Why? What are you trying to avoid? I used the pairings as the base for drawing up the ...

I can think of at least one occasion when the debate at the Bucks AGM was very carefully managed by the Chair and Secretary to avoid lengthy exposition on game fee or membership.

Due to rain at the US Open yesterday I found myself watching Nishikori-Klahn. I didn't catch all of the remark, but the commentator suggested that after Klahn's poor start he should see the first set as similar to a pawn sacrifice. He meant I think that if he could get his patterns of plays sorted a...

In the absence of a separate thread on chess references in literature I'll continue to interpret media in the broadest sense. Bernice Rubens ' The Waiting Game' 1997'. Page 164-165; It was because she was a constant reminder to them all that wetting one's knickers and going to bed with one's shoes o...

Somebody up-thread explained at great length why the mantra that 'progress is good' is a nonsense. I agree but (I) I'm not sure that any of the modernisers believe this to be self evident and (ii) conservatism has its own pitfalls. You can become a ranting dinosaur. Its really all about management o...