Search found 45 matches

by Paul Littlewood
Tue Aug 09, 2011 5:27 pm
Forum: Not Chess!
Topic: BLOODY HELL
Replies: 23
Views: 3459

Re: BLOODY HELL

Amazingly I have just been advised that the Bridge Club evening at Watford is cancelled because the police are expecting trouble in the Town centre. What are we coming to ?
by Paul Littlewood
Tue Aug 09, 2011 9:07 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE GAMES
Replies: 1360
Views: 82306

Re: BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE GAMES

He has a chance to win the British Championship and goes in for such a dull line. What has happened to all the exciting, sacrificial games we used to witness in the times of Mestel, Speelman, Nunn etc ? While I absolutely agree and sympathise with Mr. Littlewood's stylistic analysis of a "risk-free...
by Paul Littlewood
Tue Aug 09, 2011 9:00 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE GAMES
Replies: 1360
Views: 82306

Re: BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE GAMES

I take your point but I am talking about an attitude of mind here. You have to take some risks to win at chess and you can taylor your openings to do that. The sacrifice Ne5 is speculative and I am still not certain whether it is totally sound....but it felt right to me and in the event Black was u...
by Paul Littlewood
Tue Aug 09, 2011 12:45 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE GAMES
Replies: 1360
Views: 82306

Re: BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE GAMES

Interestingly this does not just apply to the higher-rated players. I am at present judging the most brilliant game played by an U18 in the Championship...and frankly I am struggling ! I remember at that age looking to play sacrifices at every opportunity but the youngsters nowadays play it so safe...
by Paul Littlewood
Mon Aug 08, 2011 6:42 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE GAMES
Replies: 1360
Views: 82306

Re: BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE GAMES

I take your point Andrew but I hope your rather depressing view proves to be incorrect.......

Surely a game such as the first world championship game between Topalov and Anand in 2010 shows that there is still room for attacking and exciting chess !
by Paul Littlewood
Mon Aug 08, 2011 6:14 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE GAMES
Replies: 1360
Views: 82306

Re: BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE GAMES

Unfortunately it is a Brilliancy Prize so this would not count !
by Paul Littlewood
Mon Aug 08, 2011 5:20 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE GAMES
Replies: 1360
Views: 82306

Re: BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE GAMES

I enjoyed watching the British Championship games on the live feed but I must say I felt slightly disappointed at the style adopted by a lot of the players. For example : Nigel, who is a much better player than Stephen Gordon, decides to play a line where he swaps off queens on about move 5 and this...
by Paul Littlewood
Wed Apr 20, 2011 10:05 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Has anyone ever given up chess?
Replies: 165
Views: 25346

Re: Has anyone ever given up chess?

Several of us have virtually given up on chess to play bridge e.g Peter Lee, Jonathan Mestel, myself and intriguingly, Jonathan Penrose, who plays at my bridge club at Welwyn.....although it is very much a pastime for him whilst Jonathan and Peter take it very seriously and do extremely well at Nati...
by Paul Littlewood
Wed Apr 13, 2011 6:49 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Old Chess Magazines
Replies: 0
Views: 771

Old Chess Magazines

I have picked up some old Chess Magazines from an aquaintance. They include various " Chess " and " Correspondence Chess " issues from a range of years ( earliest 1956 ). I will keep those that have references to the Littlewood family but is anyone interested in having the others ?
by Paul Littlewood
Wed Jan 19, 2011 6:45 pm
Forum: Chess History
Topic: Terence Reese
Replies: 10
Views: 2198

Re: Terence Reese

The most famous example of a dual chess/bridge player is Peter Lee who won the British Championship in the 60's and also the Gold Cup in Bridge..and indeed he is still one of the strongest Bridge players in Britain today...representing kent at County level and also still winning National Tournaments...
by Paul Littlewood
Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:31 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Letters in The Times
Replies: 2
Views: 906

Letters in The Times

There has been an article about the benefits of chess to children in The Times recently and then several follow-up letters. I wrote a reply to a letter on Wednesday but I see that Stewart also did and got his letter published. What is the secret Stewart ? .....because I notice that you have had seve...
by Paul Littlewood
Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:51 am
Forum: Chess History
Topic: Odds games
Replies: 14
Views: 2703

Re: Odds games

With regard to odds games and juniors I recently was invited to give a simultaneous in a friend's school. It was clear to me that the players were not very strong so I offered them all knight odds but so as to not insult them I gave them the choice of whether they accepted this or started level. Int...
by Paul Littlewood
Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:40 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Problems with wind up clocks!
Replies: 37
Views: 4794

Re: Problems with wind up clocks!

My father once "won" a game on time against Penrose at Hastings but the arbiter ( it might have been Harry Golombek ) ruled that the clock was faulty and so Penrose was given an extra minute and was able to secure a draw.
Digital clocks are certainly a vast improvement !
by Paul Littlewood
Fri Oct 22, 2010 1:36 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Chess holidays and tournaments
Replies: 27
Views: 4594

Re: Chess holidays and tournaments

In the past I have enjoyed playing in the Ghent + Davos Opens, both of which take place in the Summer. Both of these are great fun and the scenery in Davos is just stunning !
by Paul Littlewood
Wed Sep 15, 2010 5:40 pm
Forum: Chess History
Topic: London Central YMCA (aka CentYMCA) Chess Club
Replies: 325
Views: 91664

Re: London Central YMCA (aka CentYMCA) Chess Club

I remember a rather funny incident with Mike Wills many years ago. Unfortunately I would have to kill you if I told you but it was nevertheless quite an eye-opener for a young Paul and his sister !