Search found 2073 matches

by Andrew Zigmond
Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:21 pm
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: ECF Membership Reform
Replies: 150
Views: 13718

Re: ECF Membership Reform

Um, discussions like the one here in this thread have been had multiple times on this forum and I wonder why people appear unable to appreciate that there could be a legitimate concern about value for money and affordability? As per my post above which crossed with yours most sports and activities ...
by Andrew Zigmond
Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:13 pm
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: ECF Membership Reform
Replies: 150
Views: 13718

Re: ECF Membership Reform

£18 a year works out as £1.50 a month. I'll repeat that - £1.50 a month! It wouldn't be your only outlay if you played league chess unless you were somehow fortunate enough not to have to pay a club membership fee and could get to venues home and away on foot (or with a lift offered free of charge o...
by Andrew Zigmond
Mon Feb 26, 2024 2:35 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: The Best Game of Chess played by an English Player
Replies: 39
Views: 4407

Re: The Best Game of Chess played by an English Player

One game that frequently finds its way into the anthologies is Nigel Short's famous king walk against Timman.

Also one game that has to be up there for significance (although it's not the flashiest game ever played) is Sultan Khan's win against Capablanca.
by Andrew Zigmond
Tue Feb 20, 2024 11:47 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Queens Gambit and Netflix
Replies: 172
Views: 26750

Re: Queens Gambit and Netflix

My irritations with the Queen's Gambit were that I don't think there was anything like as much money in professional chess in the 1960s as the series implies and also that Beth Harmon encounters a relative lack of sexism and misogyny. That said you can allow for a few inaccuracies for the sake of a ...
by Andrew Zigmond
Sun Feb 18, 2024 11:20 am
Forum: YCA
Topic: 2023/2024 Season
Replies: 123
Views: 7854

Re: 2023/2024 Season

Bradford defaulted one earlier this year, so their game points still aren't amazing. Bradford haven't defaulted any matches - they had an 8-0 loss to a strong Sheffield team in their first match. Regarding juniors they are now dominating the Silver Rook and are starting to break through to the IM B...
by Andrew Zigmond
Thu Feb 15, 2024 10:04 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Opponents who "helpfully" write their name on your scoresheet
Replies: 32
Views: 2109

Re: Opponents who "helpfully" write their name on your scoresheet

My two cents. It also irritates me when an opponent does this although I generally appreciate it's done to be helpful so not worth kicking up a stink about. Given that the player can pretty much only do it in his opponent's absence it may be done to allow for the possibility that the opponent may ar...
by Andrew Zigmond
Sun Jan 21, 2024 10:49 pm
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: ECF meeting reports
Replies: 91
Views: 12944

Re: ECF meeting reports

I'll look forward to hearing more about this one as it could have a significant impact on the composition of council. Which could in turn have a significant impact on... what? Clubs tend to have more direct democracy than leagues and county associations and often more turnover of officers. This wil...
by Andrew Zigmond
Sun Jan 21, 2024 7:43 pm
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: ECF meeting reports
Replies: 91
Views: 12944

Re: ECF meeting reports

Of interest is the proposal for clubs of a certain (unspecified) size to apply for membership of council. I'll look forward to hearing more about this one as it could have a significant impact on the composition of council.
by Andrew Zigmond
Tue Jan 02, 2024 12:37 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Christmas Eve incident in a rock bar
Replies: 32
Views: 3988

Re: Christmas Eve incident in a rock bar

I wondered what would have happened if the away captain (I'm pretty sure it was v Wardie) had the same idea and we saw two strangers plucked off the street on their way home suddenly pitted against each other. Happy Days! The Even More Complete Chess Addict reported something of the kind; two teams...
by Andrew Zigmond
Sat Dec 30, 2023 6:51 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Christmas Eve incident in a rock bar
Replies: 32
Views: 3988

Re: Christmas Eve incident in a rock bar

I have met friends for chess in Harrogate's rock bar a few times.
by Andrew Zigmond
Tue Dec 26, 2023 11:04 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Christmas Eve incident in a rock bar
Replies: 32
Views: 3988

Re: Christmas Eve incident in a rock bar

Picking up on some of the points raised; A rock bar, loosely speaking, is a bar that plays rock music either primarily or exclusively as a musical backdrop and as a consequence attracts a clientele that enjoys it. It doesn't necessarily have to host live music although this particular venue does. Th...
by Andrew Zigmond
Mon Dec 25, 2023 3:37 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Christmas Eve incident in a rock bar
Replies: 32
Views: 3988

Christmas Eve incident in a rock bar

This is too good not to share. Last night I was enjoying a pre Christmas drink with a friend at my local rock bar when I noticed a young man who looked slightly familiar and I worked out who he reminded of. He looked like an older version of a lad who used to go to the junior chess club I run (and w...
by Andrew Zigmond
Tue Dec 19, 2023 6:57 pm
Forum: Rating Debate
Topic: Living in the Past: The Chiltern League
Replies: 55
Views: 4661

Re: Living in the Past: The Chiltern League

I tend to use the "forced submission" if I have a round or individual game fall very late in the month but also if I have a raft of new players who I want to get into the system to generate a rating code asap.
by Andrew Zigmond
Sat Nov 04, 2023 7:40 pm
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: Juniors with autism and ADHD
Replies: 16
Views: 2256

Re: Juniors with autism and ADHD

To clarify I agree ENTIRELY that chess should be accessible for all (as should everything else - I am very passionate about how our education system sets SEND students up to fail). Indeed I did suggest that it may be possible to create bespoke sessions for the youngster in question. My point was tha...
by Andrew Zigmond
Thu Nov 02, 2023 12:48 am
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: Juniors with autism and ADHD
Replies: 16
Views: 2256

Re: Juniors with autism and ADHD

It is a difficult one but at the end of the day you are running a junior chess club where you expect a minimum standard of behaviour and have to consider all players, not just one. Awful as it sounds the mother's circumstances are her problem not yours. That said, it depends what the boy is looking ...