English Chess Forum

In practice,White doubtless gets a higher % score than Black. Does anyone know of reliable analysis of the variation in this facet of ECF (or even FIDE) stats? Given the approximate linear relationship between rating difference and expected score implicit in the ECF system, I guess such information ...

Before a move is made, when I am playing a roughly equal opponent (say a rating difference of plus or minus 10 ECF grading points) or when playing someone who quotes an appropriate limerick, I tend to aim for a draw. However I wonder if, in the interests of team victory, I should aim not to lose if ...

Roger, does your cunning plan involve Hedgehogs or other defences?

Naturally I have never played a brilliant game on Hastings Pier in mid-winter though I guess David Bronstein did. However I never saw an article on chess brilliances from Hastings Pier in mid-winter? Maybe bad weather/conditions also produces more draws and fewer blunders (more careful play and less...

In general, I really can't see derby matches as an advantage. Even when they look like they should be easy on paper they fairly often turn entirely uncomfortable with all the players knowing each other so well. I agree both complacency and knowing people can be real difficulties. The reason I initi...

Which English chess leagues , if any, do not allow more than one team of the same club in any division of the league? In Division 1 of the London League , 2014-15 season there were happily 3 Drunken Knights team out of 12 in Division 1, is that a record proportion? Are there any leagues which do not...