English Chess Forum

Paul Cooksey says-I bought it at the weekend. The text is interesting - Keith has led an unusual life and is very candid about it. I haven't looked at any of the chess in detail yet.

I buy almost all chess auto-biographies and games collections by professional players as a very minor form of sponsorship. But my first look at this book is promising, I might comment further when I have had time to play through some of the notes.Paul Cooksey end quote.

Loads of 180 plus players have lots of draws.

I would be interested to know what drives your comment "Keith has led an unusual life"?
Keith plays the Caro Kann Defense as did Mikhail Moiseevich Botvinnik.(game 3 of the Smyslov v Botvinnik Match is very interesting) but no disrespect to Keith I do not think he is in the same league as Botvinnik what do you think?

I have collected a number of first editions of chess books for many years and keep them under under lock and key in case Carol finds out the value of them I also have a number of auto-biographies and I recommend the games of Radolf Charousek I am rather lucky in that I have a first edition copy of his games.Radolf died only age 26 - a real loss to the chess world!

Paul Cooksey wrote:

Peter D Williams wrote:I would be interested to know what drives your comment "Keith has led an unusual life"?

I recently read the book Arkell's Odyssey. Apologies if this was unclear.

Perhaps you could enlighten us all without us having to buy the book

Paul Cooksey wrote:

Peter D Williams wrote:Perhaps you could enlighten us all without us having to buy the book

I could.

Keith could also republish the contents of his book on here so cheapskates don't have to buy it

Andrew Bak wrote:

Paul Cooksey wrote:

Peter D Williams wrote:Perhaps you could enlighten us all without us having to buy the book

I could.

Keith could also republish the contents of his book on here so cheapskates don't have to buy it

If you expect me to find that funny I don't

Paul Cooksey wrote:I recently read the book Arkell's Odyssey. Apologies if this was unclear.

Given the latest rant/exposure on the Streatham blog, I did wonder who was the publisher. Keverel rather than Hardinge-Simpole, but the London Chess Centre have it in stock and advertise it.

I bought a signed copy of Keith Arkell's new book at Paignton and consider it the best and most interesting chess book I've read in a good many years. I thoroughly recommend it .

Paul Cooksey wrote:

Peter D Williams wrote:I would be interested to know what drives your comment "Keith has led an unusual life"?

I recently read the book Arkell's Odyssey. Apologies if this was unclear.

You bought the book, you read the book and only then did you comment? Honestly.

Bob Clark wrote:Well Amazon are selling the book, I wonder when the kindle version will be available.

No idea about kindle - I bought the book through Amazon, arrived today with a free copy of September's edition of Chess magazine

Sean Hewitt wrote:

Paul Cooksey wrote:

Peter D Williams wrote:I would be interested to know what drives your comment "Keith has led an unusual life"?

I recently read the book Arkell's Odyssey. Apologies if this was unclear.

You bought the book, you read the book and only then did you comment? Honestly.

Cant you do a better comment than that? that is a poor effort. No gold star for you today still you can always try again on here.
get over it

on to the serious subject are you saying you can only comment about Keith and his so called unusual life if you buy his book?
Now back to the garden this late summer is really nice my pepper plant is still growing good tip if you grow pepper plants is make sure you spray them with water on the leaves.

Peter D Williams wrote: on to the serious subject are you saying you can only comment about Keith and his so called unusual life if you buy his book?

No, I think Sean suggested that you should only comment on Keith's life as portrayed by the book if you have read the book.

He's been a professional chess player, mainly on the UK weekend circuit, for over 30 years and has managed to make a living out of it. How much more unusual do you want?

Peter D Williams wrote: Perhaps you could enlighten us all without us having to buy the book

With a modicum of effort you could find a three-part interview with Keith kicking around on some chess blog somewhere. Whether it would answer your questions I don't know, but there is a rather saucy section on KRB v KR.

Jonathan Bryant wrote:

Peter D Williams wrote: Perhaps you could enlighten us all without us having to buy the book

With a modicum of effort you could find a three-part interview with Keith kicking around on some chess blog somewhere. Whether it would answer your questions I don't know, but there is a rather saucy section on KRB v KR.

I do better than that when i next see Keith next i ask him! I do remember talking to him at Wellington college about chess and his life.He may persuade me to buy his book but only if he signs it!

I am not interested in KRB v KR my games are over long before then

Now back to the greenhouse my cucumber plant is still producing cucumbers its been a good year for them.Again one should spray the leaves with water this appears to help them fruit more.

Ordered a copy from here on holiday!

Carl Hibbard wrote:Ordered a copy from here on holiday!

....and I've ordered one to take on holiday.
Sounds like a good read.