English Chess Forum

"Has anyone else heard this story?"

No, but it's the sort of thing that could be true. Although, if any teacher spoke like that (especially) on the first day, the parent should be making a formal complaint!

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 15, 2020 8:43 am

"Has anyone else heard this story?"

No, but it's the sort of thing that could be true.

Also the sort of thing that could be made up.

"Also the sort of thing that could be made up."

Yes I agree - that's why I worded it like that.

Incidentally, I started learning chess aged 3, but entirely of my own volition. I saw my father playing through a game in a newspaper and asked what he was doing.

Not True.

I was in the same class as John (I iwas a very slow learner they kept putting me down a few classes.)

We were getting bullied at school by an Italian kid, John told us to meet
him in the bike shed where he told us how we could beat the Sicilian.

And he did building blocks.
One day I proudly showed teacher that I spelt ARM NET and TAP.
John appeared and quickly arranged the bricks into: APARTMENT.

Colin, Why not ask John Nunn? He would remember.

His parents told me he attended primary shool, but didn't like it as the children just played around. But they wanted him to associate with other children. So there was an agreement he would attend school normally in the morning. Then, in the afternoon, would work in the Headmistress's office.

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 15, 2020 12:58 pm

Incidentally, I started learning chess aged 3, but entirely of my own volition. I saw my father playing through a game in a newspaper and asked what he was doing.

I taught our daughter when she turned five, which I assumed was the right age. She needed a captive opponent, so taught her brother, then aged two. I could probably not have done that, but constructive criticism seems to come more easily from a sibling.

In any case, at three he won a representative game against a player from another school - not a great game, but legal moves throughout and a proper checkmate at the end.

Geoff Chandler wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 15, 2020 1:04 pm

Not True.

I was in the same class.... SNIP... John... told us how we could beat the Sicilian.

... SNIP...


And he did building blocks.

One day I proudly showed teacher that I spelt ARM NET and TAP.
John appeared and quickly arranged the bricks into: APARTMENT.

He could've swapped an 'A' for an 'E 'and had ENTRAPMENT - which is more suitable for a solver.

"He could've swapped an 'A' for an 'E 'and had ENTRAPMENT - which is more suitable for a solver."

That would be cheating and John never cheated, though he did do my homework for me for half a crown a week.

(I better admit that I DID NOT go to school with John Nunn but me and Karpov went to different schools together.)

Hi Nick,

"I taught our daughter when she turned five, which I assumed was the right age."

Page 7, the introduction to 'Mikhail Botvinnik: The Life and Games of a World Chess Champion By Andy Soltis.

He [Botvinnik] refused to teach his daughter how to play chess when she was young because he did not learn until he was 12."

"That would be cheating... "

You're so old school you don't even know it.

In other schools of thought it would be seen as showing initiative.

John McKenna wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 15, 2020 10:31 pm

Geoff Chandler wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 15, 2020 1:04 pm

Not True.

I was in the same class.... SNIP... John... told us how we could beat the Sicilian.

... SNIP...

And he did building blocks.

One day I proudly showed teacher that I spelt ARM NET and TAP.
John appeared and quickly arranged the bricks into: APARTMENT.

He could've swapped an 'A' for an 'E 'and had ENTRAPMENT - which is more suitable for a solver.

And, even at that age, he could probably also have pointed out that ENTRAPMENT required an extra letter rather than a 'swap'

Cheers, Roger! Always happy to stand corrected

Does ATM PARENT foot the bill?

What's going on here just illustrates that the forum is a "Natter Amp".

John McKenna wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 16, 2020 11:13 am

Cheers, Roger! Always happy to stand corrected

Does ATM PARENT foot the bill?

LOL, an ATM PARENT might end up footing the bill in more ways than one.

NBC News piece about "full time chess livestreamer" Alexandra Botez.