Harry Potter: The (In)Complete Position

I find it really professional and classy for a film company to actually consult for the services of an International Master of chess in preparing for a chess position or scene in a movie. Especially one where the moves can become the subject of much scrutiny long after the movie has been replaced in the theatres and the DVD copies have been neatly filed in the cabinets at home. But then again, it doesn't speak so well if you have to go to great lengths to secure such service and then have to eliminate most of the moves anyway to satisfy some practical considerations. Click on the image above to have Jerry Silman himself recount the entire experience to you.

More chess in movies here. Read More......

Chess Tactics Server

Like Chess Tempo which I featured earlier, Chess Tactics Server is also an interactive site to hone your chess skills especially in the middlegame. For each position that you are presented with, you are subsequently rated and the next problem shown will be within the range of your perceived strength. The problems have time limits in which to make the correct move.

Interactive chess sites like this takes time for one to be able to assess how useful, user-friendly, and informative they are. You are welcome to provide feedback on your experiences with the site, as well as letting us know of other similar sites that you frequent. For me, the site has been an enjoyable way to spend one's free time, though I really don't have inkling on how good are the exercises.

Keep pushing, woodpusher!

Learn more about Chess Variants! Click HERE!

Improve your correspondence chess! Click HERE! Read More......

Chess Tempo

A friend of mine recently told me that he has been using Chess Tempo to improve his skills in chess tactics. He happened upon this site from one of the Google ads in my blog. As I have discussed recently, your performance in the middlegame can be considerably improved if you can recognize patterns intended to take advantage of your pieces or position. One of the ways to improve recognition of these patterns is to play snippets of chess games intended to highlight these situations. This is where the value of interactive chess tactics sites like Chess Tempo comes in. By being interactive, it allows the users to gain immediate feedback for their moves, as evaluated from a database of games that I doubt any single player could have on his own.

I have just signed up for an account in the site, but I am still getting a hang of it and frankly I cannot say how good it is as of now. Browsing through the FAQ page, it seems that this site has been influenced to an extent by Chess Tactics Server (which I will feature soon as well).

If you have been a regular user of the site or have been encouraged to sign up after reading this post, let me know what you think about it. Read More......

Chess Variants: Shatranj

Being considered one of the predecessor of modern chess, I am a bit reluctant in calling Shatranj a variant. Because it sounds like saying you were born before your mother! Then again, for the casual observer, that's the way this game would look like at first glance. But a few minutes into the game and you would get the feeling that indeed this game isn't a variant after all. Rather, it could have started it all.

Below is an excerpt from Schemingmind, which was also quoted from http://www.chessvariants.org/:

Shatranj first appeared in Persia around the 7th century AD and remained immensely popular throughout the Middle East for the next nine centuries. Shatranj is said to have supported professional players, produced several books and inspired its own body of chess problems or mansubat.Shatranj can be played with a traditional chess set, the start position is similar to that of standard chess, with Alfils replacing Bishops and Firzans replacing Queens.

• Shah (king) moves as in std chess
• Rukh (rook) moves as in std chess
• Faras (knight) moves as in std chess
• Baidaq (pawn) moves as in std chess
• Firzan (queen) moves to the first diagonal square
• Alfil (elephant, bishop) leaps to the second diagonal square, never occupying the first diagonal

The rules of Shatranj are similar to Standard Chess, with the following exceptions:

• There is no initial two-step Pawn move
• There is no en passant capture option
• There is no castling option
• Pawns arriving at the last rank always promote to Firzans
• Stalemate counts as a win
• Bare King counts as a win, provided that your King cannot be bared on the very next move
• Two bare Kings count as a draw

The first major adjustment I made in the game was in the way I treated the Firzan, or the equivalent of the Queen. Here, the Firzans are not as powerful as they are in modern chess. Moving only to the next diagonal squares around it, you can actually consider it as some sort of a bodyguard for the Shah. Which is quite logical and reasonable if you consider the way of the courts of the kingdoms of the world, where the "general" doesn't exactly go to the ends of the earth and leaves his sovereign.

The second thing to consider is the pace of the game. It's a whole new game if your Alfil has to take three moves to get to the other side of the board, rather than the sweeping motion it can normally do in chess. That, plus the restrained movement of the Firzan, and you have a much slower game, that unfolds more gradually. In my opinion, this game also requires more strategizing, rather than a "bring down the wall" type of chess that we often see.

It's also an influence on me to play on Schemingmind's piece set for Shatranj, as featured above. They succeeded in retaining the feeling of an "ancient" game. I can't help but feel and imagine those Persian folks dressed in their traditional garments, pushing rock sculptures of their digital counterparts that I click and drag.

I would have wanted to post my recent Shatranj game here, but I was thinking that chess publishers would probably render the Alfils and some other pieces in modern chess equivalent. Best that you head over to Schemingmind and try it yourself, as well as the rest that the site has to offer.

Know more about Variants! Click HERE!

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I, (Assistant) League Manager

After my stint as a Team Captain of Team Philippines in Schemingmind, I agreed to take on the role of an assistant League Manager for league games in the site. It seems that there would be a need for somebody to fill in the shoes of the current League Manager soon. There wil be two of us assisting him for the rest of the season, and then one of us would assume the post eventually. It is an honor for me for having been approached by the site owner to take on the job. It will also be a chance for me to learn new things. A complimentary full membership for a year was also provided as a token (thanks guys!)


A league is essentially a series of matches between teams. Usually there would be a couple of groups, with the eventual winners battling it out with each other. The entire series of matches may last for about a year or so.


I am still figuring out the nitty-gritty of my role. as we go over preparing some materials for the upcoming Chess960 League. The league manager basically starts the ball rolling by announcing in the forums and sending private messages to the team captains for an upcoming league, soliciting for interested teams. Then a crosstable is prepared, taking into consideration last league event outcome. Games are started, and the league manager monitors the development, settle issues that may arise, and ultimately declares the winner (after a while). Read More......

Crazy Chess

Here's one way to get the young ones to try the royal game. Crazychess is a simple arcade-style game that features the Knight and Pawn as the main pieces. The game has a simple objective: not allowing enough Pawns which spawn from the other side of the board to reach your side by using the Knight to attack and take them out. Also, when there is no pawn on the board, gold coins appear which the Knight can also collect and use to repair the castle, should some pawns reach it and cause some damage. As with the usual arcade games, it comes with special powers, such as Slow Down Pawn, Speed Up Knight, and the all-time favorite 1UP.

Crazychess isn't really chess, and like most people you would probably get bored of it pretty soon (I hope they have some improvements in the pipeline though). But it can bridge that chasm between the chessboard and the digital world that kids nowadays regularly inhabit.

Many thanks to my friends from Schemingmind.com from whom I got wind of this game.

Oh, one last thing: help me hatch my dragon! Get yours too!

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Suicide Chess

Here's the latest Suicide Chess game I played...and lost! I mean, won, so I lost! I mean...well, just watch it...

Learn more about Variants! Click HERE! Read More......

Life In The Middle

Continuing our topic on the middlegame, I think it's worth mentioning here two aids that can help in improving one's game.

Chess tactics resources - this can come in the form of instructional materials that describe and illustrate moves and positions aimed at weakening your opponent, either by loosening his defense or capturing a major piece. Or it can be interactive materials, like simulated chess games where you are asked to make a move on a given position, and get rated. One such site is Chess Tactics Server, which you can find here (also listed in the sidebar).

Chess Engines - simply put, they are chess programs that you can play against. There are a number of such programs out in the market. Some comes with a price like ChessMaster, which my Google Adsense seems to be fond of featuring. Or it can be a free collaborative version like Crafty. The strength of the chess engine is dependent on the depth of the algorithm that goes with it, and analyzes the best possible response to your move. One of the main use I have of chess engines is in post-game analysis. However, the use of chess engine to consult for the best move is generally forbidden in most correspondence chess sites. In my opinion, it is also counterproductive to one's development. But it should be noted that the International Correspondence Chess Federation allows such use of chess engines during a game. I wonder what do you make of such divergent practices.

A quick search on the net would yield a number of sites on these two resources. I will be featuring some of them in the future. If you have been using a site or a resource (or you actually created it) and would like to guest-blog, just let me know so we can arrange something.

Keep the fight going! Read More......

Trivia: The Queen in Chess

For as long as I can remember, I felt it awkward to have a Queen piece in chess. Not only is she the only piece with the connotation of being female, it just doesn't feel "right" that she is the most powerful. Add to that the connotation that she is "the queen" leads to the question: then what is the King?

I don't know how much others are preoccupied with this, but I found a site that actually toyed with the idea of having more than one queen! There's actually such a thing as a "Queen Quest". The idea is to put 8 Queens in a regular chessboard, and none of them should be attacking the other. It says there are actually 92 solutions to it. What I am wondering is why they even thought of this puzzle. In any case, this is simply a testament to the power of the queen in the game.

A little history search shows that chess pieces are originally masculine in connotation, with the current queen actually being a General or Minister of sorts. Clearly somebody that the King trusts as an able right man, not really the connotation that a "Queen" brings to mind. One book actually takes the idea that the change from the "male" general to the Queen coincided with the rise in power of women in Europe. Makes plausible sense. But it begs the idea of why they didn't actually made a variant of it, where the Queen is the flag piece.

Whatever the origins, the Queen is here to stay. And I think for a good measure it's good. It keeps a healthy sense of imbalance, making one realize that the greatest threat can come from the most unlikely pieces. Read More......

The End of an Opening Line

The opening part of the game, if played "by the book", will eventually lead to the middlegame. Personally, I still feel kind of lost when I reach this part of the game. Usually, this is the part where the board is still pretty much filled up and cramped. Since opening theory was followed, each piece and position is usually poised to exploit any weakness in the other side. And for a beginner, the myriad of potential moves can really paralyze. A few basic things has helped me in this stage of the game:

1. The middlegame should reflect the intention of the opening. If the opening moves cleared the board to prepare for an all-out attack, then by all means one should aim to penetrate the defenses of the other side. On the other hand, if it's a positional type of play, then one should keep to the spirit of the opening, and aim for moves that bolster one's position. This somehow highlights how important it is to understand the differences between various types of openings.

2. The middlegame is predominantly tactics. In addition to a good pair of eyes, an appreciation of various tactical moves would be necessary to fare well. Knowing tactics is a double-edged sword: it allows you to plan in coming up with some of your own combinations, as well as foresee what your opponent is trying to do. There are a couple of good chess resources on tactics, both on the Net (as interactive materials or articles), as well as in print.

3. Take your time. Especially if you are playing correspondence chess, do not hurry in making your moves. Check to see what each of your opponent's pieces are capable of doing, separately or in tandem. Do the same for your own pieces.

4. Have a clear purpose for deciding on a move. Each move should bolster your position or weaken your opponent's or both. It may not necessarily be achievable in one or two moves, as tactics would usually involve combinations, gambits, forks, and others that would normally be achieved after a series of moves intended to bring your opponent to your desired outcome position of the pieces.

5. On the other hand, try not to be too cautious. Chess is a game of experience. Most of the time, you only understand the impact of a move after your opponent has made his response. All of us are bound to lose at one point or another. The important thing is that you develop a habit of understanding the implications of your next move, minimize blunders and learn from your mistakes.

If you have reached a point where you have at least maintained equality with your opponent up to the middlegame and have not seriously blundered at the opening, then you may consider yourself to have progressed considerably. Realize that you indeed have a fighting chance now! After all, the game is to the one who believes it has already been won.

Good game! Read More......

Chess in Movies

I was watching Death Note a couple of nights before and I don't remember now if it's at the end of the first movie or the start of the second (I was watching it back-to-back) that the bitter rivals of the movie, L and Light, sat down for a game of chess. It made me wonder what are the reasons for putting chess in a movie. What character or atmosphere does it lend to the movie? Does it make it more classy, or maybe give it a sense of symbolism? In the case of this movie, L (the detective) believes correctly that Light is the criminal that he is tracking, though he doesn't have the evidence yet. And Light attempts to dislodge L's attention on him by even offering to join his team of detectives to catch the criminal. For a chess enthusiast, seeing the two across the board, exchanging a dialogue of wits to "crack" the other, while making their moves, is as good as it gets. It lends an aura of intellectual prowess and cunning for the two of them.

Another movie that comes to mind was Bicentennial Man, starring Robin Williams. Here, a robot that succeeeded in getting himself declared as a human is playing a game of chess with his fully human wife, as they ponder the possibility of letting mortality take its course upon them after years of being kept alive and healthy by technology. There is a feeling of awkwardness perhaps in the minds of the viewers considering that Andrew (the robot's name) was created to serve and accept orders, which is what we would normally expect from what we create, not spend his days pondering and being engaged in intellectual things.

These are just two movies, and we have seen already the variations of how chess was made to represent the characters in these movies. One crystallized conflict, the other was instrumental in tugging at our stereotypes. A quick search on movies in chess will yield a couple of hundreds of sites with lists. It would be nice to check out the quality of these kinds of movies, and maybe find out also how varied are the genre that it encompass. But hey, I can only take a few at a time. If you know of some that you've watched and left an impression on you, do share it with us. You might be able to convince us to put it on top of our list.

Grab the popcorn and make your move! Read More......

Chess Variants: Suicide/Suicide 960

Whoever said winning is hard should try losing in this chess variant. Here, the objective is getting all your pieces taken by your opponent. There is no checkmate, the King is just another piece, and castling is not allowed. You start with either the board set up as in standard chess or in chess960, and then proceed to have your pieces taken. You must take your opponent's piece if you are allowed to do so (otherwise, how will it end?).

All in all, it's a nice breather of a variant, especially the 960 variety. Just one caveat: don't make a move while playing a "normal" chess game, or you might end up losing both!

Schemingmind offers a wide variety of chess variants to play, including this one. You may try playing in the site, as standard membership is free (limitations apply though).

Start losing... only on this one!

Learn more about Variants! Click HERE! Read More......

The Month That Was

It has been a month or so since I've gotten back into the habit. I am almost finished with the mini-tournament I joined in Schemingmind (the remaining ones are pretty much decided). If ratings are any indication, my efforts in improvement has paid off. I have made considerable increase in my ratings after the month-end calculation, which unlike this month, did not include any defaults on time. I think my attention to opening theory has paid off well, and it's such a boost in confidence. True, I have been losing more games than winning, but if your games are mostly with higher-rated players, winning just a few of them is enough to boost your rating. Which I think I mentioned here. Not that I won't play with lower-rated players, since if everybody does that then no one will play anyone anymore. But I think a good sprinkling of games with higher-rated players is a good way to develop discipline in the game. They have gotten to where they are by developing such discipline themselves, and it won't be a bad idea emulating them in this respect. But with that aside, chess is fun, and should stay a fun thing to do, with friends near and far.

Happy gaming everyone!

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ChessOps - A Basic Chess Opening Guide

As I have beeen discussing opening theory lately here and here, let me just point you to an internet resource that I have used extensively. Chessops is a free internet resource that allows you to explore various openings. In their own words:

An interactive series of +8,000 unique board positions, from first moves through to full development of pieces, covering all major openings, defences and variations. Each page has an explanation and a notation list. Also +1,000 transposition pages.

The site features an interactive chess board that you can use to visualize the moves as you go through the tutorials and lessons. You make a move on the board, and if that move is in their database of opening moves, the move is reflected and an explanation and some additional information on the idea behind the move is provided. Then you proceed to make a move on the other side of the board, and more information is provided. The system will also tell you if there are alternative moves that you can make, corresponding to alternative opening lines, while the default or "orthodox" line is provided as the move to make if you choose to let the system show you the next move.

In addition, the site has plenty of resources pertaining to the game, such as categories of openings, annotations, history of the game, and more.

Another nice feature of the site is that it will not provide a move that is not part of the opening theory, and will simply return an error message saying "You can do better than that!" Thus, it confines itself as an opening resource, so there is no danger for you to overstep the line between opening books and unauthorized assistance should you have been using it during a game (usually in correspondence chess).

Each opening line presented usually comes with alternative lines, with its pros and cons. For one that is intent in gaining a deeper understanding of opening theory, it would be best to explore each of the alternatives before proceeding in making your moves. It also provides you a way of developing your own game repertoire. I also keep it interesting by guessing a move before actually checking to see if I did the correct one (been seeing improvements in the way that I have minimized the "incorrect" moves).

Check out the site. I am also featuring it permanently on the sidebar.

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2nd Monthly Team Philippines Standard Chess Knockout Tournament

The Pinoys in Schemingmind have started our 2nd team-exclusive tournament. I wrote about the first one here. Planned as a "monthly" event, it's very likely that we won't be having the next one soon enough, as the first one took a year to finish. Much as we would like to open up a new one every month, it would limit the standard (free) members of the team from joining the other mini-tournaments in the site, since they are limited to join one mini-tournament every six weeks.

It has been fun all the way. The fun isn't confined to our team, though. Join Schemingmind and join in the fun of meeting fellow chess enthusiasts and experts playing standard chess and chess variants. Play individually or join a team for a more fulfilling experience.

See you there! Read More......

Managing Departure from the Opening Theory

A few posts ago, I mentioned about the value of utilizing opening books/databases to improve one's performance in chess. Understanding opening theory is a necessary part of growing in chess because whether we like it or not, the initial position of any standard chess game will always be the same, and it would be a good idea to learn early on the basic principles of chess.

The ideal scenario is that you and the person on the other side of the board goes through the opening theory in completion (which has been pretty much explored extensively, annotated, and published). For somebody new to opening theory, it provides a good lesson, while at the same time giving you some chance to get at least to the start of the middlegame (and even recognize you are already there).

Now, there are times when your opponent veers away from the "expected" set of moves. It can be that he has chosen to take a less "orthodox", otherwise called the "main" line of play, and adopted one of the other alternative openings or transpositions to another opening. In this case he is still following the opening theory, and the reference you are using should at least point out to you such situations, and show you at least two or three of the alternative opening lines.

The real dilemma is when it is very likely that your opponent has veered away from the opening lines, whether main or alternative. Your game has been ushered into "free" territory already. Theoretically, your opponent made an inferior move, and have probably opened himself up for a weakness that you can exploit. Or he is at least good enough to have a plan several moves ahead. Here are some things you may want to consider in making your next move (coming from one who is learning the ropes himself):

1. Is the move he just made part of the opening theory, but he made it much earlier than as prescribed? You can find out by checking your reference for the supposed succeeding moves. If that's the case, you must be able to recognize in what way his position has weakened due to that early move. Otherwise he can be back on even terms soon enough, or worse, you may end up replying incorrectly (most probably, you won't be able to reply with an opening move anymore in this case).

2. If he did made a departure already from the opening lines, consider the situation before and after his moves. What was the main idea of the opening? What squares or pieces are currently being contested prior to his move? Did his move made a significant difference on those things? Did his move weakened any particular line of defense?

3. I keep emphasizing that your opponent made an "inferior" move, because the "correct" move would usually have been analyzed already. However, it is also true that his move is inferior only if he doesn't know what he is doing. You should at least try to get on his shoes and figure out what he is trying to accomplish. What I am saying here sounds cliche', but I know a couple of my own games when I should have been able to avoid mistakes if only I flipped the board and looked at it from his side of the table.

Admittedly, exploiting an early departure from an opening line by your opponent will take time and exposure to be able to benefit from it. In the same way, it will take time to somehow "read" your opponent's mind and start making deviations yourself (I wonder how you can do that on correspondence chess!), or even come up with a new line. But that's growing in chess, and sooner or later, the middlegame must come anyway.

So, departure or no, play on!

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1st Team Philippines Monthly KO Tournament

The 1st Team Philippines Monthly Knockout Tournament in Schemingmind has just recently concluded. What should have been monthly took a year to finish! And so I think we need to reconsider the time controls we use on this one. The championship round is between two of our higher-rated players (as expected). Below are the two championship games played.






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Game Tips - Use of Opening Databases

Most correspondence chess sites allow the use of opening books/databases as part of the resources available to a player during a game. This resource is often ignored or underused by most players, especially those new to the game or have only begun to take chess a bit more seriously. A variety of reasons account for the neglect of opening books and resources. For some, they simply don't know that such a resource exists. For others, the use of such databases for the initial times can be a daunting task. One opening line has its "main" or what is considered as best line, and then it can branch into secondary lines, each with its own merits. Some opening lines also transpose to another type of opening depending on the responses by the other side.

Perception also play a role why opening theory is neglected. Some people think it is a case of rote memorization, one that they would happily do without, thank you, I want to "play" chess, not "memorize" it, goes the reasoning.

True, many have succumbed to the memorization of opening lines, with some even advocating that there is no other way around it. And so for quite some time, especially to those looking from the outside, chess has been reduced to a mental game of recall, rather than its true intent of a game of strategy and tactics.

But despite such negative connotations, opening theory remains an important aspect for any chess player, even the casual ones. However, getting the most of it requires studying it right at the very start. Memorization can get you to a point, but beyond that is a myriad of alternative lines that you are better off doing it right the first time: learning opening theory for the principles that it teaches. Here are a few tips I learned along the way to get the most out of opening theory resources:

1. Limit your number of games, and play those with ample time limits. Understanding opening theory will require time, and you would do well to be focusing on fewer games. It's also important that the time controls allow enough time for you to fully appreciate the moves that you are making, rather than rushing from one game to the next. Personally, I also prefer playing rated games as opposed to unrated ones, so I can maintain the realism of playing with consequence. If you can choose, choose to play those whose ratings approximate yours. It would not do you much good to be too pressured with learning opening theory while at the same time coping with the arsenal of a higher rated player.

2. Get a good opening theory resource. It can be a static resource that you can find in a book or the internet, or an interactive one like ChessOps (see sidebar link), which I found very useful and one I use regularly. For me, a good resource should explain the overall idea for the opening, shows the "best" line, along with a few alternatives, and explain the general idea what a particular move intends to accomplish. If it's possible, get one that mixes principles of good moves in the tutorial as well (not moving twice in the opening, castling early, etc.), so as to hit two birds with one stone.

3. Keep it simple. For white, stick to no more than two types of opening, and choose those that are the most common and most fundamental. For my case, I chose to play only d4 as white, because the response can already result in as many number of opening types as there are games. For black, I always do a Sicilian (c5) whenever possible (usually it's possible with an e4 opening and others), or a symmetrical Queen opening (d4 d5). You would do well to stick to a couple of openings for quite some time, since you would still need to understand the subtleties of the alternative lines and transpositions.

4. Stick with the most common line of play first. This is also called the "main" or "orthodox" line, unless you are forced by the responses to adopt the alternative lines. By learning the main lines, you would usually understand along with it the basic principles of piece development and points of control much better than with the alternative lines, since the latter tends to put a "twist" on the main line to make the response more unpredictable. Of course, sticking with the main line carries a greater chance of losing to a better player, which should be just fine if your intention is to learn.

5. Decide on a move first before consulting the opening book, BUT always consult the opening book no matter how sure you are. Deciding on a move first makes you think without bias, which you can then validate if your reasoning is right or wrong when you do consult the opening book later.

6. Replay the game everytime it's your move (one of the learning advantages of correspondence chess). Get a feel of where you are the last time you made a move. Go back to the start of the game if necessary to refresh your mind, especially if it has been days before you last made your move.

7. Take note when there is a deviation already from the opening line of play, and make a private note of it in your game if it's possible. It marks the end when you can reach for a reference and so you are already on your own. However, check thoroughly if that is really a deviation from opening line or merely an alternative move, in which case you can still follow the opening theory for that alternative.

8. You may be tempted to try a "better" response, but I would suggest you don't. Learn the rules first, break them later.

9. Do a short post-analysis of the opening moves once a deviation was already made or the game is already in the middlegame. This will preserve the lessons of the game for you while it's still fresh.

10. Enjoy the game! A positive attitude is definitely necessary to fully appreciate what you are doing. Otherwise it becomes a chore, something chess shouldn't be.

Learning opening theory will allow you to fully appreciate chess. Don't neglect it.

Happy gaming!

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A Song of Ice and Fire

A Song of Ice and Fire is a series of four novels by George R. R. Martin. It's set in a medieval fantasy land of warring kingdoms with the usual cast of royalty , knights, lords, wizards, dragons, and some more that are not commonly found in other medieval fantasy epics. The titles in the series are "A Game of Thrones"; "A Clash of Kings"; "A Storm of Swords"; and "A Feast for Crows. I am currently in the first portions of the last book.


Chess in prose is the most apt way I can describe the series. It is a large chessboard of seven kingdoms and even more territory, and a cast of characters more than the pieces that you have on your chessboard. And in a game of chess, at least you know whom to protect. Here, your freedom fighter soon turns out a dead hero, while the most unlikely to survive outscheme them all, all told in a very believable way.


If ever I have a frustration with the series, it's that I hardly recall the names and corresponding identity, as well as the circumstances of most characters except the most prominent ones (some of whom are already dead even before the first book has reached an ending! but they are kept alive by being mentioned in succeeding books in one manner or another). But I don't think I can fault the author for it. He delved deep enough for each character (especially the prominent ones) to make them so human that in more than one instance, I have to tell my wife how I felt about a character that I thought would turn out alive than dead or the other way around.


I guess my limited grasp of the personalities in the novels has to do more with my situation. For one, this is the first time I read through something of such number of characters. And this is also the first time I went through four related books (try as I may, I simply can't move forward in Lord of the Rings). Add to that is the peculiar way the names are in medieval fantasy types. My situation is not unlike one that faults standard chess because he is new to opening theory or unable to spend enough time to learn it well.

So if you have an interest in seeing chess other than in the boards, go try the series yourself. Read More......

Chess Variants: Chess 960

I first came across Chess 960 in Schemingmind. What attracted me to it is the way it was being promoted as an approach to chess that does not require a deep knowledge of opening theory. The timing couldn't have been more perfect, as I just emerged from being floored in several of my games in standard chess (I think I researched variants precisely because I got so depressed about standard chess).

The variant, which is also called Fischer Random Chess for the man who invented or popularized it, is played with the usual chess board, pieces, and rules. However, the pieces are randomly placed at the start of the game using a variety of methods (for online games, an algorithm usually picks one of the possible initial positions). The number of combinations that can be done total 960, which include the standard chess position (I guess it doesn't sound very nice to call it chess959, although I myself would have preferred it). The castling rules remain the same despite the varying positions of the rooks and King, so that a castling will land the said pieces in their supposed places in standard chess.

The variant was a surprising respite from the "rigors" of standard chess. And quite a challenge in its own way I have to say. Since the board at the onset is set up randomly, you would have to spend quite some time getting used to the position before making your first move. And with 959 combinations, you must really be something to even try coming up with an opening theory for a fraction of those combinations.

Several games later, some things that weren't that obvious start to be noticed. For one, the idea that the game is a respite for novices since they won't have to worry about opening theory is a bit slim. Opening theory is actually borne of sound piece development. It is unfortunate that in some situations it has degenerated into a test of rote memorization (which in my opinion gave chess the impression of being a dry game for many). However, full appreciation of the game requires an understanding of sound principles of the game, including opening theory. I would venture to guess that most good players in chess960 are actually good in standard chess themselves, since once you get accustomed to the board position, the rest is a matter of how well you can play chess.

I also kind of missed the symmetry and formation of standard chess. It is really a beautifully constructed game, and chess960 somewhat marred it in a way. If you look at chess as a way a kingdom is run, then chess960 definitely won't give you the satisfaction of playing like the king that you should be.

Nevertheless, chess960 is a wonderful game and a variant that will continue to stand on its own and flourish. There are actually chess clubs dedicated to the game, and I hope to feature some of them here in this blog (if you are running one already or a member of such a club, do let me know). The variant has also become a springboard for other variants that incorporate random initial piece placement.

Sample game here in Schemingmind. This is a game where I introduced my friend to the variant, so even though I was winning, I offered a draw near the end of the game as a gesture of sportsmanship. I am trying to paste an active board, but the game publisher I am using sets the initial position to standard chess, no matter what. Anyway, it would be nice for you to also visit Schemingmind, and maybe even join its friendly community. Just follow the link to the game and sign in initially as guest (instructions on front page). That will take you directly to the game once you signed in. Then get yourself registered for real as well and start playing.

Get that King out of harm's way! Have a good day!

Learn more about Variants! Click HERE! Read More......

Your Favorite Chess Piece

In a game steeped in history and tradition, characters can take on a mythical or personal meaning for players. And I get to wonder if current chess players have a particular piece they associate themselves with more than the usual attention. A piece whose every move is more important for you than any of the other pieces. Or one that you would probably forego sacrificing for no sane game-related reason, if at all possible (of course, you can't give up the King, but you get my drift). A piece that gives you the rush and see your very self embodying it. Then, I get to wonder what is it that makes one associate with a piece? What personality traits does it probably reveal? Could it be something that one can use to better understand a person?

Well, here's my take on what I think a piece reveal about a person:

King - the standard-bearer. The embodiment of a principle. People who see themselves in this piece think in terms of abstract virtues and world-level views. They see grand plans. They consider elaborate sets of conditions. Where he is determines to a great extent the outcome of things big and small. And of course, it comes with a sense of detachment. A sense of entitlement for protection and privacy.

Queen - the General. The Strategist, who will only come out when the stage is set to sweep down on the opponents in one major blow. Some literature actually says that the modern day Queen piece is actually a male in earlier days of chess. This is very much so in Shatranj, a chess variant.

Rook - the Commander. He clears the way for the General. The blunt tactician.

Bishop - the Silent Support. His strength lies in the ability to collaborate and ease the entry of stronger pieces, or put in jeopardy a major opponent piece .

Knight - the Rogue. A stealth. He can take you out of a bad situation, but he is also a continuous threat for being unpredictable.

Pawn - the ultimate underdog.

How accurate did I described you? Let me know by leaving your comments.

Have a good day! Read More......

I, Captain - I Report

The first few posts after the "revival" of this blog has been mostly teasers of what's to come in future posts. And I hoped that it helped to provide a sense of anticipation. For my part, it has helped to sharpen the focus of what I will be doing and blogging about in the next few weeks and months. But before I proceed any further, I think it's only proper that I look back to a memorable event that transpired last year.


Sometime February 2007, Austin, the webmaster of schemingmind.com, informed me that someone anonymously gave me a one year full membership in the site. As I have mentioned before, the full membership carries with it several benefits that I was really excited to utilize. These included the capability to create teams and mini-tournaments; join more than one team; and play unlimited number of games.


The very first day of being a full member, I was able to create a national team (Team Philippines) and had a couple of recruits to join me. Likewise, I created a couple of mini-tournaments to cater to varying levels of expertise of players in the game, of which I happily joined a couple. It felt good not to be limited by the maximum game quota, but in the back of my mind I have to be careful not to overextend myself. This is a topic I discussed also in my series Discipline in Correspondence Chess (please check the sidebar for the link).


Sad to say (in a way), real life beckons and just a few months after, I had been too busy to even play games at the site. Not that I mind, when the cause is the anticipation of my second child. However, I have a responsibility not to let such generosity go to waste. I arranged with Austin for the transfer of my full membership and team captainship to a teammate that I fully trust will be able to handle the activities of the team.

More than a year after, I am glad to report that Team Philippines has at least maintained its initial number of members before I became "inactive". There are some that simply no longer returned, but their places were filled up with new blood. For my part when I was able to get back on track (it's a girl!), I did my best to attract new members into the team by challenging my countrymen that just registered in the site, and so establish contact with them. More than half of them responded to my invitation to join Team Philippines.

So, for that generous soul that gave me (and my teammate) the opportunity to enjoy a full membership at Schemingmind, thank you very much. I hope you are able to see that it did not get spent for nought. May your tribe increase! Read More......

Chess Variants: An Introduction

Like a good song that has been around for quite some time, the popular form of chess as we know it is bound to have its own sets of "remakes" and "versions". It can even be argued that the chess we have right now is actually a derivation of an older form of the game. Current practice, however, does not actually make a distinction between whether a "variant" was a predecessor of the modern form of chess or was derived from it.

Some variants were conceived to solve a problem. It is said that Fischer Random or Chess960 is actually an attempt to remove the "advantage" of those who have mastered opening theory, thereby providing a game of chess that is intended to be more challenging and at the same time friendly for those new to the game. Others were popularized out of nostalgia, especially for those kinds that were perceived to be the predecessor of modern chess. Still others came about as a byproduct of the imagination and fun-lovingness of its creators. Some variants actually goes to elaborate lengths that a new set of somewhat complicated rules had emerged.

Of course, none of these innovations are not without its fault, especially for one who have a deep appreciation of chess in its natural form. And I have to say, having played a few of them, they aren't easy! It takes a whole lot of mental conditioning and immersion to be able to even play the games well. But if my experience are any indication, knowing a couple of these variants are a fun way to appreciate chess in its fullness, as well as take a respite from the usual lines.

As the number of these variants far exceed my ability (and interest) to know each one well enough to write about it, I will soon be featuring a couple of players who are avid fans of the variants they have chosen to play. Instead of the usual "Here are the rules, the pros and cons, and you can go on now" kind of writing, the writers will take you down on a journey, from how they first got introduced to their variants, and how they came to love it and stick with it (or hate it, if that's the case). I hope their experiences will entice you to dip your toes into these new rivers, as I have done lately. As this is intended to be a regular feature, I will be adding links in this post regarding variants as I feature them. Check them out:

• Suicide/Suicide 960 - a fun way to lose!
• Chess960/Fischer Random - no more opening lines!
• Shatranj - did this game started it all?

Read More......

Discipline in Correspondence Chess

One of the series I ran in this blog discusses on the factors that affect one's games in correspondence chess and how to manage and master it to be able to improve one's performance. I will be revisiting the series, perhaps making some edits or even rewriting major parts to incorporate my additional experiences and lessons learned. I will also be polishing it up so it will be easy to link parts of the series to each other. You may want to participate by taking some time out to peruse the series and leave some comments on its quality, and maybe some suggestions on how to improve it. For now, the sidebar link of the same title as this entry will take you to the first article of the series, which will also contain links to the succeeding parts.

Do check it out! Thanks Read More......

David and Goliath

I started and finished some games a few weeks before I made this entry. Somewhere along the way, I got the impression that I will get more playing with players rated higher than me. For one, the Glicko formula used in Schemingmind to compute ratings actually encourages one to challenge stronger players, since the impact on your ratings losing against someone higher than you is much less than if you lose to someone with similar or lower rating than yours. Which is just quite logical. Also, there is the opportunity of learning from those who are better rated, which in most cases would mean those that play better than you. Especially in the Glicko system, where one's reliability of rating is reflected in the RD or Rating Deviation, which goes down after so many games, indicating increased reliability of the rating, having been tested several times. Which I should hasten to add, RD increases again once you start playing or finishing fewer games in a given period. (I hope I gave enough hint for you to check out Glicko for yourself)

I said "opportunity", since the ability of learning from a game still rests with the individual. It takes discipline to be able to distill the lessons from a game, as well as understanding the basis for a set of opening moves. Learning the lessons can be affected by a number of factors, which I discuss extensively in my Discipline in Correspondence Chess series (see sidebar for the link).

So, game on! Read More......

Back in the Habit

It has been a while since I last made a post here. I had since transferred the captainship of Team Philippines (see immediate previous entry), and been away from the boards. Actually, I have been "away" from the boards even while I am still playing, proverbially just "making the moves", which evidently showed in how my rating snowballed down the hill. But now, I have picked up the game again, with enough interest to even write about it again. So, welcome to the new life of All About Chess! Read More......