Into the fray!

Hi Everybody,

I just joined ICS a couple of days ago, and I'm halfway through the first month's lessons already.  My enthusiasm will wear off shortly, don't worry.  I wanted to express my delight that this forum and you guys exist.  Sadly, I'm another middle-aged male (like most of you).  We need a serious influx of hot young female chess players, amirite?

I've been playing chess on and off all my life, and I've gotten respectable at tactics, which is how I swindle victories from my opponents, but I'm terrible at everything else, especially openings and endgames.   I only recently got a membership to US CHESS so I can receive an official rating...once I join a local club.  That's a lot of firsts for an old guy.  I play chess online -- only rarely now -- at chess.com or lichess.org (I prefer the latter), and my rating hovers from 1600 to 1800 on both sites.  

I purchased the Grandmaster Package only, foregoing getting the Opening Package too, even though I really need help in that department, because I want to see how serious I can be about studying chess, which is super boring.  Seriously, I want to cry-vomit whenever I open any Opening book.  

If anyone is up for playing long games online (or in person!), studying and practicing together, or just keeping up with each other's progress, then let me know.  A man has to know his limitations, and I know mine -- so I'm looking to help combat my weaknesses, which are too various and prurient to name.  

--fiveredapples

Welcome to ICS and the ICS forums.

Sadly, this forum is a tad "under-utilised".

I guess that's understandable, BorgQueen. I will just have to take up the slack and post prodigiously.

I am gathering that you have taken over the operations. I'm glad this forum is at least up and running. Many thanks.

Yes I took over when the previous "upper management" went AWOL. I couldn't bare to see the forum die off completely.

The problem is that once someone finishes the course, they tend to disappear since the student no longer benefits from the support forum.

Yes, I read somewhere -- maybe chess.com -- that Blue Devil Knight simply got too busy and that you were looking to take over. I'm glad to see you have taken up the mantle. I can see how some players would disappear (they stopped studying chess or they have advanced beyond the help of us peons), but I would think that this forum would still be beneficial to many.

I just started, though, so it's easy for me to make grandiose statements. I'll try to stick around even after I reach supergrandmasterblaster level. I will continue to mingle with you little people.

Just have fun and enjoy the benefits that come your way.

One of the hidden gems in the course (for me) turns up with the upcoming WCC. The second year program profiled the development of the two contestants and I will be watching as an "educated" fan. It just adds another dimension to the game I love.

I will always be here to help, but typically, if the forum goes a bit dormant, I don't get the typical e-mail telling me that there is activity, so even in those times, I am inactive.

May your chess studies be fruitful and result in much gains!!

I know I learned a lot from ICS, but still I really should repeat the course.

My problem is now... that I finally won the championship in my club and that means that I have slacked off a bit, having achieved one of my biggest goals. I don't know which goal to set next to keep me as motivated as I used to be.

BorgQueen wrote:
My problem is now... that I finally won the championship in my club and that means that I have slacked off a bit, having achieved one of my biggest goals.  I don't know which goal to set next to keep me as motivated as I used to be.

Congratulations!

Congrats on the championship, BorgQueen. I will join a chess club soon. It will be my first time.

Thanks :-)

I will be on a high from that win for a very long time.

And I had another milestone now too... I finally achieved a rating of over 2000 ACF in rapid games. Still slightly under that in standard ACF rating.

It has been a very good year for my chess :-D