Super Friends XI: New Social Forum

Old discussion section is moving down the page, so here's a new spot for visiting. Click on "COMMENTS" to add a question or start a discussion. Anything goes.

What's Wrong Here?

I received the following message from JVOLD: I just played a game against J_taveres and I got checkmated in 8 moves! I can't understand what I did wrong because I've been using this opening forever. Can you please post it for team analysis?

Take a moment to look at the game and then click on the comment link below to help JVOLD figure out what went wrong.

Chess Fonts

Here's a tool that may prove useful:

With chess fonts you can make chess diagrams or print games with figurine notation. On this page you can view and download fonts.

Life Lessons

Here are the life lessons I learned while learning to play chess:

1. Learn the basics.
2. Think before you do.
3. Think possibilities and outcomes.
4. Keep your aim in mind.
5. Have a plan but stay flexible.
6. Make your time count.
7. Protect your material.
8. Accumulate small gains.
9. Choose your friends carefully.

Read this article and get the story on how one old man followed through on his commitment to quit getting kicked all over the board.

More Chess Violence

This story of assault proves correspondence chess is safer.

Is Chess Getting More Popular?

The U.K. superstore chain, Tesco, said it was expecting to sell more than 35,000 chess sets in the run-up to Christmas.

It has seen sales of chess sets far exceed other board games in store such as Connect 4 and Cluedo.

Karen Harris, senior buying manager at Tesco, said: “Chess, of all the really traditional board games, has undergone an image transformation.

“Being able to play chess is fast becoming a very cool skill for young people.”

Too cool? Just a fad? What do you think?

Violence in Chess

There are, of course, a few isolated cases of violence in chess, attributed to the more eccentric among the old chess masters.

For example, one of the few known instances of violence in chess occurred maybe a century ago when that redoubtable master of the hyper-modern school, Aron Nimzowitsch, threw a tantrum after losing a game. He stood up to hurl the chessboard and pieces across the room, loudly protesting: “Why must I lose to this idiot?”

Now, fast forward to the present.

Xbox Gets Chess

Ubisoft announced that Chessmaster is now available in North America for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft. Chessmaster is the first chess program available for Xbox where players will be able to improve their chess skills. Chess fans will be able to challenge other players and receive a player ranking via Xbox Live.

Beanobuddy Asks for Help

Beanobuddy has raised his rating more than 100 points in the last year but is looking for more help, improving his game. He asked if I'd post this game. Take a look and add a comment on how he's played, what he might need to do differently in future matches.