― mark s (mark s), Friday, 14 March 2003 15:42 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 14 March 2003 15:56 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 14 March 2003 20:50 (twenty-one years ago) link
(From the Weekly World News, May 24, 1994)MOSCOW - Doctors are blaming a rare electrical imbalance in the brain for the bizarre death of a chess player whose head literally exploded in the middle of a championship game! No one else was hurt in the fatal explosion but four players and three officials at the Moscow Candidate Masters' Chess Championships were sprayed with blood and brain matter when Nikolai Titov's head suddenly blew apart. Experts say he suffered from a condition called Hyper-Cerebral Electrosis or HCE.
"He was deep in concentration with his eyes focused on the board," says Titov's opponent, Vladimir Dobrynin. "All of a sudden his hands flew to hi temples and he screamed in pain. Everyone looked up from their games, startled by the noise. Then, as if someone had put a bomb in his cranium, his head popped like a firecracker."
Incredibly, Titiov's is not the first case in which a person's head has spontaneously exploded. Five people are known to have died of HCE in the last 25 years. The most recent death occurred just three years ago in 1991, when European psychic Barbara Nicole's skull burst. Miss Nicole's story was reported by newspapers worldwide, including WWN. "HCE is an extremely rare physical imbalance," said Dr. Anatoly Martinenko, famed neurologist and expert on the human brain who did the autopsy on the brilliant chess expert. "It is a condition in which the circuits of the brain become overloaded by the body' own electricity. The explosions happen during periods of intense menta activity when lots of current is surging through the brain.
Victims are highly intelligent people with great powers of concentration. Both Miss Nicole and Mr. Titov were intense people who tended to keep those cerebral circuits overloaded. In a way it could be said they were literall too smart for their own good."
Although Dr. Martinenko says there are probably many undiagnosed cases, h hastens to add that very few people will die from HCE. "Most people who have it will never know. At this point, medical science still doesn't know much about HCE. And since fatalities are so rare it will probably be years before research money becomes available."
In the meantime, the doctor urges people to take it easy and not think too hard for long periods of time. "Take frequent relaxation breaks when you're doing things that take lots of mental focus," he recommends
― kephm, Saturday, 15 March 2003 17:06 (twenty-one years ago) link
So was it any good? I saw the preview, but I thought maybe it would be difficult to get much on-screen drama about chess.
― phil-two (phil-two), Saturday, 15 March 2003 17:14 (twenty-one years ago) link
have you seen Rosenbaum's review?
I had a brief chess phase when i was a kid during which i played in tournaments like those shown in the movie (i think waitzkin may have been at them), but in the lowest division and i don't think i ever won more than one game - at best, i think i got a rating in the 1300s. fun stuff, but i think you need to start reading about chess and memorizing tactics to get anywhere and i didn't have the patience or the interest.
― gabbneb (gabbneb), Saturday, 15 March 2003 17:30 (twenty-one years ago) link
I used to be fairly good at Othello, which I guess is kind of "Go, jr." Now Go, I have always found very aesthetically appealing, but I've never played it. Chess seems sort of ugly to me somehow. It's not just the pieces, since I've seen that I like (especially those from Man Ray or Arp, or whoever it was that designed those chess sets you see Marcel Duchamp sitting next to.)
― Rockist Scientist, Saturday, 15 March 2003 17:43 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Rockist Scientist, Saturday, 15 March 2003 17:54 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Daniel (dancity), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 07:46 (twenty years ago) link
(not work-safe)
― caitlin (caitlin), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 10:44 (twenty years ago) link
― Sébastien Chikara (Sébastien Chikara), Sunday, 12 September 2004 15:21 (nineteen years ago) link
― s1ocki (slutsky), Sunday, 12 September 2004 15:26 (nineteen years ago) link
I've started playing a Facebook version of chess with a friend lately, and I'm getting better. (Where better = very slightly above totally clueless.) I know some ilx people used to play on RedHotPawn.com, and I much prefer that interface to the Facebook one. For instance, on Facebook, there's no submit button -- all moves are final. And some other stuff that makes it more difficult for a beginner.
Anyway, who still plays? Dan Perry is schooling me pretty good right now (I had him a pickle a few moves ago, then I blew it big-time).
― kenan, Monday, 5 November 2007 18:54 (sixteen years ago) link
What version is it? Hit me up on it if you'd like.
― Casuistry, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 01:28 (sixteen years ago) link
I am pretty bad at chess if only bcz I cannot concentrate lately. I was pretty good when I played it a lot but not HS chess club levels. My boyfriend is so paranoid that if he leaves the room I will mess up the pieces that I have to take a digital camera photo while he's there to compare. It's the one 'trust issue' he has.
― Abbott, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 01:40 (sixteen years ago) link
I am very bad at chess - I like to be aggressive, 'trade pieces' etc. and it never works out well.
Do not really understand the whole 'openings' thing about chess - doesn't that mean certain moves are basically scripted and both sides should know how to counter? Is black always on the defensive in that case?
― milo z, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 01:42 (sixteen years ago) link
The version Bobby Fischer made up where the back pieces are semi-randomized seems interesting.
― milo z, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 01:43 (sixteen years ago) link
yeah, so does naziism
― deeznuts, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 02:20 (sixteen years ago) link
i havent played in years but yeah openings are 'scripted' to a longer & longer length the higher you go; typically yes black is going to be on the defensive but can counter white in ways that make him unfamiliar; immediate & simple ex being the sicilian defense (instead of e4-e5, e4-c5). some opening variations run into the teens & twenties amongst the really really schooled guys.
― deeznuts, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 02:24 (sixteen years ago) link
Yeah the dude I've been playing is better at thinking about chess than I am, just more experienced, but I've been studying the common openings and defenses and he hasn't, and he didn't even realize that's what I was doing. He'd be like, "Wow... you're defense in very enviable right now." Yes, well. Of course my middle game is a mess.
― kenan, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 02:30 (sixteen years ago) link
Should read "Your defense is very enviable" etc. Oh, typing.
― kenan, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 02:39 (sixteen years ago) link
Kenan pwns this app.
― Eazy, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 02:46 (sixteen years ago) link
Best first two books about chess (in this order)
1. http://www.amazon.com/Right-Way-Play-Chess/dp/1585740462
2. http://www.logicalchess.com/resources/lc/
― caek, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 02:47 (sixteen years ago) link
http://i.somethingawful.com/inserts/news/images/diamondchess.jpg
― Abbott, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 02:55 (sixteen years ago) link
Oh, I do not, either. You just have it out for your own king. Which is very egalitarian of you, and I applaud your ideals.
― kenan, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 02:57 (sixteen years ago) link
I promise to be a benevolent ruler to your people. Here's proof: last game I captured your king while killing only a single pawn of yours. Your officers, your queen... they will all be treated well. Here, have some mead.
― kenan, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 03:02 (sixteen years ago) link
my favorite chess-endgame problems no longer work online. they were interactive, which i loved. so i'm back to the sort that you have to stare at.
i'm julesb74 on redhotpawn if anyone's playing on there. after playing some facebook chess, i like redhotpawn sooooo much better.
― JuliaA, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 05:05 (sixteen years ago) link
Bobby Fischer dead (not going to say RIP due to his anti-semitic ranting- is that mean?): http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7195840.stm
― Neil S, Friday, 18 January 2008 13:39 (sixteen years ago) link
Sorry, ignore this, just seen RIP thread!
― Neil S, Friday, 18 January 2008 13:40 (sixteen years ago) link
I started playing again using the Chess.com app on Facebook. Someone should play me:
http://apps.facebook.com/chessfb/?page=create_game&challenge_to_id=1273496841
― Allen, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 04:52 (fifteen years ago) link
If anyone with an old animus against me wants to play: I have been playing suck-ass chess lately. I'm very rusty. So hit me up!
― Casuistry, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 04:58 (fifteen years ago) link
Did I ever mention I was the New South Wales under 16 champion in 1986? But now I'm very rusty, any patzer could beat me.
― moley, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 05:01 (fifteen years ago) link
I have never really played chess and now my gf's brother is challenging me via facebook. I don't even know the rules or basic tactical ideas. He's super competitive at board games (he nearly fucking wet himself when he won at the last minute at Settlers the other week with a timely development card reveal); how do I not get my ass kicked?
― Sickamous Mouthall (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 23 January 2009 14:33 (fifteen years ago) link
Post moves here and the ILx collective will help you destroy him.
― onimo, Friday, 23 January 2009 14:57 (fifteen years ago) link
Yes, we could have a poll on each move.
― Yehudi Menudo (NickB), Friday, 23 January 2009 15:01 (fifteen years ago) link
It will be like Gary Kasparov vs. Big Blue that giant flying cock.
― Yehudi Menudo (NickB), Friday, 23 January 2009 15:04 (fifteen years ago) link
^^^ (xp)
btw loled at this, is this the primitive version of "i'm white btw"?
One of my better games of chess (I'm black):― A Nairn (moretap), Thursday, March 13, 2003 12:51 AM (5 years ago)
― A Nairn (moretap), Thursday, March 13, 2003 12:51 AM (5 years ago)
― BIGrack HOOSein Obama (k3vin k.), Friday, 23 January 2009 15:07 (fifteen years ago) link
ilxhivemind would try some awesome attacking shit then fuck up at the end get mated by three pawns.
― NotEnough, Friday, 23 January 2009 15:13 (fifteen years ago) link
been pushin pawns iirc
― ringtony ringtoni ringtone (The Reverend), Monday, 15 June 2009 04:42 (fourteen years ago) link
I'm not that good at it. I just can't think well in the spatial terms that sem to be required for the game. But chess is obviously classic. I'm just dud at it.
― Aimless, Monday, 15 June 2009 05:08 (fourteen years ago) link
^^ otm. i have a really nice wood and brass set - was a birthday gift - that is packed away somewhere ar the parents' place.
― Executive Producer Wolf Dick (haitch), Monday, 15 June 2009 05:14 (fourteen years ago) link
www.redhotpawn.com challenge kenjuggle thx
― ken "save-a-finn" c (ken c), Monday, 15 June 2009 12:52 (fourteen years ago) link
signed up and challenged you. had never heard of the site before. chess is fun, but i hate losing* and i am so average.
*interestingly enough i am a good sport in every game, but with chess. i don't know, it's an insult to my intelligence or something.
― Ludo, Monday, 15 June 2009 13:17 (fourteen years ago) link
ah i finally realized it's correspondence chess. not that i have any problem with that, though i really achieve best results against fast players in fast games.
― Ludo, Monday, 15 June 2009 13:18 (fourteen years ago) link
i try to play as quickly as i can as much as my work day can allow
― ken "save-a-finn" c (ken c), Monday, 15 June 2009 15:42 (fourteen years ago) link
i've already adjusted to correspondence chess rhytm heh :)
― Ludo, Monday, 15 June 2009 18:50 (fourteen years ago) link
should not make chess moves while drunk haha
― zvincter (The Reverend), Sunday, 31 January 2010 08:10 (fourteen years ago) link
No more Alcoholic Chess, then.
― Christine Green Leafy Dragon Indigo, Sunday, 31 January 2010 19:21 (fourteen years ago) link
I play it a bit on Facebook, but I am frustrated by my tendency to make stupid mistakes.
― The New Dirty Vicar, Monday, 1 February 2010 15:48 (fourteen years ago) link
Norweigan prodigy Magnus Carlsen is new chess champion
.. the misspelling is courtesy of the BBC headline (*mutter* falling standards... not like in my day... hell in a handcart...)
― Thomas K Amphong (Tom D.), Friday, 22 November 2013 15:09 (ten years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJyP7PE6tbE
Ignore the terrible music. Nice sporting moment. Feel bad and great for both of them. Really love Nepo, hope he gets another shot at some point
― H.P, Tuesday, 23 April 2024 00:45 (twenty hours ago) link