Skinny old man playing chess ... a must-see:
Geri's Game
Delightful
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Chess Pie Recipe
CHESS PIE
Ingredients:
3 eggs
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup light cream
1 9 inch pie pastry
Directions for Chess Pie:
1. Beat eggs until light and frothy. Gradually beat in white sugar, brown sugar, and melted butter. Beat until fluffy.
2. Beat in vanilla, salt, and flour. Stir in light cream, mix well.
3. Place pastry in pie pan, crimping edges. Pour filling into pie shell.
4. Bake at 400F for 10 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 300F. Bake for an additional 25-30 minutes, until filling is set.
Ingredients:
3 eggs
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup light cream
1 9 inch pie pastry
Directions for Chess Pie:
1. Beat eggs until light and frothy. Gradually beat in white sugar, brown sugar, and melted butter. Beat until fluffy.
2. Beat in vanilla, salt, and flour. Stir in light cream, mix well.
3. Place pastry in pie pan, crimping edges. Pour filling into pie shell.
4. Bake at 400F for 10 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 300F. Bake for an additional 25-30 minutes, until filling is set.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
November products
The weather is turning cooler as winter approaches. The leaves, once colorful displays, are now slippery messes along the sidewalks and roadways. More and more time is spent indoors now. Soon the holidays will be upon us all. However you choose to celebrate the year’s end, in all likelihood you will have friends and family, neighbors and guests visiting your house. Little wonder that this season (not Spring Cleaning) is the busiest time of the year for rug cleaning services.
At this time of year, many folks take a look around their houses. The
décor of your home says a lot about you. What do you see in yours? As our new home page at www.ChessRight.com reminds us, nothing says “status” like a chess set and, whether deserved or not, chess players have reputations for being brainy types and shrewd negotiators. Incorporating chess themes into home decorating is an easy way to grab a little of that respect for yourself.
The easiest way, of course, is to proudly display your favorite chess set. You might be able to get a “do you play?” invitation for a match from a neighbor. Chess is one of the most popular games in the world, and friendly chess matches are a highly pleasant way to spend many a dark winter evening. But where can you display your set? Finding an empty flat surface can be challenging in some homes. If yours is one of those homes where the horizontal surfaces have been filled long ago, consider a chess table. From modest wooden side tables to beautiful inlaid game tables, Chess Right has something for almost any budget. Please visit our gallery of beautiful chess tables.
Need funds? Try our new partners at: AMERICA ONE .. use this link:
Unsecured Loans – FAST – SIMPLE – APPROVED!
We have found a new product to help you display your favorite chess set. Must-see our latest find! These vertical chess boards hang on the wall. Your chess set stays on display as the fine work of art it really is, whether or not a game is in progress. Take a look at these unique chess boards on Chess Right website. A vertical chessboard will surely intrigue your visitors and help keep those flat surfaces clear. We have several varieties to choose from, so please look around.
Keep playing chess!
At this time of year, many folks take a look around their houses. The
décor of your home says a lot about you. What do you see in yours? As our new home page at www.ChessRight.com reminds us, nothing says “status” like a chess set and, whether deserved or not, chess players have reputations for being brainy types and shrewd negotiators. Incorporating chess themes into home decorating is an easy way to grab a little of that respect for yourself.
The easiest way, of course, is to proudly display your favorite chess set. You might be able to get a “do you play?” invitation for a match from a neighbor. Chess is one of the most popular games in the world, and friendly chess matches are a highly pleasant way to spend many a dark winter evening. But where can you display your set? Finding an empty flat surface can be challenging in some homes. If yours is one of those homes where the horizontal surfaces have been filled long ago, consider a chess table. From modest wooden side tables to beautiful inlaid game tables, Chess Right has something for almost any budget. Please visit our gallery of beautiful chess tables.
Need funds? Try our new partners at: AMERICA ONE .. use this link:
Unsecured Loans – FAST – SIMPLE – APPROVED!
We have found a new product to help you display your favorite chess set. Must-see our latest find! These vertical chess boards hang on the wall. Your chess set stays on display as the fine work of art it really is, whether or not a game is in progress. Take a look at these unique chess boards on Chess Right website. A vertical chessboard will surely intrigue your visitors and help keep those flat surfaces clear. We have several varieties to choose from, so please look around.
Keep playing chess!
Friday, October 16, 2009
National Chess Day
Did you know the U.S. has an official National Chess Day? The observance first began in South Carolina as a state event. In 1976, President Gerald Ford (the 38th President of the United States) declared October 9th to be National Chess Day. This year marked the 32rd annual observance of this occasion since that Presidential declaration.
In celebration of National Chess Day, many chess clubs offer tournaments, expositions, public events and educational programs in their communities to raise awareness of the game of chess. The 2009 US Womens Chess Championship in St Louis, however, observed chess day as a day of rest from the competition to interact with some community activities. You may watch the video recap of the closing rounds of the US Womens Championship at http://main.uschess.org/content/view/9755/556/
Here at the Chess Right Chess Shop, we believe that nothing raises chess awareness more than a Megachess(R) game in a public setting, such as a park, shopping mall, public library or community center. Our best selling Megachess(R) set is our “School Special” with the 25 inch king (direct link: School Special). If your chess club would be interested in buying one of these eye-catching chess sets, please contact us! We have a number of fund raising tools and techniques and we can often negotiate discounts with the supplier for qualified nonprofit organizations.
OUR CHALLENGE: Take your club s Megachess(R) set to the busiest neighborhood park in your area and just play a game. Put up an easel with your club’s name and the words “Open Game” and “Membership Drive.” If you don t get at least one new member, you can return your Megachess(R) package for a refund. No one has ever returned their package because this works better than anything your club has ever tried.
More recently, our Megachess(R) supplier has partnered with Operation Interdependence to send these oversized chess sets to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you or your group would be interested in sponsoring a Megachess(R) set for a deployed unit, please let us know and we will get you set up with their “signature chess program.”
In celebration of National Chess Day, many chess clubs offer tournaments, expositions, public events and educational programs in their communities to raise awareness of the game of chess. The 2009 US Womens Chess Championship in St Louis, however, observed chess day as a day of rest from the competition to interact with some community activities. You may watch the video recap of the closing rounds of the US Womens Championship at http://main.uschess.org/content/view/9755/556/
Here at the Chess Right Chess Shop, we believe that nothing raises chess awareness more than a Megachess(R) game in a public setting, such as a park, shopping mall, public library or community center. Our best selling Megachess(R) set is our “School Special” with the 25 inch king (direct link: School Special). If your chess club would be interested in buying one of these eye-catching chess sets, please contact us! We have a number of fund raising tools and techniques and we can often negotiate discounts with the supplier for qualified nonprofit organizations.
OUR CHALLENGE: Take your club s Megachess(R) set to the busiest neighborhood park in your area and just play a game. Put up an easel with your club’s name and the words “Open Game” and “Membership Drive.” If you don t get at least one new member, you can return your Megachess(R) package for a refund. No one has ever returned their package because this works better than anything your club has ever tried.
More recently, our Megachess(R) supplier has partnered with Operation Interdependence to send these oversized chess sets to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you or your group would be interested in sponsoring a Megachess(R) set for a deployed unit, please let us know and we will get you set up with their “signature chess program.”
Saturday, September 12, 2009
The Clinton Library
This summer, I took a trip into Little Rock to see the Clinton Library. When I asked, I was informed that the presidential library had three chess sets on display. One that was particularly interesting was a decorative chess set with caricatures commemorating the Belfast peace accords. I remember that news announcement, sometime during 1997 I think it was. I was working for a British fellow in those days, a short guy with an oversized ego. I think everyone has met at least one of those in their lives.
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This set (called “The Northern Ireland Political Chess Piece Process.") was designed by Belfast sculptor Anto Brennan and produced by his company Open Windows Productions. As it was a gift to the library from President Clinton, the staff did not know any of the details whether this was given to the President or by whom, but furnished me with this photo. The photo may be a little difficult to read; on the Nationalist / Irish side: King is Bernie Ahern, the Irish Prime Minister; Queen is Mary McAleese, President of Ireland; Bishop is Sean Brady; Knights are John Hume and Seamus Mallon; Rooks are Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams; with paramilitary pawns. On the Loyalist / UK side: King is Tony Blair, British Prime Minister; Queen is Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of England; Bishop is Robin Eames; Knights are Dr. Ian Paisley and David Trimble; Rooks are David Irvine and Dr. Mo Mowlam; with pawns depicting the R.U.C.
Enlarge picture: Belfast Chess Set
Please note: the center column, entitled “Rules of the Game of Chess,” has been left blank.
I found another chess set on the top floor of the exhibit and was able to snap this photo somewhat surreptitiously (I’m pretty sure the security people said no photos were allowed) so the photo quality isn't so very good:
Enlarge photo: Rulers of the Sea
This set is called “Rulers of the Sea” with a nautical theme. It was a gift to the President and the First Lady from the artist, Alexander C. "Doc" Cullison of Washington, D.C., on the occasion of President Clinton's first Inauguration in 1993.
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This set (called “The Northern Ireland Political Chess Piece Process.") was designed by Belfast sculptor Anto Brennan and produced by his company Open Windows Productions. As it was a gift to the library from President Clinton, the staff did not know any of the details whether this was given to the President or by whom, but furnished me with this photo. The photo may be a little difficult to read; on the Nationalist / Irish side: King is Bernie Ahern, the Irish Prime Minister; Queen is Mary McAleese, President of Ireland; Bishop is Sean Brady; Knights are John Hume and Seamus Mallon; Rooks are Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams; with paramilitary pawns. On the Loyalist / UK side: King is Tony Blair, British Prime Minister; Queen is Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of England; Bishop is Robin Eames; Knights are Dr. Ian Paisley and David Trimble; Rooks are David Irvine and Dr. Mo Mowlam; with pawns depicting the R.U.C.
Enlarge picture: Belfast Chess Set
Please note: the center column, entitled “Rules of the Game of Chess,” has been left blank.
I found another chess set on the top floor of the exhibit and was able to snap this photo somewhat surreptitiously (I’m pretty sure the security people said no photos were allowed) so the photo quality isn't so very good:
Enlarge photo: Rulers of the Sea
This set is called “Rulers of the Sea” with a nautical theme. It was a gift to the President and the First Lady from the artist, Alexander C. "Doc" Cullison of Washington, D.C., on the occasion of President Clinton's first Inauguration in 1993.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
New Chess Image
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I have been working with my new digital camera and my Paint Shop software. I would say that the results have been tasty, but the play on the words is too much even for me. But you can zoom off to the chess shop in a twinkling if you click on this link: www.ChessRight.com (I put the image on the shipping page. No reason. Can't figure out where else it should go ...)
Friday, August 14, 2009
What are the benefits of membership in the US Chess Federation?
The U.S. Chess Federation is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the study of the game of chess in a number of ways. The group strives to provide information, knowledge and support to all chess players regardless of age or skill level, from novices to professional players. They view chess as an enjoyable pastime, as an art form, and as a means of improving society.
The USCF supervises a number of chess tournaments every year, including the US Chess Championship and other national events. The group also participates in international events, linking US chess players with players from around the world.
One of the most visible benefits of membership in the U.S. Chess Federation is a subscription to their monthly magazine, “Chess Life.” The organization also publishes a bi-monthly magazine called “Chess for Kids.” In both publications, the USCF offers current articles and information which are of interest to chess players. The 110th US Open was held in Indianapolis in early August; so the current edition of “Chess Life” contains stories about the competition, the players, and the winners as well as upcoming events and articles about improving your own chess play.
According to the organization’s website, there are over 80,000 current memberships, and about half of their members attend some kind of school. So the USCF is very interested in supporting chess programs in schools, from pre-school programs to college level. The group encourages the proliferation of the game, with thousands of affiliated local clubs and organizations across the U.S. The USCF website offers official rules of the game, a glossary of chess terms and a brief chess history available to all, as well as various books and services for their members.
The organization also offers to pair members for correspondence chess matches, either by mail or email. To get started, players are asked to rate themselves into the following scale:
Class D / Novice (rating of 1399 and below)
Class C / Intermediate (rating of 1400 to 1599)
Class B / Strong (rating of 1600 - 1799)
Class A / Very Strong (rating of 1800 - 1999)
Of course, the more honest the self-assessment, the better the group can match up an opponent of similar skill levels. Through playing in rated matches, a chess player may increase his rating to:
Candidate Master (rating of 2000 - 2199)
Master (rating of 2200 - 2399)
Senior Master (rating of 2400 or higher)
Chess Right Chess Store is offering a number of free memberships in the USCF with qualifying purchases. Please look for these great premium offers on selected chess sets in our store. We are also offering a great price on the US Chess Federation Official Rule Book (look in category “Books, etc.” for the yellow king piece on the cover).
The U.S. Chess Federation is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the study of the game of chess in a number of ways. The group strives to provide information, knowledge and support to all chess players regardless of age or skill level, from novices to professional players. They view chess as an enjoyable pastime, as an art form, and as a means of improving society.
The USCF supervises a number of chess tournaments every year, including the US Chess Championship and other national events. The group also participates in international events, linking US chess players with players from around the world.
One of the most visible benefits of membership in the U.S. Chess Federation is a subscription to their monthly magazine, “Chess Life.” The organization also publishes a bi-monthly magazine called “Chess for Kids.” In both publications, the USCF offers current articles and information which are of interest to chess players. The 110th US Open was held in Indianapolis in early August; so the current edition of “Chess Life” contains stories about the competition, the players, and the winners as well as upcoming events and articles about improving your own chess play.
According to the organization’s website, there are over 80,000 current memberships, and about half of their members attend some kind of school. So the USCF is very interested in supporting chess programs in schools, from pre-school programs to college level. The group encourages the proliferation of the game, with thousands of affiliated local clubs and organizations across the U.S. The USCF website offers official rules of the game, a glossary of chess terms and a brief chess history available to all, as well as various books and services for their members.
The organization also offers to pair members for correspondence chess matches, either by mail or email. To get started, players are asked to rate themselves into the following scale:
Class D / Novice (rating of 1399 and below)
Class C / Intermediate (rating of 1400 to 1599)
Class B / Strong (rating of 1600 - 1799)
Class A / Very Strong (rating of 1800 - 1999)
Of course, the more honest the self-assessment, the better the group can match up an opponent of similar skill levels. Through playing in rated matches, a chess player may increase his rating to:
Candidate Master (rating of 2000 - 2199)
Master (rating of 2200 - 2399)
Senior Master (rating of 2400 or higher)
Chess Right Chess Store is offering a number of free memberships in the USCF with qualifying purchases. Please look for these great premium offers on selected chess sets in our store. We are also offering a great price on the US Chess Federation Official Rule Book (look in category “Books, etc.” for the yellow king piece on the cover).
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Chess Quote
Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be the Chess player, not the Chess piece.
** Ralph Charell **
** Ralph Charell **
Friday, August 7, 2009
Beautiful designer chess set!
This is the "Alice" set by designer Yasmin Sethi.
See more about this chess set on the designer's website.
It does not appear to be available for sale. My guess is it is just a prototype. So admire it from the pictures ... then cruise over to www.ChessRight.com to find a beautiful chess set to own.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Here's another chess reference
For those of you who aren't familiar with the "Have Gun Will Travel" classic 1958 TV series, the lead character is Palladin, played by a young Richard Boone; not really a bad guy, or let's just say he is working for the good team, mostly. The chess symbol on his holster is also on his calling card - the knight.
Richard Boone is best loved around here for his role as Smaug the Dragon in the animated movie of "The Hobbit." More on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien here!
Chess, like classic TV, can be enjoyed year after year. Visit www.ChessRight.com for your heirloom chess set!
Richard Boone is best loved around here for his role as Smaug the Dragon in the animated movie of "The Hobbit." More on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien here!
Chess, like classic TV, can be enjoyed year after year. Visit www.ChessRight.com for your heirloom chess set!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
The Chess Pieces
What do the chess pieces mean? Is there some sort of symbolism?
There are thirty-two pieces in a chess set; eight pawns, two castles or “rooks,” two knights, two bishops, one queen and one king of each color. Their meanings refer back to the Middle Ages when the game was brought into Europe by the Muslim Moors.
The king and queen are the monarchy, exactly as they appear. The bishops were the representatives of the Church, very much a part of everyone’s life in the Middle Ages. The knights were mounted warriors, thus the use of the horse’s head to represent this piece. These are the only professional soldiers in the game. The castles refer to the king’s home. The pawns are the peasants, the foot soldiers, and like every society there are more of them than any of the other pieces.
Interestingly, the term “freelance” comes from this same period. Originally, the term referred to any knight who was not sworn to any army, but was “free” to carry his own “lance” (weapon) for anyone who would pay him.
If the chess pieces came from the Moors, why is there a cross on top of the king? And why would the queen be so powerful in a Muslim game?
The Europeans put the cross on the king’s head as something of a modification in defiance of their Moorish neighbors. It was their way of taking this game and making it their own. But relations between Christians and Muslims in the Moorish occupation of Spain were not as hostile as this may sound. See our new poster on our website for an historic chess game in the Spanish court. (www.ChessRight.com Books, etc. POSTER: King Alfonse X)
As for the queen, when the game first came into Spain, that piece was originally the king’s vizier, his most trusted counselor. Many scholars believe that the powerful queen that served as the inspiration for the modern chess piece was Queen Isabella of Spain, although in those days the piece did not move quite like the modern game piece.
There are thirty-two pieces in a chess set; eight pawns, two castles or “rooks,” two knights, two bishops, one queen and one king of each color. Their meanings refer back to the Middle Ages when the game was brought into Europe by the Muslim Moors.
The king and queen are the monarchy, exactly as they appear. The bishops were the representatives of the Church, very much a part of everyone’s life in the Middle Ages. The knights were mounted warriors, thus the use of the horse’s head to represent this piece. These are the only professional soldiers in the game. The castles refer to the king’s home. The pawns are the peasants, the foot soldiers, and like every society there are more of them than any of the other pieces.
Interestingly, the term “freelance” comes from this same period. Originally, the term referred to any knight who was not sworn to any army, but was “free” to carry his own “lance” (weapon) for anyone who would pay him.
If the chess pieces came from the Moors, why is there a cross on top of the king? And why would the queen be so powerful in a Muslim game?
The Europeans put the cross on the king’s head as something of a modification in defiance of their Moorish neighbors. It was their way of taking this game and making it their own. But relations between Christians and Muslims in the Moorish occupation of Spain were not as hostile as this may sound. See our new poster on our website for an historic chess game in the Spanish court. (www.ChessRight.com Books, etc. POSTER: King Alfonse X)
As for the queen, when the game first came into Spain, that piece was originally the king’s vizier, his most trusted counselor. Many scholars believe that the powerful queen that served as the inspiration for the modern chess piece was Queen Isabella of Spain, although in those days the piece did not move quite like the modern game piece.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
More about Chess and Kids
This article suggests that kindergarten is not too soon to begin reaping the benefits of learning to play chess:
Monday, June 15, 2009
Summertime!
Summertime is every school kid's favorite time of year. The days grow longer and the pace of life slows down.
Some folks believe that school should stay in session year-round claiming that students forget their lessons during this break. Others defend summer vacation as a necessary time to relax and recharge. Rather than let your brain get lazy, there are chess camps to build your game during the summer. Another choice might be to take some online chess classes such as those offered at Anatoly Karpov's International Chess School.
Many families make the most of this time to travel on their summer vacations. This was always my favorite part of summer, whether my destination was a beach, a mountain or a museum. I like getting away for a while, seeing the scenery and visiting new places.
If you are lucky enough to have travel plans this summer, don't leave your chess game behind. At www.ChessRight.com, we have several inexpensive travel kits to help pass the extra hours waiting for your connection. Or buy one to keep your kids quiet in the back seat of the car!
Whatever your summer plans, your travel chess game can go with you. No batteries required!
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Pegged Travel Set -- $24.95 plus shipping
Magnetic Chess Set -- $32.95 plus shipping
So come visit our store at www.ChessRight.com and take a look at the beautiful travel chess combos we have to offer. At these great prices, you are assured of being able to find something just right for your summer game.
Keep playing chess!
www.ChessRight.com
Some folks believe that school should stay in session year-round claiming that students forget their lessons during this break. Others defend summer vacation as a necessary time to relax and recharge. Rather than let your brain get lazy, there are chess camps to build your game during the summer. Another choice might be to take some online chess classes such as those offered at Anatoly Karpov's International Chess School.
Many families make the most of this time to travel on their summer vacations. This was always my favorite part of summer, whether my destination was a beach, a mountain or a museum. I like getting away for a while, seeing the scenery and visiting new places.
If you are lucky enough to have travel plans this summer, don't leave your chess game behind. At www.ChessRight.com, we have several inexpensive travel kits to help pass the extra hours waiting for your connection. Or buy one to keep your kids quiet in the back seat of the car!
Whatever your summer plans, your travel chess game can go with you. No batteries required!
Pegged Travel Set -- $24.95 plus shipping
Magnetic Chess Set -- $32.95 plus shipping
So come visit our store at www.ChessRight.com and take a look at the beautiful travel chess combos we have to offer. At these great prices, you are assured of being able to find something just right for your summer game.
Keep playing chess!
www.ChessRight.com
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Chess Players are the Villains!
A friend of mine offered me several books this past week. I have a lot of books but there always seems to be room for more. So I took a look -- these were detective novels. Generally, I don't read a lot of detective stories although I admit to a great weakness for Stacy Keach's portrayal of TV detective Mike Hammer, and of course Sherlock Holmes. Nevertheless, I took one along for some potential summer reading.
Edgar Allen Poe is reputed to have written the first detective story in the modern genre with The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1841). Poe uses the chess motif in some of his works, but clearly with little technical expertise and not much liking. He referred to the game as "frivolous" and compared it unfavorably with checkers. It was Edgar Allen Poe who began the image of the chess aficionado as the nearly-machine-like semi-human villain with many schemes and few emotions.
The first Grandmaster of modern detective fiction would have to be Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, writing his famous Sherlock Holmes stories some fifty years after Poe's works. While Doyle's personal opinion of the game of chess is not known, he plays to his readers' prejudices and confines his chess references to his villains and scoundrels. In "The Adventure of the Retired Colourman" (around 1898), the title hero is an avid chess player who murders his chess partner. While Doyle uses the moves of the chess matches in the story to foreshadow the action in the story, Holmes also uses the chess games as a clue to solving the murders. Holmes declares that an interest in chess is "[a] mark, Watson, of a scheming mind."
One of the more technically proficient recountings of a game of chess in a detective novel was penned by Agatha Christie in The Big Four (1927). In this story, a chess master was murdered by a strong electrical shock dealt him in the third move of his Ruy Lopez opening. In anticipation of his opening, the electical connection was rigged to the square on the board through the floor from the apartment below. Unlike the other two stories mentioned here, Agatha Christie's chess player is the victim, not the scheming villain.
Ian Fleming portrays one of his villains in From Russia with Love (1957) as a Russian Grandmaster but the description of the actual chess play is nonsense and incidental to the story.
So it appears that chess players have a negative image in modern detective novels. Chess players are the villains, more often than otherwise. It remains curious to me that Sherlock Holmes was not portrayed as a chess player, given his penchant for logical thinking. Holmes remains a popular figure among chess players -- who apparently admire him more than he admired chess players.
This popular decorative chess set captures the characters of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle detective stories of the many adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock is accompanied on his adventures by his faithful companion Doctor Watson, while the rest of the set features other leading characters from the famous stories including Mrs. Hudson and Inspector Lestrade, others. These carefully designed pieces are based on the original drawings that appeared in the Strand Magazine to accompany the Sherlock Holmes stories. Enhance your own reasoning skills through playing chess .... whenever a worthy opponent can be found. You will find this set on sale today at our website. Please purchase your set from www.ChessRight.com while this sale lasts!
Keep playing chess!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Army Chess Tournament 2009
The annual Army chess tournament was held in April 2009, and the inter-service chess tournament just concluded a week of competition as of May 9th. The winner is .... Specialist Jhonel Baniel of the Army Medical Department. Read more about it:
Military Chess Tournament
The NATO Chess Championships will be held in Hammelburg, Germany during June. Good luck to all the participants from all of us at www.ChessRight.com!
Military Chess Tournament
The NATO Chess Championships will be held in Hammelburg, Germany during June. Good luck to all the participants from all of us at www.ChessRight.com!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Tips for Buying the Right Chess Board
FINDING THE RIGHT SIZE CHESS BOARD
Many of the beautiful chess sets at www.ChessRight.com come without chess boards. While this gives you the opportunity to select a board that compliments your good taste, it also presents a challenge to get a board that fits your chess pieces. Sure, the boards with the smaller squares cost less. But if you get the board too small, it will be difficult to play as the pieces tend to get knocked over in the heat of battle when they are too close together. So it's always OK to round up a little to give your pieces room to play.
THE NUMBERY WAY:
There is a mathematical formula to compute the proper relationship between the size of your chess pieces and the size of the squares of the playing board that will best fit your needs. First, determine the diameter at the widest part of the chess pieces; usually this means measuring the base of the king.
This measurement should be 78% of the width of the squares of the board.
Or, to express it as an equation: Wk = .78 (Wsq) where Wk is the widest part of the chess king, and Wsq is the ideal width of the squares on the board.
For example, if the base of the king is 1.75 inches, which is a common size, you would enter 1.75 / .78 into your calculator and the resulting answer is 2.243 which rounds off to 2.25 inches.
THE REFERENCE TABLE:
For those of you whose calculator batteries are dead, here are a few of the more common sizes of base diameters and the corresponding square sizes.
| King Base | Board square |
|---|---|
| 1.5 | 2 |
| 1.75 | 2.25 |
| 2.0 | 2.5 |
THE SHORTCUT:
If your eyes start to glaze over at the first sign of mathematical calculations, and you aren’t organized enough to remember where you put this handy table, don’t despair. For most of the common sizes of chess pieces, there is a simple fix that is just for you! Yes, you still have to know the base diameter of the king. Then just add AT LEAST a half-inch and you will come out to the proper size of the squares for your chess board.
A WORD ABOUT LARGER PIECES
This process I have described works just fine on most standard size chess pieces, such as you might see in a tournament. When dealing with larger chess pieces, where the king stands 5 inches or taller, these formulas and short cuts may not yield the best results. The larger pieces usually come with manufacturer’s recommendations and often take the height as well as the width of the piece into account.
So come visit our store at www.ChessRight.com and take a look at the beautiful chess boards we have to offer. Many come in assorted sizes. So if you see something that you like but it’s not in the proper size, just give us a call. We may be able to help you buy the chess board that is just right for your game.
Keep playing chess!
www.ChessRight.com
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Daylight Saving Time
March is here and Daylight Saving Time has arrived. It’s frequently albeit incorrectly called Daylight Savings Time, possibly because that may be somewhat easier to say. Besides, no daylight is actually saved by the adjustment of our clocks. The First Day of Spring is still a way off, but most of us have already set our clocks forward an hour. There are still some communities in the U.S. that don’t participate in this ritual each March.
Whenever someone mentions time to a chess fanatic, all thoughts turn to “clocks” and then to “Chess Clocks!” Chess Right Chess Store has an assortment of chess clocks (starting at $29.95) to help you find the chess clock just right for your game. Then, please take some time to look around our newly designed shop and check out our new merchandise.
Keep playing chess!
Whenever someone mentions time to a chess fanatic, all thoughts turn to “clocks” and then to “Chess Clocks!” Chess Right Chess Store has an assortment of chess clocks (starting at $29.95) to help you find the chess clock just right for your game. Then, please take some time to look around our newly designed shop and check out our new merchandise.
Keep playing chess!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Benjamin Franklin and "the Turk"
In 1783, Benjamin Franklin received an invitation to play chess against a chess-playing machine called "the Turk." This supposed chess-playing machine was a life-size figure of a man seated in front of a chessboard, invented by Baron Wolfgang von Kempelen who called it his "automaton." Although Benjamin Franklin knew that the technology was not available in those days for a truly automated chess-playing machine, nevertheless the illusion was so excellent that no one of the time could guess how the moves were communicated to the player inside (yes, there was a player inside), nor the mechanisms that made the arms move. In fact, it appears some extensive optical illusions were used to prevent the audience from seeing the player inside when "the Turk" was apparently opened for viewing.
We know that Benjamin Franklin accepted the invitation. Neither the specific moves nor the ultimate results of the game are reported in Franklin's letters (which suggests that he probably lost). "The Turk" defeated all but a few of the finest chess players of the time. However, we also know that Franklin enjoyed the game against his mechanized opponent immensely and took some interest into the workings of the automaton.
Today, there is no automated "Turk" to challenge us to a game of chess. There may be a niche for something like it at state fairs -- I remember my daughter playing checkers with Rudolph the Reindeer years ago at a fund-raiser for the local zoo. But we do have real automated chess-playing machines available to help us build our skills in chess, or to pass those times when we cannot find a worthy opponent.
Visit www.ChessRight.com to see our selection of the electronic chess games, starting at $57.00 plus shipping.
Keep playing chess!
We know that Benjamin Franklin accepted the invitation. Neither the specific moves nor the ultimate results of the game are reported in Franklin's letters (which suggests that he probably lost). "The Turk" defeated all but a few of the finest chess players of the time. However, we also know that Franklin enjoyed the game against his mechanized opponent immensely and took some interest into the workings of the automaton.
Today, there is no automated "Turk" to challenge us to a game of chess. There may be a niche for something like it at state fairs -- I remember my daughter playing checkers with Rudolph the Reindeer years ago at a fund-raiser for the local zoo. But we do have real automated chess-playing machines available to help us build our skills in chess, or to pass those times when we cannot find a worthy opponent.
Visit www.ChessRight.com to see our selection of the electronic chess games, starting at $57.00 plus shipping.
Keep playing chess!
Monday, January 12, 2009
More Brain-Age thoughts
I was looking at some herbal / drug supplements that promote themselves as being able to help brain focus, improve memory, increase concentration. The over the counter compounds appear to cost $15 to $20 per month. The prescription drugs don't advertise their prices, but are probably more. Classes for improved study skills or helping attention deficit school kids appear to cost hundreds of dollars.
To make matters worse, the FCC filed suit against the company that sold "Focus Factor" and obtained a million dollar settlement for what they claimed were exaggerated claims and overstated benefits. So there is some lingering concern whether or not these various "solutions" will even work as advertised.
The cost of the OTC supplements seems to be the least expensive option. But actually a chess set from www.ChessRight.com is a whole lot less, and does all the same functions without the spectre of drug interaction, exaggerated benefits or FCC lawsuit.
There are many beautiful chess sets at www.ChessRight.com less than $100 and many more are less than $150. Purchase a chess set, play chess regularly and save the $15 to $20 per month that you don't need to spend on brain improvement supplements. Your chess set will pay for itself in about six months. The lifetime of enjoyment and continued benefits will be free.
In the interest of a full legal disclaimer: Reported side effects of playing chess regularly include increased self-confidence, expanded social contacts and improved sportsmanship.
To make matters worse, the FCC filed suit against the company that sold "Focus Factor" and obtained a million dollar settlement for what they claimed were exaggerated claims and overstated benefits. So there is some lingering concern whether or not these various "solutions" will even work as advertised.
The cost of the OTC supplements seems to be the least expensive option. But actually a chess set from www.ChessRight.com is a whole lot less, and does all the same functions without the spectre of drug interaction, exaggerated benefits or FCC lawsuit.
There are many beautiful chess sets at www.ChessRight.com less than $100 and many more are less than $150. Purchase a chess set, play chess regularly and save the $15 to $20 per month that you don't need to spend on brain improvement supplements. Your chess set will pay for itself in about six months. The lifetime of enjoyment and continued benefits will be free.
In the interest of a full legal disclaimer: Reported side effects of playing chess regularly include increased self-confidence, expanded social contacts and improved sportsmanship.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
New Year's Resolution
It's that time of year again. Every year I go through this reflective process about (1) what went right during the past year, (2) what went wrong / could have been done better, and (3) what I am going to do differently in the coming year to make this next year better than the year before.
This year, I have gotten very interested in this new science of the aging of the human brain. In recent years, there have been a number of products that have come to market that are supposed to help with focus, memory and concentration. Some of these products are herbal / drug supplements, some of them are software packages that offer to stimulate one's brain with puzzles and patterns, and there are some books appearing that claim to be able to lower your brain age and keep your wits sharp.
This is all very interesting -- but not altogether necessary. Chess players already know the secret to keeping their brains active. Play chess regularly! Get a cool chess set from www.ChessRight.com with all the money you will save from NOT buying those brain-oriented supplements.
From that point, it's a simple New Year's Resolution: Hang a notice in the local library and offer to whomp some butt. If the game doesn't get too rowdy that it distracts the other patrons, the library staff will probably be happy to have the match right there in the library (maybe even taking bets amongst themselves in their little back room behind the checkout counter!) This will help your chess game, you will meet new people, and you will keep your brain active. An active brain is a happy brain. There is no knowing where your active brain will lead you in 2009! Enjoy!
This year, I have gotten very interested in this new science of the aging of the human brain. In recent years, there have been a number of products that have come to market that are supposed to help with focus, memory and concentration. Some of these products are herbal / drug supplements, some of them are software packages that offer to stimulate one's brain with puzzles and patterns, and there are some books appearing that claim to be able to lower your brain age and keep your wits sharp.
This is all very interesting -- but not altogether necessary. Chess players already know the secret to keeping their brains active. Play chess regularly! Get a cool chess set from www.ChessRight.com with all the money you will save from NOT buying those brain-oriented supplements.
From that point, it's a simple New Year's Resolution: Hang a notice in the local library and offer to whomp some butt. If the game doesn't get too rowdy that it distracts the other patrons, the library staff will probably be happy to have the match right there in the library (maybe even taking bets amongst themselves in their little back room behind the checkout counter!) This will help your chess game, you will meet new people, and you will keep your brain active. An active brain is a happy brain. There is no knowing where your active brain will lead you in 2009! Enjoy!
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