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dynamic-dv 10-Feb-12, 04:52	Hi All Greetings from Lancashire,England. I'm David and been playing Chess on and off since I was around 8 years old! I have won OTB tournaments at the open chess congress Liverpool in my younger years and have only graduated to internet chess in the last 4 or 5 years! Looking forward to learning with you all! Best regards, David
brigadecommander 10-Feb-12, 18:27	hi Dave. and we are looking forward to learning from you!!!!!!!!...janet
tactical_abyss 16-Sep-12, 06:20	Hello club members Joe here,out of Texas,but I have time shares in Pa and NY,so I list more than one location! Basically retired now,travel alot both in the USA and internationally.Been playing the game for around 50 years now!I have USCF and FIDE rating titles that has varied over the years from approx 2300+ to 2500+.Played everything from postal chess to corresp and blitz chess on many chess sites over the years.Member of the Marshall Chess Club in NYC and play occassionally at Washington Square Park in NYC during the summer months.Was a member of the Manhattan Chess Club in NYC,but it closed in 2002,so we all shifted to the Marshall Club. I may not have the time to play club games,but will make a comment from time to time in the club forums,or perhaps comment on an ongoing game if it occurs.My goal on this site is to reach atleast 10th place,if even for 24 hours!Setting goals is important to me and helps me play a tiny bit better.I use GK as an experimental outlet for some of my irregular game tests and some experimental line tests with Trompowsky Attack which is currently my favorite opening.
johnclark 16-Sep-12, 09:39	Welcome aboard, tactical-abyss. Your knowledge and experience will be a good club resource. jc
ironbutterfly 16-Sep-12, 09:57	the Tromp Hello Joe, I've been playing the Tromp regularly since the late 1970s, both OTB and correspondence, though less often recently. I haven't seen any really helpful written material on the Tromp in nearly 10 years (since Wells and Davies, and before that Hodgson of course). Is there anything you'd recommend? Thanks. Clark
tactical_abyss 16-Sep-12, 10:49	Clark, One of the reasons I prefer the Tromp is that there is NOT alot written about it,thus the opening is still evolving in my opinion and tends to move out of book quicker than other openings,thus has its advantages with opponents who are not as prepared with the Tromp surprise compared to other well known openings. After checking my library,I have a few sources: 1. Starting out:The Trompowsky Attack by Palliser. Good basic book covering key moves and vital ideas. 2.The Trompowsky by GM Joe Gallagher. Covers strategies and tactics from both sides of the board. 3.Tromp Attack CD by Rainer Knaak The database gives you explanations of important and critical positions and covers questions. 4.The Tromp Attack by Soltis(1995) An old book,but a goodie.Covers alot of the variations with brief explanations of which lines are better than others,diagrams and more. Some of these books/CD are available through the USCF online store and others both new or used you can purchase through sources like Amazon. Are any of these helpful?Should be to some,but not to others.It depends upon your level of play,understanding,willingness to break apart the books,page by page,game by game,line by line and use the proper analytic tools.So a book may be boring and useless to one player,but a "Bible"to others.Just that cheap,out of date book above by Soltis,has helped me win games throughout the years by selecting a few suggested select lines noted in that book.The rest was "up to me" using my positional perceptions.
theoretician 16-Sep-12, 19:44	Trompowsky Attack Joe, Thank you for suggesting the Trompowsky Attack! I used to suffer from the well-prepared King's Indianers and the Grünfelders. To me , it seems that the Trompowsky Attack can be a good solution to avoid the preparation of Black. I will give it a try and will consider getting some of the books you suggested.
tactical_abyss 17-Sep-12, 06:13	self-adjoint, Yes,while the Tromp has some small weakness's as opposed to other openings,it also has the advantage of taking black out of opening theory and prepared lines very quickly in many circumstances.On the lower rating levels I always suggest using it,atleast once in a while as a "surprise weapon" against black who many times will say...."what the heck is this?" Perhaps one day I will start a string just on the Tromp,but not here(or now)in the intro player section.Too busy right now.Take note to all,that the Tromp can also begin as a Levitsky Attack 1.d4,d5 2.Bg5,Nf6 where black's second move transposes BACK to a Trompowsky set up with the pieces.A "pure"Trompowsky is technically with White exchanging(for example) as such....1.d4,Nf6 2.Bg5,c5 3.Bxf6,gxf6.Although it is still classified as a Trompowsky without that exchange,the Tromp "purists" feel that the exchange is really the only "true"Tromp. I have a few Tromps in my database as well as on other sites.The first game link below(drhpatron),indeed did stumble with it since his experience with it(at the time)was not stellar.By now,i'm sure,he has studied it and would give me a better run for the money if we played the same opening again.The Second game link,I judge to be the same with that opponent when faced with new ideas in "unchartered waters".And my third link opponent did much better with a draw.I have more to show,but no time right now. game game game self-adjoint, Just to wet your appetite on the Tromp....you can get that book above I mentioned...by Soltis.Its like only 7 or 8 dollars.Gives alot of Tromp setups and surface theories.Good starter book.
tactical_abyss 17-Sep-12, 07:22	added side notes.... I forgot to mention something(one final note)on my game links above.And thats to say,take note to the rating levels of my opponents.All in the upper 2200 or 2300 level rating zones.At the time,I forget,but drhpatron might have been around 2100+.But thats the point!If players of around master strength or better can be defeated with the Trompowsky,then think of the endless possibilities with players anywhere from 1500-2000 rating for example.GM Polgar has employed the Tromp successfully in the past,and i'm sure anyone can check her database of past games with alittle research.So if I win with the Tromp and its also used in WINNING fashion with Polgar and other GM's...then the average player on GK can do quite extraordinary as well with it.(With a bit of prep,of course!).Again,you do not have to be a master to win with the Tromp,especially in uncharted waters filled with tangled weeds,eddies and strange side currents playing against any rating level of opponent(s). Technically,the Tromp is a psychological blitz weapon as well!For many times I have noted that after I make my second move as white 2.Bg5,my opponents clock runs a few seconds LONGER,while he thinks.....hmmmm..."what should I do against this clown?"Just those few seconds in a 3 minute,zero increment game(sudden death) that my opponent has used up,many times costs him the game through a time-out!So the "clown"(me)drops the anvil on him having the LAST LAUGH!Lesson over!
shamash 17-Sep-12, 09:14	could sure use some psychological weapons. . . in general. . . for facing overwhelming pawn storms in endgames. . . but I suppose there aren't any for correspondence chess. . .
tactical_abyss 17-Sep-12, 09:50	Hi shamash! Well,you can use the pawn storming technique in corresp as well,but I suggest it to be unrated and against low rated players!I would not be too smart to play a rated game with the weak pawn storming moves,but in fast blitz,it does have novel value by confusing the brain of my opponents who simply have not seen that before and lack the fast paced skills to overcome the pockets of weakness in 3 minutes.Even 5 minutes,i'd be a bit leary to play it! I have one GK corresp game(unrated)and against a 1280 class D rated player,not exactly a beginner,but fairly low in rating: game This game was simply to illustrate that pawn storms can be misjudged and underestimated by those who simply have never encountered them and believe that they will simply reign in to win against them all the time.Yes,its Goliath against Tom Thumb,but Goliath usually wins even making weak moves,UNLESS Tom Thumb is extremely careful,as I proved in the game link above.
shamash 17-Sep-12, 10:28	tactical-abyss vs. raymoz aesthetically elegant. motivationally Delicious. However, my quest -- for the last couple of years -- has been to find a way to resist, fight against, beat back, survive, and overwhelm my Opponent's pawn storm. Especially when I am down in material. have found a few ways that have worked -- None that are comfortable -- the latest is to build a mobile fortress -- but that's more for survival than victory -- and as Magnus Carlsen says, we are here to win, not just survive.
tactical_abyss 17-Sep-12, 10:58	I would suggest a pawn storm delay until late midgame then split off with groups of passed pawns on either side of the board.Easier said than done,but workable.In any type of pawn storming whether receiving or giving the storm,its BEST NOT to be down any material.For you are now,not only fighting to climb MT Everest to the peak(especially with say,1500 rated player or above)....but climbing the icy mountain with roller skates and a dull ice pick! TA
tactical_abyss 17-Sep-12, 11:06	But Shamash, As to just fighting against the storm and not causing it,I have found that simply retreating everything back and playing a defense even to the first rank,then letting my opponent play the exchange game,usually creates pockets where my Queen can then advance and move in between the opponent pawn pockets where he usually does not have light or dark square control and clip away at his pawns.But if your speaking of already being down material,well.....good luck! TA
shamash 17-Sep-12, 11:32	playing endgames when down in material been there before. find my best -- or at least most creative moves -- when coming from behind. especially in an OTB tournament. for correspondence chess, when material is uneven, gleaned the best advice from Pal Benko's old columns. After all, it's one thing to be out-played -- but quite another to be defeated.
brigadecommander 17-Sep-12, 11:48	Igelstellen or Hedge-hogs Bristling with guns against attacks in any direction. 'a system of defended localities.With spaces in between patrolled by small mobile units. The further forward a pawn assault moves the longer the lines of communication and supply become for the attacker. And the more vulnerable the flanks become. Easier said then done yes!,but not imposable. I find that when i an down in material i 'must' regroup', 'fall back'. My lines of communication and supply lines shorten. keeping my 'interior lines' clear becomes vital!! I have had success with these Defensive concepts except when confronted by a player using a computer or simply a much better player then i am. But i can make it 'hard' very very hard for my opponent to win using these stratagems.
tactical_abyss 17-Sep-12, 12:50	brigadecommander, Yes,basically that is what I am saying...."retreating everything back,and then playing a defense"...ect.But only moving forward,if i may clarify....by mid or end of midgame(as I said above) possibly creating a passed pawn scenario after the pawn storming exchanges are completed or almost completed.But then there are other scenario's....pawn storms against equal pawn storms!But that again,is another thread...not suited for the intro thread! Chat with you guys in the other threads,maybe next weekend! PS, Shamash, I also play my best when down material,especially OTB,but depending upon how much material one is down,it dosen't matter how well you play,you can only do so well in a game before it is time to throw in the towel.Yes,there are always exceptions and i can give you some including my Queen sacrifices,but for the most part it would be curtains for me being a Rook or Bishop down against a pawn storm,unless the player was perhaps under 1400 in rating. Sort of reminds me of some of those middle eastern countries.If the entire 4th fleet opened up,stealth,a million marines and army,nuclear subs and our allies combined forces against that middle eastern country we all know about,do you really think that middle eastern country would win if we were to bomb without regard to the general population over there?So they may fight their best(as in chess)but it dosen't matter in the end. TA
ironbutterfly 17-Sep-12, 15:27	Tromp (again) Joe: Thanks for your detailed response to my question. I have all the material you've mentioned except for the Knaak CD, and especially like Soltis myself. Your comments make me realize that it has been a while since I have done the close analysis called for - I think it's time to go back and re-examine some of the texts I have. Another good area to examine is the Tromp games by 2000+ players, both in data bases and collections. On a previous team I played on several years ago on GK there was a highly rated South American player who ran Tromp tournaments here for top players.
tactical_abyss 17-Sep-12, 16:15	Good luck ironbutterfly, The Tromp is becoming a bit more popular these days at the club level atleast and is being reexamined by some of the GM's at the Marshall as I write this.I've drawn alot using the Tromp in many OTB games,but have been a bit more successful in corresp games.The Knaak CD,if I remember correctly,is available through the USCF online.A link on my profile page or on the GK log in page has the USCF link.Its not real cheap however.I think its around 34 dollars plus shipping.
falcon67 03-Aug-14, 19:32	new memeber intro Thanks for accepting me into the club.I hope I can bring some thing good to this club.
brigadecommander 03-Aug-14, 19:58	Welcome Falcon Seems i just ran into you the other day on the way to the forum!! Be Well!!
falcon67 03-Aug-14, 20:02	Yes I joined the stellar chess club as well.Thanks and be well too.
cyna 03-Aug-14, 20:47	Welcome! Welcome to our club, Falcon67!
falcon67 03-Aug-14, 20:50	Thanks cyna and I hope you are having a good evening.
cyna 03-Aug-14, 20:59	You're welcome, and thank you, Falcon67. I hope you enjoy your time with us in the club!
falcon67 03-Aug-14, 21:14	There is a lot of great topics in this club.I look forward to enjoying and reading all the interesting posts in this club and participating as well.Best regards Edmund
baddeeds 09-Oct-14, 15:57	Hi I'm Joe. Well, in a sense, your story is similar to mine. Yes, the first time I ever became interested in chess, was when I was 10. Unfortunately for me, I had a negative experience, as people acted in a hostile and made fun of me. I wanted to learn, but this guy played a game, saying that I was lucky that he was this nice and let me stay in the game that long, without ever showing me how to play. So, I gave up on the game. That was, until 6 years later. Now, realizing how hard the game was, and combine with an English course that I was in great of failing and failed a couple of vocab tests. And, really struggling, I remember my interest in learning how to play chess. I knew just how complicated it was and realized that the course that I was virtually failing, at the very least, could not have been harder the game. So, I started playing, and I had a very nice student who was only a grade above me. He explained the rules silently and patiently because when I made a pawn move, typical now of a B move, he said, "You can't do that." And, I kept making the mistakes and with the pieces and he kept saying it, until, I finally remembered the rules, of which piece can go where. After that, although I was still a terrible player, I learned just the bare minimum of enough, absolute threshold in that English course that I was failing. So, I finally remembered just enough and was able to apply it that I went from near failing, to suddenly getting A's. Later I got good enough but still needed help and wanted to learn more strategies, that I went to my friend and coach, Jack Stockel, who provided all the optimisim I needed to become strong enough to start training and mentoring students. And, I'm known to be a good mentor for people who have the same difficulties that I once had, as you might recall in, "The Knight's Of Honor" forum. And, it has helped me become a very valuable employee as I apply chess strategies for my job. Since then, I've enjoyed this game, and am thankful to be a member here. I'm always there to learn more and become better, and looking at it, GM Paul Morphy is a great inspiration which is why I joined this club.
cyna 09-Oct-14, 19:57	Hi Joe, welcome to our club. I agree that Paul Morphy is an inspiration in the awesome world of chess. I hope you enjoy your time with us. Cheers and good games to you!
falcon67 09-Oct-14, 20:11	Well Joe I'm sorry you had to put up with that garbage.I remember when I first started playing on GK.I know I am a better player today than I was then.I believe in helping players but it seems like I have nobody to teach at the moment.I would be willing to teach novice players .I guess 800 to 1000 rating range.If you know any players in that rangge I would be more that happy to teach them.I've hadd players talk trash to me on this site.Then I end up beating them and lol they talk nicer to me lol.I once had a player tell me I made a bad move and I ended up beating him I won't mention the players name lol
baddeeds 10-Oct-14, 06:36	Yes, the person that did to me, said these things, and it was way before I even joined GK. I joined two years after learning the game, so when I was 18.
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