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 DEAD CHESS SITES |
euro_pop_legend
14-Apr-24, 07:10
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I was a member of over 15 chess sites since the 1980's.And was playing postal chess since the 1970's with the USCF.Back then,postcards were 10 cents a move in 1978.That is why conditional moves were a must!Most classic online chess sites have disappeared,even though it saved $$ from the old postal cards giving rise of the internet.I cannot even remember the names of many of them,so no need to list,even if I could.While I hope I am wrong,I think that GK will join that list of dead chess sites in a few years,if not sooner.Mike seemed to hold things together over the decades.Now with it being acquired by "someone else",the place is kind of getting a dust buildup but that depends upon ones interpretation of better or worse.If GK disappears,I will hold up a margarita to the sky and remember the good times as it burns away to ashes.From what I read,many members are not happy anymore on GK and the GK investment group is not doing well as of now.Perhaps,that is a foreshadowing déjà vu dream of an upcoming event.Again,I hope I am wrong.Only time will tell.
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It’s a bit surprising to me, as I thought interest in chess was really picking up, following the success of the film, ‘The Queen’s Gambit.’ I remember chess sets started selling out at the shops I visit. But then again, it’s quite a difficult game to pick up properly.
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Well,I do see many complaints posted since the new gaming owners took over.More than years ago on GK.If I see more improvements coming here by the new owners and a large influx of new members,then I think we will be safe...but only up to a point.Sometimes a big gaming business needs big profits to have the financial desire to keep a chess site alive.But many past owners of other chess sites have failed to realize that they must invest some big $$ into a chess site in order to attract new players,thus more profit.The new kids today want many more "bells and whistles"
and emotional excitement beyond just chess.
A chess friend of mine told me that perhaps GK should have a separate section with a larger variety of games that are not chess related.He even suggested a casino style game from
blackjack to roulette but with no real gambling $$ involved,but their might be a small separate fee to enter the gambling room by,say 7 members in a group.The winner gets a tee shirt or a small trophy.This method can also be used between 7 members with two chess games being played(white and black)and the winner gets a prize sent to them or perhaps a free membership for 1 year.
This is not a far fetched idea,since the USCF has done this for decades!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The USCF has had both prize and money win tourneys in 7 player sections for as long as I can remember.It has been a success and popular for both the players and gave the USCF a nice profit.
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At least
this site is still up and running.
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myrydin
10 years ago,I was even considering opening my own chess site.I have the financial means to do it,but now I have no desire or time to run such a vast operation.A computer expert friend of mine would have been the brains behind the hardware systems.But "if"I would have opened a new site,I guarantee it would have been not a Cadillac,but a Lamborghini with everything one needs.And I know from experience and reading the GK forums what would be needed.Even the blitz area would have made GK's look like a dump.All a pipe dream now,but I still think about it and smile.For something like that,however,it probably would have cost members at least $100 a year or about 93 Euro's.So,I really do not know if enough potential members would have been able to afford it.
And there would be NO free members sliding by,no ads and at least two others as support for complaints.What I read now,although isolated cases,is that trying to complain to GK about an issue is like trying to communicate with a speck of sand on Mars.Probably better to speak to yourself in a cave...at least you would get an intelligent echo back.
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luzhin657
26-May-24, 14:41
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I have been a member of all the main 4 sites and now only playing on here!!!?
I used to be a member on all the main 4 sites, Chess.com??, Redhot Pawn, Lichess, Social-Chess and have just signed up on here and are finding so far this site is superior to the rest, chess.com is over rated, and is not a nice place to play chess, other three are OK suppose but happy so far with Gameknot, trust me there are worst sites to play on so stay on here is my advice
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Welcome Eugene
I've only played at GameKnot so it's interesting to hear your perspective (the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence I suppose). Most of the complaints with GK are that it used to be a mom-and-pop operation and the new owners haven't been as responsive for the last two years. For correspondence chess, I agree that GK has always been a nice place to play. Now if the new owners would just solve the CloudFlare problem causing occasional outages and the resulting time-outs, it would be perfect!
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luzhin657
27-May-24, 03:40
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Hi Markb56
Great to hear, yes I have heard that things have on occasions gone pear shaped in site experiencing techno issues and there being reduced access, this can be stressful if you have lot of games and end up down timmed?? You would think though the new owners of gameknot would acknowledge these issues, fingers crossed!!?
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