From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Grittyville, WA

Any chess players out there? I enjoy chess but I'm about as good at chess as I am at pumpkins. I can play, but but my chess rating is about the same as my biggest pumpkin... lol. Funny how Elo ratings for chess do line up very well with the current pumpkin weights.

2/16/2022 4:31:14 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

I am registered to play in a chess tournament in about 1 1/2 weeks. I am not a great player...1800 uscf, but I have done it on and off since middle school. My last tournament was 2015.

2/16/2022 5:35:02 PM

British Columbia, Canada

I've played on and off since grade 1. When I was younger I was pretty good for my age, won a few tournaments, but I didn't stick with it for long enough and I'm nothing impressive anymore. About 1600 elo rating.

2/16/2022 6:43:33 PM

Connecticut, USA

I play as well. Have not played in OTB tournaments in awhile but I ran the chess club at the local high school when my kids were in it.

2/16/2022 7:47:58 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

I am somewhat surprised to find other former tournament players on this website. I looked up your tournament history on uscf Ken. You have played in quite a few tournaments. It looks like 2017 was your last one.
After my 7 year break from tournaments, I am trying to prepare as quickly as I can. I have forgotten all opening knowledge. I want to come up with an opening repertoire that can take the game out of book as quickly as possible.
In the past, as white I was an e4 player. I am looking at lines to answer the sicilian defense with c3(alapin variation), answering the french with tarrasch variation and maybe play the scotch in response to e5. If all else fails, i might avoid e4 and play the kings indian reversed or even the larsons.

2/18/2022 2:06:10 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

Quite the coincidence gritty, i decide to register for a tournament..and a week later you make a post about chess.

I noticed on thing...When I started getting involved with giant growing, is when I stopped playing tournaments. Maybe giant growing was enough brain stimulation.

2/18/2022 2:09:06 AM

Connecticut, USA

Yes, I played some tournaments when I was younger and have gone back to chess several times. I have always thought I would return to it again when I can no longer do the much more physical things I am into now. I love the game and continue my membership on chess.com.

2/26/2022 6:19:34 PM

Mead, WA

Brandon your a better chess player then I am thanks for sending kids chesskid game link, boot how’d tourney go?ken d trying to post to my page isn’t working.

3/14/2022 1:21:28 AM

Grittyville, WA

Your other posts worked Elaine. And you are a plenty strong chess player. Our last game had me totally stumped.

3/14/2022 4:52:57 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

Sorry for the delay in answering Elaine...i was avoiding other non-pumpkin. I cancelled the tournament...there was a question if masks would be required. I cant stand wearing a mask...i certainly could not play at my potential if I had to wear one. The tournament was the Minnesota open. Some day, I will be back to over-the-board tournaments...maybe a senior event.

4/11/2022 8:38:26 PM

Mead, WA

Was tutoring kids on the link yesterday you sent Brandon even fred was trying the screen touch move pieces method for kings moves to reach the star in the tutorial. Ken tried posting picture of moon this morning a few times but its not showing up on my grower diary. Bnot thanks for starting a chess sorry I haven't been playing my way just following the run opening advice from internet.

4/17/2022 7:13:58 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

i am confused. I didn't send Brandon any link. He might have found one from another source. If you are following advice from the internet, try to understand the reasoning behind the moves. I can send you a picture of what opening books looked like before the internet. I have all the ECOs(encyclopedia of chess openings) plus other books. In tournaments, there were many players that memorized the book lines without understanding why one line was better than the other. Taking the game early out of book was one of my strategies. In our current game, I havent even set up the board yet. I have seen this position probably already in 1000 games. It was an opening that I used in my first tournament 45 years ago.

4/17/2022 7:55:07 PM