Yeah, you quickly find out what a poor chess player you really are when you go there! At least that's my experience, and I thought I was pretty good. The weakest part of my game is underestimating the aggressive powers of pawns, if properly used...and other people keep nailing me with their knights too...so much so that I try to find ways to exhange for their knights as early on in the game as I possibly can.

I don't think I will ever be more than a fairly decent mediocre chess player...which among amateurs means people figure you're almost unbeatable, but among pros means you've barely got past learning how the pieces move.

Chess is an extraordinary game.

As some of you have indicated, however, it is not worth the time and effort that is required to play it seriously. There've gotta be a 1,000 better ways to use up one's valuable time. Still, I play it now and then for some reason.

- LH