Originally posted by RECUVICSir, i feel that we should make you an honorary Scotsman, if grandmaster Jacob Aggard can come and leave his native land and take up residence in the land of the brave, then we would welcome you as well! 😉
The point of my prevoius post here was to explain that from the small nation and population of Scotland which does in fact have more modern everyday useable working inventions most of which are the most important to all our use in the 20-21st century,was to clearly indicate that neither a nations physical size not its population size need be relevant to the ...[text shortened]... personal determination to become champion,regardless of where they happened to have been born.😉
Thank you indeed,however I am already an honourary Scotsman as my fathers father was born and raised in the beautiful city of Edinburgh in what was then a small slum street called "Grove Street"near the city centre.I have in fact visited this street out of ancestral interest which although modernised and completely renovated I can see for myself from old black and white photographs of the period,has in fact retained much of its early and mid-twentieth century appearance. At the bottom end of this short Street is a longer street called Morrison Street and at the top end a street called Fountainbridge. i have walked and viewed both of these in modern times in the 1990's,but much of the character of this obviously lesser well healed area than city center[or centre,if you prefer!]remains unchanged from the available early photographs.This is my only Scottish connection in terms of family,but feel sure a Grandparent entitles me to atleast 'Honourary Scotsmanship"?I hope and feel so!😉
Originally posted by RECUVICan honour for us indeed! greenpawn is your man for Edinburgh, many times we have tried to get him swapped with someone else on a free transfer, from well, anywhere else really, but he boosts the economy with his dodgy bets, amazing knack for finding then flogging ancient and sought after chess classics, and his support of good ales at Sandy Bells bar. we are glad you enjoyed your visit to your ancient homeland and welcome you back any time - regards Robbie.
Thank you indeed,however I am already an honourary Scotsman as my fathers father was born and raised in the beautiful city of Edinburgh in what was then a small slum street called "Grove Street"near the city centre.I have in fact visited this street out of ancestral interest which although modernised and completely renovated I can see for myself from old bla ...[text shortened]... el sure a Grandparent entitles me to atleast 'Honourary Scotsmanship"?I hope and feel so!😉
Thank you again,I have visited now over 70 countries one way or another and have "looked in" on Scotland eight times, each time receiving the warmest most friendly welcome that I have experienced anywhere in my previous travels.My near and far family retain their traditional historic links with Scotland[Germany and England included in historic links!] for reasons of interest and tradition and I even managed some free time for visits to Glasgow Aberdeen Inverness Perth Stirling Falkirk Kirkcaldy Dundee Peebles and other places of ancestral and historic interest,fortunately mostly in good dry weather!German and English family links are as strong but the beauty of Scotlands scenic marvels are second to none that I have yet seen--🙂
Ahh wee trips down memory lane.
I live a stones throw from Grove St. (it me that smashes all their windows).
Grove St. Is a two minute walk away from the Edinburgh Chess Club.
The oldest chess club in the world. (4th, November 1822).
And perhaps the home of the Scotch Gambit.
Eh?
Allow me to explain.
The moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 were first played by London in
the famous Edinburgh v London corres match (1824-28).
London was given the idea of 3.d4 by Scotsman John Cochrane.
Edinburgh liked the move so much they used it to beat London in
the critical game and so the name of the Opening is called
The Scotch Game or Gambit.
Perhaps it should be called The Cochrane Gambit, The London Gambit
or the Edinburgh Gambit.
Edinburgh never played the Scotch Gambit as we know it.
Eh?
In them days the rule about White going first was not law.
(Indeed, a few nights ago I was looking at the rules of chess in an
1825 Edinburgh Chess Club handbook.
If you get a pawn to the eight rank then you may exchange for any
previous 'captured piece'😉.
Back to the Match.
London had the White pieces in all five games. But moved first in two games.
Edinburgh had the Black pieces in all five games, but moved first in three games.
So the Scotch Gambit that Edinburgh actually played against the
London club looked like this.
Here ends today's historical lesson, I shall only add that
Edinburgh is the most beautiful and interesting captial city in
the world and on that there is no argument.
I have personally visited the 'Edinburgh Chess Club'on two ocassions that I might see the club of the famous coresspondence game above,I am also distantly related to the late Col. W G Irvine-Fortesque a past president of the club and a player of some noteworthy games himself!If they say it be a small world,it is because it is a small world!-------------😉
I remember the colonel very well.
I posted a game between us on here ages and ages ago.
I joined when he was quite old and no longer the player he was, but
the games were always sparkling.
I played him quite often and then helped down the stairs when his
daughter called around about 10:30 to take him home.
I recall reading his life story in an old 1970(ish) Scottish Chess
and how he learned to play chess,
(wounded in the war and shown the moves whilst at hosptial).
You are right - it is a small world.
First off, STAY ON TOPIC.
MENACE71, My UNMATEABLE program is taking a break for a while. Maybe someday.
EXIGENTSKY, As the copyright holder, I reserve the right to repost snippets of my award winning posts from "the other site". What most of you dont know is that during my 13 months at the other chess site, I held the record for topics with most total comments (over 2200 comments) before it was deleted, as well as record for most topic views, over 97,000 views.
KNEECAPS, it is a COMPLEX story. I'll summarize. At the other site, I had an agreement with the owner to play a vote chess game vs. the best people on that site. It was PRIVATELY agreed upon between me and him that the game WOULD NOT have a conclusion. We manufactured controversy. I made a claim that I was unmateable and we agreed that the game would end in a SPECTACULAR fashion in the early middle game. He thought it would set the stage for months and months of rematch hype. In order to make this happen, I would pull some stunt and resign out of frustration.
Ever watch pro-wrestling? It's like when Andre The Giant agrees to let Hulk Hogan bodyslam him to make Hogan Look good and set the stage for future matches, all in order to draw an AUDIENCE. I was to resign out of anger/frustration while the game was still even and then play the part of poor loser. I shouldda got an OSCAR for my performance. Anyways, the chess program that I created is indeed UNMATEABLE by any other chess program, human, team of chess programs, team of humans, or combination of any of the previous, ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
Originally posted by cheater1beat it, we've hijacked your thread and will give it back when we are quite ready, infact you should be appreciative that eventually there is something with content it!
First off, STAY ON TOPIC.
MENACE71, My UNMATEABLE program is taking a break for a while. Maybe someday.
EXIGENTSKY, As the copyright holder, I reserve the right to repost snippets of my award winning posts from "the other site". What most of you dont know is that during my 13 months at the other chess site, I held the record for topics with most total s programs, team of humans, or combination of any of the previous, ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
I should have said Lt.Colonel from what I know of him,and he was indeed a considerable wartime hero ,and was every bit as brave on the chessboard as the battlefield. I had access to some of his best games and although not noted as always a precise chessplayer,he was known to make the board sparkle as few other were willing to do!There will always be a significant place in history for such 'old school' players and he at his best was among the best of these,the late W.G.I F.--😛
Fischer-Rubenstein-Kasparov-Capablanca-Steinitz-Alekhine-Morphy-Karpov-Tal-Lasker-----not in any order of merit of course as there be no truly logical way to do this given the different eras ,circumstances opponents venues etc etc etc.No doubt there is an enormous multitude of differing opinions here as there is no actual way to make such an assessment acurrately,but most of the above will come to rest nicely somewhere among the ten greatest of all chessplayers??--😲
AH, a legit, albeit OFF TOPIC question, from Greenpawn. I ALWAYS respond to legitimacy. Here is my top 5 list of Chess players, I don't follow anyone else.
5. Josh Waitzkin. As much as I like to BASH him for all his shortcomings and failures, I admire his blitzkrieg attacking style, his easy to understand lessons, and his previous overall devotion to chess. Being the spokesman for Chessmaster gets him bonus points.
4. Mikhail Tal. A highstrung character. Brutal attacking style.
3. Vishy Anand. The current WCC. Much to learn by analyzing his games. Enough said.
2. Garry Kasparov. One of the few to ever destroy Anand. Highest rated player of all time. A sore loser (like myself). Great attacker. Any GM who publically plays a chess program gets points in my book.
1. Bobby Fischer. Arrogant, conceited, schizophrenic, reclusive, BRILLIANT. Coincidentally, these are the 5 traits I would use to describe myself. I firmly believe Fischer could have mopped the board with Kasparov, but we will never know.
These are the players who I used to study the most. As you all know, I have basically given up studying and playing chess. I prefer to play engine vs engine matches and fine tune my chess program CANNIBAL 37.