Exchanges

Hello fellow-countryman! I don't know how long you've been working
for Bell Telephone/Alcatel. If long enough, we've been sort of
colleagues in the past. I visited the Antwerp offices in the tower very
often (An Lamote, Van De Kerhof, Raskin, Lemmens, Schmidt etc.).
It's sad what's happening and I DO hope the telecom business will go
up again. You know, when I was working for ACO (Advertising
Company, BT's daughter) in 1977, BT had 10,000 on their working
force. Where are the days? Where have all the flowers gone? Wish you
all the luck you deserve. By the way, if you're working in Paris, is there
still a certain 'Malou' on the staff?

I need my (late) supper now and watch the 8 'o clock news. Bye. Jan

Nice post Jan, it's always nice to learn about people's background.
And Lawrence Durrell is fabulous. I'm slowly working through the Alexandria
Quartet, wishing for more time for pleasure reading.

Michael

Hi Michael! Yes the Alexandra Quartet is really great world-literature.
Reda & re-read it. First time in London, May 1963. It still stands! It's a
monument.
Durrell also wrote the 'quintet'... Monsieur, Livia, Constance, Sebastian
and Quinx. No easy reading. Oef! Geographical background there is
the Provence. Must tackle that one again.

Cheerio!

Jan

I always thought that the Queen had a value of 10. When I get home
from work I will look it up in my old learning book, which I used to
learn chess about 18 years ago. So I will get back to you.

Ad.

Two Rooks are slightly more powerful than a Queen. They can protect
each other, you can double them on files and ranks, etc. So the
queen is 9 since 5+5=10.

--Rein

I had a game once where I decided to let my opponent to graduate
his pawn to leave an end game where I had a rook and knight vs. his
queen. I don't remember how I came upon this position exactly, but
at the time I did it as much out of curiosity as anything else. The
result was swift and deadly. I was done in a few moves later. In the
end game, with a clear board, the queen has a strong likelyhood of
being able to fork your pieces.