About me:Hi.I'm 35 & currently have no children. We are in need of a surrogate mum to help us in our quest to...
Member since:22.08.2000
Reviews:179
Members who trust:53
Review rated by 27 Ciao members on average: very helpful
This review received a counterstatement by a party concernedRead Comment
Chess is perhaps not a "sexy" game in this modern world of megabytes and RAM but it is a game I urge everyone to try at least once .
You might not like it , but the chances are if you are cunning , devious ,or like using your brain to outwit other people then you will !
My long since departed grandad taught me to play the game as a "nipper" much to my grandma's disgust as I soon became enveloped and neglected everything else !
The chess board has 64 squares 8x8 with alternate black and white colours. Each player has an identical 16 pieces 8 pawns ( which are like foot soldiers ) and eight major pieces .
These so called major pieces are ; The queen (1) , Rook or castle (2) , Bishop (2) , Knight (2) and lastly the King .
The aim of the game is to "checkmate " your opponent . That is to say the game is over when your opponent cannot move the king because it is checkmated . The king must have a safe square at all times or it really is game over !
Your main attacking weapon is the queen . She can travel over any square on the board and is the only piece to have that luxary .
So the male is vulnerable whilst the female has the power . Now I wonder why that sounds familiar !
Each piece can only move on certain squares or in a certain direction. For instance - the bishops can only move diagonally with one on each colour. Whilst the knight which is a man on horseback is the only piece that can jump over other pieces. Very useful if handled correctly !
Rooks meanwhile can only move in a straight line either up and down or across . They are the second most valuable pieces after the queen.
Perhaps the most confusing aspect of chess is " castling " . This means your king can move out of potential danger in the middle of the board to the edge by swapping places almost with a rook . It is a one off move only available when neither piece involved has moved previously.
To describe chess to a beginner I would say it is a war . Mind games like you've never seen them before . Chess has so much skill involved and so little luck that it makes such a rewarding game to play.
The best player always wins unless he is playing a computer .
Much of what happens on the board mirrors real life . Sacrifices happen as do devious traps and cunning tricks all with the aim of outwitting your opponent.
White moves first and it's always a good idea to build up a strong centre . The flanks are not important early on ,but you must make your presence felt in the middle where the action is .
This is where the pawns that can only move one square at a time are so handy as they can repel attacks and defend your major pieces to some extent.
Chess is surely the ultimate strategy game . No it ain't boring and no it ain't flash . But it was around long before any megadrive , gameboy or PC . It has stood the test of time and that hasn't happened by accident . Chess is a skillful , rewarding game and I fully reccomend it .
As an after thought I would suggest to any Ciaoers out there the possibility of correspondence chess . This is basically the same game only played via the post or email . I am a member and run two tourneys in a correspondence chess club . It is called Natcor The address is www.natcor.org.uk. Natcor is short for National Correspondence Chess Club and is a friendly club that has been established for over sixty years . Our motto is to foster friendship between members .
good op, I love chess shame there is no 'sexy' image t go with it, people usually think of geeks with huge glasses, pocket protectors and corrective shoes!
What a refreshingly different op, I can play chess, but unfortunately I was taught by my big brother, who then spent the next couple of years practising and anhialating me in the process, hence I have a bad attitude towards the game :-)
by (89%):
by (11%):
This product has not yet been reviewed.
06.04.2001 10:13
good op, I love chess shame there is no 'sexy' image t go with it, people usually think of geeks with huge glasses, pocket protectors and corrective shoes!
05.04.2001 19:41
What a refreshingly different op, I can play chess, but unfortunately I was taught by my big brother, who then spent the next couple of years practising and anhialating me in the process, hence I have a bad attitude towards the game :-)
05.04.2001 16:20
Hi, helpful opinion. Been offline for a few days, but congratulations on CMW. Look forward to reading more. Louise