Have you had any success at the game.
How did you learn?
I would like to develop a skill level above my present 0.
Have tried before and lost interest. This time I am spending more time with puzzles and the lowest level of games at chess.com

Nevermind
Seems when you play an opponent online he/she is using a computer chess engine.

I started playing chess when I was about ten. My father taught me, but he didn't have the patience to think ahead, and had never done any "book learning." I started taking it sort of seriously in junior high and joined the chess team. In eighth grade I won Miami's junior high tournament. Again in 9th grade.

Alas, that was the high water mark of my "career."

The game took more book learning and deep thinking than I could give it, and the truly good players passed by me like a Tesla in insane mode!

Like Pianodad, I learnt as a child, an Uncle taught me mostly, never came close to beating him.
Also played for fun against a serious Chess Club member who had the room next to mine in the University Hall of Residence.
In the 90's when a friend wanted to improve we played remotely at first, a couple of moves each day, but it is a very intense 'game' and without time limit can become mentally exhausting.
Is it fun to play this way we asked ourselves? He got us a chess clock, we played head to head and that helped.

These days I use the puzzles in the weekend paper we get.

Regarding the equipment: if you can, get a biggish chess set, a board sized to match the pieces you've chosen, and something decent to store the pieces in individually (if they're worth half damn). Nothing worse than pouring jumbled pieces out of a box and getting a queen & king with chipped crowns etc.

quote:

Originally posted by Piano*Dad:
I started playing chess when I was about ten. My father taught me, but he didn't have the patience to think ahead, and had never done any "book learning." I started taking it sort of seriously in junior high and joined the chess team. In eighth grade I won Miami's junior high tournament. Again in 9th grade.

Alas, that was the high water mark of my "career."

Not bad!

quote:

Originally posted by Daniel:

quote:

Originally posted by Piano*Dad:
I started playing chess when I was about ten. My father taught me, but he didn't have the patience to think ahead, and had never done any "book learning." I started taking it sort of seriously in junior high and joined the chess team. In eighth grade I won Miami's junior high tournament. Again in 9th grade.

Alas, that was the high water mark of my "career."

Not bad!

Yes, excellent! Congrats on that.

Have a small set that is a wooden box with a chess board painted on top of it. My name and 2020 was stenciled onto itl. The pieces are stored in the box.
Considered a large board, but do not have a space for it. Plan to stay with what I have and the puzzles on chess.com for now.
Ordered Bobby Fischer's 60 Memorable games. Think that is the title. It is said to be essential. for study.
Have no intention of immersing myself in chess studies. I can pick the level of play of virtual opponents, which I like so far.

Klondike Solitaire was getting old.

Many years ago I decided to shell out for a nice Studio Anne Carlton chess set from the UK. This was at the beginning of the internet age, and I was shocked to be able to send an email and have the box arrive in the mail -- avoiding the border tax man completely -- a week or so later.

Studio Anne Carlton

I have an almost giant set that I bring to events, picnics...

I love chess though I don't have folks I know who play...I am not good at it, just enjoy it.

I do love watching the kids play with our set..

On our visits to my parents in Delaware there is a set outside a toy store in the court yard very near Biden's summer home in Rehoboth Delaware..

PD, wow, nice chess set.

I got a 4 1/4 inch staunton style, £7 from the Salvation Army thrift shop (told me it is french from early 20c). So nice I had to get a box to protect it, which ironically cost £100.

Less lucky with the Romanian solid beech chessboard, £30 ebay bargain.
Plywood

We have (or had, I haven't looked in few years) a company that makes regulation sized Staunton replica sets in plastic, weighted, with felt bottoms.

I think that would be perfect for me, but I don't know anyone who plays and wouldn't actually get any use out of it.

My uncle taught me how to play when I was a kid.

quote:

Originally posted by Piano*Dad:
Many years ago I decided to shell out for a nice Studio Anne Carlton chess set from the UK. This was at the beginning of the internet age, and I was shocked to be able to send an email and have the box arrive in the mail -- avoiding the border tax man completely -- a week or so later.
Studio Anne Carlton

Thanks. Knew sets like that had to be available somewhere. I do think a Staunton would be best for me.

I can't remember how or when I learned to play chess. In college there were tournaments where one guy played eight opponents at once. Missoula had an Octoman chess player too.

Coincidentally, the NYTimes recently started publishing end games of the masters--you play the opponent in these famous matches. I tried a few of them and they are truly fascinating and I would think would help you get going again.

Meant to add; Mr Pique is a pretty good chess player. When he was ten, his father spent most of the year in hospital (he caught some obscure lung fungus when he was in Africa in WWII) and my husband passed the time with his father playing chess. As his father's condition worsened, the chess matches became a daily ritual.

We started playing chess together not long after we were married, but Mr. Pique lost interest. I think it reminds him too much of the year he lost his father.

quote:

Originally posted by Daniel:
We have (or had, I haven't looked in few years) a company that makes regulation sized Staunton replica sets in plastic, weighted, with felt bottoms.

I think that would be perfect for me, but I don't know anyone who plays and wouldn't actually get any use out of it.

My uncle taught me how to play when I was a kid.

Daneil, for me wood has a warmth that is a pleasure to hold. I love the Isle of Lewis set (British Museum has the famous originals). A Selangor pewter version would last forever, but this one seduces me:

https://www.regencychess.co.uk...chess-set-p-556.html

AD, very fine.

It had me at hello. Lol.