Women who kick (pawn) butt

by | Jan 28, 2010 | off-topic, people, ruminations, tournaments

Okay, it’s a little bit off topic, but I have to mention something I saw on TV this weekend. Last weekend, a bowler named Kelly Kulick won the Professional Bowlers’ Association Tournament of Champions, which made her the first woman ever to win a...

New class, Jeff Sarwer interview, etc.

by | Jan 9, 2010 | Chess Life, people, tournaments

Happy new year! I can’t believe that a week has already gone by and I haven’t watered my blog yet this year. (You know, blogs need care and watering, just like plants …) As I result I have lots of little odds and ends to write about. My main news is...

Year-End Wrapup

by | Dec 30, 2009 | openings, ruminations, tournaments

This morning I decided to tally my tournament results for the year 2009, breaking them down according to whether I was White or Black and according to the level of opposition. The results, I think you will agree, are rather surprising: Against Masters Against...

Potpourri

by | Dec 14, 2009 | off-topic, ruminations, tournaments

It’s been a few days since my last blog post, so I sat down today and decided to write an update. But what should I write about? I haven’t played a game in two weeks. I haven’t studied any chess games in the past week, because I was too busy...

Tortoise and Hare

by | Dec 2, 2009 | Chess Lecture, games, positions, tournaments

Tortoise and Hare sat down to play a game of chess. (If you don’t like fables, “Tortoise” is me, Dana Mackenzie. “Hare” is an expert named Arthur Liou. The date was November 29, and the occasion was round five of the CalChess State...