Terry, this post is gold dust - thank you so much for a great writing toolkit!
"I’m not that interested in sports, but I read the sports pages at least once a week because some of the writers are superb." This really got my attention! Okay, I don't read the sports pages - in fact I edit my copy of the Saturday Telegraph (my weekly indulgence in printed news) and the sports section hits the recycling bin without being opened (unless it's Wimbledon fortnight) - but I DO always read the chess column! I have no interest in chess, and get even more lost on a 64-square chessboard than I do in my everyday failed navigations - but I love reading that column!
It's because the language and secret codes are just bonkers - I always think that they must be a messaging conduit for spies.
I quote from Saturday's column:
1.e4 c5. 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Nf6. 4. Be2 a6 5.0-0 b5 (Magnus has developed fast, but kept options open. Hence this is a bit risky, 5...e6 was safer) 6. d4! (A good moment to open the game)
That's just the first few lines out of over a hundred.
The rest of the column is punctuated by lovely little phrases:
...leaves Black horribly pinned
...is crushing
...is more energetic
...leaving the bishop anchored on d3 was good
A very unexpected clever tactic - the pawn looked very securely defended.
Black is ok, but White's plan is clearer
A really brilliant more, leaving the queenside to its fate, White has too much kingside firepower
I mean, goodness me! If it's not spy-speak, then I'll just imagine it all read out loud at high speed as if by a horse-racing commentator. It's bafflingly fascinating!
There are some really funny sections about chess in the one-upmanship books. The nomenclature has changed over the years, but you can get the drift. This is a ploy known as Potter's Opening (the book was written by Stephen Potter):
Potter's opening
This is supposed, now, to be the name of an effective opening, simple to play and easy to remember, which I have invented for use against a more experienced player who is absolutely certain to win. It consists of making three moves at random and then resigning. The dialogue runs as follows:
Moves:
(1) KP-K4: KP-K4
(2) B-Q B4: B-Q B4
(3) Kt-B3: Kt-B3
(4) White resigns
SELF: Good. Excellent. (Opponent has just made his third move. See above.) I must resign, of course.
OPPONENT: Resign?
SELF: Well... you're bound to take my Bishop after sixteen moves, unless... unless... And even then I lose my castle three moves later.
OPPONENT. Oh, yes.
SELF: Unless you sacrifice there, which, of course, you wouldn't.
OPPONENT: No.
SELF: Nice game.
SELF: Pretty situation... very pretty situation. Do you mind if I take note of it? The Chess News usually publishes any stuff I send them.
OPPONENT: Yes.
It is no exaggeration to say that this gambit, boldly carried out against the expert, heightens the reputation of the gamesman more effectively than the most courageous attempt to fight a losing battle.
Thanks Terry. I’ll continue to work on being a good reader and commenter. I find that there are many excellent writers in my life already (lucky me) so I’ll just appreciate their gifts for the moment. Enjoy your weekend. All the best.
Terry, this post is gold dust - thank you so much for a great writing toolkit!
"I’m not that interested in sports, but I read the sports pages at least once a week because some of the writers are superb." This really got my attention! Okay, I don't read the sports pages - in fact I edit my copy of the Saturday Telegraph (my weekly indulgence in printed news) and the sports section hits the recycling bin without being opened (unless it's Wimbledon fortnight) - but I DO always read the chess column! I have no interest in chess, and get even more lost on a 64-square chessboard than I do in my everyday failed navigations - but I love reading that column!
Thanks, Rebecca. Actually, I like chess. Perhaps I should read them as well. What do you like about the chess column?
It's because the language and secret codes are just bonkers - I always think that they must be a messaging conduit for spies.
I quote from Saturday's column:
1.e4 c5. 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Nf6. 4. Be2 a6 5.0-0 b5 (Magnus has developed fast, but kept options open. Hence this is a bit risky, 5...e6 was safer) 6. d4! (A good moment to open the game)
That's just the first few lines out of over a hundred.
The rest of the column is punctuated by lovely little phrases:
...leaves Black horribly pinned
...is crushing
...is more energetic
...leaving the bishop anchored on d3 was good
A very unexpected clever tactic - the pawn looked very securely defended.
Black is ok, but White's plan is clearer
A really brilliant more, leaving the queenside to its fate, White has too much kingside firepower
I mean, goodness me! If it's not spy-speak, then I'll just imagine it all read out loud at high speed as if by a horse-racing commentator. It's bafflingly fascinating!
There are some really funny sections about chess in the one-upmanship books. The nomenclature has changed over the years, but you can get the drift. This is a ploy known as Potter's Opening (the book was written by Stephen Potter):
Potter's opening
This is supposed, now, to be the name of an effective opening, simple to play and easy to remember, which I have invented for use against a more experienced player who is absolutely certain to win. It consists of making three moves at random and then resigning. The dialogue runs as follows:
Moves:
(1) KP-K4: KP-K4
(2) B-Q B4: B-Q B4
(3) Kt-B3: Kt-B3
(4) White resigns
SELF: Good. Excellent. (Opponent has just made his third move. See above.) I must resign, of course.
OPPONENT: Resign?
SELF: Well... you're bound to take my Bishop after sixteen moves, unless... unless... And even then I lose my castle three moves later.
OPPONENT. Oh, yes.
SELF: Unless you sacrifice there, which, of course, you wouldn't.
OPPONENT: No.
SELF: Nice game.
SELF: Pretty situation... very pretty situation. Do you mind if I take note of it? The Chess News usually publishes any stuff I send them.
OPPONENT: Yes.
It is no exaggeration to say that this gambit, boldly carried out against the expert, heightens the reputation of the gamesman more effectively than the most courageous attempt to fight a losing battle.
😂
Oh, that's brilliant!!!! 🤣
Every time I read it I can't help laughing 😂
Thanks Terry. I’ll continue to work on being a good reader and commenter. I find that there are many excellent writers in my life already (lucky me) so I’ll just appreciate their gifts for the moment. Enjoy your weekend. All the best.
Thanks, Beth. Writers thrive on good readers and commenters, otherwise we're all shouting above each other! 😂
Great stuff, Terry. I half expected it to be a tongue-in-cheek article, but then it turned out to be serious ;)
Added the handwriting book to my wishlist. Looks to be my kind of thing. (I bet Jillian Hess would also enjoy that one!)
Now, off I go to read, read, read ...
I had a look, too, and thought of Jillian immediately! 😊
🙂
Thanks, Nathan 😊