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The last time I wore a beard was just before I went to work for Borland, back in early 1990. I forget why I shaved it off, I'm not even sure there was a reason. I do know that Lee, who up to that time had never seen her daddy without a beard, did a minor freakout when she saw me. I also recall being told, by various individuals, that I looked positively younger sans beard, and as said look is considered a big plus in society, I was content.
Just for laughs, I've decided to grow a beard again, if just for the winter. It's the Robert Service in me.
On other fronts, I've given in to temptation and signed up for a section of the so-called Emil Josef Diemer Gedenkt-Turnier, a "correspondence" chess event that is played by e-mail, in which participants plays two games against each opponent, said games to start with the moves 1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3.
Those are the signature moves of the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, championed by E. J. Diemer for many years up until his death at a fairly ripe old age ten years ago. The opening has many enthusiasts among amateurs; it is rarely seen in master play, as the general consensus at the top is that the gambit is unsound, not to mention there are plenty of other openings that are "better."
(I put "better" in quotes because, on both the amateur and expert levels, there are a number of factors that tell on one's chessplaying ability, and knowing an opening such as the BDG thoroughly can be a confidence-builder, even if the BDG is not "objectively" a sound opening.)
I've played the BDG for many, many years (when I have played chess, which hasn't been much over the past half-dozen years or so). In that time, I've noticed that, despite its reputation as an inferior opening, many players facing a BDG will avoid it if possible, as taking advantage of that inferiority is hard work, and there are a variety of ways to go wrong.
In any event, I'm in a section with three Germans, an Austrian, and a Czech. Play starts on the 15th. It ought to be interesting.
Cheers...
Just for laughs, I've decided to grow a beard again, if just for the winter. It's the Robert Service in me.
On other fronts, I've given in to temptation and signed up for a section of the so-called Emil Josef Diemer Gedenkt-Turnier, a "correspondence" chess event that is played by e-mail, in which participants plays two games against each opponent, said games to start with the moves 1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3.
Those are the signature moves of the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, championed by E. J. Diemer for many years up until his death at a fairly ripe old age ten years ago. The opening has many enthusiasts among amateurs; it is rarely seen in master play, as the general consensus at the top is that the gambit is unsound, not to mention there are plenty of other openings that are "better."
(I put "better" in quotes because, on both the amateur and expert levels, there are a number of factors that tell on one's chessplaying ability, and knowing an opening such as the BDG thoroughly can be a confidence-builder, even if the BDG is not "objectively" a sound opening.)
I've played the BDG for many, many years (when I have played chess, which hasn't been much over the past half-dozen years or so). In that time, I've noticed that, despite its reputation as an inferior opening, many players facing a BDG will avoid it if possible, as taking advantage of that inferiority is hard work, and there are a variety of ways to go wrong.
In any event, I'm in a section with three Germans, an Austrian, and a Czech. Play starts on the 15th. It ought to be interesting.
Cheers...
