Kicking the kicks

I tell ya what, I can really get wrapped up in things for short periods of time. I wouldn't say I have ADD or anything, even though I have insurance, but every so often I get intensely interested in a particular subject, usually an old game.

Earlier this month it was chess; couldn't get enough of it. I was reading about openings on Wikipedia, going through all my old chess books, all that stuff. And half of that information is fairly useless to me because I can't picture a board in my head and make all the moves they describe.

I prefer the strategy books, where long move lists are kept to a minimum. The same with books about computer games.


After chess I got into the original Railroad Tycoon, which I got from abandonia.com. If you've not been there before and you like old DOS games, you should check it out. But not if you're looking for the real popular ones, because the copyright owners cracked down on them.

Apparently Maniac Mansion is a still a big money-maker.

But yeah, as with Civilization, World Soccer Winning 11, Stronghold: Crusader, Zork, Ancient Domains of Mystery and many others, I get wholly sidetracked from doing things i would honestly rather be doing.

It's just a good thing there's nobody around me now who really wants to play some Hero Quest.


I actually feel happy when I know I'm about to be done with a game. And it's not that I beat the game or anything, I just feel like I've figured out what it's about and, given enough time, I could beat it.

The best is when I get really into doing more creative things. Last month was good for that; wrote a lot and actually updated the site regularly. I'm hoping the end of this month and on into July will be more like that.

So there it is. Ooo...but Dune 2 was pretty awesome, though.

Blame Chess

I haven't updated the site all month, but I have an excuse: I've been playing a lot of online chess. A guy on Totalfark recommended a site, I signed up for the basic (non-paying) deal, and that was that.

Actually, it wasn't, completely; a few days after I joined I was invited to a newcomers tournament and, thinking it would be something I did only once or twice a day, ended up consuming a lot of my free time.

Not to toot my own horn (toot-toot!), but I am unbeaten in 7 games so far. Yes, I claimed 3 of them on time because the other person hadn't moved, but 4 of them were completely solid.

The best part is that you get to win against people from all over the world. I've checkmated a Chilean, an Israeli (twice!), and an Englishman so far. And a certain South African isn't too far away.

To that end, here is the current state of my match against the South African; I'm playing as White (Black to move):


I'm fairly certain I have this thing won. Next move he'll take my bishop and then I begin working towards making my Queen's Rook pawn a Queen. I think my slim pawn advantage and especially my pawn at f2 will seal the deal.

Can't be certain of course, but I am confident.

Oh, if you'd like to check out the site, it's Chessworld.net. I play as kingMountain, but right now I can't accept any matches as I'm at my limit. You only get five concurrent matches unless you pay to join.

I think that's a little lame, but what're ya gonna do?

And just in case you get a wild urge to replay my game with the South African, here is the move list:

(Philidor Defense: Nimzovich (Jaenisch) variation)
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 Nf6
4. Bg5 h6
5. Bxf6 Qxf6
6. d5 Qf4
7. Nc3 b6
8. Nb5 Na6
9. g3 Qxe4
10. Be2 Bh3
11. c3 c5
12. a4 c4
13. a5 Bg4
14. Qa4 Bxf3
15. Nxd6 Ke7
16. Nxe4 Bxe4
17. Qc6 Rd8
18. O-O-O Nc5
19. d6 Kf6
20. Qxe4 Nxe4
21. Bxc4 Rxd6
22. Bd5 Nc5
23. b4 Nb3
24. Bxb3 Rc6
25. Kb2 Be7
26. Rd7 Rd8
27. Rxd8 Bxd8
28. Rd1 Rc8
29. Rd7 Bc7
30. Rxf7 Kg6
31. a6 e4
32. Be6 Re8
33. Rxc7