On-line interactions with strangers of this sort seems to invite trolls. I’m not intimating that you are, but the world out there (the unaccountable cyber world) is. Because it is. Better to engage in face-to-face chess bloodsport with a clock and a flesh and blood opponent – possibly in the pub? The problem then is finding somebody worthy of the game. Chess is a game where finding a worthy opponent is important. Any on-line chess gamer isn’t worth spit because they cheat, and knowing you as I do, I doubt that you engage in that sort of bottom feeding. They will look at your move and then use the computer to emulate Fischer or Morphy and find what they did with pieces in the same position. In effect, they will hijack a master. In a way, that’s what computers do and computers these days play exceptional chess if you get the high end software.

I’m not saying that you can’t examine play and copy style. When I was a teenager, I studied Paul Morphy’s games and utilized his style to defeat opponents up to winning a regional state championship. But that was when I was in high school and computers were the size of a house and had less computing power than an I-Phone.

Thus the only value is a human player, eye-to-eye, possibly with having fish and chips delivered during the match so you can throw the other off while you scarf down (nasty) mushy peas…that’s chess.

Didn’t I tell never to talk to strangers naughty girl. Fact is you never could resist a challenge and that urge to win has got you where you are today a bonkers and very clever gorgeous girl

Lucky for you I don’t know how to play chess very well or you’d have gotten a ping from me, too. I think I might’ve checkmated you in NYC, anyway.

Of course they beat you, Jules! They’re chess players! Who are mostly men who find it difficult to get laid. And therefore react like dogs in heat when they’re playing against a blond woman in a cowboy hat. Simples!

If you want to be treated like a lady, take up ballroom dancing. There might even be an on-line version of it now.

LOL! I’ve had some pretty interesting solicitations via social media as well, and all my profiles say I’m happily married with kids. Weirdos. Needless to say, I’m a pro at blocking people. =)

Well, if you’re gonna be like that about it, please can I have my dick pic back?

Of course you are an exception. Hence (hence?) the word exceptional. What is obvious to me is that you are logical and smart even when you’re not being logical and smart, which in my book is impressive. Twenty opponents… wow, I figured you were competitive but you managed to surprise me once again, Jules. But did that idiot write , “You can ask me questions too”? Really? “If you are a little bashful, let me help”…. What? Does that moron realize he’s talking to a full-blown woman who would kick his juvenile ass cowboy style? Lots of folks out there are animals with a thin layer of deceptive humanity. No? Anyway, thanks for the excellent comments, as always. You rock.

8 years hence and you still say lovely things to me. Most people roll their eyes at me, call me weird, psycho or bonkers. I call it jealousy 😉 I’m impressed that you see me as smart and logical despite this! You are gifted, Blue.

Oh yes, these were real comments out of the mouths of babes. Chess chumps. How rude!

I agree with that – there’s always a thin veil of disguise. Gotta have your wits about you.

You are the rock 😉

check, mate: it’s British

I play checkers. in the park. all the birds beat me. the pigeons. I enjoy crisp sandwiches. but I like my bread soggy. I am so sorry. for everything *)

We’ve got to stop crossing lives like this Jules! You have chess chumps, and I’ve been getting Skype pervs and Twitter twats. If we didn’t need social media and the online world for as much as we do, you’d be catching my laptop as it sailed past your window after I tossed it from mine. Yes, some days I get so irritated I just might make it that far. Gonna have to start doing some screen caps of my own. Brilliant! Kick. Their. Asses. >:)

> a dick pic (akin to the cat bringing a dead bird in)
Funny you mention that: A Chinese euphemism for a infant boy’s bits is “the little sparrow”. If that seems strange, consider what a new-hatched sparrow (sans feathers) looks like, especially if it’s slumped over sleeping. Makes sense, sorta, eh? Nah, you’re right. It’s still strange. Anyhoo, ’round these parts I’d always heard the expression as “the cat bringing you a dead *mouse*” or “a dead thing”; for some reason “dead bird” is a new variant to me.

As to your chess, erm, suitors, are they *all* from the subcontinent? I was puzzling over auld###’s slightly strange syntax, until the jati### and Rehan Lawrance stuff showed up.

Online chess trolls, who knew. And I’m not an expert but mushy peas are alright; mind you I also like grits, being a loyal son of the Empire AND the South.