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  • #2277823

    Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

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    by black panther ·

    Do you know how to play Chess?? Yes or No

    Does playing Chess mean that you are a ‘nerd’??

    I have found that Chess is mostly played by technically minded people but I could be wrong!

    Did you know — there are 10 to the power of 120 possible games of chess!

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    • #2715618

      I do!

      by itgirli ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      So there’s one.

      • #2715393

        good on you

        by black panther ·

        In reply to I do!

        Do you enjoy it?

        • #2714843

          I love it.

          by itgirli ·

          In reply to good on you

          I have a nice glass set. The next set I get will be the shot glass set. I also have the small travel magnetic version.

        • #3072554

          Geek or Nerd

          by jardinier ·

          In reply to good on you

          As I don’t play chess and have never had any interest in learning to play, does it follow that I am neither a geek nor a nerd?

      • #2708189

        YES

        by cesarcomputers ·

        In reply to I do!

        does this should prove intelligence? I dunno!

      • #2708855

        aaahhhhh!!

        by sleek1 ·

        In reply to I do!

        Props to you, subtropicalmist… excellent question, and one I have wondered about myself. I think IT people are predisposed to be above average chess players. I consider myself a very good amatuer. I just wish I had enouygh time to play at work!

      • #2712428

        Knights Challenge?

        by grignaak ·

        In reply to I do!

        I Do, that’s for sure. Something I’m actually “good” at, That is if someone will play me, I finally had to buy Fritz 8!

        But a related question: How many IT ppl know how to do the Knights Challenge? (#s probably not as high, but I bet they’re higher than any other field besides maybe astro-physicist.)

        • #2721038

          Fritz

          by black panther ·

          In reply to Knights Challenge?

          I have heard that Fritz is one of the best chess programs around – never actually seen it yet!

    • #2715608

      I play Chess too

      by prasanna m mukundan ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      but not all that often..and no I certainly am not a nerd

    • #2715585

      I also play chess…

      by ballistabob ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      I do not believe that playing chess makes one a nerd. Yes, I do believe that a technical mindset does bring one a greater love of the game.

    • #2715578
      Avatar photo

      Well I do play every chance I get

      by hal 9000 ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      Which isn’t all that often as my boss is one of those types who doesn’t allow me anytime off {God it’s terrible working for yourself!} But I’d say I’m more a “Geek” than a Nerd and TR backs me up on that one as well as I was one of last years finalists in the “Top Geek Competition.”

      Col

      • #2715390

        fun

        by black panther ·

        In reply to Well I do play every chance I get

        Re – other post playing for fun.
        Yes in the Chess Tournament World it is very different. This is serious stuff and although you used the word bitchy there are many others that suit.

        In the late 70’s early 80’s whilst playing in Chess Tournaments I must admit I encountered a different human race which most people don’t know exists. Whilst my peers where smoking drugs and drinking etc I was intellectually battling the ‘Geeks’ ‘Nerds’ the ‘Social Outcasts’ of society where upon ‘sniffing’ the slighest hint of a victory would send them into a ‘trance’ or ‘euphoric ectascy’ most likely unmatched by the most powerfull drug on the market at the time.

        What defines a Geek, Nerd ( I could be one myself ) But How would I know?? Nobody has actually defined me as one ( as far as I know? )

        Although I must admit that the people I see as Geeks, Nerds I do seem to get along with them ok.

        As for the comment re the dog show – yes many a time at the EKKA walking through the dogs on show ( where of course you always look to see if the owner of the dog looks the same as the dog itself – quite uncanny ) I saw unforgettable images that implanted themselves into my memory.

        The fatface bulldog dribbling saliva with it’s fatface owner eating a hearty pie the sauce dribbling down the side of his mouth.

        *** Dog Owners please do not take offence***
        ** lighthearted comedy***

        • #2714960
          Avatar photo

          Well once upon a time in a Galaxy Far Far Away

          by hal 9000 ·

          In reply to fun

          I used to breed Great Danes {It made working IT with M$ almost tolerable.}

          Then I was asked to show one of my dogs and silly me went along to see how thing worked out. Well unfortunately for me they had brought in a Specialist Judge to judge the Afghans who happened to be the sister of a person who worked for me and while I spoke to her about things in general while she wasn’t busy with her job that day I did begin to notice the looks and snide comments that I was getting and naturally when my dog won best of breed well you know the rest. That was the first and last dog show I ever took one of my dogs to after all they didn’t enjoy it either so I didn’t see the need to subject then to the harm that came from these shows.

          Col

        • #2714959

          Shows

          by black panther ·

          In reply to Well once upon a time in a Galaxy Far Far Away

          Yes understand… to tell you the truth I can’t imagine any dogs getting much enjoyment from the shows ( except for being able to sniff another one – if close enough ). 🙂

        • #2712425

          Definition?

          by grignaak ·

          In reply to fun

          This is how I define geek and nerd, to me they are NOT interchangeable:
          Geek n. A person who is technically minded, especially towards computers. (Can be a nerd)
          Nerd n. A person who is unstylish, unattractive maybe even unkept. (Can be a geek)

          Both used to be insulting terms (a geek origianally was a circus performer who bit snakes or chickens heads off) But now, in my view, geek is getting more respect, except from Jocks, Rappers, and coolios (exceptions allowed).

          I, myself fall under Geek. Well, I would classify myself as a worldly-geek as oppossed to a nerdy-geek. But a geek I am, and a geek I’ll stay.

        • #2721037

          Definitions

          by black panther ·

          In reply to Definition?

          From these definitions I think I am 1/2 Geek 1/2 Jock – is that possible!!

    • #2715555

      YES

      by clindell ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      Well yes I do and I was pretty darn good more than 25 years ago in high school where I was ranked 4th or 5th on my schools chess team.

    • #2715542

      I love 2 play! :)

      by admin ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      Chess is cool!

    • #2715473

      Um… um..yeah I play too!

      by tomsal ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      I’m not that good at it mind you…but I do play.

      • #2715375

        Cautiously?

        by black panther ·

        In reply to Um… um..yeah I play too!

        Thanks for the response – be proud you can play 🙂

      • #2708655

        YOU’RE ALL NERDS AAAAARGH!!!!

        by oz_media ·

        In reply to Um… um..yeah I play too!

        Just kidding.

        I can play but never really found it very interesting, sure it’s a real headwrecker when you get into it, but it just never really amused me much, neither did D&D but I gave it a shot for a few months.

        I was more interested in playing sports and real life chalenges and obstacles, I was quite an energetic and motivated kid with a lot on my agenda, too much so to actually sit for more than 5 minutes for a game of chess.

        • #2708639

          Both

          by black panther ·

          In reply to YOU’RE ALL NERDS AAAAARGH!!!!

          Thanks OZ!

          I was a ‘jock’ I think you call it in the USA + a chess freak ( does that make sense? )

          Just to raise your excitement level about Chess they have games called ‘blitz’ where you get 5 minutes for each person to play the whole game using chess clocks. If you ran out of time first you lose.

          Can get your heartrate going just like a physical sport!!

        • #2712566

          NO sweat

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Both

          I am actually not in the USA. Canada and the USA are diferent places now.

          Jocks were nerds too when I was in school.

          But that’s only because of those stupid tight little Addidas shorts everyone used to waar that made them all look like….well you know what i mean. But in my defense, we were just kids and segregation is what kept us alive.

        • #2712669

          How do you repair a network if you can’t sit still? ~LoL~

          by admin ·

          In reply to YOU’RE ALL NERDS AAAAARGH!!!!

          hehe, I know it was when you were a kid 🙂

          Now that you probably sit still for hours do you ever think of taking it up again? 🙂

        • #2712563

          No I am still pretty active.

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to How do you repair a network if you can’t sit still? ~LoL~

          If it wasn’t for a laptop and a mobile phone that has an IR port, I would never be onlilne.

          I often sit at the coffee house after a kayak and visit TR in the late afternoon. In the daytime I am in and out, lawn work, splitting the winter wood and travelling back and forth to th mainland for onsite visits. That’s how I have so many irons in the fire, I just can’t sit still. :p

        • #3050309

          D&D

          by charliespencer ·

          In reply to YOU’RE ALL NERDS AAAAARGH!!!!

          I tried D&D, but unless you’re the dungeon master you’ve got no control over what’s happening. And most dungeon masters don’t put in the preparation time to ensure a good game.

          At one of the high schools I attended we nerds could “letter” in chess just the the traditional jocks.

      • #2708651

        Completely off topic question for Tom

        by oz_media ·

        In reply to Um… um..yeah I play too!

        During a discussion today on one of my boards about concept albums, there is some uncertainlty about IM’s POwerslave (ahhh, what a tour, even Twisted sister was good back then!).

        Some say it is not a concept album because it didn’t follow a singl theme.

        Others say it technically IS because while it doesn’t focus on ONE theme, the songs in the album do share common themes.

        Two Minutes to Midnight and Aces High have the RAF, WWII fighter plane themes.

        Flash of the Blade and The Duellists share a common theme.

        I wonder why the egyptian theme was used for that and not an album like Piece of Mind, Flight of Icarus, To Tame a Land etc.?

        I suppose The Trooper and Die with your Boots on would be beter suited fo Powerslave though!?!

        What were they thinking?!?!?

        Up the irons
        OM

    • #2715457

      Strategic Preparation

      by andeanderson ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      I used to play chess with my wife and kids. Now, we seem to be too busy to enjoy such quality time pursuits.

      And, of course, computers have have helped to turn such games into individual interests which do not need other people to play.

      “Alone in a crowd.”

      • #2715045

        Kids and Chess

        by black panther ·

        In reply to Strategic Preparation

        I have a 9 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. They have PS2, 2 networked computers with heaps of Games – yet when I got my simple chess board out guess what they wanted to play with and learn how to play.

        I purchase Chessmaster 7000 for my son to play chess on the computer but he would rather play with the non-electronic ‘manual’ chess board against another human.

    • #2715436

      I know how

      by thechas ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      I know how to play chess, but it has been a very long time since I last played a game.

      In high school, I was in chess club, and was even an officer.

      We played “1” match in competition.

      Chas

    • #2715033

      Chess strategy is great for visualizing spatial relationships!!

      by sleepin’dawg ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      Right now trying to learn a game called Gho or Go or Goh (nobody agrees on the correct spelling) and this is supposedly going to improve my chess game, which was no great hell to start with. Tried 3D chess but got tired of getting my butt kicked. Computer chess is less fun and not as discouraging since there is no one around to witness your defeat but you really can’t beat a quiet game with an evenly matched friend over a couple of beers. For an interesting variation, a lady once challenged me to a game of strip chess. ]:) 😉

      • #2715019

        Strip Chess/Go

        by black panther ·

        In reply to Chess strategy is great for visualizing spatial relationships!!

        you didn’t say who won?

        Also in China Go is far more popular than Chess

        http://www.usgo.org/resources/whatisgo.asp

        • #2714921

          That is where I encountered it and it’s even more complex than chess.

          by sleepin’dawg ·

          In reply to Strip Chess/Go

          As for strip chess, it depends on how seriously you want to take the game. Sacrifice a few pawns lose enough clothes and the game never does get finished.
          One thing puzzles me. How or why did dogs put inan appearance on this thread??? Don’t get me wrong, I love dog and have a few but they make real lousy chess players.

        • #2714861
          Avatar photo

          Unless they are Great Danes

          by hal 9000 ·

          In reply to That is where I encountered it and it’s even more complex than chess.

          Who just have to hang over your shoulder an watch every move you make.

          This is one thing that most people do not understand when you are involved with Great Danes they own you not the other way around and they are only humoring you when you think they are doing what you want them to do. I had one who just would never let me out of his sight and it was to say the least disturbing when under a car working on the electronics and you feel a hot breath on the back of your neck, you react so fast that you bang your head on the underside of the car and it is only then that you realize it’s a dog looking at everything that you do.

          Col

        • #2708416

          That’s familiar. Danes or Deerhounds, they seem alike.

          by sleepin’dawg ·

          In reply to Unless they are Great Danes

          They won’t tolerate being separated from you and insist on being in the bedroom with you. Lying in bed with a new lady and you are reaching the point when things are getting interesting when suddenly she lets out a shriek because she just felt something cold and wet on her leg and three pairs of eyes are staring at her reproachfully. From behind you, on the other side of the bed, a cold wet nose sniffing at your butt, threatens the mood. You try to throw a brassiere on a chair and they take this as an invitation to play fetch followed by a little tug of war as they try to determine which one has the right to return it to you. Guess what??? They won!!! Did you know the price of a woman’s bra could keep the average guy in jockeys for the forseeable future or at least ten years??? I also found that even after all these years going into a woman’s lingerie store is not a task for the faint-hearted!!!
          They also had another cute trick. One of them would cut a hummer but they would all turn and give ME a dirty look and damn it, I’d feel guilty.
          Have a good one Col.

          Dawg

          By the way I’m down to only one of them now and he’s getting on but I have a Kerry Blue bit*h who keeps him in line and thank God she chooses to sleep in the kitchen.

        • #2708351
          Avatar photo

          My dog used to be better than an alarm clock

          by hal 9000 ·

          In reply to That’s familiar. Danes or Deerhounds, they seem alike.

          From a very early age he used to run into the bedroom jump on the bed straddling me and lick my face when the alarm clock went off in the morning. Well that was great as a puppy but when he got to about 60 KG’s he could no longer stop when he jumped on the bed and would slide to a screaming halt by falling on me trapping me beneath the bedclothes and unable to move. At least you couldn’t ignore the alarm clock so I suppose it had some good points but!!

          Anyway after the first time that he ran into the bed room and winded me I took to shutting the door {mistake number 1} as tat morning he came galloping down the hall and ran smack into the shut door {sounded like a bomb going off about half an inch from your ear} and what was worse was when you opened the door there he was sitting down looking at me with such a disdainful look. Anyway that only lasted 2 days as he worked out if he hit the door exactly in the middle it would almost explode in wards but at least it deformed enough to open and then he would just stroll over to the bed and walk onto it to make sure I was awake.

          Of course all bets where off during thunder storms as all the Danes would very carefully watch the bed by lying on it to make sure it didn’t escape through fear their combined weight was well in excess of 200 KG’s so the bed had no hope of moving and I had no hope of moving them off the bed at the time. But it got even better when they decided that they would share the bed with me when I was doing shift work having a fully grown Dane either side of you pushing against you as hard as they could just to make sure you stayed there and the third one lying across you was a guarantee that I never got any sleep. But I suppose at least I always knew exactly where they where.

          By the way you’ve never lived until you’ve had a cold wet nose stuck in the middle of your back in the middle of winter while you’re asleep it is impossible to go back to sleep after a shock like that.

          Col

        • #2708307

          So it was the Aussies who first called it a Three Dog Night!!!

          by sleepin’dawg ·

          In reply to My dog used to be better than an alarm clock

          Thankfully I never had that problem because they quickly found out on the bed was the quickest route to the basement. Beside or under the bed was fine but on it, no way. Mind you, they can still make me feel guilty as hell at times because of that.

        • #2714822

          Go is fun, but Pente Rocks!

          by admin ·

          In reply to Strip Chess/Go

          Well, in my opinion anyway! 🙂

          You should try Pente sometime- easy to learn and a lifetime to master, so they say.

        • #2708417

          Heard the name but have never seen it played.

          by sleepin’dawg ·

          In reply to Go is fun, but Pente Rocks!

          I guess there are lots of games like that. Germans rave about a card game called Skat and even though I was married to a German I never saw it played. Apparently it’s played for money and I received many invitations to play but thought it wiser to learn the game first. Aside from getting my introduction to gambling at the cribbage board I once got sucked into playing bridge for a 1/10th of a cent a point. I wasn’t a bad player but I lacked experience, was young and a tenth of a cent per point seemed harmless. What a lesson!!!
          In 3 hours I was down $65, which in those days wasn’t chicken feed, when we switched partners. I had not realized that bridge could be such a cutthroat affair but got a real eye opener when my new partner started telling me what cards I should play to put the opponent down. When the game was over my new partner had recouped about $50-$55 of my losses but I’ve never regretted my loss because to this day I still think of it as a cheap price to pay for such a valuable lesson. Now could I interest someone in a little cribbage or perhaps poker???? I’ve always wanted to learn how to play that. 😉 ]:)

        • #3050307

          Ohmigawd! Someone else who plays it!

          by charliespencer ·

          In reply to Go is fun, but Pente Rocks!

          I thought I was the only one left still playing Pente. My wife rules at Pente, and she usually does better at word games than logic games.

          For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, Pente is a Go variation. I first saw it around 1980. The board is similar to Go, you take turn placing stones, but the object is to get five in a row, not capture territory.

          Anybody know where I can get a computer game version of Pente?

        • #2720862

          Strip? As in clothing?

          by etaoin shrdlu ·

          In reply to Strip Chess/Go

          Not sure if that is what you meant, but the thought of playing strip chess (or go) with an appropriate partner is intriguing.

          OTOH, most people I know who play chess–I would prefer them to remain fully clothed, thank you very much.

        • #2720837
          Avatar photo

          Yes that’s the general idea

          by hal 9000 ·

          In reply to Strip? As in clothing?

          And it is supposed to be played with one of the other sex.

          Also if you combine it with the Shot Glass Chess sets you don’t really care what the other person looks like at the end of the game as by that time your under the table passed out.

          Col

        • #3050306

          Strip Go? Use M & M’s.

          by charliespencer ·

          In reply to Strip? As in clothing?

          Nuff said.

        • #3050268

          Strip Monopoly and Dirty Word Scrabble

          by bfilmfan ·

          In reply to Strip Chess/Go

          While I am a middling Chess player at best, I am mighty at Strip Monopoly and Dirty Word Scrabble.

          I dare ITGirli, CuteElf and Jessie to take me on! Come on ya landed on Park Place and ya ain’t got no money!

          I am scared that OZ can beat me at Dirty Word Scrabble. I will bet he knows a lot of those words!

          ROTFLMAO

    • #2714975

      Yes

      by maxwell edison ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      .
      I learned to play Chess when I was about 6 years old, and have been playing ever since. I started teaching my son to play when he was about 7. He learned and played in frustration for about 3 to 4 years because he always lost to me – I would never “let” him win – but he did beat a lot of his friends. One of the most exciting times he’s ever had is when he beat me – fair and square – at the age of 11. I’ll give him another year, and he’ll beat me at golf as well.

      • #2714963

        Competition

        by black panther ·

        In reply to Yes

        Excellent – have you ever played competition chess?

        Did you let your son ‘take-back’ moves or were you ‘ruthless’?

        Thanks for the reply 🙂

        • #2714947

          Competition – No – – – Ruthless – Yes

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to Competition

          .
          No, I’ve never played competition Chess.

          And with Chess, just like golf, I taught him to play by the rules – no exceptions. But he also holds me to the same standards, so neither of us can take back a bone-headed move – And we both make them from time to time.

          With Chess, once your hand comes off the piece, the move is completed. In golf, no mulligan, no gimmes’, count every stroke, OB is stroke and distance, only 14 clubs in the bag, and so on.

          My philosophy, which is now his philosophy as well, is that if you skirt the rules from time to time, you can’t gauge your real improvement, and you won’t be as well prepared to play in competition. (My son, 14 yrs, does play competitive golf on his school’s golf team.)

        • #2714920

          My Dad taught me how to play and that was how he taught me.

          by sleepin’dawg ·

          In reply to Competition – No – – – Ruthless – Yes

          When I had a bit of trouble with arithmetic he taught me cribbage and we played for ten cents a game and a quarter for a skunk. Once we started playing for money my Dad claimed my arithmetic improved almost overnight. Another thing my Dad taught me was playing by the rules, playing to win and with what later became known as the Lombardi rule, winning isn’t everything, its the only thing but it must be achieved with honor!!!

    • #2714862

      Chess Team….

      by jamesrl ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      I learned to play from a friend – we lived in the country and back then we could only get 3 TV stations. So we played games – Stratego, Monopoly, Risk, and Chess.

      There came a point where the person who taught me never beat me again – then I had to find new players. My senior public school(grade 7 and 8) had a chess team, and we did compete. I was not top player, but I learned alot from the top player. When we went to the county tournament I made it to the semi finals, and the top player won the tournament.

      I am teaching my ten year old ches – he has started a chess club at his school.

      James

      • #2708280

        Stratego and Risk

        by black panther ·

        In reply to Chess Team….

        These are great games! Beware of the **bomb**

    • #2714847

      I sure do.

      by aldanatech ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      I do play chess every now and then; not at a professional level but rather for entertainment purposes. Does that mean I’m a nerd? I don’t know. But I can tell you that a couple of friends are very technically minded and they are not very good at chess. Just because you know how to move the pieces doesn’t mean you actually know how to play the game. Professional chess players I know develop the talent of foreseeing up to seven or more moves and anticipate each of them long ahead of time. Sometimes they can even anticipate all the way to end game. In my opinion, these kinds of skills are more relevant on chess than on many other disciplines.

    • #2714787

      I Play

      by newcompspec ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      I play occasionally, but my kids usually beat me. Is that a good sign?

      • #2708279

        Depends

        by black panther ·

        In reply to I Play

        Maybe your kids are good at it or maybe you are bad at it 🙂

    • #2714766

      Excellent Question. Chess and Poker: metaphor for life :)

      by garion11 ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      Love them both. Poker especially. Texas Hold’em anyone? or 5 card draw? Boy, my wallet itches as much as my brain does.

      • #2708414

        Sly, very sly. Gonna keep an eye on you!

        by sleepin’dawg ·

        In reply to Excellent Question. Chess and Poker: metaphor for life :)

        Perhaps some 7 card or a little HI-LO??? Of
        course I’m not sure how they’re played. Perhaps you could teach??? Does two pair beat anything???
        I got a pair of red aces and a pair of black aces!!! ]:) 😉 😀 Keep in mind I’m just a poor old man and try to be nice. 😀

    • #2714730

      Reply To: Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      by ippirate ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      Hey! That’s me and I am teaching my kids for the benefits of problem solving, spatial thought and critical reasoning.

    • #2708487

      I play. And my 11-year-old kid beat me.

      by delbertpgh ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      He licked me for the first time last night. I out-mistaked him. He’s very pleased with himself now. I’d be ashamed, but I always played so bad, I just wonder why it took him this long.

    • #2708175

      Chess – USCF

      by thomas_hausmann ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      I used to play “on the road” in USCF tournaments in the midwest.

    • #2708861

      Reply To: Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      by usimonkey ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      I know the rules, but I don’t play, so I don’t know the strategy.

    • #2708849

      I play

      by cactus pete ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      …but I can rarely find someone to play with me who isn’t much better than me. I seem to be in a strange middle area where people of my skill level aren’t very interested.

      • #2708670

        Strength

        by black panther ·

        In reply to I play

        That is what you will find – most people seem to obtain an average level ( in chess they have a rating system when you play competition ) – People who have learnt the rules but have never studied books or played in chess clubs usually obtain a level around 1000 to 1200. Some who have studies chess books and have started to play competition get around 1200 to 1800.

        Then you start getting to the professionals with the Grandmasters strengths over 2000 with the top
        around 2700. ie Gary Kasparov and Vishy Anand etc

    • #2708785

      A TechRepublic favorite

      by Mark W. Kaelin ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      Many of the TechRepublic staff play chess – some almost every day :8}

    • #2708515

      Yes

      by webwolf ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      Yes

    • #2712589

      Me too..

      by onbliss ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      actually used too. I used to play hours together with my friends. I did find it very interesting, though I am not great at it. Oh yeah…got to blame my intelligence for that :-)))

      • #2712395
        Avatar photo

        Hey we work IT don’t we?

        by hal 9000 ·

        In reply to Me too..

        I think that says far more than anything else about our intelligence!

        Col

        • #2712351

          To be real honest…

          by onbliss ·

          In reply to Hey we work IT don’t we?

          …I am not that intelligent. Just average. I have seen far greater intelligent people and thinkers in IT and outside IT.

          I have aptitude and have survived for more than a decade as an application programmer. Application programmers could have average intelligence and perform a great job if there are other key ingredients.

    • #2712559

      yes actually

      by jkaras ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      I have enjoyed a game of chess every once and a while. I think it is a fun game and quite challenging. I have a bigger losing record than a winning one but I still enjoy it. On a side note a friend came over the other day explaining he saw a shot glass chess board. He explained that each shot is filled with liquor and each time you lose a piece you drink. Before you know it your beaten and drunk and it doesnt matter.

    • #2712527

      Yep, and here’s a nifty version

      by gralfus ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      Hoyle’s Majestic Chess for computer is a nifty way to challenge yourself when there is no one else to play. You can play against virtual players, play an adventure game based on chess puzzles, and even play online against other real players. I’ve only done the adventure game so far.

    • #2712407

      I just …

      by dwdino ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      … program a simulation and watch. Funny how I always seem to win.

    • #2720674

      chess

      by angel.cuevas ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      Yes, I can say i know how to play but not very good.

    • #2720612

      nerd’s the word

      by lioninoil ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      “Do you know how to play Chess?? Yes or No”

      I’ve been playing chess since 1957, in tournaments since 1980.

      “Does playing Chess mean your a ‘nerd’??”

      No, writing ‘your’ instead of “you’re” means you’re a nerd.

      • #2720574

        It all makes sense now!

        by black panther ·

        In reply to nerd’s the word

        Thank-you it makes much more sense!

      • #2723026
        Avatar photo

        Oh do be fair

        by hal 9000 ·

        In reply to nerd’s the word

        We work IT here and deal with computer logic and sometimes programing so you really can not expect us to be able to use English as well. After all that’s one of the first things that goes particularly if you are one of the many VB writers out there.

        Just getting it sounding right is a pretty good effort for us!

        Col

        • #2722999

          Do I see somebody bashing…

          by onbliss ·

          In reply to Oh do be fair

          ..Visual Baisc 🙂 [just kidding]

        • #2723194
          Avatar photo

          No

          by hal 9000 ·

          In reply to Do I see somebody bashing…

          It would have to be a programing language first before you could bash it wouldn’t it?

          “SARCASM ALERT”

          Maybe I should have put that first.

          Col

        • #2705753

          That’s an axiom!!!

          by sleepin’dawg ·

          In reply to No

          What is referred to as a self-evident truth!!!:p 😉

    • #2720567

      if you mean …

      by j_squared ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      actually know how the game works and can play without performing an illegal move then yes, but I cant say im very good at it. So if that then no.

    • #3048462

      “Your” a nerd?

      by the chad ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      I don’t have a nerd, so “my” nerd wouldn’t be anything.

      Now, if you were to say, “You’re a nerd” or abrogate the apostrophe by stating “You are a nerd,” then that would mean something entirely different, wouldn’t it?

      • #3050231

        Not nerd – but a nerd

        by maxwell edison ·

        In reply to “Your” a nerd?

        .
        Not, you don’t have a nerd, but you don’t have a a nerd …… no, it would be an a nerd ….. or maybe an a-nerd.

        I know, I’m probably just being a noying.

        (Amazing how you resurrected this old thread!)

      • #3050218

        I think you just proved it!

        by black panther ·

        In reply to “Your” a nerd?

        🙂

    • #3050378

      Chess

      by becks_xlover ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      Yes, I know the key facts

      NOt at all

      Normally, chess is mostly played by persons having great strategic skills

      I didn’t know that there r so many possibilities for chess

    • #3050360

      I play chess

      by jck ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      very poorly.

      Of course, the guy I used to play against was rated a Master by the USCF (or something like that…whatever the US’s chess organization is).

      I have a portable board and pieces…but, I don’t play that often anymore and didn’t have time to study enough.

      I’d like to, but I need a clear head to be able to think of even beginning to think more than 4 moves ahead.

      • #3050217

        getting a clear head is the hard part…

        by black panther ·

        In reply to I play chess

        with all of todays interruptions etc 🙂

    • #3050336

      Chess – No, I’m rubbish

      by neilb@uk ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      I have a patience threshold measurable in milliseconds!

      • #3050264

        Welcome to my world

        by jmgarvin ·

        In reply to Chess – No, I’m rubbish

        I might do well at first, but it is too time consuming. I generally pop in for a quick game of Enemy Territory, Counter-Strike, or World of Warcraft if I’m feeling social 😉

        Oh, yes I liked D&D 😉

      • #3050219

        thats a surprise neil…

        by black panther ·

        In reply to Chess – No, I’m rubbish

        I would have assumed with your analytical, scientific andlogical mind you have been a good player! 🙂

        • #3050165

          The problem is

          by neilb@uk ·

          In reply to thats a surprise neil…

          if I’ve worked out my strategy on the basis of my opponents likely moves then I want to play it now. [b]Now[/b].

          I like strategy but I like it fast.

          Reversi, anyone?

        • #3050164

          Blitz Chess

          by black panther ·

          In reply to The problem is

          I also like playing fast. I played Blitz Chess ie you get 5 minutes each to play the whole game using time clocks.

          I am sure you could get used to that! 🙂

    • #3050333

      Was a big passtime in an Auto shop

      by oz_media ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      When I was in BCIT for Automotiver training, we often had several hours a weeks where we’d be awaiting clearances, waiting for specialists, etc. Chess was the main way to kill time, for most of the class, I was more interested in oter things.

      So I suppose that does prove to be popular with techincal minds, while FAR from nerds, Auto techs are VERY technically minded people, unlike the grease monkeys of the 70’s.

      In IT, I have met VERY few people who play chess, it seems nobody even plays BOARD games anymore though.

      • #3050211

        your right oz…

        by black panther ·

        In reply to Was a big passtime in an Auto shop

        Even I have resorted to playing it on the PC. I also have 3 other stand-alone chess computers and 4 chess sets.

        My original chess computer was built in 1979 using ‘solid state’ components. Not a very strong program though.

        I remember how fun it used to be to actually get a board game out and play it with the rest of the family.

        Look whats happened now…we tend to play individually on PC’s or playstations with minimal interaction with the rest of the family or others.

        • #3066263

          the chess computer

          by lioninoil ·

          In reply to your right oz…

          :: My original chess computer was built in 1979 using ‘solid state’ components.

          I bought a chess computer in 1980 to better learn the openings for tournament play. It worked: within a year, my rating rose two classes, then another class a year later.

          Even though I had “souped-up” the computer [Fidelity Chess Challenger] with a crystal oscillator to increase the clock speed, play at any high level was still slow and uneven. I gave it away long ago, now I wish I had kept it as a museum piece [along with my Commodore 64 and Altima laptop].

    • #3050311

      You mean some people don’t?

      by charliespencer ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      Since I was ten and my father would handicap himself a rook.

      Chess playing doesn’t mean you’re technically minded, but I think it indicates you enjoy attempting to thinking logically. That kind of thinking often leads to a technical career, but there’s no guarantee.

      • #3050232

        “attempt to think logically”

        by m_a_r_k ·

        In reply to You mean some people don’t?

        That describes me most of the time. I attempt to think logically but hardly ever succeed. I don’t play chess very often. Mostly b/c I don’t know any other chess players. I used to have a chess PC game where I played against the ‘puter. I got my ass kicked every time but it was a fun challenge. I’m not sure what I did with the disk. It was a number of years ago. Anybody know where I can download a free chess game for the PC?

        • #3050214

          here’s one

          by black panther ·

          In reply to “attempt to think logically”

          it’s ok for free but if you get more serious you are better of purchasing a good one 🙂

          http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Games/Board_Games/Pawn.html

        • #3050157

          Thanks

          by m_a_r_k ·

          In reply to here’s one

          Thanks, Panther. The free one will probly be OK. I haven’t ever been serious about anything in my life up to this point. I don’t think I’ll start now. 😉

        • #3048004

          Ten game trial

          by charliespencer ·

          In reply to “attempt to think logically”

          See Dreamquest (www.dq.com; how they scored the URL ahead of Dairy Queen is one of life’s mysteries). Their version is free for the first ten games. To license it after that is $20 or $25, but they often run sales knocking $5 off. All future upgrades are free. Their games come with several opponent skill levels, so you can start with the easy ones.

        • #3047941

          I’d satrt with Pre-Novice level

          by m_a_r_k ·

          In reply to Ten game trial

          When I play chess, I randomly move my guys around the board with no strategy. I need a good how-to book for beginners. Surely there’s a “Chess for Dummies” book?

    • #3050257

      yup..

      by jaqui ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      though mostly after work with the rest of the crew at a restaurant.

      shut it down for the night.. wander to 24 hour donut shop, or someone’s home,
      and play chess all night.

      used to play on a portable computerised board.. got to the point where the computer couldn’t beat me unless it was in the 64 to 68 levels.

      • #3050216

        great…

        by black panther ·

        In reply to yup..

        just what i would have expected from a ‘linux’ person 🙂

        • #3050139

          hey now!!

          by jaqui ·

          In reply to great…

          I resemble that remark! 😉

        • #3050125

          thought that you would like it..

          by black panther ·

          In reply to hey now!!

          🙂

    • #3050143

      I play chess

      by av . ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      Yes. I love the game, but never thought of myself as a nerd, I was thinking more James Bond. I never thought about all of the technical possibilities either because I considered each game unique.

    • #3048009

      Chess, what’s that?

      by dnvrtechgrrl ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      Seriously though; my boss keeps passing around a “geek test.”

      I pretty much fail with chess, documentaries over movies, outdoor adventures vs. organized sports (Minus football, hockey, and soccer.)and several other “geeky” areas.

      The one thing I can’t get into:
      Sci-fi.

      I’ve tried, lord knows I’ve tried, I just can’t do it. There is a book series out by an author named Octavia Butler – that sucked me in a bit. But that’s the extent of my sci-fi career.

      • #3047992

        Try this one

        by gadgetgirl ·

        In reply to Chess, what’s that?

        John Norman – writer of the Gor series – Chronicles of the Counter Earth.

        Only sci fi books I ever got into – still have all of them, 15 years on from initial purchase! – and re-read when I get the chance (not often these days!)

        I’m a big sci fi fan, but I admit only on screen. This author was the only one who reeled me in to the printed side.

        With ref. to your boss and his geek test – perhaps you should manufacture a boss test, just to see how he does!

        GG

        • #3047965

          How about the sci-fi classics?

          by m_a_r_k ·

          In reply to Try this one

          Jules Verne (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, etc)and H.G. Wells (War of the Worlds, First Man on the Moon, etc). Kind of a coincidence that I started reading one of Wells’ books last night.

        • #3050064

          War of the Worlds

          by dnvrtechgrrl ·

          In reply to How about the sci-fi classics?

          Didn’t do a thing for me. The time machine was pretty cool in print, but my brother had me sit down with him and watch it when we were a bit young – it just confused me.

          Most nights I suffer insomnia. On a rare occasion I can get into Star Trek. That’s a long shot though.

          I’d much rather sit down with a documentary. I don’t even care what the topic is – as long as it has some side of human interest.

          I can’t get into biographies either. I also haven’t tried but… there’ll be plenty of time for that later.

          When I do get a few minutes I’m either playing some freaky-freaky word game on Yahoo!Games or Kasperov’s chess on the pc. That’s a rare moment though. I’d much rather be outdoors than in.

        • #3050056

          Re: War of the Worlds

          by m_a_r_k ·

          In reply to War of the Worlds

          I don’t wanna see the movie “War of the Worlds” b/c I think Tom Cruise is a dork. So I’ll try to read the book instead. A short story actually. It’s only about 125 pages.

          I used to love biographies when I was a kid. Loved reading life stories of guys from the olden days like Washington, Abe, Benny Franklin, etc. School libraries were chock full of good biographies. Can’t seem to find good biographies anymore. At least not in book stores.

          Most novels nowadays suck. I can’t stand books about some small band of bad guys trying to conquer the world. Or one superhero singlehandedly saving the world from domination by some small bad of bad guys. Not very realistic. And too much like a Tom Cruise movie. And I think the Cruiser is a dork. And why does every novel seem to have the obligatory side-story of guy-meets-girl? If it was that easy to meet a girl, I’d quit my job and become a fictional action-hero. I like fiction based on at least a few facts or real-life circumstances.

        • #3050032

          I’m thinking of seeing…

          by dnvrtechgrrl ·

          In reply to Re: War of the Worlds

          War of the Worlds. I wasn’t – but I talked to my mother a few weeks ago and she insisted. The concept of an American refugee just threw her for a loop and that made it worth seeing.

          Like me, the idea that “if it bleeds – it leads”, could have gone without – but I’m giving netflix a heads up that I want it when it’s available; even if it has Tom Thumb in it. If it sucks I can always seal it up and send it back.

          =)

          I’m not into chick flicks either. I probably should be, considering my gender, but I’m just not interested.

          Lincoln huh?

          We had a debate the other day. I’m not real sure where it started, possibly by my opening my big mouth, but we discussed what contributions he would make should he be alive today.

          My vote was simply “rolling over dead” – ashamed of what we’ve become – ashamed of what our government has become – ashamed of our place in the world.

          Some thought him a modern day peace keeper, some thought he’d be in the middle of the gay rights movement, I don’t buy either story.

          He didn’t have the mess in front of him that he’d face today. Albeit was a differnet mess, but it certainly wasn’t this one.

        • #3050022

          Honest Abe

          by m_a_r_k ·

          In reply to I’m thinking of seeing…

          Maybe your Lincoln convo got kickstarted b/c “Time” magazine had a feaure edition about him a couple weeks ago. Not sure why him at this particular time. I haven’t read that edition yet. It’s on my never-shrinking “someday” list. Maybe his birthday was a couple weeks ago or something. “Time” had a similar edition about T Jefferson a while back also. That’s also still sitting on my coffee table and is in the middle of my someday list.

          It would be interesting if we could see how the leaders from the past would do today, and vice versa. Some may fall flat on their face; others may do great things. It’s strange how some modern-day “experts” try to find the typical human faults in guys like Washington and Lincoln, thereby disparaging the great things they did in their time. Like Washington was a lousy president b/c he was shy or b/c he had slaves; Jefferson was a lousy prez b/c he wasn’t married but got a black servant pregnant; on and on…. Hell they lived in a different time. Let bygones be bygones. But I digest…

        • #3049889

          you should take

          by jaqui ·

          In reply to Re: War of the Worlds

          a look at Lois McMaster Bujold’s Miles Vorkosigan series.

          the intro to Miles:
          Brothers in arms.

          space opera.
          humour being one of the biggest parts of the entire series.
          the “hero” gets slagged by friends and family.. dumped on when tries to pick up girls..
          fired from military.. hired back again..
          all while he’s running around gibbering in panic trying to survive and keep his word to variuos people.

          the entire series is a good 4 hour read per book.
          all tend to be stand alone, so order doesn’t matter.

          http://www.baen.com/library/
          there is one of the series here, free ebook.

        • #3050034

          Hollywood SF

          by generalist ·

          In reply to War of the Worlds

          I have seen very few science fiction movies that work well. Hollywood has a tendency to butcher SF, taking the basic storyline and adding what they think would attract the general audience.

          They also dumb down the science, making mistakes that any teenaged SF reader could nail them on.

          If your interests are documentaries with a human interest side, you might want to look into those authors other than Butler that have several books in a series. McCaffrey has a couple of series like the Dragon books and the Pegasus/Tower series that are a good read if you like stories about people and societies.

          One of my family’s favorite series is by a woman named Lois McMaster Bujold. We call it the Miles Vorkosigan series because most of the stories are about Miles and how he survives in a society that has had to go from horse back to spaceships while fighting high tech human invaders. He comes into the story after the society has gotten spaceships but before it has completely gotten rid of such ideas as killing infant children with birth defects.

          Being a person with chemical warfare induced birth defects, he has to work extra hard to overcome societal bias. Of course, it helps that his father and grandfather are VERY well respected people in the soceity. And it also helps that his mother is from off planet and also VERY well respected.

        • #3049885

          Cordelia is

          by jaqui ·

          In reply to Hollywood SF

          not well respected.
          she is feared.. after all going shopping in the capital during a revolt and bringing the leader of the revolts head back in a bag is not something normally done on army mad male dominated Barryar.

          Mile’s grandpa tried to kill miles when he was weeks old.
          ( hense seargeant bothari as body guard )

          have to read Civil Campaign yet?
          miles gets hitched.

        • #3050066

          One small problem

          by dnvrtechgrrl ·

          In reply to Try this one

          I’m a week away from a semester that involves advanced quantum mechanics. I don’t see much leisure reading in my near future. =)

          I’ll check it out though. Sounds like it might be good.

          Thanks for the tip!

        • #3050055

          Quantum crap! OMG!

          by m_a_r_k ·

          In reply to One small problem

          I’m proud to say that Quantum Physics (probly the same crap as Quantum Mechanix) is the only course I ever made a D in! (a round of applause) Interesting course learning about the 4th dimension (time) and all that. But I pulled in a D nonetheless. And that ties us right back to Wells’ “The Time Machine”. hmmm

          There’s also a discussion somewhere here on TR about time travel. Since I made a D in that quantum course, I gingerly sidestepped getting too immersed in that discussion.

        • #3050036

          Time travel?

          by dnvrtechgrrl ·

          In reply to Quantum crap! OMG!

          nah. Get more into the physics side of it. Its MUCH more fun.

          Little teeny tiny vibrating strings…
          now that’s some cool Schtuff!

        • #3050018

          Reply To: Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

          by m_a_r_k ·

          In reply to Time travel?

          Yeah I still have occasional nightmares about how a charged particle of something sitting in the corner of one room caused other particle things sitting in the next room to do strange things that had no effect on anything in the real world but my grade in the class. Not to mention Schrodinger’s Equation, Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle, quarks,…. Well, we did learn about black holes in space. That was pretty cool stuff. Them black holes are scary. Suck everything into them. Like a roach motel. You never come out. Never did learn what happens to stuff after it gets sucked inside. Gets crushed, I guess. Good luck in that class. If you’re not the praying type, you better get started ASAP. You’ll need it.

        • #3049883

          teeny virating

          by jaqui ·

          In reply to Time travel?

          things?

          pervert! 🙂

        • #3049079

          Be afraid. Be very afraid…..

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to Time travel?

          little teeny tiny vibrating strings…..

          hmm

          Careful! – you may just be about to join myself and King Swill in the gutter with that one! ;\

          GG

    • #3049878

      and now look at this….The worlds strongest chess computer!..

      by black panther ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      Hydra is a brute force chess machine, designed by a team with Dr Christian (“Chrilly”) Donninger, Ulf Lorenz, GM Christopher Lutz and Muhammad Nasir Ali. The goal of the Hydra Project is to dominate the computer chess world, and finally have a widely accepted victory over humans.

      Hydra currently runs on a 64 node Xeon cluster, utilising about 32 of the nodes with a total of 32 gigabytes of RAM. It evaluates about 200,000,000 chess positions per second, the same as the much older Deep Blue. Whilst FPGAs generally perform less well than ASIC chips, Moore’s law allows modern-day FPGAs to run about as fast as the older ASICs used for Deep Blue. The engine is on average able to evaluate up to a depth of about 18 ply (9 moves by each player), deeper than Deep Blue, which only evaluated to about 12 ply on average

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydra_(chess)

    • #3067711

      Have played for almost 30 years/my sets

      by jdclyde ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      I started when I was in second grade, but made one mistake with games like this. I won, all the time. It was cool when we got chess for out TRS80 model II because no one would play me anymore. Who wants to get beat by a kid?

      I have gotten Thing one and Two hooked on Chess as well. They LOVE to go to the coffee shop up the road, have a drink and play chess. I will setup two boards and play them both at the same time. I beat them, but I explain what I am doing AS I am doing it and they are catching on quick.

      Found this cool AND affordable set and I LOVE it.
      http://tinyurl.com/8589c
      Also have this shot glass set.
      http://tinyurl.com/dpqjn

      http://www.ltdcommodities.com/ has some cool stuff. Search on CHESS set and both will pop up.

      I missed this post the first time around, don’t know how that happened.

      I just need to get a nice coffee table for my guy cave so I can leave the nice set out all the time.

    • #3065363

      Most assuredly, yes.

      by deepsand ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      ?

    • #3065319

      I play

      by mirrormirror ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      I have known how to play chess ever since my Dad taught me how to play when I was 10. Not that I am good at it tho.

      Word of advice…if you play chess with the boss, let him win every once in a while. I had a boss who belonged to a local chess club and decided that he would play chess with some of us via the internet. After beating him twice in a row, first time in 15 moves, second time in 17 moves…he started giving me the crud jobs. I should have known better that that.

    • #3058403

      Strategy games

      by ntekkie ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      Yes, chess is fun until someone kicks the snot out of you in 20 minutes or less…..

    • #3062842

      IT needs time to play chess

      by rajuegypt ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      IT Guys willnever waste time playing chess

    • #3062774

      yep, me too…

      by surflover ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      My father taught me when I was young (6 or 7 I think), by the time I was in 6th or 7th grade I could beat him easily, and we stopped playing… I played intermittently through high school, but my opponents either waxed me handily, or vice versa… doesn’t make for an interesting game… I gave it up in college due to the time factor… I keep telling myself that I’ll find time for it (and golf) one day… That day just doesn’t seem to come…

    • #3062765

      Not very techy, but……

      by d.h. cesare ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      I’ve played chess since I was about 10 years old, and still enjoy it. (I was 10 in 1954)

    • #3053401

      I play, but my wife limits my time

      by maglor_elf ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      Yes, I play, but not so often i’d like. My wife (and son) wants my presence on weekends. She thinks i waste my time in games…

    • #3053331

      Nope

      by jessie ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      I’ve never learned, though I’ve wanted to. It’s just one of the myriad things I’ll make time for when the kids are older.

    • #3053325

      You did say: “Yes or No?”

      by jardinier ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      Well I’m a “no.”

      I used to watch people play and formed the impression that people used it as a big ego trip.

      I like Scrabble because it improves my vocabulary. I am not sure that Chess teaches you any skills other than to play Chess.

      As I currently live alone, I play against the computer.

      Oddly there was never (to the best of my knowledge) a Windows version released until about a year ago by Hasbro which owns the copyright.

      So I played it on a Mac and still do.

      I have a very primitive DOS version which does not allow you to play against the computer, so I play against an imaginary opponent.

      But the best version of all was a DOS version written in 1990 called “Scramble” (perhaps for copyright reasons). 19 times out of 20 it left me for dead.

      HOWEVER, for some reason outside my technical knowledge, it will not run on a CPU speed greater than 33 MHz.

      Now perhaps that would make an interesting Technical question.

      • #3058015

        On EGO – Chess – and 33 MHZ Processing

        by maxwell edison ·

        In reply to You did say: “Yes or No?”

        I’m amused at how often people suggest the “ego trip” of others because of what those others might choose to do, or what they might choose to buy, etc. You suggested that people play chess to facilitate their ego trip; other people suggest SUV owners buy them only because of their inflated “egos”; and I’ve seen instances of people suggesting that other people might be doing things presumably only to stroke an ego. But yet, an ego is something intangible; it can’t actually be seen, or heard, or felt, or measured, or quantified in any way, whatsoever.

        Why is that? Why do people presume to suggest what may or may not satisfy another’s ego, or that that’s the reason for their particular behavior? And is this to suggest that some people, namely the ones pointing out other people’s egos, have no egos themselves? Or is pointing out one person’s perceived ego merely satisfying the ego of the observer? I mean, who has the bigger ego? The guy who buys the SUV, or the guy who tries to come across as “too enlightened” to buy an SUV, claiming the SUV owner is only building his “ego”? Perhaps it’s really the latter. And who might have the bigger ego? The guy who plays chess, or the guy who tries to come across as “___________” to learn the game, but comments on others who have?

        But what is ego? Is it an exaggerated sense of self-importance? Or is it just a sense of self-importance? Should people not indulge in self-importance? Should they not take themselves seriously? If not, how could others be expected to take them seriously? Or if one does not have a sense of self-importance, does he then, by default, have a sense of self-unimportance or self-insignificance? Or is ego an appropriate sense of ones self worth? Or is it relative? Is the guy who strives for the Masters Degree ego driven, while the one who settles for a Bachelors Degree (or less) is not? Some people might think so. Or is the guy who criticizes the highly-educated “egos” the one who is really driven by his own ego? Does one’s ego mean that one feels superior to others, or does it mean that one might simply feel a sense of achievement that surpasses that of others? Do people who proudly wallow in mediocrity and humility do so only to stroke their own ego trip? I think that, perhaps, the answer could be yes.

        If ego could be defined as a sense of one’s own dignity or worth, then NOT having an ego might be considered less preferable, as that would mean a lower sense of self-dignity or self-worth. What’s the opposite of having an ego? Is it having humility, or is it having a low sense of self-esteem? Why is having an “ego” generally considered a bad thing, but having an “alter-ego” is generally considered a good thing?

        Oh well, enough about ego. Except that I might mention that I usually cringe when I see an “ego” charge being levied against another, as it might be an indicator of a highly inflated ego of the person making the charge. After all, what more does it take than an inflated ego to judge others for things totally unknown?

        Skills learned by Chess:

        Critical Thinking
        Creative Thinking
        Deliberate Thinking
        Long Term Planning
        Short Term Planning
        Preparation for LT & ST Planning
        Patience
        Decision Making
        Consequences of Decision Making
        Conflict Resolution
        Understanding Challenges
        Understanding Limitations
        Managing Limitations
        Reading Other People
        Goal Setting
        Time Management
        Cause and Effect (nothing in chess is gained with luck)

        Are these skills one learns and uses while playing chess, or perhaps they are skills one should strive to learn and apply in life? The answer is, yes.

        A side note: On my way to work, if I leave at the right time, I drive by a school bus stop, and I often see a couple of kids, who can’t be more than seven or eight, playing chess. It’s the same two kids playing all the time, sitting on the sidewalk, playing chess. Some of the other kids waiting at the bus stop are seemingly lost behind the ear-phones of their ipod or CD player. I wonder which group of kids will do better in college — and in life?

        But no, it has nothing to do with “ego”. Except, of course, the “ego” that might compel one to be better, to think better, to achieve better, etc. And if that kind of “ego” is bad, we should all be so bad.

        On your DOS version 33 MHz game:

        You’ve probably noticed the TURBO switch on a lot of earlier Pentium Computers. This TURBO switch was actually intended to decrease processor speed by turning the TURBO off, rather than increasing it by turning it on. The reason was just what you mentioned. Some programs, primarily game programs, simply ran better (or just ran at all) with the slower processor speed. So the TURBO switch wouldn’t make a 66 MHz processor run faster by turning TURBO on, but rather at half-speed (33 MHz) by turning TURBO off.

        • #3057859

          On egos and turbos

          by jardinier ·

          In reply to On EGO – Chess – and 33 MHZ Processing

          Thank you for your most erudite treatise on “ego.” [Perhaps you will include it in that book you are going to write some day].

          It is indeed a term which has vastly different meanings according to the context in which it is used, or the meaning intended, implied or inferred.

          I should have specified that my reference to ego-tripping applied mostly to a very small sampling of chess players at a particular location. They were in the group that you referred to:

          “Do people who proudly wallow in mediocrity and humility do so only to stroke their own ego trip? I think that, perhaps, the answer could be yes.”

          Or better still I should have paused for a moment before making that remark because it was in no way representative of the many people I know who do play chess. It was based on an image that I have been carrying in my mind for 20 years that was, I suppose, waiting for a situation in which to express itself. The image was of a person playing chess in a coffee shop with his back to the board. Knowing as I did that particular person, it seemed obvious that he was doing this to impress people with his special skill.

          I have a healthy self-esteem and I am ambitious with regard to any ventures I undertake. I like to share whatever knowledge I have gained in my life, and talk enthusiastically. If this eagerness to share views which for the most part have been hard won is interpreted by anyone as an over-inflated ego, then so be it.

          I cannot recall ever having been accused of having an over-inflated ego in a face-to-face situation.

          As for SUVs, I can say with some assurance that in my neck of the woods they were to a large extent initially used as a status symbol. What qualifies me to make this assumption? The fact that I personally knew some of these people who did not have any practical use for the special features of an SUV. They are supposed to be off-road vehicles, but I am not sure if I have ever seen one with mud on the wheels or body.

          However as the traditional family car shrunk in passenger and boot capacity because of the new design trend, I think (again in my neck of the woods — upper middle class) that they have simply become the only viable choice for a family with several young children. Safety would be another reason to choose an SUV for the family car.

          Now to CPUs. Having learnt a long time ago that I could stick a 486 66 MHz in the socket occupied by a 486 33 MHz, and slow it back down with the turbo switch, I recently decided to use one of such computers (I had two up and running in my workshop) to install my “Scramble” game. However I found that both had died, probably from lack of use. Most likely I still have a working 486 in my storeroom, but if so it is buried behind a heap of Pentiums.

          So I have decided to make do with my Hasbro Mac version.

    • #3058124

      chess playing

      by gkrew ·

      In reply to Survey-How many IT people know how to play chess – Yes or No?

      lots of my friends play chess. In High School I started a chess club and we even brought in a computerized chess board for our inter-house competitions. I dont think playing chess means you are a nerd.

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