They get their designation from the American horror of the same name. The plot involves crazy children doing a lot of unkind things to adults. If you’ve ever lot to anyone less than 4’6″ then you understand this label. Note: … Continue reading
Sometimes we lose our sense of proportion. We’re crazy General Custer on the wrong end of Bull Run; perhaps we are tasked with fighting off the innumerable Persian hordes. Inside of us throbs a certain something. Our pulse quickens, we yell … Continue reading
Last time you learned about the part-time patzer, a gregarious creature at home in his habitat. Our little safari is going to take us deeper into the wilds today. We are going to examine neckbeardus jerkus, the common neckbeard, in … Continue reading
You can’t go into the dark heart of the chess world without knowing about the fauna that reside there. Meet the subject of today’s lecture, partus-timeus patzerus, or the part-time patzer. The species shows variance in height and weight, but all wear … Continue reading
Last week you brought a little something extra to the chessboard. You sensed a hanging piece long before it became loose, played your plans with aplomb, and weren’t afraid to make an unclear move. Your brain was a brilliant, ergonomic … Continue reading
A group of men congregated on the Pequot reservation to play Texas Hold Em’ evenings and weekends. They talked the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, passing weighted chips to the center of the orange felt with a wish for a safe return. … Continue reading
I just finished Sian Beilock’s Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To. Judging from her accolades on the cover the author is obviously an esteemed scientist. Too bad her book is essentially … Continue reading
In the last column we talked about designing your chess playlist. You should use songs that uplift you, give you inner peace, and just have a power you may not comprehend fully. Lionel Richie – Easy: If this man were … Continue reading
At a recent tournament I noticed a couple of people listening to music on their mobile devices. I think that’s an excellent idea to aid with relaxation, but you can’t just pick anything. You’ve got to choose a piece that’s … Continue reading
Among my vices at the chess board is that I play in a lot of tournaments, regardless of whether I am at optimal playing strength. I enjoy the game tremendously, which is excellent, but improvement requires actually being competitive in … Continue reading