ChessCraft

17 Movies about chess, to inspire you in your next game.

2011-10-26T23:59:00.000-07:00

hess,If you are thinking to take an hour break at your chess training and relax a little bit, you may check out these seventeen great chess movies, this may help you get inspired in your next game.

The Seventh Seal [1993]

A Knight and his squire are home from the crusades. Black Death is sweeping their country. As they approach home, Death appears to the knight and tells him it is his time. The knight challenges Death to a chess game for his life. The Knight and Death play as the cultural turmoil envelopes the people around them as they try, in different ways, to deal with the upheaval the plague has caused.

Brainwashed

In 1938 Austria shortly after the Nazi occupation, a prominent Viennese intellectual, Werner von Basil, is arrested for smuggling art treatures out of the country and imprisoned by the Gestapo in a hotel room without any mental sustence of any kind to break him down to make him talk while a young ballerina, named Irene Adreny whom is the lover of the SS officer Berger playing mind games on von Basil, tries to intervene and help the poor intellectual keep his mind intact.

Chess Fever [1925]

With an international chess tournament in progress, a young man becomes completely obsessed with the game. His fiancée has no interest in it, and becomes frustrated and depressed by his neglect of her, but wherever she goes she finds that she cannot escape chess. On the brink of giving up, she meets the world champion, Capablanca himself, with interesting results.

The Chess Players [1977]

Circa British rule in India, two slightly eccentric noblemen in India, indulge in chess, day and night, without any regard to the change in the situation, personal life, and the eminent threat of the British taking over their region, becoming a harsh reality. Even when they are forced to leave their comfortable homes, they continue to play chess in the mosquito-ridden outdoors, with two loaded pistols, ready to oppose the British, or even themselves, if need be.

Dangerous Moves [1984]

A well filmed movie of the tense contest for the World Championship between Soviet player Akiva Liebeskind (undoubtedly modeled after International Grandmaster Akiba Rubenstein, a magnificent master of the endgame, originally a rabbinical student in Poland who never quite made it to the World Championship level and declined into mental illness), and Liebeskind's challenger, Grandmaster Pavius Fromm (almost certainly named after "From" of the From's Gambit in chess). Fromm, a Lithuanian political exile from behind the Iron Curtain, is an arrogant dislikeable pawn of the Soviets who have kept his wife prisoner. Virtually unrecognizable are their wives, the once lovely Leslie Caron and Swedish star Liv Ullman who have little more than bit parts.

Fresh [1994]

Michael (or Fresh as he's well known) is a 12-year-old drug pusher who lives in a crowded housing project with his cousins and aunt. His father has become a street bum, but still meets with Fresh on occasion to play chess. Fresh is rather quiet in a crazy world. Fresh's sister is a junkie who sleeps with the dealers who Fresh sells for. As the story progresses Fresh realizes that he doesn't want to sell drugs anymore, he wants out.

Geri's Game [1997]

watch Geri's game in youtube

In an empty, tree-filled park, an old man sets out a game of chess. Sitting, he puts on spectacles and makes the first move: 1) e4. He removes his glasses, stands, and with the bent shuffle of a pensioner, walks around the table to sit on the other side. He smiles, his eyes brighten, he chuckles and makes his move. He walks to the other side, sits, puts on his glasses, and makes a move. The game continues, and soon Black is shredding White's defenses, taking piece after piece. Soon White is down to his king. Things are hopeless; in fact, White grasps his chest, in pain. Is there any way he can turn the tables on Black, his grinning self?

The Great Chess Movie [1982]

This is an interesting movie for those who are chess fans. It is somewhat dated now.

It deals with the world of professional chess circa 1981 - before the fall of the Soviet Union. Good features regarding a younger Fischer and a good set of scenes regarding the circumstances around the championship match between Karpov and Korchnoi in Meran in 1981.

If you are a chess player, you will really enjoy the scenes of the world class players playing at Lone Pine (a tournament that no longer exists) and the history of chess as portrayed in the film. If you are not player, this will probably not mean much to you.

Definitely a low cost documentary but you can tell it was made with a love of the game.

Ivory Tower [2010]

Hershell & Thadeus, two chess-playing brothers and their unhealthy rivalry over both the chessboard and a woman. Hershell is a chess purist, the prodigal son, Thadeus a disciplined, ruthless competitor. After 4 nomadic years in Europe, in quixotic pursuit of 'Jazz Chess' (chess for chess' sake, no winner, no loser, only beautiful positions), Hershell returns home. Thadeus is a successful but arrogant Canadian Chess Champion engaged to marry Marsha, Hershell's former sweetheart. Hershell challenges Thaddeus in the next Canadian Chess Championship. During the final match,Thadeus is flustered by Hershell's Zen-like demeanor, and sets himself up for certain defeat. But instead, Hershell uses the principle of Jazz Chess to force a draw. Marsha admires Hershell's selfless move, but leaves - she won't be either brothers' trophy.

Knight Moves [1992]

A chess grandmaster is in a big tournament, and when his lover is found painted up and the blood drained out of her body he becomes a chief suspect. After he gets a call from the killer urging him to try and figure out the game, he cooperates with police and a psychologist to try and catch the killer, but doubts linger about the grandmaster's innocence as the string of grisly murders continues.

Knights of the South Bronx [2005]

A business man decides that he wants to teach school in the inner city and chooses a tough school in the South Bronx. He teaches the children how to play the game of chess, and along the way they learn a lot about life.

The Luzhin Defence [2000]

Set in the late 1920s, The Luzhin Defence tells the story of a shambling, unworldly chess Grand Master who arrives in the Italian Lakes to play the match of his life and unexpectedly finds the love of his life. Discovering his prodigious talent in boyhood overshadowed by his parents' failing marriage, Luzhin's lyrical passion for chess has become his refuge and rendered the real world a phantom. Already matched up by her family to the very suitable Comte de Stassard, when Natalia meets Luzhin, she is drawn to the erratic genius and offers him a glimpse outside of his chess obsession. But it is a world he is not equipped to deal with and his two worlds collide to tragic effect.

Maximum Shame [2010]

Time is running out and future is a black hole.

Queen of Cactus Cove [2005]

Teenage chess champ Billie (Alia Shawkat) faces the prospect of defeat for the first time when she faces her best friend (Alex Frost) at the biggest chess tournament of her career.

Queen Sacrifice [1988]

A welsh school teacher attempts to guard his teenage protege's genius for chess from his burgeoning libido.

Queen to Play [2009]

Sandrine Bonnaire and Kevin Kline shine in this sophisticated feel-good comedy set in idyllic Corsica. Middle-aged chambermaid Hélène's newfound obsession with the game of chess leads her to seek the tutelage of a reclusive American expat, transforming both of their ho-hum lives in the process.

Searching for Bobby Fischer [1993]

Josh Waitzkin is just a typical American boy interested in baseball when one day he challenges his father at chess and wins. Showing unusual precocity at the outdoor matches at Washington Square in New York City, he quickly makes friends with a hustler named Vinnie who teaches him speed chess. Josh's parents hire a renowned chess coach, Bruce, who teaches Josh the usefulness of measured planning. Along the way Josh becomes tired of Bruce's system and chess in general and purposely throws a match, leaving the prospects of winning a national championship in serious jeopardy.

Source: imdb.com

Famous movies chess scene

2011-10-06T02:31:00.000-07:00

Its always a treat to see chess scenes while watching a good movie (at least for chesscrafters). And so I hoarded some of the chess scenes from good (if not great) movies.

Here is another post movies about chess if ever you prefer to see movies in which chess is the star.

Twilight - Breaking Dawn [2011]
Not so many teens of this generation have missed the romance between Bella a hot geeky babe and Edward, a mysterious hunk vampire, on this scene we see Edward playing the blood-red pieces.

Austin Powers: The spy who shagged me [1999]
Austin is playing chess with Ivana Humpalot (hump-a-lot), and became sexually aroused, this scene is actually a spoof of a "The Thomas Crown Affair".

Independence day [1996]
The second highest worldwide gross of all time, with almost $900 million dollar, a great movie about aliens earth invasion, but thanks to Will Smith (a real-life chess enthusiast), luckily he's there to save the day.

The chess scene was filmed in a New York park, but the most unforgettable scene was the alien's gigantic spaceship's laser blast of Washington D.C.

007: From Russia with love [1963]
The movie Nigel mentions, From Russia with Love, was produced in 1963. One of the villains is Kronsteen, played by Vladek Sheybal, master plotter for the terror organisation SPECTRE. Kronsteen is also a world-class chess player who, when asked if his plan would be successful, replies: "It will be. I've anticipated every possible variation of countermove." And Bond's colleague, the Turkish operative Kerim Bey, says of him: "These Russians are great chess players. When they wish to execute a plot, they execute it brilliantly. The game is planned minutely, the gambits of the enemy are provided for."

X-men first class [2011]
The prequel of X-men shows how Charles Xavier and Erik Lenscher (Magneto) friendship turned to hostility, but it wasn't chess to blame. Erik's thirst for revenge to the ones responsible to the death of his mother, consumed him.

Harry Potter [2001]
Based from the book written by J.K Rowlings , tells about the adventures of Harry Potter in the wizardy school Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

A giant Wizard's Chessboard was the third-to-last layer of security for the Philosopher's Stone. Harry played as one of the black bishops, Hermione as a rook, and Ron as a Knight. Using his extensive knowledge of chess, Ronald Weasley managed to get him, Harry, and Hermione Granger across, ultimately sacrificing himself to the White Queen so that Harry could checkmate the King.

Dawn of the dead [2004]
In George Romero's excellent remake of the zombie classic Dawn of the Dead, we see two characters, Andy (pictured) and Kenneth, on two rooftops playing correspondence chess with binoculars and cue cards. Why are they doing this? Well there are thousands of zombies between them and not a whole lot else to do.

Lucky Number Slevin [2006]
is a decent movie with fast-paced, smart dialogue and, coincidentally, Ben Kingsley who played the chess teacher Bruce Pandolfini in Searching for Bobby Fischer. He plays a jewish mobster here. But I digress. Morgan Freeman, aka "The Boss" (pictured) challenges Slevin (Josh Hartnett) to a game of chess as a chance to pay off a debt. Bruce Willis has a role and also plays against The Boss. We don't see too much, but it's still a nice nod.

The Thomas Crown affair [1968]
The movie revolves around Thomas Crown, A millionaire and sportsman trying to pull off a perfect crime, by robbing a money from a bank, on the course comes Vicki Anderson an independent insurance investigator who swear to retrieve the money.

The chess game between Thomas and Vicki is intimate, adding the great musical score "The Chess Game".

When Chess Turned Deadly: A Bloody History of a Gentle Game

2011-09-26T02:09:00.000-07:00

In some occasions, we’ve witnessed — if not been part of — misunderstandings between chess players. Sometimes, we even find ourselves secretly dreaming of redecorating our opponent’s face with a checkered pattern.

It’s never easy to handle the sting of defeat or force a smile when our ego has been badly bruised. But a true chess player must understand that enduring those annihilating moments is what shapes champions.

Chess is not just a sport or a game; it’s also an art — a complex art that requires two minds to create a masterpiece. And as with any art, respect for your partner in creation is essential.

“Chess indeed mimics life. You can’t just go on fulfilled playing the light squares — you must also learn to deal with the bitterness of the dark ones.”
— Chesscraftman

The oldest recorded case of chess-related violence can be found in an Arabic manuscript. It tells the story of Al-Walid, an Umayyad caliph, who regularly played shatranj (the early form of chess) with one of his courtiers.

One day, Al-Walid discovered that his opponent had been deliberately losing to flatter him. Enraged and insulted, the caliph hurled the firzan (the piece equivalent to the modern queen) at the courtier’s head — killing him instantly.

Thankfully, chess pieces today are made of wood or plastic instead of stone. The poor man was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time — though I know a few players who’d actually pay for such “courtesy.”

An 8 inch Firzan rock

The son of Pepin the Short — Charlemagne (714–768 AD) — may have ruled an empire, but one of his sons, who otherwise held little historical significance, managed to make his mark in a rather unusual way.

According to old records, he struck Okarius (or Okar), the Prince of Bavaria, on the head with a rochus (rook), killing him instantly. It’s in moments like these that I begin to understand why modern chess pieces are made of lightweight materials like wood or plastic.

Then there’s William the Conqueror, the first Norman King of England and Duke of Normandy, who reportedly hurled a chessboard at the Prince of France after being checkmated. It seems even kings struggle with good sportsmanship.

But perhaps the most consequential chess-related altercation occurred around 1120, when King Henry I of England and King Louis VI of France got into a fistfight over a chess game in Paris. Some accounts claim this dispute sparked the tension that led to the twelve-year war between the two nations.

Who would’ve thought that a humble board of 64 squares could influence royal tempers — and possibly even history itself?

England vs France chess set

The first known chess-related violence leaped to court happened in Essex, in 1251, when a what should be battle of wits chess match ended into stabbing, after losing a game it angered him too much that he grabbed a knife and stabbed his opponent in the stomach, resulting to its death.

A man was injured while operating an Ajeeb (a chess automation), happens when a man got upset when beaten, he loaded his rifle and fired a shot at the machine. One the famous player of the Ajeeb is Pillsbury.

During the Candidates Tournament in Curacao (1962), Arthur Bisguier was assigned to second to Pal Benko and Fischer. On May 9, Benko came looking for Bisguier in Fischer's room to get some help in analyzing his adjourned game with Petrosian. Fischer told Benko to leave and they both got in a fist fight. The next day Fischer wrote a letter to the organizing committee to fine and/or expel Benko from the tournament. The letter was ignored.

I know a pgn game is not as good as the fist fight video, but unfortunately nobody brought their smartphones with them.

Love, Loyalty, and a Slap in Buenos Aires

But if you insists that she is your dream girl, and want her to be your queen, here is a little help.

Chess is to blame for what could probably the first space fist fight, when in 1980's the Soviet Union banned cosmonauts to play chess against each other, after it resulting to a fist fight between two cosmonauts.

In 1989, A Russian scientist was killed with an axe by his colleague after winning a chess game at the Vostok Research Station in the Antarctic.

In 1994, Martin Wirth of Fort Collins, Colorado, shot to death Vernie Cox after the two argued over a chess game. Cox died of two gunshot wounds to the chest. Witnesses said that Wirth had lost a chess game with Cox, knocked over the chess board and some furniture, then began to argue with his opponent. Wirth went across the street to his home and returned with a gun and shot Cox to death.

During the early 1990s, Rustam Kamsky, a former boxer and father of Gata Kamsky, would often go to chess tournaments with his son and threaten anyone who he perceived was disturbing the concentration of his son. In 1994, Rustam threatened to kill grandmaster Nigel Short at a restaurant during a Kamsky-Short chess match.

In 2000, Laurence Douglas of Puoghkeepsie, New York, stabbed Craig Williams to death over a chess game. Williams had just beaten Douglas in a chess game that had a $5 wager. Williams took a$5 bill from Douglas after the game. Douglas then pulled out a knife and stabbed Williams 16 times.

In 2003, Simon Andrews of Falls Township, Pennsylvania, stabbed to death Jerry Kowalski during a chess game. Authorities said that Andrews was disturbed by Kowalski’s constant talking during their chess games. Andrews then pulled a knife from under a sofa-bed mattress and stabbed Kowalski in the neck. Andrews was sentenced from 15 to 30 years in state prison.

In 2005, junior champion David Howell of England (now a grandmaster) punched the organizer of the European Union Chess Championship when it turned out that Howell would not win a prize. It turned out that titled players were not eligible for junior prizes.

The prize fighter/boxer

In 2006, during the Turin chess Olympiad, UK grandmaster Daniel Gormally punched Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian to the ground at a nightclub. The two got in a jealous dispute over 19-year-old chess playing beauty Arianne Caoili. Caoili’s energetic dancing with Aronian provoked Gormally to fight.

In October 2008, David Christian of Iowa City got in a fight with Michael Steward while playing a game of chess at the rooming house where they both lived. He was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter. Christian choked Steward to death.

In February 2009, a man killed a friend with a sword after a chess game in Alameda, California. An argument broke out during their game, and the two started wrestling. Joseph Groom retreated to his bedroom and returned with a sword, which he used to stab Kelly Kjersem once. Kjersem later died.

Sources:
http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/violence.html
http://www.chessville.com/BillWall/ChessViolenceandCrime.htm
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/7378/fischer.htm

Crazy and weird chess players

2011-09-21T21:38:00.000-07:00

Wilhelm Steinitz

As a chess writer he is objective in writing and defended his ideas vigorously from critics, when at a chessboard, he is worst, he earned the reputation as ill-mannered and violent, on both winning and losing, one of the his remarkable account is when he spat at his opponent, Blackburne, during a dispute in a game, his remarked after the incident was :

“…he struck with his full fist into my eye, which he blackened and might have knocked out. And though he is a powerful man of very nearly twice my size, who might have killed me with a few such strokes, I am proud to say that I had the courage of attempting to spit into his face, and only wish I had succeeded.”

Another of his outrageous and eccentric behavior was walking around his yard barefooted, trying to contact people he knew, with his wireless telephone. He believes his strong will power can relay signals in any distance. He also tried to contact God using his "wireless" telephone and challenge him to a game. He had a delusion of having telekinesis, wherein he is capable of move chess pieces using only his mind. He died broke prematurely in an asylum.

Aron Nimzowitsch

The innovator of nimzo-indian in which its name was based to his creator, his most hilarious act was when defeat was inevitable during a rapid chess game match against Fritz Saemisc (another chess opening innovator himself), he climbed up to the table and screamed "Why I must lose to this idiot?," enough to make even poker star Phil Hellmuth blush, in another occasion, he slashed all four tires of someone's Ford focus due to an outrage (probably. It would have been five if there is a reserve tire). During tournaments, he would do aerobics by going to the corner of main hall and stand on his head. A popular, but probably apocryphal, story is that once when an opponent laid a cigar on the table, he complained to the tournament arbiters, "he is threatening to smoke, and as an old player you must know that the threat is stronger than the execution." He is also paranoid that he is always being served with less food compared to others, Kmoch a friend of him, trying to help him with his paranoia offered to exchange plates with him, but after doing so, he shook his head, still in disbelief that he is being served with fewer portion.

Paul Morphy - Widely considered the greatest chess player of his era, and is often referred to as an unofficial World Champion. He had given a five simultaneous game against group of masters considered among the top ten players of the day, scoring 3-2.

Perhaps one of the most tragic stories, at his time, chess was not accepted as a descent profession, when he proposed his love to a handsome lady, he got rejected because of his chess profession, then Morphy decided to abandon chess and focus in practicing law, but unfortunately American Civil War broke, He opposed the war and did not serve in confederate army, causing him not being able to practice law. People would go visit him in his office just to ask him to go back and play chess.

Morphy's final days was spent wandering around the French Quarter of New Orleans, talking to people no one else could see, and having irrational feelings of persecution, and on July 10, 1884, he was found dead in his bathtub.
Carlos Torre
A Mexican Grandmaster, and an exhibitionist, I don't mean playing a game like his opponent have queens instead of pawns, he is fond of going nude in the public, he got arrested once for running in streets naked, another remarkable stint of him was he did it while riding a public bus, so imagine the reaction of the grannys.

Bobby Fischer
His road to chess supremacy is inspirational, his games are remarkable, but what went wrong, is a mystery, his growing hate for Jews and anti-semitic view has earned him the disgust of those who once adored and worshiped him, He was faithful to his religion Worldwide Church of God donating lots of his earnings, but felt betrayed when the church was put in a series of scandals and failed prophecy causing him to denounced it publicly.

He is quoted in Philippine radio program after the 9/11 attacks "All the crimes the U.S. is committing all over the world ... This just shows, what goes around, that comes around even to the United States." so imagine the uproar of the Americans after being insulted after the injury.

Akiba Rubinstein -
He was scheduled to play a world championship match against Emmanuel Lasker, but unfortunately World War 1 interrupted, he is an anti-social type that his wife would warn his visitors that do not stay long otherwise he will crawl out of window. A nerd crawling out of window, sounds like Peter Parker to me.

Alexander Alekhine -
You have probably heard grandmasters dozing during the game in tournaments, but Alekhine could all make the like of Vachier-Lagrave look amateur, though losing lots of games due to playing completely drunk, he had managed to salvage a few at least not retiring dozed after 11 moves, okay. He did have moments with the carpet of the floor. His addiction to liquor and drinking during the game may be due to that he is suffering from anthrophobia, a fear of people and society. There was a game of him that after making a move he would stand up and go to the corner of the tournament hall to hide, and wait for his opponent's reply. Nowadays, people would hide to consult their Pocket Fritz.

Vassily Ivanchuk
Anand describes him as the most eccentric player:

He's someone who is very intelligent ... but you never know which mood he is going to be in. Some days he will treat you like his long-lost brother. The next day he ignores you completely.

The players have a word for him. They say he lives on 'Planet Ivanchuk'. (Laughs) ... I have seen him totally drunk and singing Ukrainian poetry and then the next day I have seen him give an impressive talk.

When offered a draw by GM Alex Baburin during a game in Istanbul, felt on a deep thought for almost an hour to accept the offer.

In one occasion in Linares tournament, He went in to a restaurant and ask the manager to give him Kasparov's favorite chair, and he seated there meditating, when asked, he said He wants to absorb Kasparov's aura, and this paid off actually, winning his next game.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
is a Kalmyk multi-millionaire businessman, politician, and president of FIDE since 1995, He visited Libya leader Muammar Gaddafi, during the Libyan civil war, when United Nations is condemning its leader of butchering its citizens, but thats not it, he claims he was abducted by aliens in 1997 and have travelled in galaxy with their spaceship.

Most expensive chess sets

2011-09-21T19:50:00.000-07:00

Who wouldn't want to play their favorite game (chess), in glittering and valuable metals and precious stones, and who can resist?

Renault F1 Team Collection Chess Set
This collection is a dream come true for the ultimate gamer, especially so for the gamer that shares passion for both the adrenalin rush of Formula 1 and the classical battle of chess.
The pieces of this beautifully crafted set are actually parts of the Renault car – the suspension, hubs, uprights, wings and cockpit sitting.
The genuine engine pieces of titanium, stainless steel, aircraft specification aluminium and carbon fiber have literally felt the heat of Formula 1, and sit coolly on 64 squares of sterling silver and leather.[source]

US $41,600 approx.

Carolingi XIV Chess Pieces
It takes you back to the ages of Goths and Visigoths who invaded Europe and overran Anglo Saxons and also the Slavs.
The chess pieces are made of gold and remind you of all the historic treasures plundered by the so called great kings. The chess pieces are designed to remind you of the Ottoman invasion of the Balkans and the confrontation between the Christians and the Moslems. [source]

$113,575.00

Art of war chess set.
The Art of War Chess Set tailored with a mesmerizing arrangement of gold and precious jewels is a truly magnificent piece. The exquisite gold and rhodium custom-jeweled chess pieces are creations that bring striking new life to the timeless game. The elegant inlaid custom chess board, fashioned with rich gold handles incrusted with a luminous 21 jeweled arrangement makes for a visual masterpiece that is second to none. If you are looking for an incredible gift for someone special, or simply looking for a display that is guaranteed to catch the attention of visitors, this chess set is guaranteed leave viewers speechless. This beautiful culmination of design, element, and class is an exceptional commodity and is only available through artofwarchess.com. For further inquiries, including the history behind the set. [source]

price is on bid, but they declined the $750,000 dollar offer from Indonesia.

Charles Hollander diamond chess set

What if you can’t beat the opponent at the game of chess… you can still win the game the other way round when the game is being played on this gold and diamond chess set. New in Charles Hollander collection who earlier wooed everyone with their $5million Chess Set, the chess set is made out of gold and the king and queen are set with diamonds. And, this time the king and queen actually feature fake figurines to make the game even more interesting. No word on price can still be had but we will keep you posted. [source]

Jewel Royale chess set
We have earlier told you about the $36,000 Luxury Chess Set at Asprey’s in Tokyo. And, if you thought that was the priciest chess set of all then you have yet not heard of this $9.8 million (over £5 million) Jewel Royale Chess Set from Boodles, a British custom jewelry company. This exquisite chess set is constructed of gold and platinum and it is decorated with 73 rubies, 146 sapphires and no less than 748 diamonds. Each piece is made from 18 carat yellow gold and encrusted with precious stones. The king alone is worth more than £100,000. Apparently, there will be a limited number of replica sets selling for about $26,700. [source]

Chessboard filled with gold, silver and diamonds

Made with 24k gold ruby and diamonds.

An army that would serve their royale master.

20 Coolest and most unique chess sets

2011-09-19T22:14:00.000-07:00

You think you have the coolest dude in the block with your Staunton ebony chess set? well check these out.

1. The Glowing Chess Board, tired of your spouse begging (that is if not being yelled at) you to sleep and close the light, try to hide this under the bed, sleep at the edge of the bed so you can easily pull this out, a little snore will help.

2. Chess cake white and dark chocolate. you'll know what happens to the piece after captured.

3. Bullet Chess Set Made from .223 Caliber Shells, Warning don't bring riffle while playing these.

4. Two level chess set, this will be great in the garden.

5. The Carolingi XIV Chess Pieces made with gold, cost $113,580.(Luxury chess sets)

6. Lord of the rings chess set, perfect gift for LOTR fans.

7. Jim Arnold's scottish war chess set.

8. War of 1812 chess set. Makes me want to look for Pirates of the Caribbean version.

9. Salvador Dali's finger chess set, one word "creepy"

10. Alien vs Predator chess set, a perfect treat for UFOlogists.

11. Ice chess set, not recommended for turtle chess players.

12. Lego chess set, could be a good start to motivate your kids.

13. Key chess set, turn every move to "key move"

14. Wobble chess set, this is very interesting if played in blitz or bullet games.

15. Greek Myth fantasy chess set, anyone can resist playing the queen, or perhaps capture his opponent's?

16. Starwars chess set, this will bring out the perfect geek in you.

17. Celestial chess set, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov should bring this on his next space travel with aliens.

18. Bladerunner movie chess set by JF Sebastian

19. Startrek chess set

20. Vibrator chess set, A new sex toy designed by New York-based product consultancy Aruliden, who needs one (32 actually)?

Famous people who plays chess

2011-09-16T21:11:00.000-07:00

Jessica Simpson and Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, became addicted to chess after billy taught him how, the weekly session became regular ritual.

Leonardo diCaprio, best known for his lead role in titanic, was recently being seen in public playing chess with a chess clock.

Nicholas Cage, member of Internet Chess Club (ICC) himself, seeing the valuable lessons can be learned from chess, he sent his son Weston to Robert Snyder to take chess lessons.

Ben Affleck, is an American actor, film director, writer, and producer, he plays chess at the Bel Air Chess Club, where Julia Roberts is also a member.

Bill Gates, though it is really no surprise to hear that geeks plays chess, but for a multi-billion dollar man might.

Princess Diana, Having a fair (if not good) understanding of chess, Princess Diana was quoted in an interview referring to his ex-husband after their divorce.

"I don't know. But it was there to injure me and to hurt me. It was the first time that I experienced this sort of thing: what it meant to be outside the safety net and not to be a part of the family any more. My husband naturally held all the best cards. That was like in a game of poker, or a game of chess."

Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States of America, he is enthusiastic about chess that he wrote the "The Morals of Chess".

John Lennon, the name reminds of his wonderful songs, and my favorite is "Imagine".

Frank Sinatra, enjoyed chess so much that he got his own pieces made for him, he really wants it "My way"

Will Smith, in an interview

"It is cool to play chess. My father taught me how to play chess at seven and introduced beautiful concepts that I try to pass on to my kids. The elements and concepts of life are so perfectly illustrated on a chess board. The ability to accurately assess your position is the key to chess, which I also think is the key to life." He pauses, searching for an example. "Everything you do in your life is a move. You wake up in the morning, you strap on a gun, and you walk out on the street – that's a move. You've made a move and the universe is going to respond with its move. Whatever move you're going to make in your life to be successful, you have to accurately access the next couple of moves – like what's going to happen if you do this? Because once you've made your move, you can't take it back. The universe is going to respond."

Manilyn Monroe, the lovely lady in mono-colored, subway-vent skirt blowup, haven't seen it yet? I pity this generation.

Keannu Reeves, long before he was known as Neo,he was a chess hustler in Toronto, and played in his Highschool Team.

Albert Einstein, if you want to see how a known genius takes chess, see game below

William Shakespeare is an english poet, playwright and widely regarded as the greatest english writer. in his
In The Taming of the Shrew Katharine says:

“I pray you sir, is it your will,
To make a stale of me amongst these mates?”

15 most beautiful and hottest chess players (with poll)

2011-09-15T20:01:00.000-07:00

Whoever said chess is a boring sport will have regrets after seeing this list, they don't have any idea what it is like, facing lovely ladies, and enjoying a very beautiful game.

The list is in no particular older, but the first one is my favorite anyway there is a poll in the bottom of this post so you can vote.

WGM Natalia Pogonina 2446 (Russia)
Birth Year 1985

Yes I know, shes so gorgeous.

WIM Maria Belen Sarquis 2215 (Argentina)
1988

WGM Andjelija Stojanovic 2300 (Serbia)
Birth year: 1987

She is utilizing the cleavage gambit.

WIM Vesna Rozic 2278 (Slovenia)
Birth year: 1987

Just wow!

Mariam Mansur UAE

You love mysterious woman? well here it is just a name and a country.

WGM Anna Sharevich, 2257 (Belarus)

Who says blonde can't play chess?

GM Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2469 (Russia)

What are you waiting for? make your move.

GM Antoaneta Stefanova, 2528 (Bulgaria)

GM Judit Polgar, 2701 (Hungary)

For sure she is the one makes most men cry, at least after the game.

Sanja Dedijer 2058 (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
Birth year: 1986

Who cares about her rating, she have great stats.

IM WGM Sophie Milliet, 2374 (France)

She is looking at you (at us actually) like a prey.

GM Kateryna Lahno, 2554 (Ukarine)

Lots of pretty woman in Ukraine.

Shahnoza Sabrinova Uzbekistan

GM Zhu Chen 2490, (Qatar)

Kinds of chess players

2011-09-15T01:10:00.000-07:00

Pawn grabber

You'll see their eyes grow in full circle whenever sees a free pawn.

I love kings gambit My preciousss.

Dozer

While most chess players are dreaming moves in front of a chessboard, others do it literally, only few explanations crosses my mind, they deprived sleep by reading opening theories or stalked the bar waitress a night before.

Emo

If you are unfamiliar with chess and happens to cross to a one playing, their gestures will hint on whats going on. A seesaw game will be a wonderful sight.

Drunken master

Alekhine mastered this technique, although it is no secret he lost most, he have manage to win few (at least adding humiliation to his opponent).

Hypnotyzer

This would stare at you all game long, like how a cowboy would try to flirt with a lady in a bar.

The best actor

Bit similar to emo, the difference is that their reaction is deceptive, like for instance, they will offer a piece sacrifice with an evil mate, they will wear the most worried face on the planet, like a grade-schooler shit his pants during the class.

Bullet freak

He'll make a move just before you make yours (yeah, just like chuck norris), regardless if it is a blitz or standard game, but one thing I notice they are also the fastest gone of the playing hall when lost.

Turtle

For them, earth would revolve eternally and your time waiting is worth the masterpiece he is about to unleash, they will analyze the same variation over and over until you fainted, the gesture of making a move enough bring down the angels singing.

The sitting duck (the rabbit)
We love hunting these, helps a lot in building our confidence.

Religious
You will see them occasionally whispering something, staring blank at the board as if they are praying the rosary.

I hope he won't see.

Pokemon (Pocket monster)
The most dangerous of them all, you'll never know who you against to once he's backed from the comfort room.

The hard loser
Will never shake your hand when beaten(be cautious if they will).

The romantic
Will sacrifice unsoundly every chance they can get,

Pienso en ti todo el tiempo.

The sponsor
Loved by chess hustlers, they are willing to lose tons of money in a match game, the only trouble is that they seem to have bottomless pockets.

Chess opening and variations based on animal names

2011-09-13T02:31:00.000-07:00

Who says kungfu only have styles based on animals? I am familiar with some but was still surprise to see other list.

Bird's Opening (1.f4. also known as Bird's Bastard)

The Vulture (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 Ne4)

See those two monkeys playing marathon chess? lets wait til one of them drop dead

Orang-Utan Opening (1.b4)

The Monkey's Bum (1.e4 g6 2.Bc4 Bg7 3.Qf3)

Monkey opening vs Orangutan Orangutan

Dory Defence (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Ne4)

I didn't know nemo plays chess

Dragon Variation (Sicilian Defence with Black Bishop on g7)

I just read Fischer's dragon slayer

Pelikan Variation (Another variation of the Sicilian)

See I don't carry babies

The Rat (Canadian name 1.... g6 2.... Bg7)

The Hippopotamus (Putting most of pawns on the 3rd rank)
The Elephant Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5)

Hey buddy, shouldn't we compete in biggest loser instead?

The Krazy Kat (Amarican version of The Hippo)

The Prerodactyl (Canadian name for The Rat with 3.... c5)

The Benoni Snake (Benoni with Bd6)
The Great Snake (1.c4 g6)

The Canard (1.d4 2.f4)

The Double Duck (1.f4 f5 2.d4 d5)

The ducks are not available right now.

The Lemming (1.e4 Na6)

The Wild Bull (1.Nc3)

checkmate pattern names

2011-09-13T01:30:00.000-07:00

Beauty deserves a name

Arab or Anastasia's Mate

Smothered Mate

Arabian Mate

Cozio's Mate

Dovetail mate

Epaulet Mate

Hook Mate

Opera mate

Dovetail Mate

Aguada Mate

8 Beautiful chess oil paintings

2011-09-12T00:55:00.000-07:00

"Chess is the art which expresses the science of logic” - (Mikhail Botvinnik)

Chess is indeed beautiful to inspire artist of all era, so much adorned it brings out the poet out of every humble man.

A Chess Problem, a painting by Carlo Ferranti.

Prison In Naples 1790s, by Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein.

(La partida de ajedrez), a painting by Lucas Van Leyden

Arabes jouant aux échecs (Arabs Playing Chess) (1847) by Eugène Delacroix

The Chess Players by Honoré Daumier (1863)

The chess players, 1876 by Thomas Eakins

Egyptian Chess Players by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema

Lucia, Minerva and Europa Anguissola Playing Chess, 1555 by Sofonisba Anguissola

Chess variants

2011-09-12T00:17:00.000-07:00

Chaturanga is an ancient Indian game that is presumed to be the common ancestor of the games of chess,
shogi, and makruk, and related to xiangqi and janggi.

Chaturanga was developed in Gupta India around the 6th century. In the 7th century, it was adopted as Shatranj in Sassanid Persia, which in turn was the form that brought chess to late-medieval Europe.

Shogi also known as Japanese chess, Shogi means general in japanese, unlike modern chess, shogi has 9x9 squares, each player will have the following pieces, 1 king, 1 rook, 1 bishop 2 gold generals, 2 silver generals, 2 knights, 2 lances, and 9 pawns, similar to chess each player will have alternating moves and could be started by black's move. In a professional game there is an timekeeper assigned

One thing interest me about this game is that rooks when promoted will become dragon and bishop to horse.

Gary Kasparov playing Shogi

Xiangqi is a two-player Chinese board game in the same family. The game represents a battle between two armies, with the object of capturing the enemy's "general" piece. Distinctive features of Xiangqi include the unique movement of the pao ("cannon") piece, a rule prohibiting the generals (similar to chess kings) from facing each other directly, and the river and palace board features, which restrict the movement of some pieces. Its Chinese name can be treated as meaning "Image Game" or "Elephant Game".

Chinese locals playing Xiangqi with their clothes as stakes

Janggi is Korea's board game, very similar to xianqi, played in 9x10 board but without rivers.

Pride is at stake, less daring than the Chinese.

Shatranj is an old form of chess, which came to the Western world from India, the initial piece setup is similar to modern chess, only the piece movements are not same as modern chess.