Chess Life Magazine

 It probably does but how would you know? What are you 1000 uscf ?  Maybe this time next year you may actually be able to give a weak explanation of en passant. And---maybe not.

 Sir, if you're telling me you've never heard of Divinsky (and it sounds like you are) Then you have proven to me what I have always thought---Strong chessplayers can be dummies when it comes to chess history.

Congratulations mr. you are a chess dummy!

Read a chess book.

Who's the idiot around here? 

lol...yep, looks like our pal raul (notlesu?) ought to pay a bit more attention to the chess.com news bulletin...

there once was a guy named raul

who proved no mere everyday tool

if he read the newsletter

he would know a bit better

than to rush in like the fabled fool

 Big poison---You see him every time you shave!!!

 Stop beating around the bush---say what you mean. I dont read the newsletter and I have no idea of what you are talking about.

Andy, do you even have a uscf rating? If you do is it around a 1000 like I surmised?

My statement was not radical---strong players are often ignorant about chess history.

Did you read Endgame by Brady---or do you read chess books?

In Endgame it relates how  Fischer got an audition for a quiz program---big money show (it may have been the $64,000 question). His category was chess and he did very well in the  prelims, However as he advanced he got this question--- Where and when did Frederick Yates beat Alekhine?

Bobby answered---"That is a trick question. Yates never beat Alekhine!  Of course the answer was Hastings 1922 and Carlsbad 1923. Not a terribly, difficult question. 

Fischer never made it to the tv show.

His uscf rating is  1989 at his peak was 2290 (AndyClifton)

there once was a guy named notlesu

who seemed to enjoy playing "Guess who?"

his bilious remarks

reminiscent of sharks

undid what the Chernevs of chess do

notlesu, that nodding old Homer

lambasted all from Tal to Pomar

his grasp of the past

was both weighty and vast

(yet he failed to recognize Omar)

raul, our new bumptious-lunged pal

shot down all who roamed his corral

he deemed us all cattle

disregarding the rattle

of that snake in the grass, tonydal

I love your poems Andy but for Gods sake---dont give up your day job!

 Just goes to show you that some guys with high ratings are idiots when it comes to the history of chess. But kco, I'm not sure I can believe you. You are constantly posting mis-information. A recent post of yours said Bobby Fischer didnt have much reading material. Where do you get such information ? I know you dont read it anywhere---do you just make it up and hope we will swallow it?

 What Andy knows about chess you could cram in his navel and still have room for a walnut.

In the documentary film I watched a couple of nights ago - Bobby Fischer Against the World - someone interviewed who was close to him (can't remember who) said his room was always strewn with chess books all over the place.

http://bobbyfischermovie.co.uk/

For what?  Limericist Laureate?

 Zing!  Burn!

Where do you come up with these?!  You should be paid for your creativity.

"It's not my laugh, it's your bleedin laugh, mate!"

WOW!!!! This is right on the money for a place like Merced, California. It has a cow on the front and everything! You might think it's a poor cover (A cow? What?) But in lightly populated areas like Merced it attracts attention. A cow is practically synonymous with Merced in regards to symbolism. Haha.

I joined the USCF back in 1970, and Chess Life was the only game in town. Today Chess Life competes not only with New in Chess, but also with many online blogs and chess  websites -- chess.com being just one of a slew of them, and one of the  better ones -- and most of them are FREE. Compared to them Chess Life is a dog.

I constantly find myself questioning  what is the purpose of the United States Chess Federation. Today  most of the focus of the USCF has more to do with the the status of Scholastic Chess in the United States, than chess in genreal. Most of the USCF membership, 58% as of 2-3 years ago, is comprised of players under the age of 25;  55% are under the age of 20; 47% are under the age  of  15; and a whopping 37%  are under the age  of 12. Adults (over Age 25) and "Seniors" (over Age 65)  combined account for only 42% of the membership, yet pay 62% of the dues paid by the membership, in effect subsidizing Scholastic Players, who pay a membership fee that is almost half of what  an Adult member pays ($16 /Yr. Regular; $23/Yr for Premium --vs-- $34/Yr Regular; $42/Yr Premium. Premium membership includes a  copy of the rag Chess Life, for the age specific group. )

When I joined the USCF back  in 1970 there was a single uniform dues, with the possible exception of Seniors. It was considered an ADULT organization. Today?!? The United States Chess Federation  (USCF) should really change its name to the "United States Scholastic Chess Federation" (USSCF) in be more in line with what it does -- promote Scholastic Chess, and Scholastic Players. With the exception of possibly the  various "Senior Opens" ( you have be at least 50+ to play  in one ), there are virtually no tournaments reserved strictly for ADULTS --  almost  every tournament today, especially Reserve and Boosters / U1600; U1400 sections -- is cramed with  children. This does not even include the scores of Scholastic Chess tournamnets in which Adults  can't  play. The USCF is a lambrained organization that allow 6-8 olds, most of whom have been extensively  coached, to play  against Adults,  most  of whom have not been coached. For many Adults it takes all the joy out of playing in a chess toirnament. It is the equivalent to bringing a knife to a gun fight, with equally  predictable results for both. And the USCF wants me to pay double the dues to subsidize these brats?!?  I don't think so.

And what  does the USCF have to offer me for my  dues?!? I get to play in OTB tournaments (which are stacked against me to statrt with. See above.)  and a chance to be  "Rated"!!!  ...and if I pay the Premium dues rate, I get a copy of that second rate rag, Chess Life. WOW!!! ...and all for $42/yr. !!! What a bargain -- NOT!!!

If I feel that a "Rating" is so important I can join, any of a number of on-line chess websites, earn a "rating", and  get content that far exceeds that found in Chess Life, and most  of them are either  FREE,  or have a small subscription that is a fraction of what the USCF charges.

raul72 IF you are really concerned with the economical aspects why pay  $42/yr -- double that  of a "Scholastic" Player -- in order to be "rated" and receive a second rate rag?!? IF I  have the money, and  I want to read about chess, then New in Chess is actually  worth the money; on  the other hand if my financial situation is such that I can't afford New in Chess, well I can get get  almost  all that the USCF offers, plus access to better content online, most  of it a fraction of what the USCF  is asking, or for FREE... and you can't  beat FREE!!!  

I really don't like Chess life. It is a weak magazine.

I used to get it in the 80's. Wasn't super good then. And has only gotten worse over the years.

CL has some need to cover only events played in the US. As most of us know, the "good" torunaments are played overseas. Europe. Asia. Places like that. CL won't touch them anymore. Even if there's an American Super-GM playing. Like Naka or Kamsky.  They at least did that much back in the 80's.

If you happen to be a fan of a non-American GM like Aronian or Kramnik, tough luck! CL don't play that!

They won't even cover the WCC anymore. WTH?

Plus, all news in CL is 6-8 weeks old. Their response time is very slow.

CL does have it's good points. Good paper, and instructive articles. But I want more. 

Is Chess Life magazine still in printed form?

I've just re-joined after years away and did not check to see if it would be mailed, or just an e-version.