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@kennyp. No it’s 5 days per move so nice and leisurely. You can turn on notifications if you install the app otherwise just keep checking but at 5 days per move you don’t need to worry if you forget to check one day.
This is a great idea thanks for setting it up. So do we all have 3 games on the go?
@nosedive. Yes, and then everyone will have at least another 3 as the opposite colour (I think!) and then the top 2 from each group progress.
Good fun so far... will have to stop for the day soon though Ive had 3 pints already
Thanks Danny. That could make for some seriously long games though. And thanks for setting it up.
Another wee question for chess.com regulars. At the top and bottom it shows the pieces captured. The white ones show up well but the black ones are very hard to see against the background. Is there a way round this?
You can choose different themes in the settings somewhere.
It has begun! I've made three moves and still have all my pieces. That's a win in my mind.
Now, chess trash talk...? Is it even possible 🤔
grahamwynne on chess.com - add me please! If it's not too late
Just made my first 3 moves 😄
What a kicking I am getting. Still, all part of the learning curve.
It's quite addictive this online chess thingy. Our group's already on its second round of games. Is there a limit to how many times you play each other person in the group?
Quite enjoying this but struggling...3 games on the go at the same time, trying to snatch 5 minutes in between games of COD, or ludo with the little un is trying...lost my Queen today while daughter shouting come on Daddy throw the dice 🙂
Feel I need to organise my time a bit better !
@iancity1. You have 5 days to make each move do not need to panic and rush. Take your time and enjoy 🙂
Well, thats my first (or second, after the Queen) mistake, I thought it was 5 days per game, not 5 days per move - can I start again 😉
If people enjoy it I’ll happily set up another. Will set up an STW chess club on chess.com also 🙂
Who is 'sillysillySTW' ? You need to move first. Though to be fair its given me a chance to think about the other games
I'm with IanCity - tough to pay attention. That's my excuse for letting nosedive beat me anyway!
Was a good game Jimmy! I made a couple of mistakes this afternoon. Looking forward to getting stuck into the rematch
I'm getting crushed. I'd like to say it's to do with sharing my attention, but that would be a lie.
Me - I’ll log in and make first move tonight. Don’t worry about me deliberating moves for 5 days - total beginner.
As suspected, I'm getting skelped about all over the shop! 😆
No worries sillysilly quite happy to have a long burn game. Good luck!
I just realised that the number next to the user name is the ranking. No wonder I am getting spanked. Nearly 1400 i ask you.
Anyone taken to popping pills and staring at the ceiling yet?
With this Champion's League style format can we have a Europey League for the 3rd and 4th place finishers? A place to hone their skills against more even opposition? Asking for a friend 😉
I’m currently getting spanked by Steve mcd and fatcroe 😞😞
si77
Full Member
Anyone taken to popping pills and staring at the ceiling yet?With this Champion’s League style format can we have a Europey League for the 3rd and 4th place finishers? A place to hone their skills against more even opposition? Asking for a friend 😉
haha, yes, fine idea. 😆
Yes I can, once the first rounds are complete set up a tournament for those that didn’t progress 🙂
You can invite each other for games as well either rated or unrated just for practice.
I'm waiting for my opponents to realise I don't actually know how to play chess.
Well, I'm getting whooped but it's fun.
I'm really enjoying this, even though I'm 0 and 2.
Maintaining my 100% record here.
Enjoying this, I haven't played since my wife, who doesn't really play, beat me on a giant open air board at Les Arcs, must be 10 years ago. Not that I'm a bad loser...
I really like the relaxed pace, but it does mean that whatever I had planned for my next move is forgotten by the time I come to make it 😜
I’m pretty terrible and have never played online either. But count me in!
Will set up an STW chess club on chess.com also
That would be great. Our group games are all done now. Enjoyed all six matches, including the ones I lost. Happy to play anyone else that fancies a game while we wait for the next round to start.
Has reignited my love of chess.
Really enjoyed the first round of games (and somehow fluked 2nd place). We just hang around now waiting for all the games to finish then presume we will get some notification of the next games?
Kennyp, if I can work out how, I'll give you a game 🙂
Is there any way of viewing the tournament World Cup wallchart style? Other game results, progress etc.
@kennyp - are you kprook? I'll give you a game. I lost all mine so am out - no pressure not to lose to me...
@bugeye bit of a hustler, 800 rating but a sharp shooter. I'm really enjoying this tournament, thanks for organising @dannybgoode
Thanks to this thread I've been inspired to watch Queen's Gambit again.
I still can't work out why it is so enthralling. Design, Cinematography and Soundtrack all work for me.
It's okay, spotted you I think.
I have signed up for an account on chess.com (same username as on here) if anyone wants a game? happy to join in the next tournament as well - haven't played for years but just won my first trial game!
I have just joined. Hopefully play the next tournament
I'll give you a game Robbo (well I probably won't as I'm crap)
@tommyhine lol.... not sure about that 🙂
Used to play a bit on Queen Alice but haven't for about 10 years so a bit rusty I think.
bugeye67 if anyone wants a game.
@dannybgoode another thanks for organising, really enjoying it.
I think I have added you both
Are you best setting the game clock at 7 days so that you can play as you get a chance? Guessing they all happen a lot quicker but means if I get distracted by my son I don't miss a turn
Sent you an invite to a game......
Just lost my 1st game as ran out of time. Had him on the ropes as well.
robbo and bugeye, I'm registered as kprook on chess.com if either of you wants another game on the go.
KennyP, just invited you to a game if you fancy it.
Will accept the invite when I get home Tommy ta.
Accepted game Robbo
Just lost my 1st game as ran out of time. Had him on the ropes as well.
How can you run out of time ? You have 5 days to make 1 move .
Haha, should have made clear I was playing a normal game against a random.
Thanks for the game Robbo
Yeh cheers. Apologies I didn’t put up more of a fight!
Is there any sort of time limit on these games ? Quite a few of the mini leagues are a way off being finished and I am keen to get going in the next phase although I expect to get eliminated unless I get a lucky draw .
@RamseyNeil - each player has 5 days to make each move. I fear it is my group in particular that is holding things up. I'll get on and set the chess club up and that way we can have more regular games between us 🙂
Is there any sort of time limit on these games ? Quite a few of the mini leagues are a way off being finished and I am keen to get going in the next phase although I expect to get eliminated unless I get a lucky draw .
My group finished fairly fast as well. As it looks like some time yet before R2 will start I joined another couple of the open to anyone tournaments on the site to keep active.
Currently waiting for this one to start.
https://www.chess.com/tournament/best-of-the-beginners-tournament-1001-1350/players
looks like we're nearly there for the knocked phase!
I’m interested how this is all going. How many people joined in in the end? Who’s winning?
I was tempted to throw my hat into the ring at the start, but fear I am poorer than poor. However, inspired by this thread I have now played 5 games against a friend. He is better than me, which pretty much goes without saying, but I thought it would give a ranking that I could compare with some of the other self claimed weaker players. However, we both started with a rating of 800 and as we’ve played our ratings have risen and fallen but continue to average at 800. Hence I’m no clearer as to where I stand, but would be interested in joining in if you play again.
Same here. I set up an account on chess.com to play a friend a few weeks ago (missed this thread the first time around).
Since then I've played a few randoms, done a lot of the puzzles and I went for a free trial of the Gold membership then cancelled before they took any money although I might sign up again and pay.
Not sure if I can invited to a game as a random - anyone know if you just sit there long enough if you'll be "selected" to play and how you accept? I'm using the app on an Android phone.
Anyway, if anyone fancies one if the regular 30-min games, jlyon77 is my username on there.
gauss and crazy-legs, there was talk of making it a STW Chess Club sort of thing, so there would be the tournament(s) as well as the chance just to play friendlies/challenges and the like. As far as I'm concerned, the more the merrier, regardless of standards, good or bad.
If either of you fancy a game I'm on chess.com as kprook. Same goes for anyone else that wants a friendly while we wait for the next rounds to start.
I’d be keen to play people. I never know what to do at the start, then I kind of get my pieces out and don’t know how to progress from there. It’s not until there’s just a few pieces left that I can come up with a strategy. Therefore I’ve been playing 24 hours a move. So, if anyone fancies a game I’m on chess.com as Django2357. Thanks.
Thanks crazy-legs. Nothing has come through my end, so I have attempted to start a game with you. Chess.com says I shouldn’t as you’re 617 pts better than me 😂
Hi. Just accepted the friend request. Will try and set a game up (but am new to a lot of this).
Chess.com says I shouldn’t as you’re 617 pts better than me 😂
As you have just found out, rankings aren't everything!
Chess.com says I shouldn’t as you’re 617 pts better than me 😂
As you have just found out, rankings aren’t everything!
Thanks, as you can imagine I enjoyed that. I was lost after about two moves, but then suddenly things just fell into place. It was a good while before I realised I could checkmate.
I'll be honest, I've never played long-form chess before (as in, dipping in and out of it over the course of a few days). It's always been 30-min games where I can sit and concentrate and develop some vague semblance of a strategy.
Long form, I'm rapidly finding that I'm *rubbish*. Got thrashed by @gauss1777 and I'm currently fairly close to losing to @kennyp as well...
yeah, it's not really working for me either tbh! Find myself either making silly mistakes or forgetting what I was trying to do and wondering "why the hell did I move there"? 🤣 Compounded by having multiple games on the go! Much prefer the real-time games (quite enjoy the snap-decision making of 10 min ones even though I often run out of time 😃), is there any way to implement those within a club or tournament setting on Chess.com?I’ll be honest, I’ve never played long-form chess before (as in, dipping in and out of it over the course of a few days). It’s always been 30-min games where I can sit and concentrate and develop some vague semblance of a strategy.
I guess the 10 min ones you'd have to make sure you put aside time to do it i.e. have it over a couple of hours and then just see what happens. they do the blitz tournaments pretty often
Much prefer the real-time games (quite enjoy the snap-decision making of 10 min ones even though I often run out of time 😃), is there any way to implement those within a club or tournament setting on Chess.com?
I think the only way you can play those is to offer a match to another individual - that individual then has a certain amount of time to accept the match.
That means it really requires external messaging to say that you're up for a game otherwise you risk the invite getting declined because the other person is busy.
I quite like the 30-min games against a random. I fluked a win against a person earlier - properly ballsed up the first few moves, ended up a knight down but then forced an exchange where I ended up with my queen vs his two rooks in the endgame. I didn't deserve the win to be honest!
Oh and the game with @kennyp I managed to force a draw which again, I don't think I deserved. Thanks for the game though, it was close fought.
I think at my level it's not a case of being any good, it's a case of not ****ing it up too catastrophically!
Oh and the game with @kennyp I managed to force a draw which again, I don’t think I deserved. Thanks for the game though, it was close fought.
Have to say that it was one of the most enjoyable games I've played for quite a while. Nip and tuck for the opening 20 or so moves then I went a knight up but paid little attention to what I thought was a futile attack with a queen and a couple of pawns. Turned out the "futile" attack came very, very close to winning the game.
I think my preference would be for somewhere in-between long form and the blitz type games. Maybe an hour for each player to make all his moves.
Slight interruption here but he said this was game over and she said he didn't know the rules. I blame the Queens Gambit

Long form, I’m rapidly finding that I’m *rubbish*. Got thrashed by @gauss1777 and I’m currently fairly close to losing to @kennyp as well…
I couldn’t believe I won that game. I was lost after a couple of moves, moved a few pieces out and then everything seemed to flow. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but felt like a hustler, because I’d said how bad I was.
I learnt how the pieces moved as a young child and used to play a couple of friends whilst at school, but never learned how to play properly. I played someone at university once and he absolutely destroyed me.
I’m keen to play more often whilst lockdown is on and would definitely be interested in the next tournament.
I’m keen to play more often whilst lockdown is on and would definitely be interested in the next tournament.
Will be a bit of a wait. Still days between moves in some of the remaining round one games.
https://www.chess.com/tournament/the-inaugural-stw-chess-championship/games
And 3 games still to start. At this rate it could be March before round 2 starts.
https://www.chess.com/tournament/the-inaugural-stw-chess-championship/pairings
Of course a second STW tournament could be started while No 1 continues? Though I would suggest a shorter time limit. 1 day? 2 days?
There is a vacation setting where if you need a couple of days out you can pause your games. This could cover the odd time anyone couldn't play a move wthin 24/48hrs. Bivvying in the 'Gorms or whatever.