Visitor's Book

Below are a few comments and opinions from web Visitors from around the world. Some are positive; others are critical. What is your view?

Visitor's Comments: 2004

	I'm 52 years old and learning the game with my students in school (elementary). I've read two books on the game and neither were able to answer my question: "How are the notations on the Black side of the board?" I found the answer on your website---QUICKLY!!! and hassle-free! Thanks for being out there. P.S. I'm starting a chess club Jan 15th. Purely selfish on my part - I never had the opportunity to learn how to play. D 05/01/04
	You're a Bustard for trapping me in your website! T 05/01/04
	I am 39 and I just started learning chess by reading a book. I found your site very helpful in the possibility to see games from beginning to end. The comments are also helpful to understand how to think chess. A great site to recommend to beginners. Thank you very much. SA 06/01/04
	I have taken up chess in the New Year and yours was one of the first web sites I found to get archived chess games. I particularly like the games section for its analysis of most moves during the game. The links section is also very useful in getting further background. Being a beginner, it is good to have a site where the archived games are described move by move; I am going through these games with great interest. Thank you for a very helpful web site. RP, Elgin, New Brunswick, Canada 07/01/04
	I found your site using the Google search engine. I haven't played chess in over 20 years. My wife recently said she wanted to learn the game. Your site is ideal for our situation; i.e., reviewing (in my case) and learning the game (in my wife's case). Thank you for such a good site. RLS, Denville, New Jersey, U.S.A. 07/01/04
	I particularly enjoyed the comments. I have played before, but not in many years and never seriously. Am now getting hooked on chess and am using the beginner games to work on my game. BTW I got Ian's favorite teaser in about 3 minutes. Loved it. Thanks a lot for all the hard work that you do on your site. Maybe one day I will contribute a game of the month! Lots of luck guys. J, Washington DC, USA 08/01/04
	Excellent site, for beginners. CA, Erie, PA, USA 08/01/04
	Have just discovered your 'site'. It is just what I was looking for. I teach Special Needs children at a local secondary/comprehensive school. One young lad in particular is showing lots of enthusiasm for playing Chess. So I think he will be pleased to be able to play when he likes, instead of waiting for me to be available. He will be able to follow the moves himself on his own chess board. I'll let you know how he is getting on in a few weeks time or sooner maybe. Thanks again! RJ 11/01/04
	I play/study your web games during my lunch hour and enjoy them very much ... I've worked from 1 to 14 so far ... they are very entertaining ... DB 14/01/04
	Thanks. That was cute (the Brainteaser Puzzle), left me kicking myself. Wonderful work, 50 games, I mean. SK 16/01/04
	Your website is enjoyable. I am an amateur wishing to improve and have delighted in going through the recorded games on your site. I also have a good friend from Bearsden. His name is Neil McFarlane. He is a comedian who does some shows around the area. He and I met at university when he was an exchange student in the USA. I look forward to exploring your site further and learning from the games. Thanks for a fun resource. NB, Herzing College, Birmingham, Alabama, USA 20/01/04
	You guys have a great web site. I enjoyed reading about both of you. I am a very active chess coach at a small public school in the center of the U.S. My daughter is 9 years old and loves playing chess. The kids I coach are 5 to 12 years old. So far, I have found some of the best chess books for kids come from the U.K. I'll keep visiting... Thanks again! J, Lawrence, Kansas, USA 24/01/04
	Thanks for the great site. The games are excellent and at a level above mine but not so far above that I can't follow along (at least so far). The software works smoothly, unlike at some sites I have seen. I like being able to go backwards for when I have not been paying sufficient attention. Thanks again! RA, Japan 26/01/04
	I visited your nice site. You have a lot of good information and illustration about Chess. L, Belgium 29/01/04
	Great website. Thanks! P C-M 29/01/04
	I have visited your site ten times. I am very much a beginner. I live in Portland, Oregon in the United States and am 48 years old. I played chess as a child (I was taught by older siblings) and had not played for approximately 35-40 years. Recently, I have a good friend that started to play with his twin eleven-year old daughters. They invited me to play and I found that I really enjoyed it but that I had only a rudimentary knowledge of the game. I did a search on the internet and found your website. I also bought the book "Keene On Chess" by Raymond Keene (a former British Champion). I have a busy life with work, grandchildren, etc. but am trying to carve out some time to really learn chess. I am proceeding slowly but am really enjoying what I've learned so far. I have found your website to be very informative. I still feel a little intimidated but I am slowly overcoming that. If you have any suggestions to help grow and proceed please let me know. Thank you for your efforts. REP 30/01/04
	I like all, and especial opening and middle game. AL, Tianjin, China 01/02/04
	The puzzle was really a good one and also quite demanding for someone who just started to (try to) learn chess a few days ago ... I promise I won't give up! With sunny greetings from California, A-B P California, USA 04/02/04
	Good strategies... I used to play and still played on and off. Only recently have I started getting much more into it and found my strategies and analyzations aren't quite strong enough to play in my age group anymore. This was good to see some common set ups moving towards checkmates. SL, Buffalo, NY, USA 08/02/04
	Enjoyed everything, although you might expand. V, Brussels, Belgium 11/02/04
	Playing off and on for years at a beginners level. Enjoyed the games which were not too far ahead of me. Could you lable the openings on the games for I find it cumbersome to refer to the list each time? G 18/02/04 We reply: Labling the openings is a good idea. Will do it when we find the time!
	Thank you so much for your site. I am trying to learn/improve my chess game; and this is a wonderful place to do so. Best wishes. WEC, 23/02/04
	Have tried to email you several times but my messages do not go through. I have not played a game in 50 years and thought your site might be interesting. The brainteaser continues to baffle me. BH 23/02/04 We reply: This message certainly got through. Will send you the brainteaser solution straight away!
	My name is Jonas and I am 15 years old. I’m from Germany (so don’t wonder about my English) and I have discovered your website since last week. The 50 games are super for all beginners and I learned much about openings and tactics. I have begun to play seriously for three weeks every day on Chessbase. Your Website is amazing. Keep it up! JF, 28/02/04
	I visited your site more than 10 times. I was looking for a chess site that isn't too advanced and doesn't have too many technical terms. I like watching the animation 'cos it makes it easier for me to learn the openings and the commentary is very useful. I hope you guys can help me out with any tips you think can be useful to me. I would like to know your ages and how you rank now. Thank you. R 17/03/04 We reply: We both remain keen on chess and are playing lots of games. Ian is now 12 and is playing at around 1340. Douglas is considerably older and has a grade of 1100!
	I am Malcolm from Bourne in Lincolnshire and a Business Studies teacher who has not played chess since I was at school about 35 years ago! I am trying to play my two nephews, Charlie who is nine (I think) and Harry who is about six. None of us belong to a chess club but Charlie has played for his cubs in Worthing, Sussex. We are e-mailing moves to each other and have used your site to learn the notation. I have also looked at your first three or four games to refresh my memory - not that I was ever very good. It's a great site and ideal for the three of us - I'm hoping Charlie and Harry will have a look at some of your games (with the very helpful commentary) to pick up some hints about tactics and openings etc. So, many thanks for your hard work - I know creating a site like this takes a lot of thought and time but it is certainly appreciated in Bourne and Worthing. Best wishes. MS, 19/03/04
	Hello, my name is Beatrice. I am an Assistant Principal at a K-8 school in Virginia. I found your site very helpful. I noticed my students playing chess during their lunch time and they truly enjoy it. I did not undertand it. So I searched the web and found your site. It is wonderful and easy to understand due to the visuals. By the way I stink at playing but I am enjoying learning. Thank you for this site. I have recommended it to all of my "beginner friends". B, Virginia, USA, 21/03/04
	50 Games has been a great tutor for me - I am using it at the same time I am working thru the tutorial section of Chessmaster 9000. I try to anticipate the moves that each participant will make and then see how it works out. If I select a different move I try to determine which was better - theirs or mine. I just discovered the section on Openings - this looks like a great way to enjoy the games a second time! DS, Washington DC, USA, 27/03/04
	Hey guys, first of all, you have an amazing website. I just found out about it, and checked out a lot of things in it, as well as the game of the month analysis - very instructive. I am 20 and in 3rd year computer science at the University of Toronto, Canada, and I just found out that one of my classmates plays in tournaments, etc., so we have set up a big game for next Wednesday. I'm tempted to have someone write the moves down so I can submit it for analysis, (unless I lose disgracefully... haha) Anyway, I looked at your puzzle, and spent 2 minutes thinking about it, and I even tried finding a mate for the black .. cuz I thought maybe there was a mistake. Then I checked the solutions section, which lists the reactions. So I got frustrated.. went back and got it in 30 seconds.. nice! I like this puzzle.. but seriously, it is not indicative of how much time you should spend on each move in a real game.. haha (at least! not for some people who said it tooks ages for them on your website ). Anyway, I am an intermediate player I think, but I have my good and bad days, ... I was wondering what you guys would suggest so I can become better (and don't say practice.. cuz I got that covered, I want references to good theory or something.) basically.. how do I improve my game! Anyway, good luck with everything, and again, amazing job guys, keep it up! MJ, 27/03/04 We reply: How to improve, other than by practicing? This is a tough question and is one which we continually ask ourselves. One answer is to read chess books. This can be very instructive, but takes a lot of time. There are hundreds of books to choose from - you will be spoilt for choice. Another answer might be to find a personal chess tutor, who can discuss your game with you, and teach you how to see further ahead. It is generally recommended that a chess tutor should have a grade of at least 300, and preferably 500 or so, points above your own grade. Hope this helps!

Visitor's Comments: 2003

	Thanks so much for creating and sharing your wonderful web page. It's the very essence of the internet's unique power. I'm just afraid that you'll grow tired of maintaining it and the resource will simply disappear. If you were to put the whole shebang on a CD and market it as a beginner's learning tool I'd be among the first to pay for one. Thanks again! JW 03/01/03 We reply: Thanks for your encouragement. We fully agree with you that the internet is the way to reach people in this day and age. We rate reaching out to people higher than making a few bucks - that is why 50 Chess Games is a free resource. We have not yet grown tired of maintaining the website, and have no intention of letting it disappear. You can rest assured that it will be around in one form or another for a long time to come!
	Your program looks great, I cannot wait to play with it. JW 07/01/03
	The best chess site I have seen. A very easy way of learning new moves. Hope to see more games and regular updates on the site. Best wishes! J 09/01/03 We reply: We are constantly striving to improve and update the site. For instance, we have just added a stunning 50 Chess Games Wallpaper poster which has been sent to us by Ricky, who is a fantastic artist as well as being a chess enthusiast!
	I've enjoyed your site, and your games. Thanks for the great info and website! TS, near Salt Lake City, USA, 11/01/03
	That is very very great! OJdS, Porto Alegre, Brazil, 19/01/03
	Hi, this is the first time I visit your site. I like it! XL, 20/01/03
	I am a 75 year old beginning chess player. It has been very helpful for me to watch these matches and read the commentaries. Your site, along with various other learning aides, is providing me with plenty of mental stimulation. Thanks again. JM, 21/01/03
	I recently found your website. Have been recently playing chess again after many years of not playing. The site is great. Beautiful graphics and the games run very nicely. Excellent examples as well. Great selection of fantastic strategy. (Some I didn't even see coming!) I was wondering if it is possible for you to add a few games played by masters, grandmasters etc. The games are quite frequently described in chess books. However, I can't always visualize the games in my head. Often, when I try to reproduce a game on a chess board, I find that I may have made a mistake with interpreting the notation, or the error is in the book. What seems to be a great game suddenly comes to a halt. DS, 01/02/03 We reply: Your idea about featuring some games from masters, grandmasters, etc. is a good one. We would like to do this, but at the moment just do not have the time to put it together. Hopefully we will get round to it some time.
	I have visited the site many times and I am picking up quite a few tips. I had practically forgotten about chess for 30 years until I accidentally came across your site. Thanks for the help! PG, Québec, Canada, 09/02/03
	Easy to use! JLF, LA, USA, 09/02/03
	I am enjoying your site very much. It is just what I needed! RS, 11/02/03
	I am a elementary school teacher near Toronto, Canada. Since I organise a chess club at my school, I thought that your site could serve as a useful teaching tool to my young students (ages 7 to 13), from which I'm sure they would benefit. RV, Keswick, Ontario, Canada, 13/02/03
	It's nice to work through games move by move with commentary - and sometimes frustrating when I see a better move than the one just made! RA, 13/02/03
	I'm past the 3/4 century mark in age and about 2 years into chess, which I wish I'd found long ago. Thank you for making the games available and good luck to both of you! MB, 15/02/03
	I have a 7 year old that wants to learn chess. What type of goals should I set for her? G, 17/02/03 We reply: Find out if her School runs a chess club - if so get her to join. See if there are any other local clubs with sections for juniors. Enquire about any local or regional junior tournaments in your area. She will learn best from playing opponents who are just slightly above her own level. Every game she wins will give her confidence. Every game she loses will teach her valuable lessons. As soon as she is able to do so, she should record her games. These can then be analysed afterwards to bring out the basic chess lessons. If you need assistance with this, ask someone from a local club to help.
	This site is one of the best sites for beginners because....... what I was looking for (as a beginner) was: "the reason why a move is a good or a bad move". If one analyses the games one gets information about that reason. Thanks!!!!! You are like a sort of coach. There are a lot of sites for beginners but none of them with information why a move is good or bad. DG, 25/02/03
	Often when playing through some of the games, I feel there is something which needs to be said about a point in a game which was missing. In going through just the first three or four games, there were times where tactical shots were missed or a player would keep attacking an opponent's Queen (for no purpose other than hoping for a mistake) rather than developing his pieces... I realize beginners would not be interested in long notes with fifteen moves of opening theory, but moves which could decide or turn around a game should always be mentioned. Please try to get some strong players to annotate some of the games--your site would be much more valuable to those learning the game. I'd even volunteer to do a few of them. WP, 27/02/03 We reply: You are actually not the first person who has suggested that some of our games could stand a deeper analysis and we would be interested in the idea of providing a more expert analysis on some of the games. We would therefore like to take you up on your offer to provide advanced annotations for some of our games. [WP has now provided some expert annotations for some of our games which are available as a supplement to our own basic commentaries.]
	I am 24 years old. I am just in the beginning of my chess road and your site is helping me a lot. Your 50 games and commentaries are very interesting and helpful, specially when I can foresee a movement that should have been done, and the commentary comes just after. Your website design is great, and the topics I like most are the Games, Game of the Month and Brainteaser. I guess that you only have to increase the number of puzzles available. I am talking about your site to every person I know that plays chess! VL, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 01/03/03
	Now I know that you have been tracking the amount of games I have played, I am pleased that you are concerned as to what your games are doing for the game of chess. I received my new chess board and pieces yesterday. Found your site on the net and as a first time player thought that I should try your games to gain experience. So far so good. I feel that by the time I have gone through all 50 games a few times I might be able to join a club and start enjoying chess! Thank you. JB, 01/03/03
	I want to say your 50 Games for beginners has helped me a lot. I only been playing for a few months, I still make a lot of dumb mistakes. I use your site it helps me a lot. I love the game. Wish I started when I was a bit younger. I might try to start a chess club here. Thanks. BT, Erie, PA, USA, 05/03/03 We reply: Keep up the good work, spread the word, and good luck with your new Chess Club!
	I want to thank you for putting your site together. It's really helped me out by going through the games and analysing what I would do and seeing what your son would do... He's quite a player. Also the brain teaser... I like that one! JK, 10/03/03
	Hi, that's brilliant! You have a truly impressive site!! L, 19/03/03
	I really appreciate your unique web site. It is really well done but for the life of me I can't solve the puzzle. EJ, 20/03/03
	First of all -- thanks a lot! I have been looking for something like you created for some time now. The puzzle is marvelous. I could not figure it out -- my chess program did, in about .5 seconds. Oh well. I am looking forward to the time when I can play with my own son who is 3 now! GB, Baltimore, USA (originally from Hungary) 28/03/03
	I love your website! I am an adult player... never took chess seriously until recently when I started playing online at pogo.com. Frankly, I have no talent... pogo rating average in the mid 1400's. Your games are most instructive and perfect for my level of development... especially because the notation tells what the player was "thinking" at the time of the move... I can already tell it has helped my game a lot! Anyway, thank you so much for putting up a nice website. GB, Athens, Texas USA 11/04/03
	I am 18 years old and I live in Norway. Fun to hear Ian played some of his first games over here, by the way. I got renewed interest in chess just a few weeks ago (not that I had been playing intensively before). So I decided to freshen up on my tactics and stuff. I went to several sites, none of which had any extensive in-depth discussion over strategy. Confusing terms, lessons which had to be payed for, etc. So your page is a nice counterpart to that. Showing off at least the most common used moves is great, and what's even better is to show off the games they appear in. Then at least one can get a good view on how the moves fit into the game as a whole. I do see some of the mistakes Ian (and his opponents) make in those games before the commentary comments them, so that's good then, I suppose. I thought about joining a chess club or something. However, I am a bit afraid of getting my ass kicked by someone 8 years younger than myself. It appears as all good chess players get a rating of 1800 just when they popped out of their mother... EF, Norway, 13/04/03 Douglas replies: We know from our visit to Bergen that you play a lot of good chess in Norway! If you are keen, you really should join a club. Never mind about getting your ass kicked by young upstarts- it is all part of the game and you just have to get used to it! Believe me, I know all about it!
	Una raccolta davvero ben commentata di partite tra principianti. Si può imparare davvero tanto. Non solo le mosse dei grandi maestre, ma i più comuni errori per conoscerli ed evitarli. DS, Genoa, Italy, 27/04/03
	I like your chess site and am curious what software you have used to show off your games! JE, Chess is Fun, 28/04/03 We reply: Our software is all written from scratch in JavaScript, and is based on a half-move tempo.
	I think it's good to see games visually without having to sift through sheets of algebraic notation. I have a good opening, but my endgame is appalling. Even in an easy game, no matter how many more pieces I have compared to theirs, they always fight back for at least stalemate because I make foolish moves. Thankyou. KR, Hamilton, New Zealand, 01/05/03
	Keep up the great site! MY, Bruges, Belgium, 09/05/03
	I guess my question will sound very unusual to you, but I would greatly appreciate if you could help me. My name is Laure and I'm doing a PhD on gender in English at the Sorbonne in Paris. I'm looking for examples of objects referred to as 'he' or 'she'. Now when a friend of mine played chess with an English friend, she noticed at some point that this friend suddenly said 'she' to refer to one of his rooks. So what I would have liked to know is this : as chess enthusiasts, do you (or anybody else you know) ever use 'he' or 'she' to refer to any of your chessmen ? I suppose you would at least for the king and queen ; in that case, would you say he/she systematically, or do you sometimes say 'it' as well ? and are there any chessmen for which you would always say 'it' (and for which 'he' or 'she' would sound un-English ?) LG, Paris, France, 15/05/03 We reply: Chère Laure, Merci de votre lettre. J'ai pensé à votre question et d'habitude on ne dit pas "he" ou "she" à des objets en anglais, mais voici des exceptions: avec des animaux dans la famille: "dog, cat, budgie" on dit souvent "he" ou "she". "ship" on dit souvent, mais pas toujours "she", et quelequefois si on a une voiture précieuse on dit "she's a real beauty." Quand on joue aux échecs on ne dit jamais "he ou she" et rarement "it". D'habitude on dit le nom de la pièce par exemple, "My bishop is pinning your knight." "I have moved my black rook. It is there." "You touched my queen. You will have to take it." "The rook has you in check." Alors il y a des gens qui disent "she" pour la reine, mais je dis toujours "it". J'éspère que ça peut vous aider et je vous souhaite bonne chance avec vos études.
	From the little I know ... you have a wonderful website. I've been wanting to learn to "play" chess for quite a while and am ready to learn. Can you recommend how I can go about it? I do not know anyone who plays. I notice on your site you need to know the basic concepts. I appreciate your help and enjoy the evening! F, 18/05/03 We reply: Its great that you want to learn how to play chess! You have to start with the basics and there are many chess websites which will show you the moves. When you are comfortable with how the pieces move it is time to start playing some games. You should try to find someone else at your own level, or perhaps just slightly better than you. That way you can learn from them. You actually learn more, at least to begin with, from the games you lose than the games you win. Once you have learned a few good openings, combinations, etc. you can then play these on other players and you will gradually improve. Then have another look at how we played our early games. See what worked for us and what didn't, and try to relate that to your own games. Good luck!
	I recently started becoming interested in Chess and am currently learning the subtle nuances. I found your website via Google and absolutely love it. It is very easy to use, informative and very helpful (especially the comments!). Thank you very much setting this up. My only suggestion would be to have more comments!!! DK, Boston, USA, 29/05/03
	I found your site very interesting, especially as I am trying to teach my 8 year old son. One move that I do have a problem with is... ...Many, many thanks for your wonderful explanation. If my son does become a Grand Master, I will ensure your name is mentioned in dispatches! Thanks once again. DM, 02/06/03
	Really enjoyed the 50 games. Any more in the pipeline? MS, Australia, 16/06/03 We reply: We add a new game each month through our "Game of the Month" competition. If you have an interesting game, send it in and your game could be the next one we add!
	Thank you! for your suggestions. Mathopardy is our seventh grade study guide for the final exam. The students enjoyed it and the exam grades reflected the interest. The link to your site was the suggestion of my students. Keep up the good work! CB, Galvin Middle School, Wakefield MA, USA, 19/06/03 Douglas replies: We were delighted that you chose to direct your kids to our website and we hope this will encourage them to take up the game. In fact we have already received quite a large number of visits from you already. By the way, I really enjoyed the Mathopardy Quiz. I got one question wrong by trying to answer too quickly.
	I came across your website... and I find it most interesting. I have played chess but I have a lot of drawbacks. I don't appear to be able to formulate a plan, and as for strategy, it doesn't mean much to me. How does one recognize chess openings? I can't find a reason for every move I make. I know the general principles of the game and have, at times, played some VERY good chess; I even had a draw with a lady 5 x champion. What about opening theory? I find it very boring to learn chess from a book (although I love reading in general). (Princess) M S-M, Mir Castle, Minsk, Belorus, 02/07/03 Douglas replies: I understand completely the points you are making - I have been there. I am still trying to make the transition from being a beginner to a becoming good chess player and the lessons you need to master at this stage are tough. I have found it is always better to have a plan than to have no plan. It forces you to set objectives and helps you concentrate. Sometimes it is a very short term plan, and other times there are more long term objectives. You should also try to consider what your opponent might be up to. His/her plans are every bit as relevant as your own plans. Strategy is more like whether you want an open fast moving game or a closed position where progress is very slow and calculated. I vary the type of game I play depending on the strength of my opponent and have for instance managed a few draws against much better opponents playing a closed style of game. I am sure I would have been slaughtered playing a more open game. Other strategic considerations are issues such as do I want to keep my two Bishops on the board to work together, or do I prefer to play with the Knights? These are often questions of personal style and preference. Most established chess players know a lot of openings and you need to brush up on your own openings so as not to be at a disadvantage. If you know your openings, you can quickly get into the middle game without making any errors and hopefully with a reasonably strong position. If you know which moves are sound, you need not spend much time on this phase of the game and that can give you a time advantage. As White you can direct the style of the game. White starts with the initiative and good opening play will allow White to maintain that advantage well into the middle game. It is good to have one or two favourite openings which you are confident playing. As Black you need to be able to respond to a wide variety of different openings, so knowing a range of openings is important. How to learn openings is a difficult question. Probably practice, trial and error are the best teachers. Play plenty of games. Study, analysis and learning from books also have a role but, like you, I also find learning from books time consuming, dull and difficult.
	Played chess as young lad with my father; have decided to refresh my recollection and your program is most helpful... I have started two of my grandchildren playing which they enjoy. EH, 03/07/03
	I've been playing chess for 2 months...can you show me how to play using the chess clock? G, 12/07/03 Douglas replies: Chess clocks are used in tournaments and competitions to ensure that both players make moves within a reasonable time. Each player is given the same amount of time. At the start Black starts White's clock. After each move has been played, the player making the move presses a button which stops their clock and restarts their opponents clock. Towards the end of the allocated time the clock hands usually lift a red flag. When the time runs out the flag will fall, signalling that one player has run out of time. The way the two clocks are linked one flag will always fall before the other. The idea is that you must beat your opponent within the allocated time. If your flag falls you have run out of time and are deemed to have lost. These rules ensure that players do not waste time, and that each is given an equal amount of thinking time. In a competition you should try to do as much thinking in your opponents time as possible, because if you run short of time, you may have to make moves quickly which are not completely thought out. This is known as time pressure and it is easy to make silly mistakes when you have very little time left on your clock. In some tournaments, if you think you are WINNING but are running out of time you may appeal to the arbiter in the last two minutes to be given a DRAW. The arbiter will either ask you to explain how you could WIN from your given position, or may ask you to play on to demonstrate this. Even if you subsequently win the game, you will only be credited a DRAW. The detailed rules vary from tournament to tournament, but I hope this gives you some idea of how clocks are used.
	Great site - thank you for providing your time and wit to its development. GW, 14/07/03
	I am a 14 year old boy from Denmark and I find your site interesting. Especially the game of the month competition: I have already sent you one game. TM, Denmark, 17/07/03
	Awesome. Just played through first game. I am saving this as one of my favorites! Can't wait to look through the rest of your WEB site when it isn't so late. J, 17/07/03
	Very nice set of tutorials. M, 18/07/03
	I found your web site when I was searching the internet for interactive chess sites. I very much enjoyed the information presented about chess. I have recently returned to playing chess and have found my skills have... deteriorated to say the least. I can use all the help I can get! I will visit again soon. Sláinte K, 19/07/03
	Ian must be a twisted little cuss ! I failed to see a solution (to the Brainteaser Puzzle) in my first effort, gave up after about 15 minutes, went to bed. The second time around... Then I finally saw IT... Great, twisted brain teaser. I have played chess for many years, but not often and not seriously. I am looking to improve. I have enjoyed your site, especially the dual analysis of the games. I am now using Ian's often used opening technique of bringing out the King's Bishop early to avoid having it trapped by the Pawns and clearing the way for an early Castle. Good job. LP, 23/07/03
	Thank you so much for sending a reply! I really enjoyed observing your games on line. I'll be checking them out on a regular basis for strategies. Thanks again. BS, 24/07/03
	I spent quite some time to solve the "Ian's favourite brainteaser". I liked it very much, its a really good puzzle, the best I've ever made. By the way, I liked your webpage, I hope you can get more experts comments on the games, because they are very interesting. YM, 25/07/03
	I have recently decided to take up the game of chess, so as to challenge my grandchildren. So hope to practice using the games on your website. WF, 29/07/03
	I am 71 years old and a very basic player. I have known the moves for several years, however I am unable to have recall of moves or games played and each game is rather new to me. That is what I like about your site. I can play (or rather watch) as each game is played, note the comments and hope I can at least recall what to watch out for, what to protect, etc: I am only frustrated when I think a certain move should be made and cannot play it, merely watch and see what happens. It is still a learning experience and if I play each game over I think it is helping me to be more attentive and not to make moves to fast. HRR, 04/08/03
	Greetings from Ohio - just wanted to drop you a line to tell you how much I've enjoyed your site. I'm 25, and I've been playing chess for about two years. I am a cook at a very nice French restaurant in Cincinnati, and lately we've been playing chess during our dinner breaks, after work at the bar, and the chef and I even play late night games over the internet! My station partner used to always beat me, so I started doing some research online to find some defense against his annoying opening moves and ran across your site. It's been very helpful to me! I'm sure that visiting your site and in particular going over your past games helped me whip his butt last night at the bar after our shift!! Thanks again, best of luck to you. S, Cincinnati, Ohio USA, 10/08/03
	Fantastic. The catch is probably the advanced stage of the game. Thanks for that. It really started my marbles rolling!! L, 14/08/03
	Nice chess site you have there. Good interface and comments on almost every move, it's just what beginners need. Sometimes you struggle a long time to understand a move that seems far from the action, you explain those moves as well. Thanks for providing this for free! AS, Sweden 27/08/03
	A kid and a Dad (re)learning Chess together. Just like me and my daughter. It reads well and isn't too chessticated. Thanks. DA, Oxford, England 29/08/03
	Well your site has been both fun and educational. I liked the whole site! I really enjoyed going through all the games, and I have learned from it. But, what is there to do after I look at all the games (which I have)? Keep it up!! RG (age 13), Raleigh, North Carolina, USA 08/09/03 We reply: You ask what you should do after studying all of our games. The answer is simple: Join a chess club and try what you have learned on other chess enthusiasts. The more you play the better you will become!
	I played chess with my father when I was a child, however I haven't played in over 35 years. Your site is perfect for getting back into the game. Perhaps after I view all 50 games I might be able to beat my dad after all these years! KT, 18/09/03
	I am an 8th grade teacher in Pueblo, Colorado who replaced the previous 8th grade teacher who was the chess club sponsor. Since I mentioned I had played chess 25 years ago before we had kids, I became the new chess club sponsor! I am now cramming to try to "relearn" the strategy of the game and try to keep from losing to the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders in the club every week! My husband found your site on the Internet and I have been going thru the games you played in the beginning. What suggestions do you have for teaching/learning the basic strategy for moves? Also, what suggestions do you have for helping kids to learn how to get started in the game? We all know how each player moves, but what are some ideas as to which players to have go out first and who follows, etc.? Thanks for making a site such as yours - I have it book marked! JF, Pueblo, Colorado, USA, 19/09/03 We reply: Our best advice is to get the kids to play lots of games against each other and to try out ideas that way. The more they play, the more they will learn. A few key pointers are: Try to develop your pieces to safe squares, which control the centre of the board, as quickly as possible. Don't move any piece more than once in the opening without a very good reason for doing so. The usual order for developing pieces is Knights first, then Bishops, Castling, Rooks and finally your Queen. However all games are different and this is not a hard and fast rule. Don't swap pieces or Pawns unless you gain a real advantage out of the exchange, or prevent your opponent from gaining an advantage. Push forward as fast as it is safe to do so. The more space you control on the board the better, but beware of letting your opponent get any pieces behind your Pawns - that can be extremely annoying to say the least. Try not to let your Pawns get "doubled up" - they are not as strong. Try to "double" your opponents Pawns. Avoid, as far as possible, putting pieces close to the edge of the board. They control fewer squares there and are further from the action. This is particularly true of Knights, but also applies to putting your Queen near a corner. In the endgame you also really want to have your King in the centre of the board. Try to attack rather than defend. (This is difficult and is a matter of style and temperament as much as anything else.) Your King can be a valuable attacking and defending piece in the endgame, especially if the Rooks and Queens have been exchanged. Hope this helps. Keep up the good work!
	I've just started playing again after 20 years away from the game. Your site is terrific. I have only begun to plumb its depths. Thanks for putting together so much information and fun. BB, 19/09/03
	What a fantastic web site. I renewed my interest in chess on holiday this August as there was a set in our B&B. I'd not played for years. I decided on my return home to buy a set as I had enjoyed it so much. Only problem was...I kept loosing. I'm studying the games here and I'm now on game 12. I anticipate the moves before clicking forward. I'm learning a huge amount. I've decided that my stress relief when I get in from work can be a study of one of these games. So that's why I'm on the computer now. Thank you so much for this fantastic site LS, 22/09/03
	I am a blind player and I want to play your games, so here is my question: I need the board to be larger so my software will pick it up. If you can help me let me know... RH, 27/09/03 Douglas replies: The board is made up of individual gif images of each of the squares. The size of the squares is chosen to fit onto a standard size screen. We already have two versions of the program: one matched for a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 and the other for 800 x 600. The program tests your screen resolution to chose the version best suited to your computer. Given the way the board is put together there is not an easy way to make it bigger. We are in the process of making our games and commentaries available in the standard chess PGN format. So far about a quarter of our games are available in this format. There is a separate download page, but this is only available on the 1024 x 768 screen resolution version of our program. With this format you can replay the games through many different chess programs, e.g. Fritz, including some which will speak the moves as they are made. When time allows we will convert the rest of the games to this format. We would like to make our program available to as many people as possible, if you have any other suggestions please let us know.
	Wonderful. I run a little elementary school chess club in Austin, Texas. I e-mail kids their homework challenges every week. This week I've directed them to study a game on your site and then suggest what they believe would be a better last move. Hope you don't mind. I think I'll also put your great brain teaser on the teaching board at the start of next week's meeting! PM, Austin, Texas, USA, 03/10/03
	I am just dropping you a little line to let you know I have found your site quite useful. Now, instead of getting my rump kicked all the tme, I just get it kicked most of the time. I'm still studying the games and appreciate the time and effort you've put into it. Thank you. DB, 04/10/03
	Hope this is not a nuisance to you but I wanted to say thank you for providing this website. I am just getting back into chess after 30 or so years and really appreciate going through the games. Great work!! MD, 07/10/03
	This is an excellent site. I haven't played chess in years and I am enjoying your commentary. I am now very interested in getting back into the game. JS, USA, 07/10/03
	What a great site, I am hooked!! My father taught me to play many years ago and was at one stage one of the top players in the country - once playing one of the famous Russian players when he come to our town about 20 years ago. He lost! I've never played chess other than with family and friends but this site has re-kindled my interest to move outside this group and possibly try the local chess club. Many thanks. AJ, New Zealand, 08/10/03
	Learning to play chess - this site is great. Very helpful. Thank you. PLS, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, 08/10/03
	Just wanted to thank you for such a great and comprehensive site. I dabbled with chess for years without ever really progressing in general strategy or foresight. I'm about halfway through your 50 games, and have learned more in these two weeks than I ever have before - generally I'll walk through a couple of games, then play Chessmaster 9k. With your help, I've broken the 1000 rating mark, and am now beginning to recognize bad moves other than blunders! Anyway, this must have taken a lot of work and I just wanted to let you know that it is appreciated! JD, 16/10/03
	I am a third grade teacher in Buffalo, Mo. in need of your help. Do you have a way for two students to play a game of chess? I am looking for a computer chess game so that two students can play at the same time or play a game with the computer. Of course, I would like this to be a free site. LT, Buffalo, Montana, USA, 21/09/03 Douglas replies: There are many good computer chess programs which you can buy on CD which can be used by one person at a time. These are generally available from specialist chess equipment/ books/ games retailers or may be sold over the internet. We have used two which we find very good: K-Chess Elite and Fritz, but there are many others. You can also use computers to play other players over the internet. There are many good sites out there. I would recommend "It's Your Turn". You can play someone else at random who happens to be logged in at the same time, or if you register a username and your friends do the same you can request to play each other. I have played this way when I did not have a board available. Both my opponent and I were in the same room, logged into two different computers.
	Keen to get back into chess after playing my first competitive game in years, I spent half an hour searching the web and getting nowhere. Most sites are awful and have ad’s popping up every three seconds. I was about to give up, and then followed a hyperlink to your site - wow!!! What a fantastic website!!! I was looking for info on openings, but found myself immersed for hours!!! I must commend you on your excellent site, but ask that you take it offline at nights – we all need sleep you know!!! P.S. Cracking puzzle!!! Furball, York, UK, 24/10/03
	I've enjoyed following the games you present. I am a senior, living in western Canada, and used to play chess many years ago. Your games, and particularly the comments, bring back my interest in the game - next step, to actually play some games, either in person or on Internet! GGD, Canada, 28/10/03
	We love your website, and it has been extremely helpful. Thank you for making it available. TS, 09/11/03
	I only play with an electronic chess game, so it was helpful to see a variety of games by real people. I have improved because of this (slightly), and any improvement is welcome. I hope you are doing well in your competitions. Good luck. B, Moncton, Canada, 12/11/03
	Thank you it was very informative! JJ, 14/11/03
	Can you please offer some advice and help? I am a teaching assistant and I work with 13 - 16 year olds with learning difficulties in a main stream comprehensive school. Whilst some of the pupils struggle with academic difficulties, chess is the most popular game within our lunch time support club. I have never played before - but I am inundated with requests to play a game. Other students who have also never played are keen to become involved. I have a limited basic knowledge but the language used to instruct on 'how to play' included with the game uses complex vocabulary and I need some simple instructions. I am not attempting to turn these students into chess 'boffins' - just simply attempting to include them in a game that they can't quite grasp at present and wish to understand. Our chess sets in school are popular and we don't have enough. We have asked parents to send in unused sets (complete or not) - if you are able to help in any way it would be much appreciated. TD, 21/11/03 Douglas replies: Chess is a great game which just about everyone can learn. It is known to encourage concentration and to instil a sense of achievement in kids of all ages and backgrounds. Kids who play chess often show noticeable improvements in other areas as well so it is a very worthwhile activity. The most important thing is for them to play with other people of similar ability. They will gradually improve with practice and experience, while deriving considerable enjoyment and satisfaction from the game. If your pupils can play the game then so can you! First learn the basic moves, then you are ready to start. Don't be afraid of losing: everyone loses a lot of games to begin with. I still lose more games than I win. You will learn rapidly from the mistakes you make, and when you do win it will be fun! Sometimes the instructions given with sets are just too abbreviated to make a lot of sense, so a basic instruction book is a good investment. I can offer you a lot of encouragement, but unfortunately I do not have any spare chess sets to offer, but your idea of asking parents is a good one. A lot of people will have a set in the back of a cupboard which is not being used. Good luck and keep up the good work!
	I am an art teacher at Mirror Lakes Elementary school in Lehigh Acres Florida. I had a student last year come to me, 4th grader, and asked if I played chess. I told him it had been years but, yes. He said let play sometime. Well, that got the ball rolling. I thought, wouldn't it be nice to have a chess club. I went to WalMart and purchased seven chess sets. I played against my student and he won one and I won one. I thought it best to end that way. I never got the club started that year. This year I said lets do it. The club started out with ten students and they were in the 4th and 5th grades. It is not three months later and I have 49 students ranging from 1st. grade to 5th grade. And more keep coming. I have run out of room to hold them all and I have put out a plea for chess sets. Its wonderful. Now, I am trying to find other schools to have a play off. I am just a simple player and your score sheet is new to me. Its great. Can you give me some ideas how to make our "Chess Club" at school even better? Resources? CL, Lehigh Acres, Florida, USA, 23/11/03 Douglas replies: Well done for starting a chess club! The best thing we can suggest is to make your club lively and try to vary the activities. Run a chess ladder. Run a five round "Swiss" competition for school chess champion. Split your players into teams and run team competitions. Get the kids to play variations, such as "suicide chess" or "doubles". You often find chess puzzles in newspapers of magazines. Bring some of those in and get your kids to try and find the best answer. Once in a while invite an "expert" from the local adult chess club to come along and play simultaneous chess against all of your kids. Find other schools with chess clubs and organise competitions. Encourage the best players to go in for regional tournaments. Have days where you are going to concentrate on endings. Teach the beginners all the standard endings e.g.. 2 Rooks v King, 1 Rook plus King v King, 1 Queen plus King v King, or the harder ones such as 2 Bishops plus King v King, etc. Teach them how to record games (using our scoresheets) and then to learn from their games by replaying them and analysing their own moves. Get a few chess clocks (four will be useful for running serious team competitions - chess is educational, so try to get the school to pay for these.) and show the kids how to use them. Vary the length of the games and try short blitz games and longer games where they have time to really think out the best moves. There are many things you can do, getting organised is the only difficult part! Keep up the good work!
	I recently started playing against a friend from work but we're both new to chess. The best way to learn is to play, of course, but it's tough to get better when you're both inept at chess. It's nice to have a website like this to look at some actual games and learn a few tricks. Thanks for all the help. JD, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, 25/11/03
	Thanks for very positive e-mail. I've taken the initial plunge and really enjoyed a couple of games (but lost). Chess has allowed the kids I work with (most have low self esteem and negative personal confidence) to thrash me unconditionally and feel very good about themselves - albeit at my expense! Only wish I discovered it years ago. It's learning values are fab. - kinesthetic, visual and multi sensory. It also requires the need to rationalise, think ahead and use a number of skills e.g. strategy, memory and accepting defeat with good grace - but wanting to try harder next time. It continues to amaze me how my special pupils with all manner of problems and very significant academic learning difficulties can excel and think logically in a chess game - but can't employ logic and rational reasoning on a day to day basis in a classroom environment. I continue to be amazed by them when they have access to a chess board. Chess has become so popular within our Special Education Needs lunch club, that we have now had to open a lunch time chess club to accommodate the pupils in a larger area. TD, 26/11/03 & 28/11/03 & 03/12/03
	Can you help please. My son has this weekend to sort out a problem that will get his team 100 tean points at school. He has to work out how to move a castle to every square on the chess board without having to land on the same square more than once. It is driving all the family mad! DF, SF & JF, 28/11/03 We reply: Your problem is really quite straightforward. There are 64 squares on the board. You have to start on one of these squares, so there you need 63 moves to land each other square once, and once only. Let us start on square a1 (the order of moves is the same if you want to start on any other square). The castle can move any number of squares horizontally or vertically. The simplest solution is to move just one square each time. e.g. a1, a2, a3, a4, a5, a6, a7, a8, b8, b7, b6, b5, b4, b3, b2, b1, c1, c2, c3, c4, c5, c6, c7, c8, d8, d7, d6, d5, d4, d3, d2, d1, e1, e2, e3, e4, e5, e6, e7, e8, f8, f7, f6, f5, f4, f3, f2, f1, g1, g2, g3, g4, g5, g6, g7, g8, h8, h7, h6, h5, h4, h3, h2, h1. If you want to move the castle more than one square on each move there are many other patterns which do the job in 63 moves. e.g. a1, a3, a5, a7, a2, a4, a6, a8, c8, c6, c4, c2, c7, c5, c3, c1, e1, e3, e5, e7, e2, e4, e6, e8, g8, g6, g4, g2, g7, g5, g3, g1, b1, b3, b5, b7, b2, b4, b6, b8, d8, d6, d4, d2, d7, d5, d3, d1, f1, f3, f5, f7, f2, f4, f6, f8, h8, h6, h4, h2, h7, h5, h3, h1. If the castle wants to change direction each move, a pattern like this is possible: a1, a8, b8, b1, c1, c8, d8, d1, e1, e8, f8, f1, g1, g8, h8, h7, g7, g6, f6, f7, e7, e6, d6, d7, c7, c6, b6, b7, a7, a6, h6, h5, g5, g4, f4, f5, e5, e4, d4, d5, c5, c4, b4, b5, a5, a4, h4, h3, g3, g2, f2, f3, e3, e2, d2, d3, c3, c2, b2, b3, a3, a2, h2, h1.
	Can you help with this one if possible. Its a bit the same as the other one. A knight starts at h1 and goes to f2 - it has to go on every square withot going on the same one twice. I have told my friends the answer to the first question and they are very impressed. Your web page will get a lot more visits. JF, 29/11/03 Douglas replies: This is much harder puzzle than the one with the Rooks. I used to know the answer but I couldn't remember it immediately, so I worked it out again from scratch. There may be more than one solution, but one that works is: h1, f2, d3, e1, g2, h4, f5, d4, f3, g5, h7, f6, g8, e7, c8, a7, b5, a3, c2, a1, b3, c1, e2, g1, h3, f4, d5, e3, d1, b2, a4, b6, a8, c7, e6, d8, b7, a5, c4, e5, c6, b4, a2, c3, b1, d2, f1, h2, g4, h6, f7, h8, g6, f8, d7, b8, a6, c5, e4, d6, e8, g7, h5, g3.
	I am seventy-five years of age, semi-retired and working from home. I would like to learn to play a reasonable game of chess and to then join a local chess club. Your "50 Chess Games" program seems to be a good route to go. I will let you know how I progress. JBN, Cape Town, South Africa, 03/12/03
	Thank you for your time! IM & CM, Columbus, USA, 07/12/03
	I play chess for almost three years and have worked very hard to get to my level. I read books and play online. Most of the time I analyze the games of other players (because it is easier to learn on the mistakes of others) Although self-practicing is also important. I am in 12th grade now and have a lot of homework I still find some time to play chess. I found your site on the internet and I am excited about it. It gives all the basic games and explanations. By basic I mean the games that don't require you to rip your hair to solve them. I find new things on your site that help me in my games. Thanks. PS. I am the captain in my school chess club and graded 933 J16. It was a year ago so I think I am around 1500 now. PPS. Your brain teaser is awesome. I have not encountered a better mate since I play. I am planning to send a competition game for January 2004. AB, USA, 08/12/03
	Your site is excellent. I took up chess decades ago but never played much and haven't played at all in several years. So I'm probably a bit beyond beginner, but... (1) so are some of these players it seems, and (2) it's a perfect exercise for re-acquainting. I'm very happy to have found you. Thanks you. GN, 09/12/03
	Beauty of a site, Gents. Very informative, and I love scrolling through games past. Well done, it's a shame that there is a lack of updates. BS, Toronto, Canada, 09/12/03 We reply: We have deliberately left the comments on our games the way they were originally written in order to provide a beginner's perspective on beginner's games. We have only updated the comments on a few moves here and there, where visitors have told us about some important points we missed the first time round. Clearly, if we were writing the comments now they would be a bit sharper and more detailed, but perhaps not so useful to beginners. Each month we feature a game sent in by visitors, in our "Game of the Month" competition. The comments on the more recent of these games are probably a bit more detailed than the comments on our own games. We both continue to play actively. Ian's current grade is around 1360, while Douglas is still stuck around 1100.

Visitor's Comments: 2002

	Great site. Working through a couple of the games has been helpful and I look forward to working through the rest. Your site is certainly the most complex use of javascript that I have come across, very impressive!!! BB, University of Hertfordshire, 11/01/02
	This is my first visit to your site and so far it's the best..... KN, USA, 15/01/02
	Thank you for a very nice site! Simple but yet very pleasant to work with and most interesting! FL, 24/01/02
	I have enjoyed your website immensely. It has helped me to become a better chess player, though I do it only for recreation! DMM, 27/01/02
	I commend your time and effort. Your analysis has been helpful to this beginner. PB, Phoenix, USA, 28/01/02
	I just found your site today and am finally getting the hang of it. I just ran off about 20 copies of the score sheet... ... I really enjoyed it. Thanks for the great site. G, 07/02/02
	It has been about 40+ years since I played chess, and now I know just how rusty I am. It took me almost 11 minutes to see the solution (to the Brainteaser Puzzle), which, as someone else observed, is nose-on-your-face obvious. I gather that this site is intended primarily for youngsters. Me, I'm 63 (just retired) and am having great fun with it. Thanks for helping to rekindle my fascination with this splendid game. BJ, Altanta, USA, 09/02/02
	Terrific site for beginners... keep up the good work. BP, Pittsburgh, USA, 24/02/02
	Having gone to Bearsden Academy when I was younger, I immediately felt a kinship with the site. Scottish Expat, Houston, USA, 04/03/02
	Your site is an excellent means of brushing up long forgotten skills... thanks for your useful and entertaining site. JK, 05/03/02
	Keep up the good work and best of success to you. AS, Chess Town of Arman, 05/03/02
	I would like to first of all say that this is a great site for the beginner, or the expert! Because even an expert can learn from a beginner! B, 12/03/02
	Douglas/Ian, Just found the site by chance - very entertaining - chess is 99% tactics! Ian does like that Qg6, Bh3, Qxg2 mate manoeuvre. DB, Chess Scotland, 13/03/02
	Love the commentaries! EC, San Francisco, USA, 16/03/02
	I'm in the U.S. Navy. Whenever the ship is at sea we try to find activities to entertain ourselves. We have a small group who enjoy playing chess - just for the fun of it. But, I'm tired being the loser so I decided to find ways to improve my game. We don't have bookstores at sea and our library doesn't carry books on chess, so I resorted to the internet - and I found your site. The recorded games coupled by your professional comments on almost every move really gave me a better understanding about how the game is played. In a very short time, I'm already winning some games! Thank you for taking the time to create that web site so people like me can improve our skills and really come to appreciate the "magic" of chess. N dC, US Navy, 12/04/02
	Real Cool Site! Lets me learn new tricks I can try out on my more experienced friends... Thanks! SW, Airdrie, Scotland 12/05/02
	I am just beginning to get into Chess. Your site was extremely helpful in seeing the basic things that I should and should not do! It's fabulous. I've recommended it to several people already, and I just wanted to thank you both for creating it to help the world in their chess endeavors, and to watch you do battle. R, Newport News, USA 26/05/02
	Thank you for providing these instructional games. I am 72 years of age (today) and never got much feel for the game from books, but somehow the light seems to be coming through at last. Enjoyed the games very much. Thanks again. JS, Canada, 07/06/02
	I like your site because it explains why a move was made. DR, 16/06/02
	Thank you so much for your hard work and excellent web site. It is easy to navigate and abundantly informative. I have enjoyed playing through the games and reading your comments. Wishing you all well from the Washington DC area. Great Job. DJ, Washington DC ,USA, 26/06/02
	I really enjoy your web site. I am a beginner (I have been playing for about 6 months) and have learned a lot of basic strategy from your games and comments. I look forward to seeing a new game each month. At most chess sites, the games and comments are well above my level. I find myself staring at a move that they felt is too obvious for a comment and wondering why they would have made that move. It is nice to be able to go through games that I can understand. Thanks for the great website! CH, 01/07/02
	I have visited several times during the present month. In my opinion "50 Chess Games for Beginners" is one of the best basic teaching tools, practical, concise and easy to operate. Also your page is a beautiful example of father-son relationship. About me: I´m an old man (80 years) that never had the opportunity to learn the game because I was either studyng or working. Now I have time and a computer and the desire for learning is still alive in me. Thanks! CG, 13/07/02
	Thank you both for an outstanding website. My grandson was given a chess set for his 7th birthday (this week) so we are all learning how to play. It has made such a difference to be able to watch your games step by step. Congratulations to you both and sincere thanks! GD, Toronto, Canada, 04/08/02
	I like your comments about the moves. I'm trying to learn how to play better but I don't have anyone to offer constructive comments! DM, 05/08/02
	I should have looked a bit further. Quickly came across an excellent beginner's site that seems to offer just what I need. It's by Ian & Douglas MacGregor. Your excellent site seems to meet my needs. TP, West Sussex, UK, 09/08/02
	I find your method of showing the animation of the board with the moves recorded, and your comments very helpful. Conceptually this is very superior to following a book on openings, GM book of games etc. The books are much harder to follow, and to really learn from a book you have to set up a board and execute each move to really appreciate the game. Also, it is really helpful to be able observe how a game - or opening was played with your program. CB, 27/08/02
	I liked the brainteaser. I will show it to my kids who are just learning chess. They will love it! SW, Palestine 28/08/02
	You'll have a good grasp of chess if you know this lot! DB, Scotland 31/08/02
	I have not played chess in the last thirty years. Your site is helping me refresh my faded memory. Your move commentary is very useful and I intend to play out and study all your games. It will keep my mind alive! Thanks a lot for maintaining the site! B, Canada 17/09/02
	I've been playing around your games, and I must say you have some top-quality annotation, as far as beginner's needs are concerned. Playing "solitaire chess" with these games is extremely educating! Great job. Anyway, thanks for the work you've put into this, you've helped me out a lot! HB 18/09/02
	At the urging of a boyfriend, I have taken up playing chess within the last year as an adult. I ditched the boyfriend, but decided to keep on with the chess! ... Clearly the right choice ! I tried improving my game by studying chess books, but I've never had much success learning things from books so that route almost made me give up the game. Then I found your website. I 'adopt' one of the players, and then try and anticipate what their next move would be in response to the opponents move. Nine times out of ten, I pick a move other than the one made (I told you I was bad). Then I try to figure out why they didn't make the move I would have. Sometimes I spot the error. A few times I have felt that my move was equally sound and on a rare occasion, I thought my move was better! I also love the way you've interspersed the annotations with pearls of wisdom. Today's was: in your opening, never move your piece more than once until all your pieces have been developed! VP, Canada 20/09/02
	I hope you can help me. I am an actor and I am creating a solo performance which is about my father, he died some years ago and his body was not discovered for 10 days. The performance is about him and that lost time. He was a keen chess player and was a member of the local club. In the performance I have a television on the stage upon which I will show images that connect to my father; a tea pot, record player etc. He told me a story from the chess club that I am retelling in the show. He was playing an elderly man at the club and was about to win, he just need to move his Queen. At that moment the man sneezed and a huge phlegm left his nose and landed on my father's Queen. He therefore did not want to touch the Queen and then lost the game. During this story I want to show the game at that moment just before he wanted to move the Queen. I need a game where the White Queen will win the game with its next move or two. Most people in the theatre will not know whether it is accurate or not. I would just like it to be right . I wondered if one of the 50 games you have on the site might be OK! AD 21/09/02 We reply: We would be happy to help. Games 6, 7, 16, 23, 24, 28, 40, 54, 56 and 58 all end with the White Queen mating the Black King.
	Then ... I got out the carved chess board /men I gave my father in 1971 when I was 14 and Dad was 44. Dad never offered to teach me, but years later, in 1990, one of my first clients (I'm a stockbroker) asked if I was kin to a Harry Grossman. When I told him he was my Dad, he told me they used to play competitive chess in the 50's! Wow. Small world, huh? This morning my husband and I decided we both wanted to learn the game so we could teach our 5 year old son and play/learn as a family. I'm going to use your site as a learning tool; and let me commend you on how you chose to develop it. It is so much easier for me to learn visually, and your comments are wonderful. You are helping us learn little bits of strategy, and I cannot wait until I' get to the point where I start to "dream about moves" in my sleep. Your critics can go somewhere else.... please keep up what you and your son are doing. There are those of us who REALLY LIKE YOUR SITE! LAGC, Knoxville, Tenessee USA 06/10/02
	The course is fun! Keep up this great site! HW, Munich, Germany 17/10/02
	I am 47 and have taken up playing chess on AOL in the last six months. My wife is now interested and we are going to start playing. Tonight I was searching the Internet for some more materials for beginners and came across your link. Your enjoyment of the game comes through all of the aspects of your site. The annotations of the moves in the games are very straightforward and will be very helpful as we start to improve our knowledge and understanding of this great game. It also helped me to go through the games to see what I would do. Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing. DB, Tower Lakes, Illinois, USA 28/10/02
	Thanks for the personal response to my message and thanks for all the work you've put into your website. I've enjoyed it. JC 01/11/02
	Just a word of thanks: I have learnt *a lot* from your site and it has given me a sound basis in chess. It is only because of this that I have improved drammatically. MB 05/11/02 [MB sent in one of his Chess Games to our Game of the Month competition. His game was selected as the winning entry for January 2003.]
	I got to know your site via the link page of the German Chess Federation. I really like it, because I think this site is very instructive for beginners. KP 06/11/02
	Am now reaching my 80th birthday and came across your program while browsing the web and down loaded it with the idea of teaching my grandson, who is five years old, something about the game. He has just become interested in the game and sitting down with a chess set on our board and following your games on the screen he is having one grand time and is loving it. He is really picking up a lot of information, and so am I for I haven't played in years. Thank you for your hard work and I just want you to know that there are people out there that sincerely appreciate your efforts. SS 13/11/02
	Dear Friends, the program asked who I am. I was enjoying once more Ian´s progress. CG 29/11/02
	I am just beginning and was intrigued to read about another adult that not only started chess later in life, but now has a website to help people in the same position. RM, Brisbane, Australia 05/12/02
	I enjoy being able to see your various openings actualy being played out and what the problems with those openings might entail. I also like your basic strategies that you add, like trying to avoid moving an opening piece twice in a row. Thanks! SF, Providence, USA 09/12/02
	I really liked being able to watch each step of a game--and read the logic (or mistake!) behind each move. To just be starting out, it's hard to understand how to plan ahead and get a feel for good strategy. This was really helpful! Thanks! DT, Columbus, Ohio, USA 12/12/02
	Great idea - wish I was on it though! HB, Edinburgh, Scotland 13/12/02 We reply: If you want to be on the site, why not send in one of your games to our Game of the Month competition?
	This is just a quick note telling you how much I enjoyed your website. I've bookmarked it. As I read through your first few games, I felt the old excitement of a challenge begin to grow once again. I must admit, my chess skills are quite rusty and only recently have I become interested in taking it up again. I went online to look for a place where I could brush up on my skills. Looks as though I found it!!! The short time I spent at your site has inspired me to take up the game once again. I wanted to applaud both of you for setting up a wonderful place where beginners (both young and old) have the opportunity to learn and perhaps master the game of chess. It is a delightful game, indeed. Thank you for sharing your love of chess. Have a happy holiday season and I look forward to reading more at your website. ZW, USA 19/12/02
	Hi there! I love your site and congratulate you on providing an excellent learning source. I just recently started to play chess again for the first time in about 16 years. I was OK when I was a kid, but realize i had no concept of strategy, standard openings, defenses, etc., which is what I'm studying now. Thanks again for all your effort! It's well appreciated here in New York. AF, New York, USA 20/12/02
	I learned notation, and with the 50 games I am improving my skill in chess - learning how to play for victory. BN, Orlando,USA 29/12/02
	I'm just very appreciative that you two took the time to create a site that's so helpful to those of us just starting out and trying to get a feel for the game. Thanks! NSK, Boston, USA 30/12/02

Visitor's Comments: 2001

	Hi, I could spend quite a long time on the site - nice graphics, some interesting comments, and just a sprinkling of typos to keep the casual visitor awake. In fact I got so engrossed I forgot to go to Safeway until it was too late. I'll be back! JF, Jordanhill Chess Club, Glasgow, 13/09/01
	Douglas & Ian, Good site - nice idea! Best wishes, RJ, ChessKIDS Academy, 18/10/01
	I was disappointed I could not actually play any of the games. MF, Age 12, 25/10/01 We reply: Studying analysed chess games is an important element of improving your game. Our contribution is to provide games which were recorded and analysed by beginners. The games are animated to make them easy to follow. If you want to play chess on the internet there are many sites specifically geared up for this - see our links page!
	Si trova un ottimo tutorial animato per principianti che vogliono migliorare la qualità del loro gioco. Si tratta di 50 partite commentate mossa per mossa per giocatori principianti... Da visitare ... Ivo, Italian Chess Newsgroup, 30/10/01
	I question the value of 50 Chess Games as an instructional tool. JC, 365 Chess Lessons, 21/11/01 We reply: 50 Chess Games for Beginners does not attempt to cover all aspects of chess instruction or training. There are many other chess websites that do that - see our links page. Rather, we aim to provide the visitor with our own unique perspective of how we learned the game.
	Merci de votre collaboration au tissage de la toile échiquéenne! J-P C, École d'Échecs et d'Informatique des Remparts, Tahiti, 06/12/01
	I really enjoyed visiting your chess site and plan to use your games to help my daughter to improve her chess. Keep having fun with chess! RD, 10/12/01
	I've just discovered your site and it's been fantastic to have a very elementary annotated tutorial to work through. Thanks and good luck! Re: Solution to Chess Puzzle: Ohmygosh! RW, 28/12/01