McCreadyandChess

Very English Chess

October 28, 2020 by mccreadyandchess

All too often, I appear to be playing people that lose as soon as I start concentrating and it’s becoming a bit annoying…

I do love the St. George’s defence and know it inside out now, having played it hundreds of times. Here’s two typical October wins: my opponent’s play is uncoordinated, whilst mine is harmonious, and what happens in the middle game is I win instantly as per usual…and this with the most passive of all defences. Given that I play the English Opening, The grand Prix Attack, and The St.George’s Defence I do indeed play Very English Chess.

Bloody tablet made defence go all mash up.

Too easy by far.

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Gathered games of this October

October 25, 2020 by mccreadyandchess

October has always been a favourite month of mine for many reasons, all of which point to my very Englishness, the 24th most probably the favoured day in retrospect, what with Rachel setting foot in England that day and six years previously I was off watching Metallica at Wembley. But since when was playing around 100 games a week? Not ever that’s for sure but Covid-19 has put me out of work and left me with more than enough time on my hands. Selected games are commented upon below, I post them because they represent a change in style, triggered by something I shall not speak of… . Active play it is, actively I post, you may call me an activist if you so wish. But before you do that, here’s a nice Octobery pic of the only two McCready’s in the FIDE database.

Coming from behind after the blunder of the queen.

Loss against a GM

It could be the case that I am much better than I think.

Another game won all too easily with the St. George’s Defence.

I am English, so why not the English then?

An Englishman in cyberspace.

Cyberpunkish Englishman

An English crush

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Second to a GM only

October 22, 2020 by mccreadyandchess

The game lost to GM Bogdan. https://www.chess.com/live/game/5619363470

Olcmarcus

Posted in My own endeavours, On-line journal | Leave a Comment »

Which century are we in?

October 21, 2020 by mccreadyandchess

I can’t say I ever was an admirer of Steiniz tbh. In fact with Morphy no longer on the scene, it wasn’t until Alekhine imperially rose to the throne, that chess became worth looking at in close detail.

I always thought his wandering king was just dubious conceptually, and likely to be his downfall eventually. So what am I doing playing the opening theory in fashion during his reign, and drawing inspiration from his antics? Having fun, that’s what, as the video shows. An amusing victory both antiquated in its approach but highly effective nonetheless.

Olcmarcus

Posted in Life beyond the chess board, Selected on-line games | Leave a Comment »

The several pens mightier than the swords of several…

October 20, 2020 by mccreadyandchess

Olcmarcus

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Results possible?

October 19, 2020 by mccreadyandchess

I’m white and unlikely to lose, so I tell myself. But just how many results are possible and which is most probable with correct play/technique?

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So 2020

October 19, 2020 by mccreadyandchess

I’ve taken a penchant to the St. George’s Defence this year, although in truth it’s been brewing for some years now. Perhaps I shouldn’t post this but in the diagrams below my opponent has approached it correctly (but don’t ask me why he put has bishop on b3!). The 300+ games with it this year have taught me that the pawn chain f3, e4, and d4 is a tough nut to crack, and compounds the rather passive nature of the opening, forcing play upon the flank…oh and btw, I don’t like to say such things but you might want to forego the only publication on The St.George’s Defence for the title is misleading, as it isn’t primarily a book about The St.George’s Defence.

Naturally, I had to play 16. …b4. Deny his queen’s knight developing squares, liberate my bishop onto the f1-a6 diagonal then consider …d5.

Olcmarcus

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on-off/off-on

October 18, 2020 by mccreadyandchess

…if it’s true that the Covid-19 pandemic is just a hoax aimed at reducing chess down to nothing more than a computer game -online my exploits shall be then…

…still proud of my county though (who I represent online now)…

…in taking inspiration from the song ‘Become a Machine’, by Chicago’s Harm’s Way, I may have a memory card implanted into my neck in order to assist with opening preparation…

…never slip up in the opening again…

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Ye olde fb…

October 17, 2020 by mccreadyandchess

Some late night thoughts from someone with a wandering mind…

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Carlsen plays the man and wins -now there’s a surprise!

October 16, 2020 by mccreadyandchess

Carlsen plays a number two and wins in the endgame. I have to admit, the losing move is an absolute shocker for someone with such a high rating -even I could see straight away it was wrong, as well as what he should have played. To what extent this victory exemplifies the fear factor in play when endgames arise in his games I don’t know but he clearly was aware that he was much stronger in the endgame than his opponent (and just about everyone else!). Maintaining the distant opposition in king and pawn endgames is a basic principle we all know but it just goes to show we are all fallible when under pressure. In the thumbnail below white has just played Kd3, allowing black to win with Kd6. Kd2 was the move that would have drawn the game.

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…on what this site initially became…on what this site is now becoming…on what this site cannot become…

On what this site initially became…

…once upon a time, the chess-related musings of an adrift academic were bound playfully and electronically in this online journal of sorts. They grew and grew as the decade did too. I kept on because I love to write whether I had much to say or not; therefore, being read by others was usually of little or no importance, comparatively speaking. Content was based on personal thoughts and experience on various topics with no intended audience borne in mind. With topics broadening, my own take on things always shaped the narrative I constructed: I often thought I was insightful but never that I was right. Sometimes imagination gave rise to originality: and of that I have always remained proud. I often introduced humour, believing that I am funnier than I really am. Sometimes, I found my own style antithetical to the conservatism I believe chess is plagued by -oftentimes that has put a gracious smile on my face… .

On what this site is now becoming…

…this site is now becoming a collaboration of chess in Bedfordshire: much more so of the past than the present -that has become the dominant trend. I document the history of chess in Bedfordshire as much as I can, and as time has passed I have become more thorough and resourceful. However, I am not a trained historian as my background lies principally in philosophy but yes it is true I did study some modules on history as both an undergraduate and a post-graduate too; furthermore, I have trained myself up, particularly in terms of postmodern history. Since 2015, I have only read history and historiography as well as those philosophers who have been so influential on postmodern history, such as Nietzsche (whom I once wrote a 19,000 word dissertation on, entitled: Can the Will to Power be Found in The Birth of Tragedy?), also Richard Rorty and Foucault and I suppose certain structualists such as Claude Levi-Strauss too. Regarding postmodernism, mostly I keep to Hayden White, Keith Jenkins and Alan Muslow.

Some friends and former playing partners back home describe me as the ‘go to guy’ for the history of chess in Bedfordshire. This compliment says more about the lack of interest in the subject than my own endeavour. As mentioned, I am too adrift from academia to feel chuffed by it. Rather, I tend to lament that my historical research, like my chess, just isn’t what it should be. Even though I may well have a broad understanding of Bedfordshire chess history courtesy of the volume of research put into it, all of which began in 2014, this is not something I am particularly proud of. Nonetheless, out of courtesy compliments are graciously received. If the truth be told, I just see it as my job and only that – after all someone’s got to do it and no one else is that interested!

Amongst the many others, I have created three categories: ‘Bedfordshire Chess’ and ‘History of Bedfordshire Chess’ and ‘Luton Chess Club’. This website is slowly moving towards a consolidation of those (all of which can be found in one of the toolbars to the right).

On what this site cannot become…

…I like to be both creative and amusing when I can be, factor in that playfulness has been an ever-present factor, the content of this site should be thought of as multifarious. It could be said I continue to enjoy undermining the conservatism I believe chess is underpinned by even after all these years, and often try to use humour to do it still, believing I have got better at it. Consequently, despite the general direction its going in, this site cannot only be about Chess in Bedfordshire and nor will it be. It may become noted for that yes -in fact that’s been the case for years already even by established historians, archivists, and whoever else. External factors aside, this site is titled McCreadyandChess. I cannot, nor will I not, remove my own personal thoughts and experiences of chess from the posts of this site -especially if I think they are funny or original for they constitute my writing at its very, very best. In addition, the number of categories alone tells you that breadth of content is important to me. I am proud of my site, it is identity conferring and that is how it shall stay -end of story. All you really have are: ‘Some thoughts on the beautiful game’, which, incidentally, just happen to be my very own; nothing more, nothing less, take of it whatever you please… .

Mark. J. McCready

9.56 pm Monday, October 28th 2024

Bangkok, Thailand
Categories
Posts which McCready is mighty pleased with

Malpractice — Replete with dark humour and literary devices

Bedfordshire Chess in the 70s its past and its future — Local History

Our Clash of Future Champions — Local History

Fond Memories of Bedfordshire Chess — Humour & Reflection

Meme 16 — Dark Humour & Parody

Reflections 20— Reflection & Warm Condolence

Reflections 17 — Colourful reflections from afar
Luton & The University of Bedfordshire Chess Club
The University of Bedfordshire Library, Vicarage St. Luton
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A side note on how to read old Tom Sweby's columns
Not perhaps, but quintessentially, Old Tom Sweby is best thought of as a passionate devotee to the newspapers he wrote for. He was well read and knowledgeable of the Bedfordshire chess scene and well beyond, given that he was the president of the S.C.C.U. once upon a time. He was generally well-respected and rubbed shoulders with many, if not all, of those eminent within British chess circles. It would, however, be a critical mistake to see his column is primary source material entirely. That it is not. You will also find secondary source material quoted too, and the reliability of that is not quite as Tom hoped. Given that he wrote for decades, this is to some degree inevitable, and after all we are all prone to error whether we realize it or not. Thankfully, with regards to old Tom Sweby, they are infrequent and for the most part old Tom continued to document events and developments in the Bedfordshire league from the get go as best he could but, of course, everything lies open to interpretation. Despite this, and generally speaking. this does indeed make him informative and thus worth reading. Dare I say his columns constitute a narrative describing the latest developments, match reports and changing nature of the Beds league...he knew his audience and wrote according. This manifested itself over decades but brevity was always in play courtesy of the restictions imposed by writing a column. Should you wish to read a in instrumental figure of the Beds' league post WW2, you are quite welcome to peruse what has been posted here... . :-) I should, however, point out that as the decades wore on he gradually moved on away from narratives concerning the Bedfordshire league towards affairs both historical and international. The reasons for this are multifarous, old age was a predominante factor presumably, however, the bottom line is with regards to how the Bedfordshire chess scene developed post WW2: old Tom Sweby is your go to guy. He wrote more about chess in Bedforshire than anyone else did but given he was a Lutonian and writing for a Luton newspaper there is both bias and greater coverage of his hometown than the rest of the county.
Gallery

I’m either 10 or 11 here

1982, myself versus Brian from Sunderland.

At the Thai Junior chess championships. My daughter of course.

Pattaya 2011

2011

Thai Junior Championships

2008

2011

Around 2011

2011

Pattaya 2009

2011

Kuwait 2008

2012

2012

2011 BKK Chess club

2011

2011 Thai Open

2011 Thai Open

2013 approx

Around 2014

2010

2012

Around 2011

2011

2011

2013

Around 2011

Around 2011

2020

2011

2008

2011

2013 or thereabouts

2010

2017

2014?

2010

2024

2024

2024
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