Just won chess league match with a royal fork Nh3+, spotted from a Woodpecker Method tactic. Pretty cool when begin seeing some puzzles in play.

Tough day on the boards, went 0.5 out of 3 on Day one. Had good positions out of the opening in all of them and managed to beat myself in 2 of the games. Have to take the positive into tomorrow. #chesspunks

Played competitive sports most of my life, and for me nothing rivals the feeling of winning or losing in tournament chess. #chesspunks

My Rd. 4 opponent blew snot everywhere (poor thing), and her spectator buddy gasped when my opponent nearly hung her queen. I’m a parent, but after this one I’m ready to try an adults-only tournament. Any suggestions for 2023?#chesspunks

About 48hrs in and have laid off the blitz. Played a few 10min games. Feels like my move times and my opponent’s aren’t that different in rapid than in blitz though.

Holding steady and just playing 3 to 4 rapid games a day. When I just do Steps Method Mix workbook puzzles, I think much more deeply and it feels like a completely different exercise. For me, just reinforces that short online games aren’t helping even if I’m winning #chesspunks

Feel like 10min rapid is like switching from hard liquor to just drinking beer only. Temporary fix. Bottom line, chess improvement involves discipline and rapid/blitz is fun with sone skills practice. At my level, it promotes one moveitus. May have to go cold turkey

Staying off blitz, but still love throwing pieces around the screen at 10mins vs. diligently hitting the books. I will make the transition. Only thing I seem to stick with offline are Steps Method puzzles.

My daughter just learned smothered mate all by herself. Proud papa. #chesspunks

I want to use chess.com bc I understand rating is closer to the truth, but i experience such poor sportsmanship from my opponents. Stalling in completely lost positions, random abandonment, etc. I don’t have these issues on lichess nearly as often. #chesspunks

My abstinence from blitz/rapid chess went down in flames. For me, I know that I will not become a good calculator playing online. Just gonna find a balance b/t chess study and chess apps for entertainment and slight pattern recognition. #chesspunks

Yesterday’s tourney was a gut-punch. Lowlight was hanging my Q in Rd. 4 and knew it. Back at it today, playing, reviewing games, books. Prob not original, but OTB chess is an anvil which either forges optimistic perseverance in an individual, or just plain hammers them to a pulp.

Sibling Rivalry! #chesspunks

The Steps Method journey continues. Finally finished every workbook from Step 2 and now moving into Step 3! Going to try hard to be consistent with it and be more intentional with any online chess played. #chesspunks

Last night my daughter snuck down to play chess. It’s a joy to watch her beautiful eyes fire around the board recognizing patterns, evaluating moves. What a joy to see her quiet excitement burst inside when she realizes checkmate on her Dad! Great game, play for fun! #chesspunks