My Return to Chess

The long road back: It's been more than a decade since I last participated in a chess tournament. Off and on during 2007 I managed to devote some (not as much as I would have liked) quality-time to chess. This year I hope to begin a more rigorous self-improvement plan.

After researching various approaches to chess improvement I've put together my own, personal improvement plan. Most of the plan involves work that I know I can accomplish, but one aspect is going to require a pretty serious commitment in time and effort. Hopefully I'll be able to stick to the new plan long enough to reap some benefits!

Tournaments: I have mixed feelings concerning a return to tournament play. My years of inactivity (in addition to an ever increasing age) make me hesitant on the grounds that I may not be capable of playing at the same level (USCF Class A) as I used to play. On the other hand, I have hopes that the work I've recently completed combined with a bit of future progress will be enough to move me up to or (hopefully) beyond that level within a reasonable length of time. Other concerns have to do with changes in organized chess. Regardless: sooner or later, weaker or stronger, I'm likely to return to tournament play.

As for this blog, I'm not sure at this point in time how I'll utilize it. At least initially my entrees are likely to be few and widely separated, but all is subject to change. I'm likely to end up addressing some current event issues from time to time, and I'm likely to share my feelings and concerns about various changes that have occurred with organized chess. Some history relating to chess in Montana is likely to show up. I might even (eventually) end up sharing some of the details of my improvement plan, but perhaps it would be best to wait and see if that plan is practical enough and good enough to work!!

Moderated comments: I encourage comments to my blogs, but due to some unpleasant experiences with an Internet Usenet Group, and the knowledge that anything can occur in the absence of moderation, comments will be moderated. On the other hand, I intend to publish all comments that are reasonably on topic and appropriate for a general audience - regardless of whether I agree or disagree with the comments themselves.