This entry was posted on Monday, May 29th, 2006 at 9:35 and is filed under Software, svenzworld. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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Monday, May 29, 2006
Call it funny, but this tech guy never really sat enough to learn how to play chess before. College was too busy with studying and, well, you know, stuff. Then work came into my life and more important things like Sony PlayStations. Okay, I never got one of those, either, but that should indicate how I just didn’t have time to learn such a complex game as chess.
When my nine year-old niece asked if I’d play a game of chess with her Thursday, I was like, ‘Mmm, that could be fun.’ I explained to her that I really didn’t remember who moved how, but she said she’d help me. So I took the challenge and about ten minutes later, my niece’s father came to my resecure and put a W in my column. Without my brother in-laws help, she would have creamed me.
So now I’m practicing. Through the weekend, I’ve been playing the computer and learning the moves. While I’m not quite advanced enough to even think two moves ahead, I am at least getting the pieces allowed moves down. Of late, my biggest problem is preventing a draw yet still trying to get that check mate. Seems that the computer isn’t really up to letting that happen and after about ten minutes of “band on the run”, I just give up and force the draw.
So how am I learning all this? Did I download some game for my PC? Nope, it’s already on my Mac…for free. Chess comes with OS X and while my Windows brethren can play card games to their eyes become blood shot, I’m more into the finer things in life as is my Mac.
Like the Get a Mac ad for iLife states, you just get a lot more cool stuff with your Mac than you do with a PC. Sure Windows does come with a bit more than just the calculator and clock, but truth is, it really doesn’t come with much useful free stuff. I’m finding that the chess game that comes with the Mac is quite nice and powerful enough for my needs. I don’t need to hunt around the web for a freeware version on the PC (which I tried once a long time ago and and there really isn’t anything good out there.) In the end, it’s just good that I have a Mac and can sharpen my chess skills so I don’t get a whoppin’ from a nine year old. 
May 29th, 2006 at 21:21
Cool, we’ll have to play some! I played a lot in Germany… a lot! Had fun learning some moves from the computer too (freeware!)
BTW, really want to come out and see you guys again - I wanted to hold Mercy Jane before leaving, but she was hungry :o) Maybe we can come out again real soon, I’d like that.