Archive for October, 2008

Chess Lesson: Alekhine Defence

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jrobichess asked:


Exploring the Alekhine’s Defence played by black in countering the king’s pawn opening, one of the most common openings used by white in online and over-the-board play.

Jane Sumerset asked:




Checker sentence software – Software can’t match the quality of a manual proof read? Wrong. There are now checker sentence software applications that work in a very advanced manner to make writing easier and error free. Checker sentence software can make your life easier in many ways. There are now checker sentence software applications that work in a very advanced manner to make writing easier and error free. checker sentence software uses a technology called NLP (Natural Language Processing), which reads your whole sentences in context, unlike an ordinary spell checker, which only words single words. Reading in context is important, because without context a spell checker can’t tell if you mean “their” or “there,” as both are words in English.

Checker sentence software is the patent-pending solution which automatically works with all text based tools, easily correcting all grammatical, spelling, punctuation or any other writing errors.

Use it for: Essay Writing, Medical writing, Article Writing, Creative Writing, Email, Instant Messaging, Business Writing, Letter Writing, Social Media, Blogging, Legal writing and much, much more.

For people who must write a great deal, whether for school or work, checker sentence software can help to teach you to naturally improve your writing. It’s like having a virtual writing teacher built into your computer. English is actually not one of the easiest languages in the world, even for native speakers. Here are five ways it may be able to help you.

1. If you are in business and must send out correspondences, emails, reports and other information, you want your writing to be clear, correct and professional. This will enable people to better understand your communications. It will also improve your image as someone who writes well and clearly.

2. Checker sentence software can help increase your creativity as a writer, as in addition to correcting mistakes, it also acts as a thesaurus and suggests different words, such as descriptive adverbs and adjectives. This makes your writing more interesting and versatile.

3. If English is not your first language but you have a need to communicate clearly in this language, this is the perfect solution for you. You can write down the basic ideas of what you need to say, while the software will read and correct your mistakes and suggest alternatives.

4. If you spend time rewriting or editing your reports or other correspondences, checker sentence software can save you a lot of time by automating these tedious tasks.

5. When you make mistakes in your writing and people notice it, it can have a negative effect in the way they think of you. If you are in business, trying to sell something, attempting to persuade someone of something, or even if you are just writing social emails, isn’t it better to be seen as someone who is well educated and can write well.

When you write letters or emails, you can do so faster and with more confidence, as checker sentence software will correct your mistakes and suggest better word usage, much like a thesaurus. If you have to do much writing, for any reason at all, checker sentence software can help you to communicate faster and more effectively.



Tips On Getting The Perfect Chess Set

John Morris asked:


The are so many chess sets on the market today that it can be very confusing when you are trying to buy one. Chess sets are either used in playing or as a decoration in the living room or den. Chess sets are even used as centerpieces for libraries and studies. Some chess sets are even considered as heirlooms and are valued for their collectible quality.

1. Determine Your Reasons

Are you going to play with it or you going to use it for decorative purposes only? If you are going to play with it then look for a practical looking set. It should also fit your personal taste in the style.

2. Price

It is advisable to buy the best quality chess set that your budget can afford. A good chess set can last a lifetime and can even become an heirloom. You will definitely be admired by your friends when you take out a beautiful chess set. Of course, a finely crafted chess set can enhance every chess players’ playing experience.

3. Tournament Guidelines

Unless you are using the chess set for official tournament use, you can do away with considering the size of the chess pieces in relation to the board. Nevertheless, the general guideline is that the King’s base should be 78% of the width of a square. To get this, divide the King’s base diameter by 0.78 and you get the proper square size. You can increase the square size by 1/8, but the square size should not be any smaller. This info is valuable if you are buying the pieces separate from the board.

4. Durability

Choose an extremely durable chess set if you are planning to use your chess set daily and take it to tournaments and clubs. A weighted plastic chess set would be a good choice. If you need a handy chess set that you could carry anywhere then it is advisable that you get a travel chess set which are small and compact. These kind of chess is usually magnetic or pegged to protect against bumps and jolts. The boards can be folded and the pieces and pawns can be kept inside. Travel chess sets ara available for for somewhere around $20 A very basic one can even be had for $10 or less. You may even find miniature ones sold in most dollar stores.

6. Special Considerations For Wooden Sets

If you are buying a chess set that is made from wood then choose good quality wood. Wood is definitely a good material for a chess set. They are very impressive to look at and the pieces feel very solid. The only disadvantage is that they can be really heavy and are therefore not ideal for traveling. Wood chess sets will definitely be a great addition to your home or office. Wood sets and the prices can range from 50$ to as high as $5,000. In general, ebony is more expensive than rosewood, which is, in turn, more expensive than boxwood, etc. Exotic woods are more expensive still. There are less expensive sets that are made from oak, pine or walnut. In buying a wooden chess set let your budget be your guide.

7. Check For Uniformity

When buying a chess set check out the pieces, particularly the knights which can represent up to 50% of the total cost of all the chess pieces. The quality of the turnings, the finish and the uniformity also add to cost of the set. You must also check the craftsmanship of the King’s crown that is usually decorative. Keep in mind that the King and the Knight are two of the most important pieces of a chess set.

8. Decorative Sets

Chess sets that are made from crystal or bone china are generally termed as Glass. These sets are commonly used for decorative purposes but you can also find glass sets that are practical. Crystal pieces are generally heavy while china pieces will feel a bit light unless they have weighted bases. These kinds of chess sets are definitely nice to look at but they are very fragile and will break once they are dropped. They are also easily dirtied by dust and fingerprints. Although beautiful to look at, the pieces will break if dropped and fingerprints can become a problem on some models. They’re dust collectors too. Many people keep a glass set for looks and another type for actual play. Glass chess sets average in the $300 to $2,000 range.