Checkmate

When a seemingly innocuous move isn't a good move at all

Move your pawns at your own peril

One of the themes of Irving Chernev’s Logical Chess: Move by Move is development, specifically developing pieces, not pawns; and furthermore, only moving those pawns which facilitate development of your pieces. Unnecessary pawn moves also permanently weaken your overall structure, particularly those that protect your King. As an amateur, I understand these principles but sometimes struggle to apply them well. Even more difficult for me is taking advantage of my opponent when they fail to do apply these principles. The following game was particularly instructive to me because my opponent made what I believed to be unnecessary pawn moves and I was able to immediately attack the weaknesses that resulted from this position.

This should be good...

On a small FOB, you can get bored pretty easily. To combat that, all sorts of distractions are invented (mostly by MWR): ping pong, video games, movies, chess, volleyball, basketball, and of course there is a tournament for everything.

A couple of weeks ago a new slab of concrete was laid, which I thought was for a new building. No, I found out a few days later, they were in fact building a wrestling/boxing ring. Really. An elevated platform with ropes and turnbuckles. At first, I thought maybe WWE or something similar was stopping by (they have in the past, although to bigger FOBs). But a few days ago I learned the real purpose: MWR-sponsored boxing. Oh, yes.

Today were the "weigh-ins" (presumably to match up people of similar weights), and tomorrow night the bouts begin. I am definitely taking my camera along to this one. It should be good, for both the competitiveness and the humor.

And by the way, no, I'm not boxing!