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Are Computers Ruining Chess?

For the longest time, has been a game where its knowledge and tradition has been passed along from generation to generation through games that were played  face-to-face, on a physical chess set. 2 chess players sitting at opposite side of each other, pouring over every detail of the chess board, positioning and even the mannerisms of your opponent. Often times the only sounds that would emerge are that of deep sighs and clocks being ticked.

Now, a new breed of chess players is being nurtured in chat rooms and through chess sites that are dedicated to playing the game on-line. This has to force chess fans the world over to ponder the benefits and disadvantages of chess learning in this manner.

The pros are pretty convincing:

  • Never having to wait for an opponent
  • Chess playing is now global, not local
  • There is always a better player to learn against

The cons are still unavoidable

  • People too dependent on a computer generated rating
  • There is no learning chess etiquette
  • There is no learning the subtleties of playing face-to-face
  • A chess set in 3 dimensions is foreign to a player used to the computer screen

So, as players are trying learn the game away from the traditional chess set, and in front of the screen, tell me what you think: Are Computers Ruining Chess?

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Tags: Chess Sets, Chess Opinion by BraRoeChess
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Ebony Chess Pieces

When searching for a material for chess pieces, you would be hard pressed to find a more striking material than ebony. Ebony chess pieces have been the centerpieces of many chess set collections.

Ebony wood is a very dense and heavy wood. The wood is only found in specific tropical areas of the eastern hemisphere. The trees are relatively small and are rare. For those reason, made from ebony wood are more expensive.

 

Ebony wood is naturally the darkest wood available. It is known for its deep black color, but can also be found with a dark red glow to it. Rarer pieces of the wood can be found having a green-like burn to it.

 

Ebony is used throughout the wood to create marvelous decorative chess pieces. When looking at a pieces that is made from ebony wood, you know that they pieces were made by expert craftsmen. Ebony’s dense structure prevents any amateur from presenting beautifully crafted items.

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Tags: Chess Pieces by BraRoeChess
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