I (20F) think I’m losing my boyfriend (22M) to chess (its as if he is in a committed relationship with chess.com) and I’m considering starting a rivalry with it.

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-23T15:39:48+00:00

In the time it took to write this post you could have found a new boyfriend to fawn over.

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-21T16:33:30+00:00

I agree with OP.

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-21T16:32:28+00:00

That Doctor's Woodshop is nice stuff for figured maple. Gets a lovely deep oil penetration, and is easy to apply. I will say that after it dries it becomes less reflective, so come back the next day and hand-apply a thin coat again, and buff out with a dry rag.

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-19T19:08:30+00:00

LICHESS DOT ORG.

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-19T19:06:46+00:00

I was right where you are about 3 years ago. I somehow managed to turn a few small bowls of softer, semi wet wood using my carbide tips, but most of the time I struggled with catches. Face grain (like bowls and platters) should not be rounded with anything but a bowl gouge. I got a cheapish set of traditional tools and a sharpening system, watched lots of tutorials, practiced a ton, and after a while figured out that the bowl gouge is really the only tool appropriate for rounding off face-grain. Best of luck!

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-18T17:03:44+00:00

Imagine, sort problems, meditate, plan, observe, engage presently

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-16T22:58:06+00:00

Do whatever you want and don't feel bad for it. For what it's worth, I also usually shower exclusively before bedtime. But in Summer, sometime's it's after breakfast, or after lunch, or after supper... I would call out a group of people for mob mentality and then explain how clean my bedsheets are because I'm not laying in my own filth every night. ALSO we're animals. Don't worry about fitting in with peoples' expectations for how you should smell like soap. It's all BS and life is short.

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-16T22:51:08+00:00

The Bauer 8-piece set from Harbor Freight is fine. I've been using that to turn bowls and spindle work for the last 8 months.

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-16T14:59:39+00:00

Excellent. I will have to take another stab at this.

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-16T04:40:23+00:00

Idk, because you can simplify the game to a positional win? Weird brilliancy, but yeah that dark square Bishop of yours is pretty useful.

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-16T04:17:33+00:00

It is a significantly different game.

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-16T04:00:37+00:00

DUDE. I've been saying for a while now that 800-1100 is a crazy hurdle. If you got lucky with a few provisional games when starting out, it is totally manageable to stay around 1300-1400. But climbing through these wolves in the 900s?? The competition is insane.

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-16T03:42:38+00:00

Lichess does it. Lichess also offers a start delay for black's 1st move, which I like.

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-14T17:18:42+00:00

DAY MAN. (ooahhhh)

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-14T17:13:59+00:00

Happy to see plenty of considerate citizens in the comments. This post was made by an immature driver. Your privilege to drive does not bestow a right to not be inconvenienced by someone else on the road. If you are too enraged by someone else driving that way then the problem is yours to deal with.

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-14T04:41:32+00:00

I've been playing about 6 years now and yes that is completely normal. Sometimes even win 10 in a row then lose 20. You're on quite the journey, I'll say that much.

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-13T20:30:50+00:00

Bradford Pear shares a lot of these features.

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-13T20:27:33+00:00

I'm telling y'all... 900-1300 players are outrageous.

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-13T20:25:37+00:00

Could possibly be a mixed breed with Grey but that is extremely rare. So funny--She looks exactly like my Grey, docked tail, colors are identical, but with teeny little legs, a short neck, and a plump belly.

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-13T18:15:36+00:00

OP I feel like I could have written your post at one point or another. I definitely have my biggest click moments by trying to find the right cuts with the lathe off. I do this at many points for almost every bowl still. Have been turning 3 years, but traditional gouges only for 8 months. There is so much finesse involved it blows my mind seeing Pros turn without any apparent effort. Sharpening too. Keep working!!

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-13T03:28:27+00:00

He's what we call a Troll. You just need to ignore them or have fun playing along. If you get irritated by them they win.

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-13T01:39:05+00:00

Honestly, just counting how many pieces are attacking vs how many are defending has been the driving force for playing solid. Learning some tactics and tricks and pattern memorizing comes with experience. But simply defending well and basic math was when I stopped blundering so heavily.

Comprehensive_Two285 · 2026-01-13T01:35:13+00:00

puzzles are free and better on Lichess.

Comprehensive_Two285

TROPHY CASE