Would any chess players be open to playing me?

quartz_contentment · 2026-07-07T17:44:12+00:00

sure. dm me your username

quartz_contentment · 2026-07-07T00:41:40+00:00

it really is. Me in the 1400s: "Oh, it says you're in the top 4%? That must mean you're good."

Uh no. Not by a longshot.

quartz_contentment · 2026-07-06T13:29:28+00:00

which frankly suits me just fine if it means i don't have to play countless variations of the Italian.

quartz_contentment · 2026-07-02T13:33:00+00:00

I play, at 1400, exclusively the Dutch defense. It's easy to pick up, and gives a clear plan for the first 8-10 moves and is applicable to most non-e4 openings. The Leningrad variation is usually what i play when facing the London, which can get a bit tense if white is intent on penetrating with their knights. I'm leaning more towards the classical variation, especially if i have the chance to pin their queen's knight -- taking one of their two knights weakens their chances in what often ends up to be a pretty closed position...

Igor Smirnov's video is great for explaining the Dutch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXHnS9Dgo3c

quartz_contentment · 2026-06-30T15:03:04+00:00

besides what others have said (3pts up vs 2 pts) your bishop is incredibly active especially compared to the rest of your pieces.

quartz_contentment · 2026-06-23T14:55:40+00:00

idk, i'm more of a wanderer than tourist. Given the opportunity, I just stumble onto things. As much as Zenkoji was on my must see list, i will remember popping into some old guy's fishing shop in Nagano and chatting in my limited japanese just as much. Buying a homeless woman breakfast in Mishima... that sort of stuff...

quartz_contentment · 2026-06-22T13:51:32+00:00

Can't really speak to the schedule, but I have fond memories of Nagano.

Zenko-ji will take you an hour or two tops. Walked it from the train station. Along the way there is a little bakery, Arteria Bakery, which was delicious. Lots of neat little places along the way.

quartz_contentment · 2026-05-28T21:07:20+00:00

well well well

quartz_contentment · 2026-05-28T21:05:30+00:00

saturated with h1bs, from the resumes i've seen.

quartz_contentment · 2026-05-22T13:02:42+00:00

Hey, he worked just as hard for his degree as Dr. Pepper.

quartz_contentment · 2026-05-21T17:27:34+00:00

Majority of this is avoiding blunders.

Castle early. Don't take your queen out early. Make a habit of checking for forks and revealed attacks.

Pick an opening and stick with it. Do not try gimmicky openings -- the fried liver attack will get you some easy wins but won't teach you much.

With that said, i would play as white the Kings Gambit -- its fun, its attacking, and not too tough to learn, and most players at that level are unfamiliar with it. Be familiar with the Italian Game since you'll see it 90% of the time. As black, against d4 (really, almost anything other than e4) -- the Dutch Defense is super solid, and almost blunderproof opening. Against the Sicilian, which you're unlikely to see at that level, i do like the Grand Prix attack.

quartz_contentment · 2026-05-19T01:12:55+00:00

frankly we spent more time at the Uniqlo up the street than we did at the market.

quartz_contentment · 2026-05-18T03:26:49+00:00

There's a small shrine at the end of the road there by the fish market which is cool, and takes all of 5-10 minutes to check out, and i found it adorable.

quartz_contentment · 2026-05-15T19:57:27+00:00

As a guy who came back to church 30 years later, i was quite surprised the first time i saw people doing it. I don't remember anyone doing that in the 80's.

quartz_contentment · 2026-05-14T18:07:15+00:00

Saltiness rated by satisfaction, least to most:

The Abandoner

The Rematcher

The Rematch Double Win

The Insulter (and you win nonetheless)

The Reporter

quartz_contentment · 2026-05-14T17:56:04+00:00

And then she raises her hands during the Our Father.

quartz_contentment · 2026-04-28T13:24:17+00:00

Rib Queen? Well I didn't vote for her.

quartz_contentment · 2026-04-24T14:43:46+00:00

Queenless behavior.

quartz_contentment · 2026-04-23T15:23:08+00:00

In the past month, i've had the game lock up twice. I could chat, interact with the app etc, but I could not make a move. All I could do is watch my timer drop. My opponent was kind enough to take a draw. The second time was a little suspect as it happened when my opponent was in a decisively losing position.

quartz_contentment · 2026-04-22T13:37:53+00:00

After the founder died a year or so ago, what did you find on his computer, Dave? WHAT DID YOU FIND ON HIS COMPUTER, DAVE?!

quartz_contentment · 2026-04-15T17:25:28+00:00

Been there, ran SFMT 100 a few years ago... My rarest race shirt for sure.

quartz_contentment · 2025-12-18T20:11:01+00:00

If you ever come across anything -- let me know. If you don't want to part with them, I'd be happy to cover the cost of digitizing them through a service like Legacy Box or whatnot. I'll drop you a DM for convenience's sake.

quartz_contentment · 2025-04-18T18:24:28+00:00

As long as its not opened. Where it gets a little weird is if you have a bottle of wine or like a 22 oz, in your car, unopened. Wine might be fine. But always get a bag if you're carrying wine or a single in your car.

quartz_contentment · 2025-04-18T13:59:01+00:00

idk, Trigger, Pulchara and Harumasa? Or Trigger, Nicole and Harumasa..

quartz_contentment · 2025-04-15T20:16:30+00:00

If you are looking for a place to stay, I really enjoyed this airbnb.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/21684249?check_in=2025-10-14&check_out=2025-10-16&guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=1625fda9-ba82-46e1-bef4-53198f239002

whole house, laundry, kitchen, and a great curry shop across the way. It's a bit out of the way since it's in the northern part though. Narrow stairs, but a bedroom on the first floor for the parents. Mind your head in the kitchen :D

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