Scotland Forever Chess Team News

January news - 13/01/2007

Current Score 66 : 60 of 288 teams

Current Rating 1340 : 42 of 288 teams

Stogs (our current #1 player in the table) recently calculated that if the league was based on the win-to-played ratio then we would be 26th – so Scotland Forever are well above average in the league however you order it (unless you order it alphabetically).

Scotland Forever welcome (alphabetically) three new team members: allysg, bcsjohn and subii – we are now 46 strong.

Scotland Forever have thirteen new team matches with the pairings as shown below. I have no idea if any of you ever actually look at this list, but if you do then I hope you also notice that (more often than not) we tend to have a slight rating advantage. Also, I always check to see that our opponents’ ratings does actually reflect their ability, in particular I check that their rating is close to their average opponent’s rating. If their own rating is much higher than their average opponents rating (and they have played plenty of games) then their rating is too inflated and it should be a comfortable win for us.

Scotland Forever vs The Pitbulls
stogs (1775) vs wady4 (1738)
eggardner (1485) vs hambone8705 (1419)

Scotland Forever vs **Phoenix Fire**
alan1701 (1692) vs nojam (1671)
* michie (1282) vs dirk_winwood (1276)

Scotland Forever vs Southern Chess ™
russell (1169) vs firedoom (1188)
downeastah (1144) vs cssvirginia (1100)

Scotland Forever vs Hungarian wanderers
thyr (1989) vs hpali (2005)
cavalier (1554) vs silent_ted (1529)
hoots (1364) vs hunpatient (1362)
caucasieukid (1342) vs leonidas_p_e (1318)
hunter1 (1291) vs bigfnbrownsfan (1341)

Scotland Forever vs INTRÉPIDUS
hagisss (1174) vs elmono (1261)
downeastah (1144) vs aledivebrazil (1146)

Scotland Forever vs Dangerous Toys
sweet_william (1714) vs * mmafighter (1718)
downeastah (1144) vs armydude150 (1125)

Scotland Forever vs CROATIA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TEAM
fluffychaos (1486) vs hrvatska (1470)
onz1969 (1409) vs div23 (1332)
cavalier (1554) vs hrvatska (1470)
eggardner (1485) vs bjzvone (1477)
hagisss (1174) vs sirovina (1106)

Scotland Forever vs Apocalypse Now
onz1969 (1409) vs brincadera (1410)
peter68 (1217) vs lukky1s07801 (1205)

Scotland Forever vs Lisbon Lions
stogs (1775) vs stevestq (1722)
pabcan (1377) vs djohansen33 (1392)
hunter1 (1291) vs oligator (1309)
allysg (1291) vs robdilger (1273)
rossmiller (1290) vs knuffel (1266)

Scotland Forever vs Night Fever
onz1969 (1409) vs * transdromeda (1505)
falkirkbairns1314 (1358) vs krebul (1335)

Scotland Forever vs THE ROOKETTES
broaders (1363) vs cracker5 (1355)
allysg (1291) vs theda (1274)
rossmiller (1290) vs domitian (1256)

Scotland Forever vs Nebraska Knights
ddee (1573) vs lylep (1597)
allysg (1291) vs srekal (1242)

Scotland Forever vs San Miguel Knights
darkangel57 (1578) vs basilisk01 (1594)
onz1969 (1409) vs kalogean (1406)
allysg (1291) vs sportskid (1322)

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A Good Start To 2007 - 06/01/2007

Current Score 49 : 67 of 290 teams

Current Rating 1306 : 78 of 290 teams

Well, I reckon we have got off to a pretty good start. We have been going for a little over two months and have won 49 games more than we have lost, so thanks to everyone who has helped or who has tried to help.

The website is basically finished now, we just need to put it live and put a little data on it, so expect that to appear sometime this month.

Scotland Forever have seven new team matches with the following pairings:

Scotland Forever vs ¦ The Black PawNZ ¦
spurtus (1672) vs coolkacheek (1643)
scotswarrior (1554) vs jackofall (1512)
easystreet (1525) vs thejoxter (1521)
eggardner (1452) vs deant (1463)
trickychicken (1409) vs esuom (1411)
caucasieukid (1346) vs joji (1358)
* rossmiller (1208) vs grasshopper248 (1297)
mac72 (1241) vs 2much (1140)
downeastah (1156) vs gillies (965)

Scotland Forever vs LITHUANIA
stogs (1775) vs rusenec (1781)
fluffychaos (1507) vs anton60 (1522)
trickychicken (1409) vs giegas (1323)
pabcan (1406) vs shifter (1387)
falkirkbairns1314 (1357) vs vrwc1 (1288)

Scotland Forever vs * The Fighting \/\/ARRIORS *
groeningheknight (1833) vs helmut2207 (1879)
stogs (1775) vs chessplayer2223 (1750)
* sweet_william (1696) vs coupigwe (1694)
alan1701 (1632) vs mayor (1606)
darkangel57 (1586) vs ilpo (1613)
jimk (1503) vs pawnstar71 (1511)
eggardner (1452) vs neil_ (1440)

Scotland Forever vs United Kingdom Chess Players & Friends
broaders (1351) vs phil010989 (1357)
elliot-chess (1314) vs gee4444 (1290)
maerlyn (1299) vs * toxic_marty (1203)
hagisss (1183) vs blue148 (1214)

Scotland Forever vs © The Club ©
alan1701 (1632) vs gukke (1659)
3v3r7 (1414) vs donnie (1392)

Scotland Forever vs * THE BLACK STALLION™*
stephanovich (1593) vs * cubs0_0 (1623)
eggardner (1452) vs nitramnala (1488)
maerlyn (1299) vs finklehelm (1316)

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Happy New Year - 01/01/2007

good start to the year ...

check this out, our blue789 vs blue148 (from United Kingdom Chess Players & Friends)

1. e4 e5

2. Qh5 d6 3. Bc4 g6 4. Qf3 b6 5. Qxf7# Onz1969 just won a game too :)

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“… we rushed through them, singing Auld Lang Syne'” - 31/12/2006

Current Score 44 : 66 of 289 teams

Current Rating 1343 : 40 of 289 teams

Scotland Forever welcome (alphabetically) caucasieukid and easystreet to the party, we are now 43 strong! Thanks to everyone who has played for Scotland Forever this year, even to those of us who have lost points, tomorrow is the start of a new year and we can make amends for those dropped points (or at least try to).

All over the world the cry will go out of a rather famous Scottish song by people who don't even know where Scotland is (is it somewhere near Ohio?). If it were not for Scotland what would people do on the 31st December?

Anyway, Scotland Forever have five new team matches with the following pairings:

Scotland Forever vs ~*QuantumChoir*~
stephanovich (1592) vs elfin (1531)
hoots (1374) vs m3ntor (1301)

Scotland Forever vs The Empire Strikes Back
iaingardner (1524) vs alfabe (1490)
michie (1255) vs zaddy1608 (1247)
bitton (1219) vs sarnlaugsson (1223)
hagisss (1219) vs rce_aa (1245)

Scotland Forever vs Hungarian wanderers
z_is_for_zombie (1529) vs silent_ted (1573)

Scotland Forever vs The Cynical Cynics
easystreet (1531) vs epierson (1519)
eggardner (1437) vs stegg (1434)
hunter1 (1291) vs larryslade (1273)
maerlyn (1270) vs dochol (1243)

Scotland Forever vs United Kingdom Chess Players & Friends
maerlyn (1270) vs josephfari (1238)
blue789 (1225) vs blue148 (1242)
peter68 (1210) vs leefletch (1202)
russell (1167) vs toxic_marty (1171)

And a happy new year from me in Auld Reekie.

P.S. Don't drink and play chess ...

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Reaching Non-Premium Member Limit - 24/12/2006

Current Score 44 : 69 of 289 teams

Current Rating 1321 : 62 of 289 teams

Scotland Forever welcome (alphabetically) russell and trickychicken to our ranks; we are now 41 strong. I have read somewhere on GameKnot that teams can only have thirty non-premium-members, we currently have 28, so if you know anyone who wants to join Scotland Forever and they are not premium-members you need to tell them to sign up soon …

Anyway, Scotland Forever have three new team matches with the following pairings:

Scotland Forever vs We are the Champions
elliot-chess (1337) vs capital_s (1367)
hunter1 (1309) vs 6dollarman (1278)

Scotland Forever vs Apocalypse Now
3v3r7 (1424) vs gizoo (1474)
hunter1 (1309) vs brincadera (1274)

Scotland Forever vs The Irish Legends
fluffychaos (1483) vs -boysinblack- (1409)
eggardner (1440) vs mcconkey (1373)
broaders (1338) vs dublindude (1379)
maerlyn (1236) vs tugboat101 (1274)

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Timeouts and Drunken Blunders :)

Current Score 40 : 73 of 292 teams

Current Rating 1322 : 56 of 292 teams

We have completed 219 games and are currently playing 312 games.

We are coming up to the time of year when I am expecting timeouts and drunken blunders to occur, so take advantage and don’t get caught out yourself! I will be at home and will continue to find matches for you if you are available, if you set your vacation flag then you become unavailable for selection.

Our website is getting closer to be ready, albeit just a page or two, but it should be better than other teams’ web-pages and web-sites. If you see a better team site on your travels then please let me know so we can create an even better site [or else sabotage theirs ;) ].

Anyway, Scotland Forever have five new team matches with the following pairings:

Scotland Forever vs Alpenrebellen
cavalier (1548) vs amator67 (1573)
blue789 (1216) vs theck (1110)
downeastah (1164) vs harzer (973)

Scotland Forever vs WhiteBeltNinjas
bushwooly (1702) vs rondino (1718)
sweet_william (1687) vs octal (1665)

Scotland Forever vs THE ROOKETTES
juicey (1469) vs jokosan (1470)
eggardner (1401) vs duggima (1409)
bitton (1222) vs irishdude58 (1271)
michie (1233) vs cracker5 (1220)

Scotland Forever vs Knights of Force
sweet_william (1687) vs dbohm (1669)
scotswarrior (1540) vs ashmal29 (1580)
eggardner (1401) vs mitsurugi (1386)
michie (1233) vs mariok (1273)

Scotland Forever vs THE Red, White and Blue Chess Team
stogs (1639) vs peteywheatstraw (1640)
jimk (1502) vs bukopie (1504)

Current Score 34 : 80 of 293 teams

Current Rating 1319 : 60 of 293 teams.

I have finally got around to listing the Scotland Forever heroes for November which will eventually end up on our yet-to-be-finished website. (To be a hero you need to make a positive contribution to our team score (what we really care about) or team rating.)

So, a big thanks and congrats to jamesaitchy for a rather superb net 9 game points and 158 rating points!

Second place goes to jimk and third to hagisss

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Never Give Up - 14/12/2006

if you have time, look at the following game

http://gameknot.com/chess.pl?bd=6151383

it is an excellent example of why you should not give up, even in a lost position.

well done to peter68, a fine win :)

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Take Advantage of Your Drunken Opposition! - 13-12-2006

Current Score 32 : 81 of 290 teams

Current Rating 1313 : 64 of 290 teams.

We have recently LOST a few team matches through timeouts, at which point I would like to remind us all … don’t timeout! I suspect over the Christmas period quite a lot of games will be lost through timeouts or alcohol-induced errors, so please, try to take advantage of your drunken opposition, but don’t play if you have been celebrating.

I am back in Auld Reekie and am expecting to be around again for quite a while; so I should be able to get some more team games for all who want them.

Scotland Forever have three new team matches with the following pairings:

Scotland Forever vs Hungarian wanderers
juicey (1451) vs leonidas_p_e (1453)
downeastah (1157) vs mikedearing (1133)

Scotland Forever vs Guardians of the Fortress
alan1701 (1619) vs bishop4269 (1687)
juicey (1451) vs kansaspatzer (1494)
pabcan (1377) vs boltsfan (1337)
rossmiller (1212) vs jerry (1289)
downeastah (1157) vs dashiznit (1163)

Scotland Forever vs * THE BLACK STALLION™*
sweet_william (1645) vs fredcow9 (1641)
alan1701 (1619) vs kfchoy (1647)

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New Members And New Matches - 07/12/2006

Current Score 24 : 90 of 290 teams

Current Rating 1304 : 72 of 290 teams.

Since my last message (30th Nov), Scotland Forever welcome alan1701 and rossmiller to our ranks, we are now 39 strong.

We have recently won a few team matches through timeouts, at which point I would like to remind us all … don’t timeout! I suspect over the Christmas period quite a lot of games will be lost through timeouts or alcohol-induced errors, so please, try to take advantage of your drunken opposition, but don’t play if you have been celebrating.

I have to go away again until the middle of next week, but then I should be around for several weeks or more. I do check our team page daily whilst away, but I have been too busy to make many moves myself (in case you were wondering).

Anyway, Scotland Forever have five new team matches with the following pairings:

Scotland Forever vs Night Fever
jimk (1522) vs transdromeda (1524)
juicey (1466) vs rozza888 (1460)

Scotland Forever vs P.C.T.-Polish Chess Team
stogs (1592) vs dryndekf87 (1597)
scotswarrior (1520) vs lofix (1462)

Scotland Forever vs provoquer's Provokers
stogs (1592) vs nantoz (1485)
elliot-chess (1339) vs scan13 (1274)
michie (1235) vs satellink (1269)
mac72 (1233) vs jairo1992 (1222)
georgeangus (1213) vs provoquer (1221)

Scotland Forever vs MUUMUU
scotswarrior (1520) vs abumariam (1481)
fluffychaos (1456) vs adharkach (1430)

Scotland Forever vs -----}-- Nate's Knights --{-----
jimk (1522) vs bowserreborn (1532)
fluffychaos (1456) vs earthlover (1450)

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St Andrew's Day - 30/11/2006

Current Score 24 : 90 of 290 teams

Current Rating 1304 : 72 of 290 teams.

Since my last message (30th Nov), Scotland Forever welcome alan1701 and rossmiller to our ranks, we are now 39 strong.

We have recently won a few team matches through timeouts, at which point I would like to remind us all … don’t timeout! I suspect over the Christmas period quite a lot of games will be lost through timeouts or alcohol-induced errors, so please, try to take advantage of your drunken opposition, but don’t play if you have been celebrating.

I have to go away again until the middle of next week, but then I should be around for several weeks or more. I do check our team page daily whilst away, but I have been too busy to make many moves myself (in case you were wondering).

Anyway, Scotland Forever have five new team matches with the following pairings:

Scotland Forever vs Night Fever
jimk (1522) vs transdromeda (1524)
juicey (1466) vs rozza888 (1460)

Scotland Forever vs P.C.T.-Polish Chess Team
stogs (1592) vs dryndekf87 (1597)
scotswarrior (1520) vs lofix (1462)

Scotland Forever vs provoquer's Provokers
stogs (1592) vs nantoz (1485)
elliot-chess (1339) vs scan13 (1274)
michie (1235) vs satellink (1269)
mac72 (1233) vs jairo1992 (1222)
georgeangus (1213) vs provoquer (1221)

Scotland Forever vs MUUMUU
scotswarrior (1520) vs abumariam (1481)
fluffychaos (1456) vs adharkach (1430)

Scotland Forever vs -----}-- Nate's Knights --{-----
jimk (1522) vs bowserreborn (1532)
fluffychaos (1456) vs earthlover (1450)

MSPs Approve St Andrew's Day Bill

MSPs approve St Andrew's day bill

(see bottom of message)

Current Score 22 : 95 of 285 teams

Current Rating 1367 : 23 of 285 teams.

Scotland Forever have SIX new team matches!

Scotland Forever vs Belgian Lions
z_is_for_zombie (1530) vs hittiche (1575)
juicey (1507) vs kwast (1562)
fluffychaos (1435) vs dille (1248)

Scotland Forever vs The Turks and International Friends
scotswarrior (1498) vs ihuseyin (1499)
3v3r7 (1437) vs devrimpinar (1419)
maerlyn (1214) vs goa_koala (1204)

Scotland Forever vs <=:::TEAM MACEDONIA:::=>
eggardner (1449) vs oliver_omr (1404)
3v3r7 (1437) vs fmmedika (1389)

Scotland Forever vs the children of chess
michie (1196) vs person112 (1146)
peter68 (1188) vs walkingdude (1122)

Scotland Forever vs © The Club ©
stephanovich (1575) vs ygh101 (1531)
scotswarrior (1498) vs williamsimon (1489)
3v3r7 (1437) vs tabbycat (1438)
michie (1196) vs nessie2005 (1285)

Scotland Forever vs Sussex Sharks
pabcan (1354) vs seandragon (1336)
peter68 (1188) vs lynton (1215)

Finished Matches

(6) Scotland Forever 3-3 team Norway and int. friends

For those of us who know there is more than Thanks-Giving in November …. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6193670.stm

** MSPs approve St Andrew's day bill **

Independent MSP Dennis Canavan is the driving force behind the bill

A bill to make St Andrew's Day a day of national celebration in Scotland has been passed in the Scottish Parliament.

Falkirk West independent MSP Dennis Canavan, who first introduced the bill two years ago, agreed to a compromise with the Scottish Executive. Instead of a full public holiday, MSPs agreed to make 30 November a voluntary public holiday. First Minister Jack McConnell said he wanted the day to focus more on celebrating Scotland. Mr Canavan originally wanted the 30 November to be declared an additional full public holiday. 'lost' business concern But he was persuaded by the first minister to accept a compromise under which banks and other organisations will be legally allowed, but not compelled, to close. However, they will be expected to give their staff the day off in exchange for one of their local holidays. The change came following Mr McConnell's concerns about the cost of an extra holiday in lost production. But Mr Canavan dismissed claims it would be bad for the economy as "absurd" and said business leaders should see the event as an opportunity and not a threat. The Independent MSP said he expected the holiday to grow in years to come, adding: "If St Andrew's Day was properly recognised at home as a national holiday that would enhance those international celebrations and help promote Scotland on the world stage."