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| Robert the Bruce with his knight Sir James Douglas |
Apparently sales of chess sets have soared since the Queen’s Gambit series
was released recently on Netflix. I
certainly enjoyed the series although I would never have believed that I could
be entertained by watching other people playing chess.
It prompted Paul and me to dig out our old chess set from the attic. We found the chess pieces but couldn’t find the board until we remembered that it had been left behind in France. So we bought a new board and have played a couple of games this week. Our set is quite elaborate and based on the Battle of Bannockburn 23rd-24th June 1314, Scots versus English, and each key piece is based on a real historical figure. The Scottish king is Robert the Bruce with Elizabeth de Burgh as his queen. The English king is Edward II with Isabella of France as his queen. The rooks (or castles) on both sides are based on the tower of Old Stirling Castle that overlooked the battle.
I am very much an inexperienced player so it’s not surprising that Paul has beaten me twice. I almost took the first game but apparently it was an illegal move by his king. Yesterday he quickly attacked and put my king into checkmate before I even knew what was happening.
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| Robert the Bruce (King of Scots 1247-1329) with William Lamberton (Bishop of St Andrews) |
It will take me some time before I get to beat him at chess. I guess it’s his revenge for always losing to
me at ping pong. Any other chess players out there?
It looks likes a splendid chess set. I have no idea how to play chess. I can play Ludo and Draughts and Backgammon.
ReplyDeleteI'm too impatient to be a good player. I don't spend enough time looking at the board and spotting the pitfalls.
DeleteThat is a wonderful chess set,
ReplyDeleteAs A child I learned how the pieces move by sticking a bit of paper with instructions on each piece but as for seeing more than one move ahead? haven't a clue.
I learnt the moves easily enough as a youngster but that was about all.
DeleteI used to play chess years ago against my husband and when I had teenage sons as opposition. I was pretty good, actually . . . until I watched Queen's Gambit recently and realised I knew absolutely nothing about the game! No strategies, no set beginnings, nothing. I had merely looked at the board and aimed to 'take' as many opposing pieces as possible, the same as playing draughts. Pathetic!!!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds a bit like my game! I'm not sure I have the patience to plot and think about strategy.
DeleteI have heard of men who beat their wives. You should seek confidential support. Phone EDAN (Lincs Domestic Abuse Service) Tel: 01522 510041.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Shirley and I began watching "The Queen's Gambit" this very evening. Great first episode.
I think you will enjoy the series. (Paul is about to beat me again so I might need that 'phone number.)
DeleteTried chess but was no good at figuring out moves. Bridge on the other hand......!
ReplyDeleteBridge is a game that I have never played.
DeleteThat is a great chess set. I do not play chess. My son was always very keen, playing with clubs and later at university.
ReplyDeleteThe set was presented to Paul when he retired.
DeleteI learnt to play as a child, taught by my grandfather, but never progressed to strategy. He used to play correspondence chess with someone in Russia during the Cold War - sending postcards to one another - which my brother and I took as proof positive that he was spying for the CIA! We finished the Queen's Gambit last week - I've not heard a single report from someone who didn't love it.
ReplyDeleteI think the Russians take their chess very seriously. I loved watching the Queen's Gambit, not least for the clothes she wore.
DeleteI used to run a Chess Club at a Primary School in Brighton. The children really enjoyed it. I like to think that some of them still play today. That's a beautiful set, but I think I would find it distracting. Staunton for me.
ReplyDeleteMaybe that's why I keep losing, I get distracted by the pieces.
DeleteMy husband used to play against a machine that had several levels of competance built in. I love your themed set and we always talked about designing and making our own with the time of retirement to 'fill'. I prefer a game of cards. Less dusting!
ReplyDeleteI don't think our chess set has ever been out long enough to gather dust!
DeleteWhat a wonderful set - an incentive to play regularly.
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't play, although I did have a few lessons from my husband years ago, in the days before we could afford a TV set! I think the subtlety of the game was rather lost on me, and I was never sure that he had remembered the right moves. However, I always trounced him at Scrabble, so maybe his instruction was revenge fuelled!
I don't have Netflix, so will have to wait until the series shows up on some other channel.
I could beat Paul at Scrabble with my eyes shut.
DeleteMy Grandson is a brilliant chess player and plays in some league or other - he lives in China and plays chess with my son (his father) by internet (my son always loses)
ReplyDeleteLovely to see you back here Pat.
DeleteI've played but am not good at it. We've been introduced to cribbage. My husband doesn't like games at all. I would like very much to find other cribbage players locally.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever played cribbage. Is it a card game?
DeleteWe are going to start watching it tonight!
ReplyDeleteI think you will enjoy it.
Delete