G’day, I guess. Byron the Quokka here, doing nothing. The comment contest’s over and now there’s no work for me to do. Can’t start another one because if you have these contests going all the time, Lee sez they lose their event character.
“What?” says I.
“That’s political science talk,” says he. “It means they get boring if you do them all the time. Not special anymore.”
Well, he could’ve said that right up front, couldn’t he? He’d better watch out, or he’ll be turning into Joe Collidge one of these days–
[Pauses dramatically]
Ho, there! Just a blinkin’ minute!
I think I just had a brainstorm.
What if a bunch of us quokkas got together… and started a college? What an idea! Rottnest U.! We could all be professors. We could give out degrees. Hold Clue tournaments. Have a slapjack team.
Thinking, thinking…
Started a college!????
It can’t be any worse than the ones we’ve already got.
I know. 🙁
Josh and I are about to finish our first chess game!
Oh, good! Where are you playing? I’d love to watch the game in progress, or read a record of it.
I think it’s called chess.com
It should be done anytime. I have no clue who’s going to win!
I hope this link takes you to our game! https://www.chess.com/daily/game/251170866
Looks like the last roundup for White.
Yes, and I’m afraid that’s me… I’m happy that we could finally get to play chess! Thank you for the original suggestion!
Might’ve wanted to wait till he or she (not clear who’s who) had some protection for the queening square.
Yes, I should have waited… although I might not have had any protectors. Well, we learn from mistakes, right?
Are Lydia’s comments in your spam box, by any chance?
Not that I know of–and they shouldn’t be. I see them here on this page.
She said she replied to my comments on this page, but they disappeared.
Her last comment that I saw appeared here 20 minutes ago. She’s posted some likes since then. Where could she have got to?
Can you see the game?
Yes, I saw it. You guys have a lot to learn–but learning chess is fun. Just don’t turn it into a job.
OK! We’re just playing for fun. If chess was my job, I’ll go bankrupt within minutes. 🙂
Mr. Duigon, Mr. Duigon! I have wonderful news to tell you…
I LOST!!! 😭
Live and learn.
🙂
So, what could I learn from that chess game?
I know I made some pretty stupid moves sometimes.
Oy, where to begin! Too late at night for me to answer sensibly.
That’s what I thought! 😉
Your game with Joshua was more a brawl than a chess game. That’s OK–my chess games used to be like that, too, when I was starting out.
But to keep it simple: both of you passed up no end of easy captures, while at the same time putting your pieces into harm’s way without protecting them. Again, that’s how learning chess begins. My friend Ellen used to mow my men down with her rooks. Then I learned enough to do the same to her. And eventually we both learned how to prevent it.
So at this point all I’ll say is, take the easy captures when you can get them, and try to find some way of protecting your own pieces from being gobbled up. This is usually done by backing them up with nearby pawns, or with other pieces at a distance.
Does that make sense? (Gee, I hope so!)
Cool.
Yes it does. I’ll copy and paste it, so I can read it again later. Thanks.
Thank you for the tips, Mr. Duigon! I’ll try to make more use of my brain next time!!
The return of the White Queen was comically brief, wasn’t it? 🙂
Uh, oh… the last man standing… It’s just a matter of time now before I raise the white flag in surrender to General Lydia!
Oh, what a swell idea, and are we humans allowed to enroll in Rottnest U.???
They haven’t yet drawn up the rules.
Careful, Byron, don’t strain your brain too hard. Lee will think of something, then you can just jump on board. How’s that?
Good idea Byron. Wish I could go to it.
What is better than a Quokka? Answer: A pensive Quokka.