“The Chronicles of Numbskull: Combined Edition” was my 100th post! Yippee!
100 Posts!
Published by Joshua Swanson
"[1] Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. [2] Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. [3] For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. [4] Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest. [5] Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. [6] Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom. [7] Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. [8] Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice. [9] Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. [10] Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. [11] Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. [12] Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit. [13] Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee. [14] Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness. [15] O Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth Thy praise. [16] For Thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou delightest not in burnt offering. [17] The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. [18] Do good in Thy good pleasure unto Zion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem. [19] Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar." (Psalm 51:1-19) I am a Christian, and I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior from my sins! Praise the LORD for saving such a sinful wretch like me!! Courage, Christian soldiers serving under King Jesus' banner! "What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." (2 Timothy 2:3) Favorite book: The Holy Bible, which is the Word of God. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16) Other favorite books: The Bell Mountain Series by Lee Duigon; The Remnant Trilogy by Tim Chaffey and K. Marie Adams; The Crown & Covenant and The Faith & Freedom Trilogies by Douglas Bond; etc. I recommend these books! View all posts by Joshua Swanson
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Chess Lesson: Introducing Bishops.
Bishops are the tanks and armored infantry of your chess army. Unlike a Knight, a Bishop can sweep from one end of the board to the other in a single move, provided nothing’s in the way. They do have one weakness, though.
You have two Bishops, one of which starts on a black square (C1 for White, C8 for Black) and the other on a white square (F1, F8). Bishops can only move diagonally, which means each Bishop spends the entire game on squares of the same color from which it started. Because of this, Bishops work best when you have both of them. That way, they can cover all the squares on the board.
A Bishop has a value of 3, same as a Knight. They’re often exchanged during play. But in the long run, two Bishops are more powerful than two Knights.
Generally Bishops are the pieces you want to bring into play after you’ve developed your Knights. Save your Rooks and Queen for a few moves later. Bishops work very well with Pawns because they can defend one another: a Bishop on E4 and a Pawn on F3, for instance, make for a defensive strong point.
A Bishop has the ability to attack two men at once, either by a fork or by a “skewer.” If your opponent, for instance, has one Rook on H8 and another on G7, and your Bishop moves to B2, you have skewered the two Rooks and one of them will be captured.
I should point out that in chess, unlike checkers, captures are always optional: you don’t have to capture an opposing man if you have a reason not to.
More on Bishops next time. Any questions?
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Oops. White’s dark-square Bishop stars on C1, and Black’s on C8. You get the idea.
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Thank you, Mr. Duigon, for the lesson! I’ll try to study this one and the other lessons. I want them to sink into my brain.
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I’ll always believe the best way to learn chess is from other kids, face-to-face. That’s how I learned it: that, and lots of practice. Later one can learn tricky openings and other fine points.
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I have played chess before with my dad once or twice before, but I couldn’t make head or tail out of it! My goal: Master the rules of chess with your assistance and to be able to play chess with Dad and others.
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That shouldn’t be too hard to do.
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Thanks for the encouragement!
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Congratulations Joshua!
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Thank you, SlimJim!
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You’re welcome!
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🙂
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😀
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