Chess Lessons by Lee Duigon: Lesson Sixteen

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Let me introduce the subject of chess openings. This is not cutting-edge opening theory. It’s just me, going by experience. And I think we ought to start with general principles. Way too many openings for anyone to learn, but these general principles pretty much always apply.

1. Try to be strong in the center of the board: either directly, by moving pawns and pieces there, or indirectly from somewhere on one or both flanks, stationing your men so that they can get to the center quickly.

2. Knights are best somewhere around the middle of the board. Chess saying, “Knights on the rim are dim,” is usually true.

3. Usually it’s wise to castle as soon as possible.

4. Develop as many pieces as quickly as you can–don’t leave them in their starting spots unless you have a good reason for it. “Develop” means to put them in position to attack or defend as needed.

5. Rooks do best when they have room to shoot to the other end of the board, and when they are in position to support or defend each other. Sometimes the Queen can join them, forming what we call a battery. Try not to cut them off from each other unless there’s a good reason for it. (Any chess move ought to be made for a reason. But you’d be surprised how hard that can be for a beginner to learn.)

6. Bishops like clear diagonals, the longer, the better. If your Bishop winds up bottled up behind your own pawns, we call that a bad bishop. Try to position bishops where they’ll have some room to operate. Unlike Knights, Bishops can be tucked into corner squares and still be powerful.

7. Remember that pawns can never move backward; so when you move one forward, it ought to be for a reason–either to defend something (Pawns are good at that) or to open up room for your stronger pieces.

8. Pawns that wind up back-to-back, aka doubled pawns, can’t defend each other and are best avoided–until you know a lot more about chess. Then it’s not such a big problem.
If you keep these principles in mind, practice them, and use them to direct your moves, you won’t be discomfited by any opening which your opponent might use.

– Lee Duigon on March 13th, 2019

Are you looking for some good books to read? Well, may I recommend to you…

The Bell Mountain Series!!!

‘Low in the Grave He Lay’ — Lee Duigon

Until I started playing it, I didn’t realize this was one of my favorite hymns, too; but I always knew it as Up from the Grave He Arose. You Favorite Hymns continues with Low in the Grave He Lay, sung by the Kingdom Quartet.

‘Low in the Grave He Lay’ — Lee Duigon

This is a post from Lee Duigon’s blog. I hope this hymn will be a blessing to you!

¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.

– 1 Thessalonians 4:14 KJV

³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

⁴ And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

– 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV

Chess Lessons by Lee Duigon: Lesson Fifteen

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All right, let’s try this–nothing ventured, nothing gained. My friends and I sort of invented this opening before we were old enough to read chess books. It served us well until we got better at chess.

We call this the Playground Opening. It will work if your opponent is inexperienced, or if he takes you so lightly that he isn’t really thinking. You have to be playing White to do it. Here it is.

1.e4, e5 2. Qh5, g6 [this is the careless move that kills him] 3.Qxe5 check, Ne7 4. Qxh8, $#@#$!

After this, your chief concerns should be to get your Queen out of there and develop more pies (Nf3, Bc4, etc.). The temptation is to leave the Queen in Black’s territory and pick off some Pawns–but don’t do that, she might get trapped.

Remember that the opponent, in chess openings, very often doesn’t make the moves he’s supposed to make. Don’t let that discourage you. Just keep playing and try to gain experience.

Let me know how you make out!

– Lee Duigon on March 3rd, 2019

I highly recommend the Bell Mountain Series by Lee Duigon!!

Lesson Sixteen is coming next Wednesday!

Book Recommendation: The Bell Mountain Series By Lee Duigon

<><><> This post is the “500th Post Special”!!<><><>

My favorite series to read is the Bell Mountain Series by Lee Duigon. I first found out about the Bell Mountain series when I got it as a gift from my grandma.

There are currently 12 books in the series, with 2 more coming soon!! Here I will introduce you all to the fun and exciting Christian fantasy series: The Bell Mountain Series!!

In the Bell Mountain Series, you will meet two adventurous kids, Jack and Ellayne, living in a village called Ninneburky, who go on a mission given to them by God to ring a mysterious bell which, according to the “Scriptures,” is said to be on top of a high mountain called Bell Mountain. Other fantastic characters include the wise hermit, Obst, who loves God, the powerful man of the woods, Helki the Rod, the brave and fearless hairy little man-like creature named Wytt, the evil First Prester (High Priest) of the Temple, Lord Reesh and his professional assassin, Martis, sly and crafty Ysbott the Snake, greedy and covetous Lord Chutt, the ruthless warlord and supreme leader of the Heathen army called the Thunder King… and much much more!!

This series is a great way to learn about God and to learn wonderful insights!

The first book of the series is called Bell Mountain…

BOOK 1: BELL MOUNTAIN

This book has won the Bronze Global E-Book Award!

Finally… Faithful Fiction that Reveals the Kingdom of God!

Introducing Bell Mountain, by Lee Duigon, the first novel from Chalcedon’s new label, Storehouse Press!

The world is going to end… as soon as Jack and Ellayne ring the bell on top of Bell Mountain. No one has ever climbed the mountain, and no one has ever seen the bell. But the children have a divine calling to carry out the mission, and it sweeps them into high adventure.

For the world is already changing, and fast: legends come to life, strange beasts emerge from the forest, bandits and slave traders hunt the helpless, and war rumbles on the borderlands. The children must make their way through all these perils — not knowing that a professional killer has been sent to stop them.

For there are others who know the secret of the bell… a terrible secret, only hinted at in the sacred writings. But do they understand God’s plan any better than the children?

The world has been shaken to its foundations before. Will this be the final shaking?

Great for young adults.

You can read the first chapter of Bell Mountain here!!

BOOK 2: THE CELLAR BENEATH THE CELLAR

This book has won the Silver Global E-Book Award!

VIEW

BOOK 3: THE THUNDER KING

BOOK 4: THE LAST BANQUET

(This is my personal favorite in the series!!)

BOOK 5: THE FUGITIVE PRINCE

BOOK 6: THE PALACE

BOOK 7: THE GLASS BRIDGE

BOOK 8: THE TEMPLE

BOOK 9: THE THRONE

BOOK 10: THE SILVER TRUMPET

BOOK 11: THE TEMPTATION

BOOK 12: HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER 

BOOK 13: THE WIND FROM HEAVEN is coming soon!

BOOK 14: BEHOLD! is now being written by Lee Duigon!!

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I really hope that you will get interested in reading this exciting series! Please click “Books” for blurbs, sample chapters, and more information!!

Please visit and follow Lee Duigon’s blog!! He posts great content every day!!

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Here are some videos about the Bell Mountain Series!

Sorry, I Can’t Give You Final Victory — Lee Duigon

The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.

– Psalm 110:1

“Final victory can only be achieved, and will be achieved, by Jesus Christ.”-Lee Duigon

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The Lord of the Rings ends with all the bad guys destroyed and only good guys left. Why can’t my Bell Mountain series end that way? At least one reader has called for me to stop the series and cap it with some kind of “final victory.” Sorry, but I just can’t do it. My […]

via Sorry, I Can’t Give You Final Victory — Lee Duigon

Chess Lessons by Lee Duigon: Lesson Fourteen

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I want to get you started on chess openings. It’s a complicated subject, and I’ll take it slow. Openings are probably my favorite part of chess.

A few general remarks. A lot of players don’t bother to study openings. For one thing, there are too many of them; no one can learn them all. For another, players get annoyed when they study and opening, want to use it in a game, and the opponent just won’t do what the book said he should do. I dream of the day when, as Black, I play the Albin Counter-Gambit and White stumbles into the Lasker Trap. This has happened for me only once, ever. *sigh*

I recommend two things. First, learn general principles that apply to most openings, if not all of them. Because you’re bound to encounter openings you’ve never seen before, and you don’t want to be confused and surprised. So learn the general principles that govern them all. More on that next time.

Second, study a few favorite openings thoroughly–very thoroughly. I, for instance, like unusual openings that may make my opponent underestimate me. I favor gambits over safe, uneventful openings. As White I’ve carefully studied the Polish Opening, 1.b4, because most opponents see it and think I must be stupid. As Black I favor Philidor’s Defense (1.e4, e5; 2. Nf3 [or something else], d6) because Black’s second move, d6, makes him look timid–but you’d be surprised how quickly the Philidor can be turned into an offensive campaign. If White opens 1.d4, I favor the Albin Counter-Gambit (1.d4, d5; 2. c4 [offering the Queen’s Gambit], e5) which can turn a dull Queen-pawn game into a real brawl. The point is, I’ve spent much time studying these openings and little time on others, trusting in my grasp of general principles to see me through to the middle of the game.

Regardless of whether I’m playing White or Black, I try to go on the attack as soon as possible. Chess is more fun that way.

– Lee Duigon on March 2nd, 2019

Thank you, Mr. Duigon, for the chess lesson!

I highly recommend you read The Bell Mountain Series by Lee Duigon! It’s a Christian fantasy series and you will find it hard to put the book down once you start reading it!

Stay tuned for Lesson Fifteen!

‘Be Thou My Vision’ — Lee Duigon

 

^“2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2 KJV 

This is my favorite hymn! This post is from Lee Duigon’s blog.

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This is probably the oldest hymn on our list, dating back to the 8th century and still beloved today–Be Thou My Vision, from Ireland. Sung by the Lebanon Youth Chorus.

via ‘Be Thou My Vision’ — Lee Duigon

Chess Lessons by Lee Duigon: Lesson Thirteen

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Quick chess lesson:For the time being we’ll skip check and checkmate, which you probably already understand, and move on to Stalemate.

Stalemate happens when it’s a player’s turn to move, he’s not in check, but he cannot make a legal move. The game is declared a draw.

For most of us stalemate is the result of simple carelessness, and it’s the most common way of coughing up a game you should have won.

Example: Black to move, and the only piece he has left is the King on h8. White has the King on f7 and the Queen on g6. It’s Black’s move, but he can’t make a legal move. Any square he can reach would put him in check, and thus be an illegal move.

The players might also have a bunch of Pawns still on the board blocking each other from moving at all.

It’s hair-tearing frustration when you’ve got the game in your back pocket but have to settle for a draw because you carelessly allowed a stalemate to occur. It’s something you have to think about as the game nears the end; and you can avoid it just by being careful about your moves. So don’t be overconfident and don’t be careless.

I expect you have some questions by now, about this and that and the other. We ought to address those before moving on to my favorite part of chess–the openings.

– Lee Duigon on February 8th, 2019

Lee Duigon is the author of the Bell Mountain series, a great series of books that I recommend for young adults (and all people)!

Stay tuned for Lesson Fourteen!

Be of Good Courage — Lee Duigon

³³ These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

(John 16:33)

This is an encouraging post by Lee Duigon. I highly recommend his blog!

“Pray harder, sing louder, and proclaim the truth. Christ already has the victory, and we are His people. Ooh-rah!” – Lee Duigon

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There’s too much defeatism out there. Too many Christians carrying on like the battle’s lost already, bad guys win, nothing we can do about it, etc. 347 more words

via Be of Good Courage — Lee Duigon

Chess Lessons by Lee Duigon: Lesson Twelve

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Chess lesson: the King; check and checkmate.

You probably know this stuff already, but I might as well be thorough. I’m sure you know that the loss of the King is the loss of the game.

“Check” is when your opponent makes a move that puts your King in danger of being captured on the next move. You are obliged to get your King out of check, either by moving it, putting another piece or pawn in the way of the attacker, or capturing the attacker. Note: It’s against the rules to castle out of check, or to castle “through a check”–that is, moving the King through a square subject to enemy attack. Any move that fails to get the King out of check is not allowed.

“Checkmate” is when the King is in check and can’t get out of it by any means. The game is then over.

What many beginners don’t realize is that late in the game, with most of both chess armies off the board, the King comes into his own as an attacking piece. The King moves one square in any direction, as long as he doesn’t move into check. Often the King gets the job of shepherding a Pawn to the opposite end of the board.

Castling is usually the best way to keep your King safe, so try to do it early in the game.

**Beware the back rank mate! If the King is all alone on the back row with Pawns in front of him, an enemy Rook or Queen can slide down and mate him.

**Beware the skewer, also known as the X-ray: in which you have a valuable piece adjacent to the King, and an enemy makes a move that would be check if your intervening piece weren’t there, Example: your King is on e1, your Queen on f2, and along comes an enemy Bishop to h4, attacking the Queen–which can’t move away, because that would put the King in check. And let’s say the attacking Bishop is protected by an enemy Rook on h8. The best you can do is to take the Bishop with the Queen, whereupon the Rook takes your Queen and you come out way behind. So be careful where you put your Rooks and Queen in relation to your King.
enough for now. Questions?

– Lee Duigon (January 18th, 2019)

Lee Duigon is the author of the Bell Mountain series, a great series of books that I recommend for young adults (and all people)!

Stay tuned for Lesson Thirteen!