Chess is a Great Equalizer

Chess is a rare game where persons can compete with little regard for age or gender. Statistics show that given the smaller number of women who chose to play chess, statistically they are just as strong as the men. Likewise a child can learn chess and with a little help and some natural ability can quickly compete with adults.

Is there any other game like chess that is known around the world that can be played with such fairness?

The Joys of the French

I am playing the French instead of my prior CaroKann and Accelerated Dragon because of repertoire flexibility. For example in the advance Caro-Kann White can fairly force black to play his game. According to Peter Wells for example 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Be2 Bf5 6.Nf3 e6 and we have move ordered into the Short System. Likewise in the Accelerated Dragon there are sometimes scant pathways available to equality.

But the French is wanton. There are many repetoire choices that push things from the Black side. For example after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 There is the Rubinstein including the Fort Knox, there is the Winower family, the obscure Romanishin line and the classical Nf6. Then if white does not play e5 but Bg5 then there is the Burn, the MacCutcheon, as well as the classical Be7.

In playing the French I have been truly crushed. But sometimes I got crushed in the Caro-Kann too. However by playing it over and over, I am growing into it. I understand what I am doing more and more. When I am losing, it is deeper into the game. And sometimes things really go my way and I get the benefit of a crush.

I am around game 45 of my 1001 Arabian Knightmares.