just wanted to say hi to everyone. so far this site is very good with lots of good material to learn. and I am sure my rating will go up from it. so thanks to all the people who work with this site and keep up the good work.

Thanks! Glad you like the site!

Greetings all!
I've just joined the site. I didn't realise it existed until very recently (mentioned by a member on a correspondance chess site). There seems to be a lot of material available and, as ever, outside pressures and tiredness seem to be the biggest barrier to utilising it all.
I like the idea of regular tactics training and the strategy articles. One can but hope to assimilate the information contained therein - and that's just the start.
The forum does seem to be a bit quiet though. I'm sure there are lots of questions people have, and equally lots of people who can help with answers.

A question from myself: Are we able to post chess diagrams in the forum? If that were possible that would be a big plus when it came to asking those questions.

Anyway, great site - down to a bit of work.....

? The forum does seem to be a bit quiet though.?
Yes, it does seem to be very quiet just recently, maybe everyone is on holiday?!

? A question from myself: Are we able to post chess diagrams in the forum?

Over on the ChessPublishing openings forum the preferred way to make diagrams is to go to http://www.france-echecs.com/ and then copy the FEN notation in - I will look into whether this is possible here.

? Anyway, great site - down to a bit of work.....
Thanks, yes it is doing the work that is the tricky part of getting better!

OK, I have just changed the setting to allow images to be shown here, let's try:

It works!

Diagrams:
Just been trying with the FEN diagrams via the France Echecs site. I'm no computer expert (and my GSCE French can get me a coffee and a croque-monsieur but little else) and I've struggled to get them up easily.

I wondered if it would be possible to add another button beside the Message text box (when you write your forum messages eg under the Link and Image buttons) which would enter the information to the France Echecs diagram site (eg up to the ?fen= and the final [/img]. We could then add the diagram information after clicking the button.

For information re FEN Notation Wikipedia exaplains it well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forsyth-Edwards_Notation

? I wondered if it would be possible to add another button beside the
? Message text box (when you write your forum messages eg under the Link and
? Image buttons) which would enter the information to the France Echecs
? diagram site (eg up to the ?fen= and the final [/img]. We could then add
? the diagram information after clicking the button.

The Forum software is just a standard package that you download and as far as I am aware it is not possible to make any changes to it. Unless someone out there has some programming skills?

Anyway, it seems to me that all you have to do is write
http://www.france-echecs.com/diagramme/imgboard.php?fen=
and after the 'fen=' you simply paste the FEN of any diagram you want. Then select all this and press the 'Image' button to the right. You can get the FEN easily enough in ChessBase by doing a position setup (or press 'S') and then press the 'Copy FEN' button.

This is a great concept. It will definitely help in my return to competitive play. The different sections of study are well thought out and provide variety. I can study for overall improvement and sharpeness of play, and/or
focus on a critical area that my self annotations point out. This site deserves support and I shall recommend it (after I get a good head start )
Also I was very impressed to see the GMs associated with this site. GM Kostens book Dynamic English has injected new life in my favored but rusty opening. Thanks again

? This is a great concept. It will definitely help in my return to
? competitive play. The different sections of study are well thought out and
? provide variety.

Thanks, glad you like it! I guess it must seem like a lot of material for someone new to the site, I hope it is not too daunting?

? Kostens book Dynamic English has injected new life in my favored but rusty
? opening. Thanks again

I will soon start work on a 'Dangerous Weapons: English Opening', where I hope to provide a few extra weapons for White! It won't be coming out before late 2008 though.

? Thanks, glad you like it! I guess it must seem like a lot of material
? for someone new to the site, I hope it is not too daunting?

Not at all, i'm extra-motivated on trying the archives on this site. What a wonderful material!