If they are criminals convicted of very serious crimes keep them where they are.

With luck they might well.join the 28!

Strike hard  strike sure!

The transfer will be those with lessor convictions and have served at least 25 years of their sentences . . . There will be other restrictions . . .

They are only allowed to keep 1750 prisoners . . .

Good story and I enjoyed reading it. If I add up all the time I did in Los Angeles County Jail, it adds up to about 1.5 years. I played chess for fun and wasn't serious about the game. But I started to get tired of losing to the same more skilled players. During a longer stint maybe six or nine months, I was transferred to Wayside and in many of the dorms, four games would be going at the same time. Some of the "boards" were hand-drawn pencil lines and squares on the steel tables for eating. 

I could beat the newbie players but continued to lose to the same three or four better players. Then one day I was looking at books in the library and I spotted a book called, "How to Open a Chess Game." I think that was the title and it was a thin, well-worn, soft cover book, maybe 100 pages max. 

When I got back to the dorm I excitedly and surreptitiously started reading the book. I had no idea how to properly open a chess game and most of the time reverted to a formation of pawns that looked like an upside-down  V which I thought was smart because the pawns were all protected by the pawn behind them one space below, and one space to the right or left. 

I was trying to keep my studying private and I didn't want any of the chess players to see me studying the book. I'm not sure exactly why that was important to me at the time, but I think it had something to do with surprising them with my newfound skills, if in fact, the book delivered that power. 

I memorized the one I wanted to use and wrote down the moves on a small piece of paper and had it in the pocket of my LA County medium blue shirt. I got into my first game and played every move exactly like the book taught until about six moves in or so, then I had to adjust to threats and opportunities to take pieces. I won the first game with the new opening. II won the second game, but both of the opponents in those first two games were newbies.

My third opponent for the evening was a guy named Carlton and he was a really smart but somewhat cocky and arrogant Black dude. He was one of the players I could never beat. We said hello and made the usual jail small talk and I proceeded to develop my opener with ease He seemed to be focused on developing and getting his own opening setup in place that I don't think he noticed I had not made an upside down V this time. 

I started winning his pieces by my pieces being in the right place when opportunities emerged. My pieces all seemed to work together! They cooperated and coordinated well when attacking, and they had each other's back to fend off attackers. 

I figured that this is one of the benefits of having a solid opening position. I beat Carlton fairly easily and he said, "Hey, good game. I think your game is getting a lot stronger." 

I said, "Thanks, I've been spying on your games," and grinned. 

I won all four games that first night and I was excited to see what would happen tomorrow night. The next night I won all five of my games including matches with Carlton and another player I had trouble beating, a big tall Native American guy we called Wolf. 

I continued my winning streak for four nights then lost a game to a low-intermediate player. Overall, I became known as the toughest player in the dorm and it was all due using a proven opener. 

Which makes me wonder, now that I have joined Chess.com a little over a month ago, why am I having so much trouble learning a good opening? I've been trying to learn the Queen's Gambit both declined and accepted. I was trying to use Evan's Gambit for more aggressive play in the opening. But I often get confused and my opening setup looks like a mess and hinders my play. It is due to having to react to my opponent's play. 

I'm having fun learning the game and I am taking it a little more seriously and I'm actually studying the game using the resources on Chess.com, YouTube, and I want to find a good Chess Coach who doesn't charge high rates. If you know any good coaches or if you are a coach and you charge a reasonable fee, please shoot me a message. 

Reid (current ranking 973, goal to get to 1,400 by year-end, about 1.5 hours to two hours a day to play and study)

I forgot to put this in earlier in the post but I am a songwriter and wrote a song about my LA County Jail experience. If you'd like to hear it:  https://soundcloud.com/reidmoto/stuck-in-county

I went to the link of the song, very nice . . .

Nice post narration of your opening adventure . . .

You should get a book on endings because the endings never change . . .

Openings come and go as well the variations . . .

This is the book i suggest . . .

Buy it used try thrifty books on line . . .

Hey Denver, nice! Thank you for taking a listen to the song. I don't have any books on endings yet, but something I read yesterday said it would be wise to study opening, middle-game, and end-game strategies simultaneously. This is contrary to what I was doing because it seemed logical to start with each phase in order as I progress. 

I saw your ranking and you had hit 1,700+ six years ago I think. AMAZING! If you would be willing to do a little coaching, nothing too serious or time-consuming. For example, maybe we could play a game sometime and you can just give me some feedback after the game. I'd be willing to pay you for your help. 

Best, 

Reid

The only effective deterrent for MURDER is death.Never mind chess games.It is noted that Minnesota abolished the death penalty in 1911! In view of recent horrific events in that State it should be restored.immediately.

This post has nothing to do with murder . . .

The horrific events referred to. by me.earlier concluded yesterday with a touchy feely watered down display.of "justice". 270 months with time having been credited for time already served.(maybe in.that time.the.poor traumatised defendant managed to.master the scholars mate?)..Come.judgement.day.there he sat.po-faced.with.no remorse.whatever! Where were the shrinks ? Some battier than their patients.Mom entered the scene to sing the praises.of her perfect son???? Also on a video.link.appeared the deceased's little girl speaking.lovingly of her Dad.The "Judge" Then went through.the sentencing process. Strangely he didn't deliver the full.basis of his sentencing reasons orally.but handed down a written script.Why?????  The charge should have.been one.of.murder.in.the first degree.99 years sentence should have given.this apology for.a human being  time to.hone.his chess skills.Preferably.on a tennis court size chess board with pieces weighing at.least 50 Kg.I rest my case.

Please lets stick to chess not crime . . .

Well as you.are the.op.I will (albeit reluctantly).adhere to your request. My views as expressed stand .I would merely say that the general attitude.of Joe publc  in not adopting.a sensible balance between the  rights of the criminals and the victims and families leaves a lot to be desired.God forbid that.it ever happened.to you.but if.some.scum.violated your.home.and caused.you some.really serious harm would you perhaps change.your tune Perhaps you.might consider a response.and we can call it a day.⚖⚖⚖⚖⚖⚖⚖⚖⚖⚖⚖

@b1zmark is this ur alt?

Today August 13, 2022 I drove by San Quentin prison on the way to bowl a match in Dublin,  

,California. . .

It brought back memories of my early chess . . .

It still looks the same way, dreery grey color . . .

The Ant Avatar is sickk

      @  lordsofy123

                 I'm going to have them checked . . .

     . .
          .   . 

 @ OldSpooky.

You mentioned AC . . . What is that mean? . . .

I see that many states have different charges or allow some drugs legally .

I see it on live Tv . . .

if you do the crime you do the time. AC or NOT . . .

  My favorite photo is . . .

Great topic. Thanks for posting.

Thanks for the reading and posting . . .

Rich

One of the best players I have taken on over the board was an ex-con. He learned to play chess in prison. There was not much else to do, he said.