I play way too much blitz chess. It rots the brain just as surely as alcohol.

We have a large underclass in Britain, and a fairly low standard of education. Our best universities are extremely good, but a very significant proportion of the British population that comes out of compulsory schooling with very low standards of education.

Chess is ruthless: you've got to be prepared to kill people.

Modern Chess is too much concerned with things like Pawn structure. Forget it, Checkmate ends the game

Chess is, in essence, a game for children. Computers have exacerbated the trends towards youth because they now have an immensely powerful tool at their disposal and can absorb vast amounts of information extremely quickly.

I cannot claim to thoroughly enjoy coaching, because it is very hard work if you are even moderately conscientious. Nevertheless it does provide a degree of satisfaction - not to mention a steady income, which is why I do it occasionally.

Of course I'm not a racist, but I'm certainly right wing, there's no question about that.