Introduction

I thought I would start off with answer some basic questions.

 What have your recent ratings been?

When I first joined the club my Elo was 900 but over the next year I jumped up to 1349.

How long have you been playing chess?

I was taught the rules as a kid then not again until univeristy.
At univeristy the internet was still very new and I was atracted to the idea of
playing some halfway across the world.  (I'm sure you remember siting in front
of computer with a real board in front of you while you type things like e2-e4
and wait for your the other player to write you back because there was no board.
I started buying used books and enjoyed reading them.

I then took the next 12 years away and I'm back.  I'm now in my mid-thrities with a
wife and two kids.  I have joined a real chess club and have been playing more
seriously for about 1 year.

Would you say you play for fun or for blood?

I would "say" that I play for fun in person.  But since you can't see me you'll
be the first person I've said this too "I play for blood."
I used to be a fighter.  I loved getting in ring.  The more I play chess the
more I see that the royal game and the sweet science have in common.

Were do you currently play?

I play at chess.com for fun and OTB at a chess club that meets Weekly

Which time limit(s) do you use?

At the club we play 2hrs aside and online I play 15min

How often do you play (eg games per annum)?

Through the club I will be playing about 35 rated games
Plus hopefully 15 more elsewhere

Which chess books do you have?
Fundamental chess endings -muller
improve your chess -hansen
zurich 1953 tournament
chess doctor- panolfini
panolfini's chess complete
the chess-playershand book-staunton
attacking chess-watzkin
chess target practice- panolfini
200 brillantgames - chernev
how to reasses your chess-sliman
monder chess strategy- pachman
chess praxis- nimzovich
my system - nimozvich
1001 brillant sacrifies and combonations -reinfeild
how to be a winner at chess- reinfeild
wunderstanding chess tactics - weteschink
how to improve your chess- reinfeild
the art of chess -mason
the mamoth book of the chess- burgess
the amatures mind - silman
complete endgame course -silman
comprehensive chess course vol.1 -alburt
comprehensive chess course vol.2 -aluburt
think like a grandmaster -kotov
the rules of winning chess- davies


Which chess books have you read?

zurich 1953 tournament
chess doctor- panolfini
panolfini's chess complete
the chess-playershand book-staunton
the rules of winning chess- davies
attacking chess-watzkin
chess target practice- panolfini
1001 brillant sacrifies and combonations -reinfeild
how to be a winner at chess- reinfeild
understanding chess tactics - weteschink
how to improve your chess- reinfeild
complete endgame course -silman
comprehensive chess course vol.1 -alburt
comprehensive chess course vol.2 -aluburt

these are the books that have read though some never complete and some complete where read over 10 years ago. 

I am currently reading "My system" and deciede that I was going to do something
different this time.
I have been reading this book for about 5 months and I am on chapter six. I
decieded to take one book read it slowly and make notes along the way.  In my
own words and truely understand each part.

I have also vowed to stop by any more chess material.

How much time do you have to study chess?

I study for atleast 2 hours aday.  Somedays more.  My study is haphazard and
undirected.

How much time do you have to play in tournaments?
Tournaments here in my part of the world are not very well set up.  Most tournaments
run for a a game per week for 5-8 weeks.  Weekend tournaments are 4 games on a
Saturday.
These will be the major part of my playing.  When there are the few proper
tournaments per year I hope to attend them all (3)

What kind of improvement would you like to make?

I wish to be one of the stronger players at my club.  I want to hit 2000.

What do you think are your current strengths and weaknesses?

I don't read the board well.  I often play without a plan. My tactics and endgames are not very good. 

Which openings do you play?

I play only two openning.  As white I play the torre attack.  I understand it
fairly well and find that it is safe and lets me get to middle game a gainst
stronger players very even.
As black I play the French most oftern

What have you  previously done to try and improve your chess?

I have been working on chesstempo.com alot now scoring about 1430 on tactics
It sound funny bought I bought some childrens chess puzzel books and I have
found that this has helped alot with pattern recognition.
I have spent some time on chesseye  as in Alburt's books he stressed that this was important
I have purchased acouple of dvd's mullers endgame vol. 1 and king's matting
paterns.

Who is your favourite player?

I'm not very educated about this topic.  I am trying to learn.

Do you get into time-trouble?

No.  I move much too quickly.

 Hopefully this lets you know where I'm comming from and so we can see how far I've come at years end.