My suggested list of thread topic ideas for this Forum (English Chat)

[Kevin Pacey]

Below is my suggested list of topic ideas for threads (or posts/polls) in this Forum (English Chat). It's by no means comprehensive, but it's meant as possible inspiration for potential posters (including, perhaps most notably, those CFC Discussion Board members who are outsiders to the CFC organization), who might not otherwise think of something to ask/tell or debate about on this Forum:

Topics I think that may be especially promising to at the least promote debate among any who might reply to an initial post:

1. Chess openings (includes specific ones, defining names &/or moves, traps, 'dangerous weapons', preparation, repertoire ideas);
2. Specific chess players & styles;
3. World chess champions and matches;
4. Chess psychology (includes practical decision-making);
5. How to beat _ (e.g. chess opening, stronger opponents, juniors);
6. Junior chess;
7. Women's chess;
8. Seniors chess (includes advice);
9. Canadian chess (includes politics, events, clubs, players);
10. International chess;
11. Ideas to promote chess (includes minimizing possibly perceived 'geek' factor);
12. Speed chess;
13. Active chess;
14. Avoiding or managing time pressure;
15. Chess ratings [system];
16. Chess [tournament] rules question[s] (including alleged cheating + sandbagging);
17. 'Why play chess'?;
18. Possibly perceived problems with [modern] chess (includes high draw rate among elite players);
19. 'What is the future of chess'? (includes what sort of chess variant might ever be the 'Next Chess', if any);
20. Non-chess topics?! (to be posted rarely at best?, e.g. Bob G's old 'I really hate banks' thread).

Topics that I think may at least prompt some to ask/answer question(s) or give comment(s) in reply to an initial post:

21. Game(s) entered for PGN viewer viewing [possibly includes game of the week or month, if anyone produces such];
22. Position(s) entered for FEN diagram viewing (includes combinations, tactics, problems, endgame studies);
23. Endgames (includes strategic [i.e. proper result unknown] and technical ones);
24. Middlegame strategy and tactics (includes attacking & defending, bishop vs. knight, 2 bishops for only one side, pawn structures, piece co-ordination, sustaining the initiative, potential [or elasticity] vs. initiative, maneuvering, dynamic vs. static factors, [material] imbalances, compensation, [weak] squares, restraining & blockading);
25. Chess improvement advice (includes practical 'secrets' such as calculating advice, training advice);
26. [Recommended] chess equipment (includes books, software);
27. Computers (includes engines, databases, internet chess servers & message board[s]);
28. Team chess (includes on internet);
29. Chess short stories/anecdotes/poems;
30. Chess variants (bughouse and crazyhouse especially popular, the latter on the internet).