Control the Center

The Speech

Bobby Digital-Fischer — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:52:53 +0000

Campaign Moment: Obama’s Race Speech @ Pennsylvania

Analogous Chess Move: Castle on the Queen’s side (Obama Campaign)

Analysis:
Barack Obama’s speech today on Race was a defining moment of his campaign. Having been battered with his association with pastor, Jeremiah “I give crazy-town sermons” Wright, the media hyped this moment as a make it or break it speech for the Senator. While the jury is still out on the net-effect of the speech, I will liken this move by the Obama campaign as a Castle on the Queen’s side.

By giving this speech, the Obama campaign sought to defend an attack that hit deep into their territory. Unlike many of the past attacks on Obama, this one seemed to hit at the core of everything he stood for: His race, religion, family background. It was the perfect attack, the gift that kept on giving (see: flip-flopping circa 2004).

Many times when I choose to Castle, it’s an attempt to re-organize the chess board in a way that deflates good positioning from my opponent. It’s a defensive move at its core and so was this speech. But unlike most defensive moves on the chess board, the Castle, especially when castling on the queen’s side, has an element of offense to it as well. By bringing out the Queen’s Rook to her former position, while enclosing the King, the player is now in a position to attack or defend anything along that file. While I don’t think the Obama campaign is in a position to attack after this speech, it definitely gives him a bit of offensive energy that he can use to further advance later on.

Okay, I’ll stop here, but I may expand later on.

Hola (Part 2)

Bobby Digital-Fischer — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:30:31 +0000

Yes, yes… welcome to Control the Center. As the co-host, I’m glad you can join us here at the intersection Chess and Politics (although, I do admit the intersection of Chess and Rap is almost as good). I’m just glad I have a venue to post all my “OMG… Obama just forked Hillary” talk. Should be fun.

A quick word on me: I’m a recovering political professional based here in DC. Used to do campaigns in another life, but now I sit on the sidelines and do software stuff. I’ll also admit that, for some one co-hosting a “Chess” blog, I’m your remarkably average chess player. For all you Grand Masters in the room who are ready to dice apart our every post, please… be gentle.

The personal blog is available at http://i495blues.blogspot.com/. Lots of goodies in there… especially from the 04 elections.

Hello

bad bishop — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:57:40 +0000

Welcome to Control the Center! I’m your co-host, the Bad Bishop. After our 8,000th conversation about how the political news of the day would be represented in chess, Bobby Digital Fisher and I decided to start this blog.

If you know anything about either chess or politics, you understand the name of this blog. Controlling the center of the board/electorate is vital for success in a chess game or an election.

Who am I? Well first of all, I’m nothing even CLOSE to resembling a chess expert. Or a politics expert. But I keep my eyes open, am learning chess, and live in DC, which automatically makes one a little bit of a politico whether one likes it or not.

I personal-blog over at the Latest Obsession, and I am fairly active on flickr as techne.