I really didn't want to. I was caught off guard. It won't happen again. Junk email only from now.

Still waiting for my set - it's been a few weeks since I ordered it. It's a set (pieces, board, bag) and something is not available to ship as a set apparently. At least Prime, while may be cheaper quality, you know something will arrive in 2 days after ordering. Must be a busy season for chess - start of new school year and chess clubs or something. May cancel my order and just order something from Prime - something is better than nothing.

In the meantime, these little kids (middle school?) are killing me. I'm not sure what language they're speaking. It's always something like "I'm using this opening or that end game blah blah blah" What the heck is gambit or an Italian strategy?

The only time I haven't lost is when I got into something called a stalemate, which seems like the kid should have won the game but it sounded like a draw. I'll take it. So, my record is probably something like 0-23-1.

A gambit is usually when you sacrifice a pawn in the opening for a better position or for more active play for your pieces. Examples: The King's Gambit, the Benko Gambit.

I'm not familiar with the phrase " Italian strategy". The Italian game or Giuoco Piano(Quiet Game) starts out: 1 e4 e5 2. Nf3 Bc6 3. Bc4 perhaps that is what they are talking about.

Dude, you need to look up Gotham Chess aka Levi Rozman on Youtube and get his book How to Win at Chess. I went from like 400 to 1000 after watching his channel and learning the Vienna Gambit. I have tried other openings, but I just still love The Vienna.