"Chess is art, history, and human connection: a joyful adventure for the mind and spirit."
Age 47 | Chess Enthusiast
"Chess is art, history, and human connection: a joyful adventure for the mind and spirit."
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Welcome, dear reader! I am Michael, a proud chess noob from Australia, and I believe a good game should be early, deadly, and beautiful. Why do you play chess: for accuracy, or for the joy of a swashbuckling attack? Pull up a chair and let's find out.
Michael Tam is a 47-year-old chess enthusiast from Australia whose online presence centres on the channel Adventures of a Chess Noob. His estimated rating is 1618, which places him at an intermediate club level: he has a solid opening repertoire, calculates two or three moves deep, and shows decent endgame technique. His favourite opening as White is the Vienna Game, which he has played in 605 games, far more than any other line on file. With Black he turns to the Two Knights and the Schliemann, both lively choices that reward initiative. Michael's approach reflects a Romantic outlook on the game, treating chess as art, history, and human connection rather than a pure contest of accuracy. His lucky charm is a glass chess set. Opponents can expect an enthusiastic, attack-minded game with sharp opening play, occasional tactical adventures, and a willingness to trade pieces into an endgame that he handles competently.
Michael plays very aggressively, pushing for early initiative and sharp, tactical positions rather than quiet manoeuvring. He also prefers to trade pieces down instead of keeping the tension, so his attacks often lead toward simpler positions. His opening choices lean slightly toward mainline theory, with the Vienna Game as White and the Schliemann as Black providing lively, sharp starts.
Players rated roughly 1400 to 1800 will get the most from facing Michael, whose rating of 1618 sits in the intermediate club band. His aggressive, sharp style suits those who want to practise defending against early attacks and spotting tactics two or three moves deep. Players who tend to avoid complications can learn to hold the balance, while attackers can test how well they convert once pieces start coming off the board.
