1) I already had this affinity for numbers (at an early age) and this certain talent, which one can mention, but which also seems to be present in this way (by quotation or in the text). I was often given arithmetic problems that were absolutely not age-appropriate (like 7 times 17, at pre-school age), but…
There are stories that are so unbelievable that a novelist would first think twice about writing them that way. Or was I just drawn into a novel by chance? In any case, the following happened authentically: I had just become a proud “backgammon pro” and was always on the lookout for a “good game”. This…
1) A portrait of Dirk Paulsen The Berlin TV station rbb contacted me one day. A journalist must have become aware of me through a newspaper report. They wanted to do a portrait of me. The title of the programme was: “A day in the life of…”. This time I was to be the main…
How do you get chance on your side? Another example of how people fight against chance and try to get it on their side? In 1988, I played for the super jackpot at the World Backgammon Championship in Monte Carlo. In an early round, I had to play against a rather nasty contemporary who also…
To do this, I recapitulate from the beginning:So in 1985 I was in Monte Carlo for the first time. I had completely figured out blackjack. I had developed a blackjack programme. I had also studied the game of backgammon and played a lot. I had even won two tournaments. I had applied everything. But I…
A long journey. From Biel to Graz So in my so-called chess career there were some (apparent or partial) successes. I never had a real breakthrough. Nevertheless, there were a few eventful journeys, even if many of them took place outside of chess. So it was with this summer trip in 1981. Angie was my…
Everyone embarrasses themselves as best they can. You don’t have to do it twice, one time actively as a fool and the other time by blurting it out, but I have developed a certain skill in both. And on the day I am about to tell you about, I did both twice after telling the…
1) Freiburg It was 1983. I was 24 years old. It was not enough to become a chess professional. You had to put in a lot of effort, many tournaments went on for a week or longer. To get to the meat pots, the really good cash prizes, you had to be really outstandingly good.…
From the soul life of a player Not only does gambling, especially professional gambling, in principle presuppose a certain world view, it also entails certain consequences for daily life. I have drawn attention to the motives for gambling and the dangers of gambling elsewhere (chapter “Gambling Addiction”, for example). But the peculiarities, the sensitivities, the…
In the years 1985/1986 I also had a few gigs on the Berlin Kiez. I think that the book should not be without an account of what it’s like there. The only peculiarity here: I will be a little more sparing with the names of the people involved. I’ll keep the reasons to myself…. 1)…
