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An amazing feat
- Thread starter slobake
- Start date
I no longer play, especially online with the advent of chess engines. I met a few people that were very strong "online" but then over-the-board they didn't seem to have the same strength. So I quit playing about 10 years ago, and mainly go over games collections from time to time (I'm looking at Chernev's "most instructive games ever played" book that I keep close to my night table as I type this). Zurich 1953 and Tahl-Botvinnik are some of my favorites. I did correspondence for a while, but that was it.
So you are welcome to discuss anything chess related with me, we might analyze games or do some problem solving. But if I played, I don't think I would play any other way than face-to-face. That's part of the magic of the game (I'm a big fan of Tahl in this regard). Chess was becoming too addictive for me.
What do you think of the Carlsen-Anand match?
Oh yeah, Tal was amazing. Fewer players like that today and less worthy games as a result, with the advent of chess engines analyzing openings for GM's to play 20 move deep openings. The game seems to have tamed down tactics to find ways to eeek out the smallest advantage the computer tells you. I definitely understand the face to face deal. However, there is way more room for abuse with correspondence, no?
As for me, my best over the board result was drawing a GM in 1994, U.S. Junior Champion Alex Sherzer, who interestingly enough, went to prison later for child molestation.
Anyway, I though Anand played way too timid. Problem is, Carlsen's game is so complete, I guess Anand and his team didn't think mixing it up would be the way to victory.
I'd love to look at some games. I plan on playing a tournament again here soon, maybe we can review some games from it, or if you have anything interesting you come across, problems or otherwise, I'd love to look at them with you.
You drew a GM! Nice. What a feeling that must have been.
When I did correspondence (I forgot the organization) there were two categories: traditional and computer-assisted. I thought that computers were great for preparation and training, especially for those that didn't have close access to tournaments or strong chess club scenes like, for example, NYC. I don't even recall the time controls; I think it was like three days per move. I know I never looked at a computer while playing my games, but sometimes I got the suspicion that that wasn't always the case with some of my opponents.
I still have some of my games with full analysis in an old computer drive... The drive crashed but I never threw it away since I know the information is still magnetically stored. Maybe one day I'll pay to have the database retrieved. When I get a chance I'll stop by my storage unit and see what other old notes and annotated games I have.
I agree with you on today's top players' games. Too many draws. Perhaps Shirov was one of the last Tal-like players. I haven't been following things too closely.
Carlsen at 2800+ ELO his game is solid. I expected Anand to go all out and complicate the heck out of things. He had a couple of chances early in the match but it just wasn't meant to be.
I have about 3-4 Staunton sets, all stored away. Every now and then I walk into a games store and I see a nice wooden board... my wife comes along quickly and snatches me away before I go crazy and buy it.
If you are ready for a tournament soon then you must be in good shape by now. I must be blind as a bat compared to you, but feel free to keep the chess conversation with me going. I only allow myself to look at chess for one hour on the weekends, but it's fine to run into another chess player in a bass playing forum (although I'd describe myself now as a chess enthusiast). By all means feel free to let me look at some of your games from the tourney.
May you find happiness in a passed pawn (yours) every time you play!
I better scrape up all the old chess pieces I have laying around for next time I travel through NJ!
In HS I batted 1000 through the first 5 baseball games with 17 AB. Went 0/8 the next 2. Oh, well. My OB% that season was 74. I really liked being a DH. None of that tricky throwing and catching stuff...
I can clap with one hand. I can also clap with one hand with both hand, of course that's clapping with two hands & anybody can do that.
I can bend the fabric of the space/time continuum to the point where you will meet, and learn to dislike yourself from 7th grade.
You drew a GM! Nice. What a feeling that must have been.
When I did correspondence (I forgot the organization) there were two categories: traditional and computer-assisted. I thought that computers were great for preparation and training, especially for those that didn't have close access to tournaments or strong chess club scenes like, for example, NYC. I don't even recall the time controls; I think it was like three days per move. I know I never looked at a computer while playing my games, but sometimes I got the suspicion that that wasn't always the case with some of my opponents.
I still have some of my games with full analysis in an old computer drive... The drive crashed but I never threw it away since I know the information is still magnetically stored. Maybe one day I'll pay to have the database retrieved. When I get a chance I'll stop by my storage unit and see what other old notes and annotated games I have.
I agree with you on today's top players' games. Too many draws. Perhaps Shirov was one of the last Tal-like players. I haven't been following things too closely.
Carlsen at 2800+ ELO his game is solid. I expected Anand to go all out and complicate the heck out of things. He had a couple of chances early in the match but it just wasn't meant to be.
I have about 3-4 Staunton sets, all stored away. Every now and then I walk into a games store and I see a nice wooden board... my wife comes along quickly and snatches me away before I go crazy and buy it.
If you are ready for a tournament soon then you must be in good shape by now. I must be blind as a bat compared to you, but feel free to keep the chess conversation with me going. I only allow myself to look at chess for one hour on the weekends, but it's fine to run into another chess player in a bass playing forum (although I'd describe myself now as a chess enthusiast). By all means feel free to let me look at some of your games from the tourney.
May you find happiness in a passed pawn (yours) every time you play!
The GM surprisingly allowed me to sac 2 pieces for a perpetual on G6 - I was on the white side of a Ruy Lopez. I saw a combination for the perpetual check and went for it, and if he declined, I would have had a much better position and a pawn. I'll take it anyway I can get it!
I have a nice set also, but until we move and I can get my own office/man cave, it stays away.
That would be great to see some of your games! I have some from the early days, I'll see if I can gather them up.
Good point about Shirov - very exciting, attacking player. I've been meaning to read Board on Fire, My 2350 master friend has and said it was a must read.
Interesting thing about Carlsen is that I don't think we can truly comprehend how storng he actually is. Take this for example - Fischer was 2750 or so at some point in the late 60's. At the time, the next closest competitor was Tal, who was a full 100 points below him at 2650. Now imagine that Carlsen is 2882 right now, with Aronian at 2830, and Kramnik 3rd at 100 points below Magnus. Invalid Link Removed
Take into account that the competition gap has closed greatly and that there are at least twice as many GM's now than in the 60's/70's and you can see how strong he is. Can you imagine that Carlsen would actually be 100 points better than Fischer? And it's hard to say the ratings are inflated because the competition is so much tighter. If anything, it is the other way.
I wouldn't say I'm ready for a tourney yet - I do need to study some openings and endgame theory, but I work on tactics constantly.
Recover your hard drive if it's not too expensive!
