Chess thread

[Tal]

The problem is, when the queen goes to e3, black can play Kb2 and white can't stop the pawn queening (try it).

But, if you play 1.Qh2 instead, you can go to f4 straight away after Kc1 and you swing over to a4 to win.

Well done to Tomsom for both finding the answer and not posting about it smugly

[Tal]

Nice informal Q&A with Hikaru Nakamura:

http://en.chessbase.com/post/nakamura-has-open-forum-q-a-with-fans

When you visualize a chess position, such as during a blindfold game, or when going over a score without a board present, what do you see? Do you see a full board and pieces, just like you were actually looking at a real board, or do you have some kind of abstract representation in your mind such as a list of pieces and key squares and their attack/defense relationships? If you see a board, is it a 3D board, or is it like a diagram from a book? If a 3D board, is it some particular set you like, or something generic?

"When I play a blindfold game or any amount, (I have done 15 on two separate occasions) I essentially see the whole board, but I very rarely calculate deep lines beyond 2-3 moves. In tournaments such as the Amber Blindfold and Rapid where it is one game against another top level player, I very often calculate 2-3 lines of about 5-6 moves. I wish I could say that I am some sort of mathematical genius and I see a bunch of right triangles or some picasso style art lines, but that would be going too far! When I see the board, it is usually the blue board from the chess program ChessBase with the white and black pieces. I suspect that for most modern day players, blindfold chess is a lot easier because of the endless hours we have all spent studying chess on computer screens."

[McGlashan]

'I picture Picasso style pieces on a board in outer space and always calculate at least 10 moves in advance' is obviously what non chess players want to hear.

[Rexas]

I've been working my way through Daniel King's "power play chess" youtube channel, I have to say the man's enthusiasm is contagious. He presents everything very well, in a way that someone as simple as me can understand, and is a fantastic communicator. Thoroughly recommend the guy, links right back to the op of this thread.

[theprawnidentity]

Well done to Tomsom for both finding the answer and not posting about it smugly

I had to the option of posting about it smugly?  Missed opportunity there!!!

Oddly, I'm pretty bad at chess, but seem to get these puzzles quite easily.

[Tal]

Nice story, this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2559333/Knight-road-Cambridge-University-chess-players-meet-match-homeless-man-regularly-beats-accepts-donations-beaten-players-arrested-begging.html

[Tal]

Click to see full-size image.

[TightEnd]

Competitive chess and world-ranked players will return to the Isle of Man in October when the PokerStars Isle of Man International Chess Tournament takes place in the Villa Marina in Douglas.

The top Grandmaster in the UK - Michael Adams - is scheduled to play, guaranteeing that the chess world's attention will be fixed on the event. Adams, once a World Championship runner-up, is currently among the world's top 20 players.

"It's good to see the Isle of Man returning to the international chess circuit and I'm looking forward to playing there for the first time," Adams said.

The PokerStars Isle of Man International Chess Tournament will take place from 4-12 October, 2014. PokerStars has supported Isle of Man chess for many years and has a history of sponsoring chess globally, noting similarities in the strategic thinking and skills demonstrated by poker players and chess players.

http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/corporate_blog/2014/pokerstars-isle-of-man-international-che-146483.shtml

[Tal]

Superb!

Chess in Western Europe really needs financial support and that's exactly the sort of brand that can result in big players coming to events (top players like GMs often their entry and expenses covered as a means to get them to local comps).

[Tal]

Nice little piece on next week's favourite, Levon Aronian:

http://en.chessbase.com/post/lawson-in-standpoint-armenian-exceptionalism



"Yes, sometimes I just think my position will win itself. But it is not so much over-confidence as that I become too emotional. This comes from my love of beating my opponent and my anticipation of that pleasure. But if I blunder away the game I always recover and am stronger for the next game. So it is not too much of a problem."

[Honeybadger]

Hi guys. My website www.stakesandladders.com is running a pool on the upcoming Candidates tournament. There are three levels of entry: £1, £5 and £25, so you can choose how much you wish to play for. Come and have a go, and see if you can predict how the Candidates will unfold better than everyone else. It'll give you a fun sweat and also encourage you to follow the tournament.

BTW, Tal himself helped me to design the pool questions. Thanks for that Simon. I'd wish you good luck too... but I'm going to win this one so you'll have to settle for second!

[rfgqqabc]

Levon Aronian is the guy we're on at 5/2 with a few firms right? 6/4 now? Nice bit of value.

I'm saving the Chessebase article for some late night reading, but the homeless man playing Chess caught my eye. Pretty scary its illegal to beg for food.

This also stood out; 'I've not seen him myself but I can imagine it - we are a city of innovation after all. Nothing surprises me in Cambridge.'

[Tal]

Saw this on John Saunders's Twitter (he's the long-time editor of British Chess Magazine):

[Tal]

A little home game of poker, organised by Lawrence Trent in October.



Who's that to his left?

Orange juice is a clue...

[Tal]

A preview of the Candidates Tournament for you, setting up the comp and the runners and riders:

http://en.chessbase.com/post/2014-candidates-players-event-and-schedules

Who's going to win, then?