Any chess players on lit?

[Byron In Exile]

My buddy used to play speed chess for money against those hustlers in Washington Square, always losing of course. He called it "chess lessons".

I would move, and he would move immediately. Like it was nothing.

 

[Byron In Exile]

A two move game is what, 3 minutes thought, tops?

That game never actually happens.

It's just a possibility.

 

[Byron In Exile]

"Shortest possible Chess game."

 

[Byron In Exile]

But it makes it fun when you play someone in chess, you're black, and you say, "bet you $100k I can win if you let me make your first two moves..."

Jackpot.

 

[VaticanAssassin]

The 4 move check mate happens often...

But you have to assume anyone moving their queen out so early (Q to H5) is either retarded are trying for this.

http://chessaleeinlondon.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/4-move-checkmate.jpg

 

[harry johnson]

I had...

a correspondence game last over a year (we each had 5 days per move) that ended in a draw ...

In tournament play, I won a game that was 6 hrs long - 5 minute break, then another 6 hour game that I won but afterwards had a headache so bad I wanted to throw up.....by round 6, the final round, I had a chance to win my section but blundered horribly and lost in 45 minutes...

 

[Byron In Exile]

a correspondence game last over a year (we each had 5 days per move) that ended in a draw ...

In tournament play, I won a game that was 6 hrs long - 5 minute break, then another 6 hour game that I won but afterwards had a headache so bad I wanted to throw up.....by round 6, the final round, I had a chance to win my section but blundered horribly and lost in 45 minutes...

Correspondence games give you too much time to look stuff up.

Someone has to deviate from book to make it a game.

Who flinches first?

 

[strapon_tales]

Rank amateur, but I do enjoy a game.

 

[cherylashi26]

Yeah, I'm awesome. What do the horsies do again?

 

[KRCummings]

I play a mean game of Yahtzee.

 

[Loring2]

a correspondence game last over a year (we each had 5 days per move) that ended in a draw ...

In tournament play, I won a game that was 6 hrs long - 5 minute break, then another 6 hour game that I won but afterwards had a headache so bad I wanted to throw up.....by round 6, the final round, I had a chance to win my section but blundered horribly and lost in 45 minutes...

I know what you're talking about but I've never experienced anything as tough as you describe. Stamina and concentration are as important as what I call chess intellect. Sometimes lesser players win matches with it, stamina that is. I've been beaten by lesser players often.

I have a 1708 rating and was wiped out recently by a 1400. It happens.

 

[harry johnson]

...

Byron - absolutely correct. It is one of the cool things about correspondence chess - you are allowed to look stuff up - my chess library has about 600 books and at some point you leave the book and you're on your own - always the moment of truth - but alas, such a beautiful game---

Loring2 - 1700+ is strong indeed.... I know what you mean about losing to lower rated players - I concentrate so much better when playing up - when playing down - I am far too nonchalant and play too quickly. I call it the move then think method

 

[harry johnson]

Krc -

Yahtzee is also a beautiful game...as is stratego, parchesi (sp), and monopoly...

Checkers has been determined to be a dead draw with best play however...still a good game tho..

 

[doctor_insanus]

I haven't played for a while, but I used to a decent player. Never competed in a tournament, but I played against people who did. I could give them a good game, and even win a few here and there. I played a few games against casual players, and usually dominated. Overall... better than the average schlub, but not enough playtime to really be considered "good."

 

[harry johnson]

Dr. Insanus : you express the thoughts all of us players share...in my opinion, only the super GMs, Fide rated 2700+, truly understand the game...

 

[harry johnson]

Yeah, I'm awesome. What do the horsies do again?

Are you close to Wiijk aan Zee? One of the strongest super GM tourneys in the world!!!!

 

[Byron In Exile]

Byron - absolutely correct. It is one of the cool things about correspondence chess - you are allowed to look stuff up - my chess library has about 600 books and at some point you leave the book and you're on your own - always the moment of truth - but alas, such a beautiful game---

Loring2 - 1700+ is strong indeed.... I know what you mean about losing to lower rated players - I concentrate so much better when playing up - when playing down - I am far too nonchalant and play too quickly. I call it the move then think method

But, Harry, doesn't it seem to get harder all the time to deviate from the book?

It's not really a game until you step off book.

But this game has been studied and analyzed and played so much... there are so few paths that haven't been explored.

 

[harry johnson]

Byron - indeed. Some opening variations in lines of the Ruy Lopez, as example, are 25+ deep. That said, there are more possibilities in a 40 move game than there are atoms in the universe. The game at the highest levels requires incredible memory as well as analytical skills. Add to that time pressure which only encourages mistakes and prevents best play.

Bobby Fischer's solution was to create Fischer Random chess which mixes the positions of the first and eighth rank major pieces as he thought conventional chess was dead. I have so much more to say on this topic and in time we will have a good conversation as I sense you have thoughts as well...

 

[harry johnson]

I just lost 5 games of blitz chess and in every game I had a better position - talk about frustrating...

 

[butters]

i play occasionally and really enjoy it.

 

[harry johnson]

London hosts some major GM tournaments. Very active club chess scene in the UK.

On a sad note GM Svetozar Gligoric, 89, passed away in Serbia on this past Tuesday.

 

[goodgurlgetsbad]

I love playing chess

 

[trysail]

Any chess players on lit?

Of course. I wasted four years of what could otherwise have been a perfectly good college education playing chess. I was a member of the USCF for a number of years.

It's where I became acquainted with the Nimzo-Indian, the Ruy Lopez, etc., etc.

We wrestled and battled for hours at ye olde fraternity house. It always hurt to lose; it could be taken that one wasn't up to intellectual snuff.

 

[harry johnson]

Trysail - it's the GREATEST waste of time imaginable. Regardless of skill level. Speaking of the nimzo-Indian - I just got Sokolov's excellent book on the 4.e3 Nimzo... I am not a big 1.d4 player as white but occasionally play it..

 

[harry johnson]

Goodgirl - I will be happy to play you anytime