Great chess quotes

[Wayne Komer]

Great Chess Quotes

March 21, 2020

Player Replicas

The world is in a Covid-19 pandemic. The term of the day is “social distancing” – keeping yourself at least 1.5 metres from anybody else.

World Chess has come up with an idea which I initially thought was a joke but turns out to be real. It is just another idea that they have had that is, I believe, bad marketing.

HOW DO YOU KEEP THE WORLD’S CHESS ELITE SAFE while they are taking part in the most important tournament in their careers in a country where all sports events are put on hold amid the coronavirus scare? You keep them isolated as much as possible.

WORLD CHESS, a media company and an official partner of FIDE, the chess governing body, developed an innovative way to supplement the event’s coverage without putting the players at risk: Ken and Barbie-like models of the players are prepared and will be available for photography and filming while the players can be safe during the event.

5-inch players’ replicas, wearing suits as ties as per FIDE regulations, sitting at the chess tables, can be photographed shaking opponents hands, while the real players will avoid doing that based on the recent health advisory.

“Unlike in boxing or tennis, in chess players have not been historically docile to pose for photos, especially after losing an important game,” explains Ilya MEREZNON, World Chess CEO, “Now, with the coronavirus and stress, they will probably avoid appearing in public. Having organized numerous tournaments and aware of this, World Chess will supplement the event’s coverage with photos of 5-inch replicas of the players, so the media and organizers can have more assets for the event’s coverage”

Images will be available for all media and chess fans alike to use with Creative Commons license.

The images are set to supplement the official coverage. FIDE’s official photographers and accredited media provide official images, which are available from the FIDE press office.

https://worldchess.com/news/players-...eing-in-public

[Hans Jung]

Once there is the slightest suggestion of combinational possibilities on the board, look for unusual moves. Apart from making your play creative and interesting, it will help you get better results.
Alexander Kotov. I first read this a long time ago and then I couldnt find the quote for the longest time. Then it resurfaced for me and I knew that I may have forgotten the exact words and the source but I have applied the principle in my most interesting games; and thats what really matters.

[Wayne Komer]

Great Chess Quotes

March 4, 2020

How many chess players does it take to change a lightbulb?

The World Champion enters a dark room. He sends for his team of seconds to fix the problem and wanders off to find food.

The World Champion’s team of elite GMs enters the dark room. They squabble for two weeks, before deciding if darkness is good enough for the Champion, it’s good enough for them.

An IM enters the room. He’s confident he can change the bulb but he can’t quite reach.

An expert enters the room. He’s spent a lot of money on lightbulbs but he’s never learned how to use them. He offers one to the GMs, who shrug and politely decline, stating they “prefer to discover their own lightbulbs”.

An amateur enters the room. It’s the middle of the day so he opens the curtains.

Tweet of Mr. Dodgy

https://twitter.com/ChessProblem

[Wayne Komer]

Great Chess Quotes

March 4, 2020

Chess in the time of plague

At the end of December 2019, the World Health Organization was alerted to several cases of pneumonia in China. The virus did not match any other known virus. In January, China confirmed COVID-19.

Since then, there have been quarantines and travel restrictions and cautions against personal contact to try to limit the spread of the virus.

This has prompted a tweet from Ian Rogers:

Given the world body FIDE's advice against shaking hands, chess may need to develop new protocols, e.g. a nod at the start of the game, and the old-fashioned knocking over the king for resignation. An arbiter polishing the pieces after each move (as in snooker) may be too much.

https://twitter.com/GMIanRogers

[Wayne Komer]

Great Chess Quotes

February 18, 2020

Swindling

From the introduction to the new book The Complete Chess Swindler by David Smerdon:

Chess is a cruel game. We all know that feeling when your position has gone awry and everything seems hopeless. You feel like resigning. But don’t give up! This is precisely the moment to switch to swindle mode.

Master the art of provoking errors and you will be able to turn the tables and escape with a draw – or sometimes even steal the full point!

Swindling is a skill that can be trained. In this book, David Smerdon shows how you can use tricks from psychology to marshal hidden resources and exploit your opponent’s biases.

In a lost position, your best practical chance often lies not in what the computer recommends, but in playing your opponent.

With an abundance of eye-popping examples and training exercises, Smerdon identifies the four best friends of every chess swindler: your opponent’s impatience, their hubris, their fear, and their need to stay in control.

You’ll also learn about such cunning swindling motifs as the Trojan Horse, the Decoy Trap, the Berserk Attack, and ‘Window-Ledging’.

So, come and join the Swindlers’ Club, become a great escape artist and dramatically improve your results. In this instructive and highly entertaining guide, Smerdon shows you how.

New in Chess, 2020, 368 pages

[Wayne Komer]

Great Chess Quotes

February 11, 2020

Lost, then Found

A recruit is being talked through his survival gear by his sergeant:

‘A knife, rations, map, chess set, compass, flares...’

“Wait a minute,” asks the recruit, “Why do I need a chess set?”

“If you are alone and need help, take out the chess set and play over an ending. Sooner or later someone will appear to tell you where you are going wrong.”

Geoff. Chandler on the EC Forum

https://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic...f6bd3b#p240476

[Wayne Komer]

Great Chess Quotes

February 10, 2020

Electronic Devices

The FIDE Laws of Chess:

11.3.2.1
During a game, a player is forbidden to have any electronic device not specifically approved by the arbiter in the playing venue.

However, the regulations of an event may allow such devices to be stored in a player’s bag, provided the device is completely switched off. This bag must be placed as agreed with the arbiter. Both players are forbidden to use this bag without permission of the arbiter.

_________

From ChessBase:

https://en.chessbase.com/post/adhiba...nal-teams-2020

At the 40th National (Indian) Team Open, a big shock in round three when GM Adhiban Baskaran was forfeited on board one for possessing an analogue watch after 16 moves against IM C R G Krishna.

It is clear that from the FIDE laws electronic devices are not allowed. How then was Adhiban given a loss when he was wearing an analog watch? A few years ago, when the rule 11.3.2.1 was implemented the arbiters all across the country were faced with several instances where they had to decipher an analog watch from an electronic one. Logically if a watch had batteries in it, it would become an electronic one. But it was not always easy to segregate the two. In order to make things less complex and avoid unnecessary appeals, AICF in its Central Council meeting came up with the clause that no watches are allowed. Although this rule was not specifically mentioned in the regulations of the National Team Championships 2020, it was discussed in the player's meeting before the start of the event.

Comments on ChessBase:

- A wrist watch can help players to notice when the game clock is not keeping time correctly without having to check on the game clocks of other players. It would be considerate of the players if an event in which players are not permitted to have wrist or other watches that there be large wall clocks that are checked before the event for accuracy.

- I think the main reason to ban them is that in a huge event, the arbiter is not going to review all the few hundreds players watches to see which ones are digital and which ones are not. And even sometimes is not obvious for a non-expert to see if a watch can transmit info or not.

By the way, is not an only-Indian thing. World Blitz&Rapid, among others, had this very same rule. However, I agree that the penalty for a first offence is too harsh.

__________

Now, the chess quote:

More Electronic Problems

"There was no mass walkout on my behalf when the chief arbiter at a congress a week ago suggested to me that my hearing aids should be electronically scanned "

I have raised the issue of hearing aids with ECF, so they are aware. I tend to take mine out at the start of the game and put them in their boxes, partly to show I'm removing them and also to tell the opponent not to whisper draw offers. (I don't expect them to shout either, but at least attract my attention first.) Things looking like hearing aids are an obvious way to receive messages. Of course my plan is dependent on having small hearing aids, and many players still whisper at me.

I do know a player who has an insulin pump, so he has to explain to opponents that it might go "beep" occasionally. Obviously, he can't switch that off. Luckily, everybody has just accepted this.

Kevin Thurlow in the EC Forum:

https://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic...aa3ece#p240460

_____________

Added later:

Carsten Hansen (tweet) -

I must admit I’m more than a little puzzled about this. Why is there a problem with analog watches?

In some tournaments you are forfeited if not on time for the start of the game but now apparently you can’t wear a watch to make sure you arrive on time?

[Hans Jung]

Im always in time trouble. But you cant change the man. A long time ago Maroczy told me I could be one of the best players in the world if not for time trouble. Yuri Averbakh said I'm always looking for the best move. Thats not good. I should just find a good move and play it - but I cant. ---- IM Geza Fuster --- Inside Chess 1988 #10

[Wayne Komer]

Great Chess Quotes

February 1, 2020

Brexit

Brexit – British exit – refers to the UK leaving the European Union formally on January 31, 2020. The division between Remainers and Leavers does not look as though it is going to be easy to heal.

Leonard Barden – The daily chess column in the Evening Standard will finally reach its end on Friday, 31, January 2020. The total run is 63 years, 7 months and 27 days without a day missed.

Now the chess quote:

Re: Leonard Barden's last Evening Standard column

Post by John Saunders » Fri Jan 31, 2020 3:30 pm

Brexit and Bardexit on the same day. It's all too much.



https://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic...240176#p240176

[Wayne Komer]

Great Chess Quotes

January 26, 2020

The Linares ’94 Effect

Linares 1994 is remembered for the outstanding victory of Anatoly Karpov over a star-studded field with a score of 11/13 and a performance rating of 2985. It is also remembered for a fifth-round touch-move controversy between Kasparov and Judit Polgar.

We had two conditions for an “ideal storm” of a tournament. Karpov was in top form and Kasparov was near his. Because of the pairings in this closed tournament, an opponent would meet Kasparov in one round and get beaten up and then, in the next, would have to meet Karpov.

So, in Round One, Kasparov savaged Bareev, and then, successively played against Illescas, Topalov, Ivanchuk, Polgar, Gelfand, Karpov himself, Shirov, Kamsky, Kramnik, Anand, Beliavsky and Lautier. Karpov played Lautier in the first and then Bareev and so on down the list in the last sentence.

Shirov and Kasparov shared second place with 8.5 points.

Every game in the tournament is given in the April 4 issue of Inside Chess, 1994.

After all that set up, the quote(s) from the English Chess Forum. Caruana won the Tata Steel 2020 Tournament ahead of Carlsen with the same conditions as in Linares. Caruana 10/13 and Carlsen 8/13.

Richard Bates - It might be worth pointing out that in this tournament Caruana is potentially benefitting from the “Linares ‘93” effect - ie. meeting all but one of his opponents directly after they have faced the World Champion.

Jonathan Rogers – Linares 94?

Richard Bates – Yep, that’s the one

https://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic...0494&start=120

[Wayne Komer]

Great Chess Quotes

January 11, 2020

From an advertisement in Chess Life, April 1969:

Immediate Shipment!

Bobby Fischer’s

My 60 Memorable Games

After a ten-year wait, Fischer’s second published collection of his games

With introductions to the games by U.S. Champion Larry Evans

Penetrating, in-depth annotations by Fischer of his most important and representative games to date. Fascinating discussions and insights into his play and that of his opponents by the most exciting chess genius of our time.

Whatever one thinks of Fischer’s personality, attitude and relationship with others in the chess world, there is no doubt that he is the most exciting player in the world today. He has won the last five tournaments which he completed, and he has not finished lower than second in any of his fourteen events during the past six years. His exploits in international competition, his unprecedented record of eight straight U.S. Championships, his brilliancies of tactical invention, and his contributions to opening theory – all have won him a high place in chess history. His very presence in a tournament generates excitement.

In this book, Bobby analyzes his most important and representative games, showing the strategic considerations, the tactics - and sometimes the blunders – that occur during the pressure of tournament play. He assesses his opponents’ thinking as well, Each game has, in addition to Fischer’s own annotations, an analytical introduction by the present U.S. Champion, Larry Evans. Index of openings, index of opponents, and Bobby Fischer’s tournament and match record.

Be among the first to own this remarkable book

List Price, $ 6.95 Members, $6.25

U.S. Chess Federation 479 Broadway, Newburgh, N. Y. 12550

All prices in U.S. Dollars! Our Canadian friends should add 10% to cover currency exchange differential.

[Wayne Komer]

Great Chess Quotes

January 2, 2020

Withdrawal from Chess

From New In Chess:

A Mystery

With some sadness, I shall not be renewing my subscription this time. The reason lies with me, not with the magazine (which continues to be very high quality). About five years ago, and quite inexplicably, my enthusiasm for chess simply disappeared, as if a light switch had been turned off in my mind. I no longer had any interest in playing, and I very rarely read my chess books and magazines. My efforts to re-ignite my former feelings for the game have failed.

It is all a mystery to me. I have loved chess since my school days. In the first chess magazine I ever owned, I remember being gripped by reports of the tense hostilities in the Kortchnoi-Petrosian Candidates match in 1977. My first contact with New In Chess was like striking gold. I received a sample copy, which turned out to be the issue with Tony Miles’s amazing account of his experiences at the Tilburg tournament in 1985. What a fabulous introduction to your magazine! Since then I have acquired and enjoyed almost a complete run from the very start.

After more than three decades therefore, it is time to say Goodbye and more importantly – Thank You to everyone at New In Chess, past and present for so many years of stimulating reading.

Andrew Farthing
Brockhill Village, Norton, Worcester, UK

From the Letters (Your Move) section of New In Chess,
2019#8, page 12


See also:

(quote #55)
https://forum.chesstalk.com/forum/ch...s-quotes/page4

https://forum.chesstalk.com/forum/ch...ent-from-chess

[Wayne Komer]

Great Chess Quotes

January 1, 2020

From the English Chess Forum:

Every Christmas, Private Eye publishes a double-page of spoof adverts for things you never knew you needed. Some of them are actually better than the things you see in magazines in the run up to Christmas... (For example, this time they have a "trollinav", which consults your shopping list and leads you to the right places in the supermarket!)

However, back on track, we have "The Multifaith Chess Set", which comes with all the standard pieces, except it has one Bishop, one Iman, one Rabbi and one Richard Dawkins. "Now you can be a truly diverse woke grandmaster of the ancient game!"

Kevin Thurlow, Dec. 30, 2019

https://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic...c351aa#p239066

[Wayne Komer]

Great Chess Quotes

December 27, 2019

Crying after Losing

The commentators at the World Rapid in Moscow in December of 2019 are Peter Leko, Almira Skripchenko and Evgenyi Miroshnichenko.

During the commentary of the seventh round, Almira says that when she went to the washroom, one of the girls there had lost her game and was crying.

It reminded her of herself. She asked Peter if that ever happened to him.

Peter says that in his first tournament, as an underrated player, a nine-year old against category 2 and category 3 players, he lost all of his games and cried big time. He asked himself, “Will I ever be a chessplayer?” Well, you know the answer.

Almira switched over to Miro at the demonstration board and hit him with the same question about crying after a loss.

Miro: That is an unexpected question. I still do, that is basically why I stopped playing chess!

[Wayne Komer]

Great Chess Quotes

December 16, 2019

Jeopardy and Chess

From the English Chess Forum:

Joseph Conion - In a discussion on chess and its history with one of my distinguished humanities colleagues I was told to my surprise that the English word 'Jeopardy' comes originally from chess.

The origin is from French 'Jeu parti' - or split game, even game - being the old-fashioned (Pre-1500) expression for a chess problem, i.e. a position where the game is in the balance.

And indeed the OED entry confirms this.

https://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic...237497#p237497