Only Chess
27 Dec 05
11 Jan 06
Originally posted by RahimKOh, sorry, you are right. I am Alexei Shirov, and would have a rating of 3200 here if it wasn't for the fact I took such a short time over my moves.
You are mistaken SIR! Geez 🙂
This is mainly because I am posting on the forums all the time about how little time I spend on my moves.
A paradox, no?
11 Jan 06
Originally posted by RahimKYes me too, although I like playing here all my ambitions (limited unfortunately) lie in otb chess, I have been toying with dropping the databases and getting software to do post game analysis. This way I think I will learn more as without the databses I will make more errors (probably) but will remember better when they have cost me a game.
For me, it's all about my OTB play. Analyses board and using an actual board is harmful to OTB play but if you want to get good on here you gotta use it, since people who use it would have an advantage over you.
As for db use, the way i think of it is, it helps me learn my openings better for OTB play.
11 Jan 06
Originally posted by dottewellSo now you want to be Shirov? Haha. Seriously though,
Oh, sorry, you are right. I am Alexei Shirov, and would have a rating of 3200 here if it wasn't for the fact I took such a short time over my moves.
This is mainly because I am posting on the forums all the time about how little time I spend on my moves.
A paradox, no?
Shirov is amazing to watch during tournaments. He was pacing up and down the rows during his games after each move of his. He was always looking up at the ceiling, calculating and rarely looked at the board.
11 Jan 06
Originally posted by RahimKFYI....
Shirov is amazing to watch during tournaments. He was pacing up and down the rows during his games after each move of his. He was always looking up at the ceiling, calculating and rarely looked at the board.[/b]
I read this in a report from a Harvard paper on chess players....
.....reports of very strong blindfold players reveal that the changing positions of the pieces….are rarely visualized in any very realistic or concrete way. They do not contain pieces that actually resemble a (Knight) or (Rook), or squares….. The representations are much more abstract and are often described in terms of the FUNCTIONS of the pieces, like line of force. …the stronger the blindfold player, the more abstract. They report “scanning” positions….taking in quadrants….for ….conclusions….
I guess the that explains why you often see GM's staring at the wall during their games.
11 Jan 06
Ya, our club players had a discussion about playing without a board and the quadrant stuff. I also read that a new breed of chess players were born from russia and around there including shirov and other. They would stare off into space and calculate instead of looking at the board. I haven't seen any GM's plays besides Shirov, Ivanchuk and some other who came to the open and mostly the russians and indian's would be staring into space calculating or would have their eyes closes. It was pretty neat to watch. I also close my eyes sometimes to calculate but these guys did it for everymove besides the opening.
12 Jan 06
Originally posted by BlueEyedRookFor all those who participated in this (dubious?!) survey, thank you. I officially closed it today. For results go to:
I got into an interesting debate about online chess cheating the other day. The key issue was whether a person could consult an opening book while playing a game. I was shocked how people had so many different opinions on the issue and cheating in general.
On that note, I wanted to conduct a brief survey on what type of behaviors people think are "cheating."
http://blueeyedrook.blogspot.com/
http://blueeyedrook.blogspot.com/2005/12/cheating-what-is-it.html
12 Jan 06
Originally posted by stevetoddYou would be wise to play without anything Stevetodd and then study your games in .pgn. See why you lose and why you won. Then - one day - when you have an 1800 rating on RHP and you have used nothing to get there, you will be a real player! Imagine someone using only what they know and scoring a 1800 on RHP. I think that is a very accurate prediction of their OTB play as well in any tournament OTB setting.
Yes me too, although I like playing here all my ambitions (limited unfortunately) lie in otb chess, I have been toying with dropping the databases and getting software to do post game analysis. This way I think I will learn more as without the databses I will make more errors (probably) but will remember better when they have cost me a game.
12 Jan 06
1 edit
As a result of our discussions, I looked at my CM9000 and how databases really work last night. I find that the identification of openings and defenses in the EC0 is pretty invaluable. All along I was playing the Sicilian defense/Grandprix Attack and didn't even realize it. I think a database can be very useful if you feed your completed games into the program and really identify your repertroire - the one you realize you don't have. So far I've discovered I often play the Guioco PIano (which I already knew), Sicilian Defense/Grandprix Attack, King's Gambit, etc... Why can't you guys just use the database to research your games in this fashion? Then, just compare your completed games and see why you lost if you did. I think research of this type is beneficial.
12 Jan 06
Originally posted by powershakerThanks for your "advice". I run all my completed games, both on CC, timed sites and OTB through my Fritz for analysis and it is beneficial primarily to see where and when I missed tactical opportunities. If you've been playing openings without even knowing what they are, there's no possible way you could be adequately understanding them. That's up to you; all the "expert" 1500's here say don't worry anything about openings anyway. For me, I'll learn the openings, the motifs in each, the typical pawn structures that develop from them, etc. etc. etc. You can play an opening without study and never realize what you are doing wrong. But bully for you if it makes you feel like a GM when you lose games because you botch the openings.
As a result of our discussions, I looked at my CM9000 and how databases really work last night. I find that the identification of openings and defenses in the EC0 is pretty invaluable. All along I was playing the Sicilian defense/Grandprix Attack and didn't even realize it. I think a database can be very useful if you feed your completed games into th ...[text shortened]... pleted games and see why you lost if you did. I think research of this type is beneficial.
12 Jan 06
Originally posted by powershakerWell,if it can be a consolation I beat you without a database.
You would be wise to play without anything Stevetodd and then study your games in .pgn. See why you lose and why you won. Then - one day - when you have an 1800 rating on RHP and you have used nothing to get there, you will be a real player! Imagine someone using only what they know and scoring a 1800 on RHP. I think that is a very accurate prediction of their OTB play as well in any tournament OTB setting.
Does this make me a "real player"?
Your beliefs of what make or not make someone a "real" player are ridiculous.
13 Jan 06
Originally posted by powershakerAnd what if someone on the site plays correspondence chess instead of OTB? I know there are some users out there who use this site to test ideas for rated correspondence matches. Should they stop using databases on this site?
You would be wise to play without anything Stevetodd and then study your games in .pgn. See why you lose and why you won. Then - one day - when you have an 1800 rating on RHP and you have used nothing to get there, you will be a real player! Imagine someone using only what they know and scoring a 1800 on RHP. I think that is a very accurate prediction of their OTB play as well in any tournament OTB setting.
13 Jan 06
1 edit
Originally posted by powershakerPlease do not use me to insult the players on this site by inferring they are not real players. Get real yourself, you are on a site that allows databases, the fact that I am thinking of dropping them is all to do with my otb game, nothing to do with this site which is a correspondence site.
You would be wise to play without anything Stevetodd and then study your games in .pgn. See why you lose and why you won. Then - one day - when you have an 1800 rating on RHP and you have used nothing to get there, you will be a real player! Imagine someone using only what they know and scoring a 1800 on RHP. I think that is a very accurate prediction of their OTB play as well in any tournament OTB setting.