Chess

[Federberg]

wow.. so the final rounds, Sindarov has:

• black against Fabi
• white against Nakamura
• black against Giri

If he gets to face Gukesh he would have earned it and then some!

 

[Federberg]

It's over. Sindarov draws with Giri with the black pieces in the penultimate round. A clear two points ahead.

Looking forward to Sindarov taking on Gukesh. Well done young fella!

 

[DarthFed]

Hopefully Gukesh gets his form back and is able to at least make it interesting. Either way it should be exciting given their playing styles, will be a lot of fire on the board!

All in all that was one disappointing tournament. I’d give the following grades:

Sindarov: A+ no explanation needed

Giri: A- and close to an A. Giri played really well after the opening loss and had chances in a couple other games, really blowing a good opportunity vs Wei in particular. But still, 4 wins and +3 is good and at the start of the tournament I figured one winner at +4 or 2 players tied at +3. So normally he’d have been in serious contention, you just don’t expect even +5 let alone +6

Caruana: C- he played pretty piss poor after a nice opening win against Naka. Definitely wouldn’t peg him to lose 3 games.

Wei: C- this may be harsh since he finished with an even score and coming in figured to be 4th or 5th best odds, but his play was rather uninspiring and his only wins were on the bottom feeding Esipenko. It felt like he wasn’t even close to winning any other games and could have easily lost another couple.

Nakamura : D and this is close to an F. Only win was against Caruana who he lost to right out of the gates. He just seemed unprepared and his play lacked any aggression aside from his kamikaze game vs Sindarov. I seriously question how motivated he is to ever be WC. Or maybe he just can’t handle pressure in candidate tournaments.

Pragg: D After starting with a nice win over Giri he didn’t win anymore games and went -3 the rest of the way. He got rolled up easily by Sindarov in both games as soon as he was out of book. Didn’t even really put much pressure on the weaker players either.

Bluebaum: B- I think -2 was realistically as good as he could expect. He took no risks and didn’t win a single game, but at least was solid enough to not lose a ton of games like Esipenko.l did.

Esipenko: C I expected him to take last and he didn’t disappoint, finishing at -5 and 1.5 points worse than the next 2 players. Interestingly enough the only truly good position I remember him having was as black against Sindarov in round 1 and he then coughed that up and got rolled.

 

[DarthFed]

Erdogmus has now hit 2700 as a 14 year old, insanity! It was going to happen soon anyways, but a nice gift to get a 6 game match against Topalov who is closer to 2500 strength than 2717. If you put Oro or any upcoming 2500+ player against Topalov they’d gain a ton of points too even if they didn’t win by as lofty a score.

The rating system is really flawed and I feel like they should start deducting points from old players that barely if ever play. Could even just be a matter of “players must have 10+ FIDE games a year or they lose 50 points”

 

[Federberg]

Erdogmus has now hit 2700 as a 14 year old, insanity! It was going to happen soon anyways, but a nice gift to get a 6 game match against Topalov who is closer to 2500 strength than 2717. If you put Oro or any upcoming 2500+ player against Topalov they’d gain a ton of points too even if they didn’t win by as lofty a score.

The rating system is really flawed and I feel like they should start deducting points from old players that barely if ever play. Could even just be a matter of “players must have 10+ FIDE games a year or they lose 50 points”

I completely agree. It's never made sense to me that legacy ratings just stay there. Doesn't exist in any other sport

 

[britbox]

I've just started playing this. Any tips for a noob? Don't know any openings etc. Have joined chess.com - are the lessons worthwhile on there?

 

[Federberg]

I've just started playing this. Any tips for a noob? Don't know any openings etc. Have joined chess.com - are the lessons worthwhile on there?

the lessons are decent, but I think the best thing on there fore a newbie is the tactics trainer. It's great fun, and it should help with pattern recognition

 

[DarthFed]

I've just started playing this. Any tips for a noob? Don't know any openings etc. Have joined chess.com - are the lessons worthwhile on there?

I think the lessons are solid but I’d recommend focusing more on general strategies/principles at first and then go through as many opening lessons as you can.

I also agree with @Federberg that tactical puzzles are a great tool as well and are fun. So it’d be good to mix up between lessons, tactics and playing either people on chess.com or some of the lower rated bots. And the other important thing is to try and not get too addicted to the game lol.

Let me know if you ever want to play, I’m on there as SpartanKing85 I have my chat disabled so I don’t get another username banned but I can chat via messages if you add me as a friend

 

[Federberg]

I think the lessons are solid but definitely focus more on general strategies/principles and then go through as many opening lessons as you can.

I also agree with @Federberg that tactical puzzles are a great tool as well and are fun. So it’d be good to mix up between lessons, tactics and playing either people on chess.com or some of the lower rated bots. And the other important thing is to try and not get too addicted to the game lol.

Let me know if you ever want to play, I’m on there as SpartanKing85 I have my chat disabled so I don’t get another username banned but I can chat via messages if you add me as a friend

at some point I'll re-subscribe. I actually miss that tactics trainer. But life's got me focusing on too many things, so I wouldn't get much value right now

 

[DarthFed]

at some point I'll re-subscribe. I actually miss that tactics trainer. But life's got me focusing on too many things, so I wouldn't get much value right now

Even if you don’t have a membership I think you still get 3 puzzles a day on there…I know it’s not much but still

 

[DarthFed]

Has anyone watched the recent Netflix documentaries on the Carlsen-Niemann cheating scandal and Queen of Chess on Judit Polgar?

The Carlsen-Niemann one was pretty good. It’s definitely entertaining. Was funny watching that one with the wife. Upon seeing Niemann explode when he loses she’s like “that is you when you lose” lol. She was definitely not a fan of Hans overall and it’s hard to be. I don’t mind the villain in sports/games but man he is fucking annoying and yes, not trustworthy at all.

The Judit Polgar one was disappointing. Should have been a lot longer and it focused too much on Kasparov. Sure it was cool from a story perspective to show how she finally beat him, but that was a rapid game and he had kicked the crap out of her like 10+ times in mostly classical games. They could have done so much more and likely could have interviewed a lot more players of that time.

 

[Federberg]

Has anyone watched the recent Netflix documentaries on the Carlsen-Niemann cheating scandal and Queen of Chess on Judit Polgar?

The Carlsen-Niemann one was pretty good. It’s definitely entertaining. Was funny watching that one with the wife. Upon seeing Niemann explode when he loses she’s like “that is you when you lose” lol. She was definitely not a fan of Hans overall and it’s hard to be. I don’t mind the villain in sports/games but man he is fucking annoying and yes, not trustworthy at all.

The Judit Polgar one was disappointing. Should have been a lot longer and it focused too much on Kasparov. Sure it was cool from a story perspective to show how she finally beat him, but that was a rapid game and he had kicked the crap out of her like 10+ times in mostly classical games. They could have done so much more and likely could have interviewed a lot more players of that time.

haven't watched either. I was told that the Niemann one was also disappointing because they cut out a lot of important context. I was more interested in the Judit one, but now you've told me what it's like I'm less so. Pity!

 

[DarthFed]

While we are on the subject of the cheating scandal heard round the world, I will say I’m pretty shocked how little there is in place to prevent cheating at smaller amateur tournaments these days.

I have now played in 2 FIDE tournaments; one this past December and the other this last weekend. The only difference between now and 15 years ago when I was playing tournaments is that they tell you to turn your cell phones off and put them in a bin next to the board. And note that they just “tell you”. There are no searches or any kind of detector, and to me, even at a small FIDE tournament, I am surprised by that.

Part of the reason I bring it up is that for the first time playing any OTB chess I think the guy I lost to may have been cheating. I know that will come off as me being a sore loser/ egotistical, and I am both of those things, but that is internal. I am not the “he has to be cheating if he beats me”, I’m more of the “I should not lose to this motherfucker, I suck” type when I lose.

He came up with a move that I simply do not think was human, just insanely deep and it was the best move, left two of his pieces hanging, and yet had different follow ups for 5 fairly reasonable moves I could reply with, all of which left him with a much better position. I spent about half an hour calculating the shit out of the board but didn’t find the best defense, and it wouldn’t have mattered. He also then quickly found a couple other crazy tactics to finish off the game shortly after. It’s of course possible that he is just that good. He’s a 2300+ USCF and 2175 FIDE. I would put my “true strength” right now at close to 2400 USCF and 2300 FIDE but that’s also if I play a lot more tournaments and get into top form which is not easy after 14 years of not playing OTB. So even with my suspicion I have to recognize the fact that he was likely a favorite over me, especially with the white pieces, just due to experience at this point

I went 4-1 at this tourney, kind of happy I rebounded pretty well the last game as this was game #4. I also went 4-1 at the last one in December. And in that one I lost to a woman rated 2085! She found a couple good tactics I missed and played a really good game including in time trouble. I took that L fine, no suspicion, but this felt different. The game he played, in particular that move, is way beyond what I would expect from that level.

Anyways I gained 20 rating points and am now 42 points away from the National Master title (2200 USCF) which would allow me to play in the big titled tournaments on chess.com. That’s the main goal for coming back to these OTB tournaments as a 41 year old, which is ancient at these amateur tournaments. There were probably 3 or 4 people older than me out of 150+ with most being kids or guys in their 20’s.

 

[Kieran]

While we are on the subject of the cheating scandal heard round the world, I will say I’m pretty shocked how little there is in place to prevent cheating at smaller amateur tournaments these days.

I have now played in 2 FIDE tournaments; one this past December and the other this last weekend. The only difference between now and 15 years ago when I was playing tournaments is that they tell you to turn your cell phones off and put them in a bin next to the board. And note that they just “tell you”. There are no searches or any kind of detector, and to me, even at a small FIDE tournament, I am surprised by that.

Part of the reason I bring it up is that for the first time playing any OTB chess I think the guy I lost to may have been cheating. I know that will come off as me being a sore loser/ egotistical, and I am both of those things, but that is internal. I am not the “he has to be cheating if he beats me”, I’m more of the “I should not lose to this motherfucker, I suck” type when I lose.

He came up with a move that I simply do not think was human, just insanely deep and it was the best move, left two of his pieces hanging, and yet had different follow ups for 5 fairly reasonable moves I could reply with, all of which left him with a much better position. I spent about half an hour calculating the shit out of the board but didn’t find the best defense, and it wouldn’t have mattered. He also then quickly found a couple other crazy tactics to finish off the game shortly after. It’s of course possible that he is just that good. He’s a 2300+ USCF and 2175 FIDE. I would put my “true strength” right now at close to 2400 USCF and 2300 FIDE but that’s also if I play a lot more tournaments and get into top form which is not easy after 14 years of not playing OTB. So even with my suspicion I have to recognize the fact that he was likely a favorite over me, especially with the white pieces, just due to experience at this point

I went 4-1 at this tourney, kind of happy I rebounded pretty well the last game as this was game #4. I also went 4-1 at the last one in December. And in that one I lost to a woman rated 2085! She found a couple good tactics I missed and played a really good game including in time trouble. I took that L fine, no suspicion, but this felt different. The game he played, in particular that move, is way beyond what I would expect from that level.

Anyways I gained 20 rating points and am now 42 points away from the National Master title (2200 USCF) which would allow me to play in the big titled tournaments on chess.com. That’s the main goal for coming back to these OTB tournaments as a 41 year old, which is ancient at these amateur tournaments. There were probably 3 or 4 people older than me out of 150+ with most being kids or guys in their 20’s.

How do they cheat over the board? This is kind of Hans territory, isn’t it? I remember reading that - like your opponent - Hans not only made unlikely moves but even more implausibly, he followed them up perfectly…

 

[DarthFed]

How do they cheat over the board? This is kind of Hans territory, isn’t it? I remember reading that - like your opponent - Hans not only made unlikely moves but even more implausibly, he followed them up perfectly…

It’s way different than Hans territory as there are detectors and other preventative measures at top level tournaments. For Hans to cheat now, he either has outside help which now is tougher and tougher to do, or some device that is getting around all detectors. I highly doubt he would try the easiest method…go to the bathroom and take out your phone and analyze your current position with a program.

And that “easiest method” could have been done by anyone at this tournament. Like I said, they only tell you to put your phone in a bin, they don’t go up to you and search your pockets. And most players I’ve played against do not put their phone in the bin including this guy. Now a lot of them are staying at the hotel and likely have it in their rooms, but how would I know if they have it in their pocket? Heck, I could in theory have a 2nd phone in my pocket at these events and get away with it.

I did see the player in question go into a stall in the bathroom during a different round when urinals were available…I’m just going to say most people ain’t taking a shit during a game and potentially losing 10 mins of their clock. Anyways, there is no proof of course but I will say even as someone who likes to get revenge, I am not playing in a tournament that that player is at again.

 

[Kieran]

It’s way different than Hans territory as there are detectors and other preventative measures at top level tournaments. For Hans to cheat now, he either has outside help which now is tougher and tougher to do, or some device that is getting around all detectors. I highly doubt he would try the easiest method…go to the bathroom and take out your phone and analyze your current position with a program.

And that “easiest method” could have been done by anyone at this tournament. Like I said, they only tell you to put your phone in a bin, they don’t go up to you and search your pockets. And most players I’ve played against do not put their phone in the bin including this guy. Now a lot of them are staying at the hotel and likely have it in their rooms, but how would I know if they have it in their pocket? Heck, I could in theory have a 2nd phone in my pocket at these events and get away with it.

I did see the player in question go into a stall in the bathroom during a different round when urinals were available…I’m just going to say most people ain’t taking a shit during a game and potentially losing 10 mins of their clock. Anyways, there is no proof of course but I will say even as someone who likes to get revenge, I am not playing in a tournament that that player is at again.

Unfortunately it all adds up, it’s too inviting for some people to hustle their way through with very little chance of being caught. Was there no officials that you could unofficially point this out to, without creating a fuss? This chap is clearly behaving suspiciously..