User Profile: brankat

brankat
Member since Oct-10-05 · Last seen May-23-13

Branko Katic. Born and raised in former Yugoslavia, I have been living in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, for the last 30 years. Used to play chess actively when I was a teenager, and was awarded a Candidate Master title in 1970.
I "retired" a year later, mostly due to University studies and never participated in tournaments again. Instead I got a degree in History and Social Anthropology, which didn't do me much good :-)
I had neither played chess, nor followed chess events for more than 30 years. Until, by chance, I discovered this great site: Chessgames.com in 2005.
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A fellow CG.com member, and a friend, WILSON HU User: CHESSMORON, organized a double round-robin tourney: <The MASTERS vs. the MACHINES>, February - April, 2007. It was my privilege and an honour to be on the Masters team with FIDE Master ERIC SCHILLER Eric Schiller and the USCF Master BILL WALL Bill Wall!
The link to the games: CG.com Masters vs. Machines Invitational (2007)
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<A few of my favourite Chess related quotes>:
"If Acoustics was a science that informed the world about sounds, then Music was an art that revealed the beauty of that science; if Logic was a science that revealed the laws of Thought, then Chess, in the form of artistic images, was an art that illuminated the logical side of thought."
<M.M.Botvinnik>
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"It is too beautiful to spend your life upon. Many times have I managed to break with Chess, yet I have always fallen in love with it again. I was too captivated by the conflict between ideas and opinions, attack and defence, life and death."
<Emanuel Lasker>
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"The chess player who has lost his game - who will describe him? I have seen him unable to move. The public was long gone, the lights were out, and still he sat rigidly in his chair staring at the emptied board, because he had overlooked Bg2. A case of complete petrification, with bystanders whispering and tiptoeing by.
I have heard him begging for punishment in blasphemous language. He had forgotten Nh5, and in his dismay he called down annihilation upon himself. Derisively, he rejected our words of solace, demanding insults and chastisements.
Standing afar and horror-stricken, I have witnessed him swearing in orgiastic fury to rip off his genitals, because he had played Qf6 instead of Qb6."
<Jan Hein Donner>
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The one I personally subscribe to:
"Of my 57 years, I’ve applied at least 30 to forgetting most of what I've learned or read, and since I succeeded in this I have acquired a certain ease and cheer which I should never again like to be without.
If need be, I can increase my skill in chess, if need be I can do that of which I have no idea present.
I have stored little in my memory, but I can apply that little, and it is of good use in many and varied emergencies. I keep it in order, but resist every attempt to increase its dead weight."
<Dr.Emanuel Lasker>
"Aspirin can prevent pregnancy. All a woman has to do is place an aspirin between her knees and not let it go."
<ThFocus>
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CHESS related links I often use:
Game Collection: 170 Major Chess Tournaments 1882-2007 compiled by User: RonB52734
http://chesstempo.com/game-database... Games DATABASE
http://www.edochess.ca/batgirl/arch... Sarah's Chess JOURNAL
Nasruddin Hodja's Game Collections GAMES COLLECTIONS compiled by User: nasruddin hodja
Game Collection: Nf5 sac against the kingside castled fianchetto
http://www.xs4all.nl/~timkr/records... RECORDS games
http://www.chessville.com/Quotes/mi... Chessville-QUOTES
http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/... CHESS NOTES by Edward Winter
Petrosian-Spassky World Championship Rematch (1969) All WCC Matches
http://www.endgame.nl/match.htm HISTORY of Chess Matches from R.Lopez to V.Kramnik
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... P.Morphy's notes: De La BOURDONNAIS-A.MCDONNELL
http://www.chessbase.com/puzzle/puz... The famous PLASKETT PUZZLE - Analysis
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PHOTO ALBUMS Links:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Caissa1... ALEKHINE FAMILY PHOTOS
http://picasaweb.google.com/Caissa1... S.RESHEVSKY - "The WUNDERKID" - PHOTOS
http://picasaweb.google.com/Caissa1... RUSSIAN MASTERS' PHOTOS, early 20th Century
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail... S.GLIGORIC 85th Birthday Celebration
http://www.chesspro.ru/_events/2011... Tribute to Dr.M.Vidmar (in Russian)
http://www.ara.org.ar/chs/ajedrez/p... Photos of all Teams from 1939 Chess Olympiad, Argentina
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MISC:
http://www.chessintranslation.com/2... S.GLIGORIC Interview: Analyzing by the riverside with Bobby Fischer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emanue... Dr.Emanuel LASKER Biography
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svetoz... S.GLIGORIC Biography
http://www.tri.org.au/chess/ Chess on Stamps.
http://www.kenilworthchessclub.org/... B.Fischer-F.Castro, Havana, 1966 ________________________________________________-
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REMINDERS:
User: wordfunph April-24 :-)
SwitchingQuylthulg chessforum: How to link to a specific post!
User: themadhair Carl Sagan on Voyager I
Complete List of BOOKS about <J.R.CAPABLANCA> and <A.A.ALEKHINE>, page 230, this Forum.
Links to <The BEATLES> videos, page 266, this Forum.
Link to <PETER, PAUL and MARY> videos, page 275, this Forum.
Link to <MAHALIA JACKSON> videos, page 276, this Forum.
Link to <PAVEL BURE> videos, page 271, this Forum.
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<Events organized and hosted in this Forum>: ________________________________________________-
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Consultation game: "MIXED DOUBLES"
Team White: THE BATCHIMEGS <jessicafischerqueen & Eyal>
Team Black: OPENLY DEFIANT CATS <Open Defence & Brankat>
Start: June/27/2007. - End: Aug/19/2007.
ECO: B76 - <SICILIAN, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack>
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Nc6 7. f3 Bg7 8. Qd2 0-0 9. g4 Nxd4 10. Bxd4* Be6 11. h4 Qa5 12. h5 Rac8 13. a3 Bc4 14. h6 Bh8 15. 0-0-0 Bxf1 16. Rhxf1 Rc4 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Nd5 Qxd2 19. Kxd2 Re8 20. Nxf6+ exf6 21. b3 Rc5 22. c4 Re6 23. Ke3 f5 24. Rd5 Kf8 25. Kd4 fxe4 26. fxe4 Ke7 27. b4 Rc6 28. g5 Rc7 29. a4 Rd7 30. Ra5 b6 31. Rb5 Kd8 32. a5 == Draw offer accepted.
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Consultation Game:
<CHESSGAMES.com Members vs. MFO (mrfixitonline) Chess Club Members>
<MFO> :
(Akavall, bin, buti_oxa, Ceri, ForceMid, FusterCluck, Joshua, madcat_lives, samurai goroh, Stormboy).
<CG.com>:
(TheAlchemist, chessmoron, dakgootje, hitman84, jessicafischerqueen, Marco65, Rocafella>, Swapmeet, TTLump, Zebra, EmperorAtahualpa, mckmac, Elixir of Life).
WHITE: < MFO > ---BLACK: < CG.com >
Start: Jan/21/2007 - End: May/23/2007
ECO: B90 - <SICILIAN, Najdorf>
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bc1 Nc6 8. h3 Nf6 9. Be3 e6 10. g4 Be7 11. g5 Nd7 12. h4 O-O 13. f4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 b5 15. O-O-O Rb8 16. h5 b4 17. Na4 e5 18. Qd2 Bb7 19. g6 Bxe4 20. Bg2 Bf5 21. Bd5 Rc8 22. Bb3 Be4 23. gxf7+ Rxf7 24. fxe5 Nxe5 25. Nb6 Rc6 26. Rhf1 Qe8 27. Rxf7 Nxf7 28. Nd5 Bd8 29. h6 a5 30. Re1 a4 31. Bxa4 Bh4 32. Qd4! and Black resigns.
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Consultation game:
CG.com American kibitzers: "ISOLATED PAWNS"
<Akavall, square dance, suenteus po 147>
vs.
CG.com Canadian kibitzers: "NORTHERN KNIGHTS"
<AgentRgent, Hesam7, THE Pawn>
WHITE: <ISOLATED PAWNS> - BLACK: <NORTHERN KNIGHTS>
Start: Sep, 05/2006 - End: Nov, 11/2006.
ECO: B17 <CARO-KANN, Steinitz Variation.>
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 e6 6. Bd3 Ngf6 7. N1f3 Bd6 8. Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 c5 11. Bd2 Nf6 12. Qe2 a6 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. 0-0 0-0 15. c4 e5 16. Bc3 Re8 17. Rad1 Qb6 18. b4 Bxb4 19. Rb1 e4 20. Rxb4 Qc5 21. Bc2 Bg4 22. Qe3 Qxe3 23. fxe3 exf3 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. c5 Be6 26. Bb3 Bxb3 27. axb3 Rac8 28. Rxf3 1/2-1/2.
Nov. 11/06: Draw offer accepted by "Northern Knights".

   Current net-worth: 5,353 chessbucks
[what is this?]

   brankat has kibitzed 17918 times to chessgames [more...]

   May-23-13 SwitchingQuylthulg chessforum

brankat: Best of luck in round #2!

   May-23-13 brankat chessforum

brankat: P-3! One of my favourite pass-time things. But then, in recent years, everything else has been nothing more than a "pass-time" either -:)

   May-23-13 al wazir chessforum

brankat: <Tiggler> As some say: vote early and vote often. As for the blood cells count, You may try to consult our resident Medical Doctor, <tpstar>, who is also a USCF master <Tony Palmer> :-)

   May-23-13 Anatoly Karpov

brankat: Happy Birthday Mr.Karpov!

   May-23-13 Aleksandar Matanovic

brankat: Wishing You a very happy Birthday Aleksandar!

   May-22-13 Travis Bickle chessforum

...

   May-22-13 Alexander McDonnell

brankat: A very fine master Mr.McDonnell.

   May-22-13 perfidious chessforum

brankat: Life master's premium membership has expired. I suspect a GM title would cost considerably more :-)

   May-21-13 Zdenko Kozul

brankat: Happy Birthday Zdenko!

   May-21-13 USSR Zonal (1964)

brankat: <keypusher> Yes, Smyslov actually talked about it after the match. He had been preparing for Botvinnik for more than 3 months. On the other hand, Geller was getting ready for Smyslov in case Botvinnik withdraws :-)

indicates a reply to the comment.

The Court of Caissa

< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 436 OF 477 · Later Kibitzing>
Jun-06-12		brankat: <achieve> My comment didn't really have much to do with dates. "Seasons of the Heart", I suppose.. A lot of things had not been going well.

Jun-06-12		achieve: <brankat> Yes - I had read about the situation from your exchanges with <moronovich>, if memory serves, but I obviously didn't "get" the metaphor, so apologies and all I can say is that I wish you will come out stronger, spiritually. I'm battling with a few old demons, recently "triggered" and somehow when the sledding gets really tough, I somehow turn out to be the one able to pull through, the hardest. People, including myself sometimes, most of the time do not get how that works in me, but the survival challenge obviously has its plusses for me. It also annoys people when you go straight through the heart of the matter, unscrupulously, and I can then be very tough for myself, like a marine, yet everyday I talk to the birds, Lars, animals in the field (I live in a great polderland area, with for dutch standards quite an abundance of wildlife), and i take pictures, make short video's, very aware of the fragility of it, trembling under the weight of Globalisation, but the sheer magnificence and wonder still moves me to raptures, actually more so than ever before. In other words, get out of the dense city regularly, drink in the natural sounds sights and smells, though I realize that that is difficult when you are taking care of a friend who is very ill; so once again my best wishes, for Both of You.

Jun-06-12		brankat: <achieve> Thank You Neils for these thoughtful and, indeed, wise words, for the kind wishes. Actually, there are a few areas right here in Vancouver, almost in the heart of the city, and on the outskirts, too, where it feels like in the middle of a wilderness, together with foxes, bears, coyotes, eagles, etc. Lakes, rivers, forests..Good fishing, too! We do go there, now and then, when possible.

Jun-07-12		morfishine: <brankat> Thanks for stopping by! We haven't met though I've been following your games vs <MarkFinan> and <memethecat> over at meme's forum. I like the idea of ongoing games to compliment the routine analysis and discussion that takes place. Whats the point of a chess website if we aren't playing chess! If you don't mind, when I come across something interesting, I'll drop it off at your forum Morf

Jun-07-12		achieve: <Actually, there are a few areas right here in Vancouver, almost in the heart of the city, and on the outskirts, too, where it feels like in the middle of a wilderness, together with foxes, bears, coyotes, eagles, etc. Lakes, rivers, forests..Good fishing, too!> That's great to hear! - and in all fairness the scenery here can not compete with what you describe, but it is a different type of landscape altogether. The "Polder landscape" is characterized by first of all a far and wide view, it's rather "flat", and water, like small brooks, larger brooks, a river, as when you ride your bike, you always are riding with on one side a brook, and on the other side (either side of course ;)) you look out over beautiful meadows, with a variety of birds, sometimes farmland with live stock, and especially in the month of may and now in june you see the cows and horses with their young offspring, and the wide view combined with the sounds and smells, the water, and the birds, all combine to make it a landscape that I very much adore, especially apt for bike-rides, trips, allowing for inspiration, bit of meditation, communicate with the (farm) animals, and you'll forget the time. I also use it to train my body and endurance, but really just be part of nature in a relaxing manner is the key, LITerally, for me to (return to) a state of "well-being." Without it I am stuck... I'll have my music, but there is no replacement for the inspiration I draw, and need, from nature. The area here where I live is called <Amstelland>, and there is a powerful group called "Protect Amstelland", to preserve a strip of Polderland about 15 miles in length, and a few miles wide.... If that would yield to the power of globalization and urbanization, that would be quite a tragedy, in many aspects, except when you are only interested in "making a buck" - and the nauseating thought that "in order for Larger Amsterdam to remain 21st century 'competing' metropole, the natural landscape must be sacrificed. I'll see if I can get a few nice photo's to show you what type of landscape I am describing.

Jun-07-12		brankat: <morfishine> I'm very glad to have You visiting here. You are quite welcome to drop by any time, whether it has to do with a chess related matter, or just to have a chat.

Jun-07-12		achieve: Ah - hope you can get this link from the Protecters Amstelland website: http://www.beschermersamstelland.nl... ... which has several pics with features of the Polderland.

Jun-07-12		brankat: <achieve> The landscape You describe reminds me very much of the area around my hometown, Karlovac, back in the old country. So I'm familiar with the feeling/sensation one can experience in such surroundings. Here, one part of Vancouver (quite large part), the so called North Vancouver, or the North Shore, particularly the North Shore Mountains (real mountains) is still largely a true wilderness. But, (just like with Amsterdam and every other large city) the question is: for how long? The bears, for instance, black ones and grizzlies, often come to "residential" neighborhoods to get the food out of garbage bins. Sometimes they walk into houses to help themselves. Similar with coyotes. Racoons, thousands of them, actually live in these areas. Many make their homes in attics, cellars, garages. None of these beings know that that is not their home(land) anymore, that they have been evicted. Consequences are often tragic. Frankly, and unfortunately, I don't expect things to get better.

Jun-07-12		achieve: <brankat> Here's a little clip, one minute, of a bike ride through the Amstelland area exactly where I live. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjLR... Mountains you will not find here ;) Indeed an unfortunate situation, with the bears, so perhaps the reminder, perhaps of your hometown, with this little clip will up your mood.

Jun-07-12		brankat: Yes, the area looks as I had imagined it would. Beautiful. Certainly worthy of preserving it in its current state. But the temptation to turn it, little by little, into a multi-billion dollar "real estate" is going to be immense. Various powerful interests do not see these region: http://www.beschermersamstelland.nl... the same way You (and many other people) do. They see hundreds of skyscrapers, shopping malls, hotels, parking lots, businesses, and a few mansions to boot...They are probably counting the cash already. I'm sorry, I don't mean to be a cynic, but with this kind of a scenario, it's hard to be an optimist.

Jun-07-12		achieve: <But, (just like with Amsterdam and every other large city) the question is: for how long?> In fact a few large and wealthy companies here are among the sponsors of the Protecters Amstelland initiative, so this does look rather good for this particular area, for the near future at least. I just looked it up, and that is surely encouraging, as these corporations that set up shop along the South Axis here in Amsterdam are among those wanting to preserve the beauty of the landscape, as they look out of their penthouse highriser floors and windows.... Question indeed is, for how long.

Jun-07-12		achieve: Branko - yes, from the link of the map you posted, towards the top and to the left, is where I live. Indeed there will be counterinitiatives and plans being made as you mention, and those forces eventually will power through, in 10-15 years time, if we're lucky, but at the moment things seem to look okay... But it's akin to blocking a large oiltanker: in the end it will move through, you can't hold it off until time indefinite.

Jun-07-12		brankat: Usually, the answer is: as long as it serves their interests. Anyhow, Niels, it is past 2:00 am here, and I got to get back upstairs, before I too get evicted :-) Talk to You again, soon. Take care.

Jun-07-12		achieve: Good night! ;)

Jun-07-12		brankat: Good evening :-)

Jun-07-12		Memethecat: Good golly miss molly :-)

Jun-07-12		brankat: <Memethecat> Still your turn. Are You waiting for me to grow too old to move? ;-)

Jun-07-12		Memethecat: <waiting for me to grow too old to move?> I think we both know that time has been & gone. just been starring at the board & cant find a move. My head is spinning after a gruelling 2 1/2 hr game, cant focus, I'll try again later.

Jun-07-12		achieve: Good morning/night/evening! It's actually 3am here and I am hoping to watch the 6th game NBA play-offs between the Celtics and Miami Heat (what a name!)... Back in the 90s I even bought a decoder to watch the NBA, when Jordan and the Chicago Bulls exercised an iron grip on it. It was just a feast to watch basketball from that era, combining the older stars like Bird, Magic Johnson, with the new stars and the serbian wonder boys like Toni Kukoc, Drazen Petrovic, from your former old country. It's been said that Petrovic actually was the only person in the NBA, along with Larry Bird, who took on Jordan with no fear whatsoever. In comparison, Lebron James of today's Heat is a mere choir boy. ;)

Jun-07-12		brankat: <Memethecat> 2.5 h should hardly be grueling for a young lad like Yourself. I have a feeling You most likely tend to do to much thinking. Which is not healthy: neither in Chess, nor otherwise. Kills spontaneity, joy of an unexpected surprise, innocence and fun. It could even win You a game :-) What do You plan to do once You reach <Nemesistic>'s age? :-)

Jun-07-12		brankat: <achieve> At the moment, 13 secs till, the end the Heat is leading by 18 points, so the series will go to game seven, and the winner will face "Oklahoma City" (until recently "Seattle Supersonics"). I've been rooting for the Oklahoma team. Mildly,though. Besides, it's almost beyond me why would anyone from Europe bother to watch US basketball at all. I never did. There was plenty of excellent quality basket on the Continent. What's next? Baseball? Wrestling? Congressional debates?:-) I never even cared to know the names of the teams, or players. Although, unwillingly, I did get to know and see live quite a few :-) Even in my hometown, believe, it or not. In 1966, the USA "All Stars": Oscar Robertson, Bill Russel. Wilt Chamberlain... It is now time, at least for reasons of "continental patriotism" to focus on the European Championship (Soccer, of course. What else is there?) Btw, You guys don't seem to be able stay away from Germans :-) Best of luck!

Jun-07-12		brankat: How time flies! Good night again :-)

Jun-08-12		achieve: <brankat> Final game decider indeed, and a disappointing game tonight's game was.... It doesn't "do" to me what it did in the 90s, and having gotten up 2 or 3 times over the last month or so, I think this was the last time... But I must admit that I never was a basketball fan, really, until I got enchanted by the Jordan shows, an athlete with almost super-human qualities, and those three-pointers without touching the ring, swish, just the net rustling, yeah, that gives a thrill still, and you are right, continental basketball might be more attractive perhaps, but it's rarely on here in Holland. Reggie Miller was another player that I really was looking to watch, three-point clutch-time master he was, and his sister was almost as good! Remarkable family genes... And I feel almost ashamed to admit, but until a few days ago I wasn't even aware that the Dutch football team was due to play this saturday, indeed for the European cup. But that may change once it really starts, and when they play half decent, but over the last few years I have begun to get irritated by the hype, the commerce, the level dropping, what have you, it's not worth it to let it dominate your summer for three weeks. In the past it did, I admit. It's fun to an extent to see all the folks dress up and paint their faces, all happy peppy... Going to get a few hours of sleep myself now, early in the morning. The highpoint of the past hours was this clip I encountered on youtube "The earth is setting in the wrong place!!" - the guy's voice and the sheer stupidity had me crying with laughter at some point. :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2CH...

Jun-08-12		achieve: This comment brought me to a state of uncontrolled thy-slapping laughter: "ur cumpuss es bosted men!" Reminded me of the giant fun we had composing "Bufon-like" sentences... Not sure you were part of that episode, but me, Jess, Dom and several others had a blast! ;) Check out the clip and tell me if it triggers your funny bone the way it did mine ... Maybe it was just me in that moment sensing the hilariousness, and the sadness, awkwardness, heh heh, of dark humor like I perceive it sometimes.

Jun-08-12		Memethecat: Hola Branco, your kind comments about my age are appreciated, life 'is' tough at 25, maybe you cant remember that far back so you'll have to take my word for it☺. I wasn't tired after last nights match I was excited, I'd played what I thought was great chess (engine analysis concurred), a rare time when early idea's & plans pan out, I just couldn't stop thinking about the game. I'm on the crest of a 20 odd game winning streak, something I haven't experienced since getting a PC last year & playing to time limits, hopefully this means I'm adjusting to the format. Thinking is a necessary evil, I've tried a multitude of substances to bend, stop & slow it down, but they bring there own troubles, so I 'accept', fortunately I've had enough spontaneity to last several lifetimes, so all is well in that department, & who knows, after recovery maybe I can jump back on board.

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