Suppose there is a "sure thing" like we see in the World Cup, like that funny World Cup: Rd 1: Mamedyarov vs Abdel Razik wager which went down at 1:17 odds. If you want to put a bunch of cash on the super GM I can't blame you... but do NOT take out a loan to do it. The money you lose in interest will turn your already horrible odds of 1:17 even worse than that. At some point it's no longer worthwhile to make the bet.

So if you have lots of extra cash lying around, go ahead and take the "easy money" bet. But if you need to visit the loanshark first, think again. In some cases you may find yourself only breaking even, or even losing money, even if you win your bet.

Re: World Cup: Rd 3: Jakovenko vs Georgiev

The correct pairing is [Match 13] World Cup: Rd 3: Jakovenko vs Almasi

[Match 11] World Cup: Rd 3: Georgiev vs Kamsky - stands as correct.

Also, in the GMT game Timmerman did not move this afternoon nor was a move posted yet this game remains with a settlement date from yesterday of November 28th with Timmerman scheduled to move (via the last 'extension' that he took) - "WAITING FOR NEXT MOVE · Voting closes 3 days from now, at 12:00 (EST)."

Did you have a specific reason for removing this game from the betting competition prior to Timmerman actually making his 19th move? Thanks in advance... :^) - Mal

Well as you can plainly see <Annie> I'm just hanging around to keep the <ChessBookie> honest! Where was I at one point? Somewhere around + 9.2K in c-bucks all Net? ~lol~

Well, after I invested around 2.4K in the winner of the 'Spice Cup' betting on the rating favorites, Miton and Becerra, who knew it would be won hands down by Perelshteyn? Plus, Becerra made draw after draw (or so it seemed) and Miton who had serious travel scheduling problems and thus arrived a few days late with makeup games to play! With no 'rest days' in this tourney (organizers take note always add at least one rest day!) he was now forced to play a few rounds at 2 games per day. Of course he loses to Perelshteyn in his first makeup game (adding insult to injury) and Perelshteyn with no losses in the tourney cruised his way to victory! Bye-bye 2.4 c-bucks... :-(

Then in the last round of the - Tal Memorial (2007) - I bet all my remaining money in a last ditch effort to regain what I had just lost... Of course I needed action (decisive games) and naturally there was no action all draws! ~ROFL~ So, the motto of this betting story is sometimes it's best to bet absolutely nothing, wait it out, and await your next best opportunity!

Presently my NW is at -3,526 and the Loanshark has graciously loaned me 4,284 c-bucks with the usual interest tacked on of course! So, I'm still enjoying the betting game with the meager funds that I have left awaiting this leg to just bloody end! Looks like <TIMER> and I will both have a lot of fun in the Winter Leg Championship trying to overcome you 'High Rollers' all starting with a super plush bankroll of 10,000 c-bucks! <sheepish grin exposed>

Congrats on your fine betting performance here (+10,000 c-bucks!). Other than that I'm just fine how are you? :^) Best Regards, - Mal

PS: Re: Round #5: Carlsen-Cheparinov - it's a tough one to call... IMHO it could go either way. Both have the will and desire to win it. What we do know for sure is one of them wins and advances on to Round #6...

I'm sure they appreciate it! ;)

Ouch on the bad luck... we all know that one. Luckily there's always the next leg! And we have already seen last year that not all those who start ahead finish ahead, and vice versa.

<Congrats on your fine betting performance here (+10,000 c-bucks!). Other than that I'm just fine how are you? :^) Best Regards, - Mal>

Thanks! :) Just had a little setback though - who would have thought that Aronian and Svidler would both go and get themselves knocked out in this round? Arrgh! :\ Even worse, I have a not-insignificant sum tied up in bets for the cup winner, that would be comfortable enough if any one of them wins, but several of the contenders who have advanced this far are not among them... and while I could stay in the top ten even if all my current live bets turn out to lose, there's also the risk factor of last-minute upsets in the leaderboard due to the possibility of some wins among the "I have nothing to lose now anyway" desperation bets that will come at the end of the leg. So nothing is certain yet!

Shouldn't the settlement date be after round 6, on the 11th? After the tiebreaks if any are needed. Or the 12th which is a free day before the finals match. Right now the settlement is Dec 18 after the whole thing is over.

The playing schedule from the official site (scroll all the way down):

Interesting.

That is including unpaid loans and the player's starting funds? As well as the the parimutuel take? I would have guessed higher than 79,042 on just the juice and decimal shaving.

Just curious as to how it works.