Exactly <TIMER>! :-) I was keeping track of you and noticed the temporary drop in c-bucks cash flow... ;-) This is my last attempt to qualify before the finals. So, my main goal is to reach the top ten here (Priority #1). After that and having now achieved it was to first reach 2.5K (get to the $1000 c-bucks betting level). Then naturally next will be reaching 5K level ($2,500 c-bucks), 7.5K ($5,000 c-bucks), then finally 10K (now at the top betting level of $10,000 c-bucks per shot!). From there it's all posturing! ~ROFL~

Having mega c-bucks is everything (having loads of it gives ultimate options). What I've learned from all my previous attempts is first and foremost that good 'money management' is essential (since you can always get lucky a few times but never lucky all the time). It's hard to keep on a budget but I believe it's necessary and await your best betting chances & odds and then and only then - Pounce! ~lol~ I took a chance in Rd#4 and survived it. Now just by following my preset strategy and see if qualification is in the cards for me this leg. I see a lot of us doing really well and it's going to be a lot of fun!

Lastly, you did really well in the previous CG Bookie Championship Winter leg against the members with their 10K buckets of gold in c-bucks all pitted against you. The odds against you winning (besides being astronomical) would have been a great bet. Certainly I would have bet BIG on you! ~lol~ :-)))

<percyblakeney: I'm tired of trying to make sensible bets and went for Grischuk, Leko and Svidler to win in round 5. If I get one of those right I'll be surprised.>

Yep sometimes you just have to play your best hunch or gut feeling... It's hard taking the safe road at times betting $xxxx c-bucks to gain only $xx in return. The bad side effect when you're betting thousands of c-bucks for draws with no good counter bets to make you then stand the chance to lose a lot if a draw does not end up being the official result.

Besides, it's fun to take 'risk' once in awhile... ;-) I find it highly stimulating and if I lose, of course, then it was just plain stupid! ~lol~ As I too will bet on Svidler at 11:1 odds it's worth the risk to place a bet there. I probably won't bet all that much in this round overall. Instead I'll await my chances when the 'Pick 3' and the 'Pick 4s' return or the 'Daily Double' as these allow for multiple betting options with fantastic complications (odds vs. risk and all counter betting measures fully ready and able to be put into play).

Thanks again <WannaBe> for another great recap of the upcoming Rd #5... I've learned to filter out fast and now think that I can recite by memory all the major rapid, blitz and blindfold events!

Also, I tend to agree with you concerning any serious handicapping for the 'longest and shortest' games. Best to just pick one or two and bet on those solely based on your hunches (watching the progress of the players, the number of points they have and their unique situation in the tournament each one has at present). Finally, the odds factor (what's looks to be in your favor?). At least that's what I'll be doing (it's too risky and variable a bet to take a big chance unless some definite conclusions can be drawn).

<chessaddcit14> don't believe for one second all the 'razz' that is written and that will be written here! ~lol~ The correct answer you seek can be found by reading the fine print on - ChessBookie Game Help Page - where you'll find this...

______________________________________

How do I use the Loanshark?

The Loanshark is your guarantee that you can always play the game. No matter how poorly you are doing, you can always go to the loanshark to get another 100 chessbucks. He might not give you a loan every day, but sooner or later he will extend credit again regardless of how much you owe him. (This way, everybody who enjoys the Bookie Game can continue to play, even if they go broke.) ______________________________________

Deep down inside of CG.com ultimate wisdom the Loanshark has a heart filled with c-bucks gold! ;-) Regards, - Mal

1) There is a lot of mutual respect between Kramnik and Leko. Neither Kramnik or Leko will expect the opponent to blunder but rather for the game to end peacefully like so many times before - "Vladimir Kramnik beat Peter Leko 14 to 8, with 60 draws" - especially since the slight favourite Kramnik is in command of the dark-coloured army. So early draw to save energy for future would not be a surprise.

2) If you look at the games played so far in this tournament you will find out these two guys have played pretty long games so far:

Leko 214 moves - Kramnik 173 moves -> average length 48 moves Anand 189 moves - Svidler 127 moves -> avg. length 39 moves Gelfand 169 moves - Aronian 142 moves -> avg. length 39 moves Grischuk 138 moves - Moro 150 moves -> average length 36 moves

Round 6:

Kramnik-Gelfand: Kramnik leads it +13 -5 =35 against Gelfand. (This is counting all games, too many to filter out the rapid/blindfold), when Kramnik have white, he is +9 -0 =18!

Morozevich-Leko: Morozevich is +3 -4 =11 against Leko. (Discounting rapid/blindfolds). When Morozevich have white, he is +2 -0 =4 against Leko.

Anand-Grischuk: Anand is +1 -0 =3 (Discounting rapid/blindfold/blitz games). When Anand have white, he is +1 -0 =1 against Grischuk.

CG Bookie - well I'm sure glad that's all cleared up! :-)

However, if your 'Net Worth' was enough to either: 1) Win the current leg, or 2) Winning one of the top ten spots.

Then the direct query - 'Why wouldn't you pay back the Loanshark?' - begs to be asked! ~lol~

At least we know the slate is always wiped clean with each seasonal betting leg (we are not penalized for previous legs in the past only the current one in progress). ;-)

At the end of each leg, all debts are automatically paid back (as much as possible), and all outstanding winning tickets will be paid off, and therefore the "final net worth" of each player can be computed. The top 10 net worth qualify for the Championship Leg, along with players who qualified from other legs, along with the 9-runner ups from last year's championship (who automatically qualify).

Thanks <CG Bookie> that should clarify it to the max! There is nothing like a 'fresh rack' and a new game of chess! :-)

<percyblakeney: Luckily the big bet was on Grischuk :-)>

That's great <percyblakeney> I had a feeling one of those 3 bets was gonna pay off for you! Grischuk proved to be a star and tomorrow a superb match-up vs. Anand (the WCC tourney leader) will be top billing. Clearly, it's the game of the round and 'Kramnik-Gelfand' should be a fantastic battle too!

I was lucky too nudging my bets to favor both Anand and Gelfand... Having 3 decisive games made my major pick of '1 draw' pay off nicely as well. Also got a small bet in for 'Gelfand-Aronian' to pay off as my major pick for the longest game. My secondary bet 'Leko-Kramnik' for the shortest game (mentioned previously) paid for my two bets in that category (didn't win anything but didn't lose anything either). Anyway 'Phase II' is now completed and I'm just under 6K 'Net Worth' when the Leaderboard tabulations come in early tomorrow...

Right <TIMER> study up and get those exams aced. :-) I'm sure plenty of familiar faces will still be here when you're ready to continue. Already I see a few new faces and note a few that have dropped down the Leaderboard. Up and down we go and where we stop nobody knows...