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| Mar-18-07 | | mack: To aficionados of American professional wrestling, Canada's second-largest city is best known for being where the infamous 'Montreal Screwjob' took place. (http://www.montrealscrewjob.com/) The phrase takes on a whole other meaning once you've spoken to the delightful <BadTemper>, doesn't it. |
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Mar-18-07
 | | jessicafischerqueen: <Mack> I've been involved in a few <Montreal screw jobs>... but they didn't involve wrestling... Wheeeee it's the City of Love and Cholera!! |
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Mar-18-07
| | jessicafischerqueen: recent kibbitzing for safety purposes |
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| Mar-18-07 | | mack: A couple of years ago Robert Pollard (him again) co-wrote an album called 'Completed Soundtrack for the Tropic of Nipples'. One song, 'Mosquitoes Dropped Their Javelins' is just twenty-two seconds long and is nothing but Uncle Bob rambling over a bit of tape hiss. It describes this place, its history and its latest incarnation perfectly: <WAIT! There’s no need for senseless bloodshed... the mosquitoes dropped their javelins and looked on: oh man, far out, it’s King Frog> |
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| Mar-18-07 | | WBP: <Dom> Yeah, I think the real core of the thing in so far as the dragon is concerned is in < I suspect the real reason is that the White players tend to leave the book -- their personal knowledge of the moves -- before Black does. The Black players are Dragon specialists. They've had the position many times before. They *know* that ...Rfc8 (or whatever) is best, play it, and save energy for the real novelty further on. But White, often, I think, could be out of his depth already at that point> I think you're absolutely right that the player playing black knows the opening better (usually) than he or she conducting the white pieces for the reasons you explain. White tends to improvise more often--either out of dissatisfaction with book lines, or simply out of ignorance of such. I rarely studied openings in my playing days (the '70s and '80s) and could more or less get by, a habit which resulted in a catastrophe for me when I tried a "comeback" about five years ago--three tournament disasters of a crushing nature; one simply must study openings nowadays. And I think this idea may extend to other openings as well--do I have a wrong impression when I say that it seems to me that generally speaking there are far more opening novelties from the white side than from the black in most games today? |
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| Mar-18-07 | | mack: <one simply must study openings nowadays.> Oh god, really? I just make it up... |
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Mar-18-07
| | jessicafischerqueen: Look gentlmen the only opening worth studying today is the <French>. This is not PIRCSPAWN!!
Yeesh |
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Mar-18-07
 | | Domdaniel: <mack> Ah, *that* Manakova, of course, the former Mrs Tosic ['toss-itch']... who else? Sorry, there, took me a while to catch up. Odd piece. Stereotypes, Gormally, exotic Brazilians, sexy GMs ... it's like 'Chess Bitch' never happened. As for young Emilio Cordova, he's in good company. Didn't Kasparov show a distinct prefererence for older actresses when he first became champion? The old yarn about Steinitz moving pieces by 'electrical brain impulses' -- perfectly feasible today -- just shows how far ahead of his time he was. And that jibe about super-bright socially dysfunctional nerds... I can function socially perfectly well, thank you. I sometimes even do, for fun. But I'm too 'bright' to *need* to do it, or even *want* to do it on a regular basis... This gives me some ideas for the Frogspawn Merchandising Dept -- Inflatable GM Dolls. Details to follow, have your credit cards handy... |
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| Mar-18-07 | | WBP: <Dom> Sorry to inject a serious note into all of this, but here's the next installment (with two more to follow) in the History of <Frogspawn> [note that there are two--maybe three--posts here]: An Illustrated Scholarly History of the French Defense Pt II:
A Testament of Despair by C. Kinbote Jr. Some Variations of The French Defense After 1. e6 e6, 2. d4 d5, we have the following main lines (and I apologize, no FENS yet): The somnolent Exchange Variation (3. exd5 exd5).
The complex Winawer (3. Nc3 Bb4).
The Classical (3. Ncf Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7) and the MacCutcheon (4...B-b4)
The Advance Variation (3 e5), approved by Nimovich
The very popular Tarrasch Variation (3. Nd2)
The rarely employed Trash Variation (3. Na3), which leads to complications solely
favoring black.
A fine line for black in the Advance Variation: 3...c5, 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3 cxd4
7. Cxd4 Nxd4! 8. Nxd4 Qxd4 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Bxd7+ Kxd7 11. Qxd4, when black is
more than compensated for the loss of the queen by the extra pawn and the central
placement of the king.
A Gallic History Most accounts of the French Defense--wholly inadequate!--begin with citations of the fifteenth-century Italian writer Lucena, and then proceed, with woeful predictability, to the 1834 correspondence match between London and Parisian players (whence the name for the opening reputedly originates), to the Russian writer Jaenisch’s analysis of 1842, to Maroczy and the twentieth century, and so forth. These accounts, by undistinguished little people, hideous scrotum lice dubiously deemed “experts” (so called only because they have researched the topic, studied games, and published books on the opening, thus granting them in the eyes of the ignorant a very slight advantage in this debate over those of us who rely on the infinitude of our genius and Ouija boards), these accounts, I say, merely rehearse narratives that privilege and justify an elite. You will find, for example, no mention in any of these works of that dreaded cousin of Frogspawn, the anagramic <Fogprawns (Fog Prawns)>-- a very rare species of crustacean of French extraction that appear in ghastly droves only in chess games played under foggy conditions--of which little is known. No, I intend to show the true history--the hidden history of this opening, more as a warning than anything else. I shan’t relate here the original primal origins of the French Defense--what’s called the “spawning” period (hence, “Frog spawn,“ and later, “Frogs‘ Pawn“), wherein the little green tykes--so vulnerable, so precious, so deadly--first emerged from the primal ooze to do battle with the kasparovs and other super-predator types (designated by science as the “over 2700” or “Super GM” groups). That narrative has already been very excellently documented in these pages by <Jessicafischerqueen.> I shall therefore pick up the history thereafter, through an exhaustive examination of several ancient texts (c. fifth century B.C.E.), given me several years ago by an very ascetic and sallow young monk who stank on his way to a bachelor party in Las Vegas. |
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Mar-18-07
| | Domdaniel: <mack> Ah, I see you've fallen for the illusion that all this senseless rambling is, in fact, senseless rambling. There is, of course, a masterplan, but it can only be revealed to members of the Bavarian Illuminati. Ewige Blumenkraft. |
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Mar-18-07
| | jessicafischerqueen: <WBP>
LOL!! |
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Mar-18-07
| | Domdaniel: <Jess> -- <<Montreal screw jobs>... > Is that left-hand-thread or right-hand-thread?
Don't tell me you're enantiomorphic... |
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| Mar-18-07 | | WBP: <Frogspawn post, part two>:
These texts--I believe they are ancient Sumerian, though my familiarity with that language, written or spoken, has grown understandably rusty for lack of practice in speaking it--reveal, sadly, only a tempting glimpse of our tantalizing subject. Much of the discussion in these ancient texts concerns rather the Modern Defense (aka, the Pirc-Robatsch), and there are also two very provocative references to the Post-Modern Defense--in one, by the legendary Sumerian high priest <Dherri-Dha,> the legitimacy of knowing any defense at all to 1.e4 is questioned through the denial of referential value, as though the writer were compulsively trying to deconstruct meanings. Imagine that! But, I digress. (I’m distracted by some kind of disturbance outside my window right now--police cars, an ambulance; perhaps someone has hurt himself castling.) The one actual allusion in the texts to Frogspawn/The French Defense, which in the Sumarian reads “Foo-ko…le Otard…de luuz…goto-Ri…mully ully gue” (indeed, a veritable Frogspawn “mene, mene, tekel, upharsin”), I roughly translate as follows: “The Avesta says Zoroaster [indecipherable]…pawn on e6...[indecipherable]…dammit!…game lost on time…[indecipherable]…going to Disneyworld.” There we have it! The pawn on e6--the indisputable sign of Frogspawn. (I admit, my interpretation of this translation is open to several possible interpretations, but mine seems most obvious and therefore best for the time being.) As you see, I’ve made an invaluable connection from the ancient texts to more the recent period the so-called experts alluded to before, filling in a huge historical gap.
The Dark Ages add little to our discussion. Because it was the Dark Ages, there was no light, and so no one could read or play chess. (I was playing in a tournament in New York many years ago, and to my opening move 1.e4, my opponent quickly played e6. I kindly told him that it was not my desire to play the French Defense that day, and would he please take back his move and play something else. He very inhospitably and rudely told me to shut-up and move. Not to be dissuaded, I sportingly summoned the tournament director and asked him to convince my opponent to play something different. He, too, was quite uncivil, and the two drooling baboons stood there, staring angrily at me, muttering and jabbering their wrathful imprecations--for one terrifying moment I feared I‘d been transported to the Nigel Short page, something that happened to me last week while food shopping. But I am of sturdy construction, and am well enough medicated--I have so much lithium in me that I regularly set off metal detectors at airports--so I did not proceed to take the situation into my own hands [though this is not always the wrong thing to do. I mean, righteous anger can be very ennobling; but why merely bicker with your neighbor, when there is so much more you can do with a pick axe?] Hmmm…The police outside now seem quite interested in my building.) |
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Mar-18-07
| | jessicafischerqueen: <Dom> Just to let you know, I never look up those arcane words you use. I refuse on general principles.
Instead, I make up a meaning in my head.
Nobody pushes me around!!!
(left hand) |
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Mar-18-07
| | Domdaniel: Frogspawn Merchandising Dept
Ever felt that your "home games" were lacking that extra something? Ever wanted to "spice up" a dreary night at the chess club? Ever felt that Fritz lacks the metaphysics of presence, and also any really useful orifices? Your problems are solved. We will shortly launch a range of Blow-Up Rubber Grandmaster Dolls, of all sexes, for all your needs. They can sit across the table from you while you lose to your computer, and then you can give them a good seeing-to afterwards. They even do simuls. The first set will include realistic lifesize dolls of Ruy Lopez (complete with clerical vestments), A. Nimzowitsch (with voice-box that says "why must I @#$% this idiot?" before it deflates) and a super-realistic version of Nigel, alias Mr Kurtz.... Order Your GM Fetish Doll Now! |
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Mar-18-07
| | jessicafischerqueen: <WBP>
LMAO-
Some fine comedic postmodern pastiche there using names of postmodernists we all had to (resentfully) read in <literary theory> courses... Brilliant!! I have to go back to Foucold, Guitar, and DeLoser for my <culture jamming> paper for school which I have to hand in no later than tomorow at midnight. curse these universities!! Commnications theory is busted after McLoohands, in my opinion. Grumble. |
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Mar-18-07
| | Domdaniel: <WBP> A scholastic tour-de-force, prof -- may I add two very small footnotes? (1) The great English grandmaster Blackburne, giving a simul circa 1900, played 1.e4. His elderly opponent replied 1...e6. Blackburne reeled back in mock horror, saying "Not the French! I resign!" And the old guy held him to it: Blackburne-NN, 1.e4 e6, 0-1. One of the French's finest moments, I think.
(2) There's a theory that <“mene, mene, tekel, upharsin”> is actually the Mayan for "I want a toothpick" spoken with a Brooklyn accent. This would explain ... many things. |
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Mar-18-07
| | Domdaniel: <Jess> Arcane words? Moi? Surely not. And, anyhow, plucking meanings from your head is how the whole langue-and-parole routine works, innit? Give or take a few ritualized social conventions. And we don't have much respect for *those* round here, do we? ... 'cept of course when they get us shut down ... oy, back to business... Blow-up GM Dolls: collect the full set of five Polgars (Judit, Zsofia, Zsuzsa, Venus & Serena) and get a Versatility (and stamina!) discount... "Which experts say is equivalent to having the serve in tennis", as Raymondo sez. |
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Mar-18-07
| | jessicafischerqueen: Gentlemen!!
How do you turn a <Frenchman> into an <Englishman>? Look at the present position in my game with <Elixir> for the answer. Who knew?
<c4> is a French killer!! Like the longbows at <Agincourt>!!! Wheeeee |
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| Mar-18-07 | | mack: What's the general consensus about the Chigorin French - 1.e4 e6 2.Qe2 - amongst frogspawn devotees? The only time I really play 1.e4 as white is if I know my opponent is going to whack out 1...e6. The Chigorin French for me is probably the most beautiful chess opening there is. But you know what Ruskin says about beautiful things... |
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| Mar-18-07 | | WBP: <Jess> not sure what LMAO means, but hope it ain't contaigious. <Foucold, Guitar, and DeLoser> Love It!! I've had to return to a lot of this with the existentialism class I'm teaching--can't wait for the summer...and Danielle Steele. Good luck on your paper! Been watching with awe that <elixer> game. <Dom> <One of the French's finest moments, I think> yes, indeed. One of Blackburne's as well (I am a big admirer of his).<(2) There's a theory that <“mene, mene, tekel, upharsin”> is actually the Mayan for "I want a toothpick" spoken with a Brooklyn accent> Haha--love it, and that would explain many things!<Blow-up GM Dolls: collect the full set of five Polgars (Judit, Zsofia, Zsuzsa, Venus & Serena) and get a Versatility (and stamina!) discount...> this, I think, is the beginning a true get-rich scheme--I used to know many players in new York who would probably get the full set right off.<MackWhat's the general consensus about the Chigorin French - 1.e4 e6 2.Qe2 - amongst frogspawn devotees?> I have actually played this (along with the advance variation)on several occasions; it usually turns into a closed sicilian due to my uncontrollable fondness for playing f4 at the drop of a hat. |
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Mar-18-07
| | jessicafischerqueen: <WBP> LMAO is "laughing my ass off" ROFL is "rolling on the floor laughing"
FU is "oops never mind-- we went through all that before" heh |
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| Mar-18-07 | | WBP: <Jess: gracias! and by the way, I'm assuming BTW means "by the way"--that's what I've been able to discern> <Dom> one other thought I've had: this came up from our Tal-Fischer Winawer discussion, and it concerns the idea that certain players--even the very best--may have a weak spot for certain openings. Certainly players by temperament may prefer open or closed positions, and obviously this will influence his or her opening choice. But I'm wondering if there are other examples (besides Ficher's somewhat notorious--and perhaps exaggerated--difficulties with the French) of a player of the top rank who performed consistently sub-par against a specific opening or line? See you all later! |
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| Mar-18-07 | | laskereshevsky: VENERABLE <DOM>
here a summary of the <TITANS CONTEST>.... <Mar-17-07 laskereshevsky: <Plato:> and <RookFile:>
why you dont challenge each others in same other field?!SUGGESTIONS:
.....3°: a chess board?!?!
in absence of a phisical contact..... U can play correspondence.... ( please, please, please lord!....make they choice the 3°....... ) Mar-17-07 Plato: <laskereshevsky: ( please, please, please lord!....make they choice the 3°....... )>
<laskereshevsky> I already challenged him to #3 on your list a few months ago. He declined :) Mar-17-07
RookFile: I'm sure Plato is an entertaining person.... Laskerreshevsky has the right instincts, and also the correct idea to approach matters with a sense of humor. I suppose I could play a game with Plato via correspondence... Mar-17-07 Plato: <RookFile: I suppose I could play a game with Plato via correspondence.....>
If that is an official challenge, I accept. But for the sake of openness, let's choose a thread (preferably someone's personal forum -- but not yours, I'd prefer it be somebody neutral), and post the moves on that thread. Also, I suggest we play two such games simultaneously so that each of us has a chance to play white..... The challenge is now official. I await your response. Mar-17-07
RookFile: Sure, one game white, one black. Computers are allowed, 1 move per two days, no extensions, no excuses. All we need is for somebody neutral to volunteer their forum. I'm sure it will be fun. Mar-17-07
RookFile: Lasker, do you have a forum?
Mar-17-07 laskereshevsky: sorry, not...
Mar-17-07 Plato: <RookFile> Very well. I don't think <laskereshevsky> has a forum because he's not a premium member.......
Who would like to volunteer their forum to host the game? Mar-17-07 laskereshevsky: but everywher you will play....i will be there!!!! i dont want lose this even for all the world's gold......... Mar-17-07
RookFile: Well, I'll be back tomorrow.....
Mar-17-07 Plato: <RookFile>..........Meanwhile I'll try to find a forum. I must say, I have been looking forward to a match against you. Even if I lose, I think it's a great and humorous way to "settle" our rivalry. In the words of the legendary Lasker, one of my very favorite players and writers: <"On the chessboard, lies and hypocrisy do not survive long. The creative combinations lays bare the presumption of a lie; the merciless fact, culminating in a checkmate, contradicts the hypocrite."> Regardless of the outcome of our two-game match, I will respect you for playing. Mar-17-07
Ziggurat: I will volunteer my forum!
Mar-17-07
RookFile: Ok,............Let's begin tomorrow.
Mar-17-07 Plato:.....thanks to <ziggurat> for volunteering his forum Ziggurat chessforum, to <laskereshevsky> for organizing the match with his suggestion, and last but not least, to <RookFile> for being my worthy opponent Mar-18-07 Plato: The <Plato vs RookFile> grudge match has officially begun. Those interested can follow on the Ziggurat chessforum, but no suggestions to either side until after the games are over, please!> for the whole "legend" see the <Keres vs Botvinnik, 1948> page TAAAAAAADAAAAMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!
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Mar-18-07
| | Domdaniel: <WBP> Those lurches from topic to theme, from the Nigel page to Dherri-Da to NYC Baboons, are quite magnifique. Bravo. Reminds me of something between Pynchon and Mark Leyner... but with the authentic Frogspawn chess-tangency. We have a house style, we got a roster, we have writers. Now all we need is an audience. <Death to 1.e4 ...
Death to the Passport Control ...> |
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< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 109 OF 963 ·
Later Kibitzing> |
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Kibitzing
