I honestly think that this bet should be refunded. I was going to do just 3 bets, but thought, why not 4?>

That may well be a good idea; but if you're going to refund it, the earlier you refund it the better. If the tickets haven't been refunded before closing time, I'd suggest only refunding if one of the missing lines (Guijarro-Melkumyan-Areshchenko-any) actually hits.

I've decided to refund part of the bet (anything with Guijarro-Melkumyan). If that ends up paying, then all bets will be refunded.

But thanks for the kind words. When someone posts something, I usually read the entire post, but this sentence I'm not sure what you are saying.

< That you're much busier now that [censored] is understandable, and that your motivation level may not be as high as it was at the beginning of the leg is also understandable; but I hope you can still find time to be Bookie for the next few weeks. >

You're finding it hard to devote as much time to the Bookie game as you used to; for two reasons, it seems.

One, you're a lot busier now and have much less free time to devote to it. This is not an unexpected shock - you requested (and were given) the Summer Leg because you knew you'd have a lot more free time during the summer, and the summer is over now. Many things eat free time anyway; you never have quite as much of it as you'd like.

Two, you're no longer as motivated to be Bookie. When you were starting as Bookie you were enthusiastic and wanted to get going as soon as possible; if you were still in that mood you would <find> the time, no matter what else was happening. But it seems you've lost that feeling, which is also not an unexpected shock; we knew it could happen, though we hoped it would not.

But you're still doing valuable work; I hope you will find the energy to keep it up in the coming weeks and hopefully regain your motivation. If we didn't think you would be up to the job in a situation like this, it would have been really short-sighted of us to encourage you to volunteer as Bookie.

Hi <Penguin>. Well, I wouldn't mind helping with the payoffs... ask Daniel what he thinks. He can send me the current password if he's ok with that. Note, I have been and am playing in this leg, inasmuch as I remember to, but if I don't set up bets, only pay them off, that may not be big a problem.

(Unless of course I start paying off the line I bet on, regardless of actual result, but well, we'll think about that later...) ;p

As noted, I wouldn't be setting up any bets - that's still your job ;p - and I would only be paying off bets you specifically ask me in advance to settle, because we don't want weird stuff to happen, like double payoffs due to both of us being logged in and doing things at the same time. So, if you do ask me to pay off anything, plz remember to subsequently leave it alone, even if you do happen to be around. :)

Also, I'm not paying off anything where I find the terms unclear, and if there's a logical problem with the bet, it's still your fault. :p

Ah, I see. I think it would be better if I just try to take care of it myself. I used to pay off bets asap, but that's clearly not happening anymore (but who knows, maybe I secretly <now> like to wait and be sure of the result before paying it off).

Round 1 will be played next Monday October 26 16:00 CET(UTC+1:00). The posting pairings (probably sometime Sunday). At that point, the game prediction contest will be open.

Line-up:

Viswanathan Anand, Anish Giri, Liren Ding, Wesley So.

Rounds: 6 (double round robin).
Sofia and Bilbao rules apply.

I did see your suggestion, but wasn't quite sure how to respond to it, so just didn't. But I'm going to try to dissect it a bit more:

< Yeah, let's just do that. I agree. >

Hehe, the only thing you and I can agree on. ;)

< I perfectly understand <Annie K.>'s point that this forum should be exclusively a support and information forum. And she's the bookie, so it's her prerogative anyway. >

I do too. When I was bookie, I didn't really think twice about all the chatting on the forum, and I even enjoyed it. But with <FSR> and <Mark> basically inactive this leg, it's not really the same.

< But we really should have a ChessBookie Game Discussion Forum where we can chat freely about anything concerning the game. >

I think that was the original purpose of the forum. Here's the last bulletin point on the very first post of that forum

< There are several purposes to this forum:

♔ Feel free to boast about your victories, and to groan about your losses. >

Chessgames Bookie chessforum (kibitz #1)

But <Annie> makes a good point as well:

< Because this is a support forum, and that means that I don't want anybody with legitimate questions, or information, to hesitate to post here, for fear of becoming some trash-talker's next target. >

Yeah, I can only imagine what it's like for a new user to try to jump into the middle of a fight. I used to feel that way. It's the real life equivalent of seeing 2 guys about to start a street fight, and you jump in, asking for directions to somewhere.

< I must admit I have never in fact opened my own forum, even though I've been a Premium member for several years. >

Really? I thought you opened it like, once or twice.

< I just never got around to it. But later, if your membership expires, we can use my forum for the purpose, if you want, <Penguincw>. >

Sounds good to me!

Anyway, the leaderboard has just been updated again, and at least I'm at 1,634 chessbucks now.

<8.Karposian 1,739
9. Penguincw 1,658>

Hey, <Penguincw>. Remember when I said I wouldn't let you take the no.9 spot away from me?

Well, it's all yours, LOL. As long as I'm at no.8, that is!

I hope we both qualify for the Championship Leg. But we've gotta be careful. You never know who will be sneaking up from behind.

I took notice of this guy:

<13.leoloren 1,348>

You're funny. "This just in". Please, you are about 5 hours late. After the leaderboard updated, I actually waited for you to capitalize on it, but it wasn't immediate for sure.

< <8.Karposian 1,739

9. Penguincw 1,658>

Hey, <Penguincw>. Remember when I said I wouldn't let you take the no.9 spot away from me?

Well, it's all yours, LOL. As long as I'm at no.8, that is! >

Enjoy it while you can. Whenever I'm ahead of you, I stay ahead for a week. Whenever you're ahead of me, you stay ahead for a day.

< I hope we both qualify for the Championship Leg. >

I hope so too. Well, maybe not the "both part".

But all seriousness, it would be nice if you and I both made it. Imagine how fierce the leg could be, with this rivalry, the rivalry between <FSR>, <syd> and <Mark> (assuming they stay active), <Switch> running away, etc., the championship leg could be one for the ages!

< You never know who will be sneaking up from behind.

I took notice of this guy:

<13.leoloren 1,348>

He entered the game only yesterday, I think (I try to keep track of all the competitors :)), but he's already leapt to 13th place. Look out! >

That's what I'm thinkin' too. It's gonna be a blast. I'm sure that <FSR> and <Mark>, having already qualified, are just lying low, waiting for the CL. And <syd> is gonna be there, of course. He's a really good player, he is surely a contender to the throne.

And then there's <Switch> of course. I'm sure he would like to be the first back-to-back Chessbookie Champion in History.

Well, a day has passed and..who's still ahead? Oh, that would be me!

< 6. Penguincw 3,219
7. WinKing 3,090
8. Karposian 3,022 >

Well, you should enjoy this as much as you can, because this may be the last time you're ahead of me.

Time to bring my A-game to the table..

Interestingly, I noticed you suddenly dropped down to the 1300s some days ago, but the day after you obviously got lucky and came right back up. You could have been out of the running right then and there.

Yours truly, on the other hand, never lose. I may stand still for a day or two, or I may gain, but I don't lose.

Why? Because I'm that good. This Fall Leg..you know, this is my first serious effort. And I WILL qualify, and my goal is to become the next Chessbookie Champion of the World.

< L E A D E R B O A R D
updated Sat Nov 21, 15:25

(6) Penguincw 3,345
(7) WinKing 3,076
(8) moulicules 3,023
(9) technical draw 2,968
(10) Karposian 2,966 >

Oh my, someone has had a bad day. Now, there's even more separation. You're lucky that the gap wasn't bigger, as I was about to add on more to my wagers this morning, but woke up too late.

< Well, you should enjoy this as much as you can, because this may be the last time you're ahead of me. >

Could you be more specific? Do you mean it'll be the last time I'm ahead of you <ever>, or the last time I will remain ahead of you before you ultimately pull ahead, never for be to be ahead again?

< Time to bring my A-game to the table.. >

Sigh. Why haven't you brought your A-game <all leg> long? One should always do everything to the best of their ability, not just the ChessBookie game, but in life, in general. No need to be sandbagging...

< Interestingly, I noticed you suddenly dropped down to the 1300s some days ago, but the day after you obviously got lucky and came right back up. You could have been out of the running right then and there. >

Yes, I did fall back for a day. Everyone has their bad days. You just had yours today.

As a result, I'm giving you one day/chance to move closer to me, and/or match/surpass me. I'll be back tomorrow to check on you.

< Why? Because I'm that good. >

Someone needs a reality check.

< ...not by that Pink Floyd guy... >

I, on the other hand, woke up just in time to make some stupid bets, like trusting France to beat Georgia (I should have followed the advice of my old college teacher: "Never trust the French", LOL). If only I had awakened a bit later..

<Do you mean it'll be the last time I'm ahead of you <ever>, or the last time I will remain ahead of you before you ultimately pull ahead, never for be to be ahead again?>

The latter. Eventually I will pull ahead (if all goes according to plan), but I don't expect it will last forever. I acknowledge that you are a strong player who knows what he's doing, but I believe in my system (did I mention that I have a system? I could tell you more about it, but then I would have to..well, you get it).

<One should always do everything to the best of their ability, not just the ChessBookie game, but in life, in general.>

So true. But what I meant is that there will always be room for improvement, one should always try to do even better, if possible.

<Yes, I did fall back for a day. Everyone has their bad days. You just had yours today.>

Yeah, but even though I had a bad day I didn't lose many chessbucks, not more than 55-60 cbs, I think (I dropped from 8th to 10th, though).

When you had a bad day, on the other hand, I think you lost 450-500 cbs or something. It was impressive that you were able to strike back immediately, though. I wonder what you betted on that day..but I guess you don't want to tell me (which is fair, of course).

<As a result, I'm giving you one day/chance to move closer to me, and/or match/surpass me. I'll be back tomorrow to check on you.>

I can promise you this: tomorrow I'll be back up, at least to the 3100+ range (and hopefully back at 7th or 8th place, at least.)

<Someone needs a reality check.>

Nonsense. *I am* that good :)

In fact, both of us are. There are some 110+ players right now, and we are both in the Top Ten, which makes us better players than >90% of the players here..we are good at this!

<Wait, who's the Pink Floyd guy?>