Which is why I don't improve.

Definitely certain similarities between this Kasparov-Karpov match and the Fischer-Spassky one you mentioned. The key ingredient to both seems to be good personal relations between the players.

But the two K's are not pretending it is anything other than a celebration of past glories.

It would not be surprising if Kasparov completely dominates this match tho becasue the difference in strength now seems insurmountable imo.

I'm not sure most people wish that the Fischer-Spassky rematch never happened tho. Maybe the political side of it was distasteful, but from a chess perspective I would never wish a player not to play.

okay back to my reading...

regards

Smyslov vs. Geller +8 -11 =37
Smyslov vs. Korchnoi +5 -3 =13
Smyslov vs. Bronstein +6 -6 =26
Smyslov vs. Keres +9 -9 =22

Tal vs. Geller +6 -6 =25
Tal vs. Korchnoi +6 -13 +29
Tal vs. Bronstein +12 -8 =18
Tal vs. Keres +4 -8 =19

Petroasian vs. Geller +3 -5 =33
Petrosian vs. Korchnoi +10 -12 =50(!)
Petrosian vs. Bronstein +6 -2 =26
Petrosian vs. Keres +3 -3 =30

Spassky vs. Geller +10 -6 =23
Spassky vs. Korchnoi +16 -24 =35
Spassky vs. Bronstein +4 -1 =18
Spassky vs. Keres =5 -3 =19

For a hoot, I also did the WC's against each other:

Tal vs. Smyslov +3 -5 =21
Tal vs. Petrosian +5 -6 =38
Tal vs. Spassky +7 -9 =32
Spassky vs. Petrosian +11 -10 =53
Spassky vs. Smyslov +5 -3 =16
Petrosian vs Smyslov +4 -6 =24

I haven't studied this too closely, but a quick perusal shows that Spassky had the best overall record against both the FF and the WCs--plus scores against all except Korchnoi--while Tal had the worst record of the eight--losing scores against all excepting an even score against Geller and a winning score against Bronstein.

<so I'm hooked on the Fearsome Foursome.>

-lol-

This must be the most aggressive game I have *ever* seen from Black against a World class player (Maroczy).

18 ... ♗d6-b4!!

click for larger view

<blacksburg: the position after 18...Bb4 is very picturesque.>

In-@#$%ing-credible.

---

18 ... ?

click for larger view

18 ... ♗d6-b4!!

click for larger view

We're not actually opening the <Fantastic Four> forum until January, but I'm very cheered by your interest in the project.

We can copy n' paste work into it later.

Brilliant- both Bishops en prise and yet White is helpless.

S Thomson vs S Hosea, 2009

-lol-

I was thinking about having some fun and posting something like <I got this in 5 seconds, so simple>

just to see if anybody would say anything

but I went and read the kibitz and saw that a few people essentially do that regularly anyway.

no wonder ratings are on the up with so many tactical beasts like that around

-lol-

Well- yes and no.

Let me tell you about that "puzzle page kibbutzing."

If one "solves" a chess puzzle by moving pieces around on a board- that is a useful thing to do, don't get me wrong- but it has little or no power to increase your actual OTB rating. And the vast majority of our puzzle solvers, redoubtable crew that they are, use a board and pieces to "solve" the puzzles.

That's because in an OTB game you can't mess around with the pieces.

Well I suppose you could if no one was looking...

But it is 10000000000 times harder to figure any position out through pure visualization.

I stopped moving pieces around on my board in Correspondence games over a year ago.

So my Correspondence rating went down- but my OTB rating went up.

That's because the ability to see ahead- to calculate variations solely in your mind- is the real key to improving OTB rating.

CASE CLOSED

I'm pretty sure about this one.

This is particularly the case with many varieties of <endgames> where vizualization is much tougher because in many cases you've got to calculate long variations in your head- no shortcut here, no matter how many "principles" you've absorbed and memorized.

Case in point- there is a marvellous Chess Video study of a <Yasser Seirwan> game in which he calculates a <22 move> variation that wins on the last move-

Now <that> is the skill necessary to improve OTB rating.

And it's one of the reasons that games at short time controls are not "serious chess."

It takes time to do that much thinking.

Here is the video analysis of that <Seirwan> game, conducted by the more than able <IM Dennis Rhinoceros>:

Oh yes and BTW, I will not only be cheering for you in your upcoming match with <Garry Kasparov>-

I'm going out on a limb and predicting victory for you.

My "idea" is that you never retired. You've been active ever since <Garry> retired, and you have been particularly active this past year.

Also, the difference between you and your arch-enemy was infintesimal to begin with.

I think <Garry> was psychologically stronger.

How else to explain that he won every match- except the first which was called off- when the total number of games played in all of the matches comes to what- +1 for <Garry> or something ridiculous like that?

I didn't know this, this is good to hear <Jess>, I was feeling a touch inadequate before :-)

<I stopped moving pieces around on my board in Correspondence games over a year ago.

So my Correspondence rating went down- but my OTB rating went up.>

I play some CC chess too, but my method is to examine the position as deeply as possible without moving the pieces, <then> to move a few and repeat.

I would think you are right that the rating remains artificially high with moving the pieces tho, but I suspect many opponents do this as well (and worse :-O )

<That's because the ability to see ahead- to calculate variations solely in your mind- is the real key to improving OTB rating.>

yeah, I would have to agree, and also add that of late I have been attempting more long term planning as well.

A plan actually helps with spotting the tactics a lot, well according to some DVD lessons I am looking at just now.

But planning requires experiece, and I'm a bit short on that in most positions -lol-

thanks for the link to that website, it appears that I need to subscribe to view the video, but there are some other interesting things on there for free :-)

<I'm going out on a limb and predicting victory for you.>

Wow, not even I am predicting victory for me. That is most kind of you!

<How else to explain that he won every match- except the first which was called off->

That, my dear Jess, should very well be made the Chess quote of the day! :D

...if not for the entire MONTH!! ~lol~

I fully concur. <grin of 'quotes & anecdotes' ensues>

____________________________________

<notyetagm: Maroczy vs Charousek, 1896

This must be the most aggressive game I have *ever* seen from Black against a World class player (Maroczy).

18 ... ♗d6-b4!!

click for larger view

<blacksburg: the position after 18...Bb4 is very picturesque.>

In-@#$%ing-credible. [...]

It never ceases to amaze me what you can do on the chess board when you have *immense* <TACTICAL SKILL>, like Charousek did back then and Carlsen, Aronian, etc. do today.>

So true! ;) The old Masters sure could play a mean game of Chess! :)) <notyetagm> - thanks so much for posting that classic "Blast from the Past!" It's also one of the main reasons we all so dearly *luv* the one named: Rudolf Rezso Charousek :D

It's a great pity that he died young (at the age of 26 of tuberculosis)... :(( I'm so glad for the games that have survived but just think of all those incrediable Chess games we could have dreamed about if only he would have been allowed to play them! :)) A concept far beyond mere words... ;)

____________________________________

<Open Defence: btw I now have <NINE> yes count em <NINE> games in the database... MUAHUAUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA>

Excellent Deffi! :) When I'm finally ready I'm hoping to upload a minimum of 30 games (probably spread out over a few week's time) to my eventual Player's page here on <CG.com>. Well, it's the only way I could think of to keep my winning percentage down! ~lol~ Hence, you'll also see just how Mal loses... <another glorious 'grin' ensues>

____________________________________

Finally (in reply to the fabulous Chess quote above that Jess has now engraved within our minds):

<A Karpov Fan: Can I add the people who attempt the Sunday Puzzle to that list <Jess>? Especially the ones without a snowball's chance in hell of getting it even, like myself :-(>

I predict that someday you'll be surprised (that YOU too will be able to do this) what relentless determination and the shrewd use of guile will do for you! The implementation and persistence of the 'midnight oil' contains almost as many secrets as the Goddess herself - Caissa! :^)

My Best Always, - Mal

PS: One last...

<A Karpov Fan: I was thinking about having some fun and posting something like <I got this in 5 seconds, so simple>

... just to see if anybody would say anything

but I went and read the kibitz and saw that a few people essentially do that regularly anyway.>

heh

You've come back with a vengeance- with a patented <Mal> MEGA POST!

<Anatoli Karpov>

Yes I know- tie goes to the title holder- But now it's time for the "Revenge of Anatoli"...

If you have frozen strawberries in your freezer for one year, is it still safe to eat them?

Embarrassingly, I kind of need to know...

I'm very thirsty and the stores are all closed now -- and you can't drink tap water in Korea. Well I suppose you could, but good luck to you afterwards.

The answer I get is thaw them and give them the sniff test. If they smell bad, don't eat them.