Yeah, I often wondered about <percyblakeney> who was a higly esteemed fellowkibitzer we still could benefit from.

And good luck to you too !

I haven´t really got Wijk under my skin,but I am working on it ;)

<Let's hope Bookie fixes the round 4 pick three in time :-)>

Good to see that you still are around...good questions that you pose. So far I would say somewhere bewteen disapointing and enjoying.The livecoverage could be better and I may be a bit handicapped as some of my focus is on the final bookiegame too. Riding more than one horse can be too much ;).But the quality of play is fine as far as I can tell,but still something is missing.And like you pointed out:the absence of Carlsen,Kramnik too perhaps..The aftermath of Chennai? Are we consumers a bit too spoiled too ?
The absence of something really important at stake ?

Something always occur.As when Rapport
defeated Gelfand with the Budapestergambit(after all : he is from Hungary :).An almost refuted opening on the highest level, or at least a dubious..And that is interesting. E.g.due to the computers we will likely
see more of the kind in the near future.Which is good and necessary IMO. Ww may witness all kind of sidelines and the like pop up.The trend has already started.

I did give some of the same advice to a couple of GM´s and IM´s I´ve coached. "Just play something which is under the radar of your opponent". Doesn´t matter if it is 0.00 or even -0.17 as long as you surprise and go off the trotten path.""But I dont like it moro"-"Doesnt matter when your opponent like it less".

These were the words on this froggy day just before leaving for the grocery store.Wify needs some shrimpcheese for her lunch at work:)

Hope you will have a fine day and perhaps see you Again at Wijk !? Tomorrow I may or may not follow the action.Depending on some bloodtests one of my friends have to make.

P.s.:Got the book "My Chess" by your compatriot Hans Ree for Christmas.Highly recommended.

Should have been,off the radar,not on the radar.

Good stuff on the other topics as well - and I have always wondered about how difficult it is to avoid prep - much easier than was commonly thought in the 80s, when people tended to follow lines just because a master played them, and got a 1-0 result, or 0-1, whatever, to me that type analysis never seemed logical, and to be frank it did not take the advent of modern comps to see the limitations of that approach. Computers of this day seem to have compensated for that, but overcompensation is now the order of the day, and the new silicon gospel is equally full of flaws, though less apparent. Carlsen is one of the few who navigates that well, and just plays the board asap.

Just gave timmie a hug, my best to you and your wife, and is to today a rest day, or is there live chess this afternoon?

Yes and gave my wife hug from you and she returned another one to you !

About computer which is a very interesting topic I may return tommorrow cause today I dont have much time.

My generel take on them is : I wish they were never invented.

But now we have to get the best out of the situation.Like with cars and aeroplanes ,perhaps.

Any thoughts from yuo !?

See you around and take care !

(hugs included ;)

Did you know that sometimes the big hand on the clock represents the consciuosness we are aware of(everything is relative)and the little hand the subconsciuosness.Hence noon is a good time to settle something.No shadows too...

Personally I think modern transportation does have more advantages than disadvantages, but I remember from the man I mentioned that he mainly had trouble with the sound, noise, that is produced, in the city, where he as a kid enjoyed the quieter atmosphere instead of a 1000 Kg steel monster racing by every second.

But personally I am less bothered by the automobile industry than the weapons indutry, or Big OIL, which does have a stranglehold on all societies and countries, as fossil fuel could, and should bereplaced by electric cars, imo. The strain on the environment is simply unacceptable, but the money made is what counts. PROFIT!

Just a few thoughts, and it is not just the fuel, but just about everything we use, plastic, rubbers, even your toothpaste tube, it's all based on oil as main component.

Good to see the veteran being able to follow the yonger ones.And I also think he will bring home the bacon ;)

I am looking forward to a big clash between Denmark and Spain in handball. Wife is at location and gave me my first little lesson anout texting before leavin with friends.

See you around,but I may be off for other duties.
Enjoy your evening !

It was really a thriller yesterday,but a deserved win and we are now the favourites vs the french,but I would be not at ll surprised if they would win on sunday.But a great party so far,and it was funny to see my wife in the TV as she was there with collegues and friends ;)

And you are right : the homeadvantage
is like an energy that lifts the game.

Has your wife been at several games? Or is she at every game?

I'm at the moment listening to the TATA live broadcast with a Kasparov-with-a-slight-cold as guest with the commentators!

Yes I am home and has just listened to
Garry & Co.He is always worth listening too,though he occured very tired today.But then Dirk teen Geuzendam gave him an I-Pod ;).

Geuzendam seems to be extremely nice and wellbalanced.I always enjoy his appearencies.In person as well as in writing.No wonder he has the confidence of the players on the grand tour.