This is the story between GM Ponomariov and GM Kamsky in their first game earlier today according to GM Shipov. Kamsky misread the chart and thought he was supposed to have White against Ponomariov. So he went ahead and prepared accordingly.
He was very upset to find out right before the game that he was having Black. He got a horrendous position but managed to hold on for a draw. The good news is he can relax tonight since he already prepared for White yesterday. There is always something good somewhere 🙂
This reminds me of what happened in 2004 in Calvia at the Olympiad. I was told that the Captain of the French women’s team got the wrong colors in one of the rounds. So the entire team prepared for the wrong colors on every board. I do not remember how the French team did but I am sure they were not very happy.
How would you handle it if the same thing happens to you? 🙂
Well done Gata! Now you can win with White! Go Gata!
How would you handle it if the same thing happens to you? 🙂
Whimper? Cry? Lose even worse than I would as White? 🙂
I’ve noticed that some players feel offended when they get a different color than they expected, even if their expectations were faulty. Then they get a poor position. Others take it in stride, realizing their own expectations were in error, and just play something they’re familiar with. Surely everybody has lines they know well enough not to need “last night” preperations for.
And anyways, to get black when you’re not expecting it, you’re only needing a draw. So it is not so bad. Worse would be to be ready for black with a draw line, and then get white and not have an attack prepared. But the emotional responses aren’t logic; an unexpected black makes people mad, but an unexpected white often makes the same person happy.
Obviously, best thing is to be clear what colour you have, and if not, have a plan for playing either side.
i think at the highest levels it matters. but for most of us just play. we have prepared most every day anyway.
Susan, here in America, many of us play in weekend swiss system tournaments where the colors and opponents are put on wall charts sometimes only minutes before the round starts. We try to be prepared for both colors prior to the game.
it makes no difference to which color i play with, i can play w2ith green pieces and still win!!!