Only a few days to go before the Topalov – Kramnik match. This would be the most exciting match in a while due to the contrasting style of the two players. Kramnik has an overall plus score. However, Topalov is not the same player he was a few years ago.
It’s Saturday Open Forum! You can post or ask just about any subject? Enjoy!
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Hi Susan,
Thanks for the open forum. Does chess ever still use drawing of lots to break tie-scored matches? I have always found chess to be rather silly to do that (as it did in your 1993 soccer/football world championship semi-final match with Ioseliani, and as it did in 1984 Smyslov-Huebner candidates match).
I can’t ever imagine other sports such as a World Cup finalist being decide with drawing of lots to settle a tie score, or a U.S. Open tennis championship being decided by drawing of lots. The drawing of lots cheapens chess as a sport.
OOPS
>as it did in your 1993 >soccer/football world
>championship semi-final
>match with Ioseliani
should have read:
>as it did in your 1993
>CHESS world
>championship semi-final
>match with Ioseliani
and:
>other sports such as a
>World Cup finalist
should have read:
>other sports such as a
>soccer/football World Cup finalist
Sorry about my typos in the first post.
Susan,
I occasionally have days where I wake up and do not even want to look at chess, for whatever reason. As an amateur and someone with many other hobbies, this is perfectly fine. Do you ever have days like this? And if so, do you still force yourself to study and play, or do you just “play hookey” that day?
I am a daily reader of your blog and a grateful fan.
Thanks,
Mike D.
Susan, in the recent Chess Life, you open one of your games at the Mayor’s Cup with a Colle-Zukertort. Is this a regular choice of yours, or were you using it aiming for transpositions into other openings? The Colle is one of my regular openings, but I didn’t think it appeared much on the IM/GM level.
Susan,
according to your stance against so called ‘Kournikova’s of Chess’ I am wondering what you think of chessbase’ coverage of women’s chess, and towards females in chess?
I do not read a lot about women’s chess on the site, yet they seem to always be on the lookout for the next chess pin up. Many of their reports usually feature a large selection of photographs from the women’s section, and with a quite deliberate figurative wink. Not so many from the male sections for some reason…
As if this was not regrettable enough, their top story of a few days ago and its headline photo, featured scantily dressed (all naked but a thong actually) models having been spray-painted. Do you find this attitude constructive? As a chess Mom I find it worrying. If one of the biggest chess sites on the internet is so vain towards our girls, and focusses on their looks and sex appeal instead of their chess, how can we expect our girls to be any different?
Pam
Pam, Chessbase is a commercial enterprise and they probably have recognized that most of their market is male and are catering to it. If their market were mostly female, I suspect you’d see pictures of hunky chess players with their shirts off.
The feature of the airbrushed models, I think, is more a reflection of differing attitudes to nudity, partial or otherwise, in different countries. Had this event taken place in an American mall, the models and their associates would have been escorted off the premises at the very least, and probably charged with public indecency. One of the big surprises that awaits Americans when they travel abroad is that they tend to be regarded as prudish and backwards with regard to the showing of skin and sexuality in general.
Dear Miss Polgar,
I am 16 years old and a 1400-rated player, and am trying to improve and hone my skills before I start playing tournaments this fall. However, I am finding it very difficult to include this in my schedule right now. Do you have any suggestions on how to study beneficially without making it too time-consuming? Thank you!
By the way, I loved your picture on the cover of ChessLife! Thank you for taking an interest in young chess players!
(Hi Susan,
Thanks for the open forum. Does chess ever still use drawing of lots to break tie-scored matches? I have always found chess to be rather silly to do that (as it did in your 1993 soccer/football world championship semi-final match with Ioseliani, and as it did in 1984 Smyslov-Huebner candidates match).)
I am very much against the lottery system to choose the winner. I like to see matches being decided on the board.
(What’s the most beautiful move you’ve ever played? (It doesn’t have to be a sacrifice or a spectacular move. An artistic or quiet move is also good, or a mysterious move.))
Hard question! I have to think about it 🙂
(Susan, I occasionally have days where I wake up and do not even want to look at chess, for whatever reason. As an amateur and someone with many other hobbies, this is perfectly fine. Do you ever have days like this? And if so, do you still force yourself to study and play, or do you just “play hookey” that day?)
Once in a while. But that means that I have to work twice as hard the next day 🙂 There’s no easy way out if you want to be a champion 🙂
(Susan, in the recent Chess Life, you open one of your games at the Mayor’s Cup with a Colle-Zukertort. Is this a regular choice of yours, or were you using it aiming for transpositions into other openings?)
It’s one of the openings I like to use. I prefer to use my chess skills rather than getting into lines that have been analyzed 30 moves deep.
(Susan, according to your stance against so called ‘Kournikova’s of Chess’ I am wondering what you think of chessbase’ coverage of women’s chess, and towards females in chess?)
ChessBase is a world-class chess news site. I go there for news from time to time. However, I will skip articles that focus pin up girls instead of chess accomplishments. There’s nothing wrong with trying to look nice. But it should not be the only focus. I like to be a role model to young players when it comes to hard work, dedication and perseverance instead of being the next Barbie or Paris.
(I am 16 years old and a 1400-rated player, and am trying to improve and hone my skills before I start playing tournaments this fall. However, I am finding it very difficult to include this in my schedule right now. Do you have any suggestions on how to study beneficially without making it too time-consuming? Thank you!)
Even 15-20 minutes a day of solving puzzles would help. Try not to skip it. Then spend more time doing chess on the weekends.
Good luck!
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
As we get closer to the 12 game match between Topalov and Kramnik and now knowing their teams, who do you think will win it? As for me, I am sticking to Kramnik to win by 2 wins!
Do you think Alex Onischuk will be World Champ some day? He is #38 I think among active FIDE players, was a second to Karpov and now to Topalov, or will he just be known similar to Lombardy or Evans as a very talented player who worked with great players.
(Do you think Alex Onischuk will be World Champ some day? He is #38 I think among active FIDE players, was a second to Karpov and now to Topalov…)
If FIDE continues to have the knockout format, anything can happen. But it is a big odd for anyone to win the world championship living in the US. It is tough being a professional chess player living in the US.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
(As we get closer to the 12 game match between Topalov and Kramnik and now knowing their teams, who do you think will win it?)
Too tough to call but I would probably give Topalov a slightly better chance: 50.5% – 49.5% 🙂
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
Susan you always say study endings, also to play out Grand Master games from move 15 on, and I dont argue with your logic because you are a GM. But I am just an average player and I cant understand how you can improve by learning endings and middle games without understanding the opening, since if you are weak at the start you will have that weakness throughout the game. Could you reply to this. Thank You.
(Susan you always say study endings, also to play out Grand Master games from move 15 on, and I dont argue with your logic because you are a GM. But I am just an average player and I cant understand how you can improve by learning endings and middle games without understanding the opening, since if you are weak at the start you will have that weakness throughout the game. Could you reply to this. Thank You.)
When you build a house, you start with the foundation. You build from the basement up. Same in chess. Without understanding endgames, openings would be useless. You may survive the first 10-20 moves by memorizing the openings. But you will never go far without understanding middle and endgames.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
I saw something odd on the Topalov Kramnik match. It looked like there is a color change in the middle of the match. WHAT? do they play the same color for half the match then switch??? thats sort of wierd..