Kamsky has just tied up the score against Topalov after 4 games.
Aronian and Grischuk continue to lead Linares after 3 rounds.
Madmedyarov, Moiseenko and Kurnosov are leading Aeroflot after 5 rounds.
GM Georgiev is trying to break my simul world record in Sofia, Bulgaria right now. (Just got off the phone with BBC about this simul attempt by GM Georgiev.)
It’s a very exciting few weeks in chess and it’s Saturday Open Forum. What would you like to discuss? The forum is yours!
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
I believe Topalov should play his beloved Sicilian defence. Ruy Lopez or the Caro don’t suit his style at all. I mean, when you are a tactical genius and complicated games are your best area you should play a Sicilian!
Can Kamsky go all the way?
Unfortunately, I think that Topalov will come up with a surprising defense that will force Kamsky to get out of his comfort zone. Everything that I’ve been reading says that Topalov thrives in the odd games, so I think this will be his strategy.
Hello Susan,
From your extensive experience as a professional GM and as a chess educator, what are your thoughts on the use of computer programs versus playing with a chess coach? Do you think the positional aspects of chess are being lost on the younger players due to computer training (at the expense of better tactical awareness)?
MG42, that is why you need both. My son Tommy uses chess software and chess database to train. He also learns and trains using books and playing out games using a regular board and set. You should not do just one.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
It is good time for chess around world but we can’t help feeling uneasy about some of bottom feeders running for uscf board of directors.
Nice to see Richard Widmark posting here. Sharks of the world unite!
Laugherty must be getting desperate. LOL
Don’t bother deleting all your posts. They’re all saved.
Sure. If you want someone with a loud mouth, a big ego, and no ethics, by all means vote for Brian L. Some of us have higher standards.
This quote is priceless.
Also an anger management problem according to some in Massachusetts.
Last year, in the wake of the Krush-Zatonskih armageddon controversy, Tom Braunlich wrote this …
http://main.uschess.org/content/view/8602/468/
… article on “Tiebreak Theory”.
In it, he describes an interesting, but as yet untested tiebreak system devised by Larry Kaufman:
“One normal game is played using half (or perhaps 60% of) the available time, shared equally (color chosen by lot). If it is decisive, that’s it. If it ends in a draw, a second game is played in the remaining time (again, time shared equally), BUT WITH THE SAME COLORS. However this time black gets draw odds. I believe that this rule gives roughly equal chances to black and white. GMs I’ve asked about it don’t agree on which color they would choose, which confirms that it is pretty fair.”
The article goes on to say exactly why Kaufman finds it statistically fair – mathematically, as well as the response he got from GMs.
I like the idea. It’s a way to play off ties, when necessary, in a predictable amount of maximum time, without resorting to blitz or sudden-death games to finish off tournaments conducted under “classical” time limits.
Greg Shahade is quoted in the article as saying he dislikes it because …
“I don’t think an organizer should be the judge of what type of system creates a fair chance for both players. If one player feels that having White in the mentioned system is only 45% then that sucks that they should be forced to have it just because a poll decided it was close to a 50-50 proposition. As much power as possible should be put in the players hands when it comes to controlling their destiny.”
… but that’s easily remedied. I suggest this:
Before the playoff starts, both players indicate (in private) to the arbiter which color they prefer for the playoff. If they choose different colors, problem solved. They both get their wish and off they go.
If they both choose black (for example) then they can bid for a time-handicap. Say the games are to be 60 min + 15 sec increments. Who will take 59 minutes to get black. 58? 57? When someone passes a bid, the last bidder gets black with the last number as time handicap against the other’s 60 minutes.
For something like the current Topalov-Kamsky match, this could even be a playoff of full “classical” game taking (maximum) two days.
Comments?
How about those Red Sox?
Hi Susan,
Thank you for the suggestions. Not many kids are as lucky as Tommy (as in their mom is a world champion GM), so are there any mentor resources for the average joe kid? 🙂
Thanks and looking forward to Part -II of the Topalov/Kamsky match,
-MG42
Just to inform you that the stimul of Kiril georgiev is over in 14 hours and 14 minutes. I don’t know the result though. He won the last fourteen for that I am sure but for the rest I have no idea. it was fun 🙂
Hi Susan,
If Kiril Georgiev breaks your record will you consider an attempt to surpass it in the near future?
Tim,
I have no doubt that he will and I am rooting for him. I know Kiril for more than 20 years. If I do it again, it will be as a fundraiser to help chess.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
MMan, Shadade is so obviously right that there no need to discuss it.