To play in the Olympiad is an honor. Therefore, I believe that any player who competes in the Olympiad MUST be in tip top physical, mental and emotional shape. That player must give his / her country 150%. If not, that player has no business representing his / her country in the most prestigious International team competition. I guess I am old school.
I played in 4 Olympiads in my career, twice with both of my sisters, once with Sofia and once for the United States. I won team and individual medals in every Olympiad. I won a total of 10 medals, 5 Gold, 4 Silver and 1 Bronze. I have never sat out even one game in those 4 Olympiads. I played all 56 games on board 1 and I have never lost a single game.
I simply do not understand the philosophy of resting star players, especially in round 1, 2 or 3. The Olympiad usually offers 2 rest days anyway. As I mentioned before, every half a point counts because the (individual and team) point scores are computed for the team and individual medals. Two years ago at the age of 35 (some consider that over the prime age), I had no problem playing all 14 games. In fact, I performed better toward the end, scoring 5.5 / 6 and winning the last 4 straight games. How did I do that? I eat healthy, exercise daily and have proper rest at night (that means no party or nights on the town during the event, only after). I wish more players would take this seriously.
Again, I also do not understand the philosophy of not playing your best players, especially for teams which are on an uphill battle to win medals. In the men’s team, there are 4 starters and 2 alternate players. In the women’s team, there are 3 starters and 1 alternate player. There are specific reasons why some players are starters but the #1 reason is the starters are supposed to be stronger. The only time any starter should sit out is if he / she does not feel well or he / she has a bad streak. Some teams do have the luxury of having deep teams. A perfect example would be Russia. Most do not.
At the 2004 Calvia Olympiad, 3 women’s teams were within half point from each other for the team Silver after 13 (of 14) rounds: US, Russia and Georgia. The US and Georgia played the top 3 boards while the Russian rested their board 1 in the most crucial round. Georgia and the US both won by the score of 2.5 – .5 while Russia won 2 – 1. That gave the US the Silver and Georgia moved into a tie for 3rd with Russia (eventually lost on tie-breaks).
Why do captains sit out their best players?
If you are the captain, would you sit your best players during early or critical rounds?
I agree with you. Too many wimpy fragile players who don’t give their all. Sad!
I also agree. Stars supposed to behave and play like stars. Sitting out in round 1 or 2 is just ridiculous.
Well, teams like Russia (Kramnik-Svidler-Morozevich-Grischuk-Bareev-Rublevsky) can afford to do this as their reserves are better than most countries’ regulars. But teams like India and U.S.A can not
I agree with you, Susan. Your opinions are definitely not old school.
In 2001, I had the opportunity to represent my university to the world intervarsity chess championship in Singapore.
In the championship, China fielded 2 teams. Each team comprised of 4 main players and 2 reserves. Through all 9 rounds of the competition, China only fielded their top 4 players – even when playing against the lowest-seeded players! And there was only 1 day rest between the 9 days of games.
What really struck me most was their discipline and humility. They arrived early at every game, and played with greatest respect for every player (even those rated few hundred points below them).
At night, when all of us are partying, the Chinese players are no where to be found. At first we thought they are a bunch of dull-duds, not knowing how to have fun. But on the free-day (4th day), during the city excursion, you can see how much fun they have touring the country/city. They were the first team to leave and the last team to arrive that day, bringing home lots of pictures and souveniers! 🙂
Anyway, we as a team, were truly humbled by the great discipline and humility showed by the Chinese players. They played to their level best at every game, and played and had fun when the right time comes.
If this is old school, then it works for me…
I think you hype your 2004 Olympiad success too much . It is not that big of an achievement. Other countries and players have achieved much more and show off much less.
Are you stupid? The US has never won a single medal. The 2004 team came back with 4. It was the best ever performance by the US ladies. Stop talking nonsense. If you like other teams, go to their blogs.
(Anonymous said…
I think you hype your 2004 Olympiad success too much.)
How many medals did you win? If not, shut the hell up. Go USA!
which philosophy made – let’s say an Anand – to play a blundered to draw endgame against a Ponnomariov in Sofia – whilst his indian olympic team suffered a horrible loss against the moroccan chess stars?
chess is a single player sport … please don’t forget this marginal fact …
and please don’t forget, that nationalism may be part of US – thinking – but some countries in this world – have even overtaken their nationalism, because it does no good …
your Vohaul
Ultimately, the measure of a strategy is in success. Kramnik sat out for Russia, and they won the round 4-0 anyway.
Vohaul, the Olympiad is not a single sport. It is a team event. Team chemistry and strategy plays a big role in a team’s success. Take my word for it 🙂
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
i’ve played much more in teams than for myself in tournaments all over my “chess carreer” – i know, susan, that you are right – but it is much easier to beware fleas in a sack (as we say in germany) than bewaring a team of individualists in an individualistic sport …
sincerly your’s, Vohaul
“…it is much easier to beware fleas in a sack (as we say in germany)”
Interesting analogy 🙂
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
i’ve played much more in teams than in tournaments all over my “chess career” – i know, susan, that you are right – but it is much easier to beware fleas in a sack (as we say in germany) than bewaring a team of individualists in an individualistic sport … driven by individualistic intensions … e.g. winning the m-tel … i think Lennox Lewis is right – and by the way – there are boxing teams, too! 🙂
sincerly your’s, Vohaul
I would have to say that Jenn Shahade was also star on the ’04 Dream Team and she earned it by winning the US Womens Championships.They do give medals for top alternates. Alternates need a shot to compete for medals too. She would not have hurt the US Team much at all by playing a few more games.
She was 150 points lower than board 3 and she scored 1/2 point in 2 games against 2100 opponents. So much for contribution, maybe for the Russian team.
Shahade almost cost the US team a medal. They won by half a point. Shahade is a good player but she was definitely out of form. Zatonskih is 2500 USCF, Krush is 2450.
Meanwhile, the Russian team won 4-0 AGAIN. That’s 8 points from the 8 games they played so far. (That was without Svidler, who’s probably still in Sofia attending a farewell dinner, and without Kramnik, who’s nowhere to be seen. But I won’t draw any conclusions from that).
Where do you guys get the results from?
Susan:
Can you advise what exercise one should do? I walk and swim and ride my bike now and then. I am slim but don’t have a whole lot of stamina or strength. I tend to feel very tired especially in the US Swisses towards the end of each day . These Swisses as you know feature 2 games a day.
“Team chemistry and strategy plays a big role in a team’s success. Take my word for it :)”
Susan, what happened when you won the Women’s Olympiad with your sisters and another reserve player, I don’t remember who? Was the game strategy the same then, too?
Anonymous (fan).
In the previous elo rating systems, Gms would lose elo points when playing and winning games in the 1st rounds. Maybe this was the reason? You know, the 350 point elo difference? Then of course, nobody wants to play win and lose points.
“Vohaul, the Olympiad is not a single sport. It is a team event. Team chemistry and strategy plays a big role in a team’s success. Take my word for it :)”
Chess is not a team sport, of course. The team chemistry exists on a higher level, only because players are sitting close next to each other. If strategy exists, it should be swithing the players from time to time, not having the front boards play all the time. The Olympiad is based on a wrong system invented by those who don’t understand chess that much, as the players do. Team Olympiads must be played under different rules, not these extremely boring and expensive ones. Of course, the Olympiads in chess should be individal, not “team”. This will change with the change of the rulers.
Dear Susan, why are you revealing strategies that have led to our team winning the best spot ever on the Women’s Olympiad? Shouldn’t they remain within USCF?
Do you think the USCF really cares about sending a winning team? They don’t give a hoot about any strategy.
uScF cares.
“Why do captains sit out their best players?”
Dear Susan,
You ask questions as if you have never been on a Chess Olympiad. Or as if you have been quaranteened each time, not being allowed to talk to fellow players.
So often the best players refuse to play the last round, because of a possibility of losing a board medal, won by percentage during the previous games. The captains can’t do anything about it, not even cash works.
If that is the case then do not invite those players again. If the captain cannot control his / her players, then find a new captain.
You go to the Olympiad to represent your country and try to win the Gold medal, not to protect rating points. Even if I have locked up the individual Gold after 13 rounds, I would still play the last round. I do not play chess any other way.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
So many World Chess Champions have refused, in one way or antoher, to play on the Chess Olympiad. Topalov, Ponomariov, Khalifman, Xie Jun, etc. This is a good sign that something is not right. Maybe playing for ones country means nothing any more, as citizenship and FIDEship are two different ships.
“You go to the Olympiad to represent your country and try to win the Gold medal, not to protect rating points.”
Dear Susan, you are special. There are not many as you in the chess world. Normal behaviour of 99% of the chess players cannot apply for you. A long time will pass until your principles/guidelines are recognized and practised by all.
You got one point, but not all of them. This year Norway has 6 gm in the Olympiad. But the first board player is not yet arriwed because of exames. Magnus is still in school and he will be there in italy after his exam is finised. So…
Simen has the same problem. He is teashing and will arrive sone too. But before they do, we play with the 3,4,5 and 6 best. This is for the men. The women is missing Silje, who has the same problem. ut she will be done tomorrow, after her exame
Love Norway
I love Norway!
Strategy used for the USA team does not comply with the strategy offered. Check out:
http://schach.wienerzeitung.at/tnr1882.aspx?art=23&lan=1&turdet=YES&snr=3
1st round, USA(w) board 2 kicked out, in favor of weaker reserve. Reserve played again when main board lost first game. Reserve lost and was not given a third chance until the end, in favor of players who had more practice. Normal strategy used, nothing special. Good enough for 2nd place, one better than expected, and a medal one, too!
Check out the Champions (China) strategy, different, indeed:
http://schach.wienerzeitung.at/tnr1882.aspx?art=23&snr=1&lan=1&turdet=YES
“I do not play chess any other way” is a great statement Susan and sums up your philosophy completely. Kudos for asking the hard questions and sticking to your principles!
Susan, there are no two ‘contrasting philosophies’. There are different approaches for different cases.
Take a lower ranking team, they can play all out for 50th place, and give no experience to new or younger players. Or they can share the games, come 60th, and have a better team next time.
A player may be dropped by team policy if they get a medal % score – again a medal for one member may give the team more pride than a few palces difference.
Some teams have quite even spread of strength. Some have people who play better with black or with white.
MANY teams the players pay their own way, why should they sit out the whole event or play 1-2 games.
The US silver was a good result but it was not a model for every country to follow. For one thing, your #4 was quite a lot weaker than the other 3.
There are various measures of doing well, and other resons for losing than partying or indiscipline.
There are other qualities than grace and dignity, like fairness and sportsmanship. All are important.
Well said, sister (brother?) anonymous! Go USA!
Susan has only gold teams in her mind, as she always played for the best. Understanding the Olympiad strategy for the novice can be difficult for World Champions.