I was searching for chess books at the library and came across this chess based romance novel. Interesting name for the lead character.
74 Seaside Avenue (Cedar Cove, Book7) (Mass Market Paperback)
by Debbie Macomber
No, I am not going to read it although I read the review at Amazon
Friday, September 21, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Badger Open - Milwaukee
Round 1 Action Wagner vs Betaneli. All participants were required to wear orange shirts for this round*
The open section had only 14 players.
The top seeds were
1.Betaneli (2277)
2.Stamnov (2217)
3.Santarius (2158)
4.Luo (2071) #2 Age 10 in the nation
Wesley Furguson(1966) wins clear first with 4/5.
The top seeds were
1.Betaneli (2277)
2.Stamnov (2217)
3.Santarius (2158)
4.Luo (2071) #2 Age 10 in the nation
Wesley Furguson(1966) wins clear first with 4/5.
Finishing with 3.5/5 were : Betaneli, Stamnov and Santarius.
Betaneli and Santarius who were tied with 3 points going into the last round decided on a quick draw. Luo had a sub par tournament 1-1=3
I tied for 1st-2nd Under 2000 with 3/5 (2-1=1 plus a bye)
Draw LUO, BRIAN J 2071
Win COVIC, MEHMED 1847
Loss PARKER, ANTHONY LEE 1987
Win GROCHOWSKI, ROBIN J 1789
My record against Brian Luo is now 1-0=2. Not too shabby considering that there is at least one master who has a 0-2 record against him.
In my only loss I sacrificed a Bishop that netted me the exchange. I then won a pawn, but got myself into time trouble, and in the last move before time control blundered it all away. Later analysis shows that I could have probably drawn this game.
After I played Bh2
The critical last move before time control. Re6 here and I am fine, but I played the horrible Nb6 allowing Be5 after which with best play I may be able to draw, but ended up losing.
Performance rating = 2021
Rating Change = 1839-1859
*Just kidding about the orange shirts
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Paul Hoffman's new book: King's Gambit...
Three interesting paragraphs from Paul Hoffman's new book King's Gambit: A Son, a Father, and the World's Most Dangerous Game
When a player gets violent, his wrath is often directed not at spectators or his opponent but at himself. One contemporary Russian grandmaster has been known to pick up the pointiest chess piece, usually the bishop or a knight with a particularly jagged mane, and stab his own head until it bleeds. Then he rushes out of the tournament hall only to return for the next round as if nothing untoward has happened. At one event, this grandmaster was among the tournament leaders who were playing on an elevated stage. When he lost a key game, he bloodied his face and then, in an extreme masochistic flourish, dove off the three-foot-high stage, belly-flopping onto the hard floor.
Such behavior is exceptional, but even stable personalities have trouble accepting defeat. Garry Kasparov, the thirteenth world champion, frequently storms off like a bull, shoving aside spectators who are in his path. Pascal can be withdrawn and sullen for hours. When I lose, I repeatedly remind myself that chess is only a game. Yet even that reminder doesn't stop me from replaying in my head not only the moves of the game where I went astray, but also all the other things in my life that have gone wrong.
Most of the world's top players have strenuous exercise routines to balance their sedentary chess playing. Bobby Fischer worked out regularly long before it was fashionable, and Kasparov pumped iron, swam, and rowed as part of his chess training. "Your body has to be in top condition," Fischer said. "Your chess deteriorates as your body does. You can't separate mind from body."
When a player gets violent, his wrath is often directed not at spectators or his opponent but at himself. One contemporary Russian grandmaster has been known to pick up the pointiest chess piece, usually the bishop or a knight with a particularly jagged mane, and stab his own head until it bleeds. Then he rushes out of the tournament hall only to return for the next round as if nothing untoward has happened. At one event, this grandmaster was among the tournament leaders who were playing on an elevated stage. When he lost a key game, he bloodied his face and then, in an extreme masochistic flourish, dove off the three-foot-high stage, belly-flopping onto the hard floor.
Such behavior is exceptional, but even stable personalities have trouble accepting defeat. Garry Kasparov, the thirteenth world champion, frequently storms off like a bull, shoving aside spectators who are in his path. Pascal can be withdrawn and sullen for hours. When I lose, I repeatedly remind myself that chess is only a game. Yet even that reminder doesn't stop me from replaying in my head not only the moves of the game where I went astray, but also all the other things in my life that have gone wrong.
Most of the world's top players have strenuous exercise routines to balance their sedentary chess playing. Bobby Fischer worked out regularly long before it was fashionable, and Kasparov pumped iron, swam, and rowed as part of his chess training. "Your body has to be in top condition," Fischer said. "Your chess deteriorates as your body does. You can't separate mind from body."
Monday, September 03, 2007
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