Queens Gambit
As far as the series goes, I thought it was good. Some parts felt rushed - not just the gameplay - but that's the nature of film I guess. And, regarding the speed of play, was that really as bad/different-from-reality as people are saying? They really only show the opening sequences and bits of endgame on the series. My (very limited) experience is that the opening is usually fast-ish because there's not a lot of studying to do at that point & time preservation is important.
Quote: rdw4potusI And, regarding the speed of play, was that really as bad/different-from-reality as people are saying?
!00% different. Go watch some
of the top matches on Youtube,
it's glacier slow. It's chess, not
speed checkers. I like the scenes
in Searching for Bobby Fischer
where the kid is playing his dad.
The kid makes a move and then
goes away to play with his sister
and 20 min later his dad makes
a move. That's chess.
Quote: AxelWolfIIRC it takes about 15 Captains for you beat me. (-:
You were beaten before your first move. It just took you 15 Captains to realize it! I look forward to a rematch at your 2022 Big Game party.
Neither.Quote: billryanI've never played in a tournament. Are they strictly one and done deals where either you win and advance or are some best of three ?
Most all tournaments use the "Swiss System." Everyone plays a certain number of games. Every one of my 70+ tournament games were Swiss. I knew ahead of times how many games I'd be playing, that tourney win or lose.
Usually a weekend tournament has from 5 to 8 games. A tournament stretching out over a holiday weekend, for example, usually has more games than a tournament that's just Friday to Sunday.
Each round, you're matched up up with someone who has a similar score as you do. So after three rounds if you haven't won a game yet, you're paired up against someone else in Round 4 who also hasn't won a game. (Or as close to it as possible.)
The winner of the event will be the player with the best score, after x number of games. If two or more players are tied, a tie-breaker rule will be enforced. But this is only to award a trophy. If two or more players are tied after the event, the prize money is evenly split between them.
The world championships, and the events qualifying for that, are different, of course. If the field is small enough, a Round Robin works... where everyone in the tournament plays everyone else.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss-system_tournament
Are you out 2021?Quote: billryanYou were beaten before your first move. It just took you 15 Captains to realize it! I look forward to a rematch at your 2022 Big Game party.
better than the first 3. Ana Taylor-Joy
carried this all on her own. She under
played every scene and at some
point you realize, hey, I really care about
this character.
I'm glad they didn't overdue her addiction
problem. There are lots of people who
are sporadic addicts and lead pretty
normal lives. Spenser Tracy would go
on periodic benders where he would
lock himself in a hotel and drink himself
unconscious for 2 weeks. But never when
he was working.
My mother was raised in an orphanage
and this reminded me somewhat of her.
She was really into herself and didn't
understand being a mother because
she never had one. She was really smart
and independent, like Beth was here.
I enjoyed the final scenes in Russia. I
remember what a huge deal chess was
in the world in the late 60's and early
70's. Hard to believe now.. The Russian
chess master is actually a very well
known Polish actor who often plays
sinister characters. He did very well
here.
I want see more of Taylor-Joy and her
Bette Davis eyes. What a talented 24
year old girl.
Big hit 30 years ago:
Her hair is Harlow gold
Her lips a sweet surprise
Her hands are never cold
She's got Bette Davis eyes
She'll turn her music on you
You won't have to think twice
She's pure as New York snow
She got Bette Davis eyes
Bette Davis in the 1920's:
Quote: AxelWolfAre you out 2021?
Barring an unseen circumstance, I don't see myself attending.
I'm reminded of the poker craze 25 years ago. Or how guitar sales and a big demand for music lessons happened when the video game Guitar Hero was at its peak
Because of the current supply and shipping issues, it is recommended that you order quick if you want to give chess as a gift for the holidays.
These things never last, of course, but they're fun when they happen. And they do tend to have long term effects.
Many of today's top engineers, for example, liked Scotty on Star Trek when they were kids. Likewise, many of our current crop of archeologists spent their youths watching the exploits of Indiana Jones.
So, a generation from now, expect the chess grandmasters to be mentioning The Queens Gambit when asked how they got started.
Full Story at the NY Times
Quote: terapinedI just finished the Queens Gambit, great netflix series.
I've been playing a lot of chess on my switch now
I'm a pawn to King 4 opening person my whole life
Been playing a lot on my switch using Queens gambit opening and really loving my position.
The series is fascinating as it uses real historical games picked by Gary Kasporov. I've watched analysis of those games on yourube.
I am very much a fan of the miniseries & binged watched every episode reluctantly :/ But I must admit I've always preferred games that used the King's Gambit since the board state creates some of the most remembered games ;)
Quote: teliotNearly all of it. The speed that the games were played in almost every scene where they showed moves was absurd. As a tournament player and expert, every move I made was carefully written down, double checked, and only after I was fully satisfied did I move the piece. Other players followed similar double checks. Those who blitzed were following an intimidation strategy that almost always got punished.
First I totally agree - every time they played at warp speed I cringed and criticized it to my wife..
But, think of the challenge faced by the people who made this series. We are shown scenes of a competition where none (or an infinitesimal fraction) of the TV audience is really going to understand what is going on. And the pace of a game is deadly slow -typically 2 hours for 40 moves. Yet they want a sense of narrative tension -and they want the movie to be well-paced.
So they showed "Chess on Speed." I didn't like it, but I understand why they did it. Not sure how else they could have created a successful series.
I think showing the thought required for a single move and the diligence a professional takes in recording and making that move can create a lot of tension as well, and if the position was shown then the knowledgeable watcher might even know the move and root for that move before it is made on the board. All of that was taken away from us by virtue of these blitz sequences in every important game. At least once they should have shown a small piece of tournament reality.Quote: gordonm888First I totally agree - every time they played at warp speed I cringed and criticized it to my wife..
But, think of the challenge faced by the people who made this series. We are shown scenes of a competition where none (or an infinitesimal fraction) of the TV audience is really going to understand what is going on. And the pace of a game is deadly slow -typically 2 hours for 40 moves. Yet they want a sense of narrative tension -and they want the movie to be well-paced.
So they showed "Chess on Speed." I didn't like it, but I understand why they did it. Not sure how else they could have created a successful series.
Quote: teliotI think showing the thought required for a single move and the diligence a professional takes in recording and making that move can create a lot of tension as well, and if the position was shown then the knowledgeable watcher might even know the move and root for that move before it is made on the board. All of that was taken away from us by virtue of these blitz sequences in every important game. At least once they should have shown a small piece of reality.
That would have increased tension for a much smaller audience and decreased enjoyment for a much larger audience. Easy to see why they made the choice they did.
Note the computer -- that was Hans Berliner, competing with his program HiTech.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEFytJdQs1M
The co-creator, Scott Frank, is an alum of UCSB and is doing a Zoom tomorrow available locally to discuss QG. Hopefully he will address this question. If he does, I'll report back. I don't know if there is any more Zoom space available, but here is the link:Quote: unJonThat would have increased tension for a much smaller audience and decreased enjoyment for a much larger audience. Easy to see why they made the choice they did.
https://www.carseywolf.ucsb.edu/pollock-events/queensgambit/
https://youtu.be/3kn8a6zTY3E
+ I can't relate to being in a foster home but I definitely can relate to these kids' lives.
Quote: USpapergamesSo I just finished a movie last night that I think is better than Queen's Gambit!!! Not that the story of Beth Harmon isn't as interesting but the writers of this movie are definitely more involved with the game than the writers of Q.G. The movie is called Critical Thinking & unlike QB, you might actually learn something about chess from watching this. Plus I think the story of this movie has a greater underdog since your dealing with broke teenagers in communities where just getting an education is a miracle. Seems like there are a lot of chess lovers here so I hope you enjoy!
https://youtu.be/3kn8a6zTY3E
+ I can't relate to being in a foster home but I definitely can relate to these kids' lives.
Looks interesting
Youtube deleted it
Still being sold
Have to check it out once it hits one of the major subscriber streaming services
How did you watch it?
Quote: terapinedLooks interesting
Youtube deleted it
Still being sold
Have to check it out once it hits one of the major subscriber streaming services
How did you watch it?
You can rent it on Youtube or Prime (and maybe others) for $3.99. I think I'll rent it.
Quote: CrystalMathYou can rent it on Youtube or Prime (and maybe others) for $3.99. I think I'll rent it.
https://www.primewire.ag/movie/1337462-watch-critical-thinking
All the links below the sponsored work, the 1st working link is version 6 called streamzz.to
You may need to delete some pop ups.
Quote: terapinedLooks interesting
Youtube deleted it
Still being sold
Have to check it out once it hits one of the major subscriber streaming services
How did you watch it?
That's shocking, they might be catching on to me ;)
I did the same thing with the movie Game Master and everyone here was able to watch it :/
What is hilarious is that YouTube will still allow me to watch, but only if I'm logged in lol. Guess YouTube doesn't mind if I want to save the movies I like?
https://vimeo.com/488348020
https://www.carseywolf.ucsb.edu/pollock-events/queensgambit/
I greatly enjoyed this one -- lots of twists.Quote: StevieRayShineAre there any other series, shows or movies like Queens Gambit that you can recommend?
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093223/?ref_=fn_ft_tt_67
Quote: teliotI greatly enjoyed this one -- lots of twists.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093223/?ref_=fn_ft_tt_67
House of Games is a great movie on game psychology and mainly focuses on poker & hustling but it's a good movie nonetheless.
Quote: StevieRayShineAre there any other series, shows or movies like Queens Gambit that you can recommend?
Not much like Queens Gambit, but I love Cobra Kai. Season 3 coming January. Here is a trailer.
Direct: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcDQqGJG8pA]
Quote: WizardNot much like Queens Gambit, but I love Cobra Kai. Season 3 coming January. Here is a trailer.
Big fan of Cobra Kia! When you do ever get to see adults reprising their high school characters?
Did you guys watch Critical Thinking yet? I think it's the best chess movie / tv series of 2020.
https://www.primewire.ag/movie/1337462-watch-critical-thinking
https://youtu.be/WxE7yHXPKSI
BTW, "perfect" means I didn't make any moves the computer thinks sucked. It does not mean I always played the best move.
Here is the game:
https://lichess.org/WQD9ZpLZ
“The only unusual thing about her, really, is her sex. And even that’s not unique in Russia. There’s Nona Gaprindashvili, but she’s the female world champion and has never faced men. My guess is Laev was expecting an easy win, and not at all the 27-move thrashing Beth Harmon just gave him.”
Note the camera focuses on an actor who looks like, and is obviously portraying, Gaprindashvili. The trouble is Gaprindashvili had played dozens of men by the time this scene is set in 1968. That year, for example, she placed third in an international tournament defeating seven out of nine opponents. All of them were male.
The suit contends...
Quote: Gaprindashvili lawsuitNetflix brazenly and deliberately lied about Gaprindashvili’s achievements for the cheap and cynical purpose of ‘heightening the drama’ by making it appear that its fictional hero had managed to do what no other woman, including Gaprindashvili, had done.
Thus, in a story that was supposed to inspire women by showing a young woman competing with men at the highest levels of world chess, Netflix humiliated the one real woman trail blazer who had actually faced and defeated men on the world stage in the same era.
The suit also takes issue with the show inferring she is Russian...
Quote:Piling on additional insult to injury, Netflix described Gaprindashvili as Russian, despite knowing that she was Georgian, and that Georgians had suffered under Russian domination when part of the Soviet Union, and had been bullied and invaded by Russia thereafter.
Netflix seems surprised...
Quote: NetflixNetflix has only the utmost respect for Ms. Gaprindashvili and her illustrious career, but we believe this claim has no merit and will vigorously defend the case.
Does Gaprindashvili have a case? Probably not. She was certainly ill treated by the script, but she's also a public figure (the suit is being filed in California). My guess is that, like the chess players in the show, she doesn't have much money and doesn't like Hollywood making millions while slapping her in the face.
She's asking for $5,000,000. I doubt Netflix wants to establish such a precedent, but they could probably settle out of court for a lot less.
Full Story at LA Times
I liked your game. After playing many social and low-level tournaments over a number of years, I couldn't quite work out why I wasn't improving. I think I finally worked out why. I think it's because chess is a combination of memory and skill. I was purely relying on skill 🤷Quote: teliotOkay, I recorded myself playing a game of online blitz chess. At LiChess.org I am "Happy_Puppy." It's ugly, but I found it surprisingly easy to comment during the game.
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I'm also not a lawyer.
Netflix could have obviously just made up a fictitious character in place of the Plaintiff, but clearly enough meant to represent the Plaintiff, and the Plaintiff would have likely had no case whatsoever.
If you want to talk about actual trailblazers in women's chess, let's talk Vera Menchik. Upon entering the Carlsbad 1929 tournament, 5th seed Albert Becker derisively suggested that any man who loses to her should be forced to join the "Vera Menchik Club". Shortly after, he became its founding member :D
Or Judit Polgar, who unfortunately gets treated as a bit of a pariah because she not only eschewed the segregated "women's circuit" but became a living rebuke of it. But of course she came after the time the show was set in.
Quote: GialmereNona Gaprindashvili has brought a defamation lawsuit against Netflix over its allegedly defamatory portrayal of her in “The Queen’s Gambit.” She accuses Netflix of “belittling” her achievements as the first woman in chess history to be named a grandmaster. The suit focuses on this short sequence...
“The only unusual thing about her, really, is her sex. And even that’s not unique in Russia. There’s Nona Gaprindashvili, but she’s the female world champion and has never faced men. My guess is Laev was expecting an easy win, and not at all the 27-move thrashing Beth Harmon just gave him.”
Note the camera focuses on an actor who looks like, and is obviously portraying, Gaprindashvili. The trouble is Gaprindashvili had played dozens of men by the time this scene is set in 1968. That year, for example, she placed third in an international tournament defeating seven out of nine opponents. All of them were male.
The suit contends...Quote: Gaprindashvili lawsuitNetflix brazenly and deliberately lied about Gaprindashvili’s achievements for the cheap and cynical purpose of ‘heightening the drama’ by making it appear that its fictional hero had managed to do what no other woman, including Gaprindashvili, had done.
Thus, in a story that was supposed to inspire women by showing a young woman competing with men at the highest levels of world chess, Netflix humiliated the one real woman trail blazer who had actually faced and defeated men on the world stage in the same era.
The suit also takes issue with the show inferring she is Russian...Quote:Piling on additional insult to injury, Netflix described Gaprindashvili as Russian, despite knowing that she was Georgian, and that Georgians had suffered under Russian domination when part of the Soviet Union, and had been bullied and invaded by Russia thereafter.
Netflix seems surprised...Quote: NetflixNetflix has only the utmost respect for Ms. Gaprindashvili and her illustrious career, but we believe this claim has no merit and will vigorously defend the case.
Does Gaprindashvili have a case? Probably not. She was certainly ill treated by the script, but she's also a public figure (the suit is being filed in California). My guess is that, like the chess players in the show, she doesn't have much money and doesn't like Hollywood making millions while slapping her in the face.
She's asking for $5,000,000. I doubt Netflix wants to establish such a precedent, but they could probably settle out of court for a lot less.
Full Story at LA Times
link to original post
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In an update, a federal judge has denied a Netflix request to dismiss Nona Gaprindashvili’s $5 million defamation lawsuit.
Quote: U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Phillips"Netflix does not cite, and the Court is not aware, of any cases precluding defamation claims for the portrayal of real persons in otherwise fictional works. The fact that the Series was a fictional work does not insulate Netflix from liability for defamation if all the elements of defamation are otherwise present."
So, to the shock of many, there will be a trial. While it's unlikely Gaprindashvili would win, the ramifications of a Netflix loss would be staggering. How many Hollywood movies have you seen that play fast and loose with history? Now imagine all those historical figures (or their estates) suing the productions for inaccuracies. Talk about a rainmaker.
Not surprisingly, Gaprindashvili has requested a jury trial (which would allow her lawyers to play on juror sympathy). Netflix has no comment on the ruling but the chances that the streamer will now resign the game, so to speak, and settle out of court to just make it all go away have increased dramatically. Such a settlement, however, will no longer be cheap.
I missed this back in September. It appears Netflix has settled the lawsuit brought by Nona Gaprindashvili. Sadly, but not surprisingly, neither side is discussing details.
Full story at Vanity Fair
Quote: Gialmere
I missed this back in September. It appears Netflix has settled the lawsuit brought by Nona Gaprindashvili. Sadly, but not surprisingly, neither side is discussing details.
Full story at Vanity Fair
link to original post
I seem to recall a similar lawsuit by Johnny Sun after "Dragon: the Bruce Lee Story"
In the film there is animosity over the two martial arts schools and Bruce Lee fights and defeats Johnny Sun. In a fit of rage Johnny Sun kicks him in his back causing a serious back injury to Bruce Lee which takes him months to overcome.
The Sun family I believe sued Universal.
In reality they did have the martial arts fight and Bruce did win. Johnny Sun congratulated him on his victory.
Then about two weeks later Bruce Lee dropped a heavy weight which he was military pressing causing his back injury.
On the audio commentary the director said that wasn't as exciting storytelling as making it a back injury from a deceitful fight. He said the two unrelated incidents occurred just two weeks apart so he just fudged them together lol.
Quote: WellbushOne of the best trailblazers of them all: Bobby Fischer. What a genius! Actually, pound for pound genius for his time in history, it would be hard not to say he was the best ever. That's considering where the chess world was at, at the time. Of course, his play would be known by good players now, and they could counteract. But I'm talking about how he would decimate the best in a brilliant way at the time in history he played.
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This comment speaks to one of Fischer’s greatest contributions to chess—Fischer Random Chess
It is absolutely correct that if you took 1970s Fischer and put him against the best today he would lose. That’s simply a function of greater theory and the use of computers to study lines. Computers have, I think, destroyed a lot of the beauty of chess. Fischer saw what was happening in chess—the best were the people who studied studied studied opening lines for 16 hours a day. Fischer random chess throws all that prep out the window. All you have is your innate creativity and general chess principles.
As far as the lawsuit, I’m guessing they settled for nuisance level payment. Maybe $10k or $20k. I wouldn’t be surprised if the voice over in the show was changed to a different name. Literally any fictional name. It’s an easy change. Problem solved.
Quote: TinManAs far as the lawsuit, I’m guessing they settled for nuisance level payment. Maybe $10k or $20k. I wouldn’t be surprised if the voice over in the show was changed to a different name. Literally any fictional name. It’s an easy change. Problem solved.
link to original post
I would guess somewhere in the low six figures. Netflix doesn't need the bad press of a trial and a settlement would now be the cheapest path forward. Whatever the amount, it was obviously enough to buy her silence.
I'll have to check that episode again and see if they changed the line or simply added a disclaimer.
How it would work, is a third person would record each move on a chess board that neither GM sees. The GMs would say their moves out loud, but not allowed to record them anywhere or see any representation.
