National Open Chess Tournament at Riviera (6/6 — 6/9)
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Good luck!
Either way, that is very strong, practically a Master.
Quote: teliotGave up chess in 1995. Now, 20 years later...
there are elements of retention, like riding a bicycle, so take heart, you'd still kick my butt [although I stay quite rusty most of the time]
It was USCF. I was 2129 Postal at the time. I helped start ICS (Internet Chess Club) back in the early 1990's, was there when FICS split off, and also hosted crafty on my Sparc Station, the only robot online at the time.Quote: Beethoven9th2138??? Was that USCF or FIDE?
Either way, that is very strong, practically a Master. I was only about 1900 or so at my peak, so you would have crushed me.
Here is my listing on USCF:
12424345: ELIOT THOMAS JACOBSON
Current Published
Rating (May Supplement)
Regular Rating 2114 2000-02
Quick Rating (Unrated)
Blitz Rating (Unrated)
Correspondence Rating 2129
State CA
Expiration Dt. 2000-09-30
Voting Member Status Not Eligible to Register as a Voting Member
Last Change Dt. 1999-09-02
I play chess almost every day. Really, I haven't stopped playing. I just don't play against humans. I hate that. Still, I'm very proud that I wasted 15 years studying the game.
The first thing to go are the openings. Next, simple tactics. It takes the longest to forget strategic principles, but I've come a long way.Quote: odiousgambitthere are elements of retention, like riding a bicycle, so take heart, you'd still kick my butt [although I stay quite rusty most of the time]
Quote: teliotIt was USCF. I was 2129 Postal at the time. I helped start ICS (Internet Chess Club) back in the early 1990's, was there when FICS split off, and also hosted crafty on my Sparc Station, the only robot online at the time.
I play chess almost every day. Really, I haven't stopped playing. I just don't play against humans. I hate that. Still, I'm very proud that I wasted 15 years studying the game.
Do you know of any good chess programs on Android? I have Shredder (which is great) on my phone, but I was wondering if there was anything stronger? I heard that Houdini for Android will be coming out, but who knows when that will happen.
Quote: odiousgambitthere are elements of retention, like riding a bicycle, so take heart, you'd still kick my butt [although I stay quite rusty most of the time]
teliot is right. He's too modest to admit it, but I can tell you that he was far stronger than your average chessplayer. And when you're at that level, a long layoff from serious play really takes its toll. (For those of you out there who are unfamiliar with chess, teliot was almost a 'National Master' as designated by the United States Chess Federation)
I haven't been playing much chess lately. I've been taking an accounting class this semester at a local community college, and that takes up a bunch of my time. Also, there is backgammon tournament in Los Angeles that same weekend... and I've always wanted to play in a backgammon tourney too. So if I DO decide to play in a tourney, the backgammon tourney will be easier.
I'm currently an A player... I still hope to be an Expert someday. At my age, a Master title is probably out of the question.
For a few years I was an administrator on FICS. You can also check out my chess page at http://www.edcollins.com/chess/index.html
Quote: EdCollinsI'm currently an A player... I still hope to be an Expert someday. At my age, a Master title is probably out of the question.
For a few years I was an administrator on FICS. You can also check out my chess page at http://www.edcollins.com/chess/index.html
Ed, cool chess page. Class A is pretty darn strong as well. My dream was also to become a Master, but then reality set in. (haha)
Good luck in the backgammon tourney!
What some here may not realize is the workload that implied for me. I had to know my competition -- the best players at tournaments I would play. I had to study their openings. I had to think about how to play against them. I spent hours a day studying. One entire summer I spent just memorizing openings. I had a box full of tactical puzzles by my bedside (I cut them out from books) and would always look at a few before going to sleep. I was really truly obsessed. My biggest problem was that I hated losing -- I offered draws to stronger players in great positions far too often. I would have pre-arranged draws in the final rounds quite often. Toward the end, I played a series of local tournaments over a period of about 2 years where I was top rated, and won or tied for first in each, without losing a game. When I finally lost a game (to a 1900 level player) in 1995, I decided to quit tournament chess. I just hated it. I played one more tournament in 1999, and after losing in the third round, just gave up playing against humans for good.Quote: Beethoven9thteliot is right. He's too modest to admit it, but I can tell you that he was far stronger than your average chessplayer. And when you're at that level, a long layoff from serious play really takes its toll. (For those of you out there who are unfamiliar with chess, teliot was almost a 'National Master' as designated by the United States Chess Federation)
My life has been serial obsession. Chess was but one obsession in a long list.
Stronger? Shredder is rated 2640 on FICS.Quote: Beethoven9thDo you know of any good chess programs on Android? I have Shredder (which is great) on my phone, but I was wondering if there was anything stronger?
Quote: teliotWhat some here may not realize is the workload that implied for me. I had to know my competition -- the best players at tournaments I would play. I had to study their openings. I had to think about how to play against them. I spent hours a day studying. One entire summer I spent just memorizing openings. I had a box full of tactical puzzles by my bedside (I cut them out from books) and would always look at a few before going to sleep. I was really truly obsessed. My biggest problem was that I hated losing...
I hear you. In fact, those were the exact same reasons why I quit playing chess seriously.
Quote: teliotStronger? Shredder is rated 2640 on FICS.
Houdini 3 is rated 3300+, but I'm not sure how strong all the various mobile programs are.
Quote: Beethoven9thHoudini 3 is rated 3300+,
I didn't know ratings even went that high. Isn't Kasparov between 2900 and 3000?
Quote: WizardI didn't know ratings even went that high. Isn't Kasparov between 2900 and 3000?
Yeah, computers are just insane these days. Ironically, they tend to be weaker at correspondence chess since they don't quite have the same positional understanding as humans, but at blitz & rapid chess, it's a whole different story.
Kasparov's peak rating was 2851, which (I think) was about a dozen years ago.
GM Wesley So
GM Jaan Ehlvest
GM Varuzhan Akobian
GM Alejandro Ramirez
GM Manuel Leon Hoyos
GM Enrico Sevillano
Quote: Beethoven9thJust curious, is anyone here going to be playing in the National Open chess tournament at the Riviera (June 6th - 9th)?
No, I won't be playing in the chess tournament but will be competing in the slap jack tournament the following weekend.
suggestions on getting better?
Most people I know have made the mistake of thinking that they'll just automatically get better by playing day in & day out without studying. Not true. Anyone who does that will stay at the same level forever.
And... I missed playing. I'll have to remember that next year, and make it a point to attend in 2014. The National Open is always a lot of fun.
A few of my chess buddies went, and so over the weekend I was following their progress online.
I was happy to see 10-year-old Gia Peterson tie for third place in the Under 1600 section! (I know her and her dad and brothers.) She split $2,652 with three others.
And yes, in December, Bally's will host the North American Open, as they usually do. That tourney is put on by the Continental Chess Association, so it has a different "flavor/feel." (It's not nearly as big or nearly as much fun as the National Open, in my opinion.)
Quote: EdCollinsI was happy to see 10-year-old Gia Peterson tie for third place in the Under 1600 section! (I know her and her dad and brothers.) She split $2,652 with three others.
That's an excellent result.
After the game Jim told me he was one of just two people who DREW Karpov the night before, in Karpov's simul!
I'm glad he told me this AFTER the game. If he had mentioned it prior, I might have been intimidated!
And as luck would have it, I had to play a gentleman by the name of John Crawston in the third round. An error on my part, on move 46, threw away a winning position, and some 22 moves later we agreed to a draw. John told me he drew his game against GM Varuzhan Akobian in Akopian's Thursday night simul!
I figured I must be doing okay. I'm drawing games against players who are playing Grandmasters to a draw.
Quote: Beethoven9thfigure out what openings you like. Then, once you've settled on an opening, study the heck out of it.
i dont have the patience in memorizing the first 50 moves of every combination possible. nor does it help me for the 51st move.
how do i get better at strategy and tactics?
Quote: 100xOddsi dont have the patience in memorizing the first 50 moves of every combination possible. nor does it help me for the 51st move.
how do i get better at strategy and tactics?
I take it you've never studied chess books before? I say that because no one worth his salt ever suggests that a player memorize the first 50 moves of every combination possible, so don't worry about that.
It sounds like you are a casual player at the beginning stages, and if that's the case I would suggest starting out with something simple like Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess. It's a good cheap book that's perfect as an intro.
Also, do visit Chess.com to play some free games. They have all levels playing there.
Quote: Beethoven9thI take it you've never studied chess books before? I say that because no one worth his salt ever suggests that a player memorize the first 50 moves of every combination possible, so don't worry about that.
It sounds like you are a casual player at the beginning stages, and if that's the case I would suggest starting out with something simple like Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess. It's a good cheap book that's perfect as an intro.
Also, do visit Chess.com to play some free games. They have all levels playing there.
yes a casual player.
reviews for the book seem harsh? "basically a book about one-move checkmates"
will check out chess.com
Let me know how you like Chess.com.
Take care!
Quote: Beethoven9th
So what are your favorite openings? In recent years, I've really taken a liking to the Accelerated Dragon after reading Roman's Chess Openings for Black. And I really enjoy the Grunfeld against d4 (although theory runs so deep in the Grunfeld).
I'm not sure if I have a favorite opening. I'm familiar with the basics of most openings and I usually just play whatever suits my fancy at the time.
Against 1.e4 I suupose the French and the Caro-Kann would be candidates, but I also like to play the Sicilian and the Center Counter (1...d5) from time to time.
Against 1.d4 I often play the King's Indian Defense which I like, but I've also been known to play the Benko Gambit, and the Dutch Defense.
And since I like the Dutch Defense and the King's Indian Defense so much, I often play them as White, with a tempo up, i.e. I'll play Bird's Opening and the King's Indian Attack.
It's been awhile since I've played 1.d4... but I'll play 1.c4 now and then, and most of these 1.c4 openings transpose to a d4 opening anyway.
Online blitz chess (since it's not a "real rating" it gets even more varied, since it's all "just for fun." I can often be found playing the King's Gambit or even the Grob, for example.
Quote: Beethoven9th
I always toy around with the prospect of playing tournaments again, but whenever I look at how much I need to learn and re-learn, it takes the wind out of my sails!
Studying and re-learning is the best part. I have as much fun, or more, studying chess as I do actually playing a game.
Quote: Beethoven9th
Let me know how you like Chess.com.
Thanks for recommending this. I was playing on some other site and it was a waste of time. The opponents were chosen randomly so either I was playing an expert or a beginner. My name on chess.com is the same if anyone wants an easy game to feel better about themselves. I usually play the 10 minute games.
Quote: EdCollinsStudying and re-learning is the best part. I have as much fun, or more, studying chess as I do actually playing a game.
I hear you on that. I, too, get so much more enjoyment from studying positions as opposed to simply playing mindless games.
Quote: RogerKintThanks for recommending this. I was playing on some other site and it was a waste of time. The opponents were chosen randomly so either I was playing an expert or a beginner. My name on chess.com is the same if anyone wants an easy game to feel better about themselves. I usually play the 10 minute games.
No problem, Chess.com is probably the best free website out there. I like the fact that they have message forums and other goodies as well. Yahoo is also free, but they have a lot of jerks playing there. Plus, many of them use computer assistance, which really takes the fun out of it.
http://www.vegaschessfestival.com/natlopen/
I'm leaving tomorrow. The tourney starts Friday.
If you're near the Riviera this weekend, and if you never attended a large chess tourney before, you should check out this one. The National Open is always lots of fun. (Well... fun if you're a chess player. Otherwise it's probably the equivalent to watching paint dry.)
I'm very rusty. (School for me this past semester again kept me busy.) If I score 3 out of 6 points, I'll be ecstatic, especially since I'll probably be playing up most every round. (I'm an A player, but ranked near the bottom of my A player section.)
Quote: EdCollinsAs I mentioned in a few earlier posts, I missed playing in last year's National Open, especially after having played in the three prior to that. So I'm playing this year. In fact, I signed up months ago.
http://www.vegaschessfestival.com/natlopen/
I'm leaving tomorrow. The tourney starts Friday.
If you're near the Riviera this weekend, and if you never attended a large chess tourney before, you should check out this one. The National Open is always lots of fun. (Well... fun if you're a chess player. Otherwise it's probably the equivalent to watching paint dry.)
I'm very rusty. (School for me this past semester again kept me busy.) If I score 3 out of 6 points, I'll be ecstatic, especially since I'll probably be playing up most every round. (I'm an A player, but ranked near the bottom of my A player section.)
Great to hear from you again, Ed! May the chess gods grant you favorable matchups and flashes of brilliance. Not sure where luck comes in on a pure strategy game, but if luck will help, good luck as well. Will enjoy hearing about how it goes.
