OT: Chess

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I don't know if it's because some guys are out of form a little, but this second half has been crazy to watch!

The Wang Hao-Grischuk game today had me rocking back and forth on my couch lol

I don't really care who advances, but I'm hoping for more drama than a Nepo runaway win.

Nepo still has to play Fabi and MVL again, right?

 

[Harbour Dog]

Nepo still has to play Fabi and MVL again, right?

Yup, but he has white against them both. If Fabi doesn't beat him (on Friday), that will be a huge blow to his chances, since Nepo would own the tie break against him.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Yup, but he has white against them both. If Fabi doesn't beat him (on Friday), that will be a huge blow to his chances, since Nepo would own the tie break against him.

Damn it's going to be real tough then, especially considering Fabi hasb't played all that great (though the other day was a masterpiece).

 

[Harbour Dog]

Damn it's going to be real tough then, especially considering Fabi hasb't played all that great (though the other day was a masterpiece).

Yeah, that game against MVL was an astounding piece of preparation, but it never felt like he converted it as he should have, and ended up just finding a stubborn way to wear him down.

Nepo is notoriously streaky, so who knows. His two remaining games with black are against Wang Hao and Ding. If one of those guys can find a way to win, then that'll open the door to some comeback potential.

The tournament could be all but decided by Saturday if he keeps his form.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Yeah, that game against MVL was an astounding piece of preparation, but it never felt like he converted it as he should have, and ended up just finding a stubborn way to wear him down.

Nepo is notoriously streaky, so who knows. His two remaining games with black are against Wang Hao and Ding. If one of those guys can find a way to win, then that'll open the door to some comeback potential.

The tournament could be all but decided by Saturday if he keeps his form.

Yeah but he's been excellent, especially in a couple recent tourneys.

Cool to have some real chess fans here - whats your Elo?

 

[Ben Grimm]

1		Carlsen	2847.0	0.0		2881.0		2886.0			30
2		Caruana	2822.0	+2.0		2773.0		2711.0			28
3	↑1	Nepomniachtchi	2792.3	+3.3		2778.0		2785.0			30
4	↓1	Ding Liren	2790.5	−0.5		2836.0		2788.0			28
5		Aronian	2781.0	0.0		2778.0		2739.0			38
6	↑1	Giri	2780.7	+4.7		2731.0		2744.0			26
7	↓1	Grischuk	2770.9	−6.1		2784.0		2765.0			37
8		Mamedyarov	2770.0	0.0		2761.0		2716.0			36
9		So	2770.0	0.0		2741.0		2816.0			27
10		Radjabov	2765.0	0.0		2758.0		2757.0			34
11		Rapport	2763.0	0.0		2727.0		2759.0			25
12	↑1	Firouzja	2759.0	0.0		2703.0		2770.0			17
13	↓1	Wang Hao	2758.8	−4.2		2750.0		2712.0			31
14		Dominguez Perez	2758.0	0.0		2786.0		2654.0			37
15	↑1	Karjakin	2757.0	0.0		2709.0		2765.0			31
16	↓1	Vachier-Lagrave	2754.7	−3.3		2860.0		2822.0			30
17		Anand	2753.0	0.0		2751.0		2785.0			51
18		Nakamura	2736.0	0.0		2829.0		2900.0			33

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

The live ratings. The top 16 are all under 40.

 

[Ben Grimm]

I like how Nepo gives this look that says "Why are you so foolish to sit down with me? You're obviously inferior".

 

[Brief Candle]

Can I tell you how psyched I am to see this thread! I mean I'm a total garbage 1100ish rated player (I do not study at all), but god I love chess.

We really are living through a renaissance of chess. So many characters in the top ranks. I love Nepo because he's a total scifi/fantasy nerd. I just checked twitch, there's about 30k watching chess right now. Chess! I really wish I would have started playing when I was younger, but the stigma of it being SO uncool was there, and I was an idiot who believed it, even though I really wanted to learn.

 

[Harbour Dog]

Yeah but he's been excellent, especially in a couple recent tourneys.

Cool to have some real chess fans here - whats your Elo?

I don't have an otb rating (yet), though once Covid restrictions lessen, I'm going to start looking for tournaments near me regularly!

I play mostly 10-minute games on chess.com and currently just hit a rating high of 1803. Unfortunately, I'm 32 and only started to put effort into getting better at chess about 3.5 years ago, so there a lot of tactics and positional ideas that will never be automatic to me. My goal when I started was to get to 1800... maybe 1900 now haha.

What about you?

 

[Brief Candle]

Yeah, I'm 44, and I've only really been playing for the past year, but extremely casually. I bought a few of the more well-known books, but just don't have the time right now to give them the attention they need. I'd love to get good enough to enter some competitions and get an actual rank (we're not talking GM here, don't worry).

 

[Harbour Dog]

Can I tell you how psyched I am to see this thread! I mean I'm a total garbage 1100ish rated player (I do not study at all), but god I love chess.

We really are living through a renaissance of chess. So many characters in the top ranks. I love Nepo because he's a total scifi/fantasy nerd. I just checked twitch, there's about 30k watching chess right now. Chess! I really wish I would have started playing when I was younger, but the stigma of it being SO uncool was there, and I was an idiot who believed it, even though I really wanted to learn.

The resurgence of chess has been amazing! The combination of Covid and the Queen's Gambit has driven so many more people to the game.

Anytime I feel like I want to watch chess on Twitch, it's practically a guarantee that there will be somebody streaming. Whether it's Hikaru, or Naroditsky, or Levy, or even the Botez sisters, there is always a presence there.

I have to admit, I found it a little hard to watch the Poggers tournament, but that may have been one of the greatest breakthroughs for chess ever! There was one point where a match between (I think) xQc and somebody else was THE most watched stream on Twitch. And Ludwig continues to stream chess on occasion; he even had Magnus Carlsen on last week, playing hand and brain with the Botez sisters.

If you're around 1100 and not studying at all, that isn't anything to be disappointed about. Those poggers were getting help from pro chess players, and only three or four of them got above 1100, I believe. The main thing is that you get what you want out of the game! And it sounds like you do.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I don't have an otb rating (yet), though once Covid restrictions lessen, I'm going to start looking for tournaments near me regularly!

I play mostly 10-minute games on chess.com and currently just hit a rating high of 1803. Unfortunately, I'm 32 and only started to put effort into getting better at chess about 3.5 years ago, so there a lot of tactics and positional ideas that will never be automatic to me. My goal when I started was to get to 1800... maybe 1900 now haha.

What about you?

Yeah very much the same story for me. Started playing 3 years ago, 34 years old, rapid rating (10+0) of about 2065 on Lichess and 1850 on Chess.com (started about 800 points lower lol). No official OTB rating, but I've played a few OTB games with a friend who is 1680 FIDE rating and I've beaten him in 8 out of 10 games (with 1 draw). I play a lot of 3+0 blitz as well, that's hard lol.

 

[Harbour Dog]

Yeah, I'm 44, and I've only really been playing for the past year, but extremely casually. I bought a few of the more well-known books, but just don't have the time right now to give them the attention they need. I'd love to get good enough to enter some competitions and get an actual rank (we're not talking GM here, don't worry).

At a casual 1100, you probably could make some minor tweeks that would bump you 100+ points pretty quickly. Something as simple as specializing in some openings, and getting familiar positions in most of your games. Running the analysis tool after your games and seeing where you made mistakes, and why they were mistakes. Wouldn't have to be anything to involved.

But if it's the casual part that you enjoy, then f*** it! Just have fun. What time control do you generally play?

 

[Harbour Dog]

Yeah very much the same story for me. Started playing 3 years ago, 34 years old, rapid rating (10+0) of about 2065 on Lichess and 1850 on Chess.com (started about 800 points lower lol). No official OTB rating, but I've played a few OTB games with a friend who is 1680 FIDE rating and I've beaten him in 8 out of 10 games (with 1 draw). I play a lot of 3+0 blitz as well, that's hard lol.

Oh, that's interesting! So your rating would probably translate to be similar otb, maybe closer to 1800. Perhaps mine would be closer to 1750. What time control did you use for the games against your friend? If any.

Yeah, I play bullet sometimes as a warm up, or if I feel not mentally ready for real chess. I've avoided 3+0, probably without good reason. I just know that I have to spend more time calculating than most people at my level, and I'm pretty sure 3+0 would be more of a struggle to rise. It's probably a very good training tool though! Plus, my current blitz rating is 1770ish, since the 10+0 games used to be in blitz. I'd be getting stomped on for a bit haha.

You should add me the next time that you're on: Harbour-Dog.

 

[Ben Grimm]

...You should add me the next time that you're on: Harbour-Dog.

I have you and DaveG added. I've been more of a fan of chess since I joined Chess.com only playing the AI, lessons, and puzzles, but you guys have inspired me to start playing again. When I get my rating to 1000 I'll play some quick, fun games with you and others.

Who are you guys rooting for in the Candidates and in the Championship? I think Caruana is the best challenger, but Nepo is hot. I'm undecided.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Oh, that's interesting! So your rating would probably translate to be similar otb, maybe closer to 1800. Perhaps mine would be closer to 1750. What time control did you use for the games against your friend? If any.

Yeah, I play bullet sometimes as a warm up, or if I feel not mentally ready for real chess. I've avoided 3+0, probably without good reason. I just know that I have to spend more time calculating than most people at my level, and I'm pretty sure 3+0 would be more of a struggle to rise. It's probably a very good training tool though! Plus, my current blitz rating is 1770ish, since the 10+0 games used to be in blitz. I'd be getting stomped on for a bit haha.

You should add me the next time that you're on: Harbour-Dog.

We played 25+10 - I feel like I always play better in classical time controls but don't have the patience. I am guessing I am probably around 1780-1800.

https://chessgoals.com/rating-comparison/
This suggests you'd be ~1780 OTB

 

[Brief Candle]

Honestly, I see SO many parallels between Hockey and Chess. The movement of pieces, how they compliment each other, development of "plays". Every hockey player or fan should get into playing. I really think it could only help.

Isn't it all so crazy? I'm watching Carlsen play Dubov right now. Literally both casually playing from home for the world to watch.

I actually put off watching the queens gambit till fairly recently, and I have to say, it was utterly amazing (it also doesn't hurt that the main character is unnaturally breathtakingly beautiful haha).

 

[Harbour Dog]

Honestly, I see SO many parallels between Hockey and Chess. The movement of pieces, how they compliment each other, development of "plays". Every hockey player or fan should get into playing. I really think it could only help.

Isn't it all so crazy? I'm watching Carlsen play Dubov right now. Literally both casually playing from home for the world to watch.

I actually put off watching the queens gambit till fairly recently, and I have to say, it was utterly amazing (it also doesn't hurt that the main character is unnaturally breathtakingly beautiful haha).

I agree. At its core, chess is a pure form of strategy. There are so many lessons to be taken from it, that I can see in sports.

Short term, the way that you look to manage a chess game and steer it toward situations that are comfortable for you and not so for your opponent, is like Trotz controlling the pace of games with his lesser talented team or the Leafs getting into run and gun games as much as possible. And long term, it's all about the grind of winning and losing and winning and losing, and always learning and not being satisifed.

Carlsen only just started streaming last week, I'm sure it won't be long before he has a large following. He isn't the personality of a lot of those guys, but he's Magnus Carlsen; that's reason enough for me to watch him playing whenever I have a chance. And Dubov should be a huge draw too, he rightfully has a lot of fans. Myself included.

 

[Ben Grimm]

Very exciting chess today! I think Nepo and Giri are the only possible winners now.

 

[Harbour Dog]

Very exciting chess today! I think Nepo and Giri are the only possible winners now.

The MVL-Nepo game tomorrow is going to be huge. I think that Nepo plays 1. d4, and if MVL does like MVL does and goes for the Grunfeld, Nepo probably has several options in mind to try to force draws. We may see a Queen's Gambit, or some funky Queen's Pawn Game variation, with MVL trying to avoid any of those prepared forced draws.

I'll be cheering for Giri from here on out though; he has changed his entire mentality and is playing the best chess of anybody in the world at the moment; Magnus included.

I won't get to see the next two rounds in their entirety, unfortunately.

 

[Ben Grimm]

The MVL-Nepo game tomorrow is going to be huge. I think that Nepo plays 1. d4, .... I'll be cheering for Giri from here on out though; he has changed his entire mentality and is playing the best chess of anybody in the world at the moment; Magnus included. ...

Although the move order was transposed, you were correct that Nepo played a d4 opening, English Opening: Anglo-Indian. I love the chess.com analysis and openings options. I'm also rooting for Giri, because I'm Dutch. Nepo and Giri are 3 & 4 now in the live ratings.

 

[Kaners Bald Spot]

Nepo wins with a round to spare.

 

[Harbour Dog]

HD, how about trying to predict the openings in the first 2 games for each player? If they transpose move order, but you pick the correct opening you're still correct. I predict the first 2 games are both Sicilians so 1. e4 for both players in both white games and 1. ... c5 for both players in both black games.

Sure! For tomorrow's games?

 

[Ben Grimm]

Sure! For tomorrow's games?

Sorry. I meant the World Championship.

 

[Harbour Dog]

Sorry. I meant the World Championship.

Ah, I gotchya, that makes more sense haha.

For sure. I'll have to give it some thought.

I suspect that Carlsen is going to do some more narrowed prep for Nepo than he did for Caruana. Against Fabi, he opened with c4, e4, and d4 in each of the first three games to feel him out and keep him a little off balance; I think his gameplan was always to play as safe as possible and be satisfied with getting to rapid tiebreaks where he had a huge advantage.

Nepo, whether as strong as 2018 Fabi or not, is probably going to require Carlsen to narrow his preparation in a little more ahead of time.

I may wait to see what they play in some other events this year, and eliminate those openings from the running haha