2021-07-18
The 35 most important chess principles
Most serious players already understand these, but I think that we all know people who could benefit from basic principles.
This video didn't teach me anything I didn't already know, except #32 which states that opposite-colored bishops are dangerous in the middle game. I didn't know that.
I like principle #35. If he didn't state it, I was going to mention it.
It is too bad that he didn't get to King opposition.
DRAMA AT CHESS WORLD CUP!
The first 3 minutes talk about a Grandmaster tournament game being stopped midway because of COVID.
2021-07-17
Bobby Fischer beats a Grandmaster in 10 moves! (But Reshevsky plays on)
Compare this 4-year-old video to a more recent one ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxzBKhVaRkU
This is a bit monotone. It sounds like he has a cold or is tired. I'm glad that his presentation improved over time.
At one time I thought that I would like to do chess instruction videos, but there are a ton of players better than me doing a really good job. It is a very crowded field.
My presentation would not be near as interesting.
2021-07-10
2021-07-09
2021-07-02
Centaur Smart Chess Set
https://store.moma.org/kids/toys-games/centaur-smart-chess-set/8910-146914.html
BTW, at the Columbus Chess Club last night I helped a guy named Paul Chestnut use his new chess computer. This thing is pretty interesting. It typically sells for about $450. The board can sense where you move the pieces. Want to start a new game? Just set the pieces back to the beginning. Want to take back one or more moves? Just move in reverse. You can take back the computer's move and play a different move for the computer, which might be useful if you want to play against a specific opening, or if you want to analyze.
There are circular lights under each square that highlight where the computer wants to move.
The pieces are the same size as my nice $35 chess pieces, although my pieces aren't as tall as some brands. The board is just barely smaller than a standard tournament board, which makes for a pleasant playing experience. The pieces and the board seem like they are made of lightweight plastic. The pieces don't have much weight to them except that I think that they have a magnet on the bottom. Underneath the board, there is no covering over the electronics that sense the movement of the pieces, so overall this device feels cheaply made.
There is a small screen that shows what position the computer thinks is on the board, which is helpful in case something got mixed up. It can also display a chess clock.
All the brains seem to be on the narrow right side panel. I suspect that it is using something equivalent to a phone processor, or maybe something cheaper. It is running Stockfish, which potentially makes it a very strong chess computer.
Unfortunately, it only has 3 modes of difficulty. There is "Friendly" that tries to automatically adjust to your level, however, Paul and I playing together lost to this mode. There is "Challenge" that tries to be tougher, and then there is "Expert". Given that it is running Stockfish, this "Expert" mode probably plays like a strong Grandmaster or better. The Stockfish program running on a desktop computer is far better than any human player.
An ideal chess program would allow you to set the playing ability by ELO rating, which for computers can go up to about 3600. My rating is around 2000. Magnus Carlsen is rated 2847. Ideally, it could also go down to zero.
2021-06-12
Top 10 Chess Players (2000-2020)
I think that this is interesting. Magnus Carlsen appears on the list at 1:20 in the video. By 1:38 he is #1.
Here are the top computer chess programs:
In the final standings, I am surprised that AlphaZero is not on top.
Giveaway INC - GM Simon Williams | iChess.net
I'm not suggesting that anyone purchase this course. However, the sample videos here are interesting.
2021-05-16
2021-05-07
2021-05-04
2021-05-03
2021-05-01
Tournament Game history stats
I didn't realize that these stats were available.
Magnus Carlsen's killer move stuns Jobava | World Blitz 2019
About a minute into this, Magnus Carlsen does something extraordinary.
2021-04-24
#15 puzzle
I used to be fond of the #15 puzzle, and even Bobby Fischer was fond of it. The 19nth century puzzle maker Sam Lloyd claimed that he invented it, but it was actually invented by a 19nth century postmaster named Noyes Chapman.
It seems to me that the puzzle is a precursor to the Rubicks' Cube. Both involve sliding pieces in a limited way. It is possible to take apart and reassemble both in a way that can't be solved. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15_puzzle
2021-04-08
8 Year Old Girl Hustles Trash Talker With Genius Trap! Next Beth Harmon! Boston Mike vs Dada
Cutting to the chase, at 6:20 in the video the eight-year-old girl makes a blunder against some street trash talker, but then she sets a trap which he falls for, and then she destroys the guy. I missed the later Rook to f2 check that was very powerful.
2021-04-06
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