tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44385078617068882472024-03-18T14:58:09.063-04:00Chess Player at LargeJohn Coffey's Blogs and Chess LessonsJohn Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.comBlogger835125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-88132693262966374802024-03-18T14:52:00.000-04:002024-03-18T14:57:36.383-04:00The World's Most Arrogant Chess Player<div dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4SxyAbfyuU" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4SxyAbfyuU</a></div> John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-56907318880194549532024-03-18T11:19:00.000-04:002024-03-18T11:19:05.151-04:00Testing old chess computers through emulation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6HeVVVehT4ppkTlt5172WeDp0hwWbipCgiTGykn2Jf_zyqVtEz3FgoQjxpVIcDy5HCszbnE6KtW3NajjyRhd6IhSJBGDgPUkDVIWqSzON0c5rcEU2PnKERjxOutGC0t84YwtTI3VGDRJ_WPuHgm5ySqmqgvLu9coeIkRSnAuuGBfAMqeSy0tS_bpq3Q=s320" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6HeVVVehT4ppkTlt5172WeDp0hwWbipCgiTGykn2Jf_zyqVtEz3FgoQjxpVIcDy5HCszbnE6KtW3NajjyRhd6IhSJBGDgPUkDVIWqSzON0c5rcEU2PnKERjxOutGC0t84YwtTI3VGDRJ_WPuHgm5ySqmqgvLu9coeIkRSnAuuGBfAMqeSy0tS_bpq3Q=w400-h300" width="500" /></a></div><p>In the days before everyone had computers, if you wanted to play chess, your only option was to play with another person. In the late 1970's Fidelity introduced a series of electronic computer chess games. These early models played rather poorly, but I knew people who bought them just to be able to play and practice whenever they wanted. I managed to borrow a few of these so that I could get a feel for how well they played.</p><p>Although the early machines did not play well, things started to improve in the 1980s. <B><I>There was a golden age of dedicated chess computers that went from 1983 to about 1993.</B></I> In 1984, I purchased the <a href="http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/Chess_Life_1984_-_Novag_Super_Constellation.pdf" target="_blank">Novag Super Constellation</a> electronic chess game for what I think was $200, which was quite a bit of money in 1984. The U.S. Chess Federation had given it a rating of 2018, which is better than at least 90% of all adult tournament players. Any rating between 2000 and 2199 is considered to be the skill level of "Expert" and a higher rating of 2200 is considered to be "Master."</p><p>Although I am currently rated 2016, at the time I bought the
Novag Super Constellation I was rated just a little over 1700. In a few months, I would reach a rating of 1800 which is considered to be "Class A." Nevertheless, what I remember about the Novag Super Constellation is that it played better than me, which is surprising since it only contains an 8-bit processor running at just 4 MHZ. That is not very fast compared to modern 64-bit processors with multiple cores running at gigahertz speeds.<br /><br />Over time, I bought a couple of better chess-playing computers and I have fond memories of practicing with all of them. I sold all these machines when I got a desktop computer in the mid-'90s, but I kind of regret it because they all were fun to play with it.<br /><br />This became an issue when I was researching these old chess-playing computers where I saw many online claims that these computers were not as good as the ratings that had been assigned to them. For example, I saw the claim that the Novag Super Constellation was only about 1750 strength, and two other computers that I owned rated 2100 and 2265 were also claimed to be weaker than their advertised ratings. None of these claims match my experience, since all of the computers played better than I did.<br /><br />I was so curious about this that I wanted to get my hands on one of the old chess computers, assuming that one can be found, however unlikely, and see how it compares to my current chess ability. Fortunately, <a href="https://en.chessbase.com/post/the-wonderful-world-of-chess-machine-emulators" target="_blank">I found software that allows me to emulate dozens of old chess computers on my Windows PC.</a><br /><br />In my first game against the emulated <a href="http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/Chess_Life_1984_-_Novag_Super_Constellation.pdf" target="_blank">Novag Super Constellation</a> on level 1, the lowest level, I was able to win by only the slimmest of margins. I tried the same thing on the Fidelity Designer 2100, a slightly better machine, and I lost. I have no doubt that the other computer I owned, the stronger Fidelity Designer 2265, would stomp me like it used to when I played it 30 years ago. I will confirm this eventually.<br /><br />So I tested a variety of chess computers with a somewhat difficult chess problem..</p><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCkHzcHl5o0VKm1G6HJCBfu1RinjH3fRGRyBGRoGb51ZxbZIv5zbI4cQkipZA0rKWRWCHc16d6FshjUP9u2uwgv1HMX08vBM4azDaofXE6wo868BnSDYQ3Tn76qMI4BuEzmt6iD1oJPJGzPnLBJJkdMu2ZP4auhfj0BmRN00CI1W1wfHvFXCYNrl7Umg=s2006" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1346" data-original-width="2006" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCkHzcHl5o0VKm1G6HJCBfu1RinjH3fRGRyBGRoGb51ZxbZIv5zbI4cQkipZA0rKWRWCHc16d6FshjUP9u2uwgv1HMX08vBM4azDaofXE6wo868BnSDYQ3Tn76qMI4BuEzmt6iD1oJPJGzPnLBJJkdMu2ZP4auhfj0BmRN00CI1W1wfHvFXCYNrl7Umg=w400-h269" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Most serious chess players have seen this problem already and know the answer. However, if they were not familiar with it, the solution might be difficult for them to find in a real game. There is the more direct solution of 6. Nxe5 Bxd1 7. Bxf7+ Ke7 8. Nd5# (checkmate). However, for a computer to see the solution it also has to see 6... Nxe5 7. Qxh5 Nxc4 8. Qb5+ c6 9. Qxc4. There is also 7... Nf6 8. Qe2 Nxc4 9. Qxc4. Either way, that is 7 half-moves deep, which is pretty deep for ancient chess computers to look.<br /><br />Based upon my testing, this is how long various chess computers take to solve this chess problem...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div>
<style>
table, th, td {
border: 1px solid black;
}
</style>
<table>
<tbody><tr>
<th width="20">#</th>
<th width="90"> Model</th>
<th width="35">Year</th>
<th width="70">Processor</th>
<th width="60">Speed</th>
<th width="40">ROM</th>
<th width="46">Time</th>
<th width="45">Depth</th>
<th width="60">Nodes/S</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>1.</center></td>
<td><center>Fidelity Chess Challenger 10</center></td>
<td><center>1978</center></td>
<td><center>Z80</center></td>
<td><center>4 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>4K</center></td>
<td><center>Fails</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>2.</center></td>
<td><center>Fidelity Chess Challenger 7</center></td>
<td><center>1979</center></td>
<td><center>Z80</center></td>
<td><center>4 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>4K</center></td>
<td><center>12 hours</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>3.</center></td>
<td><center>Novag Savant</center></td>
<td><center>1981</center></td>
<td><center>Z80</center></td>
<td><center>6 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>24K</center></td>
<td><center>12:40m</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>4.</center></td>
<td><center>Novag Savant II</center></td>
<td><center>1982</center></td>
<td><center>Z80</center></td>
<td><center>6 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>32K</center></td>
<td><center>12:33m</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>5.</center></td>
<td><center>Novag Constellation</center></td>
<td><center>1983</center></td>
<td><center>6502</center></td>
<td><center>2 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>16K</center></td>
<td><center>6:46m</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>6.</center></td>
<td><center>Constellation 3.6 ROM set 1</center></td>
<td><center>1984</center></td>
<td><center>6502</center></td>
<td><center>3.6 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>16K</center></td>
<td><center>3:30m*</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>7.</center></td>
<td><center>Constellation 3.6 ROM set 2</center></td>
<td><center>1986</center></td>
<td><center>6502</center></td>
<td><center>3.6 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>16K</center></td>
<td><center>3:33m*</center></td>
<td><center>5 ply</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>8.</center></td>
<td><center><a href="http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/Chess_Life_1984_-_Novag_Super_Constellation.pdf" target="_blank">Novag Super Constellation</a></center></td>
<td><center>1984</center></td>
<td><center>6502</center></td>
<td><center>4 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>56K</center></td>
<td><center>2:10m</center></td>
<td><center>5 ply</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>9.</center></td>
<td><center>Constellation Expert</center></td>
<td><center>1985</center></td>
<td><center>65C02</center></td>
<td><center>5 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>64K</center></td>
<td><center>1:54m</center></td>
<td><center>5 ply</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>10.</center></td>
<td><center>Novag Forte A</center></td>
<td><center>1986</center></td>
<td><center>65C02</center></td>
<td><center>5 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>64K</center></td>
<td><center>2:15m</center></td>
<td><center>5 ply</center></td>
<td><center>~1000</center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>11.</center></td>
<td><center>Novag Forte B</center></td>
<td><center>1986</center></td>
<td><center>65C02</center></td>
<td><center>5 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>64K</center></td>
<td><center>1:58m</center></td>
<td><center>5 ply</center></td>
<td><center>~1000</center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>12.</center></td>
<td><center>Novag Super Forte</center></td>
<td><center>1987</center></td>
<td><center>65C02</center></td>
<td><center>5 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>64K</center></td>
<td><center>1:13m</center></td>
<td><center>5 ply</center></td>
<td><center>~1350</center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>13.</center></td>
<td><center>Novag Super Expert A</center></td>
<td><center>1987</center></td>
<td><center>65C02</center></td>
<td><center>5 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>64K</center></td>
<td><center>1:00m</center></td>
<td><center>5 ply</center></td>
<td><center>~1100</center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>14.</center></td>
<td><center>Novag Super Forte B</center></td>
<td><center>1989</center></td>
<td><center>65C02</center></td>
<td><center>5 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>64K</center></td>
<td><center>30s</center></td>
<td><center>5 ply</center></td>
<td><center>~1400</center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>15.</center></td>
<td><center>Novag Super Expert B</center></td>
<td><center>1989</center></td>
<td><center>65C02</center></td>
<td><center>5 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>64K</center></td>
<td><center>19s</center></td>
<td><center>5 ply</center></td>
<td><center>~1375</center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>16.</center></td>
<td><center>Novag Super Forte C</center></td>
<td><center>1990</center></td>
<td><center>65C02</center></td>
<td><center>5 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>64K</center></td>
<td><center>11s</center></td>
<td><center>5 ply</center></td>
<td><center>~1500</center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>17.</center></td>
<td><center>Novag Super Nova</center></td>
<td><center>1990</center></td>
<td><center>HD6301Y</center></td>
<td><center>4 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>32KK</center></td>
<td><center>10s</center></td>
<td><center>4 ply</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>18.</center></td>
<td><center>Novag Super Expert C</center></td>
<td><center>1990</center></td>
<td><center>65C02</center></td>
<td><center>5 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>64K</center></td>
<td><center>6s</center></td>
<td><center>5 ply</center></td>
<td><center>~1050</center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>19.</center></td>
<td><center>Novag Scorpio 68000</center></td>
<td><center>1990</center></td>
<td><center>68000</center></td>
<td><center>16 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>98K</center></td>
<td><center>9s</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>20.</center></td>
<td><center>Novag Diablo 68000</center></td>
<td><center>1990</center></td>
<td><center>68000</center></td>
<td><center>16 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>98K</center></td>
<td><center>9s</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>21.</center></td>
<td><center>Fidelity Excellence</center></td>
<td><center>1985</center></td>
<td><center>65C02</center></td>
<td><center>3 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>16K</center></td>
<td><center>2:16m</center></td>
<td><center>5 ply</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>22.</center></td>
<td><center>Fidelity Excellence</center></td>
<td><center>1985</center></td>
<td><center>65C02</center></td>
<td><center>4 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>16K</center></td>
<td><center>2:00m</center></td>
<td><center>5 ply</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>23.</center></td>
<td><center>Fidelity Designer Display 2000</center></td>
<td><center>1989</center></td>
<td><center>65C02</center></td>
<td><center>3 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>32K</center></td>
<td><center>1:45m</center></td>
<td><center>5 ply</center></td>
<td><center>~81</center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>24.</center></td>
<td><center>Fidelity Par Excellence</center></td>
<td><center>1986</center></td>
<td><center>65C02</center></td>
<td><center>5 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>32K</center></td>
<td><center>1:22m</center></td>
<td><center>5 ply</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>25.</center></td>
<td><center>Fidelity Designer Display 2100</center></td>
<td><center>1988</center></td>
<td><center>65C02</center></td>
<td><center>6 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>64K</center></td>
<td><center>54s</center></td>
<td><center>5 ply</center></td>
<td><center>~180</center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>26.</center></td>
<td><center>Fidelity Designer Display 2265</center></td>
<td><center>1989</center></td>
<td><center>68000</center></td>
<td><center>16 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>64K</center></td>
<td><center>5s</center></td>
<td><center>3 ply</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
</tr><tr>
<td><center>27.</center></td>
<td><center>Fidelity Designer Display 2325</center></td>
<td><center>1991</center></td>
<td><center>68020</center></td>
<td><center>20 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>64K</center></td>
<td><center>3s</center></td>
<td><center>4 ply</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>28.</center></td>
<td><center>Chessmaster NES</center></td>
<td><center>1990</center></td>
<td><center>6502</center></td>
<td><center>1.79 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>48K</center></td>
<td><center>7:00m</center></td>
<td><center>5 ply</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>29.</center></td>
<td><center>Chessmaster Super Nintendo</center></td>
<td><center>1991</center></td>
<td><center>65816</center></td>
<td><center>3.58 MHZ</center></td>
<td><center>110K</center></td>
<td><center>4:43m</center></td>
<td><center>5 ply</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>30.</center></td>
<td><center><a href="https://www.retrogames.cz/play_432-DOS.php?language=EN" target="_blank">Chessmaster 2000 (DOS)</a></center></td>
<td><center>1986</center></td>
<td><center>?</center></td>
<td><center>?</center></td>
<td><center>NA</center></td>
<td><center>1:33m</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>31.</center></td>
<td><center><a href="https://www.retrogames.cz/play_1187-DOS.php?language=EN" target="_blank">Chessmaster 3000 (DOS)</a></center></td>
<td><center>1991</center></td>
<td><center>?</center></td>
<td><center>?</center></td>
<td><center>NA</center></td>
<td><center>4s</center></td>
<td><center>4 ply</center></td>
<td><center></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><center>32.</center></td>
<td><center>Stockfish 14.1 2017-iMac</center></td>
<td><center>2022</center></td>
<td><center>i5</center></td>
<td><center>3.4 GHZ One Core</center></td>
<td><center>NA</center></td>
<td><center><1s
</center></td><td><center><12 ply</center></td>
<td><center>~880,000</center></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p>It is noteworthy that the Super Constellation solved the problem in roughly 2 minutes, which is within tournament time controls. I am disappointed in Chessmaster on the Super Nintendo because it failed to achieve this. It is running on a similar processor, and it is a port of Chessmaster 2000 written by Dave Kittinger, who also wrote the Super Constellation program!
</p>
<p>
* The second version of the Constellation 3.6 solves this problem on its top two tournament levels, but the first version moves too quickly to see the answer. It can only solve the problem on its infinite level, even though it takes about the same amount of time to see the solution. The second ROM set is based upon the Novag Expert program.
</p>
<a href="https://chessplayeratlarge.blogspot.com/2022/02/novag-super-constellation-level-1.html" target="_blank">Super Constellation game #1.</a>
John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-53554396984438802702024-03-18T11:13:00.000-04:002024-03-18T11:15:21.580-04:00Chess Puzzles<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">I've done this problem a few times. I go back over the problems that I have done before.</div></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">This problem has given me some difficulty. I suppose that it is a relatively simple king chase, but my brain doesn't like to calculate that far ahead.</div><div><br></div><a href="https://www.chess.com/puzzles/problem/1333863/practice" target="_blank">https://www.chess.com/puzzles/problem/1333863/practice</a></div> John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-71026390014880085602024-02-17T21:46:00.000-05:002024-03-18T11:15:52.605-04:00HOW?????????????????<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OuBEEHMyR-Y?si=AB-etO2WDauvGy5h" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-87156657264358476152024-02-14T13:32:00.000-05:002024-02-14T13:33:21.499-05:00Chess IS IN DANGER...<div dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6Qw5D8DZMOI">https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6Qw5D8DZMOI</a><div><br></div><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">I have no opinion about this whatsoever. I like <a href="http://chess.com">chess.com</a> so I am willing to pay for it. I am also willing to play some on lichess.</div><br></div></div> John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-83089227343800481192024-02-03T14:26:00.001-05:002024-02-03T15:21:15.735-05:00You have to be willing to be a fool to advance<p class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7zsoUL4AGQoW4vplT06vvavjGeVHVF5AsJpJgv0lZFiQlqmBRtRr8tTgWsOpd85PEVKyr3GdTW8okjMW7q4mrIEAcH81imQHVPp-79jP4mHH7nuUU1BZyeO3qAEX-q-sUKnLSNwB_FGXYeG9KTKkG-WugxK7j6hODvNu9p9jRWSnZxntB_TZe6OtgdKdD"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7331459391798671090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7zsoUL4AGQoW4vplT06vvavjGeVHVF5AsJpJgv0lZFiQlqmBRtRr8tTgWsOpd85PEVKyr3GdTW8okjMW7q4mrIEAcH81imQHVPp-79jP4mHH7nuUU1BZyeO3qAEX-q-sUKnLSNwB_FGXYeG9KTKkG-WugxK7j6hODvNu9p9jRWSnZxntB_TZe6OtgdKdD=w340-h640" width="340" /></a></p>John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-35528318636854417802024-01-26T12:35:00.000-05:002024-01-26T12:36:15.449-05:00Push to 3000 on chess.com puzzle rating<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">The puzzle ratings on <a href="http://chess.com" target="_blank">chess.com</a> don't correspond in any way to USCF ratings. I complained about this to <a href="http://chess.com" target="_blank">chess.com</a>, but they responded that their puzzle ratings are where they want to them to be. (BTW, the upper limit on puzzle ratings is ridiculously high at around 32768. Some people have actually reached this limit. For computer nerds like me, this matches the upper limit on a 16-bit signed number. This tells me that they are using 16 bits to store ratings in their database.)</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">I wanted to see if I could push my Chess.com puzzle rating up to 3000. I've been there before, but it is a hard rating to maintain. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">My puzzle rating averaged around 2935. At this level, I am almost as likely to fail to solve a puzzle as I am to succeed.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">I had a theory that if I did enough puzzles I could reach 3000 through a "random walk". The idea was that if I bounced up and down enough I would eventually hit 3000 through random variation. This wouldn't mean that I deserve to be at 3000, but got lucky.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">It appears to me that <a href="http://chess.com" target="_blank">chess.com</a> will present puzzles with a sizeable range of difficulty. This is where luck plays a factor. However, every time my rating would creep up, I would face problems that seemed too difficult. This definitely took me out of my comfort zone.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">It took me about 2.5 hours to reach 3000. However, to get there I had to analyze at a deeper level than I am used to. Whereas the simple chess problems on my website are designed to build pattern recognition, it seems to me that the puzzles on <a href="http://chess.com" target="_blank">chess.com</a> are more of a measure of how well a person can analyze. However, pattern recognition is still a factor.</div><div><br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">Best wishes,<br><br>John Coffey<br><br><a href="http://www.entertainmentjourney.com" target="_blank">http://www.entertainmentjourney.com</a></div></div> John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-70843800519727976062024-01-20T08:57:00.001-05:002024-01-20T08:57:54.370-05:00Magnus - I know how pieces move 🤣<div dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TwOl0vDuLpE">https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TwOl0vDuLpE</a></div> John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-37780706131027530232024-01-11T08:16:00.001-05:002024-01-11T08:16:47.996-05:00White to play and mate in 2 moves<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">Composed chess problems often involve zugzwang, which essentially means that after our move every possible move of the opponent leads to a loss.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHNff4XcS8h4DFM3lWUGl2RALXxjpA8YzbaLo0Hgk0pLc4BFFwIVNMWPIBPPiIuUnZYw26zIn4Jf5e731-VCYKNHza_-o9BzfVifmnCwW6Ty_5ITLbfxGALcw5D5uUelDgJF37SQ6Mj4v-Pwdo7n07DRcdSVUd-00qPrDfnU5mozhbDOmCjk_CexzMrc1A"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHNff4XcS8h4DFM3lWUGl2RALXxjpA8YzbaLo0Hgk0pLc4BFFwIVNMWPIBPPiIuUnZYw26zIn4Jf5e731-VCYKNHza_-o9BzfVifmnCwW6Ty_5ITLbfxGALcw5D5uUelDgJF37SQ6Mj4v-Pwdo7n07DRcdSVUd-00qPrDfnU5mozhbDOmCjk_CexzMrc1A=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7322829079773060482" /></a><br></div></div> John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-21188580939304393952024-01-10T20:10:00.000-05:002024-01-10T20:11:00.443-05:00HIKARU vs LEVY: EPIC CHESS<div dir="ltr"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJCHzQpCjSA">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJCHzQpCjSA</a><div><br></div><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">@john2001plus</div>0 seconds ago<br>I found this very instructive, more than the recap videos. I would like to see more like this.<br></div></div> John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-57877170754780062382023-12-24T09:08:00.001-05:002023-12-24T09:08:48.033-05:00Black to play<div dir="ltr"><a href="https://chesslevel5.blogspot.com/2023/12/black-to-play_24.html">https://chesslevel5.blogspot.com/2023/12/black-to-play_24.html</a></div> John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-34710355627554956672023-12-21T16:21:00.000-05:002024-03-18T11:17:49.778-04:00The Chess World Is Collapsing<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GeFfJ947oQo?si=oe5RHb2TiEbW684Z" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-11455609538018456632023-12-01T11:18:00.000-05:002023-12-01T11:19:18.033-05:00NEW Hans Niemann Chess Cheating Accusations<div dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJcYMCqCJ2A">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJcYMCqCJ2A</a><div><br></div><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">Either Hans Nieman is cheating or he soon will become a world top 10 player.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">Human beings can be sociopathic, and humans also have a great capacity for delusional thinking. I have met many narcissistic chess players, and these people can be extremely annoying. I am pretty sure that narcissism is more common among chess players because competition appeals to people's egos.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">This describes Nieman whose egotistical statements have turned opinions against him. Someone like him might feel entitled to win regardless of ability. In this case, a person could justify cheating because they think they are not getting the recognition they deserve. He could be motivated by a desire for acclaim.</div></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">I hope Nieman is the next great chess talent, but I don't know if this is true.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">If I have time, I will analyze his games from this tournament.</div></div> John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-88087208861583174052023-12-01T09:21:00.000-05:002023-12-01T09:22:27.328-05:00Chess Level 02: Black to play<div dir="ltr"><a href="https://chesslevel2.blogspot.com/2023/12/black-to-play.html">https://chesslevel2.blogspot.com/2023/12/black-to-play.html</a></div> John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-72878569707131174772023-12-01T09:11:00.000-05:002023-12-01T11:59:44.327-05:00Fwd: Chess Game<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;"><span class="gmail_default">Not</span><span class="gmail_default"> a perfect game, but I found it interesting. Around move 29 I chose to play on the kingside and this plan worked how I intended.</span><br /></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: small;">[Event "Columbus Chess Club<span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;"> G/10</span>"]<br />[Site "<span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: small;">Llewellyn</span> Center"]<br />[Date "2023.11.30"]<br />[Round "3"]<br />[White "Coffey, John"]<br />[Black "Salo, Steve"]<br />[Result "1-0"]<br />[WhiteElo "2016"]<br />[PlyCount "73"]<br /><br />1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nd4 4. Nxd4 cxd4 5. Ne4 e5 6. d3 Nf6 7. Nxf6+ Qxf6<br />8. g3 b6 9. Bg2 Rb8 10. O-O Bb7 11. e3 Bxg2 12. Kxg2 h5 13. exd4 exd4 14. Re1+<br />Be7 15. Bf4 Rc8 16. h4 Qc6+ 17. Qf3 Kf8 18. Re4 f6 19. Rxd4 Qxf3+ 20. Kxf3 g5<br />21. hxg5 fxg5 22. Be5 Rg8 23. Rxd7 Ke8 24. Rxa7 Rf8+ 25. Kg2 Rf7 26. b3 Bc5 27.<br />Rxf7 Kxf7 28. d4 Be7 29. Rh1 Kg6 30. f4 gxf4 31. gxf4 Rd8 32. Kf3 Rf8 33. Ke4<br />Bb4 34. Rg1+ Kh7 35. Rg7+ Kh6 36. Rb7 Ba5 37. Bg7+ 1-0<br /><br /></div></div> </div><div>--<br /></div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature" dir="ltr">Best wishes,<br /><br />John Coffey<br /><br /><a href="http://www.entertainmentjourney.com" target="_blank">http://www.entertainmentjourney.com</a></div></div> John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-12355386197373044342023-11-24T14:27:00.001-05:002023-11-24T14:27:50.284-05:00White to play and draw<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">Part 1: <a href="https://chesslevel7.blogspot.com/2023/11/white-to-play_24.html">https://chesslevel7.blogspot.com/2023/11/white-to-play_24.html</a></div></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">Part 2: <a href="https://chesslevel8.blogspot.com/2023/11/black-to-play-and-win.html">https://chesslevel8.blogspot.com/2023/11/black-to-play-and-win.html</a></div></div> John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-5328711291569098432023-11-20T15:40:00.001-05:002024-03-18T11:18:36.297-04:00Wow<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t5zL7NWwprg?si=6g4K3JIzeLz0bVr0&start=841" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-28503286750208971032023-11-15T22:28:00.000-05:002023-11-15T22:29:08.748-05:00How to Stop Blundering and Start Improving Your Chess Game: Advice from a GM<div dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4Gcl0YK034">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4Gcl0YK034</a><div><br></div><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">Apparently, GM Ben Finegold believes the same things I do.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">His comments at the end are funny.</div><br></div></div> John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-79704722620857148762023-11-14T11:55:00.001-05:002023-11-14T11:55:59.257-05:00One of my best chess tactics<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">I consider this to be one of my better chess tactics. Of course, we have seen Grandmasters like Bobby Fischer make similar moves, so chess masters probably consider this to be pretty routine.</div></div><div><br></div><a href="https://onethousandpositionstochessmastery.blogspot.com/2023/11/white-to-play_14.html">https://onethousandpositionstochessmastery.blogspot.com/2023/11/white-to-play_14.html</a></div> John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-61955388898322373222023-11-14T09:42:00.001-05:002023-11-14T09:42:50.962-05:00The Reason People Don't Get Better At Chess According to Ben Finegold<div dir="ltr"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"></span>As a chess YouTuber, Ben Finegold is not my favorite. His presentation is just not as interesting. He seems rather casual, less informative, and cocky. <div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbF1bRwxIWY">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbF1bRwxIWY</a><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">However, I like the point he makes here, which is that people suck at chess because they blunder and don't learn from their mistakes. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">He is only partially correct. People try to learn from their mistakes, but they do so by just playing. It is repeated trial and error. People don't retain information this way, although if a person played a great deal then they would make progress up to a point, which I think would be around the 1700-1800 level. It is difficult to get better than this without some serious study.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">So the way I learn from my mistakes is that I analyze as many of my games as I have time for, and I have a system for reviewing my past mistakes. This takes much time, and maybe some people would feel that the time would be better spent just playing.</div><br></div><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">I strongly believe that studying tactics is critical. There were specific tactics that I studied that took me from 1800 to 1900, and then a different group of tactics that took me from 1900 to 2000. I studied tactics 30 minutes a day almost without fail, which meant that I spent hundreds of hours studying tactics. However, this is something I haven't had time for lately, so my most recent goal is to study tactics for 20 minutes per day.</div><br></div></div> John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-18669071981172192832023-11-05T21:49:00.001-05:002023-11-05T21:49:39.486-05:00Some of my chess lesson material<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">FYI.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">The theme of today's lesson is that a person can often get a winning advantage right out of the opening.</div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">John Coffey</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:john2001plus@gmail.com" target="_blank">john2001plus@gmail.com</a>></span><br>Date: Sun, Nov 5, 2023 at 3:31 PM<br>Subject: Chess Games from face to face chess lesson plus bonus material<br>To: John T<br></div><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div><div style="font-size:small">This is the first game that I suggest learning by rote:</div><div style="font-size:small">This game is about weaknesses:</div><div style="font-size:small"><a href="https://onethousandpositionstochessmastery.blogspot.com/2023/03/white-to-play_17.html" target="_blank">https://onethousandpositionstochessmastery.blogspot.com/2023/03/white-to-play_17.html</a><br></div></div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div><div style="font-size:small">Second game:</div><div style="font-size:small">This is about Development and Initiative:</div><div style="font-size:small"><a href="https://www.entertainmentjourney.com/g0012.htm" target="_blank">https://www.entertainmentjourney.com/g0012.htm</a></div></div><div style="font-size:small">Another game to study:</div><div style="font-size:small"><a href="https://www.entertainmentjourney.com/g0003.htm" target="_blank">https://www.entertainmentjourney.com/g0003.htm</a><br></div><div><br></div><div><div style="font-size:small">Third game:</div><div style="font-size:small">This is about tactics:</div><div style="font-size:small"><a href="https://www.entertainmentjourney.com/g0001.htm" target="_blank">https://www.entertainmentjourney.com/g0001.htm</a><br></div></div><div><br></div><div><div style="font-size:small">We talked about this opening:</div><div style="font-size:small"><a href="https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2020/10/a-bad-opening-goes-very-bad.html" target="_blank">https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2020/10/a-bad-opening-goes-very-bad.html</a><br></div><div style="font-size:small"><a href="https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2020/03/chess-lesson-2020-03-20.html" target="_blank">https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2020/03/chess-lesson-2020-03-20.html</a></div><div style="font-size:small"><a href="https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2017/01/chess-lesson-2017-01-09.html" target="_blank">https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2017/01/chess-lesson-2017-01-09.html</a><br></div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><br></div><div><div style="font-size:small">We talked about how Queenside bishop moves are bad for Black in Queen Pawn openings:</div><div style="font-size:small"><a href="https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2018/01/chess-lesson-2018-01-15.html" target="_blank">https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2018/01/chess-lesson-2018-01-15.html</a><br></div><div style="font-size:small"><a href="https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2019/07/chess-lesson-2019-06-17.html" target="_blank">https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2019/07/chess-lesson-2019-06-17.html</a><br></div><div style="font-size:small"><a href="https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2019/03/chess-lesson-2019-03-11-slav-defense.html" target="_blank">https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2019/03/chess-lesson-2019-03-11-slav-defense.html</a><br></div><div style="font-size:small"><a href="https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2019/01/chess-lesson-2019-01-21.html" target="_blank">https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2019/01/chess-lesson-2019-01-21.html</a><br></div><div style="font-size:small"><a href="https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2017/01/tactical-game.html" target="_blank">https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2017/01/tactical-game.html</a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div style="font-size:small">Another game that I showed to illustrate this idea:</div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small">[Event "Columbus Chess Club"]<br>[Site "Lewellen Center"]<br>[Date "Nov 2, 2023"]<br>[Round "3"]<br>[White "John Coffey"]<br>[Black "<span class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">NN</span>"]<br>[Result "1-0"]<br><br>1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 Bf5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Qb3 b6 7. Ne5 e6 8. Bg5<br>Be7 9. e4 dxe4 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Bb5+ Ke7 12. Qb4+ Qd6 13. Qxd6+ Kxd6 14. Nxf7+<br>Ke7 15. Nxh8 Bxd4 16. O-O a6 17. Ba4 b5 18. Bc2 Nc6 19. Bxe4 Bxe4 20. Nxe4 Rf8<br>21. Rac1 Rc8 22. Rfd1 Bxb2 23. Rc2 Bf6 24. Nd6<br>1-0<br></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div style="font-size:small">This is an opening trap that everyone should know, even if it wasn't part of our lessons.</div></div><div><a href="https://www.entertainmentjourney.com/g0005.htm" target="_blank">https://www.entertainmentjourney.com/g0005.htm</a><br></div><div><div style="font-size:small"><a href="https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2017/04/2017-04-10-chess-lesson_11.html" target="_blank">https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2017/04/2017-04-10-chess-lesson_11.html</a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div style="font-size:small">In addition to this, in the Queen's gambit accepted, if Black tries to accept the gambit and hold onto the pawn, it is always bad:</div><div style="font-size:small"><a href="https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2017/04/2017-04-17-chess-lesson-queens-gambit.html" target="_blank">https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2017/04/2017-04-17-chess-lesson-queens-gambit.html</a><br></div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small">This is a speed game I lost in Utah in the 1990s.</div><div style="font-size:small"><a href="https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2017/01/chess-lesson-2017-01-30-alapin-opening.html" target="_blank">https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/2017/01/chess-lesson-2017-01-30-alapin-opening.html</a><br></div><br></div></div> </div><br clear="all"><div><br></div></div> John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-20918441820589780052023-11-05T21:26:00.000-05:002024-03-18T11:19:38.438-04:00Why 50% of Players Could Be Cheating<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g9vG9yO5lZA?si=qdN4GhUyD5GiE9_b" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-10943138759537526162023-10-30T11:10:00.001-04:002023-11-04T17:33:45.294-04:00The Making of an Expert<div dir="ltr">true expertise is mainly the product of years of intense practice and dedicated coaching. Ordinary practice is not enough: To reach elite levels of performance, you need to constantly push yourself beyond your abilities and comfort level.<div> <br><a href="https://hbr.org/2007/07/the-making-of-an-expert?ref=refind" target="_blank">https://hbr.org/2007/07/the-making-of-an-expert?ref=refind</a></div></div> John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-75632235455536525542023-10-29T22:30:00.001-04:002023-11-04T17:33:36.894-04:00Fwd: Legal TrapBegin forwarded message:<br><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> Albert <br></div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">I can think of 2 reasons why this YouTube short has over 41,000 views. lol<div><a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/-BUmvCuTHdk?si=Q0M7_l_n2XoHHImJ" target="_blank">https://youtube.com/shorts/-BUmvCuTHdk?si=Q0M7_l_n2XoHHImJ</a></div></div> </div>John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438507861706888247.post-68245911857716482282023-10-28T09:06:00.000-04:002023-11-04T17:33:18.971-04:00Chess Level 1: Black to play<div dir="ltr"><a href="https://chesslevel1.blogspot.com/2023/10/black-to-play.html" target="_blank">https://chesslevel1.blogspot.com/2023/10/black-to-play.html</a></div> John Coffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01260059230972834649noreply@blogger.com0