Chess Scotland Noticeboard

Geoff Chandler · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 12:54 am Post subject: Where Are All The Masters?

If these guys who keep saying computers help you improve are right.

How come they are not get any better?

How come Scotland is not simply bristing with GM's and IM's?

For more + The Survey results (thanks again lads) + Alastair Sim

http://www.chessedinburgh.co.uk/chandlerarticle.php?ChandID=372

JR · King Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 447 Location: Edinburgh

Why are there not more GM's and IM's?

The reason is simple, because Scotland is a small country where chess is simply not very popular. Razz

admin · Site Admin Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 1386

That and lack of opportunities for norms (which is going to get worse as FIDE changed the rules on titles).

As Joe pointed out on another thread, The IJD post covers up to J18, after that they are (rightly) in the realms of adulthood. We have had some promising juniors over the last 5-10 years that we have lost during the period J18 - J21 because the is little to no funding to send them away to tournaments to get norms.

I would love to be in the position England are in where their Home Director is in a position to send one junior to the world with a SuperGM as coach, I know how much that is costing them and all I can say is it is more than the Home Director (Junior) and Schools Director Budgets combined!

Geoff Chandler · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:26 am Post subject:

The point has been missed.

Don't blame the size of the country. The players themselves must
take a fair chunk of the blame.

I'm getting told by these guys that computers help
you improve and yet......stagnation.

Rather than point the finger at the lack of opportunities or any where
else they should be pointing it at themselves.

All the masters are over 30 and came through BEFORE the box age.

The next IM will be either Graham Morrisson or Neil Berry (both BC players).

(Clement Sreeves is a good player and if he does not let
a box cob web up his fertile mind then he may make it).

The rise of computer use plus the lack of titled players coming
through...coincidence. No.

It's the players and their dependance on the box that has turned
them into uncreative dry husks.

Please don't come on saying:

"All the top players use them"

They are already good players, these guys are capable of
actually looking at a position that reads 1.75 and tell you why?

The rest of you simply nod your heads and think you know.
But you don't. You are not good enough chess players to be
playing with the good players toys.

It's an easy cop-out but you are all deluding yourselves.

Switch it off - Chess set out - Become good again.

JR · King Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 447 Location: Edinburgh

Computers make it easier to study chess, but they should be used to check analysis, rather than solely relied on.

I agree with you to an extent Geoff, a lot of players will put a position into fritz see +1.00 and think it must mean the position is good, even if they have not analysed it themselves. It is the same as opening books, all these += annotations are pretty meaningless a lot of the time.

Fritz is very good for finding combinations and checking your analysis for blunders, but you should always analysis your games first using a board and pieces away from the computer.

I think the main advantage of computers is access to millions of games which can be used to check a poptential opponents openings/style of play etc. This is vital as you get better and I doubt you would find many players IM standard and above who do not use a computer for this purpose.

Geoff Chandler · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 1:35 pm Post subject:

Hi Joe.

Yes it gives you access to games and you can see what a player plays.

I'm wondering what databases McNab, Motwani and McKay used?

If I was active at your level I would not play the same opening twice
in a row. I would be a nightmare to guess what I was going to play.

I would not give a monkey's what my opponent played he has
to play me. Let him worry about me and what I am going to do in
the middle gamae.

To all players over 2000. (under 30 but really for the under 20 year olds)

Play an opening you have never played before in your life.
You be will surprised how good you are at it how much you know
and understand. forget the fact you have never been there before.

You have. It's a chess postion and you have a brain.

Put the faith back into your play. Have an OTB advernture.
Trust in your ability and don't go down main lines folliwing +
suggestions from a box. Turn that bloody thing off.

I've just finished reading an article about a player who refused
a draw because the computer told him his position was better.
He lost to a Knight sac the box saw but deemed unsound.

Where did I see such an article?

In something mysterious called: A Book.

Chess Tips for the Improving Player by Amatzia Avni.

(Quality Books - It's Good ).

He has a section called: Stay in Charge
(warning players about their trusting computers).

Anton v Van Greet.

"I was crushed by a Knight Sacrifice my computer deemed as
ridiculous." Van Greet.

Without the box he would have looked at the Knight sac himself
and seen the dangers in his studies.

Take back control of your chess. Don't leave it in the hands of a box.
It's not working.

I'm not a lone voice howling in the wind here.
Here we have another player issuing a warning.

The Carrot.

How about Chess Scotland awarding £2,000 to any Scottish player
who can become a full IM before they are 20.

£5000 if the make it to a GM before 20.

Where is the money coming from?

The tooth fairy - it aint going to happen.