Chess Scotland Noticeboard

A Muir · King Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 489 Location: Dumbarton

Scotland 1.5 Wales 2.5

We were unfortunate: Alan's opponent found a clever fortress at the end of a long hard game. Graham went down, while Andy and Jim had quick draws with black.

Jim is typing ( check the grammar: JS ) as Andy sprained his right arm after an argument with a bollard just before round 3. His score sheets using his left hand are impeccable ( squiggle, or do I mean cyrillic?: JS).

Topalov, impeccably turned out with his lucky white jacket, indicating that he had the white pieces, again failed to beat ( or indeed impress our captain: JS ) a very much lower graded opponent.

Tomorrow it's Monte Carlo or bust (JS) (boom! boom!)

Alan Tate · King Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 377 Location: Edinburgh

2 am, Novi Sad.

Alan is cheering up now. We have moderated our view on our games from 'not too impressive' to just 'okay, must do better tomorrow'. The truth is , failing to get something against Wales still hurts hours afterwards.

( I blame it on his preference for the Stones vs. the Doors. )

Apparently we will roll Monaco over tomorrow...... that is if we navigate the many obstacles described by our erstwhile capitano, en route to the board.

(JS)

Geoff Chandler · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:18 am Post subject:

Hi

Suspected Alan was again in some long endgame as his result was one
of the last to come in.

Quote:

"Tomorrow it's Monte Carlo or bust (JS) (boom! boom!)"

You play the chess......I'll do the jokes.

If Andrew's arm in plaster then cover it with opening theory.

Looked at Jim's game v Galic - was time trouble a factor because
Jim can win brilliantly with an under promotion to a Knight check
and a Queen sac mate. This would have capped off a fine game.

Monaco Board 1 seems a handy lad, he has a win v McShane under his belt.
Got to feel for Graham, you play the bottom team and even they have
a GM on board 1.

Doors Rubbish - one minor hit wonders. Play some Beatles.

A Muir · King Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 489 Location: Dumbarton

Three of the team were up at 4 a.m. last night as a result of a bender.
Still, that is the best preparation for Scotland games. Ask Barry Ferguson.

Walter Smith

paul roberts · Bishop Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 24

good to see some of you are also trying your luck in the "B" tournament. Looks like Alan needs 1.5/3 against an average of 2550 for the IM norm. 2 or 2.5 would also do the trick against lower average opposition. Good luck in round 7!

A Muir · King Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 489 Location: Dumbarton

scotland 2 monaco 2 , so we remain 37th
Graham lost in 18 moves, Alan won.
I did not have enough energy again to win.
My arm is improving. The doctors tried to taxi me to the hospital, perform an x-ray, complete surgery and bill me for a fortune in euros.
But Graham said to see how it was and it is not too bad. No plaster just sprain.
Play Iceland tomorrow.

Geoff Chandler · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:41 pm Post subject:

Hi Andy.

You are of course a wimp.

In the war I played chess with two bullet holes in my chest and half
my brain missing when a hand grenade blew up my tank.
(my brain grew back again).

So a wee sore arm is nothing to complain about. I think you are
faking so you won't have to carry any luggage on the way home.

The bottom two boards are playing out of their skin.

Tell Jim his glorious missed win made The Scotsman today.
It was nearly perfect strategy v a stronger player.

So it's Iceland next.
I've looked at a map. This is a Scottish derby game - good luck.

A Muir · King Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 489 Location: Dumbarton

scotland 1.5 iceland 2.5
alan lost, the rest of us had our usual draws
a win tomorrow v luxembourg puts us above seeding

Geoff Chandler · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:56 pm Post subject:

Have complete faith you will finish above seeded placing.

I used to listen to radio Luxemborg when I was a kid. It was then
the only station that played pop music all the time.

I always imagined the country to be hip and swinging so went
there for a week's holiday in '69. I feft after 3 miserable days.

Dull? it was worse than Walsall on a wet Wednesday.

So please please beat them for me to make up for a wasted 3 days.

Alan Tate · King Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 377 Location: Edinburgh

Re. The Scotsman column, sorry to spoil a good story, but my lawyers tell me that black's rook was on e7, not c7, and that I don't have any known bad habits, least of all an addiction to "4am benders", or time trouble. Wink

Alan says a proper chessplayer would march his king to d6 though, rather than run for the draw. Rolling Eyes

We are enjoying the experience, despite some disappointing results, Alan is playing particularly well: we are looking forwrd to a good match with Luxembourg tomorrow.

JS

Geoff Chandler · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:31 am Post subject:

So the score from the main site is wrong.

I bet Jim is relieved about that.

Hmmm......

And what a coincidence both score sheets have down the wrong move. Wink

Missing an under promotion and a Queen sac v an IM whilst
represetning your country is nothing to fuss over.
It happens everyday.

You had better get the organisers to correct it else Jim will end
up in a chapter of missed chances in some future book.

Infact just leave it. If Jim knows he did not miss it then there is
no problem.

No. On second thoughts let's see if we can get JBH to do a retraction.
Though in his column he does express doubts that the final position happened.

(he has still never got back to me about those Betamax tapes -
John I forgive you, what ever you have done it's OK. I'm now in the
clear with the owner, that's all that really mattered to me).

A Muir · King Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 489 Location: Dumbarton

Scotland 1 Luxembourg 3 , Alan and I drew.
Will get tough pairing tomorrow
Currently 37th, in line with seedings
Topalov seems to have gone home.

Geoff Chandler · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 4:45 pm Post subject:

Curses and Drats.

I wanted you to beat Luxemberg.
Go round to theit hotel room and play them again.

Still it has given me some fodder next time someone claims that
Scotland should not have such high expectations due to the small population.

Luxemborg has a population of less than 1 million and Iceland is
about the same.

50% of chess games are lost before a pawn is pushed.

Next up it's Serbia 2.
Well this is a piece of cake. You will be playing the chavs that are
not deemed good eough for their first team. Scud them 4-0

I've worked it out. It's now mathmatically impossible for you to win
this tournament so after your next game v Serbia 2 come home.

Plan C

For your last game everyone play an opening you have never played before.

In you next tournament a future opponent will look at your latest games
on his computer and think this is what you play.
They will then spend a wasted couple of hours preparing for something
they are never going to see.

A Muir · King Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 489 Location: Dumbarton

Scotland 0 Serbia2 4 . We finished 37th for a par score.

Graham can be proud, given the very strong opposition he had. We had no reserves unlike most teams.
Alan shows plenty of promise and should get IM norms soon.
Jim was effortlessly drawing with a string of strong players in the middle.
I am up for it in two years time. The only problem is the £900 I have to find. Due to long term unemployment and my wife's imminent legal bills my expected funds are 0 in the future.

Azerbaijan won with Gashimov grinding out a rook endgame in 75 moves.

GN · King Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 415

I am wondering how much money Chess Scotland put into the recent European junior event. I know a lot was covered by parents but seems to me that if at all possible we should try and at least have some contribution to the equivalent adult event. There were A LOT of kids at the junior event yet nothing for the grown-up version. Doesn't seem right to me.