Posts

Draws

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There's the confidence to think you'll win, but then again choosing whether to accept a draw is a different confidence based on material, position and strategy. I play 1-10 games a day, usually more towards 2-4. I've won a lot of games by just being persistent and keep on going even if I lose my queen. I've lost a lot of games too, and I don't get too sore losing, but it does sting quite a lot, so the desire to win versus the desire to just play are in competition.  I like the psychology of juggling various strategies and ways of being in chess. I saw a post on r/Buddhism questioning whether a Buddhist should play chess: "I'm a Buddhist and I play chess. Should someone closer to the goal stop playing chess? I don't think you're close to the goal, so maybe worry when you get closer. Faking it till you make it? Well, if you want to quit chess, quit chess. I don't think that will make you enlightened, enlightenment is brought about by meditation, ...
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Boris Spassky passed away

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NY Times : "Boris Spassky, the world chess champion whose career was overshadowed by his loss to Bobby Fischer in the “Match of the Century” in 1972, died on Thursday in Moscow. He was 88."
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Images

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Losing on time. Fellow disappointed he ran out of time from a winning position. His opponent is upset for him too with his mirror neurons.  I would have trouble focusing. 
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To play for fun or to play to improve rating?

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  Humans are competitive. I'm not going to pay to get better, but I do as many free puzzles as I can each day on Chess.com.  My lowest ranking came when I had Covid and I played anyway because I was bored. I thought I was heading to 700, 800, 900. I have to admit, my rating has dipped. I've gone on spurts of playing and if my rating goes up I get quite excited, but the habit of playing often takes over and I enjoy the game and I keep playing even if my rating goes down.  I think I have this idea that if I play a few games and really concentrate and put pressure on myself to win, then my rating will go up. Sometimes I like to play instinctually and there are unseen consequences to it. I like blitz games, 5 minutes each, because there's not too much thinking.  11/22/24 Ding Liren is the world champion. I thought it was Magnus Carlsen, who I learned relinquished his title in 2022. Didn't know it was Ding Liren who took the crown in 2023.  Gukesh Dommaraju is...
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Meme and links

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  Article on Magnus Carlsen
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Sally Rooney story about a chess player

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In the New Yorker , called Opening Theory.  She brings up an interesting thing. You play to your level, and then if you play above that you always lose, and if you play below that you always win. It's really hard to get your level. Online chess is pretty good, though honestly my rating has gone up and down and it seems sometimes I play a lot and don't care if I lose, and sometimes I just play a few games, and I get out of shape thinking about chess.  Rooney is a really cool writer, who really gets in there and describes romantic relationships. My guess is she's making a parallel with guys a man makes on a woman, and the opening theory of a chess player who studies all the major openings. It's a good example of her writing for those who want to try her out.  World Chess Champion Anatoly Karpov (right) in a demonstration chess game, 1978 | Photo: Vladimir Rodionov
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Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu

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Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu defeated Magnus Carlsen in the second blitz game of the Superbet Rapid Blitz Poland event! ( tweet ) Carlsen would win the event, but he's not been beaten much. I like it when dominant players are challenged. And I love this guys name. 5/30/24. Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu keeps beating Magnus Carlsen who's been unbeatable for the past 4 years. ( Guardian ) New Orleans
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