Originally posted by bbarrOh really? I can remember a number of ocassions, when playing while you were working, I'd be poring over a position and you'd inexplicably vanish to the kitchen for a short period of time. And when you returned, you weren't carrying anything. Perhaps there's something secreted back there I should know about? Hmm? This would explain my interminable streak of embarrasing losses against you! 😀
I do not excuse myself from on OTB game to check out the MCO (But this would be hilarious to try).
I feel much better now.
well, the question has finally been answered. I have no problem with people using them, if thats what they need to win. To me everygame being different, I have found that there is no need to see what others have done in similar situations. As a very high rated player i am sure you see the patterns rather than specific moves. I have become familiar with the basic paterns and feel comfortable side stepping without feeling i am falling into a trap.
Mr. nathancdu1,
Certainly bbarr doesn't need a patzer like me to stick up for him, but I sense perhaps he is (admirably) too humble to tell you what anyone who understands chess knows. That is, books and databases cannot ever bring someone to bbarr's level of skill. He does not, as you say, "need" them to win. I enjoy playing over his games and recently I've had a look at yours. There's a world of difference. This is not an insult to you. And if you want to play at bbarr's level, don't bother buying books on openings or hopping onto Chessbase's online database. As you yourself said, every game is different. And as someone said, "Chess is a game of understanding, not of memory" (can anyone remind me who said that?).
Anyway, the point is that you can't attribute bbarr's success to his use of opening tools. Sooner or later almost all chess games reach a middle game and unique positions, and that's as true of bbarr's games as of yours. Books or no books, he plays original positions too. And wins them. If you doubt it, play him some time and ask him not to use those tools.
Another important point: you can find many a game in the public record here at RHP in which book-perfect openings are played, but the middle- and end-games which follow are rather poorly conducted. Anyone who understands chess (whether a good player or not) knows that expert players are people who play well, not people who buy the right books.
-huntingbear