Originally posted by sundown316Larry Christiansen was a member of our chess club (Riverside) back in the seventies before he became U.S. Champion (3 times). His name is engraved along with our other club champions on our trophy. Our club, unfortunately, folded around 10 years later. Larry moved on to bigger things just before I joined the club so I never got to meet him. 🙁
Originally posted by e4chrisBad or not, he still has to visualize all 33 boards. He has to be able to tell without reference to a board that they are bad. This has nothing to do with the ability of the contestants. Obviously if he was playing 33 GM's he would not win so many games.
do they have to find 33 really bad players for such exhibits? 🙂
Originally posted by sonhouseI can't imagine how it is possible to remember who played what after one gets past the opening stage, even if he had white and played the same opening on every game. But even then he couldn't expect everyone to play the same defense and the same variation of that defense. Since he didn't lose a game I could more easily think that there is some trick going on like with Houdini or some other magicians.
Bad or not, he still has to visualize all 33 boards. He has to be able to tell without reference to a board that they are bad. This has nothing to do with the ability of the contestants. Obviously if he was playing 33 GM's he would not win so many games.
The Instructor
Originally posted by RJHindsNo trick. It is about having an extremely superior mind. I played 4 games blindfold and kept most of it together. Back a few hundred years people thought Philidor was a wizard when he played 3 blindfolded.
I can't imagine how it is possible to remember who played what after one gets past the opening stage, even if he had white and played the same opening on every game. But even then he couldn't expect everyone to play the same defense and the same variation of that defense. Since he didn't lose a game I could more easily think that there is some trick going on like with Houdini or some other magicians.
The Instructor
Hi RJ
No trickery involved.
(I still chuckle at you a few months back when this came up and
thought ALL the players were actually blindofolded.)
I saw Danny Kopec do 10 at the Edinburgh Chess Club.
He sat with his back to the class and reeled off the moves.
Was in Sandy Bells when someone mentioned playing more than one
blindfold game was impossible.
"Get me 6 boards and six players" said Keith Ruxton.
The whole thing was over, 6-0 to Keith in under 2 hours.
I was the go between, I had to tell Keith the moves.
Once I said something like "Black plays 15.Bishop to d4."
Keith corrected me, 'Don't you mean Bishop to d5?"
he was right! and that was without sight of the board.
Not sure if it is a superior mind but it is certainly a very well trained memory.
No such thing as a bad memeory, just an untrained memory.
(or so I've been told, cannot remember who by.)