Let us Get Robbie to Helensburgh

Hi Robbie

I read your reasons for not playing in the Scottish Champs but...

You can play in the under 1400's 12th-14th July.
Get a ½pt. bye on the Friday. Two games Saturday, two games Sunday.
You will clean up.

Expense: (and don't forget I'm sure you will pick up £100)

The entry fee is £25 but if you say you are going I'll get you in for £15.
(being an ex Scottish Player of the Year still carries some clout)

One night in beautiful Helensburgh with Mrs McRobbie (a 2nd honeymoon)
won't cost much.
Some RHP lad on here might stay in Helensburgh and offer to put you up.

And anyway you live close enough to travel in on both days.

Your first tournament Robbie!

The rush will knock you off your feet.

Me and the rest of the lads would look forward to your take on it
written in your own jovial manner.

I'll Blog it with pics and PGN's.

Just think of it Robbie, playing in the same tournament hall as all those GM's.
Jones, Hebden, Gormally, McNab.....these are already in.

And that never ending bookstall for you to browse and drool over.

There is a new book on the Colle coming out by Cyrus Lakdwala.
The Colle, Move by Move, Everyman Press.

(strewth only someone called Cyrus could write a book on the Colle.) 🙂

They will have it there, if you go I'll get you a discount.
(being a fellow author still carries some clout.)

Here is the link:

http://www.scottishchesschamp.co.uk/

Everyone who thinks Robbie should and give us his report then thumbs up.

If it makes the difference, If you can get him in for £15, and he can't afford that. I'll pay it. I'm not renewing my playing subscription here this year, as I don't think playing correspondence is helping my over the board play enough for the time invested. It can go to helping robbie win the under 1400 section instead. Robbie - I won the under 1500 section as the Welsh Winter Congress, and you are a significantly better player than me.

gentlemen, i thank you for your kindness, really i do, however i think I am booked to go to Craig Tara and spend some time with wife and wanes on said days, although i need to check, but its either the last week in June or the first week in July, plus i am chicken. Yeah i said it, buck buck, chicken. I don't want to get beat up by some 11 year old bespectacled girly or some little brat whose Daddy owns half of Princess street and has paid for some Bulgarian coach to beef him up and stare at me while i am playing. Guys i have never played an OTB chess game in my life, if i don't fluff it by breaking some rule, ill fluff it some other way, but Helensburgh is not that far, not even an hour, maybe ill pop in GP and get you to sign my copy of Rampant chess, but i cannot promise to enter.

Thank you Dewi for your kindness and you GP for your consideration and to all who gave it thumbs up.

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
gentlemen, i thank you for your kindness, really i do, however i think I am booked to go to Craig Tara and spend some time with wife and wanes on said days, although i need to check, but its either the last week in June or the first week in July, plus i am chicken. Yeah i said it, buck buck, chicken. I don't want to get beat up by some 11 year old ...[text shortened]... you Dewi for your kindness and you GP for your consideration and to all who gave it thumbs up.

Play for fun, and don't worry about the result. Play each game the way you play a sac: there are safer and less risky things to do, but that's not why you sac.

Originally posted by Paul Leggett
Play for fun, and don't worry about the result. Play each game the way you play a sac: there are safer and less risky things to do, but that's not why you sac.

I suck at live chess, i think my blitz rating is like 1400, maybe not even that. do you need to take your own chess set to these things, i dont have a tournament size chess set.

Hi Robbie

You won't get beat up. I know you will do OK.
Your Colle will get you 2 pts. as White.
As Black just play a solid game and pick them off when they come for you.

And even if you only score one win, you played, that is all that matters.
The whole show is practially on your door step, it would be shame to
pass this up.

I hope to be there on the Last Sunday, I have to work the first Sunday
due to a shift swap so I can see the Glorious Hi-Bees lift the cup.

Re-consider, two game Saturday, two games Sunday.
The game, the analysis room where you as a player can sit in and
listen to the GM's going over their games.
You pick up loads from just listening to these guys and what they were thinking.

You will love every minute of it and I bet it will kick you off.
You will become a tournament junkie.

Originally posted by greenpawn34
Hi Robbie

You won't get beat up. I know you will do OK.
Your Colle will get you 2 pts. as White.
As Black just play a solid game and pick them off when they come for you.

And even if you only score one win, you played, that is all that matters.
The whole show is practially on your door step, it would be shame to
pass this up.

I hope to be ...[text shortened]... love every minute of it and I bet it will kick you off.
You will become a tournament junkie.

ok GP seriously, i will see what i can do. I know someone who lives in Helensburgh he has a big house there, maybe he will let me stay, if he can persuade his Mrs.

Can i still enter even if i do not have a rating, which i dont, well, not a real one anyway and do you need to bring your own chess pieces and chess board.

Hi Robbie.

Just leave the space for rating blank.

The board, pieces, clocks (and opponents) will be provided.

The Clock.
Don't let it become the focus of your game.
Don't panic if you see you have 5 minutes to make 3-4 moves.
That is ages. panic when you are down to 15 seconds.

Try not to forget to press your clock, (if you do your opponent will remind you
until you are winning - then he won't.....Humans?...What can you do?)

Maybe if you can go up on the Friday (taking the ½ point bye) and
peek into the hall to see and get a feel of things.

Preparation.
A good night's sleep, no midnight cramming.

As you are walking towards the board think to yourself;

"If these guys are any good then how come they have ended up
playing me in the under 1400 section?"

Then sit down and kick butt.

Originally posted by greenpawn34
Hi Robbie.

Just leave the space for rating blank.

The board, pieces, clocks (and opponents) will be provided.

The Clock.
Don't let it become the focus of your game.
Don't panic if you see you have 5 minutes to make 3-4 moves.
That is ages. panic when you are down to 15 seconds.

Try not to forget to press your clock, (if you do your oppon they have ended up
playing me in the under 1400 section?"

Then sit down and kick butt.

ok GP, you must forgive my ignorance, I make a move and then press the clock, that starts my opponents time, automatically. Do i need to write down my moves? I have adopted the philosophy that not me nor my opponent is of any relevance, all that is relevant is the chessmen. I dont know what taking a bye means, although i suspect that it means taking a rest day, but why they should give you half a point for not playing, i cannot say, it seems rather generous. Two games per day does not seem excessive but then again its taxing on the mind, for sure. Its all very intriguing to be honest.

I will go with the attitude to play the opening quickly, take time to compose a middle game plan, play my moves according to my plan relatively quickly so i have lots of time for the most critical part, the end game.

I want to play chess dressed sharply, after the manner of Gligoric. 🙂

Hi Robbie.

Move, press clock, write down your move.

He moves.

Write it down, think, move, press clock, write down your move.

The Friday night bye is good for many reasons.

First of all 4½ pts will get you a piece of the pie. (usually even all of it.)

If you play on Friday night then three outcomes.

You Win
on the Saturday morning You will be paired against another Friday night winner.
Beat him then you will get drawn against another lad on 2/2.
Beat him and you will get the other lad on 3/3 on Sunday morning.
And still get a tough draw on Sunday afternoon.

Too many good/resonable players.
The object to is avoid any reasonable players and come up on the rails
on the Sunday afternoon game.

You Lose.
You have no points on Saturday morning, your confidence has taken a battering.
You may have a sleepless night, especially if you chucked a won game.
It will affect the Saturday play. There is a good chance you will lose
your Saturday morning game and take a draw in a good position in
your afternoon game just to get a ½ point on the board.

You draw on Friday night.
All that wasted effort, you could had a ½ point for nothing.
Also it's usually the good guys (there wlll be a few) who play on Friday night.

Take the Bye.
Nice and fresh on Saturday morning although the buzz will keep you awake
for a little while on Friday night.

Do not underestimate that coming andrenalin rush.
It will kick in round about 4pm. on Friday afternoon wether you are playing
that night or not.

Half and hour before the start of the game you be will that high you
will have a smashing attack of the panics and forget who you are,
where you are and how the pieces move.

It goes the moment the controller says; "Start White's clock."

Taking the Bye (continued)
On Saturday morning you will play a fellow Friday bye guy. If you lose you
drop into the weaker half of the pool and should emerge with 3½ - that will
get you a grading prize.

Should you win then you are not on 2/2 and will play mid pool players
on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.

Only on Sunday afternoon with your posted score on 3½ will you
face a reasonable player. By then you will be so pleased with 3½ from
your first tournamnet you will be totally relaxed, no pressure and win.

-----------------------------------

Sit at your board about 10 minutes before the off getting used to pieces
and the board, there will a notice up telling you where you are sitting,
who you will be playing and with what colour.

(I'll have word with the my mates and get your first ever game beamed around
the world so we can all follow it......that's a joke Robbie....Unless you are up for it!)

Ignore their grade.
If an opponent's grade can appear on a 24 hour clock then they are not worth worrying about.

So if your posted opponent has a grade of over 2400 then you are big trouble.
Not only is he a very good player but you have entered the wrong tournament.

"I will go with the attitude to play the opening quickly, take time to
compose a middle game plan, play my moves according to my plan relatively
quickly so i have lots of time for the most critical part, the end game."

Perfect.
Play your own game. (and forget Gligorich's suit, he was a briliiant chess
player and would have won in the nude. Casual relaxed clothes something
you will be at ease in. You will be playing a smelly, farting chess player not
going to a wedding.)

My Best advice:
The most important thing is to forget about winning, losing, drawing.
What happens will happen.
Just go out and enjoy yourself. I know you will. You love Chess.

Originally posted by greenpawn34
Hi Robbie.

Move, press clock, write down your move.

He moves.

Write it down, think, move, press clock, write down your move.

The Friday night bye is good for many reasons.

First of all 4½ pts will get you a piece of the pie. (usually even all of it.)

If you play on Friday night then three outcomes.

[b]You Win
on the Saturday mor happens will happen.
Just go out and enjoy yourself. I know you will. You love Chess.[/b]

ok, this is a bit of a revelation. There is a whole strategy within the tournament itself, of this I was totally unaware and your advice seems really sound GP from a practical perspective.

When i am sitting waiting for the game to begin can i talk to my opponent, it would seem really weird just sitting there and not saying anything. I dont mind my game being beamed, what do they expect im in the lowest rated section, if I dont make a blunder I may get strip searched on the way out and if my opponent keeps disappearing to the toilet, I may get lifted for GBH and carried out by the Helensburgh police.

Best thing will be meeting you GP, for sure and getting my book signed. Will your mate Keef be there?

Originally posted by greenpawn34

Hi Robbie

I read your reasons for not playing in the Scottish Champs but...

You can play in the under 1400's 12th-14th July.
Get a ½pt. bye on the Friday. Two games Saturday, two games Sunday.
You will clean up.

Expense: (and don't forget I'm sure you will pick up £100)

The entry fee is £25 but if you say you are going I'll get you in for ...[text shortened]... hamp.co.uk/

Everyone who thinks Robbie should and give us his report then thumbs up.

I'd give two or more, if allowed.

Hi Robbie.

Yes talk to him, though in my experience players are not too chatty
before a game. Nerves, adrenalin, a lot of players never go near their
board till the game starts.
I never open a conversation before a game. I go away for five minutes
to get into the zone.

Will your mate Keef be there?

He usually plays snooker on a Sunday but the thought of going all
the way to Helensburgh just to sign a book may appeal to him.
It's the kind of thing that he is usually up for. Anything for a laugh.

So are you in?

Maybe get your last game live if you are in with a shout.

I'll tell the organisers I can guarentee a massive hit on that board
as the whole of RHP will be watching.

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
gentlemen, i thank you for your kindness, really i do, however i think I am booked to go to Craig Tara and spend some time with wife and wanes on said days, although i need to check, but its either the last week in June or the first week in July, plus i am chicken. Yeah i said it, buck buck, chicken. I don't want to get beat up by some 11 year old ...[text shortened]... you Dewi for your kindness and you GP for your consideration and to all who gave it thumbs up.

craig tara fan? love going there as well, i am going in october (when its cheaper} mike roth and a few of the perth boys are going to helensburgh, i will be at manchester that weekend my son is playing, wish i could afford a coach for him, i am trying to make the oban congress my friend owns a hotel up there and has promised me a good deal, he does not let under 12 year olds stay there but hopefully he will make a exeption for my son who is 10. if you dont enter then go along, if you can, its a real eye opener, at the 2011 perth congress, which i am treasurer, (boast boast) i was talking to a player who i wont name just before the last round. i asked him how he was getting on. he replied "totally brilliant its the best i have ever played, i am really enjoying this, cant wait for the last round and prize giving" the sheer enthusiasm was amazing, then i asked him how many points he had, "none i have lost every game, but its been great" a few sniggers went up, but he summed up what a congress should be about..... enjoyment... he got a bye in the last game and finished on 1 point. he stayed for the prize giving 80% of the players went straight home, and applauded everyone who won, i see him alot a real nice guy