Originally posted by RamP [i]
But after I finished my games, only 2 of my opponents were kind enough to discuss and analyze.
Maybe thats the mood of a tournament 🙂
In quickplay tourns, most will not go over the game, other than offer comments on a critical part of the game. For the simple reason it is not recorded on scoresheets.
Originally posted by hedonist You are so right GP.
Just to be in a room where everyone speaks the same language, chess, gives me a buzz. I dont go to my local club to play, more to hear about this guy meeting Korchnoi ect.
And chess is great when you travel. You could be in the most dangerous city in the most dangerous country in the world. But if you meet some guys on a street corner playing chess, you got some friends. Just dont play for cash:-)
Many years ago I visited NY and watched some great games in Central Park - blitz but quality stuff - some games for cash.
Does that still go on? I hope so! My regret is I never played - just watched.
Originally posted by wolfgang59 Any other open air chess venues in the world?
I recall playing in Hawaii about 20 years ago. Locals versus tourists at some park benches by the beach. There were a number of old locals with their boards challenging all-comers. I stood and watched for a while. I know I'm not that good but I fancied my chances against one of the locals.
I think he thought I was too young (at 20??) and I told him "I play a little". Eventually he begrudgingly played me and I proceeded to tear him a new a-hole. Initially the look on his face was one of surprise and wonderment - then he gave me that look people give when they think they have just been hustled. 🙂 There was no money involved.
Anyway, one game wasn't enough and he wanted to keep playing. The funny thing was that the harder he tried, the worse it got for him. In one game I managed a triple fork with a Knight in the middle of the board! Strange how that is the only part of the games that I remember after 20 years - the triple fork. In the end we had quite a crowd watching but he wouldn't let me go until he won a game. After about 5-6 games I threw one just to get away. All in all it was most enjoyable and I can thoroughly recommend it!
Originally posted by wolfgang59 Many years ago I visited NY and watched some great games in Central Park - blitz but quality stuff - some games for cash.
Does that still go on? I hope so! My regret is I never played - just watched.
Any other open air chess venues in the world?
When i was in New York I completely forgot about the park. But I did visit the Marshall chess club. Nothing was happening when I was there, just a few kids getting coached. Nice building though.
Regarding open air places, Rizel park in Manila is quite impressive. A load of stone playing tables build for the 1992 Olympiad. And maybe in the past, you might of had an old crazy bearded yank kibitzing your game.
Originally posted by hedonist When i was in New York I completely forgot about the park. But I did visit the Marshall chess club. Nothing was happening when I was there, just a few kids getting coached. Nice building though.
Regarding open air places, Rizel park in Manila is quite impressive. A load of stone playing tables build for the 1992 Olympiad. And maybe in the past, you might of had an old crazy bearded yank kibitzing your game.
Open air places to play-
Market Street in San Francisco
Dupont Circle in DC
North Beach in Chicago
North end of Waikiki Beach - Honolulu
Chess tables in Central Park, NYC
Originally posted by robbie carrobie I didn't like the way the chess pieces were handled by some kids. They used to bang the board while making a move or shove the piece away from the table while capturing. But then kids are kids and its their trainers/parents/mentors responsibility to teach them. - ramP
Its that type of mentality which puts me off joining a chess club and entering t ...[text shortened]... his dad/trainer/mentors said anything about it, they'd get it as well! Cads and bounders! 🙂
As a chess dad/facilitator, teaching kids not to 'hammer' the pieces is challenging. Sometimes you need to use judo and identify what your opponent is signalling when they 'pound' their piece. It is usually frustration or victory, and in both cases it can be a clue to think a little harder about your next move or your upcoming plan.
Originally posted by RamP [b]
After a few moves I had to exchange my bishops with his knights. This "After a few moves" period had atleast 2 instances where I forgot to hit the clock.
Then, when I blundered (I realized it after making the move 😛), I was waiting for the kid to proceed with his step. He never moved. I waited for a minute and looked up and he immediately looked dow ...[text shortened]... od amount of 3 minutes 😀. As soon as I hit the clock, he made his move and captured my rook. LOL
We teach this behavior to kids. It's a psychological trick.
Also watch out for being offered a draw in an ambiguous position or one where you feel you are clearly winning. This is sometimes a psychological tactic to weaken your play. Older players won't usually fall for this, but the juniors will. You might want to try it against one of your opponents that can't differentiate a knight from a gavel.
Originally posted by Darax The Good As a chess dad/facilitator, teaching kids not to 'hammer' the pieces is challenging. Sometimes you need to use judo and identify what your opponent is signalling when they 'pound' their piece. It is usually frustration or victory, and in both cases it can be a clue to think a little harder about your next move or your upcoming plan.
FWIW, I hate the pounding too.
yes i understand, i was of course being not a little facetious, for I am also a father. I think in my mind that the best policy is to play by example, gently placing ones pieces, what others do is up to them. I notice that i myself have a habit of picking up a captured piece between my pinkie and ring finger and placing the capturer down with index and forefinger in one movement. Its all rather elegant if i do say so myself 🙂
Originally posted by robbie carrobie yes i understand, i was of course being not a little facetious, for I am also a father. I think in my mind that the best policy is to play by example, gently placing ones pieces, what others do is up to them. I notice that i myself have a habit of picking up a captured piece between my pinkie and ring finger and placing the capturer down with index and forefinger in one movement. Its all rather elegant if i do say so myself 🙂
I love the way some blitz specialists capture. They lift up their piece and slam it down on the square, then withdraw the hand with the captured piece, all in one swift movement. Most regular blitz players can do this but some have got it down to a fine art when it looks like the captured piece has disapeared, or been hammered into the board. I can do it I guess on a near empty board but if there is a lot of pieces around, I end up knocking some over.
When I play blitz and want to capture let's say a pawn on e5 with a Knight on f3.
I toss the Knight in the air and then bounce it from shoulder to shoulder.
I do this about 6 times and then I picked up the e5 pawn and toss it too in the air.
Then I bounce the Knight from my shoulder right onto the empty e5 square.
A second later the pawn falls, presses the button on my clock
and lands the correct way up on my side of the board.
The guys in Bells love it.
My opponents then resign and joins in on the applause.
Originally posted by greenpawn34 When I play blitz and want to capture let's say a pawn on e5 with a Knight on f3.
I toss the Knight in the air and then bounce it from shoulder to shoulder.
I do this about 6 times and then I picked up the e5 pawn and toss it too in the air.
Then I bounce the Knight from my shoulder right onto the empty e5 square.
A second later the pawn falls, ...[text shortened]... e board.
The guys in Bells love it.
My opponents then resign and joins in on the applause.
Originally posted by greenpawn34 When I play blitz and want to capture let's say a pawn on e5 with a Knight on f3.
I toss the Knight in the air and then bounce it from shoulder to shoulder.
I do this about 6 times and then I picked up the e5 pawn and toss it too in the air.
Then I bounce the Knight from my shoulder right onto the empty e5 square.
A second later the pawn falls, ...[text shortened]... e board.
The guys in Bells love it.
My opponents then resign and joins in on the applause.
To see this feat again and again, I'd always ensure that my pieces are en prise for your Knight 🙂
Originally posted by Darax The Good We teach this behavior to kids. It's a psychological trick.
Also watch out for being offered a draw in an ambiguous position or one where you feel you are clearly winning. This is sometimes a psychological tactic to weaken your play. Older players won't usually fall for this, but the juniors will. You might want to try it against one of your opponents that can't differentiate a knight from a gavel.
From the FIDE Laws of Chess:
12.6
It is forbidden to distract or annoy the opponent in any manner whatsoever.
This includes unreasonable claims, unreasonable offers of a draw
or the introduction of a source of noise into the playing area.
You might want to be careful teaching such behaviour. Some day, someone is going to complain about it, and you'll have a problem.
Also, you're just being a fundamental aperture. Don't do that.
Originally posted by wolfgang59 Many years ago I visited NY and watched some great games in Central Park - blitz but quality stuff - some games for cash.
Does that still go on? I hope so! My regret is I never played - just watched.
Any other open air chess venues in the world?
In Paris in the Jardin du Luxembourg there's a bunch of chess tables, always some locals playing, sometimes with quite a crowd, as far as I remember.
I once went to play a 3' game with one of the locals. I remember messing up the move order as white in a Sicilian dragon, where I usually know theory pretty well, and my opponent immediately punishing it and crushing me.
Still, sitting in the park under the trees and a blue sky in Paris easily beats the dusty smelly places playing club matches takes you.
01 Mar '11 03:00
My first OTB Tournament
Back to Top