I am lucky enough to be playing a game in one of the simultaneous displays that GM Viktor Korchnoi is giving in London in a couple of days. Does anyone have any advice on how I should approach my game with the great man?

What opening should I play? My normal game, or something a bit offbeat to try to disconcert him? My concern is that he will just outplay me with GM level opening knowledge and the game will be over before it starts. Having said that, the other problem is that he can probably handle offbeat a lot better than me too!

Other than that, does anyone have any tips for playing in a simul in general? I've never played in one - I've played a lot of chess, over 15,000 games online over a number of years, but not much over the board, and never against someone of Korchnoi's level.

My concern is not so much winning (or even drawing) the game, I know there's not much chance of that, but more that I want to make the most of the opportunity and play as well as I'm able. I'd be intersted to know anyone's thoughts on how I should approach it.

Details of the event are here you're interested:
http://www.londonchessclassic.com/festival_events/korchnoi_simuls.htm

Korchnoi? One of the strongest players ever? LOL, don't worry, what ever you do, you will lose.

Well, they do loose games now and then in these simuls, so that attitude is somewhat uncalled for Strepto.

With that said, beating Korchnoi probably isn't going to happen, what you can do however, if choose an opening that you like, that gives you the games you want, and try to have a game as good as possible, the goal doesn't have to be a win, a beautifull game can be equally rewarding.

That is so cool!  Whatever happens, enjoy the experience!

That is indeed cool.

Would you be so kind to post the game?

You have some hope:

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/game-analysis/boris-spassky-v-christopher-smith

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/help-im-going-to-play-borris-spassky

all the best to you ... play to learn ... more often than not, we learn more from defeats tahn from our winnings .....

if this is your first simul, then make sure you are prepared for it as you are required to move each time he arrives at your board. so be prepared coz if you are not, you might juz be caught off-beat and not play the game you are suppose to enjoy .... :)

I will try to. Will probably post it on Tuesday

Good luck! Tell him I say hi! 

Resign on move 2...

My advice is to play some sort of hedgehog setup-they are solid and have practically no mainstream theory.

I would say play your best and focus on the positions on the board and not the fact that you are playing a chess great. Enjoy the opportunity and let us know how you did. We're pulling for you. Good Luck.

Play your favourite opening and get outplayed, that way you learn something about it.

He is really old, don't torture the poor man with a 90 move Hedgehog!

Just don't be passive, don't start looking for a 3-move repetition 20 moves into the game just so you can say you paid 50 bucks to draw Korchnoi (not likely anyway).  Throw your pieces at his king and have a good time, you might as well enjoy yourself by posting your bishop-queen sac combination that lost in under 20 moves! 

Learn how to say 'good morning sir' , 'I give up', and 'thank you' in Russian.  Don't forget to buy the picture.

Research a few of his favorite openings to see what he likes to play.  Of course there's no gurentee in a simul he'll play anything he would in a serious match.

Also I wouldn't try to throw him off, getting beat in your favorite set ups is a great way to learn.  Not only does an offbeat opening not give you as great drawing/winning chances (as you said he'd play better) and a loss isn't as satisfying or educational.

Oh, and be sure to not offer a draw :)  There was a former world champ (can't remember who now), during a simul some guy offered him a draw at move 20 or 30 (something really early) the GM quickly accepted.  Everyone was shocked, and suddenly he started getting lots of draw offers, all of which he immediatly accepted.  After it was over he was asked why he accepted so many draws, he said he gets paid the same either way and if they wanted to throw away their chance of a lifetime to play him he didn't mind at all.

Good advice, thanks all. I think i will definitely just play my normal game and see what happens. I agree with the advice on the draw too orangehonda - I don't see the point in offering a draw in the middlegame, even if he did accept it. I'd rather have the experience.

I'll post the game when its over - here's hoping its not a total disgrace on my part!

So how did you do?

The British Master Leonard Barden once wrote that when his simul opponent played solidly he (Barden) could outplay him with simple positional play.  Much harder for the master is when his opponent plays aggressively and forces the master to quickly calculate tactics.  So go out and make Korchnoi work for that win.

The game's over. I don't think he ever mentioned it again. I'm just curious about how it went.