My Question is about Simultaneous Exhibition games. How do you play, or improve your chances of beating the Grandmaster? (or IM, etc). What have you done? Who have you played in a simul?

I've only played a couple simul games. Online vs Michael Brooks(USA) when he as "only an IM" rated over 2500. I think he is a GM now. But he crushed me mercilessly. Not only that, but I could FEEL the pressure coming across the board and thru my monitor~! Until my game went Splat.

So what should I do online for a simul? Or especially an OTB simul played live? Is it different?

Some only play WT pieces while others alternate colors. Some will play with clocks. It seems like getting WT against him and having clocks may be an advantage?

I'd recommend to play for a complicated position and try to find a continuation with a sting in the end. With luck it'll be crippling to some degree. That's the best I can think up for you.

Below is Jude Acers playing 117, and I was among them. I lost, which was unfortunate because he wasn't playing all that brilliantly. He was just a 2400 USCF .

You can't see me but you can see my board on the line of tables on the right hand side, vinyl board, second board up from the end. I am screwing up a Vienna Game and we are just a few moves in.

Hi Tom, thanks for the input. I like the complications idea also. I have heard of some GM's like Reshevsky that would really rush players that were left for the endgame, since there were less people, etc. I suppose that it is one last big advantage for the simul player, and weakness for most of their opponents. I think it would be nice for the challengers if they could keep as many playing for as long as possible, to avoid that rush, especially if they all had complex positions. :)

I remember Acers playing a lot of simul games regularly following the Fischer boom, I think at a place named "The Gazebo" in New Orleans !? (Or was that Wm. Martz?) The Vienna Game, was pretty popular at the time around here near Omaha. Must have been an interesting game. It looks like he would take either color there. Good of him. Seems more interesting that way, to me.

Back when I was Directing locally in the late 80's, I got an offer from GM Mednis to fly in and give a simul here which was really very reasonable. Wish I'd been able to do it now.

Complications after offbeat openings seem to be the best way to score points in a simul.  Here's a game where GM Walter Browne was soundly beaten by 1500 player with the Ruy Lopez Fishing Pole variation.  Busted in 16 moves. 

At one point, Browne took 2 minutes to make a move and was just shaking his head the entire time with a look of absolute agony on his face.  Priceless.