I would pay if my skills increased also

I think Houdini is supposed to be stronger than Rybka, actually.

Up to a max rating of 2400, or up to 2400 rating points gained?

Can you imagine if it were the latter?  Magnus Carlsen could plunk down the $4800 (which would mean nothing to him), and would be rated 5221.  He would then go on to play the world's top 5 chess engines (including the "dethroned" Rybka, which is still stronger than anything else if I understand correctly) in a blindfold simul...

Windows - you don't understand economics.

One wonders what the numbers would be if zero were NOT and option.

Money can buy anything.

Those who say that money can't buy happiness...are just poor people.

Money can buy love too. Some of the best love around.

Money can buy anything.

Of course, I'm kidding.

If you found yourself getting angry at what you were reading...then you need to chill out and take some vicodin or something.

Money buys that too.

Why did he have to charge for it? He could just magically create money instead

Someone said: you have to believe in magick to make it work.

Umm... obviously pay as much as you can. If someone was instanly a 2400 player it wouldn't take long to become a GM pro. When you are pro you can make the money back by winning tournements.

Or you could learn by yourself and take away maybe 10 years that you could be playing as a 2400 skill player.

$2 per Elo point?  You have to be kidding.  I'm not paying at all.

I hope theyre not referring to me when they say the Wizard.

Lets see $2 an Elo point..

Ive often got beginners up 100-200 point on two lessons..damn im too cheap!

Of course I would pay 1000$+ You can get it back by coaching and stuff anyways.

Will he accept payment in sexual favors?

Let me see here: $2 for each level with a maximum of an ELO-rating at 2400. For the full effect the 2400 ELO-points would cost me $4800. I assume my ELO-rating today is atleast 1000. By paying $4800 I would now have an ELO-rating at 3400 => I would be the strongest chess player in human history. How much do a tournament victory give in payout? Way more than $4800. Therefore a short-term investment of $4800 would bring in more than the first-time expenditure very quickly thus being economical preferred. Also, the fame, glory, memories and so on would easily be "priceless"

I think Natalia could increase her Elo by 2400 also, DandyDanD

I'll take the deal to the max, can the Wizzrd of Chess also make me 6 years old (with an ELO of 2400.)

If your rating AND skills increase, then yes, I would do it. Otherwise, no way. Easy rating points: make yourself as overrated as possible, say 1700, when you are actually a 1200. Then if you pay $1400, you'd become a 2400 in skill and rating, rather than paying $2400.

OK so this is my calculation. My ELO would not be all that wonderful but I'm not a complete muppet so let's say my ELO is 1000. I give the magic elf the full whack $4800 and meaning my ELO is ~3400 and so become the greatest chess player who ever lived. This would also be an investment as with my new found skills I would quickly recoup the money and indeed make a great deal more!

what are these people going to do .To some magical chess player or what

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Big surprise there.