Jeez, I thought five of swords was very passionate about chess and gave really solid advice... so I think it's too bad he got run off... I thought it was undeserved. He posted _a lot_, and although he wasn't obnoxiously arrogant IMO you could tell he thought highly of himself, and I admit I really wanted to catch him in an error just to take him down a peg...but if he made any blunders I never saw them. He said one foolish thing, I wouldn't call it a lie at all I'd call it vanity. He said something like he thought he was 2300 strength... Jeez if everyone who overestimates their strength deserves punishment I think pretty much all chess players deserve a beatdown at one point or another... we're an oddly egotistical bunch IMO. Surprised to hear 5ofswords rubbed so many people the wrong way. He seemed decent to me.
It's too bad about Fiveofswords...
I find it funny a threat actually gets created about fiveofswords.
I mean the guy's ok (when he's not lying and stuff...) but he always acts as if he's absolutely right about whatever he says, when being an amateur like most of us he isn't at all. I don't think it's much of a loss.
I suppose I am more to blame than anyone that fiveofswords left. I just cant stand arrogant people and the problem was compounded in his case because he was making bogus claims that were easy to debunk AND he is in my homestate of Georgia. He liked to boast that he plays 2300 strength otb and yet in his most recent otb event ( the Ga state championship ) he elected to play in the under 1600 section ( his otb qualifies him to play there ) and even there he didnt win the section. He had a draw with a sub 1200 player ! Sorry, but I just cant stand pretenders and thats what he was/is. He claimed to have several " master ( otb ) friends that would "vouch " for his true chess strength and when I asked him to tell me a few ( I would know them most likely ) he wouldnt.
And overestimating your strength as rediculously high as 2300 is absolutely obnoxious, and couldn't be any more wrong. I'm guessing he's a class b player, but one thing I am sure of: he is NOT a 2300, very far from it and he should know that instead of announcing it.
There was a guy, I think named wild fire mayhem, who thought he was 2500 strength. He just says "oh I play on instinct and own all these IMs in blitz." (I'm sure he was exaggerating). I think he had a high blitz rating, but his reasons for thinking his "true" strength was 2500 was absolutely laughable. And yeah I find that kind of insane overestimation annoying. I have overestimated my strength plenty of times (not here, to myself), but never like that.
The guy was arrogant and apparently a liar (probably just low self-esteem that needed propping up). But, he posted about chess. He put effort into posting his chess analysis, which tended to be well thought out, even if not always right. I'd take more of that over some of the other dweebs we get on these forums. It's too bad he didn't have a better personality.
I think I agree with the OP. If it's true it's too bad. I was in the middle of an unrated game with him where I was asking him about the King's Gambit. I think that is the last game he played here.
He might not have had the greatest PR. He was kind of arrogant towards players who had higher ratings and more chess knowledge, but he definitely knew enough about chess that I could learn from him.
He still has an account here though. Perhaps he will return.
I suppose I am more to blame than anyone that fiveofswords left.
Then there was this guy: http://www.chess.com/echess/profile/brandonQDSH
that you drove off when he said something like: Now that I've reached Expert level...and his USCF was miles away from that.
Lesson is: Avoid Reb or tell the truth.
Reb is chess.com's resident defender of truth and justice.
And overestimating your strength as rediculously high as 2300 is absolutely obnoxious, and couldn't be any more wrong. I'm guessing he's a class b player, but one thing I am sure of: he is NOT a 2300, very far from it and he should know that instead of announcing it.
There was a guy, I think named wild fire mayhem, who thought he was 2500 strength. He just says "oh I play on instinct and own all these IMs in blitz." (I'm sure he was exaggerating). I think he had a high blitz rating, but his reasons for thinking his "true" strength was 2500 was absolutely laughable. And yeah I find that kind of insane overestimation annoying. I have overestimated my strength plenty of times (not here, to myself), but never like that.
It might be stupid, and kind of insane to over exagerate your rating in the forums, but it's no reason to get the boot.
He hasn't gotten the boot.
This shouldn't be a block 'comment deleted' so I'll just reciprocate the answer, he left on his own, no shoes of any kind required.
Why are ratings so important?
just curious
I'm not a hard core chessie or anything, just interested in a nerd's perspective :P
ratings help me gauge how i'm playing and how others are playing. not the end all be all, but certainly helps give me some perspective.
And overestimating your strength as rediculously high as 2300 is absolutely obnoxious, and couldn't be any more wrong. I'm guessing he's a class b player, but one thing I am sure of: he is NOT a 2300, very far from it and he should know that instead of announcing it.
There was a guy, I think named wild fire mayhem, who thought he was 2500 strength. He just says "oh I play on instinct and own all these IMs in blitz." (I'm sure he was exaggerating). I think he had a high blitz rating, but his reasons for thinking his "true" strength was 2500 was absolutely laughable. And yeah I find that kind of insane overestimation annoying. I have overestimated my strength plenty of times (not here, to myself), but never like that.
It might be stupid, and kind of insane to over exagerate your rating in the forums, but it's no reason to get the boot.
Yes, those things are merely reasons to be annoyed with him, but as has been said, the leaving he did on his own, but the critisism was certainly justified.
I suppose I am more to blame than anyone that fiveofswords left.
Then there was this guy: http://www.chess.com/echess/profile/brandonQDSH
that you drove off when he said something like: Now that I've reached Expert level...and his USCF was miles away from that.
Lesson is: Avoid Reb or tell the truth.
What makes you so sure Reb had anything to do with anything?
Reb is chess.com's resident defender of truth and justice.
You're joking right?
On Reb's computer is a database from Convekta containing all three of my games vs GM Reshevsky.
Despite this, Reb claims in various forum posts I have never played Reshevsky.
Reb's posts can be entertaining and occasionally informative but...truthful? That's a stretch.
In certain subjects other than chess, it's just his delusional version of the "truth."
Reb is chess.com's resident defender of truth and justice.
You're joking right?
On Reb's computer is a database from Convekta containing all three of my games vs GM Reshevsky.
Despite this, Reb claims in various forum posts I have never played Reshevsky.
Reb's posts can be entertaining and occasionally informative but...truthful? That's a stretch.
I forgot to mention his 'Guilty until proven 463% innocent' approach.
The thread in which the argument took place was titled "D Class vs. GM? What's
a guy to do?" by Strani.
By the way, the guy sure is taking a lot of heat considering all he did was talk a
little trash. I don't think he's a 2300(maybe a 1700) but just about everyone here
talks trash(including myself) in the forums.
He always talked chess and spent a lot of time analyzing games and yet I see
people nominated for "Chess Player Of The Month" that never contribute to the
forums in a positive way.
There are far worse statements made on Chess.com. than anything this guy
has said to get angry over that's for sure.
The chess player of the month thing is merely a popularity contest, nothing more.