Signs you're a bad chess player

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e4nf3

Morphy was the best there was in his day. I believe it is very possible that he had the potential to be the best in this day, too.

But, here is what I find most sad about Morphy...he "retired" from chess at a young age. So did Bobby. Somehow, I feel gyped. 

From Wikipedia:

Returning to America in triumph, the accolades continued as he toured the major cities playing chess on his way back to New Orleans. By 1859, on returning to New Orleans, Morphy declared he was retiring from chess to begin his law career. However, Morphy was never able to establish a successful law practice and ultimately lived a life of idleness, living off his family's fortune. Despite appeals from his chess admirers, Morphy never returned to the game, and died in 1884 from a stroke at the age of forty-seven

nameno1had
mrguy888 wrote:

Maybe. He would be missing those important early years and would have to pretty much completely relearn the game. It is a lot easier to learn something the right way than to learn something the right way after the wrong way is so ingrained into you. It is not so clear cut as you take it.

Anyway, I have nothing more to say about the subject I think.

I view this more from the angle that when you play better players, you will by default, be forced to play better moves, so he played the moves that needed to be played.

If a guy plays a bad defense, you can't necessarily play the best moves from the strongest line you know against his bad defense. Your moves have to be relevant to the position he played. The game results might not look as pretty next to Kasparov beating Karpov in a hotly contested match, in which both players played each line, about as well as conventional theory had on record, but it was just as effective in the win column and gave a foundation for those modern greats. As I said before, it isn't Morphy's fault he played subpar players. That problem runs deeper than first meets the eye.

mrguy888
jetfighter13 wrote:

my thinking is he learned the right way. you can quickly tell that by looking at games with his father. Dissapointed that I cant find his wins v General Winfield Scott when he was 9. but hey. I feel that he could demolish most 2000's based on his tactical knowledge if you want to know how good think winning a double muzio Gambit with odds of the queens knight. essentially this is how morphy could start as white.

 

If you think that the tricks he used in those games would work against any decent opponent you have another thing coming... No amount of skill can make up for a three piece deficit against anyone competent.

Ben_Dubuque

none of what he used were tricks. he was just that good at tactics.

e4nf3

This kid in the white T-shirt shows real promise...at such an early age yet!...as the next world champeen (sic!) bad chess player: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1AApx2359s

mrguy888
jetfighter13 wrote:

none of what he used were tricks. he was just that good at tactics.

I don't know if you realize this but in chess there is no better thing than perfect. In the position I was referring to it does not take a super GM to play well enough that perfect play can't make up the deficit in material.

Ben_Dubuque

ok Still missing your point did you mean the double muzio position or some normal 1800's Opening.

e4nf3

I do believe a naked woman could walk by and you boys wouldn't notice.

Ben_Dubuque

Pretty sure I would.... whoa what was that.

:P

mrguy888
jetfighter13 wrote:

ok Still missing your point did you mean the double muzio position or some normal 1800's Opening.

You said Morphy could play double muzio at knight odds and win and I said that the tricks he used to win those positions would not work on competent players. You said he was so good that he could in the post I quoted (I think). I said you were wrong.

Ben_Dubuque

Ok lets not let this get into an argument. so I will just let you believe what you believe and I will believe what I believe and well We can still be friends eh?!

mrguy888

I have never really liked you, jet, but I doubt that could change. What I really hate is the extremely prevalent false idea that opinions are what facts you choose to ignore. Of course people of that "opinion" can't see reason because they choose to ignore it.

Live and let live is the only solution.

Ben_Dubuque

Ok now I see what you are getting at.

Maybe I am wrong about Morphy not using tricks and Traps. I can't see any so I assume there are none. Maybe he wouldn't do well in today's world. but I see no evidence of that if he has a lot of free time.

anyway agree on the live and let live part.

have a good day. (best of intentions on that. hope its not interpreted as Sarcasm) 

e4nf3
jetfighter13 wrote:

Pretty sure I would.... whoa what was that.

:P

Well, this thread is about bad chess players. So, I thought you might have enjoyed the link I provided in post 1780.

Maybe it's just me, but I thought the video clip is not only spot on but hilarious.

AndyClifton

(Well yeah, they probably didn't notice, but I got a kick out of it.) Smile

e4nf3

Now they probably think it's gonna have naked women and will be disappointed.

nameno1had
e4nf3 wrote:

I do believe a naked woman could walk by and you boys wouldn't notice.

Unless she looked good I would only glance...

e4nf3

I am a married man. So, I would only look with my eyes closed. Wink

Ben_Dubuque

yeah I thought the vid was more Montey Python Hilarious. I mean really.

nameno1had
e4nf3 wrote:

I am a married man. So, I would only look with my eyes closed. 

 

My wife and I have an understanding that life is like an art gallery. Some pieces should definitely be on display and we should look.However, just like at the art gallery, touching is off limits, even if you wish you knew what the texture actually feels like.