My Weapon of Choice: The Ruy Lopez (Pt. 6) - Chess Forums - Page 3

brandonQDSH

Aug 6, 2009

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#41

However, this semester I am renting an apartment with my girlfriend, and hopefully with my parents help, I'll be able to lease a car and afford insurance for about 12 months, provided I can get something for about $300/month plus affordable insurance. So yes, I do plan to play in some tournaments hopefully in the next few months.

Trant

Aug 6, 2009

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#42

brandonQDSH wrote:

Oh yes, sure that's no problem, just find the time and money to buy a bus pass, locate a venue, see if a bus actually goes there, see if I have the time and schedule to even play that weekend, walk about 2 miles up and down hill to the nearest bus stop to me, bring a whole bunch of food, clothes, chess board, pieces, and clock and books on a bus, and hope i both get there in time and hope the venue ends in time so I'll be able to catch the bus back. then walk another 2 miles uphill after I finish the tournament and be ready for classes in a day or so. yes, easy peesy solution right?

You mean "make a packed lunch, put my stuff in a bag and go get a bus"?

Yes, seems pretty easy to me.

brandonQDSH

Aug 6, 2009

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#43

Okay wow, another two blokes trying to cause trouble. Seriously, take over the thread if you wish to ignore reason, disrespect each other, and refuse to see eye-to-eye. I'm done here with you gents. Good bloody grief. This will be my last response to both of you.

Trant

Aug 6, 2009

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#44

No I'm not trying to cause trouble. I'm just pointing out to you that the answer to your problems is easier than you seem to think. You don't have the respect on this forum that you think you deserve because you don't have the requisite FIDE/USCF rating.

I'm telling you that you're in California for, what, 30+ weeks of next year and getting to a tournament is probably easiser than you seem to think it is. I haven't been to a Chess tournament, but I've competed in plenty of sports and getting a car share, bus, train or walking to a venue is something I've had to do in the past. (More often than not, a combination of these. i.e. Get a train to a location so someone can pick me up in a car)

You're doing graduate studies? How would you feel if someone said that they did a University course but didn't do the exams at the end because they couldn't put in the effort to get to them. Would you respect them? No.

You claim to have done the hard part. Now go and prove it.

JG27Pyth

Aug 6, 2009

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#45

Omg! Omg! Omg! Brandon might have overestimated his current performance level at chess! Omg! He's the worst person ever!!! Let's all mash him into ground and stomp on his head.

FWIW I agree with Loomis 100% about everyone tending to overestimate themselves. I've used the methods Loomis described for calculating my own rating many times

I didn't read the deleted messages, but from what I've seen Brandon has handled himself with class here, and put up with (mostly) an absolutely glorious display of pompous righteous chest beating. You folks remind me of the beaureaucratic souls I encounter in school administrations and the department of motor vehicles, the nasty folks that seize upon their tiny moment of power and just milk it for all it's worth.

What I don't understand is WHY? Wherefrom comes this reaction to Brandon's statement? We've had flat out bad c-player patzers trying to charge $ for lessons! We've had countless examples of total know-nothing players arguing with NMs about basic stuff, and I personally, have made a giant shiny red ass out of myself on at least two occassions, at one point correcting a WGM (!) on her use of the term "bad bishop" -- and none of these idiocies has engendered anything close to the hostility that poor Brandon has just by saying, "gee, I think I'm getting close to 2000 USCF" WTH?!

Elubas

Aug 6, 2009

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#46

JG27Pyth wrote:

Omg! Omg! Omg! Brandon might have overestimated his current performance level at chess! Omg! He's the worst person ever!!! Let's all mash him into ground and stomp on his head.

FWIW I agree with Loomis 100% about everyone tending to overestimate themselves. I've used the methods Loomis described for calculating my own rating many times

I didn't read the deleted messages, but from what I've seen Brandon has handled himself with class here, and put up with (mostly) an absolutely glorious display of pompous righteous chest beating. You folks remind me of the beaureaucratic souls I encounter in school administrations and the department of motor vehicles, the nasty folks that seize upon their tiny moment of power and just milk it for all it's worth.

What I don't understand is WHY? Wherefrom comes this reaction to Brandon's statement? We've had flat out bad c-player patzers trying to charge $ for lessons! We've had countless examples of total know-nothing players arguing with NMs about basic stuff, and I personally, have made a giant shiny red ass out of myself on at least two occassions, at one point correcting a WGM (!) on her use of the term "bad bishop" -- and none of these idiocies have engendered anything close to the hostility that poor Brandon has just by saying, "gee, I think I'm getting close to 2000 USCF" WTH?!

Well it's just a little annoying (I'm saying in general, not necessarily here) for people to assume they're a certain rating that could very well be way off and then use that for bragging. Before I was 1600, I pretended that I was 1600. Sometimes I was wrong, but when I finally went to some more tournaments, my rating did indeed get there.

Golbat

Aug 6, 2009

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#47

Could Brandon perhaps be mistaking his chess.com rating for USCF rating? I know someone "in real life" who's 2200 correspondence here, but 1700 USCF.

brandonQDSH

Aug 6, 2009

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#48

JG27Pyth

Thank you for getting my back. But more importantly, thank you for injecting some much need calmness and respect in the air to a thread that has gotten hijacked and out of control.

brandonQDSH

Aug 6, 2009

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#49

Elubas

goldendog

Thank you for your honest input. And I respect where your coming from. But before you write me off as some dreamer or "peddler of bogus claims", I have posted a dozen or so threads just like this one, tracking my progress and play-level this summer.

I never boldly proclaimed to be anything, just that I thought based on my own empirical studies and the opinions of my friends, coach, and fellow USCF players, and friends here on Chess.com, that I feel I was nearing a certain level of play. And I've posted dozens of games to get people's opinions, comments, suggestions for improvement, etc.

This is a game analysis thread, and that's all I meant it to be. Some posters here got caught up in 1-2 sentences of my introduction and just flamed away on a warpath.

If you look at some of my other threads, you'll get a feel for my personality, my game, and my attitudes toward chess. And as a rule, I tend to post more of my losses than wins, as a sign of respect to the community and to my opponents.

atomichicken

Aug 6, 2009

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#50

I agree that just stating that you think you've got to a certain level didn't warant such uproar but I'm certain that no one who's actually Expert strength or approaching it would be proud of just getting to a pawn endgame or hanging in there past only 20 moves against a Master.

frank713

Aug 6, 2009

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#51

Aloha Everyone,

As the Director of the Windward Chess & Go Club where Brandon Plays during the summer time, I know what he really met and that he is improving and he has a goal of becoming a much better chess player in 2 or 5 years as well as USCF TD / Coach to help his fellow Hawaii players and himself! He still needs lots more tournament play and experience. Unfortunately here in Hawaii we had a dry spell due a lack USCF tournaments as we have few USCF TD's and so Brandon and everyone else is left to fend for themselves.

Brandon has been studying chess the last two summers and when he had time while in college - very hard. I have seen very few new players do this writing down all his moves to study his games later, which he shares with you for feedback here at chess.com.

Its unfortunate that his words about how he thinks he is progressing have changed what he originally intended to do with this posting of this game.

I have been playing chess since July 1969 started serious and have become a chess club director / coach the last 9 years. I am a life time member of USCF and have currently a very low 1600 rating and the highest I had was around 1870 way back in late 70's. My chess.com rating is 1947 currently and I DO NOT use database or books while playing, I understand how folks feel that that chess.com ratings are inflated, they are mainly due as we have more time to think about what we want to do so play can be keener, but mistakes still happen and we lose and win due opponents mistakes.

Anyway here in Hawaii due to lack of OTB tournaments we have been forced to look towards the Internet for advice and play both Live and turn-base type, I like the new 960 chess games here at chess.com as there less chance of someone using a database base and its all tactic's, tactic's. I'm always learning from playing and reading about games played. I hope to one day be able to play in G/90 games and not only G/45 games (on regular basis) as when I was in San Antonio. As a caregiver - that is not going to happen anytime soon and I'm not getting younger!

I have run many Hawaii scholastic a few USCF tournaments here in Hawaii and was using CXR rating system (as well) as it gave our young players a bit more information about their chess play. Anyway I hope this has helped you understand a bit ore where this young chess prodigy is coming from! I seen very few chess players "study chess as hard" as he has and reminds of how I was myself; back in my early days of playing chess in San Antonio.

My only wish is that - we know we have lots of strong players here in Hawaii and elsewhere that I only wish they could make more time and come play and teach at our OTB clubs to enourage and not discourage players like Brandon!

Different words could have be used by all involved and I hope this helps and not start another series of negative remarks!

Mahalo and best wishes to a successful playing of your chess games here at chess.com and OTB!

NM TheOldReb

Aug 7, 2009

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#52

brandonQDSH wrote:

NM Reb and Loomis

Oh my goodness. Yes the Master I played in question was at a club in Hawaii. And no it was not illusions of grandeur. It was not a simul. It was a serious man-to-man game at the club, with tournament time controls and rules enforced, playing for the stakes of pride, respect, and love of the game. I remember the first game we played so vividly still after months have gone by.

I really wanted him to be White and show me something cool. But he firmly insisted that I play White. I also insisted that the stronger player should play White, but I didn't want to offend him because I also naturally offer all the kids who play at my club to be White since I know it will give them a minor handicap.

I spent about 2 minutes before opening 1. Nf3. He laughed to himself, and shouted out, "hypermodern!" And he responded by slamming down 1. Nf6. Then I had another deep think of about 2-3 minutes, thinking of what opening I wanted to transpose to. I decided to go for a Queen's Gambit-type setup as that was my tournament repertoire at the time, 2. d4. He responded with 1. ... c5 which is I guess a sort of weird Benoni transposition.

At that point, I've read about the Benoni, but I've never played it, so I decided to try and transpose again, this time with 3. c4 hoping for a sort of QGD, I don't know, Tarrasch-esque type game. From there, the game went on like a normal QGD type game, with both of us making what I thought were pretty good moves for me. The next dozen or so moves all fall in and out of book anyway, so I figure even a Master has a hard time breaking up a set QGD type position if played somewhat accurately.

After about 20 turns, I thought I almost blundered a pawn, but I was able to hold it via a mass exchange of all the Rooks and Queens. Material was still even, but this left the Master with a passed pawn. And my endgame play was weak (and still is weak, which was a semi-point in the original point of this thread), and I'm not sure if a minor piece per side was on the board or not, but I fell apart in the K vs. pawn endgame.

So yes, I got crushed, as we both knew that that was going to be the outcome all along. But we had a good game and a great postmortem. And you know what, I made a good friend; something that would not have happened if I tried to argue moves or try to chicken out of the game, or try for a cutthroat win at all costs.

So Loomis and NM Reb, while I appreciate your comments, if you still have nothing better to say about my career than, "oh he's dreaming that he played a Master, he's a fraud trying to represent himself with a 2000 USCF rating, etc." please let's just end the discussion here.

I have been more than candid, sincere, respectful, and honest in defending my theses and answering your charges. Good day to you both.

Why cant you give the master's name if you recall the game so vividly ? It appears there are only two NMs in Hawaii anyway and no SMs ( 2400 ). Didnt you claim you had played with a SM as well ? Why not post the game here for all to see ? Werent y'all keeping score ? You will NEVER be a titled player or even an "expert" unless you play rated otb chess events and get the necessary otb rating. It does NOT matter what level you "think" you play at. Ratings here on chess.com are inflated... mine is some 300 points higher than my otb fide rating and from the looks of it so is yours here on chess.com. Your 1557 rating otb is more than 300 points lower than your rating here. Online ratings tend to be inflated everywhere, I have found no exceptions. I certainly do NOT play at the GM ( 2500 otb ) level and just because my rating here is 2500 I dont delude myself into believing I am " approaching the GM level threshold". Get it ? You have to make sacrifices to play tournament chess , all serious players do and yet you dont seem willing to do so. I have been to tournaments that I wanted to play so badly and didnt have enough money for a hotel two nights so have slept in the car one night and only got a room for one night. I have also caught buses to tournaments over the years. I even lost a job once ( was fired ) because I didnt want to miss the state championship that weekend ( already had reservations, paid entry fee, etc.) and at the last minute ( the Thursday before ) my boss tells me I am expected to work that week-end. I went to the tourney instead and was fire when I came back to work the next Monday. Some will say this is more than a serious player and perhaps a fanatic.....and they might be right.

NM TheOldReb

Aug 7, 2009

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#53

Reb wrote:

brandonQDSH wrote:

Kupov and Reb

BRING IT! As far and I'm concerned you're a loser. And life master my ass. I know damn well that I play near expert level. We can throw down anytime the hell you want. Where I'm from, we have 1 maybe 2 tournaments a year, and even then, you have to play odd time controls, i.e. G/25, G/45, etc. if you want the points. And the ones where we have G/60 or G/120, I'm away in California, so I can't play.

Some people here like myself just play chess the old-fashioned way and are keen on improvement. That "under 1600" rating was achieved in less than 6 weeks, and even then, it should be near 1700 but Hawaii suffers from serious ratings DEFLATION. Everyone is studying and improving and getting pretty good, but when I played them all, they have their old 1100-1300 ratings, so when I win, I still get next to nothing, even though they play at 1500-1800+. Everyone is just beating up on each other, and there is not enough new blood to kick up the ratings.

I've played against SENIOR Masters OTB with rating 2400+ and I've held my own for 20+ moves.

So maybe you should go back to school and learn how to read statistics and numbers before you mindlessly post in threads.

Please clarify this statement for me ? Are you saying you have played otb games with players who had otb rating of over 2400 ? Or, are you claiming to have played them online ? And , if you played them online, are you saying their otb ratings were 2400 or their online ratings ? If you actually played them otb was this in Hawaii or California ? What were the circumstances? Who are they ? Why would a 2400 sit and play with you when I have often had such players even refuse to sit and play with me ? This smells very fishy to me..... sorry, but it does.

Brandon, you DID claim you have played with senior masters OTB and yet you have deleted your post in which you made this claim...... WHY ?

NM TheOldReb

Aug 7, 2009

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#54

At that time I was working in the bindry of a small printing company in Augusta Ga and I also was a delivery driver for them. I was young and single and didnt like the job much anyway.....

frank713

Aug 7, 2009

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#55

Aloha Reb,

Excuse me! He deleted the first two as the formatting the game was incorrect I asked the same question! The third had some flaming and was removed by him! I am the director of the Windward Chess & Go Club and know Brandon and several 100 other players at our club.There is some privacy concerns and we will not be giving out any names!

Reb - Would like to play me a game? Here at Chess.com? If you read my post #60 and my profile you know me already! I'm not a master but I'm sure I can make it interesting especially when I reason to do so! Challenge is on the way!

Oops was rejected you do not play anyone under 2100, I was at 2065 in June 2009 (here at chess.com) but lost a few games and when I get back to 2100 expect a challenge, very soon from me!! Rather let my chess playing do the talking in this case!! I have my set at 1500 so we both have limits, but willing to play you unrated if you like!

I'm sure Brandon will be playing and reporting some of his USCF OTB games here when the time comes.

By the way I rode the bus (to most of my chess tournaments & many other places too) until I was 22 years and in the U.S. Air Force after I return from my first oversea duty (along time ago) I bought my first car.

Brandon and I have schedule meeting for tomorrow and we will discussing his plans as time permits I hope he enters a few USCF tournaments while in CA.

I believe you made your point no need to discourage a new player to chess and tournaments!

NOTE: Brandon did not asked to me write.

Mahalo and best of luck in our upcoming game!

Frank

NM TheOldReb

Aug 7, 2009

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#56

Hi Frank,

I am not starting new games at this time. I am trying to finish all my games now and start over at a later date. For this reason I decline your "challenge".

frank713

Aug 7, 2009

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#57

Aloha Reb,

Sounds good, gives me time to bring up the old chess.com rating UP again and keep it up there!

I and also trying to bring down amount of chess.com games as well had 67 at one point and that was a bit much and so down to 35, but have a few tournaments that have round 2 starting so expect to go back up!

I have NOT been studying as Brandon has but when I have a "Goal" like in the movie "Rudy" I keep going and going until I get there and just need to keep setting the bar higher and higher now that have little more free time.

Just send a message when your ready to start a new group of games!

Sounds like a plan to me!

Mahalo!

aansel

Aug 7, 2009

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#58

I am finally going to chime in. Ratings are a function of consistency. A "B" player (or A) play can on any given day play very strongly against a master. That does not make them "playing master strength"--it just means on that day, with that particular game they played very well.

Most people believe they are stronger than their ratings suggest because they remember the good games and rationalize that the blunders against weaker opponents were just "silly oversights"--that is why becoming a Master {or higher} is such a hard thing. They consistently have to be prepared to play people who have every thing to gain and little to lose and often run into some specialized opening. An they get around 2-5 rating points if they win and lose a bundle.

So do I think the OP has played a game at expert strength--probably but it is just one game. Also reaching a K & P ending against a strong player does not convey any facts about your strength.

Here is what John Fedorowicz said to me after our game (and he is a friend of mine). He was going to let me try and beat myself by making a bad plan--if not he was going to try and exchange everything to reach a favorable endgame where he would win--this way he really did not have to think very much.

Regarding playing chess tournament in California and going to college there --it is tough. I went to UCLA and basically played in campus events and that was it for my rated tourneys except for one venture to downtown LA (and of course the American Open)--the Bay Area is a little easier as there are several good places to play near public transportation. However if bus transportation and living a college life are not easy to fit in tournaments.

smartens

Aug 7, 2009

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#59

If you think it's tough to find events in LA, try Nebraska or Kansas. Chess Life doesn't even bother listing those states most of the time b/c there are no events happening.

Elubas

Aug 7, 2009

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#60

goldendog wrote:

Brandon would have fared better I think if he had declared his strength less definitively. Had he wished himself luck in future tournaments on improving his actual rating, he'd probably have been met with some support.

As I said in my earlier response, there is no substitute for the crucible of actual tournament play. The resultant rating is earned and hard to argue against.

It's true that we tend to over-estimate our ability. Combine that with the genuine experience of picking up skill and knowledge over a year of study that *ought* to significantly improve chess strength, especially in the absence of serious otb play, and we think we are stronger than we in fact are.

That's what lots of study and no official otb against a variety of opponents will do--give you an artificially high expectation of how you will do in real otb play.

In my opinion, I think Brandon has been caught up in this mindest.

I think this has happened to me! In fact, after reading certain books I thought master chess was easy! I was like 1400 and thought that I had to be at least 1600, but when I actually played that didn't really happen and until I spent a lot of work on imrpoving the problems with my game did I actually apply the knowledge better and reach 1600.