My Weapon of Choice: The Ruy Lopez (Pt. 6)

My only point is that these estimates are almost universally over-estimates of playing strength. People tend to pick out results that indicate strength and base their estimates on that while explaining away results that aren't so good.

Maybe you've been jumped on a little harshly in this thread, but lesson learned I guess. There's no need for you to put out these half-baked guesses about your playing strength. Let your games do the talking and let your rating fall where it may. If your rating is a priority to you, you will find a way to play tournaments.

I'll make a few more comments about the accuracy of rating estimates.

I used to do the Solitaire Chess thing from Chess Life when I was under 1400 and it wasn't terribly rare that I would score near 2000. It would have been faulty for me to walk around saying the Solitaire Chess scores represented my true ability and that I was just way under-rated due to a lack of playing in a lot of tournaments.

In USCF tournaments I have 3 draws against players around 2300. I might say in those games I played as well as a 2300 played in those games. But if I start to think that I can come anywhere near to playing the way a 2300 typically plays in most of my games, I would be delusional.

My Chess.com rating is over 2200 (peak 2280). This is a nice comforting number that means diddly-squat on the USCF rating scale. My USCF rating has only recently gotten to 1850. I would feel rather silly if I suggested that I must be under-rated in the USCF and that I play near the expert level (I have only one win in my life against players over 1900).

In the last two months I have two tournament games against a player who is rated over 2000 (almost 2100). In the first I had a winning attack, but over looked the clearing of a long diagonal, hung my queen, and went on to lose. That's a silly mistake that should be easy for me to avoid. The second game was also very close and a complicated middle game could have gone either way -- I lost that game.I could take away from those games that I gave that expert player everything he could handle, that I'm playing very close to his level. Or I could take away the facts: I was 0-2 against an expert, and in the last couple months I also have a draw against a 1500 and a loss to a 1670 (among many other positive and negative results). You have to take the bad with the good when trying to figure out your playing strength.

I don't know what Brandon's actual ability is, and my guess is that neither does he.

Yeah Brandon, just wait until you've played enough tournaments, because i do find it a bit hard to believe that you really are nearing expert level and you're only going by what you think. It happens to almost everybody with a strong will to improve.

You know, I've never lost a game to a person who, upon finding out I was a chess player, bragged about how good he was.  (I'm only 1737 USCF.)  I've also never met a guy who "estimated" himself a fantastic rating that could play within 200-300 points of it.

If this guy wants to claim a playing strength of 2000+, whatever man.  He'll either prove it or not.

Brandon exposed as a joke.

How about accepting my game challenge now buddy?

Brandon if you are really nearing the expert level why is your best win on this site against a player of only 1800+ strength? (and that's inflated CC ratings).

Loomis

goldendog

Elubas

I've repeated this over and over. You don't know me. You don't know my game. There are a wealth of other threads out there that I've posted, but y'all and NM Reb continue to berate me in a now pointless thread so you can feel some moral victory or sense of smug superiority.

Fine, I will no longer even say such innocent things, as "Hmm I think I'm getting close to a certain play level, what do you think?" Yes, I welcome all opinions and yes, you can honestly tell me, "No, I don't think you're quite there yet." But, along with that answer, you know, you could, um, I don't know, post some advice about the particular game in question, as that has been the original point of this thread all along.

Please get to know me and do some research on my game before you just flame away. I've put a lot of work into my game: studying for about 20 hours/week this past year. I've talked to lots of people and played lots of games and done lots of work. I have my opinions, and others have their own.

So please let's treat each other with some class and some respect. I firmly stand by my statements made in my original post and any additional theses brought up in the course of this discussion. I'm not the kind of person who would say something like, "I think I can run a mile in 6 minutes" if I didn't think I actually could do it or at least come close to it.

If you ever met me in person, you would know that I never brag about ratings or skills, I just play/coach against everyone and anyone, win, lose, or draw. The REASON why I say things in these forums like, "I think I'm such and such strength" is so that people have a point of reference in the GAME I'm asking them to REVIEW and CRITIQUE. And you know, after about a dozen or so of said games posted, this is the only one where people like you just want to keep beating a dead horse, nitpicking my grammar and ideas, and attacking me, rather than coaching and helping me in a positive manner, which is what I think these forums are supposed to be about: learn, play, share, no?

If you have any other questions, please address them to me personally. 

NM Reb

In light of frank713 coming to my defense against your charges, I feel that again speak up. I have tried to apologize many times, and I have treated you with class, respect, and even tried to put things behind us and be friends. However, your recent posts, besides sounding egotistical, are bordering on harassment. If you feel that this is the way things have to be, then perhaps we should let the staff and moderators help us sort out this issue.

I have long since rescinded and apologized for any comments I have made in regards to my own USCF rating and play strength. You are the only player in these forums to have such a gripe about a statement as innocent enough, as "I think I play at such and such strength, and here's a game for you to check out and tell me what you think?" I posted dozens of other threads and I believe you've seen one or two and commented fine. Hopefully we can put this issue to rest.

Next, I am resolute in my statement that I have indeed played USCF players with official ranks and ratings: Class C, Class B, Class A, Expert, (National) Master, and Senior Master. They were all man-to-man OTB games at various clubs with tournament rules and conditions enforced.

frank713 assists me as a club director and as my coach. He knows personally the Senior Master that I am talking about. Said Master does have an account here and did frequent our club regularly. But he is older now, long-since retired, and doesn't travel as much anymore due to a PaceMaker. I hope I have not divulged too much information as to jeopardize his own desire for privacy.

However, everything I have stated is truthful and sincere, as I have been more than generous enough to share with you and the rest of the readers here, my own personal thoughts, and my history as a chess player.

If you are still incredulous as to disbelieve me, then please address frank713 or myself privately, as he will have more discretions as to better answer your questions.

I hope this can put an end to this pointless war. If you insist on lecturing me and attacking me here, then it is time for the moderators and staff to step in to mediate this thread. Thank you.

lmao seriously

bunch of egocentric haters

To Brandon  - whether you are great or whether you stink, these knuckleheads don't deserve a response. 

To the Knuckleheads, try critiquing the game.

As for the general public,

If you are reading this thread or have stumbled upon it, then please know that this thread is intended to be a Game Analysis thread.

Any questions, comments, and critiques regarding the game are welcome and appreciated.

However, there is no need for further comment regarding any of the multiple issues that have already been tackled during the course of this discussion.

Brandon, perhaps you should just start your own blog so that your "fans" can follow you there ? Its amazing how you continue to not provide a single name of any NM or SM you have ever played a "serious game " against. A serious game would mean the keeping of score, so you could even post the game in a thread for all to see, but you do not. Its hogwash that you are worried about their "anonymity" as most people understand. If you say which NM(s) or SM(s) you have played otb that doesnt mean they are here on chess.com anyway and if they are it doesnt tell anyone what their screen name is here. I have already told you that I wont give you any grief as long as you dont make bogus claims. Your official uscf otb rating is 1557, thats C class and nowhere near "uscf expert level" as you try to mislead people to believe. It doesnt matter what your online rating is nor what you "think" your level is. As soon as you play in some otb tournaments you will find that out the hard way. Since Hawaii currently has only two NMs and NO SMs and two "experts" with about 5 or 6 A class players after them I simply do not believe you have ever played a serious game against a NM and certainly not a SM. You could disprove this easily if it were indeed fact. I have looked at some of your recently completed games and they are not even A class level. Your best win I note is from another player in Hawaii who is rated under 1300 otb but over 2000 on chess.com...... see how online ratings are inflated ? 

 Me? Be careful who and how you accuse. I posted a message you said was honest, and it wasn't a harsh criticism. Now I "continue to berate you" when I haven't posted anything else since then?

See my point?

goldendog

I apologize if I have inadvertently lumped you into a group of players that you didn't belong.

To everyone else:

I have already contacted the moderators and staff. They should be sorting out this issue shortly.

Why alert the staff, sir?  I've followed this humorous thread with some interest.  I don't see that there is anything here for the staff to "sort out."

 I feel like I am back in grade school !  LMFAO !!

NM Reb you sure have lots of time to write in these forums (actually just repeating yourself over and over)! You say you do not want start a couple chess game against me as you have enough in your queue to keep you busy!!

To me you have to much free time and brothering a new player with only questions and nothing useful in content (in reference to the game he posted) How about using your time and playing me a couple of chess games. Or giving some postive feedback on the game as a NM that should fairly easy for you!

Makes me think that your more words then a chess player! I would send you a challenge but can't as your set at 2100, my current rating is now 1969, slowly moving it up & down!

I've seen your profile and your results, impressive! But your posts (here) have me wondering what kind of National Master you really are! And its by playing you few games and seeing your other games you played. I'll be reviewing your games as I may learn a few things about your style of play, then you line of questioning here! Basically Elementary school yard bullying is what your doing!!

Mahalo! I wait your challenge at turn-base chess!!! Action on the chessboard and end result is all that matters when you boiled down! Rating wise you should win easily, so you up for a few games?

well, when we go back and forth like this, then we are.

someone once told me a saying that really applies here: something about arguing on the internet, the special olympics, something-something...I'll have to look it up - I forget exactly. But it springs to mind for some reason.

Go 197!

Bugoobiga, I do not like anyone referring to any group of people to make a sample of them as you trying to do here!

Please keep it general, I get the meaning, but looking it up on the Internet to be sure what you met. I did not appreach what it said about this group of people even in reference only! 

A football coach did that recently and almost lost his job!

Not kidding!

 Frank, I dont know why you have jumped in to this and sided against me but you have so you are fair game now too imo. I have plenty of time because I am retired, what about you ?  Are you Brandon's guardian ? If so maybe you can advise him that making bogus claims and posing as something he is not may cause some people to expose him for what he is, thats what I am doing. What kind of NM am I ?  I dont know what that means really . If you mean my games many of them can be seen here but they are not typical of my otb play since here I am allowed to use books and databases and take hours, even days, per move whereas in otb play I cannot use those resources and only have minutes per move on average. I dont want to start new games because I want to finish my current games and then take a break from chess on chess.com , I never said I dont have time, you just made this assumption, which is faulty. What kind of NM am I ? If this isnt in reference to my chess then what is it in reference to ? Perhaps you can be a bit more clear ?

Perhaps the OP got confused and assumed chess.com ratings were similar to OTB ratings? Sorry if this has been cleared up elsewhere, since there are five whole pages! (Gasp!)

Aloha Reb,

You see that's the problem right there you think this a "Game of words" here! He was asking for advise and his words were instead of the chess game he posted is what your keying on!

I normally do not post much here but seeing the reaction you personally seen to think its OK to do what your doing, Its not!

We read what you have to say, so get going and do what ever else you do in your spare time. we have nothing to learn from you in this thread at this time!

Mahalo for your inputs Brandon is aware he has to be careful how he presents his ideas as some folks rather lecture about the words then the topic of the chess game he posted.

By the way NM Reb I do not use books or databases by choice hereas I feel I can test myself better that way, so my 1969 rating is based on my own play! Otherwise I be a higher rated player here at chess.com. Of course we are given much more time to think and if use that properly I would avoid making dumb mistakes as I do in some OTB games!

By the way its cool with me that use books and databases that way if i win I know you did your best with a little assistance! I have no problem with that and thanks for letting us know that! I'm cool with that! By the way Brandon also does not use database or books while in play! After the game he does compare his games with the chess.com database, when he plays turn base chess or LCP!

Who I am I the Windward Chess & Go Club Director where Brandon comes during the summer to play and learn and help teach our newer players! Also besides wanting to become a much stronger (proven via tournament play at a later date) hopefully he also wants to be a TD and is starting a chess group where he is going to college. These are positive things and good for chess, what your doing here in this tread specifically is not good for chess!

So looked at the chess game posted between man and machine and if you like give your NM feedback, good or bad that's all he wanted! As for me I always go with the underdog especially if he on my team and helping me with my chess clubs!

I'm (Brandon's) wing-man in this case, something I learn from being in the U.S Air Force and a few few movies!

By the way why is it your chess team agreed to draw without making any moves, what's the purpose of meeting if your not playing chess! Gee! this was an OTB event you wrote in one you own threads!

Mahalo for your time here and your remarks about the chess game this thread is about!

Frank Alejandro

USCF 1600, (based on a few games i play each year (normally as care-giving duties don't allow full playing of all games) USCF life member, never been to your to in any FIDE tournaments so no FIDE rating!