do you think 10 grandmasters would be able to beat a lion in a physical confrontation
Us grandmasters are pretty much only good at chess and sometimes football(socccer). I've been impressed by Magnus Carlsen the few times we played together.
I don't think we could handle a lion unless we sacrifice a few GM's :)
how many moves can you see ahead?
I can see many moves ahead but I rarely ever need to or should be doing it! I can't give a figure as it depends on the position. But definitely twenty moves isn't out of reach
How do you manage to stay fit and sexy? It's so rare among chess players.
I go to the gym 5-6 days a week for cardio and weight-lifting. I have a serious background in sports.
what did you do for your chess improvment?
I did everything. I tried to consume as much information as possible as long as I could understand it not just memorize it. Studying and playing games was the most beneficial though.
GM Hansen,
What is the best way to use an engine to improve my game? Also, is Stockfish or Komodo 8 better for this?
Thanks in advance.
I recommend using engines very rarely. As a third choice behind your brain and even a chess friend. A really common problem I notice is the the over-reliance on computers.
As for engines, I currently prefer Houdini.
what are your next tournamets and what are your goals?
Next week I will travel to Uruguay to try to qualify for the World Cup. It is the Pan-American championships. My immediate goal is to be firmly over 2600
Okay here's mine: Is there anything else you excel at or do particularly well at that you think could be linked to your chess ability? How are you at videogames, especially competitive ones?
Interesting question. I can do mathematic calculations in my head really well. Arithmetic with numbers-not complex math. I think it helps my chess calculation.
I really enjoy video games. I played competitively in Counter-Strike and was ranked quite high.
Question: I have a five year old boy who loves chess and wants to play every day. He is allready beating adults that just know the moves and can do all the basic mates. What do I need to do to help him?
The next step is to look for chess books for him and a local chess club.
What should someone who can't get higher rating than 1300-1400 focus on?
In one of your answers you said most people should be able to attain 2200-2400 level if they started at a reasonable age. Is someone 25 years old still at a reasonable age or what is a reasonable age?
25 isn't too old to be come decent. It was normal in earlier chess periods! I would focus on calculation/tactics and playing quite a bit. Try to play a normal opening too. All I mean by that is something that you understand and something that is straight-forward and develops your pieces towards the center. Analyze your games too! And try to look for patterns..
Trying to learn a new black opening after 1.e4 any suggestions becsides e5?
Depends what you play normally. Sicilian is a top notch opening. French/Caro kann are both very solid choices that are good to know. One sharp opening one solid opening is good.
Pacquiao or Mayweather? I am Filipino so it is Pacquiao for me
I've been a boxing fan for around ten years. I wanted Pacquiao but I picked Mayweather to win at this point in their careers. The fight did not impress me because Manny did not throw enough punches or try anything new to counter Mayweather's style.
Hello, mister! Thanks for your topic, i'd like to seize this opportuinty, and aks you several question. What is your schedule for a day? I mean the training, what do you normally do? How many tactics, game analzying, or whatever u do per day? And how long did it take for you(to get 2000k raiting, from the begining?) Is that possible within a half year? Having raitin only around 1300 by now. ?
Sorry I missed your question. My schedule changes a lot because I am not the most consistent person! Exercise,blitz games, and some opening and game analysis for a few hours everyday. Right now as a GM most of my time is on openings because we try to make any little advantage we can get.
It took me about five years to become an expert. Half a year is pretty optimistic! Chess is a long process that you have to respect. Keep doing what you're doing but remember to always question yourself and learn to be a harsh critic of the games you play. Don't get too discouraged by rating.
to eric, has chess.com help you in any ways in your games while you were here ?
What would be the right strategy to improve Endgame and positional chess(right books etc)?
I'm stuck in 1100 rating. Its been more than a year and i'm still unable to improve my rating . What should i do to increase my rating ? I do solve daily puzzle and tactics still i'm not able to progress.
what are your next tournamets and what are your goals?
Next week I will travel to Uruguay to try to qualify for the World Cup. It is the Pan-American championships. My immediate goal is to be firmly over 2600
Wish you good luck, I will look for a way of watching your games, is chess24 or some site where we can follow the tournament?
and...go! i'll try my best
What is the nature of a neutron star?
They are so perfectly smooth that they make mirrors and perhaps even sophisticated telescope lenses look like bumpy monstrosities. Too much radiation to even think about going to one even if FTL travel were somehow mastered, which is impossible even theoretically and even then lots of tons of fuel would be needed to reach near its speed, in fact perhaps a Jupiter sized thing of fuel would be needed to go near light speed! Oh, and a teaspoon of neutron star matter is so dense it would trivially fall down the world if you were to spill it. They are very tiny, yet super dense.
thank you eric for your answers.