How should I play against Korchnoi?

lolz

post the game please

Ok, here I am. Sorry I forgot to post the game straight away - I don't log in here all that often.

Unfortunately the game wasn't great for me as far as the result went - I was beaten fairly convincingly in 19 moves (maybe that was part of the reason for 'forgetting' to post it). It was still a great experience though and I was very glad I did it.

Korchnoi himself was impressive. I knew he was old, but in person he looked even older than I was expecting. Despite this though, he strode around the boards with great energy and slammed the pieces down with vigour. I can definitely see how he would have been an intimidating opponent in his prime.

He was very polite and charming in what he said though, and before the game did a nice little talk where he said that the last time he played a simul in London in the 1970s he was beaten by a small boy called Nigel Short.

Anyway, here is the game:

Ouch.. what a chance wasted!

Just kidding, you played.. okay.

I would be happy to play a GM regardless of how long I last.

Hello all,

Since Victor Korchnoi simuls are soon to take place in London again I thought you might wish to see how I lost my game in 2009.

Kind regards,
Robert

Victor Korchnoi the brilliant master who if i am not mistaken many people felt was robbed in his world chess championship match, because at the time he was defecting from the soviet union. The whole soviet empire was out to destroy him, that horrific car crash he was in during the match shocked the world and most likely cost him the title. 

I might have defended with 37... Rh8 38. Bxg6+ Kxg6 39. Qg3 Re8 40. h4 Qxe5 41. Qh3 Rh5 though I wouldn't have seen that on the spot even if I did not blunder


I am playing this year too on the 5th of December :) looking forward to it

Post the game here

a nice game. a good example of a king walk from a area under theat to a safe area. a nimzowitsch has similar examples in one of his books probably my system.

i was referring to korchnoi v jurjeciv. i have not played through the other game yet.

My game was one of the last three left on that day and as all boards happened to be close to each other Mr Korchnoi was fast to move from board to board. Also, Mr Malcolm Pein, the tournament director, kept reminding grandmaster Korchnoi that the games should have already been adjourned and sent to adjudication, as it was already 10.20pm. These circumstances probably contributed to my blunder, though this cannot be an excuse. Nevertheless, Korchnoi did outplay me as he had a luxury of moving his King from one side of the board to another while I could practically do nothing and had to wait for him to attack. But, at least in theory, it would seem that I could have kept a draw, though I doubt I would have spotted the defence even if I had more time. After I played 37.... Bxh5 Mr Korchnoi told me "I've got you" and played 38. g6+ smiling and showing me that I am losing the Queen (after which I resigned) :) In spite of losing the game that was a very nice experience for me.

Actually, London Chess Classic is a great tournament in my view, and I was really enjoying watching the games in the auditorium. This year I intend to visit every day. One does not get often a chance to see top four players in the world competing in a strong and I would say friendly tournament.

What happens if you haven't moved yet when he gets around to you?

you have to move. sometimes they allow one pass. otherwise he wins on time.

 Oh. Makes sense.

in a simul generally you have to move when he gets there. one pass just means you can wave him through once. it depends really on the number of opponents the player has really.

Q : How should you play against Korchnoi?

A : Very carefully...

Is that once each move or once for the whole game?

I read a book a while back by GM Mednis on How to Defeat a Superior Opponent. The basic points were:

1. Play with Confidence (Probably the single most important principle)

2. Don't do anything stupid (eg. tring to surprise them with an obscure or offbeat variation, hoping they don't see a refutation to your plan or conbination, etc.)

3. Play According to Your Style (To defeat them you must play at your best, so stick to playing what you know.)

4. Play the Best Moves (Again, this is much easier if you stick to familiar territory.)

5. As White, go for a sensible initiative (Recognize that all main line openings for white lead to some advantage, so why not be satisfied with that?)

6. As Black, aim for position of reasonable counter chances (eg. Don't play variations known to be dubious, don't play a variation which is so inherently passive that you have to defend perfectly just to squeeze out a draw, etc.)

7. Once you have a advantage, avoid all unnecessary complications (eg. establish and follow a clear plan, don't allow counterplay, avoid unclear or unnecessary complications, be careful, never be in a hurry, hold on to material advantage, when ahead in material continually try to simplify by exchanging pieces)

8.Play an active strategic middlegame (don't play a game which consists of nothing but a series of tactical traps as this will lead to not only no scalps, but will leave your pieces disjoined throughout the board)

9. Expect that the major part of your successes will come in the middlegame (Your opponent will most likely to be superior in opening and endgame knowledge, so your chance is in the middlegame where deep strategic concepts, creativity, and original thought assume the greatest importance.)

10. Use endgames for consolidating your advantage (eg. your opponent has uperior technical knowledge, so don't expect to win and even endgame)

11. Always continue to fight on: (eg. sit tight and hope for a blunder)

12.Don't get into time pressure: (enough said)

Well, there you go. Hopefully some of that might help you.

Hmm, given the age of this post, probably not. :B