I would look at a lot of games from the GM I'm playing if any are available. Both his wins and loses. Anaylzing each one carefully looking for strenghts and weakness'es.
Then wait to play him. I have only been in one such event so far..
If I open, e4... I would also look at a lot of Bobby Fischers matches to help prepare as well.
With my rating and ability, the only suitable preparation would be prayer.
I did play Pal Benko in a simul once (I think there were 40 of us against him). I made one resolution going into the game - steer well clear of the Benko gambit. That proved the easy part as he played 1. e4. The rest went pretty well the way I expected, except he got rather snitchetty with me in the end because I did not resign when he thought I should.
I would prepare for a quick game.
In my opinion you need to prepare as black, because the simul player has white on all boards.
SICILIAN !
The advice I always hear is to make the position messy and get out of book fast. If you play slow, positional chess or too many book moves they'll be able to play much of your game on auto pilot.
You cannot play slow because you have to move when he shows up :-). ( i know...)
I would look for a game where he played a few dubious draws. And try to repeat the game with some improvement.
The advice I always hear is to make the position messy and get out of book fast. If you play slow, positional chess or too many book moves they'll be able to play much of your game on auto pilot.
Good theory, but any GM worth his salt got to that lofty eminence by seeing more deeply into the possibilities of any position than us mere mortals rather than by memorising endless opening lines.
Learn a weird opening with loads of traps in, try a crazy gambit.
I will request him to let me use chess engine...lol
Wow, you,re playing a gm too? I have this chance today and will probably play what i always do!
I'd do what Borislav Ivanov does and put the engine in my shoe
Try to play solid, strong moves, avoid unnecessary weaknesses, and calculate/evaluate the consequences of any exchanges or pawn structure changes as precisely as you can.
Stay clear of sharp lines. Don't accept pawn sacs if you sense any, even minor trouble from it.
A common strategy when giving simul against 'patzers' is to play sharp, gambity attacking lines -- and kill off half the crowd very quickly.
The other half, will also suffer since they have to move faster (while your time as simul giver will stay the same for each game).
Play your normal repertoire--the one you know best. You'll get a more instructive game that way. Winning shouldn't be your number 1 priority--you have a chance to play a GM. Learn something from it.
Be well rested to take full advantage of the simul.
Concentrate as well as you can and play your usual stuff. You can rehearse some lines if it helps you feel comfortable, but the most important thing is to actually think at the board.
About opening...
Share your thoughts. How many times have you participated in those events? :)