Sorry to disapoint but his OTB rating is 1700 FIDE.
I've never heard of a 1700 otb player being called a chess genius before. That's just average, nothing more, and among a collection of serious players, rather small.
Don't be jealous, Kasparov was once 1700 (at least so if he joined the tournament earlier)
I think I wondered about this a long time back. It's false. The more you understand of the positions, the more intricate thoughts you can have about each position and more rapidly too...which is so much more fun. You also see more creative opportunities and quickly deduce what your opponent has in mind.
I think I wondered about this a long time back. It's false. The more you understand of the positions, the more intricate thoughts you can have about each position and more rapidly too...which is so much more fun. You also see more creative opportunities and quickly deduce what your opponent has in mind.
Exactly. Many of my students (language, not chess) seem to believe that "ignorance is bliss" and "what you don't know won't hurt you." I suppose that if one is always satisfied living on a basic, simple level so as to avoid complications in life, perhaps that will keep him happy. But I'm certain that most of us believe that knowledge is the key to happiness and success - in chess as well as in life.
I'm honestly not meaning to offend, but he can't be that good if he has a roughly equal score against you over the board. If your opening preparation was your strong point and you used this to get good results against him - he, as a great player, would realise this and play out of the book stuff to eliminate your strength. Also, I've played a lot of 1800 folk on this site, and if they have an over the board rating it is nomally between 1200-1400 USCF, meaning that your probably in that bracket. Great players demolish folk like you and me.
I have had many chessfriends whom I let to win against me, but I know for sure they are a lot weaker than me. If we discussed about something and they didn't listen, I would tell them to listen and told them that they can win only because I let them to win. If they don't believe it I will say "Now sit down and let's play 10 games and I will not let you win even once".
There are friends who keep telling others that they have beat this person and that and that. Against this type I usually don't like to loose. But I also found more enjoyment in playing adventurous games (not in losing!) so first I will win one game then "let" them win the next, like 2-1, 3-2, 4-3, so they cannot go everywhere telling people that they have beaten me LOL.
So, the point is not playing to loose, but taking more risk to have more fun. If you cannot understand the situation, then answer this question: Your rating is say 1600, and you have to play a 1000 player, how can you enjoy the game? OTB some of you may offer to play it blindfolded right? You still play for a win, but you take the risk to play it blindfolded.
I have played against 1000 player once (where my rating was 1800). I did an attack with bringing my king to the 5th rank. I underestimated her and failed the attack. Tho I could still play for a draw with less material, I didn't. I simply resigned to respect her ability to defend against my attack.
I think there comes a point where you have reached a level you are unlikely to improve on without doing more study than you are inclined or prepared to. I enjoy playing at the level I am and if I was unhappy that I couldn't improve more then that would take away that enjoyment.
I get great satisfaction from beating a better opponent but don't feel like slitting my wrists when I get beat by somebody rated much lower than me.
I'm at a point where I don't think I'll get any better. Oh I suppose that if I studied the game 16 hours a day I might see some more improvement, but I don't want to study. My game is ok right now & I get plenty of enjoyment from every game I play whether against stronger opponents or weaker ones. The game is fun for me. BTW, I must have played thousands of games with my Dad, and never once have beaten him! But it is always fun trying.
I like learning new tricks and trying to think way ahead in games, but I mostly play blitz games because I find them the most fun. Bullet is too quick and even if a tactic works, chances are you are going to lose on time. Long is just annoying because you spend so long thinking because your opponent is going to notice any mistake you make. In blitz games, I always take risks and I don't play for rating, I play for fun, so if I have a chance to get a draw or take a very risky move, then I do the risky move, partly for fun and partly to learn.
the point is not playing to lose, but taking more risk to have more fun. If you cannot understand the situation, then answer this question: Your rating is say 1600, and you have to play a 1000 player, how can you enjoy the game?
Using chess, or anything else, as psychological therapy is fine for a child, or any immature being who is desperately in need of a boost in morale and ego.
But a reasonably mature person participating in any competition must accept the possibility of losing. The very act of participation, and not merely "the thrill of victory," should be the key source of enjoyment.
That's why it is a mistake - albeit a well intended one - for anyone, including a greeter, to deliberately throw a game. If a chessplayer cannot handle defeat, let him either find some non-competitive activity, or hone himself to be a top grandmaster.
One problem is that real casual players (who might play a game of chess ten times a year) won't be interested in playing a game with you. Even if they were willing the game would hardly be enjoyable.
Not Improving Equals More Fun?
A recent opponent has made the suggestion that perhaps I shouldn't try to improve my game if I want to keep the fun in chess. I don't believe this to be true.
...
Does anyone else feel that a higher rating/improving your game/learning takes away from the enjoyment or do these factors only reinforce your love of the game?
You need to clarify what he/she (your recent opponent) meant by his/her words. If you play against weaker opponents, you will win more games (but probably improve less). But, isn't winning more fun than losing for most of us?
I don't try to improve my rating to the best I can here at chessdotcom. But don't think that I don't try to improve. I have my own way to improve, for example by doing what I do worst so I will be free from weaknesses.
I can win more games with certain type of play and opening. But what for? I'm already "good" in that area. I believe that I can improve only by fixing the "bottleneck", which is the weakness that prevents me from improving.
For example, I have tried to find out why I always make horrible blunders. I have tried to google with relevant keywords. I have read Kotov's Think Like A Grandmaster on the blunder part with cautions, but couldn't find the answer. Previously I thought because I always play positionally and never work on tactics so I checked my tactics with chesstempo, but I could go above 2000 and it didn't fix my problem. But then something came to me and I believed I knew how to fix it.
I set a plan to play 3/0 games here using gambit openings. My plan was to play it untill I reach 1600 or equal to two-month practice. Now I have played it about one month and my problem has gone!!
wow. you sound like a jerk.
It depends on how you see things, life, etc. It is also affected by culture, your surrounding when you grew up, your religion, etc.
I have read threads about how we should play with our children. Should we play at our best or not? Many thinks that allowing the children to win is an insult to them. Many players also think that it is an insult when their opponent play a Grob Opening against them.
Psychologically, honestly I have to say that it is their problem when they think that they can be easily insulted, especially when nobody is trying to insult anyone.
wow. you sound like a jerk.
It depends on how you see things, life, etc. It is also affected by culture, your surrounding when you grew up, your religion, etc.
I have read threads about how we should play with our children. Should we play at our best or not? Many thinks that allowing the children to win is an insult to them. Many players also think that it is an insult when their opponent play a Grob Opening against them.
Psychologically, honestly I have to say that it is their problem when they think that they can be easily insulted, especially when nobody is trying to insult anyone.
Yeah but you sound neurotic... as a psychologist you should've picked up on that.
I think I have (if I understood your point). I'm not sure whether AfafBouardi was reffering to the "playing carelessly against weak opponents" or to the "Sit down... and I will not let you win even once". But I will assume that you are referring to the "playing carelessly against weak opponents".
If I want to "lower" my playing standard, it is legally my right. I need to do that not to insult anyone but for my own sake. I want to improve and that's my way. May be I don't need to tell anyone about it, but I'm an honest person.
It is like not resigning when you are losing. Why cannot everyone respect other player's right to play on and learn from the endgame?
I have had many chessfriends whom I let to win against me, but I know for sure they are a lot weaker than me. If we discussed about something and they didn't listen, I would tell them to listen and told them that they can win only because I let them to win. If they don't believe it I will say "Now sit down and let's play 10 games and I will not let you win even once".
There are friends who keep telling others that they have beat this person and that and that. Against this type I usually don't like to loose. But I also found more enjoyment in playing adventurous games (not in losing!) so first I will win one game then "let" them win the next, like 2-1, 3-2, 4-3, so they cannot go everywhere telling people that they have beaten me LOL.
I find that kind of behaviour very weird, to say the least. That is, if any of it is true at all.
wow. you sound like a jerk.
It depends on how you see things, life, etc. It is also affected by culture, your surrounding when you grew up, your religion, etc.
I have read threads about how we should play with our children. Should we play at our best or not? Many thinks that allowing the children to win is an insult to them. Many players also think that it is an insult when their opponent play a Grob Opening against them.
Psychologically, honestly I have to say that it is their problem when they think that they can be easily insulted, especially when nobody is trying to insult anyone.
Yeah but you sound neurotic... as a psychologist you should've picked up on that.
I think I have (if I understood your point). I'm not sure whether AfafBouardi was reffering to the "playing carelessly against weak opponents" or to the "Sit down... and I will not let you win even once". But I will assume that you are referring to the "playing carelessly against weak opponents".
If I want to "lower" my playing standard, it is legally my right. I need to do that not to insult anyone but for my own sake. I want to improve and that's my way. May be I don't need to tell anyone about it, but I'm an honest person.
It is like not resigning when you are losing. Why cannot everyone respect other player's right to play on and learn from the endgame?
It really depends on the endgame in question. If my opponent plays on a pawn down in a rook ending thats understandable. If he plays on when I have K+R or K+Q against his lone K thats NOT ! What do you learn playing out completely hopeless endings ? Ofcourse, when people do this online its not nearly as annoying/frustrating as when they do it otb ..... for me anyway.
This is to what I was referring. Pretend you are someone else and read it. It sounds pathetic and self important. First off, if you're going to let someone else "win", have the dignity to be quiet about letting them win. Regardless of how they boast. If you can't stomach that, then don't do any favors.
A king with no kingdom.
I ahve just completed a 10 game loosing streak. I enjoy the site and time here. I am going back to study. I always like to improve. getting my butt kicked means to study more