The Secret of Chess

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universityofpawns

It go a long way to help prove the OPs credibility to this community if he actually played some games on chess.com and beat some strong players, just saying.....but I'm keeping an open mind. There are so many people on our forums here who have not even played any games, that we as a community have become numb to them.

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov
Pikelemi wrote:
Lyudmil_Tsvetkov wrote:
Pikelemi wrote:
GWTR wrote:
Pikelemi wrote:

Lets look at a random review of this book from Amazon:

 

"This is a very bad book. The author had not shown his knowledge in computer chess, everything was just random guesses. The author claimed he's a very strong GM+ level player in the book. Do you believe it? An untitled player suddenly playing at GM level?? Unless you believe Lyudmil Tsvetkov (the author) is really a grandmaster, nothing in the book should convince you. If the author can't even properly self-introduce himself, why would you think the contents are worth your time?

Throughout the book, Lyudmil is trying to show how he plays better chess than Stockfish, an 3000+ ELO chess engine. We don't know if the games are real, in fact my Stockfish 8.0 don't agree the Stockfish moves in the book. Apparently, the games are fake - anybody with a laptop can make a PGN with some random moves, then change the player name to "Stockfish".

The contents have not been proof-read - grammar, spelling mistakes everywhere, but that's not the problem. For example, the author claims the advanced French variation is a "forced" loss for Black. Are you serious? 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 is a win for White?? Are you serious? Unfortunately, there're many other similar examples. The authors has made countless random guesses in chess.

There's no "secret" in this book, and there's no value. Please don't bother, and waste your time."

Do you know if a GM wrote that review?

 

No, but does that matter when the book is not written by a GM ?

Yes, it does.

A 1400-player like you can not review much stronger players, I think this is clear.

 

I am completely disgusted by you, I know some people are shameless, but to such a horrendous degree...

You have the right to review a book, when you have read it.

Did you read the book?

Why are you commenting then?

 

An unrated player like you who never played a single game of chess can NOT write a chessbook. Yes, I read the preview on amazon. The preface was enough to convince me what a scam it is. 

So you did not read the whole thread, from where it is clear I have beaten grandmasters over the board?

How can you post in a thread, when you don't read the whole thread?

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov
P1day1 wrote:

Excellent! And we are able to learn your secrets, or THE secret, via this publication? 

My secrets are THE SECRET. happy.png

A lot of hard work has gone into it, the measurements are based on statistically relevant number of games, involving the top engines, so I guess something useful could result out of it.

One thing I understand only now, though, is that indeed, it is very difficult, even for GMs, to fully understand some of the concepts.

For example, how can one be certain that 2 minor pieces + rook almost always win against queen + 2 pawns? Especially in more complex positions?

Someone might say a random guess, but this claim is statistically backed up by a large number of top engine games. As humans in general play material imbalances rather poor next to engines, even GMs will have considerable difficulties with the concept and its implementation over the board.

One thing the book has needed is much more explanations, and example games, then many more would be convinced, but I guess this is something to think for the future.

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov
breakingbad12 wrote:

Ok, after reading all that I can say that this guy is a total scam. He claims that he can beat Stockfish but doesn't gives us any proof; he doesn't have any FIDE title, and he doesn't even have a chess.com rating. In the internet you can't find anything about him other than dubious information generated by himself or by other empty profiles. Don't buy this course, people. Don't be naive.

Another lie.

How can everything you say be wrong?

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov
FBloggs wrote:
Lyudmil_Tsvetkov wrote:

 

Of course, my book is difficult to understand, it is not for everyone.

You will not understand it even in 20 years' time.

"Learn chess 5 times easier through pattern recognition," according to the book's preface posted on Amazon.  How does that square with your comments above?

It does not square in any way. It is because you attacked me on no grounds at all that I supposed you simply don't like to investigate things deeper. But then you also seem to have a second mind.

Indeed, learning through patterns is the much faster way, in case you know many useful patterns, you can do without many other things, even without learning any opening theory at all, because the patterns will be choosing the right opening moves for you.

But, as Smerdon says, it takes some effort on the part of the reader, as remembering all those patterns is not that easy.

I am fully convinced learning through pattern recognition is tremendously superior to any other approach.

 

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov
Ashvapathi wrote:

GM's review certainly creates my interest in this book. I think you can find more sales if you can post some excerpts or summaries which would act as an appetiser for your target audience.

The excerpts are on my site:  http://www.secretofchess.com/  , see Excerpts

But the Paypal purchase option does not work, just Amazon, I have to update the site.

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov
universityofpawns wrote:

It go a long way to help prove the OPs credibility to this community if he actually played some games on chess.com and beat some strong players, just saying.....but I'm keeping an open mind. There are so many people on our forums here who have not even played any games, that we as a community have become numb to them.

No strong players here, bud. happy.png

universityofpawns

 https://www.365chess.com/players/Ludmil_Tsvetkov

okay, I found a record of some of your games, looks like you play at expert level, but not GM

ergodicbreak

Clearly Lyudmil is not doing himself any favors by how he presents himself here, but I also read Smerdon's review today (who I do respect as an insightful thinker and chess player) and he had positive things to say about the book. 

FBloggs
[COMMENT DELETED]
FBloggs
Lyudmil_Tsvetkov wrote:
FBloggs wrote:
Lyudmil_Tsvetkov wrote:

 

Of course, my book is difficult to understand, it is not for everyone.

You will not understand it even in 20 years' time.

"Learn chess 5 times easier through pattern recognition," according to the book's preface posted on Amazon.  How does that square with your comments above?

It does not square in any way. It is because you attacked me on no grounds at all that I supposed you simply don't like to investigate things deeper. But then you also seem to have a second mind.

Indeed, learning through patterns is the much faster way, in case you know many useful patterns, you can do without many other things, even without learning any opening theory at all, because the patterns will be choosing the right opening moves for you.

But, as Smerdon says, it takes some effort on the part of the reader, as remembering all those patterns is not that easy.

I am fully convinced learning through pattern recognition is tremendously superior to any other approach.

 

Your original comment above wasn't directed at me.  Apparently you're confusing me with someone else.  I haven't attacked you.  In fact, I defended you against a post I considered misleading above (#40).  I simply asked where the independent evidence is to support your claims.  In a previous post you said the evidence is clear but you haven't provided any evidence.  And I can find no evidence elsewhere that you've beaten the top chess engines.

breakingbad12
Lyudmil_Tsvetkov wrote:
breakingbad12 wrote:

Ok, after reading all that I can say that this guy is a total scam. He claims that he can beat Stockfish but doesn't gives us any proof; he doesn't have any FIDE title, and he doesn't even have a chess.com rating. In the internet you can't find anything about him other than dubious information generated by himself or by other empty profiles. Don't buy this course, people. Don't be naive.

Another lie.

How can everything you say be wrong?

This is getting ridiculous. You say you can beat Stockfish and I'm the liar? Ok, buddy.

UnsettledPatzer

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov wrote:

P1day1 wrote:

Excellent! And we are able to learn your secrets, or THE secret, via this publication? 

My secrets are THE SECRET. happy.png

A lot of hard work has gone into it, the measurements are based on statistically relevant number of games, involving the top engines, so I guess something useful could result out of it.

One thing I understand only now, though, is that indeed, it is very difficult, even for GMs, to fully understand some of the concepts.

For example, how can one be certain that 2 minor pieces + rook almost always win against queen + 2 pawns? Especially in more complex positions?

Someone might say a random guess, but this claim is statistically backed up by a large number of top engine games. As humans in general play material imbalances rather poor next to engines, even GMs will have considerable difficulties with the concept and its implementation over the board.

One thing the book has needed is much more explanations, and example games, then many more would be convinced, but I guess this is something to think for the future.

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov wrote: P1day1 wrote: Excellent! And we are able to learn your secrets, or THE secret, via this publication? My secrets are THE SECRET. To be completely honest, half the time you come off as some sketchy door-to-door salesman trying to sell bogus life insurance.

FBloggs
Lyudmil_Tsvetkov wrote:
universityofpawns wrote:

It go a long way to help prove the OPs credibility to this community if he actually played some games on chess.com and beat some strong players, just saying.....but I'm keeping an open mind. There are so many people on our forums here who have not even played any games, that we as a community have become numb to them.

No strong players here, bud.

No strong players here?  Most of the top GMs play here, including Magnus Carlsen.  You really expect people to believe they're not strong enough for you to play?

eulers_knot
ergodicbreak wrote:

Clearly Lyudmil is not doing himself any favors by how he presents himself here, but I also read Smerdon's review today (who I do respect as an insightful thinker and chess player) and he had positive things to say about the book. 

+1.  The book seems interesting.  The author clearly is passionate about the work but his aggressive tit-for-tat posts detract from his presentation.  While it's tough for some folks to deal with all the trolls, I would have thought a former diplomat would handle things differently. 

Regardless, the price on Amazon for the paper version seems a little steep for what seems to be an unknown work.  While it may be worth the money, it's a little too much for me to take a flier on it without a greater number of reviews.. 

 

milkovich

I don't believe you beat stockfish in a classical game, and anyone with a brain will agree. Engines are stronger than  players and can  see a tree of 30 moves ahead and can  calculate millions of moves/second. If you had that calculating power and speed in your brain you were in the top 10. 

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov
universityofpawns wrote:

 https://www.365chess.com/players/Ludmil_Tsvetkov

okay, I found a record of some of your games, looks like you play at expert level, but not GM

Do you also see the year: 2004?

That makes precisely 13 years from now.

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov
FBloggs wrote:
Lyudmil_Tsvetkov wrote:
FBloggs wrote:
Lyudmil_Tsvetkov wrote:

 

Of course, my book is difficult to understand, it is not for everyone.

You will not understand it even in 20 years' time.

"Learn chess 5 times easier through pattern recognition," according to the book's preface posted on Amazon.  How does that square with your comments above?

It does not square in any way. It is because you attacked me on no grounds at all that I supposed you simply don't like to investigate things deeper. But then you also seem to have a second mind.

Indeed, learning through patterns is the much faster way, in case you know many useful patterns, you can do without many other things, even without learning any opening theory at all, because the patterns will be choosing the right opening moves for you.

But, as Smerdon says, it takes some effort on the part of the reader, as remembering all those patterns is not that easy.

I am fully convinced learning through pattern recognition is tremendously superior to any other approach.

 

Your original comment above wasn't directed at me.  Apparently you're confusing me with someone else.  I haven't attacked you.  In fact, I defended you against a post I considered misleading above (#40).  I simply asked where the independent evidence is to support your claims.  In a previous post you said the evidence is clear but you haven't provided any evidence.  And I can find no evidence elsewhere that you've beaten the top chess engines.

The evidence is when you play through the games of the 3 parts of 'Human versus Machine', and check the relevant positions.

Neither Stockfish, nor Komodo understand them, they assess most positions in their favour, or equal, when it is actually the human side that is winning. Many GMs don't fully understand them too, just ask some of them.

You see what GM Smerdon writes: 'Well, I don't know', 'To be honest, I am not sure', etc.

If those games contain moves that no engine and GM sees, who has actually played and created those games? Any guess? An extraterrestrial?

 

As said, I am doing laboratory work under as quiet conditions as I can find. Too much noise while playing in tournaments certainly does not help concentration, nor scientific approach to chess.

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov
breakingbad12 wrote:
Lyudmil_Tsvetkov wrote:
breakingbad12 wrote:

Ok, after reading all that I can say that this guy is a total scam. He claims that he can beat Stockfish but doesn't gives us any proof; he doesn't have any FIDE title, and he doesn't even have a chess.com rating. In the internet you can't find anything about him other than dubious information generated by himself or by other empty profiles. Don't buy this course, people. Don't be naive.

Another lie.

How can everything you say be wrong?

This is getting ridiculous. You say you can beat Stockfish and I'm the liar? Ok, buddy.

You said I have 'generated' some information.

That is a lie, because all sites where my name is present, are authoritative ones, like Amazon, computer chess wiki, etc.

On other hand, you can't be certain if I can beat Stockfish or not, as you simply don't have enough data.

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov
UnsettledPatzer wrote:
Lyudmil_Tsvetkov wrote:
P1day1 wrote:

Excellent! And we are able to learn your secrets, or THE secret, via this publication? 

My secrets are THE SECRET.

A lot of hard work has gone into it, the measurements are based on statistically relevant number of games, involving the top engines, so I guess something useful could result out of it.

One thing I understand only now, though, is that indeed, it is very difficult, even for GMs, to fully understand some of the concepts.

For example, how can one be certain that 2 minor pieces + rook almost always win against queen + 2 pawns? Especially in more complex positions?

Someone might say a random guess, but this claim is statistically backed up by a large number of top engine games. As humans in general play material imbalances rather poor next to engines, even GMs will have considerable difficulties with the concept and its implementation over the board.

One thing the book has needed is much more explanations, and example games, then many more would be convinced, but I guess this is something to think for the future.

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov wrote: P1day1 wrote: Excellent! And we are able to learn your secrets, or THE secret, via this publication? My secrets are THE SECRET. To be completely honest, half the time you come off as some sketchy door-to-door salesman trying to sell bogus life insurance.

Indeed, I might look as a sketchy door-to-door salesman, but the insurance I am offering is not bogus and can even save your life.