The everything CHESS thread

[Superfraggle]

Originally Posted by arcfyr

Anyone participate in OTB chess in Calgary? I've been playing online for a few months now and potentially interested in playing in person too now that I have the bug!

Yeah, I've been playing at the Calgary Chess Club for a bit over a year now. There's generally a classical tournament happening on Tuesday evenings, Blitz on Wednesdays, and an Open House on Fridays. Plus some weekend tournaments: https://calgarychess.com/CCC/Home/Home

There's also a South Calgary Chess Club that is very informal and plays at the Shawnessy Library between 1-5pm on Saturdays.

Feel free to PM me if you have questions. Or just ask them here.

[FireGilbert]

Okay I finally did it. 7 round 5+3 Swiss tournament on Lichess, "Calgary Puck Untitled Thursday", scheduled for Thursday October 17th at 8pm Calgary time.

Please join Lichess and Team Blasty to register. It's just for fun with all skill levels welcome and a tournament format that should create even match ups.

https://lichess.org/team/team-blasty

Happy to play in any other daily or blitz tournaments on chess.com or lichess.org before then if others want to set up.

[FireGilbert]

Anyone following the Chess Olympiad?

The best story was Magnus Carlsen’s team getting stuck in traffic and failing to pick him up, so he rented a city bike and raced through the rain making it with 3 minutes to spare before disqualification. Still won easily.

Also interesting that team China rested Ding Liren vs Gukesh in a must win game. Not a good sign for Ding’s confidence. He’s got two months to figure things out or their world chess championship match will be a blowout.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

Anyone following the Chess Olympiad?

The best story was Magnus Carlsen’s team getting stuck in traffic and failing to pick him up, so he rented a city bike and raced through the rain making it with 3 minutes to spare before disqualification. Still won easily.

Also interesting that team China rested Ding Liren vs Gukesh in a must win game. Not a good sign for Ding’s confidence. He’s got two months to figure things out or their world chess championship match will be a blowout.

To be fair to Ding, he really should not be playing his best chess leading up to the Tournament. He should be playing stuff he doesn't plan on playing so that he doesn't show his cards.

[mrkajz44]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

Okay I finally did it. 7 round 5+3 Swiss tournament on Lichess, "Calgary Puck Untitled Thursday", scheduled for Thursday October 17th at 8pm Calgary time.

Please join Lichess and Team Blasty to register. It's just for fun with all skill levels welcome and a tournament format that should create even match ups.

https://lichess.org/team/team-blasty

Happy to play in any other daily or blitz tournaments on chess.com or lichess.org before then if others want to set up.

I feel like I'm just missing the obvious here, but what is the team entry code for Team Blasty?

[FireGilbert]

Sorry that is kind of important! It’s the year the Flames won the cup.

[FireGilbert]

Let's keep this on the front page so no one forgets about the tournament.


Join team Blasty here if you haven't already: https://lichess.org/team/team-blasty code is 1989.


Then sign up for the tournament here: https://lichess.org/swiss/ERMbDLIX


In the meantime check out this game I am very proud off that would have been my toughest ever opponent if they weren't provisional. Also ended with a cheeky under promotion mate. Does anyone else have an under promotion mate to share?

[Locke]

Alright...but can you change the Knight avatar pics to Blasty?

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

Let's keep this on the front page so no one forgets about the tournament.


Join team Blasty here if you haven't already: https://lichess.org/team/team-blasty code is 1989.


Then sign up for the tournament here: https://lichess.org/swiss/ERMbDLIX


In the meantime check out this game I am very proud off that would have been my toughest ever opponent if they weren't provisional. Also ended with a cheeky under promotion mate. Does anyone else have an under promotion mate to share?

Great conversion! Your opponent putting the queen on the semi open C file was a pretty big inaccuracy IMO. I find QGD positions a bit boring, but this game was a ton of fun thanks to the quick queen side expansion.

I've been playing the Taimanov a lot lately, and had to learn a bit of theory when facing the Alapain to avoid those exact issues.

[FireGilbert]

Thanks for the feedback! Was happy with my pawn play, although did miss a mid game tactic. Instead of trading bishops I could have opened the C file and trapped the bishop.

Kind of gave up on any Indian defences against d4 and now play d5 to set up an anti-London or QGD.

I typically play the Alapin against the Sicilian, probably because I’m not comfortable against the Sicilian and it feels like a safe response. Should try to find another opening weapon.

[FireGilbert]

A reminder the CP blitz tournament is in one week. Details below. Currently 3 players are signed up but am hoping we can get more given Team Blasty has 15 members.

Currently as a 7 round event but can reduce to 5 depending on the interest.

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

Let's keep this on the front page so no one forgets about the tournament.

Join team Blasty here if you haven't already: https://lichess.org/team/team-blasty code is 1989.

Then sign up for the tournament here: https://lichess.org/swiss/ERMbDLIX

[FireGilbert]

Hey this is a final reminder for the CP blitz tournament tomorrow. Did decide to reduce to 5 rounds so the tourney won’t take much longer than one hour.

The blitz time controls are a great equialiser with lots of potential for upsets. Will be playing a few games tonight to practice.

[mrkajz44]

I've been playing a few 5+3 as prep and realizing how much more I like that time control vs 3+2. So much more time to plot a bit when you really need it.

[FireGilbert]

Thanks for the fun games! Guess the chess boom is over given the lack of tournament interest, but I'm still keen for any future ones if someone else wants to organise.

Blitz is such a different game that I am still getting used to. Intuition and finding tricky moves are far more important than calculations. Definitely prefer 5+3 over the faster controls. Does anyone play bullet? Seems insane to me.

[Slava]

I still love playing, but I just don’t play on Lichess.

[Locke]

When are we playing Star Trek 3D chess? I have a set and everything.

Although, I shall re-iterate, I suck at all forms of Chess.

[FireGilbert]

Originally Posted by Slava

I still love playing, but I just don’t play on Lichess.

You should give it a try! I’m admittedly a big Lichess fan boi. I like the minimalist layout, analysis features, and unlimited free puzzles. Their mobile app could use some improvement but heard they are working on a new version. I really should donate.

Chess.com on the other hand feels like visiting a MySpace page with all the ads and pop ups. Happy to play any tournaments there but can’t start them without a paid membership.

[FireGilbert]

What is the most games everyone has played in a row? I asked because I stayed up til 2am last night playing 27 blitz games. Went 12-14-1. Turns out that wasn’t even my longest. Did 30 in a row a couple years ago.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

You should give it a try! I’m admittedly a big Lichess fan boi. I like the minimalist layout, analysis features, and unlimited free puzzles. Their mobile app could use some improvement but heard they are working on a new version. I really should donate.

Chess.com on the other hand feels like visiting a MySpace page with all the ads and pop ups. Happy to play any tournaments there but can’t start them without a paid membership.

I basically only play on my phone though. Maybe I’ll download it and see how it goes, but I am pretty used to chess.com.

[mrkajz44]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

What is the most games everyone has played in a row? I asked because I stayed up til 2am last night playing 27 blitz games. Went 12-14-1. Turns out that wasn’t even my longest. Did 30 in a row a couple years ago.

That's a lot. I tend to like to review my game right after I play to see where I went wrong (or right). Helps keep the emotions in check where you don't get too high or too low as you play. That slows things down quite a bit, so I'll usually max out around 7-8 even if I'm playing blitz.

Just curious if you ever go back and review all 27 games? Or for a binge session like that you just leave it in the past?