Chess

[dealmaker]

It is Magnus Carlsen vs Sergey Karjakin

Karjakin has never even been above 2800. I think he is going to find Magnus a handful. That said, he has little pressure since he is expected to lose. That monkey off an athletes back tends to bring out something extra in a player.

They meet each other in Norway chess in April. Most chess players tread lightly in games before important matches. But I think Karjakin has to give Magnus doubt and put lots of pressure on him right there and then. He has to get himself in the right psychological state from now on.

At the same time all those facts are also irrelevant that's why chess is considered a sport IE it comes down to who is better that day/ tournament.

 

[nitro]

At the same time all those facts are also irrelevant that's why chess is considered a sport IE it comes down to who is better that day/ tournament.

True.

 

[nitro]

In France, they know how to treat chess players (although I am not a fan of the lighting at the playing hall). Surprised Magnus doesn't push for the WCC to be held there.

You will definitely catch me sipping expresso in a Brasserie in between trips to the Louvre and checking in on my servers in NY sometime in the future.

http://en.chessbase.com/post/chess-festival-le-marais

 

[dealmaker]

and Cafe de la Regence where Napoleon and countless other famous souls played....

 

[dealmaker]

Nitro, why does chess.com start a new member with 1100 ranking and chess24.com with 1500, aren't these guys suppose to align their rankings with some official governing body eg USCF, how is such discrepancy possible ?

 

[nitro]

Nitro, why does chess.com start a new member with 1100 ranking and chess24.com with 1500, aren't these guys suppose to align their rankings with some official governing body eg USCF, how is such discrepancy possible ?

it doesn't really matter. The K factor in the rating formula is very big for first n games. So if your true strength is say 1800, it will take you no time to get to 1500 from 1100 and then 1800. The player that starts at 1500 might get there a little faster, but not in any meaningful way.

 

[nitro]

This is a first rate article and I highly recommend his instructional video.

http://en.chessbase.com/post/magnus-knows-his-classics

 

[nitro]

Kasparov against the top three US chess players in blitz (5 D3), all of whom are in the top ten in the world. This is far and away the stringest test Kasparov has had in years.

I think he scores 50%, probably only beating Caruana in the standings.

http://en.chessbase.com/post/it-s-blitz-kasparov-against-caruana-so-and-nakamura

 

[dealmaker]

Kasparov against the top three US chess players in blitz (5 D3), all of whom are in the top ten in the world. This is far and away the stringest test Kasparov has had in years.

I think he scores 50%, probably only beating Caruana in the standings.

http://en.chessbase.com/post/it-s-blitz-kasparov-against-caruana-so-and-nakamura

I wonder what his ranking would be if he continued to compete...

 

[nitro]

I wonder what his ranking would be if he continued to compete...

Top 20, imo.