Cunningham Prop bet to get to 2100

[Paymenoworlater]

[QUOTE=Allen C;17533371
As far as the nature of the match it will just be one rapidish game with a coinflip deciding the colors. The bet isn't who will be the best player after one year, it's just who will win that game. It's gambling, we're gamblers. Plus that way the loser can still claim they would have won if the format were a week long Kasparov vs Karpov struggle.

[/QUOTE]

Ok, one game.
What happends if it ends in a draw?


Lets assume Cunningham is at 1400 today and Lederer 1900.
Its a hell of a climb in one year for sure.

Mr Garry Kasparov started out at chess at age 6, went to a chess club at age 7 and reached Russias class 1 at age 9 (About 2000 rated.)
The year after that he reached Master class, about 2150

Today, once in a while the chessworld discovers a 12year old Grandmaster who has just been playing for a few years, and its certainly a lot easier to reach 1900 than 2500

But the big problem is that these kind of climbs are almost unheard of from chessplayers already at an adult age.

[swingdoc]

Originally Posted by John_Douglas

Saying that very few players actually reach 2100 is beside the point since there are no amateur players who study chess that intensively (actually there was a 2100 player in Canada a while back who called himself a chess professional, but he switched to poker a few years ago)

Anyway I'd be interested to see the result of this bet.

This is a pretty convenient and apparently unassailable position to take... I might ask how you know that no amateur has ever studied chess extensively for a year and I'm sure you'd tell me that this must be true since nobody has gained 900 points in a year, right? This is one of the most talented young players in the US:



2 - 2.5 years to go from 1400 to 2100.

[J_V]

Originally Posted by David Sklansky

Interestingly your reaction is discussed in my new book, DUCY, in the chapter called Friendly Figure Skaters. This forum is specifically mentioned.

You just sold a copy of your book cause I have no clue what either of you are trying to get at.

[Infinite Greed]

Allen, would you consider venturing into the politics forum and destroying all the politard nits in every thread with "Obamacare" in the title?

[All-inMcLovin]

Even though I never read the politics forum I second this^^ request.

[thunderchicken]

Hire Nakamura.

[John_Douglas]

Originally Posted by swingdoc

This is a pretty convenient and apparently unassailable position to take... I might ask how you know that no amateur has ever studied chess extensively for a year and I'm sure you'd tell me that this must be true since nobody has gained 900 points in a year, right? This is one of the most talented young players in the US:



2 - 2.5 years to go from 1400 to 2100.

Ok, I mean, you disagree with me, whatever. I highly doubt there's ever been a beginner chess player who decided to study chess 6 hours a day for a year, so no one can really tell what's achievable for someone with that level of study.

But I know a lot of cases of people reaching 2100 within about 2 years of playing serious chess - and without necessarily following any intensive training program. I don't think it's hard at all to believe that someone could do it in a year if they put in enough work. But okay, until someone tries it we're only speculating.

[belgian in TO]

Originally Posted by swingdoc

2100 who hasn't played in a decade is probably ... 1700?

Ha, it depends.

I am in a similar situation as HL. 2275 FIDE many years ago; inactive for a small eternity.

How strong am I currently? Well, I am still crushing sub-2000 players in friendly blitz or rapid games. It's only against 2100+ players that my lack of practice really shows.

So, I think that the loss is probably around 200 points.

I think Allen is taking the challenge sufficiently seriously to have a fighting chance.

[jontsef]

Originally Posted by belgian in TO

Well, I am still crushing sub-2000 players in friendly blitz or rapid games.

so you obv still play, that's different than howard afaik

[belgian in TO]

Originally Posted by jontsef

so you obv still play, that's different than howard afaik

Once or twice a year, when someone wants to check out my strength.

HL has likely played an occasional game too, methinks.

[Infinite Greed]

So you beat one or two guys some unknown amount below 2000 skill in blitz...solid sample size!

[swingdoc]

Originally Posted by Infinite Greed

So you beat one or two guys some unknown amount below 2000 skill in blitz...solid sample size!

My sample size wasn't any better really. I was estimating off 2 players who I know. 200 might be a better guess. Even then if Howard left off at 19xx, we're only looking at 17xx strength today. I still don't see any problem for Allen getting to 1700 minimum (probably 1800 is easily in reach if his estimation of his own strength is accurate) at which point he's getting close to even chances vs Howard.

[belgian in TO]

Originally Posted by Infinite Greed

So you beat one or two guys some unknown amount below 2000 skill in blitz...solid sample size!

LOL. Good point. You got me --I am relying on being able to estimate my playing skills based on my years of chess experience.

Enough about me though...

Gotta say. Allen's study plan looks sound to me. I would indeed have suggested CT-ART to speed up tactics, but cannot argue with "too much computer time already" argument.

I would also recommend playing over the game of Bent Larsen's "ZOOM 001" if you can still find a copy. It would teach you how to play a family of related positions.

[Paymenoworlater]

I would think its impossible to make such big leaps without working seriously with Rybka+chess-assistant or some similar programs.

[TimM]

Originally Posted by Paymenoworlater

I would think its impossible to make such big leaps without working seriously with Rybka+chess-assistant or some similar programs.

I went from about 1350 to 1750 in one year at age 20, and gained another 200 points in the following year. This was back in the mid 80s when there were nothing like today's programs.