I wonder why they advised to register on the FIDE online arena and then failed to mention that the Arena GM title is much easier to get than (OTB) GM (requires ~2000 playing strength).

E.g. Valeri Lilov Sr. isn't shy of bragging about his AGM title

Would simply kindly tell me who YKW is irl?

(or PM me if it's meant to stay semi-private)

He's the ****in man and everyone should know it.

When he goes to the gym everyone sees how jacked and tan he is.

When he gets offered draws he says "Not now chief, I'm in the forkin' zone!"

WTF is wrong with you, man?

DrChesspain,
YKW is FM Tautvydas Vedrickas

And when his opponent says "Check!" he says...

"Is that all you got, son?... CHECKMATE!!!"

Years ago on youtube I saw Dzindzichashvili analyzing a game by some great player of the past (at least I'm pretty sure it was an historical player). Toward the end there was some brilliant rook sacrifice by White (getting only a pawn in exchange I believe). Dzindzichashvili remarked that no computer engine could see that move (without taking forever), which was at least true at the time (I think this was when Rybka or the first Houdini was #1).

Shot in the dark: does anyone know what game/player I'm talking about? I'm having a hard time finding the video among all the Dzindzichashvili videos.

Not what you're looking for but I remember a walk through he did of rybka/shredder 09 where there's an exchange sac and another surprising Rxh7 move. He says the only two good things in russia are chess and caviar

Engines still don't find Bh3, either, I think.

was hoping to get some advice. If I wanted to improve my skills at chess as much as possible in the next week and could devote 2-3 hours a day to the task, what would be the best use of my time?

I would say my current skill is that I understand the basics. I've done about 7K tactics exercises on chess.com over the years (I do it to pass the time when bored). I understand the basics of position vaguely (develop pieces, control the center) and all the basic stuff like forks and pins and what not. My knowledge of openings is limited to the Ruy Lopez. I don't have a lot of actual match experience. I do have a chess.com membership.

Is there a best way I should spend my time over the next week? Learn openings? Just play a bunch of games? More tactics? Does it even matter?

Basically I'm playing someone in a week who is probably somewhere near the same skill as me, and losing would not be good.

Easy tactics. Lots of them.

Don't do online tactics trainers in their default mode. They train calculation, not pattern recognition. If you want to train calculation, hit two birds with one stone and do endgames. If you want to engrain tactical patterns into your chess "muscle memory", do easy tactics, and try to solve them quickly.

Calculation training won't show big benefits in a week, but solving easy tactics can show improvements in the short term.

What is the structure of the match? One game, multiple games, time conyrol, etc.? Also, do you have experience playing them and know any weaknesses or strengths or openings they play?

one game, OTB, no time control. Dunno really their strengths or weaknesses, or how much they know about openings or what they like.

no time control is stupid. but you can exploit it by not moving once you know you will lose.

i dunno, that seems less effective than just smashing the board ;p

Been hammering tactics, will continue to do so!

A well-executed table flip always makes a lasting impression

Alobar if you haven't played on a physical chessboard in the past month or so, I'd mix in at least 30 minutes (total, not daily) of some practice with one that requires visualization.

Also getting a good night of rest is probably worth a good chunk of EV in itself. Wouldn't be surprised if that compared to a bad night of rest were greater than the difference of a week's worth of improvement + derusting*.

^ Just some additional suggestions, beyond your practice routine, that I think matter.



*If it were just actual improvement from your peak strength, then it definitely would be, but shaking off some rust and getting in form counts for a lot here too.

excellent idea, I will make sure to sit in front of a board for sure. Think I will also do some of my practicing in different places, so I'm not used to just thinking about chess in front of my computer in my office.

Excited that another Baltic Zonal was happening but I don't see YKW - https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-to...-liepaja/3/1/1.

Oh well. Planning to play any more of these?

My governor (Kentucky's Matt Bevin) posted a video of him touring a chess club, including this shot of a game where he's playing white.

I think I figured it out.


1.Nf3 Nf6 2.e4 Nxe4 3.Nh4 Nc6 4.f3 Ng5

wtf

I only had time to play the one that took place in my country.

If they will have Baltic Zonals next year, I will definitely try to play at least one (they are invite-only though, so no guarantees).

Currently chillin on a balcony with an epic vista view of the sea in Croatia and listening to the locals going completely ape **** in the streets after beating England to get to the final of the World Cup.

That's super fun, except I feel like there is at least 15% chance that I will find my car damaged in some way tomorrow morning

Worth it

The most famous example I can think of that would fit this description was a Kasparov exchange sac on b7 in a sveshnikov. Might not be the one you're referring to, but I always remember it as a sacrifice that was deemed "un-computer-makeable".

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1070699

The first time I played a tournament and saw someone with the nameplate AGM I had to look it up and was embarassed for him.