It is often hard to break down one's own motives into a temporal schemata that gives priority to your decision (both real world decisions and those made over the boards). One is often left at the chessboard searching first for ANY plan and then only secondarily evaluating if the plan is performable. It is a vexing question to try to apply such techniques at the chess board but even harder when tries to apply them broadly to their own life. It is important to keep your goals spread out over time... in chess as in life.
I find it easier to break this argument into three parts. 1) Defining and clarifying your own short term goals. 2) Defining and clarifying your own long term goals. 3) Find the cohesive that runs them together.
Your short run goals should always include things like happiness, fun, enjoyment and satisfaction cause you never know if you will live to see your long run goals completed. I see all too often players that join a tournament, lose their first game and withdraw. If their only goal was to go undefeated then both their short run and long run goals have been lost with this victory. Otherwise, this withdrawal makes no sense. If you long run goal is improvement and your short run goal enjoyment... first the tournament, enjoy the games and study the loses! This method is the only one to achieve your aims.
But your long run goals should contain a more oriented, rhythmic logic such as concrete ways you achieve your short run goals. If you derive satisfaction from wins then you must learn how to improve your practical winning chances. Some are just happy to show up and play the game.
What I am talking about here is chess terms can be clarified in the short term as more wins, more rating points, more money but in the long run... overall improvement. The difference between the chessboard and your life is your might translate rating, wins to simply money and fame. Job Title, promotion, something to hold over a highschool classmate, a family member a friend. As Ayn Rand stated succinctly in the Fountainhead, it is okay to desire such things if they are the means leading towards an end. It is natural to want money if it leads to certain luxuries... it is not natural to want money just because other think it desirable. I feel in this ground most of us become lost. It is the same in studying chess openings where one will endless copy and memorize GM moves and games without understanding their plan and their short run goals. You copy because you know their long run goal is to win the game. But if their short run goal was just not to lose? You can never know the circumstances under which the artist creates so it is better to understand the lesson then to follow blindly. Goals are something that should be achievable, identifiable and desirable.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Dream team?
I was recently pondering for fun what the most interesting exciting supertournament participant list might be of active players.
I came to the conclusion (not because these are my favorite players) that it would be 1. Magnus Carlsen 2. Vassily Ivanchuk 3. Alexander Morozevich 4. Alexei Shirov 5. Hikaru Nakamura 6. Nigel Short because of the innovative and sharp way they all play the opening. It would seem to me these players versatile repertoire makes them almost impossible to prepare for (all super GMs admit as much about Ivanchuk). I thought it was a fun albeit pointless topic to think about though.
However, in MTEL 09 we see 3 of these 6 together! Although Ivanchuk is clearly out of form in this tournament for whatever reason!
I came to the conclusion (not because these are my favorite players) that it would be 1. Magnus Carlsen 2. Vassily Ivanchuk 3. Alexander Morozevich 4. Alexei Shirov 5. Hikaru Nakamura 6. Nigel Short because of the innovative and sharp way they all play the opening. It would seem to me these players versatile repertoire makes them almost impossible to prepare for (all super GMs admit as much about Ivanchuk). I thought it was a fun albeit pointless topic to think about though.
However, in MTEL 09 we see 3 of these 6 together! Although Ivanchuk is clearly out of form in this tournament for whatever reason!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Congrats to the Champion!
Congratulations to the 2009 US Champion: Hikaru Nakamura!
He had a beautiful win over GM Joshua Friedel in the Two Knights. It was strange to see the two knights played so poorly by a GM! In the after interview, Nakamura mentioned of the mainline 8. Bd3 "Morozevich plays it so it must be good!" It was strange to see Friedel respond with the dubious 8... Be7 instead of engaging the mainline!
Still a great tourney with some great chess! Minus the horrible on site spectating conditions and a few hiccups with online relays... the St. Louis Chess Club delivered a fantastic performance in prize fund, player conditions, good chess and enthusiasm! A thank you to all the players and volunteers that made it possible.... and congratulations again to Nakamura!
Nakamura also said one other thing after his round9 victory... his intentions are to shoot for a world championship match! Talk about work! Good luck to him in that endeavor!
He had a beautiful win over GM Joshua Friedel in the Two Knights. It was strange to see the two knights played so poorly by a GM! In the after interview, Nakamura mentioned of the mainline 8. Bd3 "Morozevich plays it so it must be good!" It was strange to see Friedel respond with the dubious 8... Be7 instead of engaging the mainline!
Still a great tourney with some great chess! Minus the horrible on site spectating conditions and a few hiccups with online relays... the St. Louis Chess Club delivered a fantastic performance in prize fund, player conditions, good chess and enthusiasm! A thank you to all the players and volunteers that made it possible.... and congratulations again to Nakamura!
Nakamura also said one other thing after his round9 victory... his intentions are to shoot for a world championship match! Talk about work! Good luck to him in that endeavor!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Prediction: US Champion 2009 Hikaru Nakamura
1. IM Robert Hess (6) 2545 - GM Varuzhan Akobian (5½) 2664
2. GM Hikaru Nakamura (6) 2757 - GM Joshua Friedel (5) 2568
3. GM Alexander Onischuk (5½) 2736 - IM Ray Robson (4½) 2542
4. GM Jaan Ehlvest (4) 2649 - GM Gata Kamsky (5½) 2798
5. GM Yury Shulman (4½) 2697 - GM Gregory Kaidanov (4) 2662
6. IM Enrico Sevillano (4) 2549 - GM Larry Christiansen (4) 2681
7. GM Joel Benjamin (4) 2650 - GM Alexander Shabalov (4) 2620
8. GM Ildar Ibragimov (4) 2628 - IM Michael Brooks (4) 2419
9. IM Samuel Shankland (3) 2464 - GM Boris Gulko (3½) 2631
10. GM Julio Becerra (3½) 2672 - GM Melikset Khachiyan (2½) 2632
11. Tyler Hughes (3) 2293 - FM Doug Eckert (2) 2278
12. IM Irina Krush (3) 2496 - Charles Lawton (½) 2350
these are the pairings and my prediction is in... Nakamura eats the enchilada (the same prediction I made at round 1 outset). Whether its by blitz' playoffs or outright he will be our titled champion.
2. GM Hikaru Nakamura (6) 2757 - GM Joshua Friedel (5) 2568
3. GM Alexander Onischuk (5½) 2736 - IM Ray Robson (4½) 2542
4. GM Jaan Ehlvest (4) 2649 - GM Gata Kamsky (5½) 2798
5. GM Yury Shulman (4½) 2697 - GM Gregory Kaidanov (4) 2662
6. IM Enrico Sevillano (4) 2549 - GM Larry Christiansen (4) 2681
7. GM Joel Benjamin (4) 2650 - GM Alexander Shabalov (4) 2620
8. GM Ildar Ibragimov (4) 2628 - IM Michael Brooks (4) 2419
9. IM Samuel Shankland (3) 2464 - GM Boris Gulko (3½) 2631
10. GM Julio Becerra (3½) 2672 - GM Melikset Khachiyan (2½) 2632
11. Tyler Hughes (3) 2293 - FM Doug Eckert (2) 2278
12. IM Irina Krush (3) 2496 - Charles Lawton (½) 2350
these are the pairings and my prediction is in... Nakamura eats the enchilada (the same prediction I made at round 1 outset). Whether its by blitz' playoffs or outright he will be our titled champion.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
US Championship (with round2 photos) Trip
590 miles traveled on the great American interstate all with one thought in mind: viewing great chess games from the 2009 US Championship.
It turned out there was only one problem with that thought... "viewing." The very enthusiastic organizers of the St. Louis chess club must be applauded for their heart and effort... but condemned on their results. They created the most non friendly spectator environment I could ever have imagined. I could complain all day on the errors of these first time organizers... but I will chalk it all up to as a learning experience. I will say though that I finally understand the sentiment of just spectating from home. Nothing prevents the organizers from creating these non-spectator friendly environments. I will never again wonder about why chess is not a spectator friendly sport for I will always remember the setup of the 2009 US Championships. My friend and I decided to leave late on Saturday night after round 2 instead of staying for round 3 as originally planned as a result of the poor spectating conditions.
Even though the club staff did their best to prevent photos by taking away your camera and cellphone at the door... and constantly wanding you and patting you down like an airport security checkin point. I did manage to steal some illegal photos!
I hope that at least some people will enjoy my photos as I went to great lengths to dupe the stupid security guards. I would have videos as well but it seemed too risky.
A young future GM plays skittles prior to round2's start outside the club with a prestigious on looker: IM Michael Brooks!
Wall of photos of the 24 participants taken by Betsy Dynako.
GM Alexander Onischuk in deep thought against NM Tyler Hughes.
GM Melikset Khachiyan ponders his position in the winawer french against defending 2008 US Champion GM Yury Shulman of Chicago, IL!
Local NM Charles Lawton in deep thought against IM Enrico Sevillano.
The most interesting game of the round to participants... GM Joshua Friedel vs GM Gregory Kaidanov with GM Robert Hess, GM Alexander Onischuk and GM Alexander Shabalov spectating.
My favorite photo: IM Anna Zatonskih ponders her position in a very cat like posture... as the picture of IM Michael Brooks from the wall of photos stares on with her.
I have learned my lesson. No need to spectate live unless its your home town or a side event for you to play in.... because the last thing organizers think about is spectators.
It turned out there was only one problem with that thought... "viewing." The very enthusiastic organizers of the St. Louis chess club must be applauded for their heart and effort... but condemned on their results. They created the most non friendly spectator environment I could ever have imagined. I could complain all day on the errors of these first time organizers... but I will chalk it all up to as a learning experience. I will say though that I finally understand the sentiment of just spectating from home. Nothing prevents the organizers from creating these non-spectator friendly environments. I will never again wonder about why chess is not a spectator friendly sport for I will always remember the setup of the 2009 US Championships. My friend and I decided to leave late on Saturday night after round 2 instead of staying for round 3 as originally planned as a result of the poor spectating conditions.
Even though the club staff did their best to prevent photos by taking away your camera and cellphone at the door... and constantly wanding you and patting you down like an airport security checkin point. I did manage to steal some illegal photos!
I hope that at least some people will enjoy my photos as I went to great lengths to dupe the stupid security guards. I would have videos as well but it seemed too risky.
A young future GM plays skittles prior to round2's start outside the club with a prestigious on looker: IM Michael Brooks!
Wall of photos of the 24 participants taken by Betsy Dynako.
GM Alexander Onischuk in deep thought against NM Tyler Hughes.
GM Melikset Khachiyan ponders his position in the winawer french against defending 2008 US Champion GM Yury Shulman of Chicago, IL!
Local NM Charles Lawton in deep thought against IM Enrico Sevillano.
The most interesting game of the round to participants... GM Joshua Friedel vs GM Gregory Kaidanov with GM Robert Hess, GM Alexander Onischuk and GM Alexander Shabalov spectating.
My favorite photo: IM Anna Zatonskih ponders her position in a very cat like posture... as the picture of IM Michael Brooks from the wall of photos stares on with her.
I have learned my lesson. No need to spectate live unless its your home town or a side event for you to play in.... because the last thing organizers think about is spectators.
Friday, May 8, 2009
US Championship round 1!
I will be driving down to St. Louis to watch round1&2&3. Round 1 pairings are posted here
Pairings
Round 1, Friday, May 8, 2:00 pm
Bd White Black
1. GM Ibragimov, Ildar (0.0) 2628 - GM Kamsky, Gata (0.0) 2798
2. GM Nakamura, Hikaru (0.0) 2757 - GM Shabalov, Alexander (0.0) 2620
3. GM Friedel, Joshua (0.0) 2568 - GM Onischuk, Alexander (0.0) 2736
4. GM Shulman, Yury (0.0) 2697 - IM Sevillano, Enrico (0.0) 2549
5. IM Hess, Robert (0.0) 2545 - GM Christiansen, Larry (0.0) 2681
6. GM Becerra, Julio (0.0) 2672 - IM Robson, Ray (0.0) 2542
7. IM Zatonskih, Anna (0.0) 2503 - GM Akobian, Varuzhan (0.0) 2664
8. GM Kaidanov, Gregory (0.0) 2662 - IM Krush, Irina (0.0) 2496
9. IM Shankland, Samuel (0.0) 2464 - GM Benjamin, Joel (0.0) 2650
10. GM Ehlvest, Jaan (0.0) 2649 - IM Brooks, Michael (0.0) 2419
11. Lawton, Charles (0.0) 2350 - GM Khachiyan, Melikset (0.0) 2632
12. GM Gulko, Boris (0.0) 2631 - Hughes, Tyler (0.0) 2293
I have bolded the round 1 matches I consider extremely interesting (as in results not totally predictable and obvious!). I am rooting for Shulman and Christiansen but I predict Nakamura will eat the whole enchilada. I don't doubt strong guns like Onsichuk and Kamsky... but my true desire would be to see Robson score his first GM norm!
This field is the strongest US championship ever with 8 former US Champions participating!
Check back later for pictures!
Pairings
Round 1, Friday, May 8, 2:00 pm
Bd White Black
1. GM Ibragimov, Ildar (0.0) 2628 - GM Kamsky, Gata (0.0) 2798
2. GM Nakamura, Hikaru (0.0) 2757 - GM Shabalov, Alexander (0.0) 2620
3. GM Friedel, Joshua (0.0) 2568 - GM Onischuk, Alexander (0.0) 2736
4. GM Shulman, Yury (0.0) 2697 - IM Sevillano, Enrico (0.0) 2549
5. IM Hess, Robert (0.0) 2545 - GM Christiansen, Larry (0.0) 2681
6. GM Becerra, Julio (0.0) 2672 - IM Robson, Ray (0.0) 2542
7. IM Zatonskih, Anna (0.0) 2503 - GM Akobian, Varuzhan (0.0) 2664
8. GM Kaidanov, Gregory (0.0) 2662 - IM Krush, Irina (0.0) 2496
9. IM Shankland, Samuel (0.0) 2464 - GM Benjamin, Joel (0.0) 2650
10. GM Ehlvest, Jaan (0.0) 2649 - IM Brooks, Michael (0.0) 2419
11. Lawton, Charles (0.0) 2350 - GM Khachiyan, Melikset (0.0) 2632
12. GM Gulko, Boris (0.0) 2631 - Hughes, Tyler (0.0) 2293
I have bolded the round 1 matches I consider extremely interesting (as in results not totally predictable and obvious!). I am rooting for Shulman and Christiansen but I predict Nakamura will eat the whole enchilada. I don't doubt strong guns like Onsichuk and Kamsky... but my true desire would be to see Robson score his first GM norm!
This field is the strongest US championship ever with 8 former US Champions participating!
Check back later for pictures!
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