Blog GilaChess

 One of the recent ad-hoc social media  questions asked of Praggnanandaa was which country which he liked to most to play in. I forgot which YouTube video that was but will link it if I find it again.

Pragg just reinforces my previous post conclusion that high level chess players like Pragg and Gukesh don't really have time to enjoy the attractions of the many interesting countries that have played chess in. Pragg's answer was that he is always playing within the same four walls of a chess tournament and that he had NO FAVOURITE COUNTRIES. :)

 Chess by the Beach: Balancing Strategy and Serenity

Picture this: a sun-kissed beach, azure waves lapping at the shore, and a chessboard set against the backdrop of paradise. Sounds idyllic, right? But for chess players competing in tournaments like those held in Menorca, Spain, from April 2 to 7, 2024, the reality is more complex than the glossy brochures suggest.

The Chess Dilemma: Mind vs. Scenery

Tournaments in stunning locales promise a dream escape for chess enthusiasts. Yet, as the clock ticks toward each move, the dream collides with the mental exertion demanded by the game. Can chess players truly switch gears from intense strategy to leisurely beach strolls or historical explorations?

The Myth of Compartmentalization

Imagine a chess player contemplating their next move—a delicate balance of offense and defense. The turquoise waters of Menorca beckon, but can they truly appreciate them? The mental strain of strategizing leaves little room for beachside daydreams. A stolen glance at the sparkling sea might disrupt concentration rather than refresh it. Are these tournaments a clever ruse, luring players into an expensive mental marathon disguised as a vacation?

Strategic Breaks: A Mirage

Lunchtime “strategic breaks” sound delightful, but reality bites. Analyzing games, reviewing openings, and scouting opponents consume every spare moment. Even a scenic walk won’t erase the looming next round from a competitor’s mind. The beach becomes a distant mirage, its allure fading against the chessboard’s demands.

Mindfulness Amidst Competition? A Rarity

Marketing paints a serene picture: players finding solace in fleeting beach glimpses. But the fire of competition burns within serious chess enthusiasts. Oblivious to the beauty around them, they focus on the board. These tournaments—intellectual showdowns against paradise—may never allow true appreciation of the surroundings.

Verdict: Paradise Lost?

Menorca’s undeniable beauty clashes with the all-consuming nature of chess competition. For the fiercely competitive, it’s a mirage—a tantalizing backdrop they can’t truly savor. Perhaps these tournaments suit casual players—a vacation sprinkled with chess—rather than the other way around.

So, next time you see a chessboard by the beach, remember: paradise and pawns don’t always play well together

 Aside from the lowest-level "FIDE Master" (FM), I think it's safe to say that I will never get any kind of "formal" FIDE title. I've been at ELO 1700 for most of my life. Today's new rating "adjustments," on the other hand, suddenly pushed me up to 1800 ELO. For an FM title, you need to have at least an ELO of 2300. You can get the title "CM," which stands for "Candidate Master," but I don't like it because that's the kind of title that kids often get at junior events.

Because of this, getting a "online" FIDE designation like AGM, AIM, AFM, or ACM is definitely attractive. All you have to do is play a few games to get a certain FIDE Arena online grade.


Based on their chart, my current FIDE Arena starting rating of 1793 puts me in the AIM power group. My only goal is to play 150 bullet games and keep my online rank at 1700. If you work hard and train enough, you could even win the AGM championship.


FIDE supports the title as "usable" because you are known for it and it shows up in your FIDE rating profile. In almost all FIDE-rated events these days, your title will show up next to your name in the main list or list of pairs.

But that's all the "recognition" that was given.

Titles from the FIDE Online Arena (FOA) aren't totally useless either. Based on real ELO ratings, not internet ratings, I think they should be ranked similarly to the official FIDE title on the following scale:




Keep in mind that FIDE doesn't talk about this scale anywhere on their website, so this is just my opinion based on how I think it looks.

 The following are some of the main reasons why human-edited puzzle books are often better than those that use database-generated or automatically picked puzzles and strategies:

 

 

 

Context and relevance:

Puzzles and methods can be hand-picked by human curators to be both educational and applicable to particular themes, strategies, or skill levels. They can include background information and explanations to make the riddles more significant and useful for learning.

Quality control: People are able to weed out simple or poorly designed puzzles that don't teach anything useful. Their job is to make sure the puzzles aren't just fun, but also educational, difficult, and error-free.

Skilled writers and curators can arrange puzzles in a logical and progressive way, focusing on particular themes or progressively increasing the difficulty. Improving one's knowledge and abilities is much easier with this methodical strategy.

Usefulness as a teaching tool: Not only do human-curated books contain puzzles, but they also frequently feature annotations, instructional text, and strategic explanations that boost comprehension and delve deeper into the game.

Anecdotes, stories, or historical background about the problems itself can be included in certain puzzle books to make the learning experience more interesting and memorable.
The aesthetic and creative aspects: Human curators can choose puzzles based on both their instructional value and their aesthetic appeal. They tend to choose solutions that exhibit the game's beauty and artistry, which can be rather beautiful or inventive.

The material of puzzle books can be fine-tuned to suit the skill level of the intended readers, making them suitable for beginners, intermediates, or advanced gamers.

Competence on the part of humans: Curating chess puzzles and strategies calls on human intuition, knowledge of the game's fundamental principles, and competence that computers just can't match.

While there is no doubt that AI-generated techniques and puzzles offer a wealth of practice material, human curation is essential for adding depth, context, and educational value. By integrating practical challenges with theoretical insights and strategic counsel, well-crafted puzzle books, written and curated by skilled individuals, provide a more thorough and rewarding learning experience.