tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post8211544645070607493..comments2023-12-28T02:11:22.501+00:00Comments on The Streatham & Brixton Chess Blog: Beating The FrenchTom Chivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-2399447346050972009-01-15T12:58:00.000+00:002009-01-15T12:58:00.000+00:00Dude great!Dude great!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05664408682145620356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-9571272147893230172007-02-22T14:44:00.000+00:002007-02-22T14:44:00.000+00:00Perhaps both openings are forced losses!?Perhaps both openings are forced losses!?Tom Chivershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-45536989530905321672007-02-22T14:31:00.000+00:002007-02-22T14:31:00.000+00:00meanwhile over on the telegraph website, Malcolm P...meanwhile over on the telegraph website, Malcolm Pein chops up the Najdorf again ....<BR/><BR/>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/02/22/result070222.xml<BR/><BR/><BR/>Maybe he's got something against<B> both</B> of us Tom?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-32116654383511554762007-02-22T14:25:00.000+00:002007-02-22T14:25:00.000+00:00I would probably prefer a time-based handicap.On t...I would probably prefer a time-based handicap.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, how about this? A BEER based handicap. If you win a game, you have a pint straight after. A draw - half a pint each! And as I'm graded 30 or so points higher than you - I have to have a pint before we even start.<BR/><BR/>Oh - spectators have to buy :)Tom Chivershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-26976243087832078512007-02-22T14:20:00.000+00:002007-02-22T14:20:00.000+00:00Well yes, I like THAT handicap system - whatever t...Well yes, I like THAT handicap system - whatever the actual result of the game I get a point :-)<BR/><BR/>Perhaps, on reflection, a small time advantage would be better, or maybe comparing grading performance with published grade...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-46765374594304901302007-02-21T15:50:00.000+00:002007-02-21T15:50:00.000+00:00Good idea. You'll probably win 4-0 now or somethin...Good idea. You'll probably win 4-0 now or something!Tom Chivershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-53564615299942246632007-02-21T15:48:00.000+00:002007-02-21T15:48:00.000+00:00I hadn't really thought about it but perhaps somet...I hadn't really thought about it but perhaps something.<BR/><BR/>I just did a quick calculation and I reckon if we played, say, a four game match and I lost 3-1 my performance rating would be roughly equal to my current grade.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-14132038061204755882007-02-21T15:44:00.000+00:002007-02-21T15:44:00.000+00:00The Ivanchuk-Topalov game was very interesting - I...The Ivanchuk-Topalov game was very interesting - I thought black had equalized equally whilst watching it, but I guess not.<BR/><BR/>What kind of penalty did you have in mind - one on the clock?! A blindfold!?Tom Chivershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-65879267919593395902007-02-21T15:31:00.000+00:002007-02-21T15:31:00.000+00:00Malcolm Pein has finally taken a breather from rip...Malcolm Pein has finally taken a breather from ripping apart my opening repetoire.<BR/><BR/>Today's column has Ivanchuck chopping up Topalov's Najdorf...<BR/><BR/>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/02/21/result070221.xml<BR/><BR/><BR/>See, it's rubbish. Rubbish I tells yer. Absolute trash.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Btw: Tom. I'd be happy to accept your challenge to a French/Najdorf theme match. [Grandiose thought approaching] It'll be a bit like the Steinitz - Chigorin Evans/Two Knights match [Grandiose thought over].<BR/><BR/>As to the result of the match ... will you accept some form of handicapping system that will control for the fact you are rated 20+ points higher than me on the current list?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-84541019781734717982007-02-20T00:23:00.000+00:002007-02-20T00:23:00.000+00:00Oh, I think there's life left in chess for the tim...Oh, I think there's life left in chess for the time-being Edwin - enough for me anyhow :)<BR/><BR/>Ah, Andrew. But you were playing for us. So that's not a part of the sample at all!<BR/><BR/>The London System sounds - practical. I imagine it's harder to avoid being a pawn up with black, though.Tom Chivershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-82033341237956138712007-02-20T00:01:00.000+00:002007-02-20T00:01:00.000+00:00Anyone who lets Robin get up to his usual tricks i...Anyone who lets Robin get up to his usual tricks is asking for it. When I played him, I put a stop to such things by playing the London System. His brain clearly was about to go into meltdown with boredom, so he gave me a pawn just to liven things up.<BR/>(Andrew)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-19018426223867760102007-02-19T23:55:00.000+00:002007-02-19T23:55:00.000+00:00I can add 5 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses as black in ...I can add 5 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses as black in the French to your sample this season.<BR/>(Andrew)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-91735414758392252032007-02-19T23:43:00.000+00:002007-02-19T23:43:00.000+00:00Well, i like the French in a sense that creativity...Well, i like the French in a sense that creativity plays a big part in it. Because in my opinion, the lack of creativity in other openings (because they have been totally played out) is what's killing this game.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-23885014979875396692007-02-19T23:25:00.000+00:002007-02-19T23:25:00.000+00:00Well, quite Edwin. Nearly every mainline of nearly...Well, quite Edwin. Nearly every mainline of nearly every opening is approximately equal, and in OTB chess what will then count most of the time is who is better.<BR/><BR/>I didn't mean to imply that after I write '1. e4 e6' on my scoresheets, I straightaway add 1-0 in the results box, btw. I just thought it was interesting that there are such differing results from the French, dependent on context.Tom Chivershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-82739778705126696792007-02-19T23:20:00.000+00:002007-02-19T23:20:00.000+00:00I guess it all comes down to who's the most imagin...I guess it all comes down to who's the most imaginative when playing the French, because it can definitely be one tough cookie to beat. <A HREF="http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=11804" REL="nofollow">Wolfgang Uhlmann</A> doesn't really need an introduction, right?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-8556981367369468062007-02-19T23:14:00.000+00:002007-02-19T23:14:00.000+00:00Revenge, moi . . . ?Perhaps next time we meet, we ...Revenge, moi . . . ?<BR/><BR/>Perhaps next time we meet, we should have a pair of games: one where you defend the French, one where I defend the Najdorf....Tom Chivershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-25828605078887495192007-02-19T23:03:00.000+00:002007-02-19T23:03:00.000+00:00Although if truth be told, yesterday Malcolm Pein'...Although if truth be told, yesterday Malcolm Pein's Sunday Telegraph chess column just had two white wins against the French, and today's has as another one :-(<BR/><BR/>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml;jsessionid=Z3BQMLG0FOSKLQFIQMFCFGGAVCBQYIV0?&_DARGS=/core/lowerHeaderBarWideFrag.jhtml.1Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-48249934990178650182007-02-19T22:50:00.000+00:002007-02-19T22:50:00.000+00:00BTW:I have a 100% score defending the Black side o...BTW:<BR/>I have a 100% score defending the Black side of the French Defence this season. Admittedly that's based on a rather small sample (1 game).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-30291578381372739782007-02-19T22:47:00.000+00:002007-02-19T22:47:00.000+00:00Hi Tom,Is this revenge for me calling the Najdorf ...Hi Tom,<BR/><BR/>Is this revenge for me calling the Najdorf rubbish in another thread?????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-46750747500507438982007-02-19T22:09:00.000+00:002007-02-19T22:09:00.000+00:00There are some side lines in the 1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf...There are some side lines in the 1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 Sicilian where you play d5 - after Bc4 Nb6 typically, so not with the pawn on c3. (The open c-file and two knights on the queenside provide black with some play, to compensate for cramped kingside. I drew v Michael Prizant in such a line earlier this year in fact.)<BR/><BR/>Perhaps Robin's move order spooked black into misremembering these?!Tom Chivershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-75267694261467999922007-02-19T20:28:00.000+00:002007-02-19T20:28:00.000+00:00Dunno what Black was playing at with 8...d5 in Rob...Dunno what Black was playing at with 8...d5 in Robin's game. You've got to play ...d6 in those structures because otherwise you're asking to be wiped out on the kingside.ejhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01582272075999298935noreply@blogger.com