CHESS Grades

1500 with how long on the clock?

It's much harder to get a good grade at faster times on chess.com, in my experience.

thats at 5 mins i got as high as 1670 i am better at 5 mins than my ECF which is on the full 3 hour game

i play as Nonvintage on chess.com too

130 ECF is equivalent to about 1500 on chess.com and icc

Er, I think you'll destroy me then. My grades are basically:

2/1: 973
10 mins: 1263
15/10: 1634

I think there must be some computer members skewing the times or something, because nobody is 973 on one setting and 1634 on another. I therefore reckon you'll hammer me even at 15/10, but I'll give you a game if you want...

...unless you've never played at that setting and you'll count as having a grade of 1200!

pawn to queens bishop4

As a teenager I used to love winding up the local chess champion. I was a grand master baiter.

Haven't played seriously for over 15 years now. I used to be around the 200 mark.  Highest I ever got to was 210.

Played Keith a good few times in league and tournaments. Record was won twice and lost lots.

I occasionally play on chess.com but only when I'm completely tanked!  I've got quite a few user names because I keep forgetting them. Two I use sometimes are WBAYamYam and TadpoleTadger.  I only play 5/3 and grade fluctuates between 1600 and 1800.

Used to play regularly at club level but gave up about 5 years ago as driving across Brum late at night became too taxing. BCF grade was around 130 to 140 with a peak of 150 many years ago.
Played Keith once during a weekend tournament and was slaughtered. Those were the days in the 1980s when he and Mark Hebden used to win everything they entered.

200 was a very good grade Charlie, did you play in the Birmingham league? (noted the West Brom reference).

Yes, for West Brom!  Should be able to work out who I am - I used to play top board.  I used to know Mark and Keith quite well.  Being an amateur I found it difficult in tournaments in the 80/90s.  Always Keith and Mark and sometimes Miles and/or Short.

I was sitting next to Miles once at a tournament he was on board 1 and I was on board two. I was black and played a6 on first move.  He turned to me and said "I play the funnies around here not you!". Smoking was allowed in those days and a bit later he turned to me again and said "Can you move your ashtray to the other side". I said "I'm the smoker around here not you!".

I've a good idea who you are but don't want to reveal identities on here.

I used to play for Lichfield in the 1980s and travelled with some of them to weekend tournaments in the Midlands. Later moved to South Birmingham which should give you an idea of who I am.

Always used to enjoy playing at West Brom despite the small smoky room. It was such a friendly group.

Well you could be one of a few players from Lichfield who were always our best mates. Did you go to Brighton one year for the British Championships? Can't place the move to South Birmingham though. I used to like the pub next to the Hall can't think of it's name though.
Our room was small and smoky which eventually led me to packing up chess when an opponent complained.

Yes I was, I was the team captain. Remember Loz and Dr. Mike? The pub is the George IV where we went afterwards for a few drinks.

I didn't go to Brighton but went to Torquay when it was held there.

I'm 95% certain who you are.  Yes of course I remember Loz and Dr Mike and a good few others! Two brothers, grey hair, red hair, Townsend, good times.  You're tempting me to make a cone back!

I'm sure I've played against everyone at West Brom as I've played on every board over the years.
The last game I played was against Wes. I can picture everyone but not so good now on names.

Don't think I will play again, will be too rusty by now. You would be OK as I remember you were a very natural player. Do you still play backgammon?

Yes Charlie i used to play in the gran prix rapid plays in the 1990's - usually in the lower grading divisions but Keith Arkell and Mark Ebdon were always there must have been quite demoralising for 180 grade players in the open division.

I used to play chess and was practically unbeatable. Haven't played for a while but could still beat most people easily.

Club chess in Glasgow in steep decline, there used to be 7 divisions
in the League now down to 3. Another Bobby Fisher needed.

Foinavon
Wes still plays. Still sh!te!
Mutated from backgammon to Poker.

Minardi
Never played in Grand Prix only tournaments and league and occasionally for Staffordshire.  I didn't find it demoralising just difficult!

YO
It depends who you are playing against.

Sica
I have no evidence but I think over-the-board chess is dying.  Much easier to go on-line and play a few quick games. The social aspect seems to have gone.

Ha ha, poor old Wes. I think he was about grade 112 at the time. Is he still a binman?

The grandprix's were just single day 30 min rapidplays swiss usually six games - the granprix thing was a prize given to the player at the end of the season with most wins / points. Again i think both Arkell and Hebden won it frequently.

I think over the board chess is dying we have about 20 members at Lincoln chess club but apart from league matches only about 5 or 6 turn up.

A question from a non-player here.

When you play online, how do you combat cheating?  Is it just taken on trust?

Yes it's taken on trust at the faster games 3 mins and 5 mins it will be harder to replicate as time is such a factor.  Believe it or not there is still postal chess and when i asked a postal player about the use of computers he said yes its fine to use a computer - WALOFS !

Of course with the threat of cheating there's hardly any online chess gambling going on.

Yes  its down to trust as there will always be some who will be willing
to cheat though its really only themselves they are cheating.

FIDE have brought in strict rules to stop the possibility of over the board
cheating, recently a Bulgarian was suspected of having some sort of electrical
device in his shoe.

Thats right Sica - his grade shot up about 300 fide points and he was beating serious grandmasters ... even a mobil phone can beat a top GM these days

I like cheating at online chess. It's good fun. You can beat anyone and everyone, it's ace!

YO
Cheating at online chess is puerile; much like after timing on here.

Foin
Wes hasn't been a bin man for over 10 years - he did his back in picking up a bin that was filled with bricks! He got a few grand but was out of work for a few years.  He went back to being a tool setter which is what he had always been.

I wouldn't be surprised if over-the-board chess returns within the next ten years or so as people get fed up with people cheating online.

Another game for the ladies.

As it requires brains I assume you don't play.

Marvellous stuff.

The bigger their heads the harder they fall.

It's always nice to have an informed opinion. Congratulations on your contribution.

You're very welcome.

Sorry to hear about his injury Charlie, please pass on my regards next time you see him.

It's whatever floats your boat, Dr Crippen, live and let live.