Are there any backgammon players going to BF Poker Live London?

Massive thing for greeks - we all play backgammon and we all think we are the greatest.

If you would like a high profile match then i strongly suggest you contact BIFTA as he would be an ideal candidate to play John T imo.

If John T is up for a game of chess against Bifta, then please let us know early so i can bet the house, car and the dog on a Bifta win!

Just re-read your message. If its a forumite u are looking for then depending on responses from the rest of the forum, im happy to play.

You know John used to be a Grand Master at chess.....is that house/car bet still available?

Bifta must be some player.

He's already lost them betting on Keith A beating a Mohammed Farah in a half marathon!

I'm still trying to get over John's poker performance at last years Betfair London Live!
About half-way through level 2, having lost a lot of chip, he asks both players either side of him "are you Greek?". Even the inexperienced player that I am worked that out in the first 10 minutes.

As for chess I think that John is bluffing. Not a Grand Master. I'm not even sure and International Master.
But a strong player. Certtainly as far as in Wales. Though probably worked out far more money in poker than in chess a lot earlier than other chess players.

Anyway the backgammon challenge could easily be put in at the first break. John should be free by then as may others.

The Bet stands BetfairPRManager!! You obviously dont know Bifta's is legendary at chess.

Rumour has it he was the first man to defeat the IBM computer Deep Blue.
And that he used only his left left to teach Garry Kasparov! 
Some even say that if Top Gear was a show about chess - they would have called him 'The Stig'

*left hand

I wanna play JT!!!

MUCKEMSAYAHH

Klup what's BIFTAs real name?
If he is that good he will have a rating in past or current. Good to get some info - may even encourage me to bet!

As for The Stig. I've got the I am The Stig T shirt as have my lads. Some great photographs with him too.
A bit ironic walking around with an I am the Stig T shirt when I have not got a driving licence.

Would be good for Gary to make a comeback. I was at the Savoy in 93 for one of the World Championship games - as was Princess Di and the Lawsons.

Finding that my poker has improved my chess. I'm far more aggressive with the black pieces than I used to be. I'm loose with the white pieces as you are at the poker table. I really need to tighten up that bit of my game.

we used to have a IM chess player on here as a regular - shimmy ?, dont know what happened to him

I am pretty sure shimmy still plays chess.  http://www.chessgames.com/player/simon_ansell.html

I think he plays PLO on stars now.  I know he was supernova elite for at least a couple of years, and think he still is.

I don't play cash much on betfair anymore, but sure his old name disappeared before I stopped playing regularly

There isn't much evidence of grandmaster status here
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=50629

I'd be backimng shimmy

Simon played in London Chess Classic in Jan. Pretty sure he is still rated in top 100 in UK.
He beat me when an up an coming Junior in late 80s.

Definitely better than John at chess.

Then again no money is chess, and struggle to even the large scale tournies that were in London in the 80s with the English Chess Explosion.

Read article somewhere about Simon on pokerstars.

I have tried to set up a chess game between John and Bifta previously and I know both would be up for the challenge.

Both are good players but I think John played at the higher level competitively, I think it would be a close and interesting game.

Thanks. Found BIFTAs old British (now English) Chess Fed Ratings.
Yeah a strong club player. John stronger. Round about same timelines in past. Though Glorney Cup was a top up and coming young players invite.

Reckon that John would win 9 out of 10 games. But who knows?

Anyway good luck with the Backgammon. And BF Poker Live London.

my moneys on shimmy to do the pair of them

Just an idea but why don't we have a mini tournament in London

Bifta / Shimmy / Klup / Flop It battle it out until we have one opponent to play Jon.

Winner gets cash prize and luxury backgammon /chess set
If Jon wins he gets to give money to charity

Tournaments to be played in dinner breaks of tournaments.

Suggestions welcome

Just saw this thread randomly and it grabbed my attention as I do enjoy a dabble at the ol' backgammon...but I am not even average at it. I've been told i'm hopeless by pros a few times.

I'm also pleased I knew nothing about this, but it seems like a great idea and should be a lot of fun. Please bring down some chess boards too and we can do a variety of games. I haven't played chess in a long time but still fancy putting a tenner on myself against bifta me ol' mucka.

If anyone has a chess clock, please bring one down. If not, ill try and order a digital one, itll make it A LOT more fun and interesting. Betfair, fancy buying us a digital chess clock ?

:)

I can spot a classic hussle when I see one!

Good game KunkuWap.....

If anyone has a chess clock, please bring one down

timing your exit from the poker?

poker shmoker....there are bigger fish to fry!

Tried to post earlier but ran into error messages - tried it again and same thing happened grrrr....

Kunku - I will take pleasure in letting Bifta know you consider him big fish. Of course I will need to speak to Bifta to see if he is up for this but Im sure he will be happy to have a go at scrambling up some deep fried kumkuwap fish cakes! 

I dont mind what format we undertake - happy to take part and will also pledge any winnings to my local Barrowby community cancer fund raisings charity group.

Hi Nick - sorry but not my place to put Bifta's name on a public forum. Pop into Betfair Live London and will introduce you :)

This is going to be so much fun!

im lookin forward to this.

Not right to name BIFTA. I'll have £100 on John T in the chess. My winnings to go to John's/BIFTA's/Klup's charity of choice. Whoever sorts it out.

Can drop off a couple of clocks and sets at Betfair Hammersmith office earlier in the week if that helps. Though not digital. I'm sure Betfair could buy some - Chess and Bridge in Baker Street - do poker stuff too.

I've donated enough to Betfair over the past few months (and everyone else)to more than cover it.

As I have a few days leave left I'll probably go away for that weekend which looks only times convenient.

If I decide not to go on holiday I'll see you all there, unless its sold out Though if I play I will probably bubble again.

Just got off the phone with Bifta - he is certainly up for this. Told me Philly is the backgammon king and he will see if he can convince Philly to come to BF Live London as well.

With regards to chess - it looks like 5/1 is about the right price on bifta. Not sure who shimmy is but if he is better than JT, then Bifta is probably 12/1

Price me up at 1000/1 - looks like im not anywhere near this calibre as i only managed the great heights of school captain and top seed in my school :S

Only teams I made at school were fighting, smoking, and basic burgalry. Had a trial for the advanced burgalry team, but got stuck coming out of a window.

The lad who lived two doors down from me represented the district at knife fighting. He's currently doing an eleven stretch in Wakefield.

shimmy was an old regular on and is/was an IM

chip - your after school curriculum was certainly more ermmm ... lets just say, energetic than muscling pawns about!

different kind of pawning i guess!

Yeah there were a lot of nutters, including that taxi driver what shot 4 people dead over the Festive Season.

in that case i am not playing shimmy.

^^^ Great Kunku! You just cost me £50.

Helmuthian, where do I send that £50 - and how did you know Kunku would chicken out :S  ??