Search found 469 matches

by Thomas Rendle
Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:01 am
Forum: 4NCL
Topic: 4NCL Time control
Replies: 10
Views: 371

Re: 4NCL Time control

I don't play that many opens anymore but something like 90min +30s/move for the entire game is pretty popular, as is 40 moves in 90, +30min to finish (+30/move), or the same but 15 minutes to finish instead of 30.
by Thomas Rendle
Mon Mar 18, 2024 10:29 am
Forum: 4NCL
Topic: 4NCL Time control
Replies: 10
Views: 371

4NCL Time control

I think the 4NCL is the best thing in English Chess during my time as a serious player - although I recognise it has had its challenges in recent years! In recent years we've seen the move to faster time controls in international chess tournaments. Obviously some of this is the need / desire to have...
by Thomas Rendle
Thu Feb 22, 2024 11:02 am
Forum: Congress Diary
Topic: 2nd Cambridge International Open
Replies: 109
Views: 13363

Re: 2nd Cambridge International Open

I'll go for Fernandez and Tiviakov winning jointly, just ahead of Adams, Willow and Sonis.
by Thomas Rendle
Wed Jan 31, 2024 6:38 pm
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: Two Junior-Related Questions
Replies: 8
Views: 1786

Re: Two Junior-Related Questions

No specific advice for dealing with 1) - I would expect him to lose some games and grow out of it. Sometimes juniors need to come to the conclusion on their own. You could try showing him some mate puzzles and see if you can get him interested in those. For 2) I would suggest introducing clocks in l...
by Thomas Rendle
Mon Nov 27, 2023 10:12 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Very long games in weekend tournaments
Replies: 66
Views: 7669

Re: Very long games in weekend tournaments

It's a pretty extreme example as it's fairly obvious White is artificially keeping the game going for as long as possible. Even after the breakthrough there are some unnecessary moves. One option I'd consider as the organiser would simply not to accept the entry next time if the aim is to "hold the ...
by Thomas Rendle
Sun Nov 19, 2023 2:47 pm
Forum: International News
Topic: European Team Championship November 2023
Replies: 290
Views: 15229

Re: European Team Championship November 2023

There have been a few of those around. I was a bit worried that both teams had been hit by illness or something, but glad to see it was a false alarm!
by Thomas Rendle
Sun Nov 19, 2023 2:32 pm
Forum: International News
Topic: European Team Championship November 2023
Replies: 290
Views: 15229

Re: European Team Championship November 2023

Short match today!
by Thomas Rendle
Wed Nov 15, 2023 10:42 am
Forum: Women's Chess
Topic: Breaking the Silence Online - sexual harassment in online chess
Replies: 7
Views: 1294

Re: Breaking the Silence Online - sexual harassment in online chess

Unfortunately this is a serious problem, and obviously not just on Lichess. I spoke to a woman at the 4NCL a while back who used her picture on her Chesscom profile. As a result she receives a huge number of messages & friend requests every day - some relatively innocent, others less so. With the ex...
by Thomas Rendle
Thu Oct 12, 2023 7:11 pm
Forum: Women's Chess
Topic: Women in Chess Foundation
Replies: 3
Views: 1150

Re: Women in Chess Foundation

Chess.com & Leon Watson covering the news. A quick excerpt: "The foundation aims to recruit and train scores of volunteers, known as certified "advocates," to be present at as many chess tournaments as possible and stamp out sexism. "Our goal is to have a diverse set of Advocates from chess players ...
by Thomas Rendle
Mon Oct 09, 2023 6:03 pm
Forum: Women's Chess
Topic: Women in Chess Foundation
Replies: 3
Views: 1150

Women in Chess Foundation

"The Women in Chess Foundation was created as a response to those who have courageously shared their experiences with harassment. We aim to support & empower women in chess, while making the community safer for everyone through our Advocacy Initiative and Safety Guideline Reform." More can be found ...
by Thomas Rendle
Sat Sep 23, 2023 12:20 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: World Junior Championships 2023
Replies: 48
Views: 3932

Re: World Junior Championships 2023

I'm confused; host nations don't add lots of extra teams at Olympiads, maybe one or two. There are weaker nations of course but theoretically at least they're sending their best teams. To compete in an Olympiad you need to be in the top 5 or so from your country. To compete in this World Junior you...
by Thomas Rendle
Sat Sep 23, 2023 11:56 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: World Junior Championships 2023
Replies: 48
Views: 3932

Re: World Junior Championships 2023

I'm confused; host nations don't add lots of extra teams at Olympiads, maybe one or two. There are weaker nations of course but theoretically at least they're sending their best teams. To compete in an Olympiad you need to be in the top 5 or so from your country. To compete in this World Junior you ...
by Thomas Rendle
Sat Sep 23, 2023 11:13 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: World Junior Championships 2023
Replies: 48
Views: 3932

Re: World Junior Championships 2023

When an enormous proportion of the field have low ratings (for GM norm purposes sub 2200 which is c60%) it's simplistic to just say that it's all fine because you can just disregard a couple of games. Short of having a near perfect tournament (and that means winning games with white and black - eve...
by Thomas Rendle
Tue Sep 19, 2023 9:14 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: What have the ECF ever done for us!
Replies: 24
Views: 2314

Re: What have the ECF ever done for us!

Battersea comes close to this in that it is possible to have matches on one side of the hall and social chess on the other side without the latter unduly affecting the former Battersea is a great club, but on the nights I've played serious matches there it has been noisier than any other club in th...
by Thomas Rendle
Mon Aug 21, 2023 4:08 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Transgender chess players
Replies: 124
Views: 5698

Re: Transgender chess players

eg the 4NCL might be a nice test case.....I understand that the 4NCL teams must have at least one female player so what happens when a team plays with 7 men and a person (born male) identifying as a woman as the eight player? chew on that one! Everyone plays as normal and then we head to dinner / g...