Search found 12 matches

by timlawson
Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:58 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: New grades are out
Replies: 68
Views: 8606

Re: New grades are out

I am very impressed with the new functionality on the grading database, it's taking on a "fide" look and there is now lots of useful information for the "statto's" amongst us. I hope this is the start of more good things to come. Of course, a big "well done" and a warm "thank you" from me to all tho...
by timlawson
Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:31 pm
Forum: Rating Debate
Topic: 2010-2011 Grades?
Replies: 131
Views: 16580

Re: 2010-2011 Grades?

The above madness over generating grades does reinforce my personal thoughts towards our excellent system!
by timlawson
Mon Jul 18, 2011 2:58 pm
Forum: Rating Debate
Topic: 2010-2011 Grades?
Replies: 131
Views: 16580

Re: 2010-2011 Grades?

Does the cat lose one life for each lost game? Sounds pretty harsh if so.
by timlawson
Fri Jul 15, 2011 8:32 pm
Forum: Rating Debate
Topic: 2010-2011 Grades?
Replies: 131
Views: 16580

Re: 2010-2011 Grades?

Think that my last published grade is my one achieved 2009-2010 , the 2010-2011 grade is this July ish. I want to know if county matches played in May are included and also if Newmarket would be included on June 4th Ben Not sure if this was answered elsewhere on this thread because, quite frankly, ...
by timlawson
Mon Mar 28, 2011 11:45 pm
Forum: Rating Debate
Topic: A possible improvement to grading?
Replies: 25
Views: 6408

Re: A possible improvement to grading?

It's a bit late to ask for things to be adjusted now and it's actually a good example of the "human error" element I've pointed out previously! I don't think you should tolerate the error. If there's another T Lawson or similar, then your games could continue to be confused unless it's made complet...
by timlawson
Mon Mar 28, 2011 7:41 pm
Forum: Rating Debate
Topic: A possible improvement to grading?
Replies: 25
Views: 6408

Re: A possible improvement to grading?

Hi Roger - I don't think I have been misinformed as some results from the last season I played (2005) WERE included with my rating that was issued in 2010. I checked this with Richard Haddrell. You can check here: http://grading.bcfservices.org.uk/getref.php?ref=163276A and if you look at the data ...
by timlawson
Mon Mar 28, 2011 5:23 pm
Forum: Rating Debate
Topic: A possible improvement to grading?
Replies: 25
Views: 6408

Re: A possible improvement to grading?

I'm there at the moment because that's where it puts me (including errors and a rather erroneous system which takes into accounts results from five years ago). You've been misinformed. Unlike Elo and probably Glicko based systems, the ECF system is quite ruthless in discarding old results. Everythi...
by timlawson
Sun Mar 27, 2011 11:59 pm
Forum: Rating Debate
Topic: A possible improvement to grading?
Replies: 25
Views: 6408

Re: A possible improvement to grading?

It's clearly opened a can of worms! I try to make a point of not knowing my opponents grade prior to kick off... I try to play the position and if I know the player, I play the player. Obviously, this will get more difficult for me. My circumstances are that I started playing league chess again in a...
by timlawson
Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:11 pm
Forum: Rating Debate
Topic: A possible improvement to grading?
Replies: 25
Views: 6408

Re: A possible improvement to grading?

You make some good points Roger. My feeling is that there is a consensus amongst many chess players that the current grading system isn't the best but for the reasons you point out, it would be nigh on impossible to have a perfect system. Since the existing system DOES work after a fashion, it's pro...
by timlawson
Sun Mar 27, 2011 11:58 am
Forum: Rating Debate
Topic: A possible improvement to grading?
Replies: 25
Views: 6408

Re: A possible improvement to grading?

If there is a need for grades to reflect the colour it should be done by calculating a grade with White and a grade with Black and then averaging the two, rather than tinkering with the +/- 50. In the event that a player has a small number of games or none with one colour an approximate adjustment ...
by timlawson
Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:43 pm
Forum: Rating Debate
Topic: A possible improvement to grading?
Replies: 25
Views: 6408

Re: A possible improvement to grading?

It's pretty obvious even to me that the existing grading system is skewed and cannot possibly work as an accurate mathematical model. However, to start tinkering this way would really just create more work and a hell of a lot of confusion! Things have not changed since I was playing regularly 15 yea...
by timlawson
Thu Mar 24, 2011 10:53 pm
Forum: Chess Questions
Topic: Boring Chess Openings
Replies: 30
Views: 7457

Re: Boring Chess Openings

There are no boring openings, only boring players. Interesting players can make any opening interesting. Perhaps it's just that a player will find an opening "boring" if they don't understand it? Having had a break from chess for several years, I was quite amazed that the standard of opening theory...