Huddersfield Rapidplay

Results of competitions with tables, or as much detail as is possible.
Andrew Bak
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Joined: Sun Jan 02, 2011 11:48 am
Location: Bradford

Huddersfield Rapidplay

Post by Andrew Bak » Fri May 04, 2012 8:23 pm

Report from the recent Huddersfield Rapidplay played at Grosvenor Casino, Huddersfield.

The tournament attracted 3 GMs and 3 IMs to battle it out for the first prize of £1,000!

http://yorkshirechess.org/huddersfield-rapidplay/

John McKenna

Re: Huddersfield Rapidplay

Post by John McKenna » Sat May 05, 2012 3:20 pm

Excellent report (with photo evidence). Well worth reading - Hebden wins all.

Nick Burrows
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Joined: Sat Aug 14, 2010 12:15 pm

Re: Huddersfield Rapidplay

Post by Nick Burrows » Tue May 08, 2012 10:59 am

whilst yours truly was a queen up in an ending against GM Nigel Davies but my flag fell. To his credit, my opponent very sportingly agreed to a draw despite the big prize on offer, showing that good sportsmanship is alive and well!
I am a fan of sportsmanship, but this really surprised me. If you fail to deliver checkmate within the allocated time you lose the game, why would you then offer a draw?

Alan Walton
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Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:33 pm
Location: Oldham

Re: Huddersfield Rapidplay

Post by Alan Walton » Tue May 08, 2012 11:31 am

Nigel believed he felt it was against the spirit of the game, many players would have claim the win (I may have been one of them)

The main argument would have been if a person felt wasn't going to get checkmate in time he could have easily sacked his queen for the extra pawn

But all credit has to go to Nigel for accepting the draw

Roger de Coverly
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Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:51 pm

Re: Huddersfield Rapidplay

Post by Roger de Coverly » Tue May 08, 2012 11:40 am

Alan Walton wrote: The main argument would have been if a person felt wasn't going to get checkmate in time he could have easily sacked his queen for the extra pawn
The advice to players says, or should say, that if you attempt to win when short of time, you risk losing unless your opponent doesn't have the material to construct a help-mate.

There's also the bizarre interpretation which says that if you do have mating material and don't play the most efficient moves, then you risk a claim from your opponent and award by the arbiter of a draw.

Andrew Bak
Posts: 835
Joined: Sun Jan 02, 2011 11:48 am
Location: Bradford

Re: Huddersfield Rapidplay

Post by Andrew Bak » Thu May 10, 2012 12:22 am

John McKenna wrote:Excellent report (with photo evidence). Well worth reading - Hebden wins all.
The cheque's in the post!
Nick Burrows wrote:
whilst yours truly was a queen up in an ending against GM Nigel Davies but my flag fell. To his credit, my opponent very sportingly agreed to a draw despite the big prize on offer, showing that good sportsmanship is alive and well!
I am a fan of sportsmanship, but this really surprised me. If you fail to deliver checkmate within the allocated time you lose the game, why would you then offer a draw?
Of course Nigel didn't have to offer the draw, and I'm sure a significant amount of players, possibly even a majority, wouldn't. However it was very noble of him to admit that he did not really deserve to win the game.

If it makes any difference, the final position with me as white was W - Kd2 Qc2 Pa2 B- Ka1 Pa3 with White to play.

Roger de Coverly
Posts: 21301
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:51 pm

Re: Huddersfield Rapidplay

Post by Roger de Coverly » Thu May 10, 2012 12:32 am

Andrew Bak wrote: If it makes any difference, the final position with me as white was W - Kd2 Qc2 Pa2 B- Ka1 Pa3 with White to play.
Under the current Laws of Chess , a ruthless b*stard should claim a win on time. A less than ruthless b*stard would offer a draw, crucially with White having some time remaining. Presumably if an arbiter had observed a White flag fall, the game would have been awarded to Black.

John McKenna

Re: Huddersfield Rapidplay

Post by John McKenna » Thu May 10, 2012 1:31 am

Andrew Bak >The cheques in the post!<
Thanks, Andrew, but I will not cash it as you already paid in advance (2nd March - Re: Draughts/checkers & chess) when you answered my question about sq. roots by reminding me of "manipulating surds" years ago at school.
Ps Has Roger been watching The Good, Bad & Ugly or reading John Major's memoirs.

Andrew Bak
Posts: 835
Joined: Sun Jan 02, 2011 11:48 am
Location: Bradford

Re: Huddersfield Rapidplay

Post by Andrew Bak » Thu May 10, 2012 2:46 am

John McKenna wrote:Andrew Bak >The cheques in the post!<
Thanks, Andrew, but I will not cash it as you already paid in advance (2nd March - Re: Draughts/checkers & chess) when you answered my question about sq. roots by reminding me of "manipulating surds" years ago at school.
You've got a better memory than me!
Roger de Coverly wrote:
Andrew Bak wrote: If it makes any difference, the final position with me as white was W - Kd2 Qc2 Pa2 B- Ka1 Pa3 with White to play.
Under the current Laws of Chess , a ruthless b*stard should claim a win on time. A less than ruthless b*stard would offer a draw, crucially with White having some time remaining. Presumably if an arbiter had observed a White flag fall, the game would have been awarded to Black.
Are players allowed to agree to a draw after a flag fall

a) If a draw offer was made before the flag fall?
b) If a draw offer was made after the flag fall?
c) If an arbiter is present?
d) If there is no arbiter?

As an aside, this situation reminds me a little like "soft play" in poker. If you are judged to play a hand deliberately sub-optimally with the intention of preserving your opponent's chips, you can be "sin-binned" or even disqualified from the tournament. I have seen disputes at the poker table where a player has the best possible hand on the river and chosen not to raise. Understandably, the other players felt disadvantaged at the other players' mutual protection of each other. Is this analogous to chess?