English Chess Forum

An empirical survey could be done, comparing current players with both a FIDE rating and an ECF grading. JP Wilkinson carried out such a survey, but it was a very long time ago, last century, in one of the British chess magazines. I no longer have the details except for his formula itself: (ECF * 5....

Played in a tournament at the weekend - 12 months after my first since returning after a 35 year lay-off. Arrived early on the first day, so helped the bookstall guy unload. He had a large stock. He predicted he would take £200 - £300 over the weekend - not profit, just takings. I suggest that's wh...

On my first visit to a tourney in Poland I was asked about my chess book selection. At that time it was very small. "Eight or nine," I said. The response I got showed we had misunderstood each other. "Eight or nine metres, that's not bad".

During my time my Club has been forced to move 4 times, not exactly from pubs but from social clubs or similar. Venue decides to open doors at 7.30pm (our official match start time) rather than 7pm, with no advance warning. Dozens of bemused/annoyed patrons, not just chessplayers, stuck outside the ...

An important matter. A club can be surcharged (through a league) for fielding players who are not ECF members. This already happens.

I differ with some arbiters regarding this. If White'flag falls and neither the arbiter nor Black notices, then Black's flag falls - IT SHOULD BE A DRAW. My reasoning is that it takes a conscious action to call a flag fall. If Black was unable to do so in time, then it should be a draw. Aha, others...

Some people may get a bit wrapped up in rules. Not sure of your reasoning not to call your own flag fall if you actually noticed You lose either way in my opinion. You have got it right. Ah, but if he's oblivious of the clock you could play on and checkmate him or he could agree a draw. It's not up...

I am thinking of the situation where digital clocks are used, and there is sufficient mating material for both sides. Your flag falls but your opponent doesn't notice, and the arbiter isn't close enough to notice either. The game continues. Shortly your opponent's flag falls too. Now here's the poin...

We are one of the most successful clubs in the area. This year Sutton Coldfield Chess Club won the Birmingham League Championship, Summer League Championship, and Team Lightning Championship, also the Staffordshire Gothard Cup — and that's not all! We have some strong players as our victories prove,...

I'm saying they are reasonable excuses but it is up to organisers to decide on their own terms. Your query is fine, if the answer is no it is fine too. But has any organiser ever come back with your words in italics? You seem to expect both an excuse and that it meets some standard. All that I'm sa...

I do not believe an unforeseen clash with a prior commitment is a reasonable explanation. A funeral, taking family member or yourself for emergency hospital surgery, or I have a the flu or something else that is contagious) and do not want to infect the players are reasonable excuses, but would lea...

What would an unreasonable explanation be? I changed my mind and don't want to play after all. I changed my mind - because of sickness - and don't want to play after all. I changed my mind - because of another engagement - and don't want to play after all. I changed my mind - for personal reasons -...

1. Has anyone ever encountered difficulty in getting their entry fee refunded after having withdrawn from a tournament due to an unfortunate clash with a prior commitment or other reasonable explanation? Must an explanation be given? And why must it be "reasonable"? What would an unreasonable expla...

Worst review of a chess book on Amazon:
"Beware - it is a bloody chess book !"
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-re ... 1886846073

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 16, 2018 9:03 am

'if the board is set up incorretly' is this the blunder you are referring to?

Yes, you are corret, an incorretly set up board was being referred to.