English Chess Forum

The Spanish commentator on the Portuguese League game between Boavista and Sporting Lisbon informs me that I am watching "una partida de ajedrez".

From the latest ChessBase newsletter

Do soccer and chess really have things in common, something that connects them? After all, there are famous attempts to link soccer to chess. "I learnt a lot from chess that was valuable in soccer. That every action has a cause, that almost every move should be a threat for the opponent." That is what Felix Magath, a successful German soccer player and coach, writes on his website. But does it also work the other way round? Of course!

New: Charles Storey: The Sniper

FIDE-Master Charles Storey from England presents a universal repertoire for Black that he dubbed "The Sniper". The basic structure is easily explained: Black plays 1...g6, 2...Bg7 and 3...c5. But what does this have to do with soccer?

Storey wanted to find catchy titles for the various White set-ups to make them easy to remember. His work with chess students in England showed that giving the lines names of soccer teams such as Arsenal London, Chelsea, Manchester United etc. worked well. But Storey did not pick the names randomly - for each variation Storey chose a team with a style that fitted the character of the variation.

Charlie Storey's analyses show that he is deeply engrossed in his material. But that's not a big surprise, after all, it is "his" opening! "The Sniper" brought Storey 145 wins at open tournaments in the UK. And now he enjoys to see how his students use this opening successfully at European Junior Championships. Video run time: 8 hours 34 min.

Stewart Reuben wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 10, 2017 1:52 am

"The Sniper" brought Storey 145 wins at open tournaments in the UK.

That claim can be believed if it measures a count of individual games won. It's when it becomes a claim of 145 tournament wins with the implication of winning 145 tournaments, that it's not.

Good point !

Why is an advert being discussed here?

Anyway back to media comments on chess, there’s a brief reference to its history as a chess venue in this review of Simpsons >>

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyl ... ant-review

Someone recently commented on the misuse of the word 'stalemate'.

Just finished reading 'The Discovery of the Bismarck' by Robert D. Ballard. Excellent.

Chess terms pop up from time to time usually with the Royal Navy
adding more pieces to the board by diverting more ships to the chase.

Alas on page 91 Chapter Six begins:

"As the morning wore on, the stalemate continued."

Jonathan Bryant wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 10, 2017 11:28 am

Why is an advert being discussed here?

I will allow it for now and move anything else to the adverts section.

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 10, 2017 9:42 am

Stewart Reuben wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 10, 2017 1:52 am

"The Sniper" brought Storey 145 wins at open tournaments in the UK.

That claim can be believed if it measures a count of individual games won. It's when it becomes a claim of 145 tournament wins with the implication of winning 145 tournaments, that it's not.

The latest figure was claimed to be 153 prior to the Northumberland Rapidplay. "Attempting to win Open 154 today"

Ray’s in Private Eye again

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ailed.html

I think he was about 190 from memory, so perhaps not what we normally think of as a professional.

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2017 11:32 pm

I think he was about 190 from memory, so perhaps not what we normally think of as a professional.

Professional in the sense that he launched a magazine that folded after a couple of issues and wrote a book or books for Batsford (on Tal).

https://chessbookchats.blogspot.co.uk/2 ... azine.html

Jonathan Bryant wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2017 5:41 pm

Ray’s in Private Eye again

If you haven't yet bought a copy of the latest "Eye", ejhchess has copied the relevant bit for you.

http://lostontime.blogspot.co.uk/2017/1 ... -past.html

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2017 11:32 pm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ailed.html

I think he was about 190 from memory, so perhaps not what we normally think of as a professional.

Previous discussion here.

Supply agencies have been accused of engaging in “exploitative” practices, with a Tes investigation uncovering a range of activities that union leaders, heads and teachers have said are to blame for suppressing wages while inflicting higher costs on schools.

The practices include unpaid “trial days”, moving staff into different roles before their employment rights kick in, and moving the best teachers around schools like chess pieces...

...However, this is not the only reason why some supply teachers might move teachers between schools. Chris Keates, the NASUWT’s general secretary, said that some agencies were moving good teachers between different schools “like a piece on a chessboard” so that the agency can “maximise its exposure”.

Times Educational Supplement