English Chess Forum

Is it me or are some of the comments on this forum a bit strange: I quote the grading debate one:

"NGS would satisfy the condition that the stronger player should gain points if he or she has scored a 100% and if the grade difference is 120 points or less (above 120 points difference the stronger player stops gaining grading points). The above table with NGS calculation added is as follows...
Code:

---------------------------------------
AGS ÉGS NGS
a b p a2 b2 a2 b2 a2 b2
---------------------------------------
220 100 100 220 100 220 100 220 100
200 100 100 200 100 201 99 201 99
180 100 100 180 100 181 99 182 98
170 100 100 170 100 172 98 173 97
160 100 100 160 100 163 97 164 96
150 100 100 150 100 155 95 154 96 "

just as one example of a long debate that is starting to look like a Cambridge University 3rd Year Maths Test.

Example B:

"Some more details on that one:-

44,299 23.50% 1/Jun/07 00:56 /getref.php

13,107 15.38% 1/Jun/07 00:27 /getclub.php

73 0.28% 30/May/07 12:56 /getclub.php?club=Sussex Junior
70 1.04% 31/May/07 18:10 /getclub.php?club=Coulsdon CF
55 0.13% 31/May/07 22:08 /getclub.php?club=Kings Head
46 0.45% 31/May/07 11:03 /getclub.php?club=Kent Junior Congresses
41 0.08% 30/May/07 18:01 /getclub.php?club=Wimbledon
39 0.06% 30/May/07 18:38 /getclub.php?club=St Albans
37 0.06% 31/May/07 23:04 /getclub.php?club=Heywood
37 0.03% 31/May/07 11:37 /getclub.php?club=Albany
35 0.07% 31/May/07 17:14 /getclub.php?club=Nuneaton
35 0.07% 29/May/07 14:44 /getclub.php?club=Oxford University

12,368 8.05% 1/Jun/07 00:17 /getplayers.php

61 0.05% 31/May/07 08:19 /getplayers.php?players=adams
58 0.18% 31/May/07 18:16 /getplayers.php?players=jones
55 0.11% 31/May/07 12:59 /getplayers.php?players=taylor
48 0.12% 1/Jun/07 00:09 /getplayers.php?players=williams
46 0.16% 30/May/07 21:28 /getplayers.php?players=smith
40 0.09% 31/May/07 22:25 /getplayers.php?players=brown
39 0.06% 31/May/07 00:24 /getplayers.php?players=white
32 0.01% 31/May/07 17:35 /getplayers.php?players=jain
30 0.05% 31/May/07 22:04 /getplayers.php?players=thomas
29 0.03% 31/May/07 23:16 /getplayers.php?players=hunt
28 0.06% 31/May/07 21:40 /getplayers.php?players=Taylor "

I mean what is that all about??? It looks like source code for a computer program not a forum message!

and by the size one of the messages on the MCCU county stuff is so long I think the author is in competition with Lord of the Rings (I dare not quote as most computers may crash).

I don't mean to offend anyone, but some of the stuff on this forum is looking pretty exclusive! Anyone know why the Vienna is unpopular these days, or no one interested on Mickey losing to Shirov...you know...chess stuff.

PS not sure how to do the quotes properly, and I can't be bothered to work it out whilst watching Big Brother.

Gavin Strachan wrote:12,368 8.05% 1/Jun/07 00:17 /getplayers.php

I mean what is that all about??? It looks like source code for a computer program not a forum message!

You are right of course I need to make that one clearer

12,368 players looked up their name in the month of May is what that one means

8.05 is the percentage, the other is the last time and the final is the web page reference

I stuck it in a seperate section since it isn't of interest to everyone!

Cheers
Carl

Gavin Strachan wrote:Is it me or are some of the comments on this forum a bit strange.
I mean what is that all about??? It looks like source code for a computer program not a forum message!

I don't mean to offend anyone, but some of the stuff on this forum is looking pretty exclusive! Anyone know why the Vienna is unpopular these days, or no one interested on Mickey losing to Shirov...you know...chess stuff.

Hi Gavin, you watch Big Brother? I'd rather watch paint dry myself, but that's my opinion.

If anyone starts a topic about the Candidates matches or even the Fritz vs Junior match then I'm sure there'll be people happy to chat about it.

Regarding the posts made by Robert Jurjevic: he is actively (and off his own back) trying to find ways to improve the current ECF Grading system. I'll freely admit that it's almost all gobbledygook to me, but hopefully someone important at the ECF will notice and use Robert's analysis for the benefit of all.

Much of what Robert says is correct although you probably need a degree in stats to understand it. I'm fortunate (or unfortunate, depending on your viewpoint) in that regard.

However, I have not got involved in the discussion for one simple reason - it aint gonna happen!! The ECF grading system is bust without doubt but there are only two, politically viable alternatives. Firstly fix it, secondly, switch to ELO. Of course you have to accept that there is a problem first, and the ECF havent even done that yet.

Lets be honest, if we do ditch the grading system it would only be for ELO. If for no other reason than its what everyone else uses!!

I was being totally facetious, I admit!

I discussed the grading issue a lot last year on SCCU website. Although the benefit of the ECF system is that it is easy to workout compared with FIDE, moving to the FIDE system would seem a good idea. One big problem with this is the loss of revenue to the ECF may stop this from happening in the foreseeable future.

The issues I felt were going round in circles in the end and what Sean says highlights it all in a nutshell.