How about a book review section?

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Geoff Chandler
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Re: How about a book review section?

Post by Geoff Chandler » Mon Dec 30, 2013 1:33 pm

Hi Justin.

I was thinking of a brand new bunch of contributors with a new author.

('bunch'.....awful....the collective term for chess players is 'set'.)

I was thinking of a brand new set of contributors with a new author.

I like the link. I bet the Streatham & Brixton boys did not get any Christmas Cards from RDK.
(If you did get a card from RDK you would be thinking.....Now where did he cut and paste his Christmas message from?)

Actually I like Ray Keene. (infact there is no chess player/writer that I don't like.)
Personally he has never done me any harm, he crossed the line in the Tee-Shirt affair
when all he need have done was write a few lines saying he had been mis-led (we all were for a while.)
but he stayed in character and simply shrugged his shoulders.

We need villians in chess, it keeps the game ticking along.
I cannot for the life of me think why he keeps lifting word for word other writers notes
without giving the original source any credit.
He has the skill to re-write any note and make it his own.

Maybe he is doing it because he does not like us.
Maybe he is challenging us to find the source of his next article.
It's a game. Hunt the Thimble.....Find the Original.
With any doubt it does ensure people read (or read for the 2nd time) his column.

Maybe he does not know he is doing it. Have you thought about that?
He may have the medical condition, plaigiaritus, the need to copy other writers notes.
Actually he is doing us a service, I missed the original article, Ray is printing it word
for word to make sure we all catch up.

And I'm sorry but I cannot help but also shrug my shoulders about all of this and say 'Big Deal...So What?"
I would not give a rats behind if he lifted anything I wrote and he got paid for it.
I'll get a joke or two out of it and watching the evidence pile up against him on a daily basis is quite funny.
But at the end of the day who really cares?

----------------------------

I've heard nothing but praise about 'Arkell's Odyessey' from the punters.

('the punters'....awful....the collective term for chess book buyers is 'a grumble of chess book buyers'.)

I've heard nothing but praise about 'Arkell's Odyessey' from a grumble of chess book buyers
so I'll pick up a copy next time I'm at a bookstall.

(is it not full of Caro Kanns and Rook Endings?....grumble grumble....grumble grumble...)

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JustinHorton
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Re: How about a book review section?

Post by JustinHorton » Mon Dec 30, 2013 1:41 pm

Who indeed, Geoff. Who indeed.

<rolls eyes>
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"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."

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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: How about a book review section?

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Mon Dec 30, 2013 1:48 pm

With genuine respect to Geoff - whose contributions I always look forward to reading - that attitude helps explain how he has got away with it for so long!
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Jonathan Bryant
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Re: How about a book review section?

Post by Jonathan Bryant » Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:09 pm

Geoff Chandler wrote:Actually I like Ray Keene.
So do I.

For various reasons, not the least of them being that before the churned out junk he wrote some good stuff.

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John Upham
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Re: How about a book review section?

Post by John Upham » Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:22 pm

The first book I would nominate for review (especially by Justin H.) would be

this one :wink:
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Ian Kingston
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Re: How about a book review section?

Post by Ian Kingston » Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:50 pm

John Upham wrote:The first book I would nominate for review (especially by Justin H.) would be

this one :wink:
Also a great candidate for the 'Bad Book Covers' series.

Geoff Chandler
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Re: How about a book review section?

Post by Geoff Chandler » Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:53 pm

Hi Matt,

I can see why people are getting rattled, but if you buy The Times you will read
a lot more concerning news than a handful of copied notes in a chess column.

And he has been getting away with it for a very long time....or has he?
We all knew what was going on.

It's notes to a game of chess. Nothing more. Nobody will die.
I'm more concerned about the fact the players will not get any money for their game
getting reproduced. I know it's impossible to implement but it is creative work.

So we buy a book/paper full of copied notes and squeal like stuck pigs.
Yet the real creativity is the game itself.
Nobody cares about the players of the game which took 3-4 hours to complete
or perhaps the hours involved pre-game cooking up a TN.
We are more concerned about about some hack who got paid for the original notes,
not getting a mention when the notes are re-printed.
(often the notes are computer dribble and loaded with clichés...15 minutes max)

The games are not copyright but the notes are.
How totally mixed up and unfair is that.

Edit:

"...not the least of them being that before the churned out junk he wrote some good stuff."

Hi Jonathan,

That is the most annoying thing about it all.
RDK can write some really entertaing stuff when he wants to.

As I said before, maybe he does not like us anymore.

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JustinHorton
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Re: How about a book review section?

Post by JustinHorton » Mon Dec 30, 2013 5:04 pm

For the record, Geoff, when this all kicked off six months ago I took a decision that I wouldn't get into any discussions about whether what Ray does is OK. I took the view that we're grown-ups and we know very well that it isn't.

So I won't.
John Upham wrote:The first book I would nominate for review (especially by Justin H.) would be

this one :wink:
Fab idea. Know anybody who's got a copy?
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"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."

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Barry Sandercock
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Re: How about a book review section?

Post by Barry Sandercock » Wed Jan 01, 2014 5:23 pm

Modern Stonewall Dutch by Eric Schiller. What do people think of this book ? I have it, but can't decide if it's any use.

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John Upham
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Re: How about a book review section?

Post by John Upham » Wed Jan 01, 2014 5:31 pm

Barry Sandercock wrote:I have it, but can't decide if it's any use.
What are your criteria for deciding if a book you have easy access to is of any use?

One thing that visitors to this place may wish to know is that after a terrible year of medical problems and surgery Eric S. is recovering well. :D
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Barry Sandercock
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Re: How about a book review section?

Post by Barry Sandercock » Wed Jan 01, 2014 5:48 pm

Are the lines given, worth playing nowadays against reasonable opposition ?

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John Upham
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Re: How about a book review section?

Post by John Upham » Wed Jan 01, 2014 6:12 pm

Barry Sandercock wrote:Are the lines given, worth playing nowadays against reasonable opposition ?
Maybe ones opponents also do not have an opinion on this question?
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Roger de Coverly
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Re: How about a book review section?

Post by Roger de Coverly » Wed Jan 01, 2014 6:28 pm

Barry Sandercock wrote:Are the lines given, worth playing nowadays against reasonable opposition ?
I wouldn't be sure whether there is that much difference between playing Bd6 or Be7, it's still a Stonewall Dutch. That said, of those who do still play the Stonewall most seem to prefer to play Bd6. If you're playing Mark Hebden, he always plays 7. Bf4 .

I'd suspect White can play almost anything reasonably sensible and retain a good position, so if there are lines which the author says are better for Black, they would be worth checking with Fritz or other engine of your choice.

John Cox
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Re: How about a book review section?

Post by John Cox » Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:06 pm

>First, this isn’t that relevant within the context of the opening
(it’s on move 22) and second, much of Giddins’s commentary is based on Uhlmann’s original analysis,
so it seems pretty low-level to use the guy’s material, then have a pop at him when the machine finds flaws.

Curious observation. I haven't read the book, but in general, what is one supposed to do? It's not 'having a pop' to say that computers show someone's analysis is wrong; it's recognising a fact of modern life. And it seems to me it would be stranger not to use the original player's analysis if it's to hand. I'm not sure how the author is supposed to be any higher-level.

Geoff Chandler
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Re: How about a book review section?

Post by Geoff Chandler » Thu Jan 02, 2014 3:25 pm

Hi John,

That just appears to be Ian's opinion.
I like reviewers to have opinions and to give their reasons.
Sometimes you agree, sometimes not.
But I have always found Ian's reviews refreshingly honest.

Not having read the book it all depends how the fresh analysis is displayed.
It is done as a genuine correction or has it been done in snooty way. I'm guessing the former.

Either way it does prove the writer has done some research and not just RKD'd it. :)

Hi Roger.

"...so if there are lines which the author says are better for Black, they would be worth
checking with Fritz or other engine of your choice."

Barry I'd stay away from using a box. You will not be playing a computer.
You will be playing a dippy over-rated human being.
Humans make OTB blunders that even the cheapest computer won't make.

It does not matter how many opening books you read your game will be decided by a blunder.
It may be small, it be gross. You job is to recognise it when it happens.
Also try not to make a blunder yourself, though sometimes you may have to make
a small blunder (an inaccurate move) to encourage a big blunder....this is called playing Chess.

The computer may be giving a + on a position it is seeing 15-20 moves ahead.
You the player can memorise this if you want but you are banking on your opponent
playing like a computer for 15-20 moves.
If you don't memorise the line(s) the computer is banking on you finding 26...Qh8!! OTB.

You have to judge for yourself:
A) Is this what I really want to play?
B) Do I like this postion?
C) Can I do things with this position?

Things a computer knows nothing about.