Media comments on chess

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Christopher Kreuzer
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Re: Media comments on chess

Post by Christopher Kreuzer » Thu Jul 19, 2018 5:31 pm

Andrew Varney wrote:
Thu Jul 19, 2018 5:09 pm
I wonder if we can work anything out, by retrograde analysis, about which White pawn under-promoted?
Presumably the promotion pawn is the one partially visible by the model's right elbow (at far left).... :wink: There is also a white pawn at lower right where only the 'head' is visible. With the other visible White pieces, that makes seven pawns, so there is an eighth White pawn not visible anywhere! :shock: Probably cropped out of the picture at some point. This should really be a caption competition: what is the model thinking? 8) ["Please don't take my rooks" is not eligible.]

David Robertson

Re: Media comments on chess

Post by David Robertson » Thu Jul 19, 2018 10:28 pm

Andrew Varney wrote:
Thu Jul 19, 2018 5:09 pm
I wonder if we can work anything out, by retrograde analysis, about which White pawn under-promoted?
Obviously 'Harry', the h-pawn.

I say 'obviously' but I really mean 'most plausible'. It could have been the a-pawn promoting via b8 - but unlikely. The BQ doesn't look to have vacated d8 yet. And while something has been going off on f8, a pawn promotion is hard to imagine. So I favour a brisk march by Harry, with some carelessness from Black, followed by a bishop regrouping from h8 via d4 to g1.

Other elements of the position are harder to explain - which is probably what the winsome Ms Muse is thinking

Stewart Reuben
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Re: Media comments on chess

Post by Stewart Reuben » Sat Jul 21, 2018 1:11 am

I had not previously heard of this painting, called 'The Chess Players'.
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/la ... ers-n04544
The choice of players is interesting. Chris Fegan should be pleased.

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JustinHorton
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Re: Media comments on chess

Post by JustinHorton » Sat Jul 21, 2018 6:04 am

Stewart Reuben wrote:
Sat Jul 21, 2018 1:11 am
I had not previously heard of this painting, called 'The Chess Players'.
See here for instance, or here.
Stewart Reuben wrote:
Sat Jul 21, 2018 1:11 am
Chris Fegan should be pleased.
Why, did Lavery get the job in front of a couple of women artists?
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."

lostontime.blogspot.com

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JustinHorton
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Re: Media comments on chess

Post by JustinHorton » Sat Jul 21, 2018 6:28 am

As it happens I was discussing this very work on social media a few weeks ago and I wondered if they might have been following (or playing out) a game or position from the book. I don't think they are though - it doesn't look like a chess book of the era (because of the illustrations).
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."

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JustinHorton
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Re: Media comments on chess

Post by JustinHorton » Sat Jul 21, 2018 8:39 am

According to this review of Peter Cossins' Full Gas, the author
takes as his starting point the idea that bike racing is analogous to “chess at 150 heartbeats a minute”.
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."

lostontime.blogspot.com

Stewart Reuben
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Re: Media comments on chess

Post by Stewart Reuben » Sat Jul 21, 2018 10:33 am

>bike racing is analogous to “chess at 150 heartbeats a minute”.<

Does that take the prize as the least convincing analogy between chess and other activities?

Stewart Reuben
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Re: Media comments on chess

Post by Stewart Reuben » Sat Jul 21, 2018 10:47 am

Richard McElvain is performing his one man play, 'The Chess Player', in London at The Actors Centre, I Covent Garden, this November 12-18.

It is taken from Stefan Zweig's famous novella (also known as 'The Royal Game'). It was received well at the Edinburgh Festival last year. I have pointed out to Richard the close proximity to the World Championship. When I get to see it, that will be the third dramatisation of the story that I have seen. One is a feature film, the other a very old US TV play.

Stefan sent off the completed work to his publisher and then committed suicide a few days later.

Geoff Chandler
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Re: Media comments on chess

Post by Geoff Chandler » Sat Jul 21, 2018 12:23 pm

I saw 'The Royal Game' last year. My comment

Very Good.

Richard plays all the parts so well you are expecting a curtain call for each character at the end of the play.
(maybe he could put that bit in!)

Very convincing scenes watching the prisoner going mad.

Have told all my chess buddies to nip along and catch it whilst they can.
Last edited by Geoff Chandler on Tue Aug 07, 2018 1:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Media comments on chess

Post by Geoff Chandler » Fri Jul 27, 2018 12:47 am

Google are celebrating the 114th birthday of Lyudmila Rudenko. This is their logo today.

Image

Andy Stoker
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Re: Media comments on chess

Post by Andy Stoker » Fri Jul 27, 2018 5:36 am

Slight variation on a theme. BBC Radio 5 Live "Wake up to Money" 27 July 18 "It's a bit like a game of chess out there. Who's going to blink? Who's going to move first?"

Bob Kane
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Re: Media comments on chess

Post by Bob Kane » Fri Jul 27, 2018 2:05 pm

Geoff, The Chess players
Thats MY review from Edinburgh fringe last year and YOUR comments
Bob

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Re: Media comments on chess

Post by Simon Brown » Fri Aug 03, 2018 10:17 am

Today's Times Cryptic Quintagram (sigh)

"Ship's quarters here for English man on board (10)"

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JustinHorton
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Re: Media comments on chess

Post by JustinHorton » Sat Aug 04, 2018 7:17 am

Guardian piece on Shreyas Royal
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."

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Geoff Chandler
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Re: Media comments on chess

Post by Geoff Chandler » Tue Aug 07, 2018 1:44 pm

Hi Bob,

"Thats MY review from Edinburgh fringe last year and YOUR comments."

Just noticed that...and I've corrected my post.