Recently I discovered the excellent lichess.org, the only game I allow on my phone, as my eSteemed colleague @quillfire would say, chess is the game of generals!.
It had been a while since I'd played chess online, I used to play on the Free Internet Chess Server (F.I.C.S) but for some reason I just let that drift and have long since forgotten my login or even my username.
Not long after downloading the chess app I decided to check out some chess videos on youtube as I was feeling a bit rusty.
Before long I ran across the genius of Magnus Carlsen the world's best player. I was especially interested because I saw that he plays on the lichess app just like me, so I started to check him out, and all I can say is, oh boy!
One Minute Mayhem
I'd tried out the one minute games, not really taking them seriously, I like to ponder my moves and one minute is barely enough time to think about one iteration of a single move. However I thought it would be good for trying out different openings and trying to get quicker at the beginning of the game.
Then I discovered Carlsen playing other grand masters on lichess and completely anihilating them in one minute (bullet) games, it is truly awe inspiring to watch him play at this speed. I just can't comprehend how any of them can think this fast, however Carlsen is a real cut above.
In the tournament I link below he finishes 56 points ahead of second place who is another chess grand master in his own right.
To put that in perspective, if you count back another 56 points from 2nd place, you get to 80th. So there is the same difference in skill between Carlsen and second place as 2nd and 80th!
He has been number one for I believe about ten years now, and I can't see him being knocked off that spot anytime soon.
Unless you're a super geek like me you probably won't watch all of this two hour tournament at once, so I highly suggest you bookmark it and watch a bit of it every now and again when you have time.
Even if you're not into chess, or don't understand the rules, it's still phenomenal watching the speed of play. The commentator really gets you into it, and his high-speed commentary is almost as impressive as the play.
Enjoy!
DO YOU PLAY OR UNDERSTAND CHESS? WHAT HAVE YOU DISCOVERED RECENTLY? AS EVER, LET ME KNOW BELOW!
Magnus Carlsen is a very interesting type of chess player.
I would call him a flow pattern recognizer.
Which makes him very fast and accurate.
Perfect for high speed games.
Magnus is perfect in this modern era of chess.
Capablanca, who may give Magnus a run for his money (if he was still alive) lived in a time when you took all the time you wanted at chess, and even had breaks to sleep during a game.
People like Bobby Fisher and Karpov would find their playing styles severely cramped in today's environs. However, they are of the category of strategy and preparation. (or in other worlds, slow) Thus, similar to most that Magnus is playing today and why he is whipping them in speed chess.
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Exactly! As I watched him it was like watching a sea crashing against a shore line, always taking the path of least resistance. It's incredible how he recovers from mouse slip mistakes, just phenomenal.
Ha! As you say, completely at odds with the modern chess vibe. I like playing a nice long game, however I'm now really getting into bullet as a mind sharpener and great spectator game.
Cg
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@croptogee,
I had NO IDEA any of this existed!
I WILL check it out ... and probably become massively obsessed. :-) Thanks for the heads up.
BTW ... don't be too intimidated. There are many ways to play chess and once your brain adapts to a different "style of chess," you can improve very quickly.
While in the Legion, I played a LOT of chess and was used to killing everyone I played. Then ... I ran into a Romanian. When we started playing, I thought he was a lunatic. His strategies made no sense whatsoever. He beat me. I was dumbfounded.
As I outranked him, I ordered him to play me again.
He beat me a second time, but only marginally.
More compulsion.
After 3 or 4 games, my brain had adapted to his "style of play" and I started figuring out how to capitalize upon it (all "fixed strategies" become predictable and therefore can be countered). And hence, I started beating him. In the end, in order to have any chance of winning, he had to abandon his style of play completely. (He was still a bloody phenomenal chess player).
Quill
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I know it's awesome, a real treasure trove and definitely a rabbit hole you'll fall deep into :-)
I used to play with 2 friends about 3-4 times per week and we just kind of let it drift, I was doing a lot of online incremental chess, you know like 5 minutes with 3 second increments for every move.
But this is a whole new world, I'm getting into the one minute games now. Check out lichess.org, you can play anonymously or create an account.
Cg
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Chess is the science game par excellence. To practice it you have to be very intelligent and also be a great strategist. In my family environment there are very good chess players and they play it online too. I will make the suggestion to @rafaelaquino to review the application you recommend.
Thank you for this interesting publication, greetings.
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