Tag Archives: World Chess

Computers Have Transformed Chess into the 21st Century’s Global Game

May 1, 2017Articles, BlogBenefits of chess, Chess, Chess coaching, Junior Chess, learning, World ChessDavid

Chess is arguably the oldest game still played globally today. And it’s changing more rapidly than ever before. Chess has evolved for thousands of years from early Indian variants, to the modernized strategies of the 18^th, 19^th and 20^th centuries respectively. But chess is not done. In fact, it’s still changing – thanks to computers.

For several decades, computers have exceeded human players in skill due to their incredible calculating ability. The age-old question posed to chess players amateur and professional alike, ‘how many moves can you see ahead?’, can now be answered with reference to the power of your chess engine.

But even computers haven’t ‘solved’ chess yet, with its variations of possible positions extending into the billions (fun fact: there are more variations in a chess game than the number of galaxies). And their ‘brute force’ approach of looking at every single move and every single move in response to that and so on stands in stark contrast to the strategies employed and advocated by most coaches. Coaches and top players alike believe in assessing the position and making calculations, using only a few logical looking moves conjured from experience and intuition. Simply put, we don’t have the ‘engine’ power to calculate if pawn h3 is a good or not move every single game.

But the power of the computer cannot be denied, even if it’s not always logical. A computer is a tool that has ushered in a new era of chess, the computer era, where preparation before the game aided by your infallible digital coach (Stockfish or Komodo or Fritz etc) is increasingly important.

Magnus Carslen, current World Chess Champion, has admitted that the rise of computers has ‘take[n] a bit of the mysticism away. But… we’ve known for a long time that computers are better, so the computer never has been an opponent. It’s a tool to help me analyze and to help me improve at chess.”

For younger players just coming into chess, this increasing dependence on computers is less important in their early years. The reliance on computers should never be allowed to replace the multi-faceted role of a chess coach. A computer will never tell you why a certain move is good or bad (because it doesn’t really ‘know’), and won’t tell you what openings, endings or middle game strategies to practice. And of course, as most parents know, a computer cannot instill practices of good sportspersonship or confidence, either.

Nevertheless, chess computers can provide valuable educational, social and recreational benefits for those who care about bettering their game. Interestingly, man and computer have become one in the app ‘Play Magnus’. Players all over the world can test themselves against a virtual version of the Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen at various stages of his chess career, as early as 8 (quite easy to beat), and up to his twenties (for the majority of humans, impossible).

The computer has seen chess change in other ways too, perhaps most importantly the introduction of online competitions. Playing online on websites like Chess.com can be a light afternoon of fun, or for more serious players, a chance to cut their teeth and test out new moves and variations.

Former Australian chess champion, Guy West, has commented on the rise of the internet as a tool of the next generation of chess players, saying, ‘In the part, the advantage of experience has been greater because experienced players would have travelled around the world. Nowadays you can travel around the world via the internet.’

The internet is also a valuable tool when considering the abundance of resources out there, available for free for anyone who cares to listen and has an active connection. Young players are getting world class coaching from contemporary greats like Yasser Seirawan, Daniel King and Roger Svidler, who go through games or play ‘live’ blitz to an enthralled audience.

Chess is a global community and the use of computers and online gaming is only strengthening chess into the 21^st century’s global game. On one website, Chess.com, they have reached over 15 million members (more than half of Australia’s population). So what does this mean for budding chess enthusiasts? Well, it means there’s never been a better time in history to get involved in the sport of chess!

Many people enjoying the game of chess at TATA Steel Tournament in the Netherlands

Chess Movies, Books (and Art!) You Have to ‘Check’ Out if You’re a Chess Fanatic

April 19, 2017Articles, BlogChess, learning, World ChessDavid

For some of us, sitting down over a chess board of an evening just isn’t enough. We need to fill our bookshelves with chess books, our walls with chess art and our Netflix queue with… you guessed it: chess films. We are excited to share our recommendations of the best chess content out there. And who knows, it may even improve your play.

Movies

Searching For Bobby Fischer
A classic chess film, that has been inspiring young chess players for years since its release in 1993. The film focusses on Joshua Waitzkin navigating the world of children’s chess tournaments in the years after Bobby Fischer has retreated from the world. The story is clever and something to watch with the family, with seasoned chess players getting a kick out of famous player cameos like Anjelina Belakovskaia, Joel Benjamin and the real Joshua Waitzkin.

1. Pawn Sacrifice
A recent addition to the back catalogue of chess films, Pawn Sacrifice focusses on Bobby Fischer’s match against Boris Spassky in Reykjavik in 1972. Tobey Maguire rises to the challenge of portraying Fischer’s paranoia and the film shows a realistic snapshot of the way Fischer and Spassky’s matches were being watched keenly by the world.
1. Queen of Katwa
Released last year by Disney, Queen of Katwa is a biographical film focussing on Ugandan player Phiona Mutesi. Mutesi lived in a slum before learning to play chess and eventually became a Woman Candidate Master after playing at the World Chess Olympiads. The film is inspiring, yet impressive in that it doesn’t shy away from the realities and hardships of Mutesi’s life.

Books

The Queen’s Gambit

A novel by Walter Tevis, this book tells the story of Beth Harmon, a young girl who finds herself in an orphanage at the age of eight. She soon falls in love with playing chess, and goes on to compete in tournaments successfully. However, both chess and her substance abuse pull her in two different directions. Which one will she choose?

The Luzhin Defense

A chilling novel by master prose writer, Nabokov, The Luzhin Defense is about a chess prodigy who takes his love of the sport and competing too far. Not only does this book have oodles of literary merit, it has hidden gems throughout for chess players. An added bonus, you can share this with friends and family who may not (yet) be addicted to chess.

A Chess Story

For those of us who are short on free time, Steven Zweig’s novella A Chess Story is the perfect chess-fix coming in at under 100 pages. Follow the main character as he observes a chess prodigy unravel onboard a ship sailing to the US.

Art

Soldier at a Game of Chess

Chess seems to influence all artists, whether through books or film. This holds true of painters as well! Jean Metzinger, a French artist, painted this while serving as a orderly during World War I.

The Chess Game

Have you ever noticed that once you start to fall in love with something, whether it is art or music, you start to see it everywhere? Well, this game captured by Italian renaissance painter Sofonisba Anguissola looks, at least to us, like a Chesslife lesson. Although we have never seen David in a gown like this!

That’s enough chess for a day. Did we miss any of your favourites? Let us know by posting on our Facebook page!

How Chess Has Changed Our World

April 2, 2017Articles, BlogBenefits of chess, Chess, learning, World ChessDavid

We’ve known for a while (and have certainly been writing about it at Chesslife) that chess is great for our brain, but we often don’t speak about the way chess has changed the world for the better. In terms of politics, human rights and global relations, chess has kept the world moving forward.

While his chess career peaked over forty years ago, Bobby Fischer’s influence on America is still felt today. He was the first American to bring chess to the forefront of the country’s mind, and to show that the US could compete on the grand stage with Russia.

Stephen L. Carter wrote of the atmosphere of the historic time in 1972 when Fischer player Spassky. ‘The two best players in the world were playing 24 games in Iceland, and everyone paid attention. Strangers who had never picked up a chess piece discussed the match on subway trains. Newspapers put out special editions announcing the results of the games, and vendors hawked them from the corners, shouting out the name of the winner.’

Recent Disney movie and biopic, Queen of Katwe is all about the power of chess and the people who play it. All about the life of Ugandan girl Phiona Mutesi, the film shows her journey from living in a slum in Katwe to becoming a Woman Candidate Master and playing at the World Chess Olympiad. Mutesi has gone down in history as one of the first titled woman Ugandan players.

Phiona hasn’t been the only person in Africa to be inspired by chess. Maurice Ashley, the first African American International GM, will soon be embarking on a professional training tour for 18 weeks to visit Kenya, Rwanda, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia. The program, made possible by the Paul Allen Foundation and the Kasparov Chess Foundation, will bring three GMs to Africa to provide structured chess training. The program will touch the lives of over sixty local trainers and an expected 1,500 children.

When we’re talking about chess changing the world, we can’t forget the work of former World Chess Champions who have used their platform to promote chess and help the community around them. Garry Kasparov has created non-profit foundation that advocates chess for kids of all ages, backgrounds and gender. He is also a well-known activist and humanitarian, known for speaking out against Putin. ‘At the end of the day, every dictator, after eliminating all the enemies inside his own country, will look for enemies outside’, he has publically stated. ‘[His] main philosophy is confrontation’.

Kasparov with World Champion Magnus Carlsen

In a conversation with Slate, Kasparov even spoke about Putin in the context of chess: ‘Putin, as with every dictator, hates chess because chess is a strategic game which is 100 percent transparent. I know what are available resources for me and what kind of resources could be mobilized by my opponent…Dictators hate transparency and Putin feels much more comfortable playing a game that I would rather call geopolitical poker.’

Other world champions are no different. Vishy Anand opened his own home in 2015 to feed and house people in the slums who were effected by floods in Chennai, India. For many of those children, they were delighted to learn that the house belonged to a man they had learnt about in school. Judit Polgar, while not a World Champion but known as the best woman chess player in recent history, has worked tirelessly along with her sister, Susan to enhance chess’ image and to encourage young girls to pick up the game.

It is definitely true that chess has changed the world, but we think that perhaps it has more to do with the wonderful people playing chess than the game itself. Either way, we are excited to see how chess changes the world in the future.

If you would like to make a difference by playing chess, we would love to have you at the Play Your Peace tournament in Campbelltown, South Australia on Thursday April 6. Entry is $10 and all profits will go towards Women’s Safety Services SA to provide counselling, educational initiatives and activities for children effected by family violence.

Magnus Retains World Chess Title in Dramatic Tie Break

December 2, 2016Articles, BlogCarlsen, Chess, Karajakin, World ChessDavid

Picking up where we left off in our last blog on the 2016 World Chess Championship, the draws continued in rounds nine, eleven and twelve, leaving the players dead even after the specified twelve classical (long) games of chess.

The only decisive result came in round ten when Magnus Carlsen was able to level the scores once again in a slow maneuvering game (you can read about here).

After an uninspiring final game, lasting only 35 moves which is short for a Grandmaster game, it seemed as if the reigning champion Magnus Carlsen was deliberately opting for a draw in order to play for a win in the tie break. His not-so-subtle comments in the press conference after the game led many to believe that the Blitz Champion would feel more comfortable in the shorter game format.

After far from perfect play from both contenders, spectators were happy to be seeing only the third tie break in World Chess Championship history.

With both players having a strong record in 25 minute games, the contest was sure to be tight, but Magnus Carlsen took an early lead in game two of four, coming into the endgame with two minor pieces against Sergey Karjakin’s rook.

As International Master Danny Rensch from Chess.com said, the position favours the player with the minor pieces in this particular case because both players’ pawns are on one side of the board, meaning that the rook would be unable to demonstrate its long range prowess. The absence of passed pawns meant there was nothing for the Russian player’s rook to attack.

However, despite these advantages Magnus Carlsen was unable to produce a win. A disappointing game for his supporters, but just another demonstration of Karjakin’s stalwart defensive style.

Game three saw the players enter another Spanish opening, however in the position below it’s clear that Karjakin is struggling, this time with the two bishops trapped behind their pawns making them completely useless. Here Carlsen played the inspiring move pawn to e4, sacrificing the one-point piece to strengthen the rest of his pieces and even take control of the a-file and the board as a whole.

Only a few moves later, under severe pressure in the following position, Karjakin blundered as white by taking the pawn on c7, allowing a devastating skewer with rook to a1, winning a piece and, shortly after, the game (had Karjakin not immediately resigned).

Desperate to stay in the running, Karjakin went into game four with his traditional Sicilian opening, however couldn’t get anything worth having against Magnus Carlsen’s solid response.

Despite an interesting attempt to mix things up Karjakin ended up worse and slowly but surely lost the final game of the match ending in an incredible queen sacrifice by the Norwegian champion.

And suddenly, that was it for another year of World Championship chess!

All in all, an exciting match was enjoyed by what organizer Agon has hinted was a record number of chess fans. Poor form by Carlsen and some smart play by Karjakin led to what was certainly an unexpectedly close contest, sure to keep chess as one of the most watched online sports.

Seven Draws and One Win does it Remind us all to Practice our Endgames?

November 23, 2016Articles, BlogCarlsen, Chess, Chess coaching, Karajakin, World ChessDavid

Just over half way into the 2016 World Chess Championship and we have just seen the first dent with the score 4.5 to challenger Karjakin against 3.5 for Magnus Carlsen. Before this we had seven rounds resulting in seven draws.

Have you read our earlier blog about the World Chess Championships?

So how important is it to know your endgames (and are draws really so dull)?

If one thing has come out of the contest so far it’s that the Russian challenger Sergey Karjakin is tough to beat, even for a world champion.

Despite being under pressure in several games, he has managed to scrape by in some worse endgames, reinforcing what most amateur players already know: we need to practice our endgames more if we really want to improve.

On the other hand, even Carlsen himself has admitted to not playing his best, which, for the world champion, is something close to unstoppable. Notorious for ‘warming up’ throughout a tournament, it’s still possible we’ll see the infamous Carlsen steamroll in action, but so far Karjakin’s knowledge of the game has proved too much.

Karjakin pleased with his win. Photo by Vladimir Barsky

So what can amateurs like us learn from watching such elite level players compete? In particular, intermediate level players should note the importance of making a draw in a slightly worse position. Getting that half point rather than letting your opponent win in a better position can be a big ask, but the score board will thank you for your efforts.

There’s no better way to improve your general play than to study endgames. Winning with two bishops against a knight and bishop is one of the most important to study, as it happens frequently, and knowing what positions favour the bishops can make the difference between a winning and drawn endgame.

Rook and minor piece endgames are also common, though tricky, and should be studied after rook and pawn endgames (which in themselves are pretty tricky).

There are not many End game books available if you want to study more, but Thinkers Publishing has ‘The Correct Exchange in the Endgame’ and Evolution Chess provides ‘The Modern Endgame Manual’ and “Most interesting draws 2012-2015’, which are all available in our store.

Of course there’s nothing better for improving your game than having a professional chess coach tailor a study plan to your specific strengths and weaknesses.

What do draws mean for the World Chess Championship?

Up to round seven there were only draws and this unexpectedly tied score comes with significant mistakes being made by both players, as well as staunch defending by the challenger Sergey Karjakin.

Uncharacteristically, champion Magnus Carlsen has been unable to push for a win in the several advantageous positions he has held, instead being rebuffed by Karjakin’s typically stalwart play.

Game one saw the champ opening with the never-before-seen in a championship game Trompowsky attack (a conceded reference to the U.S. president-elect). Karjakin was able to hold a slightly worse position, an auspicious foreshadowing of the games to come.

Game two was a dry Ruy Lopez, ending with both players unable to make progress with two knights and a rook against an equal number of pawns on the same side of the board.

Game three, however, saw the champ once again pressing in the famously equal Berlin opening, leading Karjakin to make a slight error under pressure, probably exhausted at the 70^th move in the game. Luckily his Norwegian opponent missed his chance to win and the players agreed to a draw eight moves later.

Magnus Carlsen playing against Australian David Smerdon at the 42nd Olympiad

Game four saw an unusual decision by the Russian player in giving up the two bishops, leading into an endgame with potential weaknesses on both sides of the board.

In the position below, Carlsen’s bishops look menacing, threatening to dash across the board at any sign of weakness. Carlsen, however, chose to close the kingside with 45 …f4, a move which he admitted later was a mistake.

Looking for further weaknesses was a better option, with a move like Be6 increasing the pressure while leaving open the possibility to attack on both sides of the board.

The tough endgames continued in game five, this time with Karjakin coming out of the opening with chances to win. In the position below he played the cool move 42 …d4, allowing Carlsen to take his pawn in order to free up a better square for his bishop and gain a strategic advantage.

His upper hand was short-lived, however, when a couple of moves later the game again became equal with Karjakin allowing Carlsen to take control of the h-file with his rook.

Despite being ultimately unable to convert his advantage to a win, the game was nevertheless a good sign for the challenger, and left open the possibility that things might just turn in his favour.

No doubt exhausted, the players went into a rest day early with a ‘quick game’ in round six, ending in a draw after ‘only’ 95 minutes of play.

New watching format hit and miss with subscribers

Meanwhile, chess fans who have subscribed to organiser Agon‘s new pay-per-view platform have been enjoying the first ever 3D chess-viewing experience. Reviews, however, have been tainted by some temporary losses of service.

Some of the Adelaide Hills Chesslife students enjoyed an early morning analysis of game one, thanks to head coach David Koetsier, who provided a running commentary and breakfast at this home.

Stay tuned for further updates on the 2016 World Chess Championship.

Youngest Ever Chess Champion Contenders to Face Off in November for $1,250,000

November 4, 2016Articles, BlogCarlsen, Chess, Karajakin, World ChessDavid

World champion Magnus Carlsen has undisputedly been the face of a new generation of chess players in the three years he has held the title. At just 13.5 years old, he was the third youngest player ever to achieve the elite rank of grandmaster. But this year, his competition may out-prodigy the seemingly unstoppable Norwegian.

Magnus crowned World Champion in 2013 with FIDE president Iljoemzjinov

His challenger for the coveted title, not to mention the first prize pool of $750,000, is renowned for his creative defence and strong preparation. Sergey Karjakin, the Russian former-prodigy, is the youngest chess player ever to become a grandmaster, doing so at only 12 years old.

There’s no doubt we’re about to witness a face-off of two of the youngest and brightest chess players competing in chess today. This year the two young players with a combined age of only 51 years old are the youngest contenders to compete for the title.

This is also the first time we are seeing two players of the so-called “computer generation” face off, due to the failure of former world champion 46-year-old Indian player Viswanathan Anand to qualify for what would have been his sixth time competing for the title.

According to Worldchess.com, the competitors this year “represent a generational shift in chess”, with both players growing up with computers that have long since outstripped human capacity for the game.

At this point it looks like the age of the older generation is over, with a host of younger players, including Chinese prodigy 17 year old Wei Yi and 21 year old Anish Giri of the Netherlands currently preparing to take the fight to the top.

Chess fans around the world will have the opportunity to buy ringside seats to the New York event, with organizer Agon providing a 360 degree viewing option thanks to virtual reality technology. It’s just another one of many ways chess is changing, with the pay-per-view option bringing chess into a more professional light.

The website is super interactive and provides some great stats about not only the current top two players, but a full list with the top 100 players.

For more details head to: https://worldchess.com/nyc2016/

Keep an eye on the Chesslife blog for further updates. The championship begins November 11.

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