# ANYONE FOR A GAME OF CHESS THEN ?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 15, 2001, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-chess-then/87564 "2001-10-15T20:53:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ObiWan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e47774/32.png) [@ObiWan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ObiWan)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-chess-then/87564/21 "2001-10-16T12:30:54Z")
**Mystery Internet Chess Player Crushes Grand Master (or Fischer’s Back?)** For all you chess fans out there in Doperland, I hope you like this. It certainly made me chuckle 🙂 [BBC News: Chess Legend ‘Plays The Web’](http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1533000/1533946.stm) I particularly like… > [@](#): > > [British Grand Master] Short said his adversary’s style of play was intriguing. > > “My unseen opponent began with some highly irregular, if not totally absurd, opening moves - shifting all his pawns forward by one square. These were moves that no Grandmaster would ever play.” > > Short said he immediately suspected a hoax, but became aware there was method in the apparent madness. > > “From this deliberately unpromising position emerged moves of extraordinary power,” he said. “In this first game I was totally crushed.” Short went on to lose the first of their four confrontations 8-0. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-chess-then/87564/22 "2001-10-16T13:33:02Z")
Oh, wow! What a terrific story! […musing over many fond memories…] ---
**Author:** ![ObiWan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e47774/32.png) [@ObiWan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ObiWan)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-chess-then/87564/23 "2001-10-16T16:54:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > Oh, wow! What a terrific story! I thought so too. The original article Nigel Short published appeared in the (London) Daily Telegraph (Review section) on Sunday, September 9, 2001 but unfortunately does appear on their web site. However, a copy of it can be found [here](http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&safe=off&frame=right&th=4478c8bb4964575c&seekm=9ng89d%24i0i%241%40plutonium.btinternet.com#link1) on USENET (in case anyone is interested). In the article Short makes mention of the mystery player’s opening moves: > [@](#): > > 1…f6 followed by 2…Kf7 and 3…Ke6, exposing his own king to immediate assault - was one of his bizarre and unprecedented gambits. It was as if he was deliberately trying to handicap himself. However, I was beaten again. Wow! But my favourite bit has to be: > [@](#): > > Often when I (Short) ran short of time he added seconds to my clock so that he could beat me on the position instead of on time. Of all my many hundreds of ICC opponents - including some of the world’s leading Grandmasters - no one had ever done that before or since. Double wow! (And as Nigel himself points out, he’s no lightweight when it comes to blitz chess, having drawn 6-6 the last time he faced Garry Kasparov!) > [@](#): > > It would be wonderful to publish one of my games against Fischer. To me they are what an undiscovered Mozart symphony would be to a music lover. > > Unfortunately, I have no record of any of them and, even if I did, it would be a breach of etiquette to publish them. Such a pity, I would have loved to have seen it! ---
**Author:** ![moodtobestewed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@moodtobestewed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moodtobestewed)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-chess-then/87564/24 "2001-10-16T18:15:32Z")
I think ya’ll are going about this the wrong way - posting moves up here on the message board and all. What I’d suggest is selecting two team captains (then selecting teams of course) who could set up IDs at [http://www.chessworld.net](http://www.chessworld.net) (or another server, but chessworld is my current fav). The teams then could nominate moves amongst themselves and the team captains would actually carry it through on a real (well, virtual)chessboard. That way the SDMB could be reserved for general name calling and other witicisms at the other team’s expense. 🙂 Just a thought. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-chess-then/87564/25 "2001-10-16T18:22:36Z")
aaaaand Rule 3 is… ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-chess-then/87564/26 "2001-10-16T21:28:38Z")
If you want more on the Fischer Internet story try: [http://www.xs4all.nl/~timkr/chess2/diary.htm](http://www.xs4all.nl/~timkr/chess2/diary.htm) Tim Krabbe is a knowledgeable Dutch chess fan. The site also contains a violently unpleasant interview, also supposedly with Fischer. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-chess-then/87564/27 "2001-10-16T21:37:54Z")
[…reeling… …stumbling… …fainting…] ---
**Author:** ![Bluepony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Bluepony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluepony)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-chess-then/87564/28 "2001-10-16T21:44:34Z")
Is anyone still playing? I have Siam, Irkutsk, and Siberia and I get 12 armies, plus they all match so I get to put them next to the White Queen and wipe out your two rooks, a knight, and three pawns. Plus I get 112 points for Triple Word Score, and using all my soldiers. ---
**Author:** ![Payne\_N.Diaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Payne\_N.Diaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Payne_N.Diaz)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-chess-then/87564/29 "2001-10-16T22:06:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ethilrist \* > \*\*aaaaand Rule 3 is… \*\* 1. Hi, Opal! ---
**Author:** ![WH1TE-T1GERESS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/48db29/32.png) [@WH1TE-T1GERESS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WH1TE-T1GERESS)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-chess-then/87564/30 "2001-10-17T08:19:58Z")
Have I won yet ??? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-chess-then/87564/31 "2001-10-18T00:36:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ethilrist \* > \*\*aaaaand Rule 3 is… \*\* NO POOFTERS!! ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-chess-then/87564/32 "2001-10-18T12:35:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bluepony \* > Is anyone still playing? I have Siam, Irkutsk, and Siberia and I get 12 armies, plus they all match so I get to put them next to the White Queen and wipe out your two rooks, a knight, and three pawns. > > Plus I get 112 points for Triple Word Score, and using all my soldiers. Ha! I can beat that. As Italy, I’ve just stolen a march on France, getting fleets in MAO and the Western Med, and convoying an army into Brest. Plus I’ve got a 6-7-7-8-8 hand for 15:2-4-6-8 and a quadruple run of three, followed by NxP dbl ch. 😉 And thanks, Lib. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bluepony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Bluepony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluepony)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-chess-then/87564/33 "2001-10-18T14:07:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RTFirefly \* > > As Italy, I’ve just stolen a march on France, getting fleets in MAO and the Western Med, and convoying an army into Brest. Plus I’ve got a 6-7-7-8-8 hand for 15:2-4-6-8 and a quadruple run of three, followed by NxP dbl ch. 😉 Quite an interesting move, **Firefly**. Very reminiscent of Kasparov’s opening gambits in the World Championships in Prague, a few years ago. OK, PxP, _en passant_ (I’ve always wanted to say that), lands on Ladder Square and goes all the way to 8th rank and gets promoted to Red Power Ranger. Crown me please, and that will cost you a _double lime jello shot_. With my control of half the board, at this juncture, due to efficient placement of my King’s Bishop, aircraft carrier, and little metal dog, I will place my hotels on e8, a2, and b3, plus Boardwalk and Park Place. You owe me $674,000 and one rook. And you are in check. ---
**Author:** ![Slip\_Mahoney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Slip\_Mahoney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slip_Mahoney)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-chess-then/87564/34 "2001-10-18T14:19:25Z")
Would you guys at least make the attempt to be serious here? Thank you. Okay. You need Jacks or better to open. High spade takes half the pot. Deuces, fives and nines are wild, a Queen gets you an extra card and low heart has to match the pot. Dealer has to play blind. Hey, who’s shy? ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-chess-then/87564/35 "2001-10-18T14:41:14Z")
You could also set up boards here: [http://fff.fathom.org/cgi-bin/chess.cgi](http://fff.fathom.org/cgi-bin/chess.cgi) anyone can set one up. Go nuts 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-chess-then/87564/36 "2001-10-18T16:28:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bluepony \* > OK, PxP, _en passant_ (I’ve always wanted to say that), lands on Ladder Square and goes all the way to 8th rank and gets promoted to Red Power Ranger. Crown me please, and that will cost you a _double lime jello shot_. > > With my control of half the board, at this juncture, due to efficient placement of my King’s Bishop, aircraft carrier, and little metal dog, I will place my hotels on e8, a2, and b3, plus Boardwalk and Park Place. > > You owe me $674,000 and one rook. Damn, I’m bankr…er, I resign. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-chess-then/87564/37 "2001-10-18T16:42:23Z")
I’ll play. my e-mail is [cs302b@yahoo.com](mailto:cs302b@yahoo.com) your move. Use the move # (as in “move#15” for example) as your subject for each move. I am looking forward to playing you. -Clay ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-chess-then/87564/38 "2001-10-18T17:06:53Z")
clayton\_e, Um, you were offered an online board just two posts above. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-chess-then/87564.md?page=1)