White to move and win
No using Fritz to cheat please! Post your solution on the tagboard and we'll see if you're right! Finally some interaction with my readers! =)
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Just a Little Something
As usual, my poor blog has been relegated to the fate of being ignored for about a month before gaining my precious attention again. This time, however, I have a pretty good excuse- Studying for the Prelims, which importance cannot be stressed enough. Well, I'm bored and tired so here's a little something for those who still bother to visit my humbly blog.
White to move and win
No using Fritz to cheat please! Post your solution on the tagboard and we'll see if you're right! Finally some interaction with my readers! =)
White to move and win
No using Fritz to cheat please! Post your solution on the tagboard and we'll see if you're right! Finally some interaction with my readers! =)
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Harry Potter- Brilliancy or Fallacy?
The book we've all been waiting for finally came out on saturday. Yes, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", the ultimate finish for the magical (literally and metaphorically) and brilliant book series; and the very same that millions of people queue up outside bookshops at 7am in the morning to get a first peek at.
Most amusingly, the RJC bookshop proceeded to put into place a scheme for collection that varied from any competent bookstore. The "lucky" students who had ordered before April could collect their books from the universal release time of 7am, while those who ordered after April and June would be relegated to 1pm and Monday respectively. This was probably the most ridiculous thing possible as logically speaking, those who had bothered to even place an order would be some bit of a Harry Potter fan, and condemning them to sit backstage while others enthusiastically finished their books within 12 hours would be mere torture. No doubt, my pity is incurred for those who faced this sorry fate. I think they paid even more than me, who purchased the book on the day itself, despite the "GST absorption" (really funny how everyone seems to use the GST absorption as a marketing tool- doesn't seem to be working out really, but then and again the imaginary differences such as the services provided would be a much more significant factor than the meagre price difference.)
Well, the debate- Is The Book a good book? Personally, I would give credit to this most enthralling series which I have read time and again, noneless this last book obscured my attention for no less than 16 hours. However, I agree with the critics that the last book is indeed quite a letdown. I had expected no less than a thousand pages of action packed, hair-raising excitement, whereby Harry learns some of the most advanced magic possible and deals the final blow to his rival Voldemort. Sadly, this was not to be, and it was a comparatively thinner book (compared with previous books) that met my eyes at the bookshop. And within this few pages, there seemed to be huge chunks which made the reader feel uneasy, hoping to move along. For me, this would be the parts where Ron, Harry and Hermione are arguing and quarrelling after finding the 1st Horcrux. I'm sure many will concur, considering the shared sentiments among some of my other avid classmates. (Of course Mr Kok may point out that this is a biased sample, but no matter.) This parts would do much better to be replaced with more action, or mysteries, to give the readers their 50 dollars worth. Apart from this, the ending was also most asthetically unpleasing. As Chloe and Cheryl most fervently commented in class, it makes one seem as if he is reading some cliched fan fic, and this is nearly the worse degradation that one can impose onto JK Rowling. So you can probably gather how ordinary the ending was. Perhaps JK Rowling just wanted to emphasize that the peaceful perfect equilibrum had been reached.
Nevertheless, JK Rowling still has my envy for many things. Firstly, the Escape Scene with 7 Harry Potters. That was most brilliant, in my opinion. The action was top grade, and my heart was pounding fast throughout the first 60 pages? Secondly, she managed to avert the guesses of her fans. Just before the book was published, my brother bought this book giving all the arguments on what would happen in the next book, and one huge argument was that Snape would invariably show his true allegiance to the Order of the Phoenix, playing a huge role in the downfall of the Dark Lord. One appealing theory was that Snape would, at the last moment sacrifice himself, shocking both Harry and Voldemort. If Voldemort kills him, he has fallen into the same trap as before with Lily and that would mean goodbye. Apparently, JK Rowling decided to make things go her way, which people had hardly predicted. Indeed, through the whole book, Snape was depicted as an unrepentant, triumphant Death Eater reigning as Headmaster of Hogwarts, even bring his Death Eater mates in as professors. He wasn't given a chance to redeem himself, and it was only after he died when Harry, and us, realised that he was in fact good, having led Harry to the Gryffindor Sword. This is most unexpected as we would expect Snape to redeem himself, and repay the life bond to James Potter, and his love for Lily. Another character expected to redeem himself in a very useful way was Peter Pettigrew, yet all guesses were averted once again when he died swiftly. Thus is the brilliancy of the writer- showing the unexpected and surprising everyone all.
Nonetheless, I have some nagging questions which I wish to direct to the great author. Firstly, in "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", when Harry Potter was visiting the Mirror of Erised for the 3rd time, Dumbledore saw him and talked to him. Question is: How can Dumbledore see him when he's wearing Peverell's Invisibility Cloak, which is stated in Book Seven to be one of the 3 Hallows, which are most invulnerable? This assumption that Harry was wearing it can be supported too, as Dumbledore himself said: "Funny seeing how blind being invisible can make you" or something along those lines. This said, is something flawed? Secondly, as stated in the last book, when Dumbledore died, all the members of the order of the phoenix became secret keepers. As such, why did Voldemort not order Snape to bring the Death Eaters on a tour in Grimmauld's Place instead of stationing people outside? After all, Snape is now at liberty to divulge information, isn't he? Voldemort can hardly be so ignorant as to take the long, hard way out. Thirdly, also mentioned in the ultimate book, traces of underage magic are also linked to the house that it is performed in, i.e. if magic was performed in The Burrow, it would not be detected. Using the same logic, Harry was blamed for Dobby's magic in his uncle's house. However, why then, did the Ministry of Magic not get notice of magic done when the Order of the Phoenix were evacuating Harry out of his house in Book 5- Order of the Phoenix? Or had Dumbledore already informed the Ministry of his men removing Harry to safety?
Well, thats all I have to say on Harry Potter. It has really been a most interesting read, probably even shining greater than the legendary Shakespeare plays. Perhaps it would be studied for Literature in the future. Lucky students!
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Exams are Over!
Exams are over!
Joy to the world,
It is over.
Let us be glad and smile!
Its going to last a few weeks,
Until our prelims come...
Oh have fun when you can,
Oh have fun when you can,
Oh have fun, oh have fun, when you now can!
(to be sung to the tune of original Joy to the World)
What else is there to say? I'm happy. Jubilant. Joyous. It was a holiday of misery. Maybe misery would be just a tinge too harsh, but yes, it was indubitably an unpleasant one for me and some others. The "holidays" were merely a deceitful camouflage for the words most unforgettably etched in any student in Singapore from the age of 8 (primary two)- "Mug, Mug, Mug". Indeed, the education system in SG seems to be going way overboard. Little kids who would once been enjoying their blissful childhood are now being dragged to the chain gang of studies. Primary 6 stuff have now advanced to Primary 3, and secondary school curriculum is being incoporated into Primary 6 work. How is this justified? Well, studies is important and does have its merit, but to this extent? It seems most untolerable and unsettling. I say, give the kids time to mature. Books and books and more books is not going to work. There's more to life then just burying one's head in a book which will, according to popular belief, lead to a good job and a happy family in the future. There are other things that will lead to a person "making or breaking" in the society, thinks like emotional intelligence, learning how to socialise, and the like. These are crucial aspects too that are often neglected in the pursuit of pure book knowledge. Sure does explain why some companies would rather accept foreign students- because even if they have a lesser degree, they are able to cooperate better and work as a team!
I've deviated, i realise. Often do get carried away when thinking about issues close to heart. Well, back to the holidays. It was a study break that earned itself the title of "being worse than school term" (Lim Min, 2007). According to the genius forementioned, going back for lessons everyday at weird hours is much more agonising then having a routine school life. This I agree with wholeheartedly. Though one is given the liberty of waking up at 8am or at 12pm, it is such a weight to know that the exams are imminent. Years ago, I had several sleepless nights worrying about how much I had left to cover for my exams. This time, i rested more peacefully (a most welcomed variance), though now I do not know if it was a good thing.
The exams were, to say the least, horrible. I went in rather prepared and confident for Economics, having mastered to some level the skills of case study. Nevertheless, I fell prey to my largest enemy yet again- Time trouble. Somehow it always crosses my path, perhaps it is pre-destined. I planned before my paper how much time to spend on each question- 1min 40 for every mark. Nonetheless, I overspent on the first two questions, being engrossed in spilling my knowledge on oligopolies. And as the story usually goes, I'm left with a few minutes for the last important question in the case study. It was really a disaster. I answered it without reference to the passage, assuming it to be a knowledged based question, which after the paper, was found to be completely mistaken. Chemistry followed, with even worse results. I got hit hard by the Organic Chem question, and all my confidence soon left me. It was as if my balloon-like ego had been deflated. Blanking out, I forgot that HCOOH was an acid too, and this grave mistake coupled with my incompetent knowledge of "brick red precipitate formed by HCOOH with Fehling's Solution" lost me the huge chunk. Not a bit better was Periodicity, where I blundered like a patzer. Then came Maths. The first few questions seemed hard, and I was much relieved when i flipped to the third page of probability questions. "I'm going to pass!", I thought. But, fate was just bent on having the last laugh. I omitted the last question due to pure carelessness, never even seeing it. To think I was pondering why there seemed so much time left! Sigh, ain't I to be pitied?
Well at least it is over. I have put my worries on one side for the time being. Once school resumes on tuesday, I will be a changed person. I will be as serious as can be. The A Levels Examination is not to be trifled with. I will study hard and overcome all barriers. My plans of acheiving 4 As together with Xh must not fail. This said, I can still rest now! for 2 more days! =)
About Chess, it does seem quite weird not to be planning activities for Chess Club like I have gotten used to doing. Indeed, I seem to be playing much less than before after taking up the role of Chairman in RI Chess Club, and consequently RJ. Most of my time I devoted to new initiatives, even having planned some lessons outlines for the club (sadly most of the time when i gave out homework I never saw it returned)! As such, I really feel a sense of reminiscence now that I'm distanced from the club. Its as though one meaning of life seems to have dwindled. Guess this feelings comes with attachment.
I miss the times spent giving simuls or playing blitz games during training. I remember complaining last year about the meagre attendance of 6 or 7 every week? I tried to do something, something to make everyone more enthusiastic and attain the maximum capacity of 10 every week, but to no avail. You might think, surely you don't miss THOSE times? Well, you're right. Haha, bet you thought I was going to say I do. However, even with the horrible attendance, I still miss some things. For example, last year after everyone disappeared terribly fast before 5 or 6, Brandon, Xiu Huan and I would stay behind and play blitz all the way until 8 plus. No, it isn't that great having so little company but I must say I was happy of those times. Then it grew. Like the beanstalk in Jack and the beanstalk. Maybe not to that logarithamic extent, but some. The intake this year came as quite a relief, as those expected to join joined, and proved my calculations of numbers the year before correct. As usual, there were the some who came, left their names, and then missed all the subsequent trainings. But that was expected. I was glad to have just the few "fervently anticipated" enthusiastic ones left. In this expected list included Brandon, Mark, Fang Jin, Kean Yung and Christian from RI, Hanyu, Samantha, Deng Ying, Shuyi and Shu Min from RGS, and Jeslin and Suzanna, the two all- time chessers who would have given me a heart attack if they had not joined. All the above were real chess enthusiasts, especially the RI people, as even though they might not be in the upper echleons of the chess world, they seldom missed a training and enjoyed themselves thoroughly simply playing friendly games in their free time. I must say, they take after my own heart. Even in RI Chess Club, I was comforted by their presence as in my sec 4 year, there wasn't the barrage of new FMs (Dominic Lo and Daryl Wong etc). In my reign as King of the RI chess club, there was merely from sec 3 the few people named above, from sec 2 weixing and from sec 1 Jarred Neubronner, Shawn Sim and Bryan Tsui. Situation doesn't seem much different from RJ, does it? Then and again, there are a lot of people who turn up from time to time, but that doesn't often prove a consolation, as they would most likely just be sitting ducks, if I may use the term. So, I enjoyed their company. Looking back, I felt no less attached to RI Chess Club too, going back on a weekly basis in my J1 years to join them for training before turning up for RJ's own training with the same trainer- Ashot Nadanian.
Okay, back to the present. Kean Yung left us to join Bridge, which many have termed as being "poached". I believed it to be quite a pity, and never stopped messaging Kean Yung our training times and venues until I relinguished my post recently to the new, bright and cheerful new Exco. Deng Ying too pursuited her highly priority of councillor, and I sincerely wish her all the best. With this losses came some additions too. Gabriel Leow, Wai Chuan as well as Zhou Chen were some new faces which I got accustomed to seeing. It was most pleasing to get to interact with them and know them! But as the saying goes, you hurt more when you lose the things you love. Well, it's not to say that I can't go back and have fun with the gang, but its different now! Just feel this weirdness coming along. But i promise, I'll join you all for trainings still! And I wish you all the best!
Also, I realised something about myself- Its difficult for me to trust people to doing things that I take really seriously. Through the last year, even when Michelle could have done something herself, I wanted a last look. I don't fully comprehend why this sense of insecurity emerges, but it does. I wouldn't feel at ease until I had confirmed that it was all right. Same thing this year, with the CIP. I had allocated the jobs- RI to do tactics, Waichuan and Mark to do the Beginners Portion, and Jeslin and myself to do the Intermediate Portion (which turned out more like stuff our own club can use!!!). But that was not the end of it. I ended up taking dozens of hours to edit the other parts until they were relatively flawless. This isn't meant to be a lament, or a complain of shabby work, but its just a discovery about myself. On hindsight, even contacting members for training, I did personally! Guess I got to change this, and show more confidence in others. That's what group work is for, isn't it?
Well, back to the point, I felt surprisingly at ease this year when I passed on the baton to Jeslin, Hanyu and Mark, with Suz playing a big role too. At first there were some tensions, some unhapiness over why certain people were instead of others, and I got really worried. On the personal emotional side, I understood the disappointment felt, especially Shuyi who in my opinion, had been really helpful in the course of the year. (Gave her a call to explain things, and hope they did. Glad to see she's as cheerful now as before and hope that she'll be given opportunities to prove her worth too!) On the more professional side, I was worried about whether it would work, considering the discontent of the parties.
Well, as of now, 10.04pm of 30 June 2007, I must say i am most pleased with the way things are coming along! I can't help but want to congratulate the new Exco, especially Jeslin, for making Chess Club more enthusiastic than I have ever seen it! Holiday trainings I have been too have never had half of full attendance before! And meeting up of the exco in their own free time right after exams is most commendable! Keep up the good word folks! And keep me updated with your activities so I can join you all in the fun! I'm really happy to see all this progress and can finally put down this burden! Make sure you all carry on well next year! Oh and I am hereby tendering my services as Chess Coach at the meagre fee of dinner! Just joking, haha, but yes to the person who's so eager to read my blog I have something practical that can be useful in tournament play that I wouldn't mind sharing with the club! It's not directly a lecture requiring a demo board, but it definitely covers some practical aspects that can come in handy!
There goes. He who has not blogged for ages has created an anomaly. The Blog is not over. No death anniversary. Signing off.
Joy to the world,
It is over.
Let us be glad and smile!
Its going to last a few weeks,
Until our prelims come...
Oh have fun when you can,
Oh have fun when you can,
Oh have fun, oh have fun, when you now can!
(to be sung to the tune of original Joy to the World)
What else is there to say? I'm happy. Jubilant. Joyous. It was a holiday of misery. Maybe misery would be just a tinge too harsh, but yes, it was indubitably an unpleasant one for me and some others. The "holidays" were merely a deceitful camouflage for the words most unforgettably etched in any student in Singapore from the age of 8 (primary two)- "Mug, Mug, Mug". Indeed, the education system in SG seems to be going way overboard. Little kids who would once been enjoying their blissful childhood are now being dragged to the chain gang of studies. Primary 6 stuff have now advanced to Primary 3, and secondary school curriculum is being incoporated into Primary 6 work. How is this justified? Well, studies is important and does have its merit, but to this extent? It seems most untolerable and unsettling. I say, give the kids time to mature. Books and books and more books is not going to work. There's more to life then just burying one's head in a book which will, according to popular belief, lead to a good job and a happy family in the future. There are other things that will lead to a person "making or breaking" in the society, thinks like emotional intelligence, learning how to socialise, and the like. These are crucial aspects too that are often neglected in the pursuit of pure book knowledge. Sure does explain why some companies would rather accept foreign students- because even if they have a lesser degree, they are able to cooperate better and work as a team!
I've deviated, i realise. Often do get carried away when thinking about issues close to heart. Well, back to the holidays. It was a study break that earned itself the title of "being worse than school term" (Lim Min, 2007). According to the genius forementioned, going back for lessons everyday at weird hours is much more agonising then having a routine school life. This I agree with wholeheartedly. Though one is given the liberty of waking up at 8am or at 12pm, it is such a weight to know that the exams are imminent. Years ago, I had several sleepless nights worrying about how much I had left to cover for my exams. This time, i rested more peacefully (a most welcomed variance), though now I do not know if it was a good thing.
The exams were, to say the least, horrible. I went in rather prepared and confident for Economics, having mastered to some level the skills of case study. Nevertheless, I fell prey to my largest enemy yet again- Time trouble. Somehow it always crosses my path, perhaps it is pre-destined. I planned before my paper how much time to spend on each question- 1min 40 for every mark. Nonetheless, I overspent on the first two questions, being engrossed in spilling my knowledge on oligopolies. And as the story usually goes, I'm left with a few minutes for the last important question in the case study. It was really a disaster. I answered it without reference to the passage, assuming it to be a knowledged based question, which after the paper, was found to be completely mistaken. Chemistry followed, with even worse results. I got hit hard by the Organic Chem question, and all my confidence soon left me. It was as if my balloon-like ego had been deflated. Blanking out, I forgot that HCOOH was an acid too, and this grave mistake coupled with my incompetent knowledge of "brick red precipitate formed by HCOOH with Fehling's Solution" lost me the huge chunk. Not a bit better was Periodicity, where I blundered like a patzer. Then came Maths. The first few questions seemed hard, and I was much relieved when i flipped to the third page of probability questions. "I'm going to pass!", I thought. But, fate was just bent on having the last laugh. I omitted the last question due to pure carelessness, never even seeing it. To think I was pondering why there seemed so much time left! Sigh, ain't I to be pitied?
Well at least it is over. I have put my worries on one side for the time being. Once school resumes on tuesday, I will be a changed person. I will be as serious as can be. The A Levels Examination is not to be trifled with. I will study hard and overcome all barriers. My plans of acheiving 4 As together with Xh must not fail. This said, I can still rest now! for 2 more days! =)
About Chess, it does seem quite weird not to be planning activities for Chess Club like I have gotten used to doing. Indeed, I seem to be playing much less than before after taking up the role of Chairman in RI Chess Club, and consequently RJ. Most of my time I devoted to new initiatives, even having planned some lessons outlines for the club (sadly most of the time when i gave out homework I never saw it returned)! As such, I really feel a sense of reminiscence now that I'm distanced from the club. Its as though one meaning of life seems to have dwindled. Guess this feelings comes with attachment.
I miss the times spent giving simuls or playing blitz games during training. I remember complaining last year about the meagre attendance of 6 or 7 every week? I tried to do something, something to make everyone more enthusiastic and attain the maximum capacity of 10 every week, but to no avail. You might think, surely you don't miss THOSE times? Well, you're right. Haha, bet you thought I was going to say I do. However, even with the horrible attendance, I still miss some things. For example, last year after everyone disappeared terribly fast before 5 or 6, Brandon, Xiu Huan and I would stay behind and play blitz all the way until 8 plus. No, it isn't that great having so little company but I must say I was happy of those times. Then it grew. Like the beanstalk in Jack and the beanstalk. Maybe not to that logarithamic extent, but some. The intake this year came as quite a relief, as those expected to join joined, and proved my calculations of numbers the year before correct. As usual, there were the some who came, left their names, and then missed all the subsequent trainings. But that was expected. I was glad to have just the few "fervently anticipated" enthusiastic ones left. In this expected list included Brandon, Mark, Fang Jin, Kean Yung and Christian from RI, Hanyu, Samantha, Deng Ying, Shuyi and Shu Min from RGS, and Jeslin and Suzanna, the two all- time chessers who would have given me a heart attack if they had not joined. All the above were real chess enthusiasts, especially the RI people, as even though they might not be in the upper echleons of the chess world, they seldom missed a training and enjoyed themselves thoroughly simply playing friendly games in their free time. I must say, they take after my own heart. Even in RI Chess Club, I was comforted by their presence as in my sec 4 year, there wasn't the barrage of new FMs (Dominic Lo and Daryl Wong etc). In my reign as King of the RI chess club, there was merely from sec 3 the few people named above, from sec 2 weixing and from sec 1 Jarred Neubronner, Shawn Sim and Bryan Tsui. Situation doesn't seem much different from RJ, does it? Then and again, there are a lot of people who turn up from time to time, but that doesn't often prove a consolation, as they would most likely just be sitting ducks, if I may use the term. So, I enjoyed their company. Looking back, I felt no less attached to RI Chess Club too, going back on a weekly basis in my J1 years to join them for training before turning up for RJ's own training with the same trainer- Ashot Nadanian.
Okay, back to the present. Kean Yung left us to join Bridge, which many have termed as being "poached". I believed it to be quite a pity, and never stopped messaging Kean Yung our training times and venues until I relinguished my post recently to the new, bright and cheerful new Exco. Deng Ying too pursuited her highly priority of councillor, and I sincerely wish her all the best. With this losses came some additions too. Gabriel Leow, Wai Chuan as well as Zhou Chen were some new faces which I got accustomed to seeing. It was most pleasing to get to interact with them and know them! But as the saying goes, you hurt more when you lose the things you love. Well, it's not to say that I can't go back and have fun with the gang, but its different now! Just feel this weirdness coming along. But i promise, I'll join you all for trainings still! And I wish you all the best!
Also, I realised something about myself- Its difficult for me to trust people to doing things that I take really seriously. Through the last year, even when Michelle could have done something herself, I wanted a last look. I don't fully comprehend why this sense of insecurity emerges, but it does. I wouldn't feel at ease until I had confirmed that it was all right. Same thing this year, with the CIP. I had allocated the jobs- RI to do tactics, Waichuan and Mark to do the Beginners Portion, and Jeslin and myself to do the Intermediate Portion (which turned out more like stuff our own club can use!!!). But that was not the end of it. I ended up taking dozens of hours to edit the other parts until they were relatively flawless. This isn't meant to be a lament, or a complain of shabby work, but its just a discovery about myself. On hindsight, even contacting members for training, I did personally! Guess I got to change this, and show more confidence in others. That's what group work is for, isn't it?
Well, back to the point, I felt surprisingly at ease this year when I passed on the baton to Jeslin, Hanyu and Mark, with Suz playing a big role too. At first there were some tensions, some unhapiness over why certain people were instead of others, and I got really worried. On the personal emotional side, I understood the disappointment felt, especially Shuyi who in my opinion, had been really helpful in the course of the year. (Gave her a call to explain things, and hope they did. Glad to see she's as cheerful now as before and hope that she'll be given opportunities to prove her worth too!) On the more professional side, I was worried about whether it would work, considering the discontent of the parties.
Well, as of now, 10.04pm of 30 June 2007, I must say i am most pleased with the way things are coming along! I can't help but want to congratulate the new Exco, especially Jeslin, for making Chess Club more enthusiastic than I have ever seen it! Holiday trainings I have been too have never had half of full attendance before! And meeting up of the exco in their own free time right after exams is most commendable! Keep up the good word folks! And keep me updated with your activities so I can join you all in the fun! I'm really happy to see all this progress and can finally put down this burden! Make sure you all carry on well next year! Oh and I am hereby tendering my services as Chess Coach at the meagre fee of dinner! Just joking, haha, but yes to the person who's so eager to read my blog I have something practical that can be useful in tournament play that I wouldn't mind sharing with the club! It's not directly a lecture requiring a demo board, but it definitely covers some practical aspects that can come in handy!
There goes. He who has not blogged for ages has created an anomaly. The Blog is not over. No death anniversary. Signing off.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Something simple!?
After a long break from blogging, I have returned. The past week was as hectic as hectic could be, which coupled with my illness (mental or physical i decline to say) left me staggering, unfit for Blog Duty. But of present, my medical leave has thus expired and I will not attempt to go AWOL (absence without leave).
An apology to those who might be reminded about their unpleasant army experiences, but hey, I just had a bad one today. I went with no small degree of anxiety to the NS enlistment centre for my medical checkup, which I had so coincidentally placed on my longest schoolday. I really wasn't that enthusiastic about getting my arm poked by amateur medics who might be in foul moods, as I had gathered from the few sources who had already been "defiled". A further concern was the sighting of that precious red liquid fondly known as blood, as I have unfortunately inherited from my mother the fear of blood, in addition to many other things such as roller coasters and heights.
Well, as it went, I didn't faint! But I was much agonised when the doctor (thank goodness it wasn't some young immature punk) drew 3-4 test tubes of blood from me. Apparently, my mum has got this blood condition and so the doctor was taking an extra 3 tubes of blood as compared to the rest to test for iron deficiency. So, there goes, 2 pokes, and a considerable amount of blood lost. Guess I just have to eat more to make up for eat, right jeslin? So you should treat me to Canadian Pizza!
Anyway, I have decided to demote myself down to a lower Pes in terms of blog entry. Instead of a complicated puzzle like the previous, I shall give something much simpler and easier to solve. Nevertheless, it is really instructive to have such knowledge of pawn/ queen endings and hopefully this would be useful to my readers! Besides, it really isn't that simple, having stumped the entire RI and RJ chess club when Ashot showed it from my cool endgame book. There goes.
An apology to those who might be reminded about their unpleasant army experiences, but hey, I just had a bad one today. I went with no small degree of anxiety to the NS enlistment centre for my medical checkup, which I had so coincidentally placed on my longest schoolday. I really wasn't that enthusiastic about getting my arm poked by amateur medics who might be in foul moods, as I had gathered from the few sources who had already been "defiled". A further concern was the sighting of that precious red liquid fondly known as blood, as I have unfortunately inherited from my mother the fear of blood, in addition to many other things such as roller coasters and heights.
Well, as it went, I didn't faint! But I was much agonised when the doctor (thank goodness it wasn't some young immature punk) drew 3-4 test tubes of blood from me. Apparently, my mum has got this blood condition and so the doctor was taking an extra 3 tubes of blood as compared to the rest to test for iron deficiency. So, there goes, 2 pokes, and a considerable amount of blood lost. Guess I just have to eat more to make up for eat, right jeslin? So you should treat me to Canadian Pizza!
Anyway, I have decided to demote myself down to a lower Pes in terms of blog entry. Instead of a complicated puzzle like the previous, I shall give something much simpler and easier to solve. Nevertheless, it is really instructive to have such knowledge of pawn/ queen endings and hopefully this would be useful to my readers! Besides, it really isn't that simple, having stumped the entire RI and RJ chess club when Ashot showed it from my cool endgame book. There goes.
White to move and Draw!
Hah this one fritz can solve immediately, so lets give you 5 min to ponder it out! (think carefully: When is the opportune moment to capture that queen!)
Okay don't read on or it wouldn't be fun anymore. Only check your answers! Especially for RJ Chess Club people, just doing a few of these each week can help quite a bit!
Okays, if you're thinking 1. Rxe4 you're quite far off the mark. Any logical play from black will warrant him a win after that, such as 1. ... Kxe4 2. Kf2 Kd3 3. Ke1 Kc2 0-1. As such, the only logical possibility for white here would be to play Kf2. Now if black plays the blunder Qxe3, the game is simply drawn, with the black king unable to support his potential second wife (after the pawn promotes and takes the place as queen).
Therefore, the moves are more or less cut out for us. 1. Kf2 b4 2. Ke2 (do note that if here 2. Rxe4 Kxe4 3. Ke2 black can simply play 3. ... b3 gaining himself back the opposition and the game) 2. ... b3 This is now the crucial position of the puzzle. How does white draw??? Rxe4 is still impossible after Kxe4 Kd2 Kd4, so what is the magical move? Nope, certainly not Kd2, after which Qxe3 Kxe3 b2 just wins. 3. Kd1!! Yes, it might seem easy here but it wasn't so from the inital position, was it? Well, after Kd1 Qxe3 is stalemate and if any other move, white simply takes the queen and collects the lost pawn. (if you were in a game in playchess.com with the position, I would suggest you immediately premove Rxe4!)
I'll talk about something more interest next time, I promise!
Oh and anyway, a quote which i find quite amusing (its by my economics tutor)- "I hope that James Bond is the only Bond you know." when talking about bonds used to manipulate money supply.
Also would like to congratulate the New J1 Exco on a well planned CIP! The first day was a resounding success, with all the bubble tea being sold out within two blocks! Great work, people! Keep up the brilliant performance! =)
Hah this one fritz can solve immediately, so lets give you 5 min to ponder it out! (think carefully: When is the opportune moment to capture that queen!)
Okay don't read on or it wouldn't be fun anymore. Only check your answers! Especially for RJ Chess Club people, just doing a few of these each week can help quite a bit!
Okays, if you're thinking 1. Rxe4 you're quite far off the mark. Any logical play from black will warrant him a win after that, such as 1. ... Kxe4 2. Kf2 Kd3 3. Ke1 Kc2 0-1. As such, the only logical possibility for white here would be to play Kf2. Now if black plays the blunder Qxe3, the game is simply drawn, with the black king unable to support his potential second wife (after the pawn promotes and takes the place as queen).
Therefore, the moves are more or less cut out for us. 1. Kf2 b4 2. Ke2 (do note that if here 2. Rxe4 Kxe4 3. Ke2 black can simply play 3. ... b3 gaining himself back the opposition and the game) 2. ... b3 This is now the crucial position of the puzzle. How does white draw??? Rxe4 is still impossible after Kxe4 Kd2 Kd4, so what is the magical move? Nope, certainly not Kd2, after which Qxe3 Kxe3 b2 just wins. 3. Kd1!! Yes, it might seem easy here but it wasn't so from the inital position, was it? Well, after Kd1 Qxe3 is stalemate and if any other move, white simply takes the queen and collects the lost pawn. (if you were in a game in playchess.com with the position, I would suggest you immediately premove Rxe4!)
I'll talk about something more interest next time, I promise!
Oh and anyway, a quote which i find quite amusing (its by my economics tutor)- "I hope that James Bond is the only Bond you know." when talking about bonds used to manipulate money supply.
Also would like to congratulate the New J1 Exco on a well planned CIP! The first day was a resounding success, with all the bubble tea being sold out within two blocks! Great work, people! Keep up the brilliant performance! =)
Friday, May 4, 2007
Time flies...
Time flies really quickly. It seems only yesterday when I took over the leadership of the Chess Club, and attended the annual CCA Leaders Camp in Bintan. Yet just today I passed over the beacon of leadership down to the J1 batch. Well, not officially yet, but it sure feels that way after the new Exco is announced. There's this weird feeling lingering around. Maybe nostalgia? Well, I sincerely wish all the best to the next Exco- Jeslin, Hanyu, Mark and Suz! Hope they'll be able to bring the club to greater heights! Remember, you can always approach me if you need any help! I'll be there!
Also really want to publicly thank some people who have helped me much in the year: Michelle my vice chair, Siau Rui my sect, and Shuyi and Wai Chuan. Regrettably there was not enough posts for them and after a close fight they were finally eliminated. Nevertheless, don't be too disappointed and strive on!
Anyway, before I get carried away with emo-ness, here are some funny quotes.
"Teacher, teacher, can we have a new tournament?"- Student A at Clementi Pri
"But its almost 6 already!" - Student B (training officially ends at 6pm)
"Nevermind la, end at 6.30 can right, teacher?" - Student A
Heart warming, eh? So enthusiastic..
"I won! Scholars Mate again!" - Cute Student at Clementi Pri (who has invariably used scholars mate to bring about his opponents' downfall despite me trying to educate the rest on how to counter it)
"Ok, thats good, why dont you record your score on the board?" - Me, still engrossed in a super interesting transfer game between Jeslin and was it Tim Chan?
"But I cant!"- Student
"Huh? Why cant you?" - Me, confused.
*He reaches and it becomes evident that he's too short!*
During Chess training today, I got a little bored and decided to practise some probability on the board.
"The mean number of students present for chess training each week is known to be 9. Find the probability that at least 8 students come for training today."
Then, "let x denote the random variable representing the number of students present for chess training today. X - Po(9)"
Therefore, "P(X >= 8) = 1- P(X <= 7) = 0.677"
Then Mr Low (our teacher in charge and also a maths teacher) came in and circled my x, commenting that it should be strictly X instead. So strict, ain't he!
Also really want to publicly thank some people who have helped me much in the year: Michelle my vice chair, Siau Rui my sect, and Shuyi and Wai Chuan. Regrettably there was not enough posts for them and after a close fight they were finally eliminated. Nevertheless, don't be too disappointed and strive on!
Anyway, before I get carried away with emo-ness, here are some funny quotes.
"Teacher, teacher, can we have a new tournament?"- Student A at Clementi Pri
"But its almost 6 already!" - Student B (training officially ends at 6pm)
"Nevermind la, end at 6.30 can right, teacher?" - Student A
Heart warming, eh? So enthusiastic..
"I won! Scholars Mate again!" - Cute Student at Clementi Pri (who has invariably used scholars mate to bring about his opponents' downfall despite me trying to educate the rest on how to counter it)
"Ok, thats good, why dont you record your score on the board?" - Me, still engrossed in a super interesting transfer game between Jeslin and was it Tim Chan?
"But I cant!"- Student
"Huh? Why cant you?" - Me, confused.
*He reaches and it becomes evident that he's too short!*
During Chess training today, I got a little bored and decided to practise some probability on the board.
"The mean number of students present for chess training each week is known to be 9. Find the probability that at least 8 students come for training today."
Then, "let x denote the random variable representing the number of students present for chess training today. X - Po(9)"
Therefore, "P(X >= 8) = 1- P(X <= 7) = 0.677"
Then Mr Low (our teacher in charge and also a maths teacher) came in and circled my x, commenting that it should be strictly X instead. So strict, ain't he!
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Show me what you've got! Take this puzzle on!
As Jeslin pointed out, this post has been long overdue. I apologise for the delay, having being caught up in a vicious cycle of schoolwork and sickness. (You would indubitably know that they are correlated!) Anyway, on a side note, I borrowed a chess book from the library entitled "Solving in Style", written by the legendary John Nunn. It is also long overdue, apart from the fact that it incurs a much higher cost. Up to date, it must have cost me 5 precious dollars. Nevertheless, I somehow feel that the opportunity cost of returning it is higher. How so, I cannot hope to fathom, as the book has been gathering dust on my study table alongside the other books such as Freakonomics and Yitiantulongji, probably waiting its turn to be picked up 5 minutes before I fall asleep.
However, it must be said that the book is of substantial, extraordinary quality. John Nunn gives the reader an insight into how to solve the extremely complex 2 or 3 mover mates puzzles, which IM Ashot has been showing a marked hinge for, never failing to supply a few for training. It is really enlightening when John Nunn analyses a position and explains the subtleties, eliminating move after move. Maybe I should read more of it and compete with Brandon for the title of "best puzzle solver", which Ashot has most graciously conferred onto him after he solved puzzles that even top grandmasters are at a loss to.
Moving on to the real purpose of this post, I have a puzzle to present. It is taken from Irving Chernev's 200 Brilliant Endgames, which I have currently taken a fancy to. Just a note: do note that it is no amateurish puzzle and I suggest that you do not attempt it unless you have loads of time to spare. Nonetheless, you should look at the solution and see for yourself how powerful the king really is in the endgame! =) Well, here goes.
Chekhover, 1937
White to play and win
However, it must be said that the book is of substantial, extraordinary quality. John Nunn gives the reader an insight into how to solve the extremely complex 2 or 3 mover mates puzzles, which IM Ashot has been showing a marked hinge for, never failing to supply a few for training. It is really enlightening when John Nunn analyses a position and explains the subtleties, eliminating move after move. Maybe I should read more of it and compete with Brandon for the title of "best puzzle solver", which Ashot has most graciously conferred onto him after he solved puzzles that even top grandmasters are at a loss to.
Moving on to the real purpose of this post, I have a puzzle to present. It is taken from Irving Chernev's 200 Brilliant Endgames, which I have currently taken a fancy to. Just a note: do note that it is no amateurish puzzle and I suggest that you do not attempt it unless you have loads of time to spare. Nonetheless, you should look at the solution and see for yourself how powerful the king really is in the endgame! =) Well, here goes.
Chekhover, 1937
White to play and win
Now, this is no fiasco even though white has 15 points on the board as compared to black's 11. It is certainly no easy win for white. Let me do a quick explanation. As you can see, white's pieces are not at liberty to move. Should the queen move anywhere along the h file, Black will simply move his light square bishop and promote his f pawn the following move. Should White's queen leave the h file, the rook will be left hanging and once lost, would be decisive in Black's favour instead. The rook can only move by taking the knight or the g pawn, which obviously leads to an immediate lost. As such, only the king is free to move.
On the other hand, Black is also stuck. His f and g pawns are immobilised by the king and bishop, and any attempt to move the bishop would lead to checkmate on g2. Also, any knight move would just be giving a free piece. As such, his only movable piece is the knight on h8. (if White promotes after Black moves his knight, Black simply sacrifices his knight and follows his plan of moving the light square bishop and promoting.)
So whats the plan! A decent player would then conclude: Move the King! Since Black's knight is only limited to the f7, g6, and h8 trio of squares, just march the king all the way to that corner and capture the knight and end this one- sided battle! But is it that easy? Do remember that White's king must tread carefully. Should it venture to step on the wrong path i.e. any white square, Black will take the opportunity to "fan3 bai4 wei2 sheng4", and snatch a win out of a lost position.
Consider- 1. Kb2 Nf7 2. Kc3 Nh8 3. Kd4 Nf7 4. Kc5 Nh8
(I apologise for the bottom squares being cut off, shall try and solve the problem) Well now if White just takes the direct approach and plays Kd6, Black can stop his advance by playing the precise Ng6! and White's King and advance no further as the dark squares are controlled by the knight and the light squares are taboo. (if 5. Kd6 Nf7+? 6. Ke7 1-0)
So how does White win this, with only a king to manoevre? Or will he be held to a draw by the persistent knight? The answer:
1. Kb2 Nf7 2. Kc3 Nh8 3. Kd4 Nf7 4. Kc5 Nh8 5. Kb6 Nf7 6. Ka7 Nh8 7. Ka8!!
This magical square allows white to win a move, and subsequently the game since black's knight would no longer be in tandem to defend the dark squares when the king marches in. (This is the only white square which does not allow a check from the enemy bishop) The rest is rather easy, though black still creates some problems for white.
7. ... Nf7 8. Kb8 Nh8 9. Kc7 Nf7! (preventing Kd6 and Kd8) 10. Kb6 Nh8 11. Kc5 Ng6 12. Kd4 Nh8 13. Ke5 Nf7+ 14. Kf6 Nh8 15. Kg7 Nf7
The last trap from Black. Now, should White be too hasty and takes the knight, or by sheer unluckiness touches the knight accidentally, Black saves himself with Bc4+and f1Q.
But with accurate play as follows, White wins- 16. h8Q! Nxh8 17. Kxh8 1-0 Black will be forced to move either bishop or knight after which the game is over.
Hope you enjoyed this puzzle- The march of the King! (Fritz couldnt solve it so you must be quite good if you can!)
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Nimzowitsch's "Immortal Overprotection Game"
The first day of CIP at Clementi Primary School last Wednesday, proved, to say the least, wet and messy. A dark gloomy sky which soon broke out into furious patters (quite understated already) of raindrops gave us quite an ominous welcome. I must say our party didn't seem at the least pleased by this sudden change of events; our faces turned black to match the sky too. Ironically, just a while ago, we were lamenting the scorching hot sun which had caused columns of sweat to trickle down our overheated heads. Anyway, description of the weather aside, we got to Clementi Pri safe and sound, save some soggy shoes and drenched skirts (esp. Hanyu and Jeslin). We then got down to work, after a most reminiscent lecturing of the pri school kids by the teacher in charge Mr Wong Oon Hua.
It was indeed quite a heart-warming experience (hopefully this sentiment is shared) to teach the little kids, some of whom were really enthusiastic. However, it seems that my team and I pitched our lesson notes at too high a level. Apparently, Intchess spent 20 lessons (free money!?) teaching them how to move and a little little bit of algebraic notation. Comparatively, we had planned to teach the beginners pins and skewers and forks and the other tactics in 4 lessons, after factoring in the moving of pieces etc.! Really quite ambitious, and probably quite bad for Intchess as some of their potential customers have been snatched. Oh, and CIP tomorrow again, hopefully the turnout would be just as good and students do not decide to boycott our programme!
At this juncture, I should entreat to make my title relevant. Well, while preparing advanced level stuff for the CIP, Jeslin suggested focusing on middlegame and we proceeded to do just that. Researching for 5 hours starting from midnight, I managed to complete a draft of the lesson, which included Nimzowitsch's famous principle of "Overprotection", incoporated into a section which involved the placing of pieces.
While doing my homework on Overprotection, I found the composition below. Taking a cursory look at it and being stunned by its utter nonsensical play, I deemed it simply as a light-hearted analogy of Overprotection by the great master himself- Aron Nimzowitsch, who expounded continuously on this principle throughout his famous book "My System". However, upon further clarification from Weiming (see tagboard) I came to the realisation that it was actually a parody! Did more research instead of doing my long overdue Maths Assignment and found out that it was in fact composed by a certain Hans Kmoch (not so sure about the Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy thing, think they just used this parody). Apparently, he had just lost a game to Nimzowitsch where Nimzowitsch played the opening and middlegame in most unorthodox style, moving his king countless times but managing to garner the full point after an amazing rook sac in the ending for 4 connected passed pawns. (see http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1102423) He then created this masterpiece as a parody, making a joke out of Nimzowitsch's pet theory of Overprotection. Indeed, he uses such a condescending tone that is hardly typical of Nimzowitsch in his book. In this composition, Hans Kmoch demonstrates Nimzowitsch winning yet again with this overexaggerated use of Overprotection, even to the extent of compromising the position of his pieces and going against all other opening principles (such as castling king into safety). You'll probably find this piece "crazy", which will be no surprise as even Fritz's wrath is incurred, being unable to condone such moves and is literally screaming for a move to punish the complacent Nimzowitsch. So just sit back and relax! Enjoy! =)
P.S.: Take all the composer's notations at face value...especially since he meant it as a joke. I seriously do not believe that 2. h4 deserves a (!), although a certain Fide Trainer Olimpiu might disagree, and play it on a regular basis.
Nimzovich – Systemsson
Composition Copenhagen, 1927
1.e4 AN INGENIOUS EXAMPLE OF MY SYSTEM by Aaron Nimzowitsch - Anderssen started the sacrificial style, Morphy and Gruenfeld the pure attacking style, Steinitz the positional style, Tarrasch the scientific style, Lasker the style of styles, Capablanca the mechanical style, Alekhine a style as brilliant as sunlight. But it is a generally known fact that originality and modernism were introduced by me as my own personal inventions and enthusiastically imitated (without being fully understood) by the whole world of chess. For the ridiculously small sum of ten marks, the reader can confirm all this in my monumental work, My System, published by B. Kagan. Before my time, chess was so naive and undistinguished! One or two brutal opening moves, each one involving a vulgar, obvious threat, a common, banal sacrifice, a painfully elementary, bestially raw checkmate - such, more or less, was the course of chess games before my heyday set in. Then I appeared on the scene and the chess world paid heed. The hegemony of matter was shattered at a stroke and the era of the spiritual began. Under my creative guidance, the chessmen, hitherto nothing but highwaymen, pirates and butcher boys, became sensitive artists and subtle instruments of immeasurable profundity. But why waste words !--accompany me, dear reader to the dizzy heights of the following game. 1...e6 2.h4!
good moves! 14.Ke2!
The King overprotects e6. 20.Rhe1
20... Re8! 21.Nf3!
Oh, and one more interesting thing i found: The Biography of Systemsson, Nimzowitsch's opponent in this composition! (source: http://www.chessgames.com/)
SYSTEMSSON(born Feb-29-1900, died Apr-01-1979) Ireland (citizen of Sweden)
Zoltan Arpod Ulf Min Systemsson IV was born February 29, 1900, in Dublin. Before he learned to speak, he had moved into Sweden and thus had learned Swedish as his native language. At the age of six he had learned how to play and his talents were immediately realized. He began to win many tournaments and soon rose among the ranks of Sweden's best players. Unlike many of the world's top players, he continued to advance even through World War One. His career took a turn in 1921 after a severe case of depression as a result of his father dying in a tragic train crash, but he perservered. His career continued until his most famous game was played in 1927 against the marvellous player Aron Nimzowitsch. He lost, but he continued to play actively in Sweden until he retired in 1956. His efforts were celebrated until his death in 1979, as a result of a fatal stroke.
**There is, in fact, no real player named Systemsson. This biography is a joke and is a testament to the joke player that is Systemsson. His game against Aron Nimzowitsch in 1927 is the only game in the www.chessgames.com database and it is a fabrication devised as an April Fool's joke. We hope you laughed at it.
LOL! Hope you had fun! Oh anyway for those who got lost.. As I mentioned earlier, Nimzowitsch wrote this book called "My System". So "System_Son" could be a kind of a taunt right at his face! Not quite subtle, is it? Well, the things people do! =) Apparently my co-author is quite disgusted at this article. Maybe I shall post something less controversial next time!
It was indeed quite a heart-warming experience (hopefully this sentiment is shared) to teach the little kids, some of whom were really enthusiastic. However, it seems that my team and I pitched our lesson notes at too high a level. Apparently, Intchess spent 20 lessons (free money!?) teaching them how to move and a little little bit of algebraic notation. Comparatively, we had planned to teach the beginners pins and skewers and forks and the other tactics in 4 lessons, after factoring in the moving of pieces etc.! Really quite ambitious, and probably quite bad for Intchess as some of their potential customers have been snatched. Oh, and CIP tomorrow again, hopefully the turnout would be just as good and students do not decide to boycott our programme!
At this juncture, I should entreat to make my title relevant. Well, while preparing advanced level stuff for the CIP, Jeslin suggested focusing on middlegame and we proceeded to do just that. Researching for 5 hours starting from midnight, I managed to complete a draft of the lesson, which included Nimzowitsch's famous principle of "Overprotection", incoporated into a section which involved the placing of pieces.
While doing my homework on Overprotection, I found the composition below. Taking a cursory look at it and being stunned by its utter nonsensical play, I deemed it simply as a light-hearted analogy of Overprotection by the great master himself- Aron Nimzowitsch, who expounded continuously on this principle throughout his famous book "My System". However, upon further clarification from Weiming (see tagboard) I came to the realisation that it was actually a parody! Did more research instead of doing my long overdue Maths Assignment and found out that it was in fact composed by a certain Hans Kmoch (not so sure about the Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy thing, think they just used this parody). Apparently, he had just lost a game to Nimzowitsch where Nimzowitsch played the opening and middlegame in most unorthodox style, moving his king countless times but managing to garner the full point after an amazing rook sac in the ending for 4 connected passed pawns. (see http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1102423) He then created this masterpiece as a parody, making a joke out of Nimzowitsch's pet theory of Overprotection. Indeed, he uses such a condescending tone that is hardly typical of Nimzowitsch in his book. In this composition, Hans Kmoch demonstrates Nimzowitsch winning yet again with this overexaggerated use of Overprotection, even to the extent of compromising the position of his pieces and going against all other opening principles (such as castling king into safety). You'll probably find this piece "crazy", which will be no surprise as even Fritz's wrath is incurred, being unable to condone such moves and is literally screaming for a move to punish the complacent Nimzowitsch. So just sit back and relax! Enjoy! =)
P.S.: Take all the composer's notations at face value...especially since he meant it as a joke. I seriously do not believe that 2. h4 deserves a (!), although a certain Fide Trainer Olimpiu might disagree, and play it on a regular basis.
Nimzovich – Systemsson
Composition Copenhagen, 1927
1.e4 AN INGENIOUS EXAMPLE OF MY SYSTEM by Aaron Nimzowitsch - Anderssen started the sacrificial style, Morphy and Gruenfeld the pure attacking style, Steinitz the positional style, Tarrasch the scientific style, Lasker the style of styles, Capablanca the mechanical style, Alekhine a style as brilliant as sunlight. But it is a generally known fact that originality and modernism were introduced by me as my own personal inventions and enthusiastically imitated (without being fully understood) by the whole world of chess. For the ridiculously small sum of ten marks, the reader can confirm all this in my monumental work, My System, published by B. Kagan. Before my time, chess was so naive and undistinguished! One or two brutal opening moves, each one involving a vulgar, obvious threat, a common, banal sacrifice, a painfully elementary, bestially raw checkmate - such, more or less, was the course of chess games before my heyday set in. Then I appeared on the scene and the chess world paid heed. The hegemony of matter was shattered at a stroke and the era of the spiritual began. Under my creative guidance, the chessmen, hitherto nothing but highwaymen, pirates and butcher boys, became sensitive artists and subtle instruments of immeasurable profundity. But why waste words !--accompany me, dear reader to the dizzy heights of the following game. 1...e6 2.h4!
good moves! 14.Ke2!
The King overprotects e6. 20.Rhe1
20... Re8! 21.Nf3!
Oh, and one more interesting thing i found: The Biography of Systemsson, Nimzowitsch's opponent in this composition! (source: http://www.chessgames.com/)
SYSTEMSSON(born Feb-29-1900, died Apr-01-1979) Ireland (citizen of Sweden)
Zoltan Arpod Ulf Min Systemsson IV was born February 29, 1900, in Dublin. Before he learned to speak, he had moved into Sweden and thus had learned Swedish as his native language. At the age of six he had learned how to play and his talents were immediately realized. He began to win many tournaments and soon rose among the ranks of Sweden's best players. Unlike many of the world's top players, he continued to advance even through World War One. His career took a turn in 1921 after a severe case of depression as a result of his father dying in a tragic train crash, but he perservered. His career continued until his most famous game was played in 1927 against the marvellous player Aron Nimzowitsch. He lost, but he continued to play actively in Sweden until he retired in 1956. His efforts were celebrated until his death in 1979, as a result of a fatal stroke.
**There is, in fact, no real player named Systemsson. This biography is a joke and is a testament to the joke player that is Systemsson. His game against Aron Nimzowitsch in 1927 is the only game in the www.chessgames.com database and it is a fabrication devised as an April Fool's joke. We hope you laughed at it.
LOL! Hope you had fun! Oh anyway for those who got lost.. As I mentioned earlier, Nimzowitsch wrote this book called "My System". So "System_Son" could be a kind of a taunt right at his face! Not quite subtle, is it? Well, the things people do! =) Apparently my co-author is quite disgusted at this article. Maybe I shall post something less controversial next time!
Monday, April 9, 2007
The Child Prodigy
As promised, this post will be about the "hottest" child prodigy this decade, GM Magnus Carlsen. For the benefit of those who aren't really vividly following the international chess scene, this 16 year old boy is certaintly no pushover. At this tender age, he has already attained an unbelivably high rating of 2693, and currently ranks 22nd on the top 100 players list.
Personally, I rather idolise this young kiddo. He's handsome (!?) (wait, no funny ideas okay!), brave, and has this kind of cool/cute side to him too. He certainly isn't one to shun away from a fight, having participated in nearly every single major tournament this year. Despite his often dismal results arising from his playing in Cat A (which includes the elite such as Anand, Topalov, Kramnik, Morozevich, Aronian, Ivanchuk, Svidler, Leko etc.), he continues to participate time and again, fighting against the odds to further his playing abilities. This spirit is really admirable, and one really wonders how professional chess life is like.
Anyway, facts aside, he recently got 2nd place in the very strong Linares- Morelia tournament, only behind Current World No. 1 Vishy Anand. Along the way, he conquered many notably strong players, among them Veselin Topalov, the previous World Champion. However, this quest for champion sadly proved too hard when Carlsen went off track against Peter Leko in the last round, losing quite some prize money in the process. Well, still a good job, considering he was the underdog! Way to go, Carlsen! =)
By now, you must be thinking: "hmmmm.. This post doesnt really seem to fulfil your requirements of cool and interesting, does it?" Well, the exhilarating parts comes NOW. In the video below, Carlsen spars against a provocative TV Host, who delves into everything possible, even Magnus's own private life! Who will win this battle of words? Watch the video to find out for yourself! And hope you enjoy it as much as myself and my brother, who managed a few snorts and giggles.
Personally, I rather idolise this young kiddo. He's handsome (!?) (wait, no funny ideas okay!), brave, and has this kind of cool/cute side to him too. He certainly isn't one to shun away from a fight, having participated in nearly every single major tournament this year. Despite his often dismal results arising from his playing in Cat A (which includes the elite such as Anand, Topalov, Kramnik, Morozevich, Aronian, Ivanchuk, Svidler, Leko etc.), he continues to participate time and again, fighting against the odds to further his playing abilities. This spirit is really admirable, and one really wonders how professional chess life is like.
Anyway, facts aside, he recently got 2nd place in the very strong Linares- Morelia tournament, only behind Current World No. 1 Vishy Anand. Along the way, he conquered many notably strong players, among them Veselin Topalov, the previous World Champion. However, this quest for champion sadly proved too hard when Carlsen went off track against Peter Leko in the last round, losing quite some prize money in the process. Well, still a good job, considering he was the underdog! Way to go, Carlsen! =)
By now, you must be thinking: "hmmmm.. This post doesnt really seem to fulfil your requirements of cool and interesting, does it?" Well, the exhilarating parts comes NOW. In the video below, Carlsen spars against a provocative TV Host, who delves into everything possible, even Magnus's own private life! Who will win this battle of words? Watch the video to find out for yourself! And hope you enjoy it as much as myself and my brother, who managed a few snorts and giggles.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
The Beginning
Hi everybody!! I decided to start a chess webby, after being inspired by Weiming and his most interesting and appealing website, http://www.kgwm.multiply.com/. So much for the web address "flowing afflatus"- which, in layman english means "a flowing creative impulse or divine inspiration". At this juncture, I would also like to mention another substantial attempt by Kwok Foong, which also contributed to my interest in this matter. (somebody please remind me to link him) Thanks also go out to Lim Min for helping me with the web technicalities which seems to have been wiped out of my brain by the massive amounts of elucidation and complex numbers, not to mention the Keynesian theories.
That said, this webby intends to feature chess stuff that are deemed "suitable"- cool, interesting, bombastic, absurd (?). I will attempt to keep this blog running and updated frequently over the course of a few years. By frequently, I hope to make the target of at least 1 post a week, be it an opening discussion, endgame or middlegame discussion, summary of chess training in school, or simply some interesting facts. In fact, my next post would be on Magnus Carlsen, a most prodigious young player who has already made it to the top 30 in the World Ranking list.
Through this website, I intend to 1) improve my writing skills, 2) improve my paragraph organisation skills (crap I will probably fail my econs if i start listing the irrelevant points before the main points like I just did) 3) enhance my knowledge about certain positions while I attempt to comprehend and re-explain them here in a simple but concise manner, and 4) to give those who are keen on chess a good and enjoyable time. This website also serves as a dedication to the RJC Chess Club. Chess Club matters will also be posted up here regularly and if you happen to miss a coaching session and are keen enough to catch up on the stuff you missed out, hopefully u can find it here too.
Oh, and i havent introduced myself yet! I'm Timothy Wee, for short timwee (among my acquaintances and friends). "Associate Poster" will be Xiuhuan, who has joined me in this quest. So hope to see many readers. Do post comments, and anything about Chess Club stuff. I will endeavour to reply you all as soon as possible, probably on a daily basis! =)
That said, this webby intends to feature chess stuff that are deemed "suitable"- cool, interesting, bombastic, absurd (?). I will attempt to keep this blog running and updated frequently over the course of a few years. By frequently, I hope to make the target of at least 1 post a week, be it an opening discussion, endgame or middlegame discussion, summary of chess training in school, or simply some interesting facts. In fact, my next post would be on Magnus Carlsen, a most prodigious young player who has already made it to the top 30 in the World Ranking list.
Through this website, I intend to 1) improve my writing skills, 2) improve my paragraph organisation skills (crap I will probably fail my econs if i start listing the irrelevant points before the main points like I just did) 3) enhance my knowledge about certain positions while I attempt to comprehend and re-explain them here in a simple but concise manner, and 4) to give those who are keen on chess a good and enjoyable time. This website also serves as a dedication to the RJC Chess Club. Chess Club matters will also be posted up here regularly and if you happen to miss a coaching session and are keen enough to catch up on the stuff you missed out, hopefully u can find it here too.
Oh, and i havent introduced myself yet! I'm Timothy Wee, for short timwee (among my acquaintances and friends). "Associate Poster" will be Xiuhuan, who has joined me in this quest. So hope to see many readers. Do post comments, and anything about Chess Club stuff. I will endeavour to reply you all as soon as possible, probably on a daily basis! =)
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