Category: On the pillory
On the Pillory (5) – You're failing history, Mr Editor!
In the first part, we analyse and criticise another gem from the editor of Chess Weekly, who – as is nowadays common not only in chess – apparently rewrites history to suit himself, until he begins to believe it himself. Primarily, however, we will focus on the origin and analysis of gross errors! Why do they occur? How to classify them? How to try to defend against them? Is it possible that there is a connection between blunders on the chessboard and... time travel into the future?... Continue reading
On the Pillory (4) – Like little children
After recent rapid and blitz tournaments in Paris and Leuven (June and July 2017), when I read enthusiastic and laudatory articles about Carlsen, a memory from my early coaching practice came to mind... The article Like little children asks whether anyone today still makes distinctions between a serious game, a rapid game and a blitz game... Continue reading
On the Pillory (3) - Brilliant information system
In the next instalment of this polemical column, we will first return to the time when a group of Yugoslav chess players created a new sophisticated information system. Their discovery not only prepared the ground for the entry of chess engines onto the stage of history several decades later, although the two complement each other perfectly... We will learn (or revise) the basic principles of the system; we will find out that without it it is practically impossible to analyse a game correctly and yet understandably.
In some tasks for readers, focused precisely on the art of analysis, we will then – no fear – return to the original content of the column. Among other things, the reader can try to correct a somewhat poorly commented game, apparently by a ubiquitous young master who still confuses the names of openings, some of which are several hundred years old! The game itself, however, has travelled the world, vying with its charms to be the crowning jewel of the past year!... Continue reading
On the Pillory (2) - Shocking change of chess rules
Two stories: the knight’s move and the Weekly editor at odds with notation. Continue reading
On the Pillory - first part
The first part of the series On the Pillory contains two stories. First, we look at an unfortunate case in which the author was almost completely innocent – Jaroslav Hrabě, Isolated Pawn, PLISKA publishing. The second example, entitled "unfortunate first diagram", describes a fatal author’s error in the well-known book by Grandmaster Alexey Suetin "School of Chess Strategy and Tactics".
I look forward to your reactions in the discussion! Continue reading
Let us pillory, but also praise
The column "On the Pillory" aims especially at extraordinarily unsuccessful literary „gems“ mostly produced by our – Czech, but also world – authors. The purpose of introducing this column is not only to entertain readers and make them think whether pillorying the author, i.e. a particular work, is legitimate or even necessary, but also to learn and in the future rather avoid the author (his works) who has become the target of our interest! We want to warn here against often unbelievably slapdash, submitted and subsequently published work... Continue reading
Chess quote
Chess is the touchstone of intellect.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Chess quote
Chess, like music and love, has the power to make a person happy.
Siegbert Tarrasch
Siegbert Tarrasch