STW Chess Returns

Wow, 5 games underway I’ve not played more than one game at a time, so this will be fun. 😀

Is it a league? Or knockout? Or something else…

Wow, 5 games underway. I’ve not played more than one game at a time before, so this will be interesting.😀

Is it a league? Or knockout? Or something else…

Not done one before but looks like 3 leagues of 6 with top 3 going through.

Think you play everyone twice in your league.

I “may” have blundered early on in one of them. Need to learn to slow down.

Tomlevell is correct. You play each other player as both black and white.  Top 3 in each group go through.  

The groups are seeded according to rating. Hence StevoMcD, Me, and Wasnevergreat, the highest graded are in different groups. Groups are here.

https://www.chess.com/tournament/stw-clocks-back-2023/pairings

Gradings? For a detailed explanation you can use google but basically you are graded according to your results against other players. On average if you play someone graded 200 pts higher you can expect to score ).24 . IE if you played 2 games you would lose 1 and draw one.  Once the rating difference is 366 the higher player scores 90%. All statistical averages. It can vary according to poayers style of play etc.

After all groups are completed if interested I will do another tournament for the runners up so nobody is going weeks without games if they want to carry on playing. You would then have more players closer to your ability. 

Apologies chaps but I’m out, I really haven’t a clue what I’m doing

I really haven’t a clue what I’m doing

I only got back into chess a couple of years ago after years of not playing and the first STW tournament that I played in was very much getting back into it – after that I progressed quite quickly although equally quickly I met my glass ceiling where my ranking would go up, I’d meet players with equal/better ranking and get thrashed then drop back down again.

Then last year my account got corrupted during a really glitchy period at chess.com and I lost the lot. Set up a new account but nothing carried over so I never played it so once again I’m back at square one. I did consider signing up for this but maybe I’ll try the next one if @irc keeps it going.

I’ve forgotten most of what I learnt from the endless YouTube chess video tutorials I was watching 1+ year ago!

Yeah – I’ve only started recently and I now realise how much I don’t know (47 yo bloke decides to have a go at chess) I never played as a kid so I need to learn about openings and avoiding early blunders etc so a tournament is run before walk 

Another option is to play games against the computer on chess.com. Play as much as you want.

A lot of good stuff on YouTube as well where you can hear the thought processes of good players.

It’s like anything else. You can learn and be taught a certain amount. After that practice helps. Beyond a certain point you either have the ability or you don’t.
Back in the 80s I was in a club with one member ranked about 25th in Scotland. Driving down to England for a competition we had a board in the back of the minibus. He could play while driving without seeing the board. He would call out his moves. We would reply. He’d call out his next move and so on.

This is getting hard…it was ok in the openings, but trying to remember the plan on all 5 games now is tough ,,,

remember the plan

What’s this I hear?

There’s a plan???

I did wonder why I left a Bishop to get taken this morning in one game when it could have been easily moved away. After eventually deciding what my move was realised why I had to let it happen. Hint the other Bishop would have been taken instead…

I was/am assuming being fairly clueless was all fine and good 😀

I’ve only recently started playing as an adult, having loved chess as a child but only ever dabbled since. My 10 minute rating on chess.com is around 300 :-/

I feel as though things are going a bit better with the “two days per move” tournament game format where you can spend a bit longer thinking rather than having the clock forcing panic. Although people actually playing me right now may have a different perspective!

In any case it should be a learning experience.

Does anyone know whether the post-game analysis tools on chess.com work for tournament games?

Yeah, you can use the game analysis on tournament games. Only once per day though unless you’re a Chess.com member.

Seeme like a good idea at the time. Signed up for more daily tournaments.  I overlooked the fact the one with groups of 10 starts both games against each opponent at the same time. So another 18 games to watch. Current total 27 games.

So another 18 games to watch. Current total 27 games.

I need to figure out a way to strategically leverage this insider info to lose less comprehensively than I did in game 1 🤔😂

Well that’s all my games finished off, looking at the group I was in I’m sat in 4th, hadn’t played for a good 5 or 6 months so getting back into it was a bit eye opening, made quite a few big blunders and took a few full games to feel warmed up.

Bit devastated I won’t be getting through to the next round if it’s the top 3 of each group going through as I’ve really enjoyed it, can’t wait for the spring 2024 tournament 😂

@eatmorepizza I think the intention is for there to be two subsequent competitions, one for the top three in each group, the other for the bottom three. Which should make for a lot of close games. 

I’ve really enjoyed all my games so far, even the ones where I’ve blundered. Am sitting mid table so might scrape into the “top” competition. Been great getting back into it. 

Would have come last if someone else hadn’t bailed out immediately! Enjoyed it though.

For those who haven’t checked all the settings the Board & Pieces option includes a 3D option right at the end of the list.

As KennyP says. This tournament continues with the top 3 in each group.  Thereafter I will set up a new tourament for the bottom  half.  No need to wait until the next tournament.    More even games.

Thanks for organising 

the blunder bus has left the station 

My group has finished, good luck to the folks going through, and thanks everyone for playing. It has been most enjoyable!

Any idea when the next round is likely to start? I really enjoyed the first round, apart from terribly slow playing in one game.

In a few days. One game still in play.

ttps://www.chess.com/game/daily/585952043

still in the opening stages, it will run for a week.

I’m in the last game – whoever I’m playing has gone on vacation as nothing has happened for a week. Is there a time limit on the tournament?

@richwales No official time limit but as per the comments – I requested that vacation should be used sparingly. I have messaged the other player on Chess.com

https://www.chess.com/tournament/stw-clocks-back-2023

@vinnyeh Message for you on Chess.com

I would suggest that anyone who finds they are unable to get the time to play due to other circumstances either resigns or offers a draw depending what stage the game is at rather than goes on vacation for more than a few days.

I know it’s summer and we should all be out playing in the sun, but for those days when it’s too hot to go outside (England) or too wet to go outside (Scotland), is it time for another chess tournament? Been ages since the last one.

I would be interested 😊

Im in

My memberships has lapsed. After vets bills, car tax, car insurance etc this month I don’t have the £44 annual Chess.com membership before the end of the month.  So unable to create tournaments.  I’ll see how things look next month. Failing which if anyone else is currently a member and wants to start one  I’ll come in to any tournament.

Currently got 19 daily games going anyway.

I’d be up for playing again. Although I am in England and I’ve not noticed it being too hot for anything so far this year.

I have a gold level membership. I’d be happy to set a tournament up if that level allows me to.

@kennp

Yes.  Go for it. Easy to do. Just need to opt for private option and choose group size etc.  I’m in. Chess.com user irc1979

https://www.chess.com/tournament/create

Other variables are time limit and yes/no for vacation.  My preference would be 2 days and no vacation but your choice if you set it up.