The World Othello Championships are nearly upon us. So why not play Fantasy Othello - full details can be found here

Murakami was at the time the best human player in the world, who won the world title that year, though he didn't have it all his own way and almost fell to the sucker punch of Garry Edmead.

I decided to rename myself after my favourite othello program. I am a fan of it because I just love the way it humiliated Takeshi Murakami in 1996.

I am not sure that my rating here is a true reflection of my ability - since the Worlds I have been off form. However I have had to catch some very early trains to take part and I generally cannot sleep on them. Anyone brits going to Cambridge this Saturday?

It appears to be designed as a way of improving one's endgame - never used it myself though I have used a similar program called Icare. Google search icare othello should find a copy.

Deleted it as I posted a more accurate private reply to Rose (which contained a snail mail address). For the benefit of anyone else OB&B is published by the US Othello Association - contact them. British players on this site can join the British Othello Federation (how macbann got his copy) which includes the book free with first year's membership.

And another thing - why are you discussing matters related to two backgammon games (and therefore unrelated to this board) here.

As you are choosing to publicly attack anyone without getting the facts first, you should expect the same person to also defend themselves just as publicly. You taking a vacation for many weeks and then accuse me of stalling is blatant hypocrisy.

<Thanks Rose. This time away was unpredicted and under normal circumstances I could have easily handled this number of games. LongJohn, if you have bothered to check things, you will have found out that recently I have been playing much more quickly

>Please do not join if you are a notorious staller, you will be removed.

Your vacations:
22. March 2004, 23. March 2004, 24. March 2004, 25. March 2004, 26. March 2004, 29. March 2004, 30. March 2004, 31. March 2004, 1. April 2004, 2. April 2004, 5. April 2004, 6. April 2004, 7. April 2004, 8. April 2004, 9. April 2004, 12. April 2004, 13. April 2004, 14. April 2004, 15. April 2004, 16. April 2004, 19. April 2004, 20. April 2004, 22. April 2004, 23. April 2004, 26. April 2004, 27. April 2004, 28. April 2004, 29. April 2004, 30. April 2004

Now just who is a notorious staller?

I can't help it if I am dragged away (when I wanted to play) when there are unexected family problems.

Was dragged away from my computer unexpectedly for lengthy periods of time recently and got timed out on a lot of games.

Personally I am more interested in the European rating list -http://othello.federation.free.fr/fede/class.php3 than the one here - this is for otb play where any temptation to cheat (i.e using Zebra) is removed. Some of you will know who I am and if you don't then it is not that hard to find this out. I would like to play some of the players (especially those based in Europe) from this site in such events.

The facts of the situation is that blaickner seems to have a near perfect record, has no reputation in over the board play, seems reluctant to participate in any over the board competitions - which appear to be characteristics of players who DO cheat. Having analysed the midgame section of one game I played against blaickner, most of these moves were identical to a strong program, and were also made as a quick response to a move I made. I haven't yet had the time to analyse any other of her games. If blaickner has achieved this record without a program then she should really be on the European tournament circuit (I would also recommend it to any European based player here), which would give her the competition she seems to want. At the moment it would mean that she would have to travel quite a long way but that is the way things are at the moment - as I have to travel long distances for over the board competition. I have suggested Amsterdam at the end of the month - as this is an event I will be taking part in. As a lot of people will be there it will also give her the chance to meet other players in the flesh.

The best way to tell if someone is as good as his her rating is to find evidence of results in an environment where cheating is not possible and where such a rating isn't flattering. An environment such as over the board play. On here I consider my rating to be a little flattering.

What evidence is there of blaickner's over the board standard when she does not appear on European rating list.

I asked Blaickner earlier about representing Austria in the World Championships for which I got no reply. With no Austrian national championships, she would clearly be eligible to participate in such an event.

As Blaickner has not played in any over the board tournament and she also shows reluctance to participate in any such competition.

Gary, if you got thrashed at Pente by someone you had never heard of, had never played in an over the board tournament (and was reluctant to do so), had a near perfect record, and whose majority of moves matched that of a strong program (which has spotted moves top players miss) - wouldn't you be suspicious that your opponent was cheating?

And to answer Blaickner's question - by setting the time to one minute or less. A strong program (even at small depth) will produce good moves at speed without a user having to waste seconds thinking up one.

I have looked at blaickner's previous moves by using WZebra in my most recent game against her and ALL but two of her moves they are identical to what WZebra (on maximum search). This along with record that seems to be too good to be true and the fact there has been no Austrian otb players causes me to be very suspicious. The thing is Gary Barnes, you went out to prove that you were not a cheat - and no doubt you obtained an over the board reputation where previously you had none. Gary, you also say that it sounds like blaickner is an excellent 1 and/or 5 minute player but even on realtime sites people do cheat. I am inviting blaickner to do the same by participating in one event on the European tournament circuit. If she really was committed to this, then I very much doubt that she would find distance no problem, or for that fact money as there are several companies offering rock bottom european air fares. Or what about blaickner hosting an event in Austria? But all blaickner seems to be posting is excuses, which doesn't really help her credibility.

blaickner's record Wins 175 Draws 1 Losses 3.
Impressive record from a player whom I have never even heard of but then it is easy to win games by using WZebra, isn't it? I don't recall anyone from Austria ever appearing on the European Rating List in the fifteen or so years I have been playing over the board Othello, let alone any big name players. If Blaickner wants real competition - then why doesn't she join the tournament circuit?

Played in OTB tournaments for 15 years and therefore prefer the classical Othello start position i.e. with the black pieces on the NE/SW diagonal. Blaickner - thought about representing Austria in the Worlds?