http://www.gothicchesslive.com/javascript/game.php?gameid=1442

whew, my opponent and I both played "decent" Gothic Chess in this game but it didn't amount to much when I made a severe blunder on my 22nd move. The position was arguably won by me until I blundered (but in Gothic that doesn't mean a whole lot, the "technical win" is difficult to judge). Irregardless of the negative result I enjoyed the game immensely and had alot of fun playing it.

WhisperzQ: I think not . . . Black was dominating the game after hxg. certainly avoiding the mate in two was necessary but the open file will be dominated by Black . . . controlling a rook file near the opponents king is usually winning.

JinkyOng: people can be too. ;)

Walter Montego: seeing as the machine didn't stop the blocking of all those files I'd say you have already tested SMIRF's programming . . . I wouldn't begin to know how Pythagoras defeats SMIRF . . . I never have . . .

Walter Montego: I saw the line you mentioned with a Knight sac and the Marshall and rook stop . . . however, I should think the Cardinal could come into play (you've seen how well Cardinal's aide passers). ;)

Walter Montego: I like the position, Walter . . . to me it looks as though you are winning (however, as Pythagoras noted, it may require a sacrifice or two and certainly it will require alot of careful calculation). Anyway, a very nice game and a far cry from my Tactical attempt at SMIRF.

Walter Montego: I like the position, Walter . . . to me it looks as though you are winning (however, as Pythagoras noted, it may require a sacrifice or two and certainly it will require alot of careful calculation). Anyway, a very nice game and a far cry from my Tactical attempt at SMIRF.

Walter Montego: the tournament's maximum number of players can be exceeded (according to my settings) So that's not the issue). Also, I wanted to accommodate people with busy schedules by making each round a one game match (this includes myself). I would rather see a variety of talent play a single game than a few players play several. If people want more rounds just invite more players. (that's the goal in my mind . . . get people interested in the game and then try for the big sectional round robins).

I just recently created a tournament with outlandish parameters (it has now been deleted). I have created a new tournament that now has more flexible parameters. If you are interested in an Embassy Chess tournament to see who is the best (and to get as many rated games in as possible) then by all means join! invite others!!

http://brainking.com/en/Tournaments?trg=14512

Pythagoras: Very happy to oblige with answers to very thoughtful questions.

1st - Blitz on Gothic Chess Live = usually a time limit of around ten minutes per game (with a 5-12 second delay). this is not enough time to cheat (successfully, anyway) and the games are all databased by the site.

2nd - I was working on the premise that someone cheats because they have to . . . if you can beat the best computer programs at Gothic . . . why use them to cheat? that makes no sense.

Thad: It is well known that to "weed-out" computer cheaters you decrease time limits ('blitz') because the would-be cheater can't input data into his program fast enough to make much difference. Ed is the champion at blitz Gothic and that makes any thought that he might cheat moot in my opinion. As to your question as to "who is the best" I really can't answer . . . I can only tell you who isn't the best . . . me . . . that's the extent of my knowledge (and it is true strength to "know thyself") you too can only know your personal limits . . . any other attempt to calculate fails because nobody ever set out to play everyone who played the game . . . that would be the only true decision maker.

Pythagoras: two very good questions.

Pedro Martínez: the game you were rated 1900+ at, lol.

Pedro Martínez: he means Gothic Chess, Pedro.

Everyone: I don't want to get on a Gothic Chess discussion again. I wasn't trying to bring up the topic.

WhiteTower: I can't say I've "forgotten" I just found another interesting variant. :)

I guess I should've been playing this variant since it came to the site!

http://brainking.com/en/ArchivedGame?g=1427042

HalfPawn: I believe Embassy came first (or at least I know for sure the Lasker and Capablanca versions came first). If you look at the patent for Gothic Chess (check the US Patent office website) Gothic chess references several other chess variants as well as their inventors . . . then you'll know just exactly where Gothic came from . . . very interesting reading but it's been awhile since I read it.

panzerschiff: . . . or a few misfit players. ;)

Pedro Martínez: lol, pedro.

HalfPawn: It seems like GI answered all of your questions there . . . If you have any others just ask over there or PM me.

Walter Montego: the name isn't "Crickett".

ChessCarpenter: I predict a win for white in the next Vortex - Smirf game. It appears that Reinhardt has been hard at work making Smirf play better, they're all looking pretty good (except for poor Zillions) but ChessV is nice.

Walter Montego: if the machine made the same opening move every game without an opening library to draw from then the problem is with the game . . . not the program. I was simply asking to satiate my curiosity.

SMIRF Engine: so it makes a different opening move each time it plays?

WhiteTower: I don't care if he has experience in the field of AI. Pythagoras can't predict the future.

Pythagoras: so you think that humans will be surpassed by computers at Gothic in the next few years?

tedbarber: I'm in the process of getting some folks together later today on GC live.

I think either point would be hard to prove (as both require a knowledge of the future of technology that I don't think anyone possesses).

SMIRF Engine: . . . and GC has a long future also, given the fact that most things that people "know" about the game are thwarted by a sacrifice.

Caissus: 10 minutes and 12 second delay. that makes a difference. I too am having trouble finding gothic opponents.

Nasmichael: will the GClive server still need the updated java when it comes back online? I hate downloading updates!!

Cool recent games from Gothic Chess Live

http://www.gothicchess.com/javascript_games.html

Follow SMIRF vs. Vortex game 2

http://s13.invisionfree.com/Gothic_Chess_Forum/index.php?showtopic=76

Jules: a good suggestion jules, I was simply stating facts not starting a debate.

Thad: ed, why?

Grim Reaper is no longer able to reply to messages or to post on the message boards. That's why we haven't heard from him in awhile. beyond that I don't know anything else (you'll have to contact ed to know any more, I'm just the messenger).

redsales: then again I've never known Walter to be subtle. :)

andreas: I agree with the assessment of my move 15 (part of the opening mistakes I was talking about). I would like to point out that tedbarber was rather rude in demanding my resignation in the later portion of this game and thus my comments (which he quotes accurately) were in response to his rudeness. He failed, however, to quote my praise of his taking advantage of my mistakes. As a side note it is gratifying to hear better players than myself ( and more experienced) agree with my assessment.

Grim Reaper: hehehe, I'll think about it but I have already been introduced into a game with HerculesBeast(2159, #?). Dresden will most likely have a turn at my scalp eventually. :)

Nasmichael: thx! :)

I FINALLY have my first provisional Gothic rating!

tedbarber: I'd like to hear this answer as well!

If there anyone here among the "good" gothic players (2000+) that would play me a game and help me analyze afterwards?

isn't there going to be a big prize tournament here in January of next year?

andreas: interesting view, and sort of rings true, except that Gothic doesn't usually last long enough to go into an endgame (if you really want to win you usually keep most of your pieces until a sac comes to you . . .).

Chessmaster1000: I won't talk about a dynamic comparison (I still believe in the "old standby" chess) but I will say this about positional gothic, how does anyone think like that? I tend to look for almost purely tactical themes when I play gothic, it must take a very disciplined mind to look for the "quiet" moves in gothic (I personally can't resist the long range attacks made by those wonderful new pieces and the queen). I agree that in Gothic sacrificing material for attack is somehow more feasible, and the themes are somewhat similar. (classic bishop sac, rook for knight sac, etc.)

danoschek: It is possible that I was wrong, perhaps you are a "positional" player. (but in what sense?). I have seen your games, and played you some time ago, you are not what people generally refer to as "positional". You use tactical means more often, which makes you a "tactical" player (who doesn't play positional when they have to? I was refering to those "given a choice" situations). I think you should seriously reassess starting an argument, that isn't what I was trying to do (and the moderators should take notice of this for future reference).

danoschek: I assume you mean that when one side is playing poorly the game becomes boring (much more boring than, say, a 60+ move draw?). obviously you are not a positional player. Many times I have lost in a positional battle because I tried to make it interesting instead of the dead draw, needless to say I am fast becoming tactical.

Chessmaster1000: I agree in reference to extinction chess but I still think Gothic has helped me at 8x8 chess. In the interest of not insighting a riot I think that it can be agreed that a healthy helping of both games can not hurt anyone . . . agreed?

my strength has improved tremendously just by starting to play gothic and beginning to move my mind in that direction. many people have told me recently that I must be a master, I've been studying harder than ever at my correspondence games and the results are good. (those who think I'm a master would faint to know that I'm only a class B OTB but I'm certainly creeping up on master level (or at least above expert) at correspondence.

Is it true that playing Gothic chess can help improve your skill at regular chess?