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Queen's Gambit
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30-10-2020 01:48PM#1
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I always wondered why Shirov was looking up at the ceiling, must have been taking those funny pills like Beth
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David Howell did that when I played him too. I figure people just do it to show off or to annoy their opponent as there can't be any advantage in looking at the ceiling instead of the board.0 -
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All players above a certain standard can visualise the board to play out moves in our head. We call it calculating: we have a little conversation internally where we go, "I play this, then he plays that, then I play this, then what next?" and so on.thanks but that doesn't answer my query at all...
any insight, anyone?
Many a player, particularly stronger ones, can play a game entirely in their head. Here, for example, is Alexander Baburin, an Irish-resident grandmaster, playing a quick game (6 minutes vs 5) against Jonathan O'Connor, a strong Irish amateur (I guess top 50 in Ireland for many years) while blindfolded. It's not that much of a handicap for him, because he's able to maintain and manipulate the position in his head. I'm not able to do this very well, but it wouldn't surprise me if Jonathan can, for example. Baburin later gave a blindfold simultaneous exhibition, playing perhaps half a dozen or more amateurs at the same time! That is really stretching even a masters' abilities, but I think he managed to beat all of them.
In the show, you saw Beth as a child re-playing the moves she saw in the game earlier, which is her way of analysing why she lost - she's learning, and she's doing it in a way that suggests she has enormous native talent. Most beginners can't do this at all.
As for whether drugs helped her play, it's unlikely. Alcohol and drugs are probably a hindrance to most players, though less than you'd think. I once played in a New Year's Eve blitz in Spain: a short tournament for fun where players have just a few minutes each. There was a pair of Russian masters at it who had clearly started celebrating New Year's the second it hit Vladivostok. They were messy drunk - were on the verge of being kicked out for messing in fact - but still had most of their playing strength intact, and finished well ahead of me.
There are no doubt high-functioning alcoholics and drug users at all levels of the game (and throughout society), many of whom are in bad shape when completely sober. Perhaps this is what was being hinted at in the show.0 -
All players above a certain standard can visualise the board to play out moves in our head. We call it calculating: we have a little conversation internally where we go, "I play this, then he plays that, then I play this, then what next?" and so on.
Many a player, particularly stronger ones, can play a game entirely in their head. Here, for example, is Alexander Baburin, an Irish-resident grandmaster, playing a quick game (6 minutes vs 5) against Jonathan O'Connor, a strong Irish amateur (I guess top 50 in Ireland for many years) while blindfolded. It's not that much of a handicap for him, because he's able to maintain and manipulate the position in his head. I'm not able to do this very well, but it wouldn't surprise me if Jonathan can, for example. Baburin later gave a blindfold simultaneous exhibition, playing perhaps half a dozen or more amateurs at the same time! That is really stretching even a masters' abilities, but I think he managed to beat all of them.
In the show, you saw Beth as a child re-playing the moves she saw in the game earlier, which is her way of analysing why she lost - she's learning, and she's doing it in a way that suggests she has enormous native talent. Most beginners can't do this at all.
As for whether drugs helped her play, it's unlikely. Alcohol and drugs are probably a hindrance to most players, though less than you'd think. I once played in a New Year's Eve blitz in Spain: a short tournament for fun where players have just a few minutes each. There was a pair of Russian masters at it who had clearly started celebrating New Year's the second it hit Vladivostok. They were messy drunk - were on the verge of being kicked out for messing in fact - but still had most of their playing strength intact, and finished well ahead of me.
There are no doubt high-functioning alcoholics and drug users at all levels of the game (and throughout society), many of whom are in bad shape when completely sober. Perhaps this is what was being hinted at in the show.
awe ok - thanks for that.. I didn't know about the calculating... i am not a chess player.. but it did seem that the tranquillisers helped her visualise the board, rem when she was in bed in the orphanage, she would pop the pill and then the board and pieces would appear on the ceiling.. and in the last series.. she said "i miss the pills and booze - they help me visualise the game"..
but yeah thanks - i didn't know that great players could "visualise/calculate".. wow.. cool..
ok - not that I have a better understanding of the series, I like it even better..
although, I would imagine that tranquillisers and or booze would reduce my ability to think clearly but then again, I am a light weight lol.. (and have never had a tranquilliser) - but I guess substances etc affect people differently0 -
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