Motivation & incentives ...

Adam@Home — Gocomics.com

Chess on TV II

Saw Cold Case - Strange Fruit. A very sad episode, as most Cold Case episodes go. A piece of paper with the notation "Nf3 Nc6" was found on the victim's body. They tell you that for 42 years no one realizes that those represent chess moves. Maybe the episode writer also believed that there won't be any chess players in the audience as well. A character identifies the chess moves, and she goes on to say that these represent the Ruy Lopez. This is followed by a flashback that shows the initial moves of "e4 e5". The clincher is the move sequence "1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6" represents a standard king pawn opening. It's the third move "3. Bb5" that distinguishes the opening as the Ruy Lopez.

Another thing. Since the flashback was in 1963, it is more likely that the chess notation used would be the descriptive notation rather than the algebraic notation shown. Thus, the paper should show "N-KB3 N-QB3".

Chess on TV

Saw "Mr Monk and The Genius" which has Adrian Monk pitting wits against a supposedly brilliant chess player. Throughout the episode they show this chess player frequently thinking several steps ahead of Monk, alluding that he is not just your ordinary dim-witted criminal. Quite interesting in a light-entertainment type of way.

Then there was this scene where Monk wants to learn more about chess and about this chess player thinks. He goes with his assistant's daughter to a park where chess players (and hustlers) play. They settle down with one and play a game ... except the player with Black moves first! Kind of strange and unbelievable for a show that supposes highlights the more mental aspects to get this fundamental rule of chess wrong.

By the way that game ended quickly with the hustler winning executing the Fool's Mate.

April Rankings for Chess Players

Some changes from the last rankings, but the top 2 is still the same. Should be an interesting match coming up.

Rank	Name	Title	Country	Rating	Games	B-Year
1	Topalov, Veselin	g	BUL	2812	17	1975
2	Anand, Viswanathan	g	IND	2783	14	1969
3	Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2770	27	1990
4	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2759	0	1975
5	Radjabov, Teimour	g	AZE	2756	27	1987
6	Aronian, Levon	g	ARM	2754	37	1982
7	Jakovenko, Dmitry	g	RUS	2753	5	1983
8	Morozevich, Alexander	g	RUS	2751	13	1977
9	Leko, Peter	g	HUN	2751	0	1979
10	Grischuk, Alexander	g	RUS	2748	14	1983

ChessBase.com - Chess News - April 2009 ratings: Topalov 29 points ahead of everyone else