Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Magnus Carlsen Beats Fabiano Caruana to Win World Chess Championship

nytimes.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

181–190 of 225 posts

Re: Magnus Carlsen Beats Fabiano Caruana to Win World Chess Championship

#181

Post by kzrdude »

michalu wrote: post #132
mindgam3 wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't argue with your first premise. Your following points, however, are less convincing. "Like Kasparov and Grischuk pointed out today, every other chess player gets worse playing rapid/blitz but Carlsen is the only one who actually improves." Even if Kasparov and Grischuk said this today (citation please?), it doesn't make it true. There are many players who get better playing rapid and blitz. Look at the traject…

You make a good point, but I don't think he's playing for hearts. They play for money and recognition in the first place. Every sportsman who experienced a failure (and we all have) knows very well that while you're applauded at the top the moment you lose many, including your fans will suddenly rejoice ... sometimes you even get some "kicks while on the ground." About the Grischuk and Kasparov quote, it turns out I…

I wouldn't think he plays for the money, just recognition and from being fiercely competitive, having to prove oneself.

Re: Magnus Carlsen Beats Fabiano Caruana to Win World Chess Championship

#182

Post by fractalf »

mindgam3 wrote: post #5

I’d like to offer a few thoughts on this match as a former internationally competitive player/US Cadet U16 champion, current ~2400 bullet chess addict, and someone who has played bughouse with Fabiano as my partner at the Sinquefield Cup in 2017. First, hats off to both players for a hard fought match. To Magnus for successfully defending his title, and to Fabiano for pushing Magnus right to the brink. This was an ex…

@mindgam3: I'll gladly beta test it, and if I find some time I might help you out on some code as well :) https://github.com/fractalf/contact_me

Re: Magnus Carlsen Beats Fabiano Caruana to Win World Chess Championship

#183

Post by disposable02 »

maaaats wrote: post #116

I'd wager 20% of Norway or more has been actively following these games. Everyone has been talking about it, the last few weeks the lunch at work has been mostly discussing the game the night before. All over the media. Biggest tv channel (NRK) showed the 15 games live, same for the biggest news page (VG) . And this is nothing new, ever since the first time Carlsen was in a WC match Norway has been obsessed with ches…

There is nothing else happening in Norway (except that naval frigate that sank), that's why. It's literally been glued to the front-page of the top online newspapers for weeks now. We have no history or culture of chess and we will not see another Carlsen for another millennium, dessverre.

Re: Magnus Carlsen Beats Fabiano Caruana to Win World Chess Championship

#185

Post by bonesss »

nevi-me wrote: post #54
mlthoughts2018 wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re dramatically overstating the advantage Carlsen had in Game 12. It was not decisive or obvious in any way and afterwards various engines played out the position to a draw. It might have been possible to win, but it might also have been possible to blunder and miss the chance to go to rapid tie breaks (a format where Carlsen had the advantage). You’re also not doing Caruana justice. He worked Carlsen into badly…

I agree with your view on the overstatement. It wasn't a win, but a slight advantage. Chess championships sometimes draw the same criticism as boxing, players strategise to win on technicalities and small margins, instead of taking risks and landing hard blows. As fans, that is boring, but I agree; Carlsen made the correct choice in drawing.

One of the lines popular in "4D space chess" (ie Starcraft), is: "when you're ahead, get more ahead". That is to say, don't just press your advantage to end the game (high risk, error prone), press your advantage to make your advantage overwhelming...

From the analysis Carlsen used his advantage well: to secure continued advantage.

Re: Magnus Carlsen Beats Fabiano Caruana to Win World Chess Championship

#186

Post by jmcgough »

fastball wrote: post #100
dmerrick wrote: post #10

I just want to give a mention to ChessNetwork on Twitch[1]. I watched many of the games of this series live via this channel, and it was great how the commentator had his own board to demonstrate the next few moves and explain the players' thinking. It was really interesting and relaxing. https://www.twitch.tv/chessnetwork

I preferred chess.com's Twitch stream[0]. They do the same but have various GMs and other's come on to discuss. 0: https://www.twitch.tv/chess

I watched them regularly during the championship, they had Yifan[0] on several times and she was fantastic.

0: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hou_Yifan

Re: Magnus Carlsen Beats Fabiano Caruana to Win World Chess Championship

#187

Post by phonebucket »

michalu wrote: post #106

In the end, Carlsen is the man who knows the best how to win in chess. Regardless of all critics. He played the 12th game safe knowing he's a huge favourite in rapid and blitz. Like Kasparov and Grischuk pointed out today, every other chess player gets worse playing rapid/blitz but Carlsen is the only one who actually improves. Under these conditions it's more than sensible to move into the terrain where you have an…

> So he exchanged a potential loss of €200k at a favourable odds for a sure loss of €50k with potential loss of €150k at a much better odds. Now here's where we could question his decision speculating what the actual odds were, but who knows if he cares about the money.

You’re ignoring the fact that winning also guarantees him a spot in next year’s final, so that would heavily tip this analysis towards playing it safe.

Although I don’t believe Magnus is trying to win this for the money, but that’s besides the point.

Re: Magnus Carlsen Beats Fabiano Caruana to Win World Chess Championship

#188

Post by Faark »

david-gpu wrote: post #146
mindgam3 wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't argue with your logic here. We do live in a world where people say winning isn't everything. But actually, it is. It's not just happening in chess. This is the same "win at all costs" mentality that gave us the wonders of "growth hacking" i.e. unethical behavior that becomes glorified in Silicon Valley, because it works. I don't mean to get all Ghandi-like on you, but I do want to ask you sincerely - what kin…

If you want to encourage more exciting games then you need to reward those who play them. E.g. have judges subjectively award points like it's done in sports like gymnastics.

> If you want to encourage more exciting games then you need to reward those who play them

And that seems to be exactly what is happening by respecting those who do / looking down on those who don't. Not every reward has to be expressed by the in-game scoring system.

Re: Magnus Carlsen Beats Fabiano Caruana to Win World Chess Championship

#190

Post by lolc »

School-Cotton wrote: post #179
waterpigcow wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Chess is a game that can be played perfectly. There is no perfect Hockey game. If you get two super computers to play chess against one another they will draw a majority of the time, I think it is a testament to the skill of both players that they drew 12 games in a row.

Yep. In chess, you have to make mistakes to lose. Top players don't make very many mistakes, so often nobody loses.

> In chess, you have to make mistakes to lose.

That's a conjecture. Nothing more. Nobody knows whether it is true! It is possible that a perfect player playing White may make you lose every time. It's even possible (though highly doubtful) that this holds for Black instead.

Post reply on HN