Bill Gates loses to Magnus Carlsen in 9 moves • Hacker News Board

Re: Bill Gates loses to Magnus Carlsen in 9 moves

#141

Post by kurumo » Sat, Jan 25, 2014, 11:19 PM UTC

jsyedidia wrote: post #47

Actually, Carlsen was playing for tricks (as might be reasonable when you have just 30 seconds). Bill Gates had a winning position on the 9th move. If instead of 9. Nxe5?? which allows an immediate checkmate, he had played 9. Re1!, he would have had a huge advantage. I'm an international master, and more importantly, my computer backs up my opinion. I'm surprised Carlsen played a game with just 30 seconds on his cloc…

There is an IM in Boston who routinely gives people, mostly without regard for their rating, 30 seconds to 5 minutes odds with no increment. I have seen him win these controls against other masters. So comparatively it is not too surprising that Carlsen would be willing to accept these odds against an unrated amateur. Chess with this kind of time controls is basically a different game, which requires emphasis on different skills than do standard time controls.

Re: Bill Gates loses to Magnus Carlsen in 9 moves

#142

Post by RoboTeddy » Tue, Jan 28, 2014, 12:44 AM UTC

kurumo wrote: post #140

RoboTeddy wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If an amateur had 10 hours to think about each move of a chess game, and the GM he was playing against had 1 second for each move (and couldn't think on the amateur's time), the GM would still _crush_ the amateur. GMs kind of are super heroes of chess. (it is true though that 9 moves is a silly short game. most amateurs would last longer)

That is simply incorrect. A GM can perhaps give a strong amateur (2000+) 1 to 5 time odds, maybe 1 to 7, in under a minute time controls. Larger odds would be arrogant, foolish or even suicidal, depending on the specific GM (rating, opening repertoire, etc.)

By amateur I was imagining ~1500. If in chess circles "amateur" means "anyone other than a master/grandmaster", then my statement as written is probably false!

Re: Bill Gates loses to Magnus Carlsen in 9 moves

#143

Post by ca98am79 » Sun, Feb 02, 2014, 3:34 AM UTC

mmanfrin wrote: post #92

jsyedidia wrote: post #47

Actually, Carlsen was playing for tricks (as might be reasonable when you have just 30 seconds). Bill Gates had a winning position on the 9th move. If instead of 9. Nxe5?? which allows an immediate checkmate, he had played 9. Re1!, he would have had a huge advantage. I'm an international master, and more importantly, my computer backs up my opinion. I'm surprised Carlsen played a game with just 30 seconds on his cloc…

Is not knowing your opponent part of the strategy? Carlsen played the 'tricks' way he did because he knew, or felt reasonably certain that Gates would fall for them. Critiquing his play based on what you would do in Gates' position is simply wrong, because I'm assuming the #1 chess player in the world would play differently had he been playing against an international master such as yourself.

You are thinking of poker