Re: bathroom chess
 

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Could someone explain to me why anyone would go to the bathroom 50 times during a chess game, other than for cheating purposes?

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Chess players can be extremely superstitious and develop routines that can be very strange. It does seem plausible to me that this is something he is doing so he doesn't have to sit at the board the whole game....some players like doing that and some like to walk around a bunch and stuff.

I dunno, it really doesn't seem very weird to me if he doesn't like staying at the chessboard when thinking about many of his positions. Where else can he go?

Yugoslav

Re: bathroom chess
 

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Do computer programs (other than those on supercomputers) beat top chess players these days?

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not really, but they are definately up there.

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This isn't really true, to my knowledge. I don't think there's been a serious computer-human match any time recently where the computer hasn't at least drawn the human. In many cases the computer has been annihilating the human (I'm thinking of the Adams match here in particular), and while they are playing on somewhat powerful computers, they certainly aren't what I'd call supercomputers.

Yugo: don't worry, Topalov has crazy parapsychologists in his employ, too. If the match continues I'm sure we'll hear complaints about hypnosis and the like at some point.

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Yeah computers haven't really passed the top humans but the top humans aren't really proving that they are better either. However, in many situations it's very possible that being able to access a very strong computer program remotely could be extremely helpful in making a decision. But of course there is a ton of security and like almost no way he can go to the bathroom to cheat in this way.

I hope they start doing actually crazy [censored] b/c this bathroom thing IMO is very weak sauce [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img].

Yugoslav

Re: bathroom chess
 

I bet Luca stashed a piece behind the toilet in there. The dude's going to come out blasting.

Re: bathroom chess
 

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Could someone explain to me why anyone would go to the bathroom 50 times during a chess game, other than for cheating purposes?

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Hookers and blow?

Re: bathroom chess
 

[ QUOTE ]
Could someone explain to me why anyone would go to the bathroom 50 times during a chess game, other than for cheating purposes?

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Head games.

These world championship matches, for the most part, are between two evenly matches players, and most matches will end in draws. Any little edge to unsettle the opponent is often taken.

Just the appearance of going to the bathroom was targeted to knock Topalov off his game a little. And obviously it's working.

These world championship matches have a long history of such tactics being deployed. It's actually pretty standard.

Re: bathroom chess
 

In backgammon each player usually have 2-4 five min. breaks depending on the match length. I'm a bit surprised, that a similar rule doesn't exist in chess.

Re: bathroom chess
 

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Could someone explain to me why anyone would go to the bathroom 50 times during a chess game, other than for cheating purposes?

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Head games.

These world championship matches, for the most part, are between two evenly matches players, and most matches will end in draws. Any little edge to unsettle the opponent is often taken.

Just the appearance of going to the bathroom was targeted to knock Topalov off his game a little. And obviously it's working.

These world championship matches have a long history of such tactics being deployed. It's actually pretty standard.



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OK. So it's not cheating. It's just angle shooting?

Re: bathroom chess
 

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In backgammon each player usually have 2-4 five min. breaks depending on the match length. I'm a bit surprised, that a similar rule doesn't exist in chess.

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cause it's a lot easier to think ahead a few moves in chess

Re: bathroom chess
 

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[ QUOTE ]
Could someone explain to me why anyone would go to the bathroom 50 times during a chess game, other than for cheating purposes?

[/ QUOTE ]

Head games.

These world championship matches, for the most part, are between two evenly matches players, and most matches will end in draws. Any little edge to unsettle the opponent is often taken.

Just the appearance of going to the bathroom was targeted to knock Topalov off his game a little. And obviously it's working.

These world championship matches have a long history of such tactics being deployed. It's actually pretty standard.



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OK. So it's not cheating. It's just angle shooting?

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meta games aren't angles.

Re: bathroom chess
 

Kramnik had 2 wins, 2 draws, and 0 losses when the disputed fifth game took place. With only eight games remaining, Topalov was in a lot of trouble.