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Subject: Re: Playing Strength

Author: Nicholas Cooper

Date: 22:48:41 07/28/99

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On July 28, 1999 at 12:42:07, KarinsDad wrote:

>On July 28, 1999 at 07:19:25, Phil Dixon wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>A recent issue of the Colorado Chess Informant covering the 1998 U.S.
>>Championship, featured mini-interviews with several of the players. GM Joel
>>Benjamin was asked about the relative strength of 1700-, 2200- and 2700-players.
>>Joel said that a 1700 would probably have slightly better chances against a 2200
>>than a 2200 vs. a 2700. He reasoned that 2200s are erratic, i.e., their playing
>>strength is more likely to fluctuate than that of GMs.
>>
>>Joel was also asked how he would do against WCC Champion Garry Kasparov.
>>Benjamin responded that if he could get an opening edge against a GM of his own
>>strength, he'd most likely win. However, in the same scenario, Kasparov would
>>most likely draw or even beat him. For Joel to have a decent shot, Kasparov
>>would have to give him the White pieces, and draw odds.
>>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>>
>>The above piece is from Inside Chess Online.  A fine magazine, IMO.  But I would
>>be interested in others comments about this article.  Does the average GM need
>>White AND draw odds to have a chance against K?
>>
>>Does a 1700 have a BETTER chance against a 2200 than a GM against K?  It seems
>>like the answer is yes, IMO. He does have to play aggressively and constantly
>>strive for the initiative.
>
>I would think so. I am about a 1700 player and have had 2200 players on the
>ropes a few times. I have never managed to win (they somehow seem to squirm out,
>but I do know of cases where 1500 players have beaten 2200 players). Kasparov
>has lost very few games within the last 15 years and I believe that all (or
>almost all) of those loses have been against players within 200 points of him. I
>think the average GM does not stand much of a chance against him (at least not
>in practice, regardless of what the statistics say).

I agree and think this can also be applied to any of the so-called "Super GMs"
such as Anand, Shirov, Morozovich, Krammik etc. I truly believe that the
differnce between the Super GMs and the "average GM" (as if there's any such
thing!!) is very large and probably larger than the difference between a 1700
and 2200 player, since these top players develop many new ideas which are then
adopted by the other GMs if succesful...

>Now that I have said this, let me put in a caveat. I think an average GM has
>less chance of beating Kasparov than a 1700 player has of beating a 2200 player.
>However, I think an average GM has a better chance to draw Kasparov than a 1700
>player has of drawing a 2200 player.

Quite possibly but I think this is mainly due to more of the top level games
being drawn... perhaps because they're getting closer to playing "perfect" chess
and I *think* that a "perfect" game (one without any mistakes at all) would be a
draw.

> The reasons for this are: 1) GK will not
>often give up the win, but he will occasionally give up the draw, especially if
>he only needs draws to win a tournament and 2) there is a greater rating
>difference between a 1700 player and a 2200 player than there is between an
>average GM and Kasparov.
>
>>
>>Can a 1700 win a 10 game match against a 2200 player?
>
>There is a statistical possiblity. However, I do not see it ever happening in
>real life unless some other elements are there (the 2200 player being ill, the
>1700 player really being a 2100 player, etc.).
>
I agree entirely...

>KarinsDad :)

Nick Cooper



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