Author: Peter Kappler
Date: 22:58:20 01/24/00
Go up one level in this thread
On January 25, 2000 at 01:13:23, Jeremiah Penery wrote: >On January 24, 2000 at 23:15:27, Peter Kappler wrote: > >>> Kasparov Allowing >>>a position with really no complications and allows an easy draw to Lputian a >>>2605! Lputian is so low rated that he's almost in a category were Kasp probably >>>hasn't played against in 10 years, a sub 2600 player(2500s). It could happen >>>but both in one day! >> >>You are underestimating the advantage of playing the White pieces at this >level. > >But when was the last time Kasparov lost with black? :) I remember the Hoogovens >tournament last year, where he won every(?) game he played with black, but kept >drawing with white. It was quite amazing. > >I think the whole 'advantage' of playing the white pieces is purely >psychological. I think Kasparov once speculated that white may be in zugzwang >in the opening position. (Please, someone, if you can either confirm or refute >these 'facts' I'm presenting, do so. :) It's a *very* significant advantage, especially at the super-GM level. I just verified this using ChessBase. I searched on all games in which both players were rated above 2550 FIDE. Out of 21376 games, White won 6035, Black won 3648, and 11689 were draws. Performance rating for white = 2654 Performance rating for black = 2575 So playing the White pieces is worth 79 rating points. --Peter
This page took 0 seconds to execute
Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700
Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.