[blind-chess] Future of the Ladder Tournament
- From: "Paul Benson" <paul.benson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2012 02:40:28 -0000
Hello Richard and all,
Blind chess has grown in the opportunities offered since April 2010. Initially
there was only the Ladder and friendly games. Now there are also the seasonal
events, themed openings or free choice, and the consultation, 2 vs 2 games.
The Ladder serves the purpose of offering new members immediate access to a
serious challenge. They could have to wait anything upto 7 months to take part
in a seasonal event, depending on when they joined.
Perhaps players who have been inactive for a chosen time, could be contacted
before any action occurs enquiring if they wished to be either removed or
hibernated.
Hibernation: Hibernated players keep their position on the ladder, but do not
count for purposes of other players seeking an opponent, it is as if they were
engaged in a challenge. They can re-activate themselves whenever they wish, and
become available for challenges again, in the position they were on when going
into hibernation. A player in hibernation wakes up by either issuing a
challenge, or posting to the list their wish to wake up, and become available
for challenges. A player can voluntarily enter hibernation, but only once all
games or seasonal events they have entered are completed.
Perhaps any endgame events, a good idea, should not be rated. If the chosen
positions have been taken from known games, as opposed to being constructed,
then the moves of the entire game could also be given. This will assist in some
way in deciding how to continue from the starting position. The names of the
players concerned should not be released, the positions must be anonymous.
Lastly, a suggestion which could easily receive a visit, from those polite but
forceful people in white coats. Perhaps try running the Ladder for a cycle,
without calculating ratings. Some will feel this is chess heresy, demanding
their hard-earned victories to receive full rating reward. However, the other
side of that argument also applies, the loser also receives a rating change,
and as a rating slowly sinks lower and lower, perhaps their desire to improve
becomes blunted, as the numbers continually point out to all concerned, that
chess improvement is for most people, a slow and potentially painful process.
For every rating gain, there must be an equivalent rating loss. When there is a
considerable rating difference between players, the higher rated player has
much to lose, and is likely to work hard to avoid such. If there are no rating
points on the line, the higher rated player can play much more quickly, with
the possibility that the lower rated player will have better chances during the
middlegame, and feel inspired to fight hard, rather than being confronted with
the usual depressing poor position, which only seems to offer tactical
opportunities for the higher rated player. This non-rated Ladder could offer
lower rated players the opportunity of having good, if not actually winning
positions, against much higher rated opponents. It is then up to the higher
rated player to show why they have a higher rating, and fight hard, leaving the
lower rated player with one of the most difficult chess lessons of all, winning
a won position against a stronger opponent. There will still be rated games in
the seasonal events, so players in a non-rated Ladder will still be able to
have a rating list to consult for an indication of strength of the opponent.
Paul Benson.
-----Original Message-----
From: R Dinger - Email Address: rrdinger@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent On: 23/11/2012 16:51
Sent To: chess - Email Address: blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-chess] Future of the ì¨Ladder Tournament
Hello All,
Interest in our Ladder Tournament seems to be fading. We generally only have
two or three games being played at any time and there are several players that
have not played in over a year.
What would the group like to do with the Ladder? Here are a few thoughts I
have:
1 Leave the Ladder as is.
2. Open up the challenge rules to allow challenging anyone.
3. Automatically remove idle players after a year.
4. Discontinue the Ladder.
If you have some ideas on how to improve the Ladder, please respond to this
thread so the group can discuss them.
Richard
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