Simultaneous chess
The simultaneous chess ( simultaneously latin / medium latin for simultaneously together is) a form of a chess game in which a player ( simultaneous player ) simultaneously against multiple targets ( simultaneous opponents acres). In the past, people also spoke of the series game .
Sense and game idea
Simultaneous games give players with low or medium knowledge and skills the opportunity to compete against players with high or very high skill levels. For the simultaneous opponents, who would have no chance in a 1: 1 game against such a player, the longer time to think about it and the concentration on only one game increase the chances of success. The simultaneous player not only has to overlook several games alternately, but also has to react more quickly: If n is the number of opponents, he has to consider and execute n moves in the time each of his opponents has available for a move .
Sequence of a simultaneous game
The gaming tables are set up so that the simultaneous player can easily move from one board to the other without switching sides. When he gets to the last board, he should be able to walk comfortably to the first board from there.
The simultaneous player has the choice of color. As a rule, he will play with the same color on all boards, mostly white. His own time to consider is at his discretion (unless limits have been agreed for the specific event), but he will only think a little longer in difficult positions in exceptional cases and otherwise play quickly - the more the more games are still in progress.
The simultaneous opponent has as long time to think about a move as the simultaneous player needs for a round across all boards, then he should move in front of the simultaneous player.
The simultaneous opponent has to play his game just like the simultaneous player without outside help. For the game itself, the usual competition rules (with the exception of the time to think about) such as “Touched - led”, abandonment, draw offers and the direct rules on the board apply.
Since chess games end at different speeds, the simultaneous player only plays on a few boards in the final phase. Since these are presumably the strongest of his opponents, his handicap is only slightly lower. Whether the simultaneous player sees the obligation of the simultaneous opponent to move immediately when he appears is a little more accommodating (i.e. gives his opponent some time to think about it) is up to the simultaneous player. As a simultaneous opponent, however, one should not overstrain such concessions.
Behavior during simultaneous play
The playful superiority of the simultaneous player is the starting point from which he gets involved in the game with several opponents. Nevertheless, one must consider that this represents a high physical and psychological performance and strain, and show this performance the necessary respect, especially by not abusing the trust of the simultaneous player and playing fairly, for example
- no change of position while the master looks away (most simultaneous players notice this anyway, which can end up being embarrassing for the simultaneous opponent);
- no consultation with other players or lapwing ;
- no use of literature, telecommunications media or computers;
- no haggling over color choice, cooling off time or unaccepted draw offers (e.g. by repeating the offer after each move);
- Make the move when the simultaneous player comes to the board and not make it beforehand and then readjust the move by pointing the finger (very important for many simultaneous players!).
Simultaneous chess as a training tool
The higher the skill level of a simultaneous player (compared to his opponents), the more opponents he can allow to play against him at the same time. When playing against two or only a handful of opponents, however, a comparatively small difference in skill level is often enough to create approximately equal opportunities. Simultaneous play is therefore also a good training tool, either when the trainer competes against several of his students or when the best of the training group compete against two or more of the less advanced training colleagues.
Records in simultaneous chess
The largest simultaneous event took place on November 19, 1966 in Havana. 380 chess masters played against 18 opponents each on 6840 boards.
Single player records with most opponents:
- GM Ulf Andersson (1996, 310 opponents)
- IM Andrew David Martin (February 2004 in Crowthorne , 321 opponents in 16 hours, 51 minutes: +294, = 26, -1)
- GM Susan Polgar (July 2005 in Palm Beach , 326 opponents in 16 hours, 30 minutes: +309, = 14, -3)
- GM Kiril Georgiev (February 2009 in Sofia , 360 opponents in 14 hours, 8 minutes: +284, = 70, -6)
- GM Morteza Mahjoob (August 2009 in Tehran , 500 opponents in 18 hours: +397, = 90, -13)
- GM Alik Gershon (October 2010 in Tel Aviv , 523 opponents in 19 hours: +454, = 58, -11)
- GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami (February 2011 in Tehran, 604 opponents in 25 hours: +580, = 16, -8)
For the record to be recognized by the Guinness Book of Records , the simultaneous player must score at least 80 percent of the possible points.
Special shapes
Blind simultaneous
When a simultaneous player plays with no view of the boards, it is called blind simultaneous chess .
Handicap Simultaneous
In the handicap simultaneous (also called clock handicap ) normal chess clocks are used. The simultaneous opponents make their move without waiting for the simultaneous player and start his clock. The burden for the simultaneous player is particularly great because he is under additional time pressure. In addition, he has to keep track of the games in which he is currently on the move and what his time cushion is like. Handicap simultaneous with (both sides) 30 to 90 minutes thinking time on about 10 boards is common.
Tournament Simultaneous
When tournament simultaneous players involved (FFA) play basically a vollrundiges tournament. However, all games run simultaneously and with time control. The players must recognize the games in which they are currently moving and usually mark the move they have just made with a small ring that is placed over the piece they have moved. In contrast to other simultaneous variants, all participants should have the same level of performance. In a sense, everyone is simultaneously a simultaneous player and opponent.
Team simultaneous
If several players take turns playing a move in the same game on the side of the simultaneous player, this is called team simultaneous . A well-known team simultaneous takes place every year in Baden-Baden. Eight Bundesliga players from the OSG Baden-Baden play against up to 150 opponents.
Web links
- Edward Winter : Large simultaneous display (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ About Schach-Echo 1956/23 cover pages
- ↑ New record in simultaneous play , Chessbase.de, February 26, 2009
- ↑ Mahjoob breaks Guinness record with 500-board simul , Chessvibes.com, August 17, 2009
- ↑ http://www.suedostschweiz.ch/vermischtes/israeli-bricht-simultanschach-rekord-und-verdr%C3%A4ngt-iraner
- ↑ New world record for 604-board simul by Iranian GM Maghami , Chessbase.com, February 14, 2011