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rallyvincent
3/24/2008
14:57:57
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 Subject: Would you play them?
Message:
Now, we all know from the Blitz area that there are players that won't play unless they have their favorite color (usually the white pieces). But from time to time, you'll find these kind of players offering normal games. They have about 80% of their games with white - and the 20% with black presumable because in tournaments, they have to play games with black. (And no, not only middle/low rated players, I stumbled across a player at the edge of 2000).
Would you play against them?
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garos
3/24/2008
17:14:59
[ report abuse ] | Not inclined to..
Message:
I came across a fellow who stated in his profile, "I play white. If that doesn't suit you, too bad." or words to that effect. I can remember my instant reaction was, "No way." He had played 100's of games, and looking through his past games list I saw maybe a handful where he had played black. Wish I could remember his name. I'd know it immediately if I saw it again, and I won't be playing him.
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chessnovice
3/24/2008
17:22:40
[ report abuse ] | ...
Message:
I wouldn't be adverse to it. I prefer the black side of the board, after all.
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ganstaman
3/24/2008
17:33:48
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Message:
I'd see no problem with it. I enjoy playing chess, from either side of the board. So if I were looking for a game, I wouldn't be swayed by this factor.
On the other hand, when playing blitz, I've had it where I got white and the player resigned immediately, we both then started new blitz games and got paired up again, and the other player now has white and makes a move. I find this unacceptable and resign immediately.
The reason I do it like this is that with the non-blitz games, we both have to agree in advance on the color, so that's fine. But with the blitz games, we just agree to play a game with random colors (and if the other player won't accept that, then I won't either).
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munja100
3/25/2008
02:40:18
[ report abuse ] | I signed up few days ago
Message:
on Yahoo! chess. There I played around 10 matches, all with white in order to practice king's gambit for an OTB tourney. But, of course, I don't plan to keep playing with white...
I saw on this site a few players with more than 90% games with white. And I'm talking about players that completed more than 100, or even more than 1000 matches. I find that funny. I wonder what they think they will achieve... Obviously, they aren't trying to improve their overall playing level. I don't mind playing a match or two against such players, but 10 matches, all with black, are something different.
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marinvukusic
3/25/2008
05:22:07
[ report abuse ] | Other side of the coin
Message:
I have a friend here on GK who is playing almost exclusively with Black (I think he only plays rematches with White). The reason is that he loves various Sicilian setups I have shown him and on his level (around 1400) nobody plays dangerous main lines (while most people play 1.e4). Since most people like to play with White he gets to practice playing positions he likes and therefore he scores very nicely. With White he plays 1.c4 :)
Regarding those that think having White is a huge advantage - first your playing strength should go up around at least 1st category level (I estimate that is over 2000 on GK) for that to even be a factor. On lower levels such a small advantage is meaningless and players like that "I only play White" guy look ridiculous IMHO (they want to have an unfair advantage but are hardly able to exploit it).
Regarding Blitz - I thought people resign immediately because they don't want to play against me and lose, it didn't even occur to me that colour of the pieces is a factor.
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heinzkat
3/25/2008
07:25:45
[ report abuse ] | A few of those pesky White players...
Message:
 gameknot.com
gameknot.com
gameknot.com
:)
If there was an option on the 'start game' page (gameknot.com) to 'Play as:' White/Black/Both I would definitely choose 'both'. For now I just take White when setting up such a game.
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ccmcacollister
3/25/2008
09:03:23
[ report abuse ] | Sounds so ...
Message:
marinvukusic said, "Regarding those that think having White is a huge advantage - first your playing strength should go up around at least 1st category level (I estimate that is over 2000 on GK) for that to even be a factor. On lower levels such a small advantage is meaningless and players like that "I only play White" guy look ridiculous IMHO (they want to have an unfair advantage but are hardly able to exploit it)."
I have to agree with the concept, tho I can't say what the cut-off might be here. But it does seem to me that having WT is not so extremely significant until a player comes to the point where they can play most of their WT's without making significant error, including positional. Assuming that their opponent is one astute enough to capitalize at least.
For example, I can recall playing ccm Alex Dunne in postal Chess and was Amazed and a bit envious that in our game he was able to maintain his pull (as Black yet!) for well over a dozen moves it seemed, once he got the edge. Leaving me feeling I needed about a 1/2 Tempo the whole time to equalize. I finally got it in the weirdest way, offering an IF move that would have made all our pieces and pawns on exactly the same squares (for eg if you cut the board in half and spun the bl side, both would look identical~!) with him to move, but that Move was to his disadvantage there! So he naturally avoided it. But at that point I finally felt I had "caught up" in the game.
Another thing is this: that it is generally sometime while in the lower classes or mid-class that players will begin to crack the books and really try to learn an opening
defense and put it to use. Since there are so many WT lines to know, often the player with BL, in such a situation has a definate advantage! For they will know their black defense much better than their opponent knows it ... unless he perhaps
plays the same defense when BL. I think this is part of the reason BL tends to do well in the GK under1900 d-base, especially.
I must admit, I have many times found myself in the same situation in OTB, where if BL knows his defense very well, and he's caught me off-guard, it can become a very difficult game, and consume much thinking time in the process.
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ccmcacollister
3/25/2008
09:08:33
[ report abuse ] | oh, duh ...
Message:
Would I play them?
Sometimes in corr. if something looks interesting. Usually yes in blitz here on GK, due to thinking maybe they are on a Winning Streak, and well ... I like to break them }B-)
But usually No, if I see someone it only taking WT's on another blitz site where that is known to me before the game starts. Mainly as I prefer to play WT, because I have more fun at it than BL. Also, I feel they are not being completely fair. Especially if they were to WIN, then not take BLACK !! :))
In blitz, I will always give someone a chance to play WT if possible, if I have just won a game against them where I had WT. It only seems fair to me to do so, and maybe they are better with WT. At least they get to open as they wish.
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tugger
3/25/2008
09:41:09
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Message:
one of the players heinzkat links, shooter56, ironically has won more games as black in percentage terms than as white...
when someone resigns as black in blitz, and i get paired up again and they're white this time, i let them make a move, then go and put the kettle on... they usually resign and go looking for another game after about 30 seconds.
oh drat, i broke my promise not to post in here again.
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lighttotheright
3/25/2008
20:24:13
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Message:
I've won more games playing black on GK. The difference in win/loss ratio between white and black is only slight; but the advantage goes to black when I play. I don't know how long this will hold true for me. Lately, I have started to win more games while playing white. In the long run, it is probably about equal.
Someone who only wanted to play white? I would be reluctant to play them.
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kreifi
3/26/2008
06:42:49
[ report abuse ] | Dont get it
Message:
Whats wrong if someone wants to train certain opening or something? We all don't just play fun or whatever reason, there is also people who really train to get better. No one uses all openings or is comfortable playing them. I have like certain openings and if I really wanted to get better chess (of course I want, but I have other things to do so I normally play just for fun) I would train those openings that I prefer.
I play with white and black, really don't care witch but I like to play 50/50. It doesn't really matter what my opponent thinks, I still get black or white, just as I wanted.
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greyrabbit
3/26/2008
07:10:33
[ report abuse ] | *rotfl*
Message:
@ Heinzkat, I love that last profile link, seems like a right odd fellow that one ;-)
Marin - maybe thats so, but personally I always feel more comfortable playing white, maybe its just a psychological thing as from my stats there isn't a great deal of difference.
Would I play them, depends what their rating is ;-) As Craig says I love breaking streaks and if I think I can I will ;-)
Cheers
Charlie
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ccmcacollister
3/26/2008
07:36:23
[ report abuse ] | okay ...
Message:
That's a good point, kreifi . When I look at it that way, there have been a few players I have especially wanted to play because they DO specialize in a certain opening & I wanted to gain the benefit of their expertise & learn from playing against it, as well as have a competitive aspect. Such as chessnovice above, who has specialized in Kurjatko Gambit games, which are very interesting. I cannot
claim any mastery of that opening even now, yet it still fascinates me.
***
While he would play either color, the other two play a particular color of their chosen opening. One WT, the other BL, just because it is the side they specialized in. And it seems fully sporting to me in a competitive sense, as well as being a learning experience, since you both know what is to be played before starting. And they don't have wide open options, as if someone just demands a certain color without restriction on what they might play against you. That then seems more like a handicap game. Which can also be fun. But I would be reluctant to face an equal player at such odds, especially in a completely competition oriented arena such as multiple blitz games unless just being in a mood to be challenged ... or to lose }8-D
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easy19
3/26/2008
16:39:33
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Message:
No problem with playing them.
I prefer playing with black myself and never encountered any one here who not likes to play against me with the white pieces..
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