GoldBlog – Blog GoldChess.com

Day of Krystian
Excitement … excitement… for us too! 🙂
This time it was a European week. No players from India or China. Instead, a few brilliant players, among them today’s best Krystian Jacek.
Problem 1: two players submitted author’s solutions, first GM Jasto, time 5:13, second Krystian Jacek 6:33.
Problem 2: only one player, Krystian Jacek. However, without winning the queen, no prize.
Problem 3: first four solutions identical, prize only for the first player, Krystian Jacek
Problem 4: one solution only, but aurhor’s solution: Krystian Jacek
This player truly shows an incredible shape tonight. But will he solve the 5th too?
$1.000 is a nice lump sum for the 5th problem. Here, we need to play the game Wojtaszek-Caruana, and sacrifice the queen. Problem 5: Krystian didn’t make it, didn’t submit any solution. We had, however, three winners here. They all brought something original and beautiful, so I am obliged to award all 3 of them. It is surprising, that 3 distinct solutions were submitted, and the author’s solution is still different from all of those! Beautiful!
The first and the winner, GM Gianni. Synthetic, correct solution to the problem. Unexpected queen sacrifice.
Two distinctions go to: GM Jasto for the nicest solution, the beginning just like the winner, but then forced mate in 7 moves, a truly virtuoso solution.
Sargis Manukya, originality bonus.
And this is it for tonight. We invite everybody to the future editions of our weekly Non Stop tournament!
Problem 2 is still active for players; new license need to be purchased to continue solving this problem.

We are impressed. Beautiful solutions, new, efficient, creative and brilliant players, GM Sahaj Grover from India and Levon Hambardzumyan from Armenia. Yet, the tournament was won by the old players.The new ones could not understand the meaning of victory.It is explained in multiple locations on our website, so it was not our fault.But let me provide some additional explanation.A victory is a win where the computer surrenders and displays a –resign- message after the last move of the white.A winning position is not enough.
To make things absolutely clear: it can happen that, let’s say, the computer surrenders one move before a checkmate to a player playing a variant other than the one required by the author, which is, for example, a checkmate in the 30th move.If that is the case, even though the checkmate is imminent, the computer has not been actually checkmated and the solution cannot be counted as a checkmate.A checkmate is a must.
Let me also remind you that as a maximum a half of the prize is awarded for solutions other than the author’s one.
Now, let’s discuss the fourth in this year edition of the Non Stop 4 Tournament.
Problem 1 – only four moves to make. No correct solution was provided.
Problem 2.
In the previous edition of the Tournament there were 3 problems to solve: capture the queen in the 20th move and, starting from that position, achieve a victory in the 29th move and a mate in the 33th move.Nobody managed to find out how to capture the queen in the 20th move, so today we’ve shown the solution and continued with the v29 and m33 problems.
v29 – Problem 2.
Sahaj was the first to submit a solution. Unfortunately, it was an incorrect one, a certain position with no –resign- message displayed.
Manukyan from Armenia submitted a solution as the second player. Nevertheless, it was an irrelevant one – a mate in the 29th move.But it was a good solution to Problem 3.
Only the third solution was correct. It was submitted by a brilliant player from Poland, Krystian Jacek, who is the winner.
Problem 3. A difficult choice amongst many nice solutions. However, only 2 of them fulfilled the prerequisite of capturing the queen in the 20th move.And it was so simple.Just 2 moves… The undisputable winner would be Łukasz Luba, as he had the best, unbelievable time of one minute and six seconds. But he captured the queen in the 21st move, so no prize could be awarded.The authors of the 2 solutions in which the queen was captured as required are the winners.
1. Krystian Jacek – the most beautiful game, a forcing mate in 8 moves.
2. GM Gianni – a mate with a knight in 32 moves.
An honorable mention went to Sargis Manukyan, who was the fifth player to submit a solution. His solution was the quickest one, with a mate in the 28th move, but he captured the queen only in the 26th move.

Problem 4-v27, a position from the Wojtaszek-Caruana game. Nobody managed to solve it.We received two incorrect solutions. But we would like to mention Levon Hambardzumyan, whose solution included a mate in the 29th move, last 5 moves are forced. A nice solution.

And the hit of the Non Stop Tournament – Problem No. 5.With a prize of $1,000 for a solution identical with the author’s one.Nobody submitted such a solution, but we chose two solutions and awarded prizes for their beauty. You must see them! Medal Winners-Non4-5.
As an exception, we would like to show also an unsolved author’s problem, as the two rewarded solutions impressedus very much and we would like to show that we can play chess, too.

It’s amazing that nobody managed to solve Problem 1, which required only 4 moves.So, we leave the Problem available for solving. The person who is the first to submit a correct solution will be awarded the full price.New players can try to solve Problem 1 as well. Entry fee: $2.
Feel invited to play.

The results were generally poor. Maybe that’s because players from India, USA and Russia did not take part?
Problems 1 (with a prize of $300), 2 and 3 (2 x $150) were interconnected.The first problem was to capture the queen in the 20th move, and that solution was the key to problems 2 and 3, as they required the players to win in 29 moves and to checkmate in the 33th move, starting from the position which was the solution to problem 1.
However, nobody provided the author’s solution to problem No. 1, so there was no “continuation” in solving problems 2 and 3.
At the same time it turned out that the players submit solutions that simply “come out”.
Problem 1 – the unquestionable winner was LevonHambardzumyan.That 19 years old player from Armenia was the quickest to capture the queen. He did that in the 18th move.
Problem 2 – the winner was GM Jasto, who won in the 20th move (the shortest solution) after capturing the queen.
Problem 3 – no winner.Here the drawback of solutions other than the author’s one became apparent.The players submitted checkmates in 28, 27, and 26 moves.But after a Goldchess revision which revealed in one of those solutions a checkmate in the 23th move, all the solutions were rejected.That was done in accordance with the Goldchess Rules and Regulations.
Problem 4 – that was a very difficult one, not solved in other games. Nobody submitted a solution.
Problem 5 – a single solution, different than the author’s one, was submitted.It was a correct one.Nevertheless, as it was not a solution identical with the author’s one, and after a comparison with the quality of the author’s solution, the prize was reduced to $150.
Solutions other than the author’s one are not always worse.If they are better, we admit that and award a prize.Even double ones, as in Gold 0 Problem 3, where we awarded the Super Genius title and, of our own volition, a double prize.Check out that solution by Hayk Yeritsyan and you will understand at once what is most important and valuable for Goldchess.
To sum up, in this Non Stop 3 edition the players won only $375 out of a pool of $2100.You must admit that it’s not an impressive result.But we need to look into the future with optimism.Things will become better.And that’s what we wish you.Sincerely, as Goldchess is about the fun of creating the beauty of chess, and we want you to create it with us and win.
Goldchess team

Outstanding problems, thrilling emotions. The players managed to solve only 1 out of 5 problems. They did not provide any solution identical with the author’s one, although for problem 3 they submitted a solution better than the one devised by the author. But one thing at a time. Game 1, time: 10 minutes, two solutions. Problem: capture the queen in the 15th move. The first solution was a witty one. The player (IM) captured the queen one move earlier – in the 14th one – but was checkmated in the 15th move. . The problem can be found amongst the featured solutions as an example of brilliant play by… our computer.  For the player – a consolation prize of $50.
Problem 2, time: 10 minutes, 2 solutions, both with time-out, provided after the lapse of the set time. One of them was bad, v21, the other one was better, but late. Oh, excuse me. There is also a third one, with a time of 1 hour 47 seconds. Timeout. Knockout. 
Problem 3 was the only one where the players showed some skill. Although no solution identical with the author’s one was submitted, there were 4 other solutions. One was handed in after the lapse of the time limit, three received some token prizes. The games are available in Winners-Non1-3, 2017.
Problem 4, time: 15 minutes, one solution, checkmate in the 34th move. Not to the point, as the task was as follows: win in the 30th move and time-out, time: 21 minutes.
Problem 5. The same position, as in problem 4, but a checkmate with a pawn in the 31st move is required to win. Nobody submitted a solution, although the time limit for this problem was the longest one – half an hour. The prize was $100, and we also proposed that the player submitting a correct solution would receive ANY title he or she wanted.
Those of you who have read carefully our announcements know that the last Non Stop Tournament in 2016 was unlucky for the players. The beginning of the new year was similar. Is that a temporary slump in form? Or do we need some new strength, talented players, amateurs and professionals?
Therefore, we invite you to take part on 14 January in the 2nd Edition of the Non Stop Tournament, and to play our free games – Genius Test, Gold 0 ( for players not older than 16), and Grandmaster Corner, for Grandmasters, with a prize of $1,000.
Best greetings,
Goldchess team

The last week of the year, a black week for the players of the saturday’s Non Stop tournament.
They solved only one of the 5 tasks.
We wish you better results in the New, 2017 Year.
Goldchess team

When I started my Goldchess adventure I wondered how the problem solving will influence my practical chess playing abilities. I confess that I had several concerns because solving consists in playing a sort of game against CEEC engine which is set to a relatively weak 5th level. Actually it always meant playing against a much weaker rival. Of course, I cannot say that I played “normal” games, because in Goldchess you start from a given position and look for solution “upon request” (taking into account specific requirements, such as checkmate in 30 moves after sacrificing the queen), which means solutions that are far from being standard and that enrich the chess player’s imagination.
I also believe that solving Goldchess problems enhances the player’s creative powers and sharpens his or her tactical skills which constitute basic chess competence that all the players should possess.

Since the moment I started to solve Goldchess problems, almost 2 months ago, I have played 15 tournament games, of which I won 7 and tied 8 without suffering any defeat. Maybe it is much too early to jump to some definite conclusions but I can certainly say that solving had no negative impact on my playing skills. Moreover, I get the impression that all this makes me play better. Particularly when it comes to counting variants.

If anyone still has any doubt I can say that the tests performed on myself brought forth some positive results 🙂

GM Artur Jakubiec

Why prizes for solutions other than the author’s original ones are lower? (Such solutions can be rewarded with up to a half of the prize or the players can receive no prize at all).
The reason is quite simple. We don’t know and we can’t be sure if they have been worked out by the player on his or her own, or with the use of another piece of chess software. And we do not reward “solutions” provided with the use of chess software.
As regards the author’s original solutions, stronger chess programs generally don’t provide them, so they are recognized without any reservations. Nevertheless, a prize can always be divided between the author’s original solution and a better or an outstanding solution different than the author’s original one.
Goldchess team

An interview with Grandmaster Artur Jakubiec, a distinguished coach who is presently responsible for the Polish national junior team. The chess team, of course.

They say you have been enraptured by Goldchess-
I won’t deny. The sheer struggle against an educational application, on an amateur level, is exciting. A grandmaster is facing it, and it is not afraid. 🙂
Besides, the idea itself is inventive. I personally really like it. It’s very difficult to create a product that wouldn’t be already present on the market. It’s so… refreshing:). For the royal game, of course.

In the Genius Test, you came up with your own solution, which was equally if not more beautiful than the author’s one. Was that difficult?
A grandmaster will play a specific variant differently against another grandmaster, an international master or an amateur. When playing against an amateur, the grandmaster will have an opportunity – because of the difference of skill levels – to play rougher variants, make some brilliant moves and play spectacular endgames. That will be of benefit both for the chess, and for the grandmaster. To win a Goldchess game, a professional chess player having specific knowledge about chess often has to go beyond that knowledge and improve his or her skills at least in terms of his or her concepts or visionary capabilities. Generally, Goldchess develops the players’ imagination and teaches them how to play beautifully. Because if there is a condition: to capture and to sacrifice the queen, it must be done and something extraordinary needs to be displayed on the board. Which quite often is not that simple.

Your solution to a problem has won an award in Genius Test-
I’m glad about that. It’s an encouragement for me and for others, as it means that we can win and receive awards also when instead of the author’s solution we provide our own solution, which is original and of good quality. That means that anyone can win and receive a prize.

According to your opinion, how will amateurs perform in Goldchess?
Better than professionals. The Goldchess theory seems to be confirmed here. If you want to play Goldchess, put your grandmaster title aside and just start playing chess. Your knowledge and the patterns you are familiar with can only restrain you here. I think that means Goldchess provides equal opportunities for everyone. I watched the Polish Goldchess Championship coverage on the portal. The author said there that if Carlsen himself had appeared on the Championship, he couldn’t have been even 1% sure that he would have solved a problem first and win. And this seems to confirm that.
Therefore, it is a game that may attract masses, just as the Rubik’s cube did. You don’t need to leave your home to play Goldchess, and there are attractive prizes. It’s appealing. Besides, its exciting, and the adrenaline levels are even higher than during common chess tournaments.

So, you will play Goldchess games?
Certainly I will. I’ve received a cooperation proposal from Goldchess, but if there is no conflict of interest, I will play.

Thank you for the interview.

Basically, chess is a game where the one who can see one move ahead of their opponent wins. But it’s too humble and insufficient a definition.

Chess is an immensity of possibilities. Billions of them. If we count only 4 moves in each position at one point we notice with astonishment that a game consisting of barely 15 moves has one billion continuations. Whereas a 20-move game has one thousand billion variants, which is one trillion. Amazing, isn’t it? I need to admit that it is.

However, actually there is no player, even among those most decorated, who would be able to and took into consideration this multiplicity of variants; players always confine themselves to choosing the strongest move out of 4 possible. Usually players predict 3 subsequent moves in a given position. Obviously, a good player can count/predict 6, 7, and sometimes even 10 moves, which could make us conclude that the idea behind playing this game is as follows: in chess the one who predicts one move more than their opponent wins.

Apart from this analytic and accurate counting of moves and variants, which, even though often arduous, always pays off, chess is also about brilliance, introspective insight and a depth of thinking unseen in other fields of sports and entertainment.

Chess is simultaneously an art, philosophy and mastery of meditation.

It’s beauty. The beauty of both chess and the mind. The beauty of visions, conceptions and the virtuosity of gambits and brilliant moves.

Chess is a mirror reflecting people’s character. This game helps to form and build it, correct mistakes and weaknesses; it also sharpens intelligence. Like a good teacher, chess teaches perseverance, achieving goals, go-getting and… creating beauty.

And that’s why, not without a reason, it was once named the King’s Game.

Those chess players who glory in having created games recognized as most beautiful, or brilliant, will pass into Eternity.

Those who still haven’t created such games can fulfill this dream with Goldchess.

Because Goldchess is not only about fun, awards and titles.

For the best, as stated above, it ensures passing into Eternity.
Gteam

Goldchess is a new way of chess. We bring a fresh breath to the royal game in our pursuit of beauty and aesthetics. We are a global chess community promoting brilliancy in the game of chess through letting every player discover their inner genius. Goldchess is somewhat like a modern form of solving chess problems which promotes creative ideas, courageous attacks and spectacular sacrifices. By encouraging our participants to be creative and active, we help them develop confidence in their skills and satisfaction with their play, prizes they win, titles they receive and a sense of belonging in the Goldchess community.

Goldchess contributes to the heritage of the royal game by generating a multitude of beautiful games played by everybody. Our products allow every chessplayer to be a part of something extraordinary. The frameworks of our games and money prizes create a unique, unmatched experience, which inspires motivation, competitive spirit and creativity.

We offer a wide variety of products. First of all, we bring back the good habit of awarding beautiful chess games by sponsoring brilliancy prizes in tournaments all around the world. Just recently, we awarded GM Alexander Fier from Brazil for his excellent win over IM Warakomski in the Najdorf Memorial tournament in July 2016. We plan to further award chess players, authors of beautiful games, in many future tournaments.

In most of our games, the participants are instructed to beat the CEEC computer program (educational level, rating of 1800) ELO within a fixed number of moves (or, if possible, faster than the author), while satisfying certain border conditions, such as the solution involving a queen sacrifice, or the checkmate being delivered by a certain piece. One such game, the Gold0, is addressed toward amateur players exclusively. Participation is free of charge. You can try your skills out here and see how you do against other amateur players. We also have a free monthly game, Genius Test (more difficult), with prizes ranging in the hundreds of dollars, and titles of Goldchess Genius.

This week, we are concluding first editions of two tournaments: the Rosija-America Departments Tournament and the Independent Department Tournament. In the former, positions from the match Anand-Gelfand were chosen as tasks to be solved, giving the players a chance to put themselves in the shoes of the World Champion and the Challenger. The fastest participants to submit correct solutions win prizes. This framework is our signature idea.

We will be launching a new product within the next few weeks: Goldchess Express, a quick tournament with a prize pool of $25,000 to be distributed to the winners over a week (5 times $5,000). We now accept entries to the tournament. The price of the license which gives the right to participate is $25. For more information, please check out our webpage www.goldchess.com.

Goldchess World Cup is planned for 2017, with entries already being accepted. If a sufficient number of entries comes before 1st December 2016, the Goldchess World Cup will take place this year. The winner, future Goldchess World Champion, will earn $10,000.

You thought good money prizes in chess were reserved for the top 10 players in the world? That is not true. Without having to leave your house, you can successfully compete and win thousands of dollars at www.goldchess.com. In Goldchess, everybody has equal chances. Join us now! Goldchess Express is waiting for you, and so is the CEEC – just listen to our song.

Try to get the title of Goldchess Genius. The title is reserved for the first 10 players to submit correct solutions to our Genius Test. Among those 10 players, we will draw a prize of $200.
Everybody is welcome to participate!
Gteam