I know you're not talking to me, but I'll plead public forum privileges and
respond anyway. heh. I don't see any good reason why Judit or anybody else
should sacrifice herself to public sensation and to media types with short
attention spans. If she enjoys herself and the game of chess as herself, it
would be self destructive to come on as a promoter as you seem to suggest.
Maybe it's just not worth the energy drain to her to be drawn away from the
game and into the goofy world of wrangling and arguing with folks who do
that and little else and with little nod toward reason or civility .
Horribile dictu, she may end up in usenet "discussions" instead of studying
the Sicilian.

Wilma

"Alberich" wrote in message
. ..
You seem to be suggesting the situation is hopeless. No matter how
talented the women players are, there doesn't seem to be an end to the
obstacles they have to traverse in order to be taken seriously. Even
when your sister Judit Polgar finally beat Gary Kasparov recently, it
was pointed out the game was only rapid time controls.

And with all due respect GM Susan Polgar, I think your sister has to do
more. She's been an exemplary example of how a chess player should
conduct herself in the public arena. She's thoughtful, engaging and
intelligent. But unfortunately (and this is just my opinion),I believe
Judit Polgar doesn't know how to play the "political game" of chess.
Granted, it's possible she has no desire to muddy her hands in the dirty
political backwaters in the chess world. But for the sake of women chess
players, I believe Judit has to do more. She must take a stand against
FIDE and force it to wake up. She doesn't have to do this alone. She has
family like yourself to help her. But for goodness sake, GM Susan
Polgar...this situation with women chess players lagging behind the men
has to stop. The "nerdiness' charge alone about the game would go away
if your sister would take up the sad, but necessary step of publicity
for the game's sake. The wonders it would do for the chess world if
Judit Polgar were interviewed by Katie Couric is priceless. And I've
always wondered why Judit Polgar HASN'T been interviewed by Katie
Couric. I can't imagine why it SHOULDN'T happen. Especially now.

With all the backstabbing going on due to the controversies of
Ponomariov, Kramnik-Leko and Kasparov is enough to make anyone throw up
their hands in disgust. But your sister can put an end to that. Her
recent match with Anand should have been televised live on ESPN. That
would have done wonders for chess. I don't understand why it wasn't. At
least that match wouldn't have made people fall asleep like it did for
me during the Kasparov Deep Junior match. But what do we get instead? A
mind numbing 17 hours coverage of Kasparov against Deep Fritz in 3D! You
think people starting to get interested in chess will be at all
impressed with this game if the time control is 40 moves in 2 hours per
game?! That amounts to over 4 hours of staring at the computer screen or
television! Correct me if I'm wrong here GM Susan Polgar, but your
sister played Anand in the 8 game blitz match in Mainz at 25 minutes per
side. That's 50 minutes per game. Far more appealing for TV advertisers
and sponsors.

In sum...FIDE is not going to go out of its way to modernize the way
chess gets presented to the world. It's going to take someone like
yourself and your sister to rouse FIDE from its slumber. Otherwise women
chess players will never be taken seriously and may never get the chance
to compete fairly for the world chess championship.





In article ,
says...
Already discussed this in my ChessCafe.com column Last year, Humpy
Koneru was replacing Judit. This year, it is Lahno. Next year, there
will be talk of someone else. I have heard this for 30 years. Many
women reached 2400-2500 level. The question is will they have the
support or intensity to reach the next level? Will there be any
motivation for them to do so? When was the last time the Women's
World Championship held?

There are many things that can be done, but who is going to do it?
USCF? FIDE? With what money and whose money? For every issue that
was brought up here, there are 10-20-30 different opinions. No good
promoter can survive the chess politicians. In the mean time, stay
tune for 2004

Best wishes,
GM Susan Polgar
www.SusanPolgar.com
www.USScholasticChess.org




Alberich wrote in message
...
In article ,
says...
Judit is very special. She is one of the hardest worker in chess.
It
is not easy to train day in day out for 20-25 years. Talent alone
without hard work won't do it. She sacrificed a lot to get to where
she is right now and I am very proud of her. Family support is also
very important.

Best wishes,
GM Susan Polgar
www.SusanPolgar.com
www.USScholasticChess.org

This is all well and good. But how do you explain the lone rising star
of Kateryna Lahno? Why ONLY someone of her caliber is able to reach as
far as she could? She is the only other woman I can think of that can
be
considered another Judit Polgar. But this is because she makes it a
point to avoid playing women only tournaments. Is there something to
be
learned by this? Or is there still a reason why women chess
tournaments
still exist? I'm all for bringing up the quality of women playing
chess
but something has to be done to speed up the process. If I was in
Kirsan's shoes I'd make the bold suggestion to bring the best women
chess players to compete alongside the usual contestants for the World
Championship. Players like Alisa Maric, Galliamova, Skripchenko,
Paehtz
and Kosteniuk should have the same chance to fight for the World Chess
championship title. Even you, GM Susan Polgar could win the World
championship under such a rule change. But even if none of the
contestants I mentioned win...at least their inclusion in the FIDE
world
championship cycles would open the door more widely for women players
and give them the inspiration to play against the men more. This would
help narrow the gap between men and women much faster.

snipped

of that.

I have never listened to Bobby's interviews on the radio. We are
chess players. This is a chess forum. Let's only judge Bobby (the
World Champion) for what he has accomplished in chess.

Best wishes,
GM Susan Polgar
www.SusanPolgar.com
www.USScholasticChess.org


That's fine, and you certainly seem like a polite, gentle caring lady,
with much compassion, a great role model for all players, not just
women, but when people achieve a level of fame such as Fischer, or
you, people tend to give their words a little more weight than they
should, even on non-chess issues. So just as you use your influence to
improve chess for women in the US, Fischer chooses to use his
influence in more.. hurtful ways. But I will try myself to emulate you
and turn the other cheek...

This is precisely why I would never discuss my specific projects /
plans here until they happen Everyone has his/her own idea on how
to make things better but let's see someone do it.

When I was growing up, I had to go through what you are suggesting
Judit to do now. I had to fight my own federation, FIDE, and the
authority, etc. There were a lot of discrimination and unfairness.
It did take a negative affect in my career as well as Sofia. (You can
do your own research if you wish. What do you think if FIDE today
decide to give all Women's Chess Players 100-200 extra bonus rating
points except Judit. The reason? Because she plays only against men
and just because they want to see someone else ranked #1? Sounds
outrageous? Well, it happened. They did it to me. How do you fight
that? You are penalized if you play against men and you are ridiculed
if you play against women. Now what? What about if Judit qualifies
for the next World Championship only to be told sorry you cannot
participate because you are a woman? Sounds outrageous? Well, that
happened too to me. These are just two of many examples. Why would
I want her to go through that? That is my job, to pave the way for
her and other women players.) As Wilma said, it is better for her to
learn the Sicilian than to play the no-win political games. I do not
want Judit to go through what I did. I had the toughest time, then
Sofia. Judit was shielded to play chess and I am so proud of her to
have the discipline to go as far as she wants in chess.

I have met a few people who are very passionate about making chess
better and actually put their money, time, and effort to do it. But
as I said before, many of them don't survive the politicians. Just
look at any national federation or FIDE. Need I say more? I hope
2004 will be very different and I think many eyes will be opened very
wide This is will my last response to this topic. Let's move on
to something more productive and more interesting

Best wishes,
GM Susan Polgar
www.SusanPolgar.com
www.USScholasticChess.org


Alberich wrote in message ...
You seem to be suggesting the situation is hopeless. No matter how
talented the women players are, there doesn't seem to be an end to the
obstacles they have to traverse in order to be taken seriously. Even
when your sister Judit Polgar finally beat Gary Kasparov recently, it
was pointed out the game was only rapid time controls.

And with all due respect GM Susan Polgar, I think your sister has to do
more. She's been an exemplary example of how a chess player should
conduct herself in the public arena. She's thoughtful, engaging and
intelligent. But unfortunately (and this is just my opinion),I believe
Judit Polgar doesn't know how to play the "political game" of chess.
Granted, it's possible she has no desire to muddy her hands in the dirty
political backwaters in the chess world. But for the sake of women chess
players, I believe Judit has to do more. She must take a stand against
FIDE and force it to wake up. She doesn't have to do this alone. She has
family like yourself to help her. But for goodness sake, GM Susan
Polgar...this situation with women chess players lagging behind the men
has to stop. The "nerdiness' charge alone about the game would go away
if your sister would take up the sad, but necessary step of publicity
for the game's sake. The wonders it would do for the chess world if
Judit Polgar were interviewed by Katie Couric is priceless. And I've
always wondered why Judit Polgar HASN'T been interviewed by Katie
Couric. I can't imagine why it SHOULDN'T happen. Especially now.

With all the backstabbing going on due to the controversies of
Ponomariov, Kramnik-Leko and Kasparov is enough to make anyone throw up
their hands in disgust. But your sister can put an end to that. Her
recent match with Anand should have been televised live on ESPN. That
would have done wonders for chess. I don't understand why it wasn't. At
least that match wouldn't have made people fall asleep like it did for
me during the Kasparov Deep Junior match. But what do we get instead? A
mind numbing 17 hours coverage of Kasparov against Deep Fritz in 3D! You
think people starting to get interested in chess will be at all
impressed with this game if the time control is 40 moves in 2 hours per
game?! That amounts to over 4 hours of staring at the computer screen or
television! Correct me if I'm wrong here GM Susan Polgar, but your
sister played Anand in the 8 game blitz match in Mainz at 25 minutes per
side. That's 50 minutes per game. Far more appealing for TV advertisers
and sponsors.

In sum...FIDE is not going to go out of its way to modernize the way
chess gets presented to the world. It's going to take someone like
yourself and your sister to rouse FIDE from its slumber. Otherwise women
chess players will never be taken seriously and may never get the chance
to compete fairly for the world chess championship.





In article ,
says...
Already discussed this in my ChessCafe.com column Last year, Humpy
Koneru was replacing Judit. This year, it is Lahno. Next year, there
will be talk of someone else. I have heard this for 30 years. Many
women reached 2400-2500 level. The question is will they have the
support or intensity to reach the next level? Will there be any
motivation for them to do so? When was the last time the Women's
World Championship held?

There are many things that can be done, but who is going to do it?
USCF? FIDE? With what money and whose money? For every issue that
was brought up here, there are 10-20-30 different opinions. No good
promoter can survive the chess politicians. In the mean time, stay
tune for 2004

Best wishes,
GM Susan Polgar
www.SusanPolgar.com
www.USScholasticChess.org




Alberich wrote in message ...
In article ,
says...
Judit is very special. She is one of the hardest worker in chess. It
is not easy to train day in day out for 20-25 years. Talent alone
without hard work won't do it. She sacrificed a lot to get to where
she is right now and I am very proud of her. Family support is also
very important.

Best wishes,
GM Susan Polgar
www.SusanPolgar.com
www.USScholasticChess.org

This is all well and good. But how do you explain the lone rising star
of Kateryna Lahno? Why ONLY someone of her caliber is able to reach as
far as she could? She is the only other woman I can think of that can be
considered another Judit Polgar. But this is because she makes it a
point to avoid playing women only tournaments. Is there something to be
learned by this? Or is there still a reason why women chess tournaments
still exist? I'm all for bringing up the quality of women playing chess
but something has to be done to speed up the process. If I was in
Kirsan's shoes I'd make the bold suggestion to bring the best women
chess players to compete alongside the usual contestants for the World
Championship. Players like Alisa Maric, Galliamova, Skripchenko, Paehtz
and Kosteniuk should have the same chance to fight for the World Chess
championship title. Even you, GM Susan Polgar could win the World
championship under such a rule change. But even if none of the
contestants I mentioned win...at least their inclusion in the FIDE world
championship cycles would open the door more widely for women players
and give them the inspiration to play against the men more. This would
help narrow the gap between men and women much faster.

snipped

"Let's move on to something more productive and more interesting "
GM Susan Polgar

Okay. Fair enough. Here's a chess related question GM Susan Polgar. How
come Judit Polgar never uses the Smith Morra Gambit against opponents
like Kramnik or Kasparov when she has the chance? Why can't she blaze
the trail to use openings that haven't been seen in tournament play for
a very long time, say The King's Gambit? If I'm not mistaken, Judit
Polgar likes the Vienna Game, which I use pretty frequenly myself when I
play online. Why doesn't she use this?


















In article ,
says...
This is precisely why I would never discuss my specific projects /
plans here until they happen Everyone has his/her own idea on how
to make things better but let's see someone do it.

When I was growing up, I had to go through what you are suggesting
Judit to do now. I had to fight my own federation, FIDE, and the
authority, etc. There were a lot of discrimination and unfairness.
It did take a negative affect in my career as well as Sofia. (You can
do your own research if you wish. What do you think if FIDE today
decide to give all Women's Chess Players 100-200 extra bonus rating
points except Judit. The reason? Because she plays only against men
and just because they want to see someone else ranked #1? Sounds
outrageous? Well, it happened. They did it to me. How do you fight
that? You are penalized if you play against men and you are ridiculed
if you play against women. Now what? What about if Judit qualifies
for the next World Championship only to be told sorry you cannot
participate because you are a woman? Sounds outrageous? Well, that
happened too to me. These are just two of many examples. Why would
I want her to go through that? That is my job, to pave the way for
her and other women players.) As Wilma said, it is better for her to
learn the Sicilian than to play the no-win political games. I do not
want Judit to go through what I did. I had the toughest time, then
Sofia. Judit was shielded to play chess and I am so proud of her to
have the discipline to go as far as she wants in chess.

I have met a few people who are very passionate about making chess
better and actually put their money, time, and effort to do it. But
as I said before, many of them don't survive the politicians. Just
look at any national federation or FIDE. Need I say more? I hope
2004 will be very different and I think many eyes will be opened very
wide This is will my last response to this topic. Let's move on
to something more productive and more interesting

Best wishes,
GM Susan Polgar
www.SusanPolgar.com
www.USScholasticChess.org

Even
when your sister Judit Polgar finally beat Gary Kasparov recently, it
was pointed out the game was only rapid time controls.

Because it WAS at rapid controls - the point being not that what Judit
accomplished wasn't noteworthy, but that it does not warrant seeding her
in a world championship match.


And with all due respect GM Susan Polgar, I think your sister has to do
more. She's been an exemplary example of how a chess player should
conduct herself in the public arena. She's thoughtful, engaging and
intelligent. But unfortunately (and this is just my opinion),I believe
Judit Polgar doesn't know how to play the "political game" of chess.
Granted, it's possible she has no desire to muddy her hands in the dirty
political backwaters in the chess world. But for the sake of women chess
players, I believe Judit has to do more. She must take a stand against
FIDE and force it to wake up. She doesn't have to do this alone. She has
family like yourself to help her. But for goodness sake, GM Susan
Polgar...this situation with women chess players lagging behind the men
has to stop. The "nerdiness' charge alone about the game would go away
if your sister would take up the sad, but necessary step of publicity
for the game's sake. The wonders it would do for the chess world if
Judit Polgar were interviewed by Katie Couric is priceless. And I've
always wondered why Judit Polgar HASN'T been interviewed by Katie
Couric. I can't imagine why it SHOULDN'T happen. Especially now.

Maybe because Katie Couric, like many women, has little interest in
chess?

You know, we can't hang the fate of women's chess squarely on the
shoulders of the Polgar sisters. They are part of a small group that is
dedicated to making advances for chess, and women's chess in
particular. But, they can't do it all - and they should be lauded for
what they CAN accomplish, and not lamented for what they can't. Judit
"take a stand against FIDE and force it to wake up"? What does THAT
mean?? Is she supposed to threaten to boycott events if she and other
women aren't seeded into all the top events? Do you think that would
really do anything? She'd likely do more to damage her own chances of
success than help others. Besides, have you considered for a moment
that some women may still desire to play predominantly in women's-only
events? Why? Well, perhaps since the top male GMs are currently all
better players than them, maybe they feel they have little chance to be
"in the money" in such prestigious events such as Linares and Dortmund.
Should they pay their own travel expenses with little hope of winning
them back? I wouldn't say the situation is hopeless, but as the saying
goes, Rome wasn't built in a day. I think any gains that can be made
for women's chess is a good thing - and I'm looking forward to 2004 (as
Susan Polgar indicates).


With all the backstabbing going on due to the controversies of
Ponomariov, Kramnik-Leko and Kasparov is enough to make anyone throw up
their hands in disgust. But your sister can put an end to that.

No, she CAN'T.

Her recent match with Anand should have been televised live on ESPN. That
would have done wonders for chess. I don't understand why it wasn't.

Maybe ESPN wasn't interested? BTW, didn't Judit lose that match? No
offense to her intended, but how can you on the one hand state that
Judit has the power to end all that ails FIDE and then cite her recent
loss to Anand as an example??

At
least that match wouldn't have made people fall asleep like it did for
me during the Kasparov Deep Junior match. But what do we get instead? A
mind numbing 17 hours coverage of Kasparov against Deep Fritz in 3D! You
think people starting to get interested in chess will be at all
impressed with this game if the time control is 40 moves in 2 hours per
game?! That amounts to over 4 hours of staring at the computer screen or
television! Correct me if I'm wrong here GM Susan Polgar, but your
sister played Anand in the 8 game blitz match in Mainz at 25 minutes per
side. That's 50 minutes per game. Far more appealing for TV advertisers
and sponsors.

I would agree with you that shorter time controls are better for TV
(although not necessarily for the game), but what's Judit got to do with
that? Why is it up to Judit to get televised coverage? Why not
Kasparov? Would you sleep through a match between Judit and Deep Junior
played at classical time controls?


In sum...FIDE is not going to go out of its way to modernize the way
chess gets presented to the world. It's going to take someone like
yourself and your sister to rouse FIDE from its slumber.

Modernizing the way chess gets presented to the world is not a
gender-specific problem -- don't give that burden solely to the Polgars.

Otherwise women
chess players will never be taken seriously and may never get the chance
to compete fairly for the world chess championship.

I think women are taken seriously, although at the moment the top men
are stronger. There are many hurdles to overcome, and it's great that
people like Susan Polgar and working to overcome them. But it won't
happen overnight, and it won't be done by a few individuals.

Hey, it's been over 200 years and there has yet to be a woman president
in the U.S. as well - change can happen very slowly...

John

Alberich wrote in message ...
"Let's move on to something more productive and more interesting "
GM Susan Polgar

Okay. Fair enough. Here's a chess related question GM Susan Polgar. How
come Judit Polgar never uses the Smith Morra Gambit against opponents
like Kramnik or Kasparov when she has the chance? Why can't she blaze
the trail to use openings that haven't been seen in tournament play for
a very long time, say The King's Gambit? If I'm not mistaken, Judit
Polgar likes the Vienna Game, which I use pretty frequenly myself when I
play online. Why doesn't she use this?

Suppose you were playing someone 100 points or so higher than you.
Suppose there was a fair amount of money/prestige on the line. Now
suppose your opponent (In Judit's case the strongest player in
history) almost certainly knows the main lines of your gambit/trappy
opening, and in any case is likely not to "fall into" a worse position
and probably much better... there's your answer..

(John Lamont) wrote in message . com...
Alberich wrote in message ...
"Let's move on to something more productive and more interesting "
GM Susan Polgar

Okay. Fair enough. Here's a chess related question GM Susan Polgar. How
come Judit Polgar never uses the Smith Morra Gambit against opponents
like Kramnik or Kasparov when she has the chance? Why can't she blaze
the trail to use openings that haven't been seen in tournament play for
a very long time, say The King's Gambit? If I'm not mistaken, Judit
Polgar likes the Vienna Game, which I use pretty frequenly myself when I
play online. Why doesn't she use this?

Suppose you were playing someone 100 points or so higher than you.
Suppose there was a fair amount of money/prestige on the line. Now
suppose your opponent (In Judit's case the strongest player in
history) almost certainly knows the main lines of your gambit/trappy
opening, and in any case is likely not to "fall into" a worse position
and probably much better... there's your answer..


Great answer

Best wishes,
GM Susan Polgar
www.SusanPolgar.com
www.USScholasticChess.org

On 14 Oct 2003 07:52:10 -0500, Alberich
wrote:

"Let's move on to something more productive and more interesting "
GM Susan Polgar

Okay. Fair enough. Here's a chess related question GM Susan Polgar. How
come Judit Polgar never uses the Smith Morra Gambit against opponents
like Kramnik or Kasparov when she has the chance? Why can't she blaze
the trail to use openings that haven't been seen in tournament play for
a very long time, say The King's Gambit? If I'm not mistaken, Judit
Polgar likes the Vienna Game, which I use pretty frequenly myself when I
play online. Why doesn't she use this?

Very funny Question. Apparently, you do not play chess.

The Morra Gambit, also known as the Moron Gambit, which begins with 1.
e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 simply looses a pawn. An opening
like that smply cannot be played against Kasparov or Kramnik or anyone
above the master level.

Judit Polgar does play the King's Gambit. That is one of her main
lines, but she does not use it against world class competition.

Sam Sloan

"Sam Sloan" wrote in message
The Morra Gambit, also known as the Moron Gambit, which begins with 1.
e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 simply looses a pawn. An opening
like that smply cannot be played against Kasparov or Kramnik or anyone
above the master level...
Sam Sloan

LOL! This from the guy who wants to play a losing variation against
everyone for votes!