Hi friday 23rd, on (uk's) channel 4 derren brown simultaneously plays
chess with nine of Britain's leading chess masters , (derren brown is
a mind control expert, among many many other talents) I have seen
derren live and he is just amazing, I look forward to friday night
when we will see exactly how he plays against the 'master' players and
what he does to beat them (as I'm sure he will)

so , british chess fans get watching on friday.

I wish I could see it :-( Somebody please give a full report!


'That's what's so refreshing about working with Derren,' says Young. 'He's
free from all the crap that can go with being this kind of performer. He'll
explain how he does it, he's very open about saying that it's just about
mixing tried-and-tested psychological techniques with showmanship to create
an illusion - and it is just that, an illusion.'

This is highlighted by another stunt filmed for the new series, where Derren
invites a group of nine world-class chess professionals, comprised of
Grandmasters and International Masters to a studio, decorated as a massive
chess board. Derren then plays them all simultaneously, with the objective
of beating or drawing with the majority of them - which he achieves. Derren
can play chess, but by his own admission, he's not much good at it. Yet
there he is, beating nine top-notch players. But there is an explanation and
Derren reveals to camera how he did it'.

http://www.blueyonder.co.uk/blueyond...&group=tv_page



"jonnywildboar" wrote in message
om...
Hi friday 23rd, on (uk's) channel 4 derren brown simultaneously plays
chess with nine of Britain's leading chess masters , (derren brown is
a mind control expert, among many many other talents) I have seen
derren live and he is just amazing, I look forward to friday night
when we will see exactly how he plays against the 'master' players and
what he does to beat them (as I'm sure he will)

so , british chess fans get watching on friday.


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On 19 Apr 2004 13:57:50 -0700, (jonnywildboar)
wrote:

Hi friday 23rd, on (uk's) channel 4 derren brown simultaneously plays
chess with nine of Britain's leading chess masters , (derren brown is
a mind control expert, among many many other talents) I have seen
derren live and he is just amazing, I look forward to friday night
when we will see exactly how he plays against the 'master' players and
what he does to beat them (as I'm sure he will)

so , british chess fans get watching on friday.

My guess would be that the 'masters' are actually each unwittingly
playing their games against a computer, and some clever signaling method
is being used to pass the details of the moves to Derren Brown. However,
it'll be interesting the hear his explanation of how it was done. I
really hope it centers around some kind of exotic mind control technique
as, frankly, I could do with being able to reduce my opponents to
quivering wrecks with a mere glace, but I suspect that isn't the case!

Thanks for the heads-up. I'd probably have missed it otherwise.
--
Chris Cowley

Perhaps he will somehow play them against each other. Eight players will
really be playing four games together, and the ninth opponent is a red
herring who will win easily. With this setup, only one game has to be a
draw (likely) and he will have succeeded in "beating or drawing with the
majority of them."


"Chris Cowley" wrote in message
...
On 19 Apr 2004 13:57:50 -0700, (jonnywildboar)
wrote:

Hi friday 23rd, on (uk's) channel 4 derren brown simultaneously plays
chess with nine of Britain's leading chess masters , (derren brown is
a mind control expert, among many many other talents) I have seen
derren live and he is just amazing, I look forward to friday night
when we will see exactly how he plays against the 'master' players and
what he does to beat them (as I'm sure he will)

so , british chess fans get watching on friday.

My guess would be that the 'masters' are actually each unwittingly
playing their games against a computer, and some clever signaling method
is being used to pass the details of the moves to Derren Brown. However,
it'll be interesting the hear his explanation of how it was done. I
really hope it centers around some kind of exotic mind control technique
as, frankly, I could do with being able to reduce my opponents to
quivering wrecks with a mere glace, but I suspect that isn't the case!

Thanks for the heads-up. I'd probably have missed it otherwise.
--
Chris Cowley


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Nice idea - but Derren can't play better than the average man in the street
and there is no-one he is playing against that is below 2000. Besides if you
play them against each other they have to be sitting in a clock shape and
you would have to move out of turn. If you play them in order you'd need one
hell of a memory otherwise one mistake and eveything is blown!



"Benjamin Jordan" wrote in message
...
Perhaps he will somehow play them against each other. Eight players will
really be playing four games together, and the ninth opponent is a red
herring who will win easily. With this setup, only one game has to be a
draw (likely) and he will have succeeded in "beating or drawing with the
majority of them."


"Chris Cowley" wrote in message
...
On 19 Apr 2004 13:57:50 -0700, (jonnywildboar)
wrote:

Hi friday 23rd, on (uk's) channel 4 derren brown simultaneously plays
chess with nine of Britain's leading chess masters , (derren brown is
a mind control expert, among many many other talents) I have seen
derren live and he is just amazing, I look forward to friday night
when we will see exactly how he plays against the 'master' players and
what he does to beat them (as I'm sure he will)

so , british chess fans get watching on friday.

My guess would be that the 'masters' are actually each unwittingly
playing their games against a computer, and some clever signaling method
is being used to pass the details of the moves to Derren Brown. However,
it'll be interesting the hear his explanation of how it was done. I
really hope it centers around some kind of exotic mind control technique
as, frankly, I could do with being able to reduce my opponents to
quivering wrecks with a mere glace, but I suspect that isn't the case!

Thanks for the heads-up. I'd probably have missed it otherwise.
--
Chris Cowley


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.657 / Virus Database: 422 - Release Date: 4/13/2004

Chris Cowley wrote:
My guess would be that the 'masters' are actually each unwittingly
playing their games against a computer, and some clever signaling
method is being used to pass the details of the moves to Derren Brown.

That would be so easy to do that it would be completely pointless.


However, it'll be interesting the hear his explanation of how it was
done. I really hope it centers around some kind of exotic mind control
technique as, frankly, I could do with being able to reduce my opponents
toquivering wrecks with a mere glace, but I suspect that isn't the case!

My two guesses are that he'll either use very close observation of the
players' body language and involuntary reactions to things he does to work
out what move each opponent is most worried about or he'll somehow implant
in them the idea of playing a certain losing variation.


Dave.

--
David Richerby Mouldy Chair (TM): it's like a chair
www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~davidr/ but it's starting to grow mushrooms!

On 21 Apr 2004 23:02:53 +0100 (BST), David Richerby
wrote:


My two guesses are that he'll either use very close observation of the
players' body language and involuntary reactions to things he does to work
out what move each opponent is most worried about or he'll somehow implant
in them the idea of playing a certain losing variation.

Are you serious? Close personal obeservation might give some useful
hints when the opponents are closely matched, but no amount of body
language observation can compensate for six or seven hundred rating
points. If this guy is just a casual player who "knows how to play
but isn't much good at it", he can't even *perceive* the situation on
the board about which the GM or IM is worried.

If he can really implant the idea of "hang the rook" or "pitch the
queen" in the mind of a master strength player, the CIA will probably
snatch him right after show.

On 21 Apr 2004 23:02:53 +0100 (BST), David Richerby
wrote:

Chris Cowley wrote:
My guess would be that the 'masters' are actually each unwittingly
playing their games against a computer, and some clever signaling
method is being used to pass the details of the moves to Derren Brown.

That would be so easy to do that it would be completely pointless.

Have you seen any of the shows in the previous series? It's far from
being entirely about psychology and mind-control. The guy does magic
tricks. Illusions. And I'm sure that's exactly what this will turn out
to be in some form or another. It's no more pointless than any other
illusion. Sure, it nowhere near as exciting as the notion that someone
can be "willed" into playing chess badly, but it's a damn-sight more
realistic IMHO.

My two guesses are that he'll either use very close observation of the
players' body language and involuntary reactions to things he does to work
out what move each opponent is most worried about or he'll somehow implant
in them the idea of playing a certain losing variation.

If that's a plausible technique to allow patzers to beat expert-level
chess players then show me where to sign up. I reckon I could make a few
quid out of it!

Anyway, we'll (apparently) know for sure tomorrow when the show is aired
and the trick is explained.
--
Chris Cowley

"Chris Cowley" wrote in message
...
On 21 Apr 2004 23:02:53 +0100 (BST), David Richerby
wrote:

Chris Cowley wrote:
My guess would be that the 'masters' are actually each unwittingly
playing their games against a computer, and some clever signaling
method is being used to pass the details of the moves to Derren Brown.

That would be so easy to do that it would be completely pointless.

Have you seen any of the shows in the previous series? It's far from
being entirely about psychology and mind-control. The guy does magic
tricks. Illusions. And I'm sure that's exactly what this will turn out
to be in some form or another. It's no more pointless than any other
illusion. Sure, it nowhere near as exciting as the notion that someone
can be "willed" into playing chess badly, but it's a damn-sight more
realistic IMHO.

My two guesses are that he'll either use very close observation of the
players' body language and involuntary reactions to things he does to
work
out what move each opponent is most worried about or he'll somehow
implant
in them the idea of playing a certain losing variation.

If that's a plausible technique to allow patzers to beat expert-level
chess players then show me where to sign up. I reckon I could make a few
quid out of it!

Anyway, we'll (apparently) know for sure tomorrow when the show is aired
and the trick is explained.
--
Chris Cowley

He made cab drivers forget where the Big Ben was - he could make the GMs/IMs
forget how to play :-)

My best theory is still that he will trick them into actually playing each
other. If just one game draws, he has accomplished his objective.

Mike Murray wrote:
David Richerby wrote:
My two guesses are that he'll either use very close observation of the
players' body language and involuntary reactions to things he does to
work out what move each opponent is most worried about or he'll somehow
implant in them the idea of playing a certain losing variation.

Are you serious?

Absolutely. If I'm playing against you and you've seen that I have a
strong knight move, you'll react slightly when I reach for the knight.
Now, I probably wouldn't notice that but this is the sort of thing Derren
Brown uses. The problem is that he'd have to hover his hand over each of
the pieces in turn which would be really obvious, so I doubt he'll do
exactly that.


Close personal obeservation might give some useful hints when the
opponents are closely matched, but no amount of body language
observation can compensate for six or seven hundred rating points. If
this guy is just a casual player who "knows how to play but isn't much
good at it", he can't even *perceive* the situation on the board about
which the GM or IM is worried.

The idea here is to get the GM to play himself, i.e., Brown uses the GM's
moves. The alternative is...

If he can really implant the idea of "hang the rook" or "pitch the
queen" in the mind of a master strength player, the CIA will probably
snatch him right after show.

.... to get the GM to play the moves Brown wants him to play.

There's all kinds of this stuff at

http://www.channel4.com/entertainmen...M/mindcontrol/

Note especially `Powers of Suggestion' in the `Behind the Screen' section.


Dave.

--
David Richerby Fluorescent Newspaper (TM): it's like
www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~davidr/ a daily broadsheet but it'll hurt
your eyes!