January 16, 2010 Featured Game

This week's game is an "upset" from the first round of the 1982 Idaho Closed between Larry Parsons (rated 2064) and Paul Johnson (rated 1614). I don't like the term "upset" as it implies that the player with the higher rating "should" naturally win and it also speaks ONLY from the point of view of the higher rated player. What is an "upset" to one player is a "triumph" for the other. But communication is never perfect, and it is a traditional chess term nonetheless.

It has long been my opinion that a chess rating is nothing more than an "indicator" of skill based on past results. In my opinion, the player's chess rating actually has nothing to do with any given encounter (except maybe psychologically). It's the position and the moves that count. When a game begins, I believe both players have an equal chance! That's why tournaments are played. When it gets right down to it, chess players cannot just say they're better because of their rating...they must prove it by actually playing the game. For those who love chess, this is NOT a problem!!!

This game is one of the most memorable in the history of Idaho Chess.