http://home.att.ne.jp/moon/fischer/...

"Kasparov ...has given or will soon more simuls than Fischer."

"Yeah but if you're rated over 1900 you're not allowed to participate."

This implies falsely that Kasparov doesn't play experts. The reality could not be any more different. Kasparov routinely plays entire national olympic teams in simuls. And you know this too- you said before this conversation that you were impressed by Kasparov's simuls.

From the GK page (Dec 18, 2003):

"I agree with refutor: Kasparov's simuls against strong players, especially his "clocked simuls" are the most impressive." - Sneaky

And what was it exactly that you agreed to?

" i find his simul wins v. all-GM olympic teams much more impressive."

This demonstrates that you knew Kasparov played strong players in simuls, yet you lied anyway on the Fischer page recently, with the random nonsense of how Kasparov only plays people below 1900. Are you sure that Fischer hasn't simply clouded your objectivity?

<Citing exceptions to this policy does not refute it; it just demonstrates that it's not always the case. >

In which case you have basically conceded you were completely wrong in your early assertion that he only plays people rated 1900 or below. Congratulations.

I have no doubt that Kasparov has performed some of the most amazing simul stunts in the history of chess. If a single player would be crowned the "king of simuls" Kasparov would have to be a nominee (along with Koltanowski, Pillsbury, and others.) But the incredible simuls that I have read about are all many years ago. I really haven't been following his recent simul feats, other than reading about he upset little schoolchildren by berating them for not resigning. If he's still giving the highclass simuls like he used to, that's great, and more power to him.

I don't buy the line that this is "to let weak players paricipate." Of course weak players can participate: they have a list, and the first so-many people who sign up get to play. Since when are weak players excluded?! Never! There's only one reason I can think of to explain why Kasparov did that: because he didn't really feel like giving a simul--he didn't feel up to it--so he made sure that he'd play a bunch of fish that he could beat without breaking a sweat. Why else?!

The reason is fairly simple actually. It's so that Kasparov can play *more* patzers. Of course rank amateurs will get to play him occasionally but usually the 2200+ crowd get more than their fair share. Anyway, Kasparov's last national olympic simul of note was in 2001, that's only 2 years ago. I doubt he would be suddenly unable to perform another 2 years later. His rating is hardly different so if he's in decline, it will still be a while before he shows it in a simul.

<What makes Fischer's document so shocking is that it's virtually unheard of to prohibit anybody from entering into a simul.>

<And why is that? Are 2200's more skilled at writing their names on the sign-up sheet? The simuls I've attended were filled with amateurs, little children, doddering old men, and every fish in between. I've never heard of weak players being crowded out of a simul by a mob of masters.>

Yeah, but have you necessarily attended simuls with Kasparov? I'm willing to bet they are going to be a little different. If an average IM comes to my area, few strong chess players I know will give a hoot. What happens is that mostly beginners will go. But when a weak GM or very high rated IM shows up, a ton of strong players I know immediately flock to the scene to sign up. This creates competition obviously. This has nothing to do with who has more skill in writing on the sign up. The more strong players present at the sign up, the more will end up in the simul. This is simple logic.