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Later Kibitzing> |
| Dec-22-05 | | Akavall: <I don't think the Traxler comes near equality, though it has some fun lines. 4.Ng5 Nxe4!? is of some interest, though rare.> Yes, 5. Nxf7 is a mistake, black wins at least a pawn in this variation, and everything is forced. I am pretty sure about this. After 5. Bxf7 though, black position is not very pleasant, but the position usually get extremly complex, if it is to one's taste they should be ok. |
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Dec-22-05
 | | Eric Schiller: <Akavall> At one point the USCF claimed they didn't stock the books because they don't sell, but they have been warned against repeating that easily refuted lie when they themselves know that isn't true. Hanon Russell calls the shots on this, and all I have to say is this goes back decades to some things done before and during the Campomanes vs. Kasparov battles in which I was personally involved. Whatever the reasons are, they are personal. People have demonstrated that they want to buy my books, some of which have been quite successful in the marketplace, especially Encyclopedia of Chess Wisdom and World Champion Openings. A businessman should stock what the public wants, but Hanon's business can choose what it wants to sell. The refusal of the USCF to intervene is the problem, they should not tolerate this as it hurts their financial situation. Two board members, Joel Channing and Don Schultz, were the only ones oppose the deal, and I believe public statements are forthcoming. Stay tuned, and remember, you can examine the books online (major excerpts) at www.ericschiller.com and decide for yourself what might be of interest to you. No chess books are for everyone, but I have rarely seen a chess book that is not useful for someone. |
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| Dec-22-05 | | Chess Classics: This "blacklisting" is really stupid. It is unfair, hurts potential players who want to look through Schiller's or Keene's books. Some of the books by the above mentioned authors are important for chess success-one especially, by Mr. Keene (Nimzowitch-A reapraisal) strikes me as critical for development. Honestly, what does all this have to do with what happens when we sit down and play chess? Smile, Big Brother Is Watching!
Regards,
CC |
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| Dec-22-05 | | Akavall: <Eric Schiller> Thanks. So there was no real reason or excuse given? I guess there wasn't one. <A businessman should stock what the public wants, but Hanon's business can choose what it wants to sell. The refusal of the USCF to intervene is the problem, they should not tolerate this as it hurts their financial situation.> I am a bit confused on this part, who is Hanon Russell? And how is he involved with USCF? |
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| Dec-23-05 | | sitzkrieg: Gosh I am really sorry about this boycott. |
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Dec-23-05
| | Eric Schiller: <Aka> Hanon Russell is the owner Chess Cafe, and a wannabe author/translator whose work has been greatly criticized. His "Russian for Chessplayers" was compared unfavorably to a $5 paperback dictionary at three times the price. He was also a mover and shaker in the Campomanes era, when I was on the opposite site, working with Kasparov.
I could publish all sorts of scurrilous insulting stuff here but won't, both because it breaks the rules and because it is all well known if you talk to people inolved in USCF politics. The process by which he stole the sales operation from the reliable and honest Malcolm Pein (Chess4Less) is a scandal that deserves discussion, but some of that may be forthcoming from the USCF. |
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Dec-23-05
| | Eric Schiller: <sitz> I appreciate the sympathy. The boycott has had a very damaging effect on my life. Even though my books are all available from reputable dealers and many of them are in the major bookstores on the shelves, the lack of exposure to the USCF market has made it impossible for me to promote the books. People have to visit my website to learn about them, though some online stores are putting up PDF excerpts I provide. So often I have been at tournaments mentioning books that people have not heard of. That's why I sometimes make reference to my books when answering questions. I'm trying to make sure people know about them. In the meantime, my new Cardoza books must be for absolute beginners, because I have access to the big bookstores where most shoppers are unrated. My more advanced books will be published by Universal, but even there I am aiming at about 1400 players. I can't write for ther 1600+ crowd until my books are restored to the USCF catalog. There isn't much that anyone can do about the situation, because Russell blackmailed the USCF into extending the deal, threatening to withhold payments (this from board members who attended the meetings). If you want to help out, the best thing to do is just to call the USCF toll-free sales number and inquire about my books, and make them explain why you can't have them. In the meantime, I'll keep on writing and teaching, and will return to tournament play if I either rejoin the USCF or, more likely, sign up with another federation so that I can play FIDE events. I was a USCF member since the late 60s, but will not pay money to an organization which is destroying my income and livelihood. |
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| Dec-23-05 | | BishopofBlunder: <Hanon Russell is the owner Chess Cafe, and a wannabe author/translator whose work has been greatly criticized. His "Russian for Chessplayers" was compared unfavorably to a $5 paperback dictionary at three times the price. He was also a mover and shaker in the Campomanes era, when I was on the opposite site, working with Kasparov.... The process by which he stole the sales operation from the reliable and honest Malcolm Pein (Chess4Less) is a scandal that deserves discussion, but some of that may be forthcoming from the USCF.... There isn't much that anyone can do about the situation, because Russell blackmailed the USCF into extending the deal, threatening to withhold payments (this from board members who attended the meetings).> Gee, Eric, I am glad you refrained from posting the scurrilous, insulting stuff... |
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| Dec-23-05 | | twinlark: Clearly, the problem is not confined (as it were) to FIDE. Greed and corruption and their camp followers favouritism and vindictiveness follow the <dollar> (pick your currency). Surely the chess community has had a gutful of corruption and maladministration. Seems like the time is ripe for <regime change> heh heh. Any chance of emulating the campaign to oust Ilyumzhinov and run a ticket to vote in a new USCF Board at the next Board election? Maybe a dose of democracy will do the trick - assuming the Board is democratically elected. Much easier said than done, I know, but I can't see this unfortunate situation changing with a few phone calls. |
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| Dec-23-05 | | Akavall: <Eric Schiller> Thanks, I generally get the picture. But how is ChessCafe involved with USCF? Is ChessCafe, a subsidiary (or meant to be) to USCF? |
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Dec-23-05
| | Eric Schiller: <akavall> USCF, in a very controversial move, abandoned book and equipment sales, the mainstay of their revenue stream, and outsourced it to Chess Cafe in a highly criticized contract. When the new board reviewed it, Goichberg caved in to the blackmail and forced the board to go along, though two brave souls did not. But inadvisable and corrupt business deals are a large part of the USCF history, and Goichberg has been no improvement, though not as bad as his predecessor and the famous Natrol scandal. |
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| Dec-23-05 | | Akavall: <Eric Schiller> Ok, I get it. Thank You. |
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| Dec-23-05 | | vampiero: <twinlark> bring out the communists, its time for a revolution!!! |
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| Dec-23-05 | | twinlark: <vampiero> I hate corruption and abuse of power. It's bad enough when a civilised and thoughtful game like chess, where the truth is in front of you, can be run by, or dictated to, by a small bunch of megalomanic deceitful oxygen thieves. It's made intolerable when we or our representatives collaborate with that sort of crap. To paraphrase a famous quote, all that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. My suggestion re USCF? Get rid of the cowards, and replace them with vertebrate life forms. |
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Dec-24-05
 | | ray keene: <twinlark> its been tried many times in the past-have you read orwells animal farm?? |
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| Dec-24-05 | | twinlark: <Ray Keene>
I'm not advocating revolution. I'm suggesting the power of the ballot box. It's a matter of organising a reform ticket, like Kok and company are doing for the forthcoming FIDE elections. It's been done successfully thousands of times. |
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Dec-24-05
| | ray keene: sorry-i wasnt suggesting a revolution-i was referring to the unfortunate tendency for reform tckets to end up looking very much like their replacements! thats the other big theme of animal farm. |
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| Dec-24-05 | | ughaibu: As it takes a while for "power to corrupt" frequent change of those in a position to abuse power seems a good idea. |
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| Dec-24-05 | | twinlark: <ray keene> know what you mean. But if it's tried, people won't die wondering. Seems like time's ripe to clean out the Aegean Stables. |
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Dec-24-05
 | | IMlday: Good grief! This is appalling.
Reti's "Masters of the Chessboard" was a basic text for my students in the '70s.
Likewise were Peter Clarke's Petrosian and Tal collections.
Larsens best games is a masterpiece of strategy.
Modern Chess Theory (collected) is where I refer people looking for the out-of-print Big Clamp pamphlet.
But for Americans to lack access to their own best player's collections, e.g. Reshevsky's best games, Marshall's best games, Fine's best games, Pillsbury's best games, or the U.S.'s strongest modern tournaments like the Piatigortsky Cups of 1963 and 1966 ought to be a major scandal!
Is the USCF actively 'dumbing-down' American players? To an outsider it certainly looks that way. The U.S. Olympic team is dominated by former Soviet players. How will young native-born Americans ever catch up if an education in the classic literature is denied them? |
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| Dec-24-05 | | WMD: <Good grief! This is appalling.> Instead of being appalled on behalf of your buddies, shouldn't you contact Mr. Russell and find out the other side of the story? Pull your finger out, Day! |
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| Dec-24-05 | | twinlark: <WMD> Can I assume from your ascerbic response to IMlday that you may have some light to shed on this mess? |
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Dec-24-05
| | Eric Schiller: <IMlday> I never had chess instructors or trainers, I improved my game by going over games with some strong players, but mostly by studying these very books, and know how valuable they are. Computers may poke holes in some analytical notes, but they can't represent the flow of the game and the psychological as well as tactical highlights. Many of the books you mention are found in any well-stocked chess library. That the USCF does not make them available is a sad thing indeed. |
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| Dec-24-05 | | midknightblue: <Yes that Natrol thing was a shame> To promote a pharmaceutical drug as a brain drug that will make people better chess players. The USCF was clearly bought for a day by a pharmaceutical company when they stooped that low. Meanwhile I am wondering if this boycott of FM Schiller's books could be tackled on a legal front. Schiller is a class act, he deserves a fair chance at selling his books to the chess consumers. |
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Dec-24-05
| | Eric Schiller: <midnightblue>I'd have no problem with accepting sponsorship from supplements with demonstrated scientific proof, such as coffee. There is enough science behind Guarana and probably Ginko Biloba to consider such things as possible sponsorship avenues. But the Natrol thing didn't meet even such minimal standards. As for your other point, I am appalled by our society's lust for litigation. So far I only mentioned legal avenues in connection with USCF Sales advising a potential customer that my books weren't there because they didn't sell. That's simply a lie. But Chess Cafe has the right to select its own inventory. Whether the USCF should be doing business with them is the better question, and that is mostly a matter of USCF policy, not law. It seems to me that they are doing bad business and failing to meet the needs of the chess community, but then, what's new about that? I don't know the difference between a member's rights and a shareholder in a private corporation. Seems to me that if the members demand an end to the boycott, that should carry the most weight. |
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