User Profile: Phony Benoni

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Phony Benoni
Member since Feb-10-06 · Last seen Jun-11-22

Greetings, O Seeker After Knowledge! You have arrived in Dearborn, Michigan (whether you like it or not), and are reading words of wisdom from a player rated 2938--plus or minus 1000 points.
However, I've retired from serious play--not that I ever took playing chess all that seriously. You only have to look at my games to see that. These days I pursue the simple pleasures of finding games that are bizarre or just plain funny. I'd rather enjoy a game than analyze it.
For the record, my name is David Moody. This probably means nothing to you unless you're a longtime player from Michigan, though it's possible that if you attended any US Opens from 1975-1999 we might have crossed paths. Lucky you.
If you know me at all, you'll realize that most of my remarks are meant to be humorous. I do this deliberately, so that if my analysis stinks to High Heaven I can always say that I was just joking.
As you can undoubtedly tell from my sparkling wit, I'm a librarian in my spare time. Even worse, I'm a cataloger, which means I keep log books for cattle. Also, I'm not one of those extroverts who sit at the Reference Desk and help you with research. Instead, I spend all day staring at a computer screen updating and maintaining information in the library's catalog. The general public thinks Reference Librarians are dull. Reference Librarians think Catalogers are dull.
My greatest achievement in chess, other than tricking you into reading this, was probably mating with king, bishop and knight against king in a tournament game. I have to admit that this happened after an adjournment, and that I booked up like crazy before resuming. By the way, the fact I have had adjourned games shows you I've been around too long.
My funniest moment occurred when I finally got a chance to pull off a smothered mate in actual play. You know, 1.Nf7+ Kg8 2.Nh6+ Kh8 3.Qg8+ Rxg8 4.Nf7#. When I played the climactic queen check my opponent looked at the board in shocked disbelief and said, "But that's not mate! I can take the queen!"

Finally, I must confess that I once played a positional move, back around 1982. I'll try not to let that happen again.

>> Click here to see Phony Benoni's game collections.

   Phony Benoni has kibitzed 18637 times to chessgames [more...]

   Jun-11-22 M Blau vs Keres, 1959

Phony Benoni: Not a good recommendation for the DERLD. Out of 59 moves, White makes only three in Black's half of the board. And two of those conist of 3.Bb5 and 6.Bxc6.

   Jun-11-22 chessgames.com chessforum

Phony Benoni: Er, it's back. Karpov vs Timman, 1988

   Jun-10-22 Orlo Milo Rolo

Phony Benoni: Marco!

   Jun-10-22 Lilienthal vs Bondarevsky, 1947

Phony Benoni: Another one for you King Hunters. Black's monarch travels fron g8 to b8, then takes the Great Circle Route back to h3 before calling it a day.

   Jun-10-22 GrahamClayton chessforum

Phony Benoni: <GrahamClayton> I've posted a question for you at L T Magee vs J Holland, 1948

   Jun-10-22 L T Magee vs E L Holland, 1948

Phony Benoni: <GrahamClayton> The source you cite, <Chess Review, May 1948, p. 24>, gives Black's name as <E Holland> "Chess Life" (June 5, 1948, p. 1) has a table of results giving <E L Holland>. That form also appears in USCF rating supplements for a player fro ...

   Jun-09-22 Biographer Bistro

Phony Benoni: SkinnVer Here Among the Fold?

   Jun-09-22 Flohr vs Bondarevsky, 1947

Phony Benoni: Black's bishop makes me think of Godzilla emerging from the depths of the ocean to wreak havoc. However, in the end it's his Two Little Friends who steal the show. Well, maybe not so litt.

   Jun-06-22 W Ritson-Morry vs G T Crown, 1947

Phony Benoni: it was the last round. Rison-Morry was mired in last place. These things happen.

   Jun-06-22 W Adams vs M Kagan, 1947

Phony Benoni: Some more informztion. The game was published in <Chess Review>, March 1948, p. 23. Black's name is given as "M Kagan", and the location as "Massachusetts". There is no other game data, but I think we can now safely assume Black is <Milton Kagan>. Earlier in the ...

indicates a reply to the comment.

Living in the Past

< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 45 OF 914 · Later Kibitzing>
Mar-24-09		chessman95: I use <baseball-reference.com> all the time. It seems to be the one site with lots of easily accessible stats, although for random things, trivia, quotes, etc. I like <baseball-almanac.com>. ...let's see, looks like Verlander led your Detroit Tigers in balks last year: http://baseball-almanac.com/teamsta...

Mar-24-09		chessman95: Hey <Phoni Benoni> did you follow the World Baseball Classic? Looks like Japan won again... http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com...

Mar-25-09		hms123: <phony benoni> George Kell just died--one of the great third-basemen ever. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/25/s...

Mar-25-09		Phony Benoni: Yes, that's all over the news here in Detroit, not just the sports. He broadcast with the legendary Ernie Harwell for decades, until they were finally declared too old-fashioned and let go. Give me old-fashioned any day.

Mar-25-09		hms123: <Phony Benoni> I grew up in Baltimore and got to see Kell play at Memorial Stadium. Of course, after that I got to watch Brooks Robinson play third. He did all right.

Mar-25-09		chessman95: <I got to watch Brooks Robinson play third. He did all right.> Just <all right>??? He was great!!! :)

Mar-25-09		Phony Benoni: <chessman95> Oh, I think <hms123> was joking. Sort of like saying that Bill Gates dropped out of school, but he did all right. Robinson was a solid hitter, but he made the Hall of Fame based on his fielding. That's extraordinary for a third baseman, which is a position where you will often settle for an average fielder to get his bat in the lineup. No one who saw the 1970 World Series, where Reds hitters kept getting thrown out at first after doubling down the third base line, will ever deny Robinson's greatness.

Mar-25-09		chessman95: <Phony Benoni> I was joking too. Robinson was an amazing fielder though. Even though he wasn't the most amazing hitter ever, he absolutely deserved to make it into the HOF.

Mar-25-09		hms123: <chessman95> I was joking--Brooks Robinson was my hero growing up--hms

Mar-25-09		Phony Benoni: Getting back to Curt Schilling for a moment, do you think he'll make the Hall of Fame? Only 216 wins, but 3000 strikeouts and an incredible 11-2 in postseason play--not to mention the bloody sock. I think Greg Maddux is a surefire first balloter.

Mar-25-09		chessman95: <Getting back to Curt Schilling for a moment, do you think he'll make the Hall of Fame?> Yes, I think he has a good chance. He's built up such a good reputation with his long career and famous games like the "bloody sock" one, that I'd say he's a sure bet to make it in. <I think Greg Maddux is a surefire first balloter.> There's no doubt about it. He could have retired 5 years ago and still would've been a shoe-in.

Mar-25-09		Phony Benoni: How about active players who will make it to the Hall of Fame? I just took a look at a few of the active leaders in several catagories to get some ideas. Batting average: the top five currently are <Albert Pujols, Ichiro Suzuki, Todd Helton, Pedro Guerrero>, and <Derrick Jeter>. Pujols definietly, if he stays healthy for a few more years. Jeter is in already, both for performance and New York Star Value. Guerrero ought to be in simply for his combination of power, average and glove. Suzuki is earning a spot, but needs a few more good years. Helton I'd say is unlikely; his stats will be discounted because of the Colorado factor. Hits: 3000 is the norm for HOF. Barry Bonds has 2935, but he's obviously not going to play again unless Leavenworth has a team. Ken Griffey Jr. has 2680, so two or three decent years should do it. (Will he be a DH in Seattle?) Jeter has 2535, and ought to reach this milestone. About the only other one with an outside shot is Gary Sheffield (2615). Home Runs: 500 used to be automatic, but it ain't what it used to be. Griffey at 611 is safe, but Alex Rodriguez (553) is now tainted. Jim Thome (541) and Frank Thomas (511) don't seem like surefire possibilites to me. Manny Ramirez (527) should be an interesting case! Since he also has a high average to go with the power, I'll bet he gets in eventually, but not on the first ballot. Other possiblities for 500: Gary Sheffield (499, but there's steroid talk), Carlos Delgado (427) and Chipper Jones (408). I'd say Chipper has the best HOF chance of those three. Pitchers: 300 wins may become unreachable in the future. Glavine (305) will probably go in, and I'd vote for Randy Johnson (295) even if he doesn't pick up those last five wins. THe rest with at 200+ wins are not an inspiring bunch except for John Smoltz. If Maddux and Glavine are in, you have to have Smoltz too. That'd be like admitting Tinker and Evers but not Chance. Among relievers, Mariano Rivera is a shoo-in, and Trevor Hoffman ought to be. Other factors: Speaking of defensive wizards, <Ivan Rodriguez> might be an interesting possibility. Solid hitter, too.

Mar-25-09		chessman95: <Alex Rodriguez> will eventually get enough homeruns to be at "shoo-in level" but he's probably going to get the Mark McGwire treatment. I think he'll get in though...

Mar-26-09		Phony Benoni: If they can ban Pete Rose, nobody is assured of getting in if there are off field scandals. Yes, I know his sin was gambling, but it's the same idea: trying to affect the outome of games through illegal methods. Rodriguez at least came clean, so he will get some credit. As for Rose, Barry Bonds, McGwire and others, they'll probably be joining Shoeless Joe Jackson in the shadow Hall.

Mar-26-09		chessman95: <Rodriguez at least came clean, so he will get some credit. As for Rose, Barry Bonds, McGwire and others, they'll probably be joining Shoeless Joe Jackson in the shadow Hall.> The thing you have to remember about McGwire is that the substance he was taking was NOT illegal at the time, and everyone knew he was taking it. It wasn't like he was trying to hide an illegal substance or anything.

Mar-27-09		whiteshark: post call-up for WORST MOVE OF THE YEAR: SET 8, 1992 The following happened at the Youth World Championship 1992 in Duisburg/Germany. Black is ♖+♙:♗ up and with 1...Re3! he could have finished the game by mate in 11 moves. click for larger view However, Black found another move, to shorten the formal procedure: <1...Qc4+??> I can't imagine Black's thoughts that lead to this move. Maybe his shining charisma was full of confidence. Maybe hynpnosis was involved. Whatever, White didn't accept the queen sacrifice but took the ♘ instead with <2.Kxa4??>. Well, after <2...Qa2#> The Comedy of Errors was over, ahead of schedule.

Mar-27-09		Phony Benoni: <whiteshark> Definitely a case of wanting to checkmate in the worst way. I wonder what Black's reaction was when he realized what he had done. For my part, I do not have a poker face. Once, I made a a "brilliant sacrifice", but saw the defense the moment I hit the clock. I leapt from my chair, stomped from the room, and walked rapidly around the perimeter of the building several times, cursing myself all the way. Finally, I returned to the board to take my medicine My opoonent was sitting there, looking disgusted at my antics--and prompltly resigned! Turns out it had actually been a brilliant sacrifice, and he was disgruntled at having to wait for me to return.

Mar-27-09		chessman95: <I leapt from my chair, stomped from the room, and walked rapidly around the perimeter of the building several times, cursing myself all the way.> Wow, that sounds like my dad when he locks himself out of the house. Now that's a sight to see!

Mar-28-09		WannaBe: Re: Schilling in the HOF, no, no, and no... You heard it here first.

Mar-28-09		WannaBe: Re: Re: Re: Re: Schilling, Maury Wills, HOF, yes, yes, yes, YES!!

Mar-28-09		Phony Benoni: <WannaBe> Watch it, or you'll have Governor Palin pounding after you.

Mar-30-09		WannaBe: <Phony Benoni> When did my rabbit become an Alaskan moose/kodiak? "Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit" ??!!??!! =)

Mar-30-09		Phony Benoni: <WannaBe> Sigh. Once again, my love of the obscure has made my jokes ... well, obscure. You see, Curt Schilling was born in Alaska. In fact, he's the first Alaskan-born player to be eligble for the Hall of Fame.

Mar-30-09		WannaBe: Ah, I see, I see! =)

Mar-31-09		suenteus po 147: <Phony Benoni> I saw you were working on the GMA World Cup with the first tournament in the series, Brussels, and I thought I would help out. Unfortunately, the information on these tournaments is so scarce, I was only able to reconstruct round-by-round information for two of them. The first is finished here: Game Collection: Reykjavik World Cup 1988 The second, Skelleftea 1989, I will work on probably tomorrow. I tried reconstructing Belfort, Barcelona, and Rotterdam, but they have proved next to impossible. I can only manage a partial reconstruction in each case, but cannot quite get it to work when I try to fill in missing games or gaps in what's recorded. However, if my notes can be useful to you (incomplete as they are), let me know and I will gladly share them.

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