Q1: Do you think Magnus Carlsen can beat Houdini in a match?

A: I don’t think so. However, it would have been interesting to see such a match: Houdini running on a regular laptop, Magnus has access to the opening tree. No endgame databases for Houdini. The real question is: will Carlsen be able to win at least one game?

One of the main problems is that earlier the machine vs. human matches attracted attention from the leading IT companies, because such events were very profitable. For example, as far as I remember, IBM’s stock increased dramatically after Deep Blue’s victory over Garry Kasparov. Nowadays it is harder to advertise a super computer this way due to basic notebooks being able to defeating any human.

Q2: At what age do chess players peak?

A: The answer is individual. Most amateur players peak at the moment when they finally have enough time for studying and playing. For some of them it can even be after 40/50/60.

If we are talking about professional players who have consistently practiced chess since childhood, then my estimate would be 35-40. Once again, it depends on many factors. I recall Korchnoi saying that he can’t forgive Kasparov for having retired from chess at an age (42) when Viktor reached his top form! Also, the previous WCC match between Anand and Gelfand has proved that one can’t write off GMs aged 40+. Or what should we say about Alexander Beliavsky (almost 60 years old), who tied for first at European Chess Championship?! Nevertheless, there are many advocates of the theory that one peaks at 25 or so. Some of them say so to justify their early retirement/failures; others use it as an argument against including a certain player into the national team. There is always a hype surrounding so-called “young talents”, even if they haven’t earned their status yet.

Q3: My rating is about 1400. Is “My System” a book worth reading?

A: This book is definitely worth reading, but you should try it later, when you reach at least 1700+ level. Otherwise you are likely not to be able to understand it, or treat it as a supreme truth (which is not the case). Nimzowitsch has a rather dogmatic style of narrative, so one should be qualified enough and critical-minded to read his books.

Q4: I am 50 years old. Is it too late for me to start playing chess?

A: It is never too late to start enjoying the benefits of playing chess. Just make sure you are not driven by your own ego. I’ve seen accomplished and smart people get frustrated over not being able to master the game quickly and “become a GM in a year”, like they have been expecting. If you are 40/50/60 and making your first steps in chess, don’t expect to play professionally. Don’t sweat; enjoy the process!

Q5: Did you ever feel like quitting chess after a certain failure in your career?

A: No. Chess is not for flabby people. In fact, the game is a great way of strengthening one’s character and learning how to handle stress. One small secret is not to get overly egotistic and obsessed with chess. Ok, you lost a game. No big deal! There are more important things in this world. When I see someone moaning and whining after a game, it is usually a sign that he won’t make it to the top.

Q6: Can you read a chess book with lengthy variations without using a chessboard to setup the positions?

A: Yes. I am doing so when traveling or lazy. However, it is a good idea to actually play out the moves on the board in order not to miss any intricacies & to memorize the ideas better. Besides, dealing with a nice wooden chess set is such a pleasure.

Q7: Do you listen to music over the board at tournaments?

A: First of all, music is distracting, so it is not a good idea. Secondly, it is forbidden, because otherwise too many people would be cheating using headphones.

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