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QUANTITATIVE APPROACH IN WINNING SWISS OR ROUND-ROBIN TOURNAMENTS by FM Jesse Noel Sales
15/07/2021 – If you are a chess beginner, you may be asking what the Swiss system or round-robin tournament is? In the long run you will experience what it is all about this type of tournament system. Of course, every tournament is guided by FIDE Pairing rules; for example: playing an opponent higher rated than you or a much lower rated player, also playing either white or black would confuse you but do not worry because the computerized pairing system is proven accurate.
Now, most Swiss system/Round robin tournaments are 9 rounder or even much longer, if you noticed, it is always an odd number. Have you evaluated your playing style? Do you have a proper system to study chess openings to surprise your opponent? Are you better when handling the white or black? These are questions to assess yourself about how ready you are to compete. Since chess is governed by a willing attitude to learn, determination and patience, be confident in playing Swiss or Round robin events.
Why are Grandmasters mentally conditioned before the tournament starts? Is it due to their deep theoretical understanding and well preparedness? But this is no secret at all, GMs have pet lines or prepared lines or noticeably some are much confident playing white other GMs prefer black.
Let us check the tabulation below:
If you are playing WHITE
9 Rounds Swiss System | ||||||||||
Colour | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Rd 3 | Rd 4 | Rd 5 | Rd 6 | Rd 7 | Rd 8 | Rd 9 | Points |
White | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | ||||
Black | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | ||||||
If you are confident that you can win the white side then think positive to win it, then try drawing black if you get lucky. This is somehow a forecasting method based on your confidence and chess preparation.
If you are playing BLACK
9 Rounds Swiss System | ||||||||||
Colour | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Rd 3 | Rd 4 | Rd 5 | Rd 6 | Rd 7 | Rd 8 | Rd 9 | Points |
White | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 6.5 | |||||
Black | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||
Same process if you are confident playing to win black as shown.
Based on tournaments played by World Champions GM Garri Kasparov and GM Vladmir Kramnik, both have special attachments using preferred colours either white or black. “BLACK POWER” is demonstrated by GM Kasparov in the 90’s in displaying his prowess or extraordinary skills using the Sicilian Najdorf while GM Vladimir Kramnik as well a strategist and specialist using the 1. Nf3 line as white. I admit GM Kramnik is my idol.
Let us check the results played by GM Garri Kasparov and GM Vladimir Kramnik based on their performance using their pet lines resulting to winning the tournament due to deep preparation.
We all know that GM Kasparov is superb using black. Please check tabulation below his performance as black:
14 Round Tournament/Linares 1999 | |||||||||||||||
Colour | R 1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | Rd14 | Score |
White | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1 | 1 | 1/2 | 10.5 | |||||||
Black | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1/2 | 1/2 | ||||||||
Notice the black side strategy in effect. Using white, GM Kasparov drew 5 times.
Now let us check GM Vladimir Kramnik white strategy…..
We all know that GM Kramnik is very technical and positional specialist using white. Please check tabulation below his performance as white:
Colour | Rd1 | Rd2 | Rd3 | Rd4 | Rd5 | Rd6 | Rd7 | Rd8 | Rd9 | Points |
White | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1/2 | 1 | 7 | ||||
Black | 1/2 | 1 | 1/2 | 1/2 |
Notice the white power strategy in effect. Using black, GM Kramnik drew 3 times.
I confirm that World Champions GM Kasparov and Kramnik have enjoyed this method, as well as I have applied this too in my chess games, please check below tabulation.
I prefer white because my favourite opening is 1. Nf3. Please check below result.
Colour | Rd1 | Rd2 | Rd3 | Rd4 | Rd5 | Rd6 | Rd7 | Rd8 | Rd9 | Points |
White | 1 | 1 | 1/2 | 1 | 1/2 | 7 | ||||
Black | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Notice the white power strategy in effect because no loss at all. By playing black I have one defeat.
I hope you have learned something about assessing your strengths in evaluating how prepared you are either using white or black to forecast high-end results. I wish you success and keep safe in your journey to become a grandmaster.
FIDE Master Jesse Noel Sales is chess author, graduate of Bachelor of Nursing at Western Sydney University (Australia) and Founder of https://memorychisel.com (leisure, entertainment, memory & cognitive testing, brain stimulation platform).
