Mrki, I don't think my comments deserve being put in the same category with those of mr. Checkmate703.

Also I am just calling upon sam to show some good manners.

I don't believe manners are only relevant when you are under direct threat. So no, I am not threatening mr. musil. 

That being said I think it is in everyone's best interest if the 'top bloggers' actually put in a genuine effort and are open to feedback. Most are, and I am happy that I can read their blogs. How about you sam?

Well Sam you must answer to RC_Woods and checkmate703 (a very eloquent chesscom member if i may add) !! Unless you want them to get angry!!! OMG what are we going to do if they do!?  Run to the hills! Hide the women!Please beg them for forgiveness at once!

IvanK: "Disregard what these cretans are saying, Sam.  This is the most helpful lesson I've read on this site.  Keep up the good work!!!"

Which cretans? I've invested a lot of effort in making sure that my comment was clear, concise and constructive. So have various other people. And those who haven't have for the large majority still been very clear about the things that motivated them to comment in a negative way.

You can't hide behind opinions like "Best thing is to ignore these trolls" because what is happening here is hardly trolling. People are pointing out exactly what annoys them and why, and if you ask me they have some good points.

And Sam, if you are going to refrain from responding to me and all the other people who are trying to give you feedback, then I don't think you deserve your position as top blogger. I think behaviour like that is just bad for the site. And I mean it.

IvanK : "Disregard what these cretans are saying, Sam.  This is the most helpful lesson I've read on this site.  Keep up the good work!!!"

come on, seriously? could it be that this was actually the first thing you read on this site? sam_musil's blog posts are no more helpful than skimming through a digital opening tree.

well now I'm sure he is a "super GM" in certain openings, he just happens to keep his precious understanding of those to himself. After all he wouldn't want to make his fellow Super GMs look bad, he is a humble, humble Super GM.

Disregard what these cretans are saying, Sam.  This is the most helpful lesson I've read on this site.  Keep up the good work!!!

Quite honestly, reading this article makes the author come off as a pompous fool. Not only does he have no respect for the actual title of Grandmaster but to constantly call himself humble even after writing "I am a super-gm with both sides of the pin," is just laughable. Does the author use the database during play, because it is quite evident that the skill level deteriorates as soon as a novelty is played. The author did not play a grandmaster, and he is not even close to being one himself. Sure, these are just simple titles that bear no worth except for the skill level signified by them, but we should still not disrespect the hard work required to earn these titles by using them without regard to actual skill.

bastardo

yea i said it...problem???

u friggin suck, no one likes ur stupid blogs and ur not that swift of a chess player. stop wasting ur time writing and go practice weirdo

RC Woods, excellent post good sir.  A 1667 USCF is a 2817 on CC........................................................uuummmmm......am i the only one who raises an eyebrow to that? I know the ratings are inflated....but i mean COME ON!!! Are you saying that person is THAT good at CC but only an average club player OTB?

Hey sam. Great article!

I have played you before here in chess.com and look forward to doing it again.

I just wanna point to a "kleinigkeit", as they say in german: I get the feeling that this opening was annotated as a "smart statistical review" of master games. I'm sure you understand the ideas behind the openings you play, but do you think you can share that too? I mean, something like "Here white's general plan is to attack on the queenside and lock the pawns on white squares, while seizing control of the c-file" every 5 or so moves.

Keep up the good work!

Pedro.

If the guy has the recognised status of GM and his opponents do then stop the quibbling. If he doesn't have it, then he should stop throwing that term around as it is disrespectful to those who have struggled to attain it in the past and an insult to the likes of Tal or Fischer etc. My own rating is average bordering on poor.

Great article, thanks!

Good game, but black could have pushed for a win, as white have nothing out of the opening.

MrKi, freedom of speech is too valuable to abuse the concept whenever an opportunity to do so presents itself. Yes, everyone (including sam) should be free to speak his mind. But that doesn't mean it is a good thing to disrespect official titles. People work for these things. And freedom of speech works on both sides of the coin. If people have issues with your blog, they are free to notify you.

I think any top blogger should be ready to receive feedback. Feedback (especially when delivered correctly) should usually be considered a gift rather than a form of abuse.

Finally, everyone can call everyone whatever they want. But if you call yourself a police officer and start handing out fines you are in the wrong. I don't mind if sam calls his mother, father and seven children Grandmasters every day of the week. But I think you are in the wrong when you call this blog "Facing a GM". Because taken at face value, that is simply a lie.

    Well anyone can call himself and others the way he/she want to. It is called "freedom of speach", so i don't understand why so much negative comments, just stop reading it .

     As for the blog itself great annotations, that's what i like, no endless variations like in some articles and blogs, I have my owne chessengine. Keep up the good work. What i don't like is premature draw, but that is another thing not related with this blog but with the game itself.

P.S. Sorry for my bad english. I try, i realy do :)

Nice to see you back and continuing what your good at.  Don't stop.

@RC_Woods -

I did not find your posts to be coming from a place of insensitivity.  I think you make some valid points about what this blogger is doing.  I think the individuals who comment about the "negative" posts are really being blinded by their own emotions. 

The fact is the fact.  To be a GM, IM, FM, NM - those all take tests - and we are on a chess website where people will literally click on the blog link thinking that very thing.  To do this I think is to miss the fact that we are on a chess website where that confusion would be present - so why make a blog designed to create that confusion?

I believe there are such things as Correspondence Masters and I do not know enough about that to comment on how that rating system works.  But I do not see any hint of insult in calling out the fact that the title and the language within the blog post is grossly mistated.  So congratulations to you for speaking out.

I guess the only thing that annoys me is the fact that I'm drawn to these blogs by titles like "Facing a GM".  I read the post thinking I'd read about some average Joe playing a GM in an OTB tournament or simul.  Instead it's this rubbish.  The ratings here do not equate to anything in the real world.

offering a draw here....this is what is wrong with chess and why many people dont bother following it. Why pay to go and see that, only for a draw? i know its on chess.com, but still...have some bloody balls!