'Modeling' recent debates using chess

I beat Nigel Short once.In US rating system I was about 2400.Don't play much anymore. Last time was about a year ago.

Ok I should be more clear. I had a BCF rating of 239. This translates roughly to an ELO of around 2400.I believe currently USCF ratings are inflated about 120 points compared to FIDE.No I am not an IM though that was about my level in 1985 or so. I was the two time runner up in the British University Chess Tournament.I played Nigel Short in a 'friendly' game or two about 1981 or so, a friend of mine went to high schol with him. We are only about 3 days apart in age - so we were 16 at the time. He seems to have faded a little recently but he was up to about 2725 I believe.

DNAunion,I must admit I would be interested to know my current chess ability. I have only played a few games in the last decade or so. The most recent was with a grad student of a colleague of mine. He had a USCF rating of 2250 or so (= 2100+ FIDE). I beat him rather easily - but I would hazard that I would be no more than 2350 myself right now.Tell me - do you play online?I never have but I am told it is becoming a farce because people will sit there and run a program like Fritz and pretend it is them playing. A program like that for $60 plays at what - about 2400-2600?

You ever play the grob or spike to mess with people. It's good playing for money with people who don't know you because they think you are an idiot.By the way I hate blitz but I agree it removes the cheating with good chess software.

Hid the solution. Problem wasn't for EC or DU. Or does this imply there's an even shorter one I don't know about? --Admin[This message has been edited by Admin, 04-01-2004]

If you read the previous post to my blanked out solution I was told I could go ahead and post it.Dope!

I feel left out.Here's one I just thought about. Though I think I may have dug it up out of memory so it may not be original.(PS I am doing this in my head so apologies if an error - but I am sure I think - lol)White:
pawns h2 b3
rooks b7 f1
knight e4
queen f2
king h1Black:
pawns a5 g5 d4
rooks e3 d8
bishops e7 e8
knight h6
queen h3
king g8White to move and mate in 3.Have fun!!!It's actually pretty easy.

I don't care - post away.It is rather easy.

No disrespect but really guys, people with ratings in the 1700-1800 range should not be arguing chess as though you were Kasparov, Polgar, Anand, Leko, Kramnik, Adams etc etc.As I have alluded to earlier I don't play anymore but it seems to me that arguing on the internet over chess puzzles seems moot when you realise a strong PC chess game will solve these puzzles. You don't know if the person is doing it or their $50 software.If you are any good you should be able to solve these puzzles in your head without a board in front of you. (Well maybe not 16 move mates - but certainly the 3 move mates.)Relax guys.