The Ultimate Blunder

Sometimes having "too much" knowledge results in the ultimate blunder. Perhaps the most amusing and best documented example is Erik Zabel's "near" victory in last Saturday's traditional cycling race Milan - San Remo. Normally, Milan - San Remo is decided on the Poggio (the last climb before San Remo). Zabel has in the past shown he can keep pace with the climbers and has won the race four times before. This year, Zabel's only problem was super-sprinter Alessandro Petacchi, who also passed the Poggio in the headgroup. In the sprint Zabel beat Petacchi handsomely, thought he had won, put his hands up in the air just before the finish and was beaten by Oscar Freire!

Zabel's mistake can be attributed to "a lack of time to contemplate". But similar things happen when "too much knowledge" and "a lot of time to contemplate" are both available. Tim Krabbé has collected examples of the ultimate blunder in the game of chess: resigning in a won position.

Apparently emotions and knowledge (and skills) are not completely separated, which adds to the human flavour. In an interview on German television Zabel smilingly admitted he had blundered. He is a real sport.

Comments

[IM Jovan Petronic]

Dear all,

A recent Bulgarian organizer introduced an idea of forbidding draw offers in chess. It was an interesting experiment. Not sure of the outcome.

I believe I have an even better suggestion for the LawMakers of Chess!?

Forbid premature resignations! Play untill checkmate and checkmate only!

Here are the pros:

1. One will never lose a game by premature resignation.
2. The spectators will finally see some checkmating positions in top-level games, not only in their post-game analysis.
3. Many believe, wrongly, that being checkmated is humiliating. It is not. Anyway, the new rule would lower the increasing percentage of faked games, as one would have to expose oneself to getting checkmated as well and thus be additionaly "humiliated".
4. Children and adults who checkmate will enjoy the game they love much more.
5. Children and adults who get checkmated will do their best not to let it happen again, thus improving their game of chess.
6. All will learn endgames better, which is relevant in the times of accelerated time controls.
7. All will respect the game of chess even more.
8. Winning techniques will improve for all.
9. It will be easier for individuals to get over a loss, as their temperature would cool down, while getting checkmated, thus improving chess players health conditions.
10. It will raise the level of the game and bring it a big step closer to other major sports, in which there is no such thing as resignation.

Here are the cons:

1. There are none.

Any opinion? Thanks in advance for your reply!
International Master Jovan Petronic
Beograd, Serbia.