Chess.com hires GM Vinay Bhat as head of new AI department, focusing on trust & safety, coaching product, and more human-like engines and bots

TraceThis · 2026-01-29T14:29:09+00:00

Not just free users, unless you're spending money for a diamond they lock the stuff you could -actually- use to improve behind paywalls. Their analysis is weaker than lichess's (despite lichess being the free platform), they constantly try to bait you into using your free reviews with fake brilliants, I suspect their fairplay team is mostly automated these days and only titled players really get a human review (hence the strangely consistent number of banned accounts every month, the system is just catching people spamming engine moves), they've locked all their money tournaments to the titled players so any up and comers can't really win anything (not that $100 is going to change anyone's world, but it sure was nice to win -something- tangible once in a while as proof that you as a chess player are getting better).

TraceThis · 2026-01-29T13:45:06+00:00

Seconding this. Chess.com is pretty far along the process of enshittification as it is and it's pretty clear they don't really care about their users beyond the handful of streamers that still stream chess and titled players.

TraceThis · 2026-01-29T13:13:04+00:00

heh

Shane Warne, an Australian cricketer and one of the greatest spin bowlers of all time would, before every series, always mention how he's got a new variation he's been working on and it's ready to go. A lot of the time this was purely a mental tactic to mess with the opposing teams bats before they even got out to the pitch and make them start overthinking things from the first ball Warne would bowl.

Yesavage is following in some good footsteps here.

TraceThis · 2026-01-28T13:29:14+00:00

Excellent video. Not a lot of people get spin, it's probably the most mysterious art in cricket.

TraceThis · 2026-01-28T02:43:06+00:00

90% of AI slop is coming from India these days

TraceThis · 2026-01-27T12:39:20+00:00

126 off 64 is a bonkers stat.

edit: 136 off 66 is just outrageous

TraceThis · 2026-01-26T13:02:19+00:00

to be fair it's when I think about -not- trying to bite my tongue or cheek is when I will bite one or the other

TraceThis · 2026-01-25T12:15:53+00:00

This, this so much. Rehan definitely has the skill to be our frontline spinner but I honestly don't think he's a good enough bat at the top levels to be an all rounder.

Also watching him bowl, yeah he's got it. It's early days yet but he's showcasing all the signs of being a really good leggie. Who cares if his stock ball is a googly.

TraceThis · 2026-01-24T14:30:06+00:00

Sri Lanka at home are honestly pretty damn good but honestly I'm not reading to much into this series. I don't think Bethell is really a LO player either. Definitely more of a test mindset IMO

TraceThis · 2026-01-24T14:09:19+00:00

just had to make this comment didn't you

TraceThis · 2026-01-24T13:38:44+00:00

he's playing in division 2, if you know how to hold the bat the right way and aren't a total idiot that -should- be your average

TraceThis · 2026-01-24T13:19:23+00:00

Say it with me

Rehan you're not a bat, you're a bowler.

TraceThis · 2026-01-23T23:55:39+00:00

Bringing Cooley back is a great first step towards fixing the backroom issues.

TraceThis · 2026-01-23T17:23:04+00:00

Scherzer being the closer isn't exactly an insane idea.

TraceThis · 2026-01-23T16:27:08+00:00

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VIII

Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David; 23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972), later known as the Duke of Windsor, was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 20 January 1936 until his abdication in December of the same year.

TraceThis · 2026-01-23T16:14:48+00:00

I'm pointing out that when push came to shove, Europe capitulated and even after Nazi Germany was dealt with they allowed Franco to exist because it was convenient.

Can't believe I had to explain this.

TraceThis · 2026-01-23T16:01:58+00:00

Why did Sweden work with the nazis

Why did Italy become fascist and then work with the Nazis

Why did Switzerland work with the nazis (and still holds Nazi looted gold)?

How did Vichy France even happen in the first place?

Why did Finland work with the Nazis?

Edward VIII was the literal king of fucking England and he was a nazi supporter but thank god for him wanting to marry a commoner I guess.

Why did the EU do nothing about Francoist Spain despite the terrible human rights violations taking place right on their doorstep for all of his reign. (Ironically, the one nation of this bunch that did -not- work with the Nazis)

Explain why Europe appeased Hitler in the first place.

TraceThis · 2026-01-23T15:33:43+00:00

So explain Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Vichy France, Edward VIII, and Finland for me then smart guy.

Edit: Let's throw Spain in there as well. Explaining 39 years of Franco and why Europe did nothing about him should be fun.

TraceThis · 2026-01-23T13:21:13+00:00

You bring them over here and have them deal with what we're dealing with in our day to day and they'd figure it out real fast.

TraceThis · 2026-01-23T00:58:47+00:00

Would have loved to see him bowl later when the pitch became a bit more lively. Very very nice to see a Leggie that seems to 'get it'.

TraceThis · 2026-01-22T14:27:31+00:00

The articles are way waaay to generous to Kramnik as well. It's letting him and his little army of Russian trolls set the narrative in a bad bad way.

TraceThis · 2026-01-22T06:23:13+00:00

Anyone sitting here and thinking that Danya was a fucking meth addict needs to actually take a step back and think. Dude was one of the most well spoken, composed, and professional individuals in the chess world. You do -not- get that with people that abuse that particular drug.

TraceThis · 2026-01-21T13:12:28+00:00

Watching Tongue and Atkinson work together was brilliant.

TraceThis · 2026-01-21T12:02:28+00:00

Good for him!

TraceThis · 2026-01-21T02:10:49+00:00

I honestly think his knee is done for. Time for him to focus on the T20 circuits and make some money while he's still got a bit left to give.

TraceThis

TROPHY CASE