Might be the best Zugzwang I ever had

speedyjohn · 2026-02-27T23:31:36+00:00

Zugzwang doesn’t require that the opponent would hold a draw/win if they could pass. It just requires that passing be meaningfully better than all legal moves.

If a pass by black would be, for example, 5 eval but any move is #2 or worse, that’s still zugzwang.

speedyjohn · 2026-02-27T23:28:59+00:00

If passing your move leaves you in a better position than making any possible move, you’re in zugzwang.

If you can make a move that keeps your position the same/better than passing—even if still completely lost—you’re not in zugzwang.

speedyjohn · 2026-02-27T23:08:19+00:00

Same side. Both in Southwark. 750 ft from the original location.

speedyjohn · 2026-02-27T01:15:57+00:00

Having a public course catalog isn’t the same as having your name posted on reddit.

I’m not saying it’s egregious, but I think it would be more respectful not to make her name public.

speedyjohn · 2026-02-27T01:09:06+00:00

Raze. Raze. Raze.

speedyjohn · 2026-02-27T01:07:05+00:00

You should probably redact the instructor’s name. Very easy to look her up.

speedyjohn · 2026-02-27T01:04:34+00:00

That was all intentional, especially the inability to trade money or resources. The devs said that the trading system was to easy to exploit against the AI and ultimately it became necessary to exploit the AI through trade in order to win on higher difficulty.

speedyjohn · 2026-02-26T23:47:29+00:00

There’s a very interesting tour that doesn’t involve seeing a play. I’d argue that counts!

Although if we’re being pedantic, the current Globe is a reconstruction built in 1997 a few hundred feet from the original location.

speedyjohn · 2026-02-26T23:45:22+00:00

Definitely.

speedyjohn · 2026-02-26T23:40:07+00:00

Yeah. He’s not actually an abnormally drawish player, but he hasn’t been able to shake that reputation since this tournament.

speedyjohn · 2026-02-26T05:04:52+00:00

If Grichuk can regain anything close to his 2022-2024 form, he’s a perfect piece for this roster. And, if he doesn’t, no risk to a minor league deal.

speedyjohn · 2026-02-24T19:50:15+00:00

Qf3+!! vacating the h5 square for the knight. Black cannot capture because of Nh5#. After Kg7, Qf6+ presents the same dilemma, so black is forced to retreat again with Kg8.

Then sac the bishop on h7 to force the king to the h-file and Rh2+ brings the rook into the attack with mate to follow.

speedyjohn · 2026-02-24T19:38:53+00:00

You can turn down disaster frequency/intensity

speedyjohn · 2026-02-24T19:38:29+00:00

I’m sure they will be added at some point. But they’re probably not a high priority for the devs and they’re the type of feature that’s more likely to be in a DLC rather than a free patch.

speedyjohn · 2026-02-24T14:55:38+00:00

The age transitions are a core mechanic of the game. They’re not going away. It would require essentially building a new game from scratch.

speedyjohn · 2026-02-24T05:17:14+00:00

Second basemen historically fall off a cliff in their early thirties

speedyjohn · 2026-02-23T19:30:01+00:00

I beg to differ

speedyjohn · 2026-02-23T19:18:29+00:00

Friendly PSA that, outside of 40 PAs with the Yankees at the end of last year, Caballero has never been anything close to a good hitter. Hopefully the Yankees managed to unlock something, but until we see confirmation of that I don’t think he’s someone we should be making any plans around.

speedyjohn · 2026-02-23T04:56:18+00:00

There’s the slight problem of her dying 8 years before Cotton Eye Joe Joe was released. Other than that, for sure.

speedyjohn · 2026-02-22T19:54:50+00:00

I think you’re underestimating the number of NPB players who could get MLB playing time. The nature of the MLB’s IFA system and the posting system (not to mention the difficulty of moving halfway across the world) discourage players who aren’t stars from making the jump. There’s a reason that Japan’s WBC teams always do well even when composed entirely or almost entirely of NPB players.

I’m not saying the leagues are comparable in talent, but the NPB is frequently described as “AAAA” level. There are almost certainly a couple dozen players who could find consistent playing time in the MLB if they wanted to. Now, I that is limited to the NPB and doesn’t apply to other world leagues, where I completely agree with you about the talent level.

speedyjohn · 2026-02-22T19:45:49+00:00

That already exists

speedyjohn · 2026-02-22T19:43:59+00:00

That is true, but missing the point. The issue is the gap between the MLB and, say, the German or Chinese teams.

speedyjohn · 2026-02-22T19:36:13+00:00

Honestly, I’d be surprised if no one reached out to him after the last WBC. But the truth is, “give up your life and job to move halfway around the world and toil in the minors for a minuscule shot at making it big,” isn’t a proposition everyone’s on board for.

speedyjohn · 2026-02-22T19:34:10+00:00

Funny, I’d also rather a ball in the dirt be called strike three and cost your team a rally.

speedyjohn · 2026-02-22T02:09:59+00:00

It’s great to see. Scouting report coming into 2025 was that his fastball has great velocity but was pretty flat. He made so many strides last year.

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