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Topic: some profiles disappeared
Replies: 79   Views: 14,822   Pages: 6   Last Post: Aug 4, 2026, 6:20 PM by: madmike

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Replies: 79   Views: 14,822   Pages: 6   [ Previous | 1 2 3 4 5 6 | Next ]
tempest10

Posts: 40
Registered: Nov 13, 2025
Re: some profiles disappeared
Posted: Jul 15, 2026, 3:13 AM

It didn't take too long actually, I am procrastinating stuff anyway and it seemed like a fun thing to do.

This isn't sequential, don't read it left to right. I am not trying to model what 20 sets of you 2 playing each other would actually look like. Each column just shows a non-provisional account at 2636 against an account that has x sets completed. Just for illustrative purposes.

karlw

Posts: 1,039
Registered: Mar 7, 2006
From: Philadelphia, PA
Age: 38
Re: some profiles disappeared
Posted: Jul 15, 2026, 3:19 AM

His calculations are correct. Verifying took me 5 minutes.

Basically, if you were to play me with a brand new account and win a set, rather than lose the normal maximum of 64 points, I lose 64/20 ~= 3 points. If you had already played 5 games, I lose 64/15 ~= 4 points. Only once you've played 20 games will I lose the full 64.

You already have an idea of how provisional ratings work. You start with a 1600 rating. If you beat me in your first set, you would get a rating based on our average rating + 400, which is a nice juicy 2518 (if we draw, it's just the average of 2118). After that, the rating calculation is a weighted average of your current rating and a similar provisional rating, favoring your current rating more as you play more games until 20 games (the specifics are complicated).

The take-away is that this strategy could quickly get you to a 2500 rating, but you would have to beat me consistently. If you score an early draw or two which is likely, you're probably going to end up 2000-ish. These are pretty much the ratings you objectively deserve if you beat me or draw me in a set, absent any other data.

From my perspective, my rating will hardly be affected unless you've played at least 15 games, at which point your rating will hopefully be representative.

It's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.
zoeyk

Posts: 2,308
Registered: Mar 4, 2007
From: San Francisco
Age: 45
Home page
Re: some profiles disappeared
Posted: Jul 15, 2026, 4:07 AM

Oh ok cool.
To be honest tho, this subject is somewhat moot. Because Tragedy will always come back with a new account. And rainwolf will never enforce the no alts allowed policy that dweebo wrote into the sites policy. Debates over the ethics of it, seem to be pointless as we cant do anything with the outcome. It does annoy me tho, when I cant study a person's moves in the data base, but they can study mine.

Scire hostis animum - Intelligere ludum - Nosce te ipsum - Prima moventur conciliat - Nolite errare
karlw

Posts: 1,039
Registered: Mar 7, 2006
From: Philadelphia, PA
Age: 38
Re: some profiles disappeared
Posted: Jul 15, 2026, 4:47 AM

Well you have no less than 5,283 games of mine in the database at your disposal, assuming you remember my three alts (4,970 if you don't). And maybe more in your "private" database that I've heard rumors about.

Needless to say, I expect you to use your famed sniper's skill against me when we face off in the final round. I've got something prepared for you, alright....

It's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.
zoeyk

Posts: 2,308
Registered: Mar 4, 2007
From: San Francisco
Age: 45
Home page
Re: some profiles disappeared
Posted: Jul 15, 2026, 5:37 PM

1, im playing casually in the tournament. So far in part because in early brackets trying to give others fair chance. Also, because im quite busy between my day job, and running a home business, and family.

2, im using only my phone. My laptop, which does have the db study program, with all my files, I have not opened it in a very long time. It has dust on it. In order to get peak performance out of me, I would need to dive into that and deep srudy. Which is a commitment, of time. Which I dont currently have to invest. But when the rain season hits, my home business will 80% shut down during rain season. And I would then likely have more time for what you are asking.

For now, im playing games as if it was live pente. Through a phone, no deep study, just by glancing, and using my instinct alone. Im still a challenge like this, because majority of my pente career was live on the tables.

Yes the rumors are true. I have an old snap shot of the data base downloaded and installed in the db pro tool.
You also have the db pro tool. Where you create your own deep study files. Same as I have. This is a public tool that anyone can down load. So its no secret unfair advantage. I think main difference of yours and mine tho, is mine was updated with games, where low rank games were removed and high rank games were updated. To cut through the nonsense data.

Scire hostis animum - Intelligere ludum - Nosce te ipsum - Prima moventur conciliat - Nolite errare
zoeyk

Posts: 2,308
Registered: Mar 4, 2007
From: San Francisco
Age: 45
Home page
Re: some profiles disappeared
Posted: Jul 15, 2026, 5:50 PM

As to something Prepared for me. Know that as P1, I will likely not be using any old moves of mine. I will likely re-evaluate and create new solutions. Your Positional preparation will likely be pointless and you will be forced into tactical play. Which in a way levels the playing field for both of us. I am aware that some of my P1 solutions had faults. Ive located several, and already prepared new solutions.

Anyways, I always look forward to our games. Let's see how my phone study vs your laptop deep study stacks up.

Scire hostis animum - Intelligere ludum - Nosce te ipsum - Prima moventur conciliat - Nolite errare
zoeyk

Posts: 2,308
Registered: Mar 4, 2007
From: San Francisco
Age: 45
Home page
Re: some profiles disappeared
Posted: Jul 15, 2026, 6:00 PM

Additionally, my famed sniper thing. Is where I not only deep study, and prepare for a target. But I challenge them when im ready. And set the timer of the set in a way that works best. In a tourney, i do not get to control when the set starts. And there is no vacation time allowed. So its slightly different here. Sniping and being rushed under a timer, with multiple rounds, usually live in 2 different worlds.

Scire hostis animum - Intelligere ludum - Nosce te ipsum - Prima moventur conciliat - Nolite errare
karlw

Posts: 1,039
Registered: Mar 7, 2006
From: Philadelphia, PA
Age: 38
Re: some profiles disappeared
Posted: Jul 15, 2026, 6:19 PM

I'm explicitly *not* accusing you of any foul play here, because honestly it's not worth it to split hairs over meaningless rating points on the internet, but what you just described--only playing games against opponents of your choosing, when you're ready after deep preparation, with time controls that you prefer--is a hallmark of one of the most common forms of rating manipulation that I just described above.

What you express a distaste for, i.e. random pairings with start dates and time controls that you can't influence, is exactly what is necessary to ensure accurate rating in the Elo system. So I will simply say that if you want to advocate for a more fair rating system, you should support this playing format and stay within its confines when possible.

As for our presumptive upcoming tournament match, you can categorize it however you want. Personally, I'm calling it a rated tournament set against zoey, the first we've had since 2023 (which was an absolute banger). So for me, it carries a lot of weight.

I'm not playing any rated sets while the tourney is in progress. After the conclusion, I sincerely hope you find the opportunity to snipe me. It would be a privilege.

It's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.
zoeyk

Posts: 2,308
Registered: Mar 4, 2007
From: San Francisco
Age: 45
Home page
Re: some profiles disappeared
Posted: Jul 15, 2026, 6:39 PM

The sniping thing, wasnt necessarily an intentional design of mine. It is merely the result of i retired from pente. But would enjoy dabbling in deep study as a past time. And when I occasionally stumble on something inspiring. I would send out the rare game invite to the player the moves were best suited for. Usually Ned, or mumix for example. The sniping thing was simply a label mumix put on me. And im fairly certain he was serious. Its not meant as an exploit. Its meant as, im retired. So I dont have time, or material often. But occasionally I find some time and material, and I aim the material at who ever is the best fit. Such as, I know they would walk into it likely.

Exploitation, under the conditions I said, is a stretch.

Scire hostis animum - Intelligere ludum - Nosce te ipsum - Prima moventur conciliat - Nolite errare
karlw

Posts: 1,039
Registered: Mar 7, 2006
From: Philadelphia, PA
Age: 38
Re: some profiles disappeared
Posted: Jul 15, 2026, 6:48 PM

Fair enough. This is why I prefaced by saying I'm not accusing you of anything. If you did all that as an active player while competing with other top players for rank on a leaderboard, I would take issue. But it's a moot point now.

What I am actually concerned about is the possibility, however remote, that if I manage to somehow sweep you in our tourney set, you will put an asterisk on it in your personal history, saying that you didn't do any deep study, so you were at disadvantage.

Remember the huge brouhaha that broke out over "Bring your B Game?" That's what I'm afraid of.

It's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.
zoeyk

Posts: 2,308
Registered: Mar 4, 2007
From: San Francisco
Age: 45
Home page
Re: some profiles disappeared
Posted: Jul 15, 2026, 6:48 PM

Now, there have been times. Where i found flaws in people's p1s. And I didnt have time to play, so instead I message them and inform them of it. So, im not all bad.

As to sniping. You admit you found a flaw in mine. And intend to use it. So, you are sniping too. The difference is you have a bright scope glint you are wanting me to see. To get in my head. Where when I do it, I mask the scope glint and I blind side them.
I think that, you do have some material, but I also think you want to spook me into tactical play off the beaten path. I know you very well. You love to get into people's heads before a match. You enjoy the psychological warfare aspect of pente. Which I have no issue with.

Scire hostis animum - Intelligere ludum - Nosce te ipsum - Prima moventur conciliat - Nolite errare
karlw

Posts: 1,039
Registered: Mar 7, 2006
From: Philadelphia, PA
Age: 38
Re: some profiles disappeared
Posted: Jul 15, 2026, 6:50 PM

True. Playing as P2, you need something to compensate for the disadvantage. You use opponent research. I've been using that to a greater extent recently, but my favorite weapon historically has been mind games.

The beauty of this line is that I have some time bombs to detonate regardless of whether you play your normal response (which I fully expect you won't).

I've said too much.

It's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.
zoeyk

Posts: 2,308
Registered: Mar 4, 2007
From: San Francisco
Age: 45
Home page
Re: some profiles disappeared
Posted: Jul 15, 2026, 6:54 PM

To be honest I do not recall about bring your b game. Care to refresh my memory?

And look, i almost didnt sign up. Im busy. Making money.
I signed up with what I can do. Casual play. Sorry...

If you want top play, either pay me a wage to shut down my home business, or wait till rain season when I have more time. I cant just bring my A game and devote massive hours, simply because the timing is good in your life.

Sorry again. I am trying my best to support your desire for top players so I signed up. But my C game is best you getting for now. Just take my points and enjoy them, IF YOU CAN.

Scire hostis animum - Intelligere ludum - Nosce te ipsum - Prima moventur conciliat - Nolite errare
zoeyk

Posts: 2,308
Registered: Mar 4, 2007
From: San Francisco
Age: 45
Home page
Re: some profiles disappeared
Posted: Jul 15, 2026, 7:03 PM

I know you want me to play N10.
You know I've been playing other moves to avoid that. You further try to spook me about it.
Maybe you looked at my alternative moves, like 010, N12, and you found something where you want me to play those again.
Maybe I'll switch up to even newer moves, as P1, which will look monumentally disrespectful if I win. So be careful about backing me into a corner.

But so what. What move are you dying to have me do?

O10? N10? N12?

What if i let you pick, and i fold you in 13 moves flat... ok which one you want?

Scire hostis animum - Intelligere ludum - Nosce te ipsum - Prima moventur conciliat - Nolite errare
zoeyk

Posts: 2,308
Registered: Mar 4, 2007
From: San Francisco
Age: 45
Home page
Re: some profiles disappeared
Posted: Jul 15, 2026, 7:09 PM

I was actually thinking, if O9, ill do your P1, and then show correct solution where you were last defeated by mumix. Or if K9, maybe I do the disrespectful move N7.

You dont want me to open my laptop. Dont tempt me.

Scire hostis animum - Intelligere ludum - Nosce te ipsum - Prima moventur conciliat - Nolite errare
Replies: 79   Views: 14,822   Pages: 6   [ Previous | 1 2 3 4 5 6 | Next ]
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