Giuoco Piano, Jerome Gambit

The Jerome Gambit is an unsound chess opening which is an offshoot of the Giuoco Piano. It is characterized by the moves:
White sacrifices two pieces (and eventually regains one) for two pawns in hopes of exposing Black's king and obtaining a . The line is often seen today (but rarely in high-level chess), and was known in the late 19th century.
Discussion.
The opening is named after Alonzo Wheeler Jerome (1834–1902) of Paxton, Illinois, who had a game with this opening against the problemist William Shinkman published in the "Dubuque Chess Journal" in 1876. Blackburne wrote of it, "I used to call this the Kentucky opening. For a while after its introduction, it was greatly favoured by certain players, but they soon grew tired of it." Blackburne's name for the opening may have arisen from confusion with 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5, which was also published in the "Dubuque Chess Journal" and dubbed the "Kentucky Opening" there.
In the third edition of the opening treatise "Chess Openings, Ancient and Modern" (1896), the authors wrote: The Jerome Gambit is an American invention, and a very risky attack. It is described in the American Supplement to "Cook's Synopsis" as unsound but not to be trifled with. The first player sacrifices two pieces for two pawns, with the chances arising from the adversary's king being displaced, and drawn into the centre of the board. Similarly, du Mont wrote that it "is unsound, but has the saving grace of leading to a lively game and is therefore suitable for an occasional friendly game. The defender cannot afford to be careless."
White may regain one of the two sacrificed pieces with 6.d4, but Black retains a decisive advantage with 6...Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Qf6. More commonly, White plays 6.Qh5+. In that event, Freeborough and Ranken analyzed two lines. One is 6...Kf8 7.Qxe5 Qe7 8.Qf5+ Ke8 9.Nc3 d6 10.Qf3 Qf7 11.Qe2 Nh6 12.0-0 c6, with large advantage to Black. Freeborough and Ranken also analyze the bold 6.Qh5+ Ke6 ("follow[ing] out Mr. Steinitz's theory that the King is a strong piece") 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.d4 (or 8.f4 Qf6 9.fxe5+ Qxe5) Bxd4 9.Na3 c6 10.c3 Qf6 11.cxd4 Qxf5 12.exf5 Nf7 13.Bf4+ Ke7, again with a large advantage. Lines to avoid for Black after 6.Qh5+ are 6...Kf6?? 7.Qf5+ Ke7 8.Qxe5+ Kf7 9.Qxc5 and 6...Ke7?? 7.Qxe5+ followed by Qxc5, both regaining both pieces and winning two pawns.
Illustrative games.
 versus Blackburne, London 1884:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Bxf7+ Kxf7 5. Nxe5+ Nxe5 6. Qh5+ g6
7. Qxe5 d6
8. Qxh8 Qh4 9. 0-0 Nf6 10. c3??
10... Ng4 11. h3 Bxf2+ 12. Kh1 (see diagram) Bf5 13. Qxa8 Qxh3+! 14. gxh3 Bxe4# 0–1


Troy Glass

Troy Joseph Glass (born July 27, 2000) is an American actor and cook.
In 2013, Glass became a semi-finalist on the first season of the American reality cooking competition "MasterChef Junior". He cooked on the show at age 12 and finished in fourth place. He has later cooked on programs such as "The Home and Family Show" and "Access Hollywood", also appearing as a contestant on the cooking game show "Food Fighters". On "Food Fighters", Glass was the first minor ever to compete at age 14 at the time, winning $20,000 and a full scholarship to The Culinary Institute of America.
Glass has worked with YouTube stars TheFineBros, appearing as a regular in the hit series "Kids React" (and on "Teens React" after September 2014) and appearing as a guest in another one of TheFineBros's web series, "MyMusic".
Glass has also made appearances in "Modern Family", "True Blood", and "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." He landed a lead role on an episode of "Nickelodeon's Deadtime Stories". He and fellow "Deadtime Stories" cast members were interviewed on "Piper's Quick Picks". he has appeared in numerous commercials, music videos, and voice over work. Troy also trains in wrestling and MMA.
Career.
Glass considers Oreste Di Gregorio and his father his culinary mentors. Di Gregorio is the head chef at D’Amore’s Pizza in Camarillo. Glass’s mother, Polly, a waitress / manager at the pizzeria. Troy and his sister Emily have appeared on game shows, having won a grand prize Round-trip air all expenses paid Hawaii Marriott resorts $9000 price package.
Glass cooked as a hobby since age 7, and began acting at age 10. He remembers his first kitchen session with his grandmother over the holidays. She was making latkes, which he remembers took a long time. He is attending 2nd year of collegeand is in an honors math class. Glass has said that he prefers to cook, and would give up an acting career to become a professional chef But now a days Troy is in college & training as a pro gamer and has FazeClan on his radar He says cooking is his main passion. When he's done with homework, cooking is his ‘watching TV,'. He says pasta is his favorite food to make.
Personal life.
Glass currently lives in Thousand Oaks, California with his parents, Scott and Polly, and his sister Emily Glass.


Beat the Teacher

Beat the Teacher is a British children's game show that aired on BBC1 from 24 September 1984 to 27 October 1988. It was first hosted by Howard Stableford in 1984, then hosted by Paul Jones from 1985 to 1986 and finally Bruno Brookes from 1987 to 1988.
Show format.
Each edition featured two contestants; one a school student and the other a teacher. Both were tested on general knowledge questions and logic puzzles.
Correct answers won the contestant moves on a giant Noughts and Crosses board made from rotating cubes. Questions awarded one, two or three moves of the board, based upon their difficulty. Control of the board was determined by the use of buzzers. After answering the question correctly, the contestant was given the choice of which blocks on the board to turn over.
For example, if a square displayed a "nought", one rotation would see the square turn blank; two would see it replaced with a "cross", three with another blank and on the fourth turn it would revert to a "nought".
Tactical play would lead to the contestant building up lines of noughts or crosses, for which points were awarded (10 points per horizontal, vertical or diagonal line).
A special "joker card" could be played once in each game by either contestant, reversing each square on the board so that all crosses became noughts and vice versa. A bonus was awarded for a full board of noughts or crosses, after which each square on the board would be randomised.
Question styles generally included puzzles, "true or false," or "identify the picture".
The player with the highest score at the end would be crowned champion and participate in the "final" round. The board was cleared, and the winning contestant had to try to fill all nine squares up by answering nine questions correctly within 60 seconds. If they accomplished this, they would win a prize. Whether they won or not they were invited to come back again the next episode. A "Beat the Teacher" Failure Mug was the consolation prize awarded to a majority of the show's unsuccessful contestants.
Once a contestant won five games in a row, they would "retire" undefeated (although this rule was waived for the final series, which saw one contestant win thirteen episodes in a row before being defeated). The best four students and the best four teachers from each series in terms of total number of wins and then total scores achieved in their episodes (excluding the final round) would return for the quarter finals at the end of the series


James Nathan

James Nathan is a barrister best known as the winner of the BBC's "MasterChef" 2008, having beaten Emily Ludolf and Jonny Stevenson in the grand final.
Early life.
Nathan was educated at Millfield in Somerset and Tockington Manor School in Bristol. He trained as a barrister and has a passion for food and cooking from an early age.
Career.
Along with his first wife Linsey Stroud, James was co-author of "The Trailrider Guide - Spain: Single Track Mountain Biking in Spain".
Nathan practised criminal law in Bristol for two years before moving to Spain with the intention of opening a restaurant.
He has worked at Richard Corrigan’s restaurant, Bentleys Oyster Bar in Piccadilly, Michael Caines’ Michelin-starred Bath Priory in Bath and at Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant in Padstow, Cornwall.
From 2013-2016 he ran his own restaurant, The Green Room, at The Retallack Resort near Padstow, Cornwall.
In March 2016, James took over from Nathan Outlaw as Head Chef at The St Enodoc Hotel in Rock, Cornwall. In 2019 he became Head Chef at the Clifton Lido Restaurant, Clifton, Bristol


Englund Gambit

The Englund Gambit is a rarely played chess opening that starts with the moves:
Black's idea is to avoid the traditional queen's pawn games and create an with tactical chances, but at the cost of a pawn. The gambit is considered weak; Boris Avrukh writes that 1...e5 "seems to me the worst possible reply to White's first move". It is almost never seen in top-level play, although Paul Keres once tried it. The gambit is occasionally seen in amateur games and in correspondence chess, and the 3...Qe7 version of the gambit was frequently used by Henri Grob.
Black has numerous ways to continue after 1.d4 e5 2.dxe5. Black can offer to exchange the d-pawn for White's e-pawn with 2...d6, arguing that after White captures with exd6, ...Bxd6 will offer Black a lead in to compensate for the pawn. After the continuation 2...Nc6 3.Nf3, Black may round up the e5-pawn with 3...Qe7, intending to meet 4.Bf4 with the disruptive 4...Qb4+, and ensuring that White's only way to maintain the extra pawn is to expose the queen with 4.Qd5, but in subsequent play the queen can prove to be awkwardly placed on e7. 3...Nge7 intending 4...Ng6 is another way to round up the e5-pawn, but requires two tempi, while Black can also offer to exchange the f-pawn with 3...f6, or 3...Bc5 intending a subsequent ...f6, with similar play to the Blackmar–Diemer Gambit except that Black has one tempo less.
The gambit can be considered an inferior relative of the Budapest Gambit and Albin Countergambit, as by comparison with those gambits, White has not weakened the b4-square with c2–c4, and may be able to put that tempo to better use in order to avoid giving away any key squares. Accordingly, with careful play White should be able to obtain a greater advantage against the Englund than against the Budapest and Albin, against all approaches by Black. However, since the Budapest and Albin rely upon White continuing with 2.c4, and can thus be avoided by continuations such as 2.Nf3 (when 2...e5? can be met by 3.Nxe5 in either case), it is easier for exponents of the Englund Gambit to get their opening on the board and avoid getting into a typical queen's pawn type of game.
History.
1.d4 e5 is also known as the Charlick Gambit after Henry Charlick (1845–1916), the second Australian chess champion, who introduced the 2...d6 line in the early 1890s. The main line Englund Gambit (2...Nc6, 3...Qe7) was introduced by Kārlis Bētiņš (1867–1943), who also established the Latvian Gambit. The Swedish player Fritz Carl Anton Englund (1871–1933) sponsored a thematic tournament in which all games had to begin with the position after 4.Qd5; the 1.d4 e5 gambit complex was later named after him.
Main variations.
Blackburne–Hartlaub Gambit.
The Blackburne–Hartlaub Gambit, 2...d6, was Charlick's original idea to avoid the closed openings, aiming for compensation for a pawn after 3.exd6 Bxd6. A sample continuation is 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4, when White remains a pawn up with some advantage. White can also delay the immediate 3.exd6, playing 3.Nf3 first, when after 3...Bg4, 4.e4 Nd7 transposes into a gambit line of the Philidor Defence played by Blackburne. Black gets partial compensation for the pawn after 5.exd6 Bxd6 6.Be2 Ngf6 7.Nc3 Qe7. However, White obtains a large advantage after 2...d6 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Bg5! Qd7 5.exd6 Bxd6 6.Nbd2.
Soller Gambit.
The Soller Gambit, 2...Nc6 3.Nf3 f6, was named after its Swiss exponent Karl Soller. The immediate 2...f6 is sometimes seen as well, when 3.Nf3 Nc6 transposes, but 3.e4! Nc6 4.Bc4 gives White a large advantage. In the Soller Gambit proper, International Master Gary Lane recommends 4.exf6 Nxf6 5.Bg5.
In this line Black gets partial compensation via 5...h6!, e.g. 6.Bh4 Bc5 (or 6...g5 at once) 7.e3 g5 or 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.c3 Bc5, although White keeps some advantage.
White can also return the pawn via 4.e4, securing the better chances. Then after 4...fxe5 5.Bc4, 5...Nf6 6.Ng5! leads to complications that are very good for White, but 5...d6 may be an improvement.
Felbecker Gambit.
The Felbecker Gambit, 3...Bc5, usually followed by ...f6, is a variant on the Soller Gambit approach, when again Black may get partial compensation in such lines as 4.Nc3 f6 5.exf6 Nxf6 6.Bg5 d6 7.e3 h6, but 4.e4 is also critical, when Black's best is 4...Qe7 as 4...f6 5.Bc4! gives White a large advantage.
Zilbermints Gambit.
The Zilbermints Gambit, 2...Nc6 3.Nf3 Nge7, was named after the American chess player Lev D. Zilbermints who had extensive analysis published on the line in "Blackmar Diemer Gambit World" issues 61–63. German FIDE Master Stefan Bücker provided further analysis in "Kaissiber" 5 and 6. The idea is to play ...Ng6 and win the pawn back.
Gary Lane recommends the response 4.Bf4. After 4...Ng6 5.Bg3, Zilbermints recommends either 5...Bc5 or 5...Qe7 6.Nc3 Qb4, when White's main responses are 7.Rb1, 7.Qd2 and 7.a3. After 7.Rb1, a possible continuation is 7...Qa5 8.Qd5 Bb4 9.Qxa5 Bxa5 10.e3 0-0 11.Bd3 Re8 12.Bxg6 Bxc3+ 13.bxc3 fxg6, when Black's superior pawn structure compensates for the lost pawn, while both 7.Qd2 and 7.a3 lead to considerable complications. An alternative for White is 5.e3, but Black may get some compensation for the pawn after 5...d6. If 4.Bg5, then Black obtains a good game via 4...h6 5.Bh4 g5 6.Bg3 Nf5.
Thus 4.Nc3 is the most critical response, when 4...Ng6 is ineffective in view of 5.Bg5! Be7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.Nd5, so Black may need to fall back upon 4...h6.
Englund Gambit main line.
Most common today is 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7. White can try to keep the extra pawn with 4.Qd5, the Stockholm Variation. Black can try a queenside fianchetto with 4...b6, or attempt to regain the pawn with 4...h6, but neither of those lines provide enough compensation for the pawn. Thus, Black usually challenges the e5-pawn immediately with 4...f6, when play continues 5.exf6 Nxf6 6.Qb3. Black does not get enough compensation with the delayed queenside fianchetto 6...b6 so the main line continues 6...d5. After 6...d5, 7.Nc3 Bd7!, threatening 8...Na5, leads to complications and good play for Black (e.g. 8.Bg5 Na5 or 8.Qxb7 Rb8 9.Qxc7 Qc5). However, after the stronger responses 7.Bf4 and 7.Bg5 (intending 7...Bd7 8.e3), while Black retains some compensation for the pawn, White keeps an edge.
Instead, White often allows Black to regain the pawn at the cost of lagging development. The main line runs 4.Bf4 Qb4+ 5.Bd2 (5.Nc3!? is perfectly playable, as 5...Qxf4 is well met by 6.Nd5!, while 5...Qxb2 6.Bd2 transposes to the main line) 5...Qxb2 6.Nc3! White must avoid the notorious trap 6.Bc3 Bb4!, which wins for Black after 7.Bxb4 Nxb4 or 7.Qd2 Bxc3 8.Qxc3 Qc1#.
After 6.Nc3, 6...Nb4? is refuted by 7.Nd4 c6 8.a4. The main line instead continues 6...Bb4 7.Rb1 Qa3 8.Rb3 Qa5 9.e4 Nge7 or 9.a3 Bxc3 10.Bxc3 Qc5, when White has some advantage due to the lead in development, but Black is not without chances due to the loose white pieces and shattered white pawn structure.
However, in 2006 Bücker pointed out that 8.Nd5!, previously analysed by Grob as leading only to an unclear position, has been improved for White, and Black has yet to find a good response. Avrukh also considers this very strong, analyzing 8...Bxd2+ 9.Qxd2 Qxa2 10.Rd1 Kd8 11.Ng5 Nh6 12.e6! d6 (12...Qa5? 13.e7+! Ke8 14.Qxa5 Nxa5 15.Nxc7+ wins) 13.exf7 Rf8 14.Nxc7 Kxc7 15.Qxd6+ Kb6 16.Ne4! Qxc2 (or 16...Bf5 17.Nc3 Qxc2 18.Nd5+) 17.Nd2 Rxf7 18.Rb1+ Qxb1+ 19.Nxb1 with "a decisive advantage". Stefan Bücker offers 13...Qa5 for Black but concludes that White is clearly better after 14.c3 Rf8 15.Nxh7 Rxf7 16.Ng5 Rf8 17.g3 Ne5 18.Bg2 Nhf7 19.Nxf7+ Rxf7 20.Qd4.
Avrukh also considers 8...Ba5 9.Rb5 Bxd2+ (9...a6? 10.Rxa5 Nxa5 11.Nxc7+) 10.Qxd2 Kd8 11.Ng5 (the traditional reply 11.e4 may allow Black a playable game after 11...a6!? according to Bücker) 11...Nh6 12.f4!? a6 13.Rb3 Qxa2 14.Nc3 Qa1+ 15.Rb1 Qa5 16.e3 when Black is "close to losing", for example 16...Re8 17.Bc4 Nxe5 18.fxe5 Qxe5 19.Bxf7! Qxg5 20.Bxe8 Kxe8 21.Nd5 Qe5 22.0-0 and "White wins." Bücker also considers 9.e4!? to be a strong alternative to 9.Rb5, leading to a clear advantage for White. Black therefore sometimes tries 4...d6 instead, continuing 5.exd6 Qf6 6.Qc1 (or 6.e3, returning the pawn).
White's other major try for advantage is 4.Nc3 Nxe5 5.e4, securing a lead in development and leaving Black's queen awkwardly placed on e7. Stefan Bücker recommends 5...Nf6 6.Bg5 c6 7.Nxe5 Qxe5 8.f4 Qe6, with a playable game but some advantage for White. Viktor Korchnoi won a in a 1978 simultaneous exhibition with 4.Nc3 Nxe5 5.Nd5 Nxf3+ 6.gxf3 Qd8 7.Qd4 d6 8.Bg5!, but according to Bücker Black gets a playable game with 8...f6 9.Bd2 c6 10.Nf4 Qb6.
Alternatives for White.
White can decline the Englund Gambit in a number of ways, including 2.e4 (transposing to the Centre Game) or 2.c3 (transposing to the Saragossa Opening). 2.d5 is sometimes seen, but leaves Black with a good game after 2...Bc5, while 2.e3 can be met by 2...exd4 3.exd4 d5 transposing to the Exchange Variation of the French Defence, and in addition Black can avoid 3...d5 and simply develop with a good game. 2...Nc6 and 2...e4 may also be playable. After 2.Nf3, Black gets a good game with 2...exd4 3.Nxd4 d5, preparing ...c5, and 2...e4 3.Ne5 d6 4.Nc4 d5 is also good for Black.
After 2.dxe5 Nc6, instead of 3.Nf3, White can also defend the e5-pawn with 3.Bf4, when Bücker suggests either 3...g5 followed by 4...Bg7, or 3...f6 hoping to get an improved version of the Soller Gambit. 3.f4 is sometimes seen, but Black has reasonable chances after 3...f6 or 3...d6. White can also transpose to a line of the Nimzowitsch Defence with 3.e4.
References.
Bibliography


Get the Picture (game show)

Get the Picture is an American children's game show that aired from March 18 to December 6, 1991, on Nickelodeon. Hosted by Mike O'Malley, the show features two teams answering questions and playing games for the opportunity to guess a hidden picture on a giant screen made up of 16 smaller screens. The show was taped at Nickelodeon Studios at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. The program's theme music and game music was composed by Dan Vitco and Mark Schultz, and produced by Schultz. Its tagline is "The Great Frame Game."
There were 40 episodes taped for season one in the spring of 1991, and 75 episodes taped for season two in the summer of that same year.
Gameplay.
Two teams of two players, one wearing orange jumpsuits and one wearing yellow jumpsuits, competed.
The object of the game was to correctly guess hidden pictures on a 16-square video wall and to answer general-knowledge trivia questions to earn opportunities to guess. This was done in two separate rounds.
Round 1 (Connect the Dots).
In this round, an outline of dots representing something in a set category was revealed on the 16-square video wall. A series of general-knowledge trivia questions would be asked to the teams, with a correct answer earning that team $20 and a choice of a square. Once a square was chosen, the dots in it were connected to the rest of the puzzle and the team had five seconds to guess the picture. Guessing correctly earned $50, while an incorrect guess lost $20. There was no penalty for not guessing.
The round continued until time ran out. If a picture was being played when time was called, it would be revealed one square at a time until someone guessed correctly and earned the $50. Multiple guesses were allowed, with no penalties for incorrect guesses.
Power Surges.
At various points in the game, the teams would uncover Power Surges randomly hidden on the board. In round one, a square that hid one allowed the team to play a bonus game for a chance at $20 and see an actual piece of the puzzle instead of the connected dots. There were two of these hidden in each picture and every Power Surge in the round involved some sort of knowledge-based activity. Failing to complete the Power Surge awarded the money and the square to the opposing team.
Round 2 (Dots).
The second round featured an actual image hidden behind the video wall. Each of the squares' four corners were marked with numbers, and each question had either two, three, or four possible answers. As in Round 1, if a team failed to answer correctly (in this case, come up with the allotment of correct answers) the opposing team would be able to steal control by completing the allotment themselves. Giving the required amount of correct answers won a team $40, and the team was able to complete as many lines as there were correct answers in the question. Once the four dots on the outside of the square were connected, the part of the image hidden behind the square was revealed.
Pictures in round two were worth $75, with incorrect guesses still costing $20, and one Power Surge was on the board. This time the Power Surges were played at center stage and involved the players doing some sort of physical activity in order to reveal pieces of a picture puzzle.
Again, if time was running short the puzzle in play would be revealed one square at a time until someone guessed correctly for $75. Whoever was ahead when time was called won the game and advanced to the bonus round, dubbed "Mega Memory". Both teams kept whatever they had won with a house minimum of $100. The runner up team also gets consolation prizes in addition to their money.
In the event of a tie, one final puzzle was played with the speed-up rules; whichever team guessed it correctly won the game.
Physical activities (Season 1 only).
All physical Power Surges, except one, involved players performing tasks in order to reveal pieces to a picture. After the team completed the Power Surge, they were given one chance to guess what the picture was for $40; failure to do so earned $40 for the opposing team. The games continued until all nine numbers were revealed, time ran out, or a team ran out of objects.
Mega Memory (Bonus Round).
The winning team faced a nine-square board that hid nine pictures, all in relation to a theme revealed before the round. The pictures were shown to the players for ten seconds, with the object being to remember where they were placed. A nine-numbered keypad was used by the players, with each picture hidden behind a corresponding number. For 45 seconds O'Malley would read clues one at a time and the team would hit the number on the keypad that they thought would reveal the correct picture. A team was encouraged to take turns, but this rule was not enforced.
For each correct answer up to six, the team split $200. The seventh and eighth matches won merchandise prizes, and if a team matched all nine pictures before time ran out they won a grand prize.
Season Two changes.
In season two, the rules were changed to the following:
Reruns.
Although the series ended first-run episodes on December 6, 1991, reruns aired weekly until March 13, 1993. Reruns aired on Nick GAS from the channel's launch on March 1, 1999, until its closure on December 31, 2007. Episodes of "Get the Picture" could be watched on Nick's own TurboNick service from 2007 until 2009.
International versions.
The United Kingdom had its own version on Nickelodeon UK And hosted by Peter Simon. The Netherlands has its version called "Snap Het" on Nickelodeon Netherlands.


Pratyush Buddiga

Pratyush Buddiga (born May 11, 1989) is an American professional poker player and spelling bee champion originally from New Zealand.
Early life.
Buddiga was born in New Zealand and moved to the United States when he was five years old. Two years later he moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 2002, at the age of 13 Buddiga won the 75th Scripps National Spelling Bee after spelling "prospicience" earning him $12,000 and a scholarship. His brother Akshay competed in the 77th Scripps National Spelling Bee, where he finished 2nd. He attended Duke University and graduated in 2011.
Poker.
Buddiga began playing in live poker tournaments in 2010. In 2011, he finished 613th in the 2011 World Series of Poker earning $21,295.
In 2012, he finished 8th in the European Poker Tour hosted in Berlin earning $94,127. The following year he finished 8th in GuangDong Asia Millions earning $772,870.
In 2014, he won his first major tournament, the Fallsview Poker Classic, earning him $222,172. Later that year, he finished 3rd in the Super High Roller Event at the Asia Pacific Poker Tour earning $844,571. In 2014, Buddiga said "No matter how good I get at tournaments, I’ll never be better at poker than the best cash game players, guys like Doug Polk, for example".
Buddiga won the 2016 EPT Barcelona €25,000 High Roller event earning $780,011. The final three finishers agreed to a three-way deal based on ICM numbers.
In 2017, Buddiga finished 6th in the Super High Roller Bowl earning $1,000,000 in the process. The tournament was won by Christoph Vogelsang.
As of 2018, his total live tournament winnings exceed $6,400,000.


English Opening

The English Opening is a chess opening that begins with the move:
A flank opening, it is the fourth most popular and, according to various databases, anywhere from one of the two most successful to the fourth most successful of White's twenty possible first moves. White begins the fight for the by staking a claim to the d5-square from the wing, in hypermodern style. Although many lines of the English have a distinct character, the opening is often used as a transpositional device in much the same way as 1.Nf3 – to avoid such highly regarded responses to 1.d4 as the Nimzo-Indian and Grünfeld Defences — and is considered reliable and flexible.
The English derives its name from the English (unofficial) world champion Howard Staunton, who played it during his 1843 match with Saint-Amant and at London 1851, the first international tournament. It did not inspire Staunton's contemporaries and caught on only in the twentieth century. It is now recognised as a opening that may be used to reach both classical and hypermodern positions. Mikhail Botvinnik, Tigran Petrosian, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, and Magnus Carlsen employed it during their world championship matches. Bobby Fischer created a stir when he switched to it from his customary 1.e4 late in his career, employing it against Lev Polugaevsky and Oscar Panno at the Palma de Mallorca Interzonal in 1970, and in his world championship match against Boris Spassky.
Taxonomy.
Opening theoreticians who write on the English Opening divide it into three broad categories, generally determined by Black's choice of defensive setup.
Symmetrical Defence: 1...c5.
The Symmetrical Defence (classified A30–39 in "ECO") is 1...c5, and is so named because both of the c-pawns are advanced two squares, maintaining symmetry. Note that Black can reach the Symmetrical Defence through many move orders by deferring ...c5, and often does. For example, 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 (or 2.Nf3) c5.
Either player may make an early break in the centre with the d-pawn.
Similar to the Open Sicilian, an early d2–d4 for White can arise on the third move in the Symmetrical Defence with 2.Nf3, where Black has chosen one of 2...Nc6, 2...e6, 2...d6, or 2...g6.
After 3.d4, the game usually continues with 3...cxd4 4.Nxd4. The games can give a large variety of positional and tactical ideas, and can transpose into variants of the Open Sicilian involving the Maróczy Bind, such as the Accelerated Dragon, Taimanov, Kan, or Kalashnikov Variations, if White plays e4 in a later move. If Black manages to play d5 before White plays e4, then the game could transpose into variants of the Queen's Gambit Declined.
When Black plays 2...Nf6, these lines are often called the Anti-Benoni, since these positions are often reached after the transposition 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3, where White avoided the Benoni Defense that would arise after 3.d5. After 3...cxd4 4.Nxd4, Black could follow up with 4...e5 forcing White's knight to go to the queenside and avoiding the transpositions to the Sicilian or the QGD; however, White could avoid the line by first playing 3.Nc3 and then play 4.d4, if Black doesn't play 3...d5 (see below). Same as above, the position could transpose into a Queen's Gambit Declined or an Open Sicilian involving the Maróczy Bind.
There are several types of positions that can arise from the Symmetrical Defence. Among the ideas are:
Reversed Sicilian: 1...e5.
The Reversed Sicilian (classified A20–29 in ) is another broad category of defence, introduced by the response 1...e5. Note again, that Black can delay playing ...e5, for example 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 e5 whereupon even though ...e5 has been delayed, once it is played the defence is classified as a Reversed Sicilian.
After 1...e5, White has Black's position in the Sicilian but with an extra tempo. This is often called the Reversed Sicilian, though others call it the King's English. Bruce Leverett, writing the English chapter in "MCO-14", stated, "It is natural to treat the English as a Sicilian reversed, but the results are often surprising—main lines in the Sicilian Defence correspond to obscure side variations in the English, and vice versa."
Other lines.
The third broad category consists of the non-...e5 and non-...c5 responses, classified A10–19 in "ECO". Most often these defences consist of ...Nf6, ...e6, and ...d5 or ...Bb4 systemic responses by Black, or a Slav-like system consisting of ...c6 and ...d5, a direct King's Indian Defence setup with ...Nf6, ...g6, ...Bg7, ...0-0, after which ...c5 and ...e5 are eschewed, or 1...f5, which usually transposes to a Dutch Defence once White plays d4. All irregular responses such as 1...b6 and 1...g5 are also lumped into this third broad category.
Responses include
Transposition potential.
If White plays an early d4, the game will usually transpose into either the Queen's Gambit or an Indian Defence.
For example, after 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.d4 d5 the game has transposed into the Grünfeld Defence, usually reached by the move order 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5.
White can, however, also play 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.e4, making it impossible for Black to reach a Grünfeld, instead more or less forcing him into lines of the King's Indian Defence with 3...d6. Black also cannot force a Grünfeld with 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5, since White can deviate with 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.g3, a line played several times by Mikhail Botvinnik in 1958, in his final match for the world championship with Vasily Smyslov.
Instead of playing an early d4, White can also play Nf3 and fianchetto the (g3 and Bg2), transposing into a Réti Opening.
Also, after 1.c4 c6, White can transpose into the Polish Opening, Outflank Variation, by playing 2.b4, which can be used as a surprise weapon if Black does not know very much about the Polish Opening.
The many different transpositional possibilities available to White make the English a slippery opening for Black to defend against, and make it necessary for him to consider carefully what move order to employ. For instance, if Black would like to play a Queen's Gambit Declined (QGD), the most accurate move order to do so is 1...e6 2.d4 d5. (Of course, White can again play the Réti instead with 2.Nf3 d5 3.b3.) If Black plays instead 1...Nf6 2.Nc3 e6, White can avoid the QGD by playing 3.e4, the Flohr–Mikenas Attack.
"ECO".
The "Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings" has classified the English Opening under the codes A10 through A39:
Depiction in cinema.
The English Opening is used by Professor Moriarty in the film "" as he and Holmes discuss their competing plans over a game of chess. Both Holmes and Moriarty eventually play the final moves blindfolded by citing out the last moves in descriptive notation (rather than algebraic, as the former was contemporary in the late 19th century), ending in Holmes checkmating Moriarty, just as Watson foils Moriarty's plans.
1.c4 is also used in "Pawn Sacrifice" by Bobby Fischer in the climactic game six of the 1972 World Chess Championship versus Boris Spassky.


Seer 4

Seer 4 (Chinese: 赛尔号大电影4：圣魔之战) is a 2014 Chinese animated children's adventure film directed by Wang Zhangjun and Yin Yuqi and based on an online game. It was released on 10 July 2014. The film is part of a film series, being preceded by ' (2013) and followed by ' (2015).
Roles.
Left is traditional Chinese and Right is Simplied Chinese
Heroes alliance.
Ray(雷伊, 雷伊)
Gaia(蓋亞, 盖亚)
Cassius(卡修斯, 卡修斯)
Blacke(布萊克, 布莱克)
Muse(繆斯, 缪斯)
And Muse is introduced
Reception.
The film has grossed US$9.18 million in China.


Custom Robo

 is a series of science fiction action role-playing video games developed by NOISE and published by Nintendo Co., Ltd. in 1999.
The series currently spans five games, and has titles on the Nintendo 64, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, GameCube, and Nintendo DS. Only the two most recent have seen a release outside of Japan. The most recent title in the series was first released in Japan on October 19, 2006, later seeing international release in 2007.
International release.
Beginning in 1999, the "Custom Robo" series has largely been exclusive to Japan. In 2001, however, Nintendo released "Super Smash Bros. Melee", a fighting game containing characters from throughout the company's history, worldwide. In the title's trophy room, three custom robos from "Custom Robo V2" appeared as trophies: "Ray Mk II", "Bayonette", and "Annie".
Stated by several issues of Nintendo Power, an international release of "Custom Robo GX", the third title in the series, was planned but later canceled. The fourth title in the series, "Custom Robo: Battle Revolution", would later be released in 2004, the first title in the series to receive and release outside of Japan. The fifth title of the series, "Custom Robo Arena", would become the first and only "Custom Robo" title released globally.
Gameplay.
"Custom Robo" takes place in a collect-customize-and-battle style role-playing video game genre similar to games such as "Robotrek" or "Front Mission", but with frantic action battles in confined 3D arenas (2D arenas in "Custom Robo GX"), similar to "Virtual On". In each game's story mode, players slip into the role of a nameable protagonist just beginning to learn about Custom Robo. In each game, the first Robo players obtain is always the latest model of the "Ray" series. The goal for players is to improve their skills and collect different Custom Robos in order to defeat everyone, including champion Custom Robo users.
The main objective of the game is to finish the storyline by collecting every Custom Robo and battle part, while winning every battle that moves players along through the story arc. In Custom Robo battles, the object is to reduce the opponent's hit points from 1000 to 0 by using different Robos, guns, bombs, pods, and dash attacks. Custom Robos are arranged in groups that are similar to their abilities. The endurance bar is located above the player's hitbox; once it runs out, the Custom Robo gets "downed" which means that it stays fallen for a couple seconds. After the Robo gets up, it goes into "rebirth" mode, a temporary state of invincibility lasting 3 seconds. Should the player repeatedly lose the same battle, the game will offer the option of reducing the opponent's initial health, in order to make the battle easier. If players continue to lose several times, the degree of handicap offered increases up to 75%, giving the opponent a starting HP of 250, rather than 1000.
Games.
The following is a list of games released in the series:
A sequel to "Custom Robo GX" was originally planned for release on the Game Boy Advance, but the project was discontinued. It was planned for release in late 2005 in Japan.


9th Generation

9th Generation is a role-playing game published by Jeff Siadek Enterprises in 1986.
Description.
"9th Generation" is a post-holocaust system of "savage violence, humorously written". The game includes three books: "Characters and Combat" (36 pages), "Game-Master's Guide" (16 pages), and an introductory scenario, "Desert Ninja", plus a GM's screen.
Publication history.
"9th Generation" was designed by Jeff Siadek, and published by Jeff Siadek Enterprises in 1986 as a 36-page book, a 16-page book, and a 6-page book in an outer folder, a sample character sheet, a cardstock screen, and an outer folder.


Dirty Laundry Live

Dirty Laundry Live is an Australian comedy panel television quiz show hosted by Lawrence Mooney. The first of 22 episodes in Season 1 screened live on Thursday 16 May 2013 at 9.30pm AEST on ABC2 (with repeats on ABC1 later in the week). It returned for 16 episodes in Season 2 the following year in the same timeslot on 15 May 2014, with longer episodes. The show was moved to ABC for Season 3 with 12 episodes from 28 May 2015 and repeats on ABC2.
The live show features four celebrity panellists, led by Brooke Satchwell. The panel are asked questions and play parlour games based on celebrity gossip and pop culture stories of the week. It also features pre-recorded interviews with celebrities by Lawrence Mooney, Luke McGregor, Ronny Chieng, and others, and segments by non-panelists, such as Sam Simmons and the 'ghost of Michael Jackson'.
Guests.
Season 1 (2013).
Guests featured on the panel in 2013 include Marty Sheargold, Matt Okine, Sophie Monk, Zoe Coombs Marr, Karl Chandler, Wendy Squires, Yumi Stynes, Celia Pacquola, Josh Thomas, Joel Creasey, Michael Beveridge, Kate Langbroek, Havana Brown and Eddie Perfect.
Season 2 (2014).
Guests featured on the panel in 2014 include Zoe Coombs Marr, Marty Sheargold, Tosh Greenslade, Eddie Perfect, Dave Thornton, Lally Katz, Luke McGregor, Lauren Miller, Josh Thomas, Angela Bishop, Michala Banas, Celia Pacquola, Matt Okine, Ed Kavalee and Nadia Salemme.
Season 3 (2015).
Season 3 premiered on Thursday the 28th of May, with regulars Marty Sheargold and Zoe Coombs Marr appearing on the first episode's panel. Other guests throughout 2015 included Ash London, Angela Bishop, Matt Okine, Joel Creasey, Richard Reid, Ronny Chieng and Gen Fricker.


George Kurdahi

George Kurdahi (; born 1 May 1950) is a Lebanese TV presenter and ex-host of the Arabic version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.
Education.
Kurdahi was educated at the Notre Dame de Louayzeh College (Keserwan). He studied Political Science and Law in Lebanon.
Career.
Kurdahi started his career with the newspaper "Lisan al Hal" in 1970, then he worked for Télé Liban in 1973 until the start of the Lebanese civil war, when he immigrated to France. In 1979, he joined Radio Monte Carlo in Paris, where he was appointed Editor-in-chief.
In 1992, Kurdahi moved on to run Sharq Radio Station in Paris and remained there for around two years.
In 1994, he was recruited to head MBC FM in London.
In 2004, Kurdahi moved to the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation for one year, before being asked by MBC to return as the presenter of his old program and several other programs. In his move to LBC to present “Iftah Albak”, Kurdahi became one of the prominent TV presenters in the Arab World. Furthermore, advertising spots on his shows reached record proportions, both in popularity as well as ratings.
Throughout his career, Kurdahi used his stardom to support charities in advancing their efforts for the public good. He notably partnered with "Tamkeen" which operates under the umbrella of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai. He provided Tamkeen's visually impaired students with new educational Tools.
Kurdahi was chosen as a UN Goodwill Ambassador.
In 2011, he departed MBC after making a statement in which he supported the Syrian government during the Syrian civil war, and stated that "there was a conspiracy against the Syrian government from Arab TV station." Subsequently, his shows were canceled from MBC and he eventually joined Al Mayadeen TV station.
In 2012, Kurdahi joined Al Hayat TV to present the TV-show “ Who Wants to be A Millionaire”, "Al-Mosameh Karim" and "Hafez wala Fahem".
George Kurdahi has also launched his own brand of perfume called G.K.
Personal life.
George Kurdahi is married to Ida Kassar with three children. Kurdahi, after living in Europe and other Arab Countries for many years, he returned to his home town of Feitroun.
He speaks four languages: Arabic, French, English and Italian.


Tank Force

 is a 1991 multi-directional shooter arcade game developed and published in Japan by Namco. It was designed by Yutaka Kounoe, whose works include "Dig Dug", "Lucky & Wild", and "Point Blank". The game is the third installment in Namco's "Tank Battalion" series, following "Battle City" (1985). In 2017, it was re-released for the Nintendo Switch as part of the "Namco Museum" compilation.
Gameplay.
The gameplay is very much like that of "Tank Battalion", except that this time up to two (on an upright model) or four (on a cocktail) players can play simultaneously, there are seven new types of enemy tanks (Normal Tanks, Speed Tanks, Hard Tanks, Big Tanks, Rapid Tanks, Tomahawk Tanks and Jeeps) and there is fifteen types of powerups (Bonus 500, 1000, 2000 and 3000, Shot Powerup, 4-Way Shot, Hyper Shot, Ripple Laser, Twin Shot, Small, Shield, Bomb Attack, Timer Stop, Force Field and Extend) which appear for players to collect in order to increase their tanks' firepower and boost their score; the enemies also roll into view from the top of the screen instead of just appearing and can also enter from the left and right sides, every fourth round is a "boss" round where the players must fight Train Cannons, AK Tanks and Boss Cannons at the top of the screen as well as the round's regular enemies, the players cannot destroy their own headquarters walls, when one player shoots another they will be pushed back, and the game has an ending which will be seen after clearing all thirty-six rounds.
Reception.
"Game Machine" reported that "Tank Force" was the fourth most-popular arcade game of February 1992.
In his review for "Namco Museum" on the Nintendo Switch, Damien McFerran of "Nintendo Life" said that "Tank Force" made for an odd inclusion due to its obscurity, describing it as ""Pac-Man" with tanks and destructible environments".


Video games in Germany

Germany has the second-largest video games market in Europe, with 44.3 million gamers in 2018, after Russia. Consumers in Germany spent €4.4 billion on video games over the course of 2018, a 9 percent year-on-year increase from 2017. The video game market in Germany grew by 6 percent to €6.2 billion ($6.7 billion) in 2019.
The annual Gamescom in Cologne is the world's largest video game expo by number of attendees.
Home production.
Origins.
German production of popular video-games began principally on the 16-bit systems such as the Commodore Amiga and Atari ST in the 1980s, although a number of successful titles were also released on the Commodore 64 which dominated the 8-bit computer market in the country at the time. Popular developers of the 16-bit era included Thalion, Factor 5 (who were responsible for developing the entire "Turrican" series) and Blue Byte. Blue Byte and Factor 5 remain in existence in 2006 and produce titles for Windows PCs.
Modern day.
By 2002, German games were heavily tilted toward construction and management simulations, according "Der Spiegel"s Frank Patalong. He noted that "nowhere else in the world are simulations as successful as here at home. Titles such as "The Settlers", "Die Völker" [and] "Anno 1602" have dominated the German sales charts for years". Released in 1998, "Anno 1602" by Sunflowers Interactive was Germany's best-selling computer game of all time as of December 2002, with sales of 2.5 million copies worldwide and 1.7 million in the German market. Its sequel, "Anno 1503", broke its sales record to become Germany's fastest full-price computer game to reach 500,000 domestic sales. It ultimately sold over one million units in German-speaking countries, and, when combined with its predecessor, reached 4.5 million sales worldwide by October 2006. The titles began the "Anno" series.
One of the most famed titles to come out of Germany is "Far Cry" by Frankfurt-based Crytek, who also produced "Crysis". Factor 5 had been concentrating on the "" series of video games from 1999 until 2003, and released "Lair", an action game for the PlayStation 3, in 2007.
Ascaron produced the "Elite" homage "Darkstar One", and continued to produce the popular ( 'Kickoff') series of football games, the first two installations of which were released under the title "On the Ball" in English-speaking countries.
Consumption.
Within Germany there is a popular taste for historical trade and warfare simulations, notably exceeding that of many other countries. Some German-developed titles in this genre, such as "1602 A.D." and its sequels, and "The Patrician", have also been successful abroad.
Vehicle simulator games are also very popular in Germany. Many add-on developers for established simulator franchises, including Train Simulator and Microsoft Flight Simulator, are based in Germany, with one of the most popular, Aerosoft, being based in North Rhine-Westphalia.
First-person shooters have also been traditionally quite popular in recent years, and there has been considerable debate about and censorship of the violent content of many such games. Consequently these games, especially uncut versions, became highly coveted in gaming circles for many years (though the modern Internet and VPNs allow players virtually anywhere to obtain a game from, or play on a server hosted in, virtually any other jurisdiction today).
Trade fairs.
From 2002 to 2008 the main video game trade fair in Germany was the Games Convention which was held annually in Leipzig, and was highly recognized by the press. Since 2009 it was discontinued, as the Gamescom in Cologne took the place of the major video game trade fair in the world.
The USK and censorship.
Violence in video games is a controversial subject in Germany, and German localisations of violent games are often heavily cut by the publishers to permit a public release. Usually this entails a simple removal or reduction of depictions of blood and gore, but often extends to cuts in the content or plot of the game, as was the case in "Phantasmagoria", ', "Counter-Strike", "Grand Theft Auto", ', and "".
All games that are released to the public are required to carry a certificate given by the USK ( – Voluntary Monitoring Organisation of Entertainment Software). If the USK refuses certification of a title, it may be, and often is, placed upon the index of media harmful to youth kept by an offshoot of the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs. The compulsory nature of the USK label was a consequence of the 2003 modification of the or youth protection laws.
The 2003 changes to the also announced an intent to extend the restrictions on the depiction of violence in video games, leaving open the possibility of banning any depiction of violence in video games, which was met by widespread outcry from the video game community in Germany. The then in power CDU/SPD coalition government announced an intention to enact this in 2005, but in November 2006 such restrictions were not enacted at that time.


Idle animation

Idle animations refer to animations within video games that occur when the player character does not do any action (hence being idle). These sorts of animations are largely popular with action games, where players may rarely be idle and thus serve as easter eggs. Some of the first games ever to introduce idle animations on a mainstream basis were "Door Door" and "Maziacs"; the sprite taps his feet, blinks, and sits down. This trend spread to many other action genre games, becoming more complex as allowed by the advancing hardware. For example, in "", Diddy Kong juggles a few balls if the player offers no controller input for a few seconds.
Idle animations in modern 3D games are used to keep them realistic. In general, games meant for younger audiences are far more likely to have complex or humorous idle animations, while games for older people tend to have more basic idle animations. For example, in "Super Mario 64", Mario will occasionally look around, and eventually fall asleep, while in other games, steady breathing suffices as an idle animation. In , the playable character, Carl "CJ" Johnson will occasionally sing songs such as "Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang" and "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)."


David Poltorak

David Poltorak was a "Sale of the Century" grand champion in Australia in 1986. In his eight episodes, he won a grand total of A$376,200, including $244,000 in cash and $132,200 in prizes. At the time, this total was a world record for winnings on a television game show.
Poltorak holds three records for Australian "Sale":
In 1991, Poltorak replaced Fran Powell as question writer/adjudicator for "Sale" and held the position until the show's end in 2001. He then became a question writer for Australian "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?", and is now a question writer for "Millionaire Hot Seat".


Saturday Supercade

Saturday Supercade is a 1983–1984 animated television series produced for Saturday mornings by Ruby-Spears Productions. It ran for two seasons on CBS.
Premise.
Each episode is composed of several shorter segments featuring video game characters from the golden age of arcade video games.
The segments included:
Pitfall! and Q*bert rotated weekly while the other three were weekly.
During the second season, Q*bert (now weekly) and Donkey Kong remained while the Frogger, Donkey Kong Jr. and Pitfall! segments were replaced by shorts featuring:
Segments.
Frogger.
Frogger (voiced by Bob Sarlatte) is an ace reporter of the swamp who works at "The Swamp Gazette". He and his friends Shellshock "Shelly" Turtle (voiced by Marvin Kaplan) and Fanny Frog (voiced by B.J. Ward) go out in search of crazy stories (sometimes about human behavior) to publish in the newspaper. Frogger also has to deal with his gruff boss and editor-in-chief Tex Toadwalker (voiced by Ted Field, Sr.). As in the game, he often has an encounter with an alligator or gets flattened by a passing car, but unlike the game, Shelly brings Frogger back to life, using an ordinary air pump.
Donkey Kong.
Donkey Kong (voiced by Soupy Sales) has escaped from the circus. He is on the lam, and Mario (voiced by Peter Cullen) and Pauline (voiced by Judy Strangis) are chasing the ape. As with the original game, Donkey Kong will often grab Pauline and Mario has to save her. Plots typically centered on them encountering crime with the villains conning the slow-witted Donkey Kong into doing their work and Mario and Pauline exposing the truth. After Mario and Pauline reveal the truth to Donkey Kong, the three of them team up to stop the antagonists' plans followed by Donkey Kong evading Mario and Pauline again.
Q*bert.
In a 1950s-inspired world set in the town of Q*Berg, a teenage fur-covered creature named Q*bert (voiced by Billy Bowles), his girlfriend Q*Tee (voiced by Robbie Lee), his brother Q*Bit (voiced by Dick Beals), and his friends Q*Ball (voiced by Frank Welker), Q*Val (voiced by Robbie Lee), and Q*Mongus (voiced by Frank Welker) must deal with the resident bullies Coily, Ugg and Wrongway (all three voiced by Frank Welker), and Coily's girlfriend Viper (voiced by Julie McWhirter). As with the video game, the segment features "block-hopping" scenes, "swearing" bubbles and occasional flying discs from the original game. New to the cartoon was Q*bert's use of "slippy-doos," a black ball projectile which he loaded and fired through his nose, producing an oil slick wherever the balls splattered. Slick and Sam (both voiced by Frank Welker) are also featured.
Donkey Kong Jr..
Donkey Kong Jr. (voiced by Frank Welker) is sad to find that his father has run away from Mario and the circus. He befriends a greaser nicknamed "Bones" (voiced by Bart Braverman) who has a motorcycle and offers to help Junior by finding his dad together. Donkey Kong Jr's catchphrase is "Monkey muscle!", which he tells to himself and Bones to inspire self-confidence. Bones often serves as the voice of reason when Donkey Kong Jr. bites off more than he can chew.
Pitfall!
Pitfall Harry (voiced by Robert Ridgely), his niece Rhonda (voiced by Noelle North), and their cowardly pet Quickclaw the Mountain Lion (voiced by Kenneth Mars) explore jungles for hidden treasures, having many different adventures along the way. Quickclaw and Rhonda later appeared in "" and "Super Pitfall".
Space Ace.
Space Ace (voiced by Jim Piper) is the always smiling self-confident champion of the "Space Command", whereas when always "wimping out" to Dexter (voiced by Sparky Marcus) after being hit by the Infanto-Ray, he becomes clumsy and weak. With officer Kimberly (voiced by Nancy Cartwright), he works for Space Marshall Vaughn (voiced by Peter Renaday) to keep the peace in the universe. They fight the evil alien commander Borf (voiced by Arthur Burghardt) and keep him from invading Earth. Ace and Kim try to keep his 'wimping' situation secret and pretend that Dexter is Kim's little brother to Vaughn.
Again, as with Donkey Kong, Ruby-Spears took artistic license; in the video game, Dexter had certain chances to revert to Ace, his full-grown self, whereas in the cartoon the Ace/Dexter phases seemed to happen on their own and often at inconvenient times for the hero.
It was aired late night on Cartoon Network in the late 1990s, and segments have been shown between programs on Boomerang.
Kangaroo.
Joey Kangaroo (voiced by David Mendenhall), his mother "K.O." Katy Kangaroo (voiced by Mea Martineau) and Sidney Squirrel (voiced by Marvin Kaplan) must stop the Monkeybiz Gang members Bingo, Bango, Bongo, and Fred (all four voiced by Pat Fraley and Frank Welker), four meddlesome monkeys who are known from making trouble at the local zoo run by the zookeeper Mr. Friendly (voiced by Arthur Burghardt). The Monkeybiz Gang would cause trouble by trying to escape from the zoo and Katy would have to help keep them in line.
Rebroadcast and home video.
The "Space Ace" segments from the show occasionally appeared as filler in between shows on Boomerang and Toonami.
Warner Archive announced via their Facebook page that "Saturday Supercade" will be released through their made-on-demand DVD program. However, due to rights issues, some segments may not be able to appear. Currently they are researching the project and have no set release date.
On November 3, 2015, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released "The Best of Q*Bert" on DVD in Region 1. The two-disc collection features 17 of the 19 episodes of the series. This is a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release, available exclusively in the US via Amazon.com and their CreateSpace MOD program.


Thom McKee

Thom McKee (born 1955) is a former United States Navy officer and 1977 graduate of the Naval Academy, who was a long-running contestant on "Tic-Tac-Dough", an American game show, in 1980. He set a number of game show records for the time, appearing on 46 episodes of the series and winning $312,700 in cash and prizes. This total made him the biggest winner in the history of television game shows at the time.
Performance on "Tic Tac Dough".
As a contestant on "Tic Tac Dough", McKee won $312,700 (the equivalent of about $ in today's dollars) in cash and prizes over 46 days on the show. He played a total of 89 games, defeating 43 opponents (the remaining games other than his last being drawn), and answered 353 questions correctly. His total prizes included eight cars (as winners on "Tic Tac Dough" were awarded a new car every fifth win), three sailboats, 16 vacations (which he was unable to take), several other smaller prizes, and $200,000 in cash. Prior to McKee's record, the most ever won on a television game show was "The Joker's Wild" contestant Eileen Jason, who won $305,280 ($250,000 of which was won during the 1979 Tournament of Champions).
McKee was defeated on August 3, 1980 by Erik Kraepelien to end his winning streak. After his defeat, which occurred after he failed to answer a question in the topic 'Women In Film', McKee appeared on "To Tell the Truth" in 1980. Only one of the four celebrity panelists was able to identify him alongside his two impostors. Three years after his original run on "Tic Tac Dough", McKee made one more appearance on the show, this time to compete in a Tournament of Champions. In the 1990s, he became president of Hicks & Rotner Associates Inc. (now H&R Retail), a brokerage firm. He is no longer with the firm.
Records broken.
The wins and consecutive days records were broken by "100%" contestant Ian Lygo in 1998, while the winnings record was broken by Michael Shutterly during the original 15-night run of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" in 1999, where he won $500,000. McKee still holds the American record for most consecutive games played (100 games, 56 wins), due to the nature of "Tic Tac Dough" making ties possible (and frequent). However, "Jeopardy!" contestant Ken Jennings (who himself set a new cash winnings record), beat the wins record with 74, and most consecutive days with 75 in 2004–05.
Other shows.
McKee was a subject on the Robin Ward-hosted version of "To Tell the Truth" shortly after his reign on "Tic Tac Dough" came to an end.
McKee participated in the American version of "Grand Slam" as the #11 seed, facing a field of game show greats. He faced John Carpenter of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" fame in a first-round matchup, but lost.


Hider in the House

Hider in the House is a British children's game show presented by Jason King and Joel Ross (aka JK and Joel). In the programme, a celebrity has to be hidden in a family's house by three children and a parent. If the family have fewer than three children, they use friends or related children to make up the numbers. The other parent of the family thinks they are taking part in a totally different programme. The children involved must undergo a series of tasks to win prizes which they will receive if the unaware parent does not work out what is really happening. The tasks are sometimes very messy or involve getting the unaware parent to do strange things.
The format, which was devised by Eyeworks UK, won the Best Entertainment prize at the 2008 Rose d'Or ceremony.
Series history.
In late 2006, CBBC put an advert on their website for families wishing to take part in a new Saturday morning gameshow, advertised as "Our House". This was in fact the cover show for " Hider in the House". The first series was shown on Saturdays between 9am and 10am on BBC Two and the CBBC Channel. The first episode was shown on 17 February 2007 and the first series finished on 30 June 2007. The second series was shown from 6 January 2008 to 1 June 2008. It was changed from Saturday to Sunday because of "Basil's Swap Shop".
For Series 2, the show went through a reformatting, with JK and Joel being joined by presenter, Kate Edmondson, as JK and Joel had to go undercover because too many people knew about Hider in the House. Kate is the supposed presenter of a new cover show "Big Kidz". Two challenges were cut from the show and the final challenge (Hider in the House) was also changed slightly. Instead of just the unsuspecting parent trying to find the real celebrity, it was changed so the children have to find mini cut outs of the celebrity and the unsuspecting parent the real one with clues from JK and Joel. Also the celebrity has to "Push the Pedal" and gunge the unsuspecting parent, otherwise the children don't get the prizes they have won. During the Chico episode, "Push the Pedal" backfired and all the gunge landed on Chico's leg. However JK had a bucket of gunge ready and poured it over the parent. The unsuspecting parent also received a large cardboard certificate, as well as being "hidered".
For Series 2, JK must go undercover for the fourth challenge to get the unsuspecting parent out of the way so the kids and the hider can get out of the house. JK sometimes cheekily drops hints of Hider in the House (e.g. while pretending to be a gardener, he said the name of a fake plant which involved the word "hider" (hiderdendrum) and while pretending to be from the army he said his last name was "hider" ). The parent rarely notices these hints.
David Grant.
In the sixth episode of the second series, David Grant was busted early when an unfortunate incident led to him being discovered on the first day. In view of the unusual circumstances, and because JK felt partially responsible, the three presenters discussed what to do. They offered the children the opportunity to continue playing, but on the condition that if they lost the challenges they would lose all the prizes they had already won. Unsuspecting friends and family were substituted for the unsuspecting parent.
Forfeits.
If the Hider failed a challenge, they were given a forfeit for the children to win back the prizes. In Series One, it was 'Suck the Sock' where the hider had to suck a sock full of smoothie to win the prizes back. Sometimes the sock was changed to another thing associated with the celebrity. For example, for Steph Orleans and Malak it became 'Lick the sock'. In Series Two, the forfeit was sometimes Lick the Tache, where they had to lick a horrible substance moustache off their face. An example of this is Lil' Chris in Week 3 when he had to lick a moustache of tartar sauce off his face. In certain episodes, it was still 'Suck the Sock'. However, there was only one forfeit per episode and that was taken on the first failed challenge.
It wasn't always a smoothie that was to be sucked - sometimes it was gravy but modified or crushed lollipops with orange juice and ginger. For Dani Harmer in Week 1 it was 'Suck Nan's Tights'.
Awards.
The series won the Best Entertainment prize at the prestigious 2008 Rose d'Or ceremony.


Meredith Vieira

Meredith Louise Vieira (born December 30, 1953) is an American broadcast journalist and television personality. She is best known as the original moderator of the daytime talk show "The View" (1997–2006), the original host of the syndicated daytime version of the game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" (2002–2013), and as co-host of the NBC morning news program "Today" (2006–2011). She currently hosts the syndicated weekday game show "25 Words or Less".
Vieira has also been a contributor to "Dateline NBC", "Rock Center with Brian Williams", and "NBC Nightly News", and hosted the Lifetime television series "Intimate Portrait" (1994–2005). From 2014 to 2016, she hosted her own syndicated daytime talk show, "The Meredith Vieira Show".
Early life.
Vieira was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and raised in nearby East Providence, the daughter of Mary Elsie (Rosa), a homemaker, and Edwin Vieira, a medical doctor, both first-generation Portuguese Americans. She is the youngest of four children, with three older brothers. All four of Vieira's grandparents came from the Azores—three from Faial Island, one of the nine islands in the archipelago. The family name Vieira means "scallop" in Portuguese. They emigrated to New England in the late-19th and early-20th centuries, settling around Providence, Rhode Island. Vieira was raised in the Roman Catholic faith, but she has stated in recent interviews that she has "spirituality, not a religion".
Vieira attended the Lincoln School, a Quaker all-girls offshoot of Moses Brown School in Providence, graduating in 1971. She graduated with a degree in English from Tufts University in 1975.
Career.
Beginnings on radio and local TV (1975–1982).
Vieira began her broadcasting career in 1975 as a news announcer for WORC radio in Worcester, Massachusetts, doing afternoon drive news during the "B. J. Dean Show". She began a career in television working as a local reporter and anchor at WJAR-TV in Providence, eventually making her way into the newsroom at WCBS-TV in New York City where she was an investigative reporter from 1979 to 1982.
CBS News (1982–1993).
Vieira first gained national recognition as a CBS reporter based in its Chicago bureau from 1982 to 1984. She later became a correspondent for nationwide news-magazine shows including "West 57th" (1985–89) and "60 Minutes" (1989–91). Her final assignment at CBS was as co-anchor of the "CBS Morning News" (1992–93).
Move to ABC, "Turning Point"; "Intimate Portrait"; "The View" (1994–2006).
Vieira moved to ABC initially as one of six regular correspondents for the news-magazine show "Turning Point" (1994–99), and was also the host of the Lifetime Network's show "Intimate Portrait", which debuted on January 3, 1995, and ran until August 28, 2004.
Vieira served as the original moderator and co-host of ABC's daytime talk show "The View" from its debut on August 11, 1997, until June 9, 2006. As moderator, she was responsible for opening and closing each of the show's live episodes, introducing "Hot Topics," guiding conversations, and breaking to commercials. On her final episode of "The View", Vieira's co-hosts gave her a roast to commemorate her departure.
Vieira explained what led her to become "The View"'s moderator in an interview with the "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette", by making the following statement:
In August 2006, Vieira told "Time" that she hasn't watched "The View" since she left the show, except the episode when Star Jones announced she was leaving. She said it was "very sad" what's happened to it: "I'm proud of the work we did there, but it's not a good time in the history of the show... It's hard to watch. It sort of became a joke." On August 29, 2006, Vieira told the "New York Post" that she didn't mean that "The View" was a joke. She said the interview was taken out of context. "I felt that the media was turning ["The View"] into a joke, not that the show was a joke," she says. "Time" added a clarification to its website, saying "[Vieira] assures "Time" that in no way were her comments meant to be insensitive or derogatory..."
"Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" (2002–2013).
Vieira became the first host of the American syndicated version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" on September 16, 2002; prior to that, American audiences had known it as a primetime show on ABC hosted by Regis Philbin. Rosie O'Donnell (who would later succeed Vieira on "The View") was originally offered to host the syndicated version, but rejected it almost immediately. Vieira won two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Game Show Host for her hosting duties on "Millionaire" (one in 2005, the other in 2009); as such, she is the second woman ever to win an Emmy Award in this category (after Betty White for "Just Men!" in 1983), and the first to win multiple times. In addition to hosting the show, Vieira also served as its co-executive producer, a title that she would hold from 2005 until her departure from the show.
ABC originally offered Vieira hosting duties on the syndicated "Millionaire" to sweeten one of her re-negotiations for "The View". When the show was honored by GSN on its 2007 "Gameshow Hall of Fame" special, one of the show's executive producers, Leigh Hampton, said that when the syndicated version was being developed, the production team felt that it was not feasible for Philbin to continue hosting, as the show recorded four episodes in a single day, and that the team was looking for qualities in a new host: it had to be somebody who would love the contestants and be willing to root for them. After O'Donnell declined the opportunity to host the syndicated version, Vieira was the one that the team settled on, because she had the above-mentioned qualities. On the special, Vieira herself gave the following explanation for why she decided to host the syndicated "Millionaire":
Prior to hosting the syndicated version of "Millionaire", Vieira was a celebrity contestant in a special tournament on the third season of the original primetime version, winning $250,000 for her selected charitable organization, the Windows of Hope Family Relief Fund. Seven and three-quarter years later, she would even turn the tables on Philbin himself with her surprise appearance on the finale of the show's 10th anniversary primetime revival on August 23, 2009—hosting its final segment while giving him the opportunity to answer one question in order to win $50,000 for his selected organization, Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx.
On January 10, 2013, Vieira announced that after eleven seasons with the syndicated "Millionaire", throughout which she had hosted more than 1,800 episodes and offered a vast multitude of contestants a combined total of over $70,000,000, she would be leaving the show as part of an effort to focus on other projects in her career. She finalized taping of her last episodes with the show in November 2012.
"Today" and "The Meredith Vieira Show" (2006–2016).
Vieira accepted an offer to succeed Katie Couric as co-anchor of "Today" on April 6, 2006, the day after Couric announced that she would depart the show to become anchor of the "CBS Evening News". The following day, Vieira announced on "The View" that she would be leaving the show to be co-anchor of "Today", a role "View" co-host and ABC News journalist Barbara Walters had filled nearly four decades earlier during her tenure at NBC during the 1960s and 1970s. Vieira hosted the show with Matt Lauer from September 13, 2006, through June 8, 2011, also becoming a contributing anchor for "Dateline NBC".
Vieira continued as host of "Millionaire" while appearing on "Today". As part of her contract with "Millionaire", Vieira agreed not to appear on "Today" during hours that would conflict with the airing of the game show on competing stations. As a result, she rarely appeared on the third or fourth hours of "Today". Her first appearance during the third hour came on June 25, 2008, for ""Today" Throws a Wedding". She also appeared during the entire third hour during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the Barack Obama inauguration on January 20, 2009.
Vieira announced on May 9, 2011, that she would depart as co-host in the following month, but would remain with "Today" in the role of special correspondent. Her last appearance as regular co-host was on June 8; she returned to the show for the Halloween broadcast on October 31, 2011, and again as special co-host with Matt Lauer in London, United Kingdom for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. She has remained with NBC in a minimized role and became a contributor to "Dateline NBC" and a correspondent on "Rock Center with Brian Williams". In January 2013, she filled in for Kathie Lee Gifford on the fourth hour of "Today", appearing alongside Hoda Kotb, and she reported the story "Inconceivable" on "Dateline NBC".
Vieira was one of the hosts for NBC's coverage of the 2012 London Summer Olympics. She and co-host Matt Lauer were criticized for their NBC coverage of the opening ceremony. Vieira also provided some "Today" Olympics coverage during the games. Vieira co-hosted the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics with Matt Lauer, and was slated to provide coverage during the two weeks of the games. On February 14, 2014, she became the first woman to solo anchor NBC's Olympics prime time coverage, alternated with Lauer while covering for an ailing Bob Costas.
In July 2013, Vieira announced that she would begin hosting her own syndicated afternoon daytime talk show, "The Meredith Vieira Show", starting in September 2014, produced by NBCUniversal Television Distribution. On January 4, 2016, it was announced that the show would be ending after two seasons. The talk show aired from September 8, 2014 to May 20, 2016 and ended with 290 episodes.
Vieira guest anchored Today with Hoda & Jenna for a few episodes in 2019, due to host Hoda Kotb being on maternity leave.
Other television work.
In May 2018, Vieira co-hosted Royal Wedding Watch with Matt Baker, PBS's weeklong coverage of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
"25 Words or Less" (2019–present).
Vieira returned to daytime TV in the fall of 2019 as host of the syndicated game show "25 Words or Less" from Fox Television Stations. Based on a board game, the show pairs contestants with celebrities in an effort to guess a list of five words using less than 25 words in total.
Personal life.
Vieira married CBS News journalist Richard M. Cohen on June 14, 1986. They live in Irvington, Westchester County, New York. Cohen has had multiple sclerosis since he was 25 years old, and has had two bouts of colon cancer, one in 1999 and one a year later. Vieira and Cohen have three children; their younger son, Gabe Cohen, is a reporter based in Washington state.
Balancing family and career.
Vieira joined "60 Minutes" in 1989, following the birth of her first child. Don Hewitt, executive producer of "60 Minutes", allowed her to work part-time for two seasons so she could care for her child. After that, it was arranged that she would work full-time. But after two years, she became pregnant again and asked to continue the part-time arrangement. Hewitt declined her request, firing her, and deciding instead to hire someone who would work full-time. Her departure from the show garnered headlines, as a national debate started to take place about whether women could balance both family and career. She turned down opportunities to co-host CBS's "The Early Show" and ABC's "Good Morning America" in the mid-1990s when her children were young.
Vieira discusses her family and career decisions in the book "Divided Lives: The Public and Private Struggles of Three American Women" by Elsa Walsh.


List of video games markets by country

This is a list of video games markets by country:
As of 2018, video games generated sales of US$134.9 billion annually worldwide.
In 2019, the mobile games revenue reached $61.7 billion and the online games $16.9 billion.
In 2018, the global console games market was valued at about $26.8 billion and the PC games market was valued at about $27.7 billion.
Another estimate puts $109.8 billion in total revenue generated by digital games in 2018 (this number doesn't include consoles), with mobile accounted for $61.3 billion, PC games with $35.7 billion and consoles with $12.7 billion.


Kenneth Chan Kai-tai

Kenneth Chan Kai-tai (born 16 July 1964) is a Hong Kong actor and television host for Cable TV Hong Kong channel (previously working for TVB and ATV).
Career.
Chan is an alumnus of St. Paul's Co-educational College, Fisher Park High School (where he sang in the school choir and performed in school productions such as 'Bye Bye Birdie') and Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. He used to work at JPMorgan Chase as a Customer Service Supervisor and later joined an advertising company.
In 1990 he joined TVB to be the host of some TVB programmes. At the same time he also played a supporting role in some TV dramas. However, he generally failed to get a leading role in TVB. In 1998, ATV invited Chan to join the network with higher salary.
At ATV, Chan is best known as the host of "Baak Maan Fu Yung", the Hong Kong version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?". The show boosted his career. He had also played three different characters in the three seasons of the "My Date with a Vampire" television series trilogy, in which each character is related by cloning or reincarnation of the original Yamamoto Kazuo in the first series.
In March 2009, ATV did not extend his contract thus Chan left ATV and joined CATV. In 2011, he returned to ATV but due to financial difficulties, ATV stopped producing enough TV programmes which lead to the decision to leave ATV again in 2013. Chan now is contracted with ViuTV.
External links.
! colspan="3" style="background: #DAA520;" | Power Academy Awards


Sicilian Defence, Scheveningen Variation

In chess, the Scheveningen Variation of the Sicilian Defence is an opening that is a line of the Open Sicilian characterised by Black setting up a "small centre" with pawns on d6 and e6. There are numerous move orders that reach the Scheveningen; a common one is:
The seemingly modest d6–e6 pawn centre affords Black a solid defensive barrier, control of the critical d5 and e5 squares, and retains flexibility to break in the centre with either ...e5 or ...d5. Black can proceed with rapid , and the opening provides sound counterchances and considerable scope for creativity.
The line has been championed by Garry Kasparov, among many other distinguished grandmasters.
Origin.
The variation first came to international attention during the 1923 chess tournament in the village Scheveningen at the North Sea coast near The Hague. During the tournament the variation was played several times by several players, including Euwe playing it against Maróczy.
Keres Attack: 6.g4.
White has several different attacking schemes available, but the one considered most dangerous is the Keres Attack, named after GM Paul Keres, which continues 6. g4. This move takes advantage of the fact that 5...e6 cuts off the black bishop's control of g4, and plans to force the knight on f6, Black's only developed piece, to retreat and force Black into passivity. This also launches White into a attack. Black usually continues with 6... h6 to stop White's expansion. Previously moves like 6...Nc6 or 6...a6 were also recommended for Black but practical tests have shown that White's offensive is too dangerous to be ignored. 7. h4 is strongest and the most popular. 7.g5 hxg5 8.Bxg5 Nc6 9.Qd2 Qb6 10.Nb3 a6 11.0-0-0 Bd7 12.h4 gives White an equal game at best. 7... Nc6 8. Rg1 (diagram) and here Black has two main lines to choose from:
both of which may give White a slight edge.
Classical Variation: 6.Be2.
Another very popular line is the Classical Variation (also known as "Maroczy Variation") which is initiated by 6. Be2. Used to great effect by Anatoly Karpov, among other distinguished grandmasters, this methodical approach has gained many followers. The main line continues 6... a6 7. Be7 8. Be3 9. f4 Qc7 10. a4 Nc6 11. Kh1 Re8 12. Bf3 (diagram) reaching one of the main tabiyas of the Classical Scheveningen . White's plans here are to build up a kingside attack, typically by means of g2–g4–g5, Qd1–e1–h4, Bg2, Qh5, Rf3–h3, etc. Black will aim for a diversion on the via the semi-open c-file, or strike in the centre. Positional pawn sacrifices abound for both sides and the theory is very highly developed, thanks to decades of research by the most elite players such as Garry Kasparov, Vasily Smyslov, Anatoly Karpov, Viswanathan Anand, Veselin Topalov, Boris Gelfand and many others.
English Attack: 6.Be3.
The combative English Attack is modeled after the Yugoslav (Rauzer) Attack in the Sicilian Dragon. White starts an aggressive pawn storm on the kingside with f2–f3, g2–g4, h2–h4, and often g4–g5. White castles long and a very sharp game is often the result. Black, however, does not have to acquiesce to passive defence and has at least as many attacking threats. The main line continues 6. Be3 a6 7. f3 b5 8. g4 h6 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. 0-0-0 Bb7 (diagram). White's plans are to force g4–g5 and open the kingside files to his advantage. The first player may also exert considerable pressure on the d-file. Black will often consider an exchange sacrifice or at least a pawn sacrifice to open the queenside files for the heavy pieces. Time is of the essence and new ideas are discovered each year. Many elite players including Alexander Morozevich, Peter Leko, and Alexei Shirov have poured many hours of study into this critical variation.
Other variations.
Fischer–Sozin Attack: 6.Bc4.
With the Fischer–Sozin Attack 6. Bc4, White tries to pressure the d5-square directly. Viable Black responses in the centre include variations of Nb8–c6–a5 or Nb8–d7–c5, supplemented by a7–a6 and b7–b5–b4 on the queenside. A possible line is 6...Be7 7.Bb3 0-0 8.Be3 Na6 (aiming for the c5-square; note that in case 8...Nbd7, then 9.Bxe6!? fxe6 10.Nxe6 Qa5 11.Nxf8 Bxf8, and White sacrifices two pieces for a rook) 9.Qe2 Nc5 10.f3. The ensuing position is balanced, with Black ready to counter White's g2–g4–g5 with a7–a6 and b7–b5–b4 on the other flank.
Tal Variation: 6.f4.
After 6. f4, in one of the main lines, 6... Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qf3, White seeks to castle queenside placing his rook on the half-open d-file, and support the g-pawn's advance with the queen.
Minor lines.
6. g3; 6. Bb5, etc. These moves are less difficult to meet and are not theoretically challenging to Black.
Question of move orders and the Najdorf Variation.
The Keres Attack puts Black into a rather defensive and potentially dangerous position. For this reason, many advocates of this defense tend to play the Najdorf Variation move order and then play 6...e6, transposing into the Scheveningen. The most prominent example of such a preference for the Najdorf move order was seen in World Chess Championship 1984, where after game one when Kasparov had difficulties in the opening, he never allowed the Keres Attack and finally switched to the Najdorf move order. The Najdorf move order, while eliminating 6.g4, allows white additional options such as 6. Bg5, and g4 is still a possible move after. Basically, the Najdorf move order delays g4 by one move making the attack vastly less powerful, meanwhile the Scheveningen move order speeds up kingside development making 6. Bg5 much less powerful. As the Keres' attack is feared more than 6. Bg5 the Najdorf move order is seen more at the highest level today. Because Najdorf's original intention was to play e5 all in one go and the history of the move order, openings beginning with 5. ...a6 are often put in the Scheveningen category if e6 is played immediately after.
Much modern analysis of the Scheveningen is under the rubric of the Najdorf. In fact, many books exploring the Scheveningen today have Najdorf in the title. This, continuing the line of thinking in the English section above, is technically the Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian defense with the very popular English Attack.
Note that the "Modern" Scheveningen only covers lines without an early ...a6 from Black. The "Classical" Scheveningen includes the early ...a6. This distinction is important in choosing books to study, as titles covering recent games will often leave out the ...a6 early line, which can still become quite interesting and complex, and still advantageous for Black, even with the powerful English Attack. Many modern chess software programs, such as HIARCS, still play ...a6 early on, despite the fact that "modern" often precludes the line in definitive analysis, depending on the book. Vlastimil Jansa has advocated this variation.


Battle Fantasia

 is a fighting video game developed by Arc System Works. Originally released in Japanese arcades in April 2007, the title was ported to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 home consoles in Japan in May 2008, with a North American Xbox 360-exclusive version released in English in September 2008 by Aksys Games. It was later released in the PAL region in 2009 for both systems by 505 Games (Europe) and Aksys Games (Australia). A Microsoft Windows version, ported in collaboration with DotEmu and distributed via Steam, was released on July 7, 2015 as "Battle Fantasia: Revised Edition". The game's development was headed by Emiko Iwasaki, who had previously served as illustrator for the company's "Guilty Gear" series, and features three-dimensional character models restricted to a two-dimensional plane. "Battle Fantasia" retains a number of features of its predecessor including fast-paced gameplay, colorful anime-style graphics, and over-the-top effects, yet was designed to be a more basic representation of the fighting genre.
The game is notable for its stylistic departure from many fighting games, and is set in a fantasy world depicted as a storybook, and borrows many superficial elements from role-playing games including damage represented as numbers and a text-heavy story mode, which involves a number of heroes answering the call to battle to stop an evil force from once again attempting to destroy the world. "Battle Fantasia" met with relatively low sales in Japan and received mixed or average reviews from critics.
Gameplay.
"Battle Fantasia" is a traditional versus fighting game where up to two players compete against each other in combat using a variety of characters each with their own special attacks and fighting styles. While the game uses three-dimensional graphics for characters, they are restricted to a two-dimensional battle area that only allows them to move back and forth or up into the air. Players face each other in best-of-three round battles that involve the use of normal attacks, throws, and special moves that often involve combinations of button presses and directional input, which can be strung together in long combo strings. The game features four main attack buttons - two punches and two kicks - as well as a fifth "Gachi" (ガチ lit. "elegance" or "grace") button used to parry incoming attacks. If a player times a Gachi command just as an opponent's attack lands, it negates all damage and allows the player to counterattack in a brief time frame. The button can also be used to push an opponent back when combined with a direction, as well as allow the player to recover faster from a knock-down.
As players deal and receive damage, they add to their MP Gauge located at the bottom of the screen, which can be stocked to a maximum of three levels. Players can expend MP to activate "Heat Up" mode to increase their strength and add additional effects to their attacks, with specific enhancements differing with each character. The gauge also allows characters to unleash powerful super moves which cause heavy damage but require spending one gauge level to activate, and can be strung together with special moves with proper timing resulting in a Super Cancel combination. Matches are won either when a player depletes their opponent's health bar, or when the time limit of each round runs out, resulting in a win for the player with the most remaining vitality. The amount of health is different for each character, and is represented by numerical hit points under each health bar.
Development.
Arcade version.
In Japan, 2D fighting video game wanted to shift 3D graphics with 2D gameplay experience, but it was thought to have been technologically impossibly for over 10 years since "Street Fighter EX" released. "Battle Fantasia", released in 2007 was modern innovation in 2.5D style fighting games.
"Battle Fantasia" was developed by Arc System Works originally as a Japanese arcade game beginning in 2006. The company had previously been known for their work on the popular "Guilty Gear" fighting game series and was looking for ways to expand their market to a more general audience, and appointed character illustrator Emiko Iwasaki as the project's director, one of only a few women to rise to that position in the Japanese game industry. The game was the company's first title developed for the Taito Type X² arcade board hardware, and was the first game to use Taito's Vewlix arcade cabinet, which allowed the game to run in high-definition 720p resolutions. Although Iwasaki was given a large degree of freedom when making the game, she was encouraged by the company to retain many features from the "Guilty Gear" franchise in order to maintain their core audience, as well as being told that the game "needed" to use three-dimensional graphics in order to develop the company's 3D talent, as well as more efficiently utilize the Type X² hardware. Stylistically, the game was a departure from Arc System Works' earlier games, with "Battle Fantasia"s colorful fantasy art direction chosen due to the popularity of role-playing games in Japan, which was overseen by graphic designer Junya Motomura. Gameplay was also made simpler when compared to other games in the genre in an attempt to bring more people into fighting games, as well expand it to the female demographic. Early beta versions of "Battle Fantasia" began public location tests in select arcades across Japan in October 2006, with further tests conducted over the next few months until the game's official release in April 2007.
Console ports.
A home console version of "Battle Fantasia" was announced in a February 2008 issue of Japanese "Weekly Famitsu" magazine, and was confirmed for release for both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 systems. The console releases would feature a number of new play modes, including a new, single-player story mode unique to each character, and online play over Sony's PlayStation Network and Microsoft's Xbox Live. In order to make the game more competitive, tweaks and balance changes were enacted to the game's roster, and exploits such as infinite combos were removed entirely. On May 1, a playable demo version of the game was released for the Japanese PlayStation Network, with a full commercial release for both consoles on May 29.
In a July 2008 press panel, Aksys Games announced that it would be bringing "Battle Fantasia" to North America the following September, but only for the Xbox 360. When asked about the possibility of a PlayStation 3 version, a representative remarked that "We’re looking into it, but right now it’s just 360." In an interview with website Gamasutra, when asked if a North American PlayStation 3 version was rejected by Sony Computer Entertainment America, Arc System Works producer Kouki Sadamori merely replied that the question was "a tough one to answer..." 505 Games signed on as the game's European publisher, who released both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions in the region simultaneously in March 2009. "Battle Fantasia"s late release in the region was attributed to the subject of incest being discussed during certain character's Story Mode cutscenes, which prompted the publisher to remove many alternative story paths from the game mode. The game saw a very limited release in only a few selected countries, and was originally indented to be a GBP£25 budget title, but rose to £40 after the game became exclusive to European game retailer GAME. One year after the announcement that the game would only come to North America for the Xbox 360, Aksys Games announced that it would be releasing "Battle Fantasia" as a full download title on the PlayStation Network in Fall 2009, with project lead Frank deWindt stating that "The fans have been asking for it and we're here to deliver." In addition to the announcement, the company also held a contest on their official website for fans to name five new PlayStation Network achievement trophies added especially for the new release, which was made available on Sony's PlayStation Store on December 22, 2009.
A new version of the game, called the "Revised Edition", was released on Microsoft Windows via Steam on July 7, 2015. It features an updated game balance.
Reception.
The home console versions of "Battle Fantasia" received relatively low sales in Japan, with the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions selling 3,100 and 2,300 copies respectively during their debut week. "Famitsu" also gave both console versions 25 out of 40, while "Famitsu Xbox360" gave the Xbox 360 version 29 out of 40.
Western response to "Battle Fantasia" was mostly average, with the game receiving "mixed or average reviews" on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Many critics compared the title to Arc System Works' previous fighting game endeavor, the "Guilty Gear" series, with "1UP.com" declaring that the game was more simplistic than the company's earlier works with less focus on technical aspects such as combos, and that each characters special moves were "flashy and not as situational". The website felt that many of the changes resulted in the characters being more interesting, and called the game's fantasy art motif "a pleasing sidestep" from "Guilty Gear"s more "edgy" style, but found that most matches were slow and that the colorful art direction and Japanese voices would only appeal to a niche audience. "Game Informer" declared that the presentation of "Battle Fantasia" was charming "with all the vibrancy and artistic style of an anime", yet it did little to revolutionize the genre despite adding traditional role-playing game aesthetics such as "long-winded story segments". IGN called the game's character design "lighthearted and appealing", but that the total cast size of only twelve playable characters was relatively small compared to other fighting games, and that background designs were "oftentimes bland and ugly". In regards to the game's technical aspects, IGN felt the game lacking when compared to more high-profile titles such as Sega's "Virtua Fighter 5", and that gameplay was more about "timing and calculated moves than massive combos or memorizing deep move sets". "Anime News Network" ranked it fourth on their list of video games that "deserved far more attention than they received", saying what "sets it apart is the look" of the backgrounds and characters.
European versions of "Battle Fantasia" in early 2009 were often compared to Capcom's highly anticipated "Street Fighter IV" released just one month after. "Eurogamer" claimed that the game was "not even in the same league as Capcom's superlative re-envisioning", yet compared its defensive Gachi parrying system to "Street Fighter III". The website would criticize the title's "by-the-numbers gameplay" and lack of online competition, and called "Battle Fantasia"s art style "a nice departure, but many will find the overly twee presentation a bit too sugary for their fighter tastes." "Play UK" also commented on the game's release, stating that "Six months ago we would have happily recommended it as a stopgap to "Street Fighter IV", but we just can’t say that now." Journalists for the magazine would pan the title's lack of gameplay options and called the story mode "a joke." Ironically, though it was often found to be inferior to "Street Fighter IV", series director Yoshinori Ono cited the original arcade version of "Battle Fantasia" in 2007 as the inspiration for his game's new three-dimensional art style, stating "Our fear was that with Street Fighter IV, because our characters are taller and more human-proportioned that it might look funky... What we learned through development was that no, it's not going to look weird... Battle Fantasia was part of what made us realize that, I think."