Interview with FM Justicebot

 FIDE Master Steven Breckenridge is one of my best friends. We met when I challenged him to a blitz game online and we have been friends ever since. Steve is better known as Justicebot and was the best player on Lichess for ages.  He was very unfairly banned in my opinion. The post is here:
here https://lichess.org/forum/lichess-feedback/why-did-justicebotfarmvillemarchan-get-banned-2
I decided to interview him for this Blog as he has a wealth of chess knowledge which is not available online.  

JG: When did you start learning chess?

Justicebot: Four years old but first tournament at nine.

JG: Who taught you as a beginner and as a master?

Justicebot: My dad taught me then I was self taught mostly with a few sessions here and there with local strong players. At the end of 2009, before turning 18 I earned 2200 USCF (NM)

JG: Who is the best player you have beaten online?

Justicebot:Between Nakamura, Caruana and Wesley So, I'd say Nakamura since we played the most and he is faster with a mouse

JG: who is the best player you have beaten over the board?

Justicebot: If it's OTB blitz I would say Loek Van Wely at 2014 World Blitz

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JG: Can you recommend five chess books?

Justice: 1st (for new players) is 5,334 puzzles by L. Polgar, (He means Chess: 5334 Puzzles, Combinations and Games) 2nd (for strong players) Perfect Your Chess by Volokitin, 3rd Test Your IQ GM Challenge by Livshitz, 4th Test of Time by Kasparov, and 5th Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual (Online CD Rom)

         

JG: I have heard you say that the Alapin is the ultimate defense against the Sicilian - do you stand by this?

Justicebot: I would say it's the ultimate attack against the Sicilian defense

JG: Can you recommend a book on the Alapin?

Justicebot: I read most of The Complete Alapin Sicilian by Sveshnikov but I would recommend instead steering away from many of his lengthy lines that I think don't produce the right ideas to win. Opening databases are better to use to learn it faster and with the help of a few sessions with myself, one could learn the best ways 

JG: Which chess celebrities do you admire?

 Justicebot: I just can remember meeting Aronian who I felt was the most gracious player I met and didn't steer clear from a conversation

JG: What is your favorite chess game of all time?

Justicebot: It was a Kasparov game where he was white against Topalov I think, or Shirov, and he sacked all his pieces and chased the king for 20 moves to win

JG: Which games of your own are you the most proud of?

Justicebot: Mostly online games, but OTB, most of my wins over the local state champion, FM Raptis, and defeating WA state champion, FM Roland Feng at the WA Open a few years ago. Beating their french defense!

JG: What are your hobbies apart from chess?

Justicebot: I just started playing Magic The Gathering Online, and before that I've played competitively Word Blitz by FB gaming where I'm ranked in top 10. My favorite video game is Star Wars Battlefront 2 with playing as Vader on Dark Side, and Anakin on Light Side

JG: What is your favorite movie?

Justicebot: My favorite movie is Star Wars ep. 2 Attack of the Clones. The romance between Anakin and Padme is what I wish to enjoy watching with my future wife (Lord willing)

JG: If you could offer one piece of advice to chess beginners what would it be?

Justicebot: Play stronger players always, and learn from them