Editor's note: This story first appeared in the July 2023 issue of Chess Life Magazine. Consider becoming a US Chess member for more content like this access to digital editions of both Chess Life and Chess Life Kids is a member benefit, and you can receive print editions of both magazines for a small add-on fee.
For last week's Workout, all of the positions came from the 15th Annual Open at Foxwoods, but intentionally omitted one of the most interesting games, between GM Bartlomiej Macieja and FM Brewington Hardaway. This week's Workout comes from that game. Yep, all of it! Enjoy six thrilling positions from an endgame that Macieja eventually won.
Ratings are full of mysteries and by no means coherent. Sometimes, you suspect an inflation of ratings, sometimes a deflation. In some countries ratings are distorted by too many young players - or not enough adult players. And how did the lack of tournaments in the Covid era affect the Elo ratings? Walter Wolf has gathered a lot of statistics and tries to draw conclusions.