Monday, November 21, 2005
for the record...
the most annoying things to play against as black are the ruy lopez exchange and the slav exchange. i decided today i was gonna try 1.d4 c6 to try and avoid the tromp and stuff and maybe backdoor into a caro or two. i got it twice today and twice they played 2.c4 which was grand and then twice they played the slav exchange. man i hate playing it as black. same goes for the lopez exchange. and also the Fantasy variation of the Caro. shudder...
Saturday, November 19, 2005
White wins again
K-C
Training G/30 Internet Chess Club (6), 19.11.2005
B00 - Owen Defense
Before the game, I told Kirk that I was gonna beat him because I was like Korchnoi and eating oatmeal everyday. He said I was probably right because he was like Botwinnik and out drinking in the woods for two weeks. 1.d4 I wanted to play the Owens all along, since I am from Owen Sound and also the other stuff hadn't gotten me much. So I was frustrated that he played this. 1...e6 I figured that Kirk would play 2.e4 here. My best chance to actually transpose into an Owens2.e4 [If 2.c4 I probably would've gone to a Nimzo] 2...b6 My plan 3.g3?! [Kirk said he played this because he thought I was pissed off that he transposed into a French. If I wanted to avoid the position of 1.e4 e6 2.d4 altogether I wouldn't have played ...e6 in the first place. More regular is 3.Nc3 ;
or 3.Bd3 . This position had actually already been played by Amos Burn v. John Owen in their Liverpool match in 1874;
In a previous game this year OTB actually, Kirk got this position and played 3.c4 Qh4 similar to the Steinitz defense to the Scotch. (I wonder if 3...Bb7 was better) 4.Bd3 Bb7 5.Nf3 Qg4 6.0-0 h5? 7.Ne5 Qxe4?? 1-0 Sadler_K-Page,S/Barrie, ON 2005 (28) and White eventually won. ] 3...Bb7 4.Bg2 f5 Inspired by Miles! [Owen continued in a more controlled style with 4...Nf6 5.Nd2 c5 6.c3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bb4 8.f3 The position is much better for Black. Look at his light squared bishop. If Black can ever force White (or vice versa) to play f3 and g3 within the first 8 moves, they've done something right. 8...Nc6 9.Ne2 0-0 10.0-0 Ba6 11.Nb3 e5 12.d5 Nd4 13.Nexd4 Bxf1 14.Bxf1 exd4 15.Qxd4 a5 16.a3 Bd6 17.Bb5 Qe7 18.Kh1 a4 19.Bxa4 Be5 20.Qc4 Ne8 21.f4 Nd6 22.Qb4 Qf6 23.Kg1 Nxe4 24.Qxe4 Bxb2 25.Bxb2 Qxb2 26.Rb1 Rxa4 0-1 Burn,A-Owen,J/Liverpool 1874 (26)] 5.Qd3? At this point I'm just better [Fritz likes 5.f3 but I'm not a big fan.;
I looked at 5.Qh5+ g6 6.Qe2 but i don't think White's position is anything special] 5...Bxe4 [I didn't want to play 5...Nf6 because of 6.Bg5 but after 6...fxe4 7.Bxe4 Bxe4 8.Bxf6 (8.Qxe4? Nxe4 9.Bxd8 Kxd8 I'm up a piece) 8...Bxd3 9.Bxd8 Nc6 10.cxd3 Nxd4! 11.Kd1 Rxd8 I stand better. Note that I saw none of the following sidelines during the game. My tactical vision is weak.] 6.Bxe4 fxe4 7.Qxe4 Nc6 A forced developing move, but in all honestly, until he made the move, I didn't even see that the a-rook was hanging. With all the open lines, I just wanted to continue with the attack. Even so I'm better developed, have the f-pawn for the e-pawn and his queen is in the middle of the board. 8.Bf4 [freeing the queen from the defense of the d-pawn may have been better. 8.Be3 ] 8...Nf6 9.Qe2? [He said this was a mouseslip, but where was he aiming? 9.Qe3 is not much better with 9...Nd5] 9...Nxd4 10.Qc4 Bc5 11.Nd2 0-0 12.b4 d5 Now this is where the position gets hairy. 13.Qc3? [Best is 13.Qd3 Nxc2+ 14.Qxc2 Bxb4 and I have three pawns for the piece. If 15.Bxc7? Rc8 16.Bxd8 Rxc2 17.Bxf6 Rxd2 and I'm better or 15.Qxc7 Qxc7 16.Bxc7 Ne4 17.Rd1 (17.Bf4 Bxd2+ 18.Bxd2 Nxf2) 17...Nxf2!;So he's forced to play something like 15.Ngf3 and I can free my c-pawn with something like 15...c5 and it's an interesting game.; ] 13...Nb5? [13...Ne4! 14.Nxe4 (14.Qb2 Bxb4 15.Qxd4 Bxd2+ 16.Bxd2 c5 17.Qe5) 14...Bxb4] 14.Qd3 Bxf2+? [<14...Bd4 15.0-0-0 a6 would've done. I admit I never even saw that and that was simple. This game was far from pretty or well-played.] 15.Kxf2 Ng4+? [Maybe 15...e5 now instead 16.Bxe5 (16.Qxb5 exf4 17.gxf4) 16...Ng4+ 17.Ke1 and I'm in the game in both lines] 16.Kg2 e5 17.Bxe5?? [17.h3 Nf2 18.Kxf2 exf4 was better for White] 17...Nxe5? [17...Rf2+! 18.Kh3 Nxe5 and he has to give up his queen else 19.Qxb5 Qc8+ 20.Kh4 Qg4#] 18.Qxb5 Qf6? [18...Ng4 threatening 19.-- Rf2+ was much better.] 19.Qxd5+ Kh8 20.Ngf3? Ng4? [20...Rad8! 21.Qe4 Nxf3 22.Nxf3 Qxf3+ 23.Qxf3 Rd2+ 24.Kh3 Rxf3 and we're even] 21.Qd4? [21.Qe4 was much better] 21...Qg6? [21...Qxd4 22.Nxd4 Rf2+ 23.Kh3 Rxd2 I overlooked the threat of Rf2+ the whole game.] 22.Raf1 Rad8 23.Qe4 Qxe4? [23...Rxd2+ 24.Nxd2 Qxe4+ 25.Nxe4 Ne3+ was better] 24.Nxe4 Ne3+ The fork was not as good here without getting all the pieces off (see previous note) 25.Kh3 Nxf1 26.Rxf1 h6 27.Rf2 g5 28.Kg4 Rd4 29.Re2 Black resigns What a terrible effort by both sides. Neither one of us paid attention and lots was missed. I like the fact that I can get an interesting middlegame with this opening, but I wonder if an interesting, painfully tactical middlegame is what i'm looking for vs. these ham and eggers at the tournament. Should I just play the Caro? 1-0
Training G/30 Internet Chess Club (6), 19.11.2005
B00 - Owen Defense
Before the game, I told Kirk that I was gonna beat him because I was like Korchnoi and eating oatmeal everyday. He said I was probably right because he was like Botwinnik and out drinking in the woods for two weeks. 1.d4 I wanted to play the Owens all along, since I am from Owen Sound and also the other stuff hadn't gotten me much. So I was frustrated that he played this. 1...e6 I figured that Kirk would play 2.e4 here. My best chance to actually transpose into an Owens2.e4 [If 2.c4 I probably would've gone to a Nimzo] 2...b6 My plan 3.g3?! [Kirk said he played this because he thought I was pissed off that he transposed into a French. If I wanted to avoid the position of 1.e4 e6 2.d4 altogether I wouldn't have played ...e6 in the first place. More regular is 3.Nc3 ;
or 3.Bd3 . This position had actually already been played by Amos Burn v. John Owen in their Liverpool match in 1874;
In a previous game this year OTB actually, Kirk got this position and played 3.c4 Qh4 similar to the Steinitz defense to the Scotch. (I wonder if 3...Bb7 was better) 4.Bd3 Bb7 5.Nf3 Qg4 6.0-0 h5? 7.Ne5 Qxe4?? 1-0 Sadler_K-Page,S/Barrie, ON 2005 (28) and White eventually won. ] 3...Bb7 4.Bg2 f5 Inspired by Miles! [Owen continued in a more controlled style with 4...Nf6 5.Nd2 c5 6.c3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bb4 8.f3 The position is much better for Black. Look at his light squared bishop. If Black can ever force White (or vice versa) to play f3 and g3 within the first 8 moves, they've done something right. 8...Nc6 9.Ne2 0-0 10.0-0 Ba6 11.Nb3 e5 12.d5 Nd4 13.Nexd4 Bxf1 14.Bxf1 exd4 15.Qxd4 a5 16.a3 Bd6 17.Bb5 Qe7 18.Kh1 a4 19.Bxa4 Be5 20.Qc4 Ne8 21.f4 Nd6 22.Qb4 Qf6 23.Kg1 Nxe4 24.Qxe4 Bxb2 25.Bxb2 Qxb2 26.Rb1 Rxa4 0-1 Burn,A-Owen,J/Liverpool 1874 (26)] 5.Qd3? At this point I'm just better [Fritz likes 5.f3 but I'm not a big fan.;
I looked at 5.Qh5+ g6 6.Qe2 but i don't think White's position is anything special] 5...Bxe4 [I didn't want to play 5...Nf6 because of 6.Bg5 but after 6...fxe4 7.Bxe4 Bxe4 8.Bxf6 (8.Qxe4? Nxe4 9.Bxd8 Kxd8 I'm up a piece) 8...Bxd3 9.Bxd8 Nc6 10.cxd3 Nxd4! 11.Kd1 Rxd8 I stand better. Note that I saw none of the following sidelines during the game. My tactical vision is weak.] 6.Bxe4 fxe4 7.Qxe4 Nc6 A forced developing move, but in all honestly, until he made the move, I didn't even see that the a-rook was hanging. With all the open lines, I just wanted to continue with the attack. Even so I'm better developed, have the f-pawn for the e-pawn and his queen is in the middle of the board. 8.Bf4 [freeing the queen from the defense of the d-pawn may have been better. 8.Be3 ] 8...Nf6 9.Qe2? [He said this was a mouseslip, but where was he aiming? 9.Qe3 is not much better with 9...Nd5] 9...Nxd4 10.Qc4 Bc5 11.Nd2 0-0 12.b4 d5 Now this is where the position gets hairy. 13.Qc3? [Best is 13.Qd3 Nxc2+ 14.Qxc2 Bxb4 and I have three pawns for the piece. If 15.Bxc7? Rc8 16.Bxd8 Rxc2 17.Bxf6 Rxd2 and I'm better or 15.Qxc7 Qxc7 16.Bxc7 Ne4 17.Rd1 (17.Bf4 Bxd2+ 18.Bxd2 Nxf2) 17...Nxf2!;So he's forced to play something like 15.Ngf3 and I can free my c-pawn with something like 15...c5 and it's an interesting game.; ] 13...Nb5? [13...Ne4! 14.Nxe4 (14.Qb2 Bxb4 15.Qxd4 Bxd2+ 16.Bxd2 c5 17.Qe5) 14...Bxb4] 14.Qd3 Bxf2+? [<14...Bd4 15.0-0-0 a6 would've done. I admit I never even saw that and that was simple. This game was far from pretty or well-played.] 15.Kxf2 Ng4+? [Maybe 15...e5 now instead 16.Bxe5 (16.Qxb5 exf4 17.gxf4) 16...Ng4+ 17.Ke1 and I'm in the game in both lines] 16.Kg2 e5 17.Bxe5?? [17.h3 Nf2 18.Kxf2 exf4 was better for White] 17...Nxe5? [17...Rf2+! 18.Kh3 Nxe5 and he has to give up his queen else 19.Qxb5 Qc8+ 20.Kh4 Qg4#] 18.Qxb5 Qf6? [18...Ng4 threatening 19.-- Rf2+ was much better.] 19.Qxd5+ Kh8 20.Ngf3? Ng4? [20...Rad8! 21.Qe4 Nxf3 22.Nxf3 Qxf3+ 23.Qxf3 Rd2+ 24.Kh3 Rxf3 and we're even] 21.Qd4? [21.Qe4 was much better] 21...Qg6? [21...Qxd4 22.Nxd4 Rf2+ 23.Kh3 Rxd2 I overlooked the threat of Rf2+ the whole game.] 22.Raf1 Rad8 23.Qe4 Qxe4? [23...Rxd2+ 24.Nxd2 Qxe4+ 25.Nxe4 Ne3+ was better] 24.Nxe4 Ne3+ The fork was not as good here without getting all the pieces off (see previous note) 25.Kh3 Nxf1 26.Rxf1 h6 27.Rf2 g5 28.Kg4 Rd4 29.Re2 Black resigns What a terrible effort by both sides. Neither one of us paid attention and lots was missed. I like the fact that I can get an interesting middlegame with this opening, but I wonder if an interesting, painfully tactical middlegame is what i'm looking for vs. these ham and eggers at the tournament. Should I just play the Caro? 1-0
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Game 5 - C 1-0 K
both of us really need to play better with black. the series is at 2½-2½ and white is scoring 4½-½ (the only blemish, my QID the first game)
C.Sadler-K.Sadler
E25 - Nimzo-Indian : Samisch Variation
This game wasn't really fair. It was supposed to start at 8 a.m. and Kirk basically slept in, woke up at 9 and started making coffee and stuff. My plan was to slowly build up a position rather than do the usual 20-30 game finish that happens in our games. God forbid me and Kirk ever get an endgame! 1.d4 e6 I had a bad premonition of him going into a Slav and me having to decide whether to play the Slav Exchange or go into the Botwinnik. 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 I'm gonna keep on playing this until he finds an antidote. 4...d5 [I seriously thought he was going to benoni me 4...c5. After the game he said that he didn't even remember the line and thought that he beat me last time I played 4.f3 ] 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.cxd5 exd5 White has to be better here on general principles alone. He has traded his b-pawn for White's glorious e-pawn and has the bishop pair. In annotating the game Junge-Bogoljubov, Alekhine gave this move an exclam and thought Black was better after 8.e3 Bf5! [7...Nxd5 is the main main line. 8.dxc5 (but I likely would've went for 8.c4 and gotten on with it) 8...Qa5 and this is butt ugly]
after 8.e4 Alekhine commented that White has an "excellent game". 8.Bg5 [8.e3 was theory, but i was confused on how i would get any of my pieces developed. Seriously, how many moves is it gonna take to get my dark squared bishop developed? plus he's gonna castle and then my lack of development is gonna screw me. One of these games my lack of development is gonna get me regardless.] 8...0-0 [8...h6 was played in Botwinnik-Kotov 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.e3 0-0 11.Ne2 Re8 12.Kf2 Qe7 13.Qd2 Nd7 14.Nf4 Nf6 15.Bd3 Bd7 16.h3 Qd6 17.Rhb1 b6 18.Bf1 Re7 19.a4 Rae8 20.Re1 c4 21.g4 g5 22.Ne2 Rxe3 23.Ng3 Qxg3+ 24.Kxg3 Ne4+ 0-1 Nice finish by Kotov.] 9.e3 Qa5?! [A little too ambitious by Kirk, but I think he had the right idea. I am a few moves from castling so why not try to put the screws to me. 9...c4 immediately may be better. 10.e4 dxe4 11.fxe4 looks pretty good though 11...Re8 12.e5 Qa5 and there's lots of messy play. I was hoping to keep the position relatively closed, that's why i hung back and avoided e4.] 10.Qc2 [I was thinking about 10.Bxf6 Qxc3+ 11.Kf2 gxf6 with play similar to the game, but i think this line is better as after 12.Ne2 I get a tempo on the queen 12...Qa5 13.dxc5 Qxc5 14.Qd4 and i'm good i think] 10...Re8 11.Bd3? [The immediate 11.Bxf6 was better but i was worried about 11...Rxe3+ although after 12.Kd2! I'm solid gold] (Best for Kirk would be 11...gxf6 12.Kf2 that square again 12...c4 13.Ne2 with play similar to the game.) 11...h6? [11...cxd4! was much better. Look at all the pins!] 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Kf2! I was happy with this move. WIth all the Bc4 King's Gambit's I've been playing I'm happy enough with the uncastled king, and it's necessary in this position. Notice how in most of the sidelines, and this line, how the king was safest on f2 of all places. 13...c4 14.Bf5? [I had perpetual with 14.Bg6 fxg6 (14...f5 15.Bxf5 Bxf5 16.Qxf5 Qxc3 17.Re1) 15.Qxg6+ Kf8 16.Qxf6+ Kg8 17.Qg6+;
Fritz liked 14.Bf1 but i'm a bit clausterphobic.] 14...Bxf5 15.Qxf5 Qxc3 16.Re1 Qxa3 17.Qxf6? [17.Qxd5 was stronger. That passer is gonna be strong. My idea was that I would always have the draw in hand by perpetual with that f-pawn gone.] 17...Qb2+ 18.Re2 [18.Ne2 may have been better] 18...c3?? Going for the glory without calculating anything. A terrible blunder. [18...Qb6 was likely better and he's got a lot of queenside pawns after 19.Qxb6 axb6] 19.Rxb2 cxb2 20.Nh3 Black resigns Not the best game by Kirk but I did my little part and won. 1-0
maybe next week we'll get an endgame!
C.Sadler-K.Sadler
E25 - Nimzo-Indian : Samisch Variation
This game wasn't really fair. It was supposed to start at 8 a.m. and Kirk basically slept in, woke up at 9 and started making coffee and stuff. My plan was to slowly build up a position rather than do the usual 20-30 game finish that happens in our games. God forbid me and Kirk ever get an endgame! 1.d4 e6 I had a bad premonition of him going into a Slav and me having to decide whether to play the Slav Exchange or go into the Botwinnik. 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 I'm gonna keep on playing this until he finds an antidote. 4...d5 [I seriously thought he was going to benoni me 4...c5. After the game he said that he didn't even remember the line and thought that he beat me last time I played 4.f3 ] 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.cxd5 exd5 White has to be better here on general principles alone. He has traded his b-pawn for White's glorious e-pawn and has the bishop pair. In annotating the game Junge-Bogoljubov, Alekhine gave this move an exclam and thought Black was better after 8.e3 Bf5! [7...Nxd5 is the main main line. 8.dxc5 (but I likely would've went for 8.c4 and gotten on with it) 8...Qa5 and this is butt ugly]
after 8.e4 Alekhine commented that White has an "excellent game". 8.Bg5 [8.e3 was theory, but i was confused on how i would get any of my pieces developed. Seriously, how many moves is it gonna take to get my dark squared bishop developed? plus he's gonna castle and then my lack of development is gonna screw me. One of these games my lack of development is gonna get me regardless.] 8...0-0 [8...h6 was played in Botwinnik-Kotov 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.e3 0-0 11.Ne2 Re8 12.Kf2 Qe7 13.Qd2 Nd7 14.Nf4 Nf6 15.Bd3 Bd7 16.h3 Qd6 17.Rhb1 b6 18.Bf1 Re7 19.a4 Rae8 20.Re1 c4 21.g4 g5 22.Ne2 Rxe3 23.Ng3 Qxg3+ 24.Kxg3 Ne4+ 0-1 Nice finish by Kotov.] 9.e3 Qa5?! [A little too ambitious by Kirk, but I think he had the right idea. I am a few moves from castling so why not try to put the screws to me. 9...c4 immediately may be better. 10.e4 dxe4 11.fxe4 looks pretty good though 11...Re8 12.e5 Qa5 and there's lots of messy play. I was hoping to keep the position relatively closed, that's why i hung back and avoided e4.] 10.Qc2 [I was thinking about 10.Bxf6 Qxc3+ 11.Kf2 gxf6 with play similar to the game, but i think this line is better as after 12.Ne2 I get a tempo on the queen 12...Qa5 13.dxc5 Qxc5 14.Qd4 and i'm good i think] 10...Re8 11.Bd3? [The immediate 11.Bxf6 was better but i was worried about 11...Rxe3+ although after 12.Kd2! I'm solid gold] (Best for Kirk would be 11...gxf6 12.Kf2 that square again 12...c4 13.Ne2 with play similar to the game.) 11...h6? [11...cxd4! was much better. Look at all the pins!] 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Kf2! I was happy with this move. WIth all the Bc4 King's Gambit's I've been playing I'm happy enough with the uncastled king, and it's necessary in this position. Notice how in most of the sidelines, and this line, how the king was safest on f2 of all places. 13...c4 14.Bf5? [I had perpetual with 14.Bg6 fxg6 (14...f5 15.Bxf5 Bxf5 16.Qxf5 Qxc3 17.Re1) 15.Qxg6+ Kf8 16.Qxf6+ Kg8 17.Qg6+;
Fritz liked 14.Bf1 but i'm a bit clausterphobic.] 14...Bxf5 15.Qxf5 Qxc3 16.Re1 Qxa3 17.Qxf6? [17.Qxd5 was stronger. That passer is gonna be strong. My idea was that I would always have the draw in hand by perpetual with that f-pawn gone.] 17...Qb2+ 18.Re2 [18.Ne2 may have been better] 18...c3?? Going for the glory without calculating anything. A terrible blunder. [18...Qb6 was likely better and he's got a lot of queenside pawns after 19.Qxb6 axb6] 19.Rxb2 cxb2 20.Nh3 Black resigns Not the best game by Kirk but I did my little part and won. 1-0
maybe next week we'll get an endgame!
Friday, November 11, 2005
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
i love katamari
Katamari
i rented it and it's really cool
also i was thinking about taking up the Owen's Defense for the next tournament, seeing i live in owen sound and all, but considering i can't justify playing 1.b3 i can't see how 1.e4 b6 is playable ;)
i rented it and it's really cool
also i was thinking about taking up the Owen's Defense for the next tournament, seeing i live in owen sound and all, but considering i can't justify playing 1.b3 i can't see how 1.e4 b6 is playable ;)
Saturday, November 05, 2005
K 2½ - 1½ C
K.Sadler - C.Sadler
B41 - Sicilian : Kan
Week four. Who thought we'd get this far? I really hadn't put much thought into prepping for this game. 1.e4 c5 I didn't decide what I was going to play until I walked and picked up a coffee before the game. Kirk has a pretty tight repetoire and normally plays a Be2/Be3/f4 system v. the Sicilian. With the Taimanov, ...b5, ...Bb7 I can take advantage of that. Better than getting into a relatively theoretical duel in the Dragon where he obviously would be more comfortable. 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Be3 [This was unexpected. I figured on something like 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Be2 b5 and a decent position. Now I was left to my own devices] 5...Nc6 [Theory says that 5...Nf6 is better, putting the question to the e-pawn.] 6.c4!
Going into a Maroczy bind position. i should've thought more here. Ironically, I didn't play the Accelerated Dragon because I didn't want to face the Maroczy Bind. As an aside, in the Kan/Taimanov/whatever it's not as easy to stop ...d5 with the Maroczy Bind because of ...e6, whereas in the Accelerated Dragon, Black rarely is able to support the d5 push with ...e6 because of the weakness of the dark squares. Even the "Dragon" bishop usually isn't enough to defend those squares, especially if White gets in Bh6 or something. 6...Nf6 7.Bd3 Qc7 [7...Ne5! is much stronger.; 7...d5 was played by Miguel Quinteros in a game v. Ljubojevic which was similar to our game 8.exd5 exd5 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.0–0 d4 11.Bg5 Be7 12.Nd2 c5 except I think that Black's position was stronger without the inclusion of ...Qc7. I think I should've went with ...d5 right away. White eventually won the Ljubojevic-Quinteros game btw] 8.0–0 d5 9.Nxc6 [9.exd5 exd5 10.Re1 was stronger] 9...bxc6? [9...dxe4! was much stronger, winning a pawn for me. I didn't even pay attention] 10.exd5 cxd5 11.Nd2! I didn't see how strong this was at the time. Not only developing, but gaining a tempo on the queen. Not that we're grandmasters, but Quinteros' idea was much better playing d5 with my queen still on d8 (to support d5) and not allowing the rook move. 11...Be7 12.Rc1 Qd8 [Fritz said that the developing gambit of 12...Bb7 13.cxd5 Qd7 was okay because it doesn't give up a pawn 14.Nf3 (14.dxe6? Qxd3) 14...Qxd5 etc.] 13.f4?! This may have been okay but I didnt like it because it opened up just as many lines on his king as at my king 13...0–0 [I was gonna try 13...d4 right away, but decided against it.] 14.f5 d4?! [I picked the wrong pawn. 14...e5! makes everything better for me. Now I am threatening to push both e4 and d4 and if 15.cxd5 Nxd5 I'm great.] 15.Bf4 Bd6 [15...exf5 may have been stronger but i was all horny over the d4, e5 pawn duo] 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Ne4 [I was worried about 17.c5 because I was having a tough time finding a good place for my pieces] 17...Nxe4 18.Bxe4 Rb8 19.fxe6 fxe6? [Obviously 19...Bxe6 was better. After 19. ...fxe6+ I saw the Qf3+ but i thought that there was no mate, so my connected passers would be worth the h-pawn that dropped or whatever.] 20.Rxf8+ Kxf8 21.Qf3+ [21.Qh5! was even stronger. Once the queen gets to h7 I'm screwed and if 21...h6 22.Rf1+ Ke7 23.c5! I didn't see that OTB though] 21...Kg8 22.Rf1 Bd7 [Maybe 22...Qe7 was stronger but i'm still screwed after 23.Qh5] 23.Qf7+ Kh8 24.Bxh7 [24.Qh5 again was terribly strong. If 24...h6 (24...g6 25.Bxg6) 25.Qg6] 24...Kxh7?? [I should've continued with my "idea" of 24...e5 . This stops the rook from coming to f4 anyways.] 25.Qh5+ Kg8 26.Qf7+ Kh7 27.Rf4 and it's over 27...Qxf4 28.Qxf4 Rxb2 29.Qxd4 Rb1+ 30.Kf2 Bc6? 31.Qd3+ Black resigns Nicely played by Kirk. Overly optimistic by me. I have some stuff to think about as Black before the next time we play again. 1–0
I learned a couple of things from this game
1) i'm lazy tactically...i totally trusted kirk and didn't try and look for anything, especially in the early middlegame/opening
2) i didn't look hard enough at his threats
3) i had one idea (...d4, ...e5) and assumed it was fabulous and didn't look at anything else
we'll see how it goes next week.
B41 - Sicilian : Kan
Week four. Who thought we'd get this far? I really hadn't put much thought into prepping for this game. 1.e4 c5 I didn't decide what I was going to play until I walked and picked up a coffee before the game. Kirk has a pretty tight repetoire and normally plays a Be2/Be3/f4 system v. the Sicilian. With the Taimanov, ...b5, ...Bb7 I can take advantage of that. Better than getting into a relatively theoretical duel in the Dragon where he obviously would be more comfortable. 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Be3 [This was unexpected. I figured on something like 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Be2 b5 and a decent position. Now I was left to my own devices] 5...Nc6 [Theory says that 5...Nf6 is better, putting the question to the e-pawn.] 6.c4!
Going into a Maroczy bind position. i should've thought more here. Ironically, I didn't play the Accelerated Dragon because I didn't want to face the Maroczy Bind. As an aside, in the Kan/Taimanov/whatever it's not as easy to stop ...d5 with the Maroczy Bind because of ...e6, whereas in the Accelerated Dragon, Black rarely is able to support the d5 push with ...e6 because of the weakness of the dark squares. Even the "Dragon" bishop usually isn't enough to defend those squares, especially if White gets in Bh6 or something. 6...Nf6 7.Bd3 Qc7 [7...Ne5! is much stronger.; 7...d5 was played by Miguel Quinteros in a game v. Ljubojevic which was similar to our game 8.exd5 exd5 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.0–0 d4 11.Bg5 Be7 12.Nd2 c5 except I think that Black's position was stronger without the inclusion of ...Qc7. I think I should've went with ...d5 right away. White eventually won the Ljubojevic-Quinteros game btw] 8.0–0 d5 9.Nxc6 [9.exd5 exd5 10.Re1 was stronger] 9...bxc6? [9...dxe4! was much stronger, winning a pawn for me. I didn't even pay attention] 10.exd5 cxd5 11.Nd2! I didn't see how strong this was at the time. Not only developing, but gaining a tempo on the queen. Not that we're grandmasters, but Quinteros' idea was much better playing d5 with my queen still on d8 (to support d5) and not allowing the rook move. 11...Be7 12.Rc1 Qd8 [Fritz said that the developing gambit of 12...Bb7 13.cxd5 Qd7 was okay because it doesn't give up a pawn 14.Nf3 (14.dxe6? Qxd3) 14...Qxd5 etc.] 13.f4?! This may have been okay but I didnt like it because it opened up just as many lines on his king as at my king 13...0–0 [I was gonna try 13...d4 right away, but decided against it.] 14.f5 d4?! [I picked the wrong pawn. 14...e5! makes everything better for me. Now I am threatening to push both e4 and d4 and if 15.cxd5 Nxd5 I'm great.] 15.Bf4 Bd6 [15...exf5 may have been stronger but i was all horny over the d4, e5 pawn duo] 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Ne4 [I was worried about 17.c5 because I was having a tough time finding a good place for my pieces] 17...Nxe4 18.Bxe4 Rb8 19.fxe6 fxe6? [Obviously 19...Bxe6 was better. After 19. ...fxe6+ I saw the Qf3+ but i thought that there was no mate, so my connected passers would be worth the h-pawn that dropped or whatever.] 20.Rxf8+ Kxf8 21.Qf3+ [21.Qh5! was even stronger. Once the queen gets to h7 I'm screwed and if 21...h6 22.Rf1+ Ke7 23.c5! I didn't see that OTB though] 21...Kg8 22.Rf1 Bd7 [Maybe 22...Qe7 was stronger but i'm still screwed after 23.Qh5] 23.Qf7+ Kh8 24.Bxh7 [24.Qh5 again was terribly strong. If 24...h6 (24...g6 25.Bxg6) 25.Qg6] 24...Kxh7?? [I should've continued with my "idea" of 24...e5 . This stops the rook from coming to f4 anyways.] 25.Qh5+ Kg8 26.Qf7+ Kh7 27.Rf4 and it's over 27...Qxf4 28.Qxf4 Rxb2 29.Qxd4 Rb1+ 30.Kf2 Bc6? 31.Qd3+ Black resigns Nicely played by Kirk. Overly optimistic by me. I have some stuff to think about as Black before the next time we play again. 1–0
I learned a couple of things from this game
1) i'm lazy tactically...i totally trusted kirk and didn't try and look for anything, especially in the early middlegame/opening
2) i didn't look hard enough at his threats
3) i had one idea (...d4, ...e5) and assumed it was fabulous and didn't look at anything else
we'll see how it goes next week.
Thursday, November 03, 2005
my first win
so i went to http://www.chesslive.de and entered my name and low and behold they had games for me. from all over the place. this is my first email game i won back in 1999
[Event "TG.1999.0.13363"]
[Site "IECG email"]
[Date "1999.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Wood,Mike"]
[Black "refutor"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Eco "E11"]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 a5 5.e3 Qe7 6.Be2 Nc6 7.0-0 0-0 8.a3 Bxd2 9.Nbxd2 d5 10.Qc2 b6 11.Bd3 Ba6 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 Qxb4 14.Ra4 Qd6 15.Ng5 Nb4 16.Bxh7+ Kh8 17.Qb1 c5 18.Bg8 Kxg8 19.cxd5 Nbxd5 20.Nc4 Qc6 21.Ne5 Qxa4 22.Re1 Nc3 23.Qxb6 Ne2+ 24.Kh1 cxd4 25.Nc6 d3 26.Ne7+ Kh8 27.Nxf7+ Rxf7 28.Qxe6 Bc4 29.Ng6+ Kh7 30.Qg4 Qa1 31.Qh3+ Kxg6 32.g4 Qxe1+ 0-1
[Event "TG.1999.0.13363"]
[Site "IECG email"]
[Date "1999.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Wood,Mike"]
[Black "refutor"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Eco "E11"]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 a5 5.e3 Qe7 6.Be2 Nc6 7.0-0 0-0 8.a3 Bxd2 9.Nbxd2 d5 10.Qc2 b6 11.Bd3 Ba6 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 Qxb4 14.Ra4 Qd6 15.Ng5 Nb4 16.Bxh7+ Kh8 17.Qb1 c5 18.Bg8 Kxg8 19.cxd5 Nbxd5 20.Nc4 Qc6 21.Ne5 Qxa4 22.Re1 Nc3 23.Qxb6 Ne2+ 24.Kh1 cxd4 25.Nc6 d3 26.Ne7+ Kh8 27.Nxf7+ Rxf7 28.Qxe6 Bc4 29.Ng6+ Kh7 30.Qg4 Qa1 31.Qh3+ Kxg6 32.g4 Qxe1+ 0-1
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Week Three - Victory for C.
i finally won this week...kirk had just been working at his school so that is a bit of an excuse...i did win though.
C.Sadler - K.Sadler
E27 - Nimzo-Indian : Samisch variation
Game three. I had a new idea to play for the tournament coming up in four weeks now. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 In all fairness, I did ask him to play the Nimzo against me this week over a few beers at the bar. 4.f3 and this is it. The Kmoch variation, transposing to the Samisch in most cases (like this case). I had been doing a little bit of studying, but I figured with the positional idiocy of the people at the club this is the way to go. Surprisingly a lot of them play the Nimzo 4...d5 This is basically the only move. Over the board though I was worried about Kirk playing [ 4...c5 for a couple reasons. For starters, he plays ...c5 v. every Nimzo. Secondly, I wasn't sure how to continue. 5.dxc5 is obviously bad.( 5.d5 I guess is the main line, but i'm not sure if that's any good or not. Theory gives 5...Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 d6 7.e4 e5 with a mutated Benoni Wall. i don't thikn my bishops would like this. This may be better for Black. Who knows.) ( or the Benko-esque 5...b5 ; but Kirk likes his Benoni so he probably would've tried 5...exd5 and after 6.cxd5 d6 7.e4 I have a pretty good Benoni. Maybe I have nothing to fear after all ;)) Over the board on Wednesday I got 4...0-0 5.e4 Ne8 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 and I duly punished my opponent with a kingside attack.]
5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 0-0 [ I expected 6...c5 after which there is an ugly line including 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.dxc5 Qa5 9.e4 Ne7 10.Be3 ( 10.Bd2 0-0 has never been played at the GM level, but feels easier to play than the mainline AFAIC) 10...Qxc3+ 11.Kf2] 7.Bg5 [ 7.cxd5 is the mainline 7...exd5 ( 7...Nxd5? 8.e4 Ne7 ( 8...Nxc3 9.Qb3 Qxd4 10.Bb2 Qe3+ 11.Be2 Nd5 12.Qxe3 Nxe3 13.Kf2 Nd5 14.exd5 with a better position for White. Komarov-Panchenko 1994) ) ] 7...Nbd7 [ I wasn't too concerned about 7...h6 because I was aiming to go to f2 with this bishop eventually anyways. The main idea of the Bg5 was to get him on a different diagonal because I am going to have to work to get e4 in, play e3 first etc.] 8.cxd5 exd5 Now I am happy with the position as if he plays ...c5 in one move he will isolate his pawn and i'm gonna have a huge center...once I get castled. 9.e3 Re8! A strong move. Now I have to fight to survive. 10.Qd2 [ Fritz liked 10.Qd3 equal to 10.Qd2, but I wanted to keep my options open for my bishop] 10...h6 11.Bh4 b6 12.Bb5! I actually was able to put some pressure on him this way. I was gonna play something like [ 12.Bd3 and 12...-- 13.Nh3 and get on with it, but I have to force myself to look a little deeper.] 12...c6? [ 12...Re6 was the only way to hang on to things, but then i can keep on developing, but at least this doesn't lose. The key is the pin on the queen and the hanging d-pawn.] 13.Bxc6 Rb8 [ I was worried about saccing the exchange 13...Ba6 but i mean i'm better in all variations 14.Bxf6 ( 14.Bxa8 Qxa8 15.Ne2) 14...Nxf6 15.Bxe8 Qxe8] 14.Bxd5? [ Pathetic. I didn't even look at 14.Bg3 winning the exchange. I thought a pawn was enough] A comedy of errors. 14...Ne4? [ I totally overlooked 14...g5 15.Bg3 Nxd5 16.Bxb8 Nxb8 but even still I'm pretty good after 17.e4] 15.Bxf7+ Kxf7 [ 15...Kh8 16.Bxd8 Nxd2 17.Bxe8 and i'm winning easily.] 16.Qa2+ Black resigns Not the greatest game by either side. We both need to work on tactics. I definitely needed to look deeper after 13. ...Rb8 The opening wasn't necessarily a success, but I got some interesting tactical patterns with the Bg5. I'll give er a go some other time. 1-0
C.Sadler - K.Sadler
E27 - Nimzo-Indian : Samisch variation
Game three. I had a new idea to play for the tournament coming up in four weeks now. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 In all fairness, I did ask him to play the Nimzo against me this week over a few beers at the bar. 4.f3 and this is it. The Kmoch variation, transposing to the Samisch in most cases (like this case). I had been doing a little bit of studying, but I figured with the positional idiocy of the people at the club this is the way to go. Surprisingly a lot of them play the Nimzo 4...d5 This is basically the only move. Over the board though I was worried about Kirk playing [ 4...c5 for a couple reasons. For starters, he plays ...c5 v. every Nimzo. Secondly, I wasn't sure how to continue. 5.dxc5 is obviously bad.( 5.d5 I guess is the main line, but i'm not sure if that's any good or not. Theory gives 5...Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 d6 7.e4 e5 with a mutated Benoni Wall. i don't thikn my bishops would like this. This may be better for Black. Who knows.) ( or the Benko-esque 5...b5 ; but Kirk likes his Benoni so he probably would've tried 5...exd5 and after 6.cxd5 d6 7.e4 I have a pretty good Benoni. Maybe I have nothing to fear after all ;)) Over the board on Wednesday I got 4...0-0 5.e4 Ne8 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 and I duly punished my opponent with a kingside attack.]
5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 0-0 [ I expected 6...c5 after which there is an ugly line including 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.dxc5 Qa5 9.e4 Ne7 10.Be3 ( 10.Bd2 0-0 has never been played at the GM level, but feels easier to play than the mainline AFAIC) 10...Qxc3+ 11.Kf2] 7.Bg5 [ 7.cxd5 is the mainline 7...exd5 ( 7...Nxd5? 8.e4 Ne7 ( 8...Nxc3 9.Qb3 Qxd4 10.Bb2 Qe3+ 11.Be2 Nd5 12.Qxe3 Nxe3 13.Kf2 Nd5 14.exd5 with a better position for White. Komarov-Panchenko 1994) ) ] 7...Nbd7 [ I wasn't too concerned about 7...h6 because I was aiming to go to f2 with this bishop eventually anyways. The main idea of the Bg5 was to get him on a different diagonal because I am going to have to work to get e4 in, play e3 first etc.] 8.cxd5 exd5 Now I am happy with the position as if he plays ...c5 in one move he will isolate his pawn and i'm gonna have a huge center...once I get castled. 9.e3 Re8! A strong move. Now I have to fight to survive. 10.Qd2 [ Fritz liked 10.Qd3 equal to 10.Qd2, but I wanted to keep my options open for my bishop] 10...h6 11.Bh4 b6 12.Bb5! I actually was able to put some pressure on him this way. I was gonna play something like [ 12.Bd3 and 12...-- 13.Nh3 and get on with it, but I have to force myself to look a little deeper.] 12...c6? [ 12...Re6 was the only way to hang on to things, but then i can keep on developing, but at least this doesn't lose. The key is the pin on the queen and the hanging d-pawn.] 13.Bxc6 Rb8 [ I was worried about saccing the exchange 13...Ba6 but i mean i'm better in all variations 14.Bxf6 ( 14.Bxa8 Qxa8 15.Ne2) 14...Nxf6 15.Bxe8 Qxe8] 14.Bxd5? [ Pathetic. I didn't even look at 14.Bg3 winning the exchange. I thought a pawn was enough] A comedy of errors. 14...Ne4? [ I totally overlooked 14...g5 15.Bg3 Nxd5 16.Bxb8 Nxb8 but even still I'm pretty good after 17.e4] 15.Bxf7+ Kxf7 [ 15...Kh8 16.Bxd8 Nxd2 17.Bxe8 and i'm winning easily.] 16.Qa2+ Black resigns Not the greatest game by either side. We both need to work on tactics. I definitely needed to look deeper after 13. ...Rb8 The opening wasn't necessarily a success, but I got some interesting tactical patterns with the Bg5. I'll give er a go some other time. 1-0
Saturday, October 22, 2005
week two
actually the way that our chess history has gone, i'm rather surprised that there is a week two. we decided to do our analysis on here. here's the moves with my notes
K.Sadler - C.Sadler
1.e4 e5 Okay i got black this time. I wanted to play an open game so I decided on this 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 But I didn't expect this! At all! I thought he played the Scotch. But I'm sure I would've complained if I got that as well :) 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 b5 I took a lot of time around here because I wasn't sure whether to play the Tchigorin, the Open Lopez or the Marshall. I decided on the Tchigorin 6.Bb3 Be7 7.Re1 d6 [I was thinking about playing 7...0–0 and then transposing to the Tchigorin but I didn't] 8.h3?! 0–0 [I should've move ordered him and played 8...Na5! with advantage] 9.c3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 [All theory. Usually I play 13...Bb7 . I was trying to induce d5] 14.a4 Now I started thinking for real. It's a little joke between me and Kirk that once you're "out of theory" in the Ruy Lopez, just play a4, because it's normally good. [The main line is 14.Nb3 overprotecting d4] 14...b4?! [14...Bd7 was likely better; Spassky continued 14...Nxd4 15.Nxd4 exd4 16.Nf3 Bb7 17.Bg5 (17.Nxd4! looks better) 17...Rfe8 18.Rc1 Qb6 19.Qxd4 Qxd4 20.Nxd4 ½–½ Ljuboejvic-Spassky but I imagine this was a prearranged draw because White looks better to me.] 15.d5 Nb8 I was happy enough with this position. I wanted to keep the c8-h3 diagonal open for some unknown reason, actually to stop Nf1–g3-f5, as the dark squared bishop is the most important piece for me at this point. 16.Nf1 Nbd7 17.Bg5 [I was a little worried about 17.a5 for him, as he'll get to my b-pawn faster than I'll get to his a-pawn.] 17...a5 [Fritz preferred 17...Nc5 ] 18.Rc1 Nc5 19.Be3 [I kinda liked 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 but I guess the weakness at d6 is hard to get at.] 19...Ba6?! [19...Bd7 may have been better. I thought that the space on the a6-f1 diagonal was better, but controlling the diagonal that the light squared bishop was originally on was a better idea. Poor judgement by me] 20.Bxc5 [I wonder if 20.Bb1 was better. Of course! 20...Nfd7 doesn't immediately lose material, but where are my kingside defenders?] 20...Qxc5 [Fritz thought that 20...dxc5 was better, but i was worried about pushing the d-pawn, and my weak e-pawn.] 21.Ng3 g6 [Admitting my mistake and coming back over to this diagonal was better. 21...Bc8 ] 22.Bb3 Qb6 23.Rc6 Qb7 [23...Qd8 brings more pieces over to the kingside] 24.Qd2 Rfc8 [The way things worked out 24...Rac8 was likely better as this way the f-pawn is protected] 25.Ng5 Rxc6? [25...Nd7! with the idea of 26.-- Nc5 was better as then the c-file is closed. I wasn't worried enough, I thought my position was solid. I should've looked a little deeper because this was the only tactical point of the game. The game falls apart from here] 26.dxc6 Qxc6 27.Nxf7 Kg7?? [27...Kf8 28.Qh6+ Ke8 and White is still better] 28.Qh6+ Black resigns. A nicely played attack by Kirk. He built up the pressure slowly and I crumbled. My sense of danger let me down, I absolutely missed that he could even check at Qh6 1–0
K.Sadler - C.Sadler
1.e4 e5 Okay i got black this time. I wanted to play an open game so I decided on this 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 But I didn't expect this! At all! I thought he played the Scotch. But I'm sure I would've complained if I got that as well :) 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 b5 I took a lot of time around here because I wasn't sure whether to play the Tchigorin, the Open Lopez or the Marshall. I decided on the Tchigorin 6.Bb3 Be7 7.Re1 d6 [I was thinking about playing 7...0–0 and then transposing to the Tchigorin but I didn't] 8.h3?! 0–0 [I should've move ordered him and played 8...Na5! with advantage] 9.c3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 [All theory. Usually I play 13...Bb7 . I was trying to induce d5] 14.a4 Now I started thinking for real. It's a little joke between me and Kirk that once you're "out of theory" in the Ruy Lopez, just play a4, because it's normally good. [The main line is 14.Nb3 overprotecting d4] 14...b4?! [14...Bd7 was likely better; Spassky continued 14...Nxd4 15.Nxd4 exd4 16.Nf3 Bb7 17.Bg5 (17.Nxd4! looks better) 17...Rfe8 18.Rc1 Qb6 19.Qxd4 Qxd4 20.Nxd4 ½–½ Ljuboejvic-Spassky but I imagine this was a prearranged draw because White looks better to me.] 15.d5 Nb8 I was happy enough with this position. I wanted to keep the c8-h3 diagonal open for some unknown reason, actually to stop Nf1–g3-f5, as the dark squared bishop is the most important piece for me at this point. 16.Nf1 Nbd7 17.Bg5 [I was a little worried about 17.a5 for him, as he'll get to my b-pawn faster than I'll get to his a-pawn.] 17...a5 [Fritz preferred 17...Nc5 ] 18.Rc1 Nc5 19.Be3 [I kinda liked 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 but I guess the weakness at d6 is hard to get at.] 19...Ba6?! [19...Bd7 may have been better. I thought that the space on the a6-f1 diagonal was better, but controlling the diagonal that the light squared bishop was originally on was a better idea. Poor judgement by me] 20.Bxc5 [I wonder if 20.Bb1 was better. Of course! 20...Nfd7 doesn't immediately lose material, but where are my kingside defenders?] 20...Qxc5 [Fritz thought that 20...dxc5 was better, but i was worried about pushing the d-pawn, and my weak e-pawn.] 21.Ng3 g6 [Admitting my mistake and coming back over to this diagonal was better. 21...Bc8 ] 22.Bb3 Qb6 23.Rc6 Qb7 [23...Qd8 brings more pieces over to the kingside] 24.Qd2 Rfc8 [The way things worked out 24...Rac8 was likely better as this way the f-pawn is protected] 25.Ng5 Rxc6? [25...Nd7! with the idea of 26.-- Nc5 was better as then the c-file is closed. I wasn't worried enough, I thought my position was solid. I should've looked a little deeper because this was the only tactical point of the game. The game falls apart from here] 26.dxc6 Qxc6 27.Nxf7 Kg7?? [27...Kf8 28.Qh6+ Ke8 and White is still better] 28.Qh6+ Black resigns. A nicely played attack by Kirk. He built up the pressure slowly and I crumbled. My sense of danger let me down, I absolutely missed that he could even check at Qh6 1–0
Sunday, October 16, 2005
the training has actually started
me and kirk are going to have weekly G/30s and actually analyze and send the analysis back and forth. i think it's pretty cool. here is the first game (a draw) with light notes by me
C.Sadler - K.Sadler
Training G/30 Internet Chess Club, 16.10.2005
We have decided to have weekly G/30s which I think is a good thing. I had only thought about playing 1.e4 e5 v. him and not even what to play as White. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nf3 I could've played the Nimzo, but I wanted to see what he played v. Nf3. I had a feeling it was the Queen's Indian, that's why I played this. I went through some of my blitz games from 2003 and I realized how much I had played the QID... 3...b6 4.a3 ...particularly the Petrosian variation 4...Ba6! [The usual move is 4...Bb7 , in fact I had never seen the text. The idea is to hinder White from pushing his e-pawn, and putting pressure on the c-pawn.] 5.e3 [The main line is 5.Qc2 Bb7 6.Nc3 c5 and Black seems better. Interesting] 5...d5 6.Qc2? [Positionally a terrible move. My position is passive because my queen is stuck on c4 eventually. 6.Nbd2 is theory and stronger because if 6...-- 7.cxd5 (for instance). White can still play 7...Bxf1 8.Nxf1 -- 9.Ng3 and eventually castle. (Theory is 6...Be7 7.b4 0–0 8.Bb2 . I'd be comfortable enough with this.) ] 6...Bb7 7.Be2 dxc4 8.Qxc4 [I was gonna try and gambit here with 8.Nc3 knowing that Kirk wouldn't try and hold on to the pawn regardless. The trouble is that I can never recapture with the bishop because of; 8.Bxc4 Bxf3 and my king is exposed. LIke I said, my position became passive because of the queen on c4.] 8...Bd6 9.0–0 0–0 10.h3? [Too slow. I could have played 10.Nc3 immediately. I was worried about something along the lines of 10...Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Bxh2+ 12.Kxh2 Ng4+ forgetting of course, that in order for that sack to work properly, the pawn has to be on e5 (or in this case e4) to keep a piece from being on f6. The text was a waste of time with two queenside pieces undeveloped.; Maybe I could've even tried 10.b4 ] 10...c5 Stopping b4 and taking up space. I prefer his position. Kirk gave me lots of opportunity to both give up the bishop pair and choices for releasing tension in the center this game. I told him those were two things I was working on. I was kinda hoping he'd play ...cxd4 because after exd4, Be3, Rd1, i can protect the isolated pawn and be fully developed. 11.Nc3 Nbd7 [11...cxd4 12.exd4 Nbd7 13.Be3] 12.Rd1 Rc8 13.dxc5 I finally threaten something 13...Bxc5 [Fritz liked 13...Nxc5 14.Nb5 of course 14...Bd5 makes Black better] 14.Qa4 [Was there an alternative? My priority at this point was to get my queen to a safer square. I could never actually grab the a-pawn safely I don't think. 14.Qh4 ; 14.Qf4] 14...Bc6 15.Bb5 Qc7 16.b4 Bd6 In my calculations I missed that this was even possible (thinking it hung to the rook). 17.Bxc6 Qxc6 18.Qxc6 Rxc6 19.Nb5?! [Instead of sending the bishop to a better square, Fritz recommended 19.Bb2 +/- and I'm better.] 19...Bb8 20.Bb2 Rc2 21.Rd2 [21.Bxf6 Nxf6 22.Nbd4 and my position is slightly better.] 21...Rfc8 22.Nbd4 [22.Rxc2 Rxc2 23.Bxf6 Nxf6 24.Rd1 Is this better? At least I get a file. The a-pawn looks weak though. I guess the bishop hangs. 24...Rc8 Forced 25.Nbd4] 22...Rxd2 23.Nxd2 Be5? [I think his bishop was fine there. Progressing with his pawns either by 23...a6 ; or 23...e5 may have been slightly better. 24.N4f3 (24.Nf5 Kf8 25.Rc1 and if the rooks come off it looks drawish) 24...Rc2 25.Bc1] 24.N2f3 Bxd4 25.Nxd4 [Fritz says that this 25.Bxd4 was just as good, but I'm old fashioned, I like a centralized knight. ] 25...Ne4 26.Rc1= and this was an implicit draw offer, as with the rooks off and the symmetrical pawn structure it's quite even [Maybe almost threaten something with 26.Rd1 was better?] 26...Rxc1+= Game drawn by mutual agreement In any case a decent start. I should play more aggressively next game. I defended an inferior position as White. That's unacceptable. ½–½
maybe i'll get us to post on here with comments. the media isn't as good as sending the pgn back and forth but we'll see how it goes
C.Sadler - K.Sadler
Training G/30 Internet Chess Club, 16.10.2005
We have decided to have weekly G/30s which I think is a good thing. I had only thought about playing 1.e4 e5 v. him and not even what to play as White. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nf3 I could've played the Nimzo, but I wanted to see what he played v. Nf3. I had a feeling it was the Queen's Indian, that's why I played this. I went through some of my blitz games from 2003 and I realized how much I had played the QID... 3...b6 4.a3 ...particularly the Petrosian variation 4...Ba6! [The usual move is 4...Bb7 , in fact I had never seen the text. The idea is to hinder White from pushing his e-pawn, and putting pressure on the c-pawn.] 5.e3 [The main line is 5.Qc2 Bb7 6.Nc3 c5 and Black seems better. Interesting] 5...d5 6.Qc2? [Positionally a terrible move. My position is passive because my queen is stuck on c4 eventually. 6.Nbd2 is theory and stronger because if 6...-- 7.cxd5 (for instance). White can still play 7...Bxf1 8.Nxf1 -- 9.Ng3 and eventually castle. (Theory is 6...Be7 7.b4 0–0 8.Bb2 . I'd be comfortable enough with this.) ] 6...Bb7 7.Be2 dxc4 8.Qxc4 [I was gonna try and gambit here with 8.Nc3 knowing that Kirk wouldn't try and hold on to the pawn regardless. The trouble is that I can never recapture with the bishop because of; 8.Bxc4 Bxf3 and my king is exposed. LIke I said, my position became passive because of the queen on c4.] 8...Bd6 9.0–0 0–0 10.h3? [Too slow. I could have played 10.Nc3 immediately. I was worried about something along the lines of 10...Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Bxh2+ 12.Kxh2 Ng4+ forgetting of course, that in order for that sack to work properly, the pawn has to be on e5 (or in this case e4) to keep a piece from being on f6. The text was a waste of time with two queenside pieces undeveloped.; Maybe I could've even tried 10.b4 ] 10...c5 Stopping b4 and taking up space. I prefer his position. Kirk gave me lots of opportunity to both give up the bishop pair and choices for releasing tension in the center this game. I told him those were two things I was working on. I was kinda hoping he'd play ...cxd4 because after exd4, Be3, Rd1, i can protect the isolated pawn and be fully developed. 11.Nc3 Nbd7 [11...cxd4 12.exd4 Nbd7 13.Be3] 12.Rd1 Rc8 13.dxc5 I finally threaten something 13...Bxc5 [Fritz liked 13...Nxc5 14.Nb5 of course 14...Bd5 makes Black better] 14.Qa4 [Was there an alternative? My priority at this point was to get my queen to a safer square. I could never actually grab the a-pawn safely I don't think. 14.Qh4 ; 14.Qf4] 14...Bc6 15.Bb5 Qc7 16.b4 Bd6 In my calculations I missed that this was even possible (thinking it hung to the rook). 17.Bxc6 Qxc6 18.Qxc6 Rxc6 19.Nb5?! [Instead of sending the bishop to a better square, Fritz recommended 19.Bb2 +/- and I'm better.] 19...Bb8 20.Bb2 Rc2 21.Rd2 [21.Bxf6 Nxf6 22.Nbd4 and my position is slightly better.] 21...Rfc8 22.Nbd4 [22.Rxc2 Rxc2 23.Bxf6 Nxf6 24.Rd1 Is this better? At least I get a file. The a-pawn looks weak though. I guess the bishop hangs. 24...Rc8 Forced 25.Nbd4] 22...Rxd2 23.Nxd2 Be5? [I think his bishop was fine there. Progressing with his pawns either by 23...a6 ; or 23...e5 may have been slightly better. 24.N4f3 (24.Nf5 Kf8 25.Rc1 and if the rooks come off it looks drawish) 24...Rc2 25.Bc1] 24.N2f3 Bxd4 25.Nxd4 [Fritz says that this 25.Bxd4 was just as good, but I'm old fashioned, I like a centralized knight. ] 25...Ne4 26.Rc1= and this was an implicit draw offer, as with the rooks off and the symmetrical pawn structure it's quite even [Maybe almost threaten something with 26.Rd1 was better?] 26...Rxc1+= Game drawn by mutual agreement In any case a decent start. I should play more aggressively next game. I defended an inferior position as White. That's unacceptable. ½–½
maybe i'll get us to post on here with comments. the media isn't as good as sending the pgn back and forth but we'll see how it goes
Thursday, September 29, 2005
kansas city
so i just finished my open port course from Cerner and got 96% woo-hoo! the $3000+ US they spent sending me here, feeding me, etc. was allegedly worth it ;)
last night i went to a great japanese place. they had one of those grills where they cooked the food right on your table. there were 7 of us at this table. me, this girl from my class, two older people and three girls. man those three girls were like sex in the city. they were talking about having sex with all these guys and how some basketball player emailed her with a picture of herself and he was "well hung". i laughed. anyways the food was really good. i had salmon, which was a bit of a stretch. the girl i went with she had calamari. if i ever come back to KC and go there (which is a possibility, i'm going back in november) i'll try the calamari. afterwards he flicked shrimp at us and we had to try and catch it like trained seals. me and the girl i was with (she was chinese i don't even know her name, Yung maybe?) were the only two not to catch. i don't know if that means i have class, or i just have bad coordination ;)
i have decided to try the Adorjan gambit
i think the gambit's sound...look at the development advantage i have. in any case, i'm gonna try it.
i started up a refutor code on ICC the other day and i whupped up kirk good last night ;)
The season premiere of Smallville is on tonight and i am decidedly excited. me and Anderson are going to watch them once i get my Starchoice set up. i'm fired up. tomorrow i'm going back home, get there 1:30AM and then i move in with the jane that day. should be an interesting couple of months ;)
lata
last night i went to a great japanese place. they had one of those grills where they cooked the food right on your table. there were 7 of us at this table. me, this girl from my class, two older people and three girls. man those three girls were like sex in the city. they were talking about having sex with all these guys and how some basketball player emailed her with a picture of herself and he was "well hung". i laughed. anyways the food was really good. i had salmon, which was a bit of a stretch. the girl i went with she had calamari. if i ever come back to KC and go there (which is a possibility, i'm going back in november) i'll try the calamari. afterwards he flicked shrimp at us and we had to try and catch it like trained seals. me and the girl i was with (she was chinese i don't even know her name, Yung maybe?) were the only two not to catch. i don't know if that means i have class, or i just have bad coordination ;)
i have decided to try the Adorjan gambit
i think the gambit's sound...look at the development advantage i have. in any case, i'm gonna try it.
i started up a refutor code on ICC the other day and i whupped up kirk good last night ;)
The season premiere of Smallville is on tonight and i am decidedly excited. me and Anderson are going to watch them once i get my Starchoice set up. i'm fired up. tomorrow i'm going back home, get there 1:30AM and then i move in with the jane that day. should be an interesting couple of months ;)
lata
Monday, September 26, 2005
one of my life goals is complete
well more like one of my chess goals. a number of years ago i read a quote from korchnoi that said something like this (paraphrasing) "Playing the Sicilian is like attacking your tag team partner with a chair". today, in Kansas City, Missoura, i found the book that came from and actually own it. i did paraphrase
Geller v. Korchnoi 1960
1.e4 Nf6
It is generally thought that the sharpest and most active defense to 1.e4 is the Sicilian. However, is there not a resemblence between the Sicilian defender and the wrestler who begins the fight before he has climbed into the ring?
That fabulous quote from Korchnoi has rekindled my spirit to play chess, and more correctly, the Sicilian. I'm as big a fan of wrassling as anyone I know, and if i was a wrassler i would attack my opponent before he climbed into the ring. so hence i will play the Sicilian until i die.
thank you Viktor Lvovich
Geller v. Korchnoi 1960
1.e4 Nf6
It is generally thought that the sharpest and most active defense to 1.e4 is the Sicilian. However, is there not a resemblence between the Sicilian defender and the wrestler who begins the fight before he has climbed into the ring?
That fabulous quote from Korchnoi has rekindled my spirit to play chess, and more correctly, the Sicilian. I'm as big a fan of wrassling as anyone I know, and if i was a wrassler i would attack my opponent before he climbed into the ring. so hence i will play the Sicilian until i die.
thank you Viktor Lvovich
Monday, September 19, 2005
another book down the drain...
i should really go to a town with a decent library. i just finished Tony Miles' "It's Only Me". Good book, interesting. I have a couple of choices for what to complete now...the Polgar book, the Kramnik book, Fire on Board, there's a Kasparov book. I have a couple of PDFs from Eric Schiller that I should look at. Maybe I'll just pack
last week i was in baltimore and i had a chance to go play a simul (and meet) Pascal Charbonneau but unfortunately, the cab was $40 and the training was a little more involved than i would have liked. oh well, allegedly the canadian open will be in kitchener this year so maybe i'll meet him there ;)
i played inthe kitchener active two weekends ago and my spirit was broke by an 8 year old in the first round who beat me in 15 moves. grr..
me and jane are moving in together in a couple of weeks...
i have a new favorite song
Stage Door
i know i can't hide
this fear inside
still my friends understand
things have
worked out
much as you have said
ain't no mystery
what i need
understanding and you're sweet sympathy
a steel string guitar and a little weed
and someone to keep me company
someone to keep me company
down the alley through the stage door
sometimes i wonder
just what i
what i do it for
down the alley through the stage door
sometimes i wonder
just what i
what i do it for
ain't no mystery
what i need
some understanding
and your sweet sympathy
a steel string guitar and a little weed
and someone to keep me company
someone to keep me company
last week i was in baltimore and i had a chance to go play a simul (and meet) Pascal Charbonneau but unfortunately, the cab was $40 and the training was a little more involved than i would have liked. oh well, allegedly the canadian open will be in kitchener this year so maybe i'll meet him there ;)
i played inthe kitchener active two weekends ago and my spirit was broke by an 8 year old in the first round who beat me in 15 moves. grr..
me and jane are moving in together in a couple of weeks...
i have a new favorite song
Stage Door
i know i can't hide
this fear inside
still my friends understand
things have
worked out
much as you have said
ain't no mystery
what i need
understanding and you're sweet sympathy
a steel string guitar and a little weed
and someone to keep me company
someone to keep me company
down the alley through the stage door
sometimes i wonder
just what i
what i do it for
down the alley through the stage door
sometimes i wonder
just what i
what i do it for
ain't no mystery
what i need
some understanding
and your sweet sympathy
a steel string guitar and a little weed
and someone to keep me company
someone to keep me company
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
it's a go for November 27th...
i'll post a link when it's available
5 rounds, $5
jane and kirk both did really well today...jane was surprised i think :) i'm glad for her...i felt nervous for her, i can't imagine how *she* felt ;)
5 rounds, $5
jane and kirk both did really well today...jane was surprised i think :) i'm glad for her...i felt nervous for her, i can't imagine how *she* felt ;)
nerves
man am i nervous for Kirk and Jane. they're both starting teaching today. jane said she couldn't sleep and honestly i wasn't much better ;)
Monday, September 05, 2005
Friday, September 02, 2005
Active Tournament - November 27th
I think I'm gonna organize an Active tournament in Owen Sound, November 27th. i'm gonna go down sunday probably and confirm, but the idea is $5 EF, $3 going to rating fees, the other two going to buying a book for the Owen Sound Public Library. Should be fun.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
wait a tick...
so i may have just figured something out...i like 1.Nf3 but i don't necessarily like the QGD, so why not 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 d5 3.Bg5. i've always had a tough time playing against it...although 3. ...Ne4 is stronger than in tromp proper i believe because the bishop is already guarded by the knight. i'll consider it
the funk of 40,000 years
so i've been playing through Tony Miles' "It's Only Me" and I'm starting to become a fan of the "English Defense" 1.c4 b6 particularly in his game v. Olafsson which started 1.c4 b6 2.Nc3 e6 3.d4 Bb4 4.e3 Bb7 5.Nge2 f5 which is an improvement over the nimzo i think. i may give it a go...i'm influenced by the books i'm reading (i'm the highly suggestable type) and i think Miles is a good person to get influenced by...he's so strong inthe middlegame and endgame. i'm at all all-time high at ICC while i'm reading this, i'm not sure that's a coincedence. the last time i read a good middlegame book, it was Zurich 1953 by Bronstein and my play improved, if not my rating. i'm not sure whether i'm gonna do Kramnik : LIfe and Games or My System next...i've been holding off on My System, but I think i'm gonna do it.
This is a picture from my parent's 30th anniversary party a couple of weeks ago...it was good times. I got some books from a guy over the Internet today "Kramnik : My Life and Games" and some theoretical book on the Nimzo. The Nimzo book isn't very interesting (theory and game fragments v. full games) but the Kramnik book looks good, if a little light on analysis. But it should be good.
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