K mentioned the idea of going to play an Active tournament in September. I am the new parent of a set of twins who were born in May and K has a baby on the way due in March 2011, so there is the chorus of "last chance for a long time". Critics will note that I haven't played a tournament since 2008 even with no kids. In any case, I think this will actually happen.
Which leads to the inevitable question of "What to play?" Since playing Correspondence my knowledge is deeper than it is wide, and playing my tax bracket at a rated tournament it would have to be wide. I'm toying with the idea of playing 1.g3 as White and the King's Indian and Modern as Black. It's active...not much time to refute...and I've become relatively battle hardened as these have been my blitz openings (more or less) since I read Suttle's books
i`m sure i will flip flop...if i`m playing in a section where there will be people rated lower than me, i could always play 1.e4, Sicilian. I will likely play King`s INdian v. everything else. In any case...more to come (hopefully!)
Showing posts with label King's Indian Attack. Show all posts
Showing posts with label King's Indian Attack. Show all posts
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Chessbase 8 and self-improvement
I am showing my age ;) but I still use Chessbase 8 for my chess database. One of my favourite features is the Dossier where it shows your repertoire and what the percentages are and what your performance rating is. Last year for instance it showed that I scored 18% with 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 (rated purely on games from 2001). i had played 1.g3 the odd time so I decided that if, over the year i got either 1.g3 d5 or 1.Nf3 d5 i would go for the King's Indian Attack just to raise my score. And I did :) So in the interest of scientific research I decided to do the same thing...this is from my personal database of over 11000 correspondence, OTB, and blitz games.
My lowest two as white are two of my most hated lines as White :
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 and 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4
(in the interest of putting some positivity my best numbers are against 1.e4 e5 2.d4 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6)
As Black my best is surprisingly the Queen's Indian 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 and my worst is the Colle 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3
maybe for 2010 I'll go back to playing 1.d4 d5...i enjoy the Queen's Gambit Accepted, the Tarrasch and the Semi-Slav. And if I happen to beat some Colle's too...so be it :)
My lowest two as white are two of my most hated lines as White :
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 and 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4
(in the interest of putting some positivity my best numbers are against 1.e4 e5 2.d4 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6)
As Black my best is surprisingly the Queen's Indian 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 and my worst is the Colle 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3
maybe for 2010 I'll go back to playing 1.d4 d5...i enjoy the Queen's Gambit Accepted, the Tarrasch and the Semi-Slav. And if I happen to beat some Colle's too...so be it :)
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Volume 1 completed
As of today I have finished Volume 1 of the Duncan Suttles biography by Bruce Harper and Yasser Seirawan. The annotations are fabulous, the games are mindblowing...i am really enjoying it. if you are going to buy one volume, buy the first, it is more heavily annotated. Volume 2 is ECO A and Volume 3 is ECO B-E. I am going to start working on Volume 2 tomorrow likely. It's a nice combiation of Suttles' OTB games as well as his correspondence games. Here is Suttles' masterpiece
Bilek-Suttles, Venice 1974
1.c4 g6 2.g3 Bg7 3.Bg2 d6 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.d3 Nh6 6.e3 Bd7 7.Nge2
Qc8 8.h3 a6 9.b3 b5 10.Rb1 Rb8 11.Bb2 f6 12.Qd2 Nf7 13.Rc1
bxc4 14.dxc4 Nb4 15.f4 c5 16.Rd1 h5 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.Qxd5 a5
19.Qd3 Rh7 20.Bc3 a4 21.Qc2 Kf8 22.Rb1 axb3 23.axb3 f5
24.Bxg7+ Kxg7 25.Kf2 h4 26.gxh4 Rxh4 27.Ng1 Bc6 28.Rh2 e5
29.Kg3 g5 30.fxg5 Re4 31.Kf2 Qh8 32.Nf3 Nxg5 33.Nxg5 Qh4+
34.Kg1 Qxg5 35.Kh1 Qxe3 36.Rg1 Kf6 37.Qb1 Qd4 38.Qc1 Rxb3
39.Qh6+ Ke7 40.Qg7+ Kd8 0-1
Sunday, February 03, 2008
3.5/5 in Guelph
I just got back from Guelph, scored 3.5/5 in the U1800 division being paired up every round. i gained almost 100 points. i didn't play that great but i played "better than my opponent" three times, as the saying goes. i'll add the annotations as i do them.
i do need to calculate better and i need to work on my caro repetoire a little bit, but basically i got good positions out of the opening in any games. i didn't calculate nearly enough and i ran out of gas and fighting spirit in rounds 4 and 5. just need to play more
we'll see what fritz and my coach say
FS - C
Guelph Pro-Am U1800 (1), 02.02.2008
A05 - King's Indian Attack
This was a game against the second highest player in the tourney. The first round started an hour later than originally anticipated so we didn't need to leave OS at 5am(!) 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.b3 0-0 5.Bb2 c6 I had decided to play ...c6, ...d6 and ...e5 against his King's Indian attack 6.c4 d6 7.Nc3 e5 8.0-0 Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 I'm sure this isn't the strongest, but this was inspired by Lawrence Day's book on Nickoloff and his opinion that the King's Indian lines with ...Bg4 were underrated. 10.Bxf3 Nbd7 11.Rc1 Re8 Again I'm playing with a plan. He refuse to take his share of the center with pawns, so I'm going to try to take mine and his 12.d3 Nf8! He was playing quicker than me before this move, but thought for almost 15-20 minutes on this move, which is a lot considering the time control was G/50+50 seconds. From e6 my knight will be able to hit e4 and also come at the kingside if necessary 13.Rc2 Ne6 14.e3 Qd7 15.Bg2 Nh5 Trying to induce g4 and open up holes in his kingside 16.Kh2 f5 17.g4!? Strange that he would play it here and not the previous move 17...fxg4 18.hxg4 Nf6 19.Ne4 Qe7 Being able to get at h4 to check and also allowing my other rook to go over and guard d6 20.Kg3 Strange that he tries to move his king of all pieces into the fray [20.Nxf6+ Qxf6 21.Rh1 seems a little better] 20...h5 [Maybe too ambitious 20...Nxe4+ 21.dxe4 Rf8 same position without the inclusion of h5 was better] 21.f3 [21.Nxf6+ Qxf6 22.gxh5 was better according to Fritz] 21...Nxe4+ 22.dxe4 h4+ 23.Kh2!? [I really thought he was going to play 23.Kf2 and run to the center/queenside where all his pieces were. I would have to reorganize my attack after something like 23...h3 24.Bh1 Qh4+ 25.Ke2] 23...Bh6= and I offered a draw somewhere around here. I had most of the active play and he was rated higher, but he refused kinda arrogantly so we continued... 24.Bc1 Rf8 25.b4 Rad8 26.b5 c5 [Fritz preferred 26...Nc5 to blocking up the queenside] 27.Kh3 [27.Qd5 was Fritz's reasoning about the weakness of giving up d5] 27...Ng5+
28.Kxh4?? [28.Kh2 was what i expected either a repetition of moves or me allowing my pieces to try and come up the h-file. Instead he walked into a mate in 2] 28...Nxf3+ 29.Kg3 I think when he grabbed the pawn he missed that my rook was on f8 29...Qh4# Nice start to the tourney. The mate was lucky but I held my own regardless 0-1
C - DG
Guelph Pro-Am U1800 (2), 02.02.2008
E73 - King's Indian : Averbakh Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 [One other option instead of dedicating my bishop to e2 is to play 6.f3 and go in for more of a Samisch type thing but with the option of the bishop on d3 and the knight on e2] 6...e5? Textbook trap taken from Averbakh's "Tactics". This move is the reason that I started playing the Averbakh in the first place. Obvious moves lose :) 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Nd5 Nbd7 10.Nxc7 Rb8 11.0-0-0 h6 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Nd5 Bg7 14.Nf3 Kf8 15.h4 Nc5 16.Nd2 f5 17.f3 [The text was unnecessary as he couldn't really open up the f-file and give me lines for my rook 17.b4 was probably better 17...Nxe4 18.Nxe4 fxe4 19.h5] 17...f4 18.Nb1 Ne6! i missed that he had an outpost as well 19.Na3 Nd4= and I offered a draw around here. I'm a pawn to the good but I'm also exhausted. He declined but i bet he wishes he wouldn't have :) 20.Rhe1 Bd7 21.Bd3 [The immediate 21.Nc2 was better as my light squared bishop was the worst piece on the board] 21...Rdc8 22.Kb1 Rc5 23.Nc2 Ne6 24.Bf1 Protecting one of my few weak points (g2) but h4 was weak as well, luckily he had no quick/decent way to get at it 24...Ba4?! I didn't like this move but I can't find a decent plan for him. 25.b3 Be8 26.Kb2 b5? The question mark is because it gets rid of my light squared bishop 27.cxb5 Bxb5 28.Bxb5 Rcxb5 29.Na3 R5b7 30.Nc4 Nd4 He gets back to d4 but he can't do anything. My knights are great 31.Rc1 [31.Rxd4 exd4 Fritz liked 32.Nxf4 but why complicate the position when I'm doing quite well] 31...Kg8 32.Na5 to trade off the knight 32...Rd7 33.Nc6 Nxc6 34.Rxc6 Rbd8 35.Rxg6 Kh7 36.Rc6 Rxd5 37.exd5 Rxd5 38.Re4 [38.Kc2 may have been better...getting out of the line of fire] 38...Rd2+ 39.Rc2 Rxc2+? keeping material onthe board was likely better 40.Kxc2 Kg6 41.Ra4 Kh5 42.Kd2 Kxh4 43.Ke2 Kg3 44.Kf1 h5 45.Rxa7 Bf8 46.Rf7 Bc5 47.Rf5 Bd4? 48.Rxh5 e4 49.Rh3# Not the greatest game, but it was a win v a player ranked almost 200 points higher than me. I busted him out of the opening and calculated when I needed to 1-0
C - KW
Guelph Pro-Am U1800(3), 02.02.2008
E73 - King's Indian : Averbakh Variation
An exciting game, but I'm sure that Fritz will blow holes in it. Better to let the computer analyze the games you lose than the ones you win :) I'll give some thoughts 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 g6 3.c4 Bg7 [I imagine going into some sort of Benoni might be good for Black here 3...c5 4.d5 (4.Bxf6 exf6 is almost forced) 4...Ne4 looks good for Black] 4.Nc3 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 Nbd7 [No 6...e5 this time.] 7.Qd2 Re8 [I would think it would be better to try to induce d5 with 7...c5 ;
or here 7...e5 ] 8.0-0-0 b6? [8...e5 would have been playable here after setting up the rook and the knight to defend it] 9.h4 [Oh man! I had this one won in 9 moves as well 9.e5! dxe5 (9...Bb7 10.Bf3 Bxf3 11.Nxf3 Ng4 12.h3) 10.dxe5 Bb7 11.exf6 exf6 12.Qxd7 Qxd7 13.Rxd7 Bxg2 14.Bf3 That's what I like about the Averbakh King's Indian. Obvious moves lose :) I will have to push the e5 pawn. Again I didn't calculate enough...I just wanted to get developed. I played h4 because I thought if he was wasting time on the queenside I would go for the king] 9...Bb7 10.f3 h5 11.Nh3 a6 12.Nf2 I was happy with this move 12...c5 Well played. Making his dark squared bishop more valuable 13.d5 a5 14.g4 Ba6 15.gxh5 Nxh5 16.f4? [An interesting idea but not quite right 16.Rdg1 ] 16...f6 17.f5 I figured with all the open files and a passed pawn on g6 he couldn't last long. His queenside attack wasn't coming too quickly 17...fxg5 18.Bxh5? [Fritz preferred 18.Qxg5 coming up the g-file, but the pushing of the e-pawn caused the same sort of issues as in the game] 18...gxh5 19.hxg5 Ne5 20.g6 [20.Qe2 may have been better, eyeing the h-pawn and not getting tempo-ed to g5] 20...Nxc4 21.Qg5 b5?! [He had to see that I was building up my forces 21...e6 22.Qxh5 (So I probably would have had to play 22.Qxd8 Raxd8 23.dxe6 but it's hard to take the brakes off sometimes) 22...exf5 opens up lines to my king] 22.Rxh5 b4? Let the fireworks start [22...e5 23.Qg4 b4 24.Rdh1 bxc3 works in this line 25.Rh8+ Bxh8 26.Rxh8+ Kxh8 (26...Kg7 27.Rh7+ Kg8=) 27.Qh5+ Kg7= because i check from h5 instead of h6;
22...e6 was stronger because if i don't trade off the queens he can open up the e-file 23.Qg4 (23.Qxd8 Raxd8 24.dxe6 and he has the attack) 23...exf5 24.Qh3 Qe7 25.Rh8+] 23.Rdh1 bxc3 24.Rh8+ Bxh8 25.Rxh8+ Kg7 [25...Kxh8 26.Qh6+ Kg8 27.Qh7+ Kf8 28.Qf7#] 26.Qh6+ Kf6 27.Ng4#
Not a perfect game, but I was given a straightforward plan (Fischer's sac-sac-mate) and I was able to make due. I have done that a couple of times in this line and I am 4-0 playing the Averbakh line v. the King's Indian in CFC games 1-0
MCL - C
Guelph Pro-Am U1800(4), 03.02.2008
B12 - Caro-Kann ; Advanced Variation
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Bd3 Bxd3 5.Qxd3 e6 6.f4 Qa5+ 7.Bd2 Qa6 8.Qxa6 Nxa6 I don't want to spend too much time on the opening, but this is an idea of Nimzowitsch's that i have played over the years. It takes most of the juice out of White's position, but it's not easy to play for Black and he has to work hard to get anything out of the position. 9.a3 c5 10.Nf3 cxd4 [10...Nh6 is a better idea to get at d4 from f5. It never even crossed my mind. It will cross my mind next time.] 11.b4 [I missed this inbetween move and was counting on 11.Nxd4 Bc5 to solve my dark-squared bishop problems] 11...f5? An anti-positional move, but i had a tough time developing. I guess the ...Nh6 idea was the best spot to go. [if i really wanted to push the f-pawn, one square forward probably would have been better. 11...f6 I should've spent more time at this point in the game. My development was tough. I couldn't fianchetto very well with the pawns the way they were and e7 didn't appear to be any better than f8 for the bishop (except that it would allow me to castle or connect my rooks)] 12.Nxd4 Kd7 [12...Nc7 was playable here, although i think my king wasn't in a terrible spot] 13.Nc3 Hans recommended a plan along the lines of 13. Be3 -- 14.c4 -- 15. Nc3 -- 16.Rd1 for her and said the ending "should have led to a draw" 13. ... Nc7 14.0-0 Ne7 15.Na4 b6 [K's recommendation 15...Nc6 16.Nb3 (16.Nxc6 Kxc6 is fine) 16...b5 17.Nac5+ Bxc5+ 18.Nxc5+ Ke7 and I'm fine. This position is much better than what happened in the game] 16.Be3 Nc6 17.Rfc1 Nxd4 [I could've also played 17...b5 18.Nc5+ (18.Nxc6 Kxc6 19.Nc5 Bxc5 20.Bxc5 a5) 18...Bxc5 19.bxc5 and I'm good too] 18.Bxd4 Be7? [18...b5 getting rid of my stupid bishop was better, but i wanted to unite my rooks before she got c4 in. this protects v. c4 as well though] 19.Bxb6 axb6 20.Nxb6+ Kc6 21.Nxa8 Rxa8 22.c4 dxc4 23.Rxc4+ Kb6 24.Rac1 and i resigned.
She told me that I should've played on. She was right...I was dead tired at that point and I had mentally resigned once I saw she could take the e-pawn (which I thought was holding the position together) 24...-- [Some of the lines which held were 24...Nd5 25.Rc6+ (25.g3 Rxa3 26.Rc6+ Kb5 27.Rxe6 Rd3 (27...Kxb4) ; 25...Kb5 26.Rxe6 Nxf4 27.Rxe7 Ne2+ 28.Kf2 Nxc1 29.Rxg7 Rxa3 30.Rxh7 Nd3+ 31.Ke3 Nxe5+ 32.Kf4 Nd3+ 33.Kxf5 Kxb4 34.h4 Ra5+ I think I'm going to play this position out a couple of times (from both sides) against my brother at a decent time (30 min plus a piece) to get used to unbalanced material positions.] 1-0
MP - C
Guelph Pro-Am U1800(5), 03.02.2008
E32 - Nimzo-Indian : Classical Variation
This was the last round, I was a little burned out and wanted to go home 1.e4 [This game has an interesting transposition into 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.Bg5 c5 6.e3 cxd4 7.exd4 d5 8.Nf3] 1...c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Bb4 7.Bg5 [7.cxd5 is the main line 7...Nxd5 8.Bd2 Nc6] 7...0-0 8.Qc2?! I think this wasn't the best move at this point. [He wanted to avoid losing a tempo by 8.Bd3 and also he wanted to work on h7, but the idea of castling queenside wasn't so good] 8...b6 [Maybe trying to work on the isolated pawn with 8...Nc6 was better. I had a development scheme in mind (that i played) with ...b6, ...Nbd7 and ...Bb7] 9.Bd3 h6 [I missed his 9th move. I thought I could just play 9...dxc4 but i think that 10.Bxh7+ Kh8 11.Be4 is great for White] 10.Bf4? I think this was another bad move. He should've either kept the pin on or exchanged. 10...dxc4 11.Bxc4 Bb7 12.0-0-0?! Nbd7 13.Ne5 Rc8 Piling up on the knight 14.Bb3 Bd5= and I was much better (and i knew it) but i offered a draw to go home. A great tournament (results wise) for me. My next goal is to get above 1700 so i can play in the U2100 next time. ½-½
i do need to calculate better and i need to work on my caro repetoire a little bit, but basically i got good positions out of the opening in any games. i didn't calculate nearly enough and i ran out of gas and fighting spirit in rounds 4 and 5. just need to play more
we'll see what fritz and my coach say
FS - C
Guelph Pro-Am U1800 (1), 02.02.2008
A05 - King's Indian Attack
This was a game against the second highest player in the tourney. The first round started an hour later than originally anticipated so we didn't need to leave OS at 5am(!) 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.b3 0-0 5.Bb2 c6 I had decided to play ...c6, ...d6 and ...e5 against his King's Indian attack 6.c4 d6 7.Nc3 e5 8.0-0 Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 I'm sure this isn't the strongest, but this was inspired by Lawrence Day's book on Nickoloff and his opinion that the King's Indian lines with ...Bg4 were underrated. 10.Bxf3 Nbd7 11.Rc1 Re8 Again I'm playing with a plan. He refuse to take his share of the center with pawns, so I'm going to try to take mine and his 12.d3 Nf8! He was playing quicker than me before this move, but thought for almost 15-20 minutes on this move, which is a lot considering the time control was G/50+50 seconds. From e6 my knight will be able to hit e4 and also come at the kingside if necessary 13.Rc2 Ne6 14.e3 Qd7 15.Bg2 Nh5 Trying to induce g4 and open up holes in his kingside 16.Kh2 f5 17.g4!? Strange that he would play it here and not the previous move 17...fxg4 18.hxg4 Nf6 19.Ne4 Qe7 Being able to get at h4 to check and also allowing my other rook to go over and guard d6 20.Kg3 Strange that he tries to move his king of all pieces into the fray [20.Nxf6+ Qxf6 21.Rh1 seems a little better] 20...h5 [Maybe too ambitious 20...Nxe4+ 21.dxe4 Rf8 same position without the inclusion of h5 was better] 21.f3 [21.Nxf6+ Qxf6 22.gxh5 was better according to Fritz] 21...Nxe4+ 22.dxe4 h4+ 23.Kh2!? [I really thought he was going to play 23.Kf2 and run to the center/queenside where all his pieces were. I would have to reorganize my attack after something like 23...h3 24.Bh1 Qh4+ 25.Ke2] 23...Bh6= and I offered a draw somewhere around here. I had most of the active play and he was rated higher, but he refused kinda arrogantly so we continued... 24.Bc1 Rf8 25.b4 Rad8 26.b5 c5 [Fritz preferred 26...Nc5 to blocking up the queenside] 27.Kh3 [27.Qd5 was Fritz's reasoning about the weakness of giving up d5] 27...Ng5+
28.Kxh4?? [28.Kh2 was what i expected either a repetition of moves or me allowing my pieces to try and come up the h-file. Instead he walked into a mate in 2] 28...Nxf3+ 29.Kg3 I think when he grabbed the pawn he missed that my rook was on f8 29...Qh4# Nice start to the tourney. The mate was lucky but I held my own regardless 0-1
C - DG
Guelph Pro-Am U1800 (2), 02.02.2008
E73 - King's Indian : Averbakh Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 [One other option instead of dedicating my bishop to e2 is to play 6.f3 and go in for more of a Samisch type thing but with the option of the bishop on d3 and the knight on e2] 6...e5? Textbook trap taken from Averbakh's "Tactics". This move is the reason that I started playing the Averbakh in the first place. Obvious moves lose :) 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Nd5 Nbd7 10.Nxc7 Rb8 11.0-0-0 h6 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Nd5 Bg7 14.Nf3 Kf8 15.h4 Nc5 16.Nd2 f5 17.f3 [The text was unnecessary as he couldn't really open up the f-file and give me lines for my rook 17.b4 was probably better 17...Nxe4 18.Nxe4 fxe4 19.h5] 17...f4 18.Nb1 Ne6! i missed that he had an outpost as well 19.Na3 Nd4= and I offered a draw around here. I'm a pawn to the good but I'm also exhausted. He declined but i bet he wishes he wouldn't have :) 20.Rhe1 Bd7 21.Bd3 [The immediate 21.Nc2 was better as my light squared bishop was the worst piece on the board] 21...Rdc8 22.Kb1 Rc5 23.Nc2 Ne6 24.Bf1 Protecting one of my few weak points (g2) but h4 was weak as well, luckily he had no quick/decent way to get at it 24...Ba4?! I didn't like this move but I can't find a decent plan for him. 25.b3 Be8 26.Kb2 b5? The question mark is because it gets rid of my light squared bishop 27.cxb5 Bxb5 28.Bxb5 Rcxb5 29.Na3 R5b7 30.Nc4 Nd4 He gets back to d4 but he can't do anything. My knights are great 31.Rc1 [31.Rxd4 exd4 Fritz liked 32.Nxf4 but why complicate the position when I'm doing quite well] 31...Kg8 32.Na5 to trade off the knight 32...Rd7 33.Nc6 Nxc6 34.Rxc6 Rbd8 35.Rxg6 Kh7 36.Rc6 Rxd5 37.exd5 Rxd5 38.Re4 [38.Kc2 may have been better...getting out of the line of fire] 38...Rd2+ 39.Rc2 Rxc2+? keeping material onthe board was likely better 40.Kxc2 Kg6 41.Ra4 Kh5 42.Kd2 Kxh4 43.Ke2 Kg3 44.Kf1 h5 45.Rxa7 Bf8 46.Rf7 Bc5 47.Rf5 Bd4? 48.Rxh5 e4 49.Rh3# Not the greatest game, but it was a win v a player ranked almost 200 points higher than me. I busted him out of the opening and calculated when I needed to 1-0
C - KW
Guelph Pro-Am U1800(3), 02.02.2008
E73 - King's Indian : Averbakh Variation
An exciting game, but I'm sure that Fritz will blow holes in it. Better to let the computer analyze the games you lose than the ones you win :) I'll give some thoughts 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 g6 3.c4 Bg7 [I imagine going into some sort of Benoni might be good for Black here 3...c5 4.d5 (4.Bxf6 exf6 is almost forced) 4...Ne4 looks good for Black] 4.Nc3 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 Nbd7 [No 6...e5 this time.] 7.Qd2 Re8 [I would think it would be better to try to induce d5 with 7...c5 ;
or here 7...e5 ] 8.0-0-0 b6? [8...e5 would have been playable here after setting up the rook and the knight to defend it] 9.h4 [Oh man! I had this one won in 9 moves as well 9.e5! dxe5 (9...Bb7 10.Bf3 Bxf3 11.Nxf3 Ng4 12.h3) 10.dxe5 Bb7 11.exf6 exf6 12.Qxd7 Qxd7 13.Rxd7 Bxg2 14.Bf3 That's what I like about the Averbakh King's Indian. Obvious moves lose :) I will have to push the e5 pawn. Again I didn't calculate enough...I just wanted to get developed. I played h4 because I thought if he was wasting time on the queenside I would go for the king] 9...Bb7 10.f3 h5 11.Nh3 a6 12.Nf2 I was happy with this move 12...c5 Well played. Making his dark squared bishop more valuable 13.d5 a5 14.g4 Ba6 15.gxh5 Nxh5 16.f4? [An interesting idea but not quite right 16.Rdg1 ] 16...f6 17.f5 I figured with all the open files and a passed pawn on g6 he couldn't last long. His queenside attack wasn't coming too quickly 17...fxg5 18.Bxh5? [Fritz preferred 18.Qxg5 coming up the g-file, but the pushing of the e-pawn caused the same sort of issues as in the game] 18...gxh5 19.hxg5 Ne5 20.g6 [20.Qe2 may have been better, eyeing the h-pawn and not getting tempo-ed to g5] 20...Nxc4 21.Qg5 b5?! [He had to see that I was building up my forces 21...e6 22.Qxh5 (So I probably would have had to play 22.Qxd8 Raxd8 23.dxe6 but it's hard to take the brakes off sometimes) 22...exf5 opens up lines to my king] 22.Rxh5 b4? Let the fireworks start [22...e5 23.Qg4 b4 24.Rdh1 bxc3 works in this line 25.Rh8+ Bxh8 26.Rxh8+ Kxh8 (26...Kg7 27.Rh7+ Kg8=) 27.Qh5+ Kg7= because i check from h5 instead of h6;
22...e6 was stronger because if i don't trade off the queens he can open up the e-file 23.Qg4 (23.Qxd8 Raxd8 24.dxe6 and he has the attack) 23...exf5 24.Qh3 Qe7 25.Rh8+] 23.Rdh1 bxc3 24.Rh8+ Bxh8 25.Rxh8+ Kg7 [25...Kxh8 26.Qh6+ Kg8 27.Qh7+ Kf8 28.Qf7#] 26.Qh6+ Kf6 27.Ng4#
Not a perfect game, but I was given a straightforward plan (Fischer's sac-sac-mate) and I was able to make due. I have done that a couple of times in this line and I am 4-0 playing the Averbakh line v. the King's Indian in CFC games 1-0
MCL - C
Guelph Pro-Am U1800(4), 03.02.2008
B12 - Caro-Kann ; Advanced Variation
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Bd3 Bxd3 5.Qxd3 e6 6.f4 Qa5+ 7.Bd2 Qa6 8.Qxa6 Nxa6 I don't want to spend too much time on the opening, but this is an idea of Nimzowitsch's that i have played over the years. It takes most of the juice out of White's position, but it's not easy to play for Black and he has to work hard to get anything out of the position. 9.a3 c5 10.Nf3 cxd4 [10...Nh6 is a better idea to get at d4 from f5. It never even crossed my mind. It will cross my mind next time.] 11.b4 [I missed this inbetween move and was counting on 11.Nxd4 Bc5 to solve my dark-squared bishop problems] 11...f5? An anti-positional move, but i had a tough time developing. I guess the ...Nh6 idea was the best spot to go. [if i really wanted to push the f-pawn, one square forward probably would have been better. 11...f6 I should've spent more time at this point in the game. My development was tough. I couldn't fianchetto very well with the pawns the way they were and e7 didn't appear to be any better than f8 for the bishop (except that it would allow me to castle or connect my rooks)] 12.Nxd4 Kd7 [12...Nc7 was playable here, although i think my king wasn't in a terrible spot] 13.Nc3 Hans recommended a plan along the lines of 13. Be3 -- 14.c4 -- 15. Nc3 -- 16.Rd1 for her and said the ending "should have led to a draw" 13. ... Nc7 14.0-0 Ne7 15.Na4 b6 [K's recommendation 15...Nc6 16.Nb3 (16.Nxc6 Kxc6 is fine) 16...b5 17.Nac5+ Bxc5+ 18.Nxc5+ Ke7 and I'm fine. This position is much better than what happened in the game] 16.Be3 Nc6 17.Rfc1 Nxd4 [I could've also played 17...b5 18.Nc5+ (18.Nxc6 Kxc6 19.Nc5 Bxc5 20.Bxc5 a5) 18...Bxc5 19.bxc5 and I'm good too] 18.Bxd4 Be7? [18...b5 getting rid of my stupid bishop was better, but i wanted to unite my rooks before she got c4 in. this protects v. c4 as well though] 19.Bxb6 axb6 20.Nxb6+ Kc6 21.Nxa8 Rxa8 22.c4 dxc4 23.Rxc4+ Kb6 24.Rac1 and i resigned.
She told me that I should've played on. She was right...I was dead tired at that point and I had mentally resigned once I saw she could take the e-pawn (which I thought was holding the position together) 24...-- [Some of the lines which held were 24...Nd5 25.Rc6+ (25.g3 Rxa3 26.Rc6+ Kb5 27.Rxe6 Rd3 (27...Kxb4) ; 25...Kb5 26.Rxe6 Nxf4 27.Rxe7 Ne2+ 28.Kf2 Nxc1 29.Rxg7 Rxa3 30.Rxh7 Nd3+ 31.Ke3 Nxe5+ 32.Kf4 Nd3+ 33.Kxf5 Kxb4 34.h4 Ra5+ I think I'm going to play this position out a couple of times (from both sides) against my brother at a decent time (30 min plus a piece) to get used to unbalanced material positions.] 1-0
MP - C
Guelph Pro-Am U1800(5), 03.02.2008
E32 - Nimzo-Indian : Classical Variation
This was the last round, I was a little burned out and wanted to go home 1.e4 [This game has an interesting transposition into 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.Bg5 c5 6.e3 cxd4 7.exd4 d5 8.Nf3] 1...c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Bb4 7.Bg5 [7.cxd5 is the main line 7...Nxd5 8.Bd2 Nc6] 7...0-0 8.Qc2?! I think this wasn't the best move at this point. [He wanted to avoid losing a tempo by 8.Bd3 and also he wanted to work on h7, but the idea of castling queenside wasn't so good] 8...b6 [Maybe trying to work on the isolated pawn with 8...Nc6 was better. I had a development scheme in mind (that i played) with ...b6, ...Nbd7 and ...Bb7] 9.Bd3 h6 [I missed his 9th move. I thought I could just play 9...dxc4 but i think that 10.Bxh7+ Kh8 11.Be4 is great for White] 10.Bf4? I think this was another bad move. He should've either kept the pin on or exchanged. 10...dxc4 11.Bxc4 Bb7 12.0-0-0?! Nbd7 13.Ne5 Rc8 Piling up on the knight 14.Bb3 Bd5= and I was much better (and i knew it) but i offered a draw to go home. A great tournament (results wise) for me. My next goal is to get above 1700 so i can play in the U2100 next time. ½-½
Saturday, October 21, 2006
one win, one loss
C - CL
October G30 Owen Sound (3), 18.10.2006
D45 - Semi-Slav
This was just at the end of the Kramnik-Topalov match so I wanted to try the move order that they did 1.c4 c6 2.d4 [I did think about turning it into a Panov, but next time maybe 2.e4 ] 2...d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 a la Kramnik-Topalov 4...e6 5.Nc3 Bb4?! This is just a bad Nimzo I would think (...c5 in two moves instead of one). Grob, Szabo, Ratmir Kholmov and Hubner have all played it. 6.Qc2 [Apparently 6.Bd3 is the closest to a "book" move but I was playing my nimzo line. I guess I would get e4 in two moves instead of one here though)] 6...dxc4 [6...Nbd7 is the "book" move as well] 7.Bxc4 0-0 8.0-0 Bxc3 I'm very happy here. Not only did he let me develop my light squared bishop. He voluntarily gave up the bishop pair as well 9.Qxc3 b6 10.Rd1 c5 11.Bd3 Nc6 12.dxc5 Ne4 13.Qc2 Nb4 14.Bxe4 [14.Qc4! is stronger 14...Nxd3 (14...bxc5 15.Qxe4 Nxd3 16.Rxd3) 15.Rxd3] 14...Nxc2 15.Rxd8 Rxd8 16.Bxc2 Bb7 17.cxb6 axb6 18.e4? Not the greatest, but it just drops a pawn [18.Kf1 was better ;
18.Ne1 Rac8 19.f3 Rd6 20.Kf2] 18...Bxe4 [18...Bxe4 and I resign ??? 19.Bb3 was not great, but I still have two pieces for the rook. Not fabulous by me] 0-1
second game of the night...
CL - C
October G30 Owen Sound (4), 18.10.2006
A07 - King's Indian Attack
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 [I half expected 2.b3 after advising him on ways to stop 1. ...e5 last week. We played this line up to move 7 in our "match"] 2...g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.0-0 c6 5.d3 d5 6.Nbd2 0-0 7.e4 Bg4 [In the previous game I played 7...dxe4 and this was good enough] 8.Qe1 Nbd7 9.e5 Bxf3?? [9...Ne8 was better] 10.Nxf3?? [10.exf6 Bxg2 11.fxg7 Bxf1 doesn't work be because 12.gxf8Q+ is check so he's up a piece] 10...Ng4 11.d4 e6 Now I'm just playing a funky Caro-Kann Advanced 12.h3 Nh6 13.Nh2 Qb6 [I wanted to stop him from developing quite so easily but maybe reentering my knight into the game with 13...Nf5 was better] 14.c3 c5 15.Be3 Nf5 16.dxc5? [16.Nf3] 16...Nxc5 [16...Qxb2 and lots is gonna fall 17.Ng4 Nxe3] 17.b4? [This was weak, making the c-pawn a backwards pawn and a big target for me 17.f4 protecting the hanging e-pawn may have been better 17...Nxe3 18.Qxe3 Rac8] 17...Nxe3 18.Qxe3 Na4 19.Qxb6 Nxb6 20.f4 Rac8 21.Rac1 Na4?! [21...f6 to try and activate the bishop;
or 21...Rc4 to try and double up on the c-pawn and then eventually win it] 22.c4! dxc4 [22...Rxc4 23.Rxc4 dxc4 24.Bxb7 f6 (24...Rb8!? 25.Bc6 Rxb4 26.a3 Rb3 27.Bxa4 Rxg3+ 28.Kf2 Rxa3) ] 23.Bxb7 Rc7 [23...Rb8 24.Bc6 Rxb4 25.a3 Rb3 26.Bxa4 Rxg3+ 27.Kf2 Rxa3 28.Rxc4 Rxh3 is similar to the line above] 24.Ba6 Nb2 [The simple 24...c3 as White can't easily get at my knight. If he tries something like 25.Bb5 Nb6 26.Nf3 Rfc8 27.a3 Nd5 and I'm set] 25.Ng4 Nd3 [25...Rb8 26.b5 h5 27.Ne3 c3 28.Nd1 Nxd1 29.Rfxd1 f6 and my dark square bishop is better than his terrible light squared bishop, which does nothing except keep a rook out of c3] 26.Rxc4 Rxc4 27.Bxc4 Nxb4 It's pretty equal here without my c-pawn 28.a4 Rc8 29.Ne3 a5 [I could've tried my 29...Bf8 move here.] 30.g4 [30.Kf2] 30...Bf8 31.Rc1 Bc5 32.Kf2 Nd3+
Aagaard says you should record three things you learn from each game...instead of each game I'm going to do for each session
1) Aagard has said in his books to focus on improving your worst piece. For the longest time, my worst piece was my dark squared bishop and (funnilly enough) once I got it activated I won the game. So I need to consciously involved improving my worst piece versus forcing play like what I was doing with my knight in the second game
2) I need to work harder over the board and calculate. In the first game I just kinda closed my eyes, instead of sitting there for 5 minutes. Also I resigned when it wasn't even lost. I need to make myself calculate. General principles can only do so much for you
3) If I'm going to do this, I need to take it more seriously. Yes I have a lot of stress at work but neither one of us took more than 15 minutes per and I even wanted to skip the whole session and play blitz. These games are the only serious games i get per week, so I should take them seriously. 0-1
October G30 Owen Sound (3), 18.10.2006
D45 - Semi-Slav
This was just at the end of the Kramnik-Topalov match so I wanted to try the move order that they did 1.c4 c6 2.d4 [I did think about turning it into a Panov, but next time maybe 2.e4 ] 2...d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 a la Kramnik-Topalov 4...e6 5.Nc3 Bb4?! This is just a bad Nimzo I would think (...c5 in two moves instead of one). Grob, Szabo, Ratmir Kholmov and Hubner have all played it. 6.Qc2 [Apparently 6.Bd3 is the closest to a "book" move but I was playing my nimzo line. I guess I would get e4 in two moves instead of one here though)] 6...dxc4 [6...Nbd7 is the "book" move as well] 7.Bxc4 0-0 8.0-0 Bxc3 I'm very happy here. Not only did he let me develop my light squared bishop. He voluntarily gave up the bishop pair as well 9.Qxc3 b6 10.Rd1 c5 11.Bd3 Nc6 12.dxc5 Ne4 13.Qc2 Nb4 14.Bxe4 [14.Qc4! is stronger 14...Nxd3 (14...bxc5 15.Qxe4 Nxd3 16.Rxd3) 15.Rxd3] 14...Nxc2 15.Rxd8 Rxd8 16.Bxc2 Bb7 17.cxb6 axb6 18.e4? Not the greatest, but it just drops a pawn [18.Kf1 was better ;
18.Ne1 Rac8 19.f3 Rd6 20.Kf2] 18...Bxe4 [18...Bxe4 and I resign ??? 19.Bb3 was not great, but I still have two pieces for the rook. Not fabulous by me] 0-1
second game of the night...
CL - C
October G30 Owen Sound (4), 18.10.2006
A07 - King's Indian Attack
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 [I half expected 2.b3 after advising him on ways to stop 1. ...e5 last week. We played this line up to move 7 in our "match"] 2...g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.0-0 c6 5.d3 d5 6.Nbd2 0-0 7.e4 Bg4 [In the previous game I played 7...dxe4 and this was good enough] 8.Qe1 Nbd7 9.e5 Bxf3?? [9...Ne8 was better] 10.Nxf3?? [10.exf6 Bxg2 11.fxg7 Bxf1 doesn't work be because 12.gxf8Q+ is check so he's up a piece] 10...Ng4 11.d4 e6 Now I'm just playing a funky Caro-Kann Advanced 12.h3 Nh6 13.Nh2 Qb6 [I wanted to stop him from developing quite so easily but maybe reentering my knight into the game with 13...Nf5 was better] 14.c3 c5 15.Be3 Nf5 16.dxc5? [16.Nf3] 16...Nxc5 [16...Qxb2 and lots is gonna fall 17.Ng4 Nxe3] 17.b4? [This was weak, making the c-pawn a backwards pawn and a big target for me 17.f4 protecting the hanging e-pawn may have been better 17...Nxe3 18.Qxe3 Rac8] 17...Nxe3 18.Qxe3 Na4 19.Qxb6 Nxb6 20.f4 Rac8 21.Rac1 Na4?! [21...f6 to try and activate the bishop;
or 21...Rc4 to try and double up on the c-pawn and then eventually win it] 22.c4! dxc4 [22...Rxc4 23.Rxc4 dxc4 24.Bxb7 f6 (24...Rb8!? 25.Bc6 Rxb4 26.a3 Rb3 27.Bxa4 Rxg3+ 28.Kf2 Rxa3) ] 23.Bxb7 Rc7 [23...Rb8 24.Bc6 Rxb4 25.a3 Rb3 26.Bxa4 Rxg3+ 27.Kf2 Rxa3 28.Rxc4 Rxh3 is similar to the line above] 24.Ba6 Nb2 [The simple 24...c3 as White can't easily get at my knight. If he tries something like 25.Bb5 Nb6 26.Nf3 Rfc8 27.a3 Nd5 and I'm set] 25.Ng4 Nd3 [25...Rb8 26.b5 h5 27.Ne3 c3 28.Nd1 Nxd1 29.Rfxd1 f6 and my dark square bishop is better than his terrible light squared bishop, which does nothing except keep a rook out of c3] 26.Rxc4 Rxc4 27.Bxc4 Nxb4 It's pretty equal here without my c-pawn 28.a4 Rc8 29.Ne3 a5 [I could've tried my 29...Bf8 move here.] 30.g4 [30.Kf2] 30...Bf8 31.Rc1 Bc5 32.Kf2 Nd3+
Aagaard says you should record three things you learn from each game...instead of each game I'm going to do for each session
1) Aagard has said in his books to focus on improving your worst piece. For the longest time, my worst piece was my dark squared bishop and (funnilly enough) once I got it activated I won the game. So I need to consciously involved improving my worst piece versus forcing play like what I was doing with my knight in the second game
2) I need to work harder over the board and calculate. In the first game I just kinda closed my eyes, instead of sitting there for 5 minutes. Also I resigned when it wasn't even lost. I need to make myself calculate. General principles can only do so much for you
3) If I'm going to do this, I need to take it more seriously. Yes I have a lot of stress at work but neither one of us took more than 15 minutes per and I even wanted to skip the whole session and play blitz. These games are the only serious games i get per week, so I should take them seriously. 0-1
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
match 1½-½
CS - LC
Match Owen Sound, ON (1), 31.05.2006
B23 - Sicilian : Grand Prix Attack
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 Nc6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bc4 Bg7 6.0-0 a6 7.a4 Bg4 8.Bxf7+ Kxf7 9.Ng5+ Ke8 10.Qxg4 Nd4 11.Nd5 [11.Nxh7! Rxh7 12.Qxg6+] 11...Nf6 This is where the game started going downhill. I should've started thinking a little bit here. previously i was just looking ways to mate him or win material. I missed that he actually had a few threats. 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 [I thought he could only play 12...exf6 13.Ne6 Nxe6 14.Qxe6+ Qe7 15.Qxe7+ Kxe7 because after 13.c3 he has to retreat his knight and I'm better] 13.c3 [13.Nxh7 was an interesting try again 13...Rxh7 14.Qxg6+ Rf7 15.e5 Bh8 (15...dxe5 16.fxe5 Bxe5) 16.e6] but I missed he could keep on threatening 13...h5 14.Qh3? [I wanted to keep the pressure up missing that 14.Qh3 dropped a pawn 14.Qd1 forced him to retreat or play 14...Bxg5 (14...Nc6) 15.fxg5 Ne6 in either case i can develop with d3 and have a much better position] 14...Ne2+ 15.Kh1 Nxf4 16.Rxf4 Bxg5 17.Rf3 [17.Rf1 would have gave me more opportunities to keep the queens on] 17...Qd7 18.Qg3 Qg4 19.Qxg4 [If I would've seen 20. ...Bf4, I probably would've played 19.Qe1 ] 19...hxg4 20.Rg3? [20.Rf1] 20...Bf4 21.Rxg4 Bxh2 22.g3 I thought that giving up the g-pawn and being able to go to g2 would have been better [22.d3 may have been okay 22...Be5+ (22...Bg3+ 23.Kg1) 23.Kg1;
22.Rxg6 Kf7 23.Rg4] 22...Bxg3+ 23.Kg2 Be5 24.Rxg6 Kf7 25.Rg4 Rag8 26.Rxg8 Rxg8+ 27.Kf3 [27.Kf2 c4 wouldn't have changed much] 27...Rg3+ 28.Ke2 c4! A good move by him. Now it's tough for me to get any development 29.b3 cxb3 30.Kf2 Trying to threaten a tactic with d4 [30.Ra3 trying to pick off the b-pawn was likely better] 30...Rh3 31.Rb1?? Now for the 10th time I'm lost again 31...Rh1 32.Ke2 Bf4 [32...b2 looks strong] 33.Ra1 a5? [He was up a bunch and I was running out of moves. 33...b6 34.Bb2 Rh2+ 35.Kf3 looked good] 34.Bb2 Rh2+ 35.Kf3 Bxd2 36.Kg3 Bf4+ 37.Kxf4 Rxb2 38.Ke3 Rc2 39.Kd3 Ke6 40.Rb1 Now I thought I had swindle chances 40...Ra2 41.Rxb3 Rxa4 42.Rxb7 Ra3 43.Kd4 a4 44.Rb5 Rb3 45.Ra5 Ra3 46.e5 dxe5+ 47.Rxe5+ Kd6 48.Rd5+ Kc6 49.Rc5+ Kd6 50.Rd5+= He had no idea how to try and win this so he offered a draw. After this I realized I should try and play simpler next time. ½-½
CL - CS
Match Owen Sound, ON (2), 31.05.2006
A07 - King's Indian Attack
My goal this game was to grab a pawn and slowly dominate. 1.Nf3 I was kinda surprised by this, but I figured he'd go for something straightforward. I was kinda hoping for 1.e4 though 1...Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.0-0 0-0 5.d3 [I think d3 is too slow in this position. I realize that he wants to play the King's Indian attack and play e4 in one move but 5.c4 ;
or 5.d4 would be better. He gives away the advantage of the first move here.] 5...d5 6.Nbd2 c6 [I should have tried to take control with 6...c5. The text was okay but too passive when I need to win] 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4 Bg4 [8...Nbd7] 9.Re1 Nbd7 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Ne5 [11...Qc7 developing the pieces was tried in Planinc-Vukic YUG-ch 1972 ] 12.Qe2 Qb6 Trying a double-attack on b3 and on f3 13.b3 [13.Nb3 was better...the e-pawn has enough protectors] 13...Nh5! Trying to open up the diagonal and hit the g-pawn 14.Rb1 [14.Nf1 Nf3+ 15.Bxf3 Bxa1 16.Bxh5 gxh5 17.Be3 Bd4 18.Qxh5 may not have been "better" but it was definitely messier and that's worth something in my books ;)] 14...Nxg3 15.Qe3 Qxe3 With queens off, I'm happy with this position, even not being up a pawn 16.Rxe3 Nh5 17.Bb2 Nf4 18.Nf3 Nxf3+ 19.Rxf3 Nxg2 [Maybe 19...Bxb2 was better as the king doesn't necessarily gain a square, but I wanted to get the bishops off. I guess though if 20.Rxb2 e5 looks okay as that is a great outpost] 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.Kxg2 Rfd8 22.Rd3 Rxd3 23.cxd3 Rd8 24.Rd1 e5 25.Kg3 f5 26.exf5 gxf5 27.f4? Making things tough on himself. 27...e4 28.d4 [28.Kf2] 28...Kf6 29.b4 a5 [29...Ke6] 30.a3 [30.bxa5 c5 31.d5 c4 32.Rb1 Rxd5 33.Rxb7 Rxa5 34.Rxh7 Rxa2 looks tougher for me. Sure i'm still winning, but not as easily] 30...axb4 31.axb4 Ke6 32.Kf2 b6 33.Ke3 [I thought maybe 33.Ke2 but even still it's not any better after 33...c5 34.bxc5 bxc5 35.dxc5 Rxd1 36.Kxd1 Kd5] 33...c5 34.bxc5 bxc5 35.d5+ [35.Rd2 cxd4+ 36.Rxd4 Rxd4 37.Kxd4 was possibly better but still lost] 35...Rxd5 36.Rxd5 Kxd5 37.h4 c4 38.h5 c3 39.h6 Kc4 40.Ke2 Kb3 41.Ke3 c2 42.Kd4 c1Q 43.Ke5 Qc5+ 44.Kf6 Qd6+ 45.Kg5 Qg6+ 1½/2 i should get enough points to get to 1500. 0-1
Match Owen Sound, ON (1), 31.05.2006
B23 - Sicilian : Grand Prix Attack
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 Nc6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bc4 Bg7 6.0-0 a6 7.a4 Bg4 8.Bxf7+ Kxf7 9.Ng5+ Ke8 10.Qxg4 Nd4 11.Nd5 [11.Nxh7! Rxh7 12.Qxg6+] 11...Nf6 This is where the game started going downhill. I should've started thinking a little bit here. previously i was just looking ways to mate him or win material. I missed that he actually had a few threats. 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 [I thought he could only play 12...exf6 13.Ne6 Nxe6 14.Qxe6+ Qe7 15.Qxe7+ Kxe7 because after 13.c3 he has to retreat his knight and I'm better] 13.c3 [13.Nxh7 was an interesting try again 13...Rxh7 14.Qxg6+ Rf7 15.e5 Bh8 (15...dxe5 16.fxe5 Bxe5) 16.e6] but I missed he could keep on threatening 13...h5 14.Qh3? [I wanted to keep the pressure up missing that 14.Qh3 dropped a pawn 14.Qd1 forced him to retreat or play 14...Bxg5 (14...Nc6) 15.fxg5 Ne6 in either case i can develop with d3 and have a much better position] 14...Ne2+ 15.Kh1 Nxf4 16.Rxf4 Bxg5 17.Rf3 [17.Rf1 would have gave me more opportunities to keep the queens on] 17...Qd7 18.Qg3 Qg4 19.Qxg4 [If I would've seen 20. ...Bf4, I probably would've played 19.Qe1 ] 19...hxg4 20.Rg3? [20.Rf1] 20...Bf4 21.Rxg4 Bxh2 22.g3 I thought that giving up the g-pawn and being able to go to g2 would have been better [22.d3 may have been okay 22...Be5+ (22...Bg3+ 23.Kg1) 23.Kg1;
22.Rxg6 Kf7 23.Rg4] 22...Bxg3+ 23.Kg2 Be5 24.Rxg6 Kf7 25.Rg4 Rag8 26.Rxg8 Rxg8+ 27.Kf3 [27.Kf2 c4 wouldn't have changed much] 27...Rg3+ 28.Ke2 c4! A good move by him. Now it's tough for me to get any development 29.b3 cxb3 30.Kf2 Trying to threaten a tactic with d4 [30.Ra3 trying to pick off the b-pawn was likely better] 30...Rh3 31.Rb1?? Now for the 10th time I'm lost again 31...Rh1 32.Ke2 Bf4 [32...b2 looks strong] 33.Ra1 a5? [He was up a bunch and I was running out of moves. 33...b6 34.Bb2 Rh2+ 35.Kf3 looked good] 34.Bb2 Rh2+ 35.Kf3 Bxd2 36.Kg3 Bf4+ 37.Kxf4 Rxb2 38.Ke3 Rc2 39.Kd3 Ke6 40.Rb1 Now I thought I had swindle chances 40...Ra2 41.Rxb3 Rxa4 42.Rxb7 Ra3 43.Kd4 a4 44.Rb5 Rb3 45.Ra5 Ra3 46.e5 dxe5+ 47.Rxe5+ Kd6 48.Rd5+ Kc6 49.Rc5+ Kd6 50.Rd5+= He had no idea how to try and win this so he offered a draw. After this I realized I should try and play simpler next time. ½-½
CL - CS
Match Owen Sound, ON (2), 31.05.2006
A07 - King's Indian Attack
My goal this game was to grab a pawn and slowly dominate. 1.Nf3 I was kinda surprised by this, but I figured he'd go for something straightforward. I was kinda hoping for 1.e4 though 1...Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.0-0 0-0 5.d3 [I think d3 is too slow in this position. I realize that he wants to play the King's Indian attack and play e4 in one move but 5.c4 ;
or 5.d4 would be better. He gives away the advantage of the first move here.] 5...d5 6.Nbd2 c6 [I should have tried to take control with 6...c5. The text was okay but too passive when I need to win] 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4 Bg4 [8...Nbd7] 9.Re1 Nbd7 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Ne5 [11...Qc7 developing the pieces was tried in Planinc-Vukic YUG-ch 1972 ] 12.Qe2 Qb6 Trying a double-attack on b3 and on f3 13.b3 [13.Nb3 was better...the e-pawn has enough protectors] 13...Nh5! Trying to open up the diagonal and hit the g-pawn 14.Rb1 [14.Nf1 Nf3+ 15.Bxf3 Bxa1 16.Bxh5 gxh5 17.Be3 Bd4 18.Qxh5 may not have been "better" but it was definitely messier and that's worth something in my books ;)] 14...Nxg3 15.Qe3 Qxe3 With queens off, I'm happy with this position, even not being up a pawn 16.Rxe3 Nh5 17.Bb2 Nf4 18.Nf3 Nxf3+ 19.Rxf3 Nxg2 [Maybe 19...Bxb2 was better as the king doesn't necessarily gain a square, but I wanted to get the bishops off. I guess though if 20.Rxb2 e5 looks okay as that is a great outpost] 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.Kxg2 Rfd8 22.Rd3 Rxd3 23.cxd3 Rd8 24.Rd1 e5 25.Kg3 f5 26.exf5 gxf5 27.f4? Making things tough on himself. 27...e4 28.d4 [28.Kf2] 28...Kf6 29.b4 a5 [29...Ke6] 30.a3 [30.bxa5 c5 31.d5 c4 32.Rb1 Rxd5 33.Rxb7 Rxa5 34.Rxh7 Rxa2 looks tougher for me. Sure i'm still winning, but not as easily] 30...axb4 31.axb4 Ke6 32.Kf2 b6 33.Ke3 [I thought maybe 33.Ke2 but even still it's not any better after 33...c5 34.bxc5 bxc5 35.dxc5 Rxd1 36.Kxd1 Kd5] 33...c5 34.bxc5 bxc5 35.d5+ [35.Rd2 cxd4+ 36.Rxd4 Rxd4 37.Kxd4 was possibly better but still lost] 35...Rxd5 36.Rxd5 Kxd5 37.h4 c4 38.h5 c3 39.h6 Kc4 40.Ke2 Kb3 41.Ke3 c2 42.Kd4 c1Q 43.Ke5 Qc5+ 44.Kf6 Qd6+ 45.Kg5 Qg6+ 1½/2 i should get enough points to get to 1500. 0-1
Friday, December 24, 2004
2004 in review (2)
and of course my win v. JM would go in my good games from the year
ironically, all my "good games" were with white, and 3/4 i opened 1.f4. interesting :) and all my "bad games" were with black. and here i was always worried about my white openings instead of black :)
now for the bad games
COS - CS
Owen Sound Spring (4) 2004
B53 - Sicilian, Chekhover variation
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 a6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Nc3 g6 9. Bg5 Bg7 10. Qd3 O-O 11. Rad1 Bb7 12. e5 dxe5 13. Qxd8 Rfxd8 14. Rxd8+ Rxd8 15. Nxe5 {Black to move and lose} 15... Rd2 ?? 16. Bxd2 1-0
terrible
another bad one was against "fridge" who is rated about 1000...even though i won i played terribly
Fridge - CS
Owen Sound Summer (1.2)
A07 - Réti
1. g3 Nf6 2. Bg2 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. d3 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. b3 Qa5 8. Bb2 Ne8 9. Qd2 Bg4 10. e4 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 d4 12. Nb1 Qxd2 13. Nxd2 c5 14. Rac1 e5 15. Nc4 b5 16. Nd2 Nd6 17. c3 f5 18. cxd4 cxd4 19. Rc2 Nd7 20. exf5 Nxf5 21. Bxa8 Rxa8 22. Rfc1 Nb6 23. Ba3 h6 24. Bc5 Nd5 25. f4 Nc3 26. Nf3 exf4 27. gxf4 Re8 28. Bxd4 Ne2+ 29. Rxe2 Rxe2 30. Rc8+ Kh7 31. Rc7 Nxd4 32. Nxd4 Re3 33. f5 Kg8 34. Ne6 Be5 35. Rc8+ Kf7 36. Rf8+ Ke7 37. Rg8 gxf5 38. Nc5 Bd4 39. Rg7+ Bxg7 0-1
my final terrible game was against TK at the london tournament (see below). other than these three games my play was relatively consistent in 2004. here's hoping i crack 1600 in 2005. there's two ways i can do that. one, play well enough to gain enough points to 1600 at kitchener (not likely). work on stuff and go down to london in the summer or something and get them (more likely). hans jung said in en passant that people should play 100 tournament games a year. i played 26 this year and my all time high was 39. i need to play more often.
merry christmas everyone.
ironically, all my "good games" were with white, and 3/4 i opened 1.f4. interesting :) and all my "bad games" were with black. and here i was always worried about my white openings instead of black :)
now for the bad games
COS - CS
Owen Sound Spring (4) 2004
B53 - Sicilian, Chekhover variation
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 a6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Nc3 g6 9. Bg5 Bg7 10. Qd3 O-O 11. Rad1 Bb7 12. e5 dxe5 13. Qxd8 Rfxd8 14. Rxd8+ Rxd8 15. Nxe5 {Black to move and lose} 15... Rd2 ?? 16. Bxd2 1-0
terrible
another bad one was against "fridge" who is rated about 1000...even though i won i played terribly
Fridge - CS
Owen Sound Summer (1.2)
A07 - Réti
1. g3 Nf6 2. Bg2 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. d3 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. b3 Qa5 8. Bb2 Ne8 9. Qd2 Bg4 10. e4 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 d4 12. Nb1 Qxd2 13. Nxd2 c5 14. Rac1 e5 15. Nc4 b5 16. Nd2 Nd6 17. c3 f5 18. cxd4 cxd4 19. Rc2 Nd7 20. exf5 Nxf5 21. Bxa8 Rxa8 22. Rfc1 Nb6 23. Ba3 h6 24. Bc5 Nd5 25. f4 Nc3 26. Nf3 exf4 27. gxf4 Re8 28. Bxd4 Ne2+ 29. Rxe2 Rxe2 30. Rc8+ Kh7 31. Rc7 Nxd4 32. Nxd4 Re3 33. f5 Kg8 34. Ne6 Be5 35. Rc8+ Kf7 36. Rf8+ Ke7 37. Rg8 gxf5 38. Nc5 Bd4 39. Rg7+ Bxg7 0-1
my final terrible game was against TK at the london tournament (see below). other than these three games my play was relatively consistent in 2004. here's hoping i crack 1600 in 2005. there's two ways i can do that. one, play well enough to gain enough points to 1600 at kitchener (not likely). work on stuff and go down to london in the summer or something and get them (more likely). hans jung said in en passant that people should play 100 tournament games a year. i played 26 this year and my all time high was 39. i need to play more often.
merry christmas everyone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
