2nd Official Free For All Chess Tournament- Green & Gold= Champion (1 Viewer)

[timschochet]

Anticipating timschochet vs. timschochet2

That won't happen.

 

[UniAlias]

Tim let me win :(

 

[pizzatyme]

I'm headed to Vegas this morning so will be out of pocket until Tuesday. Please bear with me.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Nysfl and I are quickly approaching endgame.

 

[rascal]

Draw for bogart and I. :kickscan:

 

[Bogart]

Draw for bogart and I. :kickscan:

 

[Psychopav]

AAA, if you ended up making a move last night or this morning, I apologize - I left the device home on accident. I'll check back in this afternoon.

 

[nysfl2]

Nysfl and I are quickly approaching endgame.

Ya - tasker will almost certainly finish me off tonight

 

[SacramentoBob]

Nysfl and I are quickly approaching endgame.

Ya - tasker will almost certainly finish me off tonight

NTTAWWT

 

[SacramentoBob]

Just looked over the game tim played with Otello. That king and pawn endgame was crazy, no way I would've traded down into that.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Steve Tasker def. Nysfl 0-1

Very evenly matched game. You had me scared ####less after 17. Qd2. I think we may have had a potential drawn position if you had retreated the queen rather than capturing with 30. cxd3. I would've struggled mightily to promote the pawn. I also wonder if you may have been able to win or force a draw with 23. Qd4+ rather than 23. f3. Once I was able to push 23. ... d4, I was able to get the rook in there.

All in all a fun game. Really had me on edge for awhile.

 

[timschochet]

Just looked over the game tim played with Otello. That king and pawn endgame was crazy, no way I would've traded down into that.

So you disagree with me; you don't think it's a win for him after rook takes rook?

 

[Steve Tasker]

Tim>can you post the game in just PGN without comments so I can plug it into a viewer?

 

[timschochet]

Tim>can you post the game in just PGN without comments so I can plug it into a viewer?

Sure

1. e4 d5

2. exd5 Qxd5

3. Nc3 Qa5

4. d4 Nf6

5. Nf3 Bf5

6. Ne5 c6

7. Bc4 e6

8. g4 Bg6

9. h4 Nbd7

10. Nxd7 Nxd7

11. h5 Be4

12. Rh3 h6

13. Bd2 Bh7

14. Qe2 Qc7

15. d5 cxd5

16. Nxd5 Qb8

17. Bf4 Bd6

18. Bxd6 Qxd6

19. 0-0-0 Qd8

20. Bb5 0-0

21. Ne7+ Kh8

22. Bxd7 Qf4+

23. Kb1 Qf6

24. Nd5 exd5

25. Rxd5 Rad8

26. Rd1 Qb6

27. Bf5 Rxd1+

28. Qxd1 Bxf5

29. gxf5 Qxf2

30. Rf3 Qf4

31. f6 gxf6

32. Rf1 Re8

33. b3 Qg3

34. Kb2 Qe5

35. Ka3 Qe2

36. Qd7 Qe7+

37. Qxe7+ Rxe7

38. Rxf6 Kg7

39. Rd6 f6

40. c4 Kf7

41. Kb4 Re5

42. Rd7+ Re7

43. Rxe7+ Kxe7.

44. Kc3 Ke6

45. Kd4 Kf5

46. Ke3 Kg4

47. a4 a5

48. c5 f5

49. b4 f4+

50. Kf2 axb4

51. c6 bxc6

52. a5 b3

53. a6 b2

54. a7 b1=Q

55. a8=Q Qb6+

56. Ke2 Qe3+

57. Kd1 Qd3+

58. Ke1 Qc3+

59. Kd1 Kxh5

60. Qe8+ Kg5

61. Qe7+ Qf6

62. Qc5+ Kg6

63. Qc2+ Kf7

64. Qa2+ Qe6

65. Qa7+ Kf6

66. Qd4+ Ke7

67. Qa7+ Qd7+

0-1

 

[nysfl2]

Steve Tasker def. Nysfl 0-1

Very evenly matched game. You had me scared ####less after 17. Qd2. I think we may have had a potential drawn position if you had retreated the queen rather than capturing with 30. cxd3. I would've struggled mightily to promote the pawn. I also wonder if you may have been able to win or force a draw with 23. Qd4+ rather than 23. f3. Once I was able to push 23. ... d4, I was able to get the rook in there.

All in all a fun game. Really had me on edge for awhile.

Confirmed. You never gave me an opening to attack, and I don't have the patience for a slow defensive showdown.

I'm going to go back to look at those moves and hopefully learn something. Obviously, the big swing was when I attacked with my bishop and you countered with the knight trade, but I probably missed some other opportunities.

Tasker's going to be a tough out.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Steve Tasker def. Nysfl 0-1

Very evenly matched game. You had me scared ####less after 17. Qd2. I think we may have had a potential drawn position if you had retreated the queen rather than capturing with 30. cxd3. I would've struggled mightily to promote the pawn. I also wonder if you may have been able to win or force a draw with 23. Qd4+ rather than 23. f3. Once I was able to push 23. ... d4, I was able to get the rook in there.

All in all a fun game. Really had me on edge for awhile.

Confirmed. You never gave me an opening to attack, and I don't have the patience for a slow defensive showdown.

I'm going to go back to look at those moves and hopefully learn something. Obviously, the big swing was when I attacked with my bishop and you countered with the knight trade, but I probably missed some other opportunities.

Tasker's going to be a tough out.

I'm curious what you were thinking with 15. Nxc6 as well. Not that it was a bad move, but I thought you had pretty much full control of the center with the knight posted there. I couldn't really attack it.

 

[timschochet]

Steve Tasker def. Nysfl 0-1

Very evenly matched game. You had me scared ####less after 17. Qd2. I think we may have had a potential drawn position if you had retreated the queen rather than capturing with 30. cxd3. I would've struggled mightily to promote the pawn. I also wonder if you may have been able to win or force a draw with 23. Qd4+ rather than 23. f3. Once I was able to push 23. ... d4, I was able to get the rook in there.

All in all a fun game. Really had me on edge for awhile.

Confirmed. You never gave me an opening to attack, and I don't have the patience for a slow defensive showdown.

I'm going to go back to look at those moves and hopefully learn something. Obviously, the big swing was when I attacked with my bishop and you countered with the knight trade, but I probably missed some other opportunities.

Tasker's going to be a tough out.

I'm curious what you were thinking with 15. Nxc6 as well. Not that it was a bad move, but I thought you had pretty much full control of the center with the knight posted there. I couldn't really attack it.

I'd be interested in looking at this game.

 

[Psychopav]

Batteries and I managed to finish our game. I won.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Steve Tasker def. Nysfl 0-1

Very evenly matched game. You had me scared ####less after 17. Qd2. I think we may have had a potential drawn position if you had retreated the queen rather than capturing with 30. cxd3. I would've struggled mightily to promote the pawn. I also wonder if you may have been able to win or force a draw with 23. Qd4+ rather than 23. f3. Once I was able to push 23. ... d4, I was able to get the rook in there.

All in all a fun game. Really had me on edge for awhile.

Confirmed. You never gave me an opening to attack, and I don't have the patience for a slow defensive showdown.

I'm going to go back to look at those moves and hopefully learn something. Obviously, the big swing was when I attacked with my bishop and you countered with the knight trade, but I probably missed some other opportunities.

Tasker's going to be a tough out.

I'm curious what you were thinking with 15. Nxc6 as well. Not that it was a bad move, but I thought you had pretty much full control of the center with the knight posted there. I couldn't really attack it.

I'd be interested in looking at this game.

Spoiler

1. e4 e6 2. Bc4 c5 3. Nc3 a6 4. d3 b5 5. Bb3 Bb7 6. a4 b4 7. Nce2 Nc6 8. Nf3 g6

9. O-O Bg7 10. d4 cxd4 11. Nexd4 Nge7 12. Re1 O-O 13. h3 d5 14. e5 Qc7 15. Nxc6

Nxc6 16. Bf4 a5 17. Qd2 Rfd8 18. Rac1 Rac8 19. Bh6 Nxe5 20. Bxg7 Nxf3+ 21. gxf3

Kxg7 22. f4 Qc6 23. f3 d4 24. Rf1 Ba6 25. Rf2 Bc4 26. Bxc4 Qxc4 27. b3 Qd5 28.

Rd1 Rc3 29. Kg2 d3 30. cxd3 Qxb3 31. Qa2 Qxd1 32. Qe2 Qxe2 33. Rxe2 Rdxd3 34.

Rf2 Kf6 35. Kg3 Kf5 36. h4 0-1

 

[timschochet]

OK, quick thoughts:

1. Like Steve. I don't get 15. Nxd6. The knight's in a fine position there. I would have continued with development- Bf4 or Bg5, followed by Rc1 with the idea of c4.

2. Bh6 was a mistake because it loses the pawn and creates a terrible king side pawn structure. If you want to play it, maybe play Kh1 first?

3. Bc4 (Black's 25th move)- just a beautiful move. I love simplicity in chess- wish I could do it myself. Here you recognize that your position is superior, so rather than attempt some dazzling kingside attack, you take away his most dangerous piece and start trading pieces which will surely force a winning endgame.

4. Love d3 as well. Beautiful move.

Great game by Tasker, but it was pretty much over after Bh6.

 

[timschochet]

Steve Tasker def. Nysfl 0-1

Very evenly matched game. You had me scared ####less after 17. Qd2. I think we may have had a potential drawn position if you had retreated the queen rather than capturing with 30. cxd3. I would've struggled mightily to promote the pawn. I also wonder if you may have been able to win or force a draw with 23. Qd4+ rather than 23. f3. Once I was able to push 23. ... d4, I was able to get the rook in there.

All in all a fun game. Really had me on edge for awhile.

Regarding the bolded, I doubt it.

 

[Mr. Pickles]

Tim>can you post the game in just PGN without comments so I can plug it into a viewer?

Sure

1. e4 d5

2. exd5 Qxd5

3. Nc3 Qa5

4. d4 Nf6

5. Nf3 Bf5

6. Ne5 c6

7. Bc4 e6

8. g4 Bg6

9. h4 Nbd7

10. Nxd7 Nxd7

11. h4 Be4

12. Rh3 h6

13. Bd2 Bh7

14. Qe2 Qc7

15. d5 cxd5

16. Nxd5 Qb8

17. Bf4 Bd6

18. Bxd6 Qxd6

19. 0-0-0 Qd8

20. Bb5 0-0

21. Ne7+ Kh8

22. Bxd7 Qf4+

23. Kb1 Qf6

24. Nd5 exd5

25. Rxd5 Rad8

26. Rd1 Qb6

27. Bf5 Rxd1+

28. Qxd1 Bxf5

29. gxf5 Qxf2

30. Rf3 Qf4

31. f6 gxf6

32. Rf1 Re8

33. b3 Qg3

34. Kb2 Qe5

35. Ka3 Qe2

36. Qd7 Qe7+

37. Qxe7+ Rxe7

38. Rxf6 Kg7

39. Rd6 f6

40. c4 Kf7

41. Kb4 Re5

42. Rd7+ Re7

43. Rxe7+ Kxe7.

44. Kc3 Ke6

45. Kd4 Kf5

46. Ke3 Kg4

47. a4 a5

48. c5 f5

49. b4 f4+

50. Kf2 axb4

51. c6 bxc6

52. a5 b3

53. a6 b2

54. a7 b1=Q

55. a8=Q Qb6+

56. Ke2 Qe3+

57. Kd1 Qd3+

58. Ke1 Qc3+

59. Kd1 Kxh5

60. Qe8+ Kg5

61. Qe7+ Qf6

62. Qc5+ Kg6

63. Qc2+ Kf7

64. Qa2+ Qe6

65. Qa7+ Kf6

66. Qd4+ Ke7

67. Qa7+ Qd7+

0-1

Gotta be some mistakes in this notation.

 

[timschochet]

Tim>can you post the game in just PGN without comments so I can plug it into a viewer?

Sure

1. e4 d5

2. exd5 Qxd5

3. Nc3 Qa5

4. d4 Nf6

5. Nf3 Bf5

6. Ne5 c6

7. Bc4 e6

8. g4 Bg6

9. h4 Nbd7

10. Nxd7 Nxd7

11. h4 Be4

12. Rh3 h6

13. Bd2 Bh7

14. Qe2 Qc7

15. d5 cxd5

16. Nxd5 Qb8

17. Bf4 Bd6

18. Bxd6 Qxd6

19. 0-0-0 Qd8

20. Bb5 0-0

21. Ne7+ Kh8

22. Bxd7 Qf4+

23. Kb1 Qf6

24. Nd5 exd5

25. Rxd5 Rad8

26. Rd1 Qb6

27. Bf5 Rxd1+

28. Qxd1 Bxf5

29. gxf5 Qxf2

30. Rf3 Qf4

31. f6 gxf6

32. Rf1 Re8

33. b3 Qg3

34. Kb2 Qe5

35. Ka3 Qe2

36. Qd7 Qe7+

37. Qxe7+ Rxe7

38. Rxf6 Kg7

39. Rd6 f6

40. c4 Kf7

41. Kb4 Re5

42. Rd7+ Re7

43. Rxe7+ Kxe7.

44. Kc3 Ke6

45. Kd4 Kf5

46. Ke3 Kg4

47. a4 a5

48. c5 f5

49. b4 f4+

50. Kf2 axb4

51. c6 bxc6

52. a5 b3

53. a6 b2

54. a7 b1=Q

55. a8=Q Qb6+

56. Ke2 Qe3+

57. Kd1 Qd3+

58. Ke1 Qc3+

59. Kd1 Kxh5

60. Qe8+ Kg5

61. Qe7+ Qf6

62. Qc5+ Kg6

63. Qc2+ Kf7

64. Qa2+ Qe6

65. Qa7+ Kf6

66. Qd4+ Ke7

67. Qa7+ Qd7+

0-1

Gotta be some mistakes in this notation.

Where? I thought I copied it right.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Steve Tasker def. Nysfl 0-1

Very evenly matched game. You had me scared ####less after 17. Qd2. I think we may have had a potential drawn position if you had retreated the queen rather than capturing with 30. cxd3. I would've struggled mightily to promote the pawn. I also wonder if you may have been able to win or force a draw with 23. Qd4+ rather than 23. f3. Once I was able to push 23. ... d4, I was able to get the rook in there.

All in all a fun game. Really had me on edge for awhile.

Regarding the bolded, I doubt it.

Yeah, I actually just spent a few minutes really looking at it and I think I'm okay there. I didn't really consider it too highly when I played d3, but I remember thinking after playing the move that I failed to consider the implications of a queen retreat.

 

[Mr. Pickles]

Tim>can you post the game in just PGN without comments so I can plug it into a viewer?

Sure

1. e4 d5

2. exd5 Qxd5

3. Nc3 Qa5

4. d4 Nf6

5. Nf3 Bf5

6. Ne5 c6

7. Bc4 e6

8. g4 Bg6

9. h4 Nbd7

10. Nxd7 Nxd7

11. h4 Be4

12. Rh3 h6

13. Bd2 Bh7

14. Qe2 Qc7

15. d5 cxd5

16. Nxd5 Qb8

17. Bf4 Bd6

18. Bxd6 Qxd6

19. 0-0-0 Qd8

20. Bb5 0-0

21. Ne7+ Kh8

22. Bxd7 Qf4+

23. Kb1 Qf6

24. Nd5 exd5

25. Rxd5 Rad8

26. Rd1 Qb6

27. Bf5 Rxd1+

28. Qxd1 Bxf5

29. gxf5 Qxf2

30. Rf3 Qf4

31. f6 gxf6

32. Rf1 Re8

33. b3 Qg3

34. Kb2 Qe5

35. Ka3 Qe2

36. Qd7 Qe7+

37. Qxe7+ Rxe7

38. Rxf6 Kg7

39. Rd6 f6

40. c4 Kf7

41. Kb4 Re5

42. Rd7+ Re7

43. Rxe7+ Kxe7.

44. Kc3 Ke6

45. Kd4 Kf5

46. Ke3 Kg4

47. a4 a5

48. c5 f5

49. b4 f4+

50. Kf2 axb4

51. c6 bxc6

52. a5 b3

53. a6 b2

54. a7 b1=Q

55. a8=Q Qb6+

56. Ke2 Qe3+

57. Kd1 Qd3+

58. Ke1 Qc3+

59. Kd1 Kxh5

60. Qe8+ Kg5

61. Qe7+ Qf6

62. Qc5+ Kg6

63. Qc2+ Kf7

64. Qa2+ Qe6

65. Qa7+ Kf6

66. Qd4+ Ke7

67. Qa7+ Qd7+

0-1

Gotta be some mistakes in this notation.

Where? I thought I copied it right.

You have h4 twice for starters.

 

[timschochet]

Tim>can you post the game in just PGN without comments so I can plug it into a viewer?

Sure

1. e4 d5

2. exd5 Qxd5

3. Nc3 Qa5

4. d4 Nf6

5. Nf3 Bf5

6. Ne5 c6

7. Bc4 e6

8. g4 Bg6

9. h4 Nbd7

10. Nxd7 Nxd7

11. h5 Be4

12. Rh3 h6

13. Bd2 Bh7

14. Qe2 Qc7

15. d5 cxd5

16. Nxd5 Qb8

17. Bf4 Bd6

18. Bxd6 Qxd6

19. 0-0-0 Qd8

20. Bb5 0-0

21. Ne7+ Kh8

22. Bxd7 Qf4+

23. Kb1 Qf6

24. Nd5 exd5

25. Rxd5 Rad8

26. Rd1 Qb6

27. Bf5 Rxd1+

28. Qxd1 Bxf5

29. gxf5 Qxf2

30. Rf3 Qf4

31. f6 gxf6

32. Rf1 Re8

33. b3 Qg3

34. Kb2 Qe5

35. Ka3 Qe2

36. Qd7 Qe7+

37. Qxe7+ Rxe7

38. Rxf6 Kg7

39. Rd6 f6

40. c4 Kf7

41. Kb4 Re5

42. Rd7+ Re7

43. Rxe7+ Kxe7.

44. Kc3 Ke6

45. Kd4 Kf5

46. Ke3 Kg4

47. a4 a5

48. c5 f5

49. b4 f4+

50. Kf2 axb4

51. c6 bxc6

52. a5 b3

53. a6 b2

54. a7 b1=Q

55. a8=Q Qb6+

56. Ke2 Qe3+

57. Kd1 Qd3+

58. Ke1 Qc3+

59. Kd1 Kxh5

60. Qe8+ Kg5

61. Qe7+ Qf6

62. Qc5+ Kg6

63. Qc2+ Kf7

64. Qa2+ Qe6

65. Qa7+ Kf6

66. Qd4+ Ke7

67. Qa7+ Qd7+

0-1

Gotta be some mistakes in this notation.

Where? I thought I copied it right.

You have h4 twice for starters.

You're right. The second one is h5. Thanks.

 

[Mr. Pickles]

Tim>can you post the game in just PGN without comments so I can plug it into a viewer?

Sure

1. e4 d5

2. exd5 Qxd5

3. Nc3 Qa5

4. d4 Nf6

5. Nf3 Bf5

6. Ne5 c6

7. Bc4 e6

8. g4 Bg6

9. h4 Nbd7

10. Nxd7 Nxd7

11. h5 Be4

12. Rh3 h6

13. Bd2 Bh7

14. Qe2 Qc7

15. d5 cxd5

16. Nxd5 Qb8

17. Bf4 Bd6

18. Bxd6 Qxd6

19. 0-0-0 Qd8

20. Bb5 0-0

21. Ne7+ Kh8

22. Bxd7 Qf4+

23. Kb1 Qf6

24. Nd5 exd5

25. Rxd5 Rad8

26. Rd1 Qb6

27. Bf5 Rxd1+

28. Qxd1 Bxf5

29. gxf5 Qxf2

30. Rf3 Qf4

31. f6 gxf6

32. Rf1 Re8

33. b3 Qg3

34. Kb2 Qe5

35. Ka3 Qe2

36. Qd7 Qe7+

37. Qxe7+ Rxe7

38. Rxf6 Kg7

39. Rd6 f6

40. c4 Kf7

41. Kb4 Re5

42. Rd7+ Re7

43. Rxe7+ Kxe7.

44. Kc3 Ke6

45. Kd4 Kf5

46. Ke3 Kg4

47. a4 a5

48. c5 f5

49. b4 f4+

50. Kf2 axb4

51. c6 bxc6

52. a5 b3

53. a6 b2

54. a7 b1=Q

55. a8=Q Qb6+

56. Ke2 Qe3+

57. Kd1 Qd3+

58. Ke1 Qc3+

59. Kd1 Kxh5

60. Qe8+ Kg5

61. Qe7+ Qf6

62. Qc5+ Kg6

63. Qc2+ Kf7

64. Qa2+ Qe6

65. Qa7+ Kf6

66. Qd4+ Ke7

67. Qa7+ Qd7+

0-1

Gotta be some mistakes in this notation.

Where? I thought I copied it right.

You have h4 twice for starters.

You're right. The second one is h5. Thanks.

Still not right..

 

[SacramentoBob]

There were several mistakes I noticed when I went over the game earlier, but they were pretty obvious. Doesn't this site let you download a pgn or something?

 

[SacramentoBob]

Going over Tasker's game now. Very strange opening sequence. 6 of the first 8 moves for Black are pawn moves.

 

[nysfl2]

OK, quick thoughts:

1. Like Steve. I don't get 15. Nxd6. The knight's in a fine position there. I would have continued with development- Bf4 or Bg5, followed by Rc1 with the idea of c4.

I don't recall my exact thoughts, but I was very worried about losing the battle of the pawn there and all hell breaking loose. Probably too much so.

2. Bh6 was a mistake because it loses the pawn and creates a terrible king side pawn structure. If you want to play it, maybe play Kh1 first?

Pure mistake. I didn't see the knight counter, and I won any combination of bishop trades. Was obviously trying to get my knight and queen in position to attack his king/pawn structure. Plain and simple, that's where the game was lost.

3. Bc4 (Black's 25th move)- just a beautiful move. I love simplicity in chess- wish I could do it myself. Here you recognize that your position is superior, so rather than attempt some dazzling kingside attack, you take away his most dangerous piece and start trading pieces which will surely force a winning endgame.

4. Love d3 as well. Beautiful move.

Great game by Tasker, but it was pretty much over after Bh6.

 

[timschochet]

Sorry if I wrote it down wrong.

 

[SacramentoBob]

Just a couple of quick comments since it's late.

1. e4 e6 2. Bc4 c5?

2... d5 will be the easiest French defense you've ever played.

3. exd5 exd5 4. Bb3 and all the traditional problems with the French are solved. No cramping, you can freely develop your pieces and you already have an advantage.
c5 basically justifies his early bishop move as you transpose into something a little more normal now.

3. Nc3 a6
I realize you were trying to get a cheapo in here, but standard development of Nf6, followed by d5 gets a nice center with tempo.

4. d3 b5 5. Bb3 Bb7 6. a4 b4 7. Nce2 Nc6 8. Nf3 g6

You sure like those pawn moves...


9. O-O Bg7 10. d4 cxd4 11. Nexd4

Loses a pawn. See that nice undefended morsel on e4? You have a forcing sequence of moves that allows you to capture it for free. It's not a big tactic, you just have to figure out a way to attack the pawn at the same time he has to respond to another, bigger threat...

Nge7 12. Re1 O-O 13. h3 d5 14. e5 Qc7 15. Nxc6 Nxc6 16. Bf4 a5 17. Qd2 Rfd8

5/5 dentists would develop their rook to the half-open c file here.

18. Rac1 Rac8 19. Bh6 Nxe5
You saw this combo.

20. Bxg7 Nxf3+ 21. gxf3 Kxg7 22. f4 Qc6 23. f3 d4 24. Rf1 Ba6 25. Rf2 Bc4 26. Bxc4 Qxc4 27. b3 Qd5

All roads lead to Rome at this point.

28.Rd1 Rc3 29. Kg2 d3 30. cxd3 Qxb3 31. Qa2 Qxd1 32. Qe2 Qxe2 33. Rxe2 Rdxd3 34.Rf2 Kf6 35. Kg3 Kf5 36. h4 0-1

 

[SacramentoBob]

Steve Tasker def. Nysfl 0-1

Very evenly matched game. You had me scared ####less after 17. Qd2. I think we may have had a potential drawn position if you had retreated the queen rather than capturing with 30. cxd3. I would've struggled mightily to promote the pawn. I also wonder if you may have been able to win or force a draw with 23. Qd4+ rather than 23. f3. Once I was able to push 23. ... d4, I was able to get the rook in there.

All in all a fun game. Really had me on edge for awhile.

Regarding the bolded, I doubt it.

Yeah, I actually just spent a few minutes really looking at it and I think I'm okay there. I didn't really consider it too highly when I played d3, but I remember thinking after playing the move that I failed to consider the implications of a queen retreat.

His queen has no real good retreat squares. Even if you don't promote the d3 pawn, his c2 and b3 pawns are going to fall and you get a new passed pawn on b4 shortly after.

My favorite variation would probably be...

30. Qe3 dxc2! 31. Rxd5 Rxe3 32. Rxd8 c1=Q

 

[otello]

[Event "Playing on Chess Time"]

[site "ChessTime"]

[Date "2014.01.25"]

[Round "1"]

[White "otello"]

[black "timschochet"]

[Result "0-1"]

1. e4 d5

2. exd5 Qxd5

3. Nc3 Qa5

4. d4 Nf6

5. Nf3 Bf5

6. Ne5 c6

7. Bc4 e6

8. g4 Bg6

9. h4 Nb8d7

10. Nxd7 Nxd7

11. h5 Be4

12. Rh3 h6

13. Bd2 Bh7

14. Qe2 Qc7

15. d5 cxd5

16. Nxd5 Qb8

17. Bf4 Bd6

18. Bxd6 Qxd6

19. O-O-O Qb8

20. Bb5 O-O

21. Ne7+ Kh8

22. Bxd7 Qf4+

23. Kb1 Qf6

24. Nd5 exd5

25. Rxd5 Ra8d8

26. Rd1 Qb6

27. Bf5 Rxd1+

28. Qxd1 Bxf5

29. gxf5 Qxf2

30. Rf3 Qh4

31. f6 gxf6

32. Rf1 Re8

33. b3 Qg3

34. Kb2 Qe5+

35. Ka3 Qe2

36. Qd7 Qe7+

37. Qxe7 Rxe7

38. Rxf6 Kg7

39. Rd6 f6

40. c4 Kf7

41. Kb4 Re5

42. Rd7+ Re7

43. Rxe7+ Kxe7

44. Kc3 Ke6

45. Kd4 Kf5

46. Ke3 Kg4

47. a4 a5

48. c5 f5

49. b4 f4+

50. Kf2 axb4

51. c6 bxc6

52. a5 b3

53. a6 b2

54. a7 b1=Q

55. a8=Q Qb6+

56. Ke2 Qe3+

57. Kd1 Qd3+

58. Ke1 Qc3+

59. Kd1 Kxh5

60. Qe8+ Kg5

61. Qe7+ Qf6

62. Qc5+ Kg6

63. Qc2+ Kf7

64. Qa2+ Qe6

65. Qa7+ Kf6

66. Qd4+ Ke7

67. Qa7+ Qd7+

68. Qxd7+ Kxd7

69. Ke2 Kd6

70. Kf3 Ke5

71. Kf2 Ke4

72. Ke2 f3+

73. Kf2 c5

74. Kf1 Ke3

75. Ke1 f2+

76. Kf1 c4

77. Kg2 Ke2

0-1

 

[SacramentoBob]

Tim, that's how it's done.

 

[jamny]

What do you guys do with that? Plug it into some software and it compiles the match for you?

 

[Psychopav]

What do you guys do with that? Plug it into some software and it compiles the match for you?

I found this on line, hope it helps:

http://chesstempo.com/pgn-viewer.html

 

[SacramentoBob]

In Tim's posted game, I think 24. N-c8 jumped out at me as a better move. White is up a solid exchange at that point, rather than giving the piece back for a pawn. I haven't finished going through it yet, though.

Yup, I noticed this too. It's not an intuitive move, but it's the proper one. White is clearly winning after Nc8.

 

[otello]

In chess time, you can email the game. This is what it sends you

 

[jamny]

What do you guys do with that? Plug it into some software and it compiles the match for you?

I found this on line, hope it helps:

http://chesstempo.com/pgn-viewer.html

thx!

 

[Psychopav]

In Tim's posted game, I think 24. N-c8 jumped out at me as a better move. White is up a solid exchange at that point, rather than giving the piece back for a pawn. I haven't finished going through it yet, though.

Yup, I noticed this too. It's not an intuitive move, but it's the proper one. White is clearly winning after Nc8.

I can't get Tim's game to load. Can someone post the corrected pgn?

 

[joffer]

Why 22. BxN instead of 22. RxN?

 

[jamny]

In Tim's posted game, I think 24. N-c8 jumped out at me as a better move. White is up a solid exchange at that point, rather than giving the piece back for a pawn. I haven't finished going through it yet, though.

Yup, I noticed this too. It's not an intuitive move, but it's the proper one. White is clearly winning after Nc8.

I can't get Tim's game to load. Can someone post the corrected pgn?

What otello posted worked for me in the link you gave me.

 

[otello]

In Tim's posted game, I think 24. N-c8 jumped out at me as a better move. White is up a solid exchange at that point, rather than giving the piece back for a pawn. I haven't finished going through it yet, though.

Yup, I noticed this too. It's not an intuitive move, but it's the proper one. White is clearly winning after Nc8.

I strongly considered that move. I saw it as giving up a b and an n for an r. In retrospect, the wrong decision.

 

[Psychopav]

In Tim's posted game, I think 24. N-c8 jumped out at me as a better move. White is up a solid exchange at that point, rather than giving the piece back for a pawn. I haven't finished going through it yet, though.

Yup, I noticed this too. It's not an intuitive move, but it's the proper one. White is clearly winning after Nc8.

I can't get Tim's game to load. Can someone post the corrected pgn?

What otello posted worked for me in the link you gave me.

Ah. lol Didn't realize it was the same game.

Thanks!

 

[Steve Tasker]

Just a couple of quick comments since it's late.

1. e4 e6 2. Bc4 c5?

2... d5 will be the easiest French defense you've ever played.

3. exd5 exd5 4. Bb3 and all the traditional problems with the French are solved. No cramping, you can freely develop your pieces and you already have an advantage.
c5 basically justifies his early bishop move as you transpose into something a little more normal now.

3. Nc3 a6
I realize you were trying to get a cheapo in here, but standard development of Nf6, followed by d5 gets a nice center with tempo.

4. d3 b5 5. Bb3 Bb7 6. a4 b4 7. Nce2 Nc6 8. Nf3 g6

You sure like those pawn moves...


9. O-O Bg7 10. d4 cxd4 11. Nexd4

Loses a pawn. See that nice undefended morsel on e4? You have a forcing sequence of moves that allows you to capture it for free. It's not a big tactic, you just have to figure out a way to attack the pawn at the same time he has to respond to another, bigger threat...

Nge7 12. Re1 O-O 13. h3 d5 14. e5 Qc7 15. Nxc6 Nxc6 16. Bf4 a5 17. Qd2 Rfd8

5/5 dentists would develop their rook to the half-open c file here.

18. Rac1 Rac8 19. Bh6 Nxe5
You saw this combo.

20. Bxg7 Nxf3+ 21. gxf3 Kxg7 22. f4 Qc6 23. f3 d4 24. Rf1 Ba6 25. Rf2 Bc4 26. Bxc4 Qxc4 27. b3 Qd5

All roads lead to Rome at this point.

28.Rd1 Rc3 29. Kg2 d3 30. cxd3 Qxb3 31. Qa2 Qxd1 32. Qe2 Qxe2 33. Rxe2 Rdxd3 34.Rf2 Kf6 35. Kg3 Kf5 36. h4 0-1

Re: the opening, this is the first time I've ever played Sicilian (and I'm sure many of you frequent Sicilian players are laughing at my opening). I was very, very lost early on and was never certain whether I would be able to play d5 and be safe with it.

I intended to play French (obviously), which I am very familiar with, but I was really thrown off by 2. Bc4 rather than 2. d4. So much so that I missed that 2. ... d5 just gives me the center and a tempo. I realized it after I had played 2. ... c5, and I remember thinking to myself like "what the #### am I doing?" I knew that when I played 2. ... c5 I basically just foolishly handed him the center, and so I decided to play for the flanks. I probably wouldn't have kept pushing pawns if he didn't have attackable pieces on the queenside.

Re: 17. ... Rfd8, I was worried he was trying to set up Bh6 down the line to pin the bishop to the rook to unleash a potential mate attack with the queen and knight after Ng5. That's why I was terrified when he played 17. Qd2...because all of my pieces were on the queenside and he had a lot of kingside space to work with. I had been planning for awhile to play Rac8 and didn't want to move the f8 rook there. So it was the d-file or the e-file, in my mind, and the d-file had more space. Would you have played Rfc8?

 

[timschochet]

Why 22. BxN instead of 22. RxN?

I mentioned this in my analysis. I very likely would have resigned.

 

[SacramentoBob]

Breaking this up into 2 posts because of the quote limit.

1. e4 d5
2. exd5 Qxd5
3. Nc3 Qa5
4. d4 Nf6
5. Nf3 Bf5
6. Ne5 c6
7. Bc4 e6
8. g4 Bg6
9. h4 Nbd7
10. Nxd7 Nxd7
11. h4 Be4
12. Rh3 h6
13. Bd2 Bh7
14. Qe2 Qc7
15. d5 cxd5

I don't like this capture here. You're helping him conduct his attack. There's no rush to take the d5 pawn and you need to get your king off of the e-file. O-O-O is playable here, although it involves a pawn sacrifice. Pawns are worth less than the king, so it's certainly something to consider and White can go wrong if he captures with the queen instead of the bishop.

15... O-O-O 16. dxe6 fxe6 17. Qxe6 Ba3!

White can't capture the bishop since Rfe8 is threatened. O-O-O to defend the b and c-pawns allows Black to get activity for the pawn with Rfe8, Re7, and Ne5 and suddenly White has to defend very accurately. Important positions like this call for extended thinking time and you need to look at moves that can give you activity. Saccing a pawn to get your king safe and develop threats of your own is better than defending passively with your king stuck in the center.

16. Nxd5 Qb8
17. Bf4 Bd6

17. Bb5 and White sets a record for most pieces pinned against a king. Black is probably lost here.

18. Bxd6 Qxd6
19. 0-0-0 Qd8

You know those instructive games you read about where one of the players keeps his king in the center despite multiple opportunities to castle and the other player gets a devastating attack because of it. Yeah, this is one of them. I realize you were trying to get away from the discovered attack on your queen after the knight move, but after O-O-O it's a harmless threat. The knight only has one move where it's not lost outright and that's e3.

20. Bb5! 0-0
21. Ne7+ Kh8
22. Bxd7 Qf4+
23. Kb1 Qf6
24. Nd5 exd5
25. Rxd5 Rad8
26. Rd1 Qb6
27. Bf5 Rxd1+

27... Qxf2 28. Qf1 Bxf5 29. gxf5 Qxf5! The queen is left hanging for 3 moves and can never be captured! I've been in those games where you've been hanging on by a thread for an hour then suddenly your opponent gives you an out and you breath a sigh of relief at the prospect of a draw. But never stop looking to win even when you're losing. In fact, you have to look for it more when losing because you have nothing to lose at that point.

 

[SacramentoBob]

28. Qxd1 Bxf5
29. gxf5 Qxf2
30. Rf3 Qf4

If I were White, I'd agree to a draw if offered here. My queenside pawns aren't advanced enough to try for an advantage and my weak kingside pawns would be a concern. It's probably equal, but I could see it turning against me if I play poorly.

If I were Black, I'd probably play on since I can make a passed pawn and I don't see a lot of risk here.

31. f6

Very clever!
31... g6 32. hxg6 fxg6 33. a3 and now Black can't win the pawn with 33... Rxf6? as 34. Qd8+ wins the rook!

31... Qxh5 loses to 32. fxg7+ Kxg7 33. Rg3+ discovering an attack against the queen. Any king move loses to Qxh5 and Qg6 loses to Rxg6. You can even be a #### and play Qd4+ after Qg6 so you can take the a-pawn after capturing the queen on g6.

31... gxf6
32. Rf1 Re8
33. b3 Qg3
34. Kb2 Qe5
35. Ka3 Qe2

Ka3 looks pretty risky for White.

36. Qd7 Qe7+
37. Qxe7+ Rxe7
38. Rxf6 Kg7

The notorious drawish rook endgame. I'll take the passed f-pawn with White's king far away from the action. I'd probably accept a draw as White but play on as Black.

39. Rd6 f6
40. c4

That little voice inside White's head should be saying "get King Camarillo active".

40... Kf7

You have a passed pawn and White hasn't bothered to attack it. Push the pawn!

41. Kb4 Re5?

As will be seen, Re5 was an error. At the time I was going for a draw. I figured that after Rd7+ Re7 Rd6 Re5 we would have a draw. However, what I didn't see was that Rxe7 is actually winning for White. What I should have played was Rc7 allowing me to move my king to e7. (I also briefly considered f5?? Rxh6 f4. But the problem is that after trading rooks white's king can reach the f pawn in time and I am lost.)

Why are you "going for the draw" here? If you wanted to draw, you could've just offered one. Also, like I said in the other thread, always consider the consequences of trading down into a king and pawn endgame. If you don't like what you see, avoid it. You're better off being down a pawn in a rook endgame than being "equal" materially in a lost king and pawn end game.

Capablanca v Tartakower is a famous game where Capa sacs two pawns in a rook endgame to secure the better position and win. Great instructive game that anyone should play over a few times.

42. Rd7+ Re7
44. Kc3 Ke6

Now at this point white needs to start advancing the queenside pawns RIGHT NOW. He needs to play b4, c5, b5, c6, and after I capture and he captures back, c7 and c8. That's 6 moves. I calculated this, and discovered I don't have time to capture white's h pawn and get back and capture that c pawn. And if I can't capture the h-pawn, white will eventually capture MY h pawn and win. However...

This is what makes king and pawn endgames so easy and so hard. They require exact calculation, you can't just play by feel. If you do the latter you can turn a win into a loss in a hurry. It's generally pretty easy to calculate them as there aren't a lot of moves to consider though. Very instructive game though.

45. Kd4 Kf5

Kd4 was the error. Now after playing Kf5 I have time to get back: b4, Kg4, c5, Kxh5, b5, Kg6 and my king gets back in time, and the TWO passed pawns on the kingside are enough to occupy black's king while I finish off white's queenside pawns and win the game with my a pawn.

You don't have time to get back.

46. b4 Kg5 47. c5 Kxh5 48. b5 Kg6 49. c6 and you aren't in the square of the pawn.

 

[SacramentoBob]

Or 3 posts, whatever. Sorry for the spam.

46. Ke3 Kg4
47. a4 a5

Otello felt a4 was an error, but a5 is also questionable. I force a situation where I will queen, but it allows white to queen as well, which may lead to a draw. Perhaps I should have just taken the h-pawn instead and then moved my king back to the queenside. But now I was worried after a4 that he might be able to create a protected passed pawn, which would cause me to lose the game.

While a4 is certainly a bad move on general principle (you don't want to allow your opponent to lock down your pawn majority), Ke3 was the losing move. White has to get his pawn majority mobilized and delaying that ONE extra move allows the Black king to get back and defend and White's king can never stop two passed pawns with a file in between them (this is good general king and pawn knowledge and is the next step after the lesson I gave in the other thread). Black's king can go back to the queen side with impunity and White can never do anything on the king side.

Anyway, you can see why I said king and pawn endgames are the most essential of all end games.

48. c5 f5
49. b4 f4+
50. Kf2 axb4
51. c6 bxc6
52. a5 b3
53. a6 b2
54. a7 b1=Q

otello has played this endgame remarkably well. If that was all instinct, we have a Capablanca on our hands.

55. a8=Q Qb6+
56. Ke2 Qe3+
57. Kd1 Qd3+
58. Ke1 Qc3+

Hoping for Kf1 here, Kf3! wins

59. Kd1 Kxh5

Now the trick is to try and force a trade of queens. So long as I can do this with at least 2 of the pawns left, I win. But Otello makes it difficult, and if he hadn't blundered in a few moves, I'm not sure if I can accomplish this.

60. Qe8+ Kg5
61. Qe7+ Qf6
62. Qc5+ Kg6
63. Qc2+ Kf7
64. Qa2+ Qe6
65. Qa7+ Kf6
66. Qd4+ Ke7
67. Qa7+? Qd7+

And the queens get traded, white wins. And I breathed a major sigh of relief. Otello played a great game. I was very lucky to win.

A little silly to go after pawns with Kxh5 when you're trying to prevent a perpetual.
All in all, a nice game. Glad you posted it.