Week 101314 a Good Time – LCCC League Resumes Oct. 29 – and a Game

Chess is a game for the entire family!

We had fifteen players on this Monday night. Two league games played and the first round closed out. The standings are on the right side of the blog.

Also a lot of friendly games were played. It was a nice evening of chess.

The next round of the league on October 29, 7pm features these match-ups (first name listed has White):

 

49’ers vs Tigers

Mike N – Vince V

Paul M – Dave S

Americo M – Luigi M

Luca M – Marcello M

Oilers vs Thunder

Tim R – Gene M (postponed)

Luke S – Sam T

Tom H – Zach R

Zach K – Ted G

Below is a Ladder Tournament game – played as a Fischer Random 960 set up. There are some good lessons here. Fischer960 Ladder Tournament Game – G/55 min with 5 sec delay

Set up from left to right on the back rank - RBKNRQBN

1.      e4    e5

2.      Ng3    Ne6

3.      f3    f6

4.      Nc3   Ng6

5.      a3    c6

6.      Ba2   Bc7

7.      Nge2    Bb6

8.      Bxb6    ab

9.      Qf2    Qc5

10.  O-O    Bf7

11.  Ng3    O-O

Because this is a Fischer Random or Chess 960 game, both players are following solid opening principles, rather than relying on their “Opening Book” knowledge. Some of the opening principles on display here are:

1) Usually develop your knights before your bishops,

2) Restrict your opponent’s development by attacking the good squares for his pieces,

3) Trade your under-developed pieces for your opponent’s developed pieces – even better if he moved them a couple times as you pick up tempos (moves).

4) Doubling your opponent’s pawns is usually a good thing,

5) Castle early!

12.  Nf5    Nd4?

Black is eyeing White’s unguarded c-pawn and having his knight create havoc on the queen-side. The only problem is that after 13. b4! Black’s Queen has no escape squares. Check it out!

Black is left with 13. ….Nxf3  14. gf, Qxf2+  15. Rxf2 and White is up the exchange (+2.5). White - unfortunately for him - sees only the smaller prize of a pawn (+1.3), and doesn’t look deeper. 

13.  Bxf7?!    Rxf7

14.  b4!      ........

After White's 14. b4!

14. .......      Qf8

15.  Nxd4    ed

16.  Qxd4    Ne5

Igor3000 actually liked better for Black 14. ….Qc4  15. Nd6, Qe6  16. Nxf2, Qxf2 – with Black keeping both knights on the king-side and thus having a lesser deficit (+.8) due to his better position and attacking possibilities. But that is deep-thinking a computer can do a lot faster and with much greater accuracy than humans can.

Not only that, but the computer doesn’t feel the emotion of having just lost an exchange. So this suggestion made by Igor3000 is the type of move order a human would not even consider.

17.  Qxb6?   Nc4

White gets the lead and immediately gets sloppy!

Look for that response from your opponent right after you make a blunder. Often your opponent will go on auto pilot for a while - basking in his advantage. If you are diligent, often you can counter-strike during his mental vacation.

The simple 17.f4 drives the knight from the center of the board and eliminates all of the counter-play Black now enjoys.

18.  Qf2    Nxa3

19.  Qc5    Qxc5?!

The axiom “to take is a mistake” applies here (+1.7). Better is 19. …..  d6 (+1). The army that is behind usually does better with the more firepower it keeps. When ahead, trade pieces – when behind, trade pawns – is another chess axiom.

20.  bc      Rff8

21.  Rfc1    Nc4

22.  d4    Ra3

23.  Rxc3    Nxc3

24.  Na4    Rd8?

A wasted move expanding White’s lead (+2.7). 24. ….   Nb5, getting his Knight back to the center of the board was the best plan. Chess axiom: “A knight on the rim (of the board) is grim.”

25.  Nb6   d6

26.  cd    Rxd6

27.  c3    Nb5

28.  Na4?    Na3

White gives away ground (+2). Centralizing his king with Kf2 to help those strong center pawns is the proper plan.

29.  Nb2    Rd7

30.  Kf2!    Kf7

31.  Ke3     b5

32.  Kd3?   c5?

White’s Knight belonged on d3 as knights right behind passed pawns are a good thing. Black’s best idea is to lock up the kingside with g6, h5, etc.

33.  d5    c4+?

Black opens lanes for the White King to infiltrate – while entombing his own Knight! Black is basically down a knight (+3).

34.  Kd4    Ke7

35.  Nd1    Kd6

36.  Ne3    g6

37.  Ng4    f5?

Black admitted he somehow missed White’s following response, and now allows two enemy passed pawns (+5.5). The rest is matter of technique. This was not the fastest technique. But it still has some “endgame advantage pushed to victory” help for less experienced players.

38.  e5+     Ke7

39.  Nf6    Ra7

40.  Kc5   Ra7

41.  Kb4    Ra7

42.  d6+    Ke6

43.  f4    g5

44.  g3   gf

45.  gf    h5

46.  d7    Rh8

47.  Kc5    h4

48.  Kc6    h3

49.  Kb7    Rd8

50.  Kc7    Ra8

51.  d8=Q    Rxd8

52.  Kxd8     Resigns