13 replies to this topic

[biologic]

Just for fun I've decided to show one of my recently played tournament games with some annotation. The game moves should be pretty straightforward to understand (If you know how to play, of course). So here it is:



This game was the second round of an open tournament which I finished 4th in. I had the black pieces.

1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Bb4
4. Qc2 O-O
5. a3



This opening is called the classical variation of the Nimzo-Indian defence where white tries to play for a more solid pawn structure and recaptures the bishop with the queen after black captures the knight in order to not mess up his pawn formation. White tries to press for an e4 thrust while black enjoys fast development and a very solid position.

5. ... Bxc3
6. bxc3 c5



The whole point of the classical variation is to recapture the bishop with the queen to not mess up his pawn structure, however my opponent tried something different. c5 was played to make sure those weak doubled pawns can't move.

7. Nf3 b6
8. Bg5 h6
9. Bh4 Ba6
10. e4 d6
11. e5 dxe5
12. dxe5 g5



White now tries for a kingside expantion after opening up the g file to my king, however black has defensive resources and now white has destroyed his center and further weakened the now isolated doubled pawns.

13. exf6 gxh4
14. Nxh4 Qxf6
15. Nf3 Nc6
16. Bd3 Na5
17. Nd2 Qg7
18. O-O Bb7
19. Be4



Now one of the weakened pawns must fall. The mate threat at g2 could have been defended by pushing the f2 pawn up one square, and then white could have placed his knight at e4. It's true that you shouldn't push pawns around your king, but in this case the king would have been more safe. After 19. ... Bxe4, either recapture will result in the hanging of one of the c pawns.

19. ... Bxe4
20. Nxe4 Nxc4
21. Qb3 Ne5
22. c4 Rad8
23. Rad1 Nc6
24. Ng3 Rxd1
25. Rxd1 Nd4
26. Qd3 f5



Blacks plan now becomes clear. Black wants to trade off material and trade down pieces into a favorable endgame being a pawn to the good.

27. Re1 e5
28. Ne2 e4
29. Qg3 Rd8
30. Kf1 Nxe2
31. Rxe2 Rd1+
32. Re1 Rxe1+
33. Kxe1 Qxg3
34. hxg3 Kg7
35. Ke2 Kf6
36. Ke3



Now the king and pawn endgame has been reached and black is still up a healthy pawn. Black just has to expand on the queenside with the pawn majority and stop white expansion on the kingside.


36. ... Ke5
37. f3 a6
38. f4+ Kd6

This move was a mistake. I was hoping to help my pawn advancement on the queenside, but that plan proves too slow as white can push ahead on the kingside. Ke6 would have been better.

39. g4 Ke6
40. gxf5 Kxf5
41. g3 b5
42. cxb5 axb5
43. g4+ Kxg4
44. Kxe4 c4
45. f5 c3
46. f6 c2
47. f7 c1=Q
48. f8=Q



My mistake proves costly because now we both queen the pawns simultaneously instead of my pawn being a tempo ahead. However, I'm still up a pawn and my passed h pawn is passed and will soon prove decisive.

48. ... Qe1+
49. Kd4 Qd2+
50. Kc5 Qg5+
51. Kb6 h5
52. Qb4+ Qf4
53. Qxb5 Qb8+



Now I can safely trade off the remaining queens and run my h pawn up the board now being a safe tempo ahead.

54. Kc5 Qxb5
55. Kxb5 h4
56. a5 h3
57. a4 h2
58. a3 h1=Q
59. a2 Qa8



And here, having nothing better to do, White resigned in a hopeless position. So, this wasn't the most flashy game I've ever played, just a solid win which I enjoyed. We both made mistakes (probably many many more than I even know about) but in the end I took it down! Hope you enjoyed the game and if anyone else has a game or experience they want to share feel free to do so.

[Live Forever]

I really wish I was more proficient at chess. Where do you play, biologic?

[Normal Dan]

I enjoyed this game. I really enjoyed your commentary. Even what little you put has probably improved my game a bit. I would love see more games of yours, perhaps with even more commentary.

[DJS]

Why (7. Nf3) and not (7. e4)?

I must admit, it is kind of depressing to go over this game and realize just how much my chess skills have declined. I'm certain with a few months of practice I could get back to my old form, but right now I'm keenly aware of how rusty my chess mind is! [lol]

BTW, for the past two years I've been a poker convert. In many ways I find high level poker play to be more complex and challenging than what chess has to offer. Although, with that said, I can definitely understand the appeal of good game of chess.

[DJS]

Hehe, thinking about it, I can probably answer my own question. The 7...e5 advance must be prevented.

[biologic]

I really wish I was more proficient at chess. Where do you play, biologic?

Well, this game was played at my local chess club -- if you want to find a place to play there probably is a club near where you live, you just need to find it. However, if you're a beginner, I suggest just playing for free at yahoo.com for a while until you become a MASTA there. Then, if you really want to start taking it more seriously, you can start playing on the ICC (www.chessclub.com). It does, however, cost like $30 a year. But if you're a TOTAL 100% beginner buy one of the chessmaster PC games and listen to the introductory lessons about the game. I think it's a very worthwhile hobby and the better you get the more you enjoy the game. Have you ever played and how good did you get?

I enjoyed this game. I really enjoyed your commentary. Even what little you put has probably improved my game a bit. I would love see more games of yours, perhaps with even more commentary.

Maybe I'll do another one later if this gets a little more popular.

Why (7. Nf3) and not (7. e4)?

I must admit, it is kind of depressing to go over this game and realize just how much my chess skills have declined. I'm certain with a few months of practice I could get back to my old form, but right now I'm keenly aware of how rusty my chess mind is! 

BTW, for the past two years I've been a poker convert. In many ways I find high level poker play to be more complex and challenging than what chess has to offer. Although, with that said, I can definitely understand the appeal of good game of chess.

7. e4 certainly is playable, but it's more of a taste question. My opponent would rather develop his pieces faster so that he can castle kingside a little faster and thus have king safety faster. As was played in the game, my opponent played e4 a little later, so I guess it was just a matter of taste.

So you're a poker man eh [wis] ? I used to host a weekly $1/$2 cash game at my house -- maybe you should come up to CT for a while [sfty] . By the way, there are some interesting statistics concerning the complexity of chess. This particular website (http://computer.hows....com/chess1.htm) states that there are 10^120 possible chess positions, while only 10^75 atoms in the known universe!

Hehe, thinking about it, I can probably answer my own question. The 7...e5 advance must be prevented.

7...e5 after e4 would simply lose a pawn and a tempo after having to move the knight. That's not how we win a chess game [tung]

[DJS]

So you're a poker man eh [wis] ? I used to host a weekly $1/$2 cash game at my house -- maybe you should come up to CT for a while  [sfty] .

Be careful what you wish for. [sfty] Although truthfully, I am much more at home with the MTT dynamic than with cash games.

7...e5 after e4 would simply lose a pawn and a tempo after having to move the knight. That's not how we win a chess game  [tung]

Indeed, you are correct! As I said, I'm very rusty. However when I was your age I would've given you a run for your money. ) Nice game BTW.

[Zarrka]

this was fantastic. i have not played chess in a while either, I used to be in my high school chess team though and we got to the state finals so i guess we were not too bad.

but this has meant that im going to go find my board again... yes please keep putting these games up, they are interesting. I used to play a few years ago against an old russian man who was lvled in russia as one lvl behind the grandmaster title. it was depressing playing against him. he would always toy with you, make you think you were getting some kind of foot hold only to destroy you. i could beat his son on occasion though, so thats some kind of pay back i suppose.

[biologic]

Be careful what you wish for.  [sfty] Although truthfully, I am much more at home with the MTT dynamic than with cash games.

BOOOO I hate the damn tournaments. Well, I guess I just had a very very bad experience with poker tournaments. I sat in the most uncomfortable spot (between two huge sweaty men barking about their luck) for five brutal hours ONLY TO COME ONE OUT OF THE MONEY because my brother busted me. As I was leaving everybody got up and started high fiving each other and hugging each other beacuse they made the money. good god it was horrible. $60 was so much back then.

but this has meant that im going to go find my board again... yes please keep putting these games up, they are interesting. I used to play a few years ago against an old russian man who was lvled in russia as one lvl behind the grandmaster title. it was depressing playing against him. he would always toy with you, make you think you were getting some kind of foot hold only to destroy you. i could beat his son on occasion though, so thats some kind of pay back i suppose.

Yeah the russians have embedded chess into their lifestyle. I think it's part of their elementary ciriculum (I wish they did that in the states!). Anybody's last name ending in ov or ski will most likely destroy you at chess [:o]

[DJS]

Be careful what you wish for.  [sfty] Although truthfully, I am much more at home with the MTT dynamic than with cash games.

BOOOO I hate the damn tournaments. Well, I guess I just had a very very bad experience with poker tournaments. I sat in the most uncomfortable spot (between two huge sweaty men barking about their luck) for five brutal hours ONLY TO COME ONE OUT OF THE MONEY because my brother busted me. As I was leaving everybody got up and started high fiving each other and hugging each other beacuse they made the money. good god it was horrible. $60 was so much back then.

Aww snap, sucks to be you bubble boy. [tung] But seriously biologic, don't let one bad experience turn you off to a beautiful game. Tourney play is extremely complex and challenging. Not to hijack your chess thread, but have you every read Harrington on Holdem?

PS - If you would like to play a game on yahoo chess sometime drop me a PM. [thumb]

[DJS]

Yeah the russians have embedded chess into their lifestyle. I think it's part of their elementary ciriculum (I wish they did that in the states!). Anybody's last name ending in ov or ski will most likely destroy you at chess  [:o]

This is largely the reason why Bobby Fischer should be view as a total freak of nature, an anomaly if you will. He didn't just beat Spassky to become the world chess champion, he beat the entire "Soviet System".

[Zarrka]

[
Yeah the russians have embedded chess into their lifestyle. I think it's part of their elementary ciriculum (I wish they did that in the states!). Anybody's last name ending in ov or ski will most likely destroy you at chess  [:o]

especially when they are 65 and you are 17 lol

/hopes shattered

[DJS]

Actually, neuro-aging clearly has a deleterious effect on top flight chess players. This isn't to say that experience counts for nothing (or that an elderly expert won't still beat a young novice), but it is generally acknowledged that by the time you hit your mid 40's your chess playing skills, or rather, your chess playing potential does start to decline. Whether this is a product of reduced mental stamina or diminished computational abilities (or both) is hard to say.

[biologic]

Aww snap, sucks to be you bubble boy.  But seriously biologic, don't let one bad experience turn you off to a beautiful game. Tourney play is extremely complex and challenging. Not to hijack your chess thread, but have you every read Harrington on Holdem?

I've read a few poker books back when I was really interested, although not Harrington's. I've flipped through a couple of Sklansky's books (hold'em theory and practice) and also some of super system but found them pretty much unhelpful and kinda boring to read. I enjoy playing I guess, but I don't feel at home associating myself with the whole 'poker scene' (especially the TV stuff). Chess is better.

PS - If you would like to play a game on yahoo chess sometime drop me a PM. 

you are so ON

Actually, neuro-aging clearly has a deleterious effect on top flight chess players. This isn't to say that experience counts for nothing (or that an elderly expert won't still beat a young novice), but it is generally acknowledged that by the time you hit your mid 40's your chess playing skills, or rather, your chess playing potential does start to decline. Whether this is a product of reduced mental stamina or diminished computational abilities (or both) is hard to say.

Well reduced mental stamina didn't stop Viktor Korchnoi -- he is 76 and still in the top 100 players worldwide!