Chess Match Thread

[One Brow]

One Brow vs. Jonah



1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g6
3. Nc3 Bg7
4. Nf3 d6
5. Bg5 O-O
6. e3 c5
7. Bd3 Nc6
8. 0-0 cxd4
9. Nxd4 Qa5
10. Bh4 Bg4
11. f3 Bd7
12. Nxc6 bxc6
13. Qc2 Rab1
14. b3 Re8
15. Rd1

I wasn't really sure where I wanted the rook, but I'll try it here.

 

[One Brow]

One Brow vs. babe

1. d4 d5
2. c4 dxc
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. Nf3 e6
5. Bg5 Be7
6. e3 Nd5
7. Bxe7 Qxe7
8. Bxc4 Qb4
9. Qb3 Qxb3
10. Bxb3 c6
11. 0-0 Nd7
12. Nxd4 exd
13. Rfc1 Nf6
14. Ba4 Bd7
15. b4 b5
16. Bb3 0-0
17. Ne5 Rfc1
18. Rc2 a5
19. bxa Bd8
20. Rac1 Ra6
21. f3 g6
22. Ng4 Kg2
23. Nxf6 Kxf6
24. Bxd5 Ke7
25. Rc5 f5
26. e4 Bd7
27. Bb3 fxe
28. fxe Rf8
29. Rf1 Rxf1
30. Kxf1 Rxa5
31. Kf2 Kd6
32. e5+ Ke7
33. Ke3 Ra6
34. d5 cxd
35. Rxd5 h6
36. Kd4 h5
37. e6 Kxe6
38. Rxb5+ Kf6
39. Rc5 Bf5
40. a4 Rd6+
41. Kc3 Rd3+
42. Kb4 Be4
43. g3 Rd2
44. h4 Rd4+
45. Rc4 Ke5
46. Rxd4 Kxd4
47. a5 Bd3
48. Ba4 Kd5
49. Bb5 Be4
50. a6 Kd6
51. a7 Bf3
52. Be8 Kc7
53. Kc5 Kb7
54. Kd6 Kxa7
55. Bxg6 Kb6
57. Ke5 Kc5
58. Kf4 Bd1
59. Kg5 Kd
60. Bxa5

 

[Jonah]

One Brow vs. Jonah



1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g6
3. Nc3 Bg7
4. Nf3 d6
5. Bg5 O-O
6. e3 c5
7. Bd3 Nc6
8. 0-0 cxd4
9. Nxd4 Qa5
10. Bh4 Bg4
11. f3 Bd7
12. Nxc6 bxc6
13. Qc2 Rab1
14. b3 Re8
15. Rd1 Rb7

Looks like my Re8 was a wasted move. I went for a trap that had no real chance of working. Not a solid way to play chess. I need to refocus on my original plan. The idea is to gin up play on the a and b files.

 

[babe]

One Brow vs. babe

1. d4 d5
2. c4 dxc
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. Nf3 e6
5. Bg5 Be7
6. e3 Nd5
7. Bxe7 Qxe7
8. Bxc4 Qb4
9. Qb3 Qxb3
10. Bxb3 c6
11. 0-0 Nd7
12. Nxd4 exd
13. Rfc1 Nf6
14. Ba4 Bd7
15. b4 b5
16. Bb3 0-0
17. Ne5 Rfc1
18. Rc2 a5
19. bxa Bd8
20. Rac1 Ra6
21. f3 g6
22. Ng4 Kg2
23. Nxf6 Kxf6
24. Bxd5 Ke7
25. Rc5 f5
26. e4 Bd7
27. Bb3 fxe
28. fxe Rf8
29. Rf1 Rxf1
30. Kxf1 Rxa5
31. Kf2 Kd6
32. e5+ Ke7
33. Ke3 Ra6
34. d5 cxd
35. Rxd5 h6
36. Kd4 h5
37. e6 Kxe6
38. Rxb5+ Kf6
39. Rc5 Bf5
40. a4 Rd6+
41. Kc3 Rd3+
42. Kb4 Be4
43. g3 Rd2
44. h4 Rd4+
45. Rc4 Ke5
46. Rxd4 Kxd4
47. a5 Bd3
48. Ba4 Kd5
49. Bb5 Be4
50. a6 Kd6
51. a7 Bf3
52. Be8 Kc7
53. Kc5 Kb7
54. Kd6 Kxa7
55. Bxg6 Kb6
57. Ke5 Kc5
58. Kf4 Bd1
59. Kg5 Kd
60. Bxa5

Bb3

While I agree with your hopes, it is my duty to see that you finish it properly. . . .

 

[One Brow]

One Brow vs. Jonah



1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g6
3. Nc3 Bg7
4. Nf3 d6
5. Bg5 O-O
6. e3 c5
7. Bd3 Nc6
8. 0-0 cxd4
9. Nxd4 Qa5
10. Bh4 Bg4
11. f3 Bd7
12. Nxc6 bxc6
13. Qc2 Rab1
14. b3 Re8
15. Rd1 Rb7
16. g4

Whatever the trap was, I didn't see it.

 

[One Brow]

One Brow vs. babe

1. d4 d5
2. c4 dxc
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. Nf3 e6
5. Bg5 Be7
6. e3 Nd5
7. Bxe7 Qxe7
8. Bxc4 Qb4
9. Qb3 Qxb3
10. Bxb3 c6
11. 0-0 Nd7
12. Nxd4 exd
13. Rfc1 Nf6
14. Ba4 Bd7
15. b4 b5
16. Bb3 0-0
17. Ne5 Rfc1
18. Rc2 a5
19. bxa Bd8
20. Rac1 Ra6
21. f3 g6
22. Ng4 Kg2
23. Nxf6 Kxf6
24. Bxd5 Ke7
25. Rc5 f5
26. e4 Bd7
27. Bb3 fxe
28. fxe Rf8
29. Rf1 Rxf1
30. Kxf1 Rxa5
31. Kf2 Kd6
32. e5+ Ke7
33. Ke3 Ra6
34. d5 cxd
35. Rxd5 h6
36. Kd4 h5
37. e6 Kxe6
38. Rxb5+ Kf6
39. Rc5 Bf5
40. a4 Rd6+
41. Kc3 Rd3+
42. Kb4 Be4
43. g3 Rd2
44. h4 Rd4+
45. Rc4 Ke5
46. Rxd4 Kxd4
47. a5 Bd3
48. Ba4 Kd5
49. Bb5 Be4
50. a6 Kd6
51. a7 Bf3
52. Be8 Kc7
53. Kc5 Kb7
54. Kd6 Kxa7
55. Bxg6 Kb6
57. Ke5 Kc5
58. Kf4 Bd1
59. Kg5 Kd6
60. Bxa5 Bb3
61. Kf6

I'll try to make the finish very proper.

 

[babe]

One Brow vs. babe

1. d4 d5
2. c4 dxc
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. Nf3 e6
5. Bg5 Be7
6. e3 Nd5
7. Bxe7 Qxe7
8. Bxc4 Qb4
9. Qb3 Qxb3
10. Bxb3 c6
11. 0-0 Nd7
12. Nxd4 exd
13. Rfc1 Nf6
14. Ba4 Bd7
15. b4 b5
16. Bb3 0-0
17. Ne5 Rfc1
18. Rc2 a5
19. bxa Bd8
20. Rac1 Ra6
21. f3 g6
22. Ng4 Kg2
23. Nxf6 Kxf6
24. Bxd5 Ke7
25. Rc5 f5
26. e4 Bd7
27. Bb3 fxe
28. fxe Rf8
29. Rf1 Rxf1
30. Kxf1 Rxa5
31. Kf2 Kd6
32. e5+ Ke7
33. Ke3 Ra6
34. d5 cxd
35. Rxd5 h6
36. Kd4 h5
37. e6 Kxe6
38. Rxb5+ Kf6
39. Rc5 Bf5
40. a4 Rd6+
41. Kc3 Rd3+
42. Kb4 Be4
43. g3 Rd2
44. h4 Rd4+
45. Rc4 Ke5
46. Rxd4 Kxd4
47. a5 Bd3
48. Ba4 Kd5
49. Bb5 Be4
50. a6 Kd6
51. a7 Bf3
52. Be8 Kc7
53. Kc5 Kb7
54. Kd6 Kxa7
55. Bxg6 Kb6
57. Ke5 Kc5
58. Kf4 Bd1
59. Kg5 Kd6
60. Bxa5 Bb3
61. Kf6

I'll try to make the finish very proper.

Lol. You're doing right, alright. In my own way, I would have made the mistake of using the King to shepherd the pawns.

Kd7

 

[Jonah]

One Brow vs. Jonah



1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g6
3. Nc3 Bg7
4. Nf3 d6
5. Bg5 O-O
6. e3 c5
7. Bd3 Nc6
8. 0-0 cxd4
9. Nxd4 Qa5
10. Bh4 Bg4
11. f3 Bd7
12. Nxc6 bxc6
13. Qc2 Rab1
14. b3 Re8
15. Rd1 Rb7
16. g4 Nxg4

On my move 14 I looked at Ng4 but it doesn't work because after 15.fxg4 Bxc3 you have 16.Bxe7 winning a pawn and attacking my rook, so I protected e7 with Re8, but then when you just move your rook off a1 to d1, the combination still doesn't work, at least to the point where I felt like I get the better position. The rook had to stay on a1. That’s why I thought it was a wasted move. Now, with your having played pawn to g4, it might work again but in a different, more direct way: I think I win the g pawn but you get counterplay in return.

 

[babe]

I got my box back tonight. improved to boot.

 

[One Brow]

One Brow vs. Jonah



1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g6
3. Nc3 Bg7
4. Nf3 d6
5. Bg5 O-O
6. e3 c5
7. Bd3 Nc6
8. 0-0 cxd4
9. Nxd4 Qa5
10. Bh4 Bg4
11. f3 Bd7
12. Nxc6 bxc6
13. Qc2 Rab1
14. b3 Re8
15. Rd1 Rb7
16. g4 Nxg4
17. fxg4

I don't think I get a full pawn's worth of counterplay. That was simply an error. I tried to make b4 work as a response, but Nxe3 was just too effective.

 

[One Brow]

One Brow vs. babe

1. d4 d5
2. c4 dxc
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. Nf3 e6
5. Bg5 Be7
6. e3 Nd5
7. Bxe7 Qxe7
8. Bxc4 Qb4
9. Qb3 Qxb3
10. Bxb3 c6
11. 0-0 Nd7
12. Nxd4 exd
13. Rfc1 Nf6
14. Ba4 Bd7
15. b4 b5
16. Bb3 0-0
17. Ne5 Rfc1
18. Rc2 a5
19. bxa Bd8
20. Rac1 Ra6
21. f3 g6
22. Ng4 Kg2
23. Nxf6 Kxf6
24. Bxd5 Ke7
25. Rc5 f5
26. e4 Bd7
27. Bb3 fxe
28. fxe Rf8
29. Rf1 Rxf1
30. Kxf1 Rxa5
31. Kf2 Kd6
32. e5+ Ke7
33. Ke3 Ra6
34. d5 cxd
35. Rxd5 h6
36. Kd4 h5
37. e6 Kxe6
38. Rxb5+ Kf6
39. Rc5 Bf5
40. a4 Rd6+
41. Kc3 Rd3+
42. Kb4 Be4
43. g3 Rd2
44. h4 Rd4+
45. Rc4 Ke5
46. Rxd4 Kxd4
47. a5 Bd3
48. Ba4 Kd5
49. Bb5 Be4
50. a6 Kd6
51. a7 Bf3
52. Be8 Kc7
53. Kc5 Kb7
54. Kd6 Kxa7
55. Bxg6 Kb6
57. Ke5 Kc5
58. Kf4 Bd1
59. Kg5 Kd6
60. Bxa5 Bb3
61. Kf6 Kd7
62. Bg6

At this point, my plan is to march the h (rook) pawn down the aisle. Either it will queen or you'll have to give up your bishop for it, which will allow me to queen my g (knight) pawn instead. You can also force a trade of bishops, but with two connected pawns, winning would be a matter of simple technique.

 

[babe]

You again failed to make the obligatory mistake I need you to make. Well, "obligatory" might not be the right word.

 

[babe]

@OB

Well you locked me out.

Kd6

 

[Jonah]

One Brow vs. Jonah



1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g6
3. Nc3 Bg7
4. Nf3 d6
5. Bg5 O-O
6. e3 c5
7. Bd3 Nc6
8. 0-0 cxd4
9. Nxd4 Qa5
10. Bh4 Bg4
11. f3 Bd7
12. Nxc6 bxc6
13. Qc2 Rab1
14. b3 Re8
15. Rd1 Rb7
16. g4 Nxg4
17. fxg4 Qxc3

You might not have full compensation but you can get counterplay on the partial open f file for attacks against my king at f7, more active pieces, and a possibly strong initiative. Defending f7 looks like it will be awkward and create other weaknesses in my position. Overall, I think it was best to take on g4 because you were likely to get something going on the kingsde anyway, but defending and consolidating the pawn advantage will not be easy or automatic.

Here I'll capture on c3 with the queen, not sure if it's better than the bishop, but it does offer you opportunity to trade queens!

 

[babe]

I am again going outta range until tomorrow night. One push done, another on my plate.

I am now going into production mode with a book I've had on my mind for a number of years.

 

[babe]

checking back in, I don't have a plan to defeat OB's stated plan, so I take it a resignation is in order.

 

[babe]

So, since the endless game is apparently over, I'm open to a new challenger who'd like to just have something going on besides work. . . ..

 

[babe]

So, anyway. . . .

That phone app chess program is systenmatically beatable.

I am now winning about half of the time. It does vary it's moves in response to what it "learns" from my pattern, but once I figure out its new "habits" and it's gets predictable again.

Returning to my old computer game "Chess Titans", I think it is better done than the phone thing.

My weakness is a fairly strong tendency for self delusion, otherwise called stubborn stupidity. And I think I am far less perceptive of the board on screens than in actual board play. I frequently confuse pieces like pawns and bishops, rooks and knights, even king and queen and queen and bishop because it seems I rely on spatial or size cues subconsciously, and the flat screen with very little size differences just makes me stupid.

No excuses though for OB, Siri, Enes and anyone else who beat me. I think when I was 17 I might have ranked a out 1800 on the chess power score, but now might be only 1500. I would benefit from playing more people with unpredictable or unfamiliar proclivities for actual human cognition and purposes.

Playing dumb computers has clearly made me stupid, and playing humans will tend to cure that stupidity.

 

[Jonah]

So, anyway. . . .

That phone app chess program is systenmatically beatable.

I am now winning about half of the time. It does vary it's moves in response to what it "learns" from my pattern, but once I figure out its new "habits" and it's gets predictable again.

Returning to my old computer game "Chess Titans", I think it is better done than the phone thing.

My weakness is a fairly strong tendency for self delusion, otherwise called stubborn stupidity. And I think I am far less perceptive of the board on screens than in actual board play. I frequently confuse pieces like pawns and bishops, rooks and knights, even king and queen and queen and bishop because it seems I rely on spatial or size cues subconsciously, and the flat screen with very little size differences just makes me stupid.

No excuses though for OB, Siri, Enes and anyone else who beat me. I think when I was 17 I might have ranked a out 1800 on the chess power score, but now might be only 1500. I would benefit from playing more people with unpredictable or unfamiliar proclivities for actual human cognition and purposes.

Playing dumb computers has clearly made me stupid, and playing humans will tend to cure that stupidity.

I learned by reading a few books and playing lots of blitz. Now, over the internet, there are so many interactive and fun ways to learn and improve. Tactics trainers, online lessons and thousands of annotated games, much of it provided by the best grandmasters in the world. You can have Vishy Anand teach you the basics of the game or Peter Svidler give you master level strategy lessons on the Ruy Lopez, all a few clicks away and much of it for free or very reasonably priced.

For me, the easiest and most entertaining way to improve is to watch the games of the best players in the world while having a top grandmaster explain the ideas behind the moves. Over the next few weeks fourteen top players, including Carlsen and Caruana, the number one and two rated players, are competing at Wijk aan Zee. Live commentary and analysis is free at many chess sites. Chess24.com is one of the more simple and easy to navigate. If you're interested in improving your game it's definitely worth checking out.

 

[One Brow]

Sorry I haven't been around, Jonah. One of my courses has no textbook this year, so I will barely be in here for the next several months. I will resign.