"Foggydew (c)" Game 2 of 5 (FICS)

[Event "rated standard match"]
[Site "Free Internet Chess Server"]
[Date "2020.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "foggydew"]
[Black "cterlizzi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2246"]
[BlackElo "1755"]
[ECO "A48"]
[TimeControl "1200+20"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. Bf4 d6 6. h3 Nbd7 7. e3 c5 (last book move) 8. Bd3
b6 9. O-O Bb7 (was this move pointless?  White's next move seals in the light-squared bishop!) 10. d5 Nh5 (I want to put my d7 Night on e5 so that when I push e6 the d-pawn is protected by the Queen) 11. Bg5 Ne5 12. Nxe5 Bxe5 13. Qf3 Qd7 14. e4 e6 15. Rfe1 exd5 16. cxd5 Rac8 17. Bb5 (for a second here, I thought I lost my Queen!) Qc7 18. Rad1 a6 19. Be2 b5 20. Qe3 Ng7 21. Bg4 Ra8 (The first mistake of the game, Fritz suggests 21 ...f5 22. exf5 Nxf5) 22. Qd2 b4 23. Ne2 a5 24. f4 Bd4+ (Fritz shows there 24 ...f5 would still keep me in the game) 25. Nxd4 cxd4 26. Qxd4 Ba6 27. f5 Rfe8 28. Rc1 (Much stronger is 28. Bf6!) Qb7 29. Bh6 Re5 30. fxg6 fxg6 31. Bf4 and white will win the d6 pawn after the rook retreats to e8 giving white a clearly winning position{cterlizzi resigns} 1-0

Original PGN: 

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. Bf4 d6 6. h3 Nbd7 7. e3 c5 8. Bd3
b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. d5 Nh5 11. Bg5 Ne5 12. Nxe5 Bxe5 13. Qf3 Qd7 14. e4 e6 15.
Rfe1 exd5 16. cxd5 Rac8 17. Bb5 Qc7 18. Rad1 a6 19. Be2 b5 20. Qe3 Ng7 21.
Bg4 Ra8 22. Qd2 b4 23. Ne2 a5 24. f4 Bd4+ 25. Nxd4 cxd4 26. Qxd4 Ba6 27. f5
Rfe8 28. Rc1 Qb7 29. Bh6 Re5 30. fxg6 fxg6 31. Bf4

Match vs "Foggydew (c)" (FICS), Game 1 of 5. (Alekhine's Defense with Black")

 [Event "rated standard match"]
[Site "Free Internet Chess Server"]
[Date "2020.12.05"]
[Round "?"]
[White "foggydew"]
[Black "cterlizzi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2245"]
[BlackElo "1756"]
[ECO "B05"]
[TimeControl "1200+20"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. c4 Nb6 6. exd6 exd6 7. h3 Bh5 (last book move) 8.
Nc3 c6 9. Bd3 Be7 10. b3 O-O 11. O-O Bf6 12. Bb2 Bxd4 (I saw 13.Bxh7+ but was not afraid of it.  Fritz however shows that this was an error giving white a 1.81 point advantage.  Fritz suggests 12 ...d5 13. g4 Bg6 14. Re1 Na6) 13. Bxh7+ Kxh7 14. Qxd4 Qf6 15. Qxf6 gxf6 16. Ne4 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Rg8+ 18. Kh2 Rg6? (Now my position has collapsed, Fritz shows I possibly could still hang on with 18 ...N8d7 19. Nxd6 Ne5 20. Bxe5 fxe5 21. Nxb7 Rg6 22. Rad1 Rf6 23. Rd6 Rxd6 24. Nxd6 Kg6 25. Rg1+ Kf6 26. Ne4+ Ke6 27. Rg7 Rh8 28. Kg3 Nc8 29. h4) 19. Nxf6+ Kh6 20. Bc1+ Kg7 21. Ne8+ and white wins the a8 Rook after Nc7 {cterlizzi resigns} 1-0  

Original PGN:   

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. c4 Nb6 6. exd6 exd6 7. h3 Bh5 8.
Nc3 c6 9. Bd3 Be7 10. b3 O-O 11. O-O Bf6 12. Bb2 Bxd4 13. Bxh7+ Kxh7 14. Qxd4
Qf6 15. Qxf6 gxf6 16. Ne4 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Rg8+ 18. Kh2 Rg6 19. Nxf6+ Kh6 20.
Bc1+ Kg7 21. Ne8+

I traded Queens and Won??? (K.I.D. with Black, Played on FICS 12.2.2020)

 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nbd7 7. Qd2 e5 8.
Nge2 Ne8 9. g4 exd4 10. Bxd4 Ne5 11. Bxe5 Bxe5 12. h4 Be6 13. f4 Bg7 14. g5
Bg4 15. Bh3 Bh5 16. Ng3 Bxc3 17. Qxc3 Ng7 18. f5 f6 19. Nxh5 Nxh5 20. O-O-O
Qe8 21. Rhe1 Rb8 22. gxf6 Nxf6 23. e5 dxe5 24. Rxe5 Qa4 25. a3 Rbd8 26. Rxd8
Rxd8 27. Qc2 Qxc2+ 28. Kxc2 Rd4 29. fxg6 Rxc4+ 30. Kd3 Rxh4 31. gxh7+ Rxh7
32. Be6+ Kf8 33. Bf5 Rh5 34. Kd4 b6 35. b4 Rh4+ 36. Ke3 Ng4+ 37. Bxg4 Rxg4
38. Kf3 Rc4 39. Re3 c5 40. bxc5 Rxc5 41. Rd3 Ke7 42. Ke4 Ke6 43. Rb3 Kd6 44.
Kd4 Kc6 45. Rb4 Ra5 46. Rc4+ Kb7 47. Rc3 a6 48. Rb3 Ra4+ 49. Kd5 Ra5+ 50. Kd6
Rg5 51. Re3 a5 52. Re7+ Ka6 53. Kc6 Rg6+ 54. Kd5 Kb5 55. Re4 Rg5+ 56. Ke6 Rc5
57. a4+ Ka6 58. Kd7 b5 59. Re6+ Kb7 60. Kd6 Rc6+ {dormantPatzer resigns} 0-1

I usually don't like traded queen's.. something I need to learn to get over!  I got up a pawn and that was all I needed.  

More common is 7 ...c5 and 8 ...Ne8 is less common than 8 ...c6.  I played Ne8 to push the f-pawn but my opponent simply replied with 9. g4!?  on 14 ...Bg4 I felt I had to defend the h5 square.  21 ..Rb8 was a bit of a wasted move.  I wanted to push the b-pawn but going ahead with Qa4 is better.  Trading Queens on move 27 wins a pawn and that was all I needed!

There will be another day!

- Lizzi

 

Self-Help, Philosophy, School...

 I once was obsessed with getting comments and views and subscribers on my blogs and Youtube channel.  I once had someone tell me to simply write for myself!  Indeed, writing for yourself can be quite therapeutic.  

Not a whole lot going on in my life right now.  I tried holding another job, again I failed.  You hear a lot of self-help "gurus" talking about how you need to fail more.  Failure is what makes us grow.  This is true to a point but sometimes can be wayyyyyyy off, for there is such thing as setting yourself up for failure, which is what I did this past week.  I gave fast food a shot and failed miserably.  Low self-esteem, actually... NO self-esteem, it keeps me from being a productive member of society.  Thinking you are worthless can actually lead to being worthless (in some ways).  Confidence is 99% of everything. Confidence and self-esteem is the most valuable thing anyone can take away from you!

I've been reading a lot - philosophy and foreign language.... currently almost finished with a book on stoicism written by one Ward Farnsworth. Quite interesting his book is!  I picked back up my Francais studies.  I read the entire French for Dummies book last Summer.  It took a little under 3 months if I recall correctly.  I read THE ENTIRE THING - cover to cover!  I was proud of myself for having that much discipline.  Unfortunately, it didn't help a whole lot.  Those 21 chapters acted as a mild primer for the French I studied in High School 20 years ago.  I needed to be implementing what I was studying into everyday life.

I want to be a polymath - someone with a wide array of knowledge from things like mathematics, foreign languages, history, anatomy, etc...  Thought of going back to school... not sure.  I mean, I'm not so young anymore (coming up on middle-age).  College would just remind me of what school I experienced as  a kid.  I absolutely hated high school!  I have a bit of an unconventional style and mindset.  I think... a truly brilliant and clever person.. doesn't need school to be successful.  I've had people tell me to save the time and money and just buy books instead.  

I've been thinking of opening up my domain again - culturedmonk(dot)com.  I have a lot of ideas I want to share with the World, but at the same time I'm trying to be a little more anonymous/stealth on the web these days... I'm not going to reopen the domain I had under my full name... hmmm... but maybe I'll just stick to this blog here on Blogger.  I've had it for over 7 years now!

That's all for today.

- Lizzi     

Spiritual Experiences

 Congratulations to GM Irina Krush for winning the 2020 US Women's Chess Championship.  It was held online and broadcasted via The STL Chess Club and Scholastic Center youtube channel.  I watched most of it.  The tournament lasted 4 days.  Irina was the only Grandmaster there.  She had an undefeated score, with I believe 3 draws.  There certainly was some brilliancy in a few of the games.  

The 2020 US Chess Championship begins Monday, October 26th.  First place is $40,000 - not bad!  I will be looking forward to watching the games online this coming week. 

A lot of tournaments these days from The US Chess Federation going completely online.  No thanks, not for me.  I keep searching and searching for any Over The Board tournaments.. can't find any.  I can't get my rating way tf up there if I'm not playing.  I really want to get to 2000 Elo. 

In other news...

Last night I "Googled", "How to have a spiritual experience".  Shame on me!  I've written before that people simply want these petty experiences because it brings them comfort.  But, I am ready for God to reveal himself to me (again).  I am ready to be given the key to shut my mind off.  Or am I?  I read that, ultimately, our awakenings come to us only when God knows we are ready for them.  It is our duty to put ourselves in that situation.   I also read somewhere online about "window-dressing",  burning incense, lighting candles and all that nonsense in an attempt to ignite an awakening.  There is nothing wrong with our life, our situation as it is.  We think we need to "window dress" because the egoic mind always believes what is happening right now and right here isn't good enough.  The task is for us to realize that nothing is ever lacking as it is.  Of course, some other websites I read recommended using psychedelics... no thank you!  I don't like drugs... of any kind!  Psychedelics can damage the nervous system.  My mind has never responded well to anything like that anyways.. especially marijuana, it gives me intense panic attacks!  I'm not going to be a monk, no thank you.  It's not necessary.  I bought a book a while back about wilderness being the "Gateway to the Soul".  I camped for a little bit in the forests a couple weeks ago.  I hated it.  I hate tent-camping.  ...it's the opposite of enlightening to me.  Another suggestion is to expand your mind through reading books from and talking to people who have different experiences and life-backgrounds from you.  Yeah, I think that can help.  Personally, I just want to learn to pray more, and I want to start reading the Holy Bible every day.  I want to buy a rosary and learn to "pray the rosary"... every day!    My last spiritual experience:  I stopped taking my medicine back in 2013, I thought I was in Hell for nearly half a year, and I suffered two stress-induced seizures and had 3 hospitalizations.  Hopefully I can make my next one a little more pleasant!

I've got about 35 pages wrote for a book I've been working on since last Spring (2020).  It's a lot of philosophy and religion stuff.. and some of my thoughts regarding psychology.  I already have two kindle books published.. but.. I want a full-length physical book!  It is my life's mission (one of my life's missions).  I hope to publish it independently and for it to sell and then have a major publisher buy it.  I don't have the answers though.  Maybe I shouldn't finish it until I've mastered my own life...

I need to get a job because I need to get a better car that is okay for cross-country travel because I need to hit the road again because, for me, wandering around the country is the gateway to my Soul.  I've had a lot of experiences from my travels over the past 6 years.  Crazy times!  And met some real characters!  My favorite city is Montreal QC.  I love Canada..   Shall not an enlightening experience simply be what brings us joy?  Joy itself is what enlightenment is!  But, this is the joy of being in God's presence which is something 99.99% of the human population has never experienced...

Yes, this weeks mission: GET A JOB!  I want to trade my car in for a Subaru Impreza Hatchback.  I can't afford a Subaru Outback although it would be easier to wander around North America in.  But, the Impreza hatchback will suffice.

My heart is broken, in all honesty.  Only God can heal it.  My parents broke my heart.  And I broke my own heart for some of the things I use to stay to and they I treated my father as a teenager.  I'm not going to go into details here.. I already wrote a memoir about my teen years and published it through Kindle.  My parents did some really shitty things to me though.  I'll leave it at that.  I'm 35 and I've never really been a relationship, I've never held a job for very long and I don't have many friends.  I had to drop out of High School because I was sick.  My brother is dead.  Only God can heal my broken heart right now.  I'm done with the "happy pills" people always suggest I get on.  I don't want that to be me.  Pills are still drugs, even though psychiatric.. they can damage the nervous system as well.  I only take one pill a day now for my mood.. been that way for over a year now.    

Boo for me, sorry I try to avoid this kind of blogging anymore...

I logged back in to Lumosity the other day for the first time in several years.  Yes, brain training!  Neuroplasticity!  Neurogenesis!  I'm going to buy a subscription from them again and start the mental aerobics again... everyday!

CBD... I stopped in the middle of this post to smoke some CBD.  I tried it for a half a year - the first half of 2020.  I guess I'll give it another try.. maybe.  I smoked some of it yesterday for the first time several months.  I'm skeptical it will help me.  It never has in the past.  I read an article online about Tommy Chong sharing his thoughts.  It got me interested in it again.  I'm desperate.  I think it's over-rated though.  I don't get the slightest sense of it treating my anxiety or depression.  I think a lot of ppl don't even know what they're talking about when they it helps.  Placebo, typical herbal remedy.

There's a new chess mini-series on Netflix, - "The Queen's Gambit".  Fictional story about a female chess player who dominates all competition.  I guess it's the female Bobby Fischer or something.  I still have to get my Netflix running again on my TV.  I watched "Borat 2" on Prime on my PC the other day.  It was NASTY - the fertility dance made me want to vomit.

I wanted to be the next Bobby Fischer.  It turns out I'm just the first me. 

It's nice having a place to stay for a while

There will be another day

- Lizzi

 

In all seriousness (played on FICS 10.16.20)

 [Event "rated standard match"]
[Site "Free Internet Chess Server"]
[Date "2020.10.16"]
[Round "?"]
[White "gorom"]
[Black "cterlizzi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "1952"]
[BlackElo "1754"]
[ECO "A05"]
[TimeControl "900+10"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. b3 Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. d4 c5 6. dxc5 Qa5+ 7. Qd2 Qxd2+
8. Nbxd2 Nc6 9. e3 Nb4 10. Kd1 Ng4 11. Bxg7 Kxg7 12. Ke2 b6 13. h3 Nf6 14. a3
Na6 15. cxb6 axb6 16. b4 d6 17. Nd4 Bb7 18. f3 Nxb4 19. g4 e5 20. Nb5 Rfd8
21. Bg2 Nc6 22. Rhd1 Rac8 23. f4 exf4 24. exf4 Nd4+ 25. Kf2 Bxg2 26. Kxg2
Nxb5 27. cxb5 Rc2 28. Kf3 Rdc8 29. Ne4 Nxe4 30. Kxe4 R2c3 31. Rxd6 Rxh3 32.
Rxb6 Rc4+ 33. Kd5 Rxf4 34. a4 Rxg4 35. a5 Rh5+ 36. Kc6 Rc4+ 37. Kb7 Rd5 38.
Ka7 h5 39. Rb7 h4 40. b6 h3 41. Rc7 h2 42. Rxc4 Rxa5+ 43. Rxa5 h1=Q 44. Rc7
Qg1 45. Kb7 Qe1 46. Ra7 Qe4+ 47. Kb8 Qe8+ 48. Rc8 Qe5+ 49. Rac7 g5 50. Ka8 g4
51. Ra7 Qd5+ 52. Kb8 g3 53. Rcc7 Qd8+ 54. Kb7 g2 55. Ra1 Qd5+ 56. Kb8 Qb5 57.
b7 Qf1 58. Rcc1 Qf4+ 59. Ka8 Qe4 60. Rg1 f5 61. Rae1 Qa4+ 62. Kb8 Qc6 63. Re2
Qd6+ 64. Ka7 Qc5+ 65. Ka8 Qa5+ 66. Kb8 Qd8+ 67. Ka7 Qa5+ 68. Kb8 Qd8+ 69. Ka7
Qa5+ 70. Kb8 Qd8+ 71. Ka7 Qa5+ 72. Kb8 Qd8+ 73. Ka7 Qa5+ {Game drawn by repetition} 1/2-1/2

In all seriousness..  I got serious in this match, turned off my music and disabled the chat.  I really wanted to win and get some points (this guy was rated 200 points higher than me).  This is really how I need to play EVERY online match.  The game ended in a draw... I missed a move in the endgame which probably would have won me the game.  The move was 56 ...Qd4 !! instead of  ...Qb5.  The opening was a bit unusual to say the least... I'm not very familiar with Reti-type Openings.  On move 41 I found the only move I could make to stay alive (possibly even a winning move) ...h2!!  I need to analyze the game with Fritz... I might write more posts about this game.

There will be another day!

- Lizzi

Just a Man

Rising up, back on the street Did my time, took my chances Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet Just a man and his will to survive So many times it happens too fast You trade your passion for glory Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past You must fight just to keep them alive It's the eye of the tiger It's the thrill of the fight Rising up to the challenge of our rival And the last known survivor
Stalks his prey in the night And he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger....

Part of lyrics from "Survivor", "Eye of The Tiger"

"Like Pouring Concrete down a HOLY WELL"

 Keep running in circles... story of my life!  I always end up in my GD hometown in Illinois.  Nothing ever goes right!  I don't want to go anywhere for a long time.  I'm tired of all the running around.. it gets me nowhere, just wastes a lot of money.  Sometimes we look too far for the answers without realizing they're right in front of us.  

I spent the last two days camping in the forests of Southern Illinois.  Not much fun for me.  The last night my pills made me sick.  I spent the whole night vomiting.  Those pills do that to me from time to time.  I want off of them.. ALL OF THEM.  I saw a scene in Pawn Sacrifice (The Bobby Fischer movie) where one of Fischer's team members mentioned Bobby taking a pill.. the other responded that that would be like pooring concrete down a Holy well, yes the priest said that to I believe the attorney.  Bobby was weird.  I'm weird.  Bobby would have never taken any psychiatric medications.  I did.  BIG mistake.  My body is addicted to them now.

 I'm getting older, I see many and many things come and go.  When I log into chess servers like FICS and ICC, I am reminded of all the people I used to talk to on there many years ago.  Some of them died, some gave up the game.  Some... who knows???  Those chat rooms were great.  I talked to a lot of people on there regularly.  Only a couple now that I knew since wayyyy back in the day.  Good times.  

 I'm exhausted.. can't think of much to write right now.  I still watch online for upcoming tournaments from the United States Chess Federation.  They are all still getting canceled because of the current pandemic.  USCF has a new online rating feature.  All the tournaments are going online.  I don't care to get an online rating... it's just not the same.  

I'm just waiting for things to move on...

 There will be another day!

 thanks for reading 

- Lizzi 

Chess

Even to this day I still am trying to figure out what I want to dedicate my life to.  Maybe chess is it, maybe not.  However, (I shouldn't be saying this) I lost my passion for the game (chess) many years ago.  I just don't have that drive in me anymore like I did when I was a teenager.  Actually,  I don't think I have a drive left in me for anything.  

Sometimes, I ask myself, "What is the point of playing chess competitively if  you're not going to get the master title and play on a national level?".  Why should I do it?  What is the point of playing just for fun?  On the other hand, without amateurs like myself, there would be  no professionals.  I guess you could say that by my playing, I'm supporting the game Worldwide.  

Can I still even improve my game at my age?  Sure, I can become more knowledgeable in endgames studying endgame diagrams, and I can expand on my knowledge of openings.  However, I doubt I can improve my core playing skill.  

I am good at the game (I won't deny that).  One of the best days of my life was a tournament I won back in 2012 in my hometown.  When I look back on it, I wonder how that didn't give me the motivation to start busting my ass everyday, working on improving my play.  I had an friend from Italy who once told me a while back to find my passion again for the game.  Is this really something someone can do.. to make things find passion again in something they lost their passion for before?  Maybe...  I think that, perhaps, chess is who I am (been playing in tournaments since 1996) and for me to give up the game is not being true to myself.  I wish I could find a career in chess organizations like the United States Chess Federation.  I mean, obviously I'm not going to be a professional chess player, but perhaps I can still find a profession in chess (in the chess world).

"You bring something to society by being a damn good chess player!"  -  G. Jokipii

I'm heading south soon.  I can't be around for the cold weather.  Some nights I have to sleep in my car.  I am effectively homeless at this time.  But, I have a car with a warm blanket, pillow and a lot of chess books!

- Lizzi 

Words...

 I'm back in the Midwest now, after visiting a friend in New Mexico.  I had to pick up a few things.  I am taking off again soon.  I'm not sure where to.  I'm not going back to AZ or NM again.. too many Covid restrictions!  I don't like!  

It has been an exhausting past month for me.  I have been on the go 24/7... even living out of my car for a couple of weeks #LifeOfaPoorMan  

I've been slacking on the chess studies for a while.  I did Chess.com tactics trainer on the iPhone App yesterday and today for the first time in a while.  I don't know when my next tournament will be.  I was planning on going to the 2020 National Open in Las Vegas this month, but I ran out of money by the time I got to Vegas.  At least I can say I've officially gambled in Vegas - I went through 27 dollars in less than 10 minutes.  I'm not even sure if the National Open ended up getting canceled.. I'll check right now!  Hmm,  not sure how to check for previous tournaments.  The USCF completely changed there website as well.  I just "Googled" it... The 2020 National Open was cancelled on September 8th by the Nevada Gaming Control Board.  Okay...  Notice I put "Google" in quotes.  I don't use Google.  I use private search engines like DuckDuckGo.  

Well, I'm going to watch a movie (The Luzhin Defence) and then go to bed.  I haven't seen "The Luzhin Defence" in many, many years and I don't remember much of it.  It was loosely based on the player from the 1800's - Bardeleben.  He was famous for walking out on a game against Steinitz after ending up in a lost position during a game for the championship I believe.  

There will be more! 

Thanks for reading!

- Lizzi

2020 Summer Open (Round 3)

 [Event "Summer Open"]
[Site "Illinois"]
[Date "08.08.2020"]
[Round "3"]
[White "CJ"]
[Black "Lizzi"]
[Result "0-1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Be2 d6 5. c3 O-O 6. h4 Nbd7 7. h5 e5 8. Bg5 Qe8
9. hxg6 fxg6 10. Bc4+ d5 11. dxe5 dxc4 12. exf6 Nxf6 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Nd2 Be6
15. Qe2 Qf7 16. O-O-O b5 17. f4 Be7 18. Ngf3 Bg4 19. Qf2 Bxf3 20. Nxf3 Bf6 21.
g4 Rfe8 22. g5 Bh8 23. Rh4 Qe6 24. Re1 Qe4 25. Rh3 Rab8 26. Qh4 Re7 27. Nh2 b4
28. Ng4 bxc3 29. Nh6+ Kf8 30. bxc3 Rb1+ 31. Kd2 Qd3# 0-1

2020 Summer Open (Round 2)

 [Event "Summer Open"]
[Site "Illinois"]
[Date "08.08.2020"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Lizzi"]
[Black "Thain"]
[Result "0-1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. Nf3 Nd7 7. Bd3 e6 8. Bf4
Ngf6 9. Bxg6 hxg6 10. O-O Nd5 11. Bd2 Qc7 12. Re1 O-O-O 13. Qe2 Nf4 14. Qe4 Bd6
15. Bxf4 Bxf4 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. Qxf4 Nc4 18. Qe4 Nxb2 19. Rab1 Nc4 20. Qd3 Nb6
21. Rb3 Rh4 22. Re4 Rxe4 23. Qxe4 Qd6 24. Ne2 Qc7 25. g3 Nc4 26. Qd3 Nd6 27. c3
Nf5 28. Ra3 a6 29. Qc2 e5 30. dxe5 Qxe5 31. Ra4 Qd5 32. Nd4 Re8 33. Qc1 c5 34.
Nxf5 gxf5 35. Rf4 g5 36. Ra4 Qf3 37. Rc4 *

 My position slowly deteriorated throughout this game.  I need to study the Caro-Kann again and how to play against it.

 - Lizzi

2020 Summer Chess Open (Round 1)

 [Event "Summer Open"]
[Site "Illinois"]
[Date "08.08.2020"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Tullis"]
[Black "Lizzi"]
[Result "1/2 - 1/2"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 a6 7. a3 b5 8. Ba2
Bb7 9. b4 Be7 10. Bb2 d6 11. Re1 Ng4 12. h3 Nh6 13. d4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 exd4 15.
Nd5 Kh8 16. Bxd4 Bg5 17. Qd3 Ng8 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. Nxe3 Qg5 20. Bd5 Bxd5 21. Nxd5
Rac8 22. Re3 Nf6 23. Nxf6 Qxf6 24. c3 Qe6 25. Qd5 Qxd5 26. exd5 Rce8 27. Rae1
Rxe3 28. Rxe3 Kg8 29. Re1 f5 30. Ra1 Re8 31. Kf1 Kf7 32. a4 Re5 33. axb5 axb5
34. Rd1 g6 35. Rd4 Kf6 36. Rd3 h5 37. f3 f4 38. Kf2 g5 39. g3 fxg3+ 40. Kxg3 Re2
41. f4 h4+ 42. Kf3 Re7 43. Re3 Rxe3+ 44. Kxe3 Kf5 45. fxg5 Kxg5 46. Kf3 Kf5 47.
Ke3 Ke5 48. Kf3 Kf5 *

 This was the first time I played Alekhine's Defence in an official chess tournament.  It turned into the four-knights game which is a beginner's open and it has been so long since I've studied it!

 - Lizzi

Draw Against "Foggydew" 8.05.2020 (French Defense: Exchange Variation)

[Event "rated standard match"]
[Site "Free Internet Chess Server"]
[Date "2020.08.05"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lizzi"]
[Black "foggydew"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "1774"]
[BlackElo "2245"]
[ECO "C01"]
[TimeControl "600+10"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Be2 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 O-O
8. Nf3 Bg4 9. Bg5 Qd6 10. O-O Ne4 11. Bd2 Nd7 12. Ng5 Nxd2 13. Qxd2 Bxe2 14.
Qxe2 Nf6 15. Qd3 Rfe8 16. Rab1 b6 17. a4 c5 18. a5 c4 19. Qh3 bxa5 20. Rb7
Qc6 21. Rxf7 a4 22. Rxf6 Qxf6 23. Qxh7+ Kf8 24. Nf3 Rad8 25. Ne5 Re6 26. Ra1
Qh6 27. Qf5+ Qf6 28. Qg4 Qh6 29. g3 a3 30. f4 Rxe5 31. dxe5 Qb6+ 32. Kg2 Qa5
33. Qf5+ Kg8 34. e6 Rf8 35. Qe5 Re8 36. e7 Qc5 37. Qe6+ Kh7 38. Qf5+ Kg8 39.
Qe6+ Kh7 40. Qf5+ Kg8 41. Qe6+ Kh7 42. Qf5+ {Game drawn by repetition} 1/2-1/2

Avoiding The Sicilian with Alekhine's Defence

[Event "rated standard match"]
[Site "Free Internet Chess Server"]
[Date "2020.08.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "bramanti"]
[Black "Lizzi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2033"]
[BlackElo "1780"]
[ECO "B02"]
[TimeControl "900+5"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. d4 d6 5. exd6 exd6 6. Na3 Be7 7. Nc2 Bf5 8.
b3 Bf6 9. Nf3 O-O 10. Be2 Nc6 11. O-O a5 12. Bb2 Nb4 13. Nxb4 axb4 14. Bd3
Bxd3 15. Qxd3 c5 16. a4 Qc7 17. Rad1 Rad8 18. Bc1 d5 19. dxc5 Qxc5 20. Be3
Qc7 21. Bxb6 Qxb6 22. cxd5 Rd6 23. Qc4 Rfd8 24. Rd3 Bc3 25. Rfd1 Re8 26. Kf1
Qd8 27. Re3 Rxe3 28. fxe3 Qe8 29. e4 g6 30. Qe2 f6 31. Nd2 f5 32. Nc4 Rd8 33.
e5 Qe7 34. e6 Qh4 35. e7 Qf4+ 36. Qf3 Qxf3+ 37. gxf3 Re8 38. d6 {cterlizzi

resigns} 1-0

I could have one the d-pawn and probably the game with 11 ...Bxc2! instead of a5.

I don't like the Sicilian Defence anymore, there's too much theory in it.  This is one of my first games on FICS playing Alekhine's Defence. 

With white, I'm playing the Smith-Morra to avoid mainline Sicilian openings. 

- Lizzi

Earlier Game against FoggyDew that I had a draw but lost (Played on FICS 6.15.2020)

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 exd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. e3 Bd6 6. Bb5+ c6 7. Bd3 O-O 8.
Nge2 Qc7 9. Ng3 Bg4 10. Qc2 Nbd7 11. a3 Rfe8 12. b4 a5 13. b5 c5 14. Nce2 Qb6
15. a4 c4 16. Bf5 Bxf5 17. Nxf5 Bb4+ 18. Bd2 Bxd2+ 19. Qxd2 Ne4 20. Qc2 Qf6
21. g4 g6 22. f3 gxf5 23. fxe4 fxe4 24. h4 Qf3 25. O-O-O Qxe3+ 26. Kb2 Nb6
27. Nc3 Rac8 28. h5 Qg3 29. g5 e3 30. g6 hxg6 31. hxg6 f6 32. Qf5 e2 33. Rh8+

Kg7 34. Rh7+ Kg8 35. Qxf6 Nxa4+ 36. Nxa4 Qb3+ {cterlizzi resigns} 0-1

(I went for the win with 35 Qxf6 and turned down the draw with 35. Rh8! - I overlooked blacks next move - Nxa4)

So, why is it so much more important to play opponents A LOT better than you?  You'll consider your mistakes more significant.  If they are more significant to you then you will remember them a lot easier.  If you remember your mistakes, you will improve! 

- LIZZI

My Draw Against FoggyDew! (2271 FICS)

Lately I've been realizing that I need to go back to the good old days to really improve my chess. How did I improve in my adolescent years? I played against a computer every day and with the rating set a lot stronger than my present strength. I remember losing a lot of games and then after I while I would get a draw here and there. Then I considered the possibility that I could even win now and then, so I would try my best and eventually get a win. And then with that one win came many more wins! I gradually climbed the ranks! How was I improving? By constantly playing someone (something) a lot better than me. I decided recently that's what I need to start doing again. There are not a lot of players on these servers that are a lot stronger than me. So, lately I have been playing against computers rated about 400 points higher than me. I had a couple games where I realized I could have drawn after post-analysis. That gave me the courage to actually try to draw or even win... 

Today I had my first draw against a program rated at the master level. I actually had a winning endgame but couldn't quite figure out how to capitalize and ended up with a draw. How did I pull this off? I tried! I put aside the idea of having confidence or not having confidence and just played my best! This game made me realize how much I need to focus on my endgame. The higher the playing strength the more important endgame knowledge is! Well, the more important all areas of the game are, of course.

I am going to see if my chess coach wants to analyze the game with me later on. 

Here is the game...

[Event "rated standard match"]

[Site "Free Internet Chess Server"]

[Date "2020.07.21"] [Round "?"]

[White "cterlizzi"]

[Black "foggydew"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]

[WhiteElo "1767"]

[BlackElo "2271"]

[ECO "A22"]

[TimeControl "600+10"] 

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Be6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Qa4 Qd6 8. O-O Be7 9. d3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 O-O-O 11. Be3 Kb8 12. Rab1 b6 13. Rb3 Bxb3 14. axb3 h6 15. Ra1 Na5 16. b4 Qc6 17. bxa5 Qxa4 18. Rxa4 f6 19. axb6 cxb6 20. Nd2 Rc8 21. c4 Bc5 22. Ne4 Bxe3 23. fxe3 Rhf8 24. Nd6 Rcd8 25. Nf5 Rf7 26. Bd5 Rc7 27. Nh4 a5 28. Kf2 Ra7 29. Be4 Rd6 30. Nf3 Rdd7 31. Nd2 f5 32. Bd5 Re7 33. Nb1 Rad7 34. Nc3 Rd8 35. c5 Red7 36. e4 fxe4 37. dxe4 bxc5 38. Rxa5 c4 39. Nb5 Rxd5 40. exd5 Rxd5 41. Ra4 Rxb5 42. Rxc4 Kb7 43. h4 g6 44. Rg4 Rb6 45. Re4 Re6 46. Kf3 Kc6 47. Kg4 Kd5 48. Ra4 h5+ 49. Kg5 Rd6 50. e4+ Kc5 51. g4 hxg4 52. Kxg4 Rf6 53. Kg5 Rb6 54. h5 gxh5 55. Kxh5 Rf6 56. Kg5 Rf4 57. Ra5+ Kd4 58. Ra4+ Kd3 59. Rb4 Rxe4 60. Rb5 Re2 61. Rb8 Rf2 62. Rd8+ Ke4 63. Kg4 Rg2+ 64. Kh3 Rg7 65. Kh4 Kf4 66. Rf8+ Ke3 67. Re8 Ke4 68. Kh3 Kf4 69. Rf8+ Ke3 70. Re8 Kf3 71. Rf8+ Ke2 72. Re8 Rg5 73. Kh4 Rg2 74. Rxe5+ Kf3 75. Rf5+ Ke4 76. Rf8 Ke5 77. Re8+ Kf4 78. Rf8+ Ke4 79. Re8+ Kf5 80. Rf8+ Ke6 81. Re8+ Kd6 82. Rd8+ Ke5 83. Re8+ Kd5 {Game drawn by mutual agreement} 1/2-1/2

My First Blindfold Checkmate (Lichess.org)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4 4. Qe2 Nc5 5. Nc6+ Be7 6. Nxd8 O-O 7. Nxf7 Rxf7 8. Qh5 Rf8 9. Bd3 Bd6 10. Bxh7+ Kh8 11. Bg6+ Kg8 12. Qh7# 1-0 I cannot be very proud of this game considering my opponent blundered his Queen very early in the opening. That being said, this is still the first time actually checkmated an opponent in a BLINDFOLD game - not just win through a resign, but an actual checkmate! Game played 6.13.2020 on Lichess.org

My First Blindfold Game To Go Into an Endgame (Lichess.org)

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. h4 O-O 5. g3 d6 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Bb5 c6 8. Bd3 Nc5 9. O-O Nxd3 10. Qxd3 b5 11. c4 Bb7 12. Nc3 c5 13. cxb5 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Be4 15. Qc4 h6 16. f3 hxg5 17. fxe4 Nxe4 18. a4 Nxc3 19. bxc3 Rc8 20. Nc6 Rxc6 21. bxc6 d5 22. c7 dxc4 23. cxd8=Q Rxd8 24. hxg5 Bxc3 25. Kf2 Bxa1 26. Rxa1 1/2-1/2

Thoughts for May 30, 2020

I don't ever remember the Chicago Open being canceled.  It has been a long tradition of mine. Well, it was canceled this year (2020).  I had hopes of getting my rating into the next rank this year.  I'm currently in Class B.  I was hoping to make it to Class A.  That surely won't happen in 2020.  How sad :( 

I'm still practicing blindfold chess at lichess.  I had the thought today, "Why don't I just focus on getting better at regular chess instead of trying to play blindfold everyday?".  The truth is, solely focusing on blindfold chess can throw off your game.  It requires a totally different mode of thinking.  In blindfold chess, a large part of success is being sharp with your short-term memory and focusing on tactics rather than strategy. At least from my experience this is the case.  If I improve my non-blindfold game, then my blindfold game will improve.  Generally, the stronger the player, the stronger his blindfold game will be.  Most Grandmasters can play just as strong blindfolded as they do regularly.  I will still practice blindfold, just not so much.

Do you want to know what makes a great chessplayer a great chessplayer?  An unusual mind.  It doesn't take so much a brilliant mind, just unusual.  Something about great chessplayer's minds is a talent for remember chess patterns (moves) on a 64 square board.  This implies at least three talents:  pattern recognition ability, a powerful memory and spatial awareness.  But having a powerful memory is one thing - being able to remember pieces (and how they move) on a 8x8 square board is quite another.  I have the spatial ability and a powerful memory (actually photographic), but it's just not designed for remembering so many patterns on a 64-square board.  Can I get improve that time of memory?  Not really, but what I can improve is the literal memorizing of pieces on the board simply by studying my mistakes over and over until my mistakes are engrained into my mind.  Some people need to work hard at memorizing their mistakes, some don't.  It's mostly concerning natural talent.

I dedicate about 1 -3 hours of study and play per day towards chess.  If I really want to improve, I probably need to dedicate more hours than that, daily.  Here is where passion comes in!

- Lizzi