Showing posts with label chess. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chess. Show all posts

Thursday, August 4, 2022

Magnus Carlsen GIVES UP THE CHAMPIONSHIP!!!

 Yeah, so this isn't really news anymore... Carlsen announced that he will no longer be defending his World Chess Championship title over a week ago.  I thought it was a bit of an insult to the chess community, but I realized that he shouldn't have to play if his heart isn't in it anymore.  Carlsen stated that it is simply an issue of motivation.  He doesn't care if he wins the Championship for a sixth time or not.  He did make it clear however that he is still going to chase his goal of reaching 2900 ELO.  If he does this, it will be the first time in chess history.  

I was never really a big fan of Carlsen, but this still disappointed me a bit.  This guy is five years younger than me, and if he is losing his chess passion what does that say for me now that I am coming up on 40.  I don't even have the National Master title.  I don't even think I should pursue it any more.  I'm probably just wasting my GD time.  I'm too old.  

This is life.  It's like they say, "all good things come to an end".  When I hear of the word "nostalgia",  I immediately think of the 1990's.  I was so happy.  

I played a game of chess today for the first time in a few days.  I haven't really been interested much because of my thoughts regarding the Carlsen thing.  

It was a wild game, and I made one final blunder in the endgame that sealed my fate.  

WHAT ON EARTH POSSESSED ME TO PUSH MY a-pawn UP ONE SQUARE                         (move 42 ...)!!!!!!!!!???????????????????????????

 [Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2022.08.04"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Aaapl"]
[Black "ShallowCal"]
[Result "1-0"]
[CurrentPosition "8/8/8/PK6/1p3k2/8/P7/8 b - -"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "C26"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Vienna-Game-Falkbeer-Variation"]
[UTCDate "2022.08.04"]
[UTCTime "04:38:35"]
[WhiteElo "1738"]
[BlackElo "1531"]
[TimeControl "1800"]
[Termination "Aaapl won by resignation"]
[StartTime "04:38:35"]
[EndDate "2022.08.04"]
[EndTime "05:35:56"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/53326798697"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. f4 Nc6 4. fxe5 Nxe5 5. d4 Nc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Nf3 d6 8. Qe2
dxe5 9. dxe5 Ng4 10. Bf4 Qb4 11. O-O-O Qxf4+ 12. Kb1 Be6 13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. Rxd5
Ne3 15. g3 Qe4 16. Rd3 Bc5 17. Bg2 Qa4 18. Rxe3 Bxe3 19. Qxe3 O-O-O 20. Ng5 Nd4
21. b3 Nxc2 22. Bh3+ Kb8 23. bxa4 Nxe3 24. Nxf7 Rhf8 25. Nxd8 Rxd8 26. e6 Re8
27. Re1 Nd5 28. Kb2 c5 29. Rf1 Ne3 30. Rf7 g5 31. e7 Kc7 32. Be6 Kd6 33. Bb3 c4
34. Bc2 Nxc2 35. Kxc2 Rxe7 36. Rxe7 Kxe7 37. Kc3 Kd6 38. Kxc4 Ke5 39. Kd3 h5 40.
h3 h4 41. gxh4 gxh4 42. Ke3 a6 43. a5 Kf5 44. Kf3 Kg5 45. Ke4 Kg6 46. Kf4 Kf6
47. Kg4 Ke5 48. Kxh4 Kf4 49. Kh5 Kf5 50. h4 Kf6 51. Kg4 Kg6 52. Kf4 Kh5 53. Ke5
Kxh4 54. Kd6 Kg4 55. Kc7 b5 56. Kb6 Kf4 57. Kxa6 b4 58. Kb5 (58. Kb5 Ke4 59. a6
b3 60. axb3 Kd3 61. a7 Ke3 62. a8=Q) 1-0

NOTICE:
it turned out... my opponent only had 7 seconds left on his clock when I resigned.  Yes, I would have won if I just played on.  

always be aware of BOTH YOU AND YOUR OPPONENT'S time

Quick fyi:  

word on the street is that chess streamers are fading out/quitting.

Another fyi:

Bill Wall has possibly the most extensive chess website in the World.  His article on Bobby Fischer is DEEP

BILL WALL'S CHESS PAGE  (Google it, I don't want to provide the link because it is not currently secured,  For the consideration of my readers, I never link to websites that are not secured),  

There will be another day!

- Lizzi

 


Wednesday, May 11, 2022

First Game in ~ 3 months (CHESScom)

 [Event "Live Chess - chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2022.05.11"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Cal"]
[Black "masmas8"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "1800"]
[WhiteElo "1521"]
[BlackElo "1463"]
[Termination "Cal" won by resignation"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 Bb4+ 4. c3 Bd6 5. Bg5 Nf6 6. dxe5 Nxe5 7. Nxe5 Bxe5 8.
f4 h6 9. fxe5 hxg5 10. exf6 Qxf6 11. Qf3 Qb6 12. Bc4 O-O 13. b3 g4 14. Qe2 c6
15. Nd2 d5 16. exd5 Bf5 17. O-O-O cxd5 18. Bd3 Be6 19. Kb2 Rfc8 20. Rc1 a5 21.
a4 Qd6 22. Rhd1 Rcb8 23. Bb5 Bd7 24. Nc4 Qc7 25. Bxd7 Qxd7 26. Nb6 Qc6 27. Nxa8
Rxa8 28. Qxg4 Rb8 29. Qf4 Ra8 30. Rf1 b5 31. Qxf7+ Kh8 32. Rf3 1-0

Never a better way to start the day than a victory at the board!

Lizzi

Thursday, November 25, 2021

STL $5 Satellite (Round 3)

 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bb4+ 5. c3 dxc3 6. bxc3 Be7 7. Qd5 d6 8.
Qxf7+ * 1 - 0

STL $5 Satellite (Round 2)

 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. d3 a6 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. f5
Qc7 9. O-O g6 10. Qe2 Ng4 11. h3 Ne5 12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. Qf2 gxf5 14. Qxf5 e6 15.
Qh5 c4 16. Be3 b5 17. Rf6 cxd3 18. cxd3 b4 19. Ne2 Qe7 20. Raf1 O-O-O 21. Qxf7
Qxf7 22. Rxf7 Bb5 23. Ba7 Bd7 24. Bb6 Re8 25. Rc1+ Kb7 26. Ba5 * 1 - 0

Sunday, October 17, 2021

MegaMind Championship 10.16.2021 (Round 3, Win as Black)

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Bd3 O-O 5. Nf3 d6 6. O-O Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3
Nbd7 9. c3 Re8 10. Re1 e5 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxf6 Nxf6 14. Rd1 Qe7 15.
Nd2 e4 16. Bxe4 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 Qxe4 18. Qxe4 Rxe4 *

And I finally win a game.  I requested a half-point-bye for the 4th and final round and left for home in not a very good mood.  We shall go on.

All three of my opponents were very young kids rated at the beginner level.  I'm a bit rusty to say the least.

- Lizzi

MegaMind Championship 10.16.2021 (Round 2, Loss as White)

 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nxd4 5. Qxd4 d6 6. Be2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Nc3 O-O 9. Nd5 Nxd5 10. Qxd5 c6 11. Qh5 g6 12. Qh6 Bf6 13. Qe3 c5 14. Bc4 Bd4
15. Qf3 Be5 16. Bh6 Qh4 17. g3 Qxh6 18. Qb3 Bh3 19. Rfe1 Bg4 *

I blundered my dark-squared Bishop on move 16. and it was all over from there.

- Lizzi

MegaMind Championship 10.16.2021 (Round 1, Loss as Black)

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bf4 d5 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 g5 6. Bg3 h5 7. h3 Nxg3 8. fxg3
Bd6 9. Ne5 Bxe5 10. dxe5 c5 11. Nc3 a6 12. g4 h4 13. Qf3 Nd7 14. O-O-O Nxe5 15.
Qf2 b5 16. Ne2 Bb7 17. e4 Qa5 18. Kb1 Nd7 19. exd5 Bxd5 20. Nc3 O-O-O 21. Nxd5
exd5 22. Qxf7 d4 23. Bd3 Rhe8 24. Bf5 Qc7 25. Rhe1 Rxe1 26. Rxe1 c4 27. Re8 Rxe8
28. Qxe8+ Qd8 29. Bxd7+ Kc7 30. Qxd8+ Kxd8 *

I forgot how to play the Trompowsky and immediately overlooked the standard reply of 3.Bf4 with ...c5 instead of ...d5 !!  

I let my opponent get after my King.  I blundered a piece.  I lost.  The kid was rated around 1000 ELO

This is what happens when you go long periods of time without playing, my friends!

- Lizzi

Thursday, October 7, 2021

I Lost !!!

[Event "rated standard match"]
[Site "Free Internet Chess Server"]
[Date "2021.10.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "cterlizzi"]
[Black "kamenozrout"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "1853E"]
[BlackElo "2121"]
[ECO "C44"]
[TimeControl "900"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. c3 Nf6 6. e5 d5 7. exf6 dxc4 8.
fxg7 Rg8 9. Qe2+ Be6 10. Ng5 d3 11. Qe4 Qd5 12. Qxd5 Bxd5 13. Nxh7 O-O-O 14.
Nf6 Rxg7 15. Nxd5 Rxd5 16. Bf4 Rxg2 17. Bg3 Ne5 18. Nd2 f6 19. Rd1 Ng4 20.
Ne4 Rf5 21. Nxc5 Nxf2 22. Bxf2 Rfxf2 23. Rb1 Re2+ 24. Kd1 Rd2+ 25. Ke1 Rxb2
26. Rxb2 Rxb2 27. Rf1 b6 28. Na6 Re2+ 29. Kd1 Rxa2 30. Rxf6 Rxa6 31. h4 Ra1+
32. Kd2 Ra2+ 33. Kd1 Rh2 34. Rf4 b5 35. Rd4 Rc2 36. h5 Rxc3 37. h6 Ra3 38. h7
Ra1+ 39. Kd2 Rh1 {cterlizzi resigns} 0-1

I had several winning chances here...

Friday, July 30, 2021

My Amazon Kindle Chess Book

Yes, I uploaded my first ebook that is about chess. Here is the link to my Kindle book - "What You Need to Know Before Your First Chess Tournament".  Please read, rate and review!  All of my Kindle books are available for purchase for $1.75 regardless of the length in page numbers with the exception of my (short) memoir which you can buy for 99 cents.  

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and it looks like this saying can now apply to my official chess career.  I don't believe I will play in any more tournaments.  I streamed a video on Twitch.TV about why I'm giving up the game.  Essentially, it all comes down to focusing.  Unless you are an elite chess professional, there's just no money in the game.  Chess has been good to me, I'll still play and broadcast online games from time to time and I willl still keep up the posts here at this blog.

Don't forget to check out all of my web presence through the links at the footer of this blog - "Terlizzi:  Life & Games".  'till next time, friends!

- Lizzi

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Let's Get Real #LGR

Life is hard. We all know this. I am working around 20 - 25 hours a week now and thought there for a while that I may have bitten off more than I can chew. I'm delivering pizzas in Saint Louis, Missouri and it really sucks! But, we all have to start somewhere. Mid 30's and just now trying to build a resume. But, let's get real! Life is hard! You can't half-ass your endeavours. No, success takes a lot of work. This has been a recent rude awakening for me. I very recently published my first Amazon Kindle book that is about chess. I hired an amazing graphic designer from Africa (check out twenty4hrdesign on Fiverr.com) to design the cover for it. I'm starting to realize that if you're going to do something, it's either go all-out or don't bother at all.. otherwise, you are just wasting your time. It looks as though things are finally starting to work out for me. I've got more money coming in every month and finally working hard to build my brand - "Cultured Monk Media". I recently re-opened the personal homepage - https://calvinterlizzi.com I'm going to start selling "Cultured Monk Media" merchandise when I get a little bigger web prescence and following. I have a couple ideas for my brand's slogans. I still have a lot of thoughts about going into professional gambling... bought a bunch of books on the subject a couple months ago. Yah, sounds so cool! And, obviously can potentially pay a Hell of a lot better than chess. I am in a room from someone's house. I found a pretty good deal. One of my roommates has two dogs. I love animals - especially dogs! Wildlife has always been a fascination of mine.p Anyways, guess that's all. And, sorry it's been so long since I've posted! Life is hard, let's get real! - Lizzi

Sunday, May 16, 2021

A Recent Victory on FICS

 [Event "rated standard match"]
[Site "Free Internet Chess Server"]
[Date "2021.05.16"]
[Round "?"]
[White "balovzky"]
[Black "cterlizzi"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "1630"]
[BlackElo "1767E"]
[ECO "A45"]
[TimeControl "900+5"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 (The London System) g6 3. Nc3 (Now white can play e4.  I wasn't sure how to handle this) Bg7 4. e4 d5 5. e5 Ne4 6. Nxe4 dxe4 7. Bc4 e6 8. f3 exf3 9. Nxf3 O-O (always castle ASAP!) 10. O-O b5 11. Bb3 Bb7 (I was expecting Bxb5) 12. Ng5 h6 13. Nh3 a5 14. a4 bxa4 15. Rxa4 Qh4 16. d5 exd5 17. Bxd5 c6 18. Bb3 Na6 19. e6 Nc5 20. exf7+ Kh7 21. Rc4 (Bd6 looks winning for White) Nxb3 22. cxb3 Rad8 23. Qe2 Ba6 24. Bc7 Bxc4 25. bxc4 Rd7 26. Bxa5 Rdxf7 27. Rxf7 Rxf7 28. b4  (White's fatal mistake) Qd4+ 29. Kh1 Qa1+ and after Ng1, Bd4 wins for Black{balovzky resigns} 0-1

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

2021 Mark Oestreich Memorial (Round 3)

 [Event "19th Annual Mark Oestreich Memorial"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.03.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Buser, Landon"]
[Black "TERLIZZI"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C55"]
[PlyCount "113"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Bc4 Bb4 5. Ne2 Nxe4 6. O-O d5 7. Bb3 Bg4 8.
d3 Bxf3 9. dxe4 Bxe2 10. Qxe2 Nd4 11. Qe3 Nxb3 12. Qxb3 Bc5 13. exd5 O-O 14.
Be3 Bxe3 15. fxe3 b6 16. e4 Qd6 17. Kh1 Qg6 18. Qf3 a5 19. b3 b5 20. c4 bxc4
21. bxc4 Rab8 22. a3 Rb2 23. Rf2 Rxf2 24. Qxf2 Qxe4 25. Rc1 Qd4 26. Qxd4 exd4
27. Rd1 Re8 28. h3 Re4 29. Rd3 Kf8 30. Kg1 Ke7 31. Kf2 Kd6 32. Rd1 Kc5 33. Rc1
d3 34. Kf3 Rxc4 35. Rd1 Rd4 36. Ke3 Kxd5 37. Kd2 c5 38. Rb1 Ra4 39. Kxd3 Rxa3+
40. Kc2 Ra2+ 41. Kc1 Rxg2 42. Rb7 f6 43. h4 Rh2 44. Rxg7 Rxh4 45. Ra7 a4 46.
Kd2 h5 47. Rf7 a3 48. Rxf6 Ra4 49. Rf5+ Kc6 50. Rxh5 a2 51. Rh1 a1=Q 52. Rxa1
Rxa1 53. Kc2 Kb5 54. Kb2 Rg1 55. Kc3 Rg3+ 56. Kb2 Kb4 57. Kc2 0-1

I finished the tournament 2 wins, 1 loss.  I played fairly well and am satisfied with my results.  I was also having really bad anxiety especially in the afternoon during round 2.  

- Lizzi


2021 Mark Oestreich Memorial (Round 2)

 [Event "19th Annual Mark Oestreich Memorial"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.03.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Terlizzi"]
[Black "Cedeno, Louis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B40"]
[PlyCount "60"]

1. e4 c5 2. b4 cxb4 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bd3 e6 5. Nf3 Be7 6. O-O b6 7. c4 bxc3 8. Nxc3
Ba6 9. e5 Nd5 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Bxa6 Nxa6 12. Qa4 Nc7 13. Bf4 Ne6 14. Be3 O-O
15. Nd2 d6 16. f4 dxe5 17. dxe5 d4 18. Bf2 Nxf4 19. Nf3 Bc5 20. Rad1 Ne2+ 21.
Kh1 Nc3 22. Qb3 Nxd1 23. Rxd1 Qe7 24. Bh4 Qe6 25. Qb1 h6 26. Qe4 Qxa2 27. Qg4
Qe6 28. Qg3 Kh7 29. Re1 a5 30. Bg5 a4 0-1


2021 Mark Oestreich Memorial (Round 1)

 [Event "19th Annual Mark Oestreich Memorial"]
[Site "Salem Illinois"]
[Date "2021.03.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "P. Sarwinski"]
[Black "TERLIZZI"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "62"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. f4 g6 5. Nf3 Nb6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
dxe5 9. fxe5 Nc6 10. Be3 Nd5 11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12. c4 Qe4 13. Qd2 f6 14. e6 Rd8 15.
d5 Ne5 16. Qd4 Nxf3+ 17. Bxf3 Qxd4 18. Bxd4 Bxe6 19. Rfe1 Bf7 20. Rxe7 Rac8 21.
Bxa7 b6 22. c5 Bf8 23. Re3 Bxc5 24. Kf2 Bxe3+ 25. Kxe3 Ra8 26. Bxb6 cxb6 27. b3
Bxd5 28. Bxd5+ Rxd5 29. a4 Re8+ 30. Kf3 Rd3+ 31. Kg4 Re4# 0-1


Friday, March 12, 2021

I Played 1.c4? (Draw, played on FICS 3.12.21)

 [Event "rated standard match"]
[Site "Free Internet Chess Server"]
[Date "2021.03.12"]
[Round "?"]
[White "cterlizzi"]
[Black "leanderlaruelle"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "1787"]
[BlackElo "1724"]
[ECO "A22"]
[TimeControl "900"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. d3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Nc6 7. Bd2 Be7
8. g3 O-O 9. Bg2 Bg4 10. O-O Rb8 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 f6 13. Kh2 Kh8 14. Bg2
f5 15. f4 g6 16. fxe5 Nxe5 17. Bf4 Bd6 18. e4 fxe4 19. Bxe4 c6 20. d4 Nc4 21.
Bxd6 Nxd6 22. Rxf8+ Qxf8 23. Bg2 Qf2 24. Qf3 Rf8 25. Qxf2 Rxf2 26. Kg1 Rc2
27. Re1 Rxc3 28. Re6 Nf5 29. Re8+ Kg7 30. Rb8 Nxd4 31. Rxb7+ Kf6 32. Rxa7 h5
33. Rc7 Rc2 34. a4 Ne2+ 35. Kh2 Nd4 36. Kg1 Rc4 37. a5 Ra4 38. Ra7 Ke5 39.
Ra6 Kd6 40. Kf2 Rc4 41. Ke3 Nf5+ 42. Kd3 Rc5 43. g4 hxg4 44. hxg4 Nh4 45. Be4
g5 46. Ra8 Kc7 47. a6 Ra5 48. a7 Kb7 49. Rg8 Rxa7 50. Rxg5 Ra3+ 51. Kd4 Rg3
52. Ke5 Kb6 53. Kd6 Ng2 54. Bxc6 Ne3 55. Bd7 Nc4+ 56. Ke6 Ne3 57. Kf6 Nxg4+
58. Rxg4 Rxg4 59. Bxg4 {Neither player has mating material} 1/2-1/2

I have a chess tournament tomorrow, here in my hometown.  My last tournament was also here in my hometown and it was last August (2020).  I scored 1.5/3 and hope to do better this time.  Will post games from all 3 rounds here on the blog.  Thank you and have a nice day!

- Lizzi

Beautiful Victory with The Sicilian Defense (Played at FICS 2.21.21)

 [Event "rated standard match"]
[Site "Free Internet Chess Server"]
[Date "2021.02.21"]
[Round "?"]
[White "gercole"]
[Black "cterlizzi"]
[Result "*"]
[WhiteElo "1742"]
[BlackElo "1773"]
[ECO "B23"]
[TimeControl "1500"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. Bc4 e6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. d3 Nf6 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Qd2 Nd4 8.
O-O-O O-O 9. h4 Bd7 10. Ne2 Nxe2+ 11. Qxe2 b5 12. Bb3 a5 13. c3 a4 14. Bc2 b4
15. cxb4 cxb4 16. d4 b3 17. axb3 axb3 18. Bxb3 Qa5 19. Qe3 Rfc8+ 20. Bc2 Ba4
21. Rd2 Bxc2 22. Rxc2 Qa1+ 23. Kd2 Rxc2+ 24. Kxc2 Qxh1 25. Ne1 Ra1 26. Kd2 d5
27. e5 Bb4+ 28. Kc2 Qxe1 29. Qxe1 Rxe1 30. exf6 Re2+ 31. Kb3 Bd6 32. Be3 gxf6
33. Kc3 e5 34. b4 exd4+ 35. Bxd4 Re4 36. g3 f5 37. f3 Bxb4+ 38. Kd3 Re1 39.
Be3 Kg7 40. h5 Kf6 41. g4 fxg4 42. fxg4 Rxe3+ 43. Kxe3 Kg5 44. Kd4 f5 45.
gxf5 Kxh5 46. Kxd5 Kg4 47. Ke6 h5 *

Sunday, December 20, 2020

I Finally Beat "SlowPlow (c)" (ICC)

 [Event "ICC 25 10"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2020.12.19"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Terlizzi"]
[Black "SlowPlow"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ICCResult "Black checkmated"]
[WhiteElo "1488"]
[BlackElo "1777"]
[Opening "Sicilian: Boleslavsky variation"]
[ECO "B58"]
[NIC "SI.25"]
[Time "16:15:40"]
[TimeControl "1500+10"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 e5 7. Ndb5 (more common is 7. Nb3 or 7. Nf3) a6 8.Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Nxe4 10. Bf3 f5 11. Be3 Qa5+ 12. c3 Rb8 13. Bxe4 fxe4 14. Nc2 Bf5? (Black needs to bring his Queen back to d8) 15. Bg5? (Bb6! and White wins the Queen) Rb7 16. Nce3 Be6 17. O-O Rf7 18. Qd2 Nb8? (Allow his Queen to be trapped on the next move, better is 18 ...b4) 19. b4 Qa4 20. Nb6 Qa3 21. Nc2 Qxa2 22. Rxa2 Bxa2 23. Ne3 (a bit passive, better is 23. Nd4) Be6 24. Nbd5 h6 25. Bh4 g5 26. Bg3 h5 27.h3 h4 (better is 27 ...Rg8 28. Ra1 g4) 28. Bh2 Kd8 29. Ng4 Rg7 30. Ndf6 Bc4 31. Re1 Kc8 32. Nxe4 Rg6 33. Nef6 Be6 34. Rd1 Bb3 35. Ra1 Be6 36. f3 Bxg4 37. Nxg4 Rg7 38. Kh1 Kb7 39. Bg1 Nc6 40. Qe3 Nb8 41. Nf6 Kc8 42. Qd3 Be7 43. Nd5 Kb7?? (A blunder, Black needed to play 43 ...Bd8 preventing 44. Rxa6!) 44. Nxe7? (trading down minor pieces is still winning for Black but 44. Rxa6 and Black is completely lost, 44 ...Kxa6 [Nxa6 leads to mate in 7 after 45. Qxb5+ Kc8 46. Qc6+ Kb8 47. Ba7+ Kxa7 48. Qb6+ Ka8 49. Qxa6+ Kb8 50. Qb6+ Ka8 51. Nc7#] 45. Nxe7 Rxe7 46. Qxd6+ Kb7 47. Qxe7+ and White will pick off Black's Rook and Knight)  Rxe7 45. Qxd6 Rhe8 46. Qb6+ Kc8 47. Rd1 Rg7 48. Bh2 Rc7 49. Qf6 Kb7 50. Bxe5 (I overlooked Black's next move) Nd7 51. Rxd7 Rxd7 52. Bd4 Re1+ 53. Kh2 Ree7 54. Qb6+ Kc8 55. Qxa6+ Rb7 56. Qc6+ (more decisive is 56. Bf6!) Rbc7 57. Qxb5 g4 58. Qf5+ Kb7 59. Qxg4 Re2 60. Qxh4 Rc6 61. Qh7+ Rc7 62. Qd3 Rce7 63. Qb5+ Kc8 64. c4 (better is 64. Qc6+! Kb8 65. Bc5 R2e6 66. Bd6+ Rxd6 67. Qxd6+) R7e6 65. c5 Rc2 66. Qd3 Ree2 67. Qg6 Rcd2 68. Bf6 Kd7 69. c6+ (coughing up a pawn, looks like I'm having  a little trouble finishing off the computer!) Kxc6 70. Bg5+ Rd6 71. b5+ Kc5 72. Qf5+? (Here I miss the finalizing 72. Be7! Rxe7 73. Qg5+ and picking off Black's Rook on e7 on the next move) Rd5 73. Qc8+ Kb4 74. Qg4+ Kxb5 75. h4 Ree5 76. f4 Re1 77. h5 Re8 78. h6 Rb8 79. Bf6 Rb7 80. Qg6 Rdd7 81. Bg7 Ra7 82. Qf5+ Kc4 83. h7 Rd8 84. h8=Q Rxh8+ 85. Bxh8 Re7 86. Be5 Kd5 87. Bf6+ Kd6 88. Bxe7+ Kxe7 89. g4 Ke8 90. g5 Ke7 91. g6 Kd6 92. g7 Kc7 93. g8=Q Kc6 94.Qgg6+ Kb7 95. Qff7+ Kb8 96. Qgg8# {Black checkmated} 1-0

I am now 1 win, 1 draw and 30 Losses against "SlowPlow (c)" 

Original PGN:  

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 e5 7. Ndb5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Nxe4 10. Bf3 f5 11. Be3 Qa5+ 12. c3 Rb8 13. Bxe4 fxe4 14. Nc2
Bf5 15. Bg5 Rb7 16. Nce3 Be6 17. O-O Rf7 18. Qd2 Nb8 19. b4 Qa4 20. Nb6 Qa3
21. Nc2 Qxa2 22. Rxa2 Bxa2 23. Ne3 Be6 24. Nbd5 h6 25. Bh4 g5 26. Bg3 h5 27.
h3 h4 28. Bh2 Kd8 29. Ng4 Rg7 30. Ndf6 Bc4 31. Re1 Kc8 32. Nxe4 Rg6 33. Nef6
Be6 34. Rd1 Bb3 35. Ra1 Be6 36. f3 Bxg4 37. Nxg4 Rg7 38. Kh1 Kb7 39. Bg1 Nc6
40. Qe3 Nb8 41. Nf6 Kc8 42. Qd3 Be7 43. Nd5 Kb7 44. Nxe7 Rxe7 45. Qxd6 Rhe8
46. Qb6+ Kc8 47. Rd1 Rg7 48. Bh2 Rc7 49. Qf6 Kb7 50. Bxe5 Nd7 51. Rxd7 Rxd7
52. Bd4 Re1+ 53. Kh2 Ree7 54. Qb6+ Kc8 55. Qxa6+ Rb7 56. Qc6+ Rbc7 57. Qxb5
g4 58. Qf5+ Kb7 59. Qxg4 Re2 60. Qxh4 Rc6 61. Qh7+ Rc7 62. Qd3 Rce7 63. Qb5+
Kc8 64. c4 R7e6 65. c5 Rc2 66. Qd3 Ree2 67. Qg6 Rcd2 68. Bf6 Kd7 69. c6+
Kxc6 70. Bg5+ Rd6 71. b5+ Kc5 72. Qf5+ Rd5 73. Qc8+ Kb4 74. Qg4+ Kxb5 75. h4
Ree5 76. f4 Re1 77. h5 Re8 78. h6 Rb8 79. Bf6 Rb7 80. Qg6 Rdd7 81. Bg7 Ra7
82. Qf5+ Kc4 83. h7 Rd8 84. h8=Q Rxh8+ 85. Bxh8 Re7 86. Be5 Kd5 87. Bf6+ Kd6
88. Bxe7+ Kxe7 89. g4 Ke8 90. g5 Ke7 91. g6 Kd6 92. g7 Kc7 93. g8=Q Kc6 94.
Qgg6+ Kb7 95. Qff7+ Kb8 96. Qgg8#

Monday, December 7, 2020

"Foggydew (c)" Online Match, Game 5 of 5 (FICS)

 [Event "rated standard match"]
[Site "Free Internet Chess Server"]
[Date "2020.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "cterlizzi"]
[Black "foggydew"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "1752"]
[BlackElo "2250"]
[ECO "D80"]
[TimeControl "1200+20"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. f3 dxc4 (last book  move) 5. e4 Nc6 6. Bxc4 (and I blunder a pawn right out of the opening - better was 6. Be3) Qxd4 7. Qxd4 Nxd4 8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bxd7+ Kxd7 10. Rb1 e5 11. Kf2 Nc2 12. Be3 Nxe3 13. Kxe3 Rd8 14. Nh3 (I had trouble deciding whether or not to put my Knight on h3 or e2) Bc5+ 15. Ke2 Ke7 16. Rbd1 Bd4 17. Rd3 g5 18. Rhd1 Rhg8 19. g4 (Fritz shows 19. Nb5 g4 20. Nf2 far better) c6 20. R1d2 h5 21. gxh5 Nxh5 22. Nd1 Nf4+ 23. Nxf4 gxf4 24. Nf2 Rg2 25. Kf1 Rxh2 26. Ng4 Rhh8 27. b3 (now my d3 Rook is trapped - Fritz prefers 27. Kg2 Ke6 28. Rb3) Ke6 28. a4 (28. Rh2 to relieve pressure by trading Rooks is stronger) f5 29. exf5+ Kxf5 30. Nf2 Rdg8 31. Ng4 c5 32. Nf2 Rh2 (32 ...Rg3 picks off the Knight - 33. Ke2 Bxf2 (if 34. Kxf2?, mate in 4!) 33. Re2?? (33. Rc2 and White lives a little longer) Rh1+ 34. Nxh1 Rg1# {cterlizzi checkmated} 0-1

I didn't win or even draw a single game in this 5 game online match!   Game 3 was my best play as for a while I had a stronger position according to Fritz 15. 

Original PGN:

 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. f3 dxc4 5. e4 Nc6 6. Bxc4 Qxd4 7. Qxd4 Nxd4
8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bxd7+ Kxd7 10. Rb1 e5 11. Kf2 Nc2 12. Be3 Nxe3 13. Kxe3 Rd8
14. Nh3 Bc5+ 15. Ke2 Ke7 16. Rbd1 Bd4 17. Rd3 g5 18. Rhd1 Rhg8 19. g4 c6 20.
R1d2 h5 21. gxh5 Nxh5 22. Nd1 Nf4+ 23. Nxf4 gxf4 24. Nf2 Rg2 25. Kf1 Rxh2 26.
Ng4 Rhh8 27. b3 Ke6 28. a4 f5 29. exf5+ Kxf5 30. Nf2 Rdg8 31. Ng4 c5 32. Nf2
Rh2 33. Re2 Rh1+ 34. Nxh1 Rg1#

"Foggydew (c)" Game 4 of 5 (FICS)

 [Event "rated standard match"]
[Site "Free Internet Chess Server"]
[Date "2020.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "foggydew"]
[Black "cterlizzi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2249"]
[BlackElo "1753"]
[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 8. Nc3 Qe7+? (Now my dark-squared bishop is trapped - better is just to develop with 8 ...Be7) 9. Be3 Nc6 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. cxd5 Nb8 12. Rc1 Bxf3? (Now with White recapturing with his Queen, the c6 pawn-break is impossible!) 13. Qxf3 g6 14. Bb5+ Kd8 (with my King stuck in the center files, my position is hopeless) 15. O-O a6 16. Ba4 b5 17. Rfe1 bxa4? (Bg7 instead to protect the weak f6 square) 18. Bd2 Qd7 19. Qf6+ Be7 20. Qxh8+ Qe8 21. Qxe8+ Kxe8 22. Bg5 and White wins the bishop getting a full rook ahead! {cterlizzi resigns} 1-0

Not doing too good in this 5 game match against the computer.  My score is now +0 =0 -4.

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 Qe7+ 9. Be3 Nc6 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. cxd5 Nb8 12. Rc1 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 g6 14.
Bb5+ Kd8 15. O-O a6 16. Ba4 b5 17. Rfe1 bxa4 18. Bd2 Qd7 19. Qf6+ Be7 20.
Qxh8+ Qe8 21. Qxe8+ Kxe8 22. Bg5