"Foggydew (c)" Game 3 of 5 (FICS)

 [Event "rated standard match"]
[Site "Free Internet Chess Server"]
[Date "2020.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "cterlizzi"]
[Black "foggydew"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "1754"]
[BlackElo "2247"]
[ECO "E80"]
[TimeControl "1200+20"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 c6 (last book move) 6. Bd3 e5 7. d5 (keeping the position closed) O-O 8. Bg5 Nbd7 9. b4 Qb6 10. a3 a5 11. b5 Nc5 12. Be3 cxd5 13. cxd5 Nxd3+ 14. Qxd3 Qc7
15. b6 Qd8 16. Nb5 Nh5 17. g3 (weakening my Kingside - better was 17. Ne2 followed by 18. 0-0) f5 18. Rc1 fxe4 19. fxe4 Qe7 20. Rc7 Qf6 21. Qe2 Rb8 22. Qf2 Qd8 23. Qe2 Nf6 24. Bg5 Ra8 (Here Fritz gives White a 2/3 pawn advantage - better was 24 ...h6 25. Bxf6 Rxf6) 25. Qd3 Rb8 (Black is repeating moves because he doesn't know what else to do) 26. Nf3 Bh3 27. a4 (a blunder, I need to move my rook to g1 to prevent Black's next move) Bg2 28. Rg1 Bxf3 29. Qxf3 Nxe4 30. Qxe4 Qxg5 31. Nxd6?? Qf6 and Black wins the Knight as I have to protect the f2 square with my Queen {cterlizzi resigns}
0-1

Well I had the better position for a while.  Looks like my only hope to beat this computer is with the White pieces - draw at best with Black!

Original PGN:

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 c6 6. Bd3 e5 7. d5 O-O 8. Bg5
Nbd7 9. b4 Qb6 10. a3 a5 11. b5 Nc5 12. Be3 cxd5 13. cxd5 Nxd3+ 14. Qxd3 Qc7
15. b6 Qd8 16. Nb5 Nh5 17. g3 f5 18. Rc1 fxe4 19. fxe4 Qe7 20. Rc7 Qf6 21.
Qe2 Rb8 22. Qf2 Qd8 23. Qe2 Nf6 24. Bg5 Ra8 25. Qd3 Rb8 26. Nf3 Bh3 27. a4
Bg2 28. Rg1 Bxf3 29. Qxf3 Nxe4 30. Qxe4 Qxg5 31. Nxd6 Qf6

"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

 

Smith-Morra Gambit (FICS 11.18.2020)

 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Qxd4 Qxd4 6. cxd4 e6 7. Bb5+ Bd7
8. Bxd7+ Nxd7 9. Nf3 Ngf6 10. O-O Bd6 11. Nc3 a6 12. Re1 O-O 13. Bg5 h6 14.
Bh4 b5 15. Rad1 Rac8 16. d5 Bb4 17. dxe6 fxe6 18. Rxe6 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Rxc3 20.
Rxa6 Nc5 21. Bxf6 Rxf6 22. Rxf6 gxf6 23. Kf1 Rc2 24. Rd8+ Kf7 25. Rc8 b4 26.
Nd4 Rc3 27. Ke2 Ne4 28. Rb8 Rc4 29. Rb7+ Kg6 30. Nf3 Nc5 31. Rb6 Rc2+ 32. Ke3
Rxa2 33. Rxb4 Ra3+ 34. Ke2 Nd3 35. Re4 Nc5 36. Re3 Ra2+ 37. Nd2 Nd7 38. Rg3+
Kf7 39. Rh3 Kg7 40. Rg3+ Kh7 41. Ke3 Nc5 42. Ne4 Ra3+ 43. Kf4 Ra4 44. Re3 Kg6
45. Kf3 Ne6 46. h4 h5 47. g3 Nd4+ 48. Kg2 Nf5 49. Re2 Nh6 50. Kh3 Ra1 51. Kg2
Ng4 52. Nc5 Ra5 53. Nd3 Rf5 54. Nf4+ Kf7 55. Ra2 Ne5 56. Ra7+ Ke8 57. Rh7 Nf7
58. Rxh5 Re5 59. Rxe5+ fxe5 60. Ng6 e4 61. h5 Nh6 62. Ne5 Ke7 63. g4 Kf6 64.
Nc4 Nxg4 65. Kg3 Kg5 66. Nd2 e3 67. fxe3 Nxe3 68. Nf3+ Kxh5 {Neither player
has mating material} 1/2-1/2

The Trompowsky DENIED (ICC 11.11.2020)

 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bf4 c5 4. d5 d6 5. f3 Nf6 6. e4 g6 7. Bb5+ Bd7 8.
Bxd7+ Qxd7 9. c4 Bg7 10. Nc3 Na6 11. Nge2 Nh5 12. Be3 O-O 13. g4 Nf6 14. Qd2
Nc7 15. a4 a6 16. Bh6 b5 17. cxb5 axb5 18. a5 b4 19. Nd1 Nb5 20. h4 e6 21.
dxe6 fxe6 22. h5 Ne8 23. Bxg7 Qxg7 24. h6 Qe5 25. O-O Nd4 26. Nxd4 cxd4 27.
Kg2 Rc8 28. Nf2 b3 29. Rfc1 Nf6 30. Nd3 Qb5 31. Rxc8 Rxc8 32. a6 Ra8 33. Nb4
e5 34. g5 Ne8 35. Ra3 Nc7 36. a7 Qb7 37. Rxb3 Rxa7 38. Ra3 Rxa3 39. bxa3 Nb5
40. Qa2+ Kf8 41. a4 Nc3 42. Qb3 Qe7 43. a5 Qxg5+ 44. Kf2 Qd2+ 45. Kf1 Qe2+
46. Kg1 Qxf3 47. Qe6 Ne2+ 48. Kh2 Qg3+ {White resigns} 0-1

I give credit to my victory here by my effort to play on both sides of the board!

I Played 1.d4 ??? (ICC 11.11.2020)

 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 e6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 b6 6. Be2 Bb7 7. O-O d6 8. Nc3
Nbd7 9. Qc2 h6 10. Bxf6 Nxf6 11. Nh4 Kf7 12. d5 Ne4 13. Nxe4 fxe4 14. dxe6+
Kxe6 15. Ng6 Rg8 16. Nxe7 Qxe7 17. f3 Kd7 18. f4 g5 19. Bg4+ Kd8 20. f5 Rf8
21. Qc3 Rf6 22. Rad1 c6 23. c5 bxc5 24. Qxc5 Kc7 25. Qa5+ Kd7 26. Qb4 Kc7
27. Be2 Raf8 28. Qa5+ Kb8 29. Rd4 Qc7 30. Qa3 d5 31. Ra4 Ba8 32. Ba6 c5 33.
b4 c4 34. b5 Qb6 35. Qc3 Qc7 36. Rb4 Rb6 37. a4 Qf7 38. a5 Rf6 39. b6 axb6
40. Rxb6+ Rxb6 41. axb6 Qf6 42. Qa3 Rd8 43. Qc5 Qd6 44. Qd4 Bb7 45. Bb5 Rf8
46. Bxc4 Rf6 47. Bb3 Qxb6 48. Qe5+ Qd6 49. Qe8+ Kc7 50. Rc1+ Bc6 51. Ba4 Kb7
52. Bxc6+ Qxc6 53. Rxc6 Rxc6 54. Qe7+ {Black resigns} 1-0

Cochrane Gambit Miniature (Played on FICS 11.05.2020)

 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nxf7 Kxf7 5. d4 g6 6. Nc3 Kg7 7. Bc4 d5 8.
Nxd5 Nxe4 9. Qf3 Nd6 10. Bb3 Be6 11. O-O c6 12. Nf4 Bxb3 13. Qxb3 Qb6 14. Qe6
Na6 15. Nh5+ *

A Simple Sicilian Loss (Played on FICS 11.02.2020)

 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Nc3 d5 7. exd5 cxd5
8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. O-O Bxb5 10. Nxb5 a6 11. Nd4 Qc7 12. c3 Bd6 13. g3 Nf6 14. Re1
Ne4 15. Qa4+ Kf8 16. f3 Nc5 17. Qc6 Qxc6 18. Nxc6 Rc8 19. Ne5 Bxe5 20. Rxe5
Nd3 21. Re2 Nxc1 22. Rxc1 Ke7 23. Rd1 Rhd8 24. f4 Kf6 25. Kf2 a5 26. g4 g6
27. Kf3 Rc4 28. g5+ Kg7 29. Rd4 Rxd4 30. cxd4 Rc8 31. Ke3 a4 32. Kd3 Rb8 33.
Kc3 h6 34. h4 hxg5 35. hxg5 Rb6 36. b3 axb3 37. axb3 f6 38. b4 fxg5 39. fxg5
Kf7 40. Rf2+ Kg7 41. Rf6 Rc6+ 42. Kb3 Rb6 43. Ka4 Rc6 44. b5 Rc4+ 45. Ka5
Rxd4 46. Rxe6 Kf7 47. Rd6 Rd1 48. b6 Ra1+ 49. Kb5 Rb1+ 50. Kc6 Rc1+ 51. Kxd5
Rb1 52. Kc6 Rc1+ 53. Kd7 Rb1 54. Rc6 *

I missed an EASY win (Played on FICS 10.21.20)

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. b3 Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. e3 d5 6. Be2 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Bxg7 Kxg7 9. Nc3 Nb4 10. d4 Bf5 11. Rc1 Qa5 12. a4 Rd8 13. O-O N8c6 14. Bc4
e5 15. d5 Bg4 16. h3 Bf5 17. g4 e4 18. gxf5 exf3 19. Qxf3 Ne5 20. f6+ Kh8 21.
Qf4 Nbd3 22. Qh6 Rg8 23. Bxd3 Nxd3 24. Ne4 g5 25. Rc3 Ne5 26. f3 Rg6 27. Qh5
Nd7 28. Kh1 Rag8 29. Rg1 Nxf6 30. Rxc5 Qb4 31. Nxf6 Rxf6 32. Rb5 Qe7 33. d6
Rxd6 34. Rbxg5 Rxg5 35. Rxg5 Qxe3 36. Qxf7 Qxg5 37. Qf8+ Qg8 38. Qxd6 Qxb3
39. Qf4 Qb1+ 40. Kg2 Qg6+ 41. Qg4 Qxg4+ 42. fxg4 Kg7 43. Kf3 b6 44. Ke4 a6
45. Kd5 b5 46. axb5 axb5 47. Kc5 Kf6 48. h4 Ke5 49. Kxb5 Kf4 50. g5 Kg4 51.
Kc5 Kxh4 52. Kd4 Kxg5 53. Ke3 Kg4 54. Kf2 Kh3 55. Kf3 h5 56. Kf2 Kh2 57. Kf3
h4 58. Kf2 Kh3 59. Kf3 Kh2 60. Kf2 h3 *

DRAW

30 ...Qb4?  30 ...Qxc5 out right wins a piece!  God ******!!  You see, this is why you GO OVER YOUR GAMES.  I still need to buy an engine.  I'm just using my mind to analyze my games.  I need something more powerful.. like.. Fritz 17 on 8-core processor.  Too bad I'm poor.  I actually need to book another appointment with Turzo (IM) to go over the last few games I've posted here on my blog.

There will be another day!

- Lizzi

Passion

How much easier life would be if I loved mastering what would earn me a lot of money... if I loved studying something that would get me somewhere.  I like chess, foreign languages wildlife - my three passions!  I've actually been making some recent progress with chess after all these years.  I used to have to force myself to study tactics, now I practice with Chesscom's tactics trainer for fun as well as to improve my game, and I am making fast progress.  My current Puzzle rating on Chesscom is 2300+ ...been climbing the ranks over the past few months.  In the past, I would try it for a few weeks, and if I didn't notice any improvement, I would quit.  Now, I've stuck with it and it has paid off... a lot.  But, you've have to be playing as well, and you have to be studying other books - study anything by Jeremy Silman.  You really need to go at it from all angles.  You'll improve if you do this, I promise.  I'm almost middle aged and am still getting stronger!  This applies to all else outside of chess, as well!  I studied French for Dummies over the Summer (2020).  I thought, I'll read this and then be a Francophone.  No, it doesn't work like that.  Again, you have to go at it from all angles!  I needed to be practicing the French I was studying and watching more movies en Francais.  And studying other French books whilst studying French for Dummies.  

"Chess demands total concentration and LOVE for the game" - Bobby Fischer

I think, perhaps, if we start studying something we love then all the studying we're are doing will help us become even more passionate.  I once had a friend from Italy who told me to find my passion for the game (chess).  He advised me to find my lost love again for chess.  I may have mentioned this in an earlier post... but yes, I think I have.  I just started playing more and thinking about chess more out of my own will and now the passion is back.  No, no quite what is was as when I was a teenager, but it's certainly there again.  

So, apply all of this to French?  Perhaps..  The seed is already there I just need to water it.  Work, come home, study chess, study French, watch a movie en Francais, go to bed, repeat.

I don't have time for women.  They will hold me back.  Nothing against women, I'm just not really a lover boy.  I've said this before (not here but to others in the past).

I need a job, first.. doiiiiiiiii !!!  Hmm...  I can't sit around this all day and do nothing but study.  I'll go insane!  I already feel like a p.o.s. for being a bum.  Not sure, what kind of work to do right now.  I would deliver pizzas first, but my car is not holding up very well.  **** fast food!  Maybe I'll bag groceries or something.  Making money online through web-publishing and what not is too hard!  I tried building an online brand over the years, but no one really gave two sh*ts about what i had to say.  I wanted to be a Youtube star jajajajaja  Every Youtuber does...   

There will be another day!

- Lizzi

TERLIZZI Saves (Played On FICS 10.17.20)

 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. h3 O-O 6. e4 e5 7. d5 Na6 8. Be3
Nd7 9. Be2 Ndc5 10. O-O f5 11. exf5 gxf5 12. Bg5 Qe8 13. Ne1 Qg6 14. f4 Ne4
15. Bh5 Qxh5 16. Qxh5 Ng3 17. Qf3 Nxf1 18. Qxf1 Nc5 19. fxe5 dxe5 20. Qe2 f4
21. Nf3 Bf5 22. Rd1 e4 23. Nh4 f3 24. gxf3 Bxh3 25. Nxe4 Rae8 26. Qh2 Nxe4
27. fxe4 Bg4 28. Re1 Bd4+ 29. Be3 Be5 30. Qg2 Kh8 31. Qxg4 Rg8 32. Bg5 h6 33.
Qh5 Rxg5+ 34. Qxg5 hxg5 35. Ng6+ Kg7 36. Nxe5 Rxe5 37. Kg2 Kf6 38. Kg3 Ke7
39. Kf3 Kd6 40. b4 c5 41. b5 b6 42. Rh1 Re7 43. Rh6+ Ke5 44. Rg6 Kd4 45. Re6
Rd7 46. Kg4 Kxc4 47. d6 Kd4 48. e5 c4 49. Re7 Rd8 50. d7 c3 51. e6 c2 52. Re8
c1=Q 53. Rxd8 Qf4+ 54. Kh5 Qh4+ 55. Kg6 Qe4+ 56. Kf6 Qe5+ 57. Kf7 Qf5+ 58.
Ke7 Qh7+ 59. Kf6 Qh6+ 60. Kf7 Qh7+ 61. Kf6 Qh6+ 62. Kf7 Qh7+ 63. Kf6 Qh6+ 64.
Kf7 {Game drawn by repetition} 1/2-1/2

Down a queen for a rook and came back to draw.  I almost resigned when he trapped my Queen!  I need to go over this one with Fritz.  I think I actually missed a win in the Endgame.

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

He Tried the StOnewall (FICS 10.14.20)

 
1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 g6 4. c3 Bg7 5. d4 c5 6. Bd3 c4 7. Bc2 Bg4 8. O-O
Ne4 9. Nbd2 Nxd2 10. Bxd2 Nc6 11. Qe1 e6 12. Qg3 Bf5 13. Ba4 O-O 14. Nh4 Bd3
15. Rfe1 Ne7 16. Nf3 Nf5 17. Qh3 f6 18. g4 Ne7 19. g5 Bf5 20. Qh4 Be4 21. Rf1
Nf5 22. Qh3 Bxf3 23. Rxf3 fxg5 24. Bc2 gxf4 25. e4 Qg5+ 26. Kh1 dxe4 27. Bxe4
Ne3 28. Qxe6+ Kh8 29. Rg1 Qh5 30. Qd6 Rae8 31. Bxb7 Ng4 32. Rg2 Ne3 33. Bxe3
fxe3 34. Rxf8+ Rxf8 35. Rg1 e2 36. Bg2 Qf5 37. Qc6 Qf2 38. Qe6 Bh6 39. Qe5+
Bg7 40. Qe4 Bh6 41. d5 Be3 42. Qe5+ Kg8 43. Qe6+ Rf7 44. Qe8+ Kg7 45. Qe5+
Kh6 46. Qxe3+ Qxe3 47. Re1 Qf2 48. Rg1 e1=Q {KnightMeKing resigns} 0-1

I played this guy 3 times today and got 2/3.  Both times he played Bird's Opening.  In the game he played the Stonewall, generally you do not want to do this as white.  White should always play for the initiative from the very beginning.  My opponent should have went for the draw by repetition after 38 ...Bh6.  

- 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 

French Defense: Exchange Variation (Loss as White)

 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2 Qe7 7. O-O Nf6 8.
Bg5 Bxc3 9. bxc3 Nbd7 10. Re1 O-O-O 11. Ne5 Bxe2 12. Qxe2 h6 13. Bh4 g5 14.
Bg3 Ne4 15. Qd3 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 f6 17. Bg3 Qf7 18. Rab1 h5 19. f3 Nxg3 20. hxg3
h4 21. g4 h3 22. g3 Qh7 23. Qxh7 Rxh7 24. Re6 Rh6 25. Kh2 b6 26. Rbe1 Kb7 27.
Re7 Rc8 28. Rf7 Ka6 29. Ree7 Kb5 30. Rxc7 Rxc7 31. Rxc7 a5 32. Rd7 Kc6 33.
Rd8 b5 34. a3 Rh7 35. Re8 Kd7 36. Re1 Kd6 37. Re8 Kd7 38. Re1 Kd8 39. Re6 Rc7
40. Rxf6 Rxc3 41. Kxh3 Ke7 42. Rb6 Rxa3 43. Rxb5 Kd6 44. Rb3 Ra1 45. Rb6+ Kc7
46. Rg6 a4 47. Rg7+ Kc6 48. Rxg5 a3 49. Rg6+ Kb5 50. Rg8 a2 51. Rb8+ Kc4 52.
Rc8+ Kb4 53. Rb8+ Ka3 54. Ra8+ Kb2 55. Rb8+ Kxc2 56. Ra8 Rh1+ 57. Kg2 a1=Q
58. Rxa1 Rxa1 59. g5 Kd3 60. Kh3 Kxd4 61. g6 Ra7 62. f4 Ke4 63. Kg4 d4
{cterlizzi resigns} 0-1

 I don't know the French Defense very well.. if you don't know the French Defense, it's usually best to play the exchange variation.  Oh, how painful it is to analyze your losses, yet they are the most important games to look over.  I shall study this opening with Chessgames(dot)com databases.

- Lizzi

Winning with the Alekhine (Played at FICS 10.02.2020)

 
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. exd6 exd6 7. Be2 Bf5 8.
O-O Be7 9. a3 Bf6 10. b4 O-O 11. Nc3 Qd7 12. Be3 a5 13. b5 Na7 14. a4 Rad8
15. Qb3 Nac8 16. Rad1 Ne7 17. c5 Nbc8 18. b6 cxb6 19. Bb5 Qc7 20. Bf4 bxc5
21. dxc5 Qxc5 22. Nd5 Nxd5 23. Rxd5 Be6 24. Rxc5 Bxb3 25. Rc7 Bd5 26. Nd2 Ne7
27. Nc4 Ng6 28. Bxd6 Bxc4 29. Bxf8 Bxf1 30. Bxf1 Nxf8 31. Rxb7 Rd7 32. Rb5
Bc3 33. g3 g6 34. Kg2 Rd2 35. h4 Bd4 36. Bc4 Rxf2+ 37. Kh3 Bc3 38. Rb7 Bb4
39. Bd5 Ne6 40. Re7 Bxe7 {SlowDave resigns} 0-1

 Good game, good win, I guess.  But, my opponent blunder his knight on move 28.  I mostly study my Alekhine games to get a better understanding of The Alekhine Defense and how to play it.  I've only played this defense one time in a USCF tournament and it was recently.  That game ended in a draw.

 Note:  Bobby Fischer played the Alekhine Defense on more than one occasion during the 1972 WCC against Spassky

 There will be another tomorrow!

- Lizzi  

Another Game Analyzing the K.I.D. - Hernandez vs Jones 1952

 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 Nbd7 7.O-O
e5 8.Be3 Ng4 9.Bg5 f6 10.Bd2 exd4 11.Nxd4 Nde5 12.f4 f5
13.fxe5 Nxh2 14.Kxh2 Bxe5+ 15.Bf4 Qh4+ 16.Kg1 Bxf4 17.Nf3 Be3+

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

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