Why Technology Has Broken My Heart

 Yeah, I know... this is the ultimate self-contradicting blog post.  But, I wish computer and internet technology never came to be.  Things were so much simpler a few decades ago.  Computer and internet technology leads to faster and larger data consumption which ultimately means things will have to get done faster.  Information overload.  ADHD, anyone?  Back in the day, when we needed knowledge, we read books... and I promise you will learn more through books than any Google search!  People get themselves in trouble through web-publishing, mostly via social media.  I did away with the majority of my social media accounts over the past couple of years.  And always remember, whatever we upload to the web is up there forever in some form or another.

Chess... computers are literally solving the game of chess.  I don't even know if there will be professional chess 50 or 100 years from now.  There's too many draws at the top level as opening theory keeps improving thanks to computers.  The first 15 - 25 moves are memorization.  There's no more mistakes in openings which means more draws, obviously.  The creativity of the game is nearly extinguished.  

Smart technology... I don't trust it.  My smartphone spies on me.  I've been talking to friends/family about someone (a celebrity), and then I get home and see an ad for that person pops up on my suggested videos... creepy.  What's next?  ...technology that can read our thoughts? 

God Help Us!

- Lizzi 

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#

Blitzing Out The Moves in a Sicilian (ICC)

[Event "ICC 15 0"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2020.12.10"]
[Round "-"]
[White "HCAMP"]
[Black "Terlizzi"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ICCResult "White resigns"]
[WhiteElo "1419"]
[BlackElo "1534"]
[Opening "Sicilian: closed"]
[ECO "B23"]
[NIC "SI.44"]
[Time "13:08:16"]
[TimeControl "900+0"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 (2 ...Nc6 is more common in the Closed Sicilian) 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Be2 Nc6 5. O-O g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Bg7 8.Nf3 O-O (last book move) 9. Bd3 Bg4 (provoking White's next move which weakens his Kingside) 10. h3 Bd7 11. Bg5 Nb4 12. Be2 Qb6? (better is moving the Knight back to c6 to prevent 13. e5) 13. a3 (stronger is 13. e5 dxe5 14. Bxf6 exf6 15. Qxd7 and White wins a piece) Nc6 14. Qc1 Rac8 15. Be3 Qd8 16. Nh2 a6 17. f4 Nh5!? (giving up a pawn) 18. Bxh5 gxh5 19. Qd1 Kh8 20. Qxh5 Be8 21. f5 f6 22. Qf3 Rg8 23. Nd5 Ne5 24. Qd1 Nc4 25. Bc1 Bf7 26. Nf4 (Fritz 15 suggests 26. b3 to kick the Knight back) Qb6+27. Kh1 Bh6 28. b3 Ne3? 29. Bxe3 Qxe3 30. Nd5? (30. Ng4! forces Black to give up the exchange) Qg3? (30 ...Qxe4! and White is lost) 31. Qe2 Bxd5 32. exd5 Bf4 33. Ng4 (Rxf4 giving up the exchange is White's only hope) Rxg4 {White resigns} 0-1

Original PGN:

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Be2 Nc6 5. O-O g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Bg7 8.
Nf3 O-O 9. Bd3 Bg4 10. h3 Bd7 11. Bg5 Nb4 12. Be2 Qb6 13. a3 Nc6 14. Qc1
Rac8 15. Be3 Qd8 16. Nh2 a6 17. f4 Nh5 18. Bxh5 gxh5 19. Qd1 Kh8 20. Qxh5
Be8 21. f5 f6 22. Qf3 Rg8 23. Nd5 Ne5 24. Qd1 Nc4 25. Bc1 Bf7 26. Nf4 Qb6+
27. Kh1 Bh6 28. b3 Ne3 29. Bxe3 Qxe3 30. Nd5 Qg3 31. Qe2 Bxd5 32. exd5 Bf4
33. Ng4 Rxg4

"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

"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

 

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     

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