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The Beginning of a Journey
Pictures made with the help of the Dasher interface of Internet Chess Club.
Finally getting fed up with the inability to play I risked dishing out a few moves from an unstable connection. I only played eleven games today - but a lot of them were longer time control ones: it felt much longer.
Since I'm planning to do a midnight laundry session I'll just choose the shortest one and present it to you. Nah, I'm just kidding. This was actually a sweet one. Not long enough to write my fingers off, but still a nice game overall. My opponent was an FM - and I'm actually considering saving this game up into my game library. I was white.
1. e4 Nf6
2. Bc4 e6
![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/tTXdO.png)
I actually used to play so much Alekhine (1. e4 Nf6) as black that it was literally painful to stop myself from making that knight hop on move one in blitz. Once it happened to me even in a long time control tournament game! I planned playing something else and my hand acted on its own.
I really enjoy this - as black. Somehow I never really liked it as white. The so-called sharp main line (shooting off with 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4) never felt all that sharp, and the positional variation (1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3) wasn't to my liking. Plus I knew the sidelines all too well.
As a funny side note; I realized that Fischer disliked playing against this as white as well. Which is funny for me, because we somehow share(d) views in a lot of openings we disliked with particular colors. If I take this seriously I usually just try the line he played.
+ Show Spoiler +One way of playing it is...
1. e4 Nf6
2. e5 Nd5
3. d4 d6
4. c4 Nb6
5. exd6 cxd6
6. Nc3 g6
7. Bd3 Bg7
8. Nge2
![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/IpDB6.png) Black's moves aren't all that important - the move order can change as well - the important thing is the general setup white chooses. Nothing that would cure death, but not to shabby either.
Now the funny thing is 2... e6 which might be the cause of some furrowed brows. Let me explain what he tried to avoid in another spoiler here.
+ Show Spoiler +
1. e4 Nf6
2. Bc4 Nxe4
3. Bxf7 Kxf7
4. Qh5+
![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/VRj1o.png)
Now that he strayed off to a calmer hood (or did he?) the next two moves aren't that big off a bogus.
3. Nc3 c6
4. d4 Nxe4
Ho-ho-ho! (Not to be confused with hoe, hoe, hoe...) This is a usual stuff, generally leaving the side taking the pawn a little positionally behind, but due to the inevitable exchanges (even if white doesn't just take the knight right away) it makes your life that much easier. The obvious plan is shown in the picture below.
![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/oZVZz.png)
5. Nxe4 d5
White can grab back the pawn easy either with 6. Bd3 or 6. Qe2. But Ng5 wouldn't really be Ng5 if he just went for the obvious solution now, would he?
6. Nge2
+ Show Spoiler +
Why this, you ask? I could have tried saving the bishop - since all the dogmas say a bishop pair is better than a pair of skates... Well it's all part of what I call know what you want to get out of the opening. I never really planned keeping on the pawn. I would much rather have an extra developing move - especially in blitz. The only other thing I ever considered was 7. Qe2, but there's no upcoming threats anywhere and I still don't know where he is going to take.
After my knight move I still have a load of options available. I can go to the king- or queenside through Nc3 or Ng3 or if really need be even Nf4 - and I already think of an f4 push in the future - a knight on f3 would hinder that plan with at least a tempo.
6... Be7
It shows that he is not a complete noob - he doesn't jump for something that isn't running away! Development, development!
7. O-O O-O
No those are not smilies...
8. N2g3 dxc4
9. Qe2
![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/l7r0b.png)
Now that he'd shown his true colors it was my time for some good old psychological messing around. White might look like he's in an OMGWTF moment, suddenly realizing they're down a pawn and desperate in getting it back. Many players might jump at the idea of the now undefended pawn on d4, while some of the calmer or more experienced players might think it can be nasty due to a Rd1 reply...
But that wasn't my plan at all!
+ Show Spoiler +
9... Qxd4
10. Be3 Qxb2
11. Rad1 e5
12. f4!
![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/eagYg.png) This eleventh move from black was to prevent Bd4 and possible complications, due to how overdeveloped I became. 12. f4 I would call an awesome move. Is white down three pawns already? Yes! Is white just offering a fourth one? Yes! Just the usual... I wish. If black took the offered forth pawn I would still get to play Bd4, threatening the lady on b2 and threatening the king with much more. My two knights, my bishop, even my rook is pointing fingers ate the dark skinned emperor - and my pale marble lady can waltz there to finish the job. And what do they have? Most pieces in their original place and a castaway dark lade. If that happened I would already be thinking in all kind of sacrifices on g7.
What actually happened wasn't all that far, though.
9... b5
10. f4 Nd7
11. Bd2 Nf6
12. Rae1
![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/9W3S3.png)
Note what happens. White is down a pawn, the compensation - or the lack of it - might not be that obvious. But before you start screaming mistake, mistake - let's just take a look at the realities here. It's a five minute blitz game. White finished their basic development, pretty nicely I might add. The 'niceliness' of the development lies more in achieving everything I wanted, with the flavour of not being flat-out lost.
What do I always want? Sac a few pawns for initiative, have active pieces, thinking in a sacrifice and an attack. That's perfect. Even if black exchanged on e4 my queen gets there and due to my doubled heavy pieces on the e-file a later f5 can be messy, bringing a reality check to Mr B on e7.
If black does not exchange... What will they do? The light-squared bishop doesn't really have a goos square, thus holding back the potential of the rook on a8. My opponent finally accepted the pawn - and in a few quick moves we got back to where I wanted to be originally. Did I I lose a few tempi? Certainly. What I got is complete development and a chance to carry out a plan I had moves ago.
12... Qxd4+
13. Be3 Qxb2
14. Rd1
![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/SUz8u.png)
Here black could simply play any of Rd8, Nd5, Nxe4 and be fairly safe. (Of course not Qxa2 due to Ra1 Qb2 Rfb1. There's probably no way I could have gotten enough for all the pawns. But this is where psychology kicks in.
Did black think white was a noobie, losing pawns left and right? Did he just made the obligatory slip-up? Or maybe he didn't think the situation was dire and just wanted to finish his development quick and net the win.
The problem is... The situation WAS dire. Just like that. With capital W-A-S.
Let me show you why...
14... Ba6
15. Bd4 Qb4
16. Nxf6+ Bxf6
17. Bxf6 gxf6
18. Ne4
![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/u1BJs.png)
It might not look obvious. Yes the threat is there with Nxf6+ but does that necessarily game-ending? Well watch out for the miniature (assuming white warped in a mothership and vortexed black's next move) Nxf6 Kg7 Qg4 Kxf6 Qg5 checkmate.
Black doesn't get away with 18... Kh8 either. After a swift 19. Qh5 the player leading the dark pieces is forced with 19... Qe7 due to the knight's mating threat on f6. And there white simply has time to play 20. Rf3 21. Rh3. White might mess up in the scramble, blunder a move and not win. Or just make a more passive move due to a stroke of insanity - but that can happen in any and every game. What we can all agree on - it turned white's game to win. And even if they make a mistake here or there - black is pretty much tied to only moves - a naive misstep can mean the end of the game...
As it actually happened.
18... f5
19. Nf6+ Kg7
20. Qh5 Rh8
21. Rd7 Rhf8
22. Qxh7+ Kxf6
23. Qh6#
![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/OLOuX.png)
Another solution could have been 22. Qg5 Kh8 23. Qh6 with the inevitable. I just already checked all the mates there is should black take the f6 knight, so my mind was filled with that.
I hope you enjoyed the game! Feel free to post any questions or comments - though considering the length of the game there might not be a lot... But that's the best I can do if I want to get some rest this weekend.
Now back to my leftover ice-cream and the awesome voice of Ipp!
Love you all,
Me
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Wow that was beautiful. It amazes me how fast one can find these attacks. Keep it up!
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I wish I could understand what happened and/or what you were talking about haha. Do you have anywhere I could read about basic strategy and terminology? I've had no formal learning in chess, but I find it interesting, and might end up watching your stream when I see it. I just can't follow this though, as I get lost in the language. Looks very interesting though. :p
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Even though I don't understand chess very deeply, that was interesting. 
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Man that was fun. You're explaining really well, not too long and not too short. Keep it up pls
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I can't stop playing the alekhine either (i love it), but I don't know what to prevent or do after white creates a giant pawn chain when
1. e4 Nf6
2. e5 Ne4
3. d4 e6
...eventually leads to c3 after some exchanges, with the pieces spread out everywhere. I absolutely hate dealing with white if i fail to break apart the b2 - e5 pawn chain. Could you lend me some pointers and tips to break apart that pawn chain before or after the pawn chain is created?
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18... Rfd8 looks pretty safe, threatening Qe7 if white does nothing and the king can flee to f8 after Nf6 or Qg4. If Ne4 moves, there's also the possibility of Qc5+ and then moving the queen to f5, which would shut down most attacks. Black will probably lose f6 and h7 but he could still end up 1 pawn up facing a lot less pressure.
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Dang, what is truly amazing is how you come up with all of these strategies and sacrifices to create development to win the game. Crazy, good game.
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Great read, thanks for the in-depth analysis.
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Mr. Wiggles wrote:
I wish I could understand what happened and/or what you were talking about haha. Do you have anywhere I could read about basic strategy and terminology? I've had no formal learning in chess, but I find it interesting, and might end up watching your stream when I see it. I just can't follow this though, as I get lost in the language. Looks very interesting though. :p
If you're interested you could just check out my stream a few times. I'll try and cover more basic stuff too in my posts. I'm not the best person to ask about these things. I've learnt most of the things without books on my own and experimenting. The internet helped a lot and I've always been a do yourself kind of person. I plan to read up on a few books this year, so I may be able to give more advice later.
imBLIND wrote:
I can't stop playing the alekhine either (i love it), but I don't know what to prevent or do after white creates a giant pawn chain when
1. e4 Nf6
2. e5 Ne4
3. d4 e6
...eventually leads to c3 after some exchanges, with the pieces spread out everywhere. I absolutely hate dealing with white if i fail to break apart the b2 - e5 pawn chain. Could you lend me some pointers and tips to break apart that pawn chain before or after the pawn chain is created?
This could be part of another topic I cover later. Maybe with a few example games.
133412 wrote:
18... Rfd8 looks pretty safe, threatening Qe7 if white does nothing and the king can flee to f8 after Nf6 or Qg4. If Ne4 moves, there's also the possibility of Qc5+ and then moving the queen to f5, which would shut down most attacks. Black will probably lose f6 and h7 but he could still end up 1 pawn up facing a lot less pressure.
Not really. 18... Rfd8 19. Nf6+ and if you move the king to g7 nothing has changed. And if 19... Kf8 20. Qh5. You don't have the queen check on c5 anymore (and I'm not sure it would change a lot in most cases) and the situation is quite dire. Aside from all the queen checks Nd7 is a possibility. And you disregard the thing that due to all the queen checks on the eighth rank you'll have to be on a constant watch-out that you don't just lose a rook (say after exchanging a pair of rooks the one on a8 can be vulnerable).
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Nice read. How do you analyze the moves so quickly?? Always takes me way too long and I always miss something... Is there a particular way you visualize the pieces to make things easier or is it just mass games and experience?
Also, any tips on how to develop pieces correctly? I find myself many times with pieces that are out of position and useless. Keep up the good work and hope you're able to stream soon!
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Really great read man, I look forward to reading more and checking out your stream. Chess is a truly staggering labyrinth of possibilities. To those who are less experienced reading chess material, it can help to have a chessboard out while reading at first. That way you can quickly see the moves. Eventually, you'll find you can visualize the moves without the board, especially with the occasional picture.
My problem with chess is I enjoy being told the next move too much! When I should just think and play more of my own games its too easy to just read more theory! (I think many of us have a similar problem with the tl strategy forums, perhaps)
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On February 13 2011 14:15 Mr. Wiggles wrote:
I wish I could understand what happened and/or what you were talking about haha. Do you have anywhere I could read about basic strategy and terminology? I've had no formal learning in chess, but I find it interesting, and might end up watching your stream when I see it. I just can't follow this though, as I get lost in the language. Looks very interesting though. :p
I recommend to you (and to everyone) the website: chessvideos.tv. It's free (requires free registration) and has FM and IM-level strength players teaching. . .for free. It also has normal, lower-leveled players explaining a lot of the basics.
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What's your ELO Ng5? I remember we played during your cast, but it's hard for me to tell because I'm an awful quick player.
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I have many good games from ICC. Im 1800 USCF rated, and around there on ICC. My account is MastorT if you want to play sometime, or see some of my games
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o_O Damn, you all bought accounts on iCC? I love playing chess and all online, but I mainly just play on chess.com, but iCC has way better players, but the whole thing about paying is just too complicated for me :[ I'm too cheap to pay.
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I'll add that the finish is way tastier when you consider the line 21...Raf8 instead 21...Rhf8. If Black goes 21...Raf8 22. Ne8+! Rxe8 23. Qxf7+ Kh6 24. Qf6+ Kh5 25. Qg5#. And if Black refuses to take dreading e8 Knight, then 22...Kg8 23. Qg5# at once results with funny epaulette mate.
I also found another yummy tactics: if 18...Qe7 19. Rd7! and Black loses Queen for a Rook.
About Black play: maybe drastic measures like 8...f5 were required? The Knight is so strong...
Surprisingly, natural 11...Nf6 might be a bad move. What if he went 11...c5?
18. Ne4, here another option was 18.f5.
That being said, this was hella entertaining game!
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Sorry I was so off with real life (zomgwtfbbq it exists!) that I grew completely unaware that this thread drew further attention. I'll try to repent for that now as best as I can.
mapignon wrote:
Nice read. How do you analyze the moves so quickly?? Always takes me way too long and I always miss something... Is there a particular way you visualize the pieces to make things easier or is it just mass games and experience?
Also, any tips on how to develop pieces correctly? I find myself many times with pieces that are out of position and useless. Keep up the good work and hope you're able to stream soon!
I would say the quickness is part of some fortunate factors. One is a crapload of experience. I still feel like a noob, but in fact I do have a lot of experience. Another factor is that I have quite a memory. That means I remember things extremely well - especially any error I had. Yet another part is an inherited unusual way of viewing things in life. I could and should probably talk about some of that during a stream sometimes.
As for pieces. I would advice anyone to just try and go for development, development and experiment with everything. Don't be afraid to sac a pawn. When you're really curious, don't be afraid to sac a piece either. Okay, you might lose, but what will you learn if you never try? Also you can learn a lot of very important things.
Some of many of my good opening lines I only learnt well after the time I ever managed to beat a good player and after a time when I thought I was reasonably good for a while. There's always something new to learn - and I'm always on the lookout for that. Sometimes you just can't find a reason why something works - I'm sure as hell can't explain why some of my crazier (but still sound) lines work sometimes... But they just do. Maybe if I become a better player I'll be able to tell you those little secrets as well.
Edit: Oh one more thing. I always try to keep my mind sharp with doing all kind of small stupid things. From puzzles, through mindgames or reading to pretty much everything. I believe that everything adds up into your brain and those little links just strengthen the whole chain.
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GreenFaction wrote:
Really great read man, I look forward to reading more and checking out your stream. Chess is a truly staggering labyrinth of possibilities. To those who are less experienced reading chess material, it can help to have a chessboard out while reading at first. That way you can quickly see the moves. Eventually, you'll find you can visualize the moves without the board, especially with the occasional picture.
My problem with chess is I enjoy being told the next move too much! When I should just think and play more of my own games its too easy to just read more theory! (I think many of us have a similar problem with the tl strategy forums, perhaps)
Haha! Well said, man. I used to be looking at all those long lines and then sit down to an actual game, lose the thin line between preparation and thinking, get to a worse position, and the struggle to still win it on strength.
This is why I want to approach SC II with a complete blank mindset (this and the fact that I'm not serious about it and rarely play). I want to experience stuff, even if everything has been played thousands of times before by others.
After all every poem has been written as well, and we still rhyme about mushy things like love, too.
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MoreFaSho wrote:
What's your ELO Ng5? I remember we played during your cast, but it's hard for me to tell because I'm an awful quick player.
I have a feeling I might finally bring my head to the maul and improve in that regard. I'm still uncertain as to when and where - heck even about IF - I'm gonna start playing, so I'll just leave it untold for now.
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EPT![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/8MEuy.png)
