by greenpawn34 on Jun 24 2012 22:14 | 5187 views | 4 edits | Last edit on Sep 10 2023 16:03
Hi Chaps.
Rain, Rain, Rain.
I used to think we British loved talking about the weather because it always changes.
Well it has not changed at all for the past week and all we have been talking is the
weather. Rain, Rain, Rain and Rain Again.
Apparently all rainfall records have been broken since rainfall records began.
I want to know who started keeping records of rainfall and how did they do it?
“Where are you going Dear, it’s raining?”
“I’m going outside to measure how much rain has fallen.”
And just how do they do that?
Do they have a special machine that counts how many raindrops hit the ground.
I doubt it. These rainfall records are all phoney.
Anyway. Having spent £20 on a ticket for the Royal Highland Show a little bit
of rain was not going to stop me from getting my £20’s worth.
I spent whole the day dodging people trying to remove an eye with their umbrellas
and got soaked. Good fun.
In the previous Planet Greenpawn I was discussing this position.
White to play.
We looked at 1.Bb3 exe4 2.Qxd8+
HikaruShindo asked in Thread 147126 why White cannot win the
Black Queen with 2.Bxf7+ Kxf7 3.Qxd8.
The answer being that 2.Bxf7+ does not win the Queen, it losses a piece.
2.Bxf7+ Kxf7 3.Qxd8 Rxd8
I explained this was my fault for not spotting that perhaps someone
may go for this Queen winning idea. Here is poorly played example
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Bc4 cxb2 5. Bxb2 d5 6. Bxd5 Nf6 7. Bxf7+ {This is a well known sham sac (a sacrificial combination where a player wins back his sacced material at the end of the combination.)} 7... Kxf7 8. Qxd8 {White has won the Queen.} 8... Bb4+ {No. This trick, once seen never forgotten, gets the Queen back. (Well it's supposed to.) White best is now 11.Qd2 Bxd2+ 12Nxd2 and material wise the position is equal.} 9. Nd2 {As I said White has to maintain the material balance with 11.Qd2. This blunder which turns White's Sham Sac into a genuine sacrifice (or a bad blunder) has been played a few times on RHP.} 9... Rxd8 {White is simply now a piece down.} 10. Rd1 Rxd2 {White had seen enough and resigned.}
Getting the balance right in what to mention and what to leave out is often difficult.
As I also replied in the above thread it is very common for writers (especially modern
writers.) to assume their readers are as good as them and seldom write beneath them.
Though the above example is fairly basic a reader fell for it.
I’m glad he replied as it does help me to put my feet back on the ground.
Examples of modern writers skipping bits are everywhere.
The latest CHESS. June 2012.
Has such an example on page 41.
New Ideas in the C3 Sicilian by GM Alexander Cherniaev.
So let’s have a look at this new idea.
A. Cherniaev - A. Fier, Geneva Open 2011
1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 Nb6 {This was a new move to Cherniaev he continued.} 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 {Cherniaev now adds he was torn between this and 6.Qxd4 adding a few lines to show how it could have gone with 6.Qxd4. He now passes over the next few moves without comment.} 6... Nc6 7. Bf4 g6 8. c4 Bg7 9. Nc3 d5 10. cxd5 Nxe5 {etc etc...Hang on a minute. Did you notice anything?}
Back here.
There is a White e-pawn hanging. Black never took it. What is going on?
Now if I’m going to face this new idea what happens if Black does not play 9…d5.
Now your Cherniaev of this world may just shrug their rounded shoulders and say
“But 9…d5 is the best move. It is a justification for having a Knight on b6.”
(Black Knights on b6 are often misplaced.). Also:
“When Black plays d5 it sometimes losses it’s bite if there is not a White pawn on e4 or e5.”
Then we also note that Cherniaev’s opponent, Fier, started this by playing 4…Nb6.
So in his pre-game preparation he must have looked at taking the e-pawn.
(well you would hope so.)
But your truly won’t be playing the Cherniaevs or Fiers of this world.
I’ll be playing Mr Pawn Grabber and if I’m expected to sac my e-pawn I had
better have a look at it now instead of trying to dig it out OTB.
This leads to me to what I think is a common error.
Weaker players looking at GM openings, memorising the moves and then
expecting 1500 players to play what a GM played.
This rarely happens. If you are studying an opening then you must look at
the plausible moves your may face.
At the lower levels your chief task will be avoiding and spotting blunders that
would never appear on a GM board.
OK it’s work time. Cherniaev and Fier and has led me he here.
What happens if Black chops the e-pawn.
These days the lads will switch on a Fritz and look for the solutions.
Wrong again honey.
a) You should look for yourself to find a refutation
(check it if you must with a box, but this is not doing your confidence any good.)
b) Now instead of expecting a 1500 player to play GM moves you are expecting
a 1500 player to play like a Fritz. See the problem?
Before we continue, let’s offer some reasons why Cherniaev has not mentioned
the Black pawn steal in his notes..
1) He and his opponent missed it. (100% very unlikely.)
2) The refutation is so easy for him to see he left it out. (very possible.)
3) He mentioned it but the Editor cut it out. (Again a possibility.)
4) He saw it but does not want to show the ref (yet) he is saving that up
in case some lad plays it against him OTB. (I doubt it but it’s possible.)
OK enough of that, Black steals the e-pawn.
FEN
r1bqk2r/pp1pppbp/1nn3p1/4P3/2PN1B2/2N5/PP3PPP/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 0 1
[FEN "r1bqk2r/pp1pppbp/1nn3p1/4P3/2PN1B2/2N5/PP3PPP/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 0 1"] 1... Nxe5 {This ref is easy to spot. (Knights on b6).} 2. Bxe5 Bxe5 3. c5 {White has won a piece. And at the 1500 level I can see that happening.}
[FEN "r1bqk2r/pp1pppbp/1nn3p1/4P3/2PN1B2/2N5/PP3PPP/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 0 1"]
1... Bxe5 {The trick 2.Nxc6 hitting the Black Queen and leaving the e5 Bishop hanging does not work. 2.Nxc6 Bxc6+ and then dxc6.} 2. Bxe5 Nxe5 {Now keep playing moves that have a forced reply. Look at these first, it is easy to calculate.} 3. c5 Nbc4 {Forced. So we have a Knight on e5 protecting a Knight on c4. Hit the e5 Knight.} 4. f4 Ne3 {Annoying, surely Black cannot keep these Knights tethered together without losing one.} 5. Qc1 {This looks good. It tempts Black into going for 5..Nxg2+ 6.Bxg2 Nd3+ winning the White Queen. But 5...Nxg2+ 6.Kf2 wins a Knight (though Black can get three pawns for it - messy.)} 5... N3c4 6. Bxc4 {Still going for forced moves.} 6... Nxc4 7. Nd5 {Prevents Black from playing d5 to hold the Knight. I'll now shoot off into a possibly line. 7...b5 meets 8.Nxb5 so...} 7... Na5 8. Qe3 {Time to use the development to create some solid threats against the King.} 8... O-O {Seems the most logical. All replies, including this allow White to get his pawn back. And that appears forced. So perhaps Black saw something like this coming and reasoned why snatch a pawn when you will only be giving it back for a dodgy position.} 9. Nxe7+ Kh8 {9...Kg7 is asking for f5 (which is coming anyway) or Nf5+.} 10. O-O Nc6 {Plausible, getting the Knight back into play and seeking relief from chopping some wood. Remember I’m trying to think like an average player.} 11. Ndxc6 {11....dxc6 invites a freebie development with 12.Rad1} 11... bxc6 12. f5 {This or 11.Rad1 giving Black the threat of Nxc6 an extra worry is OK. The attack is playing itself. This is Rook lift position. (Rf3-Rh3) the real reason for Rad1 gave me an option of Rd1-d3-h3.} 12... f6 {Everything Black tries seems to let White in. All you have to know is that such positions are won. So instead of trying to analyse them in your mind before you get there. First get there and then analyse out the win.} 13. Nxg6+ hxg6 14. Qh6+ Kg8 15. Qxg6+ Kh8 16. Rf3 {It's over. Not by any means an accurate bust to that pawn steal but a way it could have gone. I doubt very much if both those GM's came to the same exact conclusion but both would have suspected it. White was happy saccing the pawn, Black was happy not taking it.}
So what happen in the actual A. Cherniaev - A. Fier game.
It was a draw, I have not yet got around to playing it out. I spent ages having
fun poking about the position after the pawn steal.
Let us see what Endgame Ernie has for us this week.
Hi Gang.
I’ve been looking through the latest CHESS that Duck gave me.
(It’s my mag, I lent it to the Duck……greenpawn.)
There are two smashing endgame studies/problems on page 49.
A.W. Galitzky composed in 1900.
White to play and mate in 4 moves.
The solution is coming up below. Stop here if you want to solve it.
The next one is also by A.W. Galitzky composed in 1897.
White to play and mate in three moves.
We stay with this one and look at a good attempt to solve it.
1. Re7 {The b7 Knight can never move due to Ra7 Mate. So the trick is to get this Knight to zugzwang itself.} 1... Ned6 2. Rc7 {Now 2...Nc8 or Ne8 allow mate next move. But...} 2... Ne4+ {This check spoils it. White has to get out of check and mate on the next to fulfill the condition about mating in three moves. This is wrong.}
In all attempts to solve the second study with a Rook move allow Black to
move the e8 Knight and give a check. So first we cut out the check.
1. Kg6 {That pattern King v Knight is worth knowing. When a King or any piece is one diagonal away from a Knight as the King is v the e8 Knight then it takes the Knight three moves to give it a check or attack it.} 1... Ned6 {The b7 Knight cannot move. Anything else allows White to take this Knight and mate next move.} 2. Rc7 {And thanks to 1.Kg6 Black has no checks and it is mate next move. Good stuff.}
1. h3 {Now 1....g4 2.hxg4 is mate. So...} 1... gxh4+ {Now some fancy dancy King moves. The Black moves are forced.} 2. Kf4 g5+ 3. Kf5 g4 4. hxg4 {Checkmate. Very clever.}
OK let us talk to the Duck.
Hi did you see that chump greenpawn writing himself into a hole trying to find
a clean tactical refutation to that pawn steal. He spent ages hacking away at
his board looking for what the GM’s had seen. He got nothing. What a loser.
I’ve been reading my CHESS magazine….
and…
(OK Duck…..I got you on 33b……greenpawn.)
A 33b? What’s a 33b?
(Insults and theft…Glasses off and uncool t-shirt for you…greenpawn.)
Greenpawn’s magazine (he buys chess mags….what a dribble.) has a short game
containing an incredible OTB blunder from a good player played in a National Championship.
The fact these things happen OTB is a lesson in itself.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 {Now 6.Nxf7 Kxf7 7.Qf3+ kicks off the Fried Liver Attack.} 6. Qf3 {Plausible, playable and not topical. It should not present Black with any problems but it worth looking at if you play the Black side of the Two Knights and you like to defend the Fried Liver. It's been played 4 times in the RHP 2012 Championship and 443 times in the main sub 1400 database.} 6... Qxg5 7. Bxd5 Be6 {That's a lulu, 7...Nd4 was the move. White should now play Bxc6+.} 8. Bxe6 fxe6 9. d3 {And there we see the blunder of the blog.} 9... Qxc1+
Thank you Duck.
Finally. A thought provoking game with the usual RHP mixture of blunders,
unsound sacs, bad defending and missed chances.
1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 d6 4. Bc4 h6 {One of few early h6's recommended by theory, the plan being to follow up with g5 holding the gambit pawn. The f8 Bishop develops on g7.} 5. d4 Nf6 {Understandable and yet another example of a players at our level playing off-beat opening moves. I don't have an opening book on the King's Gambit. (I never play it, no need to for such drastic play as White.) but I do know Black should be playing 5...g5 here.} 6. Nc3 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Bxf4 {White has all the joys of Kings Gambit, central control, better development and an open f-file and all this without being a pawn down.} 8... c5 {OK. Black at least realised he has to disturb White somehow, else White will play Qe2, Rad1, Kh1 and shove the e-pawn. The bad news is that although White may be charging up the board before he was ready his superior development means he will be OK.} 9. e5 dxe5 10. dxe5 Nfd7 {I was expecting Black to chop the Queens here. Now White could try 11.Qe2 threatening Rad1 instead he plays another good move.} 11. e6 fxe6 12. Bxe6+ Kh8 {Now Qe2 and Rad1. All pieces in action, White will be swamping Black.} 13. Bxh6 {This is wrong, I can see a few ideas for White after this move but there was no need for it. Such a sac must have some kind of tactical justification. Here it appears to be a 'let's sac and see what happens.' This is the kind of sacc you resort to when are in trouble.} 13... gxh6 14. Qd5 {Nah. 14.Qd2 Kg7 15.Rad1 starts to create some problems.} 14... Nf6 15. Qe5 Nc6 {White has sacced a piece to develop all the Black pieces. Red House has read his Morphy book backwards.} 16. Qe2 {Now comes the wood chopping. all White's remaining minor pieces come off the board.} 16... Nd4 17. Nxd4 cxd4 18. Ne4 Bxe6 19. Nxf6 Bxf6 20. Qxe6 Rc8 21. Qh3 Bg7 {White won't be able to get at that Black King whilst the extra Bishop sits on a1-g7 diagonal. He is now at the 'I hope he botches it' stage.} 22. Rfd1 Qb6 23. Kh1 Qxb2 24. Rab1 Qxc2 {Here I would pulled the plug and gone onto the next game. I can clearly see the game ends 0-1. Nothing special is going to happen.} 25. Qg4 {Wait a minute...A possible exchange sac on d4 and White has perpetual chances. Also there is a sly hit on the g7 Bishop and the c8 Rook. Black is not quite in Blunderland but let's go on for a few more moves.} 25... Qxa2 26. Rxb7 {But now Black is in Blunderland. The move to stop Qxg7 mate is 26...Qg8.} 26... Rg8 {OOPS! can you see what is wrong with this? White missed it, played 27.h3 instead and lost. Here is what should have happened and possibly the reason why White rejected it.} 27. Rxg7 {This wins back the piece.} 27... Rxg7 28. Qxc8+ Rg8 {I'm wondering if White could not believe he was back in the game, saw this position in his mind and forced himself to think he was walking into a trap. The Queen is attack and Black has a mate on g2. players do that, talk themselves out of good moves. Maybe...Maybe not. But after....} 29. Qc6 {White is stopping the mate on g2 and again threatening his own mate (30.Qxh6)} 29... Kh7 30. Qe4+ Rg6 {If Black does not want to drop the d-pawn with check then he must do this.} 31. Rb1 {I'm liking White here. But Alas White lost because he never snatched an opportunity. A good Instructive game.}
