1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. f3 c6 4. c4 e5 5. d5 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Be3 Qa5 {This wee Queen sortie was a minor error and does not fit in with the plan Black later adopts.} 8. a3 c5 {Black blocks the centre and is going to go for b5 to get some play.} 9. Bd3 Na6 {That Knight is going to c7 to prepare b5} 10. Ne2 Bd7 {Again with a view of b5} 11. O-O Rab8 {Did I mention Black is going for b5?} 12. Qd2 {Alastair now realises that Nc7 cuts off the Queen's retreat and 12... Nc7 (aiming at b5) would meet 13.b4 and the Black Queen is in trouble.} 12... Qd8 {It takes a good player to admit you have made a mistake. A lot of games are lost because players simply refuse they made a slight error and try to justify a poor move.} 13. Ng3 Nc7 14. b4 b6 {All that prep for b5 and we get b6. But Black having wasted two tempi has decided in Alastair’s words; "too stodge it up."} 15. Nf5 Bxf5 16. exf5 Nd7 17. Rab1 h6 {Looking at Bg5 to swap off his bad Bishop.} 18. Ne4 {Toppo saw that one coming...} 18... Nf6 19. Nf2 {....and that one. He is not let Black relieve his cramped position with exchanges.} 19... Nh7 20. bxc5 dxc5 21. Ng4 f6 {It's all part of the stodge plan. Black does not want a piece tied down defending e5. f6 will have to get played sooner or later.} 22. Nf2 {Toppo is no hurry. He now enters the improve the position and wait stage.} 22... Ne8 23. h4 Rf7 24. Rb2 Nf8 25. Rfb1 {With ideas of a4-a5. He is no hurry.} 25... Nd7 26. Bc2 Nd6 27. Qe2 Qc8 28. Ne4 {A mistake or a sac. You decide.} 28... Nxf5 29. g4 Nxh4 {Never afraid to accept a challenge Alastair takes another pawn. Game on.} 30. Ng3 {The White plan starts to emerge. He is opening the g & h file to get at the Black King.} 30... Nf8 31. Qf2 {31.Qh2 Nxf3+ 0-1 was a bit too much to hope for. When Alastair and I analysed the game I wanted to play 31...Qa6 here to take his eyes off the Black King. It seems OK and gave some play but spectating is easier than playing.} 31... g5 {Alastair pointed to this a possible mistake but he wanted his f7 Rook covering g7 and h7.} 32. Nf5 Nxf5 33. Bxf5 Qc7 34. Qh2 Bd6 {Toppo can play Qxh6 here instead he keeps Black bottled up. No rush. He wants to bring his Rooks across to the Kingside first.} 35. Be4 f5 {Black sacs the f-pawn to hold h6 and set up possible exchange sacs on f5.} 36. gxf5 Rf6 37. Rg2 Nh7 38. Kf2 Rbf8 39. Rg3 {The position in the picture. White is planning Rh3 hitting h6.} 39... Rxf5 {Toppo was coming around quite quick now as he polished of his opponents. Alastair went for the exchange sac which brings matters to a head. Toppo is not interested.} 40. Qxh6 {Black is in big trouble now.} 40... R8f6 41. Qh3 Qf7 42. Rh1 {Taking the exchange on f5 gives Black some play. There is no need. Toppo has created multiple threats and knows when he appears at the board in 3 or 4 minutes Black MUST move. It's an awful situation to be in.} (42. Bxf5 Rxf5) 42... Bf8 43. d6 {I love that move. Toppo flicks in another threat (Bd5) but he has seen Black's last defensive try and has it all worked out.} 43... Rh6 {The idea behind Bf8 but Toppo saw it coming.} 44. Qxf5 Qxf5 45. Rxh6 {Just as we were working out the ending after 45.Bxf5 Rxh1 Toppo appears and play this. Alastair resigned. If the Queen moves 45...Qd7 Rxh7 and Rxg5+. If Black tries to scrounge an ending....} 45... Qxe4 46. fxe4 Bxh6 47. d7
For more details and a game Topalov played against a RHP member see:
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d3 Nc6 4. c3 d5 5. Nbd2 Bd6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 O-O 8. d4 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. cxd4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Rb8 13. Be3 {This leads to trouble. 13.0-0 was the sound move.} 13... Bb4+ 14. Bd2 Qxd4 15. f3 {Now 15...Rd8 or even 15...Qe3+ and White is losing a piece.} 15... Qxb2 {Never take the QNP with the Queen. Just don't do it.} 16. Rb1 Bxd2+ {The b1 Rook is protected. White can take this Bishop.} 17. Ke2 Qxa2 18. Bc2 {OK Black that is enough with the Queen and Bishop, bring up the reserves. 18....Rd8 and White is in big trouble.} 18... Bc3 19. Qd3 Bf6 20. Qxh7 {Mate. I'm blaming Black taking on b2. Never take the QNP. Never.}
Mind you there are always exceptions…..
It is now my great pleasure to introduce to you and welcome to the blog
ricewind1972 and the square b2 (and b7) .
The square b2 and Ricewind are joined at the hip.
I give you five checkmate positions from the 2012 Championship with
ricewind getting mated by a piece on his favourite squares.
Final position ricewind1972 - johneb RHP Ch 2012
Final position ricewind1972 - RHP Ch 2012
Final position ricewind1972 - notmyrookplease RHP Ch 2012
And a couple as Black.
Final position d36366 - ricewind1972 RHP Ch 2012
Final position individ - ricewind1972 RHP Ch 2012
But we end on a happy note. A ricewind mate. On g7!
Final position ricewind1972 - mishkablue RHP Ch 2012
GAPAC - Joe McD RHP Ch 2012
Here is the situation. Black can move his Knight and win the White Queen or move
his Knight and lose his own Queen. (guess what happened?)
Black to play and win. 18…Nxg3+ wins the White Queen. 0-1.
But instead Black played 18…Ng5 and lost his Queen 1-0
Next we see Black chucking a half point out of the window.
DanTrz - happybvr RHP Ch 2010
FEN
6k1/2B2pp1/2p1p2p/pqP1P3/r7/7P/3Q1PPK/R7 w - - 0 1
[FEN "6k1/2B2pp1/2p1p2p/pqP1P3/r7/7P/3Q1PPK/R7 w - - 0 1"]
1. Rxa4 Qxa4 {White now takes the a-pawn with the Bishop and then uses his extra piece to win the game. But White threw Black a life buoy,} 2. Qxa5 {As we shall see this was the wrong way to take the pawn.} 2... Qf4+ {This is a perpetual check.} 3. Kh1 Qc1+ 4. Kh2 Qf4+ 5. Kg1 Qc1+ 6. Kh2 Qf4+ {OK now try g3.} 7. g3 Qxf2+ 8. Kh1 Qf1+ 9. Kh2 Qf2+ 10. Kh1 Qf1+ {Etc...etc...etc...The only trouble is Black missed it. He took off the Queens back on move two with 2...Qxa5 and lost.}
Next we see Black chucking a full point out of the window.
Radon - MrVarnell RHP Ch 2010
FEN
r3r3/p4pk1/2p5/6q1/1bBpPnn1/3P4/PP3P2/R1K2QR1 w - - 0 1
[FEN "r3r3/p4pk1/2p5/6q1/1bBpPnn1/3P4/PP3P2/R1K2QR1 w - - 0 1"]
1. f3 Ne2+ {Black is two pieces up and the game is easily won.} 2. Kd1 {White would rather have an end to the horror than a horror without end so steps into a mate in one. 2...Qd7 mate is best here.} 2... Ne3+ {Black missed it and after the next few crazy moves which defy explanation......} 3. Kxe2 Ng4 4. Rxg4 Rxe4+ {Eh?} 5. Kf2 {Yes Mr Thomas. 5.dxe4 wins.} 5... Qxg4 6. fxg4 Rf4+ 7. Kg1 Rxf1+ {The material was level and the game was later drawn.}
Next we see Black chucking his King out of the window.
1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bf4 Nc6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 6. Qxd3 e6 7. a3 Bd6 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Nf3 O-O-O 11. O-O-O Rhe8 12. h3 a6 {OK the fun starts here.} 13. g4 {Have a Knight.} 13... Qxf3 {Thank you.} 14. Qd2 {I'll defend my f2 pawn.} 14... Qf6 {OK. I'll go back to where I came from.} 15. Qd3 {No. On second thoughts you can have the f2 pawn.} 15... Qxf2 {Thank you.} 16. Rdf1 Qh4 17. Rxf7 {Now I have your f-pawn.} 17... Rd7 18. Rxd7 Kxd7 19. Qg6 {Can I have your g7 pawn?} 19... Bf8 {No.} 20. Qf7+ {Then be checked.} 20... Ne7 {Threats and traps may force me back but checks will never harm me.} 21. Ne2 {Well I'm coming to f4 and I'll take your e6 pawn with another check} 21... Kc8 {You can have the pawn even with a check. I'm off to the safety of the Queenside. Bye....} 22. Qxe8 {Bye. Thanks for the game.}
Now look at this position. (Black to play)
Look at those triple g-pawns. Endgame Ernie (you will meet him later)
will be drooling into his tea at the sight of those pawns.
Yes tripled pawns are weak but often it’s best not go for them right away.
White cannot capture them.
They are a brick wall as far as the White pieces are concerned.
Black illustrates how with some alert play.
dartsman - inkdot RHP Ch 2012
FEN
7r/p4pk1/R1n4r/2p1P1N1/6P1/6P1/2P3P1/1R4K1 b - - 0 1
[FEN "7r/p4pk1/R1n4r/2p1P1N1/6P1/6P1/2P3P1/1R4K1 b - - 0 1"]
1... Rh1+ 2. Kf2 Rxb1 3. Rxc6 Rhh1 {Black has seen it. Good.} 4. Rxc5 {White has not seen it. Show him Black.} 4... Rbe1 {Black uses the g-pawn wall to good effect. Nothing can prevent Rhf8 mate. Remember that one lads. Often doubled and tripled pawns work for you the longer they stay on the board.}
Wotcha Wood Shifters.
Holly Macaroni! Did you see those triple pawns in the last game. Yummy yum yum.
Thanks greenpawn for that diagram. Infact I’m going to look at it again.
Oh too much I can hardly contain myself, look at those g-pawns.,
will you just look at those g-pawns, those lovely…..
(Get on with it you nerd else I won’t invite you back….greenpawn)
We all know two connected pawns on the 6th rank beat a Rook.
Even with Black to move they cannot stop at least one pawn from promoting.
[FEN "8/8/1P1P2k1/p1p3r1/2r1P1P1/4K1R1/8/8 b - - 0 1"]
{Black to play and he can stop both pawns by now playing 1...Re5 and then taking on e4 with check. The c-Rook will stop the b-pawn and the e-Rook will stop the d-pawn.} 1... Rb4 {But this hasty move is wrong.} 2. d7 {The pawn promotes. White went onto to win but before we go we see one last desperate effort by Black.} 2... Re5 {It's too late for this now.} 3. d8=Q Rexe4+ 4. Kf3 Rf4+ 5. Kg2 Rb2+ 6. Kh3 Rff2 {Black is now actually threatening mate.} 7. Qe8+ Kg5 8. Qh5+ Kf6 9. g5+ {And White won with ease from here.}
In the next very interesting ending we shall see…
(Oh no we won’t….Get Lost….greenpawn.)
chmrjg - Shelrock57 RHP Ch 2012
If this had been an OTB game I would have suspected mutual time trouble.
The game ended in a draw but both sides missed winning shots within a few
moves of each other.
First to fail to see his shot was White.
FEN
b4rk1/p4pb1/1p4p1/7p/5Q2/P2q1N1P/1P4P1/4RR1K w - - 0 1
[FEN "b4rk1/p4pb1/1p4p1/7p/5Q2/P2q1N1P/1P4P1/4RR1K w - - 0 1"] 1. b4 Rd8 2. Ne5 Bxe5 3. Rxe5 Qxh3+ {A shot White obviously missed. He makes the only move to avoid mate on g2.} 4. Qh2 {Black now took the a-pawn 4..Qxa3. Instead he should have played.} 4... Bxg2+ 5. Kg1 Qxh2+ 6. Kxh2 Bxf1 {Which is a comfortable Black win.}
We show another game that features tripled pawns, this time c-pawns.
White starts messing about in the opening and he should have lost his Queen.
Instead it is Black who drops his Queen.
White cannot believe his luck and wraps up the game.
The tripled c-pawns actually play a very little part in the game.
The funny bit comes when White evens then out for Black.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bd7 6. Bxc6 bxc6 {The first c-pawn is doubled. Black should not worry too much, he has an ½ open file and the c6 pawn will come in handy for an eventual d6-d5 opening up the centre and the game for his two Bishops.} 7. Nf3 {The Knight was good on d4. Leave it there and develop.} 7... Nf6 8. Nc3 Bg4 9. h3 Bh5 10. g4 Bg6 {White has grabbed some space but again Black should not worry too much. White's King will need a home, Castling either side will give Black ideas,} 11. Ne2 {This is just bad. White hangs his e-pawn.} 11... Nd7 {Black replies with a return bad move. Taking the e-pawn was OK. There is no trick.} 12. Qd3 {This is just asking for trouble. Holding a pawn with a Queen is something a Queen should never be asked to do when a natural piece move can do the same (12.Nc3) } 12... Nc5 {You see the danger of using a Queen to defend things. You simply attack the Queen and the whole set up crumbles.} 13. Qc4 Bxe4 14. Ned4 Qe7 {A tactical shot. It's OK but should have been easily dealt with.} 15. b4 {But this should just lose. 15.0-0 going for Re1 turn the lose of the e-pawn into a sacrifice. Black can now win the White Queen with 15...Bd3+ and the lesson about defending pawns with Queens is hammered home.} 15... Bxf3+ {This is not as good as winning the Queen but it does win a Rook so we won't be too hard on it but it was case of seeing a good move and not looking for a better one.} 16. Be3 Bxh1 17. bxc5 dxc5 {There are the tripled c-pawns.} 18. Nf5 Qe6 {Black is a Rook up. Time to get the Queens off. This is so easy to win Black totally relaxes.} 19. Qf4 Bd6 {This puts the game back into the melting pot. 19...g6 first, then 20...Bd6.} 20. Nxg7+ Ke7 21. Nxe6 {Now it goes 21...Bxf4 22.Nxf4 Black is the exchange up but suddenly his tripled c-pawns would come into the equation and the win (if indeed it's still there with best play) would be very tough.} 21... fxe6 {A very lucky break for White. To show his gratitude he straightens out Black tripled c-pawns.} 22. Bxc5 Raf8 23. Bxd6+ cxd6 24. Qg5+ Ke8 25. Qg7 Bd5 26. Qxa7 {26.Rb1 I think would have prompted resignation. White make 100% sure.} 26... Rhg8 27. Rb1 {the coming Rb8 mate ends this one.}
This blog should come with a warning - do not read while you are at work! I was busting up laughing out loud reading it! I had to take a break and catch my breath - I laughed so hard at all the mates on b2! Great stuff!!
Thread 146413
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Of course we should not laugh too much but getting mated thrice
from the same square is in the same tournament is rather unique.
It's good harmless fun.