Fishing pole

Here are some games annotated by U.S.C.F. life master Brian Wall
Opening - Fishing Pole
White - Chess for Juniors Superstar Andrew Smith of Wyoming
Andrew's highest ICC Blitz rating was last month, 2200 - his highest ICC standard ( slow Chess ) rating was 2199.
Black - Mean old Grinch Brian Wall

1 e4?

wrong time
1 ... e5 2 Nf3?

wrong place

2 ... Nc6 3 Bb5?

wrong guy

3 ... Nf6

4 0-0??

entering the inevitable coffin as smugly as a vampire at daybreak - the pawn trio h2,g2,f2 is the casket, the f1-rook is the coffin-lid and the king is the walking dead.



4 ... Ng4!!

The wooden stake!

5 d4!

Here I imagine a parrot in a cage at the Chess for Juniors compound squawking - " Awk! Wing attack-central break. Awk! Wing attack-central break. Awk! Jesse want a cracker ".



Awk! develop your pieces! Awk! knights before bishops! Awk! rook = 5 Awk! control the center! Awk! passed pawns must be pushed!

5 ... ed 6 N:d4 h5!

I learned this trick from playing Robert Ramirez - after 6 ... Bc5 he would frustrate my attack with 7 c3 and I would have trouble breaking through - so I sneakily waited for him to play 7 Nc3 and then I played ... Bc5.

7 Nc3??

What the hell are they teaching these kids in Fort Collins-to develop their pieces and connect their rooks!? - shudder.

7 ... Bc5!! 8 N:c6!!

Central break, more development, capture a piece and threaten my queen - everything seems to be going fine for young Andrew. Robert Ramirez usually favors 8 Nb3!!

8 ... Qh4!!



How do you like that move, you little Chess for Juniors punk!



9 Bf4!!

Best. 9 h3 Qg3 does not work out too well.

9 ... B:f2+!!

This may be a record - usually by move 9, already 5 moves deep into the Fishing Pole, I would have several winning moves by now - I was stunned to discover that I merely had one winning line - I was reeling from the shock of 9 ... either pawn takes knight 10 Bg3 or 9 ... N:f2 10 Qd5!! - such a paucity destroyed my normal Fishing Pole comfort zone - luckily I remembered a Martial Arts film of a combatant picking up an opponent and throwing him to the ground - immeditaely the man who did the throwing collapsed. No one at the scene could figure out what they just saw. The camera revealed that as the victor was being hoisted in the air, he unleashed a devastating counterblow too quick for the audience to see but completely effective nonetheless. It was in the same spirit that the c5-bishop torpedoed the f2-submarine.



10 Kh1!!

The juicy alternative 10 R:f2 Q:f2+ 11 Kh1 Q:f4 12 g3 Qe3 did not appeal to our young warrior.

10 ... N:h2!! 11 B:h2!!

Grabbing material as programmed and rejecting the feeble defense 11Bg5 Q:g5 12 R:f2 Ng4 13 Qf3 and I have the usual long list of winning suspects.

11 ... Bg3!!

Ooh - mate in 2.

So Andrew followed the classical principles very well and is to be commended for following all the rules - the only trouble is - his opponent played Chess!









[Site "Internet Chess Club"]

[Date "2002.12.03"]

[Round "-"]

[White "drewmister"]

[Black "brianwall"]

[Result "0-1"]

[ICCResult "White resigns"]

[WhiteElo "2200"]

[BlackElo "2071"]

[Opening "Ruy Lopez: Berlin defense, 4.O-O"]

[ECO "C65"]

[NIC "RL.07"]

[Time "19:09:20"]

[TimeControl "300+0"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Ng4 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 h5 7. Nc3 Bc5

8. Nxc6 Qh4 9. Bf4 Bxf2+ 10. Kh1 Nxh2 11. Bxh2 Bg3 {White resigns} 0-1

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All right, you say, that was a fluke, Andrew was just unlucky. Any Chess for Juniors kid worth his salt ought to be able to whack that stupid Fishing Pole. Sigh. You don't know how much I would like you to be right. These kids are National Champions, for Heaven's sake!

I can see that you still don't believe me. OK, fine, I will have to present more evidence.

Opening - Fishing Pole

White - Chess for Juniors Superstar Jesse Cohen

Jesse's highest ICC Blitz rating was 2303 in November 2002

Black - Mean old Grinch Brian Wall



1 e4?

This ain't Fort Collins, son.

1 ... e5 2 Nf3?

Wrong workshop

2 ... Nc6 3 Bb5?

and you are guaranteed an edge, right?

3 ... Nf6 4 0-0?

but...but...but Kasparov played this ... how can this be wrong?!

4 ... Ng4!!

This ain't Kramnik, that's why!!



How does that Wooden Knight on g4 feel, Jesse?



5 c3 Bc5 6 d4 Bb6 7 B:c6 dc 8 N:e5 N:e5 9 de Qh4 10 Qf3 Bg4 11 Qg3 Q:g3 12 hg 0-0-0 13 Bg5



Chess for Juniors Training Parrot



Awk! Bring a piece out with every move! Awk! Connect your rooks!

Awk! Innovation in the Breyer variation! Awk! Watch out for the windmill!





13 ... Rd3 14 a4 R:g3



Let me hear again what they are teaching you in Fort Collins again, boy?



15 a5 Bf3

Boo!

16 Jesse resigns ??



The great thing about being a Chessmaster is that you can scare these little booked up fish with shadow threats. It is true I have a winning ending after 16 ab R:g2+ 17 Kh1 R:g5+ 18 Kh2 Re8!! 19 Rg1 ( only way to prevent 19 ... Re6-g6 mate ) R:g1 but Jesse would be perfectly fine after 16 N:d2 - Nunn's Chess Openings don't cover perseverance and fighting spirit. Jesse's High School Football nickname was "Quitter" and I see why.



[Event "ICC 5 0 u"]

[Site "Internet Chess Club"]

[Date "2002.10.31"]

[Round "-"]

[White "JCSuperstar"]

[Black "brianwall"]

[Result "0-1"]

[ICCResult "White resigns"]

[WhiteElo "2236"]

[BlackElo "2018"]

[Opening "Ruy Lopez: Berlin defense, 4.O-O"]

[ECO "C65"]

[NIC "RL.07"]

[Time "16:57:44"]

[TimeControl "300+0"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Ng4 5. c3 Bc5 6. d4 Bb6

7. Bxc6 dxc6 8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Qh4 10. Qf3 Bg4 11. Qg3 Qxg3

12. hxg3 O-O-O 13. Bg5 Rd3 14. a4 Rxg3 15. a5 Bf3

{White resigns} 0-1

Originally posted by paranoidyoshi
extremely funny analysis. it's a nice breakdown of why the ruy lopez can be weak.... but why are 1. e4 and 2. Nf3 given full question marks?

Rhetoric.

Originally posted by aspviper666
Here are some games annotated by U.S.C.F. life master Brian Wall
Opening - Fishing Pole
White - Chess for Juniors Superstar Andrew Smith of Wyoming
Andrew's highest ICC Blitz rating was last month, 2200 - his highest ICC standard ( slow Chess ) rating was 2199.
Black - Mean old Grinch Brian Wall

1 e4?

wrong time
1 ... e5 2 Nf3?

wrong plac ...[text shortened]...

{White resigns} 0-1

Although, can't White just play 5.d4

It seems like White has a considerable advantage after this move.

What does black do after 5. h3?

I've looked at a few games like this, and here is one which may answer a few questions:

[Event "ICC 5 3"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2006.03.24"]
[Round "-"]
[White "ctd"]
[Black "TAL1960"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2122"]
[BlackElo "1587"]
[Opening "Ruy Lopez: Berlin defense, 4.O-O"]
[NIC "RL.07"]
[Time "09:31:33"]
[TimeControl "300+3"]
[ICCResult "Black forfeits on time"]
[Annotator "NM Brian Wall"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Ng4 $3
{Fishing Pole although Tal1960/SeaOtter didn't know that.}
5. Nc3 Bc5 6. h3 h5$3
{Think of the g4-knight as a pretty woman craving attention.}
7. hxg4 $4
{Think of White as a greedy corrupt businessman/scientist obsessed with World Domination about to receive his comeuppance.}
7... hxg4 $3
{The brave Auusie surfer is already riding the waves of success.}
8. Bxc6 $1 dxc6 $0
{Sea Otter has the usual Fishing Pole dilemma - a dazzling plethora of wins to choose from in a short time. 8 ... gf!! and ... bc! also do the trick.}
9. Na4 Bb6
{Poor Tal 1960 is new to the ways of the Pole - most of his previous openings do not give forced mates before he reaches move 10. 9... gf!!!! mate in 7 10 g3 Qg5 10 ... Qf6 also mates 11 Q:f3 Bg4 12 Qg2 Qh5 13 Rd1 Bf3 14 Kf1 Qh1+ 15 Qg1 Q:g1+ 16 K:g1 Rh1 checkmates. Grandmasters, computers it makes no difference - even first time Fishing Polers blow them away in miniatures with ease. Like giving dynamite to a baby, Tal 1960 didn't realize what he had in his hand so the game continued. Besides the forced mate there were also 9 other moves stronger than the one he chose. Accuracy is not required or demanded in the Pole, just win any sloppy way you want, even if your opponent is 3 classes above you. Ask anyone. 9 ... Qf6!!!!, ... Bd4, ... Qd6!!!, Bd6!!!, ... Bf8!!!, .. Bb4!!!, ... Qe7!!, ... Ba3!! and ... b6!! were all better than Tal's 9 ... Bb6! Of course Otter's move wins, it's hard to find one that doesn't.}
10.Nxb6 $1 axb6
{Sea Otter has the normal overload of crushing choices - The Fishing pole is the only opening in the world where too many wins is a serious, constant problem. 10 ... gf!!! is devastating and 10 ... cb, ab and ... Qf6 all win too.}
11. g3 $1
{Another perfect computer move which would normally be sufficient against a 1500.}
11... gxf3 $3
{The Fishing Pole Goddess always demands only moves from White but allows the brave, drunken Bacchanalian Blacks to slop out any win they like, drinking gourd in hand. 11 ... Qf6!! and ... Qd6!! were also sufficient for victory.}
12. Qxf3 {Only move}
12... Be6
{Tal 1960 had two dozen advantageous moves to beat the computer. The top 3 were 12 ... Qg5, ... Qd7 and ... Qd6. Sea Otter's choice was #10. Did you think I was joking when I said that any sort of accuracy is pooh-poohed as uptight and silly in the Fishing Pole universe.}
13. a3 c5
{Here again from the over two dozen good moves Otter chooses #8. The three best were 13 ... Qg5!!!!, ... Qd6!!!, ... Qd7!!!, ... Ra5!!!, ... b5!!!, ... g5!!!, ... Bh3!!!, ... Qe7, ... Qd4, ... Qc8, ... f6!!! and Rh7!!! were all stronger.}
14. d3 $1 Kd7
{The usual scenario - over two dozen good moves - Sea Otter chose #23 - his idea is to double or triple major pieces on the h-file. Too many better moves to list- here are some - 14 ... Qd6, ... Ra6, ... Bh3, ... f6, ... Qd7, ... b5, .. Qe7, ... Qc8,... Qd4 and ... Rh7}
15. Qe3 Rh3
{Top moves this time - 15 ... Qf6, ... Qg8, ... Rh3, ... Qe7, ... Bh3 and ... Rh7.}
16. f4 Qh8
{It is best to acknowledge the computer's threat of f5 with 16 ... ef, ... Bg4 or ... g6. Sea Otter feels playful and just continues his thematic h-file buildup- a natural Fishing Poler if ever there was one. Tal 1960 has been winning for a while but I think now the computer wanted to avoid a draw against the 1500 with 17 f5 Rh1+ 18 Kf2 R:f1+ 19 K:f1 Qh1+ 20 Qg1 Qf3+ 21 Qf2 Qd1+ 22 Qd1 Qf3+ = I don't know if CTD computer is trained to avoid draws with surfer dudes or is programmed to randomly make suboptimal moves to keep its rating down artificially.}
17. Qf3 g6 {Top 3 moves - 17 ... ef!!!, ... f6!! and ... Kc8} 18. c3
{Odd - best move 18 f5, second best move - 18 c3}
18... Qh7
{Consistent - Sea Otter continues his h-file buildup. Best is dealing with 19 f5 or 19 fe with moves like 18 ... f6, ... f5, ... Rf8, ... Re8, ... ef, ... Rg8, ... c6 etc.}
19. fxe5 $1 Rh8 $0
{Very impressive Fishing Pole spirit by Tal 1960 - saccing the knight then tripling on the h-file shows a deep, spiritual grasp of what this opening is all about. Top 4 moves - 19 ... Rh2, ... Rh8, ... g5 and ... Rh5.}
20. b4 Rh1+
{Like last move 20 ... Rh2 is best - the idea is to clear a space for ... Qh3 Top 5 moves - 20 ... Rh2, ... Rh1+, ... cb, ... c4 and ... f6.}
21. Kf2 Rxf1+
{Invading with 21 ... Qh2+!! 22 Ke1 and then 22 ... R:f1+ is stronger 21 ... Qh2+!! 22 Qg2 is very bad because of 22 ... Q:g2+ 23 K:g2 R8h2+ 24 Kf3 R:f1+ 25 Ke3 Bg4 26 e6+ Ke7 27 bc bc 28 ef Rf3 checkmate I let small impatient minds fret over refuting the Fishing Pole - I just try to pick up as many attacking motifs as I can for tournament play. The best way to attack is 21 ... Qh2+ 22 Ke1 R:f1+ 23 K:f1 Bh3+ 24 Ke1 Qg1+ 25 Kd2 Be6 26 Kc2 Rh2+ 27 Kb1 Bb3 and White is a pawn up but his position is toast. Other good lines - 21 ... Qh2+ 22 Ke1 R:f1+ 23 K:f1 Bh3+ 24 Ke1 Qg1+ 25 Kd2 Be6 26 Kc2 Rh2+ 27 Kb1 Bb3 28 a4 cb ( +20 ), ... Kc8, ... Qe1, ... Bc2+ 21 ... Qh2+ 22 Ke1 R:f1+ 23 K:f1 Bh3+ 24 Ke1 Qg1+ 25 Kd2 Be6 26 Kc2 Rh2+ 27 Kb1 Bb3 28 Qg4+ Ke7, ... Kd8, ... Kc6, ... Ke8 and ... f5. 21 ... Qh2+ 22 Ke1 R:f1+ 23 K:f1 Bh3+ 24 Ke1 Qg1+ 25 Kd2 Be6 26 Kc2 Rh2+ 27 Kb1 Bb3 or ... Rh1 or ... g5 or .. Rb2+ or ... b5 or ... f5 21 ... Qh2+ 22 Ke1 R:f1+ 23 K:f1 Bh3+, ... Ke8, ... c4, ... Qc2, ... Rh5, ... cb, ... Rh7, ... Kc8 and ... Rh3 21 ... Qh2+ 22 Ke1 R:f1+ , ... Rg1, ... cb and ... Qc2. So Sea Otter misses wins galore almost every move but he is not accustomed to such a rich menu.}
22. Kxf1 Qh3+
{Sea Otter likes to rush in like Yosemite Sam with guns blazing but finesse is often required - 9 ... gf mates 12 or 13 ... Qg5 14 ... Qd6 15 ... Qf6 17 ... ef 19 or 20 ... Rh2 21 ... Qh2+ are all major improvements and here 22 ... Qh2!!! is best}
23. Ke1 Rh7
{23 ... c4, ... Qh2, ... Kc8 and ... Bg4 are better moves.}
24. bxc5 bxc5 $1 25. Rb1 b6
{25 ... Bg4!!!, ... c4!! and ... Qh2! are better moves.}
26. d4 Bg4 $0
{Tal 1960 finds the killer - 26 ... cd!! and ... f6! are not as strong.}
27. Qf2 Qh1+ $0
{mating Sea Otter does it again - finds the cruncher - 27 ... cd, ... f5, ... c4, ... f6 and ... Ke8 are not as strong.}
28. Kd2 Qxe4
{28 ... Rh2 mates}
29. Rb2 c4 30. e6+ Bxe6
{Moves that force mate 30 ... Kc8, ... Ke7, ... fe, ... Ke8, ... Kd8 and ... Kc6}
31. Qe2
{Only move}
31... Qf5
{Crushing moves - 31 ... Qh1!!, ... Qd5, ... Qa8, ... Qb7 and ... Qc6}
32. Rb4 Rh1 $0 33. Qe3 Qf1
{Crushing moves - 13 ... Rh2 mating 13 ... Kc8, ... Bd5, ... Ke8, ... Kc6, ... c5, ... f6, ... g5 and ... Kd8}
34. Kc2 Qd1+ $3 35. Kb2 Re1 $3 36. Qf4 Re2+
{It's well known that opposite-colored bishop middlegames are death to the defenders. 36 ... Bf5!!!!, ... f6!!!, ... Qd3!!! are stronger.}
37. Ka1 Qc2 $0 38. Rb2
{Black forfeits on time. Tal 1960 lost on time here but 38 ... Q:c3!! is a wipeout. This could be a record for most missed mates and wins.}
1-0

Originally posted by paranoidyoshi
extremely funny analysis. it's a nice breakdown of why the ruy lopez can be weak.... but why are 1. e4 and 2. Nf3 given full question marks?

Brian wall has said many times that 1.e4? is a blunder.I continue to blunder every game I have as white.

So if the fishing pole is the refutation of the Ruy, why do GM's, when playing black, not always play it? Does anybody here know good refuting lines for white? I'm gonna have to try it as black, it looks good! I can't help but feel that there must be some hole somewhere, It absolutely cannot be the true best line, though for players at my level, I can hear the screams of anguish😲😳😠

Originally posted by 33moves
So if the fishing pole is the refutation of the Ruy, why do GM's, when playing black, not always play it? Does anybody here know good refuting lines for white? I'm gonna have to try it as black, it looks good- I love the Ruy as white, now I'm a liitle scared 😠

It's definitely not a refutation. 5.d4 is a fine continuation. It should be noted that 4.0-0 gives Black an easier equality than 4.Qe2 or 4.d3

As I've had a few minutes to poke through it, I have realized that its real strength comes from the shocking and unexpected fierce attack, and if you are not prepared for it, you will be picking your jaw up off of the floor and packing your bags. d4 does seem to be a solid move, and when you are expecting the rest of the big moves (and play accordingly), i.e. ...Bc5 and even ...Qh4, then you can ride it out just fine. I look forward to playing it against Fritz and humans, thanks for the wake up call!🙄

Hmmm....A refutation of it......

Well, I'm looking at drewmister vs. wall From move 5....

This is without a computer....


h3 h5 [If hxg4 hxg4 Nh2{even if you give the material back Black is still much better because he has opened up the h-file against white's king} Qh4 0-1] Nh2 {trying to trade off the Knights}

From move 8. i'd say the best bet is to retreat the Knight to f6 {preventing the killer Qh4 being played} and after that I'd say white is ok.

I think the main Power of this opening is that it comes as a suprise -- If you understand the power of the g4 knight (and not assume its a weakness) , aided by Qh4 and Bc5 you can counter it...

Nf6, a normal developing move can prevent Qh4... d4, again quite natural can at least hinder the bishop's control of that diagonal....

Just tryed a couple of Fishing Pole games against Fritz 9, and it keeps playing 5. d3! The beauty of that move is, unlike 5.d4 exd4 6.Nxd4, the White knight stays on f3 and prevents the Queens entry to the h file. To me, as black, now I feel that I've wasted my knight move, because unlike the normal Berlin or Open Lopez, you don't even have the pleasure of having captured the e pawn. Now you appperently have to "hope" that white attacks your knight with the h pawn, so that you can open that file and boot the f3 knight. That is a lot of hoping, and all chess players who hope so and so makes this move or that have been in the position where they realise they are losing because the opponent didn't play the hoped for move! The Fishing pole as a surprise weapon will work on those who are going to disregard its threats, and fall for one of its tactical traps, leading to a devastating kingside slaughter. Unfortunatly, when white does not fall for it, it seems to be a big let down. You can easily generate a double attack on f2 with the Bishop and knight from the regular Open or Berlin, but, who cares? You can trade the knight and bishop for a pawn and rook, but that is a little worse for black. The real threat would be a triple attack on f2, but Mr. Knight on f3 sez no sir. I am not impressed by Wall and his pole, in fact his commentary is fun to read, and pokes fun at those who mindlessly develop as though they couldn't possibly be checkmated in under 15 moves with an opening the are so familiar with. It is a great warning to stay awake on the board.😴

Here is another Ruy line in the similar spirit of the Fishing Pole, this one being if white plays the exchange variation- 1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. 00 Bg4! (protecting the e pawn with the pin) 6. h3 h5! Same checkmating threat on the h file if hxg4. Play continues with 7.d3! (again, probably the best answer for the fishing pole.) ...Qf6, intending to destroy the kingside pawn structure and reach equality. If on move five, instead of 00 white had played an immediate 5. Nxe5 Qd4! and black is good. i wondered why Fishing Pole seemed to have a familiar feel to it!