CHESS: Undersealcpl v. Skybird

[UnderseaLcpl]

Yes folks, its' another chess thread. Commentary and the occassional joke are welcome, assuming that Skybird is ok with it.

White 1) e2-e4

[Skybird]

Yes folks, its' another chess thread. Commentary and the occassional joke are welcome, assuming that Skybird is ok with it.
No problem.


White 1) e2-e4

1. .../d7-d6

[UnderseaLcpl]

Only my second move and I'm already thinking myself to death:doh:

White 2) Ng1-h3

[kranz]

Only my second move and I'm already thinking myself to death:doh:


then go and read some of Karpov's:D

[Skybird]

White 2) Ng1-h3

2. .../Bc8xh3

You know that new rule that the first hit wins the match, yes!? :DL

[UnderseaLcpl]

Trying to make yours into an aetheist army, Sky? :DL
I don't know what you're doing but I can't let that Bishop get away....

White 3) g2xh3

[porphy]

White 2) Ng1-h3
2. .../Bc8xh3

You know that new rule that the first hit wins the match, yes!? :DL
Looks like Skybird caught that horse just in time. It surely was about to leave the board in an extreme flanking manoeuvre... ;)


Cheers Porphy

[Skybird]

3) g2xh3

3. .../d6-d5

Aethist army, eh?:lol: No. Meet my Borg collective instead. 30-90 billion neurons are going after you. One drone is nothing. Assimilation is everything. All those figures on the board are just extensions of my brain, craving for your life juice. :cool:

edit: move counter corrected

[Skybird]

after 3.../d5
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/4748/image1p.jpg (http://img156.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image1p.jpg)

[UnderseaLcpl]

I see, and are your 30-90 billion neurons as slow as Borgs? :D


White 4) Nb1-c3

Btw, I got your PMs and have been carefully considering some of your arguments.
A response is forthcoming, but I've been trying to look at some of my previous arguments from your perspective, not easy to do sometimes.

[Skybird]

I see, and are your 30-90 billion neurons as slow as Borgs? :D

Sometimes. Slow and very patient. :|\\


White 4) Nb1-c3



4. .../d5-d4

[UnderseaLcpl]

Sometimes. Slow and very patient. :|\\
That's a good thing because it is going to take forever for me to work out my moves if you insist on not doing what you are supposed to. Couldn't you just kill the pawn?:O:



White 5) Nc3-a4 I guess....:doh:

[Skybird]

White 5) Nc3-a4 I guess....:doh:

5.../e7-e6

[UnderseaLcpl]

White 6) c2-c4

[Skybird]

White 6) c2-c4

6.../Nb8-c6


http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/7523/image2ryf.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image2ryf.jpg)

[UnderseaLcpl]

White 7) d2-d3

[Skybird]

White 7) d2-d3


7.../Bf8-b4+

Pardon, but no pardon at all. :salute:

[UnderseaLcpl]

White 8) Bc1-d2

[Skybird]

White 8) Bc1-d2
8.../a7-a5

[UnderseaLcpl]

I'll need some more time to think about this........

[UnderseaLcpl]

Bd2xb4

Damn.

[Skybird]

Bd2xb4

9.../a5xb4


http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/2783/image1szy.jpg (http://img299.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image1szy.jpg)


Damn.
Relax! The pain will soon be over! :D

[UnderseaLcpl]

b2-b3


Eeeep! Ze Germans are coming!:DL

[Skybird]

b2-b3

10.../Ng8-e7

Time to bring the boss to bed.

[UnderseaLcpl]

Rh1-g1

[Skybird]

Rh1-g1

11..../Ra8-a5

[UnderseaLcpl]

After much consideration.....

White 12) c4-c5

[Skybird]

After much consideration.....

White 12) c4-c5

12.../Ne7-g6

I assume my pawns are no longer good enough for you, eh? :shifty:

Good for ya. ;)


http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/5485/image1zyb.jpg (http://img17.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image1zyb.jpg)

[UnderseaLcpl]

Sorry for the wait, Sky. I suppose I should have expected you to pull that knight out, but somehow I totally forgot about him:oops:

White 13) Qd1-d2

[Skybird]

White 13) Qd1-d2

13.../e6-e5

So "Sorries" needed! ;)

[UnderseaLcpl]

So "Sorries" needed! ;)
Very well; So sorry!

White 14) a2-a3

[Skybird]

Me and my dman typing skills... "No sorries needed", of course...

White 14) a2-a3

14.../b4xa3

[UnderseaLcpl]

Me and my damn typing skills... "No sorries needed", of course... I know, just giving you a hard time off the board since I seem to be incapable of doing so on the board.:DL

15) Ra1xa3

[Skybird]

I know, just giving you a hard time off the board since I seem to be incapable of doing so on the board.:DL

You played a very weak opening, showing that you know not much about principles of strategic and positional play, but compared to your matches last year you seem to have learned extremely much meanwhile in tactics - you make fewer obvious weak moves that for example immediately lose you material. :up: How comes? Do you play every day with a computer or a human since then? Such jumps in playing strength usually only come from practice and growing routine/experience and cannot be learned from books alone.




15) Ra1xa3
15.../0-0



http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/4817/image1tki.jpg (http://img12.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image1tki.jpg)

[UnderseaLcpl]

Well, I was a bit apprehensive at first so I was just trying to buy time and see what you would do but now I find myself playing into a corner.

I've been practicing against Arena every few days but I still don't understand how it thinks and I can't beat it. I'm also a bit behind on the books.:oops: Instead I've been focussing on delaying the "watershed" moment as long as possible. Even in this game I'm just not sure if I am thinking the right way.
Last time we played these matches you mentioned that one should see patterns of moves. I see them a bit, but always too late.


16) Ke1-d1

[Skybird]

recognising patterns of moves? Hm, I think I said structural patterns that to recognise would "automat" you reactions to them, like a pilot automats his reactions and reflexes to certain situations.

anyhow, at least you have advanced so much that I am not willing to play weaker moves for the sake of setting up obvious baits that I hope you would swallow, and play the more solid move instead. That you play against the chess engine under Arena regularly, obviously helps a lot. training works best if not done in few but long sessions, but in small session - but regularly. Doing it regularly is what counts. So compliments from me, you definitely have reduced both the number of obvious mistakes, it seems, and their seriousness as well. Last year you lost material at all four corners simultaneously.

What engine do you run under Arena? I mean Arena is just the GUI.

[Skybird]

Oh, my move I forgot:

16.../Qd8-f6

[porphy]

I've been practicing against Arena every few days but I still don't understand how it thinks and I can't beat it. I'm also a bit behind on the books.:oops: Instead I've been focussing on delaying the "watershed" moment as long as possible. Even in this game I'm just not sure if I am thinking the right way.
Last time we played these matches you mentioned that one should see patterns of moves. I see them a bit, but always too late.


Playing against a computer can be good training, but my experience is that putting yourself up against a strong chess engine can be very frustrating, and not necessarily the best way to proceed. I'm not familiar with Arena, but my advice would be to use a chess engine that adapts to your playing strength. If I remember correctly, the later versions of Fritz can do that. After some games the computer adapts, and the games starts to be more interesting, and not exercises in futility where one is ripped to shreds every time... :damn:

When you get stronger the computer will offer more and more resistance, kind of a rubber band effect, which is more stimulating rather than getting whacked on the head by a virtual opponent, who doesn't even have a sense of humour! :DL

[Skybird]

If you are serious about chess now, I would recommend to get the socalled WM-edition of Fritz 11. I got it for around 30 euros, while the normal versions costs almost twice as much. It has some unique features that are of help especially for beginners, to recognise plans and structures, by marking them during the computer's thought processes directly on the board, also it allows to mark safe, risky, and dangerous squares. It has plenty of graphical cues and assistances that help to visualise what is going on on the board. I rate these features to be one of the best addon features they have implemented in the chessbase interface over the past 5 incarnations. there are also other helpful training features - plus a self-adapting strength level. It raises slowly while you score better and reduces the engine's skill if you lose. After some matches you have a level that is very finetuned to your skill level, and that constantly adapts to your progress in skills.

Plus you get all the eyecandy that I use to post... :D

Eventually you need to order from german Amazon, which shouldn'T be a problem, since that cheaper edition is a germany-only item, it seems (but it is not only the full version, but offers additional stuff, too). You can set all menues and language to full English inside the software. The ordinary version available at Amazon.com in the US ist more expensive and costs 55$.

http://www.amazon.de/Koch-Media-GmbH-Fritz-WM-Edition/dp/3866811012/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1236855412&sr=8-2

If you learn that quickly indeed, you may want to give your chessing a push or two and enforce it a bit. I think it is possible that you have the potential to become quite a good player. If you do not have an antipathy towards clubs like I have, joining a chessclub also would be a good idea.

P.S. Ha, Porphy has beaten me to it!

[UnderseaLcpl]

Using SOS 5.1

I'll have to get some sleep before my next move but I can tell it isn't looking good.

edit- and I'll post responses tomorrow too. Missed those last two while I was pondering.

[porphy]

P.S. Ha, Porphy has beaten me to it!

Always neck to neck in the chess and SB Pro PE threads :salute:

[Skybird]

If you think taking long hot showers together is next, I must disappoint you! :D

[Skybird]

http://www.chessbase.com/shop/product.asp?pid=358&user=&coin=
http://www.chessbase.com/products/fritz11/index.htm

[UnderseaLcpl]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I know you have recommended Fritz to me before, Sky, I just never really budgeted for it. I'd like to join a chess club someday, for the time being I work on-call and would not be in a position to keep appointments.


White 17) Ra3-a2

[porphy]

If you think taking long hot showers together is next, I must disappoint you! :D
Neck and neck isn't what you seem to think it is... :o
Actually I'm a bit relieved, a hot shower invitation would have been highly surprising to say the least. :timeout:

[Skybird]

White 17) Ra3-a2

Okay, enough of sweet conversation, now with all my pieces in place it's time to get serious a bit. :D Open wide, please...

17.../Rf8-a8

[fatty]

I am still using Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition. It's kind of bloated (seriously, what kind of chess program has its own intro cinematic?) but it has a wealth of features - robust database, book of openings, puzzles, etc. After a game it always recommends a new AI 'opponent' for you to play against. At $20 it's not a bad price either.

[UnderseaLcpl]

18) Rg1-g3

[UnderseaLcpl]

I am still using Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition. It's kind of bloated (seriously, what kind of chess program has its own intro cinematic?) but it has a wealth of features - robust database, book of openings, puzzles, etc. After a game it always recommends a new AI 'opponent' for you to play against. At $20 it's not a bad price either.

I had Chessmaster Collector's edition but I put it on the coffee table and my puppy got it. Once I get some more disposeable income, I'll buy Fritz and Chessmaster(again). Porphy was right; I'm getting tired of getting spanked by SOS 5.1 all the time.

[Skybird]

18) Rg1-g3
18.../b7-b5

If your move 19. c5xb6ep then my move 18.../c7xb6

I like the sight of this :DL

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9971/image1rjb.jpg (http://img13.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image1rjb.jpg)

[porphy]

"The horror! The horror!" :DL

[UnderseaLcpl]

19. c5xb6/ep

[Skybird]

19. c5xb6/ep

You already have my move, Lance. ;) :

If your move 19. c5xb6ep then my move 18.../c7xb6

FYI, it is common practice in corresp. chess that if a player thinks a sequence of moves is enforced by the rules, or is very likely, he can speed up things a bit by giving any wanted series of "if... then..." answers additional to his original reply. Even several alternative sequences can be noted that way. The point not to forget is that the player posting such sequences - must stand by his answering moves as he outlined them in case his opponent accepts the given sequence to some point - he cannot take these suggested sequence back up until the popint his opponent accepted to follow the variation as outlined. His opponent can but must not chose the sequence, he also can chose to follow it only to some point, but leave it before the suggested end of sequence.

So it is recommended to post "if... then..." replies only in cases where the sequence is enforced, or the player thinks his opponent's reactions are very likely as he predicts them (to avoid major disadvantage, for example). Handle with caution, therefore. You do not want to make your opponent aware of possible weak moves of his to avoid. Leave him the freedom to find a bad reply!

[UnderseaLcpl]

White 20) I surrender.


Good show, Sky. I see I still have a long way to go. :salute:

[Skybird]

[ shake hands ]

Carry on, and give it some structured effort. You have learned much in a short time only, since last year that saw that drill sergeant yelling at you :) Those direct and very obvious mistakes you have not made anymore. I haven't seen many people learning so fast as you do. :rock:

If you turn your training into something systematic, I think you could become a very potent player. That's is no polite flattery at the end of the match, but that is meant for real.

:salute:

[UnderseaLcpl]

Thanks, Sky.:salute: I suppose I will focus on openings for the time being. I felt I was in a poor position for most of the game, an all-too-familiar feeling.

[Skybird]

Yes, 2. Nh3 for a start was a complete non-starter.

Springer am Rand bringt Schimpf und Schand'. :03:

To have the pair of bishops for having self-destroyed your king's wing, was no compensation at this time.

The second major thing you underestimated was the doubling of the Rooks on the a-line, and your figures on the a-line being handicapped.

4. Nc3 allowed me to gain ground in the centre = space advantage for me.

5. Na4 was sup-optimal, again a Knight at the rim of the board, and less active there. (consider Nb5 ). exchanging the centre pawns probably would have been better.

9. Bb4: was questionable, you could have waited until I take on d2, and develope your position meanwhile. you also allowed me to open the a-line - you later saw what came from that.

10. b3 turned a2 into a weak spot, the pawn a potential problem.

11. Rg1 was not too bad, but if you later saw that you could not take on g7 (Sg6, and the Rook is a hostage), then you could have moved the queen to the g-line instead - it could have sneaked out diagonally if taking on g7, eventually.

12. c5 interrupted my 5th row, but did not more than that and also the pawn was exposed and difficult to defend - the supporting b and d pawns were blocked.

13 Qd2 was from all moves with the Queen probably the weakest.

16. Kd1 was a very bad move. It did nothing good for you, wasting one tempo for nothing. What did you had on mind with that?

17. Ra2 was probably the best move at that time. Compliments. After my 17.../Rfa8, all alarm bells and red lights should have turned into hectic action on your side, since all my forces had acchieved optimal attack psoition and mutually supported each other, having options to imrove their positions any further. note that computer analysis shows that although the material was equal for both sides, position evaluation already was calculated around 2.5 pawns to your disadvantage. In principal, from here on your fate already was sealed. Plus black forces on the king's side ready to advance, too, and your king exposed in the centre.