Chessmatch VI: Takeda vs. Skybird

[Skybird]

Anyone throwing his glove into the ring? The rules are known by now, I assume.

[Takeda Shingen]

I shall play. I even promise to play carefully. No recklessness. No crazy openings. No television after nine, etc.

White or black?

[Skybird]

I shall play. I even promise to play carefully. No recklessness. No crazy openings. No television after nine, etc.

White or black?
Doesn't matter. We probably do match & rematch anyway, don't we?

Rules are known: books, databases, user interfaces for chess software (like the one that I use to log my moves and create the diagrams), are allowed. Active chess engines and board computers are not. The looser must perform a bungee jump, while the winner is allowed to kick him down that tower :)

BTW, yesterday I listend to a new CD I bought, with some orchestral works by Franz Schreker, and immediately thought about you. I wonder why. Have we ever talked about this guy, and I simply forgot it?

[Skybird]

"Shake hands."

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/3503/00120uu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Takeda Shingen]

"Returning the shake of hands."

Looks like I am playing white. I do, however, look forward to the bungee jump. You are trained in a superior European system, and I do not anticipate defeating you. I shall give my best, none-the-less.

1. Ng1-f3


I do not believe that we have ever discussed Franz Schrecker. Still I have always been partial to his pantomime, Der Geburtstag der Infantin, and the opera Der ferne Klang.

[Skybird]

Did not have a clue that bungee jumping is a European invention. Don't do bungee jumping myself anyway.

Your move: 1. Ng1-f3
My move: 1.../ Ng8-f6

So you know "Der ferne Klang". I have heared it the first time some weeks ago, a recording from the Salzburger Festspiele last year - one of the last concerts my father was playing in before he retired end of 2005. The stage decoration was in a strange way fascinating. I did not like all of it, but the music surely has it's great - or touching, moving - moments. Schreker was unknown to me before.

Would have been some good music for the soundtrack of 2001, maybe! :lol: Reminds me of some of the Ligeto stuff in that.

:lol: Ah, chess, red wine, and classical music :rotfl: All it needs now is a fast winter again, and a fire in the chimney :lol:

[Torplexed]

Go Team Takeda!!! :cool: If one guy can constitute a team that is. :rock:

[Skybird]

I will not forget your biased attitude here, once we will play, Torp! :arrgh!:

[Takeda Shingen]

Sky's move: 1. Ng8-f6
My move: 2. c2-c4

Pip-pip, cherio.


I imagine that we should probably be wearing cardigains and smoking from pipes as well. Schrecker, to me, has always been a good assimilator of new theory, kind of a mixture of late Mahler and early Shostakovich. He certianly combined these into a style that is readily recognized as his own, but he was not a true ground-breaker, as evidenced by the fact that he was actualy appreciated durning his day. :lol:

[Skybird]

Your move: 2. c2-c4
My move: 2.../e7-e6

BTW, the name of that guy is Schreker, without "c". "Schrecker has a very different sound in German.

[Takeda Shingen]

Sky's move: 2...e7-e6
My move: 3. Nb1-c3

You're right: I 'English-ized' Schreker. My bad.

[Skybird]

Your move: 3. Nb1-c3
My move: 3.../Bf8-b4

edit: I typed wrong and have corrected it (before it was Bf8-c4, which is impossible to move, my move is Bf8-b4, of course. sorry.)

[Skybird]

after 3.../Bf8-b4

http://img350.imageshack.us/img350/6290/pos79vl.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Takeda Shingen]

Sky's move: 3...Bf8-b4
My move: 4. b2-b3


I figured that Bc4 was a transcription error.

[Skybird]

Your move: 4. b2-b3
My move: 4.../d7-d5

You have a faible for this extremely rare stuff, eh?

[Takeda Shingen]

Sky's move: 4....d7-d5
My move: 5. e2-e3

:lol: I didn't really intend to go this road. I had wanted to transpose into a more standard English line, but got stuck on the fast track to obscureville.

[Deathblow]

is it ok to throw in a spectators commentary or would you guys rather not have any distractions? :lol:

[Skybird]

The biggest distraction around is Tak himself :smug:
Does anyone understand what we are playing here...? :lol:

Your move: 5. e2-e3
My move: 5.../Nb8-c6

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/867/pos86nf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Let's play this carefully. Like mating porcupines...

Keep them coming, Deathblow. Biting comments are part of the game and are considered as good style :cool: Hope the analysis you asked for kept you busy.

[Deathblow]

ok then.

I didn't really intend to go this road. I had wanted to transpose into a more standard English line, but got stuck on the fast track to obscureville.

hm....perhaps: 4. d2-d4 ... would have been a better reply rather than 4.b2-b3 which pins the d2 pawn to protection of the knigth and allowed blacks move d7-d5 without fear of whites Qa4 check... Qxb4. If black plays

4. d2-d4
4... Nb8-c6 followed by eventually by d7-d5, then whites is still primed for c4xd5 weakening blacks control of the center.

hehe armchair chessplaying so to speak :lol: of course hind sight is 20/20

[Skybird]

Just take care that your comments do not affect future moves. ;)

Not moving d4 is clever, White avoids the classical Nimzo-Indian Defense and Black's option to play Bc3:, and then concentrating on isolating and eroding d4 and finally murdering it from behind. Nimzo-Indian can be a beast for White, I avoid it when playing White as best as I could. My first match with Scnadium was influenced from the attempt to outmaneuver him when he went for Nimzo-Indian. After I had Nimzo-Indian off the table, he tried modern Benoni, which I also try to prevent when playing White. We finally agreed on Catalan :lol:

[Deathblow]

I know nothing about what all those names mean... I just like to play the white shiny pieces... :oops: :oops: :oops:

... and sometimes black. :)

[Skybird]

Then wait, watch and learn, young paravan! :lol:

[Takeda Shingen]

Sky's move: 5...Nb8-c6
My move: 6. Qd1-c2

Yes. I am even a distraction to myself.

The Qa4+ is nothing more than spite, and never a serious threat. It could be repelled in a number of ways, all of which result in a loss of tempo for white.

Yes, I was working to avoid the Indians. I may not be successful in the long run, as a look-alike may be soon in the works. Still, I am having a hard time envisioning Sky and myself as mating porcupines.

[Skybird]

That move of yours theory demands two moves earlier, Tak!

Your move 6. Qd1-c2
My move 6.../d5-d4

[Takeda Shingen]

It did, but we will see if I can make up ground.

Sky's move: 6...d5-d4
My move: 7. e3-e4

Okay, do your worst.

[Skybird]

???

Your move: 7. e3-e4

In case you have mistyped your move by accident, I would accept that we correct it with the move you intended.

Else:

My move: 7.../d4xc3

"Die Macht der lachenden Messer". Eh, wait, wrong, it goes "Da lacht das lange Messer". Or was it "Die Nacht der langen Messer" :-?

[Takeda Shingen]

No typo.

Sky's move: 7...d4xc3
My move: 8. d2Xc3

[Skybird]

Your move: 8. d2xc3
My move: 8. .../Bb4-d6

What was that good for?

http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/6283/pos109ay.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Sir Big Jugs]

SKYBIRD! SKYBIRD! SKYBIRD! :D

[Takeda Shingen]

It was good for this.

Sky's move: 8...Bb4-d6
My move: 9. Qc2-d2

Now, stay put little bishop.

[Skybird]

I am still confused. Moving e5 is no option for White. Looses more material. Using the d-line White can only hope to acchieve some pressure on Black to accept a defensive position with crowded space. That does not compensate for loosing a knight for a pawn

[Skybird]

What stuff are you on, Tak? ;)
Okay I leave the bishop where it is and instead move the knight.


Your move: 9. Qc2-d2
My move: 9.../Nf6xe4

Think you have problems now.

[Takeda Shingen]

I am still confused. Moving e5 is no option for White. Looses more material. Using the d-line White can only hope to acchieve some pressure on Black to accept a defensive position with crowded space. That does not compensate for loosing a knight for a pawn

You're counting points, Sky. I value tempo in the opening.

[Skybird]

You will need plenty of tempi to compensate for a lost knight. Usually that is done by sacrificing one pawn only. Sacrificng a figure I would not do as long as it does not lead to direct attack on the king.

[Takeda Shingen]

We shall see.

Sky's move: 9...Nf6xe4
My move: 10. Qd2-d3

[Takeda Shingen]

You will need plenty of tempi to compensate for a lost knight. Usually that is done by sacrificing one pawn only. Sacrificng a figure I would not do as long as it does not lead to direct attack on the king.

I'll admit that I am experimenting here, and feeling you out first hand. Watching your matches, I think that you overvalue knights. I want to see how this plays out.

[Skybird]

No. We already do see :smug:

Your move: 10. Qd2-d3
My move: 10.../Qd8-f6

[Skybird]

You will need plenty of tempi to compensate for a lost knight. Usually that is done by sacrificing one pawn only. Sacrificng a figure I would not do as long as it does not lead to direct attack on the king.

I'll admit that I am experimenting here, and feeling you out first hand. Watching your matches, I think that you overvalue knights. I want to see how this plays out.

:lol: I overvalue knights? I surely like to have one more than you, in so far you are right!

What does "first hand" mean? You mean it is a blind attempt, a wild shot? Hell, treating me like a lab rat easily can cost you the match, brother! :-j

[Takeda Shingen]

You're going to have to pile up a whole lot of material to make that attack successful. Still, I'll cogitate on this for a few hours.

[Takeda Shingen]

What does "first hand" mean? You mean it is a blind attempt, a wild shot? Hell, treating me like a lab rat easily can cost you the match, brother! :-j

It may cost me the match, but may well win me the overall series. I always like to feel-out new opponents.

[Skybird]

What attack? So far I just have picked up what you have lost on the road so far.

Keep the strategic idea solid and stay on alert at all directions so that you can't get surprised, leave out all that is not needed, and calculate precisely. I mean: keep it more simple. "Overvalueing knights", "piling up material", "feeling it out" - stop that, it all is just distraction, better stick to calculation! I play on two boards here on my table, plus the board on the monitor as a reference for the actual game position. Why do you think I do like that? ;) In order to calculate easier, and deeper. It's the only way for me to compete with modern chess programs - I NEED those three boards! Try it. Multiple boards work wonders.

[Skybird]

http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/6880/neu4yd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

To bed now. Possibly won't be back before Sunday.

[scandium]

There are actually a few gambits where you sacrifice pieces instead of pawns... 2 that I can think of offhand are the Cochrane Gambit in the Petroff Defence and the Moeller Attack in the King's Gambit. Both involve an early N sac. I'm not sure if either have been refuted but they both are good weapons in the hands of a skilled attacker (which I am not so I play neither). Psychologically its generally easier to successfully attack than to successfully defend so in over the board play they have their merits. In a correspondence type game however :D

[Deathblow]

:o

This game is..... interesting?

Black's defensive look strong though the less than desirable control over the D4 and E4 central squares may hamper a bit.
Conservate mistake free strategy could edge the game to the endgame with blacks piece+passed-pawn advantage maintained. Whites got some work to do if he's going to orchestrate a potential attack on blacks defenses... however, same thing goes for black

I have some predictions for blacks next moves, lets see if they come to light (I won't speak them aloud as Skybirds wishes). I have no clue what I would want to play if I were white... :dead: :-?

[Takeda Shingen]

Sky's move: 10...Qd8-f6
My move: 11. Bc1-b2

[Skybird]

Your move 11. Bc1-b2 pretty much enforced, I think
My move 11.../Qf6-g6

the most energetic move, I think. Alternatives were Be5 (too much focused on only one purpose), Nc5 (not really pushing it), Qf4 or f5(which after natural reactions by White [bishop-moves] probably would lead the the Queen ending on the g-line anway).

[Takeda Shingen]

Sky's move: 11...Qf6-g3
My move: 12. Qd3-e3

[Skybird]

You move: 12.Qd3-e3
My move: 12...Bd6-c5

If your move then: 13.Nf3-d4, then my move: 13...Nc6xd4

If your move 14:c3xd4, my move then : 14...Bc5-b4+

[Skybird]

Spend some time over it while having dinner, and just found out that I oversaw a probably better variation. Mist! :down:

[Takeda Shingen]

Sky's move: 12...Bd6-c5
My move: 13. Nf3-h4

[Skybird]

Ouch, Tak, have you been in a hurry, or what are you doing!? I hate to say it, but that

move of yours: 13. Nf3-h4

was a terrible mistake. Haven't you seen White's immediate reply

My move 13.../ Qg6-g4?

Thinking of Pandora's box. It's now as open as the sky is wide.

http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/2776/neu12sl1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Takeda Shingen]

Yes, I saw that. However, I have had enough verbal abuse.

Sky's move: 13...Qg6-g4
My move: 14. Resign

[Skybird]

Sorry, I do not understand. When you saw it, why did you move it? :roll: