Very well; So sorry!

White 14) a2-a3

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

14.../b4xa3

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

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.../0-0



http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/4817/image1tki.jpg

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

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.

Oh, my move I forgot:

16.../Qd8-f6

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

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...6855412&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!

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.

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

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

http://www.chessbase.com/shop/produc...358&user=&coin=
http://www.chessbase.com/products/fritz11/index.htm

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

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: