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Jun-14-05
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| acirce: Some, but not many. This is not a big problem in the era of online databases though :-) |
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Oct-22-05
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| Sneaky: It is my great joy to share with you what I consider to be one of the best games I've ever played. Background: In 2003 Garry Kasparov played a match of games against X3D Fritz (Computer). It was on television, and there was a lot of interest in the match. Right around that time, a friend of mine stopped by and gave me a dusty old toy he picked up at a garage sale. It was Radio Shack's "Talking e-Chess", en electronic handheld chess toy. It played at roughly a 1700-2000 level. With that in mind, inspired by Kasparov, I set out to play a match against talking e-Chess. Usually when I play computers it is very informal, but not this time. I agreed with the computer that we would play 4 games, time controls 90 minutes per side (although the computer is set to report its move after 60-90 seconds of thought every time.) I set the clocks for 90 minutes per side, got myself some coffee, and settled in to play a very serious game with a very lightweight chess computer. What followed were four very entertaining games, the computer cleary demonstrating both the dangers and the virtues of playing materialistically. Keep in mind, while this is by no means a strong chess computer, there are no tactically weak computers. If a mate in 3 appeared, it would find it. If it could fork my pieces, it would do it. One must procede with great caution, because if you make a single mistake the computer will predictably bite your head off for it. Like Kasparov, my match ended in a tie, 2-2. My next post is my account of the first game of that match. |
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Oct-22-05
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| Sneaky: White: Radio Shack Talking e-Chess
Black: Sneaky
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5
9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 Bb7 12. g3 Qb6
click for larger view
A well known book position. 12...c5 is more commonly seen, but this move order served me well, as ...Qb6 took the little handheld toy out of its opening book and forced it to think on its own. 13. Be2?!
The first move it computed, and a real lemon. I had to laugh out loud when I saw this move. The Opening Explorer shows that out of 70 games, 13.Bg2 was played each and every time. After all, if it intended Be2, then what was the point of 12.g3? 13...O-O-O 14. O-O Bh6 15. Ne4 c5 16. Bxh6 Bxe4!? 17. Bg7 
click for larger view17...cxd4! The idea of my previous moves. All of my pieces will soon be participating in an attack before the machine can get organized. 18. Bxh8 Rxh8 19. Rc1 Ne5! (There is no time to settle for crumbs with ...Nxf6, the knight is far more dangerous to the White king right here.) 20. b3 d3 21. Bh5 
click for larger view21...Rxh5! Time to sacrifice the other exchange! With his bishop gone, the weakness on his light squares will decide the game. 22. Qxh5 Nf3+ 23. Kg2 d2 24. Rc3
click for larger viewGive this position to most chess computers--even ones much more advanced that Talking e-Chess--and they won't see the winning move without a good deal of reflection. In fact, as a rule they tend to like White in this position, and yet there is a crushing tactical shot that decides the game in Black's favor. 24...Ne1+ looks tempting but leads to unclear complications. After about 15 minutes thought I saw the light at the end of the tunnel: 24...Qd4!! Giving up yet another piece! Forgive me for awarding myself the coveted double-exclam move, but if I ever -played a move deserving of it, this is it. 25. Rxf3 c3! And now this little pawn duo is worth a whole queen, making up for all the sacrifices to this point with interest. 26. Qg4 Bxf3+ 27. Qxf3 Qd5! (What do you do when you're a rook down in the endgame? Trade queens, of course!) 28. Qxd5 exd5 
click for larger view0-1. My friend who was witnessing the game decided that this would be the aesthetically correct time to resign. There is no way to stop ...c2 and the queening of a pawn. |
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Oct-22-05
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| tpstar: <Sneaky> Beautiful game - congratulations. I'll bet your friend thought you were a genius. =) You should also put it into the database here for posterity. |
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Oct-22-05
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| Open Defence: <Sneaky> I think the computer could not evaluate the force of 25..c3 and hence could not consider Qd4 to be of sufficient threat. In fact, I now feel that against the Mid Strength programs it is a good strategy to get into tactically complex and materially imbalanced positions.. most computers cannot evaluate these positions accurately ... not in my humble opinion anyway .. interesting to see if anyone differs |
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Oct-22-05
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| KingG: <Open Defence> Yes, i agree that they often have problems evaluating those kinds of positions. Still, well done <Sneaky>, beating a reasonably strong computer on the Black side of the Botvinnik. |
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Oct-22-05
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| KingG: I think you are fully justified in giving 24. ...Qd4!! two exclamation marks, it's a great move, but i think you could have given 20.b3?? two question marks, positionaly this is horrible alowing two connected passed pawns; and probably 13.Be2 is more of a ? than a ?!(incidently, strange that it was out of book after 12.Qb6 in particular, it's been played quite a few times and is the second most popular move int this position). One question though, wasn't it slightly unfair to limit the computer to 60-90 seconds per move? Anyway great game! |
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Oct-23-05
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| Sneaky: Thanks everybody. KingG, I guess it's not 100% fair but the machine has various "levels of play", and if it was on the next hardest level (which was the hardest level of all) it would take 3-4 minutes per move, and I just didn't have the patience for that. And yes 12.Be2? deserves a full blunder-mark. In the famous game Denker vs Botvinnik, 1945, Denker was criticized for playing Be2 *instead* of playing g3/Bg2. To play g3 and then follow it up with Be2 is even worse than that! |
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Oct-23-05
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| KingG: Ok, fair enough. For a computer 90 seconds in a reasonable amount of time anyway. What about 20.b3??, do you agree it should be given double question marks? |
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Oct-23-05
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| Sneaky: It's hard to say if it's a losing move, or if Black is lost at that point anyhow. True, it eventually allowed me to play ...c3 and establish the pawn duo, but it seems very natural in that position since c3 seems impossible. At the time I was a little worried because the computer finally was suggesting that it might be able to drum up a little counterplay. I'd like to believe that the computer was in a hopeless spiral from Be2 onward but that might be a little optimistic. |
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Oct-23-05
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| KingG: I've just done a quick analysis with Fritz. This is what it thinks: Before b3 it thinks the position is about even despite the exchange sacrifice. In real terms i think this means you are slightly better. After b3 it thinks you are a lot better(about -3.50), basicaly winning. It gives the line 21.Bh5 Qd4 22.a4 d2 23.axb5 c3 24.Be2 dxc1N!!(24. ...dxc1Q is a draw after 25.Qxd4 Qh6 26.h4 c2 27.Qc5+ Kd8 28.Qe7+) 25.Qxc1  since you have an extra piece, a passed pawn and a potential attack against the White king. The immediate 21. ...d2! was also poosible, 22.Rc3(stopping c3, 22.Qxd2 Rxh5 ) Qd4! and White is in big trouble. What you played in the game is also fine, there is no improved defence(unless it is extremely clever and Fritz doesn't see it straight away). As for Be2, Fritz doesn't think it is THAT bad, but common sense tells us that it can't be good. |
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Oct-24-05
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| Sneaky: <It gives the line 21.Bh5 Qd4 22.a4 d2 23.axb5 c3 24.Be2> That deserves a diagram Black to play and win
click for larger view24...dxc1=N!! Yes very clever, that Fritz.
Anyhow, thanks for analyzing my game with me. I'm starting to get embrassed with all the column space it's taken up now! |
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Oct-24-05
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| KingG: Ok, no problem, we can stop now. :) |
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Dec-16-05
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| refutor: interesting novelty on the 7th move but no doubt unsound...i've never seen it before (either has the opening explorer) [Event "WJun"]
[Site "Yerevan ARM"]
[Date "2000.09.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Gershon,A"]
[Black "Senff,M"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2502"]
[BlackElo "2354"]
[EventDate "2000.09.02"]
[ECO "D44"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 b4 8. Ne4
Qd5 9. Ned2 c3 10. exf6 cxd2+ 11. Qxd2 gxf6 12. Bxf6 Rg8 13. Qc2 Nd7 14.
Bh4 b3 15. axb3 Bb4+ 16. Kd1 c5 17. Bc4 Qh5 18. Qe4 Nb6 19. Qc6+ Bd7 20.
Qxb6 Rg4 21. Rxa7 1-0 |
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Dec-16-05
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| refutor: actually senff played it later on in that world junior as well [Event "WJun"]
[Site "Yerevan ARM"]
[Date "2000.10.01"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Lopez Martinez,J"]
[Black "Senff,M"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2477"]
[BlackElo "2354"]
[EventDate "2000.09.02"]
[ECO "D44"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 b4 8.
exf6 gxf6 9. Bh4 bxc3 10. bxc3 Ba6 11. Nd2 Qd5 12. Bxf6 Rg8 13. Be5 Bh6 14.
Bg3 Nd7 15. Be2 Bxd2+ 16. Qxd2 Qxg2 17. O-O-O Qd5 18. Rhe1 Nb6 19. Qc2 Qa5
20. Bf3 Nd5 21. Bxd5 cxd5 22. Bd6 Bb5 23. Bb4 Qc7 24. Qxh7 Qf4+ 25. Rd2
O-O-O 26. Bc5 Rg2 27. Qh3 Rxh2 28. Qe3 Qxe3 29. fxe3 Rxd2 30. Kxd2 a6 31.
Rf1 f5 32. Rg1 Rh8 33. Bd6 Kd7 34. Bf4 Rh7 35. Kc2 Kc6 36. Kb2 Kb6 37. Ka3
Rb7 38. Bd6 Bd7 39. Rg8 Kc6 40. Bc5 Rb1 41. Ra8 Re1 42. Rxa6+ Kb7 43. Ra7+
Kc6 44. Kb4 Rxe3 45. a4 f4 46. Ra6+ Kb7 47. Rb6+ Kc7 48. a5 Bc6 49. Ra6 Re1
50. Bb6+ Kd6 51. Ra7 Rb1+ 52. Ka3 Bd7 53. Bc7+ Kc6 54. Bxf4 Rb7 55. Ra6+
Kb5 56. Ra8 Bc6 57. Rc8 Bd7 58. Ra8 Bc6 59. Bg5 Rg7 60. Rb8+ Rb7 61. Rc8
Ra7 62. Bd8 Ra8 63. Rxa8 Bxa8 1/2-1/2 |
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Dec-18-05
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| KingG: <refutor> In the first game you gave, 16...Rg7! 17.Bc4 Qh5 18.Bg3 a5 doesn't look too bad. |
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| Mar-10-06 |
| WTHarvey: Here is a little collection of winning combinations in miniature D44 games: http://www.wtharvey.com/d44.html |
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| Jul-18-06 |
| niemzo: <refutor> In the 7..b4 line u mention, how about 9.Nxf6? I serched it a bit and couldn't find anything for black. for example, 9.Nxf6+ gxf6 10.Bxf6 Rg8 11.Qc2 Ba6 12.Qxh7 seems good for white. |
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| Sep-06-06 |
| soughzin: In the line 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 e6 4.Nf3 dxc 5.Bg5 does black have anything better than Nf6 transposing back to I believe the anti-meran line? It would be nice if he doesn't and I transpose back to sharp familiar lines [they're not super familiar yet as I'm just crossing over to d4 but they will be soon : ) ]
Thanks for any help |
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| Sep-14-06 |
| soughzin: I feel a little lonely on the slav/semi-slav pages... Another question about move orders- In the position on the board shown at the top of the page, what happens if play contines 6.e4 h6! Now if white retreats to Bh5 black plays g5 and has forced white into the anti-moscow gambit which most believe to be an inferior version of the botvinnik. I can't believe no one else has noticed this before so there has to be a reason for black not playing it right? I assume white must play 7.Bxf6 and hope to get an improved moscow. 7...Qxf6 8.Bxc4 is white better than usual? black could also take on move 7 with gxf6. Anyone out there wanna help me meander through this maze of theory? : ) thanks much |
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| Sep-14-06 |
| bob000: soughzin. Your line has white playing Nf3 twice. The Moscow line is good for white but black can play 5..Be7 or 5..f6. |
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| Sep-14-06 |
| soughzin: Yes I meant 4.Nc3 on my first post.
On further reflection about my Second post I think I can answer my own question. First off black gets to chooses whether white plays the moscow(or perhaps anti moscow) or botvinnik so this is just black choosing to play the moscow later,so this is now groundbreaking revelation even if it's as strong as the regular moscow. Also, I think usually in the moscow white plays dxc after white's light squared bishop comes out,winning a tempo; this is not possible in the delayed moscow I thought of. |
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Sep-16-06
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| refutor: soughzin, you are right on your first september 14th post. without getting ...b5 in Black has given up the center and is behind in development with only the bishop pair as compensation
click for larger viewlooks much better for White in my patzer opinion |
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| Jan-02-07 |
| soughzin: I posted on a couple other pages how I was looking to compliment the meran lines with something Other than the Botvinnik. Well I think I'm going back to it after looking at some unclear main and sidelines. A nice side benefit is when your unbooked opponent will play a4 or e3 to your pawn snatching dxc4. Today I played a game that went 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e3 b5 7. a4 a6!? not quite the main line but I think very playable. It's FUN for one, sound,trappy,and easy to underestimate, what else can you ask for as black? 8. axb5 cxb5 9. Nxb5 axb5 10. Rxa1 Bb4+ 11. Nd2 Bb7 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Ra7 Qb6 14.Ra1 White soon blundered and gave me a winning position (which I squandered but squeeked out a win) |
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May-08-07
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| artemis: I really think that this line is the one true challenge to the semi-slav, with the exception of one line in the Meran. In the other lines, particularly in the ...Qc7 and d4-d5 merans, black's position is just awesome. These lines are the crucible for the Semi-Slav. |
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