2017-12-29

tactics

The tactics in this video are pretty instructive.


He takes an hour just to cover maybe 4 positions, so I found myself skipping ahead.


2017-12-06

Decent result in USCF Online rated blitz tournament.


​I got a draw against one higher rated player and lost to a master.  My
chess.com rating went from around 1784 to 1800.  Lately I had some
trouble staying above 1800 on chess.com.

Although it is not like I won the tournament, but given the
competition I was just happy just to place 3rd.

--
Best wishes,

John Coffey

http://www.entertainmentjourney.com

2017-11-15

Interesting USCF Online rated Chess.com blitz tournament.

I lost one game on time to a slightly lower rated player, but I drew two higher rated players and won the rest.


​In particular, this draw against a 2255 (on chess.com) was nice for me.  Although I won his queen, I gave it back later, and it is hard to pull off a win against a higher rated player in a blitz game.

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.11.15"]
[White "LazarMilanovic"]
[Black "john2001plus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "2255"]
[BlackElo "1793"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[EndTime "17:19:30 PST"]
[Termination "Game drawn by agreement"]
[CurrentPosition "8/2K5/2P5/8/6k1/8/6rp/7R w - - 1 64"]

1.e4 {[%clk 0:03:01]} e6 {[%clk 0:03:01]} 2.Qe2 {[%clk 0:03:01]} c5 {[%clk 0:02:46]} 3.f4 {[%clk 0:03:01]} Nc6 {[%clk 0:02:47]} 4.Nf3 {[%clk 0:03:01]} Nf6 {[%clk 0:02:38]} 5.g3 {[%clk 0:03:02]} d5 {[%clk 0:02:37]} 6.d3 {[%clk 0:03:01]} dxe4 {[%clk 0:02:32]} 7.dxe4 {[%clk 0:03:03]} Be7 {[%clk 0:01:57]} 8.Bg2 {[%clk 0:03:04]} O-O {[%clk 0:01:58]} 9.O-O {[%clk 0:03:04]} e5 {[%clk 0:01:56]} 10.Nxe5 {[%clk 0:02:52]} Nxe5 {[%clk 0:01:56]} 11.fxe5 {[%clk 0:02:54]} Ng4 {[%clk 0:01:45]} 12.Nc3 {[%clk 0:02:40]} Nxe5 {[%clk 0:01:44]} 13.Bf4 {[%clk 0:02:35]} Bg4 {[%clk 0:01:35]} 14.Qe3 {[%clk 0:02:34]} Nc4 {[%clk 0:01:32]} 15.Qf2 {[%clk 0:02:31]} Bf6 {[%clk 0:01:31]} 16.h3 {[%clk 0:02:22]} Bd4 {[%clk 0:01:31]} 17.hxg4 {[%clk 0:02:20]} Bxf2+ {[%clk 0:01:25]} 18.Rxf2 {[%clk 0:02:22]} Nxb2 {[%clk 0:01:25]} 19.Rb1 {[%clk 0:02:19]} Nc4 {[%clk 0:01:13]} 20.Rxb7 {[%clk 0:02:17]} Qd4 {[%clk 0:01:13]} 21.Nd5 {[%clk 0:02:11]} Qd1+ {[%clk 0:01:08]} 22.Kh2 {[%clk 0:02:09]} Qxg4 {[%clk 0:01:09]} 23.Bh3 {[%clk 0:01:59]} Qh5 {[%clk 0:01:02]} 24.g4 {[%clk 0:01:53]} Qh4 {[%clk 0:01:00]} 25.Bg3 {[%clk 0:01:53]} Qh6 {[%clk 0:01:01]} 26.Bf4 {[%clk 0:01:50]} Qe6 {[%clk 0:00:53]} 27.Re7 {[%clk 0:01:40]} Qc6 {[%clk 0:00:48]} 28.Re5 {[%clk 0:01:31]} Nxe5 {[%clk 0:00:48]} 29.Ne7+ {[%clk 0:01:31]} Kh8 {[%clk 0:00:48]} 30.Nxc6 {[%clk 0:01:33]} Nxc6 {[%clk 0:00:49]} 31.Bd6 {[%clk 0:01:32]} Rfd8 {[%clk 0:00:45]} 32.Bxc5 {[%clk 0:01:31]} Ne5 {[%clk 0:00:41]} 33.c3 {[%clk 0:01:13]} Nd3 {[%clk 0:00:35]} 34.Rf5 {[%clk 0:01:08]} Nxc5 {[%clk 0:00:35]} 35.Rxc5 {[%clk 0:01:08]} Rd2+ {[%clk 0:00:37]} 36.Bg2 {[%clk 0:01:09]} Rxa2 {[%clk 0:00:38]} 37.Rc7 {[%clk 0:01:09]} Kg8 {[%clk 0:00:38]} 38.e5 {[%clk 0:01:09]} Kf8 {[%clk 0:00:31]} 39.Kg3 {[%clk 0:01:10]} Rd8 {[%clk 0:00:30]} 40.Be4 {[%clk 0:01:07]} Rdd2 {[%clk 0:00:27]} 41.Kf4 {[%clk 0:01:08]} Rf2+ {[%clk 0:00:24]} 42.Ke3 {[%clk 0:01:08]} Rae2+ {[%clk 0:00:24]} 43.Kd4 {[%clk 0:01:08]} Rd2+ {[%clk 0:00:25]} 44.Kc5 {[%clk 0:01:06]} a5 {[%clk 0:00:25]} 45.Bd5 {[%clk 0:01:05]} Rde2 {[%clk 0:00:20]} 46.Kd6 {[%clk 0:01:05]} g6 {[%clk 0:00:19]} 47.Ra7 {[%clk 0:01:02]} Ra2 {[%clk 0:00:17]} 48.Bxa2 {[%clk 0:01:02]} Rxa2 {[%clk 0:00:16]} 49.c4 {[%clk 0:01:04]} h5 {[%clk 0:00:15]} 50.Ra8+ {[%clk 0:01:05]} Kg7 {[%clk 0:00:13]} 51.gxh5 {[%clk 0:01:06]} gxh5 {[%clk 0:00:14]} 52.c5 {[%clk 0:01:07]} h4 {[%clk 0:00:15]} 53.Ra7 {[%clk 0:01:02]} Kg6 {[%clk 0:00:14]} 54.Ra8 {[%clk 0:00:58]} Kg7 {[%clk 0:00:12]} 55.Ra7 {[%clk 0:00:57]} Kg6 {[%clk 0:00:13]} 56.e6 {[%clk 0:00:55]} fxe6 {[%clk 0:00:12]} 57.Kxe6 {[%clk 0:00:57]} Re2+ {[%clk 0:00:13]} 58.Kd7 {[%clk 0:00:56]} Rd2+ {[%clk 0:00:14]} 59.Kc7 {[%clk 0:00:55]} h3 {[%clk 0:00:13]} 60.Rxa5 {[%clk 0:00:56]} h2 {[%clk 0:00:13]} 61.Ra1 {[%clk 0:00:57]} Rg2 {[%clk 0:00:14]} 62.Rh1 {[%clk 0:00:57]} Kg5 {[%clk 0:00:15]} 63.c6 {[%clk 0:00:55]} Kg4 {[%clk 0:00:14]}  1/2-1/2

2017-11-09

Chess Game

[Event "Columbus CC"]
[Site "Mill Race Center"]
[Date "Nov 9, 2017"]
[Round "2"]
[White "John Coffey"]
[Black "Ron West"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nc6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bf4 Nf6 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 dxc4 8.
Bxc4 Nd5 9. Bxd5 Qxd5 10. O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3 Qd8 12. Rb1 Ne7 13. e4 b6 14. Re1
h6 15. Qd2 Ng6 16. Bxh6 gxh6 17. Qxh6 Qf6 18. Ne5 Qg7 19. Qh3 Nxe5 20. dxe5
Qxe5 21. Re3 f6 22. Rg3+ Kf7 23. Qh7+ Ke8 24. Rg7 Qd6 25. Qh5+ Kd8 26. Rd1
Qxd1+ 27. Qxd1+ Ke8 28. Qa4+ Kd8 29. Qc6
1-0

2017-11-03

Win against NM on USCF online tournament.

This guy is like 2200 chess.com blitz and bullet, but his rapid rating is relatively low because he says he never plays rapid oline.  He blundered on move 10.  

Later I made a queen sacrifice that I probably didn't need to make, but it still turned out good for me.

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.11.03"]
[White "john2001plus"]
[Black "e4ofHearts"]
[WhiteElo "1869"]
[BlackElo "1524"]
[TimeControl "900+10"]
[ECO "E61"]
[Termination "john2001plus won by resignation"]
[Result "1-0"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d6 5.Bg5 O-O 6.e3 Nc6 7.d5 Nb4 8.Be2 c5 9.e4 Qa5 10.O-O Ng4 11.Bxe7 Re8 12.Bxd6 Na6 13.Qd2 Qd8 14.Bf4 Nc7 15.h3 Nf6 16.e5 Nd7 17.Qe3 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 Bxe5 19.Nxe5 f6 20.f4 Qe7 21.Rad1 Na6 22.d6 Qg7 23.Qd2 fxe5 24.d7 Bxd7 25.Qxd7 Re7 26.Ne4 Rxd7 27.Rxd7 Qh6 28.Nf6+ Kh8 29.fxe5 Rf8 30.Rxh7+ Qxh7 31.Nxh7 Rxf1+ 32.Kxf1 Kxh7 33.Bf3 b6 34.Ke2 Nb4 35.Be4 Nxa2 36.h4 Kg7 37.g4 Nb4 38.h5 gxh5 39.gxh5 Na6 40.Bc6 Nc7 41.Bd7 Kh6 42.e6 Kxh5 43.e7 Kg5 44.e8=Q Nxe8 45.Bxe8 Kf4 46.Kd3 Kf3 47.Bc6+ Kf2 48.Kc3 Ke3 49.Kb3 Kd3 50.Bb5 Kd2 51.Ka4 Kc2 52.b4 cxb4 53.Kxb4 Kb2 54.Ba6 Kc2 55.Kb5 Kd3 56.Kc6 Kd4 57.Kb7 Kc5 58.Kxa7 Kc6 59.Bb5+ Kc7 60.Ka6  1-0

--

2017-10-28

Nice upset.

Play chess online

2017-10-21

I found this game surprisingly difficult. (Barely won.)

I found this game surprisingly difficult.  My opponent is an asian teengager who seemed to play as well as me.  I offered him a draw around move 33 because I saw little hope of winning.  He turned me down.  This is after I let him take a pawn on h7 because I was hoping to harass his king.  When we got the the king and pawn ending he offered me a draw a couple of times, but I was feeling much more confident at that point.

[Event "Indiana State Chess Championship"]
[Site "Indianapolis Indiana"]
[Date "2017.10.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Qain, Bill"]
[Black "Coffey, John"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "1744"]
[BlackElo "2001"]
[Annotator "John Coffey"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[TimeControl "G/120"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. cxd4
Bd7 8. Bc2 Nb4 9. Nc3 Nxc2+ 10. Qxc2 Rc8 11. Bd2 Qa6 12. Qb3 Ne7 13. Rc1 Nf5
14. Ne2 Rxc1+ 15. Nxc1 Be7 16. Bb4 O-O 17. Bxe7 Nxe7 18. Nd3 b6 19. Kd2 Bb5 20.
a3 Bc4 21. Qc3 Rc8 22. Nb4 Qa4 23. Rc1 Kf8 24. Qc2 Bb3 25. Qxh7 Rxc1 26. Kxc1
a5 27. Qh8+ Ng8 28. Nd3 Qc4+ 29. Kd2 Bc2 30. Nfe1 Bxd3 31. Nxd3 Qxd4 32. Qh3
Ne7 33. Qe3 Nf5 34. Qxd4 Nxd4 35. Kc3 Nc6 36. f4 Ke7 37. b4 axb4+ 38. Nxb4 Nxb4
39. Kxb4 f6 40. g4 fxe5 41. fxe5 g5 42. Kb5 Kd7 43. Kb4 Kc6 44. a4 d4 45. Kc4
d3 46. Kxd3 Kd5 47. Kc3 Kxe5 48. Kb4 (48. Kc4 {strangley draws.} Kd6 49. Kd4
e5+ 50. Ke4 Ke6 51. h3 Kd6 52. Kf5 Kd5 53. h4 gxh4 54. g5 h3 55. g6 h2 56. g7
h1=Q 57. g8=Q+) 48... Kd6 49. Kb5 e5 {I had seen forced mate at this point if he takes the pawn.} 50. Kxb6 e4 51. a5
e3 52. a6 e2 53. a7 e1=Q 54. a8=Q Qb4+ 55. Ka6 Qa4+ 56. Kb7 Qb5+ 0-1


--

2017-10-06

This last round was a nail biter.

Check out this ending ...

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.10.06"]
[White "john2001plus"]
[Black "SpeedyChess11"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "1866"]
[BlackElo "1747"]
[TimeControl "900+10"]
[EndTime "20:29:17 PDT"]
[Termination "john2001plus won by checkmate"]
[CurrentPosition "6Q1/8/5Q1k/6pp/1K6/7P/8/8 b - - 7 58"]

1.Nf3 {[%clk 0:15:09]} Nf6 {[%clk 0:13:37]} 2.d4 {[%clk 0:15:16]} e6 {[%clk 0:13:44]} 3.c4 {[%clk 0:15:22]} b6 {[%clk 0:13:48]} 4.a3 {[%clk 0:15:28]} Bb7 {[%clk 0:13:56]} 5.Nc3 {[%clk 0:15:28]} Be7 {[%clk 0:13:56]} 6.d5 {[%clk 0:15:27]} exd5 {[%clk 0:14:02]} 7.cxd5 {[%clk 0:15:33]} O-O {[%clk 0:14:10]} 8.e4 {[%clk 0:15:38]} d6 {[%clk 0:14:14]} 9.Bc4 {[%clk 0:15:18]} Re8 {[%clk 0:14:15]} 10.O-O {[%clk 0:15:24]} Nbd7 {[%clk 0:14:21]} 11.Nd4 {[%clk 0:15:06]} Ne5 {[%clk 0:14:12]} 12.Bb5 {[%clk 0:14:51]} Rf8 {[%clk 0:14:18]} 13.f4 {[%clk 0:14:48]} Ng6 {[%clk 0:14:18]} 14.Bc6 {[%clk 0:14:02]} Bxc6 {[%clk 0:14:15]} 15.Nxc6 {[%clk 0:14:10]} Qd7 {[%clk 0:14:21]} 16.Be3 {[%clk 0:12:35]} Ng4 {[%clk 0:14:04]} 17.Bd4 {[%clk 0:12:01]} Bf6 {[%clk 0:13:33]} 18.h3 {[%clk 0:12:05]} Bxd4+ {[%clk 0:13:37]} 19.Qxd4 {[%clk 0:12:11]} Nf6 {[%clk 0:13:33]} 20.e5 {[%clk 0:12:04]} Ne8 {[%clk 0:12:52]} 21.Rae1 {[%clk 0:10:42]} dxe5 {[%clk 0:12:18]} 22.fxe5 {[%clk 0:10:24]} Ne7 {[%clk 0:11:54]} 23.Nxe7+? {[%clk 0:06:41]} (23. Qg4!!) Qxe7 {[%clk 0:12:04]} 24.Qc4 {[%clk 0:04:15]} Rd8 {[%clk 0:11:49]} 25.Nb5 {[%clk 0:03:53]} a6 {[%clk 0:11:46]} 26.Na7 {[%clk 0:03:52]} b5 {[%clk 0:06:51]} 27.Nc6 {[%clk 0:03:37]} bxc4 {[%clk 0:06:23]} 28.Nxe7+ {[%clk 0:03:44]} Kh8 {[%clk 0:06:32]} 29.Rd1 {[%clk 0:02:51]} Rd7 {[%clk 0:06:21]} 30.Nc6 {[%clk 0:02:58]} Rg8 {[%clk 0:06:13]} 31.e6 {[%clk 0:02:54]} fxe6 {[%clk 0:06:13]} 32.dxe6 {[%clk 0:03:03]} Rd6 {[%clk 0:05:28]} 33.Ne5 {[%clk 0:01:35]} g6 {[%clk 0:04:58]} 34.Nf7+ {[%clk 0:01:38]} Kg7 {[%clk 0:05:07]} 35.Nxd6 {[%clk 0:01:45]} Nxd6 {[%clk 0:05:17]} 36.Rxd6 {[%clk 0:00:58]} cxd6 {[%clk 0:05:23]} 37.Rf7+ {[%clk 0:01:07]} Kh6 {[%clk 0:05:32]} 38.Rd7 {[%clk 0:01:17]} Re8 {[%clk 0:05:35]} 39.Rxd6 {[%clk 0:01:25]} a5 {[%clk 0:05:42]} 40.Kf2 {[%clk 0:01:22]} Kg5 {[%clk 0:05:49]} 41.Ke3 {[%clk 0:01:30]} Kf5 {[%clk 0:05:51]} 42.Kd4 {[%clk 0:01:37]} Kf6 {[%clk 0:05:01]} 43.Kxc4 {[%clk 0:01:40]} Rb8 {[%clk 0:05:08]} 44.b4 {[%clk 0:01:45]} axb4 {[%clk 0:05:16]} 45.axb4 {[%clk 0:01:55]} Ke5 {[%clk 0:05:13]} 46.Kc5 {[%clk 0:01:47]} Ra8 {[%clk 0:05:01]} 47.b5 {[%clk 0:01:46]} Ra2 {[%clk 0:05:02]} 48.e7 {[%clk 0:01:26]} Rc2+ {[%clk 0:05:03]} 49.Kb4 {[%clk 0:01:33]} Kxd6 {[%clk 0:04:53]} 50.e8=Q {[%clk 0:01:41]} Rxg2 {[%clk 0:05:00]} 51.Qc6+ {[%clk 0:01:44]} Ke5 {[%clk 0:05:07]} 52.Qxg2 {[%clk 0:01:52]} Kf4 {[%clk 0:05:15]} 53.b6 {[%clk 0:02:00]} h5 {[%clk 0:05:24]} 54.b7 {[%clk 0:02:09]} g5 {[%clk 0:05:32]} 55.b8=Q+ {[%clk 0:02:18]} Kf5 {[%clk 0:05:42]} 56.Qf3+ {[%clk 0:02:23]} Kg6 {[%clk 0:05:50]} 57.Qg8+ {[%clk 0:02:31]} Kh6 {[%clk 0:05:58]} 58.Qf6# {[%clk 0:02:39]}  1-0

2017-09-30

ICC game tangent vs yoshi. First place in ICC tournament.

Well, it is nice to be lucky.  After I had a draw with one master in the ICC USCF online rated tournament, this FIDE Master thought that I had forced mate, when I really didn't.  After he resigned, I told him that I hadn't found the path to victory yet.  So through sheer dumb luck, I finished the tournament in first place 

>uscf You won!!! Congratulations! This is your 9 1st place finish
> During the 5 rounds, you collected 4.5 points
>uscf 
>   4.5 yoshi
>   4.0 tangent NO-Mind
>   3.5 cool64chess
>   3.0 darvid ThePontiff panorama KingsBishop xiaoqixia
>   2.5 IAlwaysWin ROWLAND BotanicalKnight rjp1888
>   2.0 TheBlackVeil canary2016 Fineas-Fogg Zephyr capatal1 getRooked
>   1.5 JRussell2 Ethius
>   1.0 Celtruler coolbaja tigeriz cyborg86
>   0.5 BIRDSMAN racertripplex
>    __________  __  ______  _   __________  __   ____ _    ____________
>   /_  __/ __ \/ / / / __ \/ | / / ____/\ \/ /  / __ \ |  / / ____/ __ \
>    / / / / / / / / / /_/ /  |/ / __/    \  /  / / / / | / / __/ / /_/ /
>   / / / /_/ / /_/ / _  _/ /|  / /___    / /  / /_/ /| |/ / /___/ _  _/ 
>  /_/  \____/\____/_/ |_/_/ |_/_____/   /_/   \____/ |___/_____/_/ |_|
>    Congratulations yoshi and Thanks to all :-)



[Event "ICC tourney 1318 (12 3)"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2017.09.30"]
[Round "5"]
[White "tangent"]
[Black "yoshi"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ICCResult "White resigns"]
[WhiteElo "1982"]
[BlackElo "1711"]
[Opening "Queen's Indian: Capablanca variation"]
[ECO "E16"]
[NIC "QI.06"]
[Time "19:06:22"]
[TimeControl "720+3"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. O-O d5 8.
Qc2 Nbd7 9. Rd1 c5 10. cxd5 Bxd5 11. e4 Bb7 12. e5 Bxd2 13. exf6 Bxc1 14.
fxg7 Kxg7 15. Raxc1 Rc8 16. dxc5 Rxc5 17. Qa4 Rxc1 18. Rxc1 Nc5 19. Qxa7 Nd3
20. Rd1 Bxf3 21. Bxf3 Qd4 22. Rd2 Rc8 23. Qb7 Rc1+ {White resigns} 0-1

​Computer analysis gives 24. Bd1 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Qxf2+ 26. Kh1 Ne1 27. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 28. Kg2 Qe2+ 29. Kh3 Qxb2 with a strong advantage for Black.



2017-09-22

Leap PQ-9907

Somebody at the Columbus Chess Club has this little chess clock, and said that they only paid $18 for it.  For $18, I think that it is pretty terrific.



Wholesale chess has their own version of this clock which costs more:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHgneZ-7GY8 

The clock has a low profile, which means that it is not as tall as most chess clocks.  It is also a little smaller than average.  For me, with a bad, and recently often painful shoulder, it took a little extra effort to hit the button.  I had to reach ever so slightly further, but my shoulder noticed the difference.  I don't think that it is noticeable for anybody else.

The clock has options for both increment and delay, but according to the manual you cannot use both at the same time, which is no big deal.  It also has a count up mode. 

The clock is really easy to set.    I thought it was easier to learn how to set the clock by just experimenting with it, than it was to read the slightly confusing English/Chinese manual.  The clock only remembers the last time control you set.  This is not as a big of deal as it sounds, because it is pretty easy to change the time control.  You reset the clock by turning it off and on.

The clock only supports one time control.  If you had more than one time control with the same level of increment or delay, then maybe you could use the count up mode, or for something like 40/2 d5 followed by G/60 d5 you could set the time to 3 hours.

At this price it was for me a no brainer to order one.  The clock appears to be well made made enough, although a little on the cheap side, naturally.  However, even if it wears out in a year, I still will have gotten my money's worth.

--

2017-09-11

Queen Pawn

[Event "Greenwood Chess Club"]
[Site "Kroger"]
[Date "Sep 11, 2017"]
[Round "1"]
[White "John Coffey"]
[Black "Dmitry Gusev"]
[Result "0-1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Qxf6 8.
e3 O-O 9. Bd3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 c6 11. O-O Nd7 12. e4 Nb6 13. Bd3 c5 14. e5 Qe7 15.
Qe2 f5 16. exf6 Rxf6 17. Ne5 c4 18. Nxc4 Nd5 19. Rac1 Nf4 20. Qe4 Nxd3 21. Qxd3
b6 22. d5 Ba6 23. d6 Bxc4 24. dxe7 Bxd3 25. Rfd1 Kf7 26. Rxd3 Kxe7 27. Rcd1 Rf7
28. Rd7+ Kf8 29. Rxf7+ Kxf7 30. Rd7+ Kf6 31. Kf1 Rc8 32. Rxa7 Rxc3 33. Ke2 Rc2+
34. Ke3 g5 35. g3
0-1 eventually on time.

2017-09-08

Re: Thinking method.

I guess the first game was not as good as I thought.  I hung a rook and neither my opponent nor I saw it for a couple of moves.  :☺  However, I was low on time.
​​
-- 
Best wishes,

John Coffey




On Fri, Sep 8, 2017 at 9:44 PM, John Coffey <john2001plus@gmail.com> wrote:
Something I have tried recently, which is to try to learn something new from every game, causes me to look deeper for new ideas, instead of just being on autopilot against lower rated players.  Whereas I normally use less time than my opponents, now I have been using more, and I am frequently getting into time trouble.  I needed to adopt this method, because I play mostly lower rated players, even online.

Maybe not every move was perfect, but if I had been on autopilot, I might have missed 11... dxe3 followed by 12.... Qxd3.    14... Qf5, good or bad, was an effort to get something more out of the position, along with 17... Nd4.  I am not sure if 22... f5 was correct after 23. Kd1, but my 23... Nf6 was a speculative sacrifice that led to a sharp variation.  My opponent could have picked up a pawn or two at the risk of tactics, but he chickened out.   I think that my 29... Rf8 was a dud, but I was low on time.  Finally, 46... Bxg3 and 47... Rd1 led to a mating net.

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.09.08"]
[Round "?"]
[White "skuhl99"]
[Black "john2001plus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "1570"]
[BlackElo "1854"]
[Annotator "Coffey,John"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[TimeControl "900+10"]

1. Nf3 {7} Nf6 {101} 2. c4 {3} c5 {8} 3. b3 {6} g6 {4} 4. Bb2 {2} Bg7 {0} 5. g3
{2} O-O {3} 6. Bg2 {2} Nc6 {14} 7. O-O {5} d5 {9} 8. d3 {4} d4 {50} 9. a3 {9}
a5 {13} 10. Nbd2 {7} e5 {5} 11. e3 {29} dxe3 {39} 12. fxe3 {4} Qxd3 {5} 13. Re1
{65} Bg4 {285} 14. Bf1 {81} Qf5 {63} 15. e4 {62} Bxf3 {42} 16. Qxf3 {27} Qxf3 {
16} 17. Nxf3 {3} Nd4 {14} 18. Bxd4 {58} exd4 {12} 19. Rab1 {48} Rfe8 {55} 20.
Bd3 {4} Nd7 {14} 21. Kf2 {78} Bh6 {36} 22. Ke2 {47} f5 {24} 23. Kd1 {26} Nf6 {
201} 24. exf5 {110} Ng4 {2} 25. Re2 {114} Rxe2 {35} 26. Bxe2 {25} Ne3+ {14} 27.
Ke1 {68} gxf5 {2} 28. Bd3 {13} Re8 {30} 29. Kf2 {4} Rf8 {58} 30. h3 {11} Kg7 {
25} 31. b4 {5} axb4 {9} 32. axb4 {1} Ra8 {2} 33. bxc5 {3} Ra2+ {2} 34. Ke1 {22}
Ng2+ {3} 35. Kf1 {38} Ne3+ {1} 36. Kg1 {10} Rd2 {2} 37. Rxb7+ {8} Kf6 {2} 38.
Rb6+ {11} Kg7 {1} 39. Rb7+ {3} Kg8 {2} 40. Rb8+ {7} Bf8 {2} 41. Ne1 {21} Kf7 {
13} 42. c6 {4} Bd6 {15} 43. Rb7+ {3} Ke6 {4} 44. c7 {1} Kd7 {3} 45. c8=Q+ {27}
Kxc8 {2} 46. Rxh7 {1} Bxg3 {10} 47. Be4 {214} Rd1 {66} 48. Bb7+ {6} Kb8 {4} 0-1


In the following game, 10. d5 might  not have been technically the best, but it was sharp.  I was counting on him playing 11... Bxb2 because then 12. Rb1  caused him some headache.

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.09.08"]
[White "john2001plus"]
[Black "natalia6"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "1860"]
[BlackElo "1724"]
[TimeControl "900+10"]
[EndTime "18:02:06 PDT"]
[Termination "john2001plus won by resignation"]
[CurrentPosition "2r3k1/p1p1N1pp/4pp2/8/5B2/4P2P/P4PP1/6K1 b - - 1 26"]

1.Nf3 {[%clk 0:15:09]} Nc6 {[%clk 0:15:04]} 2.d4 {[%clk 0:15:17]} e6 {[%clk 0:15:02]} 3.c4 {[%clk 0:15:25]} Nf6 {[%clk 0:15:07]} 4.Nc3 {[%clk 0:15:27]} Bb4 {[%clk 0:15:07]} 5.Bg5 {[%clk 0:15:36]} O-O {[%clk 0:15:10]} 6.e3 {[%clk 0:15:42]} d5 {[%clk 0:15:13]} 7.Bd3 {[%clk 0:15:15]} Re8 {[%clk 0:15:12]} 8.O-O {[%clk 0:15:01]} dxc4 {[%clk 0:15:01]} 9.Bxc4 {[%clk 0:15:04]} Qe7 {[%clk 0:14:45]} 10.d5 {[%clk 0:12:00]} Bxc3 {[%clk 0:14:27]} 11.dxc6 {[%clk 0:12:07]} Bxb2 {[%clk 0:14:19]} 12.Rb1 {[%clk 0:12:13]} Qa3 {[%clk 0:13:30]} 13.Qc2 {[%clk 0:11:50]} bxc6 {[%clk 0:12:30]} 14.Qxb2 {[%clk 0:11:05]} Qxb2 {[%clk 0:12:20]} 15.Rxb2 {[%clk 0:11:11]} Ne4 {[%clk 0:12:26]} 16.Bf4 {[%clk 0:11:16]} Nd6 {[%clk 0:12:32]} 17.Rc1 {[%clk 0:10:14]} Nxc4 {[%clk 0:12:31]} 18.Rxc4 {[%clk 0:10:21]} Bd7 {[%clk 0:12:19]} 19.Ne5 {[%clk 0:09:38]} Rab8 {[%clk 0:11:59]} 20.Rcb4 {[%clk 0:09:41]} Rxb4 {[%clk 0:11:40]} 21.Rxb4 {[%clk 0:09:51]} Bc8 {[%clk 0:11:33]} 22.Rb8 {[%clk 0:09:25]} Rd8 {[%clk 0:11:36]} 23.h3 {[%clk 0:09:24]} f6 {[%clk 0:11:33]} 24.Nxc6 {[%clk 0:09:26]} Re8 {[%clk 0:11:37]} 25.Rxc8 {[%clk 0:09:31]} Rxc8 {[%clk 0:11:45]} 26.Ne7+ {[%clk 0:09:39]}  1-0

Since I have been applying this method, I felt like my chess has been "on".  A couple of weeks ago I would have told you that I was in a slump.  

--



Thinking method.

Something I have tried recently, which is to try to learn something new from every game, causes me to look deeper for new ideas, instead of just being on autopilot against lower rated players.  Whereas I normally use less time than my opponents, now I have been using more, and I am frequently getting into time trouble.  I needed to adopt this method, because I play mostly lower rated players, even online.

Maybe not every move was perfect, but if I had been on autopilot, I might have missed 11... dxe3 followed by 12.... Qxd3.    14... Qf5, good or bad, was an effort to get something more out of the position, along with 17... Nd4.  I am not sure if 22... f5 was correct after 23. Kd1, but my 23... Nf6 was a speculative sacrifice that led to a sharp variation.  My opponent could have picked up a pawn or two at the risk of tactics, but he chickened out.   I think that my 29... Rf8 was a dud, but I was low on time.  Finally, 46... Bxg3 and 47... Rd1 led to a mating net.

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.09.08"]
[Round "?"]
[White "skuhl99"]
[Black "john2001plus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "1570"]
[BlackElo "1854"]
[Annotator "Coffey,John"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[TimeControl "900+10"]

1. Nf3 {7} Nf6 {101} 2. c4 {3} c5 {8} 3. b3 {6} g6 {4} 4. Bb2 {2} Bg7 {0} 5. g3
{2} O-O {3} 6. Bg2 {2} Nc6 {14} 7. O-O {5} d5 {9} 8. d3 {4} d4 {50} 9. a3 {9}
a5 {13} 10. Nbd2 {7} e5 {5} 11. e3 {29} dxe3 {39} 12. fxe3 {4} Qxd3 {5} 13. Re1
{65} Bg4 {285} 14. Bf1 {81} Qf5 {63} 15. e4 {62} Bxf3 {42} 16. Qxf3 {27} Qxf3 {
16} 17. Nxf3 {3} Nd4 {14} 18. Bxd4 {58} exd4 {12} 19. Rab1 {48} Rfe8 {55} 20.
Bd3 {4} Nd7 {14} 21. Kf2 {78} Bh6 {36} 22. Ke2 {47} f5 {24} 23. Kd1 {26} Nf6 {
201} 24. exf5 {110} Ng4 {2} 25. Re2 {114} Rxe2 {35} 26. Bxe2 {25} Ne3+ {14} 27.
Ke1 {68} gxf5 {2} 28. Bd3 {13} Re8 {30} 29. Kf2 {4} Rf8 {58} 30. h3 {11} Kg7 {
25} 31. b4 {5} axb4 {9} 32. axb4 {1} Ra8 {2} 33. bxc5 {3} Ra2+ {2} 34. Ke1 {22}
Ng2+ {3} 35. Kf1 {38} Ne3+ {1} 36. Kg1 {10} Rd2 {2} 37. Rxb7+ {8} Kf6 {2} 38.
Rb6+ {11} Kg7 {1} 39. Rb7+ {3} Kg8 {2} 40. Rb8+ {7} Bf8 {2} 41. Ne1 {21} Kf7 {
13} 42. c6 {4} Bd6 {15} 43. Rb7+ {3} Ke6 {4} 44. c7 {1} Kd7 {3} 45. c8=Q+ {27}
Kxc8 {2} 46. Rxh7 {1} Bxg3 {10} 47. Be4 {214} Rd1 {66} 48. Bb7+ {6} Kb8 {4} 0-1


In the following game, 10. d5 might  not have been technically the best, but it was sharp.  I was counting on him playing 11... Bxb2 because then 12. Rb1  caused him some headache.

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.09.08"]
[White "john2001plus"]
[Black "natalia6"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "1860"]
[BlackElo "1724"]
[TimeControl "900+10"]
[EndTime "18:02:06 PDT"]
[Termination "john2001plus won by resignation"]
[CurrentPosition "2r3k1/p1p1N1pp/4pp2/8/5B2/4P2P/P4PP1/6K1 b - - 1 26"]

1.Nf3 {[%clk 0:15:09]} Nc6 {[%clk 0:15:04]} 2.d4 {[%clk 0:15:17]} e6 {[%clk 0:15:02]} 3.c4 {[%clk 0:15:25]} Nf6 {[%clk 0:15:07]} 4.Nc3 {[%clk 0:15:27]} Bb4 {[%clk 0:15:07]} 5.Bg5 {[%clk 0:15:36]} O-O {[%clk 0:15:10]} 6.e3 {[%clk 0:15:42]} d5 {[%clk 0:15:13]} 7.Bd3 {[%clk 0:15:15]} Re8 {[%clk 0:15:12]} 8.O-O {[%clk 0:15:01]} dxc4 {[%clk 0:15:01]} 9.Bxc4 {[%clk 0:15:04]} Qe7 {[%clk 0:14:45]} 10.d5 {[%clk 0:12:00]} Bxc3 {[%clk 0:14:27]} 11.dxc6 {[%clk 0:12:07]} Bxb2 {[%clk 0:14:19]} 12.Rb1 {[%clk 0:12:13]} Qa3 {[%clk 0:13:30]} 13.Qc2 {[%clk 0:11:50]} bxc6 {[%clk 0:12:30]} 14.Qxb2 {[%clk 0:11:05]} Qxb2 {[%clk 0:12:20]} 15.Rxb2 {[%clk 0:11:11]} Ne4 {[%clk 0:12:26]} 16.Bf4 {[%clk 0:11:16]} Nd6 {[%clk 0:12:32]} 17.Rc1 {[%clk 0:10:14]} Nxc4 {[%clk 0:12:31]} 18.Rxc4 {[%clk 0:10:21]} Bd7 {[%clk 0:12:19]} 19.Ne5 {[%clk 0:09:38]} Rab8 {[%clk 0:11:59]} 20.Rcb4 {[%clk 0:09:41]} Rxb4 {[%clk 0:11:40]} 21.Rxb4 {[%clk 0:09:51]} Bc8 {[%clk 0:11:33]} 22.Rb8 {[%clk 0:09:25]} Rd8 {[%clk 0:11:36]} 23.h3 {[%clk 0:09:24]} f6 {[%clk 0:11:33]} 24.Nxc6 {[%clk 0:09:26]} Re8 {[%clk 0:11:37]} 25.Rxc8 {[%clk 0:09:31]} Rxc8 {[%clk 0:11:45]} 26.Ne7+ {[%clk 0:09:39]}  1-0

Since I have been applying this method, I felt like my chess has been "on".  A couple of weeks ago I would have told you that I was in a slump.  

--

2017-09-06

1st place in online speed tournament.




Against tougher competition, I wouldn't have expected to come in first, and would have been pleased with 3rd place, but I scored 3 upsets to come in first in the USCF Online rated Chess.com speed tournament.

​First, I beat a National Master, who was the top player.

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "john2001plus"]
[Black "Dare-Dare"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "1777"]
[BlackElo "2135"]
[Annotator "Coffey,John"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. e4 fxe4 3. Ng5 Nf6 4. d3 h6 5. Nxe4 e5 6. Nbc3 Bb4 7. Bd2 O-O 8.
Be2 d5 9. Nxf6+ Rxf6 10. O-O Nc6 11. a3 Bxc3 12. Bxc3 Bf5 13. Bg4 Qd6 14. Re1
Raf8 15. Bf3 Be6 16. Qe2 d4 17. Bd2 Bd5 18. Bxd5+ Qxd5 19. f3 Qd6 20. c4 Rf5
21. b4 Nd8 22. b5 R8f7 23. Bb4 Qg6 24. Qe4 Qg5 25. Qd5 Rxf3 26. Rxe5 c6 27.
Rxg5 cxd5 28. Rxd5 Rxd3 29. Rxd8+ Kh7 30. Rf1 Rc7 31. c5 b6 32. c6 a6 33. Rd7
Rc8 34. a4 axb5 35. axb5 Rb3 36. Be7 Rxb5 37. Bf6 Rg8 38. Bxd4 Kh8 39. Rff7
Rb1+ 40. Kf2 Rb4 41. Rxg7 Rxg7 42. Bxg7+ Kg8 43. c7 Rc4 44. Rd8+ Kxg7 45. c8=Q
Rf4+ 46. Kg3 1-0


Then I beat Mohamed Elshazy, who is a local FIDE member.

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Coupra"]
[Black "john2001plus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "1977"]
[BlackElo "1794"]
[Annotator "Coffey,John"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 cxd4 5. exd4 Qb6 6. b3 Nc6 7. c3 d5 8. Bd3
Bd7 9. O-O Rc8 10. Nbd2 Be7 11. Re1 O-O 12. h3 Na5 13. b4 Nc4 14. Nxc4 dxc4 15.
Bc2 Nd5 16. Bd2 Bf6 17. Ne5 Bxe5 18. Rxe5 a5 19. a3 axb4 20. axb4 Ra8 21. Rb1
Ra2 22. Be4 f6 23. Rh5 g6 24. Rxh7 Rxd2 25. Qxd2 Kxh7 26. Qe2 Kg7 27. Bxd5 exd5
28. Qf3 Qe6 29. Qg3 Ra8 30. Qc7 Qf5 31. Re1 Ra2 32. Re7+ Kh6 33. f3 Qg5 34. g4
Qc1+ 0-1


​Finally, I beat  a higher rated player to come in first.​

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.09.06"]
[White "john2001plus"]
[Black "SpeedyChess11"]
[WhiteElo "1809"]
[BlackElo "1877"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[ECO "E17"]
[Termination "john2001plus won by checkmate"]
[Result "1-0"]
[CurrentPosition "1Q6/8/8/7B/R7/6K1/k4P2/8 b - - 10 81"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 e6 3.c4 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3 g6 6.Bg5 Bg7 7.e4 h6 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.e5 Qe7 10.Bd3 Nc6 11.O-O O-O 12.Qc2 Kh7 13.Rfe1 Na5 14.Ne4 d5 15.exd6 cxd6 16.b4 Nc6 17.Rad1 Rad8 18.d5 Ne5 19.Nxe5 dxe5 20.d6 Qe8 21.c5 Bxe4 22.Bxe4 bxc5 23.bxc5 Qb5 24.Bd3 Qc6 25.a4 a6 26.Be4 Qe8 27.c6 f5 28.d7 Qe7 29.Bd3 e4 30.Bxa6 Be5 31.c7 Rxd7 32.c8=Q Rxc8 33.Bxc8 Rc7 34.Qd2 Bc3 35.Qd7 Bxe1 36.Qxe7+ Rxe7 37.Rxe1 Rc7 38.Bxe6 Ra7 39.Bb3 Kg7 40.Ra1 Kf6 41.Bc4 Ke5 42.Bb5 Kd4 43.Kf1 Kc5 44.Ke2 Kb4 45.Kd2 Ka5 46.Be8 g5 47.Bg6 Rd7+ 48.Kc2 Rc7+ 49.Kd2 Rd7+ 50.Ke2 Rd4 51.Bxf5 Rc4 52.Ra2 Rd4 53.Ke3 Rd1 54.Bxe4 Re1+ 55.Re2 Rh1 56.h3 Kxa4 57.Kf3 Rc1 58.Kg4 Rc7 59.Kh5 Rf7 60.Kxh6 Kb4 61.Kxg5 Kc5 62.Kg4 Rg7+ 63.Kf3 Kd4 64.Ba8 Rf7+ 65.Kg3 Kd3 66.Bf3 Rg7+ 67.Kh2 Rf7 68.Re3+ Kd4 69.h4 Rh7 70.h5 Rh6 71.g4 Rf6 72.g5 Rf4 73.g6 Rh4+ 74.Kg3 Rxh5 75.Bxh5 Kd5 76.g7 Kd4 77.g8=Q Kc5 78.Qd8 Kb4 79.Re4+ Ka3 80.Qb8 Ka2 81.Ra4#  1-0


​I thought that my first round was amusing just from a tactical perspective:

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.09.06"]
[White "JoeKempsey"]
[Black "john2001plus"]
[WhiteElo "1250"]
[BlackElo "1777"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[ECO "C01"]
[Termination "john2001plus won by resignation"]
[Result "0-1"]
[CurrentPosition "1b2r1k1/pp1n1pp1/2p4p/8/7P/Q4BPK/PPb2q2/8 w - - 0 25"]

1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bd6 6.Be2 O-O 7.O-O c6 8.Re1 Re8 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.Qd2 Bg4 12.Rad1 Nd7 13.h3 Bf4 14.Qd3 Bf5 15.Ne4 dxe4 16.Qa3 exf3 17.Bxf3 Bxc2 18.Rxe8+ Rxe8 19.Rf1 Bb8 20.Rc1 Qf4 21.g3 Qxc1+ 22.Kg2 Qd2 23.h4 Qxd4 24.Kh3 Qxf2  0-1


--

2017-09-05

Chess structures/imbalances.

A friend from Salt Lake City has been asking me on Facebook to analyze his games.   In response to one game, I wrote ...

I think that I see in this game what I see in other's people's games, which is that people just react to their opponent's moves.  In the game of chess, there are structural imbalances that should determine the best course of action.

Of course, I have read Silman, who talks about imbalances.  Essentially Silman says that what is different from your position and your opponent's position is what determines your plan.  

However, I look at it at a more fundamental level, because I look at the structure on the board.  That structure almost always tells me what to do.  And I don't move a single pawn without considering how the change in structure will impact the game.  

Of course, experience is a major factor in figuring out the correct plan.  That must be the case, since I notice that masters seem to find really good moves almost effortlessly.  I think that what is happening is that masters identify the imbalances really easily.  Even in positions that seem to a casual observer to be relatively quiet, masters will identify a weak piece, a weak square, etc.

--

2017-09-02

Columbus (movie). Copy of Facebook Post.

So somebody made a movie in the hometown where I grew up, staring of all people, John Cho. I have always felt a strong bond to Columbus, Indiana, a town of 45,000 people, which has some national fame for its architecture. Every week I go to the Columbus Chess Club where I started playing chess 42 years ago. I actually wanted to move back to Columbus, but for various reasons chose a house about 30 miles away, closer to Indianapolis.


--

2017-06-17

First place finish in USCF Online rated ICC tournament

>uscf You won!!! Congratulations! This is your 4 1st place finish
> During the 5 rounds, you collected 4.5 points
>uscf 
>   4.5 yoshi LiangLiang
>   4.0 cashout
>   3.5 wcorbit1
>   3.0 canary2016 itemsfront KingsBishop tigeriz smgsmg21
>   2.5 tony1209 Allah99
>   2.0 wmanthony BillietheKid CarbonPawn ickyquarter capatal1 BIRDSMAN
>   1.5 Heian amueller MHanDaMan
>   1.0 Gamebuilder123 ROWLAND crunk-dawg
>   0.5 pawninthegrass
>    __________  __  ______  _   __________  __   ____ _    ____________
>   /_  __/ __ \/ / / / __ \/ | / / ____/\ \/ /  / __ \ |  / / ____/ __ \
>    / / / / / / / / / /_/ /  |/ / __/    \  /  / / / / | / / __/ / /_/ /
>   / / / /_/ / /_/ / _  _/ /|  / /___    / /  / /_/ /| |/ / /___/ _  _/ 
>  /_/  \____/\____/_/ |_/_/ |_/_____/   /_/   \____/ |___/_____/_/ |_|
>    Congratulations yoshi and Thanks to all :-)

The last round game I was likely winning, but because I was very low on time, I took a draw.  I am sure that I missed opportunities to win this game, but I didn't have much time to figure it out.

[Event "ICC tourney 1273 (12 3)"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2017.06.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "yoshi"]
[Black "LiangLiang"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ICCResult "Game drawn by mutual agreement"]
[WhiteElo "1659"]
[BlackElo "1682"]
[Opening "QGD: 4.Nf3"]
[ECO "D37"]
[NIC "QI.01"]
[Time "18:58:50"]
[TimeControl "720+3"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. c4 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. e3 Be7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bd3 Nf8
8. O-O Ng6 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 c6 12. d5 cxd5 13. Bxd5 O-O 14.
Be3 Bf6 15. Qb3 Bxb2 16. Bxf7+ Rxf7 17. Ng5 Qf8 18. Nxf7 Bxa1 19. Nh6+ Kh8
20. Bc5 Be6 21. Qxe6 Qe8 22. Nf7+ Kg8 {Game drawn by mutual agreement}
1/2-1/2

2017-06-07

Maybe my first clear 1st place in the chess.com USCF online rated speed tournament.



There was one master in the tournament who got beat by KingsBishop and then dropped out, and in the next round I beat KingsBishop.

My only game against a higher rated player was a nice endgame victory for me...

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.06.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Troy8"]
[Black "john2001plus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "1988"]
[BlackElo "1854"]
[Annotator "Coffey,John"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. Qc2 Bd6 6. d4 O-O 7. Nbd2 Nbd7 8. e4
dxe4 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Nf6 11. Qh4 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Bb4 13. Qf4 Rd8 14. O-O
Bxd2 15. Nxd2 e5 16. dxe5 Qxd2 17. Qxd2 Rxd2 18. exf6 Rxb2 19. Rfe1 Be6 20.
fxg7 Bxc4 21. Rab1 Rxb1 22. Rxb1 Bxa2 23. Rxb7 Bd5 24. Bxd5 cxd5 25. Rd7 a5 26.
Rxd5 a4 27. Rd2 a3 28. Ra2 Kxg7 29. Kf1 Kf6 30. Ke2 Ke5 31. Kd3 Kd5 32. f3 Kc5
33. Kc3 f5 34. g4 fxg4 35. fxg4 Kd5 36. Kd3 Ke5 37. Ke3 Ra4 38. h3 Re4+ 39. Kf3
Rf4+ 40. Kg3 Ra4 41. Kh4 Kf4 42. Kh5 Kg3 43. h4 Ra6 44. g5 Ra5 45. Kh6 Kxh4 46.
g6 hxg6 47. Kxg6 Kg4 48. Kf6 Kf4 49. Ke6 Ke4 50. Kd6 Kd4 51. Kc6 Kc4 52. Kb6
Kb4 53. Kc6 Rh5 54. Rg2 Rh6+ 55. Kd5 Ra6 56. Rg4+ Kb5 57. Rg1 a2 58. Ra1 Kb4
59. Kd4 Kb3 0-1


--

2017-05-10

Weekly Wednesday night Chess.com USCF Online rated blitz tournament.



I tied for 1st, but got second on tie breaks.   I don't think that I have ever tied for first before in this blitz tournament.  I lost to yandry1996, although I did my best to beat him. There were a couple of masters in the tournament who lost early and dropped out.  The tournament started with 27 players, but usually half the people drop out before it is finished.

I had a great deal of trouble with the blitz tournaments at first, but my online blitz rating has made a pretty good progression over the last year.  



I think that the ratings are low compared to standard USCF ratings, but maybe not as much when you get up to the master level.

--

2017-04-05

Third place in the USCF Online rated speed tournament.

I used to not do that well in the online speed chess (blitz) tournaments, but my results have been improving.  Thanks to all the study I have done lately, plus some extra online practice, I felt somewhat confident going into this tournament.  I started the tournament in 8th or 9th place, but finished third.  I lost to two masters, but I think that I put up a good fight against the one who was really high rated.  With my chess.com rating only 1745, I beat three higher rated players, two of which were in the 1800's and one in the 1900's.  My chess.com blitz rating jumped up 32 points.  I will be curious as to how this tournament will affect my USCF Online Blitz rating, but I won't know for a few days.  (BTW, I think that the online ratings are at least 200 points below standard over the board ratings.  This might not be true when you get up to high master, but I think that it is true at my level.)



[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.04.05"]
[White "john2001plus"]
[Black "thefidebullet"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C20"]
[WhiteElo "1745"]
[BlackElo "1214"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[Endtime "17:06:10 PDT"]
[Termination "john2001plus won by resignation"]
[CurrentPosition "r7/pbp5/5k2/4nQ2/4P3/2NP4/PPP2PP1/R3K3 b Q - 8 22"]

1.Nf3 {[%clk 0:02:50]} e5 {[%clk 0:03:02]} 2.Nxe5 {[%clk 0:02:48]} f6 {[%clk 0:03:02]} 3.e4 {[%clk 0:02:38]} fxe5 {[%clk 0:03:02]} 4.Qh5+ {[%clk 0:02:38]} Ke7 {[%clk 0:03:01]} 5.Qxe5+ {[%clk 0:02:38]} Kf7 {[%clk 0:02:58]} 6.Bc4+ {[%clk 0:02:40]} d5 {[%clk 0:02:59]} 7.Bxd5+ {[%clk 0:02:38]} Kg6 {[%clk 0:02:59]} 8.h4 {[%clk 0:02:32]} h5 {[%clk 0:01:20]} 9.Bxb7 {[%clk 0:02:29]} Bxb7 {[%clk 0:00:59]} 10.Qf5+ {[%clk 0:02:25]} Kh6 {[%clk 0:00:56]} 11.d3+ {[%clk 0:02:26]} g5 {[%clk 0:00:55]} 12.Bxg5+ {[%clk 0:02:19]} Qxg5 {[%clk 0:00:52]} 13.hxg5+ {[%clk 0:02:07]} Kg7 {[%clk 0:00:53]} 14.Qe5+ {[%clk 0:02:07]} Kh7 {[%clk 0:00:52]} 15.Rxh5+ {[%clk 0:02:06]} Nh6 {[%clk 0:00:48]} 16.gxh6 {[%clk 0:01:39]} Bxh6 {[%clk 0:00:32]} 17.Rxh6+ {[%clk 0:01:30]} Kxh6 {[%clk 0:00:32]} 18.Qxh8+ {[%clk 0:01:30]} Kg6 {[%clk 0:00:30]} 19.Qg8+ {[%clk 0:01:30]} Kf6 {[%clk 0:00:30]} 20.Nc3 {[%clk 0:01:22]} Nd7 {[%clk 0:00:25]} 21.Qh7 {[%clk 0:01:20]} Ne5 {[%clk 0:00:20]} 22.Qf5+ {[%clk 0:01:15]}  1-0


[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.04.05"]
[White "kstorn"]
[Black "john2001plus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E16"]
[WhiteElo "1948"]
[BlackElo "1746"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[Endtime "17:17:46 PDT"]
[Termination "john2001plus won by checkmate"]
[CurrentPosition "r5k1/pb5p/1p6/2p1p3/1PPp4/P7/3QP3/R1R1K1q1 w - - 2 32"]

1.d4 {[%clk 0:03:02]} Nf6 {[%clk 0:03:00]} 2.c4 {[%clk 0:03:03]} e6 {[%clk 0:02:59]} 3.Nf3 {[%clk 0:03:03]} Bb4+ {[%clk 0:02:56]} 4.Nbd2 {[%clk 0:03:04]} b6 {[%clk 0:02:55]} 5.g3 {[%clk 0:03:04]} Bb7 {[%clk 0:02:56]} 6.Bg2 {[%clk 0:03:05]} O-O {[%clk 0:02:55]} 7.O-O {[%clk 0:03:05]} d5 {[%clk 0:02:38]} 8.Ne5 {[%clk 0:02:50]} Nbd7 {[%clk 0:02:32]} 9.a3 {[%clk 0:02:25]} Bd6 {[%clk 0:02:28]} 10.Ndf3 {[%clk 0:02:09]} Bxe5 {[%clk 0:02:24]} 11.Nxe5 {[%clk 0:02:07]} Nxe5 {[%clk 0:02:18]} 12.dxe5 {[%clk 0:02:09]} Ne4 {[%clk 0:02:04]} 13.f3 {[%clk 0:01:56]} Nc5 {[%clk 0:02:03]} 14.b4 {[%clk 0:01:56]} Nd7 {[%clk 0:02:03]} 15.f4 {[%clk 0:01:50]} c6 {[%clk 0:02:02]} 16.Bb2 {[%clk 0:01:43]} f6 {[%clk 0:02:02]} 17.exf6 {[%clk 0:01:36]} Nxf6 {[%clk 0:02:04]} 18.Be5 {[%clk 0:01:31]} Ng4 {[%clk 0:02:02]} 19.Qd4 {[%clk 0:00:21]} c5 {[%clk 0:01:53]} 20.Qb2 {[%clk 0:00:13]} Ne3 {[%clk 0:01:39]} 21.Rfc1 {[%clk 0:00:13]} Nxg2 {[%clk 0:01:38]} 22.Kxg2 {[%clk 0:00:13]} d4+ {[%clk 0:01:25]} 23.Kf2 {[%clk 0:00:14]} g5 {[%clk 0:01:24]} 24.Qc2 {[%clk 0:00:12]} gxf4 {[%clk 0:01:23]} 25.gxf4 {[%clk 0:00:13]} Qh4+ {[%clk 0:01:22]} 26.Kg1 {[%clk 0:00:14]} Qg4+ {[%clk 0:01:18]} 27.Kf2 {[%clk 0:00:15]} Rxf4+ {[%clk 0:01:15]} 28.Bxf4 {[%clk 0:00:13]} Qxf4+ {[%clk 0:01:15]} 29.Ke1 {[%clk 0:00:14]} Qxh2 {[%clk 0:01:02]} 30.Qd3 {[%clk 0:00:12]} e5 {[%clk 0:00:50]} 31.Qd2 {[%clk 0:00:10]} Qg1# {[%clk 0:00:42]}  0-1


[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.04.05"]
[White "john2001plus"]
[Black "jasrom"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "1758"]
[BlackElo "2382"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[Endtime "17:29:19 PDT"]
[Termination "jasrom won by resignation"]
[CurrentPosition "8/8/7p/6p1/1p2pkP1/1P6/4K3/8 w - - 4 48"]

1.Nf3 {[%clk 0:03:02]} e6 {[%clk 0:03:00]} 2.d4 {[%clk 0:03:02]} d5 {[%clk 0:03:01]} 3.c4 {[%clk 0:03:03]} c6 {[%clk 0:03:02]} 4.e3 {[%clk 0:03:03]} Nf6 {[%clk 0:03:02]} 5.Nc3 {[%clk 0:03:05]} Nbd7 {[%clk 0:03:03]} 6.Bd3 {[%clk 0:03:06]} dxc4 {[%clk 0:03:04]} 7.Bxc4 {[%clk 0:03:07]} b5 {[%clk 0:03:06]} 8.Be2 {[%clk 0:03:07]} a6 {[%clk 0:03:07]} 9.O-O {[%clk 0:03:07]} Bb7 {[%clk 0:03:08]} 10.e4 {[%clk 0:03:08]} b4 {[%clk 0:03:03]} 11.e5 {[%clk 0:03:08]} Nd5 {[%clk 0:03:02]} 12.Ne4 {[%clk 0:03:07]} h6 {[%clk 0:03:02]} 13.Qc2 {[%clk 0:02:50]} Qb6 {[%clk 0:03:00]} 14.Be3 {[%clk 0:02:49]} Nxe3 {[%clk 0:02:44]} 15.fxe3 {[%clk 0:02:51]} c5 {[%clk 0:02:45]} 16.Ned2 {[%clk 0:02:23]} cxd4 {[%clk 0:02:40]} 17.Nc4 {[%clk 0:02:21]} Qc7 {[%clk 0:02:22]} 18.Rac1 {[%clk 0:02:05]} dxe3 {[%clk 0:01:54]} 19.Nd6+ {[%clk 0:02:05]} Bxd6 {[%clk 0:01:54]} 20.Qxc7 {[%clk 0:02:06]} Bxc7 {[%clk 0:01:55]} 21.Rxc7 {[%clk 0:02:07]} Bd5 {[%clk 0:01:52]} 22.Bxa6 {[%clk 0:01:59]} O-O {[%clk 0:01:26]} 23.Bc4 {[%clk 0:01:39]} Nb6 {[%clk 0:01:20]} 24.Bxd5 {[%clk 0:01:31]} Nxd5 {[%clk 0:01:20]} 25.Rb7 {[%clk 0:01:24]} Rxa2 {[%clk 0:01:22]} 26.b3 {[%clk 0:01:23]} Rc8 {[%clk 0:01:10]} 27.Nd4 {[%clk 0:01:22]} e2 {[%clk 0:00:57]} 28.Re1 {[%clk 0:01:14]} Nf4 {[%clk 0:00:56]} 29.g3 {[%clk 0:01:11]} Nd3 {[%clk 0:00:40]} 30.Rxe2 {[%clk 0:01:12]} Rc1+ {[%clk 0:00:21]} 31.Kg2 {[%clk 0:01:05]} Rxe2+ {[%clk 0:00:18]} 32.Nxe2 {[%clk 0:01:06]} Rc2 {[%clk 0:00:19]} 33.Kf1 {[%clk 0:01:00]} Rb2 {[%clk 0:00:19]} 34.Nd4 {[%clk 0:00:58]} Rxh2 {[%clk 0:00:16]} 35.Rb8+ {[%clk 0:00:45]} Kh7 {[%clk 0:00:17]} 36.Rf8 {[%clk 0:00:46]} Rf2+ {[%clk 0:00:17]} 37.Kg1 {[%clk 0:00:46]} Kg6 {[%clk 0:00:18]} 38.Nxe6 {[%clk 0:00:43]} fxe6 {[%clk 0:00:14]} 39.Rxf2 {[%clk 0:00:42]} Nxf2 {[%clk 0:00:16]} 40.Kxf2 {[%clk 0:00:44]} Kf5 {[%clk 0:00:17]} 41.Ke3 {[%clk 0:00:42]} Kxe5 {[%clk 0:00:19]} 42.Kd3 {[%clk 0:00:43]} Kd5 {[%clk 0:00:20]} 43.Ke3 {[%clk 0:00:43]} g5 {[%clk 0:00:21]} 44.g4 {[%clk 0:00:43]} e5 {[%clk 0:00:20]} 45.Kd3 {[%clk 0:00:44]} e4+ {[%clk 0:00:21]} 46.Ke3 {[%clk 0:00:45]} Ke5 {[%clk 0:00:23]} 47.Ke2 {[%clk 0:00:46]} Kf4 {[%clk 0:00:25]}  0-1


[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.04.05"]
[White "wiseone22"]
[Black "john2001plus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "1858"]
[BlackElo "1758"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[Endtime "17:37:29 PDT"]
[Termination "john2001plus won by resignation"]
[CurrentPosition "7r/1pkb1p1p/4pP2/3p4/1P6/4B3/1r1n2PP/1B3RK1 b - - 3 26"]

1.e4 {[%clk 0:03:02]} e6 {[%clk 0:03:02]} 2.d4 {[%clk 0:03:02]} d5 {[%clk 0:03:02]} 3.e5 {[%clk 0:02:54]} c5 {[%clk 0:03:02]} 4.c3 {[%clk 0:02:53]} Nc6 {[%clk 0:03:03]} 5.f4 {[%clk 0:02:54]} Qb6 {[%clk 0:02:46]} 6.Nf3 {[%clk 0:02:52]} Bd7 {[%clk 0:02:43]} 7.Qb3 {[%clk 0:02:41]} Na5 {[%clk 0:02:40]} 8.Qxb6 {[%clk 0:02:41]} axb6 {[%clk 0:02:42]} 9.Bd3 {[%clk 0:02:30]} Nb3 {[%clk 0:02:39]} 10.axb3 {[%clk 0:02:18]} Rxa1 {[%clk 0:02:38]} 11.O-O {[%clk 0:02:12]} cxd4 {[%clk 0:02:34]} 12.Nxd4 {[%clk 0:02:06]} Ne7 {[%clk 0:02:30]} 13.Na3 {[%clk 0:02:02]} Nc6 {[%clk 0:02:30]} 14.Ndc2 {[%clk 0:02:02]} Ra2 {[%clk 0:02:23]} 15.Nb5 {[%clk 0:01:55]} Na5 {[%clk 0:02:02]} 16.Nb4 {[%clk 0:01:33]} Bxb4 {[%clk 0:01:45]} 17.cxb4 {[%clk 0:01:27]} Nxb3 {[%clk 0:01:41]} 18.Nd6+ {[%clk 0:01:27]} Ke7 {[%clk 0:01:42]} 19.Be3 {[%clk 0:01:16]} Rxb2 {[%clk 0:01:34]} 20.Bxb6 {[%clk 0:01:13]} Rd2 {[%clk 0:01:22]} 21.Bb1 {[%clk 0:00:59]} Rb2 {[%clk 0:01:14]} 22.f5 {[%clk 0:00:56]} Nd2 {[%clk 0:01:07]} 23.f6+ {[%clk 0:00:49]} gxf6 {[%clk 0:01:07]} 24.exf6+ {[%clk 0:00:30]} Kxd6 {[%clk 0:01:05]} 25.Bc5+ {[%clk 0:00:31]} Kc7 {[%clk 0:01:03]} 26.Be3 {[%clk 0:00:21]}  0-1


[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.04.05"]
[White "DavidForthoffer"]
[Black "john2001plus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E22"]
[WhiteElo "2048"]
[BlackElo "1768"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[Endtime "17:45:53 PDT"]
[Termination "DavidForthoffer won by resignation"]
[CurrentPosition "2r1k2r/4qppp/Pp2pn2/1Q1p4/3P4/5NP1/P2bPPBP/R4RK1 b k - 0 18"]

1.d4 {[%clk 0:03:02]} Nf6 {[%clk 0:02:59]} 2.c4 {[%clk 0:03:03]} e6 {[%clk 0:03:01]} 3.Nc3 {[%clk 0:03:04]} Bb4 {[%clk 0:03:02]} 4.Qb3 {[%clk 0:03:05]} Nc6 {[%clk 0:02:46]} 5.Nf3 {[%clk 0:03:06]} b6 {[%clk 0:02:44]} 6.g3 {[%clk 0:03:05]} Bb7 {[%clk 0:02:45]} 7.Bg2 {[%clk 0:03:03]} Qe7 {[%clk 0:02:42]} 8.O-O {[%clk 0:03:03]} Na5 {[%clk 0:02:42]} 9.Qc2 {[%clk 0:02:59]} Nxc4 {[%clk 0:02:34]} 10.Nb5 {[%clk 0:02:55]} d5 {[%clk 0:01:47]} 11.b3 {[%clk 0:02:52]} c6 {[%clk 0:01:33]} 12.bxc4 {[%clk 0:02:53]} cxb5 {[%clk 0:01:34]} 13.cxb5 {[%clk 0:02:55]} Rc8 {[%clk 0:01:30]} 14.Qa4 {[%clk 0:02:53]} a5 {[%clk 0:01:13]} 15.bxa6+ {[%clk 0:02:50]} Bc6 {[%clk 0:01:13]} 16.Qb3 {[%clk 0:02:41]} Bb5 {[%clk 0:01:06]} 17.Bd2 {[%clk 0:02:40]} Bxd2 {[%clk 0:00:24]} 18.Qxb5+ {[%clk 0:02:38]}  1-0



[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.04.05"]
[White "john2001plus"]
[Black "Javachip3"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "1765"]
[BlackElo "1510"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[Endtime "17:55:23 PDT"]
[Termination "john2001plus won by resignation"]
[CurrentPosition "2rq1rk1/p3bp1p/Qp4p1/4P3/1P2BB2/P3P3/5PPP/R4RK1 b - - 0 19"]

1.Nf3 {[%clk 0:03:02]} Nf6 {[%clk 0:03:00]} 2.d4 {[%clk 0:03:02]} e6 {[%clk 0:03:01]} 3.c4 {[%clk 0:03:04]} b6 {[%clk 0:03:02]} 4.a3 {[%clk 0:03:04]} Bb7 {[%clk 0:03:02]} 5.Nc3 {[%clk 0:03:05]} Be7 {[%clk 0:03:04]} 6.Bf4 {[%clk 0:03:00]} d5 {[%clk 0:03:04]} 7.e3 {[%clk 0:03:01]} O-O {[%clk 0:03:04]} 8.Bd3 {[%clk 0:03:01]} Nbd7 {[%clk 0:03:05]} 9.O-O {[%clk 0:03:01]} c5 {[%clk 0:03:06]} 10.cxd5 {[%clk 0:02:56]} exd5 {[%clk 0:03:04]} 11.Ne5 {[%clk 0:02:51]} c4 {[%clk 0:03:04]} 12.Bf5 {[%clk 0:02:46]} Nxe5 {[%clk 0:02:41]} 13.dxe5 {[%clk 0:02:31]} Nd7 {[%clk 0:02:42]} 14.Nxd5 {[%clk 0:02:24]} Bxd5 {[%clk 0:02:33]} 15.Qxd5 {[%clk 0:02:26]} Nc5 {[%clk 0:02:28]} 16.Qxc4 {[%clk 0:02:15]} g6 {[%clk 0:02:22]} 17.b4 {[%clk 0:01:59]} Na6 {[%clk 0:02:11]} 18.Be4 {[%clk 0:01:54]} Rc8 {[%clk 0:02:09]} 19.Qxa6 {[%clk 0:01:54]}  1-0


[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.04.05"]
[White "john2001plus"]
[Black "safetyorsurprise"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D93"]
[WhiteElo "1768"]
[BlackElo "1800+"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[Endtime "18:06:15 PDT"]
[Termination "john2001plus won by resignation"]
[CurrentPosition "r2r4/pR1np1kp/5pp1/3P4/3N4/4P3/P2K1PPP/7R b - - 2 19"]

1.Nf3 {[%clk 0:02:43]} Nf6 {[%clk 0:02:56]} 2.d4 {[%clk 0:02:43]} g6 {[%clk 0:02:54]} 3.c4 {[%clk 0:02:44]} Bg7 {[%clk 0:02:51]} 4.Nc3 {[%clk 0:02:46]} d5 {[%clk 0:02:44]} 5.Bf4 {[%clk 0:02:33]} O-O {[%clk 0:02:43]} 6.e3 {[%clk 0:02:33]} c5 {[%clk 0:02:43]} 7.cxd5 {[%clk 0:02:33]} Nxd5 {[%clk 0:02:43]} 8.Be5 {[%clk 0:02:30]} Nxc3 {[%clk 0:02:31]} 9.bxc3 {[%clk 0:02:30]} cxd4 {[%clk 0:02:25]} 10.cxd4 {[%clk 0:02:26]} Qa5+ {[%clk 0:02:15]} 11.Qd2 {[%clk 0:02:26]} Qxd2+ {[%clk 0:02:12]} 12.Kxd2 {[%clk 0:02:28]} Nc6 {[%clk 0:02:06]} 13.Bxg7 {[%clk 0:02:27]} Kxg7 {[%clk 0:02:06]} 14.Bb5 {[%clk 0:02:27]} Bd7 {[%clk 0:01:51]} 15.Rab1 {[%clk 0:02:19]} f6 {[%clk 0:01:44]} 16.d5 {[%clk 0:02:17]} Ne5 {[%clk 0:01:23]} 17.Bxd7 {[%clk 0:02:10]} Nxd7 {[%clk 0:01:18]} 18.Rxb7 {[%clk 0:02:09]} Rfd8 {[%clk 0:01:17]} 19.Nd4 {[%clk 0:02:08]}  1-0



--

2017-03-15

Chess Problems

This problem took me at least 90 seconds to solve.  Initially, I was looking at all the wrong ideas.  It took me so long it that chess.com only gave me one rating point for solving it.

I didn't like the White response after the first move, because I thought it was dumb.  It is the choice that delays mate the longest.  I had a different White defense in mind, so I went into the analysis option and it turns out my defense (2. f4) allows mate in 1, which I didn't see.




​P.S.  Check ​out this article.  I am not convinced that there is a solution.   http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/03/14/can-solve-chess-problem-holds-key-human-consciousness/

2017-03-13

Oops

[Event "Casual G/10"]
[Site "Greenwood Chess Club"]
[Date "Mar 13, 2017"]
[Round "2"]
[White "John Coffey"]
[Black "Everett Keen"]
[Result "0-1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Bd3 h6 8. Bh4
b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. Qe2 Rc8 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Ba6 Bxa6 13. Qxa6 Ra8 14. Rac1 Qc8
15. Qxc8+ Rxc8 16. Nxd5 Rxc1 17. Nxf6+ Nxf6 18. Rxc1 O-O 19. Rc7 Bd6 20. Rxa7
Rc8 21. h3 Rc1+
0-1




Best wishes,

John Coffey

2017-02-08

Third place.

I'll take what I can get.  I still have some difficulty in the chess.com USCF rated speed tournament.  Usually, I am lucky just to place.  I don't think that I have ever won the speed tournament, although I have on rare occasion won some of the slower online tournaments.  (Sometimes, we get strong masters who show up and win the tournaments.  Sometimes we don't.)

I also need to either replace my mouse or get a mousepad and see if that helps.  My mouse is not as responsive as it should be.  When trying to play tournament speed chess online, it makes a difference.




2017-01-30

Slav Defense

[Event "Casual G/10"]
[Site "Greenwood chess club"]
[Date "Jan 30, 2017"]
[Round "2"]
[White "John Coffey"]
[Black "Greg Marshal"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. Qb3 Bxf3 6. Qxb7 Qa5+ 7. Bd2 Qb6 8.
Qxa8 Qxb2 9. gxf3 Nd7 10. Qxa7 Qxa1 11. Bd3 dxc4 12. Bc2 c3 13. Bxc3 Qxc3+ 14.
Nxc3 e5 15. dxe5 Bb4 16. Kd2 O-O 17. Rb1 Bc5 18. Qc7 Be7 19. Rxb8 Nxb8 20. Qxe7
c5 21. Bxh7+ Kxh7 22. Qxf8 Nd7
1-0

2017-01-20

Chess Game

[Event "Casual G/10"]
[Site "Columbus Indiana Chess Club"]
[Date "Jan 19, 2017"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Steve Salo"]
[Black "John Coffey"]
[Result "0-1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Qb6 5. b3 Nc6 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. Nc3 Bb4 8.
Qd3 Qa5 9. Kd2 Bxc3+ 10. Qxc3 Ne4+
0-1