Youtube Takes Down CHESS PODCAST for Being HARMFUL or DANGEROUS

Lately, Google has been censoring many things.

https://youtu.be/KSjrYWPxsG8

I had to share this crazy and funny chess problem.

Much to my surprise, Stockfish gets it right away.  I figured that it would be too deep or too obscure.

Cheaters on chess.com

I got a notice from chess.com that one of my opponents had violated the Fair Play Policy, and therefore they were adding 16 points to my rating, which doesn't matter that much because chess.com ratings are always changing.  They didn't tell me which opponent was the culprit, but I was extremely curious as to who it was, so I looked to see which one of my previous opponents had his account suspended.  

It was from an online tournament that I was playing, which makes me wonder if they only check tournaments for cheating.  It seems to me that it would take way too much computer power to check the millions of games that are played daily on chess.com.

Oddly enough, this was a game that I lost because my Comcast Internet went down in the middle of my game and stayed down for a couple of hours.   What I heard was that the service was down for the entire midwest.   This was particularly painful because my opponent was only rated 600.

One way they determine if someone is cheating is to look at the accuracy of their moves with computer analysis.  Anything over 98% is probably suspicious, especially if a low rated player does it on multiple games.  

The accuracy of my games tends to vary from 60% to 99%, with many games over 90% and the vast majority over 80%.  I have a few occasional games that are 98 to 99% accurate and I am sure that chess masters do too.  I hope that if I were to have a really good day that they would not think that I was cheating.

I read that cheating on backgammon web sites has mostly been eliminated by checking the games with computer analysis.

Maybe ideally they would use webcams to watch everyone as they play.  It is pretty hard to cheat if they are watching you, or even if just your opponent can see you.  It's not very private, but they do this for some online matches with top-level players.

Greenwood chess club five year anniversary today. Online play tonight. Future reopen date.

I started the Greenwood Chess Club five years ago today.

On Monday, February 1st, 2016 we moved the club to the Kroger on South Emmerson.

The Columbus Chess Club will open again on June 18th.  However, I plan to wait till July 6th to reopen the Greenwood Chess Club.  I want to wait and see what is going to happen with the COVID-19 pandemic.  I also have to check with the Kroger on South Emmerson to see if it is still okay for us to meet there.

Meanwhile, on Mondays, I will be available from 5 to 9:30 to play online at this page on chess .com:  https://www.chess.com/club/greenwood-chess-club23   

This is a page that you can join.

We usually get between 2 to 5 players.  I suggest trying to rotate players.  You can use the "Members" link to see who is online and challenge them.  It is helpful to become friends with other members so as to see their games and more easily challenge them.

On Thursday nights a few of us meet here:  https://www.chess.com/club/columbus-chess-club

I hope that everyone is healthy and safe.

--

Best wishes,

John Coffey

http://www.entertainmentjourney.com

Happy with my accuracy on chess.com in ten minute games

Overall I am pleased with my accuracy on 5+5 (or G/10) games.  I played 17 games tonight.  I lost two.  According to the chess.com analysis feature,

I had 9 games with over 90% accuracy, with my best two games scoring 99%.  I have five games in the '80s.  Two games in the '70s and my worst game was 61.%

I feel like I am playing more accurately than I have in the past.  I'm obviously not perfect, and I do have some bad games.  However, the games are almost speed chess.   I would be happy to get these percentages in longer games. 

I think that the chess.com accuracy numbers might be arbitrary.  I also think that if I played tougher competition that I would be more likely to make mistakes because really strong players have ways of pressuring their opponents into making errors.  (Imagine playing a pro football team.  No matter how good you are, they are going to make you look bad.)

My rating on chess.com has been hovering in the 1900's when it was previously in the mid to high 1800's.  Compared to US Chess Federation ratings, I think that this would be equal to somewhere between 2000 and 2150 (Expert) because I have always thought that chess.com ratings were low.  I can't be sure though.

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Best wishes,

John Coffey

http://www.entertainmentjourney.com

Robot lawnmower giveaway

https://tinyurl.com/y92b9gc5

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Best wishes,

John Coffey

http://www.entertainmentjourney.com

My First Classical Game As World Champion - Magnus Carlsen

https://youtu.be/MIVr4pdIq_8

English Analysis

Somebody on Facebook was looking for advice on how to play against the English.   The first 9 moves is pretty much what I play, and everything after that is very speculative using computer analysis that I just did.

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2020.05.02"]
[Round "?"]
[White "English"]
[Black "Analysis"]
[Result "*"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[TimeControl "720+3"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5
cxd5 {Black might be slightly better. Now if ...} 6. Qb3 Nc6 7. Nxd5 (7. Bxd5 Nd4 8. Bxf7+
Ke7 9. Qc4 b5 10. Nxb5 Nxb5 11. Qxb5 Kxf7) 7... Nd4 8. Nxf6+ Qxf6 9. Qd3 {
Black has slight compensation for his pawn. For example, we can get into some
wild lines after...} Be7 10. e3 (10. Qc3 Bd7 11. Bxb7 Rb8 12. Bd5 Rc8 13. Bc4
O-O 14. b3 Bc6 15. f3 Bb4 16. Qb2 e4) 10... Nc6 11. Ne2 Nb4 12. Qb1 Qa6 13. Be4
f5 14. a3 fxe4 15. axb4 Qc4 16. b3 Qf7 17. Qxe4 O-O 18. f4 (18. O-O Bh3) 18...
exf4 19. Nxf4 (19. Qxf4 Bf6 (19... Qxb3) 20. Ra2 Bh3 (20... b5) (20... Qxb3)) (
19. Rf1 f3 20. Nd4 f2+ 21. Ke2 Bh3) 19... g5 20. Nd5 Bd6 *  

--

Best wishes,

John Coffey

http://www.entertainmentjourney.com

A Rare Checkmate in Round 2 In The Carlsen Invitational of 18 April 2020 between Nakamura & Carlsen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwNvdcc-jvg&feature=youtu.be

White to play and win

P vs. NP - The Biggest Unsolved Problem in Computer Science

https://youtu.be/EHp4FPyajKQ

A crude chess program in order to look 10 half moves ahead would take the hypothetical 25 moves possible and do roughly 25 to the 10nth power calculations, which would take a very long time. However, the alpha-beta algorithm eliminates mathematically unnecessary calculations making this more like 5 or 6 to the tenth power, which is a huge difference.

What surprises me is that program Stockfish reduces this to more like 2 to the N power, which is considerably less. Exactly how it does this I'm not sure, although I have some idea.

I would contend that looking deeper in chess will always involve an exponential increase, by definition. To not be exponential means that we could look infinitely far ahead and completely solve chess. This is kind of the point of the video.

Removal of eNotate from the US Chess List of Certified Electronic Notation Devices (ENDs) - US Chess

https://new.uschess.org/news/removal-enotate-us-chess-list-certified-electronic-notation-devices-ends/

Chess Level 05: Black to play and win

This ending seems technically very challenging, or at least tactically very challenging.

https://chesslevel5.blogspot.com/2020/01/black-to-play-and-win_11.html

Judit Polgár

Many years ago I had the privilege of seeing all three Polgar sisters walking together at the National Open.  Almost 20 years ago I played Susan Polgar in a blitz tournament and got creamed. 

I noticed that none of the Polgar sisters are on the top Woman players list, even though they really should be.  https://ratings.fide.com/top.phtml?list=women

"On 13 August 2014, she announced her retirement from competitive chess."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judit_Polg%C3%A1r

Old joke

A joke I heard maybe 30 to 40 years ago in the
pages of Chess Life:

There are 4 types of chess players:

1. Jewish players.
2. Russian Players.
3. Jewish and Russian players.
4. Everyone else.

During the 13 years I went to the National Open in Vegas, I have lost to people in all 4 categories. I knew that when my 1900+ rated opponent was named Kasparov that I was in trouble.

Best wishes,

John Coffey

Chess

Magnus Carlsen Solves Chess Puzzles In New Timed Mode

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcXSd-3sv_8

Chess Analysis Blog: What is the strongest continuation for Black?

From my analysis of my chess games, I think this position is exceptionally interesting ...

https://chessanalsysis.blogspot.com/2019/12/what-is-strongest-continuation-for-black_77.html

Don't Memorize Moves! Understand your Openings | Road to 2000

This lecture is interesting.  I noticed right away a couple of tactical errors on his part, but fortunately, his audience pointed them out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxbAGgr4iRY

Since this is a lecture to an audience, he often asks obvious questions and then waits awhile for the audience to answer.  Youtube has a feature where you can skip ahead by 10 or more seconds.  On the PC it is done with the right arrow key.  On the iPhone, it is done by multiple-tapping the right side of the screen.

BOBBY FISCHER annotates PAUL MORPHY "Opera Game" (chess)

https://youtu.be/6urb6b2oNOY

I tried to Master Chess in 30 Days

This guy wanted to see if he could master chess in 30 days.  He improved, maybe going from beginner to 1000 or 1100 in 30 days.  On day 30 he has a rematch with a 1500 player that does not go well.  I had much to say about that game in the comments section of the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOAcDelMAiY
 

Bobby Fischer teaches chess is very much at the absolute beginner level.  Game 1 the Ne5 move was way premature, but you explain that.

To really master chess you might want to learn 1. d4.   The book "Logical Chess Move by Move" is useful in this regard.

The en-passant rule has to do with the fact that pawns used to only move one square from the start.  Moving two squares was a way to speed up the game (and so is castling), so enemy pawns can normally capture your pawn if you move up one square and this is important for allowing pawns to blockade other pawns.  En-passant allows a capture as if the pawn had only moved up one square, which maintains the ability to blockade.

My experience is that you are unlikely to reach a memorized opening past move 11.  There are some exceptions where certain openings, like the Dragon, don't really get started until around move 10.  Everything up to that point frequently follows the same sequence.

In the last game, I don't like 5. Bd3.  It is not a great spot for the Bishop, which is serving the purpose of a pawn.  The move b2-b4 creates weakness on the C file with a backward pawn on c2.  Here your pawn is well guarded but there is a big hole on c3 creating a weak spot that your opponent should try to occupy.  Your pieces (bishops and knights) are somewhat passive and in defensive positions, and eventually you will want to get them to better spots.  (Grandmasters really like to have active pieces.)  Ouch, you got skewered with Ba6!  The game is technically lost at that point.  The Bb6 response is probably bad.  I think that he should respond with Qb7 and try to pin your b6 bishop.  He didn't have to capture the queen immediately.  Instead of Nb3, the knight taking on e4 makes more sense to me because material is important.  When you played Nf6+ (check) you had two attackers on the square and he had two defenders on the square, but you moved one of your attackers to the square meaning that he was going to win the piece.  You really need more attackers than defenders on that square to make that move.  After he captured the knight it is better not to trade your bishop because you should not trade when you are down material, because your percentage of the total material becomes worse.  Likewise, you should not have traded your last piece, but the game is pretty much over by that point.  (Overall, you were too anxious to trade pieces.  Many beginners do this, but I only trade when I think that it is to my advantage.)

Best wishes,

John Coffey (rated 2016)

My free online chess lessons:  http://www.entertainmentjourney.com/index1.htm

Pattern recognition is a huge factor in this game, and on my website I stress doing tactical exercises to improve pattern recognition.

P.S. Your hypothetical example of where trading pawns might be favorable to Black is really bad because after 1. e4 g6 2. d3?! f5? White can play 3. exf5 and then if 3... gxf5???? 4. Qh5# (checkmate), which is a variation on "Fools Mate."

Won the ICC tournament

I did something that I rarely do, which is win the ICC USCF Online rated tournament.

>uscf You won!!! Congratulations! This is your 11 1st place finish
> During the 5 rounds, you collected 4.5 points
>uscf
>   4.5 john2001plus
>   4.0 pawninthegrass Kausy trivialpursuit BillietheKid
>   3.0 ROWLAND tenchess CL123789 Lo eeec1
>   2.5 mrneale BotanicalKnight
>   2.0 IAlwaysWin Easy-Win fisherino kaps-ak
>   1.5 edwin9015 rjp1888 A4-H5 BIRDSMAN aslan777
>   1.0 eeec2 weakfish
>   0.0 alonzob
>
>    __________  __  ______  _   __________  __   ____ _    ____________
>   /_  __/ __ \/ / / / __ \/ | / / ____/\ \/ /  / __ \ |  / / ____/ __ \
>    / / / / / / / / / /_/ /  |/ / __/    \  /  / / / / | / / __/ / /_/ /
>   / / / /_/ / /_/ / _  _/ /|  / /___    / /  / /_/ /| |/ / /___/ _  _/
>  /_/  \____/\____/_/ |_/_/ |_/_____/   /_/   \____/ |___/_____/_/ |_|
>
>    Congratulations john2001plus and Thanks to all :-)
AlonzoB(TM)(231): john2001plus Congratulations! Thanks to all for playing and I hope you  enjoyed the tournament. :-)

john2001plus(231): Thanks to all.  Good games!

The time control was 12+3.

Against potentially my toughest opponent (USCF OTB 2100+) I tried to play sharp.  However, my record is pretty positive against this guy.

[Event "ICC tourney 1751 (12 3)"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2019.11.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "john2001plus"]
[Black "IAlwaysWin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D25"]
[WhiteElo "1719"]
[BlackElo "1654"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
[TimeControl "720+3"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 b5 5. a4 b4 6. Bxc4 e6 7. O-O Bb7 8. Nbd2
Be7 9. a5 O-O 10. a6 Bd5 11. Ne5 c5 12. Qa4 Bxc4 13. Ndxc4 cxd4 14. exd4 Qd5
15. Be3 Nbd7 16. Nc6 Qxc4 17. Rac1 Qe2 18. Rfe1 Qxb2 19. Nxe7+ Kh8 20. Rb1 Qa3
21. Ra1 Qxa4 22. Rxa4 b3 23. Rb1 Rab8 24. Nc6 Rb6 25. d5 Rb5 26. dxe6 fxe6 27.
Nxa7 Rbb8 28. Nc6 Rbc8 29. a7 Nc5 30. Bxc5 Rxc6 31. Bxf8 b2 32. Ba3 {
Black resigns} 1-0

I had one draw against a lower-rated player.  I was winning that game but blew it somehow.

I appeared to be losing my last round game.  I was in a "must-win" situation to win the tournament.  I thought that if I simplify the ending that I might outfox my opponent.

[Event "ICC tourney 1751 (12 3)"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2019.11.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "pawninthegrass"]
[Black "john2001plus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A00"]
[WhiteElo "1528"]
[BlackElo "1727"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
[TimeControl "720+3"]

1. g3 e5 2. Bg2 d5 3. d3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bc5 5. e3 c6 6. d4 exd4 7. exd4 Bd6 8. Ne2
O-O 9. O-O h6 10. Bf4 Bg4 11. f3 Bf5 12. g4 Bg6 13. Qd2 Re8 14. Nbc3 Qc7 15.
Rae1 Nbd7 16. Bxd6 Qxd6 17. h3 b5 18. Nd1 Re7 19. Nf2 Rae8 20. c3 a5 21. Nd3
Bxd3 22. Qxd3 Re3 23. Qd2 Qe7 24. Kf2 Nh7 25. Ng3 Rxe1 26. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 27. Qxe1
Rxe1 28. Kxe1 g6 29. f4 Nhf6 30. Ke2 Kf8 31. Ke3 Ke7 32. g5 hxg5 33. fxg5 Nh7
34. h4 f6 35. gxf6+ Nhxf6 36. Kf4 Nh7 37. Bh3 Nb6 38. b3 Kf6 39. h5 Ng5 40. Bg4
gxh5 41. Nxh5+ Kg6 42. Ng3 Kf6 43. Bf5 Nf7 44. Nh5+ Ke7 45. Bg6 Nd6 46. Ng3 a4
47. Nf5+ Nxf5 48. Bxf5 Kd6 49. Kg5 axb3 50. axb3 c5 51. Bd3 c4 52. bxc4 dxc4
53. Be4 Na4 54. Kf4 Nxc3 55. Bf3 b4 56. Ke3 b3 57. Bh5 b2 58. Bg6 b1=Q 59. Bxb1
Nxb1 60. Ke4 Kc6 61. Ke5 c3 62. Ke6 c2 63. d5+ Kc5 64. d6 c1=Q 65. d7 Qe3+ 66.
Kf7 Qf4+ 67. Ke8 Qe5+ 68. Kd8 Kc6 69. Kc8 Qc7# {White checkmated} 0-1

Perhaps the most important thing is that I didn't make any losing blunders that I know of.  I haven't analyzed the games yet.  I did fail to win a game that I should have won against a lower rated player and I will be examining how I messed that up.

--

Best wishes,

John Coffey

http://www.entertainmentjourney.com

Mad Queen Chess

Between the years 1475 and 1500, a new variant of chess arose called "Mad Queen Chess." The previously weak queen suddenly became the most powerful piece on the board. This made games more exciting and allowed them to finish faster. This is the version of chess we play today, with only minor differences.

I thought that "Mad Queen Chess" originated in England during the reign of Queen Mary I during the 1500s, but it actually originated in Spain in the late 1400s because Queen Isabella was a very powerful Queen.

I think that chess is being played now more than ever, but it has shifted to online.  When I first got on the board of the Utah Chess Association around the year 2000, the membership was down to 500's, compared to the heyday of around 800 to 900. By the time I left Utah, it was 350.  Some of this decline happened while I was President of the Utah Chess Association.  If it wasn't for the kid's tournaments it would have less than 100.


--
Best wishes,

John Coffey

http://www.entertainmentjourney.com

The Magic of Chess

Checkmate in 4 moves

For those who might be interested, this is a unique mate in 4.  I know that some people will say to not focus on the trivial, but I find it interesting because this produces a pattern that I never would have predicted.

https://chesslevel2.blogspot.com/2019/09/checkmate-in-4-moves.html

Victory

Play online chess

Click here for 6.Bd2.
Click here for 8... c6.
Click here for 13. O-O.
Click here for 22... e5.
Click here for 24... e5.
Click here for 25. Rxd1.
Click here for 25... e5.
Click here for 29. d6.
Click here for 29... Be8.
Click here for 31. d6.
Click here for 31... Re8+.
Click here for 41... Bb6.
Click here for 45... Rg8.
Click here for 52... Bxa4.
Click here for 55. d6.

4 Year Old Chess Prodigy Misha vs 95 Year Old GM Yuri Averbakh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slLUZVqRuOY

The game starts pretty good but has some really big mistakes from both players.  I'm not sure how to evaluate the play of the 4-year-old, but it is a good starting point.

Around 2007 or 2008, eight-year-old Kayden Troff had a draw against me in a major Utah tournament. Actually, I was down at least a pawn but figured out how to get to a book drawn ending.  Two years later he won the Utah state speed chess championship beating a life master twice.  Six years after that he earned the Grandmaster title.

Utah produced a few prodigies, so I was used to losing to kids.

Tonight I had a couple of interesting games against ten-year-old Evan, who has an impressive 1500 rating.  The first game I won without too much problem, but the second game was a difficult struggle.  Evan plays with a maturity way beyond his years.  

Best wishes,

John Coffey

3 Year Old Chess Prodigy Misha vs Anatoly Karpov

Although a couple of moves are inaccurate, this is still an amazing short game by a 3-year-old against a former world champion.  Just the fact that he didn't do anything really bad is an accomplishment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNm72VY6yfU&feature=youtu.be

Chess Level 0: White to play

I present this for your consideration only because my opponent thought that he had me in checkmate, which I found amusing.

Play chess online

Simple but fun

[Event "January 2019 Member Main #1 Tournament"]
[Site "https://itsyourturn.com"]
[Date "2019.07.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "badnite"]
[Black "John Coffey"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Ply "22"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. h3 cxd4
6. cxd4 Qb6 7. b3 Bb4+ 8. Nbd2 Nxd4 9. Ne5 Ne4 10. Nc4
Nf3+ 11. exf3 Qxf2# 0-1

Mayhem In The Morra! - Blindfold Chess

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpX3Fb963NM

Avoiding simple mistakes (in chess)

My friend was in Utah was asking me how to avoid obvious blunders.

Not meaning to sound like a broken record, this is what I said...

 I think that my chess strength varies from about 1800 to 2100. I have a friend, Steve, who likely varies from 1700 to 2000. If you can avoid making simple mistakes then you can probably add a hundred points to your overall strength.

The way that you avoid simple mistakes is pattern recognition. In the 23 years that I have had 1, 2 and 3 move tactics on my website, I have done both the Black and White problems a minimum of 200 times, and possibly much more. I believe in doing simple tactics repeatedly as a way of avoiding mistakes.  

--
Best wishes,

John Coffey

http://www.entertainmentjourney.com

Chess game

[Event "Greenwood Chess Club"]
[Site "Kroger"]
[Date "Jun 17, 2019"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nate Bush"]
[Black "John Coffey"]
[Result "0-1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. g3 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Nb6 8.
Ne5 e6 9. Bg2 Bb4 10. O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3 O-O 12. Re1 Nfd7 13. e4 Nxe5 14. exf5
Nec4 15. fxe6 fxe6 16. Rxe6 Nd5 17. Qe2 Qd7 18. Bh3 Rae8 19. Rxe8 Rxe8 20. Qh5
Re1+ 21. Kg2 Qf7 22. Qg5 h6 23. Qd8+ Kh7 24. Qc8 Nde3+ 25. Bxe3 Nxe3+
1-0




Best wishes,

John Coffey

Anniversaries.

I first went to the Columbus Chess Club 44 years ago *today*. The club started in either 1972 or 1973.

Yesterday, at the Greenwood Chess Club, we celebrated our 4th anniversary.

Best wishes,

John Coffey

McCutcheon Variation

One website spells it "MacCutchoen Variation", but this looked wrong to me, so I did some research and found the person who invented the opening.  It was a 19nth century master.  His win against the world champion in a simultaneous exhibition brought the opening to the public attention.

[Event "New York simul"]
[Site "New York simul"]
[Date "1885.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Wilhelm Steinitz"]
[Black "John Lindsay McCutcheon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C12"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1885.??.??"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bxf6 gxf6 7. Nf3 f5 8. Bd3
c5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. O-O Nc6 11. Qd2 Qe7 12. Qf4 Bd7 13. Nb5 O-O-O 14. c4 Be8
15. Rfc1 Kb8 16. a3 a6 17. Nc3 dxc4 18. Bxc4 Nd4 19. Ne2 Nxf3+ 20. Qxf3 Bc6 21.
Qh3 Ka7 22. b4 Bb6 23. Nc3 Rhg8 24. Bf1 Rd2 25. Nd1 Qg5 26. Rxc6 bxc6 27. Qc3
Qf4 28. Qxc6 Rxd1 29. Qxb6+ Kxb6 30. Rxd1 Qxe5 31. a4 Qf4 32. a5+ Kc7 33. g3
Qxb4 34. Bxa6 Qxa5 35. Be2 Rd8 36. Rc1+ Kd6 37. Rd1+ Ke7 38. Rxd8 Qxd8 39. Kg2
Qd5+ 40. Bf3 Qd3 41. Bb7 Qb5 42. Bf3 Qa5 43. h3 Qb5 44. g4 Qd3 45. Bb7 Kd6 46.
Ba8 Kc7 47. Bf3 fxg4 48. Bxg4 Qd5+ 49. Bf3 Qf5 50. Be2 0-1

"I have no respect for a man who can spell a word only one way."  - Mark Twain.

Chess Problem

https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/

john2001plus vs karre1234

Started the ICC USCF Online rated tournament in 3rd place, but finished first.  It helped that the one higher rated player fell for a trap in the opening.  

I played about as well as I ever have in this time control of 12+3.  I was more focussed on positional ideas and I wasn't making tactical blunders that I know of.   At that speed, there are going to be inaccurate moves.  Most of the games I was in time trouble.

This game below is fun for tactical reasons.

[Event "ICC tourney 1651 (12 3)"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2019.05.25"]
[Round "2"]
[White "john2001plus"]
[Black "karre1234"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ICCResult "Black checkmated"]
[WhiteElo "1728"]
[BlackElo "1162"]
[Opening "QGD semi-Slav: 5.e3"]
[ECO "D45"]
[NIC "SL.08"]
[Time "17:30:08"]
[TimeControl "720+3"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 e6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O Re8 8.
Bd2 Nbd7 9. Nxd5 Nxd5 10. cxd5 Bxd2 11. dxc6 Ba5 12. cxd7 Bxd7 13. Ne5 Bc8
14. Bxh7+ Kxh7 15. Qh5+ Kg8 16. Qxf7+ Kh8 17. f4 Kh7 18. Rf3 Be1 19. Rxe1
Qh4 20. Rh3 Qxh3 21. gxh3 Rd8 22. Ng4 Bd7 23. Nf6+ Kh8 24. Qh5#
{Black checkmated}
1-0

Although technically I should have won this, I was low on time, so I was glad to get the draw.  My opponent is pretty strong, with an OTB rating in the 2100's, so I was somewhat fearful that this game go south on me.

My 15. Ba6 move was very dubious, so I regrouped and tried to find a different plan.

[Event "ICC tourney 1651 (12 3)"]

[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2019.05.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "john2001plus"]
[Black "lagarto300"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ICCResult "Game drawn by repetition"]
[WhiteElo "1740"]
[BlackElo "1830"]
[Opening "King's Indian: Andersson variation"]
[ECO "E92"]
[NIC "KI.18"]
[Time "18:31:05"]
[TimeControl "720+3"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 d6 3. c4 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. dxe5 dxe5 8.
Bg5 h6 9. Qxd8 Rxd8 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Nd5 Rxd5 12. cxd5 c6 13. Rc1 Bg4 14.
dxc6 Nxc6 15. Ba6 Nb4 16. Bc4 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Nc6 18. Rg1 g5 19. Bd5 Nd4 20.
Rg3 Bd8 21. h4 Kg7 22. hxg5 hxg5 23. Kd2 Kf6 24. Rh1 Ba5+ 25. Kd3 Rc8 26.
Rh7 Rc2 27. Rxf7+ Kg6 28. Rxb7 Rd2+ 29. Kc4 Rc2+ 30. Kd3 Rd2+ 31. Kc4 Rc2+

32. Kd3 Rd2+ {Game drawn by repetition} 1/2-1/2

--

Best wishes,

John Coffey

http://www.entertainmentjourney.com

I wrote this on Facebook

Of all the chess players that I have known, the name that sticks out the most is "Steve".  I have known so many Steves who play chess, in both Indiana and Utah. 

Best wishes,

John Coffey

White to play 2nd attempt.

The choice

Stockfish We Have A Little Problem

Chess problems and Endgames

https://greenwoodchessclub.blogspot.com/

Chess Game

[Event "Greenwood Chess Club"]
[Site "Kroger"]
[Date "May 6, 2019"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Brayden"]
[Black "John Coffey"]
[Result "0-1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. O-O a6 5. Bd3 g6 6. c3 Bg7 7. Bc2 e5 8. d4
Ne7 9. d5 O-O 10. Bg5 f6 11. Be3 f5 12. Ng5 Nf6 13. exf5 Nxf5 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15.
dxe6 Qe7 16. Bb3 b5 17. Bd5 Nxd5 18. Qxd5 Nxe3 19. fxe3 Rxf1+ 20. Kxf1 Rf8+ 21.
Kg1 Re8 22. Qc6 Bh6 23. e4 Be3+ 24. Kh1 Bc1 25. a4 Rf8 26. h3 Qf6 27. Na3 Qf1+
28. Kh2 Bf4+ 29. g3 Bxg3+ 30. Kxg3 Qf2+ 31. Kg4 Qf4#
0-1

Online chess and cheating.

Online chess is more popular than ever. However, it is fairly easy to cheat. For example, my phone plays better chess than most, if not all, professionals. For this reason, chess servers crack down on this kind of behavior with sophisticated cheat detection methods, and chess.com is probably the best at this.

I played a chess.com USCF Online Rated tournament Friday night where I was doing pretty well until the final round where I lost to a lower rated player. As a result, I got 4th place. However, chess.com has analysis tools that show how well a player played. My opponent who beat me played 99.6% accurate against me, which is unlikely that anything less than a computer could achieve this result. His other games showed similar accuracy, so I reported my opponent to chess.com and they agreed that he was cheating. They not only deleted his account, but it is my understanding that my loss will be reversed which will put me in first place.

This is about the 5th time that this has happened to me. Cheating seems to be rampant, despite the servers attempts to crack down on it.

--

Best wishes,

John Coffey

http://www.entertainmentjourney.com

Good book

Look What I found! Rossolimo's "Lost" Brilliancy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m0f7HZoI88&feature=push-u-sub&attr_tag=Y2_Cb8E62dXBVls4%3A6

6 Year Old Girl In USCF Blitz Just Took 7 Year Old Boy's Queen!!! Dada vs. Golan

This was a cute chess game between a six-year-old girl and a seven-year-old boy. To be so young, they both played pretty well. The boy looked impatient and distracted. The girl also looked distracted at times, and hams it up for the camera, especially when she wins the boy's queen. This is the kind of behavior that would annoy serious players but is cute with the kids. The boy twice misses a knight fork that would win the queen back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqfr2avtGLo&feature=share

Crazy draw against Florida Quick Champion, 2823 rated on chess.com

I'm sure that I missed a win.  Given that it is a 3 minute game with a 2 second increment, I am always in time trouble, so there are a ton of errors.

[Event "Live Chess"]

[Site "Chess.com"]

[Date "2019.03.13"]

[Round "7"]

[White "john2001plus"]

[Black "TampaChess"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]

[TimeControl "180+2"]

[WhiteElo "1835"]

[BlackElo "2823"]

[Termination "Game drawn by 50-move rule"]

1. Nf3 {[%clk 0:03:01.9]} 1... d6 {[%clk 0:03:00.7]} 2. d4 {[%clk 0:02:59.8]}

2... g6 {[%clk 0:03:02.6]} 3. c4 {[%clk 0:03:00.5]} 3... Bg7 {[%clk 0:03:04]} 4.

Nc3 {[%clk 0:03:01.5]} 4... h6 {[%clk 0:03:05.5]} 5. e4 {[%clk 0:03:01.9]} 5...

Nc6 {[%clk 0:03:07]} 6. Be2 {[%clk 0:02:51.8]} 6... e5 {[%clk 0:03:08]} 7. Be3

{[%clk 0:02:52]} 7... Nge7 {[%clk 0:03:06.8]} 8. O-O {[%clk 0:02:50.9]} 8... O-O

{[%clk 0:03:07.1]} 9. Qd2 {[%clk 0:02:44]} 9... Kh7 {[%clk 0:03:07.6]} 10. Rfd1

{[%clk 0:02:35.4]} 10... f5 {[%clk 0:03:06.4]} 11. dxe5 {[%clk 0:02:21.9]} 11...

dxe5 {[%clk 0:03:04.4]} 12. Qxd8 {[%clk 0:02:19]} 12... Rxd8 {[%clk 0:03:06.3]}

13. Rxd8 {[%clk 0:02:18.3]} 13... Nxd8 {[%clk 0:03:08.2]} 14. Rd1 {[%clk

0:02:07.1]} 14... Be6 {[%clk 0:03:08.6]} 15. Nd5 {[%clk 0:02:08.5]} 15... Bxd5

{[%clk 0:03:03.7]} 16. exd5 {[%clk 0:01:59.9]} 16... Nf7 {[%clk 0:03:01.2]} 17.

Bc5 {[%clk 0:01:57.3]} 17... Re8 {[%clk 0:03:00.4]} 18. Bxa7 {[%clk 0:01:45.3]}

18... e4 {[%clk 0:02:43.6]} 19. Nd4 {[%clk 0:01:40.2]} 19... b6 {[%clk

0:02:26.6]} 20. c5 {[%clk 0:01:21.4]} 20... Nxd5 {[%clk 0:02:06.1]} 21. Bc4

{[%clk 0:01:17.3]} 21... Nf4 {[%clk 0:00:54.6]} 22. Bxf7 {[%clk 0:00:54.5]}

22... Re7 {[%clk 0:00:39.3]} 23. Bc4 {[%clk 0:00:43.6]} 23... Rd7 {[%clk

0:00:34.1]} 24. cxb6 {[%clk 0:00:41.8]} 24... c5 {[%clk 0:00:35.4]} 25. Bb5

{[%clk 0:00:38.6]} 25... Rxd4 {[%clk 0:00:29.7]} 26. Rxd4 {[%clk 0:00:38.7]}

26... cxd4 {[%clk 0:00:30.5]} 27. b7 {[%clk 0:00:39.6]} 27... Be5 {[%clk

0:00:31.8]} 28. Bxd4 {[%clk 0:00:36.5]} 28... Ne2+ {[%clk 0:00:29.6]} 29. Kf1

{[%clk 0:00:36.4]} 29... Nxd4 {[%clk 0:00:30.1]} 30. Bc4 {[%clk 0:00:31.4]}

30... Nc6 {[%clk 0:00:24.5]} 31. Bd5 {[%clk 0:00:24.1]} 31... Nb8 {[%clk

0:00:20.3]} 32. b4 {[%clk 0:00:23.9]} 32... Bc3 {[%clk 0:00:19.4]} 33. b5 {[%clk

0:00:19.1]} 33... Kg7 {[%clk 0:00:18.5]} 34. Ke2 {[%clk 0:00:19.9]} 34... Kf6

{[%clk 0:00:19.4]} 35. Kd1 {[%clk 0:00:21.4]} 35... Ke5 {[%clk 0:00:20.3]} 36.

Bc4 {[%clk 0:00:21.1]} 36... Bd4 {[%clk 0:00:20.6]} 37. Kc2 {[%clk 0:00:21.5]}

37... Bxf2 {[%clk 0:00:21.5]} 38. Kb3 {[%clk 0:00:21.1]} 38... Bb6 {[%clk

0:00:21.5]} 39. a4 {[%clk 0:00:21.4]} 39... f4 {[%clk 0:00:21.2]} 40. Kb4 {[%clk

0:00:21.2]} 40... Kd6 {[%clk 0:00:15.8]} 41. a5 {[%clk 0:00:22]} 41... Bg1

{[%clk 0:00:15.2]} 42. b6 {[%clk 0:00:20.6]} 42... Kc6 {[%clk 0:00:14.3]} 43.

Bf7 {[%clk 0:00:18.9]} 43... g5 {[%clk 0:00:14.7]} 44. Bg6 {[%clk 0:00:20.1]}

44... Kxb7 {[%clk 0:00:10.1]} 45. Bxe4+ {[%clk 0:00:21.3]} 45... Kc8 {[%clk

0:00:11.6]} 46. h3 {[%clk 0:00:21.7]} 46... Nd7 {[%clk 0:00:11.3]} 47. Kb5

{[%clk 0:00:21.5]} 47... Ne5 {[%clk 0:00:07.8]} 48. a6 {[%clk 0:00:21.5]} 48...

Nd7 {[%clk 0:00:06.7]} 49. a7 {[%clk 0:00:21.8]} 49... Nxb6 {[%clk 0:00:07.6]}

50. Ka6 {[%clk 0:00:16.8]} 50... Kc7 {[%clk 0:00:08.3]} 51. a8=Q {[%clk

0:00:16.6]} 51... Nxa8 {[%clk 0:00:08.7]} 52. Bxa8 {[%clk 0:00:17.9]} 52... Kd6

{[%clk 0:00:09.9]} 53. Kb5 {[%clk 0:00:18.1]} 53... Ke5 {[%clk 0:00:09.4]} 54.

Kc4 {[%clk 0:00:18.4]} 54... Bb6 {[%clk 0:00:09.1]} 55. Kd3 {[%clk 0:00:19]}

55... Ba7 {[%clk 0:00:10.5]} 56. Ke2 {[%clk 0:00:19.7]} 56... h5 {[%clk

0:00:10.8]} 57. Kf3 {[%clk 0:00:20.5]} 57... Kf5 {[%clk 0:00:11.7]} 58. Bb7

{[%clk 0:00:20.6]} 58... Kf6 {[%clk 0:00:13.5]} 59. Bc8 {[%clk 0:00:21.1]} 59...

Kg6 {[%clk 0:00:14.1]} 60. Bd7 {[%clk 0:00:21.4]} 60... Bb6 {[%clk 0:00:14]} 61.

Be8+ {[%clk 0:00:22.2]} 61... Kh6 {[%clk 0:00:15.5]} 62. g3 {[%clk 0:00:21.4]}

62... fxg3 {[%clk 0:00:14.1]} 63. Kxg3 {[%clk 0:00:23.3]} 63... Bc7+ {[%clk

0:00:15.3]} 64. Kf3 {[%clk 0:00:23.9]} 64... Bb8 {[%clk 0:00:15.8]} 65. Bf7

{[%clk 0:00:23.6]} 65... h4 {[%clk 0:00:15.4]} 66. Be8 {[%clk 0:00:24.2]} 66...

Kg7 {[%clk 0:00:17.3]} 67. Bd7 {[%clk 0:00:25.3]} 67... Kf6 {[%clk 0:00:18.7]}

68. Bg4 {[%clk 0:00:26.8]} 68... Bf4 {[%clk 0:00:19.4]} 69. Ke2 {[%clk

0:00:27.5]} 69... Ke5 {[%clk 0:00:20.7]} 70. Kf3 {[%clk 0:00:28.2]} 70... Bc1

{[%clk 0:00:21.7]} 71. Kf2 {[%clk 0:00:29]} 71... Ba3 {[%clk 0:00:23.6]} 72. Kf3

{[%clk 0:00:28.8]} 72... Bc5 {[%clk 0:00:25.2]} 73. Bc8 {[%clk 0:00:29.5]} 73...

Kf6 {[%clk 0:00:25.9]} 74. Bg4 {[%clk 0:00:30.8]} 74... Ke5 {[%clk 0:00:26.9]}

75. Bc8 {[%clk 0:00:31.6]} 75... Bb6 {[%clk 0:00:28.8]} 76. Bg4 {[%clk

0:00:32.3]} 76... Ba7 {[%clk 0:00:29.1]} 77. Bh5 {[%clk 0:00:32.8]} 77... Bb6

{[%clk 0:00:29.6]} 78. Bg4 {[%clk 0:00:34.3]} 78... Bd8 {[%clk 0:00:31.5]} 79.

Bh5 {[%clk 0:00:35.5]} 79... Kf5 {[%clk 0:00:33.4]} 80. Bg4+ {[%clk 0:00:36.7]}

80... Kg6 {[%clk 0:00:35.3]} 81. Bd7 {[%clk 0:00:37.1]} 81... Be7 {[%clk

0:00:37.2]} 82. Bg4 {[%clk 0:00:38]} 82... Kf6 {[%clk 0:00:39.1]} 83. Bc8 {[%clk

0:00:38.6]} 83... Ke5 {[%clk 0:00:41]} 84. Bg4 {[%clk 0:00:39.5]} 84... Bd8

{[%clk 0:00:42.9]} 85. Bh5 {[%clk 0:00:40.7]} 85... Kd4 {[%clk 0:00:43.5]} 86.

Bg4 {[%clk 0:00:41.3]} 86... Kd3 {[%clk 0:00:44.5]} 87. Bh5 {[%clk 0:00:42.3]}

87... Kd2 {[%clk 0:00:46.4]} 88. Bg4 {[%clk 0:00:43.4]} 88... Ke1 {[%clk

0:00:48.3]} 89. Bd7 {[%clk 0:00:43.5]} 89... Kf1 {[%clk 0:00:50.2]} 90. Bg4

{[%clk 0:00:44.5]} 90... Kg1 {[%clk 0:00:49.9]} 91. Ke4 {[%clk 0:00:45.1]} 91...

Kh2 {[%clk 0:00:51.8]} 92. Kf5 {[%clk 0:00:46.1]} 92... Kg3 {[%clk 0:00:51.7]}

93. Kg6 {[%clk 0:00:47]} 93... Be7 {[%clk 0:00:52.1]} 94. Kf7 {[%clk 0:00:47.4]}

94... Bc5 {[%clk 0:00:53.1]} 95. Kf6 {[%clk 0:00:47.4]} 95... Be3 {[%clk

0:00:55]} 96. Kf5 {[%clk 0:00:48.5]} 96... Bc1 {[%clk 0:00:56.9]} 97. Kf6 {[%clk

0:00:49.4]} 97... Kf4 {[%clk 0:00:58.8]} 98. Kg6 {[%clk 0:00:50]} 98... Ke5

{[%clk 0:01:00.2]} 99. Kh5 {[%clk 0:00:50.2]} 99... Kf6 {[%clk 0:01:00.3]} 100.

Kh6 {[%clk 0:00:51.4]} 100... Bd2 {[%clk 0:00:59.2]} 101. Kh5 {[%clk 0:00:52.4]}

101... Kg7 {[%clk 0:01:01.1]} 102. Bc8 {[%clk 0:00:50.9]} 102... Bc1 {[%clk

0:01:03]} 103. Bg4 {[%clk 0:00:51.6]} 103... Kh7 {[%clk 0:01:03.8]} 104. Bc8

{[%clk 0:00:52]} 104... Kg7 {[%clk 0:01:05.7]} 105. Bg4 {[%clk 0:00:52.7]}

105... Kf6 {[%clk 0:01:07.6]} 106. Bc8 {[%clk 0:00:53]} 106... Bd2 {[%clk

0:00:52.6]} 107. Bg4 {[%clk 0:00:52.6]} 107... Be1 {[%clk 0:00:54.5]} 108. Kh6

{[%clk 0:00:52.1]} 108... Bd2 {[%clk 0:00:50.1]} 109. Kh7 {[%clk 0:00:51.3]}

109... Ke5 {[%clk 0:00:45.7]} 110. Kg6 {[%clk 0:00:51.9]} 110... Kf4 {[%clk

0:00:47.6]} 111. Kf6 {[%clk 0:00:51.8]} 111... Kg3 {[%clk 0:00:48.4]} 112. Ke5

{[%clk 0:00:52.5]} 112... Bc1 {[%clk 0:00:48.8]} 113. Ke4 {[%clk 0:00:53.5]}

113... Bf4 {[%clk 0:00:49.6]} 114. Kd3 {[%clk 0:00:52.7]} 114... Bb8 {[%clk

0:00:49.9]} 115. Ke4 {[%clk 0:00:53.7]} 115... Ba7 {[%clk 0:00:50.2]} 116. Kd3

{[%clk 0:00:54.4]} 116... Kf4 {[%clk 0:00:50]} 117. Ke2 {[%clk 0:00:55.5]}

117... Kg3 {[%clk 0:00:33.9]} 118. Kd3 {[%clk 0:00:54.8]} 118... Bb8 {[%clk

0:00:22.9]} 119. Ke2 {[%clk 0:00:54.6]} 119... Bf4 {[%clk 0:00:24.8]} 120. Kd3

{[%clk 0:00:55.1]} 120... Bc1 {[%clk 0:00:26]} 121. Ke2 {[%clk 0:00:56]} 121...

Bf4 {[%clk 0:00:26.1]} 1/2-1/2

Magnus Carlsen On The Ancient Appeal Of Chess And The Opportunities Of A More Modern Game

https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2019/01/31/magnus-carlsen-chess/

Here is a small tactic that I missed last night

https://chesslevel2.blogspot.com/2019/02/what-is-best-continuation-for-white.html

--

Best wishes,

John Coffey

http://www.entertainmentjourney.com

Some chess games are too much fun

[Event "Live Chess"]

[Site "Chess.com"]

[Date "2019.01.04"]

[White "john2001plus"]

[Black "ryanaga2009"]

[Result "1-0"]

[ECO "D07"]

[WhiteElo "1819"]

[BlackElo "1298"]

[TimeControl "900+10"]

[EndTime "17:16:19 PST"]

[Termination "john2001plus won by checkmate"]

[CurrentPosition "5b1r/1Q4pp/R7/k1p3q1/1p3N2/8/PP3PPP/2KR4 b - - 0 29"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nc6 3. c4 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nf6 6. d5 Nb8 7. Nc3 e6 8.

Bb5+ Bd7 9. dxe6 fxe6 10. Qb3 c6 11. Bc4 Qe7 12. Ng5 b5 13. Bxe6 Bxe6 14. Nxe6

a6 15. Bf4 c5 16. Nc7+ Kd8 17. O-O-O+ Kc8 18. Nxa8 b4 19. Nb6+ Kb7 20. Ncd5

Nxd5 21. Nxd5 Qxe4 22. Rhe1 Qg6 23. Bxb8 Kxb8 24. Nf4 Qg5 25. Re8+ Kc7 26. Qf7+

Kc6 27. Re6+ Kb5 28. Qb7+ Ka5 29. Rxa6# 1-0

Mating tactic

Here is an interesting win that my opponent missed.

https://chesslevel4.blogspot.com/2019/01/white-to-play-and-win.html

--

Best wishes,

John Coffey

http://www.entertainmentjourney.com

Surprise 3rd place tie.

I had an interesting and lucky win against Blues4 in a top heavy chess.com USCF Online rated speed tournament with at least a couple of masters.  I went from 1872 to 1902, breaking 1900 which seems very hard to do on chess.com.  Not sure if rating points are easier to get now, but I am about a hundred points higher than I was a few weeks ago.

A couple of my games were too easy where I won quickly.  Against higher rated players I choked in a couple of games making blunders. The remaining 3 games were intense battles that I won.

[Event "Live Chess"]

[Site "Chess.com"]

[Date "2019.01.02"]

[White "Blues4"]

[Black "john2001plus"]

[Result "0-1"]

[ECO "A45"]

[WhiteElo "2269"]

[BlackElo "1883"]

[TimeControl "180+2"]

[EndTime "18:05:13 PST"]

[Termination "john2001plus won on time"]

[CurrentPosition "2r5/p6p/n3N3/5p2/1p1pkP2/4P3/1R2K1PP/8 w - - 0 41"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 c5 3. Bxf6 gxf6 4. d5 e6 5. c4 b5 6. e3 bxc4 7. Bxc4 Qa5+ 8.

Nc3 Ba6 9. Qb3 Qb4 10. Bxa6 Nxa6 11. dxe6 fxe6 12. Qxb4 cxb4 13. Ne4 f5 14. Nd2

Bg7 15. O-O-O Rc8+ 16. Kb1 d5 17. Ne2 Ke7 18. Nf4 Nc5 19. Nb3 Na4 20. Rd2 Rhd8

21. Rhd1 Bxb2 22. Rxb2 Nc3+ 23. Kc2 Na4+ 24. Kb1 Nc3+ 25. Kc1 Nxa2+ 26. Kd2 Nc3

27. Ra1 Ne4+ 28. Ke2 Rc7 29. Nd4 e5 30. Nfe6 Nc3+ 31. Ke1 exd4 32. Nxc7 d3 33.

Kd2 Ne4+ 34. Kxd3 Kd6 35. Nb5+ Ke5 36. Nd4 Rc8 37. Ra6 Nc5+ 38. Ke2 Nxa6 39.

f4+ Ke4 40. Ne6 d4 0-1

-- 

Best wishes,

John Coffey

http://www.entertainmentjourney.com

Black to play and win

https://chesslevel2.blogspot.com/2018/12/black-to-play-and-win.html

--

Best wishes,

John Coffey

http://www.entertainmentjourney.com

Chess.com USCF Online Blitz rated tournament decent result

It says 22 players, but that doesn't include the 12 who dropped out.

I got as high as 1888 blitz rating points before I lost to a lower rated player knocking me down around 30 points.  Overall I had a net gain of 6 points.

It sure would be nice to break 1900.

Stockfish 10 vs. Stockfish 9

When Stockfish 9 came out, I did a speed chess round robin between Stockfish versions 6, 7, 8, and 9, and all the games were draws except for the games played by Stockfish 9, which won all its games against the older versions of the engines.  That is a significant difference.

I analyzed one position with Stockfish 9 and the new version 10 running at the same time.   After 5 minutes, Stockfish 10 was thinking 1 ply deeper in the same position..  Is that significant?   Probably.  For most positions the engines would be very similar, but being able to think half a move deeper than your opponent usually makes you unbeatable, because you already see all the variations that your opponent is going to think about.

Both programs ran at roughly the same number of nodes per second.  Given that this is a 27-28 ply search, achieving 1 ply deeper probably means that 10 has to eliminate about 3% of the variations that 9 looks at, by my calculation.  This could also mean that 10 has a weakness that 9 doesn't.  Or this could mean that 10 has a better evaluation function, leading to more variations being eliminated.

Third Place in the USCF Online rated speed tournament was a surprise.

There were some higher rated players who dropped out before the final round, probably because they lost to the top player with the monster rating.   It says "17 players", but that doesn't include the 18 who dropped out before the final round.

I had a couple of games that I really should have lost, but won anyway.  I made many errors, but so did my opponents.  This happens sometimes in speed chess.  My last round opponent literally had me in a mating net and threw it away.

USCF Online Quick rated ICC tournament. I'll take what I can get.

>uscf 

>   4.5 john2001plus

>   4.0 jyokela

>   3.5 mrneale buglet

>   3.0 IAlwaysWin aslan777

>   2.5 weakfish BIRDSMAN

>   2.0 getRooked chessnvd saikolli

>   1.5 Acheyos

>   1.0 LarryDavidson55

>   0.0 Celtruler

> 

>    __________  __  ______  _   __________  __   ____ _    ____________

>   /_  __/ __ \/ / / / __ \/ | / / ____/\ \/ /  / __ \ |  / / ____/ __ \

>    / / / / / / / / / /_/ /  |/ / __/    \  /  / / / / | / / __/ / /_/ /

>   / / / /_/ / /_/ / _  _/ /|  / /___    / /  / /_/ /| |/ / /___/ _  _/ 

>  /_/  \____/\____/_/ |_/_/ |_/_____/   /_/   \____/ |___/_____/_/ |_|

> 

>    Congratulations john2001plus and Thanks to all :-)

The only really challenge was against IAlwaysWin who is a USCF 2100+ rated Expert.

[Event "ICC tourney 1543 (12 3)"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2018.11.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "IAlwaysWin"]
[Black "john2001plus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ICCResult "White forfeits on time"]
[WhiteElo "1732"]
[BlackElo "1731"]
[Opening "Réti opening"]
[ECO "A05"]
[NIC "QP.11"]
[Time "18:17:49"]
[TimeControl "720+3"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. e3 e6 3. b3 b6 4. Bb2 Bb7 5. c4 c5 6. Be2 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Nc3 O-O 9. d3 d5 10. Rc1 d4 11. exd4 cxd4 12. Nb5 e5 13. Nd2 a6 14. Na3 Nd7
15. Bf3 Nc5 16. Qe2 Nb4 17. Bxb7 Nxb7 18. Nf3 Nxa2 19. Ra1 Nc3 20. Bxc3 dxc3
21. Nxe5 Bxa3 22. Rxa3 Qd6 23. Raa1 Rfe8 24. f4 f6 25. Qf3 Nc5 26. Nc6 Nxb3
27. Rae1 Nd2 28. Ne7+ Kf8 29. Qh5 Nxf1 30. Qxh7 Qd4+ 31. Kh1 Rxe7 32. Qh8+
Kf7 33. Qh5+ Kg8 34. Rxe7 Rf8 35. Qg6 f5 36. Re8 Qf6 {White forfeits on
time} 0-1  

Position from last night

This is not the most deep position in the world, because White is already winning, but I think that the method that I used to finish the game is somewhat interesting.

Play chess online

Eric Schiller Dies at 63: "Will be Remembered for His Love of Chess" - US Chess

https://new.uschess.org/news/eric-schiller-author-fide-master-dies-63-will-remembered-love-chess/

I met this guy at the National Open around nine years ago.  Compared to other professionals he was extremely nice.  He briefly looked at one of my games and recommended a chess book. 

McCutchen

[Event "Casual blitz"]
[Site "Kroger"]
[Date "Oct 29, 2018"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Steve Sims"]
[Black "John Coffey"]
[Result "0-1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Qg4
g6 9. h4 h5 10. Qf3 c5 11. Bd3 Nxd2 12. Kxd2 c4 13. Be2 Nd7 14. Nh3 f5 15. Nf4
Nf8 16. Rab1 Qe7 17. Rh3 Kf7 18. Rg3 b6 19. Bxc4 Bb7 20. Bd3 Rc8 21. Nh3 Nh7
22. Rxg6 Kxg6 23. g4 hxg4 24. Qxg4+ Kf7 25. Bxf5 Rcg8 26. Qh5+ Kf8 27. Bg6 Nf6
28. Qf3 Rxh4 29. exf6 Qd6 30. Rg1 e5 31. Ng5 Rxg6
0-1

Budapest Gambit

Play online chess

Lc0 vs Stockfish: Tablebase Brilliance At The Computer Chess Championship

Good endgame lesson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSFyvIUCp3U

My best tournament result.

I didn't remember what year the tournament was, but I found it.  I got a draw against soon to be Grandmaster Igor Ivanov and came in second.

This was a time when I felt like studying tactics was really helping me.  Just looking at my rating progress, I went from 1800 even to 1927 in just 5 months, but it would take another 9.5 years before I would hit 2000!

http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?200402148750-12237320

There were a few other good results in recent years like ..

Winning the Utah G/60 championship http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?201305040002.1-11080847

and getting the Expert trophy at the class championship a couple of times.   Of course, winning the senior championship 3 times didn't hurt either.

--

Best wishes,

John Coffey

http://www.entertainmentjourney.com

Chess Lesson 2018-09-17

Michael Tal

Interesting chess problem.

White to move.

Carlsen vs Caruana | Sinquefield Cup (2018)

This is an interesting chess game

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwDSOei_jIg

Carlsen's secrets: How does he do it?

"There is an equal position on the board, and the opponent thinks: this is dead drawn. I can play almost anything and there is nothing he can do. But Magnus plays on, seeking complications, setting up threats. He is narrowing the margin required to hold the draw. Soon his opponent is thinking: why is he still playing – I can hold a draw with any of these three moves. Then: I can hold with this move and with this move. And then: I still have one clear way to hold a draw. And under the strain of constantly having to solve deep and complex problems, more often than not the opponent will crack. Magnus wins not because it was in the position, he wins because he is Magnus."

https://en.chessbase.com/post/carlsen-s-secrets-how-does-he-do-it-1