CM Jerry Baker, 2152 - Anton Taylor, 1865
English Opening, by transposition (A17)
http://chessmicrobase.com/microbases/9425/games/918669
1. b3 Nf6 2. Bb2 e6 3. c4 d5 4. e3 b6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Nc3 Ba6 This pawn offer to prevent white from castling is me going for blood. This is the first game I played against Jerry after deciding to earn my master title. I AM out for blood. 7. Qc2 Nc5 8. d3 Be7 9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O O-O 11. Rad1 c6 12. e4 Qc7 13. e5 Nfd7 14. d4 Na6 15. Bd3 g6 16. a3 f5 This is a howler. Black's position is borderline lost (after fxe6 e.p. Black's backwards e-pawn comes under fire and Black lacks the coordination to defend adequately) 17. exf6 Bxf6 18. Rde1 I thought it was better to play Rfe1 but the Candidate Master is having no f-pawn attack shenanigans. Rae8 19. Re2 e5 I was very optimistic about this position. The problem is that all of Black's minor pieces are inferior and lacking in a clear future. The only way for black to hope for anything is to create complications. 20. dxe5 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 Bxe5 22. h3 d4 This equalizes. At the time I played the move I flattered myself thinking that the passed pawn gave me an advantage. The clerical problem is still the minor pieces. They are in no position to escort the pawn to queening. However, it is a "criminal" as Nimzo put it and White will have to keep watch over the pawn giving Black the needed time to coordinate something. 23. Ne4 c5 24. Rfe1 Qc6 25. Bc1 Nc7 26. b4 Bf4 27. Bxf4 Rxf4 28. b5 Qd7 29. Qd2 Ref8 30. Ng3 R4f7 31. Qg5 Qd8 32. Re7 I took a lot of time here looking at Rxf2. For some reason I did not see what wins the game now that I see it with fresh eyes. White is simply lost after the rooks and Bishop start eating decisive material. BUT, alas I did not play that way and chose to complicate my king's safety instead. As I sit here looking at this tragicomedy of a game I winder how much of these annotations Jerry saw during the game. Given our meandering blunder trading I would say he and I probably saw about as much as one another. The decisive factor in this game was not my brilliant play, it was not my opponents mistakes, it was a blundering about stabbing at each other in the dark. I am overjoyed at the richness of tactical opportunity home analysis gives you from the use of computers but I am also saddened that I saw so little sitting at the board. Rxe7 33. Rxe7 Rf7 I also missed 33. ... Ne6 which would have netted me the rook. But the time scramble is coming and I'm going to win it as history knows. 34. Nf5 0-1 The final score in your favor covers a multitude of sins.
Saturday, December 10, 2016
2016 Free No More Round 1 Anton Taylor, 1865 - Jeff Broughton, 1599 Sicilian (B20)
Anton Taylor, 1865 - Jeff Broughton, 1599
Sicilian (B20)
http://chessmicrobase.com/microbases/9425/games/918668
1. e4 c5 2. d3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. c3 d6 6. Ne2 Bg4 7. f3 Bd7 8. Be3
Nf6 9. Nd2 Ne5 10. Qc2 Qc8 11. h4 Nh5 Alright so after this strange game of hedgehog-like movements we come to a position that is far better for me after this knight move that attacks an already defended piece. This gives me a free hand to plan an assault with an extra tempo or two. I like these King's Indian Attack positions. They can be used against the Sicilian, The French, The Caro-Kann, basically everything. Very strong defensive shell and now ready to uncork as long as my king stays safe in the center. 12. g4 Bxg4 Once again I find an attacking player that is not content to die a slow positional death. He craves action and wants to trade three pawns for his piece. The computer assesses this as completely lost for black but it's still a pretty scary sacrifice to face. 13. fxg4 Qxg4 14. Bh3 Qxh4+ 15. Bf2 Qf6 16. Rf1 Bh6 It's worthwhile to note here that lots of paths are clearly winning for white. The candidate move pool as I navigate the computer's analysis shows the richness of the options for white. 17. O-O-O Komodo sees the position as equal if black responds Qf3 here (disturbing the white piece harmony a bit). I saw this move but I felt that it wasn't enough to save black from my extra piece and I wanted my king far away from spoiling any calculations from an intermediate check somewhere. My king is getting safe before anythign else. 17. ... Qg7 18. Kb1 Totally safe and ready to outplay my opponent with my extra piece AND my more active pieces. 18. ... Nf6 19. d4 cxd4 20. Bxd4 Nc6 21. Bxf6 exf6 22. Nc4 O-O 23. Rxd6 Rfe8 24. Rdxf6 Re7 25. Nd6 Ne5 26. Qb3 Rf8 27. Nd4 Bg5 28. Rxf7 Rfxf7 29. Nxf7 Rxf7 30. Be6 Bf6 31. Qxb7 Kf8 32. Bxf7 Qxf7 33. Qb8+ Kg7 34. Qd6 Nd7 35. Ne6+ Kg8 36. e5 Qe7 Here I was running low on time and decided to simplify into a clearly won ending. 37. exf6 Qxd6 38. f7+ Kh8 39. f8=Q+ Nxf8 40. Rxf8+ Qxf8 41. Nxf8 1-0 My opponent went on after this game to lose a second game and then withdraw from the event. I think that was due to this game. The calculations involved I think proved too much for him and his brain had become fatigued. This is the most common problem among class C+ players. They play well most of the time with some inaccuracy but mostly just do not have the acuity and stamina necessary for mastery. I used to be like that and as you have seen previously I still suffer from it. Through hard work things are getting better but it may be that I still will crack in later rounds.
Sicilian (B20)
http://chessmicrobase.com/microbases/9425/games/918668
1. e4 c5 2. d3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. c3 d6 6. Ne2 Bg4 7. f3 Bd7 8. Be3
Nf6 9. Nd2 Ne5 10. Qc2 Qc8 11. h4 Nh5 Alright so after this strange game of hedgehog-like movements we come to a position that is far better for me after this knight move that attacks an already defended piece. This gives me a free hand to plan an assault with an extra tempo or two. I like these King's Indian Attack positions. They can be used against the Sicilian, The French, The Caro-Kann, basically everything. Very strong defensive shell and now ready to uncork as long as my king stays safe in the center. 12. g4 Bxg4 Once again I find an attacking player that is not content to die a slow positional death. He craves action and wants to trade three pawns for his piece. The computer assesses this as completely lost for black but it's still a pretty scary sacrifice to face. 13. fxg4 Qxg4 14. Bh3 Qxh4+ 15. Bf2 Qf6 16. Rf1 Bh6 It's worthwhile to note here that lots of paths are clearly winning for white. The candidate move pool as I navigate the computer's analysis shows the richness of the options for white. 17. O-O-O Komodo sees the position as equal if black responds Qf3 here (disturbing the white piece harmony a bit). I saw this move but I felt that it wasn't enough to save black from my extra piece and I wanted my king far away from spoiling any calculations from an intermediate check somewhere. My king is getting safe before anythign else. 17. ... Qg7 18. Kb1 Totally safe and ready to outplay my opponent with my extra piece AND my more active pieces. 18. ... Nf6 19. d4 cxd4 20. Bxd4 Nc6 21. Bxf6 exf6 22. Nc4 O-O 23. Rxd6 Rfe8 24. Rdxf6 Re7 25. Nd6 Ne5 26. Qb3 Rf8 27. Nd4 Bg5 28. Rxf7 Rfxf7 29. Nxf7 Rxf7 30. Be6 Bf6 31. Qxb7 Kf8 32. Bxf7 Qxf7 33. Qb8+ Kg7 34. Qd6 Nd7 35. Ne6+ Kg8 36. e5 Qe7 Here I was running low on time and decided to simplify into a clearly won ending. 37. exf6 Qxd6 38. f7+ Kh8 39. f8=Q+ Nxf8 40. Rxf8+ Qxf8 41. Nxf8 1-0 My opponent went on after this game to lose a second game and then withdraw from the event. I think that was due to this game. The calculations involved I think proved too much for him and his brain had become fatigued. This is the most common problem among class C+ players. They play well most of the time with some inaccuracy but mostly just do not have the acuity and stamina necessary for mastery. I used to be like that and as you have seen previously I still suffer from it. Through hard work things are getting better but it may be that I still will crack in later rounds.
Saturday, November 12, 2016
2016 Pink Floyd Open Round 3 Anton Taylor, 1846 - Eddie Ray Wood, 1718 Ruy Lopez (C70)
Anton Taylor, 1846 - Eddie Ray Wood, 1718
Ruy Lopez (C70)
http://chessmicrobase.com/microbases/9425/games/918667
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. c3 Nge7 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 a6
8. Ba4 d6 This position is perhaps the most interesting to me in this game for a number of reasons. Firstly, d5 gives white a very clear advantage after the minor pieces are captured and Black's queenside is in horrible disarray. Secondly, I do not know why Black players would volunteer into this position today. This is definitely not a double-edged concession of the center. White is just better here. And lastly and MOST importantly I have played against Eddie dozens of times and never lost a game in this variation. I know for a fact we have reached this position a half dozen times. Remembering those games and the tactical shootouts Eddie likes I play this slow a methodical reducing his counterplay. 9. h3 d5 is a crusher but I wanted to have fun and watch an "attacking" player sweat a losing positional battle. Cruel? Yes. Fun? Also, yes. 9. ... O-O 10. O-O Bd7 11. Bg5 Provoking a weakness in the light suares. After 11. ... f6 12.Be3 white is still better. 11. ... Qe8 12. Qd3 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Nxd4 And here it is. My opponent, not content to lose positionally, strikes out with a tactical trick that fails to a simple tactic of my own. White is clearly winning after this. 14. Qxd4 Bxa4 15. Bxe7 Bc6 16. Bxf8 Kxf8 17. Rfe1 f6 18. Re3 Qg6 19. Rae1 Re8 20. Nd2 Re5 21. Rg3 Qf7 22. Nc4 Rc5 This looks like Black may try to mop up some pawns but he's a rook down. the compensation is just not there and there is no time for an endgame. This half knight-wheel wins the game. 23. Ne3 Re5 24. Ng4 Rg5 25. Rf3 h5 26. Nxf6 Rxg2+ 27. Kxg2 Qg6+ 28. Kh2 Ke7 29. Rg1 Qf7 30. Nd5+ Bxd5 31. Rxf7+ Bxf7 32. Rxg7 Kf8 33. Qf6 1-0
This game makes me proud. I know that's the wrong attitude but let me finish. As I said, I have played against Eddie many times in the past. I can remember as a basic learner losing hundreds of club games to him. His lifetime plus score against me is enormous. When this game was played I had been on a six year break from tournament chess and had not seen eddie in probably eight years. So, what I'm really proud of was my memory. I remembered a game I played that many years prior and was able to use that to score a nice win against an old friend. It makes you feel like a real chess professional to do something like that. It's the fledgling dream of that steal trap memory that the pros seem to have.
Ruy Lopez (C70)
http://chessmicrobase.com/microbases/9425/games/918667
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. c3 Nge7 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 a6
8. Ba4 d6 This position is perhaps the most interesting to me in this game for a number of reasons. Firstly, d5 gives white a very clear advantage after the minor pieces are captured and Black's queenside is in horrible disarray. Secondly, I do not know why Black players would volunteer into this position today. This is definitely not a double-edged concession of the center. White is just better here. And lastly and MOST importantly I have played against Eddie dozens of times and never lost a game in this variation. I know for a fact we have reached this position a half dozen times. Remembering those games and the tactical shootouts Eddie likes I play this slow a methodical reducing his counterplay. 9. h3 d5 is a crusher but I wanted to have fun and watch an "attacking" player sweat a losing positional battle. Cruel? Yes. Fun? Also, yes. 9. ... O-O 10. O-O Bd7 11. Bg5 Provoking a weakness in the light suares. After 11. ... f6 12.Be3 white is still better. 11. ... Qe8 12. Qd3 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Nxd4 And here it is. My opponent, not content to lose positionally, strikes out with a tactical trick that fails to a simple tactic of my own. White is clearly winning after this. 14. Qxd4 Bxa4 15. Bxe7 Bc6 16. Bxf8 Kxf8 17. Rfe1 f6 18. Re3 Qg6 19. Rae1 Re8 20. Nd2 Re5 21. Rg3 Qf7 22. Nc4 Rc5 This looks like Black may try to mop up some pawns but he's a rook down. the compensation is just not there and there is no time for an endgame. This half knight-wheel wins the game. 23. Ne3 Re5 24. Ng4 Rg5 25. Rf3 h5 26. Nxf6 Rxg2+ 27. Kxg2 Qg6+ 28. Kh2 Ke7 29. Rg1 Qf7 30. Nd5+ Bxd5 31. Rxf7+ Bxf7 32. Rxg7 Kf8 33. Qf6 1-0
This game makes me proud. I know that's the wrong attitude but let me finish. As I said, I have played against Eddie many times in the past. I can remember as a basic learner losing hundreds of club games to him. His lifetime plus score against me is enormous. When this game was played I had been on a six year break from tournament chess and had not seen eddie in probably eight years. So, what I'm really proud of was my memory. I remembered a game I played that many years prior and was able to use that to score a nice win against an old friend. It makes you feel like a real chess professional to do something like that. It's the fledgling dream of that steal trap memory that the pros seem to have.
2016 Pink Floyd Open Round 2 Anton Taylor, 1846 - Darrel P. Griffin, 1496 Petrov Defense (C42)
Anton Taylor, 1846 - Darrel P. Griffin, 1496
Petrov Defense (C42)
http://chessmicrobase.com/microbases/9425/games/918666
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bf5 7. Qe2 Qe7
8. O-O Nd7 This is a novelty. the book move is Nd6. It leads to disaster in this game (and that's probably why it isn't played). 9. Bf4 O-O-O Castling into the difficulties. It's an unhappy choice to solve the issue but Komodo gives it as the best for black and white retains his advantage. 10. Na3 this move intrigues me as it seemed the absolute best move for this knight. I assumed it was just a flight of fancy on my part but Komodo likes it as well (it's the top line of kibitz for the machine.) Nd6 11. Qd2 Bxd3 12. cxd3 My opponent told me afterwards that he did not expect this recapture. Black is simply lost after this. h6 13. Qa5 Kb8 14. Rac1 Nb6 15. Bxd6 Rxd6 16. Nb5 c6 17. Qxa7+ Kc8 18. Qxb6 Qd8 19. Nxd6+ Qxd6 20. Ne5 Qb4 21. Qa7 Bd6 22. Nxc6 1-0
Petrov Defense (C42)
http://chessmicrobase.com/microbases/9425/games/918666
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bf5 7. Qe2 Qe7
8. O-O Nd7 This is a novelty. the book move is Nd6. It leads to disaster in this game (and that's probably why it isn't played). 9. Bf4 O-O-O Castling into the difficulties. It's an unhappy choice to solve the issue but Komodo gives it as the best for black and white retains his advantage. 10. Na3 this move intrigues me as it seemed the absolute best move for this knight. I assumed it was just a flight of fancy on my part but Komodo likes it as well (it's the top line of kibitz for the machine.) Nd6 11. Qd2 Bxd3 12. cxd3 My opponent told me afterwards that he did not expect this recapture. Black is simply lost after this. h6 13. Qa5 Kb8 14. Rac1 Nb6 15. Bxd6 Rxd6 16. Nb5 c6 17. Qxa7+ Kc8 18. Qxb6 Qd8 19. Nxd6+ Qxd6 20. Ne5 Qb4 21. Qa7 Bd6 22. Nxc6 1-0
2016 Pink Floyd Open Round 1 Stephen Francis Miller, 1578 - Anton Taylor, 1846 Dutch Defense (A85)
Stephen Francis Miller, 1578 - Anton Taylor, 1846
Dutch Defense (A85)
http://chessmicrobase.com/microbases/9425/games/918665
1. d4 f5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. h3 This move turns out to be a passive novelty. According to Chessbase there are only five games with this move (and none of them master games) 5. ... d6 Here is where I begin to go wrong. Komodo give 5. ... Ne4 with the common Dutch themed Bishop trade. I'm not a fan of that and instead might have played 0-0 or g6 instead. 6. Nf3 Nbd7 This move seemed a logical way to support the e5 advance (or even c5) but it presents problems for the c8 bishop and would rather be on c6 anyway. 7. e3 c6 I think 0-0 is the better option here retaining the potential for e5 or c5 and getting the king squared away before committing to a central operation. This c8 bishop looks worse and worse here. I did not notice its poor prospects in this game when it was played. 8. Bd3 d5 This was the point of c6 on the previous move. I still like the look and potential in White's pieces far better than Black's here. Very poor positional play by me in this game. 9. cxd5 cxd5 Now my opponent falters. This exchange gives my Queenside less contention and more potential to unravel my pieces there. Notice how Nb6 is met by b3 and the knight wishes it was somewhere else. Also the maneuver Nf8 Ng6 seems equally strange here. 10. O-O O-O 11. Rc1 Bd6 Komodo recommends Nb8 here. This un-development this early in the game proves that Nbd7 was a mistake. I begin to see the sadness of this knight at this point and find a different solution. 12. Nb5 Bb8 13. Nc3 (13. Qc2 h6 14. Bf4 Bxf4 15. exf4 Nb6 +-) The Qc2 plan pointed out by Komodo is crushing for white. At the time I did see the move but determined that the position was defensible but I now think Qc2 creates problems that in order for black to solve he has to give concessions. 13... Qe8 I regretted immediately making this "cute" move. The plan was to push e5 to bust open things and expand the scope of my c8 bishop aiming at the white king. That plan is possible and even understandable but needs prepared with a6 first to keep c7 and c8 from being conquered by white. (13... a6 14. Ne2 ) 14. Nb5 Qd8 15. Qc2 h6 As it turns out this move helps me when white trades but Komodo recommend Bf4 in reply and that's harder to solve than the text. 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 Unravelling helps black but I'm not by any means saved yet. White has won the c7 square and that's a difficult hurdle for black to overcome. 17. Nc7 Bxc7 18. Qxc7 Qxc7 19. Rxc7 Rf7 Here I came up with an interesting idea. I either evict the rook from c7 (which komodo correctly assesses as just fine for white and the preferred move is Rc3 with a !?) OR I get a trade and set a little trap. My opponent was repeatedly leaving the board to check the score of a college basketball game and was moving quickly. Here was my chance to save this trainwreck. 20. Rfc1 Rxc7 21. Rxc7 Ne8 22. Re7?? throwing away the advantage Kf8-+ The rest of the game is interesiting and instructive but I have analyzed to the point I am satisfied that I will not play the opening like this again and that is the main thing for me here. 23. Rxe8+ Kxe8 24. Ne5 Bd7 25. g4 fxg4 26. hxg4 Rc8 27. Kg2 a6 28. Bg6+ Ke7 29. Kg3 Rc1 30. a3 Bb5 31. Bh7 Be2 32. Kg2 Kf6 33. f3 Bd1 34. Kg3 Rc8 35. f4 Bc2 36. f5 exf5 37. gxf5 Bxf5 38. Bxf5 Kxf5 39. Nf7 Rc2 40. Nd6+ Kf6 41. Nxb7 Rxb2 42. Nc5 Ra2 43. Nxa6 Rxa3 44. Nc7 Rxe3+ 45. Kf4 Re4+ 46. Kf3 Rxd4 47. Ne8+ Kf7 48. Nd6+ Ke6 49. Ne8 g6 50. Nc7+ Kd7 51. Nb5 Rb4 0-1
Dutch Defense (A85)
http://chessmicrobase.com/microbases/9425/games/918665
1. d4 f5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. h3 This move turns out to be a passive novelty. According to Chessbase there are only five games with this move (and none of them master games) 5. ... d6 Here is where I begin to go wrong. Komodo give 5. ... Ne4 with the common Dutch themed Bishop trade. I'm not a fan of that and instead might have played 0-0 or g6 instead. 6. Nf3 Nbd7 This move seemed a logical way to support the e5 advance (or even c5) but it presents problems for the c8 bishop and would rather be on c6 anyway. 7. e3 c6 I think 0-0 is the better option here retaining the potential for e5 or c5 and getting the king squared away before committing to a central operation. This c8 bishop looks worse and worse here. I did not notice its poor prospects in this game when it was played. 8. Bd3 d5 This was the point of c6 on the previous move. I still like the look and potential in White's pieces far better than Black's here. Very poor positional play by me in this game. 9. cxd5 cxd5 Now my opponent falters. This exchange gives my Queenside less contention and more potential to unravel my pieces there. Notice how Nb6 is met by b3 and the knight wishes it was somewhere else. Also the maneuver Nf8 Ng6 seems equally strange here. 10. O-O O-O 11. Rc1 Bd6 Komodo recommends Nb8 here. This un-development this early in the game proves that Nbd7 was a mistake. I begin to see the sadness of this knight at this point and find a different solution. 12. Nb5 Bb8 13. Nc3 (13. Qc2 h6 14. Bf4 Bxf4 15. exf4 Nb6 +-) The Qc2 plan pointed out by Komodo is crushing for white. At the time I did see the move but determined that the position was defensible but I now think Qc2 creates problems that in order for black to solve he has to give concessions. 13... Qe8 I regretted immediately making this "cute" move. The plan was to push e5 to bust open things and expand the scope of my c8 bishop aiming at the white king. That plan is possible and even understandable but needs prepared with a6 first to keep c7 and c8 from being conquered by white. (13... a6 14. Ne2 ) 14. Nb5 Qd8 15. Qc2 h6 As it turns out this move helps me when white trades but Komodo recommend Bf4 in reply and that's harder to solve than the text. 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 Unravelling helps black but I'm not by any means saved yet. White has won the c7 square and that's a difficult hurdle for black to overcome. 17. Nc7 Bxc7 18. Qxc7 Qxc7 19. Rxc7 Rf7 Here I came up with an interesting idea. I either evict the rook from c7 (which komodo correctly assesses as just fine for white and the preferred move is Rc3 with a !?) OR I get a trade and set a little trap. My opponent was repeatedly leaving the board to check the score of a college basketball game and was moving quickly. Here was my chance to save this trainwreck. 20. Rfc1 Rxc7 21. Rxc7 Ne8 22. Re7?? throwing away the advantage Kf8-+ The rest of the game is interesiting and instructive but I have analyzed to the point I am satisfied that I will not play the opening like this again and that is the main thing for me here. 23. Rxe8+ Kxe8 24. Ne5 Bd7 25. g4 fxg4 26. hxg4 Rc8 27. Kg2 a6 28. Bg6+ Ke7 29. Kg3 Rc1 30. a3 Bb5 31. Bh7 Be2 32. Kg2 Kf6 33. f3 Bd1 34. Kg3 Rc8 35. f4 Bc2 36. f5 exf5 37. gxf5 Bxf5 38. Bxf5 Kxf5 39. Nf7 Rc2 40. Nd6+ Kf6 41. Nxb7 Rxb2 42. Nc5 Ra2 43. Nxa6 Rxa3 44. Nc7 Rxe3+ 45. Kf4 Re4+ 46. Kf3 Rxd4 47. Ne8+ Kf7 48. Nd6+ Ke6 49. Ne8 g6 50. Nc7+ Kd7 51. Nb5 Rb4 0-1
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