I heard you missed me, I'm baaackk!!

Been going crazy trying to get the house ready to sell. Going on the market this weekend!!

Anyway, back to chess.

I've discovered that sometimes simple and solid moves are the best. Case in point, it's white's move in this diagram. White's position looks pretty good to me, everything for the most part is bearing down the white queen. White to move....




According to Fritz 10, the simple e4! OR rxe5 is the best move here. It stops the knight from taking the pawn on d5 and it also doesn't change any of the possible white sacrifices on e5.

Of course, I saw all kinds of crazy stuff like Rxe5 and Nxe5. Rxe5 is just fine as well but Nxe5 just loses to pxn and black can't take back with the queen because of the pawn fork at f6.

Guess what I played? of course, I played nxe5?? I actually saw the problem in earlier analysis but when I looked at it again I saw something that isn't there. I would suggest carrying scrap paper and actually writing down moves that you reject! I wonder if you can do that in tournaments?...mmm...

Chess blindness and "closing the deal"

Some of you may be wondering if I ever lose games. I only post games on here that I win. Well, to answer your question, I lose plenty of games! I just don't feel like posting them.

Here is a game that I lost but SHOULD have won. How many of you can say that about many of your games? If you're like me probably several.

I was playing a queens gambit declined as black in this game. Up to move 29 I was definitely playing like a master and the win is imminent. Black just has to many threats. Unfortunately I suffered a "head up ass" moment and instead of just protecting my rook and ALSO attacking the queen on move 30 with Nc6, I play the retard move of Rd7. Yeah this does move it out of capture but it gives white the chance to regroup with Rf1. If I play Nc6, the queen has to move and then I win outright with Nf2 check.

Anyway, the blunders don't stop there. See move 31 for black Nf4??????. This just LOSES. I completely missed the rook check on the back rank (didn't help that I move the rook to d7 earlier!) and then white just takes next move on e5. Finished.

Wow, I'm still beating myself up over this one. I think I was really proud of myself for finding the move 27 Rxa2!! (I am giving it two exclams!) But, unless you can "close the deal" it doesn't matter how many pretty moves you made earlier if you end up losing the game. No mercy and complete concentration to the VERY END!!! ARGGHHH!!

Here is the move list and the picture of the analysis by Fritz 10

BLACK SHOULD JUST PLAY Nc6 next move and it's over. Instead black plays Rd7.




1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 b6 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bxe7 Nxe7
8. Nf3 Bb7 9. Bd3 O-O 10. O-O Nd7 11. Qc2 g6 12. e4 c5 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14.
Bc4 Qc7 15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. Rac1 Qf4 17. Nd2 Nc6 18. Ne2 Qf6 19. f3 Ne5 20.
Rb1 Rac8 21. Kh1 Ncd3 22. Kg1 b5 23. Qb3 bxc4 24. Qxb7 Rb8 25. Qxa7 Rxb2
26. Kf1 Qh4 27. Kg1 Rxa2 28. Qxa2 Qf2+ 29. Kh1 Qxe2 30. Qa5 Rd7 31. Rf1 Nf4
32. Rb8+ Kg7 33. Qxe5+ *

Sometimes you get into a zone

I was playing around with a line in the Ruy Lopez that I found on YouTube. I highly recommend you try this line of play with black. Check it out.



Here is a game that I played against the Citrine at a one hour time control. This is the second game in a row that I've won against the Citrine at a one hour time control. I'm not sure what the heck is going on....maybe I'm getting better?? nawww.... Here is the game and then a screen shot of where the Citrine actually did resign. Enjoy!

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Ng4 6. d3 Bc5 7. Bxc6 dxc6
8. h3 h5 9. Bd2 Be6 10. hxg4 hxg4 11. Bg5 f6 12. Nxe5 fxg5 13. Nxg4 Qd6 14.
Re1 Qf4 15. Ne3 O-O-O 16. g3 Qf6 17. Nd2 Rdf8 18. Nf3 g4 19. d4 gxf3 20.
Nf5 Bxf5 21. dxc5 *

Latest game against Citrine

As far as I can tell, no major blunders on my part, but of course I could have made some better moves. I'd definitely like to get any feedback on this game.

Here are the moves and I've put the position where it's really over for all practical purposes (The Citrine of course still plays on)

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e4 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 b5 6. Bd2 a6 7. a4 Bxc3 8.
Bxc3 Bb7 9. axb5 axb5 10. d5 f6 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Bxc4 bxc4 13. Qa4+ Nd7
14. dxe6 Bxe4 15. Nd4 Bd3 16. Kd2 Ne7 17. Re1 O-O 18. exd7 c5 19. Ne6 Qb8
20. g3 Bf5 21. Nxf8 Kxf8 22. Kc1 Qd8 23. Rd1 Bxd7 24. Qxd7 Qxd7 25. Rxd7
Ke8 26. Rxe7+ Kxe7 27. Kd2 Kd6 28. Ke3 Ke6 29. Ba5 h5 30. f4 g6 31. h3 g5
32. fxg5 fxg5 33. Ke4 g4 34. h4 Kd6 35. Kf5 c3 36. Bxc3 Kd5 37. Kg5 Ke4 38.
Kxh5 Kf5 39. Kh6 Ke4 *

To try and win a piece, or trying to cut the piece off from the battle. That is the question.

Pulled from one of the PDF files in the month 3 information. A very fine quote from Capablanca:


“Very often in a game a master only plays to cut off, so to speak, one of the pieces from the scene
of actual conflict. Often a Bishop or a Knight is completely out of action. In such cases we might
say that from that moment the game is won, because for all practical purposes there will be one
more piece on one side than on the other.” - Jose Raul Capablanca

I think a lot of beginners and intermediate players really try to go out of their way to trap a piece if they think there is an opportunity. I know that I have really struggled and tried to calculate ways that I could possibly capture a bishop/knight that has gotten into deep into my position. I think an easier plan is to try and neutralizing its effectiveness and or just trying to keep it away from the action (where you have most of your pieces)

Thoughts?

Month 3 just around the corner

Hi,

I've been busy looking for a job so that's why it's been a while since the last post. I'll be sure to post something once month 3 starts. I'll also post some things that I picked up last month.

Lastly, I wanted to thank my one reader. Without you all of this would be a waste of time. THANK YOU MOM!! love you!

Mike

Lesson Learned - Do not be intimidated by opponent

Hi all,

I just played a good game as black vs the Citrine. Here are the moves:

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. g3 Nf6 4. d3 c5 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. Bf4 e6 7. O-O Bd6 8.
Bg5 h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Nbd2 Qg6 11. Qa4 Bd7 12. Qb3 Rb8 13. Ne4 Be7 14.
Qb5 b6 15. Nd6+ Bxd6 16. Nh4 Qf6 17. Bxc6 Qe7 18. Nf3 Bxc6 19. Qxc6+ Qd7
20. Qxd7+ Kxd7 21. Kg2 e5 22. Nd2 f5 23. h3 Rhe8 24. Kf3 Re7 25. e4 Rf8 26.
exf5 Rxf5+ 27. Kg2 Ref7 28. Rae1 a6 29. f3 b5 30. cxb5 axb5 31. Ne4 Kc6 32.
Rc1 Kd5 33. Nxd6 Kxd6 34. h4 Rc7 35. Rfe1 c4 36. dxc4 bxc4 37. Rcd1 Rf8 38.
f4 Rb8 39. fxe5+ Kd5 40. Rd2 Rcb7 41. e6 Rxb2 42. Rxb2 Rxb2+ 43. Kf3 Rb8
44. e7 Re8 45. a4 c3 46. Re2 Kc4 47. a5 d3 48. Re4+ Kb3 49. Rd4 Kc2 50. Rd7
d2 51. a6 d1=Q+ 52. Rxd1 Kxd1 53. a7 c2 54. a8=Q Rxa8 55. e8=R Rxe8 56. g4
c1=Q 57. g5 h5 58. g6 Qe3+ 59. Kg2 Re4 60. Kh1 Qf3+ 61. Kg1 Rg4+ 62. Kh2
Qg2+ {Mate} 0-1

After looking over the game again I realized that I gave my opponent to much respect on move 16. Instead of Qf6 I should have just played Nb4 and as far as I can tell I win a piece! I guess I was still sort of reeling after white's 15. Nd6+?! After white played 16. Nh4, I figured I needed to move the queen or lose it. However after black playing Nb4 white must take the queen and after black retakes knight with pawn the white queen has no escape.

Anyway, lesson learned!

Here is the position after white 16. Nh4, ENJOY

Latest game as White against the Citrine (BLACK)

Here is the move list. Please check this game out on your own board!

1. Nf3 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. b3 d6 4. Bb2 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Bc4 Nc6 7. O-O Bf5 8.
Re1 e6 9. Nc3 h6 10. h3 a6 11. Bf1 Ne4 12. g4 Nxc3 13. Bxc3 Be4 14. Nd2 f5
15. f3 Bd5 16. e4 Nxd4 17. exd5 fxg4 18. dxe6 Nxf3+ 19. Nxf3 gxf3 20. Kh2
Bxc3 21. e7 Qd7 22. exf8=R+ Rxf8 23. Qd3 Bxa1 24. Rxa1 Kh7 25. Re1 f2 26.
Re3 Qf7 27. Kg2 Qd7 28. Rf3 Qc6 29. c4 Re8 30. Kxf2 Qc5+ 31. Kg2 Qg5+ 32.
Rg3 Qf6 33. Qf3 Qb2+ 34. Qf2 Qxf2+ 35. Kxf2 Kg7 36. Bd3 Re6 37. h4 c6 38.
h5 g5 39. Bg6 b5 40. Rf3 Re7 41. Re3 Rxe3 42. Kxe3 Kf6 43. Kd4 bxc4 44.
bxc4 Ke7 45. a4 a5 46. c5 Kd7 47. cxd6 Kxd6 48. Kc4 g4 49. Be4 g3 50. Bg2
c5 51. Kb5 c4 52. Kxc4 Ke5 53. Kb5 Kd4 54. Kxa5 Ke3 55. Kb6 Kf2 56. Bh3 Kg1
57. a5 Kh2 58. Bf1 *

I just stopped the game as it was over. I've noticed that the Citrine will not resign! If the black King moves to g1 all white has to do is move is bishop out and then bring it back to the A8-H1 diagonal to take the pawn if it ever does move to G2. At that point white will queen the A pawn.

Something very interesting as I mentioned in my last post. Fritz 10 gave 20. Kh2 TWO question marks (like I should have been beat shortly thereafter). The way the game played out after me playing 20. Kh2 5 moves later is here (after move 25):



Fritz suggested to play e7 on move 20, and of course in hindsight that looks to be better. White in no longer having to deal with the pesky pawn on the f file.

Here is how Fritz sees the position at move 25 with best play if 20. f7 is played:



So, as you can see the second position is preferable, but white still wins in the first position.

I also noticed that later in the end game I could have made some moves that would have made the end quicker. This game was played at a 30 minute time control and I only had about 2 minutes left on the clock. I feel that justifies it :)

Please play over this game and give me any thoughts. thx

Sorry for the delay on an update

I lost my job so I have had other things on my mind. However, this chess expert pursuit will not be thwarted!!!

I just played an extremely interesting game as white via the Citrine. Fritz gives one of my moves a double question mark but does not show the black refutation. I admit there was a better move to be made but how things turned out were quite fine for white. What's funny is 4 moves later, Fritz says "white wins a piece". However, in the 4 moves prior I would have thought that it would have flagged black as having a bad move (missing/avoiding the piece loss, but NOOOO..... :) )

I'll post the move list along with some screens shots of the game later.

As I mentioned before, this month (Month 2) is all about King safety, different types of centers and the start of visualization of the board. I'm excited about the latter.

Here is a screen shot of the Month Two course outline:

Now into Month Two of ChessMaster Course

This month is mostly about King Safety and attacks on the un castled king. I'll post the outline either today or tomorrow.

Will be analyzing game this weekend and posting

Will be analyzing game from the 1st month chess school lesson. Will put my analysis and then then "correct answers" followed.

Look for something on Monday (all my fans!) ha!

A couple of pictures of the Citrine hooked up to the PC

Here are a couple of pictures of the Citrine:

Finally won a game as black, barely

Hello all my imaginary chess fans out there!! ha ha! I'm still waiting for my first comment :(

Anyway, I finally won a game as black but I almost blew it. I actually would have blown it if the computer didn't make a couple more errors later on the game. I'm posting two pictures of the game showing the first half and then the second half. I am really proud of my Nf4 move on move 31 but like Fritz 10 says in its analysis I should have captured with my bishop on move 27!

Please give me any comments and let me know if you'd like the PGN file.

More on the chess school later this week, still working on the first month.

Finally won a game at the upper level

After losing a few games I decided to hunker down to see what I can do. I did win a game as white. It was a good game and after running the PGN through Fritz 10 for analysis I didn't make any glaring blunders. Of course Fritz said there were some better moves, and of course in hindsight there always is. Right now I'm still in the first month of the chessmaster school. Right now we are going over some annotated games by Capablanca. Next comes some practice positions and some positions where I am supposed to come up with a plan based on the pawn structure and the placement of the pieces. Much better than a "find the best move" that I'm used to. I'll give a full report on how that goes probably early next week. For now I've attached a picture of the game I won. You can blow up the picture and see the moves on the right hand side. Again, disregard the time shown and the rating. Any feedback is appreciated!

Brief update on the Chess School

The chess school has 13 "modules" which consist of information given in PDF files. I am amazed at the amount of information so far. I'll edit this sometime today to give a complete breakdown of month number 1.

Above is a picture of the course outline for month number 1. I won't divulge specifics about each module but will be happy to answer general questions.

Picture of annotated game by Fritz 10

I was white and the Citrine was black. Disregard the names and the ratings! that is what is reported by Arena if it's just monitoring and you're not actually playing against it. The time doesn't move either. This was played at a level which had an average of 20 seconds per move. Rest assured at the higher levels Black does not play as poorly!

As you can see in this position black is pretty much lost. With the move I play Nxf7 (fritz gives it an exclam, but it's rather obvious). White gets two pawns for the knight and open files to the black king. It also helps that white has 4 pieces on the king side compared to blacks one! Black does manage to slither over to the queen side where all of his peices are so mate is staved off for while. With whites material advantage it's only a matter of time. Citrine actually resigns at move 28 but I played on anyway. Save a copy of the pic so you can play along at home. If you click on it, it will blow up real nice on your desktop.

Chess school report tomorrow!!

Played a few quick games against the Citrine

Played a few fast games against the Citrine to get a feel for its playing style. I must admit it made a few moves which impressed me. I was feeling good in most of the games and then all of a sudden I realized it had planned some rather deep tactical surprises for me and all of a sudden I was down a pawn or two. So far I am impressed but it does take a little getting used to how to move the pieces on the sensor pads. If you don't do it right and in a particular order the machine squaks at you.

Using an older version of the Beta Arena software I was able to flawlessly interface the chess computer to the graphic interface of the arena software. It is so nice to play over the board and see the peices actually move on the laptop chess software. This allows you to save the game as a pgn file to analyze later.

I won a game (after about 5 played) and will post that shortly along with first thoughts about the Chess Master School.

I recieved my Novag Citrine yesterday

I received my Novag Citrine yesterday. I'm having some issues interfacing it to my PC to be able to use it with the Arena software. I'm going to work on that tonight. Tommorow I plan on playing one game at the highest level against it. The entire game will be posted along with annotations from a Fritz 10 analysis. My comments/thoughts will also be included.

Later this week I will post general information on what I am learning via the International Chess School.

Check back on Thursday evening for the game results!

My Pursuit to get my USCF expert rating

I've been playing chess since the late 70's and have decided that I'm going to become a chess expert. Right now I'm a class B player.

I have ordered a Novag Citrine to play and to interface to my computer. I have Fritz 10 and Arena chess software for training. I am also getting a monthly subsription with the International Chess School. I will be updating this blog about once a week to report on my progress. I will also be commenting on the Novag Citrine, posting games I've played and give my opinions on the ICS.

Please check back periodically and feel free to leave comments!!

You can get more information on the Novag Citrine here:

www.classicchessandgames.com/NovagCitrineModel1032.htm

You can get more information about the International Chess School here:

http://www.chessmasterschool.com/