The database is intended for master games, although one of their original sources had hundreds of Cadet games, yet as you can see there is room for non-master amateur games. They often accept submissions under the "interesting game" category, provided both players' names are known, or else a simultaneous game against a master could get into the database. I have used this game in two puzzle sets: Unpinning (Black to Play after 18. Rxf4), and Double Check (Black to Play after 25. Kg2). I remember looking at 25 ... Bh3+ but realized that 25 ... Be2+ also won so I went with that and he resigned. For the record, this was G/30.

This one has special significance as the lead entry in Game Collection: Chessgames.com members in action which features over 100 cg.com users. Back in 2004, there was group discussion about whether anyone besides <Honza Cervenka> had ever drawn a GM OTB, and then I did A Lein vs T Palmer, 2004 which led to me getting a player page. In 2005, an early thread on my page discussed putting together all of our best games, leading to the original Game Collection and now Game Collection: Chessgames.com members in action 2 as well.

After submitting or posting your games here, don't mind the riff raff. When people go way out of their way just to post mean comments on your game, it is simply because they are insanely jealous.

<Annie K.> Thanks for the great pun! ;>D

<sfm> Mad props. =)

Tony's refutation of 11...g5?! was certainly Master level, and reminded me of some of those games in Euwe's book. In particular 18...Rxg5! and 19...Qe5! were defensive gems.

So, I for one, enjoy an occasional amateur game -- especially one where the amateur is an outstanding contributor like Tony Palmer and the play on the winning side (as in this game) is strong Master level.

Indeed - thanks <patzer2>, <An Englishman>, and <PinnedPiece> for the compliments -

and yes, particularly thanks to <An Englishman> for providing the Wiki link. :)

Also, nice quips on the theme, <bumpmobile> and <TheChessGuy>.

<sfm: The temptation to make this kind of sac on the g-pawn is very often there.>

Even if that kind of sac was there, Only a patzer like me would do such a sac. Barbershops players plays better than that.

<This game demonstrates how real hollow it can be, something you don't learn from GM-games as they don't make sacs like this.>

There's nothing to learn, all it makes you is giggle.

<In games by players well under IM-level there's the added incentive to look for improvements and prove yourself right or wrong.>

Yeah, like GM Bu open up with h3.

<Bradah: ... where I can buy a 2001 elo rating.> You can't, that is your problem. If you have less than that, you will have to learn to play better chess, something much harder than to speak bad about the games of others.>

I actually had a good laugh seeing the GOTD when I opened CG today. As someone would say, "Someone gata sensa yuma."

Yes it's easy to take the sacrifice offer, but following up to win afterwards is not so easy. Yet Tony's play was flawless in accepting the sacrifice and giving back the material with a countersacrifice at just the right time.

Patzer2, you haven't seen barbershop games in the Philippines. I have seen many. Feel free to admire tony parker's game, no one is stopping you. But to me, it's a plain lousy game. I will never move Nxg5.

And did you stop to consider White's alternatives?

Strategically, he is already lost. If he retreats the bishop to g3 (the only alternative), Black continues 12. ...Nh5, threatening to win the bishop thanks to the pinned f-pawn. Once White attends to this, the knight moves to f4, and the counterattack is in full swing.

White of course can exchange his bishop for it, at the cost of not only the strategic disadvantage of two knights versus two bishops in a semi-open position where Black can make a pawn break at his leisure, but also of opening the g-file against his castled king.

Otherwise, the knight itself remains on its ideal attacking square, f4, from which it will be a menace for the rest of the game (which will probably not be long). How many POTDs and GOTDs have been decided by just such a knight, sacrificing itself at the right moment on g2 or h3?

Black's opening play with 4. ...Bd6 is rather unusual and provocative. White *should* of course have met this with 4. d4, maintaining a slight edge; d3 was too passive. Already the game is nearly equal.

And then White committed the classic strategic blunder in such closed formations: He castled prematurely on move 7, another thematic error we've seen punished time and again. From that moment, a slight positional disadvantage turned into a massacre; all Black has to do is bide his time and castle on the other wing with a ready-made kingside attack.

So, yes. I *would* call this game instructive. Not at the highest level, but that is White's fault for playing like last week's Tuna Surprise. You can ridicule the sac on g5, but the fact is that it was probably his best practical chance in a lost position.