Game Collection: "ChessGames" >Problem of The Day< (2009)

The time control was like "Game in 45 minutes, plus a once second delay." (Also, I always give the human an extra thirty minutes, and 45 seconds per move.)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 Be7 8.0-0-0 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 a6 10.f4 b5 11.Be2 Rb8 12.a3 Bb7 13.Bf3 0-0;

This - to me - is a typical Sicilian type of game.

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14.Bh4 h6 15.Kb1 Qc8 16.g4 Qc4 17.Bf2 Rfc8 18.Be3 Qxd4 19.Bxd4 Nd7 20.h4!?,

At this point, I felt that White was just a little better.

[Maybe 20.Rhf1, was a little safer.]

20...e5 21.Be3 Rc4 22.g5!? b4 23.axb4 Rxb4 24.b3 f5;

Now I thought that the pin on the a8-h1 diagonal meant that I was lost.

25.gxh6 fxe4 26.Be2 exf4 27.Bxf4 e3 28.Rhf1 Rc8?;

Here the computer took so long on this turn, that I was afraid it would lose on time - so I had to force it to make a move.

[Probably better was: 28...Bg2 29.Rg1 Rxf4 30.Rxg2 Bf6 31.Nd5 Rf2 32.Rdg1, '±' but White is solidly better here.]

29.Bxd6 Bxd6 30.Rxd6 Ne5!?; ('?!')

This move greatly surprised me. (Fritz - with plenty of time - shows that 30...Nf8; was probably forced.)

[I was expecting: 30...Rxc3 31.Rxd7 gxh6; and I was not sure of how I was going to meet this variation.]

31.Rg1 g6 32.Rg5 Nf7;

Maybe this is inferior?

[32...Re8 33.h5! Kh7 34.hxg6+ Kxh6 35.Rg3, " "]

The rest needs little comment.
33.Rgxg6+ Kf8 34.Rd7 Bc6 35.Ra7 Rxh4T;

This was forced.

[Worse was: 35...Rf4?!; 36.h7, " "]

36.Bc4 Be8 37.Bxf7 Bxf7 38.Rf6 Rh1+ 39.Kb2 Kg8 40.Rfxf7 Rxh6;

I had lost so many times to Fritz that I became paranoid here. (I asked myself, "How will I manage to lose this one?")

41.Rg7+ Kh8 42.Rge7 Rf6 43.Nd5 Rg6 44.Rh7+, " "

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The machine actually resigned here ... when I got up from the computer, my heart was beating like I had just run a mile ... and my hands were shaking like I was cold and could not get warm.

I am still elated.

BUT! Remember I lost HUNDREDS of games ... (blitz, bullet, and around 150-200 slow ones) ... before I finally lucked up and one just won.

I actually had become to believe that Fritz 11 was invincible.

Just thought I'd let you know I'm still here, still waiting for my book to come out. It's two years behind schedule now. Beginning to try my patience...

I played in a tournament on Saturday. I went 4-0, the highest rated player (besides me) was only like a 1900 player.

My toughest game? It was against Mr. William ("Dan") Owens. I think he is ONLY rated like 1581. On paper, (theoretically); such a matchup should be a fairly easy affair for the master.

(I'm having a Brit laugh about the baseball, btw).

Thanks! I estimate that was close to a 2600 PR - to beat Fritz.

It ISN'T easy ... I know, that was my first win ever against Fritz 11. I have played it HUNDREDS of bullet and blitz games and maybe around 300 training games. I had a few draws, but never even the hint of a victory against Fritz 11. (I had one game, 6-9 months ago. I had FRITZED the opening line DEEPLY. After 45-50 moves, I was two pawns up. Then the computer played a couple of silly-looking moves, I assumed it was "GIVE-AWAY." Next thing I know, Fritz has my king in a box and announced mate.)

You're welcome Sir.
Yes, the game in the vid is the last professional game of Fischer's career: Spassky vs Fischer, 1992