User Profile: scormus

scormus
Member since Apr-03-07 · Last seen May-24-13

My life followed a random walk from various cities and countries.
I played most of my chess at school and uni, but that was a long time ago and it was only an occasional thing since then. Since I found the chess sites I started playing again, on the internet and also OTB.
Nice to have met fellow enthusiasts and nice to be playing again.

Hard to pick a favourite opening - maybe Najdorf for the fabulous richness of the variation .... or perhaps because it's the natural choice of the chess "streetfighter". Easy to pick a favourite player - the one and only Bobby Fischer.

   scormus has kibitzed 2856 times to chessgames [more...]

   May-24-13 scormus chessforum

scormus: Nothing very elegant about it now, we're in streetfight territory. Well, I do say in my profile that's the appeal of the Najdorf. This is where the knives come out. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e5 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. 0-0-0 Nbd7 10. Bd3 h6 11. Qh3 ...

   May-22-13 Tejada vs A Padros Simon, 1985

scormus: <Humphrey Bogart> might have appreciated this game. Would have appreciated the pun too ;)

   May-20-13 Pilnik vs Najdorf, 1942

scormus: <FSR: <sleepyirv> Indeed. I had no idea I had such clout. :-)> Is your uncle named Sir Robert Walpole? ;)

   May-18-13 morfishine chessforum

...

   May-15-13 Karjakin vs Nakamura, 2013

scormus: Thanks <CG> a fascinating game, if rather drawn out at the end. Well done Karja!

   May-14-13 Anand vs Karjakin, 2013

scormus: OMG, I thought the worst that could happen was when my rice pan boiled over as I was following the game. I wolf down my dinner, come back to the game and what do I see? Vishy got caught by a sucker punch

   May-13-13 Karjakin vs Carlsen, 2013

scormus: Sad to see Karja lose from such a promising position. He certainly lost momentum with 29 Bc2, although it was an understandable move to have played. <Eyal> absolutely. IMO 31 Kh1 was playable but Kh2 was a truly dreadful move. It looked just plain wrong to me at the time - no ...

   May-12-13 Natalia Pogonina

scormus: <... on that day, right> 1943, how could I not know? ;)

   May-12-13 Larry Evans vs Reshevsky, 1963

scormus: <FSR: ... the greatest stalemating combination ever was seen recently in Shredder vs Gull, 2013.> I'd agree with you if it wasn't between computers. I'd also agree with you if I hadn't missed it when it was POTD ;)

   Apr-10-13 N Pogonina vs G Mammadova, 2013

scormus: <whiteshark: I wonder if <54.Qg4#> could have been the last move of the game?> a playable alternative <;)>

indicates a reply to the comment.

< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 10 OF 10 · Later Kibitzing>
May-19-13		The Last Straw: <5...a6> I would just like to say I played ...e6 and not ...d6, but if you prefer ...d6 I'm fine with it.

May-19-13		scormus: 1. e6, OMG! I'm sorry, I do this quite often (including in a game with morf). I should have mentioned I have chess dyslexia :( As you see I wrote down the right move but moved the wrong pawn on the virtual board. One reason why I like chess.com, no danger of that. Well, I don't think there any such danger. Are you sure you're OK with the position? If so I'll edit the moves and keep the position. Otherwise I'll edit the position, I guess we could play the same moves to this point with 1 ... e6 or ... d6. BTE, re: untidy desk. In my business we have a saying "a tidy desk is a sign of a sick mind."

May-19-13		The Last Straw: Sure, your choice about the switchy moves. I've played both as black so far. Any luck on the puzzle?

May-19-13		scormus: Well, I've had a few 2 ... e6's lately so I fancy 2 ... d6. Also I'm intersted to play against the Najdorf, a favourite opening of mine. On the other hand since you actually chose 2 ... e6 I feel that should be the move. So if you are happy we play from (is it correct?) 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 click for larger view Oh, the puzzle. I can't remember where I was with that ... In fact, I'm having trouble even figuring out just what the puzzle is. Is is what W should have played instead of h5?? >

May-19-13		The Last Straw: <scorm>Yes; that's what the problem wants. I used to play 2...d6, but once seeing how many people in my league played the closed Sicilian, I gave up on it.

May-19-13		scormus: I'd go for 1. Ke2 (in the puzzle not our game!) Looking again at the moves and position I just posted .... actually I thought it seemed familiar. I had it recently in another internet game and I since did some engine analysis on it to see how I could have improved. So maybe you'd prefer 2 ... d6 after all .... It would make for a more level playing field, and I think a more satisfying game for both of us. Sorry for the confusion.

May-19-13		The Last Straw: Yes, this solution goes 1.Ke2! Ke4 2.Kf2 Kd5 3.Kf3 Ke5 4.h5!, when black is in zugzwang. For an easy Monday let's see what I have...

May-19-13		The Last Straw: click for larger view White to play. Very easy, I hope you get it. Post your solution on Monday.

May-20-13		scormus: Oh dear, another puzzle. It looks to me like <1. Rd8> In our game I propose 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 <d6> 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 If you are happy with that get to play against the Najdorf for the first time in an internet game, although I played it as black on a few occasions. Each time white played the English attack which I feel now I've seen enough of. Instead I play <6. Bg5> which I think is just referred to rather boringly as the maine line. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 <d6> 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 click for larger view I hope at last it is consistent. If you go with that I'll remark on the continuation in the other game ( position after 5 moves the same except e6 instead of d6.)

May-20-13		The Last Straw: I feel wrong about this move, but <6...e6>. For the puzzle, <1.Rd8> does win very easily, but there is a quicker mate: <1.Bxf7+! Rxf7 2.Rd8+ Rf8 3.Rxf8#>.

May-20-13		scormus: I would not like to put my hand on my heart and swear your 6 .... e6 is absolutely the best move, but I think its the most often played. Its what I would have played. After my 7. f4 you have the choice of 3 very playable strategies. Which you choose depends mostly on your feelings 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 <7. f4> click for larger view In the other game, this position click for larger view I played the solid 6. Be2 and gained an edge after 6 ... Bb4 though it was difficult to exploit. The pin on my Nc3 was a bit uncomfortable. 7. e5 is met by ... Nd5, and I wasn't happy about doubled c-pawns. In fact the best move is the immediate 6. e5! After 6 ... Nd5 allows W to get an excellent game by 7. Nxd5 exd5 8. Qf3. The only game I could find going that way is Vasik-Sandor (0-1) after Vasik messed up (8. Nc6 9. Nxc6?)

May-20-13		The Last Straw: I'll try <7...Be7>. We'll see how the game goes.

May-21-13		scormus: <The Last Straw:> Odd, I was sure I posted. CG has been messing me around a lot recently, teling me I have to sign up or sign in when I know I already am. Sometimes posts do not get sent :( (Another reason to use chess.com!) I don't have my file so I just send the move. I continue with the book <8. Qf3>

May-21-13		The Last Straw: <8...Qc7> still in book.

May-21-13		scormus: <9. 0-0-0> again, still book

May-21-13		scormus: Now to update the score and diagram 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e5 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 Qc7 <9. 0-0-0> click for larger view

May-21-13		The Last Straw: <9...Nbd7>.

May-21-13		scormus: Stoking up the fire! 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 <d6> 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e5 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. 0-0-0 Nbd7 <10. Bd3> click for larger view

May-21-13		The Last Straw: <10...h6>.

May-22-13		scormus: I realised that sooner or later you would likely play a move that takes me out of my comfort zone. 10 ... h6 is a good way for black to continue. After some thought I go for <11. Qh3>

May-22-13		The Last Straw: <11...Nc5>. Looks like we're out of book already?

May-23-13		scormus: Is <11. Nc5> still book? Maybe not, I really don't know. But only 11 moves, I normally expect Najdorf games to be "book" for longer. I like seeing my Rs on the central files so I'll go Rhe1. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e5 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. 0-0-0 Nbd7 10. Bd3 h6 11. Qh3 Nc5 12. Rhe1 click for larger view

May-23-13		The Last Straw: Gettin' ugly... <12...Rg8>

May-24-13		scormus: Nothing very elegant about it now, we're in streetfight territory. Well, I do say in my profile that's the appeal of the Najdorf. This is where the knives come out. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e5 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. 0-0-0 Nbd7 10. Bd3 h6 11. Qh3 Nc5 12. Rhe1 Rg8 I play <13. e5> and wait to see wgat happens click for larger view I'll be away this weekend so I won't be able to play another move till Monday

May-24-13		The Last Straw: <13...dxe5> There is one game in the database with this set of moves: Planinc-Najdorf (1-0), but I'm not going to fall for the trap.

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