User Profile: A Karpov Fan

A Karpov Fan
Member since Aug-02-09

The only way I could enjoy chess more is if I was actually good at it.
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<"Current Endgame studies now under discussion">
<Simpler Endgame 11>

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White to play and win
<Simpler Endgame 10>

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White to play and win
<Simpler endgame 9>

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White to go and win
<Simpler endgame 8>

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white to move and win
<Simpler Endgame 7.>

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White to go and win
<Simpler Endgame 6.>

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White to go and win
<Simple Endgame 5.>

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White to play and draw
<Simpler Endgame 4.>

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White to go and win
<Simpler Endgame 3.>

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White to move
<Simpler Endgame 2.>

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White to move
<Simpler Endgame 1.>

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White to move
BREAKING NEWS-- Giant Rat Found In Lost Volcano!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/eart...
does it get any better than that? -lol-
I am 25 years old and I have been blundering pieces since the age of 15.
:-)
My favourite chess book is Fighting Chess by Kasparov!
<Kasparov now training Carlsen, a dream come true for chess fans everywhere :-)>
The Greatest Tournament Performance of All Time!!!(http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail...) Game Collection: Linares 1994
A good website I found for openings:
http://www.eudesign.com/chessops/
and for general stuff
http://www.mark-weeks.com/aboutcom/...
I am currently thinking about trying 1.e4 e5, the Ruy Lopez, for serious games, but I don't know where to start. :-)
My favourite defense is the Caro-Kann by far atm, but tbh if I could play the Najdorf I would -lol-
I play on FICS and playchess.com, and if you are really nice to me I will tell you my rating so you can feel better about yourself! :-)

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White to play
pretty huh?
A little relaxing study music:
Instruments of Destruction http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ola7...
Shake Your Foundations
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi4d...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yex1...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h44L...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwKR...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb7X...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8clx...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-Qx...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Om...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1Ej...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCrq...
Pray for the Day:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAt2...
Kingdom of Madness
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D4I...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAfB...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIvZ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dbi...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obfc...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu9x...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKb9...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILJx...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Elli...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvNp...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE7l...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C2d...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuLl...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAHZ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0Qw...
Some Fitness Links
Yoga for beginners: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3vL...
Military style push ups: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X72L...
Military style sit-ups: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VndD...
nutrition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9J5...
<The Power of the Active Rook!>
A good example of Rook activation, taken with kind permission from the game Spassky VS <malthrope> (yeah the real Spassky :-))
after 23...bxc6

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White has a clear edge, an extra pawn and control of g-line, but how to activate the rook even more?
24. c4 Rb8 25. Kc2 c5 26. Ra1 Rb7

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White Rook targets weak a-pawn
27. Ra6 Kg7 28. Rc6 f5

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Now Spassky Rook targets c6 pawn, winning it
29. Rxc5 Rb6 30. d7 Rd6 31. Rc7 1-0

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I am currently working on improving my endgame knowledge :-)
Players I am most interested in watching/studying:
Anatoli Karpov
Robert James Fischer
Garry Kasparov
Jose Raul Capablanca
Viswanathan Anand
Vladimir Kramnik
Levon Aronian
and

Magnus Carlsen

   A Karpov Fan has kibitzed 661 times to chessgames [more...]

   Nov-27-09 Wesley So

A Karpov Fan: dammit Kamsky resign, this is embarrassing!!

   Nov-27-09 Kamsky vs W So, 2009

A Karpov Fan: thanks <zanshin>

   Nov-27-09 Kamsky vs Karpov, 1996

A Karpov Fan: amazing play from Karpov, his technique is truly the best. 35...Kxg6! is a great move, looks weird, but keeps control of the dark squares around the KS.

   Nov-27-09 Areshchenko vs F Corrales Jimenez, 2009

A Karpov Fan: missed

   Nov-27-09 malthrope chessforum

A Karpov Fan: Happy Thanksgiving <malthrope>!

   Nov-26-09 Battle of the Brains 3, 2009
   Nov-26-09 Suetin vs Botvinnik, 1952

A Karpov Fan: got it

   Nov-25-09 W Fried vs Schlechter, 1897

A Karpov Fan: got it

   Nov-23-09 R Koemetter vs G Welling, 1995

A Karpov Fan: got it

   Nov-22-09 Kotov vs Botvinnik, 1955

A Karpov Fan: GOT IT!!! :-)

indicates a reply to the comment.

Simpler Chess

< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 8 OF 9 · Later Kibitzing >
Oct-25-09		hms123: <A K F> I really didn't mean to needle, but just to give some good hints. The puzzle was excellent (thanks <crawfb5> and <switch> as well for his comments). I never cease to be amazed at how such a simple position can contain so many interesting possibilities. Great job.

Oct-25-09		A Karpov Fan: thanks <H>, I bet you guys were in stitches wondering when the HELL I would get to thinking about the opposition! lol

Oct-25-09		crawfb5: <hms: I never cease to be amazed at how such a simple position can contain so many interesting possibilities.> I have been pulling positions from Van der Heijden's CD. A number of these were competition puzzles, so they are usually well-constructed. I've been trying to pick some of the ones that have a game-like look to them rather than the odd piece placement you see in some problems. Here's one that might give you Knight-mares: click for larger view White to play and win.

Oct-27-09		A Karpov Fan: <craw> I think I will leave this knight puzzle for those who are made of sterner stuff than me. I can't use the knight at the best if times anyway :-)

Oct-27-09		crawfb5: <AKF> Ok, I will dig out a K+P position for you tonight or tomorrow. Off to work in a few.

Oct-27-09		A Karpov Fan: Yeah thanks <craw>. I do appreciate your puzzles, but I'm not as strong as you or <H>. Actually from what I can tell I'm pretty much at the botom of the strength pile on this site. I think maybe it goes from strongest <malthrope>, -big gap- <switch> <H> and you then -medium gap- <Jess> and -small gap- me :-)

Oct-27-09		hms123: <AKF> You are far from the bottom of the pool at the site. Some of us worry more about puzzles and endgames than do others, so it is a mistake to judge OTB strength from puzzle/endgame strength. <malthrope> is clearly the class of the field, but each of the rest of us has strengths and weaknesses. As <jess> has pointed out many times, studying helps no matter which aspect of the game you are studying. As an example, I tend to study the game backwards--is the ending won? can I win it? how did the winner of the game get to a won ending? what's the middlegame look like? I rarely worry about the opening (my weakness), whereas <jess> studies openings a lot, and knows way more about the ones she uses than I do these days about my old favorites.

Oct-27-09		crawfb5: As promised, a K+P study. White to play and win. click for larger view I'm probably not as strong a solver as you might think. Remember I have the advantage of the solutions. I look for ones that seem to have interesting twists.

Oct-29-09		A Karpov Fan: <H> Thanks for cheering me up I used to spend most time on openings but switched to the endgame, er, since I joined here :-) <craw> That King plus pawn endgame looks good, I will get to work on it :-) and here is a position for you strong players and analysts to enjoy as well. It is simple, but also one of the neatest positions I have <ever> seen :-O click for larger view white to play and mate in 2

Oct-29-09		Pyke: Hi <A Karpov Fan>, nice place you got here. I'll try to visit frequently, as I believe that studying endgames is a good way to improve. And it seems you guys have a lot of fun here.

Oct-29-09		A Karpov Fan: thanks for coming over <pyke> tell me, why 'pyke'? :-)

Oct-29-09		Pyke: <A Karpov Fan: thanks for coming over <pyke> tell me, why 'pyke'? :-)> Well, it's curious you should ask ;-) There's nothing special behind it - actually it's quite boring. I just read it somewhere as a youngster and liked the sound of it. And since I am a pisces (astrology) I decided it was somewhat fitting, so ever since I used it as a nickname and alias. It's of course only after I got some more deeply involved with chess - and the lingo - that I shockingly realized that my choice might not have been the best one for a chess player. :-)

Oct-29-09		crawfb5: <AKF> I'm not a big Grunfeld expert. Deffi's suggestion of Rb1 lines in the exchange variation is worth consideration. I have a 2300 CC player who is playing that line against me as we speak. Kramnik played it some about 10-15 years ago: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... Gelfand also plays it: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches...

Oct-30-09		jessicafischerqueen: LOL!! Epic Fail costume!! HAHAHAHAHAHAAHA

Oct-30-09		A Karpov Fan: <pyke> thanks for telling me about your unique nickname, it makes as much sense as I was hoping ;-) in fact, our handles may even share a distant fishy connection didn't the Korch say Karpov meant 'of carp' or something like that. <craw> many thanks for the suggestion (and thanks to Deffi too). I will analyse those games and see how I like the line. My tendency is not to follow main lines if I can help it tho cos I don't have the time for all the learning involved. If I can jump off a main line early I am happy, plus it is tougher for my opponent that way :-) Don't be surprised to see a Grunfeld section appearing in my profile soon tho :-) <Jess> Epic Fail indeed. But we don't know what he looked like behind the mask, maybe he had nothing to lose. lol

Oct-31-09		A Karpov Fan: <craw> thanks again for that KP ending, here is my 'first' attempt :-) click for larger view white to play and win 1.e5 d3 2.e6 d2 (2...Kxf6 3.exf7 d2 4.f8=Q+ is losing imo and also 2...fxe6 3.f7 d2 4.f8=Q d1=Q 5.Qf7+ leads to mate) 3.exf7 (3.e7 d1=Q 4.e8=Q Qd5 looks drawish imo) 3...d1=Q 4.f8=Q Qxg4 (4...Qd5+ 5.Kh8 wti 6.Qg7+ seems winning) 5.Qg7+ Kf5 6.f7 Qc4+ 7.Kh7 Qh4+ 8.Qh6 looks won to me click for larger view I spent longer on this first attempt, so maybe I am right...? -lol- thanks <craw>, I will keep my fingers off Fritz incase you want to tell me anything first :-)

Oct-31-09		A Karpov Fan: Time for another <simpler endgame> i think. How about this... click for larger view white to move and win (er well get a decisive advantage anyway, full conversion is a little more difficult...)

Oct-31-09		crawfb5: <1.e5 d3 2.e6 d2 (2...Kxf6 3.exf7 d2 4.f8=Q+ is losing imo and also 2...fxe6 3.f7 d2 4.f8=Q d1=Q 5.Qf7+ leads to mate) 3.exf7 (3.e7 d1=Q 4.e8=Q Qd5 looks drawish imo) 3...d1=Q 4.f8=Q> So far so good... <4...Qxg4 (4...Qd5+ 5.Kh8 wti 6.Qg7+ seems winning)> ...but here you've gone astray. After 4...Qd5+ 5. Kh8? click for larger view 5...Qh1+ wins for Black, so I'd look for something better than 5. Kh8?

Oct-31-09		A Karpov Fan: the procrastination is over. I have drunk all the tea and eaten all the biscuits and now I must study this Grunfeld line :-) this is mainly for my memory but I thought I would include it here incase it was of interest to the good inhabitants of planet CG :-) Grunfeld Exchange Variation 7.Be3 click for larger view http://www.chessgames.com//perl/exp... 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8. Qd2 8...Qa5 9. Rb1 b6 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bd3 O-O 12. Ne2 Nc6 13. dxc5 bxc5 * click for larger view found this game, M Stettler vs Oral, 2000 0-1 Fritz analysis suggests 15.Rxb5 Rfd8 16.O-O Rab8 keeps advantage white 8...O-O click for larger view 9. Nf3 Qa5 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qxd2+ 12. Nxd2 Nc6 13. Nb3 Rd8 14. d5 Nb4 15. a3 Na2 16. Rc2 Nc3 17. Bd3 e6 18. Bg5 f6 19. Bd2 Na4 20. Bc4 * click for larger view Piket vs F Hellers, 1989 1-0 8...cxd4 click for larger view 9. cxd4 Nc6 10. Rd1 O-O 11. Nf3 Bg4 12. Be2 Rc8 13. O-O Qa5 14. Qxa5 Nxa5 15. Rc1 Nc6 * click for larger view Ehlvest vs Ivanchuk, 1995 1/2-1/2 quite an easy draw there, Fritz suggests, well not much, maybe 18.Bg4 a taster anyway, I have some more games in my MDB but this is the stuff on CG, for easy viewing :-)

Nov-01-09		A Karpov Fan: <craw> <5...Qh1+ wins for Black, so I'd look for something better than 5. Kh8?> click for larger view -lol- Looks like a bad case of board blindness to me, every other square is harmless but the pseky h1... :-( how about 5.f7 Qe5 6.Qh6+ Kxh6 7.f8=Q+ Kg6 8.Qf7+ Kh6 9.Qh7 mate or 5.f7 Kf6 6.Qh6+ Ke5 7.Qxg5+ winning :-) This looks correct, certainly a better sort of puzzle like finish then I had planned before...lol thanks <craw>

Nov-01-09		Pyke: Hi <AKF> answer to your question at my place.

Nov-01-09		A Karpov Fan: thanks <pyke>, I was just there actually. These things happen when you leave the door open :-) p.s. sorry about the mess ;-)

Nov-01-09		Pyke: <A Karpov Fan: These things happen when you leave the door open :-) p.s. sorry about the mess ;-)> Haha! Never mind, I like it and think it's quite cosy.

Nov-01-09		crawfb5: <Looks like a bad case of board blindness to me, every other square is harmless but the pseky h1... :-( how about 5.f7 Qe5 6.Qh6+ Kxh6 7.f8=Q+ Kg6 8.Qf7+ Kh6 9.Qh7 mate or 5.f7 Kf6 6.Qh6+ Ke5 7.Qxg5+ winning :-) This looks correct, certainly a better sort of puzzle like finish then I had planned before...lol> Well done. Of course in this position at the end: click for larger view There is a "cook" because either 9. Qh7# or 9. Qh5# works. Still a nice little composition.

Nov-01-09		crawfb5: Here's another K+P for you. click for larger view White to play and draw

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