I want to say that I indeed have <a lot of respect for the programmers> behind all these engines... IE i've been going on about in quite a negative way--- but that is ONLY as a result of my own dependency I felt had developed IN ME towards "them" -- a sort of quiet brainwashing process, affecting amateur players from various angles...

I will not go too deep into this- but you probably know by now why I "felt" a bit trapped by it...

Quite a monumental effort I've put in to get a better understanding of what's going on-- picking up on things being debated at the <GMJTIMMERMANNER> page -- but -- as someone said: it remains a "perennial debate" -- although I started to work on some lifting of the HEAVY CLOUD i felt... (see how incredibly personal these matters are?)...

The cloud is slowly being lifted, recently, and is being replaced by a healthier attitude towards the engines, their power, their limitations, how they are suited to the general need for "evals" -- which inherently means that the programmers have to give a little here and take little there, in positions where it's clear it's a 1-0 with correct play, but the evals rise slowly from 1.0-3.0-5.0 to +10 etc.

Ny rybka and (old) shredder Classic 1.3 are often in complete disagreement on a certain position, aside from the fact that rybka evals a position most of the time two times lower than shredder -- eg. 0.90 vs 2.34 -- so there you go with attaching a <digital number> to a - let's say - middle game position that still has an infinity of play left with many practical chances for counterplay along the way, even with both players of Master level ( Remember Van Wely-Carlsen with several huge swings...) -- So I'd say if you enter an OTB game fresh and rested, PLAY ON until there is no realistic chance of counterplay left... Countless games at clublevel have been lost an exchange and a pawn up -- because the defender zoomed in like a madman, and the one material up getting nervous why it is so damn difficult to convert the advantage...

<<< THAT IS CHESS >>> -- my dear Morphette, Jess, mrs. Smoot and Grauben!!

Best regards,
Wolfgang Eberhard Amadeus Schweinsteiger von Trier

(deceased and prematurely resurrected, or is that reincarnated? [Damn Buddhists])

Lars says "hi" btw

<<< THAT IS CHESS >>> >

YES!

YES, YES, YES, YES, YES.

How thrilling to read those words.

I'm so in agreement that I'd go as far to say that is the DEFINITIVE STATEMENT ON THE MATTER.

I agree with you 600%

(Like <Eyal>, I use a "6" based number system. Reason? Simply to annoy people)

I CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK TO A CLUB.

However, I may have to wait a few years yet.

I believe I'm going to sign up for another year here if they want me back.

HELP I LOVE ALL MY STUDENTS AND CO TEACHERS AND SHOP KEEPERS AND CAFE OWNERS AND FARMERS HERE

I cant help it.

I never knew a job could be so much fun.

It's pretty CONSUMING though.

Oh well I got time to figure out things.

Plenty of options.

BTW I played through the <Tamdkakdjkjdj Karpov> game about to undergo analysis in teh <Euwe Center>.

WHAT A CORKER

Good game to work on-- well chosen.

The first chess book I ever took out of the Liberry was a collection of Karpov games that was published while he was world champion.

In that book he said "you don't have to find the BEST MOVE... It may not exist. Just be sure never to play a WEAK MOVE"

That stuck in my mind. I've forgotten every other thing about that book!

WHO'S IN CHARGE?? (right - YOU are)

Great to know you are so comfortable with your Job and environment.

I'm a bit tired now (been at it almost 6 hours straight), but if you have the time to just run your Shredder 3 on the corker Tukma-Karpov game sometime this week, just evals at some stages is enough, that would be great....

-- ulrich321: I am guessing that this will be the last world versus x match. No one person can compete against a number of chess computers all calculating at the same time.

Apr-07-08
twinlark: Wrong! GM Nickel has already dibbsed the next game. He wants revenge.

Apr-07-08 ulrich321: He will have to hire some people then, that all process different variations on the computer. Otherwise how can he compete ?

Apr-07-08
twinlark: He's competitive, don't worry about that.

++++ === ++ == + == ++ ===

Now isn't zat zee-ust prizeeleszzz??

I checked the other day and I didn't notice anyone saying they had won the game yet.

The position looks rather even to my eye-- although I'd prefer white since the two rooks could prove decisive if they ever get an open file somewheres.

WHADLAKD

hwwwh

Looks pretty grim for Black to me, BUT THERE HAS TO COME A KNOCK-OUT at some point... Do I smell potential "zugzwang" tendencies? I'd have to give it a closer look - I spose.

< TIP: This is a team game--you should always read the discussion before voting. > ROFL!

TIP.....

Just "read and vote" - it's that simple in the end!

YES, YES, YES, YES, YES. >

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!!!

If I'm up a pawn or the exchange, you need to RESIGN! No questions asked. 'Cuz, of course, there's no way I'd ever blunder in a won game, right? Eh? Anyone? Bueller?

Hi, Jess, Queen of the KimChi.

Just thought I would pop in and say hello before I toddle off to work.

Sudden thought: Does that make me a toddler?

<Or, how to almost blow a game the guy hands you on a plate by “seeing” imaginary threats and “responding” to them>

Diegocartman (1684) v. Jessicafischerqueen (1882)

Yahoo
2 hours each Time Control

1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 d6
3. h3? Nf6

<Well Ok I’m TRYING to play a Najdorf here but what’s up with 3.h3? I have to confess I took a few minutes here before moving. Is he trying to prevent 4.Ng4? Why would I play that? Then I thought- maybe he plans to castle Queenside and get a REALLY EARLY JUMP on the pawn storm—and I actually got kind of scared already which is insane—then I realized that typically White will want to get an h4 in- so he’s wasted a tempo for nothing? Well it’s been played before-- M Mudersbach vs W Beckemeier, 1981;

4. e5? dxe5

<I spent a few minutes on this as well, thinking what is the point of it? I was worried he had some kind of “trick” and was a secret “Najdorf buster” or something. However, I figured only sane move here take the dang pawn.>

5. Nxf5 Nbd7

<Develops a piece, attacks his Knight, and he can’t develop a piece to defend the Knight so he loses another tempo. Not 6.d4? because 6…Nxe5 7.dxe5 and 7.I whip off his Queen. I figure Black has to be better already. I’m expecting him to play 6.Bb5 a6 7.Bxd7 Nxd7 (not 7…Bxd7 or Qxd7) and he’s in the same boat except now I’m even better cuz I got the Bishop pair. Maybe he saw this too and played the curious 6.Nf3?>

6. Nf3? b6?

<6…e5 is better but I didn’t want a big hole on the d5 and d6 squares and my Knight in front of my Queen on a d-file that could easily be opened soon>

7. Bb5 a6
8. Bc6 Rb8
9 o-o Qc7

<9.d4 is better maybe—but I think I’m frittering away the quick edge he gave me but it has to be equal still or close to it and in my mind I’m thinking I have the initiative, even if I don’t “really” have it.>

10. Bxd7 Bxd7
11 .d4 e6

<And now he takes a good while to think and the more I look the more I like my position. Despite my perhaps “flabby” play I have the Bishop pair, space on the Queenside, a lead in development and a decent claim on the center squares>:

click for larger view

12 .g3? Bd6

<How insulting! I’m expecting 12.Ne5 or Nc3 here—Does he think I’m going to let him skewer my Queen? All he’s done is weaken the squares around his King and let me develop my pieces into the center-- >

13. Re1

<And now I thought for almost 15 minutes trying to calculate a forcing continuation after 13…Bxg3 14.fxg3 Qxg3+ 15.Kh1 Qxh2+ and I have a guaranteed Perpetual draw… I CAN’T BELIEVE I CHICKENED OUT OF THIS MOVE. Sigh. Three pawns for a bishop and his King naked as a Jaybird. I'm so ashamed of my lack of nerve on this opportunity. I'm still playing "scared chess" since my stinking injury and halting "comeback" You know I started thinking well he doesn't have to take my Bishop he could try 14.Ne5 Bxe5 15.bxe5 Nd6 16.Kh2 and slide his rook over to g1 and launch an attack on my Kingside... Oh my Lord I wish I had this move over again>

13...o-o

14. Ne5 cxd4?

<I’m thinking now that 14…Bc8 is better cuz I keep the Bishop pair and with my LSB moving to b7 they are both pointed at his loose Kingside like lazer beams. But I had a “plan”—I wanted the c8 square for my rook with the idea of opening the c-file and pressurizing his Queenside>

15. Nxd7 Nxd7

<Well despite Chickening out BADLY earlier, I can hardly complain about this position: INITIATIVE MINE>:

click for larger view

16. Qg4? Ne5

<OK I was expecting 16.Qxd4 and then I carry out my plan 16…Rbc1-- but he plays this coffee-house move thinking I”ll overlook Bh6 and I get to slap his Queen in the face>

17. Qd1 Qc6

<His c3 square is a permanent weakness now>

18. Nd2 Rac8

<I also considered 18…d3 and 18…Rfc1, but I didn’t want to trade off my advanced d-pawn at the moment and I thought maybe if I left my Rook on the f-file I could potentially attack BOTH his queenside and kingside at the same time>

19. Ne4 Be7

<I want to keep my DSB and from the e7 square he dominates the White Knight, but now I have to be wary of discovered attacks on MY Knight on the e-file-->

20. Bg5? f6
21. Bf4 Ng6
22. Bd2 Qxc2
23. Qe2 d3
24. Qe3 e5?

<Weak on my part. Better is 24…Qxb2 but I’m SEEING GHOSTS—I’m worried about my e-pawn hanging through discovery and I’m thinking that 24…e5? consolidates the structure and allows a later push of the e-pawn—but my text move allows 25.Qxb6 and my best response is I believe to force the Queens off with 25…Qc6>

25. Rac1 Qxb2
26. Rxc8? Rxc8

<I think he’s better to snap off my d-pawn here but it’s still a massive advantage to Black>

27. Nc3? Rxc3

<heh>

28. Bxc3 Qxc3

<OK I don’t need a Computer to tell me that Black has an objectively “won” game here, but I actually have to finish him off now. It’s at this point where he starts playing better and/or I start playing worse. I start thinking “defensively” and worry about my back rank and tempo-gaining checks on the a2-g8 diagonal—to the extent that I almost blow a game that he’s handed to me on a plate by MASSACRING the opening and playing toothless “coffee house” attacking moves>

click for larger view

<With a ridiculous massive advantage to Black but now I appear to start psychologically melting down. I’m thinking I should have been wanting to get the Queens off earlier, now, and soon since the endgame wouldn’t be tough to win—Now I start giving him counterplay and choosing some very clumsy moves and almost hand him a WIN or a DRAW BY PERPETUAL—sigh>

32. Qb1 Qa4
33. Rc2 Qd4
34. Qd1 Bb4
35. Kf1 Qd3+
36. Kg2 e4
37. Kh2 e3
38. fxe3 Qxe3

<OK now I’m thinking there is NO DEFENSE to 39…Qe1 and I can finally relax. However, now I start seeing Ghosts again.>

39. Qf1 Ne6???

<OK- Now here’s the most important question I have about this whole game—For some reason I can still play 39…Qe1 with Ridiculous overwhelming advantage. But I calculated the following position in my head and for some reason I evaluated the position as me letting him right back in the game with a fighting chance.

Here’s what I saw after 39.Qf1 Qe1: 40.Qd4+ Kh8 41.Rxd2 Qxd2 - OK- that produces THIS position, which I think even I could win without trouble—>

click for larger view

<sigh. However, astonishingly, when I was “visualizing” this position and “counting” the material I THOUGHT HE WOULD STILL HAVE HIS ROOK ON THE BOARD. After "calculating" this I "thought" his Rook would be on the b1 square. Really. Believe it or not. This is some case of GHOST SEEING I can tell you-- it borders on insanity?>.

<At any rate, my inability to correctly visualize my win—sticking to my winning by force plan of 39…Qe1--- led to this not-so-funny-to-me comedy of errors where I allowed him 6000 checks and I spent the rest of the game fretting about throwing it all away to a Draw by Perpetual>:

40. Rb2 Bc3
41. Rb1 h6
42. Rb8+ kf7
43. Rb7+ Ke8
44. Qg2 Qc5
45. Rb8+ Kf7
46. Rb7+ Kg6
47. Qe4+ Qf5
48. Qe2 Qc2
49. Qg4+ Ng5
50. Rxg7+ Kxg7
51, Qd7+ Kg6
52. Qe8+ Kg7
53. Qd7+ Nf7
54. Qg4+ Qg6
55. Qd7 Qe4
56. h4 Qe2+
57. Kh3 d1 (queening)
58. Qxd1 Qxd1

<WPB>:

WBP: Hi <Jess> Just looking in--for the first time in seveal days--before I go to bed. Very intersting game. yeah, 13...Bxg3 looks real strong. If he takes back and you get your Queen first to g3 and then h3 9with check, then either bc6 or Nc4 looks real strong (I'm working from your diagram--may well be amiss here). I would not want to be playing the white pieces there. And I don't think he can make much out of <You know I started thinking well he doesn't have to take my Bishop he could try 14.Ne5 Bxe5 15.bxe5 Nd6 16.Kh2 and slide his rook over to g1 and launch an attack on my Kingside...>, though I'd like to work it out from the proper position on a board. His king's still vulernable to an extent--no? Isn't it fascinating how, even when we win, this game frustrates! Hope all's well with you!

I can see how it got frustrating when he refused to die, and even got scary when there were perpetual threats (why did your king go for that unnecessary walk to e8?). But you've said it best yourself: seeing ghosts, worrying.

At least you won. I suffer from the opposite complaint, of arrogantly assuming that I'll have an easy win because my opponent has a low rating or makes one dodgy move. Here, 3.h3 would have sufficed to put me in kill mode. Trouble is, I sometimes end up actually losing such games.

I'll mention two improvements. Instead of 19...Be7 you can play 19...Bb4 which causes more problems for white. A minor point, though.

And, much later, your 44...Qc5 was a panicky response to the threat of Qc6+ -- you can simply play 44...d1(Q). Sure, he can check you - but you'll have an extra queen, and they can be used defensively as well. Alternately, there's 44...Nd4 which both attacks and defends c6. Super-strong.

Actually, you played most of the game pretty well. Sometimes it takes patience to win a won game, that's all. You were never really in trouble.

I was just about to post a few comments -- but <Dom> is right on the button I was about to push...

Confidence my dear, and avoid panicky prolonged...

At one point you could have withdrawn your Bishop to cover the back rank and kill the guy in the attack...

It's too early in the game to force matters without a line leading to a clear advantage. Black already has an edge: build on it. So castling was the right choice.

It's because the game dragged on that you regret the chance to set off fireworks earlier. But there are usually other chances for explosions.

Your use of the d-pawn as a weapon was excellent, I think ... up to the point where you played 44...Qc5 anyhow. Let's see how that might have gone ...

44 ... d1(Q)
45.Qc6+ Kf8
46.Rb8+ Nd8
47. um, what? No more checks apart from the inane Rxd8+ Qxd8. And after any other move Black quickly forces mate, eg

47.Qg2 Be5
48.Rb3 Bxg3+
49.Qxg3 Qc2+
50.Qg2 Qc7+
51.Kh1 Qe1+
52.Qg1 Qc6+ [heh!]
53.Kh2 Qe2+
54.Kg3 Qd6+
55.Kh4 g5+
56.Qxg5 hxg5#.

1) unexpected moves by your opponent
2) time (left on the clock)
3) your own expectations

Example: I have 15 minutes left and my opponent has 5. This suggests I should go for the kill and blitz him. But I recall that, a little earlier, I had 45 mins on the clock to his 10. So he's accelerating and I'm slowing down, which suggests I might actually be the one in time trouble.

In that case, I offered a draw, and I was right -- he was rated 2150, always gets into time trouble and is good at playing very fast.

A 2nd thought: I can play pretty well in serious time trouble, but I get nervy earlier with 10 or 15 mins left. So I start playing blitz too soon.

A complex dimension, time. If <x changes in a time t>, will exchanges bring us closer to teatime?

<What's up chuck?>

That's the stuff left over from last nights binge.

<So is the <Tim> er man game won yet? I can't really tell from the posts>

I'm clueless in Seattle. I've taken a break from the puppet game to make time for my latest obsession: adventure games. Go finger. Also the team's lack of discipline concerning posting on the main page has rancored. No wonder you couldn't follow the analysis.

<I posted a COMEDY in my forum if you get a chance to look at it.>

Chess is easy. Comedy is hard. I'm playing over the game now. Cogent babble to follow at 11. My first blush from your early comments is that you were thinking too defensively. This is that old problem we discussed about playing your style. Remember the words of General Patton - "Nobody every won a chess game by dying for their country. You win by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country. Stab him in the center. Spill his pawns. When you stick your hands in the goo that was once your best friend's position, you'll know what to do."

Comedy game babble:

6. Nf3? b6? - Looks like g6, Bg7, and 0-0 is better. This early it isn't clear where the QB should go. The KB clearly belongs on g7. After three moves, the future of the QB should be clearer.

13...0-0 - cxd4 is also good here and maybe better than Bxg3. Against a weaker player, Bxg3 may be enough to force an early resignation. However 0-0 is a fine move and not deserving of any criticism or anguish. In fact, after Ne5 Bc8, black is almost winning.

16. Qg4? Ne5 - 16...Qxc2 17. Qxd4 Ne5 kills. Notice how Qxc2 defends against Bh6.

17. Qd1 Qc6 - The queen is fine on c7. Qc6 forces Nd2 which white wants to play anyway. Rbc8 or Rfd8 is better. When ahead in development, continue to develop before action. Morphy and Tal followed this principle.

19. Ne4 Be7 - Bb4, adding to the pressure on c3, is more logical. After 20. Bd2 Be7, white is stuck for a move.

21. Bf4 Ng6 - Nf7 is much better. After black plays e5, the knight is orphaned on g6.

23. Qe2 d3 - This frees white's black squares which has immediate unfortunate consequenses. After 23...Ne5 24. f4 Nd3, white's position is a mess.

32. Qb1 Qa4 - 32...Bc5 prevents Rc2 and ends his misery. White has nothing better than 33. Kg2 e4 34. Resigns.

39. Qf1 Ne6??? - Not as bad as you say but not best of course. Bd6 appears most sadistic. Qe1 is just fine, of course.

40. Rb2 Bc3 - Bd6 is still the bomb.

41. Rb1 h6 - Be5 now. You seem to have g3 blindness.

43. Rb7+ Ke8 - Kg6 of course. You're still flailing at phantoms here.

Well, Jessie, that should give you enough to chew on. I hope this helps you.

I went through all your suggestions for breakfast before playing my game.

Heh I killed a crabby guy in a Scotch today-- He sacced two pawns for a BLISTERING attack but I managed to defend accurately and then COUNTER ATTACKED and he overlooked a "mate in two"

Heh

WHEEEEE

<I never wanted this for you, Tim>

Er... what is an "adventure game"? YOu better not be playing "dungions and dragons"..

I saw a <Tom Hank> movie where they all got killed playing that game.