I should have taken more time and gone for safety...

Tough Lesson!!

Well I had him on the ropes and started to pick up pace as he did.

HOW STUPID,

I had several winning continuations and good endgame pawn up options, but I got reckless with my time.

Here's the position after <16. Rac1 Rfc8>

Me, White, to play

click for larger view

17. e4 is close to winning, and I saw it, but went for the second option Be2 --- why on earth I didn't take the time to calc e4 through I don't know. Probably because I felt hurried, and chose the "positional" approach here...

After 20. Qb3-a3 Rcb8

click for larger view

... I should of course had an easy ride to a possible win against his dying c-pawn (21. Nxd7 Qxd7 22.Ne5!), or at least gotten a draw by exchanging a few pieces at the right time, but I didn't and allowed a great counter attack; kudos to my opponent.

Why not go for a longer time control?

On FICS the sky's the limit... for <real chess>.

I don't know any <Dutch theory> myself.

<why on earth I didn't take the time>

Well you didn't give yourself enough time. Even with the increment, it's not enough time for serious chess- I don't like the increment because it's a deceptive thing IMO- It's tempting to think that it kind of gives you an almost "infinite time cushion," but just what do you do when you need longer than 15 seconds for them moves?

Specially in the endgame.

Remember when I got in the habit of playing my <Chessmaster> after work last year at <10 minutes each> time control, then got thumped a couple of times in a row- and then complained about it?

Then you posted to me <Ten minutes isn't enough time>.

That was emblazoned in my mind-

As the immortal <Frank Sinatra> counsels, "Do it My (your) Way"...

And on FICS we have that luxury!!

heh

I'm going for <2 hours each tomorrow>.

(remember that I do understand that I couldn't play competitively against you if I had 2 hours and you had 20 minutes on the clock- this "serious chess" idea is relative to playing strength, of course)

Also <Niels> you know what?

I just pulled a boner in one of my two correspondence games and it's been bugging me all afternoon.

You know, I believe I'm going to give it up.

Reason? I don't like it. I'm too obsessive/compulsive to enjoy Correspondence chess.

Thanks to FICS, I can do what I want now...

Just a quick question, I won quite a spectacular 2nd game 20m no incr - and that was better, as I knew I could trade down to a win in 2 minutes, if I had that left, or mate him, as happened...

But how can you draw a PGN from a played game?

I am now replaying it move by move on my engine to get the notation.

Nothing like getting right back up in the saddle.

I was thinking the same thing about PIG FILES- I bet we can find out from someone here or at the site.

I also just tracked back and verified the moves after my second game today. I always write down the moves on paper during a game.

And I went out and bought some snazzy new notebooks and pens to keep proper logs of my new <FICS> Chess career...

heh-

You know super jinx- I was just thinking more about this time issue-

I think it's difficult if not impossible to speculate about another player's experience with chess time controls.

I think it is too subjective a topic to make any useful generalizations.

but the <two minutes> thing--

I was JUST THIS SECOND thinking why I like the longer time controls-

Even on 10=15-20 minutes a side, I'm never ever not thinking about my time on the clock.

But on one hour each, or much better two hours each- I don't think about the clock at all for long, long stretches of time.

And in the back of my head, I do think- OK if I have a crushing position, I really only need about <two minutes> to mate someone.

JINX SUPER SPOOKY JINX

(two minute jinx category)

I will download <Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves> software tomorrow for my FICS games.

You know it never ceases to amaze me how you always SWOOP OUT OF NOWHERE with pinpoint information.

Is it something to do with being an owl?

pink dots.

<Jess> Well - I play with a certain steady pace, not thinking about the clock, I did that <before> I went in, and know, that if I spend 90 secs or 2mins to check for a certain tactic in the opening, and before you know it you may be down to 10 mins (in case 20min/game no incr.) - which means that if you're unlucky there is no tactic, but still a chance to bluff it, and otherwise keep balancing the time left to the choice of move, which is, as you say, not ideal.

It's not Chess for pure Chess, it's something else...

Good thing you dropped CC for the moment; gotta use your time wisely.

The game: this is where he (had to) sac the <g4>-knight for my f6 pawn

click for larger view

... and I kept building prseeure on his K-side

Have a look at this

Pos after 25...Rg8

click for larger view

... and even Deep Rybs couldn't save White here anymore.

I had 3min45 left at this point but White was collapsing, and he played pretty fast - even though he had <10> mins left!!!

He needs his Knight to stave off mate so it can't capture your <h pawn>, not to mention you can just evict it anyway and there's nothing he can do about it.

He has to play <Rc3-c2> here but it's not going to save him.

You can also march your <h pawn> down to help nail up the coffin.

Plus he can't move his <g-pawn> or it's INSTA MATE.

heh

Brilliant!!

26 Kf1

and now BxN is crushing as the d4 pawn was pinned because of the preparatory Rad8- vital to make it all work in the end, but with so much training against the damn engine, I now mobilize all my forces optimally, in order to engage in the tactical cash-in, with the most chances, recources, alternative threats...

I'm babbling but this felt good. Next time longer TCs.

Thing is those training sessions you do, from resigned positions, force you to not leave pieces and aquares <unattended>...

Especially when you find yourself booting the win when the game was resigned at <plus five pawns>....

heh

But like you said.

I keep track of these sessions and note where I screwed up in my chess log.

They can take hours for me to figure out sometimes.

HAHAHAAH

After all you are squaring off with a 2700 beast, seeing every defensive resource on the entire board.

After-

<Kf1 Bxf4
Rxf4 Qxg2+>

And you can force off the Queens and win a pawn with tempo and you're still up a piece.

Or even

<Kf1 Bxf4
Rxf4 Qb1+
Rc2? Rxg2+!>

Or if he defends this accurately-

<...Qb1+
Qc1 Bxg2+
Ke1 Qxc1
Rxc1>

I may have to investigate...

Oh no! heh

It's the Monk's Procession.

Today is a holy day here- celebration of <The Buddha's Birthday>.

HAHAHAAH

I love these people. The Monks' chanting sounds like mechanical dogs barking.

That's because they accompany themselves with these strange "scraping percussion instruments.."

They start the procession at the EXACT MOMENT the sun has finished setting...

I can see them from my window now..

FICS
Elephant
Game Two

You really stuck it to that guy good...

But it's true, you're sharp today, and not just with Chess calculations, as I just noticed over at N'Swaba.

Very energetic defense for the LOOOONG 2 hour Timecontrols, for afficianados.

I'm on your side, though Anand and several top GMs said that this might be good for Chess, with re to viewer interest (quantity) and therefor attracting sponsors....

Bloody double edged commercially driven sword this is.

Sword of...

Yes I know sponsors etc.

But you know what?

Chess is special, and chessplayers are special.

In the old days, you couldn't support yourself playing chess.

Did that prevent the greatest players from playing?

Probably not I bet. And <Dr. Euwe> and <Dr. Lasker> did their professional careers totally outside of chess and still dominated the chess world.

That's how good they were.

I don't think lower prize money would prevent today's elite from playing either. Example- if Magnus wanted to make lots of money I have no doubt he would be a fabulous success as a lawyer or businessman or something. But he wants to play chess. Not to get rich- because he loves it.

Think of all those GMs in the world who don't make a plug nickel.

They all study and play all the time and make ends meet as they can.

<Joshua Friedel> doesn't make any money, but he's super gung ho- a fresh American GM and what does he care?

I told all the Monks they had the wrong number of buttons on their robe thingies.

Even though things make little or no sense - even to the majotity of specialists involved, does NOT mean a certain development can be halted and or reversed.

But at some point a reversal will have to come, IMO.

But when?

And for ...

After all in Tennis "they" did effectuate measures to lessen the role of oversized rackets and super fast balls... In table tennis also, but the overall tendency is

that I will stop ranting and go get some groceries now.

Here's one to <integrity> and <autheticity>

Well there are success stories in sport like you said in tennis.

Also, in Lacrosse, a rule was passed so that goalies who were the exact shape of the net were banned. (That would have meant zero goals would be scored ever again).

Also, the curve on Hockey sticks was limited and the width of the ice hockey goalie's pads was shortened, in the interest of tradition.

Also, the <Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders> were forced to wear granny dresses.

So we do have some success stories in the preserving of traditinal integrity in many sports.

Also the movement to make the "golf hole" bigger was thankfully squashed as well.

Faster easier stupider is the "modern spectator taste" and it's an abomination before the eyes of the River Ganges.

Well Ok actually that didn't make any sense at all, but you get my point.

Personal taste- it's subjective, but we can at least lobby for it in the realm of discourse.

Try to convince other chess fans that our beloved sport/game/art is one to be savored- like a fine wine....