Potpourri
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
”But it’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.”
–Alice (Alice in Wonderland)
A Picture is worth a 1,000 words…
Oops! What would Houdini do here….?!
The latest generation (I mean computers, ofcourse!)
”But it’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.”
–Alice (Alice in Wonderland)
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/24158845 w=400&h=225]
one step forward (award winning 48 hour film project) from ben crowell on Vimeo.
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one step forward (award winning 48 hour film project) from ben crowell on Vimeo.
BEWARE THE DEVIL!
I find the finish to the following game (played today in Moscow at the Aeroflot super-open) to be absolutely delightful! Black provoked some Queenside complications involving his c-pawn, no doubt hoping to trade it for White’s c-pawn. What happened next is one surprise shot after the other…ENJOY!
Sjugirov
Zhigalko
19. Nxc4! Nxc4 20. Bxc4 Qc7 21. Qd3 Rfc8
Black must have thought that he was doing well. If now 22.Ba6 then simply …Qxc3.
22. Bb5 !
Hitting the Knight with a gain of tempo. Black is still not too worried–even if he did infact overlook White’s last move– he sees some compensation if White will be forced to defend his backward pawn.
22… Nb6! 23. c4 !!
What is this? What is holding up this pawn?
23… Nxc4?! 24. Rec1 !
This move must have come as a cold shower to Black! If now 24… d5 then Black loses because of a weak back rank: 25. ed Rxb5 26. Rxc4! Qxc4 27. Qxc4 Rxc4 28. Ra8 Bf8 29. Bh6 etc.
24… Rxb5 25. Rxc4!
It looks as though Black must now resign! If the Queen retreats then White exchanges Rooks on c8 and picks up the Rook on b5
25… Rc5 !!
This really cool move almost saves the game! BUT White has seen more deeply…
26. dc !!
Only now does Black realize that he can not take the Rook on a1! 26… Bxa1 27. cd! Qxc4 28. Qxc4 Rxc4 29. d7!
Ouch! The pawn will score a touchdown!! Magic…
26… d5
27. Rcc1 !
White will be a full piece up and keep his c-pawn to boot!
[1:0]
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THE NASTY SURPRISE
POSITION AFTER WHITE’S 16th MOVE (16.f4)
gm TIMOFEEV
gm LASTIN
An interesting position. Black should play 16…0-0 and if White takes on e5 then take the e-pawn with the Knight. BUT, Black plays the natural move…
16… d6? 17. Nxd6!
A nasty surprise! If there has ever been a move that said ”Fuck you!!”, then this must be it. Black goes from a very playable game into a difficult , if not outright lost, game. Chess can be a very cruel game. One must never let one’s attention stray for even a second…
17… Qxd6 18. Bb5 Ke7 19. Qxd6 Kxd6 20. Rad1!
The point! White’s Rooks come into game with decisive effect. Here Black’s resistance snapped and he should play 20… Kc7 21. fe Nxe4 though after 22. Rd7 Kb8 23. Rfxf7 Bc8 24. Rde7 Black’s position is a disaster.
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