C62 Spanish Game: Steinitz Defence (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 Bd7 5.O-O)

For a long time now I have managed to take my time with the correspondence chess moves and as a result my moves have been quite decent. Today I went through the games at Chess.com and managed to move in around 60 games until I started something that would resemble a blunder marathon, so I decided I have to take a break before I ruin more of my games. I guess the chance of making idiotic moves increases when you are moving fast and not even looking the board properly... Speaking of game losing blunders I did one against the opponent that is featured in the game below. It did not happen in this game though but in our other encounter which sometimes still troubles me deeply when I close my eyes... Speaking of games that have haunted me for weeks after I have played them, I only remember one that I played several years ago in a close chess tournament. I had calculated a winning combination in that game but then I started to think that maybe there is something even stronger in that position, so I looked the position again and thought I found something better and of course then played that move. My originally calculated line would have won the game but the one I actually played lost the game. After that game, everytime I closed my eyes for a couple of weeks, I saw the position again in my mind where I could have won. I do not sleep all that well in the best circumstances but then it was much harder to get into sleep. I have updated some more positions today in the exercises section of the blog.

This game went horribly wrong for my opponent very early on. On move 5 sphagnis played the incomprehensible move Nb8. Moving the knight back to its original square is very passive and unnecessary. The moves 5...exd4 and 5...Nf6 are better options for Black in that position. I had the clearly favored position after my opponent's 5th move.

The move 5...Nb8 was seen in the position above. I replied with 6.Bc4, which was a good move, but 6.Qd3 might have been a better one. Then sphagnis played 6...Be6. Moving the bishop for the second time in a row in the opening in this case was a waste of time that my opponent could not afford. Admittedly it led to me moving my bishop for the third time, but the difference is that my third bishop move ruined my opponent's pawn structure and allowed me to win material. Already after six moves I was in a winning position.

[Event "AUTO-OPEN-3305"] [Site "http://www.queenalice.com/gam"] [Date "2014.08.08"] [Round "1"] [White "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Black "sphagnis"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C62"] [WhiteElo "2140"] [BlackElo "1694"] [Annotator "Stockfish 8 64 POPCNT (30s), TV"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 {Spanish Game: Steinitz Defense} 4. d4 Bd7 (4... exd4 5. O-O {Spanish Game: Steinitz Defense. Center Gambit}) 5. O-O {C62 Spanish Game: Steinitz Defence} (5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Bxc6 {Spanish Game: Steinitz Defense. Nimzowitsch Attack}) 5... Nb8 (5... exd4 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8. Re1 Nf6 9. Bf4 Be7 10. c4 O-O 11. Nc3 Ng4 12. h3 Ne5 13. Qe2 Re8 14. Rad1 Bf8 15. Nf3 c6 16. Rd2 Qe7 17. Red1 Be6 18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. Bxe5 Bxc4 20. Qxc4 { Pokojowczyk,J (2385)-Adamski,A (2365) Krakow 1978 0-1 (70)}) 6. Bc4 Be6 $146 ( 6... Qe7 7. Nc3 c6 8. Ng5 Nh6 9. Be3 b5 10. Bb3 a5 11. a4 b4 12. Ne2 f6 13. Nf3 Be6 14. d5 Bd7 15. Bxh6 gxh6 16. Nh4 c5 17. Ng3 Qf7 18. Bc4 Rg8 19. Be2 Qg7 20. Bh5+ Kd8 21. Qd2 {Mietner,F (2013) -Kraska,E (1449) Duisburg 2006 1-0 (64)}) ( 6... Nc6 7. c3 $16) 7. Bxe6 $18 fxe6 8. dxe5 Nc6 9. exd6 Qxd6 (9... Bxd6 10. Qe2 e5 11. b4 $18) 10. Qe2 $18 g6 $4 {sad, but how else could Black save the game?} (10... O-O-O $142 $18) 11. Rd1 Qb4 12. c3 (12. a3 {seems even better} Qe7 13. Bg5 Qg7 $18) 12... Qe7 (12... Qa4 {does not solve anything} 13. Ng5 Nd8 14. Bf4 $18) 13. Bg5 Nf6 (13... Qg7 {desperation} 14. Qc4 Be7 $18) 14. e5 Qc5 ( 14... Bg7 {there is nothing better in the position} 15. Nbd2 h6 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 $18) 15. Bxf6 Rg8 16. Ng5 Be7 17. Nxe6 Qa5 18. Nd2 Kf7 19. Ng5+ Kf8 20. Qc4 Nxe5 21. Bxe5 (21. Nxh7+ Ke8 22. Qe6 Nc6 23. Nc4 Rg7 24. Nxa5 Rxh7 25. Nxc6 Kf8 26. Nxe7 Rf7 27. Rd7 g5 28. Ng6+ Kg8 29. Qxf7#) 21... Rg7 22. Ne6+ (22. Bxg7+ Kxg7 23. Qf7+ Kh6 24. Qxh7+ Kxg5 25. Ne4+ Kf4 26. g3+ Kf5 27. Qf7+ Ke5 28. Qxe7+ Kf5 29. Qg5+ Kxe4 30. Qf4#) 22... Ke8 (22... Kg8 {cannot undo what has already been done} 23. Nxg7+ Kf8 24. Ne6+ Ke8 25. Nf3 Qa6 26. Nxc7+ Kf8 27. Nxa6 g5 28. Rd7 h6 29. Qe6 Re8 30. Qxh6+ Kf7 31. Nxg5+ Kg8 32. Qg7#) 23. Bxg7 c6 (23... b5 {does not help much} 24. Nxc7+ Qxc7 25. Qxc7 Rc8 26. Qxc8+ Kf7 27. Re1 Kxg7 28. Rxe7+ Kf6 29. Qe6+ Kg5 30. Nf3+ Kf4 31. Rf7#) 24. Ne4 Rc8 (24... Qd5 {doesn't get the cat off the tree} 25. Rxd5 cxd5 26. Qxd5 Kf7 27. N6g5+ Ke8 28. Nf6+ Bxf6 29. Bxf6 a6 30. Qf7#) 25. Nd6+ (25. Nc7+ Qxc7 26. Qg8+ Bf8 27. Qxf8#) 25... Bxd6 26. Rxd6 Qb5 (26... Qd5 {does not improve anything} 27. Rxd5 cxd5 28. Qxc8+ Ke7 29. Re1 d4 30. Qc7+ Ke8 31. Nxd4#) 27. Qf4 (27. Ng5 Qxc4 28. Re1+ Qe6 29. Rexe6#) 27... Qf5 28. Qxf5 (28. Ng5 Rc7 29. Re1+ Re7 30. Rxe7+ Kxe7 31. Bf6+ Qxf6 32. Qxf6+ Ke8 33. Qd8#) 28... gxf5 29. Ng5 Rc7 30. Re1+ (30. Bf6 Re7 31. Rad1 Kf8 32. Rd8+ Re8 33. Rxe8+ Kxe8 34. Rd8# ) 30... Re7 31. Rxe7+ (31. Re5 Rxe5 32. Bxe5 h6 33. Rxh6 f4 34. Rh7 Kd8 35. Ne6+ Kc8 36. Rc7+ Kb8 37. Rd7+ Ka8 38. Rd8#) 31... Kxe7 32. Re6+ Kd7 33. Kf1 a5 (33... h5 {is no salvation} 34. Rf6 c5 35. Rxf5 h4 36. Rf4 h3 37. Nxh3 c4 38. Ng5 Kc6 39. h4 a5 40. h5 a4 41. h6 a3 42. bxa3 b6 43. h7 Kc7 44. h8=Q Kb7 45. Rf7+ Kc6 46. Qc8+ Kb5 47. Rf5+ Ka4 48. Qa8#) 34. Ke2 (34. Rf6 h5 35. Rxf5 c5 36. c4 a4 37. Rf7+ Kc6 38. Ne6 a3 39. Nd8+ Kb6 40. Rxb7+ Ka6 41. b4 h4 42. b5+ Ka5 43. Nc6+ Ka4 44. Ra7#) 34... b5 (34... h5 {is not much help} 35. Bd4 c5 36. Bxc5 b6 37. Bxb6 a4 38. c4 Kc8 39. Re7 Kb8 40. Ne6 f4 41. Nc5 f3+ 42. gxf3 a3 43. Re8#) 35. Ke3 b4 (35... c5 {hardly improves anything} 36. Kf4 h6 37. Rxh6 a4 38. Kxf5 a3 39. bxa3 b4 40. Be5 b3 41. Ne4 b2 42. Nxc5+ Ke7 43. Rh7+ Kf8 44. Ke6 b1=Q 45. Rh8#) 36. cxb4 (36. Kd4 b3 37. axb3 h6 38. Rxh6 a4 39. Kc5 a3 40. Bf6 a2 41. Rh7+ Kc8 42. Kb6 f4 43. Rh8+ Kd7 44. Rd8#) 36... axb4 37. Kd4 h5 ( 37... b3 {doesn't improve anything} 38. a4 h6 39. Rxh6 f4 40. Kc5 f3 41. Rh7 fxg2 42. Be5+ Kd8 43. Kxc6 g1=Q 44. Bf6+ Ke8 45. Rh8#) 38. Kc5 f4 (38... h4 { does not save the day} 39. Bf6 b3 40. Re7+ Kd8 41. Kxc6 h3 42. Ne6+ Kc8 43. Re8#) 39. Bf6 h4 (39... f3 {doesn't change anything anymore} 40. Re7+ Kd8 41. Kxc6 b3 42. Ne6+ Kc8 43. Re8#) 40. Re7+ Kd8 (40... Kc8 {a fruitless try to alter the course of the game} 41. Kb6 b3 42. Re8+ Kd7 43. Rd8#) 41. Kxc6 b3 42. Ne6+ Kc8 43. Re8# 1-0

C47 Scotch Four Knights and Four Knights with 4.g3 (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.a3 d6)

The game below was played in the paweljaniak's mini-tournament I at GameKnot. The tournament started on December 13th, 2015. This mini-tournament uses the following time control, 3d +1d <5d. It means that everyone starts the games with initial time of 3 days and when you make a move, 1 day is added to your time, however, you can never have more than 5 days of thinking time per move. But because vacation time is allowed, players might have more than 5 days to think their moves at times when one of the players have postponed their games. I am currently on fifth place, but in case I win all my remaining games, I will finish on second place. I have finished 6 games so far and I have gathered 3 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses in those games. My opponent in this game, zanoni, has finished all but one of his 12 games in this tournament and has only managed to get 1.5 points in eleven games. His only remaining game is against me. Zanoni is currently on seventh place and if he wins our game, he will tie on sixth place if I win my game against chief_huerta, who is currently on sixth place in this seven player tournament. The order in the standings can therefore still change for all other players than paweljaniak, who has secured the win in his own mini-tournament.

[Event "paweljaniak's mini-tournament I"] [Site "http://gameknot.com/chess.pl?"] [Date "2016.02.20"] [Round "?"] [White "zanoni"] [Black "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C47"] [WhiteElo "1717"] [BlackElo "1759"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (5s), TV"] [PlyCount "140"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 (2... Nf6 3. Nc3 {1-0 (37) Hagarova,Z (2275)-Koval,A (2225) Slovakia 1997}) 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. a3 {C46 Four Knights Game: Gunsberg Variation} d6 {C47 Scotch Four Knights and Four Knights with 4.g3} 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. d3 {-0.05/22 } (6. O-O $14 {0.44/18}) (6. d4 a6 7. Be2 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. h3 Re8 10. Re1 h6 11. Bc4 Bf8 12. Ba2 Na7 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Nd5 Bc6 15. b4 Nb5 16. Bb2 Bxd5 17. exd5 e4 18. Nd2 Nd6 19. c4 b6 20. Rc1 Rb8 {Hagarova,Z (2275)-Koval,A (2225) Slovakia 1997 1-0 (37)}) 6... Be7 {0.66/20} (6... a6 $11 {-0.05/22} 7. Bc4 Be6) (6... Nd4 7. Bxd7+ Qxd7 8. Be3 c5 9. O-O a5 10. h3 h6 11. Bxd4 cxd4 12. Ne2 Be7 13. c3 dxc3 14. Nxc3 O-O 15. d4 Qc6 16. Re1 Nd7 17. Rc1 Nb6 18. Nd5 Qxc1 19. Nxe7+ Kh8 20. Qxc1 Rfe8 21. Nf5 {Bayer,M (1497)-Jelinek,S (1318) Heusenstamm 2018 1-0}) 7. h3 {0.13/22} (7. Bc4 $14 {0.66/20}) 7... Nd4 $146 {0.87/21} (7... O-O $11 {0.13/22}) (7... a6 8. Bc4 Na5 9. Ba2 c5 10. Be3 Nc6 11. O-O O-O 12. Nh2 b5 13. Kh1 b4 14. axb4 Nxb4 15. Bb3 Be6 16. Ba4 d5 17. exd5 Nbxd5 18. Bd2 Rb8 19. Nf3 Nxc3 20. Bxc3 e4 21. Ne5 Bd5 22. Nc6 {Hynninen,J (2126)-Alkkiomaki, J Finland 2005 1/2-1/2 (40)}) 8. Bxd7+ $16 {White is better.} Qxd7 9. Nxd4 { 0.14/20} (9. O-O $16 {0.79/19}) 9... exd4 $11 10. Ne2 c5 11. Bg5 {0.15/23} (11. b4 $14 {0.66/19}) 11... O-O 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Nf4 Qb5 {1.07/18} (13... Rae8 $11 {0.24/21 keeps the balance.}) 14. Rb1 {0.60/22} (14. O-O $16 {1.07/18}) 14... Qd7 {1.17/18} (14... Rae8 $14 {0.60/22}) 15. Nd5 {0.76/22} (15. Qg4 $142 { 1.17/18} Qa4 16. Qe2) 15... Bd8 16. O-O Qe6 {1.49/19} (16... f5 $142 {0.81/21}) 17. Qd2 {0.62/20} (17. f4 $16 {1.49/19}) 17... f5 $14 18. f3 Rc8 {1.19/17} ( 18... Rb8 $142 {0.76/21}) 19. g4 {0.43/25} ({Better is} 19. Kh2 $16 {1.19/17}) 19... fxe4 20. fxe4 Bh4 21. Qg2 {0.00/24} (21. Rf5 $16 {0.79/19}) 21... Qe5 { 0.79/21} (21... g6 $11 {0.00/24}) 22. Rf5 $16 Rxf5 23. gxf5 Kf7 24. Qg4 (24. c4 {is more complex.} dxc3 25. bxc3 Rb8 26. Kf1 g6 27. Qf3) 24... Qg3+ 25. Qxg3 Bxg3 {Endgame KRB-KRN} 26. Kg2 {0.45/24} (26. c4 $1 $16 {0.98/21}) 26... Be5 $14 27. Kf3 {0.41/24} (27. c4 $16 {0.97/21}) 27... c4 28. h4 {0.00/25} ({ White should play} 28. Ke2 $16 {0.78/20}) 28... cxd3 $11 29. cxd3 Rc2 30. b4 g6 31. fxg6+ hxg6 32. a4 Kg7 33. a5 Kh6 34. b5 {-0.69/23} (34. Nf4 $11 {0.00/29}) 34... Kh5 {0.00/26} (34... Ra2 $15 {-0.69/23}) 35. a6 bxa6 36. bxa6 Ra2 37. Nb4 {-0.76/24} (37. Rb7 $11 {0.00/29 remains equal.} g5 38. Rh7+ Kg6 39. Rxa7 gxh4 40. Nf4+ Bxf4 41. Kxf4) 37... Ra5 {-0.09/30} ({Black should try} 37... Ra4 $17 {-0.76/24}) 38. Kg2 $2 {-3.40/22 [#]} (38. Rg1 $11 {-0.09/30}) 38... Rb5 $19 ({ Not} 38... Kxh4 39. Kf3 $15) 39. Kf3 $2 {-5.04/23} (39. Kh3 {-3.03/26}) 39... Bf6 40. Kg3 Bxh4+ 41. Kf4 g5+ 42. Kf3 g4+ 43. Kg2 Kg5 44. Kh2 Kg6 45. Kg2 Bd8 46. Kg3 Kg5 47. Rf1 Rxb4 {KRB-KR} 48. Rf5+ Kg6 49. Rd5 Bc7 50. Kxg4 Kf6 51. Kf3 Ke6 52. Rh5 Bb6 53. Rh6+ Kd7 54. Rh7+ Kc6 55. Rh6 Rb5 56. Rh7 Re5 57. Rh6 Bc5 58. Rf6 Kb6 59. Rf5 Kxa6 60. Rf7 Kb6 61. Ke2 Re8 62. Kd2 a5 63. Rf1 Ra8 64. Rb1+ Bb4+ 65. Kc2 Kb5 66. Rh1 Rc8+ 67. Kb3 Rc3+ {Black mates.} 68. Kb2 Rxd3 69. Rh5+ Kc4 70. Rb5 Kxb5 {Accuracy: White = 26%, Black = 60%.} 0-1

C50 Hungarian Defence and Giuoco Pianissimo (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O d6 5.h3 Nf6 6.Nc3 a6 7.Re1 O-O)

This may come a bit later than usual but I still managed to get a daily update done. I have not updated any puzzles today and I might only get those updated tomorrow earliest. I have been quite busy today and I still need to go through my Chess.com games before the day is done. While I tried to find a game that featured an opening that I have not yet covered, I went through three games as I thought that only the third one was something I had not featured here before, but actually I was wrong in my assumption. The game below is the second game I went through and thought that I had done this opening already, but when I searched through all the posts I have done, I could not find it. Good news is that now I have a game to share tomorrow, day earlier than usual.

The first move that seems a bit odd to me, is the move 8.b3 and actually it is a novelty according to my reference database. Paulsains wanted to fianchetto the dark-squared bishop, but it does not look like the right idea when the other bishop is at c4. I replied with 8...Nd4, which placed the knight to a more active position and to a square from which it could not be driven out with a pawn so easily. Paulsains then traded the knights and I took back with the bishop, which left it to an excellent square. At d4 the bishop restricted the movement of both the knight on c3 and the pawn on f2.

Then my opponent finally placed the bishop to b2, which was the first step in getting out of the pin and trying to challenge the bishop at d4. I followed it up by moving developing my bishop to e6 and Paulsains exchanged the bishops on e6. It generated doubled pawns on the e-file for me, which I was content with because it also opened up the f-file to my rook's disposal. The rook on the f-file and the strong bishop at d4 could generate an attack towards f2.

In the diagram position above Paulsains played 14.Ne2, which was the game deciding blunder that allowed me to take on f2 with my bishop. My opponent did not resign so easily though, Paulsains kept on playing even after I won a piece in a position where I was up two pawns. My opponent continued the struggle up to the move 27...g6, but then decided that he or she had enough and resigned.

[Event "AUTO-OPEN-3305"] [Site "http://www.queenalice.com/gam"] [Date "2014.08.08"] [Round "1"] [White "Paulsains"] [Black "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "1890"] [BlackElo "2135"] [Annotator "Stockfish 8 64 POPCNT (30s)"] [PlyCount "54"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O d6 5. h3 Nf6 6. Nc3 a6 7. Re1 (7. d3 Be6 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Nd5 Qd8 11. c3 O-O 12. d4 Ba7 13. a4 a5 14. Qd2 Kh8 15. Ne3 exd4 16. cxd4 Bxc4 17. Nxc4 d5 18. exd5 Qxd5 19. Ne3 Qd7 20. Rfd1 Rad8 21. d5 Nb4 {Nogrady,V (2250) -Mathe,G (2380) Hungary 1992 0-1}) 7... O-O { C50 Hungarian Defence and Giuoco Pianissimo} (7... h6 8. Nd5 g5 9. Nh2 Rg8 10. Qf3 Rg6 11. c3 Nxd5 12. d4 Bxd4 13. cxd4 Nxd4 14. Qd3 Nf4 15. Bxf4 gxf4 16. Nf3 Bxh3 17. Nxd4 Bxg2 18. Bxf7+ Kxf7 19. Qc4+ d5 20. Qxd5+ Qxd5 21. exd5 Bxd5+ 22. Kf1 {Christopher,A-Asabri,H (2286) Mallorca 2004 0-1}) 8. b3 $146 (8. Nd5 Na5 9. Bf1 Nc6 10. c3 Nxd5 11. exd5 Ne7 12. d4 exd4 13. cxd4 Bb4 14. Re4 Nxd5 15. Bg5 Nf6 16. Rh4 h6 17. Bxh6 gxh6 18. Qc1 h5 19. Qg5+ Kh7 20. Bd3+ Kh8 21. Rxh5+ Nxh5 22. Qh6+ Kg8 {Mogstad,O-Moldskred,K Volda 1992 1-0}) (8. Nd5 Nxd5 9. Bxd5 Qf6 $11) 8... Nd4 $15 9. Nxd4 Bxd4 ({Inferior is} 9... exd4 10. Na4 Ba7 11. Bf1 $11) 10. Bb2 Be6 (10... b5 11. Bf1 $15) 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Rb1 (12. Qe2 Qe8 $15) 12... Nd7 $17 13. Rf1 Qh4 14. Ne2 $4 {strolling merrily down the path to disaster} (14. Qe2 $142 $17) 14... Bxf2+ $19 15. Kh1 (15. Kh2 Rf6 16. d4 Raf8 $19) 15... Qxe4 (15... Nf6 $142 {makes sure everything is clear} 16. Rxf2 Qxf2 $19) 16. d3 Qh4 17. Qd2 (17. Ng1 $19) 17... Rf7 18. d4 (18. Ng1 {cannot change what is in store for White} Raf8 $19) 18... exd4 (18... Raf8 $142 {keeps an even firmer grip} 19. dxe5 Be3 20. Qxe3 Rxf1+ 21. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 22. Ng1 $19) 19. Nxd4 (19. Bxd4 Raf8 $19) 19... e5 (19... Nc5 $142 {and Black can already relax} 20. Qe2 Ne4 21. Rxf2 Rxf2 22. Qg4 Qxg4 23. hxg4 $19) 20. Nf3 (20. Ne6 c6 21. Ng5 $19) 20... Rxf3 $1 {Deflection: h3} 21. Qd5+ (21. gxf3 Qxh3# {Mate attack Deflection}) (21. -- $140 Rxh3+ {Mate threat}) 21... Rf7 22. Rbe1 (22. Qc4 { cannot undo what has already been done} Qxc4 23. bxc4 Nc5 $19) 22... Raf8 ( 22... Nf6 23. Qd2 Nh5 24. Qc3 Ng3+ 25. Kh2 Qf4 26. Rxf2 Nf1+ 27. Kg1 Qxf2+ 28. Kh1 Qf4 29. Rxf1 Qxf1+ 30. Kh2 Rf2 31. Qc4+ Qxc4 32. bxc4 Rxc2 33. Ba3 Rxc4 34. Kh1 Rf8 35. Kg1 e4 36. Kh1 e3 37. Kh2 e2 38. Bc1 Rxc1 39. h4 e1=Q 40. Kh3 Rc3+ 41. Kh2 Qxh4+ 42. Kg1 Rc1#) 23. Re2 (23. Re4 {doesn't get the cat off the tree} Qh6 24. Re2 Nf6 25. Qxf7+ Rxf7 26. Rexf2 Qe3 $19) 23... Bg3 24. Re3 Nb6 25. Qe6 Bf4 (25... Qe7 $142 {and Black wins} 26. Qxf7+ Rxf7 27. Rxf7 Qxf7 28. Rxg3 Qf2 $19) 26. Ref3 Qf6 (26... Qh6 $5 {seems even better} 27. Qxh6 Bxh6 28. c4 $19) 27. Qg4 (27. Qxf6 {a fruitless try to alter the course of the game} Rxf6 28. c4 Nd7 $19) 27... Qg6 (27... Qg6 28. Qxg6 hxg6 $19) 0-1

B33 Sicilian: Pelikan and Sveshnikov Variations (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Nxe7 Qxe7)

Today was quite a good day for making moves, at least I managed to move in a lot more games than I usually am able to. Not sure if all the moves were that great but at least I don't think they were losing moves, so that is good enough for me. The game below is another quite a good draw considering the rating difference in favor of my opponent. I have played two games against this same opponent with a score of 1,5/2, so I have managed a good result against him, will it continue in the two games we have in progress at the moment, is still unclear to me. Oh yes and today I found out that the game I had problems with analysing, would have crashed other peoples programs as well, due to some bug that was in that program. Chessbase support told me that as soon as the next update comes to Deep Fritz 14, it will fix that little problem. I am waiting for that update quite eagerly so that I can share the game with all of you with analysis done to it. I have added more puzzles also today and one more game example in one of my older posts A15 English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense. Mikenas-Carls Variation.

This paragraph and the ones that follow it have been added November 9th, 2016. The previous sentence only applies to this first game. Both players played quite well until we reached the position below. The last move played in that position was 18.exd5. It was then that my opponent faced an important decision.

CCapivara did not see the danger in the position and played 18...Bxd5. The correct move was 18...Qc5 and it would have kept my opponent in the game. It was then up to me to find the best move, which I did as I played 19.Bxf6. My 19th move was the only move that enabled me to get an advantage. CCapivara's reply to the move was again very important and for the second time in a row my opponent blundered. CCapivara played 19...Qxf6, which could have been a losing move. A better alternative would have been 19...gxf6. I had to play once again the best move in order to take advantage of the blunder. Luckily it was easy enough to see that 20.Nxd5 wins because after 20...Rxd5 I have the move 21.Bh7+!! After my opponent took the bishop, I took the rook with my queen.

I was able to play reasonably well until it came to my 29th move, which I played in the position below. At this time I was rather worried about the possible counterplay that my opponent might get, so I thought that I have to make a passive move like 29.Rd2. My 29th move was a huge mistake. I should have played either 29.h3 or 29.h4 in order to open a square for my king to h2. Had I moved my h-pawn, this game might have had a different result, one more favorable for me...

The move I played was so bad that opponent could have won the game because of it. CCapivara replied correctly with 29...Qb1+, to which I of course answered with 30.Kf2. CCapivara took another wrong path after that and played 30...Nd3+. Had my opponent played 30...Qh1, I would have been quite lost. While 30...Nd3+ allowed me a chance to get a drawish position, but I chose the wrong square with my king. I should have gone to e2, but instead I played 31.Ke3. I did get another chance to fight for the draw when my opponent played 32...Nd1+, but again I messed up. I was a bit lucky as my opponent agreed to a draw after 37...Qf4+. After my 33rd move I should have probably lost the game, so I am happy with the draw.

[Event "AUTO-OPEN-3254"] [Site "http://www.queenalice.com/gam"] [Date "2014.05.16"] [Round "1"] [White "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Black "CCapivara"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B33"] [WhiteElo "2102"] [BlackElo "2245"] [Annotator "Stockfish 8 64 POPCNT (30s), TV"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 {Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation. Sveshnikov Variation Chelyabinsk Variation} Be7 10. Nxe7 Qxe7 {B33 Sicilian: Pelikan and Sveshnikov Variations} 11. Bd3 O-O 12. O-O h6 13. Bh4 Nd4 $146 (13... Be6 14. c3 g5 15. Bg3 d5 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Re1 Rad8 18. Qe2 b4 19. cxb4 Ndxb4 20. Rad1 Nxd3 21. Rxd3 Rxd3 22. Qxd3 Nb4 23. Qe2 f6 24. b3 Rd8 25. Nc4 Qc5 26. Qe3 Qxe3 27. fxe3 Nxa2 28. Ra1 {Gombar,P (2033)-Kimerling, M (2015) Slovakia 2012 1/2-1/ 2 (36)}) (13... Bb7 14. c3 Qe6 {1/2-1/2 (15) Gruenfeld,Y (2430)-Adorjan,A (2525) Riga 1979}) (13... Rd8 14. c3 d5 15. exd5 Rxd5 16. Qe2 Bb7 17. Rad1 Qe6 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Bh7+ Kxh7 20. Rxd5 Qg6 21. Qd3 Ne7 22. Qxg6+ Nxg6 23. Rd7 Bc8 24. Rxf7 Be6 25. Rc7 Bxa2 26. Ra1 Rd8 27. h3 Be6 28. Rc6 {Tomulic,T (1661) -Kovacic,L Topusko 2012 1-0 (39)}) (13... g5 14. Bg3 Nd4 15. c3 Ne6 16. f3 Nh5 17. Bf2 Nhf4 18. Bc2 Rb8 19. Qd2 Rd8 20. c4 b4 21. Nb1 a5 22. Ba4 Nc5 23. Bb5 Ba6 24. Bxa6 Nxa6 25. Be3 Ne6 26. Qf2 Nac5 27. Rd1 Na4 28. b3 {Kazakov,M (2261) -Aliev,I Kiev 2009 1-0 (55)}) 14. c3 {White threatens to win material: c3xd4} Ne6 15. Nc2 Bb7 (15... Nf4 16. Re1 $11) 16. f3 {Covers g4} (16. Ne3 $5 $14) 16... Rfd8 17. Ne3 d5 (17... Nf4 18. c4 $11) 18. exd5 Bxd5 (18... Qc5 $142 { and Black has air to breath} 19. Kh1 Nxd5 20. Nxd5 Rxd5 $11) 19. Bxf6 $16 Qxf6 $2 (19... gxf6 $142 20. Qe1 Nf4 $18) 20. Nxd5 $18 Rxd5 21. Bh7+ $3 {Discovered attack: d3, Qd1xd5} Kxh7 22. Qxd5 Rd8 23. Qe4+ g6 24. Rad1 Rxd1 25. Rxd1 Nf4 26. Rd7 Kg7 27. Qb7 $4 {hands over the advantage to the opponent} (27. Kf1 { might be the shorter path} g5 $18) 27... Qe6 $2 (27... Qf5 28. h4 $16) 28. a3 ( 28. Rd1 {keeps an even firmer grip} Qxa2 29. Qb8 Qe6 $18) 28... Qa2 $2 (28... Qf5 $142 29. h4 g5 $16) 29. Rd2 $4 {throws away the game} (29. h3 $142 $18 { secures the point}) 29... Qb1+ $19 30. Kf2 Nd3+ (30... Qh1 $142 {and Black can celebrate victory} 31. Qb6 Qxg2+ 32. Ke1 Qh1+ 33. Kf2 Qxh2+ 34. Ke1 Qh1+ 35. Kf2 Qg2+ 36. Ke1 Qxf3 $19) 31. Ke3 Nxb2 {Black has a mate threat} 32. Kf2 (32. Ke2 Nc4 33. Rd7 Qb2+ 34. Ke1 Qxc3+ 35. Kf2 Qe3+ 36. Kg3 Qf4+ 37. Kf2 Qf5 $11) 32... Nd1+ (32... Nd3+ 33. Rxd3 Qxd3 34. Qxa6 $17) 33. Rxd1 (33. Kg3 $142 $5 { must be considered} Ne3 34. Kf2 Nd1+ 35. Kg3 $11) 33... Qxd1 $17 34. Qxa6 Qd2+ 35. Kg3 $4 {cause more grief} (35. Kf1 Qd3+ (35... Qxc3 $6 36. Qxb5 e4 37. a4 $11) 36. Kf2 e4 (36... Qxc3 $6 37. Qxb5 e4 38. Qb4 e3+ 39. Ke2 Qc2+ 40. Kxe3 $11) 37. fxe4 Qd2+ 38. Kf1 Qf4+ 39. Kg1 Qxe4 40. Qxb5 Qe1+ 41. Qf1 Qxc3 $17) 35... Qf4+ (35... Qe1+ $142 {and Black takes home the point} 36. Kh3 g5 $19) 36. Kf2 $17 Qd2+ {Twofold repetition} 37. Kg3 Qf4+ 1/2-1/2

C55 Two Knights: 4.d3, 4.d4 exd4 5.e5 and Max Lange Attack (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.O-O d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Re1 Bf6)

What to say about the tournament I played last weekend, except that I managed to only get 2 points out of the possible 5. It was far from a good result but it does not bring me down all that much. I play more important games elsewhere these days than on close chess. Well, more important to me at least. With 264 games in progress at the moment I may end up having 300+ games if I am not careful... The amount of games I play now is still manageable though it does mean that I am only able to move in the games where I would lose on time if I would not move every day. I am planning to create a schedule where I would do all the games at Chess.com Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays while Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays I would move in my all Red Hot Pawn games. This I planned in order to manage my time better. Currently at 103 games at Chess.com and 149 RHP games in progress. As they are the two major contributors to my correspondence chess games, I feel that I need to start following that schedule as well as I possibly can.

Leduar took the first clear step in the wrong direction when my opponent played 14.Ne4 in the position below. The correct idea was to play the bishop to b2. Moving the knight to e4 was a bad idea, because it allowed me to ruin the pawn structure in front of leduar's king. I took advantage of my opportunity and replied by taking the knight on f3 with my bishop. It is true that I lose my bishop pair because of it, but the exchange was clearly in my favor.

The blunder my opponent made on his or her 14th move was the start of leduar's downfall. The game continued with the moves 15.gxf3 Bh4 16.Kh1 Qd5 and then my opponent made his or her final mistake by playing 17.c4. The problems that arose due to the pawn advance are that the pawn on b4 was no longer protected and the square d4 was no longer controlled by the c-pawn, which made the square d4 ideal place to move my knight to. My opponent never recovered from this blunder and I was able to checkmate my opponent on move 34 with the move Qxd1#. Admittedly I had a faster mate before, but I did not see it.

Game number two. This is the 48th game in the 100 rapid game match between these two players. My friend got his second win in a row in this match and decreased my lead to 9 points. The score after this game was 28.5 - 19.5. Even though losing two games in a row was not that big of a deal just yet, I needed to be careful not to lose too many games in a row and maybe even get a draw to break the losing streak as soon as possible in order to keep things still firmly in my control.

[Event "AUTO-MASTER-2088"] [Site "http://www.queenalice.com/gam"] [Date "2014.05.16"] [Round "1"] [White "leduar"] [Black "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "2022"] [BlackElo "2089"] [Annotator "Stockfish 8 64 POPCNT (30s), TV"] [PlyCount "68"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Be7 {Italian Game: Hungarian Defense} 4. c3 (4. d4 exd4 5. c3 Nf6 6. e5 Ne4 {Italian Game: Hungarian Defense. Tartakower Variation }) 4... Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. O-O d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1 Bf6 {C55 Two Knights: 4.d3, 4.d4 exd4 5.e5 and Max Lange Attack} 9. Bb5 (9. Nbd2 Nb6 10. Bb5 Qd5 11. Qb3 Qd8 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. Rxe5 Qxd3 15. c4 Qg6 16. Qg3 Bf5 17. Qf4 Be6 18. b3 Rfd8 19. Ba3 Qc2 20. Nf3 a5 21. h3 a4 22. Rg5 g6 23. Ne1 Rd1 { Podgursky,S (2260)-Pessi,E (2355) Bucharest 1996 0-1 (33)}) 9... Nde7 (9... Re8 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Nbd2 Nf4 12. d4 Nd3 13. Re3 Nxc1 14. Rxc1 exd4 15. Rxe8+ Qxe8 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 17. cxd4 Be6 18. b3 Bd5 19. Nc4 Rd8 20. Qd2 Bxc4 21. Rxc4 c5 22. g3 Qe7 23. Qa5 Rxd4 {1/2-1/2 (23) Garcia Lopez,J (1838) -Castro Lopez,S (1737) Martorell 2016}) 10. Nbd2 Bg4 $146 (10... a6 11. Bxc6 Nxc6 12. Ne4 Be7 13. Ng3 f6 14. b4 Bg4 15. h3 Be6 16. Bb2 Qd7 17. Qe2 b5 18. a3 Rad8 19. Rad1 Bb3 20. Rd2 Bd5 21. Rdd1 Bd6 22. c4 Bf7 23. c5 Be7 24. d4 Bb3 25. Rd2 {Bagheri,M (1958) -Kichukov,M (1821) Chennai 2012 1-0 (67)}) (10... a6 11. Bc4 $11) 11. Qc2 (11. h3 $5 Bf5 12. Ne4 $14) 11... a6 12. Bxc6 (12. Ba4 b5 13. Bb3 Bh5 $11) 12... Nxc6 $15 ({Worse is} 12... bxc6 13. Nxe5 Bf5 14. Ndf3 $16) 13. b4 (13. b3 Bf5 14. Ne4 Be7 $15) 13... Re8 {White has a cramped position} (13... Nxb4 14. cxb4 e4 15. Bb2 (15. Nxe4 $2 Bxa1 16. Bg5 f6 17. Qc4+ Kh8 18. Nxf6 Bxf6 19. Qxg4 Qxd3 $19) 15... exf3 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Qxc7 fxg2 18. Qxb7 $15) 14. Ne4 (14. Bb2 $5 $11 {is interesting}) 14... Bxf3 $17 15. gxf3 Bh4 16. Kh1 (16. a4 Qd5 $17) 16... Qd5 17. c4 (17. Bg5 Bxg5 18. Nxg5 f6 $17) 17... Qd7 $19 18. Rg1 Nd4 19. Qd1 Qf5 (19... f5 20. Ng3 $19) 20. Bh6 g6 21. Bg5 (21. Be3 Qxf3+ 22. Qxf3 Nxf3 $19) 21... Bxg5 22. Rxg5 Qe6 23. Nd2 (23. Rb1 $19) 23... Rad8 24. Nb3 Qf6 25. Rg3 b6 26. a4 $2 (26. Nxd4 Rxd4 27. Qe2 $19) 26... Nxb3 27. Qxb3 e4 28. Re1 ( 28. Rd1 {is not much help} exf3 29. c5 Rd4 $19) 28... exf3 (28... Rxd3 $142 { keeps an even firmer grip} 29. Qc2 Red8 $19) 29. Rxe8+ (29. Re4 $19 {is the last straw}) 29... Rxe8 30. d4 (30. Qd1 {hoping against hope} Re2 31. Kg1 $19) 30... Re1+ 31. Rg1 Rxg1+ (31... Qg5 32. h3 Qxg1#) 32. Kxg1 Qg5+ 33. Kf1 Qc1+ 34. Qd1 Qxd1# 0-1 [Event "Challenge 32662530"] [Site "online arena"] [Date "2015.08.21"] [Round "1"] [White "Tocklin, Tomi"] [Black "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "1663"] [BlackElo "1794"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (5s), TV"] [PlyCount "89"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 (2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Be7 (3... Nf6) 4. d3 {0-1 (39) Meszaros,R (2050)-Szabados,G Hungary 1999} (4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O {0-1 (33) Podgursky,S (2260)-Pessi,E (2355) Bucharest 1996})) 2... Nc6 3. d3 Nf6 4. Nf3 {C55 Italian Game: Two Knights Defense. Modern Bishop's Opening} Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. c3 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1 Bf6 {0.53/19 C55 Two Knights: 4.d3, 4.d4 exd4 5.e5 and Max Lange Attack} (8... Bg4 $11 {0.12/21}) 9. Nbd2 Nf4 {1.25/17} (9... Nb6 $11 { 0.24/22} 10. Bb5 Qd5 11. Qb3 Qd8 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. Rxe5 Qxd3 15. c4 Qg6 16. Qg3 Bf5 17. Qf4 Be6 18. b3 Rfd8 19. Ba3 Qc2 20. Nf3 a5 21. h3 a4 22. Rg5 g6 23. Ne1 Rd1 24. Rxd1 Qxd1 {Podgursky,S (2260)-Pessi,E (2355) Bucharest 1996 0-1 (33)}) 10. Ne4 $16 Bg4 {1.62/19} (10... Bf5 $16 {1.08/23 keeps fighting.}) 11. d4 $1 {0.50/21} (11. Bxf4 exf4 12. h3 Bh5 13. d4 g5 14. Qb3 Na5 15. Qb5 Nxc4 16. Qxc4 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Bg7 18. Qb5 h6 19. Qf5 c6 20. Kg2 Qb6 21. h4 f6 22. Rh1 Rad8 23. hxg5 fxg5 24. Qe6+ Rf7 25. Nd6 Rxd6 {Ahmadzada,A (2343) -Kifliuk,R chess.com INT 2018 1-0 (31)}) 11... Ng6 $14 (11... exd4 12. Bxf4) 12. d5 $146 ({Reject} 12. Nxf6+ $6 Qxf6 13. d5 Bxf3 $11) (12. Be3 exd4 13. Nxf6+ Qxf6 14. Bxd4 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Qxf3 16. gxf3 Nxd4 17. cxd4 Rad8 18. Rad1 Rd7 19. Re3 Rfd8 20. d5 Kf8 21. Kf1 Nf4 22. Re5 c6 23. d6 Rxd6 24. Rxd6 Rxd6 25. Ke1 Rd4 26. Re4 c5 {Meszaros,R (2050)-Szabados,G Hungary 1999 0-1 (39)}) 12... Nb8 {1.37/18} (12... Na5 $14 {0.58/24} 13. Bf1 b6) 13. Be2 {0.37/22} (13. h3 $16 {1.37/18} Bxf3 14. Qxf3) 13... Be7 14. c4 {-0.54/21} (14. h3 $14 {0.65/20} Bxf3 15. Bxf3) 14... Nd7 {0.09/22} (14... f5 $15 {-0.54/21} 15. Neg5 Bxf3 16. Nxf3 Nd7) 15. d6 {-0.69/21} (15. h3 $11 {0.09/22} Bxf3 16. Bxf3) 15... cxd6 { 0.09/21} (15... Bxd6 $1 $15 {-0.69/21} 16. Nxd6 cxd6) 16. Nxd6 {-1.27/19} (16. h3 $11 {0.09/21} Bxf3 17. Bxf3) 16... Qb6 {-0.02/21} (16... Nc5 $17 {-1.27/19} 17. Nb5 e4) 17. Nb5 $2 {-1.66/19 [#]} (17. Ne4 $11 {-0.02/21}) 17... a6 $2 { -0.05/23} (17... Bc5 $19 {-1.66/19} 18. Rf1 Nf6) 18. Nc3 $11 Bc5 19. Ne4 { -1.02/21} (19. Rf1 $1 $11 {-0.25/20}) 19... Be7 {0.19/22} ({Black should play} 19... Rfd8 $1 $17 {-1.02/21 ...Nf6 is the strong threat.} 20. Qc2 f5 21. Nxc5 Nxc5) 20. Be3 $36 {White has some pressure.} Qc7 {0.46/20} ({Black should try} 20... Qc6 $11 {-0.09/22} 21. Nc3 Nf6) 21. h3 {-0.09/23} (21. Nc3 $14 {0.46/20}) 21... Bf5 22. Nc3 Bc5 {0.96/21} (22... Be6 $11 {0.05/20}) 23. Nd5 $16 Qc6 { 1.65/20} (23... Qd8 $14 {0.70/22}) 24. Bxc5 $18 Qxc5 25. b4 $1 Qc6 $2 {5.57/20} (25... Qa7 $16 {1.34/23 is tougher.}) 26. h4 $2 {0.01/23} ({White must play} 26. Nh4 $1 $18 {5.57/20} Qe6 (26... Nxh4 27. Ne7+) 27. Nxf5 Qxf5 28. Bg4) 26... Rfe8 $11 27. b5 {0.00/22} ({Better is} 27. h5 $14 {0.58/20} Ne7 28. Bd3 Bxd3 29. Qxd3) 27... axb5 {1.12/20} (27... Qc5 $11 {0.00/22 remains equal.}) 28. cxb5 $16 Qd6 $1 29. h5 {0.60/22} (29. Rc1 $16 {1.15/18}) 29... Ne7 {1.18/20} ( 29... Ngf8 $14 {0.60/22}) 30. Bc4 Nxd5 31. Bxd5 Qb8 $2 {4.75/21} (31... Qf6 $1 $14 {0.69/22}) 32. Ng5 Re7 33. Qf3 Be6 34. Bxb7 Rxa2 $2 {8.78/19} (34... Ra7 { 3.60/22}) 35. Nxe6 $18 Qa7 36. Rxa2 Qxa2 37. Ng5 {[#] Threatens to win with Bd5.} h6 38. Ne4 Qb2 39. Bc6 Nf8 40. Qc3 Qa2 41. b6 f5 42. Nd2 e4 43. Qc4+ Qxc4 44. Nxc4 Re8 45. Bxe8 {Accuracy: White = 27%, Black = 20%.} 1-0

C41 Philidor Defence (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Be7 5.Bc4 Nf6 6.Nc3 O-O 7.O-O)

As I had an hour or so extra to use today, I updated the exercises section of the blog with more puzzles before I did this post. I kind of knew that clocks were changed again to winter time but completely forgot it when I put the alarm for today morning. I am not that annoyed for waking up earlier than I intended as I got to these updates before I need to go to play some close chess again and set the clocks for the next round. So far after three rounds I have one win, one draw and one loss. In order to increase my rating a bit I may need to get at least 1,5 points in the last two games. If my previous attempts have shown though, it is not looking so promising and it is much more likely for me to plummet my rating again. Well, as I have put a lot more effort into my online games which I have 259 currently in progress, if none of my opponents have resigned without me noticing, are therefore more important to me than the close chess games at the moment, so whatever happens in the last two rounds is not all that much of a concern for me.

[Event "AUTO-MASTER-2088"] [Site "http://www.queenalice.com/gam"] [Date "2014.05.16"] [Round "1"] [White "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Black "Takeda"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C41"] [WhiteElo "2105"] [BlackElo "2027"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (5s), TV"] [PlyCount "89"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 (2... Nf6 3. Nc3 d6 4. d4 exd4 {0-1 (60) Cuervo,A (1767) -Gomez Perdomo,J (1876) Bogota 2017}) 3. d4 exd4 {C41 Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation} 4. Nxd4 Be7 (4... Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7 {1-0 (52) Mustafin,N (2277)-Grigoriev,P (1814) Yakutsk 2012}) 5. Bc4 Nf6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. O-O {0.06/21 C41 Philidor Defence} (7. Bf4 $16 {0.78/18}) 7... c5 {0.90/18} (7... Nc6 $11 { 0.06/21 keeps the balance.}) 8. Nde2 a6 (8... Be6 9. Qd3 Nc6 10. Nf4 Bxc4 11. Qxc4 Nb4 12. Ncd5 b5 13. Qxb5 Nxc2 14. Rb1 Rb8 15. Qa4 Nb4 16. Rd1 Nfxd5 17. Nxd5 Re8 18. Be3 Nxd5 19. Rxd5 Qc7 20. h3 Bf8 21. Bf4 Re6 22. f3 g6 23. b4 { Laouini,S (2196)-Belkhodja,S (2499) Malakoff 2006 1/2-1/2 (62)}) 9. a4 Be6 { White is slightly better.} (9... Qc7 10. Ng3 Nc6 11. Bg5 Bg4 12. f3 Be6 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 Ne5 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Be2 Bd7 17. c4 f5 18. Re1 Qh4 19. Nf1 Rf6 20. g3 Qh3 21. f4 Ng6 22. Bf3 Raf8 23. Bg2 Qh6 24. Qe2 {Cuervo,A (1767)-Gomez Perdomo,J (1876) Bogota 2017 0-1 (60)}) 10. Qd3 $146 {0.65/23} (10. b3 $16 { 1.20/18}) (10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. Nf4 Qd7 12. e5 dxe5 13. Qxd7 Nbxd7 14. Nxe6 Rfc8 15. Ng5 h6 16. Nge4 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 b5 18. Rd1 Nf6 19. Ng3 c4 20. Be3 b4 21. Kf1 Kf7 22. Nf5 b3 23. c3 Rd8 24. Bb6 Rxd1+ {Mustafin,N (2277)-Grigoriev,P (1814) Yakutsk 2012 1-0 (52)}) 10... Nc6 $14 {[#] Hoping for ...Ne5.} 11. Bxe6 { 0.05/21} (11. Nf4 $1 $16 {1.01/20}) 11... fxe6 $11 12. Nf4 {-0.48/21} (12. Qh3 $14 {0.56/20}) 12... Ne5 $2 {2.15/19} (12... Qd7 $15 {-0.48/21}) 13. Qh3 $18 Qd7 {3.25/19} (13... Qc8 {2.15/25 was necessary.} 14. Qxe6+ (14. Nxe6 Re8 $16) 14... Rf7) 14. Qxe6+ Qxe6 15. Nxe6 Rf7 16. Nf4 Nfg4 {2.62/18} (16... Nc6 { 1.64/23 keeps fighting.} 17. f3 Nd7) 17. h3 Nf6 18. b3 Nfd7 19. Nfd5 Raf8 20. Be3 Nf6 21. f3 Nc6 22. Rad1 Nb4 {3.32/20} (22... Bd8 $142 {2.37/22} 23. Nf4 Ba5 ) 23. Nxb4 cxb4 24. Nd5 Nxd5 25. Rxd5 ({Weaker is} 25. exd5 a5 $16) 25... Rc8 26. Rf2 Rc6 27. Re2 Bf6 28. Bd4 Bxd4+ {2.34/22} (28... Rfc7 $142 {1.65/26} 29. Bxf6 gxf6) 29. Rxd4 {Endgame KRR-KRR} a5 30. Red2 Rfc7 31. Rxd6 Rxc2 32. Rxc2 Rxc2 {KR-KR} 33. Rd8+ Kf7 34. Rd7+ Kf6 35. Rxb7 Rb2 36. Ra7 Rxb3 37. Rxa5 Ra3 38. Ra6+ $2 {0.00/21 [#]} (38. Rf5+ $18 {2.52/21} Ke7 39. a5) 38... Kf7 $2 { 3.09/27} (38... Ke5 $11 {0.00/21 and Black is okay.}) 39. a5 b3 40. Rb6 Rxa5 41. Rxb3 h6 42. Rb6 Re5 43. Kf2 Rg5 44. f4 Rc5 45. Kf3 {Accuracy: White = 42%, Black = 37%.} 1-0

C01 French: Exchange Variation (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6)

I may be a bit busy this weekend but I will still try to update the blog in the best way possible. As I need to divide my time a bit more maybe than usual, I do this update between rounds of a close chess tournament. Every spare time that I can muster from playing that tournament and moving in my 237 or so correspondence chess games, I use to put more puzzles here and at least one new fully analysed game a day. I have added a bit more puzzles for you to solve in each of the categories starting from mate in ones and ending at a mate in seven exercise. Until next time, my fellow chess enthusiasts.

[Event "Challenge"] [Site "http://www.queenalice.com/gam"] [Date "2011.04.20"] [Round "?"] [White "coyote78"] [Black "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C01"] [WhiteElo "2038"] [BlackElo "2030"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (5s), TV"] [PlyCount "30"] [EventDate "2011.??.??"] 1. e4 (1. c4 e5 (1... Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. e3 e5 4. d4 exd4 {1-0 (16) Cano Aguilera,D (1600)-Torres,C (1850) Bogota 2016}) 2. e3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 exd4 5. exd4 {1/2-1/2 (48) Fodor,T (2430)-Erdelyi,Z (2380) Budapest 2009}) 1... e6 ( 1... d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. d4 {1-0 (47) Slawtschew,S (1663)-Gasch,F (1526) Leutersdorf 2003}) 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. c4 {C01 French Defense: Exchange Variation. Monte Carlo Variation} Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 {0.67/18 C01 French: Exchange Variation} (5... Be6 $11 {-0.10/20}) 6. Bg5 {-0.51/18} ({White should try} 6. Nf3 $14 {0.67/18}) 6... dxc4 {0.31/21} (6... Bb4 $15 {-0.51/18}) (6... Be7 7. Nf3 Bg4 8. Be2 dxc4 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. d5 Bxf3 11. gxf3 Ne5 12. f4 Nd7 13. Bxc4 O-O 14. O-O Bxc3 15. bxc3 Qf6 16. Qg4 Nb6 17. Bb3 a5 18. Rac1 Rfe8 19. c4 Re4 20. c5 Rxf4 21. Qg3 {Fodor,T (2430)-Erdelyi,Z (2380) Budapest 2009 1/2-1/2 (48) }) 7. Bxc4 $14 (7. d5 Nb8 8. Bxc4 Be7 9. Nf3 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. g4 Bg6 14. Nd4 Nd7 15. f4 Nb6 16. Bb3 h6 17. f5 Bh7 18. Ne4 Be5 19. Nf3 Re8 {1/2-1/2 (19) Asanin,V-Sobic,D (1973) Niksic 2017}) 7... Be7 $146 { 0.61/18} (7... Qxd4 $11 {-0.11/21} 8. Qe2+ (8. Qxd4 Nxd4 9. O-O-O (9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 c6 11. Nc7+ Kd8 12. Nxa8 Nc2+ 13. Kd2 Nxa1 14. Ne2 Bb4+ 15. Kc1 Be6 16. Rd1+ Kc8 17. Bxe6+ fxe6 18. Nf4 Re8 19. Kb1 b5 20. Kxa1 Kb7 21. Rd7+ Kxa8 22. Rxh7 e5 23. Nd3 Bd6 {Lupkowski,E (2155)-Wegner,R (2120) Brzeg Dolny 1995 1/2-1/ 2 (53)}) 9... Ne6 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nb5 Ke7 12. Kb1 Bd7 13. Nf3 c6 14. Nd6 b5 15. Bb3 Bh6 16. Nf5+ {1-0 (16) Cano Aguilera,D (1600)-Torres,C (1850) Bogota 2016}) 8... Qe5 (8... Be7 9. Nf3 Qc5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nd5 Qd6 12. Rd1 Kf8 13. O-O Rb8 14. Rfe1 Qe6 15. Nxe7 Qxe2 16. Rxe2 Nxe7 17. Rd8+ Kg7 18. Rxh8 Kxh8 19. Rxe7 Be6 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21. Rxe6 Rd8 22. g3 Rd1+ 23. Kg2 {Slawtschew,S (1663) -Gasch,F (1526) Leutersdorf 2003 1-0 (47)})) 8. Bxf6 {-0.39/20} ({White should play} 8. Nf3 $14 {0.61/18}) 8... Bxf6 $15 9. Qh5 $2 {-1.89/18 [#]} (9. Qe2+ $11 {-0.15/20 and White is okay.} Kf8 10. Rd1) 9... O-O $19 10. d5 $2 {-3.97/17} ( 10. O-O-O {-1.62/22}) 10... Qe7+ 11. Nge2 $2 {-7.11/20} (11. Kf1 {-2.73/23} Ne5 12. Re1) 11... Nd4 $2 {-1.79/22} (11... Bxc3+ {-7.11/20} 12. bxc3 Ne5) 12. O-O {-2.37/22} (12. d6 $142 $1 {-1.79/22} Qxd6 (12... cxd6 13. O-O) 13. O-O) 12... Qb4 13. Bd3 {[#]} g6 14. Qh6 Qxb2 15. Nxd4 $2 {-6.07/18} (15. Qe3 {-1.86/24}) 15... Qxc3 {Accuracy: White = 5%, Black = 28%.} 0-1

D11 Slav Defence: 3.Nf3 sidelines and 3...Nf6 4.e3 Bg4 (1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.e3 Nbd7)

With this post I am for now at least going through my games from Queen Alice Internet Chess Club, where my current rating is also my peak rating there 2153!! That is of course also my highest rating anywhere ever. As I have played 59 games there, the rating should be quite around where it should be compared to other players playing there. Maybe I am wrong in saying this but as I am quite far away from similar ratings at Chess.com, Red Hot Pawn or any other correspondence chess site, the player base might not be as good at Queen Alice as it is on other sites, so that the ratings there might actually have some air in them. Then again I mainly play tournaments at QA and tournaments where other people participating in the tournament are also near my rating, so when I lose, my rating won't drop as much as it might in tournaments or random games where there can be players much lower rated than I am and huge rating drop is much more likely. Currently the puzzle section of the blog has only one mate in one exercise as I have mostly concentrated on updating mate in three and mate in four sections. Mate in two moves has now eight positions there, mate in threes has 16, mate in fours has 14, mate in five has only two and mate in six has only one puzzle but I try to update them every now and then. If time allows, I will put more puzzles in those every day though this weekend seems a bit busy one again.

[Event "AUTO-OPEN-2232"] [Site "http://www.queenalice.com/gam"] [Date "2011.01.17"] [Round "1"] [White "boparame"] [Black "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D11"] [WhiteElo "2334"] [BlackElo "2016"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (5s), TV"] [PlyCount "78"] [EventDate "2011.??.??"] 1. Nf3 (1. d4 Nf6 (1... d5) 2. Nf3 {1-0 (48) Fikus,W-Horvath,J Bad Kuehlungsborn 1964}) 1... d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 (3. e3 Nbd7 4. c4 {1-0 (62) Hahn, M (2078)-Krueger,D (1696) Stuttgart 2010}) 3... c6 4. e3 {D11 Slav Defense: Quiet Variation} Nbd7 {D11 Slav Defence: 3.Nf3 sidelines and 3...Nf6 4.e3 Bg4} 5. Be2 (5. Nc3 g6 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. Bd2 Bg7 8. Qb3 Qb6 9. Bb5 O-O 10. Na4 Qe6 11. Rc1 a6 12. Bxd7 Nxd7 13. O-O b5 14. Nc5 Qf5 15. Ba5 Nxc5 16. Rxc5 Be6 17. h3 Rfc8 18. Bc7 Bf6 19. Rfc1 g5 {Kraidman,Y (2322)-Hocevar,N (2169) Saint Vincent 2001 1-0 (37)}) 5... Qc7 $146 {1.16/18} (5... e6 $11 {-0.02/21} 6. b3 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Bb2 Re8 9. Nc3 b6 10. Qc2 Bb7 11. Rfd1 Qc7 12. Rac1 c5 13. cxd5 exd5 14. Bd3 Rac8 15. Bf5 g6 16. Bh3 Rcd8 17. Qe2 Qb8 18. Ba3 Bf8 19. g3 Bg7 20. Bg2 cxd4 {Hahn,M (2078)-Krueger,D (1696) Stuttgart 2010 1-0 (62)}) (5... Ne4 6. Nbd2 Ndf6 7. Ne5 e6 8. O-O Bd6 9. Qc2 Qc7 10. Ndf3 c5 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Bb5+ Bd7 13. Nxd7 Nxd7 14. Bxd7+ Qxd7 15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. Rd1 O-O 17. b3 Rac8 18. Bb2 Na4 19. Qd2 Nxb2 20. Qxb2 {Fikus,W-Horvath,J Bad Kuehlungsborn 1964 1-0 (48)}) 6. Nc3 {0.12/22} (6. cxd5 $16 {1.16/18} Nxd5 7. O-O) 6... e6 $11 7. O-O { 0.02/21} (7. Bd2 $14 {0.52/19}) 7... Bd6 {0.98/17} (7... Be7 $11 {0.02/21}) 8. b3 {0.06/20} (8. Bd2 $16 {0.98/17}) 8... O-O {0.58/18} (8... e5 $11 {0.06/20}) 9. c5 Be7 10. Rb1 {-0.62/18} (10. b4 $11 {0.27/25}) 10... e5 11. b4 b5 {0.81/19 } (11... b6 $15 {-0.47/22 keeps the upper hand.}) 12. a4 $36 {White has some pressure.} a6 $1 13. dxe5 {0.34/19} ({White should try} 13. Ra1 $16 {0.86/20}) 13... Nxe5 $14 14. Nd4 {-0.14/19} (14. Nxe5 $14 {0.34/19} Qxe5 15. Bb2) 14... Nc4 15. a5 {-0.49/21} ({White should play} 15. h3 $11 {0.17/21}) 15... Be6 { 0.76/21} (15... Re8 $15 {-0.49/21}) 16. f4 $2 {-1.06/21 [#]} (16. Nxe6 $16 { 0.76/21} fxe6 17. Bd3) 16... Rae8 $2 {1.37/20} (16... Bd7 $17 {-1.06/21 keeps the pressure on.}) 17. Bxc4 $2 {-0.42/22} (17. Nxe6 $16 {1.37/20} fxe6 18. e4) 17... dxc4 {1.02/19} (17... bxc4 $15 {-0.42/22 stays ahead.} 18. Nxe6 fxe6) 18. Nxe6 {-0.42/22} (18. e4 $16 {1.02/19}) 18... fxe6 $15 19. e4 {-1.16/21} (19. Qf3 $15 {-0.55/22}) 19... Rd8 $17 20. Qc2 {-1.64/20} (20. Qe2 $1 $15 {-0.50/22} ) 20... Rd3 21. Rd1 $2 {-3.27/22} (21. e5 $17 {-1.46/23} Nd5 22. Nxd5 cxd5 23. g3) 21... Rfd8 {[#] Hoping for ...Rxc3!} 22. Rxd3 Rxd3 23. e5 Nd5 24. Nxd5 Rxd5 ({Don't do} 24... cxd5 25. Bb2 $17) 25. Bb2 Qd8 26. Bc3 Rd3 27. Rf1 {-2.55/20} (27. Rc1 $142 {-1.65/24}) 27... g6 {-1.12/27} (27... Qd5 $19 {-2.55/20 is more deadly.} 28. Rc1 g5) 28. Rf3 Rxf3 29. gxf3 Bh4 30. Qe2 Qd5 31. Kg2 Kf7 32. Kh3 Be7 33. Kg2 Bf8 34. Kf1 Bh6 35. Qe3 Qd1+ 36. Kg2 Qc2+ 37. Kg3 Qd1 {-0.62/34} ( 37... Bg7 $17 {-1.12/30}) 38. Qe1 {-1.13/30} (38. Qd4 $15 {-0.62/34} Qxd4 39. Bxd4) 38... Qd3 39. Qd2 Qxd2 {Accuracy: White = 19%, Black = 29%.} 1/2-1/2

C54 Giuoco Piano: 4.c3 Nf6, main lines with 5.d4 and 5.d3 (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 a6 6.Bg5)

With this post I am at long last at a point where I have posted example games of 100 different opening variations!! It is a milestone that has been long coming but it is finally here. The fact that this game happens to feature a win of mine even better though it just happened to be that way. If it had been a loss or a draw, I would have still posted it now. I put up a few exercise positions yesterday to mate in three and mate in four sections. I will most likely put more examples in the exercises section of this blog later today. Also all +1s are very much appreciated, so do consider doing those if you like the content I share with you.

This game was roughly evenly played for the first twelve moves. The position below is taken after my 12th move axb5. The move that my opponent should have played was most likely 13.Na3 and follow it up with 14.Qb3 perhaps.

Rcogley played Qb3 first, which was a huge blunder. It allowed me to play 13...Bxf2+, which wins a pawn and a rook for a bishop. I sometimes see tactical opportunities like this and seeing this tactic enabled me to win the game. The game did not end here though, the game ended in mate after 35 moves.

[Event "Let's Play!"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2008.07.08"] [Round "?"] [White "rcogley"] [Black "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "1603"] [BlackElo "1885"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (30s), TV"] [PlyCount "70"] [EventDate "2008.??.??"] {[%evp 16,69,27,0,34,33,30,25,44,40,47,-252,-254,-257,-257,-331,-215,-318,-320, -320,-298,-379,-365,-484,-381,-348,-302,-304,-301,-380,-372,-354,-350,-665, -681,-653,-692,-693,-668,-655,-616,-6198,-6198,-6198,-6198,-6191,-6191,-6179, -2591,-6170,-6070,-29987,-29988,-29996,-29997,-29999]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 {C54 Italian Game: Classical Variation. Giuoco Pianissimo} a6 6. Bg5 {C54 Giuoco Piano: 4.c3 Nf6, main lines with 5.d4 and 5. d3} d6 7. O-O (7. d4 exd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Nc3 h6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. O-O Bxc3 12. bxc3 O-O 13. Rb1 Na5 14. Be2 Bg4 15. h3 Bh5 16. Nh2 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 b5 18. f4 Qe6 19. f5 Qc4 20. Qd2 f6 21. Ng4 Rae8 {Tischbierek,R (2480)-Schoene,R (2345) Berlin 1991 1-0 (41)}) (7. h3 O-O 8. Nbd2 Be6 9. Bb3 Qe7 10. O-O b5 11. Qe2 Rae8 12. a4 bxa4 13. Bxe6 Qxe6 14. c4 a5 15. b3 Ne7 16. Be3 Nd7 {0-1 (16) Garcia Guevara,N (1780)-Otalora,C (2140) Bogota 2013}) 7... O-O 8. b4 $146 (8. h3 Be6 9. Bxe6 fxe6 10. Qb3 d5 11. Qxb7 Na5 12. Bxf6 Rxf6 13. Qxa8 Qxa8 14. b4 Bxb4 15. cxb4 Nc6 16. a3 Qb7 17. Nbd2 Qb5 18. Rac1 Nd4 19. Nxd4 exd4 20. Nf3 Qxd3 21. exd5 exd5 22. Rxc7 Qxa3 {Bashouti,M (1116)-Scholz,R (1165) Dresden 2012 0-1}) 8... Ba7 9. a4 {LiveBook: 6 Games} Be6 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. Re1 b5 12. axb5 (12. Re2 {seems wilder.} Rb8 13. Rea2 Bb6 14. Na3 Qd7 15. Qe2) 12... axb5 {[#] Threatens to win with ...Bxf2+!} 13. Qb3 $2 {-2.52/25 [%mdl 8192]} (13. Na3 $14 {0.47/26}) {[%tqu "En","","","","a7f2","",10]} 13... Bxf2+ $1 $19 { [%mdl 512]} 14. Kxf2 Rxa1 15. Na3 Rxe1 16. Kxe1 {-3.18/27} (16. Qxe6+ $142 { -2.15/26} Kh8 17. Kxe1) 16... Qd7 17. Nxb5 h6 18. Be3 Ra8 19. Kf2 Ng4+ 20. Ke2 Nxe3 21. Kxe3 Ne7 22. c4 c6 23. Nc3 Ng6 24. d4 $2 {-6.65/23 [#]} (24. g3 { -3.50/28}) 24... exd4+ 25. Nxd4 c5 26. Nf3 cxb4 27. Qxb4 Qa7+ 28. Kd2 Qf2+ 29. Kc1 Ra1+ 30. Nb1 Qf1+ 31. Ne1 Nf4 {-25.91/32} (31... Ne5 $142 {-61.79/30} 32. Qb8+ Kh7) 32. Kb2 Nd3+ 33. Kxa1 Nxb4 {Black mates.} 34. Nf3 Qxc4 35. Nfd2 Qa2# {Accuracy: White = 15%, Black = 68%.} 0-1

B73 Sicilian Dragon: Classical System without 9.Nb3 (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be2 Bg7 7.O-O O-O 8.Be3 Nc6 9.h3 Bd7 10.Qd2 a6 11.Rad1 Rc8)

This was played in a team match called friends of chess 3. It is an ongoing 21 board match between TRUE CHESS LOVER and *Haddad ROYAL CHESS CLUB.. The score in the match is 6,5 - 33,5 in favor of *Haddad ROYAL CHESS CLUB.. which of course means that the winner is already clearly known. I played board two in this match for *Haddad ROYAL CHESS CLUB.. so I was in the side of the winners this time. I did not play particularly well as I lost this somewhat easily and only won the other game due to a timeout. Well, no moves were made in the other game, so anything could have happened.

[Event "friends of chess 3 - Board 2"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2014.12.21"] [Round "?"] [White "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Black "tussnp"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B73"] [WhiteElo "1848"] [BlackElo "1546"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (5s), TV"] [PlyCount "38"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 (2... g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 {1/2-1/2 (36) Moe,M (2162)-Rostgaard,T (2353) Copenhagen 2017}) 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2 {B72 Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation} Bg7 7. O-O ( 7. Be3 Nc6 8. O-O {0-1 (22) Simon,G (1610)-Brethauer,S (1889) Bad Zwesten 2004} ) 7... O-O 8. Be3 Nc6 9. h3 (9. Qd2 Bd7 10. Rad1 Rc8 11. h3 {1-0 (83) Dgebuadze,A (2490)-Feller,S (2622) Ghent 2015}) 9... Bd7 10. Qd2 a6 (10... Rc8) 11. Rad1 Rc8 {0.54/19 B73 Sicilian Dragon: Classical System without 9.Nb3} ({ Black should try} 11... Nxd4 $11 {0.00/25} 12. Bxd4 Bc6) 12. f4 {0.09/22} (12. a3 $14 {0.54/19}) 12... b5 {0.65/21} (12... Nxd4 $11 {0.09/22} 13. Bxd4 Bc6) ( 12... Na5 13. b3 b5 {0-1 (22) Simon,G (1610)-Brethauer,S (1889) Bad Zwesten 2004}) 13. a3 Na5 {0.91/19} (13... Nxd4 $11 {0.30/22 keeps the balance.} 14. Bxd4 Bc6) (13... Qc7 14. Nf3 Be6 15. f5 Bc4 16. Bxc4 bxc4 17. Qf2 Rb8 18. fxg6 hxg6 19. Nd5 Qd8 20. Qh4 Nh7 21. e5 Rb5 22. exd6 Qxd6 23. Qxc4 Re8 24. Nc3 Na5 25. Qe2 Qe6 26. Nxb5 axb5 27. b3 Nc6 28. Rfe1 {Dgebuadze,A (2490)-Feller,S (2622) Ghent 2015 1-0 (83)}) 14. b3 $2 {-1.05/22 [#]} (14. e5 $16 {0.91/19 stays on course.} Nh5 (14... Ne8 15. Nf3 Be6 16. Ng5 Bc4 17. b3 Bxe2 18. Nxe2 Qc7 19. e6 f6 20. Nf3 Qxc2 21. Ned4 Qxd2 22. Bxd2 Nb7 23. Rc1 Nc7 24. f5 Nd5 25. b4 Nb6 26. Rc6 Rxc6 27. Nxc6 Re8 28. Nfd4 Nc4 29. Bc1 {Moe,M (2162) -Rostgaard,T (2353) Copenhagen 2017 1/2-1/2 (36)}) 15. exd6) 14... Qc7 {0.00/22 } (14... e5 $17 {-1.05/22} 15. Nf3 Qc7 16. fxe5 dxe5 17. Nxe5 (17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Qxc2 $17) 17... Qxe5) 15. b4 $146 {-3.53/20} (15. Nd5 $11 {0.00/22} Nxd5 16. exd5) (15. e5 Qxc3 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Qxc3 Rxc3 18. Bd3 Rfc8 19. Ne2 Rxc2 20. Bxc2 Rxc2 21. Nc1 Nxb3 22. Nxb3 Rc3 {0-1 (22) Simon,G (1610)-Brethauer,S (1889) Bad Zwesten 2004}) 15... Qxc3 $19 16. bxa5 Nxe4 17. Qd3 Ng3 {White must now prevent ...Bxd4.} 18. Rf2 Nxe2+ 19. Nxe2 Qxc2 0-1

C50 Hungarian Defence and Giuoco Pianissimo (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3)

Back to posting normally I hope... The game that I typed about yesterday still refuses to be analysed though. That being said it is mind-boggling why that one position can mess things up so badly on the program. I contacted ChessBase about my problem and exchanged some messages. I sent them the problem game to be checked on their end. What will most likely happen that they notice no problems there and might think me nuts but seriously ChessBase support has been really helpful with the problems I have had. The first one features a game I lost at Queen Alice Internet Chess Club over three years ago. Then my rating was nearly hundred points lower than it is now. I might start adding more exercise positions also today but tomorrow I will do that for sure.

This second game shows a game that is quite far from perfect but I played ok until my brain stopped working at move 27...Qg4?? This was the first Queen give away this year, I can only hope it is the last one. This was played in a team match called Slow players - open challenge. The two teams that are involved in this match are Dacii and Himgouree's club. I play board 3 in this match for Himgouree's club. There are two games left to finish in this match that is played on ten boards but the winner of the match is already decided and it is Dacii as they lead the match 12 - 6 at the moment.

[Event "Let's Play!"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2011.08.01"] [Round "?"] [White "liontiger"] [Black "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "1629"] [BlackElo "1904"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (5s), TV"] [PlyCount "21"] [EventDate "2011.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 {C50 Hungarian Defence and Giuoco Pianissimo C50 Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo} a6 5. Ng5 (5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bxc5 dxc5 8. h3 Qd6 9. O-O Bd7 10. a3 O-O-O 11. Ng5 Be8 12. Nxf7 Bxf7 13. Bxf7 Rdf8 14. Ba2 h5 15. Nd5 g5 16. c3 g4 17. Nxf6 Qxf6 18. hxg4 hxg4 19. Qxg4+ Kb8 {Del Valle Millan,D (2015)-Navarrete Espi,S (2169) Almansa 2011 0-1 (44)}) (5. c3 d6 6. Bb3 h6 7. Nbd2 Nf6 8. Nf1 O-O 9. Qe2 d5 10. Bc2 Re8 11. Ng3 Bg4 12. h3 Be6 13. O-O b5 14. Rd1 Qc8 15. Kh2 dxe4 16. dxe4 Bc4 17. Bd3 Bxd3 18. Rxd3 Rd8 19. Nf5 Rxd3 {Valduc,O (1785)-Conti,C (1588) Buenos Aires 2017 1-0}) 5... Nh6 6. Qh5 $146 {-0.11/20} (6. c3 $16 {1.02/16} Ba7 7. O-O O-O 8. Kh1 d6 9. b4 Ng4 10. Qe2 Qf6 11. f3 Nh6 12. g4 Ne7 13. Nxh7 Kxh7 14. g5 Qg6 15. gxh6 Bh3 16. hxg7 Bxf1 17. gxf8=N+ Rxf8 18. Qxf1 Rg8 19. Qh3+ Kg7 20. Qg3 Kf8 21. Qxg6 {Dimanoudis,P (1132)-Theotokis,M (1066) Porto Rio 2016 1-0 (41)}) (6. Qf3 O-O 7. Qg3 d6 8. Nf3 Be6 9. Bxh6 Qf6 10. Bg5 Qg6 11. Nh4 Qh5 12. Bf6 g6 13. O-O Qe2 14. Nc3 Qxc2 15. Nf5 Bxf5 16. exf5 Qxb2 17. Nd5 Nd4 18. Ne7# {1-0 (18) Palmer,M (1046)-Burk,E (1074) Wörrstadt 1999}) 6... Qf6 {0.46/22} (6... O-O $1 $11 {-0.11/20}) 7. Nc3 $2 {-6.68/18 [#]} (7. Nf3 $14 {0.46/22}) 7... Qxf2+ $19 {Black is clearly winning.} 8. Kd1 d5 9. Nxd5 Bg4+ 10. Qxg4 Nxg4 11. Nxc7+ 0-1 [Event "Slow players - open challenge - Board 3"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2014.10.20"] [Round "?"] [White "THEmorphy"] [Black "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "1818"] [BlackElo "1881"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (5s), TV"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 {C50 Hungarian Defence and Giuoco Pianissimo C50 Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo} a6 5. Nc3 (5. Ng5 Nh6 6. c3 Ba7 7. O-O O-O 8. Kh1 d6 9. b4 Ng4 10. Qe2 Qf6 11. f3 Nh6 12. g4 Ne7 13. Nxh7 Kxh7 14. g5 Qg6 15. gxh6 Bh3 16. hxg7 Bxf1 17. gxf8=N+ Rxf8 18. Qxf1 Rg8 19. Qh3+ Kg7 {Dimanoudis,P (1132)-Theotokis,M (1066) Porto Rio 2016 1-0 (41)}) 5... d6 { 0.78/17} (5... h6 $11 {-0.01/21}) 6. a3 $146 {-0.12/21} (6. Ng5 $16 {0.78/17} Nh6 7. h3) (6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bxc5 dxc5 8. h3 Qd6 9. O-O Bd7 10. a3 O-O-O 11. Ng5 Be8 12. Nxf7 Bxf7 13. Bxf7 Rdf8 14. Ba2 h5 15. Nd5 g5 16. c3 g4 17. Nxf6 Qxf6 18. hxg4 hxg4 19. Qxg4+ Kb8 20. f3 Rh4 {Del Valle Millan,D (2015)-Navarrete Espi,S (2169) Almansa 2011 0-1 (44)}) (6. h3 g5 7. Nxg5 h6 8. Nxf7 Qf6 9. Qf3 Qg7 10. Nxh8 Nf6 11. Nf7 Bg4 12. hxg4 {1-0 (12) Van den Bosch,D-Springelkamp,G Hengelo 2003}) 6... Be6 {0.54/19} (6... h6 $11 {-0.12/21}) 7. Bxe6 {-0.08/19} ( 7. Nd5 $14 {0.54/19}) 7... fxe6 $11 8. Na4 {-0.25/21} (8. O-O $14 {0.59/17}) 8... Ba7 {0.28/19} (8... Bd4 $142 {-0.25/21}) 9. Ng5 {-0.71/18} (9. O-O $11 { 0.28/19}) 9... Qe7 {-0.07/21} (9... Qf6 $17 {-0.71/18} 10. O-O Qg6) 10. Nf3 { -0.71/19} (10. O-O $11 {-0.07/21}) 10... Nf6 (10... O-O-O {feels hotter.} 11. O-O Nf6 12. b4 Rhf8 13. Be3 Nd4) 11. Bg5 {-1.30/19} (11. O-O $15 {-0.42/21}) 11... O-O {-0.17/21} ({Black should try} 11... O-O-O $17 {-1.30/19}) 12. O-O { -0.82/19} (12. Nc3 $11 {-0.17/21}) 12... Qd7 {0.00/22} (12... d5 $17 {-0.82/19} ) 13. Be3 {-0.53/19} (13. Nc3 $11 {0.00/22}) 13... Nd4 {-0.05/24} (13... Bxe3 $15 {-0.53/19 was preferrable.} 14. fxe3 d5) 14. Nc3 Qf7 {0.36/22} ({Better is } 14... Nxf3+ $15 {-0.62/19} 15. Qxf3 Nd5) 15. Na2 {-0.78/18} (15. Bxd4 $14 { 0.36/22 keeps the upper hand.} Bxd4 16. Nxd4 exd4 17. Ne2) 15... Nh5 {-0.29/21} ({Black should play} 15... Nxf3+ $17 {-0.78/18} 16. Qxf3 Bd4) 16. Bxd4 exd4 $2 {1.51/20 [#]} (16... Bxd4 $11 {-0.29/21} 17. Nxd4 exd4) 17. c3 $2 {-1.06/21} ( 17. Ng5 $16 {1.51/20 is necessary to keep the advantage.} Qg6 18. Nxe6 $1) 17... dxc3 $17 18. Nxc3 Nf4 19. Nh4 {-2.11/21} (19. Kh1 $17 {-1.12/23}) 19... g6 {-1.16/23} (19... Qf6 $19 {-2.11/21} 20. Nf3 Nh3+ $1 21. gxh3 Qxf3 22. Qxf3 Rxf3) 20. Ne2 {-2.16/20} (20. Kh1 $17 {-1.16/23}) 20... e5 $2 {-0.41/22 [#]} ( 20... g5 $19 {-2.16/20} 21. Nxf4 Qxf4) 21. Nxf4 $15 Qxf4 ({But not} 21... exf4 $6 22. Nf3 $11) 22. g3 {-0.83/18} (22. Nf3 $11 {-0.19/19 remains equal.}) 22... Qg5 {-0.36/22} ({And not} 22... Bxf2+ 23. Kg2 $16) (22... Qf7 $17 {-0.83/18}) 23. Ng2 $2 {-2.73/20} (23. Qb3+ $15 {-0.36/22} Kh8 24. Kh1) 23... Rf7 {-1.15/24 } (23... Rxf2 $1 $19 {-2.73/20 is more deadly.} 24. Rxf2 Rf8) 24. b4 {-1.89/20} (24. Qb3 $17 {-1.15/24}) 24... Raf8 25. Ra2 Kg7 26. h4 $2 {-9.48/20} (26. Nh4 $17 {-1.41/23}) 26... Qxg3 $19 27. d4 Qg4 $4 {11.86/21} (27... Bxd4 $19 { -9.41/24} 28. Qxd4 exd4 29. fxg3 Rxf1+ 30. Kh2 R8f2 31. Rxf2 Rxf2) 28. Qxg4 { Accuracy: White = 12%, Black = 23%.} 1-0

Deep Fritz 14 crashes and ruins my daily update schedule

Sometimes I get very annoyed with computers and programs I have in them and yesterday was one of those moments where I just wanted to throw my computer away... I have analysed maybe 60-80 games with my Deep Fritz 14 and used Stockish 5 64 SSE4.2 as the analysis engine to go through my finished games but last Saturday evening was the first time the program became unresponding while it was on full analysis mode. On move 35 it just stopped and did not want to continue anymore. I thought that it was a momentary crash and I should be able to get the analysis done the second try but no, the program still worked fine until it came to that same move 35. I tried moving the game to a different database in case the old one was somehow corrupted and did not work anymore but it still did the same thing. Then I tried to reinstall the program surely it would work now. Nope, it still stopped the analysis on move 35 and the program did not respond anymore. Then I downloaded the pgn for that game again, tried to do the analysis again but still it failed utterly in the same position. I became quite frustrated with the program at this point. Finally I gave up on that game and inserted the moves that were played in the close chess team match game I played Saturday and tried to analyse that game and for some reason that worked start to finish without problems. I even had the same analysis settings that I had in the failed attempts. What can we learn from this? I may have found a position that can't be analysed using that full analysis function. I may need to contact Chessbase about this problem but before I do, I will try to analyse another game and maybe the same length game as the one that keeps failing for some reason or the other. Because this particular problem and partly due to stuff that required my attention elsewhere I wasn't able to post any new content Sunday, sorry for that. I could have posted new positions but after the problem I tried to fix and failed at it, I was too tired to do those.

D38 Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defence (4.Nf3 Bb4) (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 O-O)

Today was somewhat a good day to move in the various games of mine. I actually managed to get my Chess.com games so that there were only 8 games in which it was my turn to move, I have not managed that in a long time. I still need to go through my Red Hot Pawn games some time today. I add more puzzles probably later on today if time allows. There will always be something new in this blog every day or that is my intent anyway. The main focus of this blog might still be for some time game examples of new openings that I have not covered before but when those stop appearing something else will take its place. Even after there are no new opening variations to cover, I will keep updating the older posts with new games.

[Event "Let's Play!"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2010.11.29"] [Round "?"] [White "flo25"] [Black "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D38"] [WhiteElo "1759"] [BlackElo "1883"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (5s)"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2010.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 (1... d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 {1-0 (32) Szabo,V-Pataki,B Ajka 2005}) 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 (3. Nc3 d5 {1-0 (24) Graeser,K-Schorn,C St Ingbert 1987}) 3... d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 {D38 Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense} 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 O-O {0.32/19 D38 Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defence (4.Nf3 Bb4)} (6... c5 $15 {-0.35/18}) 7. Bg5 {-0.37/20} (7. e3 $14 {0.32/19}) 7... b6 {0.32/17} (7... c5 $15 {-0.37/20}) (7... Nbd7 8. e3 b6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Bd3 {1-0 (24) Graeser, K-Schorn,C St Ingbert 1987}) 8. cxd5 exd5 9. e3 {The position is equal.} Bb7 { 0.72/19} (9... h6 $11 {-0.19/21 remains equal.} 10. Bh4 Nbd7) 10. Bd3 {0.31/22} (10. Ne5 $16 {0.72/19}) 10... Nbd7 {1.04/19} (10... h6 $14 {0.31/22} 11. Bh4 Qd6) 11. Ne5 $146 {[#] Black must now prevent Nxd7.} (11. O-O c5 (11... h6 12. Bh4 c5 13. Bc2 Qc7 14. Bg3 Qc6 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 Rac8 17. Qd3 g6 18. Rfc1 Ng4 19. Bg3 Rfe8 20. Qd1 Qe6 21. h3 Nf6 22. Qf3 Ne4 23. Ba4 Bc6 24. Bd1 Bd7 25. Bf4 Kh7 26. Qe2 {Szabo,V-Pataki,B Ajka 2005 1-0 (32)}) 12. Ne5 h6 13. Nxd7 hxg5 14. Nxf8 Qxf8 15. f3 Qe8 16. Qe2 c4 17. Bc2 Bc8 18. e4 dxe4 19. fxe4 Ba6 20. Rf5 g4 21. Raf1 Qe7 22. e5 Nd5 23. Qe4 Bb7 24. Rxf7 {1-0 (24) Graeser,K-Schorn, C St Ingbert 1987}) 11... Qe8 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Qh5 {0.82/24} (13. Qg4 $142 { 1.27/19}) 13... f5 14. Qxe8 Raxe8 15. Bf4 c6 16. Kd2 h6 {1.44/20} (16... Rf6 $142 {0.92/24}) 17. h4 {0.81/22} (17. a4 $142 {1.44/20}) 17... Rf7 {1.32/21} ( 17... c5 $142 {0.81/22}) 18. f3 {0.89/22} (18. Rhb1 $142 {1.32/21}) 18... Nf8 19. Raf1 Ne6 20. Be5 {0.66/23} (20. Bh2 $16 {1.12/19}) 20... Rc8 {1.79/21} ( 20... Nc5 $14 {0.66/23}) 21. g4 {0.87/22} (21. a4 $18 {1.79/21}) 21... fxg4 22. fxg4 {[#] Hoping for Bh7+!} Nf8 {2.26/22} (22... Rcf8 $16 {0.91/23}) 23. h5 { 0.99/25} (23. Rf4 $18 {2.26/22 and White stays clearly on top.}) 23... Re8 { 1.88/21} (23... Rxf1 $16 {0.99/25 keeps fighting.} 24. Rxf1 Ne6) 24. Rf4 Bc8 25. Rhf1 {0.97/25} (25. Rxf7 $18 {1.85/19} Kxf7 26. Rg1) 25... Be6 {1.80/21} ( 25... Rfe7 $16 {0.97/25}) 26. Bd6 $2 {0.28/26} (26. Rg1 $1 $18 {1.80/21}) 26... Rxf4 $11 27. Rxf4 Bf7 {1.04/20} (27... Nh7 $14 {0.47/24}) 28. Bxf8 {0.21/24} ({ White should play} 28. a4 $16 {1.04/20}) 28... Rxf8 $16 {0.66/20 Endgame KRB-KRB} (28... Kxf8 $11 {0.21/24} 29. e4 Ke7) 29. e4 {0.00/33} (29. Bf5 $14 { 0.66/20}) 29... Be6 (29... Be8 $5 30. Rxf8+ Kxf8 $11) 30. Ke3 Rf7 31. e5 Rc7 $2 {1.90/22} (31... Rxf4 $11 {0.21/29} 32. Kxf4 Kf7) 32. Bf5 $18 Bf7 33. Rf2 c5 $2 {3.39/25} (33... Re7 {1.87/24} 34. a4 Be6) 34. dxc5 Rxc5 $2 {4.15/22} (34... bxc5 {2.45/23 might work better.} 35. Kf4 Kf8) 35. Bh7+ $2 {0.09/25} ({Better is} 35. e6 $18 {4.15/22} Be8 36. Kd4) 35... Kxh7 $11 36. Rxf7 {Kd4 is the strong threat.} Rxc3+ $2 {4.85/22 KR-KR} (36... Rc4 $11 {0.00/23}) 37. Kd4 $18 Rxa3 {17.00/22} (37... Rc1 $142 {4.84/26} 38. e6 (38. Kxd5 Rd1+ 39. Kc6 Re1 $18 ) 38... Kg8 39. Rxa7 Rc4+ 40. Kxd5 Rc8) 38. e6 {White threatens e7 and mate.} Kg8 39. Rf5 {55.04/27} (39. Rf1 $142 {#36/29} Ra4+ 40. Kxd5 Ra5+ 41. Kd6 Ra3 42. e7 Rd3+ 43. Kc6 Rc3+ 44. Kb7) 39... Ra1 40. e7 Rd1+ 41. Kc3 Re1 42. Rf8+ Kh7 43. e8=Q {Accuracy: White = 24%, Black = 14%.} 1-0

B01 Scandinavian Defence (1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.dxc6 Nxc6 5.Nf3)

I may have been a bit too optimistic on the speed on which I start to update the exercises section of this blog. I will do my best in the time restrictions I have, in order to get nice amount of content posted here. I have rearranged a bit this blog, there used to be a post called Bonus content part one but now it is transferred into the mate in one page and the old post deleted. I might be somewhat busy this weekend so not sure how much content I will be able to put here but starting from Monday I should get that stuff that keeps me busy out of the way. By the way if you happen to like this blog, tell your friends about it, would be much appreciated. If you have any questions or some suggestions about the blog, I would like to hear about them in the comments.

[Event "Let's Play!"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2010.11.29"] [Round "?"] [White "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Black "PirateAbu"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B01"] [WhiteElo "1906"] [BlackElo "1672"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (5s), TV"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2010.??.??"] 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4 c6 {B01 Scandinavian Defense: Panov Transfer} 4. dxc6 Nxc6 5. Nf3 {B01 Scandinavian Defence} Bg4 {0.65/19} (5... e5 $15 { -0.52/20} 6. d3 e4 7. dxe4 Qxd1+ 8. Kxd1 Nxe4) 6. Be2 {0.20/19} (6. d3 $14 { 0.65/19 is more appropriate.}) 6... e6 {0.88/21} (6... e5 $11 {0.20/19 remains equal.}) 7. O-O {0.42/22} (7. Nc3 $16 {0.88/21}) 7... Qc7 {1.34/19} (7... Bc5 $14 {0.42/22}) (7... Bd6 8. Nc3 {1-0 (25) Dinu,S (1092)-Ichim,D (1017) Calimanesti 2015} (8. d4 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 Nxd4 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bh4 g5 12. Bg3 Bxg3 13. fxg3 Nxf3+ 14. gxf3 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 Ke7 16. Nc3 Rhd8 17. Rxd8 Rxd8 18. Rd1 Rxd1+ 19. Nxd1 {1/2-1/2 (19) Said,M (2245)-Mir Habibi,A Iran 1993}) 8... O-O 9. Nh4 Bxe2 10. Qxe2 Nd4 11. Qd1 Bb8 12. Nf3 Nxf3+ 13. Qxf3 Qc7 14. g3 Qd7 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Qc6 17. Qxc6 bxc6 18. d4 e5 19. Be3 exd4 20. Bxd4 Rd8 21. Bc3 c5 22. Rad1 Bc7 23. Rfe1 {Firuta,R (1142)-Anghel,R (1331) Calimanesti 2018 1/2-1/2 }) 8. Nc3 {0.90/22} (8. d3 $142 {1.34/19}) 8... Bd6 {1.52/19} (8... Be7 $142 { 0.90/22}) 9. Nb5 $146 {1.09/22} (9. h3 $142 {1.52/19} Bxf3 10. Bxf3) (9. d3 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Bxh2+ 11. Kh1 Bd6 12. g3 O-O 13. Bg5 Be7 14. Kg2 h6 15. Bf4 e5 16. Be3 Rad8 17. Rh1 Rd6 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 Nd4 20. Be4 Qb6 21. Qd2 Bg5 22. Bxg5 hxg5 23. Bh7+ Kh8 {Dinu,S (1092)-Ichim,D (1017) Calimanesti 2015 1-0}) 9... Qb8 {1.87/21} (9... Qe7 $16 {1.09/22}) 10. Nxd6+ {1.15/21} (10. h3 $18 { 1.87/21} Bxf3 11. Bxf3 (11. Nxd6+ Qxd6 12. Bxf3 Rd8 $16)) 10... Qxd6 $16 11. d3 {0.86/21} (11. h3 $18 {1.63/20} Bxf3 12. Bxf3) 11... Ne7 {2.29/18} (11... O-O $16 {0.86/21 might work better.}) 12. Bg5 {1.28/20} (12. Qa4+ $18 {2.29/18} Nc6 13. b3) 12... O-O {1.95/18} (12... h6 $16 {1.28/20}) 13. Qc2 {1.10/22} (13. h3 $18 {1.95/18 Hoping for Bxf6.} Bf5 14. Bh4) 13... Rac8 {1.66/20} (13... Nf5 $16 {1.10/22}) 14. Rac1 {1.00/21} (14. Rfe1 $18 {1.66/20}) 14... Nf5 {1.84/21} ( 14... Rfd8 $16 {1.00/21}) 15. Qc3 {0.55/20} (15. Qd2 $18 {1.84/21}) 15... Nh5 $2 {2.91/24 [#]} (15... Bxf3 $14 {0.55/20} 16. Bxf3 Nd4) 16. h3 $18 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 ({Stronger than} 17. gxf3 Nf4 $17) 17... Nf4 18. Rfd1 $2 {0.00/24} (18. c5 $18 {2.95/23} Qc7 19. Bxf4 Qxf4 20. Bxb7) 18... Nd4 $11 19. Bxf4 Qxf4 20. Re1 { -0.63/22} (20. Qe1 $11 {0.00/24}) 20... Nxf3+ $15 21. gxf3 Qxf3 {0.20/23} ( 21... Rfd8 $15 {-0.64/20}) 22. Re3 {-0.52/20} (22. d4 $11 {0.20/23} Qf4 23. Qe3 ) 22... Qf5 {0.10/22} ({Better is} 22... Qf4 $15 {-0.52/20}) 23. Rg3 {[#]} (23. Rce1 {seems wilder.} Qc5 24. Re4 Rfd8 25. R1e3 Qe7 26. d4) 23... g6 24. Re1 { -0.27/21} (24. a4 $142 {0.15/23}) 24... Rfe8 {0.37/19} (24... Qc5 $11 {-0.27/21 }) 25. d4 {-0.13/24} (25. Re5 $14 {0.37/19} Qf4 26. Rg4) 25... Qf6 {0.66/19} ( 25... b5 $11 {-0.13/24} 26. c5 Red8) 26. c5 {-0.33/19} (26. Re5 $14 {0.66/19}) 26... Red8 {0.09/23} (26... Qd8 $15 {-0.33/19}) 27. Rd1 $2 {-1.49/19} (27. Re5 $11 {0.09/23}) 27... Qe7 {-0.73/22} ({Black should try} 27... Rd5 $1 {-1.49/19} 28. Rf3 Qg5+ 29. Kh2 Rcd8) 28. b4 a5 $1 {-0.33/24} 29. a3 {-1.01/21} (29. Rb1 $15 {-0.33/24}) (29. bxa5 Rxc5) 29... axb4 30. axb4 b6 {0.00/23} ({Black should play} 30... Rd5 $1 $17 {-1.16/20} 31. Rgd3 Qc7) 31. Re1 bxc5 32. dxc5 Rd7 {0.68/21} (32... Rd5 $11 {0.00/25}) 33. c6 Qd8 $2 {2.88/21} (33... Rd5 $11 {0.29/22 and Black stays safe.}) 34. Re5 {1.68/26} (34. b5 $142 {2.88/21}) 34... Rd1+ 35. Kg2 $1 Rc7 $2 {3.52/21} (35... f6 $16 {1.44/25 was worth a try.} 36. Rc5 Rd5) 36. b5 $18 Rb1 $2 {4.55/22} (36... Rc8 {2.47/24} 37. Qc5 Rd6) 37. Rd3 Qb8 {9.24/21} (37... Qf6 $142 {4.49/25} 38. Qc5 h5) 38. Rd7 Rxd7 39. cxd7 Rd1 40. Qc8+ {Accuracy: White = 17%, Black = 2%.} 1-0

C51 Italian Game: Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+)

Now that I am only a few posts away from making post number 100, I thought about adding also other content than these analysed games here in larger quantities, mainly that means exercises where you need to find mate in one, mate in two etc. or some tactical exercises where you need to see what move combination wins material. I will start adding those later on today but trying to do maybe 10-20 positions per day or even more if I have the time. Sometimes it feels like that there is not enough hours in the day, especially when you need to move in quite a lot of games, maintain daily updates in this blog and do other stuff that require my attention in some way. I would like to maybe read the books I have ordered earlier this year, 24 books still unopened and in the queue and one that I am currently reading and trying to at least read one chapter a day.

[Event "Let's Play!"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2010.12.05"] [Round "?"] [White "mouradrita"] [Black "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "1346"] [BlackElo "1895"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (5s), TV"] [PlyCount "48"] [EventDate "2010.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 (2. Bc4 Nc6 {1-0 (20) Nelson,L (1590)-Sugar,Z (1759) Jamaica 2006}) 2... Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 {C50 Hungarian Defence and Giuoco Pianissimo} 4. Bxf7+ {C51 Italian Game: Jerome Gambit} Kxf7 5. Nxe5+ Nxe5 6. d4 (6. Qh5+ Kf8 ( 6... Ng6 7. Qd5+ Kf8 8. Qxc5+ d6 9. Qe3 Nf6 10. d4 Kf7 11. O-O Rf8 12. f4 Kg8 13. c4 Ng4 14. Qg3 Qh4 15. Qxh4 Nxh4 16. h3 Nf6 17. Nc3 Ng6 18. Bd2 b6 19. e5 Nh5 20. Ne2 dxe5 21. fxe5 {Morin,L-Occilien,J Montreal 2015 1/2-1/2 (43)}) 7. Qxe5 d6 8. Qc3 Qf6 9. Qxf6+ Nxf6 10. Nc3 Be6 11. d3 Ke7 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 g5 14. Bg3 Nh5 15. Ne2 Nxg3 16. Nxg3 d5 17. Rf1 Rad8 18. O-O-O Bd6 19. Ne2 dxe4 20. Rfe1 exd3 {Kivela,J-Ebeling,D Mariehamn 2008 0-1 (51)}) 6... Bxd4 $146 ( 6... Bd6 7. dxe5 Be7 8. O-O d6 9. f4 g6 10. e6+ Kg7 11. f5 Nf6 12. Nc3 c6 13. Bg5 Qb6+ 14. Kh1 Qc7 15. fxg6 hxg6 16. Bxf6+ Bxf6 17. Rxf6 Kxf6 18. Qd4+ Kxe6 19. Qxh8 Rb8 20. Rf1 Qe7 {1-0 (20) Nelson,L (1590)-Sugar,Z (1759) Jamaica 2006} ) 7. Qxd4 d6 8. O-O {Black is clearly better.} Nf6 9. f4 Nc6 10. Qd3 Re8 11. Qc4+ {-4.88/21} (11. Nc3 $142 {-3.07/21}) 11... Be6 $19 12. Qa4 Qe7 13. b3 Bd7 14. Bb2 {-6.07/20} (14. Qc4+ $142 {-4.20/23} Qe6 15. Qxe6+ Rxe6 16. e5 dxe5 17. fxe5 Nxe5 18. Nc3) 14... Qxe4 {Black is clearly winning.} 15. Qb5 Qe3+ 16. Kh1 Qe2 17. Qxe2 Rxe2 18. Na3 a6 19. Rab1 Rae8 20. h3 Ne4 21. Rg1 Re6 22. Kh2 Nd2 { [#] White must now prevent ...Nf3+.} 23. f5 Re8 24. Rbf1 Nxf1+ {Accuracy: White = 19%, Black = 55%.} 0-1

D00 1.d4 d5: Unusual lines (1.d4 Nf6 2.c3 d5 3.e3)

This is a game I played over three years ago at GameKnot. As I am currently only barely over 1700 there my rating has not made huge leaps in three years but then I haven't played there all that much during that time. I have removed some of the games that were seen under this post as I noticed they belong to a different opening. When I published this post the first time, I only used one source for looking up openings and then I thought that it would have all possible variations and only couple of months ago, I realized that it was not the case. Now I use a couple of sources to confirm the openings. Whenever I saw mistakes I have done in this blog, I will always correct them as well as I can. If you see mistakes on the name of the openings and maybe you think that some game should be under a different opening, please let me know, so that I could correct the matter. This was updated September 20th 2015.

[Event "Let's play chess"] [Site "http://gameknot.com/chess.pl?"] [Date "2011.01.02"] [Round "?"] [White "omangomang"] [Black "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D00"] [WhiteElo "1364"] [BlackElo "1666"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (5s), TV"] [PlyCount "78"] [EventDate "2011.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 {A45 Indian Game} (1... d5 2. e3 Nf6 {1/2-1/2 (43) Custodio,M (1755) -Belliard Alonzo,J (1636) Santo Domingo 2016}) 2. c3 d5 3. e3 {D00 1.d4 d5: Unusual lines} c6 (3... Nbd7 4. Nf3 {1-0 (33) Roth,J (1923)-Duric,R (1737) Berlin 2013}) 4. Nf3 (4. Bd3 Bg4 5. Qc2 Bh5 6. Nd2 Nbd7 7. f4 e6 8. Ndf3 Bg6 9. Nh3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Ne4 11. O-O Bd6 12. b3 O-O 13. Bb2 Qe7 14. Kh1 f5 15. Qe2 h6 16. Rg1 Ndf6 17. Nf2 Ng4 18. Nxe4 dxe4 {Stock,J (1948)-Stockmann,M (2255) Frankfurt 2011 0-1}) (4. f4 Bf5 5. Nf3 e6 6. Be2 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. Qb3 Qc7 9. Ne5 Ne4 10. Qd1 Nd7 11. Bf3 h6 12. Nd2 Nxd2 13. Bxd2 Bxe5 14. fxe5 c5 15. Qe2 c4 16. e4 Bh7 17. Qe3 Nb6 18. exd5 Nxd5 {Custodio,M (1755)-Belliard Alonzo,J (1636) Santo Domingo 2016 1/2-1/2 (43)}) 4... Nbd7 5. Nbd2 $146 (5. Bd3 Qc7 6. Nbd2 e5 7. dxe5 Nxe5 8. Nxe5 Qxe5 9. Nf3 Qc7 10. O-O Bg4 11. h3 h5 12. Re1 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 O-O-O 14. e4 dxe4 15. Bxe4 Bd6 16. Bf5+ Kb8 17. Bg5 Rde8 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Rxe8+ Rxe8 {Roth,J (1923)-Duric,R (1737) Berlin 2013 1-0 (33)}) 5... Qc7 6. Nb3 {-0.90/20} (6. c4 $11 {0.26/23 remains equal.}) 6... e5 7. Ng5 {-1.78/21} ( 7. dxe5 $15 {-0.67/21} Nxe5 8. Nxe5 Qxe5 9. Qd4) 7... Bd6 8. Bd3 {-2.54/19} (8. c4 $17 {-1.53/23}) 8... h6 9. Nf3 $2 {-4.72/18 [#]} (9. Nh3 {-1.91/20}) 9... e4 $19 10. Nh4 exd3 11. Qxd3 Nb6 12. a4 Be6 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. Qxf5 O-O 15. Nd2 Rfe8 16. Nf3 Qd7 17. Qxd7 Nbxd7 18. a5 c5 19. h3 b6 20. axb6 axb6 21. Rxa8 Rxa8 22. O-O Ra1 23. dxc5 bxc5 24. Nd2 Ne5 25. b3 Nd3 26. Bb2 Rxf1+ 27. Kxf1 Nxb2 28. f3 Nd1 29. e4 Nxc3 30. exd5 Nfxd5 31. Nc4 Bg3 32. f4 Nxf4 33. Ne3 g6 34. Ng4 Kg7 35. Ne5 Nd1 {[#] ( -> ...Ne3+)} 36. Nd7 Ne3+ {Black mates.} 37. Kg1 Ne2+ 38. Kh1 Nd1 39. Nxc5 Nf2# {Accuracy: White = 8%, Black = 27%.} 0-1

E21 Nimzo-Indian: 4.Nf3 (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 b6 6.Nf3)

For the first time for some weeks I was able to move in enough games at Red Hot Pawn that there were only like 14 games in which it was my turn to move. I will try to do the same at Chess.com there I usually have 50+ games that are waiting for my move, compared to Red Hot Pawn it is not that much as in RHP there are over 70 games every day waiting my move. For a brief moment I was under 200 games in progress today but after couple of team matches started, I am back around 200 games. I wonder if I can get clearly under 200 games at some point as it does seem that new games end up starting in the place of the finished ones.

Game number two. The game below was played on the third round of the Sarah's Mini Cooper Tournament (No 52). With this win I had finished all but one game in group 4 and I was one full point away from advancing to the next round. I did manage to win my last game and that meant that I ended up on second place in the final standings of group 4. Our group was won by erimus (2195) with a score of 8 out of 8! I tied second place with quequeg, we both gathered 4.5 points in 8 games. Our group might be the only one where three players advanced, but two groups are still in progress and it is not clear yet what will happen in those groups. It has been somewhat tougher each round to advance to the next round, so fourth round might mean the end of the tournament for me, depending on who will play on the same group with me. I would really like to end up in the final round and have a chance to win one of those special trophies that this tournament offers.

It is kind of weird to think that castling and bringing your king to safety can be considered a bad move, but there has been numerous examples in my games where castling has been in fact a bad move, sometimes even the game losing move. When quequeg played 10.O-O, his position started to go downhill and was not able to recover during the rest of the game. He should have gone for 10.e4, which might be the best chance for White to keep the game in balance. It is probably important to note that 10.O-O was not the losing move of the game, quequeg did have chances to hold a draw after that move. With his next move he goes further down the drain. Even after that quequeg does get to a position where he is only slightly worse after I played the move 14...Qc7. The losing move of the game was most likely 22.Bxc4 after which I played well enough not to give anymore chances to my opponent to equalize the game.

Game number three. This game was played on the first round of the 2015 October Grand Split Three Seven I 1800+ tournament that is being played at Red Hot Pawn. I have gathered 45 points so far and I have only one game left to finish. My last game is against funkydunky71 (1960), who is also at 45 points. However, funkydunky71 has 4 games left to finish and therefore has chances to overtake me in the standings. I am on the shared 5th place at the moment with funkydunky71. My opponent in this game, IyoKobat, has gathered 24 points so far and has one game left, which means IyoKobat can get to 27 points in case he wins his last game. IyoKobat is currently on 11th place but by winning that last game, he can get to 10th place in the final standings.

The move 5...b6, the first move that is out of theory, is something I like to play in that position. Well, I guess it could have transposed into a theoretical position had my opponent played 6.e3 and I would have continued with 6...c5. The reason I go for 5...b6 is that I want to play my bishop either to b7 or a6 as soon as possible and if I would wait, then maybe my opponent could play g3, followed by Bg2. However, there is a problem for White if he decides to fianchetto the bishop and that is the c4-pawn. After the bishop has been fianchettoed, it is much harder to defend the c4-pawn. I usually play for Ba6, Nc6, followed by Na5 to increase pressure towards that pawn. The idea is also to play d5 at a convenient moment to increase pressure towards the pawn.

I think the first questionable move from my opponent is Qd3 in response to Ba6. The queen does protect the pawn, but it is very badly placed at d3, allowing me to play d5 and possibly win the pawn from c4. After the moves 8.e4 d5, my opponent noticed the akwardly placed queen and played Qc2. At this point the accident had already happened and only if I am not up to the task, can my opponent get some counterplay and maybe even the game. There are a few options to consider after 8.Qc2, 8...Nxe4, 8...dxe4, 8...dxc4 and 8...Bxc4. Neither 8...dxc4 or 8...Bxc4 seem to do all that much because to dxc4 White can play Qa4 and if Bxc4, then Bxc4 followed up with Qa4, should be good for White. The other two options Nxe4 and dxe4 seemed better to me at first, but I had to dismiss the idea of Nxe4 in view of cxd5, after which I would be in huge trouble. That only left dxe4, which I think is the best move in the position. IyoKobat played 10.Ng5, which I think is not the ideal move, even though it does get a pawn back. The problem is that I can win the c4-pawn now. Hmm, maybe there was nothing better because the alternative Nd2 followed by Qa4, g3 and Bg2 is a bit slow and passive way to handle the position. In the game continuation I am able to win the pawn after some preparatory moves. I had to wait until move 15 to start capturing on c4 because had I done that immediately after Qxe4, then Qc6+ would have won the game for my opponent. Even after I had won the pawn, the position was not all that easy to play due to the fact that I had weak dark squares around my king. After 24.Rd7 I was in some difficulties and I thought that my opponent certainly had some compensation for the pawn. I think I was able to play quite well and after 29.g3 I was very confident about my winning chances because I was able to first trade the menacing rook on the 7th rank and after I saw the move 31.Qc3 from my opponent, I knew that I will win the game because I can trade queens and the rest of the game should be risk free to play for the win as I was two pawns up in material. 31.Qc3 is basically the last try from my opponent to win the game as he threatens mate in one. I may have been falling to such threats in the past, but not anymore.

[Event "Let's Play!"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2010.11.21"] [Round "?"] [White "vliet"] [Black "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E21"] [WhiteElo "1671"] [BlackElo "1858"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (5s), TV"] [PlyCount "70"] [EventDate "2010.??.??"] 1. d4 (1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. d4 b6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. a3 Bxc3+ {0-1 (22) Faraj,Y (2284)-Neverov,V (2568) Amman 2008}) 1... Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 {E24 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Saemisch Variation. Accelerated} b6 6. Nf3 { -0.56/18 E21 Nimzo-Indian: 4.Nf3} (6. e3 $14 {0.41/22}) 6... Ba6 {0.21/22} ( 6... Bb7 $15 {-0.56/18}) 7. e3 {-0.37/20} ({Better is} 7. Nd2 $11 {0.21/22}) 7... Nc6 8. Bd3 Na5 {Black is slightly better.} 9. O-O {-1.10/21} (9. Nd2 $11 { -0.08/23 remains equal.} c5 10. O-O O-O 11. Qe2 d5 12. cxd5 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Qxd5 14. e4 Qd8 15. f4 Rc8 16. Rf3 Re8 17. Bb2 c4 18. Qc2 Nb3 19. Nxb3 cxb3 20. Qxb3 Nxe4 21. c4 Nd6 22. Rc1 {0-1 (22) Faraj,Y (2284)-Neverov,V (2568) Amman 2008}) (9. Qe2 Qc8 10. e4 d6 11. Bg5 Nd7 12. Nd2 h6 13. Bf4 e5 14. Bg3 Nc6 15. Nb3 O-O 16. O-O f6 17. f4 f5 {0-1 (17) Achour,A-Moueden,M (1997) Staoueli 2014}) 9... Bxc4 $17 10. Ne5 $146 {-1.18/19} ({White should play} 10. Bxc4 {-0.73/25} Nxc4 11. Qa4) (10. Re1 d5 11. Bc2 O-O 12. Ne5 Nd7 13. f4 f5 14. Nf3 Qf6 15. Nd2 Qh4 16. Nf3 Qh5 17. Qd2 Nb7 18. Bd1 Qh6 19. Be2 Nd6 20. Bxc4 Nxc4 21. Qe2 Nf6 22. Ne5 Nxe5 23. fxe5 Ne4 24. c4 c6 {Perez Fajardo,D (1580)-Tolosana Esteban,E (1799) Madrid 2012 1-0 (64)}) 10... Bxd3 11. Nxd3 {-1.80/20} (11. Qxd3 $17 { -1.14/22} d6 12. Nc4) 11... O-O $19 12. Rb1 {-1.94/21} (12. f3 $17 {-1.36/24}) 12... Nc4 {-1.14/24} (12... d5 $19 {-1.94/21} 13. f3 Rc8) 13. Qe2 {-1.88/19} ( 13. Ne5 $17 {-1.14/24} Nxe5 14. dxe5) 13... Ne4 {-1.14/22} (13... d5 $19 { -1.88/19} 14. f3 c5 $1) 14. Nf4 {-2.29/21} (14. f3 $17 {-1.14/22 was necessary. } Nxc3 15. Qc2 Nxb1 16. Qxc4) 14... d5 ({Not} 14... Nxc3 15. Qxc4 Nxb1 16. Qd3 $15) 15. Rb3 {-3.01/18} (15. Qc2 {-1.98/23 was worth a try.}) 15... a5 16. f3 Ned6 17. e4 a4 18. Rb1 Ra5 19. e5 {-3.20/24} (19. Qd3 $142 {-2.10/21}) 19... Nb5 20. Qd3 Nbxa3 21. Ra1 Nb5 22. Nh3 Na7 $2 {-0.95/23} (22... h6 $19 {-3.93/ 21 has better winning chances. Hoping for ...a3.} 23. Nf4 a3) 23. Ng5 $17 {[#]} g6 24. Nh3 b5 $2 {0.78/20} (24... Qh4 $17 {-1.53/20 keeps the pressure on. White must now prevent ...a3.} 25. Rf2 h6) 25. Bg5 $1 $16 {White has strong compensation.} Qd7 {1.12/20} (25... Qa8 $14 {0.55/22}) 26. Bf6 {0.00/26} (26. Nf2 $1 $16 {1.12/20}) 26... Nc6 $11 27. Qb1 {[#] Qc1 is the strong threat.} Rb8 {aiming for ...Qe8.} ({Don't go for} 27... Nd2 $2 28. Qc1 $1 $18) 28. Qc1 $40 { Threatening mate with Qh6. White attacks.} Qe8 {And now ...b4 would win.} 29. Qh6 $2 {-3.59/24} (29. Nf2 $1 $11 {0.00/26}) 29... Qf8 $19 30. Qh4 Ne3 31. g4 $2 {-7.23/19} (31. Rfc1 {-2.49/24}) 31... Nxf1 {Black is clearly winning.} 32. Ng5 h6 33. Kxf1 b4 34. cxb4 Rxb4 35. Nh3 a3 {Accuracy: White = 34%, Black = 49%.} 0-1 [Event "Sarah's Mini Cooper Tournament (No 52)"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2016.01.08"] [Round "?"] [White "quequeg"] [Black "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E21"] [WhiteElo "1697"] [BlackElo "1851"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (5s), TV"] [PlyCount "114"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 (3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. a3 Bxc3+ {0-1 (59) Braguine, V-Yin,W (1926) Cammeray 2013}) 3... Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 {E24 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Saemisch Variation, Accelerated} b6 6. Nf3 {-0.46/21 E21 Nimzo-Indian: 4.Nf3} (6. e3 $14 {0.36/22}) 6... Ba6 {0.06/23} (6... O-O $15 {-0.46/21}) 7. Qa4 {-0.75/17} (7. Nd2 $11 {0.06/23}) (7. e3 Nc6 8. Qa4 Na5 9. Bd3 O-O 10. O-O {0-1 (59) Braguine,V-Yin,W (1926) Cammeray 2013}) 7... Qc8 {0.32/22} (7... Bb7 $17 {-0.75/17}) 8. e3 {-0.74/20} (8. Nd2 $1 $14 {0.32/22 keeps the upper hand.} ) 8... O-O {-0.25/21} (8... c5 $17 {-0.74/20}) 9. Bd3 {-0.85/20} (9. Nd2 $1 $11 {-0.25/21}) 9... Nc6 $2 {0.86/22} (9... c5 $17 {-0.85/20 keeps the pressure on. }) 10. O-O {-0.62/19} (10. e4 $1 $16 {0.86/22}) 10... Na5 $1 $15 11. Ne5 $146 { -1.48/22} (11. e4 $15 {-0.40/20} d5 12. exd5 exd5 13. Ne5 dxc4 14. Nxc4 Nxc4 15. Bxc4 Bxc4 16. Qxc4 Qd7 17. a4 Rfe8 18. Bf4 c6 19. Rfe1 h6 20. h3 a6 21. Kf1 b5 22. axb5 axb5 23. Qc5 Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 Qd5 25. Bd6 Qxc5 26. Bxc5 {Braguine, V-Yin,W (1926) Cammeray 2013 0-1 (59)}) 11... d6 $17 12. Nf3 d5 13. Ne5 c5 14. Bb2 {-2.03/21} (14. cxd5 $17 {-1.12/24 was necessary.} Bxd3 15. Nxd3 cxd4 16. c4) 14... Qc7 $2 {0.00/21} (14... dxc4 $19 {-2.03/21} 15. Bc2 Qc7) 15. Rfd1 $2 {-1.90/18} (15. cxd5 $11 {0.00/21} Bxd3 16. d6 Qxd6 17. Nxd3) 15... cxd4 $1 $19 16. exd4 {-2.14/21} (16. cxd4 {-1.64/22 is a better defense.} dxc4 17. Qc2) 16... Bxc4 ({Don't take} 16... Nxc4 17. Qxa6 Nxb2 18. Rdc1 $17) 17. Nxc4 { -2.36/20} (17. Bxc4 {-1.83/27 might work better.} Nxc4 18. Nxc4 dxc4 19. Bc1) 17... Nxc4 {-1.35/23} ({Black should play} 17... dxc4 $19 {-2.36/20} 18. Be2 Nb3) 18. Rab1 Rfc8 {-1.30/22} (18... Rfe8 $19 {-1.71/21} 19. Bc1 h6) 19. Bc1 $17 Qc6 {-0.94/24} (19... h6 $19 {-1.91/19} 20. f3 Re8) 20. Qxc6 Rxc6 21. f3 Rac8 (21... Nd6 {keeps more tension.} 22. Bd2 Nc4 23. Bc1 Kf8 24. a4 Ke7) 22. Bxc4 {-2.31/23} (22. a4 $17 {-0.83/24}) 22... Rxc4 $19 23. Bd2 Ne8 24. f4 { -3.63/23} (24. Rb3 $142 {-2.28/26}) 24... Nd6 25. h4 Ra4 26. Rb3 Nc4 27. Kf2 Rxa3 28. Rxa3 Nxa3 {Endgame KRB-KRN} 29. Ra1 Nb5 30. Rc1 Nd6 31. g4 Kf8 32. Ke3 Ke7 33. Ra1 Rc7 34. Ra4 Kd7 35. Kd3 Kc8 36. Ra1 Kb7 37. h5 Rc4 38. g5 a5 39. Re1 b5 40. g6 hxg6 ({But not} 40... fxg6 41. Rxe6 Ne4 42. Re5 $19) 41. hxg6 fxg6 42. Rxe6 Ne4 43. Be1 a4 {[#] White must now prevent ...b4!} 44. Kc2 $2 { -6.47/20} (44. Rxg6 {-2.15/25} Rc7 45. Rg2) 44... b4 45. Rxg6 Rc7 46. Kb2 bxc3+ 47. Kc2 a3 {[#] ( -> ...a2)} 48. Bh4 Kb8 {-3.57/25} (48... Ka7 $142 {-8.70/25} 49. Rg1 Rb7) 49. Rg1 $2 {-14.93/22} (49. Ra6 {-3.57/25}) 49... Ra7 {-5.37/26} ( 49... Rb7 $142 {-14.93/22} 50. Ra1 Rb2+ 51. Kc1 a2) 50. Ra1 Kc7 51. Be1 Kd6 52. Bxc3 Nxc3 53. Kxc3 {KR-KR} Ke6 54. Kd3 a2 55. Ke3 Kf5 56. Kf3 Ra3+ 57. Kf2 Kxf4 {Accuracy: White = 19%, Black = 44%.} 0-1 [Event "Grand Split Three Seven"] [Site "http://www.redhotpawn.com"] [Date "2015.12.21"] [Round "1"] [White "IyoKobat"] [Black "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E21"] [WhiteElo "1698"] [BlackElo "1957"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (5s), TV"] [PlyCount "88"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 (2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. Nc3 {0-1 (33) Karagiannis,A-Sokolov,I (2570) Corfu 1991}) 2... e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 (4. Nf3 b6 5. a3 Bxc3+ {0-1 (25) Boyer,E (1510)-Germain,M (1524) Montreal 2008}) 4... Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 {E24 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Saemisch Variation, Accelerated} b6 6. Nf3 {-0.47/21 E21 Nimzo-Indian: 4.Nf3} ({White should play} 6. e3 $14 {0.33/22}) 6... Ba6 { 0.08/22} ({Better is} 6... d6 $15 {-0.47/21}) 7. Qd3 $146 {-0.54/19} (7. Nd2 $11 {0.08/22}) (7. e3 Nc6 (7... c5 8. Bd3 Nc6 9. O-O Na5 10. Nd2 Rc8 11. Qe2 cxd4 12. cxd4 Qc7 13. Bb2 Bxc4 14. Rfc1 d5 15. a4 O-O 16. Ba3 Rfe8 17. Bb4 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 Qxc1+ 19. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 20. Nf1 Nc4 21. f3 Ra1 22. Qb3 {Schmalisch, B-Bender,L (2016) Berlin 2017 0-1}) (7... O-O 8. Bd3 d6 9. O-O Nc6 10. Qa4 Na5 11. Nd2 Qe8 12. Qd1 e5 13. Re1 d5 14. Bf1 dxc4 15. a4 Qe6 16. e4 c6 17. Nf3 exd4 18. cxd4 h6 19. Qc2 Rfe8 20. Nd2 Nb3 21. Nxb3 cxb3 22. Qb2 {Gonzalez, H-Reinhardt,E Mar del Plata 1974 0-1 (35)}) 8. Bd3 Na5 9. Ne5 O-O 10. c5 Bb7 11. Ng4 d6 12. Nxf6+ Qxf6 13. Qc2 Qh4 14. e4 f5 15. g3 Qg4 16. f3 Qxf3 17. Rf1 Qh5 18. Be3 fxe4 19. Rxf8+ Rxf8 20. Bxe4 d5 21. Bd3 e5 {Boyer,E (1510)-Germain, M (1524) Montreal 2008 0-1}) (7. Ne5 d6 8. Qa4+ Kf8 9. Nd3 Qd7 10. Qb3 Nc6 11. c5 bxc5 12. dxc5 Rb8 13. Qc2 d5 14. Nb4 Bc4 15. Rb1 Ke7 16. g3 a5 17. Nxc6+ Qxc6 18. Bg2 Rxb1 19. Qxb1 Qxc5 20. O-O Bxe2 21. Re1 Qb5 {Karagiannis, A-Sokolov,I (2570) Corfu 1991 0-1 (33)}) 7... Nc6 {0.05/22} (7... Bb7 $15 { -0.54/19}) 8. e4 $11 d5 {0.09/22} (8... Na5 $15 {-0.51/18}) 9. Qc2 $2 {-1.62/20 } (9. exd5 $11 {0.09/22} exd5 10. Qe3+ Kf8 11. Ne5) 9... dxe4 {-0.66/25} (9... Nxe4 $19 {-1.62/20} 10. cxd5 (10. Qa4 Bb7 $17) 10... Bxf1 11. Qxe4 Bxg2) 10. Ng5 {-1.17/19} (10. Nd2 $15 {-0.66/25}) 10... Na5 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 ({But not} 11... Bxc4 $2 12. Nxf6+ gxf6 13. Bxc4 $18) 12. Qxe4 O-O {-0.75/21} ({Black should try} 12... Rc8 {-1.20/19} 13. Be2 O-O) 13. Bd3 $17 {[#]} g6 14. Bh6 Re8 $1 15. O-O Bxc4 16. Bxc4 {-1.35/20} (16. Rfd1 $142 {-0.72/24}) 16... Nxc4 17. Qe2 Qd5 18. f4 $2 {-2.61/21} (18. Rfe1 $17 {-1.09/22}) 18... c5 $19 19. Rfd1 Rad8 {-1.29/21} (19... f6 $19 {-2.77/20} 20. g4 Nd6) 20. Rd3 {-2.75/20} (20. Bg5 $17 {-1.29/21}) 20... Na5 {-1.41/22} (20... f6 $19 {-2.75/20} 21. Rad1 cxd4 ) 21. Rad1 Rc8 22. dxc5 Qxc5+ 23. Kf1 $2 {-2.95/20} (23. Kh1 $17 {-1.35/23 is a better defense.}) 23... Nc6 {-1.63/22} (23... Nc4 $142 {-2.95/20} 24. a4 b5 25. axb5 Qxb5) 24. Rd7 {-2.76/20} (24. Qf2 {-1.63/22 was necessary.}) 24... Re7 {-1.26/23} ({Don't take} 24... Qxc3 25. R7d3 $19) (24... a5 $19 {-2.76/20} 25. a4 Qxc3) 25. c4 {-2.60/19} (25. Qd3 $17 {-1.26/23}) 25... Rxd7 26. Rxd7 Qxa3 27. Qd2 {-2.65/23} (27. Qe4 $142 {-1.80/24} Qc5 28. g4) 27... Qa1+ 28. Kf2 Qf6 {[#] Strongly threatening ...Qh4+.} 29. g3 {-3.41/21} (29. Kg3 {-1.96/24 was called for.}) 29... Rd8 $2 {0.00/29} (29... Ne5 $19 {-3.41/21} 30. Bg5 Ng4+ 31. Ke2 Qf5) 30. Rxd8+ $4 {-3.55/26} (30. Qd6 $1 $11 {0.00/29 and White is okay.} Qb2+ 31. Kg1 Qb1+ 32. Kg2 Qe4+ 33. Kh3) 30... Qxd8 31. Qc3 Qd4+ 32. Qxd4 Nxd4 { Endgame KB-KN} 33. Bg5 Kf8 34. Bd8 {-4.83/24} (34. g4 {-3.31/28 was worth a try.}) 34... Ke8 35. Bc7 $2 {-6.05/23} (35. Bf6 {-3.59/29} Nf5 36. Ke2) 35... Kd7 36. Bb8 Nc6 37. Be5 Nxe5 38. fxe5 {KP-KP} Kc6 39. Ke3 Kc5 {Black is clearly winning.} 40. Kd3 a5 41. Kc3 a4 42. h3 a3 43. Kb3 a2 $1 44. Kxa2 Kxc4 { Accuracy: White = 17%, Black = 29%.} 0-1

C65 Spanish Game: Berlin Defence (3...Nf6), unusual lines and 4.0-0 Bc5 (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Bd6 5.Re1)

I have tried for couple of days now just to go through all my games where it is my turn to move and at least look at the position if not make a move. I have failed completely in my attempt so far. If only I could at least do that I would be able to move in more games that I have been able to do so for some time now. I used to play faster games that were a bit easier than the other games but I do not remember all that well anymore what are the games where I have a good game going and where things are not going all that well. As I have over 200 games in progress at the moment, remembering the games or the ideas that I had in them has been sometimes really difficult. Some positions I do remember surprisingly well and even some ideas that I had in them but most are very fuzzy to me. It may be due to the fact that I do not have clear plans in some games, so remembering them becomes even more difficult.

[Event "Let's Play!"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2010.12.05"] [Round "?"] [White "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Black "bunnygod1"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "1842"] [BlackElo "1495"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (5s), TV"] [PlyCount "39"] [EventDate "2010.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 (3... Bd6 4. O-O {1-0 (34) Panczyk,B-Krysik,M Gori Tarnowskie 2007}) 4. O-O {C65 Spanish Game: Berlin Defense} Bd6 5. Re1 { C65 Spanish Game: Berlin Defence (3...Nf6), unusual lines and 4.0-0 Bc5} Bc5 { 1.23/17} (5... a6 $14 {0.56/22} 6. Bxc6 dxc6) 6. c3 $16 Ng4 $146 (6... d6 7. d4 exd4 8. cxd4 Bb4 9. Bd2 Bxd2 10. Nbxd2 O-O 11. Qc2 Bd7 12. a3 a6 13. Ba4 Qe8 14. Rac1 Rc8 15. e5 dxe5 16. Bxc6 Bxc6 17. dxe5 Ng4 18. h3 Nh6 19. Ng5 g6 20. e6 f6 21. e7 {Panczyk,B-Krysik,M Gori Tarnowskie 2007 1-0 (34)}) 7. d4 exd4 8. cxd4 {White is clearly better.} Qh4 $2 {16.09/18} (8... Nxd4 $16 {1.10/21} 9. Nxd4 Qh4) 9. Nxh4 $18 Nxd4 10. Ba4 O-O 11. Qxg4 b5 12. Bh6 {[#]} g6 13. Bd1 Re8 14. Nc3 b4 15. Nd5 Bb6 16. Nf6+ Kh8 17. Nxe8 {[#] White threatens Qf4 and mate. } c5 18. Qg5 {White mates.} a5 19. Qf6+ Kg8 20. Qg7# 1-0

C44 Ponziani Opening and Scotch Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Bc4 d6 6.Nf3)

To my knowledge this might be the only blog out there where also older blog posts get updated when suitable additions to those are found. If there are other similar things out there, please leave a comment. I know that the content here should be without a doubt unique as no one else is publishing my games, well analysed versions of them anyway. I know that some of my close chess games are in some sites for one reason or the other, games that I have not uploaded myself that is.

[Event "Let's Play!"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2010.11.21"] [Round "?"] [White "omeromer"] [Black "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "1650"] [BlackElo "1757"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (5s), TV"] [PlyCount "48"] [EventDate "2010.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. d4 (2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 d6 5. c3 dxc3 {0-1 (16) Chitnis,K (1082)-Gada,V (1223) Mumbai 2016}) 2... exd4 3. c3 {C21 Danish Gambit} dxc3 4. Nxc3 (4. Bc4 d6 5. Nxc3 {0-1 (19) Vacha,J (2028)-Sipek,O (1890) Marianske Lazne 2018}) 4... Nc6 (4... d6) 5. Bc4 d6 6. Nf3 {-0.51/22 C44 Ponziani Opening and Scotch Gambit} (6. f4 $11 {0.15/20}) 6... Be7 $2 {1.61/21 [#]} ( 6... Nf6 $15 {-0.51/22 keeps the upper hand.}) 7. Bxf7+ $146 {-3.35/18} (7. Qb3 $18 {1.61/21 was the only winning move.}) (7. h3 Nf6 8. Bf4 O-O 9. Qe2 Be6 10. Rd1 Qc8 11. Bd3 Re8 12. g4 Nd7 13. Bb1 Nde5 14. Nd5 Bf8 15. Ng5 Bxd5 16. Rxd5 f6 17. Nf3 Qe6 18. a3 Nxf3+ 19. Kf1 Qxd5 {0-1 (19) Vacha,J (2028)-Sipek,O (1890) Marianske Lazne 2018}) (7. O-O Ne5 8. Nxe5 dxe5 9. Qh5 g6 10. Qxe5 f6 11. Qb5+ c6 12. Qb3 Kf8 13. Bxg8 Rxg8 14. Bh6+ Rg7 15. Rad1 Qc7 16. Qc4 Qe5 17. f4 Qc5+ 18. Qxc5 Bxc5+ 19. Kh1 Kf7 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. f5 Kf7 {Semenido, P-Pivovarov,A (2033) Angarsk 2017 1-0 (58)}) (7. Bf4 Bg4 8. Bb5 Bf6 9. Qd3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 Nge7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rad1 a6 13. Bd3 Ng6 14. Bd2 Nce5 15. Qe2 Nxd3 16. Qxd3 {0-1 (16) Chitnis,K (1082)-Gada,V (1223) Mumbai 2016}) 7... Kxf7 $19 8. Bg5 $2 {-7.92/19} (8. Qb3+ {-3.15/21} Kf8 9. O-O) 8... Bxg5 {Black is clearly winning.} 9. Qd5+ Kg6 10. e5 dxe5 11. Nxe5+ Nxe5 12. Qxe5 Qe7 13. O-O Qxe5 14. Rae1 Qa5 15. h3 Nf6 16. Re2 Bf5 17. Rfe1 Rhe8 18. g3 Rxe2 {Black mates.} 19. Rxe2 Bxh3 20. f4 Bh6 21. Kh2 Qh5 22. Kg1 Qf3 23. Kh2 Qf1 24. g4 Bxf4# 0-1

D53 Queen's Gambit Declined: 4.Bg5 Be7: Early deviations (1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nf3 e6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Nc3 h6 6.Bh4)

Again one of those rare openings you do not see all that much. As the games that are shown in the notation suggests, people who have played similar way in the opening are not that high rated. I would like to get a database in which only over 2400 rated players are but I guess as there might not be one easily accessible anywhere that if I would like to have one, I would need to make one myself but that seems like a lot of work. Might be easier just to play the openings in the way that higher rated players play them in order to get some examples of those in the games that I post here. I guess I should examine the games of someone who seems to know their Ruy Lopez or any other opening I would like to learn. Even though I heard this recommendation in a lot of sources, I have never really followed through with that. I just like to test moves on my own and see what seems to work.

[Event "Let's Play!"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2010.11.29"] [Round "?"] [White "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Black "milkmanjohn"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D53"] [WhiteElo "1724"] [BlackElo "1401"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (5s), TV"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2010.??.??"] 1. d4 d5 (1... Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 (4. Bg5 Be7 {1-0 (45) Mc Calmont, J (2140)-McMahon,D (2020) USA 1991}) 4... Be7 {1/2-1/2 (48) Royer,P (1405) -Leblanc,D (1507) Val d'Or 2000}) 2. c4 Nf6 (2... e6 3. Nc3 {1-0 (45) Mc Calmont,J (2140)-McMahon,D (2020) USA 1991}) 3. Nf3 (3. Nc3) 3... e6 4. Bg5 { D30 Queen's Gambit Declined: Traditional Variation} Be7 5. Nc3 h6 6. Bh4 { -0.19/21 D53 Queen's Gambit Declined: 4.Bg5 Be7: Early deviations} (6. Bxf6 $14 {0.64/19} Bxf6 7. e3) 6... g5 {1.12/20} (6... b6 $11 {-0.19/21}) 7. Bg3 $16 Nh5 (7... Ne4 8. e3 c6 9. Nxe4 dxe4 10. Nd2 f5 11. Qh5+ Kf8 12. O-O-O Bd7 13. Qe2 Na6 14. Nb3 Nb4 15. Kb1 a5 16. f3 a4 17. Nc1 a3 18. b3 exf3 19. gxf3 Be8 20. Be5 Rh7 21. Rg1 b5 22. Nd3 {Mc Calmont,J (2140)-McMahon,D (2020) USA 1991 1-0 (45)}) (7... Bd6 8. e3 g4 9. Ne5 Nbd7 10. Nxg4 h5 11. Ne5 Ne4 12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. cxd5 Qf6 14. Nxe4 Qe7 15. Nxd6+ {1-0 (15) Misiuk,E (1439)-Aladaitis,D Vilnius 2014}) 8. e3 {0.75/22} (8. a3 $142 {1.16/18}) 8... Nxg3 {White is better.} 9. hxg3 Nc6 $146 {1.78/17} (9... c6 $16 {0.94/21 keeps fighting.} 10. Ne5 Nd7 11. Ng4 Bf8 12. Qb3 Qa5 13. c5 b6 14. Qa4 Qxa4 15. Nxa4 f5 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 b5 18. Nc3 Bxc5 19. Rc1 Bb6 20. b4 Bd7 21. Ne2 a5 22. a3 axb4 23. axb4 Kf7 24. Nd4 Bxd4 {Royer,P (1405)-Leblanc,D (1507) Val d'Or 2000 1/2-1/2 (48)}) 10. Bd3 { 1.10/22} (10. Qc2 $18 {1.78/17}) 10... dxc4 11. Bxc4 Na5 {2.48/18} (11... Bf6 $16 {1.00/20 was called for.}) 12. Qa4+ Nc6 13. Ne5 {[#] Hoping for d5.} Bd7 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. O-O-O Bb4 $2 {4.78/19} (15... Nb4 {1.78/23 might work better. } 16. Qxd7+ Kxd7) 16. Ne4 $2 {1.70/22} (16. d5 {4.78/19} exd5 17. Nxd5) 16... Qe7 $2 {4.42/22} (16... O-O-O {1.70/22} 17. a3 Ba5) 17. Bb5 O-O $2 {5.16/23} ( 17... Kf8 {2.67/22} 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Nxg5 (19. Qxc6 Kg7 $18) 19... Qxg5) 18. Rxh6 $18 {[#] Rdh1 is the strong threat.White is clearly winning.} Kg7 19. Rdh1 Rh8 20. R6h5 Rxh5 21. Rxh5 Kg6 {10.64/20} (21... f6 $142 {4.36/25} 22. Bxc6 bxc6 23. Qxc6 Rh8) 22. Rxg5+ Kh6 23. Qd1 Qxg5 24. Nxg5 Kxg5 25. Qf3 f5 26. Bxc6 bxc6 27. Qxc6 {Accuracy: White = 27%, Black = 20%.} 1-0