Hi all,
Here is my report on my participation in the 5th Freestyle final to be sent to CSS. I hope it will be interesting. Please feel free to comment on things you liked or that you think are missing, and ask any questions you may have.
(I will post the PGNs of the annotated games below this post)
------------------
First, a big thank to the organizers and sponsors of the tournament, and congrats to the prize winners.
The Flying Saucers team consisted of one human player + computer(s). I am 30 years old (2163 FIDE), from Denmark, and a mathematician by education. This was the third Freestyle event I participated in. I have played as a sole centaur each time. Currently, my main activity in chess is freestyle chess and opening studies with this in mind. I am also a member of a local chess club and enjoy the socializing that takes place around low-level club league matches.
My hardware in the preliminary was an AMD dual core Opteron, which has to be considered sub-average hardware these days. As it is, I know for certain that at least one other finalist qualified with even worse hardware than me, so to get that question out of the way, no, Freestyle chess is still not only a question of spending bucks on hardware. My three wins in the preliminary consisted of one "endgame-swindle", an attractive attacking game vs. GM Juri Solodownitschenko (who, despite this loss, managed to qualify for the final), and finally a successful defense against a wild Bxf7+ sacrifice in the 2.c3 Sicilian.
Before the final, Rybka programmer Vasik Rajlich had once again kindly offered me to let me use his best system, this time a quad-core Intel. My technical setup then was:
Fritz 9 interface, with two instances of Rybka running. The quad on internet-pipe running in 1-variation mode, and my own dual core running in 2/3/4-variation mode. This way, I would be alarmed by deep resources and assessments fast, while at the same time getting immediate information about the forcedness of the investigated positions, in other words, how many alternatives would also be worth a check.
I decided to exclusively use only one engine this time. The advantage of using several engines is that different engines may evaluate positions differently, and this (+search differences) results in one engine finding some potentially strong move faster than another engine, and vice-versa. However, and I think this is an important point, a key part in strong centaur analysis is to know both the strong and the weak points of your favorite engine. The engine output needs to be interpreted, and here experience with your engine is very important: What kind of lines does the engine tend to not pay enough attention to, and which types of positions does it tend to misevaluate. If you have a good feeling for this and have developed methods to adjust for this + integrate your own input, you should have a considerable advantage. Once this is achieved, I am not so sure the output of a second or third engine will improve the decision process much. At any rate, I didn't have the hardware to support a second engine, nor the (necessary) experience with working with two different engines at once.
Unlike last time, I used the endgame TBs installed on my system, which indeed turned out to be a probably better decision. The games themselves, I played through the free Playchess client.
After the preliminary play-off matches, I once again spent considerable time preparing for the individual opponents in the final based on the expected pairings. However, 4 days before the final, a random pairing was announced, and I had to scrap much of my preparation, and also had to settle on only getting 4 whites. Nevertheless, one thing was still clear: The final could very well become some kind of a Najdorf festival! A majority of finalists were 1.e4 players, and I think also a majority were black Najdorf players, at least potentially. This suited me quite well, as I had been intensely studying various topical lines for some months prior to the final.
As it turned out, I ended up in three Najdorfs as black, and one Najdorf-turning-into-odd-Rauzer as white, and those 4 games gave me the number of wins necessary to clinch first prize. I also had some pressure against runner-up team Cato the Younger after they had gambled with 1.h3 (intending a French in the forehand), while I was under quite serious pressure as black against Kaputtze in round 7 and as white in round 9 vs. Ciron, a very nervous affair on my side. My remaining two white games were fairly uneventful draws. Perhaps next time, I will insist on getting 9 blacks in the final!
Overall, I am of course very satisfied with my performance. I managed to hit the ball when I got the chance, and I held the draw in the couple of games where I got the worse of it.
I have annotated 5 games, 2 from the preliminary, and 3 from the final. I have mainly focused on situations where the "human touch" was crucial, trying to relay what went on behind the scene. Various decision methods and issues of pre-game preparation are touched upon. Finally, I hope that the reader will also simply find the games themselves interesting and fascinating!
Freestyle report + annotated games
Moderators: hgm, Rebel, chrisw
-
Alkelele
Re: Freestyle report + annotated games
The PGNs of my annotated games.
[Event "5th Freestyle Main Event"]
[Site "playchess.com #091606"]
[Date "2007.03.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Flying Saucers"]
[Black "Averell"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C06"]
[Annotator "Dagh,Nielsen"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2007.03.04"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
{This game was played in round 1 in the preliminary tournament. The game is
not very spectacular or theoretically interesting, but I have included some
comments in the endgame in order to illustrate what kind of insights strong
centaur play may involve. If there is a lesson to be learned from this game,
it would be "Know Thy Engine!".} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:14]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 2.
d4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 3. Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:00:25]} 4. e5 {[%emt 0:00:36]} Nfd7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 5. Bd3 {
[%emt 0:00:13]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 6. c3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:12]}
7. Ne2 {[%emt 0:00:45]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:36]} 8. cxd4 {[%emt 0:01:01]} f6 {
[%emt 0:00:19]} 9. exf6 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Nxf6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 10. O-O {
[%emt 0:00:15]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 11. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} O-O {
[%emt 0:00:45]} 12. Bf4 {[%emt 0:01:55]} Bxf4 {[%emt 0:03:11]} 13. Nxf4 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Ne4 {[%emt 0:01:20]} 14. g3 {[%emt 0:08:07]} g5 {[%emt 0:04:58]
} 15. Nh5 {[%emt 0:29:28]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 16. Ne5 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Be8 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} 17. Nxc6 {[%emt 0:01:01]} bxc6 {[%emt 0:01:30]} 18. b3 {
[%emt 0:00:24]} Bg6 {[%emt 0:03:47]} 19. Rc1 {[%emt 0:01:14]} Rc8 {
[%emt 0:06:50]} 20. g4 {[%emt 0:06:18]} Bxh5 {[%emt 0:07:29]} 21. gxh5 {
[%emt 0:00:41]} Rf4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 22. Bxe4 {[%emt 0:00:19]} dxe4 {
[%emt 0:00:27]} 23. Rc5 {[%emt 0:00:26]} Rc7 {At this point, it looked pretty
clear that the game should be a draw by perpetual with correct play from both
sides. However, I knew that Rybka and most other engines have fairly serious
problems assessing especially pawn-endings from afar. In a sense, this + the
potential 2 vs. 1 pawn majority on the queen-side should be enough to set off
an alarm bell. I began looking intensively for "hidden resources" and managed
to find the winning line starting with 28.Re8+. For the next few moves, I
could just hope that my opponent would choose the wrong way to force the draw.
[%emt 0:04:09]} 24. Qe2 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Rcf7 {[%emt 0:03:53]} 25. Rxc6 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} e3 $6 {The first move down the wrong path. [%emt 0:02:18]} (
25... Qxd4 26. Rxe6 Qd5 $11) 26. f3 {[%emt 0:00:28]} Qxd4 {[%emt 0:00:59]} 27.
Rxe6 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Rxf3 {[%emt 0:02:03]} 28. Re8+ $1 {The surprising move
which happens to win the game on the spot. All engines I have tested do not
appreciate the strength of this move within reasonable time, and even less so
from afar. [%emt 0:00:15]} Rf8 {[%emt 0:00:52]} 29. Rxf8+ {[%emt 0:00:12]} Rxf8
{[%emt 0:00:25]} 30. Qc4+ {[%emt 0:00:59]} Qxc4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 31. Rxf8+ {
[%emt 0:00:15]} Kxf8 {[%emt 0:00:55]} 32. bxc4 {
White has a winning pawn ending. [%emt 0:00:05]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:01:25]} 33. Kf1 {
[%emt 0:00:34]} Kd6 {[%emt 0:00:48]} 34. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Kc5 {
[%emt 0:00:33]} 35. Kxe3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Kxc4 {[%emt 0:00:50]} 36. Ke4 {
Averell gibt auf [%emt 0:00:11]} 1-0
[Event "5th Freestyle Main Event"]
[Site "playchess.com #091606"]
[Date "2007.03.03"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Flying Saucers"]
[Black "Engineer"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]
[Annotator "Dagh,Nielsen"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2007.03.04"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
{In this game from the 3rd round of the preliminary, I had white vs. GM Juri
Solodownitschenko from Ukraine, who also qualified for the final. I have
annotated it as it is a quite spectular attacking game, and maybe also of some
theoretical interest.} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 2. Nf3 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 3. d4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:02]
} 4. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 5. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} a6 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} 6. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 7. f3 {
[%emt 0:00:28]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:34]} 8. Qd2 {[%emt 0:03:00]} Be7 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} 9. O-O-O {[%emt 0:00:19]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:02]} 10. g4 {
[%emt 0:00:13]} Nd7 {I later learned during my preparation for the final that
Juri always plays this Nd7-Nde5 interpretation of this system instead of the
more common Nxd4. He blitzed out the opening moves for a few more moves, while
I was definitely out of any kind of preparation. I was not overly concerned by
this fact, though I certainly paid it due respect. I had had a similar
experience as white vs. IM Dennis Breder in the 4th preliminary in a Tarrasch
French, and in that game I was lucky to be able to win in perhaps one of my
best Freestyle performances so far. I decided to take a good deal of time to
ponder the various options here and see if I could get a position to my liking.
Perhaps an interesting observation is that big swings are quite uncommon in
games at this computer-assisted level. After the opening and early middle-game,
it is often play for two results only. Consequently, I feel it is usually
worth it to invest some time in this phase to try and make sure that it is the
two right results. Of course, the risk is that you still get a worse position
and a disadvantage on the clock as well, or that you do not put enough time
pressure on the opponent so as to make defense more difficult. [%emt 0:00:01]}
11. Kb1 $5 {This move may even have a point, see below. [%emt 0:15:07]} ({
The more common} 11. h4 Nde5 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Be2 Rb8 14. f4 Nd7 15. Kb1 $5 {
would transpose to the game line, but then especially black would have had
other options along the way.} (15. h5 Qa5 {is the common continuation.})) 11...
Nde5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 12. Nxc6 {I hesitated quite a bit before this move. Nxc6
is a move that engines typically overestimate in the open Sicilian, but in
this particular structure, it turns out to be just fine and normal. [%emt 0:08:
39]} bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 13. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:29]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 14. f4
{[%emt 0:07:33]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 15. h4 {We have reached a common
position, with the slight difference that white has spent a move on Kc1-b1
instead of h4-h5. Can this be any good? Well, after instead h4-h5, black
usually plays Qa5, but this is not possible when the king is already on b1.
Black gets to play Qa5 later on, but only after having played Bb4, a square
that also the black queen could like to occupate. [%emt 0:00:38]} d5 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} (15... Qa5 $2 16. Nd5) 16. h5 {[%emt 0:01:03]} Bb4 {
[%emt 0:03:42]} 17. h6 {[%emt 0:00:43]} Qa5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 18. Ka1 {
[%emt 0:01:30]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 19. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:26]} exd5 {Now I think
black already has some pretty serious problems. Black's counterplay is
somewhat stranded for the moment, and white can look forward to ripping up
with f4-f5-g6. I spent some time here figuring out which move orders would
make it most unlikely for black to get off the hook. [%emt 0:00:03]} (19...
cxd5 20. Bd4 {was perhaps not such a bad alternative for black. I don't know
if white would be able to keep his initiative, of if black would eventually be
able to untangle and perhaps achieve a superiour structure and good piece play.
}) 20. f5 {[%emt 0:05:43]} Re8 {[%emt 0:02:02]} 21. Bd4 {[%emt 0:03:01]} Bc5 {
[%emt 0:10:41]} (21... c5 22. Bg7 d4 23. fxg6 hxg6 24. Bc4 Bxc3 25. bxc3 Ne5
26. Rde1 Bb7 27. Bxe5 Rxe5 28. Rxe5 Bxh1 29. Bxf7+ Kh8 30. g5) 22. fxg6 $1 {
[%emt 0:01:40]} fxg6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 23. Rhe1 $1 {The culmination of white's
opening play. Now the stage is set for some tactical firework. [%emt 0:00:24]}
Qb4 {[%emt 0:14:58]} (23... Nf8 24. Bb5 $1 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Qb4 26. Bxc5 Qxc5 27.
Bxc6 Qxc6 28. Nxd5 Rb7 29. Ne7+ (29. Re7 $5) 29... Rxe7 30. Rxe7 {
and for example} Bxg4 31. Rg7+ Kh8 32. b3 Qf6+ 33. Kb1 Be6 34. Qe3 {and in line
s like these, black looks complete tied up. I had this particular line worked
out during the game.}) 24. Bb5 $1 {It really is quite rare that one can put a
bishop on a square to be captured "for free" by not only one, but two pawns!
[%emt 0:00:23]} Bb7 {
Necessary in order to protect both Re8 and pawn c6. [%emt 0:00:03]} (24... Rxe1
$2 25. Qxe1 {and black's king is without defense.}) 25. Bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:18]}
Qxc5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 26. Ba4 {Keeping the tactical tension. [%emt 0:00:16]}
Ne5 {This is not sufficient for black, but the alternatives are not much
better, if any. [%emt 0:00:22]} (26... Re5 27. Rxe5 Nxe5 28. Qg5 Nf7 29. Qf6
Nxh6 30. Ne4 $1 Qf8 31. Qe6+ Qf7 32. Nf6+ Kg7 33. Qe5 Qxf6 34. Qxb8 Qe7 35. Qa7
) (26... Qb4 27. a3 Qd6 (27... Qxg4 28. Nxd5 cxd5 29. Qc3) 28. Ne4) (26... Re7
27. Rxe7 Qxe7 28. Re1 Qf7 29. Ne4) 27. Qh2 $1 {[%emt 0:00:43]} (27. Nxd5 cxd5
28. Bxe8 Rxe8 29. Re2 d4 30. Qf4 Bf3 31. Rxe5 Qxe5 32. Qxf3 {also looks OK.})
27... Qd6 {[%emt 0:00:37]} 28. Nxd5 $1 {
Here all of white's pieces just play perfectly together. [%emt 0:00:15]} cxd5 {
[%emt 0:01:07]} 29. Bxe8 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Rxe8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 30. Re2 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} Re6 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 31. Rde1 {[%emt 0:00:29]} Nxg4 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} 32. Qxd6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Rxd6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 33. Re8+ {
[%emt 0:00:09]} Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 34. R1e7+ {[%emt 0:01:06]} Kf6 {
[%emt 0:00:01]} 35. Rxb7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nxh6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 36. Rxh7 {
[%emt 0:00:26]} Nf5 {I was relatively low on time here (10 mins or so left),
and Jiri fought resourcefully to try and make something out of the g-pawn and
make me go wrong by presenting me with unexpected challenges. [%emt 0:00:03]}
37. Kb1 {[%emt 0:01:23]} d4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 38. Kc1 {[%emt 0:01:09]} g5 {
[%emt 0:01:13]} 39. Rf8+ {[%emt 0:03:34]} Kg6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 40. Rh2 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} Rd5 {[%emt 0:16:37]} 41. Kd2 {[%emt 0:01:45]} g4 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} 42. Rg8+ {[%emt 0:00:14]} Ng7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 43. Rg2 {
[%emt 0:00:45]} Rg5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 44. Kd3 {[%emt 0:00:43]} Kf5 {
[%emt 0:04:42]} 45. Rd8 {[%emt 0:00:47]} Rg6 {[%emt 0:04:30]} 46. Rxd4 {
[%emt 0:00:21]} Ne6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 47. Rd5+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} Kf4 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} 48. Rf2+ {[%emt 0:00:08]} Kg3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 49. Rdf5 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} Ng5 {[%emt 0:00:39]} 50. Rf6 {[%emt 0:00:36]} Rg8 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} 51. Re2 {[%emt 0:00:26]} Nh3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 52. Re3+ {
[%emt 0:00:46]} Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:31]} 53. Rxa6 {[%emt 0:00:23]} g3 {
[%emt 0:00:18]} 54. Rf6 {[%emt 0:00:43]} Nf2+ {[%emt 0:00:20]} 55. Kd2 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} Ng4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 56. Re2+ {[%emt 0:00:15]} Kg1 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} 57. Rf3 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Nh2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 58. Rf7 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} g2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 59. Re1+ {[%emt 0:00:39]} Nf1+ {
[%emt 0:00:02]} 60. Kc1 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Ra8 {[%emt 0:01:19]} ({
Maneuvres like Rh8-h1 happen to not work.} 60... Rh8 61. b3 Rh1 62. Kb2 Kh2 63.
Re2 Ng3 64. Rh7+ Kg1 {and now white can just play} 65. Rxg2+ Kxg2 66. Rxh1) 61.
a3 {[%emt 0:00:29]} Ra4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 62. Rf8 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Rh4 {
[%emt 0:00:15]} 63. b3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Rh3 {[%emt 0:01:10]} 64. a4 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} Re3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 65. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Re5 {
[%emt 0:00:17]} 66. Rf7 {White is of course completely winning now, but I
still find the "lock" on black's king and knight amusing. [%emt 0:00:08]} Rh5 {
[%emt 0:00:17]} 67. Kb2 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Ra5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 68. c4 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} Re5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 69. Ka3 {Engineer Ñäàåòñÿ [%emt 0:00:10]}
1-0
[Event "5th Freestyle Final"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2007.03.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Rodo"]
[Black "Flying Saucers"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2534"]
[BlackElo "2444"]
[Annotator "Dagh,Nielsen"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2007.03.25"]
[EventType "rapid"]
{My opponent in this 1st round game of the final was a team led by Rodolfo
Gallo from Italy. In the preliminary and the play-offs, he had been playing as
a pure engine (backed by a very strong home-cooked book), but in the final he
played as captain of a centaur team. Before the game, I expected and hoped for
a continuation of an intense theoretical discussion having taken place during
the preliminary and the play-offs. While making these annotations, I chatted
briefly with Eros Riccio from the Rodo team, and comments about their
considerations during the game is based on this.} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} c5 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 3. d4 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 4. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:00:15]} 5. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:19]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 6. Be3 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 7. Nb3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Be6 {[%emt 0:00:13]
} 8. f3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 9. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:09]} O-O {
[%emt 0:00:14]} 10. O-O-O {[%emt 0:00:11]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 11. g4 {
[%emt 0:00:19]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 12. g5 {[%emt 0:00:13]} b4 {[%emt 0:00:07]}
13. Ne2 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Ne8 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 14. f4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} a5 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} 15. f5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} a4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 16. Nbd4 {
[%emt 0:00:30]} exd4 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 17. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:18]} b3 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} 18. Kb1 {[%emt 0:00:16]} bxc2+ {[%emt 0:00:13]} 19. Nxc2 {
[%emt 0:00:15]} Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 20. axb3 {[%emt 0:00:18]} axb3 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} 21. Na3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Ne5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 22. h4 {
[%emt 0:00:20]} Ra4 {The alternatives to this move may not be losing, but they
involve a good deal of self-torture. [%emt 0:00:20]} 23. Bd4 {[%emt 0:00:21]}
Qa8 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 24. Qe3 {[%emt 0:00:15]} (24. Qg2 {has been the common
move here, but... Around New Year, I had struck upon a strong novelty for
black while analysing these lines from white's point of view, and I began
contemplating the idea of playing the Najdorf as black in the next Freestyle
tournament. Naturally, I was then quite annoyed when van-Wely hinted in his
game vs. Shirov in Corus + following post mortem analysis why this move is
actually not any good.} Nc7 25. f6 Bd8 26. fxg7 Kxg7 $1 (26... Re8 {
, which has been played numerous times by ZackS, is probably also OK for black.
}) 27. Bc4 $2 {The move that has been played in hundreds of games in the
engine room, when black has responded 27...Ne6 and achieved horrible results.}
(27. Bc3 $1 Be7 $11 {with a draw agreed was the result of my last round game
from the preliminary as black vs. team Etaoin Shrdlu. Playing as a strong
centaur team, they naturally smelled a rat after 26...Kxg7 and pulled the
brakes.}) 27... Rxc4 $1 {This move (+ 29...Ne6) pretty much ends the
discussion of 24.Qg2. van-Wely only indicated Rxc4 Nxc4 Qa2 and "it's quite
unclear" in the post-mortem, but no doubt the cat was out of the bag now.} 28.
Nxc4 Qa2+ 29. Kc1 Ne6 $1 {and white is very close to lost.}) 24... Kh8 {
A novelty according to my database. I had begun investigating this move
several months prior to the 5th Freestyle tournament, as a result of some
insight into the ultimative status of 24...Bd8. The main idea of the move is
to take the sting out of any f5-f6 push. Later on, black may play f7-f6
himself, trying to lock up the kingside and get an attack on the queenside.
The move was a surprise to my opponents. [%emt 0:00:13]} (24... Bd8 25. Rh3 {
was heavily tested in the prelim + playoffs, with white finally getting the
last word in a display of incredible opening preparatation by team Hercules01
in a "must-win" situation in the 3rd round of the play-offs.}) 25. Bb5 {
[%emt 0:11:44]} (25. Rh3 f6 26. Qxb3 {was tested in two later games in the
final with other teams playing black, and Rodo managed to equalize the score
as white in this topical variation in a great game vs. The wizard of Os.})
25... Ra5 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 26. Bc3 {[%emt 0:02:38]} (26. Be2 {is the alternativ
e here. I believe black has to show some precision to equalize, but on the
other hand, white also needs to be careful in several lines.}) 26... Rxb5 $3 {
The real schocker of the game. At first, my opponents wondered if I might have
made a mouse-slip! No engine on earth will find or like this move, but... I
went into the final wanting exactly to get this position on the board in the
first game. [%emt 0:01:17]} ({After} 26... Rxa3 27. bxa3 Qxa3 28. Rd2 Nc7 {
black may be able to hold, but it is play for two results only, and a black
win is not one of them.}) 27. Nxb5 {[%emt 0:01:03]} Qa2+ {[%emt 0:01:35]} 28.
Kc1 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Nc4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 29. Qd3 {[%emt 0:00:25]} Qa1+ {
[%emt 0:00:13]} 30. Qb1 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Qa4 {After a forced sequence of moves,
it is time to contemplate the consequences of 26...Rxb5. While black is down
an exchange, white has his share of problems too. The white queen is tied to
inactivity on the b1-square, and the white king is locked on c1, at least for
the time being. Additionally, the white rooks are not really a threatening
force by themselves, thus leaving pawn-pushes on the kingside a lot less
dangerous for black. After the conclusion of the game, I was a bit surprised
about how deadly the 26...Rxb5 idea had turned out to be, as I had been
spending a majority of the time during preparation trying to counter white's
most critical tries in the following positions. On the other hand, white comes
into this position unprepared. Once you begin analysing, you will see one line
after another go from +0.50 to 0.00, and sometimes below that. In other words,
white is stepping into a mine-field, and already it is tough for white to
figure out if he is playing for a win or a draw. My opponent spent 20 minutes
here and was thus down to about 25 minutes, while I still had the full hour
left. I will leave the analysis of the next few moves to the discretion of the
reader. [%emt 0:00:14]} 31. Nd4 {[%emt 0:19:49]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 32. Rh3 {
[%emt 0:02:35]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 33. Rf3 {[%emt 0:00:55]} Ne5 {
[%emt 0:00:34]} 34. Rff1 {Around here, my opponents figured out that they were
aiming for a draw only. However, the tide has turned against them now, and
while it will be difficult to pinpoint the decisive error without hours of
analysis, it is safe to say that black now has excellent practical chances.
[%emt 0:00:27]} Nc7 {34...Nc7 was the last move in my preparation. In this
structure, if stuff like Nc7 + Rc8 turns out to be any good, it is usually
also the best option. However, as I could not see a clear win yet, I spent
some time checking 34...Qc4 and 34...Bb4 also. [%emt 0:17:40]} (34... Qc4) (
34... Bb4) 35. h5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} (35. f6 $5 g6 {and while black has the
upper hand, I have not checked if there is something clearly decisive.}) 35...
Rc8 $1 {This move was missed by my opponent team. During our recent chat, Eros
praised it as a very human move. The pleasant point is of course that it may
not necessarily take IM or GM strength to play human moves! Apparently, a
strong centaur decision process can also achieve good results. I believe white
is lost after this, and I have tried to indicate below what I consider black's
best play against white's various tries. There are some nice tactical motifs
in several variations. [%emt 0:15:48]} (35... dxe4 36. g6 {is not so clear.})
36. f6 {
My opponent spent 19 of his remaining 23 minutes on this move. [%emt 0:18:47]}
(36. g6 {was perhaps white's best practical chance. Many lines look tempting
for black, but several times, white gets to play gxf7 or f5-f6, giving him
just enough counterplay to scrape a draw. The solution has a logical twist:
fxg6 must be played!} fxg6 $1 37. Kd2 (37. f6 gxf6 38. hxg6 (38. Kd2 Nb5 39.
Nxb5 Qxb5 40. Ke1 Bb4) 38... Nb5 39. Nxb5 Qxb5) (37. fxg6 Nb5 $1 38. Nxb5 Qxb5
39. Rfe1 Qc5 40. Rxd5 Qf2 41. Kd1 Qf3+ 42. Re2 Ng4 43. Rxd6 Ne3+ 44. Kd2 Nc4+)
(37. hxg6 Nb5 $1 38. Nxb5 Qxb5 39. Rfe1 Qb6 40. Rxd5 Qf2 41. Kd1 Qf3+ 42. Re2
Ng4 43. Rxd6 Ne3+ 44. Kd2 Nc4+) 37... Bb4 $1 38. fxg6 (38. hxg6 Nb5 39. Nxb5
Qxb5 40. Rh1 d4) (38. Qa1 Bxc3+ 39. bxc3 Qc4 40. Qb1 Nb5) (38. h6 Nb5 39. hxg7+
Kxg7 40. Ne6+ Kh8 41. Bxb4 Qxb4+ 42. Ke3 d4+ 43. Kf4 Qd6) (38. Ke1 gxh5 39. Rf2
(39. f6 gxf6 40. Rxf6 Nb5) 39... Rb8 40. Ne2 Re8) 38... Nb5 $1 (38... dxe4 39.
h6 hxg6 40. Ke1 {and white has drawing chances.}) 39. Nxb5 Qxb5 40. Ke1 Qc5 41.
Rxd5 (41. Ke2 Bxc3 42. bxc3 Qc4+ 43. Kf2 Ng4+ 44. Kf3 (44. Kg3 Ne3) 44... Nh2+
45. Kg2 Nxf1 46. Rxf1 dxe4) (41. Qc1 dxe4 42. Ke2 (42. h6 Nf3+ 43. Ke2 Qb5+ 44.
Kf2 Bxc3 45. bxc3 Rf8) 42... Qb5+) 41... Bxc3+ 42. bxc3 Qxc3+ 43. Ke2 Qg3 44.
Qc1 (44. Rc5 Qg4+ 45. Ke1 Qh4+ 46. Ke2 Qxh5+ 47. Kd2 Qh2+ 48. Ke1 Ra8) (44. Rf5
Qh2+ 45. Ke1 Qh1+ 46. Rf1 Qh4+) (44. Qd1 Qg2+) 44... Qg2+ 45. Ke3 Re8 46. Rxe5
(46. Qe1 Qh3+ 47. Ke2 Ng4) 46... Qg3+) (36. h6 gxh6 37. gxh6 Bb4 {
and the attack continues.}) 36... gxf6 {After the game, several spectators
expressed disbelief as to what had happened. First, white looked great, and
less than 10 moves later, he went down in flames and resigned!? 37.Rxf6 was
suggested as the best try to stay in the game, but I am sure that team Rodo
had seen and didn't like one of black's way to finish white off after that
move. [%emt 0:03:48]} 37. Kd2 {[%emt 0:03:32]} (37. Rxf6 Bb4 (37... Ne6 {
is also quite clear.} 38. Rxe6 (38. Nxe6 fxe6 39. exd5 (39. Rxe6 Bb4 40. Kd2 (
40. Rd4 Qb5) (40. Rxd5 Qa7) 40... Qa7 41. Ke2 Bxc3) (39. Kd2 d4) 39... Qg4) (
38. Nxb3 Bb4 39. Qc2 Bxc3 40. bxc3 Rb8 41. Kd2 Rxb3) 38... fxe6 39. exd5 (39.
Kd2 Qc4) (39. Nxb3 Bb4 $1 40. Qc2 Bxc3 41. Kb1 Qc4 42. exd5 exd5 43. bxc3 Rb8
44. Rd4 Qf1+ 45. Qd1 Rxb3+ 46. Kc2 (46. Ka2 Qxd1 47. Rxd1 Rb5) 46... Qb5 47.
Qa1 h6 48. Qa8+ Kh7 49. Qa7+ Nd7 50. g6+ Kg7 51. Rd2 Rb1) 39... exd5 40. Nxb3
Qf4+ 41. Nd2 d4 42. Qe4 dxc3 43. Qxf4 Nd3+ 44. Kc2 cxd2+ 45. Qc4 Rxc4+ 46. Kxd3
Rh4 47. Rxd2 {
and I am not quite sure if black could encounter technical problems.}) 38. Rf2
(38. g6 fxg6 $1 39. Rf2 (39. hxg6 Nb5) 39... Nb5 40. Nxb5 Qxb5 41. Rxd5 (41.
exd5 Qa5 42. Rd3 Qb6) 41... Qb6 42. Rdd2 gxh5) (38. Rf5 Nb5) 38... Ne6 $1 39.
Nxe6 Bxc3 40. bxc3 fxe6 41. exd5 Qc4 $1 (41... exd5 42. Rxd5 Qc4 43. Rdd2 Qxc3+
44. Kd1 Ng4 45. Rf7 Ne3+ 46. Ke2 Qc4+ 47. Kxe3 Re8+ {
and I suspect it is drawish.}) 42. Qa1 (42. Rdd2 Qxc3+ 43. Kd1 Nc4) 42... Qe4
$1 43. Rfd2 Nc4 44. Qa6 Rf8 45. Qa4 Nxd2 46. Qxe4 Nxe4) 37... dxe4 {
' Rodo abbandona [%emt 0:05:15]} 0-1
[Event "5th Freestyle Final"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2007.03.24"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Engineer"]
[Black "Flying Saucers"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "1653"]
[BlackElo "1821"]
[Annotator "Dagh,Nielsen"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2007.03.25"]
[EventType "rapid"]
{This game was played in round 5 of the final. I was on +1, while Jiri was on
-1 and probably eagerly looking forward to get a chance to get even, both on
the scoreboard and against me. The game ended up being another spectacular
Najdorf battle.} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 2. Nf3 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 3. d4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:03]
} 4. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 5. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a6 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} 6. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e6 {My opponent probably expected 6...
e5, which I had played twice in the preliminary tournament as well as in round
1 of the final. [%emt 0:00:29]} 7. f3 {[%emt 0:00:50]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 8.
Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:40]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 9. g4 {[%emt 0:00:19]} b4 {
When will GMs pick up on this move order? A temporary answer was given in the
next round when Jiri adopted this line as black vs. Ciron and got a serious
edge out of the opening. [%emt 0:00:41]} 10. Nce2 {[%emt 0:01:23]} (10. Na4 h6
{is a transposition to the "Topalov-line" that usually arises after 8.g4.})
10... h6 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 11. O-O-O {[%emt 0:06:25]} Qc7 $1 {The point justifyi
ng 9...b4, at least until white cooks up something new. [%emt 0:00:21]} 12. Bg2
{[%emt 0:08:35]} ({In the preliminary, Jiri played against Hoshad} 12. h4 d5
13. Bg2 dxe4 14. g5 Nd5 {and after} 15. g6 $1 {
a spectacular attack and eventual win followed} N7b6 16. fxe4 Nc4 17. exd5 Nxd2
18. gxf7+ Qxf7 19. dxe6 Bxe6 20. Bxa8 Nc4 21. Bc6+ Bd7 22. Rhf1 $16) 12... Ne5
{[%emt 0:14:46]} 13. Bf2 {[%emt 0:22:37]} (13. Qxb4 {
will be played another day.}) 13... Nc4 {[%emt 0:05:27]} 14. Qd3 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Bb7 {
Black has come out of the opening with a clear edge. [%emt 0:00:27]} 15. Bg3 {
[%emt 0:02:59]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:02:16]} 16. Kb1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} e5 {
[%emt 0:00:35]} 17. Nb3 {[%emt 0:01:12]} Be7 $1 {A strong idea coupled with
d6-d5 after white plays 18.Nd2. I think this is much stronger than Nxd2+ lines
which only seem to relieve the pressure on white. [%emt 0:06:02]} 18. Nd2 {
[%emt 0:04:42]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 19. Nxc4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} (19. exd5 Bxd5 $1
(19... Nxd2+) 20. Nxc4 (20. Rhe1 O-O 21. Nd4 Rfe8 22. Nf5 (22. N4b3 Red8 23.
Nxc4 Bxc4 24. Qe3 Bd6 25. h4 (25. Bh3 Be6 26. Rd2 Nd5) 25... a5) 22... Bf8)
20... Bxc4 21. Qe3 Be6) 19... dxc4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 20. Qe3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} c3
{I took some time here to make sure that I would not embarrass myself by
allowing white to block and stop black's attack with b2-b3. [%emt 0:07:15]} 21.
h4 {[%emt 0:00:48]} (21. b3 a5 {is however deadly. Having analysed some of
these lines, I kept an extra eye on any a6-a5-a4 push for the remainder of the
game.} 22. Bf2 (22. Nc1 O-O (22... a4) 23. h4 a4 24. bxa4 $2 Qa5) (22. h4 a4
23. bxa4 Qa5) 22... Nd7 23. Ng3 (23. Qd3 a4) 23... Bc5 (23... a4 24. Nf5 $2
axb3 25. axb3 Ra8 26. Rxd7 Qa5 27. Rxe7+ Kf8) 24. Qe2 Bxf2 25. Qxf2 a4 26. Nf5
axb3 27. Nd6+ Ke7) 21... Nd7 $1 {Threatening stuff like Nb6-c4, and supporting
Be7-c5 after Bc6. The alternative 21...a5 didn't look like a promising line.
Around here, I grew confident that I would actually only be pleased if I could
provoke b2-b3. [%emt 0:05:59]} (21... a5 22. g5 cxb2 23. Qb3 Nh5 24. Bh3 Nxg3
25. Nxg3) 22. b3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} (22. Qc1 Qc5 {
and black is all over the board.}) 22... Bc6 $1 {
With the simple idea of Qc7-a7 and pushing the a-pawn. [%emt 0:00:16]} 23. g5 {
[%emt 0:01:23]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 24. Qc1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Qa7 $1 {
Initially Rybka wants 24...Qb6, but at this point, I wanted nothing of that.
[%emt 0:00:15]} 25. Rxd7 {[%emt 0:04:26]} (25. Bh2 {(aiming for g1)} a5 $1 26.
Bh3 a4 27. Bxd7+ Bxd7 28. Bxe5 Ra8) 25... Bxd7 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 26. Bxe5 {
[%emt 0:00:01]} Be3 {[%emt 0:00:43]} 27. Qe1 {[%emt 0:00:44]} O-O {The long thi
nk here was due to the reason that I had initially planned 26...Be3 27.Qe1 a5,
but then I figured that I was not really satisfied after 28.a4. [%emt 0:06:57]}
(27... a5 28. a4) 28. f4 $1 {Devilish defense! Perhaps black can win in
several other ways than the game line after this, but many lines will see
white obtain counter-attacking chances that could be difficult to assess in
zeitnot. [%emt 0:02:03]} (28. Bd6 a5 29. Bxf8 (29. gxh6 a4) 29... Kxf8) 28...
a5 $3 {Finally! No engine is likely to suggest this. With my opponent having
only 7-8 minutes left, I was virtually sure that he would comply with 29.gxh6,
after which I had analysed to clear wins. [%emt 0:04:19]} (28... Bb5 29. gxh6
Bf2 30. Qf1 {was the kind of chaotic lines that I wanted to avoid.}) 29. gxh6 {
[%emt 0:01:09]} Bf2 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 30. Qc1 {[%emt 0:01:14]} (30. Qd1 Bg4 31.
Bh3 Rcd8 $1 32. Qf1 a4 $1 (32... Bxh3 {is not so clear.}) 33. bxa4 Qxa4 $1 {
was the main point of 28...a5. It would have been a beautiful final position
of the game!}) 30... a4 {White is defenseless now. [%emt 0:00:27]} 31. f5 {
[%emt 0:05:09]} axb3 {' [%emt 0:01:12]} 32. cxb3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Bb5 {
[%emt 0:01:19]} 33. a4 {[%emt 0:00:50]} c2+ {[%emt 0:00:18]} 34. Kb2 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Be3 {Engineer Ñäàåòñÿ [%emt 0:00:31]} 0-1
[Event "5th Freestyle Final"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2007.03.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "ZackS"]
[Black "Flying Saucers"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B85"]
[BlackElo "2483"]
[Annotator "Dagh,Nielsen"]
[PlyCount "140"]
[EventDate "2007.03.25"]
[EventType "rapid"]
{This game was played in round 8, the penultimate round. Before the game, I
was on +3, while ZackS was on +1. In another game in this round, Cato the
Younger (+1) had white vs. Etoin Shrdlu (+2). ZackS is the legendary winner of
the very first Freestyle chess tournament. Behind the nick hides Steven
Zackary from the US. I had played twice already against his team (nick Elissa
in the 4th final), and I suspect I also played against his team in round 6 of
the 5th preliminary (vs. Pulse_exchange). So far, every game between us had
been a draw, and I was hellbent on making sure that that trend continued.
Luckily, it didn't
} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 2. Nf3 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 3. d4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:04]
} 4. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 5. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} a6 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} 6. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 7. Be2 {It may be t
hat opting for the Scheveningen is perfectly great and dangerous for black,
but I see it as a concession, morally speaking! [%emt 0:00:05]} Be7 {Perhaps sp
ending 5 minutes in a position that has been reached a zillion times before
can seem a little outlandish, but I had not prepared anything and wanted to
try and make sure that I would not drift automatically into a for me
unpleasant position, or a dangerous new or rare idea of my opponent backed by
thorough preparation. [%emt 0:04:57]} 8. O-O {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:15]} 9. a4 {[%emt 0:00:11]} O-O {[%emt 0:01:00]} 10. f4 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:01:04]} 11. Kh1 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Bd7 {This move or
der looked like an appropriate moment to try and enter less explored paths and
possibly avoid any opponent preparation, for example in a line like 11...Re8
12.Bd3. [%emt 0:04:06]} (11... Re8 12. Bd3 $5 (12. Bf3)) 12. Nb3 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} b6 {[%emt 0:02:34]} 13. Bf3 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Rfe8 {
[%emt 0:00:13]} 14. g4 {[%emt 0:02:46]} Bc8 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 15. g5 {
[%emt 0:00:42]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 16. h4 {Broadly speaking, this move is a
good choice. In order to get winning chances, one sometimes has to consider
gambling with new, unexplored ideas, so as to not give the opponent a fairly
easy way to equality by following the beaten tracks. [%emt 0:05:21]} (16. Bg2 {
is almost always played, giving white the option of bringing the queen or a
rook to the h-file.}) 16... Na5 $1 {However, h2-h4 turned out to be a
strategical mistake. Perhaps my opponent was carried away by Rybka's favorable
evaluation. It is well-known that Rybka has a tendency to overestimate h-pawn
pushes against a castled king. I had briefly checked this 16.h4 Na5 line
already before playing 12...b6 and decided that there probably shouldn't be
anything to fear. h5-h6 is answered by g7-g6, and g5-g6 also didn't really
seem to work anywhere, and black is ready to counter in the center with d6-d5.
My opponent now took a deep think, and I reached equality on the clock. The
difficult challenge for my opponent now is to realize that he is about to
drift into a clearly inferior position, and adjust accordingly. [%emt 0:03:48]}
17. Nd2 {[%emt 0:17:43]} (17. Nxa5 bxa5 18. h5 Rb8 19. Rb1 Rb4 20. h6 g6 {
is the kind of line that both Rybka and Fritz realize too late is fine for
black. 17.Nxa5 may still have been a reasonable alternative to 17.Nd2, though.}
) 17... Bb7 {During the next few moves, I didn't feel white managed to find
the most stubborn way to counter black's eventual d6-d5 break. [%emt 0:01:44]}
18. Qe2 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Rad8 {[%emt 0:03:12]} 19. Rfe1 {[%emt 0:01:31]} (19.
Rae1) 19... Bf8 {[%emt 0:02:11]} 20. Qf2 {[%emt 0:12:10]} d5 {Now black gets a
solid advantage. In a sense, black has achieved a best-case scenario in the
Scheveningen. White's attack is nowhere, while black has conquered the center
and can look forward to exploiting the precarious state of white's pawn
structure and naked king. [%emt 0:06:45]} 21. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} exd5 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} 22. Bd4 {[%emt 0:00:55]} Qxf4 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 23. Rxe8 {
[%emt 0:00:34]} Rxe8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 24. Bxd5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Bxd5+ {
[%emt 0:03:17]} 25. Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qd6 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 26. Qg2 {
[%emt 0:03:15]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 27. c3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Nxd4 {
[%emt 0:00:43]} 28. cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 29. axb5 {
[%emt 0:00:22]} axb5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 30. Rf1 {[%emt 0:00:50]} Nb6 {
[%emt 0:01:59]} 31. Nxb6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Qxb6 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 32. Qd5 {
[%emt 0:00:50]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 33. Qf3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Re7 {Black has no
hurry in this position. He can maneuvre here and there and gradually apply
pressure on the d-pawn and white's other weaknesses. Important is to avoid
exchanges that will give white more straight-forward drawing paths. [%emt 0:02:
29]} 34. Ne4 {[%emt 0:03:29]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 35. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Qe6
{[%emt 0:00:12]} 36. Re1 {[%emt 0:01:03]} (36. Nc5 Qg6) 36... Kh8 {
[%emt 0:01:43]} 37. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Qd5 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 38. Qf4 {
[%emt 0:00:45]} h6 {[%emt 0:01:45]} 39. Re2 {[%emt 0:04:12]} Qxd4 {
[%emt 0:01:04]} 40. gxh6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} gxh6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 41. b3 {
[%emt 0:00:46]} b4 {[%emt 0:00:41]} 42. h5 {[%emt 0:02:28]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:00:24]
} 43. Re3 {[%emt 0:00:46]} Qe6 {Patience was still my modus operandi. If
possible, white should be allowed to find a rope himself. The clock situation
was relevant. I had 19 minutes left here, while my opponent was down to 7-8
minutes. [%emt 0:00:26]} ({While} 43... f5 44. Ng3 Qd2+ 45. Kf3 Qd5+ 46. Ke2
Qg2+ 47. Ke1 Rf7 48. Nxf5 Kh7 {may also have been sufficient for black, it
holds true that it is the kind of line that Fritz tends to overestimate solely
due to white's exposed king.}) 44. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Ra7 {[%emt 0:00:29]}
45. Rf3 {Here, I took a deep think, figuring out that I had to find a straight
win now, or I would be in huge risk of eventually allowing "TB-draw-shots".
Also, I was not sure that black was winning against best defense, so I wanted
to prepare a quick sequence of moves so as to make it near impossible for my
opponent to find any draw-shots or traps deeper in the lines. In the end, I
managed to find the winning line with 58...Rf1! and 59...f5. I don't know if a
pure engine would have performed worse in this particular position and onwards,
but I still think that this is a good example of the incredible level of play
that good centaur analysis can nurture. [%emt 0:03:49]} Ra2+ {[%emt 0:12:48]}
46. Kg3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} (46. Kf1 {would have required nerves of steel to
enter, and since Rybka didn't like it, I didn't spend any time on it since my
opponent would be so unlikely to play it.}) 46... Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 47. Qf5
{[%emt 0:00:06]} Be5+ {[%emt 0:00:09]} 48. Kg4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rg2+ {
[%emt 0:00:21]} 49. Kh3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Rh2+ {[%emt 0:00:12]} (49... Re2 50.
Qxe6 fxe6 51. Nc5 Bc3 52. Rf4 Re5 53. Rc4 Rxh5+ {was a line I spent a good
deal of time on at move 45, eventually coming to the conclusion that white had
excellent drawing chances. Black can't hold on to the b-pawn, and drawn rook
endings could easily arise.}) 50. Kg4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Qe8 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 51.
Rf2 {[%emt 0:03:36]} Rh1 {[%emt 0:00:08]} (51... Rxf2 52. Nxf2 {
was another line to examine and discard.}) 52. Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:39]} Bxf6 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} 53. Qxf6+ {[%emt 0:00:03]} Kg8 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 54. Rg2 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} Qe4+ {[%emt 0:00:11]} 55. Kg3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Qe3+ {
[%emt 0:00:12]} 56. Qf3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Qxf3+ {[%emt 0:00:07]} 57. Kxf3+ {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 58. Kg4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rf1 $1 {
Preventing Kg4-f5-f6. [%emt 0:00:12]} (58... Rc1 59. Kf5 $1 Rc5+ 60. Kf6 Rc3
61. Rb2 {was yet another kind of line to avoid. I don't know if white is
drawing, but I eventually figured that his odds were quite good. Having seen
this Kf5-f6 theme, I went back and examined 58...Rf1 on my own suggestion, and
soon enough, I was able to play 45...Ra2+ etc. with confidence.}) 59. Rd2 {
[%emt 0:00:39]} f5+ {Now black is winning. [%emt 0:00:27]} 60. Kg3 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 61. Rd5 {[%emt 0:00:51]} Kf6 {
[%emt 0:00:23]} 62. Rd4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Rg1+ {[%emt 0:00:27]} 63. Kf3 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} Rg4 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 64. Rd5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Kg5 {
[%emt 0:00:35]} 65. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:37]} Rh4 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 66. Rb5 {
[%emt 0:00:17]} Rd4 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 67. Ke3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Rf4 {
[%emt 0:00:15]} 68. Rb7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Re4+ {[%emt 0:00:15]} 69. Kf3 {
[%emt 0:00:15]} Kxh5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 70. Rb6 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Kg5 {
Zacks resigns [%emt 0:00:18]} 0-1
[Event "5th Freestyle Main Event"]
[Site "playchess.com #091606"]
[Date "2007.03.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Flying Saucers"]
[Black "Averell"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C06"]
[Annotator "Dagh,Nielsen"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2007.03.04"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
{This game was played in round 1 in the preliminary tournament. The game is
not very spectacular or theoretically interesting, but I have included some
comments in the endgame in order to illustrate what kind of insights strong
centaur play may involve. If there is a lesson to be learned from this game,
it would be "Know Thy Engine!".} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:14]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 2.
d4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 3. Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:00:25]} 4. e5 {[%emt 0:00:36]} Nfd7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 5. Bd3 {
[%emt 0:00:13]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 6. c3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:12]}
7. Ne2 {[%emt 0:00:45]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:36]} 8. cxd4 {[%emt 0:01:01]} f6 {
[%emt 0:00:19]} 9. exf6 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Nxf6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 10. O-O {
[%emt 0:00:15]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 11. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} O-O {
[%emt 0:00:45]} 12. Bf4 {[%emt 0:01:55]} Bxf4 {[%emt 0:03:11]} 13. Nxf4 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Ne4 {[%emt 0:01:20]} 14. g3 {[%emt 0:08:07]} g5 {[%emt 0:04:58]
} 15. Nh5 {[%emt 0:29:28]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 16. Ne5 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Be8 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} 17. Nxc6 {[%emt 0:01:01]} bxc6 {[%emt 0:01:30]} 18. b3 {
[%emt 0:00:24]} Bg6 {[%emt 0:03:47]} 19. Rc1 {[%emt 0:01:14]} Rc8 {
[%emt 0:06:50]} 20. g4 {[%emt 0:06:18]} Bxh5 {[%emt 0:07:29]} 21. gxh5 {
[%emt 0:00:41]} Rf4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 22. Bxe4 {[%emt 0:00:19]} dxe4 {
[%emt 0:00:27]} 23. Rc5 {[%emt 0:00:26]} Rc7 {At this point, it looked pretty
clear that the game should be a draw by perpetual with correct play from both
sides. However, I knew that Rybka and most other engines have fairly serious
problems assessing especially pawn-endings from afar. In a sense, this + the
potential 2 vs. 1 pawn majority on the queen-side should be enough to set off
an alarm bell. I began looking intensively for "hidden resources" and managed
to find the winning line starting with 28.Re8+. For the next few moves, I
could just hope that my opponent would choose the wrong way to force the draw.
[%emt 0:04:09]} 24. Qe2 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Rcf7 {[%emt 0:03:53]} 25. Rxc6 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} e3 $6 {The first move down the wrong path. [%emt 0:02:18]} (
25... Qxd4 26. Rxe6 Qd5 $11) 26. f3 {[%emt 0:00:28]} Qxd4 {[%emt 0:00:59]} 27.
Rxe6 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Rxf3 {[%emt 0:02:03]} 28. Re8+ $1 {The surprising move
which happens to win the game on the spot. All engines I have tested do not
appreciate the strength of this move within reasonable time, and even less so
from afar. [%emt 0:00:15]} Rf8 {[%emt 0:00:52]} 29. Rxf8+ {[%emt 0:00:12]} Rxf8
{[%emt 0:00:25]} 30. Qc4+ {[%emt 0:00:59]} Qxc4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 31. Rxf8+ {
[%emt 0:00:15]} Kxf8 {[%emt 0:00:55]} 32. bxc4 {
White has a winning pawn ending. [%emt 0:00:05]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:01:25]} 33. Kf1 {
[%emt 0:00:34]} Kd6 {[%emt 0:00:48]} 34. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Kc5 {
[%emt 0:00:33]} 35. Kxe3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Kxc4 {[%emt 0:00:50]} 36. Ke4 {
Averell gibt auf [%emt 0:00:11]} 1-0
[Event "5th Freestyle Main Event"]
[Site "playchess.com #091606"]
[Date "2007.03.03"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Flying Saucers"]
[Black "Engineer"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]
[Annotator "Dagh,Nielsen"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2007.03.04"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
{In this game from the 3rd round of the preliminary, I had white vs. GM Juri
Solodownitschenko from Ukraine, who also qualified for the final. I have
annotated it as it is a quite spectular attacking game, and maybe also of some
theoretical interest.} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 2. Nf3 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 3. d4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:02]
} 4. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 5. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} a6 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} 6. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 7. f3 {
[%emt 0:00:28]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:34]} 8. Qd2 {[%emt 0:03:00]} Be7 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} 9. O-O-O {[%emt 0:00:19]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:02]} 10. g4 {
[%emt 0:00:13]} Nd7 {I later learned during my preparation for the final that
Juri always plays this Nd7-Nde5 interpretation of this system instead of the
more common Nxd4. He blitzed out the opening moves for a few more moves, while
I was definitely out of any kind of preparation. I was not overly concerned by
this fact, though I certainly paid it due respect. I had had a similar
experience as white vs. IM Dennis Breder in the 4th preliminary in a Tarrasch
French, and in that game I was lucky to be able to win in perhaps one of my
best Freestyle performances so far. I decided to take a good deal of time to
ponder the various options here and see if I could get a position to my liking.
Perhaps an interesting observation is that big swings are quite uncommon in
games at this computer-assisted level. After the opening and early middle-game,
it is often play for two results only. Consequently, I feel it is usually
worth it to invest some time in this phase to try and make sure that it is the
two right results. Of course, the risk is that you still get a worse position
and a disadvantage on the clock as well, or that you do not put enough time
pressure on the opponent so as to make defense more difficult. [%emt 0:00:01]}
11. Kb1 $5 {This move may even have a point, see below. [%emt 0:15:07]} ({
The more common} 11. h4 Nde5 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Be2 Rb8 14. f4 Nd7 15. Kb1 $5 {
would transpose to the game line, but then especially black would have had
other options along the way.} (15. h5 Qa5 {is the common continuation.})) 11...
Nde5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 12. Nxc6 {I hesitated quite a bit before this move. Nxc6
is a move that engines typically overestimate in the open Sicilian, but in
this particular structure, it turns out to be just fine and normal. [%emt 0:08:
39]} bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 13. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:29]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 14. f4
{[%emt 0:07:33]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 15. h4 {We have reached a common
position, with the slight difference that white has spent a move on Kc1-b1
instead of h4-h5. Can this be any good? Well, after instead h4-h5, black
usually plays Qa5, but this is not possible when the king is already on b1.
Black gets to play Qa5 later on, but only after having played Bb4, a square
that also the black queen could like to occupate. [%emt 0:00:38]} d5 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} (15... Qa5 $2 16. Nd5) 16. h5 {[%emt 0:01:03]} Bb4 {
[%emt 0:03:42]} 17. h6 {[%emt 0:00:43]} Qa5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 18. Ka1 {
[%emt 0:01:30]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 19. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:26]} exd5 {Now I think
black already has some pretty serious problems. Black's counterplay is
somewhat stranded for the moment, and white can look forward to ripping up
with f4-f5-g6. I spent some time here figuring out which move orders would
make it most unlikely for black to get off the hook. [%emt 0:00:03]} (19...
cxd5 20. Bd4 {was perhaps not such a bad alternative for black. I don't know
if white would be able to keep his initiative, of if black would eventually be
able to untangle and perhaps achieve a superiour structure and good piece play.
}) 20. f5 {[%emt 0:05:43]} Re8 {[%emt 0:02:02]} 21. Bd4 {[%emt 0:03:01]} Bc5 {
[%emt 0:10:41]} (21... c5 22. Bg7 d4 23. fxg6 hxg6 24. Bc4 Bxc3 25. bxc3 Ne5
26. Rde1 Bb7 27. Bxe5 Rxe5 28. Rxe5 Bxh1 29. Bxf7+ Kh8 30. g5) 22. fxg6 $1 {
[%emt 0:01:40]} fxg6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 23. Rhe1 $1 {The culmination of white's
opening play. Now the stage is set for some tactical firework. [%emt 0:00:24]}
Qb4 {[%emt 0:14:58]} (23... Nf8 24. Bb5 $1 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Qb4 26. Bxc5 Qxc5 27.
Bxc6 Qxc6 28. Nxd5 Rb7 29. Ne7+ (29. Re7 $5) 29... Rxe7 30. Rxe7 {
and for example} Bxg4 31. Rg7+ Kh8 32. b3 Qf6+ 33. Kb1 Be6 34. Qe3 {and in line
s like these, black looks complete tied up. I had this particular line worked
out during the game.}) 24. Bb5 $1 {It really is quite rare that one can put a
bishop on a square to be captured "for free" by not only one, but two pawns!
[%emt 0:00:23]} Bb7 {
Necessary in order to protect both Re8 and pawn c6. [%emt 0:00:03]} (24... Rxe1
$2 25. Qxe1 {and black's king is without defense.}) 25. Bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:18]}
Qxc5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 26. Ba4 {Keeping the tactical tension. [%emt 0:00:16]}
Ne5 {This is not sufficient for black, but the alternatives are not much
better, if any. [%emt 0:00:22]} (26... Re5 27. Rxe5 Nxe5 28. Qg5 Nf7 29. Qf6
Nxh6 30. Ne4 $1 Qf8 31. Qe6+ Qf7 32. Nf6+ Kg7 33. Qe5 Qxf6 34. Qxb8 Qe7 35. Qa7
) (26... Qb4 27. a3 Qd6 (27... Qxg4 28. Nxd5 cxd5 29. Qc3) 28. Ne4) (26... Re7
27. Rxe7 Qxe7 28. Re1 Qf7 29. Ne4) 27. Qh2 $1 {[%emt 0:00:43]} (27. Nxd5 cxd5
28. Bxe8 Rxe8 29. Re2 d4 30. Qf4 Bf3 31. Rxe5 Qxe5 32. Qxf3 {also looks OK.})
27... Qd6 {[%emt 0:00:37]} 28. Nxd5 $1 {
Here all of white's pieces just play perfectly together. [%emt 0:00:15]} cxd5 {
[%emt 0:01:07]} 29. Bxe8 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Rxe8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 30. Re2 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} Re6 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 31. Rde1 {[%emt 0:00:29]} Nxg4 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} 32. Qxd6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Rxd6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 33. Re8+ {
[%emt 0:00:09]} Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 34. R1e7+ {[%emt 0:01:06]} Kf6 {
[%emt 0:00:01]} 35. Rxb7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nxh6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 36. Rxh7 {
[%emt 0:00:26]} Nf5 {I was relatively low on time here (10 mins or so left),
and Jiri fought resourcefully to try and make something out of the g-pawn and
make me go wrong by presenting me with unexpected challenges. [%emt 0:00:03]}
37. Kb1 {[%emt 0:01:23]} d4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 38. Kc1 {[%emt 0:01:09]} g5 {
[%emt 0:01:13]} 39. Rf8+ {[%emt 0:03:34]} Kg6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 40. Rh2 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} Rd5 {[%emt 0:16:37]} 41. Kd2 {[%emt 0:01:45]} g4 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} 42. Rg8+ {[%emt 0:00:14]} Ng7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 43. Rg2 {
[%emt 0:00:45]} Rg5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 44. Kd3 {[%emt 0:00:43]} Kf5 {
[%emt 0:04:42]} 45. Rd8 {[%emt 0:00:47]} Rg6 {[%emt 0:04:30]} 46. Rxd4 {
[%emt 0:00:21]} Ne6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 47. Rd5+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} Kf4 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} 48. Rf2+ {[%emt 0:00:08]} Kg3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 49. Rdf5 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} Ng5 {[%emt 0:00:39]} 50. Rf6 {[%emt 0:00:36]} Rg8 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} 51. Re2 {[%emt 0:00:26]} Nh3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 52. Re3+ {
[%emt 0:00:46]} Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:31]} 53. Rxa6 {[%emt 0:00:23]} g3 {
[%emt 0:00:18]} 54. Rf6 {[%emt 0:00:43]} Nf2+ {[%emt 0:00:20]} 55. Kd2 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} Ng4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 56. Re2+ {[%emt 0:00:15]} Kg1 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} 57. Rf3 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Nh2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 58. Rf7 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} g2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 59. Re1+ {[%emt 0:00:39]} Nf1+ {
[%emt 0:00:02]} 60. Kc1 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Ra8 {[%emt 0:01:19]} ({
Maneuvres like Rh8-h1 happen to not work.} 60... Rh8 61. b3 Rh1 62. Kb2 Kh2 63.
Re2 Ng3 64. Rh7+ Kg1 {and now white can just play} 65. Rxg2+ Kxg2 66. Rxh1) 61.
a3 {[%emt 0:00:29]} Ra4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 62. Rf8 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Rh4 {
[%emt 0:00:15]} 63. b3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Rh3 {[%emt 0:01:10]} 64. a4 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} Re3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 65. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Re5 {
[%emt 0:00:17]} 66. Rf7 {White is of course completely winning now, but I
still find the "lock" on black's king and knight amusing. [%emt 0:00:08]} Rh5 {
[%emt 0:00:17]} 67. Kb2 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Ra5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 68. c4 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} Re5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 69. Ka3 {Engineer Ñäàåòñÿ [%emt 0:00:10]}
1-0
[Event "5th Freestyle Final"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2007.03.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Rodo"]
[Black "Flying Saucers"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2534"]
[BlackElo "2444"]
[Annotator "Dagh,Nielsen"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2007.03.25"]
[EventType "rapid"]
{My opponent in this 1st round game of the final was a team led by Rodolfo
Gallo from Italy. In the preliminary and the play-offs, he had been playing as
a pure engine (backed by a very strong home-cooked book), but in the final he
played as captain of a centaur team. Before the game, I expected and hoped for
a continuation of an intense theoretical discussion having taken place during
the preliminary and the play-offs. While making these annotations, I chatted
briefly with Eros Riccio from the Rodo team, and comments about their
considerations during the game is based on this.} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} c5 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 3. d4 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 4. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:00:15]} 5. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:19]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 6. Be3 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 7. Nb3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Be6 {[%emt 0:00:13]
} 8. f3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 9. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:09]} O-O {
[%emt 0:00:14]} 10. O-O-O {[%emt 0:00:11]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 11. g4 {
[%emt 0:00:19]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 12. g5 {[%emt 0:00:13]} b4 {[%emt 0:00:07]}
13. Ne2 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Ne8 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 14. f4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} a5 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} 15. f5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} a4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 16. Nbd4 {
[%emt 0:00:30]} exd4 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 17. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:18]} b3 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} 18. Kb1 {[%emt 0:00:16]} bxc2+ {[%emt 0:00:13]} 19. Nxc2 {
[%emt 0:00:15]} Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 20. axb3 {[%emt 0:00:18]} axb3 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} 21. Na3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Ne5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 22. h4 {
[%emt 0:00:20]} Ra4 {The alternatives to this move may not be losing, but they
involve a good deal of self-torture. [%emt 0:00:20]} 23. Bd4 {[%emt 0:00:21]}
Qa8 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 24. Qe3 {[%emt 0:00:15]} (24. Qg2 {has been the common
move here, but... Around New Year, I had struck upon a strong novelty for
black while analysing these lines from white's point of view, and I began
contemplating the idea of playing the Najdorf as black in the next Freestyle
tournament. Naturally, I was then quite annoyed when van-Wely hinted in his
game vs. Shirov in Corus + following post mortem analysis why this move is
actually not any good.} Nc7 25. f6 Bd8 26. fxg7 Kxg7 $1 (26... Re8 {
, which has been played numerous times by ZackS, is probably also OK for black.
}) 27. Bc4 $2 {The move that has been played in hundreds of games in the
engine room, when black has responded 27...Ne6 and achieved horrible results.}
(27. Bc3 $1 Be7 $11 {with a draw agreed was the result of my last round game
from the preliminary as black vs. team Etaoin Shrdlu. Playing as a strong
centaur team, they naturally smelled a rat after 26...Kxg7 and pulled the
brakes.}) 27... Rxc4 $1 {This move (+ 29...Ne6) pretty much ends the
discussion of 24.Qg2. van-Wely only indicated Rxc4 Nxc4 Qa2 and "it's quite
unclear" in the post-mortem, but no doubt the cat was out of the bag now.} 28.
Nxc4 Qa2+ 29. Kc1 Ne6 $1 {and white is very close to lost.}) 24... Kh8 {
A novelty according to my database. I had begun investigating this move
several months prior to the 5th Freestyle tournament, as a result of some
insight into the ultimative status of 24...Bd8. The main idea of the move is
to take the sting out of any f5-f6 push. Later on, black may play f7-f6
himself, trying to lock up the kingside and get an attack on the queenside.
The move was a surprise to my opponents. [%emt 0:00:13]} (24... Bd8 25. Rh3 {
was heavily tested in the prelim + playoffs, with white finally getting the
last word in a display of incredible opening preparatation by team Hercules01
in a "must-win" situation in the 3rd round of the play-offs.}) 25. Bb5 {
[%emt 0:11:44]} (25. Rh3 f6 26. Qxb3 {was tested in two later games in the
final with other teams playing black, and Rodo managed to equalize the score
as white in this topical variation in a great game vs. The wizard of Os.})
25... Ra5 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 26. Bc3 {[%emt 0:02:38]} (26. Be2 {is the alternativ
e here. I believe black has to show some precision to equalize, but on the
other hand, white also needs to be careful in several lines.}) 26... Rxb5 $3 {
The real schocker of the game. At first, my opponents wondered if I might have
made a mouse-slip! No engine on earth will find or like this move, but... I
went into the final wanting exactly to get this position on the board in the
first game. [%emt 0:01:17]} ({After} 26... Rxa3 27. bxa3 Qxa3 28. Rd2 Nc7 {
black may be able to hold, but it is play for two results only, and a black
win is not one of them.}) 27. Nxb5 {[%emt 0:01:03]} Qa2+ {[%emt 0:01:35]} 28.
Kc1 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Nc4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 29. Qd3 {[%emt 0:00:25]} Qa1+ {
[%emt 0:00:13]} 30. Qb1 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Qa4 {After a forced sequence of moves,
it is time to contemplate the consequences of 26...Rxb5. While black is down
an exchange, white has his share of problems too. The white queen is tied to
inactivity on the b1-square, and the white king is locked on c1, at least for
the time being. Additionally, the white rooks are not really a threatening
force by themselves, thus leaving pawn-pushes on the kingside a lot less
dangerous for black. After the conclusion of the game, I was a bit surprised
about how deadly the 26...Rxb5 idea had turned out to be, as I had been
spending a majority of the time during preparation trying to counter white's
most critical tries in the following positions. On the other hand, white comes
into this position unprepared. Once you begin analysing, you will see one line
after another go from +0.50 to 0.00, and sometimes below that. In other words,
white is stepping into a mine-field, and already it is tough for white to
figure out if he is playing for a win or a draw. My opponent spent 20 minutes
here and was thus down to about 25 minutes, while I still had the full hour
left. I will leave the analysis of the next few moves to the discretion of the
reader. [%emt 0:00:14]} 31. Nd4 {[%emt 0:19:49]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 32. Rh3 {
[%emt 0:02:35]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 33. Rf3 {[%emt 0:00:55]} Ne5 {
[%emt 0:00:34]} 34. Rff1 {Around here, my opponents figured out that they were
aiming for a draw only. However, the tide has turned against them now, and
while it will be difficult to pinpoint the decisive error without hours of
analysis, it is safe to say that black now has excellent practical chances.
[%emt 0:00:27]} Nc7 {34...Nc7 was the last move in my preparation. In this
structure, if stuff like Nc7 + Rc8 turns out to be any good, it is usually
also the best option. However, as I could not see a clear win yet, I spent
some time checking 34...Qc4 and 34...Bb4 also. [%emt 0:17:40]} (34... Qc4) (
34... Bb4) 35. h5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} (35. f6 $5 g6 {and while black has the
upper hand, I have not checked if there is something clearly decisive.}) 35...
Rc8 $1 {This move was missed by my opponent team. During our recent chat, Eros
praised it as a very human move. The pleasant point is of course that it may
not necessarily take IM or GM strength to play human moves! Apparently, a
strong centaur decision process can also achieve good results. I believe white
is lost after this, and I have tried to indicate below what I consider black's
best play against white's various tries. There are some nice tactical motifs
in several variations. [%emt 0:15:48]} (35... dxe4 36. g6 {is not so clear.})
36. f6 {
My opponent spent 19 of his remaining 23 minutes on this move. [%emt 0:18:47]}
(36. g6 {was perhaps white's best practical chance. Many lines look tempting
for black, but several times, white gets to play gxf7 or f5-f6, giving him
just enough counterplay to scrape a draw. The solution has a logical twist:
fxg6 must be played!} fxg6 $1 37. Kd2 (37. f6 gxf6 38. hxg6 (38. Kd2 Nb5 39.
Nxb5 Qxb5 40. Ke1 Bb4) 38... Nb5 39. Nxb5 Qxb5) (37. fxg6 Nb5 $1 38. Nxb5 Qxb5
39. Rfe1 Qc5 40. Rxd5 Qf2 41. Kd1 Qf3+ 42. Re2 Ng4 43. Rxd6 Ne3+ 44. Kd2 Nc4+)
(37. hxg6 Nb5 $1 38. Nxb5 Qxb5 39. Rfe1 Qb6 40. Rxd5 Qf2 41. Kd1 Qf3+ 42. Re2
Ng4 43. Rxd6 Ne3+ 44. Kd2 Nc4+) 37... Bb4 $1 38. fxg6 (38. hxg6 Nb5 39. Nxb5
Qxb5 40. Rh1 d4) (38. Qa1 Bxc3+ 39. bxc3 Qc4 40. Qb1 Nb5) (38. h6 Nb5 39. hxg7+
Kxg7 40. Ne6+ Kh8 41. Bxb4 Qxb4+ 42. Ke3 d4+ 43. Kf4 Qd6) (38. Ke1 gxh5 39. Rf2
(39. f6 gxf6 40. Rxf6 Nb5) 39... Rb8 40. Ne2 Re8) 38... Nb5 $1 (38... dxe4 39.
h6 hxg6 40. Ke1 {and white has drawing chances.}) 39. Nxb5 Qxb5 40. Ke1 Qc5 41.
Rxd5 (41. Ke2 Bxc3 42. bxc3 Qc4+ 43. Kf2 Ng4+ 44. Kf3 (44. Kg3 Ne3) 44... Nh2+
45. Kg2 Nxf1 46. Rxf1 dxe4) (41. Qc1 dxe4 42. Ke2 (42. h6 Nf3+ 43. Ke2 Qb5+ 44.
Kf2 Bxc3 45. bxc3 Rf8) 42... Qb5+) 41... Bxc3+ 42. bxc3 Qxc3+ 43. Ke2 Qg3 44.
Qc1 (44. Rc5 Qg4+ 45. Ke1 Qh4+ 46. Ke2 Qxh5+ 47. Kd2 Qh2+ 48. Ke1 Ra8) (44. Rf5
Qh2+ 45. Ke1 Qh1+ 46. Rf1 Qh4+) (44. Qd1 Qg2+) 44... Qg2+ 45. Ke3 Re8 46. Rxe5
(46. Qe1 Qh3+ 47. Ke2 Ng4) 46... Qg3+) (36. h6 gxh6 37. gxh6 Bb4 {
and the attack continues.}) 36... gxf6 {After the game, several spectators
expressed disbelief as to what had happened. First, white looked great, and
less than 10 moves later, he went down in flames and resigned!? 37.Rxf6 was
suggested as the best try to stay in the game, but I am sure that team Rodo
had seen and didn't like one of black's way to finish white off after that
move. [%emt 0:03:48]} 37. Kd2 {[%emt 0:03:32]} (37. Rxf6 Bb4 (37... Ne6 {
is also quite clear.} 38. Rxe6 (38. Nxe6 fxe6 39. exd5 (39. Rxe6 Bb4 40. Kd2 (
40. Rd4 Qb5) (40. Rxd5 Qa7) 40... Qa7 41. Ke2 Bxc3) (39. Kd2 d4) 39... Qg4) (
38. Nxb3 Bb4 39. Qc2 Bxc3 40. bxc3 Rb8 41. Kd2 Rxb3) 38... fxe6 39. exd5 (39.
Kd2 Qc4) (39. Nxb3 Bb4 $1 40. Qc2 Bxc3 41. Kb1 Qc4 42. exd5 exd5 43. bxc3 Rb8
44. Rd4 Qf1+ 45. Qd1 Rxb3+ 46. Kc2 (46. Ka2 Qxd1 47. Rxd1 Rb5) 46... Qb5 47.
Qa1 h6 48. Qa8+ Kh7 49. Qa7+ Nd7 50. g6+ Kg7 51. Rd2 Rb1) 39... exd5 40. Nxb3
Qf4+ 41. Nd2 d4 42. Qe4 dxc3 43. Qxf4 Nd3+ 44. Kc2 cxd2+ 45. Qc4 Rxc4+ 46. Kxd3
Rh4 47. Rxd2 {
and I am not quite sure if black could encounter technical problems.}) 38. Rf2
(38. g6 fxg6 $1 39. Rf2 (39. hxg6 Nb5) 39... Nb5 40. Nxb5 Qxb5 41. Rxd5 (41.
exd5 Qa5 42. Rd3 Qb6) 41... Qb6 42. Rdd2 gxh5) (38. Rf5 Nb5) 38... Ne6 $1 39.
Nxe6 Bxc3 40. bxc3 fxe6 41. exd5 Qc4 $1 (41... exd5 42. Rxd5 Qc4 43. Rdd2 Qxc3+
44. Kd1 Ng4 45. Rf7 Ne3+ 46. Ke2 Qc4+ 47. Kxe3 Re8+ {
and I suspect it is drawish.}) 42. Qa1 (42. Rdd2 Qxc3+ 43. Kd1 Nc4) 42... Qe4
$1 43. Rfd2 Nc4 44. Qa6 Rf8 45. Qa4 Nxd2 46. Qxe4 Nxe4) 37... dxe4 {
' Rodo abbandona [%emt 0:05:15]} 0-1
[Event "5th Freestyle Final"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2007.03.24"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Engineer"]
[Black "Flying Saucers"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "1653"]
[BlackElo "1821"]
[Annotator "Dagh,Nielsen"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2007.03.25"]
[EventType "rapid"]
{This game was played in round 5 of the final. I was on +1, while Jiri was on
-1 and probably eagerly looking forward to get a chance to get even, both on
the scoreboard and against me. The game ended up being another spectacular
Najdorf battle.} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 2. Nf3 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 3. d4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:03]
} 4. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 5. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a6 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} 6. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e6 {My opponent probably expected 6...
e5, which I had played twice in the preliminary tournament as well as in round
1 of the final. [%emt 0:00:29]} 7. f3 {[%emt 0:00:50]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 8.
Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:40]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 9. g4 {[%emt 0:00:19]} b4 {
When will GMs pick up on this move order? A temporary answer was given in the
next round when Jiri adopted this line as black vs. Ciron and got a serious
edge out of the opening. [%emt 0:00:41]} 10. Nce2 {[%emt 0:01:23]} (10. Na4 h6
{is a transposition to the "Topalov-line" that usually arises after 8.g4.})
10... h6 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 11. O-O-O {[%emt 0:06:25]} Qc7 $1 {The point justifyi
ng 9...b4, at least until white cooks up something new. [%emt 0:00:21]} 12. Bg2
{[%emt 0:08:35]} ({In the preliminary, Jiri played against Hoshad} 12. h4 d5
13. Bg2 dxe4 14. g5 Nd5 {and after} 15. g6 $1 {
a spectacular attack and eventual win followed} N7b6 16. fxe4 Nc4 17. exd5 Nxd2
18. gxf7+ Qxf7 19. dxe6 Bxe6 20. Bxa8 Nc4 21. Bc6+ Bd7 22. Rhf1 $16) 12... Ne5
{[%emt 0:14:46]} 13. Bf2 {[%emt 0:22:37]} (13. Qxb4 {
will be played another day.}) 13... Nc4 {[%emt 0:05:27]} 14. Qd3 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Bb7 {
Black has come out of the opening with a clear edge. [%emt 0:00:27]} 15. Bg3 {
[%emt 0:02:59]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:02:16]} 16. Kb1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} e5 {
[%emt 0:00:35]} 17. Nb3 {[%emt 0:01:12]} Be7 $1 {A strong idea coupled with
d6-d5 after white plays 18.Nd2. I think this is much stronger than Nxd2+ lines
which only seem to relieve the pressure on white. [%emt 0:06:02]} 18. Nd2 {
[%emt 0:04:42]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 19. Nxc4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} (19. exd5 Bxd5 $1
(19... Nxd2+) 20. Nxc4 (20. Rhe1 O-O 21. Nd4 Rfe8 22. Nf5 (22. N4b3 Red8 23.
Nxc4 Bxc4 24. Qe3 Bd6 25. h4 (25. Bh3 Be6 26. Rd2 Nd5) 25... a5) 22... Bf8)
20... Bxc4 21. Qe3 Be6) 19... dxc4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 20. Qe3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} c3
{I took some time here to make sure that I would not embarrass myself by
allowing white to block and stop black's attack with b2-b3. [%emt 0:07:15]} 21.
h4 {[%emt 0:00:48]} (21. b3 a5 {is however deadly. Having analysed some of
these lines, I kept an extra eye on any a6-a5-a4 push for the remainder of the
game.} 22. Bf2 (22. Nc1 O-O (22... a4) 23. h4 a4 24. bxa4 $2 Qa5) (22. h4 a4
23. bxa4 Qa5) 22... Nd7 23. Ng3 (23. Qd3 a4) 23... Bc5 (23... a4 24. Nf5 $2
axb3 25. axb3 Ra8 26. Rxd7 Qa5 27. Rxe7+ Kf8) 24. Qe2 Bxf2 25. Qxf2 a4 26. Nf5
axb3 27. Nd6+ Ke7) 21... Nd7 $1 {Threatening stuff like Nb6-c4, and supporting
Be7-c5 after Bc6. The alternative 21...a5 didn't look like a promising line.
Around here, I grew confident that I would actually only be pleased if I could
provoke b2-b3. [%emt 0:05:59]} (21... a5 22. g5 cxb2 23. Qb3 Nh5 24. Bh3 Nxg3
25. Nxg3) 22. b3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} (22. Qc1 Qc5 {
and black is all over the board.}) 22... Bc6 $1 {
With the simple idea of Qc7-a7 and pushing the a-pawn. [%emt 0:00:16]} 23. g5 {
[%emt 0:01:23]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 24. Qc1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Qa7 $1 {
Initially Rybka wants 24...Qb6, but at this point, I wanted nothing of that.
[%emt 0:00:15]} 25. Rxd7 {[%emt 0:04:26]} (25. Bh2 {(aiming for g1)} a5 $1 26.
Bh3 a4 27. Bxd7+ Bxd7 28. Bxe5 Ra8) 25... Bxd7 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 26. Bxe5 {
[%emt 0:00:01]} Be3 {[%emt 0:00:43]} 27. Qe1 {[%emt 0:00:44]} O-O {The long thi
nk here was due to the reason that I had initially planned 26...Be3 27.Qe1 a5,
but then I figured that I was not really satisfied after 28.a4. [%emt 0:06:57]}
(27... a5 28. a4) 28. f4 $1 {Devilish defense! Perhaps black can win in
several other ways than the game line after this, but many lines will see
white obtain counter-attacking chances that could be difficult to assess in
zeitnot. [%emt 0:02:03]} (28. Bd6 a5 29. Bxf8 (29. gxh6 a4) 29... Kxf8) 28...
a5 $3 {Finally! No engine is likely to suggest this. With my opponent having
only 7-8 minutes left, I was virtually sure that he would comply with 29.gxh6,
after which I had analysed to clear wins. [%emt 0:04:19]} (28... Bb5 29. gxh6
Bf2 30. Qf1 {was the kind of chaotic lines that I wanted to avoid.}) 29. gxh6 {
[%emt 0:01:09]} Bf2 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 30. Qc1 {[%emt 0:01:14]} (30. Qd1 Bg4 31.
Bh3 Rcd8 $1 32. Qf1 a4 $1 (32... Bxh3 {is not so clear.}) 33. bxa4 Qxa4 $1 {
was the main point of 28...a5. It would have been a beautiful final position
of the game!}) 30... a4 {White is defenseless now. [%emt 0:00:27]} 31. f5 {
[%emt 0:05:09]} axb3 {' [%emt 0:01:12]} 32. cxb3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Bb5 {
[%emt 0:01:19]} 33. a4 {[%emt 0:00:50]} c2+ {[%emt 0:00:18]} 34. Kb2 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Be3 {Engineer Ñäàåòñÿ [%emt 0:00:31]} 0-1
[Event "5th Freestyle Final"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2007.03.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "ZackS"]
[Black "Flying Saucers"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B85"]
[BlackElo "2483"]
[Annotator "Dagh,Nielsen"]
[PlyCount "140"]
[EventDate "2007.03.25"]
[EventType "rapid"]
{This game was played in round 8, the penultimate round. Before the game, I
was on +3, while ZackS was on +1. In another game in this round, Cato the
Younger (+1) had white vs. Etoin Shrdlu (+2). ZackS is the legendary winner of
the very first Freestyle chess tournament. Behind the nick hides Steven
Zackary from the US. I had played twice already against his team (nick Elissa
in the 4th final), and I suspect I also played against his team in round 6 of
the 5th preliminary (vs. Pulse_exchange). So far, every game between us had
been a draw, and I was hellbent on making sure that that trend continued.
Luckily, it didn't
} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 3. d4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:04]
} 4. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 5. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} a6 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} 6. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 7. Be2 {It may be t
hat opting for the Scheveningen is perfectly great and dangerous for black,
but I see it as a concession, morally speaking! [%emt 0:00:05]} Be7 {Perhaps sp
ending 5 minutes in a position that has been reached a zillion times before
can seem a little outlandish, but I had not prepared anything and wanted to
try and make sure that I would not drift automatically into a for me
unpleasant position, or a dangerous new or rare idea of my opponent backed by
thorough preparation. [%emt 0:04:57]} 8. O-O {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:15]} 9. a4 {[%emt 0:00:11]} O-O {[%emt 0:01:00]} 10. f4 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:01:04]} 11. Kh1 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Bd7 {This move or
der looked like an appropriate moment to try and enter less explored paths and
possibly avoid any opponent preparation, for example in a line like 11...Re8
12.Bd3. [%emt 0:04:06]} (11... Re8 12. Bd3 $5 (12. Bf3)) 12. Nb3 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} b6 {[%emt 0:02:34]} 13. Bf3 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Rfe8 {
[%emt 0:00:13]} 14. g4 {[%emt 0:02:46]} Bc8 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 15. g5 {
[%emt 0:00:42]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 16. h4 {Broadly speaking, this move is a
good choice. In order to get winning chances, one sometimes has to consider
gambling with new, unexplored ideas, so as to not give the opponent a fairly
easy way to equality by following the beaten tracks. [%emt 0:05:21]} (16. Bg2 {
is almost always played, giving white the option of bringing the queen or a
rook to the h-file.}) 16... Na5 $1 {However, h2-h4 turned out to be a
strategical mistake. Perhaps my opponent was carried away by Rybka's favorable
evaluation. It is well-known that Rybka has a tendency to overestimate h-pawn
pushes against a castled king. I had briefly checked this 16.h4 Na5 line
already before playing 12...b6 and decided that there probably shouldn't be
anything to fear. h5-h6 is answered by g7-g6, and g5-g6 also didn't really
seem to work anywhere, and black is ready to counter in the center with d6-d5.
My opponent now took a deep think, and I reached equality on the clock. The
difficult challenge for my opponent now is to realize that he is about to
drift into a clearly inferior position, and adjust accordingly. [%emt 0:03:48]}
17. Nd2 {[%emt 0:17:43]} (17. Nxa5 bxa5 18. h5 Rb8 19. Rb1 Rb4 20. h6 g6 {
is the kind of line that both Rybka and Fritz realize too late is fine for
black. 17.Nxa5 may still have been a reasonable alternative to 17.Nd2, though.}
) 17... Bb7 {During the next few moves, I didn't feel white managed to find
the most stubborn way to counter black's eventual d6-d5 break. [%emt 0:01:44]}
18. Qe2 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Rad8 {[%emt 0:03:12]} 19. Rfe1 {[%emt 0:01:31]} (19.
Rae1) 19... Bf8 {[%emt 0:02:11]} 20. Qf2 {[%emt 0:12:10]} d5 {Now black gets a
solid advantage. In a sense, black has achieved a best-case scenario in the
Scheveningen. White's attack is nowhere, while black has conquered the center
and can look forward to exploiting the precarious state of white's pawn
structure and naked king. [%emt 0:06:45]} 21. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} exd5 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} 22. Bd4 {[%emt 0:00:55]} Qxf4 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 23. Rxe8 {
[%emt 0:00:34]} Rxe8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 24. Bxd5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Bxd5+ {
[%emt 0:03:17]} 25. Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qd6 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 26. Qg2 {
[%emt 0:03:15]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 27. c3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Nxd4 {
[%emt 0:00:43]} 28. cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 29. axb5 {
[%emt 0:00:22]} axb5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 30. Rf1 {[%emt 0:00:50]} Nb6 {
[%emt 0:01:59]} 31. Nxb6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Qxb6 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 32. Qd5 {
[%emt 0:00:50]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 33. Qf3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Re7 {Black has no
hurry in this position. He can maneuvre here and there and gradually apply
pressure on the d-pawn and white's other weaknesses. Important is to avoid
exchanges that will give white more straight-forward drawing paths. [%emt 0:02:
29]} 34. Ne4 {[%emt 0:03:29]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 35. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Qe6
{[%emt 0:00:12]} 36. Re1 {[%emt 0:01:03]} (36. Nc5 Qg6) 36... Kh8 {
[%emt 0:01:43]} 37. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Qd5 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 38. Qf4 {
[%emt 0:00:45]} h6 {[%emt 0:01:45]} 39. Re2 {[%emt 0:04:12]} Qxd4 {
[%emt 0:01:04]} 40. gxh6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} gxh6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 41. b3 {
[%emt 0:00:46]} b4 {[%emt 0:00:41]} 42. h5 {[%emt 0:02:28]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:00:24]
} 43. Re3 {[%emt 0:00:46]} Qe6 {Patience was still my modus operandi. If
possible, white should be allowed to find a rope himself. The clock situation
was relevant. I had 19 minutes left here, while my opponent was down to 7-8
minutes. [%emt 0:00:26]} ({While} 43... f5 44. Ng3 Qd2+ 45. Kf3 Qd5+ 46. Ke2
Qg2+ 47. Ke1 Rf7 48. Nxf5 Kh7 {may also have been sufficient for black, it
holds true that it is the kind of line that Fritz tends to overestimate solely
due to white's exposed king.}) 44. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Ra7 {[%emt 0:00:29]}
45. Rf3 {Here, I took a deep think, figuring out that I had to find a straight
win now, or I would be in huge risk of eventually allowing "TB-draw-shots".
Also, I was not sure that black was winning against best defense, so I wanted
to prepare a quick sequence of moves so as to make it near impossible for my
opponent to find any draw-shots or traps deeper in the lines. In the end, I
managed to find the winning line with 58...Rf1! and 59...f5. I don't know if a
pure engine would have performed worse in this particular position and onwards,
but I still think that this is a good example of the incredible level of play
that good centaur analysis can nurture. [%emt 0:03:49]} Ra2+ {[%emt 0:12:48]}
46. Kg3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} (46. Kf1 {would have required nerves of steel to
enter, and since Rybka didn't like it, I didn't spend any time on it since my
opponent would be so unlikely to play it.}) 46... Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 47. Qf5
{[%emt 0:00:06]} Be5+ {[%emt 0:00:09]} 48. Kg4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rg2+ {
[%emt 0:00:21]} 49. Kh3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Rh2+ {[%emt 0:00:12]} (49... Re2 50.
Qxe6 fxe6 51. Nc5 Bc3 52. Rf4 Re5 53. Rc4 Rxh5+ {was a line I spent a good
deal of time on at move 45, eventually coming to the conclusion that white had
excellent drawing chances. Black can't hold on to the b-pawn, and drawn rook
endings could easily arise.}) 50. Kg4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Qe8 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 51.
Rf2 {[%emt 0:03:36]} Rh1 {[%emt 0:00:08]} (51... Rxf2 52. Nxf2 {
was another line to examine and discard.}) 52. Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:39]} Bxf6 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} 53. Qxf6+ {[%emt 0:00:03]} Kg8 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 54. Rg2 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} Qe4+ {[%emt 0:00:11]} 55. Kg3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Qe3+ {
[%emt 0:00:12]} 56. Qf3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Qxf3+ {[%emt 0:00:07]} 57. Kxf3+ {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 58. Kg4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rf1 $1 {
Preventing Kg4-f5-f6. [%emt 0:00:12]} (58... Rc1 59. Kf5 $1 Rc5+ 60. Kf6 Rc3
61. Rb2 {was yet another kind of line to avoid. I don't know if white is
drawing, but I eventually figured that his odds were quite good. Having seen
this Kf5-f6 theme, I went back and examined 58...Rf1 on my own suggestion, and
soon enough, I was able to play 45...Ra2+ etc. with confidence.}) 59. Rd2 {
[%emt 0:00:39]} f5+ {Now black is winning. [%emt 0:00:27]} 60. Kg3 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 61. Rd5 {[%emt 0:00:51]} Kf6 {
[%emt 0:00:23]} 62. Rd4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Rg1+ {[%emt 0:00:27]} 63. Kf3 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} Rg4 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 64. Rd5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Kg5 {
[%emt 0:00:35]} 65. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:37]} Rh4 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 66. Rb5 {
[%emt 0:00:17]} Rd4 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 67. Ke3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Rf4 {
[%emt 0:00:15]} 68. Rb7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Re4+ {[%emt 0:00:15]} 69. Kf3 {
[%emt 0:00:15]} Kxh5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 70. Rb6 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Kg5 {
Zacks resigns [%emt 0:00:18]} 0-1
-
Tobias Lagemann
Re: Freestyle report + annotated games
Hi Dagh,
great!
Thank you very much
Tobias
great!
Thank you very much
Tobias
-
Alkelele
Re: Freestyle report + annotated games
Thank you!
I hope you found the annotations interesting. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
I hope you found the annotations interesting. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
-
gerold
- Posts: 10121
- Joined: Thu Mar 09, 2006 12:57 am
- Location: van buren,missouri
Re: Freestyle report + annotated games
Thank you Dagh.Alkelele wrote:Thank you!
I hope you found the annotations interesting. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
Have you a logo for your freestyle chess.
Good luck,
Gerold.
-
Alkelele
Re: Freestyle report + annotated games
You are welcome.gerold wrote:Thank you Dagh.Alkelele wrote:Thank you!
I hope you found the annotations interesting. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
You mean, like a logo for my "team"? That I don't have, but the name should provide some interesting options!Have you a logo for your freestyle chess.