Testing Selective Search - Computer Chess Fun Olympiad 2010

[Steve B]

The Dedicates after their defeat by Team Neo Classics in the previous round really needed to bounce back in this match. And they did! ... with Team Classic Engine 2 feeling the wrath. At first it looked as if this match might end up a whitewash. The Dedicates won the eight games consecutively.



It looks like there is going to be quite a fight for 1st Place between Team Neo Classic and the Dedicateds

As Predicted the Dedicateds take over clear second place ... breathing down the necks of the tournament leaders only 1.5 Pts behind .. leaving the rest of the field to eat dust

On to First place regards
Steve

[Spacious_Mind]

Round 3 of Group B is complete..........


Match between TEAM: Saitek/SciSys - Switzerland and TEAM: Dos/Windows - 2 - Germany/Austria



Team DOS/Windows started this match really well, taking a 2.1/2 - 1/2 lead against the mighty dedicated. It may have also been a 3.1/2 point lead if Chess Fiz 016 had capitalized on a good lead in its second game against Turbostar 432. However, unruffled by the shaky start from it's team mates, Risc 2500 rallied the Saitek/SciSys team with two solid wins against Comet B62 to square the match 2.1/2-2.1/2. The rest of dedicated followed their captain by rattling off another 6 consecutive wins, thereby dashing any hopes of an upset.

YChess 1.09



YChess 1.09 written in 1996 by Roman Antonczyk (Austria) played two good games against Travel Champion 2080.

[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.01.28"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Saitek Travel Champion 2080, 30S."]
[Black "Ychess 1.09, 5 Ply"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "140"]
[EventDate "2010.01.28"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 {Saitek Travel Champion 2080 out of book} 5. Nc3 g6 6. Bg5 {Ychess 1.09 out of book} Bxf3 7. exf3 h6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Nb5 Qd8 10. Bd3 c6 11. Nc3 Bg7 12. Ne2 d5 13. O-O dxc4 14. Bxc4 O-O 15. Re1 Qd6 16. Qc2 b5 17. Ba2 a5 18. Red1 Nd7 19. Rac1 Rfc8 20. Nc3 Kh8 21. Ne4 Qe7 22. h3 a4 23. Rd3 Nb6 24. Re1 Qd7 25. Nc5 Qc7 26. Red1 Nd5 27. R3d2 Qf4 28. Rd3 Qg5 29. Ne4 Qd8 30. R3d2 Ra7 31. Qc5 Rd7 32. b3 f5 33. Ng3 axb3 34. Bxb3

[d]2rq3k/3r2b1/2p1p1pp/1pQn1p2/3P4/PB3PNP/3R1PP1/3R2K1 b - - 0 34

YChess 1.09 has managed to weaken the White's queenside, making White's pawn on a3 vulnerable for attack. YChess 1.09 now concentrates all it's forces on pressuring a3.

Bf8 35. Qc1 Ra7 36. Ra2 Qd7 37. Qd2 Rca8 38. Rda1 Qd6 39. a4 Nb4 40. Ra3 e5 41. Ne2 Bg7 42. a5 exd4 43. Nc3 Ra6 44. Bd1 Qf8 45. Ne2 c5 46. Nf4 Re8 47. Rb1 Qd6 48. Bb3 Re7 49. Raa1 d3 50. Ra3 g5 51. Nh5 Re2 52. Qc1 Bd4 53. Kh1 Qe7 54. Ng3 d2 55. Qf1 Re1 56. Nxf5 Rxf1+ 57. Rxf1 Qe1 58. Ne3 Qc1 59. Bf7 Qxf1+ 60. Nxf1 d1=Q 61. Kg1 Qe2 62. Ne3 Qe1+ 63. Kh2 Be5+ 64. f4 Bxf4+ 65. g3 Bxe3 66. fxe3 Rd6 67. Bd5 Rxd5 68. Rd3 Rxd3 69. Kg2 Qe2+ 70. Kh1 Rd1# 0-1

SciSys Turbo King



Saitek Turboking came to the market in 1988. International Chess Master Julio Kaplan wrote the chess program. Endorsed by Gary Kasparov, whose name sponsored many of the SciSys chess computers. When SciSys changed the name to Saitek in 1987, the Kasparov name continued with Saitek.

Turbo King has a 6502 processor running at 5 MHz. It has a massive 6K RAM and 64K ROM. TK also has a nice big opening library of over 100.000 half moves.

In this tournament the Turbo King is handicapped by 33% playing at 30 seconds per move. Ideally it should be playing at 45 seconds per move, but this level setting is not available.

Even with this handicap, it is still capable of winning some games and of playing some nice chess.

[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.02.14"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "SciSys Turboking, 30S."]
[Black "Bringer 1.9, 5 Ply"]
[Result "1-0"][ECO "D55"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "169"]
[EventDate "2010.02.14"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8. Rc1 c6 9. Bd3 Nd7 10. O-O dxc4 11. Bxc4 e5 12. h3 exd4 13. exd4 Nb6 14. Bb3 Bf5 15. Re1 Re8 16. Rxe8+ Qxe8 17. Qd2 Qb8 {SciSys Turboking out of book}

[d]rq4k1/pp3pp1/1np2b1p/5b2/3P4/1BN2N1P/PP1Q1PP1/2R3K1 w - - 0 18

The Turbo King is out of book after 17 moves! Not bad for a dedicated computer that came out in 1988. Turbo King goes on to win this game in an endgame of opposite colored Bishops.

18. d5 {Bringer 1.9 out of book} Nxd5 19. Nxd5 cxd5 20. Bxd5 Bg6 21. Qb4 a5 22. Qd2 Ra7 23. Re1 b6 24. Bc6 Re7 25. Rxe7 Bxe7 26. Qd7 Bf6 27. b3 Qd8 28. Qxd8+ Bxd8 29. Ne5 Bb1 30. Bd5 Bf6 31. Nxf7 Kf8 32. a3 Ke7 33. f4 Bg6 34. Ne5 Bc2 35. Bc4 Kd6 36. Nd3 Bxd3 37. Bxd3 Bb2 38. a4 Bd4+ 39. Kf1 Be3 40. f5 Bd4 41. Ke2 Ke5 42. Kf3 h5 43. Kg3 Bb2 44. Kh4 Kd4 45. Ba6 Ke5 46. Bc8 Bd4 47. Kxh5 Ke4 48. Kg6 Be5 49. Bd7 Kd4 50. Be6 Ke4 51. Bc4 Bg3 52. Kxg7 Kxf5 53. Kh6 Ke4 54. Kh5 Kf4 55. h4 Kf5 56. Bd3+ Kf4 57. Bb5 Kf5 58. Bd7+ Kf4 59. Bc6 Kf5 60. Bf3 Kf4 61. Be2 Kf5 62. Bg4+ Kf4 63. Bd7 Ke4 64. Kg4 Bf4 65. Bc6+ Ke3 66. h5 Bh6 67. Kf5 Kd4 68. g4 Bf8 69. g5 Kc3 70. Bd5 Kd4 71. Ke6 Bg7 72. h6 Bh8 73. g6 b5 74. axb5 Kc5 75. g7 Bxg7 76. hxg7 Kxb5 77. g8=Q Kc5 78. Qd8 Kd4 79. Qxa5 Ke3 80. Qc3+ Ke2 81. Kf5 Kf2 82. Kf4 Ke2 83. Kg3 Kf1 84. Bc4+ Kg1 85. Qe1# 1-0

Match between TEAM: Atari ST - 16 Bit 1986 68000 - 8 MHz - USA and TEAM: Modern Engine - 5 Amateur



Team Atari ST didn't play bad. It is just that Team Modern Engine played a little better. There were a few games where Team Atari can feel disapointed for not getting more points........ here is an example of one.

[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.02.15"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Deuterium v09.01.26.492, 5 Ply"]
[Black "Atari ST - Chess Champion 2175, 30S."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2010.02.15"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Bc4 {Atari ST - Chess Champion 2175 out of book} Qe5 {Deuterium v09.01.26.492 out of book} 8. Nxc6 dxc6 9. Qf3 f5 10. Bxc5 Qxc5 11. Nd2 Qd6 12. O-O-O Bd7 13. Nb3 Qe5 14. Rhe1 Qxh2 15. exf5 Qh6+ 16. Kb1 Qh4 17. f6 Qxf6 18. Qxf6 gxf6 19. Nc5 Bf5+ 20. Ka1 Rb8 21. g4 Bxg4 22. Rd4 h5 23. Ne4 Rh6 24. Nc5 Bf5 25. Bb3

[d]1r2k3/ppp1n3/2p2p1r/2N2b1p/3R4/1BP5/PP3P2/K3R3 b - - 0 25

In this position Chess Champion 2175 needs to just push the h-pawn with 25. ... h4 but instead plays on as follows:

Rg6? 26. Rh4 Bg4 27. f3 Bxf3 28. Rd4 Bg4 29. Rde4 Rg7 30. Rf4 f5 31. Rd4 h4 32. Kb1 Rg6 33. Rd7 Rg7 34. Rd4 h3 35. Nd7 Rc8 36. Nf6+ Kf8 37. Nd7+ Ke8 38. Nf6+ Kf8 39. Nd7+ Ke8 {3-fold repetition} 1/2-1/2

Atari ST Chess Champion 2175

Box



Game Screenshot



Chess Champion 2175 came out for the Atari ST and for the Commodore Amiga in 1991. Written by Chris Whittington, the program is a big improvement in strength when compared to Chess Player 2150 that came out in 1989.

Match between TEAM: Team Classic Engine - 2 and TEAM: Neo Classic Engine - 1

The leader after Round 2, Team Neo Classic Engine had a shaky start, falling behind 3 games to 1 against Team Classic Engine. But then recovered with a string of consecutive wins.

[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.02.17"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Gromit 3.1, 5 Ply"]
[Black "Pupsi 2, 5 Ply"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E48"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "153"]
[EventDate "2010.02.17"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nge2 cxd4 7. exd4 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. O-O O-O 10. Bc2 Bd6 11. Ne4 Be7 12. a3 Qc7 {Gromit 3.1 out of book} 13. Ng5 {Pupsi 2 out of book} h6 14. Nf3 Bd7 15. Qd3 f5 16. Nc3 Nxc3 17. Qxc3 Rac8 18. Bd3 Qb6 19. Be3 f4 20. Bd2 Ne5 21. Nxe5 Rxc3 22. bxc3 Be8 23. Rfb1 Qc7 24. Ng6 Bxg6 25. Bxg6 Qc6 26. Re1 Qc4 27. Bh5 Bd6 28. Bf3 b5 29. Bg4 Re8 30. Re2 Re7 31. Rae1 Qd3 32. Bc1 Qxc3 33. Bb2 Qd3 34. Rxe6 Rxe6 35. Bxe6+ Kf8 36. Bd5 Bxa3 37. Be4 Qd2 38. Bxa3+ b4 39. Bxb4+ Qxb4 40. Rd1 Qa4 41. Bf3 a5 42. d5 Qd7 43. d6 Ke8 44. h3

[d]4k3/3q2p1/3P3p/p7/5p2/5B1P/5PP1/3R2K1 b - - 0 44

Pupsy 2 has had a strong start to the tournament, winning it's first 5 games. Here in Pupsy's 6th game , it also leads with a Queen against a Rook and a Bishop. But, Pupsy has to be careful, there really is only one good move.... 44. ... Qb5! and many bad moves. Unfortunately, Pupsy 2 chooses to play one of the many bad moves......


a4? 45. Bg4 Qc6? 46. Re1+ Kd8 47. d7 Qg6 48. Rc1 Qxg4 49. hxg4 Kxd7 50. Ra1 Kd6 51. Rxa4 Ke5 52. f3 Ke6 53. Rxf4 Ke7 54. Kf2 Ke6 55. Ke3 Ke7 56. Kd4 Ke6 57. Re4+ Kd6 58. Re1 Kd7 59. Kd5 g6 60. Re6 g5 61. Rxh6 Ke7 62. Rg6 Kf7 63. Rxg5 Kf6 64. Re5 Kf7 65. f4 Kf6 66. Re6+ Kg7 67. f5 Kf7 68. g5 Kf8 69. f6 Kf7 70. Re7+ Kg6 71. Rg7+ Kh5 72. f7 Kg4 73. f8=Q Kg3 74. Qf1 Kh4 75. Qf4+ Kh5 76. Qf3+ Kh4 77. Qh3# 1-0

Gromit 3.1 has also had a very good Tournament so far!

Table after 3 Rounds in Group B



Neck and Neck at the top of the table!

Individual Performances after 6 games



So who is going to win the individual contest ?

Here is the Schedule for Group B - Round 4



Best regards

Nick

[Steve B]

Neck and Neck at the top of the table!

From Fourth place after round one ...to tied for First
no surprise really.. as it is clear to even the most casual observer that the Dedicateds will rule the day
nice win by the Turbo King ...the only member of Team Saitek that i dont have in the collection proper

Will have to remedy that regards
Steve

[Spacious_Mind]

Neck and Neck at the top of the table!

From Fourth place after round one ...to tied for First
no surprise really.. as it is clear to even the most casual observer that the Dedicateds will rule the day
nice win by the Turbo King ...the only member of Team Saitek that i dont have in the collection proper

Will have to remedy that regards
Steve

Really? I am surprised you never got yourself a Turbo King so far. There is supposed to be also a Turbo King 2. I don't really know what the difference is supposed to be though.

Yeah! The Dedicateds will take some beating in this tournament. But it's a long way to go yet.. ......

It's a long way to Tipperary,
It's a long way to go.
It's a long way to Tipperary

dum de dum

It's a long way to Tipperary,
It's a long way to go.
It's a long way to Tipperary

de deeeeeeee....... regards

Nick

[Steve B]

dum de dum

It's a long way to Tipperary,
It's a long way to go.
It's a long way to Tipperary

de deeeeeeee....... regards

Nick

lol
Karaoke Night Regards
Steve

[Spacious_Mind]

HERE ARE THE RESULTS FOR ROUND 4 OF GROUP B:


Match between TEAM: Saitek/SciSys - Switzerland and TEAM: Atari ST - USA



This was another solid performance by TEAM Saitek/SciSys - Switzerland, but yet again the results from Atari ST Psion Chess 2.01 show that at least this program can live with best.

Gnuchess 3.1 also showed that it can play.


GNUCHESS 3.1



Gnuchess is a shareware program written by John Stanback for the Atari ST in 1994.

It's opponent in this match is:

Saitek Risc 2500



Saitek Risc 2500 came out in 1992. The program was written by Johann deKoning and is probably a King 2.xx version. King was also available from TASC for their Chessmachine cards and R30 and R40 Dedicated Chessboards.

[Date "2010.02.21"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Atari ST - Gnuchess 3.1, 5 Ply"]
[Black "Saitek Risc 2500, 16S."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2010.02.21"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 Bb4 5. Qc2 O-O {Atari ST - Gnuchess 3.1 out of book} 6. b3 {Saitek Risc 2500 out of book} Bxc3 7. Qxc3 e4 8. Nd4 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 d6 10. Be2 Bf5 11. O-O Qe7 12. Bb2 Rfd8 13. Qc3 d5 14. cxd5 Rxd5 15. Rfc1 c5 16. Bc4 Rdd8 17. a3 Rac8 18. Ra2 Qd6 19. Qe5 Qd7 20. Qf4 Ne8 21. Be5 Bg6 22. Rac2 b6 23. Ba6 Ra8 24. Be2 f6 25. Bc3 Nc7 26. Qh4 Ne6 27. Qh3 f5 28. Qh4 b5 29. f3 Rac8 30. fxe4 fxe4 31. Qg4 a6 32. a4 Re8 33. Rf1 Rcd8 34. Ba5 Rb8 35. b4 c4 36. h4 Rf8 37. h5 Rxf1+ 38. Bxf1 Bf7 39. Be2 Qb7 40. Qf5 Re8 41. Rc1 Nf8 42. axb5 axb5 43. Rf1 Be6 44. Qg5 Bd7 45. h6 Ne6 46. Qh5 Bc6 47. Bg4 Qd7 48. Qe5 Ba8 49. Bxe6+ Rxe6 50. Qf5 Qe8 51. hxg7 Kxg7 52. Bc7 Bb7

[d]4q3/1bB3kp/4r3/1p3Q2/1Pp1p3/4P3/3P2P1/5RK1 w - - 0 53

Saitek Risc 2500 is in a lot of trouble. Gnuchess has several good options here. 53. Bd8 or 53. Rf4 both look good. But, it is here were Gnuchess 3.1 misses it's best opportunity for a win. 53. Ra1? ends up leading to a draw.

53. Ra1? Qf7 54. Qxf7+ Kxf7 55. Ra7 Bc6 56. Bf4+ Kg8 57. Kf2 h5 58. g3 Rf6 59. Ke2 Rf7 60. Ra6 Bd7 61. Rg6+ Rg7 62. Rd6 Bg4+ 63. Kf2 Rd7 64. Rxd7 Bxd7 65. Be5 Kf7 66. Bf4 Kf6 67. Bd6 Ke6 68. Bc5 Kd5 69. Bb6 Bg4 70. Bc5 Be6 71. Be7 Bf5 72. Bc5 1/2-1/2

Match between TEAM: Classic Engine - 2 and TEAM: Modern Engine - 5 Amateur



I was a little surprised that TEAM Modern Engine - 5 lost this match. The heroes however were Alex 2.01 and Yace 099.56. Everyone else managed a win and a loss. But these two managed to avoid a defeat and thereby ensured that the win went to TEAM: Classic Engine - 2.

[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.02.25"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Yace 099.56, 5 Ply"]
[Black "Critter 0.42, 5 Ply"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2010.02.25"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Be7 7. Nc3 {
Critter 0.42 out of book} Nc6 {Yace 099.56 out of book} 8. Qe2 Bd6 9. Be3 Nf6 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. g3 O-O 12. Qd2

[d]r1b2rk1/1pqp1ppp/p1nbpn2/8/4P3/1NNBB1P1/PPPQ1P1P/2KR3R b - - 0 12

The position quite even. Here Critter 0.42 probably should retreat the Bishop on d6 back to e7 to help it's development of the Black pieces. Critter 0.42 instead mysteriously plays 12. ... Ng4? which loses a piece and the game.

Ng4? 13. Be2 Nxe3 14. Qxd6 Qxd6 15. Rxd6 Nxc2 16. Kxc2 f5 17. Nc5 fxe4 18. N3xe4 Rf7 19. f4 Nb4+ 20. Kb1 Nd5 21. Ng5 Re7 22. f5 Re8 23. fxe6 dxe6 24. Re1 Nc7 25. Bc4 b5 26. Bb3 Kh8 27. Rc6 Re7 28. Rf1 Kg8 29. Bc2 g6 30. Bb3 Nd5 31. Ngxe6 Bxe6 32. Rxe6 Rf8 33. Rxf8+ Kxf8 34. Bxd5 Rxe6 35. Bxe6 Ke7 36. b4 Kd6 37. Bb3 g5 38. Nxa6 h5 39. Nc5 Ke5 40. Ne6 h4 41. gxh4 gxh4 42. Nc7 Ke4 43. Nxb5 Kf3 44. a4 Kg2 45. a5 Kxh2 46. a6 Kh3 47. a7 Kg4 48. a8=Q Kg3 49. Be6 Kf4 50. Qf8+ Kg3 51. Nd4 Kg2 52. Bd5+ Kg1 53. Qf4 h3 54. Ne2# 1-0

Match between TEAM: Neo Classic Engine - 1 and TEAM: Dos/Windows - 2 - Germany/Austria



The league leaders after 3 Rounds had a real fright in this match and trailed 1-3 after 4 matches.

Comet B62 DOS



[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.02.25"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "BBChess 1.3b, 5 Ply"]
[Black "Comet B62 DOS, 5 Ply"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C85"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "2010.02.25"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Qe1 Be6 8. b3 Nd7 {BBChess 1.3b out of book} 9. Ba3 {Comet B62 DOS out of book} O-O 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Nc3 Rfd8 12. Qe3 f6 13. Rfd1 Qa3 14. Rab1 Qb4 15. h3 Bf7 16. d4 Bh5 17. d5 Nc5 18. dxc6 bxc6 19. Ra1 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Ne6 21. a3 Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 Qxa3 23. Ne2 Qb4 24. Qg4 Re8 25. Ng3 Qc5 26. Nh5 Kf8 27. Rd2 Re7 28. Kh1 Qc3 29. Qd1 Nd4 30. Nf4 Qa5 31. Ne2 c5 32. c3 Nxe2 33. Qxe2 Qxc3 34. Rd3 Qb4 35. Kg1 Re6 36. Qg4 c4 37. Rd8+ Ke7

[d]3R4/2p1k1pp/p3rp2/4p3/1qp1P1Q1/1P5P/5PP1/6K1 w - - 0 38

BB Chess 1.3B and Comet B62 DOS, played two interesting games. But, on each occasion Comet B62 came out on top. In this position BB Chess is two pawns behind but the position is still ok for a draw if played correctly. 38. Rg8 or Rh8 or even Ra8 are all ok moves. The move that BB Chess 1.3B however decided to play in this position was not.

38. Rd1? g6 39. Qh4 h5 40. bxc4 Qxc4 41. Rb1 Rb6
42. Ra1 Kf7 43. Kh2 Rb2 44. Kg1 Re2 45. Rd1 Rxe4 46. Qg3 Rd4 47. Re1 Rd3 48. Re3 e4 49. Qf4 Qc1+ 50. Kh2 Rxe3 51. fxe3 Qc3 52. Qxe4 Qe5+ 53. Qxe5 fxe5 54. Kg3 a5 55. Kh4 a4 56. Kg5 a3 57. g4 hxg4 58. Kxg4 a2 59. Kf3 a1=Q 60. Ke4 Ke6 61. Kf3 Qf1+ 62. Kg3 c5 63. Kh2 c4 64. Kg3 c3 65. h4 e4 66. h5 Qg1+ 67. Kf4 Qg2 68. hxg6 Kf6 69. g7 Qf3# 0-1

Here is the shortest game in the tournament so far in which The Baron destroys Nova Chess 1.12:

[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.02.26"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "The Baron 2.23, 5 Ply"]
[Black "Nova Chess 1.12, 5 Ply"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B04"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2010.02.26"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 {Nova Chess 1.12 out of book} d6 4. Nf3 Nd7 {
The Baron 2.23 out of book} 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. bxc3 dxe5 7. dxe5 f6?

[d]r1bqkb1r/pppnp1pp/5p2/4P3/8/2P2N2/P1P2PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 0 8

7. ... f6?? ewwww that looks horrible. The Baron 2.23 makes sure that this move is punished!

8. Bd3 fxe5 9. Bg5 c5 10. O-O g6 11. Bc4 Qa5 12. Qd5 Qxc3 13. Rfd1 a6 14. Bd2 Qa3 15. Ng5 Kd8 16. Qxe5 Qa4 17. Bf7 Qc6 18. Bf4 e6 19. Qf6+ Be7 20. Qxh8+ Bf8 21. Qxf8# 1-0

The Table after 4 Rounds looks like this:



Team Saitek/SciSys - Switzerland takes the lead! It looks like neither of the top two teams will be caught in the Final Round. But the question on who will become Group B Champion remains to be seen. Team Saitek/SciSys has the points, but Team Neo Classic Engine - 1 has the easier Final Round match...... at least on paper...

Here are the Individual Performance after 8 games:



Saitek CORONA clear leader at the top!



Here is the Schedule for the Final - Round 5 in Group B:

[Spacious_Mind]

Round 5 - The final round of matches in Group B are complete:



Match between TEAM: Classic Engine - 2 and TEAM: Dos/Windows - 2 - Germany/Austria



Wow! What a match! A brilliant performance by TEAM: Dos/Windows - 2 to get a draw out of this encounter. And it was no fluke! Here are some games:

Match 1: The Crazy Bishop v0052 vs. Wilhelm 1.49

[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.03.04"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Wilhelm 1.49, 5 Ply"]
[Black "The Crazy Bishop v0052, 5 Ply"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "2010.03.04"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. c4 c6 {Wilhelm 1.49 out of book} 2. d3 {The Crazy Bishop v0052 out of book} d5 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Bf4 Nc6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Nbd2 Bf5 7. Qb3 Qd7 8. Rc1 e6 9. Ne5 Nxe5 10. Bxe5 Rc8 11. Rxc8+ Qxc8 12. Bxf6 Qc1+ 13. Qd1 Qxd1+ 14. Kxd1 gxf6 15. e3 Bd6 16. e4 dxe4 17. dxe4 Bg6 18. h4 h5 19. Bd3 a6 20. Ke2 Be5 21. Nf3 Bf4 22. g3 Bh6

[d]4k2r/1p3p2/p3ppbb/7p/4P2P/3B1NP1/PP2KP2/7R w k - 0 23

Wilhelm 1.49 has played pretty well in this Tournament. Here in this position, the game looks drawish. The Crazy Bishop however makes a few slightly weaker moves in this endgame and Wilhelm 1.49 takes full advantage.

23. e5 Bg7 24. Bxg6 fxg6 25. Rc1 Kd7 26. exf6 Bxf6 27. Ke3 Bxb2 28. Rb1 Ba3 29. Rxb7+ Kc6 30. Rg7 Bc5+ 31. Ke2 Rb8 32. Ne5+ Kd5 33. Nd3 Bd6 34. Rxg6 Rf8 35. Rg5+ Rf5 36. Rg8 Kd4 37. Rd8 Rd5 38. Rc8 e5 39. Nc1 Ke4 40. Rh8 Rc5 41. f3+ Kd5 42. Kd2 Rc7 43. Rxh5 Bb4+ 44. Kd1 Rc3 45. f4 Rxg3 46. Rxe5+ Kc6
47. Ne2 Rd3+ 48. Kc2 Rd2+ 49. Kb3 Bd6 50. Re6 Kd5 51. Re3 Bc5 52. Re8 Bd4 53. Rd8+ Ke4 54. Rxd4+ Rxd4 55. Nxd4 Kxf4 56. Kb4 Kg4 57. Ka5 Kxh4 58. a4 Kg4 59. Kxa6 Kf4 60. Kb6 Ke4 61. Kc5 Ke5 62. a5 Ke4 63. a6 Ke5 64. a7 Kf4 65. a8=Q Ke5 66. Qf8 Ke4 67. Qf3+ Ke5 68. Qf5# 1-0

The Crazy Bishop v0052 won the first game, therefore this encounter ended as a 1-1 Tie.


Wilhelm 1.49



Wilhelm 1.49 was written by Rafael B. Andrist (Germany) in 2005. It is a Windows chess program and it has quite a few interesting configurable options. The FEN Generator is also quite nice.

Match 2: Crafty 18.12 vs. Comet B62 DOS

Playing White pieces, Comet B62 won the first game, taking full advantage of the two pawns it had gained in the middlegame.

In the second game it is Crafty's turn to take advantage of some wrong pawn advance choices made by Comet B62:

[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.03.04"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Crafty 18.12, 5 Ply"]
[Black "Comet B62 DOS, 5 Ply"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B56"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2010.03.04"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd7 7. O-O e6 {Crafty 18.12 out of book} 8. Be3 Be7 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bd3 Qc7 11. g4 h5 12. g5 Ng4 13. Bf4 Qb6 14. Na4 Qa5 15. c3

[d]r3k2r/p2bbpp1/2ppp3/q5Pp/N3PBn1/2PB4/PP3P1P/R2Q1RK1 b kq - 0 15

Comet B62's position here looks quite solid. But, Comet now advances the wrong pawn. 15. ... c5! would have been a much better move. Comet continues to advance Black's pawns throughout the game and Crafty takes full advantage of the weakened pawn structure.


e5? 16. Bd2 c5 17. Bc2 Qa6 18. f3 Bb5 19. Re1 Bd7 20. fxg4 Bxg4 21. Qc1 Bh3 22. Be3 Qc8 23. Qd1 h4 24. Qf3 Qe6 25. b4 Rc8 26. Bb3 c4 27. Bd1 Qd7 28. Nb2 O-O 29. Qh5 a5 30. Ba4 Qe6 31. bxa5 Rb8 32. Rab1 Ra8 33. Bb5 d5 34. a6 Rfb8 35. a4 dxe4 36. Qxh4 Rd8 37. Nxc4 Qf5 38. a7 Qf3 39. Qg3 Qxg3+ 40. hxg3 Bd7 41. Nxe5 Bxb5 42. axb5 Bd6 43. Nc6 Rd7 44. Kf2 f5 45. b6 f4
46. gxf4 Rb7 47. Red1 Be7 48. Nxe7+ Rxe7 49. b7 Rxb7 50. Rxb7 Kh7 51. f5 Re8 52. Rb8 Re6 53. Rh1+ Rh6 54. g6# 1-0

This match also ended in a 1-1 tie.

Match 3: Pepito 1.59 vs. Bringer 1.9

Pepito 1.59 won both games very easily and gives TEAM: Classic Engine - 2 a 4 : 2 lead. I thought at this stage that Classic Engine - 2 might now get going and win the match comfortably.

Match 4: Yace 099.56 vs. Nova Chess 1.12

[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.03.05"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Nova Chess 1.12, 5 Ply"]
[Black "Yace 099.56, 5 Ply"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E21"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2010.03.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 {Nova Chess 1.12 out of book} 4. Nf3 b6 5. Bd2 Bb7 6. e3 Bxc3 7. Bxc3 Ne4 8. Bd2 {Yace 099.56 out of book} O-O 9. Be2 Nc6 10. O-O Qf6 11. Bc1 d6 12. Ne1 Qf5 13. f3 Nf6 14. e4 Qh5 15. Be3 e5 16. d5 Ne7 17. Bd2 Qh4 18. g3 Qh3 19. Bg5 Rfc8?

[d]r1r3k1/pbp1nppp/1p1p1n2/3Pp1B1/2P1P3/5PPq/PP2B2P/R2QNRK1 w - - 0 20

Yace 099.56 made a mistake here. This allows Nova Chess 1.12 to open up the f-column and puts lots of pressure on Black's King.


20. f4 exf4 21. Rxf4 Qd7 22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. Rxf6 Rf8 24. Nd3 Ng6 25. Bg4 Qe7 26. Qf3 Rae8 27. Re1 Ne5 28. Nxe5 Qxe5 29. b3 a5 30. Kh1 Re7 31. Be6 Qd4 32. Rf1 Kh8 33. Rf4 Bc8 34. Bxf7 Qg7 35. Qh5 Qe5 36. Qh4 Bb7 37. a3 Bc8 38. Bg6 Rg8 39. Bf5 Rge8 40. Qh3 Bxf5 41. exf5 Qf6 42. R4f3 Re2 43. g4 Rg8 44. Qh5 Qe5 45. Rg3 Qe4+ 46. Kg1 a4 47. bxa4 Qxc4 48. Qf7 Qd4+ 49. Kh1 Rg7 50. Qf8+ Rg8 51. Qf7 Rg7 52. Qf8+ Rg8 53. Qh6 Qxd5+ 54. Rff3 Qd4 55. Qf4 Re1+ 56. Kg2 Re4 57. Qc1 Rgxg4 58. Kh1 Qxa4 59. f6 Rc4??

[d]7k/2p4p/1p1p1P2/8/q1r3r1/P4RR1/7P/2Q4K w - - 0 60

Yace 099.56 managed to get back into the game and for a few moves it seemed that a draw was still possible. But after 59. ... Rc4?? Nova Chess 1.12 gratefully takes advantage of this last mistake!


60. Qa1! Rc1+ 61. Qxc1 Rc4 62. Qg1 Rg4 63. f7 h6 64. f8=Q+ Kh7 65. Rf7+ Kg6 66. Rxg4+ Kh5 67. Rf5# 1-0

Yace 099.56 has been playing pretty well in this tournament; therefore this defeat was quite a surprise!

Yace 099.56 played the next game much better and tied the encounter 1-1. The match score is now 5 : 3 in favor of TEAM: Classic Engine - 2.


Match 5: Alex 201 vs. Chess Fiz 016

In the first game Chess Fiz 016 makes mistakes shortly after the opening book finished in a Sicilian Najdorf and gets checkmated in 39 moves giving TEAM: Classic Engine - 2 a 6 : 3 lead. In the next game it is the turn of Alex 201 to make lots of mistakes and to lose the game.

Match 6: Gromit 3.1 vs. Ychess 1.09

With a 6 - 4 lead and the way Gromit 3.1 has been playing, I would have bet my house on TEAM: Classic Engine - 2 finishing with a score of 8 : 4. But chess can be unpredictable sometimes and in these two games Ychess totally outplays Gromit 3.1:


[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.03.05"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Ychess 1.09, 5 Ply"]
[Black "Gromit 3.1, 5 Ply"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E41"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2010.03.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nge2 b6 {
Ychess 1.09 out of book} 7. O-O Ba6 8. Bd2 {Gromit 3.1 out of book} cxd4 9. exd4 Bd6 10. Qa4 Qc7 11. g3 Nb4 12. Be4 Rd8 13. b3

[d]3rk2r/p1qp1ppp/bp1bpn2/8/QnPPB3/1PN3P1/P2BNP1P/R4RK1 b k - 0 13

Already after 13 moves the position for Ychess 1.09 looks quite good. But, the next move from Gromit 3,1 is really bad since it loses a piece. 13. ... Qc8 might have been better to protect the black Bishop on a6.

O-O? 14. a3! Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Nc2 16. Ra2 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Be5 18. Nxe6 dxe6 19. Qxa6 Rd3 20. Qa4 f5 21. Ng5 Qe7 22. h4 a5 23. Re1 Qd6 24. Kg2 f4 25. Bxf4 Bxf4 26. Rxe6 Qc7 27. gxf4 Qxf4 28. Re4 Qf5 29. c5 Qxc5 30. Re8 Rd8 31. Rxd8 Rxd8 32. Qe4 Qd5 33. Qxd5+ Rxd5 34. Rc2 Rd8 35. Rc7 Re8 36. Kf3 b5 37. Rb7 h6 38. Ne4 Re5 39. Nc3 Rf5+ 40. Ke3 Rc5 41. Nxb5 Rh5 42. Nd4 Kh8 43. f4 Rxh4 44. Rb5 Rh3+ 45. Nf3 a4 46. bxa4 Rh1 47. a5 Rc1 48. Rb3 Rc5 49. a6 Ra5 50. Rb6 Rxa3+ 51. Ke4 Ra5 52. Rg6 h5 53. Rb6 Kg8 54. Ne5 Ra3 55. Kf5 h4 56. Kg6 Rg3+ 57. Kh5 h3 58. a7 Ra3 59. Kg6 Kf8 60. Rb8+ Ke7 61. a8=Q Rxa8 62. Rxa8 {Gromit 3.1 resigns} 1-0

The next game was also not much better for poor Gromit 3.1. Watch the nice but risky Knight sacrifice from Ychess 1.09:

[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.03.05"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Gromit 3.1, 5 Ply"]
[Black "Ychess 1.09, 5 Ply"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "156"]
[EventDate "2010.03.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bb5 {Ychess 1.09 out of book} Nh6 {Gromit 3.1 out of book} 6. d3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 O-O 8. f5 Ng4 9. h3 Nge5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Bh6 Re8 12. O-O a6 13. Ba4 Qa5 14. Bb3 Qxc3 15. fxg6 hxg6 16. Bf4 Qd4+ 17. Kh1 e6 18. Rc1 d6 19. g4 b5 20. Qe1 Bb7 21. Be3

[d]r3r1k1/1b3p2/p2pp1p1/1pp1n3/3qP1P1/1B1PB2P/P1P5/2R1QR1K b - - 0 21

The position looks like a draw. 21. ... Qb4 seems to be the best move here and I expected Ychess 1.09 to play this. But, 21. ... Nxd3!? really confused Gromit 3.1

Nxd3!? 22. cxd3 Qxd3

[d]r3r1k1/1b3p2/p2pp1p1/1pp5/4P1P1/1B1qB2P/P7/2R1QR1K w - - 0 23

Here perhaps 23. Bc2 is better then the move that Gromit 3.1 played. Ychess 1.09 now gets lots of pawns as compensation for the piece. Ychess beautifully takes utilizes all the pawns to negate the piece deficit to win this game,

23. Kh2?! Qxe4 24. Qf2 f5 25. Bf4 c4 26. Bc2 Qc6 27. Rg1 Kf7 28. gxf5 exf5 29. h4 Re6 30. Rce1 Rxe1 31. Qxe1 Re8 32. Qd2 Qd5 33. Qf2 Qc5 34. Qxc5 Re2+ 35. Kg3 dxc5 36. Rc1 Ke6 37. Bg5 Bd5 38. Kf4 a5 39. Kg3 a4 40. Kf4 Be4 41. Bxe4 Rxe4+ 42. Kf3
Kd5 43. Bf4 Kc6 44. Rd1 Re6 45. Rc1 Kb7 46. Rc3 Re1 47. a3 Rh1 48. Kg3 Rg1+ 49. Kf3 Kc6 50. Rd3 Rf1+ 51. Kg3 Ra1 52. Rc3 Rg1+ 53. Kf3 Rf1+ 54. Ke3 Kd5 55. Rc2 Ra1 56. Rd2+ Ke6 57. Rd6+ Kf7 58. Kd2 Ra2+ 59. Kd1 Rxa3 60. Rd7+ Ke8 61. Rc7 Rh3 62. Bg5 a3 63. Re7+ Kf8 64. Ra7 Kg8 65. Ra6 Kf7 66. Ra7+ Ke6 67. Ra6+ Kd5 68. Kc2 b4 69. Kd2 a2 70. Kc1 c3 71. Kc2 Kc4 72. Kd1 b3 {Gromit 3.1 resigns} 73. Ke2 b2 74. Ra4+ Kd5 75. Rxa2 b1=Q 76. Rd2+ cxd2 77. Kxd2 Qb2+ 78. Ke1 Rh1# 0-1

Final score of the Match between TEAM: Classic Engine - 2 and TEAM: Dos/Windows - 2 - Germany/Austria 6 : 6 !!!!



Match between TEAM: Atari ST - 16 Bit and TEAM: Neo Classic Engine - 1



9.1/2 - 2.1/2 is the big win that TEAM: Neo Classic Engine - 1 needed in order to give the team a good chance of winning Group B. However sometimes the final scores do not show or give justice to the hard fought encounters. Team: Atari ST should have played the match a lot closer as the following examples will show:


Match 1: Gnuchess 3.1 vs. BBChess 1.3b


Gnuchess 3.1 won both games against BBChess 1.3b giving Team: Atari ST a great start to this match. Both games were completely dominated by Gnuchess 3.1. Here is one of the games:

[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.03.05"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Atari ST - Gnuchess 3.1, 5 Ply"]
[Black "BBChess 1.3b, 5 Ply"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "157"]
[EventDate "2010.03.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 b6 3. Bg2 Bb7 4. O-O e6 5. d3 d5 6. Nbd2 Nbd7 7. c3 {
BBChess 1.3b out of book} Be7 8. Qc2 O-O 9. e4 Nc5 {Atari ST - Gnuchess 3.1 out of book} 10. e5 Ng4 11. h3 Nh6 12. d4 Nd7 13. Re1
a5 14. Bf1 Ba6 15. Bxa6 Rxa6 16. c4 c6 17. b3 Nf5 18. a3 a4 19. bxa4 Re8 20. cxd5 cxd5 21. g4 Nh4 22. Nxh4 Bxh4 23. Nf3 Ra8?

[d]r2qr1k1/3n1ppp/1p2p3/3pP3/P2P2Pb/P4N1P/2Q2P2/R1B1R1K1 w - - 0 24

Here, 23. ... Ra8? was a really bad move since this traps the Bishop on h4. I don't know how BBChess 3.1 could not have seen this. Retreating the Bishop e7 to would have been much wiser.

24. g5 Rc8 25. Qb2 Bxf2+ 26. Kxf2 Qe7 27. Bd2 Rc4 28. Bb4 Qd8 29. Kg2 Qa8 30. Nd2 Rc6 31. Qb3 Qa6 32. Rf1 Qe2+ 33. Rf2 Qh5 34. Nf3 Rec8 35. Kh2 h6 36. Rg1 Rc1 37. Rxc1 Rxc1 38. Qe3 Rc7 39. gxh6 Qxh6 40. Qxh6 gxh6 41. a5 bxa5 42. Bxa5 Rc8 43. Bd2 Kh7 44. Nh4 Kg7 45. Kg1 f5 46. Rg2+ Kh7 47. Rg6 Rg8 48. Rxg8 Kxg8 49. Bxh6 Nb6 50. Kf2 Kf7 51. Kf3 Nc4 52. a4 Ke7 53. Bg5+ Kf7 54. Kf4 Kf8 55. Nf3 Kf7 56. Bd8 Ke8 57. Bf6 Nb2
58. a5 Nd3+ 59. Ke3 Nb4 60. h4 Kf8 61. Kf4 Nc6 62. a6 Ke8 63. h5 Kf7 64. Ng5+ Kf8 65. a7 Nxa7 66. h6 Ke8 67. h7 Kd7 68. h8=Q Kc6 69. Nxe6 Kb5 70. Qb8+ Kc4 71. Qxa7 Kb3 72. Nc5+ Kb2 73. e6 Kb1 74. e7 Kc2 75. e8=Q Kc1 76. Qe3+ Kb1 77. Qb8+ Ka2 78. Qbb3+ Ka1 79. Qg1# 1-0

Match 2: Psion Chess 2.01 vs. The Baron 2.23

With 5 points from the first 8 games, I did expect Psion Chess to at least get something from this match. In the first game The Baron 2.23 completely outplayed it's opponent. The second game was a lot closer:

[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.03.05"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Atari ST - Psion Chess 2.01, 30S."]
[Black "The Baron 2.23, 5 Ply"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "152"]
[EventDate "2010.03.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nb3 Bb4+ {Atari ST - Psion Chess 2.01 out of book} 6. c3 Be7 7. Be2 {The Baron 2.23 out of book} Nf6 8. Bf3 O-O 9. Bf4 d6 10. O-O Ne5 11. Na3 Nxf3+ 12. Qxf3 d5 13. exd5 Qxd5 14. Bxc7 Qxf3 15. gxf3 Bh3 16. Rfe1 Bxa3 17. bxa3 Nd5
18. Be5 f6 19. Bd4 Rfc8 20. Rac1 b6 21. c4 Nf4 22. Re4 Ne6 23. a4 Ng5 24. Re3 Re8 25. f4 Rxe3 26. fxe3 Ne4 27. c5 bxc5 28. Bxc5 Kf7 29. a5 Kg6 30. Bd4 a6 31. Rc6 Bf5 32. Rb6 h6

[d]r7/6p1/pR3pkp/P4b2/3BnP2/1N2P3/P6P/6K1 w - - 0 33

The position looks good for at least a draw for Psion Chess. Leading by a pawn. But the position is complicated and Psion Chess starts to lose ideas and slowly allows The Baron 2.23 to take over.

33. Rc6 h5 34. h4 Bd7 35. Rc7 Rd8 36. Kg2 Be6 37. Re7 Bd5 38. Kh3 Rc8 39. f5+ Kxf5 40. Rxg7 Rc2 41. Bb6 Nf2+ 42. Kg3 Nh1+ 43. Kh3 Rxa2 44. Nc5 Nf2+ 45. Kg3 Ng4 46. e4+ Bxe4 47. Nxe4 Kxe4 48. Rh7 f5 49. Rxh5 Nh2 50. Kh3 Nf1 51. Bc7 Ra3+ 52. Kg2 Ne3+ 53. Kf2 Ra2+ 54. Kg1 f4 55. Rh7 Ra1+ 56. Kf2 Rf1+ 57. Ke2 f3+ 58. Kd2 Rd1+ 59. Kc3 Nd5+ 60. Kb2 f2 61. Rf7 f1=Q 62. Rxf1 Rxf1 63. Bd8 Rf5 64. Ka3 Ne3 65. Ka4 Rb5 66. Bf6 Nc4 67. Bd8 Kd3 68. Bf6 Rxa5+
69. Kb4 Rf5 70. Be7 Rb5+ 71. Ka4 Kc2 72. Bd8 Nb2+ 73. Ka3 Rb3+ 74. Ka2 Nd3 75. h5 Nb4+ 76. Ka1 Rb1# 0-1

The Match is now tied at 2 - 2


Match 3: Chess Player 2150 vs. Bruja 1.9


It has been quite frustrating following the games of Chess Player 2150. It plays ok up to the point when the endgame is near and then it just falls apart. In both the games against Bruja 1.9, Chess Player 2150 had good leads only to self-destruct:

[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.03.05"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Bruja 1.9, 5 Ply"]
[Black "Atari ST - Player 2150, 30S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A60"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2010.03.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 {Atari ST - Player 2150 out of book} d6 6. Nc3 Bg4 {Bruja 1.9 out of book} 7. f3 Bd7 8. e4 Be7 9. Bc4 O-O 10. Bd2 Re8 11. h3 a6 12. a4 Qc8 13. f4 Bd8 14. Qe2 Ba5 15. e5 Bc7 16. Nf3 Bxh3 17. O-O-O dxe5 18. fxe5 Bg4 19. Qe3 Nbd7 20. e6
fxe6 21. dxe6 Nb6 22. Be2 Bxg3 23. Ng5 Bxe2 24. Nxe2 Bb8 25. Qb3 Qc6 26. a5 Nbd5 27. Qc2

[d]rb2r1k1/1p4pp/p1q1Pn2/P1pn2N1/8/8/1PQBN3/2KR3R b - - 0 27

27. ... Nb4! looks very good for Chess Player 2150. But it does not see the move and instead plays 27. ... h6?? turning the game completely upside down.

Following 27. ... h6??, Bruja 1.9 next move 28. Rxh6! is nice!


h6? 28. Rxh6! Qb5 29. Qg6 Re7 30. Qf7+ Rxf7 31. exf7+ Kf8 32. Rh8+ Ke7 33. f8=Q+ Kd7 34. Qc8+ Kd6 35. Bf4+ Ke7 36. Qe6# 1-0


Match 3: Chess Simulator vs. Pupsi 2

Pupsi 2 should have won the first game as well but instead draws by 3-fold repetition.

[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.03.05"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Pupsi 2, 5 Ply"]
[Black "Atari ST - Chess Simulator, 30S."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2010.03.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Nbd2 c5 {Pupsi 2 out of book} 6. Bg2 d5 7. Ne5 Qd6 8. Qa4+ Ke7 9. cxd5 {Atari ST - Chess Simulator out of book} exd5 10. Ndf3 Nfd7 11. Bf4 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Qe6 13. e4 b5 14. exd5 Qxe5+ 15. dxe5 bxa4 16. d6+ Ke6 17. Bxa8 Nd7 18. O-O-O Bc4 19. Bg2 Nxe5 20. d7 Be7 21. Rhe1 f6 22. Re4 Bxa2 23. Rxa4 Bb3 24. Ra6+ Kf7 25. Bd5+ Bxd5 26. Rxd5 Ng4 27. Rxa7 Ke6 28. Rd2 Bd8 29. f3 Ne5 30. Bxe5 fxe5

[d]3b3r/R2P2pp/4k3/2p1p3/8/5PP1/1P1R3P/2K5 w - - 0 31

This position must have been more complicated then it looks for an Engine playing at 5 Ply. Pupsi 2 had no idea on how to win this game and settles for a draw.

31. Ra6+ Ke7 32. Rc6 Rf8 33. Rxc5 Ke6 34. Rc8 Ke7 35. Rd3 Rf6 36. Kc2 Ra6 37. Rc5 Ke6 38. Rc8 Ke7 39. Rc5 Ke6 40. Rc8 Ke7 {
Draw by 3-fold repetition} 1/2-1/2

Pupsi wins the second game but with some help from Chess Simulator:

[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.03.05"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Atari ST - Chess Simulator, 30S."]
[Black "Pupsi 2, 5 Ply"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2010.03.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. c4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. cxd5 {Pupsi 2 out of book} exd5 {Atari ST - Chess Simulator out of book} 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Bf4 g5 6. Bg3 Nf6 7. Nf3 g4 8. Ne5 Bd6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bxd6 Qxd6 11. Rc1 Rb8 12. b3 Bf5 13. e3 Qa3 14.
Be2 O-O 15. O-O Rfe8 16. Bd3 Bxd3 17. Qxd3 Qd6 18. Qa6 c5 19. Qxa7 cxd4 20. Qxd4 c5 21. Qd3 Ra8 22. Rfd1 Re5 23. Qc4 Rb8 24. Na4 Ne4 25. Qe2 h5 26. f3 gxf3 27. Qxf3 Rbe8 28. Rf1 Qg6 29. Qe2 Qd6 30. Qc2 d4 31. exd4 Qxd4+ 32. Kh1 Rd5

[d]4r1k1/5p2/8/2pr3p/N2qn3/1P6/P1Q3PP/2R2R1K w - - 0 33

Here is another example where the Atari Program has the better position and has played quite well up to this point. But once again when the position becomes critical the program misses the best and obvious (for humans) move. In this position 33. Nb6 or 33. Nc3 would have been good with advantage for White. 33. Rce1? loses the game. At 30 seconds most of the programs do not get to search the full 5 ply and therefore seem to miss some critical continuations.

33. Rce1? Nf2+ 34. Qxf2 Qxf2 35. Rxe8+ Kg7 36. Ree1 Re5 37. Rc1 Qxa2 38. Rxc5 Qe2 39. Rcc1 Rg5 40. Rg1 h4 41. Rc5 Rg4 42. Rc3 Rd4 43. Rc7 Rd1 44. Rc1 Rd2 45. Rc4 h3 46. gxh3+ Kf8 47. Rg8+ Kxg8 48. Rc8+ Kg7 49. Rg8+ Kxg8 50. Nc3 Qxh2# 0-1

Atari ST Chess Simulator


BOX



GAME SCREENSHOTS



Chess Simulator was marketed by French Software Company "INFOGRAMMES". The program was written by Chris Whittington and came out in 1990. Christ Whittington wrote several programs for the Atari ST and Commodore Amiga. Beginning with Chess Player 2150, followed by Chess Simulator, Chess Champion 2175, Check Mate and The Complete Chess System.

Match 4: Chess Champion 2175 vs. Gaviota-win32-v0.74.41

Gaviota-win32-v0.74.41 had no problems winning both games against Chess Champion 2175.

[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.03.05"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Atari ST - Chess Champion 2175, 30S."]
[Black "Gaviota-win32-v0.74.41, 5 Ply"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B11"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2010.03.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 e6 6. d3 {Gaviota-win32-v0.74.41 out of book} d4 {Atari ST - Chess Champion 2175 out of book} 7. Ne2 Qb6 8. c3 dxc3 9. Nxc3 Nd7 10. Qd1 Ngf6 11. Be2 Ne5 12. f4?

[d]r3kb1r/pp3ppp/1qp1pn2/4n3/4PP2/2NP3P/PP2B1P1/R1BQK2R b KQkq f3 0 12

I did not like this move. It leaves white's King stranded in the middle. Gaviota-win32-v0.74.41 ends up destroying White's position.

Ng6 13. e5 Nd7 14. d4 Nh4 15. g4 O-O-O 16. Rb1 Nb8 17. Qc2 Rxd4 18. Bd1 Ng6 19. Rf1 Bb4 20. a3 Be7 21. b4 Bh4+ 22. Ke2 Bg3 23. f5 Nf4+ 24. Kf3 Rd3+ 25. Qxd3 Nxd3 26. Kxg3 Nxc1 27. Rxc1 Qe3+ 28. Bf3 Qxe5+ 29. Kh4 h5 30. Be4 f6 31. gxh5 g6 32. Bb1 Rxh5+ 33. Kg4 Rg5+ 34. Kf3 Rg3+ 35. Kf2 Qe3# 0-1

Match 5: Check Mate vs. Hermann 2.5

[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.03.05"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Hermann 2.5, 5 Ply"]
[Black "Atari ST - Check Mate, 30S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2010.03.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. d4 c5 2. e3 {Atari ST - Check Mate out of book} d6 {Hermann 2.5 out of book} 3. f4 Nc6 4. d5 Nb4 5. c3 Na6 6. Bxa6 bxa6 7. b4 Rb8 8. bxc5 dxc5 9. e4 Nf6 10. f5 e6 11. Qe2 exd5 12. exd5+ Qe7 13. c4 Bxf5 14. Na3 Bg4 15. Qxe7+ Bxe7 16. Nf3 Bxf3 17. gxf3 O-O 18. Bf4 Rb4 19. d6 Bd8 20. O-O-O Nd7 21. Bd2 Rb6 22. Ba5 Rb7 23. Bxd8 Rxd8 24. Rhe1 Rdb8 25. Re7 Kf8 26. Rde1 Nf6 27. R1e5 Rd7 28. Rxd7 Nxd7 29. Re7 Rd8 30. Re3 Nb6 31. Rd3 Nc8 32. Rd5 Nxd6 33. Rxc5 Ne8 34. Ra5 Rd6 35. Nc2 Rh6 36. Kd1 Rxh2 37. Rxa6 Rh4 38. Ne3 Rd4+ 39. Ke2 Rd7 40. Nd5 Nd6 41. Kd3
Nf5 42. Ke4 Ne7 43. f4 Rb7 44. a4 h5 45. Rd6 Ke8 46. c5 Nxd5 47. Kxd5??

[d]4k3/pr3pp1/3R4/2PK3p/P4P2/8/8/8 b - - 0 47

Hermann 2.5 just made horrible mistake with 47. Kxd5? He should have taken with the Rook which although should still lose, it would at least make it a lot harder for the opponent. But, typically for Atari ST Check Mate misses the most obvious move 47. ... Rd7!! which would have easily won the game and instead plays 47. ... Rb4 and ends up losing. Incredible!!

Rb4? 48. c6 Rxa4 49. c7 Ra5+ 50. Kc4 Ke7 51. c8=Q Ra4+ 52. Kd5 Rd4+ 53. Kxd4 Kxd6 54. Qf8+ Ke6 55. Qxg7 f6 56. Qg6 h4 57. f5+ Ke7 58. Qg7+ Ke8 59. Kd5 h3 60. Ke6 h2 61. Qh8# 1-0

Well, the Atari ST throw points away Saga continues with the next and final game of this match as well:

[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.03.05"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Atari ST - Check Mate, 30S."]
[Black "Hermann 2.5, 5 Ply"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "144"]
[EventDate "2010.03.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8. Qd2 b6 9. O-O-O Bb7 10. Qf4 Nd7 11. Bd3 Be7 12. Rhe1 {Hermann 2.5 out of book} h6 {Atari ST - Check Mate out of book} 13. Bb5 c6 14. Bc4 b5 15. Bd3 Qb8 16. Ne5 f5 17. Nd2 Bg5 18. Qg3 Nxe5 19. Qxe5 Re8 20. Qxb8 Raxb8 21. Kb1 Rbd8 22. Nf3 Bf4 23. c4 Ba6 24. g3 bxc4 25. Bxf5 exf5 26. gxf4 h5 27. Rxe8+ Rxe8 28. Ne5 Bb5 29. d5 Ba4 30. Rd4 cxd5 31. Rxd5 Ra8 32. Ra5 Bd1 33. Nxc4 Be2

[d]r5k1/p5p1/8/R4p1p/2N2P2/8/PP2bP1P/1K6 w - - 0 34

Check Mate again has a lead. 34. Ne5 looks good here. Check Mate however plays 34. Nd6 which is still ok, but Check Mate starts to lose the initiative.

34. Nd6 g6 35. Re5 Bd3+ 36. Ka1 a6 37. Re3 Bb5 38. Re6 Kg7 39. h4 Rd8 40. Kb1 Bd7 41. Nb7 Bxe6 42. Nxd8 Bd5 43. Kc2 Kf6 44. Kd3 Ke7 45. Kd4 Be4 46. Ke5 Kxd8 47. Kf6 Bd5 48. Kxg6 Bxa2

[d]3k4/8/p5K1/5p1p/5P1P/8/bP3P2/8 w - - 0 49

Here is an interesting position. Check Mate has slowly thrown away this game but perhaps still has one final chance for a draw. It needs to play 49. Kxh5! instead of the played move 49. Kxf5? I am not sure if Kxh5! draws, but I think it does.

49. Kxf5? Ke7 50. Kg5 Bf7 51. f5 a5 52. f3 a4 53. f6+ Ke6 54. f4 Be8 55. f5+ Ke5 56. f7 Bxf7 57. f6 Be8 58. f7 Bxf7 59. Kh6 Kf5 60. Kg7 Bd5 61. Kh7 Kg4 62. Kh6 Kxh4 63. Kg6 Bb3 64. Kf5 Kg3 65. Kg5 h4 66. Kf5 h3 67. Ke4 h2 68. Ke3 h1=Q 69. Kd4 Qd5+ 70. Kc3 Qc4+ 71. Kd2 Kf3 72. Ke1 Qc1# 0-1

I have shown more games then I really intended, but I think these examples will show that TEAM Atari St was not bad in this Tournament. It just lacked some depth in critical postions.


Match between TEAM: Modern Engine - 5 Amateur and TEAM: Saitek/SciSys - Switzerland




In order to become Group B Champions, TEAM: Saitek/SciSys - Switzerland needed to get 8 points from this match.

But unfortunately they could not get the necessary amount of points needed. The encounters against TEAM: Modern Engine - 5 Amateur were extremely competitive and the result could have gone in favor of either Team. The Final Score of 6 : 6 was a fair result for both Teams. Both played some great games.


SciSys Turbostar 432




SciSys Turbostar 432 was another dedicated computer whose program was written by Julio Kaplan and came out in 1984. Running at just 4 MHz, the Turbostar 432 is another fine example of what a good program was capable of achieving at low speed.

The Turbostar had a pretty good tournament, but it met its match in this encounter against Scorpio 2.3. Scorpio 2.3 won both games, but they were quite entertaining. Here is one of the games:

[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.03.06"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Scorpio 2.3, 5 Ply"]
[Black "SciSys Turbostar 432, 60S(B6)."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2010.03.06"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Qc7 11. Bd2 e6 12. O-O-O Ngf6 {Scorpio 2.3 out of book } 13. Rde1 {SciSys Turbostar 432 out of book} O-O-O 14. Kb1 Bd6 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Rxe4 Kb8 17. Rg4 Rhg8 18. Re1 e5 19. Qf5 Nf6 20. dxe5 Nxg4 21. exd6 Qd7 22. Nd4 Qxf5 23. Nxf5 Nf6 24. Bc3 Nxh5 25. g4 Nf4 26. Bxg7 h5 27. Re7 hxg4 28. Bh6 Nh3 29. Be3 Rge8 30. Bd4 Rxe7 31. dxe7 Re8 32. Kc1 Ng5 33. Be5+ Ka8 34. Kd1

[d]k3r3/pp2Pp2/2p5/4BNn1/6p1/8/PPP2P2/3K4 b - - 0 34

In this interesting position, Turbostar 432 has the better pieces, but the black King is trapped and the Rook can't do much other than hold White's advanced Pawn on E7. Scorpio 2.3 has a stranglehold on Black's position and leisurely wins the game.

b6 35. Ke2 Nh3 36. Ke3 Ng5 37. Kf4 Nh3+ 38. Kg3 a6 39. Bd4 c5 40. Be3 Ng1 41. Kxg4 f6 42. Bh6 c4 43. Be3 b5 44. Bd4 Rg8+ 45. Kh5 Ne2 46. Bxf6 Nf4+ 47. Kh6 Nd5 48. Bg5 Kb8 49. Ne3 Nb4 50. f4 c3 51. bxc3 Nxa2 52. Bf6 Kc7 53. f5 Kd7 54. c4 b4 55. Kh7 Rg3 56. Nd5 a5 57. c5 Rh3+ 58. Kg6 Nc3 59. c6+ Kd6 60. e8=Q Nxd5 61. Qd7+ Kc5 62. c7 Nxc7 63. Qxc7+ Kb5 64. Qd7+ Kc5 65. Bd4+ Kc4 66. Qd6 Rg3+ 67. Kf7 Kb5 68. Qxg3 Ka4 69. Qd3 b3 70. Qxb3# 1-0

Trailing the by 4.1/2 - 5.1/2 Saitek Travel Champion 2080 needs to win this next game against Mystery Engine B:

[Event "Chess Computer Olympiad 2010 - Group B"]
[Site "Hoover, Alabama, USA"]
[Date "2010.03.07"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Saitek Travel Champion 2080, 30S."]
[Black "Mystery Engine B, 5 Ply"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[Annotator "Mind,Spacious"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2010.03.07"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 d6 {Saitek Travel Champion 2080 out of book} 5. dxe5 {Mystery Engine B out of book} Nxe5 6. Nxe5 dxe5 7. Qxd8+ Kxd8 8. Bg5 c6 9. Bc4 Ke8 10. O-O b5 11. Bb3 b4 12. Ba4 Bd7 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Ne2 Rd8 15. Rfd1 Rg8 16. Rd3 Rg4?

[d]3rkb2/p2b1p1p/2p2p2/4p3/Bp2P1r1/3R4/PPP1NPPP/R5K1 w - - 0 17

Mystery Engine B just made a mistake with 16. ... Rg4? 17. Rad1 is now very good for White but Saitek Travel Champion 2080 misses this first opportunity!


17. f3? Bc5+ 18. Kf1
Rh4 19. h3 Ke7 20. Rad1 Bb6 21. Ng3 Rf4?

[d]3r4/p2bkp1p/1bp2p2/4p3/Bp2Pr2/3R1PNP/PPP3P1/3R1K2 w - - 0 22

After 21. ... Rf4? Saitek Travel Champion 2080 gets another opportunity to win this game and this time makes sure......

22. Nh5! Rh4 23. Nxf6 Bd4 24. Nxd7 Kxd7 25. c3 bxc3 26. bxc3 f5 27. cxd4 fxe4 28. fxe4 Rf8+ 29. Kg1 Rxe4 30. dxe5+ Ke6 31. Bxc6 Re2 32. Rd7 Rxa2 33. R7d6+ Kxe5 34. R6d5+ Kf6 35. Rf1+ Ke6 36. Rxf8 a5 37. Rh5 Kd6 38. Rh6+ Ke5 39. Re8+ Kd4 40. Rxh7 Kc5 41. Rc8 Kd6 42. g4 a4 43. Rh6+ Ke5 44. Re8+ Kf4 45. Re4+ Kg3 46. Rxa4 Re2 47. Ra3+ Kf4 48. Rh5 Re1+ 49. Kh2 Re2+ 50. Kh1 Re1+ 51. Kg2 Rg1+ 52. Kf2 Rf1+ 53. Ke2 Re1+ 54. Kd2 Rd1+ 55. Kc3 Rd6 56. Rf5+ Ke3 57. Kc2+ Ke2 58. Bb5+ Rd3 59. Bxd3+ Ke3 60. g5 Kd4 61.
Ra4+ Ke3 62. Re4# 1-0

This win tied the Match at 5.1/2 : 5.1/2. The Final game was also a draw so the Match ended at 6 : 6! This meant that the Final Table looked as follows:

Group B Final Table






C H A M P I O N S ... O F ... G R O U P ... B

• TEAM: Neo Classic Engine - 1

This final round of matches was a tough round of matches. TEAM: Neo Classic Engine - 1 won all their encounters and therefore deservedly are the Champions of this Group!


Here re are the final Team Performances in Group b:



I think each Team had some good performers!



And finally, here are the Individual Performances in Group B:



The Top 4 spots are taken by contestants from the Group B Champions Team!. Congratulations to Gaviota-win32-v0.74.41 who is Individual Champion of Group B!

Best Regards


Nick

[Steve B]

Hi Nick
although i am a bit disappointed that Team Saitek did not win the B section ..coming in a close second is nothing to cry over

i must say your coverage of these tournaments are simply fantastic and make for a thoroughly enjoyable read

Well Done Regards
Steve

[Spacious_Mind]

Hi Nick
although i am a bit disappointed that Team Saitek did not win the B section ..coming in a close second is nothing to cry over

i must say your coverage of these tournaments are simply fantastic and make for a thoroughly enjoyable read

Well Done Regards
Steve

Thanks Steve! I am glad that there are a few who enjoy the read. It takes ages to put together in the little Post Box

For me that is a small gripe with Talkchess. The Post Options should be a little more User Friendly!

Only getting 30 minutes for corrections is hard when you write a bigger Post and being timed out if you are not careful can be frustrating. Because you then have to start all over again if you did not back it up first.

Some Options in other Forums whose names I will not mention allow you to correct your Post indefinitely which is really nice for correcting grammatical errors and typos!

Also what would be nice to have for the readers, is a built-in PGN-Player!, so that you can replay the games that people Post while you are reading the Topic. This allows for much more Reader interaction.

As for Saitek/SciSys finishing second. I thought they played surprisingly well as a Team. Everyone scored over 500. You know I am sure from your games that at 30/60 seconds the 4Mhz/5MHz machines don't even get to 5 ply, therefore I thought the performances were excellent. And it was really close. Had they beaten Team Neo Modern by 6.1/2 - 5.1/2 instead of losing by that score then the Final result would have been 41.1/2 - 41 in their favor. That's how close it was

Since I use Random.Org to pick who plays who, there is an element of Randomness in all the matches because Who plays Who is randomly picked. This makes it fun because anything could happen in an encounter between two similarly strong Teams. I think this helps to make the competition more interesting as the Final Scores are harder to predict. So, hopefully in the end the best TEAM! will win the Tournament

Lots of room for Forum Posting improvements regards

Nick

[Steve B]

Hi Nick

one method i used to use to get around the time limits in writing /editing long posts is i would first write the post as a PM and send it to myself

a PM is really the same thing as making an actual post in the forum
all photos ,url links and images will be displayed
only Fen diagrams will not appear in a PM

i would write the post..send as a PM and then view it
make changes ..etc
then when satisfied i would copy and past into an actual post..and then i would only need to verify that the FEN diagrams were OK

of course a simpler way to get around the posting time limits is to run for moderator and win
then you have no time limit's in editing your posts

Proof Reading Regards
Steve