Chess at 50?

[Michael Sherwin]

My first serious game of chess since I tied fritz 7 in a 4 game match, +1 -1 =2,
when 46.

Just wanted to see if I could still play at 50.

I do not know if I will play the 4 planned games or not. Maybe one game per week!

That is all I have time for.

I wonder if I had any winning chances? It was rather unsatisfying to play such
safe chess in the hope of not loosing. Still it was nice not to loose against Rybka.
However, I wonder if I could have won by being more aggressive. I just felt that it
would have been suicide to try!

[Event "Computer Schach Partie"]
[Site "A13"]
[Date "2007.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Michael Sherwin"]
[Black "Rybka 1.0 Beta 32-bit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2350"]
[ECO "A50"]
[Opening "Black Knights' Tango/Kevitz-Trajkovich Defence (3.Nf3 & 4.a3)"]
[Time "13:14:48"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:40/7200:7200"]
[Termination "normal"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[WhiteType "human"]
[BlackType "program"]

{I am not a 1. d4 player. Against Rybka it seemed practical.}

1. d4 Nf6

{(Ng8f6 Nb1c3 g7g6 Ng1f3 Bf8g7 g2g3 00 Bf1g2 d7d6 00) -0.10/15 273}

2. c4 e6

{(e7e6 Nb1c3 Nb8c6 Ng1f3 d7d5 e2e3 Bc8d7 Bc1d2 Bf8e7 Bf1e2) -0.02/15 346}

3. Nf3 Nc6

{(Nb8c6 Nb1c3 d7d5 e2e3 Bc8d7 a2a3 Bf8e7 Bf1d3 d5xc4 Bd3xc4) -0.01/14 223}

{Just wanted to limit Rybka's piece play. Didn't know it had a name.}

4. a3 d5

{(d7d5 Nb1c3 Bf8d6 c4c5 Bd6e7 Bc1f4 Bc8d7 g2g3 00 Bf1g2) 0.01/14 139}

5. Bg5 Be7

{(Bf8e7 Nb1c3 00 Qd1d3 h7h6 Bg5d2 b7b6 b2b4 d5xc4 Qd3xc4) 0.20/14 132}

6. e3 O-O

{(00 Nb1c3 h7h6 Bg5h4 Nf6e4 Bh4xe7 Qd8xe7 Bf1d3 Ne4xc3 b2xc3) 0.00/14 125}

7. Nc3 h6

{(h7h6 Bg5h4 Nf6e4 Bh4xe7 Qd8xe7 Bf1d3 Ne4xc3 b2xc3 b7b6 00) -0.06/15 246}

8. Bh4 Ne4

{(Nf6e4 Bh4xe7 Qd8xe7 Bf1d3 Ne4xc3 b2xc3 b7b6 h2h3 Bc8a6 c4xd5) -0.06/14 91
}

9. Bxe7 Qxe7

{(Qd8xe7 Qd1c2 Ne4xc3 Qc2xc3 a7a5 Bf1d3 Bc8d7 00 a5a4 h2h3) -0.18/16 208}

10. Qc2 Nxc3

{(Ne4xc3 Qc2xc3 a7a5 Bf1d3 Bc8d7 00 a5a4 h2h3 Ra8a5 Rf1d1) -0.17/16 169}

{To prevent e5.}

11. Qxc3 a5

{(a7a5 Bf1d3 Bc8d7 00 a5a4 h2h3 Ra8a5 Rf1d1 f7f6 Qc3c2) -0.23/15 164}

{keeping the minority attack idea, alive.}

12. b3 Bd7

{(Bc8d7 Bf1d3 Rf8e8 00 d5xc4 Bd3xc4 Qe7d6 h2h3 Nc6e7 Rf1c1) -0.24/14 156}

13. Bd3 Rfe8

{(Rf8e8 00 d5xc4 Bd3xc4 Qe7d6 h2h3 Nc6e7 Qc3c2 f7f6 e3e4) -0.26/14 111}

{Preventing counter play by e5 and planning on the minority attack.}

14. cxd5 exd5

{(e6xd5 00 Bd7g4 Bd3e2 Re8d8 Rf1c1 Bg4f5 Qc3c5 Qe7e4 Rc1c3) 0.01/16 167}

15. O-O Bg4

{(Bd7g4 Bd3e2 Re8d8 Rf1c1 Bg4f5 Qc3c5 Qe7e6 h2h3 Rd8d6 Qc5b5) 0.00/15 138}

16. Nd2 Qg5

{(Qe7g5 Rf1e1 Bg4h3 g2g3 Bh3f5 Bd3b5 Re8e6 Ra1c1 Bf5g4 Qc3c5) 0.13/14 91}

17. Kh1 Bf5

{(Bg4f5 Rf1c1 Qg5h5 Bd3b5 Re8e6 Qc3c5 Bf5g6 Bb5xc6 Re6xc6 Qc5b5) 0.11/14
313}

18. Nf3 Qh5

{(Qg5h5 Bd3xf5 Qh5xf5 b3b4 Re8e7 Kh1g1 f7f6 h2h3 Qf5d7 Rf1b1) -0.12/16 142}

19. Bxf5 Qxf5

{(Qh5xf5 b3b4 Re8e7 Kh1g1 f7f6 h2h3 Qf5d7 Rf1b1 a5a4 Rb1c1) -0.12/15 30}

20. b4 Re7

{(Re8e7 Qc3c5 Qf5e6 Rf1c1 f7f6 h2h3 Re7d7 Kh1g1 Nc6e7 Qc5b5) -0.12/15 185}

{Begin minority attack.]

21. b5 Nd8

{(Nc6d8 Ra1c1 Nd8e6 Qc3c2 Qf5h5 h2h3 a5a4 Kh1g1 f7f6 Qc2d3) -0.10/15 45}

22. a4 f6

{(f7f6 Ra1c1 Nd8e6 Kh1g1 Qf5e4 h2h3 Re7d7 Rf1d1 Rd7d6 Rd1d2) -0.04/16 222}

23. Rac1 Ne6

{(Nd8e6 Qc3c2 Qf5xc2 Rc1xc2 Kg8f7 g2g3 Ra8e8 Kh1g2 h6h5 Rf1c1) -0.10/16 353
}

{I see no way to fight for an advantage. Safer with out queens.]

24. Qc2 Qxc2

{(Qf5xc2 Rc1xc2 Kg8f7 g2g3 Ra8e8 Kh1g2 h6h5 h2h3 Re7d7 Nf3e1) -0.12/17 176}

25. Rxc2 Kf7

{(Kg8f7 g2g3 Ra8e8 Kh1g2 Re7d7 Nf3e1 Kf7g6 Ne1d3 Kg6f5 f2f3) -0.12/16 64}

26. Rfc1 Rae8

{(Ra8e8 g2g3 Kf7g6 Kh1g2 Re7d7 h2h3 h6h5 Nf3e1 Kg6f5 Ne1d3) -0.16/16 163}

27. Nd2 g5

{(g7g5 g2g3 Kf7g6 Kh1g2 h6h5 Nd2f3 Kg6f5 h2h4 g5g4 Nf3e1) -0.12/18 376}

{Felt it was safest to stop blacks play on the king file.}

28. g4 Kg6

{(Kf7g6 Kh1g2 h6h5 g4xh5+ Kg6xh5 Nd2b3 b7b6 h2h3 Re7h7 Rc1h1) 0.25/15 39}

{29. Nc3 may be better. Nf1 looked safer.}

29. Nf1 h5

{(h6h5 h2h3 h5xg4 h3xg4 Re7h7+ Kh1g2 Rh7h4 f2f3 f6f5 g4xf5+) 0.25/17 432}

30. h3 hxg4

{(h5xg4 h3xg4 Re8h8+ Kh1g2 Rh8h4 f2f3 f6f5 g4xf5+ Kg6xf5 Nf1h2) 0.23/17 197
}

31. hxg4 Rh8+

{(Re8h8+ Kh1g2 Rh8h4 f2f3 f6f5 g4xf5+ Kg6xf5 Nf1h2 Re7f7 Nh2g4) 0.16/17 177
}

32. Kg2 Rh4

{(Rh8h4 f2f3 f6f5 g4xf5+ Kg6xf5 Nf1h2 Re7f7 Nh2g4 Rf7h7 Rc1d1) 0.17/17 173}

33. Kf3 f5

{(f6f5 g4xf5+ Kg6xf5 Nf1g3+ Kf5g6 Ng3e2 Re7h7 Ne2c3 g5g4+ Kf3e2) 0.40/16
104}

34. gxf5+ Kxf5

{(Kg6xf5 Nf1g3+ Kf5g6 Ng3e2 Re7h7 Ne2c3 g5g4+ Kf3e2 Rh7h5 Ke2d3) 0.41/17
146}

35. Ng3+ Kf6

{(Kf5f6 Ng3e2 Re7h7 Ne2c3 g5g4+ Kf3e2 Rh7h5 Ke2d3 Rh5f5 Rc1g1) 0.39/16 169}

{I did not want to surrender the h-file.}

36. Rh1 Reh7

{(Re7h7 Kf3g2 Rh7h8 Rc2c1 Rh4xh1 Rc1xh1 Rh8xh1 Ng3xh1 c7c6 b5xc6) 0.22/16
209}

37. Kg2 Kg6

{(Kf6g6 Rc2c1 Rh7h6 Ng3e2 Kg6f5 Ne2g3+ Kf5f6 Ng3e2 Rh4xh1 Rc1xh1) 0.20/17
125}

38. Rcc1 R7h6

{(Rh7h6 Ng3e2 Kg6f5 Ne2g3+ Kf5f6 Kg2f3 g5g4+ Kf3g2 Rh4xh1 Ng3xh1) 0.16/17
99}

39. Kf3 Rh8

{(Rh6h8 Kf3g2 Kg6f6 Ng3e2 Rh4xh1 Rc1xh1 Rh8xh1 Kg2xh1 g5g4 Kh1g2) 0.13/18
164}

40. Kg2 Kf6

{(Kg6f6 Ng3e2 Kf6f5 Ne2g3+ Kf5g6 Ng3e2 Rh4xh1 Rc1xh1 Rh8xh1 Kg2xh1) 0.11/17
156}

41. Kf3 R8h7

{(Rh8h7 Kf3g2 Kf6g6 Ng3e2 Rh4xh1 Rc1xh1 Rh7xh1 Kg2xh1 g5g4 Kh1g2) 0.11/17
198}

42. Kg2 Kg6

{(Kf6g6 Ng3e2 Rh4xh1 Rc1xh1 Rh7xh1 Kg2xh1 g5g4 Kh1g2 Kg6f5 Ne2c3) 0.09/18
193}

43. Kf3 g4+

{(g5g4+ Kf3g2 Rh4h3 Rh1xh3 g4xh3+ Kg2h1 Kg6g5 Kh1h2 Rh7f7 f2f4+) 0.18/17
134}

44. Kg2 Rh3

{(Rh4h3 Ng3e2 Kg6f5 Ne2g3+ Kf5g5 Ng3e2 Rh3xh1 Rc1xh1 Rh7xh1 Kg2xh1) 0.13/18
136}

45. Ne2 Kf5

{(Kg6f5 Ne2g3+ Kf5f6 Ng3e2 Rh3xh1 Rc1xh1 Rh7xh1 Kg2xh1 Kf6g5 Kh1g2) 0.12/17
124}

46. Ng3+ Kf6

{(Kf5f6 Ng3e2 Rh3xh1 Rc1xh1 Rh7xh1 Kg2xh1 Kf6g5 Kh1g2 Kg5f5 Ne2g3+) 0.08/19
214}

47. Ne2 Rxh1

{(Rh3xh1 Rc1xh1 Rh7xh1 Kg2xh1 Kf6g5 Kh1g2 Kg5f5 Ne2g3+ Kf5f6 Ng3e2) 0.09/18
130}

48. Rxh1 Rxh1

{(Rh7xh1 Kg2xh1 Kf6f5 Ne2c3 c7c6 b5xc6 b7xc6 Kh1g2 Ne6g5 Kg2f1) 0.08/22 122
}

{The minority attack fails. I was still hoping for a N-sac on b4 or c6.}

49. Kxh1 Kf5

{(Kf6f5 Ne2c3 c7c6 b5xc6 b7xc6 Kh1g2 Ne6g5 Kg2f1 Kf5f6 Kf1e1) 0.08/21 57}

50. Nc3 c6

{(c7c6 b5xc6 b7xc6 Kh1g2 Ne6g5 Kg2f1 Kf5f6 Kf1g2 Kf6e6 Kg2g1) 0.08/23 171}

51. Kg2 Ng5

{(Ne6g5 b5xc6 b7xc6 Kg2f1 Kf5e6 Kf1g2 Ke6f6 Kg2f1 Kf6e7 Kf1g2) 0.08/22 99}

52. Kf1 Kf6

{(Kf5f6 b5xc6 b7xc6 Kf1e2 Kf6e7 Ke2f1 Ng5e6 Kf1g2 Ke7f6 Kg2f1) 0.08/23 165}

53. Ke2 Ke7

{(Kf6e7 b5xc6 b7xc6 Ke2f1 Ng5e6 Kf1g2 Ke7f6 Kg2f1 Kf6f5 Kf1g2) 0.08/22 270}

54. bxc6 bxc6

{(b7xc6 Ke2f1 Ng5e6 Kf1g2 Ke7f6 Kg2f1 Kf6f5 Kf1g2 Ne6g5 Kg2f1) 0.08/22 89}

55. Kd3 Kd6

{(Ke7d6 e3e4 d5xe4+ Nc3xe4+ Ng5xe4 Kd3xe4 c6c5 Ke4d3 Kd6d5 d4xc5) 0.08/23
147}

{Now, just going for the draw.}

56. e4 Nxe4

{(Ng5xe4 Nc3xe4+ d5xe4+ Kd3xe4 c6c5 Ke4d3 Kd6d5 d4xc5 Kd5xc5 Kd3c3) 0.08/22
107}

57. Nxe4+ dxe4+

{(d5xe4+ Kd3xe4 Kd6e6 Ke4f4 Ke6d5 Kf4xg4 Kd5xd4 f2f4 c6c5 Kg4f3) 0.00/23 59
}

58. Kxe4 Ke6

{(Kd6e6 Ke4f4 Ke6d5 Kf4xg4 Kd5xd4 f2f4 c6c5 Kg4f3 c5c4 f4f5) -0.03/21 36}

59. Kf4 Kd5

{(Ke6d5 Kf4xg4 Kd5xd4 f2f4 c6c5 Kg4f3 c5c4 f4f5 Kd4d3 f5f6) -0.51/25 168}

60. Kxg4 Kxd4

{(Kd5xd4 f2f4 c6c5 Kg4f3 c5c4 f4f5 Kd4d3 f5f6 c4c3 f6f7) -0.43/25 891}

61. f4 c5

{(c6c5 Kg4f3 c5c4 f4f5 Kd4d3 f5f6 c4c3 f6f7 c3c2 f7f8Q) -0.43/24 316}

62. Kf3 c4

{(c5c4 f4f5 Kd4d3 f5f6 c4c3 f6f7 c3c2 f7f8Q c2c1Q Qf8f5+) -0.39/23 1242}

63. f5 Kd3

{(Kd4d3 f5f6 c4c3 f6f7 c3c2 f7f8Q c2c1Q Qf8f5+ Kd3d4 Qf5xa5) -0.39/22 1125}

64. f6 c3

{(c4c3 f6f7 c3c2 f7f8Q c2c1Q Qf8f5+ Kd3d4 Qf5xa5 Qc1e3+ Kf3g4) -0.40/18 64}

65. f7 c2

{(c3c2 f7f8Q c2c1Q Qf8f5+ Kd3d4 Qf5xa5 Qc1e3+ Kf3g4 Qe3e4+ Kg4g3) -0.39/20
530}

66. f8=Q c1=Q

{(c2c1Q Qf8f5+ Kd3d4 Qf5xa5 Qc1e3+ Kf3g4 Qe3e4+ Kg4g3 Qe4e3+ Kg3g2)
-0.39/19 265}

67. Qd8+ Kc2

{(Kd3c2 Qd8xa5 Qc1a3+ Kf3f4 Kc2b3 Qa5b5+ Qa3b4+ Kf4e5 Kb3a3 Qb5xb4+)
-0.38/11 19}

68. Qxa5 Qh1+

{(Qc1h1+ Kf3g3 Kc2b3 Qa5b5+ Kb3a3 Qb5e8 Qh1d5 Kg3f4 Qd5d2+ Kf4g4) -0.34/10
12}

69. Kg4 Qe4+

{(Qh1e4+ Kg4g5 Kc2b3 Qa5b5+ Qe4b4 Kg5f5 Kb3a3 Qb5c6 Qb4xa4) -0.39/9 14}

70. Kg5 Kb3

{(Kc2b3 Qa5b5+ Qe4b4 Kg5f5 Kb3a3 Qb5c6 Qb4xa4 Qc6c1+ Ka3b4) -0.31/10 33}

71. Qb5+ Qb4

{(Qe4b4 Kg5f5 Kb3a3 Qb5c6 Qb4xa4 Qc6c1+ Ka3b4 Qc1f4+ Kb4b5) -0.28/10 40}

72. Kf5 Ka3

{(Kb3a3 Kf5e5 Qb4xa4 Qb5d3+ Ka3b2 Qd3e2+ Qa4c2 Qe2b5+ Kb2c3) -0.27/9 8}

73. Ke5 Qxa4

{(Qb4xa4 Qb5c5+ Qa4b4 Qc5e3+ Ka3b2 Qe3e2+ Kb2b3 Qe2d1+ Kb3c4 Qd1g4+)
-0.15/10 11}

74. Qxa4+ Kxa4

{Insufficient material}


1/2-1/2

[Tony Thomas]

If you could play the same way against a human...

Here is my win against Rybka.




































Oh I forgot, it wasnt me who won against Rybka, it was Sjeng 2.7.

[Michael Sherwin]

I almost forgot that Romi was also playing on my other computer. Yes, it was against Sabretooth Hamsters 0.2. I turned on the monitor just in time to see Romi tie her last record with a draw on game 98. Then a gut wrenching lose on game 99 followed by an easy win on game 100. The new record is now 68.5/100 +59, -22, =19. That was a full point this time and only leaves 1.5 points to go untill I achive my goal for this new release!

All in all, not a bad day!

[geots]

[quote="Tony Thomas"]If you could play the same way against a human...

Here is my win against Rybka.



Personally i have become bored beating Rybka on 1 and 2 processors. I keep trying to get Vas to set up a match with Rybka running on 8 processors, but he keeps dragging around about it. Im beginning to believe he is scared.

Kick Butt and Take Names Regards,

[Tony Thomas]

Personally i have become bored beating Rybka on 1 and 2 processors. I keep trying to get Vas to set up a match with Rybka running on 8 processors, but he keeps dragging around about it. Im beginning to believe he is scared.

Kick Butt and Take Names Regards

George, I knew you had it in you. So far this is the best fictional story you have written. Keep up the good work.

[fern]

Why you consider so important the age?
That could be so if you was engaged for a long tournament, when you need lot of resistance and energy, but 4 games...
I, at my 58, play lot better than at my 30.
When 30 years old I used to lose 2 games in 4.
Now, at my 58, against the same machine I get a perfect score: 4 loses.

Experience helps regards
Fernando

[Michael Sherwin]

Why you consider so important the age?
That could be so if you was engaged for a long tournament, when you need lot of resistance and energy, but 4 games...
I, at my 58, play lot better than at my 30.
When 30 years old I used to lose 2 games in 4.
Now, at my 58, against the same machine I get a perfect score: 4 loses.

Experience helps regards
Fernando

Well, I have always wanted to be perfect. I guess that there is still some hope!

[Michael Sherwin]

Finally found some time for a second game.

[Event "Computer Schach Partie"]
[Site "A13"]
[Date "2007.09.28"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rybka 1.0 Beta 32-bit"]
[Black "Michael Sherwin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[BlackElo "2350"]
[ECO "A00"]
[Opening "Dunst (Sleipner-Heinrichsen-Van Geet) Opening"]
[Time "18:01:15"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:40/7200:7200"]
[Termination "normal"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[WhiteType "program"]
[BlackType "human"]

1.Nc3 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 e6 6.Bf4 Be7 7.O-O O-O 8.a3 Na6 9.Ne5
Bxg2 10.Kxg2 Qc8 11.e3 Qb7+ 12.Qf3 Qxf3+ 13.Nxf3 Rac8 14.Bg5 c6 15.Rfe1 Nc7 16.
e4 fxe4 17.Nxe4 Nce8 18.Ne5 Rd8 19.Rad1 Nd6 20.Nxd6 Bxd6 21.f4 Bc7 22.c4 Rc8
23.Re2 Bd8 24.Rc1 Rc7 25.b4 d6 26.Nf3 Kf7 27.Bh4 h6 28.Rce1 Re8 29.c5 bxc5 30.
dxc5 dxc5 31.bxc5 Be7 32.Rxe6 Bxc5 33.Rxe8 Nxe8 34.Ne5+ Kf8 35.a4 Nf6 36.Rd1
Ke7 37.Ng4 h5 38.Re1+ Kf7 39.Ne5+ Ke6 40.Nd3+ Kd6 41.Bxf6 gxf6 42.f5 Bd4 43.
Re6+ Kd7 44.Kf3 Kc8 45.Nf4 c5 46.Nd5 Rf7 47.a5 Kd7 48.Ke4 Kd8 49.Kd3 Kd7 50.Kc4
Kd8 51.Nf4 Rh7 52.Rd6+ Kc7 53.Kd5 1-0

I tried to open the game a little more aggressively this time, however, Rybka totally shut me down. I had a dozen or so plans during the game and Rybka never let me execute a single one of them. I have experianced no other chess program that can play as positionally pure as Rybka can. It is a little boring though as Rybka will not take any chances and will just simply grind the position down to a draw if it's opponent does not make any mistakes. However, not making any mistakes is hard to do!