It was the same opponent I played a month ago, again I had White, again Ruy Lopez. This time I decided not to allow Open variation, so played d3, here is the game. I got a somewhat passive position after the opening, then after Nf4 he started to think heavily, I knew it was about Nxg2. I didn’t think I should be afraid or could prevent it, so just moved another knight there. He had only 25 minutes left, when he did play it.
I miscalculated the threats after Kh1 and played Kg1, it was worse. After Be5 I thought for a moment that this is it, but found f4. After Rh5 I saw Bxf7, but also saw that I can attack the rook with Bd1 and liked it more. Finally he had to give up an exchange and I started to think that I have a chance to win, especially taking into account his time trouble. This time I didn’t want to be nice, I wanted to win, I was sure he didn’t think about a draw when sacrificed on g2.
I played rather obvious and not the best moves, starting from 33. fxg6+. He didn’t use it and eventually blundered with 38… Qg7. He had no more than minute left at this time, I had much more. The game was over after that and after a few moves he resigned.
Interesting that he joked before the game that Russians are playing with Canadians, good that it’s not hockey. I got it after I looked around and on the left there was a Russian speaking boy I know well and on the right there was a Russian-speaking man I played once. Funny that the boy drew and we won, so the score was 2.5:0.5, though I have to add that we all had White.
February 20, 2012 at 9:47 pm
Probably your best game.
Deep tactics, but your positional play is the most fearsome part of this game.
I was surprised to see Nxg2, mainly because combinations should come from a superior position. His Bg7 was not really in the game, and he got ahead of himself with lagging development.
He’s not going to win many games against you if he bangs his head against the wall and clock like that.
Great game! Very instructive.
February 21, 2012 at 1:22 pm
linuxguy – thanks!
I agree with your evaluation of Nxg2. Also you can’t make a positional sacrifice having so little time.
It seems me that I am kind of non-convenient opponent to him, though I know he gets into time trouble not only with me.
February 21, 2012 at 4:45 pm
I have to disagree with 22…Ne5, 23.Bxd4? as being the best continuation for Black. 23.NxNe5 BxNe5, 24.Nf3 followed by 25.b4, or 23…RxNe5, 24.b4. Best for Black to me seems to be 22…Ne6 and if White does play 23…Ba3, then 24..Bb7, 25.b4 (else 25.b3 b4, 26.Bb2 c5).
The computer is basing that Black is ahead based on initiative, but this position should be judged more positionally, and not just by which side can throw much quicker at the other guy. This is an important position because the engine is suggesting that Black’s seemingly slimy positional play/attack has been justified up to this point.
February 21, 2012 at 4:49 pm
BTW, I like your quote about how it isn’t a good idea to play a positional sac in time-trouble. I think this game is like a Dan Heiman-ism, the better positional play(er) wins in they Ruy Lopez.
February 23, 2012 at 12:22 am
Computer says that after 23. Nxe5 Bxe5 24.Nf3 is followed by Nxg2 and White loses.
After 23… Rxe5 24. b4 or Bb3 you can’t prevent Nxg2, so there is poison in this position, you have to be careful.
February 24, 2012 at 9:31 pm
Yeah, he had more pieces involved in the attack even after sacking one of them, true – in one of those lines.
March 3, 2012 at 1:23 am
RollingPawns, thanks for the comments on my blog!
I recreated my game against Anthea. Now you’ll see the full drama of what really happened. Once your see the game you’ll laugh….you’ll cry….you’ll wonder why.
It was a fun game, even if it feels afterward like it was a useless game because she just blitzed me. I would have to move quicker against her next time at G/90 just so that I can play for an endgame against her.
March 7, 2012 at 2:45 pm
Hi RP – Part II of the Best of Chess Blogging
is now posted!
March 13, 2012 at 11:43 am
According to the USCF Ratings Estimator (I realize it’s not the Canadian one), your new rating after this game should be 1802.
Are you going to play again next month?
March 13, 2012 at 10:18 pm
Yeah, CFC rating would be about the same.
I played yesterday the first time since this game, with 1898 rated guy I had a score =1, -1 before.
I drew with White in Ruy Open missing at some point my 0.8 advantage, still was very satisfied.
March 14, 2012 at 11:17 am
Congrats, RollingPawns!
The Ruy Lopez is the biggest section of the Keres book, and I am going to read that section last. The Dennis Monokroussos videos on the “Quick Ruy” were rather mind-boggling, so I’ll stick to my Scotch for now, even though when I played against this Master he had no troubles sticking it to me as Black against my Scotch.
The biggest thing I’ve learned from you and Keres (you both have that same style) is that I need to maneuver my pieces more, a lot more; it’s been like a foreign concept to my brain. Of course, Keres will always find that deep sacrifice because his whole style is deep and is consistently about “removing the defender” game after game, it’s remarkably consistent theme in his games.
I will show you a typical Keres combo, so you know what I mean, and how many of us would find this OTB? It took me over half an hour to understand this combo, but it was probably simple for him. I think there is a philanthropic side of chess, and he was one of those that understood this well, and probably had such a generous personality. This is what I call a philanthropic sac, but it could be seen as removing the defender.
Keres – Filip 1962, Curacao
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1072952
25. Nxe5!!
Perhaps this is more a routine move for a Master because the author gave it one exclam, saying f7 was weak, and gave no variations after 25…NxN, so that I had to find them all myself, and then verified with an engine that they were correct.
First of all, I’ll just give the answer since it took me over half an hour to notice it:
25…NxN, 26.BxN! (sacking the bishop to get at the 7th rank) RxB, 27.Rxf7 RxR, 28.RxR QxR (forced). Here I played (in my head) 29.BXQ KxB, 30.QxRe5, but it’s actually much stronger to play 29.QxRe5 first so as not to let Black’s king out right away (it’s won either way, though).
Second, let’s look at the non-piece sac line which isn’t as good, yet still quite winning:
25…NxN, 26.RxN Bd6 (26…RxR, 27.QxQ QxQ wins a pawn, but 27.BxR wins the queen – to stop mate on g7), 27.RxRe7 BxQg3, 28.RxQc7 BxRc7, 29.Bb4! (I stopped looking at this point, before I saw this move – it’s attacking the Rf8) Rd8, 30.Bxf7+ and White is up two pawns. However, this line can also be improved with 27.Qxg7+! (winning the g-pawn, three pawns instead of two as in the last variation) KxQ, 28.RxRe7+ (the check from the Bb3 is unstoppable since Bd6-e5 drops the queen to RxQc7) Kh7, 29.RxQc7 BxRc7, 30.Rxf7+ RxR, 31.BxR and three extra pawns is a mop-up operation. I didn’t find the 27.Qxg7+! move but it shouldn’t be too hard to find because it is the same line as the one before it, just one order of precision stronger.
BTW, I am glad you are still playing!
March 15, 2012 at 11:41 pm
Crazy combo and great positional play before. 6 pieces, all are attacking!
March 20, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Are you going to post anymore games? I hope you get back on your feet soon.
March 24, 2012 at 12:36 pm
I missed both games this week, being busy with what I mentioned on your blog.
Will try to play next week. The good news is that my tourney with 2 wins with experts gave me more than 50 rating points (1834 rating) and tourney in another club lowered it just by 4 points, so I am feeling better now.
March 24, 2012 at 8:50 pm
I’m glad your rating is around 1834 now. It will keep you more interested in playing.
I’m at the point where I no longer have nerves because I feel I could crush every one of my opponents at 40/2, G/1.
I only say that because I have played so many tournament games now.
March 25, 2012 at 5:02 pm
It is 1830 and yeah, exactly, it keeps me interested.
I left belated comments on your blog, sorry, I am just too busy.
March 31, 2012 at 1:41 am
The Best of Chess Blogging Part III: What a Wonderful World has been posted.
Have a look and please post a link! (Note, you are featured in this one!)