Sunday 17 March 2013

Portsmouth Chess Congress 2013: Game 6

Here is my sixth and final game in the Portsmouth Chess Congress 2013 - possibly a Reti? (will check with Fritz). I always dread it when my opponent plays 1.d4 and follows with 2.Nf3, the reason being that I can't play my favourite opening - the Budapest ... :( My opponent employed a very solid opening arrangement and simply managed to grind me down until I had nothing on the queen-side - no attacking chances whatsoever! I tried an early double-bishop attack but didn't appreciate that my opponent need not worry about such crude bishop manoeuvres, using a clever knight move to snuff out the assault. As the game progressed I threw everything at the queen-side (including the kitchen sink) but couldn't penetrate his defence.

I have to admit that although the game was unexciting for me, my opponent's strategy was sublime. With the queen-side taken care of he began a pawn skirmish on the king-side! All my pieces were on the wrong side of the board and it was too late to stem the flow of attackers ... A sound win for my opponent!

As usual, any comments welcome ...

Game 6 - Queens pawn Reti?



PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/

Saturday 16 March 2013

Portsmouth Chess Congress 2013: Game 5

Here is my fifth game in the Portsmouth Chess Congress 2013 - a Sicilian Grand Prix Attack. I was on the Black side this time, and wanted to make up for my failure on the previous evening. Fortunately, I have had plenty of GP attack games lately and seen the best way for Black to approach 2.Nc3 ...

On move 25 I managed to fork my opponents Rooks, which meant I'd won a piece for a pawn! In the final position I was a whole piece up and my opponent duly resigned ...

As usual, any comments welcome ...

Game 5 - Sicilian Grand Prix Attack



PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/

Portsmouth Chess Congress 2013: Game 4

Here is my fourth game in the Portsmouth Chess Congress 2013 - a Sicilian Grand Prix Attack. I was banking on my opponent not knowing enough about this type of attack to deal with it - but I was naive. My attack never got going, he played 2...e6 and my heart sank :( I am always disappointed when players play 2...e6 because it usually means that they have played against the GP attack before and that they know that this is by far the strongest reply. For instance 2...d6 is often considered inferior and tempo losing.

Finally on move 26, I blundered dues to fatigue and it was all over ... :)

As usual, any comments welcome ...

Game 4 - Sicilian Grand Prix Attack



PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/

Wednesday 13 March 2013

Portsmouth Chess Congress 2013: Game 3

Here is my third game in the Portsmouth Chess Congress 2013 - a Sicilian Moscow variation 3. Bb5+ I'm never sure what to do when faced with this, so will have to look this up on YouTube :)

Finally on move 27, both of us unsure of how to continue, a draw was agreed :)

As usual, any comments welcome ...

Game 3 - Sicilian Moscow Variation



PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/

Portsmouth Chess Congress 2013: Game 2

Here is my second game in the Portsmouth Chess Congress 2013 - a Qh4 terrorist attack !!!

I think that after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qh4 !? ... the Queen somehow looks misplaced and has surely committed herself too early? Sadly I was about to find out just how WELL placed the Queen is if White tries to hold on to the pawn ... I have added a sub-variation which David Ross pointed out to me after the game is far sharper and much better for White ...

As usual, any comments welcome ...

Game 2 - Scotch Game



PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/

Monday 11 March 2013

Portsmouth Chess Congress 2013: Game 1

I played the major section of the 5th Portsmouth Chess Congress this year. I scored 2.5 out of 6, an improvement of 0.5 over last year which is pleasing. I have decided to Blog all six games. On my first game I was able to play the Budapest. Fortunately for me, my opponent thought for a good 10-15 mins on move 3!? Surely this is a no-no!!! I once read that it is essential to play the first series of opening moves as quickly as possible, especially in a tournament. Once the opening is over it is only THEN that you should take time to find a) the right plan and b) perhaps look to make the game tactical?

I have to admit that I got lucky in this game and managed to win a piece for a pawn with a simple fork. Anyway, here is the game that I managed to win ...

As usual, any comments welcome ...

Game 1 - Budapest Defense



PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/

Saturday 2 March 2013

Tactical shot leads to uncertain ending

In my last club game I had the White pieces and played e4. My opponent elected to play the sicilian ... I played the closed variation with 2.Nc3, hoping to get a Grand Prix Attack. Interestingly my opponent elected to play 4...Nf6? which although not a blunder, seems not to be a 'book move'? I'm not sure what his intention was but I will be putting the game through Fritz at some stage ...

As the game progressed it it turned into a classic fight for the center and the e5 pawn became the focus. After some analysis in the curry house afterwards an IM colleague had a look at the game and noticed that Black can actually win a pawn but I can't see where? Another candidate game for Fritz!!

(I found out after the game that my opponent was graded almost 300 Elo points above me at 1840 Elo. This game had a sharp conclusion which led to uncertainty and served me well!)

As usual, any comments welcome ...

Chess Diagram 1 - Closed Sicilian - 2.Nc3


Note: I offered a draw in this position and it was duly accepted.

PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/