Meanwhile....from the U.K. Metro last week we read:
Police in Oslo said they received several emergency calls
on Monday evening from residents who had hears screaming
coming from a man’s flat. When a group of officers responded
and went to investigate the noise, they suspected the worst.
So they were more than a little surprised to find not a grisly murder
scene but a lone and despairing chess player who was frustrated that
he kept losing against his computer. The chess fan had been playing
against his computer and was upset that he was constantly losing.
A Chess Coincidence?
It would appear the artist who does ‘Minnie the Minx’ in the ‘Beano’
struggles as I do for a new gimmick. Soon after the Carlsen - Inarkiev
Blitz game where Inarkiev left his King in check and made an illegal
move which has since resulted in the chess blitz rules to be adjusted.
Recap: Here Inarkiev ignored (or missed the check) and played 27...Ne3+
Carlsen, on auto pilot, moved his King. Inarkiev was originally awarded
the game because of Carlsen’s ‘illegal’ move. (it was not an illegal move).
Sanity prevailed and after a Carlsen appeal the result was overturned. 1-0.
The Beano artist had Minnie playing her dad at chess.
Look. Minnie is moving whilst her Dad is still check!
Not quite scraping the bottom of the barrel looking for a chess coincidence.
That is more like moving the barrel aside and gravely digging underneath it.
Now watch as I stretch my credibility even further as I give you...
The Odd and Even Numbers Attack
White uses only the odd numbered squares to Checkmate Black.
Gryphonwing - redcatmonster RHP 2012
1. e3 g6 2. Bd3 a5 3. Nh3 Ra6 4. O-O {e1-g1 and h1 to f1 all odd numbers.} 4... Rd6 5. Qf3 b6 6. Ng5 b5 7. Qxf7 {Mated on an odd numbered square (f7) on move 7.}
Black uses only the even numbered squares to Checkmate White.
kildorfpianino - Stq RHP 2012
1. e4 e6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Ne2 Nxe4 5. a3 Qf6 6. axb4 Qxf2 {All of Black's moves, including the checkmate were played on the even numbered squares.}
Do any of you, like me, have a few ‘doublers’ regarding chess books.
Recently I successfully managed to reduce my doublers score by one.
I did not want to see this book laying about it in a 2nd hand junk for 25p
So I bought my 3rd copy of it thereby cutting down my number of doublers
by one. The bad news is I have just increased my number of ‘triples’ by one.
The cover of this book always makes me chuckle and I have seen at least one
poster on another chess site make the understandable mistake of thinking that
Kasparov played Karpov in a World Championship match in Seville in 1992.
These two only met once in 1992. This book covers the 4th Kasparov v. Karpov
match played in Seville in 1987. The 1992 refers to the World Exposition Fair
that was being held in Seville in five years time to celebrate the 500th anniversary
of Columbus sailing across the Atlantic Ocean and discovering America in 1492.
Speaking of ‘doublers’. I think that is the 2nd time I’ve mentioned that cover
on here and the slight confusion is causes. But you have to admit it is unclear.
Suppose I had better do some proper chess stuff so a quick run down on
some recent games which contain (hopefully) some instructive moments.
I have often given a reason why we lose at RHP. (and we all need a reason -
none of us can say our opponent played well.) One reason, and possibly the
chief reason is because we play too many games at once and simply blunder.
I cannot use that excuse. I was only playing one game on when I made this howler.
WaydeS - greenpawn34 RHP 2017
FEN
r4rk1/p1nqppbp/3p2pn/1ppPP3/5P2/1PN2N1P/P1P3P1/R1BQR1K1 w - - 0 14
[FEN "r4rk1/p1nqppbp/3p2pn/1ppPP3/5P2/1PN2N1P/P1P3P1/R1BQR1K1 w - - 0 14"] 14. Bb2 Rab8 15. e6 fxe6 16. dxe6 {This is OK for Black. I smartly took the e6 pawn fully expecting White to play Qe2.} 16... Nxe6 {I should have of course have left it and played Qc8 or such like.} 17. Qd5 {The move I saw the moment I pressed 'Submit Move'.} 17... Rxf4 {If Rf6 then Ng5. I plodded on for a few more moves.} 18. Rxe6 Kh8 19. Rae1 Ng8 20. Nd1 Bxb2 21. Nxb2 Rbf8 22. Nd3 Nf6 23. Qg5 Rf5 24. Qh6 Ng8 25. Qh4 c4 26. Rxe7 {White is not going to botch this. I resigned. (Well Played my opponent...grumble...mumble...I’ve no excuse...)}
Here in Kings Gambit - greenpawn RHP 2018 (Black to play.)
I very nearly blundered again. I was considering 24...Qg4 with the plan of running
up my h-pawn at White’s King. I looked at 25. h3 OK no problem the Queen has
a square it can go to. (only one square) it was then I spotted. 24....Qg4 25. Bd1!
The Queen is trapped. Instead I swapped Queens on g2 and offered an accepted draw.
Of course there is joy of joys when someone walks into a trap.
This one I have pulled off quite a few times. Twice in OTB league matches.
greenpawn34 - texasnurse RHP 2018
1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 {Here we go again. I have a smashing played a lot won a lot record with this variation both OTB and on here.} 2... d5 3. e5 c5 4. b4 cxb4 5. a3 bxa3 6. Bxa3 Bxa3 7. Rxa3 {That, as well, as superior development, is the idea behind the pawn gambit. To rob Black of their dark squared French Bishop.} 7... Nc6 8. d4 Nge7 9. Bd3 O-O {A mistake. As I said, the RHP player is in good company. A few before him, have fallen for this.} 10. Bxh7+ Kxh7 11. Ng5+ Kg6 {11....Kg8 12.Qh5 is a simple win. However Black is also lost here.} 12. Rh3 {Now the most common defence is 12...Rh8 but 13..Nh7, a move I had to find OTB on my first outing with this opening, mates Black in all variations.} 12... Kf5 13. Qf3+ Kxg5 14. Rh5+ {Black resigned, it's mate next move.}
And more joy when someone plays an obvious move I had enticed them into.
Here I knowingly play not the best move because it sets a trap. It’s a character flaw.
A bit like buying chess books even though you already a copy because it is cheap.
But the games here all are just good fun. I’m here to enjoy myself and bait traps.
This is me actually writing a blog whilst waiting for an RHP opponent to make a move.
Happiness = Doing this blog, playing chess then reading a chess book I already have!
greenpawn34 - peterh RHP 2018
"But I could not resist the temptation to see if my opponent could resist the temptation.
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. c3 {Remembering I play the Morra Gambit these days.} 4... e5 {Not sure about this. If you do not want the gambit pawn then 4...d5} 5. Bc4 Be7 6. O-O h6 {Never been a big fan of these early Rook Pawn moves. In this game I highlight one of it's drawback. (weakens g6)} 7. cxd4 exd4 8. Nxd4 Nf6 9. Nc3 a6 {Another Rook pawn move. Ignore it, I'm castled let's start cooking.} 10. Nf5 O-O {Now thanks to Black messing about this a6 and h6 pawns I can probably play (it looks best) 11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.Qg4 and have a strong position.} 11. Qf3 {But this is a gamble. Black can now play 11...d6 and the game is back in the pot. But I could not resist the temptation to see if my opponent could resist the temptation...} 11... Ne5 {...he couldn't. This on the surface looks good but....} 12. Qg3 {...hits the e5 Knight and threatens mate on g7.} 12... Ng6 {But I had seen that coming.} 13. Qxg6 {Black resigned. I think we can put that one to h6 and temptation.}
Staying on the coincidence theme. Next we have a Rook Sacrifice to activate my
two Knights followed by a two Knights sacrifice to activate my Rooks and Queen.
greenpawn34 - Marko Krale RHP 2018
FEN
r3k2r/p2bq2p/1bp1pp2/2p5/2Q1N3/5N2/PPP2PPP/3RK2R w Kkq - 0 16
[FEN "r3k2r/p2bq2p/1bp1pp2/2p5/2Q1N3/5N2/PPP2PPP/3RK2R w Kkq - 0 16"] 16. Nd6+ Kf8 17. O-O Bc7 18. Ne4 Bb6 {I would have just let the c5 pawn go and played Rd8 then Rg8 to get some counter play going.} 19. Rxd7 {Looks like good fun.} 19... Qxd7 20. Nxf6 Qf7 {I thought he might try this. Of course it meets....} 21. Ne5 {....and if Qxf6 Nd7+} 21... Qe7 22. Qf4 {This deadly discovered check will net a bucket load of material or force a checkmate. Black resigned.}
A double Knight sac. One of my very few wins v an over 2000 on here.
greenpawn34 - Zabi Jowshan RHP 2018
FEN
r2q1rk1/1pp4p/pnp1bpp1/2b1p3/4P3/3PNN2/PPPBQPPP/R3K2R w KQ - 0 14
[FEN "r2q1rk1/1pp4p/pnp1bpp1/2b1p3/4P3/3PNN2/PPPBQPPP/R3K2R w KQ - 0 14"] 14. h4 {An opening set up from a quiet Lopez with d3 which as White I've had dozens of times} 14... Qe7 15. h5 Rfd8 {A pleasant surprise. I get an open h-file. I was expecting 2....g5} 16. hxg6 hxg6 17. O-O-O {Black can have the a2 pawn.} 17... Bxa2 18. Rh6 Qg7 19. Rdh1 Be6 {Now if I can get the Queen to h5 I have a great game.} 20. Nf5 {To pull the g6 pawn off covering h5.} 20... gxf5 21. Nxe5 {gets the Knight out of the way allowing Qh5.} 21... fxe5 22. Qh5 {End of my analysis when I sacced the Knights. If it fails I must have a perpetual at the very least. it was just too tempting to resist.} 22... Kf8 {I was looking forward to see what Black would play here. It looks grim for Black and if this is best (it possibly is) then I'm happy.} 23. Rxe6 Rd6 {Now if Bh6 then after Black plays Rxe6 it turns into an expensive Black Queen I'm buying. So first....} 24. Rxd6 Ke7 25. Rg6 {Now it's a 100% win. Black played on, which he fully is entitled too. Looking at it now I could have wrapped it up better but from here on in I was on coast home mode.} 25... Qf8 26. Qg5+ Kd7 27. Rh7+ Kc8 28. Rg8 Nd7 {Now Qg7 wins quicker.} 29. Rxf8+ Nxf8 30. Qxf5+ Kb8 31. Rh8 Ka7 32. Be3 Bxe3+ 33. fxe3 Rd8 34. Rxf8 Rd6 35. Qxe5 Kb6 36. b4 {Threatening Qc5 mate.} 36... Ka7 37. c4 Rh6 38. c5 Rh1+ 39. Kd2 Rb1 40. Qxc7 Rb2+ 41. Kc3 {Black resigned.}
In our other game Zabi Jowshan caught me with a beauty of a move.
Zabi Jowshan - greenpawn34 RHP 2018
FEN
4rrk1/2nqbppp/1p6/p1p1P3/P1PpQ3/3P1N1P/3B1PP1/R4RK1 w - - 0 22
[FEN "4rrk1/2nqbppp/1p6/p1p1P3/P1PpQ3/3P1N1P/3B1PP1/R4RK1 w - - 0 22"] 22. Rfb1 {Now the simple Rb8 looks OK. (hindsight) but simple moves and me are strangers.} 22... f5 23. Qb7 {Of course I had seen this and was actually hoping for it.} 23... Rb8 {I now trap the Queen.} 24. Qa7 Qc6 {With Rb7 coming and 0-1. I am a genius.} 25. Bxa5 {I simply never saw this one coming. OOPS! if Rxb7 the White ignores it and plays Rxb6.} 25... Rb7 26. Rxb6 Rxa7 27. Rxc6 Rxa5 28. Rxc7 Bd8 29. Rd7 h6 {If reduced to inactive moves like this when the position demands counter play then it's lost.} 30. Rb1 {White doubles Rooks on 7th rank. g7 falls. I resigned.}
I’m not going to end on a loss. Here is a wee trap I set in.
Herman987 - greenpawn34 RHP 2018
Black to play and set a trap.
Look at the Rook and Knight on f2 and h2. If I could get a pawn to g3....
then you see 1...g4 the f3 Knight moves then g3 wins a piece with check.
...however 1...g4 2.hxg4 fxg4 3. N-anywhere g3.
White can play 4. Rxf8 CHECK! so to set this up I played....
FEN
5rk1/6b1/2p1q2p/pbPpPpp1/1p1P4/1P3N1P/P2Q1RPN/6K1 b - - 0 1
[FEN "5rk1/6b1/2p1q2p/pbPpPpp1/1p1P4/1P3N1P/P2Q1RPN/6K1 b - - 0 1"] 1... Rf7 {Which stops RxR from being a check.} 2. a3 {White unaware he is on thin ice goes for Queenside counterplay.} 2... g4 3. hxg4 fxg4 {White realised he was now losing a piece and resigned. It goes something this....} 4. Nh4 g3 5. Rxf7 {Not a check.} 5... gxh2+ {But that is.} 6. Kxh2 Qxf7
Here is another trap set by an RHP player last year.
HFRJPcheck - asimov RHP 2017
The victim is featured in the question at the start of this blog.
FEN
5b2/7k/6pp/p2qBp2/r2N1P2/7P/6PK/5Q2 w - - 0 41
[FEN "5b2/7k/6pp/p2qBp2/r2N1P2/7P/6PK/5Q2 w - - 0 41"] 41. Nf3 Ra2 {If White moves the Queen off covering f3 then with the g2 pinned Black can take the Knight.} 42. Qc1 {What is he up too is a question you must ask yourself after every move. Black here can and should now play Bc5.} 42... Qxf3 {Black falls into the trap.} 43. Qc7+ Kg8 44. Qc4+ Kh7 {White can take the Rook thus unpinning the g2 pawn.} 45. Qf7+ {Or he can checkmate Black on the next move.} 45... Bg7 46. Qxg7