tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post8081011697900257851..comments2024-03-25T02:14:47.322-07:00Comments on Chess960 Jungle: Non-Random Chess960 Trial Game 9: SP864HarryOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15971894954907592580noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-6169435733721751642013-07-12T21:12:19.336-07:002013-07-12T21:12:19.336-07:00Got it, thanks. Following up your suggestion, I po...Got it, thanks. Following up your suggestion, I posted a challenge for SP864 & SP868 to Chess.com...<br /><br />Do you find chess960 challenging or fun?<br />http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess960-chess-variants/do-you-find-chess960-challenging-or-fun<br /><br />...Let's see what happens. - MarkMark Weekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10101044127493771263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-91706616353969418932013-07-12T16:17:10.087-07:002013-07-12T16:17:10.087-07:00Yes at this stage group think is probably not nece...Yes at this stage group think is probably not necessary. If we run out of ideas (which I doubt) we can ask the chess community.<br /><br />I've started a new post with a graphic of the initial position. Could you double check that this is the position you were thinking? <br /><br />If it is, let me know and I'll start thinking about my 5th move as white - Harry<br />HarryOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971894954907592580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-58802499706696356232013-07-07T22:50:43.511-07:002013-07-07T22:50:43.511-07:00I don't mind slowing the pace. You always play...I don't mind slowing the pace. You always play quickly, but there are often higher priorities. <br /><br />As for Chess.com, I'm not a big fan of groupthink on a chess position. Selecting a move isn't a democratic process. Having said that, we might learn something new about the SP.<br /><br />I play 4...e6, so the next move is yours. Give me a shout here if you start a new thread. - MarkMark Weekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10101044127493771263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-85717185583842036162013-07-04T14:50:19.826-07:002013-07-04T14:50:19.826-07:00Hi Mark. Done. Pessimism is good when it encourage...Hi Mark. Done. Pessimism is good when it encourages further inquiry. Like wise, optimism is bad when it discourages further inquiry. I'll be playing pretty slowly! I have 10,000 words to write and four exams over the next couple of months so bear with me.<br /><br />I'll start up another trial page because this one is getting too long. Just realize that I actually want to disprove my pessimism and am glad that you will help do that.<br /><br />Just occurred to me that an alternative plan would be to post the position 4...e6 on Chess.com and see what responses we get? What do you think?HarryOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971894954907592580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-33851835862207461802013-07-04T02:03:56.612-07:002013-07-04T02:03:56.612-07:00I think you're being overly pessimistic, in co...I think you're being overly pessimistic, in contrast to your usual enthusiasm. One game where White prevails isn't enough to condemn the entire SP. <br /><br />On 4...e6, you wrote, 'One problem with this is that it weakens f6 when black might need to play g6 at some point', followed by one 20-move continuation with a single branch. At the risk of seeming 'harsh' again, this isn't very convincing. There is an old saying in chess, 'Long analysis, wrong analysis', that probably applies here as well.<br /><br />I propose we switch sides. I'll play 4...e6, and you can use your attacking talents to show that I'm wrong. What do you say? - MarkMark Weekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10101044127493771263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-45462302820044863222013-07-01T21:10:18.705-07:002013-07-01T21:10:18.705-07:00As far as I am concerned this SP we need to wave t...As far as I am concerned this SP we need to wave the yellow flag on it. I've taken a look at all the other SP's we have "waved the yellow flag at" but only SP376 shows a bit of a problem but it is a piece of cake compared to this SP.<br /><br />The problem with 4...e6 as already noted in our database of these trials and we actually experienced in our previous trial, is that the f6 square is weakened.<br /><br />4...e6 is playable but the teaming up of white's bishop and queen on the long diagonal against a weakened king-side is a challenge (but could be possible with a lot of analysis). I found an absolute amazing variation at the time after 4...e6 which I published in the database that leaves black with chances. It's a very "computerish" idea though.<br /><br />As far as I'm concerned we don't need to continue these trials until this SP has been sorted out by someone (or us). We might restart these trials if we come across an SP in our day to day life that we think is as bad or worse than this one. So far I haven't found any as tricky as this one.<br /><br />Another possibility is 1.Ng3...e6!?<br /><br />Cheers,<br />HarryHarryOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971894954907592580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-81038938789792891542013-06-29T06:03:24.307-07:002013-06-29T06:03:24.307-07:00I read your notes and stand by my assessment that ...I read your notes and stand by my assessment that White is winning where we left off. When one side wins a Pawn, as White has just done in this game, it is common that the other side gets a temporary initiative as you have demonstrated. White will now regroup his pieces, nullify the initiative, and then play to convert the extra Pawn. If White manages to exchange a pair of Rooks, as is highly likely, Black will simply be a Pawn down with little to show for it.<br /><br />As for improvements, your move 1...g6 is worth a try. I also think 4...e6, forcing the Knight back immediately, is better than the move you played. The last word has yet to be said for this SP. - MarkMark Weekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10101044127493771263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-2724954421182871022013-06-20T02:34:30.856-07:002013-06-20T02:34:30.856-07:00Hi Mark hope that your time in southern France inv...Hi Mark hope that your time in southern France involves good food and wine somewhere in your travels. You have inspired me to get off my ass and write up this very interesting game we played. Have a read when you have time.<br /><br />Will begin to think what we should trial next!HarryOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971894954907592580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-77882661359510287802013-06-20T01:17:56.053-07:002013-06-20T01:17:56.053-07:00Greetings from southern France, where I'll be ...Greetings from southern France, where I'll be for the next few days. Have you seen this?...<br /><br />Chess 960. Love it? Or not really?<br />http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess960-chess-variants/chess-960-love-it-or-not-really?page=4<br /><br />...'The blog Chess960 jungle has made some more serious attempts to clasify and analyze chess960 openings'. You're getting a name for yourself!<br /><br />As for more 'serious attempts', what do you suggest we try next? I have a few ideas jotted down from previous discussions. - MarkMark Weekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10101044127493771263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-79021168782095901162013-05-29T08:56:59.706-07:002013-05-29T08:56:59.706-07:00So after ten months of steady play I find out that...So after ten months of steady play I find out that your Achilles heel is the endgame...<br /><br />16.h4 Qh6 17.Qxh6, if 17...gxh6 18.d4<br /><br />...As they say, 'when ahead in material, exchange the pieces', to be followed by a regrouping for the endgame. I give Black no better than a 10% chance of achieving a draw. White will just keep offering piece exchanges, each refusal forcing a positional concession from Black.<br /><br />See you in a month or so! - MarkMark Weekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10101044127493771263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-76551656716725287332013-05-28T15:19:46.696-07:002013-05-28T15:19:46.696-07:00Enjoy Mark see you whenever we meet again!
If yo...Enjoy Mark see you whenever we meet again! <br /><br />If you exchange queens here, at least the position is pretty playable for black. Agree white is better but without queens a rook endgame a pawn down is not that serious. Yes your 5v3 pawn island is stronger than my 2v1 island but my king is already an active piece and yours is not.<br /><br />I feel like I can actually play this position with some confidence (assuming you exchange queens) which is better than some of the horrors I felt I was seeing a few moves ago.<br /><br />I think we have a disagreement about the alternative 11.Ng3 which is interesting.<br /><br />Also 1.Ng3...g3!? would be interesting to try! Gives up a tempo to stop Nf5 and requires ...f6/Nf7 to even have a chance at working. However introducing a structural weakness on f6 may not be a good idea.<br /><br />You definitely improved on white's play I think with 4.O-O!<br /><br />15.Qxh7 Kf7 16.h4 Qh6<br /><br />...Encouraging the queens to come off, and if so black get's another life. - HarryHarryOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971894954907592580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-67677364593259167242013-05-28T09:09:27.762-07:002013-05-28T09:09:27.762-07:00I don't know, Harry. A lowly edge pawn in the ...I don't know, Harry. A lowly edge pawn in the middlegame can become a mighty outside passed Pawn in the endgame...<br /><br />14.Nxg5 Qxg5 15.Qxh7 Kf7 16.h4<br /><br />...Take a look at this:-<br /><br />Chess 960. Love it? Or not really?<br />http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess960-chess-variants/chess-960-love-it-or-not-really?page=2<br /><br />An Argentine player named morgondag mentions the Barbecue openings. (He also makes some good points about piece development.) - Mark<br /><br />P.S. After my next move I'll be taking the break we discussed earlier.Mark Weekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10101044127493771263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-42027519059397500052013-05-27T15:14:25.970-07:002013-05-27T15:14:25.970-07:00It was a way to complete development efficiently a...It was a way to complete development efficiently and that it did. I'm trying trade down to a drawn endgame (unless you made a mistake like allowing me to mate you in one that is!)<br /><br />...But you have that one little innocuous move that I always under estimate almost every 960 game I play... <br /><br />:-)<br /><br />14.Nxg5, Qxg5 15.Qxh7 Kf7<br /><br />...Black completes development with good activity all for the expense of just one edge pawn - HarryHarryOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971894954907592580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-68344544630848441822013-05-27T08:01:20.747-07:002013-05-27T08:01:20.747-07:00I don't see the 'nifty' bit, so you...I don't see the 'nifty' bit, so you'll have to show me...<br /><br />13.Qb1 Ng5 14.Nxg5, if 14...Qxg5 15.Qxh7<br /><br />...White seems to win a Pawn. - MarkMark Weekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10101044127493771263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-67883883279315816272013-05-24T23:10:25.986-07:002013-05-24T23:10:25.986-07:00Sorry for the delay my brain turned to mush when I...Sorry for the delay my brain turned to mush when I got a cold this week. Temperatures have dropped into the mid-teens and this is too much for an Aussie. However now I am drugged up to the eyeballs with anti-histamine and so am ready to fight.<br /><br />12.Ne3 f6 13.Qb1 Ng5<br /><br />...a nifty little reply to the tactical skewer - HarryHarryOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971894954907592580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-43743310501281393972013-05-21T05:19:23.368-07:002013-05-21T05:19:23.368-07:00I didn't look much at 11.Ng3, because it pulls...I didn't look much at 11.Ng3, because it pulls the Knight away from the center and loses a couple of tempi. The retreat 11...Bc6 looks comfortable enough for Black...<br /><br />11.Bxe4 Nxe4 12.Ne3 f6 13.Qb1<br /><br />...Skewers the Knight against the h-Pawn. Where is Black's counterplay? - MarkMark Weekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10101044127493771263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-1776398405546586222013-05-19T02:24:25.586-07:002013-05-19T02:24:25.586-07:00I've enjoyed this a lot and am happy to give i...I've enjoyed this a lot and am happy to give it a break for as long as you feel is necessary for whatever reason. It takes two to tango! <br /><br />We make a good team because you are able to play through what I see as almost intolerable positions when I am actually the 100% Chess960 optimist!<br /><br />At a guess I think there are 40-50 difficult starts for black? We have already covered roughly 10? So we are quarter way there?<br /><br />I think you might have let me off the hook here what do you think? The move I was really worried about was 11.Ng3.<br /><br />The thing about 11.Ng3 is that:<br />1) it keeps the e-d pawn files clear<br />2) prevents me getting the free move ...Nxe4<br />3) It delays even further the ability to connect rooks<br />4) If I exchange bishops there is no relief in tension<br /><br />Could you take a look at that and give me your opinion before we continue? If you think that what you played is still best, then I continue with:<br /><br />11.Bxe4 Nxe4 12.Ne3 f6<br /><br />...a really important move in the process of connecting the rooks - HarryHarryOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971894954907592580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-33004544437151459072013-05-17T08:44:37.401-07:002013-05-17T08:44:37.401-07:00This is the point where we normally suspend the ga...This is the point where we normally suspend the game. For personal reasons I'll be taking the month of June off, so I suggest we continue playing this game until the end of May. Then, if you're still interested in continuing these experiments, we can start a new position in July. What do you think?...<br /><br />10.Qb2 Be4 11.Bxe4, if 11...Nxe4 12.Ne3<br /><br />...Black has lots of options for the 12th move, which will determine the future course of the game. - MarkMark Weekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10101044127493771263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-26849600805015825442013-05-14T16:41:16.938-07:002013-05-14T16:41:16.938-07:00Thanks for the link and it's been good think a...Thanks for the link and it's been good think about.<br /><br />I'm trying to lift my knights out of the way so that I can play f6/g6 and finally do something about that king.<br /><br />Your d-e pawns look ominous, they really do but I will play on somehow.<br /><br />9.Rfe1 Qxc5 10.Qb2 Be4<br /><br />...The beginning of a plan to build a kingside fortress with f6/g6 - HarryHarryOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971894954907592580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-22943335107143300992013-05-14T01:12:46.358-07:002013-05-14T01:12:46.358-07:00I extracted the relevant portions of the Carlsen i...I extracted the relevant portions of the Carlsen interview to my main blog...<br /><br />Carlsen on Confidence<br />http://chessforallages.blogspot.be/2013/05/carlsen-on-confidence.html<br /><br />...Confidence isn't just a matter of facing the future. It also stems from the knowledge that the previous moves leading to the current position were well considered and sound. Chess, after all, is a game of logic. I start with a reasonable position; I play reasonable moves; my position remains reasonable; I'm confident that I will continue to find reasonable moves...<br /><br />9.Rfe1 Qxc5 10.Qb2<br /><br />...White wants more from the Queen exchange than to isolate Black's c-Pawn. Now the Black King and Queen are both objects of attack. - MarkMark Weekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10101044127493771263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-62799591141418105122013-05-12T16:07:14.593-07:002013-05-12T16:07:14.593-07:00The corollary is great. Firstly we have to know th...The corollary is great. Firstly we have to know that what we think we see may be an illusion. If we don't know that, the corollary is ineffective. The other issue is that years of experience reveals that the thing isn't there. Until then, the ghost really does appear to be there.<br /><br />Confidence is contested as well. For example Magnus may have confidence in himself, but what if it turned out that his extra grace given faculties cause his win rate to go up and his confidence is actually just a product of the faculty increasing the win rate? <br /><br />He claims it is confidence, but I could argue that he has extra natural faculty and the rest is an ability to keep his mind from becoming unstable and unable to utilize that faculty. That is actually not confidence then that he is talking about but the ability to control his mind.<br /><br />I'm not arguing with you. I largely agree it only appears that I am disagreeing. I actually thank you for giving me the confidence to go on with this very dark situation where all the evaluations are permanently negative!<br /><br />8.bxc5 Nf4 9.Rfe1 Qxc5<br /><br />...Will white exchange queens and risk taking some pressure off black's king? - HarryHarryOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971894954907592580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-54843077084286547162013-05-12T01:30:32.608-07:002013-05-12T01:30:32.608-07:00Did you see the Carlsen interview with Charlie Ros...Did you see the Carlsen interview with Charlie Rose? When asked why he was the best in the world, he mentioned confidence. He said other players also play extremely well, but don't have the same confidence in themselves. A corollary would be, 'Don't be afraid of things that aren't there'...<br /><br />8.bxc5 Nf4 9.Rfe1<br /><br />...Looks forced to me. Other moves lack punch. - MarkMark Weekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10101044127493771263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-74344751121115010442013-05-11T02:05:31.261-07:002013-05-11T02:05:31.261-07:00I'm struggling to see the light for black. Thi...I'm struggling to see the light for black. This is really tough. It will only be a few more moves and I will be beyond my skill level to save the game. <br /><br />I think that this SP might be harder than the last because since the queen is not in the corner, she can move independently levering weaknesses in a variety of ways keeping black on the back foot. Since it is the bishop in the corner instead, it is already developed and deployed not inhibited by the movement restrictions in the corner at all.<br /><br />This is a clear case of your theory that black must try to make best use of being effectively a pawn down. White has so many good moves and is under very little pressure as well as being the equivalent of a pawn up.<br /><br />7.b4 c5 8.bxc5 Nf4<br /><br />...A typical theme in this setup. Black uses an intermezzo to allow a bit more flexibility down the track - HarryHarryOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971894954907592580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-17941665037990871602013-05-10T00:48:55.839-07:002013-05-10T00:48:55.839-07:00OK, I understand now. The time stamp in the commen...OK, I understand now. The time stamp in the comment is California time...<br /><br />7.b4 c5 8.bxc5<br /><br />...Opens more lines. White seeks to trade the temporary poor position of the Black King for something more permanent. What will Black offer to take the pressure off the King and bring the Rg8 into the game? - MarkMark Weekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10101044127493771263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3261331525837592732.post-73243654724750623682013-05-08T00:42:34.025-07:002013-05-08T00:42:34.025-07:00I've posted this at about 5:40pm 8th of May, a...I've posted this at about 5:40pm 8th of May, about an hour or two after your email arrived.<br /><br />6.cxd5 Bxd5 7.b4 c5<br /><br />...Simply a case of pushing on with development. Black hopes that the queens might exchange off even if that means 1v2 isolated pawns. - HarryHarryOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971894954907592580noreply@blogger.com