Image Credit & Copyright: Antonio Tartarini (https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html)
Harvest Moon
Image Credit & Copyright: Antonio Tartarini (https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html)
Monthly Archives: September 2023
Image Credit & Copyright: Antonio Tartarini (https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html)
US Chess and American Go Association Share Ideas
US Chess and AGA Share Ideas
Published on 9/26/2023
While visiting Washington DC, Carol Meyer, US Chess Executive Director, and Gurujeet Khalsa, AGA President, got together to talk about best practices for their organizations.
There was enthusiasm for doing more together with other mind sports organizations in the US, and discussion on topics of mutual interest: AI and cheating, ratings automation, diversity and inclusion, organizational stucture, membership and customer service and more. “It was incredibly helpful to learn from a larger organization with a similar focus how they manage many of the same issues we face,” said Khalsa. (https://www.usgo.org/content.aspx?page_id=5&club_id=454497&item_id=93081&)
Chess Vs Go: What’s The Difference?
By Pritam Ganguly
Last updated January 12, 2023
Difference Between Chess And Go
- Smaller board 1. Larger board
- Fewer pieces 2. Many pieces
- The objective is to checkmate the king 3. The objective is to take over the most territory
- Pieces have specific roles 4. Pieces have no roles, only two different colors, one for each player
- Time constraint on moves 5. Time can be taken to strategize the next move
- Can end in a draw 6. Cannot end in a draw
- Complex rules 7. Easier to learn
- Balance of material and positions 8. Balance, in general, is very important
- Handicaps are uncommon 9. Handicaps are common
- The game ends when the king is checkmated. 10. The game ends anytime, the score is tallied and the winner is named
- Pieces move on squares 11. Stones are placed on the grid on the board
https://chessdelta.com/chess-vs-go/
Hans Niemann Denies Using Vibrating Sex Toys
Hans Niemann ‘categorically’ denies using vibrating sex toys to cheat
By Ben Morse, CNN
Updated 7:04 AM EDT, Wed September 27, 2023
If Hans Niemann had hoped to put an alleged cheating scandal behind him, the chess grandmaster’s interview with Piers Morgan on Monday might have just scuttled that wish.
Niemann has repeatedly denied cheating in over-the-board chess, but speaking on “Piers Morgan Uncensored” on Monday, the 20-year-old addressed specific accusations that he cheated using vibrating sex toys, allegations that emerged from social media, although it’s not clear who originally made the accusations.
When he was pressed by Morgan if he had used such toys “while playing chess,” Niemann replied: “Well, your curiosity is a bit concerning, you know – maybe you’re personally interested, but I can tell you, no.
“Categorically, no, of course not.”
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/26/sport/hans-niemann-denies-sex-toys-cheating-chess-spt-intl/index.html
UFO Over Santa Monica, California
UAP Over Santa Monica, California Aug 27, 2023, UFO Sighting News.
Date of sighting: Aug 27, 2023
Location of sighting: Santa Monica, California, USA
At first I thought this was balloons, however the object does not break apart and the object keeps its shape. It’s a dark craft, and keeps behind the trees before moving off silently. More proof, UFOs are everywhere, but even here, most the people were not looking up in the video, only a few.
Scott C. Waring
Eyewitness states: Star-shaped dark object (maybe 20 ft.) changed shapes in almost geometrical way at tree-level over the bluff at Palisades Park then rapidly floated into the distance. This was witnessed by one other person besides myself. By the time I got my phone camera out it was further away, but at :17 seconds the viewer can see the unusual star shape of the object.
https://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/2023/09/uap-over-santa-monica-california-aug-27.html
Can You Handle The Bishop’s Opening Truth?
One of the reasons I like watching games from Senior tournaments is the openings are more familiar to this writer, and former player. Regular readers know that the venerable Bishop’s Opening, or “The Truth” as it was known in those long ago days, has featured prominently on these pages. I still recall the first time seeing anyone play the move, which stopped me in my tracks. My opponent had yet to make an appearance so I stood there transfixed while waiting from the General of the dark armada to make a move, which was not forthcoming for many minutes as he sat there looking flummoxed… The next time at the Stein Club (https://xpertchesslessons.wordpress.com/2021/06/06/shanglei-lu-seeks-bishops-opening-truth/) the Bishop was moved to c4 immediately after an opponent replied to 1 e4 with 1…e5. This post features several Bishop Opening games from recent events.
Hubert Wegemund (1887) vs Jurgen Riesenbeck (2097)
RLP-Senioren-Open (Altenkirchen im Westerwald), 09.09.2023
C23 Bishop’s opening
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.h3 O-O 7.O-O a6 8.Bb3 b5 9.Re1 Bd7 10.Nbd2 Bb6 11.Nf1 Na5 12.Bc2 c5 13.d4 cxd4 14.cxd4 Nc6 15.Be3 Rc8 16.Rc1 Re8 17.Ng3 a5 18.a3 a4 19.dxe5 dxe5 20.b4 Bxe3 21.Rxe3 Be6 22.Rd3 Qb6 23.Rd6 Qb7 24.Qd2 Red8 25.Bd1 Rxd6 26.Qxd6 Ne8 27.Qd2 Rd8 28.Qc3 f6 29.Bxa4 Nd4 30.Bd1 Rc8 31.Qb2 Rxc1 32.Qxc1 Nd6 33.Nxd4 exd4 34.Qc5 Nxe4 35.Qxd4 Nxg3 36.fxg3 Qc7 37.Qe3 Kf7 38.Be2 Bd7 39.Bd1 Be6 1-0
https://chess-results.com/PartieSuche.aspx?art=36&id=4904866
https://lichess.org/broadcast/rhineland-palatinate-seniors-open-2023/round-5/UnzhsH1A
Almost 2K players have castled in lieu of playing 6 h3, which has seen much less action, but Stockfish prefers 6 h3. The move 6 b4 has been seen in a more games than 6 h3, but has it rated right below the move of the wing pawn. 6 0-0 is ranked right below those two moves, so Wegemund came to the board prepared theoretically. The ‘Fish prefers 8 Re1. Humans have preferred 8 Bb3, a move I was fond of playing ‘back in the day’… The ‘Fish frowns at 8…b5, much preferring 8…h6 on this move, as earlier, to prevent white moving the Bishop to g5. SF agrees with 9 Re1, but would play 9…Bb6 in lieu of the 9…Bd7 in the game, which is a Theoretical Novelty, albeit not a good one.
Hans-Jürgen Fleuch (1884) vs Serge Hirstel (1777)
RLP-Senioren-Open (Altenkirchen im Westerwald), 12.09.2023
C23 Bishop’s opening
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Qe2 Be7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bb3 d6 7.Nc3 Nbd7 8.a3 a5 9.h3 Nc5 10.Ba2 b6 11.O-O Ba6 12.Re1 Qd7 1/2-1/2
https://chess-results.com/PartieSuche.aspx?art=36&id=4909843
7 Nc3 is a TN. Stockfish would play 7 h3, also a TN.
Jakob Meister (2439) vs Aleksander Kralevski (2054)
World Senior Team Chess Championship 2023 S65 (Struga, N.Macedonia), 21.09.2023
C23 Bishop’s opening
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Nf3 d5 5.Bb3 Bd6 6.Nc3 dxe4 7.Ng5 O-O 8.Ncxe4 Nxe4 9.Nxe4 Bf5 10.Qf3 Bxe4 11.dxe4 Nd7 12.c3 Nc5 13.Bc2 Ne6 14.O-O a5 15.a4 Qe7 16.Be3 Bc5 17.Bd2 Rfd8 18.Rad1 Rd7 19.Bc1 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 Rd8 21.Rxd8+ Qxd8 22.Bb3 Qd6 23.g3 Qd8 24.Kg2 Qe7 25.Qf5 Bd6 26.Be3 g6 27.Qf3 Nc5 28.Bc2 Kg7 29.h4 h5 30.Bg5 f6 31.Bc1 Kh7 32.Qd1 Bc7 33.Be3 Nd7 34.Qd3 Bb6 35.Bc1 Bc5 36.Bb3 Qe8 37.Qc4 Bb6 38.Ba2 Ba7 39.Qe2 Bc5 40.Qc2 b6 41.b4 Bf8 42.Qb3 Bh6 43.Ba3 Bd2 44.Qc4 axb4 45.cxb4 c5 46.bxc5 Nxc5 47.Bxc5 bxc5 48.Qxc5 Qd8 49.Qa7+ Kh6 50.Qf7 Bb4 51.Bd5 Ba5 52.Bc6 Qh8 53.Be8 Qg7 54.Qe6 Qf8 55.Bc6 Bb4 56.Qd5 Qd6 57.Qxd6 Bxd6 58.a5 f5 59.a6 Bc5 60.f3 f4 61.gxf4 exf4 62.e5 Kg7 63.Be8 Kh6 64.Kf1 g5 65.hxg5+ Kxg5 66.Bd7 Ba7 67.Ke2 1-0
https://chess-results.com/PartieSuche.aspx?art=36&id=4919898
https://lichess.org/broadcast/world-senior-team-chess-championship-2023-s65/round-3/GC2cJtiu
5 Bd6 has been the most often played move, but SF plays 5 a5. Again, 6 Nc3 has been most seen in action, but the ‘Fish prefers 6 exd5. There are 186 games with 6…dxe4 and only four with 6…h6, the move the ‘Fish considers best. After 7. Ng5 O-O 8. Ncxe4 taking with 8…Nxe4 is shown in 92 games at 365Chess.com, with only FOUR other moves having been attempted, and not one of them is 8…Na6, the choice of SF.
Ljubomir Ilic (2044) vs Peter Varley (2174)
World Senior Team Chess Championship 2023 S65 (Struga, N.Macedonia), 23.09.2023
C23 Bishop’s opening
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.d3 d6 4.Nc3 c6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.O-O O-O 7.Bb3 Bb6 8.Be3 Nbd7 9.Qd2 Nc5 10.Bxc5 Bxc5 11.Na4 Bb6 12.Nxb6 axb6 13.Rfe1 Bg4 14.Qe3 Nd7 15.Nd2 Nc5 16.d4 Nxb3 17.Nxb3 Be6 18.dxe5 dxe5 19.Rad1 Qc7 20.a3 Rad8 21.Nc1 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Rd8 23.Rd3 Bc4 24.Rxd8+ Qxd8 25.Nd3 Bxd3 26.Qxd3 Qxd3 27.cxd3 Kf8 28.g3 Ke7 29.f4 Kd6 30.Kf2 b5 31.Ke3 c5 32.Kd2 f6 33.h4 h5 34.f5 Kc6 35.Kc3 Kc7 1/2-1/2
https://chess-results.com/PartieSuche.aspx?art=36&id=4922026
7..Bb6 is a TN.
Brigitte Burchardt (2153) vs Siegfried Zoernpfenning (2040)
World Senior Team Chess Championship 2023 S65 (Struga, N.Macedonia), 23.09.2023
C23 Bishop’s opening
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 Bc5 4.Nf3 d6 5.c3 c6 6.Nbd2 O-O 7.h3 d5 8.Bb3 Qe7 9.O-O dxe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.dxe4 Kh8 12.Ng5 g6 13.Qe2 Na6 14.Rd1 Be6 15.Bxe6 fxe6 16.Nf3 Rf7 17.b4 Bb6 18.a4 Qf8 19.a5 Bc7 20.Be3 h6 21.Rd3 Qg7 22.Rad1 g5 23.Nh2 b5 24.Qg4 Qg6 25.Rd7 c5 26.Rxf7 Qxf7 27.Qe2 Rb8 28.bxc5 Bxa5 29.Qa2 Bxc3 30.Qxa6 b4 31.c6 b3 32.Bxa7 Ra8 33.Qc4 Qxa7 34.Qxb3 Rb8 35.c7 1-0
https://chess-results.com/PartieSuche.aspx?art=36&id=4922042
6 Nbd2 is a TN
A Ring of Fire
IM Carissa Yip(ee!) Plays The Bishop’s Opening
In the first round of the FIDE World Junior Chess Championship Girls Chess tournament 2021 US Woman Chess Champion Clarissa Yip
faced Ivana Mikic of Bosnia & Herzegovina, who, at 1836, was rated in the middle of the pack as number 43 out of 85 players. Carissa decided to have some fun and played The Truth, (https://xpertchesslessons.wordpress.com/2023/06/05/hikaru-nakamura-plays-the-truth/) aka the Bishop’s Opening, an opening near and dear to my heart for over half a century.
IM Clarissa Yip vs Ivana Mikic
2023 Girls World Junior Championship Round 1
Bishop’s Opening: Vienna Hybrid, Spielmann Attack
- e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d3 O-O 5. Bg5 Be7 6. f4 exf4 7. Bxf4 d6 8. Nf3 Be6 9. Bb3 c5 10. O-O Nc6 11. Qd2 Bxb3 12. axb3 Nh5 13. Nd5 Nxf4 14. Qxf4 Nb4 15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. Rf2 a6 17. Raf1 Rad8 18. Qg4 Qe6 19. Qg3 Qg6 20. Qf4 h6 21. Qe3 Nc6 22. Nh4 Qg5 23. Qh3 Ne5 24. Nf5 Kh7 25. Ne3 g6 26. Nd5 Kg7 27. Rf4 h5 28. Qe3 Kg8 29. Nf6+ Kh8 30. Qh3 Kg7 31. c3 Ng4 32. Rxg4 1-0 (https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-world-junior-chess-championship-girls/round-1/0vRHq6gS)
1 e4 e5 2 Bc4 Bc5 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 d3 O-O 5 Bg5 (5 f4 has been seen the most often, and it was considered one of the main moves BC (Before Computer). The programs much prefer playing Nf3 ASAP, but where is the fun in that? I will admit to having moved the Knight to c3 ‘back in the day’. Older, and maybe somewhat wiser, I will admit moving the steed to f3 is a better move, not that I would play it, mind you… Although 5 Bg5 holds second place after 5 f4 it is not one of the top five moves according to the Stockfish program at lichess.org. This makes me wonder if Clarissa studied the opening prior to playing the move, or is she just ‘winged it’) 5…Be7 (Throughout history all who play Chess have heard about the rule of “Never move the same piece twice in the opening.” That rule has been consigned to oblivion by the programs and top players know there is only one rule these daze. See: [https://xpertchesslessons.wordpress.com/2023/08/29/the-only-chess-rule/] The best move is simply 5…h6, putting the question to the player of the white pieces) 6.f4 exf4 7. Bxf4 (This was the correct move. The only other game found at 365Chess.com follows…)
Zoran M Stojanovic (2341) vs Zeljko Samardzija (1943)
Event: Belgrade Trophy 17th
Site: Obrenovac Date: 11/27/2004
Round: 6 Score: 1-0
ECO: C26 Vienna game
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.d3 O-O 5.Bg5 Be7 6.f4 exf4 7.Nf3 d5 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Nxd5 Bxg5 10.Nxg5 Qxg5 11.O-O Be6 12.Qf3 Bxd5 13.Bxd5 c6 14.Bb3 Qc5+ 15.Kh1 g5 16.g3 Kg7 17.gxf4 f6 18.Qh5 Nd7 19.fxg5 Kh8 20.Qh3 Qe7 21.Rae1 Qg7 22.Be6 Nb6 23.gxf6 Rxf6 24.Rxf6 Qxf6 25.Bf5 Qf7 26.Be6 Qe7 27.Re4 Rf8 28.Qe3 Rf1+ 29.Kg2 Qf6 30.Bb3 Nd5 31.Bxd5 cxd5 32.Re8+ Kg7 33.Qg3+ Kh6 34.Rg8 Rf5 35.Qe3+ Rg5+ 36.Qxg5+ Qxg5+ 37.Rxg5 Kxg5 38.Kg3 h5 39.c4 dxc4 40.dxc4 b6 41.b4 Kf5 42.Kh4 Ke5 43.Kxh5 Kd4 44.c5 bxc5 45.bxc5 Kxc5 46.Kg4 a5 47.h4 Kd5 48.h5 Ke6 49.a4 Kf6 50.Kf4 Kg7 51.Ke5 Kh6 1-0
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=3064877&m=13
IM Dean Ippolito vs NM Samuel Copeland Show How Not To Play The Leningrad Dutch
IM Dean Ippolito 2494
vs NM Samuel Copeland 2262
ALTO (At Least Twenty-One) Rd 6
A87 Dutch, Leningrad, main variation
- d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. c4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. b3 c6 9. Re1 h6 10. e4 fxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Rxe4 Bf5 13. Re1 Qf7 14. Bb2 g5 15. Qd2 Nd7 16. Re3 Bf6 17. h3 Qg7 18. Rae1 a6 19. Qa5 c5 20. g4 Bg6 21. Qc7 Rad8 22. Qxb7 cxd4 23. Bxd4 e5 24. Ba7 Rf7 25. Nd2 Kh8 26. Qxa6 Be7 27. b4 Rdf8 28. Rb3 Rf6 29. Qb5 Bd8 30. Be3 Qf7 31. Bd5 Qe7 32. Ra3 Be8 33. Qb7 1-0
Vadim Ruban (2565) vs Vladimir P Malaniuk (2505)
Event: Sibenik op
Site: Sibenik Date: ??/??/1990
Round: ? Score: ½-½
ECO: A81 Dutch defence
1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.O-O O-O 6.c4 d6 7.Nc3 Qe8 8.b3 c6 9.Re1 h6 10.e4 fxe4 11.Nxe4 Qf7 12.Bb2 g5 13.Qd2 Na6 14.h4 Bf5 15.Nc3 g4 16.Nh2 Nb4 17.Ne4 Nd3 18.Qxd3 Nxe4 19.Qe2 h5 20.d5 Bxb2 21.Qxb2 cxd5 22.cxd5 Nc5 23.Re3 Qf6 24.Qxf6 exf6 25.f3 Kf7 26.fxg4 hxg4 27.Rf1 Kg6 28.b4 Nd7 29.Re7 Ne5 30.Rxb7 Rfb8 31.h5+ Kg5 32.Rg7+ Kh6 33.Rc7 Kg5 34.Rg7+ ½-½
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=2099116&m=19
GM Vladimir Malaniuk literally wrote the book on the 7…Qe8 variation of the Leningrad Dutch Defense.
euroschach.de
Type “Malaniuk” into the box and a plethora of articles will magically appear for your perusal. This writer will only recommend this one, (https://xpertchesslessons.wordpress.com/2022/04/21/tcec-championship-leningrad-dutch-battles/) and say no more for now other than Stockfish has determined 7…c6 to be the best move in the position.
In the above game by the hero of the Leningrad Dutch after his opponent played 8 b3 Vlad responded with 8…c6, which was shocking to see. For some reason this player thought the purpose of moving the Queen one square to the left was to support the pawn push, 8…e5, and was therefore not surprised to see it is the first choice of Stockfish. After 9 Re1 Stockfish awards 9…h6 a dubious distinction (?!). It also shows black down by -1.5, which is never a good thing to see when the moves made are still in single digits. That said, please keep in mind GM Malaniuk was blazing his own trails ‘back in the day’ now known as ‘BC’ which stands for ‘Before Computers’. We humans learned by trial and error. Because of the programs it is now known 9…h6 is nothing other than an extremely weakening move. It is, therefore, extremely difficult that anyone in his right mind would play such a sharp opening like the Leningrad Dutch without knowing this, and much more, prior to playing the opening. Simply put, Mr. Copeland did not do his due diligence, for which he was deservedly punished.
After 14 Bb2 Copeland should have played 14…a5. I know this because of having seen so many examples where Stockfish will move the wing pawn to impede his opponent from pushing the b (or g) pawn to create a pawn storm that could turn into an avalanche. In lieu 15 Qd2 SF would have played 15 Re3, a move frankly not on the AWdar, with the intention of moving the Queen to d2 and then doubling Rooks with Rae1, targeting the weak black e-pawn. Although 15…Nd7 looks like a usual and normal move, the ‘Fish would develop the Knight to a6. I actually liked the maneuver
16…Bf6, followed by 17…Qf6, but Stockfish would simply play 16…Rad8, and so should you. Ditto for after 17 h3 AND 18 Rae1. There is no reason to discuss matters further after Copeland played 18…a6, a nothing move if ever there was one. Look at all those weak dark squares in his position… It is more than a little obvious the dude had no clue what to do with his wretched position. Don’t let this happen to YOU!
The Rusty Nail’s Smoking Gun
Atlanta dive bar ‘The Rusty Nail’ closing after nearly 50 years
/do0bihdskp9dy.cloudfront.net/09-20-2023/t_dbf19fd2a5914995b7200fa513ee6006_name_the_rusty_nail.JPG)
Atlanta dive bar ‘The Rusty Nail’ closing after nearly 50 years
By Jasmina Alston
Published: Sep. 20, 2023
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – An iconic Atlanta dive bar is closing after nearly 50 years in business.
The Rusty Nail’s last day in business is on Saturday, September 23 because the landlord is selling the property, according to a sign on the front doors.
“Everybody knows everybody, it’s the Cheers bar of this area,” longtime customer Tony Chibattone said.
The Rusty Nail is one of Atlanta’s oldest dive bars and some of their customers have been coming since 1974.
The unique building and the enormous gun-shaped smoker by the front door are eye-catching.
If you’ve driven down Buford Highway you’ve inevitably noticed our longest standing “regular” – the enormous smoking gun. One of the most recognizable icons in Atlanta, the giant, 18-foot gun has made it’s home for 20+ years outside the Buford Highway location. Most days you will find it smoking some of the juiciest, most mouth-watering BBQ in Atlanta. The Rusty Nail is located 10-15 minutes from Downtown.
http://www.rustynailpub.com/BufordHwy/thegun.html
Dedicated to Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam
The Ol’ Swindler Experience
The Ol’ Swindler, NM Neal Harris,
the man who lives in Bat Cave, was called Ol’ Swindler by the Legendary Georgia Ironman, NM Tim Brookshear,
decades ago after Neal defeated the Ironman in a sharp variation, the kind Neal liked to play. He was not called Ol’ Swindler then, but after defeating the Ironman in the exact same variation again, the Ironicman ERUPTED, “That Neal…he ain’t nuthin’ but an OL’ SWINDLER!!!”
I considered mentioning what occurred did not meet the requirements of being a “swindle” but decided it best to keep quiet with steam emanating from every Ironman orifice…
This writer experienced two OTB games with the Neal Harris, one of which was drawn. The other ended in a victory for the Neal Harris Experience.
“ALTO” stands for “At least twenty-one.” I have no idea from where the age requirement came, but must question why the cut-off is 21 years of age when the minimum age requirement for all six (Don’t forget the ‘Space Force’) branches of the military is SEVENTEEN (17)! If one can DIE for his country at 17 he should at least be able to participate in an ADULT Chess tournament.
The game about to be presented was followed in real time. Notes were taken, some of which will be shared with you. These were my thoughts when watching the live action onscreen without anything other than the moves being displayed.
IM David Vigorito
vs NM Neal Harris
ALTO 2023 Round 2
D20 Queen’s gambit accepted
1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 (I was never a fan of 2…dxc4, because it allows white to play e4 immediately and control the center. The pawn on d5 is a bastion; why give it up?) 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 e3 e6 5 Bxc4 Nc6
(I don’t like the position of the knight, which is strange because I played the Chigorin Defense of the QGD ‘back in the day’)
6 Nc3 Bb4 7 O-O O-O 8 Qc2 Bd6 9 Rd1 Bd7 10 h3 e5 11 a3 a5 12 Ba2 h6 13 dxe5 Nxe5 14 Nd4 Qe7 15 Nf5 Bxf5 16 Qxf5
16…g6 (This move weakens blacks position. I prefer 16…c6)
When the game ended a visit was made to lichess.org learning the five possible moves given did not include 16…c6. In order the moves found are: 16…Rad8; 16…Rfd8; 16…Ned7; 16…Rfe8; and 16…g6. The latter move puts white up by +1.5, which some consider enough to be winning. Wonder how far down the list 16…c6 appears? What do I know about Chess?
17 Qc2 Kg7 18 Bd2 Ra6 (I dunno about this… What’s wrong with moving the pawn to c6?)
After going over the game I learned Stockfish much prefers 18…Ned7. Still, it was pleasing to see 18…c6 was tied with 18…Rfd8 for second best move.
19 Be1 (Now there’s a move?! Was not expecting that one… Since black did not play c6 why not play 19 Nb5?)
Stockfish let me know that after 19 Nb5 it’s game over. Do I know Chess, or what!?
19…Rc6 (Rooks belong in front of potential passed pawns?!)
20 Qa4 Ned7 (Your opponent just attacked an undefended pawn and you could protect it with your Rook but instead decide to sound the retreat horn…)
What jumps out at you about the position? Does that Rook on c6 look out of place, or what? Place it on a6 or a8 and things look normal.
21 Nb5 Nb6 22. Qxa5 Ra8 23. Qd2 Ne4 24. Qe2 Be5
25. Rac1?!(SF) (It is incomprehensible that any titled player would not play 25 Bb4) Qf6 Qf6 26. Bb1 Nc5 27. Nd4 Bxd4 28. exd4 Ne6 29. Rxc6 bxc6 30. Qe4 Nd5 31. Ba2 Rd8 32. a4 Nef4 33. a5 c5 34. Kh2 Qc6 35. dxc5 Qxc5 36. Qd4+ Qxd4 37. Rxd4 c5 38. Rd1 1-0
Alexander Blagidze vs Tigran V Petrosian
Event: Tbilisi
Site: Tbilisi Date: ??/??/1945
Round: ? Score: ½-½
ECO: E40 Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Taimanov variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 Nc6 5.Qc2 d5 6.Nf3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 O-O 8.O-O Bd6 9.e4 e5 10.d5 Ne7 11.Nb5 Ng6 12.Bd2 Nh5 13.Rfc1 Bg4 14.Ne1 Nhf4 15.Nxd6 cxd6 16.Be3 Rc8 17.Qb3 b6 18.f3 Bd7 19.Bf1 f5 20.g3 fxe4 21.gxf4 exf4 22.Bd4 e3 23.Rc3 Rxc3 24.bxc3 Nh4 25.Kh1 Qe7 26.Qc2 g5 27.Bd3 Bh3 28.Be4 Qf7 29.a4 Nf5 30.Bxf5 Bxf5 31.Qg2 h6 32.a5 Qxd5 33.axb6 axb6 34.h4 g4 35.Ra7 Rf7 36.Qa2 Qxa2 37.Rxa2 gxf3 38.Nxf3 Be4 39.Kg2 Kh7 40.Ra6 Kg6 ½-½
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=2674428&m=17
The Swindler’s Ballad
[The Island, the Omen, and the Maid]
And the bottle she held in her hands
Was the poison from which I had drunk.
Though my spyglass had seen through her plans,
Lonely hearts may be swindled by love.
And the bitterest fate of a man of the sea
Is to go down alive with the chain and the key
To the lock just out of his reach
As old Davy Jones comes up to lay him to sleep.
‘Twas the first of December, and sailing the blue
On that cold winter’s morn we did find,
All wrecked up on the coast of a snow covered island,
A ship with no sailors in sight.
I, the Captain, gave orders to lower the boats.
We weighed anchor and made for the shore.
And then climbing up through a sharp break in the hull
We met something you’ve not seen before.
There hung from the rigging a man
All bloodied, beaten, and bruised,
And dangling there the lad rasped,
“Beware you ignorant fools!
Do you not know the look
And the sign of a ship
When she’s taken surprised
And asunder she’s torn
Mast, rudder, and plank
As though caught by foul winds
In a tempest from hell, the most fearsome of storms.
But then up from beneath comes a reeking black stench
As a thousand dead rotting old sailors it seems
And before you can jump ship and make for safe land
You are lost, for that smell is the breath of the beast!”
“My captain, my captain, what now shall we do,
For this man who has spoken is dead.”
‘Twas the third first of June at the port of Tortuga,
The plunder divided and spent,
When awaking at noon to the sound of the bell
I looked out the east window and said,
“By the green of the sky and the red of the sea
There’s an evil afoot at the bay!”
And before I could rouse the first mate or the crew,
The door opened and in came the maid.
“We are under attack, come with me,” the girl said
As she rushed down the stairs to the den,
And descending again to the cellar below,
Past a trap to a tunnel we went.
From the wall she withdrew an old lamp;
With an ember my pipe gave the light.
Under streets between walls hewn of crumbling stone
We made haste and stole into the night.
On the decks of my ship she held fast to my hand
And gave one final kiss before making for land,
And then safely ashore she turned back and she said,
“I am sorry, but this is the end of the end.”
The anchor, the mast, and the fuse that was lit
By the crew, once my friends, turned and left me for dead.
The sail that was caught, oh, the wind that was swift,
By the sea, by my blood, as I sank, oh my dread!
For the bitterest fate of a man of the sea
Is to go down alive with the chain and the key
To the lock just out of his reach,
As old Davy Jones comes up to lay him to sleep.
On the morn that I woke and found all the crew gone
And I heard that my captain was dead,
I took what plunder I had to my name
And my heart like a stone I fled.
On the key I found a ship outward bound
And the captain saw me and he said,
“Come aboard and share in whatever plunder we
Find in equal measure my friend.”
[The Beast, the Sea Dog, and the Wench]
‘Twas the thirteenth of March, we were riding the coast
After unearthing our treasure trove.
Only one journey more before we would disband,
So we made our heading for the cove.
‘Twas smooth sailing at first, joy lifted my heart
As the sea breeze played with my hair.
Then a storm from the east came upon us
As sure and as swift as despair.
And then up from the deep came a reeking black stench
As a thousand dead rotting old sailors it seemed,
And before we could jump ship and make for safe land
We looked into the face of the beast!
When the stench that had risen overcame our hearts
I looked on the creature with dread,
At the claws that had torn, and the beaks that had fed,
And the tentacles that dragged down the dead!
And the call of a horn arose from the din
As the captain shouted from the helm of the ship,
“To arms! Put fire and sword to the foe!
To fight is our only hope!”
We rallied and cast all our lanterns and powder
And torches into the black.
We cut at the tentacles, shattered the beaks
As it battered and beat at the flames.
The beast begged, and he bribed, and he writhed all about
While the captain’s cold steel cut his heart out.
With a dying breath he shouted aloud,
“And she takes the souls of the finest of men
For the ship that will never set sail!”
As I sat on the deck in cold disbelief
With a mug of ale in my hand,
I thought back to a cold winter’s morning
And a bloodied, beaten, hanged man.
“Do you not know the look and the sign of a ship?”
I said to the man next to me, and he said,
“Every sailor and scalawag knows of the beast
By the green of the sky and the red of the sea.
This is the work of old Davy Jones –
He’d have dragged us down to his courts.”
The old sea dog said, “There is a wench that I know
At the tavern down by the bay.
Her hair is the red of the flames of the damned,
And her honey-tongue dripping with lies.
Her skin is as pale as silk covered bones,
And her eyes are the green of the sea
When it storms, and it crashes, and treacherously pulls you down
Under to lay you to sleep.”
Then suddenly I saw a sailor
Walk up to me and he said,
“My captain, my captain, what now shall we do?
For our captain slayed the beast, and is dead.”
‘Twas the twenty and seventh of May when we came
To the port of Tortuga once more.
We divided our plunder and I went in search
Of a woman that I’d met before.
I found her in the brothels down by the bay
Entertaining men for her pay.
I gave the lass in the parlor a coin,
And asked to have her sent my way.
She appeared soft as a shadow,
And lovely as a flame.
She beckoned me with a finger,
And my soul filled with lust as I came.
I followed her to her chamber,
And watched her as she disrobed.
Then she turned to me and she offered
A cask inlaid with gold.
“Drink with me and come to bed,” she sang
“Where the gulls cry soft as they fly overhead,
And the ocean tastes as sweet as the cane;
Every ship that sets sail is yours to command.”
I smiled at her as I drank
From the cask that sealed my doom.
Then she leaned in close and she whispered,
“Beware, you ignorant fool!
Greet my dear husband when you descend
To the ship that will never set sail!”
And the bottle she held in her hands as I fled
Was the poison from which I had drunk, and I said,
“Though my spyglass had seen through your plans to the end,
Still the loneliest heart can be swindled and bled.”
Toward the bottom I sank as she watched with a grin,
And the chain ’round my neck was an anchor akin
To my love. In my innocence I’d been cut quick,
And betrayed to this Hell of eternal regret.
‘Twas the hour of dusk and, along with the sun,
I descended into the depths,
With the lust and the sin that clung to my skin
Like chains that dragged down my flesh.
I was greeted at first by a dead man,
The flesh eaten away from his skull.
“Welcome to the grave, you’re a corpse among many.
I’ll take you to see Davy Jones.”
[The Devil, the Dead, and the Last Dawn]
‘Twas eleven long months on the floor of the sea,
My hands worked down to the bone.
The lash had been cruel to my back and my breast.
Day and night I had toiled alone.
In the dark I heard clearly the sound of the bell
Calling all to come swift to the court.
The Master of Hell had some cruel word to share;
For relief, I held out no hope.
All the dead had gathered before him,
The Lord of the sorrowful damned.
Then I saw at his side my first mate and I cried,
“Sir I beg you—do not hurt this man!”
I was forced to the front of the murmuring crowd,
And then forced to my knees at his feet.
I saw fear in the eyes of my loyal first mate,
And then Davy Jones started to speak.
“This isn’t the last you’ve seen of me,
Nor is it the first,
But if you’re not careful what you say,
Oh, it may be the worst.
This man who stands here before you—
Beloved of yours is he not?
Trustworthy friend right down to the end,
He has come to save you from rot.
I’ll be plain with you, good captain—
I am in need of your crew.
You’ve denied me your service eleven months now
As though you had something to prove.
Withhold your soul this day
And my wrath will be poured out in full
Upon you and your crew, but especially so
Upon this man who came to save you.”
As he picked me up by the collar,
And stared with those dead steely eyes,
I pulled out my heart and handed it forth.
Then, I said in reply,
“I have come to serve
On your ship, good sir,
Full of honor
And full of pride.”
‘Twas the hour of midnight and I swabbed the deck
Of the ship that would never set sail.
‘Twas an old mangled shipwreck, broken in two,
Without mast, without rigging, or rail.
For thirty long years we had toiled,
Preparing our ship to depart,
So that old Davy Jones could escape his cold home
And return to his bride and his heart.
One day the captain pulled me aside,
“The repairs are nearly all made.
Then the anchor goes up, and the sails will be raised,
And old Davy Jones will be away.”
“My captain, my captain, what now can we do?
If we sail the whole world is doomed!”
“Never fear, my good man! For in secret I’ve planned
One last plot to get us safely home,
And to keep Davy Jones far away from dry land.
Come with me—I’ll explain all below.”
‘Twas the hour of twilight when all was made ready,
One hour before the dawn,
When old Davy Jones boarded the ship
And made orders to leave the dock.
“Davy Jones I have done as you said,
Every order fulfilled without fail.
But now we’re going home, and we’re leaving you here—
It is you who shall never set sail!”
Well he threw me down hard, and he drew out his sword,
Scoffing at me as he scorned,
“This is my ship! What gives you the right
To decide who may now come aboard?”
“For my crew, it was greed ’twas their downfall,
And my first mate succumbed to his lust,
But of all of these damned the first innocent man
Is the one that you came to trust.”
“Good captain, your treachery shocks me!
How innocent you seemed at first.
I am taken aback by your surprising lack
Of compassion—you see, I am cursed.
I am trapped here in this rotting body,
And trapped here awaiting the day
When I see my true love, and live free up above,
And let go of all of my hate.”
For a moment I almost believed him,
A shade of regret in his eyes,
But the captain held tight to his wit and his sense
And responded with this stern reply:
“Davy, your words are but poison,
The kind that send men to the grave.
By your deeds you are shown to be heartless and cold.
We depart without you and your hate!”
His sword clattered loud as it fell to the deck,
And Davy Jones took a step back,
Then my captain took up the cold weapon, and shouting,
Leapt forth to press the attack.
That day Davy Jones was defeated for good
And we pushed him down off of the plank.
And the captain yelled forth, “Ho, anchors away!”
And a rippling black sail we did finally raise.
And the bottle she held in her hands
Was the poison from which I had drunk.
But my spyglass had seen through her plans;
We held fast and refused to give up.
And the happiest fate of a man of the sea
Is to come back to life from the dark of the deep
To the sun, for one final journey,
Making his heading for fiddler’s green.
credits
from Adventure Stories Volume II: Pirates, released August 14, 2013
Lyrics written by Luke Michael McCusker and Stephen Charles Mallory.
Vocals performed by Luke Michael McCusker, Stephen Charles Mallory, and Joseph Theodore Twinem.
Instruments played by Luke Michael McCusker.
Produced by Luke Michael McCusker.
https://worldwideadventurers.bandcamp.com/track/the-swindlers-ballad
Armchair Warrior 