Game of the Week

Game played on FICS 12.26.2006.

This game is technically a miniature, lasting only 20 moves. This game also demonstrates why you should know a little opening theory. I have White.

1.d4 Nf6
2.c4 e6
3.a3


He or She is trying to play the Nimzo Indian and I wasn't really in the mood for having my knight pinned and just pushed a3 instead. This move is ok, but it gives up some time. I have taken this game out of book and he apparently doesn't know how to handle it.
3. ... c5

He is trying to challenge me for the center.

4.d5

My intention is to hold a pawn in the center.

4. ... exd5
5.cxd5 b6

He wants to develop his bishop to attack my pawn, I believe, I can protect this pawn with developing moves.
6.Nc3 Bb7
7.e4 Be7


I have a key position now. My pawns are safe. Whats more, now that I have 2 pieces protecting my d5 pawn (Queen and Knight,) I can safely push my e4 pawn that was protecting my d5 pawn and attack his knight. His knight only choice is to retreat back to its home position. He wanted to castle and now I have forced him to undevelop. Instead of Be7, he should have moved d6 preventing my over running him.
8.e5 Ng8
9.d6

Another sharp move, attacking his bishop.
9. ... Bf8

Another undeveloping move, Bishop to g5 was better. He is now very constricted.
10.Nf3 Nc6
11.Bf4 f6

He wants to trade and possible break up my repressive center. As long as I can maintain my center I can keep him from castling. I just have a temporary advantage. By moving his f7 pawn he is taking a huge risk, since f2/f7 is a key protection for the king cage (if he can ever get castled.)



I almost panicked with this move. I was so focused on attack, I wasn't paying attention to defense. But in truth I am perfectly fine. My Bd5 is ok, but I should really have considered Qe2.
(15. Qe2 threating a very ugly Bf6+ which looses the black queen and 1 minor piece to my ugly d6 pawn.)

15.Bd5 Bxd5
16.Qxd5 Rd8
17.0-0
Note castling is both a defensive and an offensive move. I want to put a rook on e1 to finish my oppoent off and the quickest way was to castle, and its such an unoffensive looking move.

17. ... Nf6

A final feeble attempt to get back in the game.
18.Bxf6 Qxf6
19.Rfe1+ Be7

Be7 is forced in order get out of check.
20.Rxe7+ Black resigns

Game of the Week

or Know Thy Opening

Game was played on FICS 12.18.2006. My opponent had a rating of 1401, and as usual I fear such a rating. So I went in somewhat anxious.

1.e4

Ok, this will be a tatical game. Against e4, I try to go into the dragon.

1. ... c5
2.Nf3 Nc6
3.d4 cxd4
4.Nxd4 g6
5.Be3 Bg7
6.Nc3 Nf6

Everything is book so far or main line.




7. f3
Ok, this is what is refered to as the Weekend variation. I don't believe it is that good.

7. ... 0-0 8.Qd2

He is playing the sub variation where he connects his Queen to his dark bishop and then tries to exchange the dark bishops. Good for him if I allow it. The book response is d5.

8. ... d5

That is as far as I remember book in this line, so the rest I have to play using my own tactical and strategic skills. I do recall that White needs to exchange the Knight on d4 for mine on c6 or bad things start to happen.

9.exd5 Nxd5
10.Nxd5 Qxd5
11.c3 Nxd4
12.Bxd4 Rd8

Increases the pressure on the center making whites position somewhat uncomfortable.Notice if he exchanges dark squared Bishops now, I mate him.

13.0-0-0 Qxa2

Not a paticularly good move on his part, since it drops the a2 pawn. Now his King is looking helpless and my pieces are looking strong.

14.Qe3 Bf5
15.Bd3 Bxd3
16.Bxg7

He can't do that! At least he can't do that and live to tell about it.

16. ... Qb1+

The queen is protected by the light squared bishop which he didn't retake after I took his. Now his King has to flee into a discovered check.

17.Kd2 Bc2+
A discovered check with 3 pieces hitting his poor helpless rook (My Queen, Bishop and Rook!)

18.Ke2

After move 18 he saw his position as hopeless. I am going to win the Rook and then recapture his dark squared Bishop. He will be down a Rook, Bishop and several pawns when I am done.

Image of the week

OK, for several months - since I haven't been posting.

We are in the dead of winter here in Iowa (and we don't even have any snow to show for it) and the scenes is all very dreary. Most of the pretty birds have gone elsewhere for the winter and the landscape is all very brown. I was out for one of my walks when I heard rustling in the bushes. Well I could see the tail of what looked like a ferret. I have been trying to get a picture of one of these guys for quite a while now. So I fired my camera up and got several pictures of this very industrious little feller. Further research indicates this little guy is a "Mink!" I think his coat looks better on him then it could ever look on a human.

Terry