Chess Tournament RB #4 Lurker Thread

[zakalwe]

Zakalwe vs. Pindicator

Here's the current position:



I'm planning to play 38. Rc1, provoking b5 and hoping for some kind of counterplay in the center to stop his pawn storm.

Looking ahead, playing what appeared to be reasonable moves, I ended up in this position:



Here's hoping Pindicator agrees that my moves with black were reasonable. :P

[Gustaran]

Zakalwe-Pindicator

Zakalwe is positionally lost. Allowing 37.dxc4 was a major blunder (-2.30). Now Black only needs to push his Queenside pawns to win the game. The problem is that Black can play Be4 and the intended counterplay in the center is dead, because Black can prevent the e4 push long enough to use his Queenside pawns since he retains control over the e4 square.

[pindicator]

Zakalwe - Pindicator

Cause everyone else is commenting on it

I did have a bit of panic when zak played 36. c4, like I've missed something awful. Then I had another moment like that when he played 37. Qf3 - I didn't see that one coming either and at first glance the pin looked uncomfortable. But after looking I don't really see a threat. I just play b5 here and I should still be solid. He can't move his queen away from the dark-square bishop, otherwise I have Bxh3 followed by Qxf2, so the c6 pawn is untouchable. If he plays Ng1 to free up the queen, I'm going to follow with Rd4 and attack the h-pawn. If he does Kh2 to add a defender to the knight then Qd6+ followed by Qa3 to double-attack the rook and pawn looks tasty. That would put us in a great position to push the queenside pawns too.

So 38... b5 is going to be my next move.

I'm also keeping an eye out for any opportunities to sacrifice the exchange for another pawn. Especially if I can get a bishop for it, I think after that it would be the right time to try and swap Queens and head towards the endgame

[pindicator]

I played through all your variations with a computer, 98% is correct.

I forgot to ask: how did you come up with 98%?

[Gustaran]

I forgot to ask: how did you come up with 98%?

Two inaccuracies:

(your move number seems to be one off)

• 34...Bd7 35.Qxd7 Rxd8 36.Qxe7+ Kg8 37.Qxd8+ Kf7 and now 38.Qf8# mates one move sooner.
  

• 34...Kf6 35.Rf8+ Qf7 36.Qe8 Qxf8 37.Qxf8+ Kg6 (Kf7 in your analysis is an illegal move and now if you don't take on e7 right away you have a mate in 5: )
  38.Qe8+ Kh6 39.Bxe7 g6 40.Qd8 Bd7 41.Bf8+ Kh5 42.Qg5#
  

So 100% - 2 inaccuracies = 98%

[pindicator]

Zakalwe vs. Pindicator
http://www.chess.com/echess/game?id=84573018

After 41. Nd5
I don't know if I like zak last move, but he took a long time in playing it so I assume he has looked it over. But it seems like the knight is dangerously close to being stranded. I'm going to take a good long look at 41... Bxg2+ 42. Qxb2, Rxe3 43. Bxe3, Rxe3. He might be able to get the knight away but I think it will be 5 pawns for the piece if he does.

Another question is if this is the opportunity to swap off Queens and if so should I take it? Have to keep an eye on King safety as long as the matroarchs are still on the board

[MJW (ya that one)]

Zakalwe vs. Pindicator
http://www.chess.com/echess/game?id=84573018

I doubt Zak's blunder Qf2?? would be made at the start of the tournament. It's obvious that he looked only at ...PxN?? Rg1+ Kmoves QxR and wins. I think he is getting tried of logining-in every day. This is why good CC players say to play as slow as possible because people lose motivation as time goes on. This is a perfect example. What's going to happen now is ...Rh3+ Kg1 PxN and black wins because he can answer anything white does with ...Qg3+

[Jkaen]

Well got my win against cyneheard, as I mentioned I missed the forced mate that gustaran pointed out (I saw it when it was too late), just thought the worst I had was a huge piece advantage that i could convert.

Obviously from where I was then the c pawn walks in unstoppably to queen and win.

[pindicator]

Congrats on the win JKaen!


Zakalwe vs. Pindicator
http://www.chess.com/echess/game?id=84573018

After 44. Qf2
Now I'm feeling very good about this game. I think zak could have given me more problems with Rf1 or maybe Rg1, but now I can play Rh3+ and then gxh5 puts me 4 pawns up. White doesn't have Qg2+ because my queen and rook are both hitting the g3 square. With his King exposed it should be easy to exchange off the major pieces and go into a won endgame.

[zakalwe]

Zakalwe vs. Pindicator

Looks like game over... I was planning to play 44. Rg1 but stupidly changed my mind at the last minute. I do wonder what his plan was after Rg1; perhaps I missed something in that line, too.