Takchess Chess Improvement

A Novice chessplayer works to get better at chess using an improvement program based upon the methods of Michael de la Maza and the teachings of Dan Heisman

Sunday, April 30, 2006

Endgame Link

I have 60 problems and a few games to play before I complete my first pass of Alburts Comprehensive Chess Course v2.


I continue to work on understanding Simple K vs K and P endgames. My plan is to memorize a few simple endgames positions to use as models so I can simplify to reaching a known favorable position. For example the K&P endgames in position 1 of my earlier post.

I feel as though understanding these very simple things will provide a new way for me to analyse a position. In my Mednis video, he shows a complex position where white is behind in material. White forces his opponent's pawn to take on the A file so he can transpose the game into a known drawn endgame (Position A).

I have about 7 books on the Endgames so I will drill down in these as well as the web articles to chose which games to study. I saw this Dan Heisman article in my travels.

Heisman King vs King and Pawn Explanation

Friday, April 28, 2006

Position 2: Rook Pawn + K vs K




This is a draw, White or Black on Move.

WOM

1)Ka8 Kc8
2)a7 Kc7
Stalemate

BOM
1).... Kc8
2)Ka8 Kc7
3)a7 Kc8
Stalemate

Position one -Rook Pawn & King vs King



RP&K vs K

Notes from an Mednis video for my own future study.


If you have only one pawn, the rook pawn is the hardest one to promote. If the defending King can get in front of the pawn or in front of the defending king the position is hopelessly drawn. In Position 1, This is a draw regardless who is on move
White on Move (WOM) or Black on Move (BOM)

General endgames tips
1) activate your king
2) try to get the opposition
3) use king triangulation to obtain zugswang position
4) the outside passed pawn is usually decisive
5) in miserable positions, aim for a stalemate

Thursday, April 27, 2006

update and marshall game

I am almost finished Alburts Comprehensive Chess Course V2. I only have chapter 12 to go which is a series of tests (tactical problems).Although not complete here is a link to the games in the book.I have a handfull to add to it.

Alburts CCC games

I seem to be stabilized in my ratings with my last 100 plus games I have run between
1480's and 1580's on Playchess.com. There have been no extended winning/losing streaks that I am accustomed to. My endgame play has improved somewhat which I attribute to doing the endgames exercises in the Comprehensive Chess Course V2.

I recieved a book this week on the Marshall Attack from interlibrary loan. I find the game to be very interesting and now can stay within book for about 16 moves. This is very natural for me and does not feel like rote mechanical play.

Here is an example from a game yesterday which I entered into Fritz. It's not complete I lost as black so should of took a draw of repetition when I had white king in the corner.


[Event "Rated game, 15m + 5s"]
[Site "Main Playing Hall"]
[Date "2006.04.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "marshall game"]
[Black "Takchess"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "1793"]
[BlackElo "1521"]
[Annotator "Fritz 9 (66s)"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2006.04.14"]

paste game into this viewer

{C89: Closed Ruy Lopez: Marshall Attack} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4
Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11.
Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Be3 Bg4 16. Qd3 Bf3 17. Qf1 Qg4
18. Nd2 f5 19. Nxf3 Qxf3 20. Qg2 Qg4 21. Bxd5+ cxd5 22. Qxd5+ Kh8 23. Qxd6 f4
24. Bxf4 Rad8 25. Qe5 h6 26. Be3 Rde8 27. Qd6 Qf3 28. Qxa6 Rxe3 29. Rxe3 Qxf2+
30. Kh1 Qxe3 31. Qxb5 Qf3+ 32. Kg1 Qf2+

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Traxler!

I haven't played one in a while.Check out the killer bishops/Queen combo. (also check out the link in my last post)

[Event "Rated game, 22m + 6s"]
[Site "Main Playing Hall"]
[Date "2006.04.20"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Loglen"]
[Black "Takchess"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C57"]
[WhiteElo "1423"]
[BlackElo "1513"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2006.04.20"]
[TimeControl "1320+6"]

paste game into this viewer

1. e4 {3} e5 {3} 2. Nf3 {3} Nc6 {4} 3. Bc4 {2} Nf6 {5} 4. Ng5 {3} Bc5 {5} 5.
Nxf7 {3} Bxf2+ {9} 6. Kf1 {7} Qe7 {31} 7. Nxh8 {3} Nxe4 {13} 8. Bf7+ {2} Kd8 {
29} 9. Qh5 {5} d5 {88} 10. Ng6 {3} hxg6 {15} 11. Qh8+ {2} Kd7 {7} 12. Qg8 {8}
Nd8 {55} 13. Qxg7 {8} Nxf7 {17} 14. d3 {10} Qe6 {50} 15. Bh6 {25} Bd4 {27} 16.
Nc3 {14} Qf5+ {8} 17. Ke1 {21} Qf2+ {16} 18. Kd1 {2} Kc6 {44} 19. Qxg6+ {7}
Nfd6 {19} 20. Qg8 {32} Be3 {22} 21. Qxd5+ {11} Kb6 {22} 22. Qb3+ {5} Kc6 {19}
23. Nxe4 {9} Bg4# {(Lag: Av=0.81s, max=3.1s) 10} 0-1

Chess Puzzles by GM Website

Here is a website of interest

http://www.wtharvey.com/

Note there is also a section that lists puzzles by openings (including the marshall attack)!

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Comprehensive Chess Course V2

As part of my training I am working through all the examples of Lev Alburts book Comprehensive Chess Course Volume 2 . I have just reached the halfway point Chapter 8. Each chapter has some variety:questions, tactic problems, endgames examples and minature games. I do enjoy the variety as I find studying just endgames too boring. I plan to work through all the problems in this book multiple times although I don't intend to do it 7 times. I also picked up Alburts Just the facts endgame book for reference and future study. I like Alburts book layout and writing style.

Friday, April 14, 2006

What would you play in this position?


I learn openings step by step. I know the mainlines to a certain point then I am on my own. In each succesive game in a particular opening, I learn a little more. Here is an example to where I currently left book in the Marshall. I am playing black and it is my move.

I continued here.

[Event "Rated game, 15m + 5s"]
[Site "Main Playing Hall"]
[Date "2006.04.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Schachfreak"]
[Black "Takchess"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "1793"]
[BlackElo "1521"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2006.04.14"]
[TimeControl "900+5"]

Paste game into this viewer
1. e4 {1} e5 {3} 2. Nf3 {1} Nc6 {3} 3. Bb5 {1} a6 {6} 4. Ba4 {2} Nf6 {3} 5. O-O
{12} Be7 {3} 6. Re1 {7} b5 {2} 7. Bb3 {2} O-O {2} 8. c3 {1} d5 {2} 9. exd5 {5}
Nxd5 {4} 10. Nxe5 {2} Nxe5 {4} 11. Rxe5 {1} Nf6 {2} 12. d4 {8} Bd6 {7} 13. Re1
{3} Ng4 {8} 14. h3 {14} Nh6 {9} 15. Bxh6 {7} gxh6 {2} 16. Nd2 {3} Bxh3 {5} 17.
gxh3 {13} Qg5+ {4} 18. Qg4 {2} Kh8 {59} 19. Ne4 {14} Qxg4+ {4} 20. hxg4 {1} Rg8
{2} 21. f3 {11} f5 {16} 22. Bxg8 {3} Rxg8 {3} 23. Nxd6 {2} cxd6 {5} 24. Kh2 {1}
fxg4 {2} 25. fxg4 {2} Rxg4 {2} 26. Rg1 {3} h5 {3} 27. Raf1 {4} Kg7 {3} 28.
Rxg4+ {2} hxg4 {2} 29. Kg3 {0} h5 {2} 30. Kh4 {2} Kg6 {1} 31. Re1 {
Takchess resigns (Lag: Av=0.25s, max=0.5s) 2} 1-0

Here I believe is a better continuation
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1280329

or
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1258265

Of course there are plenty of examples where white wins after ...Qh3 but it's a fighting game for black

Sunday, April 09, 2006

Man I'm Loving the Marshall Attack !

[Event "Rated game, 20m + 6s"]
[Site "Main Playing Hall"]
[Date "2006.04.09"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Williamsidis"]
[Black "Takchess"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "1583"]
[BlackElo "1523"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2006.04.09"]
[TimeControl "1200+6"]

Paste game into this viewer
1. e4 {1} e5 {4} 2. Nf3 {1} Nc6 {4} 3. Bb5 {2} a6 {4} 4. Ba4 {1} Nf6 {3} 5. O-O
{2} Be7 {5} 6. Re1 {2} b5 {3} 7. Bb3 {2} O-O {4} 8. c3 {1} d5 {3} 9. exd5 {9}
Nxd5 {15} 10. Nxe5 {5} Nxe5 {4} 11. Rxe5 {1} Nf6 {3} 12. d4 {23} Bd6 {4} 13.
Re1 {3} Bxh2+ {55} 14. Kxh2 {24} Qd6+ {8} 15. Kg1 {10} Ng4 {11} 16. Qf3 {31}
Qh2+ {33} 17. Kf1 {1} Qh1+ {11} 18. Ke2 {4} Re8+ {7} 19. Kd3 {8} Qxe1 {23} 20.
Bxf7+ {16} Kh8 {20} 21. Bxe8 {2} Qxe8 {26} 22. Bd2 {58} g6 {31} 23. Na3 {26}
Bf5+ {5} 24. Qxf5 {8} gxf5 {Williamsidis gibt auf (Lag: Av=0.40s, max=0.9s) 10
} 0-1

Thursday, April 06, 2006

And yet another Marshall Attack, I missed a mate

Another Marshall attack. I like this fighting defense in the Ruy. This is a more sound than the last game but not as good results. I will need to fritz this one and study it. I tried to incorrectly force things at the end. Can you find the missed mate? see the comments for hint.


[Event "Rated game, 25m + 0s"]
[Site "Main Playing Hall"]
[Date "2006.04.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rwlhenry"]
[Black "Takchess"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "1815"]
[BlackElo "1511"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2006.04.06"]
[TimeControl "1500"]

paste game into this viewer

1. e4 {5} e5 {3} 2. Nf3 {5} Nc6 {4} 3. Bb5 {3} a6 {3} 4. Ba4 {3} Nf6 {10} 5.
O-O {4} Be7 {2} 6. Re1 {5} b5 {9} 7. Bb3 {9} O-O {5} 8. c3 {58} d5 {8} 9. exd5
{5} Nxd5 {25} 10. Nxe5 {6} Nxe5 {5} 11. Rxe5 {7} Nf6 {3} 12. d4 {23} Ng4 {16}
13. Re2 {135} Nxh2 {93} 14. Kxh2 {28} Bd6+ {5} 15. Kg1 {5} Qh4 {3} 16. g3 {5}
Qh3 {23} 17. Qf1 {13} Qh5 {34} 18. Re1 {54} Bb7 {11} 19. d5 {24} c6 {9} 20. Qg2
{20} Rfe8 {35} 21. Be3 {18} Bc8 {38} 22. Nd2 {21} Bh3 {22} 23. Qh2 {6} c5 {145}
24. Bc2 {77} h6 {236} 25. Ne4 {22} Rad8 {75} 26. Nxd6 {15} Rxd6 {3} 27. Bf4 {14
} Rdd8 {96} 28. Rxe8+ {14} Rxe8 {6} 29. d6 {21} g6 {67} 30. Rd1 {55} g5 {8} 31.
d7 {19} Rd8 {15} 32. Bc7 {6} g4 {40} 33. Bxd8 {15} Qe5 {71} 34. Bf6 {27} Qe2 {
64} 35. d8=Q+ {Takchess resigns (Lag: Av=0.45s, max=0.8s) 15} 1-0

Sunday, April 02, 2006

The marshall attack

All I needed was one bullet. 8)
I could of had mate one move earlier but all my concentration was on staying alive while all his was on the attack.


Paste game into this viewer

1. e4 {11} e5 {3} 2. Nf3 {6} Nc6 {4} 3. Bb5 {4} a6 {4} 4. Ba4 {2} Nf6 {4} 5.
O-O {3} Be7 {12} 6. Re1 {3} b5 {4} 7. Bb3 {6} O-O {4} 8. c3 {6} d5 {3} 9. exd5
{15} Nxd5 {4} 10. Nxe5 {8} Nxe5 {17} 11. Rxe5 {6} Be6 {8} 12. d4 {22} c6 {4}
13. f4 {15} Bd6 {6} 14. Bc2 {23} Bxe5 {44} 15. fxe5 {6} f6 {7} 16. Qh5 {18} h6
{67} 17. Qg6 {23} fxe5 {87} 18. Qxe6+ {5} Kh8 {47} 19. Qg6 {22} Kg8 {12} 20.
dxe5 {10} Qe7 {36} 21. Bxh6 {20} Qc5+ {


[Event "Friendly Game, 20m + 7s"]
[Site "Main Playing Hall"]
[Date "2006.04.02"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hipocrati"]
[Black "Takchess"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "1857"]
[BlackElo "1504"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "2006.04.02"]
[TimeControl "1200+7"]

Chessgames Collections

Saturday, April 01, 2006

5X5 square problems


As a part of my studies, I am slowly taking the 5X5 squares examples from CT-art and putting them in a word document. I do this by doing a screen capture pasting into paint,cropping it and then pasting it into word. I want to know the bare essence of each position down cold. I have only have the first 80 problems at this point. it takes some time.