Campfire Chess

Tag: Chess

  • Game Analysis – An Interesting Collapse

    Game Analysis – An Interesting Collapse

    It’s been a while since I annotated one of my games. Part of that is IRL stuff that’s been getting in the way and part of it is that I haven’t played any games that intrigued me enough recently to annotate. This game is a little bit of an exception. Let’s go…

    [pgn]
    [Event “Let’s Play!”]
    [Site “Chess.com”]
    [Date “2021.10.05”]
    [Round “-“]
    [White “CMDRExorcist”]
    [Black “Internet Opponent”]
    [Result “1-0”]
    [ECO “B23”]
    [WhiteElo “1091”]
    [BlackElo “1099”]
    [TimeControl “1/86400”]
    [CurrentPosition “8/p4k1p/2p1p1p1/2Q5/8/5P2/5KPP/1r6 b – – 0 37”]
    [Timezone “UTC”]
    [ECOUrl “https://www.chess.com/openings/Sicilian-Defense-Closed-Traditional-Line-3.Nf3”]
    [UTCDate “2021.10.05”]
    [UTCTime “14:17:56”]
    [Termination “CMDRExorcist won by resignation”]
    [StartTime “14:17:56”]
    [EndDate “2021.10.08”]
    [EndTime “16:38:11”]
    [Link “https://www.chess.com/game/daily/360542321”]

    {It’s been a while since I annotated one of my games. Part of that is IRL stuff
    that’s been getting in the way and part of it is that I haven’t played any games
    that intrigued me enough recently to annotate. This game is a little bit of an
    exception. Let’s go…} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 g6 4. Bb5 Bg7 {A fairly
    standard Sicilian Defense configuration I’ve seen in a few games recently. White
    has a slight edge here, but at this rating level its too insignificant to make a
    real difference.} 5. O-O e6 $6 ({The engine calls 5…e6 an inaccuracy and it
    does seem like 6.d6 would have been a better choice that leaves Black with a
    much more solid development after} 5… d6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. Re1) 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7.
    e5 {Cutting off Black’s Bishop and preparing to bring the f1 Rook into play.}
    7… Ne7 8. d3 ({Good also is} 8. Ne4 O-O 9. Re1) 8… O-O 9. Re1 Nf5 {My first
    real mistake of the game. Instead of capitalizing on the weaknesses on the King
    side, I played a developing move that did very little to strengthen the
    position.} 10. b3 $2 (10. Bg5 f6 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. exf6 Qxf6 {and White has a good
    position here.}) 10… Nd4 11. Na4 b6 {The pawn structure grows a little weak
    here, but the Knight moves away and frees up more room for me to work.} 12. c3
    Nf5 13. c4 $6 {Once again, the engine prefers that I engage with the Bishop on
    g5.} (13. Bg5 Qd7 14. Qe2 Qc7 {and there’s a lot of pressure building up on the
    e5 pawn $1}) 13… Bb7 {Black misses a chance to engage on the f-file.} 14. Bb2
    (14. Bg5 f6 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6) 14… Qe7 15. d4 $2 {I thought about this
    one for a long time, which is probably why it turned out so poorly at the time.
    I needed to find a way to break through on the d-file and this was one way to do
    it, although arguably not the best way.} 15… Rad8 $6 16. Ba3 Nxd4 17. Nxd4
    Rxd4 $4 {Not the breakthrough I was expecting. Now Black has placed his Rook into
    dangerous territory.} 18. Qc2 {Missing a win with Qxd4 18…cxd4.} 18… Bxe5 $4
    {Black’s position completely falls apart.} 19. Rxe5 Qf6 $6 {Black tries to put
    pressure on the Rook, but his pieces are so disorganized that there’s no real
    counterplay. An easy Rook move counters the attack.} 20. Rae1 Rfd8 21. f3 Rd2
    22. Qc1 Rxa2 $6 {I had expected a Rook trade, but this move attempts to attack
    both the Bishop and Knight, but there’s still no significant threat to the
    position.} 23. Bb2 {and the Rook is trapped.} 23… Rd3 $2 24. Rxe6 {This was very
    difficult for me to find. Ultimately, the Rook sacrifice wins the Queen and the
    game is lost for Black.} 24… Qxe6 25. Rxe6 fxe6 26. Qh6 $2 {A sloppy move, but
    considering how the position was crumbling, I was trying to see if I could win a
    quick mate with 27.Qg7#.} 26… Rxb2 27. Nxb2 Rxb3 28. Qd2 Ba6 29. Qd8+ {Trying
    to force Black’s King into the center of the board.} 29… Kg7 30. Qd7+ $6 (30.
    Na4 Bxc4 31. h4) 30… Kf6 31. Qd2 b5 32. cxb5 Bxb5 33. Qf4+ Kg7 34. Nc4 $6 {One
    last mistake. The intention was to play 35.Be5 but Black isn’t going to allow
    it.} 34… Rb1+ 35. Kf2 Bxc4 36. Qxc4 Kf7 37. Qxc5 {This was a fun game to play.
    It started out tough and there were moments where I had to dig deeper into my
    shallow mind to find the win. Ultimately, Black’s position came apart at the
    seams and I was able to pull off a nice little victory.} 1-0
    [/pgn]

  • Review: Chess Studio for iOS

    Review: Chess Studio for iOS

    [Apple](www.apple.com) likes to tout its [iPad Pro](www.apple.com/ipad) and similar devices as laptop replacements. A few years ago I wouldn’t have entertained such a notion, but these days I’m doing more and more of my work and play on my iPad. In fact, my Macbook has been in a box [for sale](https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F223232680992) on Ebay for the past few months. My lower-budget [Windows](www.microsoft.com) laptops tend to compliment my iPad device just as well. While [Chessbase](www.chessbase.com) remains a staple of my chess database management, a new program has readily taken over much of my annotation and chess management work on the go: [Chess Studio](www.facebook.com/chessstudioapp/).

    #### Full-Featured Chess Manager

    *Chess Studio* proclaims itself to be the first program for iPhone and iPad to effectively manage portable game notation (PGN) files and I wholeheartedly agree. I’ve been using it for years and it’s hard for me to believe that I haven’t taken the time to write a review. So, here we go…

    Replaying a game in Chess Studio. (Credit: Campfire Chess)

    *Chess Studio* is obviously the brainchild of someone who loves chess and is equally as frustrated as I am with the lack of effective chess utilities on mobile devices. Once a PGN file is imported, it can be sorted, appended, and edited in an almost endless variety of ways. For me, this makes it an ideal application to use as a companion for reading electronic publications like [Chess Life](www.uschess.org/content/blogcategory/516/365/) or the growing library of chess books available on Amazon’s [Kindle](www.amazon.com/s?k=chess&i=digital-text&ref=nb_sb_noss).

    Reading Chess Life alongside Chess Studio (Credit: US Chess/Campfire Chess)

    As you can see from the image above, it works extremely well for playing through PGN games while reading the annotated publication. The ability to quickly add new variations, delete variations, add annotations, and make comments to games puts *Chess Studio* light years ahead of anything else currently available. The board is well designed with several color scheme options and chess fonts. There’s also an extensive settings panel that lets you show/hide coordinates, change some of the board’s basic behavior such as legal moves, and font size.

    Adding annotations in Chess Studio. (Credit: Campfire Chess)

    **Note:** My #1 issue with *Chess Studio* is the *yellow* background on the move list. I sent the developer a request to let users change that option and he assured me in a response that the option to change that color is coming in the future.

    #### Capitalizing on New Tech

    As I’ve mentioned in reviews for several new products including [ChessNoteR](www.campfirechess.com/chessnoter-forges-a-digital-pathway/), I love that chess tends to drive advancements in technology or unique utilizations of existing tech. *Chess Studio* is a nice program, but what really makes it a powerful utility is its integration with the rest of the Apple iOS ecosystem.

    Accessing a PGN file from another app. (Credit: Campfire Chess)

    The image above shows how *Chess Studio* integrates itself into the shared items menu throughout iOS. PGN files detected by the operating system are provided an option to copy themselves directly into the program. That’s how I access files from [The Week in Chess](www.theweekinchess.com) and Chess Life. This makes it nearly effortless to import files into *Chess Studio*.

    #### Final Verdict

    *Chess Studio* is an **excellent** program for chess players and enthusiasts on the go. It’s well-supported and under continued development, unlike many of the programs rotting away on the Apple Store and Google Play. Well worth the purchase!

  • Nakamura and Yu are US Champions!

    Nakamura and Yu are US Champions!

    Another US Chess Championship has come and gone with GM Hikaru Nakamura claiming his 5th national championship title! There was a last minute push by former champion GM Fabiano Caruana, but he was unable to hold off a draw with GM Sam Shankland. Going into the tournament final, Nakamura and Caruana were tied with Leinier Dominguez for first place, but Nakamura was able to pound out a fine win to reclaim the title.

    I was impressed with Nakamura’s performance considering that he also streamed regularly on his Twitch channel during the competition!

    [pgn]
    [Event “US Championships 2019”]
    [Site “Saint Louis”]
    [Date “2019.03.31”]
    [White “Xiong, Jeffery”]
    [Black “Nakamura, Hikaru”]
    [Result “0-1”]
    [ECO “A89”]
    [WhiteElo “2663”]
    [BlackElo “2746”]
    [PlyCount “116”]
    [EventDate “2019.??.??”]

    1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. d5
    Na5 9. b3 c5 10. Bb2 a6 11. Ng5 Rb8 12. Qd3 Qe8 13. Nd1 b5 14. Qd2 Nb7 15. Ne3
    Nd8 16. Nh3 Bd7 17. Rad1 b4 18. Qc2 a5 19. Nf4 a4 20. h4 Ra8 21. Qb1 Ra6 22.
    Bf3 Qf7 23. Neg2 Ng4 24. Bxg4 fxg4 25. e4 Bxb2 26. Qxb2 Qg7 27. Qxg7+ Kxg7 28.
    e5 Bf5 29. exd6 exd6 30. Rfe1 Nf7 31. Re7 Kf6 32. Rb7 axb3 33. axb3 Rfa8 34.
    Ne3 Ra1 35. Kf1 Ne5 36. Rxa1 Rxa1+ 37. Ke2 Nf3 38. Nxf5 Kxf5 39. Ke3 Re1+ 40.
    Kd3 Ne5+ 41. Kd2 Ra1 42. Ne6 h6 43. Rb6 Ra3 44. Kc2 Ra2+ 45. Kd1 Nd3 46. Rxd6
    Nxf2+ 47. Ke1 Nd3+ 48. Kd1 Ke4 49. Nc7 Nf2+ 50. Ke1 Kd3 51. Rxg6 Ne4 52. Kf1
    Nxg3+ 53. Kg1 Ne2+ 54. Kh1 Ke3 55. Rf6 Ra1+ 56. Kg2 Rg1+ 57. Kh2 g3+ 58. Kh3
    Rh1+ 0-1
    [/pgn]

    Just two days prior, 17-year old Jennifer Yu improved over her 2018 6.5/11 result to claim the title of 2019 US Women’s Chess Champion. Yu’s play was as solid as anything we’ve ever seen from her; solidifying her place among the great modern female chess players.

    [pgn]
    [Event “U.S. Women’s Championship”]
    [Site “Saint Louis”]
    [Date “2019.03.30”]
    [White “Zatonskih, Anna”]
    [Black “Yu, Jennifer”]
    [Result “0-1”]
    [ECO “D17”]
    [WhiteElo “2430”]
    [BlackElo “2273”]
    [Annotator “Kostya”]
    [PlyCount “66”]
    [EventDate “2019.??.??”]

    1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 {Repeating the line
    that Annie Wang played against Jennifer in an earlier round. Jennifer doesn’t
    deviate, so the players follow that game for some time:} Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Qc7 8. g3
    e5 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Bf4 Nfd7 11. Bg2 f6 12. O-O Rd8 13. Qc1 Be6 14. Ne4 (14.
    Nxe5 {took place in Jennifer’s earlier game against Annie Wang:} Nxe5 15. Qe3 {
    and now Black could probably equalize with} Qb6 $1) 14… Bb4 {This seems like
    an empty square for the bishop, but there is simply no better place for it at
    the moment.} 15. Rd1 O-O 16. Rd4 $146 {A new move, threatening Nxe5 and Rxb4.}
    (16. a5 {is the main move, not allowing Black to establish a5 themselves.} a6
    17. Rd4 Nc5 18. Nxc5 Bxc5 19. Nxe5 fxe5 20. Qxc5 exf4 21. Rxf4 Rxf4 22. gxf4
    Rd2 $44 {and Black was more or less all right in ½-½ (31) Shankland,S (2633)
    -Alonso,S (2505) Praia da Pipa 2014.}) 16… a5 $1 {Logical, since White
    didn’t play a5, Black takes the opportunity to secure the bishop on b4.} 17. h4
    ({Stockfish gives} 17. Qc2 {with idea Rad1, after which White would seem to
    have some pressure.}) 17… Nc5 $5 {A sharp move, but everything seems to work
    out for Black.} ({Black could also just improve the position with a move like}
    17… Kh8 {as White has no useful way to improve the position for the time
    being.}) 18. Rxd8 (18. Nxe5 {was the only way for White to fight for a
    concrete edge. Black must find} Nb3 $1 {and now White has a very narrow path
    to a small advantage:} (18… fxe5 $2 19. Rxb4 $1 axb4 20. Nxc5 $18 {is just
    winning for White.}) 19. Nxc6 $1 Qxc6 20. Qxc6 bxc6 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Rb1 $14)
    18… Qxd8 {Correctly getting out of the pin.} 19. Nxc5 $6 {Likely missing
    Black’s 20th move.} (19. Nxe5 fxe5 20. Nxc5 Bxc5 21. Be3 $11 {Things would be
    close to equal.}) 19… Bxc5 20. Nxe5 $2 {Continuing with the plan.} ({At this
    point best was} 20. Bxe5 fxe5 21. e3 $11 {where White can restrict the
    dark-squared bishop just enough.}) 20… Bxf2+ $1 {A nice in-between move,
    luring White’s king to the f-file.} 21. Kh2 (21. Kxf2 fxe5 22. Qe3 Qf6 $1 $17 {
    and after capturing on f4 Black will end up with an extra pawn.}) 21… fxe5
    22. Bxe5 Bd4 {White has not lost any material, but the kingside is now
    severely compromised and with the position opening up, White’s rook on a1 ends
    up out of play.} 23. Bf4 (23. Bxd4 Qxd4 $15 {leaves Black with more active
    pieces and better structure. This would be a difficult defense for White.})
    23… Qb6 24. Qc2 Bb3 (24… Qxb2 $2 25. Qxb2 Bxb2 26. Rb1 Bc3 27. Rxb7 $14)
    25. Qc1 $2 {Too passive.} ({After} 25. Qd3 {White is worse but things are not
    that bad yet.} Rd8 {can be met with} 26. Bc7 $1 Qxc7 27. Qxb3+ $15) 25… Qb4
    26. Bd2 Qd6 27. Bf4 ({Editor’s note: There’s a beautful variation hidden after
    } 27. Bxa5 $2 {when Black can sacrifice her queen for a stunning attack:} Qxg3+
    $3 (27… Rf2 $1 {was Yu’s in-game idea, and it’s also crushing}) 28. Kxg3 Be5+
    29. Kg4 Be6+ 30. Kh5 g6+ 31. Kg5 (31. Kh6 Rf5 {cutting off the king’s escape
    and threatening …Rh5#} 32. Bf3 Bg7#) 31… Rf5+ 32. Kg4 (32. Kh6 Bg7#) 32…
    h5+ 33. Kh3 Rf2#) 27… Qb4 28. Bd2 Qe7 $1 {Correctly avoiding the repetition
    — a draw would not clinch anything for Jennifer, and the position is very
    close to winning.} 29. Bc3 Be3 30. Qe1 {A final error.} (30. Bd2 {was needed,
    where Black could choose between exchanging bishops and playing Rf2 or keeping
    the dark squared bishop with Bb6, in both cases with a serious edge.} Bxd2 (
    30… Bb6) 31. Qxd2 Rf2 32. Rf1 Rxe2 33. Qxa5 $17 {and thanks to the check on
    a8 White is surviving for the moment, but is still seriously worse.}) 30… Bf2
    31. Qd2 Bxg3+ $1 {A powerful stamp on an incredible tournament. This leads to
    forced mate.} 32. Kxg3 Qc7+ 33. Kg4 Be6+ ({and White resigned in view of} 33…
    Be6+ 34. Kg5 h6+ 35. Kh5 Qf7#) 0-1
    [/pgn]

    Congratulations to both players for a job well done! Read more on the official press releases ([Nakamura](https://new.uschess.org/news/nakamura-wins-2019-u-s-championship/))([Yu](https://new.uschess.org/news/yu-womens-champion-open-grabs/)) on the official [US Chess](http://www.uschess.org) website.

  • Nigel Short Hosts Simul in Atlanta

    Nigel Short Hosts Simul in Atlanta

    It’s refreshing to see FIDE officials playing chess. After many years of gutless politicians holding the organization hostage in a reign of terror, recently elected FIDE Vice President visited the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Atlanta to host a simul pitting GM Nigel Short against 25 players. The center is run by GM Ben Finegold, who spent many years as the GM-in-residence at the Saint Louis Chess Club (formerly the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis).

    Atlanta Chess Players (Credit: Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Atlanta)

    Nigel’s willingness to visit so many different chess federations around the world and engage in simuls with players is a welcome change to past FIDE leaders. For more details, check out the Atlanta Chess Club’s Facebook page.

  • Five Recommended Chess Streamers

    Five Recommended Chess Streamers

    Streaming movies, music, video games, and other forms of entertainment is nothing new. Chess, on the other hand, has been relatively slow to catch up to the digital craze until recently with a growing number of channels on Twitch and YouTube showcasing the game. At almost any time throughout the day you can find chess being one of the most viewed activities on Twitch! To me, that’s an impressive feat when the centuries old game is competing for attention with ADHD-generation specific offerings like Fortnite and Apex Legends. So, given that I’ve spent an ever increasing amount of time watching these streamers, I thought I would share five of my favorites.

    Grandmaster Benjamin Finegold

    Once you know Ben Finegold, it’s impossible to forget Ben Finegold. No matter  how hard you try. He was the GM-in-residence at the Saint Louis Chess Club until 2012. Now he lives in Atlanta, Georgia and runs the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Atlanta. He streams most nights and is incredibly interactive with his audience. Be warned, fair reader! His streams are chess-centered, but they’re peppered with off-the-wall pop culture references and jokes; it’s that special flair that makes his stream one of my personal favorites. Also be prepared to learn a variety of new songs explaining why you should never play Bishop f3 or similar chess references. Check out his Twitch channel here.

    Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura

    Hikaru Nakamura doesn’t really need an introduction, but I’ll give him one anyway. He’s a four-time US Chess Champion and is one of the most dominant blitz players in history. He does a lot of work with Chess.com, so you’ll often see him playing in blitz tournaments on the site or contributing in various ways to the different streams on ChessTV. Nakamura is a mostly calm and collected player when he’s online. He sings a lot, which adds a nice flair to the broadcast. You’ll also find him taking a break from chess every now and then to play other games, which can liven up the interaction and show the non-chess side that many are not used to. Check out his Twitch channel here.

    Grandmaster Eric Hansen (The Chess Brahs)

    I have to admit: it was the Chess Brahs who convinced me that chess streaming had finally arrived in full force. The stream is run primarily by Eric Hansen, who is an astonishingly good blitz player along with Grandmasters Robin van Kampen and Aman Hambleton. It was one of the first streams I started watching regularly. Soaked in techno and flashy hair, the Chess Brahs are a highly interactive group stream that alternate between streaming competitions in the Chess Arena as well as game challenges with other streamers like Hikaru Nakamura. One of the things I like the most about Chess Brahs is the moments when Eric Hansen struggles with his games. He can be a very ungraceful loser, which I relate to 100%! I’ve lost a keyboard or two due to losing a game at the last minute, so it’s nice to see the touch of reality and human element in the game. Check out the Chess Brah Twitch channel here.

    US Chess Expert Frank Johnson

    Chess Coach Frank Johnson is a regular chess streamer who runs the website Chess-Coach.net. Known simply as “Coach” to his viewers and fans, he regularly plays games with his streamers and offers realtime commentary on the games to help his viewers make improvements. He typically has good tunes and a very chilled-out vibe to his stream. You’ll hear catchy phrases like Losing is Learning and True Story that resonate well with someone who is looking to improve their skills at one of the most difficult games ever created. Frank is a warm and entertaining streamer who welcomes newbies and challengers of all skill levels. Every loss is a chance to do better…true story! Check out his Twitch channel here.

    Women’s FIDE Master Alexandra Botez

    Alexandra Botez is a regular chess streamer who typically plays a mix of her viewers and challenges with other streamers. It was actually a recent stream against International Master Levy Rozman (aka. Gotham Chess) where he played blindfolded against her. The match came down to a single game where Rozman pulled out a last minute victory. I was impressed by the chess along with the interaction with the audience and the fact that she streams regularly with my ultimate chess crush, Anna Rudolf. She plays regularly with her subscribers on Twitch on Sundays. Check out her Twitch channel here.

    Honorable Mentions: I wish I had the time or mental energy to keep listing streamers because there are many more out there that are worth checking out. Here are a few that you shouldn’t pass up:

    • IM Anna Rudolf – My chess crush and frequest host/commentator for professional chess.
    • Helmsknight – Canadian player who dominates in bughouse and streamer vs. streamer content.
    • Sara Herman – Colorado-based player who often streams bullet, blitz, and some game analysis.
  • ChessNoteR Forges A Digital Pathway

    ChessNoteR Forges A Digital Pathway

    **Editor’s Note:** Purchase your own [ChessNoteR](http://www.chessnoter.com) for a 10% discounted rate by using the code **CAMPFIRECHESS** when you checkout. This offer is good until _30 April 2019_, so don’t wait!

    One of the things I love about chess is how it leverages technology and even drives advancement of new hardware/software or repurposing of old hardware/software. Throughout history, engineers and developers have found ways to incorporate chess into their projects. When new supercomputers are designed, chess gameplay is often the first thing to be implemented as a way of demonstrating the new system’s intelligence. Programs like *Deep Blue* and Google’s *AlphaZero* are just a few examples of this push. But what about the everyday chess player sitting in a smokey club trying to decide which Sicilian Defense line to follow? Well, technological advances in the club have also modernized the game. Few people use manual clocks anymore in favor of digital clocks with increment controls and other unique features. And, for a growing number of players, paper scoresheets are being replaced by a growing field of electronic ones.

    This brings me to today’s topic: electronic scoresheets and a dangerous new contender. My regular friends and readers know that I’ve used the [Plycounter](http://www.plycount.com/) electronic scoresheet for years and even did a [review](http://www.campfirechess.com/finding-the-right-notation-tool/) several years ago. It’s a small touchscreen device that uses a stylus to move the pieces. It’s been an OK device that, honestly, hasn’t held up as well over the years as I had originally hoped. That’s why I’m pleased that I was fortunate enough to get my hands on an emerging device called the [ChessNoteR](http://www.chessnoter.com).

    #### Re-purposed Technology

    **DISCLAIMER:** Black Mirror Studio graciously provided me with a ChessNoteR to test and review.

    As you can see, the ChessNoteR (pictured above) looks a lot like a cell phone. Well, that’s because it *is* a re-purposed cell phone! The ChessNoteR I tested is a Motorola Nexus 6 cell phone running a custom flavor of Android OS called ChessNoteR OS. While the device still bears the mark of its previous life as a cell phone, it immediately boots into its custom OS that only runs the ChessNoteR app and its support services. I found the interface to be relatively easy to set up. Upon booting, it enters into a default setup wizard that enables a user to connect to WiFi and input their own user information. You can opt out of the WiFi settings, but you’ll lose some of the more interesting features if you do. On that note, WiFi access has been one of the biggest hurdles for electronic devices being certified by [US Chess](http://www.uschess.org). Access to telecommunications services is forbidden during official tournaments, so that has squashed the hopes of many iPhone and Android apps of being certified for tournament play.

    ChessNoteR is the first device to find a way around this. At its core, it’s an Android app, but it *owns* the device. So, you cannot run any additional apps and you cannot run the notation app with WiFi enabled. It’s this feature that gives ChessNoteR the leverage it needed to become certified. I’ll get into the software next, but I wanted to note that it comes with two different delivery methods. The first option is to buy a pre-configured device from the website. The second option is to buy your own used Motorola Nexus 6 and ship it to the company and they will load the software onto the phone and configure it for a much cheaper price.

    #### Exploring the Software

    The core of ChessNoteR is its software. As I said, you can buy a pre-configured device or ship your own to the company for configuration. So, what about the software? Well, I must say that I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen so far of the software. The interface is very clean and user friendly. You can tell that the designer has put a lot of work into it. There are options for inputting your rating and demographic information which auto populates on scoresheets and in the exportable PGN files (sweet).

    Once you start a new game, the device disables it’s WiFi service and you cannot exit the game without *ending* the game. This prevents a user from exiting their game and using it to reference any other information that might be stored on the device during a tournament. You’ll also find that you can drag the pieces to any point on the board. This is an important part of certification through *US Chess* because restricting piece movement would be a form of electronic coaching. For example, you could actually play *1.e6* on the device and it would properly annotate the move.

    The notation interface also enables you to change the board colors to better suit you if blue and white (the default scheme) are not your preferred colors. Typically I change the board colors to match my favorite color scheme which matches that of [Chess.com](http://www.chess.com)’s default dark green scheme. However, I enjoyed the blue and white design of the ChessNoteR app, so I left it alone.

    #### Next Generation Feature Set

    Sure, it’s cool to have your games in electronic format on a hand held device, but what good is the device in the world of tournaments and real chess? Well, this device seems to have that covered as well. ChessNoteR enables a user to export games in multiple formats.

    – First, you can export the games in the traditional PGN format for use with [Chessbase](http://www.chessbase.com) and other desktop (or mobile) database applications. [Plycounter](http://www.plycount.com) also does this, but it requires installation of a third party application. ChessNoteR takes advantage of built in hardware support through the Nexus device to export the game.
    – Second, you can export the games on a professionally designed scoresheet with signatures that are ready for submission to a TD. When a game is complete, the user and opponents sign their scoresheet using the touch screen. Those signatures are exported on the scoresheet in PDF format via WiFi transfer using integrated [Dropbox](http://www.dropbox.com) functionality! So there’s no need to connect to a TD’s computer. Just connect to their WiFi and submit your game to be officially logged electronically.

    I’m a big Chromecast and video streaming user, so I was pleased to see that ChessNoteR supports wireless video casting, which allows you to *cast* your game to a device using a device compatible with Android video casting. This is great for reviewing games with a coach or for those times when your chess study demands 4K high definition. *ChessNoteR does not support Chromecast itself*, but instead supports some built-in protocols in smart TVs from Samsung, LG, and others through standard Android OS protocols.

    These are nice features that bring the convenience of digital scoresheets and notation to the tabletop chess world with a minimum amount of hassle. The controls and features are intuitive enough that anyone who uses a cell phone or tablet should have no problems using it.

    #### Final Thoughts

    I’ve been using my Plycounter for almost five years and it’s certainly taken a beating. The screen is showing significant signs of wear and overall the device feels much more cumbersome than it did when I first reviewed it. I was extremely excited to have an opportunity to test out the ChessNoteR and I am very pleased with it. The screen is much larger and more responsive than anything you’ll find on the market today.

    The *only* thing that I don’t like is how the device comes stamped with the giant *Nexus* logo on the back. There’s a small label on the device with a QR code for certification data, but the logo bothers me for some reason. In no way does that affect the device operation. Instead, it effects my OCD tendencies more. This can be fixed with a simple skin or decal from a place like [SkinIt](http://www.skinit.com) or [DecalGirl](http://www.decalgirl.com).

    Bottom line? You won’t find a better device for the price for digitally tracking your tournament games. Check out the ChessNoteR on their official [website](http://www.chessnoter.com). You can also find a large selection of videos on the ChessNoteR official [YouTube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFgf8MuW9ioXa87yxYJbiSQ) that demonstrate the various device features and how to use them.

    **RATING:** ♟ ♟ ♟ ♟ ♟

    —
    **ADDENDUM:** I didn’t realize how *out of it* I’ve been lately. In researching this article and doing the review/evaluation of this device, I realized that *Plycounter* ceased operations in February 2018 and the *Monroi Personal Chess Manager* is not available for purchase on their website.

  • San Antonio Chess Club Announces New Officers

    San Antonio Chess Club Announces New Officers

    A new year is fully underway and the [San Antonio Chess Club](https://sanantoniochess.com) has elected new officers for its executive board.

    * **President:** Rosalinda Romo
    * **Vice President:** Joel Salinas
    * **Treasurer:** Juan Carrizales
    * **Director-At-Large:** JP Hyltin
    * **Webmaster:** Martin Gordon

    Founded in 1888, the *San Antonio Chess Club* is the oldest chess club in the state of Texas. They currently meet at the Lions Field Center on Broadway from 1730-2100 every Thursday (except holidays). They are also the official governing body for [US Chess](http://www.uschess.org) activities and tournaments in the greater San Antonio area.

    The club is currently exploring ways to expand chess activities in scholastic and amateur arenas across the city. If you’re interest in joining or would like more information, check out their [official website](https://sanantoniochess.com) for details.

  • A Solid Blitz

    A Solid Blitz

    I’ve been carving regular time out of my day to do chess studies and they have started paying off. Despite all of the mistakes and blunders, I believe that my fundamentals are improving steadily as a result. Here’s a solid game I played recently on lichess.org that I felt was worth annotating.

    [pgn]
    [Event “Rated Blitz game”]
    [Site “https://lichess.org/WxA0I30F”]
    [Date “2019.02.05”]
    [Round “-“]
    [White “Wesley Surber”]
    [Black “Internet Opponent”]
    [Result “1-0”]
    [UTCDate “2019.02.05”]
    [UTCTime “04:02:41”]
    [Opening “Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Caro Variation”]
    [WhiteRatingDiff “+12”]
    [ECO “C70”]
    [BlackElo “1160”]
    [WhiteElo “1113”]
    [Variant “Standard”]
    [TimeControl “300+0”]
    [Termination “Normal”]
    [BlackRatingDiff “-34”]

    1. e4 {[%clk 0:05:00] [%eval 0.12]} e5 {[%clk 0:05:00] [%eval 0.37]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 0:04:58] [%eval 0.23]} Nc6 {[%clk 0:04:58] [%eval 0.15]} 3. Bb5 {[%clk 0:04:56] [%eval 0.14] The Spanish (Ruy Lopez) opening.} a6 {[%clk 0:04:57] [%eval 0.26]} 4. Ba4 {[%clk 0:04:55] [%eval 0.4]} b5 {[%clk 0:04:55] [%eval 0.36]} 5. Bb3 {[%clk 0:04:54] [%eval 0.27] The Morphy Defense. Creates a balanced position for both sides.} Bb7 {[%clk 0:04:54] [%eval 0.58]} 6. O-O {[%clk 0:04:53] [%eval 0.46]} f6 {[%clk 0:04:53] [%eval 0.9]} 7. Nc3 {[%clk 0:04:51] [%eval 1.43]} Nd4 $5 {[%clk 0:04:50] [%eval 2.18] The first inaccuracy of the game. Black misses Na5 to put pressure on the b3 Bishop.} 8. d3 $2 {[%clk 0:04:43] [%eval 0.52] I followed up with a mistake of my own. The better option was to take the Knight on d4.} Nxb3 {[%clk 0:04:46] [%eval 0.53] Losing my light square Bishop was a consequence of missing Nxd4.} 9. axb3 {[%clk 0:04:40] [%eval 0.57]} Bb4 {[%clk 0:04:43] [%eval 1.04]} 10. Bd2 {[%clk 0:04:37] [%eval 0.16] This move was simply a result of me not taking enough time to consider my position. The Knight was already defended by the b-Pawn. Stockfish preferred pushing d4.} Ne7 {[%clk 0:04:41] [%eval 0.44]} 11. Qe2 {[%clk 0:04:31] [%eval -0.37] The intent was to strengthen the e-File and connect my Rooks, but Nh4 was a better option.} c5 {[%clk 0:04:36] [%eval 0.42]} 12. Qe3 {[%clk 0:04:14] [%eval -0.44]} d6 {[%clk 0:04:31] [%eval -0.36]} {This was one of the few moments in the game where I was genuinely confused and unsure what to do. Nd5 to meet was a way for me to threaten d7, but not much else. Not the best of moves but it gave me some additional pressure on Black’s position.} 13. Nd5 $5 {[%clk 0:03:55] [%eval -1.49]} Bxd5 {[%clk 0:04:28] [%eval -1.06]} 14. exd5 {[%clk 0:03:54] [%eval -1.21]} Nxd5 {[%clk 0:04:27] [%eval 1.32]} 15. Qe4 {[%clk 0:03:45] [%eval 1.41]} Bxd2 {[%clk 0:04:25] [%eval 1.45]} 16. Nxd2 {[%clk 0:03:43] [%eval -1.43]} Ne7 $5 {[%clk 0:04:20] [%eval -0.57] The trade is complete and the Bishops are off the board. This works well for me because of the closed position on the board. The Knights are better in these situations and will come in very handy shortly.} 17. Rfe1 {[%clk 0:03:37] [%eval -1.43] Solidifying my position on the e-File.} Qc7 $4 {[%clk 0:04:13] [%eval 8.09] A major mistake that I MISSED!} 18. c4 $2 {[%clk 0:03:31] [%eval -1.42] A very bad move that missed capturing the a8 Rook.} Qc6 {[%clk 0:04:11] [%eval 0.67]} 19. Qg4 {[%clk 0:03:21] [%eval -0.83] Preparing an attack on e6.} Ng6 {[%clk 0:04:03] [%eval 0.6]} 20. Qe6+ {[%clk 0:03:19] [%eval -0.94] Unless black makes a serious counter move, it’s over.} Ne7 {[%clk 0:03:59] [%eval 1.16]} 21. cxb5 {[%clk 0:03:16] [%eval 0.18] Forcing the Queen away.} Qxb5 $2 {[%clk 0:03:56] [%eval 3.5] Black should have traded Queens, but missed the exchange and loses the game.} 22. Ne4 {[%clk 0:03:13] [%eval 3.32]} Qxd3 {[%clk 0:03:54] [%eval 10.25]} 23. Nxd6+ {[%clk 0:03:12] [%eval 9.97] Black’s only real move is Qxd6.} Kf8 {[%clk 0:03:52] [%eval #1]} 24. Qf7# {[%clk 0:03:11] Overall, I believe that this was a much more solid game than I’ve been playing. I hope that it’s a sign that my studies are paying off.} 1-0
    [/pgn]

  • The Awesomeness of lichess.org Studies

    The Awesomeness of lichess.org Studies

    Chess has a reputation for being a game of intellgience both on and off the board. In recent years, this has manifested heavily in the realm of information technology development. Chess engines continue to get stronger by the day and programmers of all skills are constantly developing new tools to help players analyze, sort, annotate, and improve their games. One such recent development is a growing feature on the popular [lichess.org](http://www.lichess.org) website called [studies](http://www.lichess.org/study).

    The study system on lichess is, at its core, a highly advanced PGN creator and annotator. It allows a user to create a new *study* that can be public or private. New moves, annotations, and other elements are automatically synced with the lichess server and between all of the users with access to the study. This makes studies an excellent utility for chess teachers and exhibitions since users can see, follow, and even provide collaborative comment on a game or position. To use the study utility, simply select **study** from the **Learn** menu on the lichess website. A list of available public studies will appear for you to choose from.

    If these public studies do not suit your tastes, there are options on the side of the page to create your own studies. This is where I found the study function to be most useful for me.

    Using the study tool, I am able to create a *private* study where I can create an individual *chapter* for each part of a video series I am following or game I am studying. This way I am able to make annotations, draw arrows or circles, and then share those studies with a highly limited audience if I want. Additionally, the study tool provides the user with an option to download each chapter as an individual PGN file in the format of an annotated game. Or, you can download the entire study as a PGN database to be opened in most chess database programs.

    For me, the best part of this system is the collaborative elements. It opens up a world of possibilities for digital interaction between teachers, students, and general chess enthusiasts in an intuitive and easy-to-use way. If you have not tried it out, visit [lichess.org](http://www.lichess.org/study) and check it out.

  • Victory and Destruction in Blitz

    Victory and Destruction in Blitz

    The following games were blitz games played on [lichess.org](http://www.lichess.org) in the past few weeks. I decided to annotate and share them because they show some of my continued progress (and regression) over the past few weeks. I continue to read, study, and play as much as possible, so I hope that these games reflect *some* improvement in my overall play style.

    The first game is a very nice win with some cool tactical elements. There were moments where I felt like I just got lucky, but others where I felt like concrete principles were starting to sink in for me.

    [pgn]
    [Event “Rated Blitz game”]
    [Site “https://lichess.org/sPR0hG0h”]
    [Date “2019.01.24”]
    [Round “-“]
    [White “Internet Opponent”]
    [Black “AmishHacker”]
    [Result “0-1”]
    [WhiteElo “1169”]
    [BlackElo “1148”]
    [TimeControl “300+0”]
    [Termination “Normal”]
    [UTCDate “2019.01.24”]
    [UTCTime “04:11:51”]
    [Variant “Standard”]
    [ECO “C44”]
    [Opening “King’s Knight Opening: Konstantinopolsky”]
    [Annotator “https://lichess.org/@/AmishHacker”]

    1. e4 { [%clk 0:05:00] } e5 { [%clk 0:05:00] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:04:58] } Nc6 { Whenever I focus heavily on my opening it ends up being a Kings Indian or Sicilian Defense of some semi-random variation. I have noticed that when I am feeling more anxious than usual, my openings (especially with Black) tend to be some variation of the Kings Knight with mixed results. } { [%clk 0:04:57] } 3. g3 { [%clk 0:04:53] } d5 { Trying to avoid a pawn buildup in the center and hoping to force White into an immediate exchange. } { [%clk 0:04:54] } 4. exd5 { He goes for it. } { [%clk 0:04:48] } 4… Qxd5 { [%clk 0:04:53] } 5. Bg2?! { Inaccuracy according to Stockfish. } { [%clk 0:04:46] } (5. Nc3 Qd6 6. Bg2 Bg4 7. h3 Bf5 8. g4 Bg6 9. d3 O-O-O) 5… Qd8? { Stockfish listed this move as a mistake and recommended Qe4+ as the viable alternative. } { [%clk 0:04:50] } (5… Qe4+ 6. Kf1 Nf6 7. Nc3 Qf5 8. h3 Bc5 9. g4 Qe6 10. Ng5) 6. O-O { [%clk 0:04:39] } Bg4?! { Stockfish listed this as an inaccuracy and it is certainly correct. In this position I was trying to put pressure on the f3 Knight and keep it pinned to the Queen for as long as possible. } { [%clk 0:04:48] } (6… Nf6) 7. b3 { White prepares to fianchetto his light squared Bishop. } { [%clk 0:04:29] } 7… Nf6? { Stockfish prefers Qd7 in this position to boost the g4 Bishop and open space for potential O-O-O. } { [%clk 0:04:47] } (7… Qd7) 8. Bb2 { White tries to gain counterplay by putting pressure on the d5 pawn. } { [%clk 0:04:27] } 8… Bd6 { Defending the pawn. } { [%clk 0:04:41] } 9. d3 { [%clk 0:04:25] } O-O { Castling to safety, for now. } { [%clk 0:04:40] } 10. Nbd2 { [%clk 0:04:24] } Qd7 { The move that Stockfish wanted me to play from earlier. Strengthening the g4 Bishop and preparing to break through White’s King defense. } { [%clk 0:04:25] } 11. Re1 { The fight is brewing in the center over the e5 pawn. White adds an additional attacker to the mix. } { [%clk 0:04:19] } 11… Rae8 { In keeping with the buildup against the e5 pawn, I moved my a8 Rook to provide additional defense. Unfortunately, I did not have a clear plan of action at this point. I was playing rather passively and “hoping” for something good to happen, which is a terrible way to play chess. } { [%clk 0:04:24] } 12. Ne4?! { Stockfish recorded this as an inaccuracy. My opponent should have gone Nc4, which would have put much more pressure on my King’s position. Now, I have a little bit of room to play. } { [%clk 0:04:03] } (12. Nc4 Nd4 13. a4 h6 14. Nxd6 Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 cxd6 16. c4 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 b6 18. Kg2 Rc8) 12… Nxe4 { Offering the Knight trade. } { [%clk 0:04:19] } 13. Rxe4 { [%clk 0:03:57] } f5 { This is a main reason that capturing with the Rook as opposed to the d3 pawn was not a good idea. White faces a threat that is getting harder and harder to stop. } { [%clk 0:04:14] } 14. Re1 { [%clk 0:03:47] } e4? { A mistake on my part. I was trying to push my pawn forward to increase pressure on the e-file when I should have been doing so on the f-file. The best move in this postiion was f4. Yes, White would have tried to trade Rooks on e4 and open the position, but Black would have emerged with a slightly better position. } { [%clk 0:04:09] } (14… f4 15. Re4 fxg3 16. hxg3 Bc5 17. b4 Bxb4 18. c3 Bd6 19. Qb3+ Kh8 20. Re3 Bc5 21. d4) 15. dxe4 { [%clk 0:03:45] } fxe4 { [%clk 0:04:08] } 16. Bxg7?? { A curious move. White seems to ignore all of his previous development for this brazen attack on my castled position. Black now has excellent control of the board. } { [%clk 0:03:32] } (16. Qd5+ Be6 17. Qxe4 Bxb3 18. Qh4 Rxe1+ 19. Nxe1 Be6 20. Nd3 Qf7 21. a3 Bf5 22. Nf4 Ne7) 16… Bxf3? { I noticed Kxg7 immediately after I made this move. It is not that I was ignoring the move or thought it was bad, I just felt that capturing the Knight and putting a little pressure on the Queen would be a better option before continuing. } { [%clk 0:03:58] } (16… Kxg7 17. Qd5 exf3 18. Rxe8 Qxe8 19. Bf1 Qe5 20. Rd1 Bf5 21. Qxe5+ Nxe5 22. Rd2 Bg6 23. Bb5) 17. Qb1?? { White misses two opportunities here. One is to capture the Bishop on f3 and the other is to play Qd5+. Instead, he abandons both pieces. } { [%clk 0:03:19] } (17. Bxf3 Rxf3) 17… Qxg7 { Variation of the move I should have made earlier. } { [%clk 0:03:54] } 18. c3 { [%clk 0:03:05] } Bxg2 { [%clk 0:03:45] } 19. Kxg2 { [%clk 0:03:03] } Qxc3 { Definitely not the best move out there, but it got the job done. White has opportunities for counterplay, but these never manifest. } { [%clk 0:03:27] } 20. Rxe4?! { Checkmate is now unavoidable. Best move was Qd1. } { [%clk 0:02:59] } (20. Qd1 Nd4) 20… Qf3+ { The final assault begins. } { [%clk 0:03:22] } 21. Kg1 { [%clk 0:02:52] } Qxf2+ { [%clk 0:03:21] } 22. Kh1 { [%clk 0:02:49] } Bxg3?! { Not good! There was a #5 forced sequence that I broke with this little inaccuracy. } { [%clk 0:03:07] } (22… Qf3+ 23. Kg1 Bc5+ 24. Re3 Bxe3#) 23. Rg4+?! { White does nothing to help his position at this point. } { [%clk 0:02:35] } (23. Qg1 Qf3+) 23… Kh8 { The only option. } { [%clk 0:03:03] } 24. Qb2+?! { [%clk 0:02:27] } (24. Rxg3 Re2) 24… Be5?! { Another lost checkmate sequence, but my intention was to do whatever I could to get my Queen to h2. } { [%clk 0:02:56] } (24… Qxb2 25. Rxg3 Re2 26. Rg2 Rxg2 27. h3 Rh2+ 28. Kg1 Qf2#) 25. Rag1?! { White missed a big chance to win the game by trading Queens. Instead, he opted to reinforce the attack on my Kingside with an additional Rook. This will cost him his Queen. } { [%clk 0:02:15] } (25. Qxf2 Rxf2 26. Kg1 Rxh2 27. Rf1 Rxa2 28. Rg2 Rg8 29. Rxg8+ Kxg8 30. Rf3 Rb2 31. Kf1 Nd4) 25… Qxb2 { A devastating blow for White. The game is lost. } { [%clk 0:02:53] } 26. Rg8+ { [%clk 0:02:12] } Rxg8 { [%clk 0:02:50] } 27. Rxg8+ { [%clk 0:02:12] } Rxg8 { 0-1 White resigns. } { [%clk 0:02:49] } 0-1
    [/pgn]

    This next game is a devastating loss. It is no good for a chess player to only share his/her winning games. As [Chess Coach](http://www.chess-coach.net) likes to say: *losing is learning*. Well, this is a *painful* loss, so check it out:

    [pgn]
    [Event “Rated Blitz game”]
    [Site “https://lichess.org/44ajhEWH”]
    [Date “2019.01.25”]
    [Round “-“]
    [White “AmishHacker”]
    [Black “Internet Opponent”]
    [Result “0-1”]
    [WhiteElo “1147”]
    [BlackElo “1089”]
    [TimeControl “300+0”]
    [Termination “Normal”]
    [UTCDate “2019.01.25”]
    [UTCTime “15:30:39”]
    [Variant “Standard”]
    [ECO “C65”]
    [Opening “Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense”]
    [Annotator “https://lichess.org/@/AmishHacker”]

    1. e4 { [%clk 0:05:00] } e5 { [%clk 0:05:00] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:04:58] } Nc6 { [%clk 0:04:49] } 3. Bb5 { [%clk 0:04:56] } Nf6 { I do not recall playing many games < 1200 blitz that enter into the Berlin Defense. } { [%clk 0:04:45] } 4. d4 { [%clk 0:04:53] } exd4 { [%clk 0:04:41] } 5. Nxd4?! { An early mistake for me. I should have pushed the e4 pawn forward to attack the f6 Knight, but I was too focused on recapturing the immediate material that I failed to see the coming loss of more material on my side. } { [%clk 0:04:51] } (5. e5 Ne4 6. O-O a6 7. Bxc6 dxc6 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. c3 O-O) 5... Nxe4 { Black is looking pretty good at this point. } { [%clk 0:04:38] } 6. O-O { Castling to safety. } { [%clk 0:04:47] } 6... a6? { A mistake. Black should have captured the Knight on d4, but instead opts to attack the Bishop with little in sight for return on the move investment. } { [%clk 0:04:33] } (6... Nxd4 7. Qxd4 Nc5 8. Re1+ Ne6 9. Nd2 c6 10. Bd3 d5 11. Bf5) 7. Ba4? { Stockfish preferred that I capture the c6 Knight. In hindsight, I agree. } { [%clk 0:04:42] } (7. Bxc6 dxc6) 7... Nxd4 { [%clk 0:04:26] } 8. Qxd4 { [%clk 0:04:37] } Qe7?? { Blunder. Best move was Nc5. } { [%clk 0:04:24] } (8... Nc5 9. Re1+ Ne6 10. Bb3 c6 11. Bh6 Qe7 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. Nd2 d6 14. Bf4 e5 15. Bxe5) 9. Re1 { Pinning the Knight and Queen to the e-file for the moment. } { [%clk 0:04:34] } 9... f5 { Black tries to defend the Knight, but it is not my ultimate goal, so the attack does nothing to improve the position. } { [%clk 0:04:17] } 10. Nc3 { Adding an additional threat to the e4 Knight. } { [%clk 0:04:27] } 10... c5? { Mistake. Best move was Qf6. } { [%clk 0:04:11] } (10... Qf6 11. Qxf6 gxf6 12. f3 b5 13. Bb3 Bb7 14. fxe4 O-O-O 15. exf5 Bd6 16. Bd2 Be5 17. a4) 11. Qd5 { [%clk 0:04:10] } Qd6?? { I would trade Queens if I were desperate, but that’s not the case in this instance. } { [%clk 0:03:51] } (11... Qf7) 12. Qxf5 { [%clk 0:04:06] } Be7 { [%clk 0:03:42] } 13. Qxe4 { Another free piece. This was reminiscent of a tactics puzzle. } { [%clk 0:04:02] } 13... O-O { Black seeks safety, but it doesn’t help the position. } { [%clk 0:03:36] } 14. Bb3+ { [%clk 0:03:46] } Kh8 { [%clk 0:03:32] } 15. Rd1? { A big mistake. The Rook should have stayed where it was. Very bad things are coming. } { [%clk 0:03:33] } (15. Qxe7 Qxe7 16. Rxe7 d6 17. Ne4 Bf5 18. Nxd6 Bg6 19. Nxb7 c4 20. Bxc4 Bxc2 21. Be3 Rae8) 15... Qf6 { #-3 is coming if I fail to see Be3 defending the f2 pawn. } { [%clk 0:03:24] } 16. Nd5?? { And yes, I failed to see the move. So, in a single move I went from dominating this game to losing #-2. Be3 was the saving move that doomed me. } { [%clk 0:03:10] } (16. Be3) 16... Qxf2+ { There is no escape. } { [%clk 0:03:18] } 17. Kh1 { [%clk 0:03:05] } Qf1+ { [%clk 0:03:15] } 18. Rxf1 { [%clk 0:03:03] } Rxf1# { A few choice words were yelled out in my house at the conclusion of this game, but I think it is a nice little tactical blitz game that demonstrates an important part of chess. The last person to make a mistake loses the game, no matter how good they are. } { [%clk 0:03:14] } 0-1 [/pgn]