Failed to Calculate Further

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Last Wednesday I played my second OTB game since the beginning of the pandemic.

While I did win the game, I horribly misplayed this position:

Here I played 33…Qh5?? 

Clearly the queen cannot be captured since the game would then proceed 34.Bxh5 Rg2+ 35.Kh1 Rh1+ 36.Kg1 Rag2#

What I calculated was 34.Qxc2 Qg6+ 35.Qg2 Rxg2+ 36.Bxg2 Nxe4 and thought “OK, up a pawn…must be better.” Do you see what I missed? (Scroll down for the answer)

 

 

 

 

 

Here I missed 37.f5!

In this position

I also missed 34.Bg4 Rxc2 35.f5! Qxg4 37.hxg4

So there’s a lot of work still to be done.

Luckily my opponent saw none of that and played 34.Rd2

Til Next Time,

Chris Wainscott

Alekhine in San Remo 1930 – Round Five

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Once again, in round five we are treated to a display of Alekhine’s will to win as he gets off to a 5-0 start in the event.

After emerging from the opening in an equal position, the world champion maneuvers back and forth, increasing his advantages in the tiniest ways per the teachings of Steinitz, until eventually he is able to convert his advantage.

Til Next Time,

Chris Wainscott

Tactic of the Day 4/10/2021

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Solution below.

Til Next Time,

Chris Wainscott

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Alekhine in San Remo 1930 – Round Four

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Today we look at the round four game in San Remo between Vidmar and Alekhine. After winning this game, the world champion was off to a 4-0 start.

This is a game that should be required learning material for an serious student who is just starting out.

Alekhine has a nice middlegame position, which he exchanges for an endgame with an outside passed pawn, eventually trading that down into a rook and two vs knight and three ending with all the pawns on the same side of the board.

From here the good doctors technique is quite educational.

Til Next Time,

Chris Wainscott

Tactic of the Day 4/09/2021

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Solution below.

Til Next Time,

Chris Wainscott

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Alekhine in San Remo 1930 – Round Three

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In round three, the world champion continues with another impressive win, this time against Nimzowitsch.

This game features the “Alekhine’s Gun” by it’s namesake. The annotations are in German, but should be followable.

Til Next Time,

Chris Wainscott

Tactic of the Day 4/08/2021

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Solution below.

Til Next Time,

Chris Wainscott

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Statement Regarding the Nakamura-Hansen Video

Yesterday a video surfaced which was filmed in Saint Louis a couple of years ago, and as I was both there and am clearly visible in the last frame I feel compelled to comment.

The problem with videos shot in a casual environment in general is that they tell only part of a story. The problem with this one specifically is that it’s heavily edited from several clips and is designed to lead a narrative.

Those of us who were there know the true story. We know what the mood of the evening was; who was out of control and who wasn’t; who was ordering drinks for whom, etc.

The heavily edited video is designed to evoke a specific response from those who will see it. Sadly, it leaves a lot of the context out. For those of us who were there, we know the manner in which these things were said and happened.

I do not deign to speak for either Hikaru or Eric, and I consider both of them to be my friends. We’ve had some enjoyable times together, and I certainly hope to have more in the future, but I cannot in good conscience let my part go unsaid here. This video is trash, and an embarrassment to the chess community as a whole.

On a personal level, I find it unconscionable that someone would release edited footage of private moments which they either know for certain, or should at the very least strongly suspect, will be taken out of context. Most curious is the fact that in the beginning of the video, during the blitz match, the video cuts away quickly, not allowing the viewer to see that the overall mood was pretty relaxed at this point.

There were many things which led from the friendly blitz to the “fight” outside, and without having been there to see them, viewers of the video will simply be misled. I put the quotes around fight because, once again, it seemed from where I was standing to be a pretty friendly encounter.

As a dedicated and serious chess fan I hate to see this kind of dirty laundry made public. This does nothing to enhance the popularity of the game, and all involved in the release and sharing should be ashamed of themselves.

Chris Wainscott

Alekhine in San Remo 1930 – Round Two

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In round two, Dr. Alekhine once again brings home the full point. This time he gets pawns rolling down the kingside and in the center to drive his opponent back and then wins a pawn.

Eventually he exchanges down into a rook ending where he shows impeccable technique.

Til Next Time,

Chris Wainscott

Tactic of the Day 4/07/2021

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Solution below.

Til Next Time,

Chris Wainscott

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