ANTI SICILIANS

I have found this DVD by Danny King to be very useful and practical for use in club matches.

The great problem I am finding now is trying to keep all the stuff in my memory, it takes almost "constant revision" and there is just not enough time for "constant revision."

Ec 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

LAWRENCE IS RIGHT

Early today I watched the video on Chess.com by Lawrence Trent relating to "Winning won games."
All he says in the video is correct and I am sure all chess players would agree with him.

Below is a rated game I played against Fritz on Monday night, I was very pleased with the win.

However when it came to move 37 I was unsure what to play, plus I was also getting tired, as I instinctively felt I was winning, I doubled and Fritz resigned.  

This has now become a very bad habit for me and I need to break it, as you cannot do this in human games.

Over the past few years I have played a huge number of games in rated play mode, and in many of them I have gained an advantage, but then I play  just one weak move and Fritz suddenly finds a way to force a draw, or turns the tables completely and I suddenly end up loosing a "won game."

Plus, when you play humans you can sometimes detect from your opponents "Body language" that you have a big advantage even though you have been unaware of it. The "Body language"  gives you a clue to look harder for the key move.

When you play a computer programme, there is no "Body language" clues given, though Fritz does try to bluff by doubling, if you refuse the double request you loose on the spot.
If you accept the double request you quite often can play on and manage to get a draw or sometimes even a win.

Fritz rating in the game below was set at 2398, my current rating in this playing mode is 2276

Play online chess

Danny King`s DVD on the Najdorf has been very useful.  He gives the line where black plays a5 on move 10.

In my games against Fritz, I have done quite well with this line on the occasions I could remember the correct continuations.

Some bad beatings have come my way, when I could not remember the best way to continue!




Ecc 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

WHO WILL BE THE FIRST UCU PLAYER TO PLAY THIS?

Noticed a new DVD by Andrew Martin being publicised, I wonder who will be the first UCU player to play it?



It will not be me, that is for sure, I am having serious trouble trying to remember the lines I try to play at the present, trying to learn anything new, is totally out of the question.

I am sure some one will give it a go though?

Ecc 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

WORST DEFEAT EVER?

Tonight`s game was possibly my worst defeat ever against a human. 

At the end of the game I initially thought it was my worst defeat for years, but the more I thought about it, I concluded it is my worst ever defeat against a human.

The opening was a Najdorf Sicilian defence where white plays the solid Be2 line.

I resigned in a middle game position with the same number of pieces and pawns on the board for both sides, I felt it was a hopeless position.

It is a long time since I faced the Be2 line. My computer programme is Deep Fritz 14 and it does play a wide variety of lines against the Najdorf, though it has not played the Be2 line for a good while.


(Note, in the commentary it says Fritz 13 gives 1.88, this is a mistake my programme is Deep Fritz 14.)

In my possession I have Danny King`s DVD on the Najdorf.  This is a very good DVD but I could not remember the lines he gives against Be2.

This would be a very good DVD for people starting to play the Najdorf.

Lately I have also obtained Victor Bologan`s DVD on the Najdorf. 

It is a lot more detailed than the Danny King DVD but I have not seen it all yet.
Definitely need to get more clued up on the Be2 line.

When I started playing the Najdorf it was based upon the book "Mastering the Najdorf" by Arizmendi and Moreno.

If I was starting to do it all again, I would buy the Danny King DVD first to get started, then the Bologan DVD to give more detailed lines, then finally the book and I would pay particular attention to white`s Be2 line.

As you can see I have all the resources necessary to play the Najdorf at club level, which means I can have no excuses for a defeat. I was simply outplayed on the night!

Ecc 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

FOR RUSSELL

My friend Russell Goodfellow, was confronted with b3 against the Sicilian, in his last game of the Major tournament.

I was aware that Andrew Martin had produced a video on the line and I managed to find it.

There is a second video.


A few years ago I played in the Gibraltar Challengers and had an opponent who played this as white. 

I had the luxury of knowing this before the game but there was so little information about this line, so I was unable to prepare well enough and I lost the game.

Not sure if there is a name for this white line?

My current Dbase by Chessbase has quite a few games in this line from the years 2015/16.  Looks like it is growing in popularity.

Ecc 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

FULL GAME LINKED TO THE MOVE 17.Qe3 ARTICLE

Below is the full game linked to the earlier  MOVE 17.Qe3.... NOW IT IS BLACK TO MOVE article.

It is provided with Fritz analysis.


During the game I had reached the stage of complete tiredness that I could not even imagine 17...d4

It was beyond my comprehension. All I could see was the obvious 17...Bxd3 after which Fritz gradually outplayed me until I resigned.

Trying to play Chess while tired is not a good idea!

Ecc 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

REFUTING THE DRAGON? 10.Qe1

Just read a very good report of yesterday`s action at the IOM chess tournament.   

Contained in the report is a write up of Lawrence Trent and Peter Leko`s game, which featured the Sicilian Dragon.

The 10. Qe1 line gets a mention and is worth reading.

It also should be noted, that Victor Bologan covers the Sicilian Dragon in his DVD`s, where he provides a repertoire for white using the 10.Qe1 line.

Here is a clip from one of the DVD`s though it is not showing the Dragon variation. I have found Victor Bologan`s DVD`s very interesting and they are packed with lots of information.

A good while ago I had a look at Lawrence Trent`s Facebook page and he seemed to like ROSS KEMP.

For overseas readers, I must point out ROSS KEMP is a UK actor who is known for playing "tough-guy roles."

Here is a video clip of me talking to ROSS KEMP on the 12th July 2013.   This is a very interesting video. 

If you log in to Youtube and play this video it will play ok. However, if you log out of Youtube and try to play this video, it will say it is banned by the UK government!

Ross Kemp was too frightened to include me in his video, what a wimp!!!!!

Naturally I had to remake the video and rename ROSS KEMP as ROSIE KEMP!  The audio is featuring a guy called DON PARTRIDGE who has sadly died.


He was an incredible musician who never got the credit he truly deserved. You can see him below singing "Blue Eyes."

As for Rosie Kemp, he was not long in running away, once he thought there was going to be real trouble!

28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

BRILLIANT PREVIEW, MIDDLE GAME AND ENDGAME STUDY

Danny King has posted a brilliant preview of the forthcoming World Championship match, which also shows an excellent middle game and end game study.

Well worth watching.

Ecc 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

MOVE 17.Qe3.... NOW IT IS BLACK TO MOVE

This is a position which arose from a game I played in my hotel room.  As I am suffering from sleeplessness, the game was played when I am tired.

Once move 17 was reached the tiredness makes it nearly impossible to think clearly.
How should black continue?

I will post the full game, with Frtiz analysis some time tomorrow.

I am keeping a record of my thinking pattern as my doctor has prescribed Phenergen and Risperidone to combat sleeplessness.

When I go home next week, they better have a very good reason why such drugs are not working! lol

Below is my current games record for playing Fritz Rated games mode.

Ecc12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

DISASTER AND A BAD HABIT

My fourth game in the new rated game mode was somewhat of a disaster.  The defence was not at fault, it was a clear case of bad judgement on my part.

Was not following any lines from any of my DVD`s or books here, I thought I could get an advantage after Fritz played 4.Qd3.  It did not work out that way though.  There is a saying which deals with such scenarios, it is "Dry yer eyes."

Game 5 ended because I cannot get out of a bad habit.  After Fritz made move 29, I sensed I had a better position but had not worked out the best way to continue, so I doubled to see what it would do, Fritz then resigned.

Need to get out of the bad habit of doubling, it would be better to keep playing because we humans can blunder even really good positions. Looking at it after the game, I think I may have been tempted to play 30.Nb6 next.

Bologan`s DVD series encouraged me to start playing the Open Sicilian.

In game 4 I was wise in my own eyes, so I subsequently lost.

The score is 3.5 to 1.5 in my favour.
Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

HORRIFIC EXPERIENCE

Here is a game I played against Fritz 13 at 10 minute time control. The programme was at full strength, it was a pretty horrifying experience. I will do better the next time!