Pintastic

What is the best continuation for white?

My brother and I played this game yesterday. I ended up having to leave shortly after this position but I saved it because honestly, I did not know how to finish it. We both had approximately five minutes left. The opening of choice for white (curradojr, me) was the Danish Gambit. He played into it strangely but eventually it led to a more typical position. As is typical of the Danish white needed to lay down a formidable attack and soon, before black gains a foothold on the board. More detailed veiws on the Danish Gambit here... http://knightskewer.blogspot.com/2006/07/danish-gambit.html#links

Black held his ground well but became tied up with a series of pins and skewers that led to this situation. The game up to this point:

White curradojr

Black EpicurianJesus

1.e4 c5

2.d4 cxd4

3.c3 dxc3

4.Bf1c4 e6

5.Ng1f3 cxb2

6.Bc1xb2 Bf8b4+

7.Nb1c3 Ng8e7

8.O-O O-O

9.Nc3b5 a6

10.Nb5d6 b5

11.Bc4b3 Bb4xd6

12.Qd1xd6 Bc8b7

13.Rf1e1 f5

14.Qd6e5 Rf8

15.Nf3g5 Rf7f6

16.Ra1d1 Qd8f8

Rook and Queen Problem

The maximum number of nonattacking rooks that may be placed on an nxn chessboard is n. This arrangement is achieved by placing the rooks along the diagonal (Madachy 1979). The total number of ways of placing n nonattacking rooks on an nxn board is n!(Madachy 1979, p. 47).

What is the maximum number of queens that can be placed on a chessboard. Eight queens for the usual board (Madachy 1979; Steinhaus 1999, p. 29).

The Big Cipher

Through the sunlight I entered the cool dank store. "Renaissance Books." They had told me. "You'll find what your looking for their." I scanned the place. No one was about. Stepping over piles of old books and magazines I made my way through a labyrinth of twelve foot high shelves that only stretched three quarters of the way to the ceiling. A towering wall of books with handwritten tags came up against me. Bodybuilding it said. Arnold Schwarzenegger's eyes peered back from the shelf, from half empty boxes on the floor. The old govenator in his youthful first life. A dark mans face appeared behind me "What are you looking for?" He stammered in only the way a half hermit used bookstore owner could. I don't know I thought, but Ill find it here. "Nothing." I said hoping he wouldn't start small talking me. "Thanks though." "Their are four more floors!" he croaked "look around." He Quickly disappeared into a fog of paper and words. I turned back to the sagging old shelves and my eyes finally adjusted to the darkness of the place. "Sports." I thought out loud, games must be nearby. My gaze went off to the left and my feet followed almost tripping over an old grey step stool straight out of the sixties. I caught my balance on Field Hockey and Golf. "You'll find what your looking for." they had promised. Only if I make it out alive. Four shelves caught my eyes as I stood up. Above, out of arms length, they hovered overhead as if the rest of the books had melted away. Chess it read on a small piece of taped handwritten paper. My mind raced. I should have known. It had been haunting me for weeks. Blitz chess. The kind you can only find in crowded chat rooms and dim lit smoke filled coffee houses. I frantically searched through the titles with my fingers and eyes. Blitz Theory, it stuck out, practically glowing among the other paperbacks. Found it, I thought. This has to be it. With one foot on the rickety old step stool I reached high and got hold of it. I hopped down gripping it tight against my chest and turned to the door. Their he stood, the man from before, with an unmistakable look in his eye. He knew all along. That's when I recognized him.

Memorial Day

HEADQUARTERS GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

General Orders No.11, WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 1868

I. The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.
We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, "of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion." What can aid more to assure this result than cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes? Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.
If our eyes grow dull, other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us.
Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation's gratitude, the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.
II. It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to lend its friendly aid in bringing to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.
III. Department commanders will use efforts to make this order effective.
By order of
JOHN A. LOGAN, Commander-in-Chief
N.P. CHIPMAN, Adjutant General
Official: WM. T. COLLINS, A.A.G.

Bishops Problem

Puzzles and mathematical problems on the chessboard keep me going when playing gets dull or Im in a slump. Their are a bunch of them on http://mathworld.wolfram.com/ that I will be posting on over the next week or so. I am by no means a mathematician so I will leave out some of the more complicated equations that I dont understand and you probably dont either. Their is a similiar post about an original knight problem at http://knightskewer.blogspot.com/2006/09/guarinis-problem.html . Try them out, often their is more than one solution.

Find the maximum number of bishops that can be placed on an nxn chessboard such that no two attack each other.

Find the minimum number of bishops needed to occupy or attack all squares on an nxn chessboard.

Imagination

Above is an infinite chessboard reflected in a sphere. Look at it. It entices the imagination. Infinity reflected into infinity. That could make for a long game.

The Good Life

Sadly, The only newspaper at Quiznos today was the Sheperd Express. In it I found this amusing article about a young adventurous chess player. The Sheperd Express is an openly liberal newspaper here in Milwuakee. It leans so far left Al Gore probably gets a chuckle out of its absurdity on occasion. Its also owned by the most widely distributed paper in Wisconsin, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinal. The Journal Sentinal claims to be unbias of course. How that can be true is beyond me. Anyway, its also evidence that chessplayers are like everyone else. On with the story....

The Continuing Crisis
Peru's Emilio Cordova, 15, won the South American chess championship in January. Instead of continuing a life of chess, he flew from the tournament site in Argentina to Sao Paulo, Brazil, and moved in with a 29-year-old stripper. After Emilio's two months in the fast lane, his father went to Sao Paulo and retreived him, with help from the government.

Ginger: A good way to cleanse the pallet

A while back I sat down to play a leisurely game against chessmaster that I knew I would lose. I enjoy playing computer opponents that are out of my league from time to time to keep me honest. It was played using equal time (admittedly to my advantage) and turned out to be one of the best games Ive ever played against chessmaster. Play it out and let me know what you think?

Getting accustomed to the style of an opponent is natural. Its happened plenty with people Ive played in coffee shops over the years. I'm not sure if its the same with an entire program like chessmaster, but it would explain why I can now consistently beat chessmaster players up to 2200 but remain around 1700 on pogo.

Date 3-23-2007

White Mitchell (Pawn Shaman)
Black Ginger 2315
Result 1-0

1. d4 d5
2. c4 dxc4
3. e4 e5
4. Nf3 Bb4+
5. Nc3 exd4
6. Nxd4 Ne7
7. Bg5 O-O
8. Nf3 Bg4
9. Be2 Qxd1+
10. Rxd1 Nbc6
11. O-O Rfe8
12. h3 Bxc3
13. bxc3 Bxf3
14. Bxf3 Rad8
15. Rb1 Rd3
16. Rxb7 f6
17. Be3 Rxc3
18. Rxc7 Rc8
19. Rd7 Rc2
20. a3 Rd8
21. Rxd8+ Nxd8
22. Bxa7 Ng6
23. Rd1 Nc6
24. Be3 Nge5
25. Rc1 Rxc1+
26. Bxc1 Nxf3+
27. gxf3 c3
28. Kf1 Nd4
29. Ke1 f5
30. exf5 Kf8
31. a4 Ke8
32. a5 Kd7
33. a6 Kc6
34. Be3 Nxf5
35. Kd1 Nxe3+
36. fxe3 Kb6
37. Kc2 Kxa6
38. Kxc3 Kb5
39. Kd4 Kc6
40. e4 Kd7
41. Kd5 Ke7
42. f4 Kd7
43. e5 h6
44. f5 Ke7
45. e6 h5
46. h4 Kd8
47. Kd6 Ke8
48. e7 Kf7
49. Kd7 Kf6
50. e8=Q Kxf5
51. Qxh5+ Kf4
52. Ke6 Ke3
53. Qf5 Kd4
54. Qe5+ Kc4
55. Qd5+ Kc3
56. Ke5 g5
57. hxg5 Kc2
58. Qf3 Kd2
59. Ke4 Kc2
60. Kd4 Kb2
61. Qc3+ Kb1
62. Kd3 Ka2
63. Qb4 Ka1
64. Kc2 Ka2
65. Qb2# 1-0

Dont call it a comeback!

I had made a stupid error, costing me my queen. So I went into defense mode and had one of the greatest comebacks in my history...play it out if you have time, it is a very fun game.
Patrick

White jitthrower

Black ReverendDominus

1.e4 c5
2.f4 a6
3.Ng1f3 Nb8c6
4.a4 e6
5.Nb1c3 h6
6.Bf1c4 Ng8f6
7.f5 Bf8e7
8.e5 Nf6h7
9.fxe6 fxe6
10.O-O O-O
11.Nc3e4 b6
12.Ne4d6 Be7xd6
13.exd6 Bc8b7
14.d3 Qd8f6
15.c3 Nc6d8
16.Nf3g5 Nh7xg5
17.Rf1xf6 Rf8xf6
18.Bc1xg5 hxg5
19.d4 cxd4
20.Qd1xd4 Nd8f7
21.Qd4xb6 Bb7e4
22.Bc4xa6 Ra8f8
23.Ba6c4 Nf7e5
24.Bc4b3 Be4d3
25.h3 g4
26.Ra1e1 Rf6f5
27.Qb6d4 g3
28.Qd4xd3 Ne5xd3
29.Re1b1 Nd3xb2
30.a5 Nb2d3
31.Bb3c2 Rf5d5
32.Rb1d1 Nd3c5
33.Rd1xd5 exd5
34.Bc2d1 Rf8a8
35.Bd1f3 Ra8xa5
36.Bf3xd5+ Kg8f8
37.Kg1f1 Nc5a4
38.c4 Na4c3
39.Kf1e1 Nc3xd5
40.cxd5 Ra5xd5
41.Ke1e2 Rd5xd6
42.Ke2f3 Rd6g6
43.h4 Kf8e7
44.h5 Rg6h6
45.Kf3g4 d5
46.Kg4xg3 Rh6xh5
47.Kg3f3 Ke7e6
48.g4 Rh5e5
49.Kf3f4 d4
0-1

Analyzing two games

"The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered, and his States and all their clans are preserved." - Confucius

I just finished two games against my brother. Both were solid and his game is getting unshakable. I won the first game playing quite defensively as black. It was close and he nearly had me at one point until I withdrew my forces into a make shift but impregnable castle. As his forces prepared to lay siege it became the fortified castle under menacing pressure against the exposed king with room to run. He saw through my conniving schemes and subtle maneuverings, which is concerning as usually my strength is in deception. His tick was the use of time and that may be a small advantage to capitalize on in the future. When in a conundrum he no longer fears using as much time as he needs to solve the puzzle at hand.

The second game was no gem. I opened powerfully and gained an aggressive position. It was a clear advantage and his pieces were getting tied up in a defencive knot. Letting myself get bloodthirsty I lost sight of the advantages until it was too late. One combination in the middle game left me down material and on the defence until the bitter end. Had I taken the time and settled into the game appropriately I probably would have claimed victory. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

Sarkozy Victorious

France will soon be back on board with the rest of the civilized world. Even the majority of France is leaning right these days. How could this be when the French lead such better lives than Americans and Sarkozy's evil conservative policies will surely destroy their heavenly lifestyle? The extreme left will riot soon and make a mockery of themselves on the world stage. The price of progress is high these days. I for one am looking forward to watching the country transform itself and analyzing its consequences.

Is my brother a better chess player than I?

He did however leap to over 1800 on Pogo. He sent me a recent game with a rather eccentric opening. It appears as if they are both playing a strange version of the Sicilian. The game builds to a crescendo combination where black maximizes his position. I ran it through Chessmaster and except for pointing out one major combination error for both black and white it didn't have much to say. Its clear white is out classed as he plays too conservatively and moves his queen uselessly and too often. Black takes full advantage and white resigns after only twenty moves.

The game...

White clemensisold

Black EpicurianJesus

Result 0-1

1.e4 c5

2.c3 a6

3.d3 b6

4.Ng1f3 Bc8b7

5.g3 c4

6.e5 cxd3

7.Qd1xd3 Nb8c6

8.Bc1f4 e6

9.Bf1g2 a5

10.Qd3d1 Bb7a6

11.b3 Bf8c5

12.Qd1c2 Ng8e7

13.c4 h6

14.O-O Ra8c8

15.Qc2e2 Nc6d4

16.Qe2e4 Ne7f5

17.Bf4e3 Nd4xf3+

18.Bg2xf3 Nf5xe3

19.fxe3 Qd8g5

20.Rf1e1 Rc8b8

0-1