[BrianWall-ChessList] Victory is steeped in patience

Thu Aug 9 21:34:19 MDT 2007

I am playing in a Chess tournament with 4 speed demons, Chessplayers
emotionally incapable of slowing down their speed of play, Mike Filppu,
Tom Mullikin, Joe Pahk and Josh Devine. Slowing down would give them
all an immediate 200 rating point boost but they would have to work twice
as hard at the board. I once made a joke that Paul Grimm made a solemn
oath that he would not spend more than 3 minutes a move.

Paul has an internal egg timer that forces his brain to use
the computer function "MOVE NOW"  every three minutes! -
Tim Brennan

Josh Devine is a talented 16 year old with good tactical
and positional skills. When I last played him, Josh had
an extra 42 minutes at the end of our draw. Analysis
revealed a shockingly fast pace with multiple blunders
like Joe Pahk, both of them throwing away easy wins
with complusive clock pounding. In other words, their
moves cannot be trusted. All anyone has to do to beat
any of these guys is wait patiently for a hastily played
mistake and capitalize on it. It didn't work for Master Josh
Bloomer against Mike Filppu last night - Josh had almost no time left and
was a pawn down in a rook ending, much like his Anthea draw. Josh was
forced to give Mike a draw. In general, that strategy
should work 98% of the time.

Equally disturbing is my own tendency to match their pace.
It is almost like waiting is torture for these guys -
there is a subtle, unconcious desire to move faster.
Moving faster always leads to mistakes, even from a
Chessmaster.

So my plan before the game was clear - control my own speed,
don't be drawn into a blitz match and wait for the inevitable
blunders.

The joke I made about Paul Grimm was literally true about
Josh Devine. I record times on my scoresheet - Josh
played one move in three minutes, all other moves were
played in less than two minutes.

Tom Bourie gave Tom Mullikin a beautiful wood board
he's been varnishing for years. Mullikin promptly
dropped his Queen to Alexi Lasley on his new board.
I would recommend new wood pieces as well -
that may do the trick. Anthea beat Alexy's Dad, Matt Lasley.
It's irrelevant what happened in the Tim Brennan-Fred Spell game -
I resent the space this game has already been afforded in my email.

[Event "Poor Richards Restaurant Chess tourney"]
[Site "Colorado Springs, CO"]
[Date "2007.08.08"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Josh Devine"]
[Black "brianwall"]
[Result "1661"]
[ICCResult "White resigns"]
[WhiteElo "1661"]
[BlackElo "2234"]
[Opening "Robatsch defense: three pawns attack"]
[ECO "A40"]
[NIC "KF.05"]
[Time "20:48:00"]
[TimeControl "Game/90  5 second delay"]

Poor Richard's Restaurant

Game/90
5 second delay

August 8, 2007

White -
Teenager Josh Devine
1661

Black, with white hair,
60 pounds less than New Year's Eve

Brian Wall
2234

1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. f4 d5 4. e5 c5?

A bad move that I play all the time in blitz -
I follow certain French principles, none of
which apply because my bishop is on g7, not f8.
I don't think I get my pawn back after 5 dc!
I do remember losing many blitz games by dropping
my c-pawn, many times after White plays c3 and dc.
I had a habit of neglecting my duties and just
ignoring my pawn in favor of development.
It's really hard for an ex French player
not to undermine the White center.

5. c3? TN

Theoretical Novelty by Josh Devine -
5 Nf3? and 5 Bb5+?
have been tried before.
Ironically I had Devine's pawn
structure in our game 3 weeks ago.

5 ... cxd4

There is a rule in the French Defense that says Black should not
play ... cd until White has played Nd2, otherwise you are giving
White a better knight outpost on c3. I had to overcome that
mental barrier before playing the right move.
Hiarcs recommends a move I despise, 5 ... b3!

6. cxd4

Hiarcs recommends another move I hate,
the pawn sac  6 Nf3  dc  7 N:c3  e6

6 ... Nc6!  7. Nc3!  Nh6!

I am waiting to play
... Bc8-any and ... e6
but Josh is being coy
and won't let me develop.

8. Be3 O-O!  9. Be2

more cute stuff from the teenager -
taunting my Queen-bishop -
he won't let me play what I want -
9 Nf3  Bg4 and ... e6
or
9 Bd3  Bf5  or ... Ng4!!

9 ...  f6

I could play the French move  9 ... Qb6!

10. Rc1!

played in less than a minute.

more cuteness -
Josh keeps stalling
so I can't play
Bc8-any and ... e6.
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From: Alice In Wonderland
Music: Sammy Fain
Lyrics: Bob Hilliard

I’m Late, I’m Late
for a very important date,
No time to say hello, goodbye,
I’m late, I’m late, I’m late
and when I wave,
I lose the time I save.
My fuzzy ears and whiskers
took me too much time to shave.
I run and then I hop, hop, hop,
I wish that I could fly.
There’s danger if I dare to stop
and here’s the reason why,
(you see) I’m overdue.
I’m in a rabbit stew,
Can’t even say goodbye, hello,
I’m late, I’m late, I’m late.
Good morning Mister Chatterbox
I’d love to stoop and chatter,
but in six and seven eighth minutes
I must meet with the mad hatter
the mad, mad, mad, mad Hatter.
We must chat about a very important matter.
I’m off to see the queen of hearts
who lives up in the palace,
and the very moment I’m through with her
I’ve got a date with Alice.
I can’t be late for Alice
or the Queen of Hearts who lives up in the palace.
I’m late.

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/imlate.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Some voice told me to think for 5 minutes here,
to try and understand what was happening.
I can't follow my usual Gurgenidze Opening Plan.
I just wanted to find a decent move and I was
completely surprised to find out I was winning.
That kind of thing happens when you think for
a while.

10 ...  fxe5!!

My first point is  11  de   d4!

11. fxe5! Nf5!!

Point #2 -
12 Qd3  N:e5!!  13  de  N:e3  14 Q:e3  d4!
Point #3
12 Qd2  Nc:d4!!  13  B:d4  Bh6!!  14 Qd1  B:c1
Point #4
12 Bg5  Nf:d4!!  13  N:d5  Be6!  14 R:c6  Q:d5  15 R:e6  Rac8!
I digress -
I'll make it simple for you,
White's pawn center is collapsing,
as I am sure Josh had done innumerable
times as a French player.

12. Bf2

Josh saw none of the above,
he just immediately moved his bishop.

12 ... Bh6!!

embarrassing the White rook.

13. Ra1 Be3

I couldn't decide between  13 ... Ne3!!!
or my move. I have many strong moves here -
Josh has wasted two tempi so anything is good -
13 ... Ne3!!!, ... Be3!!, ... a6!!,   ... e6!!,
... Qb6!!, ... Qa5, ... Qc7, ... Kg7, ... Rb8
and many others.
At least I was torn between the two best moves.
13  ... Ne3!!  14  B:e3  B:e3  15  Nf3  N:d4!  16  N:d4  Bf2+!
and 17 ... B:d4

14. Nf3!   Bxf2+!!

Alexi Lasley beat Tom Mullikin this round with the tactic
14 ... Nc:d4  15 B:e3  N:e3  16 Q:d4  Nc2+,
a tactic also missed last week twice in the game
Shannon Fox-Isaac Martinez.
Josh can improve with  14 ... Nc:d4  15 0-0!
There is no reason to allow Devine castling.

15. Kxf2!  Nfxd4!

I can take the d-pawn with either knight.

16. Re1

Devine's only 3 minute think.

16 ... Bg4!!

I sort of fell in love with making natural, developing
moves.

17 Na4

Another nonsensical quick move to stop ... Qb6, I guess.

17 ... e6!!

just keep developing powerfully.

18. Kg1!  Nxe2+!  19. Qxe2 Nd4

The last time I played Josh Devine
and Joe Pahk, I got caught up in
their quick rhythm and played horribly.
At least this time I waited until I was winning.
19 ... B:f3!! is obviously stronger due to
20  gf  Nc6:d4:f3+:e1,
something I had noticed and forgot.

20. Qd2!  Nxf3+!  21. gxf3!  Bxf3!!

This time I chose right -
I was torn between  21 ... R:f3! and ... B:f3!!

22. Nc5!  Qh4 23. Nd3 Qg4+!

mating -
Future singing superstar Ashley found
24  Kf1  Be2  double checkmate.
On 24 Kf2 there are multiple wins of Devine's Queen plus
24 ... Bd1+!!, ... Rac8, ... Qg2+, ... Bh1+, ... Be4+, ... d4
all end in mate.

Josh resigns    0-1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Event "Poor Richards Restaurant Chess tourney"]
[Site "Colorado Springs, CO"]
[Date "2007.08.08"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Josh Devine"]
[Black "brianwall"]
[Result "1661"]
[ICCResult "White resigns"]
[WhiteElo "1661"]
[BlackElo "2234"]
[Opening "Robatsch defense: three pawns attack"]
[ECO "A40"]
[NIC "KF.05"]
[Time "20:48:00"]
[TimeControl "Game/90  5 second delay"]

1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. f4 d5 4. e5 c5 5. c3 cxd4 6. cxd4 Nc6 7. Nc3 Nh6 8.
Be3 O-O 9. Be2 f6 10. Rc1 fxe5 11. fxe5 Nf5 12. Bf2 Bh6 13. Ra1 Be3 14. Nf3
Bxf2+ 15. Kxf2 Nfxd4 16. Re1 Bg4 17. Na4 e6 18. Kg1 Nxe2+ 19. Qxe2 Nd4 20.
Qd2 Nxf3+ 21. gxf3 Bxf3 22. Nc5 Qh4 23. Nd3 Qg4+

Josh resigns    0-1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our game three weeks ago

[Event "Poor Richard's Restaurant July"]
[Site "Colorado Springs, CO"]
[Date "2007.07.18" ]
[Round "2"]
[White "brianwall"]
[Black "Josh Devine"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ICCResult "3 fold repetition draw"]
[WhiteElo "2224"]
[BlackElo "1650"]
[Opening "French: Tarrasch, closed variation"]
[ECO "C05"]
[NIC "FR.16"]
[Time "13:35:19"]
[TimeControl "Game/90 5 second delay"]

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ngf3 Qb6 8.
Nb3 cxd4 9. cxd4 Bb4+ 10. Kf2 f6 11. Be3 O-O 12. Bd3 g5 13. g3 Be7 14. Qc2
Rf7 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Kg2 g4 17. Ng5 Bxg5 18. fxg5 e5 19. g6 Rf3 20. gxh7+
Kh8 21. Be2 Rxe3 22. Qg6 Qd8 23. Rhf1 Rxe2+ 24. Kg1 Ne7 25. Qxg4 Re4 26. Qg5
Nc6 27. Qg6 Ne7 28. Qg5 Nc6 29. Qg6 Ne7

1/2-1/2

I claimed a three-fold repetition with 2 minutes left on my clock with 30 Qg5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Event "Arco op 24th"]
[Site "Arco"]
[Date "2002.10.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Roversi,Stefano"]
[Black "Egger,Martin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Eco "B06"]

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.f4 d5 4.e5 c5 5.Bb5+ Nc6 6.Nc3 cxd4 7.Qxd4 e6 8.Nf3 Nge7
9.0-0 0-0 10.Bxc6 Nxc6 11.Qf2 b6 12.Be3 Ba6 13.Rfd1 Na5 14.b3 Qc7
15.Na4 Rac8 16.Rac1 Nb7 17.Rd4 Nc5 18.Nxc5 bxc5 19.Ra4 Bb5 20.Ra3 d4
21.Bd2 Rfe8 22.Ra5 Qb6 23.a4 Bd7 24.Qe2 Bf8 25.Ra6 Qb7 26.Ra5 Bc6
27.Re1 Bxf3 28.gxf3 Red8 29.Rb5 Qc6 30.Qe4 c4 31.Qxc6 Rxc6 32.Ba5 Rd7 33.Rb8 Kg7
34.b4 c3 35.b5 Rc4 36.Bd8 Bc5 37.Bf6+ Kh6 38.Bg5+ Kh5 39.Rh8 f5
40.Kg2 d3 41.cxd3 Rb4 42.Rc1 Rb2+ 43.Kh3 Bd4 44.Rd8 Rxd8 45.Bxd8 c2 46.a5 Be3

0-1
--------------------------------------------------------------------
[Event "North Sea Cup 22nd"]
[Site "Esbjerg"]
[Date "2007.07.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Christiansen,Sofus Ronne"]
[Black "Engelbert,Christoph"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Eco "B06"]

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.f4 d5 4.e5 c5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Nc3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 h5 8.Be2 Nh6
9.Be3 Bg4 10.Nf3 Nf5 11.Bf2 e6 12.0-0 0-0 13.Nb5 a6 14.Nbd4 Nfxd4 15.Bxd4 Rc8
16.c3 Qa5 17.h3 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Nxd4 19.cxd4 Qb6 20.b3 Rc3 21.Rf2 Rfc8 22.Rd2 Bh6
23.g3 h4 24.Kg2 Qc6 25.Qe1 Qb6 26.Rad1 Qb4 27.Qf2 Qa3 28.Re2 a5 29.Rdd2 a4
30.bxa4 Rxf3 31.Qxf3 Rc3 32.Qf1 Rc1 33.Qf3 Rg1+ 34.Kxg1 Qxf3 35.gxh4 Bxf4
36.Rb2 Be3+ 37.Rxe3 Qxe3+ 38.Kh2 Qxd4 39.Rxb7 Qxe5+ 40.Kg2 Qe4+

0-1

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