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| Posted by mercury_whyte nsa-hitachi.com 1/26/2003 03:35:12 play online chess |  Subject: The English Defence page 4Message: Starting a new team thread, please continue to use page 3 untill it is full. |
| Posted by kjhev nsa-hitachi.com 1/29/2003 04:46:59 play online chess | COACHING UPDATE Message: To those of you who took me up on my offer of coaching, I enjoyed playing through your games, giving feedback and reading your replies. I would just like to make one general observation: It can do no harm to invest in a good openings primer. To see how the masters deploy their forces in readiness for the middlegame can be a real eye-opener. They've spent years trying to get it right - why not take a look? All good wishes! Kevin (kjhev) |
| Posted by parrvert nsa-hitachi.com 1/29/2003 10:11:27 play online chess | Cheers kjhev Message: I will keep an eye out. If you could recommend one that would be great. |
| Posted by kjhev nsa-hitachi.com 1/29/2003 11:27:03 play online chess | OPENINGS PRIMERS Message: Ok - thanks for that, parrvert. Good Question. I guess there is a range of styles regarding openings primers. I am not concerned here with books covering a specific opening, but those giving an overview of all the openings. At one end of the grid are the books which give moves and virtually no explanation. I would give the ECO volumes as a good example. These books are useful to players who have already mastered the openings to some extent. I would regard myself as falling into this category. However, in the case of all the players I recently coached, I would recommend opening primers towards the other end of the grid. Although I am not overly familiar with these, you could do no wrong if you were to get a look at Batsford's "Modern Chess Openings" - compiled by Nick de Firmian, which lists the main variations coupled with some explanatory text (similar is "NCO" compiled by John Nunn). And for those of you who want to learn to excel in open, tactical positions, "Chess Openings for Juniors" by John Walker is a good start. Do feel free to add to the list - ideally giving your view on the book(s) involved. All good wishes, Kevin (kjhev) |
| Posted by mercury_whyte nsa-hitachi.com 1/29/2003 12:42:14 play online chess | Openings Message: How about 'Mastering the opening' by Byron Jacobs? This was suggested to me by tkdman... I have only just started getting into it but it seems clearly written and comfortable to read... |
| Posted by kjhev nsa-hitachi.com 1/31/2003 10:18:52 play online chess | GOOD OPENING PRIMERS Message: - Chess Openings, M Basman (Crowood 1991); - Penguin Book of Chess Openings, W Hartston (Penguin 1981); - Nunn's Chess Openings (as I mentioned before), Nunn et al (Gambit 1999). The first two are excellent introductions by distinguished chess authors (and clever blokes). They are written in a clear style and cover the salient points. An effective approach if you want to try out the main strategies which have been modelled over the years. However, the Nunn book is altogether more contemporary and fleshes out the detail in a very useful way - once you've chosen an opening line to try out. Kevin (kjhev) |
| Posted by mercury_whyte nsa-hitachi.com 2/01/2003 00:27:44 play online chess | 1st February Update Message: Hello all... 1) Just accepted a challenge from team sinergia2003, good luck mkkid, nmellor, dutchgrasseii and twistedmenace... 2) Am negotiating a challenge with davism of team INVINCIBLES, will let you all know how that goes soon... 3)Apologies to everyone in the team for my slump in form over the last few days, no excuses just a word of explaination. My rise in rating to the 1500 level late last year came on the back of a change in thinking, and was mostly achieved at the expense of opponents in the 1300 to 1450 rating range before I set up The English Defence. Since then I have entered myself for many team challenges, and have been selected to play players mostly in the 1500 to 1650 range, a considerable step up. I think I have not prepared well for this, and have been throwing myself into the fray a little too recklessly. Consequently I have been on the back foot in quite a few games, which are now concluding more or less at once. Other team members, particularly tkdman, parrvert and kjhev are doing their best to help me improve my game and for that I am grateful, but it will take me a little time to recover myself. I know team scores are not everything, but I do not wish to bring down morale or hurt the team in any other way, so I am going to trim back my games and hopefully profit by the advice I have been given. I hope you'll all be patient with me... 4) Sincere apologies to dazz on our mini-tournament game. Taking nothing away from you, but I played embarrassingly badly and robbed you of a proper contest...What a shocker! Will update again soon (I know some of you are still low on team games)... Regards to all, mercury_whyte |
| Posted by tkdman nsa-hitachi.com 2/01/2003 12:30:07 play online chess | Message: There is no need to apologise mercury white, im sure all of us are playing tough games just like you. Some we win some we dont, but try we do. The team score is second in my opinion to enjoyment and a better understanding of the game which im sure will come with a little help from our team mates. Rregards, tkdman |
| Posted by kjhev nsa-hitachi.com 2/01/2003 12:39:14 play online chess | team performance Message: i feel the same as tkdman and hate to read such a sad posting as our captain's - mercury-white. i'm afraid i made a dreadful mistake in one of my team games and lost a pawn going into an ending where i have almost no chance of rescuing the situation. yet i'm winning as black against him in the other team game. i feel a fool but i also know i'm trying hard. that's all we can ask of eachother. by the way - you're holding up well against good opposition tkdman, that's good to hear - well done, kevin (kjhev) |
| Posted by dutchgrasseii nsa-hitachi.com 2/03/2003 05:49:34 play online chess | Captain Message: You're doing a great job, don't worry about it. I've also lost the team a lot of points, my apologies, but I'm learning & have received tips on how to strengthen my opening & hope to build on this & maybe bring in a few points. Thanks as well for the latest team game, finally playing a guy lower than me!! I'll do my best to bring 2 points in. |
| Posted by mercury_whyte nsa-hitachi.com 2/03/2003 11:55:35 play online chess | Thank you Chaps... Message: ...for the kind words. I wasn't feeling too down about it, just thought the team deserved a word of explaination. I'll try to do better, and help get that score back up again. Best of fortunes dutchgrasseii, I was in the position of choosing players for an incoming challenge (for a change) and hopefully gave everyone involved a fair chance. Still negotiating a challenge to the INVINCIBLES, and we could soon be involved in a 6 player contest against Kumpan's Chessworld of Peace! I've had a preview of the kind of players we might be up against and I think I'll need the 6 highest rated chaps available. Anyone who'd rather not be in on this one just let me know... Keep your peckers up, Until next time...mercury_whyte |
| Posted by tkdman nsa-hitachi.com 2/03/2003 14:04:55 play online chess | Message: Thanks for the message of support kjhev im trying my best against tough oposition. How are your team games going? |
| Posted by kjhev nsa-hitachi.com 2/04/2003 03:57:24 play online chess | tkdman reply Message: hi tdkman how am i doing in team games? - i seem to be well ahead in 1, in a lot of trouble in another and levellish in 6 - which is perhaps ok as some of these players are quite strong. it would be nice to power ahead in some of those games and i'm drumming up some ideas at the moment ... kind wishes, kjhev |
| Posted by nmellor nsa-hitachi.com 2/06/2003 14:31:51 play online chess | Coaching Message: can i just advise everyone if they havent done it already to pick kjhev's brains. Ive only recieved a couple of messages from him and already i feel my game has come on a lot stronger. He has talked me through how he sees my style and made simple suggestions about improvements i can make. Cant thank him enough really, if you havent done it already i cant recommend him highly enough. Mark |
| Posted by nmellor nsa-hitachi.com 2/06/2003 14:36:09 play online chess | addition to last post Message: If you need proof of his ability, im currently playing a team game against Jenco. He has a rating of 1500+ and i feel that before i had recieved tips from kjhev i would have made at least a few errors and more than likely be fighting a losing battle. Instead im in a position where i feel i have an advantage i can now press home. Well its late so i think the kjhev appriciation society needs sleep, so chat to you guys soon Mark |
| Posted by mercury_whyte nsa-hitachi.com 2/08/2003 03:53:26 play online chess | Best of luck... Message: nmellor and mkkid in you new challenge games against the INVINCIBLES team! Your opponents should be davism and phishbone69... Tough games for dazz, bigphil and tonyh in the challenge against Kumpan's Chessworld of Peace, but better draws (hopefully) for dutchgrasseii, tkdman and kjhev. The challenge evens itself out I believe... I agree with nmellor's last two posts, I am going through the somewhat disagreeable process of completing quite a few tough team games which I have been losing for some time, and am consequently dragging the team score down. Well played everyone who is carrying me at present, but things will improve in future with the help I am receiving. Count me in to the appreciation society... More challenges soon, best regards for now. mercury_whyte |
| Posted by ovda nsa-hitachi.com 2/08/2003 03:58:44 play online chess | pleas Message: send u a challange |
| Posted by tkdman nsa-hitachi.com 2/08/2003 10:52:22 play online chess | Message: Hi team, i would just like to say to nmellor and mercury_white your not dragging the team down, as mercury_white describes in his message and we are not carrying you either, we are in this together for better for worse remember this is a team game a team in which im very proud to be a part of. Regard's tkdman. |
| Posted by tkdman nsa-hitachi.com 2/08/2003 10:59:56 play online chess | books Message: Hi team, their is a book i think every team player should own, (mercury_whyte has it) logical chess by Irving Chernev move by move every move explained, it will improve every player who reads it. It has games in the past 100 years and goes through every move played by masters and why they made those moves. Regards tkdman. |
| Posted by parrvert nsa-hitachi.com 2/08/2003 12:27:56 play online chess | books Message: I currently have "The Penguin Book of Chess Openings" out from the library. Partly on the recommendation of kjhev and partly because it is the only reasonably useful chess book in the library that I haven't already read. When I get some money together I will look to buy some books, the ones I am considering: "Logical Chess Move by Move" by Chernev "Modern Chess Openings" by De Firmian "Practical Chess Endings" by Chernev "Art of Attack in Chess" by Vukovic "Nunn's Chess Openings" by Nunn "Understanding Chess Move by Move" by Nunn "Basic Chess Endings" by Fine The problem will be finding them. I do not have a credit card so I can't buy things over the internet, and I cannot find any shops with chess books locally. I know there is a good chess shop in London but that is quite a distance. Anyway, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. |
| Posted by mercury_whyte nsa-hitachi.com 2/10/2003 12:44:35 play online chess | New team member! Message: Just to let everyone know I have accepted a new member into the team, grobler... (I know you'll all make him duly welcome, but go easy on him chaps, he's a Hammers fan) Some good books there parrvert, have you considered applying for a card? I know it's nothing to do with me but there are some fair deals out there, with sensible credit limits... Thank you for the reminder that we are all one team tkdman, you are quite right. No more moping from this quarter, it's time I knuckled down. I am putting a challenge together for ovda consisting of players who are not already playing his team. This will be sent soon... Best of fortunes all, regards mercury_whyte |
| Posted by parrvert nsa-hitachi.com 2/10/2003 13:32:07 play online chess | The Hammers Message: Don't you just love 'em, no matter how bad you are playing they will give you a couple of goals. If Liverpool could play West Ham every week we'd have no problems. Welcome grobler, this is a welcoming team, although not quite as welcoming as the West Ham defence :-) I will see about getting a credit card. I am usually good with money so I shouldn't have too many problems. |
| Posted by tkdman nsa-hitachi.com 2/10/2003 13:38:51 play online chess | Message: Welcome grobler, its good to have you in the team good luck. Regards tkdman. |
| Posted by kjhev nsa-hitachi.com 2/10/2003 14:11:45 play online chess | welcome hammers fan Message: welcome grobler - you'll get a lot of games here if you want to, it's a good team. westham under harry rednap used to be good - i coached kevin keen at tennis once! kevin (kjhev) |
| Posted by dutchgrasseii nsa-hitachi.com 2/11/2003 01:57:09 play online chess | Welcome Message: Welcome to the team, hope Sir Les bangs in a couple for yr boys! |
| Posted by mercury_whyte nsa-hitachi.com 2/13/2003 12:57:12 play online chess | Quick update... Message: My challenge to ovda was declined, never mind, maybe some time in the future... Better news with a challenge I fired off to Team Canada, they accepted immediately so best of luck to tonyh, nmellor, dutchgrasseii, cooter and markas...(Sorry tonyh, you got the toughest game of the challenge but it was the computer not me, honest! Others have got much more even matches...) Still hoping to begin a team game against the Russians, time will tell... Lastly, well played dazz, winning all mini-tournament games so far! I checked out the stats on parrvert's excellent web page. We'll miss you team-mate... Regards for now, mercury_whyte |
| Posted by mercury_whyte nsa-hitachi.com 2/13/2003 20:51:39 play online chess | Anyone for a game of Chess? Message: One thing you don't get in this team is a quiet life! We have two incoming challenges, players are listed below. Anyone up for it please post or mail me, I will request revised (smaller) challenges from the opposing captains if necessary... 1) Challenge from railover with following players: lexherman (2302) hugothebest (2167) lour (1891) kinghar (1757) peterbaars (1651) caretaker (1619) pjbakker (1596) railover (1499) 2) challenge from nordlichter with following players: playboy51 (1763) moogle (1673) phex (1650) kovlov (1624) deep patzer (1200) No pressure to accept chaps, I know some of you are very busy at the moment. I'll get back to these captains in a day or two with a list of anyone interested and requests for revised challenges to suit. These are trying times for our team, but I know everyone will keep battling. Good fortune in all games...mercury_whyte |
| Posted by dutchgrasseii nsa-hitachi.com 2/14/2003 03:47:08 play online chess | railover challenge Message: don't mind playing either of the 2 weaker guys, even stretch to taking on caretaker. |
| Posted by tkdman nsa-hitachi.com 2/14/2003 14:35:12 play online chess | Message: I thought hugothebest was wikth the duchables, or was that hugothebest2001 either way i had 2 draws against hugothebest2001. |
| Posted by grobler nsa-hitachi.com 2/15/2003 08:58:31 play online chess | testing... Message: My chess is nearly as bad as my computer knowledge :-) Hello chaps....just found this message board ! |
| Posted by grobler nsa-hitachi.com 2/15/2003 09:01:10 play online chess | ahh...seems to work... Message: Thanks for the welcome guys... You wont get a "keener" team member than me...though my tendency to blunder is awesome . Can I be considered for some matches please ? |
| Posted by parrvert nsa-hitachi.com 2/15/2003 09:09:57 play online chess | grobler Message: Just say how many games (a match is two games for each player) you would like to play and I'm sure mercury_whyte will sort it out for you. |
| Posted by mercury_whyte nsa-hitachi.com 2/15/2003 11:43:43 play online chess | Thanks for the replies... Message: ...everyone, I will sort something out soon concerning these challenges. Don't worry grobbler, it may take me a few days but I'll enter you for several new challenges... railover is the captain of the Dutchables team, and the player I listed above is hugothebest2001, apologies to him and tkdman for any confusion. All good things will come in time...Until then, regards mercury_whyte |
| Posted by mercury_whyte nsa-hitachi.com 2/16/2003 09:48:39 play online chess | 16th Feb Update Message: Hope everyone on the team is having a good weekend! Some news concerning challenges, both outgoing and incoming... 1) I have declined the challenge from railover of the Dutchables team, as I felt I could not meet the challenge as sent with fairly rated opponents. I have sent a message giving our available team members and I hope Dutchables can send a revised challenge. 2) I have also declined the challenge from kovlov of the team Nordlichter, for pretty much the same reasons stated above. Apologies to kovlov and railover, but at present I do not have the ability to meet those challenges as sent. Again I have contacted Nordlichter's captain, and with luck he can send another challenge. 3) lyakin of the Russian Time team recently proposed a challenge, I have sent him a revised list of available opponents from our ranks, we'll see if he can respond... 4) I have sent a a small (3 player) challenge to gibus of the Black Knights team, involving twistedmenace, cooter and nmellor. Awaiting acceptance or otherwise... 5) A similar sized challenge has just been sent to ljapunow of the Cologne GrandMasters team, this one involving mkkid, bigphil and markas. Best of luck chaps if that one is accepted... 6) For various reasons I cannot select grobler, tonyh or dutchgrasseii for team challenges at this time. There are several possible reasons for this, related to number of games allowed at any one time, length of Gameknot membership, whether a player has postponed games, etc. If any of you three chaps were wondering why I had not included you in any challenges, there it is. 7) My strategic(?) withdrawl continues, but be warned everyone who's had points off me in the past few weeks, I'll be back looking for revenge. Everything I have lost shall be regained...eventually. Best regards everyone for now, mercury_whyte |
| Posted by mercury_whyte nsa-hitachi.com 2/18/2003 11:56:49 play online chess | 18th Feb Update Message: Welcome to the team 1830 our newest member! Awaiting the number of team games you'd like to play... Well played bigphil, a good draw against fairyman... I'm afraid your only reward is a tough game in our new challenge against the Dutchables team. Very tough games for tkdman, dutchgrasseii and Yours Truly, but hopefully good points for markas (a win for him too recently, well done!) Best of fortunes to cooter, twistedmenace and nmellor against the Black Knights, a very fair challenge sportingly accepted... 'Till we meet again best regards to all, mercury_whyte |
| Posted by 1830 nsa-hitachi.com 2/20/2003 10:06:51 play online chess | Message: Thanks for accepting me into the team. Im prepared to play anything upto 5 games just for now. Im still working to try and improve my game im getting there with a bit of practice and the mistakes are not quite so frequent. Just for the record Im a Newcastle fan |
| Posted by grobler nsa-hitachi.com 2/21/2003 14:55:51 play online chess | allowed games... Message: Fact 1 ...I am the keenest player that has ever lived . Fact 2 . ..I am the meanest player that has ever lived(hence I have not spent any money becoming a full member) Possible fact 3 ....I am playing 20 or so games at present...does that mean I cant play in a team challenge ???Damn...I'll have to polish off a few of my friendly opponents then , pretty sharpish..:-) |
| Posted by mercury_whyte nsa-hitachi.com 2/21/2003 22:55:53 play online chess | Welcome... Message: Many thanks for your replies and patience 1830 and grobler, I have not been online for nearly 3 days because of an insanely busy work schedule, but I am back for the weekend! grobler, I will let you know if I have any trouble including you in challenges during the next 48 hours, if not I promise you some mean games... 1830 I will definately have some team games for you very soon... Lastly for now, great news for everybody on the team! calmrolfe has applied to join and I have welcomed him onboard. Some members of the team will remember calmrolfe from the old days of Crops & Co, a team I had the privelige to be on, if only for a few days. I am sure he will strengthen a weak spot in our rating range (between 1700 and 2100) which is fantastic for the team! All new members are equally welcome of course, regardless of rating. For those with few or no games at present, you won't have to wait much longer... Will be in touch again soon, Regards mercury_whyte |
| Posted by mercury_whyte nsa-hitachi.com 2/22/2003 00:56:56 play online chess | Challenges Message: Quick update... Three challenges sent out, now awaiting replies. 1) 4 player challenge to lyakin of Russian Time: calmrolfe grobler cooter 1830 2) 3 player challenge to spidy of To Die For: grobler cooter 1830 3) 2 player challenge to silverwolfwsc of Passed Pawns: twistedmenace 1830 I know these challenges are weighted in favour of our newer team members,but I figured most of the rest of us are quite busy at this time. Anyone feeling a little overloaded or wanting more games, just post here or send me a message! Regards, mercury_whyte |
| Posted by parrvert nsa-hitachi.com 2/22/2003 04:55:24 play online chess | Welcome Message: to 1830 and calmrolfe. Good to be back on the same team Cal. |
| Posted by 1830 nsa-hitachi.com 2/22/2003 09:10:32 play online chess | Message: Thanks parrvert lets hope my game is a little better than michael owens at the minute. He just doesn't seem to firing on all cylinders at the moment which is pretty lucky for us mags. |
| Posted by tkdman nsa-hitachi.com 2/22/2003 09:51:56 play online chess | Message: Welcome calmrolf its good to have you back. |
| Posted by parrvert nsa-hitachi.com 2/22/2003 10:27:18 play online chess | 1830 Message: Yes, it looks like Newcastle have a much better chance of qualifying for the champions league than us. Letting that two goal lead slip early in the season could be very costly. Michael Owen just can't score right now, maybe he has a few quid on you lot to make the CL! Still, he always looks a threat and he'll start scoring again soon, hopefully in time for England v Turkey, cause without him on form we could be in trouble. |
| Posted by 1830 nsa-hitachi.com 2/22/2003 17:27:31 play online chess | parrvert Message: Well hopefully if dyer can produce the bullets then owen can pull the trigger. |
| Posted by mercury_whyte nsa-hitachi.com 2/23/2003 00:13:22 play online chess | Food for thought... Message: Hope everyone's weekend is going OK, here's an update... calmrolfe has contacted me to let me know he is unable to play any team games right away as he has commitments with the GK Olympics and a match against the IECC. That's fine by me, I am happy to wait until he is available to play... (I did actually include calmrolfe in a challenge to the Russian Time team, which was precipitous of me. The challenge has been withdrawn and I will re-arrange it presently. No harm done...) It is possible that archbold64 may join us too at some time, that would be another great boost for the team! Thanks to tkdman for staying in touch with some of our old team-mates... Two new members have applied to join the team, izs26 and vexxed, both are new to Gameknot and I cannot be certain that they are English players, but I have assumed this is the case and have accepted their applications. Because they are new players they may not have access to messaging or the forum for a while, so I will regard them as passive (non-playing) members for the time being. I'm sure we'll soon be able to communicate with them... A quick word for all those who have recently joined our ranks. The English Defence team is currently engaged in an unofficial 'mini-tournament', involving (I believe) 11 of it's longer serving members. This tournament was set up and is being coordinated by parrvert, and there is a web page for viewing progress and results. Regrettably at this stage it is not possible for newer members to participate, since the tournament is well under way. This leads onto another subject, namely the possible future size of the team... While I am happy to welcome new members onboard, if our two newest recruits work out we will have 18 members, and are approaching the size where we may be in danger of losing some of the familiarity that goes with being a small team. I have discussed this matter briefly with one or two others, but it has not really been a 'live' issue until now. I'd like to make it clear that I do not wish to discourage anyone, particularly our newer members or anyone thinking of joining, or making anyone feel unwelcome. This is an inclusive team. I would like to think however that any team member can post their thoughts, opinions or ideas on this subject without worrying about causing offence or hurting team morale. I'll lay out briefly what I think are the pro's and cons of our continued expansion... A larger team means: 1) Greater range of abilities within the team making it easier to respond to large challenges 2) Opportunities for some team members to offer advice and coaching to their team-mates 3) A greater range of input on the forum, enriching discussion of any given subject 4) More work for the team captain, administering the team and ensuring that all players have their preferred number and type of games 5) A possible loss of the 'personal' feeling and character of a small team This is by no means a comprehensive list, merely a few obvious things that occurred to me. These shifts in the nature of the team are also a gradual thing of course, not a sudden change. A few ideas for coping with this change also occur... 1) A team administrator, acting as an assistant to the captain to help organise challenges, keep an eye on the number of games team members are playing, etc. I believe davism does this kind of thing for the INVINCIBLES team. 2) Setting up a second 'associate' team, for friendly rivalry and to retain a 'small team' atmosphere for those who prefer it. Please bear in mind these are only thoughts. I have no plans to close the team to new members or kick anyone out or anything like that. I just believe our ongoing expansion is worthy of a little consideration and comment. I understand that in any team there are members who enjoy active participation in the forums, and others who are happy to quietly play their games. This issue may be of more importance to some people than to others, but I felt it necessary to raise it, to see what the rest of you chaps think. I'll await your replies with interest... Best Regards to all, Mercury Whyte |
| Posted by parrvert nsa-hitachi.com 2/23/2003 03:16:54 play online chess | mercury Message: Yes, we briefly discussed this before. I would rather the team didn't grow too far beyond 20, lets say 25 max. As captain the final decision will of course be yours, how are you coping with the current workload? And 1830, unfortunately for Dyer he will either not play or be stuck out on the left. |
| Posted by calmrolfe nsa-hitachi.com 2/23/2003 12:19:34 play online chess | Hi ! Message: I am very pleased to have been admitted as a member of The English Defence and it's good to meet up again with some old friends. Good luck to everyone in their games. Kind regards, Cal |
| Posted by kjhev nsa-hitachi.com 2/24/2003 04:22:20 play online chess | hi lads! Message: Haven't been around much lately - work and studies are taking their toll i'm afraid. but managed to do some more coaching within the team which seems to have been well received (now it's my turn - i keep losing!! any hints/ advice please - as in:- where did i go wrong as black against mateintwo, i thought i was doing ok out of the opening? can you take a quick look please tkdman? Welcome and Good Luck to all our new team members! It looks like we've got brilliant potential! I'm right behind any options that would lessen the massive workload on our great captain ((mercury_whyte), provided that we don't lose our identity as a group who seem to get on well, and that new applicants are not turned away automatically (particularly those who might have something interesting to contribute to team/chess/ footie discussions!) incidentally, has anyone got a view on 1)Nf3 d5 2)b3? holding back the centre pawns ad finitum, coupled with delaying the development of the queen's knight (mmm shall it go to d2 or c3!?) seems interesting yet maybe overly esoteric and not too practical (?), so maybe one always needs to challenge with an eventual c4 to make progress. what do you all think? Keene's immortal "Flank Openings" and Wall's recently well-received book on the Larsen Opening are good primers on this type of approach to the opening - in which a good deal of patience and long- term planning are the hall-marks of a successful exposition. I used to play this stuff when I was at school and would like to have another go - now that I'm "longer in the tooth" as they say! good wishes to all, kjhev (Kevin) |
| Posted by parrvert nsa-hitachi.com 2/24/2003 09:50:25 play online chess | Thanks Kevin Message: for all your help. How's your psychology essay coming along? I'm glad my essay days are behind me, if I ever so much as consider writing another one I will go for a full psychiatric check up. Still, each to his own. I sometimes wonder about sports psychology, have you studied this? Good luck to all team-mates, Chris |
| Posted by calmrolfe nsa-hitachi.com 2/24/2003 16:28:03 play online chess | kjhev Message: Don't worry !! Everyone comes unstuck against mateintwo !! I've played through the game and my impression is that the root cause of your problem was the placement of the unsupported Bishop on e6. This then became a target for attack throughout the game and subsequently led to a number of forced moves for Black. I realise that after 12 Qh5 defensive options were somewhat limited and your choice of 12...f5 (not a bad move in itself) perhaps forced the subsequent Be6 move. A possible alternative variation might have been 12...g6 13. Qxd5 Qc7 14. Rb1 Bxh2+ 15.Kh1 Bc6. It's still unclear but Whites King has now become discomforted and Black's Be6 target has been removed. What do you think ? is that a workable line ? In fairness the position you had didn't really crumble until 25 Qe2 and so your choice of 12...f5 may have been the correct way to proceed, it's just that I feel that after Be6 you were constantly having to respond to his threats. An interesting game and it re-inforces my belief that mateintwo is one hell of a player (glad it was you playing him and not me !!) Good luck in all your games, Kind regards, Cal |
| Posted by kjhev nsa-hitachi.com 2/25/2003 04:35:59 play online chess | calmrolfe feedback on my game Message: Cal Hi! super stuff - thanks! i agree - activity with the line you posit (and which i did consider - honest!) looks pretty playable to me, although i suspect that white will manage in time to make something of the game by the logical and quite proper advance of his central pawns. of course, that could lead to an excrutiating bind with the squares (c7 and e7) either side of the blockading squares (d6 and d7, of course) coming under fire! however, this is not easy for white to execute in the short-term since the dynamism of the mutual bishop pair undoubtedly gives practical chances to the second player. i have a feeling i quite like this line for black - if only one could turn the clock back (then we'd all be grandmasters)!!! thanks for that! and welcome to our team! Kevin |
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