Wednesday, 29 July 2015

The ups and downs of turn based chess

Apart from my ICCF based chess, I also play some turned based chess on chess.com This differs from usual CC in that each move has a fixed time limit (usually 3 to 5 days per move). So you cannot build up time by moving quickly, as the clock simply restarts with every move.
To be honest I don't mind this format, as it means I have to look at my game on a regular basis. On the ICCF server I often fall into the trap of briefly looking at a game, then coming back to it over a week, before realising I have to play 5 moves in 2 days. On the other hand it seems a little easier for me to play a 'casual' move in the turn based format, as the following game demonstrates.
At various points I thought I had found a winning line, only to realise it didn't quite work. And when I did find a winning line I immediately undid my good work by castling, allowing my opponent to recover some material. Fortunately I was able to reach a winning ending, but even then it took a large amount of work (and a few inaccurate moves by me) before the game was put to bed.


Messi000 (1958) - shaunpress (2273)
Let's Play! Chess.com, 09.05.2015

Start positionPrevious MoveNext MoveEnd positionPlay movesStop playing
1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. Nd5 f5 7. Bg2 Nce7 8. Nxe7 Nxe7 9. Qb3 c6 10. O-O Rb8 11. Bg5 Be6 12. Qa3 a6 13. Bd2 h6 14. c5 dxc5 15. Qxc5 e4 16. Ne5 b6 17. Qc3 Qd5 18. Bf4 Rd8 19. dxe4 fxe4 20. f3 g5 21. fxe4 Qc5+ 22. Qxc5 bxc5 23. Bf3 h5 24. Nxc6 Nxc6 25. Bxg5 Rb8 26. Rad1 Nd4 27. e5 Bxe5 28. b3 Nxf3+ 29. exf3 O-O 30. Rfe1 Bd4+ 31. Rxd4 cxd4 32. Rxe6 Rxf3 33. Rxa6 Rf5 34. Bf4 Rd8 35. Kf1 d3 36. Ke1 Rc5 37. Bd2 Re5+ 38. Kd1 Re2 39. h4 Rd5 40. Ra8+ Kf7 41. Ra7+ Ke6 42. Ra6+ Kf5 43. Ra4 Rg2 44. Be1 d2 45. Rf4+ Ke6 46. Bf2 Ke5 47. Rf8 Rh2 48. Bg1 Rh1 49. Rf1 Ke6 50. a4 Rf5 51. Rxf5 Rxg1+ 52. Kxd2 Kxf5 53. Kd3 Ke5 54. Kc4 Kd6 55. b4 Rxg3 56. a5 Rg4+ 57. Kb5 Kc7 58. a6 Rxh4 59. a7 Kb7 60. a8Q+ Kxa8 0-1


No comments: