tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post3661993691213521344..comments2023-12-28T02:11:22.501+00:00Comments on The Streatham & Brixton Chess Blog: Sixty Memorable AnnotationsTom Chivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-39178574334200365822012-07-28T18:11:08.389+01:002012-07-28T18:11:08.389+01:00I had no idea that Nick mentioned the game in hid ...I had no idea that Nick mentioned the game in hid DVD! But his king was not miles away - had it been one squarer closer, I would have promoted my a-pawn and then be mated. So we were both double-checking things a bit. (Sixth or seventh hour, and all that).<br /><br />So his message was perhaps meant to be "check it out and play it out if you are better - if you just agree the draw you may find you have missed a rare opportunity".<br /><br />Generally, I would say - chess is a very complicated game and so even when we speak of "simple" positions we tend to speak in relative terms. It's simpler than move 15 in a sharp sicilian perhaps, but still ...! The fact that top players can fail to win K + Q v K + R shows you just how relative the term "simple" is in chess. <br /><br />And as for the fact that the most simple looking positions can be among the most difficult to play precisely, I refer you to your own Penarth Pier ending.Jonathan Rogersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-18715740447083557302012-07-28T06:35:28.495+01:002012-07-28T06:35:28.495+01:00but I see no reason at all why Black shouldn't...<i>but I see no reason at all why Black shouldn't play on and on on if she wants to</i><br /><br />I don't quite agree with this. I don't think the position involved is quite the same as QvP or RvN. We're not talking about a theoretical draw, but plenty of chances of slipping up, we're talking about no meaningful chances of winning.<br /><br />It's impossible to draw lines in situations like this (or maybe any similar situation, since you're dealing with rules that are not only unwritten but unagreed) but personally I think if somebody went on that long against me in that situation I might dispense with the handshake at the end.ejhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01582272075999298935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-41462432394416548452012-07-27T18:34:53.326+01:002012-07-27T18:34:53.326+01:00Two things occurred to me today that I forgot to i...Two things occurred to me today that I forgot to include in the post.<br /><br />First: me having knight v rook in the last round at a Golders Green rapidplay several years ago. I knew it was drawn, of course, but I had no idea how or what I was supposed to do. In finally drew it when I forked his king and rook but knowing that I had a draw almost in my grasp but never being able to actually finish the game off was pretty stressful - which in itself is a good reason for the attacker to carry on.<br /><br />Second, Jonathan's comment about Queen v pawn on the 7th reminded me that on the first volume of Nick Pert's <a href="http://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/killer-endgames-review.html" rel="nofollow">Killer Endgames</a> includes the end of Nick Pert v Jonathan Rogers, British Championship 2006.<br /><br />Pert not only played on with queen against rook pawn on the 7th with his own king nowhere, he even allowed Black to Queen and tried (for just a move or two) to win KQ v KQ. Hopelessly drawn of course, but he still tried.<br /><br />I guess Jonathan is in an ideal place to say what it's like defending a 'dead' position at a British Championship.Jonathan Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00293162543015231439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-6384539104300076382012-07-27T12:40:54.024+01:002012-07-27T12:40:54.024+01:00the Times school ch (back to the 80s here)
Ah yes...<i>the Times school ch (back to the 80s here)</i><br /><br /><a href="http://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot.com.es/2012/07/what-coup.html" rel="nofollow">Ah yes</a>ejhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01582272075999298935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-10340642200080567532012-07-27T12:35:38.080+01:002012-07-27T12:35:38.080+01:00Before trying his main winning try
Good Lord.<i>Before trying his main winning try</i><br /><br />Good Lord.ejhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01582272075999298935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-38460772462684110752012-07-27T12:05:53.164+01:002012-07-27T12:05:53.164+01:00This reminds me of the end to a game Mortazavi - M...This reminds me of the end to a game Mortazavi - Mack in the Times school ch (back to the 80s here). Andy, as Black, had the drawn ending you give: pawn on f2 and king on g2. Ali (White) had the queen on e2 but his king miles away. So, 1...Kg1 and it's still a draw. But Ali had been playing this on for some time already (actually he hadn't even known that it was a book draw!); and Andy, as though to make his point in humorous fashion, played 1...Kh1 instead. And then 2.Qf1+ 1-0 !!Jonathan Rogersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-53582979739605570722012-07-27T11:56:19.118+01:002012-07-27T11:56:19.118+01:00True Nonny, but the point here I think as that man...True Nonny, but the point here I think as that many chessers' definition of 'unnecessarily' is way too restrictive. <br /><br />I don't think Houska played on too long here. If she ends up with the boot on Foo's foot at some point in the future then goodJonathan Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00293162543015231439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-54370542714296975822012-07-27T10:11:45.299+01:002012-07-27T10:11:45.299+01:00There is also the alternative point that if you pl...There is also the alternative point that if you play on unnecessarily, particularly against a player who one day might be stronger than you, that next time you meet they return the compliment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com