Cgannon vs. Hedgehog Round Two

[Aphex_Twin]

Round Two Fight !

1. ...

 

[cgannon64]

1. e4

I'm white then? Or should the winner take white?

One thing I want to do (I think you won't mind) in this game is to discuss our moves a little more. Maybe sharpen some of those edges...

I do have 8 months to work on my game, after all...

 

[Aphex_Twin]

1.e4 c5 (Sicilian Defense - one of my favorites)

This move is asymetrical and has a lot of resources. It's also Kasparov's usual defense...

Edit:
What's that 8 months time you have to improve your game? Is the school chess tournament in 8 months? Either way, it's plenty of time.

I myself have risen from an Elo rating of around 800 to 1300 in this time. I am now around 1400, but I played a lot less in the last months. If you have any questions about the Elo rating, please ask...

My main disadvantage was that I started up late (age of 17 - when I learned the rules) to 18 - my age now... most competitive players start up at 6 or 7 !!! By 18, most of them are around 1800 - 2000 Elo...

 

[cgannon64]

1. e4 c5
2. Bc4

Think this is a good 2nd move against the Sicilian? To be honest, I've never faced it...

Originally posted by hedgehog
Edit:
What's that 8 months time you have to improve your game? Is the school chess tournament in 8 months? Either way, it's plenty of time.

I'm currently in 8th grade. My grammar school doesn't have a chess club or a chess team. The high school I'm going to does, and September is 8 months away.

My main disadvantage was that I started up late (age of 17 - when I learned the rules) to 18 - my age now... most competitive players start up at 6 or 7 !!! By 18, most of them are around 1800 - 2000 Elo...

Damn you learn fast! How often do you play, read up on it, etc?

You see the Kasparov v. Deep Junior game yesterday? I was watching it on ESPN2...why did he offer a draw!?!?!?!

 

[Aphex_Twin]

1. e4 c5
2. Bc4 e6 (Paulsen variation)

I don't remember what Bc4 is called in the Sicilian...

Anyway... it's really easy to get from 1000 or so to 1400. It's much more difficult to get from 1400 to 1500, so much so, that players over 1800 are among the top 10%, 2200 are among the top 1 % and above 2400 are about 0.01 %.

Now, about my progress... It all happend about a year ago when some guy brought a chess table to school, to get rid of the boredom between brakes. The guy challenged a few people, beat them all. I had only recently learned the game and I challenged him. Obvioustly, I was loosing it pretty soon. It wasn't untill move 20 or so when he blundered and I mated him dead. This came as a surprise, and we played again. This time I lost, and also lost the next 4 games.

This gave me the impulse to start learning something about the game, especially since I got humiliated... 6 months later I got into shape and beat his ass. I think he is still shocked...

I didn't read any books (allthough I wanted to...) I did found a little gizmo called Chessmaster 8000, which has a very nice training program. I used this a lot.

 

[cgannon64]

1. e4 c5
2. Bc4 e6
3. d3

Just developing. Get my bishop out.

Originally posted by hedgehog

I didn't read any books (allthough I wanted to...) I did found a little gizmo called Chessmaster 8000, which has a very nice training program. I used this a lot.

I use it too. What level do you play...1000 is too easy!

 

[Aphex_Twin]

1. e4 c5
2. Bc4 e6
3. d3 d5 Center spike...

The CM8000 ratings are inflated in contrast to the real Elos. I would say 1000 CM is roughly 700-800 Elo.

 

[cgannon64]

1. e4 c5
2. Bc4 e6
3. d3 d5
4. Bb5+

I could have done Bb3, but I think I'll play a little more aggressive.

 

[Aphex_Twin]

1. e4 c5
2. Bc4 e6
3. d3 d5
4. Bb5+ Nc6

Agressive yes, but you have now lost a tempo... Not that important though; momentum can shift wildly during the opening...

 

[cgannon64]

1. e4 c5
2. Bc4 e6
3. d3 d5
4. Bb5+ Nc6
5. Be3

I figured I'd lose the tempo either way.

 

[Aphex_Twin]

1. e4 c5
2. Bc4 e6
3. d3 d5
4. Bb5+ Nc6
5. Be3 dxe4

 

[cgannon64]

1. e4 c5
2. Bc4 e6
3. d3 d5
4. Bb5+ Nc6
5. Be3 dxe4
6. dxe4

 

[Aphex_Twin]

1. e4 c5
2. Bc4 e6
3. d3 d5
4. Bb5+ Nc6
5. Be3 dxe4
6. dxe4 Qxd1+

What about your castle? Maybe you should start building a fortress around your king...

 

[cgannon64]

1. e4 c5
2. Bc4 e6
3. d3 d5
4. Bb5+ Nc6
5. Be3 dxe4
6. dxe4 Qxd1+
7. Kxd1

Yeah that was one downside of my position. I can't castle now, but...maybe I can do an artificial castle!

 

[Aphex_Twin]

1. e4 c5
2. Bc4 e6
3. d3 d5
4. Bb5+ Nc6
5. Be3 dxe4
6. dxe4 Qxd1+
7. Kxd1 Bd7

On a second thought, you or I don't really need a castle right now. With the queens off the board, the kings can come close to the center and join in the fight... but first, one or two other pieces have to come off...

 

[cgannon64]

1. e4 c5
2. Bc4 e6
3. d3 d5
4. Bb5+ Nc6
5. Be3 dxe4
6. dxe4 Qxd1+
7. Kxd1 Bd7
8. Nc3

but first, one or two other pieces have to come off...

...and I have to get an attack together.

 

[Aphex_Twin]

1. e4 c5
2. Bc4 e6
3. d3 d5
4. Bb5+ Nc6
5. Be3 dxe4
6. dxe4 Qxd1+
7. Kxd1 Bd7
8. Nc3 Nf6

Back to developing...

 

[cgannon64]

1. e4 c5
2. Bc4 e6
3. d3 d5
4. Bb5+ Nc6
5. Be3 dxe4
6. dxe4 Qxd1+
7. Kxd1 Bd7
8. Nc3 Nf6

I hate not being able to castle.

 

[Aphex_Twin]

and your move is?

 

[cgannon64]

Sorry about that.

1. e4 c5
2. Bc4 e6
3. d3 d5
4. Bb5+ Nc6
5. Be3 dxe4
6. dxe4 Qxd1+
7. Kxd1 Bd7
8. Nc3 Nf6
9. Ke1