In search of humility

[superslug]

I've been teaching my roommates how to play, but I've been playing since I was seven. It's been a while since I had a challenging match, so here I am with my 750 USCF rating and smiling teeth ready to be kicked in...

1. e2-e4

 

[Aphex_Twin]

how old are you?

 

[superslug]

I'm 27, so I've got two decades of chess under my belt. Unfortunatly, the only people I've been playing face to face are ones I've been teaching, so they know how to move the pieces, follow rules and do end of game drills, but I'm hoping for some action here so I can personally brush up on my openings and midgame strategies.

I'm also hoping to find out how accurate my USCF rating is. It's entirely comprised off of one tournament all the way back in 1989.

 

[Panzar75]

I don't understand your 750 rating. As far as my knowledge of USCF go it's about ELO+100... did you miss a "1" there or did I misunderstand the rating system?

I'm 28 but I started playing when I was 9 so I guess you're in the lead with a year there... I've only recently started playing rated games so I'm not sure of my exact level. After a few games I've gone from the starting ELO 1200 to ELO 1300 and I expect to continue a few hundred points more at least.

If you missed by a "2", ignore me and go looks for Smash or Spy, otherwise I'll take a shot.

1. e4 c6

Studied our Caro-Kann, have we?

 

[superslug]

The one tournament was so long ago my memory may be hazy as far as my rating goes. Missing a "1" maybe, definitely NOT a '"2"! The reason I'm here is because I've only been playing very new players recently and have gotten rusty in full 16 piece matches.

Maybe I should have done some homework on my notation first, I have no idea if you just moved your pawn or your knight. What's Caro-Kann?

 

[Smash]

How do you paint with yogurt?

A piece move is indicated with it's symbol.ie Nc6,Bd7,Nf3 etc..N for knight, B for Bishop,R for rook,Q for queen,K for king

Moves like e4,d4,c6,e5 etc are all and always pawn moves

So in the game,the pawn move c6 has just been played.This is characteristic of the Caro-Kann Defense(1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5)

 

[superslug]

Thanks, Smash!

There's not really an explanation behind the leprechaun yogurt painting bit, it's just a really really random joke that developed over the course of a role playing game between me and some friends at my website.

Okay, let's see how many turns I can last!

1. e4 c6
2. d3

 

[Panzar75]

Smash did a good job of explaining, except for the yogurt part - that was mostly confusing.

I just bought a book on Caro-Kann about a month ago, so naturally I have to see if I remember anything.

1. e4 c6
2. d3 d5

Of course, 99% of the material was based on 2. d4

 

[superslug]

1. e4 c6
2. d3 d5
3. d5

 

[Panzar75]

By "d5" I assume you mean "exd5". First you write the file that the pawn is on, then the capture symbol, x, then the square it moves to.

1. e4 c6
2. d3 d5
3. exd5 cxd5

Which then means that my pawn on the c-file captures on d5.

 

[superslug]

Right on! Sorry I'm still learning the notation.

1. e4 c6
2. d3 d5
3. exd5 cxd5
4. Bf4

 

[Panzar75]

1. e4 c6
2. d3 d5
3. exd5 cxd5
4. Bf4 Nc6

 

[superslug]

1. e4 c6
2. d3 d5
3. exd5 cxd5
4. Bf4 Nc6
5. g3

 

[Panzar75]

One thing's for sure... I won't be castling long this game.

1. e4 c6
2. d3 d5
3. exd5 cxd5
4. Bf4 Nc6
5. g3 Nf6

 

[superslug]

I may have to.

1. e4 c6
2. d3 d5
3. exd5 cxd5
4. Bf4 Nc6
5. g3 Nf6
6. bh3

 

[Panzar75]

1. e4 c6
2. d3 d5
3. exd5 cxd5
4. Bf4 Nc6
5. g3 Nf6
6. bh3 bxh3

If 7. Nxh3 then I'll play 7...e6

 

[Panzar75]

...and it's of course supposed to be a capital "B" since all pieces are capital and all pawn moves are non-capital. I did get your move right, it was the Bishop and not the pawn?

1. e4 c6
2. d3 d5
3. exd5 cxd5
4. Bf4 Nc6
5. g3 Nf6
6. Bh3 Bxh3

If 7. Nxh3 then I'll play 7...e6

 

[superslug]

Capitals! You're absolutely right! It was the bishop. If you ever need me to, I'll be happy to post a screenshot of my winboard, but I think we're on track.

1. e4 c6
2. d3 d5
3. exd5 cxd5
4. Bf4 Nc6
5. g3 Nf6
6. Bh3 Bxh3
7. Nxh3 e6
8. Ng5...

 

[Panzar75]

1. e4 c6
2. d3 d5
3. exd5 cxd5
4. Bf4 Nc6
5. g3 Nf6
6. Bh3 Bxh3
7. Nxh3 e6
8. Ng5 Rc8

I can't quite decide where to put my Bishop, so I'll wait another move before deciding.

 

[superslug]

1. e4 c6
2. d3 d5
3. exd5 cxd5
4. Bf4 Nc6
5. g3 Nf6
6. Bh3 Bxh3
7. Nxh3 e6
8. Ng5 Rc8
9. Nc3