Thirteenth Annual AlphaMeridian Memorial GESC Chess Tournament! mboza wins!

kperrier

Ars Legatus Legionis
20,050
Subscriptor++
kperrier 1-0 over Ed-209
[Event "Let's Play!"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2024.03.20"]
[Round "-"]
[White "kperrier"]
[Black "Ars_Ed-209"]
[Result "1-0"]
[CurrentPosition "8/4k2p/8/8/4N3/P1R3K1/1P6/8 b - - 0 48"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "C55"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Italian-Game-Two-Knights-Defense-4.O-O-Nxe4"]
[UTCDate "2024.03.20"]
[UTCTime "15:39:04"]
[WhiteElo "1288"]
[BlackElo "923"]
[TimeControl "1/259200"]
[Termination "kperrier won by resignation"]
[StartTime "15:39:04"]
[EndDate "2024.03.25"]
[EndTime "18:09:54"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/daily/636498811"]

1. e4 {[%clk 71:59:54]} 1... e5 {[%clk 71:58:26]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 71:49:09]} 2... Nc6 {[%clk 71:55:43]} 3. Bc4 {[%clk 71:59:43]} 3... Nf6 {[%clk 70:13:29]} 4. O-O {[%clk 71:39:55]} 4... Nxe4 {[%clk 71:36:40]} 5. Re1 {[%clk 70:54:14]} 5... d6 {[%clk 71:51:20]} 6. Rxe4 {[%clk 70:02:08]} 6... Bf5 {[%clk 64:42:57]} 7. Re1 {[%clk 63:49:58]} 7... d5 {[%clk 70:55:23]} 8. Bb3 {[%clk 71:58:18]} 8... Bd6 {[%clk 71:57:02]} 9. d4 {[%clk 71:59:29]} 9... f6 {[%clk 71:59:05]} 10. Nc3 {[%clk 71:59:48]} 10... Be6 {[%clk 71:55:54]} 11. a3 {[%clk 71:57:33]} 11... O-O {[%clk 71:48:44]} 12. Nxd5 {[%clk 71:58:46]} 12... Re8 {[%clk 71:19:07]} 13. Qd3 {[%clk 71:52:54]} 13... Na5 {[%clk 68:50:30]} 14. c4 {[%clk 71:44:48]} 14... exd4 {[%clk 70:21:55]} 15. Nxd4 {[%clk 71:58:46]} 15... Bxd5 {[%clk 71:10:34]} 16. Rxe8+ {[%clk 69:21:21]} 16... Qxe8 {[%clk 69:50:39]} 17. cxd5 {[%clk 60:50:55]} 17... Qe1+ {[%clk 70:06:05]} 18. Qf1 {[%clk 71:58:02]} 18... Re8 {[%clk 71:11:56]} 19. Be3 {[%clk 71:55:28]} 19... Qxf1+ {[%clk 71:58:31]} 20. Kxf1 {[%clk 71:57:55]} 20... Bxh2 {[%clk 71:58:58]} 21. d6+ {[%clk 71:59:01]} 21... Kh8 {[%clk 71:56:19]} 22. d7 {[%clk 71:59:27]} 22... Rd8 {[%clk 71:54:32]} 23. Be6 {[%clk 71:59:17]} 23... Nc6 {[%clk 71:45:01]} 24. g3 {[%clk 71:57:48]} 24... Ne5 {[%clk 71:58:44]} 25. Kg2 {[%clk 71:50:01]} 25... Bxg3 {[%clk 71:53:21]} 26. Kxg3 {[%clk 71:58:56]} 26... g5 {[%clk 71:58:29]} 27. f4 {[%clk 71:59:36]} 27... gxf4+ {[%clk 71:51:41]} 28. Kxf4 {[%clk 71:55:01]} 28... Nxd7 {[%clk 71:58:55]} 29. Nf5 {[%clk 71:59:22]} 29... Ne5 {[%clk 71:41:11]} 30. Nh6 {[%clk 71:57:38]} 30... Re8 {[%clk 71:50:58]} 31. Rg1 {[%clk 71:59:27]} 31... Ng6+ {[%clk 71:59:16]} 32. Kf5 {[%clk 71:59:37]} 32... Kg7 {[%clk 71:52:18]} 33. Rd1 {[%clk 71:57:13]} 33... Nh4+ {[%clk 69:12:52]} 34. Kg4 {[%clk 71:58:50]} 34... Rxe6 {[%clk 69:50:12]} 35. Bc1 {[%clk 71:34:38]} 35... Re4+ {[%clk 71:42:03]} 36. Kg3 {[%clk 71:30:39]} 36... c5 {[%clk 70:55:10]} 37. Rd7+ {[%clk 71:03:43]} 37... Kf8 {[%clk 69:56:44]} 38. Rxb7 {[%clk 60:08:54]} 38... Ng6 {[%clk 70:36:06]} 39. Rxa7 {[%clk 71:11:26]} 39... Re1 {[%clk 71:58:16]} 40. Bd2 {[%clk 48:26:59]} 40... Re4 {[%clk 65:05:16]} 41. Rf7+ {[%clk 70:21:33]} 41... Ke8 {[%clk 70:11:43]} 42. Rxf6 {[%clk 62:37:04]} 42... Ne7 {[%clk 70:56:49]} 43. Nf5 {[%clk 71:58:14]} 43... Nd5 {[%clk 71:48:20]} 44. Nd6+ {[%clk 71:58:14]} 44... Ke7 {[%clk 71:29:36]} 45. Nxe4 {[%clk 71:56:17]} 45... c4 {[%clk 69:25:10]} 46. Rc6 {[%clk 71:59:17]} 46... c3 {[%clk 71:50:57]} 47. Bxc3 {[%clk 71:59:41]} 47... Nxc3 {[%clk 71:59:49]} 48. Rxc3 {[%clk 71:59:49]} 1-0

6 blunders, 6 mistakes. This ought to be interesting to analyze.
 

Jeff3F

Ars Tribunus Angusticlavius
6,826
Subscriptor++
I’m playing @Z1ggy in a game where chess.com took away my kingside rook to balance things out due to our rating difference. I’ve never played like this before, it’s…different. I can see the interest Fischer had in chess 6000 or whatever he called his variant of chess, it blows up a lot of the usual opening strategy when kingside castling is not on the table!
 

S2pidiT

Ars Scholae Palatinae
1,444
I’m playing @Z1ggy in a game where chess.com took away my kingside rook to balance things out due to our rating difference. I’ve never played like this before, it’s…different. I can see the interest Fischer had in chess 6000 or whatever he called his variant of chess, it blows up a lot of the usual opening strategy when kingside castling is not on the table!
Is that Chess960? I have not done well with it in the past, but I believe that still has kingside castling.

I've played balanced games in the past, and it really does impact how you think and play - for better or worse. I got the Knightmare/Oops! All Knights start a couple times, and... yeah. Maybe I'd like it more if the opponent didn't have a queen. :biggreen:
 

williane

Ars Scholae Palatinae
1,488
mboza over williane.

Very GG. Made a blunder 15-20 moves in, then made some moves to try and even things back out, was even able to promote a queen, but he just had too good of a position (despite having an exposed king I couldnt take advantage of) I couldn't overcome. Well deserved win, congrats. I'm going to go study this one for a while.
 
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s@nDOk@n

Ars Legatus Legionis
16,348
Subscriptor
Is that Chess960? I have not done well with it in the past, but I believe that still has kingside castling.

I've played balanced games in the past, and it really does impact how you think and play - for better or worse. I got the Knightmare/Oops! All Knights start a couple times, and... yeah. Maybe I'd like it more if the opponent didn't have a queen. :biggreen:
Chess960
 
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mboza

Ars Tribunus Militum
2,560
Subscriptor++
mboza over williane.

Very GG. Made a blunder 15-20 moves in, then made some moves to try and even things back out, was even able to promote a queen, but he just had too good of a position (despite having an exposed king I couldnt take advantage of) I couldn't overcome. Well deserved win, congrats. I'm going to go study this one for a while.
GG. I completely missed that 22. Ng6 was going to win a rook for the knight, and then the game review is completely fine with allowing it. Then got very worried that with 32. Qxa3 I was allowing you to place the queen and a rook on the 8th rank, and the computer is just happy to allow it and drop a bishop back to cover all the imminent checkmate threats. Fortunately at the end the two bishops and rook were well enough anchored that none of them drop to a queen fork.
 

williane

Ars Scholae Palatinae
1,488
GG. I completely missed that 22. Ng6 was going to win a rook for the knight, and then the game review is completely fine with allowing it. Then got very worried that with 32. Qxa3 I was allowing you to place the queen and a rook on the 8th rank, and the computer is just happy to allow it and drop a bishop back to cover all the imminent checkmate threats. Fortunately at the end the two bishops and rook were well enough anchored that none of them drop to a queen fork.

HA! no joke. I thought both of those moves were going to be (!) for me at least, but after looking at the review it was nope/meh at best 😭.

And yeah, IMO that c3 bishop was your MVP, completely shut down my middle pawns from that point on. I was eyeing f4 for a while, but just never saw a good opportunity.
 

Z1ggy

Ars Legatus Legionis
15,298
I’m playing @Z1ggy in a game where chess.com took away my kingside rook to balance things out due to our rating difference. I’ve never played like this before, it’s…different. I can see the interest Fischer had in chess 6000 or whatever he called his variant of chess, it blows up a lot of the usual opening strategy when kingside castling is not on the table!
interesting. Didnt know that was something that was possible.
 

Jeff3F

Ars Tribunus Angusticlavius
6,826
Subscriptor++
Chess games are progressing nicely, when @williane still got that queen promoted, at heavy cost, I was riveted but @mboza just had everything all lined up already. Great game, and the software ninjaneer did a great job against a much more highly rated opponent.

Also, sorry to introduce confusion about chess 960. I didn’t remember the number, didn’t want to google it, and figured I’d be a smartass and just call it chess 6000 or something. Regardless, it’s neat and now I should go look for a 960 mode in chess.com.
 
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S2pidiT

Ars Scholae Palatinae
1,444
No surprise but @S2pidiT has me on the ropes. At least I won the last friendly game! I been on a blunder tear lately with several other games. Also, paging @dferrantino our friendly side game is about to expire!!!
I also accidentally gave you a bishop in our friendly side game. :biggreen: I'll charge you for it later...
 

S2pidiT

Ars Scholae Palatinae
1,444
@S2pidiT over @Jeff3F GG

I’m also taking a beating on a chess960 game, that game is different from regular chess. Really different. @S2pidiT is rated 800 for that, and I’m at 400, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to lose points after that 960 game!

Edit to add - only 3 games still running!!
Good game! The sea of pawns at 13.dxe5 was neat, it forced our play queenside to try to gain advantage. It stayed fairly even as I managed to get up a pawn, but at 26..Rd2+, that's when I started to gain the advantage. The Game Review didn't like 27..Rxa2, but I wanted to get the passed pawn to focus your rook there, allowing me to attack the kingside pawns. Overall, well played!

A big thank you to both dferrantino and Jeff3F as always for organizing another great tournament and keeping us moving! :D
 

dferrantino

Ars Legatus Legionis
13,473
Moderator
Chess games are progressing nicely, when @williane still got that queen promoted, at heavy cost, I was riveted but @mboza just had everything all lined up already. Great game, and the software ninjaneer did a great job against a much more highly rated opponent.

Also, sorry to introduce confusion about chess 960. I didn’t remember the number, didn’t want to google it, and figured I’d be a smartass and just call it chess 6000 or something. Regardless, it’s neat and now I should go look for a 960 mode in chess.com.
I missed this one before I went on vacation. With that win, mboza wins the 2024 tournament! This is their 3rd win, having previously won the tournament in 2018 and 2019.

Congratulations @mboza !
 

Jeff3F

Ars Tribunus Angusticlavius
6,826
Subscriptor++
I want to be clear, 960 is tough and felt a bit like being beaten up ha ha. I am NOT certain that I like it at all, except for the neato castling that happens.

Also, I want to thank @dferrantino for organizing the tournament as always. I don't really do much at all, I just keep the spreadsheet (mostly) filled out, nag a bit, and play some occasionally very shaky chess. I like all the games I've been able to play, and in between the tournaments feel free to fiend me on chess.com even if it's just to beat the crap out of me. ANd, for folks who are lower-ranked the chess.com allows for balanced games where they take away a rook or something.
 

dferrantino

Ars Legatus Legionis
13,473
Moderator
Also, I want to thank @dferrantino for organizing the tournament as always. I don't really do much at all, I just keep the spreadsheet (mostly) filled out, nag a bit, and play some occasionally very shaky chess. I like all the games I've been able to play, and in between the tournaments feel free to fiend me on chess.com even if it's just to beat the crap out of me. ANd, for folks who are lower-ranked the chess.com allows for balanced games where they take away a rook or something.
"I don't really do much at all" except save me hours of work hunting down the games, keeping track of who still hasn't started, updating the winners, and basically all of the administrative stuff that I don't have the time to handle anymore.

Thank you, @Jeff3F, for keeping this running smoothly. I wouldn't be able to run this in the first place without your help.
 

Noodle

Ars Tribunus Angusticlavius
8,382
Subscriptor
Noodle 1–0 Dr. Jay has finished

Good game, Dr. Jay! I got out to a comfy space advantage, then I had to do some defending. There were chances for both sides, me having more space, but Dr. Jay having a more pressing attack on my king. Games can flow like that. An unfortunate misstep cut things short.