Lack of practice leads to poor playing

Well, it must be said that a lack of practice at Chess, and having your mind on other things, really does diminish your ability to play Chess.  I say that, dear reader, about you, knowing that it actually applies to me.  My Kasparov Chess computer, which I can beat at Level 6 at my best, is currently dealing me an education in Chess at just Level 4.  No, I wouldn't rank myself a beginner, I've been playing this game for over 20 years, but at the moment I feel a bit like a starter.

So, if you want to improve your Chess, the best thing you can do is at least practise occasionally, and more importantly, learn from your mistakes (and your successes too - I'll tell you when I next get one!).

Here's a list of some of the various games of mine that I've written up (and analysed) on this blog:

My earliest online Chess game
My very earliest Chess game (even earlier than I thought)
The Chess game I'm most proud of -
where I made the situation too complicated for my opponent, found a fork and then finished off with a piece sacrifice
 
The strangest game of Chess I ever played - 1. d4 d5 2. c4 b5
Like what was I supposed to do with that?  I was supposed to play 3. c4xb5, but played 3. c4xd5 and immediately and unintentionally took my opponent out of his prep.

The Chess game I'm least proud of

I got greedy, tried to hold onto a pawn that wasn't mine, and expended a lot of time and effort on it, instead of protecting my King.

X factor results, 10/10/10

"In no particular order," the results of the vote of The X Factor on 10 October 2010 were announced.  The two strongest singers from last night got announced first, then Wagner was in the middle, and we're left with an authentic group, Lady Gaga and Nicolo Festa.  That was a surprise - I thought there were at least two other acts that were more likely to be in the bottom three - but what was less surprising, and actually quite pleasing, is that Nicolo got booted straight out.  Hurrah!  It's quite probable that the British public didn't like his attitude or his character, or his personality (or any combination of the above) - a case of too much X Factor, by the looks of it.  And now we're left with FYD and Lady Gaga.  In a few weeks' time, we'll all need to consult Wikipedia to remember who they were, let alone what they looked like.

"In no particular order" is a phrase that's been used - and over-used - to suggest that the order of results is entirely random.  I'm not buying it.  The order is decided based on the sequence that will generate the most drama.  No, the results are not highest votes to lowest votes, but nor are they completely random.  The acts at the top of the voting table are announced in the first half of the list, while those who are close to the cut-off at the bottom are, unsurprisingly, left towards the end, in order to generate the most tension.

If there are two acts at the bottom of the list, then the 'in no particular order' sequence is not going to start off with the act that's third from bottom.  That makes the bottom two more obvious.

No, I'm not buying it, have never bought it, and can't be doing with it.  The sooner The X Factor, and all its myriad spin-offs, stop using it, the better.

The X Factor Pantomime

Okay, so it's really got nothing to do with Chess, at all, but I figure it's time I wrote down some of my thoughts about the X Factor.  I'm biased, I'm opinionated and I thought I'd point out some of its biggest flaws, and the things that annoy me about it, just to see if anybody else feels the same.

Firstly, there's the theme tune, composed by Simon Cowell and some other people.  I wonder how much of the composition is down to Mr Cowell's musical talent, and how much of his writing credit is down to getting royalties every time they play it (once at the start, once at the end, and twice for every advert break).  Just a thought...

Then there's the whole 'making a drama out of nothing'.  When Dermot O'Leary announces the results of the vote, "In no particular order," I will roll my eyes.  Rest assured that the results of the votes are announced in the order that will produce the most drama.  Some of the more shocking results will be given at the start, then the ones that are safer will be announced, then it'll come down to two of the bottom three.  Except that this week, there's a double elimination... well, if they allow in four more acts at the start, they need to get through them fairly quickly, don't they?

Most years, and this year has been no exception, we've had the manufactured boy band and the manufactured girl band.  Take four or five individual candidates and bolt them together as a group.  They suffer from a lack of practice time, and hardly know each other at all, but they shouldn't have to worry too much - after all, they have a good record for getting through to the live TV stages.... but then getting eliminated very quickly.  I sympathise for the authentic groups who can sing well, as their space has just been lost to a cynical marketing ploy.

I'll add just one more thing before closing (and rest assured I've got plenty more to rant about next time) - the cash cow setup.  Not content with aiming for Christmas number one (and such a *shame* they didn't get it last year) the whole setup is to get people to spend money on the vote.  And how much money?  Based on some rough mental arithmetic, if they had, say, 4 million votes for just the final last year, and 35p from each call is straight profit, then that's £1.4million.  Just from the final - not counting any of the previous rounds.  Last year, Jedward (a whole article of their own) were clearly the money-spinners, as people were voting to keep them in, contrary to Simon Cowell's overly loud  protestation (and much money-counting in the background). And yet, when the time came for him to eliminate them - the first chance he got - he kept them in and eliminated Lucie Jones (nobody can remember her, but she was a good singer).  The decision got the press it deserved, in a Daily Mail article and Simon Cowell kept rubbing his hands with glee.

Anyways, I'll close for now, as Joe McElderry has just sung his new song, in a hope to get a number one hit (since he didn't get it last Christmas, and needs all the publicity he can get).

Chess Update

Yes, it's been a long time since I've updated the blog.  Real life getting in the way.  I've joined Chesscube.com (now merged with Chess.com), which I recommend for ease of use... all I need to do now is work out how to post my games here without having to do anything lengthy like cutting and pasting!

I've been playing the King's Gambit to good effect as white, so that'll probably be the subject of the next post!

In the meantime, here are some of my other Chess games that I've analysed here on this blog.

My earliest online Chess game
My very earliest Chess game (it was even earlier than I thought)
The Chess game I'm most proud of -
where I made the situation too complicated for my opponent, causing him to lose a piece; I then found a fork and finished off with a piece sacrifice
 
The strangest game of Chess I ever played - 1. d4 d5 2. c4 b5
I was not sure what I was supposed to do with that; apparentl I was supposed to play 3. c4xb5, but played 3. c4xd5 and immediately and unintentionally took my opponent out of his prep.

The Chess game I'm least proud of

I got greedy, tried to hold onto a pawn that I should have given back, and expended a lot of time and effort on it, instead of protecting my King (on the other side of the board)

DavidL defends the Patzer as Black

After my previous post about the Patzer's Opening, I said I'd give an example of how I've recently defended against the Patzer's Opening.  I've recently joined Chesscube.com and, as in almost all online Chess environments, any player who has no reputation, no ranking and no games played is often seen as easy prey - a Patzer.  My opponent, k_ermin, decided he'd have a go at the Patzer's Opening against me - and I was ready!


Played 29 April 2010, k_ermin vs DavidL

1.e4  e5 
2.Qh5 Nc6 
3.Bc4 g6 
4.Qf3 Nf6

At this stage, we've reached the classic Anti-Patzer position.  Black has successfully defended the immediate threats from White, and has a fairly good king-side development for it, while White is having to mobilise the rest of his pieces.
 
5. d3   Bg7 
6. Bg5  O-O 
7. Bxf6 Bxf6 
8. Bd5  d6 
9. Bxc6 bxc6 
10.Nh3  Rb8 
11.b3   d5 
12.exd5 cxd5 
13.Nc3  e4 
14.dxe4 dxe4 
15.Qe3  Re8 
16.Rd1  Qe7 
17.Nd5  Qe6 
18.Nxc7 Qc6 
19.Nxe8 Bc3+ 
20.Kf1  Ba6+ 
21.Kg1  Rxe8 
22.Qxa7 Qf6 
23.g3   Be2 
24.Rd7  Bf3 
25.Nf4  Ba5 
26.Qxa5 Qa1+ 
27.Qe1  Qxe1# 0-1

The Patzer Chess Series

What is the Patzer's Opening in Chess?
Defending the Patzer as Black
Another game playing the Patzer as Black

Coming up soon: DavidL defends the Patzer's Opening

Yes, I know it's been a long time since my last post, but I've been playing a few games - so that I've got something to comment on.  

I've just joined Chesscube,  http://www.chesscube.com/ and experienced something that probably everybody experiences when joining a new community - people trying to checkmate you with the Patzer's Opening.  I've got two games where I successfully defended 1. e4 e5 2. Qh5 Nc6 and I'll explain how, hopefully next week!

The Patzer Chess Series

What is the Patzer's Opening?
Defending the Patzer as Black
Another game defending the Patzer as Black

Some of my Chess games:

My earliest online Chess game
My most bizarre Chess game
My favourite Chess game

The Patzer's Opening (1. e4 e5 2. Qh5)

This post isn't about a game, but about how to defend against an over-enthusiastic, over-eager opponent who decides that you look easy enough to beat quickly. The Patzer (or Patzer's) Opening is played by White when he (or she) reckons that Black should be a pushover, and makes some extremely aggressive moves from the start. With precise play you can gain the advantage against this kind of opening.

The opening is also known by other names, including the Parham Attack, Danvers Opening, Wayward Queen Attack, and Terrorist Attack.

The Patzer's Opening starts like this:

1. e4 e5

2. Qh5

This is a very aggressive move by White, and breaks the general principle of moving the queen early in the game. The main idea for White is to bring the bishop to c4 and then deliver checkmate on f7 with the queen. However, the more immediate threat is Qxe5, taking Black's pawn. Black must address this threat, and there are two main lines which can be played - either d6 or Nc6. I'll cover both, starting with Nc6.

2. ... Nc6

3. Bb4

White continues with the attempt to deliver a swift checkmate. My favourite response to this is g6, but it's also possible to defend the f7 square with Nh6. Playing d5 will not work, as white can capture the pawn with the bishop, Bxd5 and the threat continues. I like g6 because it develops the kingside defence, but especially because it gives White a good prod!

3. ... g6

White now has to move his queen, and the most likely square is f3, repeating the threat of capture on f7.

A note at this point - don't be concerned if, as Black, you're having to make a series of very defensive moves just to stay in the game. You're developing your pieces well, and they're all in good positions. White, if he plays Qf3, has prevented his knight on g1 from moving to its best square, and even on f3, his queen isn't ideally placed for later in the game. You'll come through the opening in a strong position, as White can't maintain a huge attack while you're beating his pieces back!

A natural response to Qf3 is Nf6, using the knight to block the queen's attack on f7.

4. Qf3 Nf6

White's attack is now running out of steam, and you're well on the way to developing a strong defence for your king. The moves g6, Nf6 and then Bg7 are known as 'building the house', providing a relatively safe place for your king when you castle kingside.

There are several alternatives to playing 2... Nc6, but I feel it's the most solid. For example:

2... d6 – Reinforces the e5 pawn and discourages White from launching an immediate attack.

2... Nf6 – Directly attacking White's queen, forcing it to move and lose tempo.

2... g6 – A bold response that invites White to capture the e5 pawn, but Black can counterattack effectively.

These can all neutralise an apparently sharp attack fairly quickly.

The Patzer Opening in Chess Series

What is the Patzer's Opening in Chess?
Defending the Patzer as Black
Another game playing the Patzer as Black