I am attending a tournament in Toronto on Saturday December 5th. It is a small but very strong field that I will be up against. I do not expect to win more than at most 1 game, and I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't win any. The field so far looks like this:
1. IM Noritsyn, Nikolay 2542
2. NM Martchenko, Alexander 2340
3. NM Calugar, Arthur 2329
4. WIM Yuan, Yuanling 2304
5. Peng, Bill 2142
6. Wang, Jesse 2075
7. Wu,Kevin 1930
8. Douglas,Richard 1885
9. O'Sullivan, Patrick 1678
Clearly, I will be over matched, but I do expect to gain a lot of experience here an I may take a game or two If I can play solid positions against aggressive opponents. The only deciding factor involved in the success of this tournament for me is whether or not I have fun. And those strong players should be on their toes, because I am working hard to prepare for tough fights.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Chess Position Program
It looks like I found a program that allows me to create chess positions and post them here. It is called Diag Transfer. To test the program, I will upload the position after 12.Nxf7 in Topalov-Kramnik at Corus 2008.
From here it looks like it worked. I sure hope so!
From here it looks like it worked. I sure hope so!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tournament Game- Caro-Kann
I thought since I mentioned the Caro-Kann yesterday, I would share a game that I played in the Hamilton Summer Open 2009 in the U-1900 section. Unfortunately, this is the Panov-Botvinnik attack, not the Cappablanca variation. And I still am unsure about the procedure of inserting diagrams.
Gillis, Doug (1656)-O'Sullivan, Patrick (unr.)(at the time)
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 -The Panov-Botvinnik attack
4.... Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4 -I particularlly like this move. It allows me to keep an indirect eye on d5, with a potential Bxf3
7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Qb3 -This is in the Rybka opening book, but I think my response justifes the exclusion of this move
8.... Bxf3! -Still book, but I found it over the board and was very pleased with the resulting position
9.gxf3 Nb6 10.Bb5?! -Out of book now, Rybka gives Be3 with the idea of O-O-O and d5
10.... e6 -stopping the threat of d5, and preparing to develop my dark bishop. I did not want to venture out with 10... Qxd4, because after Be3 followed by Rd1, I am getting pressured. A quick check with the engine confirms my suspicions
11.Be3 a6 -I decide that if I can get off the queenside pressure from the exchange, and the isolated c-pawn that results will bolster my control of d5, allowing my b6 Knight to reside there permanently
12.Bxc6+ bxc6 13.O-O-O -Nothing much better as far as I can see
13... Nd5 -In my opinion, the best move. The computer likes Rb8, eying the white Queen
14.Nxd5? -I assign a "?" because this move, although it removes my best piece, locks in his dark bishop, and fixes my pawn structure. Qa4+ does not worry me, as the Queen exchange is favourable for me. I want a good bishop vs bad bishop ending. Rybka likes Nxd5 and still thinks white has a slight edge, but I can't see it
14... cxd5 15.Rd3 Bd6 -Puts pressure on h2, making the rook deployment undesirable
16.Qa4+ Qd7 17.Qxd7+ Kxd7 18.f4? -Anti-strategy, locking in the dark bishop. I now have an edge, and my next idea is to make sure the f-pawn stays put
18.... Rc8+ 19.Kb1 g6 -activating a rook before locking in the pawn. I chose g6 instead of f5 because I was concerned about rook pressure on g7. When you have a strategic edge, do not harm your structure, and force the opponent to give ground in order to create ideas.
20.h4 -another pawn on a dark square, his bishop is bad. He is struggling to create an attack
20.... h5! -I do not miss the opportunity to fix this pawn
21.Rb3 Rb8 22.Rxb8 Rxb8 23.Rc1 Rc8 24.Rxc8 -in my eyes an admission of defeat, but to my surprise this move is coupled with a draw offer. I decline and coast to victory...
24.... Kxc8 25.Bd2 Be7 -wins h4, my passed pawn will be unstoppable
26.f5 exf5 -adding to my pawn mass
27.Bf4 Bxh4 28.Bg3 Bxg3 29.fxg3 f4 -a nice shot, the King can't stop the pawns
30.gxf4 h4 0-1 -A nice game in which I use the Caro-Kann as it was meant to be used- a slow eventual squeeze in the endgame. The key idea used in the game was limiting the dark squared bishop. I made moves designed to worsen my opponent's mobility and structure, and earned a win in my first official tournament game.
If you have comments or questions, please don't hesitate to write them. Sorry f I was too biased or if my analysis lacked enough concrete variations. I hope you enjoyed my analysis. My next step will be to figure out how to insert diagrams of positions.
"The tactician must know what to do when something needs doing; the strategist must know what to do when nothing needs doing" (Savielly Tartakower)
Gillis, Doug (1656)-O'Sullivan, Patrick (unr.)(at the time)
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 -The Panov-Botvinnik attack
4.... Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4 -I particularlly like this move. It allows me to keep an indirect eye on d5, with a potential Bxf3
7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Qb3 -This is in the Rybka opening book, but I think my response justifes the exclusion of this move
8.... Bxf3! -Still book, but I found it over the board and was very pleased with the resulting position
9.gxf3 Nb6 10.Bb5?! -Out of book now, Rybka gives Be3 with the idea of O-O-O and d5
10.... e6 -stopping the threat of d5, and preparing to develop my dark bishop. I did not want to venture out with 10... Qxd4, because after Be3 followed by Rd1, I am getting pressured. A quick check with the engine confirms my suspicions
11.Be3 a6 -I decide that if I can get off the queenside pressure from the exchange, and the isolated c-pawn that results will bolster my control of d5, allowing my b6 Knight to reside there permanently
12.Bxc6+ bxc6 13.O-O-O -Nothing much better as far as I can see
13... Nd5 -In my opinion, the best move. The computer likes Rb8, eying the white Queen
14.Nxd5? -I assign a "?" because this move, although it removes my best piece, locks in his dark bishop, and fixes my pawn structure. Qa4+ does not worry me, as the Queen exchange is favourable for me. I want a good bishop vs bad bishop ending. Rybka likes Nxd5 and still thinks white has a slight edge, but I can't see it
14... cxd5 15.Rd3 Bd6 -Puts pressure on h2, making the rook deployment undesirable
16.Qa4+ Qd7 17.Qxd7+ Kxd7 18.f4? -Anti-strategy, locking in the dark bishop. I now have an edge, and my next idea is to make sure the f-pawn stays put
18.... Rc8+ 19.Kb1 g6 -activating a rook before locking in the pawn. I chose g6 instead of f5 because I was concerned about rook pressure on g7. When you have a strategic edge, do not harm your structure, and force the opponent to give ground in order to create ideas.
20.h4 -another pawn on a dark square, his bishop is bad. He is struggling to create an attack
20.... h5! -I do not miss the opportunity to fix this pawn
21.Rb3 Rb8 22.Rxb8 Rxb8 23.Rc1 Rc8 24.Rxc8 -in my eyes an admission of defeat, but to my surprise this move is coupled with a draw offer. I decline and coast to victory...
24.... Kxc8 25.Bd2 Be7 -wins h4, my passed pawn will be unstoppable
26.f5 exf5 -adding to my pawn mass
27.Bf4 Bxh4 28.Bg3 Bxg3 29.fxg3 f4 -a nice shot, the King can't stop the pawns
30.gxf4 h4 0-1 -A nice game in which I use the Caro-Kann as it was meant to be used- a slow eventual squeeze in the endgame. The key idea used in the game was limiting the dark squared bishop. I made moves designed to worsen my opponent's mobility and structure, and earned a win in my first official tournament game.
If you have comments or questions, please don't hesitate to write them. Sorry f I was too biased or if my analysis lacked enough concrete variations. I hope you enjoyed my analysis. My next step will be to figure out how to insert diagrams of positions.
"The tactician must know what to do when something needs doing; the strategist must know what to do when nothing needs doing" (Savielly Tartakower)
Diagrams
Hi, since I am new to this I do not know how to insert diagrams of chess positions into the posts. I will look around, but if you happen to know how to get a program that will allow me to use FEN to generate a chess position, please let me know in the comments.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Photo Test
I just wanted to see if I could figure out how to post photos (I know its dumb, but there is a first time for everything!). Here is a picture of my favourite chess player, GM Magnus Carlsen (he is only approx. 1.5 years older than me. I wish I was that good).
Caro-Kann Defense
I thought I'd kick off this thing by discussing my favourite opening with the black pieces. The Caro-Kann defense is a super-solid opening that appeals to positional players and endgame specialists. I am no good in the endgame, but I feel strongly positionally rooted. Before I begin the discussion, I would like to address the question: "How do you choose an opening if you are just starting out?".
I have no definite answer, yet to choose an opening for black I can suggest that you first pick a first move with white. Either 1.e4 or 1.d4. Once you have chosen, look at all the main defences to that move. For e4, see the Sicilian, the Ruy Lopez, the French, the Caro-Kann, the Petroff, and the Scandanavian. Of course there are other choices, but I believe beginners benefit most fromm understanding the mainline openings. Choose one that has an appealing look or pawn structure, and run with it. Keep playing it no matter your results, stick to it and you will start to get a sense for the ideas involved.
So, back to the Caro-Kann. The idea of the Caro-Kann (1.e4 c6) is to prepare 2... d5 to counter-attack in the centre. This plan is flexible, because it starts the formation of a strong pawn structure, and it allows for the light-square bishop to move, unlike the French. The most common way the game proceeds in the Caro-Kann is 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3(supporting the pawn) dxe4 4.Nxe4. The initial feel of the position is that white has much more control of the game, so I play here 4... Bf5(the Cappablanca variatrion) This kicks the Knight from the centre, and develops a pice. After this move, black should prepare to be stifled on the kingside by white's plan of h4 and h5 eventually attacking the light bishop, butblack has the better pawn structure and should head to the endgame through sound piece exchanges.
If my overview has not satisfied you, great! This shows that you have a thirst for learning about chess. I encourage you check out an opening database for more information.
"Without error there can be no brilliancy" (Emmanuel Lasker)
I have no definite answer, yet to choose an opening for black I can suggest that you first pick a first move with white. Either 1.e4 or 1.d4. Once you have chosen, look at all the main defences to that move. For e4, see the Sicilian, the Ruy Lopez, the French, the Caro-Kann, the Petroff, and the Scandanavian. Of course there are other choices, but I believe beginners benefit most fromm understanding the mainline openings. Choose one that has an appealing look or pawn structure, and run with it. Keep playing it no matter your results, stick to it and you will start to get a sense for the ideas involved.
So, back to the Caro-Kann. The idea of the Caro-Kann (1.e4 c6) is to prepare 2... d5 to counter-attack in the centre. This plan is flexible, because it starts the formation of a strong pawn structure, and it allows for the light-square bishop to move, unlike the French. The most common way the game proceeds in the Caro-Kann is 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3(supporting the pawn) dxe4 4.Nxe4. The initial feel of the position is that white has much more control of the game, so I play here 4... Bf5(the Cappablanca variatrion) This kicks the Knight from the centre, and develops a pice. After this move, black should prepare to be stifled on the kingside by white's plan of h4 and h5 eventually attacking the light bishop, butblack has the better pawn structure and should head to the endgame through sound piece exchanges.
If my overview has not satisfied you, great! This shows that you have a thirst for learning about chess. I encourage you check out an opening database for more information.
"Without error there can be no brilliancy" (Emmanuel Lasker)
Introduction
Hi, I'm Patrick O'Sullivan of Canada (CFC 1678). I have created this blog to share chess ideas and perhaps even games. I am new to this website, so I have a lot of learning to do. My intention is to provide helpful chess advice while improving my game. If you are just starting chess, I hope you take up the game as something more than just a passtime. Be creative, chess doesn't limit you, it allows you to grow. I hope I can help your growing process. I leave this introduction with a quote; Whoever moves his hand and does not draw back is a great man (Chinese proverb- I think).
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