[Event "4th CSS/PAL Freestyle"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2006.10.21"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Xakru"]
[Black "zor_champ"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[Annotator "Dufek Jiri"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2006.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. g4 dxc4 8. Bxc4
e5 9. g5 Nd5 10. Ne4 Bc7 11. Bd2 exd4 12. Nxd4 O-O 13. O-O-O Ne5 14. Be2 Re8
15. h4 Ng4 16. Bf3 Bb6 17. Rhg1 Nh2 $2 {
Diagram # very risky and probably bad move. Knight is now totally out of game}
(17... Ne5 $1) 18. Be2 $3 {For the first sight easy move, but it was very hard
to finding it. Now all white pieces are on the right squares} Qe7 (18... Bxd4
19. exd4 Bf5 20. Bd3 Nf3 21. Nf6+ gxf6 22. Bxf5 Nxd4 23. Qd3 Ne2+ 24. Kb1 Nxg1
25. Rxg1 {with strong compensation}) 19. Nf6+ Nxf6 20. gxf6 Qxf6 {Diagram #}
21. Be1 $3 {Main idea is totally isolate black knight on the h2, but there is
too another little hiddenidea} Bc7 {Diagram #} (21... Bh3 22. Rg3 Qxh4 23. Bc3
g6 24. Rh1 {with problems about black pieces on the h-file}) (21... Rd8 22. Qe4
Bh3 23. Nc2 g6 24. Qh1 Rxd1+ 25. Bxd1 Qd6 26. Bb4 c5 27. Bc3 $16) 22. Bc3 $3 {
We don't pred icted black 21...Bc7 move, but we found with help of computer
winning move. Black is only six moves out of book and get lost position. Since
22.Bc3 black position is totally hopeless.} Qxf2 (22... g6 23. h5 {
with strong attack}) 23. Nf5 Qxf5 (23... Bxf5 24. Rxg7+ Kh8 25. Rxf7+ Be5 26.
Rf8+ Kg7 27. Rxf5 $18) (23... g6 24. Nh6+ Kf8 25. Rgf1 Nxf1 26. Rxf1 Qxf1+ 27.
Bxf1 $18) 24. Rxg7+ {Winning in all lines. In this moment we had big pleasure
analysing all lines which leads to winning position.} Kf8 25. Bd3 Qf3 (25...
Qc5 26. Rxf7+ Kxf7 27. Bc4+ Re6 28. Qxh7+ Ke8 29. Qxc7 Qe7 30. Qg3 Qh7 31. Qxh2
$18) 26. Bxh7 Bg4 (26... Bf5 27. Bf6 Qxe3+ 28. Rd2 Qe1+ 29. Qd1 Qg3 (29...
Qxd1+ 30. Kxd1 Bg4+ 31. Kc2 Bf5+ 32. Bxf5) 30. Rxg3 Bxg3 31. Bxf5 Re1 32. Qxe1
Bxe1 33. Rxh2 $18) (26... Qxe3+ 27. Kb1 Re6 28. Rg8+ Ke7 29. Bg7 $18) 27. Rg5
Ke7 (27... Qxe3+ 28. Bd2 Qxg5 29. Bxg5 $18) 28. Bb4+ Ke6 29. Qc4+ Kf6 30. Bc3+
Re5 31. Re1 $1 Bh3 32. Bc2 Rd8 33. Qf4+ Qxf4 34. exf4 Nf3 35. fxe5+ Ke7 36.
Bb4+ Ke6 37. Bb3+ Rd5 38. Bxd5+ cxd5 39. Rg3 Nxe1 40. Rxh3 Ng2 41. Bd2 {
still problem with knight on g2} Bxe5 42. h5 {and zor_champ resigns} 1-0

[Event "4th PAL-CSS Freestyle Final"]
[Site "CSS Freestyle Tournament"]
[Date "2006.10.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Icy45"]
[Black "Flying Saucers"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2536"]
[BlackElo "1771"]
[Annotator "Dagh Nielsen"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2006.10.22"]
[TimeControl "3600+15"]

{My opponent was Auno Siikaluoma from Finland. I knew in advance that he is
currently very active in correspondence chess, and that he would probably play
some "irregular" Nf3 opening, against which it would be difficult to prepare
something concrete. I think the game can best be characterised as a nervous
affair, where first white and later black had huge winning chances, but it was
eventually a fair draw.} 1. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 2. g3 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:37]} 3. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:08]} c6 {[%emt 0:00:45]
} 4. O-O {In my preparation, I had looked a bit on both Bf5 and Bg4, and
decided that I would be better able to decide the further course of the game
if and when that position actually arose on the board. [%emt 0:00:11]} Bg4 {
[%emt 0:02:40]} 5. d3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:43]} 6. Qe1 {More commo
n is 6.Nbd2. Since my opponent played a tempo, while I was in unknown waters,
I of course felt a little uneasy. [%emt 0:00:09]} e5 {[%emt 0:01:34]} 7. h3 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} Bh5 {[%emt 0:00:41]} 8. e4 {[%emt 0:00:11]} dxe4 {
[%emt 0:00:13]} 9. dxe4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:02:13]} 10. b4 {
[%emt 0:00:14]} Be7 {[%emt 0:10:34]} (10... Bd6 11. Nh4 a5 $146 (11... O-O 12.
Nf5 Bc7 {and Rybka likes} 13. Nc3) 12. Nf5 Bxb4 13. Nxg7+ Kf8 14. c3 Kxg7 15.
cxb4 Bg6 {was "too unclear" for my taste.}) (10... Bb6 {and I felt that white
would get too easy initiative after either of the indicated moves.} 11. Na3
$146 (11. Nbd2 $146)) 11. Bb2 $146 {[%emt 0:02:04]} (11. Nh4 O-O $5 $146 (11...
Bg6)) 11... a5 {[%emt 0:04:41]} (11... Qb6 12. Nxe5 {I did not like giving up
the e5 center pawn and opening up the b-file for white at the same time.}) 12.
bxa5 {This turned out to be a critical moment. 12. bxa5 came as a complete
surprise for me, and usually, one should follow the sensible advice of being
very careful in such a situation. Secondly, I have tried to build up the habit
of always considering the various alternatives if the time allows it.
Sometimes one is a little tempted to just follow the immediate engine
suggestion. I replied too fast and can best explain it by "first game nerves"
and the fact that I was already down on time in a game "on my opponent's
territory". [%emt 0:01:40]} Qxa5 {[%emt 0:00:48]} (12... Bxf3 {
was prudent, when after} 13. Bxf3 Qxa5 14. a4 Bb4 15. c3 Be7 16. Nd2 O-O 17.
Nc4 Qc7 {black should be OK.}) 13. Qxa5 {[%emt 0:01:15]} Rxa5 {[%emt 0:00:04]}
14. Bc3 {[%emt 0:02:13]} Rc5 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 15. Nfd2 {[%emt 0:01:47]} Nf8 {
[%emt 0:00:41]} 16. Re1 $1 {With the idea of Bf1-d3 and harassing black's
misplaced rook on c5. I discovered this idea also while my opponent was
pondering the move. With the back against the wall, I decided to try and take
the time necessary to get my act together instead of panicking and giving
white an easy way forward. I think I succeeded fairly well in finding perhaps
the only way to achieve a still playable position. [%emt 0:08:32]} Ne6 {
[%emt 0:13:36]} 17. Bf1 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Nd4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} (17... O-O 18.
Bb4 Rd8 19. Kg2 {and black ends up an exchange down for pretty much nothing.})
18. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:25]} Nd7 {Over the next 10-15 moves or so, both white and
black has to decide between several different continuations giving white a
certain endgame edge. [%emt 0:00:14]} 19. Bxd4 {[%emt 0:01:59]} (19. Kg2 $5)
19... exd4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 20. Nb3 {[%emt 0:01:58]} Ne5 {[%emt 0:00:43]} 21.
Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:48]} Nxd3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 22. cxd3 {[%emt 0:00:25]} Rc2 {
[%emt 0:04:29]} (22... Rb5 23. N1d2 Bb4 (23... Rb4 24. Nc4 Ra4 25. Nxd4 b5 26.
Nf5 bxc4 27. Nxg7+ Kd7 28. Nxh5) 24. a4 Rb6 25. g4 Bg6 26. a5 Ra6 {
and there was too much harmony in white's position for my taste.}) 23. Nxd4 {
[%emt 0:01:37]} Rb2 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 24. g4 {[%emt 0:02:59]} Bg6 {
[%emt 0:03:44]} (24... Bc5 $5 25. Ne2 Bg6) 25. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Kd7 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} 26. Re2 {[%emt 0:01:49]} (26. Reb1 $5 Rxb1 27. Rxb1 b5 {
and for example} 28. Nce2 Ra8 29. Rb2 f6 30. Rc2 Ra6 31. Nc1) 26... Rb4 {
[%emt 0:03:31]} (26... Rxe2 27. Ncxe2 Ra8 28. a4) 27. Nc2 {[%emt 0:01:59]} Rb2
{[%emt 0:00:15]} 28. f4 {[%emt 0:00:26]} f6 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 29. Nd1 {
[%emt 0:06:55]} (29. Ne3 $5 Rxe2+ 30. Nxe2 Ra8 {and for example} 31. a4 b5 32.
a5 Ra6 33. Nf5 Bb4 34. Nxg7 Rxa5 35. Rxa5 Bxa5 36. Kf2 c5 37. Ke3 Bf7) 29...
Rb6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 30. Nce3 {[%emt 0:02:46]} Rd8 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 31. Nf5 {
[%emt 0:01:56]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 32. Nc3 {[%emt 0:01:37]} Rb4 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} 33. Rd1 {[%emt 0:01:01]} Kc7 {I think black has defended quite
well for the last 10 moves or so, and his pieces are now well placed to
neutralize white's advantage of an extra pawn. [%emt 0:00:24]} 34. Nh4 {
This move came as a complete surprise, and in hindsight I cannot agree with it.
While white may still not be objectively worse, the table seems to be turned
in a practical sense. [%emt 0:00:22]} (34. Rc2) 34... Rbd4 {[%emt 0:01:07]} 35.
Nxg6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} hxg6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 36. Re3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Bc5 {
[%emt 0:00:16]} 37. Kg3 {[%emt 0:01:01]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:43]} 38. g5 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} (38. h4) 38... R4d7 {[%emt 0:00:39]} 39. Rf3 {[%emt 0:00:21]}
Ra8 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 40. Rd2 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Kb6 {[%emt 0:02:16]} ({after} 
40... Bb4 41. d4 Ra3 42. Rc2 Bxc3 43. Rfxc3 Rxc3+ 44. Rxc3 Rxd4 {
I did not believe that black had any real winning chances.}) 41. Ne2 {
[%emt 0:00:51]} Rda7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 42. Nc1 {[%emt 0:00:38]} (42. d4 Bb4 43.
Nc3 Bxc3 (43... f5 44. exf5 gxf5 45. h4 {and white is probably close to a draw.
}) 44. Rxc3 Rxa2 45. Rxa2 Rxa2 46. gxf6 gxf6 47. e5 fxe5 48. fxe5 Rd2 49. Kf3
Rxd4 50. e6 Kc7 51. e7 Kd7 52. Rxc6 {with a draw}) 42... Ba3 {[%emt 0:00:41]}
43. Rc2 {[%emt 0:00:10]} (43. Ne2 Bb4 $17) 43... Bxc1 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 44. Rxc1
{[%emt 0:00:09]} f5 {at some point over the next 10 moves, white crosses the
line from a draw to a loss. [%emt 0:00:25]} (44... Rxa2 45. f5 $11) 45. Re3 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} (45. exf5 {
gives rise to some beautiful stalemate draw variations.} gxf5 46. d4 Ra3 (46...
Rxa2 47. Rc5) 47. Rxa3 Rxa3+ 48. Kh4 g6 49. d5 (49. Re1 {
looks OK for white also.}) 49... c5 (49... cxd5 50. Rc6+ $1 Kxc6 {
and stalemate!}) 50. Re1 c4 51. Re6+ Kc5 52. Rc6+ Kxd5 53. Rc5+ Ke4 54. Rxc4+
Kf3 55. Rc6 {and white is close to a draw.}) 45... Rxa2 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 46.
exf5 {[%emt 0:00:21]} (46. e5) 46... gxf5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 47. Re6 {
[%emt 0:00:20]} (47. Re5) 47... Rc8 {[%emt 0:01:16]} 48. h4 {[%emt 0:01:40]}
Rd2 {[%emt 0:00:55]} 49. h5 {[%emt 0:00:48]} Rxd3+ {[%emt 0:00:50]} 50. Kh4 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} Rf3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 51. h6 {[%emt 0:00:25]} (51. g6 $5 Rxf4+
52. Kg5) 51... Rxf4+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} 52. Kh5 {[%emt 0:00:31]} gxh6 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} 53. g6 {black has an obvious potential winning plan in
sacrificing a rook for the g-pawn and rolling down with the b- and c-pawns. I
was aware of this plan, but hoped that my engine would find it on its own if
it worked, even though I was not using TBs. With only 6 mins left on the clock,
I thought I could not really investigate various candidate moves in depth at
any point. As it is, the immediate b4 is probably winning on both move 53 and
54. [%emt 0:00:16]} Rg4 {[%emt 0:00:30]} (53... b4 {and for example} 54. g7 Rg4
55. Rg6 Rxg6 56. Kxg6 Kb5 57. Rf1 b3 58. Rxf5+ c5 59. Rf2 Rg8 60. Kh7 Rxg7+ 61.
Kxg7 c4 $19) 54. Kxh6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Rc7 {[%emt 0:00:39]} (54... b4) 55. Rf6
{[%emt 0:00:09]} b4 {But now it is too late. [%emt 0:00:19]} 56. Rb1 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} Kb5 {[%emt 0:00:51]} 57. Rf7 {[%emt 0:00:37]} Rc8 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} 58. Rb7+ {[%emt 0:00:40]} Ka4 {[%emt 0:00:19]} (58... Kc5 59.
g7 $11) 59. Ra7+ {[%emt 0:00:27]} Kb5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 60. Rb7+ {[%emt 0:00:11]
} Ka4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 61. Ra7+ {[%emt 0:00:26]} Kb5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 62. Rb7+
{(Lag: Av=0.21s, max=1.0s) [%emt 0:00:19]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "4th PAL-CSS Freestyle Final"]
[Site "CSS Freestyle Tournament"]
[Date "2006.10.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Flying Saucers"]
[Black "Rentner2"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "1771"]
[BlackElo "1806"]
[Annotator "Dagh Nielsen"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2006.10.22"]
[TimeControl "3600+15"]

{My opponent was IM Jörg Blauert from Germany. We had played also in round 7
of the preliminary, in a Scotch that quickly fizzled out to a draw. I had
predicted that this game could be either a Petroff, a French, or a Caro-Kann.
It ended up being a quite spectacular fighting game that required great
precision from both sides.} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} c6 {I "forgot" to prepare
something concrete against the Caro-Kann (didn't really have time), so I
decided before the game to play main 3.Nc3 lines guided by Jeroen Noomen's
Rybka book, the Fritz 9 book, and improvised analysis. [%emt 0:01:28]} 2. d4 {
[%emt 0:00:06]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} dxe4 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} 4. Nxe4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 5. Ng3 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} Bg6 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 6. h4 {[%emt 0:00:11]} h6 {[%emt 0:00:03]}
7. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 8. h5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Bh7 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} 9. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bxd3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 10. Qxd3 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} e6 {So far so good. My aim over the next few moves was to
prevent an endgame type position that I would probably understand much worse
than my opponent. [%emt 0:00:03]} 11. Bd2 {[%emt 0:01:59]} Ngf6 {[%emt 0:07:50]
} 12. O-O-O {[%emt 0:00:22]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 13. Ne4 {I was still guided
by the consideration mentioned after move 10, and spent 28 minutes. I hit upon
the idea of 16.g4 here, even though it was only present in my "own" book where
no stat information is present. [%emt 0:28:09]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:09]} 14. Nxf6+
{[%emt 0:01:22]} Nxf6 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 15. Kb1 {[%emt 0:00:19]} c5 {
[%emt 0:01:07]} 16. g4 {
There is 5 games with this in the Shredder base. [%emt 0:00:50]} Nxg4 {
This is probably forced, or white crashes through with g4-g5. [%emt 0:08:25]}
17. Rhg1 {[%emt 0:03:11]} f5 $1 {While I was analysing the position after 17.
Rhg1 at move 13, my assessment was that Nxf2 was perhaps a draw, with white
having chances for more, while 17...f5 gave white some edge. While my opponent
pondered his move here, I changed my opinion, and thought white might actually
have to be quite precise to obtain the draw after 17...Nxf2. In that light, 17.
..f5 can be seen as a winning attempt! On the other hand, in 2 games with this
position in the Shredder base, white ended up winning after 17...f5. [%emt 0:
17:10]} (17... Nxf2 18. Qe2 Nxd1 19. Bxh6 Nc3+ {This Nc3 move and deeper
analysis following it was what caused me to change assessment.} 20. bxc3 Kh7
21. Bxg7 Rg8 22. Qe4+ (22. h6 cxd4 23. Nxd4 Bc5 {and draw?}) 22... f5 23. Qe5
Bd6 24. Qxe6 Rxg7 25. Qxf5+ Kh8 26. Rxg7 Kxg7 27. Qg6+ Kf8 28. Ng5 Qd7 {
and draw?}) 18. Qe2 $146 {[%emt 0:02:48]} (18. Rde1 Qd5 19. c4 {The score for
white in the Shredder base is here 2-0, but in such a sharp position, even GM
games may not by themselves represent the objective truth about the correct
assessment of the position, I guess.} Qd6 20. d5 exd5 21. Bf4 Qxf4 $5 $146 22.
Qxd5+ Rf7 23. Rxe7 Raf8) 18... Qb6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 19. Ne5 {[%emt 0:03:15]}
Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 20. Qxe5 {[%emt 0:04:56]} Bf6 {[%emt 0:01:21]} 21. dxc5 {
[%emt 0:01:04]} Bxe5 {[%emt 0:10:12]} 22. cxb6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} f4 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} 23. Ba5 $5 {I had been contemplating this position also while
my opponent decided upon the 22...f4 plan at move 21. The danger here is that
my engine wants to take on a7 etc., but when one goes down the lines, it seems
like black's pawns are more mobile than white's, and white's pieces are
somewhat awkwardly placed, for example the rook defending pawn-h5. In
particular, in some lines, black plays b7-b5 and stops white's pawns from
getting forward too soon. 23.Ba5 allows white to target the b7 pawn and thus
opens up for the c-pawn to roll. It also improves the positioning of whites
bishop, ending up at b6. [%emt 0:04:54]} (23. bxa7 Rf5 24. Rh1 Rxa7 25. Bb4 b5
{and I suspect black holds the upper hand.}) 23... Rf5 {[%emt 0:07:03]} 24. Rd7
{[%emt 0:01:03]} Rxh5 {[%emt 0:03:35]} (24... Bf6 $1 {was probably a good
chance for black to get a practical edge, and a move I was worried about while
my opponent pondered the position.} 25. Bd2 (25. Bc3 Bxc3 26. bxc3 Rf7 {
and now one point is that after} 27. Rd6 Re7 28. Re1 axb6 29. Rdxe6 Rxe6 30.
Rxe6 Ra5 31. Rxb6 Rxh5 32. Rxb7 g5 {
black is down a pawn, but perhaps up a game.}) 25... axb6 26. Rxb7 Rd8 27. Kc1
Rd6) 25. Rxb7 {[%emt 0:00:20]} axb6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 26. Bxb6 {A super sharp
ending has arisen, with white probably having the upper hand practically
speaking. [%emt 0:00:05]} Rf5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 27. Rd7 $1 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Bf6
{[%emt 0:02:50]} 28. c4 {[%emt 0:01:01]} h5 {[%emt 0:01:33]} 29. c5 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} h4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 30. c6 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Rb5 {[%emt 0:00:03]
} 31. Bd4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 32. c7 {[%emt 0:02:08]} (32. Ba7
{I was worried that I might even lose after this move.} Ra5 33. Rc1 (33. c7
R5xa7 34. c8=Q+ Rxc8 35. Rxa7) 33... R5xa7 34. Rxa7 Rxa7 35. c7 Rxc7 36. Rxc7
g5) 32... Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 33. Ba7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:06]}
34. a3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Rb7 {[%emt 0:00:54]} 35. Bb8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Rb3 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} (35... Rbxb8 36. cxb8=Q Rxb8 37. b4) 36. Ka2 {[%emt 0:00:20]}
Rf3 {[%emt 0:01:36]} 37. a4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} e4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 38. a5 {
[%emt 0:00:29]} Rxf2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 39. Rb1 {A truly spectacular postion has
arisen with 7 passed pawns on the board. [%emt 0:00:09]} Rc2 {[%emt 0:00:17]}
40. a6 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Rc6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 41. a7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Ra6+ {
[%emt 0:00:03]} 42. Kb3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} e3 {[%emt 0:01:10]} 43. Re1 {
. [%emt 0:05:07]} (43. Kc4 e2 44. Kd3 Re8 45. c8=Q Rxc8 46. Kxe2 Rc2+ 47. Kf3
Bxb2 48. Bxf4 {And Rybka says draw with 48...Bf6, while on generel
consideration, there should be too few pawns left on the board to force
matters.}) 43... h3 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 44. Rh1 {[%emt 0:00:16]} e2 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} 45. Rd6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} (45. Rxh3+ Kg8 46. Rh1 f3 47. Rd6 Ra5
48. Rd5 Ra6 49. Rd6 $11) 45... Rxa7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 46. Bxa7 {[%emt 0:00:09]}
Rxc7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 47. Bf2 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Rb7+ {[%emt 0:00:14]} 48. Kc4 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} Rxb2 {White is up a rook, but down 4 pawns! [%emt 0:00:02]} 49.
Kd3 {[%emt 0:01:35]} (49. Rxh3+ {
was perhaps the best "practical shot", when after} Kg6 50. Rb3 Ra2 (50... Rxb3
{is however probably a way to draw for black even though a rook down, for
example} 51. Kxb3 Kf5 52. Kc2 g5 53. Kd2 f3 54. Kd3 Be5 55. Rd5 Ke6 56. Ke4 Bc3
57. Rxg5 e1=Q+ {and draw.}) 51. Kd3 Kf5 52. Be1 Kg4 53. Rdb6 {
the engine likes white a terrible lot.}) 49... Kg6 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 50. Bd4 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} Ra2 {[%emt 0:00:36]} 51. Bxf6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} gxf6 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} 52. Re6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Kf5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 53. Rxe2 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} Ra3+ {[%emt 0:00:02]} 54. Kc4 {[%emt 0:00:55]} Kg4 {
[%emt 0:00:27]} 55. Re8 {[%emt 0:00:15]} f3 {[%emt 0:00:36]} 56. Rg8+ {
[%emt 0:00:10]} Kf4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 57. Rh2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Ra4+ {And I could
see no promising way for white to proceed and offered a draw while I still had
at least some seconds left on the clock. [%emt 0:00:12]} 58. Kd3 {
Flying Saucers offers a draw  (Lag: Av=2.91s, max=139.0s) [%emt 0:01:02]}
1/2-1/2

[Event "4th PAL-CSS Freestyle Final"]
[Site "playchess.com #078679"]
[Date "2006.10.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Frigderi"]
[Black "Flying Saucers"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C45"]
[BlackElo "1779"]
[Annotator "Dagh Nielsen"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2006.10.20"]
[EventType "match"]

{According to Arno Nickel's report before the tournament, my opponent was
Pavel Bystrov playing as centaur, who had been leading the preliminary clearly
until the last two rounds. I expected 1.e4 and then, who knows. As it turns
out, also on Bystrov's team in the final was Jana Samorukova and IM Dennis
Breder, both of whom I had played against in the preliminary, beating the
latter as white in a French. I find it quite amusing that in 5 out of 8 games
in the preliminary, I played opponents that I would later meet again in the
final. The game ended up being very sharp on virgin lands, with white being in
the driving seat due to creative and precise play, and black just barely
hanging on to a draw through precise defense.} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} e5 {
[%emt 0:00:28]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:34]} 3. d4 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} exd4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 4. Nxd4 {I frankly don't know too much
about the Scotch. A funny prelude to this game is that Rentner2 in the
preliminary played the Scoth as white in round 7 and 8 against both me and
Frigderi, winning against the latter, both games continuing 4...Bc5. I had
played a rare move order after 4...Bc5 that Rentner2 didn't find a way to
punish in that game. Faced by all this, I smelled a rat and decided on 4...Nf6.
The only move I have analysed systematically here is 4...Qh4, with help of
Gutman's book, but I do not have confidence in this move. [%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:01:58]} 5. Nxc6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 6. e5 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 7. Qe2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Nd5 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} 8. c4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Ba6 {My "knowledge" of this variation
was reading some posting on chesspublishing.com claiming that black had about
one precise way to an equal position, but I could not remember if it was with
8...Ba6 or 8...Nb6. I decided on 8...Ba6 with 10...g5 as follow up here. [%emt
0:07:34]} 9. b3 {[%emt 0:00:23]} O-O-O {[%emt 0:01:55]} 10. g3 {[%emt 0:00:47]}
g5 {[%emt 0:00:48]} 11. Bb2 {[%emt 0:00:41]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 12. Nd2 {
[%emt 0:14:53]} Nb4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 13. O-O-O $5 {Creative play by my
opponent. Most common is 13.Nf3 here. There is one game with 13.0-0-0 in the
Shredder base, and I would suspect that this could also have been seen in CC
games. [%emt 0:00:09]} Nxa2+ {[%emt 0:01:45]} 14. Kb1 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Nb4 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} 15. Qe3 {Here I went into the box, spending most of the time
figuring out if 17...f5 was sound. [%emt 0:00:24]} c5 {[%emt 0:21:38]} (15...
Kb8) 16. Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:42]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 17. Bh3 {[%emt 0:00:20]} f5
{[%emt 0:08:52]} (17... Kb8) 18. Bxf5 {. [%emt 0:26:42]} (18. Nxc5 Bxh1 19.
Rxh1 {is another way.}) 18... Rhf8 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 19. g4 $146 {[%emt 0:00:15]
} (19. Bg4 $146 h5 20. Bxh5 Bxe5 {and it's rather unclear.}) (19. Bh3 Bxe5 20.
Nxc5 $146 (20. Rhe1 Bxb2 $1 $146 21. Nd6+ Qxd6 22. Rxd6 cxd6 23. Kxb2 Rf3 {
and black should be at least no worse.}) 20... Bxh1 21. Rxd7 Rxd7 22. Nxd7 Bg2
$1 23. Qxe5 Qxe5 24. Nxf8+ Bxh3 25. Bxe5 Bf5+ 26. Ka1 g4 {
and black is at least no worse.}) 19... Bxe5 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 20. Rhe1 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} (20. Nxc5 Bxh1 21. Bxe5 Bc6 22. Kb2 a5) 20... Bxh2 {
[%emt 0:00:23]} 21. f3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} (21. Nxc5 Qxe3 22. Rxe3 Bc6 {
with another unclear, probably equal position.}) (21. Qh3 Rxf5 22. Nd6+ Bxd6
23. Rxe7 Rxf2 24. Ree1 (24. Qxh7 Bxe7 25. Qxe7 Bf3 26. Qxc5 Rh2 27. Qxb4 Bxd1)
24... Nc2 25. Qxh7 Nxe1 26. Rxe1 {and black should be OK.}) 21... Bxe4+ {
[%emt 0:00:26]} 22. Bxe4 {[%emt 0:00:24]} Rde8 {
Perhaps a place to look for alternatives for black. [%emt 0:01:29]} (22... Kb8
$5 23. Rh1 Bf4 24. Rxh7 Bxe3 25. Rxe7 d6) 23. Bc3 {[%emt 0:02:42]} a5 {
[%emt 0:05:01]} (23... Kb8 {This was the move I had relied on in my analysis
before move 17...f5, continuing} 24. Qf2 (24. Bxb4 {
is the improvement I had missed.} cxb4 25. Rd5 {
and white has a promising attack.}) 24... Be5 25. Bxe5 Qxe5 26. Bg6 Qxe1 27.
Rxe1 hxg6 28. Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. Qd2 d6 30. Qxg5 Re1+ {with a draw.}) 24. Bxb4 {
[%emt 0:07:39]} axb4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 25. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Be5 {
[%emt 0:00:26]} 26. Qa2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} c6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 27. Qa8+ {
[%emt 0:00:06]} Kc7 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 28. Qa7+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} Kc8 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} 29. Re2 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Rf6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 30. Qb6 $1 {
This move I had completely missed when playing 23...a5. In a sense, it is pure
luck that black's position is not just totally lost. [%emt 0:00:23]} Rd6 {
[%emt 0:04:45]} 31. Bd3 $1 {The game is probably still within the draw limit,
but this move is the one requiring great precision from black. [%emt 0:00:45]}
Rd4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 32. Kc2 {[%emt 0:00:40]} Rd6 {[%emt 0:00:12]} (32... Rxd3
33. Rxd3 {is an alternative that I didn't have time nor really need to check.})
33. Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:54]} Rxd1 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 34. Qxc6+ {[%emt 0:00:18]} Kd8 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} 35. Qa8+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} Kc7 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 36. Qa7+ {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Kc6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 37. Kxd1 {[%emt 0:00:28]} Qd6+ {
[%emt 0:00:07]} 38. Kc2 {[%emt 0:07:10]} (38. Rd2 Bd4 39. Be4+ (39. Kc2 h6 {
is probably not much different, even though the h6 square is blocked for the
black queen.}) 39... Rxe4 40. Qa8+ Kc7 41. Qxe4 Qa6 {and it will probably be
difficult for white to do anything constructive without allowing an infinity
of checks.}) 38... Qd4 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 39. Be4+ {[%emt 0:00:02]} d5 {
[%emt 0:00:06]} 40. Qa6+ {[%emt 0:00:10]} (40. Qa4+ Kb6 41. Rd2 Qb2+ 42. Kd1
Qa1+ 43. Qxa1 Bxa1 44. Rxd5 Be5 {
and black should hold due to opposite colored bishops.}) 40... Kc7 {
[%emt 0:00:13]} 41. cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Kd8 $1 {The key move that saves
black. Black gets a fortress with rook and bishop against queen in the end.
[%emt 0:00:15]} 42. d6 {[%emt 0:00:19]} Bxd6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 43. Rd2 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} Rxe4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 44. Qb6+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} Ke7 {
[%emt 0:00:14]} 45. Qb7+ {[%emt 0:00:24]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 46. Rxd4 {
Frigderi bietet Remis  (Lag: Av=0.38s, max=1.7s) [%emt 0:00:23]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "4th PAL-CSS Freestyle Final"]
[Site "playchess.com #078734"]
[Date "2006.10.21"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Flying Saucers"]
[Black "Jazzled, Rybka 2.1d3 mp"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2431"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Dagh Nielsen"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2006.10.21"]
[EventType "match"]

{My opponent was an engine on auto, operated by Joseph Soney from the US. We
also played in the preliminary, and besides, we have battled it out in several
blitz games in the engine room. In my impression, Joseph is very adept at
finding just the right balance for his book. That is, he does not book too
deep based on dubious engine blitz games, but applys a good feel for just
where exactly deep booking is necessary. Coupled with strong hardware, this
makes for an obviously tough opponent.} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} c5 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 3. d4 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 4. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} 5. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 6. Be3 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 7. Nb3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Be7 $1 {Exclamation
mark for cunning strategy! Standard move order is 7...Be6, and what he had
played against me in the preliminary, and also in the second round against
Ibermax. Here I had continued with the "engine room system" with h3+Qf3, as
did Ibermax. However, this plan is no good after 7...Be7. I had also prepared
8.f3 for this final, but as it turns out, not in enough detail. [%emt 0:00:00]}
8. f3 {[%emt 0:04:04]} Be6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 9. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} h5 {
A soft spot in my preparation. The danger when playing against pure engines on
strong hardware is that if you do not achieve an edge or a rather straight
forward equality out of the opening, you can hardly afford to be significantly
down on time. In this regard, I probably have something of a boxer's glass jaw
from earlier encounters vs. pure engines, and I probably didn't spend the
rational amount of time (=enough) to find a good way to proceed here. [%emt 0:
00:00]} 10. O-O-O {[%emt 0:05:41]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 11. Nd5 {
[%emt 0:06:14]} Bxd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 12. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Qc7 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} 13. Qa5 {[%emt 0:04:19]} b6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 14. Qb4 {
[%emt 0:06:54]} O-O {[%emt 0:07:16]} 15. Kb1 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Rfc8 {
[%emt 0:01:51]} 16. c3 {[%emt 0:00:16]} b5 {[%emt 0:01:09]} 17. Na5 {
[%emt 0:00:15]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:01:41]} 18. Rxd5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:01:15]} 19. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:31]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 20. Bb6 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} Qxb6 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 21. Qxe7 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Qxa5 {
[%emt 0:00:19]} 22. Qxe5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} b4 {[%emt 0:01:28]} 23. cxb4 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} Qxb4 {[%emt 0:01:14]} 24. Qd4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Qd6 {This was th
e position I had been aiming for, but I had obviously not assessed it
correctly. I though white was safe, with prospects of a long term structural
advantage. [%emt 0:02:31]} 25. Bd3 {[%emt 0:14:20]} Rab8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 26.
Rd2 {[%emt 0:00:39]} Rb4 {A move I had not paid enough attention to when
pondering the opening stage. While white may not be that much worse, black has
a comfortable edge. [%emt 0:05:15]} 27. Qf2 {[%emt 0:01:17]} Rcb8 {
[%emt 0:03:40]} 28. Rc1 {This exchange of pawns seemed better to me than
allowing black to stabilize his position and gradually build up pressure
through a6-a5-a4 etc. [%emt 0:05:26]} Qxh2 {[%emt 0:01:00]} 29. Bxa6 {
Over the next 20 moves or so, white is trying hard to stay alive through
precise, but passive moves. [%emt 0:00:14]} Qf4 {[%emt 0:00:50]} 30. Rdc2 {
[%emt 0:01:01]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 31. b3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:01:00]
} 32. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Qe5 {[%emt 0:00:54]} (32... Rxb3+ 33. axb3 Rxb3+ 34.
Ka1 Ra3+ 35. Kb1 Qa4 36. Ra2 Qxa6 37. Rxa3 Qxa3 {
I was not too concerned about this.}) 33. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:32]} Qd6 {
[%emt 0:01:25]} 34. Bd3 {[%emt 0:01:38]} h4 {[%emt 0:01:09]} 35. Qc3 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} R8b7 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 36. Kb2 {[%emt 0:02:16]} Ra4 {
[%emt 0:01:47]} 37. Kb1 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Qb6 {[%emt 0:01:40]} 38. Re5 {
[%emt 0:00:42]} Ra5 {[%emt 0:01:42]} 39. Bf1 {[%emt 0:00:40]} Rba7 {
[%emt 0:00:15]} 40. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:24]} Ra4 {[%emt 0:00:51]} 41. Qf2 {
[%emt 0:00:51]} Qb4 {[%emt 0:01:01]} 42. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:19]} Qd6 {
[%emt 0:00:52]} 43. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Rb7 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 44. Qc3 {
[%emt 0:01:12]} Rf4 {[%emt 0:01:44]} 45. Qc5 {[%emt 0:02:19]} Qb8 {White has su
cceeded in his initial defensive task. There was a price on the clock, though.
[%emt 0:00:00]} 46. Qc8 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Qxc8 {[%emt 0:00:51]} 47. Rxc8 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} h3 {[%emt 0:00:56]} 48. gxh3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Rxf3 {
[%emt 0:00:22]} 49. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rg3 {[%emt 0:01:00]} 50. Rc2 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:35]} 51. Bxe4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Re7 {
[%emt 0:01:45]} 52. b4 {A critical moment. Even though 52.b4 may be good
enough for a draw, a much simpler alternative was 52.Rce2. When I had planned
the sequence leading to here around move 45-46, I failed to spot 51...Re7, but
only contemplated the immediate 51...dxe4. My assessment was that this was
indeed a dead draw (two rooks on each side), but after 51...Re7 52.Rce2, one
pair of rooks gets exchanged, and I began to see ghosts, fearing that my king
was too passive etc. This is a clear incident where better chess knowledge
might have led to improved performance. [%emt 0:00:20]} (52. Rce2 dxe4 53. Rxe4
Rxe4 54. Rxe4 Rxh3 {and white should draw.}) 52... dxe4 {[%emt 0:01:39]} 53. b5
{[%emt 0:00:07]} Rb7 {[%emt 0:01:15]} 54. a4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} f5 {
[%emt 0:00:17]} 55. h4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Ra3 {[%emt 0:01:07]} 56. Rc4 {
[%emt 0:02:02]} (56. Ra2 $5) 56... Ra7 {[%emt 0:00:38]} 57. Kc2 {[%emt 0:01:40]
} (57. Kb2 R3xa4 58. b6 Ra2+ 59. Kb3 R7a3+ 60. Kb4 Ra6 61. Rc7+ Kf6 62. Rc6+
Ke5 63. Rb1 Ra1 64. Rb3 {
I had this variation worked out, but chose another way to draw.}) 57... R7xa4 {
[%emt 0:00:48]} 58. Rxa4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rxa4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 59. Kc3 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Ra8 {[%emt 0:00:57]} 60. b6 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Kh6 {
[%emt 0:03:05]} 61. Kd4 {Probably the decisive mistake, and a bad case of
playing an "inspired move-order". [%emt 0:00:09]} (61. b7 Rb8 62. Rb1 Kh5 63.
Kd4 Kxh4 64. Ke3 {was the position I strove for, and I still believe it's a
draw, after having analysed it with TBs also. In critical lines, white's rook
gets to harass black's king, for example} Kg4 65. Rg1+ Kh3 66. Rh1+ Kg2 67. Rb1
g5 68. Rb5 g4 69. Kf4 g3 70. Rb6 Kh2 71. Rh6+ Kg1 72. Rb6 Kg2 73. Rb2+ {
with a draw.}) 61... Rd8+ {
Ooops. White's king is forced to go on a wrong path. [%emt 0:00:29]} 62. Kc5 {
[%emt 0:01:08]} (62. Ke3 Rd3+ 63. Kf4 Rf3+ 64. Ke5 Rb3 $19) 62... Kh5 {
[%emt 0:00:27]} 63. b7 {[%emt 0:00:58]} Kxh4 {[%emt 0:02:19]} 64. Kc6 {
[%emt 0:00:57]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 65. Kc7 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Rxb7+ {
Flying Saucers resigns  (Lag: Av=0.51s, max=2.5s) [%emt 0:00:21]} 0-1

[Event "4th PAL-CSS Freestyle Final"]
[Site "playchess.com #078834"]
[Date "2006.10.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Zor_champ"]
[Black "Flying Saucers"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2566"]
[BlackElo "2431"]
[Annotator "Dagh Nielsen"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2006.10.22"]
[EventType "match"]

{Behind this legendary nick probably hides the patron of these Freestyle
events. It was not clear during the tournament whether the centaur operator
was using Hydra, but it was my working assumption. Zor_champ won the second
Freestyle tournament, but had not had as much luck so far in this final. On my
side, I was on +0 with two blacks on the last day, so I had given up thinking
about placement, and instead just wanted to enjoy and play a good game vs.
Zor_champ.} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:23]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 2. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:18]}
Nf6 {[%emt 0:01:24]} 3. d3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:01:11]} 4. Nf3 {
[%emt 0:00:26]} Bc5 {Study of the nuances of the Giucco Piano is not part of
my chess education. I had expected a Ruy Lopez before the game. [%emt 0:00:12]}
5. c3 {[%emt 0:00:20]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 6. Be3 {Be3 this early is uncommon,
even a novelty according to the Shredder base. [%emt 0:00:22]} Bxe3 {I hesitate
d to play this. For one thing, I don't have much experience with this kind of
positions. Secondly, it seems to give my opponent a game on his territory,
with prospects of a kingside attack. I decided to play 6...Bxe3 only once I
felt safe enough that it was objectively sound. [%emt 0:08:54]} 7. fxe3 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} Na5 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 8. Bb3 {[%emt 0:01:33]} Nxb3 {
[%emt 0:03:51]} 9. axb3 {[%emt 0:01:46]} O-O {[%emt 0:01:00]} 10. O-O {
[%emt 0:02:31]} Be6 {[%emt 0:01:48]} 11. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:40]} a5 {
[%emt 0:03:57]} 12. Qe1 {[%emt 0:03:45]} h6 {A commital decision, and I spent
some time investigating white's various options at move 14 before making the
move. [%emt 0:11:01]} 13. Qg3 {[%emt 0:02:49]} Ng4 {[%emt 0:02:20]} 14. Ne1 {
I felt it hard to assess this position. Perhaps black is OK and maybe even
with a slight edge. On the other hand, I've seen Zor_champ develop initiatives
really well from similar positions with mutual castling on the kingside.
Additionally, Rybka in my experience does not understand this particular type
of positions too well, often suggesting too loose moves on the kingside, and
also happy to rely on exd4 if white plays d3-d4, often giving white too much
space in the center. 14...f5 was a suggestion of my own (you won't get Rybka
to suggest it on her own this time of New Year, since she is happy with
several alternatives), and once I was convinced it was a safe (and beautiful)
draw, I played it in light of the above considerations. The move leeds to a
quite forcing sequence - the option to investigate such forced sequences in
depth is btw a clear advantage of centaurs over pure engines. [%emt 0:04:21]}
f5 {[%emt 0:07:05]} 15. h3 {[%emt 0:11:46]} f4 {[%emt 0:00:21]} 16. exf4 {
[%emt 0:03:44]} exf4 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 17. Rxf4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Qg5 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} 18. Rxf8+ {[%emt 0:00:08]} Rxf8 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 19. Nc4 {
[%emt 0:00:06]} (19. Ndf3 Qe3+ 20. Kh1 Nf6 21. Kh2 (21. Rxa5 g5) 21... Nh5 22.
Qh4 Nf4 23. Rxa5 Bxh3 ({or} 23... Qe2 24. Nd4 Qxb2 25. Nf5 Bxf5 26. Rxf5 Rxf5
27. exf5 Qxc3 $11) 24. gxh3 Qe2+ {with a draw.}) 19... Bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:14]}
20. bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Qd2 $1 {Exclamation mark for aesthetic value :-).
Black goes down a knight, but relies on the a-passer and first rank pin to
keep white tied up. [%emt 0:05:49]} (20... Ne3 21. Qxg5 Rf1+ 22. Kh2 hxg5 {
and black is probably also OK.}) 21. hxg4 {[%emt 0:01:57]} Qxb2 {[%emt 0:00:09]
} 22. Rd1 {[%emt 0:01:03]} Qe2 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 23. Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:34]} Rf1+ {
[%emt 0:00:20]} 24. Kh2 {[%emt 0:00:17]} a4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 25. Ra1 {
[%emt 0:01:37]} b6 {This move can maybe be seen as an attempt to prove the
validity of black's concept :P. It may even also give white some possibilities
to err. [%emt 0:04:15]} ({When playing 14...f5, I had relied on} 25... a3 26.
Rxa3 Rxe1 27. Ra8+ Kh7 28. Rf8 Qd1 29. Qf3 Qxf3 30. gxf3 Re3 31. Kg3 Rxd3 32.
Rf7 Rxc3 33. Rxc7 b5 34. Rd7 bxc4 35. Rxd6 g5 {
and it looked like a sure draw to me.}) 26. d4 {[%emt 0:01:33]} (26. e5 dxe5
27. d4 e4 {
is just more passed pawn fun probably leading to various draws by perpetual.})
(26. Rxa4 Qxe1 $11) 26... Qxe4 {[%emt 0:02:52]} 27. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Qe2 {
[%emt 0:01:10]} 28. Nd3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Rxc1 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 29. Nxc1 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 30. Nd3 {[%emt 0:00:16]} a3 {
[%emt 0:00:32]} 31. Qf3 {[%emt 0:00:38]} a2 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 32. Qd5+ {
[%emt 0:01:01]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:35]} 33. Qf5+ {[%emt 0:02:10]} Kg8 {
[%emt 0:00:45]} 34. Qe6+ {[%emt 0:01:09]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 35. Qe4+ {
[%emt 0:00:11]} Kg8 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 36. Qe8+ {[%emt 0:00:10]} Kh7 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} 37. Qe4+ {[%emt 0:00:11]} Kg8 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 38. Qe8+ {
[%emt 0:00:12]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 39. Qe4+ {
(Lag: Av=0.74s, max=4.0s) [%emt 0:00:09]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "4th PAL-CSS Freestyle Final"]
[Site "playchess.com #078858"]
[Date "2006.10.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Xakru"]
[Black "Flying Saucers"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "1711"]
[BlackElo "1743"]
[Annotator "Dagh Nielsen"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2006.10.22"]
[EventType "match"]

{Very little was known about my opponent team during the tournament, but it
was clear that they were on their way to a convincing and sensational win of
the final. One "problem" that faced me before the last day's games was that
before the tournament, I had prepared the same line in this sharp system as
Zor_champ, but Xakru had beaten Zor_champ in this line in a truly spectacular
game the previous day. As a consequence, I stayed up to 6 AM before the final
rounds, trying to figure out if the line was still playable.} 1. d4 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} c6 {[%emt 0:00:10]}
3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 4. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:19]} e6 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} 5. e3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 6. Qc2 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 7. g4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} dxc4 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} 8. Bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 9. g5 {
[%emt 0:00:32]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 10. Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:29]} Bc7 {
[%emt 0:00:17]} 11. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} exd4 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 12. Nxd4 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} Ne5 {[%emt 0:00:43]} 13. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} O-O {
[%emt 0:00:08]} 14. O-O-O {[%emt 0:00:08]} Re8 {In my pre-tournament
preparation, I had not really gone deeper than this, and 15.h4 I had just
indicated as a candidate move. [%emt 0:00:47]} 15. h4 {[%emt 0:05:23]} (15. Kb1
) (15. Nc5) (15. f3) 15... Ng4 {Threatening Rxe4 Qxe4 Nxf2. [%emt 0:00:13]} (
15... Bb6) (15... Qe7) 16. Bf3 {[%emt 0:01:18]} (16. Bd3 Ne5 $13) 16... Ne5 {
My intended improvement. [%emt 0:00:21]} (16... Rxe4 17. Bxe4 Nxf2 18. Bxh7+
Kh8 19. Bf5 {with attack.}) (16... Bb6 {This was Zor_champ's move.} 17. Rhg1
Nh2 (17... Ne5 18. Be2 Qe7 19. Bc3 $5) 18. Be2 {The first part of my analysis
during the night concerned the following draw line, that just may be good
enough. As I was about to call it a day (or rather, night :-)), I decided to
check out 18.Bh1 also for the sake of completeness. It was ultimately this
move that led me to look more closely for earlier improvements.} (18. Bh1 Bg4
19. Rde1 c5 20. Nb5 Re6 21. a3 {
Black has some counterplay, but his position is shaky.}) 18... Bxd4 (18... Qe7
19. Nf6+ $1 Nxf6 20. gxf6 Qxf6 21. Be1 $3 {
and white won in spectacular style in Xakru-Zor_champ.}) 19. exd4 Bf5 20. Bd3
Nf3 21. Nf6+ gxf6 22. Bxf5 Kh8 $5 (22... Nxd4 23. Qd3 Ne2+ 24. Kb1 {
and white is close to winning.}) 23. Rg4 Re2 24. Bxh7 (24. Qd3 $5) 24... Nxd2
25. Rxd2 Rxd2 26. Kxd2 Qa5+ {with a draw.}) 17. Be2 {White repeats once, and
thus checks if black intends to deviate before going too low on the clock.
[%emt 0:12:04]} Ng4 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 18. Bf3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Ne5 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} 19. Bg2 {Game is on! I have to applaud my opponents for a
brave decision, even though it this particular time turned out to be
unfortunate. [%emt 0:13:04]} Bb6 {[%emt 0:01:39]} (19... Ba5 20. Bxa5 Qxa5 21.
a3) (19... Bg4 20. f3 Bh5 21. Kb1) 20. Kb1 {[%emt 0:00:09]} (20. h5 {
was an unclear alternative.} Bg4 21. f3 Bxd4 22. fxg4 Bb6 (22... Nxe3 $5 23.
Bxe3 Bxe3+ 24. Kb1 Qe7 25. h6 (25. g6 $5) 25... g6 26. Nf6+ Kh8 27. Nxe8 Rxe8 {
and black should be OK.}) 23. g6 hxg6 24. hxg6 Nxg6 25. Kb1 Qd7 26. Ng5 (26.
Rh3 $5) 26... Bxe3 27. Bxe3 Rxe3 28. Be4 Qxg4 29. Bxg6 Qxg5 30. Bh7+ Kf8 {
and it is probably drawish.}) 20... Bg4 {[%emt 0:20:14]} 21. f3 {[%emt 0:00:14]
} Bxd4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 22. fxg4 {[%emt 0:00:25]} (22. g6 {was a very unclear
alternative. The laws of statistics almost dictate that one of black's
indicated responses should be ok, but white generally has many ressources to
at least force black to be very careful.} Nxg6 (22... hxg6) (22... Bxb2) (22...
Bxe3) (22... Bh5)) 22... Bb6 {[%emt 0:00:31]} 23. h5 {[%emt 0:06:18]} Nxg4 {
[%emt 0:02:48]} 24. g6 {[%emt 0:00:57]} fxg6 {[%emt 0:07:07]} (24... Ngxe3) (
24... Bxe3) (24... Qe7) 25. Nc3 {The first inaccuracy by white. I had also
assessed 25.Nc3 and 25.hxg6 to be equivalent through transposition. 25.Nc3 has
the added benefit that it invites black to lose the game on the spot by the
greedy 25...Nf2. However, it turned out that it also allows black an edge via
25...Ndf6. [%emt 0:00:34]} (25. hxg6 h6 26. Nc3 Qg5 27. Nxd5 cxd5 28. Rhf1 {
and "black should be at least no worse" was my pre-game preparation.}) 25...
Ndf6 {[%emt 0:10:27]} (25... Nf2 $2 26. Nxd5 cxd5 27. Bc3 $1 Nxd1 28. Qxd1 h6
29. hxg6 Bxe3 30. Bxd5+ Kh8 31. Qf3 {and black is dead lost.}) (25... Qg5 {
is likely to transpose to the line indicated after 25.hxg6.}) 26. hxg6 {
[%emt 0:01:09]} Nf2 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 27. gxh7+ {
Xakru offers a draw [%emt 0:01:53]} Kh8 {I did not spend many seconds
declining the draw offer; the time spent indicates an instance of the now
famous toilet gambit. [%emt 0:01:05]} 28. Ne2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nxh1 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} (28... Qd3 $5 29. Qxd3 Nxd3 30. Nf4 Nxf4 31. exf4 Rad8) 29.
Bxh1 {Probably the decisive mistake. Perhaps it was a practical decision, I
don't know. 29.Bc3 was a still rather unclear alternative. [%emt 0:08:25]} (29.
Bc3 $5 Qxd1+ (29... Qc7 30. Nf4 Ng3 31. Ng6+ Kxh7 32. Rd7 Qxd7 33. Nf8+ Kg8 34.
Nxd7 Nxd7 35. Qb3+ {and black may even be worse.}) 30. Qxd1 Nf2 {and even thoug
h black has an edge, there's still a lot of fight left in the position.}) (29.
Rxh1 Nd5 30. Bxd5 Qxd5 31. e4 Qxe4 32. Qxe4 Rxe4 33. Nf4 Rxf4 34. Bxf4 $17)
29... Bc7 $1 {Stopping Nf4-g6 themes once and for all. Black is ready to play
Qe7/d6, Ne4 and Rad8 and gradually convert his material advantage. [%emt 0:00:
22]} (29... Nd5 30. Bxd5 cxd5 31. Nf4 {Perhaps it was a hope for something
like this that my opponents based their decision to play 29.Bxh1 on. White is
still kicking.}) 30. Nd4 {[%emt 0:05:07]} Qd6 {[%emt 0:01:14]} 31. Bf3 {
[%emt 0:01:03]} Rad8 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 32. Bc1 {[%emt 0:00:27]} Qh2 {Black takes
the kingside in possession, and there is hardly any counterplay left for white.
[%emt 0:04:48]} (32... Qe5 33. Rg1 Nd5 34. Qg6 Qf6 35. Bh5 Qxg6+ (35... Re5 $5)
36. Bxg6 {is not so clear.}) 33. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} (33. Bg2 Nd5 {
and ideas with Rh1 are prevented.} 34. Rh1 $2 Nxe3 $1 35. Bxe3 Rxe3 36. Rxh2
Re1+) 33... Ne4 {[%emt 0:02:02]} 34. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Qh3 {[%emt 0:00:11]}
35. Rg1 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Bb6 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 36. Ka1 {[%emt 0:00:47]} Rd5 {
[%emt 0:00:16]} 37. a3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Rh5 {[%emt 0:01:32]} 38. Qd1 {
[%emt 0:01:04]} Rxh7 {[%emt 0:00:49]} 39. Rf1 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Rh6 {
[%emt 0:00:29]} 40. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Qh5 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 41. Bxe4 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} Rxe4 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 42. Qd3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Re8 {
[%emt 0:00:15]} 43. e4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Rf6 {[%emt 0:02:07]} 44. e5 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Rf5 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 45. Qd1 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Rd8 {
[%emt 0:00:25]} 46. Qe2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Rdf8 {[%emt 0:01:02]} 47. e6 {
[%emt 0:00:19]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 48. Qd1 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Kg8 {
[%emt 0:00:23]} 49. Qb3 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Rd5 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 50. Qc3 {
[%emt 0:00:27]} Qh3 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 51. e7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Qxf1 {
[%emt 0:00:14]} 52. exf8=Q+ {[%emt 0:00:10]} Kxf8 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 53. Nd2 {
[%emt 0:00:24]} Qd3 {Xakru resigns  (Lag: Av=1.20s, max=18.7s) [%emt 0:00:13]}
0-1

[Event "4th PAL-CSS Freestyle Final"]
[Site "playchess.com #078877"]
[Date "2006.10.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Flying Saucers"]
[Black "Nebula, Rybka 2.1o mp"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2422"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Dagh Nielsen"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2006.10.22"]
[EventType "match"]

{My opponent was an engine running on auto, operated by Anastasios Kakirdakis
from Greece, and probably accompanied by a very strong opening book made by
him. Rumour had it that the engine was running on an 8-way Opteron. Before the
game, Nebula was on +2, while I was on +1. The task was thus clear: Win, and
you will be in contention for money prizes. With luck, I could get shared
first, but Jazzled would then probably win the tournament by Sonneborn-Berger
(SB) points.} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:11]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:02]
} d6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 3. d4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 4. Nxd4 {
[%emt 0:00:01]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 5. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:00]
} 6. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 7. f3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} b5 {
A good part of my preparation for the final was about deciding whether to play
8.Qd2 or 8.g4 here. [%emt 0:00:00]} 8. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:16]} (8. g4 h6 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} 9. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} b4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 10. Na4 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 11. O-O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} Ne5 {
The strong surprise that Topalov sprang on Kramnik, and my main reason for
discarding 8.g4. I had not been able to find anything convincing for white
here, and my assessment was somewhat confirmed in the following "book-battle"
in round 5. The first 24 moves was in my analysis, and they have no doubt been
played several times already in the engine room. [%emt 0:00:00]} 12. Qxb4 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 13. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qc7 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} 14. Qb3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 15. Qa3 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 16. Bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qxc4 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} 17. Nb3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 18. Nc5 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 19. N3a4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} dxe4 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} 20. b4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bxa4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 21. Qxa4+ {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Qb5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 22. Qxa6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qxa6 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} 23. Nxa6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 24. Bd4 {
[%emt 0:01:43]} exf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 25. a3 {[%emt 0:02:59]} Nc3 {
[%eval -10,20] [%emt 0:01:40]} 26. Rd3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Ne2+ {
[%eval -3,19] [%emt 0:00:23]} 27. Kd1 {[%emt 0:01:01]} Nxd4 {
[%eval -7,22] [%emt 0:02:36]} 28. Rxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rc3 {
[%eval -9,22] [%emt 0:02:09]} 29. Kd2 {[%emt 0:02:23]} Rxa3 {
[%eval -8,23] [%emt 0:00:00]} 30. Nc7+ {[%emt 0:01:31]} Ke7 {
[%eval -14,21] [%emt 0:00:26]} 31. Nb5 {[%emt 0:00:56]} Ra4 {
[%eval -19,21] [%emt 0:00:55]} 32. Kc3 {[%emt 0:02:21]} g5 {
[%eval -11,22] [%emt 0:01:53]} 33. Kb3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Ra6 {
[%eval -16,23] [%emt 0:01:44]} 34. Rf1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bg7 {
[%eval -11,22] [%emt 0:01:56]} 35. Rd3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} f5 {
[%eval -15,22] [%emt 0:01:10]} 36. Rdxf3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} f4 {
[%eval -9,22] [%emt 0:01:12]} 37. h3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} h5 {
[%eval -3,22] [%emt 0:10:32]} 38. gxh5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rxh5 {
[%eval -3,23] [%emt 0:00:20]} 39. Rg1 {[%emt 0:01:59]} Rb6 {
[%eval -6,23] [%emt 0:05:30]} 40. c4 {[%emt 0:01:55]} Rb8 {
[%eval -9,23] [%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Rd1 {[%emt 0:01:41]} Rh7 {
[%eval -12,23] [%emt 0:00:00]} 42. Ka4 {[%emt 0:01:32]} e5 {
[%eval -10,23] [%emt 0:00:00]} 43. Nd6 {[%emt 0:01:14]} Bf8 {
[%eval -9,23] [%emt 0:00:00]} 44. Ne4 {[%emt 0:01:58]} Rg7 {
[%eval -7,24] [%emt 0:00:00]} 45. Rc3 {[%emt 0:02:13]} Ke6 {
[%eval -3,24] [%emt 0:07:45]} 46. c5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} g4 {
[%eval -3,18] [%emt 0:01:20]} 47. hxg4 {[%emt 0:02:03]} Rxg4 {
[%eval -3,23] [%emt 0:00:00]} 48. Re1 {[%emt 0:01:10]} Be7 {
[%eval -3,22] [%emt 0:00:00]} 49. Nf2 {[%emt 0:01:43]} Rg3 {
[%eval -3,23] [%emt 0:00:00]} 50. Rxg3 {[%emt 0:01:12]} fxg3 {
[%eval -3,20] [%emt 0:01:00]} 51. Nd3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rg8 {(Lag: Av=0.52s,
max=1.5s) 1/2-1/2 Jazzled,R (2614)-Nebula,R (2652)/playchess.com #078752 2006/
playchess.com [%eval -3,23] [%emt 0:00:56]}) 8... Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 9. g4 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} Nb6 {This variation is not possible for black after 8.g4, and
in that sense it is a critical test of 8.Qd2. [%emt 0:00:00]} 10. a4 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} Nc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 11. Bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} bxc4 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} 12. g5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 13. f4 {This compl
ex position has been seen in countless games in the engine room, while there
is only two games with it in the Shredder base. [%emt 0:00:08]} Qc7 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} (13... Qa5 {is the common continuation in the engine room at
the moment, and where I had put in most of my preparation. It is a novelty
though according to the Shredder base. 13...Qc7 I had hardly looked at, but
the experience with analysing the similar position after 13...Qa5 helped me a
lot. In particular, I think I developed some feel for how Rybka as black likes
to respond and put her pieces, and when she tends to be right or wrong about
the assessment of white's various ways to proceed.}) 14. O-O {[%emt 0:05:50]}
Rb8 $146 {A novelty according to the Shredder base, but what I had expected.
[%eval 20,18] [%emt 0:02:02]} 15. Rab1 {A strong move, I think. The key idea
is to keep a cramp on black and hopefully achieve a superior structure. If
white pushes forward with f5 before black plays Bb7, black can respond Ne5,
and I have seen white's position crumple many times in related analysis of 13..
.Qa5. Compared to this, after Bb7 f5, black is forced to e6-e5, and white
usually has a positional bind on black. [%emt 0:12:35]} Bb7 {
[%eval 5,20] [%emt 0:01:45]} 16. f5 {[%emt 0:00:48]} e5 {
[%eval -3,21] [%emt 0:01:15]} 17. Nde2 $1 {
This knight often finds itself excellently placed on g3. [%emt 0:00:48]} h6 {
[%eval 3,20] [%emt 0:02:46]} 18. f6 {[%emt 0:00:15]} hxg5 {
[%eval 7,18] [%emt 0:00:19]} (18... Rg8 {may be a better defense.}) 19. fxg7 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} Bxg7 {[%eval 5,19] [%emt 0:00:28]} 20. Ng3 {[%emt 0:05:47]} (
20. Bxg5 {would give black about the same options through transposition.
Deciding on 20.Ng3 was mainly a matter of hoping to make it more difficult for
the opponent engine to find the best defense.}) 20... Nc5 {
[%eval 9,18] [%emt 0:02:24]} 21. Bxg5 {[%emt 0:03:45]} ({The immediate} 21. Rf2
{was an interesting alternative, perhaps giving black worse defensive options.}
Ne6 (21... f6 22. Nf5 (22. Nd5 {
was a move I should probably have looked deeper into.}) 22... Bf8 23. Nd5 Bxd5
24. Qxd5 Qb7 25. Nxd6+ Bxd6 26. Qxd6 Nxe4 {with a draw was the main reason I
discarded 21.Rf2. I did find it outrageous that black should be able to hold
after 21...f6, but this last round battle was a matter of money, not morality :
P}) 22. Nf5 Bf8 23. Bxg5 Rg8 24. Rg2) 21... Bf8 {[%eval 16,20] [%emt 0:00:00]}
22. Rf2 {Perhaps the critical moment of the game. This position was part of my
analysis before 15.Rab1. Black has a difficult defensive task ahead of him.
[%emt 0:01:05]} Rh7 {This was somewhat expected, but it is probably not
black's best defense. While I was pondering my next move, a kibitzer from
Czech (same country as Team Xakru ;-)) kibitzed: "I like 23.Rbf1 Ne6 24.Be3
Bc6 25.Nd5, Rybka also." I was indeed about to decide on 23.Rbf1, but had not
seen 24.Be3 yet, only 24.Nf5. This incident made my decision on 23.Rbf1 easier,
but it also made me more nervous due to the slightly controversial turn of
events ;-) It is certainly not the first time kibitzers may have influenced
the course of a game - I think it is probably easiest to just consider this a
part of the Freestyle spirit, since the alternative seems to be that the games
are not even broadcast. Happily, my opponent seemed to take it in good spirit.
[%eval 10,19] [%emt 0:01:14]} 23. Rbf1 {[%emt 0:09:14]} (23. Qe2 Ne6 24. Be3
Bh6 25. Nf5 Bxe3 26. Qxe3 Nf4 {was the alternative. I could not find anything
really convincing here, and some lines led to endings with perhaps good
drawing chances for black. Compared to this, 23.Rbf1 keeps the pressure.})
23... Ne6 {[%eval 20,19] [%emt 0:02:26]} 24. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:50]} (24. Nf5)
24... Bc6 {[%eval 45,18] [%emt 0:00:36]} 25. Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:37]} Bxd5 {
[%eval 45,20] [%emt 0:00:00]} 26. Qxd5 {I guess nerves and a slight feeling of
guilt led to a breakdown of discipline. I should have examined 26.exd5
properly. After I played 26.Qxd5, the kibitzer from Czech jokingly remarked:
"I must admit that 26.exd5 was my unwritten suggestion". 26.Qxd5 is still
pretty close to winning, especially against an un-aided engine that have
horizon problems in the types of endings that arise after this. [%emt 0:00:17]}
(26. exd5 Nc5 27. Qe2 {and white is probably winning.}) 26... Be7 {
[%eval 35,19] [%emt 0:01:17]} (26... Bh6 27. Bxh6 Rxh6 28. Rxf7 Qc5+ 29. Qxc5
dxc5 30. Ra7 Nd4 {and white is probably winning.}) (26... Nd8 $5 27. c3 {
and black has an awkward position.}) 27. Nf5 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Rxb2 {
[%eval 38,19] [%emt 0:01:27]} (27... Nf4 28. Bxf4 exf4 29. Rg2) 28. Qa8+ {
[%emt 0:01:14]} Nd8 {[%eval 48,20] [%emt 0:02:51]} (28... Rb8 $5 29. Qxa6 Bf8)
29. Qxa6 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Qb7 {This move I had not anticipated. One advantage
of being a centaur when playing against a pure engine is that you can often
predict their moves. A related drawback is that IF the engine "by means of
brute force" makes an unexpected reply, it sends a cold shiver down your spine
;-). Here I tried to pull myself together, and found the game continuation
with critical moves 34.Rxf7+ and 36.Rg7. [%eval 53,19] [%emt 0:01:08]} (29...
Qc6 30. Qxc6+ Nxc6 31. Ra1 {was what I had expected. White is close to winning.
}) (29... Rh8 30. Rg2 Qc6 (30... Kd7 31. a5 Qc6 32. Bb6) 31. Qa5 Rb8 32. Qd5
Qxd5 33. exd5 Ra8 34. Ra1) 30. Qxd6 {[%emt 0:05:47]} (30. Qxc4 $5 Rb4 31. Qe2)
30... Bxd6 {[%eval 39,24] [%emt 0:00:00]} 31. Nxd6+ {[%emt 0:00:07]} Kd7 {
[%eval 45,22] [%emt 0:00:52]} 32. Nxb7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Rg7+ {
[%eval 51,23] [%emt 0:00:52]} 33. Kh1 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Nxb7 {
[%eval 42,21] [%emt 0:01:33]} 34. Rxf7+ {[%emt 0:00:20]} Rxf7 {
[%eval 77,22] [%emt 0:00:22]} 35. Rxf7+ {[%emt 0:00:14]} Ke6 {
[%eval 95,24] [%emt 0:01:03]} (35... Kc6 36. h4 Nd6 37. Rf3 Ra2 (37... Rxc2 38.
h5) 38. h5 Rxa4 39. h6 Ra8 40. Rf6 Kd7 41. Rg6) 36. Rg7 {[%emt 0:00:58]} (36.
Rc7 Nd6 37. a5 Rxc2 38. a6 Ra2 39. a7 Nb5 40. Rc6+ Kd7 41. Rb6 {is perhaps
winning, but I had not seen 41.Rb6. It wasn't really necessary either.}) 36...
Nd6 {[%eval 100,24] [%emt 0:00:33]} 37. a5 {[%emt 0:00:49]} Ra2 {
[%eval 100,23] [%emt 0:00:05]} 38. Rg6+ {[%emt 0:00:17]} Kd7 {
[%eval 97,21] [%emt 0:00:06]} 39. h4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Rxa5 {
[%eval 116,23] [%emt 0:00:49]} 40. h5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Nf7 {
[%eval 131,24] [%emt 0:01:27]} (40... Nxe4 41. h6 Ra8 42. Kg2 Nd6 43. Kf3) 41.
Kg2 {[%emt 0:02:23]} Ra2 {[%eval 137,26] [%emt 0:00:00]} 42. h6 {[%emt 0:00:13]
} Rxc2+ {[%eval 163,21] [%emt 0:00:55]} 43. Bf2 {[%emt 0:00:28]} Nxh6 {
[%eval 164,21] [%emt 0:00:40]} 44. Rxh6 {Black is lost. The thing to check is
if black can pick up the e4-pawn, but no. [%emt 0:00:13]} c3 {
[%eval 175,22] [%emt 0:02:24]} 45. Rh1 {[%emt 0:01:14]} Ra2 {
[%eval 178,25] [%emt 0:00:59]} 46. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:19]} c2 {
[%eval 193,23] [%emt 0:00:18]} 47. Kf3 {[%emt 0:00:32]} Kc6 {
[%eval 210,25] [%emt 0:00:56]} 48. Bg3 {[%emt 0:00:38]} Kd6 {
[%eval 227,25] [%emt 0:00:00]} 49. Kg4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Ke6 {
[%eval 234,24] [%emt 0:00:58]} 50. Bf2 {[%emt 0:01:09]} Kd7 {
[%eval 249,22] [%emt 0:00:00]} 51. Kf5 {[%emt 0:00:57]} Kd6 {
[%eval 271,26] [%emt 0:00:00]} 52. Bg3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Kc5 {
[%eval 369,26] [%emt 0:06:59]} 53. Bxe5 {[%emt 0:00:32]} Ra5 {
[%eval 492,26] [%emt 0:00:31]} 54. Bf4 {[%emt 0:01:13]} Kd4+ {
[%eval 492,23] [%emt 0:00:58]} 55. e5 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Ra8 {
[%eval 768,27] [%emt 0:01:08]} 56. e6 {[%emt 0:01:04]} Rf8+ {
[%eval 768,28] [%emt 0:00:44]} 57. Kg4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Rg8+ {
[%eval 768,28] [%emt 0:05:09]} 58. Bg5 {
Nebula,Rybka 2.1o mp resigns  (Lag: Av=0.60s, max=4.3s) [%emt 0:00:20]} 1-0