Around these parts, the sexiest man alive is Joel Williams, kind of a younger cross between Rembrandt's Man with the Golden Helmet and Johnny Depp, recently voted by People Magazine as the sexiest man alive, maybe from the popularity of the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, Curse of the Black Pearl.
Johnny Depp - Pirates of the Caribbean
Luckily for all the local ladies, Joel has an identical twin brother, a welder.
It's a small world. My Mother, Phyllis, worked as a case worker for Jefferson County, Colorado for 10 years and the Williams twins were part of her caseload. My mom told me Joel was so attractive that one of the Social workers lost her job for bending the fraternization rules with Joel.
Joel won $1,500 in the Levy Memorial last year and $300 this year. He has been studying the Najdorf. Everyone did when I was a kid because of Bobby Fischer. Let's see if 30 years of analytical rust makes any difference.
Denver Chess Club
VFW #1 855 Bannock, Denver, Colorado
Tuesday Night Blitz
Game/5 minutes
White - Brian " Bobby " Wall
Black - Joel "Depp" Williams
11-18-2003
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 b5
8.O-O b4 9. Na4 Nxe4 10. f4 d5 11. Be3 Qc7 12. f5?
This has been played before and the general idea is correct, open lines for more developed pieces. Grandmaster Suba says it is a good idea to put your rook on the same file as your opponent's queen, even if there are many pieces between them. The best idea here is to exploit the ... Qc7 with 12 Rc1! intending a c-pawn lunge. Fritz says that Theoretical Novelties 12 c3, c4 and Rc1 should all transpose so if I had this position again I would play 12 c4!! as the most forcing -
- 12 c4!! dc 13 B:c4 Q:c4? 14 Rc1!! ( or 14 Nb6! ) Nc3! 15 N:c3! with 2 pawns compensation for one missing pawn.
- 12 c4!! bc en passant 13 Rc1 intending 14 N:c3 with some compensation for the pawn, a sharp position and a roughly even game.
I like to think that Bobby Fischer would have found the right move here, even in a blitz game.
12 ... e5? TL
13. Bxd5! Bb7! 14. Ne6!!
The reason I am publishing this game, besides assuaging my Joel jealousy, is that I used to hesitate or decline to play such moves because I could not see all the way to the end but now I just play them instantly and let my opponent worry about what is sound or not. It turns out that my brilliancy is way ahead of any other move.
My blitz games are better than most people's tournament games.
I move my knight to where another pawn can take it - isn't that just losing a tempo? - No, Dustin.
14 ... fxe6! 15. Qh5+! Ke7
It's all pretty gruesome -
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15 Qh5+ Qf7 16 Q:f7+ K:f7 17 fe+ Ke7 18 B:b7
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15 Qh5+ Kd7 16 fe+ is devastating in many ways.
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15 Qh5+ g6 16 fg Joel's position is in shambles.
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15 Qh5+ Kd8 16 B:e4! B:e4 17 Bb6 Bc5+ 18 B:c5 leaves material even but Black's development and King position are a joke.
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15 Qh5+ Kd8 16 B:b7! Q:b7 with multiple wins for me like 17 Bb6+!!, Rad1+!!, fe!! and Rfd1+!
16. fxe6!!!
Again the best by far. How does he do it? There are too many threats to list but #1 is 17 Rf7+ and 18 R:c7.
16 B:b7!!, B:e4!!, B:e6! and Bb6! all win.
16 ... Nf6
The best idea is to give up the queen with 16 ... B:d5 17 Rf7+ Kd8 18 R:c7 K:c7 but it is pretty grim after 19 Q:e5+.
I had seen Joel's move before he played it and was looking forward to refuting it. Robert Romirez is one of the best blitz players in Denver, noted for staying calm and trying hard to find the right move in critical positions plus blinding speed when he needs it. Robert and Joel hang out a lot together and I see Robert's influence on Joel. Joel mutters to himself, " Calm down, calm down" as he plays.
17. Rxf6!!
ouch, another vicious move. 17 Qf7+!! Kd8 18 Bb7 is just as good and 17 B:b7! N:h5 18 Rf7+ is another win.
17 ... gxf6! 18. Bxb7!!!
- again the most crushing move at lightning speed. What's that guy on?
Alternate wins - 18 Bb6!!, Qf7+!!, Bb3!, Rd1!, Nb6!, c4! and Bc4!
18 ... Kxe6!
Trained by Robert Ramirez, his Najdorf study partner, Joel continues to find the best moves available like a high priced search engine.
19. Bxa8!!
Unbelievable but true - I find the best move again - is this a pocket Fritz phemonenon?
19 ... Bd6!
Hmmm - Joel plays the best move again - are those headphones connected to a computer hotline like the Rasta man that my good friends and IM's Dave Vigorito, Joe Fang and John Watson exposed in a Goichberg tournament ?- the story made worldwide Chess headlines.
20. Rf1!
Whew! - finally a suboptimal move - 20 Nb6!! activating the knight is the strongest. It shouldn't matter much - I have an extra piece and an attack.
20 ... Rg8
Time must be getting short.
21. Qh3+!!
There is one move stronger, 21 Qf5+!!!
21 ... Ke7 22. Qxh7+ Kf8 23. Rxf6+
I told Joel to keep playing, that it would all work out but he saw the mate in 5 with 23 R:f6+ Ke8 24 Re6+ Be7 25 Bc6+!! N:c6 26 Q:g8+ Kd7 27 Nc5+ B:c5 28 Qe8 mate
1-0 Black resigns
PGN version of Wall-Williams
[Event "DCC 5 0"]
[Site "Denver Chess Club"]
[Date "2003.11.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "BrianWall"]
[Black "Joel Williams"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ICCResult "Black resigns"]
[WhiteElo "2274"]
[BlackElo "2221"]
[Opening "Sicilian: Sozin with ...a6 and ...b5"]
[ECO "B87"]
[NIC "SI.13"]
[Time "9:38:50"]
[TimeControl "300+0"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 b5
8.O-O b4 9. Na4 Nxe4 10. f4 d5 11. Be3 Qc7 12. f5 e5 13. Bxd5 Bb7
14. Ne6 fxe6 15. Qh5+ Ke7 16. fxe6 Nf6 17. Rxf6 gxf6 18. Bxb7 Kxe6
19. Bxa8 Bd6 20. Rf1 Rg8 21. Qh3+ Ke7 22. Qxh7+ Kf8 23. Rxf6+
1-0 Black resigns
(2593981) beetle (2316) -
LOOSEBRUCE (2584) [B87]
ICC 5 5 Internet Chess Club,
08.04.1998
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be3 a6 7.Bc4 b5 8.Bb3 b4 9.Na4 Nxe4 10.0-0 d5 11.f4 Qc7 12.f5 Bd6 13.Qh5 [ 13.fxe6 Bxh2+ 14.Kh1 Ng3+ 15.Kxh2 Nxf1+ 16.Kg1 Nxe3 17.Qf3] 13...Nf6 14.Qh4 Bxh2+ 15.Qxh2 Qxh2+ 16.Kxh2 Ng4+ 17.Kg1 Nxe3 18.Rfe1 Nc4 19.Bxc4 dxc4 20.Nb6 Bb7 21.Nxa8 Bxa8 22.fxe6 fxe6 23.Rxe6+ Kd7 24.Rf1 Bd5 25.Rb6 c3 26.Rxb4 a5 27.Rb6 Bc4 28.Rd1 Kc7 29.Rxb8 Rxb8 30.b3 Ba6 31.Ne6+ Kc6 32.Nxg7 a4 33.Ne6 Re8 34.Nf4 Re4 35.g3 axb3 36.axb3 Be2 37.Re1 Bf3 38.Kf2 Rxe1 39.Kxe1 Be4 40.Ne2 Kc5 41.Kd1 Bf3 42.Ke1 Be4 43.Nxc3 Bxc2 1/2-1/2
(3046184) Di Paolo,R
(2326) - Caoili,A (2257) [B87]
Open A Genova ITA (9),
25.11.2001
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 a6 7.Bc4 b5 8.Bb3 b4 9.Na4 Qc7 10.0-0 Nxe4 11.f4 d5 12.f5 Bd6 13.Nf3 Nd7 14.Qd4 Ndf6 15.Nb6 Rb8 16.Ba4+ Kf8 17.fxe6 Bxe6 18.Rac1 Bc5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5 0-1
Here's a game by 14 year old Bobby Fischer annotated by Maxim Notkin.
Bobby Fischer James Sherwin
(3340742) Fischer,R - Sherwin,J [B86]
USA-ch New York (7),
1957
[Maxim Notkin]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.0-0 b5 8.Bb3 b4 9.Nb1 [ Obviously stronger is 9.Na4 After the text move Black had many oppotunities to get a comfortable play.] 9...Bd7 [ 9...Nxe4 10.Qf3 d5 11.c4 has been tested in a couple of old games with good results for White though the compensation for a pawn may be insufficient. The bishop's development on b7 deserves attention.] 10.Be3 Nc6 11.f3 Be7 12.c3 bxc3 Allows White to bring the knight back into the game. [ 12...a5 was quite reasonable.] 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Nxc3 0-0 15.Rc1 Qb8 [ 15...Qd7 16.Na4+/=] 16.Nd5!? exd5? [ Black should have played 16...Nxd5 17.exd5 Bxd5 18.Bxd5 exd5 19.b3 Qb5 with an equal position.] 17.Rxc6 dxe4 18.fxe4 A pair of bishops defines White's advantage. 18...Qb5 [ Probably Sherwin noticed too late that 18...Nxe4 is bad due to 19.Rxf7! Rxf7 20.Bxf7+ Kxf7 21.Qd5+ Kf8 22.Qxe4+/- and 22...Qxb2? loses to 23.Rb6 Qa1+ 24.Rb1 d5 25.Qxe! 7+! Kxe7 26.Rxa1; 18...Qb7 19.Qc2] 19.Rb6 Qe5 20.Bd4! Qg5 [ 20...Qxe4? 21.Re1] 21.Qf3?! [ 21.Rb7! with idea of 21...Bd8 22.Rxf7! Rxf7 23.Bxf7+ Kxf7 24.Qb3+ and 25.Qb7 winning the exchange.] 21...Nd7!? 22.Rb7 A human move. [ The computer doesn't consider the pin along the f-file after 22.Bxf7+ Kh8 as a dangerous for White.] 22...Ne5 23.Qe2 Bf6 Black has consolidated the position somehow. 24.Kh1 a5 25.Bd5 [ 25.h3!] 25...Rac8 26.Bc3 a4 27.Ra7 The young Fischer liked to win material. The hunting for the remote pawn gives Black counterchances. 27...Ng4! 28.Rxa4 Bxc3 29.bxc3 Rxc3?! [ After 29...Ne3! 30.Qd2 h6 31.Rc1 ( 31.Rf3 Rxc3!) 31...Nxd5 32.Qxg5 hxg5 33.exd5 Rc5 34.Rd4 Re8 And black has sufficient compensation for the pawn in the rook ending.] And here it is. Fisher strikes the "decisive" blow. 30.Rxf7! Using the weakness of the 8th rank. Of course the rook is untouchable in view of Ra8+. 30...Rc1! +? A natural reply. White's 1st rank is weak as well. Bobby's next two moves show his high tactical abilities. [ Black could have tried to use the same motif another way - 30...Qxd5? but it fails to 31.Rxf8+ Kxf8 32.Qf1+! Qf7 33.Ra8+ Ke7 34.Ra7+ winning the queen. I thought that this line along with the text move settles the matter but the all-seeing silicon monster has another opinion.; Black had incredible defence 30...h5! White can capture any of enemy major pieces. He also has some other attractive possibilities. Nevertheless he's unable to get the advantage. It's obvious that White can't take the queen by Rf5xg5 as he is checkmated after Rc1. Let's look at other lines: 31.Rc4! a) 31.Rxf8+ Kxf8 32.Qf1+ Qf6 In the ending White has no winning chances so he should be satisfied with 33.Ra8+ Ke7 34.Ra7+ Kd8 35.Ra8+= draw by perpetual; b) after 31.Qf1 Black replies 31...Kh7! (b) not 31...Rxf7? 32.Qxf7+ Kh7 33.Qg8+ Kh6 34.Qh8+ Kg6 35.Bf7+! Kxf7 36.Ra7+ Kf6 37.Qd8+ Kg6 38.Rxg7+ Kxg7 39.Qxg5++-) 32.Rxf8! Rc1 and the 33...Ne3! threat is as dangerous as the queen capture (or even more); c) bad is the tempting 31.Rf3+? Kh7 Yes White can take any rook he likes but both captures lose - 32.Rxf8 (c) if 32.Rxc3 then the great blow 32...Qd2! finishes off) 32...Rc1+ 33.Rf1 Qf4! 34.g3 Rxf1+ 35.Kg2 Rf2+ 36.Kh3 Qf3! 37.Qxf3 Rxh2#; 31.Rc4 solves the back rank problem but it gives Black time to arrange his matters as well. 31...Rxc4 To hold the position Black has to keep the queens on the board. 32.Qxc4 ( 32.Rxf8+ Kxf8 33.Qxc4 Qe5 34.Qc8+ Ke7 35.Qc7+ Ke8! ( in the ending after 35...Kf6 36.Qf7+ Kg5 37.Qf5+ Qxf5 38.exf5 Kxf5 39.a4 White has good chances to win) 36.Qb8+ Ke7 37.Qb7+ Kd8 and I believe it should be a draw) 32...Rxf7 33.Bxf7+ Kh7! 34.Qc8 ( or 34.Qf1 g6! 35.Bd5 Qd2 36.Qf7+ Kh6 37.Qf8+ Kg5=) 34...Nh6! 35.Bd5 Qd2 36.h3 Qe1+ 37.Kh2 and the knight is back - 37...Ng4+! 38.hxg4 Qh4+ 39.Kg1 Qe1+ draw!] ! After all you may say: "Well it was very fine but what's wrong with Rc 1+?" The answer is 31.Qf1! [ After 31.Rf1+?? Kh8 the rook is pinned and it is White who is checkmated - 32.Ra8 Rxa8 33.Bxa8 Qf4-+] 31...h5 Too late though this statement needs a proof. [ 31...Rxf1+ 32.Rxf1+ Qxd5 33.Rxf8+ Kxf8 34.exd5] 32.Qxc1!! [ We've seen the position after 32.Rxf8+? Kh7 in the line 30...h5 31.Qf1 and found out it's rather dangerous for White. But Fischer's excellent reply makes everything clear. I witnessed many times how 2300-2400 players were trying to discover this move and it took them 5-7 minutes. And frankly speaking I wouldn't be sure about my own capacity either. The problem is that our mind is already "tuned" to the f1-f8 line and to change the direction requires some flexibility. Fortunately Bobby was a genius. ] 32...Qh4 [ 32...Qxc1+ 33.Rf1+ Kh8 34.Rxc1 is "better" but being demoralized Sherwin gives up all his pieces.] 33.Rxf8+ Kh7 [ 33...Kxf8 34.Qc8+ Ke7 35.Ra7+ Kf6 36.Qf5#] 34.h3 Qg3 35.hxg4 h4 36! .Be6 Two rooks, the bishop ... and a pawn :-) Time to resign. Hope you enjoyed it. 1-0
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In my last Email Changing of the Guard, I kind of went crazy and put too many images of women in there, so my webmaster asked me to delete a whole bunch. These girls deserves a better fate.
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Any teacher will confirm that they learn a lot from their students but I was quite stunned when endgame innovator Barbara Fortune, USCF 592, showed me a radical revision of Chess Endgame #1. In the position with White King f6, White pawn g6, Black King g8 Black to move - for 40 years the only move I saw in this position with either color is 1 ... Kf8, grabbing the opposition and drawing. Barb played 1 ... Kh8!!!, rewriting history - well, at least I never saw the move before and assumed I now had a win. 2 Kf7 is stalemate as well as 2 g6+ Kg8 3 Kg6 and any other second move for White allows 2 ... Kg7 drawing. Bravo Barbie for expanding our knowledge in the most basic endgame of all!! Due to my Love Circle of Hands across the World, this will now become common knowledge.
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My Ann Davies Memorial, Ann Davies Revival and Halloween tournaments were so wildly popular they are letting me create a 4th one. The theme is romance - Zack Malone is a 12 year old Colorado Springs Chessplayer that was on the top ten lists for different ages. I coached him for a while and his family became very friendly with me. Zack's pretty 19 year old sister Liesl Shaffer ( pronounced Shayffer - different Dad ) is in college now so I got the idea of having a Chess tournament where first prize is a date with Liesl - heartbreaking as it is for Chessplayers, intelligence is not the only factor that attracts women so Lamoyne Splichal and I will give Liesl a choice between the top 3 finshers ( more in case of a tie ). Part of the proceeds will go towards the date, part to Liesl's college fund and part to the prizes. The tournament will be held in the Tabor Center on Feb 28, 2004, close to Valentine's Day.
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Liesl Shaffer