I had reached the stage where it had seemed to me that ever
winning again was somewhat unlikely. I had even considered purchasing a lucky
horse shoe, to try and shake things up but ruled such a move out as way too
risky, essentially on the grounds that I would most likely either find myself
in a lightening storm on the way to the venue and said horse shoe would act as
the conductor that saw me electrocuted. Or perhaps more prosaically that if
this didn’t happen it would probably fall on my head and render me unconscious
during play… It was fair to say that my morale/ confidence levels were not
high. And my only remaining option was just to turn up and get on with it…
That said, I had nothing to lose and it was a chance just to
enjoy playing and being around chess – that’s why we all play after all. I've
struggled to work the software so have written the game moves out below with
some analysis. As you will see, I get completely outplayed and end up down the
exchange with my King side on the verge of implosion. Having spent quite a lot
of time at my board earlier in the game, I think Tania (fairly) thought she had
the game well under control (to say the least) and played the losing mistake
very quickly at the end.
I can't claim this is a work of brilliance. In truth I get a
big slice of luck (not something that has happened for a while on the board!) Of
course I should have lost really. But the tactic at the end is pleasing on the
eye. In the final position I am down a Knight and a pawn and both my Queen and
remaining Knight are attacked, but I have a forced mate in one...
Tani Sachdev v Ben Graff
1. d4 N-f6
2. c4 N-c6
3. N-f3 e6
4. N-c3 d5
5. B-f4 B-b4
6. e3 0-0
7. Q-c2 BxN +
8. PxB N-e4
9. B-d3 f5
10. h3 B-d7
11. g4 B-e8
12. 0-0-0 Q-e7
13. K-b2 R-b8
14. R-b1 N-a5
N-a5 is a mistake and is where Fritz says I start to go
wrong. dxc4 Bxc4 b5 is given as a slight plus for black. I should see this. The
point is if White takes the otherway I can skewer her Queen and Rook by
bringing my Bishop onto g6.
My basic thought in this position is that Tania's Queen side
might present some opportunities if I can open up some files. As it turns out,
she proves to be far more skillful at ripping open my King side than I do her
Queen side.
15. cxd5 exd5
16. K-a1
Walking into what will eventually prove to be the white
King's tomb, but such a prospect seems a long way off right now.
16... b5
I think I just miscalculate. Because Tania was only playing
twelve of us, there was not all that long to think things through and the next
few moves aren't great by me,
17. PxP RxP
18. N-d2
Indeed...
18. ... NxN
19. BxR g6
Fritz says g6 is terrible, but it thinks everything else is
pretty terrible too. I'm clearly well and truly on the canvas.
20. QxN PxB
21. Rh-g1+ B-g6
22. Q-d3 Q-d7
23. h4 K-f7
24. R-g5 h5
25. Q-e2 R-b6
26. Rxh5 Q-c6
I wonder... Q-c6 is the best move as it sets the trap. Fritz
doesn't particularly like Rxh5 because of Q-c6, but says after R-c1, whilst
Black can pick up a bit of material, White is massively winning. What Tania
misses is the lack of ways to defend her King.
27. R-g5 which Fritz gives as terrible.
27. ...... Qxc3+
28. Q-b2 played in an instant and the game is over..
28.... N-b3+
The Queen can't take the Knight it is pinned and after the
pawn takes it, R-a6 is mate.
If you see the threat 28. R-b2 is a way out, but Fritz gives
the position as back to roughly level after a long combination.
So of course I am fortunate and as a whole it is not a great
game - but the final position is pretty cool. Tania was very gracious and
racked up nine wins and a draw in her other games, from her perspective this
was no more than an occupational hazard that can sometimes occur in simuls. From mine - well it made me
feel a bit better. It was my first stoke of luck of the season and I did see
the tactic which is something. I think I still have someway to go to get my
play back to where I want it to be, but it was a start!
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