| Oct-23-09 | | Wayne Proudlove: The Sicilian Kan Variation is fascinating to me for some reason. 1.e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Nf3 e6 4. Nxd4 a6, I plan to spend tonight memorizing that so it's permanently in my head. I guess it can be transposed in different move order too. The Sicilian's too complicated for me right now, me and my friend play Giuoco Piano games consistently, but I'm working on at least knowing different opening moves so down the road I'll be ready. |
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| Feb-13-11 | | theweaponking: You have to love the classic back rank mate! |
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| Jan-01-12 | | Suryanshu: a great display of foresight ..black has no chance of winning with 2 pawn down |
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| Nov-28-12 | | TheoNov: A great game by Staunton. He achieved a significant advantage after 10. .. b5 , but Black could have refuted 12.Ne4(?!)
click for larger viewwith
<12. .. Nxe5! 13.
Bxe5 f5 14. Nf6+ gxf6 15. Bxb7 fxe5 16. Bxa8 Qxa8=> 
click for larger viewOn the other hand, after the more accurate <12.O-O> 
click for larger viewWhite can then play N-e4-c5, etc. and Black can't do much. Here, Houdini says White is +0.70. <11.O-O> would also have been more accurate than the text move. |
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| Jun-05-13 | | chesssalamander: In the final position, Black is definitely toast. He can avoid mate and losing the queen bishop with Kf8. But, then there is nothing to stop the N from taking that b pawn, threatening the unguarded R. Can the R be saved? No! Perhaps Rb7, at least it can be exchanged for the B. Then maybe Bxb7 (there might be something more elegant or efficient, but this seems to do the trick). Black responds with Bxb7. Now what? Maybe Nc7? That threatens mate. Black must either capture the N, or give his King a breathing square. Either way, White can exchange the N's. It really is hopeless. The queen side pawns are unconnected and passed with only the lone bishop to try to stop them, the Black King cut off by the R. |
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| Jun-05-13 | | chesssalamander: About the opening, it is funny, I would have called this neither an O'Kelly, nor a Kan! I would have called this a Smith-Morra. 1. e4 c5 2. d4 Of course, after move 4, it has without a doubt transposed to a Kan. Perhaps you don't want to call it a Smit-Morra Gambit unless White plays 3. c3, giving Black the chance to grab a pawn. I wouldn't call something an O'Kelly unless the a6 move happens very early, like 2. ...a6. Of course, the position after move 4 could have arisen from a different move order like 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6, which I would happily have called an O'Kelly. Transpositions are fascinating! Some of the most beautiful moves, and most beautiful sequences of moves, of a game are ones that are never actually played, but only made possible. |
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| Jun-05-13 | | RookFile: Both sides had interesting ideas. |
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Apr-12-20
 | | fredthebear: If 25...Kf8 26.Rc1 threatens back rank mate. <chessalamander>'s comments apply to this position. |
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Oct-04-20
 | | MissScarlett: Game appears in the <ILN> of September 25th 1852, p.251, as a <Smart skirmish between Mr. Staunton and an Amateur.> No location given, and although London is a reasonable assumption, Staunton had recently been in Soctland; indeed, the same column has a game of his under the banner <Chess in Scotland>. |
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Kibitzing
