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Bryan G Smith vs Gregory Braylovsky
"Philadelphia Freedom" (game of the day Jul-04-2016)
World op Philadelphia (2001), Philadelphia, PA USA, rd 9, Jul-08
Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian. General (B30)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Kibitzer's Corner
Nov-17-08  nolanryan: amazing
Feb-26-13  Llawdogg: Cool.
Aug-28-14  Ke2: Smith explains this awesome game - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvK....
Jul-04-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  Phony Benoni: When in the course of human events the Beloved GOTD reaches the United States’ Independence Day during a presidential election year, a decent respect for the opinions of mankind is totally disregarded in the rush to interpret the game politically.

At first, this seems a straightforward triumph of America vs. the Dreaded Furriner. There can’t be a more American name than “Smith”, while Black’s name sounds like one of those Russians or Slavs or Whatevers who have corrupted the Freedom of American chess by playing well. Never mind that his bio says he’s from the USA. This is clearly a game picked by the e Republican Party.

Or is it? Once the smoking ban takes effect, the scene is dominated by the White Queen (clearly a reference to Hillary Clinton), who takes over the action as Black’s Towers (clearly a reference to Donald Trump) prove helpless to stand against her.

In desperation Black tries to build a wall, but the peons come rushing through. The finale sees the Separation of Church and State, a fine political principle but a good way to drop your bishop in chess.

So this game clearly forecasts a Democratic victory in November. I suspect it is just as accurate at any other poll.

Jul-04-16  Doniez: To all my friends in the USA and to all American people my best wishes for this Indepencence Day. And thanks to Phony for the nice explanation of the game in terms of current political situation (hopefully your forecast will become true in next Nov)
Jul-04-16  morfishine: July 2, 1776 is the actual “Independence Day” when the 2nd Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence. After voting for independence, the founding Father's began packing up their things for their return trips home, some of which were quite distant. Suddenly Charles Carrroll of Carrollton exclaimed “Wait gentlemen, we can't just leave like this. How will the people know that we've voted to approve their independence?”

Elbridge Gerry replied “Oh Dear, this is awkward. What shall we do?”

Robert Paine chimed in “Why not select 5 of the most distinguished authors, and have them write up some sort of watered-down version explaining the independence resolution. A declaration, if you will”

“Its brilliant” said the Guinness man, “We'll call them the fantastic 5, no, how bout the fabulous 5, no,...I know, we'll call these 5 gentlemen the Committee of Five. Furthermore, I nominate Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston to make up this committee. Its brilliant I tell you, its brilliant”

And work they did, non-stop through July 2, July 3 and July 4. Two matters of subject could not be agreed upon and heated arguments ensued. One involved inflammatory language directed towards English people in general. Franklin had them roaring with laughter with his passage on the “The English and their Dental habits”; the other involved a denouncing of slavery. In the end, both passages were rejected and the Congress voted its approval of the final Draft of this declaration late in the morning of July 4, 1776.

But wait, this was only the approved 'draft copy'. What was needed was a 'fair copy', this being the 're-drafted-as-corrected' copy prepared for the broadside printer, a Mr. John Dunlap. But this copy wasn't finally released til July 5, 1776.

So what is the real Independence Day? Is it July 2, 1776 when the approval of independence was voted on by the 2nd Continental Congress? Or is it July 4, 1776 when the Congress voted to approve declaration as submitted by the Committee of Five? Or is it July 5, 1776 concurrent with the final release of the Dunlap broadside? The problem is none of these dates can be absolutely verified. Oh dear

Perhaps we should designate April 19, 1775 as our Independence Day.

*****

Jul-04-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: I had a facsimile of the D of I which I bought in Washington DC. I loved looking at it, especially the superb handwriting. Was that Jefferson's?

I copied some of that writing, and now my own handwriting is also pretty good.

And now, my young daughter also has very good handwriting. I wonder if she will be one the last generation that needs to use pen and ink?

Finland schools have stopped teaching cursive handwriting in favour of touch-typing. TBH that's a good idea!

Jul-04-16  The Kings Domain: "The Lone Star Queen".
Jul-04-16  Dirkster: <Phony Benoni> Hey, dude! I'm still laughing at your kibitz for this GOTD - absolutely brilliant!!! (But seriously - how much time do you spend on these things?!?)
Jul-04-16  Jack Kerouac: The usual fireworks here in America.
How we love to blow up stuff.
Here's Fire on Board.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3P...
Jul-04-16  clement41: The rook fork at move 30 reminds of a Fischer-Tal game in a sicilian, too
Jul-05-16  kevin86: Black was behind the 8-ball. White just had too many pawns and the advantage of queen vs rook and bishop.
Jul-05-16  Moszkowski012273: 25.Bxe7... would of made things a bit easier.
Jul-05-16  Moszkowski012273: OR 26.Qxd6...
Jul-11-16  morfishine: <offramp> Writing is a vital tool, whether in cursive or script or block. The Navy taught me to use Block: one can't go wrong with Block. There are no curly, funny things to throw of the reader: its all straight and right in front of you. I've had compliments on my block handwriting, mainly from people who comment "Its so refreshing to actually be able to read what is written"

My cursive is quite good but strays from time to time, so when I really want to get my point across, I go with block

If nothing else, this freezes and stuns the reader

*****

Jul-15-16  newzild: <Moszkowski012273: 25.Bxe7... would of made things a bit easier.>

The problem with 25. Bxe7 is that Black isn't forced to capture, eg:

25. Bxe7 Bxe6

And now after 26. Nc7+ Kxe7 27. Nxa8 Rxa8 Black has rook, knight and bishop versus queen and two pawns.

Jul-19-16  Moszkowski012273: <newzild> --- Kind of correct,,, but no way should white go after the rook. 26.Bxd6... is pretty crushing.

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