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CHESS UNPLUGGED | Sometimes, I just like unwind by not thinking too hard, play a couple of quick casual unrated games, while listen to some slow jazz! 😌♟️🎵

Today is the Labour Day public holiday in NSW so I had the day off. And what better way to start the day than with a cup of espresso coffee, and some low stakes chess to wake up the brain!

The first game was a simple Vienna Game, where Black rapidly collapsed when they were unable to deal with my queen in the centre of board, and then infiltrating their position.

The second game was ridiculously fun and also rather blunderous! 🤩 This was romantic, swashbuckling pirate chess at its finest. I had White again, and played the spicy Steiner Variation and the OG Qa4+ line, against Black’s French Defense. The logic? I’m not going to give Black a closed, positional game!

We both mutually make some pretty bad errors – gain and then lose the lead. Towards the end of the game, I realised that I was going to be losing on time unless I just make some bold aggressive threats in the losing position. Black foils my plans once, twice, and then as they are closing in for the kill (they had a [-M3] at one point), I make one last ditch attempt! I line up my dark square bishop and queen on the g7 square. With literally seconds left on the clock, I think that Black decided to “just play a move” so that I would lose on time, but in doing so hung [+M1]! Luckily, I saw it just in time, and got my reversal – and a glorious one at that! From completely losing, I won by checkmate with 0.3 seconds left on the clock! 🤪🎉🥳🎊

Was this a good game? No. But was it a fun game? Absolutely! 🤩👍

Game 1: https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/uAVmjux7Y
Game 2: https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/5LebJW1oYA

[Event "Noob vs Noob UNPLUGGED #4"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2024.10.07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Random Noob"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "10 minutes"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/uAVmjux7Y"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Qxd4 c5 $2 {[%c_effect
c5;square;c5;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]}
5. Qd5 $5 {[%c_arrow
d4d3;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;d3;persistent;false,d5f7;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false,d5b7;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;b7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false,f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false,b7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b7;persistent;false][%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;Interesting;path;null;size;100%252525;animated;false;persistent;true]
Trying a tricky move     $1} 5... Be6 $4 {[%c_effect
e6;square;e6;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false]} 6. Qxb7 Nd7 7. Bb5 $2
{[%c_arrow
c3b5;keyPressed;none;from;c3;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false,b5d7;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false,d7e8;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,b7d7;keyPressed;none;from;b7;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false][%c_effect
b5;square;b5;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false] Nb5 is more forcing}
7... a6 $6 {[%c_effect
a6;square;a6;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]}
8. Bc6 {[%c_arrow
c6a8;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;a8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a8;persistent;false]} 8... Rb8 9. Bxd7+
{[%c_arrow
d7e8;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false]} 9... Bxd7 10. Qxa6
Rb6 11. Qe2 Bb5 $4 {[%c_effect
b5;square;b5;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false] Black blunders their
light square bishop a second time     $1} 12. Nxb5 {[%c_effect
e1;square;e1;type;Winner] Good game, GG     $1} 1-0 

[Event "Noob vs Noob Unplugged #4"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2024.10.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Random Noob"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "10 min"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/5LebJW1oYA"]

1. e4 e6 2. c4 {French Defense: Steiner Variation} 2... d5 3. cxd5 exd5 4.
Qa4+ $5 {[%c_effect
a4;square;a4;type;Interesting;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]
This is the original line played by Steiner - very trappy potentially} 4... c6 $6
{[%c_effect
c6;square;c6;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]}
5. Nc3 dxe4 6. Nxe4 b5 $6 {[%c_effect
b5;square;b5;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]}
7. Qb3 $6 {[%c_effect
b3;square;b3;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]}
7... a6 $2 {[%c_effect
a6;square;a6;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]}
8. Nf3 Qe7 $2 {[%c_effect
e7;square;e7;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]}
9. Bd3 $4 {[%c_arrow
b3e3;keyPressed;none;from;b3;opacity;0.8;to;e3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e3;persistent;false][%c_effect
d3;square;d3;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]
As noobs, neither of use correctly navigate the tension down the e-file with
missed opportunities on both sides  $1} 9... Nf6 $4 {[%c_arrow
f7f5;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;f5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false][%c_effect
f6;square;f6;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]}
10. Qc2 $4 {[%c_arrow
e1g1;keyPressed;none;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false][%c_effect
c2;square;c2;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]
With the queen on the e-file, Black is at risk of having their queen pinned to
the king after short castles and putting a rook on e1  $1} 10... Bf5 $4 {[%c_effect
f5;square;f5;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]}
11. Ng5 $4 {[%c_arrow
e1g1;keyPressed;none;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false][%c_effect
g5;square;g5;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]}
11... h6 $2 {[%c_effect
h6;square;h6;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f6d5;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false]} 12. Nxf7 $4
{[%c_effect
f7;square;f7;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e1g1;keyPressed;none;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false]} 12... Qxf7 $4
{[%c_arrow
f6e4;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;e4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e4;persistent;false][%c_effect
f7;square;f7;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]}
13. Nd6+ $4 {[%c_effect
d6;square;d6;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d6e8;keyPressed;none;from;d6;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,d6f7;keyPressed;none;from;d6;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false,d6f5;keyPressed;none;from;d6;opacity;0.8;to;f5;persistent;false,f8d6;keyPressed;none;from;f8;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false,f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false,f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false,d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false]
In my excitement, I missed the fact that the d6 square is defended by Black's
dark square bishop... So silly  $1} 13... Bxd6 14. Bxf5 Qe7+ 15. Kd1 O-O 16. Re1
Be5 $4 {[%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]}
17. f4 $1 {[%c_effect
f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e1e7;keyPressed;none;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false,f4e5;keyPressed;none;from;f4;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false]
Putting pressure on the pinned piece, and I win back my lost material  $1} 17...
Qc7 $4 {[%c_effect
c7;square;c7;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b8d7;keyPressed;none;from;b8;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false]} 18. Rxe5 $2
{[%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f4e5;keyPressed;none;from;f4;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false] Capturing with the
pawn was the accurate move, but I wanted to activate my rook, even if it was
risky} 18... Qd6 $2 {[%c_arrow
b8d7;keyPressed;none;from;b8;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false][%c_effect
d6;square;d6;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]}
19. g3 $6 {[%c_effect
g3;square;g3;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c2c5;keyPressed;none;from;c2;opacity;0.8;to;c5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false] The engine wants to
trade down - I didn't want to do that though} 19... Nbd7 20. Bxd7 $2 {[%c_effect
d7;square;d7;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e5e6;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false] I considered Re6, but
eventually decided it would be tactically easier to not play against Black's
knight pair} 20... Nxd7 $2 {[%c_arrow
d6d7;keyPressed;none;from;d6;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false][%c_effect
d7;square;d7;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]}
21. Qb3+ $1 {[%c_effect
b3;square;b3;type;GreatFind;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]}
21... Kh8 22. Re6 Qd4 $6 {[%c_effect
d4;square;d4;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d6c5;keyPressed;none;from;d6;opacity;0.8;to;c5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false]} 23. Qc3 $6 {[%c_arrow
b3e3;keyPressed;none;from;b3;opacity;0.8;to;e3;persistent;false,c3g7;keyPressed;none;from;c3;opacity;0.8;to;g7;persistent;false,g7h8;keyPressed;none;from;g7;opacity;0.8;to;h8;persistent;false,e6h6;keyPressed;none;from;e6;opacity;0.8;to;h6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e3;persistent;false,g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g7;persistent;false,h6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h6;persistent;false][%c_effect
c3;square;c3;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]
I suspected that Black was not going to trade and by pinning Black's g-pawn, I
saw a potential attack on Black's king} 23... Qg1+ 24. Kc2 Qxh2 25. Kb1 $2
{[%c_arrow
b2b4;keyPressed;none;from;b2;opacity;0.8;to;b4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b4;persistent;false][%c_effect
b1;square;b1;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]}
25... Rae8 26. Qxc6 $2 {[%c_effect
c6;square;c6;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e6e8;keyPressed;none;from;e6;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false] Out of time...} 26...
Rxe6 $2 {[%c_arrow
e8c8;keyPressed;none;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;c8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c8;persistent;false][%c_effect
e6;square;e6;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]
Though it's not easy to play for Black either... I'm hoping of inducing a
mistake and having some tactics in the \"bank\" to unleash  $1} 27. Qxe6 Nc5 28.
Qe7 $2 {[%c_effect
e7;square;e7;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e6d5;keyPressed;none;from;e6;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false,e7f8;keyPressed;none;from;e7;opacity;0.8;to;f8;persistent;false,e7c5;keyPressed;none;from;e7;opacity;0.8;to;c5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,f8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f8;persistent;false,c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false]
A fork - again, asking Black to play accurate  $1} 28... Rc8 $1 {[%c_effect
c8;square;c8;type;GreatFind;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]}
29. b3 $5 {[%c_effect
b3;square;b3;type;Interesting;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]
This technically blunders [-M7], but I'm out of time. I'm planning on Bb2 to set
up a mating attack with the queen on g7  $1 The checkmate threat doesn't matter to
me as I'm about to otherwise lose on time  $1} 29... Qxg3 $6 {[%c_effect
g3;square;g3;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c5d3;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;d3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false]} 30. Bb2 $5
{[%c_effect
b2;square;b2;type;Interesting;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]}
30... Qd3+ 31. Kc1 Qd8 $4 {[%c_effect
d8;square;d8;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c5b3;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;b3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b3;persistent;false] And Black
astonishingly blunders [+M1]  $1 Here, I think that they were just \"playing a
move\" so that I would lose on time  $1} 32. Qxg7# {[%c_effect
c1;square;c1;type;Winner,h8;square;h8;type;CheckmateBlack] And I win with 0.3
seconds left on the clock  $1 Glorious, GG  $1} 1-0