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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! 😌♟️🎵

It was a stormy day today in Sydney. After work, I played a few casual unrated games, while having a small glass of whisky! I played a game with black and then white, and in both games, the killer blow was a Royal Fork!

In the second game, it was a very fun conversion as Black decided to play on, and I had an opportunity to sacrifice my queen for a brilliancy, and with enough tempo to promote a second queen. On review, I’d actually blundered the position due to complacency, and it was only through sheer luck that my opponent didn’t see it! Take home message – don’t play arrogantly when you’re winning! 😅

Game 1: https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/4UhH1FsBpz
Game 2: https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/tc476hvqL

[Event "Noob vs Noob UNPLUGGED #5"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2024.10.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Random Noob"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "10 min"]
[Termination "vitualis won"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/4UhH1FsBpz"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. c4 $6 {[%c_effect
c4;square;c4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 5... Bb4+ 6. Bd2 $6 {[%c_effect
d2;square;d2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 6... Bxd2+ 7. Nbxd2 Qe6 8. Ne4 $2
{[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 8... Nf6 9. Nc5 $2
{[%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 9... Qe7 10. b4 Nxb4 11.
Qa4+ Bd7 $4 {[%c_effect
d7;square;d7;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false,c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c6;persistent;false][%c_arrow
b4c6;keyPressed;none;from;b4;opacity;0.8;to;c6;persistent;false] Obvious move in
retrospect $1 😅} 12. Qxb4 $1 {[%c_effect
b4;square;b4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
b4;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;b4;persistent;false]} 12... b6 $2 {[%c_effect
b6;square;b6;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e5e4;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;e4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e4;persistent;false]} 13. Qc3 $2 {[%c_effect
c3;square;c3;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 13... bxc5 14. Be2 Ng4 $6 {[%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e5e4;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;e4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e4;persistent;false]} 15. O-O O-O 16.
Rfe1 $6 {[%c_effect e1;square;e1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
h2h3;keyPressed;none;from;h2;opacity;0.8;to;h3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h3;persistent;false]} 16... f6 17. h3 $2
{[%c_effect h3;square;h3;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 17... Nh6 18. Nh2 Nf5
19. Bg4 $6 {[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 19... Nd4
20. Bxd7 Qxd7 21. Re4 f5 $5 {[%c_effect
f5;square;f5;type;Interesting;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d4e2;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;e2;persistent;false,e2g1;keyPressed;none;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false,e2c3;keyPressed;none;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;c3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false,g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false,c3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c3;persistent;false]
Technically a blunder, but setting up a royal fork by luring White's rook off
the e-file $1} 22. Rxe5 {[%c_arrow
d4e2;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;e2;persistent;false,e2g1;keyPressed;none;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false,e2c3;keyPressed;none;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;c3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false,g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false,c3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c3;persistent;false]}
22... Rae8 {[%c_arrow
d4e2;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;e2;persistent;false,e2g1;keyPressed;none;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false,e2c3;keyPressed;none;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;c3;persistent;false,e8e5;keyPressed;none;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false,g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false,c3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c3;persistent;false,e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false]
Once again, luring White's advanced rook off the e-file...} 23. Rxc5 $4
{[%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d4e2;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;e2;persistent;false,e2g1;keyPressed;none;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false,e2c3;keyPressed;none;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;c3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false,g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false,c3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c3;persistent;false,c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false]
And, they fell for the trap $1} 23... Ne2+ $1 {[%c_effect
e2;square;e2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true,g8;square;g8;type;Winner][%c_highlight
e2;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false,g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false,c3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c3;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e2g1;keyPressed;none;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false,e2c3;keyPressed;none;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;c3;persistent;false]
Royal fork, White resigns, GG $1} 0-1


[Event "Noob vs Noob UNPLUGGED #5"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2024.10.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Random Noob"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "10 min"]
[Termination "vitualis Won"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/33F6wwxAHU?tab=analysis"]
[WhiteUrl ""]
[WhiteCountry ""]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl ""]
[BlackCountry ""]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 {Max Lange, Vienna Gambit} 3... d6 $6  {[%c_effect
d6;square;d6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e5f4;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;f4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false]} 4. Bc4 $5  {[%c_arrow
g1f3;keyPressed;none;from;g1;opacity;0.8;to;f3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false][%c_effect
c4;square;c4;type;Interesting;persistent;true] If Black plays a slow move, there
is the potential for a Légal Trap} 4... Qh4+ $6  {[%c_arrow
e5f4;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;f4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false][%c_effect
h4;square;h4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Fundamentally, this queen check
achieves nothing...} 5. g3 $1 {[%c_effect
g3;square;g3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
g3;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;g3;persistent;false]} 5... Qe7 {[%c_arrow
h4d8;keyPressed;none;from;h4;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false] Stockfish thinks
it's fine, but this is a tactical mistake...} 6. Nd5 {[%c_arrow
d5e7;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false,d5c7;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;c7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false,c7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c7;persistent;false]
... as Nd5 will force Black's queen back to d8} 6... Qe6 $4 {[%c_effect
e6;square;e6;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false,c7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c7;persistent;false][%c_arrow
d5c7;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;c7;persistent;false,c7e8;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,c7e6;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false]
People can sometimes hold a sunk cost bias - Black's refusal to return the queen
to d8 results in this blunder} 7. Nxc7+ $1 {[%c_effect
c7;square;c7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
c7;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c7;persistent;false,e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false,e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false][%c_arrow
c7e8;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,c7e6;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false]
Royal Fork $1 The game is over, but Black was a good sport and played on $1} 7...
Kd7 8. Nxe6 fxe6 9. Qg4 Nd4 10. Bxe6+ Nxe6 11. f5 Nd4 12. f6+ $5 {[%c_arrow
g4d1;keyPressed;none;from;g4;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,g4d7;keyPressed;none;from;g4;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,f6;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false,d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false][%c_effect
f6;square;f6;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Qd1 was the most accurate, but
very boring. f6+ $5 is super fun $1} 12... Kc6 13. fxg7 Nxc2+ 14. Kd1 $4 {[%c_effect
d1;square;d1;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,f1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f1;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e1f1;keyPressed;none;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f1;persistent;false,c8g4;keyPressed;none;from;c8;opacity;0.8;to;g4;persistent;false,g4d1;keyPressed;none;from;g4;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false]
This was actually a blunder $1 I didn't see that Black had this in the game with
check $1 Very important not to become too complacent in a winning position $1} 14...
Nxa1 $4  {[%c_effect a1;square;a1;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
a1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a1;persistent;false] Luckily, Black didn't
see it either $1 Whew $1} 15. Qxc8+ $3 {[%c_effect
c8;square;c8;type;Brilliant;persistent;true][%c_highlight
c8;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c8;persistent;false] Queen sacrifice $1}
15... Rxc8 16. gxh8=Q {But now I have a new queen $1} 16... Ne7 17. Qxh7 Nd5
{[%c_arrow
a7a6;keyPressed;none;from;a7;opacity;0.8;to;a6;persistent;false,e4d5;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a6;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false]
Mystifying...} 18. exd5+ Kxd5 $6 {[%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c6b6;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false] Difficult to tell the
difference, but Stockfish seems a forced checkmate here.} 19. Qd3+ $6 {[%c_effect
d3;square;d3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
h7b7;keyPressed;none;from;h7;opacity;0.8;to;b7;persistent;false,b7c8;keyPressed;none;from;b7;opacity;0.8;to;c8;persistent;false,b7d5;keyPressed;none;from;b7;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b7;persistent;false,c8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c8;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false]
I missed a fork} 19... Ke6 20. Qe4 {[%c_arrow
e4g4;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;g4;persistent;false,g4c8;keyPressed;none;from;g4;opacity;0.8;to;c8;persistent;false,e4b7;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;b7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c8;persistent;false,b7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b7;persistent;false]}
20... Rxc1+ {Mystifying - I'm not sure why Black didn't just resign} 21. Kxc1 d5
22. Qg4+ Kd6 23. Kb1 {[%c_arrow
b1a1;keyPressed;none;from;b1;opacity;0.8;to;a1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a1;persistent;false]} 23... Nc2 {[%c_arrow
d5d4;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;d4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false] When a piece is
doomed, you don't have to waste tempo moving it...} 24. Kxc2 Bh6 25. Qg6+
{[%c_effect c2;square;c2;type;Winner][%c_arrow
g6h6;keyPressed;none;from;g6;opacity;0.8;to;h6;persistent;false,g6d6;keyPressed;none;from;g6;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h6;persistent;false,d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false]
Final fork, Black abandons the game. Don't be that guy $1} 1-0