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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! 😌♟️🎵

I’ve just played these couple of games to wake up with some coffee on a lazy Saturday morning! It’s been a busy and hectic week. I launched my new book, Become a Chess Assassin! and so far it’s been selling really well! In fact, it made #1 Best Seller in the genre of chess on Amazon Australia! To put that into context, that’s ahead of GothamChess’ “How to Win at Chess” on the Australian market! 🤩

Anyway, things are going to continue to be busy next week as I’m travelling to Perth for a medical research conference. As usual, I’ll bring along a chess board and try to have a game or two with some friends during the conference, with a coffee or a beer!

The couple of games today both had bit of a theme of “watch your diagonals!“. My opponents were probably relative beginners, judging on how they played. In the first game, I played a Blackburne Shilling Gambit (note: I have an entire chapter in Become a Chess Assassin! on this opening attack!), but White opted to trade knights, which pretty much ends the opening attack. After this, I deliberately played some provocative and inaccurate moves to create some tactical chances. And it worked; as the position got a little bit more complicated, White blundered their queen having not recognised the defence of my g4-knight from afar by my light square bishop on c8!

In the second game, White was again a beginning, starting with a very offbeat version of the Vienna Game. The win was a more methodical rather than glamorous: a simple knight and queen attack on White’s king after it had castled short. Good game, GG!

Game 1: https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/3VjE6QJNCE
Game 2: https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/565mfBNkht

[Event "Chess Noob vs Noob #8"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2024.11.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Random Noob"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteUrl ""]
[WhiteCountry "225"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.100x100o.671ef4f371ed@3x.png"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]
[Termination "Black Won"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/561s687CsQ?tab=analysis"]

1. Nf3 Nc6 {Réti Opening: Black Mustang Defense} 2. e4 e5 {Transposed back to a
typical e4 e5 game  $1} 3. Bc4 Nd4 $5 {[%c_effect
d4;square;d4;type;Interesting;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]
Let's try the Blackburne Shilling Gambit $1} 4. Nxd4 {The best response for White,
and this shuts down the attempt to have some tricky fun $1} 4... exd4 5. c3 $2
{[%c_effect c3;square;c3;type;Mistake;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]} 5... dxc3 $6 
{[%c_arrow
g8f6;keyPressed;none;from;g8;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false][%c_effect
c3;square;c3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This is inaccurate, but I was a
bit sad so I just decided to liquidate the pawn $1} 6. Nxc3 Nf6 7. e5 $2 {[%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 7... Qe7 $4 {[%c_effect
e7;square;e7;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d7d5;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false]
This is blunder as White can simply castle to unpin their pawn. The queen cannot
capture the pawn as White can then pin the queen to the king down the e-file
with Re1 $1 I should have calculated this more carefully $1} 8. d4 $6 {[%c_effect
d4;square;d4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] However, White doesn't see this
and takes a more direct approach with attempting to defend their e5-pawn. These
are all inaccurate moves. This also allows me to create complications in the
centre with tactics...} 8... d6 $6 {[%c_effect
d6;square;d6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d7d5;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false]} 9. Bf4 dxe5 10. dxe5
Ng4 $5 {[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;Interesting;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d1g4;keyPressed;none;from;d1;opacity;0.8;to;g4;persistent;false,c8g4;keyPressed;none;from;c8;opacity;0.8;to;g4;persistent;false,g4e5;keyPressed;none;from;g4;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g4;persistent;false,e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false]
Baiting White to capture my knight with their queen $1 You need to keep your eye
on the diagonals $1} 11. Qxg4 $4 {[%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
g4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g4;persistent;false][%c_arrow
c8g4;keyPressed;none;from;c8;opacity;0.8;to;g4;persistent;false] And it worked
in this case $1 This was perhaps a bit of a \"dirty\" move as it took advantage of
the weaknesses of beginner players when the position gets a bit complicated $1}
11... Bxg4 {[%c_effect e8;square;e8;type;Winner] And White resigns. GG $1} 0-1


[Event "Chess Noob vs Noob #8"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2024.11.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Random Noob"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "600"]
[WhiteElo ""]
[BlackElo ""]
[Termination "Guest1277103917 won by checkmate"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/565mfBNkht"]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.100x100o.671ef4f371ed@3x.png"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]
[WhiteUrl ""]
[WhiteCountry "225"]
[WhiteTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:09:57.4][%timestamp 26]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:09:58.6][%timestamp
14]} 2. Nc3 {[%clk 0:09:52.8][%timestamp 46]} 2... Nf6 {[%clk
0:09:56.5][%timestamp 21]} 3. Bd3 {[%clk 0:09:50.9][%timestamp 19]} 3... Nc6
{[%clk 0:09:51.6][%timestamp 49]} 4. Nf3 {[%clk 0:09:41.6][%timestamp 93]} 4...
Bc5 {[%clk 0:09:48][%timestamp 36]} 5. Na4 {[%clk 0:09:31.5][%timestamp 101]}
5... Be7 {[%clk 0:09:34.3][%timestamp 137][%c_arrow
c5b6;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b6;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false]} 6. c4 {[%clk
0:09:26.8][%timestamp 47]} 6... a6 {[%clk 0:09:21.1][%timestamp 132]} 7. c5 $2
{[%clk 0:09:09.1][%timestamp 177][%c_effect
c5;square;c5;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%25;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]} 7... b6 $2 {[%clk
0:09:17.1][%timestamp 40][%c_arrow
d7d5;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false][%c_effect
b6;square;b6;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]
I should have just taken the full centre.} 8. Ng5 $2 {[%clk 0:07:56.5][%timestamp
726][%c_arrow
c5b6;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false][%c_effect
g5;square;g5;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]
White attempts a Knight Attack, but it has no real targets} 8... h6 {[%clk
0:09:07.1][%timestamp 100]} 9. Nh3 $6 {[%clk 0:07:34.1][%timestamp 224][%c_effect
h3;square;h3;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g5f3;keyPressed;none;from;g5;opacity;0.8;to;f3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false] A \"sunk cost\"
fallacy - White's best most was just to undo the unwise Ng5 by returning the
knight to f3. However, they opted to move the knight to a \"different\" square,
but the knight on the edge of the board is a mistake.} 9... d6 $6 {[%clk
0:08:55.6][%timestamp 115][%c_effect
d6;square;d6;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d7d5;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false]} 10. Be2 $6 {[%clk
0:07:09.4][%timestamp 247][%c_effect
e2;square;e2;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]}
10... dxc5 {[%clk 0:08:49.5][%timestamp 61]} 11. d3 {[%clk 0:07:08.6][%timestamp
8]} 11... b5 {[%clk 0:08:45.7][%timestamp 38]} 12. Nc3 {[%clk
0:06:52.4][%timestamp 162]} 12... b4 {[%clk 0:08:39.2][%timestamp 65]} 13. Na4
{[%clk 0:06:46.5][%timestamp 59]} 13... Nd4 {[%clk 0:08:17.1][%timestamp 221]}
14. O-O $6 {[%clk 0:05:45.4][%timestamp 611][%c_effect
g1;square;g1;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c1d2;keyPressed;none;from;c1;opacity;0.8;to;d2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d2;persistent;false]} 14... Bxh3 {[%clk
0:08:06.9][%timestamp 102] Now that White has castled, trading the bishop for
White's h3-knight forces White to open their g-file and weaken the defence of
their king} 15. gxh3 {[%clk 0:05:44.1][%timestamp 13]} 15... O-O {[%clk
0:07:55][%timestamp 119]} 16. Nxc5 $4 {[%clk 0:05:08.7][%timestamp 354][%c_effect
c5;square;c5;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e7c5;keyPressed;none;from;e7;opacity;0.8;to;c5;persistent;false] Diagonals  $1}
16... Bxc5 {[%clk 0:07:52.8][%timestamp 22]} 17. b3 {[%clk 0:05:00][%timestamp
87]} 17... Qd7 {[%clk 0:07:47.5][%timestamp 53]} 18. a4 {[%clk
0:04:45.2][%timestamp 148]} 18... Qxh3 {[%clk 0:07:38][%timestamp 95]} 19. Bb2
{[%clk 0:04:28][%timestamp 172]} 19... Nxe2+ {[%clk 0:07:23.2][%timestamp 148]
Removing one of the defenders of the g4 square  $1} 20. Qxe2 {[%clk
0:04:21.3][%timestamp 67]} 20... Ng4 {[%clk 0:07:15.8][%timestamp 74][%c_arrow
g4h2;keyPressed;none;from;g4;opacity;0.8;to;h2;persistent;false,h3h2;keyPressed;none;from;h3;opacity;0.8;to;h2;persistent;false]}
21. Rfc1 $4 {[%clk 0:04:06.8][%timestamp 145][%c_effect
c1;square;c1;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
c1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false,e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false][%c_arrow
b2e5;keyPressed;none;from;b2;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false] This hangs
[-M2], but the position is arguably hopeless} 21... Qxh2+ {[%clk
0:07:01.6][%timestamp 142]} 22. Kf1 {[%clk 0:03:59.1][%timestamp 77]} 22... Qh1#
{[%clk 0:06:59.6][%timestamp 20][%c_effect
g8;square;g8;type;Winner,f1;square;f1;type;CheckmateWhite]} 0-1