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

I had a free time this morning on my Tuesday morning off, and so decided to record another Noob vs Noob UNPLUGGED video! When using an electronic chess board with Chess.com, I usually use my Chessnut PRO (which is a full-sized wooden tournament board, and is set up as a side-table next to my work desk when I’m not playing chess! 😆) with the absolutely brilliant Chrome browser extension Chessconnect. However, it’s kind of a hassle to set up the multiple cameras so for this video, I’m going to demonstrate the Chessnut GO! With it being a much smaller portable board, it fits very well on my work desk!

The first game against Random Noob was somewhat disappointing. I had Black and they started with the Center Game, played an odd Wayward Queen, and then abandoned the match. Don’t be that guy!

As that didn’t really count, immediately started a second game after putting the pieces back on their starting squares. Once again, I had Black and White led with the Ruy López Opening (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5), to which I responded with one of my favourites, the Jaenisch Gambit (3… f5)! White countered with the Dykhoff Variation (4. Nc3), which is one of the ways of refuting the Jaenisch.

My opponent played really well, including finding a brilliancy down this line. I often find myself quite distracted when recording with a 3D board as I’m monitoring two separate cameras, and the screen recording. After White played the brilliant move (9. Nxe5!!), I’d convinced myself that I’d made a mistake, but actually, my position was fine. I continued to play accurately and White blundered with their passive backward knight move (11. Nf3??).

It’s interesting what negative self-talk does to you. I didn’t really recognise that I was in a winning position until a couple of turns later. In my mind, I intellectually recognised that my opponent had played some not-so-good moves but I didn’t feel it.

Actually speaking out my observations during the recording helped. By around turn 12, I recognised that, “hold on, I’ve the bishop pair, queen, and rook attacking the white king’s position”! Needless to say, there is no way that can’t be good and this helped me override the self-doubt. Turn 14, White abandoned the game (don’t be that guy!) in a dead lost position [-M5]. With a clearer mind after the game, I recognised that the position was much better than what I had believed and calculated during the match.

Usually on analysis, I discover that there were bigger flaws than what I noticed in game. Today, it was the other way around; I’d played better than I thought with an accuracy of 94.7 according to the Chess.com analytic engine!

Note: the Jaenisch Gambit is featured in one of the chapters in my new book, “Become a Chess Assassin! Learn to play the best chess opening attacks“.

Game: https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/2tyqLcqfmQ

[Event "Noob vs Noob"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2024.12.03"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Random Noob"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.50x50o.ab18600a8723@3x.png"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]
[WhiteUrl ""]
[WhiteCountry "225"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[TimeControl "10 minutes"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis?tab=analysis"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 {Ruy López Opening: Jaenisch Gambit,
Dyckhoff Variation. The Jaenisch is a fearsome weapon against the Ruy López, but
the Dyckhoff Variation is a way that White can refute the Jaenisch.} 4... fxe4
5. Nxe4 Nf6 {This is the Tartakower Variation in the line.} 6. Nxf6+ {[%c_arrow
d1e2;keyPressed;none;from;d1;opacity;0.8;to;e2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e2;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false] In the video, I
didn't think that this was a good move, and tactically, it does give Black
development of their queen. Stockfish, however, thinks that it is fine. Qe2 is
White's best move. Although Nxf6+ is technically okay, the win likelihood is
equal between White and Black.} 6... Qxf6 7. O-O a6 $2 {[%c_effect
a6;square;a6;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f8e7;keyPressed;none;from;f8;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false] This move was a bit
intemperate} 8. Bxc6 dxc6 9. Nxe5 $3 {[%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Brilliant;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false][%c_arrow
f1e1;keyPressed;none;from;f1;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false,e1e8;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,f6e5;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false]
The Chess.com engine rates this a brilliancy as if Black captures with their
queen Qxe5, Black pins the queen with Re1    $1 In essence, White has won a pawn.}
9... Bd6 10. d4 O-O 11. Nf3 $4 {[%c_arrow
f2f4;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;f4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false,f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false][%c_effect
f3;square;f3;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]
This backwards knight move is a blunder, losing a step of tempo. Notice, Black
now has the bishop pair, the queen, and the f8-rook attacking the white king's
position  $1 The semi-opened f-file is a tactical resource from the Jaenisch
Gambit  $1} 11... Qg6 $6 {[%c_arrow
c8g4;keyPressed;none;from;c8;opacity;0.8;to;g4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g4;persistent;false][%c_effect
g6;square;g6;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]
Bg4 first is more accurate} 12. Kh1 $2 {[%c_arrow
d1d2;keyPressed;none;from;d1;opacity;0.8;to;d2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d2;persistent;false][%c_effect
h1;square;h1;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]
White recognises a threat on their king, but does not respond to the threat
accurately  $1} 12... Bg4 $1 {[%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;GreatFind;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
g4;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;g4;persistent;false]} 13. Rg1 $2 {[%c_arrow
d1d2;keyPressed;none;from;d1;opacity;0.8;to;d2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d2;persistent;false][%c_effect
g1;square;g1;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]
White's defensive idea is incorrect} 13... Qh5 14. h3 $4 {[%c_effect
h3;square;h3;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
h3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h3;persistent;false] This move blunders
checkmate-in-6 $1} 14... Rxf3 {[%c_effect g8;square;g8;type;Winner] Rook sac  $1
Actually, if gxf3, then Qxh3 checkmate  $1 White resigns with multiple checkmates
on the board  $1} 0-1