[Event "Morra Gambit master norm"]
[Site "SchemingMind.com"]
[Date "2009.09.10"]
[Round "-"]
[White "TimeOnTarget"]
[Black "Dragon Fire"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B21x"]
[WhiteCountry "USA"]
[BlackCountry "ENG"]
[WhiteElo "1788"]
[WhiteRD "89"]
[BlackElo "1976"]
[BlackRD "86"]
[GameID "219224"]

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4 Nf6 7. e5 d5
{
TimeOnTarget: This is already like one of those movies where everyone has a gun pointed at someone else and you know that as soon as someone so much as coughs all hell is going to break loose.
}
8. exf6 dxc4 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Bg5 Kc7 11. Rd1 gxf6 12. Bxf6 Rg8 13. Nb5+ Kb6 14. Nbd4 Nb4 15. Ne5
{
TimeOnTarget: It seems like all my games in both tournaments started off seeming like they were really going to be fun (for me) and then suddenly, they aren't nearly as fun anymore.  This game is a nice example.  A while ago I was thinking about the Paul Morphy v. Count and Duke whoever, with the dark squared bishop and the rook, the mating net, etc.  Now I am thinking a whole bunch and not many of my thoughts have that nice pleasant feel anymore.  If you don't mind after the game, I want to ask you a couple of questions about the couple of moves preceding this (along the "how did you do that, man?" lines).  Thanks, Glenn
}
15... Nd5
{
Dragon Fire: No problems with questions. The Morra is one of my favorite openings which I often play OTB. had a really great one last night which will be on the club web site shortly. I'll send you a link. In this game I don't think you are too bad. I'm certainly a bit on the back foot as you have had most of the attack for the last 5 moves although I feel I just hold it maybe a P up. Up to move 11 we were in book (the only game I have is Fittante vs Gaprindashvili 1984 - drawn)and if you look at the position after then 11. ... gXf (what else?); 12. ... Rg8 (what else? - these 2 are just obvious); 13. ... Kb6 (The alternative Kb8 seems dire, trapping my Rook in and closing a possible mating net on me); 14. ... Nb4 (the only non obvious move - I looked at alternatives but didn't want to exchange Ns so felt I had to move it. I want to get to d5 so its either Ne7 or Nb4 and Nb4 was the more forcing aggressive move). I'm at d5 now but the truth is I don't actually like my position.
}
{
Dragon Fire: My first game OTB this season

http://www.farehamchess.org.uk/gameview.php?view=67
}
16. Bh4 Ka6
{
Dragon Fire: I ain't going P grabbing my friend.
}
17. Nxc4
{
TimeOnTarget: I just got a chance to look at the game-- nicely done.  I really liked your Queen and Bishop tandem at the beginning and the rook and pawn tactic that grabbed the knight at the end.  
}
17... b5
{
TimeOnTarget: All I have found to this point is my "Notes to Myself".  I am trying to write down what I think about at positions throughout the game with the idea of going back later and figuring out what I missed and why.  The problem is it is hard to get enough detail to really remember clearly--especially when low on time.  I'm thinking I had found something for each of the Smith Morra Games--something from either a book, chessgames, etc.    I brilliantly set up a system where I have info in three different places-- the books, the paper printouts of the games, and my computer files.  I made computer folders to keep info on the games I found for each game--printouts of chessbase lists, etc..  I didn't find any documents or games on my computer for this one.  (of course, I have a sorted history on naming and putting things in the right folder, so I may find something misfiled.)  I'll go through my books and printouts at some point this weekend and keep an eye peeled for other stuff.  Oh yeah--make that 4 places-- I did some internet bookmarks I will check too.  Anyway, here are my notes to myself.  I doubt they are worth much of anything-- I make them too sporadically.  I'm also bad about just moving when I see something and not writing more--gotta train myself to do better on that if I expect doing notes to ever help.  Anyway, for what they are worth . . . . 

Thematic: 1. e4 c5 2. d4 2... cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4 Nf6Note to myself: I'm leery. I don't see why I wouldn't push to e5. both Nh4 and Ng5 look ugly to me and I can back up e5 quicker than he can attack it. Maybe he just did a move order mistake-- forgot to do d6 before Nf6.  7. e5 d5TimeOnTarget: This is already like one of those movies where everyone has a gun pointed at someone else and you know that as soon as someone so much as coughs all hell is going to break loose.Note to myself: N and B exchange seems to work pretty well for me. It can break a million different ways, but I didn't see anything where I came out dramatically worse. Note to myself: Bishop retreat to d3 interesting because it potentially allows Nxh7. Bb3 --Nd7 or Ng4 or Nh5........ Bb3 Ng4 seems to work out well for me--Ng4 xe5, Nxh7 (if Nc6--Qa4+ Qxg4)-- the line seems to work out well based on a couple of iterations. I don't see why Nh5 would be better for him-- in fact it appears worse because can't attack the e5 pawn. I played through several lines and I don't know for sure, but I seem to have the upper hand.Note to myself: Nd7 would seem to have the problems of blocking the c8 bishop and pretty much a permanent pin on one knightNote to myself: GOOD ANALYSIS POSITION AFTER MOVE 7-- THE KIND OF THING THAT I HAVE TROUBLE WITHNote to myself: The problems with b3 is Ng4. I can reinforce with Bf4, but then Qc7, then d4, etc. I wind up on the losing end of defending a pawn. I don't think he will retake with his queen--he won't get the chance--I'll reinforceNote to myself: who knows, trading queens on the d file worked last time . . .  8. exf6 dxc4 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Bg5 Kc7Note to myself: I think he is trying to set a trap with pushing the c pawn.Note to myself: candidates--bf4, bh4 Rd1, Rc1 fxg, Na4, Nb5-- with either Rd1, Bf4, Nb5 in some order, mgiht be able to get the c7 fork on the rook if I can push is hing to e1. .Note to myself: hi is probably eyeing my g 2 pawn too. Plus, Bb4 is undoubtedly in his playbook too.Note to myself: The check on b5 is kind of tempting. It seems like I should be able to pick up the c4 pawn after Kb6 and Nd5, but it also seems like there has got to be something better for me--this looks good for me.Note to myself: Ne4 is potentially messy for him too. 11. Rd1 gxf6 12. Bxf6 Rg8Note to myself: my god it seems like I should be able to capitalize--only two defenders, one square to move to, four attacking pieces, with a possible a4 check, then rook to a1 crunch, which could be deadlyNote to myself: OK, another worthless 20 move analysis string that shows me obtaining a dramatic edge--wonder if he might have other plans anywhere along the way. I should set a limit of 4 or 5. In fact, maybe I should set a limit of 2 or 3--I'm just doing mental masturbation most of the time when I do these long analysis-- and wasting time. I did a really long Nb5+, Kb6, a4 glenn favorable variation that ended with me having 2 rooks and 5 pawns to his rook, bishop and five pawns--I'm not going to record it, but it will be interesting to compare what the situation is however many moves in the future I calculated-- OK actually after 6 moves, I have it six pawns, two bishops and a rook for him, 5 pawns,a knight, and two rooks for me. I am going to do a print screen to see where my analysis of this situation goes awry. 13. Nb5+ Kb6Note to myself: The problem with Nb5 is a6 and I am retreating. If I had my other rook in play, I might have enough to get him, but I don't. I wonder how many pawn moves I have had to this point. It is my go-- move 14. Five-- but one of them was a capture of his knight on f6, still probably too many.Note to myself: For sometning that looksed so good for a while, this kind of petered out, or worse.
}
18. Nd2 e5
{
Dragon Fire: My plan is simlpier than yours. I wish to open up the game to maximise the use of my B pair and Rooks. I hope the B pair will prove a decisive advantage and eventually win a P or 2.
}
19. N4f3
{
TimeOnTarget: Maybe my problem is that I don't understand my plan yet. . . . 
}
19... Nf4
{
Dragon Fire: I don't believe that. You are good enough to know that no matter what in chess you must have a plan (although in my case, often flawed).
}
20. Bg3
{
TimeOnTarget: Yes, but unfortunately my plans appear to be as effective as building a large wooden rabbit . . . . . Like here, where I am trying to fool you by making you decide which way you want to deliver check.  I do think you, peterm, and andu are better than me, but I can play better than I have in these tournaments.  I'm only going to do one at a time from now on, or at least until I get a grip on it.  I found it kind of hard to keep the thread jumping from game to game with a whole bunch of games--or what seemed like a whole bunch to me.
}
20... Nxg2+ 21. Ke2 Nf4+
{
Dragon Fire: In Antigua for a short while
}
22. Bxf4 exf4
{
Dragon Fire: At least I'm still going in this game!
}
23. Ne4
{
TimeOnTarget: You are doing better than going--I'd say your plan to open up the board and use your bishop pair is looking really healthy.  It's too bad about the time in the other game (I would have given you a lifeline if I could have), but at least it wasn't one of the games where you were just dogging me (like this one!).  If I recall the other game was pretty even-- so there was a decent change for me to win, unlike this game, which is more likely to be a win for me than the lottery, but not a whole lot.  This one seemed to be going really well for me early--I thought your position was weak--but all of a sudden even though I am only a pawn behind, it seems like almost every move available gets me in trouble.  Well, this seems to be the lesser of the available evils, so I will give it a shot.  At least I am going forward again.
}
23... Bb7
{
Dragon Fire: I think my Bs are about to become very active and my Rooks joined. That plus the extra P should turn into a comfortable win although there is still plenty of scope for error. For what its worth we were in my DB until move 11.Rd1 at which point the assessment was slightly better for black with 11.0-0 and then development for white with Rfe1 (or d1) and Rac1 (or d1). I think playing Rd1 before 00 was your main mistake (so far). Having said that this game is far from over and you may yet win it but hopefully not on time.
}
24. Nd6
{
TimeOnTarget: Oh yes, the "what in the hell happened" game. 
}
24... Bxd6 25. Rxd6+ Ka5
{
TimeOnTarget:   I was looking at 0-0 on move 13, but I thought I smelled blood in the water.  My problems seemed to start with Nb5+.  I bet you are right.  I probably should have done it on move 11.
}
{
TimeOnTarget: When I just glance at this position, it doesn't seem that I am at much of a disadvantage.  Then, I start trying to figure out the best move and there just isn't anything really good.  I guess the difference is that my king is actually more exposed than yours because of your rooks being able to rake files and get to him.  Oh well, I'm fairly happy with the last two moves-- at least I got one of your bishops.
}
26. b4+
{
TimeOnTarget: The lesser of the evils, I think.
}
26... Ka4
{
TimeOnTarget: Damn, I thought I had extracted my knight and I was looking forward to giving check a few times.
}
27. Rb1
{
TimeOnTarget: Your pin on my knight has been truly wicked.  
}
27... Rg6
{
TimeOnTarget: If you were not so deft at defense, I'd think I had a "slugger's chance" at winning.
}
28. Rd4 Re8+
{
Dragon Fire: Unless you've seen something I haven't your last move seems an error.
}
29. Kd2
{
TimeOnTarget: You are right-- it is your basic screwup.  I got so busy thinking about not wanting to trade rooks and trying to develop a mating net that I forgot that the check with your rook prevented me from defending my knight.  I had seen that a couple of moves ago, but I guess I have early-onset senility.
}
29... Bxf3
{
Dragon Fire: Join the club. I do the same thing at times and with my rating it simply should not happen.
}
30. Rd7
{
TimeOnTarget: I need to figure out a disciplined system to analyze moves.  I want to find something like the one described in  Reassess Your Chess, but that one didn't really click with me.  I just got the Aargard book "Excelling at Chess Calculation" (or something like that)-- maybe it will help.  Do you know any good books along those lines?
}
30... a6 31. Rb3
{
TimeOnTarget: Losing my knight really hurt.  I was hoping to maneuver it to the b2 square and keep the rest of your options closed.  It seems like your position should be precarious even though you have a nice lead in material, but it's a booger to penetrate with just the rooks, and I know you are not going to leave me at leisure to figure it out.
}
31... Re2+ 32. Kd3 Rxa2
{
Dragon Fire: I didn't dislike your game. I play the Morra regularly as white OTB with some good results. I think you need to look at the point where we left the book and improve there. I am taking longer on these standard games than other chess variants mainly because I want to check my books / DB and when we are out of them I do spend more time on analysis. You certainly played well and it was only the loss of the Knight that eventually lost it for sure.
}
{
Dragon Fire: I'm very disappointed with my performance in this tournament 4th out of 5 with an opening I play regularly and felt I was good at.
}
{
TimeOnTarget: I wouldn't worry about it--one game is not much of a sample.  I think you are a pretty kick-ass player.  Also, it isn't like you were playing against patzers.  Your tournaments drew some exceptionally strong players, particularly this one.  PeterM seems like he was good enough that he should be in Grandmaster Norm tournaments (if there was such a thing).  Andre (Andu) is a really strong player and extremely inventive.  John is also a really strong player.  Both Andre and John are in the Chess Improvement Club and Joel, who is the club president and rated over 2200, told me before I ever played either of them that they were really strong and would give me a hell of a game-- which was a bit of an understatement.  It seems to me that you are every bit as strong as those guys.  I was definitely the weak sister in these tournaments, but I am good enough to know good Chess when I see it.   (I don't know how strong Yozzer is-- he timed out on me on one of our games, then I lost on time to him in the second (after my best start in any of the tournament games--grrr)).  .  .  .  .  Also, I don't know about you, but two tournaments at the same time was too much for me to play my best and you had the same thing going.  Andre was in both, but John was only in this one.  Maybe when I have been playing longer I will be able to handle two (and if work and my wife cooperate), but it seemed like I was always pressed for time.  .  .  .  .    Have you ever played against 1. Nc3 as black?  Picking Chess back up after a 20+ year hiatus led me to try to find a way to somewhat limit the stuff I had to learn.  1. Nc3 lets me have a bit more control over what defenses and variations I face.  It can transition in to more routine lines, but it most frequently leads to its own unique lines.  It can also be quite tricky for black.    Anyway, it is kind of an unusual line and really good to play as white.  I think playing it has helped me.  As good as you are, and knowing that you like the Smith Morra and King's gambit, you might like it.  If you are interested, after we finish our other game I'll send you a challenge.  I had toyed with 1. Nc3 a bit because I had found some Jonny Hector games with it and was intrigued.  (I have since found out it is a favorite opening of lots of correspondence GMs.)  About 9 months ago I bought "Knight on the Left: 1. Nc3" by Harald Keilhack.  It has proved to be the best Chess book I have gotten, by a WIDE margin.  (Since I have started playing again in January 2006, I have bought over 120 Chessbooks, plus 10 of the Everyman E-books.  I certainly haven't read all of all of them, but I have done a lot of reading.)  Anyway, in case you are interested, here is a link to a document about 1. Nc3 I put together.  It has a review of the book by Carsten Hansen (Checkpoint on Chess Cafe) (Keilhack translated it to English in 2006 and not only is it entertaining to read, he writes far better than most native English speakers), a review by John Watson,  a review by someone else, (I highlighted the stuff on 1. Nc3 from the review columns) and a sample of the book from the publisher's website.  (If you click on the link it will let you do a free download).  http://rapidshare.com/users/TB0PXI
}
{
Dragon Fire: Thanks for all your useful comments. I tend to play here and on www.redhotpawn.com for fun and to learn my openings. My main thrust is OTB league where I captain the A team of Fareham www.farehamchess.org.uk. I almost always play 1. e4 and will regularly play the Morra and KGA OTB. There are a good few of both on the clubs site. Obviously as they are OTB games with a tight time limit the imperfections creep in but you'll soon notice my style and ideas are the same. Here I'm actually playing the variants more than serious chess and my aim is to get my SM Master in every variant.
}
{
Game Over: Congratulations. Excellently played on your part.  After the opening 10 or so moves when you turned the game completely around and until I gave away my knight later in the game, I kind of felt like my 7th grade boy must when he says: "But, but, but, I didn't do anything wrong . . . . "  I'm going to look at my Rook d1 move that you pointed out and try to figure out how you managed to exploit it so thoroughly.   Although you did a great job of counterattacking after the opening, I still had some hope for this one just because of the limited number of possible moves for your king, but losing my knight killed me there.  I guess I am down to one chance to beat you in the tournaments.  I've been letting my game number dwindle on purpose so I can devote more time and thought to that game.
}
0-1

