[Event "Stanley Random Chess: Drunk man's noodle"]
[Site "SchemingMind.com"]
[Date "2010.11.23"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Jesse"]
[Black "eandrews"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Variant "stanleyrandom"]
[WhiteCountry "ENG"]
[BlackCountry "USA"]
[WhiteElo "1403"]
[WhiteRD "191"]
[BlackElo "1364"]
[BlackRD "224"]
[GameID "267613"]

{
eandrews: So, I just finished my match with jacksrking. I won, but damn. That was the hardest, most friggin epic game I've ever played. You should look at some of the stuff starting around move 30 when he got both rooks down to my first and second ranks. I basically won by an extra pawn, and by not making any mistakes when it mattered. I'm sort of reeling from the idea that I actually won that game.
}
{
Jesse: Dude!  I can't believe it!  I never thought you'd be able to beat him.  His play allowed you no room for mistakes.  Congratulations! I couldn't figure out how you could beat him with the remaining material.  That was an epic game like none I've ever seen you, Jeff or me play with anyone.  Well done!  I've had such enjoyment following the game.
}
1. d4
{
Jesse: (d4) - customary advance of the H pawn.
}
{
Jesse: ! wow, it actually took the D pawn forward to d4.
}
1... h5
{
eandrews: (e5) if this goes through it lets a couple of my horses out of the gate early. If last game is any indication, early moves tend to be mostly undone, but then you've managed to get one through, so, who knows?
}
{
eandrews: Does this game fancy rook pawn moves, or are they just so far off our radar in normal play that it seems like they come up often in SRC. In any case, there was a game I played with Jeff where I made a rook pawn move like this and it was dubbed (by the SRC opening betrayal system) the "Corn Stalk Defence." So, that's what I'm going for here. Corn Stalk.
}
{
eandrews: By the way, in my earlier comment where I mentioned letting the "horses out of the gate early," I meant it figuratively (i.e. not knights, per se, but any old pieces that can run).
}
2. e4
{
Jesse: (e4) pressing my luck in seizing the middle.
}
{
Jesse: !!!
}
{
Jesse: I'm dumbfounded.  It's like I'm getting to play SC while you play SRC.
}
{
Jesse: Unfortunately, I'm not so sure how I'll withstand the cornstalk defence.
}
{
Jesse: By the way, I noticed that you've currently got a very well placed rook highbeam set up in your game with Jeff, so the game has moved from minor headlights, to full brights.
}
2... Nf6
{
eandrews: (d5) I'm still at a loss as to how to choose moves. Is it just a crapshoot at the beginning. All I can think to do is choose a move I won't regret if it goes through and hope something regrettable doesn't take its place.
}
{
eandrews: That's sort of ok. Hmm. What am I doing here? Double protecting my rook's pawn? Attacking your king's pawn as though it's not going to attack me first?
}
{
eandrews: On the highbeams, yes, well, I decided to try that accidental formation from our SRC game as an intentional opening in my current game against Jeff — partly because it's a weird one that I would have never done on my own and I ended up liking some of the potential moves it supported, even though it appeared to box in my bishops. And also Jeff and I were sparring on weird openings (so far ones that were documented by SM). I had the Corn Stalk Defense and he came out with something called the Staropolski Orangutan (note both of these were names given to our openings by SM, as in: they already had names, albeit weird ones). The Episcopal Highbeam strayed from that a bit. Anyway, you're right. Having two rooks side by side right up the middle like that — in combination with some open diagonals — gives lots of opportunities for discovered/doubled attacks.
}
3. c3
{
Jesse: (f3) protecting my queen and the e pawn
}
3... b5
{
eandrews: (Nxe4) I can see a lot of potentially bad moves at this juncture. It would be nice to have my way on this one. 
}
{
eandrews: Let's call it the Calabrian Defense.
}
{
eandrews: I like seeing the weird openings SRC comes up with. I keep having the feeling of, "Ok, I could work with this," but I also know that I won't necessarily be allowed to work with it in any satisfying way.
}
4. Na3
{
Jesse: (f3) - this would protect my queen while also covering the potential progress of your knight.
}
{
Jesse: Not the move I meant, but I can live with it. I guess it's Calebrian Defence accepted now.
}
4... d5
{
eandrews: (c6)
}
{
eandrews: Why didn't I think of that?
}
{
eandrews: A note on the Calabrian Defense: it's just east of the Sicilian Defense.
}
5. Bc4
{
Jesse: (e4xd5) - no longer blockading the queen, just pushing the pawn ahead.
}
{
Jesse: This is just the sort of tricks I was anticipating.  That should just about protect my e4 pawn for the time being.
}
5... dxc4
{
eandrews: (dxc4) opting for material over position.
}
6. Qg4
{
Jesse: (Nb5) addressing the potential for a pawn chain but risking the horses.
}
{
Jesse: In standard chess, this wouldn't look look like a brilliant move.  I should have followed my own advice and carried on trying to place the f3 pawn.  Look at your queen, so secure that only two potential moves bring her into danger.  The pursuit of material and strategic gain should always be tempered with cautious moves to prevent the key pieces from escaping, and I've really failed to do this.
}
{
eandrews: (Bxg4) Somehow there are three ways I could capture your queen, yet I have doubts that any of them will work.
}
6... Bxg4
{
eandrews: Lucky me!
}
{
eandrews: That's two key uncorrected moves in a row for me. Hardly a guarantee in this game, but it's good when our uncorrected moves can do some damage.
}
{
Jesse: ouch, I'm seriously falling behind in material and there's no option of retaliation.  At least I don't have to protect the damn queen anymore though.
}
7. h4
{
Jesse: (f3) - closing the barn doors after the queen has fled
}
{
Jesse: I'm not totally clear how that move helps me, but at least it's not the worst move I could make.
}
7... Nh7
{
eandrews: (Nxe4) can I keep capturing material?
}
{
eandrews: Hey now. That sort of puts a kink in my Corn Stalk Defence.
}
8. Nxb5
{
Jesse: (Nxb5) - elimination of potential pawn chain
}
{
Jesse: whew, my luck is turning around and most of my remaining pieces are fairly safe.
}
8... Ng5
{
eandrews: (c6)
}
{
eandrews: just deserts for my rampage.
}
9. b4
{
Jesse: (Nxc7+) - recklessly exposing your queen and threatening to take your rook.
}
{
Jesse: Not entirely as predicted, but a move nevertheless.
}
9... Nh3
{
eandrews: (Nxe4) getting the knight out of danger and hopefully chewing up a bit of your imposing pawn front.
}
{
eandrews: Man, that knight has a death wish. Screw him.
}
10. gxh3
{
Jesse: (g2xh3) protecting the rook and knight while attempting to take more material
}
{
Jesse: Wow, what a relief that that worked. Perhaps I'll be albe to slowly claw my way back from the material loss of my queen.
}
10... Rg8
{
eandrews: (Bd7) hey, let's try to regroup here.
}
{
eandrews: Sometimes the randomization is just devastating. I guess this is what happened to you a few moves back.
}
11. Bb2
{
Jesse: (h3xg4) capturing the bishop by offering my pawn
}
{
Jesse: exactly, it's a game that really teaches you to roll with the punches.  There's bound to be some tragic pointless sacrifices on both sides. I breathe a sigh of relief as finally a random move puts me less in harms way.
}
11... Bc8
{
eandrews: (Bd7) I'm going to try this again. Still seems like the best move for the moment — protects my bishop, attacks your knight, and keeps my queen from doing anything stupid. I think it would also guarantee that if you played Nxc7, that my queen would capture your knight. Previously, I could imagine my response to that forking check being Kd7, a move that would both expose my king and give you a good shot at capturing my rook on the next move.
}
{
eandrews: Oh, my literal mind. It took me a minute to realize where my bishop had gone. I didn't even realize that square was available. Oh well, one out of three objectives met is better than none.
}
{
eandrews: Look at my team! Is this not the biggest bunch of wallflowers? Here we are on move 11 and I feel like they've all turned away from the board and are staring out of the screen at me like I'm going to take a picture, and I'm saying, "No, no! Behind you. Look behind you!"
}
12. Rb1
{
Jesse: (d5) - building pawn structure
}
{
Jesse: I can live with that,but it does expose the rook more than I'd like.
}
12... g5
{
eandrews: (g5) I've learned my lesson about trying the same move over and over. If it's meant to happen, it will.
}
13. e5
{
Jesse: (e5) - persisting in the same move
}
{
Jesse: i find that persisting in the same move is the only way to get the game to progress the way you want sometimes.
}
13... g4
{
eandrews: (g4) ignoring your frontal onslaught for the time being.
}
{
eandrews: Re: persisting ... perhaps. I've seen you persist and succeed. Maybe the third time's the charm. I get a little squeamish when it fails twice in a row, like I could be making better use of my junk moves.
}
14. a3
{
Jesse: (h3xg4) - frontal attack leading to vulnerable pawns
}
{
Jesse: interesting... I guess I can live with that too.
}
14... Bf5
{
eandrews: (Bf5) can I get two in a row, uncorrected?
}
15. Ra1
{
Jesse: (Ra1) - pathetic retreat
}
{
Jesse: By the way, I was a drunk man tonight (or extremely tipsy depending on where you draw the line).  I wouldn't have allowed myself to drive a car or heavy machinery, but I was upright and walked without lurching.  Anyway, it was interesting because I'm not often this inebriated these days, and it made me kind of excited to play the game of Drunk Man's Noodle.  Sadly, the peak was a few hours ago, so I'm pretty much entirely sober now, but it was fun while it lasted. Now I feel like this game was named after me.
}
{
Jesse: By the way, I ended up suprised at my inebriation because I didn't buy any alcohol, and it was all provided by a generous church caretaker.  I'll explain it all later, but he's a fellow that I know through my sauna expeditions.
}
15... g3
{
eandrews: (Bd7) again trying to box in my queen and attack your knight.
}
16. fxg3
{
Jesse: (f2xg3) - since material gain is my main goal and I'm currently down by 7 points.
}
{
Jesse: Correction- I'm now down by 7 points, I was down by 8.
}
{
eandrews: I had a similar experience (if I can take your abstract and fancy I know the underlying thesis) a few nights ago. It was Thanksgiving, which we were celebrating with a bunch of friends, and I had about three drinks, which is two more drinks than I ever have these days, and it was just a great time. I'm a big fan of getting a little lit once in a while. It loosens the spirit, and in this case it amplified my happiness about having, and being with, friends. So I think what you were saying is that you haven't been tipsy in a while and it was fun. If it wasn't, then that is what I was saying. My evening, however, was not precipitated by a sauna, nor did it involve a church caretaker, though I did have a long and interesting discussion with a jeweler, who was able to explain to me, among other things, how the phenomenal heirloom sterling water pitcher (1906) sitting on the Thanksgiving table in front of us for most of the evening was probably made. I'd be interested to hear more about your evening. By the way, you may have departed Greenpoint before the Thai restaurant on North 6th Street called "Sea" opened, but there was a dish on the menu called Drunk Man's Noodle. The name seemed about right for this game, if not for the disoriented and meandering attacks we engage in, then for the sense of impotence we feel in our overshot defenses.
}
16... Rxg3
{
eandrews: (Rxg3) trying to nip your menacing pawn cluster in the bud and restore my defenses around your inactive knight. Or, taking the fight, inexplicably, to h3.
}
17. Nxa7
{
Jesse: (Ne2) - knight flees to safety, hopefully
}
{
Jesse: Hot damn, that's about the least perfect knight move I've made tonight, but it does result in a material gain temporarily.  I enjoyed your comment a great deal and will fill you in on the adventure tomorrow or the next day.  It was a delight to be half-lit, and the evening was completely pleasant.
}
17... Rxa7
{
eandrews: (Rxa7) gotta take material.
}
{
eandrews: It's feeling like post-move 30 on my side of the table ... well, now I'm seeing that I've had a run of just two uncorrected moves, and yet it's so exciting.
}
18. Ke2
{
Jesse: (Ne2) - well, now that there's one less knight for me to think about, I'll advance the other one sideways
}
{
Jesse: oh, yeah!  Now we're into the real battle mode with my king pushed ahead into the second rank, your rook and bishop are toast.
}
{
Jesse: I think I'm starting to feel like this is a game of chance.
}
18... Ra5
{
eandrews: (Be4) shooting for a rook.
}
19. Rc1
{
Jesse: (b4xa5) - the natural choice here is to throw off my pawn chain and capture your rook.
}
{
Jesse: Actually rescuing my rook from the danger (?!) of the A1 square seems like a better idea.
}
19... Bd7
{
eandrews: (Ra6) I can't ignore this rook in danger.
}
{
eandrews: That's the move I was trying so hard to make before, now almost totally irrelevant, beyond boxing in my queen, which could be a good thing. Have you ever made a move you totally regretted? Take my rook ...
}
{
eandrews: ... Please!
}
20. Kf1
{
Jesse: (b4xa5) - I can't ignore a rook in danger
}
20... Ra6
{
eandrews: (Ra6) keeping with the Schust System (a.k.a. persistence in SRC pays off eventually). This, sadly, is attempt number two, which has rarely resolved the way I've hoped. You on the other hand have tempo on me, in that you could make your third try on the next move. Commenting with the move here, of course, it's all speculation...
}
{
eandrews: I believe!
}
21. Kf2
{
Jesse: (Kf2) - getting my king into position to get your rook
}
{
Jesse: whoopee! I'm on my way to catching your rook!  That's really funny that the Schust System did work for you against your expectations.
}
21... Rxg1
{
eandrews: (Rag6) protecting my rooky.
}
{
eandrews: It's funny when the move is not only counter-productive, but is the exact opposite of what you were trying to accomplish. In this case, by trying to protect my advanced rook from one attack, I instead subjected it to three attacks??
}
22. Ba1
{
Jesse: (Rxg1) - freed from my knight, I'm going to give my rook a chance to get captured next
}
{
Jesse: Well, now I see that I didn't actually need to take your rook in order to expose my rook to danger.
}
{
Jesse: By the way, that's great that there was actually a dish called "drunk man's noodle".
}
{
eandrews: (Rxh1) going to try to go down swinging here.
}
22... Rxc1
{
eandrews: Interesting. I'm thinking that randomized moves that result in captures have been rare, or maybe non-existent in the games we've played. Does it seem that way to you? I'm frankly surprised my rook didn't move to, say, e1.
}
23. Re1
{
Jesse: (Rxc1) - that's hillarious that your last move was corrected in the way it was.  I'll see if I can save my key pieces from your scourge.  It looks like your ahead materially.
}
23... Rxa1
{
eandrews: (Rxa1) I feel like Tony Montana. Doomed but trying to knock off a few more of your guys before I bite the dust.
}
{
eandrews: I can't really ask for more...
}
24. Rxa1
{
Jesse: (Rxa1) I'm beginning to feel as if this is a game of chance!
}
{
Jesse: Whew, my faith is restored! It's not a game of chance, and I've dealt with Tony Montana.
}
24... Bh6
{
eandrews: (Bh6)
}
25. Rg1
{
Jesse: (Rg1) - desparate measures!
}
25... Bf4
{
eandrews: (Bf8) nice move, there. If lady luck swings your way, it could be curtains for me.
}
{
eandrews: Uh oh.
}
26. e6
{
Jesse: (Rg8) - if this move goes uncorrected, I think I win?
}
26... Bxe6
{
eandrews: (Bxe6) or anything that gives me an out, please.
}
{
eandrews: Still in the game, though you could definitely win my queen. Granted it could cost your rook, though I may have used up all my good luck on that last move.
}
{
Jesse: That's more like it.  In this game it feels like all of my crucial moves have been corrected, and many of your crucial moves have either been corrected to something equally good, or uncorrected.  I imagine that if I look through I'll find that it's fairly even though.  Yes, the math adds up.  It turns out that I've had one more uncorrected move than you.  In the first 11 moves I had 4 uncorrected moves and you only had 2!  I'm responsible for my foolish moves that were uncorrected.  I left myself more vulnerable than necessary.
}
27. Rg8+
{
Jesse: (G8) - taking out the queen maybe
}
27... Kd7 28. Rxd8+
{
Jesse: (Rxd8) - we'll see how this works out.
}
{
Jesse: Maybe this will be my chance to clean up.
}
28... Kxd8
{
eandrews: (Kxd8)
}
{
eandrews: It's funny, I have such a strong material advantage, yet there are so many bad moves that could be made on my behalf that I'd say this game is far from over.
}
29. b5
{
Jesse: (Kf3) but we're almost at move 30 and your fortune will soon change.
}
{
Jesse: That was a move I had been considering actually.
}
29... Rxa3
{
eandrews: (Rxa3)
}
{
eandrews: good, good.
}
30. b6
{
Jesse: (b6) - move 30 will it allow me or not? (note that I only have two legal non-king moves)
}
30... cxb6
{
eandrews: (cxb6) If I can't do something about this pawn, it could be trouble.
}
{
eandrews: Whew!
}
31. Kf3
{
Jesse: (Kf3) - doomed king tries out things.
}
31... Bd2
{
eandrews: (Bd2)
}
{
eandrews: So far you're right about the post-move-30 flow. I even got a little head start on move 29.
}
32. d5
{
Jesse: (d5) - hoping for a bit of luck
}
32... Bxd5+
{
eandrews: (Bxd5+)
}
{
eandrews: I wonder how many more random moves we'll see.
}
33. Kg3
{
Jesse: (Ke2) - this move apparently didn't go as planned.
}
33... Bxc3
{
eandrews: (that was the move I entered)
}
34. Kf4
{
Jesse: (Kf4) - I believe that one of us has entered the endgame?
}
{
Jesse: By the way, my current game with Jeff looks like some sort of crazy chess problem.
}
34... f5
{
eandrews: oops... That one was randomized. Was supposed to be (f6)
}
35. Kxf5
{
Jesse: (Kxf5) - a final trophy for a losing king
}
{
Jesse: Imagine how hard this game would be if you didn't actually know what moves were corrected and what weren't.  You'd have to suspect all sorts of potential strategies, but probably it wouldn't amount to much.  How many of either of our strategies played out beyond one move before 30 move limit anyway? Probably not enough to amount to any really secret plan.
}
{
Jesse: That's it from me tonight.
}
{
eandrews: Wow, that game with Jeff is totally nuts. It looks like one of these Nimzowitsch "enveloping attack" scenarios I was looking at earlier today. Sometime when it's not almost midnight I'll have to look at how you got there.
}
35... Bd2
{
eandrews: (Bf6)
}
{
eandrews: Ugh. Another one??
}
{
eandrews: It's a good point you make about it being a different game if you didn't know which of you opponent's moves had been randomized. I'd become so used to logging our moves publicly that I'd forgotten it could be done any other way.
}
36. Kg6
{
Jesse: (Kg6) - I'm taking the little guy with me.
}
36... Rg3+
{
eandrews: (Rg3)
}
37. Kxh5
{
Jesse: (Kxh5) - one last pawn for the hometeam
}
{
Jesse: Please note, if You get a random now then I might achieve a draw!  for instance, any move must either -

a) move the white bishop into F7 for a checkmate
b) draw off the black bishop or remaining rook
c) Move the black bishop or rook into G5 thus creating a safe square near the king

There are countless legal moves that you could randomly move into though.
}
37... Bf3#
{
eandrews: It's a good point you make. At this point I have no choice but to try for mate. I was so focused on being efficient about it that I didn't foresee this situation.
}
{
eandrews: Lucky enough.
}
{
Jesse: Well done!
}
0-1

