Game of the day!

[Aman Hambleton]

My game against Joshua Friedel from 2010 Canadian Open made GOTD on chessgames.com today! :D

[Felix Dumont]

Re : Game of the day!

"Aman's Gotta Do What Aman's Gotta Do" :D

Great game!

[Michael Yip]

Re: Game of the day!

Ouch!

http://budapestchesnews.blogspot.hu/

Gotta be careful until the end. I added some light notes. Hope it's ok.

[Andy Shaw]

Re: Game of the day!

Hello Aman. Nice for you to share your game with us.

Any chance you will win the game you are playing in atm? I see bishops of opposite colors and rooks. Looks drawish, no?

[Laurentiu Grigorescu]

Re: Game of the day!

That was the game of the year! I remember watching it live online - and I do not watch too many chess rounds live in a year - and tried to imagine the horror Friedel should have been into after his not so obvious blunder. A very entertaining game!

[Paul Bonham]

Re: Game of the day!

My game against Joshua Friedel from 2010 Canadian Open made GOTD on chessgames.com today! :D

Aman, for the position where Joshua blundered with 20... Qd5??, did you and Joshua do any extensive post-game analysis?

I looked at the position and thought there was something extraordinary. There are Black pieces massing around the White King and open lines for Rook and Queen penetratin. Meanwhile, White does have Black under the pressure of being mated in only 2 moves, but aside from that, White's Kingside Bishop and Knight are boxed in.

And so I did some analysis... and my hunch paid dividends.

It turns out that not only did Joshua make one of the worst moves possible (i.e. anything that allows your 21. Qh7+ shot), but he missed something much more remarkable.

There is a move he could have made... and after making it, he could (if he had perfect vision of all the variations) have announced mate in 14 moves or less.

I'm going to post in the next 12 hours all the variations as calculated so far (with the help of the Firebird chess engine). It's truly one of the most remarkable middlegame positions I've ever run across. Usually when you hear of a position where one side has forced mate in a dozen or more moves, it's a case of a forced King walk where the actual variances are few and far between. This is different. The variations, while they all seem to follow a few general themes, are quite amazingly rich. The sheer number of mating possibilities is more than I remember ever seeing in any other actual game situation or chess problem.

More to come... But for those with a desire to solve chess problems, try and guess which Black move (replacing 20...Qd5) leads to forced mate in 14 or less moves. I'm still creating the pgn file, it is very long.

[Paul Bonham]

Re: Game of the day!

Position to solve for Black to move and force mate in 14 moves or less:

[Paul Bonham]

Re: Game of the day!

Position to solve for Black to move and force mate in 14 moves or less:

Next move played was 20. ... Qd5?? which loses immediately to 21. Qh7+

With the move 20. ... Nc1+ Black has forced mate.

White has 4 possible replies. The first two are covered here, and the next two are covered in my next post. Not all subvariations are included, due to time constraints.

(A) 21. Kb2

21. ... Bxc2, announce mate in 12 moves or less

(I) 22. Rxh6 Bh7
23. Rxh7
( 23.g6 c3+ 24.Kxc1 fxg6 25.Rh4 Rxa3 26.Rd4 Qa5 27.Rd7 Qxe5 28.Kc2 g5+ 29.e4 Bxe4+ 30.Bd3 Ra2+ 31.Kc1 Ra1+ 32.Bb1 Rxb1# )
( 23.e4 c3+ 24.Kxc1 Rxa3 25.Rg6+ fxg6 26.Bc4 Nb3+ 27.Kc2 Ra2+ 28.Kxb3 Qxd1+ 29.Kxb4 Rb2+ 30.Bb3 Qxb3+ 31.Ka5 Qa2# )
( 23.Rxc1 c3+ 24.Rxc3 Nc4+ 25.Kb3 Rxa3+ 26.Kxc4 Qd5+ 27.Kxb4 Qa5+ 28.Kc4 Ra4+ 29.Kb3 Qb4# )
( 23.Kxc1 Nb3+ 24.Kb2 Qxd1 25.Rg6+ Bxg6 26.e4 Qa1+ 27.Kc2 Qc1# )
23. ... c3+
24. Kxc1
( 24.Kc2 Kxh7 25.Bxc3 bxc3 26.e3 Rxa3 27.Bc4 Nxc4 28.Rxd8 Nxe3+ 29.Kb1 Rxd8 30.g6+ Kxg6 31.g4 Nd3 32.f4 c2# )
( 24.Bxc3 bxc3+ 25.Kxc1 Qb6 26.Rh8+ Kxh8 27.Rxd2 Rfd8 28.Rc2 Rxa3 29.Ra2 Rxa2 30.e4 Qb2# )
24. ... Kxh7
25. e3 Rxa3
26. Bd4 Nb3+
27. Kb1 Ra1+
28. Kc2 Ra2+
29. Kxb3 Qd5+
30. Bc4 Rb2+
31. Ka4 Ra8+
32. Ba7 Rxa7+
33. Ba6 Rxa6#






(II) 22. gxh6 Bh7
23. e4 Rxa3
24. Kxc1 Nb3+
25. Kc2 Ra2+
26. Bb2 Qf6
27. Rd4 Qxd4
28. Kb1 Rxb2#

(III)22. Kxc2 Rxa3
23. Bb2 Ra2
24. Rh4 c3
25. Rxb4 cxb2
26. Kc3 Qd6
27. Rxd2 Rc8+
28. Rc4 b1=N#


(IV) 22. Kxc1 Bxd1
23. Rxh6 Nb3+
24. Kb1 Bc2+
25. Ka2 Bb1+
26. Kxb1 Qd1+
27. Ka2 Qc2+
28. Bb2 Rxa3#


(V) 22. Rh4 Bxd1
23. a4 Ndb3
24. Rd4 Rxa4
25. Rxd1 Qxd1
26. gxh6 Qd2+
27. Kb1 Qa2#


(VI) 22. Rxc1 Rxa3
23. Ra1 Bd1
24. Rxa3 bxa3+
25. Kc1 Nb3+
26. Kb1 Qd2
27. Nh3 Qc2#


(VII)22. f4 Bxd1
23. Bd6 Qxd6
24. Rh3 bxa3+
25. Kxc1 Nb3+
26. Rxb3 Bxb3
27. gxh6 Qd1#


(VIII)22.e3 Bxd1
23. Bd4 Ndb3
24. a4 Rxa4
25. Kb1 Qxd4
26. exd4 Ra1+
27. Kb2 c3#




(B) 21. Qxc1

21. ... c3, announce mate in 11 or less

(I) 22. Bxc3 bxc3, announce mate in 10 or less

(i) 23. Qxc3 Bxd1, announce mate in 9 or less

(a) 24. Rxh6 Bb3+!
( 24... Rxa3+ 25.Kxa3 Nb1+ 26.Kb2 Qb6+ 27.Kc1 Nxc3 28.Kd2 Rd8+ 29.Ke1 Bxe2
30.Rh8+ Kxh8 31.Bxe2 Qxg1+ 32.Bf1 Rd1# )
25. Kb2
( 25.Qxb3 Nxb3
( 26. Kxb3 Qb6+ 27.Kc2 Rfc8+ 28.Kd3 Rd8+ 29.Kc4 Rac8# )
26.Rxe6 Qd1 27.Kb2 Qc1+ 28.Kxb3 Rxa3+ 29.Kb4 Qc3+ 30.Kb5 Rb3+ 31.Ka4 Qb4# )
( 25.Ka1 Rxa3+ 26.Kb2 Nc4+ 27.Qxc4 Qd2+ 28.Kxa3 Bxc4 29.Rh8+ Kxh8 30.g6 Ra8# )
25. ... Nc4+!
26. Qxc4
( 26.Kxb3 Qd1+ 27.Ka2
( 27.Kb4 Ra4+ 28.Kb5 Qd7+ 29.Kc5 Qd5# )
27...Rxa3+ 28.Qxa3 Qc2+ 29.Ka1 Nxa3 30.Rg6+ fxg6 31.f4 Qb1# )
26. ... Bxc4
27. Rh8+
(27.Rh4 Qd2+ 28.Kb1 Ba2+ 29.Ka1 Qc1+ 30.Kxa2 Rxa3# )
27. ... Kxh8
28. Kc2
( 28.e4 Qd2+ 29.Kb1 Ba2+ 30.Ka1 Qc1+ 31.Kxa2 Rxa3# )
28. ... Rxa3
29. e3
( 29.Kb2 Qd4+ 30.Kc1
( 30.Kxa3 Qb6 31.Ka4 Ra8# )
30...Qc3+ 31.Kd1 Ra1# )
29. ... Ra2+
30. Kc3
( 30.Kc1 Qd2+ 31.Kb1 Qd1# )
30. ... Qd2+
31. Kxc4 Rc8+
32. Kb3 Qb2#

(b) 24. gxh6
( as in above line, threatening mate in 1 )
24. ... Bb3+!
25. Kb2 Nc4+!
26. Qxc4 Bxc4
27. h7+ Kh8
28. Kc2 Rc8
29. Rh4 Ba2+
30. Rc4 Rxc4+
31. Kb2 Qd2+
32. Ka1 Rc1#

(c) 24. Rh4 Rc8
25. Qb2 Qd5+
26. Ka1 Rc2
( 26...Rc1+ 27.Qxc1 Nb3+ 28.Kb1 Nxc1 29.Kxc1 Rc8+ 30.Rc4 Qxc4+ 31.Kd2 Qc3+ 32.Kxd1 Qc1# )
27. Qxc2
( 27.Rb4 Rxb2 28.Rxb2 Rc8 29.Rb1 Rc2 30.Rb3 Qd4+ 31.Rc3 Qxc3# )
27. ... Bxc2
28. Rb4 Bb3
29. f4 Rc8
30. gxh6 Rc1+
31. Kb2 Rc2+
32. Ka1 Ra2#

(d) 24. e3 Qd5+
25. Bc4
( 25.Ka1 Rfc8 26.Bc4 Rxa3+ 27.Qxa3 Qxc4 28.gxh6 Nb3+
29.Qxb3 Qc1+ 30.Ka2 Ra8+ 31.Qa4 Rxa4# )
( 25.Kb2 Rfc8 26.Bc4 Rxc4 27.Qh8+ Kxh8 28.Rxh6+ Kg8
29.Rg6+ fxg6 30.e4 Qd4+ 31.Ka2 Rc2#
( 25.Qc4 Nxc4 26.Kb1 Qb5+ 27.Kc1 Qb2+ 28.Kxd1 Qd2# )
25. ... Nxc4
26. Kb1 Rxa3
27. Qh8+ Kxh8
28. Rxh6+ Kg8
29. Rh8+ Kxh8
30. Ne2 Bxe2
31. Kc1 Qd1#

(e) 24. Kb2 Rxa3
25. Rh4
( 25.Qxa3 Qd4+ 26.Ka2 Qc4+ 27.Ka1 Qb5 28.Qb2 Ra8+ 29.Qa2 Qb1# )
25. ... Rxc3
26. Kxc3 Nb1+
27. Kb2
( 27.Kc4 Qd5+ 28.Kb4 b6 29.gxh6 Qb3# )
( 27.Kb4 Qb6+ 28.Kc4 Rc8+ 29.Kd3 Bc2# )
27. ... Qd2+
28. Kxb1 Qc2+
29. Ka1 Ra8+
30. Ra4 Rxa4#

(f) 24. g6
( unlike 24.Rxh6 or 24.gxh6, this does not threaten mate in 1, so
Black can play for a quicker mate )
24. ... Qb6
25. gxf7+
( merely holding out for a few moves longer, because of
25.Qb2 Rxa3+ 26.Qxa3 Qb1# )
25. ... Kxf7
26. Qf6+ Kxf6
27. Rxh6+ Kg7
28. Rg6+ Kxg6
29. f4 Qb1#

(ii) 23. e4 Bb3+
24. Ka1 Qd6
25. Ba6 Rxa6
26. Rxd2 cxd2
27. Kb2 dxc1=Q+
28. Kxc1 Qd1+
29. Kb2 Qc2+
30. Ka1 Qc1#

(iii)23. Qxd2 cxd2
24. Rh4 Bxd1
25. a4 Bb3+
26. Kb2 d1=Q
27. gxh6 Qc2+
28. Ka3 Qa2+
29. Kb4 Qa5#

(iv) 23. Rxd2 cxd2
24. Qc3
( 24.Qb2 Qd5+ 25.Ka1 d1=Q+ 26.Qb1 Q5d4+ 27.Ka2 Q1d2+ 28.Qc2 Qxc2# )
24. ... Qd5+
25. Kb2 d1=N+
26. Kc1 Nxc3
27. Rxh6 Qd1+
28. Kb2 Qc2+
29. Ka1 Qb1#

(vi) 23. gxh6 Bb3+
24. Ka1 Rxa3+
25. Qxa3 Qa8
26. h7+ Kh8
27. Rxd2 Qxa3+
28. Kb1 cxd2
29. e3 d1=Q#

(II)22. e3 Bxd1, announce mate in 7 or less

(i) 23. Bxc3 Qd5+
24. Ka1
( 24.Kb2 Qb3+ 25.Ka1 Rxa3+ 26.Qxa3 Qxa3# )
24. ... Nb3+
25. Kb1
( 25.Kb2 Nxc1 26.Bc4 Qxc4 27.Kxc1 Qd3 28.Kb2 Qc2+ 29.Ka1 Rxa3# )
( 25.Ka2 Nxc1+ 26.Kb2 Qa2+ 27.Kxc1 Qc2# )
25. ... Nxc1
26. Bb2
( 26.Bc4 Qxc4 27.Kxc1 Qd3 28.Kb2 Qc2+ 29.Ka1 Rxa3# )
( 26.Kxc1 bxc3 27.Bd3 Qxd3 28.Nh3 Qc2# )
26. ... Rfc8
27. Bc4
( 27.Bxc1 Bc2+ 28.Ka1 Qe5+ 29.Ka2 b3# )
27. ... Qxc4
28. Bxc1 Qxc1+
29. Ka2 Rxa3#

(ii) 23. Rh4 b3+
24. Ka1 Rxa3+
25. Qxa3 Qa5!!
26. Ra4
( 26.Qxa5 or 26.Qa4 b2+ 27.Ka2 b1=Q+ 28.Ka3 Qb2# )
( 26.Bd6 b2+ 27.Ka2 b1=Q# )
26. ... Qxa4
27. Qxa4 b2+
28. Ka2 b1=Q+
29. Ka3 Qb2#

(iii)23. Rxh6 or 23. gxh6

23. ... b3+
24. Ka1 Rxa3+
25. Qxa3 b2+
26. Qxb2 Qa5+
27. Qa2 Qxa2+
28. Kxa2 Ra8+
29. Ba6 Rxa6#

(iv) 23. Bc4 b3+
24. Bxb3
( 24.Ka1 Rxa3+ 25.Qxa3 Qa5!! 26.Qxa5 b2+ 27.Ka2 b1=Q+ 28.Ka3 Nxc4# )
24. ... Bxb3+
25. Ka1 Qe7
26. Bd6 Qxd6
27. gxh6 Rxa3+
28. Qxa3 Qxa3#

(v) 23. g6 Qd5+
24. Ka1 Qb3
25. gxf7+ Rxf7
26. Ba6 Rxa6
27. Rxh6 Qxa3+
28. Qxa3 Rxa3#


(III)22. e4 Bxd1, announce mate in 7 or less

(i) 23. Bxc3 bxc3
24. Qxc3
( 24.gxh6 Bb3+ 25.Ka1 Qa5 26.h7+ Kh8 27.Ba6 Rxa6 28.Qb2 Qxa3+ 29.Qxa3 Rxa3# )
24. ... Qb6
25. Qh8+
( 25.Bd3 Rxa3+ 26.Qxa3 Bb3+ 27.Kb2 Qd4+ 28.Kc1 Qc3+ 29.Bc2 Qxc2# )
25. ... Kxh8
26. Rxh6+ Kg8
27. Rh8+ Kxh8
28. Bd3 Qb3+
29. Ka1 Qxa3#


(IV) 22. Rxh6 Qd5+, announce mate in 7 or less

(i) 23. Ka1 Qxe5
24. Rxe6
( 24.e4 c2+ 25.Qb2 cxd1=Q+ 26.Ka2 Qb3+ 27.Qxb3 Bxb3# )
( 24.Ka2 b3+ 25.Ka1 c2+ 26.Qb2 cxd1=Q# )
( 24.Qxd2 c2+ 25.Qd4 cxd1=Q+ 26.Ka2 Qc2+ 27.Ka1 Qxd4# )
24. ... fxe6
25. f4 Bc2
26. Ka2 Qa5
27. Ka1 Qxa3+
28. Qxa3 Rxa3#

(V) 22. gxh6 Qd5+, announce mate in 7 or less

(i) 23. Ka1 Qxe5
24. h7+
( 24.Rh5 Bc2! 25.Rg5+ Kh8 26.Rg8+ Rxg8 27.h7 Nb3+ 28.Ka2 Nxc1+ 29.Rxc1 Rxa3# )
24. ... Kh8
25. Rh5 Bc2!
26. Ka2 b3+
27. Ka1 b2+
28. Qxb2 cxb2+
29. Ka2 Bb3#

[Paul Bonham]

Re: Game of the day!

Position to solve for Black to move and force mate in 14 moves or less:

Next move played was 20. ... Qd5?? which loses immediately to 21. Qh7+

With the move 20. ... Nc1+ Black has forced mate.

White has 4 possible replies. The first two were covered in my previous post, the last two are covered here. Again, not all subvariations are included due to time constraints.


(C) 21. Rxc1

21. ... Bxc2, announce mate in 6 or less

(I) 22. Kb2 Rxa3, announce mate in 5 or less

(i) 23. Ra1 Ne4, announce mate in 4 or less

(a) 24. Rxa3 Qd2
25. Bc3
(25.Rb3 Bxb3+ 26.Kb1 Qa2+ 27.Kc1 Qc2#)
(25.Bc7 Bxb3+ 26.Kb1 Qd1+ 27.Kb2 c3#)
(25.g6 bxa3+ 26.Ka2 [26.Kxa3 Ra8+ 27.Kb2 Bd3#] Bb3+ 27.Kxa3 Ra8#)
25. ... bxa3+
26. Ka2
(26.Kxa3 Qxc3+ 27.Ka2 Ra8#)
(26.Ka1 Qxc3+ 27. Ka2 Qb2#)
26. ... Qxc3
27. any Qb2#

(b) 24. Bd6 Qxd6
25. Rxa3
(25.fxe4 c3+ 26.Kxc2 Qd2+ 27.Kb1 Qb2#)
(25.Rxh6 Rb3+ 26.Kxc2 Qd2#)
25. ... bxa3+
26. Ka1 Qd4+
27. Ka2 Qb2#

(c) 24. fxe4 Qd2
25. Rxa3
(25.Bc3 Rb3+ 26.Ka2 Bb1#)
(25.Rc1 Bxe4+ 26.Rc2 Qxc2#)
(25.Rd1 Bxd1+ 26.Kb1 Qc2#)
(25.Ra2 Bxe4+ 26.Ka1 Rxa2#)
25. ... bxa3+
26. Kxa3
(26.Ka2 Bb3+ 27.Kxa3 Ra8#)
(26.Ka1 Qc1+ 27.Ka2 Bb3#)
26. ... Ra8+
27. Kb2 Bxe4#

(d) 24. Kxc2 Qd2+
25. Kb1 Rb3+
(even if Black plays 25... Rc3, White's reply is of no help: 26.Bxc3 Nxc3#)
26. Bb2 Rxb2#

(e) 24. Bf4 Qd4+
25. Kxc2
(25.Kc1 Rxa1+ 26.Kxc2 Qc3#)
25. ... Qc3+
26. Kd1 Nf2# (!!!)

(f) 24. Bc3 bxc3+
25. Kxc2 Qd2+
26. Kb1 Rb3#

(ii) 23. e3 (or 23. e4)

23. ... c3+
24. Bxc3
(24.Kxc2 Ra2+ 25. Kd1 Nxf3+ 26.Bd6 Rd2#)
24. ... Ra2+
25. Kxa2 bxc3
26. Bb5 Qa5+
27. Ba4 Qxa4#

(iii)23. Rxh6 c3+

24. Bxc3 Ra2+
25. Kxa2 Qd5+
26. Kb2
(26.Ka1 Ra8+ 27.Kb2 Qa2#)
26. ... Qb3+
27. Ka1 Qa3#

(iv) 23. Bd6 Qxd6

24. Rh4
(24.e3 c3+ 25.Kxc2 Ra2+ 26.Kd1 Nxf3+ 27.Bd3 Qxd3#)
24. ... c3+
25. Kxc2 Ra2+
26. Kd1 Nxf3+
27. Rd4 Qxd4#


(II) 22. Rxh6 Rxa3+, announce mate in 5 or less

23. Kb2 c3+!
24. Bxc3
(24.Kxc2 Ra2+ 25.Kd1 Nxf3+ 26.Bd6 Qxd6#)
24. ... Ra2+
25. Kxa2 Qd5+
26. Kb2 Qb3+
27. Ka1 Qa3#


(III)22. e4 Qa5, announce mate in 4 or less

23. Kb2
(23.Bb2 c3! 24.Ba6 [24.Bc4 Qxa3+ 25.Bxa3 Rxa3#] Bb3+ 25.Ka1 cxb2+ 26.Kxb2 Qxa3#)
24. ... Bb3!
24. axb4 Qxe5+
25. Rc3 Ra2+
26. Kc1 Qxc3#


(IV) 22. Ka1 Bb3!, announce mate in 4 or less

23. Kb2 Qa5
24. axb4 Qxe5+!
25. Rc3 Ra2+
26. Kc1 Qxc3#


(V) 22. Rxc2 Rxa3+, announce mate in 3

23. Kb2 Rb3+
24. Ka1 Qa5+
25. Ra2 Rb1#


(VI) any other White move leads to mate in 5 or less
(exercise for reader)



(D) 21. Ka1

21. ... Bxc2, announce mate in 5 or less

(I) 22. Kb2 Bxd1, announce mate in 4

(i) 23. Bd6 Qxd6
24. Kxc1
(24.Rxh6 Qd4+ 25.Kxc1 Nb3+ 26.Kb1 Qa1# )
24. ... Nb3+
25. Kb1 Qe5
26. any Qa1#

(ii) 23. Kxc1 Nb3+
24. Kb1 bxa3
25. any a2+
26. Kb2 a1=Q#

(iii)23. axb4 Ra2+
24. Kxc1 Nb3+
25. Kb1 Qd2
26. any Qc2#

(iv) 23. any other move, including Rxh6, threatening mate in 1,
23. ... bxa3+
24. Kxc1 Nb3+
25. Kb1 a2+
26. Kb2 a1=Q#


(II) 22. Rxc1 Nb3+, announce mate in 4
(note: 22. ... c3 or 22. ... Bb3 or 22. ... Qa5 also give mate in 4)

(i) 23. Ka2 Nxc1+
24. Kb2 Qd2
25. Rxh6 Bd3+
26. Ka1 Qa2#

(ii) 23. Kb2 bxa3+
24. Ka2
(24.Ka2 Qd2+ 25.Kxc4 Qd5+ 26.Kb4 Qc5# incredible!)
24. ... Nxc1+
25. Ka1 Qb6
26. any Qb1#


(III)22. Rxd2 Rxa3+, announce mate in 2

23. Kb2 Qxd2
24. any Bd3# (or Ra2#)


(IV) any other move, including 22. Rxh6 threatening mate in 1,

22. ... Rxa3+, announce mate in 2
23. Kb2 Ra2+
24. Kxc1 Nb3#