Blindfold Chess - the book

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  • Re: Blindfold Chess - the book

    Another major key to Kolty's success in this exhibition was the large amount of miniature games played. He had 8 short draws (under 25 moves) and 11 miniature wins (under 25 moves) for a total of 19 games out of the 30. This really helped to ease the burden of the games on his mind. Some of the miniatures were quite cute, others were efficient opening traps. Examples: Koltanowski-Ots 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Re1+ Be6 9.Ng5 Qxf6 10.Nxe6 fxe6 11.Qh5+ g6 12.Qxc5 1-0 or Koltanowski-Andries 1.d4 d5 2.e3 e6 3.Bd3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.0-0 0-0 6.Nbd2 c6 7.Re1 b6 8.e4 dxe4 9.Nxe4 Ng4 10.Nxd6 Qxd6 11.Bxh7+ Kxh7 12.Ng5+ Kg8 13.Qxg4 e5 14.Qe4 Qg6 15.Qxg6 fxg6 16.dxe5 1-0 or Koltanowski-Reinhold 1.f4 f5 2.Nc3 c6 3.Nf3 d6 4.e4 fxe4 5.Nxe4 Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 d5 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qe5 Nf6 10.Nxf6+ 1-0 or Koltanowski-Denhaene 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7 4.Bc4 Be7 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.Qd5 Ndf6 7.Qxf7+ Kd7 8.Nxe5+ 1-0

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    • Re: Blindfold Chess - the book

      In a couple of games Kolty had to play very resourcefully to save lost positions. Here is one: Koltanowski-Gussin, Antwerp 1931, 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.0-0 Bg4 5.b3 g6 6.Bb2 Bg7 7.d3 0-0 8.Nbd2 Re8 9.Nh4 Bd7 10.e4 Nxe4 11.Bxg7 Nxd2 12.Bb2 Nxf1 13.Qxf1 e5 14.f4 e4 15.dxe4 dxe4 16.Qc4 Bf5 17.Nxf5 gxf5 18.Qc3 f6 19.Bh3 Na6 20.Re1 Nc7 21.Bxf5 Kg7 22.Rxe4 Rxe4 23.Bxe4 Nd5 24.Qd4 Qb6 25.Bxd5 Qxd4+ 26.Bxd4 cxd5 27.c3 b5 28.a3 a6 29.Kf2 Re8 30.g4 Kf7 31.f5 Re4 32.h3 h5 33.Kf3 hxg4+ 34.hxg4 Re1 35.b4 Ra1 36.Kf4 Rxa3 37.g5 fxg5+ 38.Kxg5 a5 39.bxa5 Rxa5 40.Kf4 Ra8 41.Ke5 Rd8 42.Bc5 Rd7 43.Bd4 Agreed drawn. In the game Kolty's master strength opponent plays the accurate 10...Nxe4! and all of a sudden White is in trouble. Kolty sacrifices the exchange for play on the weak dark squared long diagonal which seems to confuse his opponent as he doesnt find strong counter moves in the middlegame. It looks as if White's position is collapsing in the endgame but Kolty finds enough play to draw. A very impressive hold of the position.

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      • Re: Blindfold Chess - the book

        The following game was a comedy of errors: Koltanowski-de Ley, Antwerp 1931, 1.d4 d5 2.e3 f5 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bb4 6.Be2 Ne4 7.Qb3 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 b6 9.cxd5 exd5 10.0-0 0-0 11.Ba3 c5 12.Ne5 Nd2 13.Qc2 Nxf1 14.Bxf1 Be6 15.Rd1 Rf6 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.Bxc5 Qc7 18.Bd4 Rh6 19.f4 Nd7 20.Bd3 Nxe5 21.Bxe5 Qb6 22.Bd4 Qa5 23.h3 Bd7 24.Rb1 Rf8 25.Rb7 Ba4 26.Qb2 a6 27.Rb8 Rxb8 28.Qxb8+ Kf7 29.Qb7+ Kg6 30.Qxg7+ Kh5 31.Qg5# 1-0 The comedy starts with 12.Ne5 which hangs the exchange. Immediately after taking the exchange Black hangs the pawn on c5 which Kolty doesnt see for one move. Later on 25...Ba4 hangs a mate in three which Kolty doesnt see, again on the next move. Finally Black blunders into checkmate.

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        • Re: Blindfold Chess - the book

          This is not about the book.

          http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-community...AdIdZ224211279

          Blind fold and Simul Chess demonstration
          at Ajax Chess club Aug. 20th 7pm

          "If time permits, we will have a small simul, where the chess master will play several chess players at the same time and most likely win all of them."

          Hans, is it you who do this demonstration?

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          • Re: Blindfold Chess - the book

            Heh,heh -you've got me interested - no, its not me - I'm willing to bet its Ron Livshits! - but Im curious to know who!? - IM off to play "normal" tournament chess in Hamilton - hopefully though I can see some good variations blindfold!!

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            • Re: Blindfold Chess - the book

              Back to Alekhine. In answer to Koltanowski's 30 board world record the organizers of the "Century of Progress" exhibition at the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago offered Alekhine $1000 to break that record. From ten in the morning until just past midnight on July 16th, 1933 taking 12 and a half hours (with a break for dinner) Alekhine played 32 players blindfolded finishing with 19 wins, 9 draws, and 4 losses. Edward Lasker was the move messenger. All games were played to a finish. After the display and shortly after when he arrived on tour in San Juan, Puerto Rico Alekhine commented that he was not in the best condition and had not given such a display since 1925 but that even with his great effort he had achieved a good result and when finished he was not that tired. He believed he could play blindfolded up to 48 opponents at a time!

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              • Re: Blindfold Chess - the book

                I am the supposed "master" for tonight's blindfold (+ potential simul) at the Ajax CC this evening. This is a case of "big fish in a small pond" as I would put the club's average player at 1200-1400, so my average ability (1900's) may indeed seem "masterly" to them. I describe myself as a woodpusher who's trying to learn how to play this game.

                The club's organizer is new to chess but is very enthusiastic and means well in trying to drum up interest. You have to agree that his copy line to the Ajax news advertiser (not sure if he wrote it or a local reporter did) will garner more interest than "a local overrated hack who is quite rusty will ....blah blah blah"

                I didn't get to vet the article (or various eMails) sent out about the event, but I do hope that some interest in chess picks up in the local area, as it's been a while since a club has been run regularly in Durham.

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                • Re: Blindfold Chess - the book

                  Originally posted by Sam Sharpe View Post
                  I am the supposed "master" for tonight's blindfold (+ potential simul) at the Ajax CC this evening. This is a case of "big fish in a small pond" as I would put the club's average player at 1200-1400, so my average ability (1900's) may indeed seem "masterly" to them. I describe myself as a woodpusher who's trying to learn how to play this game.

                  The club's organizer is new to chess but is very enthusiastic and means well in trying to drum up interest. You have to agree that his copy line to the Ajax news advertiser (not sure if he wrote it or a local reporter did) will garner more interest than "a local overrated hack who is quite rusty will ....blah blah blah"

                  I didn't get to vet the article (or various eMails) sent out about the event, but I do hope that some interest in chess picks up in the local area, as it's been a while since a club has been run regularly in Durham.
                  Where that place in Ajax would be, Sam?

                  I found that place on time! Thanx.
                  Last edited by Caesar Posylek; Monday, 23rd August, 2010, 09:19 PM.

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                  • Re: Blindfold Chess - the book

                    Well Sam, I do hope you play blindfold. Its a perfect way to grip the audience and a good chance to get your "feet wet" against the perfect opponent (1200 to 1400 strength).

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                    • Re: Blindfold Chess - the book

                      Thanks for taking notice Hans.

                      Frank Thiele, Noel Daez and I would play blindfold on the TTC coming back from tnmts back in the late-80s, so I was more than a bit rusty but 2 practice games at the Ajax Chess Club (http://www.ajaxchessclub.com/) helped prep me a bit.

                      We had a volunteer who didn't belong to the club play against me in the blindfold game. I won when it went down to a B+7p -vs- N+5p endgame. It could have been a long drawn out endgame with many funky N hops and sacs for me to guard against, but thankfully the other player resigned (I'd peg him around 14-1500). I think about 15-25 people came out and for most this was their first time seeing this type of game. There was even applause at one point for a combo which won a pawn :)

                      Most stuck around and we ended up with a 12-game simul to cap off the evening. I should have went down in at least one game but ended up with a clean sweep for the evening.

                      It seems like everyone had fun and that's the key.

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                      • Re: Blindfold Chess - the book

                        Back again to Alekhine - from his world record setting 32 games blindfold simul held at the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago. Only 9 games could be found from this event. Here is one: Alekhine-Sheffield 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 exf4 4.Nf3 Qxd5 5.Nc3 Qd8 6.Bc4 Be7 7.0-0 Nf6 8.d4 0-0 9.Bxf4 c6 10.Ne5 Bf5 11.Bg5 Bg6 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.Qd3 b5 14.Bb3 a5 15.a3 Qd6 16.Rae1 Nd5 17.Bxe7 Nxe7 18.Ne4 Qd7 19.Nc5 Qd6 20.Ne6 Nd7 21.Nxf8 Rxf8 22.Qe4 Nf5 23.c3 Nf6 24.Qe5 Qd7 25.h3 Re8 26.Qf4 Nh5 27.Rxe8+ Qxe8 28.Qe5 Nf6 29.g4 Qxe5 30.dxe5 Ng3 31.exf6 Nxf1 32.Kxf1 1-0 Alekhine missed two opportunities for tactics on f7 but found 20.Ne6 (also based on f7) to win material and then converted his advantage in a nice strategic game.

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                        • Re: Blindfold Chess - the book

                          Alekhine-Anderson, Chicago July 1933, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Be3 Nxd4 6.Bxd4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Qg5 8.Nc3 c6 9.h4 Qh6 10.g4 Qg6 11.e5 Qe6 12.0-0-0 Nh6 13.Bh3 b6 14.g5 Nf5 15.Qf4 g6 16.Ne4 0-0 17.Nd6 Qxa2 18.Bxf5 gxf5 19.h5 Ba6 20.g6 Qa1+ 21.Kd2 Qxb2 22.gxh7+ Kh8 23.Rhg1 c5 1-0 Alekhine's opponent was very nervous with his queen and turns out not enough so as Alekhine eventually put it under a terrific pin. When the queen escaped to attack the white king, Alekhine proceeded with his own attack tearing open the king's position and in the final position announcing checkmate in 5 moves. (24.Rg8+ Rxg8 25.Nxf7+ Kg7 26.Qh6+ Kxf7 27.Qf6+ Ke8 28.hxg8R#)

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                          • Re: Blindfold Chess - the book

                            Alekhine-Kohler, Chicago 1933 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.Nf3 e6 5.d4 c6 6.Bd3 Nf6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Bg5 0-0 9.Ne5 Nbd7 10.Re1 Re8 11.Qf3 Nf8 12.Ne4 Qd8 13.Rad1 Nxe4 14.Qxf7+ Kh8 15.Bxe7 Rxe7 16.Rxe4 1-0 One of my favorite Scandinavian Defense miniatures. Alekhine has perfect development and his opponent has to defend. Instead he cracks under pressure. (Nxe4?) Knights are good defenders and Ng6 had to be played with pressure continuing. The final moves lead to a raging kingside attack. For such a short game an amazing amount of tactical potential in the final position. Alekhine created this masterpiece playing 32 boards blindfolded!

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                            • Re: Blindfold Chess - the book

                              Alekhine-Hawley, Chicago 1933 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 dxc4 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 0-0 7.Bxc4 Nbd7 8.0-0 b6 9.Qe2 Bb7 10.e4 Re8 11.Rfd1 c6 12.e5 Nd5 13.Ne4 Bxg5 14.Nfxg5 Nf8 15.Qh5 Re7 16.Bxd5 cxd5 17.Nf6+ 1-0 Another beautiful kingside attack miniature from Alekhine!! Smooth development of the pieces, avoiding Black's strong central Nd5, attacking with two knights and the queen (the most dangerous combo of pieces in chess), removal of Black's only good piece (the Nd5), followed by kingside demolition with Nf6+ and pretty checkmating variations for the analysts to find!

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                              • Re: Blindfold Chess - the book

                                Alekhine-Mesirow, Chicago 1933 1.e4 c6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Bc4 Nbd7 6.Be3 e5 7.dxe5 Nxe5 8.Be2 Qc7 9.Nd4 Bxe2 10.Qxe2 g6 11.0-0-0 Bg7 12.f4 Ned7 13.Ndb5 cxb5 14.Nxb5 Qc6 15.Rxd6 Qxe4 16.Rxd7 0-0 17.Rd4 Qe6 18.Nc3 Rfe8 19.Re1 Nd5 20.Nxd5 Bxd4 21.Bxd4 Qxe2 22.Nf6+ Kf8 23.Nxh7+ Kg8 24.Nf6+ Kf8 25.Nh7+ Kg8 26.Nf6+ with a draw by perpetual check. Alekhine sacrifices a knight on b5 before his opponent castles and then follows up with a speculative exchange sacrifice on d7. Instead of 16.Rxd7 he misses a win with 16.Rd4. His opponent however does not take the sacrificed rook on d7 and instead castles resulting in a wild finish. A game that the spectators must have thoroughly enjoyed.

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