GM Kaufman v.Novag Constellation 3.6 QR Odds (Moves 41-55)

[Steve B]

I play 49.Qd8+, and after the forced reply 49...Kg7 I play 50.Qxd4+. If this were not check I would lose my queen to ...Nf3+.
Larry

Connie in an effort to Blitz her way out of defeat quickly replies with...
50..f6

putting all of her pieces on dark squares rendering the White B impotent

[d] 8/p1p3k1/1p3p2/2r3n1/2BQ4/8/P7/6K1 w - - 0 51

Jonathan Maxwell Sends His Regards
Steve

P.S.
As we have Now reached the 50th move ..i include the current PGN:

REMOVE WHITE QR
[Event "CCC Forum Challenge "]
[Date "2010.7.3"]
[White "GM Kaufman"]
[Black "Novag Constellation 3.6"]
[Time Control "3 Min Per Move "]
[Result "*"]

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e5 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O dxc3
8.Qb3 Qf6 9.e5 Qf5 10.Nxc3 Nge7 11.Ba3 Bxc3 12.Qxc3 b6 13.h3 Bb7 14.Rc1
O-O 15.Rd1 Rfd8 16.Bb2 Qg6 17.Bd3 Qh6 18.Bc1 Qh5 19.Re1 d5 20.Kh2 d4
21.Qa3 Bc8 22.Re4 Bf5 23.g4 Bxg4 24.Rxg4 Nxe5 25.Nxe5 Qxe5+ 26.Bf4 Qc5
27.Qb3 g6 28.Bc4 Nd5 29.Bg5 Rd7 30.h4 Re8 31.h5 Qd6+ 32.Kg2
Qc6 33.Kh2 Re5 34.hxg6 Qxg6 35.Qg3 Rf5 36.Bh4 Rxf2+ 37.Kg1 Rf5 38.Bd3
Nf4 39.Rxg6+ hxg6 40.Qe1 Rfd5 41.Bf6 Ne6 42.Bc4
R5d6 43.Be5 Ng5 44.Qg3 Rc6 45.Qg2 Re7 46.Qxc6 Rxe5
47.Qxg6+ Kf8 48.Qf6 Rc5 49.Qd8+ Kg7 50.Qxd4+ f6 *

[Terry McCracken]

I play 49.Qd8+, and after the forced reply 49...Kg7 I play 50.Qxd4+. If this were not check I would lose my queen to ...Nf3+.
Larry

Connie in an effort to Blitz her way out of defeat quickly replies with...
50..f6

putting all of her pieces on dark squares rendering the White B impotent

[d] 8/p1p3k1/1p3p2/2r3n1/2BQ4/8/P7/6K1 w - - 0 51

Jonathan Maxwell Sends His Regards
Steve

P.S.
As we have Now reached the 50th move ..i include the current PGN:

REMOVE WHITE QR
[Event "CCC Forum Challenge "]
[Date "2010.7.3"]
[White "GM Kaufman"]
[Black "Novag Constellation 3.6"]
[Time Control "3 Min Per Move "]
[Result "*"]

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e5 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O dxc3
8.Qb3 Qf6 9.e5 Qf5 10.Nxc3 Nge7 11.Ba3 Bxc3 12.Qxc3 b6 13.h3 Bb7 14.Rc1
O-O 15.Rd1 Rfd8 16.Bb2 Qg6 17.Bd3 Qh6 18.Bc1 Qh5 19.Re1 d5 20.Kh2 d4
21.Qa3 Bc8 22.Re4 Bf5 23.g4 Bxg4 24.Rxg4 Nxe5 25.Nxe5 Qxe5+ 26.Bf4 Qc5
27.Qb3 g6 28.Bc4 Nd5 29.Bg5 Rd7 30.h4 Re8 31.h5 Qd6+ 32.Kg2
Qc6 33.Kh2 Re5 34.hxg6 Qxg6 35.Qg3 Rf5 36.Bh4 Rxf2+ 37.Kg1 Rf5 38.Bd3
Nf4 39.Rxg6+ hxg6 40.Qe1 Rfd5 41.Bf6 Ne6 42.Bc4
R5d6 43.Be5 Ng5 44.Qg3 Rc6 45.Qg2 Re7 46.Qxc6 Rxe5
47.Qxg6+ Kf8 48.Qf6 Rc5 49.Qd8+ Kg7 50.Qxd4+ f6 *

51. Qd7+..Kg6 52. Bd3+ are the moves I anticipate. Black is now that much weaker for playing 50..f6?

I think the Connie hasn't the ability to create a fortress, it's only reacting imho.

Guess The Moves & No Long Lines Regards,

[lkaufman]

Connie in an effort to Blitz her way out of defeat quickly replies with...
50..f6

putting all of her pieces on dark squares rendering the White B impotent

[d] 8/p1p3k1/1p3p2/2r3n1/2BQ4/8/P7/6K1 w - - 0 51

Jonathan Maxwell Sends His Regards
Steve

P.S.
As we have Now reached the 50th move ..i include the current PGN:

REMOVE WHITE QR
[Event "CCC Forum Challenge "]
[Date "2010.7.3"]
[White "GM Kaufman"]
[Black "Novag Constellation 3.6"]
[Time Control "3 Min Per Move "]
[Result "*"]

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e5 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O dxc3
8.Qb3 Qf6 9.e5 Qf5 10.Nxc3 Nge7 11.Ba3 Bxc3 12.Qxc3 b6 13.h3 Bb7 14.Rc1
O-O 15.Rd1 Rfd8 16.Bb2 Qg6 17.Bd3 Qh6 18.Bc1 Qh5 19.Re1 d5 20.Kh2 d4
21.Qa3 Bc8 22.Re4 Bf5 23.g4 Bxg4 24.Rxg4 Nxe5 25.Nxe5 Qxe5+ 26.Bf4 Qc5
27.Qb3 g6 28.Bc4 Nd5 29.Bg5 Rd7 30.h4 Re8 31.h5 Qd6+ 32.Kg2
Qc6 33.Kh2 Re5 34.hxg6 Qxg6 35.Qg3 Rf5 36.Bh4 Rxf2+ 37.Kg1 Rf5 38.Bd3
Nf4 39.Rxg6+ hxg6 40.Qe1 Rfd5 41.Bf6 Ne6 42.Bc4
R5d6 43.Be5 Ng5 44.Qg3 Rc6 45.Qg2 Re7 46.Qxc6 Rxe5
47.Qxg6+ Kf8 48.Qf6 Rc5 49.Qd8+ Kg7 50.Qxd4+ f6 *

I play 51.Qd7+. At first I wanted to play 51.Kg2 but then the plan of ...N-f7-e5 looked like a clear improvement of Black's position. So I should focus on keeping the knight from reaching e5.

[Terry McCracken]

Connie in an effort to Blitz her way out of defeat quickly replies with...
50..f6

putting all of her pieces on dark squares rendering the White B impotent

[d] 8/p1p3k1/1p3p2/2r3n1/2BQ4/8/P7/6K1 w - - 0 51

Jonathan Maxwell Sends His Regards
Steve

P.S.
As we have Now reached the 50th move ..i include the current PGN:

REMOVE WHITE QR
[Event "CCC Forum Challenge "]
[Date "2010.7.3"]
[White "GM Kaufman"]
[Black "Novag Constellation 3.6"]
[Time Control "3 Min Per Move "]
[Result "*"]

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e5 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O dxc3
8.Qb3 Qf6 9.e5 Qf5 10.Nxc3 Nge7 11.Ba3 Bxc3 12.Qxc3 b6 13.h3 Bb7 14.Rc1
O-O 15.Rd1 Rfd8 16.Bb2 Qg6 17.Bd3 Qh6 18.Bc1 Qh5 19.Re1 d5 20.Kh2 d4
21.Qa3 Bc8 22.Re4 Bf5 23.g4 Bxg4 24.Rxg4 Nxe5 25.Nxe5 Qxe5+ 26.Bf4 Qc5
27.Qb3 g6 28.Bc4 Nd5 29.Bg5 Rd7 30.h4 Re8 31.h5 Qd6+ 32.Kg2
Qc6 33.Kh2 Re5 34.hxg6 Qxg6 35.Qg3 Rf5 36.Bh4 Rxf2+ 37.Kg1 Rf5 38.Bd3
Nf4 39.Rxg6+ hxg6 40.Qe1 Rfd5 41.Bf6 Ne6 42.Bc4
R5d6 43.Be5 Ng5 44.Qg3 Rc6 45.Qg2 Re7 46.Qxc6 Rxe5
47.Qxg6+ Kf8 48.Qf6 Rc5 49.Qd8+ Kg7 50.Qxd4+ f6 *

I play 51.Qd7+. At first I wanted to play 51.Kg2 but then the plan of ...N-f7-e5 looked like a clear improvement of Black's position. So I should focus on keeping the knight from reaching e5.

Do you feel a bit more confident you're going to win this game?

I think you're getting very close now and if the Connie keeps making inaccuracies the game should be yours without too much trouble.

I think the Connie isn't playing too well and likely won't make optimum moves.

[Steve B]

I play 51.Qd7+. At first I wanted to play 51.Kg2 but then the plan of ...N-f7-e5 looked like a clear improvement of Black's position. So I should focus on keeping the knight from reaching e5.

Connie replies with..
51..Kg6

[d] 8/p1pQ4/1p3pk1/2r3n1/2B5/8/P7/6K1 w - - 0 52

Steve

[lkaufman]

Connie replies with..
51..Kg6

[d] 8/p1pQ4/1p3pk1/2r3n1/2B5/8/P7/6K1 w - - 0 52

Steve

I play 52.Bd3+. If Black blocks with the pawn at least I'll have a target. I think it is likely that zugzwang may play a role soon, it may be the key to winning. I still have the problem that even winning knight plus "f" pawn for the bishop is not enough to win. I do expect to win, but I don't know if the position is won yet against perfect defense.

[Terry McCracken]

Connie replies with..
51..Kg6

[d] 8/p1pQ4/1p3pk1/2r3n1/2B5/8/P7/6K1 w - - 0 52

Steve

I play 52.Bd3+. If Black blocks with the pawn at least I'll have a target. I think it is likely that zugzwang may play a role soon, it may be the key to winning. I still have the problem that even winning knight plus "f" pawn for the bishop is not enough to win. I do expect to win, but I don't know if the position is won yet against perfect defense.

Guessing the Connie will push the f-pawn creating another weakness, the simple 53. Kf2 should begin to bring the game into it's final stages aiming for Zugzwang.

[Steve B]

I play 52.Bd3+. If Black blocks with the pawn at least I'll have a target. I think it is likely that zugzwang may play a role soon, it may be the key to winning. I still have the problem that even winning knight plus "f" pawn for the bishop is not enough to win. I do expect to win, but I don't know if the position is won yet against perfect defense.

Once again Connie blocks + by advancing her P with...

52..f5

[d] 8/p1pQ4/1p4k1/2r2pn1/8/3B4/P7/6K1 w - - 0 53

Steve

[Terry McCracken]

I play 52.Bd3+. If Black blocks with the pawn at least I'll have a target. I think it is likely that zugzwang may play a role soon, it may be the key to winning. I still have the problem that even winning knight plus "f" pawn for the bishop is not enough to win. I do expect to win, but I don't know if the position is won yet against perfect defense.

Once again Connie blocks + by advancing her P with...

52..f5

[d] 8/p1pQ4/1p4k1/2r2pn1/8/3B4/P7/6K1 w - - 0 53

Steve

Probably 53. Kf2 is the way to proceed. Moving the King up the board on the g1-a7 diagonal where it will move towards the center as well, bringing in White's last fighting piece and eventual Zugzwang to Black. The Connie may play 53..Nh3+ and White will move closer to his goal with 54. Ke3.

If 54..Ng5 then 55. Qe7! and the noose will begin to tighten. Infact Black is virtually in Zugzwang.

[lkaufman]

Once again Connie blocks + by advancing her P with...

52..f5

[d] 8/p1pQ4/1p4k1/2r2pn1/8/3B4/P7/6K1 w - - 0 53

Steve

I play 53.Kf2, giving the option of going to g3 or e3. Now Black could consider the maneuver ...N-e4-d6 to centralize the knight, but Connie won't play this as I could win a pawn by taking on e4 and checking on e6, although I wouldn't do this as the resultant ending looks drawn.