Still Pondering....

...what the best move is here.



WHITE to move....

Positional Score

I played this game as Black in Battle Creek last week & was asked by my opponent how I thought the computer (Fritz) would evaluate the current position. Black stood better is what I figured. He disagreed and was curious what Fritz would think. So, here it is....























White is numerically ahead in material (31-29), his pieces are active, influential, and well-placed. This image is after Fritz evaluated at a rate of 1.7 million possible resulting positions. After 20 minutes of thinking, Fritz says Black is winning by almost 2 pawns -+ (1.69).

The computer can't tell us why it thinks that way - we're left to guess. We know it considers material, space, forcing continuations, activity, and numerous other factors in its analysis. Obviously, Black isn't better here because of material. lol

Here's why I think the computer evaluates the position favorably for Black: Despite White's material advantage and activity, I figure Black to be standing better because of White's crippled & weak structure and the semi-open files all around White's somewhat-exposed king. There is a ton of tension in the position and Black's pieces aren't so badly placed to justify a plus score for White.

I suspect any master would glance at this position and say it's a technical win for Black. Trade all the pieces off and Black's pawn structure beats White's (Fritz says Black is up -+1.54 with pawns only). Given reason and statistical odds with all things being equal (meaning both sides of equal strength), the best that White could do here is draw ....theoretically. On the other hand, for Black to convert this advantage into a win is easier said than done. The position is very dynamic. Still.... it's like a ground & pound fight. White's outside passer makes it good chances for both sides. I'll set it up for the computer to play this out a hundred times or so & see which side wins. My guess is that Black wins more than White.

It's encouraging to have correctly evaluated the position as better for Black just as the computer did, but it's difficult to explain exactly how the White side could be so active, ahead in material and yet - still losing the game. This goes along with Kasparov's "material, time, quality" theorem and it's just another part of the fascinating beauty and mystique of chess.

Still Trying....

I'm still trying to squeek in moments to play chess. It's tough & sometimes frustrating to know you're not as good as you were. Nice when those moments come when you realize you're good enough, even now, to hang with some strong & solid competitors! : )

BC Chess

I take back what I said about the Battle Creek Barnes & Noble chess guys... Years ago, there was Jim and then there was me ...for the most part as far as competition goes. Everyone else was fairly easy to win against. It's not that way anymore. There's new faces along with others who are solid class A & B players and some of their ancient ratings don't reflect their current playing strength. And some of the others are quite strong, too. That was discussed last night at the club. I like the attitudes there. Most guys want a shot at the strongest players instead of settling in to a game expecting to lose, now. And they let it be known they're gunning for you, too. lol My opponent wrote the moves down. I was just slightly better in the game and I got a copy & here's the end analysis -

Chess

My cousin talked me into playing the Michigan Masters/Experts Chess Championship last January. I knew how my results would be given that I hadn't thought about chess since Feb. 2009. Yep, I got slaughtered - losing all 5 games. :-( Last month I just browsed a few of my better tournament wins against high-rated players from years ago and was impressed with the creativity and dominance in those particular games. I missed being creative like that & started watching chess lectures & studying some GM games and even played some blitz games online during lunch at work. It took a few more weeks of frustration but I found a comfort zone on the board again and started winning. In some ways I feel stronger than I was before. In others, I don't. So I hit the Battle Creek Chess Club last Thurs (3/10/2011) and had to play Jim, the best player there who plays about a 1900 level. He outplayed me early, I sac'd a bishop to stay in the game and won a close one using the Lucena position technique in a rook, pawn vs. rook endgame. I feel I got lucky & caught him by surprise. Years ago, I was his primary competition at the club but he had the better score against me. He really started to pull away as I was on the oxymorphone & other meds. ...and then the marriage breakdown, and then... well. Retirement from chess. lol Anyway, I figured Jim was probably stewing after losing to me last week and wanted to play me again but he showed up late and I played Maurice. I won another close one. To give you an idea of how good Jim plays - after my game against Maurice, we watched Jim quickly destroy Larry 3 times and never making it to an endgame. Larry is a former Michigan Open Reserve champ. I noticed Jim would have a superior position right from the opening and figured I'll need to pay particular attention in the opening when I play him again. Then Barnes & Noble closed & we all met at the donut shop to play and I played Jim two games & won the first game very convincingly. The second game, Jim lost his nerve in a close endgame and blundered - allowing knight fork with check& losing his rook. Jim seemed to gauge himself against me years ago and I believe his losing now against me is purely psychological. I haven't lost at the chess club since returning, yet. 4 close, but solid wins and I'm not really sold that I'm as good as I was back in 2003-2005. But it feels good to be playing again. Here's a position from my game with Maurice. I played Black & it's black to move. It's dead even. My move in the game was ...Bxe4. I eventually went up a pawn and won the endgame. It feels good to be playing chess again. Not sure I'm ready for guitar, yet. That's an emotional thing & I'm still emotionally whacked-out from my ex and the fact that she's got our 9 year-old son doped up on heavy medications just as bad as she had me doped up. Maybe worse. :-( I understand and have complete faith that God is in control. At the same time, as Christians, I don't believe we're expected to just praise God while watching the house burn down. Jesus was aggressive. He wants us to do something...

Spring =-)

A sure sign of spring is....



















....when the robins arrive in abundance.

Finally........

Dec. 17 I got to spend a few minutes with them. Then had them from Christmas Day thru Jan 2, 2011 and now it's back to every other weekend. :-) It's been absolutely AWESOME!!!!! They're loving it, too!

There is still hostility from their mom and her new _____ ...I mean her new husband - trying to intimidate & provoke me, and accusing me of lying among other things. And she is still flying accusations & allegations. Apparently she still has a need to try to make me look bad somehow in the eyes of others - including and especially our sons' eyes. :( Thankfully they seem to know better but I have no doubt she'll keep trying to re-enforce her ugliness, her past actions & bitterness on them by continuing to plant thoughts & suggestions as she has recently. ...sad, sad bummer.

Anyway, I'm just focusing on the boys. No girlfriends or activities that might interfere with them, etc. Just the boys, their well-being & happiness. :-)