[Event "Exhibition Match: TCCMB Simultaneus Exhibition Match - Board One"]
[Site "SchemingMind.com"]
[Date "2006.10.09"]
[Round "-"]
[White "JohnKnudsen"]
[Black "markagodfrey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C09o"]
[WhiteCountry "USA"]
[BlackCountry "GBR"]
[GameID "70485"]

1. e4
{
JohnKnudsen: Nice to meet you, Mark, and, good luck in our game!
}
1... e6
{
markagodfrey: Hello John, Whereabouts in th US are you based?
}
2. d4
{
JohnKnudsen: Hi Mark: I am in Germany presently. Retired in 1994 from the Army. Returning to Iowa, USA next summer.
}
2... d5
{
markagodfrey: IS that living in Germany or working
}
3. Nd2
{
JohnKnudsen: Living, unemployed at the moment. My wife is German.
}
3... c5
{
markagodfrey: A whole new world of discovery for both of you. Your FIDE rating is high !!
}
4. Ngf3
{
JohnKnudsen: I don't have a FIDE rating - do you mean ICCF?
}
4... Nc6
{
markagodfrey: Yes, sorry I've got FIDE on the brain as I've been following the topalov-kramnik games. 
}
5. exd5 exd5 6. Bb5 Bd6 7. O-O
{
gvhill: Mark, playing the French against John was very brave.  He has contributed a bit to the opening theory. Grayling
}
{
Games Freak: Hey John, will you be hanging around SchemingMind for a while after these games?
}
7... Ne7 8. dxc5
{
JohnKnudsen: Michael: I'm not playing much seriously anymore (promised myself a break) but I like Austin's site and interface... John
}
8... Bxc5
{
markagodfrey: It is an honour to play a French Defence aficionada. I look forward to being taught a lesson !! BTW do you have an opinion on why it has fallen out of favour in master games over recent years?
}
9. Nb3
{
JohnKnudsen: I don't know. Some lines of the Winawer (poisoned pawn, etc.) have been getting beat up lately, but the Tarrasch, in particular, is relatively safe for black. Regarding OTB chess, it may just be a bit out of style. In cc, the French is always popular, I think due to its soundness!
}
9... Bd6 10. Re1 O-O 11. Bd3 Qc7 12. c3 Bd7 13. h3 h6 14. Be3 Rae8 15. Qc2 Ng6 16. Bxh6 gxh6 17. Bxg6 fxg6 18. Qxg6+ Kh8
19. Qxh6+ Kg8 20. Qg5+ Kh7 21. Qh5+ Kg8 22. Qxd5+ Kh7 23. Qh5+ Kg8
{
markagodfrey: It's nice for me to be able to make 6 moves that don't require much analysis (LOL) 
}
24. Qg6+
{
JohnKnudsen: Hi Mark: Here is another one. There is a method to my madness, I think... John.
}
24... Kh8
{
markagodfrey: mmm..let me see...only one candidate move ! My personal objective during this game was to hold an equal position for at least 20 moves. I think my failing was not activating my attack quick enough, though I still have potential. I wouldn't want to play out an endgame with my current pawn structure ! 
}
25. Ng5
{
JohnKnudsen: I don't know if this line is that good, or not. I thought it was interesting, anyway. Well, 4 pawns ought to be worth something. I don't think there is much prospect now of an attack for black - just a matter of whether black can survive the ending coming up... Unless, of course, I have terribly miscalculated and you refute my plan and make me eat crow... Lots of fun, this thing we call chess.
}
25... Rxe1+
{
markagodfrey: To the tune of the British grenadier, my force go into battle. in the words Shakespeare in Henry V "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, 
This day shall gentle his condition:" [ Thought you might appreciate the military references]  
}
26. Rxe1
{
JohnKnudsen: Hey, I heard/saw that line in the movie "Rough Riders" the other day. It was when the bunch of ivy league rich kids decided to join Roosevelt's volunteers. Some of them lived, and some of them died...
}
26... Bf5
{
markagodfrey: I'm afraid I'm not a rich kid, but some of my piece will die. Though I don't think I'll be playing the music to "the great escape"
}
27. Qh6+
{
JohnKnudsen: But that's what the pieces are there for - to die! :)
}
27... Kg8
{
markagodfrey: that's brutal - the pieces are my little friends who try to live in hamormy and optimise their opportunities - perhaps that's my positional mentality coming out !
}
28. g4
{
JohnKnudsen: Perhaps you are right. Now, those pawns, well, that is a whole 'nother matter. My pawns are lusting to be pushed. I am trying to control the little monsters, but it is a hard battle. They each are screaming, "Me first!" "Me first!" trying to outdo each other, and making a nuisance of themselves in the process...
}
{
hessonchess: Creative imagination you two have. When I taught my nephew (6 years old) to play, his sister (4 years old) said that watching us play chess was boring, so we taught her, too. Her strategy was to capture pieces that would make a family off the board. :) Actually, she did very well as far as remembering all the names and basic moves of the pieces.
}
{
markagodfrey: I read once that Mickey Adams went through the process of asking his pieces: "where do we want to go for a walk today?"  I tend to use the Silman fantasy position approach a lot - dreaming up a wonderful piece setup then workout how to get my peices into that position, though in this game it's more of horror position !
}
{
JohnKnudsen: Mark, I do the same thing sometimes. I often get obsessed with certain lines and positions. The stranger the better. I like for the lines to be sound, but sometimes I play something just because it is weird, unusual, or even because it looks funny. Not a very practical approach to "serious" correspondence chess, as the research-oriented scientist type player will spend as much time as it takes to find a refutation (if it exists) or make life difficult for you. I have gotten a reputation for being a fast player (this is obviously not optimal for cc, either) but really all I am trying to do is match my opponent's pace, if it is fast, at the same time putting in the necessary analysis time (hopefully done in a competent manner) to avoid surprises and keep control in the game. This method, which I do not recommend to anyone else, BTW, has worked well for me, overall. Sorry for the rather rambling comment, but the sac of the two bishops for the knight and four pawns in this game was such an "obsession position." It simply will not leave me alone - probably adding to the appeal was the fact that it could not be calculated to the end - I decided to make the moves when I figured out I would get 4 pawns for the piece. I wonder if anyone else out there would have played that line?! That is the test, for me, whether something is really unusual, and therefore creatively worthwhile...
}
28... Bc8
{
markagodfrey: There is nowhere my my cleric to go so it's back home for some r&r
}
29. Ne6
{
JohnKnudsen: White blindly continues with his "plan."
}
29... Bh2+
{
markagodfrey: The choice is whether to defend or attack. As I have passed my objective of maintaining a reasonable position for 25 moves I feel free of any restraint. Therefore ....BANZAI.....tora tora tora
}
30. Kg2
{
JohnKnudsen: Complete surprise was achieved - I didn't expect you to hand me a tempo on a silver platter! :)
}
30... Bxe6
{
markagodfrey: I had a choice between being slowly strangled or going down kicking and screaming. Frankly I need the exercise so have chosen the Kicking and screaming route. Just thought I'd creep behind you king a shout "boo".
}
31. Qg6+
{
JohnKnudsen: It is okay, I scare easily - good strategy. "Boo" back to you! :) p.s. This position is very interesting (and difficult).
}
31... Kh8
{
markagodfrey: A-ha...more no-choice moves - I've been here before. Good job I'm not playing against Topalov or else I would be accused of my moves matching the computer by 100% !! Now we're entering the phase of the game I am unsure of - I really don't understand the strategy of this endgame. Need to do some reasearch I think.
}
32. Rxe6
{
Mekk: John's "This position is interesting" sounds like "Mate in N moves" ;-)

Thank you John for making those games so interesting. I have seen numerous simuls where the master provoked tactical mistakes, or outplayed opponents in technical ending. This is the first where I see master creating beautiful, unbalanced positions (and offering insightful comments).
}
32... Bf4
{
markagodfrey: I share the comment and sentiments of Marcin. 
}
33. Nc5
{
JohnKnudsen: You guys are too kind - thank you.
}
{
nasmichael: This type of banter is why I like CC so much.  It makes for a friendly place.  Thanks, all.
}
33... Ne5
{
markagodfrey: I think your right, OTB is a little too anal for my tastes. For instance would an OTB player say to his opponent, please be patient as I'm struggling to work out this endgame? I think not, but in CC its ok. I personally think from an amateur point of view the future of chess is with CC, more specifically with online CC.
}
34. Qh5+
{
JohnKnudsen: "Amateur" being the key word, I think. There is a saying that there is no money in correspondence chess, and, perhaps it is good so. Introduce high money prizes, high entry fees, etc. into correspondence chess and you will attract Operators (postmen with some chess knowledge) and Postmen (people who just use their engines to play and have no clue, more or less, about chess). The social aspects are probably the number one attraction to amateur correspondence chess. You meet cool and neat people, but the introduction hardly ever leads to imposition or problems, because it is chess at a distance!
}
{
Games Freak: I think the future is definitely in online CC. I love it here, and I'm only 14. I play in the odd OTB tournament for school, but my chess world revolves around CC...
}
{
Austin Lockwood: "there is no money in correspondence chess" - I think that's an oft quoted Knudsen original isn't it?! - sadly it's also true for those of us that run the servers :-( - but maybe that's not such a bad thing, if there were bags of money in running a CC server than no doubt ChessBase would set one up and put us all out of business!
}
{
Austin Lockwood: At any OTB club, there's always some guy who plays on board one and and wipes the floor with all comers without raising an eyebrow - these guys seem to have a natural ability to look at a position and instantly be able to see all the possibilities, lucky *&£^*£s!, (they also usually have the irritating habit of exactly reconstructing your games from memory and telling you where you went wrong fifteen moves before you realised you were in trouble).  The reason I love CC so much is that with the time allowed I can occasionally get the flashes of insight or understanding which seem to come so naturally to these guys!... btw - I am really enjoying following this one, both the game and the conversation ;-)
}
{
JohnKnudsen: Austin: What you are describing is the great leveling-up factor (CC vs. OTB). OTB games, even at the highest level (sometimes) are filled with time control blunders, etc. In CC, the casual player can compete with an established master because of the additional reflection time, and also, the ability to conduct research. In my OTB days, I got extremely frustrated when I made gross blunders in winning (or drawing)positions, because of the pressure. Remove the pressure, and everyone can perform a notch or two better. This is exactly why titled FIDE players often have problems when they attempt serious CC for the first time. Their opponents do not fall apart and allow them to butcher them, like most do in their OTB games. Imagine the frustration...
}
{
Mekk: Real time (OTB and online) and correspondence need not be treated as alternatives. I am patzer in both cases, but I noticed, that playing casual correspondence games helped me to play better than previously slow (1h+) OTB/online games (I also loose on time more often at blitz and rapids, but who cares).
BTW SchemingMind killer feature is that all those talks, notes and comments are nicely preserved together with the game. If only right pane could be scrolled down by default ;-)
}
34... Kg8
{
markagodfrey: I feel OTB chess is more about mental agility rather than chess knowledge,ie who has the best memory, done the best preparation can recognise pattern quicker. For me CC gives me more understanding of the relationship of peices and the "story" of a game. It enhances patience,  peristence and determination which are all good qualities for life. Creativity and inventiveness is more prominent in CC. These are the reason why CC players are nicer people and more supportive of each other. 
}
35. Ne4
{
JohnKnudsen: Nice sentiments, Mark!
}
35... Qg7
{
markagodfrey: my King is feeling insecure and requires a "group hug". Or is it like in the cowboy films where the wagons form a circle.Perhaps I can be John Wayne, fire one bullet and four of your pawns fall down dead. Strangely I have a limited number of candidate moves but still find the position complex !
}
36. g5
{
JohnKnudsen: I know what you mean. I've got a clear plan, though, that I think will work. If it doesn't I will cry...
}
{
Games Freak: Hmm...Close game!
}
36... b5
{
markagodfrey: mentally exhausting game !
John, can I take your  advice on how to train/improve one's endgame play?
}
37. h4
{
JohnKnudsen: What I do, first of all, is ascertain whether the ending in question is one that I am familiar with. If it is not, I dig out all of my endgame books and read the theory. Then, I get out a board and pieces and play over all of the examples I can find, until I understand the various methods or problems. Last, but not least, I try to find previous games with similar endings from Grandmaster practice (OTB and CC). Usually, if I follow this methodology, I am prepared to execute the endgame in a generally competent manner. This game here is a bear in that there are numerous branches and candidates to be concerned with!
}
37... Qd7
{
markagodfrey: Many thanks for the advice, now I hope I've calculate this correctly. 
}
38. Rf6 Qd5
{
markagodfrey: It is not the time for cowardice, death or glory only is required here ! 
}
39. f3
{
JohnKnudsen: Death, glory - Glory, death. Such are the things that try men's souls, I guess. A coward probably would not have engaged in the battle to begin with... :)
}
39... Qc4
{
markagodfrey: I can't remember the exact words but "a coward dies a thousand deaths a hero only one". Not that my pieces are being heroic, merely trying to generate something from nothing.
}
40. g6
{
JohnKnudsen: This is the line and move that had to be calculated very, very carefully!
}
40... Qe2+
{
markagodfrey: This is the only active line I can see. I'm sure there are others but mind hasn't found them ! this is the area of the board I wanted to exploit back on move 29 but your Knight got in the way (and still is in the way). I'm content to pursue the remnants of the "fantasy" position I saw back then.
}
41. Nf2
{
JohnKnudsen: That Knight is worth his weight in gold. Hey, wait a minute - it is an electronic Knight, and therefore worth nothing! Oh, well...
}
41... Kg7
{
markagodfrey: My kings moves again. 25% of my moves have been made soley  by the king, over half of the moves with King, queen and bishop only. Not what you would call the most dynamic use of the pieces !
}
42. Rxf8
{
JohnKnudsen: Sorry to force another King move! :)
}
42... Kxf8
{
eg1950: john, what a difficult game for you both, not sure about the 'french' i'll take a real look at it. i seem to enjoy and excel at end games, assuming i can get there, why do you think players seem to struggle so, and what is it they dont 'see'. i shall be interested in your view. alan.
}
43. Qf5+ Kg7
{
markagodfrey: Well..here we go into a very difficult phase of the game. 
}
44. Qxf4
{
JohnKnudsen: Alan: In correspondence chess, the watch-word is analysis, analysis, analysis. A player should use the reflection time that is available to him to try and anticipate everything. Experienced players sometimes play quickly, which is NOT recommended for the new or budding cc player. For example, I do most of my analysis when my opponent is on the move in a game. It is fun to try and anticipate the next move, or, at least, trying to figure out what is the ultimate best move in the position. End game skill is a big asset in correspondence chess, just like in OTB chess. With good endgame knowledge or experience, an experienced player knows when to turn the middle game into an endgame. Sometimes, a small advantage which would give you little or nothing in future prospects in OTB chess can be nursed and built upon to create really dominating positions in correspondence chess, which almost play themselves out to the end (in other words, technique). My best piece of advice for the new cc player would be to always play the strongest possible opponents, all of the time, and to limit purely casual or fun games to a small number, because they can be distracting to the serious tournament games that you have going. You will get beaten taking this advice (always trying to play players stronger than you), but, you will learn a lot more from the game after it is over. Hope this helped a bit.
}
44... Nxg6 45. Qg5
{
JohnKnudsen: After the only other reasonable move (44...Kxg6) come the very strong reply 45. h5...
}
{
eg1950: thanks john, i look forward to playing you in the next exhib. match :)
}
45... Qe5
{
markagodfrey: The question in my mind is will have have enough resources against your pawns
}
46. Ne4
{
JohnKnudsen: Hi Mark: I don't think so... The problem for black is going to be (in the N+2 Pawns vs. N+5 Pawns ending) that the Knight cannot be all over the board at once. Just a matter of tying down the Knight to stop one of the passed Pawns, bringing up the King, and either winning more material by using the Knight or King, or simply pushing Pawns in different places.
}
{
Games Freak: wow. This is most definitely the closest game in my opinion out of this whole Simul...Looking forward to the result!!!
}
46... Qf4
{
markagodfrey: John are you happy to continue this game? Personally I would like the experience in this type of endgame, but appreciate that you may have other commitments
}
47. Qxf4
{
JohnKnudsen: Hi Mark: Of course we can continue! :) My remarks weren't meant to indicate any other feeling, honest. I believe that it is a win, but, on the other hand, it isn't like we are playing golf where you can put the ball in the hole instead of putting out. Nothing wrong with forcing the proof - nothing wrong at all!
}
{
Richard W: What a fantastic game, guys! I'd like to go back to Black's 32nd move.. Was there any merit in a Rxf2+ sacrifice? Are there any hopes of a perpetual after say 33 Kxf2 Qg3+ ? I didn't think Mark had any further attacking prospects after Bf4, but he actually was able to cause far greater problems than I anticipated.
}
{
JohnKnudsen: Hi Richard. I have that line in my notes. The basic problem is that white just walks his King over to the queenside (always on the white squares), and he can also retreat the Rook or Knight to cover squares as necessary - he has plenty of walking room...
}
{
Richard W: Thanks John - I suspected that may have been the case, especially given the fact that it was never played and the two of you are considerably stronger than I am! Plus of course this is a correspondance game, so white has plenty of opportunity to figure this out. Still, at least you didn't say it was a crazy idea!
}
47... Nxf4+
{
markagodfrey: Many thanks for your patience John.  Richard, My early plan was to go for an attack on white's King, similar to those found in the Sicilian Yugoslav attack by exploiting the diagonal with Q and B, Later on my plan changed to "sniff out" any opportunity that came my way; by move 40 onwards I was looking for perpetual checks with my Q; unfortunately John was far superior in his play to fall for such simple plans :-[
}
48. Kg3 Nd3 49. b4
{
JohnKnudsen: Decisions, decisions... This has got to be better than 49. b3.
}
49... Kg6
{
markagodfrey: better move for you but not me :)
}
50. f4
{
JohnKnudsen: The pushed-pawns tango (a new dance step) :).
}
50... Kg7
{
markagodfrey: Yet another king move.
}
51. f5 Ne5 52. Kf4 Nc6
{
markagodfrey: I was hoping you wouldn't have played that move...I am now doomed.
}
53. Kg5
{
Games Freak: May I just pose a question: John, why not play 53. f6 instead of 53. Kg5? The pawn would still be backed up by the knight...
}
{
JohnKnudsen: Michael, it doesn't really matter. What it is all about, at this stage, is denying the N and K squares to move to, and in conjunction with that (denial of squares to move to), pushing the f and h pawns to (somewhat) crushing end effect. In that goal, or in the pursuit of that goal, the Kg5 move is better...John
}
{
markagodfrey: Also there is the issue of the "opposition" which is causing me the most difficulty. Whatever happens, my king will always have to give way, getting nudged away all the time. My king will either be trapped in the corner leaving John's N and pawns to run riot on the Q-side, or if centralised then the r-pawn will easily reach the 8-rank. For the most part my N is impotent. I was aiming to play Nc6-d8-f7 and use it to bockade the f-pawn but that is now an unsucessful manoevour.
}
53... Nd8
{
markagodfrey: I'm playing on as I'm assuming that the ending is educational for anyone following this game. Unlike the England Cricket team (who incidntally are allowing the Australians to win as it would be rude for England to win all of the matches...again) I am being beaten by skill !
}
54. f6+
{
JohnKnudsen: Mark, thanks for your kind remarks. The game does have some educational value, I agree, but the conversation has been priceless! John
}
54... Kg8
{
markagodfrey: I'm sinking fast 
}
55. Nd6 Nf7+ 56. Nxf7 Kxf7
{
markagodfrey: good morning !
}
57. h5
{
JohnKnudsen: Good morning, Mark - I can't believe it is December already...
}
57... Kg8
{
markagodfrey: Yes...and Santa's coming ...I hope....I've been a good boy 
}
58. Kg6
{
JohnKnudsen: I have been good, too. Actually, since I think I am just a bent kid (at 50+), someone should really shower me with presents. Winning the lottery would be acceptable. In my dreams... :)
}
58... Kf8
{
markagodfrey: I look on it that money doesn't buy happiness...all that it does is enable rich people to arrive at their psychiatrist in a rolls-royce. They're just as unhappy as poor people, but have more distractions. Well that's my morning sermon... See you later I'm off to work (hi-ho-hi-ho)
}
59. h6
{
JohnKnudsen: I don't wanna be rich - just enough to pay off all of my debt and take a vacation! :) Ho, ho, ho.
}
59... Ke8
{
markagodfrey: Have you been following the Fritz-Kramnik games? Amazing blunder by Kramnik the other day
}
60. f7+
{
JohnKnudsen: I haven't been following the games, but have read about the blunder on TCCMB at the CC.COM site. Been busy with our site store ( http://www.cafepress.com/correspondence ) and also with my eBay store ( http://stores.ebay.com/Tenth-Legion-Coin-Shoppe ) because of the holiday season!
}
60... Ke7
{
markagodfrey: Nice items on your cafepress site, I think I will buy some.  Time for my king to make a quick get away, though checkmate is imminent. It would be interesting here if you checkmate with 2 queens
}
61. h7
{
JohnKnudsen: Thanks, Mark. Not too many moves left in our game, I'm afraid.
}
{
Games Freak: May I just say: It has been a pleasure to watch this game. John, thanks for your wonderful insights, Mark, Tough Luck, this was a great game!
}
61... Ke6
{
markagodfrey: Now which pawn are you going to queen first ?
}
62. h8=Q
{
JohnKnudsen: I chose one by random lot... :)
}
62... a6
{
markagodfrey: Nowhere to sun to
}
{
markagodfrey: Michael, you make it sound like I could lose this game, I still have a chance you know. I follow English cricket, we know how to hang on against the odds (LOL)
}
63. f8=Q
{
JohnKnudsen: I'm still trying to figure out the rules of Cricket. Which came first, Cricket or Baseball? I think Baseball was invented in the later 1880's by a guy named Doubleday, but I am not 100% sure about that. So I am guessing that English Cricket seriously pre-dates Baseball.
}
{
JohnKnudsen: Oops, I meant to say later 1800's, and not later 1880's.
}
63... Kd5
{
markagodfrey: Cricket was certainly around in the 16th Century but some say dates back to saxon times. It is played by gentile people though Australians are occaisionally allowed to play out of kindness
}
64. Qd4+
{
JohnKnudsen: I didn't know that Cricket went back that far... Oh, I think it is mate in one move now! :)
}
64... Ke6
{
markagodfrey: The question is where would I like to be mated (if you'll excuse the expression). 
May I say it was a great please and honour to play against you. I shall cherish the experience for a long time. I hope your return back to the US is sucessful and trouble free. Take care, warmest regards ...Mark
}
65. Qe8#
{
JohnKnudsen: Hi Mark: Thank you for a memorable game. The result itself aside, I can't remember when I have had a more stimulating and interesting social interaction with an opponent that I previously did not know. And now I have a new friend. This is what it is all about, really. Imagine how many friends you can make from all over the world through our wonderful avocation, in a lifetime. It is rare when it happens, but it happens once and awhile... Thanks for the challenging (and stimulating) game, too. I wish you the best in all of your future endeavors! Kind Regards, John.
}
{
Games Freak: Well done to the both of you. This was a great game! Tough luck Mark, Great game John. Look forward to the next!
}
1-0

