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Steve Ryan vs. Dave Taylor (odds game) |
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White: Steve Ryan
Time Used: 0/9 |
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Dave Taylor is giving odds of pawn and move to Steve Ryan in this unique challenge game. It will be played at one move per day (time limit of 10/10) starting Sept. 1. This is an informal game played with "live" coverage for your pleasure. Remove Black's h-pawn. |
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| Dave Taylor contributed the following notes after the game. | |
| 1.d4! | This is the very best move vs the Black formation missing the h7 pawn. 1.e4?! would be incorrect as that often leads to King side castling which is something White needs to avoid. |
| 2. Nf3! | again the best move. |
| 3. h3?! | Not a good move. Loses the initiative which is quite important in the opening. Steve mentioned he was paranoid about the "loose" Rook. But, really Black cannot and should not move his Rook any time soon as it would be subject of attack by White's Knights and Bishops. Also, please note the Pawn on h2 is very well protected. Black was not going after that Pawn in any event as it would take too much time. Also, please note that once a Pawn is moved it cannot move backwards. Movement too early of the "a" or "b" or "g" or "h" Pawns can lead to weaknesses. I would suggest 3.c4 or 3.Bf4 or 3.Bg5 here. |
| 3. ... c5 | Now Black takes over the initiative. Black is still theoretically losing but has improved chances. |
| 4. e3 | Here, a suggestion would be 4.c3 to be followed by 5.Bf4 [get that Bishop out and into play]. |
| 5. c3 | Notice the Bishop on c1 is hemmed in by the Pawns on e3, d5, c6. |
| 5. ... e6 | I would have liked to play 5...Bf5 but did not wish to have to trade Bishops after the reply 6.Bd3 |
| 6. b3 | Here I thought Steve's idea was to follow up with 7.Ba3 [a reasonable idea]. |
| 7. Nbd2?! | This is a mistake. Gives up the possibility of trading off the "bad" Bishop on c1. A "bad" Bishop is one hemmed in by its own Pawns. |
| 8. exd4 | 8.cxd4 would have left Black open to attack on his Queen side after 8...Rc8. However, the problem with the move played is the Pawn on c3 is weak and may become a target. |
| 10. Qc2 | This move violates the principle of not moving the Queen too early in the opening. Also, it is not a good idea to place the Queen on the c file as Black may soon reply Rc8. |
| 11. a3 | Black was threatening 11...Nb4. White's problem now is having too many Pawn moves on his Queen side. Where will his King be safe? |
| 11.... e5 | Black has a lead in development. Time to open up the position..... |
| 14. ....Kf8 | Now Black must 0-0-0. He cannot 0-0 because of the open "h" file. |
| 15. ... Qa5 | Trying to force 16.b4, which would further weaken the Pawn protection for the White King. |
| 16. Nc4 | This move would be okay if Black would have to reply 16...Qc7. However, Black has a little combo which wins... |
| 17. ... Ne5 | Notice the attack on the c3 square.... |
| 18. Qxd5 | 18.b4 or 18.Qd4 would be a little better [but still losing]. |
| 19. ... Nxf2 | I think, maybe, Steve overlooked the power of this move? |
| 20. Re1 | Forced as 20.Rxd7 Bxe3ch and 21... Nxa1 is winning... |
| 22. gxf3 | Not 21.Rxf4?! Ne3+ |
| 23. Kd2 | Again, 22.Rxf4 runs into 22... Ne3+ |
| 24. Re4 | I think he just overlooked my Knight? However, there is not any saving move as Black is about to take the "h" Pawn and the pins and forks are too much... |
From Steve Ryan: (18-Sept-2001) ... Overall I think I simply wasted too many moves and allowed you to regain lost ground. I had visions of the "loose" rook coming out and causing havoc, so maybe my 3.h3, for example, turned out as nothing more than another tempo loser. I debated which side to castle on or even if I should have castled at all as another issue. Of course silly moves like 24.Re4 didn't help things at all either. I think I will "retire" from live coverage games, at least for a while as I have some IECC and CCCA matches coming up and need to concentrate on them. Speaking of the IECC, I have put you on the non-member mailing list for the IECC journal. The next edition comes out in December and will have our game (complete with quotes) as part of it. All the best, |
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From Steve Ryan: (17-Sept-2001) 0-1 Hi Dave: Remember Shah-Tay, the Taylor is dead? Can you guess what Shah-Ry means? No? Well it means "I resign" and long overdue at that. Congratulations on a good win and a well-played game. Meanwhile, I look forward to your comments.
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From Dave Taylor: (17-Sept-2001) 24...
Nxe4+
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From Steve Ryan: (16-Sept-2001) 22.gxf3
Re8 23.Kd2 g5 24.Re4 …
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From Dave Taylor: (16-Sept-2001) 21...
Bxf3
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From Steve Ryan: (16-Sept-2001) 20.Re1 Bc6
21.Rd4 …
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From Dave Taylor: (15-Sept-2001) 19...
Nxf2
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From Steve Ryan: (15-Sept-2001) 18.Qxd5
… 16. Nc4 Bf4ch 17.Ne3 Ne4 18.Qxd5 if Qxd5 (a move I don't consider the least obligatory on your part, feel free to make another) then 19.Rxd5
I don't see any problem with that. |
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From Dave Taylor: (14-Sept-2001) 16...
Bf4+ I did not play 14. ... 0-0 as you could have replied 15. 0-0 with your King in relative safety. |
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From Steve Ryan: (14-Sept-2001) 16.Nc4
… Why not 14...O-O? "It was the best of times , it was the worst of times." |
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From Dave Taylor: (10-Sept-2001) 15... Qa5
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." |
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From Dave Taylor Thank you for your comments. |
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From Steve Ryan: (11-Sept-2001) 14.Qxd3 Kf8 15.O-O-O … Hi Dave: I hope you didn't have any friends or family involved in that attack in New York & Washington and will understand if you wish to postpone or cancel the game. |
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From Dave Taylor: (10-Sept-2001) 13... Nxd3+ if 14.Qxd3 then Kf8 "Where all men think alike, no one thinks very much." -- Walter Lippmann |
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From Steve Ryan: (9-Sept-2001) 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Bb2 … Your hypothetical sequence did look tempting I must admit, but I didn't at all like the idea of your B sitting on e5.
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From Dave Taylor: (9-Sept-2001) 11... e5 if 12. dxe5 then Nxe5 and if 13. Nxe5 then Bxe5 "If your opponent offers you a draw, try to work out why he thinks he's worse off." -- Nigel Short |
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From Steve Ryan: (8-Sept-2001) 11.a3 … We have fresh bread baking in the oven. The aroma tends to distract me. |
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From Dave Taylor: (7-Sept-2001) 10... Rc8 Beware the move of a knight. :) |
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From Steve Ryan: (7-Sept-2001) 10.Qc2 … I deeply distrust your 9th move, even more so than 1-8.
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From Dave Taylor: (6-Sept-2001) 9... Qc7
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From Steve Ryan: (6-Sept-2001) 9.Bd3 … Lots of dust and pollen floating around today. My sinuses feel like they're full of cotton stuffed with broken glass.
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From Dave Taylor: (6-Sept-2001) 8... Bd6 Don't worry friend; I am not ruthless. Never even met the lady!
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From Steve Ryan: (5-Sept-2001) 8.exd4 … "Chess is ruthless: you've got to be prepared to kill people." I hope that statement applies to OTB play, not CC where we all have a more sporting and fair minded attitude, do we not?
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From Dave Taylor: (5-Sept-2001) 7... cxd4
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From Steve Ryan: (5-Sept-2001) 7. Nbd2 … Regarding "Shah Tay", according to legend, the ancient Persians foresaw, in the entrails of a goat I believe, the very game we now have, except they missed the start date by a few weeks, but recognizing my ultimate victory they wished to express it in their own language. Hence "Shah Tay", or "The Taylor is Dead". :)
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From Dave Taylor: (4-Sept-2001) 6... Bd7 You asked "why not 4. ...cxd4?" If I made that Pawn exchange it would have freed your Bishop to move to f4 or g5. Also, since I am a Pawn down, it would generally not be in my interest to trade pieces or Pawns. What does "Shah Tay" mean? I will guess--threat to the Queen? Best Regards, P S I will agree---you are ahead---so far......:) |
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From Steve Ryan: (4-Sept-2001) 6.b3 … Total RT DT=a big fat zero Why not 4...cxd4? Any particular reason?
The word "checkmate" in chess comes from the Persian phrase "Shah Mat," which means "the king is dead". They also had an expression "Shah Tay". Guess what that means. |
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From Dave Taylor: (3-Sept-2001) 5... e6 The word "checkmate" in chess comes from the Persian phrase "Shah Mat," which means "the king is dead". |
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From Steve Ryan: (3-Sept-2001) 5.c3 …
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From Dave Taylor: (3-Sept-2001) 4... Nc6 "Chess is life." -- Bobby Fischer |
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From Steve Ryan: (3-Sept-2001) 4.e3 … 3. h3 c5 4.e3 if cxd4 5.exd4 |
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From Dave Taylor: (2-Sept-2001) 3... c5 "Ponz" on my email stands for Ponziani Opening--my favorite
opening! |
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From Steve Ryan: (2-Sept-2001) 3.h3 … 3.h3 perhaps loses a tempo but I am paranoid about that "loose" rook. What does PONZ mean on your e-mail address?
I also agree to not more than 2 moves per day, latest by 9 pm. Looking forward to your eventual resignation I remain: Your humble and obedient servant |
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From Dave Taylor: (1-Sept-2001) 2... d5 He is playing good moves. For now all I can do is copy :( |
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From Steve Ryan: (1-Sept-2001) 2.Nf3 … I agree, you did see a lot of 1.e4 in the days of Staunton, Morphy and that bunch. The Ruy Lopez ruled supreme in those days (not that I have any personal experience of that time mind you). Still, if Black forgoes O-O he may get the rook into play early but I have no immediate idea how I can exploit the K's side "hole." |
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From Dave Taylor: (1-Sept-2001) 1... Nf6 In Pawn and move odds games in the past it has been traditional for Black to remove the f7 Pawn. Possibly that is because in those days White often started with 1. e4 and this allows Black to respond 1. ...e5 and later 0-0 with an open file? A problem with removing the f7 Pawn is that White does not need to [and probably should not] start with 1. e4. The major problem with starting without the f Pawn is that immediately Black's Pawn structure is broken up into two Pawn "islands"--it is better to have the least number of pawn chains possible. The advantages of starting without the h Pawn is that you have already semi developed a piece and you are more likely to get Black out of book openings. One disadvantage of no h7 Pawn is that it can make Black's King side somewhat weaker. At this point I have no idea what to play against 1. d4. I chose my first move as it is flexible... |
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From Steve Ryan: (1-Sept-2001) 1.d4 … Good luck Dave (within reason).
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