Tactics Time Chess Newsletter: Buried Alive

Published: Sat, 02/08/14

Newsletter Issue Buried Alive

Tactics Time

Buried Alive

Not all those who wander are lost;
     The old that is strong does not wither,
     Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
      ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring


T

his position comes from the game Shantam Bhatt (1038) vs Jason Chamberlain (1090), Triangle Chess League, Feb 6, 2014, and was sent to my by Jason.

In the position on the right it is Black to move.

Answer below.

Today I would like to share a quick story...

Last Saturday Shirley Herman, who is a very active chess player, chess mom, tournament organizer, and Colorado Chess political gadfly held a Super Bowl themed Chess Tournament at her beautiful home in North Colorado Springs.

This was the day before the Broncos imploded in one of the worst super bowl blowouts ever!

Shirley had Bronco's themed time controls - Game 48 (for super bowl 48) with an 18 second increment (for Payton Manning's Jersey Number). She even had cupcakes with a football theme. It was a great time, and Shirley is always an amazing host.

I was a "game time decision" whether I was going to attend or not because of the weather. I drive a Miata, which is a very practical winter car - if you live in Tucson! In Colorado, not so much. The weather has been very snowy and bitterly cold here the past few weeks.

At the last minute I decided to go, and rushed out to clean off my car, and scrape off the ice and snow.

When I got to Shirley's house I realized that I didn't have my monroi (electronic scoring device).

   I was an early adopter of the monroi, and got it around 2007. I was one of the first people in Colorado to have one, and it has been a trusty companion during my various chess adventures. I realized it must have fallen out of my jacket coat while I was cleaning the car.

   I assumed it was gone for good after I couldn't find it for a week.

    So, today I am unloading groceries from my car - look down, and there was the monroi sticking out of the melting snow! It had been buried alive for a week.

   I took it back inside, and just out of curiosity turned it on. And I'll be damned - the thing turned on and works perfectly!

   I was VERY impressed that it was able to survive a week in the frozen tundra!!

Great job Monroi! http://monroi.com/

Here is the complete game

[Event "Triangle Chess League"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.02.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bhatt, Shantam"]
[Black "Chamberlain, Jason"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C44"]
[WhiteElo "1038"]
[BlackElo "1090"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d3 Nf6 4. Bd2 Bc5 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Be2 d6 7. O-O h6 8. Qe1
Nb4 9. Qd1 d5 10. exd5 Nfxd5 11. Nxe5 Bd4 12. Nf3 Qf6 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Bf3 Be6
15. a3 Nc6 16. Re1 Rfe8 17. Re4 Qc5 18. Qe1 Nf6 19. Re2 Bd7 20. Rc1 Qb6 21. Rb1
Nd4 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. Qd1 Nxf3+ 24. Qxf3 Bc6 25. Qg3 Nh5 26. Qg4 g6 27. Bxh6
Qxb2 28. Qb4 Qxc2 29. Qc4 Qxb1+ 30. Nxb1 Re1# 0-1

You can play through this postion here: http://www.viewchess.com/cbreader/2014/2/8/Game731768959.html

Answer:

Jason writes:

Tim,

I'm rather proud of how this game finished. I was black. Fritz wasn't wild about white's play through most of the game and then he took the bait of capturing my h pawn. Once I got the bishop off the back rank I was able to move in for the back-rank kill.

Never mind that he beat me with a back-rank mate in the next game :)

I hope that you can find this useful.

My response:

Jason,

Finally had a chance to play over your game - BOOYAH!!! That was awesome! Loved it!! GREAT job!

I will be sure to use this - very nice work! Thanks for thinking of me :)

Cheers,
Tim

Fritz 13 gave 29...Qxb1+!! a well deserved double exclam that leads to mate

30.Nxb1 Re1#
30.Bc1 Re1#

30.Nd1 Qxd1# or ...Re1#

Happy Tactics!

Your Friend,