Bs"d

They are rare, but they do occur sometimes. Just had one, in a real game. On move 30, so that doesn't really fit under opening traps or miniatures: https://lichess.org/sEmWMlldjeMl

That's why I like horses. No other piece can do something like that.

https://tinyurl.com/queen-sac-striking

On Monday, February 28, 2022 at 6:16:20 PM UTC-5, Eli Kesef wrote:
> Bs"d
>
> They are rare, but they do occur sometimes. Just had one, in a real game. On move 30, so that doesn't really fit under opening traps or miniatures: https://lichess.org/sEmWMlldjeMl

I wonder if he has seen your games? His second move looks like an attempt to avoid the Budapest, though there are better ways of doing that. But as your response gave him a solid advantage, he may try it again if you ever play him with black.

But given his play in the rest of the game, I suspect there was no special thought behind his second move.

William Hyde

On Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 12:33:09 AM UTC+2, William Hyde wrote:
> On Monday, February 28, 2022 at 6:16:20 PM UTC-5, Eli Kesef wrote:
> > Bs"d
> >
> > They are rare, but they do occur sometimes. Just had one, in a real game. On move 30, so that doesn't really fit under opening traps or miniatures: https://lichess.org/sEmWMlldjeMl
> I wonder if he has seen your games? His second move looks like an attempt to avoid the Budapest, though there are better ways of doing that.

Bs"d

I think it was just bad play.

> But as your response gave him a solid advantage, he may try it again if you ever play him with black.

I did mess up the opening with my response. Wanted to play aggressively, and got pushed back.
>
> But given his play in the rest of the game, I suspect there was no special thought behind his second move.

It was too bad his castle was on c1, and not more to the left on the first row. Then I would have had a mate in 5, but now it was only a mate in 3, because when my horse came to c2, he could and should have taken it with his castle, in order to prevent the mate in 3. It would have costed him the exchange, but that is better than to be mated in three moves in the corner.
He probably was not familiar with that smothered mate, even though it is quite well known.
It looks flashy, and I think it is nice, a queen sacrifice followed by a smothered mate, but I cannot claim that I worked that out with brain power. I learned it many years ago. It is also years ago I played it last, because it is rare. But it looks nice :)

https://tinyurl.com/death-or-life

On Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 1:17:06 AM UTC-5, Eli Kesef wrote:
> On Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 12:33:09 AM UTC+2, William Hyde wrote:
> > On Monday, February 28, 2022 at 6:16:20 PM UTC-5, Eli Kesef wrote:
> > > Bs"d
> > >
> > > They are rare, but they do occur sometimes. Just had one, in a real game. On move 30, so that doesn't really fit under opening traps or miniatures: https://lichess.org/sEmWMlldjeMl
> > I wonder if he has seen your games? His second move looks like an attempt to avoid the Budapest, though there are better ways of doing that.
> Bs"d
>
> I think it was just bad play.

I am not sure that Bf4 is actually bad. It is a developing move, if not the best such, and as it isn't unsound tactically it can't be all that terrible.

> > But as your response gave him a solid advantage, he may try it again if you ever play him with black.
> I did mess up the opening with my response.

If I knew my opponent would play 2 Nd5 I would play 2Bf4 all day, every day..

> Wanted to play aggressively, and got pushed back.

When you are not in one of your gambit lines, the best aggression is fast development. Don't move the same piece twice without good reason.

Or to put it another way, on f4 his bishop is loose, there might be some tactical shots based on that later in the game. On g3 it is well defended. On f6 your Knight is fine, on d5 it can be kicked away with tempo.

> >
> > But given his play in the rest of the game, I suspect there was no special thought behind his second move.
> It was too bad his castle was on c1, and not more to the left on the first row. Then I would have had a mate in 5, but now it was only a mate in 3, because when my horse came to c2, he could and should have taken it with his castle, in order to prevent the mate in 3. It would have costed him the exchange, but that is better than to be mated in three moves in the corner.
> He probably was not familiar with that smothered mate, even though it is quite well known.
> It looks flashy, and I think it is nice, a queen sacrifice followed by a smothered mate, but I cannot claim that I worked that out with brain power. I learned it many years ago.

It is sometimes called Philidor's legacy, after a great player who was (as far as I know) the first to put it in a book. But I suspect it was known by Greco and even earlier players.

William Hyde

On Wed, 2 Mar 2022 14:41:47 -0800 (PST), William Hyde
<wthyde1953@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 1:17:06 AM UTC-5, Eli Kesef wrote:
>> On Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 12:33:09 AM UTC+2, William Hyde wrote:
>> > On Monday, February 28, 2022 at 6:16:20 PM UTC-5, Eli Kesef wrote:
>> > > Bs"d
>> > >
>> > > They are rare, but they do occur sometimes. Just had one, in a real game. On move 30, so that doesn't really fit under opening traps or miniatures: https://lichess.org/sEmWMlldjeMl
>> > I wonder if he has seen your games? His second move looks like an attempt to avoid the Budapest, though there are better ways of doing that.
>> Bs"d
>>
>> I think it was just bad play.
>
>I am not sure that Bf4 is actually bad. It is a developing move, if not the best such, and as it isn't unsound tactically it can't be all that terrible.

I agree

>
>> > But as your response gave him a solid advantage, he may try it again if you ever play him with black.
>> I did mess up the opening with my response.
>
>If I knew my opponent would play 2 Nd5 I would play 2Bf4 all day, every day.

Me too.

>
> > Wanted to play aggressively, and got pushed back.
>
>When you are not in one of your gambit lines, the best aggression is fast development. Don't move the same piece twice without good reason.
>
>Or to put it another way, on f4 his bishop is loose, there might be some tactical shots based on that later in the game. On g3 it is well defended. On f6 your Knight is fine, on d5 it can be kicked away with tempo.
>
>> >
>> > But given his play in the rest of the game, I suspect there was no special thought behind his second move.
>> It was too bad his castle was on c1, and not more to the left on the first row. Then I would have had a mate in 5, but now it was only a mate in 3, because when my horse came to c2, he could and should have taken it with his castle, in order to prevent the mate in 3. It would have costed him the exchange, but that is better than to be mated in three moves in the corner.
>> He probably was not familiar with that smothered mate, even though it is quite well known.
>> It looks flashy, and I think it is nice, a queen sacrifice followed by a smothered mate, but I cannot claim that I worked that out with brain power. I learned it many years ago.
>
>It is sometimes called Philidor's legacy, after a great player who was (as far as I know) the first to put it in a book. But I suspect it was known by Greco and even earlier players.
>
>William Hyde

Bs"d

And I got yet another one! https://lichess.org/z7uTUuONQrTR

And a while before I almost got another one, but I think the enemy saw it. Almost, but just not all the way :(

But this one I played until the bitter end. (for the enemy is was bitter, for me it was a sweet and humorous)

https://tinyurl.com/I-ll-praise-Him

https://tinyurl.com/queen-sac-striking

Bs"d

This I have already posted in the "Funny games" thread, but I thought it also belongs here. So beware; this is double.

So this was a REALLY funny game. Even if I say so myself: https://lichess.org/ofk18NOW3x6y

It combined many beautiful elements of our noble chess game; a nice opening trap, I gave the enemy a rook, and took his queen, in a Falkbeer counter gambit.

Then came that beloved, beautiful, but also devastating attack, the horse fork, forking both his king and a castle. If executed, that fork would have netted me a full castle.

However, I decided to let that fork be, because I saw a BEAUTIFUL mate in 5, including queen sacrifice, and ending in a smothered mate.
And these things a rare, to get one in a real game.

The enemy cooperated and let me play the smothered mate until the bitter end. Bitter for the enemy of course, for me is was sweeter than honey. 😀😀😀

With overwhelming gratitude to the Creator I quietly and humbly shout out: HALLELUJAH!!!

Have a good day you all!

https://tinyurl.com/Thank4trapgamb