Saturday, June 11, 2011
Games with Jude Acers
I was in New Orleans and played Jude Acers, a local master who has a table set up near the Decatur Cafe. He'll play all comers for $5/game. He's USCF rated at 2359 and FIDE rated at 2241 (USCF rating tend to be 100 points higher). He's finished 3rd at the World Senior Championship in both 2009 and 2010.
I played 2 long games and 4 blitz games. I drew one long game and one blitz game, and lost the rest. Since I started practicing again, I was wondering how I was playing compared to my previous 1951 USCF rating. While its only two games, the loss and draw results in a 2168 performance for the long games, so I was quite happy.
In the first game, he played the Richter-Veresov Attack, and opening I was quite unfamiliar with. I quickly got my rook trapped. I got some active counterplay and a good knight but files got opened and I lost.
With white, he played the Center Counter defense. I didn't keep count of the moves, but I'm quite sure I was able to reconstruct it. At a minimum, all the snapshots are correct actual positions.
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.h3 (to prevent Bg4) a6 6.Nf3 b5 7.Bd3 Bb7 8.0-0 e6 9.Bg5 Nbd7 10.Qe2 Be7 11.Rad1 0-0
In the below position I also contemplated 12. Ne5, but I think I made the right choice
2.Ne4 Nxe4 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Bxe4 Bxe4 15.Qxe4 Nf6 16.Qc6 Qd6 17.Qxd6 cxd6 18.Rfe1 Rfc8 19.c3 a5 20.Rc1 Ra7 21.Rc2 Rac7 22.Rec1 Nd5 23.g3 Nb4 24.Rd2 Nd5 (Nxa2 is bad) 25.Rdc2 Kf8 26.Kf1 a4
27. a3 was the obvious move, but I was worried about a knight on c4 or b3.
27.Ke2 a3 28.bxa3 Ra8 29.c4 bxc4 30.Rxc4 Rxc4 31.Rxc4 Rxa3 32.Ng5 Rxa2+ 33.Kf3 h6 34.Ne4 Ra3+ 35.Ke2 Ke7 36.Rc2 f5 37.Nd2 Nc3+ 38.Kf1 Ra1+ 39.Kg2 Ra2 40.Rxc3 Rxd2 41.Rc7+ Kf6 42.Rc4 d5 43.Ra4 Rc2 44.Ra1 Rc4 45.Rd1 g5 46.f4 g4
I contemplated playing 47. hxg4 fxg4 48. Rh1, but after 48...Rc2+ 49. Kg1 Rc1+, the rooks come off and I loose.
54.Rd1 Kc6 55.Re1 Kb5 56.Rxe6 Kc4 57.Rxh6 Kxd4 58.Re6 Rc7 59.Kf2 Kd3 60.h6 d4 61.Rf6 Rc2+ 62.Kg1 Rc7 63.Rxf5 Kd2 64.Rd5 d3 65.f5 Rh7 66.Rd6 Ke2 67.Re6+ Kd1 68.Rd6 d2 69.Rd8 Ke1 70.Re8+ Kd1 71.Rd8 Rc7!
In the below photo during the actual game, began my longest think. Black plan is now Kc2 and to queen the pawn. Ra8 with the intention of Ra1 fails. 72. Kf2 with the intention of 73. Ke2 fails to Re7+. The right plan is to sac the rook, and use the king to advance the pawns.
72.Kf2 Kc2 73.Ke3 d1=Q 74.Rxd1 Kxd1 75.Kf4 Kd2 76.Kxg4 Ke3 77.Kg5 Ke4 78.Kg6 Ke5 79.f6 Ke6 80.h7 Rc8 81.g4 Ra8 82.g5 Rc8
My calculation had 83.Kg7 Rc7+ 84.f7 Rxf7+ 85.Kg8 Rxh7 86. Kxh7 and I can advance the pawn, but I missed his actual followup.
83.Kg7 Rc7+ 84.f7 Rxf7+ 85.Kg8 Ra7! 86.h8=Q Ra8+ 87.Kh7 Rxh8+ 88.Kxh8 Kf5 1/2-1/2
His intermove, made my king go to h8 instead of being on h7. I also looked a 83. Kh6 Ra8 84. g6 Kxf6 85. g7 Ra1 with mate threats. White can get a knight, and end up drawing, but is more difficult. There was a win after all for white. 83. f7 Rf8 84. Kh6 where 84... Kxf7 leads to 85 g6+ with 86. g7 to follow.
We played the blitz games, then reviewed the above game (why I can remember the moves). We also talked about the current chess world and chess history. He's an interesting character with bravado and strong opinions, but is genuinely nice. Some tidbits:
He then took me over to show Paul Morphy's house.
Full PGN
[Site "New Orleans"]
[Date "2011.06.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Chris "]
[Black "Jude Acers"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B01"]
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.h3 a6 6.Nf3 b5 7.Bd3 Bb7 8.0-0 e6 9.Bg5 Nbd7 10.Qe2 Be7 11.Rad1 0-0 12.Ne4 Nxe4 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Bxe4 Bxe4 15.Qxe4 Nf6 16.Qc6 Qd6 17.Qxd6 cxd6 18.Rfe1 Rfc8 19.c3 a5 20.Rc1 Ra7 21.Rc2 Rac7 22.Rec1 Nd5 23.g3 Nb4 24.Rd2 Nd5 25.Rdc2 Kf8 26.Kf1 a4 27.Ke2 a3 28.bxa3 Ra8 29.c4 bxc4 30.Rxc4 Rxc4 31.Rxc4 Rxa3 32.Ng5 Rxa2+ 33.Kf3 h6 34.Ne4 Ra3+ 35.Ke2 Ke7 36.Rc2 f5 37.Nd2 Nc3+ 38.Kf1 Ra1+ 39.Kg2 Ra2 40.Rxc3 Rxd2 41.Rc7+ Kf6 42.Rc4 d5 43.Ra4 Rc2 44.Ra1 Rc4 45.Rd1 g5 46.f4 g4 47.h4 Ke7 48.h5 Kd7 49.Kf2 Kc7 50.Re1
Kd6 51.Rd1 Rc2+ 52.Kg1 Kc6 53.Re1 Kd6 54.Rd1 Kc6 55.Re1 Kb5 56.Rxe6 Kc4 57.Rxh6 Kxd4 58.Re6 Rc7 59.Kf2 Kd3 60.h6 d4 61.Rf6 Rc2+ 62.Kg1 Rc7 63.Rxf5 Kd2 64.Rd5 d3 65.f5 Rh7 66.Rd6 Ke2 67.Re6+ Kd1 68.Rd6 d2 69.Rd8 Ke1 70.Re8+ Kd1 71.Rd8 Rc7 72.Kf2 Kc2 73.Ke3 d1=Q 74.Rxd1 Kxd1 75.Kf4 Kd2 76.Kxg4 Ke3 77.Kg5 Ke4 78.Kg6 Ke5 79.f6 Ke6 80.h7 Rc8 81.g4 Ra8 82.g5 Rc8 83.Kg7 Rc7+ 84.f7 Rxf7+ 85.Kg8 Ra7 86.h8=Q Ra8+ 87.Kh7 Rxh8+ 88.Kxh8 Kf5 1/2-1/2
I played 2 long games and 4 blitz games. I drew one long game and one blitz game, and lost the rest. Since I started practicing again, I was wondering how I was playing compared to my previous 1951 USCF rating. While its only two games, the loss and draw results in a 2168 performance for the long games, so I was quite happy.
In the first game, he played the Richter-Veresov Attack, and opening I was quite unfamiliar with. I quickly got my rook trapped. I got some active counterplay and a good knight but files got opened and I lost.
With white, he played the Center Counter defense. I didn't keep count of the moves, but I'm quite sure I was able to reconstruct it. At a minimum, all the snapshots are correct actual positions.
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.h3 (to prevent Bg4) a6 6.Nf3 b5 7.Bd3 Bb7 8.0-0 e6 9.Bg5 Nbd7 10.Qe2 Be7 11.Rad1 0-0
In the below position I also contemplated 12. Ne5, but I think I made the right choice
2.Ne4 Nxe4 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Bxe4 Bxe4 15.Qxe4 Nf6 16.Qc6 Qd6 17.Qxd6 cxd6 18.Rfe1 Rfc8 19.c3 a5 20.Rc1 Ra7 21.Rc2 Rac7 22.Rec1 Nd5 23.g3 Nb4 24.Rd2 Nd5 (Nxa2 is bad) 25.Rdc2 Kf8 26.Kf1 a4
27. a3 was the obvious move, but I was worried about a knight on c4 or b3.
27.Ke2 a3 28.bxa3 Ra8 29.c4 bxc4 30.Rxc4 Rxc4 31.Rxc4 Rxa3 32.Ng5 Rxa2+ 33.Kf3 h6 34.Ne4 Ra3+ 35.Ke2 Ke7 36.Rc2 f5 37.Nd2 Nc3+ 38.Kf1 Ra1+ 39.Kg2 Ra2 40.Rxc3 Rxd2 41.Rc7+ Kf6 42.Rc4 d5 43.Ra4 Rc2 44.Ra1 Rc4 45.Rd1 g5 46.f4 g4
I contemplated playing 47. hxg4 fxg4 48. Rh1, but after 48...Rc2+ 49. Kg1 Rc1+, the rooks come off and I loose.
47.h4 Ke7 48.h5! (keeping the black pawn on the 6th rank becomes vital later) Kd7 49.Kf2 Kc7 50.Re1 Kd6 51.Rd1
In the below position, I expected him to play 52.. Re2 with the intention of Re4. I thought it was scarier because it was harder to . get to the h6 pawn if e6 is protected. However, 53. Ra1 Kc6 54. Ra8 Re4 55. Rh8 Rxd4 56. Rxh6 Re4 57. Rh8 d4 58. h6 d3 59. Rd8 Re1+ 60. Kg2 Re2+ 61. Kg1 d2 62. h7 Re1+ 63. Kg2, black must settle for perpetual check, because otherwise black will queen. White also cannot move to f1/f2 because of Rh1/2.
Instead, I'll trade the d4 pawn for the e6 and h6 pawns. Then the race begins.
54.Rd1 Kc6 55.Re1 Kb5 56.Rxe6 Kc4 57.Rxh6 Kxd4 58.Re6 Rc7 59.Kf2 Kd3 60.h6 d4 61.Rf6 Rc2+ 62.Kg1 Rc7 63.Rxf5 Kd2 64.Rd5 d3 65.f5 Rh7 66.Rd6 Ke2 67.Re6+ Kd1 68.Rd6 d2 69.Rd8 Ke1 70.Re8+ Kd1 71.Rd8 Rc7!
In the below photo during the actual game, began my longest think. Black plan is now Kc2 and to queen the pawn. Ra8 with the intention of Ra1 fails. 72. Kf2 with the intention of 73. Ke2 fails to Re7+. The right plan is to sac the rook, and use the king to advance the pawns.
72.Kf2 Kc2 73.Ke3 d1=Q 74.Rxd1 Kxd1 75.Kf4 Kd2 76.Kxg4 Ke3 77.Kg5 Ke4 78.Kg6 Ke5 79.f6 Ke6 80.h7 Rc8 81.g4 Ra8 82.g5 Rc8
My calculation had 83.Kg7 Rc7+ 84.f7 Rxf7+ 85.Kg8 Rxh7 86. Kxh7 and I can advance the pawn, but I missed his actual followup.
83.Kg7 Rc7+ 84.f7 Rxf7+ 85.Kg8 Ra7! 86.h8=Q Ra8+ 87.Kh7 Rxh8+ 88.Kxh8 Kf5 1/2-1/2
His intermove, made my king go to h8 instead of being on h7. I also looked a 83. Kh6 Ra8 84. g6 Kxf6 85. g7 Ra1 with mate threats. White can get a knight, and end up drawing, but is more difficult. There was a win after all for white. 83. f7 Rf8 84. Kh6 where 84... Kxf7 leads to 85 g6+ with 86. g7 to follow.
We played the blitz games, then reviewed the above game (why I can remember the moves). We also talked about the current chess world and chess history. He's an interesting character with bravado and strong opinions, but is genuinely nice. Some tidbits:
- No one thought Fischer would actually play the World Championship due to his bizzare behavior.
- No one would have gotten paid at the 1972 World Championship if 4 games weren't played. Max Euwe came with a cashier's check.
- He's a big fan of the St Louis Chess Club and the benefactors (Rex Sinquefield) who have sponsored events and players, like Nakamura.
- He also likes a guy named Sev who promotes chess tournaments in Chicago.
- He's proud he made Fodor's 2011 for New Orleans
He then took me over to show Paul Morphy's house.
Full PGN
[Site "New Orleans"]
[Date "2011.06.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Chris "]
[Black "Jude Acers"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B01"]
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.h3 a6 6.Nf3 b5 7.Bd3 Bb7 8.0-0 e6 9.Bg5 Nbd7 10.Qe2 Be7 11.Rad1 0-0 12.Ne4 Nxe4 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Bxe4 Bxe4 15.Qxe4 Nf6 16.Qc6 Qd6 17.Qxd6 cxd6 18.Rfe1 Rfc8 19.c3 a5 20.Rc1 Ra7 21.Rc2 Rac7 22.Rec1 Nd5 23.g3 Nb4 24.Rd2 Nd5 25.Rdc2 Kf8 26.Kf1 a4 27.Ke2 a3 28.bxa3 Ra8 29.c4 bxc4 30.Rxc4 Rxc4 31.Rxc4 Rxa3 32.Ng5 Rxa2+ 33.Kf3 h6 34.Ne4 Ra3+ 35.Ke2 Ke7 36.Rc2 f5 37.Nd2 Nc3+ 38.Kf1 Ra1+ 39.Kg2 Ra2 40.Rxc3 Rxd2 41.Rc7+ Kf6 42.Rc4 d5 43.Ra4 Rc2 44.Ra1 Rc4 45.Rd1 g5 46.f4 g4 47.h4 Ke7 48.h5 Kd7 49.Kf2 Kc7 50.Re1
Kd6 51.Rd1 Rc2+ 52.Kg1 Kc6 53.Re1 Kd6 54.Rd1 Kc6 55.Re1 Kb5 56.Rxe6 Kc4 57.Rxh6 Kxd4 58.Re6 Rc7 59.Kf2 Kd3 60.h6 d4 61.Rf6 Rc2+ 62.Kg1 Rc7 63.Rxf5 Kd2 64.Rd5 d3 65.f5 Rh7 66.Rd6 Ke2 67.Re6+ Kd1 68.Rd6 d2 69.Rd8 Ke1 70.Re8+ Kd1 71.Rd8 Rc7 72.Kf2 Kc2 73.Ke3 d1=Q 74.Rxd1 Kxd1 75.Kf4 Kd2 76.Kxg4 Ke3 77.Kg5 Ke4 78.Kg6 Ke5 79.f6 Ke6 80.h7 Rc8 81.g4 Ra8 82.g5 Rc8 83.Kg7 Rc7+ 84.f7 Rxf7+ 85.Kg8 Ra7 86.h8=Q Ra8+ 87.Kh7 Rxh8+ 88.Kxh8 Kf5 1/2-1/2
