Chess - training game

[glee]

This challenge arose out of a thread on how early could children learn chess.
As a result, I am taking on CaveMike’s youngsters in a game.
Once per game, each boy can:

• take a move back
• ask me for advice
• ask what i’m threatening

I will also supply comments.

CaveMike will make the draw for colours…

[CaveMike]

Awesome – thanks for setting this up glee! You’ll be playing against CaveMatt and CaveRiley (both 7 year olds) and CaveJosh who is six.

We drew colors today at breakfast. After clarifying if they wanted the piece from ‘my right’ or ‘their right’, they drew black. This began a heated debate about whether black or white is better. A debate still unresolved when the food arrived.

Good luck and Merry Christmas!

[glee]

Welcome and Merry Xmas to CaveMatt, CaveRiley and CaveJosh.
I have been playing chess for 2.5 times your combined ages. :eek:

1. White is better, because they move first:

• mathematically White is on average 0.5 of a move ahead = (1+0)/2 (your Dad will explain if necessary)
• in international practice, White averages about 55%
• if Black continually copies White’s moves from the start, White can always win (e.g. because at some he gives a strong check; 1. d2-d4 d7-d5 2. Bc1-g5 Bc8-g4 3. Bg5-h4 Bg4-h5 4. Qd1-d3 Qd8-d6 5. Qd3-h3 Qd6-h6 6. Qh3-c8 checkmate!)

(The only exception to this is in a few endings where White is in zugswang, but that doesn’t matter compared to the huge opening advantage White has.)

2. Remember that in this training game each of you have 3 bonuses (see post 1)

3. Work as a team and be good sports!

4. In the opening you should:

• bring out several of your pieces (especially bishops and knights)
• control and occupy the centre (d4 / e4 / d5 / e5) with pawns and pieces
• get castled soon (within 10 moves or less)

5. Watch out for what I’m trying to do and especially if you have undefended pieces…

[glee]

1. d2-d4

(Thoroughly sound; occupying and controlling the centre + letting the bishop come out).

[ivan_astikov]

@glee

(The only exception to this is in a few endings where White is in zugswang, but that doesn’t matter compared to the huge opening advantage White has.)

Zugswanged? I’ve been there many a time - I just never knew it before now!

[CaveMike]

Christmas was great and we are excited to get started!

1. d7-d5

[glee]

@CaveMike

Christmas was great and we are excited to get started!

Excellent - I hope all my opponents enjoyed their Xmas presents.
I am wading through a mountain of chocolate myself.

White…Black
Glee…CM/CR/CJ

1. d2-d4 d7-d5
2. c2-c4
   White apparently blunders a pawn? No! This has been thoroughly analysed and White is able to eventually regain the pawn.
   The opening is called the Queen’s Gambit.

P.S. CaveMike, if you quote or copy the above moves, spectators will be able to follow the game.

[CaveMike]

   White  Black
   Glee   CM/CR/CJ
1. d2-d4  d7-d5
2. c2-c4  dxc4

Quote the moves like this? Also, let me know if my notation is off. We are using Chessmaster to track the game and this is the notation it is spitting out.

Hope you are enjoying your chocolate!

[lucas]

White Black
Glee CM/CR/CJ

1. d2-d4 d7-d5
2. c2-c4 d5xc4
3. e2-e3

Black’s capture is fine, since White has to spend time to recapture the pawn. Other standard moves were 2. … e7-e6 and 2. … c7-c6.

@CaveMike

Quote the moves like this? Also, let me know if my notation is off. We are using Chessmaster to track the game and this is the notation it is spitting out.

The above is fine (your method was interesting :)).
Chessmaster is using standard notation, which simply abbreviates. I thought I would add the departure square for each move, since it makes things clearer for beginners.

@CaveMike

Hope you are enjoying your chocolate!

Mmmmmm!

[glee]

Oooops - sorry that last post was me. :o
Lucas kindly let me borrow his computer and I forgot to log off / log on.

Mods, could you change the last post to become mine?

[CaveMike]

White…Black
Glee…CM/CR/CJ

1. d2-d4 d7-d5
2. c2-c4 d5-c4
3. e2-e3 b7-b5

[glee]

White…Black
Glee…CM/CR/CJ

1. d2-d4 d7-d5
2. c2-c4 d5-c4
3. e2-e3 b7-b5
4. a2-a4

It may look as if Black can hold onto the pawn, but he can easily fall into a trap. :eek:

Given the danger, maybe a Black player would like to use one of his special abilities…

[CaveMike]

White…Black
Glee…CM/CR/CJ

1. d2-d4 d7-d5
2. c2-c4 d5-c4
3. e2-e3 b7-b5
4. a2-a4 c7-c6

The boys feel confident that the trap was a7-a6 which could result in a4-b5 a6-b5 a1-a8 or otherwise losing two (or three) pawns.

They are having a lot of fun BTW.

[glee]

White…Black
Glee…CM/CR/CJ

1. d2-d4 d7-d5
2. c2-c4 d5-c4
3. e2-e3 b7-b5
4. a2-a4 c7-c6?
5. a4xb5!*

@CaveMike

The boys feel confident that the trap was a7-a6 which could result in a4-b5 a6-b5 a1-a8 or otherwise losing two (or three) pawns.

They are having a lot of fun BTW.

Did I say ‘trap’? :o
I meant ‘traps’! :eek:

4. … a7-a6? is indeed a blunder - as you rightly say 5. a4xb5 a6xb5?? 6. Ra1xa8 wins a whole rook! :smack:

*However there is also a **serious problem **with the obvious recapture 5. … c6xb5?
You should really think about using your special powers…

(As a teacher, there is nothing better than students both enjoying themselves and learning. :D)

[CaveMike]

@glee

You should really think about using your special powers…

CaveRiley agrees and thinks we should ask your advice.

But first, I’ll mention some things that the boys discussed. CaveMatt noticed that c6-b5 would leave the rook at a8 wide open to the queen. Is this the other trap? CaveRiley suggested that their next move should be c8-b7 to protect the rook and the pawn, but they’re worried about getting so many pieces pinned. Another thought they had was a7-a6. This gives the rook an out at the cost of a pawn, but their worried that the rook is still in danger from the rook at a1.

[glee]

My advice is to take back 4. … c7-c6. :eek:

The problem is indeed that 5. … c6xb5 loses material after 6. Qd1-f3. (Black has to give up at least a knight to save the rook.)

5. … Bc8-b7 limits Black’s losses to a pawn (after 6. Bf1xc4).
   Ditto after 5. … a7-a6 6. Bf1xc4, since after 6. … c6xb5 7. Bc4xb5+ the pin on a6 stops Black capturing on b5.
   But who wants to be a pawn down after 5 moves?

6. … Bc8-d7 can be met by 6. Qd1-f3, when Black’s pieces are tangled up.

[CaveMike]

@glee

My advice is to take back 4. … c7-c6. :eek:

Thanks glee. Happy new year! I apologize for the delay; things have been crazy and the boys weren’t sure what move to replace it with.

So, they would like to use one of their special powers and take back c7-c6 as you suggested. And replace the move with c8-b7. This will still sacrifice the pawn, but they think it will help them keep their rook and pin the pawn at b5.

White…Black
Glee…CM/CR/CJ

1. d2-d4 d7-d5
2. c2-c4 d5-c4
3. e2-e3 b7-b5
4. a2-a4 c8-b7

[glee]

@CaveMike

Thanks glee. Happy new year! I apologize for the delay; things have been crazy and the boys weren’t sure what move to replace it with.

So, they would like to use one of their special powers and take back c7-c6 as you suggested. And replace the move with c8-b7. This will still sacrifice the pawn, but they think it will help them keep their rook and pin the pawn at b5.

No worries, mate!
Happy New Year to all.

White…Black
Glee…CM/CR/CJ

1. d2-d4 d7-d5
2. c2-c4 d5xc4
3. e2-e3 b7-b5
4. a2-a4 Bc8-b7
5. a4xb5

There’s no possible pin on the b5 pawn.

[CaveMike]

@glee

There’s no possible pin on the b5 pawn.

I guess pin is the wrong term then. Maybe threatening?

Anyway, they are in bed no so we’ll try to do a move tomorrow morning.

[glee]

@CaveMike

I guess pin is the wrong term then. Maybe threatening?

Anyway, they are in bed no so we’ll try to do a move tomorrow morning.

A pin is where one piece can’t move away without letting a more valuable (or undefended) piece behind it get taken.