By Moulthun Ly
It is very often the case in chess that one will put aside their objective judgements of a position, in place of an aesthetically pleasing combination. The term chess aesthetics is well known to all competent chess players, and is the reason why many still continue to play.
In fact, there has been surprising amounts of research into computing the beauty of chess positions. Something i believe only humans will ever fully understand. However, this entry is not about the most beautifully played games, nor will it look at tactically brilliant combinations. But rather, the pitfalls which players will suffer along the way to achieving their best game prize.
Although a perfectly played game is a sight to behold. A well played tragedy is just as entertaining, if not more so. For these games i prefer to look for master level or near master games, making them all the more interesting. The first entry was a game played at Queenstown tournament, which i had recently finished several days ago. I finished on 6/9 after tragically losing my last round to Rozentalis from a very equal ending. We might finish off the second half of the Queenstown post soon. But enough of me, lets have a skiwz at the game. I won't mention the players names for the sake of these posts, but it is the positions which we are more interested in! :)
White has played quite oddly up to this point, but managed to hold his advantage the whole way through the game. It is now white to play, for those of you suggested such natural moves as Rc1or h5 or Rd2 then you get a 0 for artistic flare.
The move played was Qf5!! and the double exclamation marks are given for its artistic humor, considering this was a serious tournament game.
Rc2+ 31.Ke3 Ra2 32.Rg1 32...Ne8 33.Rc1+ Kb7 34.Kd4 Rxa3 35.Re1 Nd6 36.Re7+ Kc8 37.Re5 37...Nb5+ 38.Ke3 d4+ 39.Ke4 Kd7 40.Rd5+ Ke7 41.Re5+ Kd7 42.Rd5+ Kc7 43.Re5 Kc6
44.f6 gxf6 45.Rh5 f5+ 46.Kxf5 Rxd3 47.Rxh6+ Kc7 48.Rf6 Rxf3 49.Rxf7+ Kd8 50.Kg4 Re3 51.Rf5 d3 52.Rd5+ Ke7 53.h5 Ke6 54.Rd8 Nd6 55.f5+ Ke7 0–1
To finish things off white has gotten himself trapped in a sort of zugswang, which deserves a diagram position of its own. White's pawns have created a barrier for its own king leaving no escape. Anyhow, that is it for the first post will be sure to keep adding more games as I stumble across them.
It is very often the case in chess that one will put aside their objective judgements of a position, in place of an aesthetically pleasing combination. The term chess aesthetics is well known to all competent chess players, and is the reason why many still continue to play.
In fact, there has been surprising amounts of research into computing the beauty of chess positions. Something i believe only humans will ever fully understand. However, this entry is not about the most beautifully played games, nor will it look at tactically brilliant combinations. But rather, the pitfalls which players will suffer along the way to achieving their best game prize.
Although a perfectly played game is a sight to behold. A well played tragedy is just as entertaining, if not more so. For these games i prefer to look for master level or near master games, making them all the more interesting. The first entry was a game played at Queenstown tournament, which i had recently finished several days ago. I finished on 6/9 after tragically losing my last round to Rozentalis from a very equal ending. We might finish off the second half of the Queenstown post soon. But enough of me, lets have a skiwz at the game. I won't mention the players names for the sake of these posts, but it is the positions which we are more interested in! :)
White has played quite oddly up to this point, but managed to hold his advantage the whole way through the game. It is now white to play, for those of you suggested such natural moves as Rc1or h5 or Rd2 then you get a 0 for artistic flare.
The move played was Qf5!! and the double exclamation marks are given for its artistic humor, considering this was a serious tournament game.
Rc2+ 31.Ke3 Ra2 32.Rg1 32...Ne8 33.Rc1+ Kb7 34.Kd4 Rxa3 35.Re1 Nd6 36.Re7+ Kc8 37.Re5 37...Nb5+ 38.Ke3 d4+ 39.Ke4 Kd7 40.Rd5+ Ke7 41.Re5+ Kd7 42.Rd5+ Kc7 43.Re5 Kc6
44.f6 gxf6 45.Rh5 f5+ 46.Kxf5 Rxd3 47.Rxh6+ Kc7 48.Rf6 Rxf3 49.Rxf7+ Kd8 50.Kg4 Re3 51.Rf5 d3 52.Rd5+ Ke7 53.h5 Ke6 54.Rd8 Nd6 55.f5+ Ke7 0–1
To finish things off white has gotten himself trapped in a sort of zugswang, which deserves a diagram position of its own. White's pawns have created a barrier for its own king leaving no escape. Anyhow, that is it for the first post will be sure to keep adding more games as I stumble across them.
In the fail of everything, you cannot fail again. Fail until you can't fail no more. The loss is only young, the pain it lasts so long, fail until you can't fail no more.
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