My Chess Games vs. samoleus

[Dynasty]

It seems the HSNL forum is having a lot of fun with a heads-up match between samoleus and KKF. So, I thought it might be interesting to post a few games of chess samoleus and I played years ago.

Years before either samoleus or I were playing poker, we were both members of the Boylston Chess Club in Boston. A quick search through my scorebooks shows the two of us played three USCF rated games against each other. samoleus was always a higher rated player than me. So, my 1 win and 2 loss record against him is probably the fair result.

The quality of the first two matches which I resign (lose) in 23 and 21 moves is poor. Basically, I blunder, samoleus takes easy advantage, and the game ends early.

The third game has some merit even if there are several weak moves by both of us. I make an unsound sacrifice and don't get compensation because my minor pieces aren't placed properly to attack. However, after samoleus gets a clear winning advantage, I try to complicate the position and he makes a mistake which costs him dearly. My play after his mistake is good.


Legends of Chess tournament
November 11, 2000
Boylston Chess Club; Boston, MA
White: samoleus (USCF rating- 1890)
Black: Dynasty (1771)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 0-0

As Black, I'm playing the King's Indian Defense and samoleus has initiated the Samisch variation with 5. f3. I had begun playing the KID just a couple months earlier and this was probably the first time I saw the Samisch.

6. Be3 Nc6 7. Qd2 a6 8. Nge2 Rb8 9. h4 h5 10. Nc1 e5 11. d5 Ne7 12. Nb3 c5

It's been quite a while since I've studied chess. But, the current position has lots of standard KID features including the fixed pawn center. White will attack on the kingside with a pawn storm against the Black king. Black will look counter-play on the queenside where White's king should be expected to castle.

13. Be2 Bd7 14. 0-0-0 b5 15. Rdg1 bxc4 16. Bxc4 Rb4 17. Qe2 Qb6

My inexperience with the KID probably has me moving too fast and trying to do too much. In the next few moves, I'm going to make my unsound exchange sacrifice without minor piece (knights and bishop) activity to back it up.

18. Bxa6 Ra8 19. Bd3 Rxa2 20. Nxa2 Rxb3 21. Bc4 Bb5 22. Bxb5 Rxb5

I'm down a rook for a knight. His king is somewhat exposed. If my knights were involved in the game, the sacrifice might have merit. But, in this position, I simply don't have any significant attacking chances.

23. Nc3 Rb3 24 Rd1 Qa5 25. Qc2 Qb4 26. Rh31 Nd7 27. Bd2 Nb6

I'm trying to get my knights to the queenside. But, it's taking too much time. samoleus has everything he needs to defend his king's position in place.

28. Nb1 Qb5 29. Na3 Qa4 30. Re3 c4 31. Rxb3 cxb3 32. Qc7 Nec8

With no rooks and a knight on the back rank, I'm now looking for a shot in the dark. Anything I can do to complicate things may be worth trying.

33. Be3 Qa6 34. Qc3 Qe2 35. Qxb3 Qxg2 36. Bxb6 Nxb6 37. Qxb6 Qxf3

I'm giving up a minor piece (putting me a whole rook down) in order to snatch a few pawns and hopefully (prayfully?) get a pawn storm going on the queenside to create counterplay. It also gives me the chance to activate my dark-squared bishop which was playing no offensive roll. The sacrifice is unsound for sure. But, it creates a position in which samoleus is going to have more opportunities to make a big mistake.

38. Qxd6 Bh6+

samoleus simply made a mistake capturing the d6 pawn and I immediately get counter-play while his a3 knight is out of play. samoleus is still winning.

39. Rd2 Qh1+ 40. Kc2 Qxe4+ 41. Rd3 Qe2+ 42. Kc3 e4 43. Qb8+ Kh7 44. Rd4 Bg7 45. Nc2 Qd3+

samoleus was constantly threatened with double attacks of my queen supported by the bishop and finally makes an error. After the game, he said he completely overlooked 45...Qd3+.

It's not a hard mistake to make. It's difficult to visualize your opponent making a move with his queen which appears to allow the queen to be taken by two separate pieces. But, the queen can not be captured by the rook which is pinned by the bishop and the queen cannot be captured by the king because it is defended by the pawn.

The position is suddenly hopeless for samoleus. I'll outright win the rook and, with proper endgame technique, my extra pawns should win the game.

46. Kb4 Bxd4 47. Qc7 Kg7 48. Qc6 Bxb2 49. d6 Bf6 50. d7 Bxh4

samoleus' pawn on d7 is of minor concern. My bishop on the d8-h4 diagonal isn't going anywhere and can't be effectively harassed.

51. Qc8 Be7+ 52. Ka5 h4

I thought threatening to promote the h-pawn was more effective. It'll be harder for samoleus to capture that one compared to the e-pawn.

53. Qe8 Bf6 54. Nb4 Qd2 55. Kb5 e3

With samoleus moving his knight away from the e-pawn and giving me a tempo, I start the e-pawn moving and he has no defense against it.

56. Nc6 Qd6 57. Ne5 Qd5+ 58. Ka4 e2 59. d8=Q Bxd8

0-1 (samoleus resigns)

I had beaten better players before. But, I remember this being a satisfying win because samoleus had always gotten the better of me (including some non-rated games). So, it was a nice hurdle to get over.

I'll post the other two games later if people are interested. But, they're just examples of me pwning myself.

[PartyGirlUK]

Did you know that this guy was Samoleus, or only make the connection when his real name was posted?

[Dynasty]

[ QUOTE ]
Did you know that this guy was Samoleus, or only make the connection when his real name was posted?

[/ QUOTE ]

I found out a few months ago when I had a PM conversation with him about the Two Plus Two Internet Magazine.

[lapoker17]

really excited for the next 2 installments.

[tuq]

[ QUOTE ]
really excited for the next 2 installments.

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LOL. [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

[cardsharkk04]

BRILLIANT GAME SIR! I hope you talked [censored] afterwards

[David Ottosen]

I thought some of white's moves were very artificial, especially the Nc1-b3 maneuver. I think 17...Bb5 is a good move for you - you have to clear some space for your f6 knight to get out of the way of your f-pawn. You ignored the idea of ever playing f7-f5 in many spots, as well as c5-c4, to allow Nd7-c5. Understanding these two specific pawn levers is critical to playing the KID or Benoni.

That is one sad collapse on his part with Qxd6. Not uncommon when you are winning so handily, but still sad. Even so, the game is still in doubt until 45.Nc2.