Agony Column #15
This week's games are by Shaun Graham Bowcaster who is in his thirties. A financial analyst with several degrees and a MENSA member, he was the 2009 Oklahoma State Chess Champion, though his rating has both waned and waxed since then. He's been married for sixteen years and has a daughter Glory who also plays chess.
Shaun contacted me very early on in this column's short life before the format has been fully determined and sent me a number of his games. Several have interesting moments and I'm dipping in and out.
We start with a fairly agonising loss to grandmaster Pavel Blatny, who confused him by playing the Hippopotamus but with White.
Shaun thought at least once about sacrificing a knight for two pawns but presumably talked himself out of it and the result was a very smooth win for the grandmaster.
1.e4 | 1,170,319 | 54% | 2421 | --- |
1.d4 | 949,867 | 55% | 2434 | --- |
1.Nf3 | 282,628 | 56% | 2440 | --- |
1.c4 | 182,731 | 56% | 2442 | --- |
1.g3 | 19,745 | 56% | 2427 | --- |
1.b3 | 14,347 | 54% | 2427 | --- |
1.f4 | 5,917 | 48% | 2377 | --- |
1.Nc3 | 3,816 | 51% | 2384 | --- |
1.b4 | 1,759 | 48% | 2379 | --- |
1.a3 | 1,222 | 54% | 2404 | --- |
1.e3 | 1,073 | 49% | 2409 | --- |
1.d3 | 955 | 50% | 2378 | --- |
1.g4 | 666 | 46% | 2361 | --- |
1.h4 | 449 | 53% | 2374 | --- |
1.c3 | 435 | 51% | 2426 | --- |
1.h3 | 283 | 56% | 2419 | --- |
1.a4 | 114 | 60% | 2465 | --- |
1.f3 | 93 | 46% | 2435 | --- |
1.Nh3 | 90 | 66% | 2505 | --- |
1.Na3 | 42 | 62% | 2482 | --- |
Please, wait...
1.b3 e5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Bb2 Nc6 4.d3 Bc5 5.a3 Qe7 6.Nd2 a5 7.g3 d6 8.Bg2 8...Ng4 9.h3 Nf6 9...Nxe3 10.fxe3 Bxe3 9...Nh6!? 10.Ne2 0-0 11.g4 Be6 12.Ng3 Qd7?! 12...d5 12...h6 13.g5 Nd5 13...Ne8 14.d4!? exd4 15.exd4 Nxd4 16.Nde4 14.c4 Nde7 14...Nxe3! 15.fxe3 Bxe3 16.Nde4 Kh8 15.Nde4 Bb6 16.Nh5 Kh8?! 16...Qc8 17.Nhf6+ gxf6 18.gxf6 Kh8 17.Nef6!? 17.Nxg7! Kxg7 18.Nf6 Qc8 19.Qh5 Bf5 20.Qh6+ Kh8 21.Nh5! 17...gxf6 18.Nxf6 Qc8 19.Qh5 Bf5 20.Be4 Ng8? 20...Rg8 21.Nxh7 Rg6 22.Nf6+ 22.Nf8+ Kg7 23.Nxg6 fxg6 22...Kg7 23.Qxg6+ 20...Qe6 21.Nxh7 Bg6 22.Qh4 Kg7 23.Nf6 23...Rd8 23...Bf5 24.f4 Rd8 25.Bxf5 Qxf5 26.e4 Qe6 27.f5 Qe7 28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.Qxg8# 24.Bxg6 Kf8 25.Qh7 fxg6 26.Qxg8+ Ke7 27.Nd5+ Kd7 28.Qf7+ 1–0 - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Blatny,P | 2550 | Graham,S | 1820 | 1–0 | 2004 | A01 | G-60 | 5.1 |
Please, wait...
Shaun provided some notes to the next game, indicated as "SG". The other notes are by me and occasionally I've avoided any possible confusion by labelling them JS.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 d6 5.e4 0-0 6.Bd3 a6 7.a4 c6 7...a5 8.0-0 8.a5!? 8...a5! 9.h3 Na6 10.Be3 Qc7 11.Qd2 Nb4 12.Bb1 12.Rac1 12...b6 13.Bh6 Ba6 14.b3 e5 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Nh2= Rae8 17.f4 Qe7 17...Nh5 18.f5 Bc8 18...exd4 19.Qxd4 Qe5 20.Qxe5 Rxe5 20...dxe5 21.Na2 c5 22.Nxb4 cxb4 23.Bc2 21.Nf3 Re7 22.Rd1 Rd7 19.d5 cxd5 20.cxd5 Ba6 21.Rf3 Ng8?! 21...Rc8 22.Qf2 Rb8 23.Ng4 f6 24.Ne3 g5 24...Rbc8= 25.h4 25.Na2 25...h6 26.hxg5 26...hxg5 26...fxg5 27.f6+ Rxf6 28.Nf5+ Rxf5 29.exf5 29.Rxf5 Rc8 30.Na2 Nf6 29...Nf6 30.Be4 27.Ng4 Nh6 28.Nxh6 Kxh6 29.Rh3+ Kg7 30.Bc2 Nxc2!? 30...Rbc8 31.Rc1 Rc5 32.Bd1 Rfc8 33.Be2 31.Qxc2 Qc7 32.Qf2 Qc5 33.Qxc5 bxc5 34.Nd1 Rb4 35.Nf2 Rfb8 36.Ra3 Be2 36...Rd4 37.Ra2 Rbb4 37.Re3 Bh5 38.g4 38.Rh3 Be2 39.Re3 38...Be8 39.Kf1? 39.Rc3 Rd4 40.Ra2 Rbb4 41.Rac2 Bd7 42.Kg2 Bc8 43.Kf3 Ba6 44.Ke3 39...c4! 40.bxc4 Rxc4 41.Nd1 Rc1 41...Rxa4! 42.Ke2 Rc4 42...Rb4! 43.Nc3 Rb2+ 44.Kd3?? 44.Kf3 Rbb4 44...Rd4# 0–1 - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Zilajeva,V | 1910 | Graham,S | 1988 | 0–1 | 2015 | E90 | May Chall | 2.2 |
Please, wait...
To conclude briefly a nice example of the devastating effect which zugzwang can have in an ending.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.d3 d6 6.e4 e5 7.Nge2 Nge7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Be3 Nd4 10.h3 Nec6 11.Kh2 a6 12.Qd2 Rb8 13.Bh6 Qd7 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Nxd4 Nxd4 16.Rad1 b5 17.b3 b4 18.Ne2 Nxe2 19.Qxe2 Bb7 20.f4 f6 21.Bf3 Bc8 22.Qg2 a5 23.Rd2 a4 24.Rdf2 Qe8 25.Bg4 Bxg4 26.hxg4 axb3 27.axb3 Qd7 28.Qf3 h5 29.gxh5 gxh5 30.Kg2 Qg4 31.Qe3 h4 32.Rf3 Ra8 33.R1f2 Ra5 34.Qe1 h3+ 35.Kh2 Ra2 36.fxe5 Qxf3 37.Rxa2 fxe5 38.Qe2 Qxe2+ 39.Rxe2 Rf1 40.Kxh3 Rb1 41.Kg4 Rxb3 42.Rd2 Kg6 43.Kh4 Rc3 44.Kg4 b3 45.Kf3 Rc2 46.Rd1 b2 47.Rb1 Rd2 48.Ke3 Rc2 49.g4 49...Rh2 49...Kg5 50.Kf3 Rh2 51.Rf1 51.Kg3 Rd2 51...Rd2 52.Ke3 Rc2 53.Rb1 Kxg4 54.Rg1+ 54...Kh3 54...Kh5 55.Rb1 Kg5 56.Kf3 Kf6 57.Kg3 Ke6 58.Kg4 Kd7 59.Kf5 Rf2+ 60.Kg4 Kc6 61.Kg3 Rc2 62.Kg4 Kb6 63.Kf5 63...Rd2! 63...Ka5 64.Ke6 Kb4 65.Kxd6 Kc3 66.Kxe5 64.Ke6 Kc6 65.Ke7 Rxd3 66.Rxb2 Rd4 67.Rb8 Rxc4 68.Rc8+ Kb7 69.Rh8 Rd4 55.Rh1+ Kg3 56.Rg1+ Kh2 57.Rb1 Kg2! 58.Re1! Rf2 59.Rb1 Rf3+ 60.Ke2 Rf8 61.Ke3 Rf2 62.Re1 Rf1 63.Re2+ Kg3 64.Rxb2 Rf3+ 65.Kd2 Rf2+ 66.Kc3 Rxb2 67.Kxb2 67...Kf2! 67...Kf3? 68.Kb3 68.Kb3 Ke1 69.Kc2 Ke2 70.Kc3 Kd1 50.Rg1 Rh3+?? 50...Kg5 51.Kd2 Rh2+ 52.Kc3 Kg5 53.Kb3 b1Q+ 54.Rxb1 Kxg4 55.Rg1+ Kh5 56.Rg8 Rh3 57.Rh8+ Kg4 58.Rg8+ Kh4 59.Rh8+ Kg4 60.Rg8+ ½–½ - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Graham,S | 1980 | Helff,F | - | ½–½ | 2015 | A36 | 4th Fall Op | 2.6 |
Please, wait...
Did you play agonising/ecstatic games that you would like to share? Send them in to jonathan@speelman.demon.co.uk! The winners - that is, if your games get published - will receive a free copy of Nicholas Pert's ChessBase DVD "Typical Mistakes by 1800-2000 players".
Nicholas Pert: Typical mistakes by 1800-2000 players
GM Nicholas Pert about his DVD: “After the success of my previous DVD Typical mistakes by 1600-1900 players I decided to produce a follow up DVD aimed at players of a slightly higher level. The examples all come from games played by players with a rating between 1800 and 2100. This DVD offers slightly more complex material than the previous DVD, and will hopefully provide an insight into what I believe are the main errors which stop players of this level to be more successful. I divided the material into categories such as “when to exchange pieces”, “how to convert an advantage”, “passive pieces”, “anticipating your opponents plan”, “openings and pawn structure”. Each section contains several examples which illustrate the theme and practical examples which allow the viewer to test his skills. This DVD provides a useful training tool for ambitious players and may highlight mistakes that the viewer should be aware of.”
- Video running time: 3 hours 50 min. (English)
- With interactive training including video feedback
- Extra: 50 additional examplesIncluding CB 12 Reader
- ISBN: 978-3-86681-513-1
- Delivery: download, post
- Price: €29.90; €25.13 without VAT (for customers outside the EU); $28.41
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About the author
Jon was born in 1956 and became a professional player in 1977 after graduating from Worcester College Oxford where he read mathematics. He became an IM in 1977 a GM in 1980 and was a member of the English Olympic team from 1980-2006. Three times British Champion he played twice in the Candidates reaching the semi-final (of what was then a knockout series of matches) in 1989 when he lost 4.5 - 3.5 to Jan Timman. He's twice been a second at the world championship for Nigel Short and then Viswanathan Anand against Garry Kasparov in London 1993 and New York 1995. He's written for the Observer (weekly) since 1993 and The Independent since 1998. With its closure (going online, but without Jon on board) he's expanding online activity and is also now offering online tuition. He likes puzzles especially (cryptic) crosswords and killer sudokus. If you'd like to contact Jon, then please write to jonathan@speelman.demon.co.uk |

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