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Progressive Orthodox Chess

"Sorry, mate, I must move your pieces!"

 
Progressive Orthodox Chess (POC) was designed to achieve two goals:
  1)  to preserve the essential "progressive" idea as much as possible;
  2)  to result in a game that was a fully legal game of chess!
The POC concept is not new. At the time Bill Taylor and I invented POC, we didnīt knew that Edward Jackman already made it as 'Progressive 007 Chess'. Well, these things happen a lot. I will present the game here again, since there were many new games and a tournament held because of POC reinvention. 

Progressive Orthodox Chess

  1. All FIDE rules apply except in the following:
  2. White begins with a move for white.
  3. Then black makes a move for black, and a move for white.
  4. Continuing alternately, each player makes a series of moves, for the colors alternately, each move series being one move longer than the previous series.
  5. All moves of a series must be played (unless there is a mate position); so that the final score is that of a legal orthodox chess game. Promotion of a pawn is decided by the player that moves it into the promotion line.
  6. There is no 3-position draw rule.
  7. Win/draw/loss decided by checkmate, stalemate, resignation, oragreement, as in orthodox chess. 

note: In practice, draws can never occur with even remotely sensible play!


 Some notes

    Games tend to be very short, even shorter than progressive chess, as one can make the opponent king come up to the danger zone, by about move series 5 or 6.

    We have had several games, and none has been longer than 23 moves, and only one longer than 18.  (Shown below.)

    Nonetheless, it seems like a very skillful game.

    Watch out for fool's mate at move series 4 ! (A trivial problem.)

    Queens are deadly of course, as at progressive chess, and usually should come off as soon as possible.  If the opponent moves your king far forward, it might be a good idea to move it back a little. Always watch for a "running king", i.e. when your opponent moves your king towards his own pieces for mating.

    In particular, it is bad to have a king near a solid row of 3 of your own pawns, as it can easily be mated being backed up against them.

    In any event, it seems to be a good idea to advance a pawn or two as far as possible as early as possible, as beyond move series 4, they can be queened in a turn, possibly mating while doing so (if the king can be manoeuvred into a corner).

    Try to make your opponent waste moves, e.g. by checking him on your last move, or as in game 13 below.
     

A note about move numbers.

    We have little idea of strategy yet, but this thought has occurred to us, that seems to suggest that black has a slight advantage in this variant. If we look at move-color sequences, efficient mate is only possible if you have the last move of your sequence with your own color.

    Otherwise you have an "unusable" move. Checking this out, we see...

    series      pieces     mate    plus
    W  B         w  b      moves   helps
    ------------------------------------
    1  -         1  -       1       .
    .  2         1  1       1       .
    3  .         1  2       1       1
    .  4         2  2       2       1
    5  .         3  2       3       2
    .  6         3  3       3       2
    7  .         3  4       3       3
    .  8         4  4       4       3

          ...and so on. The left 2 columns show whose move series it is.
    The next 2 show whose pieces he moves. The next, the number of his own pieces moved; this is the crucial one. The last is also quite important, the number of opponent "helpful" moves he gets to make - this excludes the last one, if it was the last of a series.

    So this tells how close each player can come to giving mate. As you can see, black keeps getting an extra gain of 1, every 4th series.

    If this is a correct analysis, it seems a nice automatic correction to the generally-agreed slight 1st-move advantage to white in ordinary progressive chess.

    Edward Jackman sent this note:

    there's no reason not to allow BLACK to move first -- by moving a WHITE piece. You still get a legal game, but with a different flavor.

    Standard game:

    series      pieces     mate    plus   move
    W  B         w  b      moves   helps  sequence
    -----------------------------------------------
    1  -         1  -       1       .     w
    .  2         1  1       1       .     bw
    3  .         1  2       1       1     bwb
    .  4         2  2       2       2*    wbwb
    5  .         3  2       3       2     wbwbw
    .  6         3  3       3       2     bwbwbw
    7  .         3  4       3       3     bwbwbwb
    .  8         4  4       4       4*    wbwbwbwb
    9  .         5  4       5       4     wbwbwbwbw
    . 10         5  5       5       4     bwbwbwbwbw
    11 .         5  6       5       5     bwbwbwbwbwb
    . 12         6  6       6       6     wbwbwbwbwbwb

    (* These numbers were each one less in your chart. All number sequences are either 111233345556777 etc, or 1222344456667888 etc.?)

    Black plays first game:

    series      pieces     mate    plus
    B  W         w  b      moves   helps
    ------------------------------------
    1  -         1  -       -       -    w
    .  2         1  1       1       1    bw
    3  .         1  2       2       1    bwb
    .  4         2  2       2       1    wbwb
    5  .         3  2       2       2    wbwbw
    .  6         3  3       3       3    bwbwbw
    7  .         3  4       4       3    bwbwbwb
    .  8         4  4       4       3    wbwbwbwb
    9  .         5  4       4       4    wbwbwbwbw
    . 10         5  5       5       5    bwbwbwbwbw
    11 .         5  6       6       5    bwbwbwbwbwb
    . 12         6  6       6       5    wbwbwbwbwbwb
     

     

Sample Games

Game 1:     White: Bill   Black: Joao.

1. e4   b6
2. Ke2  e6
3. d4   Ke7
4. Qd3  f6
5. Qa6  Bxa6+
6. Ke3  Qc8
7. Bxa6 c6
8. Bxc8 e5
9. Ba6  Nxa6
10. f3   exd4+
11. Kd2  g6
12. Kd3  Bh6
13. Bxh6 Rf8
14. Bxf8+ Kd8
15. Kc4   c5
16. Kd5   Ne7+
17. Kd6   Nc7
18. Bh6   Nc8++

-------------------
. . n k . . . r
p . n p . . . p
. p . K . p p B
. . p . . . . .
. . . p O . . .
. . . . . O . .
O O O . . . O O
R N . . . . N R
--------------------

-----------------
POC game 2:-     White: Joao   Black: Bill

----------------
1.  g3     Nc6
2.  f3     f6
3.  Nc3    Kf7
4.  e3     Nd4
5.  Qe2    Nxe2
6.  Nd5    c6
7.  Bxe2   Qc7
8.  Nxc7   a6
9.  Bxa6   Rxa6
10. Na8    Rxa8
11. Kd1    Kg6
12. e4     Kg5
13. g5     Kf4
14. d4++
----------------
r . b . . b n r
. p . p p . p p
. . p . . p . .
. . . . . . . .
. . . O O k O .
. . . . . O . .
O O O . . . . O
R . B K . . N R
--------------------
------------------------------
Game 3 - PSC.  W:bill  B:joao

1.  g4    e5
2.  f3    Ne5
3.  e4    Rg8
4.  Na3   Nec6
5.  Ke2   Bxa3
6.  bxa3  Qe7
7.  Ke1   Qxa3
8.  Bxa3  Nb4
9.  Ne2   b5
10. c3    Nd3++
----------------
r n b . k . r .
p . p p . p p p
. . . . . . . .
. p . . p . . .
. . . . O . O .
B . O n . O . .
O . . O N . . O
R . . Q K B . R
----------------
 

Game 4 - POC.  W:joao  B:bill
----------------
r . . . k . n r
p p p . . . p p
. . . . . p . .
. . . p . . . .
. . . . . O . .
. . . . . . b O
O O O B O . . .
. R . Q K B N R
----------------
1. d4    Nc6
2. Nd2   Ne5
3. dxe5  f6
4. exf6  exf6
5. Rb1   d5
6. Ne4   Bh3
7. gxh3  Qd6
8. Nxd6+ Bxd6
9. Bd2   Bxh2
10 f4    Bg3++
--------------------

------------------------------
Game 5 - POC.  W:bill  B:jo
-----------------------------
1.  d4  d5
2. Kd2  Kd7
3.  b3  a6
4. Ba3  e5
5. Be7  Nxe7
6. dxe5 Ke6
7. Nf3  Qd6
8. exd6 cxd6
9. Ne5  dxe5
10.Kd3  f5
11.f3   Kf6
12 Rg1  Kg5
13 h4+  Kf4
14 g2++
---------------
r n b . . b . r
. p . . n . p p
p . . . . . . .
. . . p p p . .
. . . . . k . O
. O . K . O O .
O . O . O . . .
R N . Q . B R .
--------------------

----------------------------
Game 6 - POC.  W:jpn  B:bill

1.   c4    * e5
2. * f3      Ke7
3.   e4      Qe8
4. * Qa4   * Nf6
5. * Qxa7  * Rxa7
6.   d4      Rxa2
7.   Rxa2    Kd6
8.   Bd3   * Ke7
9. * Ra6   * Nxa6
10.* Kd2   * Kd8
11.* Bc2     Nd5
12.  cxd5    Qe6
13.  dxe6    Nc5
14.  dxc5    Rg8
15.* c6    * Bb4+
16.* Ke2   * d5
17 * Kf2   * Bxe6
18 * Kg3   * Be1 ++
-----------------
. . . k . . r .
. p p . . p p p
. . O . b . . .
. . . p p . . .
. . . . O . . .
. . . . . O K .
. O B . . . O O
. N B . b . N R
------------------

From: Fred Galvin <galvin@math.ukans.edu>

Game 6 - POC.

White missed 6. c5 Ke6 7. Nh3 Be7 8. Ng5++

---------------------------
Game 7:   W: bill   B: joao

1.    e4    * c5
2.  * f3      Na6
3.    d4      Nc7
4.  * Ke2   * d5
5.  * Ke3   * cxd4+
6.    Qxd4    Qd7
7.    Kf2     Qa4
8.    Qxa4+ * Bd7
9.  * Bb5   * Bxb5
10. * Nd2   * Bxa4
11. * Ke3     Bb3
12.   Nxb3    Na6
13.   exd5    Nb8
14.   Ke2     a6
15. * Ke3   * h5
16. * Kf4   * g6
17. * h4    * Ra7
18. * Kg5   * Bh6++

-------------------
  r n . . k . n r
  . p . . p p . .
  p . . . . . p b
  . . . O . . K p
  . . . . . . . O
  . N . . . O . .
  O O O . . . O .
  R . B . . . N R
-------------------

------------
POC Game 9:   W: bill  B: joao

1.   e4   * e5
2. * Ke2    Ba3
3.   Nxa3   Ne7
4. * Nb5  * O-O
5. * Nd4  * exd4
6.   Nf3    Kh8
7.   Ng5    Rg8
8.   Nxf7++

r n b q . . r k
p p p p n N p p
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
. . . p O . . .
. . . . . . . .
O O O O K O O O
R . B Q . B . R
---------------------

-------------------------
POC game 10: Joao - Bill

1.   b3   * e5
2. * c3     Ba3
3.   Bxa3   f6 ??
4. * f4     f5
5. * g4     Qh4 ++

r n b . k . n r
p p p p . . p p
. . . . . . . .
. . . . p p . .
. . . . . O O q
B O O . . . . .
O . . O O . . O
R N . Q K B N R
----------------------

----------------------
POC game 11: Bill - Joao

1.   e4    * e5
2. * Ke2     Ba3
3.   Nxa3    Ke7
4. * Kd3   * h5
5. * Qg4   * hxg4
6.   Ke2     Rxh2
7.   Rxh2    Nh6
8.   Rxh6  * g3
9. * Rh2   * gxh2
10 * Kd3   * hxg1=Q
11 * Nb1     Qh8
12   Ke2     Qxf2+
13   Kxf2    Qh3
14   gxh3    g6
15 * Ke2   * d5
16 * Kd3   * dxe4+
17 * Kc3   * Bxh3
18 * Kc4   * Bxf1+
19   Kb4     Kd6
20   Na3     Kd5
21   c4+     Kd4
22   Rb1 :)  Bd3
23   Nb5++

r n . . . . . .
p p p . . p . .
. . . . . . p .
. N . . p . . .
. K O k p . . .
. . . b . . . .
O O . O . . . .
. R B . . . . .
----------------------------

From: Fred Galvin <galvin@math.ukans.edu>

POC game 11:

Black missed 8... d5 9. Ke3 dxe4 10. Be2 Qd4++

--------------------
POC game 12: Joao - Bill

1.   d4    * g5
2. * Nd2     c5
3.   dxc5    f6
4. * c6    * dxc6
5. * Nb1   * Qxd1 +
6.   Kxd1    Bh3
7.   gxh3    Kd7
8.   e3    * g4
9. * Ba6   * Nxa6
10 * Kd2   * gxh3
11 * f3      Ke6
12   Nxh3    Rd8+
13   Ke1     Rd2
14   Bxd2    Nb8
15 * Kf2   * h5
16 * Kg3   * Nh6
17 * Kh4   * Kf5
18 * Kxh5  * Ng8++   Howbout that!

   . n . . . b n r
   p p . . p . . .
   . . p . . p . .
   . . . . . k . K
   . . . . . . . .
   . . . . O O . N
   O O O B . . . O
   R N . . . . . R
----------------------------
 
----------------------------
POC game 13:  Bill - Joao

1.   e4    * g5
2. * Ne2     f5
3.   exf5    a6
4. * f6    * exf6
5. * f3    * d6
6.   g3      Bh3
7.   Bxh3    Qd7
8.   Bxd7+ * Nxd7
9. * Ng1   * b5
10 * Qe2+  * Kd8
11 * Qe8+    Kxe8   Clever "self-take" move-waster tactic!
12   c4      Nb6
13   d4      Nc8
14   cxb5    Nge7
15 * Ke2   * axb5
16 * Ke3   * Ra3+
17 * Ke4   * d5++

   . . n . k b . r
   . . p . n . . p
   . . . . . p . .
   . p . p . . p .
   . . . O K . . .
   r . . . . O O .
   O O . . . . . O
   R N B . . . N R
--------------------------

From: Fred Galvin <galvin@math.ukans.edu>

POC game 13:

White missed 6. Nd4 Kd7 7. Qe2 h5 8. Qe6++
Black missed 8... Nxd7 9. c3 Nc5 10. Rf1 Nd3++

----------------------------
POC game 14:  Joao - Bill

1.   e4    * b5
2. * Ke2     f5
3.   exf5    c6
4. * f6    * exf6
5. * c4    * bxc4
6.   Qa4     Qa5
7.   b4      Kd8
8.   Qxa5+ * Ke8
9. * Kf3   * c3
10 * Bc4   * c2
11 * Qd8+    Kxd8
12   Ba3     c1=Q
13   Ke2     Bc5
14   c3      Rd1+
15 * Kxd1  * Nh6
17 * Ke1   * Re8+
15 * Kf1   * Bxb4
15 * Bb3   * Re1++

   r n b k . . . .
   p . . p . . p p
   . . p . . p . n
   . . . . . . . .
   . b . . . . . .
   B B . O . . . .
   O . . . . O O O
   R N . . r K N R
-----------------------

----------------------------
POC game 15:   Bill - Joao

1.   b4    *  b5
2. * f3       f6
3.   Nc3     Kf7
4. * Kf2   *  d5
5. * Ke3   *  h5
6.   Nxb5    Bh3
7.   gxh3    Qd6
8.   Nxd6+ * exd6
9. * Qe1   * h4
10 * Qg3   * hxg3
11 * Rb1     Kg6
12   f4      Kf5
13   h4      g6  ? :)
14   Bh3++

   r n . . . b n r
   p . p . . . . .
   . . . p . p p .
   . . . p . k . .
   . O . . . O . O
   . . . . K . p B
   O . O O O . . O
   . R B . . . N R
-----------------------

-------------------------------
POC game 16 - Joao - Bill

   r n b q k b . r
   p . . p n . p p
   . . p N . p . .
   O . . . p . . .
   . O . . . . . .
   p . O . . . . .
   . . . O O O O O
   R . B . K B N R

1.   b4   * b5
2. * c3     c6
3.   a4     f6
4. * a5   * e5
5. * Qa4  * bxa4
6.   Na3    Ne7
7.   Nc4    a3 :)
8.   Nd6++

-------------------------------

POC game 16C - Joao - Bill  (after 2 to Joao, 1 to Bill)

    r . . . . b n r
    p . . . p . . p
    N . p . . p . .
    . . . p . . p .
    R O . O . k O .
    . . O . . O . .
    . . . . O . . O
    . N B . K B N R

1.   b4     * b5
2. * c3       c6
3.   a4       f6
4. * a5     * d5
5. * Qa4    * bxa4
6.   a6       Bb7
7.   axb7     Qc8
8.   bxc8Q+ * Kf7
9. * Qa6    * Nxa6
10 * Ra3    * g5
11 * f3       Kg6
12   Rxa4     Kf5
13   g4+      Kf4
14   d4++
 

back to top

1st POC Tournament
 
Alfred Pffeifer made a wpage about the tournament at

http://www.tu-chemnitz.de/~apf/schach/APF/poc1games.shtml

 

Tournament Rules
Advices and Comments
Players
1st Round Games
1st Classification
2nd Round Games
Final Classification

Tournament Rules

BRIEF SUMMARY OF CRUCIAL POINTS FIRST
 

PLEASE REPLY to this mail with a quick "got it", so I know the mailing list is working OK.
You are requested to make each move series in each game, within 4 days at most, extended to 7 days after the fourth move.
You may take one period of 10 days in each game before moving, (to allow for sickness, trips away, etc)
You are earnestly enjoined to finish *all* your games, even if you see you have no further chance of continuing in the tournament.

ORGANIZATION
 

There are 8 players; all in a preliminary pool. All will play all; (7 games).
Colors will be assigned at random.
A list of your opponents and colors will be sent out very soon.
The 4 best players will go on to championship pool; the remainder to a consolation pool.  In these final pools, all will play all, (3 games), with the oppositie colors of the preliminary round.  Preliminary games between pool members in the same final pools will count to the final score.
Preliminary games between champ-poolers and consolation-poolers will be ignored, for the final results.]

 
 

In all pools, ties will be broken by:
(1st) the winners in the individual games; failing which...
(2nd) the minimum total number of moves needed to achieve checkmates.
If a tie is still not broken, the directors will decide on further procedure.

 

PLAYING PROTOCOL

We suggest you use the following standard format for email playing:

<<First mail:  sent by John>>

------------------------------------------
WHITE: John Smith (J.Smith@bozo.warpcorp.com)
BLACK: Johan Schmidt (jsch@etwas.dorpthorp.de)
-----------------------------------------
r n b q k b n r
p p p p p p p p
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
. . . . O . . .
. . . . . . . .
O O O O . O O O
R N B Q K B N R

1.   e4
-----------------------------------
Personal remarks etc ... ... if desired.
-----------------------------------

<<end mail>>

<<Second mail: sent by Johan>>

------------------------------------------
WHITE: John Smith (J.Smith@bozo.warpcorp.com)
BLACK: Johan Schmidt (jsch@etwas.dorpthorp.de)
-----------------------------------------
r n b q k b n r
p p p . p p p p
. . . . . . . .
. . . O . . . .
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
O O O O . O O O
R N B Q K B N R

1.   e4    * d5
2. * exd5
-----------------------------------
More personal remarks etc ... ... if desired.
-----------------------------------

<<end mail>>
 

Note we suggest you update and send the board diagram from move 1 onward. This is mainly for convenience, but may help if a move is given ambiguously.
We suggest the form shown above, with "O" for white pawns.
We also recommend black puts asterisks ahead of his moves, as shown.

 

RESULTS PROTOCOLS

The winner of the match sends the result and the moves to Bill...

             W.Taylor@math.canterbury.ac.nz
 
In the case of a tie, white should send the result.

This message MUST be e-copied to the opponent, so that he can comment if there's something arguable. We do not otherwise contact losers individually.

If such a copy-line does not appear in the email header of your result-notification, WE CANNOT ACCEPT THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

You are requested to use the following format:

<<begin post next>>

--------------------------------------------------------
WHITE: John Smith (J.Smith@bozo.warpcorp.com)
BLACK: Johan Schmidt (jsch@etwas.dorpthorp.de)

RESULT: 1-0        [or 0-1, or 1/2-1/2]

GAME:

r n . . . b n r
p p . . p p p p
. . p . . . . .
R K . . . . . .
. . N . . . . .
. O . . . . . .
. . O O . O O O
. N B . K B . R

1.   e4    * d5
2. * exd5    Qxd5
.. [etc] ....
.. [etc] ....
8.  Ra5 ++

COMMENTS
Black never really recovered from his opening blunder;
leaving his king on the 6th line was also bad.
-----------------------------------------------------------

<<end post>>
 

Please note to include a copy of the final diagram.
It would be nice to have as many comments as you care to make!
Losers should send comments separately if they wish, using similar format.

 
TIMING

The quicker you move the better!  :)  Same day turn-arounds would be ideal. However, these are councils of perfection.

We expect players to play each move series within 4 days of receipt of  the opponent's moves, for the first four series; then within 7 days after that.  But always, the sooner the better!   One period of 10 days is acceptable in each game, PROVIDED all opponents are notified in advance.

Please finish all your games, even if losing.  This is fairer on the others. (And note: - you might still advance, if there are late defections!)

Specific details of the first-round pool will be sent soon.

All games should start by Jan 26.

If the opponent does not reply within 2(5) days, the moves should be re-sent.
If the opponent does not reply within 4(7) days, a complaint should be made
to Joao, jpn@di.fc.ul.pt  (the chief umpire), who will investigate.

On a 1st offence other than a notified 10-day leeway, a WARNING will be  issued.  Subsequent offence will cause the player to lose the game in question.
 
DISPUTES
 
We hope there will not be any!!

Principle:
 
   Punctuality + Sportsmanship + Goodwill = Enjoyable Tournament.

We realize there are often problems with mailers, etc. We will always maintain flexibility, but there must be guidelines.  We know you will all co-operate as best may be.

MISTAKES: The moves in algebraic notation are the primary message.  If the diagram conflicts, it is ignored, (but should be updated and mentioned); but please make every effort to keep the diagrams correct.

If any moves given are ambiguous or illegal, but the position shown on the diagram is possible, this is taken as intended, and the move-list should be so amended. If both move and diagram are ambiguous/illegal then the move should be made again, and counts against the mistake-maker's time. HOWEVER:- the first continuous set of legal moves in the series CANNOT  be changed.  Only those of and after the illegal ones.

Please try to sort out any disputes between yourselves, in a spirit of fairness and good-will. Otherwise, the directors will decide any disputes after hearing from both sides, or if no message is received in reasonable time. NO APPEALS will be heard! If a dispute involves one of the directors, the other one will adjudicate.

Reminder:- we hope and expect never to have to execute any such powers!
 
FINAL WORD

Please remember to keep a copy of the PLAYING & RESULTS PROTOCOL templates.

There should be some exciting games.  Good will and sportsmanship is the key to good fun.   Best of luck to all!

Bill, Joao.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
 PLEASE REPLY to this mail with a brief "got it", so I know that the
 mailing list is working OK.  >>>>    W.Taylor@math.canterbury.ac.nz
--------------------------------------------------------------------

back to tournament

This is the COMMENT and ADVICE article to accompany the P.O.C. tournament announcement.

For those not in the know, P.O.C. is a very simple concept:-

It was designed to achieve two objects:

  1. to preserve the essential "progressive" idea as much as possible;
  2. to result in a game that was a fully legal game of chess!

As it happens, these objects can be easily reconciled...
-------------------
Official rules of Progressive Orthodox Chess.

1.  Pieces, layout and legal moves exactly as for orthodox chess.
2.  White begins with a move for white.
3.  Then black makes a move for black, and a move for white.
4.  Continuing alternately, each player makes a series of moves,
    for the colors alternately, each move series being one move
    longer than the previous series.
5.  All moves of a series must be played; so that the final score
    is that of a legal orthodox chess game.
6.  There is no 3-position draw rule.
7.  Win/draw/loss decided by checkmate, stalemate, resignation, or
    agreement, as in orthodox chess.

------------------
NOTES:
1. In practice, draws can never occur with even remotely sensible play.
2. It is legal to suicide by checkmating oneself.     Again, not likely!
3. A promotion option, being part of a pawn move, is chosen by the mover.
------------------

(In practice, draws can never occur with even remotely sensible play!)

Comments.
 
Games tend to be very short, even shorter than progressive chess, as one can make the opponent king come up to the danger zone, by about move series 5 or 6.

We have had several games, and none has been longer than 23 moves, and only one longer than 18.

Nonetheless, it seems like a very skillful game.

Basic advice.
~~~~~~~~~~
Watch out for fool's mate at move series 4 ! (A trivial problem.)

Queens are deadly of course, as at progressive chess, and usually should come off as soon as possible.  If the opponent moves your king far forward, it might be a good idea to move it back a little. Always watch for a "running king", i.e. when your opponent moves your king towards his own pieces for mating.

In particular, it is bad to have a king near a solid row of 3 of your own pawns, as it can easily be mated being backed up against them.

In any event, it seems to be a good idea to advance a pawn or two as far as possible as early as possible, as beyond move series 4, they can be queened in a turn, possibly mating while doing so (if the king can be manoeuvred into a corner).

Try to make your opponent waste moves, e.g. by checking him on your last move, or as in game 13 below.

That's about all we've discovered.

You now know as much as we do!
--------------------------------------------------------

A note about move numbers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We have little idea of strategy yet, but this thought has occurred to us, that seems to suggest that black has a slight advantage in this variant. If we look at move-color sequences, efficient mate is only possible if you have the last move of your sequence with your own color.

Otherwise you have an "unusable" move. Checking this out, we see...

series      pieces     mate    plus
W  B         w  b      moves   helps
------------------------------------
1  -         1  -       1       .
.  2         1  1       1       .
3  .         1  2       1       1
.  4         2  2       2       1
5  .         3  2       3       2
.  6         3  3       3       2
7  .         3  4       3       3
.  8         4  4       4       3

      ...and so on. The left 2 columns show whose move series it is.

The next 2 show whose pieces he moves. The next, the number of his own pieces moved; this is the crucial one. The last is also quite important, the number of opponent "helpful" moves he gets to make - this excludes the last one, if it was the last of a series.

So this tells how close each player can come to giving mate. As you can see, black keeps getting an extra gain of 1, every 4th series.

If this is a correct analysis, it seems a nice automatic correction to the generally-agreed slight 1st-move advantage to white in ordinary progressive chess.
 

back to tournament

Players

We have 8 participants.

1  Alfred Pfeiffer          Alfred.Pfeiffer@Informatik.TU-Chemnitz.DE
2  Norbert Geissler         norbert.geissler@mchb.siemens.de
3  Bill Taylor              W.Taylor@math.canterbury.ac.nz
4  Fred Galvin              galvin@math.ukans.edu
5  Martin Moller Pedersen   tusk@daimi.aau.dk
6  Joao Neto                jpn@di.fc.ul.pt
7  Gabriele Cornacchini     gacornac@tin.it
8  fabio forzoni            forzoni@ats.it

The colors have been assigned randomly within a 3-4 template.
Remember, any imbalance will be corrected in the final pools; with BOTH
results between players within these pools counting to the final order.

REMINDER: The top 4 advance to the championship pool;
========  the bottom 4 to the consolation pool, (also for a prize).

Here is the initial pool schedule:-

Player 1 takes white against players   3 5 7 8.
Player 2 takes white against players   1 5 6 8.
Player 3 takes white against players   2 4 6.
Player 4 takes white against players   1 2 5 6.
Player 5 takes white against players   3 7 8.
Player 6 takes white against players   1 5 7 8.
Player 7 takes white against players   2 3 4.
Player 8 takes white against players   3 4 7.

1. Whites should send their first move to blacks by Jan 26.

2. Norbert Geissler informs us all of an early time-out: he will not
   be able to make any moves until  Feb 2.

3. Apologies for an ambiguity in the instructions:-

>  You are requested to make each move series in each game, within
>  4 days at most, extended to 7 days after the fourth move.

That should have finished "fourth series".  This means that black's
series (W4 B4 W5 B5) should be sent within 4 days of mail arriving;
but white's series (W6 B6 W7 B7 W8) may take 7 days.  But please
always remember - the sooner the better!

4. The game rules are repeated below.  Some ambiguities are clarified.

5. HAVE FUN and GOOD LUCK!!!

back to tournament

First Round Games

1
----------------------------
WHITE: Gabriele Cornacchini
BLACK: Fred Galvin

RESULT: 0-1

r n b . . b n r
p . . p . . . p
. . p . . k p .
. p . K p p N .
. . . . O . . .
. O . . . O O .
O . O O . . . O
R N B Q . B . R

1.    g3    * b5
2.  * f3      f6
3.    e4      Kf7
4.  * Ke2   * e6
5.  * Kd3   * g6
6.    b3      f5
7.    Nh3     Qg5
8.    Nxg5+ * Kf6
9.  * Kd4   * e5+
10. * Kd5   * c6++
-------------------
COMMENTS
A quiet positional game: only one capture.
-----------------------------------------------
 

2
----------
White: Gabriele Cornacchini
Black: Bill Taylor

RESULT: 1-0

 . . . r k b . r
 p . . n n . p p
 . . p N . . . .
 . . . p p . . .
 . . . . . . b .
 . O O O O . . .
 O . . K . O O O
 R . . . . B N R

1.    b3    * b5
2.  * c3      f6
3.    d3      c6
4.  * Bg5   * fxg5
5.  * Kd2   * e5
6.    Na3     Qc7
7.    Nxb5    Ne7
8.    Nxc7+ * Kd8
9.  * e3    * d5
10  * Qg4   * Bxd4
11  * Ne6+    Ke8
12.   Nxg5    Nd7
13.   Ne4     Rd8
14.   Nd6 ++
-------------------------
Bill:  AAAAAAAAAARGGGHHH!!!!!   What a blunder!

   Galvin: 6. Na3   g4  7. Nxb5  Ne7  8. Nd6++
-----------------------------
 

3
--------------------------------
WHITE: Fabio Forzoni (forzoni@ats.it)
BLACK: Fred Galvin (galvin@math.ukans.edu)

RESULT: 0-1

r n b . k b n r
p p p p . p . p
. . . . p . p .
. . . . . . . .
. O . . . . O q
O . . . . O . .
. . O O O . . O
R N B Q K B N R

1.   b4 * g6
2. * f3   e6
3.   g3   Ke7
4. * g4 * Ke8
5. * a3 * Qh4++
--------------------------------
 

4
------------------------------
F.Forzoni - G.Cornacchini
 
RESULT: 0-1

r n . . . b n B
p b p . . k . p
. . . p . . p .
. p . K p p . .
. O . . . . . O
. . . . . O . .
O . O O O . . O
R N . Q . B N R

1.   b4   * b5
2. * f3     f6
3.   g3     Kf7
4. * Kf2  * e6
5. * Ke3  * g6
6.   Bb2    f5
7.   B:h8   Qh4
8.   g:h4 * d6
9. * Kd4  * e5+
10 * Kd5  * Bb7#
-------------------
 

5
--------------------------------
WHITE: Fred Galvin (galvin@math.ukans.edu)
BLACK: Alfred Pfeiffer (apf@informatik.tu-chemnitz.de)
RESULT: 1-0

r . b q k b n r
p p p p p . p .
. . n . . p B p
. . O . . . . .
. . . O . . . .
. . . . O . . .
O O . . . O O O
R N B . K . N R

1.   c4    * Nf6
2. * c5      Ng8
3.   d4      f6
4. * Qb3   * Nc6
5. * Qf7+  * Kxf7
6.   e3      h6
7.   Bd3     Ke8
8.   Bg6++

COMMENTS:

Alternatively 6. e3 Ke6 7. Nd2 Kd5 8. Bc4++
--------------------------------
 

6
--------------------------------
WHITE: Fred Galvin (galvin@math.ukans.edu)
BLACK: Martin Moller Pedersen (tusk@daimi.aau.dk)

RESULT: 1-0

GAME:

r n . q k b . r
p p p b p . . p
. . . p . p . .
. . . . . . p Q
. O . . . . . .
. . . . O . . .
O . O O . . O O
R N B . K B N R

1.   b4    * Nf6
2. * f3      Ng4
3.   fxg4    f6
4. * e3    * d6
5. * Ke2   * Bxg4+
6.   Ke1     Bd7
7.   Qg4     g5
8.   Qh5++
--------------------------------
 

7
----------------------------------------
WHITE: Fred Galvin
BLACK: Joao Neto

RESULT: 1-0

GAME:

r n b . . . . r
p . . p . p . p
p . . O . . p n
. . . . R . . .
. . . p k O . .
. . . . . . O .
. O O K O . O .
. N B . . B N .

1.    a4    * c5
2.  * f3      Qc7
3.    a5      Qg3+
4.  * h:g3  * e5
5.  * a6    * b:a6
6.    d4      Bd6
7.    d:c5    Ke7
8.    c:d6+ * Kf6
9.  * Qd4   * e:d4
10. * Rh6+  * N:h6
11. * Kd2     g6
12.   f4      Kf5
13.   Ra5+    Ke4
14.   Re5++
-------------
COMMENTS

Black never really recovered from his opening blunder; leaving his king
on the 6th line was also bad. ;-)

Alternative mates:
ll. ... g6 12. g4 Kg5 13. g3 f6 14. Ke1++
11. ... d3 12. b3 Ke5 13. Ra5+ Kd4 14. c3++
11. ... g5 12. Nh3 Kg6 13. Ra5 Kh5 14. Rxg5++
11. ... g5 12. Nh3 Kg6 13. Ra5 Kh5 14. Nf4++
-----------------------------------------------
 

8
-----------------------------------------
WHITE: Joao Pedro Neto (jpn@di.fc.ul.pt)
BLACK: Martin Moller Pedersen (tusk@daimi.aau.dk)
-----------------------------------------
RESULT: 1-0
GAME:

   r n . q k b . r
   p p p b p . . p
   . . . p . p . .
   . . . . . . p Q
   . O . O O . . .
   . . . . O . . .
   O . O . . . O O
   R N B . K B N R

 1.   b4   * Nf6
 2. * f3     Ne4
 3.   fxe4   f6
 4. * e3   * d6
 5. * Ke2  * Bg4+
 6.   Ke1    Bd7
 7.   d4     g5
 8.   Qh5++

COMMENT:

Once more, the fool's mate at move 5!
If the queen is still in business, never
forget this possibility

----------------------------------------------

9
-----------------------------------------
WHITE: Joao Pedro Neto
BLACK: Fabio Forzoni

RESULT: 1-0

   r . b q k b n r
   p . p p p . . .
   n p . . . p Q p
   . . . . . . . .
   . O . . O . . .
   . . . . . O . .
   O . O O K . O O
   R N B . . . N R

1.   b4  * g6
2. * f3    f6
3.   e4    Kf7
4. * Ba6 * N:a6
5. * Ke2 * b6
6.   Qe1   Ke8
7.   Qg3   h6
8.   Q:g6++
----------------
COMMENT: The danger of fool's mate does not dissapear
         after the 3rd move. Always be careful about it!
--------------------

 
10
---------------------------
Pedersen-Cornacchini

RESULT: 0-1

r n b . k b n r
p . p p . p p p
. p . . p . . .
. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . O q
O O N . . O . .
. . O O O . . O
R . B Q K B N R

1.   Nc3  * b6
2. * f3     e6
3.   b3     Ke7
4  * g4   * Ke8
5. * a3   * Qh4#
------------------------
Yet another fool's mate!!
 

11
----------------------------------
WHITE: Joao Pedro Neto (jpn@di.fc.ul.pt)
BLACK: Gabriele Cornacchini (gacornac@tin.it)

RESULT: 1-0

r n b q . b n r
p . p p . . . p
. . . k p p p .
. p Q . . . . .
. O . . O . . .
. . . K . O . .
O . O O . . O O
R N B . . B N R
 
1.   b4  * b5
2. * f3    f6
3.   e4    Kf7
4. * Ke2 * g6
5. * Kd3 * e6
6.   Qe2   Ke7
7.   Qe3   Kd6
8.   Qc5++

----------------------------------

12
------------------------------------------------------
WHITE: Alfred Pfeiffer (apf@informatik.tu-chemnitz.de)
BLACK:  Fabio Forzoni  (forzoni@ats.it)

RESULT: 1-0

       r . b q . b n r
       p . p p p . p p
       . . n . k p . .
       . . . Q . . . .
       . . . . O . . O
       . . . . . O . .
       O O O . K . O .
       R N B . . . N R

 1.    h2-h4  *  b7-b5
 2. *  f2-f3     f7-f6
 3.    e2-e4    Ke8-f7
 4. * Bc1-c4  *  b5:c4
 5. * Ke1-e2  * Nb8-c6
 6.    d2-d3    c4:d3+
 7.   Qd1:d3    Kf7-e6
 8.   Qd3-d5#
------------------------------------------------------

13
------------------------------------------------------
WHITE: Alfred Pfeiffer (apf@informatik.tu-chemnitz.de)
BLACK: Bill Taylor (w.taylor@math.canterbury.ac.nz)

RESULT: 1-0

       r n b k . Q n r
       . p p p . p p p
       p . . . . . . .
       . . . . . . . .
       O . . . . . . .
       . O . . O . . .
       . . O . O K O O
       R N B . N B . R

 1.    a2-a4   *  e7-e5
 2. *  b2-b3     Qd8-h4
 3.   Ng1-f3     Qh4:f2+   OUCH!
 4. * Ke1:f2   *  e5-e4
 5. * Nf3-e1   *  e4-e3+
 6.    d2:e3     Ke8-d8
 7.   Qd1-d6      a7-a6
 8.   Qd6:f8#
------------------------------------------------------
Black never recovered from the mistake of moveing his e-pawn
on move 1.  This is a trap for us all to learn!
 

14
----------------------------------------
WHITE: Bill Taylor (W.Taylor@math.canterbury.ac.nz)
BLACK: Fred Galvin (galvin@math.ukans.edu)

RESULT: 0-1

. . . . . . n r
r p p . . . . p
p . k b . p p .
. . . p . . . .
. . O . . K O .
. . . . O O . .
O . . . . . O .
R . . . . B N R

1.   b4    * g6
2. * f3      f6
3.   c4      a6
4. * Qa4   * e5
5. * Qc6   * Nxc6
6.   b5      d6
7.   bxc6    Qd7
8.   cxd7+ * Kxd7
9. * d4    * exd4
10 * Be3   * dxe3
11 * h3      Kc6
12   Nd2     Bg4
13   hxg4    exd2+
14   Kxd2    Ra7
15 * Ke3   * d5
16 * Kf4   * Be7
17 * e3    * Bd6++
----------------------------------------
 

15
-----------------------------------------
WHITE: Norbert Geissler (norbert.geissler@mchb.siemens.de)
BLACK: Joao Pedro Neto  (jpn@di.fc.ul.pt)
-----------------------------------------

RESULT: 1-0

 r . . . k b n r
 p p . . p p . p
 n . . p N . . p
 . B p . . . . .
 . . . . O . . .
 . . . . . O O .
 O O O O . . O .
 R N B Q K . . .
 
 1.    e4   * c5
 2. *  f3     Qc7
 3.   Ne2     Qg3+
 4. * h:g3  * d6
 5. * Rh6   * g:h6
 6.   Nf4    Be6
 7.   N:e6   Na6
 8.   Bb5#
----------------------------------------

16
-----------------------------------------
WHITE: Fred Galvin (galvin@math.ukans.edu)
BLACK: Norbert Geissler (norbert.geissler@mchb.siemens.de)

RESULT: 0-1

 r n b . . k . r
 p p . p . . . p
 . . . O . . . n
 . . . . p p p .
 O . . . . . . .
 . . . . K O O .
 N . O O O . O .
 R . B Q . B N .
 
 1.   a4    * e5
 2. * f3      Qg5
 3.   Nc3     Qg3+
 4. * h:g3  * c5
 5. * Rh6   * N:h6
 6.   b4      Bd6
 7.   b:c5    Ke7
 8.   c:d6+ * Kf8
 9. * Kf2   * f5
10. * Ke3   * g5
11. * Na2     White resigns
-------------
COMMENTS:

After Norbert's last series, I couldn't find any way to avoid being
checkmated on the next turn, so I had to resign. If anybody can find a
good move for White in the final position, I'd like to see it!
----------------------------------------
 

17
----------------------------------------
WHITE: Fabio Forzoni (forzoni@ats.it)
BLACK: Bill Taylor (W.Taylor@math.canterbury.ac.nz)
-----------------------------------------

RESULT: 0-1

  r n . . k . . r
  p p . . . . . .
  . . p . . p . .
  . . O p . 0 p p
  . . . . p . K .
  . . O O . . O O
  O . . . . O . .
  R N . . . . N R

1.    b4    * e5
2.  * c3      Ke7
3.    g3      f6
4.  * Qa4   * d5
5.  * Qd7+  * Bxd7
6.    Bh3     Qe8
7.    Bxd7    Kd6
8.    B:e8  * Ke7
9.  * d3    * K:e8
10. * Bh6   * N:h6
11. * Kd2     Bc5
12.   e4      Nf5
13.   e:f5    Kf8
14.   b:c5    c6
15. * Ke2   * g5
16. * Kf3   * Ke8
17. * Kg4   * e4
18. * h3    * h5++
--------------------
Fabio: A very nice pawn's mate. I liked it!

   Galvin: 6. Bh3   Bc6   7. b5    Kd6   8. Ba3++
===============================================

18
-----------------------------
White: Bill Taylor
Black: Joao Neto

RESULT:  1-0

. . . . r r . .
. . . R k . . .
n . p . . p . p
p . O . N O . .
. . p . . . . .
. . n . . . . .
O . K . . . O O
. . . . . . . R

1.   b4   * b5
2. * f3     f6
3.   e4     c6
4. * Bc4  * b:c4
5. * c3   * e5
6.   d4     f5
7.   e:f5   Qg5
8.   B:g5 * e:d4
9. * Bf6  * d:c3
10 * Ke2  * g:f6
11 * Q:d7+  B:d7
12   N:c3   Be6
13   f:e6   Bc5
14   b:c5   h6
15 * e7   * N:e7
16 * f4   * Nd5
17 * f5   * a5
18 * Kd1  * N:c3+
19   Kc2    Na6
20   Nf3    Ke7
21   Ne5    Rhf8
22   Rad1   Rae8
23   Rd7++
-----------------------
COMMENT:

Bill:
It took a LOT more than one minute to find this!  Indeed, (though it
will not be much consolation), I had to spend more time and sessions
looking for this than ever before on ANY email game!  I only kept at
it because I couldn't believe there could be a 2-rook position with
5 moves and no mate!   Oddly, in the end I had to clear both rooks,
but only use one!

Thanks for the game; it was a very touch-and-go struggle from
start to finish.  No doubt Fred will eventually find several
mates we both missed!  :-(   :)

   Galvin: 6. Na3 Ne7  7. Nb5 a6  8. Nd6++
   and 15. *Ke3 *Na6  16. *Ke4 *Rd8  17. *Kf5 *Rd5+  18. *Kg6 *Rg5++
   Also 19. Ke1 Rg8 20. Rb1 Rxg2 21. Rb7 Rxg1+ 22. Rxg1 a4 23. Rg8++
---------------------------------

19
----------------------------
From: Martin Moller Pedersen <tusk@daimi.aau.dk>
Subject: pedersen vs. forzoni

RESULT:  1-0

r . . q k b n r
p . p n p . . p
. . . . . p B .
. p . p . . p .
. . . . . . b .
. . . . O . . O
O O O O . . O .
R N B . K . N R

  1.   Nc3  * b5
  2. * Nb1    f6
  3.    e3    g5
  4. * Qg4  * d5
  5. * Ke2  * Bxg4+
  6.   Ke1    h6
  7.   Bd3    Nd7
  8.   Bg6++
------------------------
A "reverse" fool's mate.  -bill
------------------------

20
-------------------------------
    White: Martin M. Pedersen
    Black: Bill Taylor

RESULT:  0-1

r n b . k b n r
p p p p . p p .
. . . . p . . .
. . . . . . . p
. . . . . O O q
. . O . . . . .
O O . O O . . O
R N B Q K B N R

 1.    Nc3   * h5
 2.  * Nb1     e6
 3.    c3      Ke7
 4.  * f4    * Ke8
 5.  * g4    * Qh4++
---------------------
Fool's mates galore!  Fred was right - people didn't read the hand-out.
---------------------

21
------------------------------------------------------
WHITE: Alfred Pfeiffer (apf@informatik.tu-chemnitz.de)
BLACK: Martin Moeller Pedersen  (tusk@daimi.aau.dk)

RESULT: 1-0

       r n b . k . R .
       p p . p p p . .
       . . . . . . p .
       . . p . . . b .
       . . . . . . O .
       . . . . . O O .
       O O O O O K . .
       R N B Q . B N .

 1.   g3   * c5
 2. * f3     Qc7
 3.   g4     Qg3+
 4. * h:g3 * g6
 5. * Kf2  * Bg7
 6.   R:h7   Bh6
 7.   R:h8   Bg5
 8.   R:g8#
------------------------------------------------------

22
-----------------------------
WHITE: Gabriele Cornacchini (gacornac@tin.it)
BLACK: Norbert Geissler (norbert.geissler@mchb.siemens.de)

RESULT: 0-1

r . b . . . n r
p p p . . k p .
. . . . . p . .
. . b p p . . .
. . . . O . . p
. . . . . O K .
O . O O B . O O
R N B . . . N R

1:   b4    * h5
2: * f3      f6
3.   e4      Kf7
4. * Qe2   * e5
5. * Qa6   * N:a6
6.   B:a6    Qe7
7.   Be2     Qc5
8.   b:c5  * d5
9. * Kf2   * B:c5+
10.* Kg3   * h4#
-------------------

COMMENT:  This is the first time in my tournament play, that
an intended trap worked.  I wanted to know, if my opponent will capture
what he can get and therefore provided a mate against...

6.  B:a6    c5
7.   b:c5  Qb6
8.   c:b6

Gabriele did make slightly different moves,
but the mate remained the same.
-----------------------------

23
-----------------------------------------
WHITE: Norbert Geissler (norbert.geissler@mchb.siemens.de)
BLACK: Fabio Forzoni (forzoni@ats.it)
-----------------------------------------

RESULT: 1-0

 r n . . . b n r
 p p p q p p p .
 . . . . k . . .
 . . . p O . N .
 . . . . . K p .
 . . . . . . . .
 O O O O . O O O
 R N B . . B . R

1.   e4    * d5
2. * Ke2     Bh3
3.   N:h3    Kd7
4. * Ke3   * h5
5. * Qg4+  * h:g4
6.   Kf4     Ke6
7.   e5      Qd7
8.   Ng5#
-----------------------------------------

24
----------------------------------------------------------
WHITE: Norbert Geissler (norbert.geissler@mchb.siemens.de)
BLACK:  Alfred Pfeiffer (apf@informatik.tu-chemnitz.de)
----------------------------------------------------------
RESULT: 1-0

r n . . . b n .
p p . . p . p .
. . . p r . . .
. . p . k . . p
O . O . . . . .
. . . O . K N .
O B . . . O O O
R N . . . B . R

 1.   e4    * c5
 2. * Ke2     f5
 3.   e:f5    h6
 4. * c3    * Qa5
 5. * Qa4   * Q:a4
 6.   b3      d6
 7.   b:a4    Be6
 8.   f:e6  * h5
 9. * d3    * Rh6
10. * Kf3   * R:e6
11. * Ne2     Kf7
12.   Ng3     Kf6
13.   c4      Ke5
14.   Bb2#
-----------------------------------------------------------

25
------------------------------------------------------
WHITE: Joao Pedro Neto (jpn@di.fc.ul.pt)
BLACK: Alfred Pfeiffer (apf@informatik.tu-chemnitz.de)

RESULT: 0-1

        r . . . . . . r
        p . . k p p b p
        . p p . . . . .
        . . . K . p . .
        . . B . O . . .
        . . . . . O . .
        O . . O . . O .
        R N B . . . N .

  1.    b2-b4   *  d7-d5
  2. *  h2-h3     Bc8-g4
  3.    h3:g4     Ke8-d7
  4. * Rh1-h6   * Ng8:h6
  5. *  f2-f3   * Kd7-e8
  6.    b4-b5     Nb8-c6
  7.    b5:c6     Qd8-d7
  8.    c6:d7+  * Ke8:d7
  9. *  c2-c4   *  d5:c4
 10. * Qd1-a4+  * Kd7-d8
 11. * Qa4-e8+    Kd8:e8
 12.    e2-e4     Nh6-f5
 13.    g4:f5      b7-b6
 14.   Bf1:c4     Ke8-d7
 15. * Ke1-e2   *  g7-g6
 16. * Ke2-e3   *  g6:f5
 17. * Ke3-d4   * Bf8-g7+
 18. * Kd4-d5   *  c7-c6#
------------------------------------------------------
 

26
------------------------------------------------------
WHITE: Alfred Pfeiffer
BLACK: Gabriele Cornacchini
------------------------------------------------------

RESULT: 0-1
                     r n . . k b . r
                     p . . . . . . p
                     b . p . p . p .
                     . . . p O n . .
                     . p . K . O . .
                     . . . . . . . N
                     O O O O . . . O
                     R N B . . B . R

              1.   g4    * b7-b5
              2. * f3      f7-f6
              3.   e4      Ke8-f7
              4. * Ke2   * g7-g6
              5. * Kd3   * e7-e6
              6.   e5      f6-f5
              7.   Nh3     Qd8-g5
              8.   N:g5+ * Kf7-e8
              9. * f4    * f5:g4
             10. * Qf3   * g4:f3
             11. * Nh3     f3-f2
             12.   Ke2     c7-c6
             13.   Kd1     Ng8-e7
             14.   Bg2     f2-f1=Q+
             15. * B:f1    Bc8-a6
             16. * Ke2     b5-b4+
             17. * Ke3     d7-d5
             18. * Kd4     Ne7-f5#
------------------------------------------------------
 

27
-----------------------------
WHITE: Bill Taylor
BLACK: Norbert Geissler

RESULT: 0-1

    r . . . k b n r
    p p p . . . . .
    . . . p . . . .
    . . . . . p p p
    O . . . . . . .
    . . . . . . O .
    . . O O . . . O
    R N B K . q N R
 
    1:   b4   * h5
    2: * f3     f6
    3:   a4     d6
    4: * Kf2  * Nc6
    5. * Kg3  * e5
    6.   Kf2    Qd7
    7.   g3     Qh3
    8.   B:h3 * N:b4
    9. * Qf1  * B:h3
   10. * Ke3  * B:f1
   11. * Ke4    Nd3
   12.   K:d3   B:e2
   13.   K:e2   f5
   14.   Ke1    g5
   15. * Ke2  * e4
   16. * Kf2  * e:f3
   17. * Ke1  * f2+
   18. * Kd1  * f1Q#

COMMENT:
A neat demonstration of the power
of centuring the opponents king.
-------------------------------------
 

   28
-----------------------------------------
WHITE: Norbert Geissler
BLACK: Martin Moller Pedersen
-----------------------------------------

RESULT: 1-0

 r n b q k b n r
 p . . p p . . p
 . . p . . . . .
 . p . . . O p Q
 . . . . . O . .
 . . . . . . . N
 O O O O . . O O
 R N B . K B . R
 
 1.  e4       * b5
 2.* Ke2        f5
 3.  e:f5       g5
 4.* f4       * c6
 5.* Nh3      * Qc7
 6.  Ke1        Qd8
 7.  Qh5#
------------------------
Fool's mate yet again. - wfct
===================================================
 

back to tournament

First Round Classification

Here are the results of the first round of the P.O.C. email tournament.

1  Alfred Pfeiffer
2  Norbert Geissler
3  Bill Taylor
4  Fred Galvin
5  Martin Moller Pedersen
6  Joao Neto
7  Gabriele Cornacchini
8  fabio forzoni

        1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8
      ==========================
   1 #  -  0  1  0  1  1  0  1  #   4 /7  champ pool
   2 #  1  -  1  1  1  1  1  1  #   7 /7  champ pool
   3 #  0  0  -  0  1  1  0  1  #   3 /7    consolation
   4 #  1  0  1  -  1  1  1  1  #   6 /7  champ pool
   5 #  0  0  0  0  -  0  0  1  #   1 /7    consolation
   6 #  0  0  0  0  1  -  1  1  #   3 /7    consolation
   7 #  1  0  1  0  1  0  -  1  #   4 /7  champ pool
   8 #  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  -  #   0 /7    consolation
      ==========================

________________________________
To the chamionship pool:

Norbert Geissler      7 wins
Fred Galvin           6 wins
Gabriele Cornacchini  4 wins
Alfred Pfeiffer       4 wins
 

To the consolation pool:

Bill Taylor       3 wins
Joao Neto         3 wins
Martin Pedersen   1 win
fabio forzoni     0 wins
--------------------------------

There were 16 wins to white, and 12 to black.
_______________________
When mate was delivered:

move:by:games
 5    b   3
 7   w    1
 8   w   11
10    b   3
14   w    3
17    b   1
18    b   5 (includes 1 resignation)
23   w    1
 

back to tournament

Second Round Games
 
Asterisks denote moves made by BLACK.
Comments are by the winner unless otherwise noted.

White: Joao Neto
Black: Bill Taylor

   RESULT: 1-0

1.   b4   * Na6
2. * f3     Nc5
3.   b:c5   f6
4. * Kf2  * d6
5. * Kg3  * d:c5
6.   f4     Bd7
7.   e3     g5
8.   Qh5++

   r . . q k b n r
   p p p b p . . p
   . . . . . p . .
   . . p . . . p Q
   . . . . . O . .
   . . . . O . K .
   O . O O . . O O
   R N B . . B N R

joao: A fool's mate once again! I think Bill was
      in the moon when he played this! ;-)

---------------------
   White: Fabio Forzoni (forzoni@ats.it)
   Black: Joao Neto     (jpn@di.fc.ul.pt)

   Result: 0-1

1.   b4   * b5
2. * f3     f6
3.   e4     Kf7
4. * Qe2  * e5
5. * Qc4  * b:c4
6.   d4     f5
7.   d:e5   Qg5
8.   B:g5 * f:e4
9. * e6+  * d:e6
10 * Bf6  * g:f6
11 * Ke2    Bc5
12   b:c5   e5
13   f:e4   Bf5
14   e:f5   Kg7
15 * Ke3  * Na6
16 * Ke4  * Nh6
17 * Kd5  * Rd8+
18 * Ke6  * Re8++

    . . . r r . . .
    p . p . . . k p
    n . . . K p . n
    . . O . p O . .
    . . p . . . . .
    . . . . . . . .
    O . O . . . O O
    R N . . . B N R

Joao: After moves 7-8, it seems to difficult
      for a player to protect himself from its own mad King :-)

Galvin: Too bad Fabio didn't play 6. h4 Kg6 7. h5+ Kg5 8. d3++
and throw the consolation pool into a 3-way tie!

---------------------------

Bill - Fabio

RESULT 0-1

r . b q k b n r
p p p p p . . p
n . . . . p p .
. . . . . . . .
. O . . O . . .
. . . . . O . .
O . O O . . O O
R N B Q K B N R

1.    b4   * g6
2.  * f3     Na6
3.    e4     f6
4.  * Ne2  * N:b4
5.  * c3   * Nd3#
------------------
This is my first win in POC!
 

-----------------------------------------
 WHITE: Norbert Geissler (norbert.geissler@mchb.siemens.de)
 BLACK: Fred Galvin (galvin@math.ukans.edu)

 RESULT: 0-1

 r n b . k b n r
 p p . Q . . p .
 . . . . . . . p
 . . p . p . . .
 . . . . . . . .
 . . . K . . . .
 O O O O . O O O
 R N B . . B . R
 
  1.  e4    *c5
  2. *Ke2    f5
  3.  exf5   h6
  4. *Kf3   *e5
  5. *f6    *Qxf6+
  6.  Ke2    Qf3+
  7.  Nxf3   Kf7
  8.  Nxe5+ *Ke8
  9. *Kd3   *d6
 10. *Qg4   *dxe5
 11. *Qd7+   White resigns

COMMENT by NG: I truely believe, that by best play of
               both sides, a POC game is ALWAYS won by black !
               And that by this play, the decisive last moves
               are those from move 8, ie. moves 11 to 15.
               All not definitely "blundered" games of our tournament
               show this behaviour with the exception of the game
               Taylor-Neto of the first round, which was won by white
               with move 9, but black definitely missed there to win
               with move 8 !

Galvin: I think Norbert may be right about this. Note, however, that there is another way to start a game of POC, which is just as logical as the way we have been doing it: instead of White making his own first move, play starts with *Black* making the first move for *White* (probably 1. *f3).
If there is going to be another POC tournament someday, we should try the alternative and see what happens.
 ----------------------------------------

WHITE: Alfred Pfeiffer (apf@informatik.tu-chemnitz.de)
BLACK: Fred Galvin (galvin@math.ukans.edu)

RESULT: 0-1

r n b . . b n r
. . p k . . p .
p . . . . p . p
. . . . . . . .
. . p . . . . .
O . N . . . . .
O B . . . O O O
R . N . q . K R

 1.  d4   *b5
 2. *Kd2   f6
 3.  e4    h6
 4. *Kc3  *d5
 5. *Kb4  *e5+
 6.  Kc3   Qe7
 7.  Kd2   Qa3
 8.  bxa3 *dxe4
 9. *Bc4  *exd4
10. *Qg4  *bxc4
11. *Qd7+  Kxd7
12.  Nc3   d3
13.  Bb2   dxc2
14.  Nge2  c1Q+
15. *Nxc1 *a6
16. *Ke1  *e3
17. *Kf1  *e2+
18. *Kg1  *e1Q++
--------------------

WHITE: Fred Galvin (galvin@math.ukans.edu)
BLACK: Gabriele Cornacchini (gacornac@tin.it)

RESULT: 1-0

. . . r k b . r
p p N . p . . .
. . n p O n . p
. . p . . . p .
. . . . . . . .
. . . O K . . .
O O O B . . O O
R . . . . B N R

 1.  e4   *c5
 2. *Ke2   f5
 3.  exf5  h6
 4. *d3   *Qa5
 5. *Qd2  *Qxd2+
 6.  Bxd2  d6
 7.  f4    Be6
 8.  fxe6 *Nc6
 9. *f5   *g5
10. *f6   *Nxf6
11. *Ke3   Rb8
12.  Nc3   Rc8
13.  Nd5   Rd8
14.  Nc7++

COMMENTS
I could be wrong, but it seems to me that Black could have prevented White from mating on move 7. E.g., I don't see a mate for White after 8.... *Na6 9. *Kf3 *0-0-0 10. *c3 *b6 11. *a3. Usually, if White can't mate on move 7, then Black can win on move 8; I'm not sure that applies in this position.
---------------
Anyway, thanks for organizing an interesting tournament!

---------------------------
WHITE: Alfred Pfeiffer
BLACK: Norbert Geissler

RESULT: 0-1
                     r n b k . b n r
                     p p . . Q . p p
                     . . . . . . . .
                     . . p p . p . .
                     . . . . . . . .
                     . . . B . K . .
                     O O O O . O O O
                     R N B . . . N R
 
                1.    e2-e4   * Nb8-c6
                2. * Ke1-e2      f7-f5
                3.    e4:f5     Nc6-b8
                4. * Ke2-f3   *  e7-e6
                5. * Kf3-g4   *  e6:f5+
                6.   Kg4-f3     Qd8-e7
                7.   Bf1-d3     Qe7-e2+
                8.   Kf3:e2   *  c7-c5
                9. * Ke2-f3   *  d7-d5
               10. * Qd1-e2+  * Ke8-d8
               11. * Qe2-e7+    resign
-----------------------------------------

WHITE: Gabriele Cornacchini
BLACK: Alfred Pfeiffer

RESULT: 0-1

       r n b . Q . . r
       p p p . . k b p
       . . . . p n p .
       . . . p . . . .
       . . . . . K . .
       . . . . . . . .
       O O O O . O O O
       R N B . . B N R

  1.    e2-e4  *  g7-g6
  2. * Ke1-e2     f7-f5
  3.    e4:f5    Ke8-f7
  4. * Ke2-e3  * Ng8-f6
  5. * Qd1-g4  * Nf6:g4+
  6.   Ke3-e2     e7-e6
  7.    f5-f6    Qd8-e7
  8.    f6:e7  * Bf8-g7
  9. * Ke2-f3  * Ng4-f6
 10. * Kf3-f4  *  d7-d5
 11. * e7-e8=Q+
                 White resigns
-----------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------
WHITE: Norbert Geissler (norbert.geissler@mchb.siemens.de)
BLACK: Gabriele Cornacchini (gacornac@tin.it)

RESULT: 1-0

r n b q k b n r
p p p p p . . p
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . O p .
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
O O O O K O O O
R N B Q . B N R

1.   e4    * g6
2. * Ke2     f5
3.   e:f5    g5
4. resign

COMMENT: Gabriele resigned due to lack of
         time to play on, not because the position is lost.
 

back to tournament

Final Classification
 
In the second round the two pools played independently, with colors reversed from in the first round.  The winners were decided from the combined results of both rounds, but using only those games between second-round poolmates.

CHAMPIONSHIP POOL
=================

1  Alfred Pfeiffer
2  Norbert Geissler
4  Fred Galvin
7  Gabriele Cornacchini

        1  2  4  7
      ==============
   1 #  -  0  0  1  #   1 win
   2 #  1  -  0  1  #   2 wins
   4 #  1  1  -  1  #   3 wins
   7 #  0  0  0  -  #   0 wins
      ==============

CONSOLATION POOL
================

3  Bill Taylor
5  Martin Moller Pedersen  (withdrew)
6  Joao Neto
8  Fabio Forzoni

        3  6  8
      ===========
   3 #  -  0  0  #   0 wins
   6 #  1  -  1  #   2 wins
   8 #  1  0  -  #   1 win
      ===========

When we add in the (restricted) results from the first round, we get...

        1  2  4  7
      ==============
   1 #  -  0  0  1  #   1 win  to  Alfred Pfeiffer
   2 #  2  -  1  2  #   5 wins to  Norbert Geissler
   4 #  2  1  -  2  #   5 wins to  Fred Galvin
   7 #  1  0  0  -  #   1 win  to  Gabriele Cornacchini
      ==============

Amazingly, the tie-breaker (quickest mate) failed to break EITHER tie.
We therefore declare Fred Galvin and Norbert Geissler to be JOINT CHAMPIONS.
                     ================================
The other two share third place.

        3  6  8
      ===========
   3 #  -  1  1  #   2 wins to  Bill Taylor
   6 #  1  -  2  #   3 wins to  Joao Neto
   8 #  1  0  -  #   1 win  t0  Fabio Forzoni
      ===========

So Joao Neto is the consolation pool winner; Bill Taylor second.

Congratulations to all the place getters.

The games scores from the 2nd round are attached below.

Bill Taylor.

 back to tournament

Congratulations to arrive at the end of this wpage!!!
 

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