May 21st, 2018

It's unbelievable...

After 14 (!) long years, when I just happened to be in contact with Jorge Quiñones again by email, he said rather casually that our former correspondence game was drawn though !
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5 Bxc2 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.Bxe6 Be7

diagram 10.Bxe6 Be7 11.Rxf6!... Jorge's suggestion on May 21, 2018
11... gxf6 12. Nxf7 Bxf7 13. Bxf7+ Kxf7 14. Qh5+ Kg8 15. Qg4+ Kf7 16. Qh5+... ... and drawn by repetition! Another line:
11.Bxf7! Bxf7 12.Rxf6 gxf6 13.Nxf7 Kxf7 14.Qh5+ Kg8 15.Qg4+ Kf7 16.Qh5+...

Another conclusions:

  1. Think the unthinkable - also think about sacrificial moves!
  2. 11.Bf5... was also a recommendation of the HIARCS-14z book, and in fact the game followed the HIARCS-14z book until Black's 14th move.
    Don't blindly trust opening books !!


Nov. 3rd, 2004

Aaahhhh...

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5 Bxc2 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.Bxe6 Be7 11.Bf5 Bxf5 12.Rxf5 O-O 13.Be3 Nbd7 14.Raf1 Bd6 15.d5 Qe7 16.Kh1 Rae8 17.dxc6 bxc6 18.Qd1 Bxh2 19.Bxa7 Be5 20.Bd4 Qb4 21.Bxe5 Nxe5 22.Qd2 Neg4 23.R1f4 Qb8 24.g3 Qc8 25.Rc4 Qxf5 0-1
Aaahhhhrrg... What have I done?? A fingerslip, and that in a correspondence game!?!? The suffering is over...

Conclusions:

  1. Offering an unknown line as secret weapon confronting opponent with additional problems is a good idea.
  2. You should know a such special line yourself very well! And I didn't... :-/
  3. "Alchemy variation" is like stumbling into darkness!
    I did my best analysing for many, many hours and days but... this line is dead to me now.
  4. What a pity, I wanted to win just this impolite guy - the parallel running game got into a draw...

Nov. 2nd, 2004

Playing expected line into darkness...

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5 Bxc2 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.Bxe6 Be7 11.Bf5 Bxf5 12.Rxf5 O-O 13.Be3 Nbd7 14.Raf1 Bd6 15.d5 Qe7 16.Kh1 Rae8 17.dxc6 bxc6 18.Qd1 Bxh2 19.Bxa7 Be5 20.Bd4 Qb4 21.Bxe5 Nxe5 22.Qd2 Neg4 23.R1f4 Qb8 24.g3 Qc8 25.Rc4...
I'm looking into darkness only... :-(

Oct. 28th, 2004

No more support...

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5 Bxc2 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.Bxe6 Be7 11.Bf5 Bxf5 12.Rxf5 O-O 13.Be3 Nbd7 14.Raf1 Bd6 15.d5 Qe7 16.Kh1 Rae8 17.dxc6 bxc6 18.Qd1 Bxh2 19.Bxa7 Be5 20.Bd4 Qb4 21.Bxe5 Nxe5 22.Qd2 Neg4 23.R1f4 Qb8 24.g3...
Unexpected Jorge came in yesterday: "Sorry for my lack of communication, after my exams period I suffer a computer crash, now I don't have my own analysis for my own games, and I lost 1 game on time.
Anyway the last time I checked Neg4 i can't find a line for fight. :-( "

And that it was being alone in a hopeless game... :-/

Oct. 23rd, 2004

I'm alone...

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5 Bxc2 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.Bxe6 Be7 11.Bf5 Bxf5 12.Rxf5 O-O 13.Be3 Nbd7 14.Raf1 Bd6 15.d5 Qe7 16.Kh1 Rae8 17.dxc6 bxc6 18.Qd1 Bxh2 19.Bxa7 Be5 20.Bd4 Qb4 21.Bxe5 Nxe5 22.Qd2 Neg4 23.R1f4...
Always not yet any sign from Jorge?! And no idea how to avoid a defeat... :-(

Oct. 14th, 2004

A new try contacting my consultant

After two long weeks I wrote again to Jorge being afraid of my consultant:
"And 22...Neg4 23.R1f4 Qb8 24.g3... ? The opponent played what I did offer before! Heh, what is happened? I was waiting for you until now... :/) "

Oct. 13th, 2004

Time is running out

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5 Bxc2 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.Bxe6 Be7 11.Bf5 Bxf5 12.Rxf5 O-O 13.Be3 Nbd7 14.Raf1 Bd6 15.d5 Qe7 16.Kh1 Rae8 17.dxc6 bxc6 18.Qd1 Bxh2 19.Bxa7 Be5 20.Bd4 Qb4 21.Bxe5 Nxe5 22.Qd2...
No sign from Jorge, and I'm helpless, no significant idea. But I had to react...
/A/ 22.Qc1 Nd3 23.Qd2 Qh4...
/B/ 22.Rxf6 gxf6 23.Nge4 Re6 24.Qh5 Qxb2 25.Qf5 Ng6 26.Nxf6+ Kg7 27.Qf3 Qa3 ...
/C/ 22.Qd2 Nge4! 23.R1f4 Qb8 24.g3 Qc8 ... and White is helpless.

After many days worrying myself I played the most little evil... :-/

Oct. 3rd, 2004

Minds are running differently...

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5 Bxc2 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.Bxe6 Be7 11.Bf5 Bxf5 12.Rxf5 O-O 13.Be3 Nbd7 14.Raf1 Bd6 15.d5 Qe7 16.Kh1 Rae8 17.dxc6 bxc6 18.Qd1 Bxh2 19.Bxa7 Be5 20.Bd4 Qb4 21.Bxe5 Nxe5
Yesterday my opponent replied as expected, and today Jorge came with his stuff:
"If is not too late, this line can give us some hope:
22.Qd2 Qh4+ 23.Kg1 Nfg4 24.Qf4 Nd3 25.Nf3 Nxf4 26.Nxh4 Nd3 27.Rg5 Ne3 28.Rf6 Re6 29.Rxe6 fxe6 30.Nf3 h6 31.Ra5 Nxb2 32.Rc5 Nd3 33.Rxc6 Nf4 34.Nd4 e5 35.Nf3 Re8."
And I responded immediately:
"And 22...Neg4 23.R1f4 Qb8 24.g3... ?
The question is yet: what is better - 22.Qd2... or 22.Qc1... or 22.Rxf6...! My favourites were 22.Qc1... and 22.Rxf6... until now but searching for I didn't find any advantages nor differences between those lines in result for White. :/)"

Time was running away without any new ideas... How should it be going on?

Sept. 19th, 2004

Line is running as expected

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5 Bxc2 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.Bxe6 Be7 11.Bf5 Bxf5 12.Rxf5 O-O 13.Be3 Nbd7 14.Raf1 Bd6 15.d5 Qe7 16.Kh1 Rae8 17.dxc6 bxc6 18.Qd1 Bxh2 19.Bxa7 Be5 20.Bd4 Qb4 21.Bxe5...
Game is running as expected... but Black is always better. Yesterday Jorge came over with his opinion: "I think we can fight with this line: 18.Qd1 Bxh2 19.Bxa7 Be5 20.Bf2 Qb4 21.Qd3 Rd8 22.a3 [...]" But too late. The alternative 20.Bf2... I searched a few days ago already with conclusing impression that 20.Bd4... were better. And so I responded quickly. What is better now - 21.Bxe5 Nxe5 22.Qd2... or 22.Qc1... or 22.Rxf6...! My favourites are 22.Qc1... and 22.Rxf6...

My opponent took a 2nd vacation from Sept. 20th 04 till Oct. 3rd 04 - a 2nd chance for a deep searching. Maybe a last chance before we are getting a lost technical endgame?

Sept. 2nd, 2004

In Caissa we trust

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5 Bxc2 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.Bxe6 Be7 11.Bf5 Bxf5 12.Rxf5 O-O 13.Be3 Nbd7 14.Raf1 Bd6 15.d5 Qe7 16.Kh1...
On Monday Jorge sent a smoking sign as promised. And his recommended line, a single a little bit surprising line: "You can try to avoid queen exchange with some line like this: 15.d5 Qe7 16.Kh1 Rae8 17.dxc6 [...] but very sad Black is always better."
It took me several days again to check this line. My favorite line till Monday was 16.dxc6 bxc6 17.Bd4... Now my feeling said me: go, try that, maybe a new chance yet...

Aug. 24th, 2004

Long awaited situation

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5 Bxc2 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.Bxe6 Be7 11.Bf5 Bxf5 12.Rxf5 O-O 13.Be3 Nbd7 14.Raf1 Bd6 15.d5...
A long pause due to vacation is over and my opponent replied as long awaited.
To our self destined dead line on Monday 23rd Jorge came in with his last proposals playing a draw at least:
15.Qd3 Re8 16.h3 Qe7 17.Nce4 h6 18.Rxf6 gxf6 19.Nxd6 Qxe3+ 20.Qxe3 Rxe3 21.Ngxf7... and others. But I'm missing the real faith. For example, 16.h3... is very passive, saving h-pawn only.
Over more than last two weeks I analysed variation 15.d5... and found no win but a draw maybe. Not a winning move but the most aggressive one with the largest potential of stumbling blocks I think. And that is the very last chance we have.

Aug. 13th, 2004

... burnt out??

For a long week I'm analysing yet our new hope 14...Bd6 15.d5... but no true idea. Several lines work but a single one is deadly maybe...
On Aug. 7th Patrik Schoupal gave a hint on 15.d5...
I responded to Patrik asking for help after analysing a lot on that and indicating there could be some mistakes in analysis of Alchemy Variation. But his today's email: "Yes, they might be there. But to build a cathedral is always much harder than to destroy it. I'm tired of everything including life'n'chess now. But maybe I can send your line to Frantisek, he is really a very strong chess analyst."

Only a week yet...

Aug. 10th, 2004

Consultant is living yet

After about two weeks Jorge came in today with: "I am still on your team, and searching all day, but I didn't write because I can't find a good line... Anyway I will continue trying."

I'm afraid of our game...

Aug. 7th, 2004

Light at the end of the tunnel?

Analysing for about two weeks already, and no true idea is coming up?! Is Alchemy Variation at its end?
Maybe not, new light is falling on our tracks of hunting, an old idea will be reborn!! Analysing is beginning from ahead...

Today in the afternoon I've had a 2nd look into a good book: "Gladiatoren ante portas" by German CC Grandmaster Volker Anton, talking on his opponent's smaller and bigger "problems" and as interesting as strange stories playing in "Hans-Werner von Massow Remembrance Tournament" 1996 - 2001... really encouraging. ;-)

Aug. 2nd, 2004

Deadline...

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5 Bxc2 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.Bxe6 Be7 11.Bf5 Bxf5 12.Rxf5 O-O 13.Be3 Nbd7 14.Raf1...
There was no response to my email from July 29th summarising all searched lines. Jorge's last sign from July 28th: "... I am gonna check lines like crazy all the day." So I have to decide alone: the only obvious move.
An alternative were been my idea 14.Qd3... in order to reach a position by transposition of moves described by Frantisek Nepustil but: 14...Ng4!? (attacking White's important men on g5 and e3) 15.Raf1 Nxe3 16.Qxe3 Bxg5 17.Rxg5 Nf6 18.Qf4 h6 19.Rf5 Re8 -/+ and all chances are gone?!

Now we had a very last chance for finding a sheet anchor for White in Alchemy Variation - my opponent took a vacation from July 30th till Aug. 22nd...

July 30th, 2004

No light on horizon

What's up here? I think we have already reached a culmination in game with White's 14th and/or 15th move.
Yesterday an email sent to Jorge: "We're analysing now for more than six days, and what do we have? A little bit more than nothing? :/) "
Really a hard job, Germans would say "ein hartes Brot"... Is that the end of Alchemy Variation? I decide to wait until Sunday, maybe Monday - a last chance...

July 28th, 2004

Psychological games

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5 Bxc2 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.Bxe6 Be7 11.Bf5 Bxf5 12.Rxf5 O-O 13.Be3 Nbd7
Now WE are standing in front of two doors: 14.Raf1..., an obvious move, or 14.Qd3... trying to reach a position by transposition of moves favored by Frantisek Nepustil??

Sending my last email I allowed me a joke, black humor: I addressed my email with "Gud såg upp till allt också den är ohövlig!", concluding with "Gens una sumus - men inte allt höra till." (No, no Chinese). And he replied with "??????" and "What you want?", not more... Should his play be so bad like his English, don't worry! :-)

July 27th, 2004

Silence...

After four long days a new sign from Jorge telling only he "... was trying about an exotic possibility... but don't work!
13... Nbd7 14.Raf1 Bd6 15.Qd3 Re8 (and now) 16.Bf2 Qc7 17.Kh1 Rad8 18.Bh4 Be7 ... -/+"

Well, an idea more not working. Meanwhile I do also know some lines running into darkness for White but what I do wished were an glorious, fascinating inspiration lightening our battle on the tracks of Alchemy.
I had a little bit more hope after Black's 8...Bxc2 than now... :/)

July 25th, 2004

This guy is taking our game seriously!

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5 Bxc2 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.Bxe6 Be7 11.Bf5 Bxf5 12.Rxf5 O-O 13.Be3...
Yesterday, after three days pondering my opponent came over with a strong reply. Indeed better than 12...Qxd4 13.Be3 Qg4 14.Qc2!...
/A/ 14...g6 15.Re5 Nbd7 16.Rxe7+ Kxe7 17.Qb3 h6 18.Bc5+ Nxc5 19.Qxf7+ Kd8 20.Qxf6+ Kc7 21.Nf7 Qf5 22.Qd6+ +-
/B/ 14...h6 15.h3 Qh4 16.Nge4 Nxe4 17.Nxe4 g6 18.Bf2 +-
/C/ 14...Nbd7!? 15.h3! Qh4 16.Bf2 Qc4 17.Re1 h6 18.Nge4 Kf8 19.Nxf6 Nxf6 20.Rxf6 Bxf6 21.Re4 Qa6 22.Ra4 +-
/D/ 14...Na6 15.Raf1 Qc4 16.Re5 Qb4 17.Nce4 +/-

Now we have an expected position thinking about always yet, and no true idea for anything playing in 14th, 15th move... :/)

July 23rd, 2004

Unremitting hunt...

2nd day after sending my last move, and no response?! Has this speechless guy had an hiccup now gettting my reply?? ;-)
I've had a feeling for last days telling me: Heh, pay attention, a hard to beat guy, maybe?! Now an idea came up to me: Why not search for this guy via Internet? And I did and got some informations - web is really huge, apparently there is nothing not existing there?!
I found tracks on three chess servers only, and an indication on a web site of a German chess club. An individual named Uwe Schäfer is playing there in first chess team on 7th board in the actual season, 2nd league Rheinland-Pfalz South in Germany, with an ELO of 2060...

Uwe Schäfer, sitzend, zweiter von links
Could it be? Sitting, 2nd from left... I believe there is a good chance for having found this guy. Now we are better familiar with our enemy... ;-)

July 21st, 2004

Responded immediately

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5 Bxc2 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.Bxe6 Be7 11.Bf5 Bxf5 12.Rxf5...
This time immediately responded. Black's alternatives here were been:
/A/ 11...O-O, but in this case 12.Bxg6... was a favored reply with 12...hxg6 13.Be3 Nbd7 14.Rf3 Re8 15.Raf1 Bd6 16.Rh3..., or maybe
/B/ 11...Qxd4+
/B1/ 12.Be3 Qe5 13.Bc8... but maybe better:
/B2/ 12.Kh1!?... (Patrik Schoupal's recommendation)
12...Bxf5 13.Rxf5 Qd8 14.Rxf6 gxf6 15.Nxf7 Kxf7 16.Qh5+ Ke6 17.Bf4 Nd7 18.Re1+

Well, and Jorge has had some proposals again, but we're still discussing. Now Black is standing in front of two doors, Germans would say: "Schwarz vor einer Gretchenfrage!"

July 20th, 2004

After a long look...

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5 Bxc2 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.Bxe6 Be7 11.Bf5...
I had to wait for Jorge in last days but analysing this and that. I came to conclusion: only 11.Bf5... could be successful not 11.Bb3...
Today also Jorge came in with his proposals: "If you believe on ED Theory you can play by elimination, and I don't like Bb3:
11.Bb3 O-O 12.Be3... (a new try, but was not good enough) 12...Nbd7 13.Bc2 Bh5 14.Qe1 Nb6 15.Qh4 h6
/A/ 16.Nh7 Ng4 17.Qxh5 Nxe3 18.Rf2 Qxd4 19.Nxf8 Rxf8 20.Kh1 Ng4 21.Rf3 g6 22.Qa5 Qe5 23.Qxe5 Nxe5 -/+
/B/ 16.Nf3 Ng4 17.Qxh5 Nxe3 18.Rf2 Bf6 19.Bb3 Bxd4 20.Re1 Qd6 21.Nxd4 Qxd4 22.Bxf7+ Kh8 -/+
Then I prefer Bf5..."

Much stuff for an idea not wishing to play, on the other hand recommended move without any line... But well, same idea, let's go...

July 15th, 2004

This guy annoyes me always yet

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5 Bxc2 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.Bxe6 Be7
Last two moves this speechless guy played very correctly! But his manner is impolite: no address, no greeting, no needed informations like thinking time... :-(   Where is my browning? ;-)
Now we have a sharp position very early. White played as a true gambiteer but how does it go on?
Jorge comes in with "I think it's a good idea to play a BDG game live, this is a good moment, I just started my vacations 3 days ago, give me a few days more (3 or 4) for send moves for my pending games and then we start, that's ok?"

July 14th, 2004

This guy annoyes me

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5 Bxc2 9.Qe2 Bg6
Here at first time my opponent took two days thinking about. Before he replied after a day only, move by move like a machine...

July 13th, 2004

Contact to Lima...

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5 Bxc2 9.Qe2...
An email has arrived - Jorge from Lima: "Maybe you can write an article about our analysis?" Yeah, that's an idea! Let's play a game annotating it up to date...

July 12th, 2004

Wow, my opponent wishes to win rapidly?!

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5 Bxc2
Two pawns down, but I am a little bit relieved! Didn't believe that he would grab at my c-pawn, now I should have better chances?!
An idea comes up to me: My chess friend Jorge from Lima has already played this line, I should drop a line to him! "Hello Jorge, a new smoking sign from Diemer land! I have a new case, a new idea surprising my opponent..."

July 11th, 2004

Mixed feelings...

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5...

diagram 8.Ng5... With mixed feelings played - no return now! So long I play BDG first time on board... look becomes blurred... ;-)
Main move is 8.Ne5..., almost exclusively played.
Now I do expect 8...Bxc2, better 8...Bg6.

/A/ 8...Bg6 9.Ne2!? Be7 10.Nf4 Bf5 11.c3 O-O 12.Nfxe6 Bxe6 13.Bxe6 fxe6 ...
/B/ 8...Bxc2 is not the best?! There should be some chances now... 9.Qe2 Bg6!? 10.Bxe6... first culmination - a critical situation! 10...Be7 11.Bf5!? Bxf5 12.Rxf5 O-O 13.Be3...

July 8th, 2004

Aaah... a hard to play system!

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6...
Ziegler or Gunderam Defense, a hard to play system! My experiences playing that system are mixed. :/)
Time to have a look into my personal trickish box: Should I come up with an idea of IM Stamer playing 13.g4... or play a "mysterious line" found in last years? My feeling says me that my speechless opponent would be hard to beat though I decide to go on unusual tracks: 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ng5!?... This is the idea, a brave play. No own experiences, and in my database I find 7 games only... Quiñones, J. - Leisebein, P., 2003, went 8...Bg6 9.Ne2 c5 10.c3 Nc6 11.Nf4 cxd4 12.Ngxe6 fxe6 13.Nxe6 Qb6 ...
0-1/43. Not encouraging...

July 5th, 2004

Huuh - my opponent is speechless

Surprisingly my opponent responded after four days first, at beginning of game... :-0
With my first move I introduced myself in polite manner, but this guy didn't react?? But pleasant to me his move 1...d5. Otherwise: Has he already noticed my web site? If yes, he WISHED to play a BDG?! No surprise any more... :/)

July 1st, 2004

Starting new BDG adventure...

Well, at the end of June I got a new tournament invitation, for a k.o. email tournament having to play one game as White and as Black. My opponent was unknown to me, and searching in databaseses I got just a dozen of games played via a chess server.
What to play now? This question is coming up every time. As Black I had to wait what my opponent would play, but should I play my main weapon again as White? While searching for my opponent's games I found one single BDG game only played as Black by him. Okay, come on, it's time again for 1.d4... though my opponent could find my BDG web site...