Mini 686 - Chess Mafia (Done)

[Goatrevolt]

I don't see dead people?

I'd say just go ahead and abandon it at this point. The game becomes decidedly less fun when the majority of players aren't even interested in playing and would prefer abandonment. Without active interest, this game is going to drag on and continue to do so for a while.

SSK: It wasn't your game to begin with, and the abandonment isn't a result of mod error or any kind of issue on your end. I wouldn't sweat it.

[veerus]

Due to the length of the game, most people simply lost interest. Case in point: we're talking about continuing the game or abandoning it and most people have made their first comment on it in the last few days despite the fact that the issue was first brought up nearly 2 weeks ago.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

move: Qe3

if the game doesn't die.

I honestly

do

want this to continue, I think that the combination of having few good moves and the length of the game are just killing our willingness to continue.

I think this game idea is really, really great, and I hate to see it die, but I understand why. I could definitely see it working better with a few tweaks.

[Indigo Heron]

I'm fine either way. I just want this game to continue.

unmove, move: Qe3

[MafiaSSK]

I'll think about it today. But, if a lynch or a move count has been made then that will overrule or agree with my decision and the game will go to night.

[Lawrencelot]

unmove, move: Qe3

even though I don't like moving our queen

[veerus]

I'll think about it today. But, if a lynch or a move count has been made then that will overrule or agree with my decision and the game will go to night.

Any deadline related change won't affect things because half the players haven't posted in quite some time. Get them back and then we can get the game back on track.

[sirdanilot]

Yeah, please replace half the players, then we can start talking about continuing this. If you aren't making effort to find replacements (not that it's your fault, it's Awesome Pants' fault really for inventing such a horrible setup) then you can't expect us to continue the game, can you.

[MafiaSSK]

Yeah, please replace half the players, then we can start talking about continuing this. If you aren't making effort to find replacements (not that it's your fault, it's Awesome Pants' fault really for inventing such a horrible setup) then you can't expect us to continue the game, can you.

Acknowledged. Replacing SensFan, AA, IH

[veerus]

Just replace SensFan. AA is V/LA until tomorrow and IH seems to be semi-active.

[sirdanilot]

Sensfan is actually around the site, so you could try prodding him first if you want.

[Abstract Actuary]

I'm back and have always followed this game. I've always had my thoughts/questions on the table each move.

Someone said that Bg2 doesn't break the pin. I agree that we still can't move our knight immediately, but it does break the pin on the rook and it adds protection to the bishop. I believe that Bg2 weakens black's g5 option.

[MafiaSSK]

Well. Um. Deadline passed. Replacing SensFan and probably Max. Going with the move that had the most votes. Yes, I know that's different than the rules say I should do. However, AP didn't say how I could dice roll the move. So...
1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 e6 4. Nf3 f5 5. exf5 exf5 6. Qe2 Be7 7. Nd5 Nb4 8. Nxb4 cxb4 9. d4 Nf6 10. Qc4 a6 11. Bd2 b5 12. Qd3 O-O 13. Qxf5 d5 14. Qd3 Ne4 15. g3 Bf5 16. Qb3 Nxd2 17. Kxd2 Be4 18. Re1 Kh8 19. Qe3

Night 19 begins!

[MafiaSSK]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 e6 4. Nf3 f5 5. exf5 exf5 6. Qe2 Be7 7. Nd5 Nb4 8. Nxb4 cxb4 9. d4 Nf6 10. Qc4 a6 11. Bd2 b5 12. Qd3 O-O 13. Qxf5 d5 14. Qd3 Ne4 15. g3 Bf5 16. Qb3 Nxd2 17. Kxd2 Be4 18. Re1 Kh8 19. Qe3 g5

Day 20 begins! With a replacement for SensFan by the Marvelous Mastin. And then searching for another replacement for Max. D:

[Mastin]

Do NOT do Pawn to b5--

How their move would work:

Bishop captures our pawn--

Queen's in danger, bishop's protected by the queen.
We are forced to move our knight to take the bishop,
We lose the rook that the knight is currently blocking their other bishop from attacking.

Leave it be, and the worse they can do is capture our pawn (temporarily endangering our queen), and we'll just return the favor. No piece is left vulnerable, no piece at a disadvantage.

All of our important pieces are fairly, well, cornered, so I suggest either we move a pawn (a3, c3, and h4 are all viable options), or we remove the risk to our rook and free our knight again. This move seems to be the most advantageous to me.

Move: Rook to G-1

.

[Mastin]

(Oh, and alternatively, their rook could theoretically capture our knight for free, endangering our Queen, and as the rook's guarded by the bishop...yea.)

We're kinda pinned at the moment. This looks to be rather the defensive game. The wrong move would be disastrous. And we shouldn't rush it--I have learned that's the greatest mistake, even more than overconfidence. (One person I played continually checked my king with his queen in order to get free pawns. He eventually blundered and gave me his queen when he allowed me to capture his queen with mine. That's overconfidence. I've lost even more, however, to rushing a game.)

---
If we want to move a pawn, I would suggest C3. We trade, move the rook to cover the pawn, and push our unchallenged pawn forward to force them on the defensive. Moving that pawn forward allows for us to put their pawn in danger, and force a trade, which in turn frees our bishop up to capture another pawn.

(Moves:
Pawn C-3, Pawn C-3, Check,
King to C-3, Some other black move,
Pawn to B-3, some other black move,
Pawn to A-4, Pawn to A-4,
Pawn to A-4, some other black move,
If black's rook has moved, bishop to A-6. If not, well, some other move.)

I don't think that'd be the best strategy in the world, for it leaves plenty of Black counters.
I advocate that we stay on the defensive and make them make a mistake.

Alternatively, as another possible move,
Pawn to H-4, Pawn to H-4,
Pawn to H-4, Black can't use their Bishop to capture our Pawn, because it sacrifices their Bishop to our Rook.

It puts us ahead a pawn.

We could also do Bishop to D-3, but that only forces a trade. It frees our Queen, but also exposes her.

[Mastin]

Pawns--1,
Bishops--4
Knights--4
Rooks--5
Queens--8
Kings--i. (Infinite)

Pawns--7
Bishops--1
Knights--1
Rooks--2
Queens--1

Our forces.
Total: 33

Pawns--6
Bishops--2
Knights--0
Rooks--2
Queens--1

Black's forces.
Total: 32.

When ahead in piece value, it is acceptable to trade. I much prefer, though, trades where you end up ahead.
I stick by the rook move, because upon further review, the bishop would STILL capture the pawn, due to having the queen behind it, we can't capture it, our rook is put in danger.

The pawn moves again are aggressive and could backfire.

We want to stay on the defensive.

We're in a situation where we have a good defense, and they have a good offense. If we try to go on the offensive (pretty much any pawn move), we potentially leave ourselves with a hole in our defenses.

Stay on the defensive, we force their hand.
Our defense is solid. We force them to make an offensive move, which might leave a whole in their defense and let us strike again.

I currently advocate,

Rook G1, Let Black make a move.
If they trade, capture their Bishop with the Queen, allow us to go on the offensive.
If they don't,
Bishop D3, force what for them is at best a trade, leaving many options available.

[Mastin]

Mini 686 - Chess Mafia Day 20 DL = June 21

POST POST POST

Bolded is my emphasis. I have been watching since day seventeen, give or take; I don't want the game to die. <_<

[Indigo Heron]

What about 20. Bd3? I haven't actually thought this path through yet.

However, I strongly oppose 20. c3. 20. ...Qc7 and it's all over.

[Lawrencelot]

What about Ne5

[Indigo Heron]

Oh sure....let's resign immediately after that, shall we?

[Abstract Actuary]

20 Ne5 Bxh1

We obviously can't play 20 fxg5.

I think our candidate moves are Bd3, Bg2, Bh3 and Rg1.

I favor Rg1 at the moment. It breaks the pin and places our rook on the g-file, which may soon become open. Actually, as I look back at the board, I'm seeing some potentially troublesome moves for black if we don't deal with some of our weaknesses on this move. Although Rg1 breaks the pin, it does not add any protection to any of our weak squares. I favor Bd3.

In order to help facilitate the speed of this game, I'll also bold my move, even though we are in preliminary talks.

Move: Bd3

[Mastin]

What about Ne5

And then they use their rook to get a free pawn, their rook guarded by their pawn.

Bd3

A trade. We're ahead material, and want to trade, but it kinda leaves our queen out in the open, exposed.

Bg2

Defends our knight and rook. We still won't be able to move the knight, because then they capture our bishop for free.

Bh3

It works. Kinda pointless, though.

Rg1.

This is the move I currently support.

It breaks the pin and places our rook on the g-file, which may soon become open.

Thereby freeing our knight to capture their pawn, mind you.

Actually, as I look back at the board, I'm seeing some potentially troublesome moves for black if we don't deal with some of our weaknesses on this move.

Our greatest weakness right now is the rook's pin.

Although Rg1 breaks the pin, it does not add any protection to any of our weak squares.

None of our moves really do.

I favor Bd3.

Traps their bishop, forcing a trade (which is alright). They can,
1: Take our Bishop,
2: Take our Knight,
3: Retreat to the square before the pawn, defending itself,
4: Leave it where it is, lose the bishop, take our bishop with their pawn, lose their pawn to our queen,
5: Retreat to an unprotected square, give us their bishop.

Assume a retreat.

BD3, BG6,
BG6, Pawn to G6.

Assume a trade--
BD3, BD3,
QD3, black moves,
or
King D3, black moves.

BD3, BF3,
QD3, black moves.

The white space Bishop is very important when considering possible ways to get to checkmate; I'd rather not trade for it so soon.

Not to mention, we leave both our rook, and our queen vulnerable to them if they capture either in the trade.

It's acceptable, as we come out ahead, but like I said, it's risky, so I favor the rook moving.

[veerus]

I'll have to re-read the analysis since it's been a while but I seem to remember my Bd3 idea being the best..

[Lawrencelot]

Oh yeah we're still pinned. I really think we need to fix that first.

Move: Rg1