Mini 686 - Chess Mafia (Done)

[Thok]

That's not a good attitude to have. When life seems jolly rotten, then there's something you've forgotten...

Meh.

Not that I disagree, but Haylen's comment clearly reflects her chess ability and how people are reacting to it. As a scum tell it is mostly worthless (it ranges from a very slight town tell to a null tell in my opinion.)

If you have any thoughts on d5 versus Qd7 versus Qc5 (although we're probably not going to play that), feel free to discuss them. That said, I'll be moving my vote to d5 to avoid deadline if people don't run up something else.

[Sudo_Nym]

Not that I disagree, but Haylen's comment clearly reflects her chess ability and how people are reacting to it.

I get that Haylen may not be the greatest player in the world, and there are some people that are being unnecessarily difficult on her. But I don't mind- she's trying, which is more than some are doing. Or at least, more than two people are doing.

[Thok]

If you have any thoughts on d5 versus Qd7 versus Qc5 (although we're probably not going to play that), feel free to discuss them.

Also,

Current Move Count:

d5 (3) - Sudo_Nym, Abstract Actuary, Haylen
Qd7 (2) - Indigo Heron, Thok

[veerus]

given the lack of discussion, d5 is probably the safest move option since other lines require some more analysis before we can be sure it preserves our advantage

[Thok]

If you're happy with d5, cast a vote for it. If you're not happy with d5, do some analysis and explain why people should vote another move.

[Herodotus]

move d5

The only way to progress is probably to queen the pawn (or threaten to do so and force black to give up some material to stop it.) Advancing it safely is the best plan.

d5 (4) - Sudo_Nym, Abstract Actuary, Haylen, Herodotus
Qd7 (2) - Indigo Heron, Thok

[EmpTyger]

I'm very sorry all. I had a crisis last week just prior to an unexpected V/LA. I'm back, but with a cold on top of lot of catchup irl.

I don't see any move as being particularly decisive, and with what admittedly incomplete analysis I've done nothing looks particularly objectionable. My inclination is that we need to be activating our king, but no one else is considering that, so that's that realistically. I'm not comfortable voting just yet. I'll be able to get online before deadline, but realistically, I'm not sure whether I'm going to be able to study the position any more.

[veerus]

If you're happy with d5, cast a vote for it. If you're not happy with d5, do some analysis and explain why people should vote another move.

that's the problem.. i'm not happy with d5 enough to see it happen without some more analysis

actually, upon further consideration, i think i'm a fan of Qc5.. so i'm going to vote that and hope i can convince others of its merits

move: Qc5

here's why - Bc1 is answered with Qe7+ which pushes the king into the corner with little of counterplay

anything else is answered with some more queen maneuvering while pushing black further into the corner or the pawn capture at b3

[veerus]

d5 (4) - Sudo_Nym, Abstract Actuary, Haylen, Herodotus
Qd7 (2) - Indigo Heron, Thok
Qc5 (1) - veerus

[Thok]

I'm willing to hammer d5 in about 6-7 hours (which would be 3-4 hours before the deadline hits.) I prefer Qd7, but on rethinking I don't think Black's responses to d5 are as strong as I thought they were and I also realize there's a deadline around.

[Abstract Actuary]

I like Qc5, except that it leaves our g pawn vulnerable. Our queen's current square is extremely powerful. Protecting a lot of our vulnerable squares and stifling blacks pieces significantly.

Not much more to say. People may be missing the impact and existence of the 'stifling' aspect of our queen's current square.

[Thok]

Let's do this.

Move: d5

d5 (5) - Sudo_Nym, Abstract Actuary, Haylen, Herodotus, Thok
Qd7 (1) - Indigo Heron
Qc5 (1) - veerus

(I'm a little early from when I promised, but I don' t think anybody cares.)

[Mr. Black]

d5 is the move, and now we deliberate.

Due to SaintKerrigan's circumstance, we've found a replacement in CSL, who takes over SK's spot effective tomorrow.

[Mr. Black]

We chose Be7. Sorry for the delay; SOMEBODY decided to have unscheduled computer trouble.

[Thok]

Pondering Kd3, Ke3, Qd7, and Qe5+. All of them likely win, with Qe5+ being the riskiest line but also probably the fastest win if it does win.

[CSL]

Well, having a player who is here is better than a person who was on a long v/la, right?

[Thok]

Well, having a player who is here is better than a person who was on a long v/la, right?

What do you think about the chess game? (Theoretically I care about what you think about the mafia part of the game as well, but for the moment the chess part is more important.)

[Sudo_Nym]

Well, having a player who is here is better than a person who was on a long v/la, right?

What do you think about the chess game? (Theoretically I care about what you think about the mafia part of the game as well, but for the moment the chess part is more important.)

I thought for sure that the actual mafia alignments were almost completely irrelevant.

[CSL]

I think it's going really well. The black peices are cornered. As for what you said, Thok, those moves sound right to me.

Mafia alignments in this game are indeed irrelevant.

[Thok]

I thought for sure that the actual mafia alignments were almost completely irrelevant.

They're only completely irrelevant as long as we are winning the chess game. Plus, a little poking for reactions is useful if I want to be able to guess scum correctly after town wins the chess game. You know, for bonus points or something.

Mostly, the point of my comment was "CSL, talk about the chess game instead of pointing out that you will be more active then the guy you replaced." But you know, with something resembling a bit more tact.

[Sudo_Nym]

I thought for sure that the actual mafia alignments were almost completely irrelevant.

They're only completely irrelevant as long as we are winning the chess game. Plus, a little poking for reactions is useful if I want to be able to guess scum correctly after town wins the chess game. You know, for bonus points or something.

Mostly, the point of my comment was "CSL, talk about the chess game instead of pointing out that you will be more active then the guy you replaced." But you know, with something resembling a bit more tact.

Tact is just not being honest. CSL (and everyone else), move your collective asses!

[Indigo Heron]

We have many options at this point. We can:

1. Skewer the bishop (Qd7).
2. Deprive Black's king of the 8-rank (Qc8).
3. Attempt to get the king more involved (Kd3).
4. Fork the bishop (Qe5).

I like Qd7 and Qc8. I will see though.

[EmpTyger]

Move: Kd3

. We need to move our king up for any attack we will make. Don't think it matters between Ke3 and Kd3, but go for it if you want to, Thok or whoever.

Movecount

1 Kd3

(EmpTyger)

---

IH:
Why do you think so highly of "deprive Black's king of the 8-rank"? (Compared to, say, depriving the black king of the f-file?)

CSL:

Well, having a player who is here is better than a person who was on a long v/la, right?

What is this in response to?

[Thok]

Don't think it matters between Ke3 and Kd3, but go for it if you want to, Thok or whoever.

There are useful tactical advantages for both Ke3 and Kd3. I think I prefer Ke3, but I also suspect the difference is small enough not to matter.

Both are clearly better than Qc8.

[Haylen]

Move Qe5

Nuff said. There choice is to save the bishop or save the king. They;ll save the king, there is very few places it can go then. We'll have the king cornered.