The Blade Runner Has No Excuse

Game Of The Week

This week's game comes from local chess blogger, Brian Rountree.  With the initials B.R. and the uncanny knack of playing chess like a replicant, he earned the nickname "Blade Runner" during his track and field days.

Unfortunately, he was possibly the world's slowest track star, often finishing well after all the other participants had left the event.  This left him alone, just trying to beat the clock, and could explain why he switched to chess instead, where time is irrelevant.

He has yet to beat me (+7=0-0) but is getting closer and closer each game.  He was killing me in this game, as I have been struggling with my defense this year.  However, he failed to bring home the point.

Here he showed his replicant nature and found the winning move for white:

White to move

You can click through the game to see the best move.  Of course, chess is more than just finding the best move in a diagram.  You still have to get your opponent to resign and sometimes your opponent is just not willing to cooperate.

I decided to play on knowing Brian's reputation as the "World's Slowest Man," but I wasn't sure how exactly I got the victory.  He had plenty of excuses on his blog (http://linuxguyonfics.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/endgame-expert/):

I sacked the bishop because I figured I would be up the exchange in equal pawn territory, but this was the equivalent of a business-plan written on a cocktail napkin

"Blade Runner" (3/8/2013)

But none of his excuses hold water.  He is just plain guilty of throwing away all the good he worked so hard to achieve.

The Blade Runner Has No Excuse

[Event "March Panera"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2013.03.07"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Rountree, Brian"]
[Black "Anderson, Paul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2013.03.07"]
[TimeControl "5400"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 g6 3. f4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be2 Bxf3 7. Bxf3 Qb6 8. e5 d5 9. O-O Nh6 10. Na4 Qc7 11. Qd3 O-O 12. Bd2 Na6 13. b4 b5 14. Nb2 Qb6 15. Kh1 Nf5 16. c3 Nc7 17. g4 Nh6 18. f5 a5 19. f6 exf6 20. exf6 Bxf6 21. Bxh6 axb4 22. Bxf8 Rxf8 23. Bg2 Bg7 24. Rad1 Qa5 25. cxb4 Qxb4 26. Qd2 Qa3 27. Nd3 Ne6 28. Ne5 Qd6 29. Rfe1 f6 30. Nf3 Ra8 31. Rc1 Ra6 32. Qe3 Kf7 33. g5 Ra3 34. Qe2 f5 35. Ne5+ Bxe5 36. Qxe5 Qxe5 37. dxe5 Ra6 38. h4 Ke7 39. Rc2 Nd4 40. Rd2 Ra4 41. Red1 Ne6 42. Bxd5 Rxh4+ 43. Kg2 Nf4+ 44. Kf3 Nxd5 45. Rxd5 cxd5 46. Rxd5 b4 47. Rb5 Ke6 48. Ra5 Rh2 49. a3 bxa3 50. Kg3 Ra2 51. Ra7 Kxe5 52. Rxh7 f4+ 53. Kf3 Ra1 54. Re7+ Kf5 55. Rf7+ Kxg5 56. Ra7 a2 57. Ra5+ Kh4 0-1

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=77553

This Week In Chess

On March 5th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held a Speed event.  Eight players joined the Double, Round Robin tournament (G5).  I was able to remain unbeaten to take home the 1st place tour points.  Here are the results:

Score Player

14.0 Paul Anderson
11.5 Peter Grigg
8.0 Mark McGough
7.5 Mike Madsen
7.0 Buddy Diamond
4.0 Dean Brown
3.0 Koji Del Conte
1.0 Wesley Smith

Tuesday Night Chess Tour Standings for 1st Quarter

1 Paul Anderson 14.00
2 Tim Brennan 8.00
3 Mark McGough 8.00
4 Mike Madsen 5.50
5 Dean Brown 5.00
6 Alex Torres 4.00
7 Koji DelConte 3.50
8 Alex Freeman 3.00
9 Peter Grigg 3.00
10 Brian Rountree 2.00
11 Jeff Fox 2.00
12 Anthea Carson 2.00
13 Isaac Martinez 2.00
14 Mike Wanek 2.00
15 Mike Toth 1.00
16 Buddy Diamond 1.00
17 Wes Smith 1.00

Colorado Class Championships

By Brad Lundstrom

The Northern Colorado Chess Festival is scheduled for March 22-24 in Greeley at a fabulous location at the University of Northern Colorado, 3rd Floor Panorama room.  This is a site that would normally cost us $3,000 for three days but because the UNC student chess club is sponsoring the event we are in for $300!  Result is an amazing site with some excellent cash prizes and trophies!!

• Main tournament is the 2013 Colorado State Class Championships and is a Tour Event.  Along with some great cash prizes there will be state champion trophies handed out for every class.  Class state champions will team up to play against New Mexico in an annual state to state rivalry later in the spring.
• Friday special events include an IM simul and a new Colorado State 5 minute - Blitz Championship.  Along with cash prizes for the winner and several class prizes there will be a state championship trophy awarded for this event as well.
• We have made arrangements for huge hotel discounted rates for participating players at Greeley Clarion Hotel. A beautiful place to stay & enjoy near our tournament site at UNC and includes wonderful full breakfast buffet.

This is going to be a historic Colorado event!  If anyone has any questions beyond the attached information please contact me personally.

Be there or be square.

Best regards, Brad Lundstrom
CSCA Vice President - bradlundstrom@yahoo.com
720-272-9384