billwall's Blog

Off the Wall Chess - Beaten by a Knight Sac

Submitted by billwall on Mon Jul 9, 2007 7:26pm.

Here is a game that I lost.  It was the final round in an important tournament and I was tied for 1st place.  I was paired with someone several hundred rating points below me and thought it was going to be an easy game.  I did every... Read more »

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Off the Wall Chess - Exposing the King

Submitted by billwall on Sun Jul 8, 2007 3:02pm.

Here is a game in which I was able to sac my rook and expose the enemy King.  It led to a checkmate with the King in the middle of the board.   Read more »

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Off the Wall Chess - A Nice Mating Pattern

Submitted by billwall on Sat Jul 7, 2007 3:43pm.

Throw enough pieces at the enemy king, and there is sure to be a checkmate somewhere.  I got my queen, bishop, and knight working nicely together to penetrate and checkmate the enemy king.  There was no defense.       Read more »

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Off the Wall Chess - A Ruy Lopez Schliemann Trap

Submitted by billwall on Fri Jul 6, 2007 8:03am.

Don't play a tactical opening if you don't know all the traps.  Here is a game in which my opponent played the Ruy Lopez, Schliemann Variation (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5) and grabbed a poison pawn.  That led to a mate after chas... Read more »

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Off the Wall Chess - Blackmar Diemer Gambit

Submitted by billwall on Thu Jul 5, 2007 10:10am.

Here is a Blackmar Diemer Gambit (1d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4) that I played in a postal game.  I made a few sacs that led to winning the Queen and the game.   Read more »

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Off the Wall Chess - Playing Against the Alekhine

Submitted by billwall on Wed Jul 4, 2007 4:37pm.

This is one of my first games where my opponent played the Alekhine.  It was a rare opening in club play and on the international level until Fischer used it against Spassky in the 1972 World Chess Championship.  I got in a rook sac then... Read more »

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Off the Wall Chess - More on Morra

Submitted by billwall on Tue Jul 3, 2007 8:06pm.

Here is another Smith-Morra game I played that was full of tactics.  It even has a Queen sac and a combination that leads to mate.   Read more »

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Off the Wall Chess - Playing the Smith-Morra

Submitted by billwall on Mon Jul 2, 2007 5:41pm.

The Smith-Morra Gambit (1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3) can lead to a wild game.  In this game, I throw everything I have at the exposed king.   Read more »

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Off the Wall Chess - A Vienna Walltz

Submitted by billwall on Sun Jul 1, 2007 8:05am.

Here is a game in which I played the Vienna (1.e4 e5 2.Nc3) and trapped the enemy Rook that was on my 2nd rank.  Always have an escape route if you get into enemy territory.   Read more »

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Off the Wall Chess - Scotch on the Rocks

Submitted by billwall on Sat Jun 30, 2007 4:44pm.

Here is a Scotch game that I faced in a chess club championship and was able to win by trapping the Rook in the middle of the board.   Read more »

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