In a game of speed chess, I sacrificed my knight to mate in fourteen moves. My opponent, who played black, was Lonnavenue of the USA. Here are the moves of the game along with my commentary:
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 c6
Black's move is a surprise. The move Nc6 is very common here. I suspect black plans d5 with the aim of a strong pawn centre, but the immediate d5 leaves e5 unprotected.
3. Bc4 Qe7
Black protects e5, but this locks in the king bishop. The move d6 is better.
4. 0-0 Nf6
5. d4 d5
6. exd cxd
7. Bb3 e4
Black has a strong pawn centre, but his king is in the centre and my knight now has a nice square.
8. Ne5 Qd8
Black moves his queen so that he can free the king bishop and then castle.
9. Bg5 Be7
10. Nxf7 Kxf7
I sacrifice my knight. This prevents black from castling and begins an attack on the kingside.
11. Bxf6 gxf6
I capture the knight because I want to check with my queen on h5. Black makes a bad move. The capture Bxf6 is better because it doesn't weaken the kingside.
12. Qh5+ Kf8
13. Bxd5 Qe8
I have control of the light squares. Black wants to exchange queens, but I have mate in one.
14. Qh6#
Black's eleventh move, gxf6, weakens his kingside and allows me a quick victory. Another mistake, but not as critical, is his third move, Qe7. This move locks in the king bishop and prevents black from castling quickly. My control of the light squares and ability to shatter the black kingside give me mate in fourteen.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Papal Names
For the first five centuries, popes used their birth names. However, it is now the custom for popes to choose a name after their election. As part of tradition, Peter, the name of the first pope, is not chosen.
The ten most common papal names are the following:
John, Gregory, Benedict, Clement, Innocent, Leo, Pius, Stephen, Boniface, Urban.
Double names are an innovation. The first pope to take a double name was Pope John Paul I in 1978.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Metric and Imperial Systems
The metric and imperial systems are very different from one another. The metric system is the one used by most countries, but the imperial system is the system which was used by the British Empire. It is still used in the USA.
In the metric system, one kilometre is one thousand metres and one kilogram is one thousand grams. However, in the imperial system, one mile is 5280 feet and one pound is sixteen ounces.
The metric system also has metres and centimetres. One meter consists of one hundred centimetres. In the imperial system, one yard consists of three feet and one foot consists of twelve inches. The metric system is based on the decimal system. The imperial system is not.
The metric system is undoubtedly easier to use than the imperial system. However, those who are familiar with the imperial system often find it difficult to switch to metric. In Canada, the metric system is official, but many people still use imperial weights and measures in their daily lives.
In the metric system, one kilometre is one thousand metres and one kilogram is one thousand grams. However, in the imperial system, one mile is 5280 feet and one pound is sixteen ounces.
The metric system also has metres and centimetres. One meter consists of one hundred centimetres. In the imperial system, one yard consists of three feet and one foot consists of twelve inches. The metric system is based on the decimal system. The imperial system is not.
The metric system is undoubtedly easier to use than the imperial system. However, those who are familiar with the imperial system often find it difficult to switch to metric. In Canada, the metric system is official, but many people still use imperial weights and measures in their daily lives.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Opponent Blunders
The blunders of my opponent in a game of speed chess enabled me to mate in 18 moves. My opponent who played black was Dragstar of Serbia. Here are the moves of the game along with my commentary:
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nf6
3. Nxe5 Qe7
Black usually plays d6 here.
4. d4 d6
5. Nc4 b5
Black attacks my knight again, but this pawn move is committal. It is better to regain material equality with Nxe4.
6. Ncd2 Bg4
Black makes a bad move. Now I can attack the black bishop and protect my e-pawn on my next move. The move Nxe4 is better.
7. f3 Bd7
Now black cannot capture the e-pawn.
8. Bd3 Nc6
9. c3 a6
10. 0-0 Nh5
11. Nb3 g5
12. f4 gxf
The black knight is unprotected. A better move is Nf6.
13. Qxh5 0-0-0
14. Bxf4 h6
15. a4 bxa
With the black queenside already quite exposed, black must not allow me to open the position more. A better move for black is Na7.
16. Bxa6+ Kb8
The black king has inadequate protection. Now black cannot prevent mate.
17. Qb5+ Ka7
18. Qb7#
Black makes two blunders in this game. The first blunder is gxf on the twelfth move, a move which leads to the loss of the knight on h5. The second blunder is on the fifteenth move, bxa, which exposes the king to a decisive attack. Both blunders in this game are captures. This game illustrates that captures are sometimes inferior moves.
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nf6
3. Nxe5 Qe7
Black usually plays d6 here.
4. d4 d6
5. Nc4 b5
Black attacks my knight again, but this pawn move is committal. It is better to regain material equality with Nxe4.
6. Ncd2 Bg4
Black makes a bad move. Now I can attack the black bishop and protect my e-pawn on my next move. The move Nxe4 is better.
7. f3 Bd7
Now black cannot capture the e-pawn.
8. Bd3 Nc6
9. c3 a6
10. 0-0 Nh5
11. Nb3 g5
12. f4 gxf
The black knight is unprotected. A better move is Nf6.
13. Qxh5 0-0-0
14. Bxf4 h6
15. a4 bxa
With the black queenside already quite exposed, black must not allow me to open the position more. A better move for black is Na7.
16. Bxa6+ Kb8
The black king has inadequate protection. Now black cannot prevent mate.
17. Qb5+ Ka7
18. Qb7#
Black makes two blunders in this game. The first blunder is gxf on the twelfth move, a move which leads to the loss of the knight on h5. The second blunder is on the fifteenth move, bxa, which exposes the king to a decisive attack. Both blunders in this game are captures. This game illustrates that captures are sometimes inferior moves.
Monday, February 18, 2013
German of Hamburg
The German of Hamburg is distinct from other varieties of German. In German the dialect is called Hamburgisch. One area in which the dialect differs from standard German is pronunciation.
In standard German, a word initial sp and st are pronounced with a voiceless alveopalatal fricative. However, in the dialect of Hamburg, the initial consonant is a voiceless alveolar fricative. This is the same as in other Germanic dialects such as English and Dutch.
The city Hamburg is pronounced with a word-final voiceless velar plosive in standard German. In the Hamburg dialect, however, this is replaced with a voiceless velar fricative. The words Zug (train) and Tag (day) are pronounced with a fricative in the Hamburg dialect and a plosive in standard German.
Another pronunciation difference occurs with the intervocalic voiceless alveolar plosive. In the Hamburg dialect, this plosive becomes voiced. Thus the word Vater (father) is pronounced with a voiced alveolar plosive in the Hamburg dialect.
In addition to pronunciation, differences also occur in vocabulary. Though speakers of Hamburg can use standard German, Low German is often used in conversation. To illustrate, a famous park in downtown Hamburg is called Planten un Blomen. This is Low German for Plants and Flowers. In standard German, also known as High German, this is Pflanzen und Blumen.
One well-known German dialect is the one spoken in Hamburg. It differs from standard German in pronunciation and vocabulary. It is spoken in the north of Germany, a region with many speakers of Low German.
In standard German, a word initial sp and st are pronounced with a voiceless alveopalatal fricative. However, in the dialect of Hamburg, the initial consonant is a voiceless alveolar fricative. This is the same as in other Germanic dialects such as English and Dutch.
The city Hamburg is pronounced with a word-final voiceless velar plosive in standard German. In the Hamburg dialect, however, this is replaced with a voiceless velar fricative. The words Zug (train) and Tag (day) are pronounced with a fricative in the Hamburg dialect and a plosive in standard German.
Another pronunciation difference occurs with the intervocalic voiceless alveolar plosive. In the Hamburg dialect, this plosive becomes voiced. Thus the word Vater (father) is pronounced with a voiced alveolar plosive in the Hamburg dialect.
In addition to pronunciation, differences also occur in vocabulary. Though speakers of Hamburg can use standard German, Low German is often used in conversation. To illustrate, a famous park in downtown Hamburg is called Planten un Blomen. This is Low German for Plants and Flowers. In standard German, also known as High German, this is Pflanzen und Blumen.
One well-known German dialect is the one spoken in Hamburg. It differs from standard German in pronunciation and vocabulary. It is spoken in the north of Germany, a region with many speakers of Low German.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Multiplying Square Numbers from 51 to 59
Multiplying square numbers from 51 to 59 is very simple. In fact, it can probably be done more quickly than with a calculator. All that is needed is the rule.
The secret to multiplying square numbers from 51 to 59 is to apply three steps. The first step is to square the first digit of the number. With the numbers 51 to 59, the first digit is always 5 and the square is always 25. Next we add this number to the digit on the right. For example, if we take the number 51, the square of 5 is 25. We add this to the 1 on the right and get 26. Next we square the number on the right and make sure that we have two digits. We square the number 1 and write 01 because we need two digits. The product is 2601.
Now we can do the same with 52. We square the number 5 and get 25. We add this to the number 2 and get 27. Next we square the number 4 and write 04. The product is 2704.
Finally we can try this with a larger number. Let us try 59. We square the number 5 and get 25. To this number we add 9 and get 34. Now we square 9 and get 81. The product is 3481.
Here are the squares of the numbers 51 to 59:
51x51=2601
52x52=2704
53x53=2809
54x54=2916
55x55=3025
56x56=3136
57x57=3249
58x58=3364
59x59=3481
The rule for multiplying squares from 50 to 59 has only three steps. By applying this rule, these squares can be multiplied quickly and easily. With knowledge of this rule, a calculator is not needed.
The secret to multiplying square numbers from 51 to 59 is to apply three steps. The first step is to square the first digit of the number. With the numbers 51 to 59, the first digit is always 5 and the square is always 25. Next we add this number to the digit on the right. For example, if we take the number 51, the square of 5 is 25. We add this to the 1 on the right and get 26. Next we square the number on the right and make sure that we have two digits. We square the number 1 and write 01 because we need two digits. The product is 2601.
Now we can do the same with 52. We square the number 5 and get 25. We add this to the number 2 and get 27. Next we square the number 4 and write 04. The product is 2704.
Finally we can try this with a larger number. Let us try 59. We square the number 5 and get 25. To this number we add 9 and get 34. Now we square 9 and get 81. The product is 3481.
Here are the squares of the numbers 51 to 59:
51x51=2601
52x52=2704
53x53=2809
54x54=2916
55x55=3025
56x56=3136
57x57=3249
58x58=3364
59x59=3481
The rule for multiplying squares from 50 to 59 has only three steps. By applying this rule, these squares can be multiplied quickly and easily. With knowledge of this rule, a calculator is not needed.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Offensive Struggle
I played a game of speed chess that was an offensive struggle from start to finish. My opponent, Eastlynne of the USA, played white. Here are the moves of the game along with my commentary:
1. e4 c5
2. d4 cxd
3. Qxd4 Nc6
4. Qd1 e5
5. Nf3 Bc5
White is behind in development.
6. c4 Nf6
7. Nc3 h6
I prevent Bg5.
8. Be2 0-0
9. 0-0 a6
10. Nh4 Nd4
Here I should play d6 to free my light-squared bishop.
11. Nf5 Nxe2+
I also consider the move Nxf5. In hindsight this move seems better than Nxe2 because the white knight on f5 is a real threat to my king.
12. Qxe2 d6
I finally free my light-squared bishop.
13. Bxh6 Bxf5
I decline the sacrifice of the bishop because I do not want to lose the pawn shield around my king.
14. Bxg7 Kxg7
This time I accept the sacrifice. White's move is a surprise. I expect exf5. My king is more exposed than white's but I have more material.
15. exf5 Rh8
16. h3 Qd7
17. Qf3 Qc6
With a little more material than white, I offer to exchange queens.
18. Qg3+ Kf8
19. Qg5 Ke7
I decide to defend the knight with my king but this is a bad move. It is much better to play Ne4. The problem with Ke7 is that white can play Nd5+ on his next move and win my knight.
20. Rae1 Rag8
White fails to play Nd5+, a superior move to Rae1.
21. Qd2 Qxg2#
The best move for white is Qxg8. In his desire to save his queen, white fails to notice that I can mate his king.
Without question, I am lucky to win this game. My eleventh move, Nxe2+, and my nineteenth move, Ke7, are both mistakes. However, white also plays bad moves. The move that he fails to play on his twentieth move, Nd5+, probably wins him the game. I emerge victorious because his mistakes are more crucial than mine.
1. e4 c5
2. d4 cxd
3. Qxd4 Nc6
4. Qd1 e5
5. Nf3 Bc5
White is behind in development.
6. c4 Nf6
7. Nc3 h6
I prevent Bg5.
8. Be2 0-0
9. 0-0 a6
10. Nh4 Nd4
Here I should play d6 to free my light-squared bishop.
11. Nf5 Nxe2+
I also consider the move Nxf5. In hindsight this move seems better than Nxe2 because the white knight on f5 is a real threat to my king.
12. Qxe2 d6
I finally free my light-squared bishop.
13. Bxh6 Bxf5
I decline the sacrifice of the bishop because I do not want to lose the pawn shield around my king.
14. Bxg7 Kxg7
This time I accept the sacrifice. White's move is a surprise. I expect exf5. My king is more exposed than white's but I have more material.
15. exf5 Rh8
16. h3 Qd7
17. Qf3 Qc6
With a little more material than white, I offer to exchange queens.
18. Qg3+ Kf8
19. Qg5 Ke7
I decide to defend the knight with my king but this is a bad move. It is much better to play Ne4. The problem with Ke7 is that white can play Nd5+ on his next move and win my knight.
20. Rae1 Rag8
White fails to play Nd5+, a superior move to Rae1.
21. Qd2 Qxg2#
The best move for white is Qxg8. In his desire to save his queen, white fails to notice that I can mate his king.
Without question, I am lucky to win this game. My eleventh move, Nxe2+, and my nineteenth move, Ke7, are both mistakes. However, white also plays bad moves. The move that he fails to play on his twentieth move, Nd5+, probably wins him the game. I emerge victorious because his mistakes are more crucial than mine.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)