This tournament was set up for three rounds on one day at the home of Bruce Moon on 29 August 1993. Time per move was unlimited. We used the one point per win and one half point per draw or stalemate scoring system. (Others, such as 4-3-2-1 can be used.) We also selected the "varied" communication format, selecting one mode for each round. At about two and one half hours per round the total length of the tournament was about nine hours. The four players were John Zimmerman, Byron Massey, Bill Nulf (who came in as a last minute replacement believing that he would be playing in a standard chess quad tournament) and Bruce Moon. Players will be identified respectively as JZ, BM, BN, and BAM. The first round was silent communication, the second round open and secret, and the last open only (see rules). Remember: "---" indicates a skipped turn because a checked player must respond first.
ROUND 1 (silent) SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST BN BM BAM JZ 1 d3 0-0 g5 Nf3 2 Ne3 d8 h6 f2 3 Nd5 dxe7 Bg7 Bg2 4 Nxe7 c7 Rf8 Ne1 5 0-0 Bb7 Nf6 Bf3 6 Bxg5 d6 Nxg4 f1 7 a4 dxe7 Rxa8+ --- 8 --- Bxa8 Nxh2 Kxh2 9 Be3+ Kb8 Kh7 Bd1 10 axb5 Nb7 Be5 Bxc2+ 11 Ka2 Nd6 Kg7 Kh3 12 Bd2 Bd5+ --- --- 13 Ka3 Nxb5+ --- --- 14 Kb4 Nd6 Bxb2 Nxd3+ 15 Ka5 Nc4+ --- --- 16 Kb5 Nxd2 Bxa1 e1 17 Resigns Be6+ --- Kh2 18 --- Nf3+ --- Kh1 19 --- Bd5 Bc3 d1 20 --- Ne5+ --- Kh2 21 --- Nxf7 Bd4 Nf4 22 --- Bc4 Bc5? 2e 23 --- Nd6 Kh8 Nd3 24 --- f7 Bd4 c1 25 --- Nf5 Ba1 Bd1 26 --- Ne3 Kg7 Nb4 27 --- Nf1+ --- Kg2 28 --- Nd2 Bc3 e3 29 --- Nb1 Bxb4 d2 30 --- Kc8 Be7 Bc2 31 --- Ba2 Bg5 Kf2 32 --- Kd7 Bh4+ Ke2 33 --- Ke6 Bf6 Be4 34 --- Na3 h5 d3 35 --- Nb5 h4 c3 36 --- Nd4+ --- Ke1 37 --- Nf5+ Res b1 38 --- Bxb1 --- Bxb1 39 --- Nd4 --- Ba2+ 40 --- Ke7 --- b3 41 --- Nxb3 --- Bxb3 42 --- g7 --- Bc2 43 --- Kd6 --- Bd3 44 --- Kc5 --- c2 45 --- Kd4 --- Kd2 46 --- Res --- 1. BM opens with 1 ... 0-0, a move later considered too conservative. Moving bishop pawn early invites a death trap. 3. 3 ... ... Nd7 threatens mate against South (BN) and discovers an attack on West's (BM's) R. Ironically, had West (BM) not castled early, East (JZ) would have placed West (BM) in check, which would have allowed mate against South (BN), because South (BN) would not have a move with which to defend himself. On the downside, castling early leaves the player vulnerable to possible Pawn attacks from the right-hand opponent. 4. Why did BM not play 4 ... d7, forcing North (BAM) to lose a piece? 6. JZ missed 6 ... ... NxP. 7. BAM felt forced to exchange rooks. He assumed BM would exchange and BAM would lose a move. This presumption was questioned by JZ. BAM then takes JZ N thereby winning the exchange. However he loses a N to the two other players. JZ declines to take BN B because he didn't want to split pawns. And East (JZ) missed the fact that NxP attacks both R and N. 22. JZ missed 22 ... ... Ne6+!. 29. JZ missed 29 ... ... BxN completely. BM NxP probably not best move -- insures JZ win. JZ and BM believe that BAM resigned too early, perhaps loosing his cool. Unfortunately, throughout the tournament BN's objective seemed to be aggressively vengeful play rather than cool headed winning strategy.Communications option 1 (silent) was played only once before by three of the players. This version brings about different strategies and tactics because a player must count on another player(s) seeing his intended combinations while wanting to achieve the same results.
ROUND 2 (open and secret communications allowed) SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST BM JZ BAM BN 1 0-0 d7 Nf6 f4 2 b3 c8 g6 e1 3 d3? Nc6 Bg7? e2 4 Nc3 Nxe7 Rf8 d2 5 Ne2? Nc6 Nd5 Rxe2 6 Bb2 0-0 h5 d1 7 Bxg7+ --- Kxg7 c1 8 c4 e7 Re8 Bg2 9 Kc2? bxc4 Nxe7 Bxc6 10 dxc4 Bb7 Nxc8+ --- 11 --- Ka6 Rxe2 Bxb7+ 12 --- Kxb7 Nd6+ --- 13 --- Kc6 Ne4 Nf3 14 Kd3 Rd8+ --- --- 15 Kxe2 Rxd2+ --- --- 16 Kxf3 Rd1+ --- Kh2 17 Kxe4 Kc7 h4 Kg2 18 a4 Rd2+ --- Kf1?? 19 Rxc1++ --- --- s e3 20 Kf3 Rb2 f5 s d3 21 Rc3 Kc6 g5 s e4 22 a5 Kb7 Kf6 s d4 23 axb4? Kxb6 Ke5 s sf 24 Rc1? Rxb3 g4+ --- 25 Kg2 Kc5 Kf4 --- 26 Rf1+ --- Kg5 --- 27 Rc1 Rb8 h3+ --- 28 Kh1 Rg8+ Kf4 --- 29 Rf1+ --- Kg3 --- 30 Rxf5+ Kxc4 h2 --- 31 Rf1 Re8 Kh3 --- 32 Rf2 Re3+ g3 --- 33 Rxh2+ --- Kg4 --- 34 Rh8 Re1+ --- --- 35 Kg2 Re6 Kf5 --- 36 Rc8+ Kd5 Kf4 --- 37 Rf8+ --- Kg4 --- 38 Rg8+ --- Kf5 --- 39 Rd8+ Rd6 Kg4 --- 40 Rg8+ --- Res --- 41 Kh3 Rf6 --- --- 42 Kg4 Ke5 --- --- 43 Re8+ Kd5 --- --- 44 Kg5 Rf7 --- --- 45 Kg6 Rd7 --- --- 46 Kf6? Ra7 --- --- 47 Re7 Ra8 --- --- 48 Kf7 Kd6 --- --- 49 Re6+? Kd7 DO --- --- 50 Rf6 Rb8 --- --- 51 Kg7 Ke7 --- --- 52 Rf7+ Ke6 --- --- 53 Rf8 Rb7+ --- --- 54 Kh8 Rb5 --- --- 55 Kg7^Q Rg5+ --- --- 56 Kh6 Res --- --- [Note -- it was decided by chance who got to sit where, because in three rounds, distribution of right-hand opponents does not come out even. It was also decided by chance who went first in each round.] [Special symbols: DO = makes draw offer; s = annexed by South; ^Q = King "upchucks" Queen.] This time BM's 0-0 leaves his flank vulnerable to BN. The early NP move leaves player open to right-hand opponent's RP and BN takes full advantage. 8. BM doesn't see mate avoidance move until JZ points it out in order to keep BAM from becoming too powerful and to incur BM's gratitude. 9. Why does BM not play PxN? 10. BAM's thinking if NxB then BxN+ which leads to BxR. 11. BN's bishop exchange saves BAM's N. 14. BM offers to capture BAM's R if JZ will check, and successive checks capture successive pieces. 16. JZ thinks Rd1 is mate; it isn't but it keeps BM from mating. However BN could have resigned and pulled his pawns off the board allowing BM to play RxR. 18. BN knowingly commits suicide. 22. a5 makes pawn vulnerable but also BM overlooks the fact that annexed side must have at one legal move on each turn or those pieces become frozen. BM and JZ realize that they have to work together to prevent BAM's pawn crush. 31. BM asks JZ not to mate him so that he can move up to f2 to attack BAM's pawn. JZ agrees and honors his commitment, which later costs him the game. 40. Pawn at g3 remains frozen at BAM's option. 44. JZ mistakenly believes that BM queens on a8 not h8 square and facilitates BM's movement in that direction and realizes his mistake a couple of moves later, perhaps too later.
Another chess club member arrived (Joe McGaffigan) and caused some distraction during the last two games. Across the board conversation opened up with criticisms, zingers, one liners, etc., including: "`It won't be long now!` said the butcher, who dropped his cleaver." -- among other things.
ROUND 3 (open discussion) SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST BN BAM JZ BM 1 d3 d7 Nf6 e2 2 Be3? c5 g6 Bg2+ 3 --- Bb7 Nxd7 exd1 4 Rxd1 Bxg2+ --- Rxg2 5 Rxg1+? --- --- Kh2 6 Rxg2+? --- --- Kxg2 7 Bxc5?? Rxd7 h5 f4 8 Bxb6 Nc4 0-0 Nf3 9 dxc4?? Rd1++ --- --- 10 w a4 Kb7 h4 Ne5 11 w Bd4 Rg1+? --- Kh2 12 w b3 Rd1 e6 e3 13 w Bc3 Rd8 Kg7 Nc6+ 14 --- --- Kg8 Nxd8+ 15 --- Kc7 Be7? e4 DO 16 w Bxh8 Kd7 Bg5 Nb7 17 w Be5+ --- --- Kg2 18 w Bc7 Kc6 Bxe3 Nc5 19 w b4 Kb5 g5 Nd7 20 w a5 Kc6 Bd2 Ne5+ 21 --- Kb5 Kf8 Nd7+ 22 --- --- Ke8 Nf6+ 23 --- --- Ke7 Nd5+ 24 --- --- Kd7 Nc3+ 25 --- Ka6 Kc8 Na4 26 w c5 Kb5 Bf4 Nc3+ 27 --- Kc6 Bxc7 Nd5 28 w b5 bxc7 Kb8 Nb4+ 29 --- Kd6 h3+ Kxh3 30 w c6 d7 e5 Nd5 31 w c4 e7 Kc8 Nc7? 32 w b6 Kc5 Kb8 Ne6+ 33 --- Kd6 Kc8 Nd8 34 w a6 Kc5 Kb8 Nb7+ 35 --- Kb4 Kc8 Nd6+ 36 --- --- Kd8 Nb7+ 37 --- --- Kc8 Nd6+ 38 --- --- Kd8 Nb7+ Draw by repetition. [Special symbols: DO = makes draw offer; w = annexed by West.] 4. BM thinks winning two pieces for one is a bargain especially if the two pieces come from the "tag team" which has been "trampling" him the whole tournament. JZ believes that BM's tactics leave him down a piece net to BN which is unsound. 5. By this time it is apparent that BN has lost all control of his tactical play. 9. BN finishes his suicide agenda despite pleading from JZ and BM. Then he persists in declaring that he did not allow mate deliberately. 11. Rd2+ preferable. 13. BM finds that discovered check can obtain BAM's R. 15. JZ offers to give up his R and save BM's N in exchange for BM shepherding in JZ's KP for R promotion which would go after BAM's pieces first. BM agrees. BM makes draw offer and BAM accepts but JZ doesn't, wanting to play on partly for expositional purposes. 18. BM and JZ are teaming up but Bxe3 saves BM's N. 29. BM offers BAM JZ KP if BAM agrees to leave his N alone deliberately breaking agreement with JZ. Shortly thereafter BM said "He [JZ] knows that I'm a backstabbing piece of crap. I've burned my bridges now." BN, still around, was overheard saying "I'm happy with my game." among other comments that were technically not allowed by a non-player and unappreciated. JZ, ignominiously, later offers to help BM if BM lets JZ RP through despite being backstabbed already, thus overcoming emotion with strategy. 31. BM had 31 --- --- --- NxP+ 32 --- --- Kd8 (or b8) NxP+, followed by the draw by repetition, or taking the a-Pawn. BAM is shut out of either sequence. 34. Allows NxP+ giving time for N to get away, but was not seen by BM and JZ until next move. 35. Starts draw by repetition to circumvent BAM win. To varying degrees all were uneasy with this "solution". Such a finish is only possible when other remaining players get skipped. Perhaps tournament adjustments could alleviate problem. This tournament combined all 3 communication formats. Other tournaments could utilize only one option. Summary observations made at the time include: BM: His contention was that the last [game] was best, but pointed out there was no clear winner for tournament. BAM: Feels someone should work out some basic openings. BN: Decided he liked talking options better. JZ: "I like it [all formats] if all players are comparable. However, allowances can be made for a player(s) who are less disposed to rational control. This game can tell you more about your opponents than regular chess." In the talking formats, a weaker player may be coached into making "correct" moves.
This tournament was also set up for 3 rounds on one day. It was played at the home of Bruce Moon on August 28, 1994. Time per move was unlimited. We used the one point per win and one-half point per draw (or stalemate) system. Others such as 4-3-2-1 can be used. We again selected the "varied" communication format, choosing one mode for each round. Total tournament was about ten hours, with breaks between games. The four players were John Zimmerman(JZ), Byron Massey(BM), David Francis(DF), and Bruce Moon(BAM). Remember, "----" indicates a skipped turn (due to check or elimination).
ROUND 1 (open discussion) SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST BM BAM DF JZ 1 b3 b7d7 Nf6 g4f4 2 Bb2 b6c6 g6 g2f2 3 Nc3 b5d5 Bg7 0-0 4 Ba3 Nb7 Bf8 Nf3 5 Na4 0-0 h6 Ne5 6 b4 Nd8 0-0 Nxf7 7 b5 Bc8 Rh7 Ne5 8 Nc5 Kb6 g5 Nc4+ 9 ---- Kc7 Bg7 Nb6 10 Rb3 Rxa3 Ne4+ ---- 11 Kb1 Ra5 Be5+ ---- 12 ---- Kxb6 Nxd2+ ---- 13 Kc1 Kxc5 Bd6+ ---- 14 ---- Kb6 Nc4+ ---- 15 ---- Ka7 Bc5+ ---- 16 ---- Ka8 Nxa5 g1e1 17 bxc6 Ne6 Bd6 e1d1? 18 Rxb8+?? Ka7 Nxc6+ ---- 19 ---- Ka6 Nxb8+ ---- 20 ---- Kb7 gxf4 g3f3! 21 c4 Nc7 Nxd7 Rg1+ 22 ---- ---- Rg7 Re1 23 a4 Bxd7 Rg3 Bxd7 24 a5 Na6 Kf8 f2e2 25 Kd2 Nb8 h5 Rf1 26 a6+ Nxa6 h4 d1c1 27 c5 Nb8 Bxc5 Bh3 28 Kc3 Nd7+ Kg7 c1b1 29 Kb2 Nxc5 Kg6 b1a1=R 30 Kc3 Na5+ ---- ---- 31 Kb3 Nc5+ ---- ---- 32 Kc3 Na5+ ---- ---- 33 Kb3 Nc5+ ---- ---- 34 Kc3 ---- ---- ---- Draw by repitition. COMMENTS (directed to move numbers): 3. South "likes his game" -- so far. North duplicates South. East: West's 3 ... b5d5 "superadventurous." 5. South disregards attacked Pawn for mating chance at b6. East persuades North not to be too aggressive so East can concentrate on South. However, East intuitively likes 5 ... ... ... Ne5 placement. 6. West agrees to let East take North's Pawn, East agrees not to take West's Knight. 7. South squeezes down on West. 8. Unclear if South's Knight move is best. 9. West explains that East must save him or South will annex West's pieces. In return, West agrees to take South's Bishop, which East could have gotten. 10. West plays 10 ... RxB and North's check prevents recapture. 11. North plays to eliminate East Knight, which is better than direct capture, then forks South allowing West to play 13 ... Kxc5. 17. In playing 17 bxc6, leaving Rook en prise, South may understand that North doesn't want to lose his Knight, dropping a piece relative to East and West. East completely misses 17 ... ... ... Bxe6!, checking North, which gains time for East escape. 18. South's 18 Rxb8+?? loses. South may have misunderstood North's intentions; otherwise, a pure error. 20. North expects recapture but misses 20 ... ... ... f3!, stopping him up. 21. West cuts off North's Knight, and North "forced" to get something for it. 23. North and East agree -- East takes West's Bishop if North waits 2 moves to take Pawn. 26. East finally sells South on Pawn distraction, promising Bishop is "owned" by South. Never discussed was the possibility of parking Bishop on b1 to block East's own Pawn advance! 27. North 27 ... ... Bxc5 questionable. South's Pawn can only tie down West or cost West a piece, both of which help North. 29. East heard "whispers" of possible perpetual check, but couldn't see it and promoted Pawn to Rook anyway. ROUND 2 (silent) SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST JZ BAM BM DF 1 a4 b7d7 Nd6 Nf3 2 axb5 Bxb5?? Nxb5 g2e2 3 0-0 Nb3 g6?? exd1 4 cxb3?? Rxa1+ ---- ---- 5 Kxa1 b6c6 Bg7 Bg2 6 Ka2 Kb7 h6 Ng5 7 d3 b8c8 Nd6+ ---- 8 ---- Kc7 f6 Nf3 9 b4 Resfz 0-0 Ne1 10 Be3 ---- Kf7 Nxd3 11 Ka3 ---- Nc4+ ---- 12 Ka4 ---- Nxe3 Bf3 13 b3 ---- f5 Nb2+ 14 Ka5 ---- fxg4 Be4 15 b5 ---- Be5 Rf2+ 16 ---- ---- Ke8 Bxg6+ 17 ---- ---- Kd8 Kh2 18 b6 ---- Rg8 d1c1 19 Ka6 ---- h5? Nd3- 20 Ka7 ---- Bd4 Nf4 21 Ka6 ---- e5 Ne6+ 22 ---- ---- Ke7 Nxd4 23 b7 ---- Rxg6 Nf5+ 24 ---- ---- Nxf5 Rxf5 25 b8=R ---- Kd6 c1b1 26 Rb4 ---- Re6 b1a1=R 27 Kb7 ---- e4 Rxh5 28 Rd4+?? ---- Ke7 Ra2??? 29 Kb6 ---- e3 g1f1 30 b4 ---- Kf6 Rh6+ 31 ---- ---- Ke5 Ra5+ 32 ---- ---- Kxd4 R6h5??? 33 bxa5 ---- Kc3 Rd5 34 a6 ---- e2 f1e1 35 a7 ---- Re4 Kg2 36 a8=R ---- Rc4 Rd2 37 Kb5 ---- Rb4+ ---- 38 Kc5 ---- Rc4+ ---- 39 Kb6 ---- Rb4+ ---- 40 Kc5 ---- Rc4+ ---- 41 Kb6 ---- Rb4+ ---- 42 Kc5 ---- ---- ---- Round 2 notes: 2. South assumes free Pawn as BxP gives North NxB. But West takes anyway?? 3. West misses mate risk in kamikaze attack. North misses South mate and plays g6?? instead of "obvious" NxR. East goes for obvious, as NxP+ allows West to mate South. 4. South misses obvious mate (RxR!), thinking Rook exchange hurts him, but overlooking North's covering Knight. West realizes mistake and plays RxR to stay alive. 7. North nicely stops East attack and West approach, as West goes into foolishly giggling fit, leaving others wondering what was in the "tangy" mustard. 9. West felt he had no chance and resigned, leaving frozen Pawns at c8, d7, and c6. This helps South, although that was not West's intention. 10. South gives up on d-Pawn as advance is stopped by West's frozen Pawns. 11. South leaves responsibility of stopping East's Pawn to North, knowing only South's own promoted Pawn gets him back into game, but South misses Knight fork. 12. East's Bishop move suspect. 13. East's Knight move suspect. 19. North sacrificing Pawns NOW? East "misses" Knight blocks Bishop diagonal, and, in attacking North Bishop takes cover off b8. 23. Nf5+ questionable. Knight exchange not beneficial to East, and South's new Rook rebalances material. 26. North Rook move (instead of Ke6) ensures East's second Rook, as South has no chance to cover a-file in time. 28. South Rook move a mistake (thinks he has 2 moves before East's next turn). This gives East chance to mate (Rb5, Ra7) and later costs South his Rook, but East misses mate sequence. 31. Wrong! Rah5! correct. 33. North runs for Queen! East divulges North Queen plot, but South not sure what was said. North's protests clarifies East's comments, but South votes "no" on sanctions, angering North. ROUND 3 (open discusion with side conferences allowed) SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST BAM JZ DF BM 1 d3?? b8d8 e6?? g2e2 2 Be3 b7d7 Nd6 exd1 3 Rxd1 0-0 g6 0-0 4 b4 Nc6 Bg7+ ---- 5 Kb1 Nxb4 h6 Nf3 6 a4 b5c5 Nf5 g4f4 7 Bc1 Bb7 Nh4 Bg2 8 Bb2 d8e8 Kh7 Kh3 9 c3 Na6 Rf8? Rh2 10 d4 d7e7 Rg8 Kg4 11 c4 f8 Nf5 g1e1 12 d5 fxg7 Nxg7?? Ng5+ 13 ---- ---- Kh8 Nxf7+ 14 ---- ---- Kh7 Rxh6++ 5 ---- ---- e Rxa8+ ---- 16 ---- Kxa8 e Nf5 Rh1 17 dxe6 Bxg2 e Nd6 Rh8+ 18 ---- Nb8 e Nxc4 Rd8 19 exf7 Bd5 e Nxb6+ ---- 20 ---- Kb7 e Nxd5 Rf8 21 Rxd5 Nd7 e g5 Rxf7 22 Rd1? Kc6 e stale Re7 23 Bc3 Nf6+ ---- Kf5 24 Bxe1 Nd5 ---- Re6+ 25 ---- Kc7 ---- e4 26 Rd5+?? ---- ---- Kg4?! 27 Rd1 Kc8 ---- R+ draw by perpetual check Round 3 notes: 2. South decides to lose Knight instead of Bishop after incorrect opening move. 6. By now it was clear North and East were working together. 8. If West and North work together here, (West BxN, North NxB), East could have been reduced at no cost. 12. South Pawn push accompanies sell job to West, on attack of North's Bishop. North NxP fatal mistake, and East pounces, breaking the alliance. 13. East RxP works and saves f-Pawn which he would annex. 15. East immediately trades Rooks to reduce opponents' material. East's combined moves (N & R) costs him his Bishop as West suggests South PxP and East has 2 pieces under attack. 18. Ne5 much better than Rd8. 19. West steps in to prevent East RxR in deal with South to get East's Knight. 20. East mistakenly touches Rook, so can't play Pe4, and gives Rook away in the process by moving too quick. 21. West deals with East, because after South RxN, South becomes menacingly strong. West agrees not to take East's Rook in exchange for shepherding West's Pawn to "Rookland". East RxP also freezes Pawn at g5 because it can't move on its turn. 22. Why didn't South play RxN+, instead? South doesn't remember. 23. East immediately double-crosses West with RxP! 26. South captures set-up Knight believing check will not result in PxR. East sees same mirage and move King! 27. At this time, and given South's strength, West and East agree to perpetual check draw. Thus West and East tie for tournament first place.
FINAL THOUGHTS AT THE TIME
By the time the third game was over (about 9 hours with short breaks between games), final analysis was brief but it was agreed that the rule for perpetual check draws had to be modified. Henceforth only the players involved in the perpetual check itself get a draw. Any single player left wins or the two remaining players continue playing. Drawing players pieces are removed except for their kings which remain frozen in place.
FINAL ANALYSIS
1. ZIMMERMAN: "Play showed lack of game competition since the last tournament a year ago. Too many mistakes. Opening theory still rudimentary."
2. Players taking too long may necessitate time controls. If using 4 chess clocks, each players time use could be limited. In this case, each player would punch off his own clock after his move and punch on the clock of the next player. The other side of each clock is ignored. Egg timers could also be used. Penalties for exceeding time controls could range from loss of turn to loss of pieces (order to be agreed upon before the game) to loss of game. Remember open discussion and deal making can prolong turns and distract players time management.
3. ZM "Machiavellian" Quadchess can also be played on computer bulletin board in silent "cutthroat" format(?).
Once again, the third annual tournament was held at the home of Bruce Moon and game play started a little after 10AM. The three rounds were completed around 5PM making for the shortest event so far, partly because the time intervals between games was reduced. Once again, the three formats were used; first game -- no talking; second game -- any over the board discussion and deal making allowed; and the third game -- any discussion and side deals allowed outside the room.
Three players returned: Bruce Moon (BAM), John Zimmerman (JZ), Byron Massey (BM), joined this year by Josh Boyd (JB), a "young and up and coming" enthusiast. Played on 24/Sept/1995.
Referring to past tournament games, JZ quickly forewarns JB that BM is the "taproot of evil" because of previous backstabbing play. BM relishes this identity but doesn't live down to the character degeneracy of past years. However, this game still doesn't necessarily bring out the best in players' integrity.
ROUND 1 (silent) SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST JB BAM JZ BM 1 d2d3 b5c5 Nf6 g2e2 2 Ne3 c5xd4 g7g6 e2d2 3 Bxd2 d4xe3 Bg7 Rxe2 4 Re1 Nc4 h7h5 Nf3 5 Rd1 Nd2 Nd7 Ng5 6 Rxd2 0-0 Ne5 g4f4 7 K61 e3f4 f7f6 g3f4 8 c2c3 Bb6 Ng4 Nf7+ 9 ---- ---- Kn7 Bg2 10 b2b4 Bc4 Rf8 g1f1 11 Rd4 Bb5 Rxf7 f4e4 12 c3c4 Bc6 f6f5 Kg1 13 Rd2 Bxe4+! ---- ---- 14 Kc1 Bxg2 Bh6 Resigns* 15 b4b5 Bd5 Rf6 ---- 16 Kc2 Bxc4 Bxd2 ---- 17 Kxd2 Bxa2 Ne5 ---- 18 Resign* b8d8 e7e6 ---- 19 ---- b6c6 e7e6 ---- 20 ---- Kb6 h5h4 ---- 21 ---- b7d7 h4h3 ---- 22 ---- d7e7 Rh6 ---- 23 ---- Resigns ---- ---- *=K comes off board but player's remaining pieces become frozen in place NOTES: 6. JB must prevent mate and can't take BM's N. 8. JZ agrees not to take BM's N after NxB on A6. BM agrees to pursue JB and JZ tries to stave off PxB crux move on BM's turn. BM mistakenly thought play continued in order rather than player who effects mate going again. This costs BM and JZ pieces. JZ not bright enough to alert BM of telling error. BAM makes best move of tournament with RxP+, RxR++ which clinches BAM win before BM and JZ can marshall forces. 15. BM tries to hold out for a draw but sees hopelessness of that almost immediately when faced with 3 moves in a row by BAM each turn. ROUND 2 (open discussion across board allowed) SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST BM BAM JB JZ 1 Nc3 Nc6 g7g6 g2f2 2 b2b3 b7c7 f7f5 g1e1 3 Bb2 b8d8 e7e6 Nf3 4 Nd5 ---- Bg7 0-0 5 Nxb6+ Kb7 Nf6 Ng5 6 Nd5 b5c5 Rf8 Nxe6 7 Nxc7 Kc8 Rf7 Nxc5 8 Nxa6 Rf7 f5g4 Nc6 9 Bxf6 Rf8++ w Bxf6 ---- 10 c2c3 Re8 w g4xh3 Nf4 11 0-0 Rxe1+ w ---- ---- 12 Kc2 Rxh2++ w ---- w f2e2 13 Rxh1 d8e8 w g6g5 w g3f3 14 Nb4 Nxb4+ w ---- w ---- 15 c3xb4 e8f8 w g5g4 w Nd3 16 Resigns ---- ---- ---- NOTES: 3. After bold opening move the new kid gets ripped right away! Welcome to ZM QUADCHESS! 4. JB's Rd1 surprisingly strong in that it forces BAM to capture R so that BM doesn't get JB's pieces. Suddenly BAM double attacked after JZ lets BAM attack JB. BM release of cover gets BAM N and BAM must deal with mate threat. BAM saves his skin with check followed by Bg2. 10. BM had temporary out square for N at d8 but went for "breathing room" instead. 15. BAM hopes JB will not take as his B placement gives JB another chance to unpin while JZ saves his R. 16. JB declines free BAM B after JZ doesn't take JB R. JZ now takes R figuring he can promote pawns without it on board. 18. JB's "early" resignation underestimates his potential. BAM would have had to make deal, i.e., JB would use his king to hinder JZ P promotion and in exchange BAM would let JB's P become a R. Whether BAM would honor the deal remains questionable, but JB still had a chance. 22. BAM has a "mirage attack" and doesn't take JZ P allowing his B to post up covering JZ's rooking square. P push gains nothing. ROUND 3 (open discussion with side conferences allowed) With BAM and JZ having 1 point each, everyone positions his strategy for a tournament win or tie. Losers want to band together to beat winners who must prevent each other from winning or even drawing. But rational tournament winning strategy soon succumbs to game winning tactics which lose out to emotional imperatives in waves, advantages and counter-cycles that defy accurate prediction. ROUND 3 (open discussion and side deals allowed) SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST JZ BAM JB BM 1 b2b4 Nc4 g7g6 g2e2 2 Nc3 b7d7 Nf6 Bg2+ 3 ---- b6c6 Bg7 0-0 4 d2d3 Ne5 Rf8 Kh3 5 Nxe2 Nxd3 Ne4+ ---- 6 Bb2 Nxb4 Nxg5 g1f1 7 Nf4+ ---- ---- Kg3 8 Be5 b8c8 Bxe5+ ---- 9 Rb2 Bb7 Bxf4+ Kh3 10 Rxb4 Ra3+ ---- Bf3 11 Rxf4 Rxa2+ ---- ---- 12 Kxa2 Resign* e7e5 Be4 13 Kb3 ---- Kg7 Ng2 14 c2c3 ---- Rh8 Ne1 15 Ka4 ---- Kf6 Nd3 16 Ka5 ---- h7h5 Nxf4 17 Kb6 ---- d5xf4 Rg1 18 Rxh5 ---- ---- Kg2 19 Rxh8 ---- Kg5 Kf3 20 Rh3+ ---- ---- Ke2 21 Re3 ---- ---- Kd2 22 Rxe4 ---- f7f5 f1e1 23 Ra4 ---- f5g4 e1d1 24 c3c4 ---- g4g3 d1c1 25 Kc7 ---- Kg4 c1b1 26 Ra1 ---- f4f3 Kc3 27 Kd6 ---- f3f2 Rd2+ 28 Ke7 ---- g3g2 Kb2 29 Ra5 ---- f2f1=R b1a1=R 30 Rd5 ---- Rxd1 Rxd1 31 Rxd1 ---- g6g5 Kb3 32 Kf7 ---- Kf3 Kb4 33 Kg7 ---- g5g4 Ka5 34 Kh8 ---- Kf2 Kb6 35 Kg8^Q ---- f2f1=R Ka7 36 Qd4+,+?? --- Kf3 Ka8 37 Qa1+?? ---- ---- Kb8^Q 38 Rxg1?? ---- g4g3 Qa3+ 39 ---- ---- Kf2 Qb2+ 40 ---- ---- Kf3 Qc3+ 41 ---- ---- Kf2 Qd2 42 ---- ---- Kf3 Qg2+ 43 ---- ---- Kg4 Qe4+ 44 ---- ---- Kh3 Qf5+ 45 ---- ---- Kh4 Qf4+ 46 ---- ---- Kh3 Qh6+ 47 ---- ---- Kg4 Qe6+,+ 48 Kf8 ---- Kf3 Qf5+ 49 Ke8 ---- Ke3 Qc4+ 50 ---- ---- Kf3 Qd5+ 51 ---- ---- Kf2? Qg2+ 52 ---- ---- Ke3 Qxg1+! 53 ---- ---- Kf3 Qa1 54 Kf7 ---- g3g2 Qg1 55 Ke4 ---- Kg3 Ka7 56 Kd5 ---- Kf3 Kb6 57 Kd6 ---- Kg3 Ka5 58 Kd5 ---- Kh3 Kb4 59 c4c5 ---- Kg3 Kc3 60 Kd6 ---- Kf3 Kd3 61 Kc7 ---- Kf4 Qxg2 62 Kb8 ---- Kf5 Qe4+ 63 ---- ---- Kf6 Ke3 64 Ka5 ---- Kf7 Qe5 65 Ka7 ---- Kf8 Qe6 66 Kb8 ---- Kg7 Kf4 67 Ka8 ---- Kh7 Kg5 68 Kb8 ---- Kh8 s* Qg6 69 Ka8 ---- ---- Kf6 70 Kb8 ---- ---- Ke7 71 Kc7 ---- ---- Qg3+ 72 Kb6 ---- ---- Kd8 73 Ka7 ---- ---- Qb3 74 Kb8 ---- ---- Qb5 75 Ka7 ---- ---- Kc7 76 Resigns ---- ---- ---- *=stalemate, pieces frozen NOTES: 1. JZ goes after BAM right away. 5. BAM NxP available as BAM and JB agree to gang up on JZ. 6. BAM gets a free P rather than lose his N in an exchange. He also threatens mate; JB NxP at g3 after JZ agrees to protect it. 8. JZ misses KxN after BM indicated that he would go to h2 instead. This "misunderstanding" quashes no attack deal between JB and JZ as JB seeks revenge. 9. JZ Be5 a saver as it puts attacking BAM in mate threat and exposes his N but JB falls for BM siren song side deal because he thinks JZ defaulted on N coverage. BM agrees not to take JB's B after BxN+. JB takes JZ's B, crippling latter's chance for tournament win but BxN unpins JZ R to take BAM's N. 11. BAM, seeing trouble ahead, offers JZ a perpetual check for a 1 and 1/2 point tournament tie, but after looking over alternatives and with BM coaching, and the understanding that both JB and BM would go after BAM if offer was declined, and with the arrival of a milkshake to confuse matters further, JZ turns BAM down. This decision had major consequences on final outcome of tournament. JZ got talked out of RxB when combination was pointed out to him. He settles for RxP; but BAM plays RxP+ anyway! Apparently seeing that he was going to be mated, he makes one last try for a deal but JZ plays KxR. After BAM resigns leaving pieces on board, JZ successfully sneaks into a hiding place hoping JB and BM would have a falling out. 17. BM keeps pushing JB to get his R out to attack JZ but JB thinks it will take too long and looking to his future, pushes Ps instead. After Ph4, BM retaliates by taking JB's B which was quickly followed by PxN as both go after each other. Now BM broaches a side deal to get JB's R in the same fashion as BAM mated JZ in the previous game. The fallout between recent partners is now complete. JZ takes the deal. 20. After much discussion, JZ sees opportunity with Rh3+. BAM illegally kibitzes to clarify that JZ goes again after Rh3+, Re3 so JZ goes for it and wins B at no cost! No one objects! Then BM helps out with wrong K move. 30. JZ's Rd5 bears further analysis. Undoubtedly, a number of implications were missed but it works for him when JB exchanges R's. 33. BM makes Q run following JZ's run for h8 corner. 36. Wrong! JZ thought he could stop BM from queening. Instead, R+, Q+ on diagonal wins. JZ throws tournament away. 37. Wrong again! Ra1+, Qd6++ also wins BM's Q. 38. Wrong again! Instead of RxR, Qe5+, Ra1+ RxQ. After almost enough checks to make for a perpetual check draw, BM finds a way to separate JB from his P. JB masochistically agrees to help get JZ but BM closes him out instead, allowing him a 1/2 point stalemate. JZ's hopes of barricading himself in quickly turn to ashes as configuration is wrong. Final score: BAM 1, BM 1, JZ 1, tie for 1st, JB gets 1/2. Final thoughts: Once again players marveled at ebb and flow of game. How quickly fortunes could turn. Winless JB ready to go again but JZ thinks that once a year for an annual tournament is enough.
Here's hoping that you find this game as interesting as we did and that you will spread it around. The potential for playing over the net has not been explored as of this date. E-mail me with your ideas. 04/October/1996
Co-founder Bruce Moon died suddenly in January 1997. Without him this game would never gotten developed.