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34. Kg4 Qf8
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Black realizes his queen is not exerting much influence on a3, and retreats her to a position of power and defense. Nice move. |
 
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35. Qe5
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! Reaching the most active square for the queen. Threats abound once a pawn is pushed, and the black queen now appears to be hemmed in to a large degree. |
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35... Qc8+
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Untangling the right way, with a hard right to the jaw. |
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36. f5
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It really is all or nothing for white. Down on material, but with immediate threats available and a king that can't be immediately checked, I start silently singing that song about an ant and a rubber tree plant. |
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36... Kh7
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Unpinning the king, but inching closer to danger. White decides to pull the trigger. |
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37. g6+
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It suddenly occured to me that a grown man engaged in a contest of mental prowess really shouldn't be singing song about ants, rubber tree plants, and high hopes. I switch songs to Van Halen's 'Right Now', and pass the point of no return. |
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37... fxg6
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?! Kg8 was better. Black was probably counting on the fact that my f pawn is frozen, but this move allows the opening of the h file. |
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38. hxg6+ Kg8
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Too late. White's king is safe, and he now has time to reach h7 or h8, with threats. |
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39. Qh2 Qe8
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Desperately seeking a check. |
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40. Qh7+
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Right NOW! Hey! There's no tomorrow...... |
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40... Kf8 41. Qh8+
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Right NOW! C'mon, it's everything! |
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41... Ke7 42. Qxg7+
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Catch your magic moment! |
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42... Kd8 43. Qf6+
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Do it right here, and NOW! |
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43... Qe7
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Any king move and white forces a trade of queens and wins the race to promotion. |
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44. Kg5
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! Not a position you see every day. Both queens are pinned to their mates by their counterparts. White is totally cool with that - if black takes white retakes and maneuvers to push the f pawn. If he doesn't take white plays g7. |
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44... d4
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He's running a marathon...... |
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45. g7
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....and I just have a short sprint. Black resigns, and I take my first serious deep breath in over an hour. I remember that I have just gone 4-0, and promptly try to forget about the way I almost just screwed the pooch. Later, in analysis and also as I write this, I attempt to somehow achieve catharsis regarding my own limitations as a chess player. While it is good to know that I can overcome blunders like 20. f3, my main problem is allowing moves like that to even enter my mind. Distractions, random thoughts, and for me even the wrong inner music (does anyone else do that?) all detract me from the board tourney after tourney. Lack of focus is the only reason I can't improve past my USCF high of 1514. That and the fact that I can't play OTB in my boxer shorts, smoking cigarettes and drinking beer. Many thanks to Patrick B. for the fine game - you really pushed me man. |
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(1700)