The more you live the more you…?

November 1, 2020 by mccreadyandchess

For the first time last night I represented England. A match against Finland was held. Of the 81 participants, around 30 were titled, of course there were Grandmasters playing. The time frame was 1h 20m, games were set at 3m, 2s increment. I won almost every game I played, held firm in joint 11th for the most part then slipped up in my final game to someone rated 2227. I finished 16th out of 81 even though those finishing both above and below me were on average 300-500 points above me. I punched well above my weight and feel proud of myself for stepping up to the mark against very strong opposition. England gave Finland a sound beating and I did my country proud by sticking in earbuds and bopping away with my favourite 80’s band (A Flock of Seagulls) as I blitzed my way up the leaderboard. All music video images in the screenshots below are of A Flock of Seagulls, the first one being from the song ‘The More you Live The More you Love’. I don’t know about you but the more I live the more I love playing chess.

The match was commentated upon. Rather amusingly it begins with comments of mine where I boast about drinking beer when I studied The Philosophy of Science in Finland as an undergrad back in Autumn 96; when I once beat a Finnish FM with 1.f4 down the pub named The Three Beers in Turun Yliopisto.

Meretricious and mangled.
Super-silly stuff.

There’s two videos from me and now two videos I will bop away to quite happily if given the chance.

Got to Number 8 in the US charts.
I cannot stop myself from singing this every time I hear it, and it’s been like that most of the year.

Olcmarcus

Posted in Chess, My own endeavours, On-line journal, Personal Interest & Experience, Selected on-line games, Tournament Chess | Leave a Comment »

Love is the drug

November 1, 2020 by mccreadyandchess

‘Love is the drug and I need my score’ dah-da-dah, dah-da-dah, dah-dah-dah

With chess board put to one side, does the twangy title ‘Love is the drug’ conjure anything? Grace Jones and a cheesy music video or perhaps if we go back a decade more Roxy music? Mental scrimmage aside, allow yourself to stick with the latter for future reference, and trust me on that. Although I grew up in the 80s, I am aware that pop music is, for the most part, ingratiating and the product of an industry that is, primarily, profit based…I mean who would have thought even old Frankie Sinatra was being somewhat disingenuous when he sang ‘My Way’? Well he did sing it his way but that song wasn’t his, was it? Only after the yanks plundered the French for it, was it popularized in America by him.

I had hoped for the weekend off from chess and began branching out into draughts and othello.

But then I was asked to represent England for the first time and that changed things (more on that to come). And so here I sit on the first November Sunday, pondering over the following position in a tough game of Round 1 in The British Open.

And so I sit, musing, listening, and pondering… .

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Moving parts…

October 30, 2020 by mccreadyandchess

As if that wasn’t bad enough, a Grandmaster who played and beat the very best in the world at his peak has gone and beaten me for a second time in a week. And just because he not only beat but completely took apart the greatest English chess player in history with the black pieces in a Petroff, that’s not much of a consolation. I feel forced to belt it on the bike to the chess club and start looking at my games more closely now…

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Very English Chess

October 28, 2020 by mccreadyandchess

All too often, I appear to be playing people that lose as soon as I start concentrating and it’s becoming a bit annoying…

I do love the St. George’s defence and know it inside out now, having played it hundreds of times. Here’s two typical October wins: my opponent’s play is uncoordinated, whilst mine is harmonious, and what happens in the middle game is I win instantly as per usual…and this with the most passive of all defences. Given that I play the English Opening, The grand Prix Attack, and The St.George’s Defence I do indeed play Very English Chess.

Bloody tablet made defence go all mash up.
Too easy by far.

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Gathered games of this October

October 25, 2020 by mccreadyandchess

October has always been a favourite month of mine for many reasons, all of which point to my very Englishness, the 24th most probably the favoured day in retrospect, what with Rachel setting foot in England that day and six years previously I was off watching Metallica at Wembley. But since when was playing around 100 games a week? Not ever that’s for sure but Covid-19 has put me out of work and left me with more than enough time on my hands. Selected games are commented upon below, I post them because they represent a change in style, triggered by something I shall not speak of… . Active play it is, actively I post, you may call me an activist if you so wish. But before you do that, here’s a nice Octobery pic of the only two McCready’s in the FIDE database.

GM&MM
Coming from behind after the blunder of the queen.
Loss against a GM
It could be the case that I am much better than I think.
Another game won all too easily with the St. George’s Defence.
I am English, so why not the English then?
An Englishman in cyberspace.
Cyberpunkish Englishman
An English crush

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Second to a GM only

October 22, 2020 by mccreadyandchess

The game lost to GM Bogdan. https://www.chess.com/live/game/5619363470

Olcmarcus

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Which century are we in?

October 21, 2020 by mccreadyandchess

I can’t say I ever was an admirer of Steiniz tbh. In fact with Morphy no longer on the scene, it wasn’t until Alekhine imperially rose to the throne, that chess became worth looking at in close detail.

I always thought his wandering king was just dubious conceptually, and likely to be his downfall eventually. So what am I doing playing the opening theory in fashion during his reign, and drawing inspiration from his antics? Having fun, that’s what, as the video shows. An amusing victory both antiquated in its approach but highly effective nonetheless.

Olcmarcus

Posted in Life beyond the chess board, Selected on-line games | Leave a Comment »

The several pens mightier than the swords of several…

October 20, 2020 by mccreadyandchess

Olcmarcus

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Results possible?

October 19, 2020 by mccreadyandchess

I’m white and unlikely to lose, so I tell myself. But just how many results are possible and which is most probable with correct play/technique?

Black to move.

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So 2020

October 19, 2020 by mccreadyandchess

I’ve taken a penchant to the St. George’s Defence this year, although in truth it’s been brewing for some years now. Perhaps I shouldn’t post this but in the diagrams below my opponent has approached it correctly (but don’t ask me why he put has bishop on b3!). The 300+ games with it this year have taught me that the pawn chain f3, e4, and d4 is a tough nut to crack, and compounds the rather passive nature of the opening, forcing play upon the flank…oh and btw, I don’t like to say such things but you might want to forego the only publication on The St.George’s Defence for the title is misleading, as it isn’t primarily a book about The St.George’s Defence.

Naturally, I had to play 16. …b4. Deny his queen’s knight developing squares, liberate my bishop onto the f1-a6 diagonal then consider …d5.

Olcmarcus

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