Weak Computer, meet Direct Attack

Every once in a while it is fun just to hop on the old chess server and play the bots. Since I had just finished with my finals yesterday, it seemed like just the time to thrash a silicon enemy.

MrMash(2063)-SloBoBot(1863)
Standard 25/10, World Chess Live

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. a3

Why not? I have faith in my ability to take this computer down in a tactical showdown.

3. ...d5 4. e3 dxc4 5. Bxc4 c5 6. Nf3 a6 7. Nc3 Bd7



Here we finally leave opening theory, but as you might expect, I was out after about move 3.

8. 0-0 b5 9. Bd3 c4?!

I remain unconvinced of this idea. I think maintaining the central tension would be better since it doesn't seem like the queenside pawns will ever really get moving in this structure.

10. Bc2 Bc6 11. e4 Be7 12. Ne5 Bb7 13. f4 Nbd7



It was from here that I came up with the idea that I will eventually play on move 17.

14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. e5 Qc6!? 16. Qe2 Nd7?

The knight is poorly placed here, and can only get back into the game by either wasting time getting to d5 via b6, or by f8-g6. Of course, in the mean time...

17. f5! 0-0 18. f6!!



The black king just castled, and already it is under heavy fire.

18. ...gxf6 19. Bh6 Kh8

To stop the mate threat (Qg4-g7#).

20. Be4!

Indirectly wins back the f6 pawn, and more than that, gets rid of that annoying mate threat.

20. ...Qb6 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. exf6 Bxf6 23. Rxf6!



The idea is that the pin after the next couple moves is unbreakable.

23. ...Nxf6 24. Qe5 Qe7 25. Ne4

25. Bg5! was a little faster, but come on, why not make the computer suffer for all that it has done to us humans lately?

25. ...Rfc8 26. Nxf6 Rd8



Most people would be tempted to play the immediate discovered check, but I turn the screws even tighter.

27. Rf1!!

A subtle strengthening move, makes the inevitable discovery even stronger. There is little else to explain, so I will present the rest of the game and then the final position.

27. ...Qf8? 28. Bxf8 Rxf8 29. Ne8+ f6 30. Rxf6! Rxf6 31. Qxf6+ Kg8 32. Qg7# 1-0