This blog is alive

If you're wondering, this blog is still alive, and so is the blogger. I've been playing several games, but never had enough time to create replayable models to share here.

Going Easy on the Eyes

Keeping in harmony with my longing for dark themes in applications and apps that I use, it is only fair to my readers that I apply a dark velvety theme to my blog. If you notice that the text color of any of the old posts conflicts with the new background, please bring it to my notice via the comments or mail, and I shall fix them.

On a related note, wish MS had not removed the option of customizing the thematic windows colors in Windows 8. Now that I have most applications working with a dark theme that is easy on the eyes, having to switch back to see a prickly white Windows Explorer or another system window that cannot be customized is just plain annoying.

On a second related note, I have deleted all my Facebook pages and permanently closed my Facebook account. So if you were following the Facebook links for this blog, and find that they have broken, now you know why. I regret any inconvenience caused to anyone by this move, but I am really glad I made the decision. Have been much more productive since.

---
Many thanks.
Prady.

Another won game.

This chess game was played with Acid Ape Chess: https://chess-db.com/public/game.jsp?id=Arasan.P+Kpradeep.147378688

Scotch Game 2

Another game I'm proud of today. Once again, sidelines. Once again plenty of mistakes from either side, and I won only because I was able to take advantage better.

[Event "Rated Classical game"]

[Site "https://lichess.org/1DA6LMSa"]

[Date "2018.09.29"]

[Round "-"]

[White "p2kpradeep"]

[Black "jstar1004"]

[Result "1-0"]

[UTCDate "2018.09.29"]

[UTCTime "09:16:53"]

[WhiteElo "1286"]

[BlackElo "1335"]

[WhiteRatingDiff "+12"]

[BlackRatingDiff "-12"]

[Variant "Standard"]

[TimeControl "900+15"]

[ECO "C41"]

[Opening "Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation"]

[Termination "Normal"]

1. e4 { [%clk 0:15:00] } e5 { [%clk 0:15:00] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:15:15] } d6 { [%clk 0:15:02] } 3. d4 { [%clk 0:15:27] } exd4 { [%clk 0:15:11] } 4. Nxd4 { [%clk 0:15:41] } Bd7 { [%clk 0:15:22] } 5. Nc3 { [%clk 0:15:51] } Nc6 { [%clk 0:15:32] } 6. f3 { [%clk 0:16:02] } Nxd4 { [%clk 0:15:40] } 7. Qxd4 { [%clk 0:16:15] } Nf6 { [%clk 0:15:47] } 8. Be3 { [%clk 0:16:27] } Be7 { [%clk 0:15:38] } 9. Bd3 { [%clk 0:16:13] } O-O { [%clk 0:15:31] } 10. O-O-O { [%clk 0:16:26] } c5 { [%clk 0:14:56] } 11. Qc4 { [%clk 0:16:33] } b6 { [%clk 0:14:54] } 12. Nd5 { [%clk 0:16:41] } Nxd5 { [%clk 0:15:04] } 13. exd5 { [%clk 0:16:41] } Bg5 { [%clk 0:14:57] } 14. f4 { [%clk 0:16:53] } Bh6 { [%clk 0:14:56] } 15. h4 { [%clk 0:17:06] } Qf6 { [%clk 0:15:00] } 16. g4 { [%clk 0:17:08] } Bxg4 { [%clk 0:15:08] } 17. Rdg1 { [%clk 0:17:14] } Bf5 { [%clk 0:15:04] } 18. Bxf5 { [%clk 0:17:02] } Qxf5 { [%clk 0:15:11] } 19. h5 { [%clk 0:17:10] } Rfe8 { [%clk 0:15:10] } 20. Qc3 { [%clk 0:17:19] } Bxf4 { [%clk 0:15:04] } 21. Qxg7# { [%clk 0:17:16] } 1-0

Scotch Game 1

This is one of the games I'm proud of. Started as a potential Scotch, but my opponent played some side lines and took me out of preparation as early as move 5.

I committed a few inaccuracies and mistakes, and so did my opponent. But I'm glad I pounced on my opponent's mistakes better than the other way around. That was the only saving grace which won me this game.

[Event "Rated Classical game"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/DXcxxhBc"]
[Date "2018.09.29"]
[Round "-"]
[White "p2kpradeep"]
[Black "isabella1234"]
[Result "1-0"]
[UTCDate "2018.09.29"]
[UTCTime "06:59:45"]
[WhiteElo "1290"]
[BlackElo "1346"]
[WhiteRatingDiff "+11"]
[BlackRatingDiff "-40"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[TimeControl "900+15"]
[ECO "C47"]
[Opening "Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation"]
[Termination "Normal"]

1. e4 { [%clk 0:15:00] } e5 { [%clk 0:15:00] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:15:08] } Nc6 { [%clk 0:15:08] } 3. d4 { [%clk 0:15:21] } Nf6 { [%clk 0:15:17] } 4. Nc3 { [%clk 0:15:26] } Bb4 { [%clk 0:15:11] } 5. Bg5 { [%clk 0:14:25] } d6 { [%clk 0:14:50] } 6. Qd2 { [%clk 0:13:04] } O-O { [%clk 0:14:58] } 7. O-O-O { [%clk 0:13:16] } Bg4 { [%clk 0:15:09] } 8. d5 { [%clk 0:11:35] } Ne7 { [%clk 0:15:08] } 9. Qe3 { [%clk 0:11:33] } Nh5 { [%clk 0:14:41] } 10. h3 { [%clk 0:10:53] } Qd7 { [%clk 0:14:30] } 11. Ne2 { [%clk 0:10:01] } Bxf3 { [%clk 0:14:25] } 12. Qxf3 { [%clk 0:10:01] } Bc5 { [%clk 0:14:24] } 13. Nc3 { [%clk 0:09:49] } Bb4 { [%clk 0:14:20] } 14. g4 { [%clk 0:09:00] } Nf6 { [%clk 0:14:00] } 15. a3 { [%clk 0:08:08] } Bxc3 { [%clk 0:13:44] } 16. Qxc3 { [%clk 0:07:01] } a5 { [%clk 0:13:38] } 17. Qg3 { [%clk 0:06:20] } Ra6 { [%clk 0:13:38] } 18. Bxa6 { [%clk 0:06:27] } bxa6 { [%clk 0:13:45] } 19. Bd2 { [%clk 0:06:18] } a4 { [%clk 0:13:39] } 20. Bb4 { [%clk 0:06:19] } Rb8 { [%clk 0:13:23] } 21. g5 { [%clk 0:06:32] } Nh5 { [%clk 0:13:23] } 22. Qh4 { [%clk 0:06:38] } Nf6 { [%clk 0:13:04] } 23. gxf6 { [%clk 0:06:50] } gxf6 { [%clk 0:13:16] } 24. Rdg1+ { [%clk 0:07:02] } Kf8 { [%clk 0:13:26] } 25. Qxh7 { [%clk 0:06:28] } Ke8 { [%clk 0:13:26] } 26. Qh8+ { [%clk 0:06:16] } Ng8 { [%clk 0:12:36] } 27. Rxg8+ { [%clk 0:06:00] } Ke7 { [%clk 0:12:26] } 28. Rxb8 { [%clk 0:05:45] } Qe6 { [%clk 0:12:26] } 29. Qe8# { [%clk 0:05:38] } 1-0

To d4 or not to d4

I had decided to learn and play 1.e4 until I got really good. But today it got a bit too boring, and I asked myself, "To d4, or not to d4?" And i did d4. Here it is...

[Event "Rated Classical game"
[White "p2kpradeep"]
[Black "mmc595"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "900+15"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Opening "Queen's Pawn Game: Mason Attack"]

1. d4 { [%clk 0:15:00] } d5 { [%clk 0:15:00] } 2. Bf4 { [%clk 0:15:08] } Bf5 { [%clk 0:14:55] } 3. e3 { [%clk 0:15:09] } Nc6 { [%clk 0:15:02] } 4. Nf3 { [%clk 0:15:04] } e6 { [%clk 0:15:11] } 5. Bd3 { [%clk 0:15:10] } Nge7 { [%clk 0:14:40] } 6. Nbd2 { [%clk 0:15:10] } g6 { [%clk 0:14:36] } 7. Ne5 { [%clk 0:15:04] } Bg7 { [%clk 0:13:51] } 8. Bxf5 { [%clk 0:14:29] } exf5 { [%clk 0:13:56] } 9. Nxc6 { [%clk 0:14:37] } Nxc6 { [%clk 0:14:07] } 10. c3 { [%clk 0:14:48] } O-O { [%clk 0:14:16] } 11. Nf3 { [%clk 0:14:44] } Re8 { [%clk 0:14:02] } 12. Qd2 { [%clk 0:14:40] } Na5 { [%clk 0:12:51] } 13. Qc1 { [%clk 0:13:38] } Nc4 { [%clk 0:12:57] } 14. Qc2 { [%clk 0:13:25] } c6 { [%clk 0:12:54] } 15. O-O-O { [%clk 0:13:36] } b5 { [%clk 0:12:24] } 16. h4 { [%clk 0:13:06] } a5 { [%clk 0:11:41] } 17. h5 { [%clk 0:12:42] } gxh5 { [%clk 0:10:43] } 18. Rxh5 { [%clk 0:12:40] } Qd7 { [%clk 0:10:22] } 19. Ng5 { [%clk 0:12:20] } h6 { [%clk 0:09:28] } 20. Nf3 { [%clk 0:12:03] } b4 { [%clk 0:09:15] } 21. b3 { [%clk 0:12:06] } Na3 { [%clk 0:08:57] } 22. Qd3 { [%clk 0:12:03] } Rac8 { [%clk 0:08:07] } 23. Rdh1 { [%clk 0:11:04] } Re6 { [%clk 0:06:34] } 24. Ne5 { [%clk 0:09:51] } Bxe5 { [%clk 0:05:28] } 25. Qxf5 { [%clk 0:09:45] } Bxf4 { [%clk 0:05:19] } 26. Qxf4 { [%clk 0:09:23] } bxc3 { [%clk 0:04:54] } 27. Rxh6 { [%clk 0:09:29] } c2 { [%clk 0:04:46] } 28. Rh8+ { [%clk 0:09:20] } Kg7 { [%clk 0:04:46] } 29. R1h7+ { [%clk 0:09:18] } Kg6 { [%clk 0:04:49] } 30. Qh6+ { [%clk 0:09:19] } Kf5 { [%clk 0:04:54] } 31. g4+ { [%clk 0:09:18] } Kxg4 { [%clk 0:05:02] } 32. Qh4+ { [%clk 0:09:24] } Kf3 { [%clk 0:05:09] } 33. Qf4+ { [%clk 0:09:30] } Ke2 { [%clk 0:05:12] } 34. Qg4+ { [%clk 0:08:49] } Kxf2 { [%clk 0:05:24] } 35. Rh2+ { [%clk 0:09:00] } Kxe3 { [%clk 0:05:34] } 36. R8h3# { [%clk 0:08:53] } 1-0

Win by Taimanov 2

[Event "Rated Classical game"]
[White "dmh6"]
[Black "p2kpradeep"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "900+15"]

[ECO "B40"]

[Opening "Sicilian Defense: Kramnik Variation"]

1. e4 { [%clk 0:15:00] } c5 { [%clk 0:15:00] } 2. c4 { [%clk 0:15:13] } e6 { [%clk 0:15:07] } 3. Nf3 { [%clk 0:15:18] } Nc6 { [%clk 0:15:06] } 4. Be2 { [%clk 0:15:09] } Qc7 { [%clk 0:15:07] } 5. g3 { [%clk 0:15:09] } Nf6 { [%clk 0:15:14] } 6. d3 { [%clk 0:14:51] } Be7 { [%clk 0:14:22] } 7. Bf4 { [%clk 0:14:59] } d6 { [%clk 0:14:30] } 8. e5 { [%clk 0:14:58] } Nd4 { [%clk 0:13:59] } 9. exf6 { [%clk 0:14:59] } Nxf3+ { [%clk 0:14:08] } 10. Bxf3 { [%clk 0:15:12] } Bxf6 { [%clk 0:14:21] } 11. Nc3 { [%clk 0:15:05] } O-O { [%clk 0:14:22] } 12. Rb1 { [%clk 0:15:15] } e5 { [%clk 0:14:27] } 13. Be3 { [%clk 0:15:19] } Qa5 { [%clk 0:14:24] } 14. a4 { [%clk 0:15:18] } Re8 { [%clk 0:14:25] } 15. O-O { [%clk 0:15:21] } Bh3 { [%clk 0:14:27] } 16. Re1 { [%clk 0:15:25] } e4 { [%clk 0:14:14] } 17. Bxe4 { [%clk 0:15:33] } Bxc3 { [%clk 0:14:24] } 18. bxc3 { [%clk 0:15:44] } Qxc3 { [%clk 0:14:20] } 19. Bxb7 { [%clk 0:15:49] } Rad8 { [%clk 0:14:12] } 20. Rc1 { [%clk 0:15:41] } Qb4 { [%clk 0:14:20] } 21. Bc6 { [%clk 0:15:52] } Re7 { [%clk 0:14:25] } 22. Rb1 { [%clk 0:15:36] } Qc3 { [%clk 0:14:08] } 23. Rb3 { [%clk 0:15:39] } Qf6 { [%clk 0:14:10] } 24. Bg5 { [%clk 0:15:39] } Qxg5 { [%clk 0:14:18] } 25. Rxe7 { [%clk 0:15:50] } Qxe7 { [%clk 0:14:27] } 26. g4 { [%clk 0:15:55] } Qg5 { [%clk 0:13:59] } 27. Bf3 { [%clk 0:15:50] } h5 { [%clk 0:14:09] } 28. Rb7 { [%clk 0:15:50] } Bxg4 { [%clk 0:14:14] } 29. Bxg4 { [%clk 0:15:58] } hxg4 { [%clk 0:14:23] } 30. Rxa7 { [%clk 0:16:06] } Re8 { [%clk 0:14:16] } 31. a5 { [%clk 0:16:14] } g3 { [%clk 0:14:22] } 32. fxg3 { [%clk 0:16:20] } Qe3+ { [%clk 0:14:31] } 33. Kg2 { [%clk 0:16:26] } d5 { [%clk 0:13:51] } 34. a6 { [%clk 0:16:22] } g6 { [%clk 0:13:29] } 35. cxd5 { [%clk 0:16:29] } c4 { [%clk 0:13:41] } 36. Rc7 { [%clk 0:16:30] } cxd3 { [%clk 0:13:50] } 37. Rc3 { [%clk 0:16:33] } Qe4+ { [%clk 0:13:53] } 38. Qf3 { [%clk 0:16:37] } Qd4 { [%clk 0:13:38] } 39. Rxd3 { [%clk 0:16:46] } Qb2+ { [%clk 0:13:46] } 40. Qf2 { [%clk 0:16:53] } Re2 { [%clk 0:13:56] } 41. Qxe2 { [%clk 0:14:12] } Qxe2+ { [%clk 0:14:00] } 42. Kg1 { [%clk 0:14:25] } Qxd3 { [%clk 0:14:14] } 43. a7 { [%clk 0:14:38] } Qxd5 { [%clk 0:14:27] } 0-1