Chess @ Russ.org

Chessmaster 8000 Review

A few players at our local club are critical of the Chessmaster software series. There are certainly better programs out there, but at a price. Chessmaster is actually quite a bargin if you buy it on sale for under $20. I got version 6000 for under $5.

It has a rating system for users. Everyone starts at 1600 and you can't take back moves. You can play it at levels below its strongest game. Here are some games; me VS Chessmaster.

  Russ		CM @ 1900     

1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. d5 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Bb4 6. Ne2 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. a3 Bc5 9. f3 e5 10. b4 Bd6 11. Nb5 O-O 12. Nxd6 cxd6 13. Ng3 Qh4 14. Qd2 Rc8 15. c4 a5 16. b5 a4 17. Qf2 Rc5 18. Nf5 Qxf2+ 19. Kxf2 Ra7 20. h4 Ba8 21. Ne7+ Kf8 22. Nf5 Kg8 23. h5 Kf8 24. Be2 Rc8 25. Rag1 Rc5 26. g4 f6 27. Nh4 Kf7 28. Ng6 Rc8 29. f4 Ra5 30. g5 hxg5 31. fxg5 f5 32. exf5 Rc5 33. Rh4 Rc8 34. h6 gxh6 35. gxh6 (see diagram below) 35... Nc6 36. bxc6 dxc6 37. h7 Ra7 38. h8=Q Rxh8 39. Rxh8 Kf6 40. Rf8+ Rf7 41. Rxf7+ Kxf7 42. Bf3 cxd5 43. Bxd5+ Bxd5 44. cxd5 1-0
  Russ		CM @ 2232

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Qh5+ g6 5. Nxg6 Nf6 6. Qh4 Rg8 7. Nxf8 Rg4 8. Qh6 Rxe4+ 9. Be2 Rxe2+ 10. Kxe2 Qe7+ 11. Qe3 Kxf8 12. Qxe7+ Kxe7 13. Re1 Be6 14. Kf1 Nc6 15. c3 Ne5 16. d4 Nd3 17. Rd1 Nxc1 18. Rxc1 c5 19. dxc5 dxc5 20. Nd2 Ne4 21. Nxe4 fxe4 22. Re1 Bd5 23. f3 Rf8 24. Kg1 Rf4 25. fxe4 Bc6 26. c4 Ke6 27. Re3 Rxe4 28. Rxe4+ Bxe4 29. Re1 Ke5 30. Kf2 Kd4 31. Rxe4+ Kxe4 32. g4 Kd3 33. b3 a6 34. g5 Ke4 35. Kg3 Kf5 36. h4 b5 37. Kf3 bxc4 38. bxc4 a5 39. a4 Ke5 40. h5 Kf5 41. g6 hxg6 42. hxg6 Kxg6 43. Ke4 Kf6 44. Kd5 Ke7 45. Kxc5 Kd7 46. Kb6 1-0
Position after 35. gxh6


Here's 3 short games, 2 of my own and an old favorite:

Me vs. B. Houle (rated game, 2 hour time control)
1. e4       e5
2. Nf3       Nc6
3. Bb5       Nd4
4. Nxd4       exd4
5. d3       a6
6. Bh4       b5
7. Bb3       Be7
8. Qh5       g6
9. Qd5
Me playing Black in a 5 minute speed game.
1. g3       e5
2. f4       exf4
3. gxf4       Qh4#
Short game from the past, noted in a chess book as the shortest game in history between 2 experts.
1. d4       Nf6
2. Nd2       e5
3. dxe5       Ng4
4. h3       Ne3

Here's a position from an online game. Also known as 'Philador's Legacy.' (I'm playing) Black to move and mate in 6.


Chess Tutor

Holding the Opposition:

 

  1. Kd5            Kd7          

  2. Kc4            Kd6          

  3. Kd3            Ke5          

  4. Ke3            Ke6           

  5. Kf4            Kf6          

  6. Kg3            Ke5          

  7. Kf3            Ke6          

  8. Ke2            Ke5          

  9. Kd3            Ke6          

 10. Kd4            Kd6          

 11. e5+            Ke6           

 12. Ke4            Ke7          

 13. Kf5            Kf7          

 14. e6+            Ke7          

 15. Ke5            Ke8          

 16. Kd6            Kd8          

 17. Kc5            Ke7          

 18. Kd5            Ke8           

 19. Ke4            Ke7          

 20. Kf5            Ke8          

 21. Kf6            Kf8          

 22. Kg5            Ke7          

 23. Kh6            Kxe6         


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