The Wilson Gambit
Yes, yes, the Wilson Gambit. Er.
A handful of weekends ago, I made my return to Houston and for the first time, went to the Houston Chess Meetup advertised by Tacticus every so often. It was at a Chinese buffet this time around, which generously offered the use of a room. We could pay for one meal and sit on our tushies as long as we desired.
Arriving fashionably late, I discovered people played not only chess, but a variety of board games. In fact, most people played other games while Glenn waited for someone, anyone else who was there for the chess.
That person…was me (a few others did show up later). After eating, we got down to business. Glenn has one of those 5-min clocks and we played a ton of blitz that afternoon. The first few games I thought way too much in the opening, always getting in time trouble. Even after getting “in the groove”, I didn’t have much success, as might be expected when an Expert plays a Class C. It was something like +2 -7 =2 (includes one sympathy win where I was dominant but only had a few seconds left vs 2 minutes. Glenn still resigned.)
Before leaving, we got in one last game. Instead of my usual Pirc, went Center Counter…and, oh man, that match is seared within my memory forever. In fact, I can probably recreate the exact moves to the final game. With little variation it can be replayed here.
To let it be known, I’m not ashamed of losing. I am ashamed of losing like that.
Well, I once fell into the same type of mate in a different variation of the Center Counter, on the same square with the same piece (Qc8#), and although my queen’s rook and queen’s knight had moved, it was to win a piece. In other words, I was totally winning on move 11 as Black and just had to avoid one little thing, namely mate in one…and it was a 30/90 tournament game!
So who’s the biggest dork now, buster?
Comment by Wahrheit | 15 August 2008
I should be ashamed of winning like that.
Comment by Tacticus Maximus | 15 August 2008
I once resigned with a technically winning position. Up to that point I was comfortably up two pawns in the middlegame. After I made my move, I noticed with horror that it allowed the enemy a killer tactic. Just to prove that “I saw it,” and thereby restore some measure of dignity, I resigned before it could be executed on the board. Afterwards my confused opponent asked me why I resigned. As I showed him the tactic, I discovered that it didn’t work after all. So much for dignity.
Comment by Ray Cheng | 15 August 2008
Oh man I checked out the link to Wilson’s Gambit…very cool! A very nice addition to any blitz arsenal.
P.s. I have to come here almost every time I get online just to look at the picture of Mascot vs. Kasparov. still LOL
Comment by RT Solo | 15 August 2008
Hi! can we xlink with my chess blog which features daily chess updates and news? just let me know and i’ll add you..thank you.
Comment by kaguvkov | 16 August 2008
And I should point out that the one time Donnie and I played in an actual tournament I did manage to lose.
Comment by Tacticus Maximus | 17 August 2008
I’m catching crabs with the seagulls. Not around this week
Comment by Blunderprone | 17 August 2008
@Wahrheit: You lasted to move 11. I am so jealous.
But, yeah, in 30/90 game? I bow before your dorkiness. Um, you almost sound proud of it.
@Tacticus: A win is a win. Even if it’s really cheap.
It’s also worth noting in that tournament game you had me beat until a simple error at the end. (Even then, you might have played on to force me to demonstrate I know how to use 2 Bishops against a Rook.)
@Ray: This punishing lesson is evidence that all of us will make this type of mistake again. Probably in the near-future.
@RT Solo: Countering on off-beat opening with an off-beat opening…pretty cool.
If you liked Kasparov vs Mascot, check out Chess Enquirer.
@kaguvkov: Looks like you were tricked into thinking LEP is a chess website (the last few posts notwithstanding). Sorry. I’ll check out your site and see if I want to link to it.
@Blunderprone: Bring me back some big ones.
Comment by Donnie | 18 August 2008
I cetainly am proud of it, seeing as how it was probably my worst mistake ever (well, blitz doesn’t count)…everyone has a worst mistake in their chess career, might as well glory in it!
Ray, I once resigned a drawn position, which doesn’t quite reach your level, but give me time!
Comment by Wahrheit | 18 August 2008
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