A Sicilian Miniature

Rumpelstiltskin vs. Lindfors

It was bound to happen. If you put up a site called Battle Reports, it’s only a matter of time before someone enters a blow-by-blow tale from the battlefield of one of the most intense games on the planet. I’m talking, of course, about the ultimate strategy challenge. The game of Kings. Chess.

The Scene.

It was in 1996. You know, the old millennium. I had been bitten by the chess bug about two years earlier, but had yet to sample true success. And although many landmarks in my own chess career has surpassed this (winning tournaments, prizes, money and cups) I don’t think I’ve ever played a game quite like this. Perhaps I never will.

It was a bleak Sunday morning in early Spring, and it was time once again to stand up and be counted for the club: the Swedish League game of the month was at hand. Our team captain had overslept, which meant our clocks were already ticking. Down on time, we were finally informed we could begin to play — although the result would only count if the team captain showed up before the games were over (which, luckily, he did). Personally, I was outranked by a couple of hundred points — virtually dead already. Still, I was there. And if I were going to lose, I might as well go down fighting.

The Game.

1. e4

Bobby Fischer’s favourite opening move. Theoretically the strongest, as it opens lines for both the Queen and a Bishop. There are, of course, numerous alternatives, but for overt aggression, it can’t be beat. Another boon is that it immediately stakes a claim in the center; absolutely vital in any game of chess. If you control the center, you own more space. If you own more space, your opponent is cramped, and has problems finding decent squares for his pieces — might even die of asphyxiation if you’re lucky. (Starcraft translation: Clone your peons to start mining so you don’t lose time.)

1. ... c5

The Sicilian defense. Somewhat of a flank opening, meaning that White’s pawn center will be attacked from the side in an attempt to undermine it, rather than confront it. Often a setting for devious and underhanded play. I like him already. (Starcraft translation: This opening is the equivalent of Heavy Metal.)

2. Nf3

The most common approach. These days I’d be sneakier and transpose from the closed Sicilian 2. Nc3 into the Grand Prix Attack with 3. f4, an absolutely relentless attack that works wonders (at least in two minute games on the Internet Chess Club, he-he), but in ’96 I hadn’t incorporated it into my repertoire. The text move aims to put more pressure on the center squares e5 and (in particular) d4.

2. ... Nc6

My opponent shares my warm feelings concerning the aforementioned squares (d4, e5) and seeks to control them every bit as much. (Starcraft translation: Two words: Map Control.)

3. Bb5

Attacking the Knight, as it is a key defender of the center squares. White is now threatening to exchange on c6 and play the d-pawn onto d4 and establish a strong center.

3. ... d6

As Black can no longer prevent White from playing the liberating d4, he shores up the other vital center square e5, and makes sure to dominate it. (Starcraft translation: If your enemy expands to his natural, take the time to do so aswell, lest you’ll fall behind in resources.)

4. d4

There. White pushes d4, and establishes a strong pawn center. Black’s reply is virtually forced — note that after Black’s last move, the Knight is pinned to the King.

4. ... cxd4

Black exchanges a wing pawn for a center pawn. In doing so, he opens his c-file for the Rooks, and has one more pawn in the center than White. The drawbacks balance the issue however; in particular the potential weakness of the Black d-pawn. If Black ever pushes to e5 (which he often does in these positions) the d-pawn will be "backward", i.e. left without protection of another pawn. If it is ever attacked, Black will be forced to employ pieces to protect it; pieces that could have been put to better use elsewhere on the board. (Starcraft translation: Does imbalance ring a bell? Chess is full of’em…)

5. Nxd4

Putting extra pressure on the Knight on c6. It still can’t move, as it is pinned to the King, and is now attacked twice, defended once. Thus, White threatens to win a pawn. (Starcraft translation: When you can't build any more units, every little Zergling counts. You can't afford to lose a single one without compensation.)

5. ... Bd7

Breaking the pin and doubling defences on c6. The Knight is once again active, putting pressure on both the White Knight on d4, as well as the important square e5.

6. O-O

White castles, protecting the King and developing a Rook towards the center. (Starcraft translation: Protect your main at all costs. If you lose it, you lose everything. Well, on small island maps without expansions, at least...) At a glance it may look as if IWhite isgiving a piece away, as he can’t take back after 6. … Nxd4 7. Qxd4 Bxb5, but that is just an illusion. On 6. … Nxd4 White simply plays the in-between move 7. Bxd7+ and after Black takes the Bishop White can recapture on d4 with the Queen. Thus, the Bishop is "tactically defended".

6. ... e5

Black puts the question to the enemy Knight. (Starcraft translation: Tired of that Overlord hanging over your Nexus? Plop down a Cybernetics Core or a Forge and watch him scoot.)

7. Nxc6

I must either exchange on c6 or retreat my Knight. The best square for it is f3, but then it might get in the way of bringing the Queen out later on. Also, retreating costs time. I'd rather force the issue and keep Black reacting to my choices.

7. ... bxc6

Black decides to keep his light-square Bishop on the board, and captures with the pawn, attacking White’s Bishop in the process.

8. Bc4

Inviting the pawn push. Pushing pawns to frighten away enemy pieces often give amateurs a feeling of satisfaction, but the farther ahead a pawn rolls, the easier it will be to blockade, restrain and ultimately destroy. Come here, pawn… let’s go deeper into the woods… (Starcraft translation: take advantage of computer AI and newbies poor micromanagement skills by luring them into firing range; i.e. dancing a Zealot until the Lings are torn to shreds by Cannons.)

8. … Nf6

Black wisely declines the pawn push (which in this case would just lose a pawn immediately and expose his King in the process), and instead develops his Knight. Getting his pieces out into active positions and castling into safety is much more important than chasing White’s Bishop around the board. (Starcraft translation: Don’t chase after the SCV that just plonked an offensive refinery on you — tear it down instead, cause you need the gas.)

9. Bg5

Pinning the other Knight — this time to the Queen.

9. … Be7?

The question mark indicates the move is bad. Black has the right idea (un-pinning the Knight, much like he did on the other side of the board) but in this case it is an oversight. Before this move, the Queen protected the Knight on f6, and the Bishop protected the pawn on d6. After this move, the Bishop tries to do both things at once. (Starcraft translation: not even a fully upgraded Ultralisk can attack two targets simultaneously.)

10. Bxf6

Many players are reluctant to trade the long-striking Bishop for a Knight, but in this case there are decisive boons. Because the Black Bishop on e7 is overworked (see last note), Black must either weaken his Kingside pawn structure (leaving no safe haven for his King) or forfeit the important central pawn. (Starcraft translation: If your expansion and your Main are both under attack, you’d better decide fast on where to micro like a whore. Oops, I think this BR just went PG-13.)

10. … gxf6

Granted, not attractive, but the alternative wasn’t pretty either. Black is left with a doubled pawn on the f-file as well as an isolated pawn on the h-file. Although the semi-open g-file (aswell as the two pawns on the f-file) may prove an asset during the middle-game, White is betting that there will be too many small structural weaknesses for Black to handle in the end-game. (Starcraft translation: Several poorly defended expansions is easier to raze than a BGH main.)

11. Qh5

Going for the jugular. The Queen jumps into the game, threatening to checkmate already on f7. Black’s pieces are helplessly hemmed in by his own pawns, and both wings offer easy access for White’s attacking forces.

11. … O-O

Brave or foolish? The conservative approach loses a pawn after 11. … Rf8, but perhaps Black feels he hasn’t played the opening poorly enough to warrant such a loss. His idea here is to quickly play the King to h8, put the Rook on g8 and use his semi-open g-file to put pressure on the White King. White must therefore play vigorously to keep the initiative. (Starcraft translation: A 4-pool counter-rush may work wonders — but are you sure your lings are faster than his?)

12. f4

Preparing to swing the Rook into the fray via f3. However, it also opens the dark diagonal leading to White’s King — something that Black is quick to exploit. (Starcraft translation: Leaving your choke unguarded to pursue an attack is both bold and dangerous.)

12. … Qb6+

"Check". He's calling my bluff. White, by his previous move, promised to sacrifice both material and position to forward his attack. It’s time to show just how much. (Gosh it feels weird writing about yourself in third person... but it's how they do it in those fancy-schmancy chess books I've got, so I'll keep at it.)

13. Kh1

Squarreling away in the corner, and stepping off the g-file.

13. … Qxb2

Who could resist? Looking strictly at material, Black is now winning. But in chess, material in itself in of little consequence. No piece is worth more than the task it undertakes at any given moment.

14. Nd2

Connecting the Rooks and tempting the Black Queen away from the long diagonal a1-h8.

14. … Qxc2?

On the subject of pieces and their worth… The Black Queen (the most powerful piece in his army) is snatching inconsequential pawns while on the other side of the board, a mate net is threatened. There is no time for playing moves like this. (Starcraft translation: Don’t go hunting overlords when the Hydras start raping your main.)

15. Rf3!?

Now there are all sorts of nasty threats. The Rook could go to g3 with check, or (after pushing the f-pawn one square forward, blocking out the Black Bishop) to h3, joining forces with the Queen. The "!?" annotation means the move is enterprising but unclear. White leaves the Knight unguarded, taunting the Queen — is there or isn’t there time enough to capture it and still put up a defense? It’s actually a very difficult question. It’s been several years since I played this game, and to this day neither I nor my computer programs can say with any certainty.

15. … exf4

Black dares not. Instead he captures on f4, opening the diagonal for his Bishop (now taking away the h3 square for the Rook) as well as controlling g3 with the pawn (making the threatened Rook-check impossible). The immediate threat is thwarted. But the dynamic positioning of the White pieces allow them to come together with tempo, exploiting the haphazard placement of Black’s Queen.

16. Bd2

Still refusing to save the Knight. The idea is to follow up with the pushing of the e-pawn, opening the diagonal from the Bishop on d2 (protected by the Rook) to h7, where the Queen can deliver checkmate.

16. … Qb2

A clever move. Black realizes White’s intentions, and places the Queen on this important diagonal: instead of capturing the pointless Knight, Black hopes to control the square e5 so that White can not check from it after the following line of exchanges. Moves like this (called prophylactic) are often very useful, but in this case it is a matter of too little, too late. The Black Queen should never have strayed so far off on the other side of the board. (Starcraft translation: Right about now, Black would give almost anything for a Nydus canal.)

17. e5

Unleashing the Bishop on d2, threateningQueen takes pawn on f7 with mate.

Forced. The price for breaking the White Bishop’s diagonal leading to h7, is shutting off the Black Bishop’s control over h3 — thus losing the game. (General translation: You’re damned if you do, and you’re damned if you don’t.)

18. Rh3

Finally, the pieces fall into place.

18. ... Bh4

A so called vacation sacrifice (no, this has nothing to do with Disney World). Black hopes to make an escape route for the King by vacating the square e7, but it is to no avail. In other circumstances, giving back material to stave off an attack is often very successful, but here Black is still too far gone to prevent what must follow.

19. Rxh4

Picking up the piece and renewing the mate threat.

Desperation. "If I’m going down, I’m gonna die with a full stomach!" A typical reaction when faced with unavoidable defeat. (Starcraft translation: "omfg that is so gay")

20. Rxh4

Elegantly blocking the Queen off from further excursions. (Starcraft translation: The enemy army is ensnared, locked down and stasised. Proceed without caution.)

20. ... Rfb8

Clearing the way for his King, and also threatening a mate of his own — but it’s White’s move. Despite all the pieces and pawns Black has snatched, and the fact that his power pieces are locked onto the enemy King; White gets to deliver the kill.

21. Qxh7+

It's more than check. Black is mate in four.

21. ... Kf8

The only move.

22. Qh8+

The second check, forcing the King out.

22. ... Ke7

The escape route seems to hold, but for —

23. Qf6+

Check number three. Note that Black never had time to reclaim the important square e5. The White pawn makes this vital check possible, and in effect this is what wins the game for White. Well, that and my incandescent genius.

23. ... Kf8

A sitting duck.

24. Rh8#

Black is out of squares, and it's the end of the game.

Post Mortem.

This is actually what it's called, when chess players sit down together after a game to analyze and discuss what just happened. In other words, high time for gloating and/or a set of false modesty. Sadly, I excel at both. Disgustingly pleased with my effort, I even called my chess mentor Douglas, who patiently reviewed the game "blind" over the phone as I read through the score sheet.

Doug: You know what?

Me: what?

Doug: This is actually beginning to look like chess.

Lessons learned:

• Be wary of Greeks bearing gifts. There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.

• Strategy gaming experiences carries over. The links between Chess and Starcraft are numerous — the biggest difference, though, is that in Chess you always know what the opponent is doing (even though you may not always understand why…) Maybe that’s an idea for the ultimate strategical Starcraft session — PLAY WITH SHARED VISION. How’s that for a challenge? Finally, more strategy than tactics…

• If I were any better at Starcraft (or could persuade more people to let me watch) I wouldn’t have to write BR’s about Chess. Next time you hear me plead, give a little, willya? It’s for the greater good…

• Gloating sure isn’t attractive, but it’s my only flaw.

• Pawn sounds almost like peon. Coincidence?

• Wait, it sounds even more like porn. Coincidence?

• Enough lessons already. Class dismissed. Spring forth and multiply, burning and pillaging the countryside as you go.

• Spare a comment for an ex-leper?