Author: Albert Silver
Date: 10:50:54 06/24/02
Go up one level in this thread
On June 24, 2002 at 11:24:37, stuart taylor wrote:
>
>>
>>===============================
>>
>>[d]r1b5/p2k1r1p/3P2pP/1ppR4/2P2p2/2P5/P1B4P/4R1K1 w - - bm Bxg6;
>>Rebel Century 4 : 38 seconds (11 ply)
>>Rebel XP beta 1.01 : 21 seconds (11 ply)
>>
>
>I like this position quite alot, because it's so easy (I mean tangible) for a
>reasonably intelligent human to see clearly.
>This is an example of a position which I always wanted to know if anyone of
>2200 elo would ever miss.
>Although I havn't seen it on a computer, so I may well be wrong, I still think
>it is clear after ...Bxg6 (2) PXB R-7 check (3) RXR PXR (4)KXP What's the next
>move? Yes
>4...Re8. Etc.
>From the point before B-g6 I'd be interested to know how many at 1800elo would
>not find it easily in a game.
You have to be careful with these types of questions. The biggest factor in
finding the key to a combination isn't one of strength or knowledge, but of
knowing there's a combination in the first place. Take a game of yours where an
engine has shown a tactical shot you missed. It happens to ALL of us. Now set-up
the position, with no game background, and just a simple "White to play and
wins". Somehow it doesn't look that hard and you may be beating yourself for not
seeing it. Is it because you're so weak? No, it's just that when playing, there
is no label or flashing light saying "White to play and wins". Remember that
most of the time there is no winning shot available, so spending lots of time
looking for one can be exhausting and futile.
It is easy to forget this. I played a combination last weekend against a player
rated 2105, but was surprised to have had the opportunity as I had seen the
possibility 2-3 moves before and it depended on his playing one of three moves.
As it were, he thought for almost five minutes and blundered into the
combination for me. I couldn't believe it. He explained later that he never
suspected it and was already looking to trade everything off and draw. He got
the first part of his wish... a pawn down.
[D]5rk1/2pb1rbp/1p1p2p1/p1nPq1B1/2P1P3/1P2Q1NP/P5BK/4RR2 b - - 0 25
Play went 25...Rxf1 26.Rxf1 Rxf1 27.Bxf1 Nxe4! 28.Bf4 (if 28.Qxe4 Qxg5) Nxg3!
(with the idea of 29.Bxe5 Nxf1+) 29.Qxg3 and I opted to simplify into the
endgame of white-colored bishops with 29…Qxf4 30.Qxf4 Be5 due to the very
favourable pawn structure.
The tournament didn't go so well all the same, as I was very ill with a stomach
virus unfortunately. Still, this Thursday there is a good round-robin starting
where I hope to give a better account of myself. :-)
Albert
>Anyway, for computers it must be slightly more difficult than for humans. It
>involves human logic.
>S.Taylor
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