Game 7 - Xophe vs Me - 9/29/13 on iggamecenter.com 

A singleton this time around. Not much commentary, as I felt xophe was new to the game by the questions he/she asked. Xophe made some good moves, though.

1. e8-e6 h6xe6
Following ddyer,  I always accept opening gifts…

2. b8-d6
…except this one, for some reason.

…h4-f2
3. f8-f5 h2-e2
4. b1-e4 a6xd6
Now I capture it, I don't know why I waited; maybe I just missed it.

5. c8-f8 a2-d2

Establishing a wall I thought was solid.

6. d8-e7 a7-d4
7. g1-g3 h7-h4

8. c1-g1!
Xophe is sneaking around to connect on the g file.

…a4xe4
h3xf1 would have made a wall, but one open to counterattack down the f file.

9. g8-g5 a5-e5
10. e7-f7?!

10. f8-f4 keeps red's pieces separated, but establishes more control of the f file. Still, this move threatens f7xf2 followed by f8-f4.

…d6xg3
11. f8-f3?
f7xf2 captures a vital connecting piece.

...a3-e3#

2 new tactics discovered this game, both played by my opponent: moving along the edge to circumvent a wall and the position on the f file in the 3rd illustration, establishing control and counterattacking possibilities. Another game I am considering analyzing again.

Game 6: Me Vs Mirjam - 9/15/13 on Mindoku.com. 5 minute game #2.

2nd blitz game. Unusual that I played black for both games against the same opponent.

1. c8-c6 a4-c2

2. c1xa3

The same opening twice in a row? You'd think this was a professional chess match or something.

…a2-c4

3. d1-d3 a5-c5

Yet another gift missed.

4. b1-b3 a7-c7

5. b8-b6 a6-b7

6. e1-d2 b7-e7

7. f8-f6 c7-f7

8. g8-g6 c2xc6?

Allows black to escape from e8, where this piece had limited mobility.

9. e8xc6 c4-e4

Red's strategy appears to be to use the h file as a base and move the rest of his pieces east.

10. d8-d5 c5-f2

Threatens f2xf6

11. b3-e6 f2xf6

12. g1-e3

Threatens e3xh6

…h3-f5

Red gives black a better capturing move.

13. f1xf5 h2-g3

14. a3-c5 h4-f4

15. g6-g4??

c6-c4 is mate!

…h7-g8

16. d3xg3??

Missing c6-c4 again! Instead, black just handed red the game.

…g8-g6#

I did OK until the blunders at the end of the game. But Mirjam's strategy made me think about the concept of making and/or using a base. Maybe there is a remote element of go that can apply here? It's worth exploring.

Game 5: Me Vs Mirjam - 9/15/13 on Mindoku.com. 5 minute game.

First "blitz" game of LOA I've played.

1. c8-c6 a4-c2

2. c1xa3

This capture, although not recommended as a first move, is better than c1-f3.

…a2-d2

3. d1-f3

A gift for red, who misses it.

…a5-c5
A gift for black who misses it.

4. b1-b3 a7-d4
5. a3-e3

Another gift for red, a big one this time. If red played h6xe3, black has no immediate recapture. Black should have played g1xd4. It seems like both players were more concerned with getting their pieces centralized and connected quickly than finding the best move. Did I mention this was a 5 minute game?

…a6-c4.
6. f1-f4 c2xc6
7. b8-e5

Black has more options to connect in the center, but red has attacking possibilities from either side. (e.g.  h5xe5 or h5xf3)

…d2-d5
8. f8-f5 h7xf5
9. b3-c2 h6-f6
10. g8xd5! f5-d3
11. c2-e2
e8xe4 might have been better to play first, making a solid wall.

…h3-g2
12. e8xc6 h2xe2

h4-f2 might have been better, isolating the g1 piece, followed by d3-e4.

13. e1-g3 e2-c2
Intending c2-e4, but h4-h2 might be better, threatening c4xf4.

14 g1-h2 d4-a1
Preventing 15. d8-d4#, but black has another mate.

15. d8-c7#

Whoo-hoo! My first win since I started the blog!