Game 16 As vs. me 1/12/16 Little Golem

Black unfortunately gave away too many pieces in the opening. While it means less piece to connect, black's position was ruined. 

1. g1-e3 h6xe3

If c1xe3, h3xe3

2. f1-d3 h4-f4
3. d1-d4 a4xd4

4. e1-c3 a5xc3

5. b1-e4

...h5-g4

A mistake on my part. h7xe4 would have begun an isolation of the d3 pieces.

6. e4xh7

With this move, I assume that my opponent is trying for a connection on the north side of the board.

...a2-c2

7. d3-g6

This move confirms my suspicions, and in fact my last move helped black out. Still, it's going to be tough to move the c1 piece up the board.

...a7-a4

8. h7-e4

Blocking the move a4-e4.

 ...a3-c5

9. g6-d3

I originally had a question mark for this move, but now I see I had a mate in 1 that black was trying to stop.

 ...a6-c4

10. e8-c6 a4xc6#

Game 15 - Me vs Dragon Jr 1/12/16 Goldtoken

1. c8-c6 a7-c5

In other openings, this would be a gift, but I moved the only piece that could safely capture it.

2. b8-b6 a3-d6
3. e8-e6

I don't know what the hell my strategy was in this game. It seems like I was just developing my northern pieces without regards to the position.

...h5-e5
4. f8-f6 h4-f4
5. g8-d5

Two tenuous connections.

...h3-g3
6. f1xf4 a2xd5
7. d1xd5 a6-b5
8. c1-c4?

This allows the next move. While I recapture, I separate a stone that was previously connected.

...h6xf4
9. f6xf4 h7-f5

10. e1-e4?

I should have been looking for a way to attack red's pieces at c5, d6 or e5.

...g3-g5
11. g1-g3?

11. g1-e1 would have lost to ...h2-h3, 12. e1xe5 h3xe6

...h2-h3
12. Resigns

I couldn't parry both h3-h4 and h3xe6.

Game 14 - Clark94 vs me 1/5/16 Super Duper Games

Another game where the d4 square is key.

1. d1-b3 a4-c4

When someone tries to block my position in the opening, I immediately try to escape. This move prevents my a4 piece from being blocked in by black's b1-b4. However, this is a blunder.

2. b8-b5 a5-c3

Another escape move, almost as bad as the last.

3. c8xc4 h5-f7
4. b1-b4

e1xc3 would establish a base and put my piece at a3 in a difficult position. (...a3-c5 4. c3xc5 or ...a3xc1 4. g1xc1)

5. c1-e3

...a3-b2

With this move, red initiates a fight for the control of d4

6. g1-d4 h4xd4
7. f1-d1 a7-d7
8. e8-e5 a6-c6
9. d8-e7 c6-d5
10. b5xd7 h6-f4
11. d7-f5 d5-d2?

This allows black to connect over the top with f5-d5 and I have no immediate counter-attack.

12. d1-e2

Black decides to occupy the e file instead.

...h2xe5
13. e7-f6 h3xf5

14. f6-g6?

Allows the winning move. The game would have continued with e1xe5.

...c2xg6

Game 13 - Patu2004 vs me 3/21/15 mindoku - 5 minute game

Very little commentary this game, as I got the feeling that Patu2004 was a beginner.

1. f1-d3 a3xd3 

2. g1-e3 h3xe3

2 gifts in a row. The paradox is that while it reduces the amount of pieces you have to connect, it allows your opponent to establish a base.

3. c1-c3 a4-c4

4. e8-e5 h7-e4 

5. d8-d5 h6-f4 

6. f8-f6 h2-f2 

7. c8-c5 f2-f5

8. g8-g7

He had the move g8xc4 for a few turns now, which would have broken my connection.

…h4-d4 

Putting a final touch on separating the 2 sides of the board.

9. b8-b6 a2xd5

Now I separate East and West

10. d1-f3 a7-a4 

11. c5-b4

Trying to keep my central pieces separated from my western ones.

…a6-a3

Crawling down the board to connect.

12. f6-g5 a4-b3 

13. e1-f2 h5xf3 

14. g7-h6 d3-b5

In games where your opponent tries to centralize, it's important to look for squares you can counter-attack. g8xc4 might have made for a better game for black.

Game 12 - Me vs. Mortenand 12/5/14 on iggamecenter.com

A little light on the opening commentary, as halfway through the game, Mortenand admitted “I don’t know what I’m doing.” I figure it was his/her first game.

1.c8-c6 a7-c5

2 c1-c4 h7-f5

3. g1-g3 h2-f2

4. g8-d5

Starting to create a base.

…a2-c2

5. b1-b3 h4-e4

6. e1xe4 a5-c7

7. d1-d4

Base is a little stronger

…a3-d6

A good move, connecting the c5 & c7 pieces and allowing potential connectivity with the eastern pieces. It also prevents 8. f8xc5 and 8. g3-d6

8. b3-b5 a6-b7

Trying to isolate the b8 piece.

9. b8-a7 a4-a6

10. e8-e6 f2-f6?

Allows the next move. h3xe6 or c2-d1 are options, but even better is c7-f4, preventing the winning move of the game. At this point, red should be trying to establish a base in the east, especially on the f file.

11. f1xf5 f6xd4

A good effort, but black has a devastating next move. This position reminds me of a standard ko shape in Go. Is this a balanced position for both sides, or is one side more fragile than the other? this might depend on the counterattacking abilities of the pieces towards the edge of the board.

12. g3xd6! b7xb5

Another good effort, but it allows black to connect his isolated a7 piece, with at least 5 checkmate threats. 

13. a7xc7 b5-b4

14. d8-e7#

Game 11 - Me vs Hyxxy - 11/8/14 on iggamecenter.com

This game, amazingly, was pretty much over by move 7. I went over it 4 times, still trying to figure out what the hell went wrong.

1. c8-c6 h7-f7

2. g8-g6 a4-c2

3. b1- b3

My last 2 moves were escape moves, while hyxxy keeps the initiative. I am not sure how much of an advantage these moves are; might have been better to sacrifice a piece.

…a6-c4

4. b3-b5

A tough situation. I’m trying to avoid f7xb3, and I thought this was the best way to do it at the time. For:

4. b3-b1 simply retreats

4. b3-e3 loses to 4…h6xb3

4. d1-f3 (anticipating 4….f7xb3 5. f3xb3) loses to 4…h5xf3

4. c6-d5 a5xd5 5. d8xd5 might lead to an advantage for black.

…h2-e2

5. g6-d6 a2-d2

6. f8-c5 h6-e3

At this point, it was essential to play 7. e1=g3/ It limits the mobility of the pieces at h3 and h4, prevents a3-d3 and prepares d6xd2, in that red can't recapture with a5xd2.

7. d8-d4?

Sets up red’s next move.

…a7-a4!

Preparing h4xd4. capturing the essential d4 square. 8. e8xa4 would not change red's next move.

8. f1-f3 h4xd4!

Devastating! My pieces are firmly separated, while hyxxy has a firm base. d4 was the key square in this game. I should now be looking for options of connecting down the f-file, as I cannot capture any of hyxxy’s pieces on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th ranks.

9. c6-e4

...a4xe4

My position is ruined. It’s all downhill from here.

10. d1-h1 f7-d5

11. e8-g6 h5xc5

12. g1-h2 a3xd6

13. e1-f2 a5-c3

14. f2-g3 h3-g4

15. f3-f4 g4-f5#

Interesting how in these last 2 games, there was a square that was key for both sides to connect. Also interesting that they were both central squares, I keep wondering if this was a foxed win for red, and if so, at what move did that manifest itself. 

Hyxxy is either a grandmaster or a bot.

Game 10 - Erik Dresner vs. Me - 9/7/14 1st NYC Abstract Strategy Meetup

This the first face to face game I’ve blogged, from the first NYC Abstract Strategy Meetup in NYC:

NYC Abstract Strategy Meetup

1. b8-b6 a2-c2
2. g8-f7 a3-c3
3 g1-d4

Red cannot take this piece because of the response d1xd4. This move also prepares d8-d5, centralizing another piece, but only if the a4 piece moves.

…a5-c5

My strategy, apparently, was to create a wall down the c-file, admittedly a weak one.

4. f1-d3

A gift! Although I still can’t play a4xd4.

…h7xd3
5. c1-e3

Preventing h3-e3 which creates a slightly stronger wall on the 3rd rank.

…a6-c4

Wall is looking a little stronger now.

6. f7-d5?

While it gets a piece into the game, it is now safe to play h4xd4, strengthening the wall and creating a large base. A better move might be b1-a2 preparing f7xc4.

…h4xd4
7. e8-c6

e4 is shaping up to be the key square. Black needs to play c6-e4 soon.

…a7-a5
8. f8-d6 h6-f4

Prepares a4-e4. But red, like black, doesn’t recognize the importance of e4.

9. c8-e6 h2-e5
10. e1xe5 h3-f5
11. d1-e1

…a4-e4
Finally!

12. d8-e8 h5-g4
13. e3-c1 g4-b4#

Interesting that e4 was a square that both of us needed to connect our separated groups. Could this have led to a more messy battle earlier in the game? A concept worth exploring.

Game 9 - LOA Titaan vs me 1/26/14 on Mindoku.com. 5 minute game

Sorry it's been a while, but I've been busy and no one's been accepting my requests on iggamecenter and Mindoku.

1. b1-b3 a2-c2
2. g1-g3 h2-f2
3. g8-g6 a6-d6
4. f8-f5 h7-f7
5. e8-e6

Titaan could have captured my opening gift with g6xd6 instead, but that would reduce the mobility of the piece on f7.

...a5-d5
6. d1xd5 a7-c5
7. d8-f6

Building an impressive wall on the eastern half of the board. Now for a series of captures, as I try to break Titaan's wall and he tries to strengthen it.

...c2xf5
8. c8xc5 h5xd5
9. g3xd6 h4xf6
10. b8-b6 h3xe6

Isolating the g6 piece.

11. c1-e3 e6xe3
12. b3xe3 a3-b2
13. b6xf2

Black is abandoning his previous base of operations, and is trying to connect on another part of the board, due to the isolated g6 piece.

...a4-b3

Threatening b3-e6, but then realized e3xe6. I decided to save the move until the end.

14. g6-g5 b2-d4
15. g5-d2 h6-g7

Threatens b3-e6#

16. c5-c4

Blocks and gets this stone closer to connecting.

...g7-e7

17. d6xf6

...e7-e4??

Allows f6xd4#!

18. f1-d3?

Fortunately for me, Titaan missed it. Did I mention this was a 5 minute game?

...f7-g7

19. f6-e6?

e1xe4 threatening f2xf5 might be better.

...g7-e5
20. f2-f4

e6-f6 or e1-c3 keeps black in the game.

...e5-c3#

A typical blitz game: Lots of errors on both sides due to time trouble. Titaan's strategy of relocating the area of connecting is one I never saw before or considered, but it worked very well in this game. Another aspect of LOA that deserves exploring.

The Inherent Symmetry of Lines of Action

The initial setup of Lines of Action is symmetrical. In fact, it contains at least 2 types of symmetry: rotational and reflectional.

Rotational symmetry is when you can turn an object and wind up with the same pattern. In LOA, you can rotate the board 180 degrees and still have the same opening setup. Reflectional symmetry is when you can divide an object in half, fold one half over the other and wind up with the same pattern.  It's as if a mirror was placed down the center of the object, and the mirror reflection was the same as the original half. LOA has axes of symmetry running through the center of the board horizontally, vertically and diagonally.

While this is all very good for math geeks, what does it mean for players? It means that the same game can be played 4 different ways in LOA. As an example, here are 4 pictures of my first “standard opening” that I discussed in the last post.

1. c8-c6 a2-c2

2. b1-b3

1. c1-c3 a7-c7
2. b8-b6

1. f1-f3 h7-f7
2. g8-g6

1. f8-f6 h2-f2
2. g1-g3

All of these are, technically, the same opening. Go has the same properties – the same game can be played in 4 different ways. Since Go has been popular for centuries, a standard has been established wherein the black player makes his first move in the upper right-hand corner from where he is sitting. LOA has no such standard, unfortunately. Therefore, it may be helpful to be aware of the way certain openings are symmetrically equivalent.

As a final example, here is the shortest LOA game playable without suicide moves, as created by Mannish Charosh in the 4 possible variations. The original is listed first.

1. d1-b3 h5-g4

2. b1-b4 g4xg1

3. b4-e7 a3xc1

4. b3-e6 h3xf1

5. e1-e5#

1. e1-g3 a5-b4

2. g1-g4 b4xb1

3. g4-d7 h3xf1

4. g3-d6 a3xc1

5. d1-d5#

1. d8-b6 h4-g5

2. b8-b5 g5xg8

3. b5-e2 a6xc8

4. b6-e3 h6xf8

5. e8-e4#

1. e8-g6 a4-b5

2. g8-g5 b5xb8

3. g5-d2 h6xf8

4. g6-d3 a6xc8

5. d8-d4#

Game 8 - Me vs hyxxy - 10/19/13 on iggamecenter.com

Lots of commentary on this one.

1.c8-c6 a2-c2
2. b1-b3

This has become a standard opening for me.

…h4-f2
3. f1xh3
This move gives black the choice of centralizing the offside piece with h3-e3, or levying it there for a base or wall. g1-g3 works as well.

…h5-f7
4. g8-g6 h7-e7
5. e8-b5 h6-f4
Prevents f8xh6, thereby limiting the eastward and southward mobility of black's f8 piece.

6. e1-e3 a7xe3
Oops.

7. f8-c8

Finding a convenient escape route, but black will have trouble moving his pieces on the g and h files towards he other pieces.

…c2xc6!
Capturing a key connecting piece. Identifying these pieces before they become part of a solid position is an important part of the game. Red's piece on c6 becomes a key connector itself.

8. b8-e5
Black now tries moving eastward.

…h2xe5
Notice how this and the next 3 move by red all go in the direction of c6.

9. b5xe5 f7-d7
10. g1-g3
Maybe h3-e6?

…f2-d4
11. c1xa3?

Really doesn't accomplish anything.

…e3-c5!
Probably the winning move, preventing e5-c5. Before this, red threatens mate in 2 with a6-b5 and f4-c4. Black e5-c5 would have prevented that.

12. g3-g5
Threatens g5xc5, but that's not the key piece to capture. Maybe c8-a8 as a desperation move, threatening a8xc6. Of course, red then has c6xa8.

…a6-b5
Threatens f4-c4# and all kinds of other mates. Also prevents g5xc5.

13. b3xb5 f4-c4
14. a3-c3
Trying to avoid e7-b4# and a5-b4#, but to no avail. Red has too many ways to win.

…d4-b6#

Yet another game I will return to. I especially want to analyze the position after 10…f2-d4 to see if black  had any winning variations. The piece on c6 also intrigues me. Is c6 an important square to occupy or control in this opening, as certain squares are important in certain chess openings? Could there have been more of a fight to occupy or control that square?