Matthew Koutnik

Chess Goals

Leave a Comment / Goals /
It has been really great getting more involved with chess and I have found myself really enjoying the time I have spent playing games, studying strategy, analysing games and posting on this blog.

 

With this in mind I thought it would be good to think of some goals that i would like to achieve in regards to chess  in the next few years.

 

Goal 1 – Continue to enjoy the game of chess!
Goal 2 – Improve my opening theory, strategy and general knowledge of the game.
Goal 3 – Build up a collection of chess books for The Bookshelf.
Goal 4 – Purchase quality chess computer software.
Goal 5 – Participate in more tournament matches.
Goal 6 – Get a FIDE rating of 1800+ over the next 3 years.
Goal 7 – Continue blogging!

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Blitz Game

Leave a Comment / Blitz, Ruy Lopez /
More blitz action!
One of my favourite opening is the Ruy Lopez. One that I want to continue to improve on!
Here is an example of this opening. Black plays Bd6 early in the game blocking his pawn and allowing white to take advantage of the game.
White – Matthew
Black – Oirletra

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Chess Traps – Blackburne Shilling Gambit

Leave a Comment / Blackburne Shilling Gambit, Caro-Kann, Smothered mate, Trap /
The Blackburne Shilling Gambit is an attack that comes from the Italian game. The attack by black is characterised by the third move Nd4. This move goes against the opening principal of moving a piece more then once in the opening.

The opening looks to temp white into taking the now unprotected pawn on e5. However this would be an incorrect move that allows black to have a strong attack. If the pawn is rejected white looks to have the advantage in the game. 0-0 or Nxd4 are both considered strong moves for white.

As a young player I almost always opened with the Italian game and enjoyed moving into the Fried Liver variation as white. I can remember opening with the Italian game as a young player at my local chess club (Adult club) and falling into this exact trap! It is fair to say i have not done so since!

This trap also shows an example of a smothered mate with the help of a piece pinned to the King just like the chess trap from the Caro Kann that has been posted also.

 

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Famous Games – Smothered Mate

Leave a Comment / James McConnell, Kings Gambit, Paul Morphy, Smothered mate /
Hello again!

So I have realised that the smothered mate technique has come up a few times in my recent posts so I thought I would delve a little deeper and have a look at some other examples of this great mating strategy to share with you!

The following game is a match between James McConnell and Paul Morphy in the year 1849. McConnell opens with the Kings Gambit and Morphy continues with the Kings Gambit accepted. Morphy shows a great example of how to set up a position in order to achieve a smothered mate.

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