How Bad is Your Chess?
by Bill Wall
How bad is your chess? No matter how bad you play, there is someone who is worse. Here are some of my worst games (or my opponents). With the popularity of chess over the Internet, you can really find some bad players who play bad chess. Most of bad chess is from bad openings.
Can you get mated in 2 moves? It's an old trap (Fool's Mate), but do people fall for it? In 1996 my Internet opponent, Mr NK, lost in 2 moves after playing 1.f3 (not good) 1...e5 2.g4?? Qh4 mate. It could have been the Grob with 1.g4 e5 2.f3?? Qh4 mate. If you are going to play 1.f3, after 1...e5, play anything but 2.g4. Try 2.c4 or 2.e4 or 2.g3 or 2.Nh3, but not 2.g4.
Darling-Wood, Washington State 1982
1.g4 e6 2.f4 Qh4 mate.
Can you be mated in 3 moves? In 1998 my Internet opponent, Cornwell, fell for a 3 move mate after I played 1.e4 and my opponent played g5 (a Michael Basman specialty) 2.d4 f6?? 3.Qh5 mate. Black had to play 2...h6 or 2...Bg7 to make it a real game.
Here is another mate in 3.
Nerd - Wall, Internet 1998
1.f4 (giving me the Bird) 1...e5 (From's Gambit) 2.g3? (White should accept the gambit with 2.fxe5 or play the King's Gambit with 2.e4) 2...exf4 3.gxf4?? Qh4 mate. 0-1
Klip – Bottema, Dieren 1990
1.e4 f6 2.d4 g5 3.Qh5 mate. 1-0
Mayfield – Trinks, Omaha 1959
1.e4 g5 2.Nc3 f5 3.Qh5 mate 1-0
Lindemann – Echtermeyer, Kiel 1893
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Ke2?? Qe4 mate
Van Kessel – Rensen, Netherlands 1990
1.f4 d5 2.h3 e5 3.g4 Qh4 mate 0-1
Djordjevic – Kovacevic, Yugoslavia 1984
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 c6 3.e3 Qa5+ and White resigned 0-1
The fianchettoed Bishop can be dangerous and you need to pay attention to it's threat. The Rook is worth more than the Bishop, so avoid moves like this:
Wall - Campelli, Dayton 1984
1.b4 (the Polish or Sokolsky) 1...e6 (more usual is 1...e5) 2.Bb2 Bxb4??
3.Bxg7 wins the Rook. Black had to play something like
2...Nf6. Now White needs to defend his b-pawn with 3.a3 or
push it with 3.b5. But not 2...Bxb4. Even 2...f5 can
be played. Other 2nd moves for Black have included 2...d5 or
2...a5 or 2...b6 or 2...Qh4, but not the greedy 2...Bxb4.
Shevcenco - Wall, Internet 2000
1.d4 b5 (the Polish reversed) 2.e3 (control the center and play 2.e4) 2...Bb7 3.Bxb5? Bxg2 and Black wins the Rook.
Avoid hanging 2 pieces at once.
Jecates - Wall, Internet 1996
1.Nf3 (the Reti) 1...d5 2.e4?! (you have to know how to play
the gambit) 2...exf4 3.Bb5+?? c6. Now what piece do you want to
give me. White had to play 3.Ng5 to play the proper gambit.
White now threatens to win his pawn back. Black can try a
variety of moves such as 3...f5 or 3...Nf6 or 3...Qd5 or 3...e5
or 3...Bf5. Just don't play 3.Bb5+ and have your pieces
attacked by pawns, losing at least one of them.
Wall - Fingers, Internet 1998
1.e4 e5 2.f3 Bb4 3.c3 Qh4+? 4.g3, and Black must lose a piece.
Hanging the Queen and a piece is a common trap.
Ronzel - Wall, Internet 1996
1.e4 e5 2.Qg4? (don't bring your Queen out early like this) 2...Nc6
3.Bc4?? d5 and Black wins a piece (the Bishop). White's
Queen is threatened by the Black Bishop on c8 that was just
exposed after 3...d5, threatening the White Bishop on c4
at the same time. The moves could have also been played
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 (Bishop's Opening) 2...Nc6 3.Qg4?? d5. Almost
anything could be played besides 3.Qg4 (which doesn't even
threaten mate like 3.Qf3 or 3.Qh5).
MastaAce - Wall, Internet 1999
1.e4 c5 (the Sicilian Defense) 2.Bc4 (usually knights are
developed before bishops) 2...Nc6 3.Qg4? (what do they
see out there) d5 and now White must retreat the Queen
from attack of the Black Bishop on c8 and lose his
Bishop on c4.
Cicada - Wall, Internet 1998
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 f5 3.Qf3 Nc6 4.Qxf5 (poisoned pawn) 4...d5,
attacking the Queen and Bishop at once.
Pocz - Wall, Internet 1998
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Qg4 (threatening 4.Qxg7) 3...Kf8
4.Nf3? d5, again threatening Queen and Bishop.
Avoid exposing your King too early.
DJR - Wall, Internet 1998
1.h4?! (not the best way to control the center) 1...e5 2.f3?
(that's going to expose the King) 2...Be7 (attacking the
Rook Pawn on h4 twice. That should be a signal to protect it)
3.Nc3?? Bxh4+ and White can't avoid mate. White should have
played Nc3 on his 2nd move. That would have been much better
than 2.f3. Other 2nd moves could have been 2.b3 or 2.d4 or 2.Nf3,
but 2.f3 exposes the King too much. After 2...Be7 White
had to play 3.g3 to stay in the game.
Here is another example of exposing the King.
Texas Guy (not George W Bush) - Wall, Internet 1999
1.b3 (Larsen's Opening) 1...e5 2.d3 (usual is 2.Bb2. White
is exposing his King) 2...Nc6 3.Na3? Bb4+. Whoops. White
loses at least the knight after 4.Bd2 and now 4...Bxa3.
And if 4.c3 Bxc3+ wins the Rook.
Protect your King! Here is another exposed king.
Wall - Deaneo, Internet 1999
1.e3 (not as aggressive as 1.e4, but I felt tired that day)
1...h6?! (take control of the center) 2.Bc4 f5?? 3.Qh5+
and White mates after 3...g6 4.Qxg6 mate.
Wall - Taterhole, Internet 1998
1.d4 f5 (the Dutch) 2.e4 (the Staunton Gambit) 2...g6? (best to
take with 2...fxe4) 3.exf5 gxf5?? 4.Qh5 mate
Don't expose your king and leave other pieces hanging.
Wall - Minion, Internet 2000
1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 (usually not too good to bring the Queen out
early, but some players, such as Indiana master Bernie Parnham,
can get away with this) 2...g6?? (what was he thinking or
smoking?) 3.Qxe5+ and White wins the Rook after 4.Qxh8.
Don't expose your king and get mated!
Millionaire - Wall, Internet 1996
1.g4 (the Grob) 1...d5 2.b4? (2.h3 or 2.c4 would have been better)
2...Bxg4 3.Nc3 e5 4.f3?? Qh4 mate.
Wall - Shopboy, Internet 1998
1.e4 g5 2.d4 Nc6? (protect your pawns) 3.Bxg5 f6?? 4.Qh5 mate
Wall - Paladin, Internet 1998
1.e4 g6 2.Qf3 f5? 3.exf5 gxf5?? 4.Qh5 mate.
Scott - Wall, Internet 1998
1.g4 d5 2.h3 e5 3.a4?! (White should follow up with 3.Bg2) 3...Bc5
4.f3?? Qh4 mate.
Wall - Neden, Internet 1998
1.e4 f6?! 2.Nf3 g5? 3.Nxg5 (sacrifice if you can mate) 3...fxg5??
4.Qh5 mate
Wall - Nobel, Internet 1999
1.b3 c6 2.Bb2 f6?! 3.e3 h6?? 4.Qh5+ and mate after 4...g6 5.Qxg6 mate.
Have an escape route for your pieces. Sometimes the knight hops all over the board without thinking about an escape route. This is one of the most common traps.
Wall - Lovegren, Dayton 1980
1.e4 Nc6 (Nimzovich Defense) 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nd4? (time to
retreat to 3...Nb8 or play 3...Nce7) 4.c3 and the Black knight
is trapped.
Wall - Walthour, Dayton 1983
1.b4 d5 2.Bb2 Nc6?! 3.b5 Nb4? (time to retreat back to c8)
4.a3, trapping the Knight.
Wall - Oz, Internet 1996
1.d4 d5 2.e4 (trying to make it into a Blackmar Diemer Gambit)
2...Nf6 3.e5 Ne4? 4.f3, trapping the Knight.
WMM - Wall, Internet 1996
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 (the Queen Pawn Counter Gambit or Elephant
Gambit) 3.Nc3 d4 4.Nd5 c6, trapping the Knight.
Wall - R. Andrews, Internet 1996
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 Nf6 3.e5 Ne4? 4.f3, winning the Knight.
Wall - Jeed, Internet 1998
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 g6 3.d5 Ne5? 4.f4. Thanks for the gift.
Wall - Prits, Internet 2000
1.e4 g5 2.d4 Nf6? 3.e5 Ne4? (other knight moves allow 4.Bxg5)
4.f3, and the Knight goes.
Firstblood - Wall, Internet 2000
1.e4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.a3 d4 4.Nb5? a6, winning the Knight.
Avoid bringing the Queen out too early, especially if it gets pinned in front of the King.
Memo - Wall, Internet 1996
1.e4 e5 2.d4 (the Center Opening) 2...exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6
4.Qc3?? (best is 4.Qe3) 4...Bb4, pinning and winning the Queen.
Wall - Mike, Internet 1996
1.e4 d5 (the Center Counter Defense) 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qc6??
(usual is 3...Qa5 or 3...Qd8) 4.Bb5. Thanks for the Queen.
Wall - Leery, Internet 2000
1.e4 d6 2.Nc3 Qd7 3.d4 Qc6?? 4.Bb5, winning the Queen.
Sometimes bringing out the Queen too early just gets it trapped.
NK - Wall, Internet 1996
1.e3 e5 2.Qf3?! (hoping for 3.Bc4 and 4.Qxf7 mate) 2...d5
3.c4 (hoping for 3...dxc4 4.Bxc4 and 5.Qxf7 mate) 3...e4
4.Qf4?? Bd6 trapping the Queen. White has 13 legal Queen
moves and loses the Queen on all moves.
Of course, one must avoid Scholar's Mate with the Bishop and Queen.
Wall - Rumpleboy, Internet 1996
1.e4 h5?! 2.Bc4 g6 3.Qf3 Bh6?? (or 3...Bg7) 4.Qxf7 mate
Avoid bringing out that Queen too early, then getting attacked by threatening 2 pieces at once.
BRJ - Wall, Internet 1996
1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 Nc6 3.Bc4 (looking for an easy mate with 4.Qxf7)
3...g6 4.Qg4? (or 4.Qh3) d5, winning the Bishop if White wants
to save the Queen.
Ford - Wall, Internet 2000
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Qf3 d6 4.Qa3? d5, attacking Queen and Bishop.
Watch out for exposing your Rook, a common trap.
Kytril - Wall, Internet 1996
1.e4 e5 2.b3 Bc5 3.Bb2 Qh4 (threatening mate with 4...Qxf2)
4.g3? (not the best way to avoid mate) 4...Qxe4+, winning the Rook
after 5...Qxh1.
Wall - Hellsaa, Internet 1998
1.e4 a5?! 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Qf3 b6?? 4.e5. If the Knight moves at
f6, then 5.Qxf7 mate. White is also threatening 5.Qxa8, winning
the Rook.
Wall - Patch, Internet 1998
1.e4 f6?! 2.Bc4 b6? (exposes the Rook, and the King is exposed)
3.Qh5+ g6 4.Qd5, threatening mate with 5.Qf7 mate or winning
the Rook with 5.Qxa8.
Wall - Adowbor, Internet 1998
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 c6 3.Qh5 (threatening 4.Qxf7 mate) g6?? 4.Qxe5+
and playing 5.Qxh8 next, winning the Rook.
Wall - Merlin, Internet 1998
1.d4 d6 2.g4 Bxg4 3.Bg2 h5? 4.Bxb7, winning the Rook.
Wall - Runaway, Internet 1998
1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 e4 3.e3 Bxb4? 4.Bxg7, wins the Rook.
Bamsemums - Wall, Internet 1998
1.e4 e5 2.c4 Bc5 3.b3 Qh4 (threatening 4...Qxf2 mate) 4.g3? Qxe4+,
winnng the rook.
BJ - Wall, Internet 1999
1.c4 e6 2.Nh3 Bc5 3.b3 Qf6 4.Ba3 Bd4, winning the Rook or other
material. If 5.Nc3 Bxc3 wins the Knight. If 6.dxc3 Qxc3+
7.Qd2 Qxa1, winning the Rook.
Wall - Douglas, Internet 1999
1.Nc3 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 b6? 4.Qe4+, winning the Rook.
Nipigon - Wall, Internet 2000
1.e4 Nc6 2.f4 e5 (a King's Gambit Declined) 3.fxe5? Qh4+
4.g3 Qxe4+, winning the Rook.
Avoid getting two pieces attacked by one enemy pawn.
Wall - Lough, Internet 1998
1.e4 e5 2.f4 (the King's Gambit) 2...Bd6 (best to accept it
with 2...exf4) 3.Nf3 Nf6? 4.fxe5, winning a piece.
Dock - Wall, Internet 2000
1.e4 g5 2.Qh5 h6 3.Nf3? (blocking in the Queen) 3...Nf6 4.Qh3 g4,
winning the knight ater 5.Qg3 gxf3.
Protect the King, especially from the Bishop-Queen combination.
Wall - Stryker, Internet 1998
1.e4 c5 2.Bc4 Qc7 3.Qf3 h5? 4.Qxf7+ and after 4...Kd8, White
wins a piece with 5.Qxf8.
Icool - Wall, Internet 1998
1.e4 e5 2.d3 Bc5 3.c3 Qf6 (watch out for the Bishop-Queen combination)
4.b4?? Qxf2 mate
Wall - Gaming, Internet 1998
1.e4 b6 (Owen's Defense) 2.Qf3 g6 3.Bc4 (look out) 3...Bb7??
4.Bxf7 mate (or 4.Qxf7 mate).
Wall - Saskia, Internet 1998
1.e4 g6 2.Qf3 Bg7 3.Bc4 Nf6?? 4.e5. If the Knight moves to a wrong
square, then White plays 5.Qxf7 mate. He could play 4...Nd5,
but 5.Qxd5 wins the knight and still threatens mate.
Wall - VoltageMan, Internet 1999
1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 d6 3.Bc4 Nf6?? 4.Qxf7 mate
Nimble - Wall, Internet 2000
1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 Qf6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.Nd5?? (hoping for 4...Qe6 5.Nxc7,
winning the Queen) 4...Qxf2+ and after 5.Kd1 5...Qxf1 mate.
Giants - Wall, Internet 2000
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Bc5 3.h4 Qf6 4.Nd5?? Qxf2 mate.
Avoid the King and Queen getting forked by the Knight. So embarrassing
to see the King and Queen both getting forked.
Carlitosos - Wall, Internet 1998
1.e4 Nh6 (a drunken Knight) 2.Qe2 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nd4 4.Qe3?? (time
to retreat back to d1 and protect the c2 square) 4...Nxc2+
and winning the Queen.
Avoid getting the Queen and a piece forked by a knight.
Wall - Sioux, Internet 1998
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 (the Vienna Opening) 2...Bb4 3.Qg4 (attacking
the g7 square) 3...Qf6? 4.Nd5, forking Queen and Bishop on b4.
If 4...Qd6, then 5.Qxg7 wins the Rook.
Nek - Wall, Internet 1999
1.e3 d5 2.Qh5 e6 3.Bd3 c6 4.Bxh7? Nf6, forking Queen and Bishop.
The Bishop is attacked by 2 pieces and must fall.
Sometimes pieces are just plain free.
Goofy - Wall, Internet 1998
1.a4 e5 2.Na3 Bc5 3.d3 Qh4 (threatening 4...Bxf2 or 4...Qxf2)
4.Be3?? Bxe3. A free piece since 5.fxe3 cannot be played. After
5.g3 Qb4+ 6.c3 Qxb2 7.fxe3 Qxc3+, Black maintains his material
advantage.
Avoid hanging a piece because you forgot your opponent could check.
Timotic - Wall, Internet 1999
1.e4 d5 (the Center Counter Defense) 2.Nc3 d4 (transposing to
a Dunst opening - 1.Nc3 d5 2.e4 d4) 3.Nb5 (usual is 3.Nce2)
3...c5 4.d3? (exposing the King to check) 4...Qa5+ and winning
the Knight on b5.
Smoke - Wall, Internet 1999
1.d4 g6 2.Nc3 c5 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.Nb5? (threatening 5.Nc7+ and
winning the Rook, or 5.Bc7, winning the Queen) 4...Qa5+
with check and winning the knight after 5...Qxb5.
Look to see if your opponent can check you, or mate you!
Wall - Bullster, Internet 1999
1.b3 g5 2.Bb2 f6 3.e3 b6?? 4.Qh5 mate.
Wall - Joco, Internet 1999
1.b3 f6 2.Bb2 h6 3.e3 Nc6?? 4.Qh5+ and it's mate after 4...g6
5.Qxg6 mate.
Watch the fianchettoed Bishop and any attack aimed at the Rook.
Fugazi - Wall, Internet 1999
1.c4 g5 2.d3 Bg7 3.Bxg5 (a poison pawn) 3...Bxb2 4.Nc3
(hoping for 4...Bxa1 5.Qxa1) Bxc3+!
(better than 4...Bxa1) and White still wins the Rook.
Wall - Merack, Internet 2000
1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 e4 3.e3 Bxb4?? 4.Bxg7 wins the Rook.
Avoid Noah's Ark trap. That's getting the Bishop trapped by the pawns.
Destroyer - Wall, Internet 2000
1.e4 c5 2.Bc4 a6 3.Qh5 (threatening 4.Qxf7 mate) 3...e6
4.Ne2? (closing the escape route for the Bishop) 4...b5 and
the Bishop is trapped after 5.Bb3 c4.
Don't lose material over a lost tempo.
Judson - Wall, Internet 2000
1.d4 d5 2.c3 Nf6 3.Nh3?! Bxh3 4.Qa4+? (White should gain
his material back with 4.gxh3) 4...Bd7. And Black saves
his piece while attacking White's Queen.