I played with a poor plan and my play was poor. Sometimes I moved too swiftly without enough thought. George Mayfield just outplayed me, thats all. In fact, he had a winning game due to a terrible blunder that I made. Then he crushed me with a queen sacrifice that should have been followed by a knight check and win of rook. I was ready to reach my hand out and resign and suddenly a miracle happened. He just gave me a rook. I thought "Gezz, he just killed me with a queen sac, this must be another super-GM move." I looked closely and could not believe it. It was a gift at a time I was ready to quit. George had 21 minutes on his clock which was plenty of time so he should have taken his time to end the game. George later said he blundered due to fatigue. He might have had a long day at work. It's understandable. At our age we don't have the same energy we used to have.
I played the opening wrong. My knight belonged on c3 not d2 as I played in the game. But after playing with the wrong plan, I had trouble getting things going. I should have castled kingside also. If I would have played Nc3 and 0-0 then I would have an equal game. My g4-push was not a great idea. The set-up I needed to reach is shown below. White to move and play Nc3.
Here's the game:
Around move 40 or so, it seemed like George was either tired or simply having trouble imputting moves into his Monroi. So, at move 44 when I was dead lost I picked him his queen very fast and made the move after he punched his clock. He didn't record the move, but blitzed out a queen sac. I think he confused himself by blitzing and imputting the moves that he lost track of what he was doing. Because he forgot 48...Nxd3 and instead blundered with 48...Rb3??. After 48...Nxd3 I was going to resign. George played the rest of the game without recording moves, but I had plenty of time. He misplayed the endgame and I mated him. His morale was obviously low and as a result I think his resistance was too.
1. b4 is a very strategic opening. Sure it can become tactical but strategic ideas dominate. Sometimes you can take opponents out in "deep water" and watch them drown. However, sometimes the "river pulls you under too" and it seems both of you are drowning. I think that is what best describes this game. I believe that poor decision making, and trying to see the strategic ideas in a poorly planned position all contributed to my poor play and eventual game-losing blunder. Then perhaps George was tired of all the strategic planning and as a result ran out of energy.
I submitted this game to the Vatican to have it declared as a miracle. In the meantime I'll refer to the game as The Miracle. I don't think we see this game published in New in Chess unless it's under the title "The Doo Doo Game." Then I'll have to change my identity!
I kinda like the sound of "The Miracle". It sounds so holy, but truthfully, this game was a sacrilege and was full of sins. It was a desecration to this holy game of ours. After George's move, I thought I heard a scream outside. I looked up and a Raven was sitting on the window sill, saying, "Nevermore!" After this blasphmey only a holy sacred Cathlic ritual can return my play to normal. I might have to see the Priest for a confession after this one. I would ask the Priest, "Should I have played Rxb3? Will the chess world forgive me for winning this way? I truly deserved to lose this one."
If I keep playing like this I'll reach 1600. Wait! That's going down isn't it? With these poor ideas I expect a call any day now from the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, asking me to be in charge of Health Care! If I get any dumber I'll have to register as a Democrat or join the Karl Marx party--what's the difference?
George, you're a good player and you'll have plenty of wins in the future. Just stay focused. It happens to all of us.
cheers
Paul
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