I have recently* been reading so much about these new-fangled computers that I was somewhat shaking in my Reeboks when a friend offered me a game with his new Fidelity Excellence, supposed rated around USCF 2000 (something pointed out to me with a smile). I consider myself a rather weak player and decided to write down the moves, in order to learn from my mistakes. In retrospect I am glad I did, as my friend's tears may have shorted a circuit. So I am writing to you hoping for some advice on how I could have improved on this game. In closing, wouldn't you say that the Excellence model is somewhat overrated?
Thomas J. Ross
Staten Island NY
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(All notes are by Jim West)
Fidelity Excellence - Thomas J. Ross
1.Nc3 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5
Black should play 4...g6 when the game could transpose into an Accelerated Fianchetto variation of the Sicilian Defense after 5.e4 Bg7. He also stands well after 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.Qd4 Nf6 7.e4 Qb6.
5.Nxc6
The move 5.Ndb5 is a better plan.
5...bxc6 6.e4 Nf6 7.Bc4 Bb4 8.Bd2 O-O 9.Qf3 Bb7
Correct is 9...d5 with the better game. For instance, 10.exd5 cxd5 11.Nxd5 (11.Bxd5 Bxc3 12.Bxa8 Bxd2+ 13.Kf1 Ba6+ 14.Kg1 Qxa8) Bxd2+ 12.Kxd2 Be6.
10.O-O-O Qa5 11.a3 Bxa3!?
This sacrifice is tempting, but is it sound?
12.bxa3 Qxa3+ 13.Kb1 Rab8 14.Bg5?
White should play 14.Bc1.
14...Ba6+ 15.Bb3 Bc4 16.Bxf6??
White had to try 16.Bc1, although 16...Qa6 17.Kb2 d5 is powerful for Black.
16...Bxb3 17.cxb3 Qxb3+ 18.Ka1 Qb2#.
It is difficult to answer your closing question, since you don't give the time control involved. I suspect that it was very short because computers make tactical blunders of this sort only when they can't search deeply.
In speed chess, anything can happen, even between human opponents. I am no fonder of computers than you are. But I doubt seriously that Fidelity Excellence would play so poorly under normal tournament conditions.
*{This article originally appeared in Atlantic Chess News in 1990}
