Chess Players

One of my favorite things about chess are the unforgettable characters that you meet. This is why I say you shouldn't just sit home in front of your computer playing on the screen, you should get out there to the clubs and play across from a real person, because chess players are interesting people. It's true! Take for example these two characters here, Tyler Hughes, winner of the Denker Scholarship, Junior National Champion from 2008 and JC MacNeil, a chess artist and welder who's rating has been as high as 1800. They used to play down at the Denver Chess Club, and played each other many a game. I am sure that some of the style of MacNeil shows up every now and then in Tyler's games, even if now he is over 2300 rated, and nationally, perhaps even internationally known. as JC once said,"That Tyler, we can't touch him now." But back when Tyler was just a little kid about nine or ten his mom would bring him to the club. He wore an oversized cowboy hat. He was the politest kid I think I ever met. And you could tell back then that his chess ability was amazing. His teacher, Brian Wall, co-author of "How to Play Chess Like an Animal," probably did more to influence his style than any of us. But I like to think we all did, some. Brian is known for his crazy playing style, and so is JC MacNeil. He'd much rather "sac" (meaning sacrifice) a piece and risk losing than play a dull positional game leading to a draw any day of the week. But little Tyler is prepared. He has been studying with the one who made famous the ridiculous "Fishing Pole." So there's no crazy position he hasn't seen.

Hughes,T - MacNeil,J [A04]
2004 Foundation Cup Team
1.Nf3 b5 I don't even have to look to know that Macneil is black. He loves that move.

2.g3 Bb7 3.Bg2 e5 Notice how the e5 pawn is protected not by a piece, but because the knight is pinned, and shouldn't take it? In case you haven't yet, get out a chess board and follow along. (For instructions on how to read, click how to read a chess game).

4.d3 h6 5.e4 d6 6.0–0 Nf6 7.Nbd2 Nbd7 8.c3 Be7 9.Re1 0–0 10.Nf1 Re8 11.Nh4 Bf8 12.Nf5 Kh7 13.h4 g6 14.N5e3 Nc5 15.Nh2 Bc8 16.Bf3 Bd7 17.Nhg4 Bg7 18.Nxf...6+ Qxf6 19.Nd5 Qd8 20.h5 c6 21.Ne3 Ne6 22.Kg2 Ng5 23.Bg4 Qc8 24.Rh1 Methinks I see an attack coming.

d5 25.hxg6+ Opening the rook file. The "fishing pole" always involves opening a rook file on the opponent's castled king. This isn't a "fishing pole," but still, anyone who has worked with Brian Wall is frequently seen opening the rook file on their opponent's castled king.

fxg6 26.Bxd7 Qxd7

27.Nxd5 Uh oh. Tyler doesn't give away pieces for free. He's not THAT nice.

cxd5 28.Bxg5 dxe4 29.dxe4 Qc6 30.Qd5 Qc4 31.b3 Uh oh. Every time he gives away a piece things seem to get worse for Black.

Qe2 32.Bxh6 Oh no. Here it comes. How could a nice little kid like Tyler do this to a great big gruff guy like JC MacNeil, who braves hot flying steel to make Chess Tables?

Rf8 33.Bf4+ Bh6 34.Rxh6+ Kg7 35.Qd7+ Rf7 36.Rh7+ Kxh7 37.Qxf7+ And Black had enough and resigned. Here is the final position. Try to play through it on your boards at home.