Ceedex -

Just a game of chess

Friday, 6. November 2009, 21:33:53

I haven't played much chess the last 2 years, but every now and then my teammates ask me to play. Last Saturday I played in what is probably the most important match of the season, since both teams compete to win the title.
My opponent and I have played many games against each other, and they're always very tactical and interesting.
Anyway, let's head to the game...

1. d4 d5

I decided to keep the tactics away this time. I figured it would be hard for me battling it out with my opponent in complex positions, what with my being somewhat rusty.

2. c4 c6

The Slav. One of my favourite openings.

3. cxd5 cxd5

This position is considered equal, but it has a lot more venom in it than one might think. In fact, I love playing this position with the white pieces in blitz.

4. Nc3 Nf6 (4...Nc6 5. e4! and while black should hold, white can get a nice attacking game)

5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 a6

This is by no means forced, however the threat of Bb5 can be tricky if black doesn't know what he/she is doing.

7. Bd3 Bg4 8. Nge2 (also interesting is 8. f3 Bh5 9. Qb3!? Na5 (9...Ra7!?) 10. Qa4+ and now not b5?? (Nc6 should do just fine) 11. Bxb5+ axb5 12. Nxb5! and white wins)

8...e6 9. 0-0 Bd6 10. f3 Bh5 11. a3

Up to here I was well aware of what I was doing - I had been on this territory before. I was considering both 0-0 and Bg6. 0-0 seems like such an obvious move, but I wanted to make sure that I would be able to get rid of white's bishop on d3. After all, it looks much stronger than my bishop on h5. So...

11...Bg6 12. b4 Bxd3 (stick to your plan) 13. Qxd3 0-0 14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15. Na4 Nd7 16. Nc5 Rfb8 17. Rfb1 Qc7

I wanted to capture the knight on c5, but I had to make sure the pawn on c5 wouldn't become too strong. After Nxc5 18. bxc5 Qc7 19. Rb6 my position is highly unpleasant.

18. Rb3 Nxc5 19. bxc5

This is the position I was aiming for.

19...b6!? (I'm sure there are better moves, but after this move I felt comfortable that I was going to draw this game)

20. Rxb6 Rxb6 21. cxb6 Qxb6 22. Rb1 Qa5 23. Qc2 Ne7 (I had placed my queen on a5 with a nice little mating threat if white's rook would get off the first rank, but I could have blundered it all away with just one move: 23...Rc8?? 24. Qxc6!! Rxc6?? 25. Rb8 ahh, the rook has left the first rank, but it's black who gets mated)

24. Qb3 Rc8 25. Qb4 Qxb4 26. Rxb4 Kf8 27. Kf2 and here I accepted my opponent's draw offer.

Not a bad game for someone who hasn't played in a while, if I may say so.

Just like this game, the match was drawn.

After my game, I watched a teammate who was already struggling..

In this position she played Ne7+? Kf8! Nxd5??

Can you spot why her previous moves are so terribly wrong?

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Where will I go?

Wednesday, 15. July 2009, 22:18:55

RAFC

Behold: The Bosuil stadium, home of Royal Antwerp Football Club since 1923.

With its capacity of well over 60000, it used to be the biggest stadium in Belgium and was the setting for many games between the national teams of Belgium and Holland.

This is what it looks like today:

As you can tell from the differences between the two pictures many things have changed. Amongst others, its capacity has dropped drastically.
Sadly, the years have not treated the stadium well.
In 1998 the mayor of Antwerp (Mrs. Leone Detiège) even forced the club to play elsewhere due to the poor state of some of the stands. This big loss of income was one of the main caused for relegation that season.

Yesterday, I read that the mayor of Antwerp (Mr. Patrick Janssens), together with the minister of internal affairs (Mr. Guido De Padt), have urged the board of the club to take the necessary steps to secure the safety of the supporters on one of the main stands by getting it fixed or else it will not be open for public.
The stand is commonly known as "Tribune 2" amongst supporters. In the picture above, it is the one closest to the top right corner.

Obviously, if safety cannot be guaranteed it should not be open, but Tribune 2 is very special to me.
I was only 5 when I finally convinced my dad to take me to a game. That day, we won against Anderlecht and crowned ourselves "Autumn champions". I don't recall much of that game, but I do remember being overwhelmed by the atmosphere. 40000 people supporting their team, and I was there to participate.. on Tribune 2.

22 years later, we can't crown ourselves "Autumn champions". The only way we can play Anderlecht is in a cup game, and the maximum capacity of the stadium is approximately 16000.
But Tribune 2 is still there, and that's where I'll sit. If they let me.

Hopefully, the board will get it fixed by the start of the season.

Some other pictures can be found here

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