Affordable Computer Chess Tournament - QUARTER-FINALS

[paulwise3]

Following the link in one of the posts above, one can see that this current match has advanced to game 7, current standing 3.5-3.5.
I hope Tracy will report about it soon

[TracySMiller]

I'll try to get the game summaries updated today. And then I'll start playing the remainder of the match. Got sidetracked with work/kids/hobbies, etc.

[TracySMiller]

The Mephisto Advanced Travel Chess scores its first victory with a nice positional victory. Here's one of White's mistakes:

[fen]r4k2/2r1pp2/2Pb2pp/p2P4/1p3P2/7P/4N1P1/R3RK2 w - - 3 32[/fen]

It's already tough for White here, who should have tried activating his Knight with 32. Nd4, but instead played the passive 32. g3 and black pushed the connected passed pawns.

Here's the game: https://lichess.org/EmCjo4y4

[TracySMiller]

The boring French Defense Exchange Variation results in a boring draw. Here's the kind of position that maybe only Karpov can play correctly:

[fen]8/8/2p2k1p/1n1p1p1P/NP1P4/2P1KP2/8/8 w - - 3 46[/fen]

Here's the game: https://lichess.org/lnyIVaHO

[TracySMiller]

We finally see a Sicilian Defense but the result is another draw. Which is frustrating, because the Mephisto ATC totally had this game won, showing a 55.0 evaluation here, but one careless move let White get a perpetual check. How on earth could it not see that???

Here's the position. Black can play Qa3+ with an easy win, but chooses to promote without check, which lets White play Qxe6+ with the perpetual check.

[fen]8/8/4p1kp/4P1p1/2QP1p2/3K2PP/pq6/8 w - - 1 59[/fen]

Here's the game: https://lichess.org/utB1bJv8#0

[TracySMiller]

Third straight draw, this time from the Catalan opening. Early on, the machines go for repetition of position. I suppose they were tired and needed a break.

Here's the final position:

[fen]r2q1rk1/ppp1bppp/1nn3b1/4p3/3P4/1N2PNP1/PP2QPBP/R1B2RK1 w - - 9 20[/fen]

Here's the game: https://lichess.org/AtyrneFK

[TracySMiller]

Mephisto ATC breaks the draw string with this nice victory, tying the match at 3.5-3.5.

Here's the blunder that allowed Black to break through. White should've played fxg4, but instead played the Rook check, Rd6+.

[fen]8/pp2r3/5k2/3R1p2/3K2p1/PP3P2/8/8 w - - 0 39[/fen]

Here's the game: https://lichess.org/HwTX5N84

[TracySMiller]

In an English, 4 Knights variation, the RS unit plays a nice position game and regains the lead. Here's where the tide started turning.

[fen]3k4/3n1pp1/1pq2n1p/p1p2P2/2P2B2/2PQ2PP/5KN1/8 w - - 0 48[/fen]

White chooses to trade Queens, when getting its Knight into the fray with Ne3 is a much better plan.

Here's the game: https://lichess.org/K5Z8qFhY

[TracySMiller]

The RS Mega 2050X out-blundered the Mephisto ATC 5-2 to lose this game and move the match back to even. Here was the worst of the blunders:

[fen]2r2rk1/p2n1Npp/1p2q3/4PR2/8/2P2QP1/Pn5P/RN4K1 w - - 1 26[/fen]

White looks like it has a nice attack here, but retreating the Knight to d6 and letting Black gain the initiative was a losing plan.

Here's the game: https://lichess.org/m7lWhAKP

[TracySMiller]

This game was dead even until a fatal blunder by the RS Mega 2050X. Here's the position before the blunder:

[fen]8/2p3k1/ppQ4p/6p1/3P1qP1/P1PK4/5P2/8 w - - 2 46[/fen]

Here Black offered the Queen trade with Qd6??, white accepted and went on to win the simple endgame that even I could play correctly.

Here's the game: https://lichess.org/raFzAGZa

[TracySMiller]

OK, this particular match is getting really annoying. They are now tied again at 6.5-6.5, and I'm positive these machines are clones. They seem to be almost exactly equal in strength, make the exact same beep sounds, have the same notation, and have the exact same level structure. Rather than trudge along letting fickle fate decide the match, I'm going to act on the assumption that they are exactly equal in strength, and simply choose one to advance to the Semi-Finals so I can get on with this tournament. Since the Mephisto ATC has these tiny little pieces that take forever to set up every game, I'm going to choose the RS Mega 2050X to advance to the Semi-Finals.

So the Semi-finals will consist of the Novag Citrine vs. the RS Mega 2050X, and the RS Champion 2250XL vs. the RS Master 2200X. I'll create a new thread for the Semi's. Thanks for those who are following and are still interested.