The Democratic Chess Game

I wish I could change my username again on chess.com, so that it wouldn't be so confusing for those who follow my work. On Twitter my handle is @joxnjoxn, and virtually every site I use for chess I've got a different name. Chalk it up to too many years online and only a recent insight for a plan to spread my love of chess.

Nevertheless on Twitter I started a vote-chess game called The Democratic Chess Game, and each day I would poll candidate moves for each side of the board. In the event of a tie I would re-poll with the tied moves. Every once in a while I'll take a break, but for the most part this game has continued on via voting on Twitter since I started it. 

Therefore, as we are nearing the 15th move as of May the 4th, I want to share it on chess.com so that it's a bit easier for more people to follow. The game has started via:

1. c4 c6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 Bg4 5. Be2 e6 6. 0-0 Nbd7 7. d4 Bd6 8. b3 0-0 9. a4 Qa5 10. Bd2 dxc4 11. Bxc4 e5 12. d5 cxd5 13. Nxd5 Qd8 14. h3 Bh5

Each and every move has been voted for on Twitter. Sometimes as few as one person votes, and other times as much as six. Not very impressive, right? I am, however, very proud that people are still voting in every poll, continuing this game into its current position. 

The game started as an English Opening with Black using the Caro-Kann defensive system, playing for an early d7-d5. White's move order was kind of silly, seeing as d2-d4 was played after castling and h2-h3 has been delayed until move 14. Nevertheless we have seen an interesting game with not much action so far. It's interesting because Black has followed a more concrete plan - playing for d5 and with better piece coordination. White has caught up in development and both sides have diminished pawn centers. What do you think of the position? 

As of May 4th, 2019 we are going to poll again for White's 15th move after 14... Bh5. Note that Black's 14th move has gone through two votes to determine which move will be played. The original poll called for 14... e4?! ; 14... Bxf3 ; 14... Nxd5 ; and 14... Bh5/f5/e6. The people opted for Black to reposition the Bishop on g4, rather than make any exchanges or the gambling pawn advance. 

Thanks to the limitations of Twitter's poll settings I can only give four options. Sometimes I have to combine similar moves when there are several choices. Other times, like in the case of a double-check, the candidate moves may be very limited. 

I use several sources for my candidate moves. Two chess engines, one including Stockfish; one chess database (which we no longer can use since white played a2-a4 and Black followed with Qd8-a5); my own suggestions or inclinations; or moves that are interesting/provocative/or useful in the position. 

I am no Grandmaster. Not even a master. Probably not an expert, but I love that people are participating in this game. And I am wondering where the game will go since every day the minds involved change the course of the game. 

Thanks for following.

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Read more in depth on every move on my Wordpress site.