Key Move

From a recent game of mine -- this was the key move that was meant to merely win back some of the material I'd dropped earlier in the game, but ended up instead leading to a nice checkmate.  Note that the first move is really the intent of the puzzle -- the continuation is based on my opponent's responses and are clearly not the best moves for white:

3...Nf3+ also mates.

Thanks for the puzzle!

So what if white takes the knight? Looks to me like he ends up a piece up with the attack.

In fact, after 1... Nxd4 2. Bf7+ Kd8 3. cxd4 Bxd4+ 4. Be3 Bxa1 5.Bg6 black will be mated soon.

I know you say the continuation is dependent on the opponent's response, but this is just wish chess.

Is there are better first move you'd recommend in this situation?  The position starts out pretty grim for white and as I said the point of the puzzle was to find the best first move -- the rest of the puzzle was to illustrate how it ended up leading to the win (namely, the blunder that was 3. Qd1).

Pretty grim for white?

Black is the one who is lost in the initial position.

Your opponent committed a helpmate. Great for you, but why post it? I just don't see why people post these blunderfests.

My mistake -- grim for black.  Sometimes the point of a puzzle isn't to win outright, but to equalize or get out of a sticky situation as intact as possible.

I'll ask again, since I've been clear from the beginning that everything after the first move is incidental as White clearly blunders the game away: What was it you said was a better first move for black?

I have no idea what you are asking.

Black is lost in the initial position.

Black plays a "cheapo" that wins because White is too blind to see the two double checks possible after the first move.

In other words, he isn't even doing the basics of analyzing all checks and captures.

And when you say "Sometimes the point of a puzzle isn't to win outright, but to equalize or get out of a sticky situation as intact as possible", then you still haven't achieved that goal as white is winning unless he is enough of a patzer not to even analyze 1 move ahead. You don't equalize, you don't get out of a sticky situation. It is a clear bust. Everything after the first move is *not* incidental. This is simply rationalization on your part. Qd1 is an incredible howler.

You are certainly free to post whatever garbage game you see fit, but it is still garbage. It is an embarrassing game for anyone over 900 elo.

And you're free to post whatever venemous posts you see fit, but you're still a dick.  I don't know what you're problem is, drd, but you've been nothing but caustic to the other members of this community in every forum I've seen you post in.

My question was how would you have played this differently from the initial position?  What would your first move have been if not Nxd4?  Is it a comprehension issue?

And *I* am the caustic "dick"?

OK.....

What can I say -- you bring out the best in me drd.  At least I've chosen someone deserving of my contempt rather than lashing out at random members unprovoked.

Isn't there a name for people who "choose someone deserving of their contempt"?

I better beef up security at the Dr. Evil headquarters.

I agree with TheGrobe, you're coming across as being pretty supercilious, drd.

"coolly and patronizingly haughty"? - could be, I still see it as plain speaking.  I do realize there is a trend to sugar-coat everything these days, but a true "community" should be able to withstand a few curmudgeons.

And I really don't see why people like you continue to post such empty comments. Perhaps no-one in the real world can stand to have a conversation with you? I don't mind you being a 'curmudgeon'. I am, and proud of it. I do mind you being punishingly dull and gratuitously offensive.

If you insist on feeding your own ego by pi**ing on someone else's parade - at least try and be funny while you're doing it. At least then there is a guilty pleasure in reading it. In the meantime, if you don't like a post, do everyone a favour and just ignore it. Life is too short to have to wade through your bile.

An arrogant assumption of superiority and condescension. If you think that there are a lot of mistakes in the posted game, might it be just that the poster isn't as good at chess as you? I doubt you'd think much of a GM's character if, after beating you soundly, he went around telling everyone how useless you are and how you sully the reputation of chess with your worthless moves.

You might suggest where to improve, or if you can't comment on the subject without dismissing it as 'garbage', maybe it would be better if you refrained. Most communities can do without trash-talking.

"You might suggest where to improve"

In my view, I did. I've reviewed my posts on this, and simply cannot see what you mean.  Of course, to you, this is proof of my feelings of "superiority and condenscension." So be it. I won't convince you and you won't convince me. It's become a "yes it is, no it isn't" debate....