My games

These are ten chosen games, which I especially like. It is difficult to say what were the criteria of choosing such "top 10", while they based nearly only on my feelings connected with particular game. Not suprisingly then, you can find here pretty games (but maybe not without serious mistakes), as well as simply funny, like a won match I had with Robert Fisher (sic!). Take a look by yourself :)

At the very beginning a game with Kamil Mitoń (in the moment when I'm writting these words, player with highest rating in Poland) which took place in 1995 in Warsaw Championship to the age of 20 - we were both less then 12 then :) Despite being so young, he already had good reputation, that is why I think I was a little bit affraid of him and agreed (I'm not sure if even not proposed) for a draw. I could have played longer, while the chances to win were still on the board... at least it seems to me now.

In this tournament I took 24th place, and the champion became IM Piotr Murdzia. For me it was pretty high ranked tournament :)

In the same year I received an invitation to the V International Junior Chess Tournament Jesień '95. I remember these tournaments (this one and the year after) while they took place near my home, I legally missed classes at school ;) and we were getting then fruits, juices and even whole meals. Futhermore, atmosphere was really as on serious tournament, for me even more than on Junior Polish Championships (at least comparing to this one time I have played on it).

One of my first opponents was a strong Russian candidate Aleksey Zabailovich. I lost on time, but the position on the board wasn't that bad. Who knows what would be the result if not the time controls ;)

My score in whole tournament was 4.0 points, what gave me 23rd place. Kamil Mitoń won.

Many years later, in the time when I havn't played nearly at all, on my faculty during the annual The Physicist Day a simultaneous chess competition with Bartłomiej Macieja was organized. He was then Polish Champion and still student of our faculty. When the vast majority of present students and staff was eating sousages and pork neck, a small group of volountiers tried to beat a real master. Sousages are every year and this kind of an occasion may be never again!

It is needles to say what was the result of all games. What may be interesting, though, is that the player who was awarded by the grandmaster whas the youngest one - 10 years old boy, if I remember correctly. As far as my game is concerned, I came to it very nervous, what never happend in my "chess career"... maybe because I havn't played for a long time and I've nearly forgotten the oppenings. That is why I used the minimal action principle and defended myself in French style...

French defence can be also seen in the following game, however this time that wasn't I who was defending :) I played my favourite offensive variation and as hardly ever I managed to use its virtues. The game was played several years ago on the Sachy.sk server (a correspondence one, with time controls being several days for a move). Unfortunately I do not remember nick of my opponent or any other details, but even without that the game is worth seeing:

Another game from the cycle "how I some time age played with someone, who now is very good player" and another from Jesień '95 tournament. My opponent was Mateusz Bartel, nowadays Polish Champion. We both played then in Polonia Warszawa club, so quite frequently we matched on a chessboard and nearly always Mateusz ended as a winner. The reason why the only game with him I have written down ended with a draw is that not so often we played together in a tournament (just because I am two years older).

The openning in this game may be little suprising. Dutch game was never part of my repertoire, but I knew I have to play something unusual. It was due to the fact, that when playing with him I often ended with worse position just after openning, just because I knew them not so well as he did. Playing something he wasn't prepared to, I could heve count for a bigger chances to success. At the end of the day, though I had to defend toughly, I managed to obtain a draw.

Next game I chose because I like the final attack. Just like that. I do not remember many details about the tournament, unfortunately...

Another game from the Warsaw Championships to the age of 20. Almost I managed to draw with a international master. The lack of precision in the ending lost the game, but besides that it seems I played quite well.

From the next game one can tak a lesson, what does it mean to go to far in an attack. Without any problems I could have drawn, but something tempted me to play on, despite I obviously havn't thought it over. Maybe simply I missed some move and was sure of winning, I don't know. Anyway I created strong pressure on the king side and sacrified a knight. It occured that mine attack has ended and Marcin Szymański was too good chess player to let me get away with it.

It is a game form Jesień '96.

Finally the promised game with Robert Fisher. If the spelling of his name was a little bit different, I could have claimed that I won with great Bobby. Anyway, nobody would belive me ;)

The last game is one with Chessmaster 8000 program, on the nearly highest level (in his ratings it was something a little bit more tham 2700 but I wouldn't belive a computer). Only once I drawed with such settings and also only by some miracle. This miracle was a pretty combination in the ending begined with 43. b6!! In fact, it may be the only part of the game worth seeing, but if you got so far it is possible that you would like to see the whole game ;)

by andrzej hryczuk