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Merciless

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White: John P. Pratt
Black: Casey Loveland
Date: 1986
Location: Kaysville, Utah









A young neighbor boy wanted to play me. After I explained the principle of spotting pieces to provide a handicap to make it fair (see Handicap for Equality), he insisted on playing our first game with no spotting. That seemed fair enough because neither of us had seen the other play. I tried to play my best and win as quickly as I could (which I assume he did also) so we could fairly assess each other's skill level. I was also hoping to encourage him that spotting was a good idea if players have unmatched skills. I don't remember if my ploy worked or just discouraged him. I didn't play him very many games.

Of course, I'm explaining all of this to justify my merciless destruction of my son's best friend's ego! Truth can be harsh on pride. But hopefully I encouraged him about his great move preventing my first checkmate attack.

1. e2-e4, e7-e5. 
2. d2-d4, e5xd4. 
3. c2-c3, c7-c5. 
4. c3xd4, c5xd4. 
5. Qd1xd4, Bf8-e7. 
6. Qd4xg7, Nb8-c6. 
7. Bf1-c4, Nc6-e5!Great move that helps show his level of play! He stopped the checkmate and attacked my bishop to boot. I really don't know whether it was luck or how much he saw.
8. Qg7xe5, f7-f6.In any case, he missed the Queen move.
9. Qe5-h5, Ke8-f8. 
10. Qh5-f7 mate.