Excelsior!?
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Excelsior!?
An excelsior is a pawn that goes from its origin to promotion, preferably like in this example -
Anyone had anything approaching an excelsior in their games? And, what was Julian's next (final) move?
Anyone had anything approaching an excelsior in their games? And, what was Julian's next (final) move?
To find a for(u)m that accommodates the mess, that is the task of the artist now. (Samuel Beckett)
- IM Jack Rudd
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Re: Excelsior!?
I think there was an Excelsior in Jones v Chapman at this year's Gibraltar tournament.
- Matt Mackenzie
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Re: Excelsior!?
My guess to John's other question is 29.....Qb7! 0-1
Is that correct?
Is that correct?
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
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Re: Excelsior!?
My thanks to Jack and Matt for their answers. Matt is correct after 29... Qb7 white resigned. Sorry Jack, I cannot find Jones-Chapman 2013 Gibraltar.
PS For the origin of the term and puzzle see -
http://www.chessbase.com/puzzle/puzz03a.htm
PS For the origin of the term and puzzle see -
http://www.chessbase.com/puzzle/puzz03a.htm
To find a for(u)m that accommodates the mess, that is the task of the artist now. (Samuel Beckett)
- Paolo Casaschi
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Re: Excelsior!?
Maybe Jack meant this game instead?John McKenna wrote:Sorry Jack, I cannot find Jones-Chapman 2013 Gibraltar.
- IM Jack Rudd
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Re: Excelsior!?
I did indeed mean that, yes. For some reason I'd confused the two players.
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Re: Excelsior!?
Hard to believe this is unique.
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Re: Excelsior!?
Thanks to Paolo for searching out Gawain's excelsior that Jack recalled from Gib.
David's excelsior must be one of the quickest possible in a real game that follows opening theory. It may be unique because 7... Bxf3 was a blunder, alas (by A LAte Sub.) 7... Ra7 (just preventing an excelsior) was Burckhardt-Ecker 1991 Hauenstein RLPF Op. White won in 44 moves.
David's excelsior must be one of the quickest possible in a real game that follows opening theory. It may be unique because 7... Bxf3 was a blunder, alas (by A LAte Sub.) 7... Ra7 (just preventing an excelsior) was Burckhardt-Ecker 1991 Hauenstein RLPF Op. White won in 44 moves.
To find a for(u)m that accommodates the mess, that is the task of the artist now. (Samuel Beckett)
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Re: Excelsior!?
I love these oddball games. Thank you.
Not quite an Excelsior, a half Excelsior.
(these games are not blitz games - in this case the players had 14 days to move!)
hughes - xela01 RHP 2006 Features a half Excelsior d-pawn with a final twist.
Speaking of pawns.
Ever seen someone 8 pawns up (yes 8 passed pawns) lose?
http://www.redhotpawn.com/blog/blogread ... postid=130
Not quite an Excelsior, a half Excelsior.
(these games are not blitz games - in this case the players had 14 days to move!)
hughes - xela01 RHP 2006 Features a half Excelsior d-pawn with a final twist.
Speaking of pawns.
Ever seen someone 8 pawns up (yes 8 passed pawns) lose?
http://www.redhotpawn.com/blog/blogread ... postid=130
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Re: Excelsior!?
Taha, Geoff, a final twist, eh, after a double-back by the excelsior queen!? Reminds me of Olympic diving. And, as for ducking, someone should tell the Ducks of NY that prawns are the soul-food of chess so they should not be thrown away lightly or otherwise badly used. Red Hot Chili Prawns, indeed.
To find a for(u)m that accommodates the mess, that is the task of the artist now. (Samuel Beckett)
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Re: Excelsior!?
I'm not sure if this counts though as it took the h pawn an age to complete its journey

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Re: Excelsior!?
Hi Lawrence, interesting game (it followed Psakhis-Pavlovic 1988 Erevan until white's 17.b3 instead of Nxd4 Rc8 18.b3 and Psakhis won in 30 moves) and I'd call your h-pawn a delayed excelsior. Not because it did not start its journey until move 21 but because it did not manage to complete its march in 5 consecutive moves.
I'd also call this a delayed excelsior -
I'd also call this a delayed excelsior -
To find a for(u)m that accommodates the mess, that is the task of the artist now. (Samuel Beckett)
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Re: Excelsior!?
Off topic but here's what happened to Cantero in the next round -
To find a for(u)m that accommodates the mess, that is the task of the artist now. (Samuel Beckett)
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Re: Excelsior!?
Nice to see the man himself playing in the Julian Hodgson style.John McKenna wrote: [White "Trompowsky,O"]
I've always liked this one from 1939 for the opening. How far are you prepared to go to control the white squares?
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Re: Excelsior!?
Surely it might be worthwhile White playing on in the final position there!?
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)