Excelsior!?

John McKenna · Post by **John McKenna** » Sat Feb 16, 2013 12:15 pm

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?

IM Jack Rudd · Post by **IM Jack Rudd** » Sat Feb 16, 2013 1:28 pm

I think there was an Excelsior in Jones v Chapman at this year's Gibraltar tournament.

Matt Mackenzie · Post by **Matt Mackenzie** » Sat Feb 16, 2013 3:12 pm

My guess to John's other question is 29.....Qb7! 0-1

Is that correct?

John McKenna · Post by **John McKenna** » Sat Feb 16, 2013 4:29 pm

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

Paolo Casaschi · Post by **Paolo Casaschi** » Sat Feb 16, 2013 4:59 pm

John McKenna wrote:Sorry Jack, I cannot find Jones-Chapman 2013 Gibraltar.

Maybe Jack meant this game instead?

IM Jack Rudd · Post by **IM Jack Rudd** » Sat Feb 16, 2013 6:07 pm

I did indeed mean that, yes. For some reason I'd confused the two players.

David Williams · Post by **David Williams** » Sat Feb 16, 2013 6:07 pm

Hard to believe this is unique.

John McKenna · Post by **John McKenna** » Sat Feb 16, 2013 7:48 pm

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.

Geoff Chandler · Post by **Geoff Chandler** » Sun Feb 17, 2013 12:37 pm

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

John McKenna · Post by **John McKenna** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 1:09 am

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.

LawrenceCooper · Post by **LawrenceCooper** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 9:15 am

I'm not sure if this counts though as it took the h pawn an age to complete its journey

John McKenna · Post by **John McKenna** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 4:45 pm

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 -

John McKenna · Post by **John McKenna** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 12:11 am

Off topic but here's what happened to Cantero in the next round -

Roger de Coverly · Post by **Roger de Coverly** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 12:25 am

John McKenna wrote: [White "Trompowsky,O"]

Nice to see the man himself playing in the Julian Hodgson style.

I've always liked this one from 1939 for the opening. How far are you prepared to go to control the white squares?

Matt Mackenzie · Post by **Matt Mackenzie** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 1:41 pm

Surely it might be worthwhile White playing on in the final position there!?

English Chess Forum

Excelsior!?

Excelsior!?

Re: Excelsior!?

Re: Excelsior!?

Re: Excelsior!?

Re: Excelsior!?

Re: Excelsior!?

Re: Excelsior!?

Re: Excelsior!?

Re: Excelsior!?

Re: Excelsior!?

Re: Excelsior!?

Re: Excelsior!?

Re: Excelsior!?

Re: Excelsior!?

Re: Excelsior!?