9 Nov 2012: a swindle and a self-swindle

The Chess Pirate wanted to play a quick game today, so naturally enough, we had one of CHESS CLUB's longest games, a 68 move drama-fest.  The game even had to be briefly adjourned due to a visit by the furnace repairman -- we tried but failed to recruit him !  We're not sure if he somehow didn't notice the Pirate's extra-sweet disposition or if something about CHESS CLUB overwhelmed / intimidated him.

Gabridoodle - Chess Pirate, ½-½

The Pirate, in command of the black pieces, was on her game today and also in an excellent mood, proclaiming at move 4, "Oh, chess is such a pleasant pastime !  Would you like another cup of tea ?"  A couple of moves later, she politely inquired, "Could you open this tin of biscuits ?"  At move 9, there was a brief discussion of insect consciousness.  By move 15 (illustration at left), she was putting a lot of pressure on the Gabridoodle.  By means of some very fancy footwork (ultimately ending in an exchange of queens), he was able to extricate himself from this jam.  At move 17, the Pirate mysteriously exclaimed, "Excuse me, have you seen my chapeau ?"

As play continued, the Pirate ground out an edge in material.  So jolly was her frame of mind, that when we got to move 30 she said, "You can either exchange castles or get off your casthole !"  By move 41 (shown at left), she was ahead by 2 pawns and had a horse that promised to be a severe nuisance for the Gabridoodle.  But here is where the first swindle happened.  The Pirate moved her horse to d3 and it was promptly captured (for free) by the Gabridoodle's bishop.

After the Pirate's horse was sent to the glue factory, the game turned around in dramatic fashion, the Gabridoodle proving that the king is an attacking piece and using it to gobble up the Pirate's queenside pawns.  Eventually, he promoted his a-pawn and the game should have been won at that point.  However, the Gabridoodle is such a notorious swindler that he couldn't help swindling himself, delivering stalemate at move 68 (illustration at left).