An Extinction Chess Game

[Site "BrainKing.com"]
[Date "2011.05.31"]
[White "monty bridge"]
[Black "Koksal"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. a3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. Bg5 Be7

To my knowledge opening theory is not well established in Extinction Chess. Generally players use their bishops and knights from one side freely, while they keep the other side either closed, or underdeveloped. You want ample room for maneuvering, and threatening for favorable piece exchanges, but not too much room so you don't get invaded. In this game I do not like black's position so far, seems too passive to me.

6. f3 h6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3 d6 9. e4 Nh5 10. Bf2 f5



Again, it's all about Lebensraum. You have to have some maneuvering space, even if it weakens your king's side. Here, strong White center has to be attacked somehow, and there are not many ways to do that.

11. exf5 exf5 12. Bd3 O-O 13. Qc2 Ng7 14. c5 dxc5

As said earlier, white left his king's side undeveloped and black is trying to keep his queen's side closed. Hence white is attacking on the queen's side to break black's defenses.

15. dxc5 Nc6

The knight at g7 seems safe, so the other knight can see some action.

16. Rd1 Qe8 17. Qe2 Qg6 18. cxb6 axb6 19. Bb5 Bc5



White's b5 bishop is too exposed. Attacking white's other bishop is the way to go.

20. Qc4 Kh8 21. Bxc5 bxc5 22. Qa2 Rfe8 23. Kf2 f4 24. Ne4 Rxe4 25. Qb1 Qe6 26. fxe4 c4



The b5 bishop probably cannot be saved anymore. Hence white loses.

27. Rd5 Na5 28. b3 c6 29. Ba4 Nxb3 30. Rd8 Rxa4 0-1

A Clarification on Ice Age Chess Rules

This came up in at least one game on Brainking. In this position (first diagram) Black is to make his/her 20th move. Black can move 20... Qf3+ which would have been checkmate except that right after Black's move, the Ice Age event happens and ice cubes are placed on the board. This prevents the mate from taking place, the game continues, white to play (see diagram 2).



The argument here was that once checkmate happens the game should end right at that point. However, the way I see it, the Ice Age event is an essential part of the game and should the Ice Age happen next turn, White can consider that as a part of his/her defensive plan.

This (being able to use a coming Ice Age as a defense) probably gives White a slight advantage, however this should be balanced with the fact that black makes the last move before the Ice Age, hence has a slight advantage as well.

Note: The position here is not from an actual game.

Extinction Chess Variants

Extinction chess (go to itsyourturn.com to learn about or play it) is a fine variant as it is, however I couldn't help but try a few variations on it.


Variant 1: Extinction chess with the following starting position, where each major piece is reduced to one in number:





Variant 2: Usual chess starting position. First player who captures a non-pawn piece wins the game. King is just an ordinary piece.


Variant 3: This is a cross between three checks chess and extinction chess: first player who captures 3 nonpawn pieces wins the game. King is just an ordinary piece.

K. Karakus - S. Tuglaci, Gencler Birinciligi, Kastamonu 1993

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K. Karakus - A. Ipek, 1. Lig Playoff, 1998

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S. Kose - K. Karakus, 3. Lig 1995, Mersin

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C. Hanoka - K. Karakus, Oyak 1997, Istanbul

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