Sunday 11 April 2010

Need before Greed

If you have play as much World of Warcraft as I have, you will understand the concept of "Need before Greed". This is way of dividing the spoils of battle between party members. "Need" basically says "I have an immediate use for this item", while "Greed" says "I don't have an immediate use for this item, but may do something with it another time".
In the Round 8 clash between FM Michael Steadman and GM Abhijit Kunte, Steadman was faced with such a decision. Having beaten IM George Xie the round before (Xie dropped a piece in the opening), Steadman had the opportunity to gain material. But the choice was between two pieces for a rook, or piece for a pawn. Steadman chose the piece, but found that he had taken the "Greed" path, as the extra piece he had was pinned against his king and was practically useless. Nonetheless he was able to return his ill-gotten gains later in the game to reach a position offering drawing chances, but then an endgame blunder handed the point to his opponent.

Steadman,Michael (2264) - Kunte,Abhijit (2528) [E27]
Sydney International Open Parramatta, NSW (8.5), 10.04.2010

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 0-0 7.cxd5 exd5 8.e3 Nh5 9.Qc2 Re8 10.Bd3 Qh4+ 11.Qf2 Nf4 12.Bf1 Qd8 13.g3 Ne6 14.Bd3 c5 15.Ne2 Nc6 16.h4 Qf6 17.Bb2 cxd4 18.cxd4 Nc5 19.Bc2 Na5 20.Bc3 Ncb3 21.Rb1 Bf5 (D)
22.Rxb3 Bxc2 23.Rb2 Nc4 24.Rxc2 Nxe3 25.Rc1 Rac8 26.Bd2 Nc2+ 27.Kf1 Qa6 28.Rh2 Qxa3 29.Nf4 b5 30.Nxd5 b4 31.Nxb4 Nxb4 32.Rxc8 Rxc8 33.Bxb4 Qxb4 34.Qb2 Qc4+ 35.Kf2 Qc2+ 36.Ke3 Re8+ 37.Kf4 Qc7+ 38.Kg4 Qd7+ 39.Kf4 Qd6+ 40.Kg4 Qe6+ 41.Kf4 h5 0-1

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