The Ending of Rook and Pawn vs. Rook

The intricacies of this ending are fairly easy to master, and when learned will inform your play leading up to the capture of the second-last Pawn on the board.

There are 3 basic types of this ending. First, when the Black (weak side) King is blocking the advance of the White (strong side) Pawn. This is called Philidor's Position, and it is drawn if Black knows what he's doing. The technique for Black is to leave his Rook on his 3rd rank until the White King threatens to go to his 6th rank (i.e., when the White Pawn pushes to the 6th), at which time the Black Rook promptly goes to the 8th where it will check the White King indefinitely. This sounds simple, but, as will be seen, is easy to forget during the hustle and bustle of a bullet game.

The second type of this ending is where the White Rook cuts off the Black King from the file the Pawn is on. If the Pawn is advanced as far as the 5th rank, White can then force Lucena's position, a pretty winning maneuver known for many centuries. Again, the complexities come in during the play leading up to the capture of the second-last Pawn.

The third type is the special case of the Rook Pawn. In this ending, the White King will be on Rook 8 and trapped in there by the Black Rook which has taken up residence on the Knight file. To win this, the Black King must be cut off by many files, i.e., has to be clear over on the other side of the board from the White Pawn. To win White must move his Rook to the Knight 8 square to oppose Rooks, and then his King escapes in whichever direction is allowed, depending on the placement of the Black King. This maneuver takes 3 moves (if Black's King is correctly positioned on his first or second rank), and during this time the Black King can creep closer and closer to the scene of the action, which is why it must be cut off by so many files at the start of the maneuver, so that he cannot get to his Bishop 2 square near the Pawn.

I will present two games illustrating each of these three types. In the first, as Black against Wannabee on 11/15/06, White should have followed the above procedure by playing 77 Ra3 f3 78 Ra8 drawn. Note that after 77 Ra1? Kg3! (not 77...Kf3? 78 Ra3ch Kg4 79 Rc3 f3 80 Rc8 drawn) it is now too late to go to the 8th rank, as 78 Ra8 Rb1ch 79 Ke2 f3ch 80 Kd2 Kg2 and Black has converted the position to Lucena's Position. I note also that in a game with a 10-second increment, White spent only 2 seconds on his 77th move. These endings need to be thought through more carefully than that!

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. O-O-O d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12. Nxc6 Qxc6 13. Qb4 Bf5 14. Bd3 Bxd3 15. Rxd3 Rac8 16. Qb3 a5 17. c3 a4 18. Qa3 b5 19. Rhd1 Qc4 20. Qxe7 Qxa2 21. Qa3 Qxa3 22. bxa3 Bxc3 23. Kb1 Bg7 24. Rd5 Rc3 25. R1d3 Rxd3 26. Rxd3 Re8 27. Kc2 Rc8+ 28. Kd2 Be5 29. h3 Bb2 30. g4 Bc1+ 31. Ke2 Re8 32. Kf2 Bxe3+ 33. Rxe3 Rc8?

Here I miss an easy win with 33...RxR 34 KxR b4 35 Kd3 b3-+. But then I wouldn't have gotten to play the interesting Rook and Pawn endgame!

34. Re5 Rc3 35. Rxb5 Rxa3 36. Ra5 Kg7

We have arrived at the very common Rook-and-Pawn endgame of 3 Pawns each on the King-side, with one side having an extra Pawn on the a-file. My favorite resource for studying endings like this is "A Guide to Chess Endings", by Max Euwe and David Hopper. They analyze an amazing 7 endings like this, and give the rule-of-thumb that the ending is won if the strong side has his Rook *behind* his passed Pawn, but only drawn if, as here, the strong side's Rook is *in front of* his Pawn.

37. Kg3 Ra1 38. Kf4 a3 39. h4 a2 40. g5 Rh1

White has been careful not to blunder by allowing a Rook check followed by promotion of the a-Pawn. Consequently, I must try trading my passed Pawn for one of his King-side Pawns.

41. Rxa2 Rxh4+ 42. Kg3 Rb4 43. f4 Rb7 44. Kg4 Rb1 45. Ra6 Rg1+ 46. Kf3 h5 47. gxh6+ Kxh6 48. Ra7 Kg7 49. Ra5 Rf1+ 50. Kg3 Rb1 51. Ra7 Kf6 52. Ra6+ Kg7 53. Ra7 Rg1+ 54. Kf3 Rf1+ 55. Kg3 Rg1+ 56. Kf2 Rg4 57. Kf3 Rg1 58. Kf2 Rb1 59. Kg3 Rb6 60. Kg4 Kf6 61. Ra5 Rb1 62. Ra6+ Kg7 63. Ra5 f5+

After many meaningless Rook moves, I finally make some progress!

64. Kf3 Kh6 65. Ra3 Rh1 66. Kg2 Rb1 67. Rh3+ Kg7 68. Ra3 Rb2+ 69. Kf3 Kh6 70. Ra8 Rb3+ 71. Kg2 Kh5 72. Ra6 Kg4 73. Rxg6+ Kxf4

We finally arrive at R+P vs. R. His King is in front of the Pawn, so he should be able to use the rules for Philidor's Position to achieve the draw.

74. Ra6 Rb2+ 75. Kf1 Kg4 76. Ra4+ f4 77. Ra1??

He must play 77 Ra3, following Philidor's Rule. Then if 77...f3, he can play 78 Ra8 and his Rook will be able to check my King off of the 6th rank.

Kg3 78. Ra3+ f3 79. Ra1 Rh2 80. Kg1 f2+ 81. Kf1 Rh1+ {White resigns} 0-1

                               *****

In the next game, played against katzparov on 7/13/00, it is my turn to mess up Philidor's Position.  Instead of the careless 50...Rb5ch, I need to take my 3rd rank with 50...Rb6.  If he then plays 51 f5, I need to immediately take my 8th with 51...Rb1.  The nuance here is that after 51 f5 he is already threatening to get his King on the 6th, since the Pawn advances with check; e.g., if 51...Ra6? 52 f6ch! (Not 52 Rc7ch Kf8 53 f6 Ra1! and he has given me a chance to recover) Kf7 53 Rc7ch Kf8 54 Kg6 1-0.

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nf3 c2 5. Qxc2 Nc6 6. Bc4 e6 7. O-O a6 8. a4 Be7 9. Nc3 Nf6 10. e5 Ng4 11. Re1 Qc7 12. Bf4 d6 13. Qe4 dxe5 14. Nxe5 Ngxe5 15. Rac1 Bd6 16. Nb5 axb5 17. axb5 O-O 18. bxc6 Nxc6 19. Bxd6 Qxd6 20. Red1 Qe5 21. Qxe5 Nxe5 22. Bb5 b6 23. f4 Ng6 24. g3 Ba6 25. Bxa6 Rxa6 26. Rc7 Rfa8 27. Rb7 h6 28. Rdd7 Ra1+ 29. Kg2 h5 30. Rxf7 Nf8 31. Rxg7+ Kh8 32. Rg5 h4 33. Rh5+ Kg8 34. Rxh4 Rc1 35. Rxb6 Rc2+ 36. Kh3 Ra2 37. Kg4 Raxb2 38. Rxb2 Rxb2 39. h3 Kg7 40. Rh5 Ng6 41. Ra5 Rb4 42. h4 Rb3 43. h5 Nf8 44. Ra8 Rb4 45. h6+ Kg8??

This loses my Knight for a Pawn, leaving me in a Pawn-down ending (though one in which I have good drawing chances). Correct is 45...Kf7, and I remain up a Knight for 2 Pawns. No big advantage to that in this position, but at least I do have *some* material advantage.

46. h7+ Kxh7 47. Rxf8 e5

By forcing this exchange of Pawns, I am confident that I can achieve Philidor's Position and thereby draw.

48. Kg5 exf4 49. gxf4 Kg7 50. Rc8 Rb5+? 51. f5 Kf7?

Passive defense with 51...Rb7 is now necessary.

52. Rc7+ Kf8 53. Kg6 Rb1 54. Rc8+ Ke7 55. f6+ Kd7 56. Ra8 Rg1+ 57. Kf7

Thanks to my poor play, White has now achieved Lucena's Position.

Rg2 58. Ra4 Rg1 59. Rd4+ Kc6 60. Ke8 Re1+ 61. Kf8 Kc5 62. Rd2 Kc6 63. f7 Kc7 64. Rd4 Kc6 65. Kg7 Rg1+ 66. Kf6 Rf1+ 67. Kg6 Rg1+ 68. Kf5 Rf1+ 69. Rf4 {Black resigns} 1-0

White has flawlessly executed the Lucena winning technique, as developed more fully in the next section.

                        *****

And now we come to Lucena's Position.  In the first game, played as White against pawnfish on 11/12/97, he is actually blocking my Pawn after 46...Kg7, but through a series of checks I artfully get his King to vacate the file, all the while avoiding his mate threats against me, and I think I am correct in saying that after 50 fxg5ch I have forced the Lucena Position on him.  He nevertheless plays it out to the bitter end, the reason being that the increment is only one second.

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. cxd4 d6 6. exd6 Qxd6 7. Nf3 e6 8. Nc3 a6 9. Bc4 Nb6 10. Bb3 Be7 11. O-O Nc6 12. Re1 O-O 13. d5 exd5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Qxd5 Be6 16. Qxd6 Bxd6 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Rxe6 Bc5 19. Be3 Bxe3 20. Rxe3 Rae8 21. Rae1 Rxe3 22. Rxe3 Nb4 23. a3 Nd5 24. Re1 Rc8 25. Kf1 Nf4 26. g3 Nd3 27. Re2 Nc5 28. Kg2 Rf8 29. Ng5 h6 30. Ne4 Ne6 31. Nd6 Nd4 32. Re4 Nf5 33. Nxf5 Rxf5

Reaching the Rook and Pawn ending. Each side has 2 Q-side Pawns, and I am up 3 to 2 on the King-side.

34. Re7 Rb5 35. b4 a5 36. bxa5 Rxa5 37. Rxb7 Rxa3

And now the Q-side Pawns have been liquidated, so it is down to just the K-side Pawns. I believe this should be a book draw, so kudos to Black for simplifying by eliminating the Q-side Pawns.

38. h4 Kh7 39. Kh3 Kg6 40. f4 Kf6 41. Rb5 Rd3 42. Kg4 Rd6 43. Kh3 g6 44. Kg4 Re6 45. h5 gxh5+ 46. Kxh5 Kg7 47. g4 Re2 (threatening 48...Rh2#) 48. Rb7+ Kf6 49. g5+ (Not 49 Kxh3?? Rh2#) hxg5 50. fxg5+ Kf5 51. Rf7+ Ke6 52. g6 Rh2+ 53. Kg5 Rg2+ 54. Kh6 Rh2+ 55. Kg7 Rg2 56. Kh7 Rh2+ 57. Kg8 Rg2 58. g7 Ra2 59. Rf4 Ra8+ 60. Kh7 Ke5 61. Rf2 (or 61 Rf8) Ke6 62. g8=Q+ Rxg8 63. Kxg8 Ke5 64. Kg7 Ke4 65. Kg6 Ke3 66. Rf7 Ke4 67. Kg5 Ke5 68. Re7+ Kd6 69. Re1 Kd5 70. Kf4 Kd4 71. Rd1+ Kc3 72. Ke3 Kc2 73. Rd8 Kc3 74. Rc8+ Kb4 75. Kd3 Kb5 76. Kd4 Kb6 77. Rc1 Kb5 78. Rc2 Kb4 79. Rb2+ Ka5 80. Rb8 Ka6 81. Kc5 Ka7 82. Rb1 Ka8 83. Kc6 Ka7 84. Rb2 Ka8 85. Kc7 Ka7 86. Ra2# {Black checkmated}

                                   *****

In the next game, played as White against Flashblack on 9/127/00, he blunders badly with 50...Kb7??, allowing my Pawn to advance to the 5th rank, with a winning Lucena Position.  Instead, he can play 50...Rf8, preventing the immediate advance of the pawn.

There actually is a way for White to *force* the advance of the Pawn, using a technique which I obviously did not remember or find during the game.  If you go back to White's 48th move, instead of 48 Kf5?, I can play 48 Kh6!, a maneuver available because the Pawn in a Bishop's Pawn and not a Knight's Pawn.  Play could continue 48...Rf8 49 Rf1!! (the key idea) Kc6 50 f5 Kd6 51 Re1 and his King is still cut off so it is now Lucena with a Pawn on the 5th, therefore easily won with the standard maneuver, which I flawlessly execute once he allows the push to the 5th rank. After this maneuver is completed he resigns, since the increment here is 4 seconds and not one second as in the last game.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 d6 5. Nxd4 Nxd4 6. Qxd4 Nf6 7. Nc3 Be7 8. Bf4 O-O 9. O-O-O Bd7 10. Rhe1 a6 11. e5 dxe5 12. Bxe5 c5 13. Qd3 b5 14. Qd2? (14 Bxf6!) bxc4 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Qxd7 Qxd7 17. Rxd7 Bxc3 18. bxc3 h6 19. Rc7 Rfc8 20. Ree7 Rxc7 21. Rxc7 Kf8 22. Rxc5 Re8 23. Rxc4 Re2 24. Rf4 g5 25. Rf3 Kg7 26. Kd1 Re6 27. Kd2 Kg6 28. c4 f5 29. c5 Re5 30. Rc3 Rd5+ 31. Ke3 Kf6 32. c6 Rd8 33. c7 Rc8 34. Kd4 Ke6 35. Rc6+ Kd7 36. Rxh6 Kxc7 37. Rxa6 Kb7 38. Ra5 Rxc2 39. Rxf5 Rxa2 40. f3? (40 h3) Rxg2 41. Ke4 Rxh2 42. Rxg5

Kind of silly to let him go from three Pawns down to only one Pawn down, but I suppose I was relying on getting a winning Lucena Postiion at the end of the exchanges.

Rh4+ 43. f4 Rh8 44. Rc5

Cutting off his King by three files.

Kb6 45. Rc1 Re8+ 46. Kf5 Rf8+ 47. Kg5 Rg8+ 48. Kf5?

There is a special maneuver available here to force the advance of the Pawn to the 5th rank, a maneuver which I obviously did not remember during the game. I should play 48 Kh6! Rf8 49 Rf1! (the key idea) Kc6 50 f5 Kd6 51 Re1, so it is still the Lucena Position with my Pawn now on the 5th rank, so an easy win.

Rf8+ 49. Ke4 Re8+ 50. Kf3 Kb7??

This allows me to advance my Pawn unimpeded, giving me tyhe winning Lucena Position. He should play 50...Rf8 to hold my feet to the fire to find the winning maneuver. The win is straightforward now.

51. f5 Rf8 52. Kf4 Rg8 53. f6 Rg2 54. Kf5 Rf2+ 55. Kg6 Rg2+ 56. Kf7 Rf2 57. Kg7 Rg2+ 58. Kf8 Rf2 59. f7 Rf3 60. Rc4 Kb6 61. Ke7 Re3+ 62. Kf6 Rf3+ 63. Ke6 Re3+ 64. Kf5 Rf3+ 65. Rf4 {Black resigns} 1-0

                           *****

And finally we come to the special case of the Rook Pawn.  As White against kwiteaman, played on 3/15/97, the pertinent principles are well-illustrated.  We reach the Rook and Pawn vs. Rook ending after 54...Kxb7.  If I now play 55 Rc5, I cut his King off by 5(!) files, but I cannot win since my Pawn is still on the 2nd rank.  His Rook simply checks my King which will be unable to support the Pawn's advance.  So, I push the Pawn up 2, and after 55 h4 Kc7 56 Rd5, I have his King cut off by 4 files but the rule is that my Pawn needs to be on the 5th to be able to win this, not on the 4th as in the game.  Black repeatedly opposes Rooks, allowing his King to inch closer as my Pawn advances, illustrating Black's drawing resources.  Unfortunately for Black, before hitting on the drawing method he loses a vital tempo with 56...Kc6?.  Later his 62...Kf6? loses immediately, but computer analysis shows that even the correct 62...Rh7 will lose against accurate play by White.

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 b6 6. Nf3 Bb7 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Nxd5 Bxd5 10. Bd3 Qb4+ 11. Qd2 Qxd2+ 12. Nxd2 O-O 13. O-O Nd7 14. Rfc1 c5 15. Bb5 Rfd8 16. Bxd7 Rxd7 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Rxc5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Rxd2 20. Rac1 g6 21. R1c2 Rxc2 22. Rxc2 Rb8 23. b3 Rb7 24. Kf3 Kg7 25. Ke4 Kf6 26. Rc5 Rb4+ 27. Rc4 Rb6 28. Ra4 a6 29. Rc4 Rb5 30. Kf3 Ra5 31. Rc2 Rf5+ 32. Kg3 h5 33. b4 g5 34. a4 g4 35. Rb2 Kg5 36. b5 axb5 37. axb5 Rc5 38. b6 Rc8 39. b7 Rb8 40. Rb5+ f5 41. e4 h4+ 42. Kg2 Kf4 43. exf5 exf5 44. Rb4+ Kg5 45. f3 gxf3+ 46. Kxf3 f4? 47. Rb5+ Kf6 48. Kxf4 Ke7 49. Kg4 Kd7 50. Kxh4 Kc7 51. Kg5 Rg8+ 52. Kf4 Rf8+ 53. Rf5? (Kg5) Rh8 54. Kg3? (Rb5) Kxb7 55. h4 Kc7 56. Rd5 Kc6? (Rd8=) 57. Rd1 Rh7 58. Kg4 Rd7 59. Re1 Kd6 60. h5 Re7 61. Rh1 Ke6 62. h6 Kf6?

62...Rh7 63 Kg5 Kf7 64 Ra1! Rh8 (Black was in zugzwang) 65 Ra7ch Ke6 66 h7 followed by Kg6-g7 winning easily.

63. h7 {Black resigns} 1-0

In the next game, played as Black against VECTOR on 2/22/01, I get the classical position of Rook + Rook Pawn vs. Rook, where  my King is on R8 and has to be extricated.  I correctly play 65...Rd5ch!, cutting his King off by the required 4 files, but unfortunately I later go horribly astray with the atrocious 74...Rf2ch??, instead of the correct 74...Rf1 75 Ke2 Rg1 winning.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 a6 5. Be3 Nc6 6. Qd2 g6 7. Nc3 Bg7 8. Bc4 Nf6 9. O-O-O Bg4 10. h3 Bxf3 11. gxf3 Rc8 12. Bb3 O-O 13. Kb1 Ne5 14. f4 Nc4 15. Bxc4 Rxc4 16. f3 Qc7 17. Bd4 Rc8 18. b3 Rxd4 19. Qxd4 Qxc3 20. Qxc3 Rxc3 21. e5 Nh5 22. exd6 exd6 23. Rxd6 Rxf3 24. Rd8+ Bf8 25. Rb8 Nxf4 26. Rd1 Kg7 27. Rxb7 Rxh3 28. Rdd7 Ba3 29. Rxf7+ Kg8 30. Rg7+ Kh8 31. c4 Ne6 32. Rgd7 Kg8 33. Kc2 g5 34. Rb6 Re3 35. Rxa6 Bf8 36. b4 g4 37. Kd2 Re5 38. c5 g3 39. Rd3 Rg5 40. Rxe6 g2 41. Re1 g1=Q 42. Rxg1 Rxg1 43. Rd8 Rg2+ 44. Kc3 Rxa2 45. b5 Kg7 46. Kb3 Ra1 47. Rd7+ Kg6 48. c6 Rb1+ 49. Kc4 Rb4+ 50. Kd3 Rxb5 51. c7 Rc5 52. Rd8 Rxc7 53. Rxf8

We have reached the interesting ending of Rook and h-Pawn vs. Rook. I proceed to cut off his King from my Pawn by three files with my next move.

Re7 54. Rg8+ Kf5 55. Rf8+ Kg4 56. Rg8+ Kh4 57. Rg1?

The Rook belongs behind the passed Pawn, not in front of it. Since the weak-side King belongs on the 2nd rank in this ending, his best is 57 Kd2, after which my rook will require 3 moves to get to the key g1 square, and his King will then have time to get close enough to secure the draw.

h5 58. Kd2 Kh3 59. Rh1+ Kg4 60. Rg1+ Kf3 61. Rh1

Here again, 61 Rg8 is more to the point.

Re5 62. Rh4 Kg3 63. Rh1 h4 64. Rg1+ Kf2!

Now that I have opposed Kings, I can check his King to where it is cut off by 4 files, giving me a winning position. Had he put his Rook on the 8th file as he should have, he could now check me and prevent me from effectively opposing Kings like this.

65. Rh1 Rd5+! 66. Kc3 Kg3 67. Rg1+ Kh2 68. Rg4?

Even though I have a won game, hs should still make it as challenging for me as he can. Correct is 68 Rg8.

h3 69. Kc4 Rd8 70. Kc3 Kh1 71. Kc2 h2 72. Kc1 Rd7 73. Kc2 Rf7 74. Kd2 Rf2+??

A complete brain freeze on my part. Simply 74...Rf1 followed by 75...Rg1, and my King then escapes.

75. Ke3 Rg2 76. Ra4 Rg1 77. Ra2 Rg3+ 78. Kf4 Rg2 79. Ra1+ Rg1 80. Ra2 Rf1+ 81. Kg3 Rg1+ 82. Kf3 Rb1 83. Rc2 Kg1 84. Rg2+ Kh1 85. Rc2 Rf1+ 86. Kg3 Rg1+ 87. Kf3 Rf1+ 88. Kg3 {Game drawn by mutual agreement} 1/2-1/2

Some King and Pawn Endings

I have always had a fascination with King and Pawn endings. I think it's because they are so deceptively simple-looking, yet often contain such wonderful complexities. Following are some of these endings from my ICC library.

The first one was played on 2/19/97 vs. jk. Instead of 41...Kf5, winning easily, my 41...Kf7?? loses even though I am a Pawn up at the time.

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. g3 Bc5 7. e3 Nxd4 8. exd4 Bb4 9. Bd2 O-O 10. Bg2 d5 11. c5 Bd7 12. O-O Bc6 13. a3 Bxc3 14. Bxc3 Rb8 15. b4 b6 16. Rb1 a5 17. Qc2 axb4 18. axb4 bxc5 19. bxc5 Bb5 20. Rfe1 Qd7 21. Bf1 Bxf1 22. Kxf1 Ne4 23. f3 Nxc3 24. Qxc3 Rfc8 25. f4 Qa4 26. Rec1 Qa6+ 27. Kf2 Rb7 28. Rxb7 Qxb7 29. c6?

This has to be wrong on principle. While the old adage is that "passed Pawns must be pushed", that does not apply here, since pushing the c-Pawn only makes it inevitable that it will be captured, becauss the Black King is closer to it than his White counterpart. On c5 it was protected, whereas it is weak on c6.

29...Qb6 30. Qc5 Qxc5 31. Rxc5 Kf8 32. Ke3 Ke7 33. f5 Kd6 34. fxe6 fxe6 35. Kf4 Rxc6 36. Rxc6+ Kxc6

The King and Pawn endgame has been reached.

37. Ke5 Kd7?

Too passive. The aggressive 37...Kb5 wins easily. After 38 Kxe5 Kc4 39 Ke5, a zugzwang position has arisen in which all Black needs to do is force White to move his King first. This can be easily done with 39...g6, creating an identical Pawn position on the g and h files, so that all Black has to do after that is mirror White's moves and he wins.

This game was played at a bullet time control (2,1), which does not lend itself to accurate endgame play. I hate bullet, but I used to play it some since it was often the only way to get a game on ICC. The same drawback exists with the 5,0 blitz time control, in that by the time the ending comes around there is likely not enough time to give it the thought it needs. I realized early on in my internet play that my favorite blitz time control is 2,10, which is 2 minutes initially, and 10 seconds for each additional move. This gives the player at least some time to think through crucial endgame positions like the one here.

38. h4 Ke7 39. g4 Kf7 40. Kd6 Kf6 41. g5+ Kf7?? (41...Kf5-+) 42. Ke5 Ke7 43. h5 g6 44. h6 Kf7 45. Kd6 e5 46. Kxe5 Ke7 47. Kxd5 Kd7 48. Ke5 Ke7 49. d5 Kd7 50. Kf6 Kd6 51. Kg7 Kxd5 52. Kxh7 Ke6 53. Kxg6 Ke7 54. Kg7 Ke6 55. h7 Kf5 56. h8=Q Kxg5 57. Qf8 Kg4 58. Qf6 Kg3 59. Qf5 Kg2 60. Kg6 Kg3 61. Kg5 Kg2 62. Qf4 Kg1 63. Qd2 Kf1
64. Kf4 Kg1 65. Kg3 Kf1 66. Qf2# {Black checkmated} 1-0

This next one was played on 5/1/98 vs. kq. Either 38 cxb5 or 40 Kg4 would have won easily. Incredibly, I find a way to lose as White.

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c4 d6 4. Nc3 Nd7 5. f3 e5 6. d5 Ne7 7. Be3 b6 8. Qd2 Nc5 9. h4 Ba6 10. h5 Qd7 11. hxg6 hxg6 12. Rxh8+ Bxh8 13. O-O-O O-O-O 14. Nh3 Bg7 15. Ng5 Ng8 16. g3 Na4 17. Bh3 f5 18. exf5 gxf5 19. Nxa4 Qxa4 20. b3 Qa5 21. Ne6 Qxd2+ 22. Rxd2 Rd7 23. Nxg7 Rxg7 24. Bxf5+ Kd8 25. g4 Bc8 26. Rh2 Bxf5 27. gxf5 Ke8 28. Rh8 Kf7 29. Kc2 Rg2+ 30. Kd3 Nf6 31. Bh6 Rg8 32. Rxg8 Nxg8 33. Bg5 Nf6 34. Bxf6 Kxf6 35. Ke4 a6 36. f4 exf4 37. Kxf4 b5 38. a4 bxa4 39. bxa4 a5 40. Ke4 Kg5 41. f6 Kxf6 42. Kf4 Kg6 43. Kg4 Kf6 44. Kh5 Ke5 45. Kg5 Kd4 46. Kf5 Kxc4 47. Ke6 Kc5 48. Kd7 Kxd5 49. Kxc7 Kc5 50. Kb7 d5 {White resigns} 0-1

Vs. Cyberknight on 8/9/00, I throw away an easy draw with 42...c4??

1. d4 f5 2. e3 e6 3. Bd3 Nf6 4. Bd2 Be7 5. f4 O-O 6. Nf3 d6 7. O-O c6 8. Be1 Qe8 9. Nbd2 Qh5 10. c3 Nbd7 11. Ng5 Qxd1 12. Rxd1 Nb6 13. c4 h6 14. Ngf3 Ng4 15. Bf2 Bd7 16. h3 Nf6 17. b3 Rad8 18. e4 fxe4 19. Nxe4 Nxe4 20. Bxe4 Bf6 21. Nh2 e5 22. fxe5 dxe5 23. dxe5 Bxe5 24. Bd4 Rxf1+ 25. Nxf1 Bxd4+ 26. Rxd4 Kf7 27. Bf5 Ke7 28. Bxd7 Rxd7 29. Rxd7+ Kxd7 30. Ne3 Ke6 31. Kf2 Nd7 32. Kf3 Ne5+ 33. Ke4 Nd7 34. Kd4 c5+ 35. Ke4 b6 36. Nf5 Nf6+ 37. Kf4 Ne8 38. g4 Kf6 39. Ne3 Nc7 40. Nd5+ Nxd5+ 41. cxd5 b5 42. Ke4 c4??

Not only does this careless move throw away an easy draw, but Black may well win if White isn't careful. For example, the game could continue 42...g5 43 a3 a6 44 b4 c4 45 Kd4 Ke7 46 Kc3 Kd7 47 Kd4 Kd6 48 Ke4 c3 49 Kd3 Kxd5 50 Kxc3 Ke4 51 Kd2 Kf3 52 Kd3 Kg3 53 Ke4 Kxh3 54 Kf5 Kg3-+. To avoid giving Black the passed Pawn in this line, White must give up his own passed Pawn with 44 d6, after which the game is a dull draw.

43. bxc4 bxc4 44. Kd4 c3 45. Kxc3 Ke5 46. Kc4 Kd6 47. Kd4 g5 48. a3 a6 49. Kc4 Kd7 50. Kc5 Kc7 51. d6+ {Black resigns} 1-0

In the next, vs. sceptic on 3/1/03, Black wins the zugzwang battle but loses the war.

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. g3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Nge7 6. Bg2 Ng6 7. O-O Be6 8. b3 Qd7 9. Bb2 O-O-O 10. Nbd2 Ngxe5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Nf3 Nxf3+ 13. Bxf3 h5 14. Qd2 Bg4 15. Bg2 c5 16. Qa5 Kb8 17. Ba3 b6 18. Qa6 Bh3 19. Rab1 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Qb7+ 21. Qxb7+ Kxb7 22. b4 Kc6 23. bxc5 Bxc5 24. Bxc5 bxc5 25. Rb5 Rb8 26. Rfb1 Rb6 27. a4 Rhb8 28. Kf3 a6 29. Rxb6+ Rxb6 30. Rxb6+ Kxb6 31. Ke4 Ka5 32. Kd5 Kb4 33. a5 g6 34. f4 f6 35. h3 g5 36. h4 gxh4 37. gxh4 f5 38. Ke5 Kxc4 39. Kxf5 d3 40. exd3+ Kxd3 41. Kg6 c4 42. f5 c3 43. f6 c2 44. f7 c1=Q 45. f8=Q Qg1+ 46. Kxh5 Qd1+ 47. Kg5 Qg1+ 48. Kh6 Qe3+ 49. Kh5 Qe2+ 50. Kh6 Qe3+ 51. Kg7 Qd4+ 52. Qf6 Qd7+ 53. Qf7 Qg4+ 54. Qg6+ Qxg6+ 55. Kxg6
{Black resigns} 1-0

This next position really takes the cake. The position looks ridiculously simple--all the remaining Pawns are on the g-file.  I innocently play 62...Kh5, and after that can only draw, even though I have an extra Pawn. Black is JT, played on 3/15/97.

1. e4 c5 2. c3 e6 3. d4 d5 4. Nd2 cxd4 5. cxd4 Bb4 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Bxd7+ Qxd7 8. e5 Ne7 9. Nf3 Nbc6 10. O-O O-O 11. a3 Ba5 12. b4 Bb6 13. Nb3 Nf5 14. Qd3 f6 15. exf6 Rxf6 16. Bg5 Rg6 17. b5 Ncxd4 18. Ne5 Qxb5 19. Qxb5 Nxb5 20. Nxg6 hxg6 21. Rfe1 Kf7 22. a4 Nc3 23. a5 Bxf2+ 24. Kxf2 Ne4+ 25. Kf1 Nxg5 26. Nc5 Rc8 27. Nxb7 Rc7 28. a6 Rc2 29. Rac1 Ra2 30. Rc7+ Kf6 31. Nc5 Nh4 32. g3 Nhf3 33. Re2 Nxh2+ 34. Ke1 Ngf3+ 35. Kd1 Ra1+ 36. Kc2 Nd4+ 37. Kd3 Nxe2 38. Kxe2 Ra2+ 39. Kd3 e5 40. Rxa7 e4+ 41. Kc3 e3 42. Ra8 Kf7 43. a7 e2 44. Nd3 Ra3+ 45. Kd2 Rxd3+ 46. Kxd3 e1=Q 47. Rf8+ Kxf8 48. a8=Q+ Kf7 49. Qb7+ Qe7 50. Qxd5+ Qe6 51. Qb7+ Kf6 52. Qb2+ Qe5 53. Qxh2 Qd5+ 54. Kc3 Qc5+ 55. Kd2 Qd4+ 56. Ke1 Qa1+ 57. Kf2 Qb2+ 58. Kg1 Qc1+ 59. Kg2 Qd2+ 60. Kh3 Qxh2+ 61. Kxh2 Kg5 62. Kh3 Kh5? 63. g4+ Kg5 64. Kg3 Kf6 65. Kf4 g5+ 66. Ke4 Ke6 67. Kd4 Kd6 68. Ke4 Ke6 69. Kd4 g6 70. Ke4 Kd6 71. Kd4 Ke6 72. Ke4 Kd6 73. Kd4 {Game drawn by mutual agreement} 1/2-1/2

In the next, vs. Colstrip on 2/19/97, I can win with 33...Kd4.

. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 a6 4. Nf3 d6 5. d3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. Bd2 Bg4 8. O-O Bxf3 9. Bxf3 Nd4 10. f5 Nxf3+ 11. Qxf3 Nf6 12. Nd5 O-O 13. Bg5 Nxd5 14. exd5 Qd7 15. f6 exf6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Qxf6 Rae8 18. Rae1 Rxe1 19. Rxe1 Re8 20. Qf2 Rxe1+ 21. Qxe1 Kf8 22. Qe4 Qe7 23. c4 f5 24. Qxe7+ Kxe7 25. Kf2 Kf6 26. Kf3 Ke5 27. Ke3 g5 28. g3 h5 29. h3 b6 30. a4 a5 31. b3 f4+ 32. gxf4+ gxf4+ 33. Kf3 Kf5? 34. Kf2 Ke5 35. Kf3 Kf5 36. Kf2 Kg5 37. Kf3 Kh4 38. Kg2 f3+ 39. Kf2 Kxh3 40. Kxf3 h4 41. Kf2 Kg4 42. Kg2 Kf4 43. Kh3 Ke3 44. Kxh4 Kxd3 45. Kg4 Kc3 46. Kf5 Kxb3 47. Ke6 Kxa4 48. Kxd6 Kb4 49. Kc6 a4 50. d6 a3 51. d7 a2 52. d8=Q a1=Q 53. Qxb6+ Kxc4 54. Qxc5+ Kd3 55. Qf5+ Ke2 56. Qh5+ Kf2 57. Qh2+ Kf3 58. Qh3+ Kf2 59. Qh2+ {Game drawn by mutual agreement} 1/2-1/2

In the next, as White vs. MCapelo on 11/25/97, I throw away the win on the 33rd move, and then the draw on the 41st move.

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Ne2 dxe4 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Nxc3 Nf6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Nxe4 Qg6 10. Qd3 Bd7 11. O-O-O Bc6 12. f3 Nd7 13. h4 O-O-O 14. h5 Qh7 15. g4 Nf6 16. Nxf6 Qxd3 17. Rxd3 gxf6 18. Be2 e5 19. Rhd1 Rxd4 20. Rxd4 exd4 21. Rxd4 Rd8 22. Rxd8+ Kxd8 23. Kd2 Ke7 24. Ke3 Kd6 25. Bc4 Bd5 26. Bxd5 Kxd5 27. Kf4 Ke6 28. Ke4 c6 29. c3 b6 30. b3 a6 31. f4 b5 32. Kd4 Kd6 33. c4 c5+ 34. Ke4 bxc4 35. bxc4 Ke6 36. a4 a5 37. Kd3 Kd6 38. Ke3 Kd7 39. Kd3 Ke7 40. Ke4 Ke6 41. g5 fxg5 42. fxg5 hxg5 43. h6 f5+ {White forfeits on time} 0-1

I am especially proud of the next game because it was a one-minute game, a time control I am notoriously poor at. I recognize the zugzwang position, run him out of moves till he has to move his King, and then Queen a Pawn and mate him with 5.1 second left on my clock!

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Bc4 d6 6. Nf3 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. Bf4 a6 9. Qe2 e5 10. Bg3 Bd7 11. Rfd1 Nf6 12. Rac1 Qc7 13. a3 b5 14. Ba2 Na5 15. Bh4 Rc8 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Nd5 Qb8 18. Nxf6+ gxf6 19. Rxc8+ Qxc8 20. Rxd6 Ke7 21. Qd2 Rd8 22. Nh4 Be6 23. Rxd8 Qxd8 24. Qxd8+ Kxd8 25. Bxe6 fxe6 26. f4 Nc4 27. fxe5 Nxe5 28. b3 Ke7 29. Nf3 Nxf3+ 30. gxf3 Kd6 31. Kf2 Ke5 32. Ke3 f5 33. f4+ Kf6 34. e5+ Ke7 35. Kd4 Kd7 36. Kc5 Kc7 37. b4 h6 38. h3 h5 39. h4 Kb7 (Black was in zugzwang) 40. Kd6 Kb6 41. Kxe6 a5 42. Kf7 axb4 43. axb4 Kc6 44. e6 Kd5 45. e7 Kc4 46. e8=Q Kxb4 47. Qc6 Ka4 48. Ke6 Ka5 49. Kd5 b4 50. Kc5 b3 51. Qb7 Ka4 52. Qb4# {Black checkmated} 1-0

The next one, played as White against afr64 on 11/15/97, is not a very interesting game, but take a look at the position after 47 Kg5.  White has his King on g5 and a Pawn on h4, while Black has his King on c5 and a Pawn on h5.  Black's Pawn is about to fall, leaving him with King vs. King and Rook Pawn.  But, in the words of the "Cool Hand Luke" warden, he doesn't have "his mind right". He should be thinking, "just get my King to f8 and I have the draw".  Toward that end, 47...Kd6 is called for, reaching f8 in 2 more moves. Instead, he blunders horribly with 47...Kd5??, and now cannot recover.

1. e4 c5 2. d4 Nc6 3. dxc5 e6 4. Be3 Qa5+ 5. Nc3 Bxc5 6. Bxc5 Qxc5 7. Nf3 Nf6 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O d5 10. exd5 exd5 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. Qxd5 Qxf2 13. Bc4 Nb4 14. Qd2 Qxd2+ 15. Rxd2 Nc6 16. Rhd1 Bf5 17. Nd4 Nxd4 18. Rxd4 Rac8 19. Bd3 Bxd3 20. Rd1xd3 Rfe8 21. c3 Kf8 22. Kc2 f6 23. Rd7 Re7 24. h3 Rce8 25. Rd2 Rxd7 26. Rxd7 Re2+ 27. Kb3 Re7 28. Rxe7 Kxe7 29. Kc4 Kd6 30. Kd4 f5 31. c4 g5 32. b3 a5 33. g3 b6 34. h4 g4 35. Kd3 Ke5 36. Ke3 h5 37. a3 f4+ 38. gxf4+ Kf5 39. b4 axb4 40. axb4 g3 41. Kf3 g2 42. Kxg2 Kxf4 43. c5 bxc5 44. bxc5 Ke5 45. Kf3 Kd5 46. Kf4 Kxc5 47. Kg5 Kd5?? 48. Kxh5 Ke5 49. Kg6 Ke6 50. h5 Ke7 51. Kg7 Ke8 52. h6 Ke7 53. h7 Ke8 54. h8=Q+ Ke7 55. Qh6 Ke8 56. Kf6 Kd7 57. Ke5 Kc7 58. Qd6+ Kb7 59. Kd5 Ka7 60. Kc5 Kb7 61. Qb6+ Ka8 62. Qa6+ Kb8 63. Qh6 Kc7 64. Qh7+ Kb8 65. Kc6 Ka8 66. Qb7# {Black checkmated} 1-0

My Potato Soup

Having looked unsuccessfully for a long time for a potato soup recipe that appealed to me, I decided Saturday evening to make up my own soup.

I put together the following ingredients: water, potatoes, carrots, celery, asparagus, spinach, green onions, shrimp, butter, and cheese.

Results: It was pretty good. I used new potatoes and the skins were falling off the potatoes after cooking, so I think next time I will use regular potatoes peeled and thinly sliced. The shrimp was rubbery and hard and I will leave those out next time. Celery and cheese will also be left out.

What was really good was the spinach. This is the first time in my life I have bought fresh spinach (and also first time for green onions and fresh asparagus), and it was great! Next time I wil make it primarily a potato and spinach soup. I'm not sure about the asparagus; I had bought it 2 weeks before so it was somewhat old by the time I used it.

Final Jeopardy Wagering Strategy--Part 1

I glanced at a couple of web sites on this topic, but the analysis seemed so lame that I decided to tackle it without studying what anybody else has said about it.

This is an important topic in the field of game theory, which deals with situations in which one must make decisions based on what one guesses others are going to do. The Prisoner's Dilemma is of course the major problem in the field of game theory, and has been the subject of much wonderful analysis over the years.

In order to arrive at a situation simple enough that we can get a handle on it, I will make the following assumptions for the purpose of this initial discussion.

1. Let's say the lowest player has a negative score, so that there are only two players playing Final Jeopardy.

2. Let's further assume that the outcome is purely random; i.e., each player will write down "heads" or "tails", and when the music stops Alex will flip a coin to determine the right answer.

3. Let's also assume that the goal is to win the game; i.c., the opportunity to come back the next day and play again trumps the opportunity to win a few more thousand dollars in a losing cause.

With these assumptions stated, let us give Player A $10,000, and look at different levels for Player B and discuss correct wagering strategies for each.

The lowest non-trivial amount for B would be $5,000. Since a tie is the same as a win, i.e., if you tie both players get to come back the next day, it is correct here for A to wager zero. If he wages a dollar, and B wagers everything, A's winning chances drop to 75% given the 4 equally possible results which flow from assumption #2. By risking nothing, A is guaranteed a return visit. Similarly, by risking $5,000, B is ensured a 25% chance of coming back, assuming A correctly wagers nothing.

Now give B $6,000. Normal wagering strategy here for A is to risk $2,001, guaranteeing him the win if he gets the answer, even if B risks everything. This is such a common bet here for A that I think it is safe to say B should bet based on this assumption about what A is doing. If B now bets everything, it can be easily seen that he wins only 25% of the time (when he is right and A is wrong). However, B can risk down to 2K and still ensure that same 25% chance of winning. Correct strategy then for B would be to risk between 2K & 6K, depending on how he feels about the category of the question, and it would be a gross blunder for B to risk anything less than $1,999, since this would give him a 0% chance of winning.

Now let's give B $7,000, and here things start to get more interesting. A's normal bet here would be $4,001. Assuming that bet on A's part, which is a pretty safe assumption, what should B's strategy be here? Well, B has a strategy that will jump his winning expectation clear up to 50%! By betting $1,000 or less, he wins whenever A is incorrect.

So is A wrong for making the standard $4,001 wager? Well, if he assumes B is sophisticated enough to go through this analysis and limit his wager to the 1K, then A can adjust his wager down to 2K or less and raise his winning expectation up to 75%! Given how innumerate most people are, it is hard to say if this assumption is valid. I would say, however, that it is pretty easy for B to see that if he risks everything, he can win only 25% of the time against the normal $4,001 wager. Surely most B's who have given it any thought (which if you're going on the show you surely would do) can then do the simple math and realize the proper bet would be the 1K or less.

Now let's give B 8K. The "normal" bet here for A now is $6,0001. This makes B's bet in response 4K or less, giving him a 50% shot. In response, if A anticipates the 4K bet, he can limit his bet to 2K (or less) and up his winning chances to 75%.

Finally, let's give B 9K. All B has to do now to assure himself a 50% chance against A's normal $8,001 bet is to risk 7K or less. Surely an A who gives it any thought must realize B is more likely to risk 7K or less compared to risking everything, and so A should adjust his strategy here to allow for this. A bet of 8K would give him 50% against B's 7K bet, and A would have to lower his bet dollar-for-dollar to keep it at 50% as B lowers his bets.

I invite responses on the following issues:

1) What would a general formula be for A and B's betting strategy?

2) How would the strategies change when the 3rd player is introduced?

3) How would the strategies change if you allow for variances in difficulty of the questions; i.e., assume it is not strictly 50% right and wrong, but assume that if I get the right answer, my opponent is 75% likely to get it, and similarly if I get the wrong answer, my opponent is 75% chance of getting it wrong also. This is more in conformance with real life experience.

4) What would a survey of actual bets of Jeopardy contestants reveal?

5) What would a computer simulation reveal?

The Smith-Morra Gambit Analyzed

1 e4 Usually leads to a more dynamic and tactical game than other first moves.

1...c5 Black opts for the Sicilian, the most dynamic and popular response to 1 e4.

2 d4 White avoids the normal continuation 2 Nf3, after which Black can steer the game into a variation which he knows and White probably does not know so well. Instead, White steers the game into his pet variation, which will likely make Black uncomfortable.

2...cxd4 The best way to refute a gambit is to accept it! There are many popular ways of declining the gambit also.

3 c3 Now it becomes a true gambit.

3...dxc3 Black accepts the challenge. In exchange for his gambited Pawn, White will have play on the d and c files.

4 Nxc3 Sometimes White will offer a 2nd Pawn by not taking immediately, but this is said to be "unnecessary and unsound" on White's part.

4...Nc6 Covers e5 and blocks the c file.

5 Nf3 This and Bc4 are likely interchangeable.

5...d6 Will be needed anyway, so why not play it now?

6 Bc4 While White will have an issue about where to develop his other Bishop, the King's Bishop always goes here.

6...e6 Black often blunders here with 6...Nf6?, and after 7 e5! Nxe5?? 8 Nxe5 dxe5 9 Bxf7ch! Black has lost his Queen, while after 7...dxe5 8 QxQ NxQ 9 Nb5 Rb8 10 Nxe5 e6 White stands better.

7 0-0 Normal and good.

7...a6 This prevents Nb5, and thus is an important part of Black's defensive scheme.

8 Qe2 This and White's last are likely interchangeable.

8...Bd7 This, along with Black's next, initiate a line which Joseph Sipman, in a series of articles in Chess Horizons 17 years ago, says is "clearly the best". An alternative for Black is 8...b5 9 Bb3 Ra7!?, initiating the so-called "Chicago Defense". I was introduced to this setup years ago when Steve Carter played it against me in club games. Based on Steve's success with it, I played it myself as Black in a number of ICC games, but found out that White has resources against it. Shipman gives 10 Rd1 Be7 11 Be3 Rd7 12 Nd4! (the refutation) Nxd4 13 Bxd4 Bf6! 14 e5 dxe5 15 Bxe5 Bxe5 16 Qxe5 Nf6 17 Rxd7 Bxd7 18 Qd6!; or 10 Be3! Rd7 11 Nd4!, with the idea that White has kept his King Rook home, where it supports the push f2-f4-f5 with a good attack.

9 Rd1 White proceeds in standard fashion.

9...Be7 Shipman says this defense "poses a real threat to the soundness of the Smith-Morra gambit". By delaying ...Nf6, Black gives White the problem of where to move his Queen Bishop.

10 Be3! Waiting moves here do not help, because Black also has the useful waiting move ...Rc8. 10 Bf4 is also playable, though Black comes out OK if he knows what he's doing. After 10 Bf4
Shipman gives 10...e5! 11 Be3 Nf6 and now: 1) 12 Bg5 Bg4!; 2) Rac1 Ng4!; 3) h3 Rc8!; or 4) Nd5! NxN 13 BxN 0-0 14 Rac1 Rac8

10...Nf6! Not 10...Rc8 11 Na4 b5 12 Bb6 Rc7 and either 13 Bb3 or 13 Bxb5ch are good for White.

11 Bg5! Shipman says this keeps the initiative.

11...Ng4! Gives back the Pawn, but White must trade Queens in the process. The continuation now given by Shipman is 12 Bxe7 Qxe7 13 Qd2! Nge5! 14 Be2! Nxf3 15 Bxf3 Ne5 16 Be2 Bc6! 17 Qxd6 Qxd6 18 Rxd6 Ke7 19 Rd2 g5! 20 Rad1=.

New Jogging Record

This morning I jogged for 40 minutes, setting a record by a full 10 minutes over my previous high!

While I understand day-to-day fluctuations are not to be taken seriously, I was gratified that my weight after the jog was down by 2 and a half pounds over 2 days ago.

Last summer my brother told me his cholesterol was very high, and suggested I get checked. I have finally done that, and the results are that overall cholesterol is 227.2, triglycerides are 151.3, HDL (good cholesterol) is 40, and LDL (bad cholesterol) is 156.9. Websites I looked at indicate this is borderline high, so diet modification and exercise is indicated as the first line of attack.

Classes of Grammarians

This is probably a hopelessly impossible task, but I will attempt to describe classes of grammarians, or types of attitudes toward grammar usage.

The first category is the SNOOT. This is a person who fervently believes that there is a right way to use language and a wrong way, and that the difference is important. The concept is discussed in great detail in a Harper's magazine article, which can be found at http://instruct.westvalley.edu/lafave/DFW_present_tense.html#note3

This a very long and thoughtful article, and it is refreshing in this era of anything goes relativity that someone takes the effort to analyze this issue so thoroughly. Rather than attempting any analysis of it, I will simply refer the interested reader to the article itself.

I have an Internet friend who cheerfully admits he is a SNOOT, and writes that:

"I am not only a prescriptive grammarian but a lover of fine language and of languages generally.  English for me is not only a medium of ommunication but an art form, even in everyday use, so much so that I alienate almost everyone I come in contact with through written media."

Rather than belaboring the SNOOT category, I will move on to the second one. This is the person who acknowledges that language evolves, but will not accept the new usage until the evolution is complete.

Judge Judy probably falls in this category (if not the SNOOT one), as indicated by her recent immediate and sharp rebuke of a litigant who said "Me and my friend", to which she responded "My friend and I".

The third category is the person who wants to help the language evolve.  Perhaps my older son falls in this category, based on his advocacy of using "they" as a singular pronoun.

The fourth and last category is the person who doesn't think language use matters at all.  This is the sort of person who also doesn't think manners and rules of courtesy matter either, the sort of person who doesn't care that rules of courtesy require that a man wait for a woman to extend her hand in greeting, so that she has the option of ignoring him if she wants to.

Edwin Newman's 1974 book "Strictly Speaking" places him in the first category.  Newman writes:

"Automatic recall should be visited on anyone on the public payroll who says viable.  Something drastic is needed, for while language--the poor state of language in the U.S.--may not be at the heart of our problems, it isn't divorced from them either.  It is at least conceivable that our politics would be improved if our English were, and so would other parts of our national life.  If we were more careful about what we say, and how, we might be more critical and less gullible.  Those for whom words have lost their value are likely to find that ideas have also lost their value. Maybe some people discipline themselves in one and not in the other, but they must be rare."

On the other hand, in Barbara Wallraff's book "Word Court", which I picked up over the holidays at the Elliott Bay Book Company in Portland, surely the best bookstore in the world, the author endorses a category 2 approach:

"Standard English is not something handed down from on high.  It may seem disingenuous for someone who calls herself judge of Word Court to say that, and yet I do not just make up my answers, any more than a real judge rules according to whim.  Whenever I can, I rely on precedent and consensus....

Everyone who chooses to use standard English must make an endless series of decisions about the language, and thereby has a say in how it develops.  If people habitually use contact as a transitive verb--as in 'I hope you will contact me'--the usage becomes a part of standard English (and, in fact, it has done so).  If people insist on calling the establishment where they go to wash their clothes a laundromat, then whether the creators of the Laundromat launderette franchise like it or not, the generic meaning becomes standard English (it, too, has done so).  If everyone stops saying forsooth, the word is sure to be marked 'archaic' in dictionaries (this day has not yet come)."