AHogDriver

I had a very unenjoyable game last night. I played a 90mins each game against someone called AHogDriver, I prefer the longer games because there is little time pressure and I can analyse the positions very carefully. Anyway we get to the position below where he has just blundered to leave his Bishop hanging:

[Event "rated standard match"]
[Site "Free Internet Chess Server"]
[Date "2007.03.17"]
[Round "?"]
[White "deanmadden"]
[Black "AHogDriver"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1359"]
[BlackElo "1373"]
[ECO "A04"]
[TimeControl "5400"]

1. Nf3 Nc6 2. g3 e5 3. Bg2 d5 4. O-O e4 5. Ne1 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bc5 7. d3 e3 8.
Bxe3 Ng4


He obviously forgot about the threat to the c5 bishop. He asked for a 'take-back' which I would never accept, and wouldn't dream of asking for even in an unrated match. So anyway I continue the match and get into a dominant position.

9. Bxc5 b6 10. Ba3 Be6 11. e4 Nf6 12. e5 Nxe5 13. d4 Nc4 14. Nd3
Nxa3 15. bxa3 O-O 16. Re1 Ng4 17. Nf4 Qf6 18. f3 Nxh2 19. Kxh2 Qh6+ 20. Kg1
g5 21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. Qe2 Rae8 23. Nb5 c5 24. Nd6 Rd8 25. Qxe6+ Qxe6 26. Rxe6
cxd4 27. Nb5 Rd7 28. Nxd4 Rdf7 29. Rae1 Rc7 30. Re8 Rc4 31. Rxf8+ Kxf8 32.
Ne6+ Kf7 33. Nxg5+ Kg6 34. f4 Rxc2 35. Bxd5 Kg7 36. Re7+ Kg6 37. Be4+



I think it's pretty obvious that it's pointless in him continuing now as I've forked his rook and king. But no, he decides this is the point of the game to run down his clock, we've both still got about 45mins left on our clocks. I think this is very unsporting and bad etiquette. So anyway, after 15mins he makes a move, I respond immediately, then he runs his clock down more etc. He's obviously hoping I'll get bored of sitting there and will quit the game.

37...Kh5 38.
Bxc2 Kg4 39. Kg2 a5 40. Bd1+ Kf5 41. Nxh7 b5 42. Bc2+ Kg4 43. Rg7+ Kh5 44.
Rg5+ Kh6 45. Rxb5 Kg7 46. Rxa5 Kh6 47. Re5 Kg7 48. a4 Kf7 49. a5 Kg7 50. a6
Kh8 51. a7 Kg7 52. a8=Q Kh6 53. Qa6+ Kg7 54. Re7+ {AHogDriver resigns} 1-0

So anyway I eventually force the win in an hour of the most boring tedium. This has put me off playing another 90mins game, which I've always enjoyed in the past. I think I'll limit it to 60 or 75 mins in the future.

I've got no problem with people taking time to make a move, but this persons conduct was very unsporting and portrays a very bad loser. Also I don't mind playing till the bitter end, but taking 30mins to make a forced move is disgusting in my opinion.

I didn't go to the chess club last Tuesday because I got stuck in horrendous traffic on the A38 on the way home. Thankfully the tomtom found me an alternative route to the official stationary diversion.