A Date With Super Jen- originally posted 11/15/2006

After losing my first two games participating in simultaneous exhibitions of renowned chess players (an insipid loss with the white pieces against GM Boris Gulko, and a heart-breaking loss against former FIDE Women's World Champion Zsuzsa Polgar, where I thought I had the better position before my blunder), I decided this time to prepare for my game against then- U.S. Women's Chess Champion Jennifer Shahade. As Super Jen, as she is sometimes referred to, is a confirmed 1 e4 player, I consulted a database to see how she plays against my favorite French Defence. I saw a game where she played a subvariation against the 4...Qxd5 French Tarrasch and prepared a line against it, then played over some analysis against other possibilities, and hoped for the best.

The simul took place on May 7, 2005, at the Bear (DE) Public Library. Before the exhibition, Ms. Shahade gave a lecture in which she analyzed some tactical positions, stating this was a great way to prepare for tournaments. I agree, observing that my results tend to be better after challenging my mind trying to solve chess problems beforehand. Jen also answered questions from the audience. I thought it was cool when I learned that, like me, she was majoring in English Literature. I also thought, "What a great role model for young females- pretty, without being obsessive about it, smart, without being geeky, and personable." Actually, I don't know if I said this word-for-word, so ignore the quotes. Anyway, that was my sentiment.

Ms. Shahade took on 35 opponents simultaneously. As Black, I played a good, professional draw, where I was in no danger of losing.

White- Jennifer Shahade Black- Tony Bronzin

1 e4 (As expected) 1...e6 (The French Defence, my old stand-by) 2 d4 d5 3 Nd2 (The French Tarrasch.) 3...c5 4 ed Qxd5 5 Ngf3 cd 6 Bc4 Qd6 7 O-O (Darn! I was hoping for 7 Qe2, as Jen played in an earlier game, when I had prepared 7...Nf6 8 Nb3 Nc6 9 Bg5 Qb4+! 10 Bd2 Qb6 11 O-O-O Bd7 12 Bg5 Bc5!?, with the better game.) 7...Nf6 8 Nb3 Nc6 9 Nbxd4 Nxd4 10 Nxd4 a6 (The main line. I assume that Jen was just playing by rote, and would think later. Black has a clear plan of development [Qc7, Bd6, O-O, ...b6 or ...b5 and ...Bb7]. White must use her edge in development to thwart this plan.) 11 c3 (Solid, but more challenging is 11 Re1 Qc7 12 Bd3 Bd6 13 Nf5 Bxh2+ 14 Kh1 O-O 15 Nxg7 Rd8) 11...Qc7 12 Bb3 Bd6 13 h3 Bh2+ ("Book" is 13...O-O, but I play a typical idea for this variation that also seems to gradually equalize. It's important to know the ideas of your openings, so as to have an idea of how to proceed when your memory fails, or when confronted with something novel.) 14 Kh1 Bf4 15 Qf3 Bxc1 16 Raxc1 O-O (White still has an edge in development, but has no dark-squared bishop and no points to attack.) 17 Rfe1 Bd7 (I was looking at ideas like ...b6, Qxa8 Bb7, but decided not to be brilliant and just play solid chess [for a change].) 18 Kg1 Rac8 19 Bc2 (White's last three moves are safe gestures which allow Black to complete his development and totally equalize.) 19...Bc6 (Posting his bad bishop on a great diagonal) 20 Nxc6 (Black has eliminated his bad bishop, a small triumph) Qxc6 21 Qxc6 Rxc6 22 Rcd1 Rfc8! (My favorite move of the game. Instead of scrambling to oppose White's rook on the d-file, where there are no points of entry, I prepare for a minority attack, a common theme in this and other openings.) 23 g4?! (Provocative, but potentially weakening. I like 23 a4) 23...h6 24 Kg2 Kf8 25 Kg3 b5 26 Rd4 Rc4 27 Rxc4 Rxc4 28 a3 Ke7 29 f4 g6 30 h4 g5! 31 hg hg 32 Rf1 gf+ 33 Rxf4 Rc5 (Trading rooks is horrible, accentuating White's BvsN imbalance.) 34 a4 Nd5 35 Rf2 Ne3 36 ab Nxc2 37 Rxc2 (Over-the-board, 37 ba would have scared me. I should have played 36...ab) 37...ab 38 Rd2 Rc4 39 Kf3 Kf6 40 Rd7 b4 41 cb Rxb4 42 Rd2 Rb3+ 43 Ke4 Rb4+ 44 Kf3 Rb3+ 45 Kf4 (Here Jen offered a draw, and I quickly accepted. Had I paused for a moment, I might have tried 45...e5+ 46 Ke4 Rb4+, but 47 Kd5 Rxg4 48 Rf2+ Rf4 49 Rxf4+ ef 50 Ke4 Kg5 51 Kf3 draws anyway.)

Afterwards, despite an exhausting subway trip from New York to Wilmington, Jen was gracious enough to sign autographs and pose for pictures for anyone who asked.