The Gang of Pour

Faustino Wins, We Draw

The Monticillo was rather similar to the Faustino; again, it had a dense brick red color, and much the same flavors and aromas. However it had a bit of weediness to the nose, and wasn't as rich as the other. The flavors also had hints of bitter dark chocolate, leather, and a little coffee. Both wines tasted slightly oxidized; we clearly preferred the Faustino.

The Game Continues

16. N-N3 B-N3
17. B-Q2 N-K2
18. P-QN4 P-KB3?

18. …P-QB4 seems to equalize the Q-side, after 19.PxP (forced?), NxP

19. N-R4 B-B2
20. N/4-B5 NxN
21. NxN R-K1
22. NxB

Afterwards, Black felt that this was the crucial juncture of the game, and I agreed. 22. Q-N4 looked strong, especially after 22. …B-B3; 23. P-B4, and White has a K-side threat. The idea in trading the knight for bishop is to give White a queen-side pawn advantage that might have still been exploited with sharper play.

22. PxN
23. Q-Q1?

23. P-B4 looks best here, to consolidate White's king-side. If Black is dumb enough to trade pawns, GOOD! Then, he has doubled isolated pawns on the queen-file (that's bad). Otherwise, the KB Pawn can be advanced to B5 at some point. Here is where White's game starts to meander. (BLAME IT ON THE WINE!)

23. N-N3
24. B-N3?

24. P-B4 still works.

24. P-Q4
25. P-B3

Now, Black takes the initiative. 25. PxP gives Black control of the center of the board.

25. R-K2
26. Q-B2 R-B2
27. Q-R2 QR-B1

Doubled Rooks can be very strong, but White neutralizes with…

28. QR-B1 Q-Q2
29. RxR RxR
30. R-B1 RxR
31. BxR

Trading pieces to simplify for the endgame. At this point, we had finished our glasses of the Monticillo, and as I poured The Artist and myself another glass of the Faustino, I informed him that we were drinking a glass every ten moves. (We were more than two hours into it already.)

31. Q-N4
32. Q-B2 PxP
33. BxB+ KxB
34. PxP Q-Q2
35. P-KN4 P-KR4
36. Q-Q1 PxP
37. PxP N-R5
38. K-B2 N-B6
39. Q-N3+ K-K2
40. K-B3 Q-QB1
41. B-Q2 N-N4
42. P-QR4 N-B6
43. P-N5 PxP
44. PxP Q-KR1

I hadn't seen this coming; now, Black threatens to create real problems for White on the K-side. Over four hours into the game.

45. Q-N4+ K-Q2
46. K-N2 Q-R5
47. BxN QxP+
48. K-R2 Q-B5+
49. K-N1 Q-QB8+?
50. B-K1!

Black totally overlooked that move. BLAME IT ON THE WINE!… Now, White has the extra piece for a pawn or two.

50. Q-N4+
51. K-R1 Q-R4+
52. K-N1 Q-N5+
53. K-R2?

White's king needs to protect the backward queen pawn; 53. K-B2 is best.

53. Q-K7+
54. K-N1 Q-N5+

At this point, The Artist looked at me and said, "You may be ahead in position, but you're behind in wine!" (We're well past four hours into the game, now.)

55. K-B2 Q-B5+
56. K-K2 Q-K6+
57. K-Q1 QxP+
58. B-Q2 QxP
59. P-N6?

Loses any chance to win; White has to press the Queen-side advantage with 59. Q-B5, in an attempt to limit the Black King's access to the Queen-side.

By now, we're both delirious after five hour's of chess. I'm also worried that Madame L'Pour will be unhappy with me for getting home so much later than expected, adding to the stress. However, neither of us will give in, nor offer the other a draw.

59. Q-B6+
60. K-B2 Q-N2
61. K-Q3 K-B3
62. Q-QR4+ KxP

Now, the best White can hope for is a draw.

63. B-R5+ K-R2
64. K-B2 K-N1
65. B-N4 Q-B2+
66. K-Q2 K-N2
67. B-B8 Q-B6+
68. K-K2 P-Q6+
69. K-Q1

At this point, Black offered a draw; he felt that with correct play, white could prevent black from advancing a pawn to the eighth rank, thereby becoming a queen. This pawn pusher was so burned out by this game, no attempt has been made to run computer analysis of the position.

Fortunately, the same cannot be said for our willingness to enjoy another fine '87 Faustino I Rioja Reserva!

Rioja and Ruy Lopez

A Dynamic Draw

TASTINGS INDEX

Unleashed! Blast Me Off To Sonoma!


An International Lineup of Reds Meets an International Cast of Tasters on
The Road to Gang O' Pour

UPDATED!
Battle of the '94 Chardonnays

Open Letter to the "Gang"
from Bastardo

Two Beauties from the Southern Rhone

Three Nice '93 Cabs

Super Bowl

N-JAT