Charity -- The Good Kind

BlueEyedRook vs. NN

www.redhotpawn.com

Black to move

Part of me is always kind of rooting for under ranked players to beat me. I mean don't get me wrong -- I much rather prefer winning, but it is kind of enjoyable to see a lower ranked player pull off a spectacular game. Even if I am the "big guy" getting beaten, it's hard not to cheer for the "little guy."

This game was such a situation. I boggled an entire piece and now black finds himself in a relatively easy draw situation. Black needs to simply keep his rook on the lower ranks to harass the king. White can't queen the pawn with the constant checks. It should have been an easy draw.

Then black does something absolutely inexplicable -- 1... Rg8??. This ultimately loses and produces a mate-in-two. 2. Ke6 with the inevitable 3. Ra8# to follow.

It feels a little guilty.