The 1st 27- of November, 2010 (Roman wins)

27- (Jordan+Aunt Beast - Khorkov*) 1(28)1[2-7] 1(29)28[8,9] 10(30)10[11-16] 10(31@11)30 17(32)17[18-21,29] 17(33@22)32 11(34)31 11(35)11[12,13] 22(36)23 24(37)24[22,25-27] 24(38@33)37 14(39)15 29(40)8

Here I sent Roman this image:


To which he replied with this move and image:

18(41)19


The game continued with:

2(42)2 2(43@3)42 13(44)35 23(45)23[26,27] II

The 5th 18- of November, 2010 (Roman wins)

18- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast* #1) 1(19)1[2-6] 1(20)19[2-3] 4(21)4[5,6] 7(22)7 7(23)22[8,9] 10(24)23 10(25)10[11] 13(26)13[14-18] 13(27@12)26 11(28)25 14(29)14[15,16] I

The 4th 18- of November, 2010 (Roman wins)

18- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(19)1[2-6] 1(20)19[2-3] 7(21)7[8-12] 13(22)13[7,21] 7(23)13 I

The 3rd 18- of November, 2010 (Roman wins)

18- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(19)1[2-6] 1(20@2)19 2(21)2[3-6] 18(22)18[7-10] 18(23)22[11-12] 11(24)23 7(25)8 13(26)14 13(27)13[14-15] 16(28)16 26(29)27[14] I

After move 29, sensing victory was at hand, Roman sent me this image of a terminator being destroyed:

The 2nd 18- of November, 2010 (Josh wins)

18- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(19)1[2-6] 1(20@2)19 2(21)2[3-6] 18(22)18[7-10] 18(23)22[11-12] 11(24)23 11(25)11[12] 13(26)13 14(27)14[15-16] 15(28)15 3(29)4 2(30@20)21 II

The 1st 18- of November, 2010 (Josh wins)

18- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(19)1[2-6] 1(20@2)19 7(21)7[8,9] 2(22)20 2(23)2[3-6] 10(24)10[11-14] 11(25)11[12-14] 12(26)12 11(27)25[12] 8(28)8[9] 7(29@8)21 22(30)23 27(31)14 13(32)31 12(33)26 6(34)6 14(35)14 15(36)16 6(37@3)34 5(38)5[37] II

The 3rd 19- of October, 2010

We return to move 23 of the previous 19-, so Josh can try something different on move 24.

19- (Jordan+Aunt Beast* - Khorkov) 1(20)1[2-9] 1(21)20[10-12] 2(22)3 2(23)2[3] 4(24)23 4(25)4[5-7] 10(26)11 11(27)11[10,12] II

The 2nd 17- of October, 2010

We return to move 22 of the previous 17-, so Josh can try something different on move 23.

17- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(18)1[2] 1(19@3)18 3(20)3[4-8] 9(21)9[10-17] 9(22)19 10(23)11 3(24)20[8] 12(25)13 10(26)10[12-16] 14(27)26 11(28)11[17] I

The 2nd 19- of October, 2010

We return to move 20 of the previous 19-, so Roman can try something different on move 21.

19- (Jordan+Aunt Beast* - Khorkov) 1(20)1[2-9] 1(21)20[10-12] 2(22)3 2(23)2[3] 22(24)23 10(25)10[11,12] 13(26)21 13(27)13[14-19] 14(28)27 10(29)25[11] 14(30)14[15-18] 4(31)4[5,6] 4(32)9 31(33)32[9] II

The 1st 19- of October, 2010 (Josh wins)

We return to move 22 of the previous 19-, so Roman can try something different on move 23.

19- (Jordan+Aunt Beast* - Khorkov) 1(20)1[2-9] 1(21)20[2] 3(22)3[4] 21(23)3 22(24)23[5-6] 10(25)11 10(26)11[12-15] 11(27)26[12] 7(28)24 I

The 1st 17- of October, 2010 (Roman wins)

We return to move 19 of the previous 17-, so Roman can try something different on move 20.

17- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(18)1[2] 1(19@3)18 3(20)3[4-8] 9(21)9[10-17] 9(22)19 10(23)10 10(24)23 11(25)11[12-13] 11(26)21 12(27)25 12(28)27 I

The 1st 16- of October, 2010 (Roman wins)

We return to move 17 of the previous 16-, so Josh can try something different on move 18.

16- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(17)1[2-4] 5(18)5[6-10] 1(19)17[11-16] 2(20)2 2(21)20[3] 11(22)19 11(23)11[12-14] {Roman: Simple game.} 15(24)16 15(25)26 I {Roman: Very simple game.}

The 1st 18- of October, 2010

We return to move 21 of the previous 18-, so Josh can try something different on move 22.

18- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(19)1[2-6] 1(20@2)19 7(21)7[8,9] 2(22)20 2(23)2[3-6] 10(24)10[11-14] 15(25)15[16] 15(26@16)25 II

The 1st 19- of September, 2010 (Josh wins)

19- (Jordan+Aunt Beast* - Khorkov) 1(20)1[2-9] 1(21)20[2] 3(22)3[4] 3(23@4)22 5(24)6

At this point, I saw that the game would be difficult for Roman, and sent him this image:



Play continued with 7(25)7[5] 9(26)21 5(27)6 5(28)7



I sent Roman the above image and told Roman, "Khorkov vs Aunt Beast = Kasparov vs Deep Blue," to which Roman replied, "Aunt Beast is stronger than Deep Blue!"

In response, I sent him the image below, which I created by combining the above image with one of Roman's Facebook photos:



Roman: Super!

A few more move were played before it was over: 10(29)11 9(30)9[25] I

Roman: OK, you win! Amazing game.

The 5th 16- of September, 2010 (Roman wins)

We return to move 22 of the previous 16-, so Roman can try something different on move 23.

16- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(17)1[2-4] 1(18@2)17 2(19)18 5(20)5 2(21)19 5(22)6 6(23)22[7-16] 7(24)7[8-14] 7(25@15)24 16(26)16[6] 6(27@20)23 8(28)9 8(29)8[9] 10(30)10[29] 2(31)21[3] 15(32)16 28(33)29 11(34)11[12] 25(35)32 I

The 7th 18- of September, 2010 (Roman wins)

We return to move 22 of the previous 18-, so Roman can try something different on move 23.

18- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(19)1[2-6] 1(20@2)19 7(21)7[8,9] 21(22)7[10-11] 12(23)22 13(24)14 12(25)12[13-15] 13(26)15 23(27)25[16] I

The 13th 17- of September, 2010 (Josh wins)

We return to move 18 of the previous 17-, so Josh can try something different on move 19.

17- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(18)1[2] 1(19@3)18 3(20)3[4,5] 4(21)5 6(22)6[3,7-14] 22(23)6[7-11] 12(24)12[13,3] 12(25)24[14] II

The 6th 18- of September, 2010 (Josh wins)

We return to move 21 of the previous 18-, so Josh can try something different on move 22.

18- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(19)1[2-6] 1(20@2)19 7(21)7[8,9] 21(22)7[10-11] 12(23)12[13-15] 8(24)9 8(25)9 10(26)10 10(27)26 16(28)16[12] 17(29)18 17(30)18[22] 12(31)13 16(32)23 II

The 5th 18- of September, 2010 (Roman wins)

We return to move 19 of the previous 18-, so Josh can try something different on move 20.

18- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(19)1[2-6] 1(20@2)19 7(21)7[8,9] 7(22@10)21 10(23)10[11,12] I

The 4th 18- of September, 2010 (Roman wins)

We return to move 21 of the previous 18-, so Josh can try something different on move 22.

18- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(19)1[2-6] 1(20@2)19 7(21)7[8,9] 7(22@10)21 10(23)10[11,12] I

The 4th 16- of September, 2010 (Josh wins)

We return to move 21 of the previous 16-, so Josh can try something different on move 22.

16- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(17)1[2-4] 1(18@2)17 2(19)18 5(20)5 2(21)19 5(22)6 2(23)21 20(24)22[6,7] 8(25)9 8(26)8[9] 3(27)4 6(28)6 7(29)7 24(30)26 II

The 3rd 18- of September, 2010 (Roman wins)

18- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(19)1[2-6] 7(20)7[8-14] 7(21)20[8-9] 1(22)19[2-3] 10(23)10[11] 4(24)22 12(25)12[10,13,14] 12(26@10)25 1 5(27)15[16] I

The 3rd 16- of September, 2010 (Roman wins)

16- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(17)1[2-4] 1(18@2)17 2(19)18 5(20)5 2(21)19 6(22)6 5(23)20 7(24)8 6(25)22[7-9] 3(26)4 7(27)7[8,9] I

The 12th 17- of September, 2010 (Roman wins)

We return to move 22 of the previous 17-, so Josh can try something different on move 23.

17- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(18)1[2] 3(19)4 3(20)3[4,1,5] 6(21)7 7(22)7[6,8,20] 9(23)10 9(24)9[10,11] 12(25)24 10(26)10[11] I

The 11th 17- of September, 2010 (Roman wins)

We return to move 26 of the previous 17-, so Josh can try something different on move 27.

17- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(18)1[2] 3(19)4 3(20)3[4,1,5] 6(21)7 7(22)7[6,8,20] 9(23)22 10(24)10[11-17] 9(25)10 9(26)24 11(27)11[12-14] 11(18)27[12] I

The 10th 17- of September, 2010 (Roman wins)

We return to move 24 of the previous 17-, so Josh can try something different on move 25.

17- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(18)1[2] 3(19)4 3(20)3[4,1,5] 6(21)7 7(22)7[6,8,20] 9(23)22 10(24)10[11-17] 9(25)10



9(26)24 11(27)12 11(28)11[12] 13(29)14 13(30)13[15,16] 15(31)16 15(32)30

Roman sent me the following image depicting the manner in which he put me out of my misery:

The 9th 17- of September, 2010 (Roman wins)

We return to move 23 of the previous 17-, so Roman can try something different on move 24.

17- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(18)1[2] 3(19)4 3(20)3[4,1,5] 6(21)7 7(22)7[6,8,20] 9(23)22 10(24)10[11-17]



10(25)23 6(26)6

I did not think Roman would find this move. I guess that's why he's the World Champion.



11(27)11[12-13] 11(28)24 I



Calling the the text at the top of the the King of the Misere Sprouts Hill page a "parcel of rubbish", Roman sent me the following image to indicate his opinion of the Jordan+Aunt Beast man/machine combination:

The 8th 17- of September, 2010 (Josh wins)

We return to move 23 of the previous 17-, so Roman can try something different on move 24.

17- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(18)1[2] 3(19)4 3(20)3[4,1,5] 6(21)7 7(22)7[6,8,20] 9(23)22 9(24)23[10] 11(25)12 II

The 2nd 16- of September, 2010 (Josh wins)

We return to the 1st 16- of June, 2010, so Roman can try something different on move 23.

16- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(17)1[2-4] 1(18@2)17 2(19)18 5(20)5 2(21)19 6(22)6



2(23)21 7(24)7[5]



6(25)22[8-12] 3(26)4



5(27)20 13(28)25 II

The 7th 17- of September, 2010 (Josh wins)

We return to move 20 of the previous 17-, so Josh can try something different on move 21.

17- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(18)1[2] 3(19)4 3(20)3[4,1,5] 6(21)7 7(22)7[6,8,20] 9(23)22 20(24)21 10(25)23 6(26)24 1(27)18[5] 19(28)27 9(29)25[10,11] II

The 6th 17- of September, 2010 (Roman wins)

17- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(18)1[2] 3(19)4 3(20)3[4,1,5] 6(21)6[7-10] 6(22)21[11-16] 11(23)11[12-15] 11(24)23[12] I

The 5th 17- of September, 2010 (Roman wins)

17- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(18)1[2] 3(19)4 3(20)3[4,1,5] 6(21)6[7-13] 6(22)21[7] 14(23)14 14(24)23 I

The 2nd 18- of September, 2010 (Josh wins)

18- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(19)1[2-3] 1(20@4)19 4(21)4[5-6] 2(22)3



2(23)3 5(24)6 5(25)24[6]



4(26)21[7-15] 5(27)25 2(28)23



7(29)26 8(30)8[9-10]



9(31)10 8(32)30[11-13] II



This is [*2+*3+3PPP1+5]. Fun for the whole family!

The 4th 17- of September, 2010 (Josh wins)

We return to move 18 of the previous 17-, so Josh can try something different on move 19.

17- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(18)1[2] 3(19)4 1(20)18[3-5] 6(21)6[7-10] 6(22)21[11-16] 11(23)12 11(24)11[12,13] 14(25)14[22] 14(26)25[15] 12(27)13 13(28)24 17(29)17[20] II

The 1st 18- of September, 2010 (Roman wins)

18- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(19)1[2-3] 1(20@4)19 4(21)4[5-6] 2(22)3



2(23)3 4(24)5 24(25)21[6] I

I meant to play 5(24)6. See the 2nd 18- of September, 2010.

The 1st 15- of September, 2010 (Roman wins)

15- (Jordan+Aunt Beast* - Khorkov) 1(16)1[2-7] 1(17)16[8-9] 10(18)10[11-14] 10(19)18[15] 11(20)12 11(21)11[12,13] 2(22)3 2(23)2[3] II

The 3rd 17- of September, 2010 (Roman wins)

17- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(18)1[2] 3(19)3[4-12] 3(20)19[13] 4(21)4[5-7] 18(22)20 8(23)9 8(24)8[9,10] 11(25)12 11(26)12 14(27)15 1(28)22[14-16] I

The 1st 16- of September, 2010 (Josh wins)

16- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(17)1[2-4] 1(18@2)17 5(19)6 7(20)7[5] 5(21)19[6] 2(22)2[3-4] 2(23@18)22 7(24)8 5(25@6)21 8(26)20[9-12] II

The 2nd 17- of September, 2010 (Josh wins)

We return to move 18 of the previous 17-, so Josh can try something different on move 19.

17- 1(18)1[2] (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 3(19)3[4-12] 3(20)19[4-6] 7(21)7[8-11]



1(22)18[13-14] 15(23)22 II

The 1st 17- of September, 2010 (Roman wins)

Here Roman tries an entirely different opening than in the previous 17-.

17- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(18)1[2] 3(19)3 1(20)18[3] 3(21)19 4(22)20 5(23)5[6-14] 5(24)23[15-17] 6(25)6 6(26)25[7-8] 7(27)8 7(28)8 I

The 1st 21- of August, 2010 (Roman's move)

We return to move 31 of The 9th 21- of June, 2010, so Roman can try something different on move 32.

21- (Khorkov* - Jordan+Aunt Beast) 1(22)2 1(23)1[2,3] 4(24)23 4(25)4[5-8] 2(26)2 24(27)25 9(28)9[10-21] 9(29@27)28 10(30)10[11-12] 13(31)13[14-17]

The 1st 17- of August, 2010 (Josh wins)

17- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(18)1[2-6] 2(19)3 1(20)18[2-4] 7(21)7[8-11] 7(22)21[12] 13(23)13[22]



13(24@22)23 8(25)9



14(26)14[15] 8(27)9[10] II

The 1st 16- of August, 2010 (Josh wins)

Seeking "revenge" for his previous loss in 16- (a game which finished a few days ago, despite having started a few months ago), Roman proposes a different opening with the same number of spots:

16- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(17)1[2-7]

I accept, and the game continues with:

1(18)17[2-3] 18(19)4 2(20)3 8(21)9 8(22)21[10-14] 4(23)4[5-7] 15(24)16 II

Revenge, it would seem, is a dish best served cold. (Месть - это блюдо, которое подают холодным.)

The 5th 17- of June, 2010 (Roman wins)

We return to the previous 17- game, so Josh can try something different on move 25.

17- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(18)1[2-6] 1(19)18[2-3] 7(20)7[8-12] 8(21)9 7(22)20[8-10] 13(23)13 14(24)14[15,16] 13(25@14)23 14(26)24[17] 15(27)16 12(28)22 I

The 4th 17- of June, 2010 (Roman wins)

We return to move 25 of the previous 17- game, so Roman can try something different on move 26.

17- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(18)1[2-6] 1(19)18[2-3] 7(20)7[8-12] 8(21)9 7(22)20[8-10] 13(23)13 14(24)14[15,16] 13(25)17 17(26)25[23] 6(27)19 6(28)6[5] I

Roman's precise tactics eradicate the ghosts from this part of the house.

The 3rd 17- of June, 2010 (Josh wins)

We revisit the previous 17- game, so Josh can try something different on move 27.

17- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(18)1[2-6] 1(19)18[2-3] 7(20)7[8-12] 8(21)9 7(22)20[8-10] 13(23)13 14(24)14[15,16] 13(25)17 8(26)8[9,10] 22(27)26



Now the fun begins!

2(28)19 17(29)25[23] II

The 2nd 17- of June, 2010 (Roman wins)

We go back to move 21 of the previous 17- game, so Roman can try something different on move 22. Will it help?

17- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(18)1[2-6] 1(19)18[2-3] 7(20)7[8-12] 8(21)9 7(22)20[8-10] 13(23)13 14(24)14[15,16] 13(25)17 8(26)8[9,10] 2(27)2 14(28@23)24 I

Indeed it does help, but for how long? See the next 17- game, where Josh tries something different on move 27.

The World Champion's thoughts on the recent series of games with Aunt Beast

Roman writes:

I would like to share with you the impressions I got after playing a series of games after the Axel Thue memorial tournament. I have no idea how Josh managed to make it, but I have witnessed how AB has turned from an old aunt's pocket monster into a sprouts devil! The new version of the program can turn a trivial position into every player's worst nightmare — you have my word on it. Every new game broadens my horizons of the misere game's world.

The games we play now are far ahead of all previous years' games; they are pure poetry... I wish that people could understand how unique every game is.

I used to think that misere was just a variation of the normal game, but now I tend to reckon that misere is totally different, a fully individual game with its own unique "ecosystem". Fighting against the new version of AB armed only with our old set of techniques will end in nothing. A whole new approach is required...

What approach? I have no idea!

I always thought that if you strictly followed a certain strategy AB wouldn't be able to create complex positions, i.e. if you walk down a good path in the forest, you wouldn't get lost... However, the new AB has learned how to trick you into losing your way completely and getting lost in dark woods.

To sum up it all - bravo, Josh!

In April 2006, I wrote, "I don't believe an unassisted human will ever be able to compete with a computer program at sprouts." I'm finally beginning to see a small amount of evidence for this statement in "over-the-board play".

My fondest wish is that Roman will retire from sprouts, saying that the game is too hard for humans and should be left to computers. However, Russians never surrender, as the saying goes, and I wouldn't write him off just yet. With his tremendous tenacity and creativity, Roman has consistently dashed my hopes for computer superiority up to this point, and the safe money is that he will continue to do so into the future.

The 4th 15- of June, 2010 (Josh wins)

15- (Jordan+Aunt Beast* - Khorkov) 1(16)1[2-7] 1(17)16[2] 8(18)9 8(19)9[10-12] 9(20)10 13(21)18 2(22)17 3(23)3[4,5] 23(24)3[4] 4(25)24 5(26)5 5(27)26 10(28)20[11-12] 6(29)7 13(30)14 I

The 1st 18- of June, 2010 (Roman wins)

18- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(19)1[2,3] 4(20)4[5-12] 19(21)4 1(22)2 2(23)2[3] 20(24)21[13-15]


5(25)5[6,7] 13(26)14 13(27)13[14,15] 5(28@8)25 26(29)27[15] 14(30)14 22(31)23 I

Roman's airtight tactics have quashed the game's last vestiges of complexity, and Josh resigns.

The 9th 21- of June, 2010 (Josh wins)

After losing the previous 21- game "in haste", Roman tries something different on move 36.

21- (Khorkov* - Jordan+Aunt Beast) 1(22)2 1(23)1[2,3] 4(24)23 4(25)4[5-8] 2(26)2 24(27)25 9(28)9[10-21] 9(29@27)28 10(30)10[11-12] 13(31)13[14-17] 18(32)18[19,20] 13(33)31[14] 21(34)21[18] 19(35)20 11(36)12 7(37)8 II

The 1st 17- of June, 2010 (Josh wins)

17- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(18)1[2-6] 1(19)18[2-3] 7(20)7[8-12] 8(21)9 7(22)20[15] 19(23)4

This is 2 + PP3 + A5 + 4P1, an absurd position which no unassisted human can hope to play correctly, given the current state of Sprouts theory.

The game continues with 2(24)3 13(25)14, resulting in A2+PP3+A5+A4P1, an unusual position with three anagos. At this point Roman resigns, saying it was a "bad game" and calling his defeat "silly". The story continues in the next 17- game, in which Roman tries something different on move 22.

The 1st 16- of June, 2010 (Josh wins)

16- (Khorkov - Jordan+Aunt Beast*) 1(17)1[2-4] 1(18@2)17 (Roman: This is the simplest of games.) 2(19)18 5(20)5 2(21)19 6(22)6


5(23)20[6] 7(24)8 2(25)21 7(26)7[9-11,23]



22(27)23 12(28)24



12(29)8[13-15] 8(30)13 II

The 8th 21- of June, 2010 (won by Josh)

We revisit Roman's challenge, going back to move 30 of the previous game, so Josh can try something different on move 31.

21- (Khorkov* - Jordan+Aunt Beast) 1(22)2 1(23)1[2,3] 4(24)23 4(25)4[5-8] 2(26)2 24(27)25 9(28)9[10-21] 9(29@27)28 10(30)10[11-12] 13(31)13[14-17] 18(32)18[19,20] 13(33)31[14] 21(34)21[18] 19(35)20 18(36@19)32 5(37)6 5(38)6[7] 14(39)14 33(40)39 10(41@21)30 II

Roman writes: "Ha-ha-ha! Great! I didn't see this move (haste). You win."

The 7th 21- of June, 2010 (Roman wins)

Roman posed the following challenge:

21- (Khorkov* - Jordan+Aunt Beast, 2010-06-03) 1(22)2 1(23)1[2,3] 4(24)23 4(25)4[5-8] 2(26)2 24(27)25 9(28)9[10-21] 9(29@27)28 10(30)10[11-12]

This is *1+4+9L2. I accept.

11(31)12 11(32)12



This is *1+4+9L0BL0. The position grows steadily more complex.

10(33@13)30 13(34)13[14-15] 14(35)15



Will the mounting pressure of complexity finally cause a fracture in Roman's titanium defenses? This is *1+4+A2L6P0, or, in other words:



14(36)35[15] 16(37)17




No obvious fractures yet, but sometimes these things don't become apparent until the whole structure suddenly collapses.




And sometimes the structure doesn't collapse. Roman writes, "We will finish this farce. You lose."

13(38@14)34 I



And indeed I do. The way Roman correctly replies to three anagos (move 31, 35, and 37) in three different ways is one of the marks of a true sprouts master.

The 3rd 15- of June, 2010 (Roman wins)

15- (Jordan+Aunt Beast* - Khorkov) 1(16)1[2-5] 1(17)16[6-10] 6(18)7 6(19)6[7,8] II



Finally this part of the forest is safe for humans again.

The 2nd 15- of June (Josh wins)

We go back to move 24 of the previous game, so Roman can try something different on move 25.

15- (Jordan+Aunt Beast* - Khorkov) 1(16)1[2-5] 1(17)16[6-10] 6(18)7 6(19)6[9-10] 2(20)3 2(21)2[3-4] 9(22)10 7(23)19 11(24)11 12(25)12[13-14]

Roman writes, "The previous game - mere chance because of carelessness. The forest is on fire." He even included an image:



How would you respond if the world champion sent you such a message? It would be natural to run away and hide under the bed. However, even if you can't win, you should at least try to fight.

9(26)9



Also, a little psychological warfare never hurts.



A few hours later, with a shout heard round the world, Roman resigns.

I

Roman: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!

The 1st 15- of June (Josh wins)

15- (Jordan+Aunt Beast* - Khorkov) 1(16)1[2-5] 1(17)16[6-10] 6(18)7 6(19)6[9-10] 2(20)3 2(21)2[3-4] 9(22)10 7(23)19 11(24)11 9(25)9 12(26)13 7(27@8)23 11(28)24 ...

At this point, I notified Roman that "The Russian Army has posted a warning: Due to severe danger including loss of human life, all soldiers are henceforth ordered to stay away from the forest 15- until further notice!" In response, Roman requested a picture. Of course, I was happy to oblige:


Roman: I wanted to see the picture of the game... I didn't want a tiger. You got me wrong.

Josh: No one who enters a forest wants a tiger!

12(29)12[14-15] 14(30)15 I

Here Roman resigned, stating that the loss was "mere chance because of carelessness."

The 6th 21- of June

In which Roman decides to try something different on move 35 of the previous game, splitting the game into three components.

21- (Jordan+Aunt Beast* - Khorkov) 1(22)2 1(23)1[2,3] 4(24)23 4(25)4[5-14] 5(26)6 5(27)5[7-14] 7(28)8 2(29)2 15(30)16 15(31)15[16] 17(32)18 17(33)17[18-19] 7(34)8[9-12] 25(35)27 20(36)20 20(37)36[21] 9(38)10 9(39)9[10-11] II

Roman writes, "Aunt Beast destroyed."

The 5th 21- of June

The World Champion returns Aunt Beast's serve with a vengeance, playing an opening novelty on move 25 of the theoretically winning side of 21-. Aunt Beast will have to think about this for a while. The position is *3 + 10P7.

21- (Jordan+Aunt Beast* - Khorkov) 1(22)2 1(23)1[2,3] 4(24)23 4(25)4[5-14] ...



Trying turn the game into a sum of several complicated components, Josh plays three anagos in a row: 5(26)6 5(27)5[7-14] 7(28)8 2(29)2 15(30)16



Rather than responding to the anago 7(28)8 with an enclosing Q as per his typical strategy, Roman instead replies in a different component entirely, reducing the *3 to *0. Having an anago hanging around tends to make the game more complex, and this position, A8Q1PA7, is no exception.

The game continues with 15(31)15[16] 17(32)18 17(33)17[18-19] 7(34)8[9-12] 8(35)34[13-14] 13(36)35.



Josh's strategy of repeatedly nudging the game in a more complex direction is succeeding: this is *3 + X, where X is a rather complicated position that cannot be completely described in chained pivot/loop notation, due to the fact that spots 24 and 25 are on the same boundary. As Josh warned Roman, "A person could easily lose their way in a forest such as this." Can Roman find his way? Is there even a way for him to find?

Update: Roman resigned a few days later.