The Schenectady Chess Battles Continue

Warning, the Internet Chess Club is addictive. That is just a joke, but watching what used to be called the Melody Amber tournaments ate up my time over the weekend and contributed to the lateness of this news from Schenectady.

Thursday night chess in Schenectady continues apace. The Championship Finals and the Consolation Swiss are keeping everyone busy. A victory by Phil Sells over early leader Mike Mockler has tightened up the race in the Finals. John Phillips and Dean Howard played to a draw. Howard was in serious time trouble. This has become usual for him and maybe the most serious hurtle Dean has to overcome to improve his results. The third game scheduled, Chi - Rotter was postponed as a result of a death in Bobby Rotter’s family. The club members extend our sympathy to Bobby and his relatives.

The various postponements make getting a clear take on the standings difficult. Sells with two wins and no losses and Mockler with two wins and one loss are at the top of the leader board. The most rest of the field is bunched. Patrick Chi with one loss and two postponed games is trailing the pack.

After a start with a surprise or two the Consolation Swiss is beginning to sort itself out as Swiss tournaments are supposed to do so. For any readers who may not know the routine of Swiss events; the players are sorted by rating with the top half playing the lower half, then winners play winners and losers play losers. The ratings are used in the same fashion as in the first round to determine opponents in subsequent rounds; top half of a score group paired with the lower half. This process goes on for the number rounds decided before the tourney begins. The Consolation Swiss this year is for five rounds.

In the game of the greatest interest this week, Lee Battes faced Chen Qu. Lee is one of the “old Bull of the Woods” local players with more than forty years of chess battles in the Capital District behind him. Chen Qu is a rising star in the scholastic ranks with just a couple of years of experience. This time age and experienced won out over youth and talent in an educational Sicilian Defense.

Another Consolation game that riveting was the battle between John Barnes and Alan Le Cours. Barnes tried out the Blackmar-Deimer Gambit and had success demonstrating once more these lines that get no respect form the Grandmasters are very dangerous to us lesser lights.
One final bit of news, Richard Chu and I met once more. This time “Richard the Giant Killer” did not take the higher rated player to the cleaners. That is not to say he did not have chances to do so.

To begin showing some of games, here’s how Richard and I played;
Consolation Swiss
Date: 3-17-2010
White: Little, B
Black; Chu, R

1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 g6
3. Bc4 Bg7
4. Nc3 e6
The Grandmaster Movsesian plays this way for White, so it can be said my idea is not without some merit. Of course not too many other of the top flight players like this sort of setup for White.

5. O-O Nc6
6. Re1 d6
Black should probably be aiming for d7-d5. More useful is 6..., Nge7

7. d3 Nge7
8. Be3 …..
Provocative. The cluster of White pieces in the center invites maybe some break in the center for Black. Better for White is 8 Bf4.

8.… Nd4
Black correctly decides not to open the ball with 8..., d5; for then 9 exd5, exd5; 10 Nxd5, Nxd5; 11 Bd4+!?, Kf8; 12 Bxc5+, and two pawns for the piece with the attack to boot seems good for White. Black could have kept some pressure on White with 8..., 0-0. The text permits White to have a small edge.

9. Bxd4? …..
Surrendering the Bishop pair is not so good. Better is 9 Bf4. Truly, I did not consider this better move.

9.…. cxd4
10. Ne2 Qb6
11. c3 Nc6
Richard again makes a second move with the second Knight. This move here, and the jump to d4 with a Knight on the 8th move are two tempi that could have been more usefully spent getting Black forces completely deployed. Castles, after 11..., dxc3; would have been natural.

12. Qb3 Qxb3
13. Bxb3 dxc3
14. bxc3 O-O
15. d4 Na5
16. Ba4 a6
17. Nd2 b5
18. Bc2 Nc4
19. Nxc4 bxc4
20. Rab1 d5
21. e5 …..
Here I had to face a choice that was difficult to make. The idea of 21 exd5, exd5; 22 Nf4, Rd8; 23 Nxd5, and playing the Bishop to e4 hitting both Black Rooks. White will get a pawn or two and have a Rook to fight against the Bishop pair. In theory White has full compensation and then some, but the two Bishops are a bit of a nightmare to keep under control. This especially true when the opposing pawns are not so solidly secured. Since I could not convince myself this path was best, the option of playing to maintain blocking the Bg7. From what my computer tells me the game becomes entirely level with this approach.

21.…. f6
22. f4 a5
23. Ba4 Ra7
24. g3 fxe5
25. fxe5 Bh6
26. Rf1 Bd7
Black could have been entirely safe with 26..., Be3+; and doubling Rooks on the f-file. If anything the Black game would be more promising than White’s chances in the B+B versus B+N endgame. In that case, White would have to be very accurate to hold the draw. After the slower text move, White breaks up the Bishop pair and gets a Rook to an active square. All this is not enough to claim a winning advantage, but the initiative is in White’s hands.

27. Rxf8+ Kxf8
28. Bxd7 Rxd7
29. Rb6 Be3+
30. Kg2 Rf7
31. Nf4 g5?
With visions of tactics around f2, Richard makes an error in calculation. He misses tricks the Knight can do on the squares e6, c7 and d5.

32. Nxe6+ Ke7?
Making things easier for me. With 32..., Ke8; the fight is not completely over even though White has the advantage. White would have to answer with 33 Rb8+, or 33 Rb2, either way White maintains a solid edge.

33. Nc7 Rf2+
34. Kh3 h5
35. Nxd5+ ….
This move was likely what Richard missed. The game is now over.

35.… Kd8
36. Nxe3 g4+
37. Kh4 Rxh2+
38. Kg5 Rxa2
39. Nxc4 Rc2
40. Rb3 a4
41. Ra3 Rg2
42. Rxa4 h4
43. gxh4 g3
44. Ne3 Rf2
45. Kg4 g2
46. Ra1 Ke7
47. Rg1 Rf8
48. Rxg2 Resigns

Another game from the Consolation Swiss was a clash between two of the contenders. Barnes and Le Cours both narrowly missed making it into the Finals and both are certainly possible winners of the Consolation event.

Consolation Swiss
Date: 3/17/2010"]
White: Barnes, J
Black: LeCours, A
1. d4 Nf6
2. Nc3 d5
3. e4 dxe4
4. f3 exf3
The Blackmar-Deimer Gambit. This is dangerous at the club level. The guys at the top in the world don’t seem to have much regard for the opening. The rest of us chess players have to worry about it - there are many attacking ideas for White.

5. Nxf3 g6
6. Bc4 Bg7
7. O-O O-O
8. Be3 Nbd7
9. Qd2 c6
Black might want to play 9..., Nb6; followed by 10..., Bg4; and later …, Bf5; if required. Playing this way gets the Black pieces out which may well help the defense of f7. It appears a main idea for White is a somewhat hidden pressure on f7.

10. Rae1 Nb6
11. Bd3 Be6
Alan foregoes trying to grab a second pawn with 11..., Ng5; then 12 Bg5, Bxd4+; netting a second pawn, but White has the Bishop pair giving him chances to fight back.

12. Bh6 Nc4
13. Bxc4 Bxc4
14. Ne2 Qb6
15. Bxg7 Kxg7
16. b3 Bxe2
17. Qxe2 Rfe8
While watching the game I thought this was a wrong Rook move. It reduces the defense of f7. The “electronic monster” does not see much difference between the Rook moves and rates the game as about level either way.

18. Qe5 Qb5
19. Qf4 Nh5
20. Qh4 f6
21. g4!? …..
John makes things complicated. 21 a4, is simpler and maybe safer.

21.…. Nf4
22. g5!? …..
Now going for even more complications yet, John must have determined to win this game.

22.… Ne2+?!
The game now begins to slip out of Alan’s control. Things are tense and sharp play is called for. I think 22..., fxg5!?; is a better attempt for Black. The underlying idea about trading on g4 is a fork by the Black Knight checking on h3. White, of course, will not likely fall in to that trap, but Black gets to use the time gained for counter-play. My guess is play would continue; 23 Qg4, Qb4; this is a very hard move to find, then 24 Nxg5, Qxd4+; 25 Kh1, e5; looks OK for Black. Another line is 24 Kh1, h6; 25 Nxg5, hxg5; 26 Qxg5, Qxd4; 27 Rxf4, Qxd5+; 28 Qxd5, cxd5; heading towards equality. With the text move Alan seems to have gotten things out of order in his calculation.

23. Kh1 fxg5
24. Qf2?! ….
John may have not found the exactly correct move order himself. Better is 24 Nxg5, Qd5+; 25 Nf3, then 25..., Nc3; is met be 26 Re5, leaving White clearly winning.

24.… g4
25. c4 Qh5?
This allows White to make something out of the risks Black has been taking over the last few moves. Better is 15..., Qf5; when Black retains the pawn as the last minor pieces are traded off. With all the heavy artillery left there is considerable fighting to be done, but a draw is quite probable.

26. Ne5 Nc3
Black now must be concerned. White has uncovered his long term target, the f7 square where danger now looms. An entry square near the King is bad enough, but also Black has to have some care that his Nc3 does not become surrounded and lost to say nothing of the weak pawn on e7 the guarding of which operates to reduce the possible activity of the Rooks. The only counter Black has is a rather primitive mating threat by advancing the g-pawn. That is not enough to save the day

27. Qf7+ ….
As time ran short, Barnes missed the winning shot: 27 Nf7!, clearing d5 for the White Rook and taking squares away from the Black King. If Black say tried 27..., g3; 28 Qxg3, Ne3; 29 Qf2, Nc3; 30 Rxe7!, and Black will lose big material and probably the game shortly.
Both players were now in serious time trouble. Barnes was at just about five minutes and Alan under four minutes. The game went on at a blitz pace to about move 60! There a draw was agreed. I was trying to record three games, all of which ran down to just seconds left on the clocks. This impossible task defeated my best efforts and ended with game scores that were unreadable. In the future I will restrict my efforts to a single game when time is short. These few more moves are all I have of the Barnes - Le Cours game.

27.…. Kh8
28. Qf2 Rf8
29. Nf7+ Rxf7
30. Qxf7 g3
31. Kg2 Qh4
½ - ½

SCC Ch Finals
Date: 3/17/2010
White: Mockler, M
Black: Sells, P
This contest will probably be crucial in the determination of this year’s title. It is another of the games where the clocks had very little time on them at the finish. In fact Mockler’s flag fell to end the play. Sells played extremely well when his clock had only moments remaining. This was the second time this year I was privileged to observe Phil do very good chess with a hanging flag. He pulled off a similar feat against Steve Taylor in the Saratoga Championship to win that title.

1. b3 e6
2. Bb2 Nf6
3. e3 c5
4. f4 Nc6
5. Nf3 Be7
A case of each side wanting to play their own favorite line. Phil likes certain formations of the Sicilian and Mike has a preference for the Bird’s. In this game they almost ignore each other putting the pieces where they want them.

6. Bd3?! …..
An experiment that Mockler will not repeat. His rational as explained was; the doubled pawns that show up soon give him an impressive pawn mass in the center, he picks up a tempo or two because Black spends time - three moves by the Knight to eliminate the Bd3, and White has space and lines bearing on the K-side where extra force can be massed for a direct attack. A very persuasive presentation of the case. The chess gods have put between our grand strategic ideas and marking a full point on the result sheet a sea of tactics and the opponent’s own schemes. We get to see Sells doing his best to cross these plans.

6.…. Nb4
7. O-O Nxd3
8. cxd3 b6
9. Nc3 Ba6
Touching the bruise. No bad thing to pressure the flaw in an opponent’s structure early.

10. Qc2 O-O
11. Ne5 Rc8
And putting a Rook opposite of the opponent’s Queen on a potentially open file is another good general notion.

12. e4 d6
13. Nf3 Nd7
14. Rae1 b5
15. Kh1? ….
Up to this point my computer sees the game as favoring White. Going over this game with GM Har-Zvi got a entirely opposite evaluation. After this move the computer begins liking Black. Both the computer and the Grandmaster disliked the text.

15.… Nb8!?
The natural move is 15.…, b4. Phil Sells may have not cared for the look of the resulting position. White has the a1-h8 diagonal pointing at Black’s King. The computer and the GM pointed out the sequence 15..., b4; 16 Nd1, f5; 17 exf5, Rxf5; 18 Rxe6, Rxf5; gives Black a significant edge. Alternatively, 18 g3, Rd5!?; also favors Black, but sticking a Rook out there in front of his pawns requires absolute precision in calculation. There are many ways such a Rook can fall victim to dangers. It may be these ideas caused Phil to look for some other way forward. This retreat seems to swing the evaluation of the position back favoring White.

16. Nd1 Nc6
17. Qb1 Qb6
18. Qa1 ….
White has achieved much of his idea. The Q+B battery on the long diagonal looks evil. Now if he can break open some lines, or get the Knights on threatening squares there just might be real attacking chances that will offset the weak d-pawn.

18.… f6
Simple and good. If White tries to make things happen with 19 e5, Black trades the f-pawn there and advances the d-pawn sealing the diagonal a1-h8. If such takes place the d3 weakling will need the help of a couple of White pieces to survive long. The likely guardians will be the Queen and a Knight, units that are better use when attacking. That fact signals the game tilting strongly in favor of Black.

19. d4 Nb4
My first thought was 19..., b4; is better. The computer encouraged my belief. However, playing it out uncovered White can get in d2-d4 leaving Black with the Bishop pair and a long fight to make them pay off. The game move applies pressure from another direction to deal with the Q+B battery.

20. Qb1 c4
21. Nf2 cxb3
22. axb3 Rc7
23. Re3 Rfc8
24. Rc3 d5
25. e5 …..
The fog of battle has swirled thickly over the last few moves. The GM was dismissive of White’s ideas up to here. The computer gave wildly swinging evaluations that when played out fell back towards equality. The try 25 f5?!,would challenge Black to find the right move. For example; 25 f5?!, exf5; looks unclear. While 25 f5?!, dxe4!; leads to a clear advantage for Black.

25.…. Nc6
Time was becoming a problem for Sells, Mockler had over 30 minutes on his clock. Phil;s move has some poison in it.

26. Rfc1? ….
With plenty of time available, Mockler makes an error. Better 26 exf6, 27 Re3, when White is working his way towards equality.

26... b4!
Getting the advantage on the c-file.

27. Rc5? ….
Better 27 Re3, and Black has an edge, but White can hold on perhaps. Throwing in the Exchange makes a material imbalance for no good end. Lesson from GM Har-Zvi; the best players only give up material if doing so activates your forces, prevents some greater loss (mate, etc.), or is part of a forcing sequence leading to an advantage. Here none of the criteria apply. The game is firmly in Black’s control from here to the end.

27.… fxe5
28. Nxe5 Bxc5
29. dxc5 Qb5
30. Nf3 Qe2
31. Ng4 Bd3
32. Qa1 Bf5
33. Ne3 Qd3
34. Ng5 Qxd2
Phil’s most difficult task was to somehow make many moves while Michael tried to stir up complications. Mockler’s efforts were strenuous so much so he ran his clock down to nothing and his flag fell. Another bravura performance by Sells with very little time left on the clock. Trying to “flag” Sells is a thankless task as Taylor and Mockler have now seen.

This next is a game that followed a more conventional path than the proceeding fight. This is one more game that used nearly all the time on the clocks. Lucky for me Bill Townsend dropped by the club at the opportune moment and took over recording the moves. We have a complete and, I think, an accurate game score.

SCC Ch Finals 09-10
Date: 3-18-2010
White; Phillips, J
Black: Howard, D

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. e5 c5
4. Qg4 cxd4
5. Nf3 Nc6
6. Bd3 ….
White has played as some very good and adventurous GM’s such as Hector, Sveshnikov and Vasiukov have done. The early 4 Qg4, takes the game away from the usual lines seen locally in the Advanced French.

6.… g6
7. O-O Bg7
8. Re1 Nge7
9. Bg5 Qc7
10. Qf4 O-O
11. Bf6 Bxf6
12. Qxf6 Nf5
13. g4 Ng7
14. Qh4 Ne8
15. g5 Ng7
16. Nbd2 Nf5
17. Qf4 Kg7?
Dean misses a chance. Possible is 17..., f6!; and if 18 gxf6, Rxf6; and Black is equal. The text leaves in place the bind White has clamped on the dark squares on the K-side which gives White the initiative.

18. h4 ….
More normal is 18 Nb3, focusing on recovering the invested pawn. White must believe this task can be carried out at his leisure.

18.…. Rh8
Black is searching for ways to discourage White from capturing the Nf5 with his Bishop. Black will have to recapture with the g-pawn for otherwise he is left will ugly doubled d-pawns. After the recapture by the g-pawn, White has some access to the light square h6 to go along with the dark square bind. That may be the stuff of an direct attak on the Black King.

19. Kg2 Bd7
20. Nb3 Qb6
21. Bxf5 gxf5
22. Nbxd4 Nxd4
23. Qxd4 Qxd4
24. Nxd4 Rac8
Dean again forgoes a chance to make things a bit easier for himself by playing ..., h7-h6; somewhere along about here.

25. c3 Kg6
26. Kg3 a6
27. a4 Rc4
28. a5 Rhc8
29. f3 Ra4
30. Rxa4 Bxa4
31. Ne2 Bb5
32. Nf4+ Kg7
33. Nh5+ Kh8
34. Rd1 Bc4
35. Ra1 Bb5
36. Ra3 Rc4
37. Nf4 Bc6
38. h5 Bd7
39. Ne2 Kg7
Neither side has been able to find anything tricky and tactical to upset the balance. The eventual draw is beginning to take shape.

40. h6+ Kf8
41. Nd4 Bb5
42. Rb3 Rc5
Black could have taken a less complicated approach, kept his Bishop on d7 planning to defend b7 from c8 and used the time saved to move his King closer to the scene of action with …., Kf8-e7; in the previous series of moves.

43. Nxb5 axb5
The draw is now certain barring some terrible error in the time trouble Dean is facing.

44. f4 Ke7
45. Kf3 Kd7
46. Ke3 Kc6
47. Kd3 Kd7
48. Ke3 Kc6
49. Kd3 Rc4
50. Rb4 Rxb4
51. cxb4 Kc7
52. Kd4 Kc6
53. b3 b6
54. axb6 Kxb6
55. Kc3 Agreed draw.
There just was not enough difficulty in the position over the last several moves to strain Dean’s considerable fast chess skills.

Now for something completely different. In this game a young and rising player takeas a trip in the Sicilian Labyrinth, so named by the great Grandmaster Lyev Polugayevsky. Unless you are well schooled in the Sicilian, particularly the open variations (1 e4, c5; 2 Nf3, and 3 d4), trying it out with Lee Battes from either side of the board is risky. Lee has been playing, analyzing and exploring this opening for forty years. I lost rather badly a Sicilian to Lee in 1970 that convinced me so. Subsequently, I made great efforts not to play the open Sicilian against him. Chen Qu may have reached the same conclusion from this game.

Consolation Swiss
Date: 3/18/2010
White: Battes, L
Black: Qu, Chen
1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 a6
6. Be3 e6
7. f3 Be7
8. Qd2 Nbd7?
An error. The better move is 8..., Nc6; getting this piece to its natural post. The game move makes Black’s development slow. This is often fatal for Black in the Sicilian. While this opening can give Black excellent opportunities for active play, but it requires Black to be exact in his moves. Any slip will let a knowledgeable White player grab the advantage early.

9. g4 O-O
10. g5 Ne8
11. O-O-O Qc7
Nothing mysterious here. Black’s slow development scheme encouraged White to start the naturals action on the K-side. The game looks like many, many Sicilians play in local clubs.

12. h4 b5
13. Kb1 ….
Lee takes time to shift his King to a safer square. With the Knight on d7 instead of c6, this less critical than in some variations.

13.… Bb7
14. h5 Ne5
15. g6?! ….
Not completely accurate. It is possible something along the lines of 15 f4, would be more testing in the long run.

15.… hxg6
16. hxg6 Nxg6
17. Qh2 Nf6
Black pocketed the proffered pawn, and White has the open files aimed at the Black King he wanted.

18. Bd3 b4?
What looks like speed to attack can turn out to be slow in a critical sense. Here Black had to make a choice between a defensive move and an aggressive move. Here Black should playing 18..., Rfd8; making some room for his King to run away if needed. White now has a measurable edge.

19. Nce2 a5
Black is confident his actions on the Q-side offsets the dangers building on the opposite of the board. He is wrong as will soon be clear.
20. Nf4 Qd7?
Black had to try 20..., e5; to get some material for all the trouble that is coming down the K-side files. After the text, the end comes quickly.

21. Bb5?! ….
Lee must have been having an off day. The game move is likely good enough to win the game, but the principled move is 21 e5!!, when play could go 21..., dxe5; 22 Nxg6, fxg6; 23 Bxg6; and mate follows soon. Other tries for Black are not much better; there are just too many mating sequences all round the h-file.

21.… Qc8
22. Rdg1 ….
Another quick win comes from 22 Ndxe6. The Black Knights are oddly useless. If they move away say to trade themselves to reduce the attacking force, mate happens suddenly. Lee may have been lulled into complacency by Qu’s errors. He now makes some hasty ill-considered moves that could have cost him the point.

22.… e5
23. Nxg6 fxg6
24. Nc6? …..
The logical shot, 24 Rxg6, wins after 24.…, exd4; 25 Qh8+, Kf7; 26 Rxg7+, Ke6; 27 Qh3+, when the end comes in a move or two. The text gives Black a chance. White has an idea of using the h2-g8 diagonal to administer the mate. The notion is flawed.

24.… Bxc6
25. Bc4+ d5
26. exd5 Bxd5?
Qu must have seen a mirage. By playing 26.…, Bd7; the checking Bc4 is attacked by the Queen giving Black something to play for. White gets to make dangerous threats, but Black can hold just. Play could continue; 27 d6+, Qxc4; 28 dxe7, Rfc8; 29 Rxg6, Kf7; 30 Rhg1, Ne8; when the issue is not settled yet. The Black King appears exposed but the killing shot isn’t evident. What if White proceeds a bit more slowly after 26..., Bd7; with say 27 b3, defending the Bc4? Black then continues 27..., Bd6; 28 Rxg6, Kf7; 29 Rhg1, Rg8 and 30..., Qf8; when White holds the initiative for the price of a minor piece, but no immediate breakthrough looms. The natural tries here; 31 Bh6, which is met by 30..., gxh6; picking up one more piece and 31 Bc5, which leads to lots of tactics but no clear winning sequence, would give both players much to calculate. All of the foregoing is to illustrate the complicated situation on the board. Mirages happen when the battle heat is high. If Qu worked through lines similar to those cited, he can’t be faulted much for missing the simpler tactic overlooked. Now Lee sees and plays a neat little combination that mates.

27. Bxd5+ Nxd5
28. Qh7+ Kf7
29. Qxg6+ Resigns.
All in all, an interesting contest with entertaining points, and maybe a lesson or two for us club warriors.

More soon.