The Champ!

As predicted, Naka kicked some serious butt!

Hikaru Nakamura is the (sole) Champion of the 2011 Tata Steel Chess Tournament having outlasted World Champion Vishy Anand and a late charging World #1 Magnus Carlsen. Simply a superb performance and confirmation that he will be a real challenger for the World Champion title some day. (He has missed the window to be in the current cycle and will need to join next cycle.)

Congratulations Hikaru! And thank you for the excitement you bring to the game at the highest level.

News, More News and a Game

My friends have taken pity on me and I am now in possession of updated cross tables for all three clubs; AACC, SCC and Saratoga Staunton. Bill Townsend shared his immaculately printed cross tables with me Thursday at the Schenectady Club. Many thanks to Mr. Townsend.

To begin with the most recent news to come out of Schenectady: The rescheduled game Kanakamedala - Mockler was played and Mr. Mockler won. More of that later. The play-off game between Dilip Aaron and Richard Moody was not played. Mr. Moody ran into some difficulties with his job and was not able to attend. He spoke with the TD and decided to forfeit the game sending young Dilip Aaron through to the Schenectady Finals.

With the decision regards the participants made early, Bill Townsend paired the contestants for play in the Finals next week. The scheduled games are:

Little - Aaron

Chi - Sells

Phillips - Le Cours

The early clash of the two top rated players may take some of the drama out of the contest, or maybe not. There were more than a couple of upsets on the way to the Finals, and nothing says we can not see more. The consolation Swiss for all comers is also going to begin next week at SCC. If you did not qualify, or you’re just looking for some chess, it is a nice event with one game per week for five weeks. Come on down!

When I last wrote about the standings in the qualifying play for the Albany Area Chess Club, it was not clear to me just what the standings were, especially in Section 2. Section 1 has been decided as I recently reported Gordon Magat defeated Tim Wright in a playoff after they finished tied for first place at 4 ½ - ½ each. There is one more game to play in Section 1; Kemp - Alowitz. It is a fight to see which player ends up ahead of the other in the standings. A battle of pride no doubt, and that sort of struggle can make for fighting chess.

Section 2 is another matter. Dean Howard has finished his schedule and scored 4 - 1. Yet to be played is the game Henner - Lack. My best information is the game will take place next week. Mr. Henner, 3 - 1 has the chance to tie with Mr. Howard, if he can defeat Mr. Lack. The game promises to be a fight. If Jonathan Lack wins, he will overtake Peter Henner for second place, in which event Howard goes on to play Gordon Magat for the title.

The Saratoga Staunton Club’s contest is some way from the finish in one sense, there several games to be played. In another sense the key decision has been known for a few weeks. Steve Taylor has sown up the title. With one game to play versus Lee Battes, Taylor has won six, lost none, and no one can catch him. In second place is Bill Little, 4 ½ - 1 ½ with one game to play with Lee Battes, and Jonathan Feinberg, 4 ½ - 2 ½ with no games remaining to be played. Mr. Battes has scored thus far 1 - 2 with games against Taylor, Little, Le Cours and Hrebenach to be played. If Mr. Battes sweeps those contests he can take over second spot. Following in the standings are: Alan Le Cours, 2 ½ -3 ½, and Jeff Hrebenach 1 - 5. Both have Battes to play.

Now, after the news, a game. Yogi K. has had a tough event, losing all but one game. In this game, at move number 8, he had a chance to grab a significant advantage. Unfortunately, his chess imagination failed him at a critical moment. Afterwards, the game toddled along more or less equal for awhile. Then with an embarrassment of riches, two open files, the a and the f-files, Mr. Kanakamedala just did not seem to have a plan.

Kanakamadala, Yogi - Mockler, Michael [C50]

SCC Ch Prelim A Schenectady, NY, 27.01.2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.0–0 Bc5 5.d3 h6 6.Nc3 d6 7.h3 Qe7 8.Be3 Nd4? 9.Nd5?,..

Up to here, all the foregoing has been well known for almost one hundred and fifty years at least. Black’s 8.., Nd4; is an error. Standard is 8..., Bxe3 9 fxe3 0-0 10 Nh4 Qd8; and White has only tiny advantage. An alternative I like is 8..., a6 9 Bxc5 dxc5; 10 a4 Qd6; clamping down on d4. Both approaches give Black reasonable play but no real advantage. Why is game move so wrong? The answer is; 9 Bxd4 Bxd4 10 Nxd4 exd4 11 Nb5, and if 11..., c5 12 Nxd6! Qxd6 13 e5, recovering the piece. Further it appears White could grab a pawn also after say 13..., Qe7 14 exf6 Qxf6 15 Re1+ Be6? (Better but not appealing is 15..., Kf8; when Black has problems with the Rook at h8 as well as a wandering King.) 16 Bxe6 fxe6 17 Qh5+, collecting the pawn at c5. All this is known theory in the Giuoco Pianissimo, the so called Quiet Game. Frequently this quiet game turns into very forceful tactics that leave one side or there other with a solid advantage. It is an opening that we don’t see much played by elites and not too often by local club players either. Being out of the limelight is probably the reason few are booked up on the tricks in the opening.

White missing his chance throws the game back towards equality. Now both sides have to begin again to play for an advantage.

9..., Nxd5 10.Bxd5 c6 11.Bc4 b5

Michael wants to win the game. The text grabs space and contemplates trading off the White light squared Bishop.

12.Bb3,..

The alternative 12 Bxd5, really doesn’t promise White any more than the text.

12..., Nxb3 13.axb3 Bxe3 14.fxe3 0–0 15.c4,..

Both players do not find the best moves for the next few turns. Black has the Bishop for a Knight imbalance and he has given White a pair of doubled pawns. He ought to be thinking of breaking open the position so the Bishop can gain scope and maybe further damaging the White pawns. White has the half open a and f-files that beckon the doubling of his Rooks somewhere. Changing the pawn structure, unless it is to un-double one of the pair of doubled pawns should not be on the White agenda.

At this specific point, it is logical to play 15 b4, setting the stage for un-doubling the b-pawns if Black expands on the Q-side. It is possible White was concerned about an eventual .., d6-d5; .., d5xe4; plan by Black. For example; 15 b4 d5 16 exd5 cxd5 17 Qd2 Re8 18 d4 exd4 19 Nxd4 a6 20 Rf3, secures the d4 outpost for the Knight, leaves the Black Bishop somewhat curtailed in scope and also makes progress towards effectively doubling the Rooks on the f-file. It can be concluded a quick execution of the plan outlined for Black does not help him much at all.

15..., Bb7!?

Logical is 15..., Rb8; to take advantage of the potential opening of the b-file.

16.d4?!,..

This move is doubtful. A better try is some move by the Queen to e1, or c2 to reinforce the pawn on e4.

16..., c5?

Why not 16..., exd4? After that move Black picks up a pawn and White gets some counter-play; 17 exd4 Qxe4 18 Re1 Qg6 19 Kh1 bxc4 20 bxc4 Rb8; and the Black pieces are coming to life not to mention an extra pawn is nice to have in the bag. Michael may have not cared for letting the White Rooks have some potential activity, but the tactics in the position prevent them from becoming too much of a problem.

17.d5 a6

The game is settling back to equality. The blocked center does not promise much good in the future for the Black Bishop.

18.Ra5,..

Not bad out rightly but what is the point? Doubling on the a-file as long as the Bishop is around has little promise for the Rooks. 18 Qd3, seems a reasonable move for White shoring up the center pawn wall.

18..., Qc7 19.Qd2 Rae8!?

More logical is 19..., Rfb8; to pressure the backward b-pawn if Black is allowed to capture on c4 with b-pawn. Mr. Mockler does, however, dangle a bright and shiny pawn out there to tempt Yogi.

20.cxb5 axb5 21.Rxb5?,..

And his youthful opponent grabs the material. The next moves should be a lesson to players facing more experienced opponents; pawns offered need not be pawns taken, the hidden costs can be fearsome. Some better is 21 b4, but Black is building towards a real advantage. His is just the easier game to play.

21..., Ba6 22.Ra5 Bxf1 23.Kxf1 f5

With three moves Black has turned what was looking like a dour struggle about whose minor piece will be better in a position with all the major pieces in the mix, into a completely won game.

24.Ra6 fxe4 0–1

White is going down a full Rook and there is not much reason for the game to go on. I had to leave the club rooms before the formal resignation was made. Assuming no earthquake, fire or flood interfered it was not long before the end came.

Coming down the home stretch

Wow! The last 3 rounds to go and Hikaru Nakamura is tied for the lead with World Champion Vishy Anand. This is awesome. Great chess, great drama. Nakamura-Kramnik on Saturday morning (7:30am start) I hope you are following. The host site has been top notch this year, too. http://www.tatasteelchess.com/ .

Now to squeeze my last favorite "lost tapes" from last year, here is a two part clip of players from the B section who played a crazy game. Plus the moves. Check it out!

Black sacs 4 pawns and then the exchange for a nasty attack .... and the game ends in a draw!! Negi and Harikrishna played the game, Akobian and Nisipeanu are kibitzing and all are trying to find a winning line for either side. Peter Leko watches too, then leaves ...an hour later he is back in part (b) and finally calls it a night. As he leaves he laughs at the others and says something like "you know the press will say this was a 'nice grandy draw' between the two Indian players..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dscMmt-JYk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vQmrX7FG60&feature=related

(139) Negi - HarikkrishnaCorus Chess 2010 Wijk aan Zee (7), 23.01.2010
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Ng5 Ngf6 6.Bd3 e6 7.N1f3 Bd6 8.Qe2 h6 9.Ne4 Nxe4 10.Qxe4 Qc7 11.0-0 b6 12.Qg4 Bb7 13.Qxg7 Rf8 14.Re1 0-0-0 15.Kh1 Kb8 16.a4 Rg8 17.Qxf7 Rdf8 18.Qxe6 Nf6 19.Bxh6 Bc8 20.Qe2 Rf7 21.Ne5 Ng4 22.Nxg4 Bxg4 23.f3 Bc8 24.f4 Rh7 25.Bxh7 Qxh7 26.Qh5 Rg6 27.Re8 Rxh6 28.Qg4 Rxh2+ 29.Kg1 Rh1+ 30.Kf2 Qxc2+ 31.Ke3 Qb3+ 32.Ke4 Qc2+ 33.Ke3 Qb3+ 1/2-1/2

Wrap up of the SCC Preliminaries

Thursday night’s games at the Schenectady Club were surprising but not so entertaining as the Wednesday games at the AACC. Surprising because the three game played were over by 9:30 pm. The lower level of entertainment has to be laid to the way in which all the games ended.

The game first in importance was the contest between Alan Le Cours and John Barnes. They were playing their make-up game from Round 1. The outcome would have much importance in deciding the third qualifying spot for the Finals from Section B.

Le Cours, Alan - Barnes, John [A31]

SCC Ch Prelim B Schenectady, NY, 20.01.2011

These two players are close to each other in rating and in results so far in the tournament. I was interested in the game both as a spectator and as a participant in the Finals. It began with promise of a stern fight, and then the human aspect of chess made a dramatic appearance with considerable consequences.

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6

We have a known position from the Symmetrical English (A31). It has appeared regularly on the international scene and White has normal results in this line. After stripping out the non-master games, the results in one database was White won 4, drew 2 and lost 2. There are many more games where White played 5 Nc2. Similarly, examples where Black tried 5..., d5; are more numerous also. Deep Rybka says Black is better by some very small margin.

6.Bg5 Be7

Putting the Bishop here does break the pin, sort of. It is not entirely clear just what Black may want to do with this Bishop. Keeping options open with 6..., Be6; or even 6..., Nc6; avoid the problems experienced by Black in the game with the development of the Q-side and might be a little better.

7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3!?,..

The complicated tactical interlude 8 Bxf6 gxf6 9 Qa4 Bd7 10 Nd5 0-0 11 Qa3, brings the game to a very tense moment where White has some immediate advantage. Black has chances, if he can avoid serious compromise to his position, in any middle game or ending where his Bishop pair find gainful employment. The early retreat of the Nb5 presents Black with the opportunity to equalize.

8..., 0–0 9.g3 Nbd7?

This move just does not look right. Better 9..., Nc6 10 Bg2 Be6; when Black has completed mobilization just ahead of White. After the text however, White can claim no great advantage.

10.Bg2 Qb6 11.Na4!?,..

Not a move that changes the position much at all. It is more of a demonstration to chase the Black Queen who has comfortable quarters on c7 readily available. More active is 11 Qb3, then a) 11..., Qxb3 12 axb3; tending towards equality, or b) 11..., Qa5 12 0-0 h6 13 Bd2 Qc7; favoring White but only slightly. White has to be aware of potential dangers however. One example is the simple; 11 b3? Ng4; winning a pawn and gaining a solid positional advantage.

11..., Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Qc7 13.0–0 Rb8 14.Nc3 Nb6 15.Qb3 Bd7!?

Questionable because it takes away a square that can be useful for the Black Queen but not really a mistake.

16.Be3 Na8?!

What is the future for a Knight sequestered on a8? I don’t see anything useful to be done with “horseman” from there. At first I thought it was meant to tempt the White Bishop to a7. After looking for a moment or two that did not look so bad for Black after 17 Ba7 Rbc8 18 Bxb7 Rb8 19 Bxb8 Rxb8; the pin on the Bb7 over the Qb3 is worrisome. Only after I got the game on Rybka did I see 20 Bxa8 Rxb3 21 axb3 Qb8 22 Bg2 Qxb3; when White probably has to play 23 Ra2 to guard the b-pawn. If 23 Rab1 Bf5 forces 24 e4, closing in the White Bishop. The upshot is White will have to work very hard to find away to activate his Rooks. If Black can keep the Rooks from cooperating, the Queen’s agility and love for double attacks can swing the balance in favor of Black.

Andrew Soltis wrote in his book Rethinking the Chess Pieces, Batsford, 2004: “When a player gives up - or is forced to give up his Queen for enemy pieces, it sets up a battle between two principles: cooperation versus the double attack.” Soltis later held that the number of other pieces on the board and the number of pawns are important factors in determining whether the Queen can prevail over the Rooks. In the case before us doubling the Rooks on the a-file is not at all clear. Black has time to make a “luft”, and has threats against b2. If White tries to cover b2 with Nc3-d1 at some point, Black can play Bd7-e6 along with d6-d5 planning Qxa2 and Bxa2 leading to a two Bishops versus a two Knights ending. This seems to give Black winning chances as a result of the open position. Absent the natural plan of doubling on the a-file, I like the chances for the Queen in cooperation with her minor piece cohorts to find a way to pick up material.

17.Ba7 1–0

Black resigns?!! The only conclusion I can come to is John did not see 17 Ba7. I had a similar experience this year in the AACC qualifying event against Gordon Magat. He got in a fork I did not see, and I resigned a level game just because of the shock. That seems to be what happed to John also. Such surprises bring out the all too human reaction in chess players sometimes. In my game with Magat it took a couple of weeks before I could bring myself to even look at the game. The disgust at my silly decision was the problem. Revisiting it to analyze the game was painful.

Immediately after the game Le Cours - Barnes ended, John and I had a conversation. He asked me to pass on to Bill Townsend, the TD, his wish to withdraw from the competition. A rather important decision. Even though John lost his game to Alan, Richard Moody had been defeated by Philip Sells and John Barnes, with 5 points was the third place finisher in Preliminary B. I called Mr. Townsend from the club rooms and passed the information. Bill confirmed it in a telephone call with John later.

We now will see a playoff game between Richard Moody and Dilip Aaron, both with 4 ½ points for the third qualifying place. When and the color assignments to be announced.

The foregoing brings us quite naturally to the game Sells - Moody.

Moody , Richard - Sells, Philip [B50]

SCC Ch Prelim B Schenectady, NY, 20.01.2011

Mr. Sells had another good year to go along with winning the Schenectady and Saratoga titles last year. Going into this game he had not given up even a half point in Preliminary B thus far. The win here gave Philip a perfect 8-0 score and first place.

1.e4 c5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 d6 4.d3 e6

We have a closed kind of Sicilian that is approximately even now.

5.c3 Nf6

With the very big databases available today, it is rare to find a position in a popular opening such as the Sicilian that has not been tried out by some international player or other. So it is here. Luke McShane play so as White against Maia Chiburdanidze in 2000 in Europe. He lost in 30 moves. McShane is leading the Corus B Tournament as this is being written, so no slouch he. McShane was quite young at the time of his loss, but he was closing in on 2500 and the GM title. Those facts suggest there is logic in the White scheme.

The game McShane-Chiburdanidze went as follows:

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 e6 4.d3 Nc6 5.c3 Nf6 6.Bb3 Be7 7.0–0 0–0 8.Qe2 e5 9.Na3 h6 10.Nc2 Nh7 11.Bd5 Bg4 12.b4 cxb4 13.cxb4 Bg5 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Bxc1 16.Rfxc1 Qd7 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.Ne3 Ng5 19.Qg4 Ne6 20.b5

An ill-fated pawn sacrifice. Better 20 Nf5 Kh8 21 d4 exd4 22 Nxd4, leaving White with some slight advantage. Chiburdanidze took the pawn, held it, and the pawn proved to be the winning trump on move 44.

6.0–0 Be7 7.h3 0–0 8.Re1 Qc7 9.Bb3 b5 10.a4 b4

White has taken a quiet approach to the game. Black has now grabbed some extra space on the Q-side. Letting Mr. Sells dictate the course of play is not often a good idea. He usually has something in mind that has a sting to it.

Mr. Moody is knowledgeable of much in the opening, however, no slave to theory he. Richard has some pet lines based on his own work and study. I wonder if this is one such? If so, I don’t see the idea.

11.Be3 Bb7 12.Re2?!,..

Mr. Moody embarks on a mysterious little dance with his Queen and Rook that does nothing to improve the placement of either piece. Reasonable is 12 Nbd2, getting another piece on the way into the game.

12..., Rfd8 13.Rd2 d5 14.Bc2 a5 15.Qe1,..

In effect White has “passed” two times running. It is no surprise Black can now begin action in the center soon.

15..., h6 16.Re2 Rac8

A little more dawdling by White and Black has all of his pieces deployed. Any opening of lines will be an ill thing for White.

17.exd5?,..

An act of self-destruction if there ever was one. The attempt 17 e5 Nxe5 18 Nxe5 Qxe5 19 Bxc5 Qc7 20 Bxe7 Qxe7 21 d4, makes sense. White still has a glaring weakness on c3 that will cost a pawn at the very least, but he can fight on for some good while. After the game move the game is soon dead lost.

17..., Nxd5 18.Bd2 Bf6 19.Ra2,..

Putting the Rook “in Coventry” worsens an already tough situation. The best in this bad time may be 19 Qc1, making an attacking gesture at the Black King in hopes of distracting Black.

19..., Rd7

After White demonstrated great nervousness about b2 and c3, Black tales aim at d3.

20.c4 Nf4 21.Bxf4 Qxf4 22.Re4 Qc7 23.b3,..

As I was watching the game, this move gave me hope that there was logic behind Richard’s maneuvering. There is a glimmer of a scheme; can the Ra2 swing over to the e-file? First the Nb1 goes to d2 and on to f1 and the Bishop falls back to b1 clearing the way for the Ra2. Alas, that is too many more moves to make in a situation where Black has all tings ready to do harm.

23..., Nd4 24.Nxd4 Bxd4 25.Rg4 h5 26.Rg3?

Dropping a whole Rook for naught. The only way to make a semblance of active play is 26 Rxd4, but after 26..., Rxd4 27 Nd2 Qf4 28 Ra1 e5; something will crack very soon in the White position

26..., Qxg3 0–1

With a full Rook in his pocket along with a hugely superior piece placement, Black is too far ahead, and White resigns now.

In the other game played at Schenectady Thursday Dilip Aaron blundered a pawn in the opening to David Connors. David then played a hasty move that returned the favor with interest dropping a piece. Although Mr. Connors could have collected a second pawn for the piece, I guess the material loss was a shock that had an effect similar to what Mr. Barnes felt in his game, and David resigned immediately.

Bill Townsend will let the players know when the Aaron - Moody playoff will take place. We are hoping for next week. This coming Wednesday there will be lectures on the many variations of the King's Gambit Accepted at the Albany Area Chess Club. The club meets at the Union Presbyterian Church on Route 20, Guilderland at 7:00 pm on Wednesdays.

More soon.

Just About the End of the Prelims at AACC

Wednesday, the Albany Area Chess Club had some action. Three games in the unfolding preliminary battle for the Club Championship were played. In Preliminary Section 2 Peter Henner won when Glen Perry erred in what appeared to be a drawn ending. In a second game in this Section, Dean Howard benefited from an oversight by Jonathan Lack in a tough endgame, won a piece and shortly the game.

Gordon Magat faced Tim Wright in a playoff game for first place in Section 1. Gordon won in a game with lots of tactics.

The Howard - Lack game decided first place in Section 2. I think. Looking back over the information I have Dean has a lock on the prize, qualification for the title playoff. I must say my information is incomplete and uncertain. We will have to wait for the TD, Jon Leisner to publish the final cross table for this Section to be sure. This was a fighting game and there were chances for both sides.

Howard, Dean - Lack, Jonathan [C02]

AACC Prelim 2 Guilderland, NY, 19.01.2011

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.a3 Nge7 7.b4,..

This is not a popular way to play against the French Advanced for the best players. The only game between elite players in this line is Peng (2624) - Korchnoi (2659) in Calcutta, 2000. It was a draw in 23 moves. White usually takes a more complicated approach putting the K-side Knight on e2 and bringing the other Knight through d2 to f3 to make things as difficult as he can for Black.

7..., cxd4 8.cxd4 Nf5 9.Bb2 Be7 10.g4?!,..

Possible is 10 Bd3, because of an eventual check on b5 from Bd3 prevents the immediate win of the White d-pawn. The text risks problems for the White King.

10..., Nh4 11.Nbd2 Ng6!?

Cautious. More dynamic is 11..., h5; intending to emphasize the less than secure situation of the White King.

12.Rc1 f6 13.Bd3?,..

A better attempt is 13 h4. The text move gives Black advantage, not quite a winning edge but certainly measurable.

13..., Nf4 14.Nb3 fxe5 15.dxe5 0–0 16.Qc2?,..

Creating a hugely complex tactical situation that is not favorable for White. Somewhat safer is 16 0-0, but the game is difficult for White.

16..., Bxb4+!?

Miss-reading the possibilities. The sacrifice is tempting and incorrect, and all Black should achieve is a material imbalance with some winning chances. It releases the tension before wringing all benefit available. Better is 16..., Ng2+; then a) 17 Kg1 Ne3+! 18 fxe3 Qxe3 19 Nbd2 Rxf3+ 20 Nxf3 Qxf3+ 21 Kg1 Bd8!; recovering the Exchange with a pawn to the good. And if b) 17 Ke2 Nf4+ 18 Kf1 Nxd3 19 Qxd3 a5; and Black has a substantial advantage with a serious initiative. The game move, at best, leads to equality.

17.axb4 Nxb4?

Better is 17..., Qxb4+; then a) 18 Kf1 Nxd3 19 Qxd3 Qxg4 20 Nbd4 Qf4 21 Qe2 Bd7; and Black has three pawns plus the uncomfortable White King as compensation for the piece. His edge is small with lots of fight left in the position. The option b) 18 Ke2, leads to more troubles for White after 18..., Ng2+ 19 Ke2 Qxg4 20 Nbd2 d4; when Black is not clearly winning, but there are dangers everywhere for White.

The foregoing notes illustrate problems that often come when White chooses this line against the Advanced French. Now, after Black’s erroneous 17th move, White obtains the advantage with his next move. A guess is Mr. Lack did not value this resource for White very highly when taking on b4 with the Knight.

18.Bxh7+ Kh8 19.Qb1 Ng2+ 20.Kf1 Rxf3 21.Bd4,..

This may be the move that Mr. Lack missed in his calculations.

21..., Rxb3 22.Bxb6 Rxb1 23.Bxb1 Nf4 24.Bd4,..

It seems to me, and Rybka, that 24 Be3, is a better choice. A pair of minor pieces will be traded, and the advance of the h-pawn along with the possibility of White’s Bishop operating on the long diagonal as well as the penetration of a White Rook to the 7th bode ill for Black. White has some advantage while Black is not without his own opportunities.

24..., b6?!

This move looks suspicious. Better perhaps is 24..., Bd7; getting the Q-side pieces out discourage the sudden appearance of a Rook on c7 due to the activity the Black Bishop and two Knights can develop.

Trouble on the clocks was beginning to emerge. Mr. Howard had between four and five minutes on his, and Mr. Lack a more comfortable eighteen hereabouts.

25.Bc3?,..

In a single stroke White tosses away the advantage and soon has the worse position. Called for is 25 Rc7, maintaining the edge.

25..., Ba6+

A surprise that Dean must not have seen. Now the Bishop and Knights have their chance.

26.Kg1 Ne2+ 27.Kg2 Nxc1 28.Bxb4 Nd3 29.Bxd3 Bxd3 30.Rc1 Bc4 31.f4 a5 32.Bd6 Kg8 33.f5 Kf7 34.Bc7 Rc8?!

Black has visions of a discovered attack on the undefended Rook at c1. Unfortunately for Jonathan it was mirage. Better here is 34..., b5 35 Bd6, hoping to control the diagonal in front of the charging a and b-pawns, but 35..., d4; 36 Kf2 d3 37 Ke3? Rh1!; looks very promising for Black. This is particularly so because White now is down to less than three minutes on the clock, and a sudden change of the critical area of operations is hard to handle in time trouble.. Black had burned off some of his time edge but was still comfortable.

35.Bxb6 Bf1+? 36.Rxf1 1–0

The game went on for several moves more until Black was checkmated.

I don’t have the outcome of the Howard - Perry game that took place some weeks ago, and there is uncertainty that everything else I have in hand is correct. My best guess is this win puts Dean Howard in first place in Section 2. That brings us to the next game for today.

Magat, Gordon - Wright, Tim [B21]

AACC Prelim 1 Playoff Guilderland, NY, 19.01.2011

I failed to ask the participants if they are to play a pair of games to decide first place in Section 1. It is only a guess, but I think the playoff is just a single game, If I am correct, then the Finals will be a two game match between Magat and Howard. Both have been successful in the Prelims, and both have allowed their opponents chances here and there throughout. It will be interesting to see who is “on” when the match takes place.

1.e4 c5 2.f4 e5!?

Not too many international players have tried this move which gives a King’s Gambit flavor to the Grand Prix Attack. The Grand Prix was popular with the English Grandmasters in the 1980s but not so much in recent years. The game move was found in only four games out the two million games in my databases. That makes it an odd sideline for sure. Mr. Wright relies on his intuition and not study to get him through the opening. Most of the time he does pretty well. This game is another story entirely.

3.Nf3,..

Of course not 3 fxe5 Qh4+; the ancient shot that wins quickly.

3..., d6?!

After this move White is better. He will have the f-file on which to operate against f7, and the Bishop will go to c4 increasing the pressure there. Black has to be very accurate from this point on lest he is overwhelmed. The international players preferred 3..., exf4; here.

4.fxe5 dxe5 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.d3 Bg4 7.0–0 Bxf3?

Giving up a potential defender of f7 for the Nf6 and not getting even a pawn weakness in return. Better 7..., Nf7; and if 8 h3 Bh5. White has the advantage.

8.Qxf3 Nf6 9.g4?!,..

Forceful and mistaken. Gordon may believe Tim is unprepared for this position and tries a gamble. Simple and good is 9 Nc3, aiming to go to d5.

9..., h6 10.h4,..

White means to overwhelm Black with a pawn storm.

10..., Nd4 11.Qg2 Ne6?!

During the game Charles Eson asked why not 11..., Nxg4; because 12..., Nxc2; wins the Ra1? The problem is 11..., Nxg4 12 Bxf7+ Ke7 13 Qxg4, threatening mate at e3 giving time for White to get in 14 Na3, guarding c2 and staying a piece up.

Necessary here is 11..., Qd7; and Black is holding on. After the text his game is sliding towards the precipice.

12.Be3 Qd7 13.Nc3 a6?

A routine answer to the obvious threat 14 Bb5. The flaw is it weakens one more square, b6, something Black can’t afford. Better to deal with the threat with 13..., 0-0-0; advancing development and not weakening any squares. After this better move, the game favors White slightly, but Black has chances because the White King is not at all safe and secure.

14.Rf5 Bd6 15.g5 hxg5 16.hxg5 Nh5 17.Nd5,..

A little poke at a “bruise” at b6 that puts the White Knight on an aggressive post.

17..., g6?

Tim chooses to try for some kind of blockade on the K-side. That seems to be the wrong choice. Trying the more active approach with 17..., b5; creates a tactical mess with chances for Black to hold the game. Play could go; 17..., b5 18 Bb3 Nhf4 19 Bxf4 Nxf4 20 Nxf4 c4 21 dxc4 exf4 22 cxb5 Bc5+ 23 Kf1 Qxb5+ 24 Re1 0-0-0. Black is down a pawn with two more under threat, but the White King is wandering along the back rank giving Black good chances to make something out of that. White now carries out the plan he has been working towards.

18.Nf6+ Nxf6 19.Rxf6 0–0–0 20.Raf1 Rh7 21.Qg4?,..

A slip just as the prize is within grasp. Simply 21 Bxe6, wins the pawn on g6 and turns the problem into a technical win. The text is a try at increasing the pressure on e6. Good idea, but 21..., Nf4; crosses up those intentions leaving Black with some defensive resources after 22 Qxd7 Rxd7; and some active possibilities; the Rf6 is ever so slightly in danger. The game would be, as the Russian commentators are fond of saying, in dynamic balance.

21..., Re8?

Error answered with error. Mr. Wright was uncharacteristically defensive in his view of this game after beginning aggressively - 2..., e5. The game is now lost.

22.Bxe6 Rxe6 23.Rxe6 fxe6 24.Rf6 Qg7 25.Qxe6+ Qd7 26.Rxg6,..

Not 26 Qxd3?? Black then has 26..., Qg4+; with mate to follow. Now there is no way to stop the triumphant march of the g-pawn.

26..., Rg7 27.Qxd7+ Rxd7 28.Rg8+ Kc7 29.g6 Kb6 30.g7 Rf7 31.Bh6 1–0

A most entertaining contest. Tension right from the beginning as appropriate for the deciding game for qualification to the Finals.

Henner, Peter - Parry, Glen [B97]

AACC Prelim B Guilderland, NY, 20.01.2011

A fight for pride of place, the contenders pick the battleground of the Poisoned Pawn Najdorf Sicilian on which to struggle. This is an excellent choice to provide interesting chess.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Nb3 Nc6 9.Be2 Nd7 10.f5,..

More usual is 10 Qd2.

10..., Nde5 11.fxe6 fxe6 12.Qd2 h6

Somewhat safer is 12..., Qc7.

13.Be3 Qc7 14.0–0 Bd7

Again choosing risk over safety. With 14..., Be7; and 15..., Nf2; Black could have gotten his King away to the K-side and kept both of his Bishops on the board. Glen is looking for a fight and is willing to take chances to bring the battle to a fever pitch.

15.Na4 b5 16.Nb6 Rb8 17.Nxd7 Qxd7

White now has a significant edge; the Bishop pair and the Black King stuck in the center are the makings of a lasting advantage.

18.Nd4 Be7 19.Bh5+!?,..

Why instigate action now? Housekeeping is called for, say 19 b3 to prevent a future Ne5-c4 makes sense.

19..., Kd8?!

Another wandering King, there are echoes of the Magat - Wright game here. Playable is 19..., g6 20 Be2 Nxd4 21 Qxd4 Qc6; with a refined struggle for the initiative breaking out presenting opportunities for both sides.

20.Bf7?!,..

Seduced by temptation Mr. Henner goes for the “bright and shiny” bauble Mr. Perry has tangled in front of him, the pawn on e6. Again 20 b3, suggests itself as the way to maintain the advantage obtained.

20..., Nxd4 21.Qa5+?!,..

Both sides revel in taking risks. Keeping some advantage with 21 Bxd4, is better. Now the game should equalize.

21..., Qc7 22.Qxc7+ Kxc7 23.Bxd4 Bf6 24.c3?,..

White sees that taking on e6 leads to the line 24 Bxe6 Nf3+1 25 gxf3 Bxd4+ 26 Kg2 Bxb2 27 Rab1 Re8 28 Bd5 Bf6; and a balanced game tending towards a drawn outcome. He wants more, and so the text, but what about the loose Bishop on f7 you ask? Objectively it is best to take on e6. If risk is to be courted, then 24 Rxf6 gxf6 25 Bxe6, gives White a pawn for the Exchange and the well posted Bishop pair is perhaps enough to balance the material inequality. Leaving the Bishop hanging is just a blunder, something we all have done one time or another.

24..., Kd7??

Black just does not see it! A moment of “chess blindness” that robs logic from the outcome. Even stranger is both players having such an attack at the same time.

25.Bh5 Rhf8 26.Rad1 Ke7 27.Rf2 Rbc8 28.Be2 Nd7 29.Bxf6+ Rxf6 30.Rxf6 Nxf6 31.Bf3 Rc5 32.Kf2 Re5 33.Rd4 g5 34.g4 h5 35.h3 hxg4 36.hxg4 Kd7 37.c4,..

The game has proceeded routinely with Black having a very small edge. Here White maybe should have played 37 a4, holding the position in better fashion than in the game.

37..., Kc6 38.cxb5+ axb5 39.b4 d5 40.exd5+ exd5 41.Rd2?,..

Stronger is 41 Rd3. The text lets the minor piece exchange happen and the Black Rook is favorably placed to make the White position uncomfortable.

41..., Ne4+ 42.Bxe4 Rxe4 43.Rc2+ Kd6?,..

Better 43..., Rc4; and the endgame is won for Black. If White captures on c4 the protected passed pawn created will let Black leverage it into a win. Other moves, say 44 Rb2, drops the g-pawn making an outside passed pawn that will keep the White King occupied while the Black King and Rook plot and scheme on the Q-side.

44.a3 Rxg4 45.Rc5 Rd4 46.Rxb5 Rd2+

Black seems to be determined to try for the win. Checking along the rank admits the game the game is even.

47.Ke3 Ra2 48.Kf3,..

Time for careful consideration is in short supply for both sides. They have been under fifteen minutes for the balance of the game since move 28. I did not record the time move by move because the other two games were challenging me just to keep up getting the moves down correctly. Here 48 Kd4, threatens to capture on d5 with check subsequently eliminating the last Black pawn and all winning chances. The threat is such Black would likely repeat the position or acquiesce to the wholesale trading of all the pawns. In either case a draw is the result. The move played should also be enough for the draw just not a clearly as 48 Kd4.

48..., Kc6

Simpler is 48..., Rxa3+; eliminating very nearly all hopes for a win White may be illogically harboring.

49.Rc5+ Kd6 50.Rc3 Ra1 51.Kg4 Rg1+ 52.Kf3 Rf1+ 53.Kg4 Rg1+ 54.Rg3 Rxg3+ 55.Kxg3,..

The game is now at classic position from endgame theory; the “moving square” of pawns versus two connected passers. The idea of the moving square is two widely separated isolated pawns are not helpless against a lone King. In this game the isolated Black pawns are two files apart. If you draw square in your mind’s eye with the pawns as the base corners and extend the outline towards the Queening rank, if the forward edge reaches the Queening rank the lone King can not stop the pawns. At this moment in the game the forward edge of the “moving square” for the Black pawns reaches only the second rank. The White King can hold them both and perhaps even win them. There two big buts the theoreticians and Grandmasters always add; much depends on the exact position of the Black King relative to the two passers and how far advanced the passers are. The question for White is there some chance the Black King can delay the connected passed pawns and sneak in somehow to help the d-pawn forward?

55..., Kc6 56.a4,..

White does not want the Black King to have access to b5 because it is a path to c4, and from c4 the Black King is a great supporter of the d-pawn. At least that is what I imagined was the motivation for the text.

56..., Kb6?

Black has to play 56..., d4! Then he will be able to advance his “moving square” the requisite one rank forward putting the leading edge on the Queening rank. Play should go; 56..., d4 57 Kf3 Kd5 58 a5 g4+ 59 Kxg4 d3 60 Kf3 Kc4; and because e2 is not available to the White King simple counting shows Black Queens right after White Queens and with check, then the White b-pawn falls leaving a drawn K&Q versus K&Q ending. The moved played should lose shortly.

57.Kf3?,..

It could be Peter didn’t recall the theory of the “moving square”, or maybe he does not know it? Alternatively, it is possible he was trying for more complications in hopes that Glen did not understand the position. Winning is 57 Kg4! d4 58 Kf3 Kc6 59 Ke4 g4 60 Kxd4, when White defeats the “moving square the only way possible, by capturing one of the pawns as soon as the “moving square” reaches its goal; the forward edge reaching the Queening rank.

57..., Kc6

Black gets his king back on-side. The game is level once more.

58.a5 Kb5 59.Ke3 g4 60.Kf4 d4 61.Kxg4 d3 62.Kf3 d2?

An instinctive move at a dangerous moment. Time was quite short now and Glen did not have enough of it to see 62..., Kc4; or 62..., Kxb4; both draw the game nicely.

63.Ke2 1–0

A game with several educational moments and a few real mistakes, nevertheless very entertaining.

More tomorrow on Thursday’s game from Schenectady.

Being there - redux!

I have really enjoyed the video coverage of this year's tournament on the host site and today (round 6) was most enjoyable for me. It starts with quite a bit of video of the amateur tournament. This really captured what it was like for me in 2009 when I went and played in the first 3 day event for regular players. What I recalled was all the Dutch players, mostly older men and pretty "down to earth"...and consuming food and beverage served in the tournament hall, particularly the pea soup! But more than anything, the very social and friendly atmosphere of the competition.

http://www.tatasteelchess.com/tournament/video

I highly recommend that you go and experience it for yourself. It is unlike anything you will find here in the USA.

Oh, and don't miss out on the cool host video reports for the rest of the tournament. Enjoy.

Oopsie!

There has been one game each in rounds 3 and 4 of the Tata Steel (aka Corus) tournament decided by one of the top players in the world simply blundering in the opening. On one level that reassures me - "we all do it" sometimes. And still... it seems hard to believe.

Well here was a very memorable moment from last year's Corus. I was in the media room when I heard analysts murmuring that Vassily Ivanchuk had just blundered against Magnus Carlsen. People were shaking their heads and asking why he plays like a genius at times and then makes such bonehead plays as well. Apparently he has that reputation.

I rushed out to the playing area and captured the moment on film. Notice the buzz that something just happened at Magnus' board and all the players coming over to see. Then watch Vassily's eyes as he tries to save face somehow. Too late, the damage was done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COynUB-vmRg

Hey, it happens....

Proof

First off - Hikaru this year is playing like the champion of the tournament. He has scored 2.5 out of 3.0 with a fantastic win over Shirov yesterday. Go Hikaru! Meanwhile...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRxakN0atgA

I was checking to see if my YouTube links I am posting were working - and yes they are - when I found this clip from last year that actually proves I was there. It was a post-game analysis where Kramnik was basically lecturing Van Wely about he had him no matter what Van Wely tried. This clip was good natured but there were some nastier comments by Vlad. I found out later Van Wely had been Vlad's second at one point so they knew each other well.

I was the new kid on the block and just understanding we really could crowd around and record their "private" conversation. Very cool. You can see me sneak in about half way thru the clip. Eventually I ended up sitting next to Kramnik from the very perspective of this videographer! (At first I thought this was my video!)

The memorable moment for me, though, was when they went through a line and then backed up to a starting position and I thought Kramnik had lost track of something. So, to be helpful, I pointed out to Kramnik that he was in check. Doh! What was I thinking???? I made a blog about it last year.

Corus post-post game analysis

Yes! Hikaru won game 1 today against grischuk. Good start.

Now it seems a bit wierd to show videos from last year while this tournament is going on. (See my two earlier posts.) What the heck, I'll show some anyway, hopefully for your enjoyment. Here's something pretty interesting to me from the skittles room at Corus in Jan 2010. It is Smeets (who spanked Shirov today) against Dominguez going over their crazy game in round 7. The game score follows. Wild, huh?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I0Nag9NEFI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41DzRXEXUOU

Smeets - Dominguez
Corus Chess 2010 Wijk aan Zee (7), 23.01.2010
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nc6 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.e5 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.fxg5 Nd5 12.Ne4 Qb6 13.Bd3 hxg5 14.Bxg5 Qxb2 15.c4 Be7 16.Bxe7 Ne3 17.Qc1 Nxg2+ 18.Kd1 Ne3+ 19.Ke1 Ng2+ 20.Kd1 Ne3+ 21.Qxe3 Qxa1+ 22.Kd2 Qxh1 23.Bxd6 Rxh2+ 24.Be2 Qb1 25.Nf6+ Kd8 26.Qd4 c5 27.Bxc5+ Kc7 28.Qd6+ Kb7 29.Qe7+ Kc6 30.Qd6+ ½–½

The SCC Prelims Near Finish

Last night, Thursday, the Schenectady Chess Club Championship Finals lineup cleared up some. Little defeated Michael Stanley in short sharp game. That settled the qualifiers from Section A. They are Patrick Chi, 8-1, John Phillips, 7-2 and Bill Little, 6-3.

There was only one other make-up game played Thursday; from Section B Matt Clough and Jeff Capitummino battled for the point. The game was draw after a good battle. Jeff finished his schedule with a 2 -6 score, and Matt with 1 ½ - 6 ½ score. Both players had a bright spot to soften the sting of ending up well down the table; Capitummino was the lowest rated player in the event by 100 points, and he did not finish in last place. His two hard won points will move his rating up. Clough did end up at the bottom, but he has the very nice win over Barnes, one of the contenders for qualification, as a pleasant memory showing promise for the future.

The qualifiers from Section B remain uncertain beyond Philip Sells who has clear first placed locked up with a score of 7-0 and one game to play versus Moody. The second and third qualifying places are being contended for by Richard Moody, 4 ½ - 2 ½ with one to play versus Sells, John Barnes, 5-2 and Alan Le Cours, 5-2. Barnes and Le Cours have to face each other in their last scheduled game. If Moody wins from Sells and Barnes and Le Cours draw, a three way playoff for the two qualifying spots will be needed. If either Barnes or Le Cours wins their encounter and Moody draws with Sells, the loser of Barnes/Le Cours and Moody will have to playoff for the third place. Finally, if Mr. Sells defeats Moody, then both Barnes and Le Cours qualify regardless of the outcome of their game.

Our tournament director, Bill Townsend, has had assurance from the players with games to be played that they will be completed next week. Barring blizzard or ice storm I expect by this time next week all will be decided. Based on the players commitment to finish their scheduled games, Mr. Townsend announced the Finals and the Consolation Swiss will begin the first Thursday in February, the 3d. Allowing for weather delays and scheduling conflicts, play in both events is likely to be done by mid-March. That would be a fairly early finish of the club tournaments and permit the Schenectady teams to begin their play in the Capital District Chess League matches.

Today’s game is on the surface a typical win by the tournament leader over a tail-ender. However, there is more to it than that too obvious conclusion. I have been persuaded since helping Dilip Aaron in a simul versus GM Har-Zvi three years ago that he has potential as a chess player to perhaps go as far as his brother Deepak. In one of the last Studio Quads I defeated Deepak, but it was a near thing indeed. I came away from the game convinced that Deepak was about to break out and become a very strong player. Such was the case. Today’s game gave me the same feeling about the younger Aaron.

Sells, Philip - Aaron, Dillip [B01]

SCC Ch Prelim B Schenectady, NY, 09.12.2010

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.Bc4,..

White avoids the mainline 4 d4, and will settle for d2-d3 at some point. One key idea is by delaying the development of the Ng1 Black has to think seriously about what to do with his Bc8. If Black sticks the Bishop on f5, White has the potential to rush his K-side pawns forward gaining time.

4..., Nf6 5.Nf3,..

White seemingly changes his mind.

4..., Bg4 6.h3 Bh5 7.g4 Bg6 8.Qe2,..

Offering the c-pawn. There is more than a drop of poison there. If 8..., Bxc2? 9 d3 Ba4 10 Ne5 e6? 11 Nxf7! Kxf7? 12 Qxe6+ Kg6 13 Qf7#. The alternative 10..., Nc6?! Is met with 11 Bxf7 Kd8; and Black is in a sorry state, White is clearly better.

8..., Nbd7!?

Better is 8..., Nc6. From c6 the Knight contributes more to the struggle for central squares than it can from d7.

9.d3 e6 10.Bd2 Bb4

One of the newer ideas for Black in the Scandinavian. White threatens at some point in the future to uncover an attack on the Qa5 by moving the Nc3. Black counters by posting the Bishop on b4 and won’t be adverse to capturing on c3 if necessary, or trading on d2. The idea has more potential for equalizing the game if the White d-pawn is on d4 and c7-c6 has been played.

11.0–0–0 Nb6 12.Bb3

A crucial moment. Tactics are afoot. If 12 a3 Bxa3 13 bxa3? Qxa3+ 14 Kb1 Qb3+ 15 Ka1 Bxc2; and Black has compensation for the piece. White does not have to capture on a3 however and can obtain the advantage with 13 Nb5 Bb4 14 Nxc7+ Ke7 15 Bxb4+, winning the exchange.

12..., 0–0–0 13.Ne5,..

If now 13 a3? Bxa3 14 bxa3 Qxa3+ 15 Kb1 Rxd3! 16 Bxe6+ fxe6 17 cxd3 Na4 18 Qxe6+ Kb8 19 Qa2 Nxc3+ 20 Bxc3 Qxc3 21 Qc2 Nd5; and although Black has only a pawn for the Exchange, the poor position of the White King and the connected passed a and b-pawns combined to give Black good winning chances.

13..., Nfd7?

A tricky position where tactics and positional maneuvering are closely entwined, and Dilip makes an error. Better 13..., Ndd5; then 14 Nxd5 Bxd2+ 15 Rxd2 exd5; and Black is in the game with the issue far from decided. Note 15..., Nxd5?; is an error. Play could go 16 h4 Nf4 17 Qe3 Nd5 18 Qe1, when White is very near winning.

14.Nxg6,..

The disappearance of the Bg6 secures the safety of the White King.

14..., 14 hxg6 15.a3 Bxc3 16.Bxc3 Qg5+ 17.Kb1 Nf6

It is possible that 17..., Qb5; offers more hope than the text. For the next few moves White has the initiative but not much more than that.

18.Rdf1 Nbd5 19.Bd2 Qh4 20.f4 Qh7 21.Qg2 Qh4 22.Be1 Qh7 23.Rf3 Rhe8 24.Bf2 Nb6 25.a4 a6 26.Re1,..

White has rearranged his pieces and Black has been wary of trying anything more than to look for away to get his Queen back into the game. The game move was routine and does not advance the White cause. One worthy idea is 26 a5, Nbd5 27 Ba4, and if 27..., c6 28 c4, taking squares away from the Knights a la Lasker’s prescription for fighting Knights. Another idea is 26 f5 gxf5 27 gxf5 Nbd5 28 fxe6 fxe6; weakening the Black pawns then laying siege to them. The game move may have had this idea behind it.

26..., Qg8 27.c4!?,..

I wonder what Mr. Sells saw that caused him to not to go for 27 f5? It seems natural.

27..., Qf8 28.Bg3?!,..

From a promising placement of forces White has obstructed the Bb3 and now shifted the dark squared Bishop to g3. Could it be that Philip took counsel in the rating difference and thought anything will do here? Rybka sees the game as just about level after the text. The natural move is 28 d4.

28..., Qb4 29.Qc2,..

This must be the reason for the Bishop going to g3. If the wages of sin is damnation in Christian theology, then the wages of not pursuing the logical plan in chess is getting a worse position than you deserve - see the note to move 27. The game is level.

29..., Nfd7?

And in one move Black hands White a solid advantage. Necessary is 29..., Nbd7; re-routing this Knight through b8 to c6, a more useful post. A reasonable question is; how would someone know which Knight should go to d7? The well known rule I first heard about from the writings of Dvoresky: In situations where things are murky and no obvious move comes to mind, find your worse piece and improve its placement. The Nb6 is exposed to threats after the Black Queen is evicted from b4, and she will be either by Qc2-c3 or by the dark squared Bishop going to e1. Once that happens the Nb6 will have to fall back to a8 - the “corner” squares are the absolute worst for Knights. If Dilip knew that rule he would have easily found the right move.

30.d4 c5 31.Rc1 Na8

Forced for otherwise the Black Queen is trapped by Bg3-e1. White is now well ahead and moving towards a clear winning edge.

32.d5 e5 33.fxe5 Nxe5 34.Re3!?,..

There has been an uncharacteristic uncertainty in Philip’s play in this game. Here the straight forward 34 Bxe5 Rxe5 35 Rxc7 Re3 36 Ka2 Nb6 37 Rfc1 Rxh3 38 Rxg7 is promising. The position is difficult but White is creating more and more pressure on the Black position.

34..., Nd7

Other tries such as 34..., f6; and 34..., Nxc4; do not work out any better than the game move.

35.Rce1 Rxe3 36.Rxe3 Nc7 37.Be1 Qb6 38.a5 Qd6?

Going directly to f6 with the Queen is better. Why give your opponent another tempo especially when you are worse?

39.Bg3 Qf6 40.Qe2 g5 41.Bc2 g6 42.Re4?!,..

Strange. Was White worried about the Black Queen coming to d4? The try 42 Ba4 Qd4 43 Bxd7+ Rxd7 44 Be5, traps the Queen. The Lady is lost for insufficient material compensation. The move played again shows some uncertainty in its intentions.

42..., Qh8 43.Qh2,..

White has whittled his advantage down from clearly winning to just comfortably ahead in the last couple of moves.

43..., f5 44.gxf5,..

Not so simple is 44 Bxc7 fxe4 45 Bxd8 Kxd8 46 Bxe4 Qe5 47 Qxe5 Nxe5 48 b3, and White has a significant advantage, but there are many moves to be played to demonstrate this advantage. It had now reached that usual stage of a Sells’ game, serious time trouble. Maybe the time shortage influenced the decision. Mr. Sells had 2:45 on the clock and Mr. Aaron slightly more, about 3+ minutes.

44..., gxf5 45.Bxc7 fxe4 46.Bxd8 Kxd8 47.Bxe4 Qh4

By this point in the game both players were down to about one minute remaining. Dwindling time likely contributed to Dilip not finding 47..., g4!?; 48 Bf5 Qd4; with real chances to find a draw through activity of the Black Queen.

48.Qe2?,..

A time pressure error. Best is 48 Qg2, then 48..., Ne5 49 b3, and White preserves a significant edge. After the game move Black recovers the pawn and narrows the critical sector so that the short stepping Knight is not out matched by the long range Bishop. That is another idea Dvoretsky spells out in his latest tome; the “Endgame Manual”. Dvoretsky’s works are a hard slog for a club level player, but there are important high level ideas well worth the effort in them.

48..., Qxh3 49.Bg2 Qf5+ 50.Ka1 g4 51.d6 Qf4??

I seldom use the double query for a move. This time it is deserved. Black has played well under trying circumstances and made great progress. Here, after 51..., Qe5; he had every reason to be confident of drawing. White, with vanishing seconds on the clock would have to choose between 52 Qxe5, living with an outside passed pawn, or eliminating the pawn with 52 Qxg4 Qe1+ 53 Ka2 Qxa5+ 54 Kb3 Qb6+ 55 Kc3 Qxd6; arriving at a position that looks drawn. The text ignores the mate threat and loses the game immediately.

52.Qe7+ Kc8 1–0

Black made the move and resigned. 53 Qe8 is checkmate. Once more Philip Sells has used his steady nerves and considerable experience to successfully navigate serious time pressure bringing home the full point. But it was a near thing. Another year’s experience and Dilip might well salvage the half-point in a game like this one.

More soon.

It's Corus time!!!

Hello everyone. I am back with more reports on the Corus tournament - the only thing is it is from last year. Actually I just posted a full explanation but it showed up as being posted on 01/01/11. If you go to it (back in the timeline of posts), there is an excellent interview on video with Nigel Short. Anyway, check that out to understand why I am posting year old videos and pics. Meanwhile here is something to wet your appetite - the youngster Karjakin and Smeets having a good laugh going over their game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbpi59vniAg

One of these days I'll really figure out how to embed YouTube videos in my blogs. Sigh.

Williams College Open Results

It was a snowy Saturday morning and 9 brave souls made the trip to play some chess at the 8th annual Williams College Open. As TD, I usually don't play. I'm thinking more about the conditions for the players than my own chess. Though unprepared, I put myself in the tournament to make it an even 10 players.

No one took any byes. All the games were decisive except for the very last game to finish between Phil Ferguson and Vincent Bradley. That half a point made Vincent the highest scoring player under 1600.

The biggest upset came from student Nicholas Moscatello who would usually be involved in a competitive swim season, but an injury guided him back to chess. Though his rating was 778, he sharpened his teeth online and brought me down in the first round.

Aaron Schein won the tournament outright with a perfect score wining three games in three rounds of game in 90. He is an eighth grader and has been attending the Williams College Open since he was 6. He has a Williams affiliation in that his father is a Williams alum.

The crosstable is here.

Look for the Williams College Open next January. I hope to see you there...

Trevor

Gambling

Here is an interesting game from just before the holidays. In it Brij Saran defeated the up-and-comer Zack Calderon.

Saran, Brij - Calderon, Zackary [D05]

SCC Ch Prelim A, Schenectady, NY, 16.12.2010

1.d4 c5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e6 4.c3 d5 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.0–0 Be7 7.Nbd2 0–0 8.Re1 a6!?

The Colle System, named for a Belgian chess champion from the 1920s, is popular with players that don’t have the inclination, or the time, for doing the demanding work required to master other openings. White uses a simple plan that is easy to understand: force through the e-pawn to e4. This plan has a basis in theory. It has been long known that when White begins with d2-d4, his natural aim is to play e2-e4, or in this case here, e3-e4. Years of practice have demonstrated White obtains a reasonable game if he can push the e-pawn forward. The downside is the plan delays the development of the White QR and QB for sometime.

Here is the first lesson from this game. The last move Black made is not one of the recommended paths. More usual is 8..., b6; with the aim to put the c-Bishop on b7 to continue the fight for e4. It is difficult to see this point, and because the line is far from the most popular openings; the Slavs, all the varieties of QDG and the Nimzo, there not so many examples to be found in the databases. No surprise the idea was missed.

9.e4 b5?

The next lesson is a bit more clear. This is a small but significant error. Best is 9...,dxe4; intending to give White an isolated d-pawn. Black probably should not take the risk of capturing the isolated d-pawn if offered. He needs to be concerned about the development of his Q-side lest grabbing the pawn leads to real difficulties.

10.e5,..

This is why Black most usually captures on e4. The game has now transposed into something resembling a French Defense that is favorable for White. That is not exactly what Black should be hoping for against the Colle.

10..., Ne8 11.Nf1 c4

Standard versus the Advanced French - that is where White sets up pawns on d4 and e5 - is for Black to capture on d4 with the c-pawn. The White pawn chain is just a bit closer to the Black forces where it can be attacked by Knights on c6 and f5. Jonathan Lack, a strong local player who quite likes the French says he has had nothing but bad experiences from pushing the pawn to c4. I do not know of any part of accepted theory that supports this notion, but back in the day when the French was my primary answer to 1. e4, I don’t recall liking to put a c-pawn either.

12.Bc2 a5 13.h3 b4 14.N3h2 a4!?

I am uncertain if Black is making a sophisticated positional sacrifice here, or if he just made a mistake. He eliminates White’s best attacking piece, the light squared Bishop taking a great deal of the aggressive potential out of the White position at the cost of a pawn. The extra pawn White has in hand is exposed on the a-file and is unlikely to become a factor until sometime in the later endgame, if it survives.

15.Bxa4 Bd7 16.Bxc6 Bxc6 17.Qg4 Kh8?

Why? This move inclines me to believe that the pawn lost was a mistake not a sacrifice. Natural and good is 17..., bxc3. Black should be thinking of Bc6/a4/c2/e4. Logical is; 17..., bxc3 18 bxc3 Ba4 19 Bg5 Bc2. Such would transform the “problem child” of the French, Black’s light squared Bishop, into a pain in the neck for White. On the b1-h7 diagonal, this Bishop hinders White from contesting the b-file, can disturbs the tranquility of the White Queen and probably will require White to trade one of his Knights for the cleric. As a rule all things come with good and bad mixed together. Here White gets to trade off his own bad Bishop. The late middle game favors Black if he proceeds as above.

I do not see a point to Black’s last other than to clear g8 for the Rook the reinforce g7. As things transpire White has designs on f7 not g7.

18.Nf3 Ra6 19.Ng5?!,..

White has his own schemes. More correct is 19 Bd2, and if 19..., bxc3 20 Bxc3, when most endgames are troublesome for Black - there is a distant passed pawn that will constrain his options.

19..., h6 20.Nxf7+?!,..

This idea should not work, but it has enough bite to require Black to be very accurate. White gives up a piece for two pawns and a lot of activity for his Queen.

20..., Rxf7 21.Qxe6 Rf8 22.Ng3 Bg5?!

Black is thinking too simply. When you are up material trading down is the standard wisdom. That conventional notion should here be tempered by the wish not to leave the White Queen wandering around in the Black backfield. Better to consolidate with 22..., Nc7 23 Qg4 Bd7 24 Qh5 Nb5; and the more numerous Black pieces are becoming very active, and the White Q-side Bishop and Rook has yet to do much.

23.Bxg5 Qxg5 24.Qc8 Rb6 25.cxb4 Qd2 26.b5?!,..

Both sides have Queens roaming the rear areas and danger is everywhere. Natural is 26 Re2, guarding f2. Saran must have considered that move and decided after 26..., Qxb4 27 Nf5 Bb7 28 Qd7 c3; his game was bad. Also, 26..., Qxd4; looks possible for Black. For either 26th move by Black rather long lines have to be calculated to reach an accurate conclusion. Here is a sample from the line cited in the note: after 28..., c3 29 bxc3 Qxc3 30 Rd1 Qc7 31 Qxc7 Nxc7 32 Nd6 Ba6 33 Rc2 Ne6 34 Rdd2 Rf4 35 Rb2. White abandons the d-pawn in the interest of activity for his remaining Rook along the 6th rank. Playing out this line on the computer sees White using his e-pawn and the threat of Queening to butcher the Black K-side pawns obtaining material compensation for the piece. The ending favors Black, his passed d-pawn can be held and is the factor that gives him winning chances. It is a very difficult ending indeed.

Rather than “break his head” on the complications, White elects to raise the ante with more tactics. This is not “correct” chess but a practical attempt against a less experienced opponent. It should not work.

26..., Rxf2 27.Re2 Rxe2 28.Nxe2 Bxb5?

The first dividend from the gamble on move 26. Here Black wins with 28...,

Qxe2. If then 29 bxc6? Rb2; and the threat of mate at g2 calls the White Queen back to g4. The extra piece will then tell.

29.Qc5,..

There are more tricks in 29 Qd8, the game is lost for White in either event.

29..., Rg6 30.Qf8+ Kh7 31.Qf3 c3?

This bolt does not need to be fired away so quickly. Sensible is 31..., Nc7; retaining a winning advantage. After the text, the game starts to slide away from White.

32.Nxc3 Bd3?

Now Black had to play 32..., Qxd4+; to keep some edge. The game move drops a piece and White is winning.

33.Rd1 Qg5 34.Rxd3 Nc7

In the space of two moves a won game is now lost. It seems the surprise gamble on move shook Zack’s confidence enough to let White gain the win. I am not entirely certain of the moves in the rest of the game. This is what I recorded.

35.Ne2 Ne6 36.Qf2 Qd8 37.Nf4 Nxf4 38.Qxf4 Qa8 39.Qf7 Qxa2 40.Rd2 Qb1+ 41.Kh2 Qe4 1–0

A sharp disappointment for young Mr. Calderon. Had he gained the full point as he was near doing, Zackary would have finished at 5-3 with a glimmer of hope to slip into the third qualifying spot. That would have been considerable accomplishment in his first year in the club. As it was Mr. Saran rolled the dice big time, and it paid off. Another lesson here: If you can’t work your way through difficult calculations, big risks will be forced on you. They will not always pay off. Nevertheless, it is better to try something with a drop of poison in it, than to go passive awaiting your fate.

More soon.

Make-up Games From Schenectady

Thursday night saw three make-up games played at the Schenectady Chess Club. No upset results were recorded.

In Preliminary Section A Michael Mockler defeated Mike Stanley in a game that appeared about equal for sometime well into the middle game. In the long run, Mockler’s experience told and he took the full point.

It is still unclear in Section A who will get the coveted third qualifying spot. Chi at 7 ½ and Phillips at 7 have the first two places nailed down. Little at 5 and Mockler at 4 ½, both with one game to play contend for the last qualifying place. Richard Chu and Brij Saran at 5 and no games left to play have a glimmer of a chance if both of his Geezers teammates, Mockler and Little, manage to lose their games. In that event, Richard, Brij and Little would have a playoff for the last spot.

In Preliminary Section B John Barnes used a risky opening idea to win quickly over David Connors. The game is set out below. Also, Jeff Capitummino lost to Alan Le Cours. This was another game where the lower rated player had a reasonable game until going astray in the later middle game. The third qualifying spot is just a murky as in Section A. Richard Moody, at 4 ½ with one game to play against Sells, has an outside chance to make it. More likely the second and third qualifiers will be Alan Le Cours and John Barnes. They both have 5 points and have one game left to play against each other. Should either win their game, and if Moody can draw with Sellls, a playoff for the third place will be necessary If Le Cours and Barnes draw and Moody wins from Sells, a three player playoff comes up. Next week we have a good chance of seeing most of the questions regards qualifying in Both Sections answered.

Our game for today is not quite so clear cut as its short length suggests.

Barnes, John - Connors, David [D00]

SCC Ch Prelim B Schenectady, NY , 06.01.2011

1.e4 d5

The Scandinavian, or Center Counter Gambit, has had something of a revival locally the past couple of years. I even tried it a time or two and managed two draws against Experts. However, after those experiments I drifted back to the Pirc. My experience with the Scandinavian was, even when I played well, anything more than a draw against a seriously good player depended on my opponent erring. I could not find enough in the way of serious threats to make and lacked the patience to wait for some positional mistake. That combination is bad if you want to be Center Counter Gambiteer.

2.d4?!,..

Maybe John Barnes feels as I do about the Scandinavian, or maybe he seeks to overwhelm his less experienced opponent with a surprise. This is a risky move, but there are many tricks that can grow out of it. Black gets a pawn without having to make any positional concessions, and at this early point can claim some advantage. There are many players who like this Blackmar-Deimer Gambit. In the databases I have at hand it shows up in Blitz events and such tournaments as the Girls under 12 WC regularly. The few examples of the B-D Gambit in serious play found are from the 2300 - 2400 level. I am suspicious of early opening deviations from classic principles that don’t show up in the practice of 2600 and up crowd.

2..., dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 Bg4!?

Black begins to indicate he may not be well booked up on this line. The text is natural enough in appearance. White has given a pawn for an extra tempo of development and a chance to use the open file to pressure f7. This presents Black with classic choice: enter the development race even though behind, or begin taking measures to build a defensive fortress?

Getting into a “cut and thrust” fight is not always a good idea for Black in the Blackmar-Diemer. It is an opening in which Black has to maintain composure, and find a workable plan that meets the very direct attacking notions White has in mind.

In the Blackmar White very often castles long, puts a Rook on the f-file and pushes the g and h-pawns down the board. A well established principle of defense is to trade down material to reduce the virulence of an attack. That principle could be applied as here in a sample line; 5..., e6 6 Bf4 Bd6 7 Qd2 Bxf4 8 Qxf4 0-0 9 0-0-0 Qd6 10 Qxd6 cxd6 11 Nb5 Ne8 12 Bd3 Bd7; and while Black still lags in development, the attacking chances for White are much reduced. As material comes off the extra pawn will give Black real chances to win.

6.h3 Bh5 7.g4 Bg6 8.Ne5 Nbd7 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.Qf3 c6 11.Bd3?!,..

Thematic is 11 g5 Nh5 12 Bc4 e6 13 Rf1 Qe7; with strong pressure on the Black position. Rybka says Black is OK, but trying to find the moves that keep him in the game is not a task anyone other than a computer would see as congenial.

11..., Nb6!?

Properly followed up this move is viable. Other options here are a) 11..., e5!?; with a very tactical interlude spicing the middle game, and b) 11..., Qb6; anticipating g4-g5 when the Knight goes to h5 and the pawn on f7 is retuned to White letting Black get his King away to the Q-side.

12.Rf1 g5?

David, it seems, just did not see 12..., Qxd4! 13 g5 Qh5+ 14 Rf2 Qxh3; and Black obtains four pawns for the piece. If White varies with 13 Be3 Qe5 14 0-0-0 0-0-0 15 g5 Nbd5! 16 gxf6 (Better here is 16 Rde8, but 16..., Nxc3; creates another path where Black can get some pawns for the Nf6. ) Qxe3+ with a winning advantage. After the game move Black has troubles.

13.Bxg5 Qxd4 14.0–0–0 e6?

Losing quickly. The moves 14..., Qe5; or 14..., Qb4; are necessary. White has more than decent chances after either of the alternatives, but Black does not lose immediately.

15.Ba6 Qc5 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Bxb7 1–0

All of the standard threats White could want from a Blackmar manifest themselves in the final position. A lesson for the Scandinavian devotees out there; the Blackmar-Diemer has to be prepared for lest you find yourself in strange position demanding extraordinary moves.

More soon.

Schein wins Williams College Open

8th grader Aaron Schein won the Williams College Open with 3 straight wins.
Vincent Bradley won the U1600 prize with 1.5 out of 3.

Almost the Last Games of the AACC Prelims

Wednesday evening saw most of the last round of the AACC Preliminaries played. One game, Henner - Perry was not played and is rescheduled to a later date.

Things went as rating predicted mostly, except Arthur Alowitz took a half point from Bill Little, an upset certaqinly. The results were:

Lack 1-0 Eson

Kemp 0-1 Wright

Magat 1-0 McCarthy

Howard 1-0 Denham

Alowitz ½ - ½ Little

It seems there is an accurate barometer of how well I am playing; my handwriting. When I play well my score sheet is readable, not great because age has had its effect on small motor skills but readable. When the score sheet is almost undecipherable, I dread examining the game under the unblinking eye of Rybka. Too, too often the electronic wizard points out glaring oversights. Such was the case in my game with Arthur Alowitz. It took an hour of work to reconstruct the score of this game played less than twelve hours before.

Alowitz, Arthur - Little, Bill [B07]

AACC Ch Prelim 1 Guilderland, NY, 05.01.2011

1.e4 d6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d3 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.g3 0–0 6.Bg2 Nbd7 7.0–0 c6 8.Rb1,..

Up to this move the position is not unknown to theory. It does not show up in the practice of the top flight elite. There are a few examples from the 2400 - 2500 players in my databases. White has a small edge in the results. The text is an innovation and not at all bad. More typical is 8 h3, to preserve the dark squared Bishop in some lines.

8..., Qc7 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bf4 Nh5 11.Be3 b5 12.Qd2 Kh7 13.Ne2 Nhf6 14.c3,..

Probably 14 h3, preventing any threat on the Be3 is more logical.

14..., Bb7?!

This is also doubtful. Right away 14..., Ng4; is more sensible.

15.b3 Qa5?

I knew when making the this move there was a good chance a pawn would have to be tossed in the pot. My thought was to complicate the game creating tactical chances.

16.Ned4 c5?!

The pawn is offered.

17.b4!,..

The only way to go. All the alternatives let Black get some advantage. So much for impressing the lower rated opponent. Arthur sees the situation clearly and plays correctly.

17..., Qb6 18.bxc5 dxc5 19.Nxb5 Ng4 20.Na3?!,..

Missing the chance to nail down an advantage with 20 Nd6! I did not see this possibility during the game, and I guess neither did Alowitz. After 20 Nd6 Qxd6 21 Rxb7 Rfb8 22 Rfb1 Nxe3 23 fxe3 Nb6 24 Rxb8+ Rxb8 25 Qc2, White has consolidated his advantage. The White central pawn mass leaves Black an unappetizing prospect of fighting a pawn down without many opportunities to obtain activity for his pieces. The only idea behind letting the pawn go was to make use of tactical chances brought about by active pieces. The move 20 Nd6, would have neatly demonstrated my poor judgment about that possibility.

20..., Qa6

The other choice here is 20..., Nxe3; then if White takes the Queen 21 Rxb6, Nxf1 22 Qb2 axb6 23 Bxf1 Bc6; and Black has two Rooks for the Queen with possible pressure down the a-file. The computer sees Black with a very slight edge in this line. At the board, my evaluation was not so sanguine. It seemed to me that the a-pawn could not be won easily if at all, and keeping the Queen on offered more chances for complications. As we will see that was not a great decision.

21.Nc4 Rfd8 22.h3 Nxe3 23.Nxe3,..

White could play 23 Qxe3, since the a2-pawn can’t be taken, the Bb7 is loose.

23..., Nf6?

Fixated on making threats I blunder. Necessary is 23..., Nb3; to avoid worse. I had visions of recovering the pawn because of the potential pin on the d-file.

24.Qc2?,..

Much better is 24 e5!, opening the long diagonal for the long dormant Bg2. Black will lose material one way or another soon. One simple example is; 24..., Rxd3 25 Qe2 Ne8 26 Rxb7. Good luck is the only thing that allows me to play on.

24..., Bc6 25.Ne5 Ba4 26.Qb2 Be8 27.Qb7 Qxb7

It was now clear to me I was fighting for a draw. To that end, it is reasonable to try for that most drawn of endings; Bishops of opposite color. That sort of endgame with both pairs of Rooks on the board does not work out terribly well for the defending side most times, so one pair of Rooks has to come off even should it cost another pawn.

28.Rxb7 Rab8 29.Rfb1 Rxb7 30.Rxb7 Nxe4 31.Bxe4 Bxe5 32.Rxa7 Bxc3 33.Rxe7 Bg7 34.Nd5 Bb5 35.Rxf7 Bxd3 36.Bxd3 Rxd5

Black has reached the Bishops of opposite color position, but White is still better, nevertheless the outlines of a defensive plan are evident; if the a-pawn advances the Bb3 can be attack by my Rook and the advanced c-pawn will certainly worry White.

37.Be4,..

White could make Black sweat with 37 Bb5, preparing the push of the a-pawn.

37..., Rd4

Better 27..., Rd2; right away.

38.Bc2,..

More faulty endgame play. Neither side did good work in this technical ending.

38..., Rc4 39.Bb3 Rc1+ 40.Kg2 c4 41.Rc7?

This could have lost the game.

41..., c3??

Handing back the full point. There are good chances of winning after 41..., cxb3 42 Rxc1 bxa2; and although the Bishop is the wrong color for the h-pawn, White would have to find the drawing idea; pawn liquidation. White could play to trade off his f&g-pawns for the Black g-pawn, retire his King to h1 where Black can never squeeze him out. Black has to avoid that outcome, keep the pawns on, then run White out of moves until he can get his King in behind the White pawn chain. It would be a long winded process in which White has defensive ideas. One such is sacrificing the h-pawn, and if Black foolishly captures with his g-pawn, the White King runs to h1 and the safety of a draw. I would have played this line if I had seen it. By this point in the game discouragement had worn me down and it was missed.

42.Rd7 Re1 43.Rd1 Re7 44.Rd6 Re2 45.Kf1,..

White has one idea only in the forefront of his thoughts; attack g6. Certainly it is a dangerous threat, but he should be using it not so much to win directly but to improve the placement of the rest of his pieces also. Better here is 45 Kf3, making my Rook on the second rank less effective.

45..., Rb2 46.Rc6 Bd4 47.Rc7+ Kh8 48.f4 Rf2+ 49.Ke1 Rd2 50.g4,..

More pressing is 50 a4.

50..., Bf2+ 51.Kf1 Bd4 52.Ke1 Bf2+ 53.Kf1 Bd4

Arthur offered the draw and I accepted. There is no way I can see for Black to do much more than hold on. A nice result for Mr. Alowitz. He played confidently, and all my machinations did not cause him much trouble.

½–½

More soon.

A Little More Clarity in SCC Ch. Qualifying

Just for the record I am posting this not very riveting draw. Patrick wanted to preserve his unbeaten record in the Preliminaries, and I wanted to get through to the Finals after last year’s debacle. Our interests coincided and neither of us made a serious effort to unbalance the game.

Little, William - Chi, Patrick [B18]

SCC Ch Prelim A Schenectady, NY, 30.12.2010

1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3,..

Reaching back to the glory days of Robert James Fischer. This was one of his pet lies for awhile. Fischer had a 7 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses in the 15 games he played in this line in the late 1950s and into the mid-1960s. Losses at the hands of Keres(2) and Petrosian(1) in the 1959 Candidates Tournament in Bled caused Fischer to look for other ways of treating the Caro-Kann, at least against elite opponents. He took up the Panov-Botvinnik line alternating with a closed treatment playing early d2-d3.

3..., dxe4

Both Keres and Petrosian used 3..., Bg5; to give Bobby the most trouble in the 1959 Candidates. That move leads to imbalances pretty quickly. I should not leave the impression that all is by any means easy for Black.

Later in this tournament Olafsson and Benko fell in this line to Fischer, no mean players they at that point in history. Fischer for his day and time was so well prepared in his pet lines especially, that many of the top Grandmasters tried to stay away from anything he was known to like. For example, Portisch, at the Stockholm Inter-zonal in 1963 played as in our game. Fischer then used his extraordinary endgame skill to outplay this very strong Grandmaster in a Rook and Pawn ending. It must be said however, Bobby got no advantage out of the opening at all.

In picking the Two Knights variation against Patrick’s Caro, I thought to maybe find something for which Chi was not too well prepared. Maybe I did and maybe I did not. In any event, the Two Knights line is not testing enough to challenge my opponent.

4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.d4 Nd7 7.Bc4,..

More pressing are either 7 h4, or even 7 Bd3.

7..., e6 8.0–0 Ngf6 9.c3 Bd6 10.Qe2 0–0

White has made no great progress with the first move. The game is level.

11.Ne5 c5 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.dxc5 Nxc5 14.Be3 Qc7 15.Bxc5 Bxc5 16.Ne4 Nxe4 17.Qxe4 Rad8

Things have proceeded in a rather straight forward fashion with no large amount of tension being constructed by either side. During the game I thought 17..., Rac8; might be a way for Black to try for an advantage. After consideration the conclusion was that move could be answered by 18 Rad1, and the capture on f2 by the Bishop is not really dangerous; 18..., Bxf2+ 19 Rxf2 Qxc4 20 Qxc4 Rxc4 21 Rd7, threatening both f7 and b7 is good for White. Of course, nothing forces Black to take on f2. Black could play 18..., Rfd8; and then White may avoid all complications with simply 19 Bb3. If White wants some complications, he can try 19 g3!?, then 19..., Bxf2+ 20 Kxf2 Rxd1 21 Rxd1 Qxc4 22 Qxc4 Rxc4 23 Rd8+ Kh7 24 Rd7, when, after 24..., f5; Black sets up a difficult Rook and pawns endgame where the Black central majority is matched against the White Q-side majority. Applying Rybka to the position did not confirm my judgment that White had an advantage. Now the game quickly winds down.

18.Qe2 a6 19.Rad1 Bd6

Black seems to be uncertain hereabouts. He shifts his aim to h2 from f2. More forceful is 19..., b5 20 Bb3 Qb6; maintaining pressure on f2. Such pressure is strong but not quite enough to give Black a measurable edge.

20.g3 Bc5

And now back again to looking at f2 giving White time to reposition his Bishop.

21.Bb3 Qb6 22.Kg2 Rxd1 23.Rxd1 Rd8 24.Rxd8+ Qxd8 25.Bc2,..

I offered a draw here, and Mr. Chi played;

25..., Qd5+

Patrick thought maybe 26 Qf3!?, would allow him some advantage. The computer sees it differently. If 26 Qf3 Qd2 27 b4, and even this tactically adventurous line comes to equality.

26.Be4,..

Here Patrick offered the draw and I accepted. If 26..., Qxa2 27 Bxb7 Ba3 28 Qxa6 Qxb2 29 Qc6, and the game is entirely level. ½–½

This game completed Patrick Chi’s schedule giving him a 8-1 score and clear first place in the Preliminary Section A. Another good result for this rising talent.

For me, the result certainly helps towards qualification for the Finals. I have one game to play with Mike Stanley. If rating and past head-to-head results count for anything, there is a good chance for me to win the game. However, this year has been marked by some good results spiced by glaring blunders; a whole Bishop dropped against Tim Wright in the AACC Qualifying tourney, an entire point against Gordon Magat when I had an advantage in a later round of the same event and another full point versus Zach Calderon in the Schenectady event. The foregoing means the game with Stanley has to be treated seriously. I am not at all sure how to deal with this latest trend other than to concentrate even more and to double check the position before making a move. A win will get me into the Finals. Any other result opens the door for Michael Mockler to pass me by. With a bit of luck we will have an answer by Thursday.

More soon.