Catching up on a Mistake

My good friend and President of the Schenectady club asked me last week if I had published the results of the Schenectady Blitz Championship. I assured him I had done so. Wrong again! The report of the event was written but somehow it never was posted on the blog. Here is that report and one more game from the NYS Championship. My apologies for the confusion and delay.

Thursday night, September 15, 2011, the Schenectady Chess Club held its annual Blitz Championship. John Barnes did his usual fine job of directing the game- in-five-minute event. The results were:

Ashok Aaron was first with an excellent 9 ½ - ½ score. He won all but one of his games, a draw conceded to the fast improving Zack Calderone. In second place was his son, and the current local ratings leader, Deepak Aaron at 9 - 1. Following the Aaron family powerhouse was Patrick Chi at 8 - 2. In 4th place was Zachery Calderone at 5 ½ - 4 ½, and he was the prize winner for the Under 1800 category.

The rest of us competitors followed someway back; Bobby Rotter - 4 ½, Dilip Aaron - 4, Herman Calderone - 4, Peter Henner - 3 ½, Philip Sells -3, Bill Little - 3, Michael Laccetti - 1. Mr. Laccetti was considerably lower down the rating list than the average of the field. He made a fight if it in every game and took a full point from the strong A player Peter Henner. Mike is following the path to improvement; play the toughest opposition you can find. The defeats notwithstanding, your play will improve.

Next week the Schenectady Club will hold its annual organizational meeting. The following week the Handicap Blitz tourney will take place at the Schenectady Club. This event is a good opportunity for lower rated players to face higher rated opponents in a Blitz game where time is allocated based on rating.

Today’s game is between Deepak and Patrick Chi from the first round of the NYS Championship. These two players have had much to do with strengthening play at the Schenectady Club the past few of years. Patrick is the current Champion, and Deepak won the title the proceeding two years. For the Club any game between the two has interest beyond the immediate contest: Is Patrick closing in on Deepak, or is Deepak still holding the advantage?

Aaron, Deepak (2324) - Chi, Patrick (2141) [E54]

133d NYS Championship Open Albany, NY, 16.09.2011

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6

The Panov-Botvinnik variation of the Caro-Kann is a line with lots of theory, and it has the possibility of transposing into lines from the Nimzo-Indian Defense as it does here.

6.Nf3 Bb4 7.Bd3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 0–0 9.0–0 Nbd7

It may be better to put this Knight on c6, at least Rybka thinks it is a superior move. GM Victor Bologan recently wrote; in isolated White QP situations Black does well if he has a pawn on e6, and not so well if he has a pawn on c6. It is Bologan’s view that the open e-file with the strong point at e5 gives White a choice between posting either a Knight there or a Rook in preparation for doubling on the e-file. These possibilities make it more difficult for Black to equalize. The game position is therefore not bad for Black according to Bologan, but putting the Knight on d7 may be a bit slow.

10.Bf4 Nb6 11.Qb3 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Nxc4 13.Qxc4 Nd5

Black accomplished what he set out to do; post a Knight on d5 and create a potential target on c3. White probably is not dissatisfied; he has strengthened the pawn on d4 and has some advantage in space. The game is about equal.

14.Bd2 Bd7 15.a4!?,..

Played to prevent 15..., b5; after which Black will have secured the d5 outpost for his Knight.

15..., Nb6

Highlighting the problem with the previous move hence the annotation (!?). Can Black take the proffered pawn?

16.Qd3 Qf6?

It is not completely clear that White has full compensation for the pawn after a) 16..., Nxa5 17 Ng5 g6 18 Qh3 h5 19 Qg3 Rc8 20 Ne4 h4 21 Qg4 Kg7; leaving the dark squares around the Black King are rather weak. Can White make something of this weakness? Or b) 16..., Nxa5 17 Ng5 f5 18 c4 Qf6 19 Rfe1 Rfc8 20 Rxa4 h6 21 Ra5 hxg5 22 Rae5 g4 23 d5 Re8 24 d6 Bc6; with a complicated game. For example; if 25 d7 Red8 26 Rxe6 Rxd7 27 Qxd7 Bxd7 28 Rxf6 gxf6; and the passed a-pawn is a problem for White. Both options, regardless of their ambiguity, are superior to the game move. It costs Black a pawn.

17.a5 Nd5 18.c4 Nf4 19.Qe4 Ng6 20.Qxb7 Qd8

Worse than the missing pawn is the Black pieces have been forced back. White has a clear advantage, and it is nearly enough to be winning.

21.Rfc1 Qc8 22.Qe4 Re8 23.Ne5 Nxe5 24.Qxe5 Qb8

Black is pinning his hopes on an opposite color Bishops endgame.

25.Qe4,..

White avoids the offer of a Queen exchange. The late Russian GM Simagin and Mark Dvoretsky both wrote about attacking with opposite color Bishops in the middle game. Both emphasized two points; sizing the initiative even if it requires material sacrifice, and attacking the opponent’s King. While Mr. Aaron does not have to offer up material, creating dangers for the Black King is an important part of his winning plan.

25..., Qd6 26.Rc3,..

The storm clouds are gathering. This Rook threatens to join the White Queen and Bishop in a frontal attack on the Black King.

27..., e5?

Associated with my earlier comments about the relative merits of the e and c-pawns versus an isolated d-pawn is the whole idea of center play. There are several standard transformations of pawn formations that can come about in the isolated QP positions- the White b-pawn going to c3 for example. One that Black usually avoids is advancing his e-pawn freeing the d-pawn to run. In the present game, freeing the d-pawn is an even greater error because it has the c-pawn along side. Better perhaps is 27..., Bc6 28 Qh4 Red8 29 Rh3 h6 30 Be3 f6 31 Rc1 Rc8. If now 32 Bxh6? Qxd4; spoils the sacrificial assault. Absent the sac at h6, White will have to maneuver for sometime to engineer a break through. After the text White’s center pawn duo heads down the board at speed securing the first of the Simagin/Dvoretsky goals, the initiative.

27.d5 f5 28.Qd3 f4 29.c5 Qf6 30.c6 Bf5 31.Qc4 Kh8

Superficially, the Black e and f-pawns appear dangerous. While watching this game that was my first thought, and I spent much time looking for someway to push them on. It became apparent soon enough the White c and d-pawns were far more dangerous.

32.Qc5 Red8 33.c7 Rf8 34.Re1 Rfe8 35.d6 Bd7

This must be the position Patrick was aiming for in the proceeding operation. His hope is to blockade the White pawns and gin up some counter-play elsewhere.

36.f3,..

Stopping all thoughts of the Black pawns advancing in the center.

36..., h5

With the center congested, Black wants to make a sudden decent on the King’s wing hitting at g2. If the attack is furious enough White may have to divert forces to shore up the defenses around his King. The immediate 36..., Re6; is met by 37 c8 (Q)+ with mate to follow in a few moves.

37.Rd3 h4!?

The stubborn defense beginning 37..., Re6; is grim and does not have anything to recommended other than making the game longer. Play could go; 38 Rd5 Rae8 39 Bc3 Kh7 40 Bxe5 Qf7 41 Re4, when the many weaknesses in the Black camp will prove fatal. The text has the virtue of activity, but White has seen farther.

38.Rd5 h3 39.Rdxe5 Qg6 40.Rg5 Qd3 41.Qc3!?,..

White takes no chances in this early round and avoids the sharper 41 Re7! Why calculate the complicated line; 41..., Rxe7 42 dxe7 Qxd2? 43 Rh5+ Kg8 44 Qc4+, and mate in two coming. Black does not have to capture the Bishop on move 42, but the alternatives are not any better. One example is; 42..., Kh7; when 43 Qd5, leads to a quick finish.

41..., Rxe1+ 42.Bxe1 Qh7 43.Qe5 1–0

If 43..., Re8 44 Qxe8 Bxe8 45 c8(Q), and further resistance is futile. Or, 43..., Rf8 44 Qe7; and finally, 43..., Rc8 44 Qe7 Qh6 45 Qxd7 Qxg5 46 Qxc8+ Kh7 47 Qxh3+. A neat win showing Mr. Chi still has some distance to go to meet Mr. Aaron on equal ground. We still have a couple of years before the demands of collage begin the end of this rivalry. It will be interesting to watch how It develops.

More soon.

Brittany Denniston, the Under 1100 Prize Winner at the 133d NYS Ch.

One More Game From the NYS Championship

In the Under 1300 section of the 133d NYS Championship there was a stiff battle for top honors. Hong Jin and Jonah Klempner tied for first at 5 - 1, Behind them was a cluster of six players at 4 - 2 with tie breaks determining the order of finish. One young lady at 4 - 2 was Brittany Denniston from downstate. She was placed 5th overall, and she won the top Under 1100 prize.

One of the administrative challenges in chess locally is to get players to turn in copies of their scores sheets. Bill Townsend reports he received only something under 70 games this year from the NYS Championship event. The dearth of games submitted is the reason we can’t see games from the others in this section. This is regrettable, and I see no solution on the horizon other than to keep nagging the players to turn in their games.

Today’s game is a win by Miss Denniston on her way to a trophy and a nice prize.

Denniston, Brittany (1020) - Femia, John G (1184) [C44]

133d NYS Championship, U1300, Albany, NY, 03.09.2011

1.e4 e5 2.c3 Nc6 3.Nf3 d6 4.d3 h6 5.Be2 Nf6 6.h3 Ne7?

The opening is somewhere in the realm of the Ponziani and the Scotch Gambit. The last move has to be questioned. Any second move by a piece in the opening needs careful examination. Justification for this one is lacking; there are no tactics and no positional reason to dawdle here. Best is 6..., d5; taking advantage of the slow system White has adopted to expand in the center. Also good are; 6..., Be7; 6..., Be6; and 6..., a6; preparing 7..., b5.

7.Nh2?,..

Both sides are under the same spell; maneuvering before developing. Strange. Better is 7 Be3, why else did Brittany use a tempo to play h2-h3? Perhaps she was contemplating the charge of her K-side pawns as happens later? If so, Miss Denniston has a reckless streak in her chess character.

7..., b6 8.f4 Nd7?

Neglecting development even further. Black has commented enough chess sins to lose this game already. Much better is 8..., exf4 9 Bxf4 Ng6; and Black has equalized.

9.Be3?,..

This is a more understandable mistake. The move gives Black a chance to repair his error with 9..., exf4 10 Bxf4 Ng6; with a reasonable game.

9..., Ng8??

I find it hard to justify a double query in my analysis of local games, but this extended maneuvering with the Knights earned such. Squandering three vital tempi in nine moves is too big an error not to be awarded the dread double question marks.

10.f5 Be7 11.Bf2 Bh4 12.g3 Bg5 13.h4 Be7 14.Qc2 Ngf6 15.Nd2 c5

White has completed most of her development. Now which side on which to castle is the immediate question.

16.Nhf1!?,..

Instead of a decision about where the White King will go, more maneuvers. Two moves suggest themselves; 16 0-0-0, and 16 g4, getting on with the expansion on the K-side. I called this move interesting but questionable because Brittany may have looked at the position and thought she can delay deciding about the King’s home and may improve the position of her worst placed piece. That is not totally unreasonable.

16..., Bb7 17.Ne3 a5?

Black does not seem to understand the importance of timing. Somewhere in my blogging I mentioned the notion of “waiting and breaking”. In the opening and early middle game very often we are preparing breaks, that is an advance of a pawn that will change the position in some fundamental fashion that helps out our pieces - “waiting” in my parlance. Such work is not confined to the opening and early middle game exclusively but is most common there. Those masters and Grandmasters from whom I have taken lessons tried mightily to get the idea of timing breaks drummed into my head without great success. There is a moment when the break has to be made, and chess skill is much about getting the timing right. Here Black has the opportunity to break with 17..., d5. Play may well continue; 18 exd5 Nxd5 19 Bf3 Nxe3 20 Bxe3 Bxf3 21 Nxf3, then both sides will likely castle long and the game is close to level. Black has a poor Bishop, and White has to be watchful about her advanced K-side pawns. Black’s main idea in this position is to put the Knight on f6 and push the e-pawn to e4 and maybe getting the Bishops off. White would probably put a Rook behind the g-pawn and push the pawns forward. It is an even fight, the classic dynamically balanced position where both sides have their chances. The text passes on the needed center break and waits too long.

18.a4 Qc7 19.Qb3 0–0 20.0–0–0 Qc6 21.Bf3 Rab8

These last operations indicate Black has grasped some of the possibilities in the position. He is making threats to push .., d6-d5 and .., b6-b5; opening lines bearing on the White King.

22.Rhg1 Rfd8?

One more in a long line of moves that were off the mark. White has her Queen aimed at f7. That makes any push forward by the g-pawn a problem for Black; when the g-pawn appears on g6 the pinned f-pawn can not even make a small step forward to avoid the opening of the g-file where the White Rooks will congregate. This is the moment when Black must make some provision against the advancing g-pawn. Probably 22..., Nh7; then 23 g4 Bd8 24 Nd5 Kh8 25 Rg2 Ba6; is a sensible way to proceed. White is better, but Black has taken some steps to meet the threats. The move played in the game lacks even the virtue of making a distracting counter-threat and certainly does not prepare to successfully deal with the coming pawn storm.

23.g4 Kf8 24.g5 Ng8 25.g6,..

Oops! It’s mate at f7. Black’s now admirable, if belated, creativity fends off a quick end to the game.

25..., c4 26.Nexc4 Nc5 27.Bxc5 Qe8

There is no saving of the Black game. It is a matter of choosing how the end will come for avoiding a loss is not possible. A sample line is; 27..., Qxc5 28 Nxe5 d5 29 d4 Qd6 30 gxf7 Nf6 31 Rde1 Nd7 32 Nf6+ Kxf7 33 exd5 Bf8 34 Ne4, with a grim outlook for Black. He now tosses material over the side trying to buy respite.

28.Bxb6 Bc6 29.Qa2 Bxa4 30.gxf7 Qxf7 31.Qxa4 Rdc8 32.Bxa5 Qe8 33.Qxe8+ Rxe8 34.Bb4,..

For the cost of two minor pieces and a couple of pawns, Black has delayed the end by just a few moves.

34..., Rbd8 35.Rg2 Ra8 36.Kb1 Ra6 37.Rdg1 Bf6 1-0 on move 50. Some moves were missing and some unreadable in the balance of the game score.

After a slow start to the game, Brittany Denniston showed a good understanding of what was possible at the critical moment. She plays good chess, and we can expect to her take more prizes in the future.

More Soon.

One More Game From the NYS Tourney

Mike Laccetti has shown up in some of the Schenectady Club’s rapids over the summer. These were somewhat top heavy events and Mr. Laccetti did not do particularly well. Practice against strong opposition is almost always helpful, and his good result in the Under 1600 Section at the recent NYS Championship can be cited as evidence to this effect. Michael finished tied for 3d and 4th behind Brodsky - 5 ½, and Darius Jafary - 5, with Johnnes Gudmundsson at 4 ½. Today’s game contributed to this high placing.

Laccetti, Michael (1579) - Wetzel, Dustin T (1329) [B12]

133d NYS Championship U1600 Albany, NY 3.09.2011

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5

The Caro-Kann is popular on the international scene, not as a first choice defense, but useful as an alternative to cross up an opponent’s preparation. This not because of any specific flaw in the opening, rather the notion the Caro-Kann is not as aggressive enough for the top flight players.

4.Nf3 Nd7

More common is 4..., e6.

5.Be2 e6 6.0–0 g6?!

A move that seems to go against the logic of the position. Usually this variation goes down lines very similar to the Advanced French with the vital difference that Black has his light squared Bishop outside his pawn chain. Black has many other choices here, chiefly 6..., h6; and 6..., Bg6. The text makes the situation of the Bf5 somewhat dangerous limiting Black’s options. Further, the d5,e6 f7,g6, h7 formation is rife with potential weaknesses on the dark squares. This formation often works to Black disadvantage, especially if the Bg7 disappears. About the only time the formation has appeal is if White plays an early f2-f4, such as in the Grand Prix Attack in the Sicilian. Black then tries to prevent f4-f5 with g6 and e6 pawns and a Knight on e2. As long as the White f-pawn obstructs his dark squared Bishop, it is hard for White to get his attack going. With no pawn on f4, White has an easier time in creating attacking chances.

The Grandmasters play the position as follows:

Landa, Konstantin (2669) - Conquest, Stuart (2546) [B12]

ESP-chT CECLUB Sur Div 1 Burguillos (4), 24.08.2007

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Nd7 6.0–0 Bg6 7.c3 Ne7 8.Na3 h6 9.Nc2 c5 10.Nce1 Nc6 11.Nd3 cxd4 12.cxd4 Be4 13.Be3 Nb6 14.Nd2 Bh7 15.Rc1 Rc8 16.a3 Be7 17.b4 0–0 18.Qb3 Rc7 19.Nc5 Bxc5 20.Rxc5 Nd7 21.Rcc1 Ne7 22.Qb2 Nb6 23.a4 Nxa4 24.Qa3 b5 25.Bxb5 Nb6 26.Rc5 Nd7 27.Rxc7 Qxc7 28.Rc1 Qb7 29.Qa6 Rb8 30.Qxb7 Rxb7 31.Ba6 Rb6 32.Bf1 Rc6 33.Ra1 Rc7 34.Nb3 Nb6 35.Nc5 Bg6 36.g4 h5 37.h3 Nc4 38.b5 hxg4 39.hxg4 Nc8 40.Bg5 N8b6 41.Ra6 Kh7 42.Be2 Bb1 43.Kg2 Kg6 44.Bd8 Rc8 45.Bxb6 axb6 46.Nd7 Nd2 47.Nxb6 Rc3 48.f3 Kg5 49.Ra7 Kf4 50.Kf2 Bg6 51.Na4 Rc2 52.Nc5 Nxf3 53.Ra4 Rb2 54.b6 Ng5 55.b7 Ne4+ 56.Ke1 Rb1+ 57.Bd1 Nc3 58.Ra1 Rxa1 59.Kd2 Rxd1+ 60.Kxc3 Rc1+ 0–1

7.h3 Bg7

More active is 7..., h5.

8.Re1,..

Much more ambitious is 8 g4, but it is not necessarily better after; 8..., Be4 9 Ng5 Qe7 10 f3 Bxc2 11 Qxc2 h6 12 Nxe6 Qxe6 13 f4 h5 14 f5 gxf5 15 gxf5 Qe7 16 f6 Ngxf6 17 exf6 Bxf6; when Black has two pawns for the piece and the ripped up state of the White K-side offers compensation for the material deficit. Rather than leap willy-nilly into complications, White proceeds calmly.

8..., Ne7 9.c3 Bxb1

Tired of worry Black gets rid of his light squared Bishop.

10.Rxb1 0–0 11.Bd3 Qc7 12.Bg5 Rfe8 13.Qd2 b6!?

Black could have played 13..., c5; right away. This move in preparation feels slow.

14.Rbc1 a6?

Definitely slow, but it is easy to understand Black is nervous about opening lines when his opponent has the two Bishops. Maybe 14..., Qb7; is a better choice.

15.b3 c5 16.h4 b5 17.h5,..

Since he has most of his forces pointed towards the Black King, White continues logically by pushing the h-pawn. Now we see how the position is very like Advanced French positions. However, the dissimilarities are significant. Black has not had the pressure on d4 typical in the Advanced French, and he has foreclosed useful piece sorties (.., Qa5; and .., Bb4) by advancing the Q-side pawns and deploying the dark squared Bishop to g7. The result is a more passive game for Black than in the Advanced French.

17..., gxh5 18.Bh6 Ng6 19.Qg5 f6?

Black elects to bring on the crises. Stubborn defense beginning 19..., c4 20 bxc4 bxc4 21 Bc2 h4; when both sides will have to calculate accurately. Black seems to have just enough counter-play available to beat off the assault. If he does so, the position tilts in his favor. After the game move, White wins a pawn and makes it a “passer” as well.

The game move does not take into account all of the tension producing elements of the position; specifically the pawn on c5 may be lost if the multiply redundant pieces defending it are called away. This is a fairly sophisticated kind of an error for a game from the Under 1600 Section of a Open Swiss event. More usual are simpler errors of calculation and outright blunders. Not so here, in fact this game, from both sides was played at a pretty high level.

20.exf6 Nxf6 21.Bxg6 hxg6 22.Qxg6 Qf7

The alternative; 22..., c4; avoids the bad, almost lost endgame but permits White to build a really dangerous attack with 23 Ng5 Qd7 24 Re3, when it is difficult to believe that Black will not lose something significant soon.

23.Qxf7+ Kxf7 24.Ne5+ Kg8 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.dxc5 Rad8

There are many choices here but none seem markedly better than the text. The move has the laudable idea behind it to try for counter-play by advancing the d-pawn.

27.Re3 d4 28.Rg3+ Kh7 29.Nf7 Ne4 30.Nxd8 Nxg3 31.fxg3 Rxd8 32.cxd4 Rxd4 33.c6,..

The endgame would be ripe for resignation if it were a GM game. In the world of Under 1600 it certainly has to be played out.

33..., Rd8 34.c7 Rc8 35.Rc6,..

I will have to ask Mike the next time I see him if he gave much thought to 35 Kf2. That is another way to win.

35..., e5 36.Kf2 Kg7 37.Ke3 Kf7 38.Ke4 Ke7 39.Kxe5 Kd7 40.Rxa6?,..

A slip that retains some of the advantage but not all. Better 40 Kc5, if then Black takes on c7, the Rooks come off and the simplified pawn ending takes nothing more than a careful counting to calculate the finish. It is easy enough to see that the White King is much better placed than the Black monarch in the race to gobble pawns. Black can hardly avoid the capture on c7 for he will quickly run out of any other moves.

40..., Rxc7 41.Rd6+ Ke7 42.Rd2..,

White still had a significant advantage, however Black can dream of finding a way of finding a defense. All it will take is some slight lowering of White’s alertness and a pawn or two could fall into Black’s grasp and a whole new game comes about.

42..., Rc5+ 43.Kf4 b4

There is no way to prevent the appearance of a passed g-pawn for White. Black heads for a position where White will have two widely separated passed pawns. In theory such endings are won. The process to realize the win is long, and it is objectively the correct choice giving the opponent more chances to err.

44.g4 hxg4 45.Kxg4 Kf6 46.g3 Rg5+ 47.Kh4 Rf5 48.Rd6+ Kg7 49.Rd4 Rb5 50.g4 Kf6 51.Re4 Kg6 52.Kg3 Kg5 53.Kf3 Kh4

The King is better placed in front of the g-pawn. Black may have been thinking he can keep in closer touch with g-pawn from h4. Either way the g-pawn occupies the attention of the Black King, and Laccetti correctly brings his King to the Q-side to help advance the b-pawn. It is the standard approach when you have two separated passed pawns. With Black King at g6 or f6, there are possibilities that he will rush to the Q-side to help out holding up the b-pawn. Objectively those possibilities can’t save the game - the g-pawn is then free to run - but the position is a bit more complex than it is in the game. When defending a lost position, make things complex. You are after all playing a human being and we make mistakes.

54.Ke3 Ra5 55.Rxb4 Rxa2 56.Kd3 Rg2 57.Kc3 Rg3+

If 57..., Kg5 58 Re4, clearing the way for the advance of the b-pawn. Also, if 57..., Rxg4 58 Rxg4+ Kxg4 59 Kd4 Kf5 60 Kd5, and White “shoulders” the Black King away from being able to do anything effective about the march of the b-pawn.

58.Kb2 Rg2+ 59.Ka3 Rg1 60.Ka4 Ra1+ 61.Kb5 Ra3 62.Kc5 Ra2 63.Rc4 Ra5+ 64.Kb6 Rg5 65.b4 Rg6+ 66.Ka5 Rg8 67.b5 Ra8+ 68.Kb6 Rb8+ 69.Ka6 Ra8+ 70.Kb7 Ra5 71.b6,..

Mr. Laccetti demonstrated a textbook example of the proper technique in this endgame.

71..., Rb5 72.Ka6 Rb1 73.Kb7 Re1 74.Kb8 Re8+ 75.Ka7 1–0

This game was a very creditable effort by both sides with ideas and points of interest right from the beginning.

More soon.

Brodsky wins the U1600 at the NYS Championship

The little ones, the kids, get better and better as the years go by. David Brodsky won the Under 1600 Section of the recent NYS Championship with a score of 5 ½ - ½. David began his chess career only in 2010. This down-state player made steady progress in his first year of serious play in Westchester and environs in local scholastic tourneys. In 2011 he expanded his participation entering some big open events in New York and Connecticut achieving reasonable results. His victory in the NYS championship tournament is the first big prize the young man has won. I expect to see him fighting for prizes in many more tourneys in the future.

Hardison, Terrance (1566) - Brodsky, David (1561) [E07]

133d NYS Championship U1600 Albany, NY, 05.09.2011

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.d4 Nf6 4.g3 c6 5.Bg2 Be7

A bland sort of move. More testing and critical is 5..., dxc5.

6.b3 0–0 7.0–0 Nbd7 8.Bb2 b6 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.a3?!,..

Why? Natural is 10 Nbd2, keeping pace with Black in development. This is the first indication that White is not fully up to speed on how to play in the Catalan positions.

10..., dxc4 11.bxc4?,..

The second indication; White accepts a pawn formation that may be weakened if Black proceeds with energy. Safer is 11 Qxc4.

11..., c5

And he does so. The game fully equalized now.

12.Nbd2 Qc7

Not as sharp as 12..., cxd4; or 12..., Rc8; but reasonable in any case.

13.dxc5?,..

Voluntarily accepting a weakened pawn formation. Better 13 e3. It is true White can eventually be saddled with “hanging pawns” after .., cxd4; but while such are suspect, White has space in the center and Black has to find the moves to pressure those pawns. After the text Black has the target on c4 upon which he can focus his pressure.

13..., Nxc5 14.Ng5 h6 15.Bxf6 hxg5!

Maybe White hoped for 15..., Bxf6?? 16 Qh7 mate. More probably he thought the simplification helps him. That’s not correct. The c-pawn will stand on the open c-file soon to be faced by the Black Rooks, and the Knight will go to b7 ready to jump to a5 or d6 adding to the c-pawn’s woes.

16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Bxb7 Nxb7 18.Rfb1?,..

A move lacking a point. There is no immediate tactical shot as punishment. Black just adds another useful tempo to his building positional plus.

18..., Rac8 19.Rb5,..

White must have had some idea of fighting for control of c5. He quickly finds this is not possible.

19..., Nd6 20.Rb4 Rc7 21.Rc1 Rfc8 22.Qb3?,..

Offering Black the chance to cash in on the tension on the c-file. While the move 22 Qd3, appears to be almost equivalent, it is a more active choice creating danger on the d-file after 22..., b5 23 c5 Rxc5 24 Rxc5 Rxc5 25 Rd4, when Black will have to calculate very accurately. From b3 the Queen contributes much less than she would have done from d3.

22..., Qf6?

The principled move is; 22..., b5. If White then tries 23 Qd3 bxc4 24 Nxc4 a5 25 Ra4 Qe8 26 Qb3 e5 27 Rc2 Qe6; gives Black a big advantage. Black retains some edge after the text but not as large as was possible.

23.Qd3 Rd8 24.Qc2?,..

White has been just a little bit wrong throughout this game. This move is one more instance. Here 24 Ne4, keeps the game from getting out of reach. Play could continue 24..., Nxe4 25 Qxe4 Rd4 26 Qe3 Qd8 27 Kf1, with Black keeping some advantage, but the game is not without hope for White. The next operations by both sides are not particularly incisive. My guess is White was beginning to have time trouble. His motivating idea is to liquidate the weak c-pawn, and he does not accurately weigh-up the alternatives.

24..., Nf5 25.Ne4 Qe7 26.c5?,..

Better is 26 e3, then 26.., Nd6 27 Rd1 Nxe4 28 Rxd8+ Qxd8 29 Qxe4; when the endgame with reduced material offers White chances to hold the draw. The text loses a pawn.

26..., Nd4 27.Qb2 bxc5 28.Rxd4?,..

It is this move, and the sequence leading up to it that suggests time trouble. The alternative 28 Ra4, is sensible even if it results in a poor position for White after 28..., f5 29 Nc3 Rb7 30 Qa2 Nb3 31 Rb1 Rd2 32 Rb2 Rxb2 33 Qxb2 g4 34 Qa2 Qd6. Black has the advantage but the winning process is not clear. Giving up the Exchange buys White almost nothing in the way of activity and must therefore be considered a blunder.

28..., Rxd4 29.Qc2 c4 30.e3 Rd8 31.Qa4 Rdc8 32.Rc3 0-1

The game ended after White’s last move. I don’t know if his clock fell, or if he took stock of the position and concluded the material deficit was too great to continue. This win gave David Brodsky first place in the Under 1600 Section by a half point.

More soon.

David Brodsky, the Under 1600 winner at the NYS Championship

Saratoga Staunton Club --Meeting 9/18/2011 Championship Starts 10/2/2011

The Saratoga Staunton Club holds its organizational Meeting Sunday Night, September 18, 2011 at 7:30. The club will discuss the format for the Championship tournament that is Scheduled to begin on October 2, 2011 running on Sunday nights with games starting at 7:30 P.M.

Another Game From the NYS Championship

In the final round of the NYS Championship, Under 2000 section, two of the highest rated participants met. Both had a chance for a share of first place. A tense fight ensued.

Busygin, Stanislav (1994) - Campbell, Robert (1999) [E04]

133d NYS Championship, U2000 Section, Albany, NY, 05.09.2011

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.d4 e6

Officially the Catalan System, E04 in the ECO, or it could be called a reversed Grunfeld Defense. From a lifetime ago here is an example of how this line may be played:

Alatortsev, Vladimir - Lisitsin, Georgy [E04]

Trade Unions Leningrad (12), 1938

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.0–0 d5 6.c4 dxc4 7.Qa4 Bd7 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Qxc4 Be7 10.Nc3 0–0 11.Rd1 Qa5 12.Bd2 Rac8 13.Ne4 Qh5 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.Qb3 Rc7 16.Rac1 Rfc8 17.Qa3 Qb5 18.b4 Qxe2 19.Re1 Qa6 20.Qxa6 bxa6 21.Bf1 Nb8 22.Rxc7 Rxc7 23.Bf4 Rb7 24.Rd1 Bc6 25.Rc1 g5 26.Nxg5 e5 27.Bd2 Kg7 28.a3 h6 29.Nh3 Bb5 30.Be3 Rd7 31.Bxb5 axb5 32.Rc8 Na6 33.Rc6 Nb8 34.Rc8 Na6 35.Rc6 Nb8 36.Bxh6+ Kxh6 37.Rxf6+ Kg7 38.Rf3 Nc6 39.Rc3 Nd4 40.Kf1 a5 41.bxa5 Ra7 42.Ng1 Rxa5 43.Nf3 Ne6 44.Nxe5 b4 45.Nc4 bxc3 46.Nxa5 Nd4 47.Ke1 Nc2+ 48.Ke2 Nxa3 49.Kd3 Nb5 50.Nc4 f5 51.f4 Kf6 52.Ne3 Ke6 53.Kc4 Nd6+ 54.Kxc3 Ne4+ 55.Kd3 Nf6 56.Ke2 1–0

The principles in the above game were well known in their day, and in today’s world would be Grandmasters. That title was much more redistricted in use in 1938. In common with the game Busygin - Campbell, a White Knight ends up on h3, and the White K-side pawns are the main source for counter-play for White.

5.0–0 Nf6 6.c4,..

The most usual reply in Grandmasters games.

6..., dxc4 7.Ne5 Nxe5

This move gives White a relatively easy path to a small advantage. More standard and useful is 7..., Bd7. Black shouldn’t care if his light squared Bishop is taken off, it does not have particularly great future.

8.dxe5 Qxd1 9.Rxd1 Nd5 10.Na3 Be7?!

Going slow and doing something suggested by general principles; developing(?), that is getting his pieces off the back rank. Concrete calculation would find 10..., c3; is a better choice. Play could go on; 10..., c3 11 Nb5 cxb2 12 Bxb2 Bd7 13 Bxd5 Bxb5 14 Bxb7 Rb8; and Black has kept the game level.

11.Bxd5?,..

In a single move White throws away a great deal. Best is 11 Nxc4, hanging on to an advantage based on having a bit more space and some initiative. White would have to figure out how to develop his Bc1. It may go to b2, and he wants to correctly time dropping his Knight into d6 to get the maximum benefit. All things considered, the future looks bright for White if he takes on c4. Conversely, the hasty capture on d5 results in creating a position where Black has the edge.

11..., exd5 12.Nb5 Kd7 13.Rxd5+ Kc6 14.Nc3 Be6 15.e4,..

This has to be the trump White was counting upon. He must been thinking of the possibility of obtaining a massive pawn roller in the center. Black, however, is under no obligation to capture on d5.

15..., Rad8

A pretty good move. Better still is 15..., b5; beginning to threaten to displace the White Knight.

16.Rxd8 Rxd8 17.Be3 b5

Black has a four to two pawn majority on the Q-side, and White has five to three on the K-side. Both have doubled pawns in their majorities, but Black’s doubled pawns are less harmful to his cause than is White’s doubled pawns. By controlling d5, Black takes away the one good outpost for the White Knight. No good outpost and the possibility of the game opening up for the two Bishops of Black surely indicate the long term chances favor Black.

18.a3?!,..

The active alternative 18 f4, is somewhat better. Black can stay on top with either 18..., b4; or 18..., g6; but White can make a fight of it. The text hands Black a tempo.

18..., Rd3 19.Re1 Bd8

Black has a number of choices here; 19..., f6; 19..., b4; and the text. Black has in mind a simplification where his Q-side majority can run.

20.Ne2 Ba5 21.Rf1 Rb3 22.Bc1 Bh3 23.Rd1 Rd3 24.Rxd3 cxd3 25.Nf4 d2 26.Bxd2 Bxd2 27.Nxh3 Bc1 28.b3 Bxa3

Black has secured his goal; his pawns are looking very dangerous and White’s on the opposite side of the board are not even ready to roll yet.

29.Kf1 Bb2 30.f4 h6

Caution that is not strictly required. Black could play here 30..., c4; or 30..., b4; with the idea of rushing in the a-pawn, but that needs exact calculation. Taking on such a task at the end of a tournament and after two games and several hours of effort risks oversights.

31.Ke2 Bd4

Another safety-first precaution taking away a route for the Knight back into the game.

32.Kd3 a5 33.g4,..

Belatedly the White pawns begin their charge. It is not quite enough but makes Black calculate carefully lest something untoward happens.

33..., Kd7 34.g5 Ke6 35.f5+ Ke7!?

Maintaining a winning advantage but complicating things unnecessarily. More direct is; 35...Kxe5 36.f6 gxf6 37.gxh6 f5 38.exf5 Kxf5 39.h7 Kg6 40.Ng1 f5 41.Nf3 Kxh7 42.Nxd4 cxd4 43.Kxd4 a4 44.bxa4 bxa4 45.Kc4 f4 46.Kd4 a3 47.Ke4 a2 48.Kxf4 a1Q 49.h4 Kg6.

36.f6+ Kf8 37.gxh6,..

Effectively giving up the fight. White could string out the battle with; 37 e6 fxe6 38 Nf4 Kf7 39 fxg7 Bxg7 40 g6+ Kf6 (Black has to guard against Nh5.) 41 h4 e5 42 Nd5+ Kxg6 43 Nc7, and Black will have to play several more moves to carry the day. He will win in the long run.

37..., gxh6 38.Nf4 Bxe5 0–1

And now 39 Ke3 Bxf4+ 40 Kxf4 a4; is decisive. Otherwise, 39 Nd5 a4 40 bxa4 bxa4 41 h3 a3; and 39 Nd5 Bxh2 40 Nc3 c4+ 41 bxc4 b4; is equally good for Black.

This win tied Mr. Campbell with Malik Perry for first in the Under 2000 Section. Perry is a fast rising Junior from down-state. This result cemented his Expert rating. He started out in scholastic events in Georgia in 2006, relocated to the NYC area in 2007 and began playing in Brother John’s Make the Right Move tourneys. Steady progress through 2010 saw him reach the Class A level. A steady diet of tough battles with the strong opposition at the Manhattan Chess Club and other events around the capital of US chess had him close to Expert by earlier this year. We can expect to hear more of this young man in the future.

It was good to see Bob Campbell return to the ranks of the Experts which he did with this result. He and I were frequent opponents back in the days of the Studio Quads of the 1980s, and alums of the Marine Rifle company in Albany, albeit I served some years before he joined. After slipping out the Expert ranks in 1997, Mr. Campbell stayed active occasionally getting close to the 2000 level but not quite breaking through. This year, beginning with a first place (5 - 0) in the 86th Western Mass/CT Valley Championship, Mr. Campbell made steady progress capping it with the NYS Championship result.

Congratulations to both winners and newly minted Experts!

More soon.

The Under 2000 section of this year’s NYS Championship was a hard fought affair. Bob Campbell and Malik Perry tied for first place. Perry had defeated Campbell in round three. Bob had to win his last thee games to make the tie. Today’s game is Campbell’s win from round 4.

De T Chea, Nicolas (1894) - Campbell, Robert (1999) [A14]

133d NYS Championship, U2000 Section, Albany, NY, 04.09.2011

1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.0–0 0–0 6.b3 Nbd7 7.Bb2 b6 8.d3 Bb7 9.Nbd2,..

Probably better is 9 Nc3, putting the Knight on a more active square. White has not tried for much out of the opening other than to “develop” his pieces. That is good enough at some levels of play, it however falls short in this case.

Here is a term I coined for describing things going on in the early stages of a game; Waiting and Breaking. As Matt Katrine tried to make me understand over forty years ago, we just can’t wait around in a chess game, that is making moves lacking purpose that do not have some evil intent for our opponent. So, waiting time needs to be used to prepare something. That something is very often a break. Breaks are frequently pawn moves. The most common is the advance of the c-pawn to the fourth or fifth rank for White or Black. Another common break is the advance of the d or e-pawns to the 4th or 5th ranks, or a similar charge by the f-pawn, but that is a little less common. And sometimes, breaks can be piece sacrifices; a very annoying thing is a piece sac to the defender because whether or not he likes it, exact calculation is then demanded.

White in this game does not appear to have a break planned even when one is available. That is a bad situation when facing a strong player, and he pays a price here.

9..., Rc8

Taking space with 9..., c5; is more principled.

10.Rc1,..

Preparing the break e2-e4 with 10 Re1, makes more sense.

10..., Ba8

Again 10..., c5, is better. Mr. Campbell wanted this Bishop protected before any lines open I guess.

11.Qc2,..

Breaking with 11 cxd5, would allow White to maintain the usual plus of the first move.

11..., c5 12.Rfd1,..

White just does not seem to want to undertake anything active. Again 12 cxd5, is sensible. After the tournament ended Bob Campbell very graciously spent much time with me providing some notes for this game. Here he saw 12 e4, or 12 e3, as better choices for White. I agree with 12 e3, but 12 e4, gives Black full equality after 12..., d4; and that is not a particularly desired outcome for White.

12..., d4

Black has equalized the game. Reaching equality by the 12th move has to be counted as a success for Black

13.Nf1 Ne8 14.e3 e5 15.exd4 exd4

Not quite the best move. Campbell says 15..., cxd5 should be seriously considered. Rybka agrees giving Black a slight edge.

16.Rb1,..

The game arrives at a juncture where Black has some advantage in space. It is not hard to see the light squared Bishops are very likely going to be traded off. Neither of the remaining dark squared Bishops shows much promise. White’s may have a slightly brighter future because of all the Black pawn on dark squares. The possible outpost for White on e4 is not entirely secure because the Black f-pawn can evict a piece occupying e4. White begins an operation to activate his dark squared Bishop, and that is logical. My guess is White is thinking about Bb2/c1/f4. Black contemplates taking over space on the K-side to go along with his central advantage.

16..., Kh8

I can find no reason for this move. Maybe it is just a precaution because the Black f-pawn is going to be moved forward. Putting a Knight on d6 is a better use of the tempo.

17.b4,..

White is operating to have the b-file under his control. A laudable aim, but not really germane to what is about to happen.

17..., f5

This pawn break signals the beginning of a tactical phase of the game.

18.bxc5,..

Timing is an important aspect of breaking. The text is not necessary right now; the b-pawn is safe because the Black pawn at d4 is not well defended. It would be useful for White to have the Nf1 moved to d2 to be ready to occupy e4 with the Knight if the f-pawn is pushed forward, and equally useful is to have a Rook on e1. Either of those moves are better than the unnecessary game move. The whole game White has been overly cautious, reluctant even, to take the dynamic path. As the game enters the tactical phase, he finds his pieces are not well organized for defense. That is often the wages of an approach that is too slow.

18..., bxc5 19.Ne1 f4!?

Mr. Campbell wants to get into the tactics now. More controlled is 19..., Nd6; then 20 Nd2 Re8 21 Bxa8 Rxa8 22 Nef3 Qa5; with a positional battle preceding any tactical clash. Maybe the text is justified because White has shied away from any attempt to take the initiative giving Black no reason to expect different in a tactical fight.

20.Bxa8 Rxa8 21.Bc1 Bd6 22.Ng2?!,..

White misreads the situation. Here 22 Nd2, is better, and then 22..., fxg3 23 hxg3 Nef6 24 Ng2, is OK for White. He is getting his pieces coordinated.

22..., f3 23.Nf4?,..

Getting ambitious at just the wrong moment. It is a mistake typical of what happens when you “slow play” a position. After a period of unhappiness about how the game is developing, White becomes a bit too aggressive. Safer is 23 Ne1, planning a precise defense to the coming aggression by Black on the K-side.

23..., g5?

A tactical error overlooking a simple threat. Campbell was very critical of this move and rightly so. It is hard to determine how such an oversight comes about. Assigning it to the category of acute “chess blindness” is about right. I suspect Mr. Campbell had his attention focused on various ways to get his Queen to h3 with mate to follow, and those flights of imagination had a bad effect on the needed focus on the here and now.

Campbell pointed out; 23..., Bxf4 24 Bxf4 Rxf4 25 gxf4 Qh4 26 Kh1 Nef6; as good for Black after 27 Ne3?!, because Black gets back most of the material invested and still has virulent attack on the White King. Trying to improve for White with 27 Nd2, is less clear; 27..., Qxf4 28 h3 Ng4 29 hxg4 Qxg4 30 Nxf3 Qxf3+ 31 Kh2 Qh5+; when Black very likely has a winning attack, but there are many moves to play to the finish. An alternative try for White; 28 Rg1 Re8 29 Nf1 Re2; is unappetizing. His material plus is far more than offset by active Black pieces gathering around the White King.

24 Ne6 Qf6!?

Too simple perhaps. Black reacts inaccurately to his mistake. Better 24..., Qc8; getting on the critical line to h3. If then 25 Nxf8 Ne5; and Black is winning. A sample line here is; 26 Ne3 Qh3; and the threat of 27..., Ng4; is too strong for White to effectively resist for long. Because of the foregoing White has to pass on taking the Rf8 and play 25 Nxg5, when the game is tending towards equality.

25.Nxg5?,..

The rapidly changing circumstances have caused White to miss his chance. Correct now is; 25 Nxf8. White will have to be very accurate in the next few moves, but he has enough time to defend his King against immediate mate. Eventually the Exchange plus will tell. After the text the game is about equal. Campbell said; 25 Nxf8, is unclear and White’s best chance.

25..., h6 26.Ne4 Qe6 27.Qd2?,..

Failing the accuracy test. Now 27 Nfd2, is best. White plans to give up the Knight for the thorn at f3 netting two pawns for his piece, and after 27,.. Qh3 28 Nxf3 Rxf3 29 Qe2 Rf7 30 Rb7, his pieces are becoming quite active. The game move lets Black get in a strong move.

27..., Bf4!?

Also possible is 27..., Rf4; then 28 gxf4 Qh3 29 Ng3 Bxf4 30 Ng3 dxe3 when the threat of mate a g2 costs White dearly after 31 fxe3 Bxe3+; and 31 Qb2+ Be5; is no better.

28.gxf4,..

The fury of the attack by Black has unsettled White, and he made errors over the last few moves. Now just about everything is hopeless. Here putting the Knight on e3 does little more than avoid mate. After, 28 Ne3 Qh3 29 Qe1 dxe3 30 Qf1 Qxf1+ 31 Kxf1 e7+; wins decisive material.

28..., Qh3 29.Ne3 Rxf4 30.Bb2,..

Somewhat better is 30 Ng3, but not enough better to save the game. It does string out the losing process. The lesson that can be taken from many GM games is; if you are losing take the longest road, there is always a chance for error by the attacker. After 30 Ng3 Ne5 31 Bb2 Rh4; most of the Black pieces are poised to take part in the final assault. Even though White is up a full piece, the activity of the Black pieces gives the impression that he is ahead in material. In this line the finish could be; 32 Ngf1 Nf6 33 Kh1 Rg8 34 Ba3 Qg2+ 35 Nxg2 fxg2+ 36 Kg1 Nf6#

30..., Rh4 31.Ng3,..

Also acceptable is Resigns.

31..., Qxh2+ 32.Kf1 Qh1+ 33.Nxh1 Rxh1# 0–1

A pretty finish for Black. White did not play the game well right from the beginning. It could be he was thinking draw at all costs. To that end, white seemed to want to just keep things closed up and just refused to break open lines. When you wait around for your opponent do something, all too often he does that thing for which you are not prepared. That is what happened in this game.

Following this post is a photograph of the Section winners. This was generously provided by Phil Ferguson of ENYCA.

More soon.

Malik Perry and Bob Campbell won the U2000 at NYS Ch.

A Game From the NYS Championship

On a wet windy late summer day along Wolf Road in Colonie, NY the 133d edition of the New York State Championship came to an exciting conclusion. After round six there were three masters tied for first place; Alexsandr Ostrovskiy (2404), last year’s Champion, Michael Chiang (2252) and our own local star, Deepak Aaron (2304) at 4 ½ points. But for the wrinkles of the tie-break system, Mr. Aaron could have taken the title. I was told just before leaving the site that Michael Chiang won the title on tie-breaks.

Going into the last round Deepak was in first place with 4 ½ points with Chiang and Ostrovskiy both a full point behind. In a short sharp tactical game Deepak lost to Ostrovskiy and Chiang defeated Igor Nikolayev (2400), thus a three way tie.

In a discussion with Bill Townsend while the sixth round games were going on it came up that should Deepak win or draw his game, it might be the first time a Capital District player won the NYS title. Bill, the keeper of all kinds of records, commented that sometime back in the 40s or 50s Max Pavey won the title while he was living in Albany for a year or so. I said Pavey was always thought of as a NYC player and was not sure that would count. In any event, the loss and the tie-break system made the point moot.

In the flurry of the finish of the tournament I was unable to obtain the score of the game Ostrovskiy - Aaron. I hope Bill Townsend was able to get that score. He was on-site doing the unheralded job of entering whatever games he could find into his database. This something Bill has done for some long time, and it is him we should thank for adding significantly to the historical record.

Aaron got the clear lead in round five with a win from the veteran Jay Bonin. This game I did obtain.

Aaron, Deepak (2288) - Bonin, Jay (2401) [B32]

133d NYS Championship Open Albany, NY, 06.09.2011

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Be7 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 Be6 9.Be2 Bg5

The Kalashnikov Variation. Here Black also has used 9..., Nd5. Here is a

Game from recent times where one of the super-Grandmasters shows how the Black side can win with the central pawn mass.

Vovk, Yuri (2414) - Eljanov, Pavel (2655) [B32]

Dos Hermanas Internet f 7th Internet Chess Club (1.1), 24.03.2006

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Be7 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 Be6 9.Be2 Bg5 10.Nc2 Bxc1 11.Rxc1 Nf6 12.0–0 0–0 13.Qd2 Qb8 14.Rfd1 Rd8 15.Qe3 Qa7 16.Nd5 Qxe3 17.Nxf6+ gxf6 18.Nxe3 Nd4 19.Kf1 Rac8 20.b3 Kf8 21.Bg4 b5 22.cxb5 axb5 23.h3 Rxc1 24.Rxc1 Ra8 25.Nc2 Rc8 26.Bd1 f5 27.Ke1 fxe4 28.Kd2 Ke7 29.Ra1 Nxc2 30.Bxc2 f5 31.a4 bxa4 32.bxa4 Bc4 33.Rb1 d5 34.Rb7+ Kd6 35.Rxh7 d4 36.h4 Bd5 37.Rh6+ Kc5 38.Rh5 d3 39.Bd1 Rf8 40.Kc3 Be6 41.Rg5 Rc8 42.h5 Kd5+ 43.Kd2 Kd4 44.Rg6 Bd5 45.h6 f4 46.Rg4 Rh8 47.Rh4 Be6 48.a5 Bf5 49.a6 Bh7 50.Ba4 Ra8 51.Bb5 Rb8 52.a7 Ra8 53.Rg4 Rxa7 54.Rg7 e3+ 55.fxe3+ fxe3+ 56.Kc1 d2+ 57.Kd1 Ra1+ 58.Ke2 d1Q# 0–1

10.0–0 Bxc1 11.Qxc1,..

The common answer here is 11 Rxc1, of course. I am not at all certain the text is better in any way, but it does vary from the book lines. That maybe what Deepak was after; to get away from some long string of theory leading to some small edge either way. Black is happy in this position, he gotten rid of his worse Bishop and saddled White with an unpromising light squared cleric. White has a lock on d5 that is his usual right in this kind of position. Both sides have accomplished something and now look for their next operations.

11..., Nf6 12.Rd1 Nd4 13.Bf1 Rc8 14.Nc2 Nxc2 15.Qxc2 Bxc4

White undertook to dangle his c-pawn for Black’s appraisal and Black accepted the offer. In compensation he gets the Black d-pawn. Accepting the off is not compulsory. Black could have simply castled on move 15.

16.Qa4+ Qd7 17.Qa3 Bxf1 18.Rxd6 Qe7 19.Rxf1 Rxc3

Ah ha! We see the point of Black’s idea; if 20 bxc3 Nxe4; and isn’t the Rd6 about to be lost?

20.bxc3 Nxe4 21.Qa4+,..

Not so! There is this move, and there is 21 Rxa6, both moves net White a pawn at least. I am certain Bonin, a hugely experienced master, saw all this. So why did he entered into a line that gives White an advantage in material? A variety of answers offer themselves; a moment’s impatience, he didn’t care for defending d6 long term after 15..., 0-0; or he thought the game position was OK for Black. Mr. Bonin was singularly quiet after the game, and I did not have the temerity to ask him the question.

21..., b5 22.Qxe4 Qxd6 23.Qa8+ Qd8 24.Qxa6 0–0 25.Qxb5,..

The dust has settled and White has an extra pawn. More significantly, he has two passed pawns, and although they are isolated, two “passers” scream danger for Black. The next operations are easy to understand; Black wants to attack the weak passed pawns and win one or both. White wants to consolidate holding on to the passed pawns while keeping an eye peeled for back rank threats.

25..., Qc7 26.c4 Rb8 27.Qa4 g6 28.Qc2 Qc5 29.Rb1,..

White has secured the pawns and now shows us a bit of endgame technique.

29..., Re8

Black correctly ignores the tempting 29..., Rxb1+; because 30 Qxb1 Qxc4 31 Qb8+, and White will get the e-pawn with check giving him time to return the Queen to b2. The net result of that operation would have been to convert the game to a Queen and pawn ending where Black has no winning chances at all, while White increases the pressure move by move by advancing the a-pawn. For the student of the game; a distant passed pawn and a Queen are not easily blockaded by a Queen on her own. In such cases the Black King will have to come to her aid leaving the K-side pawns to fend for themselves. This will open up possibilities for the White Queen to launch double attacks with checks when the Black King comes out from the shelter of his pawns. These likely lead to significant losses on the K-side and eventually the game.

30.Rc1!?,..

Cautious. More principled is 30 Rb5, but then 30..., Qa3 31 c5 Ra8 32 g3 Qxa2 33 Qe4 f5 34 Qxe5 Qa1+; and in the coming Rook and pawn ending Black will have his Rook behind the passed c-pawn in an optimal position to fight for a draw.

30..., Kg7 31.h3 Rb8 32.Qe2 Rb4 33.Rc2 Rb1+ 34.Kh2 Qd4?

An error. Black gives up the blockade of the c-pawn. That could be fatal.

35.Qe3?!,..

And there is an error in return. The principled reply is 35 c5. Play might then continue; 35..., Rb7 36 c6 Rc7 37 a4 e4 (Not 37..., Qxa4 38 Qxe5+ Kh6 39 Qxc7 Qxc2 40 Qf4+, and again we have a passed pawn supported by a Queen, only this time the pawn is further on and the Black King less able to come to his Queen’s assistance. Ashok Aaron and I were both puzzled by why this line was not played.

35..., Qxe3 36.fxe3 f5

Slightly better is 36..., Kf6; immediately.

37.c5 Kf6 38.c6 Rb8 39.Kg3 Ke6 40.Kh4 h6 41.c7,..

Pushing the pawn to the 7th looks natural reducing the mobility of the Black Rook, but a possible improvement might be 41 g4, right away. The simplification after 41..., fxg4 42 c7 Rc8 43 Kxg4, seems to favor White. His King is one step closer to e4 attacking the Black e-pawn. Alternatively, 41..., Kd5 42 gxf5 gxf5 43 Kh5 f4 44 exf4 exf4 45 c7 Rc8 46 Kg4 Ke4 47 Re2+! Kd3 48 Re7, shifting to a lateral defense of the c-pawn, and now the Black f-pawn and the h-pawn are both doomed. There are several lines each subtly different that demand careful consideration after 41 g4. Deepak perhaps decided getting the pawn top c7 cuts down the options Black can choose from making White’s calculation task easier. White now butchers the Black K-side abandoning the Q-side pawns

41..., Rc8 42.Rc6+ Kd5 43.Rxg6 Rxc7 44.Rxh6 Ke4 45.Re6,..

This is the resource Aaron counts on to slow the advance of the central Black pawns.

45..., Rg7

Here Black might have tried 45..., f4!?; wagering White just may be a little too quick to use up his g-pawn after 46 exf4 Kxf4 47 Rf6+ Ke3 48 g4 e4 49 g5 Kd4 50 g6 e3 51 Re6 Kd3 52 Kg3 Rc1 53 g7 Rg1+ 54 Kf3, when there are chances to reach a theoretically drawn position in the R versus R and two RP ending. Of course, White is under no obligation to recklessly advance the g-pawn. He can take a bit slower approach retaining both the g&h-pawns. Even if he has to give up the Rook for the e-pawn those “passers” will likely get to the 6th, and that is enough to win the game.

46.g4 fxg4 47.hxg4 Ra7 48.Kg5 Rxa2 49.Rb6,..

According to Rybka, the advantage for White is not very great here. That has to be taken with a grain of salt. These chess engines are not great at calculating endings without table bases present. This time Rybka may be correct. It calculates: 49..., Kf3 50 Kf5 e4 51 g5 Ra5+ 53 Kf6 Kxe3; as nearly equal. That appears to be true. The lone surviving Black pawn is very far along the path to making a Queen. This result holds up unless White can find a way to screen out the Black Rook from capturing the pawn cum Queen on g8.

The next little bit of the game revolves around not letting Black have access to f5 after the g-pawn goes to g5.

49..., Rf2 50.Rb3 Rf3 51.Kh4 Rf1 52.Kh5 Rf8 53.Kg6 Rg8+ 54.Kf6 Rf8+

If 54..., Rxg4? 55 Rb4+ Kf3 56 Rxg4+ Kxg4 57 Kxe5, when White controls the key squares ahead of the pawn. Black can not prevent its march to Queen.

55.Kg7 Rf3 56.g5 Rf5

If now 56..., Rxe3; 57 Rxe3+, and White makes a Queen just enough ahead of Black to be able to prevent Black from Queening. The White King then comes up to help capture the last Black pawn.

57.g6 1–0

Bonin resigned here putting Mr. Aaron into first place a full point ahead of the field. As mentioned at the top of this article, Aaron lost to Ostrovskiy in a tactical melee. Both young men did not shrink from creating serious tactical tension from early on. This time Deepak was out calculated and last year’s Champion won the game. Another game I wished to have is Chiang - Nikolayev. It to was missed by me in the flurry of the finish. If we are lucky, Bill Townsend has them and we can look forward to seeing his take on the games in his column.

More from the NYS Championship soon.

More From the NYS Championship

Round three of the NYS Championship saw the confusion of multiple start times begin to clarify. The two-day schedule folks were all on site and catching up with the three and four day people. Round four will see all playing on the same page so to speak.

The top rated player entered is IM Rafael Prasca Sosa at 2523. No Grandmasters this year, just one IM and a handful of youthful FM’s which may make for interesting games. Absent the “big guns”, a number of players may have visions making away with the title, if they can just play their best chess.

Some round two tidbits;

FM Ostrovskiy (2416), the defending State Champion, was held to a draw by Michael Chaing (2201).

Schenectady’s own Deepak Aaron likewise was held to a draw by a the young Kingston Expert Jonathan Richman (2032). Richman with long distance coaching by GM Ronen Har-Zvi, has made excellent progress - he broke 1800 two years ago and now is a solid Expert.

Chiang, a young player of serious promise, had to play Deepak in the third round. When he began playing rated chess in 2002, Michael had a rating not quite to the four digit level, something in the 800s. His highest published rating is about 2228. That is quite a far climb in a relatively short span of nine years. This game is interesting on several levels, not the least of which is a clash of two players who we can expect to see for many more years.

Aaron, Deepak (2288) - Chiang, Michael (2201) [C45]

133d NYS Championship Open, Board 4, Albany, NY (3), 04.09.2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.Nd2 g6 9.c4 Ba6

Here is how two of the best played this opening:

Svidler, Peter (2660) - Adams, Michael (2680) [C45]

Tilburg Fontys Tilburg (8), 1997

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.Nd2 g6 9.c4 Ba6 10.b3 Bg7 11.Bb2 Nb4 12.Nf3 c5 13.g3 0–0 14.Bg2 d5 15.0–0 Rad8 16.Rfd1 Rfe8 17.a3 Nc6 18.Qc2 d4 19.Re1 Qd7 20.b4 Nxe5 21.b5 Bc8 22.Nxe5 Rxe5 23.Rxe5 Bxe5 24.Qd2 Qd6 25.Re1 Be6 26.Qd3 Re8 27.Bc1 Bf5 28.Qf3 Kg7 29.Bd2 Re6 30.Qd1 Bf6 31.Rxe6 Bxe6 32.Qb3 h5 33.Be4 Qe5 34.Bd3 Bg4 35.Qa4 Be2 36.Qc2 Bf3 37.Bf1 Bg5 38.Qb3 Bxd2 39.Qxf3 Qf5 ½–½

10.Qe4!?,..

There are no examples of this move in my databases by top flight players. The move is known to theory along with the alternatives; 10 Nf3, and 10 b3.

10..., Nb6 11.b3 Bg7 12.Bb2 d5 13.cxd5,..

Theory prefers 13 Qe3 0-0 14 f4, saying Black is just bit better. I guess Deepak likes this position because it certainly gives White much scope for tactics, and tactics is where he is strongest.

13..., cxd5 14.Qe3 Bb7?!

According to Rybka Black should trade on f1 leaving the White King to worry about finding a haven. The text helps White and surrenders most of the slight advantage Black had. White now completes his development and the game is approximately even.

15.Bb5+ c6 16.Bd3 0–0 17.0–0 Rfe8 18.f4 f6

This is probably where Black begins to lose control of the situation. I had the pleasure of listening to a very quiet post mortem at board after the game finished. In hindsight Chiang did not like his Knight sitting on b6 and looked for points in the game where it could have been brought back for defense. It is possible that beginning this operation against the White center is mistaken, and here is the moment where the Knight could have been played to d7.

19.f5!,..

This move might have surprised Chaing, or at least the aftermath of this move surprised him.

19..., gxf5?!

Rybka, with the cold hard eye of the computer says Black had to try; 19..., fxe5 20 fxg6 (threatening 21 Rf7) 20..., Rf8 21 gxh7+ Kh8 22 Bf5 Ba6; trading off a pawn and all of the cover of the Black King for a potential pawn roller in the center. Making that sort of decision requires a gambler’s heart and the self-confidence of a Tal. The game now tilts in White’s favor.

20.Rxf5 fxe5 21.Qg3?,..

A slip. Here 21 Rh5!, is better, then if 21..., e4 22 Bxg7 exd3 23 Be5, and the Black King suffers. White proceeds with his natural desire to have all of his pieces take part in the final assault. It unfortunately could have given Black time to strengthen his defenses.

21..., Kh8 22.Raf1 Rf8?

Once more this is very natural, Black does not care for a Rook coming to f7, and once more the computer says this maybe the only way to keep the game going. Rybka’s line is 22..., e4 23 Rf7 Bxb2 24 Rxe7 Rxe7; when Black has a Rook, a minor piece and a pawn for the Queen. Once he finds a way to hang on to the a-pawn, his Ra8 comes to an open file on the K-side putting White firmly on the defensive. After the text Deepak demonstrates some interesting tactics that proves White now is winning.

23.Rxe5!

Exactly. The vulnerability of the Black King to an attack by pieces is such that what Bronstein was fond of calling “chess fantasy” appears on the board. The conventional piece values, a Rook is worth five pawns, a Knight worth three, etc. no longer apply. It is now all about mate or the transition to and endgame.

23...Rxf1+ 24.Nxf1 Qf7 25.Rh5 Bxb2 26.Rxh7+ Qxh7 27.Bxh7 Kxh7 28.Qc7+,..

The key resource. White gets a piece, as well as threatening to gather in a pawn or two on the Q-side. Losing a piece is not end of the world, but if the pawns go all hope of winning, or even holding the draw in the long run, is gone for Black.

28..., Kg8 29.Qxb7 Rf8 30.Ng3 Bd4+ 31.Kh1 Re8 32.h4,..

White has carefully not hurried to snatch pawns. He first made sure no nasty tactics involving the Bishop check from d4 and a sudden jump of the Rook to his back rank does not lead to mate.

32..., c5 33.Nf5 Bf6 34.Nh6+ Kh8 35.Qf7 0–1

Another piece is lost, and so Mr. Chiang resigned. This was a pleasing demonstration of tactical creativity by Mr. Aaron

The NYS Championship Begins

Last night, Friday, a couple of dozen chess players gathered at the Wolf Road Marriot for the opening round of the New York State Chess Championship. They were playing the four-day schedule with one round on Friday, one Saturday, then two games each day Sunday and Monday. Today more players will join in on a three day schedule and even more will join tomorrow on the demanding two-day schedule. These shorter schedules require several games at a fast time control to catch up with the earlier starters. No one knows exactly how many will be participating in total yet. A guess is 140 but there may be more.

Some results of interest locally:

Deepak Aaron, lately returned from the World Juniors won from Patrick Chi in what was an interesting struggle between advancing d and c-pawns versus advancing f and e-pawns. Deepak held back Patrick’s e-pawn and got his own d-pawn far down the board. Around the pawn advances whirled some heavy piece tactics that eventually caused Mr. Chi to lower his flag and resign.

Nearby, Steve Taylor (2192) began his fight to get his rating back over 2200 with a nice win from Joe Felber (2005). Taylor snagged an Exchange early. As the he pushed on towards cashing in the material advantage there were brief moments when the fatigue of a long day gave Mr. Taylor hallucinations that he was about to be mated. Fortunately, a shake of the head and a second look cleared his vision and Taylor brought home the full point.

Glen Perry of the Albany Area Chess Club took on Expert Ed Frumkin. Perry had Black. The game almost even when I first looked in on it. Eventually Frumkin carried the day and won.

Scott Boyce (1771) began his tournament with a nice win over Thomas Levine (1852). I think Mr. Boyce had the better of it from the beginning and never faltered.

When I finally had to leave the playing hall, near midnight, two hard fought games were still being played; Jonathan Richman (2032) - Lonnie Kawalter (2213), and Jon Leisner - Sheppard.

The youthful Expert Richman had kept Kawalter’s Knights very redistricted almost the whole game. When the need for some sleep drove me to leave the tournament, I think Mr. Richman may have made an error giving Master Kawalter chances to save what had appeared to be a thoroughly lost position. With some luck, I will be able to get this game to publish here soon.

Also on going was the battle between Leisner and Sheppard. Jon played his favorite Bird’s, but Mr. Sheppard was able to trade off both of the White Knights leaving White with a light squared Bishop with its usual lack of opportunity. As the game progressed Mr. Leisner had a two to one Q-side majority but was unable to do more than hang on to it. Characteristically, Jon made a stubborn defense, and when I left it seemed he was clawing his way back to equality. Black still had the initiative, but it seemed he might have reached a maximum and could do no more.

I am returning today to the tournament with a hope to get the Richman - Kawalter game and more results for local players.

More tomorrow.