The Finals Line Up Decided at Schenectady

The initial part of the chess season is coming to a close along with the year 2011. Just about all of the games of the preliminary sectional play at Schenectady are complete. One of the last games to finish games was of particular import; Le Cours versus Connors. They played Thursday evening in Saratoga. The outcome of that game determined the third qualifier from Section B. As the ratings predicted, Alan Le Cours won the game. This means Richard Chu is the third qualifier from Section B. Other than a few souls patiently waiting for news from Saratoga, not much was happening at the Schenectady Club Thursday evening. The now only unfinished game, Capitummino - Stanley, was rescheduled to a later date due to family illness.

The line up for the Schenectady Finals is; Philips Sells, Carlos Varela and Zack Calderone from Section A, joining John Phillips, Alan Le Cours and Richard Chu from Section B. Several of the strong Schenectady players did not participate this year; Deepak Aaron, Patrick Chi, Carl Adamec, and Michael Mockler, making opportunity for some new faces in the Finals. We have first time appearances by Varela and Calderone. I am not certain if Richard Chu made the Finals before, but it surely has been some time since he has done so. Good Chess to all the finalists!

Wednesday saw three games played at the Albany Area Chess Club. All were upsets in one way or another. The game Henner - Howard was rescheduled to a later date by mutual agreement. This will be an important game in determining first place It is between the two clear leaders in the event. The results of the games played were: Lack - Denham ½ -½ , Alowitz - Northrup 0-1 and Magat - Caravaty 0-1.

Jon Lack and Jason Denham played to a draw. That was something of an upset. Lack is rated three hundred points higher than Denham. Jon took his usual closed approach to Denham’s Sicilian Defense. Neither side seemed willing to force open lines and soon the pawn chains were locked across the board. Black had a big space advantage on the Q-side but no way to make use of it. With the center blocked and no entry points anywhere, they agreed to split the point on move 30.

Gordon Magat obtained a pretty substantial advantage against Caravaty’s offbeat Alekhine’s Defense. Then approaching time problems seemed to have a really terrible effect on Gordon’s play. The advantage was lost, and then Mr. Magat’s clock ran out. This result was significant in that it makes Gordon’s chances of finishing in the top two places overall problematical. In the AACC event, the top two finishers overall play a two game match for the title. It also makes the struggle for the under 1800 prize far less clear than it was a week ago. Mr. Caravaty has hauled himself up to equal in points with Mr. Alowitz.

Art Alowitz had a pretty good year up to this game with Northrup. Against the top four rated opponents he scored two wins, a draw and just one loss. The betting was he take the top under 1800 spot with ease. The defeat by Cory Northrup tightens the race for first under 1800, Northrup pulls to within one-half point of Alowitz and Caravaty.

The standings are now:

1 Henner 4 - 1
2 Howard 4 ½ - 1 ½
3 Magat 4 - 3
4 Alowitz 3 - 3
5 Caravaty 3 - 3
6 Northrup 2 ½ - 1 ½
7 Lack 2 - 3
8 Wright 1 ½ - 3 ½
9 Denham 1 ½ - 4 ½

Rescheduled games make a strict comparison of results impossible, but Henner leads on fewest lost points with Howard close behind. Their game looks crucial for deciding first place in preliminary play. Based on form so far, these two seem to be the likely title match opponents. Gordon Magat’s three losses means he has to hope for Henner or Howard to have a real collapse in the closing rounds to have a chance for a playoff spot. Alowitz, Caravaty and Northrup are closely bunched for the playoff spots for the under 1800 title. All three have had a mix of good and bad results in this year’s contest. I think it is a real toss-up which two of the three will qualify for the final under 1800 match.

Our game today is the mild upset Cory Northrup pulled off against Arthur Alowitz. Earlier in the tournament I thought Arthur was playing so well he had chances to make the match for the top spot and wondered what the rules said about that. Could he play in both matches; Club Champion and top under 1800? Ratings are expressions of probability. Under the laws of probability all outcomes are possible, but the odds are the actual outcomes will be as predicted. In this game we see a leveling of results; Arthur did very well versus opponents rated higher than he was, now the tide turns.

Alowitz, Arthur - Northrup, Cory [B07]
AACC Championship Guilderland, NY, 28.12.2011

1.d4 d6 2.e4 Nf6 3.f3 Nbd7 4.c3 e5

Mr. Alowitz as rule avoids the more usual lines used against the Pirc/Modern/Old Indian set up Black is using. Such an approach stays away from possible surprises an opponent may have prepared. It takes confidence in one’s own ability to improvise at the board to follow this path.

5.Bg5 Be7 6.Bc4 0–0 7.Ne2 h6 8.Be3 c6 9.Nd2 b5?

Black misses a chance to punish White for wishing to go his own way. The underlying idea for Black in the Modern Defense is to lure White into building a big center and then to blow up that center hoping to obtain free development of his pieces. This is the moment to set off the bomb with 9..., d5! Quite a complicated interlude ensues after say 10 exd5 cxd5 11 Bd3 Bd6! 12 0-0 e4 13 fxe4!? Bxh2+ 14 Kh1 Ng4 15 Rf3 Ndf6 16 e5? Nxe3; and Black has a strong attack on the White King. Of course there are places for White to improve his play in the line cited, but it is clearly the way to put the question to White’s handling of the opening. The game move does not address the center control issue, and therefore is less likely to work out for Black in the long run.

10.Bb3 a5 11.0–0 Bb7 12.Qe1?,..

I don’t see what White has in mind with this move. Logical are; 12 Ng3, heading foe f5, and 12 a4, to maintain the Bishop on the a2-g8 diagonal.

12..., Rc8?

Going slowly towards problems. Again logic suggests 12..., a4 13 Bc2 Nh5; pressuring the squares around the White King hoping to lure the defending pawns forward. As the White defenses of his King loosen, the break with ..d6-d5; may just open vital lines. Black is very much in a counter-punching mode here. He waits for White, he provokes White, he stays alert for any chance to break open the game favorably.

13.Ng3 d5 14.exd5 exd4 15.Bxd4 cxd5 16.Nf5 Bc5 17.Qg3?,..

This is not as good as 17 Bxc5 Rxc5 18 Qg3, with an idea similar to the game, or 17 Qh4, defending d4 from the flank. Either way White works to maintain the basis for the edge he now enjoys; a superior pawn formation plus a Bishop less obstructed by its own pawns.. The game continuation lets that slip.

17..., Bxd4+ 18.cxd4,..

The pawn formations are now equal and the only remnant of White’s advantage is his better Bishop.

18..., Nh5 19.Qf2?,..

The aggressive move by the Black Knight begets a passive response. White has choices here; a) 19 Qd6, is the most active and it keeps the advantage, and b) 19 Nxh6+?!, is the most adventurous but favors Black after 19..., Kh7 20 Qh3 Kxh6 21 g4, and White will get back the piece but his position has many weaknesses.

19..., Qg5?

One square too far on the diagonal. If the Queen stopped on f6, then d6 is covered for a moment. The continuation after 19..., Qf6; 20 g4 Nf4 21 Kh1 a4 22 Qe3 Ne6 23 Bd1, favors Black, not by a lot true enough but measurably in a very tactical situation. White may well get in Nf5-d6, but Black has further weakened the White K-side as compensation.

20.Nd6 Nf4 21.Kh1 Rb8 22.Nxb7?,..

A hasty move. Black threatens .., Nd3; hitting the Queen and the pawn at b2. At this point White may have thought first I’ll take off the Bb7, then I’ll see what else there is to do. Unfortunately, what is needed is just a bit more consideration. Better is 22 g3 Nd3!? 23 Qe2 Nxb2 24 f4 Qf6 25 Nxb7 Rxb7 26 Bxd5, and White has some advantage. After the text Black could get away with a pawn. The situation is then fairly complex giving White some chance to find compensation for the lost pawn.

22..., Rxb7 23.Rfe1?,..

An oversight that drops material. Chess puts a premium on consistent alertness. Good, or at least acceptable play, for most of the game can be overturned by a moment of inattention. This is what happens here.

23..., Nd3 24.Qe3 Nxe1 25.Qxe1 Nf6 26.Nf1 a4 27.Bc2 Re8 28.Qf2 Rbe7 29.Bd3 Rb7?

Black had done well over the last few moves. Now he wavers. The natural move is 29..., b4; continuing to squeeze White. If White tries 30 Bb5 Ra8; keeps the pressure on.

30.Ng3 Qe3 31.Qc2,..

Giving up a pawn to keep the Queens on in hopes of something turning up tactically.

31..., Qxd4 32.Rd1 Qe5 33.Kg1 Rc7 34.Qd2 Rb7?

Still wavering. Black can’t quite decide how to cash in his advantage. It is time for 34..., b4; and if 35 Qxb4? Qe3+ 36 Kf1 Rc1; and White is utterly lost.

35.Kf1 Qe3 36.Qc2 Qe5 37.Qc6 Rbb8 38.Qc2 Qf4 39.b3,..

Black has not been able reach a decision about how to proceed. White is running out of moves here. Trying to keep things as is with say 39 Qb1, is met by 39..., Ng4; and Black is making progress.

39..., a3

Not as good as 39..., axb3; every line opened has to help the side with more material.

40.Qc5 Rec8 41.Qxa3 b4 42.Qb2 Rc3!?

Queens and Knights work so very well together to attack Kings suggesting 42..., Ng4; is another way to the win. Play might go; 42..., Ng4; threatening a fork on e3 of the King and Rook, 43 Nf5, making some threats of his own, 43..., Rc3 44 Qe2 Rc1; forcing the exchange of Rooks and Queens. The resulting ending is a straight forward technical win for Black. Black just has to keep his pawn on d5 for awhile to avoid threats to f7 until his pieces are better placed. The text tempts White to recover the Exchange allowing Black to exploit the weakened situation of the White King.

43.Ne2?,..

The temptation is too great for White. He could keep the game going for awhile with 43 Qd2, although Black still has a considerable advantage.

43..., Qxh2

Black elected to convert a material advantage to a positional advantage. This is not the most certain way to victory unless the moves have been calculated accurately.

44.Nxc3 bxc3 45.Qc2,..

If 45 Qxc3 Qh1+ 46 Ke2 Qxg2+; and a) 47 Ke1 Re8+ 48 Bd4 dxe4; is easily won for Black, or b) 47 Ke3 Re8+ 47 Be4 (It’s mate on the move on either 47 Kd4, or 47 Kf4.) 47..., dxe4; likewise won for Black.

45..., d4 46.Bc4 Rd8?

Mr. Northrup is being super-cautious. A quick kill come after 46..., Re8; and if 47 Rxd4? Qh1+; and it is mate the next move. If White tries 47 Qg6, Black wins with 47..., Qh1+ 48 Kf2 Qxd1; and we have an example of how ineffective the Queen and Bishop in attacking the King as compared to the Queen and Knight. Black will make a second Queen on c1 long before White can rearrange is pieces to make any serious threat to the Black King. Even going slowly makes only a small difference, now the Black Queen and Knight demonstrate how effective they are doing the same thing.

47.Kf2 Nh5 48.Qf5 Qg3+ 49.Kg1 Nf4 50.Qc2 h5

Also winning is 50...Nh3+, Black instead likes the slower advance of the h-pawn. This lets the game go on for a few more moves than strictly necessary.

51.a4 h4 52.Qf2?,..

Stepping on a landmine after many moves under pressure. With 52 Bb5, White could have lengthened the game without changing the outcome. Now decisive material is lost and the game ends.

52..., Nh3+ 53.Kh1 0–1

Cory Northrup played in the Schenectady Prelims and had a hard time of it. He lost five games before winning in the last round. Even while suffering through that difficult experience, Mr. Northrup maintained a good fighting spirit, and in the AACC event this win puts him into contention for the under 1800 prize.

Happy New Year to all! More soon.