The tournament was back at All the King’s Men Chess Supplies for the second consecutive year. The event was held the weekend of June 26-27, 2004. A total of 50 players appear on the crosstables below.

TOP SECTION

Nine players above 1900 came to play in the Top Section. Ben Finegold scored his expected five points to take first place. Experts Dmitriy Obukhov and Aaron Kahn took second and third place, respectively. A trio of players split the under prizes, Manis Davidovich, Joseph Gadson, and Ken Williams.

Black tries to throw White off with an alternative opening, but his lack development leads to his demise:

Dmitriy Obukhov (2147)
Manis Davidovich (2070)
Round 2
Irregular Queen’s Pawn: Nimzovich, A40

Notes by Tim McGrew

1.d4 Nc6

This offbeat defense was used successfully by Bogoljubow in the 1920’s and 30’s and was picked up in subsequent decades by GM’s like Mikenas, Rosetto, and Jon Speelman.

2.d5

Objectively, this may be the most testing move. White can also transpose into the Nimzowitsch Defense with 2.e4, but this gives Black the opportunity to decide how the central pawns will be configured since he can select 2…e5 (often leading to open games) or 2…d5 (often leading to somewhat closed positions).

2…Ne5 3.e4 e6 4.f4 Ng6 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.Nc3 Bc5 7.Nf3 Nh6

This sharp move is probably Black’s best option. The idea is to leave open the diagonal from d8 to h4 so that the Ng6 can jump there if necessary. 7…d6 is much quieter and leads to positions that favor White slightly.

8.f5 exf5?!

If there is a turning point in the game, this is probably it. Black’s concession of central space is justified, if at all, only by his dynamic piece play. He has no time for a pawn move in this position! My vote goes to the thematic move 8…Nh4 9.g3 (9.Bxh6 Nxf3+ 10.Qxf3 Qh4+ 11.Qg3 Qxh6 and now if White wants to try for an advantage he must put up with some action around his king, e.g. 12.Qxc7 Qe3+ 13.Be2 Bd4 and White cannot castle on either side for the moment.) 9…Nxf3+ 10.Qxf3 Qf6 with tense approximate equality. Kagan-Teichmann, Melbourne 2002 (0–1, 51). 8…Ng4!? leads to obscure complications, e.g. 9.fxg6 (9.Bg5 Ne7 is also messy.) 9…Nf2 10.Bg5 Nxd1 11.Bxd8 Nxc3!? 12.Bxc7 Nxe4.

9.Bg5

9.Bxh6 gxh6 10.exf5 Nf4 looks okay for White with something natural like 11.Qd2, but look what Fritz found: 11.Kd2 0–0 12.g3 Nh5 13.Kc1± Chess from another planet!

9…Be7 10.Bxh6 gxh6?

This drops the f-pawn, after which Black is definitely much worse. Black had to toss in 10…fxe4 and live with the complications after 11.Bxg7 Rg8 12.Bd4 exf3 13.Qxf3 though these do seem to favor White.

11.exf5 Nh4 12.Nxh4 Bxh4+ 13.g3 Qe7+ 14.Qe2 Qxe2+ 15.Bxe2

The bishop pair doesn’t mean much here. White is effectively a pawn up because of Black’s crippled pawns on the kingside.

15…Bd8 16.Bh5+!

A nice Zwischenzug: Black is deprived of the right to castle.

16…Kf8 17.0–0–0 Kg7 18.Nd5 c6 19.f6+!?

Very interesting. White sacrifices a pawn (returning his “extra” pawn?) for very active piece play.

19…Bxf6 20.Nxf6 Kxf6 21.Rd6+ Kg7?

Leaving the White rook on d6 is positional suicide. Black must try 21…Ke5 22.Rxh6 d5 intending to slip back to the queenside with his king via d4 and c5. Not pretty, but we’re talking about survival here!

22.Re1! Rg8 23.Re7+! Kh8 24.Bf7

Here 24.Rxh6! Rg7 25.Bf7 is very strong.

24…Rf8 25.Bb3 h5 26.Rh6 Rf1+ 27.Kd2 d5

Black locks out the bishop, but the active White rooks are too much for him.

28.Rhxh7+ Kg8 29.c4 Bg4 30.Reg7+ Kf8 31.Rg5 1–0

31.Rxb7! would be even more effective.

A typical Ben Finegold game. He just puts his piece on more dominant squares:

William Rhee (1908)
Ben Finegold (2606)
Round 4
Sicilian: Closed, B26

Notes by Tony Palmer

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6

The Closed Sicilian with 2. Nc3 and 3. g3 is distinct from other variations because White intentionally avoids opening the center with 2. Nf3 and 3. d4. White typically aims for a kingside attack with f4, while Black has queenside play with ... b5, so there are chances for both sides.

4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6 6.Be3 Qa5

More commonly Black plays 6...e6 or 6...Rb8, but there's a great deal of transposition and flexibility here. Black chooses an active continuation.

7.Qd2 Nd4 8.f4 b5

This may be a new move, planning to meet 9.e5 with 9...Rb8. 8...Rb8 9.Nge2 Nxe2 10.Qxe2 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Qxc3+ 12.Kf2 f5 (Radovici-Suba, Romania 1983) and Black won. 8...Bd7 9.Nf3 e6 10.Bf2 Ne7 11.Nxd4 cxd4 12.Ne2 Qxd2+ 13.Kxd2 Nc6 (Lazic-Ilincic, Tivat 1994) and Black won.

9.Nf3 Bb7 10.0–0 b4

Black has a slight initiative, but the closed nature of the position helps White hold the balance.

11.Nd1

11.Ne2 e5

11...e6 12.Nh4!?

Seemingly misplaces the knight, since it's hard to get f5 in with any effect. 12.Nxd4 cxd4 13.Bf2 e5 Black has more space.

12...Ne7 13.Rf2

Consider 13.Nf2 leaving the rooks connected and avoiding what comes next.

13...Rb8 14.c3?!

Spot the tactic! – Black to Move

14...bxc3 15.bxc3 Nb3

Black wins the exchange with no compensation for White.

16.Qb2 Nxa1 17.Qxa1 Ba6 18.f5

The alternative was passive defense with 18.Bf1, so White opens up the game.

18...gxf5 19.exf5 Bxd3 20.f6?

The ugly 20.Rb2 was necessary.

20...Bxf6! 0–1

21.Rxf6 Rb1 wins the queen; otherwise Black is up the exchange and 2 pawns.

Winning the endgame was in sight for White:

Manis Davidovich (2070)
Joseph Gadson (1978)
Round 5
Sicilian: Rossolimo, B30

Notes by Tim McGrew

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.0–0 g6?!

This doesn't mix well with ...e6.

5.Re1

One can't object to this move, but White has sharper ways to try to punish Black for his structural sins: 5.Bxc6 bxc6 6.c3 intending d4 would open the game in a position where Black's Swiss cheese pawn formation doesn't afford him much cover. 5.c3 may be good right away, e.g. 5...Bg7 6.d4 Qb6 7.Na3 a6 8.Nc4! is a well-known trick that gives White a fine grip on the position, e.g. 8...Qc7 (8...Qxb5?? 9.Nd6+ picks up the queen.) 9.Bxc6 dxc6 10.dxc5 and knight enters at d6 with fatal results.

5...Bg7 6.Nc3 d6 7.d3 Nge7 8.Be3 0–0 9.Ne2 Qb6 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Rb1 Qa5 12.c3 Rb8 13.Qd2 Ba6 14.g4?!

If White is trying to prevent ...f5, he has chosen the wrong way to do it.

14...d5

14...f5! would give Black's position a lot of dynamism.

15.e5 d4 16.Bg5 dxc3 17.bxc3 Nd5 18.c4 Qxd2 19.Bxd2 Nb4 20.Nf4 Nc2 21.Rec1 Nd4 22.Nxd4 cxd4

It is better to toss in 22...Rxb1 first because after 23.Rxb1 cxd4 Black can meet 24.Bb4 with 24...Rb8! 25.Rb3 Bxe5 when he seems no worse.

23.Bb4 Rfe8 24.Bd6 Rxb1 25.Rxb1 f6 26.Re1 fxe5 27.Bxe5 Bxe5 28.Rxe5 Bc8 29.Ne2 Kf7 30.Nxd4 Rd8 31.Re4 Bb7 32.Nxe6 Rxd3 33.Ng5+ Kf8 34.Nxh7+ Kg8 35.Re7

Manis has handled this phase of the game admirably and is now headed into a winning ending.

35...Ba6 36.Rxa7 Bxc4 37.Nf6+ Kf8 38.Nd7+

There is nothing wrong with the immediate 38.a4.

38...Kg8 39.Nf6+

White repeats moves here, which makes me wonder whether he was trying to gain time on the clock. If so, this sheds some light on what happens later.

39...Kf8 40.Nd7+ Kg8 41.Ne5 Rd1+ 42.Kg2 Bd5+ 43.Kg3 g5

Very clever. Black threatens a perpetual check with 44...Rg1+ 45.Kh3 Bg2+ 46.Kg3 Bd5+, etc.

44.f3 Rg1+ 45.Kf2 Rh1 46.Kg2 Rc1 47.a4

This is exactly right: White can win with this pawn now.

47...Rc2+ 48.Kg3 Rc3 49.a5 Re3 50.Re7! c5 51.a6 c4 52.a7 c3 53.a8Q+??

A very expensive miscalculation! I suspect time pressure may have played a part here. 53.Rd7! c2 (53...Rxe5 54.Rxd5 Re8 55.Rxg5+ Kf7 56.Rc5 is completely winning.) 54.Rxd5 c1Q 55.a8Q+ mates in a few moves.

53...Bxa8 54.Re8+ Kg7 55.Rxa8 Rxe5 56.Rc8 Re3 57.Kf2 Rd3 58.Ke2 Rd2+!

Oops! Instead of having a winning 3 to 1 majority, White will be left with a drawing 2 to 1 majority.

59.Ke3 Rxh2 60.Rxc3 Rb2 ½–½

I would have played on for a few moves to test Black's endgame knowledge, but Manis is understandably disappointed and acquiesces in the objectively drawn nature of the position.

U1900 SECTION

This section only drew six players. Tom Manion and Tim Moroney tied to share the section championship. The only U1800 player, Dan Martens, went home with the easy prize.

White ends up with an exposed king and pays the price:

Randall Brooks (1800)
Edward Laurin (1834)
Round 1
Sicilian: Dragon (Levenfish), B71

Notes by Edward Laurin

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.f4 Bg7?

This move doesn't fare so well against the Levenfish as now White can play e5 uncontested. 6...Nc6 In turn this helps to strength the e5 square. 7.Bb5 Bd7 8.Bxc6 Bxc6=.

7.e5 dxe5 8.fxe5 Ng8

Nothing else is any better here. Consider the line: 8...Ng4 9.Bb5+ Bd7 (9...Nc6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Bxc6++-) 10.Qxg4+-.

9.Bb5+ Bd7 10.e6

10.Bf4 White's best try?

10...fxe6 11.Nxe6 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Qb6 13.Bxd7+ Nxd7 14.Qe2

14.Qd5 Keep the pressure on.

14...Rc8 15.Bd2 Ngf6 16.Nd4 0–0

16...e5. This move first is best as it strengths e6. The text allows White to play Ne6 or Qe6.

17.0–0–0??

White needed to play back to e6. 17.Ne6=.

17...e5 18.Nb3

18.Nf3 Qa5 19.Kb1 Nd5µ.

18...a5

18...Nd5 19.Qd3 N7f6.

19.Bh6 Rfe8 20.c4

This weakens the dark-squares around the king. 20.Rhe1µ

20...a4 21.Nd2 Qd4 22.Kb1?

22.Ne4 Qa1+ 23.Kd2 Nxe4+ 24.Qxe4 Qd4+ 25.Qxd4 exd4 26.Rb1µ. Seems there should be something better here than this for Black.

22...a3 23.c3 Qxc3 24.Ne4 Nxe4 25.Rxd7 Rxc4 26.Rg7+ Kh8 27.Rxb7 Rb4+ 28.Rxb4 Qxb4+ 29.Ka1

29.Kc1 Rc8+ 30.Kd1 Qb1+ 31.Bc1 Qxc1#.

29...Qc3+ 30.Kb1 Rb8+ 0–1

U1700 SECTION

The twelve players made this one of the larger sections in the tournament. Young Derek Li scored four points to lead the section. There were three players a half point back splitting the second place and U1600 prizes. Loyd Gentry was second place with Tony Black taking home the U1600 trophy. Shawn Bale was the other player in the mix.

Black creates a strong center:

Tony Scioly (1611)
Carlos Zorea (1686)
Round 1
Caro-Kann: Panov (Botvinnik), B13

Notes by Tony Palmer

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4

The Panov-Botvinnik Attack in the Caro-Kann always leads to a lively game.

4...Nf6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Nc3

The main alternative is 6.Bg5. This Four Knights variation is solid but Black has time to develop the Bc8 at f5 or g4 before playing ... e6.

6...Bg4 7.Be3

7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Qb3 Bxf3 9.gxf3 e6 10.Qxb7 Nxd4 11.Bb5+ Nxb5 12.Qc6+ Ke7 13.Qxb5 Qd7 14.Nxd5+ Qxd5 15.Qxd5 exd5 (Brunner-Adorjan, Lucerne 1989) leads to another game altogether where the superior endgame player prevails.

7...e6 8.Be2 Be7 9.0–0

9.h3 Bh5 10.Qa4 0–0 11.c5 Ne4 12.Rc1 f5 (Azmaiparashvili-Riquelme, Cala Galdana 1994) where the mighty Ne4 ruled the board and Black won.

9...0–0 10.c5

10.Ne5 Bxe2 11.Qxe2 dxc4 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Qxc4 Qd7 (DeFirmian-Christiansen, Key West 1994) and soon drawn. White must be very careful with c4-c5, because Black might get in e6-e5 undermining White's pawns and opening up the center.

10...b6 11.Ne5 Bxe2 12.Nxc6 Bxd1 13.Nxd8 Rfxd8 14.Rfxd1 bxc5 15.dxc5 e5!

After the flurry of exchanges, Black stands better and threatens 16...d4 winning a piece.

16.Na4 d4 17.Bd2 a5 18.a3

18.Nb6 Ra6 19.b4 axb4 20.Bxb4 Rxb6! 21.cxb6 Bxb4 and Black wins.

18...Ne4 19.b4 Nxd2 20.Rxd2 axb4 21.axb4 Rdb8 22.Rb2

22.Rda2 Rxb4 23.Kf1 f5 was objectively best, but Black should win the endgame. Now Black exploits the pin to gain material.

22...Bxc5! 23.b5 d3 0–1

Black threatens 24...Bd4 winning the exchange. If 24.Rba2 Bd4 25.Rb1 f5, Black will soon pick up the b-pawn and coast to victory.

Black sacrifices an exchange to relieve White’s pressure, then misses a chance to turn the game around:

Shawn Bale (1551)
Douglas Fick II (1654)
Round 2
King's Indian: Larsen, E90

Notes by Tony Palmer

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 0–0 5.h3

I always thought Black had to play 4...d6 and 5...0–0, otherwise 5.e5 Ne8 and White has the better game with 6.Bf4 (and not 6.f4 which tends toward overextended. Yet this opening features substantial transposition possibilities.)

5...d6 6.Nf3 Nbd7 7.Be3 e5 8.Be2

8.Qd2 exd4 9.Nxd4 Re8 10.Bd3 c6 11.0–0–0 a6 12.g4 Nc5 13.f3 Nfd7 (Sliwa-Petrosian, Bucharest 1953) with chances for both sides, eventually drawn.

8...Nh5 9.Qd2 f5 10.Bg5 Nhf6 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 dxe5 13.Qxd8 Rxd8 14.exf5 gxf5

After the flurry of exchanges, White now has two pawn islands to Black's three, yet Black has an advantage in space and more potential for active play. Chances would be even except for White's next tactical point.

15.Nd5 Rxd5!?

An enterprising exchange sacrifice, versus losing a pawn with 15...Kf7 16.Nxc7. I don't see any better alternative for Black here.

16.cxd5 Nxd5 17.Bc4 Be6 18.0–0–0 c6 19.Rhe1 Kf7 20.Bd2 Ke7 21.Kc2 Bf6

Black now has a nice game with compensation for the exchange and should activate the queen rook with ...Rg8, or else mobilize the queenside pawns with ...b5 and ...a5.

22.Bxd5!?

Interesting, because now Black has a protected passed d-pawn, supported by both bishops. Perhaps White was concerned about knight forks later, or else was trading down into the endgame.

22...cxd5 23.f4!?

Interesting, because now Black has two protected passed Pawns, supported by both bishops. 23.f3 might keep the pawns in check for now, although White may be playing for a blockade on d4.

23...e4 24.Be3 Rg8 25.Re2 Bf7 26.Rdd2

26.Bd4 Bh5 27.Bxf6+ Kxf6 28.g4 fxg4 29.Rxd5 Bf7 30.Ra5 gxh3 gets out of it, but Black has good chances to convert the endgame. The text is much safer.

26...Rc8+ 27.Kb1 b6 28.Bd4 Bxd4

28...Rc4! is the best way to break down the blockade on d4: 29.Bxf6+ Kxf6 30.b3 Rb4 31.Kb2 d4 and Black should win quickly 32.a3? Rxb3+.

29.Rxd4 h5 30.b3 h4 31.Kb2 Kd6 32.b4!

Now Black's king can never reach the d4-square, so the blockade holds.

32...b5 33.Rc2 Rc4 34.Rdxc4 bxc4 35.Kc3 Be8 36.Kd4 a6 37.g3 hxg3 38.Rg2 Kc6 39.Rxg3 Kb5 40.a3 1–0

Nice game by both players, with White pulling out the endgame.

Black gets a couple of rooks to the seventh rank and it’s lights out:

Tony Scioly (1611)
Douglas Fick II (1654)
Round 4
Sicilian: Yugoslav Dragon, B78

Notes by Edward Laurin

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3

The Yugoslav Dragon, a favorite of mine.

7...Nc6 8.Bc4 0–0 9.Qd2 Bd7 10.0–0–0 Rc8

I used to play this move as well. Black gets decent attacking chances.

11.g4??

White needs to be extra careful here. Remember to always ask yourself, “Why did my opponent just go there?” 11.Bb3 This is thematic in Sicilian Dragon position with Bc4.

11...Nxd4 12.Bxf7+ Rxf7 13.Bxd4 Qa5 14.h4 Bxg4??

My guess is that Black was concerned about the pawn rush. However, there is nothing to be worried about. 14...Rc4 and now White has to watch out for moves like Nxe4, hitting the queen and bishop. 15.Rhe1 Rxd4 16.Qxd4 Nxg4 17.Qc4 Bh6+ 18.Kb1 Ne3-+ White has no time for an attack on the kingside.

15.fxg4 Nxg4 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Rhg1

17.h5 Seems to me White has wanted to play on the h-file for a while. Moving the rook off of it seems odd.

17...Ne5 18.Qe3

This allows Black to bring his knight to the queenside for an attack with tempo. Better was: 18.Qd5.

18...Nc4 19.Qd4+ Kg8

19...e5 20.Qd3 Qb4 Black wins more material.

20.Rg5

20.Rgf1 Although White is down material he needs to keep the pressure on the kingside. Playing on the f-file seems logical. 20...Rg7 (20...e5 21.Qd5 Qxd5= With the queens off the board, it is difficult to show an advantage with the extra pawn.(21...Qc7 22.Nb5²) )

20...e5 21.Qd5 Qb4

21...Rc5 helps to misplace White's queen. 22.Qe6 Qb4 23.Qe8+ Kg7-+

22.Qb5 Qxb5 23.Nxb5 Ne3 24.Nxd6

24.c3 Nxd1 25.Nxd6 Keeps material roughly the same as it was before.

24...Rxc2+ 25.Kb1 Rff2 26.Rdg1 Rxb2+ 27.Ka1

27.Kc1 Rfc2#.

27...Rxa2+ 28.Kb1 Rab2+

28...Rfb2+ 29.Kc1 Rb6 (Threatening 30...Rc2#) 30.R1g2 Rxg2 31.Rxg2 Nxg2 Black is up a ton of material. And if you look closely, that knight isn't getting out! 32.Nc4 Rc6-+.

29.Ka1 Rbd2 30.Nf5 Ng2 31.Ne7+ Kg7 0–1

I'm not sure if the scoresheet ends here or White resigns. However the rooks in the 7th should spell White's doom.

U1500 SECTION

Last year, the U1500 players did not have enough to furnish their own section. This time, eleven players made it more of a success. Another up and coming junior player, Justin Brereton, gave up a first round draw before sweeping the remainder of his games to take clear first. Troy Dillabough took home second place. Nick Perlongo earned the U1400 prize.

White wins a rook, but then allows the perpetual:

Jeevaka Somaratna (1406)
David Messenger (1363)
Round 2
Alekhine: Exchange, B03

Notes by Edward Laurin

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.d4

I used to play this line all the time. However I find it leaves the d-pawn weak on many occasions.

4...d6 5.exd6

5.f4 is a fun line to play.

5...exd6 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.d5 Ne5 8.b3?

It’s hard to believe this move loses! But it does.

Black to play and win material!

8...g6

Nope! 8...Qf6 Now the weak a1–h8 diagonal comes to bear. 9.Qe2 (9.Bb2 Nxd3+ doesn't work due to the check.) 9...Be7 10.Nc3 Nexc4 11.Qc2 (11.bxc4 Qxc3+ -+) 11...Ne5 is a hard move to see, but interesting tactic. The building block of it comes from noticing the weak a1–h8 diagonal.

9.Bb2 Bg7 10.Nc3 0–0 11.Nf3 Bg4 12.Be2 Re8 13.0–0 Nbd7 14.Re1?

14.Nxe5 Bxe2 (14...Nxe5 15.Bxg4+-) 15.Qxe2 Bxe5.

14...Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3 Rxe1+ 16.Qxe1 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Qh4

White's exposed king should cause some problems.

18.Na4 Ne5 19.Qe4 Qh3 20.Qf4 Nxf3+ 21.Kh1 Ne5

21...Re8 Bringing another piece into the same seems important here. Black probably did not want to be forced into the trade of queens. However with the edge in material, and development, he should easily win.

22.Qg3 Qf5 23.Rd1 Re8

23...Qc2 looks interesting. Fritz suggests 23...Qe4+. However, it is a tad hard to see during the game! 24.Qg2 Nd3 25.f3 Qe3-+

24.Re1 Kf8?

Tactical blunder!

25.f4

Black's king is overtaxed!

25...Nxc4 26.Bxg7+ Kxg7 27.Rxe8 Qxd5+ 28.Qg2

28.Kg1. White avoids the perpetual, and is now up a rook.

28...Qd1+ 29.Qg1 Qf3+ ½–½

A nice tactical finish.

Black misses his opportunity to take advantage of the exposed king:

Justin Brereton (1478)
James Canty III (1444)
Round 2
French: Advance (Paulsen), C02

Notes by Edward Laurin

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Nge7 6.Bd3 Nf5 7.Bxf5 exf5 8.0–0 cxd4 9.cxd4 Be7 10.Nc3 Be6 11.Be3 0–0 12.Rc1 f6

Instead of this Black should play Re8 and Rc8, both natural developing moves. White will then be forced to find a plan, and then Black can break with f7-f6 if that idea is still plausible.

13.Na4 fxe5 14.dxe5

Black now seems to be worse as getting to the White pawn is difficult.

14...f4

This pawn is now over-extended. Black would do better with 14...Qd7, connecting the rooks.

15.Nd4

This seems to give the advantage back to Black. 15.Bc5 The bishop is well placed here. If Black exchanges, White's knight becomes active and strong again. If Black develops a rook, White can do the same. Eventually Black will have to try and remove the bishop from this post and then White can trade on e7.

15...Nxd4 16.Bxd4 f3

Now Black has a thorn in White's side too!

17.gxf3?

No need to panic just yet. 17.g3 and it's unclear how Black can benefit from the weak h3-g2 squares.

17...Qe8?

Black misses the shot! 17...Bh3 18.Re1 Bb4 and Black is threatening both the rook on e1 and the queen g5-g2 checkmate.

18.Kh1 Qh5 19.Bc5

This move loses by force as now Black can win material. An alternative is19.Rg1.

Black to Move

19...Bg5

Nope. Best play was: 19...d4!! White cannot stop the coming Bd5. For instance: 20.Rg1 (20.Bxe7 Bd5 21.Bxf8 Bxf3+ 22.Qxf3 (22.Kg1 Qg4#) 22...Qxf3+-+) (20.f4 Bd5+ 21.f3 Rxf4-+) (20...Bd5 21.Rg3 Bxc5 22.Nxc5 Bxf3+ 23.Rxf3 Qxf3+ 24.Qxf3 Rxf3-+)

20.f4 Bg4

20...Qxd1 21.Rcxd1 Rxf4³.

21.f3

It looks as if Black is getting into some trouble. However his position should be fine for now, but very careful play is required.

21...Bxf4 22.Rc2 Bf5 23.Bxf8 Bxc2 24.Qxc2

24.Qxd5+ This is the only way to keep the position even. 24...Kxf8 25.Qc5+.

24...Rxf8 25.e6 Re8 26.Nc5 Rc8 27.e7 Rxc5?

27...Re8 28.Ne6 Qh3 Black has nothing to fear from the passed e-pawn.

28.e8Q+ Qxe8 29.Qxc5 Qc6 30.Qxc6 bxc6 31.Kg2

White now goes on to finish the game off nicely.

31...d4 32.Re1 Be3 33.Re2 Kf7 34.Rc2 d3 35.Rxc6 d2 36.Rd6 Ke7 37.Rd3 Bh6 38.Kf2 Ke6 39.Ke2 Bf4 40.h3 g5 41.Rxd2 Bxd2 42.Kxd2 Ke5 43.Ke3 h5 44.b4 Kd5 45.b5 Kc5 46.Ke4 Kxb5 47.Kf5 g4 48.fxg4 hxg4 49.hxg4 Ka4 50.g5 Ka3 51.g6 Kxa2 52.g7 a5 53.g8Q+ 1–0

U1300/UNRATED SECTION

Prince Barlow and Jaison Oliver led the twelve players in this very competitive section. Since Oliver was rated under 1200, this prize was pulled up for distribution purposes. Therefore, the second place prize was a tie between Ted Gregg and Michael Montalvo. The top unrated prize went to Joshua Ferraivolo. The second unrated prize was taken home by Sheldon Ferguson.

Black finds the White king alone, deeply alone:

Ted Gregg (1211)
Michael Montalvo (1051)
Round 3
Bird, A02

Notes by Tony Palmer

1.f4 Nc6

Common strategies for Black against Bird’s Opening (1.f4) would be positional play involving e4 (1…d5/2…Nf6) while maybe reducing White’s control of e5 (3…Bg4), or tactical play involving f2 (1.. e5 2.fe d6 3.ed Bxd6 = From’s Gambit) with a sharp game. This is one relatively uncommon opening which Black should be fully prepared to face.

2.Nf3 b6 3.e4 d6 4.Bb5

Even better is 4.d4 and 5.Nc3 owning the center with a great game for White.

4…Bb7 5.d3

5.d4 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bb3 Na5 8.Qe2 with chances for both sides.

5…a6 6.Bxc6+ Bxc6 7.0–0 Nf6 8.Nd4

Gains a tempo on the Bc6, yet one principle of opening play is avoid moving the same piece twice until your other pieces are out. Watch how White’s undeveloped queenside proves costly later. Better was 8.Nc3.

8…Bb7 9.f5 c5 10.Ne2 e5!?

Aggressive play often gets rewarded in practice, although the open f-file should benefit White.

11.fxe6 fxe6 12.Bg5 Be7 13.Nf4 Qd7 14.Nh5 0–0–0?

Loses a pawn. 14…0–0 was best, defending f6 and g7.

15.Nxf6 Bxf6 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Rxf6 Qg7 18.Qf3?!

18.Rxe6 Qxb2 19.Nd2 Kc7 20.Re7+ Rd7 holds.

18…Rdf8 19.Rxf8+ Rxf8 20.Qh3?

20.Qd1 Qd4+ 21.Kh1 Qxb2 22.Nd2 Rf2 23.Nc4 Qxc2 24.Qxc2 Rxc2 25.Nxd6+ Kc7 and Black has the better endgame, but nothing immediate. The text loses due to White’s weak back rank.

20…Qd4+ 0–1

It’s mate after 21.Qe3 Qxe3+ 22.Kh1 Rf1# Good tactical alertness by Black.

A game that goes back and forth:

Oliver Saylor (1278)
Norman Browne (1075)
Round 5
Robatsch, B06

Notes by Edward Laurin

1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.Be3 Nf6 5.Nc3 0–0 6.Qd2 Ng4 7.h4

Giving up the bishop pair so easily usually causes problems for White in these positions.

7...Nxe3 8.Qxe3 h5 9.Bc4 Nd7 10.0–0–0 c5 11.d5

White's position is now suffering from lack of a safe king!

11...Ne5

11...Qa5 puts the pressure on White.

12.Nxe5 Bxe5 13.f4 Bd4 14.Qd3

14.Qg3 seems the best idea, looking for counter-chances on the kingside.

14...Bg4 15.Rdf1 f5

This doesn't help support the attack on White's king, and it weakens Black's kingside. A better idea was: 15...Qa5 16.f5. When castled on opposite sides, the first one to get there wins. 16...Bxc3 17.Qxc3 Qxc3 18.bxc3 gxf5 19.exf5 Kg7 White's pawns are not looking too healthy.

16.exf5 gxf5 17.Ne2

Now I prefer White's position. Black's light-squared bishop is locked up for a long while, and if he trades it for White's knight the light-square holes on e6 and f7 look deadly. However, the game is still even according to Fritz.

17...Qb6

17...Bg7=

18.Nxd4 cxd4

Now White is clearly better.

19.Re1 Rfe8 20.Bb5 Rf8 21.Rxe7 Rf7 22.Rxf7 Kxf7 23.Re1

This seemingly innocent move loses White all of his advantage! 23.Bd7 creates threats and puts pressure on Black's position. If 23...Kf6, 24.Re1 is now possible because of the check on e6.

23...Qa5 24.Ba4

One final blunder. And it's a heartbreaker.