As Reserve sections go, this year’s version was very competitive from round one. This would help explain why no one was able to score more than six points. There were 61 players in the section, with two re-entries and one houseman. With the tournament centrally located in Lansing, the 4-day schedule lead the way with 30 players. Another 21 players were added from the 3-day schedule. Ten players plus two re-entries from the 2-day schedule rounded out the Reserve section.

Rounds 1-4

As usual, we will start off with some interesting games from the first four rounds.

Black’s attack breaks through, but what happened in the end?:

Kent Hershberger (1723)
Avery Jones (1573)
3-day, Round 1
Caro-Kann: Steinitz, B17

Notes by Edward Laurin

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3

5.Ng5: I prefer this line. Which normally follows: 5...Ngf6 6.Bd3 e6 (6...h6 7.Ne6 This is a fun line for White! 7...Qa5+ (7...fxe6 8.Bg6#) 8.Bd2 Qb6 9.Nf3 fxe6 10.Bg6+ White is down a piece but it is difficult for Black to get his pieces out, giving White certain compensation and many attacking chances.) 7.N1f3 Bd6 8.Qe2²

5...Ndf6

This doesn't seem as good as 5...Ngf6.

6.Ng3 Bg4 7.Be2 e6 8.0–0 Bd6 9.h3

9.Ne5 places White's knight on a centralized square and trades off his weaker lightsquare bishop for Black's more active. 9...Bxe2 (9...Bxe5? 10.dxe5 The threat of Bxg4 and exf6-xg7 gives White a material advantage. 10...Bxe2 (10...Qxd1 11.Bxd1 Bxd1 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Rxd1+-) 11.Qxe2 Nd7 12.Ne4 Nxe5 Black cannot allow the White knight to gain a strong outpost at d6. But the coming moves prove that it is impossible to prevent it. 13.Rd1 The coming threat of Nd6+ gives White a decisive attack. 13...Nd7 14.Nd6+) 10.Qxe2 Qc7 11.Re1 0–0–0 12.Bf4². With a comfortable position for White.

9...Bxf3 10.Bxf3 Ne7 11.c3 0–0 12.Ne4

12.Bg5 Nfd5 13.Ne4²

12...Nxe4 13.Bxe4 Ng6 14.Be3 Qc7 15.Qc2 Qe7 16.Rfe1 f5

This move is far too ambitious. Black is better to just play calm moves and develop his position. The weakness on e6 and to his kingside will give White superior chances. 16...Rfe8 or 16...Rad8.

17.Bd3 b5?

This just weakens Black's position even more. It appears he is trying to get something out of nothing, and in chess that usually spells death.

18.Bd2

18.a4 a6 19.c4±

18...Rae8 19.Kh1

This does nothing to take advantage of the weaknesses that Black is creating in his own position. I'm not sure why White is worried about the g1–a7 diagonal. 19.a4 Qb7 20.axb5 cxb5 21.Ra5 b4 22.Qa4+-

19...Qh4 20.Bc1 Re7

20...Nf4 seems to offer Black the most chances. The threat is to sac on h3 if White does something passive. For instance: 21.a4 (21.Bxf4 White's best response is to give up the bishop pair. Now he will have difficulties taking advantage of the several weak dark squares in Black's position. 21...Qxf4=) 21...Nxh3 22.gxh3 Qxh3+ 23.Kg1 Rf6-+

21.a4

There it is! White finally goes for the break on the b5 pawn.

21...Rf6? 22.axb5 Nf4

This does nothing to save the position.

23.Bf1

The correct response. Forcing issues with an exchange only gives Black more chances to hold his position. [23.Bxf4 Qxf4 24.g3 Qf3+ 25.Kh2 (25.Kg1 Bxg3 26.fxg3 Qxg3+ 27.Qg2 Qxd3-+)

23...Rg6 24.g3??

This weakens the h3-square, which was defended quite nicely. If Black tried to sacrifice with ...Nxh3, then gxh3 holds the position. White has no infiltration point. 24.bxc6 White has no need to panic, as Black's attack isn't there. I'm not even sure where Black was intending on capturing, as White's kingside seems adequately defended. 24...Rc7 25.b4 Rxc6 26.Rxa7+-.

24...Nxh3 25.Bg2

This is the best move for White. 25.gxh4 Rg1#

25...Nxf2+ 26.Kg1 Bxg3 27.Re2 Ne4

27...Bh2+ 28.Kf1 Rxg2 threatening Rg1#. 29.Rxf2 Rg1+ 30.Ke2 Bg3. The rook has no where good to go since Black's rook will check and pick up the queen. White is hopelessly lost here. 31.Bg5 Qg4+ 32.Ke3 Bxf2+ 33.Qxf2 Qxg5+-+

28.bxc6

Black is still clearly winning here.

28...Bh2+ 29.Kf1 Ng3+ 30.Ke1 Nxe2+ 31.Kf1 Ng3+ 32.Ke1 Ne4+ ½–½

The remainder of the score was unreadable. I am not sure how White managed to squeeze a draw out of this position. But, the end of the game is not important, as the start was interesting enough.

White doesn’t find a way to get his game going:

Atulya Shetty (1409)
Gina Nicolli (1616)
3-day, Round 1
King's Indian: Larsen, E90

Notes by Tim McGrew

1.Nf3 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 0–0 6.Be3

I find it puzzling and somewhat frightening how many players are eager to enter heavily analyzed theoretical lines. Someone who studied up on... oh, say, the Ponziani would be able to score heavily, since the young hotshots would have no idea what planet it was coming from. But the lure of fashion is almost irresistible.

6...c6 7.Be2 Qa5?!

This move illustrates one of the reasons that heavyweight openings like the King's Indian are tricky for lower-rated players. Black's transparent threat to rip off the e-pawn is easily met. The right plan, which isn't at all obvious, is 7...a6 followed by a quick ...b5.

8.0–0 Nbd7 9.a3 a6

Finally Black gets the right idea. But White expands first.

10.b4 Qc7 11.a4 b5 12.axb5 cxb5 13.c5?!

Second best. 13.Nxb5! looks very strong. True, Black can regain the pawn with 13...Qb7 But after 14.Nc3 Qxb4 (Black fares no better with 14...Nxe4 15.Nxe4 Qxe4 16.Ng5! and the queen is stuck since retreats along the diagonal allow 17.Bf3. But there is nothing better: 16...Qh4 17.g3! forces 17...Qh6 when 18.Nxf7!+- is very convincing.) 15.Nb5! Black's queen is in trouble due to the threat of 16.Bd2 Qb2 17.Bc3.

13...Bb7 14.Nd2?!

White is slowly losing his grip on the game. None of these moves is an outright blunder, but Black gets to break up the strong center and free his pieces while White is in reverse gear. It would be more natural to defend e4 with 14.Qc2 connecting rooks.

14...dxc5 15.dxc5 Rfd8 16.Qc2 Ne5 17.Bf4

This allows a simple combination based on what Purdy calls a “Jump-capture.” If the Black queen could jump, she could capture the undefended bishop at f4! So...

17...Nf3+ 18.Nxf3 Qxf4 19.Bd3 Ng4 20.Rac1

Black to Move

20...Ne5

Black misses a minor shot here. 20...Ne3! is a curious fork. It works for different reasons in different lines. 21.fxe3 (If White tries to pin with 21.Qd2 Black can throw in a tactic I like to call the “boomerang”: 21...Nxg2! 22.Qxf4 Nxf4 and the knight (or boomerang) comes back close to where it was thrown.) 21...Qxe3+µ is a secondary fork of g1 and the hot point d3. Black wins only a pawn, but given White's shattered pawns it should be enough to make the rest relatively easy.

21.Nxe5 Bxe5 22.g3 Qf3 23.Be2?!

Still moving in reverse. White needs some central action. Perhaps 23.Nd5!? is best, preparing to ram the c-pawn down Black's throat for counterplay. If 23...Rxd5?! 24.Be2! (Not 24.exd5? Bxd5)

23...Qf6 24.f4 Bd4+! 25.Kg2 Bxc3!

And the e-pawn falls.

26.Qxc3 Bxe4+ 27.Bf3 Qc6 28.Rfe1?? Bxf3+ 29.Qxf3 Rd2+ 0–1

Loren Schwiebert (1390)
Robert Smith (1500)
4-day, Round 2
Sicilian: Scheveningen (Keres), B81

Notes by Tim McGrew

Why do so many amateurs play the main lines of the Sicilian -- with either side? Games like this make me wonder.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.g4 Be7 7.g5 Nfd7 8.f4

For me, the theory of the Keres Attack stopped somewhere around the time a book of Karpov's best games came out. I seem to recall that 8.h4 is -- or was -- standard in this position.

8...Nc6 9.Bb5?!

Commencing with a dubious plan. 9.Be3 would be more rational and would prepare queenside castling.

9...Nxd4 10.Qxd4 0–0 11.Bxd7?!

Continuing with a dubious idea. I do not see what White hopes to gain by exchanging a fine bishop for a fairly hobbled knight.

11...Bxd7 12.h4 Re8 13.Bd2 a6?!

This is a typical Sicilian move, but here it looks a little slow. White is not threatening to invade on b5, and the pawn is not necessary as a prop for ...b5. It is interesting to speculate what might happen if Black were to pop open the center immediately, e.g. 13...d5!? 14.exd5 Rc8! and now White can get into some real trouble, e.g. 15.dxe6? Bc5! 16.Qd3 Rxe6+ 17.Kd1 Rd6! and with ...Bg4+ coming up White will get slaughtered, e.g. 18.Qg3 Bg4+ 19.Qxg4 Rxd2+ 20.Kc1 Be3 21.Kb1 Rxc3! 22.bxc3 Qb6+ 23.Kc1 Rd8#.

14.0–0–0 b5 15.Rdg1

The immediate 15.h5 looks a little quicker.

15...a5 16.a3??

It is a positional error to play on the side where your opponent is attacking, and doubly so when you create a ready-made pawn lever there. White should be opening some lines on the kingside. One promising line might be 16.g6 fxg6 17.h5 and with the pressure against g7, Black cannot afford to take. After 17...b4 18.Ne2 Bf6 19.e5! dxe5 20.fxe5 Bc6 21.Rh3 Be7 22.hxg6 h6, both sides have chances.

16...b4!

Now Black has a serious attack, courtesy of White's serious positional error.

17.Na2 bxa3! 18.Bc3 Qc7??

Whoa! One moment of inattention is all it takes. 18...Bf8-+ leaves Black in charge.

19.Qxg7# 1–0

White appears to be in control, when Black misses his chance:

Randall Brooks (1764)
Neal Anderson (1629)
2-day, Round 2
Sicilian: Najdorf, B95

Notes by Tim McGrew

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Bc4

This unusual variation of the Najdorf, in which White develops both bishops before pushing the f-pawn, has become popular in Michigan of late.

7...Be7

7...h6 looks like a very sensible reaction.

8.f4 Nbd7?

Black shows his unfamiliarity with the Sicilian, leaving himself open to a standard shot.

White to Move

9.Bxe6! fxe6 10.Nxe6

The fork is critical; White needs to pick up a third pawn for his piece.

10...Qa5?!

When things are going badly, one often needs to counter-punch. Here 10...Qb6 gets my vote since b2 is a softer target than e4.

11.Nxg7+ Kf7 12.Nf5 h5

Unfortunately for Black, 12...Nxe4 leaves the king too vulnerable: 13.Qh5+ Kg8 14.Nh6+ Kg7 15.Qf7#. The text is provoked by the need to deny White's queen that critical square.

13.0–0

It may be somewhat crisper to play 13.Nxe7 Kxe7 14.Qd4 right away. The idea is that White can castle queenside and mop up the d-pawn, after which he is winning the game on material regardless of an exchange of queens.

13...Qc5+ 14.Kh1 b5?

Giving White another chance to swipe off the defensive bishop on e7. 14...Bf8 would hold on more tenaciously in the short term, though Black's position is still unenviable.

15.Nxe7!

There are so many darksquare weaknesses in Black's camp -- f6 and d6, in particular -- that he cannot afford to be deprived of this bishop.

15...Kxe7 16.e5!

Opening lines! Black's king is suffering from hypothermia.

16...Bb7

It would be suicidal to cooperate with 16...dxe5 17.fxe5 and Black loses material hand over fist.

17.exf6+ Kf7 18.Qd2 Nxf6 19.Rae1

Bringing this rook into the attack isn't bad, but it is not the only way to wrap things up. I like 19.Bxf6 Kxf6 20.Rae1 Rae8 21.Rxe8 Rxe8 22.f5! and White's queen has access to h6.

19...Rae8 20.Rxe8 Rxe8 21.Re1?

This doesn't give White's advantage away altogether, but it lessens it. 21.Bxf6 Kxf6 22.f5 transposes into the note after White's 19th move.

21...Ng4!

A good try. Black sets up tactical possibilities using the f2 square.

22.Nd1??

22.Bh4! covers both f2 and e1, cutting out Black's best tactical ideas. Then 22...Rxe1+ 23.Bxe1 Qe3! enables Black to stagger into an endgame a couple of pawns down but not yet dead, since if he can trade knights, the bishops of opposite color endgame will be difficult for White to win.

Black to Move

22...Bxg2+??

Black misses his chance for glory. 22...Qxc2!! would completely turn the tables. White's queen cannot abandon the rook on e1, but she is undefended and Black is eyeing g2 “through” her so that 23.f5 is met decisively by 23...Rxe1+ 24.Qxe1 Qxg2#

23.Kxg2 Qc6+ 24.Kg3 h4+ 25.Bxh4 1–0

25...Rg8 would be met by 26.Bg5. A game full of fighting spirit by both players.

Could’ve been a miniature:

David Messenger (1363)
Toshio Imai (1435)
2-day, Round 2
Irregular King's Knight: Latvian, C40

Notes by Tim McGrew

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5!?

I have great sympathy for Latvian Gambit fans. Even though “theory” claims that their favorite opening is unsound, they continue to play it ...and to win quite a number of games!

3.d4!?

A sharp sideline. White wants to treat the position like a Falkbeer Counter-Gambit with colors reversed.

3...exd4?!

Perhaps caught off guard, Black departs from the main theoretical lines. The book line runs 3...fxe4 4.Nxe5 Nf6 with a reasonable game for Black.

4.Nxd4 fxe4??

But this reveals something more than mere disorientation -- Black is sleepwalking!

5.Be3??

White misses a chance to put the game in the bag here. 5.Qh5+! is a killer: 5...Ke7 (5...g6 6.Qe5+ picks up a rook.) 6.Qe5+ Kf7 7.Bc4+ and Black's king is mowed down in the crossfire, one entertaining line going 7...d5 (7...Kg6 8.Qf5#) 8.Bxd5+ Kg6 9.Qxe4+ Kh5 10.Bf7+ g6 11.Qe5+ Kh4 12.Nf3+ Kg4 13.h3#.

5...Nf6

The moment has passed, and Black is now better because of his extra pawn and soon-to-be-dominant center.

6.Be2 d5 7.0–0 c5 8.Nb3 b6 9.N1d2 Bb7 10.c4

White just forces this pawn forward.

10...d4 11.Bg5 Nbd7 12.f3 e3 13.Ne4 Be7 14.Nc1 h6

There is nothing wrong with 14...Nxe4 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.fxe4 0–0–0-+

15.Bxf6 Nxf6 16.Bd3 0–0

Black may be only one pawn up, but the chain stretching down to e3 is nearly impossible to break. There are few tasks in chess more miserable than beating one's head against such a solid wall.

17.Ne2 Nxe4 18.Bxe4 Bxe4 19.fxe4 Rxf1+ 20.Qxf1 Bd6

Black could very well play 20...Qd7 followed by ...Rf8 here.

21.Qf5 Kh8 22.g3 Qe7 23.Rf1 Rf8 24.Qd5

Paradoxically, White's most tenacious defense might be 24.Qxf8+ Qxf8 25.Rxf8+ Bxf8. Normally this sort of wholesale exchanging is the last thing one wants to do when a pawn down, but here White can flip the knight around to d3 with something like 26.Nf4 and try to “sit” on the position and hold the blockade. It's worth a try when everything else is clearly losing!

24...Rxf1+ 25.Kxf1 Qf6+ 26.Kg2

26.Qf5 is pretty feeble now since there's no blockade: 26...Qxf5+ 27.exf5 d3! 28.Nc3 Be5-+ and White is hopelessly lost.

26...Qf2+ 27.Kh3 Qf1+ 28.Kh4 Be7+ 29.Kh5 Qxe2+ 30.Kg6 0–1

The score is garbled beyond this point, but apparently the game lasted only one more move. 30...Qf2 will prevent a back row mate, after which Black must soon queen a pawn.

The players do a little dancing in the center, but things quickly fizzle out:

Kent Hershberger (1723)
Carol Mayer-Kleist (1517)
3/4-day, Round 3
Sicilian: Paulsen, B43

Notes by Edward Laurin

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 b5 6.f3

6.Bd3 or 6.g3 and 7.Bg2 are the normal ways to hold the e-pawn in these lines. 6.Bd3 Qb6 7.Nb3 Qc7 8.0–0=

6...Bb7

6...b4 7.Nce2 Bc5 This seems to toss White's development around.

7.Be3 d5

A premature break. Black should finish developing before breaking open lines.

8.exd5 Bxd5 9.Nxd5 Qxd5 10.Bd3

10.c4 bxc4 11.Qa4+ Qd7 12.Qxc4² White opens more lines of attack, uncramps his central position and gains space across the board. His king is in no immediate danger from attack by Black's pieces.

10...Nf6 11.Qd2 Nbd7 12.0–0 Rc8

12...Bc5=

13.Nb3

13.a4: This positional break gives White a plus as his hold on the queenside becomes quite large.

13...Ne5 14.Bd4 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 Be7 16.Rad1 Qc4 17.c3

Neither side has much play at this point. The weaknesses in the opening were not taken advantage of and now the a4-break is impossible.

17...Qxd3

17...0–0: Black shouldn't be in a rush to trade. White's position is cramped and Black's rooks have access to better squares. White almost has to trade here and accept a pawn on c4 and the weakness that trades on b2.

18.Rxd3 0–0 19.Rfd1 Nd5 20.g3 b4 21.cxb4?

21.Kf2: The trade on c3 is of no concern as the bishop drops back and Black is simply playing on the wrong side of the board (where White's majority is instead of her own).

21...Nxb4 22.R3d2 Nxa2 23.Ra1 Nb4 24.Bc3 Nd5 25.Bd4 Nb4

25...Bb4 26.Re2 Rc6µ Black has a spatial advantage and is a pawn up.

26.Bc3 Nd5 27.Bd4 ½–½

White takes the lead in the Reserve section by playing a solid game:

Ashley Carter (1719)
David Raban (1718)
3/4-day, Round 4
Irregular Queen's Pawn: Nimzovich, A40

Notes by Tim McGrew (TM) and Tony Palmer (TP)

1.d4 Nc6

TP: Chigorin's Defense, theoretically inferior because Black's queen knight blocks the c-pawn, but highly successful for enterprising players.

2.c4

TP: Also good are 2.e4, 2.Nf3, and even 2.d5 mixing it up.

2...e5!? 3.dxe5?!

TM: This is not a particularly effective response to Black's opening. White ends up with a pawn position similar to some tame lines of the Budapest, but Black's development should be better. If White is seeking a calm life, 3.e3 is probably a better choice. But 3.d5 is the acid test of Black's opening.

3...Nxe5

TP: This is very similar to the Budapest Defense = 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Nf3 Nc6 and Black regains the pawn on e5 with dynamic equality.

4.e3 Bb4+

TM: This is not bad, but it's a bit odd. Why give up a decent bishop?

TP: 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd2 0–0 7.Be2 d6 8.Nf3 Be6 9.b3 c6 (Roizman-Gulko, USSR 1978) with a level game.

5.Nd2 Qf6 6.a3

TP: White is playing to gain the two bishops, good strategy for an open game.

6...Bxd2+ 7.Bxd2 a5?

TM: But this is definitely a lemon. Black has several weaknesses on the dark diagonal, and White will now line up against them ruthlessly. TP: Preventing 8.b4 but missing White's next. Consider 7...Qg6 intending 8...Nd3+.

White to Move

8.Bc3!

TM: Two years ago, when I first saw Ashley Carter play, I was impressed by her tenacity but not by her tactics. The balance has definitely shifted, and this move illustrates her grasp of tactics very nicely. Black has no satisfactory way of getting out of the pin while defending both e5 and g7.

TP: The annoying pin wins material.

8...Qe7

TM: One of my favorite pieces of advice for students is to look for scrappy ways to defend. Here Black could try to put up a fight with 8...Qe6 intending to meet 9.f4 with 9...Ng4 This move is only possible because Black's queen on e6 defends the knight -- that's the difference between 8...Qe6 and 8...Qe7. Now White is still on top after 10.Bxg7! Nxe3! 11.Qe2 Nc2+ 12.Kf2 Nxa1 13.Bxh8 Ne7 But at least there's a possibility that White will suffer a loss of nerve along the way. All of this is, however, just a bluff. With the accurate 9.Nf3! Nxf3+ 10.Qxf3 Nf6 11.Qg3! White picks up a pawn thanks to the fork of g7 and c7.

TP: 8...d6 9.f4

9.f4!

TM: Now Black is just losing material -- lots of material.

9...Nxc4!?

TP: Sacrificing a piece for two pawns, probably the best practical choice. 9...Ng6 10.Bxg7 Qxe3+ 11.Qe2 Qxe2+ 12.Bxe2 N8e7 13.Bxh8 Nxh8 and White wins the exchange.

10.Bxc4 Qxe3+ 11.Qe2 Qxe2+ 12.Nxe2

TM: Two pawns aren’t enough for a healthy bishop, and Black still has to cover g7.

12...f6 13.Nd4 Ne7 14.Nb5 Kd8 15.0 0 0

TP: White quickly activates her pieces; meanwhile Black will have an awkward time completing development.

15...Nf5 16.Rhe1 c6 17.Nd4 d5?!

TM: Obviously this is the pawn structure Black had to aim for in order to play on at all, but now Ashley demonstrates why she will be one of Michigan's next experts by finding a crisp combination.

TP: Desperation, but there's a tactical refutation. 17...b5? 18.Ne6+ Ke7 19.Nc7+ wins the exchange, leaving White up a full rook. 17...Nxd4 18.Rxd4 Kc7 19.Re7 b5 20.Bd3 and Black has a gloomy position.

18.Nxf5! Bxf5 19.Bxd5!

TM: The bishop cannot be taken because of the fork: if 19...cxd5 20.Rxd5+ Bd7 21.Red1 and Black's condition is terminal.

19...Kc7

TP: 19...cxd5 20.Rxd5+ Bd7 21.Red1 regains the piece with two pawns profit.

20.Be6 1–0

TM: Forcing off another piece, on pain of an invasion at d7. Black has had enough abuse.

TP: White has a technical win. Excellent tactical alertness by Carter.

White keeps his focus on the kingside:

Todd McAuliffe (1713)
Gina Nicolli (1616)
3/4-day, Round 4
Pirc: Czech, B07

Notes by Tony Palmer

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3

White also scores well with 4.f4 aiming for the Austrian Attack.

4...Bg4 5.h3 Bxf3

5...Bh5 6.Qe2 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 e5 8.Be3 Qa5 (Hebden-Galego, Linares 1995) with chances for both sides.

6.Qxf3

This early bishop-for-knight trade tends to favor the bishop if the board is open, or the knight if the center is closed.

6...Qc7

6...Nbd7 7.Be3 e6 8.g4 d5 9.e5 Ng8 10.0–0–0 b5 (Terpugov-Petrosian, Moscow 1957) and Black won on the queenside.

7.Be3 Nbd7 8.Bd3 e5 9.d5

A good reaction, advancing in the center to gain space.

9...a6 10.0–0 c5

Black wisely keeps lines closed and has potential counterplay with ...b5 and ...c4, thus White's next.

11.a4 Be7 12.b3 0–0 13.Ne2 Nb6 14.a5 Nc8 15.Ng3 Bd8 16.Nf5 Ne7 17.Nh6+! Kh8

17...gxh6 18.Qxf6 Nxd5 19.Qxh6 Nxe3 20.fxe3! gives White great play against Black's weakened kingside.

18.Ng4 Nxg4 19.hxg4

White intends to utilize the half-open h-file for attack. Moreover, recapturing with the pawn hinders ...f5.

19...Ng6 20.g3 Kg8 21.Kg2 f6 22.Rh1 Nh8

The cramp in Black's game is telling.

23.Qf5 g6 24.Qe6+ Rf7 25.Rh2 Qd7 26.Bd2 Bc7

26...Qxe6 27.dxe6 Re7 28.Bc4 doesn't help matters.

27.Rah1 Re8?

27...Qxe6 28.dxe6 Re7 was forced. Now White breaks through decisively.; 27...Kg7 28.Bh6+ Kg8 29.Bg7! is similar to the game continuation.

28.Rxh7! 1–0

28...Rxe6 29.Rxh8+ Kg7 30.R1h7#. Very logical play by McAuliffe.

White wins a piece, but Black holds on tight:

Kevin Gregory (1760)
Justin Aldrich (1595)
3/4-day, Round 4
Philidor: Exchange, C41

Notes by Edward Laurin

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7 6.Bc4 0–0 7.Qe2

Seems like an odd square for the queen. Castling or Bf4 fit more with the position.

7...a6 8.a4 c6 9.0–0 Bg4 10.f3

White now has a strong center. In order to break it Black will have to create a weak isolated pawn.

10...Bh5 11.Nf5

White's knight dreams of this square in the Philidor. Some lines involve a positional sacrifice with Nf5, Bxf5, exf5, giving White doubled pawns and attack chances. Here, however, White is able to move to this square uncontested.

11...Re8

11...g6 12.Nxe7+ Qxe7 13.g4+-

12.Nxe7+

White's knight is extremely well placed and Black's bishop is horrible. The trade here is uncalled for. White probably wished to exchange before the bishop dropped back to f8 and then the knight was chased away with g6. However, there is nothing to fear as the following shows: 12.Qf2 Bf8 (12...Bg6 13.Nxe7+ After Black repositions his bishop, White can then trade to avoid losing a tempo. However, White's queen is now on a better square and Bg5 will be a legitimate threat since Black's last move, Bg6, prevented the release h6-g5.) 13.Rd1 g6 14.Nh6+ Bxh6 (14...Kg7 15.Nxf7+-) 15.Bxh6±. Black's darksquare weaknesses and problems along the d-file show.

12...Qxe7 13.Qf2

Compare this position to the above move order 12.Qf2 Bg6 13.Nxe7 Qxe7 and you will see how White has better choices.

13...Nbd7 14.Bg5

14.a5: Fixing Black's weakness on b7 gives White something to target.

14...h6

14...b5 15.Bb3 b4 16.Ne2 Nc5=. Black has equalized and now controls a good portion of the board.

15.Bh4 Qe5 16.Rad1 Qc5

Black and White keep dancing around the weakness on b7-b6. This allows White to cripple Black's pawn structure completely.

17.Qxc5 dxc5

17...Nxc5 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Rxd6+-

18.a5! Ne5 19.Be2 Nfd7?

Black's position is bad but not hopeless. 19...g5 20.Bg3 Bg6±

20.g4 g5

20...Bg6 21.f4-+

21.gxh5 gxh4 22.f4 Rad8 23.fxe5 Nxe5 24.Rxd8 Rxd8 25.Rd1 Re8 26.Rd6 Kg7 27.Kf2 f6 28.b3

28.Na4: This move has been lingering for a while. The knight targets the weak c5-b6 squares. Black cannot protect them all.

28...Re7 29.Bf3 Nf7 30.Rd1 Ne5 31.Ne2 Rf7 32.Ke3 f5 33.Nf4 fxe4 34.Kxe4 Nxf3 35.Kxf3 Kf6 36.Rg1

36.Rd6+ Kg7 37.c4 Black is hopelessly lost.

36...Ke5 37.Rg4

37.Re1+ Kf5: Keep the rook active to prevent counterplay.

37...Kd4 38.Rg2 c4 39.bxc4 Kxc4 40.Ke4 Kb5 41.Rg6 Rh7 42.Kd4 Kxa5 43.Kc5

Black now has a good deal more counter chances than he should have. White can still hold the position with accurate play.

43...Rf7 44.Rg4

Keeping a pawn isn't worth having the rook on such an inactive square. 44.Nd3 Rf5+ 45.Kd6 Rxh5 46.Kc7

44...Rf5+ 45.Kc4 b5+ 46.Kb3 h3 47.Rh4 c5 48.c4?

This gives Black a protected passed pawn.

48...b4 49.Rg4 Re5 50.Rg3 Rf5 51.Rg4 ½–½

I’m not sure why White played for a draw here, but time seems like a suitable reason. 51.Nd3: Black can’t hold all the pawns once again. 51…Rxh5 52.Rg6 Rf5 53.Rc6 Rf3 54.Rxc5+ Kb6 55.Rd5+-

White finds nice little shot:

Robert Moore (1628)
Robert Smith (1500)
3/4-day, Round 4
Sicilian: Najdorf, B98

Notes by Tim McGrew (TM) and Tony Palmer (TP)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6

TP: The Sicilian is an excellent fighting opening with chances for both sides. The superior tactician usually prevails, especially if the kings castle on opposite wings. Besides 5...e6, Black gets a good game with 5...a6 (Najdorf) or 5...g6 (Dragon).

6.Bg5 Be7 7.f4 a6

TM: Black transposes into a Najdorf. TP: My reference database indicates Black scores better with 7...h6 hitting the Bg5. 7...h6 8.Bh4 Qb6 9.Bb5+ Nc6 10.Bf2 Qc7 11.Qf3 a6 12.Be2 Bd7 (Ericson-Estrin, 5th Corr World Championship 1965) with an even game.

8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0–0–0 0–0?

TM: My Najdorf days are long past, but a few of the opening moves are burned into my memory. Here, Black's theoretically approved move is 9...Nbd7 He may delay castling for quite some time depending on how White proceeds.

10.g4

TP: 10.Bd3 Nc6 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Qg3 h5!? 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 Ng4 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Ne4 (Unzicker-Fischer, Buenos Aires 1960) and White won quickly. 10.Be2 Nc6 11.f5 Nxd4 12.Rxd4 b5 13.a3 Bb7 14.Qg3 Rac8 15.Bf3 Kh8 (Tatai-Kavalek, Manila 1973) with a tough fight.

10...Nbd7 11.Kb1

TM: I'm not at all sure that it is necessary to move the king just now. It looks more natural to play 11.Bg2 and prepare to fling the kingside pawns forward, as in Hector-Bekker Jensen, Politiken Cup 2002.

11...Re8 12.Bd3 b5

TM: This exposes a rook on a8, but Black thinks he has a shrewd reply to the opening of that diagonal.

13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.e5!

TM: The fun begins!

TP: The Discovery on the a8-rook gives White a key tempo to attack h7.

14...Bb7!

TM: Shot and counter-shot: now it looks for a moment as though Black will win the exchange.

15.Qh3!

TM: Not to be outdone, White threatens an invasion at h7. Meanwhile, Black's bishop on f6 is still hanging.

15...dxe5!

TM: The best Black can do. His king can escape to e7 if necessary.

16.Qxh7+

TM: This may actually be a misstep. The queen gets buried deep in the kingside; is this a good thing or a bad thing? 16.Bxh7+ Kf8 17.fxe5 Bxe5 18.Rhf1 comes into consideration.

16...Kf8 17.fxe5 Qxe5?

TM: But this is incautious, leaving the knight on d7 unguarded.

TP: 17...Nxe5 18.Rhf1 Rad8 might have given better chances to hold.

18.Rhe1?

Not the most effective way to break through. White can strike immediately with 18.Bxb5! The idea is 18...axb5 19.Nf5! exf5 20.Rxd7! Qe1+ 21.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 22.Nd1 and Black will lose on points.

18...Qc7?

TM: Black believes that he is coming back to hold everything, but actually he is walking into a brilliancy. The only way out, paradoxically, is forward: 18...Qxd4! 19.Be2 Qf2 20.Rf1. It looks like Black's queen is just getting kicked around, but now she comes back to the defense with 20...Qh4! and the fireworks burn out: 21.Qxh4 Bxh4 22.Rxd7 Re7! 23.Rxb7 Rxb7 24.Bf3 Rbb8 25.Bxa8 Rxa8 and Black has a small edge since the bishop is better than the knight in this sort of position.

TP: 18...Qxd4 19.Bxb5 Qb6 20.Rxd7 and White threatens mate on h8.

White to Move

19.Nf5!! 1–0

TM: Sparkling! One way or another, the e7 square is nailed down. If 19...g6 20.Nh6! Bg7 21.Qg8+ and the f7 square falls.

TP: 19...gxf5 20. Qh8#, or 19...g6 20. Nh6! Bg7 (20...Ne5 21.Bxg6!) 21.Qg8+ Ke7 22.Qxf7+ wins. Powerful play by White.

White throws a pawn at Black to create some play:

Milan Talreja (1644)
Allan Foord (1565)
2-day, Round 4
Réti, A04

Notes by Tim McGrew

1.e4 c5 2.d3

White displays a practical approach to the opening, dodging mountains of theory and heading for a reasonable setup that he knows well. Objectively this may be too laid back an approach to give White his maximum theoretical edge, but it also deprives Black of his memorized counterplay -- and that is a great deal more important when you sit down at the board!

2...d6 3.Nf3 Nf6

Looking at the way the game unfolds, I wonder whether this move was just an “automatic” developing move. One could make a case for ...Nc6 and a kingside fianchetto, after which Black might prefer ...e5 and ...Nge7.

4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.c3 Nc6 7.0–0 0–0 8.Nbd2 b5

This is not yet an error, but it is a dangerous move to play. Black has two undefended pieces, and both of them are on a “hot” line -- the lightsquare diagonal. He will have to play with precision to avoid trouble.

9.e5!?

Whether the timing is perfect or not, this move shows that White understands the significance of Black's weaknesses on the long diagonal. He does not wait for Black to lock up the center with ...e5 but breaks open the diagonal right away.

9...Nd7 10.e6!?

Another sharp move. White creates a weakness at e6 so that his next move can be a double attack.

10...fxe6

Black continues to play with fire. 10...Ndb8 doesn't look very appealing, but at least it would secure c6.

11.Ng5!

Here's the promised double attack. Now Black must find a way to defend c6, and ideally the same move should defend e6.

Black to Move

11...Nde5?

Not this way! The problem is that the knight is too exposed on e5 -- it is easily chased away. [11...Ndb8 looks virtually forced. Black's development is unimpressive, but he covers his key squares without exposure. After 12.Re1 or 12.Bh3, White has some advantage but Black can fight on.

12.d4

The knight must be evicted! For those who were wondering, 12.f4 also works. But d4 is a little better since it does not expose White's king at all. Black's knight on c6 is not a serious force in the struggle for d4 since it is pinned.

12...cxd4 13.cxd4 Bb7?

There are no happy ideas here, but 13...d5 14.dxe5 Nxe5 at least temporarily picks up another pawn for the piece. The problem with ...Bb7 is that it puts another hostage on the long diagonal since the bishop itself is undefended.

14.dxe5 Qd7

Black defends the bishop on b7 so that his knight is free to move. But now White shifts his focus.

15.Bh3 Nd4

Defending e6, but who will guard the guardian?

16.Nb3!

White's play in this game has been remarkably consistent: find (or create) the weak points, then drive away the guards!

16...Nxb3?

Falling on his sword. [Although the position is hopeless, Black could at least make White find one more accurate move by threatening mate with 16...Qc6. Then 17.f3! is forced -- and, unfortunately for Black, it is very strong. But nothing ventured, nothing gained!

17.Bxe6+ 1–0

An impressively logical game.

The reigning Women’s Champion takes the lead:

4.0: Carter
3.5: Matias, Rosenberg, Beckwith, Durbin

With another ten players in the hunt at three points.

Round 5

So, here are the pairings at the top:

1. Matias 1 A. Carter
2. Rosenberg ½ Durbin

One three and a half, Stan Beckwith, took a half-point bye for this round. On board one, Matias takes out the last remaining perfect score by using an advantage in development to secure an exchange:

I.C. Matias (1784)
Ashley Carter (1719)
Dutch: Leningrad, A87

Notes by Tony Palmer

1.d4 f5

The Dutch Defense is a sharp choice by Black, accepting weaknesses on e6 and f7 in return for active play in the center and on the kingside. Sometimes Black adopts a Stonewall formation with ...e6, ...d5, and ...c6, yet the modern approach is to fianchetto the bishop on g7 and play for ...e5.

2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7

Both sides choose very solid lines of play.

5.c4 0–0 6.Nc3 d6 7.0–0 Qe8

A common maneuver in openings with an early ...f5, preparing to advance in the center and potentially infiltrating with the queen on g6 or h5. But Black has to mind the weakness left behind on c7.

8.Re1 e5 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.e4 fxe4

10...Nc6 11.Nd5 fxe4 12.Ng5 Qd8 13.Nxf6+ Qxf6 14.Nxe4 Qf7 15.Be3 Nd4 16.Nd6! cxd6 17.Bxd4 Be6 18.Be3 Bxc4 19.b3 Be6 20.Qxd6 (Pigusov-Glek, Vilnius 1984) and White stood better.

11.Nxe4 Nc6

11...Nxe4 12.Rxe4 Nc6 13.c5!? Be6 14.Re1 Rd8 15.Qa4 Bd5 (Kyriakidis-Jakymov, Halkidiki 2001) and Black had the initiative.

12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.Bh6

The central exchanges have left Black with an isolated e-pawn. White plays to trade off bishops to undermine defense of the e5-pawn.

13...Bg7 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Nxe5! Nxe5 16.Qd4 Qd8

16...Kf6?! 17.f4 regains the piece anyway.

17.Qxe5+ Kh6

17...Kg8? 18.Bd5+: This fine tactical point shoves Black's king off to the side, serving to further weaken the back rank. Watch how White exploits this with great skill.

18.Rad1 Qf6 19.Qxf6 Rxf6 20.Rd8

The first of two pins on the weak back rank emphasizing White's lead in development.

20...Rd6 21.Rxd6

21.Ree8! also wins material.

21...cxd6 22.Re8

White's bishop makes its presence felt across the board. Black cannot fix the back rank problem with ...b6 and ...Bb7 because the b-pawn is pinned. Therefore Black loses the exchange.

22...Kg7 23.Bh3 Bxh3 24.Rxa8 Be6 25.Rxa7 Bxc4 26.Rxb7+ Kh6 27.a4 1–0

Note White avoids 27.Kg2?? Bd5+ and 28...Bxb7, so the endgame is an easy win.

No scoresheet was received from board two and board three’s was not decipherable. On to board four:

Douglas Fick II (1663)
Randall Brooks (1764)
Sicilian: Scheveningen (Matanovic), B82

Notes by Tony Palmer

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3

Other good choices for White are 6.Bc4, 6.Be2, 6.Bg5, and 6.g3, all according to taste.

6...b5

An understandable reaction as the natural follow-up to 5...a6, however Black's queenside might prove weak. More common are 6...e6 or 6...e5; while the most direct approach against the text is 6...Ng4!?

7.f4!?

Mixing systems. If White wants to advance f4, the usual plan is 6.Bg5, 7.f4 and 8.Qf3, or else 6.Be2 followed by 0–0 and f4 at some point. Theory suggests that 7.a4!, trying to pry open Black's position, gives White the best game. 7.a4! e5 8.Nb3 bxa4 9.Rxa4 Nbd7 10.Qa1! Nb6 11.Rb4 Nbd7 12.Qa4 d5 13.Bb6 Qe7 14.Bc5 Qd8 15.Bxf8 Kxf8 16.exd5 (Perenyi-Lukov, Decin 1978) and White is winning. 7.a4! bxa4 8.Rxa4 Nbd7 9.Qa1! Nc5 10.Nc6 Qb6 11.Nb4 a5 12.Ncd5 Qb7 13.Rxa5 Rxa5 14.Qxa5 Nfd7? 15.Nc7+ 1–0 (SikoraLerch-Gruczynski, High Tatras 2001) 7.a4! b4 8.Nd5 Nxe4!? 9.a5 Nd7?? 10.Nc6 1–0 (Shields-Spiers, Indiana 1970).

7...e6 8.Be2 b4 9.e5!?

It's a rumble!

9...dxe5 10.fxe5 bxc3 11.exf6 cxb2 12.fxg7 Bxg7 13.Rb1 Qc7

Black is temporarily up a pawn, which is indirectly protected (14.Rxb2?? Qc3+).

14.0–0 0–0 15.Bf3

15.Rxb2?? Qc3 16.Qc1 Bxd4 1

5...Bb7 16.Bxb7 Qxb7

Now the pawn is directly protected, so Black stands better.

17.Nb3 Nc6 18.Qf3 Qc7 19.Qf2 a5 20.Nd4

20.Bb6 Qe5

20...Rad8 21.c3

White is so close to winning the advanced b2-pawn, but Black sees a touch further

21...Nxd4 22.Bxd4 Rxd4!

An inspired exchange sacrifice tying White up.

23.cxd4 Qc3 24.Qxb2

24.Rfd1 Rd8

24...Bxd4+ 25.Rf2 Qxb2 26.Rbxb2 Rc8!

Exploiting the pin is far superior to trading down, when Black would have a difficult task trying to win the rook and pawn endgame.

27.Kf1?

Loses a piece. 27.Rb1 Rc2 28.Rbf1 Rxa2 and Black trades down into an easy win. 27.g3 Rc1+ 28.Kg2 with excellent chances to hold the pawn-down ending.

27...Rc1+ 28.Ke2 Bxb2 0–1

Nice win by Brooks.

White wins a pawn, then takes it to the endgame:

John Gattinger (1737)
Robert Goetz (1677)
Queen's Indian: Spassky (Averbakh), E14

Notes by Tony Palmer

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 b6!?

An instructive slip. The Nimzo-Indian (3.Nc3 Bb4) is very similar to the Queen's Indian (3.Nf3 b6), but the theme of this opening complex is to control the e4-square. Now White could advance 4.e4 owning the center.

4.Nf3

[4.e4 Bb7 5.Bd3 Bb4 6.Qc2 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 d6 8.Ne2 intending 9.f4 gives White an overwhelming game.

4...Bb7 5.e3 d6

Since White didn't grab the center with 4.e4, Black could equalize with 5...Bb4 or 5...d5.

6.Be2

6.d5 e5 7.e4 g6 8.Be2 Bg7 9.0–0 Nbd7 (Addicks-Landau, Amsterdam 1930) but this King's Indian/Queen's Indian hybrid was better for White.

6...Nbd7 7.b3 Ne4

A common maneuver in the Queen's Indian, chopping wood to free Black's game.

8.Nxe4 Bxe4 9.Bb2 Be7 10.0–0 Bf6

Consider 10...f5 and 11...Bf6 to contest the center more actively.

11.Bd3 Bxd3 12.Qxd3 0–0 13.Rad1 c6 14.e4

White has a clear advantage.

14...Qc7 15.Nd2 c5 16.f4 cxd4 17.Bxd4 Bxd4+ 18.Qxd4 e5!?

18...Qc5 19.Nf3 Rfd8 holds the d-pawn with a roughly equal game. The text creates a big hole on d5.

19.Qf2 exf4 20.Qxf4 Ne5 21.Nf3 Nxf3+ 22.Rxf3 Rad8 23.Rfd3 Rfe8

23...Qc5+ 24.Qf2 Qxf2+ 25.Kxf2 Rfe8 26.Kf3 Re6 with some chances to hold the endgame.

24.Rxd6 Qc5+ 25.Kf1 Rxd6 26.Rxd6 g5!?

26...Rxe4?? 27.Rd8+ wins immediately.

27.Qg3 Rxe4 28.Rd5 Rf4+?

Black has a difficult game, but this allows White to trade down into a won king and pawn endgame. 28...Qe3 29.Rxg5+ Kf8 30.Qd6+ Re7 31.Qd8+ Re8 32.Qd6+ Re7 was the only hope.

29.Qxf4! gxf4

29...Qxd5?? 30.Qb8+ and White wins.

30.Rxc5 bxc5 31.Kf2 Kg7 32.Kf3 Kf6 33.Kxf4

White wins a key pawn, leaving an easy endgame win.

33...a5 34.g4 h6 35.h4 Ke6 36.Ke4 Kd6 37.Kf5 Ke7 38.h5 f6 39.Kg6 Ke6 40.Kxh6 Ke5 41.Kg6 1–0

White keeps up the kingside pressure:

Nishant Sawant (1652)
Harold Steen (1731)
French: Winawer, C15

Notes by Tim McGrew

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bd3

This is a reasonable way to avoid the main lines of the Winawer. It certainly throws Black off of his stride. Another idea that had a brief surge of popularity a few years ago is 4.Qd3 dxe4 5.Qxe4 Nf6 6.Qh4 and White's queen is well placed for a kingside attack.

4...Nf6 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Qg4! 0–0?

Castling into it. 6...g6 or even 6...Kf8 would have been preferable.

7.Bh6!

Just like that, Black has grave problems and must give up an exchange.

7...g6 8.Bxf8 Qxf8 9.Nf3 c5 10.a3 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3

The opening has been a catastrophic failure for Black. White is the exchange ahead, his d4 pawn is solidly supported, and he has good attacking prospects on the kingside.

11...a6 12.h4 c4 13.Be2 f5 14.Qf4 Nc6 15.h5! Ne7 16.Qh4 Qg7 17.hxg6 hxg6 18.Ng5 Nf8

White to Move

19.Kd2!

White finds a good plan: pile up all of the major pieces on the h-file.

19...Bd7 20.Rh3 f4

Black wants the f5 square for his knight, but this is too high a price to pay.

21.Qxf4 Nf5 22.Rah1 Re8 23.g4!

Evicting the knight as a prelude to a tactic.

23...Ne7 24.Rh8+! Qxh8 25.Qf7# 1–0

Plenty of people are still in the hunt:

4.5: Matias
4.0: Pratt, Brooks, Rosenberg, Gattinger, Carter, Raban, Beckwith, Durbin

Round 6

1. Brooks 0 Matias
2. Carter 0 Pratt
3. Raban 1 Rosenberg
4. Durbin 0 Gattinger
5. McAuliffe (3.5) 1 Beckwith

On board one, Black wins a piece due to an over-worked queen:

Randall Brooks (1764)
I.C. Matias (1784)
Scotch: Gambit, C44

Notes by Tony Palmer

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Be7

A solid defensive choice albeit passive; Black prevents 5.Ng5, but White gains the center. Alternatives are 4...Nf6 and 4...Bc5.

5.c3 d6

5...dxc3 6.Qd5! Nh6 7.Bxh6 0–0 8.Nxc3 gxh6 gives White a great game.

6.cxd4

For my reference database, White has 4 wins and 0 losses after 6. cxd4.

6...Nf6 7.Nc3 0–0

7...Bg4 8.Be3 0–0 9.h3 Bh5 10.g4 Bg6 11.d5 Ne5 12.Bd3 c6 (Vezdeutsan-Sava, Kishnev 2001) with chances for both sides. The text seems better.

8.0–0 Bg4 9.Be3 Nxe4!

Black utilizes the Fork Trick to equalize.

10.Nxe4 d5 11.Bd3 dxe4 12.Bxe4 Bf6

The game has quickly transformed into an isolated queen pawn position. Further trades help Black because the isolated d4-pawn requires defense by pieces and can be lost with enough pressure against it.

13.d5 Ne5 14.Bc5 Re8 15.Qb3?!

Missing Black's next - consider 15.h3.

15...Nd7!

This discovery wins material.

16.Qc2 Nxc5 17.Bxh7+ Kh8 18.Qxc5 Kxh7

Black is a clear piece up.

19.Nd2 Kg8 20.f3 Bf5 21.Qb5 Re5 22.Qxb7 Rxd5

22...Qxd5 gets queens off right now since the Nd2 is hanging.

23.Ne4 Bxe4 24.fxe4 Rd2 25.Rae1 Rb8 26.Qc6 Rb6 27.Qc4 Rbxb2 28.Rf5 Rxg2+ 29.Kf1 Rxh2 0–1

Black's tactics carried the day. Nice game.

On the other top boards: Pratt picked up the exchange when Carter’s rook and knight ended up on the same diagonal. Raban pecked away a couple of queenside pawns and one of his own made its way down the field. Gattinger worked over Durbin’s exposed kingside. McAuliffe took out one of the four pointers by taking advantage of a king stuck in the center.

Castling on opposite wings leads to attacks for both players. Who will get there first?:

Kevin Gregory (1760)
Michael Neshewat (1651)
French: Exchange, C01

Notes by Tim McGrew (TM) and Tony Palmer (TP)

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5

TM: Many opening books dismiss the Exchange Variation as a drawing weapon. But if you leaf through an old book of games from the 19th century, you will discover that it was the choice of great attacking masters like Morphy and Blackburne. There is food for thought here about the dictates of fashion...

TP: The French Exchange is solid but drawish. More common are 3.Nc3 and 3.Nd2 leading to an unbalanced game where Black's ...Bc8 often remains stuck behind the pawn chain.

3...exd5 4.Bd3 Nf6 5.Bg5 Be6

TP: Theory prefers 5...Be7. 5...Be7 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Nbd2 Ne4 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 (Lasker-Gunsberg, London 1892) where White won a drawn endgame. 5...Be7 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Nbd2 Nbd7 8.0–0 0–0 (Maroszczyk-Huba, Prievidza 1973) with an equal game. 5...Be7 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Nbd2 Nbd7 8.c3 0–0 9.h3 Be6 (Marco-Reti, Goteborg 1920) with a level position, eventually drawn.

6.Nf3 Bd6 7.Nbd2 0–0 8.c3 Nbd7 9.Qc2

TM: White has deliberately deferred castling so that he can sharpen the game by going queenside.

9...h6 10.Bh4

TM: The passive sacrifice 10.h4!? leads to a murky position: 10...hxg5 11.hxg5 Ne4! 12.Bxe4 dxe4 13.Qxe4 Re8! 14.Qh7+ Kf8 15.0–0–0³ and Black can probably survive, though he will lose the g-pawn and be rather uncomfortable for a while.

10...Re8 11.0–0–0

TP: An interesting decision, since White's king would be quite safe and sound on the kingside.

11...b6

TP: Black should strike immediately with 11...c5, opening lines toward White's king.

12.Bg3

TM: Positionally sensible: White challenges Black's good bishop with his theoretically worse one. An exchange would open the h-file, giving White some additional attacking ideas.

12...Bf8 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 c5 15.h3 c4 16.Bf5 b5 17.g4

TM: The position is heating up. With opposite side castling and ominous pawn storms it looks like anything but a draw.

17...b4

TP: Both sides are proceeding logically against each other's king. I would expect Black's attack to be more successful, since the pawns are farther advanced.

18.cxb4 Bxb4 19.g5!?

TM: Perhaps 19.h4 first is sounder.

19...Bxf5?

TM: The first slip. It is better to keep lines closed and keep White's queen out. Therefore best is 19...hxg5! 20.h4 g4! and Black is ready to strike with ideas like ...c3 while White is still trying to find a way to break in on the kingside.

TP: One move turns a game. 19...hxg5 would actually have been safer than inviting White's queen to the kingside. 20.Rdg1 c3! 21.bxc3 Bxc3! gives Black great chances on White's breezy queenside.

20.Qxf5 Nd7?

TM: Now 20...hxg5 is not so strong since it pulls White's queen where she wants to go: 21.Qxg5 and Black is on the defensive. The right move is 20...Qd7! getting rid of some kingside pressure, e.g. 21.Qf3 Bxd2+ 22.Rxd2 Ne4 23.gxh6 Nxd2 24.Kxd2 Qb5 with continued obscurity.

TP: Here 20...hxg5 was forced. Black can't allow the g-pawn to tear into the kingside like this. 21.Nf3 Qc7.

21.gxh6! g6??

TM: A final error. Black had to eliminate the powerful bishop, so the right way is 21...Nxe5 22.dxe5 g6. It isn't pretty, but Black is not dead yet and in a pinch he can cover his dark squares with ...Bf8.

TP: 21...gxh6 22.Rhg1+ Kf8 23.Bg7+ Ke7 24.Qxd5 and White wins quickly.

22.h7+!

TM: White finishes off powerfully.

22...Kxh7

TP: 22...Kf8? 23.h8Q+

23.Qxf7+ Kh6 24.Bg7+! 1–0

TM: It's mate in two.

TP: White mates after 24...Kg5 25.Rdg1+ or 24...Kh5 25.Qf3+ and 26.Qg4#. Good attack by White.

James Canty III (1697)
Ron Grzegorczyk (1616)
Sicilian, B30

Notes by Tim McGrew

Everything proceeds smoothly here until suddenly White and Black turn into dueling desperados.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.g3 e5 4.Bg2 d6 5.0 0 Nf6

Black could also consider 5...g6 and ...Bg7, deferring a decision about the development of his king's knight.

6.c4 Be7 7.Nc3 0–0 8.Ne1

White recognizes that he needs a “head duo,” as Kmoch would call it -- a pair of pawns in or near the center, side by side on the fourth rank. The obvious break here is f4, so the knight slips back to unleash the pawn.

8...Be6 9.d3 Qd7 10.f4 exf4 11.Bxf4 Ne5 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.cxd5 Bh3

Black could dodge the coming craziness with 13...Bg4 14.Qd2 Bf6. This maneuver has the merit of preventing the total entombment of Black's darksquare bishop.

14.Bxe5 Bxg2

Black challenges White to a desperado duel. Both bishops are hanging -- which one can eat more? 14...dxe5 would be tamer, when the position is somewhat difficult to evaluate. Probably Black's bad bishop would give him slightly the worst of it.

15.Bxg7!

White accepts the challenge. There are targets on f8 and e7.

15...Bxf1 16.Bxf8

No choice here: both sides have to eat a rook.

16...Bxf8?

Black misjudges the position and ends up struggling. The only logical recapture is 16...Rxf8! bringing Black's remaining piece into play. White is forced, by the desperado sequence, to put his own king on the f-file; but after 17.Kxf1 Black can get some play against the exposed monarch with 17...f5! White is still a pawn up, but active pieces and extra tempi make a real difference in such positions and Black might well hold the balance.

17.Kxf1

Compare this position to the one in the previous note. Black can still play ...f5, but now the pawn break doesn't promise as much since Black's rook is out of play on a8.

17...Qh3+ 18.Kg1 Bg7 19.Qe2 Bd4+ 20.Kh1 b6 21.Nf3 Qh5??

Perhaps Black thought he was setting up 22...Bxb2, but the illusion abruptly is shattered.

22.Nxd4! 1–0

That ends Black's suffering.

With this section, the cream always seems rise in the end:

5.5: Matias
5.0: Pratt, Gattinger, Raban

Round 7

Can Matias keep his lead?:

1. Pratt Matias
2. Gattinger Raban

Starting at board two, White picks up several pawns with his queen playing off an exposed king:

John Gattinger (1737)
David Raban (1718)
Irregular Queen's Pawn: Nimzovich, A40

Notes by Edward Laurin

1.d4 Nc6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Nxe5 4.e3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nxf3+ 6.Qxf3 g6 7.Nc3 Bg7 8.Bd3 d6 9.0–0 0–0 10.e4 Ng4

This actually looked better last move. With the idea of Ng4-e5 and winning the bishop pair. Although I'm not sure if it is worth the tempo.

11.h3

Black wants to move the knight anyway. The text makes this sequence seem worthwhile in a sense as it “gives” Black a free tempo to work with.

11...Ne5

11...Bxc3 12.bxc3 Ne5: This may be better. Although, I can understand that Black does not want to trade his darksquare bishop given the weaknesses around his kingside. I believe White has more problems here.

12.Qg3 f5 13.f4 Nxd3 14.Qxd3 Kh8

14...fxe4 15.Qd5+ Kh8 16.Nxe4 Qh4³

15.Bd2 Qh4

15...fxe4 16.Qxe4 Bf5 17.Qxb7 Rb8 18.Qxa7 Rxb2³ Black enjoys more space mostly due to the bishop pair.

16.Rae1 Rf7 17.Qd5

White seems to have equalized now since Black's move of Rf7 lost a tempo.

17...Re7

17...Rf8 Staying on the f5 square and keeping the back two ranks secure from the following exchanges.

18.exf5 Bxf5 19.Rxe7 Qxe7 20.Re1 Qh4 21.Nb5

21.Qxb7 This looks easier than the text.

21...Rf8

21...c6 22.Qf7: Threatening mate in three. 22...cxb5 23.Re8+ Rxe8 24.Qxe8+ Bf8 25.Qxf8#

22.Nxc7 Bxb2 23.Re8 Qf6 24.Rxf8+ Qxf8 25.Nb5 Qe8 26.Nxd6 Qe2 27.Nxf5 gxf5 28.Qf7 h5 29.Qf8+ Kh7 30.Qxf5+ Kg8 31.Qc8+ Kh7 32.Qxb7+ Bg7 33.Qd5 Qd1+ 34.Kh2 h4 35.c5 Qa1 36.Be3 Qc3 37.Qf3 Qxc5 38.Bxc5 1–0

Gattinger reaches six points, but needs some help:

Gary Pratt (1769)
I.C. Matias (1784)
Italian, C50

Notes by Tony Palmer

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6

The Two Knights Defense always leads to a lively game.

4.d4

A tactical choice, aiming for the Max Lange after 4...exd4 5.0–0 Bc5 6.e5 d5 with complications. Other good moves are 4.Ng5 and 4.d3.

4...exd4 5.0–0 d6

A solid defense, transposing into a Scotch game, although White has more space due to the e4-pawn compared to the d6-pawn. 5...Bc5 would lead to the Max Lange.

6.Nxd4 Be7 7.Nc3 0–0 8.Be3

A solid developing move, yet Black can chop wood with 8...Nxd4 or 8...Ng4. 8.h3 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 a6 10.a4 Nd7 11.Be3 Bf6 12.Qd2 (Lane-Nixon, Torquay 2002) White stood better and eventually won.

8...Ng4

8...Nxd4 9.Bxd4 a6 10.Re1 Bg4 11.f3 Bd7 12.Qd2 Kh8 (Chigorin-Walbrodt, Nornberg 1896) where White had a slight pull.

9.Bf4 Nge5 10.Bb3

10.Nxc6 Nxc6 11.f3 Bf6 12.Qd2 Be6 13.Bb3 Na5 14.Be3 Nc4 15.Bxc4 Bxc4 (Jauk-Laakian, Baile Herculane 1994) and later drawn.

10...Na5 11.Qe2 Nxb3 12.axb3 c6 13.Rad1 Qc7 14.h3 Bf6 15.Bh2 b5 16.f4 Ng6 17.g4

White wisely pushes the kingside pawns, since he has control of the center plus further advances will gain tempi by threatening Black's pieces.

17...b4 18.Na4 a5 19.Qf3 Ba6 20.Rfe1 Bxd4+ 21.Rxd4 c5 22.Rd2

The best retreat, preparing to double rooks on the d-file or else transfer this rook across the second rank. White stands better.

22...Bb7 23.f5 Ne5 24.Bxe5 dxe5 25.Red1 c4?!

Black sacrifices a pawn for active play. 25...Rfd8 26.Rxd8+ Rxd8 27.Rxd8+ Qxd8 28.Nxc5 Qd4+ 29.Qf2 wins a pawn anyway.

26.bxc4 Qxc4?

But this drops the exchange to a knight fork on b6. 26...Bc6 27.Nc5 Rfd8 28.Rxd8+ Rxd8 29.Rxd8+ Qxd8 30.b3 and White is winning.

27.Nb6 Bxe4 28.Qe3 Qc6 29.Nxa8 Qxa8 30.Re1 Bc6 31.Qxe5 Re8 32.Qg3 h6 33.Rde2 Rxe2 34.Rxe2 Qd8 35.Qd3 Qb6+ 36.Qe3 Qd8 37.Rd2 Qc7 1–0

And White won the endgame. Good fighting game by both sides.

And that leaves two players tied at six points. Gary Pratt and John Gattinger are Co-Champions this year. I.C. Matias takes clear third with his five and a half points. On to some more games from the top boards.

Black breaks through on the kingside:

Todd McAuliffe (1713)
Randall Brooks (1764)
Sicilian: Closed, B23

Notes by Tony Palmer

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 Nf6 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bb5

A good choice, leading to more active play than 5.g3 and 6.Bg2.

5...Bd7 6.Bxc6

More common is 6.0–0 and waiting on the trade Bxc6 until Black wastes a tempo with ...a6. 6.0–0 a6 7.Bxc6 Bxc6 8.d3 e6 9.Qe1 b5 10.f5 exf5 11.e5! Ng4 12.exd6+ Kd7 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Rxf3 Nf6 15.Rxf5 Bxd6 16.Bg5 Qe8 17.Qf2 Rg8? 18.Bxf6 1–0 (Waddington-Bongers, Dieren 2001). 6.d3 e6 7.0–0 Be7 8.Qe1 0–0 9.e5 Nd5 10.Ne4 Nd4 (Liitiainen-Frenklakh, Helsinki 2001) with an even game, later drawn.

6...Bxc6 7.d3 e6 8.0–0 Be7 9.Qe1 Qb6 10.Kh1 0–0–0!?

A bold decision indicating Black will attack on the kingside while parrying White's queenside play. Chances are equal.

11.Rb1 d5!

A good start. Black's traditional freeing move in the Sicilian proves useful by gaining space in the center.

12.e5 Nd7 13.Bd2 h5 14.Ne2 Qc7 15.c3 h4 16.d4

White aims to keep lines closed but gains a bad bishop in the process. Knights tend to favor closed positions, so this plan was positionally justified.

16...h3 17.g3 Bb5 18.b4 Bd3

Black's annoying bishop infiltrates on the weakened light squares.

19.Ra1

Consider 19.Rb2 instead, leaving the rook on the potentially opened b-file while also eyeing the kingside.

19...c4 20.a4 f6 21.Kg1 Rdg8 22.Rf2 a6 23.a5

Unfortunately this ends any attacking chances on the queenside. 23.b5 would have been met by 23...a5 and later ...b6, yet that might have been better.

23...Qc6 24.Bc1 Rf8 25.Nd2 g5 26.fxg5

Given the game continuation, White might have tried 26.exf6 -- first, and then 27.fxg5 if desired.

26...fxe5!

Bust it open!

27.dxe5 Rxf2 28.Qxf2 Rf8 29.Nd4

29.Qe3 d4! threatening 30...Qg2# wins immediately. The text loses a piece to a zwischenzug.

29...Rxf2 30.Nxc6 Rg2+ 31.Kh1 bxc6 0–1

Successful kingside attack by Black.

Blacks central controls leads to a king:

Steve Rosenberg (1749)
Robert Goetz (1677)
Four Knights, C47

Notes by Tony Palmer

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6

This Petrov quickly became a Four Knights.

4.d3

Solid but passive. Note 4.Bc4?! fails to the Fork Trick: 4...Nxe4! 5.Nxe4 d5 and Black has already equalized. More common is 4.Bb5, while another plan is 4.g3 and 5.Bg2.

4...h6!?

One of those traditional chess maxims is to avoid moving your rook pawns in the opening. Of course this rule gets routinely broken, like in the Ruy Lopez after 3. Bb5 a6, or in many Italian lines where Black plays ...a6 to protect the Bc5 (with ...Ba7) if White moves Na4. Black would have a more active game with 4...Bb4, 4...Bc5 or 4...d5 instead.

5.Be2 Bc5

There you go!

6.0–0 0–0 7.Na4 Bb6 8.Be3 d5!

There you go again!

9.Nxb6 axb6 10.exd5 Qxd5

Black has achieved a free game at the cost of giving up a bishop for a knight. Chances are even.

11.Qd2 Ng4 12.h3 Nxe3 13.Qxe3 Re8 14.a3

Black threatened 14...Rxa2.

14...Bf5 15.Qd2 Rad8 16.Qc3 Qe6 17.Kh2 e4

Black has better placed pieces and now gained the initiative.

18.Nh4 Bh7 19.g3 exd3 20.Bxd3 Bxd3 21.cxd3 Qd5 22.Rad1 Re2 23.d4?!

Presumably trading the d4-pawn for the c7-pawn, but White's kingside proves weak. 23.Ng2 Ne5?! 24.Nf4 Nf3+ 25.Kh1 and White wins the exchange. 23.Ng2 Qf3 24.Kg1 Rxf2! 25.Rxf2 Qxd1+ favors Black.

23...Nxd4 24.Qxc7 g5 25.Ng2 Nf3+ 26.Kh1 Qxd1 27.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 28.Ne1 Rxf2!

The mate threat on h2 is even stronger than grabbing the free knight. White is lost.

29.Qc8+ Kg7 30.Qc3+ f6 31.Qc7+ Kg6 32.Qc2+ Rxc2 0–1

Outstanding play by Black.

Douglas Fick II (1663)
Terry LeMaster (1742)
Sicilian: Najdorf (Byrne), B90

Notes by Edward Laurin

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3

6.Bg5 is the “normal” move in the Najdorf, although the text is possible.

6...b5 7.f4

This move is common with the Bg5 lines, but seems out of place here as it buries the darksquare bishop behind the pawns. It also leaves the g4-square weak. Playing f3 is more thematic in that it protects g4 and e4.

7...Bb7 8.e5

This breakthrough seems premature given White's lack of development and equally exposed king.

8...dxe5 9.fxe5 Nd5 10.Nxd5 Qxd5 11.Nf3 e6 12.Be2

12.Qxd5 Bxd5 13.a4 b4 14.Be2=

12...Nd7 13.Qxd5 Bxd5 14.0–0 Rc8

The c-pawn is a weak point in the position and hard to defend. 14...Rc8 White can play 15.c3 but after 15...Bc5 16.Bxc5 Rxc5, the e5 pawn becomes weak as in the notes following the text's sequence. It is clear from this position that White's early break-through has exposed more weak points in his position than Black's.

15.c3 Bc5 16.Bxc5 Nxc5

16...Rxc5 with the threat of 17...Bxf3 and 18...Nxe5 is hard to answer.

17.Ng5

17.Nd4 Ke7 18.Bf3 Black's bishop is vastly superior to White's so trading them makes sense.

17...0–0 18.Rfd1 h6 19.Nh3 Rfd8 20.Nf2 Rd7

20...Nd7: Targeting the weak e-pawn.

21.Nd3 Nxd3

Now the game spirals into a drawn endgame. Or at least, it should. 21...Na4 This is a hard move to spot given the usual rule “knights on the rim are dim” but here is a clear exception. 22.Rd2 Bc4 23.Rad1 Rcd8 24.Kf2 Bxd3 25.Rxd3 Rxd3 26.Bxd3 (26.Rxd3 Rxd3 27.Bxd3 Nxb2) 26...Kf8-+. White cannot save all the pawns. (b2/c3 are vulnerable). Black must avoid 26...Nxb2 27.Bh7++-.

22.Rxd3 Rcd8 23.Rad1 Kf8 24.Kf2 Ke7 25.b3 Be4 26.Rxd7+ Rxd7 27.Rxd7+ Kxd7 28.a3 Kc6 29.g3 Kd5

29...Bc2 30.Bf3+: To prevent the king from coming to d5 after b4. 30...Kc5 31.b4+ Kc4 32.Bb7³

30.c4+ bxc4 31.Bxc4+ Kxe5 32.Bxa6 Bc2

32...Kd4: Black must use his king to keep the passers in check. Moving the bishop to c2 is just a loss of a tempo, as the game shows.

33.Bc4 Kd4 34.a4 Be4

Right back to where he started. All that has changed is White's pawns are a little closer to queening.

35.a5 Kc5 36.a6 Bc6 37.Ke3 Kb4

37...g5 creates some form of counterplay with his own majority. When in an endgame, you must formulate a plan. Black's bishop is holding the queening square for the a-pawn, and his king is preventing the b-pawn from supporting. He needs to do something on the king side before White is able to infiltrate or play for a tactic such as in the game.

38.Kd4 Ba8 39.Bd3 Ka5

39...Kxb3 40.Be4 Black has allowed White to improve his position too far.

40.Kc5 Bd5 41.Bb5

Now Black can do nothing since he must take the b-pawn to avoid mate, and once that is done, a7 followed by Bc6 queens the pawn.

41...Bc6 42.b4# 1–0

A nice finish.

Ashley Carter (1719)
Nishant Sawant (1652)
Budapest: Rubinstein, A52

Notes by Edward Laurin

The Budapest Gambit. An interesting response to the queen's pawn's opening.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Bf4 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bb4+ 6.Nbd2 Qe7 7.e3

7.a3 is also playable but usually transposes into the same line.

7...Ngxe5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.a3 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 d6 11.Be2 0–0 12.0–0 Re8

Although this is a line, 12...b6 is the usual response. An example is: 12...b6 13.b4 Bb7 14.Rac1 Rad8 15.Qb2 Ng6 16.Bg3=

13.b4

White correctly plays b4, pinching some queenside space. She has nothing to fear from the queen and rook on the open e-file, and Black's undeveloped queenside provides a nice target.

13...Ng6 14.Bg3 Qg5

14...Bf5 15.Rfd1 Be4: Black needs to activate his bishop and permit his other rook to get into the game. His lack of development gives White better chances to find a winning combination.

15.Rac1 Rd8

I'm not sure what the plan here is. Black's pieces are still underdeveloped.

16.Qd5 Qxd5?

The trade here was unnecessary. Black needed to ask himself, “What do I gain? What does my opponent gain?” Black gains no open lines, or squares for his pieces. While White gains additional space for his lightsquare bishop and a half-open file for his rook. It is true that Black has to sacrifice space and a tempo in order to avoid the trade. But the question must be asked, “Which is worse in this position?”

17.cxd5 Rd7 18.Bg4

18.Rc2+-: Black cannot protect the c-pawn enough.

18...Re7 19.Bxc8 Rxc8 20.Bxd6 Rd7 21.Bg3 Rxd5 22.Rxc7 Rxc7 23.Bxc7 Rd3 24.a4 a6 25.Rc1 h6 26.h3 Ne7 27.Be5 Rb3 28.Bd6

28.Rc7 Nd5 (28...Nc6 29.Bd6)

28...Nf5 29.Rc8+ Kh7 30.Bc5 b6 31.Bxb6 Rxb4 32.a5 Nd6 33.Ra8 Nc4 34.Rxa6 Ra4 35.Ra7 Kg6 36.Kf1 Ra2 37.Bd8 Ne5 38.Ra8 Nd3 39.f3 Rf2+ 40.Kg1 Re2 41.Bb6 Ne5 42.Kf1 Ra2 43.a6 Nd3 44.a7 1–0

An elementary finish.