Home Sweet Home

The Amateur Championship back in Kalamazoo for the eighth time in nine years. Kalamazoo Valley Community College was the site for the fifth straight year. If the tournament keeps going smoothly, there probably won’t any need to change locations in the near future. Jay Carr has been the Go-To-Guy for organizing and directing the event while it’s been over on the west side of the state. The 61 players was a drop from last year, but more than enough to make the tournament a success.

Round 1

The cut this year was at 1367, allowing for the first to go almost to form. Although, there were a couple of former Amateur Champions that suffered a round one shock. On board eight, Mike Skidmore was surprised when John Crane (1266) found a tactic. On board eleven, Les LeRoy Smith was outplayed by one of those up and coming junior players, Will Scheller (988).

White seems to have an opportunity to hold the position when things go wrong:

Don Poniatowski (1310)
Jennifer Skidmore (1872)
Center Game, C21

Notes by Edward Laurin

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Nf3 c5 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.Ng5 d5 6.exd5 Nxd5 7.Qf3

7.Nxf7 is an interesting way to achieve equality. 7...Qe7+ (7...Kxf7 8.Qf3+ is similar to the Fried Liver, but in this line Black has no e-pawn to hide the king behind and so White grabs the gold immediately.) 8.Qe2 Qxe2+ 9.Kxe2 Kxf7 10.Bxd5+=

7...Be6 8.Nxe6 fxe6 9.0–0 Be7 10.Re1 Qd7 11.Qe4

11.Qh5+= Induces weaknesses in Black's position.

11...Nc6 12.Qxe6 Qxe6 13.Rxe6 Nc7 14.Re2 0–0–0 15.Bf4 Bf6 16.Nd2 d3 17.cxd3

17.Bxd3 is much clearer. This gives the bishop the possibility of a check on f5 and makes it difficult for Black to capture on b2 because of: 17...Bxb2 18.Rb1 Bf6 19.Nb3 Nd4 20.Nxd4 Rxd4 21.Be3²

17...Bxb2 18.Rb1 Bf6 19.Nf3

19.Ne4 seems the most testing move in this line.

19...Rhe8 20.Rxe8 Rxe8 21.Re1

This just misplaces White's knight.

21...Rxe1+ 22.Nxe1³ Nd4 23.Be3 b5 24.Bxd4 Bxd4 25.Bf7 a5 26.Nc2 Bc3 27.Kf1 Kb7 28.Ke2 a4 29.Kd1

This seems inactive and a bit out of place for the king. 29.d4 c4 30.Ke3³

29...Be5 30.h3 b4 31.g3 Nb5 32.Kc1 Nc3 33.f4 Bd6 34.Kb2?

34.Kd2 Kings belong in the center in the endgame unless they are needed to block something. Black's pawns aren't going through on the queenside, as White's light-squared bishop should hold them off.

34...Ne2

The winning move.

35.g4

Drops even more material.

35...Nxf4 36.h4 Nxd3+ 37.Kb1 Ne5 38.Be6 Kb6 39.Ne3 Kb5 40.Nf5 Bf8 41.Ne3 c4 42.Bg8 h6 43.g5 b3 44.axb3 axb3 45.gxh6 gxh6 46.Be6 Kb4 47.Nd5+ Ka3 48.Nc3 Bb4 49.Nd5 Nf3 50.Nxb4 Kxb4 0–1

Where did this one come from?:

Les LeRoy Smith (1800)
Will Scheller (988)
Bird: Dutch A03

Notes by Tim McGrew

1.f4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 Bf5

3...Bg4 may be a little better here.

4.Be2 Nc6 5.0–0 e6 6.Nh4 Bg6 7.d3 Qe7 8.a4 0–0–0 9.Bd2 Nd7 10.g3 f5 11.c3 e5

Up to this point Black's opening play has been pretty rational and he is holding his own.

12.fxe5 Ndxe5

If Black had played this as a deliberate sacrifice it might not be so bad. But from the follow-up it looks like it was just an oversight. 12...Qxe5 is very solid.

13.Nxf5 Bxf5?!

This is where we discover that Black is reacting to White's moves rather than pursuing his own plan. 13...Qd7! gives Black fair compensation for his pawn, e.g. 14.e4 (14.Nh4 Bxd3µ) 14...dxe4 15.dxe4 Ne7 16.Nxe7+ Bxe7³ and White must lose back the pawn on e4.

14.Rxf5 g6 15.Rf1 Bh6 16.Na3 Nf7 17.Nc2 Nd6 18.b4 a6 19.Bg4+

Starting about here, White makes a few second-best decisions. No one decision is actually bad, and he winds up with a winning position. But it is a winning position where he must find some precise defensive moves, and this is always harder to play than a winning position where the opponent must find the precise defensive moves! 19.b5! cracks open the Black castle at the trivial cost of one pawn -- a pawn that White might be said to be returning rather than sacrificing. After 19...axb5 20.axb5 Nxb5 21.Qb1 Black's pieces are condemned to defensive duties and the knights can easily get tangled up, e.g. 21...Nd6 22.Bg4+ Nf5 23.Rxf5! gxf5 24.Bxf5+ Rd7 25.Qb5+- and White threatens to purloin Black's queen by 26.Ra8+ Nb8 27.Bxd7+ Qxd7 28.Rxb8+ Kxb8 29.Qxd7 etc.

19...Kb8 20.Qe2

20.b5! is still very strong.

20...Rhf8 21.Bf3 Qg5 22.Rfd1

22.Rad1 is at least equally good, leaving one rook on the f-file.

22...Nf5? 23.e4!

This double attack should win cleanly.

23...Nxg3!?

A desperation sac. Starting about here Will does exactly what one must do in order to defeat a stronger player -- mix things up as much as possible.

24.hxg3?

Playing with fire. 24.Qg2!+- refutes Black's idea. Black's knight and queen are both under fire, and he must lose a piece without gaining any compensating attack.

24...Qxg3+ 25.Bg2

25.Qg2 Rxf3 26.Bxh6 Rxd3 27.Rxd3 Qxd3 28.exd5 Rxd5 still favors White, though it's getting chancy.

25...Bxd2 26.Rxd2 dxe4 27.d4 Qxc3 28.b5?!

This comes much too late to create an attack.

28...Nxd4??

Black stumbles.

29.Nxd4??

White returns the favor. 29.Qxe4!+- would put White back on top because of the mate threat against b7.

29...Qxa1+ 0–1

An unfortunate loss for Les (who made up for it by going 3.5/4 in his remaining games), and a gutsy win for Will Scheller, whose rating (I predict) will be at least 500 points higher by the time we hear from him next.

Round 2

There was not a lot of excitement this round. The only three draw-upsets in the top group to help filter out some perfect scores.

Gilbert Pointer (1659)
Stan Jarosz (1993)
English: Agincourt (King's Knight), A13

Notes by Tim McGrew

The eventual tournament winner gets a real scare this round and needs some help from his opponent to stay on target for a perfect score.

1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0–0 6.0–0 Nbd7 7.d3 b6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.e4 dxe4 10.dxe4 Bb7 11.Qc2 Nc5 12.e5 Nfe4

A pair of knights defending each other can look very impressive. But in some circumstances they turn out to be quite weak. the reason lies in the peculiarity of the knight's move: if a knight is defending a square like e4, it literally cannot move and still be defending that square. The same is true of pawns, of course, but pawns are so low on the scale of material values that they can often meet an attack with a metaphorical shrug. Knights are more valuable -- and therefore more vulnerable. If all of this seems like abstract talk, keep an eye on the Black knights over the next few moves.

13.Rd1 Qc8 14.Nd5!

Cutting off one of the knight's supporters.

14...Bxd5 15.Rxd5 Qe6 16.Rd4

Now the N/e4 is under pressure and lacks retreat squares.

16...f5

Black trades one problem for another. Now the knight on e4 is defended fairly securely, but the diagonal from c4 to g8 is open and White scrambles to take advantage of this.

17.Bf1

White's threat is obvious enough: he wants to play Bc4 pinning and winning Black's queen. 17.b4 is already very strong, e.g. 17...Na6 18.Bf1 and Black must give up some material rather than allow Bc4.

17...Kh8

17...Qg6

18.b4! Rfd8

18...Nb7 19.Qxc7 Nd8 is miserable.

19.Rxd8+! Rxd8 20.bxc5 Bxc5

Black's position is a shambles, and only the weak threat against f2 gives him any reason to carry on. But this is the point in the game where White needs a bit of precision.

21.Bb2?

21.Ng5! would take the air out of Black's tactics on f2.. 21...Bxf2+ 22.Qxf2! Nxf2 23.Nxe6+- is going to leave Black two pieces down for just a pawn or two.

21...Nxf2 22.Kg2?!

22.Ba3! would still retain enough advantage for White to claim that he is winning. Black has no good discovered checks, e.g. 22...Nh3+ 23.Kh1 Nf2+ 24.Kg2 Bxa3 25.Kxf2 Bc5+ 26.Kg2+- and White is well on top.

22...Ng4

With obvious intentions on the e3 square.

23.Re1?

It is a very bad idea to give back the material like this. 23.Qe2 Ne3+ 24.Kh1 still gives White an edge.

23...Ne3+ 24.Rxe3 Bxe3 25.Qxc7??

Now the game turns in Black's favor, and Stan never lets up.

25...Rc8!

Think of this as an abstract skewer. What Black is really aiming for is not the queen but the c2-square behind her.

26.Qd6!?

A good try that gives Black a chance to go wrong.

26...Qxa2

26...Qxd6? 27.exd6! turns White's pawn into a monster. Black has no time for 27...Rc2+ 28.Kh3 Rxb2?? because after 29.d7!+- he must give up his rook to stop the pawn.

27.Qb4

27.Qa3 was the only way to struggle now, but after 27...Rc2+ 28.Kh1 Qxa3 29.Bxa3 Rf2 30.Bg2 Ra2!-+ it's all over.

27...Rc2+ 28.Kh3 Rxb2 29.Qf8+ Qg8 30.Qxf5 Bc5 31.Ng5 Rf2 32.Nf7+ Qxf7 0–1

An interesting equal:

Jerry Crysler (1409)
Tim Moroney (1829)
English: Agincourt, A13

Notes by Edward Laurin

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.b3 c5 4.Bb2 Nc6 5.d3 d5 6.cxd5

6.g3 Continuing development seems best.

6...exd5 7.g3 Be7 8.Bg2 Bg4 9.Nbd2 0–0 10.0–0 Qd7 11.Ne5?

11.Rc1 or 11.d4 seems suitable.

11...Nxe5 12.Bxe5 d4

12...Qe6 13.f4 (13.Bxf6 Bxf6 Forked.) 13...Nd7-+. White is going to lose a pawn.

13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Ne4 Be7 15.Rc1 Rac8 16.f3 Be6 17.Rc2 f5 18.Nf2 h5

18...f4µ

19.f4 h4 20.Nh3 hxg3 21.hxg3 Kf7

21...Rfe8 Aiming for the weaknesses along the e-file. The text prepares to shuffle the rooks over to the h-file. However, it is unclear how any breakthrough can be made there.

22.Qe1 Bf6 23.Ng5+

Although this weakens White's pawn structure it removes one of Black's more powerful pieces, and one of the methods useable for taking advantage of the weak dark squares.

23...Bxg5 24.fxg5 Kg6 25.e4 dxe3 26.Qxe3 b6 27.Rcf2 Rce8 28.Be4

An interesting move for equality. Black must now walk very carefully in order to maintain the game.

28...Qc8?

28...fxe4 29.Rxf8 Rxf8 30.Rxf8 Qxd3=. The text move calls White's bluff of Be4. However this is incorrect.

White to move and win

29.Bg2?

29.g4 and White now wins material. 29...Kf7 (29...fxe4 30.Qxe4+ Bf5 (30...Kxg5 31.Qe5+ Bf5 Everything else leads to mate. (31...Kxg4 32.Rg2+ Kh4 33.Qg3+ Kh5 34.Qg5#) 32.Rxf5+ Rxf5 33.Rxf5+ Qxf5 34.Qxf5++-) 31.gxf5++-) 30.gxf5. Black can't move his bishop off the a2-g8 diagonal because of mate threats.

29...Bd5 30.Qf4 Bxg2 31.Kxg2 Qd8 32.Qa4 Rh8

32...Qd5+ Keeping the pieces active and watching over the checking square on c6.

33.Qc6+ Kh7 34.Rh1+

34.d4 White wins material. 34...Rhf8 (34...Qxd4 35.Rh1+ Kg8 36.Qxe8#) 35.dxc5 Qxg5 36.cxb6 axb6 37.Qxb6±

34...Kg8 35.Rxh8+ Kxh8 36.Rxf5 Re2+ 37.Rf2

37.Kh3 This seems to be the only way for White to fight for the advantage. The a2 pawn is poisoned. 37...Rxa2 (37...Qe8 38.g6 Kg8 39.Qxe8+ Rxe8 40.Rf7 White has better chances due to his better rook, more active king, and material advantage.) 38.g6 With mate to follow.

37...Qxd3?? 38.g6

38.Qc8+ Kh7 39.g6+ Kxg6 40.Qg4++-

38...Rxf2+ 39.Kxf2 Qd2+ 40.Kg1 Qe1+ 41.Kh2 Qe2+ 42.Kh3 Qf1+ 43.Kg4 Qe2+ 44.Kh4 Qh2+ 45.Kg4 ½–½

Watch out for the king in the center:

Roy Almasy (1674)
Kevin Hoyt (Unr)
Scandinavian: Classical (Viñoles), B01

Notes by Tim McGrew

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8

This move has had a bad reputation ever since Fischer destroyed Karl Robatsch in 20 moves at the Varna Olympiad in 1962. 3...Qa5 is still respectable, and recently 3...Qd6 has picked up some adherents.

4.Nf3

Fischer-Robatsch continued 4.d4 g6 5.Bf4 Bg7 and now instead of the routine 6.Nf3, allowing a pin, Fischer played 6.Qd2! with the point that 6...Bxd4 (or 6...Qxd4 7.Qxd4 Bxd4 8.Nd5! Bb6 9.Bxc7±) 7.0–0–0 pins the bishop and wins back the pawn (or more) under favorable circumstances, e.g. 7...c5 8.Nb5 Na6 9.c3+-

4...e6

Black is trying to set up a solid position, but this blocks in his light-square bishop and concedes to White a lead in development as well as a space advantage in the center.

5.d4 Bb4 6.Bd2 a6

This is really carrying the policy of ignoring the center rather far.

7.Bc4

7.Bd3 is less exposed, but in a few moves White puts his control of d5 to good use.

7...Nc6 8.0–0 b5 9.Bb3 h6 10.Re1

10.d5 is also strong right away.

10...Nf6 11.d5!

It is always nice to open the center when you have castled and your opponent has not!

11...Na5 12.dxe6 Nxb3 13.exf7+

This Zwischenzug adds Black's exposed king to the list of White's assets.

13...Kxf7 14.Ne5+

Since the knight arrives on an excellent square with no loss of time, White continues to defer the capture on b3.

14...Kg8 15.cxb3 Bb7 16.Qc2 c6

Having put his bishop on an open diagonal, Black blocks it. This is a recipe for disaster.

17.Rad1! Qb6 18.Ne4! Re8

Now Roy calculates things out to mate.

19.Nxf6+ Kf8

19...gxf6 20.Qg6+ is even worse for Black.

20.Bxb4+ c5 21.Bxc5+ Re7

Mate in two -- do you see it?

22.Ned7+! Kf7 23.Rxe7# 1–0

Round 3

Twelve players came into round three perfect. Here are the associated parings:

1. Caitlin 0 Jarosz
2. Williams 1 Matias
3. Evans 1 M. Semeciyan
4. Sawant 0 Jendras
5. Aldrich 1 Almasy
6. Thach 0 J. Skidmore

Starting with board one:

Andrew Catlin (1859)
Stan Jarosz (1993)
Sicilian: Smith-Morra, B21

Notes by Tim McGrew

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Nf6?

A rather daring response to the Smith-Morra.

6.e5!?

White permits himself to be provoked. 6.Bc4 will very likely transpose into the main lines.

6...Ng4 7.Bf4 e6

The game Hawkes-Mohd, New Zeland Ch 1997, continued 7...d6 8.exd6 exd6 9.Nb5 Nge5 and Black was better, though White eventually won (1–0, 46).

8.h3 Nh6 9.Bxh6

I'm not sure this is necessary. The knight is offside and will not be doing anything special even if it gets back to f5. 9.Bd3 looks like a more promising idea, with the accent on quick development.

9...gxh6 10.Bc4

One of the problems of White's move order is that this bishop does not have a natural square any more. Another is that Black's dark-square bishop knows exactly where it is going.

10...Bg7 11.Qe2 Qa5

Black fastens on the e-pawn as the natural target.

12.Bb5

Forced if White is to retain the e-pawn. But this means that something has gone wrong in White's play.

12...a6 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.0–0 0–0 15.Rad1 Rb8 16.Rd4 Rb4 17.Rfd1 c5 18.a3??

A dreadful miscalculation. 18.R4d2 would keep the game relatively balanced, at least for a while, though the imbalance between White's knights and Black's bishop pair (supported, if Black can manage it, by a rolling center) could become a factor later.

18...Rxd4

Oops!

19.Nxd4 cxd4 20.Rxd4 Qxe5

White could resign here, but he flails around for a little while.

21.Re4 Qc5 22.Rg4

Hoping to make something happen on the g-file.

22...Bb7 23.Qd2 f5 24.Rg3 f4 25.Rg4 h5 0–1

The remainder of the scoresheet was illegible, but Black eventually won on or around move 48.

Double-edged games are great for the magazine:

Ken Williams (1924)
I.C. Matias (1784)
King's Indian: Sämisch (Panno-Ruban), E84

Notes by Bill Calton

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0–0 6.Be3 Nc6 7.Nge2 a6 8.Qd2 Rb8 9.Nc1

Unusual for the Sämisch. Rather than the typical kingside build-up, White tries to nip Black's queenside play in the bud.

9...e5 10.Nb3 Bd7 11.d5 Ne7 12.c5

Now White expands on the queenside, while Black seeks kingside counterplay.

12...h5?

But this simply creates a weakness. f5 is the break to aim for.

13.Be2 Nh7 14.0–0 f5 15.Rfc1

This looks unnatural to me. White is clearing f1 for the bishop, but I wonder if this is necessary.

15...f4 16.Bf2 g5 17.a4

White was definitely better after 12...h5, but in a few more moves his edge is completely gone. Apparently the routine moves were too slow in this position. As an alternative, the computer suggests an odd maneuver here to get White's initiative going quickly. 17.Nb1 Backward moves are so “unnatural” to most of us, that this move is almost impossible move to see. 17...g4 18.Qb4 But the logic is undeniable. The knight can pivot back to d2, keeping in contact with the sensitive f3 square. At the same time, White eyes the d6-pawn, clears the c-file and may sink a piece into the b6-square. 18...gxf3 (18...Ng5 19.N1d2 gxf3 20.Nxf3 Nf7 21.Na5+-; 18...Rf6 19.N1d2 g3 20.hxg3 fxg3 21.Bxg3 Ng6 22.cxd6 cxd6 23.Qa5 Qe8. The computer prefers White here, with his extra gumball, though Black has real counterplay.) 19.Bxf3 Ng5 20.N1d2 Nxf3+ 21.Nxf3+-

17...Ng6 18.a5 g4 19.cxd6

Finally, White makes some tangible progress. He can penetrate via the c-file, targeting c7 for the rook, and using a4 and b6 as strong points. Meanwhile, Black has the making of a typical King's Indian mating attack.

19...cxd6 20.Na4 g3

Black is desperate to open lines. A pawn is a small price to pay for the initiative.

21.Bb6

21.hxg3 Naturally, White tries to keep the position closed. The computer prefers grabbing the pawn, though Black appears to have sufficient counterplay (and all the fun) in the following sample line of play. 21...fxg3 22.Bxg3 h4 23.Bh2 h3 24.Nb6 hxg2 25.Nxd7 Qxd7.

21...Qh4 22.h3 Bxh3

This move is so automatic in the King's Indian. To break down the pawn wall for a piece is a bargain.

23.gxh3 Qxh3?

Black may have been on autopilot here. This capture appears to be Black's fatal mistake. Instead, after ...Ng5, Black crashes through. 23...Ng5 24.Bd1 Owing to the nasty Nxf3+ fork, the bishop must tend to the f3-square. 24...Qxh3 25.Qg2 Qxg2+ 26.Kxg2 Nh4+ 27.Kg1 Nhxf3+ 28.Bxf3 Nxf3+ 29.Kg2 Ng5-+ and White's extra piece on the queenside would be no match for Black's kingside rollers.

24.Bf1 Qh4 25.Qg2 Ng5

In the game, the queen on h4 hinders Black from making progress. He cannot mount pressure against f3, nor push forward the h-pawn. White's extra piece now tells.

26.Nd2 Rbc8 27.Bc7 Nf7 28.Nb6 Qf6 29.Nxc8 Rxc8 30.Qh3 Rf8 31.Qxh5 Ng5 32.Bxd6 Qxd6 33.Qxg5 Rf6 34.Bh3 Nf8 35.Rc8 Rg6 36.Nc4 Rxg5 37.Nxd6 Rh5 38.Be6+ Kh7 39.Bf5+ Kg8 40.Rac1 Rh2 1–0

A fun game, especially from the sidelines.

John Crane (1266)
Gilbert Pointer (1659)
Pirc, B07

Notes by Tim McGrew

In round 2, Gilbert Pointer had a bit of hard luck against Stan Jarosz. This round Caissa smiled on him as he wins one he should have lost.

1.e4 d6 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3

White's play is not ambitious, but it is solid.

4...g6 5.h3 Bg7 6.Nf3 0–0 7.Be3 Na5 8.Bb3 Nxb3 9.axb3 a6 10.Qd2 b5 11.b4

Careful -- there are stray pawns and marauding pieces flying around just below the visible level in this game. 11.Nxb5!? Bxh3!? 12.Rxh3 axb5. The fireworks haven't given anyone an edge, but they're very interesting!

11...Nd7 12.d4

12.Bh6 looks reasonable right away.

12...Nb6 13.b3

White is trying to keep a knight out of c4.

13...e6

Black could generate some play here with 13...f5.

14.Bh6 f6

A bit passive. Black opens his second rank for defense, but White is under no pressure and can continue the attack unabated.

15.g4 Qe7 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.h4 f5 18.h5

This definitely looks like the sort of thing I would do!

18...fxg4 19.hxg6! hxg6

19...gxf3 20.Rxh7+ doesn't need any comment from me.

20.Ng5?

Here White slips, missing a chance for a quick knockout. 20.Qh6+! removes the last shreds of Black's kingside and wins the exchange. After 20...Kf7 21.Ng5+ Ke8 22.Qxg6+ Kd8 23.Rh7! Qf6 24.Nf7+! Rxf7 25.Qxf7 Qxf7 26.Rxf7+- there really isn't much in the game for Black to look forward to.

20...Rh8 21.0–0–0 Rh5 22.Rxh5 gxh5 23.Rh1 Kg6 24.Nh3?

An unfortunate retreat. [24.f4! Bd7 (24...gxf3 25.Nxf3±) 25.Nxe6! Bxe6 26.f5+!± keeps the fire lit without (permanently) sacrificing anything.

24...gxh3

White doesn't have enough material in the critical sector, and now the attack fizzles.

25.Rg1+ Kh7 26.Rg5 Qf7 27.Qe2 Qf4+

Now Black mops up.

28.Qe3 Qxe3+ 29.fxe3 Kh6 0–1

Down to six perfect scores with another four with an outside chance:

3.0: Jarosz, Williams, Evans, Jendras, Aldrich, J. Skidmore
2.5 Moroney, Talreja, Crysler, Spitzer

Round 4

1. Jarosz 1 Aldrich
2. Jendras ½ Williams
3. J. Skidmore 1 Evans
4. Spitzer 0 Moroney
5. Talreja ½ Crysler

Black’s king never makes it out of the center:

Stan Jarosz (1993)
Jeff Aldrich (1900)
Semi-Slav: Meran (Reynolds), D48

Notes by Tim McGrew

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 a6 9.e4 c5

All standard stuff seen thousands of times in master play. Now White must decide which of his center pawns he wants to push.

10.d5

10.e5!? is about equally popular but leads to an entirely different sort of game after 10...cxd4 11.Nxb5 etc.

10...Nb6!?

This is far off the main theoretical path and has not been seen in master play lately. 10...c4 11.Bc2 Qc7 is an established main line with a good theoretical reputation (from Black's point of view). Black's extra queenside space balances the slight weakness White can create at e6.

11.dxe6

11.d6!? looks like the most challenging move. But it is hard to play this over the board when you suspect your opponent might have another novelty prepared for you!

11...Bxe6 12.Qe2 Qc7

Now we've left the theoretical beaten path for good. The main line in this variation, insofar as it has one, is 12...Be7 13.0–0 b4 14.Nd1 c4 15.Bc2 Qc7 when Black tries to prove that his queenside pawns are dangerously advanced instead of dangerously weak. This all goes back to Suvalik-Trifunovic, Yugoslav Ch 1961 (½–½, 32).

13.0–0 Rd8 14.Re1 b4?

This move is positionally correct, but the timing is wrong because of Black's uncastled king. Unfortunately, this is one of those positions where a single slip more or less puts you out of the game if your opponent plays well -- which Jarosz does. After 14...Be7 the e-file is better shielded and Black threatens to advance the queenside pawns.

15.Nd5!

Unpleasantly strong.

15...Nfxd5 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Ng5!

This is the point. The bishop on e6 is overwhelmed, and if he desires, White can add more pressure with Bf5. Once the f-pawn recaptures at e6 there will also be possibilities of checks on h5.

17...Rd6 18.Bxa6

Nabbing his pawn the “other” way. 18.Bf5 may be even stronger, e.g. 18...Qe7 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.Bxe6 and Black finds himself in a log jam on the e-file, unable to extricate his king and queen cleanly without loss of more material. For example, 20...Nc7 21.Bh3 Qxe2 22.Rxe2+ Kf7 23.Bf4! and White covers his back rank and wins the exchange all at once.

18...Be7 19.Bb5+ Kd8

19...Kf8 is slightly safer, but everything is fairly ugly now.

20.Bc4 Qc6 21.Bxd5 Rxd5 22.Nxf7+ 1–0

Everything comes apart on e7 and f7.

This games has some ups and downs:

Roy Almasy (1674)
Andrew Catlin (1859)
Alekhine: Modern, B05

Notes by Edward Laurin

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Bc4

5.Be2, Breaking the pin seems like another reasonable idea.

5...e6 6.0–0 Be7 7.exd6

This exchange of White's strong center is too rash. White should instead develop, and only remove the tension in the center if it will give him an advantage. [7.h3 Bh5 8.Re1=

7...Qxd6 8.Bxd5

Once again this removes the tension and after the smoke clears White's two best assets, his center and light-squared bishop are gone. In exchange he gains nothing, but Black gains control of the center and better placed pieces.

8...exd5

8...Qxd5, I like this slightly better as it puts more pressure on f3. However the text is good.

9.b3

Too slow. White will fall behind in development. Necessary is to get some pieces out with 9.Nc3 or 9.Re1.

9...0–0 10.Re1 Nc6 11.Ba3 Qf6 12.Bxe7 Nxe7 13.Nbd2 Rfe8 14.h3 Bh5 15.c3

15.Re5 is an interesting idea so that White gets a strong control over the e-file. 15...Bg6 16.Qe2².

15...Rad8 16.Qc2 Bg6 17.Qb2 Rd6 18.Ne5 Qf4

18...Re6, Taking the e-file seems the best plan here for Black. 19.Nxg6 Nxg6³

19.Re3 Be4

This seems to weaken Black's pawn structure. 19...Re6 taking the e-file once again seems prudent.

20.Rae1 Bf5

Black's bishop moves lose him valuable time.

21.Ndf3

White continues to solidify his position.

21...Be6

Black's rook becomes locked out. 21...Re6 seems decent here as well.

22.Qe2 Nf5 23.Nd3 Qh6 24.Re5 Nh4 25.Nh2

This is too slow. White still enjoys an edge due to the control over the e-file and Black's cramped position. However, the following variation is much more telling: 25.Nxh4 Qxh4 26.Nc5 b6 (26...Rb6 27.Rxd5+-) 27.Nxe6 Rdxe6 28.Qa6+-.

25...Qf6 26.Ng4 Qe7 27.Nc5

27.Nf4

27...c6 28.g3

28.Nxe6, White has been building the pressure for some time now. And now is the time to cash in. 28...Rxe6 (28...fxe6 29.Rh5, White has given Black a weakness on e5 and e6. This, along with his control over the e-file, offers a strong advantage.) 29.Rxe6 fxe6 (29...Qxe6? 30.Nf6+! gxf6 31.Qg4+. Picking up the queen for two pieces and shattering Black's pawn structure.)

28...Ng6

Now Black begins to struggle back.

29.Re3 b6 30.Nd3

White flinches. Now, White's control of the e-file means little since it is difficult to make anything of it. However, White still has a small plus as Black has little action of his own.

30...Red8 31.f4 Bxg4

31...Qc7 Black simply improves his position.

32.Qxg4 Qd7 33.f5! Nf8 34.Re7 Qc8 35.Ne5

35.Nf4! Aiming for g7 and a kingside attack. 35...R8d7 36.Nh5 g6 37.fxg6 Rxg6 38.Qf3 f5 Black's pawn structure and kingside is weakened allowing White to start winning pawns.

35...Rf6

The only move. Note how this is not possible after 35.Nf4 due to 36.Nh5 with the double attack.

36.Rf1 Nd7 37.Qh5 Nxe5 38.dxe5 g6 39.Qh6

White tries for an attack. Once again, now was time to liquidate the advantage into material gain. 39.Qg5 Rxf5 40.Rxf5 Qxf5 41.Qxf5 gxf5 42.Rxa7±.

39...Rxf5 40.e6 Rxf1+ 41.Kxf1 Rf8 42.Kg1

42.Kg2 is more active. It may even make the difference between a win and a draw.

42...a5

42...c5÷

43.Rd7±

White still enjoys an advantage due to his more active rook; perhaps even a decisive one. I assume the players are in time trouble now as the remainder of the game is full of blunders.

43...Qe8??

43...c5, Black's best chance.

44.Kg2??

44.e7 A simple win.

44...Qc8

44...Qxe6, Now black wins!

45.h4

The wasted tempi gives White time to create a win.

45...c5 46.h5 d4 47.hxg6 hxg6

White to move and mate in five.

48.cxd4

48.exf7+ Rxf7 49.Qxg6+ Kh8 50.Qh5+ Kg7 51.Rxf7+ Kg8 52.Qh7#

48...cxd4 49.exf7+ Rxf7 50.Rxf7

50.Qxg6+ With a similar shape to above.

50...Kxf7 51.Qh7+ Kf6 52.Qh4+ Ke5 53.Qf4+ Kd5 54.Qg5+ ½–½

A draw was agreed here. However, Black seems to be winning after 54...Qf5.

White holds the Black king in the center and it pays off materially:

Mike Skidmore (1851)
Robert Moore (1628)
Sicilian: Moscow, B52

Notes by Bill Calton

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+

The Moscow is an anti-Sicilian line with some real venom.

3...Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.0–0 Nf6 6.e5

Although this move works like a charm in this game, I feel this move is somewhat rash. In his excellent work “The Chess Advantage in Black and White”, IM Larry Kaufman recommends a system beginning with 6.Qe2 Nc6 7.Rd1. Against ...g6, White will proceed with c3 and d4 to blunt the long diagonal. While on ...e6, White will d4 and c4, with play against the d6 pawn.

6...dxe5 7.Nxe5 Qc7 8.d4 e6 9.Nc3

Keep an eye on this knight. It bounces around like a pinball, racking up point after point.

9...Bd6?

9...cxd4 10.Qxd4 Nc6 11.Nxc6 (11.Nb5 Qxe5 12.Qxe5 Nxe5 13.Nc7+ Kd7 14.Nxa8 Bd6-+) 11...Qxc6 and Black is OK.

10.Nb5 Qd8 11.Nc4 Be7 12.dxc5 Bxc5 13.Ncd6+ Bxd6 14.Nxd6+ Ke7 15.Bf4 Qb6 16.Nc4 Qc6 17.Bd6+ Ke8 18.Ne5?!

A slight slip. 18.Qd4 Qd5 19.Qc3 and the queens remain.

18...Qb6?!

But Black misses his chance. 18...Qd5 is still good for White, because an eventual queen trade would relieve some pressure.

19.Re1 Nc6 20.Nc4

White does not want to trade and re-routes the knight to another post. Instead, with the straightforward 20.Qd3, White could connect the rooks, and continue to build the pressure. Note that Black cannot do the same, as his king is trapped in the center.

20...Qa6?!

20...Qd4, Again, this is not a cure-all for Black. But getting the queens off should help.

21.Ne3 Rd8 22.Nf5 Rg8 23.Qf3

White tightens the grip. No more chances for Black.

23...Qc4 24.Ba3 Qg4 25.Qxg4 Nxg4 26.Nd6+

Time to cash in.

26...Rxd6 27.Bxd6 Nd4 28.Rac1 Kd7 29.Bg3 Nf5 30.h3 Nf6 31.Rcd1+ Kc8 32.Be5 Nd7 33.Bc3 Ne7 34.b3 Nd5 35.Bb2 Nb4 36.a3 Nc6 37.c4 Na5 38.Re3 Nc5 39.b4 Nxc4 40.Re5 Nxb2 41.Rxc5+ Kb8 42.Rd7 1–0

Black is doing well, positionally, then misses a threat:

I.C. Matias (1784)
Scott Ream (1412)
Nimzo-Indian: Sämisch, E24

Notes by Edward Laurin

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3

The Sämisch variation of the Nimzo-Indian. Black drops the bishop pair to weaken White's pawn structure.

5...b6

5...c5 is my favorite response. It prevents White from advancing the pawn structure via c5, c4, d5, something he would enjoy doing. Of course, capturing on c5 for White would be horrible. A normal response is e3 with even play.

6.f3

I'm not sure about this move here.

6...d6

This is just too passive. 6...d5 is playable now that c5 is not an option for Black. 7.cxd5 exd5³.

7.e4 Nbd7 8.Bd3 c5

A critical idea in these pawn structures.

9.Ne2 0–0 10.0–0 Qc7 11.Ng3 Ba6 12.Qe2

This doesn't seem to be the best square for the queen.

12...h5

This just weakens Black's kingside too much. 12...cxd4 13.cxd4 Rac8 14.Bb2 Bxc4. Black wins a pawn but the position is still difficult and full of possiblities.

13.f4

13.Bg5²

13...h4 14.Nh5 Nxh5 15.Qxh5 cxd4 16.e5 dxe5??

16...f5, Black will entertain an advantage after this due to White's shattered pawn structure.

17.Qh7# 1–0

Barry Adams (1387)
Nishant Sawant (1672)
Scandinavian: Modern (Gipslis), B01

Notes by Tim McGrew

White finds a good shot in the opening and then simplifies to and ending where Black dare not try for a win.

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 Nxd5 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 e6 6.h3 Bh5 7.g4 Bg6 8.c4 Bb4+

Black is trying to be fancy, but the weakness of c2 actually gives him a chance to try for more here. 8...Nb4! 9.Na3 (9.Qa4+? runs into 9...b5!! The point is that Black wants to be attacking White's queen at every moment up until he has a chance for the fork at c2. This is why Black “gives away” a pawn on b5 rather than blocking in a more conventional fashion with 9...c6. 10.Qxb5+ c6! 11.Qb7 Nc2+ 12.Kd1 Nd7!-+ and Black's rook is defended while White's is trapped.) 9...N8c6 and Black can build pressure against the d-pawn. It is very difficult for White to dislodge Black's knight from b4.

9.Bd2 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 Nb6 11.Ne5 Be4

Trying to be tricky -- but it backfires.

12.Nxf7!

Oh!

12...Kxf7 13.Qf4+ Qf6 14.Qxe4 Nc6

Black correctly judges that counter-pressure against d4 is the right way to regain the pawn.

15.Nc3 Qxd4 16.Qf3+ Qf6 17.Qg3

17.0–0–0 is objectively stronger since Black cannot win a pawn by exchanging queens: 17...Qxf3? 18.Bxf3 Nxc4 19.Rd7+±.

17...Rac8 18.Rd1 Nd4 19.Rd2 Nxe2 20.Kxe2 Rhd8 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.Qxc7+ Rd7 23.Qc5 Qf4 24.Rd1

Given the rating gap, White is probably happy to see pieces coming off in a position where he is not worse.

24...Rxd1 25.Nxd1 Qxc4+ 26.Qxc4 Nxc4 27.Kd3

The position has burned out and it is virtually impossible for either side to make progress. Black, in particular, has to babysit his e-pawn.

27...Nd6 28.a4 e5 29.Nc3 Ke6 30.b4 ½–½

Two perfect scores to battle it out for the title. Everyone else just has to pray for a draw:

4.0 Jarosz, J. Skidmore
3.5 Williams, Jendras, Moroney

Round 5

Back when David Moody was editor, he used to document how there was a jinx on the number one seed in the Amateur. This has definitely not been in effect lately as Stan has now played on board one for each game the last two Michigan Amateurs. He won his first four games last year before falling in round five. Can he surpass that feat? See his game below to find out:

1. Jarosz - J. Skidmore
2. Williams - Moroney
3. Evans (3.0) - Jendras

This is the only game that matters when it comes to deciding the Champion:

Stan Jarosz (1993)
Jennifer Skidmore (1872)
Semi-Slav: Meran, D46

Notes by Tim McGrew

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6

This seems to have been the opening of choice on the top boards of the Michigan Amateur this year!

4.e3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 Bd6

6...dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 leads into the lines of Jarosz-Aldrich. Jennifer has a more ambitious idea in mind here.

7.e4 dxe4 8.Nxe4 Nxe4 9.Bxe4 0–0

9...Bb4+ 10.Bd2 Qa5 has a reasonable reputation here. Black's intention is to minimize the significance of his space advantage by some exchanges.

10.0–0 f5!?

This is an exceedingly sharp move, and if Black's initiative falters it will leave considerable weaknesses in its wake. It seems to me that Black should be playing for ...e5, so perhaps 10...Re8 is a better idea. 10...h6 11.Bc2 e5 also looks less committal.

11.Bc2 c5 12.Re1 Nf6

Now White forces some simplifications.

13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Qxd8 Rxd8

Up to this point we have been following Houli-Dengler, Bled Olympiad 2002, which Black eventually won. Jarosz now deviates with a few strong moves that leave me doubting that Black has equalized.

15.Be3 Bb4 16.Red1 Re8 17.Ba4 Rf8 18.Ne5

White makes use of his positional trumps in the middlegame, and one of them is this excellent outpost square.

18...Ne4 19.Nd3 Be7 20.f3 Nd6 21.Ne5

That square again!

21...Bf6 22.c5 Nf7 23.Nd7

Trading his outpost knight for the minor exchange (a pair of bishops) and active pieces.

23...Bxd7 24.Bxd7 Nd8

24...Bxb2 doesn't really win a pawn because of 25.Rab1 Bf6 26.Rxb7 when White's c-pawn becomes a monster.

25.Bd4 e5 26.Bc3 g6 27.b4 Rf7 28.b5

White is intending c6. What is Black going to do about it?

28...a6?

Black has been playing with her back to the wall in a very uncomfortable position. But with this move she loses any hope of holding the game. The best chance for resistance may have been 28...Be7 with the idea of 29.c6 bxc6 30.bxc6 Nxc6 31.Bxc6 Rc8 32.Bd5 Rxc3 and White will have to work hard to win the ending with the exchange for a pawn, particularly if Black can cement a bishop on d4.

29.c6!

The advertised advance.

29...bxc6

29...axb5 30.c7+-

30.bxc6

Now the threat of c7 is horrific.

30...Ra7 31.Rab1

31.Ba5 is very convincing.

31...Kg7 32.Rb8 Rc7 33.Ba5 Rcxd7 34.cxd7 Nc6 35.d8Q Bxd8 36.Rbxd8 Nxa5 37.R1d7!

Stan understands this endgame, and he trades off Black's rook immediately to give himself the best possible leverage -- one remaining rook against Black's lone knight.

37...Nc6 38.Rxf7+ Kxf7 39.Rd6

If there were no a-pawns Black could make a bitter fight of it. With the a-pawns, there really isn't much to be done.

39...Nb4 40.a3 Ke7 41.Rb6 Nd5 42.Rxa6 Nc7 43.Ra7 Kd6 44.Kf2 Kc6 45.Ke2 Kb6 46.Rxc7!

A surprising but correct decision. Stan stakes everything on the outside passed pawn. 46.Ra4 is the way to play if you're uncertain about the resulting ending with 4 vs. 3 on the kingside.

46...Kxc7 47.Kd3 Kc6

47...Kb6 48.Kc4 Ka5 49.Kd5 is a clean win.

48.Kc4 g5 49.a4 h5 50.h3

White's king is close enough to the pawns that there is no hope of a successful breakthrough.

50...f4 51.Kd3 Kd5 52.a5

There goes the decoy.

52...g4 53.a6 e4+ 54.fxe4+ Ke5

There may well have been a time scramble here.

55.hxg4 hxg4 56.Ke2 Kxe4 57.a7 f3+ 58.gxf3+ gxf3+ 59.Kf2 Kf4 60.a8Q Kg5 61.Qxf3 Kg6 62.Ke3 Kg7 63.Qf5 Kh8 64.Qd7 Kg8 65.Kf4 Kf8 66.Kf5 Kg8 67.Kg6 Kh8 68.Qg7# 1–0

Thomas Evans Sr. (1906)
Gerard Jendras (1902)
Bishop's Opening: Berlin, C24

Notes by Tim McGrew

Watching the middle part of this game at the Amateur, I was sure Jendras was winning. I must have left before the end!

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 d5

Theory confers a slight frown on this move, but it comes very close to solving Black's opening problems.

5.exd5 Nxd5

Structurally, Black has a small space advantage associated with what Hans Kmoch dubbed the “Jump Formation” since the remaining center pawns are a knight's jump away from each other. White's countervailing advantage is his lead in development and the vulnerability of Black's e-pawn.

6.h3?!

This move gives away any hope for an advantage. White stops the pin at g4, but Black can put the extra tempo to good use. 6.0–0.

6...Be7 7.Bd2 0–0 8.0–0 Be6 9.a3?!

Another “time out” move.

9...Re8

Black continues to centralize.

10.Re1 Bf6 11.Nh2?!

More retrograde motion. Having suffered a few times on the opposite side of the board from Tom, I'm at a loss to say what he is doing here. I wish he had played like this against me!

11...Qd7 12.Nc3 Nxc3 13.Bxe6 Rxe6 14.Bxc3 Nd4 15.Ng4 Rae8 16.Ne3 g6 17.Qg4 Bg7

Preparing ...f5. White is simply being driven back by Black's centralized forces.

18.Rac1

Preventative: White realizes that after ...f5 and ...f4 (both with tempo) the c-pawn could be weak. When you are reduced to playing moves like this, however, something has gone wrong.

18...f5

All as advertised. I saw the position somewhere around here and assumed that Black would simply roll forward and crush his hapless opponent.

19.Qd1 h5?!

An unnecessary weakening. Black could easily have played either 19...f4 or 19...e4.

20.Bd2 f4

Now the kingside threats are beginning to become clear.

21.Nf1 f3!

Only a temporary sacrifice.

22.gxf3 Rf6! 23.Re3 Qxh3?

23...Bh6! would drive the rook away from the defense of f3, the one point White absolutely has to hold. Actually, White has to give up the exchange here or he is rapidly beaten into the ground, e.g. 24.Re4? Qxh3 25.Bxh6 Nxf3+-+

24.f4

Characteristically, Tom finds the best chance for counterplay.

24...Qf5 25.c3 Qxf4!?

Black knows that he was winning just two moves ago, so he assumes that there must be something decisive in the air. This isn't actually bad, but it doesn't give Black a crushing advantage either.

26.cxd4

White has nothing else to do: he may as well take the piece and see what happens.

26...Qxf2+ 27.Kh1 Ref8

Right piece, right square, wrong timing. 27...Qh4+! 28.Kg1 (28.Nh2? Rf2-+ hits both h2 and d2, and White's queen can defend only one of them.) 28...Ref8 29.Qe2 Qxd4 (29...Rf2 30.Re4!? is a saving intermezzo, driving Black's queen away, though after 30...Qf6 31.dxe5 Qf5 32.Ng3 Rxe2 33.Nxf5 Rxd2. Black may still have an edge thanks to his active rook.) 30.Bc3 Qb6 and Black retains an advantage, though the position is still sharp.

28.Nh2!

Now this works because Black has played his moves out of order and cannot get his queen to h4 and his rook to f2 all at once.

28...exd4

28...Qh4 29.Re4 gives Black nothing.

29.Re2 Qh4 30.Qg1 c5??

An oversight, probably in time pressure. 30...Qh3! keeps the game in question, eyeing the d-pawn across the rank. If all of White's pawns disappear he may have difficulty winning even with the extra piece.

31.Bg5

This begins to look more like the Tom Evans I've played.

31...Qh3 32.Bxf6 Rxf6 33.Rf1 Rb6 34.Rf3 Qd7 35.Qg5 Qc6 36.Qd8+ Kh7 37.Kg1 Rb3 38.Re7

Chess is such a cruel game!

38...Rxb2 39.Rxg7+ Kxg7 40.Qf8+ Kh7 41.Rf7# 1–0

Black misses his chance to win a pawn, and the pawn comes back to bite him:

Jeff Aldrich (1900)
Milan Talreja (1741)
King's Indian: Sämisch, E81

Notes by Tim McGrew

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0–0 6.Be3 c5!?

This pawn sacrifice has become one of the most popular responses to White's Sämisch setup.

7.dxc5 dxc5 8.Bxc5 Nc6 9.Be3 e6?!

This looks like a new move, but it is dubious. At this point Black should stop offering the exchange of queens and generate some piece pressure against c3 with 9...Nd7 10.Qd2 Qa5 as in Alonso Pascual - Arizmendi Martinez, Spanish Team Ch 2000.

10.Nh3 b6

10...Qa5 is still an option.

11.Be2 Nd7 12.Qd2 Nc5 13.Rc1 Ba6 14.0–0 Qxd2 15.Bxd2 Nd4

Black has managed to generate some interesting piece play despite his non-standard handling of the opening. Now we see an interesting combination.

16.b3 Rfd8 17.Rfd1 Ncxb3!? 18.axb3 Nxb3 19.Be1

19.Be3 may be preferable.

19...Nxc1 20.Rxc1 Rac8

Black has netted a rook and two pawns for the two knights. More importantly, White's c-pawn is in grave danger of falling off. If it falls, White may have a hard time winning the game on the kingside even if he can win both of Black's queenside pawns.

21.Nd1?

As it turns out, the ugly retreat 21.Na2 is actually better because it defends the rook on c1.

21...Rc6?

Black misses a trick here. 21...Bxc4! nabs the pawn in broad daylight. The point is twofold: the bishop on e2 is overworked and the rook on c1 is undefended. 22.Rxc4 (22.Bxc4 b5µ) 22...Rxc4 23.Bxc4 Rxd1µ.

22.Ne3 Rdc8?

Black is desperate to win the pawn on c4 with pure piece pressure, but this concedes the only open file on the board to White's rook. 22...Bd4 23.Bf2 Rdc8 24.Ng4 Bb2 25.Rc2 Bg7 26.Ne3 b5 27.Nf1 bxc4÷

23.Rd1! Bf8

Black wants to aim for c5, but now the a1-square is free and White displays admirable flexibility in seizing his chance there.

24.Ra1! Bc5 25.Bf2 Bxe3 26.Rxa6! Bxf2+ 27.Kxf2

In positions like this, the two rooks are notoriously clumsy. They can't invade on the seventh rank, they can't make headway against the well-defended c-pawn, and they simply get in each other's way.

27...R8c7 28.Ke3!

Good technique. White centralizes his king and prepares to re-position his knight.

28...Rd7 29.Nf2 Rcd6 30.Ng4! Kg7 31.e5!

Securing the vital f6 and d6 squares as outposts for the knight.

31...Rc6 32.Nf6 Re7 33.g4 Rc5 34.f4 Ra5

Black finally gets to exchange one of his more or less useless rooks, but it is too late to save the game since White's c-pawn has gone into a nearby phone booth and emerged as SuperPawn.

35.Rxa5 bxa5 36.c5 Rb7 37.Bc4 Kf8 38.Kd3 Rc7 39.Ne4 Ke7 40.Bb5 Rb7 41.Nd6! Rb8 42.c6! Kd8 43.Kc4 Kc7 44.Kc5 a6 45.Bxa6 Rb2 46.Nb5+ Rxb5+ 47.Bxb5 h5 48.g5 h4 49.h3 1–0

Black misses his opportunity and White keeps the pressure on:

Nishant Sawant (1665)
Goutham Kapa (1248)
King's Gambit Declined: Petrov, C30

Notes by Edward Laurin

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d6

3...exf4 4.e5 Ng8, This is the interesting idea in the gambit, White grabs more space and a lead in development. Of course, Black's f4 pawn is hard to hold on to.

4.Nf3

4.fxe5 dxe5 just serves to remove the tension in the center. It also allows Black's dark-squared bishop to have more room.

4...Nc6 5.Be2 Be7 6.0–0 Bg4

6...Nd4 and is difficult to capture on d4 because of the pressure on e4. Also, White's light-squared bishop takes away the only decent square for White's knight after exd4. 7.d3 c6=.

7.d3 0–0 8.Ng5 Bxe2

This just trades off Black's “strong” bishop for White's weak one. 8...Bd7=

9.Nxe2 exf4

9...d5, Now seems the right time to break White's strong center. The indication for this is the completion of development, and Black's need to free up his dark-squared bishop.

10.Bxf4

10.Nxf4, The knight is better placed here. This also frees up the queen. The text doesn't improve White's position much, the bishop has no extra scope, the queen is still restricted, and the knight's good square at f4 is taken.

10...Nh5 11.Nh3 Nxf4 12.Nhxf4

12.Nexf4 Once again I like this slightly better. Now the queen can come over to the kingside. White's knight on h3 does look somewhat odd, but it is still in the game.

12...Ne5

12...Bg5 seems to take advantage of White's last move more.

13.Nd4

13.d4, Gaining space with a tempo, and giving the queen a way into the kingside via d3/the third rank.

13...Qd7

13...Bg5 Black's bishop is very limited. He should exchange it for one of White's superior knights before they inflict too much damage.

14.Nf5 Bf6?

14...Bg5 is still best. On f6, the bishop only makes itself the target.

15.Qe1

15.d4 Ng6 16.Nh5 Now Black has to either deal with a shattered kingside or be down material. Even with the first option White will soon win something. 16...Qe6 17.Nxf6+ gxf6 (17...Qxf6 18.Nh6++-) 18.Qh5 Kh8 White is threatening Qh6, after which the only way to prevent Qg7# is taking the knight. (18...Ne7 19.Rf3, The open g-file will cause a good deal of problems.) 19.Rf3 Rg8 20.Raf1. The rooks prepare to strike along the f-file. White's pressure is far too high for Black to escape. 20...Nf8+-.

15...g6

It is normally not good to push pawns in front of your king when you are being attacked. However, in this instance it seems to cover the weaknesses.

16.Nd5 Bd8 17.Qg3 c6 18.Nde3 Bb6

Now the bishop is off-sides!

19.Kh1?

19.d4, The knight has no where good to go and the bishop is locked out. Black's best shot is: 19...Kh8 20.dxe5 gxf5 21.Rxf5. However, once again Black's exposed king offers White better chances.

19...Kh8 20.Nh6 Bxe3 21.Qxe3 Kg7 22.Qg5 Qd8 23.Qe3?

23.Nf5+ Kh8 (23...Kg8 24.Ne7+ Qxe7+- (24...Kg7 25.Qf6+ Kh6 26.Rf4 with mate soon to follow. 24...Kh8 25.Qf6#)) 24.Qxd8 Raxd8 25.Ne3². This is necessary to avoid a loss of material. White still has an advantage due to his better pawn structure and control of the f-file.

23...Qe7

23...Qh4-+, The knight can't escape.

24.d4 Nc4 25.Qh3 Qxe4 26.Ng4 f5! 27.Qh6+ Kh8

27...Kg8 is much better. It protects f7 so that Black can play the rook there in response to any threats along the 7th rank.

28.Rae1 Qxg4?

28...Qd5 Supporting f7.

29.Re7

Black cannot stop the mate now.

29...Rg8 30.Qxh7# 1–0

Now, a look at an interesting endgame:

Sebuh Semerciyan (1452)
Will Scheller (988)
Vienna: Falkbeer, C26

Notes by Tim McGrew

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.g3 Nf6 5.Bg2 0–0 6.d3 d6 7.h3 h6 8.0–0 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Ne4 Be7 11.a3 f5 12.Ned2 f4 13.Ne4 Bd6 14.c3 Nf6 15.Nxd6 Qxd6 16.Qe2 Bf5 17.Rd1 Rfe8 18.Nh4 Qe6 19.Kh2 g5 20.Nxf5 Qxf5 21.g4 Qg6 22.b4 h5 23.Bb2 hxg4 24.hxg4 Qh6+ 25.Bh3 Kg7 26.Rh1 Rh8 27.Kg1 Qh4 28.c4 Rae8 29.Bc3 Nd4 30.Bxd4 exd4 31.Qd1 b6 32.Ra2

Black to Move

32...Qxh3!!

A superb combination that could easily be overlooked by a player with twice Black's rating.

33.Rxh3 Rxh3

Now Black's threat is very simple: 34...Rhe8, 35...f3, and mate on h1. The amazing thing is how little White can do about it.

34.Qf1

34.Qa4 Reh8 35.Qxa7 f3 and Black mates when the checks run out, which they do almost immediately.

34...Reh8 35.Qg2 f3! 36.Qxh3 Rxh3 37.c5 Nxg4 38.cxb6 cxb6 39.Rc2 Rh7

This is the only hint of vacillation in Black's play.

40.Rc4 Rh2!

Now he is back on track.

41.Rxd4 Rg2+ 42.Kf1 Rxf2+ 43.Ke1 Re2+ 44.Kd1 Ne3+ 0–1

Black mates in a few moves. Amazing stuff!