No Longer a Piece of Cake

Women’s chess is definitely improving within the state. Gone are the days when Jennifer Skidmore was around one thousand rating points ahead of her competition. Last year’s champion, Ashley Carter is now a solid B-player with plenty of room to continue growing. Alla Tabak is vastly underrated at 1487 and tied for first last year. This year, another B-player, Heather Swan, is added to the mix. This has the makings to be one of the most competitive Women’s championships in years.

Another round was added to account for the growth in the event. The tournament was at All the King’s Men Chess Supplies in the Universal Mall in Warren.

The sparks started flying in round three as Alla Tabak pulled off the upset of Jennifer Skidmore. Heather Swan also put together a little upset of her own with a defeat of defending champion, Ashley Carter.

Alla pulled into the lead by defeating Heather in round four. In round five, Ashley was unable to slow Alla down.

This year, Alla Tabak is the undisputed Women’s Champion with a perfect score. Jennifer Skidmore reached four points to take second place.

Interesting Games

Diana Tabak (1268)
Ashley Carter (1734)
Round 2
Caro-Kann: Advance B12

Notes by Edward Laurin

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.c4 e6 5.Nc3 Ne7 6.f4

This is too loose. The move f4 no doubt prepares to play Nf3 behind the pawn chain. However it locks in the dark-squared bishop and does not further White's developing ideas. A better plan is to play Ne2-g3 and leave f4 in reserve as an alternative. It is not clear in this position that the text is required.

6...Nd7 7.Nf3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 Nb6 9.b3 Ned5 10.Bb2?

This just drops material. 10.Nxd5 Nxd5 11.0–0 and Black still has an advantage due to her better-placed knight on the central squares. The trade helps White by opening up the c-file and just removing one of the targets for Black's knight.

10...Nxf4 11.g3??

White's game completely falls apart after this blunder.

11...Nxc4 12.bxc4 Nd3+ 13.Ke2 Nxb2 14.Qb3 Qb6 15.Rab1 Bd3+ 16.Kd2 Bxb1 17.Rxb1 Qxb3

Black can simplify here and win easily. However, when attacking one should not so easily trade pieces. Usually when simplification occurs the game lasts more moves. Of course, this is all a matter of style.

18.axb3 Nxc4+ 19.bxc4 0–0–0 20.Ke3 Be7

We can look at the position now and ask ourselves, is it really easier? Despite that Black is clearly winning materially, there are no immediate wins on the board. The game will last quite a bit longer than with queens on, and the win may be more difficult to find in the long run.

21.Ke4 f5+ 22.Kf4 h6

22...g5+, preparing to open lines and play g4 locking down White's h-pawn.

23.h4

Although White is clearly losing here, if she wishes to not resign looking for the best method of resistance is best. The text will only result in opening either the h or g-files, giving more room to Black's rooks and bishop. Since White only has knights and a single rook (which cannot contest the file against two), it stands to reason that leaving them closed is best.

23...g5+ 24.hxg5 hxg5+ 25.Ke3 g4 26.Ne1 Bg5+ 27.Kd3 Rh3 28.Ne2 c5

Preparing to bring another piece into the action.

29.Nc2 f4

See how the open lines helped Black quicken the attack? Without those, the game would have been harder to win.

30.Ke4 f3 31.Nf4 Bxf4 32.Kxf4 Rf8+ 33.Kxg4 Rh7 34.Kg5

Surprisingly, this is the only move that avoids mate.

34...Rg7+ 35.Kh6 Rxg3 36.Kh7 f2 37.dxc5 f1Q 38.Rxf1 Rxf1 39.Kh6 Rh1# 0–1

Heather Swan (1607)
Alla Tabak (1487)
Round 4
Dutch: Queen's Knight (Krause), A85

Notes by Edward Laurin

1.c4 f5

The Dutch seems to be becoming more and more popular with Michigan players. Despite the apparent defect in the kingside, with proper play it turns out to be a solid defense.

2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 d6

Some other plans are e6, playing for control of d5, or g6 playing for the long diagonal and pressure on the dark squares. The point behind d6, as far as I can see, is to play e5. But, after this the dark square bishop has no good squares and the plan can easily be stopped by White's move: d4. Black is in no trouble, however, but White seems to have a more comfortable position.

4.d4²

This is a smart positional move by White. Taking advantage of Black's mistake with d6.

4...g6

There is no other way to develop the bishop and prepare for castling.

5.e3 Bg7 6.Bd3 0–0 7.0–0 Nc6

White and Black both develop with their respective plans. Black is playing for a break at e5, while White is leaving the system open. Later breaks at e4 or c5 are possible.

8.a3

To prevent Nb4.

8...e5 9.d5 Ne7 10.e4 f4 11.Bd2

The idea behind this move can only be to play Rc1, which is done later, to support a c5-break. However, b4 is quicker and stronger. It is not clear if the bishop will be better placed on b2, d2, or somewhere else, and the rook may activate itself on b1, or come to c1 later after Bb2.

11...h6

This is a good plan, to play g5-g4. Looking at Black's pawn structure it points toward the kingside. This is a "sign" that Black should contribute her play there; just as White's pawn structure points toward the queenside and indicates play on that side of the board is required.

12.c5?

12.Rc1 seems to be more along White's original plan with Bd2. The text is simply too early.

12...g5

12...dxc5 13.Qb3 Kh7 14.Nxe5 Nxe4= Black has nothing to fear with this line. White's center is destroyed, her dark-squared bishop has a diagonal and White has an isolated d-pawn. Black will have to play carefully due to her exposed king, but shouldn't be losing here.

13.cxd6 cxd6

Now Black has a permanent weakness on d6.

14.Rc1 a6

This prevents White from getting in Nb5 later with play against d6.

15.Qc2 Bg4

15...g4 Black should come back to the original plan of kingside play.

16.Be2 Rc8 17.Qd3 Qd7 18.Ne1 Bxe2 19.Qxe2 g4 20.f3

20.Kh1 f3 21.gxf3 gxf3 22.Nxf3± I'm guessing White feared this variation because of the exposed king. However, with the king on h1 there is no exposure, and the light-squared bishop is gone. White can easily slide a rook over to g1 and be battering against the Black's king just as much. And, White is up a pawn.

20...h5 21.Nd3 Ng6 22.Na2

This idea of c3-a2-b4 or f3-h2-g4 seldom works in a game as well as a player would like.

22...Nh8

Black is playing a reposition game of her own with d7-g6-h8-f7-g5.

23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Rc1

How will White attack on the queenside without any pieces? 24.Nc3 and the Black rook has no useful targets on the c-file.

24...Nf7

24...Rxc1+ 25.Bxc1 gxf3 26.Qxf3 Consider this variation and the one where White makes the exchanges. Black has the leading tempo here.

25.Rxc8+ Qxc8

See? Now it is White to move. The initiative can be beneficial at times.

26.Ba5 Ng5 27.Bb4

Targeting the weakness.

27...gxf3 28.gxf3 Qc4 29.Nac1 Qd4+ 30.Kg2

This walks into it! The king has no business marching toward the center yet. 30.Kf1 or 30.Kh1 were good alternatives.

30...Nfxe4 31.h4 Ng3 32.Qc2 Nf7

32...Nxf3 is a much quicker finish. 33.Kxf3 Qxd5+ -+

33.Qc8+ Bf8 34.Qe6 0–1

The scoresheet became illegible after this point. Black went on to win.

Diana Tabak (1268)
Larisa Svintsitski (797)
Round 5
Two Knights, C57

Notes by Edward Laurin

This is a good demonstration of why you should never be intimidated by a higher rating. You never know when someone will make a mistake.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5

This is a pretty familiar position to a lot of youngsters and adults. It represents the starting position of the "Fried Liver Attack" which is quite exotic.

6.Nf3

White flinches a bit early. Either she was unaware of the sacrifice on f7 or unwilling to commit. However, Nf3 just wastes a tempo. Playing Qh5 offers slightly better chances as shown below. 6.Qh5 g6 7.Qf3 Qxg5 8.Bxd5=

6...e4

6...Bg4 Continuing the pressure and developing a piece. Now White will have to make some positional concessions in order to get out of the bind.

7.Qe2 Be7 8.Qxe4 Nf6 9.Qe2 Nd4

This looks good, but fails to tactical reasons. It is best to remember the old rule of thumb: Never move the same piece twice in an opening. Black should either castle, or develop the dark-squared bishop.

10.Nxd4

10.Bxf7+ A common tactical trick. 10...Kxf7 11.Qc4+ Qd5 (11...Ne6 12.Ng5+ ±) 12.Qxd5+ Nxd5 13.Nxd4±

10...Qxd4 11.Nc3 Qd6 12.d3 0–0 13.h3

This creates weaknesses that will become apparent later.

13...b6 14.0–0

14.Qf3 Why allow Black to easily develop to where she wants? This complicates matters and makes b6 an error.

14...Bb7 15.Re1 Qc6 16.Ne4 Rfe8 17.Qf3 b5 18.Nxf6+

18.Bb3 is the only non-losing move.

18...Bxf6 19.Rxe8+ Rxe8 20.Qxc6 Bxc6

Now what, White? The dark-squared bishop isn't developed and the light-squared will have to fall back to b3 leaving the kingside completely open to attack.

21.Bb3

Black to move and win material.

21...Re2?

Nope! Black misses the tactical shot: 21...Re1+ 22.Kh2 Be5+! 23.f4 (23.g3 Rh1#) 23...Rxc1 24.Rxc1 Bxf4+ -+ and Black picks up the rook to end up a piece.

22.Be3

22.Kf1 We have now arrived at an endgame. White should activate her king as well.

22...Bxb2

Missing the stuck rook. 22...a5 23.Kf1 Rxe3 24.fxe3 a4 25.c4 axb3 26.axb3 Black has the two bishops but White has two extra pawns that should be enough compensation for their power.

23.Rb1 Be5 24.Kf1 Rxe3 25.fxe3 Bc3 26.a3 Bd2 27.Ke2 Bc3 28.Rf1 Be8 29.d4

This allows Black to win a pawn. [29.Rf5 Bb2 30.Rc5+-

29...Bb2 30.Kd3 Bxa3 31.Ra1 b4 32.c3 Bb5+ 33.Bc4 Bc6 34.cxb4 Bxb4 35.Rxa7 Bd6 36.d5 Bd7 37.Kd4 h6 38.e4 f6 39.Ke3??

Ouch! This is why one shouldn't resign in position when they are only down the exchange. It is still tricky to play and anyone can make a mistake.

39...Bc5+ 40.Kf4 g5+ 41.Kf3 Bxa7 42.g4

The only real try for White, and it is a long shot, but is to attempt to get Black with only the h-pawn left and exchange off the light-squared bishops. In an endgame where White has only the king, and Black has king, bishop, and rook pawn of opposite color it is a draw provided the king can get to the corner. The text makes this idea harder to accomplish.

42...Kg7 43.Kg3 c6 44.d6

44.dxc6 Bxc6 45.Bd5 This follows the previous plan.

44...Bb8 45.Kf3 Bxd6 46.Ke3 Kg6 47.Kd4 h5

We can see the problem with g4 now. If 48.gxh5, then the king will have easy access to h3 and that pawn will fall as well.

48.Be2 Be5+ 49.Kc5 hxg4 50.hxg4 Kf7 51.Bd1 Ke7 52.Be2 Bd6+ 53.Kd4 c5+ 54.Ke3 c4 55.Bxc4 Bxg4 56.Bf1 Bf4+ 57.Kf2 Ke6 58.Bg2 f5 59.exf5+ Kxf5 60.Bf1 Kg6 61.Kg2 Kh5 62.Kf2 Kh4 63.Kg1 Bh3

Unfortunately the pawn is not a rook pawn. If it were then 64.Bxh3 would ensure a draw, provided that Black's pawn was on the h-file.

64.Be2 Be3+ 65.Kh2 Bf4+ 66.Kg1 Kg3 67.Kh1 Bg2+ 68.Kg1 Be3# 0–1