Keep’em Coming

The Booster section was the pride of this Michigan Open. The 81 entries far surpassed expectations and past totals. In the pairing program, I have the ability to limit the chances of family members and school teammates to play one another. I counted 34 players with such a designation. This means that people were coming in groups and when they do that, the entries add up really fast.

The 4-day proved to be the smallest Booster schedule with 18 players, one of which was a houseman. The largest Booster schedule turned out to be the 3-day with a 33, just edging out the scholastic player filled 2-day schedule, which came in at 30 players.

Let’s see if we can do better next year in Kalamazoo.

Rounds 1-4

We’ll start off with some games from the first four rounds.

John-Marc Ormechea (1044)
Tony Wingett (1327)
3-day, Round 1
Sicilian: Smith-Morra, B21

Notes by John-Marc Ormechea

1.e4 c5 2.d4

This is called the Smith-Morra Gambit. Something that I had taken up a few months prior to the tournament. My opponent was a fellow club mate. I had only played it against him once in a blitz game.

2...cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bc4

White has a useful lead in development. And even at this early stage the initiative. In the main line open Sicilian, a similar position may often arise, but with Black almost equal in the development game, usually with a knight on f6.

6...Nf6 7.0-0 g6 8.Qe2

Today, I would play 8.e5 instead after looking at some of the theory. I had been playing on patterns so far, but this move gives White a nice edge in all lines. 8...Ng4 (8...dxe5 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Ng5 Na5 11.Rd1++/- I like this line the best for White. The lead in development is decisive.) 9.e6 fxe6 10.Ng5 Nge5 11.Nxe6 Qa5 12.Bb3.

8...Bg7 9.Rd1 0-0 10.e5 Ne8 11.Bf4 Bg4 12.exd6 Bxc3 13.dxe7 Qxe7 14.bxc3 Qxe2 15.Bxe2 Nf6 16.h3 Rfe8 17.Bc4 Re4 18.hxg4

I don’t know what I was thinking not playing 18.Bxf7+ but I didn’t for whatever reason. I am going to go up material or the exchange depending on what Black does possibly both in some lines.

18...Rxc4 19.Be5 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 Rxc3 21.Rab1 b6 22.g5 Rc5 23.Nxf7 Kxf7 24.gxf6 Kxf6

This is where I lose any hope for winning. I try of course but endgames are not my forte and I won’t pretend that I am ever very good at them. I failed to convert my initiative and so the end result is this disaster...

25.Rd7 h5 26.Rb4 b5 27.a4 bxa4 28.Rxa4 a5 29.Rdd4 Re8 30.Rf4+ Kg5 31.Rfe4 Rxe4 32.Rxe4 h4 33.Kh2 Kh5 34.f4 Rf5 35.Re5 Rxe5 36.fxe5 g5 37.e6 Kg6 38.e7 Kf7 39.e8Q+ Kxe8 40.Kh3 a4 41.Kg4 a3 42.Kxg5 h3 43.gxh3 a2 44.h4 a1Q 45.h5 Kf7 46.h6 Qh8 47.Kh5 Kf6 48.h7 Qxh7+ 0-1

I went on to get mated a few moves later. Well played by Tony. Oh and after this game, I played Tony in a warm up game for another game. When I lost this game, I came home and put it in my computer and found some of the improvements. We played the opening the same manner but after my new move, I won the next game. So now I wait for our next encounter.

Paul Cronstrom (1322)
Michael Carter Jr. (991)
3-day, Round 1
Caro-Kann: Two Knights (Mindeno), B11

Notes by John-Marc Ormechea

1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 Bg4

This is an interesting choice. After 3...dxe4 it transposes into something which Michael is more familiar with.

4.Be2 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Nf6 6.Nxf6+ exf6

Maybe this is an insight into a question, which has bothered me since the state scholastic team championship. What does the Carter family play after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6?

I used to have this position with Black and would play the Dynamic 5...gxf6 the Bronstien-Larsen variation. The 5...exf6 line is known as the Tartakower variation. Both compromise the pawn structure in hopes of active piece play.

7.0-0 Be7 8.d4 c5 9.dxc5 Qxd1 10.Rxd1 Bxc5 11.Bb5+ Nc6 12.Re1+ Be7 13.Nd4 Rc8 14.c3

14.Be3 is a great move to consider in this position. White is way ahead in the force count. All of his pieces are developed and his king is very safe. Besides, the knight on c6 is pinned, so White might as well take advantage of that while he can.

14...a6 15.Bxc6+ bxc6 16.b4 Bd7 17.Bb2 Rb8 18.Rab1 Rb6 19.a4 a5 20.bxa5 Ra6 21.Ba3 Be6 22.Nxe6 fxe6 23.Rxe6 Ra7 24.Bxe7 Rxe7 25.Rxe7+ Kxe7 26.Rb7+ Ke6 27.Rxg7 Rb8

So now White is up several pawns and indeed it is looking pretty grim for Black but now young Mr. Carter begins to pull something out of his hat.

28.g3 Ra8 29.Rxh7 Rxa5 30.Rh4 Rc5 31.Rb4 Rxc3 32.Rb6 Kd5 33.a5 Ra3 34.Ra6 c5 35.h4 c4 36.Rxf6 c3 37.Rf5+ Kc4 38.Rf3??

This is the mistake, which turns the tide of the game. Maybe we should all study endgames and see if we can’t make it up to the Open section of this tournament in a couple of years.

38...Ra1+

38...c2 39.Kg2 (39.Rxa3 c1Q+) 39...c1Q-+. Both tries are not too promising for White.

39.Kg2 c2 40.Rf4+ Kb3 41.Rf3+ Kb2 42.Rf4 c1Q 43.Rb4+ Ka3 44.Rg4 Qh1# 0-1

This is a very nice mate shape. Nice upset, Michael. Here’s hoping you keep raising in the ranks.

Sam Vorhauer (1366)
Terry Combs (1037)
4-day, Round 2
Queen’s Pawn: Closed (Semi-Colle), D04

Notes by John-Marc Ormechea

1.d4 c5 2.e3 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.c3

This is interesting. White goes for the Colle formation; Black for the Queen’s Gambit formation. So, whom does the reversed Semi-Slav benefit?

4...c4

This move is not the best here for a couple of reasons. First, it’s another move from the c-pawn. If I were to move a pawn here, I would play e6. Second, there is nothing wrong with Nc6 or Bf5 both developing moves both taking advantage of White slow play. 4...Nc6 5.dxc5 e5 (5...Ne4 You can see this with colors reversed in almost all the Capablanca-Alekhine games from the World Championship.) 6.b4 is a Tolush-Gellar Gambit reversed. This is probably my favorite continuation for Black. Take a look at the game Petrosian-Smyslov 19th USSR championship 1951 for the ideas from the White side. It’s an interesting way to test the Slav player.

5.Nbd2 h6

Another wasted tempo. This is just giving White the chance he needs to catch up.

6.Qc2 Bg4 7.Be2 e6 8.0-0 Nbd7 9.Re1 Bf5 10.Qa4 a6 11.Ne5 b5 12.Qd1 Bd6

Through a miracle, Black has the upper hand here.

13.f4 Ne4 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.Bf3 Bh7

15...Nf6 probably deserves an “!” as it keeps the outpost ideas intact.

16.e4 Bxe4 17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.Nxd7 Qxd7 19.Rxe4 0-0 20.Qe2 Rfe8 21.Qf3 Rad8

Centralizing the rooks in general is a good idea and Black still has slight plus here.

22.Bd2 Re7

22...Qc6 keeps the pressure on the center.

23.Rae1 Rde8 24.Qh5 Kh7 25.Rf1 g6 26.Qh4 Kg7 27.f5

Here comes the full point swing! After allowing this, the Black position should fall.

27...g5 28.f6+

28.Bxg5!

28...Kg6 29.Qf2 Qc6 30.d5

30.fxe7

30...Bc5 31.Be3 Bxe3 32.Rxe3 Qxd5 33.fxe7 f5 34.Qe2 Rxe7 35.Rd1 Qc6 36.Qf3 Qb6 37.Qf2 e5 38.Ree1 Qxf2+ 39.Kxf2

Now all that matters is White has an extra rook.

39...e4 40.Rd6+ Kh5 41.g3 f4 42.gxf4 gxf4 43.Rd4 Kg4 44.Rexe4 Rf7 45.h3+ Kxh3 46.Rxf4 Rxf4+ 47.Rxf4 a5 48.Kf3 h5 49.Rf5 h4 50.Rxb5 Kh2 51.Rxa5 Kg1 52.Rh5 Kf1 53.a4 Ke1 54.Rxh4 Kd1 55.Rh2 Kc1 56.a5 Kb1 57.Ke4 Ka2 58.Kd4 Kb3 59.a6 Ka2 60.a7 Kb3 61.Re2 1-0

Ed Mandell (1350)
Kevin Hoyt (968)
2-day, Round 2
Old Benoni, A43

1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 c5 3.e3 b6 4.Nc3 a6 5.d5 d6 6.e4 Bb7 7.e5 Be7 8.Bf4 Qc7 9.dxe6 f6 10.exd6 Bxd6 11.Bxd6 Qd8 12.Bc4 Ne7 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.0-0 0-0 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.Qxd5 Ra7 17.Rad1 Rc7 18.Qd8 Rxd8 19.Rxd8+ Qxd8 20.e7+ Kh8 21.exd8Q# 1-0

Kevin Crist (1216)
Erika Homann (Unr)
2-day, Round 2
Irregular Queen’s Pawn: Englund, A40

Notes by John-Marc Ormechea

You never know what Kevin is going to play on the first move. Most often it’s either d4 or e4 but even that somtimes is hard to predict!

1.d4 e5

This is the Englund Gambit. But, I’m not too sure on the theory itself. Some of my buddies in the Chess Publishing forum don’t think too highly of it. Maybe, that’s a reason to play it.

2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7 4.Bg5 Qb4+ 5.Nbd2 Qxb2 6.e4 Bc5

6...Nxe5 and now Black can breathe again as she has come out of the opening still alive.

7.Qb1 Qb6

7...Qc3: You know, I hear that pressure makes diamonds.

8.Qxb6 Bxb6 9.Bc4 f6 10.exf6 Nxf6 11.e5 Ng4 12.0-0 Bd4

And just like that, Black gives up equality. Her heart is in the right place but her king is in the wrong place!

13.Rae1 Bxe5 14.Nxe5 Ncxe5 15.f4 d6 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.Rf7 Bd7 18.Re7+ Kd8 19.R7xe5+ Kc8 20.Re7 Rd8 21.Rxg7 h6 22.Bxd8 c6 23.Bh4 Kc7 24.Ree7 Rd8 25.Bg3+ Kc8 26.Rxd7 Rxd7 27.Be6 Nf6 28.Bxd7+ Nxd7 29.Nc4 Nc5 30.Nd6+ Kd8 31.Bh4# 1-0

John-Marc Ormechea (1044)
Gary Tsai (1318)
3/4-day, Round 3
Spanish: Archangelsk, C78

Notes by John-Marc Ormechea

The Greek Gift sacrifice comes from many openings and comes in many different forms. In the Greek Gift proper, the user of the gift will either mate the enemy king or win a decisive amount of material.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5

The Ruy Lopez is a good way to keep the positional plus and a good initiative from the opening. To the untrained eye I’m sure it looks good for Black with White’s slow development, but the goal of the Ruy Lopez is not rapid development but harmonious development.

3...Nf6

This is the key move of the Berlin defense used by at almost every opportunity by the iceberg, Vladimir Kramnik.

4.0-0 a6

4...Nxe4 is the main line Berlin. After seeing Andrew Martins DVD, the ABC’s of the Ruy Lopez, I would play 5.Re1; 4...Bc5 This is a transposition/hybrid of the Classical defense. The idea is to gain rapid development. But when Black moves, the darksquare bishop out to c5, he has to worry about a possible Bg5, which can be a little painful some times.

5.Ba4

5.Bxc6 dxc6 might have been a better idea because now I am in the Exchange variation with an extra tempo. And if I have a whole move on this variation, it can only be good for me.

5...b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.Re1 d6 8.h3 Be6 9.c3 0-0 10.Bc2 Bb6 11.d4 exd4 12.cxd4

The reason 9.c3 is played. In the Ruy, it is customary to try and keep a center.

12...d5 13.e5

This is a gain of time and space.

13...Nd7 14.Bxh7+!

I only thought on this for about 2 minutes as I had had this idea when I was looking at 13.e5.

14...Kxh7

Well, he takes it and it’s sound if I play the right move, which I didn’t.

15.Ng5+??

15.Qc2+! is the best move on the board. 15...Kg8 16.Qxc6. My idea is to play 15.Ng5 and threaten the bishop.

15...Kg8 16.Qh5???

This is the real killer. I could have still had an equal game after Qc2 again. But, here something miraculous happened. Instead of my opponent taking his bishop and putting it on f5, he gave up. I was upset with myself after the game because I saw the move after I lifted my queen. So, the moral is to check your tactics. 14.Bxh7 was correct but the way I continued was not.

1-0

Bruce Perlongo (552)
Sharath Anand (614)
2-day, Round 3
Irregular King’s Pawn: Owen, B00

Notes by John-Marc Ormechea

1.e4 b6

It seems that Sharath is very consistent with the b-pawn. This is known as the Owens defense named after strong Amateur player John Owen, who even managed to beat the great Paul Morphy with it. I would recommend it to players who like a very flexible opening. And if any one is interested in looking into it. Play 1...b6 was published recently by Everyman Chess from new author Christian Bauer.

2.d4 Bb7 3.d5

This happened to me recently and not knowing how to handle it, I folded under a lot of pressure after many more inaccurate moves. 3.Nc3 is my personal choice. Keeping the options of my bishop open. 3.Bd3 is the Grand Master choice. This is definitely the main line, where play continues with the idea of controlling e4. 3...Nf6 is the Blatny move. (3...e6 is the more Filipovic move.)

3...g6

3...Nf6 is how I handled it. Maybe 3...e6 or 3...d6 is a little better.

4.Qd4 Nf6 5.Bc4 Bg7 6.d6 Nh5 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qc4+ e6 9.c3??

This causes the beautiful combination to fall apart and now White will remain a piece down. 9.dxc7 Qf6 10.cxb8Q Rhxb8=.

9...cxd6 10.Nf3 Ba6 11.Qb4 d5 12.Ne5+ Bxe5 13.exd5 exd5 14.Nd2 Qe8 15.Ne4 Bxc3+ 16.Qxc3 Qxe4+ 17.Be3 Nc6 18.f3 d4 19.Qb3+ Qe6 20.Rc1 Bc4 21.Rxc4 dxe3 22.Re4 Qxb3 23.axb3 Nf6 24.Rxe3 Nd4 25.0-0 Nc2 26.Rd3 Rhe8 27.Rc3 Ne3 28.Rfc1 Nc2 29.R3xc2 Nd5 30.Rd1 0-1

Nice job for Black.

Mervin Draper (1208)
John-Marc Ormechea (1044)
3/4-day, Round 4
King’s Indian: Four Pawns, E76

Notes by John-Marc Ormechea

Before this game, I was talking with a friend of mine. I told him I want to play the King’s Indian, but I just hope no one plays the Four Pawns! Well, of course, as fate would have it, my opponent chose that variation.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4 0-0 6.Nf3 Na6

This is the move which I picked out of Joe Gallaghers’, “Starting out: The King’s Indian.” All I could remember is that after this it is OK to play ...e5.

7.Be2 e5 8.0-0

I think, in this variation, White should not allow Black to open the long diagonal on his terms. The most common move here is 8.dxe5. If he stuck to the main line, I would be walking around in the dark. 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Nxe5 c5 10.d5 (10.Be3 cxd4 11.Bxd4 Qe7 with ...Rd8 to follow. It is interesting (at least to me) that the computer frowns on this for Black but Gallaghers, an expert on the King’s Indian, loves it!) 10...Nxe4; 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Nxe5 Nc5 10.Bf3 Qxd1+ 11.Kxd1 Rd8+ 12.Kc2 Nfxe4 13.Nxe4 Bf5 14.Re1 Bxe5 15.fxe5 Rd4 led to a draw in Hansen-Burg, Aarhus, 1991.

8...exd4 9.Nxd4 Nc5 10.Bf3 Re8 11.Re1 h5

I spent a large amount of time on this move.

12.b4

This came as a surprise as I was thinking White would develop a piece. But I can understand that he wants to get my knight off this beautiful square. 12.b3 Bg4 13.Bxg4 Nxg4 14.Bb2 Nf6. Maybe not exactly these moves for White, but the knight wants to come back and hit the pawn.

12...Ne6 13.f5

Now, it’s game over. This was the decisive mistake because my bishop becomes a monster since the White bishop is not on b2. He will feel the power all too soon.

13...Nxd4! 14.Qxd4

This is now even worse.

14...Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Rxe4 16.Rxe4 Bxc3 17.Rb1 Bxf5-+ 0-1

And White gave up here as he drops a further amount of material. Maybe the King’s Indian and I will stick together. I know that both sides could have played better but I did play only knowing the ideas for once over memorized theory.

Timothy D. Johnson (Unr)
Collin Smelcer (1149)
3/4-day, Round 4
Pirc: Byrne, B07

Notes by John-Marc Ormechea

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bg5

4.Be2 is the newest trend these days. The idea is to play 5.g4 after 4...Bg7 and then continue with the regular 6.Be3. White then castles long and all of a sudden you have nice attack lined up. It’s known as the Chinese Attack.

4...Bg7 5.Bc4 0-0 6.Nge2 Bg4 7.h3 Bxe2 8.Qxe2 Nbd7 9.0-0 e5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Rad1 Qd7 12.Bb5 c6 13.Ba4

13.f4 looks very tempting here hoping to rip open the game with decisive activity for White’s pieces.

13...a5 14.a3 b5 15.Bb3 b4 16.Na4 bxa3 17.Nb6 Qb7 18.Nxa8 Rxa8 19.bxa3 Qd7 20.f4 Qa7+ 21.Kh1 Nh5 22.Kh2 a4 23.Ba2 Qc5 24.Be7 Bh6 25.g3 Qxa3 26.Bh4 Qxa2 27.fxe5 dxe5 28.Rd7 a3 29.Qf2 g5 30.g4 Qe6 31.Rdd1 Nf4 32.Bg3 a2 33.Ra1 Bf8 34.c3 Ra3 35.Qd2 Qc4 36.Rf2 Bc5??

This allows White to get back into the game with 37.Qd8+.

37.Rf3

Well, there goes that idea.

37...Qxe4 38.Rff1 Rxc3 39.Bxf4 Rc2 40.Bxg5 Rxd2+ 41.Bxd2 Qe2+ 0-1

With so many players in the section, there is plenty of competition at the top:

4.0: Dellinger, G. Smith, Beatty, Amarasinghe, Shu
3.5: Vorhauer, Gregg, Pluta

With another 12 three-pointers.

Round 5

This where things will begin to filter down to a champion:

1. Beatty 1 Dellinger
2. G. Smith 1 Amarasinghe
3. Shu 0 Vorhauer
4. Pluta 1 Gregg

Cameron Beatty (1257)
Pat Dellinger (1317)
Giuoco Piano: Greco, C54

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Nxe4 8.Bxb4 Nxb4 9.Bxf7+ Kf8 10.0-0 d5 11.Ne5 Qg5 12.Qb3 a5 13.a3 Nc6 14.f4 Qd8 15.Qxd5 Qxd5 16.Bxd5 Nxe5 17.fxe5+ Nf6 18.exf6 gxf6 19.Rxf6+ Ke7 20.Rf2 c6 21.Be4 Be6 22.Nc3 Rad8 23.Rd1 Bb3 24.Rdd2 Bc4 25.d5 Rdf8 26.dxc6 bxc6 27.Bxc6 h5 28.Bb5 Be6 29.Rfe2 Kf6 30.Rd6 Rf7 31.Rexe6+ Kg7 32.Rg6+ Kf8 33.Rd8+ Ke7 34.Rxh8 Rf8 35.Rxf8 Kxf8 36.h4 a4 37.g4 Kf7 38.Bd3 hxg4 39.h5 g3 40.h6 g2 41.h7 Kf8 42.h8Q+ Ke7 43.Qh7+ Kf8 44.Rg8# 1-0

Dustin Pluta (Unr)
Ted Gregg (1201)
Pirc, B07

Notes by John-Marc Ormechea

Dustin is more classically inclined and will often go for the big center and decent piece activity. Watch how this one unfolds.

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Bd3

This move is a little committal for the bishop. I like the classical move 3.Nc3. Both support the e-pawn but the bishop is not on guard duty and can be used at some other part of the board.

3...e5

The Pirc has the possibility of going into a Philidor as Morozevich ventured against Polgar in San Luis.

4.c3 Be7 5.Nf3 Bg4

This is a bit premature here.

6.h3

Maybe the idea of 6.0-0 is a little better. White gains time by playing the text, but I would prefer 6.Qb3 like the poison pawn in the Najdorf. I don’t recommend it to any one in the Booster section. The queen is taking advantage that Black has moved the bishop so far away from the b-pawn.

6...Bh5 7.Be3 c6 8.Nbd2 Nbd7 9.Qc2 exd4 10.cxd4 Bg6 11.Nh4 d5 12.Nxg6 fxg6 13.e5 Ng8 14.Bxg6+ hxg6 15.Qxg6+ Kf8 16.e6 Ndf6 17.Qf7# 1-0

Even if there were no self-blocks, it would still be mate! Aesthetically appealing for sure.

Evan Hawver (961)
Ed Mandell (1350)
Irregular King’s Knight: Queen’s Pawn (Maróczy), C40

Notes by John-Marc Ormechea

Keep an eye on young Evan in the future. In the hallway, in between rounds, he was showing me a game where he had White against the French defense. His positional understanding was more advanced than I expected. He even said the book, which he learned most of his stuff from was bad because it’s outdated and suggested improvements upon that analysis. I was in awe. I hope one day my thought process can be as clear as this young man. Oh and up until now, he had not beaten Ed. And something odd was taking place this round as well. Ed was playing two games: One Booster and one Reserve!

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5

The Elephant gambit. Ed has been pirating points with this off-beat line. Lately, I think it’s time we studied up on how to face obscure gambit ideas. This and the Latvian have a certain attraction at least to me.

3.exd5 Bd6 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.0-0 0-0

5...c6 is going for something akin to a Goring Gambit reversed without the bishop on c5. I like the idea of going for broke and trying to get all the pieces out here. 6.dxc6 Nxc6. Take a look. Who would you rather be now? If you’re a materialist, you would prefer White; he does have that pawn. If you’re a person who desires initiative, you probably like the Black side.

6.Re1 Re8 7.Nc3 e4 8.Nd4 Bxh2+!

When you have a lead in development, you have to use it quickly before the other player can recover. This may require further sacrifice of pawns or even pieces but the important thing is open lines and active pieces.

9.Kf1

9.Kxh2 Ng4+ 10.Kg1 Qh4 and White must give up the queen to stop mate.

9...Bg4 10.Nde2 c6 11.dxc6 Nxc6

This is the type of position the gambit player dreams about. I am one of those crazy players myself. Going over this the first time, I was salivating at the prospects Black has. With material being equal, he has a huge advantage.

12.d3 Nd4

12...exd3 is better and keeps the pressure on. Black is threatening to show that the activity of his pieces is far superior. The text just equalizes.

13.Be3

13.dxe4: Well, it should have equalized. But White keeps playing into Black’s hands.

13...Nxe2 14.Nxe2 Nd5

14...Qc7 threatening to bring the other rook into the game and recentralize the darksquare bishop.

15.Qd2 Nxe3+

15...exd3 16.Nc3 Nxc3 17.Qxc3 Qh4 should be considered as well.

16.Qxe3 exd3 17.Qxd3 Qxd3 18.Bxd3 Re6 19.Nd4

19.f3 is an alternative in a dramatic turn of events the advantage has gone to White.

19...Rf6 20.f3 g6 21.Be4 Bg3 22.Red1 Bd7 23.Ne2 Bd6 24.c4 Bc6 25.Bxc6 bxc6 26.a3 Be5 27.Rab1 Rb8 28.b4 Re8 29.Rd7 Bb8 30.Rbd1 Rfe6 31.Nd4 Re3 32.Nxc6+- Rxa3 33.Nxb8 Rxb8 34.b5 Rc8 35.Rd8+ Rxd8 36.Rxd8+ Kg7 37.c5 Rb3 38.Rb8 a5 39.c6 a4 40.c7 a3 41.c8Q a2 42.Ra8 Rb1+ 43.Kf2 a1R 44.Rxa1 Rxa1 45.Qc3+ 1-0

That’s game! What a game it was. I think Black had a lot of chances but young Atulya Shetty in the Reserve section, another young up and comer probably distracted him in the other game. Youth triumphed in this case and so did the idea of only playing one game.

The two perfect scores square off:

5.0: G. Smith, Beatty
4.5: Vorhauer, Pluta

Round 6

1. G. Smith 0 Beatty
2. Vorhauer 0 Pluta

Glenn Smith (1270)
Cameron Beatty (1257)
King’s Gambit Accepted: Blachly, C37

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 d6 5.d4 Bg7 6.c3 Be6 7.d5 Bg4 8.h3 Bh5 9.Nbd2 h6 10.Qb3 Qc8 11.Bb5+ c6 12.Qc4 a6 13.dxc6 axb5 14.Qxb5 Qxc6 15.Qb3 Nf6 16.Nd4 Qd7 17.Nf5 0-0 18.0-0 Bg6 19.Nxg7 Kxg7 20.Qc2 Re8 21.b4 Nxe4 22.Nxe4 Bxe4 23.Qf2 b5 24.Bb2 Kg8 25.Kh2 Qa7 26.Qd2 Qe3 27.Qxe3 fxe3 28.Rae1 0-1

Sam Vorhauer (1366)
Dustin Pluta (Unr)
Queen’s Pawn: Closed, D04

Notes by Bill Calton

This game exemplifies Dustin’s uncompromising play. Following a quiet opening, Dustin goes straight for the throat. Always pressing forward, Dustin brings ever more pressure to bear on his opponent. The opponent eventually falters, and Dustin crashes through.

1.d4 Nf6 2.e3 d5 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Be2 Bxf3

Strictly speaking, this is inaccurate. Black parts with his bishop without any concession from White. However, as the game actually continues, this turns out to be useful. Black has pre-removed a key defender of White’s future castled king!

5.Bxf3 e6 6.Nd2 c5 7.c3

Solid no doubt, but White still needs to figure out how to free his darksquare bishop, which is now trapped behind his triangle pawn wedge.

7...Nc6 8.0-0 Bd6 9.Re1

White is now ready to play e4, freeing the Colle bishop on c1.

9...Qc7 10.g3

Dustin has provoked a slight weakening of the kingside - like waving a red flag at a bull.

10...h5

Here comes the first wave.

11.dxc5 Be5

Always forward. 11...Bxc5 is more prudent.

12.Nf1

12.Bg2 threatening f4, would have bought White some time to counter effectively in the center. 12...Qe7 13.e4 0-0-0 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Qb3 with Ne4 or Nf3 to follow.

12...g5 13.Qc2

13.e4 Again, striking in the center is the classic reaction to an attack on the flank.

13...g4 14.Bh1 h4 15.e4

Still the right move, but the timing is late. While White should survive a direct assault, Black now holds at least an edge.

15...hxg3

15...d4 with a bind may be stronger.

16.fxg3 0-0-0 17.Bg5 Rh5

Second wave. 17...d4! is still strong.

18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Rad1

19.exd5 is White’s last chance to prevent Black from playing ...d4. 19...Ne5 20.b4 exd5 Assuming White survives the attack, he will stand better.

19...d4! 20.a3?

Too slow.

20...Rxc5

I wonder if Black agonized over targeting the queen instead of the king?

21.Qf2 Be5 22.Qc2 dxc3

Third wave.

23.Rxd8+ Qxd8 24.b4 Bd4+

Finally, Black crashes through. And it curtains for White.

25.Kg2 Qf6 26.Qe2 Re5 27.Ne3 Rxe4 28.Rf1 Qh6 29.h4 gxh3+ 30.Kh2 Rxe3 31.Qg4 Qg6 32.Qxg6 fxg6 33.Rf7 c2 0-1

Remainder illegible, but it’s over by now anyway.

Tony Wingett (1327)
Nathaniel Bromberg (1317)
Queen’s Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch, D40

Notes by Tony Palmer

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 c5

The Tarrasch Defense, which gives Black active play, except sometimes at the expense of an isolated queen pawn.

5.Bg5 cxd4 6.Qxd4 Nc6 7.Bxf6 Nxd4!?

A gutsy trade, since White gets two pieces for a rook.

8.Bxd8 Nc2+ 9.Kd2 Nxa1 10.Bg5 dxc4 11.e4 Nb3+ 12.axb3 cxb3

So White has two knights for rook and two pawns, yet White also has large advantages in space and development.

13.Bc4 Be7 14.Bxb3 Bxg5+ 15.Nxg5 Ke7 16.e5

A nice move, blocking the c8-bishop in, while clearing the e4-square for use by the knights.

16...Bd7 17.Nge4 Bc6 18.Ke3 f6 19.Rg1 fxe5 20.Ng5 Bd7 21.Rd1 Rad8 22.Ra1 h6 23.Nf3 a6 24.Nxe5 Kf6

24...Be8 25.f4 g5 might give Black more active play. The king gets nudged back shortly.

25.f4 g5 26.Ne4+ Kg7 27.g3 Bc8

White has made nice use of the space advantage and has built a winning position.

28.Rc1 Kg8 29.Rc7 gxf4+ 30.gxf4 h5 31.Nf6+ Kf8 32.Ng6# 1-0

J.R. Udvadia (Unr)
Brad Beagle (1231)
Scandinavian: Modern, B01

Notes by John-Marc Ormechea

1.e4 d5

One of the most rock solid defenses around. Often times reaching Caro-Kann type positions. Until the past decade or so, it had been under a good deal of suspicion but when Anand played it against Kasparov in the match for the world crown, it was embraced a little more.

2.exd5 Nf6 3.c4

When I played a Scandinavian, I really hope for this move. I don’t think it is bad for White, but often times his pieces fail to find good squares.

3...Bf5

3...c6 4.dxc6 Nxc6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Be2 e5 Who would you rather be in this position? Three pieces out and four of White’s pieces still on the back rank...

4.Nc3

4.d4 may be even better with a huge center in hand and free development of the pieces.

4...Nbd7 5.d4 Nb6 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Be2 Bxf3 8.Bxf3 Nxc4?

Did Black forget something?

9.Qa4+!

Yup! Now Black goes down a piece. You always have to be careful of such tactics when an early c4 is thrown into the works. It’s actually a common tactic in the Catalan and Queen’s Gambit.

9...Qd7 10.Qxc4 0-0-0 11.Bf4 Kb8 12.0 0 g6 13.Rac1 Rc8 14.Nb5

Very solid direct play by White.

14...Ne8 15.Qc5 b6 16.Qc6 Qxc6 17.Rxc6 Bg7 18.Rfc1 e5 19.dxe5 a6 20.Nxc7 Nxc7 21.e6 fxe6 22.Rxc7

22.dxe6 is decisive and shows the power of the pin. Mate in seven as well... 22...Be5 Best defense. 23.Rxb6+ Ka7 24.Rb7+ Ka8 25.Rb3+ Nd5 26.Bxd5+ Rc6 27.Bxc6+ Ka7 28.Be3+ Bd4 29.Bxd4#.

22...Rxc7 23.Rxc7

23.dxe6 There’s that theme again showcasing the pin.

23...e5 24.Rxg7

After this, it’s just mathematics. White brings home the rest of the point.

24...exf4 25.Be4 b5 26.f3 Kc8 27.Ra7 Rd8 28.Rxa6 Kb7 29.Ra3 Kb6 30.b4 Rd7 31.Rd3 g5 32.d6 Ka7 33.a3 Kb8 34.Bc6 Rd8 35.Bxb5 h5 36.d7 Kc7 37.Rc3+ Kd6 38.Rc8 Rxd7 39.Bxd7 Kxd7 40.Rc5 g4 41.Rxh5 gxf3 42.gxf3 Kd8 43.Rc5 Ke8 44.a4 Kf8 45.a5 Kg7 46.Rc6 Kf8 47.Rc7 Ke8 48.b5 Kd8 49.b6 Ke8 50.a6 Kd8 51.a7 Ke8 52.a8R# 1-0

With one player perfect and one a half-point off, it is guaranteed that one of these two players will be our Booster Champion. Beatty has the advantage of becoming champion with a draw:

6.0: Beatty
5.5: Pluta

Round 7

Just one board matters:

1. Pluta Beatty

Check out this great game to determine the Booster Champion:

Dustin Pluta (Unr)
Cameron Beatty (1257)
Four Knights: Spanish, C48

Notes by Tony Palmer

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

Black played the Petrov Defense, then White transposed into a Four Knights game, which is solid for both sides.

4.Bb5 Bd6!?

This unnatural move works because Black plans to gain time against the Bb5 with ...a6 and ... b5, then redeploying the bishop.

5.h3 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bb3 Na5

Now this is more like a Ruy Lopez, Archangel Variation.

8.0-0 Nxb3 9.axb3 0-0?!

Both sides miss a tactic here.

10.d3

10.Nxb5 wins material since the a6-pawn is pinned.

10...h6?!

Last chance for 10...Bb7.

11.Nxb5 Bb7 12.Nxd6 cxd6 13.c4

White has a firm grip over the d5-square.

13...Re8 14.Re1 Bc6 15.Bd2 a5 16.Qc1 Kh7 17.Re3 Ng8 18.Nh2 Re6 19.Rg3 Rf6 20.Qd1 Rg6 21.Qf3 Rxg3 22.fxg3 Nf6 23.Rf1 Rb8 24.Qf5+ Kg8 25.Ng4 Nxg4 26.Qxf7+

A good in-between move before recapturing on g4.

26...Kh8 27.hxg4 Rxb3

The free pawn is tempting, but Black’s kingside is undefended. Maybe 27...Qe8 instead would give better chances.

White to Move

28.Bxh6! Qg8

28...gxh6 29.Qg6 Qg8 30.Qxh6+ Qh7 31.Rf8#

29.Qh5 Rb8 30.Rf7!

Nice attack by White.

30...Qxf7 31.Qxf7 gxh6

Now, it’s White’s queen versus Black’s rook and bishop.

32.Qf6+ Kg8 33.Qxd6 Rxb2 34.Qxh6 a4 35.Qg5+ Kf7 36.Qf5+ Kg8 37.Qxe5 Rb3 38.g5 a3 39.Qe8+ Kh7 40.Qe7+ Kg8 41.g6 a2 42.Qf7+ 1-0

Good game by both sides.

James Moore (Unr)
Pat Dellinger (1317)
English: Closed Sicilian (Carls), A25

Notes by John-Marc Ormechea

1.c4 e5

This can lead to a Sicilian reversed where White’s extra tempo can be very dangerous.

2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 Bc5

A battle between schools has appeared. Black is playing very classically and White is playing a hypermodern opening.

5.d3 h6 6.a3 a5 7.Ne4 Be7 8.Nxf6+

This can’t be best. If he doesn’t take, he has a knight on e4 just waiting. If Black takes, the bishop can take that post.

8...Bxf6 9.e3 d6 10.Bd2 Bf5 11.Bc3 Qd7 12.Ne2 Bh3 13.0-0

This reminds me of a Gambit Cartel article where Tim McGrew says something like “somehow, they manage to castle into it.”

13...h5 14.b4 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 h4 16.Ng1 h3+ 17.Kh1 a4 18.f4 0-0-0 19.b5 Ne7 20.Qxa4 Kb8 21.Qc2 Nf5

All of Black’s pieces head toward the enemy king. This is a good way to attack. White’s play on the queenside is non-existant.

22.Bd2 exf4 23.gxf4 Bxa1

No one sees the hidden bishop.

24.Rxa1 Qe6 25.e4 Qg6 26.Be1 Nh4 27.Nxh3

This may have been the decisive mistake.

27...Nf3 28.Qg2 Rxh3 29.Bg3 Qg4 30.Rf1 Nh4 31.Qf2 Rh8

The pressure is reaching its peak and White can’t hope to live on much longer.

32.Rg1 Nf3 33.Rg2 Nh4 34.Rg1 Rh7 35.d4 Qf3+ 36.Qxf3 Nxf3 37.Rg2 Nxd4 38.Bf2 Ne6 39.f5 Nf4 40.Ba7+ Kxa7 41.Ra2 Nd3 42.a4 R7h5 43.a5 Rg5 44.a6 Re3 45.b6+ cxb6 46.axb7+ Kxb7 0-1

White decides it’s time to go home. There is just too much of material imbalance in Black’s favor to keep going.

Niles Nelson (870)
Phil Kautz (959)
French: King’s Knight, C00

Notes by John-Marc Ormechea

1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bd3

This is not a very good move for a couple of reasons. First, it blocks the d-pawn. Which is a key player in the White side of the French. Second, ask how the darksquare bishop is feeling about his fellow compatriot holding the front door shut so he can’t get out. This move just looks a little mucky.

3...Nf6

Very sensible development from Phil. Getting the piece out and getting closer to king safety.

4.Qe2 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7

5...dxe4 6.Ne5 Bd7 7.Bxc6 Bxc6 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Qa6 Qd7 10.Qb7 Rd8 11.Qxa7 c5 12.Nc3 Bd6 13.Qa6 0-0 looks like a very interesting continuation for Black. I would put it slightly in his favor as his pieces are going to be better than White’s.

6.Bxc6 Bxc6 7.d3?

7.e5 with gain of time should also be considered.

7...dxe4 8.dxe4 Bc5

8...Nxe4 9.Ne5 Qd5 10.Nxc6 Qxc6 11.0 0 Bd6.

9.Bg5 h6 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.Nbd2 0-0 12.0-0-0 a5

Well, this is certainly to the point, isn’t it! Black wastes no time in beginning the attack.

13.Nb3 Bb6 14.Nbd4

14.e5: Space and time are important in chess.

14...Rad8 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Rxd8 Rxd8 17.Rd1 Rxd1+ 18.Qxd1 Qf4+ 19.Qd2 Qxd2+ 20.Nxd2 Bxf2 21.Nc4 Bb6 22.Nxb6 cxb6 23.c4 Kf8

This looks like an easy point now. But, Black must put forth the energy to calculate because the endgame is much more slippery than the opening.

24.Kd2 Ke7 25.Kd3 Kd6 26.a3 Ke5

26...a4 controls b3 and threatens to become huge if White has the courage to play b4.

27.b4 axb4 28.axb4 c5 29.bxc5 bxc5 30.h3 h5 31.g3 g5 32.Ke3 f5 33.exf5 exf5 34.Kd3 h4 35.gxh4 gxh4 36.Ke3 f4+ 37.Kf3 Kd4 38.Kxf4 Kxc4 39.Kg4 Kd3 40.Kxh4 c4 41.Kg5 c3 42.h4 c2 43.h5 c1Q+ 44.Kg6 Qg1+ 45.Kh7 Qa7+ 0-1

Well, enough is enough; this is not just all about the mating pattern.