Thomas, Richard (1371) 2011 Tennessee Open (1) |
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Be7
Both players have been following a very popular line of the Slav Defense to the Queens Gambit Declined. Here Joe veers off the most popular line of ...Qa5. In that line Black tries to drum up some play based on the absence of White's Queen Bishop from the queenside. The line chosen by Joe is very much in line with his style of play.. conservative! A sample of the more aggressive ...Qa5 follows:
6... Qa5 7. Bd3 Ne4 8. Qc2 (very bad, but just to show the potential) 8... Nxg5 9. Nxg5 dxc4 Black wins!
6... Qa5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qc2 Bb4 with a lot of pressure on White's position.
6... Qa5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qb3 e5 Again Black has lively play.
7. Bd3
Play now resumes it conservative nature.
7...
This is a novelty by Joe. Black gains space on the queenside at the expense of a backward c-pawn. He will have to play vigorously to keep out of trouble.
Not good. This justifies Blacks play. Better to castle, then begin operations.
11... Nxe4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Bxe4 Nf6
Again, Joe is playing too passively as we will see in the next note. Better, while Whites King is still in the center to begin a crusade there.
13... f5 Breaking the coordination of the White pieces. Watch how easily he gets pushed around. 14. Bd3 This Bishop retreats. 14... a6 15.
14. Ne5
A deadly mistake. Black is now close to winning. Better was ...
14. Bd3 Rac8 15. Qc5 Qxc5 16. dxc5 Rfd8 17. Ke2 And White made it to an ending!
14... Qb4+
A very tempting check resulting in a big advantage for Black, but invasion could have been accelerated with ...Nxe4. For example:
14... Nxe4 15. Qxe4 c5 16. Qg4 (protecting g2) 16... cxd4 17. exd4 Qb4+ All over but the crying.
14... Nxe4 15. Qxe4 c5 16. Qd3 cxd4 17. exd4 Bxg2 18. Rg1 Bd5 And Blacks King is homeless and he has weak pawns everywhere. 19. Qxb5 Rac8 20. Rg3 Rc2 21. Rc3 Rxc3 22. bxc3 Qh4 23. Qe2 Qxh2 24. Rc1 Bxa2
15. Ke2
It is natural to want to get his Rooks connected, but his King gets really exposed now. Joe never lets him breath again.
Thanks to the fact that the King went to f2, this is check and the White King must advance into the battlefield.
Somebody bring me a towel! It's crying time!
Simple and good. ...Rf6 followed by Raf8 was scarey too.
20... Rf6 21. Rhd1 Raf8 22. f3 Rxf4 23. Qxf4 Rxf4 24. Kxf4 Qxg2
20... Rf6 21. Rhd1 Raf8 22. f3 Rxf4 23. Qe7 Bd5 24. Qxc5 h5 25. Rab1 Qe2 26. Re1 Rxf3+ 27. gxf3 Rxf3+ 28. Nxf3 Qxf3+ 29. Kh4 Qg4#
21. Rad1 Qe4 22. f3 Qf5 23. Rd7 Bd5 24. Qg4 Qxg4+ 25. fxg4 a5 26. a3 b4 27. axb4 axb4
I know it it 'nip-piken' but the a-pawn is supported by the Rook, capturing with the other pawn was easier.
27... cxb4 28. Nd3 b3 29. Rd1 a4 And away we go!
28. Nd3 Ra3 29. Rd1 c4 30. f5 Rxd3+ 31. Rxd3 cxd3 32. fxe6 Bxe6 33. Rxd3 b3 34. h3 b2 35. Rd1 Rb8 36. Re1 Ba2
This game had it's inaccuracies, but it also had a number of lessons. Had White simply castled earlier, then he could have dealt with Joe's slow play much more effectively. Joe showed us that he may be conservative in the opening, but if he gets a chance to attack he shows no mercy!
0-1
Singson, Joe (1716) 2011 Tennessee Open (2) |
1. e4
In this game, Joe faces a much higher rated player. Guessing in the opening against such a powerful player will usually get you beat in under 20 moves!
This rarely played move catches Joe by surprise.
4. Be2
This is the most solid line, but Black gets an easy game. White could try 4.f3 or 4.Bb5 and we would have a very adventurous game. For example:
4. f3 This move weakens the White Kingside in an attempt to dislocate the Black Bishop. 4... Bf5 (4... Bh5 If the Bishop goes to the Kingside, it gives White the chance to swing action to the Queenside where the absence of the Bishop is felt. 5. c4 c6 6. Qb3 Attacking the neglected b7 square. 6... Qc7 7. Nc3 And White has a nice game. 7... cxd5 8. cxd5 Nbd7 9. Nb5 Qb6 10. Qc4 Kd8) 5. Bb5+ If White tries to hold the d5 pawn, he can get in a real mess. Here is just a sample of the problems he can get into.(5. c4 e6 6. dxe6 Nc6 7. exf7+ ? 7... Kxf7 8. Be3 Bb4+ 9. Nc3 Re8 10. Kf2 Rxe3 11. Kxe3 Bc2 12. Qd2 Ng4+ 13. fxg4 Qg5+ 14. Ke2 Re8+ Play with th is line a bit and you will gain a great deal of respect for the Scandinavian Defence!) 5... c6 6. dxc6 Nxc6 7. c4 e6 8. Nc3 Black has compensation for his pawn. White's Kingside is compromised and his extra pawn may be difficult to hold in the long run.
I don't like this recapture as it crowds White's position. Better to capture with the Queen, support the d-pawn with Nf3, advance the central pawns and get castled. For example:
5. Qxe2 Qxd5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. c4 Qe4 8. Be3 e6 9.
The position may be about equal, but it is White having difficulty breathing! The Knight on e2 is definitely in the way.
7... Qf5
The Queen is poorly place on this square. She looks aggressive, looking at the c2-square, but she is subject to tempo losses as seen in the next note.
8. Ng3
This gains a tempo on Black's Queen. She is very uncomfortable on the Kingside due to so many White minor pieces available to harass her. Another idea is to try to drum up some play by advancing in the center while there is a chance. For example:
8. d5 Nb4 9. Nd4 Qd7 10. Qe2 Nbxd5 11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12. Nb5 Qc6 13. Bf4 Nd5 14. Bg3 a6 15. c4 With good play!
Ho-humm chess. The Black Queen can be made to be very uncomfortable by following up Ng3 with a more harassing move - 9. Nce2. For example:
9. Nce2
9...
Now Joe is in a lot of trouble.
10. Nce2 e5 11. Be3 exd4 12. Bf4 h5
A very nice move, exposing the Knight on g3 as misplaced.
13. Qd3
It is difficult to find salvation for White. Peter conducts the rest flawlessly.
13... Qxd3 14. cxd3 h4 15. Ne4 Nxe4
Direct and simple.
16. dxe4 Bc5 17. Rac1 Bb6 18. Rfe1
When pressed, blunders occur. This sets up an easy fork!
This game demonstrates how important it can be to be prepared in the opening, especially in open games.
0-1
Weishaar, Kayla (1466) 2011 Tennessee Open (3) |
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bd3 Bxd3 6. Qxd3 Nd7 7. c3 c5
This Caro-Kann has turned into a French without the Bad Queen Bishop! Black must be satisfied.
8. Be3 Qb6 9. Qd2 Rc8 10.
The Black Bishop does not need to go shoot at the air. In these type of positions, where the white Kings Bishop has been exchanged, it is difficult for White to attack Kingside. So, finish developing, castle Kingside, pressure the queenside or molest the pawn on e5. For example:
11... Ne7 12. Nc3 Nc6 13. Rac1 Be7 14. Rfe1
12. Nc3
Well, this makes Black's last move look good. Stepping into the pin is not good.
12. Qd3 a6 13. a3 Bf8 Poor Bishop had no where to go! 14. b4 It is still a fight, but clearly Black's Bishop adventure was not good.
12... Ne7 13. Qd3
A wild goose chase which leaves the poor d-pawn to it's own resources.
Conservative Joe! Missing a chance at huge advantage. Simply taking the d-pawn (threatens the Bishop on d2 and the pawn on g4). For example:
17... Qxd4 18. gxf5 Qxd2 Hitting the Knight on g5. 19. f4 exf5 20. Rad1 Qxb2 White is in shambles without any threats.
Worried about the meaningless b-pawn. White must continue the pressure.
19. gxh5 Nxh5 20. Nxd5 exd5 21. Qxd7 Qe6 22. Qxe6 fxe6 23. Kg2 Rc2 24. Rac1 Rfc8 25. Rxc2 Rxc2 26. Rc1 Rxb2 27. Rc8+ Kg7 28. Rc7 Kf8 29. Bh6+ Ke8 30. Bg5 Bxg5 31. Nxg5
19... Qd8
This is ok, but again conservative. Sometimes, we have to walk away from our nature and be aggressive.
19... hxg4 20. Qxg4 Nf5 21. h4 Rc4 22. Ne2 Kh8 23. h5 Rg8 24. Kh1 g5 With a wild and wholly game!
Wrong way. The battle is on the Kingside. This guy is going the wrong way.
Throws away any real advantage.
22. hxg6 fxg6 23. Ne2 g5 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. b3 Rxf3 26. Qxf3 Nd2 27. Qg4 Nxb1 28. Rxb1 Qg8 29. Rf1 White has the advantage.
22... Kxg7 23. hxg6 fxg6 24. Qg4 Rf5 25. Kh1
Too simple. Black takes over now!
25... Qf8 26. Rg1 Qf7 27. Rg3 Rf4
This is okay, but ...Rf8 would give White real problems.
27... Rf8 28. Kg2 Rf4 29. Qh3 Rh8
27... Rf8 28. Ng1 Rf4 29. Qd1 Bh4 30. Rh3 Bxf2
27... Rf8 28. b3 Na3 29. Rd1 Rxf3
27... Rf8 28. Nxd5 exd5 29. e6 Qf6 30. Rbg1 Rh8 31. Qxg6+ Qxg6 32. Rxg6+ Kf8 33. Ng5 Rxf2 34. Nh7+ Ke8 35. Rg8+ Rxg8 36. Rxg8+ Bf8 37. Kg1 Rf5 38. Nxf8 White is winning!
Now Black has the edge!
Out of the pan and into the fire. Bh4 begins to turn the tables. Black thought he was getting out of trouble, but actually steps into trouble.
29... Bh4 30. Nxh4 Rfxh4 31. Rg1 R8h6
A touched piece? Black resigns... Black could have won with ...Rxf2! e.g.
31... Rxf2 32. Qg3 Rfxh2+ 33. Qxh2 Rxh2+ 34. Kxh2 Qh7+ 35. Kg2 Qxg6+
1-0
Singson, Jose (1716) 2011 Tennessee Open (4) |
1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. Nge2
There are many lines in the Sicilian that White's King Knight goes to e2. This is not one of them. Now that Black 'owns' the d4 square, White will need his Knight to help support the advance e4-e5 at some point. The Knight on e2 simply has very little future on that square. Correct is the popular d2-d3 followed by Ng2-f3.
5... Nf6 6.
White's Queen Bishop needs to be kept. Look over the board and you will see Black hitting all kind of black squares: the long diagonal, the a7-g1 diagonal, the b2 square, the b4,d4,e5 squares. Black is beautiful in this game. Let's keep the Queen Bishop in hopes of neutralizing some of that! For example:
10. Bg5 Re8 11. h3 Nge5 12. Be3 Qa5 13. a3 e6 14. Qd2 a6 15. f4 Nd7 16. d4 And we have battled for the Black squares!!
10... Nxe3 11. Nxb6 Nxd1 12. Nxa8 Nxb2 13. Nc7 c4
Black has the initiative on the Black squares!
Still trying to cover the weaknesses!
We must say - Dai Jing is handling this masterfully. He controls the entire board by springing around on the black squares! Up to here WELL DONE!
17. Rd2 N2d4 18. Nxd4 Nxd4 19. Rbd3 Ne6
Not proud of this move. This Knight has danced around on the Black squares and now becomes a bit awkward. He blocks his Queen Bishop in and slows down the game. This gives Joe time to reorganize his Rooks. Better was simply ...Nc6
19... Nc6 20. Nd5 Rd8 21. f4 Kf8 22. h3 Be6 Black has two pawns for the exchange and some potentially strong Bishops.
Now the Rook is stationary for a long time. The Knight on e6 has cost Black a lot of time.
21. Rc2
Maybe it is a good time to get rid of the near worthless Bishop on g2 by playing Bh3!
21. Bh3 Kf8 22. Bxe6 Bxe6 23. Nc7 Rc8 24. Nxe6+ fxe6 25. Rd1
This is a critical point in the game. White must pressure the pawns to move, creating holes for blockade and files for pressure. If he gives Black time to consolidate, the pawns will be hard to stop! So let's look at a plan for White - provoke holes and use preventive measures to keep the pawns from advancing:
22. Ra3 a6 (a hole on b6) 23. Rd2 The extra d-pawn is now harder to advance. RESTRICT! 23... Bd7 24. f4 e6 25. Nb6 (Occupy the holes also aiming at the d6 pawn.) 25... Bf8 26. e5 d5 A protected passed Black pawn - But easily blockaded and difficult to advance. The DYNAMIC of the pawn has been removed. In it's wake are weak squares c5 and e5, while a very weak spot on d6 has developed. Further undermining with a well prepared f4-f5 will weaken the Black structure. Let's continue a few moves, just to get an idea of how this works: 27. Rc3 Threatens an eventual ...Rxc5 and ...Nxd7. 27... Bb5 28. Rdc2 Nd7 29. Nxd7 Bxd7 30. Bf1 Prevents ...Bc6 due to Bxa6 and the black Bishop loses its support. 30... Ra8 Now if Bxa6 then ...Rxa6. Notice how the advance of the pawns is hindered. If the b-pawn advances, the the light squared Black Bishop loses his support square. So, the pawns are effectively tied up. 31. Kf2 Bc6 32. Ke3 Be7 33. g4 Ever so carefully preparing the f4-f5 destruction of the Black pawns. White must tread very carefully. If he opens the position too quickly he will find a pair of very dangerous bishops to deal with! 33... Kf8 34. Kd4 Bd8 35. Rb2 Preventing ...Bb6 with strong effect. 35... Ke7 36. f5 gxf5 37. gxf5 exf5 38. Rf3 Bc7 39. Rxf5 And the Rooks have air. Notice the extra pawns have been shut down! The battle of course will still rage!!
22... Bd7 23. Rb1 a6 24. h3 e6 25. Ne3 b5
Black on the other hand has weakened his structure without being provoked. Now White can take over the game!
He opens the door of death. There was no reason to give scope the the Rooks. Doom now awaits!
e5 hits the Knight twice and wins the d-pawn. The game could end there.
28. e5 Bxe5 29. Bxb7 Bxb7 30. Rxb7 d5 31. Ra7 Bg7 32. Rxa6 d4 33. Nc2 e5 34. Rb6 Rd8 35. Rxb5 e4 36. Rb4 d3 37. Rxe4 dxc2 38. Rxd8+ Bf8 39. Rc8
28... a5
(...Nc5 is better, but Black has lost the thread of the game.)
29. Bf1 b4 30. Ba6 d5 31. Rxc8
Complicating for no reason. Play straight forward and the game ends.
31. exd5 exd5 32. Nxd5 (planning Rxc8 and Ne7) 32... Kf8 33. Rdc1 Be6 34. Nc7 Re7 35. Nxe6+ fxe6 36. Rc8+ Kf7 37. Bxb7 Rxb7 38. R8c7+ Rxc7 39. Rxc7+ Kf6 40. Ra7 h5 41. Rxa5 Bf8 42. Rb5 Be7 The Rook beats the Bishop easily. 43. f4 h4 44. g4 Bd6 45. Kg2 Kf7 46. Kf3 Kf6 47. Ke4 Kf7 48. g5 Ke7 49. Rb7+ Ke8 50. Rg7
Even though a piece down, Black can fight on for a long time. Better NOT to give up the d-pawn.
32... Rc7 33. Ba6 dxe4 With Black having three pawns for the piece, White will still have to fight hard to win.
33. Bc6 Rc8 34. exd5 exd5 35. Bxd5
With one pawn for the piece it is game over.
37. Rd3 keeps the pawns from moving at all.
37... b3 38. axb3 axb3 39. Rb1 b2 40. Nd1 Rb5 41. Be4 Kf8 42. Kf3 Ke7 43. Ke2 Kd6 44. Kd3 f5 45. Bg2 Kc5 46. Kc2 h6
Done.
47. Nxb2 Bxb2 48. Rxb2 Rxb2+ 49. Kxb2 Kd4 50. Kc2 g5 51. Kd2 f4 52. gxf4 gxf4
This game revealed the importance of understanding the proper plan based on pawn structure. Neither player reached his potential in planning, but sort of stammered around hoping to find something. Play through a lot of master games to develope an intuition for planning!
1-0
Zhang, Albin (1458) 2011 Tennessee Open (5) |
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4
The aggressive Panov attack.
4... e6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. Nf3
White has not hidden his intentions of destroying Joe's Caro-Kann. But this move is a critical mistake. The light squared Bishop on d3 is vital for attacking. He must not lose it. Not to mention that Qc2 loses a pawn.
In the Caro-Kann, given the chance, Black should always take White's King Bishop. For example:
10... Nxd3+ 11. Qxd3 dxc4 12. Qxc4 b6 13.
11. a3
If Black will not make the best move on his own, White will provoke him??!!?
11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 exd5 14.
11... Nxd3+ 12. Qxd3 dxc4 13. Qxc4 Rc8
Gaining a tempo, but ...Bc6 puts White in real trouble, threatening to rip White's Kingside and hitting the d-pawn.
13... Bc6 14. Qe2 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Qxd4 16.
14. Qd3
Qe2 protects b2 and the f3 Knight.
A better try to hold is the simple 15.Rb1. But Black is already better based on pawn structure and potential of his Bishop pair.
15. Rb1
15... Qxb2
Since the Knight on c3 is hit twice, Black is simply winning now.
16. Rfb1
Oops.
16... Qxc3 17. Qxc3 Rxc3 18. Rxb7 Rfc8 19. Rxa7 R3c7 20. Ra5 Nd5 21. Bd2 Bf6 22. h3 h6 23. Kh2 Nb6 24. Bb4 Nc4 25. Rc5
Double oops.
25... Rxc5 26. Bxc5 Rxc5 27. Rc1 Rc6 28. a4 Na5 29. Rb1 Rd6
White played the first few moves of the Panov 'Attack'. Once his 'Book Knowledge' was depleted, we found that he had no idea what to do. It is true that understanding the principles of your chosen opening is more important than memorizing a few lines! Study your openings with a few of the planning for the middlegame! You will have more success! (Brush up on the tactics too!!)
0-1
MANNERS, ROY. (1302) TN OPEN 2011 (1) |
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5
The wall chart said Paul's rating was 1197, so I thought I'd see if I could pull off the 7-move mate Queen sacrifice. His last move prevents that as the King now has an escape square on f8. I also noticed he wrote 1232 beside his name on the scoresheet. I also know Paul's son David Justice is a high rated expert. I have played Paul a couple or 3 times before. I was thinking that he'd won the last encounter.
HENRY - In this line, where White castles early, he should be careful not to allow Black to play ...Bg4 with ...Nd4 as the pin will force a hole in the Kingside. It would have been much better to play h3 here to kick the Bishop back breaking the pin.
6... Qd7
HENRY - Black misses a chance to gain the advantage by playing ...Nd4 breaking up the White Kings position. For example:
6... Nd4 7. Be3 Nxf3+ 8. gxf3 Bh3 Advantage Black. 9. Re1 A mistake revealing the seriousness of Whites problems. 9... Bxe3 10. fxe3 Qg5+ 11. Kf2 Qg2#
7. h3
HENRY - Whew! The pin can now be broken no matter where Black places his Bishop.
7... Be6
Paul surprised me by not playing Bh5. I was anticipating preventing him from castling queenside by 8. Nxe5 Bxd1 9. Bxf7+ the King moves or the Queen recaptures followed by NxQ threatening the rook which doesn't give him time to retreat the Bishop on d1.
HENRY - Roy is about to waste a couple of moves with his King Knight and his Queen. It turns out well, but only because of errors on Blacks part. Better was Nd5 followed by c2-c3 keeping Blacks pesky Knight out.
ROY - If he castles Queenside Nxf7 forks both rooks. HENRY - This Queen move does prevent Black from castling long, but it also takes away the Kings Knights only square. Black could win here with ...f7-f6 as seen in the next moves variation.
10... Nd4
HENRY - Missing the win of a piece with ...f7-f6.
10... f6 11. Qh5+ g6 goose cooked.
11. Qd1
Roy - I didn't want to retreat, but I had to protect c1. HENRY - Whew!
I thought h ere for a long time. I kept seeing the Royal Fork on c7 after Ne6 Qxe6, but the Knight on d4 prevented it. I looked at Qh5+ for a long time. I couldn't see any kind of winning combination until I remembered someone once said "whenever you move a pawn, you leave a hole behind." Then it clicked Nxf6 was gonna be a beautiful little capture.
HENRY - This is a losing move. Much better was ...Ng6 with a long fight to go!
He couldn't play Kf8 as Qh6 was mate.
HENRY - This gives White a clear advantage, but moving the Queen gives a bigger one. For example:
16. Qh6 Nef5 17. Nxd7 Nxh6 18. Bxh6 Kxd7 19. Nxh8 Rxh8 20. c3 White keeps all of his pawns and get the exchange too!
16... gxh5 17. Nxd7 Kxd7 18. Nf7
and... Viola' I'm up the exchange!
18... Nxc2 19. Rb1 Rf8 20. Ng5 h6 21. Nf3
ROY -Time to withdraw and regroup after the winning combination. HENRY - Roy makes a good point here. Once you gain material, very often you find your pieces in a bit of disarray and you need to regroup.
HENRY - An excellent move which should lead to exchanges favorable to White.
I'm up material, I might as well liquidate.
HENRY - Again, a very good move looking to kick the Knight, then exchange Bishops!
25... b5
HENRY - The move prevents the advance but it does appear to weaken the entire Black queenside.
26. Kh1
Wasted move. But at this point he wasn't looking to trade down, and I was just waiting for him to make a mistake.
HENRY - This allows Black some counterplay against the pawns on the queenside. It can be handled, but no need to give your opponent any more than you have to.
27... Bb2
I thought here that I should have known better, but he was down, and he got greedy, which ended up costing him.
Took me a minute or two to see this next move.
29. Rb1
He thought about this for a very long time. If he takes b4 with the Bishop, I take c6. If he takes b4 with the Knight, I play Rc3, effectively trapping the Bishop.
29... a6
Evidently, he didn't like the pawn hanging en pris', but it gave me back the tempo I lost with Kh1. HENRY - Actually, Black could have gotten back into the game by sacking a piece for a couple of pawns. For example:
29... Bxb4 30. Rxc6 Kxc6 31. Rxb4 a5 32. Rb1 b4 And Black has some very dangerous pawns!
HENRY - A mistake which Roy was counting on!
This was a mistake he had to make because after my last move he immediately grabbed the Knight and started to place it on c2 until he realized he'd just be giving away the piece, then he decided to get something in exchange.
I guess he thought I wouldn't take the Bishop. Wrong! He couldn't save either pawn, and ended up losing a third one to boot.
33. Rxa3 bxa3 34. Ra1 c5 35. Rxa3 Kc6 36. Rxa6+ Kb5 37. Ra1 c4 38. Rb1+
Not wanting to be trapped on the edge of the board cost him that third pawn.
38... Kc6 39. Rb6+ Kc7 40. Rb4 Kd7 41. Rxc4 Rg6 42. f3 Rf6 43. Bf2 Rf4 44. Rc3
Didn't want to leave the f pawn hanging.
44... h5
Oh my! I see a beautiful pawn fork on an empty square. But my King has to help.
45. Kh2
HENRY - Roy was very alert at this point. Kh2 is very good!
45... Kd8 46. Bxh4+ Rxh4 47. g3
HENRY - Good job Roy!
47... Rxe4 48. fxe4 Ke7 49. h4 Ke6 50. Kg2 d5 51. exd5+ Kxd5 52. Kf3 Kd4 53. Re3 Kd5 54. Re4 Kd6 55. g4 Ke6 56. g5
I was surprised he didn't exchange on g4.
He was basically out of options. Can anyone say Zugzwhang?
58. Rxe4 Kg6 59. Kf4 Kf7 60. Kf5 Kg7 61. g6 Kh6 62. Re6
Re7 would have been stalemate. When I realized that was what he was playing for I decided to torture him. :)
62... Kg7 63. Re7+ Kh6 64. g7 Kh7 65. Kf6 Kh6
I know, g8=N check mate. I was having fun prolonging his agony.
66. Re8
Black resigns. Finally! Rh8 mates on the next move.
1-0
Olszewski, Matthew (997) TN Open 2011 (2) |
I thought my opponents rating was about 300 points lower than mine and I thought the Sicilian might be hard for him to deal with, but he immediately threw out of my favorite line.
2... cxd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qa4 e5 5. c3 Bc5 6. Nh3 d6
I was thinking Bd7 to hit on the Queen, but maybe I should have just took out the knight on h3 and busted the kingside.
HENRY - Up to here, Roy's play has been very good. The move Bd7 is okay, but there is not threat. The 'discovery Knight' has not targets, so ...Bd7 really has no punch. Black still stands much better, but he could have played for more with ...Qf6!
7... Qf6 8. Qc2 Qf3 9. Rg1 Qh5 With an awesome position.
8. Qc2 Nf6 9. Bg2
my plan was Bxd5, Bxh3 he moves the rook and I pick up the Bishop on d5. He must have saw it and didn't take me back. I was beginning to worry that his rating was a sandbag and this game might not go as well as I'd hoped.
12. Ng5 Nf6 13. b4 Be7 14. Nd2 Qc8
Originally my thought was for Bh3, Bxh3, Qxh3 followed by Ng4. But, once I looked at this position I noticed Nxb4.
Well, he did force me.
17. cxb4
Oops!
I was up big material and got greedy and cute. Too cute!
19. Ngf3 Bxf1 20. Bxf1 Bxb4 21. Be3 Bc3 22. Rc1
I thought Bc3 was a decent fork, but I hadn't seen Rc1.
22... Qb2 23. Nc4 Qb4 24. a3 Qb3 25. Kg2 Bb2 26. Nfd2 Qb5
I realized that he had missed Rb1. I was also eyeing the check on d5. HENRY - Despite Roys being hard on himself, he has played some really good moves for the entire last series!
This is why I was eyeing the check on d5, because I saw the discovered attack coming, but the big idiot that I am, I forgot about it. I was just so glad he had finally dropped that pesky Knight.
HENRY - Roy is still winning, but dropping a Queen is never good!?
I was up the exchange and had a pawn to boot, but both of us had crappy positions. Ultimately, I was able to improve mine more than he was his.
My plan here was b6 next trapping the Bishop on a7.
I had hoped he take back with the Knight.
34... Ne4 35. Rc4 Nd2 36. Nxd2 Rxd2
It surprised me that he actually traded Knights. His Bishop can only cover half the squares on the board.
Time to put all my pieces on dark squares and take the Bishop out of the game.
38. Rb4 Rb8 39. Kf1 Kf8 40. Ke1 Rc2 41. h4 Re8+
I expected him to go back to f1, but he dropped a pawn instead.
42. Kd1 Rxf2 43. Bc6 Rb8 44. Ke1 Rh2
I thought it would be good if I kept his king trapped on the back rank.
45. Kf1 Rc2 46. Be4 Ra2 47. Bd5 Ra5 48. Bb3 f6
The Bishop is pretty much useless now.
I wanted to keep the King away from my isolated pawn.
50. Kf2 g5 51. h5 b5 52. Kf3 Rd8 53. Bc2 Rd2 54. Bf5 Ke7
I decided walking my King over to help the pawn would be a good thing. HENRY - Note to all chessplayers: The King is strong in the ending - USE HIM! As soon as Roy 'remembered' this, the rest was easy!
I'm ready to trade rooks and promote. He didn't seem to like that option.
I was jumping for joy, I thought the Bishop was dead, but he bit back.
58. Rc1+
OMG! I was in shock for a moment. I thought I'd lost my Rook. Then I remembered the 3 ways to get out of check.
58... Rc4
White Resigns.
0-1 [Manners,Roy]
Manners, Roy (1302) TN Open 2011 (3) |
I assumed this was the Dutch, which I don't remember ever having faced before. So, I was pretty much lost from this point on.
I wanted to find a way to play Nh4, then Nxf5, followed by Qh5++. But I couldn't see any way to open the channel for my Queen, plus remove the Knight from f6. So I just kept developing my London System.
4. e3 Bg7 5. Be2
The hole on e6 was very attractive. HENRY - Up to here both players have been developing in their own little world. All pretty decent moves!
8... Qe8
He didn't like the idea of a fork.
HENRY - Look at the position. Black is VERY weak on the light squares and his King has no moves. Roy begins to invade on those squares! A very good job he does!
10... Bxe6 11. Nxe6 Rf7 12. Qb3 Rb8 13. d5
I thought I had made myself a perpetual Knight! HENRY - Not a bad move, but why shut down the lines to the White squares? Just finish developing!
13... Qd7
HENRY - This is an error. Black must fight immediately for the light squares. ...c7-c6 is much better!
I'd been expecting that and when I first recognized the possibility, I thought, no problem I'll just trade Knights.
15. Qc2
BRAIN FOG! I completely forgot to trade out the Knights and it cost me a pawn.
15... Nxe6 16. dxe6 Qxe6 17. Nf3 Qc8 18. h3
I didn't want to castle until my Bishop had a place to go.
18... Qe8
HENRY - A terrible mistake offering the light squares back to White. See the next note!
19.
HENRY - AUUUGHHHH!! Grab the Light Squares!
19. Ng5 Rf8 20. Ne6 Rg8 And it is a fight again!
19... e5
If I'd remembered to trade Knights, my pawn would still be on d5 and I would have play en passant here.
20. Bh2 e4 21. Nd4 Nd7 22. Nb5 Be5
For some reason I was afraid of the follow up check costing me a tempo.
I never even saw the possibility of Nd3.
24. b3 a6 25. Nd4 Nd3 26. Qc3 Kg8 27. f4
For some reason I thought it was worth a chance that he'd forget and play en passant, thereby dropping the Knight.
I wanted my Queen to be able to get to the Kingside.
I thought Nxf4, exf4, e3 was a possibility, plus I wanted to take h4 away from his Queen.
29... g5
The Knight on d3 was beginning to annoy me.
30. Qg2
After I moved I realized Rg7 sucked! I should have put the Queen on h2. Too tired by this time.
It seemed like a good idea at the time. I just couldn't think through the position. No ideas were presenting themselves.
31... f3 32. Qg3 Qg5 33. Kh2 Qxe3 34. Nxf5 Qd2+ 35. Kh1 Re5
Nh6+ looked attractive, but I had to keep the Queen out of g5 first, because I was also looking at Rad1. Not enough time to do both!
I didn't expect this, but it would put me up the exchange for a couple of seconds and at this point that seemed important.
That Knight on d3 is definitely annoying.
38. Rad1
Stick a fork in me I'm done!!! I could think of anything else and I completely missed the fork to follow.
38... Qxd1 39. Qxg7+ Kxg7 40. Rxd1 Nf2+ 41. Kg1 Nxd1 42. Kf1 Nc3
UNCLE! White Resigns.
0-1 [Manners,Roy]
Li, Angela (1289) TN Open (4) |
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4
I don't know what it's called, but I hate it. I do prefer open games though.
4... exd4 5. Nxd4 Bc5 6. Be3 Nxd4 7. Bxd4 Bxd4 8. Qxd4 d6
I thought I was OK here.
HENRY - All of these moves have been played before. White has won all the games.
11. Ne4 Bf5 12. exd6 Bxe4 13. Qxe4 Nxd6
I still felt like I was OK at this point.
I just wanted to gain a tempo.
Open files are supposed to be good, right?
16. Bd3
HENRY - Roy has equalized. The plan must be to activate all of his guys then advance on the queenside!
16... b6
For some reason I thought the b pawn was hanging.
I never did see the threat behind this, so I stepped right into deep...
18... Re7
Thought it was a good thing to double up my rooks. HENRY - This move loses. Up to here, Roy has played very well, but let's try not to protect a piece from in front. That is not often a good strategy and it costs Roy. Better was
18... a5 Starting action on the enemy Kings position!
19. h4
Not such a good thing anymore!
Black Resigns. I never even saw the forced mate in two. HENRY - It happens to all of us, but it is usually best to sleep AFTER the game!
1-0 [Manners,Roy]
Jagasia, Puja (1009) 2011 TN Open (5) |
My opponent was a young girl. I thought the Sicilian Najdorf might be something she didn't know.
2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 e6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. e5
I hadn't seen this move very often, but that is the reason for 2. d6.
Thought I could win a piece if my opponent was inexperienced.
7. Bb5+ Bd7 8. Nxd7 Nbxd7 9.
I thought; nice diagonal for my Bishop.
10. Bxd7+
I was eyeing Ng4 after Qh4. Also attractive to me was Qe5. So I decide dto take back with my King.
10... Kxd7 11. Qf3 Rab8 12. Nb5 Qe5 13. Nxd6 Qxd6 14. b3 Qe5
I was thinking this would keep the Bishop out of b2.
I just lost my mind. I saw Bb2, Qxd2 as me winning a free pawn. Nothing else ever occurred to me.
Serve me up on a platter because I'm ready to eat.
17... Qxd1+ 18. Rxd1+ Ke7 19. Bxf6+ gxf6 20. g3 b6 21. Qc6 Rhc8
I was so rattled at my own stupidity that I thought I shouldn't trade down any more, but maybe I could have held on longer if I had.
22. Qd7+ Kf8 23. Qxa7 Kg7 24. Rd7 Rf8 25. Rb7 Rbd8 26. Qxb6 Kg6 27. Qxc5 Rd1+ 28. Kg2 Rfd8 29. Qc7
Black resigns. I'd had enough. I couldn't stop any of the Queenside pawns.
1-0 [Manners,Roy]
Game(s) in PGN