Saturday, August 18, 2018

The Flying Knight, by Alan Lasser

 It has been five years since the Flying Knight Variation last appeared on this page.  One of the strange products of the Psychedelic Opening Laboratory, the knight soars over the battlefield with 2.Ne4, and where it lands, nobody knows.  I’ve only played it once in a tournament, defeating an expert at the 1992 New Haven Open.  Altogether, this surprising move has scored 3W-1L-1D in my recorded games against experts and 15W-2L in my recorded games against non-experts, not bad statistics for just tossing the knight into the air. This game has beautiful symmetry, Nc3-Ne4-Ng3-Ne2-Nc3-Ne4, the knight’s game-ending move completing a round trip flight.   
 
Alan Lasser-Scot Baldwin
8/11/18
Lilly Library Chess Club
game/60
 
2...d5 Black does get some compensation by parting with the c-pawn 3.Nxc5 e6 3...e5 4. Nd3 -0.55/21 
( 4. d4 -0.12/21 4... Nc6 5. Nb3 e4 6. Bf4 a5 7. c3 a4 8. Nc5 a3 9. b4 b6 10. Nb3 Bg4 11. Qc2 ) 
( 4. Nb3 Bd6 5. d4 e4 6. e3 Nf6 7. c4 dxc4 8. Bxc4 a6 9. a4 Qc7 10. Nd2 O-O 11. Ne2 Nc6 12. Nc3 Re8 13. Be2 +0.32 Stockfish ) 
4... Nc6 5. f4 e4 6. Nf2 f5 +0.10/22 
( 6... Nf6 -0.23/19 7. e3 Bd6 7...Be7 8. c3 O-O 9. g3 Re8 10. Bg2 g6 11. Ne2 Ng4 12. Nxg4 Bxg4 13. h3 Bf5 14. O-O +0.26 Stockfish 8. Ne2 O-O 9. Ng3 Bd7 10. c3 Re8 11. Nh5 d4 12. Nxf6+ Qxf6 13. cxd4 Rac8 14. Bb5 Qf5 15. Qb3 Be6 16. Qa4 Bd5 17. Bxc6 Rxc6 18. Qb5 ) 
7. e3 g6 +0.42/22 
( 7... Nf6 +0.16/19 8. Be2 8. Ne2 Bd6 9. c3 O-O 10. a4 Be6 11. g3 Bf7 12. Bh3 Qd7 13. O-O Bh5 14. b4 Rae8 15. d3 Qe6 16. Re1 +0.35 Stockfish 8... Bc5 9. d4 exd3 10. Nxd3 Bb6 11. Nf3 O-O 12. O-O Ng4 13. Ng5 Re8 14. Nf2 h6 15. Ngh3 ) 
8. Bb5 Bg7 9. Ne2 Qa5 10. Bxc6+ bxc6 11. O-O Ba6 12. Re1 Rb8 13. c3 +0.33/23 
( 13. Nd4 +0.60/20 13... Ne7 14. Ne6 Bf6 15. d4 exd3 16. cxd3 Bc8 17. Ng5 Qb6 18. Nf3 Qc7 19. Ne5 Bxe5 20. fxe5 20... Qxe5 21. e4 fxe4 22. dxe4 O-O 23. Be3 Rb7 24. Bd4 Qd6 25. Rc1 h6 26. exd5 cxd5 +1.68 Stockfish ) 
13... c5 14. d4 exd3 15. Nxd3 Nf6 +0.75/21 
( 15... Bxd3 +0.42/21 16. Qxd3 c4 16...Nf6 17. b4 Qb6 18. a4 c4 19. Qc2 Kf7 20. Nd4 Ne4 21. Ba3 Qc7 22. Rad1 a6 23. Bb2 = Stockfish 17. Qc2 Nf6 18. b4 cxb3 ) 
16. Ne5 +0.19/22 
( 16. b4 +0.75/21 16... cxb4 17. cxb4 Qb6 18. a3 18. Nc5 Bxe2 19. Qxe2 O-O 20. Rb1 a5 21. a3 axb4 22. axb4 Ne4 23. Nxe4 fxe4 24. Qa2 +0.81 Stockfish 18... Ne4 19. Ne5 Bc4 20. Nd4 ) 
16... Qb6 17. b4 Bxe2 18. Rxe2 cxb4 +1.10/22 
( 18... O-O +0.31/20 19. Bb2 Rfd8 19...c4 20. a4 Rfe8 21. Qd2 Rbd8 22. Nf3 Re7 23. Nd4 Rde8 = Stockfish 20. c4 dxc4 21. Qc2 Nd5 22. Rd1 cxb4 23. Qxc4 Qb5 24. Red2 Qxc4 25. Nxc4 Bxb2 26. Nxb2 Rb5 27. Nc4 Rc5 28. Ne5 a5 29. Rd4 Rd6 ) 
19. cxb4 Qd6 +1.87/21 
( 19... Ng4 +1.10/20 20. Qxd5 Nxe5 21. Bb2 21. fxe5 Rd8 22. Qb3 Bxe5 23. Bb2 Bxb2 24. Rxb2 Ke7 +1.24 Stockfish 21... Rd8 22. Qc5 Qxc5 23. bxc5 O-O 24. fxe5 Rfe8 25. c6 Bxe5 26. Rc1 Rc8 27. Bxe5 Rxe5 28. c7 Re7 29. Rec2 Rxe3 30. Rb2 Kf7 31. Rb7 a5 32. Rb8 Ree8 33. Rxc8 Rxc8 34. Rc5 a4 ) 
20. Qa4+ +1.57/19 
( 20. Bb2 +1.87/21 20... O-O 21. Rc1 Rbc8 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Rc2 Rxc2 24. Qxc2 Stockfish also plays 20.Qa4 +3.30 ) 
20... Kf8 +10.90/23 
( 20... Nd7 +1.57/19 21. Ba3 Bxe5 22. fxe5 Qe6 23. b5 Rb7 23...Nb6 24. Qa6 Qc8 25. Qxa7 Qb7 26. Qxb7 Rxb7 27.Bc5 +3.70 Stockfish 24. Qa6 24. Rc1 Nxe5 25. Qd4 Rg8 26. Rc5 Kf7 27. Rxd5 Re8 28. Bb2 Qf6 29. Rxe5 Rxe5 30. Qxe5 Qxe5 31. Bxe5 Rxb5 32. Bd4 Ke6 33. Bxa7 +5.57 Stockfish 24... Qxa6 ) 
21. Ba3 +4.53/23 
( 21. Qxa7 +10.90/23 21... Ke8 21...Qe7 22. Qxb8+ Qe8 23. Qxe8+ Nxe8 24. Bb2 Kg8 25. Rd1 h6 26. Nxg6 Bxb2 27. Rxb2 Rh7 28. Rxd5 Rb7 29. Rxf5 +12.15 Stockfish 22. Qf7+ Kd8 23. Qxg7 23. Rc2 Ne8 24. Nc6+ Kc8 25. Qa7 Qc7 26. Ne7+ Kd7 27. Rxc7+ Nxc7 28. Nxd5 Bxa1 29. Qxc7+ +17.00 Stockfish 23... Rg8 24. Qxg8+ Nxg8 25. Nf7+ Kd7 26. Nxd6 Kxd6 27. a4 Nf6 28. b5 ) 
21... Kg8 +6.99/23 
( 21... Qb6 +4.53/23 22. Rc1 Kg8 23. Nd7 23. Rc6 Qb7 24. Rec2 h6 25. Nxg6 Kh7 26. Nxh8 d4 27. Qa5 Kxh8 28. Qxf5 +7.20 Stockfish 23... Nxd7 ( 23... Re8 ) 24. Qxd7 Rd8 25. Rc8 Bf6 26. Rxd8+ Qxd8 27. Qxd8+ Bxd8 28. Bb2 Bb6 29. Bxh8 Kxh8 30. a4 d4 31. exd4 Bxd4+ 32. Kh1 Bc3 33. Re8+ ) 
22. Qxa7 Lasser-Wennemyer 2018 4.Nb3 Nc6 5.d4 g6 6.Nf3 Bg7 7.Bf4 h6 8.h4 Bd7 9.e3 Nge7 10.c3 O-O 11.Bd3 a5 12.e4dxe4 13.Bxe4 Nd5 14.Bd6 Re8 15.O-O Bf6 16.Qc2 Nce7 17.Nc5 Nf5 18.Bxf5 exf5 19.h5 Bc6 20.Be5 Bg5 21.hxg6 fxg622.Rfe1 Bf4 23.Nd3 Bxe5 24.Ndxe5 Qf6 25.Qd2 f4 26.c4 Nb4 27.d5 Rad8 28.a3 Na6 29.Qc2 Bd7 30.Nxd7 Rxe1+ 31.Rxe1Rxd7 32.Re6 Qf5 33.Rxg6+ Lasser-Harder 2017
2...d6 3.c4 Bf5 3...Nc6 4. f4 e5 5. d3 Qh4+ -0.20/20 
( 5... Be7 -0.57/18 6. Nf2 Qb6 7. Nf3 Qb4+ 8. Qd2 ) 
6. g3 Qd8 7. Nf3 Nf6 8. Nxf6+ Qxf6 9. Bg2 Rb8 +0.68/19 
( 9... Be7 -0.17/21 10. O-O Qg6 11. Qe1 O-O 12. Qf2 exf4 13. Bxf4 Qh5 14. Rae1 Bg4 15. h4 Rab8 ) 
10. O-O +0.03/19 
( 10. fxe5 +0.68/19 10... Qd8 11. Bf4 Qc7 12. exd6 Bxd6 13. Qd2 O-O 14. Ng5 ) 
10... e4 +0.85/22 
( 10... Qd8 +0.03/19 11. Ng5 Be7 12. Ne4 exf4 13. Bxf4 O-O 14. Qd2 Bg4 15. Be3 Nd4 16. Rae1 b5 ) 
11. dxe4 Qd8 12. e5 dxe5 13. Qxd8+ Nxd8 14. Nxe5 Be6 +2.35/24 
( 14... Bd6 +1.10/21 15. Nf3 O-O 16. b3 Nc6 17. e4 Re8 18. Bb2 Bc7 19. Rad1 ) 
15. f5 Bd7 +5.89/25 
( 15... Bd6 +2.40/23 16. Bf4 f6 17. Nd3 Bxf4 18. Rxf4 Bc8 19. Nxc5 b6 20. Ne4 Nf7 21. Rd1 O-O 22. Nd6 Ne5 23. Bd5+ Kh8 24. Rh4 Rd8 25. Rdd4 h6 26. Bf3 Ba6 27. b4 Kh7 28. b5 Bc8 ) 
16. Bf4 +4.63/24 
( 16. Nxd7 +5.89/25 16... Kxd7 17. Bf4 Kc8 18. f6 Ra8 19. Bh3+ Ne6 20. Be5 gxf6 21. Rxf6 ) 
16... Rc8 +5.89/26 
( 16... Bd6 +4.63/24 17. Rad1 Bxe5 18. Bxe5 Rc8 19. Bxg7 Rg8 20. Bf6 Bc6 21. e4 b6 22. Rf4 Ba8 23. Rh4 Nc6 24. Rxh7 Nd4 25. Bxd4 ) 
17. Nxd7 Kxd7 18. Rad1+ Ke8 19. Rd3 +3.86/23 
( 19. Rf3 +5.85/26 19... Be7 20. Re3 Rc6 21. Rd6 Rxd6 22. Bxd6 Ne6 23. Bxe7 Kxe7 24. fxe6 fxe6 25. Ra3 a6 26. Ra5 Rc8 27. Bxb7 Rb8 28. Be4 Rxb2 29. Bxh7 Rxe2 30. Rxa6 Rd2 31. Rc6 Rxa2 32. Rxc5 Ra1+ 33. Kg2 Ra2+ 34. Kh3 Ra4 35. Bd3 Ra3 ) 
19... Nc6 +5.67/27 
( 19... Be7 +3.86/23 20. Rfd1 Nc6 21. Bxc6+ bxc6 22. Re3 Kf8 23. Rd7 Bf6 24. Be5 h5 25. Bxf6 gxf6 26. Rxa7 Rd8 27. Ra5 Kg7 28. Rxc5 ) 
20. Re3+ Be7 21. Bd6 +3.71/23 
( 21. Bxc6+ +5.49/25 21... Rxc6 22. Rd1 Kf8 23. Rd7 Bf6 24. Bd6+ Rxd6 25. Rxd6 h5 26. Rd7 g6 27. Ra3 gxf5 28. Rxa7 Kg7 29. Raxb7 Ra8 30. a3 Ra4 31. b4 Rxa3 32. bxc5 Ra4 33. Rxf7+ ) 
21... f6 +10.96/24 
( 21... Kf8 +3.71/23 22. Bxe7+ Nxe7 23. Ra3 h5 24. Bxb7 Rb8 25. Rxa7 Rh6 26. Be4 Rf6 27. Ra5 Rc8 28. Bb7 ) 
22. Bxc6+ Rxc6 23. Bxe7 +7.71/26 
( 23. Rxe7+ +10.76/25 23... Kf8 24. Rxb7+ Rxd6 25. Rb8+ ) 
23... Kf7 24. Rd1 Re8 +10.12/26 
( 24... Rhc8 +7.89/24 25. Bd8 Kf8 26. Rd7 h5 27. Be7+ Kg8 28. Rxb7 Ra6 29. Ra3 Rxa3 30. bxa3 a6 31. e4 Rc6 32. Kf2 ) 
25. Rd7 Lasser-Nadel 2015
4.f4 b6 
17...O-O +4.08/24 18.exf6 Nxf6 19.Qxh4 19. Nxh4 Re8 20. Qg3 Ne4 21. Nxe4 Rxe4 22. b3 Qf6 23. Rb1 Nf5 24. Nxf5 Qxf5 25. Bb2 f6 26. Bd3 Rce8 27. Rbd1 b5 28. Bxe4 Rxe4 29. axb5 axb5 +5.52 Stockfish 19...Qd7 20.Qg5 Rfe8 21.Bd2 Nf522.Bd3 Nd4 23.Nh4 Rb8 24.Rae1 Qg4 25.Qxg4 Nxg4 26.Rxe8+ Rxe8 27.Re1 Rb8 28.Nf5 Nxf5 29.Bxf5 Nf6 30.Bd3 Nxd53
28.Ne4+ 1-0
 
 
[Event "game/60"]
[Site "Lilly Library Chess Club"]
[Date "2018.08.11"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alan Lasser"]
[Black "Scot Baldwin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A00"]
 
1.Nc3 c5 2.Ne4 e6 ( 2...d5
{ Black does get some compensation by parting with the c-pawn
} 3.Nxc5 e6
{ 3...e5 4. Nd3 -0.55/21 
 
( 4. d4 -0.12/21 4... Nc6 5. Nb3 e4 6. Bf4 a5 7. c3 a4 8. Nc5 a3 9. b4 b6
10. Nb3 Bg4 11. Qc2 ) 
 
( 4. Nb3 Bd6 5. d4 e4 6. e3 Nf6 7. c4 dxc4 8. Bxc4 a6 9. a4 Qc7 10. Nd2 O-O
11. Ne2 Nc6 12. Nc3 Re8 13. Be2 +0.32 Stockfish ) 
 
4... Nc6 5. f4 e4 6. Nf2 f5 +0.10/22 
 
( 6... Nf6 -0.23/19 7. e3 Bd6 7...Be7 8. c3 O-O 9. g3 Re8 10. Bg2 g6 11. Ne2
Ng4 12. Nxg4 Bxg4 13. h3 Bf5 14. O-O +0.26 Stockfish 8. Ne2 O-O 9. Ng3 Bd7 10. c3 Re8 11. Nh5 d4 12. Nxf6+ Qxf6 13. cxd4 Rac8 14. Bb5 Qf5 15. Qb3 Be6 16. Qa4 Bd5 17. Bxc6 Rxc6 18. Qb5 ) 
 
7. e3 g6 +0.42/22 
 
( 7... Nf6 +0.16/19 8. Be2 8. Ne2 Bd6 9. c3 O-O 10. a4 Be6 11. g3 Bf7 12.
Bh3 Qd7 13. O-O Bh5 14. b4 Rae8 15. d3 Qe6 16. Re1 +0.35 Stockfish 8... Bc5 9. d4 exd3 10. Nxd3 Bb6 11. Nf3 O-O 12. O-O Ng4 13. Ng5 Re8 14. Nf2 h6 15. Ngh3 )
8. Bb5 Bg7 9. Ne2 Qa5 10. Bxc6+ bxc6 11. O-O Ba6 12. Re1 Rb8 13. c3 +0.33/23
 
 
( 13. Nd4 +0.60/20 13... Ne7 14. Ne6 Bf6 15. d4 exd3 16. cxd3 Bc8 17. Ng5
Qb6 18. Nf3 Qc7 19. Ne5 Bxe5 20. fxe5 20... Qxe5 21. e4 fxe4 22. dxe4 O-O 23. Be3 Rb7 24. Bd4 Qd6 25. Rc1 h6 26. exd5 cxd5 +1.68 Stockfish ) 
 
13... c5 14. d4 exd3 15. Nxd3 Nf6 +0.75/21 
 
( 15... Bxd3 +0.42/21 16. Qxd3 c4 16...Nf6 17. b4 Qb6 18. a4 c4 19. Qc2 Kf7
20. Nd4 Ne4 21. Ba3 Qc7 22. Rad1 a6 23. Bb2 = Stockfish 17. Qc2 Nf6 18. b4 cxb3 ) 
 
16. Ne5 +0.19/22 
 
( 16. b4 +0.75/21 16... cxb4 17. cxb4 Qb6 18. a3 18. Nc5 Bxe2 19. Qxe2 O-O
20. Rb1 a5 21. a3 axb4 22. axb4 Ne4 23. Nxe4 fxe4 24. Qa2 +0.81 Stockfish 18... Ne4 19. Ne5 Bc4 20. Nd4 ) 
 
16... Qb6 17. b4 Bxe2 18. Rxe2 cxb4 +1.10/22 
 
( 18... O-O +0.31/20 19. Bb2 Rfd8 19...c4 20. a4 Rfe8 21. Qd2 Rbd8 22. Nf3
Re7 23. Nd4 Rde8 = Stockfish 20. c4 dxc4 21. Qc2 Nd5 22. Rd1 cxb4 23. Qxc4 Qb5 24. Red2 Qxc4 25. Nxc4 Bxb2 26. Nxb2 Rb5 27. Nc4 Rc5 28. Ne5 a5 29. Rd4 Rd6 ) 
 
19. cxb4 Qd6 +1.87/21 
 
( 19... Ng4 +1.10/20 20. Qxd5 Nxe5 21. Bb2 21. fxe5 Rd8 22. Qb3 Bxe5 23. Bb2
Bxb2 24. Rxb2 Ke7 +1.24 Stockfish 21... Rd8 22. Qc5 Qxc5 23. bxc5 O-O 24. fxe5 Rfe8 25. c6 Bxe5 26. Rc1 Rc8 27. Bxe5 Rxe5 28. c7 Re7 29. Rec2 Rxe3 30. Rb2 Kf7 31. Rb7 a5 32. Rb8 Ree8 33. Rxc8 Rxc8 34. Rc5 a4 ) 
 
20. Qa4+ +1.57/19 
 
( 20. Bb2 +1.87/21 20... O-O 21. Rc1 Rbc8 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Rc2 Rxc2 24.
Qxc2 Stockfish also plays 20.Qa4 +3.30 ) 
 
20... Kf8 +10.90/23 
 
( 20... Nd7 +1.57/19 21. Ba3 Bxe5 22. fxe5 Qe6 23. b5 Rb7 23...Nb6 24. Qa6
Qc8 25. Qxa7 Qb7 26. Qxb7 Rxb7 27.Bc5 +3.70 Stockfish 24. Qa6 24. Rc1 Nxe5 25. Qd4 Rg8 26. Rc5 Kf7 27. Rxd5 Re8 28. Bb2 Qf6 29. Rxe5 Rxe5 30. Qxe5 Qxe5 31. Bxe5 Rxb5 32. Bd4 Ke6 33. Bxa7 +5.57 Stockfish 24... Qxa6 ) 
 
21. Ba3 +4.53/23 
 
( 21. Qxa7 +10.90/23 21... Ke8 21...Qe7 22. Qxb8+ Qe8 23. Qxe8+ Nxe8 24. Bb2
Kg8 25. Rd1 h6 26. Nxg6 Bxb2 27. Rxb2 Rh7 28. Rxd5 Rb7 29. Rxf5 +12.15 Stockfish 22. Qf7+ Kd8 23. Qxg7 23. Rc2 Ne8 24. Nc6+ Kc8 25. Qa7 Qc7 26. Ne7+ Kd7 27. Rxc7+ Nxc7 28. Nxd5 Bxa1 29. Qxc7+ +17.00 Stockfish 23... Rg8 24. Qxg8+ Nxg8 25. Nf7+ Kd7 26. Nxd6 Kxd6 27. a4 Nf6 28. b5 ) 
 
21... Kg8 +6.99/23 
 
 
 
 
( 21... Qb6 +4.53/23 22. Rc1 Kg8 23. Nd7 23. Rc6 Qb7 24. Rec2 h6 25. Nxg6
Kh7 26. Nxh8 d4 27. Qa5 Kxh8 28. Qxf5 +7.20 Stockfish 23... Nxd7 ( 23... Re8 ) 24. Qxd7 Rd8 25. Rc8 Bf6 26. Rxd8+ Qxd8 27. Qxd8+ Bxd8 28. Bb2 Bb6 29. Bxh8 Kxh8 30. a4 d4 31. exd4 Bxd4+ 32. Kh1 Bc3 33. Re8+ ) 
 
22. Qxa7 Lasser-Wennemyer 2018 } 4.Nb3 Nc6 5.d4 g6 6.Nf3 Bg7 7.Bf4 h6 8.h4
Bd7 9.e3 Nge7 10.c3 O-O 11.Bd3 a5 12.e4 dxe4 13.Bxe4 Nd5 14.Bd6 Re8 15.O-O
Bf6 16.Qc2 Nce7 17.Nc5 Nf5 18.Bxf5 exf5 19.h5 Bc6 20.Be5 Bg5 21.hxg6 fxg6
22.Rfe1 Bf4 23.Nd3 Bxe5 24.Ndxe5 Qf6 25.Qd2 f4 26.c4 Nb4 27.d5 Rad8 28.a3 Na6
29.Qc2 Bd7 30.Nxd7 Rxe1+ 31.Rxe1 Rxd7 32.Re6 Qf5 33.Rxg6+
{ Lasser-Harder 2017 } ) ( 2...d6 3.c4 Bf5
{ 3...Nc6 4. f4 e5 5. d3 Qh4+ -0.20/20 
 
( 5... Be7 -0.57/18 6. Nf2 Qb6 7. Nf3 Qb4+ 8. Qd2 ) 
 
6. g3 Qd8 7. Nf3 Nf6 8. Nxf6+ Qxf6 9. Bg2 Rb8 +0.68/19 
 
( 9... Be7 -0.17/21 10. O-O Qg6 11. Qe1 O-O 12. Qf2 exf4 13. Bxf4 Qh5 14.
Rae1 Bg4 15. h4 Rab8 ) 
 
10. O-O +0.03/19 
 
( 10. fxe5 +0.68/19 10... Qd8 11. Bf4 Qc7 12. exd6 Bxd6 13. Qd2 O-O 14. Ng5
) 
 
10... e4 +0.85/22 
 
( 10... Qd8 +0.03/19 11. Ng5 Be7 12. Ne4 exf4 13. Bxf4 O-O 14. Qd2 Bg4 15.
Be3 Nd4 16. Rae1 b5 ) 
 
11. dxe4 Qd8 12. e5 dxe5 13. Qxd8+ Nxd8 14. Nxe5 Be6 +2.35/24 
 
( 14... Bd6 +1.10/21 15. Nf3 O-O 16. b3 Nc6 17. e4 Re8 18. Bb2 Bc7 19. Rad1
) 
 
15. f5 Bd7 +5.89/25 
 
( 15... Bd6 +2.40/23 16. Bf4 f6 17. Nd3 Bxf4 18. Rxf4 Bc8 19. Nxc5 b6 20.
Ne4 Nf7 21. Rd1 O-O 22. Nd6 Ne5 23. Bd5+ Kh8 24. Rh4 Rd8 25. Rdd4 h6 26. Bf3 Ba6 27. b4 Kh7 28. b5 Bc8 ) 
 
16. Bf4 +4.63/24 
 
( 16. Nxd7 +5.89/25 16... Kxd7 17. Bf4 Kc8 18. f6 Ra8 19. Bh3+ Ne6 20. Be5
gxf6 21. Rxf6 ) 
 
16... Rc8 +5.89/26 
 
( 16... Bd6 +4.63/24 17. Rad1 Bxe5 18. Bxe5 Rc8 19. Bxg7 Rg8 20. Bf6 Bc6 21.
e4 b6 22. Rf4 Ba8 23. Rh4 Nc6 24. Rxh7 Nd4 25. Bxd4 ) 
 
17. Nxd7 Kxd7 18. Rad1+ Ke8 19. Rd3 +3.86/23 
 
( 19. Rf3 +5.85/26 19... Be7 20. Re3 Rc6 21. Rd6 Rxd6 22. Bxd6 Ne6 23. Bxe7
Kxe7 24. fxe6 fxe6 25. Ra3 a6 26. Ra5 Rc8 27. Bxb7 Rb8 28. Be4 Rxb2 29. Bxh7 Rxe2 30. Rxa6 Rd2 31. Rc6 Rxa2 32. Rxc5 Ra1+ 33. Kg2 Ra2+ 34. Kh3 Ra4 35. Bd3 Ra3 ) 
 
19... Nc6 +5.67/27 
 
( 19... Be7 +3.86/23 20. Rfd1 Nc6 21. Bxc6+ bxc6 22. Re3 Kf8 23. Rd7 Bf6 24.
Be5 h5 25. Bxf6 gxf6 26. Rxa7 Rd8 27. Ra5 Kg7 28. Rxc5 ) 
 
20. Re3+ Be7 21. Bd6 +3.71/23 
 
( 21. Bxc6+ +5.49/25 21... Rxc6 22. Rd1 Kf8 23. Rd7 Bf6 24. Bd6+ Rxd6 25.
Rxd6 h5 26. Rd7 g6 27. Ra3 gxf5 28. Rxa7 Kg7 29. Raxb7 Ra8 30. a3 Ra4 31. b4 Rxa3 32. bxc5 Ra4 33. Rxf7+ ) 
 
21... f6 +10.96/24 
 
( 21... Kf8 +3.71/23 22. Bxe7+ Nxe7 23. Ra3 h5 24. Bxb7 Rb8 25. Rxa7 Rh6 26.
Be4 Rf6 27. Ra5 Rc8 28. Bb7 ) 
 
22. Bxc6+ Rxc6 23. Bxe7 +7.71/26 
 
( 23. Rxe7+ +10.76/25 23... Kf8 24. Rxb7+ Rxd6 25. Rb8+ ) 
 
23... Kf7 24. Rd1 Re8 +10.12/26 
 
( 24... Rhc8 +7.89/24 25. Bd8 Kf8 26. Rd7 h5 27. Be7+ Kg8 28. Rxb7 Ra6 29.
Ra3 Rxa3 30. bxa3 a6 31. e4 Rc6 32. Kf2 ) 
 
( 21... Kf8 +3.71/23 22. Bxe7+ Nxe7 23. Ra3 h5 24. Bxb7 Rb8 25. Rxa7 Rh6 26.
Be4 Rf6 27. Ra5 Rc8 28. Bb7 ) 
 
22. Bxc6+ Rxc6 23. Bxe7 +7.71/26 
 
( 23. Rxe7+ +10.76/25 23... Kf8 24. Rxb7+ Rxd6 25. Rb8+ ) 
 
23... Kf7 24. Rd1 Re8 +10.12/26 
 
( 24... Rhc8 +7.89/24 25. Bd8 Kf8 26. Rd7 h5 27. Be7+ Kg8 28. Rxb7 Ra6 29.
Ra3 Rxa3 30. bxa3 a6 31. e4 Rc6 32. Kf2 ) 
 
25. Rd7 Lasser-Nadel 2015 } 4.Ng3 Bg6 5.h4 h5 6.e4 Nc6 7.d3 Nf6 8.f4 e6 9.Be2
Nd4 10.Nf3 Nxe2 11.Qxe2 Be7 12.f5 exf5 13.exf5 Bh7 14.Ng5 O-O 15.O-O Re8
16.Nxh5 Nxh5 17.Qxh5 Bxg5 18.hxg5 g6 19.fxg6 Bxg6 20.Qf3 Rf8 21.Bd2 Rb8
22.Qd5 Qd7 23.Rf6 Kh7 24.Raf1 Qc6 25.Qxd6 Qxd6 26.Rxd6 Rbd8 27.Rff6 Rxd6
28.Rxd6 Re8 29.Kf2 Re5 30.g4 Re8 31.Be3 b6 32.Rd7 a6 33.d4 cxd4 34.Bxd4 b5
35.c5 Be4 36.Rxf7+ Kg6 37.Rg7# { Lasser-Horsboll 2014 } ) ( 2...b6 3.c4 Bb7
4.Ng3 Nf6 5.d3 d5 6.Bf4 Nbd7 7.Nf3 h6 8.Qc2 e6 9.e4 dxe4 10.dxe4 Ng4 11.h3 e5
12.hxg4 exf4 13.Nf5 Nf6 14.g5 Bxe4 15.Qa4+ { 15.Qe2 +2.41 } 15...Nd7 16.N5h4
hxg5 17.O-O-O gxh4 18.Ne5 Bf5 19.Bd3 Be6 20.Be4 Rc8 21.Bc6 Rc7 22.Nxd7 Bxd7
23.Rxd7 Rxc6 24.Rxd8+ { Lasser-Lamerson 2016 } ) 3.c4 $6 { -0.70/23 } ( 
3.Ng3 { -0.39/21 } 3...d5 4.e4 Nf6 5.Bb5+ Bd7 6.Bxd7+ Nbxd7 7.exd5 ) ( 3.f4
d5 4.Nf2 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bd6 6.d3 Nc6 7.e4 e5 8.f5 h6 9.g4 { -0.13 Stockfish } ) ( 
3.g4 d5 4.Ng3 Nc6 5.d3 Bd6 6.Bg2 Nge7 7.Nh3 Ng6 8.O-O O-O 9.e4 d4 10.f4 Qc7
11.e5 Be7 12.g5 Bd7 13.Ne4 Rfd8 14.Qh5 Bf8 15.Nhf2 Be7 16.Ng4 Be8 17.Rf3 f5
18.gxf6 Ngxe5 19.Rg3 Nxg4 { not 19...Bh5 20.Nh6 K-any 21.fg mate } 20.Qxg4
Bf8 21.fxg7 Be7 22.Qxe6+ Bf7 23.Qh6
{ Lasser-Cole 1992 My scoresheet is unreadable after this, but Black
resigned a few moves later. } ) 3...Nc6 ( 3...d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Ng3 Nf6 6.Nf3
Bd6 7.d4 b6 8.Bg5 Nbd7 9.e3 h6 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.Bd3 Bb7 12.Nh5 Qe7 13.Nxg7+
Kd8 14.Nf5 Qf8 15.Nxd6 Qxd6 16.O-O Rg8 17.Re1 Kc7 18.Rc1 Rg7 19.e4
{ 19.dc +2.67 } 19...dxe4 20.Bxe4 Rag8 21.g3 Bxe4 22.Rxe4 f5 23.Rh4 Kb7
24.dxc5 Qxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Nxc5 26.Rxh6 f4 27.Rf6 fxg3 28.hxg3 Ne4 29.Re6 Nxg3
30.fxg3 Rxg3+ 31.Kf2 Rg2+ 32.Ke3 Rxb2 33.Re7+ Ka6 34.Rd2 Rb5 35.Rdd7 Ra8
36.Ne5 Ka5 37.Rxa7+ Rxa7 38.Rxa7+ Kb4 39.Kd4
{ Threatening mate in one by 40.Nd3 or 40.Nf6 } 39...Rc5 40.Nd3+
{ Lasser-M.Davis 2015 } ) 4.f4 b6 5.Nf3 Bb7 6.Ng3 Be7 7.e4 h5 8.d4 $6
{ -1.12/22 } ( 8.h4 { -0.57/21 } 8...d5
{ 8... Nf6 9. d3 Ng4 10. Be2 g6 11. a3 Qc7 12. O-O f5 13. b4 O-O-O 14. Rb1
Nd4 15. e5 Nxf3+ 16. Bxf3 d6 17. Bxb7+ Kxb7 18. exd6 Rxd6 -1.71 Stockfish }
9.cxd5 exd5 10.e5 Qd7 11.Be2 Nh6 12.d4 g6 13.dxc5 Bxc5 ) ( 8.d3 h4 9.Ne2 d5
10.cxd5 exd5 11.Bd2 Qd7 12.Nc3 Nf6 13.Be2 dxe4 14.dxe4 h3 15.g3 Rd8 16.Bb5
{ -1.10 Stockfish } ) 8...h4 9.Ne2 d6 $2 { +0.42/23 } ( 9...cxd4 { -0.92/21 }
10.Nexd4 Nxd4 11.Qxd4 Nf6 12.Ng5
{ 12. Bd3 Bc5 13. Qc3 h3 14. g3 O-O 15. b4 d5 16. bxc5 dxe4 17. Ne5 exd3
18. O-O bxc5 19. Qxd3 -2.02 Stockfish } 12...Bc5 13.Qd3 Ng4 14.Nh3 O-O 15.a3
f5 16.e5 Be4 ) 10.d5 exd5 11.cxd5
{ Not as good is 11.ed Nb4 12.Nc3 h3 13.g3 Na6 14.Bd3 Qd7 15.Bd2 0-0-0
16.a3 Kb8 17.Qc2 Nh6 18.0-0-0 +.94 Stockfish } 11...Nb8 12.Nc3
{ After twelve moves of "development"  White has only got two knights out
and Black merely the two bishops! } 12...a6 13.a4 Nd7 14.Bc4 Bf6 15.O-O Nh6
$6 { +1.46/22 } ( 15...Kf8 { +0.92/21 } 16.Re1
{ 16. h3 g6 17. Qd3 Kg7 18. Re1 Rh5 19. Nd1 Kh8 20. Nf2 Bg7 21. Rb1 Ngf6
22. Bd2 Ne8 23. Bc3 +2.65 Stockfish } 16...Rh5 17.e5 dxe5 18.Ne4 exf4 19.Bxf4
Ne5 20.Bxe5 Rxe5 21.Nxe5 Bxe5 22.Nxc5 Bxh2+ 23.Kxh2 Qd6+ 24.Kh1 Qxc5 25.Rc1 )
( 15...h3 16.g4 Qc8 17.g5 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Ne7 19.Be2 c4 20.Be3 Qc7 21.f5 O-O-O
22.Nd2 { +2.43 Stockfish } ) 16.Qe1 $6 { +0.94/22 } ( 16.e5 dxe5
{ 16...Be7 17. Qd3 h3 18. gxh3 O-O 19. b3 g6 20. e6 b5 21. axb5 axb5 22.
Rxa8 Qxa8 23. Nxb5 Nb6 24. exf7+ Rxf7 +3.30 Stockfish } 17.fxe5 Bxe5 18.Re1
f6 19.Nxh4 Nf8 20.Bxh6 Rxh6 21.Nf5 Rg6 22.Ne4 Qd7 23.Nfd6+ Kd8 24.Nxb7+ Qxb7
25.d6 Rb8 26.Kh1 Rh6 27.h3 Ng6 28.Qb3 Rh8 29.Bd5 { +3.94 Stockfish } )
16...Rc8 $2 { +4.03/24 } ( 16...Qe7 { +0.94/22 } 17.e5
{ 17. Qe2 Bd4+ 18. Kh1 Kf8 19. Bd2 Nf6 20. Ng5 Re8 21. Rae1 Qd7 22. Qf3
Nhg8 23. Ne2 Bxb2 24. Rb1 Qxa4 25. Rxb2 Qxc4 +1.64 Stockfish } 17...dxe5
18.Ne4 O-O-O 19.Qe2 a5 20.d6 Qe8 21.Nxf6 gxf6 22.Nxh4 Kb8 23.Bd2 Qg8 24.h3 e4
25.Bc3 Qg7 26.Rfe1 Qg3 27.Qf2 Qg7 28.Bb5 Rhg8 29.Re3 Qh7 ) 17.e5 dxe5 $6
{ +6.21/22 } ( 17...O-O { +4.08/24 } 18.exf6 Nxf6 19.Qxh4
{ 19. Nxh4 Re8 20. Qg3 Ne4 21. Nxe4 Rxe4 22. b3 Qf6 23. Rb1 Nf5 24. Nxf5
Qxf5 25. Bb2 f6 26. Bd3 Rce8 27. Rbd1 b5 28. Bxe4 Rxe4 29. axb5 axb5 +5.52
Stockfish } 19...Qd7 20.Qg5 Rfe8 21.Bd2 Nf5 22.Bd3 Nd4 23.Nh4 Rb8 24.Rae1 Qg4
25.Qxg4 Nxg4 26.Rxe8+ Rxe8 27.Re1 Rb8 28.Nf5 Nxf5 29.Bxf5 Nf6 30.Bd3 Nxd5
31.Nxd5 Bxd5 32.Bxa6 Bc6 33.b3 Ra8 34.Bd3 ) 18.fxe5 Nxe5 19.Bxh6 Rxh6 20.Nxe5
Qe7 21.Nf3 $6 { +3.72/22 } ( 21.Rf5 { +5.74/23 } 21...Rd8 22.Nc6
{ 22. Ne4 Bxe5 23. Rxe5 Qxe5 24. Nd6+ Kf8 25. Qxe5 Rhxd6 26. Qh5 Kg8 27.
Rf1 Bxd5 28. Bxd5 Rxd5 +6.91 Stockfish } 22...Bxc6 23.dxc6 Rc8 24.Nd5 Qxe1+
25.Rxe1+ Kd8 26.Nxf6 Rxf6 27.Rxf6 gxf6 28.Rd1+ Kc7 29.Bxa6 Rd8 30.Rf1 f5
31.Bb7 f6 32.Rxf5 Rd1+ 33.Kf2 Rd2+ 34.Kf3 ) ( 21.Ng4 Bd4+ 22.Kh1 Rd6 23.Ne4
Kd7 24.Nxd6 Qxe1 25.Raxe1 Kxd6 26.Ne3 Bxe3 27.Rxe3 { +7.52 Stockfish } )
21...h3 22.g3 Kf8 $6 { +4.54/24 } ( 22...Qxe1 { +3.77/23 } 23.Raxe1+ Kf8
24.Ne5 Rd8 25.Rf2
{ 25. d6 Rxd6 26. Rf2 Bc6 27. Nxf7 Bd4 28. Nxh6+ Bxf2+ 29. Kxf2 Rxh6 30.
Bxa6 b+5.83 Stockfish } 25...Rh5 26.Nc6 Rd7 27.Rfe2 g6 28.Ne4 Rf5 29.Nxf6
Rxf6 30.Re8+ ) 23.Qxe7+ Bxe7 $6 { +5.96/26 } ( 23...Kxe7 { +4.57/25 } 24.Ne4
{ 24. Rae1+ Kf8 25. Ne5 Rc7 26. d6 Bxe5 27. dxc7 Bd4+ 28. Rf2 Rf6 29. Re2
Rxf2 30. Rxf2 +5.83 Stockfish } 24...Rd8 25.d6+ Rxd6 26.Nxd6 Kxd6 27.Rad1+
Kc7 28.b3 Rh8 29.Bxf7 b5 30.Bd5 Bc8 31.Rc1 Kb6 32.Rfe1 Rd8 33.Be6 Bb7 34.Ne5
Bg2 35.axb5 axb5 36.Rc2 Kc7 37.Kf2 ) 24.Ne5 Bf6 25.Nd7+ Ke7 26.Nxf6 gxf6
27.Rae1+ Kd6 $6 { +9.28/25 } ( 27...Kf8 { +6.32/26 } 28.Ne4 b5 29.axb5 axb5
30.Bxb5 Bxd5 31.Nxf6 Be6 32.Rxe6 ) 28.Ne4+ 1-0

 

 

2018 CHARTER OAK CHESS OPEN

SEPTEMBER 29, COVENTRY CONNECTICUT

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

 

 

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR COVENTRY CHESS CLUB

 

 

$30 CASH ONLY
9:45 am. - 10:10 am.
No checks
No credit/debit cards
No credit
No free entry
No advance entry
No online entry
No late entry
No USCF memberships
No USCF renewals

 

 

YOU MUST NOTIFY THE TD IF:
1) You cannot understand English language.
2) You have conditions which may impact you today.

 

WHEN TOURNAMENT GAMES ARE IN PROGRESS:
THIS ROOM IS FOR TOURNAMENT PLAY ONLY.
NO TALKING, NO ANALYSIS, NO POST-MORTEMS.

 

BETWEEN ROUNDS FEEL FREE TO ENJOY THE
COMRADERIE OF YOUR FELLOW CHESS FRIENDS.

 

ATTENTION PARENTS !

Children cannot register themselves.
Children not admitted without the supervising adult.
You must notify the TD when leaving the hall, even if
leaving your child behind for only for a short time.

 


Do not walk away from TD desk until your entry is complete.
You need to verify we have your 1) Correct USCF ID# ,
2) USCF Expiration Date, 3) Current Regular USCF Rating.


Registration should take 2 minutes or less for each person.
Please refrain from discussing non-related matters, such
as giving suggestions and advice, during registration.


We do converse with our players, but registration time is
not the best time to do so. Please wait until later.

 

 

 

 

NEARBY RESTAURANTS

Bidwell Tavern  1260 Main St.  (33 ft)        $$

Phoenix  1203 Main St.,    (222 ft)              $

Panda Garden  1364 Main St.  (0.2 mi)       $

Subway  1364 Main St.  (0.2 mi)                $

Lakeview  50 Lake St.,  (0.3 mi)               $$$

Citgo Gas Station has an ATM, 1381 Main St.

 

 

 

FACEBOOK PUBLIC GROUPS AND PAGES

Eastern Connecticut Chess Assoc    4,675

Coventry Connecticut Chess Club    5,733

Connecticut Chess Magazine            4,124

2018 Connecticut Harvest Open

Saturday October 27

         $160-1st, $80-2nd.  (Top 2 Prizes Guaranteed.)
         Top U1600 wins $30 in EF Credit when 12+ players.
Format:
3 Round Swiss, G/60;d5
Affects both quick and regular rating.
Round Times: 10:30, 1:30, 3:45.
Entry Fees:
$30 Cash Only.
Register On-site Only: 9:45 am - 10:10 am
One Section. Accelerated Pairings.
Wheelchair Accessible.

Site: Mill Brook Place, 1267 Main St., Coventry, CT 06238

Across street from Bidwell Tavern is our stone building at rear of parking lot 

No WiFi at site. If new to us; bring mailing label from latest Chess Life.

Lunch:  Many restaurants within short walk. Some food and drink free at site.

Web Site:  https://ConnecticutChess.blogspot.com/ 

E-mail:     ConnecticutChess@Gmail.com 

 

 

NOV 3 = 2018 MEMBERSHIP MEETING STATE CHESS ASSOC.

 
Derek Mansfield, acting president, has scheduled the ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING of the Connecticut State Chess Association (CSCA) :  It will be held on Saturday November 3, 2018  from 2pm to 4pm at the Meriden Public Library, 105 Miller Street, Meriden, CT 06450.
 
Please forward notice of this meeting to anyone you think may be interested in attending. Membership to the CSCA costs $5/year (usually paid with entry to tournaments awarding a Connecticut state title).  
 
The membership will elect individuals to fill all of the open seats on the board of directors.  The board of directors will then vote on which organizers (from the bids submitted) who will conduct the various state championships for 2019.
 
Former directors Rob Roy (also 10 time president) and myself are currently running to serve on the board of directors.  There are at least four other seats open on the CSCA board of directors.  
 
To clarify;  NO NEED TO BE A TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR to serve on the CSCA board of directors.  I am hoping for a good turn out and good progress towards resolving some of the issues we have been having.
 
Thanks,
 
Rick Bauer

 

P.S. Free kid tournament at Noon

 

 
 

Most Recent Articles from Connecticut Chess Magazine

Report on 2018 Charter Oak Open

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New Britain Chess Club has success with Summer Open

The Flying Knight, by Alan Lasser

Nathan Chang wins 2018 Nutmeg State Open

Setting our time machine to Aug. 11, 1980, by Bob Cyr

Rising Chess Star at Wilson-Gray YMCA Hartford

New Britain Chess Club to train tournament directors

Report on 2018 Connecticut Yankee Open

Report on 2018 Coventry Summer Open

 

UPCOMING CHESS TOURNAMENTS

Oct 27  Conn Harvest Open Coventry CT

Nov 2-4  4th Stamford Open Stamford CT

Nov 17  Yankee Peddler Open Coventry CT

Dec 15  Holiday Party Open Coventry CT

 

 

 

FUTURE DATES COVENTRY CHESS CLUB:

Oct 27 2018 Connecticut Harvest Open

Nov 17 2018 Yankee Peddler Open

Dec 15 2018 Holiday Party Open

Jan 12 2019 Coventry Open

Feb 23 2019 Eastern Connecticut Open

Mar 16 2019 Greater Hartford Open

Apr 13 2019 Nathan Hale Open

May 18 2019 Constitution State Open

June 22 2019 Coventry Summer Open

 

 

 

FACEBOOK PUBLIC GROUPS AND PAGES

Eastern Connecticut Chess Assoc    4,675

Coventry Connecticut Chess Club    5,733

Connecticut Chess Magazine            4,124

 

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CONNECTICUT CHESS MAGAZINE

 

Connecticut Chess Magazine and Coventry Chess Club are each philanthropic enterprises by Rob Roy.

They are not governmental initiatives nor are they business endeavors.

They are private initiatives by Rob Roy, for the public good, focusing on quality of life, and on chess in Connecticut.

They should never be misconstrued to represent the State of Connecticut, the Town of Coventry Connecticut, nor with any other chess associations.

The monthly tournaments in Coventry are conducted by Rob Roy acting as an independent organizer, and not by any chess club, state chapter, nor federation.

I have never written for, nor spoken for, anyone besides myself, Rob Roy, acting as an independent chess journalist.

Rob Roy derives no material gain from these two entities, in contrast; Rob Roy suffers significant monetary loss from their operations.

 

 

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