By Rick Bauer: Bihlmeyer - Castaneda

The 2021 New Britain Chess Club Championship resulted in a tie between FM Nelson Castaneda and Joe Bihlmeyer. Joe lost to Nelson early but won all of his other games to catch up after two other players (Mark Bourque and Gert Hillhorst) were able to hold Nelson to draws. A playoff game also went Nelson’s way.

 

The following game between the top two shows the spirited play that brought BOTH players to the top of the heap.

 

Event "NBCC Club Championship 2021: Round 2 

Joe Bihlmeyer - Nelson Castaneda 

A GOOD SMITH-MORRA

 

Site "https://lichess.org/study/y2BnqSve/AKDZc7tT"

UTCDate "2021.07.21"

ECO "B21"

Opening "Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted"

Annotated by FM Rick Bauer"

 

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3!? 

 

The Smith-Morra is a good weapon. White gets easy development with enough pressure to keep black on the defensive.

 

3... dxc3!? 

 

Accepting the challenge is the only way to gain a theoretical edge, but not the only way to play. Black can also get a good game by declining with 3... Nf6!? 4. e5 Nd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 = 

 

4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 e6 

 

Old School! Playing both e6 and d6 gives black a solid, but constrained game. 6... a6 

 

7. O-O Be7

 

This and ...Nf6 can be played in either order.  

 

8. Qe2 Nf6 9. Rd1 e5!? = 

 

9... Bd7 10. Nb5 Qb8 11. Bf4 Ne5 12. Nxd6+! Bxd6 13. Rxd6 Qxd6 14. Nxe5 Qe7 15. Rd1 O-O 16. Nxd7 Nxd7 17. Bd6 Qg5 18. Bxf8 Nxf8 is also equal but most of the play is gone. 

 

10. h3 

 

10. Be3!?, 10. Bg5 O-O

 

10... O-O 

 

10... Be6 

 

11. Be3 a6 

 

11... Be6 12. Rac1 Rc8 

 

12. a4 

 

12. Nd5 

 

12... Be6 =+ 13. a5?! 

 

13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Qc4 Qd7 15. Ng5 Nd8 -/+ Hardarson, Robert - Hjartarson, Johann, 0-1, ISL-ch, 1991, https://lichess.org/4IB23sdM  

 

13... Rc8? 

 

 Clearly, the b6 square is now sensitive, but how can white take advantage? The answer is to start on the other side and create a second weakness! 13... Bxc4 14. Qxc4 Nxa5 15. Qb4 Nc6 16. Qxb7 Qc8 

 

14. Bb6? =+ 

 

 Putting the B on this square blocks it from the N! 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. Ng5! Qd7 16. Na4! The beautifully coordinated attack of the two knights on either side of the board wins back the material, and then some.   

 

14... Bxc4 15. Qxc4 Qd7 16. Qd3 =+ h6 

 

16... Bd8!? returns the backward pawn in exchange for a target on b6. 17. Qxd6 Qxd6 18. Rxd6 Bxb6 19. axb6 Rfd8 

 

17. Rd2 17. Ra4 Rfe8 17... Nb4! 18. Qe2 Qe6 18. Rad1 Bf8 19. Qe2 Nb4! 

 

Black has found a remarkable way to contest d5 with a “floating outpost.” The Nb4 is not protected at all, but cannot be attacked!

 

20. Nh4 g6 21. Qf3 Kg7 22. Qg3 Nh5 23. Qf3 Nf6 24. Qg3 

 

 Based both on position and rating, white would be happy with a draw by repetition, but black is not.  

 

24... Kh7 -/+ 25. Qf3 Qe6 

 

25... Be7 looks risky but the B is not overloaded. Only major pieces can target d6 and f6.  

 

26. g4! 

 

 In a difficult position to play, white finds the strongest plan. The idea is not to advance the kingside but to centralize the Nh4 via g2, e3, and d5.  

 

26... Rc4?! 

 

 Black misses the deep point of white's last move and aids the plan with a tempo.  

 

27. Ng2! Nd7 28. Ne3 Nxb6 29. axb6 Rc5 30. Ned5 Nxd5 31. Nxd5 = 

 

 White's unshakable grip on the light squares gives him full compensation for the backward d6 pawn. 31. exd5 = 

 

31... Rec8 32. Kg2 

 

32. Nc7! and it is hard for black to avoid repetition. 32... Qd7 33. Nd5 Qe6 34. Nc7 

 

32... Kg7 33. b4?! 

 

33. Nc7 Qf6 34. Qxf6+ Kxf6 35. Nd5+ Ke6 

 

33... Rc4 =+ 34. Qe2 34. Rd3 34... R8c6 -/+ 35. Ra1 

 

35. h4 

 

35... Be7? 

 

 Black has the right idea, to target the b6 pawn, but misses white's next shot. 35... Qd7 is the only way to prevent it.  

 

36. Rxa6! Bg5 

 

36... bxa6 37. b7 Rxb4 38. Nxb4 Rb6 39. Nc6 Rxb7 40. Qxa6 Rb1 41. Nxe7 Qxe7 42. Qxd6 is completely equal.  

 

37. Raa2?? 

 

 After all the beautiful maneuvers and counter maneuvers, white simply hangs the exchange. 37. b5 37. Nc7 37. Rda2 

 

37... Bxd2 38. Rxd2 f5? 

 

Black wants to open lines for his rooks but runs into a tactic. Surer would be 38... Rd4 $19 39. Rxd4 exd4 40. Qd3 f5! or 38... Rc1 

 

39. exf5 gxf5 

 

On move 40 white is down an exchange and pawn structure, but the dominant knight on d5 gives complete compensation if it is used to the fullest.

 

40. Nc7?!

 

40. b5! R6c5 41.Ne3! maintains dynamic equality.

 

40... Qg6 41. b5 Rxc7! 

 

Black’s best chance is to return the exchange for one of the b pawns! Not 41... R6c5 42.Rxd6! Qxd6 43.Ne8+ +- 

 

42. bxc7 Rxc7 43. Qd3?!    43. Qd1! Is almost equal.

 

43... Rd7 =+ 44. f4 e4 45. Qd4+ Kh7 46. Kg3 

 

This natural move is a mistake! 46. Kh2! fxg4 47. hxg4 is better since the g pawn cannot be taken without dropping the e pawn.

 

46... fxg4 47. h4? 

 

White probably didn’t like the looks of 47. hxg4 h5 48. g5 Qf5 -/+ but the cure is worse than the disease: 2 pawns down vs one 

 

47... d5 47... Qe6! 48. b6? 48. Qe5! 48... Qg7 48... Qd6 49. Qc5 49. Qe3 49... Qf7 50. Rc2!? d4! 51. Rc4? d3 52. Qe5 Qd5!

 

The human way to win. Stockfish can find the more forcing 52... d2! 53. Qxe4+ Qg6 54. f5 Qd6+ 55. Kg2 Qd5!

 

53. Rc7 Qxe5 54. fxe5 Rg7 55. e6 d2 56. e7 d1=Q 57. e8=Q Qf3+ 58. Kh2 g3+ 59. Kh3 g2+ 

 

 0 - 1  

 

59... Qh1# is faster but less aesthetic. 60. Kh2 g1=Q# The two queen mate is much prettier. 

 

 

 

NBCC Weekly News September 12, 2021

NBCC Weekly News September 12, 2021

This Week’s News Items:

• 2021 Club Championship - Winners

• Summer Open - Great success!

• What are the Odds?! - Winners

• Masks Mandatory

• Jan Cendrowski Quick Quads

• Oktoberfest 2021

• WMCA Tournaments

• Time to renew your membership

• Want to be a Chess Teacher?

• Training - Suhas

• Saturday Study Group - 5pm (Different Link)

 

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2021 Club Championship Winners

 

A tie for 1st place took place in both sections of the Club Championship. FM Nelson Castaneda and Joe Bihlmeyer shared 1st place with 5/6pts. With the same number of points, in the U1800 section, Eric Hilhorst and Bob Wooster shared 1st place. We had a tiebreaker (classical time control) to determine the champion in each section. In both games, the player with the black pieces - Nelson and Eric - won their games, clinching their respective section. Though all the players will be determined co-champions, the trophies and bragging rights go to the winners!

 

The trophies will be presented in a week and a half (9/21). Here is the full list of winners:

Championship: 1st - Nelson Castaneda; 2nd - Joe Bihlmeyer; 3rd - Doug Fiske, U1800: 1st - Eric Hilhorst, 2nd - Bob Wooster, 3rd - Norman Burtness, Top U1400 - Shritan Vijay, Top U1000 - Sumaanyu Jagtiani. 

 

The following week - our club champion - FM Nelson Castaneda gave a clock simul. There were quite a few knicks against our club champion - a lot on time because of a lack of increment, which is something we will work on for next year. 

 

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2021 NBCC Summer Open - Great Success!

 

We also had the postponed Summer Open take place on August 28th. It took place at the Armenian Church at NBCC. We had 50 players participating in three sections. Congrats to FM Rick Bauer and NM Derek Meredith for 1st in the Open; Carter Clayton and Lisa Smith for 1st in the U1621 section; and Zachary Lacava for 1st in the Scholastic section.

 

I want to thank all the folks who chipped in to help make this event possible. Norman Burtness helped organize and direct the tournament. And I can’t stress how big of an effort the organizing part of the event is. Norman took care of advertising, prizes, entry collection, and so much more. And we couldn’t have asked for a better tournament director. The rounds started without delay and I didn’t hear any complaints from anyone. Thank you Norman. The other big help came from Mario Guevara-Rodriguez. The lunch everyone enjoyed was planned and delivered by Mario. He purchased, prepared all the cold food, and grilled the burgers/hot dogs, so there is hot lunch available for all the participants. Thank you Mario.

 

I want to thank Jithu and DIG for providing us with the tents, so we were able to have the Summer Open outdoors. We also had quite a few people help us set up on the day of the event. Thanks to Carter and Jack Clayton, Dan Golda, George Himes, Anitha Ghali, Suhas Kodali and a few other newcomers whose names I didn’t catch to help setting up tents, chairs, sets, boards and clocks. Bob Cyr and George Himes also helped in serving food. And for closing up, thanks to everyone who cleared up after the end of the scholastic and U1621 sections. It made it easy for the rest of us whose games ended up running until after 5. I want to thank Dave Hersovici, Suhas Kodali and the Armenian Church for securing the NBCC venue after the hurricane. Lastly, I want to welcome all the newcomers to the 2021 Summer Open. There were so many new faces and I hope everyone had a great time! For some pictures and more information, please take a look at our historian’s additions to this year’s newsletter.

 

We will return next year on Sunday Aug 28, 2022 at Wickham Park for the next Summer Open.

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What are the Odds?! - Winners

 

Congrats to Carter Clayton and Nelson Castaneda for winning the What are the Odds?! Each scored a 7/8pts to clinch first place. In third place with 6/8pts were Suhas Kodali and Jack Clayton. For full standings, see here. 

 

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Masks Mandatory

 

Hartford county is seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases these past few days. The CDC tracker identified Hartford as having a “HIGH” level of community transmission. As such we ask all members to wear masks at the club. 

 

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Jan Cendrowski Quick Quads

 

We started the quads last Tuesday. We have three quads and one six player round robin. The quick quads will wrap up next Tuesday. We expect everyone who signed up for the quads to come this Tuesday. Here is a brief biography of Jan Cendrowski from our historian - Bob Cyr:

 

Every year since 2011, the NBCC has held an annual tournament to memorialize a prominent figure in Connecticut chess history. This year, we honor Jan Cendrowski. Jan was the club's president in the 1960s and was a commander of the General Haller Post, where our club held its meetings in the 1960s and 1970s. It was Jan who was instrumental in securing this venue for our club for nearly two decades. Of historical note, Jan was the only member to have held all four officer positions at different times throughout his membership in the club. He was a steadfast leader and a strong advocate for chess in our club and in Connecticut. Tragically, he passed away in 1969 at the young age of sixty-two. He passed away while serving as club president. This was a complete shock to the NBCC community. He was such an important person and role model in our club, and it was sad to see him leave this world so soon. He made an indelible mark on our club, and his legacy will never be forgotten. 

 

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Oktoberfest 2021

 

Our next upcoming event is a return to classical chess - Oktoberfest.

 

Oktoberfest 2021 Tournament Details:

• Tuesday, Sep. 21, 28, Oct. 5, 12, 19 2020

• 5-SS G/75;+30 (U1800 (TBD) - G/75;+30, scholastic players may opt for G/60;d5 in the lower section)

• 2 sections: Open, U1800 (TBD)

• Entry Fee: $20 member ($35 non-member)

• Prizes: 70% Returned, 1st – 3rd , class

• USCF Regular rated (USCF membership is required)

• Registration: 6:45 – 7:15 P.M.

• Pairings will be made at 7:15. Arrivals after 7:15 will get a 1st Rd bye or be paired with each other.

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WMCA Tournaments

 

Our chess friends up north have upcoming tournaments in Western Mass. Each of the events is a one-day three/four game event. USCF TLAs and dates for the events are listed below. 

 

• https://new.uschess.org/13th-wmca-free-0 - 9/18/21

• https://new.uschess.org/4th-leaf-blower-open - 10/24/21

• https://new.uschess.org/5th-pumpkin-pusher - 11/20/21

 

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New Membership Year Starts in September!  Please Renew your membership:

The success of the NBCC depends on the contributions and support of our chess community.  Membership dues are needed to pay for the use of the facilities, to purchase equipment and to run the club.  

Benefits of a NBCC Membership include:

Casual play every week

Reduced tournament entry fee

Support of chess in CT

Participation in member only events, such as our Club Championship 

         and Christmas Party

Membership dues for the 9/1 - 8/31 club year are:

• Regular $65 

• Children and full time students: $50

• 2nd family member: $35

• 65+ yrs old or out of state college student: $35

• Special $35 in case of a Financial Hardship

You can pay with check or cash at the club or renew by PayPal on our website.

Please send the check to: Dave Herscovici - 231 Argyle Road, Cheshire CT, 06410-2625

NBCC membership page and PayPal link

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Want to be a Chess Teacher?

 

DIG is Looking for an energetic chess coach to teach our talented students in Fairfield County, CT. Please contact either the club at our email address or Jithu Sajeevan at digcoachjithu@gmail.com

 

• Should have experience with chess prior.

• Teaching will be in person all around Fairfield County at schools, libraries, houses and other locations.

• Punctuality is important. 

• Will be background checked.

• Job type: Contract

• Pay: From $20.00 per hour

 

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In-person Lecture - NM Suhas Kodali - Tuesday 9/14 - 6:30pm 

 

At 6:30pm, Suhas will start a series of lectures on common tactics resulting from specific openings. This Tuesday, the focus is the Philidor Defense. The lecture will run until 7:15, when we will start the remaining rounds of the Jan Cendrowski Quick Quads.

 

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Saturday Study Group at 5pm

 

The Saturday Study group will be experimenting with their schedule. It will start at 5pm and run for three hours. The first hour will be general, where one of the regulars will give a club-like demo.  The second hour will be "practice games" or a "practice game."  These are very informal and geared towards learning.  We are experimenting with group games involving input from everyone for BOTH sides. The third hour will review games from participants, from the club, if and when we get them, the internet, or from history and their analysis.  

 

Link to Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85697496782?pwd=T3FnRi9lNVp5VkRrMjRoZmFPWkpjZz09

Meeting ID: 856 9749 6782

Passcode: NBCC

 

Cheers,

Suhas Kodali

President

New Britain Chess Club

newbritainchessclub.com

newbritainchessclub@gmail.com