Chess Game of the Week, by Alan Lasser

  The endgame of the knight versus rook where both sides have pawns is very difficult for the knight.  To quote Pal Benko in Basic Chess Endings, “Unconnected pawns are still less promising here, since the short-stepping knight cannot defend two widely separated pawns and there are quite a few positions where it cannot even defend one pawn.”  

Elsewhere in the chapter, Benko shows us a position where the knight can draw because it can attack, supporting a pawn's advance and while still defending weak pawns the other side of the board.  

That’s quite a trick and here the World Champion gives it a try, sacrificing the exchange to create a precarious position and then dancing carefully to defend the weak pawns until the knight can escort one of them to the end of the board.  Against Magnus Carlsen, it’s the rook that must look for the draw.

 

GM Magnus Carlsen-GM Yifan Hou

1/20/18

2018 Tata Masters

1.c4 e6

2.Nc3 d5

3.d4 Nf6 

4.cxd5 Nxd5

5.e3 c5

6.Bd3 cxd4 

7.exd4 Nxc3 

8.bxc3 Qc7 

9.Bd2 Nd7 

10.Qg4 Nf6 

11.Qg3 Qxg3 

12.hxg3 Bd6 

13.Nf3 b6 

14.a4 Bb7 

15.a5 Ke7 

16.Ke2 Ne4 

17.Be1 h6 

18.c4 Nf6 

19.Bc3 Be4 

20.Rhb1 Bxd3+ 

21.Kxd3 Nd7 

22.Nd2 Rhd8 

23.Ne4 Bc7 

24.Bb4+ Ke8 

25.f4 Rac8 

26.axb6 axb6 

27.Ra7 Nb8 

28.Rxc7 Rxc7 

29.Nd6+ Kd7 

30.Nxf7 Rdc8 

31.Ne5+?! +0.53/28

 

31.Bd6 +0.92/25 31...Ra7 32.Rxb6 Ke8 33.Ne5 Nd7 34.Nxd7 Kxd7 35.Bc5 Rxc5 36.dxc5 Stockfish continues this variation 36...Ra3 37.Kd4 Rd6 38.ed Kd7 39.Ke5 Rb8 40.Rc1 Re8 +0.40

31…Ke8 

32.Bd6 Rb7 

33.c5 Nc6 

34.Rxb6 Rxb6 

35.cxb6 Nd8 

36.Bc7 Ra8 

37.Kc4 Nb7

37...Ra2 38.Bxd8 Kxd8 39.Kc5 Kc8 40.Kd6 Rd2 41.Kxe6 Rxd4 42.Kf7 Rd2 43.Kxg7 Rxg2 44.Kxh6 Rxg3 45.f5 Rb3 46.f6Rxb6 47.Kg7 = Stockfish

38.Kb5 Ra2 

39.g4 Ke7 

40.g3?! +0.16/30

40.Nc4 +0.58/27 40...Kd7 41.g3 Rc2 42.Be5 42. Ne5+ Kc8 43. Nd3 Kd7 44. Be5 Nd6+ 45. Ka4 Ra2+ 46. Kb3 Rg2 47. f5 exf5 48. gxf5 Kc6 +0.25 Stockfish 42...g6 43.Bc7 Kc8 44.Ne5 Rc3 44...Rb2+ 45. Kc4 Rc2+ 46. Kd3 Rg2 47. Ke3 Rxg3+ 48. Kf2 Rb3 49. Nxg6 Rd3 50. Nf8 Rxd4 51. Nxe6 +0.08 Stockfish 45.Nxg6 Rb3+ 46.Ka4 Rxg3 47.Nf8 Rxg4 48.Nxe6 Rg6 49.d5 Rf650.Be5 Rf7 51.Kb5

40...Nd6+

40...Ra1 41.Nc4 Kd7 42.f5 exf5 43.gxf5 Rb1+ 44.Ka6 Kc8 45.Be5 Rb4 46.Ne3 Rb3 47.Nd5 Ra3+ 48.Kb5 Kd7 49.g4 Ra5+50.Kc4 Kc6 51.Nf4 Nd6+ 52.Kd3 Rb5 53.Bxg7 Rxb6 54.Bxh6 Rb3+ 55.Ke2 Nf7 56.g5 Rg3 57.f6 Nxg5 58.Bxg5 Rxg5 59.f7Rf5 60.Ne6 Rxf7 61.Nd8+ Kd5 62.Nxf7 Kxd4 draw Stockfish

41.Bxd6+ Kxd6 

42.Nc4+ Kd7 

43.Kc5 Rc2 

44.f5 exf5 

45.gxf5 Rf2

46.Nd6 Rg2? +2.12/36

46...h5 +0.03/31 47.d5 47. Kd5 Rf3 48. b7 Kc7 49. Ne8+ Kxb7 50. Nxg7 Rxg3 51. f6 Rf3 52. Ke5 h4 53. Nf5 h3 54. f7 Rxf5+ 55. Kxf5 h2 56. f8=Q h1=Q 57. Qb4+ Kc7 58. Qa5+ Kd7 59. Qa4+ Kc7 60. Qa7+ Kc8 61. Qc5+ Kd7 62. Kg5 Qe4 63. d5 Qe7+ 64. Qxe7+ Kxe7 +0.08 Stockfish 47...Rf3 48.b7 Kc7 49.Ne8+ Kxb7

46...Rb2 47.Nf7 Rf2 48.Ne5+ Kc8 49.Kc6 Rc2+ 50.Kd5 Kb7 51.g4 Kxb6 52.Kd6 Rh2 53.Ke7 Kc7 54.Kf7 h5 55.gxh5 Rxh556.Kg6 Rh4 57.Kxg7 Rxd4 58.f6 Rf4 database draw

47.Ne4 Rb2 

48.g4 Rb1 

49.Nd2 Rh1

50.d5 h5?? +17.50/30

50...Rg1 +2.12/34 51.Nc4 51. Nb3 Rb1 52. Na5 Rc1+ 53. Nc4 Re1 54. d6 Rb1 55. Ne5+ Ke8 56. Kc6 Rc1+ 57. Kb5 Rb1+ 58. Ka6 Ra1+ 59. Kb7 Kd8 60. Kc6 Rc1+ 61. Kd5 Rb1 62. b7 Rxb7 63. Ke6 Rb6 64. Nf7+ Ke8 65. f6 gxf6 66. Nxh6 Rb7 67. Kxf6 Kd7 68. Nf7 Rb1 69. Kg7 Rh1 70. g5 Rg1 71. g6 Ke6 72. Kh7 Rg2 73. d7 Kxd7 74. g7 Rg1 75. g8=R Rxg8 76. Kxg8 +0.08 Stockfish 51...Rc1 51... Re1 52. d6 Rb1 53. Ne5+ Kd8 54. Kc6 Rc1+ 55. Kd5 Rb1 56. Ke6 Rxb6 57. Nf7+ Ke8 58. f6 gxf6 59. Nxh6 Rb7 60. Kxf6 Kd7 61. g5 Kxd6 62. g6 Kd5 63. g7 Rb6+ 64. Kf7 Rb7+ 65. Kg6 Rb6+ 66. Kh7 Rb8 67. g8=Q+ Rxg8 68. Kxg8 +0.08 Stockfish 52.d6 Rb1 53.Ne5+ Kd8 54.Kc6 Rc1+ 55.Kd5 Rb1 56.Kc5 Rb3 57.Nc6+ Kd7 58.Nb8+ Kc859.d7+ Kd8 60.Kd6 Rd3+ 61.Kc6 Rc3+ 62.Kd5 Rb3 63.Kc5 Rb2 64.Kd6 Rd2+ 65.Ke6 Re2+ 66.Kf7

50...Rc1+ 51.Nc4 Re1 52.d6 Rb1 53.Ne5+ Kd8 54.Kc6 Rc1+ 55.Kb5 Rb1+ 56.Kc5 Rb3 57.Kc6 Rc3+ 58.Kd5 Rb3 59.b7Rxb7 60.Ke6 Rb6 61.Nf7+ Ke8 62.f6 gxf6 63.Nxh6 Rb7 64.Kxf6 Kd7 65.Nf7 Rb1 66.Kg7 Rh1 67.g5 Rg1 database draw

51.d6 Kc8 

52.gxh5 Rxh5

53.Kc6 Kb8 

54.Ne4 Rxf5 

55.Nc5 1-0

 

 

 

[Event "2018 Tata Masters"]

[Site "Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands"]

[Date "2018.01.20"]

[Round "7"]

[White "GM Magnus Carlsen"]

[Black "GM Yifan Hou"]

[Result "1-0"]

[BlackElo "2680"]

[ECO "D35"]

[WhiteElo "2834"]

 

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e3 c5 6.Bd3 cxd4 7.exd4 Nxc3 8.bxc3

Qc7 9.Bd2 Nd7 10.Qg4 Nf6 11.Qg3 Qxg3 12.hxg3 Bd6 13.Nf3 b6 14.a4 Bb7 15.a5

Ke7 16.Ke2 Ne4 17.Be1 h6 18.c4 Nf6 19.Bc3 Be4 20.Rhb1 Bxd3+ 21.Kxd3 Nd7

22.Nd2 Rhd8 23.Ne4 Bc7 24.Bb4+ Ke8 25.f4 Rac8 26.axb6 axb6 27.Ra7 Nb8 28.Rxc7

Rxc7 29.Nd6+ Kd7 30.Nxf7 Rdc8 31.Ne5+ $6 { +0.53/28 } ( 31.Bd6 { +0.92/25 }

31...Ra7 32.Rxb6 Ke8 33.Ne5 Nd7 34.Nxd7 Kxd7 35.Bc5 Rxc5 36.dxc5

{ Stockfish continues this variation 36...Ra3 37.Kd4 Rd6 38.ed Kd7 39.Ke5

Rb8 40.Rc1 Re8 +0.40 } ) 31...Ke8 32.Bd6 Rb7 33.c5 Nc6 34.Rxb6 Rxb6 35.cxb6

Nd8 36.Bc7 Ra8 37.Kc4 Nb7 ( 37...Ra2 38.Bxd8 Kxd8 39.Kc5 Kc8 40.Kd6 Rd2

41.Kxe6 Rxd4 42.Kf7 Rd2 43.Kxg7 Rxg2 44.Kxh6 Rxg3 45.f5 Rb3 46.f6 Rxb6 47.Kg7

{ = Stockfish } ) 38.Kb5 Ra2 39.g4 Ke7 40.g3 $6 { +0.16/30 } ( 40.Nc4

{ +0.58/27 } 40...Kd7 41.g3 Rc2 42.Be5

{ 42. Ne5+ Kc8 43. Nd3 Kd7 44. Be5 Nd6+ 45. Ka4 Ra2+ 46. Kb3 Rg2 47. f5

exf5 48. gxf5 Kc6 +0.25 Stockfish } 42...g6 43.Bc7 Kc8 44.Ne5 Rc3

{ 44...Rb2+ 45. Kc4 Rc2+ 46. Kd3 Rg2 47. Ke3 Rxg3+ 48. Kf2 Rb3 49. Nxg6 Rd3

50. Nf8 Rxd4 51. Nxe6 +0.08 Stockfish } 45.Nxg6 Rb3+ 46.Ka4 Rxg3 47.Nf8 Rxg4

48.Nxe6 Rg6 49.d5 Rf6 50.Be5 Rf7 51.Kb5 ) 40...Nd6+ ( 40...Ra1 41.Nc4 Kd7

42.f5 exf5 43.gxf5 Rb1+ 44.Ka6 Kc8 45.Be5 Rb4 46.Ne3 Rb3 47.Nd5 Ra3+ 48.Kb5

Kd7 49.g4 Ra5+ 50.Kc4 Kc6 51.Nf4 Nd6+ 52.Kd3 Rb5 53.Bxg7 Rxb6 54.Bxh6 Rb3+

55.Ke2 Nf7 56.g5 Rg3 57.f6 Nxg5 58.Bxg5 Rxg5 59.f7 Rf5 60.Ne6 Rxf7 61.Nd8+

Kd5 62.Nxf7 Kxd4 { draw Stockfish } ) 41.Bxd6+ Kxd6 42.Nc4+ Kd7 43.Kc5 Rc2

44.f5 exf5 45.gxf5 Rf2 46.Nd6 Rg2 $2 { +2.12/36 } ( 46...h5 { +0.03/31 }

47.d5

{ 47. Kd5 Rf3 48. b7 Kc7 49. Ne8+ Kxb7 50. Nxg7 Rxg3 51. f6 Rf3 52. Ke5 h4

53. Nf5 h3 54. f7 Rxf5+ 55. Kxf5 h2 56. f8=Q h1=Q 57. Qb4+ Kc7 58. Qa5+ Kd7

59. Qa4+ Kc7 60. Qa7+ Kc8 61. Qc5+ Kd7 62. Kg5 Qe4 63. d5 Qe7+ 64. Qxe7+ Kxe7 +0.08 Stockfish }

47...Rf3 48.b7 Kc7 49.Ne8+ Kxb7 ) ( 46...Rb2 47.Nf7 Rf2 48.Ne5+ Kc8 49.Kc6

Rc2+ 50.Kd5 Kb7 51.g4 Kxb6 52.Kd6 Rh2 53.Ke7 Kc7 54.Kf7 h5 55.gxh5 Rxh5

56.Kg6 Rh4 57.Kxg7 Rxd4 58.f6 Rf4 { database draw } ) 47.Ne4 Rb2 48.g4 Rb1

49.Nd2 Rh1 50.d5 h5 $4 { +17.50/30 } ( 50...Rg1 { +2.12/34 } 51.Nc4

{ 51. Nb3 Rb1 52. Na5 Rc1+ 53. Nc4 Re1 54. d6 Rb1 55. Ne5+ Ke8 56. Kc6 Rc1+

57. Kb5 Rb1+ 58. Ka6 Ra1+ 59. Kb7 Kd8 60. Kc6 Rc1+ 61. Kd5 Rb1 62. b7 Rxb7

63. Ke6 Rb6 64. Nf7+ Ke8 65. f6 gxf6 66. Nxh6 Rb7 67. Kxf6 Kd7 68. Nf7 Rb1 69. Kg7 Rh1 70. g5 Rg1 71. g6 Ke6 72. Kh7 Rg2 73. d7 Kxd7 74. g7 Rg1 75.

g8=R Rxg8 76. Kxg8 +0.08 Stockfish } 51...Rc1

{ 51... Re1 52. d6 Rb1 53. Ne5+ Kd8 54. Kc6 Rc1+ 55. Kd5 Rb1 56. Ke6 Rxb6

57. Nf7+ Ke8 58. f6 gxf6 59. Nxh6 Rb7 60. Kxf6 Kd7 61. g5 Kxd6 62. g6 Kd5

63. g7 Rb6+ 64. Kf7 Rb7+ 65. Kg6 Rb6+ 66. Kh7 Rb8 67. g8=Q+ Rxg8 68. Kxg8 +0.08 Stockfish }

52.d6 Rb1 53.Ne5+ Kd8 54.Kc6 Rc1+ 55.Kd5 Rb1 56.Kc5 Rb3 57.Nc6+ Kd7 58.Nb8+

Kc8 59.d7+ Kd8 60.Kd6 Rd3+ 61.Kc6 Rc3+ 62.Kd5 Rb3 63.Kc5 Rb2 64.Kd6 Rd2+

65.Ke6 Re2+ 66.Kf7 ) ( 50...Rc1+ 51.Nc4 Re1 52.d6 Rb1 53.Ne5+ Kd8 54.Kc6 Rc1+

55.Kb5 Rb1+ 56.Kc5 Rb3 57.Kc6 Rc3+ 58.Kd5 Rb3 59.b7 Rxb7 60.Ke6 Rb6 61.Nf7+

Ke8 62.f6 gxf6 63.Nxh6 Rb7 64.Kxf6 Kd7 65.Nf7 Rb1 66.Kg7 Rh1 67.g5 Rg1

{ database draw } ) 51.d6 Kc8 52.gxh5 Rxh5 53.Kc6 Kb8 54.Ne4 Rxf5 55.Nc5

1-0

 

Alan Lasser

blacklightmazes@icloud.com

 

 

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Chess Game of the Week - by Alan Lasser

  The most confounding aspect of chess strategy is that for every rule there is an exception.  Just three weeks ago, I reported a game where all of the grandmaster’s pieces had somehow found their way back to the first rank, and of course, he lost.  This week, on move twenty-one, a grandmaster moves all of his pieces back to the first rank.  Of course, he wins.  Let's downgrade that one from “rule” to “maybe it’s not a good idea”. 

 

GM Baadar Jobava-IM Christopher Repka

2018 European Championships

3/22/18

1.d4 e6

2.e4 d5

3.Nc3 Nf6 

4.Bg5 dxe4 

5.Nxe4 Be7 

6.Bxf6 gxf6 

7.c3 f5 

8.Ng3 c5 

9.d5 Qxd5 

10.Qxd5 exd5 

11.Bd3 Nc6 

12.Bxf5?! -0.27/23

12.Nxf5 +0.06/21 12...Bxf5 12...Bf6 13. Nd6+ Kf8 14. Nxc8 Rxc8 15. O-O-O c4 16. Bf5 Rd8 17. Ne2 Kg7 18. Kb1 h5 19. Rhe1 h4 20. Bg4 Ne5 21. Bf5 Nc6 = Stockfish 13.Bxf5 Bf6 14.O-O-O

12…Be6

13.N1e2 O-O-O 

14.Rd1 Kb8 

15.O-O Bd6 

16.Rfe1 h5 

17.h4 Ne7 

18.Bxe6 fxe6

19.Nc1 e5?! -0.10/23

19...Rh6 -0.57/22 20.Re3 20. Nd3 Nc6 21. Re2 Rg8 22. Nf1 Rf6 23. g3 Kc7 24. Kg2 c4 25. Ne1 Ne5 -0.53 Stockfish 20...Nc621.Nb3 Rg6 22.Rde1 e5 23.Nf5 c4 24.Nd2 Bc5 25.Rg3 Rf6 26.Ne3 Rf4 27.Nf3 e4 28.Ng5 Rd6

20.b3?! -0.57/25

20.c4 -0.10/23 20...dxc4 21.Ne4 Bc7 22.Nxc5 Nc6 23.Ne2 Ba5 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.Rc1 b5 26.a4 Stockfish also plays 20.b3

20…e4

21.Nf1

21.c4 Bxg3 22.fxg3 dxc4 23.Rxd8+ Rxd8 24.bxc4 Nf5 25.Ne2 Re8 -0.08 Stockfish

21...Nf5

21...Be5 22.Ne2 Rhg8 23.c4 d4 24.Nc1 Rg4 25.f3 Rxh4 26.Nd3 Ng6 27.Rxe4 Rxe4 28.fxe4 Bd6 29.Rd2 Ne5 30.Nxe5 Bxe531.Rd3 Rg8 32.Rh3 h4 33.Rxh4 d3 34.Rh5 Bd4+ 35.Kh2 Re8 36.Nd2 Be3 37.Nf3 Rd8 38.Rd5 Rxd5 39.cxd5 d2 40.Nxd2Bxd2 -0.65 Stockfish

22.g3

22.c4 dxc4 23.bxc4 e3 24.Nxe3 Nxe3 25.fxe3 Bg3 26.Rf1 Bxh4 27.Ne2 Rde8 28.Nf4 Re4 29.Ng6 Rd8 30.Nxh4 Rxd131.Rxd1 Rxh4 -0.08 Stockfish

22…Bc7

23.c4 Ba5 

24.Re2 Nd4 

25.cxd5 Rxd5

26.Kg2 Re5

27.Rb2 Bc3 

28.Rb1 Rg8

28...Rf8 29.Ne3 Rf3 30.a4 Re8 31.Nd5 a5 32.Nxc3 Rxc3 33.Rb2 b6 34.Ne2 Nxe2 35.Rxe2 Rxb3 36.Rd5 Rb4 37.Rxh5 Rxa438.g4 c4 39.Rc2 e3 40.fxe3 Rxe3 -0.56 Stockfish

29.Ne3 Nf3?! -0.21/25

29...Rf8 -0.52/22 30.a3 Nf3 30...Ne6 31. b4 Bd4 32. Re1 a6 33. Nb3 Bc3 34. Red1 cxb4 35. axb4 Bxb4 36. Nd5 Bc5 37. Na5 Rxf2+ 38. Kh3 Kc8 39. Rbc1 Kb8 40. Rb1 = Stockfish 31.Ne2 Bd4 32.Nf4 Ree8 33.Kh3 Ne5 34.Kg2 Bxe3 35.fxe3 Ng436.Re1 Rd8 37.Re2

30.Ne2 Bd4

31.Kh3 Re7

31...Rc8 32.Rbc1 a6 33.a4 b5 34.axb5 axb5 35.Nc3 Bxc3 36.Rxc3 b4 37.Rc4 Nd4 38.Rdxd4 cxd4 39.Rxb4+ Kc7 40.Rc4+Kb7 41.Rxd4 = Stockfish

32.Nf4

32.Nf5 Rd7 33.b4 Rgd8 34.bxc5 Bxc5 35.Rxd7 Rxd7 36.Nc3 Rf7 37.Nh6 Re7 38.Kg2 a5 39.Nd5 Rg7 40.Rb5 Ne1+ 41.Kf1Nd3 42.Nf6 e3 43.fxe3 Rxg3 44.Nd7+ Kc7 45.Nxc5 Kc6 46.Rxa5 Nxc5 +0.36 Stockfish

32…Ne5 

33.Rd2 Rf7

34.Rf1 Nd3

34...Rgf8 35.Ned5 Ng4 36.Kg2 Rf5 37.Re2 Re8 38.Rd1 Ree5 39.Ne3 Bxe3 40.fxe3 Kc7 41.a4 Rf7 42.Kh3 Rg7 43.Rc1 Kb644.Rd2 Nxe3 45.Rd6+ Ka5 46.Re6 Rxe6 47.Rxc5+ Kb4 48.Nxe6 Rf7 49.Rxh5 Rf1 50.Kh2 Rf2+ 51.Kh3 Rf1 = Stockfish

35.Neg2

35.Ned5 Rd8 36.f3 Nxf4+ 37.Nxf4 e3 38.Rd3 b5 39.Ne2 a5 40.f4 Kb7 41.g4 hxg4+ 42.Kxg4 Rg8+ 43.Kf3 Rfg7 44.Rh1 Rg245.Nxd4 cxd4 46.Rxd4 R8g3+ 47.Ke4 Rxa2 48.Rd3 Rf2 49.h5 e2 50.Rxg3 Rf1 51.Re3 Rxh1 52.Rxe2 Rxh5 +0.20 Stockfish

35…Ne5

36.Ne3

36.Re2 Ng4 37.Ne3 Bxe3 38.fxe3 Rd8 39.Rb1 Nf6 40.Rc2 b6 41.b4 c4 42.Rxc4 Rd2 43.Rbc1 Rxa2 44.b5 Rf8 45.R1c2 Rxc246.Rxc2 Rd8 47.Nxh5 Nxh5 48.g4 Nf6 49.g5 Nd7 50.Rc6 Rg8 51.Re6 +0.32 Stockfish

36...Nd3

36...Rgf8 37.Ned5 Ng4 38.Kg2 Rf5 39.Re2 Re8 40.Rd1 Ree5 41.Ne3 Bxe3 42.fxe3 Kc7 43.Rdd2 b5 44.Kh3 Nf6 45.Re1 Re746.Rf1 Kc6 47.Rfd1 Ng4 48.Rd6+ Kc7 49.R6d2 Kc6 = Stockfish

37.Ned5 Rgf8? +1.14/25

37...Rd8 0.00/24 38.Nxd3 38. f3 Nxf4+ 39. Nxf4 e3 40. Rd3 b5 41. Ne2 a5 42. f4 Kb7 43. Rfd1 Rfd7 44. g4 hxg4+ 45. Kxg4 Rg8+ 46. Kf3 Rdg7 47. Rh1 Rg2 48. Nxd4 cxd4 49. Rxd4 +0.30 38...Rxd5 39.Nf4 Re5 40.Re1 Rff5 41.Rde2 Bc3 42.Rd1 Bd443.Rde1

38.Nxd3 exd3 

39.Nf4 Be5? +3.11/28

39...Rf6 +1.32/23 40.Rxd3 Rf5 41.f3 Re8 42.b4 Ree5 43.Rfd1 Kc7 44.bxc5 Bxc5 45.Nd5+ Kc6 46.g4 hxg4+ 47.fxg4

39...Rf5 40.Rxd3 Re8 41.b4 b6 42.bxc5 bxc5 43.Rb3+ Kc8 44.Ra3 Kb7 45.f3 Rfe5 46.Rb1+ Ka8 47.Rb6 Rb8 48.Rxb8+ Kxb8+1.70 Stockfish After the game move, 39...Be5, Stockfish thinks White is winning by 4.21 40. Ng6 Bc3 41. Rxd3 Rg8 42. Rxc3 Rxg6 43. Rxc5 Rh6 44. f4 Rh8 45. Re1 b6 46. Rd5 Rh6 47. Rde5 Rhh7 48. Rg5 Rf8 49. b4 Rfh8 50. Rd5 Kc7 51. Ree5 Rh6 52. b5 R6h7 53. Rg5 Kc8 54. f5 Rf8 55. Rg6 Rd7 56. Rxd7 Kxd7 57. Rg5 Rh8 58. g4 hxg4+ 59. Kxg4

1-0

[Event "2018 European Championships"]

[Site "Batumi, Georgia"]

[Date "2018.03.22"]

[Round "?"]

[White "GM Baadar Jobava"]

[Black "IM Christopher Repka"]

[Result "1-0"]

[BlackElo "2524"]

[ECO "C11"]

[WhiteElo "2685"]

 

1.d4 e6 2.e4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Be7 6.Bxf6 gxf6 7.c3 f5 8.Ng3 c5

9.d5 Qxd5 10.Qxd5 exd5 11.Bd3 Nc6 12.Bxf5 $6 { -0.27/23 } ( 12.Nxf5

{ +0.06/21 } 12...Bxf5

{ 12...Bf6 13. Nd6+ Kf8 14. Nxc8 Rxc8 15. O-O-O c4 16. Bf5 Rd8 17. Ne2 Kg7

18. Kb1 h5 19. Rhe1 h4 20. Bg4 Ne5 21. Bf5 Nc6 = Stockfish } 13.Bxf5 Bf6

14.O-O-O ) 12...Be6 13.N1e2 O-O-O 14.Rd1 Kb8 15.O-O Bd6 16.Rfe1 h5 17.h4 Ne7

18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Nc1 e5 $6 { -0.10/23 } ( 19...Rh6 { -0.57/22 } 20.Re3

{ 20. Nd3 Nc6 21. Re2 Rg8 22. Nf1 Rf6 23. g3 Kc7 24. Kg2 c4 25. Ne1 Ne5

-0.53 Stockfish } 20...Nc6 21.Nb3 Rg6 22.Rde1 e5 23.Nf5 c4 24.Nd2 Bc5 25.Rg3

Rf6 26.Ne3 Rf4 27.Nf3 e4 28.Ng5 Rd6 ) 20.b3 $6 { -0.57/25 } ( 20.c4

{ -0.10/23 } 20...dxc4 21.Ne4 Bc7 22.Nxc5 Nc6 23.Ne2 Ba5 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.Rc1

b5 26.a4 { Stockfish also plays 20.b3 } ) 20...e4 21.Nf1 ( 21.c4 Bxg3 22.fxg3

dxc4 23.Rxd8+ Rxd8 24.bxc4 Nf5 25.Ne2 Re8 { -0.08 Stockfish } ) 21...Nf5 ( 

21...Be5 22.Ne2 Rhg8 23.c4 d4 24.Nc1 Rg4 25.f3 Rxh4 26.Nd3 Ng6 27.Rxe4 Rxe4

28.fxe4 Bd6 29.Rd2 Ne5 30.Nxe5 Bxe5 31.Rd3 Rg8 32.Rh3 h4 33.Rxh4 d3 34.Rh5

Bd4+ 35.Kh2 Re8 36.Nd2 Be3 37.Nf3 Rd8 38.Rd5 Rxd5 39.cxd5 d2 40.Nxd2 Bxd2

{ -0.65 Stockfish } ) 22.g3 ( 22.c4 dxc4 23.bxc4 e3 24.Nxe3 Nxe3 25.fxe3 Bg3

26.Rf1 Bxh4 27.Ne2 Rde8 28.Nf4 Re4 29.Ng6 Rd8 30.Nxh4 Rxd1 31.Rxd1 Rxh4

{ -0.08 Stockfish } ) 22...Bc7 23.c4 Ba5 24.Re2 Nd4 25.cxd5 Rxd5 26.Kg2 Re5

27.Rb2 Bc3 28.Rb1 Rg8 ( 28...Rf8 29.Ne3 Rf3 30.a4 Re8 31.Nd5 a5 32.Nxc3 Rxc3

33.Rb2 b6 34.Ne2 Nxe2 35.Rxe2 Rxb3 36.Rd5 Rb4 37.Rxh5 Rxa4 38.g4 c4 39.Rc2 e3

40.fxe3 Rxe3 { -0.56 Stockfish } ) 29.Ne3 Nf3 $6 { -0.21/25 } ( 29...Rf8

{ -0.52/22 } 30.a3 Nf3

{ 30...Ne6 31. b4 Bd4 32. Re1 a6 33. Nb3 Bc3 34. Red1 cxb4 35. axb4 Bxb4

36. Nd5 Bc5 37. Na5 Rxf2+ 38. Kh3 Kc8 39. Rbc1 Kb8 40. Rb1 = Stockfish }

31.Ne2 Bd4 32.Nf4 Ree8 33.Kh3 Ne5 34.Kg2 Bxe3 35.fxe3 Ng4 36.Re1 Rd8 37.Re2 )

30.Ne2 Bd4 31.Kh3 Re7 ( 31...Rc8 32.Rbc1 a6 33.a4 b5 34.axb5 axb5 35.Nc3 Bxc3

36.Rxc3 b4 37.Rc4 Nd4 38.Rdxd4 cxd4 39.Rxb4+ Kc7 40.Rc4+ Kb7 41.Rxd4

{ = Stockfish } ) 32.Nf4 ( 32.Nf5 Rd7 33.b4 Rgd8 34.bxc5 Bxc5 35.Rxd7 Rxd7

36.Nc3 Rf7 37.Nh6 Re7 38.Kg2 a5 39.Nd5 Rg7 40.Rb5 Ne1+ 41.Kf1 Nd3 42.Nf6 e3

43.fxe3 Rxg3 44.Nd7+ Kc7 45.Nxc5 Kc6 46.Rxa5 Nxc5 { +0.36 Stockfish } )

32...Ne5 33.Rd2 Rf7 34.Rf1 Nd3 ( 34...Rgf8 35.Ned5 Ng4 36.Kg2 Rf5 37.Re2 Re8

38.Rd1 Ree5 39.Ne3 Bxe3 40.fxe3 Kc7 41.a4 Rf7 42.Kh3 Rg7 43.Rc1 Kb6 44.Rd2

Nxe3 45.Rd6+ Ka5 46.Re6 Rxe6 47.Rxc5+ Kb4 48.Nxe6 Rf7 49.Rxh5 Rf1 50.Kh2 Rf2+

51.Kh3 Rf1 { = Stockfish } ) 35.Neg2 ( 35.Ned5 Rd8 36.f3 Nxf4+ 37.Nxf4 e3

38.Rd3 b5 39.Ne2 a5 40.f4 Kb7 41.g4 hxg4+ 42.Kxg4 Rg8+ 43.Kf3 Rfg7 44.Rh1 Rg2

45.Nxd4 cxd4 46.Rxd4 R8g3+ 47.Ke4 Rxa2 48.Rd3 Rf2 49.h5 e2 50.Rxg3 Rf1 51.Re3

Rxh1 52.Rxe2 Rxh5 { +0.20 Stockfish } ) 35...Ne5 36.Ne3 ( 36.Re2 Ng4 37.Ne3

Bxe3 38.fxe3 Rd8 39.Rb1 Nf6 40.Rc2 b6 41.b4 c4 42.Rxc4 Rd2 43.Rbc1 Rxa2 44.b5

Rf8 45.R1c2 Rxc2 46.Rxc2 Rd8 47.Nxh5 Nxh5 48.g4 Nf6 49.g5 Nd7 50.Rc6 Rg8

51.Re6 { +0.32 Stockfish } ) 36...Nd3 ( 36...Rgf8 37.Ned5 Ng4 38.Kg2 Rf5

39.Re2 Re8 40.Rd1 Ree5 41.Ne3 Bxe3 42.fxe3 Kc7 43.Rdd2 b5 44.Kh3 Nf6 45.Re1

Re7 46.Rf1 Kc6 47.Rfd1 Ng4 48.Rd6+ Kc7 49.R6d2 Kc6 { = Stockfish } ) 37.Ned5

Rgf8 $2 { +1.14/25 } ( 37...Rd8 { 0.00/24 } 38.Nxd3

{ 38. f3 Nxf4+ 39. Nxf4 e3 40. Rd3 b5 41. Ne2 a5 42. f4 Kb7 43. Rfd1 Rfd7

44. g4 hxg4+ 45. Kxg4 Rg8+ 46. Kf3 Rdg7 47. Rh1 Rg2 48. Nxd4 cxd4 49. Rxd4 

+0.30 } 38...Rxd5 39.Nf4 Re5 40.Re1 Rff5 41.Rde2 Bc3 42.Rd1 Bd4 43.Rde1 )

38.Nxd3 exd3 39.Nf4 Be5 $2 { +3.11/28 } ( 39...Rf6 { +1.32/23 } 40.Rxd3 Rf5

41.f3 Re8 42.b4 Ree5 43.Rfd1 Kc7 44.bxc5 Bxc5 45.Nd5+ Kc6 46.g4 hxg4+ 47.fxg4

) ( 39...Rf5 40.Rxd3 Re8 41.b4 b6 42.bxc5 bxc5 43.Rb3+ Kc8 44.Ra3 Kb7 45.f3

Rfe5 46.Rb1+ Ka8 47.Rb6 Rb8 48.Rxb8+ Kxb8

{ +1.70 Stockfish After the game move, 39...Be5, Stockfish thinks White is

winning by 4.21 40. Ng6 Bc3 41. Rxd3 Rg8 42. Rxc3 Rxg6 43. Rxc5 Rh6 44. f4

Rh8 45. Re1 b6 46. Rd5 Rh6 47. Rde5 Rhh7 48. Rg5 Rf8 49. b4 Rfh8 50. Rd5 Kc7 51. Ree5 Rh6 52. b5 R6h7 53. Rg5 Kc8 54. f5 Rf8 55. Rg6 Rd7 56. Rxd7 Kxd7

57. Rg5 Rh8 58. g4 hxg4+ 59. Kxg4 } ) 1-0

 

 

Alan Lasser

blacklightmazes@icloud.com

 

 

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Chess Clubs and Scholastic Chess in Connecticut

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#memb    Town           Director

 

208    New Haven         IM Jan Van de Mortel     UConn

 

191    West Haven        Jim Celone                    Educ. Tech.

 

183    Stamford            Alex Eydelman              N.E.C.A.

 

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59      Southington       David Aldi                     DJA Instruction

 

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CLUBS THAT WELCOME JUNIORS

 

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Game of the Week by Alan Lasser

3 players tie for first place at GREAT HARTFORD OPEN Posted: 18 Mar 2018 08:09 AM PDT  Two national experts and a new player from New York tied for first place of the 2018 Greater Hartford Open, each winning $80. Suhas Kodali, Joe Bihlmeyer, and Jon Smucker each scored a total of two wins and one draw during the Swiss-style tournament held on March 17 in Coventry. Christopher Scarborough of Plainfield finished with two wins, losing his last-round game with Kodali. Smucker was able to hold off Bihlmeyer to a drawn game in the last round. Eleven players from the tri-state area competed in this day-long event. Free lunch of hamburgers was provided. Bob Cyr, the Chess Historian for Connecticut, visited us as a goodwill ambassador, brought donuts and cookies, and helped us by playing a game as houseman. Thanks to the New Britain Chess Club and the Norwich Chess Club for their representation in this tournament.

----------------------------------------------------------------- Pair | Player Name |Total|Round|Round|Round| Num | USCF ID / Rtg (Pre->Post) | Pts | 1 | 2 | 3 | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | SUHAS KODALI |2.5 |W 7|D 5|W 4| CT | 13764792 / R: 2107 ->2106 | | | | | | Q: 1976 ->1980 | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 2 | JOSEPH E BIHLMEYER |2.5 |W 6|W 7|D 3| CT | 12686352 / R: 2043 ->2040 | | | | | | Q: 1927 ->1926 | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 3 | JONATHAN SMUCKER |2.5 |W 11|W 10|D 2| NY | 16150138 / R: 1537P13->1560P16 | | | | | | Q: 1530P13->1552P16 | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 4 | CHRISTOPHER SCARBOROUGH |2.0 |W 10|W 11|L 1| CT | 16392185 / R: 1279P8 ->1279P11 | | | | | | Q: 1179P8 ->1179P11 | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 5 | MICHAEL STEPHEN SMITH |1.5 |W 9|D 1|U | CT | 12457896 / R: 1970 ->1978 | | | | | | Q: 1935 ->1939 | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 6 | DANIEL ZHOU |1.5 |L 2|D 9|W 11| CT | 14927462 / R: 1734 ->1723 | | | | | | Q: 1601 ->1591 | | | | | -----------------------------------------------------------------

 

----------------------------------------------------------------- 7 | JITHU SAJEEVAN |1.0 |L 1|L 2|W 9| CT | 15756176 / R: 1780 ->1778 | | | | | | Q: 1736 ->1727 | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 8 | ROBERT CYR |1.0 |U |U |W 10| CT | 12489098 / R: 1604 ->1605 | | | | | | Q: 1549 ->1550 | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 9 | ROLAND D BOOKER III |0.5 |L 5|D 6|L 7| MA | 10569176 / R: 1600 ->1600 | | | | | | Q: 1500 ->1500 | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 10 | JUDY J SIMONDS |0.0 |L 4|L 3|L 8| CT | 13745435 / R: 782 -> 778 | | | | | | Q: 777 -> 770 | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 11 | JANICE ELAINE JENKINS |0.0 |L 3|L 4|L 6| MA | 16175144 / R: 726 -> 722 | | | | | | Q: 739 -> 733 | | | | | -----------------------------------------------------------------

 

  When a grandmaster sacrifices three pawns, they usually get an attack, so this week it’s Nakamura’s king who goes for a walk.  Working against him is the time limit for this event, game/25 with ten second increments.  He succeeds in taking one computer-approved king-step after another until he doesn’t have enough time left to find complicated solutions.

 

GM Daniil Dubov-GM Hikaru Nakamura

3/2/18

2018 Tal Memorial (rapids)

1.c4 Nf6 

2.Nc3 e6

3.e4 d5 

4.e5 d4 

5.exf6 dxc3 

6.bxc3 Qxf6 

7.d4 e5 

8.Nf3 Nc6 

9.Be2 exd4 

10.Bg5 Qg6 

11.O-O dxc3 

12.Bd3 Qd6 

13.Re1+ Be7

13...Be6 14.Qb3 Qb4 15.Qd1 Be7 16.Rb1 Qd6 17.Bxe7 Nxe7 18.Rxb7 Rd8 19.Bc2 Qxd1 20.Bxd1 O-O -0.08 Stockfish

14.c5

14.Qc2 Bg4 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.Ne5 Be6 17.Qxc3 O-O 18.c5 Qd8 19.Qc2 h6 20.Rad1 Qc8 -0.07 Stockfish

14…Qxc5 

15.Bxe7 Nxe7 

16.Re5 Qd6 

17.Bb5+ Kf8 

18.Qe2 f6 

19.Rd1 fxe5 

20.Nxe5 Bf5 

21.Rxd6 cxd6 

22.Nd7+ Kf7 

23.Qc4+ Be6 

24.Qf4+ Nf5

24...Bf5 25.Qc4+ Be6 26.Qf4+ Bf5 = Stockfish

25.g4 Rad8?? +8.34/24

25...c2 0.00/22 26.gxf5 Bxa2 26...Bxd7 27. Bxd7 Rhc8 28. Be6+ Ke7 29. Qc1 Rc5 30. Kg2 d5 31. Bxd5 Rxd5 32. Qxc2 Rd7 = Stockfish 27.Bc4+ 27. Bd3 Rac8 28. Bxc2 Rxc2 29. f6 Rg8 30. fxg7+ Ke7 31. Qe4+ Kxd7 32. Qxc2 Rxg7+ 33. Kf1 Bd5 +0.41 Stockfish 27...Bxc4 28.Qxc4+ Ke7 29.Nc5 c1=Q+ 30.Qxc1 dxc5 31.Qxc5+ Kf6 32.Qd6+ Kxf5 33.Qd5+ Kf6 34.Qd6+ Kg5 35.Qd5+ Kg6 36.Qd6+ Kh5 37.Qd5+ g5 38.Qf7+ Kh4 39.Qc4+ g4 40.Qe6 h6 41.Qf6+ Kh5 42.Qf5+ Kh4 43.Qf6+

26.gxf5 Bxd7 

27.Bc4+

27.Qc4+ Ke7 28.Qh4+ Ke8 29.Qh5+ Kf8 30.Qg5 Bxb5 31.Qxd8+ Be8 32.Qxd6+ Kf7 33.Qe6+ Kf8 34.f6 gxf6 35.Qxf6+ Kg8 36.Qxc3 h5 +4.58 Stockfish

27…d5 

28.Bxd5+ Kf6 

29.Qd6+ Kxf5 

30.Bc4?! +4.00/21

30.Bb3 +5.25/21 30...g6 30...Bc6 31. Qe6+ Kf4 32. Bc2 Rd1+ 33. Bxd1 Re8 34. Qd6+ Re5 35. Qd4+ Re4 36. Qxc3 +10.41 Stockfish 31.h4 Bc6 32.Qe6+ Kf4 33.Qe3+ Kf5 34.Qg5+ Ke4 35.Qe7+ Kf4 36.Bc2 mating eventually 36...Be4 37. Qd5+ Kf6 38. Bxe4 Re6 39. Qxb7 Rb6 40. Qxa7 Rb4 41. Qa6+ Ke5 42. Bc2 Rg4+ 43. Kf1 Rxh4 44. Qa5+ Ke6 45. Bb3+ Kd7 46. Qd5+ Kc7 47. Qe5+ Kc8 48. Qe8+ Kb7 49. Qe7+ Kc6 50. Qxh4 c2 51. Bxc2 h5 52. Kg1 Kd5 53. Bxg6 Ke6 54. Qxh5 Kd6 55. Be4 Ke6 56. Qg5 Kd6 57. Qf6+ Kd7 58. Bf5+ Ke8 59. Qe6+ Kf8

30…Rhe8 

31.Bd3+ Kg5 

32.h4+? +1.97/21

32.f4+ +4.21/23 32...Kg4 33.Qd5 Kxf4 34.Qd4+ Kg5 34...Kf3 35. Qh4 Ke3 36. Bxh7 Bf5 37. Qf2+ Kd3 38. Qxf5+ Kd4 39. Qd3+ Kc5 40. Qxc3+ +5.57 35.Qxg7+

32…Kh5 

33.Qg3 Bg4 

34.f3 Rd4 

35.Kf2 c2? +4.89/23

35...Re7 +2.08/22 36.fxg4+ Rxg4 37.Qf3 Kxh4 38.Be2 Rxe2+ 38...h5 39. Qh1+ Kg5 40. Bxg4 Kxg4 41. Qf3+ Kg5 42. Qxc3 +3.49 Stockfish 39.Kxe2 b5 40.Qxc3 40. Qh1+ Kg3 41. Qe1+ Kg2 42. Qf2+ Kh3 43. Kf3 Rg5 44. Qe1 Rf5+ 45. Ke4 g6 46. Qxc3+ +3.99 Stockfish 40...h5 41.Qe1+ Kg5 42.Qc1+ Rf4 43.Qg1+ Kf6 44.Qxa7 Rf5 45.Qa6+ Kf7 46.Qb7+ Kf6 +4.18 Stockfish

36.Bxc2 Rf8 1-0

 

 

[Event "2018 Tal Memorial Rapids"] [Site "Moscow"] [Date "2018.03.02"] [Round "?"] [White "GM Daniil Dubov"] [Black "GM Hikaru Nakamura"] [Result "1-0"] [BlackElo "2820"] [ECO "A18"] [WhiteElo "2663"] 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 Qxf6 7.d4 e5 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.Be2 exd4 10.Bg5 Qg6 11.O-O dxc3 12.Bd3 Qd6 13.Re1+ Be7 ( 13...Be6 14.Qb3 Qb4 15.Qd1 Be7 16.Rb1 Qd6 17.Bxe7 Nxe7 18.Rxb7 Rd8 19.Bc2 Qxd1 20.Bxd1 O-O { -0.08 Stockfish } ) 14.c5 ( 14.Qc2 Bg4 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.Ne5 Be6 17.Qxc3 O-O 18.c5 Qd8 19.Qc2 h6 20.Rad1 Qc8 { -0.07 Stockfish } ) 14...Qxc5 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.Re5 Qd6 17.Bb5+ Kf8 18.Qe2 f6 19.Rd1 fxe5 20.Nxe5 Bf5 21.Rxd6 cxd6 22.Nd7+ Kf7 23.Qc4+ Be6 24.Qf4+ Nf5 ( 24...Bf5 25.Qc4+ Be6 26.Qf4+ Bf5 { = Stockfish } ) 25.g4 Rad8 $4 { +8.34/24 } ( 25...c2 { 0.00/22 } 26.gxf5 Bxa2 { 26...Bxd7 27. Bxd7 Rhc8 28. Be6+ Ke7 29. Qc1 Rc5 30. Kg2 d5 31. Bxd5 Rxd5 32. Qxc2 Rd7 = Stockfish } 27.Bc4+ { 27. Bd3 Rac8 28. Bxc2 Rxc2 29. f6 Rg8 30. fxg7+ Ke7 31. Qe4+ Kxd7 32. Qxc2 Rxg7+ 33. Kf1 Bd5 +0.41 Stockfish } 27...Bxc4 28.Qxc4+ Ke7 29.Nc5 c1=Q+ 30.Qxc1 dxc5 31.Qxc5+ Kf6 32.Qd6+ Kxf5 33.Qd5+ Kf6 34.Qd6+ Kg5 35.Qd5+ Kg6 36.Qd6+ Kh5 37.Qd5+ g5 38.Qf7+ Kh4 39.Qc4+ g4 40.Qe6 h6 41.Qf6+ Kh5 42.Qf5+ Kh4 43.Qf6+ ) 26.gxf5 Bxd7 27.Bc4+ ( 27.Qc4+ Ke7 28.Qh4+ Ke8 29.Qh5+ Kf8 30.Qg5 Bxb5 31.Qxd8+ Be8 32.Qxd6+ Kf7 33.Qe6+ Kf8 34.f6 gxf6 35.Qxf6+ Kg8 36.Qxc3 h5 { +4.58 Stockfish } ) 27...d5 28.Bxd5+ Kf6 29.Qd6+ Kxf5 30.Bc4 $6 { +4.00/21 } ( 30.Bb3 { +5.25/21 } 30...g6 { 30...Bc6 31. Qe6+ Kf4 32. Bc2 Rd1+ 33. Bxd1 Re8 34. Qd6+ Re5 35. Qd4+ Re4 36. Qxc3 +10.41 Stockfish } 31.h4 Bc6 32.Qe6+ Kf4 33.Qe3+ Kf5 34.Qg5+ Ke4 35.Qe7+ Kf4 36.Bc2 { mating eventually 36...Be4 37. Qd5+ Kf6 38. Bxe4 Re6 39. Qxb7 Rb6 40. Qxa7 Rb4 41. Qa6+ Ke5 42. Bc2 Rg4+ 43. Kf1 Rxh4 44. Qa5+ Ke6 45. Bb3+ Kd7 46. Qd5+ Kc7 47. Qe5+ Kc8 48. Qe8+ Kb7 49. Qe7+ Kc6 50. Qxh4 c2 51. Bxc2 h5 52. Kg1 Kd5 53. Bxg6 Ke6 54. Qxh5 Kd6 55. Be4 Ke6 56. Qg5 Kd6 57. Qf6+ Kd7 58. Bf5+ Ke8 59. Qe6+ Kf8 } ) 30...Rhe8 31.Bd3+ Kg5 32.h4+ $2 { +1.97/21 } ( 32.f4+ { +4.21/23 } 32...Kg4 33.Qd5 Kxf4 34.Qd4+ Kg5 { 34...Kf3 35. Qh4 Ke3 36. Bxh7 Bf5 37. Qf2+ Kd3 38. Qxf5+ Kd4 39. Qd3+ Kc5 40. Qxc3+ +5.57 } 35.Qxg7+ ) 32...Kh5 33.Qg3 Bg4 34.f3 Rd4 35.Kf2 c2 $2 { +4.89/23 } ( 35...Re7 { +2.08/22 } 36.fxg4+ Rxg4 37.Qf3 Kxh4 38.Be2 Rxe2+ { 38...h5 39. Qh1+ Kg5 40. Bxg4 Kxg4 41. Qf3+ Kg5 42. Qxc3 +3.49 Stockfish } 39.Kxe2 b5 40.Qxc3 { 40. Qh1+ Kg3 41. Qe1+ Kg2 42. Qf2+ Kh3 43. Kf3 Rg5 44. Qe1 Rf5+ 45. Ke4 g6 46. Qxc3+ +3.99 Stockfish } 40...h5 41.Qe1+ Kg5 42.Qc1+ Rf4 43.Qg1+ Kf6 44.Qxa7 Rf5 45.Qa6+ Kf7 46.Qb7+ Kf6 { +4.18 Stockfish } ) 36.Bxc2 Rf8 1-0

The Kopec System 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3

After I played in the Kopec Memorial tournament last June, I started playing the Kopec System. The basic idea is that White’s white square bishop gets to the optimal c2 square from which it can affect both sides of the board. The practical advantage is that IM Danny Kopec’s system is still little known and takes the opponent out of their book preparation right away. I have now played ten recorded club games with good results, so I am presenting all the games here as an example of how to go about assembling your own computer-analyzed opening files. This opening was never included in Modern Chess Openings so I use my own games to stake out the basic variations, add the obvious moves that haven’t been played against me, and then I give all the possibilities the Stockfish treatment. Click here to read all of this article. Other columns by Alan Lasser

Connecticut Championships

Master Instructor wins Connecticut state championship held at Hall High School, West Hartford

Arslan Otchiyev, 28, is a Master Instructor at the Chess Club of Fairfield County in Norwalk.   He was six time national champion of Turkmenistan.

He is a USCF certified “Life Master” with a USCF peak rating: 2409.  Currently residing in Connecticut Mr. Otchiyev is among the Top 1% of competitive players nationally in the U.S.

23 players competed in the event.

 

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pair | Player Name |Total|Round|Round|Round|Round|Round| Num | USCF ID / Rtg (Pre->Post) | Pts | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | ARSLAN OTCHIYEV |4.5 |W 6|W 7|W 2|W 10|D 3| CT | 14667931 / R: 2374 ->2377 | | | | | | | | Q: 2291 ->2294 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 | TED BELANOFF |4.0 |X |W 15|L 1|W 13|W 7| NY | 12758264 / R: 2200 ->2202 | | | | | | | | Q: 2044 ->2054 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 | SUHAS KODALI |4.0 |W 16|W 11|D 5|W 4|D 1| CT | 13764792 / R: 2078 ->2107 | | | | | | | | Q: 1940 ->1976 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 | RICHARD BAUER |3.5 |W 12|W 14|D 10|L 3|W 9| CT | 10583896 / R: 2200 ->2200 | | | | | | | | Q: 2102 ->2091 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 | JOSEPH E BIHLMEYER |3.5 |D 13|W 22|D 3|D 6|W 15| CT | 12686352 / R: 2047 ->2043 | | | | | | | | Q: 1927 ->1927 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 | ANDREW COLWELL |3.5 |L 1|W 17|W 15|D 5|W 13| CT | 14815078 / R: 1975 ->1988 | | | | | | | | Q: 1880 ->1895 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 | MICHAEL STEPHEN SMITH |3.0 |W 17|L 1|W 19|W 11|L 2| CT | 12457896 / R: 1965 ->1970 | | | | | | | | Q: 1942 ->1935 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 | GAETANO BOMPASTORE |3.0 |W 21|L 10|W 18|L 9|W 14| MA | 12906776 / R: 1920 ->1913 | | | | | | | | Q: 1803 ->1794 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 | ALEXANDER RUTH |3.0 |L 10|W 21|W 22|W 8|L 4| CT | 14330955 / R: 1801 ->1817 | | | | | | | | Q: 1723 ->1735 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 | MATTHEW DEREK MEREDITH |2.5 |W 9|W 8|D 4|L 1|U | CT | 10031443 / R: 2190 ->2191 | | | | | | | | Q: 1977 ->1989 | | | | | | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

11 | PRESTON C DELEO |2.5 |W 20|L 3|W 14|L 7|D 12| CT | 15672597 / R: 1873 ->1892 | | | | | | | | Q: 1570 ->1660 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 | JITHU SAJEEVAN |2.5 |L 4|L 18|W 23|W 19|D 11| CT | 15756176 / R: 1806 ->1780 | | | | | | | | Q: 1770 ->1736 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 | NAKUL RAMASWAMY |2.5 |D 5|W 23|W 20|L 2|L 6| CT | 15323071 / R: 1441 ->1518 | | | | | | | | Q: 1278 ->1369 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 | ALLEN MO |2.0 |W 19|L 4|L 11|W 17|L 8| CT | 14937453 / R: 1944 ->1914 | | | | | | | | Q: 1778 ->1743 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 | MARK R BOURQUE |2.0 |W 18|L 2|L 6|W 16|L 5| CT | 12139250 / R: 1908 ->1900 | | | | | | | | Q: 1897 ->1868 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 | ARTHUR C NAGEL |2.0 |L 3|L 20|W 21|L 15|W 18| CT | 10264669 / R: 1727 ->1718 | | | | | | | | Q: 1502 ->1512 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17 | KISHORE SIVARAJAN |2.0 |L 7|L 6|B |L 14|W 21| MA | 16395776 / R: 1593P14->1582P18 | | | | | | | | Q: 1347P11->1344P15 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18 | VIJAY YAMMANURU |2.0 |L 15|W 12|L 8|W 22|L 16| CT | 16419616 / R: 1297P22->1369 | | | | | | | | Q: 1436 ->1455 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19 | NITHIN JOSHY |2.0 |L 14|B |L 7|L 12|W 23| CT | 15287893 / R: 891 -> 898 | | | | | | | | Q: 857 -> 866 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20 | GARY M SHURE |1.0 |L 11|W 16|L 13|U |U | CT | 10110793 / R: 2216 ->2200 | | | | | | | | Q: 2191 ->2153 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21 | ELIZABETH C SMITH |1.0 |L 8|L 9|L 16|W 23|L 17| CT | 15913683 / R: Unrated->1184P5 | | | | | | | | Q: Unrated-> 965P5 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22 | LAURENT LAFOSSE |0.5 |H |L 5|L 9|L 18|U | CT | 12431094 / R: 1272 ->1252 | | | | | | | | Q: 1242 ->1227 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23 | HANEESHA ATKURI |0.5 |H |L 13|L 12|L 21|L 19| CT | 16282828 / R: 565P23-> 555 | | | | | | | | Q: 594P22-> 577 | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24 | RYAN WANTROBA |0.0 |F |U |U |U |U | CT | 14250580 / R: 1757 ->1757 | | | | | | | | Q: 1649 ->1649 | | | | | | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

2018 Greater Hartford Open

March 17  Saturday

GUARANTEED CASH PRIZES

Rob Roy Chess Center

3111 South Street

Coventry CT 06238

 

Prizes:  $160-1st  $80-2nd  Guaranteed

Format:   3 Round Swiss, G/60;d5

Round Times: 10:30, Rounds 2 and 3 asap

Entry Fees:  $30 cash only.  Discounts see below;

$5 off for Carpool. $5 off for retired or unemployed. 

$5 off for those driving from more than 65 miles away. 

$5 off for first-time USCF players. 

No multiple discounts applied.

Registration at site only: 10 - 10:15 am

Free snacks and beverages all day

Everyone in one section - Accelerated Pairings

Affects both Quick and Regular rating.

E-mail:  ConnecticutChess@Gmail.com

More Info: 860 742-5562 (voice only) 

https://sites.google.com/site/coventrychess

We avoid pairing players from same carpool

https://sites.google.com/view/robroychess

 

Report: Feb 24 tournament in Coventry Top players at chess center Coventry Upcoming Tournaments in Connecticut Active Tournament Directors in Conn Subscribe to Connecticut Chess Magazine CCM Facebook Page CCM Facebook Public Group New Britain Chess Club Stafford Springs Chess Club Norwich Chess Club Newtown Chess Club West Haven Chess Club Chess Clubs in Connecticut April 21  Nathan Hale Open Alan Lasser's Game of the Week Questions ?  ConnecticutChess@gmail.com

 

 

Alan Lasser Game of the Week

  Just like the rest of us, grandmasters can try too hard to win.  The king has to go for a march across the board and just when it looks like the opponent has a three-time repetition/perpetual check ready, the GM chooses wriggle out dangerously.  The result is an unusual position on the thirty-seventh move, all of White’s pieces are back on the first rank, and the extra rook isn’t any good at all.

 

GM Vladimir Fedoseev--IM M.Amin Tabatabaei

2/25/18

2018 Aeroflot Open

1.e4 c6 

2.d4 d5 

3.e5 Bf5 

4.h4 h6 

5.g4 Be4

6.f3 Bh7 

7.e6 Qd6 

8.exf7+ Kxf7 

9.Bd3 Bxd3 

10.Qxd3 Nd7

11.h5?! -0.42/22

11.Be3 -0.04/20 11...e5 12.Nc3 exd4 13.Bxd4 Re8+ 14.Nge2 Ne5 15.Bxe5 Qxe5 16.O-O-O Qe3+17.Kb1 Qxd3 18.Rxd3 Nf6 19.Nd4 Bb4 20.Rhd1 g6 21.g5 Nd7 22.f4 Nc5 23.Rf3 hxg5 24.fxg5+Kg7 25.Rf4

11.f4 Qe6+ 12.Ne2 Qxg4 13.Nd2 e6 14.Nf3 Bb4+ 15.Bd2 Bxd2+ 16.Kxd2 Qf5 17.Ne5+ Nxe518.fxe5 Qxd3+ 19.Kxd3 Ne7 +0.36 Stockfish

11…e5

12.f4?! -1.38/22

12.Nc3 -0.57/19 12...exd4 13.Nce2 Qb4+ 14.c3 dxc3 15.Qg6+ Ke7 16.bxc3 Qd6 17.Qb1 b6 18.Nh3Qf6 19.Bf4 Nc5 20.Qc2 Kd7 21.O-O-O Re8 22.Nd4 Bd6 23.Bxd6 Kxd6 24.Kb2 Ne7

12.Ne2 Qe6 13.Be3 Re8 14.Nbc3 exd4 15.Bxd4 c5 16.O-O-O cxd4 17.Nxd4 Qe3+ 18.Qxe3 Rxe319.Nxd5 Re8 20.Nc7 Rc8 21.Ncb5 Ngf6 22.Nf5 Rc5 23.Nbd6+ Bxd6 24.Nxd6+ Kg8 25.Nxb7 -0.47 Stockfish

12…exd4 

13.Qf5+?! -1.70/24

13.Ne2 -1.39/20 13...Re8 14.g5 Ne7 15.Kd1 15. g6+ Kg8 16. Qh3 Nc5 17. Nd2 Qf6 18. Nb3 Nf5 19. Nxc5 Bxc5 -1.48 Stockfish 15...Nc5 16.Qh3 Ne4 17.Rf1 c5 18.Nd2 Kg8 19.a4 Nc6 20.Nxe4dxe4 21.Qb3+ Qe6 22.Qxe6+ Rxe6 23.f5 Re8 24.gxh6 gxh6 25.Bf4 Kg7 26.Kd2

13…Ngf6 

14.g5?! -2.84/23

14.Kf2 -1.89/22 14...Qe7 14... Re8 15. Nf3 Qe6 16. Qxe6+ Rxe6 17. g5 Ne4+ 18. Kg2 hxg5 19. fxg5 Nd6 20. Nxd4 Re4 -2.72 Stockfish 15.Nd2 Qe6 16.Qxe6+ Kxe6 17.Kf3 Kf7 18.Ne2 c5 19.Ng3Re8 20.Nb3 Bd6 21.Nf5 Ne4 22.Bd2 Bc7 23.Rhe1 Rhf8

14.Kf1 Re8 15.Nf3 Qe7 16.Rh2 Qe4 17.Qxe4 dxe4 18.Nxd4 Nxg4 19.Rh4 Ndf6 20.Nc3 Bc5 21.Nf5Rhg8 22.Rh3 e3 -2.57 Stockfish

14…hxg5 

15.fxg5 Qg3+

16.Kf1 Re8 

17.Nf3 Re2? 0.00/23

17...Ne5 -2.84/22 18.Rh3 Qg4 19.Qxg4 Nfxg4 20.Nxd4 20. g6+ Ke6 21. Nxe5 Kxe5 22. Nd2 Ne3+ 23. Kf2 Nxc2 24. Rb1 Bc5 -3.81 Stockfish 20...Bc5 21.c3 Rhf8 22.Nd2 Kg8+ 23.Kg1 Rf2 24. Nf1 Nf3+ 25. Rxf3 Rxf3 26. Bd2 Re2 27. Re1 Rxf1+ 28. Kxf1 Rf2+ 29. Kg1 Rxd2 -6.45 Stockfish

18.Kxe2 Qg2+

19.Kd3 Qf2 

20.Nxd4 Nc5+ 

21.Kc3 Ne4+ 

22.Kd3 Nc5+ 

23.Kc3 Ne4+

24.Kb3 Qxd4?! +0.41/26

24...Nc5+ 0.00/23 25.Kc3 25.Ka3 Ne6 26.Ka4 Qd4 27.c4 b5 28.Ka5 Qb6 mate

25.c3 Qd3

26.Qf1?? -9.79/24

26.g6+ +0.44/24 26...Ke7 27.Qf1 Nc5+ 28.Ka3 Rxh5 28...Qc2 29. Qd1 Qxd1 30. Rxd1 Rxh5 31. Be3 Kd7 32. b4 Nce4 33. Bxa7 c5 34. Bxc5 Bxc5 35. bxc5 Rh2 36. Kb4 Kc6 37. c4 Rb2+ 38. Ka3 Rg2 39. Kb4 Rb2+ = Stockfish 29.Qxd3 Nxd3 30.Rxh5 Nxh5 31.Be3 Kf6+ 32.Kb3 Bc5 33.Bxc5Nxc5+ 34.Kc2 Kxg6 35.Nd2 Nf4 36.Nb3 Ne4 37.Rh1 Nh5 38.a3 a6 39.Re1 Kf7

26...Nc5+ 

27.Ka3 Rxh5

28.Rg1? -18.58/22

28.Qxd3 -9.65/24 28...Nxd3+ 29.Kb3 Rxh1 30.Nd2 Rxc1 31.Rxc1 Nxc1+ 32.Kc2 Nxa2 33.gxf6Kxf6 34.Nf3 a5 35.Kb3 Nxc3 36.Kxc3 a4 37.Nd4 Bc5 38.Nc2 b5 39.Kd3 g5

28.g6+ Kg8 29.Qxd3 Nxd3+ 30.Kb3 Rxh1 31.Nd2 Rxc1 32.Rxc1 Nxc1+ 33.Kc2 Ne2 -10.07 Stockfish

28…Qc2 

29.b4 a5 

30.gxf6 axb4+

31.cxb4 Qa4+ 

32.Kb2 Qxb4+ 

33.Kc2 Qa4+ 

34.Kb2 Qd4+

35.Kc2 Qe4+

36.Kd1 Rf5?! -7.04/21

36...Qa4+ -17.64/22 37.Kd2 gxf6 38. Qf3 Rh2+ 39. Ke1 Qh4+ 40. Kd1 Qd4+ 41. Nd2 Qxg1+ 42. Kc2 Qg6+ 43. Kd1 Bh6 44. Nf1 Qc2+ 45. Ke1 Rh1 46. Bxh6 Nd3+ 47. Qxd3 Qxd3 48. Kf2 Qd4+ 49. Kf3 Qxa1 50. Ng3 Rxh6 51. Kg2 Qxa2+ 52. Kf3 Rh3 53. Kg4 Qg2 54. Kf4 Rxg3 55. Kf5 Rf3#

37.Qg2? -23.21/23

37.fxg7 -7.04/21 37...Qa4+ 38.Ke1 Rxf1+ 39.Rxf1+ Kxg7 40.Nd2 40. Nc3 Qh4+ 41. Kd1 Qd4+ 42. Bd2 Ne4 43. Nxe4 Qxa1+ -8.36 Stockfish 40...Nd3+ 41.Ke2 Qc2 42.Rg1+ Kf7 43.Rf1+ Ke844.Rxf8+ Kxf8 45. Ba3+ c5 46. Rf1+ Ke7 47. Rf3 Ne5 48. Rb3 Kd6 49. Ke1 Nd3+ 50. Ke2 Nf4+ 51. Ke1 Kc6 -10.41 Stockfish

37…Qa4+

38.Ke2 Qc2+ 

39.Nd2??

39.Bd2 Re5+ 40.Kf3 Qd3+ 41.Kg4 Qf5+ 42.Kh4 Qh5+ 43.Kg3 Bd6 44.Re1 Rxe1+ 45.Bf4 Bxf4+46.Kxf4 g5+ 47.Kf5 Ne6 48.Qg4 Qg6#

39...Re5+ 

40.Kf2 Ne4+ 41. Qxe4 Rxe4 42. Rf1 Bc5+ 43. Kg3 Bd6+ 44. Kg2 Rg4+ 45. Kf2 Qd3 46. Ke1 Rg2 47. fxg7+ Kxg7 48. Bb2+ Kg8 49. Rf2 Rg1+ 50. Rf1 Bg3+ 51. Kd1 Rxf1# 0-1

 

 

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