Sunday, April 8, 2018

Chess Game of the Week, by Alan Lasser

  It has been many years since an American played for the World Championship of Chess.  Back then, the match was front page news and generated enormous publicity for our game.  Hopefully the forthcoming attention will once again benefit our local chess organizations.  Of course, the last time our guy was a human-interest story, a force unstoppable except by himself.  This time we have the clear underdog, so the focus will probably be on the games.  A fascinating match-up last week previews what might be in store for us.
 
GM Fabiano Caruana-GM Magnus Carlsen
3/31/18
2018 Grenke Chess Classic
2.c4 g6 
59.Kd3 ½-½
 
 
[Event "2018 Grenke Chess Classic"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "2018.03.31"]
[Round "1"]
[White "GM Fabiano Caruana"]
[Black "GM Magnus Carlsen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2843"]
 
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.e3 O-O 5.Be2 d6 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.d5 Nb4 8.a3 Na6
9.Nd4 e5 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.O-O e5 12.Nb3 c6 13.e4 Nc7 14.f4 Ne6 15.f5 Nd4
16.Be3 $6 { -0.45/22 } ( 16.Bd3 { +0.03/19 } 16...gxf5
{ 16...Qb6 17. Nxd4 exd4 18. Ne2 Ng4 19. Bg5 Qxb2 20. Qa4 Ne3 21. Rab1 Qd2
22. Rbd1 Qb2 23. Rb1    =   Stockfish } 17.exf5 Qb6 18.Nxd4 Qxd4+ 19.Kh1 e4
20.Be2 Qxd1 21.Bxd1 d5 22.cxd5 Nxd5 23.Nxd5 cxd5 24.Bb3 Rxf5 25.Rxf5 Bxf5
26.Bxd5+ Kh8 27.Be3 Rd8 28.Bxb7 Rd3 29.Bc5 Bxb2 30.Rf1 Bg6 31.Re1 Bd4
32.Bxd4+ ) 16...Nxe2+ 17.Qxe2 gxf5 18.exf5 d5 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.Rad1 $6
{ -0.57/21 } ( 20.Bc5 { -0.25/22 } 20...Re8 21.Rad1 b6 22.Be3 Bb7 23.Bg5 Qd7
{ 23...Qd6 24. Nd2 Qc5+ 25. Kh1 Rad8 26. Qf3 Qf8 27. Qh3 Rd7 28. Ne2 d4 
-0.27   Stockfish } 24.Bxf6 Bxf6 25.Ne4 Qe7 26.Qb5 Rad8 ) 20...d4 21.Bg5 Qb6
22.Qc4+ Rf7 23.Na4 Qc7 24.Qxc7 Rxc7 25.Nac5 b6 26.Bxf6 bxc5 27.Bxg7 Kxg7
28.Nd2 $2 { -1.64/22 } ( 28.f6+ { -0.35/21 } 28...Kf7 29.Rc1 c4 30.Nd2 Ba6
31.Rf2
{ 31. Rf5 Rd8 32. Rxe5 Kxf6 33. Ra5 Rc6 34. b4 Re6 35. b5 c3 36. Rxa6  cxd2
37.Rd1 Rxa6 38.bxa   -0.43   Stockfish } 31...Bb7
{ 31... h6 32. Rf5 c3 33. bxc3 dxc3 34. Rxe5 Rd8 35. Nf3 c2 36. Kf2 Kxf6  
-1.43   Stockfish } 32.Nxc4 ) ( 28.Rc1 c4 29.f6+ Kf8 30.Nd2 Ba6 31.Rf5 Rb8
32.Ne4 Rxb2 33.Ng5 Bc8 34.Rxe5 h6 35.Ne4 Re2 36.Re7 Rxe7 37.fxe7+ Kxe7 38.Ng3
{ -1.08   Stockfish } ) 28...Bb7 29.f6+ Kf8 30.Rde1 Re8 31.Ne4 Bxe4 32.Rxe4 c4
33.g4 Rb8 ( 33...Kf7 34.g5 Rb8 35.Rf2 d3 36.Kf1 Rxb2 37.Rxb2 c3 38.Rb1 d2
39.Ree1 Kg6 40.h4 c2 41.Rbc1 Kh5 42.Ke2 dxc1=Q 43.Rxc1 Kxh4 44.f7 Rxf7
45.Rxc2 Kxg5 { -3.26   Stockfish } ) 34.Rxe5 Rxb2 35.Rd5 c3 36.Rd8+ Kf7
37.Rh8 Rbb7 38.Rxh7+ Kg6 ( 38...Ke6 39.Rxc7 Rxc7 40.Kf2 c2 41.Rc1 d3 42.Ke3
Rd7 43.Kd2 Kxf6 { transposing back to the game. } ) 39.Rxc7 Rxc7 40.Kf2 c2
41.Rc1 d3 42.Ke3 Rd7 43.Kd2 Kxf6 44.h4 ( 44.Rf1+ Ke5 45.h4 Kd4 46.h5 Rh7
47.Rf4+ Kd5 48.Rf1 Kc4 49.Rf4+ Kb3 50.Rb4+ Kxa3 51.Rc4 Kb3 52.Rc8 a5 53.Rb8+
Ka2 54.Ra8 Rc7 55.Rxa5+ Kb3 56.Ra1 Kb2 57.Rg1 Rg7 58.Kxd3 Rxg4 59.Rxg4 c1=Q
{ The endgame database says it's mate on move 95. } ) 44...Ke5 45.Rf1 Kd4
46.h5 Re7 ( 46...Rh7 47.Rf4+ Kd5 48.Rf1 Kc4 49.Rf5 Rb7 50.Rf4+ Kd5 51.Rf6 Ke4
52.Rf8 Rb6 53.Re8+ Kf4 54.Rc8 Rb1 55.Rc4+ Ke5 56.g5 Rd1+ 57.Ke3 Kd5 58.Rc8
c1=Q+ 59.Rxc1 Rxc1 60.g6 Ke6 61.Kxd3 Rh1 62.g7 Rh3+ 63.Kd4 Kf7 64.Kc5 Rxh5+
{ The endgame database says it's mate on move 79. } ) 47.Rf4+ Kd5 48.Rf1 Kc4
49.Rf4+ Kd5 50.Rf1 Kc4 51.Rf4+ Kb3 52.Rb4+ Kxa3 53.Rc4 Kb3 54.Rc8 a5 $2
{ 0.00/26 } ( 54...Rh7 55.Kxd3 Rd7+ 56.Ke4 Rd8 57.Rxd8
{ 57.Rc7 a5 58. h6 a4 59. h7 a3 60. Rb7+ Kc3 61. Rc7+ Kd2 62. Rd7+ Rxd7 63.
h8=Q c1=Q 64. Qh2+ Kc3 and it's mate on move 80. } 57...c1=Q 58.Rd3+ Kb4
59.Rd4+ Kc5 60.Rd7 Qg5 61.Rxa7 Qxg4+ 62.Ke5 Qxh5+
{ The endgame datbase says it's mate on move 87. } ) 55.h6 Re2+
{ The problem is that pushing the a-pawn loses for Black!   55...a4 56.g5
a3 57.g6 a2 58.g7 a1=Q 59. g8=Q+ Ka3 60. Ra8+ Kb4 61. Rxa1 Kc5 62. Qg5+ Kb6
63. Qxe7 Kc6 64. Kxd3 Kb6 65. Qa7+ Kb5 66. Qa6+ Kc5 67. Ra5+ Kb4 68. Qb6# }
56.Kxd3 Rh2 57.g5 Rh3+ 58.Kd2 Rh2+ 59.Kd3 1/2-1/2
 
 
 



2018 Constitution State Open

May 19 Saturday

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Saturday, March 31, 2018

Chess Game of the Week - by Alan Lasser

  My opponent took the poisoned rook but I missed the mate in twelve.  I missed the mate in twenty-eight.  Fortunately, my attack was still very strong.
 
Alan Lasser-Doug Silverman
3/29/18
UMass Chess Club
game/15
1.e4 c5 
6.a4 g6 
37.Qc8# 1-0
[Event "game/15"]
[Site "UMass Chess Club"]
[Date "2018.03.29"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alan Lasser"]
[Black "Doug Silverman"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
 
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a4 g6 7.f4 Nc6 8.Nxc6 bxc6
9.Be3 Bg7 10.a5 O-O
11.Be2 Qc7 12.Bb6 Qb7 13.O-O Nd7 14.Na4 Nxb6 $6 { +0.46/24 } ( 14...Bxb2
{ +0.15/22 } 15.Rb1 Bg7 16.Bf2 Qc7 17.Nb6 Rb8 18.Qd3 Nxb6
{ 18...Re8 19. Qc4 Nf6 20. Nxc8 Rexc8 21. Bb6 Qd7 22. Rbd1 Rf8 23. f5 Qb7
24. Rf3 Nd7 -0.16 Stockfish } 19.axb6 Qd7 20.Rfe1 Bb7 21.Bf3 Bh6 22.Bg3 c5
23.e5 c4 ) 15.Nxb6 Rb8 16.c3 c5 $6 { +0.72/22 } ( 16...d5 { +0.39/20 } 17.e5
{ 17. Bd3 e5 18. f5 gxf5 19. exf5 f6 20. Kh1 Kh8 21. c4 Rd8 22. cxd5 cxd5
23. Be4 Qa7 24. Nxd5 Bb7 25. Qf3 Bxd5 26. Bxd5 Qc5 +0.15 Stockfish } 17...Bf5
18.Bg4
{ 18. Bf3 f6 19. Qe2 fxe5 20. fxe5 Rbd8 21. Rae1 Qc7 22. e6 Rd6 23. Qxa6 d4
24. Be4 dxc3 25. Bxf5 Rxf5 26. Rxf5 gxf5 27. bxc3 Bxc3 28. Nd7 Bxe1 +0.07
Stockfish } 18...Bxg4 19.Qxg4 e6 20.Rae1 c5 21.b3 Rbe8 ) 17.Bd3 Qc6 18.Qe2
Rxb6 $6 { +1.24/26 } ( 18...e6 { +0.78/22 } 19.Bc4 Bb7
{ 19...Kh8 20. Rad1 Bb7 21. Rfe1 Bf6 22. Qd3 Be7 23. Re2 Rg8 24. Kh1 Bf6
25. Rdd2 Rgd8 +0.44 Stockfish } 20.Rfe1 Bh6 21.Qf1 Rfd8 22.Rad1 Qc7 23.f5 d5
24.exd5 exf5 25.Qd3 Bf4 26.g3 Bd6 27.Re2 f4 28.gxf4 ) 19.axb6 Qxb6 $6
{ +1.82/24 } ( 19...a5 { +1.25/25 } 20.Ba6
{ 20. Bc4 Qxb6 21. Rf2 Bf6 22. Qe3 Qc7 23. Re1 a4 24. e5 Bg7 25. exd6 exd6
26. Ra1 Bb7 +1.10 Stockfish } 20...Bxa6
{ 20...Bd7 21. Bc4 Bc6 22. f5 Bf6 23. Rf2 Qb7 24. Re1 Kg7 25. g3 Qd7 26.Qd3
 +1.65 Stockfish } 21.Qxa6 Ra8 22.Qe2 Qxb6 23.Kh1 Bh6 24.Ra3 Bg7 25.Ra2 )
20.Bxa6 Bd7 21.Bc4 Rb8 22.b3 $6 { +0.94/25 } ( 22.f5 { +1.76/22 } 22...Be8
23.Rf2 Bf6 24.fxg6 hxg6 25.Raf1 Kg7 26.Qe3 Bb5 ) ( 22.Rf2 Be8 23.Raf1 Kh8
24.f5 gxf5 25.exf5 Be5 26.g3 Bb5 27.Ra1 Bxc4 28.Qxc4 Rf8 { +2.15 Stockfish }
) 22...Bxc3 23.Ra6 $6 { -0.07/26 } ( 23.Bxf7+ { +0.93/25 } 23...Kg7
{ 23...Kxf7 24. Qc4+ d5 25. Qxc3 dxe4 26. Qe3 Bf5 27. Rab1 Qb4 28. Rfd1 Bg4
29. Rd2 c4 30. h3 Be6 31. Rd4 +1.04 Stockfish } 24.Ra6 Qb7 25.Bc4 Bc6 26.Bd3
Bd4+ 27.Kh1 Kh8 28.Ra3 e6 29.e5 d5 30.Qg4 Re8 31.Rb1 Qe7 32.Ra6 Bd7 33.Ra7 )
23...Qb7 24.f5 Bb5
$6 { +0.38/22 } ( 24...gxf5 { -0.37/23 } 25.exf5
{ 25. h3 Bf6 26. exf5 d5 27. Bd3 Bc6 28. Kh1 Kh8 29. Rc1 c4 30. Rxc6 Qxc6
31. bxc4 dxc4 32. Rxc4 -0.29 Stockfish } 25...d5 26.Qg4+ Kf8 27.Be2 Qxb3
28.Kh1 Bf6 29.Qf4 Qb2 30.Ra5 Rc8 ) 25.fxg6 Qxa6 $4 { #12/24 } ( 25...hxg6
{ +0.31/24 } 26.Ra3
{ 26. Bxb5 Qxb5 27. Qxb5 Bd4+ 28. Kh1 Rxb5 29. Ra7 Kf8 30. Rb1 f5 31. exf5
gxf5 32. g3 Kf7 33. Re1 Kf6 34. Raxe7 Be5 35. Re8 Rxb3 +0.08 Stockfish }
26...Bf6 27.Bxb5 Qxb5 28.Qxb5 Bd4+ 29.Kh1 Rxb5 30.g3 Rb7 31.Rf3 e6 32.g4 Kg7
33.Ra6 Rd7 34.Kg2 ) 26.gxf7+ ( 26.Qh5 Kf8
{ 26...Bg7 27. Qxh7+ Kf8 28. Bxf7 Bd4+ 29. Kh1 e5 30. Bd5+ Ke8 31. Qg8+ Kd7
32. Rf7# } 27.g7+ Ke8 28.g8=Q+ Kd7 29.Qxb8 Bxc4 30.bxc4 Bd4+ 31.Kh1 Bf6
32.Qf5+ Kc6 33.Qfc8+ Qxc8 34.Qxc8+ Kb6 35.Rb1+ Bb2 36.Rxb2+ Ka5 37.Qa8# )
26...Kf8 27.Qh5 Bxc4 28.Qxh7 Bd4+ 29.Kh1 e5 30.Qg8+ Ke7 31.f8=Q+ ( 31.Qxb8
Bxf7 32.Qc7+ Ke8 33.Qxf7+ Kd8 34.Qg8+ Kc7 35.Rf7+ Kc6 36.Qe8+ Kb6 37.Qb8+ Ka5
38.Ra7 { From here, Stockfish says it's mate on move 57. } ) 31...Rxf8
32.Qxf8+ Kd7 33.bxc4 Qxc4 34.Rf7+ Kc6
{ 34...Qf7 stops the immediate mate, but it's not a long-term solution,
Stockfish says mate can arrive on move 51. } 35.Qa8+ Kb5 36.Rb7+ Kc6 37.Qc8#
1-0
 



 

 
 
 
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Friday, March 30, 2018

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
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
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
 
 
 
 
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Wednesday, March 28, 2018

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
7.c3 f5 
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
 
 



 
 
 
CONTINUOUS  UP-TO-DATE  INFORMATION
FOR CHESS PLAYERS SINCE MAY 2010
 
 
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for Connecticut
 
 
 
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Monday, March 26, 2018

Chess Clubs and Scholastic Chess in Connecticut

Scholastic Chess Programs in Connecticut
 
#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.
 
167    West Hartford     Norman Burtness          Hall HS Chess
 
59      Southington       David Aldi                     DJA Instruction
 
43      New Haven        George Wang                Chess Haven
 
14      Norwalk             Chris Potts           Norwalk Knights
 

          Newtown           Glenn Budzinski         CT Kids play chess

 
 
CLUBS THAT WELCOME JUNIORS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONTINUOUS  UP-TO-DATE  INFORMATION
FOR CHESS PLAYERS SINCE MAY 2010
 
 
Please subscribe to our email magazine.
 
 
The official state chess publication 
for Connecticut
 
 
 
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Sunday, March 18, 2018

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)
3.e4 d5 
4.e5 d4 
7.d4 e5 
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
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Monday, March 12, 2018

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
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