Sunday, April 29, 2018

Chess Game of the Week, by Alan Lasser

It’s probably happened hundreds of times;  well-meaning, devoted parents are taken in by that old canard, “chess makes you smarter”.  Science does not support that, any brain activity is good for children, solving jigsaw puzzles would be just as neurologically stimulating.  
But the pressure to be a good parent and make your kid smart results in chess classes for four and five year olds.  Unfortunately, it’s only natural for children to hate anything that their parents make them do, so as soon as they have the chance, they abandon our game.  Every once in a while, after they grow up, they stop by their college chess club to make a few moves, just to see if they are any good.
Thus began the legend of Yixin Li.  The nineteen year old has the potential to be a titled player, but he only played in one tournament, where he landed a 2461 rating and had his name engraved on that huge rotating trophy for the Western Massachusetts/Pioneer Valley Champion.
He’s returning to China for the summer break and is unsure if he will be back to attend UMass next semester.  He says it’s possible that he’ll never play tournament chess again.  His all too brief career has been a mere 22 recorded games, including the five at the tournament and thirteen against me.  This is the last one. 
 
Yixin Li-Alan Lasser
4/26/18
UMass Chess Club
game/15
1.e4 d6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
[Event "game/15"]
[Site "UMass Chess Club"]
[Date "2018.04.26"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Yixin Li"]
[Black "Alan Lasser"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B00"]
 
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Bd3 e5 4.d5 Nbd7 5.c4 Nc5 6.Nc3 Nxd3+ 7.Qxd3 Be7 8.f4 exf4
9.Bxf4 O-O 10.Nf3 Nd7 11.O-O Bf6 12.Rae1 Re8 13.b4 $6 { -0.05/23 } ( 13.Qd2
{ +0.21/21 } 13...a6
{ 13...Ne5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. Nb5 Bd7 16. Nd4 f6 17. b3 Bxf4 18. Qxf4 Qe7
19. Rf2 Qe5 20. Qxe5 Rxe5   =   Stockfish } 14.a4 b6 15.Nd1 a5 ) 13...a5
14.a3 $6 { -0.64/25 } ( 14.bxa5 { -0.18/21 } 14...Rxa5 15.Qc2 Nb6
{ 15...h6 16. h3 Ne5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Nb5 Bd7 19. Qb3 b6 20. Bxe5 Rxe5 21.
Re3 Bxb5 22. cxb5 Qe8 23. Qc4 Rxb5 24. Qxc7 Rxe4 25. Rxe4 Qxe4 26. Qxf7+
Kh7 27. Qe6 Qd4+ 28. Kh2 Rxd5 29. Rf8 Qe5+ 30. Qxe5 dxe5   -0.59   Stockfish }
16.e5 dxe5 17.Nxe5 c6 18.Nf3 Rxe1 19.Rxe1 Bd7 20.Be5 Nxc4 21.Bxf6 ) 14...axb4
15.axb4 Ra3 16.Nd4 Ne5 17.Bxe5 Rxe5 $6 { -0.28/21 } ( 17...Bxe5 { -0.80/24 }
18.Ra1
{ 18. Qd2 Bd7 19. Ncb5 Bxb5 20. cxb5 Qd7 21. Rc1 g6 22. Nc2 Rc3 23. Nd4
Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Re7 25. Rc4 Qe8 26. Qd3 Bg7 27. b6 Rxe4 28. bxc7 Bxd4+ 29.
Rxd4 Rxd4 30. c8=Q Qxc8 31. Qxd4 Qf5    -1.25   Stockfish } 18...Rxa1 19.Rxa1
c6 20.Nf3 Qb6+ 21.Kh1 Qxb4 22.Nxe5 Rxe5 23.Rb1 Qa3 24.h3 f6 25.Qd4 Re8 26.Qd3
Kh8 27.Qd2 ) 18.Ra1 Rxa1 ( 18...Rxc3 19.Qxc3 Rxe4 20.Rad1 Bg4 21.Rfe1 Be2
22.Qa1 Re7 23.Rd2 Bxc4 24.Rxe7 Bxe7 25.Nf5 Bf6 26.Qc1 Bb5 27.Rc2
{ -0.51   Stockfish } ) 19.Rxa1 g6 $6 { 0.00/22 } ( 19...Bd7 { -0.28/22 }
20.Ncb5
{ 20. h3 Re8 21. Ra7 g6 22. b5 Qb8 23. Ra2 Bg7 24. Nf3 h5 25. Ne2 Bh6 26.
Nfd4 Qd8 27. Ra7 Bc8  -0.65   Stockfish } 20...Bxb5 21.cxb5 Qe8
{ 21...g6 22. Re1 Re8 23. Nf3 Qd7 24. Qc4 Ra8 25. h3 Kg7 26. Rc1 Qe7 27.
Qd3 Ra4 28. Rb1 Qd7 29. Nh2 h5   -1.12   Stockfish } 22.Nf3 Rxd5 23.Qxd5 Bxa1
24.Qxb7 Qd8 25.Qd5 Bc3 26.Qc4 Bf6 27.Qd5 Qb8 28.e5 dxe5 ) 20.Ra8 Kg7 $6
{ +0.87/24 } ( 20...Re8 { 0.00/24 } 21.Ncb5 Qe7 22.Rb8
{ 22. h3 Bd7 23. Rxe8+ Bxe8 24. Nf3 h5 25. Nbd4 Bd7 26. b5 g5 27. Ne2 g4
28. hxg4 hxg4   -0.52   Stockfish } 22...Bxd4+
{ 22... h5 23. h3 g5 24. Nc2 g4 25. hxg4 hxg4 26. Ne3 Kf8 27. g3 Qe5 28.
Kg2 Bd7 29. Rxe8+ Kxe8 30. Nxc7+ Kf8  -0.58   Stockfish } 23.Qxd4 f5 24.Nc3
Qh4 25.h3 Qe1+ ) 21.Ncb5 c6 $2 { +3.88/24 } ( 21...Re8 { +0.64/22 } 22.c5
dxc5
{ 22...Qe7 23. c6 bxc6 24. Nxc6 Qd7 25. Ra7 Qg4 26. Rxc7 Qf4 27. e5 Bxe5
28. Nxe5 Rxe5 29. g3 Qxb4 30. Rxc8 Qe1+ 31. Qf1 Qd2 32. Rc1 Re2 33. Nxd6
Qd4+ 34. Kh1 Qxd5+ 35. Kg1 Qd4+ 36. Kh1 Qd5+    =   Stockfish } 23.bxc5 Qe7
24.d6 Qe5 25.Nb3 c6 26.N5d4 Kf8 27.Nf3 Qc3 28.Qxc3 Bxc3 29.Ra4 Kg8 30.Kf2 f5
31.exf5 Bxf5 32.Nbd4 Bc8 33.g3 Bd7 ) 22.dxc6 bxc6 $6 { +5.00/24 } ( 
22...Rxb5 { +3.52/23 } 23.Nxb5 Qb6+ 24.Kf1 Qxc6 25.Nxd6
{ 25. Qd5 Be6 26. Qxc6 bxc6 27. Nxd6 Bc3 28. b5 cxb5 29. cxb5   +4.99  
Stockfish } 25...Be6 26.c5 Be5 27.Kf2 b6 28.Ra6 Qd7 29.Rxb6 Qa4 30.Qd2 Qa1
31.Rb8 h5 32.h3 Bc3 33.Ra8 Bxd2 34.Rxa1 Bxb4 35.Rc1 f6 36.Kg3 Ba3 37.Rc2 Bb3
) 23.Nxd6
{ +7.14   Stockfish  The threats are 24.Rc8 and 24.Nc6 and taking the
knight loses the queen to  23...Qd6 24.Nf5+ } 1-0
 
Alan Lasser
 
 
 

2018 Constitution State Open

May 19 Saturday

Click here for details

 

 

Posted by at

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Suhas Kodali - Jithu Sajeevan 2018 Nathan Hale Co-Champions

 This game could be some kind of a record-breaker, there are seven rook’s pawns.  At some point in the game each player has six isolated pawns, and there is a portion of the game where all eleven pawns on the board are isolated.  Forget about pawn structure, after move twenty-six, it’s every pawn for itself.
 
Bulat Murtazin(2404)-IM Maksim Vavulin(2545)
8/17/18
2018 Korchnoi Memorial
St.Petersburg, Russia
2.e4 g6 
 
 
[Event "2018 Korchnoi Memorial"]
[Site "St. Petersburg, Russia"]
[Date "2018.08.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bulat Murtazin"]
[Black "IM Maksim Vavulin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[BlackElo "2545"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2404"]
1.d4 d6 2.e4 g6 3.Bc4 Bg7 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Nc3 O-O 6.Qd3 $6 { +0.46/21 } ( 6.O-O
{ +0.72/20 } 6...Nxe4 7.Nxe4 d5 8.Bd3 dxe4 9.Bxe4 Nd7 10.c3 Nf6 11.Bc2 Bg4
12.Re1 Qd6 13.h3 Be6 14.Bb3 Bxb3 15.Qxb3 e6 16.c4 Qb6 17.Bf4 Qxb3 ) ( 6.Bb3
Bg4 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 Nc6 9.Qd1 a6 10.O-O e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Bg5 Nd4 13.Nd5 c6
14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.Be3 { +0.15   Stockfish } ) 6...Nc6 7.O-O Bg4 8.Ne1 e5 9.d5
Na5 10.Bb5 $6 { -0.05/23 } ( 10.a4 { +0.35/21 } 10...Nh5
{ 10... Nxc4 11. Qxc4 Nh5 12. f3 Bd7 13. Qb4 Bc8 14. a5 a6 15. g4 Nf4 16.
Bxf4 exf4   -0.21   Stockfish } 11.h3 Bd7 12.Bb5 c6 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.Ba6 Qb6
15.Be3 ) ( 10.f3 Bd7 11.Bb5 c6 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.Ba6 { -0.23   Stockfish } )
10...a6 11.Ba4 b5 12.b4 bxa4 13.bxa5 Bd7 14.Rb1 Nh5 $6 { +0.57/23 } ( 
14...c6 { +0.25/21 } 15.dxc6
{ 15. Rb6 cxd5 16. Bg5 Qc8 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Rxd6 Be7 19. Rxd5 Be6 20. Nf3
Bb4 21. Nxa4 Bxd5   -0.46   Stockfish } 15...Bxc6 16.Be3
{ 16. Rb6 Qc7 17. Nf3 Rac8 18. Rxa6 Ba8 19. Bb2 Rfd8 20. Re1 d5 21. Nb5 Qe7
22. exd5 e4 23. Qa3 Qxa3 24. Nxa3 Nxd5 25. Bxg7 exf3 26. Bf6 Nxf6 27. Rxf6
fxg2   -0.70   Stockfish } 16...Qc7
{ 16... Rc8 17. Nf3 d5 18. Nxe5 Ba8 19. Nxa4 Nxe4 20. Bd4 Bxe5 21. Bxe5 Qe8
22. Nb6 Qxe5 23. Nxc8 Rxc8 24. Qxa6  -0.35   Stockfish } 17.Bb6 Qd7 18.Nf3
Rac8 19.Rfd1 Bb7 20.Be3 Qc6 21.Nd5 Nxd5 22.exd5 Qc7 23.Qe4 f5 24.Qb4 Ba8
25.c4 f4 26.Bb6 Qxc4 27.Qxd6 ) 15.Qc4 Qc8 16.Nf3 h6 17.Bd2 f5 18.Nh4 Kh7
19.exf5 gxf5 20.Qe2 Be8 ( 20...Qe8 21.Rb7 Rc8 22.g3 e4 23.Rfb1 Qf7 24.Ng2 Be5
25.Qxa6 Bxc3 26.Bxc3 f4 27.Qc4 fxg3 28.fxg3 Qf2+ 29.Kh1 Qf3 30.Rg1 Bh3 31.a6
Bxg2+ 32.Rxg2 Qd1+ 33.Rg1 Qf3+ { =   Stockfish } ) 21.Rb4 Bf6 22.Qd3 $6
{ -0.69/22 } ( 22.Nf3 { +0.14/20 } 22...c5
{ 22... Qd7 23. Qc4 Qg7 24. Rb7 e4 25. Ne1 Be5 26. Rxc7 Rf7 27. Rxf7 Qxf7
28. g3 Bxc3 29. Qxc3 Bb5  -0.49   Stockfish } 23.dxc6 Bxc6 24.Nxe5 Bxe5
25.Qxh5 Rf6 26.Re1 Rb8 27.Rxb8 Qxb8 28.Qe2 Rg6 29.g3 Qb7 30.Rb1 Qa8 31.Qd3
Bh1 32.Kf1 Be4 ) ( 22.Rc4 f4 23.Qd3+ Kg8 24.Nf5 Qd7 25.g4 Bg5 26.Kh1 Kh8
27.Ne4 Bg6 28.Qh3 Qh7 29.f3 Rf7 { -0.27   Stockfish } ) 22...e4 23.Qh3 f4
24.Nxe4 Qxh3 25.Nxf6+ Nxf6 26.gxh3 Rg8+ 27.Kh1 Nxd5 28.Re4 $6 { -1.66/26 } ( 
28.Rd4 { -0.83/25 } 28...Bc6 29.f3 Raf8 30.a3 Rf7
{ 30...Rg5 31. Re4 Bd7 32. Rfe1 Bxh3 33. Rxa4 Rf7 34. Rae4 Ne3 35. Bxe3
fxe3 36. R4xe3 Rxa5  -1.09   Stockfish } 31.Re4 Rgg7 32.Ree1 Bd7 33.Rg1 Bxh3
34.Rxg7+ Rxg7 35.c4 Ne3 ) 28...Bc6 29.f3 Rae8 30.Rfe1 $6 { -2.53/26 } ( 
30.Rxe8 { -1.67/24 } 30...Rxe8 31.c4 Ne3 32.Rc1 a3
{ 32...Rb8 33. Bc3 a3 34. Bf6 Rb2 35. Rg1 Nf5 36. Rg2 Rb1+ 37. Rg1 Rb4 38.
Rf1 Nxh4 39. Bxh4 Rb2 40. Be1 Rxa2   -3.10   Stockfish } 33.Bb4 Re5 34.Bc3
Rh5 35.Bf6 Kg8 36.Rc3 Kf7 37.Bd8 Ke8 38.Bf6 Bd7 39.Ng2 Nxg2 40.Kxg2 Bxh3+
41.Kh1 Rxa5 42.Bg7 ) 30...Rxe4 31.Rxe4 Rb8 32.c4 Rb1+ 33.Re1 Rxe1+ 34.Bxe1 Ne3
35.c5 $6 { -3.41/31 } ( 35.Bd2 { -2.67/30 } 35...Nxc4 36.Bxf4 Nxa5 37.Kg2
{ 37. a3 Bd7 38. Ng2 Nc4 39. Bc1 Ne5 40. Ne1 Bxh3 41. Kg1 Kg6 42. Kf2 c5
43. Kg3   -2.27   Stockfish } 37...Bd5 38.Bd2 Nc4 39.Bc1 Be6 40.Kg3 d5 41.f4
d4 42.f5 Bd5 43.Nf3 Bxf3 44.Kxf3 d3 45.Bf4 c5 46.h4 h5 47.Bg5 Kg7 48.Be7 Kf7
49.Bxc5 Kf6 50.h3 Kxf5 51.Bf8 d2 52.Ke2 Kf4 53.Bb4 ) 35...dxc5 36.Bd2 a3 $6
{ -2.68/33 } ( 36...Bd5 { -4.43/31 } 37.Kg1 Bxa2
{ 37...Nc2 38. Kf2 Bxa2 39. Ng2 Bb1 40. Nxf4 a3 41. Bc3 c4 42. Ne6 a2 43.
Ke2 a1=Q 44. Bxa1 Nxa1 45. Kd2 Nb3+ 46. Kc3 c6 47. Kxc4 Nxa5+   -4.91  
Stockfish } 38.Ng2 Nc2 39.Kf2 Bb3 40.Bc1 c4 ) 37.Bc1 $2 { -6.35/34 } ( 
37.Kg1 { -2.68/33 } 37...Nc2 38.Ng2 Bd5 39.Ne1
{ 39. Kf2 Bxa2 40. Ne1 Nxe1 41. Kxe1 Bd5 42. Bxf4 a2 43. Be5 Bxf3 44. h4  
-2.19   Stockfish } 39...Nd4 40.Kf2 Bxa2 41.Bc1 c4 42.Bxa3 c3 43.Bc1 Bb1
44.Bxf4 Bf5 45.Ke3 Nb3 46.Bxc7 Kg6 47.Kf4 c2 48.Nxc2 Bxc2 49.Bd8 Bd3 50.h4
Kh5 ) 37...Nc2 38.Kg1 Bd5 39.Kf2 Bxa2 40.Ke2 $6 { -7.73/31 } ( 40.Ng2
{ -6.36/32 } 40...Bd5 41.Nxf4 a2
{ 41...Bc4 42. Nh5 Kg6 43. Nf4+ Kf7 44. Bxa3 Nxa3 45. Ng2 Nc2 46. h4 Kf6
47. Nf4 Nd4  -6.78   Stockfish } 42.Bb2 Bc4 43.Nh5 a1=Q 44.Nf6+ Kg7 45.Ne8+
Kf7 46.Bxa1 Nxa1 47.Nxc7 Nb3 48.f4 Nxa5 ) 40...Bd5
{ Stockfish thinks Black is winning by  -7.69  after  41. Ng2 a2 42. Bb2
a1=R 43. Bxa1 Nxa1 44. Nxf4 Bc4+ 45. Kd1 Nb3 46. Kc2 Nxa5 47. Kb2 Kg7 } 0-1
 




PHOTO: Suhas Kodali of Plainville, left, with Michael S. Smith of Preston CT.

Suhas Kodali and Jithu Sajeevan of Bristol tied for 1st place of the 2018 Nathan Hale Open, each winning $120.

Suhas scored three wins against players with average rating of 1866. Jithu scored three wins against players with average rating of 1800.  Suhas and Jithu rode in a carpool.

Suhas won against Mike Smith, and Jon Smucker NY, then Joe Bihlmeyer of Durham in final round.  William Torres of Cheshire lost round one to Jithu, and round 2 with Joe Bihlmeyer.

We had 6 players from Central Conn, 3 players from Eastern Conn, 2 from Rhode Island, and 1 from New York.  The average rating for the 12 men was 1700. Five played here the prior month, March.

I wish all the tournaments I run were like this one. Each game was high-quality, and hard-fought.  Players commented on how smooth everything went, no disruptions anywhere.

Joe Bihlmeyer analyzed players' games in the skittles room, always with an audience of a half dozen players.

Financially the tournament broke even with expenses.  Lunch was all prepared ahead of time so I was able to supervise all games to completion.

My thanks go out to each player for attending. We expect many of these strong players at our May 19 tournament.

Our Carpool Program got us an extra 4 players this time so we are keeping the program.  We had two sets of carpoolers this time. Carpoolers benefit by not being paired together, and each getting $5 off.

We are keeping our $5 discount for hardship. Other discounts were not utilized, so are being discontinued.

Our next tournament is "2018 Constitution State Open" on Saturday May 19.

  

2018 NATHAN HALE OPEN, ROB ROY CHESS CENTER, COVENTRY CT, APRIL 21

-----------------------------------------------------------------
 Pair | Player Name                     |Total|Round|Round|Round| 
 Num  | USCF ID / Rtg (Pre->Post)       | Pts |  1  |  2  |  3  | 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    1 | SUHAS KODALI                    |3.0  |W  10|W   8|W   3|
   CT | 13764792 / R: 2094   ->2112     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1978   ->2003     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    2 | JITHU SAJEEVAN                  |3.0  |W   7|W   4|W   6|
   CT | 15756176 / R: 1766   ->1838     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1704   ->1764     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    3 | JOSEPH E BIHLMEYER              |2.0  |W   5|W   7|L   1|
   CT | 12686352 / R: 2062   ->2069     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1962   ->1968     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    4 | ROGER P BESSETTE                |2.0  |W   9|L   2|W   8|
   CT | 12822966 / R: 1687   ->1691     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1546   ->1562     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    5 | MATTHEW FAILLE                  |1.5  |L   3|D  10|W   9|
   RI | 12872653 / R: 1942   ->1935     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1786   ->1785     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    6 | ARTHUR C NAGEL                  |1.5  |D  11|W  12|L   2|
   CT | 10264669 / R: 1700   ->1700     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1512   ->1495     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    7 | WILLIAM TORRES                  |1.0  |L   2|L   3|W  11|
   CT | 13105741 / R: 2013   ->1985     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1919   ->1888     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    8 | JONATHAN SMUCKER                |1.0  |W  12|L   1|L   4|
   NY | 16150138 / R: 1560P16->1546P19  |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1552P16->1529P19  |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    9 | LAURENT LAFOSSE                 |1.0  |L   4|W  11|L   5|
   CT | 12431094 / R: 1256   ->1284     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1218   ->1241     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
   10 | MICHAEL STEPHEN SMITH           |0.5  |L   1|D   5|U    |
   CT | 12457896 / R: 1978   ->1968     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1939   ->1922     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
   11 | DANIEL SMITH                    |0.5  |D   6|L   9|L   7|
   RI | 12704934 / R: 1395P22->1380P25  |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1329P22->1309P25  |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
   12 | ERIC LIEBESKIND                 |0.0  |L   8|L   6|U    |
   CT | 16229074 / R:  884P6 -> 884P8   |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q:  794P6 -> 794P8   |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 

UPCOMING USCF CHESS TOURNAMENTS

Sept 1-3 New England Open Newton MA

Sept 15-16 3rd Mass Senior Open Marlboro MA

Sept 21-23 2018 Hartford Open Windsor Locks CT

Sept 29 Charter Oak Open Coventry CT

Oct 13 National Chess Day West Haven CT

Oct 21 Sun. Leaf Blower Open, Amherst MA

Oct 27 Conn Harvest Open Coventry CT

Nov 2-4 Stamford Open Stamford CT

Nov 10 New Haven Fall Open West Haven CT

Nov 17 Yankee Peddler Open Coventry CT

Dec 15 Holiday Party Open Coventry CT

 

 

New Britain Chess Club

Tuesdays 6:30 pm

Armenian Church, 1910 Stanley St., New Britain CT

http://newbritainchessclub.com

 


Norwich Chess Club

Wednesdays 5pm - 8pm

Otis Library, 261 Main St.,

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

 

 

Stafford Springs Chess Club

Thursdays 7 pm

Stafford Community Center  3 Buckley Highway

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

SSCC06076@Gmail.com

 


Ridgefield Chess Club

Fridays 5pm - 8pm.

Free USCF Chess Games, G/30.

Way Of The Sword Fencing Studio

21 Governor St., Ridgefield CT

INFO: mshirvell@gmail.com

 

 


Resistance is Futile. Please join the collective.

 


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Posted by at

Monday, April 16, 2018

Chess Game of the Week, by Alan Lasser

 It’s a race to checkmate on both sides of the board and each player sacs the queen. 
 
GM Magnus Carlsen-GM Chao B Li
12/24/15
2015 Qatar Masters
1-0
36.f4 1-0
 
[Event "2015 Qatar Masters Open"]
[Site "Qatar"]
[Date "2015.12.24"]
[Round "5"]
[White "GM Magnus Carlsen"]
[Black "GM Chao B Li"]
[Result "1-0"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[ECO "D70"]
[WhiteElo "2842"]
 
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6
9.O-O-O f5 10.e5 Nb4 11.Nh3 Qe8 12.Kb1 a5 13.Be2 c6 14.Rc1 Kh8 15.Ka1 Be6
16.Nf4 Qf7 17.h4 Bxa2 $6 { +1.14/22 } ( 17...Rfd8 { +0.22/20 } 18.Nh3 h5
{ 17...Rfd8 18.Ne6 Qe6 19.f4 h5 20.Bf2 Kg8 21.g3 N4d5 22.Rhd1 Nc3 23.Rc3  +0.30  Stockfish }
) 18.h5 Kg8 ( 18...g5 19.Ng6+ Kg8 20.Nxf8 Bxf8 21.Bxg5 Bc4 22.g4 Bxe2 23.Qxe2
Qb3 24.Qd1 a4 25.Qxb3+ axb3+ 26.Kb1 h6 27.Be3 { +1.12  Stockfish } ) 19.hxg6
hxg6 20.g4 Bb3 $2 { +3.53/23 } ( 20...g5 { +1.16/19 } 21.Nh3 f4 22.Bf2 Bc4
23.Nxg5 Qg6 24.Nce4 Bxe2 25.Qxe2 N6d5 26.Kb1 Rfc8 27.Qd2 Kf8 28.Nh3 Qf7
29.Nc5 Qg6+ ) 21.Bd1 a4 22.Qh2 Rfd8 $6 { +4.17/20 } ( 22...Rfc8 { +3.17/19 }
23.Qh7+ Kf8 24.gxf5 Nc4 25.Ncd5 a3 26.Rxc4 Bxc4 27.Nxg6+ Qxg6 28.fxg6 axb2+
29.Kxb2 Ra2+ 30.Kc3 Nxd5+ 31.Kxc4 Nxe3+ 32.Kc3 Nd5+ 33.Kd3 Ra3+ 34.Kd2 e6
35.Qh4 Ra2+ 36.Kd3 Ra3+ ) 23.Qh7+ Kf8 24.d5 ( 24.gxf5 Nc4 25.Ncd5 a3 26.Rxc4
axb2+ 27.Kxb2 Bxc4 28.Nxg6+ Ke8 29.Nc7+ Kd7 30.e6+ Kxc7 31.exf7 Ra2+ 32.Kc3
Nd5+ 33.Kxc4 Nxe3+ 34.Kd3 Ra3+ 35.Ke2 Nxf5 36.Nxe7 Ng3+ 37.Ke1 Bf8 38.Qh2
Bxe7 39.Qxg3+ Bd6 { +6.80  Stockfish } ) 24...Nc4 $2 { +6.96/20 } ( 
24...Bxd5 { +3.71/18 } 25.Bxb6 fxg4 26.Ncxd5 Rxd5 27.Nxg6+ Ke8 28.e6 Qxe6
29.Qxg7 Rh5 30.Qxe7+ Qxe7 31.Rxh5 Qd6 32.Rh8+
{ 24...Bd5 25.gf a3 26.Bb6 Qf5 27.Ng6 Kf7 28.Nh8 Ke6 29.Bd8 ab 30.Kb2 Nd3 31.Kb1 Nc1 32.Qf5 Kf5 33.Nd5 cd  +4.46  Stockfish }
) 25.Nxg6+ Ke8 26.e6 a3 27.exf7+ Kd7 ( 27...Kxf7 28.Ne5+ Nxe5 29.Bxb3
{ Black's counterattack is over,  +20.07  Stockfish } ) 28.Ne5+ Bxe5 29.Qxf5+
Kc7 30.Qxe5+ Nxe5 31.Bxb3 axb2+ ( 31...Nbd3 32.Nb5+ Kd7 33.dxc6+ bxc6 34.Nxa3
Nxc1 35.Bxc1 Rf8 36.Rd1+ Kc8 37.g5 Rxf7 38.f4 { +6.94  Stockfish } ) 32.Kxb2
Nbd3+ ( 32...Rf8 33.Kb1 { +7.43  Stockfish } ) 33.Kb1 Nxc1 34.Rxc1 Kc8 $6
{ +9.28/23 } ( 34...Nxf7 { +6.89/21 } 35.dxc6 bxc6 36.Bxf7 Rf8 37.Be6 Rxf3
38.Nd5+ Kd6 39.Bc5+ Kxe6 40.Nc7+ Kf6 41.Nxa8 ) 35.dxc6 bxc6 36.f4 1-0
 
 

Alan Lasser
 

2018 Constitution State Open

May 19 Saturday

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Saturday, April 14, 2018

Chess Game of the Week, by Alan Lasser

 
Last week’s lead was incorrect, I should have said it has been may years since an American “won" the world championship.  The last time an American “played" for the world championship was Gata Kamsky in 1996. 
 
  I tied for first at last weekend’s Chess Fool’s Day tournament, highlighted by one of my better Weissman’s Defenses.  My thinking has long been that it is better to play a bad opening well than it is to play a good opening poorly.  
 
Ron Gist-Alan Lasser
4/7/18
Chess Fool’s Day Open
4.d4 d5 
7.c3 e5 
19.Kd1 Rd8+ 0-1
 
 
 
[Event "Chess Fool's Day Open"]
[Site "Amherst, MA"]
[Date "2018.04.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ron Gist"]
[Black "Alan Lasser"]
[Result "0-1"]
[BlackElo "2019"]
[ECO "B02"]
[WhiteElo "1808"]
 
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ng8 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.d4 d5 5.exd6 Qxd6 6.Qf3 Nf6
7.c3 e5 8.dxe5 $2 { -2.39/24 } ( 8.Ne2 { -0.78/20 } 8...Bg4 9.Qe3 O-O-O
10.O-O Bxe2 11.Qxe2 exd4 12.Bxf7 d3 13.Qe6+ Kb8 14.Be3 Ne5 15.Bd4 Nxf7
16.Qxf7 c5 ) 8...Nxe5 9.Qe2 Bg4 10.f3 O-O-O
{ The idea is that 11.fg is answered by 11...Nc4 so that 12.Qc4 gets
smashed by 12…Qd1 13.Kf2 Qc1. } 11.Bf4 $2 { -5.90/22 } ( 11.Na3 { -2.80/22 } 11...Bf5
12.Be3 Qc6
{ 12...Bd3 13. O-O-O Bxe2 14. Rxd6 Nxc4 15. Rxd8+ Kxd8 16. Bxa7 Bxa3 17.
Nxe2 Nxb2 -5.16 Stockfish } 13.Bb5 Qd5 14.Rd1 Nd3+ 15.Bxd3 Bxd3 16.Nc2 Bxe2
17.Rxd5 Nxd5 18.Nxe2 Bd6 19.Kf2 Nxe3 20.Kxe3 Rhe8+ ) 11...Nd3+ $2
{ -2.10/19 } ( 11...Nxf3+ { -5.90/22 } 12.gxf3 Qxf4 13.Nd2 Bf5 14.O-O-O Bc5
15.Bxf7 Rxd2
{ 15...Be3 16. Nh3 Bxh3 17. Rhe1 Bxd2+ 18. Rxd2 Rd7 -7.47 Stockfish } )
12.Qxd3 $2 { -5.28/26 } ( 12.Bxd3 { -2.10/19 } 12...Qxf4 13.Nd2
{ 13. Qd2 Qe5+ 14. Qe2 Qd5 15. Nd2 Bc5 16. Be4 Nxe4 17. fxe4 Bxe2 18. exd5
Bh5 -3.23 Stockfish } 13...Bc5 14.O-O-O Rhe8 15.Qf1 Be6 16.a3
{ 16. Ne2 Qh6 17. Ng3 Nd5 18. Ne4 Be3 19. Bc2 f5 20. Kb1 Bb6 21. Nc4 fxe4
22. fxe4 Ne3 23. Nxe3 Qxe3 24. e5 Rxd1+ 25. Qxd1 Qxe5 26. Bxh7 -4.57
Stockfish } 16...Be3
{ 16... Nd5 17. Be4 Nxc3 18. Ne2 Nxe2+ 19. Qxe2 f5 20. Kb1 fxe4 21. Nxe4
Bd4 -6.35 Stockfish } 17.Ne2 Qg5 18.Nd4 Bxd4 19.cxd4 Rxd4 20.Bc2 Red8 21.Qf2
Kb8 22.Rhe1 Qh6 23.h3 Bc4 24.Re3 Qg5 ) 12...Qxf4 13.Ne2 Qe5 14.Qc2 Bf5 15.Qb3
$2 { -16.04/24 } ( 15.Qc1 { -5.78/26 } 15...Bc5
{ 15...b5 16. O-O bxc4 17. Nd4 Bd3 18. Re1 Qh5 19. Nd2 Bd6 20. g3 Bc5 21.
b4 Bxd4+ 22. cxd4 Rhe8 -7.00 Stockfish } 16.Qf4 Qxf4 17.Nxf4 Rhe8+ 18.Ne2 Nd5
19.Nd2 Ne3 20.Bb3 Nxg2+ 21.Kd1 Be3 22.Nd4 Bxd4 ) 15...Bc5 16.Nd2 Rxd2 17.Kxd2
Qe3+ 18.Ke1 Qf2+ 19.Kd1 Rd8+ 0-1
 
 

2018 Constitution State Open

May 19 Saturday

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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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