Saturday, July 21, 2018

Alan Lasser's Game of the Week

  The most difficult chess positions for human beings are the ones with more pieces than pawns.  The computers think most of the moves we make in those positions are blunders. This game has an extreme case;  very briefly, after move thirty-two, it’s all sixteen pieces hindered by only eight pawns.  Ten moves later it’s fourteen pieces with five pawns.  Let the young masters try to figure it out.

 

 

 
Mika Brittain-IM Advait Patel
7/13/18
2018 US Junior Championships
 
 
 
 
 
[Event "2018 US Junior Championships"]
[Site "Saint Louis, MO"]
[Date "2018.07.13"]
[Round "round two"]
[White "Mika Brittain"]
[Black "IM Advait Patel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[BlackElo "2461"]
[ECO "E99"]
[WhiteElo "2399"]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 O-O
6.Nf3 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.Be3 f5 11.f3 f4 12.Bf2 g5 13.a4 a5
14.Nd3 b6 15.Be1 Nf6 16.Nf2 h5 17.h3 Rf7 18.b4 Bf8 19.bxa5 bxa5 20.Nb5 Rg7 $6
{ +0.83/20 } ( 20...c6 { +0.41/21 } 21.dxc6 Nxc6 22.c5 d5 23.Rc1
{ 23. Qc2 Kh8 24. exd5 Nxd5 25. Bc4 Bf5 26. Qb3 Rd7 27. Bxd5 Rxd5 28. Nc7
Qxc7 29. Qxd5  +0.85   Stockfish } 23...Be6 24.exd5 Qxd5 25.Qc2 Rg7 26.Bd3
Nb4 27.Bxb4 axb4 28.Rfe1 g4 ) ( 20...Ng6 21.Kh2 Rg7 22.Rh1 Nh8 23.Bc3 Nf7
24.Kg1 Be7 { =   Stockfish } ) 21.Kh2 $6 { +0.39/21 } ( 21.c5 { +0.83/20 }
21...Ng6 22.Bc3
{ 22. cxd6 cxd6 23. Ra3 Nh4 24. Rc3 Bd7 25. Kh1 Rc8 26. Ra3 Ra8 27. Kh2 Ng6
 +0.30   Stockfish } 22...Nd7
{ 22... dxc5 23. Na3 g4 24. fxg4 hxg4 25. hxg4 Nh7 26. Nc4 Bd6 27. Nh3 Nf6
28. Nf2 Nh7    =   Stockfish } 23.c6 Nc5 24.Ra3 Nh4 25.Qe1 Be7 26.Bxa5 Bf6
27.Nd3 Nxd3 28.Bxd3 Rh7 ) 21...Ng6 22.Rh1 Nh8 23.Kg1 Nf7 24.Bc3 g4 25.hxg4
hxg4 26.Kf1 Bd7 27.Ke1 c6 28.dxc6 Bxc6 29.Kd2 $6 { -0.34/20 } ( 29.Rb1
{ 0.00/20 } 29...Be7 30.Nd3 Rg5 { 31.Kd2  -0.39   Stockfish } ) ( 29.Rc1 gxf3
30.gxf3 Rg2 31.Nd3 Bg7 32.c5 d5 33.Nxe5 Nxe5 34.Bxe5 Nxe4 35.fxe4 Bxe5 36.Bf3
{ =   Stockfish } ) 29...Qb6 30.Qe1 $6 { -1.14/21 } ( 30.Qf1 { -0.39/19 }
30...Rg5 31.Nd3
{ 31. Kc2 Bg7 32. Rh4 Bd7 33. fxg4 Rg6 34. Rd1 Rh6 35. Rxh6 Bxh6  -0.37 
Stockfish } 31...Qe3+
{ 31... Bg7 32. Qf2 Qd8 33. Kc2 Nh5 34. Bd1 Ng3 35. Re1 Rh5 36. Kb2 Ng5 37.
Rb1 Qd7   -0.41   Stockfish } 32.Kd1 Be7 33.Bd2 Qb6 34.Qf2 Bd8 35.Ke1 Qxf2+
36.Nxf2 gxf3 37.gxf3 Bb6 38.Bc3 Kg7 39.Nd3 Rc8 40.Rb1 Bd7 41.Nxd6 ) ( 30.Nd3
Rc8 31.Qg1 Qd8 32.Qd1 Be8 33.Nb2 Ng5 34.Kc2 Nh5 35.c5 Ng3 36.Bc4+ Bf7
37.Bxf7+ Rxf7 38.Rh2 Rxc5 { -0.53   Stockfish } ) 30...Ng5 $6 { -0.54/19 } ( 
30...Qe3+ { -1.14/21 } 31.Kc2 gxf3 32.gxf3 Ng5 33.Ra3
{ 33. Nd1 Nxf3 34. Nxe3 Nxe1+ 35. Rhxe1 fxe3 36. c5 Nxe4 37. cxd6 Bxb5 38.
Bxb5 Rg2+ 39. Kd3 Nxc3 40. Kxc3 Bxd6 41. Rxe3   -0.55   Stockfish } 33...Bxb5
34.axb5 Nxf3 35.Bxf3 Qxf3 36.Bb2 Qg2 37.Kb1 Rc8 38.Ra4 Rg3 ) ( 30...g3 31.Nd3
{ -0.43   Stockfish } ) ( 30...gxf3 31.gxf3 Qe3+ 32.Kc2 Ng5 33.Nd1 Nxf3
34.Nxe3 Nxe1+ 35.Rhxe1 fxe3 36.c5 Nxe4 37.Nxd6 Nxd6 38.cxd6 Bxd6 39.Bc4+ Kh8
40.Rxe3 Rg2+ 41.Re2 Rxe2+ 42.Bxe2 { -0.59   Stockfish } ) 31.Kc2 gxf3 32.gxf3 Qe3 33.Ra3 ( 
33.Nd1 Nxf3 34.Nxe3 Nxe1+ 35.Rhxe1 fxe3 36.c5 Nxe4 37.Nxd6 Nxd6 38.cxd6 Bxd6
39.Bc4+ Kf8 40.Rxe3 Rg2+ 41.Re2 Rxe2+ 42.Bxe2 Ke7 43.Bb5 Bxb5 44.axb5 a4
45.b6 a3 46.b7 Rb8 47.Rb1 Kd7 { -0.37   Stockfish } ) 33...Bxb5 34.cxb5 $6
{ -1.35/20 } ( 34.axb5 { -0.96/20 } 34...Nxf3 35.Bxf3 Qxf3 36.Bb2 Qg2 37.Kb1
Rc8 38.Rc3 Kf7
{ 38...Rb8 39. Ka2 Qg6 40. Rch3 Qe8 41. Kb1 Qc8 42. Qe2 Rg5 43. Nd1 Qc5 44.
Nc3 Rc8 45. Nd5 Nxd5 46. cxd5 Qb4  -0.65   Stockfish } 39.Rc2 a4 40.b6 Ke6
41.Qa5 Rb7 42.Rd1 ) 34...d5 $2 { -0.23/22 } ( 34...Nxf3 { -1.35/20 } 35.Bxf3
Qxf3 36.Bb2 Qg2
{ 36...Rc8+ 37. Kb1 Qg2 38. b6 Rb8 39. Rb3 Nd7 40. Qxa5 Qxf2 41. Qd5+ Rf7
42. Rh8+ Kxh8  -1.11   Stockfish } 37.Kb1 Rc8 38.Rc3
{ 38. b6 Rb8 39. Rb3 Nd7 40. Qxa5 Qxf2 41. Qd5+ Rf7 42. Rh8+ Kxh8 43. Qxf7
Qg1+ 44. Ka2   -1.46   Stockfish } 38...Rxc3 ) 35.Rb3 Rc8 36.Kb2 dxe4 37.Bxe5
Qc5 38.Bc3 exf3 39.Bd3 $6 { -0.55/22 } ( 39.Bxf3 { -0.02/20 } 39...Re7 40.Nd3
{ 40. Qg1 Kf7 41. Bg4 Nxg4 42. Qxg4 Qxf2+ 43. Kb1 Rxc3 44. Qf5+ Ke8 45.
Rxc3 Re1+ 46. Rc1 Rxh1 47. Rxh1  =   Stockfish } 40...Qf5
{ 40... Nxf3 41. Nxc5 Nxe1 42. Bxf6 Re2+ 43. Kb1 Rxc5 44. b6 Rd5 45. Rb2
Rd1+ 46. Ka2 Rdd2 47. b7 Rxb2+ 48. Bxb2 Bd6 49. Kb3 Nf3 50. b8=Q+ Bxb8 51.
Rh8+ Kf7 52. Rxb8  -1.55   Stockfish } 41.Qd1 Rd8 42.Bxa5 ) 39...Re7 40.Qd2
Bg7 41.Kb1 $2 { -1.67/21 } ( 41.Rc1
{ -0.45/19 } 41...Nd5
{ 41...Qe3 42. Kb1 Qe6 43. Qd1 Nd7 44. Ra3 Bxc3 45. Raxc3 Rxc3 46. Rxc3 Qe1
47. Qxe1 Rxe1+ 48. Kc2 Kf7  -0.18   Stockfish } 42.Bxg7 Qxc1+ 43.Qxc1 Rxc1
44.Bf6
{ 44. Kxc1 Kxg7 45. b6 Nf6 46. b7 Nd7 47. b8=Q Nxb8 48. Rxb8  +2.86  
Stockfish } 44...Nxf6 45.Kxc1 Nd5 46.b6 Nb4 47.Bc4+ Kg7 48.Nd3 Nxd3+ 49.Bxd3
Rb7 50.Rb5 Ne6 51.Bc4 Kf6 52.Bxe6 Kxe6 53.Kd2 Kd6 54.Rb3 f2 55.Ke2 Kc6 56.Rf3
Rf7 57.Kxf2 ) 41...Nd5 $2 { +0.10/20 } ( 41...Nfe4 { -1.67/21 } 42.Nxe4 Nxe4
43.Qa2
{ 43. Bxe4 Rxe4 44. Bxg7 Qf5 45. Rh8+ Kxg7 46. Rxc8 Qxc8 47. Rc3 Rb4+ 48.
Kc2 Rc4 49. Rxc4 Qxc4+ 50. Kd1 Qxa4+ 51. Ke1 Qxb5  -4.84    Stockfish }
43...Qd5 44.Bxg7 Rxg7 45.Ka1 f2
{ 45... Rg2 46. Rb2 Qxa2+ 47. Rxa2 Ng3 48. Rb1 Kg7 49. b6 Rb8 50. Rab2 Kf6
51. b7 Rxb2 52. Rxb2 Ke5 53. Rf2 Rxb7 54. Rxf3 Rb4   -3.32  Stockfish }
46.Bxe4 Qd4+ 47.Rc3+ Rf7 48.Qxf2 Qxc3+ 49.Qb2 Qxb2+ 50.Kxb2 Rd8 51.b6 f3
52.b7 Rf6 53.Bd5+ Kg7 54.Rg1+ Kh6 55.Rh1+ Kg5 56.Ka3 f2 57.Rf1 Rff8 58.Be4
Rde8 ) 42.Bxg7 Rxg7 43.Rc1 $6 { -0.58/26 } ( 43.b6 { +0.01/20 } 43...Ne6
44.Rc1 Qxc1+ 45.Qxc1 Rxc1+ 46.Kxc1 Nc5
{ 46... Nd4 47. Rb2 Rg1+ 48. Kd2 Rg2 49. b7 Nc6 50. Rb5 Ndb4 51. b8=Q+ Nxb8
52. Rxb8+ Kf7   =   Stockfish } 47.Bc4 Kh8 48.Rb5 Rg1+
{ 48...Nxb6 49. Rxb6 Rc7 50. Rb8+ Kg7 51. Kd2 Ne4+ 52. Nxe4 Rxc4 53. Nc3
Rd4+ 54. Ke1 Kg6   +0.62   Stockfish } 49.Kd2 Rg2 50.Bxd5 Rxf2+ 51.Kd1 Rf1+
52.Kc2 Rf2+ ) 43...Qxc1+ 44.Qxc1 Rxc1+ 45.Kxc1 Rc7+ 46.Kd2 Nb6 47.Rc3 Rxc3
48.Kxc3 Ne6 $6 { -0.30/30 } ( 48...Kf7 { -0.60/28 } 49.Kd4
{ 49. Bc2 Ke6 50. Kd4 Kd6 51. Bd1 Ne6+ 52. Ke4 Nxa4 53. Bxa4 Nc5+ 54. Kxf4
Nxa4 55. Ne4+ Kd5 56. Kxf3 Nb2 57. b6 Kc6 58. Ke2 Kxb6   -0.08   Stockfish
} 49...Ke6 50.Bc2 Kd6 51.Bd1 Nd5 52.Bc2 Nc7 53.Bb3 Nge6+ 54.Bxe6 Nxe6+ 55.Ke4
Nc5+ 56.Kxf4 Nxa4 57.Kxf3 Nb6 ) ( 48...Nxa4+ 49.Kd4 Kf8 50.Bc2 Nb6 51.Ke5 Ke7
52.Bb3 Nd7+ 53.Kxf4 Ne6+ 54.Ke3 Nec5 55.Bd5 Ne5 56.Bxf3 Nxf3 57.Kxf3
{ now it's a table base draw } ) 49.Bc2 Kf7 50.Bd1 $6 { -0.67/28 } ( 50.Ne4
{ -0.14/27 } 50...Kg6
{ 50...Nd5+ 51. Kd2 Nd4 52. Bd1 Ke7 53. Kd3 Ne3 54. Nf2 Nxd1 55. Nxd1 Ne2
56. Kc4 Kd6  -0.08   Stockfish } 51.Nd2+ Kg5
{ 51...Kf6 52. Nxf3 Nd5+ 53. Kd2 Nc5 54. Nd4 Nb6 55. Nc6 Ncxa4 56. Nxa5 Ke5
57. Nc6+ Kd6 58. Bxa4 Nxa4   =   Stockfish } 52.Nxf3+ Kg4 53.Bd1 Kg3 54.Nd2
Nc5 55.Kd4 Ncxa4 56.Be2 Nd7 57.Nb3 Nf8 58.Nxa5 Ne6+ 59.Ke5 Nc7 60.Nc6 f3
61.Bxf3 Kxf3 62.Nd4+ Ke3 63.Kd6 Na8 64.Nf5+ Ke4 65.Ne7 N8b6 66.Nd5 Nc4+
67.Kc6 Na5+ 68.Kd6 ) 50...Ke7 $6 { -0.05/32 } ( 50...Kf6 { -0.67/28 } 51.Nd3
Kf5 52.Nf2
{ 52. Bxf3 Nxa4+ 53. Kc4 Nb6+ 54. Kc3 Kh4 55. Ne5 Kg3 56. Bb7 Nc5   -0.20  
Stockfish } 52...Ke5 53.Nd3+ Kd6 54.Kd2 Nd4 55.Kc3 Kd5 56.Kd2 Ke4 57.Nf2+ Ke5
58.Kd3 Ne6 ) 51.Ne4 Nd5+ 52.Kd2 Nb6 53.Kc3 Kd7 54.Kd3 Kc7 55.Kd2 Nc4+ 56.Kc3
Ne5 57.Kd2 $6 { -0.63/30 } ( 57.Nf2 { -0.21/31 } 57...Kd7
{ 57...Kd6 58. Ne4+ Kd7 59. Bb3 Ng7 60. Bd5 Kc7 61. Nf2 Nf5 62. Be4 Ng3 63.
Kd4 Nxe4 64. Kxe4 Nd7   -0.08   Stockfish } 58.Ne4 Ke7 59.Nf2 Kd6 60.Ne4+ Kd5
61.Nf6+ Kc5 62.Ne4+ Kb6 63.Nf2 Kc7 64.Bb3 Nc5 65.Bd1 Kd6 66.Kd4 Ned7 67.Bxf3
Ne6+ 68.Ke4 Ndc5+ 69.Kf5 Nd4+ 70.Kxf4 Nxa4 71.Ne4+ Kc7 72.Bh5 Kb6 73.Be8 )
57...Nd4 58.Kc3 Ne2+ 59.Kd2 Ng3 60.Nf2 Kb6 61.Kc3 $6 { -0.99/32 } ( 61.Bc2
{ -0.52/28 } 61...Kc7
{ 61...Nc4+ 62. Kc3 Ne3 63. Bb3 Ne2+ 64. Kd2 Nf1+ 65. Ke1 Nfg3 66. Nd3 Nf5
67. Kd2 Ned4 68. Bf7 Ne3  -0.08   Stockfish } 62.Ke1 Ne2 63.Nd3 Ng4 64.Nf2
Ne3
{ 64...Nf6 65. Kd2 Nd4 66. Be4 Nd7 67. Kc3 Ne2+ 68. Kd2 Ng1 69. Nd3 Nb6 70.
Nxf4 Nxa4 71. Ke3 Nc3 72. Nd5+ Nxd5+ 73. Bxd5 Kb6  -0.08   Stockfish } 65.Bb3
) 61...Kc5 62.Kd2 $6 { -1.59/32 } ( 62.Bb3 { -0.95/27 } 62...Ne2+ 63.Kd2 Kb4
64.Be6 Nd4 65.Bd5 Nd7 66.Kd3 Nb3
{ 66.Ne6 67. Nh3 Kxa4 68. Kc3 f2 69. Nxf2 Nc7 70. Bb3+ Ka3 71. Bc4 Nb6 72.
Nd3 f3 73. Bf7 Nxb5+ 74. Kd2 Nc8   -0.08   Stockfish } 67.Ke4 Nb6
{ 67...Kxa4 68. Kxf4 Nb6 69. Bf7 Kb4 70. Kxf3 Nd4+ 71. Ke3 Nxb5 72. Kd2 Kc5
73. Nd3+ Kd4  -0.08   Stockfish } 68.Bxb3 Kxb3 69.Kxf4 Kxa4 70.Kxf3 Kxb5
71.Ke2 a4 72.Kd3 a3 73.Kc2 Ka4 74.Ne4 Kb4 75.Nc3 ) 62...Kd4 63.Bb3 Kc5 $6
{ -0.78/27 } ( 63...Nf5 64.Ke1 Nd6 65.Bc2
{ 65. Bd1 Ndc4 66. Bc2 Nb6 67. Nd1 Nd3+ 68. Kf1 Nd5 69. Kg1 Ne5  -3.67  
Stockfish } 65...Kc3 66.Bd1 Ndc4 67.Ne4+ Kd4 68.Nf2 Nb6 69.Bc2 Nbd7 70.Nd1
Nd3+ 71.Kd2 Nb4 72.Bh7 Nb6 73.Nb2 N4d5 74.Ke1 Kc3 75.Nd1+ Kb4 76.Be4 f2+
77.Nxf2 Kxa4 78.Kd2 Kxb5 79.Kc2 Kc4 { -4.68   Stockfish } ) 64.Bd1 $6
{ -1.59/31 } ( 64.Be6 { -0.78/27 } 64...Kd6
{ 64... Nf1+ 65. Kc3 Kd6 66. Bh3 Ng3 67. Kd4 Nf7 68. Bg4 Ne2+ 69. Ke4 Nc3+
70. Kxf4 Ne5 71. Bxf3 Nxf3 72. Kxf3 Nxa4 73. Ne4+ Kd5  -0.08   Stockfish }
65.Bb3 Nf1+
{ 65...Nf5 66. Ne4+ Kc7 67. Ba2 Nd4 68. Kc3 Ne2+ 69. Kd2 Ng3 70. Nf2 Kb6
71. Bd5 Nf1+ 72. Kc3 Kc5  -0.08   Stockfish } 66.Ke1 Ne3 67.Ne4+ Kc7 68.Be6
Kb6 69.Kd2 Nf1+ 70.Kc3 Ng3 71.Nf2 Ne2+ 72.Kd2 Nd4 73.Bd5 Kc5 74.Ba2 ) ( 
64.Kc3 Ne2+ 65.Kd2 Kb4 66.Be6 Nd4
{ 66...Ka4 67. b6 Nc6 68. b7 Nb8 69. Bg4 Kb5 70. Bxf3 Nd4 71. Be4 Kb6 72.
Kd3 Ne6 73. Bd5 Nc5+ 74. Kc3 Nxb7 75. Nd3 Nc6 76. Nxf4 Nd6 77. Bxc6 Kxc6 
-0.08   Stockfish } 67.Bd5 Nd7 68.Kd3 Ne6 69.Bxe6 Nc5+ 70.Kd4 Nxe6+ 71.Ke5
Kxa4 72.b6 Nc5 73.Kxf4 Kb5 74.Kxf3 a4 75.Ke3 a3 76.Ne4 Kxb6 77.Nc3
{ -0.08   Stockfish } ) 64...Nf1+ 65.Kc3 $2 { -2.78/33 } ( 65.Ke1
{ -1.59/31 } 65...Ne3 66.Nh3 Nxd1
{ 66...Kd4 67. Nxf4 f2+ 68. Kxf2 Nxd1+ 69. Ke1 Nb2 70. Ne6+ Kd5 71. Nd8
Nec4 72. Nc6 Nxa4 73. Nxa5 Nxa5  -5.80   Stockfish } 67.Kxd1 Nd3 68.Kd2 Nb2
69.Nxf4 Nxa4 70.Ke3 Nb6 71.Kxf3 a4 72.Ne2 Kc4 73.Nc1 a3 74.Ke3 Kc3 75.Ke4 Kc2
76.Na2 Kb2 77.Nb4 Kb3 78.Nd3 Kc4 79.Nc1 Nd7 80.Ke3 Kc3 81.Ke4 Kc2 82.Na2 ) ( 
65.Kc1 Ne3 66.Nh3 Nd5 67.Kd2 Kd4 68.Ke1 Ne3 69.Nxf4 f2+ 70.Kxf2 Nxd1+
{ -5.12   Stockfish } ) 65...Ne3 66.Bxf3 $2 { -8.64/32 } ( 66.Bb3
{ -2.77/32 } 66...N5g4 67.Nxg4 Nxg4 68.Kd2 Kd4
{ 68... f2 69. Ke2 Kd4 70. Be6 f3+ 71. Kf1 Nf6 72. Kxf2 Ne4+ 73. Kg1 f2+
74. Kg2 Ke3 75. Bc4 Nd6 76. Bf1 Nc8 77. b6 Nxb6  -55.35   Stockfish } 69.Be6
f2 70.Ke2 f3+ 71.Kf1 Nf6 72.Kxf2 Ne4+ 73.Kg1 f2+ 74.Kg2 Ke3 75.Bc4 Nd6 76.Bf1
Nc8 77.b6 Nxb6 ) 66...Nxf3 67.Nd3+ Kd6 68.b6 Nd5+ 69.Kc4 $4 { #-20/30 } ( 
69.Kb2 { -9.85/31 } 69...Kc6 70.Kb3
{ 70. b7 Kxb7 71. Kc1 Kb6 72. Kd1 Ng5 73. Ne5 Nc3+ 74. Ke1 f3 75. Nd7+ Kc7
76. Ne5 Nce4 77. Ng4 f2+ 78. Ke2 Nh3 79. Nh2 Ng3+ 80. Ke3 f1=Q 81. Nxf1
Nxf1+ 82. Ke4 Nf2+ 83. Kf3 Nd3 84. Ke2 Nb2 85. Kxf1 Nxa4 86. Kf2 Kc6 87. Ke3 Kb5 88. Kd3 Kb4 89. Kd2 Nc3 90. Kd3 a4 91. Kd2 a3 92. Kc2 Nd5 93. Kc1 Kc3
94. Kd1 a2 95. Ke1 a1=Q+  it's mate on move 101 } 70...Kxb6 71.Kc4 Kc6 72.Nb2
{ 72. Kb3 Kd6 73. Nc1 Ne5 74. Ne2 f3 75. Ng3 Kc6 76. Kc2 f2 77. Kd2 Ng4 78.
Kd3 Nde3 79. Ke2 Kc5 80. Ne4+ Kb4 81. Nd2 f1=Q+ 82. Nxf1 Nxf1 83. Kxf1 Kxa4
84. Ke2 Kb3 85. Kf3 Ne5+ 86. Ke2 a4 87. Kd2 a3 88. Ke3 Nc4+ 89. Kf4 a2 90. Kf5 a1=Q it's mate on move 96 }
72...Ne5+ 73.Kd4 f3 74.Nd1 Ng4 75.Kd3 Kc5 76.Ke4 f2 77.Nxf2 Nxf2+ 78.Kf3 Nd3
79.Ke4 Nb2 { it's mate on move 90 } ) 69...Ne5+ 70.Nxe5 Kxe5 0-1
 



 


Resistance is Futile. Please join the collective.

 


Central and Eastern Connecticut are well represented at the Coventry Chess Club


Please subscribe to Connecticut Chess Magazine

Stay in touch with chess activities in Connecticut

It's FREE. Your email address is safe.

 

 

 

 

 

FACEBOOK PUBLIC GROUPS AND PAGES

Eastern Connecticut Chess Assoc    4,675

Coventry Connecticut Chess Club    5,733

Connecticut Chess Magazine            4,124

Monday, July 16, 2018

REPORT ON 2018 CONNECTICUT YANKEE OPEN

Nelson Castaneda of New Britain won clear first of the 2018 Connecticut Yankee Open chess tournament.

Nelson is a FIDE chess master, and a math professor at Central Conn. State Univ.

Joe Bihlmeyer, of Durham, won 2nd place. Joe, a national expert, conducts chess classes at New Britain Chess Club.

Special thanks to the OTIS LIBRARY CHESS CLUB IN NORWICH, from which we got six entrants.

Special thanks to the NEW BRITAIN CHESS CLUB from which we got four entrants.  Two players came down from Massachusetts, and two came over from Rhode Island.

Special thanks to Nelson Castaneda for his donation of $40, without which we would not have covered all of our expenses.

Thanks to everyone for chipping in with all the work. Special mention goes to Suhas Kodali for lugging all my stuff back to my car.  Lonnie Dixon helped with clean up.

Al Lasser took photos. Al also writes our GAME OF THE WEEK column for CONNECTICUT CHESS MAGAZINE.

We thank Wendy Rubin, Coventry parks and rec. director, and John Elsesser, the Coventry town manager. We all had fun at this new Mill Brook Place. Each of our players raved about how great a place it is.

THE 2018 NUTMEG STATE OPEN is our next meet on Sat., August 11. It is more than a mere chess tournament, but it is also an OPEN HOUSE for new chess players, where anybody can attend for free.

We now have plenty of extra room, so please come and "check" us out. No age restrictions. Info => ConnecticutChess@Gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018 CONNECTICUT YANKEE OPEN - JULY 14

ROB ROY, SENIOR TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------
 Pair | Player Name                     |Total|Round|Round|Round| 
 Num  | USCF ID / Rtg (Pre->Post)       | Pts |  1  |  2  |  3  | 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    1 | NELSON CASTANEDA                |3.0  |W   5|W   3|W   4|
   CT | 12564228 / R: 2356   ->2359     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 2200   ->2208     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    2 | JOSEPH E BIHLMEYER              |2.5  |W   7|D   5|W   6|
   CT | 12686352 / R: 2054   ->2055     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1934   ->1936     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    3 | SUHAS KODALI                    |2.0  |W  11|L   1|W  10|
   CT | 13764792 / R: 2100   ->2098     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1971   ->1968     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    4 | LONNIE J DIXON                  |2.0  |W  10|W   7|L   1|
   CT | 13563614 / R: 1433P16->1473P19  |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1289P12->1357P15  |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    5 | ALAN LASSER                     |1.5  |L   1|D   2|W  11|
   MA | 10089387 / R: 2023   ->2024     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1924   ->1922     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    6 | DANIEL SMITH                    |1.5  |W  12|D  11|L   2|
   RI | 12704934 / R: 1456   ->1481     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1366   ->1383     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    7 | J HUGH A JAMES                  |1.0  |L   2|L   4|W  12|
   CT | 16089235 / R: 1573   ->1554     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1477   ->1452     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    8 | DR ANDREW BLAIR PERRY           |1.0  |L   9|W  12|U    |
   MA | 12482574 / R: 1350P8 ->1338P10  |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1350P8 ->1319P10  |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    9 | LAURENT LAFOSSE                 |1.0  |W   8|L  10|U    |
   CT | 12431094 / R: 1240   ->1238     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1245   ->1237     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
   10 | HAYES GOODMAN                   |1.0  |L   4|W   9|L   3|
   RI | 15207355 / R: 1062   ->1103     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q:  991   ->1040     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
   11 | ARTHUR C NAGEL                  |0.5  |L   3|D   6|L   5|
   CT | 10264669 / R: 1700   ->1700     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1518   ->1504     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
   12 | ROB ROY                         |0.0  |L   6|L   8|L   7|
   CT | 10574790 / R: 1400   ->1400     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1186   ->1150     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 

UPCOMING USCF CHESS TOURNAMENTS

Oct 27  Conn Harvest Open Coventry CT

Nov 2-4  4th Stamford Open Stamford CT

Nov 17  Yankee Peddler Open Coventry CT

Dec 15  Holiday Party Open Coventry CT

 

 


Resistance is Futile. Please join the collective.

 


Central and Eastern Connecticut are well represented at the Coventry Chess Club


Please subscribe to Connecticut Chess Magazine

Stay in touch with chess activities in Connecticut

It's FREE. Your email address is safe.

 

 

 

 

 

FACEBOOK PUBLIC GROUPS AND PAGES

Eastern Connecticut Chess Assoc    4,675

Coventry Connecticut Chess Club    5,733

Connecticut Chess Magazine            4,124

Thursday, July 12, 2018

REPORT ON 2018 COVENTRY SUMMER OPEN

National Chess Master Rick Bauer of Wolcott CT tied for 1st with National Expert Derek Meredith of W Hartford at 2018 Coventry Summer Open June 23.

Bauer and Meredith each had perfect scores going into final round. Their game was a hard-fought draw.  They won $120 each.

National Expert Joe Bihlmeyer finished clear 3rd with a 2-1 score.

The tournament had one master, Bauer, and five national experts; Meredith, Bihlmeyer, Doug Fiske, Dan Pascetta, and Don Connors.

 

COVENTRY SUMMER OPEN - USCF CHESS TOURNAMENT - JUNE 23 2018

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------
 Pair | Player Name                     |Total|Round|Round|Round| 
 Num  | USCF ID / Rtg (Pre->Post)       | Pts |  1  |  2  |  3  | 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    1 | RICHARD BAUER                   |2.5  |W   3|W   6|D   2|
   CT | 10583896 / R: 2200   ->2212     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 2064   ->2078     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    2 | MATTHEW DEREK MEREDITH          |2.5  |W   7|W   5|D   1|
   CT | 10031443 / R: 2147   ->2157     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 2042   ->2054     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    3 | JOSEPH E BIHLMEYER              |2.0  |L   1|W   9|W   6|
   CT | 12686352 / R: 2075   ->2081     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1955   ->1960     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    4 | DONALD J CONNORS JR             |1.5  |L   6|W  10|D   7|
   MD | 10190703 / R: 2035   ->2024     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1925   ->1912     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    5 | ARTHUR C NAGEL                  |1.5  |W  10|L   2|D   8|
   CT | 10264669 / R: 1702   ->1706     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1507   ->1517     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    6 | DOUGLAS E FISKE                 |1.0  |W   4|L   1|L   3|
   CT | 10027977 / R: 2090   ->2080     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1890   ->1887     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    7 | DANIEL PASCETTA                 |1.0  |L   2|D   8|D   4|
   CT | 13492310 / R: 2052   ->2036     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1986   ->1964     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    8 | JONATHAN C AIYATHURAI           |1.0  |L   9|D   7|D   5|
   MA | 14054524 / R: 1846   ->1823     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1717   ->1695     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    9 | YBELKA GRANGER                  |1.0  |W   8|L   3|U    |
   CT | 15622133 / R: 1568   ->1599     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1532   ->1559     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
   10 | YOGAHARI JEGADEESWARAN          |1.0  |L   5|L   4|B    |
   CT | 15976902 / R:  966   -> 965     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1001   -> 998     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 

ROB ROY, SENIOR TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR

 

Special thanks to Derek Meredith, who persuaded 5 fellow New Britain Chess Club players to come play in Coventry.

Bob Cyr, CT's chess historian, donated a dozen Dunkin Donuts. For lunch we had Angus Burgers and corn on the cob.

Next tournament is August 11 at Mill Brook Place, 1267 Main St. Coventry.

Since starting up Coventry Chess Club in May 2016, we've had 103 different players.  We are confident our chess program will continue to thrive.

Mill Brook Place is a brand new meeting hall that fits 70 people. We will have plenty of room to stretch out.  It is also accessible to wheelchairs.

We continue our One-Section format, but we may go to 2 sections in the future.

Rob Roy volunteers with Coventry Park and Rec. Dept., the senior center, the local library and schools to recruit and train new chess players.

 

 

NEARBY RESTAURANTS

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

Phoenix  1203 Main St.,    (222 ft)              $

Panda Garden  1364 Main St.  (0.2 mi)       $

Subway  1364 Main St.  (0.2 mi)                $

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

 

 

 

 

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER

 

 

UPCOMING USCF CHESS TOURNAMENTS

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 21 Sun.  Leaf Blower Open, Amherst MA

Oct 21 Sun . New Haven Fall Open W. Haven CT

Oct 27  Conn Harvest Open Coventry CT

Nov 2-4  4th Stamford Open Stamford CT

Nov 17  Yankee Peddler Open Coventry CT

Dec 15  Holiday Party Open Coventry CT

 

 

PLEASE VISIT OUR   "UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS"

 

 

 

 


Resistance is Futile. Please join the collective.

 


Central and Eastern Connecticut are well represented at the Coventry Chess Club


Please subscribe to Connecticut Chess Magazine

Stay in touch with chess activities in Connecticut

It's FREE. Your email address is safe.

 

 

 

 

 

FACEBOOK PUBLIC GROUPS AND PAGES

Eastern Connecticut Chess Assoc    4,675

Coventry Connecticut Chess Club    5,733

Connecticut Chess Magazine            4,124

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Rick Bauer and Derek Meredith win Coventry Summer Open

National Chess Master Rick Bauer of Wolcott CT tied for 1st with National Expert Derek Meredith of W Hartford at 2018 Coventry Summer Open June 23.

Bauer and Meredith each had perfect scores going into final round. Their game was a hard-fought draw.  They won $120 each.

National Expert Joe Bihlmeyer finished clear 3rd with a 2-1 score.

The tournament had one master, Bauer, and five national experts; Meredith, Bihlmeyer, Doug Fiske, Dan Pascetta, and Don Connors.

 

COVENTRY SUMMER OPEN - USCF CHESS TOURNAMENT - JUNE 23 2018

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------
 Pair | Player Name                     |Total|Round|Round|Round| 
 Num  | USCF ID / Rtg (Pre->Post)       | Pts |  1  |  2  |  3  | 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    1 | RICHARD BAUER                   |2.5  |W   3|W   6|D   2|
   CT | 10583896 / R: 2200   ->2212     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 2064   ->2078     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    2 | MATTHEW DEREK MEREDITH          |2.5  |W   7|W   5|D   1|
   CT | 10031443 / R: 2147   ->2157     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 2042   ->2054     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    3 | JOSEPH E BIHLMEYER              |2.0  |L   1|W   9|W   6|
   CT | 12686352 / R: 2075   ->2081     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1955   ->1960     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    4 | DONALD J CONNORS JR             |1.5  |L   6|W  10|D   7|
   MD | 10190703 / R: 2035   ->2024     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1925   ->1912     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    5 | ARTHUR C NAGEL                  |1.5  |W  10|L   2|D   8|
   CT | 10264669 / R: 1702   ->1706     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1507   ->1517     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    6 | DOUGLAS E FISKE                 |1.0  |W   4|L   1|L   3|
   CT | 10027977 / R: 2090   ->2080     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1890   ->1887     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    7 | DANIEL PASCETTA                 |1.0  |L   2|D   8|D   4|
   CT | 13492310 / R: 2052   ->2036     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1986   ->1964     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    8 | JONATHAN C AIYATHURAI           |1.0  |L   9|D   7|D   5|
   MA | 14054524 / R: 1846   ->1823     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1717   ->1695     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    9 | YBELKA GRANGER                  |1.0  |W   8|L   3|U    |
   CT | 15622133 / R: 1568   ->1599     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1532   ->1559     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
   10 | YOGAHARI JEGADEESWARAN          |1.0  |L   5|L   4|B    |
   CT | 15976902 / R:  966   -> 965     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1001   -> 998     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 

ROB ROY, SENIOR TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR

 

Special thanks to Derek Meredith, who persuaded 5 fellow New Britain Chess Club players to come play in Coventry.

Bob Cyr, CT's chess historian, donated a dozen Dunkin Donuts. For lunch we had Angus Burgers and corn on the cob.

Next tournament is July 14 at new location; Mill Brook Place, 1267 Main St. Coventry.

Since starting up Coventry Chess Club in May 2016, we've had 103 different players.  We are confident our chess program will continue to thrive.

Mill Brook Place is a brand new meeting hall that fits 70 people. We will have plenty of room to stretch out.  It is also accessible to wheelchairs.

We continue our One-Section format, but we may go to 2 sections in the future.

Rob Roy volunteers with Coventry Park and Rec. Dept., the senior center, the local library and schools to recruit and train new chess players.

 

July 14   2018 Connecticut Yankee Open

Club provides free ice-cold drinks, cookies and snacks.

For lunch we order take-out from   Wicked Slice  who delivers.

Lunch Special is $5 grinders (6-inch) select from these;

Meatball, Chicken Parm, Steak & Cheese, Italian Combo.

Pay for your order to TD by 11:30. Order delivered 12:45.

 

These restaurants are a walk away;

Bidwell Tavern  1260 Main St.

Francesca Italian Bistro  1203 Main St.

Panda Garden  1364 Main St.

Phoenix  1203 Main St.,

 

 

 

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER

 

CONNECTICUT CHESS MAGAZINE

 

 

UPCOMING USCF CHESS TOURNAMENTS

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 21 Sun.  Leaf Blower Open, Amherst MA

Oct 21 Sun . New Haven Fall Open W. Haven CT

Oct 27  Conn Harvest Open Coventry CT

Nov 2-4  4th Stamford Open Stamford CT

Nov 17  Yankee Peddler Open Coventry CT

Dec 15  Holiday Party Open Coventry CT

 

 

 

 

 

FACEBOOK PUBLIC GROUPS AND PAGES

Eastern Connecticut Chess Assoc    4,675

Coventry Connecticut Chess Club    5,733

Connecticut Chess Magazine            4,124

Saturday, June 9, 2018

Alan Lasser's Game of the Week

  The highest rated player in the Amherst Senior Center Chess Club is Cliff Mclaughlin.  The former master isn’t quite fit enough to play in tournaments now, but he can still dish out punishment over the board.  The computer thinks he has something better than getting the two pawns and a rook for two pieces, but the remainder of the game goes very easily for him and finishes me off with a nice simplification. 

 
Cliff McLaughlin-Alan Lasser
5/24/18
Amherst Senior Center Chess Club
game/20
1.e4 d6 
 
 
 
37.Rd7 Kd7
40.a6 1-0
 
 
 
 
 
[Event "game/20"]
[Site "Amherst Senior Center CC"]
[Date "2018.05.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Cliff McLaughlin"]
[Black "Alan Lasser"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]
 
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.Nf3 e5 5.Be2 Be7 6.b3 O-O 7.O-O c6 8.Bb2 Re8
9.Re1 Bf8 10.Bf1 g6 11.Nb1 Qc7
12.Nbd2 Bg7 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 dxe5 15.Nc4 Nh5 $6 { +0.86/26 } ( 15...Rd8
{ +0.39/24 } 16.Qf3 Nh5
{ 16...Nd7 17. a4 Nc5 18. Qg3 f6 19. Qf3 Ne6 20. h4 Nd4 21. Bxd4 Rxd4  
+0.33   Stockfish } 17.a4 Be6 18.Ne3 Nf4 19.Red1 f6 20.Bc4 Bxc4 21.Nxc4 Rxd1+
22.Rxd1 Rd8 23.Ne3 Qa5 24.Qg4 Qc7 25.Bc3 Rxd1+ 26.Qxd1 Qe7 27.Bb2 Bf8 28.Ng4
) 16.Qd6 Qe7 17.Ba3 $6 { +0.27/22 } ( 17.Qxe7 { +0.77/23 } 17...Rxe7 18.Ba3
Re8 19.Rad1 Be6 20.Na5 Bc8 21.f3 Bf6 ) 17...Qe6 $6 { +0.79/25 } ( 17...Qg5
{ +0.27/22 } 18.Qd3
{ 18. g3 Bf8 19. Qc7 Bxa3 20. Nxa3 Nf4 21. h4 Ne6 22. Qd6 Qe7 23. Qxe7 Rxe7
24. Rad1   +0.39   Stockfish } 18...Rd8 19.Qe3 Qxe3 20.Nxe3 Be6 21.Rad1 f6
22.Be7 ) 18.Rad1 b5 19.Qxe6 Bxe6 20.Na5 Rac8 21.Nxc6 $6 { +0.37/27 } ( 
21.Re3 { +0.75/23 } 21...Nf4 22.Rc3
{ 22. h4 a6 23. g3 Nh5 24. Rc3 f5 25. Rxc6 fxe4 26. Re1 Rxc6 27. Nxc6 Nf6
28. c4 bxc4 29. Bxc4 Bxc4 30. bxc4   +0.85   Stockfish } 22...Red8 23.Rc1 Rd7
24.Bxb5 Rcd8 25.Bf1 Rd1 26.Rxd1 Rxd1 ) 21...Rxc6 22.Bxb5 Rcc8 23.Bxe8 Rxe8
24.Rd6 Bf8 25.Ra6 Bxa3 26.Rxa3 Re7 27.Rd1 Nf4 28.Rd8+ $6 { +0.34/27 } ( 
28.Ra5 { +0.61/24 } 28...Ne2+ 29.Kf1 Nc3 30.Rd3
{ 30. Rd8+ Kg7 31. f3 Rc7 32. Rd6 Bc8 33. a4 Na2 34. c4 Nb4 35. Rxe5  +1.50
  Stockfish } 30...Nxe4 31.Rxe5 ) 28...Kg7 29.Kf1 f5 $2 { +3.07/26 } ( 
29...Rc7 { +0.26/27 } 30.c4 Bc8 31.Ra5
{ 31. h4 Ne6 32. Rd2 h6 33. f3 f6 34. Kf2 Kf8 35. Ra4 Nd4 36. Ra5 g5 37. g3
gxh4 38. gxh4    +0.47   Stockfish } 31...f6 32.f3 Ne6 33.Rd1 Kf8 34.Kf2 a6
35.Ke3 Bb7 36.g3 Ke7 37.h4 Rc8 38.Rc1 Nd4 39.f4 Ke6 40.b4 Nc6 41.Ra4 Nd4
42.g4 Rd8 ) 30.Ra8 fxe4 $6 { +3.59/25 } ( 30...Bf7 { +3.07/26 } 31.R3xa7 Re6
32.g3
{ 32. Ra6 Re7 33. R8a7 Re8 34. Rd6 Kg8 35. Rdd7 Be6 36. Rg7+ Kf8 37. g3 Nh5
38. Rxh7  +4.45   Stockfish } 32...Nh3 33.exf5 gxf5 34.c4 e4 35.Ra6 Re7
36.R8a7 Re8 37.c5 Ng5 38.b4 Nf3 39.b5 Nxh2+ 40.Kg2 Nf3 41.Rd6 Rb8 42.c6 ) ( 
30...a6 31.R3xa6 Kf6 32.R6a7 fxe4 33.Rxe7 Kxe7 34.a4 { +3.95   Stockfish } )
31.R3xa7 Bd7 32.c4 ( 32.Rb7 Kf7 33.Raa7 Ke6
34.Ra6+ Kf7 35.a4 e3 36.fxe3 Nd5 37.Raa7 Ke6 38.Kf2 { +4.34   Stockfish } )
32...Kf6 $2 { +7.68/26 } ( 32...Rf7 { +4.06/26 } 33.Rd8 Bf5 34.Rxf7+ Kxf7
35.a4 Ne6 36.Rd7+ Ke8 37.Rd5 Ke7 38.Rxe5 ) ( 32...Ne6 33.Rb8 Kf7 34.Rbb7 Ke8
35.Ra8+ Kf7 36.b4 Nd4 37.a4 Be6 38.Rxe7+ Kxe7 39.c5 { +4.92   Stockfish } )
33.a4 $2 { +3.20/26 } ( 33.Rf8+ { +7.68/26 } 33...Ke6
{ 33...Kg5 34. Rd8 Rf7 35. Rdxd7 Rf6 36. Rxh7 Rd6 37. Rhd7 Rf6 38. Rf7  
+7.88   Stockfish } 34.Ra6+ Bc6 35.Rxc6+ Kd7 36.Ra6 Ne6 { +8.80   Stockfish }
) 33...Rf7 34.a5 Nd3 35.Rd8 Ke6 36.Ra6+ Ke7 37.Rxd7+ Kxd7 38.Ra7+ Ke6
39.Rxf7 Kxf7 40.a6 1-0
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Friday, June 8, 2018

Game of the Week, by Alan Lasser

 The latest preview of the upcoming world championship match was at the fantastically strong 2018 Norway Chess tournament.  In this game our man was clearly outplayed.  The champion exploits the Black pawn weaknesses, the backward d-pawn that appears on the board around move twenty and the isolated b-pawn.  By move 45 the endgame looks bad, but Caruana plays it out for another thirty moves.  The late resignation suggests that the championship match won’t be plagued by short draws. 
 
GM Magnus Carlsen-GM Fabiano Caruana
5/28/18 2018 
Norway Chess
1.e4 e5 
3.d3 c6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
77.a7 1-0
 
 
[Event "2018 Norway Chess"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2018.05.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "GM Magnus Carlsen"]
[Black "GM Fabiano Caruana"]
[Result "1-0"]
[BlackElo "2822"]
[ECO "C24"]
[WhiteElo "2843"]
 
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Nf3 d5 5.Bb3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Bxd2+ 7.Nbxd2 a5 8.c3
Nbd7 9.exd5 cxd5 10.O-O O-O 11.Re1 Re8 12.Nf1 b5 13.a4 b4 14.cxb4 axb4 15.Ne3
Bb7 16.d4 e4 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.dxe5 Rxe5 19.Qd4 Re7 20.Rac1 Rd7 21.Red1 h6
22.Rc5 Ra5 23.Rxa5 Qxa5 24.h3 Kh7 25.Rc1 Rc7 $6 { +0.60/25 } ( 25...Ba8
{ 0.00/22 } 26.Nf5
{ 26. Rc8 Qa6 27. Rb8 Bb7 28. Qxb4 Rc7 29. Rd8 Rc1+ 30. Kh2 Qe2 31. Nd1 Bc6
32. Qb8 Rxd1 33. Bxd1 Qxd1 = Stockfish } 26...Rc7 27.Rxc7
{ 27. Rd1 Bb7 28. Qe5 Qb6 29. Ne3 Qc5 30. Qd4 Qd6 31. Nf5 Qf4 32. Ne3 Qd6 =
Stockfish } 27...Qxc7 28.Ne3 Qc1+ 29.Kh2 Kg8 30.Nc2 Qg5 31.Nxb4 Bb7 32.Kg1
Kh7 33.Nc2 Qc1+ 34.Kh2 Qf4+ 35.Kg1 Qc1+ ) ( 25...Qa6 26.Rd1 Qd6 27.a5 Rc7
28.Bxd5 Bxd5 29.Nxd5 Qxd5 30.Qxd5 Nxd5 31.Rxd5 Rc1+ 32.Kh2 b3 33.Rb5 Ra1
{ = Stockfish } ) 26.Rxc7 Qxc7 27.Qxb4 Qc1+ 28.Bd1 Ba6 29.Qd4 Be2 30.Kh2 Bxd1

 

31.Nxd1 Qc7+ $6 { +1.19/25 } ( 31...Qa1 { +0.53/25 } 32.Ne3
{ 32. g3 h5 33. Kg2 Qb1 34. Ne3 Qa2 35. g4 hxg4 36. hxg4 Kg8 37. Kh2 Kh7
38. Kg1 Qb1+ 39. Kg2 Qa2 40. Qd1 Qxb2 41. g5 d4 42. Nc4 Qa2 43. Qxd4 Nh5
44. Qxe4+ g6 45. Nd6 Qd2 46. Nxf7 +2.09 Stockfish } 32...Kg8 33.Qb4 Qc1
34.Qc3 Qa1 35.Qd4 h5 36.Nxd5 Nxd5 37.Qxd5 Qxa4 38.Qd8+ Kh7 39.Qe7 Kg8 40.b4 )
( 31...Qc2 32.Kg1 Qb1 33.b4 e3 34.fxe3 Ne4 35.b5 Qc2 36.Qxd5 Nd2 37.Qh5 Qxa4
38.Qf5+ Kg8 39.Qc8+ Kh7 40.Qc1 Ne4 41.Qb1 f5 42.b6 Nd6 43.Nc3 Qa5 44.Ne2 Qd2
45.Ng3 Qxe3+ 46.Kh2 Qe5 47.b7 Nxb7 48.Qxb7 f4 49.Ne4 f3+ 50.Ng3 fxg2 51.Kxg2
Qd4 { +1.80 Stockfish } ) 32.Kg1 Qc1 33.b4 e3 34.fxe3 Ne4 35.Qxd5 Nd2 36.Qf5+
Kh8 37.Qg4 f5 38.Qe2 Ne4 39.Qe1 Qa1 $2 { +2.47/24 } ( 39...Qb1 { +1.34/24 }
40.a5 Kh7
{ 40...Qa1 41. Qf1 Qa4 42. a6 Nd6 43. Nc3 Qxb4 44. Qa1 Nc8 45. Ne2 Qe7
+4.43 Stockfish } 41.h4 g6 ) ( 39...Qc6 40.a5 Qc4 41.Nf2 Nc3 42.Qd2 Qxb4
43.a6 Qb1+ 44.Kh2 Qb8+ 45.g3 Nb5 { +3.53 Stockfish } ) 40.a5 Nd6 $6
{ +3.02/25 } ( 40...h5 { +2.57/25 } 41.b5
{ 41. Qf1 Qa4 42. Qc4+ Kh7 43. Qd5 Nf6 44. Qxf5+ Kh8 45. Qc8+ Kh7 46. Nc3
Qxb4 47. a6 +4.81 Stockfish } 41...Nd6 42.b6 Nb7 43.Qe2 Qxa5 44.Qxh5+ Kg8
45.Qe8+ Kh7 46.Qd7 Qxb6 47.Qxf5+ Kg8 48.Qd5+ Kh8 49.Qh5+ Kg8 50.Qe8+ Kh7
51.Qe4+ Kg8 52.Nc3 Nd8 53.Nd5 Qd6 54.Qe8+ Kh7 55.Nf4 Qb6 56.Qe4+ ) 41.Qd2 Nc4
42.Qd4 Qc1 43.Kf1 $6 { +2.52/24 } ( 43.Kf2 { +3.10/23 } 43...Qc2+ 44.Ke1 Qb3
45.Qc3
{ 45. a6 Qxb4+ 46. Nc3 Kh7 47. a7 Qa5 48. Qxc4 Qxa7 49. Kf2 Qe7 50. Ne2 g6
51. Qc6   +6.88  Stockfish } 45...Qa2 46.Kf1 Kg8 47.Qd3 Ne5 48.Qxf5 Qd2
49.Qe6+ Kh7 50.Qxe5 Qxd1+ 51.Kf2 Qd2+ 52.Kf3 Qd1+ 53.Ke4 Qe2 54.Qf5+ Kh8
55.Qc8+ Kh7 56.Qg4 Qc4+ 57.Ke5 Qb5+ 58.Kd6 Qa6+ 59.Kc5 Qa7+ 60.Kd5 Qb7+
61.Kc4 Qa6+ 62.Kc3 Qc6+ 63.Kd3 ) 43...Nxe3+ 44.Qxe3 Qxd1+ 45.Kf2 Qc2+ 46.Kg3
g5 $6 { +4.15/22 } ( 46...Kh7 { +2.52/23 } 47.Kh2
{ 47. a6 h5 48. a7 Qc7+ 49. Kf2 Qb7 50. Kg1 h4 51. Qc5 Qe4 52. Kh2 Qf4+ 53.
Kh1 Qe4 54. b5 g6 55. b6 Kh6 56. Qa5 Qd4 57. a8=Q Qd1+ 58. Kh2 Qd6+ 59. Kg1
Qd4+ 60. Kf1 Qd3+ 61. Kf2 Qd4+ 62. Ke2 Qc4+ 63. Kd2 Qd4+ 64. Kc2 Qc4+ 65. Qc3 Qe2+ 66. Qd2+ Qxd2+ 67. Kxd2 Kh7 68. Qa7+ Kh6 69. b7   +25.80   Stockfish
} 47...Qc7+ 48.Kg1 Qd6 49.Qc5 Qf6 50.Kh2 f4 51.Qd5 f3 52.gxf3 Qa6 53.h4 Kh8
54.Kg3 Qg6+ 55.Kh3 Qa6 56.Qd8+ Kh7 57.Qb6 Qe2 58.Kg3 Qe5+ 59.Kg4 h5+ 60.Kh3
Qd5 61.Kg2 Qa2+ 62.Kg3 Qa3 ) ( 46...Qb2 47.Qc5 f4+ 48.Kf3 Qa3+ 49.Kxf4 Kh7
50.Qc4 h5 51.a6 h4 52.b5 Qg3+ 53.Kf5 Qxg2 54.Qxh4+ Kg8 55.Ke5
{ +11.59   Stockfish } ) 47.Qe5+ $6 { +3.09/24 } ( 47.Kh2 { +4.15/22 }
47...Qc7+ 48.Kh1
{ 48. Kg1 f4 49. Qd4+ Kh7 50. a6 Qc1+ 51. Kh2 Qc2 52. Qb6 Qa2 53. b5 Qa3
54. Qb7+ Kg6 55. Qe4+ Kf6 56. Qf3  +53.64  Stockfish } 48...Qg7 49.Qe6 Qa1+
50.Kh2 g4 51.Qxh6+ Kg8 52.Qg6+ Kh8 53.Qxf5 gxh3 54.Qxh3+
{ +52.93   Stockfish } ) 47...Kh7 48.Kh2 f4 49.Qd5 Qa4 $2 { +8.92/21 } ( 
49...Qe2 { +2.62/21 } 50.Qf3 Qc4 51.Qb7+ Kg6 52.Qb6+ ) ( 49...Qc7 50.Qc5
{ +27.72   Stockfish } ) 50.Qf7+ Kh8 51.Qg6 $2 { +4.53/27 } ( 51.Qf6+
{ +8.74/24 } 51...Kh7 52.a6 g4 53.hxg4 Qa2 54.b5 Qf2 55.Qe7+ Kg6 56.b6 Qg3+
{ not 56...Qb6 57. a7 Qa6 58. Qe4+ Kf6 59. a8=Q Qxa8 60. Qxa8 Ke5 61. Qb8+
Ke4 62. Qd6 Ke3 63. Qd5 f3 64. gxf3 Ke2 65. Qd4 h5 66. gxh5 Kf1 67. Qe5 Kf2
68. Qe4 Kf1 69. Kg3 Kg1 70. Qe1# } 57.Kg1 f3 58.Qe4+ Kg7 59.Qxf3
{ and now 59...Qd6 60. Qc3+ Kg6 61. b7 h5 62. gxh5+ Kf5 63. Qc8+ Kg5 64.
Qg8+ Kf5 65. Qg6+ Qxg6 66. hxg6 Kxg6 67. b8=Q Kf7 68. a7 Ke6 69. a8=Q Kf5
70. Qf3+ Ke6 71. Qe8+ Kd6 72. Qfc6# } ) 51...Qxb4 52.Qxh6+ Kg8 53.Qxg5+ Kh7
54.Qh5+ Kg7 55.Qg5+ Kh7 56.h4 Qd6 $2 { +16.14/24 } ( 56...f3 { +4.35/22 }
57.gxf3 Qb8+ 58.Kh3 Qc8+ 59.Kg3
{ 59. Qg4 Qa6 60. Qe4+ Kg8 61. Qe8+ Kh7 62. Qe7+ Kh6 63. Qg5+ Kh7 64. h5
Qf1+ 65. Qg2 Qc1 66. Qg6+ Kh8 67. Qe8+ Kh7 68. Qf7+ Kh8 69. Qf6+ Kh7 70.
Qf5+ Kg7 71. Qe5+ Kf7 72. Kg4   +132.10   Stockfish } ) 57.Qh5+ $6
{ +5.25/23 } ( 57.h5 { +16.14/24 } 57...f3+ 58.g3 f2 59.Qg6+ Kh8 60.Qxd6 f1=Q
61.Qe5+ Kh7 62.Qe4+
{ 62. h6 Qf2+ 63. Kh3 Qf1+ 64. Kg4 Qd1+ 65. Kg5 Qd8+ 66. Kf4 Kxh6 67. Qe6+
Kh7 68. Qh3+ Kg7 69. Qg4+ Kf7 70. Qf5+ Ke8 71. Qh5+ Kd7 72. Qd5+ Kc7 73.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 74. g4 Kd7 75. g5 Kc6 76. Ke4 Kb5 77. g6 Kxa5 78. g7 Kb4 79. g8=Q Kc5 80. Qd5+ Kb6 81. Qd6+ Ka7 82. Qb4 Ka6 83. Kd5 Ka7 84. Kc6 Ka8 85.
Qb7# } 62...Kg8 63.h6 Qd1 64.Qg6+ Kf8 65.Qg7+ Ke8 ) 57...Kg7 58.Qg5+ Kh7 $2
{ +16.42/23 } ( 58...Kf7 { +5.40/23 } 59.h5 Qd4 60.Qf5+ Ke7 61.a6 f3 62.a7
fxg2 63.Kxg2 Qd2+ 64.Kh3 Qe3+ 65.Kh4 Qe1+ 66.Kg5 Qc1+ 67.Kg6 Qc6+ 68.Kg7 Qg2+
69.Qg6 Qf3 70.a8=Q Qxa8 71.Qf7+ Kd6 72.Qf8+ { mate on move 85   Stockfish } )
59.h5 f3+ 60.g3 f2 61.Qg6+ Kh8 62.Qxd6 f1=Q 63.Qh6+ Kg8 64.Qe6+ Kh8 65.Qe3 $6 { +6.64/22 } ( 65.Qe5+ { +14.88/25 }
65...Kh7 66.Qe4+ Kg8 67.h6 Qf2+ 68.Kh3 Qf1+ 69.Kg4
{ 69. Kh4 Qf6+ 70. Kg4 Qa6 71. Qe7 Qc4+ 72. Kh5 Qd4 73. Qg7+ Qxg7 74. hxg7
Kxg7 75. Kg4 Kf7 76. a6 Kf6 77. a7 Ke5 78. a8=Q Kd6 79. Qa5 Kd7 80. Qc5 Ke6
81. Kg5 Kf7 82. Qd5+ Kf8 83. Qd7 Kg8 84. Kg6 Kf8 85. Qf7# } 69...Qd1+ 70.Kf5
) ( 65.Qe8+ Kh7 66.Qe4+ Kg8 67.h6 Qd1 68.Qg6+ Kf8 69.Qg7+ Ke8 70.Qe5+ Kd8
71.h7 Qc2+ 72.Kg1 Qd1+ { not 72...Qh7 73.Qb8 Ke7 74.Qb7 winning the queen }
73.Kf2 Qc2+ 74.Kf3 Qd1+ 75.Kf4 Qd2+ 76.Kg4 Qd1+ 77.Kg5 Qc1+ 78.Qf4 Qc5+
79.Kh4 Qe7+ 80.Qg5 { it's mate on move 88 } ) 65...Qb5 66.Qc3+ Kh7 67.g4 Qd5
$4 { #21/20 } ( 67...Qe2+ { +6.42/23 } 68.Kg3 Qe7 69.Qd3+ Kg7 70.a6 Qc7+
71.Kh3 Qc1 72.Qf3 Qa1 73.h6+ Kg6 74.Qe4+ Kxh6 75.Qe3+ Kg6 76.a7 Qh1+ 77.Kg3
Qc6 78.Qd3+ Kg7 79.Qa3 Qa8 80.Qb2+ Kf7 81.Qb8
{ Stockfish says White mates on move 93. } ) 68.Qc7+ Kg8 69.Kg3 $6
{ +5.92/22 } ( 69.Qc8+ { #17/27 } 69...Kg7 70.h6+ Kxh6 71.Qh8+ Kg6 72.Qh5+
Qxh5+ 73.gxh5+ Kxh5 74.a6 Kg4 75.a7 Kf5 76.a8=Q Ke5 77.Qd8 Ke6 78.Kg2 Ke5
79.Kf3 Ke6 80.Kf4 Kf7 81.Qd7+ Kf6 82.Qe8 Kg7 83.Kf5 Kh7 84.Kf6 Kh6 85.Qg6# )
69...Qe6 70.Qd8+ $6 { +5.74/21 } ( 70.Qc5 { +6.69/21 } 70...Qe1+ 71.Kf4 Qd2+
72.Ke4 Qe1+ 73.Kf5 Qd2 74.Qe5
{ 74. Kg6 Qd3+ 75. Kh6 Qh7+ 76. Kg5 Qg7+ 77. Kh4 Qa1 78. h6 Qe1+ 79. Kg5
Qd1 80. Qc6 Qd2+ 81. Kh5 Qe2 82. Qd5+ Kf8 83. Qd7 Qe6 84. Qg7+ Ke8 85. Qg6+
Kf8 86. Qf5+ Ke7 87. Qxe6+ Kxe6 88. h7 Kd5 89. h8=Q Kc4 90. a6 Kd3 91. a7 Kc4 92. a8=Q Kc5 93. Qa5+ Kd6 94. Qhd8+ Kc6 95. Qad5# }
74...Kf7 75.Qf6+ ) 70...Kh7 $2 { +15.67/22 } ( 70...Kf7 { +5.74/21 } 71.Qd3
Qe5+ 72.Kf3
{ 72. Kh3 Qa1 73. h6 Qh1+ 74. Kg3 Qg1+ 75. Kf4 Qc1+ 76. Ke5 Qc7+ 77. Qd6
Qc3+ 78. Kf4 Qc1+ 79. Kf5 Qb1+ 80. Kg5 Qb5+ 81. Kh4 Qe2 82. Qd7+ Kf6 83.
g5+ Kg6 84. Qg7+ Kf5 85. Qf6+ Ke4 86. Qe7+ Kf3 87. Qxe2+ Kxe2 88. h7 Kd2 89. a6 Kc1 90. a7 Kd2 91. a8=Q Ke3 92. h8=Q Ke2 93. Qe4+ Kd1 94. Qa1+ Kd2
95. Qae1# } 72...Qh2 73.Qc4+ ) 71.Qd3+ Kh8 72.a6 Qe5+ 73.Kh3 Qa1 74.Qd8+ Kh7
75.Qe7+ Kh6 76.Qe3+ Kh7 77.a7 1-0