march 14, 2002
DrChrome Wins, Again!
"The blunders are all there, waiting to be made." - Savielly Tartakower (1887-1956)
February 2001 Main #1 Tournament
343 entrants, 5 rounds, 24 matches
My record: 23 wins, 0 losses, and 1 draw!
Round One
And the Lemmings March to the Sea
Lemmings are silly suicidal rats, who for no reason, one day simply march en masse into the sea. Sometimes chess players do that, too. (but alone, rather than in a group) Here, white took five moves to reach a position he could have reached in three. The unfathomable stratgey of the suicidal? Then, white sacrifices a Knight and three pawns before plunging into the ocean.
White: DrChrome
Black: Kameron
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (1)
Date: 2001-01-30
(B00 Lemming D)
1 e4 Na6
2 Nf3 d6
3 Bc4 g6
4 d3 Nc5
5 Nc3 Nd7
6 Ng5 Ne5
7 0-0 a6
8 Bb3 f6
9 Ne6 Bxe6
10 Bxe6 c6
11 d4 Ng4
12 Bxg4 f5
13 exf5 e6
14 fxe6 c5
15 dxc5 1-0
The Proffered Pawn
White played this opening in an unusual fashion, usually the bishop is developed to b2 early in the Nimzo Larsen. Here white opts for a strange pawn advance. 14. dxc5 , the capture of the proffered pawn, is a mistake that opens a pandora's box of problems for white. The Queen's rook is en prize but I wanted more. The exchange of queens allows the forking of the other rook and king. In the following moves white loses both rooks and his queen. Next, Black's e pawn goes on a mini rampage, capturing two pawns and a knight. White drops a bishop before the pretty checkmate on move 28.
White: Kameron
Black: DrChrome
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (1)
Date: 2001-01-30
(A01 Nimzovich-Larsen A, Indian V)
1 b3 Nf6
2 g3 g6
3 Bg2 Bg7
4 a3 0-0
5 a4 c6
6 a5 a6
7 d4 d5
8 c4 dxc4
9 bxc4 e6
10 f4 Re8
11 h4 h5
12 Nf3 Ng4
13 Bh3 c5
14 dxc5 Qxd1+
15 Kxd1 Nf2+
16 Kd2 Nxh1
17 g4 Bxa1
18 f5 exf5
19 e4 fxg4
20 Bg2 gxf3
21 Bxf3 Rd8+
22 Ke2 Ng3+
23 Ke1 Nc6
24 Bg5 Rd3
25 Bf4 Rxf3
26 Bd6 Bg4
27 Nd2 Bc3
28 e5 Rf1++ 0-1
A Funny French
The French Defence normally goes 2..d5, here blacks first three moves are playable, but his fourth and fifth are curious. 6...Bd6 is a mistake that loses a piece. 16...f6 is the oversight that loses the game.From the ending position it appears that black never moved any of his queen side pieces! (the Knight returned to his original square)
White: DrChrome
Black: hifuzz678
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (1)
Date: 2001-01-30
(C00 French, King's Indian A)
1 e4 e6
2 d3 Nc6
3 Nf3 Nf6
4 Nc3 a5
5 a3 h5
6 d4 Bd6
7 e5 Be7 ?
8 exf6 gxf6
9 Bb5 Nb8
10 0-0 c6
11 Ba4 b5
12 Bb3 a4
13 Ba2 d5
14 Ne2 f5
15 Ne5 Rg8
16 Nf4 f6
17 Qxh5+ Kf8
18 Qf7++ 1-0
Mieses Pieces
Hifuzz678 deploys his pieces in the same manner of the earlier game, with the same results. He quickly loses a Knight, then opens himself up for the mating attack.
White: hifuzz678
Black: DrChrome
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (1)
Date: 2001-01-30
(A00 Mieses O)
1 d3 e5
2 Nf3 d6
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 h4 h6
5 a4 Nc6
6 Be3 d5
7 Rb1 d4
8 Bd2 dxc3
9 bxc3 Be7
10 e4 b6
11 h5 Bg4
12 Be2 Bxh5
13 c4 Bg4
14 Nh2 Bxe2
15 Qxe2 Nd4
16 Qd1 Qd7
17 c3 Nc6
18 Nf3 Qxd3
19 Rb2 Rd8
20 c5 Bxc5
21 c4 Nxe4
22 Ng1 Bxf2++ 0-1
Art of the Middlegame
I had gone into this game with my mind made up to play the Kings Indian Attack. The surest way of doing that would have been 1. Nf3. Given blacks responses to my first two moves, I should have gone into my old favorite, the Guacamole Piano, with 3. Bc4. Black could have hurt me in this game with 8...Bxf2! (pointed out to me by GM Babakuli Annakov, in his analysis of this game) The move was still there for him on 9, and 11. But after 11...Nf6 black is losing ground. 12...Bc5 allows white to gain space with tempo, better was 12...Bb6. 18.Bf3 is a blunder that returns a pawn, but from this point, white begains to play in earnest. 19.cxd4 removes black's last center pawn. 20.Qc2 is an important move, the queen controls the c file here, presuring the c7 pawn, but the real purpose is the b1-h7 diagnal which white intends to open. 20.Rad1 strengthens white's center where black is weak after the loss of his d pawn. 21.b5 simply does not allow black to open the a file for his rook. 23.d4 advances white's strong center while starting to open the b1-h7 diagnal. 24.d5, still pushing the center. 25.Nxd7, the knight was looking for a place to go, anyway. It was blocking the intended advance of the e pawn. Black should not have proposed the Knight trade, it had the twofold effect of weakening his position while strengthening mine. Both sides have hanging pawns, now. Rather than protectting mine, or snatching his, I place the bishop on d4. I am rather proud of this move, for you see, I have a plan! 26...c6 would disrupt the plan, diffusing the pawn center. Bd4! prevents that. When black snatches the b pawn, GM Babakuli Annakov says "stong center gives white good compensation." 27.e5 opens the b1-h7 diagnal while giving black more worries in the center. Black should be playing defence, here. Instead, he launches a counter attack. 28.Kg2 is another important move. It takes the wind from the sails of black's counter attack and opens the back rank to allow Rh1. Black's position has become critical, yet he continues the counter attack. 29.Rh1 fixes black's h pawn with a mate threat. Black does not see it, so 30.Qh7++ ends things.
White: DrChrome
Black: Plutarch
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (1)
Date: 2001-01-30
(C42 Petrov D)
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 g3 Nf6
4 d3 Bc5
5 Bg2 h6
6 0-0 0-0
7 Re1 Ng4
8 Qe2 d6
9 a3 Nd4
10 Nxd4 Bxd4
11 h3 Nf6
12 c3 Bc5
13 b4 Bb6
14 Nd2 a6
15 Nf3 Be6
16 Bb2 d5
17 Nxe5 d4
18 Bf3 Bxh3
19 cxd4 Bxd4
20 Qc2 Bb6
21 Rad1 a5
22 b5 h5
23 d4 a4
24 d5 Nd7
25 Nxd7 Bxd7
26 Bd4 Bxb5
27 e5 h4
28 Kg2 Qg5
29 Rh1 hxg3
30 Qh7++ 1-0
Guacamole Piano!
In my chess childhood, I used to pummel the playground patzers with this opening. It brings back fond memories. The Guacamole Piano is rich in tactical motif's, a delight for the attacking player whether white or black. Here, white makes propalatic pawn moves on 6 and 7 (to prevent charateristic combinations from b4 and g4.). By move 16, white has won a pawn and gained the bishop pair- not to worry, I have a plan! The plan requires the light square bishop, that is why I eliminate the trade possibilty with 17.Bd7. White is well placed to gain more material with 20.Qb7. 22...Bxh3 is what I have been shooting for, now we begin to get some of that material back. 23.g3 is forced, now the rook falls. Now I have the rook pair with a wide open queenside in which to operate. 27.f4 ? is a mistake that removes the last of the kingside pawn cover. 28...Qxf4+, and Plutarch calls it a day. What a fun game!
White: Plutarch
Black: DrChrome
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (1)
Date: 2001-01-30
(C50 Giuoco Piano, Four Knights V)
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Nc3 Bc5
4 Bc4 Nf6
5 0-0 0-0
6 a3 d6
7 h3 h6
8 d3 Re8
9 Nd5 Be6
10 b4 Bd4
11 Nxd4 exd4
12 b5 Ne5
13 Bb2 c6
14 bxc6 bxc6
15 Nxf6+ Qxf6
16 Bxd4 c5
17 Bc3 Bd7
18 Bxe5 dxe5
19 Qb1 Qg6
20 Qb7 Rad8
21 Qxa7 Rf8
22 Qxc5 Bxh3
23 g3 Bxf1
24 Kxf1 Qd6
25 Qa5 Ra8
26 Qc3 Rfb8
27 f4 exf4
28 gxf4 Qxf4+ 0-1
Round Two
Center Counter
On 8. Ng5 , I threaten Nf7 forking the rooks. His response 8... Ne5 covers the f7 square and the discovered attack on the light squared Bishop. But in reality, it cannot do both. 9.Bxg4 check! now black must choose, retake the bishop or cover the f7 square, he chooses the latter and goes down a piece. 10.Nxf7! this sacrifice gains more material.
When the smoke cleared, Black still had unfavorably exchanged his rook for a Knight and is down 3 pawns. He was going to lose a rook anyway, he probably could have gained better compensation with 8...Bxe2. By move 30, his last knight is dead, there are no escape squares for it and it no longer has the protection of the dark squared bishop. There is little point in capturing it as black will be shortly mated. Seeing that, he resigned.
White: DrChrome
Black: Earthdust
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (2)
Date: 2001-04-25
(B01 Scandinavian (Centre Counter) D)
1 e4 d5
2 exd5 Qxd5
3 Nf3 Bg4
4 Nc3 Qe6+
5 Qe2 Qxe2+
6 Bxe2 Nc6
7 Nb5 0-0-0
8 Ng5 Ne5
9 Bxg4+ e6
10 Nxf7 Nxf7
11 Bxe6+ Rd7
12 Nxa7+ Kd8
13 Bxd7 Kxd7
14 Nb5 Nf6
15 0-0 Bc5
16 b3 Re8
17 Bb2 Ng4
18 Bxg7 Re2
19 d4 Bb6
20 c4 c6
21 Nc3 Rc2
22 Na4 Bc7
23 h3 Nh2
24 Rfe1 b5
25 Nc5+ Kd8
26 Bf6+ Kc8
27 Re8+ Nd8
28 Ne6 Kb7
29 Bxd8 Bxd8
30 Rxd8 bxc4
31 Nc5+ Kc7
32 Rd7+ Kb6
33 bxc4 Rxc4
34 Rb1+ 1-0
Earthdust vs. Alekhine
White sacrifices a bishop on move 11, to what end I cannot determine, I assume it to be a blunder. After I forked the rook and king on 39, white resigned.
White: Earthdust
Black: DrChrome
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (2)
Date: 2001-04-25
(B02 Alekhine, Scandinavian V)
1 e4 Nf6
2 Nc3 d5
3 exd5 Nxd5
4 Nf3 Nc6
5 Bb5 Nxc3
6 bxc3 Qd5
7 c4 Qe4+
8 Qe2 Qxe2+
9 Kxe2 Bd7
10 Rb1 a6
11 a4 axb5
12 axb5 Nd8
13 Ne5 Bf5
14 d3 f6
15 Nf3 e5
16 b6 c5
17 Bb2 Ra6
18 Nh4 Bg4+
19 f3 Be6
20 g4 Rxb6
21 Rhg1 Bd6
22 Nf5 Bxf5
23 gxf5 0-0
24 h4 Nc6
25 h5 h6
26 c3 Ne7
27 Ba3 Rxb1
28 Rxb1 Ra8
29 Bc1 Ra7
30 Be3 Ra2+
31 Kd1 Nxf5
32 Bc1 Rf2
33 Rxb7 Rxf3
34 d4 cxd4
35 cxd4 Rd3+
36 Kc2 Rxd4
37 Kc3 Rh4
38 Rb5 Rh3+
39 Kc2 Nd4+ 0-1
Scotch Mojo
I love the Scotch! Black played an interesting fifth move, 5...Ne5. I belive the standard continuation is 5.... Qf6. I had all sorts of possible replies, I chose 6.f4, but I believe Qh5 is playable. Black played the dubious 11...Nxe4 placing himself on the short end of a very tactical position. After the exchange of my knight for his rook on 16, I have the edge material wise, but his pieces are more actively placed. Black blundered on 24 and 25, then resigned a hopeless position.
White: DrChrome
Black: mr.mojorisin
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (2)
Date: 2001-04-25
(C45 Scotch Game)
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 d4 exd4
4 Nxd4 Bc5
5 Be3 Ne5
6 f4 Ng6
7 Nc3 d6
8 f5 Ne5
9 Qd2 Nf6
10 Bg5 Qe7
11 Nd5 Nxe4
12 Bxe7 Nxd2
13 f6 Bxd4
14 Kxd2 Be6
15 Nxc7+ Kd7
16 Nxa8 Rxa8
17 c3 Bb6
18 Bb5+ Nc6
19 Rhe1 gxf6
20 Bxf6 Rg8
21 g3 Rg6
22 Bh4 a6
23 Bd3 Ne5
24 Bxg6 hxg6
25 Kc2 f6
26 Bxf6 1-0
The Trojan Rook
An interesting Alekhine, the game proceeds normally through the first four moves, but 5.Bc4 is not the best continuation. 5.Be2 breaking the pin is better. White drops a pawn in the subsequent exchanges.
On move 15, white retakes the bishop with the pawn rather than the queen. There can be only one reason, he wants to bring out the rook. So, I must be prepared for Rh5. With Nd7 and 0-0-0, and I am well set for anything white can throw at me. 16 Rxd7? was poorly concieved, he was expecting 16...Kxd7 then 17. Qxf7+ and black is in trouble. But I don't have to immediatly retake... 16...Ne5 ! and now white has lost material. In chess, one should allways look the gift horse in the mouth! When the anticipated Rh5 ? is played on 19, the responce Nd3+ wins the rook. White has traded his rook pair for my knight pair! Chagrined that his strategies went awry, White resigned.
White: mr.mojorisin
Black: DrChrome
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (2)
Date: 2001-04-25
(B05 Alekhine, Modern V, 4...Bg4)
1 e4 Nf6
2 e5 Nd5
3 d4 d6
4 Nf3 Bg4
5 Bc4 Nb6
6 Bb3 e6
7 Bf4 dxe5
8 Bxe5 Nc6
9 Bg3 Bxf3
10 Qxf3 Qxd4
11 Nc3 Bd6
12 Rd1 Qc5
13 Ne4 Qa5+
14 c3 Bxg3
15 hxg3 Nd7
16 Rxd7 Ne5
17 Re7+ Kxe7
18 Qe3 b6
19 Rh5 Nd3+ 0-1
Unique Scotch
3...d6 is an unusuall responce to the scotch d4, But 4...f5 is truly unique. I probably should have taken en pasant rather than 5.exe5. We soon reach a position with white up a pawn and good possiblities to win another. Black has the bishop pair, but an uphill battle awaits. Not enough compensation for the gambited pawn. Black simply conceeds rather than continue.
White: DrChrome
Black: chiavi,ivo
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (2)
Date: 2001-04-25
(C44 Scotch O)
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 d4 d6
4 dxe5 f5
5 exf5 Bxf5
6 Bb5 Ne7
7 Bg5 h6
8 Bxc6+ bxc6
9 Be3 Nd5
10 Qe2 Nxe3
11 Qxe3 d5
12 Qc3 c5
13 0-0 Be7
14 b3 0-0
15 Nbd2 d4
16 Qc4+ Kh8
17 c3 dxc3
18 Qxc3 Be6
19 Rad1 1-0
Avoiding the Gambit
In Grandmaster games 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 is followed by 3.d5 99.9% of the time. It is simply the strongest continuation. Patzers have other ideas. Possible is 3.dxc5, white exchanges his center pawn for a flank pawn and then uses the time it takes black to regain the pawn to further his own developement. Here we see the conservative 3.e3. I was expecting 3.d5 to which I would reply 3...b5 and the Benko Gambit. Rather at a loss, my reply , 3...d6 was not the strongest, better would have been g6 or e6. White does not attempt to punish this oversight, instead proceeds with conservative developemental moves. With 10.Qc2 I at last have a target. First I must open the c file-10...cxd4 11.exd4 d5 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 sees to that. 14...Rc8 and now white must retreat the queen back to the first rank. White doesn't want to retreat and so 15.Qd3?. This move doesn't look bad on the surface, but it allows black to continue with the attack. 15...Bxf3 removes one protector on the d5 pawn. White has three ways to take the bishop at f3, none are good. Qxf3 loses the d5 pawn outright. 16.gxf3 weakens the castled King, and Bcf3 allows the following combinations- 16...Ne5! the pawn is pinned, now the queen must flee again. 17.Qe3 tries to hang on the d5 pawn, but Nc4 attacks the queen again. It also double attacks the d5 pawn which is only protected by the harrassed queen. White's 18.Qxe7? is a doomed attempt to cloud the issue & gain counter play. He simply goes down a piece with 18...Nxd2. 19.Bb7 is more desperate folly, white quits after 19...Rc7 where he must lose more material.
White: chiavi,ivo
Black: DrChrome
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (2)
Date: 2001-04-25
(A56 Benoni D)
1 d4 Nf6
2 c4 c5
3 e3 d6
4 Nc3 b6
5 Nf3 g6
6 Be2 Bb7
7 0-0 Bg7
8 Bd2 0-0
9 Re1 Nbd7
10 Qc2 cxd4
11 exd4 d5
12 cxd5 Nxd5
13 Nxd5 Bxd5
14 a4 Rc8
15 Qd3 Bxf3
16 Bxf3 Ne5
17 Qe3 Nc4
18 Qxe7 Nxd2
19 Bb7 Rc7 0-1
Round Three
The Poisoned Knight
I got lucky with a short draw in the third round. I got even luckier when one player failed to meet the time control for his first moves. That left just me and "Mother Theresa"! By move 5 , Mother has built an impressive Tarrasch style center. 6. Nxe5!
watch it crumble. By move ten, black's proud center is gone. Though the game is equal material wise, 11. Nc3 was a move Mother was unprepared to defence, for Nb5 puts black in a no win situation. Mother swallowed the poisoned Knight on move 22, and mate was inescapable.
White: DrChrome
Black: "Mother_Theresa"
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (3)
Date: 2001-07-20
(A06 R�ti, Old Indian A)
1 Nf3 d5
2 g3 Nc6
3 Bg2 e5
4 d3 Nf6
5 0-0 Bc5
6 Nxe5 Nxe5
7 d4 Bxd4
8 Qxd4 Nc6
9 Qc5 Qe7
10 Qxe7+ Nxe7
11 Nc3 Bf5
12 Bg5 Ne4
13 Bxe4 dxe4
14 Nb5 Nd5
15 Rfd1 c6
16 Nd6+ Kd7
17 Nxf5 f6
18 c4 fxg5
19 cxd5 cxd5
20 Rxd5+ Ke6
21 Rad1 g6
22 Rd6+! Kxf5
23 h3 Rhe8
24 R1d5+ Re5
25 g4+ 1-0
(25 S Kf4 26 Rf6+ Rf5 27 Rdxf5+ gxf5 28 Rxf5++ 1-0 )
The Mating of Mother Theresa
The Scandinavian variation of the Alekhine is very tactical, this game certainly was.
Mother's tenth move : a3, is her undoing. In chasing off the Bishop, she weakens the dark squares around her castled King. 16.g3 is forced to prevent mate, and now the light squares are dangerously weak. On move 20, the kings final cover pawn is forced up with another mate threat. After 24...Rd2 , white is hopeless.
White: "Mother Theresa"
Black: DrChrome
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (3)
Date: 2001-07-20
(B02 Alekhine, Scandinavian V)
1 e4 Nf6
2 Nc3 d5
3 exd5 Nxd5
4 Nxd5 Qxd5
5 Nf3 Bg4
6 Be2 Nc6
7 d3 e5
8 0-0 Bb4
9 c3 Bd6
10 h3 Bd7
11 Be3 0-0
12 d4 exd4
13 Nxd4 Nxd4
14 Bxd4 Qg5
15 Be3 Qe5
16 g3 Bxh3
17 Re1 Rfe8
18 Bf4 Qc5
19 Bxd6 Qc6
20 f3 Rad8
21 Qc2 Qxd6
22 Kh2 Qh6
23 Kg1 Qe3+
24 Kh2 Rd2
25 Qc1 Qxf3
26 Kxh3 Rexe2
27 Rxe2 Qh5+
28 Kg2 Qxe2+
29 Kh3 Qh5++ 0-1
Round Four
Smothered Mate
The Reti is not a Gambit! Black can take the c pawn, but he can not hold it. Here Lockheed Tristar finds that out the hard way. 3...Qd5 is unwise. 4.e3 applies more presure on c4. 4...b5 - still trying to hold on to c4. 5.b3 still more presure, but 5...Ba6 is just to much. Now is the time to test black's plan 6.bxc4 bxc4 7.Rb1 takes control of the b file. 8.Qc2 applies 3 way pressure to c4. 9.Nxc4 settles the matter of the c4 pawn. 10...a6 prevents the trapping of the Queen. But black's position has become critical, the queenside is overrun and the kingside isn't developed at all. 12...Ngf6 finally developes a kingside piece, but it is to little to late. 13.Qc6 pins the knight. Black does not want to go down without a fight, but 15.Nb5 threatens mate. After 17...Qxb1 mate is unavoidable. Fun game!
White: DrChrome
Black: Lockheed TriStar
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (4)
Date: 2001-10-17
(A09 R�ti Accepted)
1 Nf3 d5
2 c4 dxc4
3 Na3 Qd5
4 e3 b5
5 b3 Ba6
6 bxc4 bxc4
7 Rb1 Qa5
8 Qc2 Nd7
9 Nxc4 Bxc4
10 Bxc4 a6
11 Qe4 Rd8
12 Nd4 Ngf6
13 Qc6 Qe5
14 Qxa6 Qe4
15 Nb5 Rb8
16 Nxc7+ Kd8
17 Qa5 Qxb1
18 Ne6+ 1-0
(18... Ke8 19 Qd8+ Rxd8 20 Nc7++ 1-0 )
Red Hot Hunt
This variation of the Alekhine has the most names. It is called Lasker's Two Pawn Attack, the Chase Variation, or the Hunt Variation. White spends his first five moves chasing the black knight around the board. Here, white finally captures it on move six at the cost of a bishop and an overextened pawn center. Whites attack on the d5 pawn, 11.Qb3, has no teeth, for if 12.Qxd5 then 12...Bb4+ wins the queen. So, white castles instead. 12...Qh4 threatens mate. 13.g3 cancels that threat and attacks the queen, but weakens the position of the castled king. 13...Qh5 protects the d5 pawn and attacks the knight on e2. 14.Nbc3 protects the e2 knight and attacks the d5 pawn. 14...Bh3 exploits the weakness on g2 and attacks the rook. The position has become critical, the bishop on h3 is a dagger in the heart of the kings house. White has no way to pull it out. White must guard against the queen sneaking into g2 to deliver the mate. White's knight on e2 is the only line of defence. 15.Re1 saves the rook, for now. 15...Nb4 adds another protector for the d5 pawn and gives black the possibility of attacks on the white rooks. 16.Nb5 attacks the unprotected bishop, but unhinges white's tenuous postition. 16...Rae8 ignores the treat to the bishop and takes aim at the critical e2 knight. 17.Nxd6 Rxe2 black's knight and b pawn are unprotected but white cannot touch them because Rxe1 is mate. The exchange of rooks is not good for white so -18.Bf4 allows the other rook to protect it. 18...Nc2 forks the rooks and ends the wide open, extremely tactical game.
White: Lockheed TriStar
Black: DrChrome
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (4)
Date: 2001-10-17
(B02 Alekhine, Two Pawns (Lasker's) A)
1 e4 Nf6
2 e5 Nd5
3 c4 Nb6
4 c5 Nd5
5 Bc4 e6
6 Bxd5 exd5
7 d4 d6
8 cxd6 cxd6
9 exd6 Bxd6
10 Ne2 0-0
11 Qb3 Nc6
12 0-0 Qh4
13 g3 Qh5
14 Nbc3 Bh3
15 Re1 Nb4
16 Nb5 Rae8
17 Nxd6 Rxe2
18 Bf4 Nc2 0-1
Closed Catalan
Black adopts a very conservative, very solid defence. Move after move, black plays it safe and unadventurous. White gains a space advantage which he should be able to convert into material. Black times out before that occurs.
White: DrChrome
Black: Tassiac
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (4)
Date: 2001-10-17
(E07 Catalan, Closed, 6...Nbd7)
1 Nf3 d5
2 c4 e6
3 b3 Nf6
4 g3 c6
5 Bg2 Be7
6 0-0 Nbd7
7 d4 0-0
8 Bf4 b6
9 Qd3 Bb7
10 Nc3 Rc8
11 e4 dxe4
12 Nxe4 c5
13 Nd6 Bxd6
14 Bxd6 Re8
15 Rad1 cxd4
16 Qxd4 Ra8
17 Rfe1 Qc8
18 b4 Nf8
19 Be5 N8d7
20 Bf4 Rd8
21 Qd3 h6
22 Bd6 Nf8
23 Qe2 Ne4
24 Be5 Nd7
25 Bb2 Qc7
26 Nd4 1-0
The "Bad" Bishop
In chess terms a bad bishop is blocked in, it's movements restricted by his own (or in some cases, the opponent's) pieces. That is not the case here, this is a "Bad" Bishop! Bad as in bold and dangerous! In many defences, black's light squared bishop is a "probem child". it is difficult to find an effective posting for it as it allways seems to be in the way. Black will usually look for an early oppertunity to exchange it.
With 4.e3 instead of 4.d5, white does not allow me to get into the Benko Gambit. No matter, the resultant pawn exchanges opens the c file. With the c file open, I of course want to post my rook on c8, but the problem child is in the way! So the problem child must vacate the c8 square, but where to post it? White's 10.h3 has denied the g4 square. 10...Bf5 would lose a tempo, as white would simply chase the problem child away. The Queen's scope on the d file is vital, so Bd7 is out. 10...b6 11...Bb7 is an option, but it is slow... So Be6 it is. White could exchange Bishops here, black would have doubled pawns - but wait! Let's chase away the white bishop first! 10...Na5 and now the bishop must vacate the g8-a2 diaginal. Black's 10...Na5 , 11...Be6 and 12...Rc8 has created a strong point on the c4 square, but white's 12.b6 has denied us access to it. 14.Qd2... white wants to advance the isolated d pawn, but to do so requires additional support. He plans to bring a rook to d1, but 14...Bxb3 !- The bad bishop's rampage begins! If 15.axb3 then 15...Nxb3 forking the queen and rook. Allthough the exchange of a pawn and a rook for a knight and a bishop is roughly equal, the result would give black the initiative and a strong position. Tassiac would have none of that, he prefered to give up the pawn. 15...Nc4 16.Bxc4 and now the bad bishop claims it's second victem- 16..Bxc4. The adventurous knight on d5 is next, followed by the hapless pawn on a2. White should have recaptured with the queen on the rook exchange at c1, The bad bishop is loose again! Bxg2! Tassiac does not take it, and moves the rook back to e1, for the isolated d pawn cannot protect the e5 knight due to the pin of the queen. The bad bishop claims the h3 pawn before Tassiac calls it quits. Four pawns, one knight and one bishop, not bad for a problem child!
White: Tassiac
Black: DrChrome
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (4)
Date: 2001-10-17
(D94 Gr�nfeld, 5.e3)
1 d4 Nf6
2 Nf3 g6
3 c4 c5
4 e3 Bg7
5 Nc3 0-0
6 Be2 cxd4
7 exd4 d5
8 0-0 dxc4
9 Bxc4 Nc6
10 h3 Na5
11 Be2 Be6
12 b3 Rc8
13 Bb2 a6
14 Qd2 Bxb3
15 Rab1 Nc4
16 Bxc4 Bxc4
17 Rfe1 Nd5
18 Nxd5 Bxd5
19 Ne5 Bxa2
20 Ra1 Bd5
21 Ba3 Re8
22 Rab1 b5
23 Rbc1 Rxc1
24 Rxc1 Bxg2
25 Re1 Bxh3
26 Qf4 Qd5 0-1
Logjam!
Twenty seven moves before a pawn is removed from the board! The center is completely closed, and the queenside is heading that way, too. 28.bxa6 removes the first pawn and creates an outpost for the Knight on b5. 34...e4 is ill considered, perhaps black has grown impatient- but it simply loses a pawn and gives control of the e file to white. 35...Bf4 proposing the trade of bishops gives black nothing, he just looses another pawn. 39.Nc7 is a cool tactical shot, black must save his rook- but the real intent is simply to get to d5. Black must protect the e7 square to prevent Re7, doing so will cause the b pawn to fall (the whole point of 39.Nc7), freeing the advance of white's a pawn. Black missed it, so 41.Re7 ends things.
White: DrChrome
Black: Mike_UK
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (4)
Date: 2001-10-17
(A13 English, Neo-Catalan)
1 Nf3 d5
2 c4 e6
3 b3 Nf6
4 g3 c5
5 Bg2 Nc6
6 Bb2 d4
7 0-0 Bd6
8 Na3 0-0
9 Nc2 e5
10 d3 Re8
11 e4 Re6
12 Nh4 Ne8
13 Bh3 Rh6
14 Bxc8 Rxc8
15 Nf5 Rg6
16 Qh5 Nf6
17 Qh3 Bc7
18 Ba3 b6
19 b4 Nd7
20 b5 Ne7
21 Bc1 h6
22 Nh4 Rf6
23 Bd2 Kh7
24 g4 g5
25 Nf5 Nxf5
26 exf5 Qg8
27 a4 a5
28 bxa6 Ra8
29 Na3 Rxa6
30 Nb5 Bb8
31 Qh5 Rc6
32 Rfe1 Rc8
33 Qh3 Qg7
34 Qf3 e4
35 Qxe4 Bf4
36 Bxf4 gxf4
37 Qxf4 Rg8
38 h3 f6
39 Nc7 Ra7
40 Nd5 Raa8
41 Re7 1-0
The K.I.D. in Poland
In the hands of a skillfull player the Polish can be a devestating opening. Bobby Fischer played it with great results early in his career. Here, white gets a little carried away with the central pawn advances. This leads to an early exchange of queens, fixing the white king in the center of the board. Now white is on the defence and black is able to complete his development with various threats. Without piece support, white's advanced pawns are weak, easy targets for black's attack. One falls, and then another. 22.Rxc7 is a desperate attempt to regain lost material, but it is also a blunder that loses the King's rook.
White: Mike_UK
Black: DrChrome
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (4)
Date: 2001-10-17
(A00 Polish (Sokolsky) O)
1 b4 Nf6
2 Bb2 g6
3 Nf3 Bg7
4 e4 0-0
5 e5 Nh5
6 d4 d6
7 c4 dxe5
8 Nxe5 Bxe5
9 dxe5 Qxd1+
10 Kxd1 Rd8+
11 Nd2 Nc6
12 a3 a5
13 b5 Nd4
14 Bxd4 Rxd4
15 a4 Bf5
16 Ra3 Rad8
17 Ra2 Nf4
18 g3 Bb1
19 Rb2 Nd3
20 Bxd3 Bxd3
21 Kc1 Bxc4
22 Nxc4 Rxc4+
23 Rc2 Rxa4
24 Rxc7 ? Ra1+ 0-1
Round Five
A Nod to Kramnik
This game followed "Kramnik-Reinderman, Wijk aan Zee, 1999" till move 6. Reinderman played 6...d6 while Anuar Ishak played 6...d5. This changed the battle in the center drasticly. While 6...d5 may be an improvement, 7...a5 is not. This attempt to dislodge the b pawn only makes matters worse for black. Unable to abide this thorn in the queenside, black forces matters. The resultant exchanges leave white up a pawn with the better position. White is able to exploit that position for another pawn. Black is unable to defend against the two passed pawns on the queenside, and soon resigns.
White: DrChrome
Black: Anuar Ishak
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (5)
Date: 2002-01-09
(A04 R�ti, Dutch)
1 Nf3 f5
2 g3 Nf6
3 Bg2 g6
4 b4 Bg7
5 Bb2 0-0
6 0-0 d5
7 d3 a5
8 b5 c6
9 a4 cxb5
10 axb5 Qb6
11 Na3 Nbd7
12 c4 e6
13 e3 Nc5
14 Qc2 a4
15 Nd2 Rd8
16 Bd4 Ng4
17 cxd5 Bxd4
18 exd4 Nb3
19 Nxb3 axb3
20 Qxb3 Rb8
21 Rae1 exd5
22 Bxd5+ Kh8
23 Bg2 Qxd4
24 Qf7 Qg7
25 Re8+ Rxe8
26 Qxe8+ Qg8
27 Re1 Qxe8
28 Rxe8+ Kg7
29 Nc4 Nf6
30 Re7+ Kf8
31 Rc7 Be6
32 Rxb7 Rd8
33 Ne5 Rc8
34 Bc6 Ra8
35 b6 Ra1+
36 Kg2 Rb1
37 d4 Nd5
38 Rb8+ Kg7
39 b7 Ne7
40 Bf3 Bd5
41 Bxd5 Nxd5
42 Nd3 1-0
Impasse in the Four Pawn Attack
This game follows "alejo2-insight, I.C.C. 1999" from the book "The Alekhine Defence Playbook" by Tim Sawyer all the way to black's 16th move. Reverend Sawyer says of 16...Bg1"Black avoids potential combinations against f5." But with 17.b3, white breaks with the book. Not seeing any forth coming combinations, I put the bishop back. After the exchange of queens, 17...Re4 ties up two of whites pieces. A repeation of moves occurs as white tries to dislodge the rook with his dark squared bishop. It seems to me that white could have exchanged the dark squared bishops to free his position, but he seemed happy with the draw.
White: Anuar Ishak
Black: DrChrome
Event: February 2001 Main #1 Tournament (5)
Date: 2002-01-09
(B03 Alekhine, Four Pawns A, 7.Be3)
1 e4 Nf6
2 e5 Nd5
3 c4 Nb6
4 d4 d6
5 f4 dxe5
6 fxe5 Nc6
7 Be3 Bf5
8 Nc3 e6
9 Be2 Be7
10 Nf3 0-0
11 0-0 f6
12 exf6 Bxf6
13 Qd2 Qe7
14 Rad1 Rad8
15 Qc1 h6
16 Kh1 Bh7
17 b3 Bf5
18 Bf2 g5
19 Qe3 g4
20 Ne5 Nxe5
21 dxe5 Rxd1
22 Rxd1 Bg5
23 Qd4 Bc2
24 Re1 h5
25 Nb5 Rf4
26 Qc5 Qxc5
27 Bxc5 Re4
28 Bb4 Rxe5
29 Bc3 Re3
30 Bd2 Re5
31 Bc3 Re3
32 Bd2 Re5
33 Bc3 1/2
march 21, 2001
Tactics: The Soul of Blitz-Jonathan Maxwell
white to move.
Answer to previous:
If you said 1.Nc6+, shame on you! sure it wins the queen, but after 1...Kc7 2.Nxe5 Bxe5 black is still better with an extra Bishop. The correct responce is 1.Ne6+ Ke8 2.Rd8++! From Kraiko-Ree 1958.
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