Grob Chess Club

Annotations by Gerald Roberts

The following game was played at the Eastwood Elementary Chess Club on April 19, 2007. Both of these players are up and coming talents that have increased their playing abilities exponentially since the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year. As a one-two punch for the Eastwood B team, they managed to do what no B team had ever done before them...qualify for the state tournament.

Uncommon Queen's Pawn Opening
Ross Tepe (unr.)
Cameron Ritenour (730)

1. d4 d5
2. Nf3 Nc6
I don't like black's move. It stops his c-pawn from making an eventual advance to c6 or c5 where it will influence the center, especially in these queen pawn games.

3. e3 Nf6
4. Bb5 Bd7
5. 0-0 e5?!
This move, although making a dramatic strike at the center, is unsound, because white can win a pawn here by Bxc6 (removing the defender of the pawn) followed by Nxe5.

6. dxe5 Ne4?
Moving the knight to an attacking position, but since his pieces aren't developed, he's not actually ready to attack yet. Black would have held the advantage after the simple Nxe5, threatening the bishop and the knight. On his next move, white could have seized a huge advantage with Qxd4, threatening the knight and having two pawns to go with it.

7. Nc3 Ne7?!
Introduces slight complications in the position. As the higher rated player, Cameron is correct in doing this, but in this case, his move is not sound. If white responds with Bxd7+ followed by Nxe4, his advantage is quite strong already.

8. Nxe4?? (see diagram)
Ross blunders. Perhaps he was thinking that black had to recapture the knight immediately, whereafter he could then exchange at d7. However, the move played leaves whites knight en prise and attacks the rook at f1.

8...Bxb5!
9. Nc5 Bxf1
10. Nxb7? Qb8
Ross should've played 10. Qxf1 to regain the piece, when he will then only be down about a pawn's worth. Cameron continues to threaten his opponent's pieces so there is no time to catch up in material.

11. Nc5 Qb5!
Touching the knight and keeping an eye on his f1 bishop.

12. Qd4 Nf5
13. Qxd5 (see diagram)

13...Bc4??
Black has the right idea to keep harassing the queen, but doesn't take the time to realize that his rook on a8 is unguarded and under direct attack. Had black played Rd8! here, the game would've been as good as over. As soon as Cameron is able to avoid one move blunders such as these, he will surely cross the 1000 rating mark.

14. Qxa8+! Ke7
15. Ne4 Bd5!?
I like this move. Black is already losing, but he continues to complicate things. Best play for white here would be to play Nc3 next, followed by 16...Bxa8 17. Nxb5 and getting a better endgame.

16. Qxa7 Bxe4
17. Qxc7+ Kd8
Already, white can take a draw if he likes. However, he correctly chooses to play for the win by bringing more pieces to the party.

18. Bd2 Qe2
Hoping to stir up some sort of counterplay against the white king, however, white's attack is too strong and comes much faster.

19. Ng5 Qg4? (see diagram)
Black makes a seemingly awesome move, attacking the knight and threatening mate at the same time. However, he overlooks that white has mate in three. Do you see it?

20. Qxf7! Kd8
I gotta give props to Ross on this one. Most beginners will see that they are going to get mated in one move, panic, and stop thinking about their own plans. Here, Ross utilizes the fact that all his remaining moves are checks and deals the final blow to the black's king.

21. Ne6+ Kc8
22. Qc7# 1-0 (see diagram)
A perfect finish to an imperfect game.

after 8. Nxe4??

after 13. Qxd5

after 19...Qg4?

FINAL POSITION
after 22. Qc7#