rank & file - · pdf filerank & file — issn 8750-9 64 usps 738-230, published...

R ank & FileSEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2007 VOLUME XXX, NO. 5 $3.00

IM Enrico Sevillano 6½-½IM Jack Peters

John Daniel BryantReynaldo del Pilar

Ron Hermansen

Julian Landaw

IM Tim Taylor

John Funderburg

2007

SCCF State Championship

2 RANK & FILE SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2007

5th Annual

Western Pacific

OpenOctober 19-21, 2007

$10,000 Prize Fund(based on 200 players, 50% of each prize guaranteed)

at theLAX Hilton

5711 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90045

Five Rounds — Swiss System 3-day schedule 40/2, SD/1; 2-day schedule rounds 1-2 G/75

Entry Fees: Open $83 if received by 10-18, $95 at door Premier (U2000) $83 by 10-18, $95 at door Amateur (U1400) $67 by 10-18, $80 door

SCCF membership required of rated state residents ($14, jr. $9)

Registration: 5:30-6:30 p.m. 10-19, 8:30-10 a.m. 10-20Rounds: 3-day 7 p.m., 11-5:30, 10-4:30; 2-day 10:30-

1:30 Saturday (G/75), then mergesEntries: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N. Wilton Place #1,

Los Angeles, CA 90038HR: $104 single or double. (310) 410-4000. Be sure to

mention Western Chess.Parking $9/day

On-line entry, advance entry lists: www.westernchess.com

Open1st: $1600

2nd-5th: $1000-$800-$400-$200U2400: $300U2300: $200

U2200: $700-$500- $300

Premier(Under 2000)

$700-$500-$300-$100U1800: $400-$200- $100U1600: $400-$200- $100

Amateur(Under 1400/Unrated)

$$ T+400-$200-$100U1200: T+$100

Unrated: T+$100

Best Game Prize: $25 (all sections eligible)


CONTENTSAROUND THE NATION ........... .........................................................32007 SCCF STATE CHAMPIONSHIP .....................547TH ANNUAL PACIFIC SOUTHWEST OPEN ......................................11PACIFIC COAST OPEN .....................................................................13TD CORNER .......................................................................................................14TACTICS

by TIM HANKS ................................. .....................................................................15STATE CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS .................19HERE & THERE

Club news, local tournaments, scholastic events and more .............................................................................20THE LONG VIEW

by JOHN HILLERY ............................ .....................................................................23GAMES FROM RECENT EVENTS ..................................24

UPCOMING EVENTS ...............................................................................26 CHESS QUIZ ................................................ .......................................................28

CONTENTSAROUND THE NATION ........... .........................................................32007 SCCF STATE CHAMPIONSHIP .....................547TH ANNUAL PACIFIC SOUTHWEST OPEN ......................................11PACIFIC COAST OPEN .....................................................................13TD CORNER .......................................................................................................ER .......................................................................................................ER 14TACTICS

by TIM HANKS .................................TIM HANKS .................................TIM HANKS .....................................................................15STATE CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERSSTATE CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERSSTATE CHAMPIONSHIP Q .................19HERE & THERE

Club news, local tournaments, scholastic scholastic schol eventsastic eventsastic and more .............................................................................and more .............................................................................and more 20THE LONG VIEWTHE LONG VIEWT

by JOHN HILLERY ............................JOHN HILLERY ............................JOHN HILLERY .....................................................................23GAMES FROM RECENT EVENTS ..................................24

UPCOMING EVENTS ...............................................................................26 CHESS QUIZ ................................................ .......................................................28

CONTENTSAROUND THE NATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321ST ANNUAL U.S. AMATEUR TEAM

WEST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5WESTERN CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS . . . . . . . . 10TACTICS

by Tim Hanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12HERE & THERE

Club news, local tournaments, scholastic events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS . . . . . . 19GAMES FROM RECENT EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . 21THE LIGHTER SIDE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24UPCOMING EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26CHESS QUIZ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Around the Nation

Around the Nation

Attention Junior Players

2008 will bring a great new op-portunity for juniors. By playing in “adult” (also known as “mixed”) tournaments that are announced in Chess Life and pulling upsets, you’ll be able to earn points in a new Grand Prix. This competition will offer thousands of dollars worth of chess merchandise and other prizes. Look for details in Chess Life (prob-ably the October issue) and the next issue of Chess Life for Kids. — Ran-dy Hough

USCF Election: Here comes the new boss

Four new members were elected to the USCF’s Executive Board in July. Results were as follows:

Susan Polgar 3004Randy Bauer 2325Paul Truong 2056(all elected to 4-year terms)Jim Berry 2026(1-year term)Stephen Jones 1774Mikhail Korenman 1648Don Schultz 1580Joe Lux 1231Sam Sloan 677Mike Goodall 482

At its first meeting, the new EB re-elected Bill Goichberg as Presi-dent, and Randy Hough as Secre-tary. Randy Bauer is the new Vice President for Finance (the office formerly known as Treasurer.) In addition, the Board created several

new titles, apparently as the result of a power-sharing compromise. Su-san Polgar was named Chairman, Joel Channing Vice President for Business Development, Paul Tru-ong Vice President for Marketing and Communications, and Randy Hough Vice President (Vice Presi-dent for Secretary?) The function

and value of these new offices re-mains to be determined.

U.S. Senior OpenThe USCF held its 27th U.S. Se-

nior Open Chess Championship at the La Quinta Resort & Club lo-


Advertising Rates: Full page $80, half page $45, 1/4 page $25, 1/8 page $15, back cover (3/4 page) $80. (All rates are for camera-ready copy.) Flyer insert $50 (advertiser must supply flyers). 50% discount for tournaments requiring SCCF membership. Display ads should be sent to the Editor, flyers to the Publisher (addresses at right). Payment should be sent with order to the Editor. SCCF reserves the right to reject any advertising.

SCCF OnlineThe SCCF Web

page is located at: www.scchess.com

President Joe Hanley Vice President Elliot Landaw Secretary Chuck Ensey Treasurer John Hillery Executive Board

Randy Hough Mike Nagaran Rick Aeria Jim Bullock Ivona Jezierska Ron Rezendes Essam Mohamed Takashi Iwamoto Rank & File Editor John Hillery 835 N. Wilton Pl. # Los Angeles CA 90038 [email protected]

Publisher David Argall Contributing Editors Jack Peters Tim Hanks Al Pena Contributors Chuck Ensey Randy Hough Cyrus Lakdawala Michael Angelo Purcell

Subscriptions/Address Changes Randy Hough, Membership Secretary P.O. Box 205 Monterey Park CA 9754 (626) 282-742 [email protected]

Rank & File — ISSN 8750-964 USPS 738-230, published bimonthly by the Southern California Chess Federation, 300 Ballista, La Puente CA 9744. Periodical postage paid at Industry, CA. POSTMAS-TER: Send changes of address to SCCF, PO Box 205, Monterey Park CA 9754. Subscriptions: $4 adult, $9 junior.

Copyright © SCCF 2007. One-time only publication rights have been obtained from signed contributors. All other rights are hereby assigned to the authors. The opinions expressed are strictly those of the contribu-tors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SCCF, its officers or members.

Southern California Chess Federation

cated in La Quinta (Palm Springs), California from August 14 19. Forty-five “over 50” players participated from all across the United States.

Joel Johnson of Arizona, rated 2243, took the title with a 5½-½ score. Five other masters tied for second with 4½: James Eade, Stane Karafiloski, IM Walter Shipman, Lester Van Meter and Robert Row-ley.

Additional details may be found at the official website, www.us-chess.org/tournaments/2007/senior. Carol Jarecki directed, with the assistance of Charles Hatherhill.

— USCF news release

US Open: Lucky SevenThe 2007 U.S. Open Chess took

place at at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cherry Hill, New Jersey from July 28 through August 5. This year’s event drew 414 players.

The 9 round event was won by seven co-champions who all tied with 7½-1½ scores. The 2007 U.S. Open plaque was awarded to GM Boris Gulko, who won on tie-break. Congratulations to the “lucky” sev-en: Boris Gulko, Alexander Sha-balov, Sergey Kudrin, Benjamin Finegold, Michael Rohde, Michael Mulyar and Anton Del Mundo.

Class prize winners were:Master: Antonio Del Mundo, 7½-

1½.Expert: Andy May and Abby

Marshall, 7-2.Class A: Naor Brown, 7-2.Class B: Lamont Rogers and

Evan B. Ames, 5½-3½.Class C: Megan Lee, 5½-3½.Class D: Michael Radler, Dean

Brown and Thomas Stanics, 4½-4½.

Class E: Gabriel Usher Tkach. 4-5.

Below Class E & Unrated: Ian Morton and Donald Anthony Car-relli, 4½-4½.

Top Southern California per-formers were IM Enrico Sevillano, Derek Tan, and John Rinaldo, with 6½-2½.

A complete list of the Final Standings can be found at: http://www.monroi.com/tournamentgate/07USOpen/standings.html.

— USCF news release

GM Alexander Shabalov – IM Amon Simutowe

US Open, Cherry Hill 2007B12 CARO-KANN DEFENSE, Ad-

vance Variation1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nd2 e6

5.Nb3 Nd7 6.Nf3 a5 7.a4 Bb4+ 8.c3 Be7 9.Be2 Qb6 10.0–0 h5 11.c4 dxc4 12.Nbd2 Bd3 13.Bxd3 cxd3 14.Nc4 Qa6 15.b3 Nb6 16.Qxd3 Nh6 17.Bg5 Nf5 18.Bxe7 Kxe7 19.Rac1 Kf8 20.Qe4 Nd5 21.Ng5 Rd8 22.Qf3 Rd7 23.Rfd1 Kg8 24.Ne3 Nde7 25.Nxf5 Nxf5

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-+ktr0

9+p+r+pzp-0

9q+p+p+-+0

9zp-+-zPnsNp0

9P+-zP-+-+0

9+P+-+Q+-0

9-+-+-zPPzP0

9+-tRR+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Photos: Cover: Chris Roberts. p. 11: John Hillery. Pp. 22, 23, 25: San Diego Chess Club.

Continued on page 14 ...


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 IM Enrico Sevillano * 1 1 1 1 ½ 1 1 6½2 Julian Landaw 0 * ½ 1 ½ 1 1 ½ 4½3 IM Jack Peters 0 ½ * ½ 1 0 1 1 4.04 IM Tim Taylor 0 0 ½ * 1 1 0 1 3½5 Ron Hermansen 0 ½ 0 0 * 1 1 1 3½6 John Daniel Bryant ½ 0 1 0 0 * 1 0 2½7 John Funderburg 0 0 0 1 0 0 * 1 2.08 Reynaldo del Pilar 0 ½ 0 0 0 1 0 * 1½

Taking clear with a dominating 6½-½ was last year’s co-champion IM Enrico Sevillano. Notable this year was the success of the younger generation, as Julian Landaw, 16, finished clear second with 4½, and John Daniel Bryant, 15, also per-formed creditably.

John Hillery directed. Special thanks are owed to John Rowell, who provided the playing site, and to all who donated to support this event. Happily, this year’s fund-raising ef-fort covered the cost of the Champi-onship and left a modest surplus for next year, but a vigorous fund-rais-ing effort will still be essential.

Reynaldo del Pilar (2307) – Ron Hermansen (2295)

SCCF State Championship, Los Angeles 2007

B06 PIRC-ROBATSCH DEFENSE1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4.

Be3 a6 5. Nf3 Nd7 6. Be2 b5 7. a4 b4 8. Nd5 c5 9. 0–0 e6 10. Nf4 Bb7 11. dxc5 dxc5 12. Qd6 Rc8 13. Rad1 Rc6 14. Qd2 Bxb2 15. Bc4 Qc7 16. Ng5 Ngf6 17. Nfxe6 fxe6 18. Nxe6 Qb6 19. a5 Qxa5 20. Bg5 Bc3 21. Qf4 Be5 22. Qh4 Qb6

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+k+-tr0

9+l+n+-+p0

9pwqr+Nsnp+0

9+-zp-vl-vL-0

9-zpL+P+-wQ0

9+-+-+-+-0

9-+P+-zPPzP0

9+-+R+RmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

23. Rxd7 Nxd7 24. Bd8 Rxe6 25. Bxb6 Rxb6 26. Rd1 Rf6 27. Qh3 Bc6 0–1

IM Tim Taylor (2441) – John Dan-iel Bryant (2240)


E79 KING’S INDIAN DEFENSE, Four Pawns Attack1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7

4. e4 d6 5. Be2 0–0 6. f4 c5 7. Nf3 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nc6 9. Be3 Ng4 10. Bxg4 Bxg4 11. Nxc6 Qd7 12. Nxe7+ Kh8 13. Nxg6+ fxg6 14. Qd3 Rac8 15. 0–0 a6 16. Bd4 Be6 17. Nd5 b5 18. cxb5 Qxb5 19. Bxg7+ Kxg7 20. Qd4+ Kh6 21. Rac1 Bxd5 22. exd5 Qe2 23. Rc6 Rfe8 24. f5 Re4 25. Qc3 Rce8 26. Qc1+ Kh5 27. Rc3 Re3 28. Rxe3 Rxe3 29. f6 Re8 30. Qd1 Qxd1 31. Rxd1 Rf8 32. Rf1 Rf7 33. b4 g5 34. a4 Kg6 35. b5 axb5 36. axb5 h6 37. g4 Kh7 38. b6 Kg8 39. Rc1 1–0

IM Enrico Sevillano (2567) – Julian Landaw (2307)


C96 RUY LOPEZ, Chigorin De-fense1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4.

Ba4 Nf6 5. 0–0 b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1

2007

sccf state championship

The 19th annual SCCF State Championship, held July 7-15 at the Century City law offices of Cheong, Denove, Rowell &

Bennett, once again brought together Southern California’s top players and a selection of promising challengers.


d6 8. c3 0–0 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 cxd4 12. cxd4 Qc7 13. Nc3 h6 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 e4 16. Bxe4 f5 17. Bd3 Bb7 18. Qe2 Rf7 19. Qe6 Raf8 20. Bd2 Nc4 21. Rac1 Qb8 22. Bxc4 bxc4 23. Rxc4 Qa8

XIIIIIIIIY

9q+-+-trk+0

9+l+-vlrzp-0

9p+-zpQ+-zp0

9+-+P+p+-0

9-+RzP-+-+0

9+-+-+N+P0

9PzP-vL-zPP+0

9+-+-tR-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

24. Rc6 Bxc6 25. dxc6 Qxc6 26. Ne5 Qc8 27. Nxf7 Qxe6 28. Nxh6+ Qxh6 29. Bxh6 Bf6 30. Bf4 Bxd4 31. Bxd6 Rd8 32. Ba3 Rc8 33. Re2 Kf7 34. g3 g5 35. Kg2 Rc6 36. b3 Kf6 37. Be7+ Kg6 38. Rd2 Be5 39. Rd5 Re6 40. Bxg5 Bxg3 41. Kxg3 Kxg5 42. f3 Rb6 43. Ra5 Rd6 44. Ra4 Rb6 45. h4+ Kh5 46. Kf4 Kxh4 47. Kxf5+ Kh5 48. Re4 Rc6 49. Re2 Rc5+ 50. Re5 Rc2 51. Kf4+ 1–0

Ron Hermansen (2295) – IM En-rico Sevillano (2567)


C77 RUY LOPEZ1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4.

Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Nc3 d6 8. Nd5 Na5 9. Nxe7 Qxe7 10. h3 h6 11. Bd2 Nxb3 12. axb3 Nh7 13. g4 Nf8 14. Qe2 c5 15. Be3 Ne6 16. Kf1 Bb7 17. Rg1 g6 18. Ne1 h5 19. g5 d5 20. Nf3 dxe4 21. Nxe5 Qc7 22. f4 exf3 23. Nxf3 0–0 24. Nh4 Qe5 25. Bc1 Qd4 26. Qf2 Rae8 27. Nf3 Qxf2+ 28. Kxf2 f6 0–1

John Funderburg (2174) – IM Jack Peters (2450)


A48 COLLE SYSTEM1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4.

Nf3 0–0 5. h3 d6 6. Be2 c5 7. c3 Nc6 8. Bh2 Bd7 9. 0–0 Rc8 10. Nbd2 cxd4 11. exd4 Na5 12. a4 Nd5 13. Re1 Qb6 14. b4 Nxc3 15. bxa5 Qb2

16. Qb3 Nxe2+ 17. Kf1 Qxb3 18. Nxb3 Rc3 19. Nbd2 Nxd4 20. Rxe7 Nxf3 21. Nxf3 Bc6 22. Rd1 Bf6 23. Re3 d5 24. Be5 Rxe3 25. fxe3 Bxa4 26. Rxd5 Rd8 27. Rxd8+ Bxd8 28. Bd4 a6 29. Bc3 Kf8 30. Kf2 Ke7 31. Ne5 Bb5 32. e4 b6 33. axb6 Bxb6+ 34. Kf3 Ke6 35. Ng4 a5 36. Nf6

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-+-+0

9+-+-+p+p0

9-vl-+ksNp+0

9zpl+-+-+-0

9-+-+P+-+0

9+-vL-+K+P0

9-+-+-+P+0

9+-+-+-+-0

xiiiiiiiiy

36. ... Bd8 37. Nd5 Bc6 38. Nf4+ Kd6 39. Ke3 Kc5 40. Nd3+ Kc4 41. Bg7 Bb6+ 42. Kd2 Bxe4 43. Ne5+ Kb3 44. Nxf7 Bxg2 45. Ng5 a4 46. Nxh7 a3 47. Ng5 a2 48. Ba1 Ba5+ 49. Kd3 Bf1+ 50. Kd4 Kc2 51. Ne4 Bxh3 52. Nc3 Bxc3+ 53. Bxc3 Kb1 0–1

Julian Landaw (2307) – IM Tim Taylor (2441)


B00 IRREGULAR DEFENSE1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4.

Nc3 Bg4 5. Be3 e5 6. Bb5 Nd7 7. d5 Ncb8 8. h3 Bh5 9. g4 Bg6 10. h4 h5 11. g5 c6 12. Bf1 Nb6 13. Qd3 N8d7 14. 0–0–0 Be7 15. Bh3 0–0 16. Nd2 Nc5 17. Bxc5 dxc5 18. dxc6 Qxd3 19. cxd3 bxc6 20. Nc4 Nxc4 21. dxc4 Rad8 22. Bf5 Rd4 23. b3 Bxf5 24. exf5 Rxh4 25. Rxh4 Bxg5+ 26. Kc2 Bxh4 27. Ne4 Bd8 28. Nxc5 Bb6 29. Ne4 Bd4 30. c5 g6 31. f6 Kh7 32. Rg1 Kh6 33. b4 Rd8 34. Kb3 Rd7 35. Rg2 g5 36. Rxg5 Bxf2 37. Rg7 Bh4

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-+-+0

9zp-+r+ptR-0

9-+p+-zP-mk0

9+-zP-zp-+p0

9-zP-+N+-vl0

9+K+-+-+-0

9P+-+-+-+0

9+-+-+-+-0

xiiiiiiiiy

38. Nd6 Rxd6 [38. ... Bxf6 39. Nf5#] 39. cxd6 Bxf6 40. Rxf7 Kg6 41. Rf8 Kg7 42. Re8 h4 43. d7 h3 44. d8Q Bxd8 45. Rxd8 e4 46. Rd2 Kf6 47. Rh2 Kf5 48. Rxh3 Kf4 49. Kc4 e3 50. Kd3 1–0

IM Jack Peters (2450) – Reynal-do del Pilar (2307)


B66 SICILIAN DEFENSE, Richter-Rauzer Variation1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4.

Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. 0–0–0 h6 9. Be3 Be7 10. Be2 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. Bf3 e5 13. Be3 Be6 14. h4 Qa5 15. a3 b4 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. exd5 Rb8 18. Qd3 e4 19. Bxe4 bxa3 20. b3 0–0 21. Bd4 Rfc8 22. Rhe1 Rc7 23. Bf3 Nxd5 24. Bxd5 Qxd5 25. Qg3 g6 26. Rxe7 Rxe7 27. Bf6 Qe4 28. Bxe7 Rc8 29. Qd3 Qxe7 30. Qxa6 Qc7 31. Rd2 Qc5

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+r+-+k+0

9+-+-+p+-0

9Q+-zp-+pzp0

9+-wq-+-+-0

9-+-+-+-zP0

9zpP+-+-+-0

9-+PtR-zPP+0

9+-mK-+-+-0

xiiiiiiiiy

32. Qxd6 Qc3 33. Qxa3 Re8 34. Qa6 Re6 35. Qa8+ Kh7 36. Kd1 1–0


John Daniel Bryant (2240) – John Funderburg (2174)


C04 FRENCH DEFENSE, Guimard Subvariation1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4.

Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nd7 6. Nb3 Be7 7. Bb5 a5 8. a4 Na7 9. Bd3 b6 10. 0–0 c5 11. c4 Bb7 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. Nxc5 Bxc5 14. Qe2 h6 15. cxd5 Bxd5 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. Qxe3 0–0 18. Rad1 Qe7 19. Bb1 Nc6 20. Rfe1 Qb4

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-trk+0

9+-+-+pzp-0

9-zpn+p+-zp0

9zp-+lzP-+-0

9Pwq-+-+-+0

9+-+-wQN+-0

9-zP-+-zPPzP0

9+L+RtR-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

21. Rxd5 exd5 22. e6 Qd6 23. exf7+ Rxf7 24. Qd3 g5 25. h4 Nb4 26. Qd4 Rf4 27. Qe3 Raf8 28. hxg5 hxg5 29. Nxg5 Rh4 30. g3 Rh6 31. Ne6 Rxe6 32. Qxe6+ Qxe6 33. Rxe6 Rc8 34. Bf5 Rc1+ 35. Kg2 Ra1 36. b3 Ra3 37. Rxb6 Rxb3 38. Be6+ Kf8 39. Bxd5 Ra3 40. Bc6 Ra2 41. Bb5 Rb2 42. Rb8+ Kg7 43. Ra8 1–0

IM Enrico Sevillano (2567) – Rey-naldo del Pilar (2307)


B14 SICILIAN DEFENSE, Alapin Variation1. e4 c5 2. c3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4.

cxd4 d5 5. exd5 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nxd5 7. Qb3 Nxc3 8. Bc4 Nd5 9. Bxd5 e6 10. Bxb7 Bxb7 11. Qxb7 Qxd4 12. Bd2 Qd5 13. Qxd5 exd5 14. Bc3 d4 15. Bxd4 Bb4+ 16. Kf1 0–0 17. Rc1 Nd7 18. Nf3 Rfe8 19. g3 Rac8 20. Kg2 Bc5 21. Rhd1 Bxd4 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Rxd4 Nb6 24. b3 Rc3 25. Ng5 Rc2 26. a4 Ra2 27. Rd8+ Kg7 28. Ne4 f5 29. Nd6 Kf6 30. Nc8 Ke5 31. Nxa7 Nd5 32. Nc6+ 1–0

IM Tim Taylor (2441) – Ron Her-mansen (2295)


E76 KING’S INDIAN DEFENSE, Four Pawns Attack1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4.

e4 d6 5. f4 0–0 6. Nf3 Na6 7. Bd3 Bg4 8. 0–0 Nd7 9. Be3 e5 10. fxe5 c5 11. dxc5 dxc5 12. Be2 Bxf3 13. gxf3 Nxe5 14. f4 Nc6 15. e5 g5 16. Bd3 gxf4 17. Rxf4 Qg5+ 18. Kh1 Nab4 19. Be4 Nxe5 20. Qe2 Qe7 21. Qh5 f5 22. Rxf5 Rxf5 23. Qxf5 Qh4

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-+k+0

9zpp+-+-vlp0

9-+-+-+-+0

9+-zp-snQ+-0

9-snP+L+-wq0

9+-sN-vL-+-0

9PzP-+-+-zP0

9tR-+-+-+K0

xiiiiiiiiy

24. Rg1 Ng6 25. Bg5 Qh5 26. Bf3 Ne7 27. Qe6+ Qf7 28. Qxf7+ Kxf7 29. Bxe7 1–0

John Funderburg (2174) – Julian Landaw (2307)


A48 LONDON SYSTEM1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4.

Nf3 d6 5. h3 0–0 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. Bh2 Re8 8. 0–0 c5 9. c3 b6 10. a4 a6 11. Na3 Bb7 12. Nd2 Qc7 13. Bf3 Rad8 14. Bxb7 Qxb7 15. Qf3 d5 16. Nac4 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Na5 Qb6 19. dxc5 Nxc5 20. Ndb3 Na4 21. Be5 Nxb2 22. Rfb1 Na4 23. Nd4 Nxc3 24. Rb3 Nfe4 25. Nac6 Nd2 26. Qf4 Nxb3 0–1

John Daniel Bryant (2240) – IM Jack Peters (2450)


B22 SICILIAN DEFENSE, Alapin Variation1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5

4. d4 e6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Be2 Be7 7. 0–0 0–0 8. Na3 Nc6 9. Nb5 Qd8

10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Bf4 Nd5 12. Bg3 a6 13. Nbd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Qf6 15. Nb3 Ba7 16. Bf3 Rd8 17. Qe2 Nf4 18. Qe4 Nd3 19. Rad1 Nxb2 20. Rxd8+ Qxd8 21. Qe2 Na4 22. Rd1 Qe8 23. Qd2 f6 24. Bd6 Bb6 25. c4 Bd7 26. c5 Bd8

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-vlq+k+0

9+p+l+-zpp0

9p+-vLpzp-+0

9+-zP-+-+-0

9n+-+-+-+0

9+N+-+L+-0

9P+-wQ-zPPzP0

9+-+R+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

27. Bxb7 Ra7 28. c6 Bxc6 29. Bxc6 Qxc6 30. Bb8 Rf7 31. Qxd8+ Rf8 32. Qe7 Qe4 33. Bd6 Rc8 34. Nd4 Nc3 35. Nxe6 Qg6 36. Qd7 Re8 37. Nxg7 Ra8 38. Re1 Ne2+ 39. Kf1 Nd4 40. Re8+ Rxe8 41. Qxe8+ 1–0

Ron Hermansen (2295) – John Funderburg (2174)


C04 FRENCH DEFENSE, Guimard Subvariation1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4.

Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nd7 6. c3 f6 7. Nh4 g6 8. Qg4 Qe7 9. Qh3 Bg7 10. f4 Nf8 11. Nhf3 Bd7 12. a4 a5 13. Bd3 0–0–0 14. 0–0 f5 15. b3 h6 16. Qg3 Qf7 17. Ba3 g5 18. b4 axb4 19. cxb4 g4 20. Ne1 h5 21. Nb3 h4 22. Qe3 Ng6 23. b5 Nb8 24. Rc1 Bf8 25. Bc5 Bxc5 26. Rxc5 b6 27. Rc3 Kb7 28. a5 Rc8 29. Qc1 c6 30. axb6 Kxb6 31. Qa1 1–0

Julian Landaw (2307) – John Daniel Bryant (2240)


B06 PIRC-ROBATSCH DEFENSE1. e4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. g3 d6 4.

Bg2 Nf6 5. d3 0–0 6. f4 Nc6 7. Nf3 e5 8. 0–0 Be6 9. Nh4 exf4 10. Bxf4 Ng4 11. Nf3 Nd4 12. h3 Nxf3+ 13. Qxf3 Bd4+ 14. Kh1 Qd7 15. Qe2 Nf6 16. g4 Ne8 17. Be3 c5 18. Bxd4 cxd4 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. exd5 Rc8 21.


a4 Ng7 22. Rf4 f5 23. Rxd4 Rce8 24. Qd2 fxg4 25. Rxg4 Re5 26. Be4 Rh5 27. Kg2 Nf5 28. Rf1 Qf7 29. Rff4 Qg7 30. Qf2 Kh8 31. Bxf5 Rhxf5 32. Rxf5 Rxf5 33. Qxf5 gxf5 34. Rxg7 Kxg7

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-+-+0

9zpp+-+-mkp0

9-+-zp-+-+0

9+-+P+p+-0

9P+-+-+-+0

9+-+P+-+P0

9-zPP+-+K+0

9+-+-+-+-0

xiiiiiiiiy

35. Kf3 Kg6 36. Kf4 a5 37. c3 Kf6 38. b4 Ke7 39. Kxf5 b5 40. bxa5 bxa4 41. a6 1–0

Reynaldo del Pilar (2307) – IM Tim Taylor (2441)


B00 IRREGULAR DEFENSE1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4.

Nc3 Bg4 5. Bg5 g6 6. d5 Nb8 7. Qd2 Bxf3 8. gxf3 Nbd7 9. 0–0–0 c6 10. Kb1 Bg7 11. Bh6 Bxh6 12. Qxh6 Qb6 13. Bh3 Ne5 14. f4 Neg4 15. Bxg4 Nxg4 16. Qg7 0–0–0 17. dxc6 bxc6 18. Rd2 Rdf8 19. Na4 Qa5 20. Nc3 Nf6 21. e5 dxe5 22. fxe5 Qxe5

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+k+-tr-tr0

9zp-+-zppwQp0

9-+p+-snp+0

9+-+-wq-+-0

9-+-+-+-+0

9+-sN-+-+-0

9PzPPtR-zP-zP0

9+K+-+-+R0

xiiiiiiiiy

23. Re2 Qf4 24. Rxe7 Rhg8 25. Qxf7 Rxf7 26. Rxf7 Qxf2 27. a4 Re8 28. Ka2 Qd4 0–1

IM Jack Peters (2450) – IM Enrico Sevillano (2567)


C84 RUY LOPEZ, Lenzerheide Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6

4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0–0 b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. d4 d6 8. c3 0–0 9. h3 Bb7 10. Nbd2 Nd7 11. Re1 Bf6 12. Nf1 Ne7 13. Ng3 g6 14. Bh6 Bg7 15. Qd2 c5 16. Rad1 exd4 17. cxd4 c4 18. Bc2 Kh8 19. Bg5 f6 20. Bf4 d5 21. h4 dxe4 22. Nxe4 Nd5 23. Bd6 Re8 24. h5 N7b6 25. Bc5

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wqr+-mk0

9+l+-+-vlp0

9psn-+-zpp+0

9+pvLn+-+P0

9-+pzPN+-+0

9+-+-+N+-0

9PzPLwQ-zPP+0

9+-+RtR-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

25. ... c3 26. bxc3 Nc4 27. Qc1 g5 28. Bb1 Qd7 29. Qc2 Bh6 30. Ng3 Bf8 31. Nf5 Qf7 32. Bxf8 Rxf8 33. h6 Na3 34. Qb3 Nxb1 35. Rxb1 Qg6 36. Nd6 Bc6 37. c4 Nf4 38. cxb5 axb5 39. Nxb5 Qh5 40. Nh2 Bxg2 41. Nc3 Bc6 42. Re3 Nh3+ 43. Rxh3 Qxh3 44. d5 Bd7 45. Ne4 Qxh6 46. Nc5 Bf5 47. Rd1 Qh5 48. Rc1 Qe2 49. a4 Rac8 50. Nf3 Be4 51. Nd4 Qg4+ 52. Kf1 Bg2+ 53. Ke1 Qxd4 0–1

John Funderburg (2174) - Rey-naldo del Pilar (2307)


A46 COLLE SYSTEM1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c5 4. Bd3

b6 5. Qe2 Nc6 6. c3 Bb7 7. Nbd2 Be7 8. 0–0 0–0 9. Re1 Qc7 10. a3 a5 11. e4 cxd4 12. cxd4 Ng4 13. e5 f5 14. h3 Nh6

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-trk+0

9+lwqpvl-zpp0

9-zpn+p+-sn0

9zp-+-zPp+-0

9-+-zP-+-+0

9zP-+L+N+P0

9-zP-sNQzPP+0

9tR-vL-tR-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

15. Nb1 a4 16. Bxh6 gxh6 17. d5 exd5 18. Nc3 Nd8 19. Nd4 Ne6 20. Nxf5 Bc5 21. Qh5 Kh8 22. Qxh6 Rf7 23. Nb5 Qc6 24. Nbd6 Bxd6 25. Nxd6 Rg7 26. Bb5 Qc7 27. Rac1 Nc5 28. Qf6 Rag8 29. Rc3 Qxd6 30. exd6 Ne4 31. Rxe4 1–0

John Daniel Bryant (2240) – Ron Hermansen (2295)


B22 SICILIAN DEFENSE, Alapin Variation1. e4 c5 2. c3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Nf3

Qc7 5. Bd3 g6 6. 0–0 Bg7 7. a4 b6 8. Na3 a6 9. b4 Bb7 10. bxc5 bxc5 11. Bf4 Ngf6 12. d5 0–0 13. Nc4 Nb6 14. Nxb6 Qxb6 15. Rb1 Qc7 16. c4 Nh5 17. Bd2 Bc8 18. a5 Bg4 19. h3 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Rab8 21. Bc2 Bd4 22. Ba4 e5 23. Qd3 Rxb1 24. Rxb1 f5 25. exf5 Rxf5 26. Be1 Rf8 27. Rb6 Qf7 28. Qd2

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-trk+0

9+-+-+q+p0

9ptR-zp-+p+0

9zP-zpPzp-+n0

9L+Pvl-+-+0

9+-+-+-+P0

9-+-wQ-zPP+0

9+-+-vL-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

28. ... e4 29. Qc2 Qf4 30. Bd7 e3 31. Rb2 exf2+ 32. Bxf2 Bxf2+ 33. Qxf2 Qc1+ 34. Kh2 Rxf2 35. Rxf2 Kg7 36. Bb5 Qe1 37. Ra2 Qg3+ 38. Kh1 Qb3 39. Ra1 Qb2 40. Ra4 axb5 41. cxb5 Qxb5 42. Ra1 Qa6 43. Kg1


Nf4 44. Kf2 Nxd5 45. g4 Nb4 46. Kg3 g5 47. h4 Qd3+ 48. Kg2 gxh4 49. a6 Nxa6 50. g5 Qg3+ 51. Kh1 Qh3+ 52. Kg1 Qe3+ 53. Kg2 h3+ 54. Kh2 Qe5+ 55. Kxh3 Qxa1 0–1

IM Tim Taylor (2441) – IM Enrico Sevillano (2567)


E31 NIMZO-INDIAN DEFENSE, Leningrad Variation1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4.

Bg5 h6 5. Bh4 c5 6. d5 d6 7. e3 g5 8. Bg3 exd5 9. cxd5 Ne4 10. Bb5+ Nd7 11. Nge2 a6 12. Bd3 Nxg3 13. Nxg3 Ne5 14. 0–0 Bxc3 15. bxc3 g4 16. Bf5 h5 17. Bxc8 Qxc8 18. Rb1 h4 19. Ne4 Ke7 20. f4 gxf3 21. Rxf3 b5 22. Rf6 Rg8 23. Qf1 Qg4 24. Rf4 Qg6 25. a4 Rab8 26. Qf2 bxa4 27. Rf1 a3

XIIIIIIIIY

9-tr-+-+r+0

9+-+-mkp+-0

9p+-zp-+q+0

9+-zpPsn-+-0

9-+-+NtR-zp0

9zp-zP-zP-+-0

9-+-+-wQPzP0

9+-+-+RmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

28. Rf6 Qxe4 29. Rxf7+ Ke8 30. Rf4 Qxd5 31. e4 Qe6 32. Qxh4 Kd7 33. Qh7+ Qe7 34. Rf7 Nxf7 35. Rxf7 Rb1+ 36. Kf2 Rf8 37. Qf5+ Ke8 0–1

Julian Landaw (2307) – IM Jack Peters (2450)


B23 SICILIAN DEFENSE, Closed Variation1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. g3 d5 4. exd5

exd5 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. Nge2 d4 7. Ne4 Nxe4 8. Bxe4 Nd7 9. 0–0 Nf6 10. Bg2 Bd6 11. d3 0–0 12. Bf4 Bg4 13. Bxd6 Qxd6 14. h3 Bd7 15. Nf4 Rac8 16. Re1 b5 17. Nh5 Nd5 18. Qf3 Nb4 19. Re2 Rfe8 20. a3 Rxe2 21. Qxe2 Re8 22. Qd2 Nc6 23. Re1 Ne5 24. f4 Nc6 25. Rxe8+ Bxe8 26. g4 b4 27. Ng3 Bd7 28. Ne4 Qe7 29. axb4 cxb4

30. f5 f6 31. c3 h6 32. cxb4 Nxb4

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-+k+0

9zp-+lwq-zp-0

9-+-+-zp-zp0

9+-+-+P+-0

9-sn-zpN+P+0

9+-+P+-+P0

9-zP-wQ-+L+0

9+-+-+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

33. Qf4 Nxd3 34. Qb8+ Kh7 35. Qxa7 Nf4 36. Bf3 d3 37. Qe3 Qe5 38. h4 Bc6 39. Kf2 Bxe4 40. Qxe4 Qxb2+ 41. Kg3 Ne2+ 42. Bxe2 dxe2 43. Kf2 Qd2 44. Qxe2 Qf4+ 45. Kg2 h5 46. Qf3 Qxg4+ 47. Qxg4 hxg4 48. Kg3 g6 ½–½

IM Enrico Sevillano (2567) – John Funderburg (2174)


C15 FRENCH DEFENSE, Winawer Variation1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4.

Qd3 dxe4 5. Qxe4 Nf6 6. Qh4 Bd7 7. Bd3 Bc6 8. Nge2 Qd5 9. f3 Nbd7 10. a3 Bxc3+ 11. Nxc3 Qh5 12. Qf2

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+k+-tr0

9zppzpn+pzpp0

9-+l+psn-+0

9+-+-+-+q0

9-+-zP-+-+0

9zP-sNL+P+-0

9-zPP+-wQPzP0

9tR-vL-mK-+R0

xiiiiiiiiy

12. ... e5 13. g4 Nxg4 14. fxg4 Qxg4 15. d5 1–0

Ron Hermansen (2295) – Julian Landaw (2307)


C78 SICILIAN DEFENSE, Rosso-limo Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4.

Ba4 Nf6 5. 0–0 b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. c3

d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Qe2 Qd6 10. d4 exd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. cxd4 Bb7 13. Nc3 Nxc3 14. bxc3 0–0 15. Qg4 Qg6 16. Qxg6 hxg6 17. Bf4 Rac8 18. Rfe1 Rfe8 19. Re3 Bd6 20. Be5 Bxe5 21. dxe5 c5 22. Rae1 c4 23. Bc2 Rcd8 24. R1e2 Bc8 25. f3 Bf5 26. Kf2 ½–½

Reynaldo del Pilar (2307) – John Daniel Bryant (2240)


A45 OPOCENSKY OPENING1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 g6 3. Bxf6 exf6

4. Nc3 f5 5. e3 Bg7 6. Nge2 0–0 7. h4 c5 8. dxc5 Na6 9. Qd6 Qa5 10. h5 Nxc5 11. 0–0–0 Be5 12. Qe7 d6 13. hxg6 hxg6 14. Rd5 Bg7 15. Qxd6 b6 16. Nd4 Bb7 17. Bc4 Rfd8

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-tr-+k+0

9zpl+-+pvl-0

9-zp-wQ-+p+0

9wq-snR+p+-0

9-+LsN-+-+0

9+-sN-zP-+-0

9PzPP+-zPP+0

9+-mK-+-+R0

xiiiiiiiiy

18. Qxg6 Bxd5 19. Qh7+ Kf8 20. Nxf5 Ke8 21. Bb5+ Qxb5 22. Nxg7+ Kd7 23. Nxb5 Kc6 24. Nd4+ Kb7 25. Ngf5 Rac8 26. Qh2 Rc7 27. Nd6+ Ka6 28. Qg3 Bxa2 29. e4 Bb3 30. Nxb3 b5 31. Nxc5+ Kb6 32. Nc4+ bxc4 33. Rh6+ Rc6 34. Na4+ Kb7 35. Qg5 Rxh6 36. Qxd8 Rh1+ 37. Kd2 Rf1 38. Qd7+ Ka6 39. Qc6+ Ka5 40. Qc5+ 1–0

IM Jack Peters (2450) – IM Tim Taylor (2441)


B00 IRREGULAR DEFENSE1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4.

Nc3 Bg4 5. Bb5 a6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. h3 Bd7 8. Qe2 g6 9. e5 Nh5 10. Ne4 Qb8 11. 0–0 Bg7 12. g4 f5 13. Nxd6+ cxd6 14. gxh5 0–0 15. h6 Bh8 16. Bg5 Re8 17. Rfe1 Qxb2 18. Qc4+ e6 19. Rab1 Qa3 20. Re3 Qa5


21. exd6 f4 22. Bxf4 Qf5 23. Bg3 Qxh3 24. Rb7 Rad8 25. Bh4 Rb8 26. Rxb8 Rxb8 27. Rb3 Rf8 28. Be7 Qg4+ 29. Kf1 Re8 30. Ke1

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+r+kvl0

9+-+lvL-+p0

9p+pzPp+pzP0

9+-+-+-+-0

9-+QzP-+q+0

9+R+-+N+-0

9P+P+-zP-+0

9+-+-mK-+-0

xiiiiiiiiy

30. ... c5 31. Qxc5 Rc8 32. Qa7 Qe4+ 33. Kf1 Rxc2 34. Rb8+ Bc8 35. Qxa6 Rc1+ 36. Kg2 Qg4+ 37. Kh2 Qf4+ 38. Kg2 Qg4+ 39. Kh2 Qf4+ 40. Kg2 ½–½

John Daniel Bryant (2240) – IM Enrico Sevillano (2567)


B32 SICILIAN DEFENSE, La Bour-donnais Variation1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4.

Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 a6 6. Nd6+ Bxd6 7. Qxd6 Qf6 8. Qxf6 Nxf6 9. Nc3 Nb4 10. Bd3 h6 11. a3 Nxd3+ 12. cxd3 d6 13. Be3 Be6 14. d4 Ng4 15. Kd2 Rc8 16. Rac1 0–0 17. f3 exd4 18. Bxd4 Ne5 19. Bxe5 dxe5 20. Ke3 Rc4 21. Rhd1 Rfc8 22. Rd6 R4c6 23. Rxc6 Rxc6 24. Ne2 Rb6 25. b4 a5 26. bxa5 Rb5 27. Rc3 Rxa5 28. Nc1 Kf8 ½–½

John Funderburg (2174) – IM Tim Taylor (2441)


A98 DUTCH DEFENSE, Ilyin-Zhen-evsky Variation1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3

Be7 5. Bg2 0–0 6. 0–0 d6 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. Qc2 Qh5 9. b4 Nc6 10. b5 Na5 11. Qa4 b6 12. Ba3 a6 13. Ne5 Rb8 14. Nc6 Nxc6 15. bxc6 b5 16. Qa5 Ne8 17. e3 bxc4 18. Rab1 Ra8 19. Qa4 Rf6 20. Qxc4 Rh6 21. h3 Nf6

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+l+-+k+0

9+-zp-vl-zpp0

9p+Pzppsn-tr0

9+-+-+p+q0

9-+QzP-+-+0

9vL-sN-zP-zPP0

9P+-+-zPL+0

9+R+-+RmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

22. Rb7 Bd8 23. Rfb1 Bxb7 24. cxb7 Rb8 25. Qxe6+ Qf7 26. Qc8 Nd7 27. Bd5 Re6 28. Bc6 Qg6 29. Qxd7 Rxe3 30. fxe3 Qxg3+ 31. Bg2 Qxe3+ 32. Kh1 Bg5 33. Qc8+ Kf7 34. Qxc7+ Kg6 35. Qxd6+ Kh5 36. Qxb8 Bf4 37. Qxf4 Qxf4 38. b8Q Qxd4 39. Qe8+ g6 40. Qe2+ Kg5 41. Be7+ Kh6 42. Rb4 Qxc3 43. Rh4+ Kg7 44. Bg5 Qa1+ 45. Kh2 Qe5+ 46. Qxe5+ 1–0

Julian Landaw (2307) – Reynaldo del Pilar (2307)


B23 SICILIAN DEFENSE, Closed Variation1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. g3 d5 4. exd5

exd5 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. Nge2 d4 7. Ne4 Nxe4 8. Bxe4 Nd7 9. 0–0 Nf6 10. Bg2 Bd6 11. c3 d3 12. Nf4 0–0 13. Nxd3 Bxg3 14. fxg3 Qxd3 15. Rf3 Qd8 16. Rf4 Re8 17. d4 Qb6 18. d5 Bg4 19. Rxg4 Nxg4 20. Qxg4 Re1+ 21. Bf1 Rae8 22. Bh6 Rxf1+ 23. Rxf1 Qxh6 24. Qf4 Qxf4 25. Rxf4 Re5 26. c4 Kf8 27. Kf2 Ke7 28. Rf3 Re4 29. Re3 Rxe3 30. Kxe3 h5 31. Kf4 f6

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-+-+0

9zpp+-mk-zp-0

9-+-+-zp-+0

9+-zpP+-+p0

9-+P+-mK-+0

9+-+-+-zP-0

9PzP-+-+-zP0

9+-+-+-+-0

xiiiiiiiiy

32. g4 hxg4 33. Kxg4 g6 34. h4

Kd6 35. h5 gxh5+ 36. Kxh5 Ke5 37. Kg6 f5 38. d6 Kxd6 39. Kxf5 Kc6 40. Ke6 b6 41. a4 Kb7 42. Kd7 Ka6 43. Kc6 Ka5 44. Kb7 ½–½

Ron Hermansen (2295) – IM Jack Peters (2450)


B15 GURGENIDZE SYSTEM1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4

d5 5. e5 h5 6. Nf3 Nh6 7. Bd3 Bf5 8. 0–0 e6 9. b3 Nd7 10. Ne2 c5 11. c4 dxc4 12. bxc4 cxd4 13. Ba3 Qa5 14. Bd6 Nc5 15. Bxc5 Qxc5 16. Qa4+ b5 17. Qb3 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 bxc4 19. Qxd4 Rc8 20. Rab1 0–0 21. Rb7 a6 22. Rb6 Qa5 23. Qb2 c3 24. Qb4 Qxb4 25. Rxb4 Rfd8 26. Rd4 Rxd4 27. Nfxd4 Bf8 28. Rc1 Ba3 29. Rc2 Bb2

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+r+-+k+0

9+-+-+p+-0

9p+-+p+psn0

9+-+-zP-+p0

9-+-sN-zP-+0

9+-zp-+-+-0

9PvlR+N+PzP0

9+-+-+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

30. h3 Rc4 31. Kf2 Nf5 32. Nxf5 gxf5 33. Ke3 h4 34. g3 hxg3 35. Nxg3 Ra4 36. Nh5 Rxa2 37. Kd3 Kf8 38. Nf6 Ke7 39. h4 Ra1 40. h5 Rd1+ 41. Ke3 Bc1+ 42. Kf3 Rd3+ 43. Ke2 Rd2+ 44. Rxd2 Bxd2 45. h6 Kf8 0–1


Los Angeles Times chess colum-nist IM Jack Peters has been

less active in tournament play of late, but he made a strong come-back in the Pacific Southwest Open, held June 29-July 1 at the Burbank Airport Marriott. His 4½-½ score was good for clear first in a field that included four IMs. Next at 4-1 were top-rated IM Enrico Sevillano, Julian Landaw, and top Expert Christopher De Sa of Arizona.

In the Amateur (U1800) section, Austin Hughes took first place with 4½-½. The one-day Scholastic saw Dennis Neymit win the Open, and Minas Badikyan the Reserve.

A total of 100 players competed in the main event, and an addition-al 69 in the Scholastics. John Hil-lery directed for Western Chess.

IM Jack Peters – IM Andranik Matikozyan

Pacific Southwest Open, Bur-bank 2007

B84 SICILIAN DEFENSE, Najdorf Variation1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4.

Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. a4 b6 8. f4 Bb7 9. Bf3 Nbd7 10. 0–0 Qc7 11. Qe2 Rc8 12. Be3 Be7 13. g4 Nc5 14. Qg2 0–0 15. g5 Nfd7 16. Nde2 Nb8 17. f5 Rfe8 18. f6 Bf8 19. Bh5 g6

XIIIIIIIIY

9-snr+rvlk+0

9+lwq-+p+p0

9pzp-zppzPp+0

9+-sn-+-zPL0

9P+-+P+-+0

9+-sN-vL-+-0

9-zPP+N+QzP0

9tR-+-+RmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

20. Bxg6 fxg6 21. f7+ Qxf7 22. Rxf7 Kxf7 23. Rf1+ Kg8 24. Qf3 Re7 25. Bxc5 bxc5 26. Nf4 Rf7 27. Qd3 Re8 28. Qc4 Bc8 29. Nfe2 Rxf1+ 30. Kxf1 Nc6 31. Nd5 Kh8 32. Nf6 Re7 33. Qd3 Rf7 34. Nf4 Ne5 35. Qb3 Ng4 36. Nxg6+ hxg6 37. Qh3+ Nh6 38. Ke2 Bg7 39. Ne8 Bf8 40. Nf6 Bg7 41. e5 1–0

Three “Best Game” prizes were awarded, donated by chess patron Bill Conrad. Tournament winner Peters selected and annotated the games.

Vardan Betikyan – Kelly ZhangPacific Southwest Open, Bur-

bank 2007C06 FRENCH DEFENSE, Tarrasch

Variation1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Tarrasch’s system against the

French Defense. 3. ... Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5

6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 Qb6 8. Nf3 cxd4 9. cxd4 f6 10. Nf4

Much more common is 10 exf6 Nxf6 11 0-0 Bd6 12 Nc3.

10. ... Nb4 Prudently declining the offer to

snatch a piece with the risky 10. ... fxe5 11. Nxe6 Bb4+ 12 Kf1 Ke7 13 Nxg7 e4.

11. Bb1 fxe5

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+l+kvl-tr0

9zpp+n+-zpp0

9-wq-+p+-+0

9+-+pzp-+-0

9-sn-zP-sN-+0

9+-+-+N+-0

9PzP-+-zPPzP0

9tRLvLQmK-+R0

xiiiiiiiiy

12. Ng5?! Aggressive and imaginative,

though not sound. Simply 12. dxe5 keeps an edge.

12. … Nb8?? This time, Black must accept the

offer! The proper defense, 12. ... exf4 13. Qh5+ g6 14. Bxg6+ hxg6 15. Qxg6+ Kd8, leaves Black on top af-ter 16. Nxe6+ Ke7 17. Nxf8 Kxf8; or 16. Nf7+ Ke7! 17. Nxh8 Qxd4; or 16. Bxf4 e5! 17. Nf7+ (Black welcomes 17. Ne6+ Qxe6 18. Qxe6 Nd3+ 19. Kd1 Nxf4, with four pieces for the Queen) Kc7 18. Nxe5 Bd6 19. Rc1+ Nc6 20. Nxd7 Qb4+! 21. Bd2 Qxd4 22. Bc3 Qf4.

13. Qh5+ Kd7 14. Qf7+ Kc6 15. Nfxe6

White obtains a tremendous attack without yielding material. Black has no hope of survival.

15. … Bxe6 16. Nxe6 Nd7 17. Be3 e4 18. 0-0

47th Annual

Pacific Southwest Open

IM JACK PETERS


Clearing the way for the devas-tating 19 Rc1+.

18. … Na6 If 18. ... Qb5 19 Rc1+ Kb6, White

ends resistance with 20 Nc7. 19. Rc1+ Nac5 20. dxc5 Qxb2

21. Nd4+ Kc7 22. Bf4+ Kd8 23. Ne6+ Kc8 24. Qe8 mate.

Carlos Garcia – Julian Landaw Pacific Southwest Open, Bur-

bank 2007C30 KING’S GAMBIT DECLINED

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. f4 d6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. d3

This position often arises from the King’s Gambit Declined, 1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5.

6. … a6 7 Nd5Alternatives include 77 f5 and 77

Rf1. 7. … Bg4 8. h3!? Offering a Rook to create mind-

boggling complications. Usual is 8. c3.

8. … Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Nd4 10. Qg3

White is committed. The “safe” 10. Qd1? fares badly against 10. ... Nxd5 11. Bxd5 Qh4+.

10. … Nh5 Black has several ways to pocket material. After 10. ... Nxd5 11. Bxd5 Nxc2+ 12. Kd1 Nxa1, White gets sufficient compensation from 13. Qxg7 Rf8 14. Bxb7.

11. Qg4 Nxc2+?! Probably Black should prefer 11.

... c6! 12. Qxh5 cxd5 13. Bxd5 Nxc2+ 14. Kd1 g6 15. Qh6 Nxa1, although 16. Bxb7 Ra7 17. Bc6+ Ke7 1.8 Rf1 remains dangerous for Black.

12. Kd1 Nxa1 13. fxe5! Black can survive 13. Qxh5?!

b5 14. fxe5 bxc4 15. e6 g6 16. exf7+ Kd7.

13. … g6 Now 13. ... b5 is too slow, as 14.

Bg5 Qc8 15. e6! bxc4 16. exf7+ Kf8 17. Qxh5, setting up 18. Be7 mate, forces Black to give up his Queen by 17. ... Qd7 18. Be7+ Qxe7.

14. Bg5 Qd7 15. e6! Seeing 15. ... fxe6? 16. Nxc7+!

Qxc7 17. Qxe6+. 15. … Qa4+ 16. b3 Qxa2 17.

exf7+ Kf8

Not 17. ... Kxf7? 18. Qd7+, mat-ing.

18. Bh6+ Ng7 19. Qh4 Qb1+ If Black kills the attack by 19. ...

Qc2+ 20. Ke1 Bf2+ 21. Qxf2 Qxf2+ 22. Kxf2, White quickly regains material. For example, 22. ... b5 23. Nxc7 bxc4 lets White secure an ex-tra pawn by 24. Rxa1 Kxf7 (avoiding 24. ... Rc8 25. Ne8! Kxf7 26. Nxd6+ Kf6 27. Nxc8 Rxc8 28. Rxa6+) 25. Nxa8 Rxa8 26. Bxg7 Kxg7 27. dxc4.

20. Ke2 Qb2+ 21. Kf3! Winning. Instead, 21. Bd2?! g5

22. Qxg5 Qe5 is still murky. 21. … g5 22. Bxg5 b5

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-mk-tr0

9+-zp-+Psnp0

9p+-zp-+-+0

9+pvlN+-vL-0

9-+L+P+-wQ0

9+P+P+K+P0

9-wq-+-+P+0

9sn-+-+-+R0

xiiiiiiiiy

The plausible 22. ... c6 runs into 23. Nb6! (threatening 24. Be7 mate) d5 24. exd5 Bxb6 25. d6, forc-ing mate.

23. Bh6??Spoiling a brilliant attack.

White should win with 23. Be3! Qe5 24. Nf6 bxc4 (worse are 24. ... Rd8 25. Nxh7+ Rxh7 26. Qxd8+ and 24. ... Qe7 25. Bg5! Qd8 26. Ng8!) 25. Nd7+ Kxf7 26. Nxe5+ dxe5 27. Rxa1.

23. … Qf2+! 24. Qxf2 Bxf2 What a turnaround! Black’s ex-

tra material finally counts. 25. Nxc7 bxc4 26. Nxa8 The last difficult calculation is

26. Kxf2 Rc8 27. Ne6+ Kxf7 28. Bxg7 Nxb3 29. Bxh8 Kxe6 30. Bg7 cxd3, when Black’s passers are de-cisive.

26. … Bd4 27. Nc7 White can obtain a third pawn

by 27. bxc4 Kxf7 28. Nc7 Ne6 29. Nxa6, but Black’s pieces swarm to-ward the King with 29. ... Kg6 30. Be3 Rf8+ 31. Ke2 Nc2.

27. … Nxb3 28. dxc4 Kxf7 29. Nxa6 Ne6 30. Rb1 Bb6 31. Be3

Prize WinnersOpen

1st: IM Jack Peters, 4½-½; 2nd-3rd: IM Enrico Sevillano, Julian Landaw, 4-1; 4th-5th: IM Andranik Matikozyan, IM Tim Taylor, Gregg Small, Alaa-Addin Moussa, 3½-1½; U2200: 1st: Christopher De Sa, 4-1; 2nd-3rd: Vaish-nav Aradhyula, Marian Nita, 3½-1½; U2000: 1st-3rd: Pavel Savine, Kon-stantin Kavutskiy, Vardan Batikyan. 2½-2½.

Amateur1st: Austin Hughes, 4½-½; 2nd-3rd: Edward Moskala, Roger Aramayo,

Peter Joseph, Jose Gomez. 4-1; U1600: 1st: Maxwell Chou, 3½-1½;, 2nd: Excell Peoples, 3-2; 3rd: Grant Yosenick, David Karapetyan, Boris Kitap-szyan, Robert Khachatryan, 2½-1½; U1400: 1st: Tyler Paras, 3½-1½; 2nd: Armen Siwajian, 3-2; U1200: Dominic Avila, 2½-2½; Unrated: Brandon Harris, 3-2.

Scholastic Open: Dennis Neymit, 4½-½; Shyam Gandhi, Alexander Kalianna, Albert Young, Orion Burl, 4-1.

Scholastic Reserve: Minas Badikyan, 5-0; Vartan Batmazyan, Daniel Mousseri, Gore Badikyan, Harrison Chen, 4-1.

Hexes: 1st/2nd: Antonio Martin, Henry Castro, 2½-½; 3rd-4th: Rich-ard Henderson, Gabriel Sison, Daniel Alvira, 2-1

Continued on page 19 ...


First place in the Pacific Coast Open, held at the Agoura Hills

Renaissance Hotel July 19-22, went to GM Melikset Khachiyan with a 5-1 score. Although Khachiyan lost to GM Lars Bo Hansen in the fifth round, he defeated IM Andranik Matikozyan in the last. Tied for sec-ond at Next at 4½-1½ were Antonio, Hansen, GM Suat Atalik, and IM Enrico Sevillano. Harutyun Akopi-an took the U2400 prize with 4-2.

Other sections winners includ-ed Barry Lazarus, U2100; Jim Y. Chao, U1900; Leonel Campoy and Alfred Ong, U1700; Shirolly Anand, John Cachay, Howard Horwitz and Dennis Neymit, U1500; Giovanni Catalenello and Antonio Malapira, U1200; and David Alday, U800.

A total of 209 players participat-ed in the event. Steve Immitt and Randy Hough directed for the Con-tinental; Chess Association.

Among Khachiyan’s victims was GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. of the Phil-ippines. Notes by Los Angeles Times chess columnist Jack Peters.

GM Melikset Khachiyan – GM Rogelio Antonio Jr.

Pacific Coast Open, Agoura Hills 2007

B19 CARO-KANN DEFENSE1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4

4. Nxe4 Bf5 The main line of the Caro-Kann

Defense. 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3

Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6

Some prefer 10. ... Qc7. 11. Bf4 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Bb4 Or 12. ... Qc7. 13. c3 Be7 14. c4 Qa6 Playable, but 14. ... Qc7 is more

popular and more solid. The alter-

native 14. ... Bb4 15. Ne4 favors White slightly.

15. 0-0 Ngf6 16. a4 Varying from the usual 16. Rfe1

0-0 17. Nf5, when 17. ... Rfe8 de-fends.

16. … 0-0?! Khachiyan recommends 16. ...

c5. 17. b4! Thwarting ... c6-c5 and threat-

ening to trap the Queen by 18. a5. 17. … Qb6 18. Rfe1 Inviting 18. ... Bxb4?? 19. a5. 18. … Rad8 Once again, 18. ... Qc7 is safer. 19. Nf5 exf5? The critical variation begins

19. ... Rfe8 20. Nxe7+ Rxe7 21. Bf4. Black cannot get away with 21. ... Nxh5?? because 22. Bd6 Ree8 23 a5. Qa6 24. Bc7! sets up 25. b5, winning the Queen. But Black can survive 21. ... Qxb4! 22. Reb1 (not 22. Bc7? Nc5!) Qa5 23. Qa3 Ree8 24. Rxb7 Qa6, as the pawn at h5 will fall.

20. Rxe7 Ne4 White refutes 20. ... Nxh5? clev-

erly by 21. c5! Qc7 22. Qxf5 Nhf6 23. Bxh6! gxh6 24. Qxf6.

21. c5! Qc7

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-tr-trk+0

9zppwqntRpzp-0

9-+p+-+-zp0

9+-zP-+p+P0

9PzP-zPn+-+0

9+-+Q+N+-0

9-+-vL-zPP+0

9tR-+-+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

22. d5!? Powerful, but Khachiyan regret-

ted rejecting 22. Nh4. He analyzed

22. ... Ne5 23. Qxe4! Qxe7 24. Nxf5 Qe6 but missed that 25. Re1! Rfe8 (worse is 25. ... Nc4 26. Qg4 Qf6 27. Bxh6) 26. Qf4 Qd5 27. Bc3 wins material, as 27. ... Nc4 loses to 29. Qg4.

22. … a5 Also 22. ... cxd5 23. Qxd5 and 22.

... Ndxc5 23. Qxe4! are very uncom-fortable for Black.

23. d6 Qc8 24. Nd4! axb4 25. Bxb4 Ndxc5 26. Bxc5 Nxc5 27. Qxf5 Qxf5 28. Nxf5 Ra8

Black cannot exchange White’s active pieces. After 28. ... Rfe8 29. Rae1 Kf8 30. a5, White threatens 31 Nxg7.

29. Rc1! Welcoming 29. ... Nxa4 30. Rxb7

c5 31. Rc4. 29. … Ra5 White refutes 29. ... b6 by 30.

Rc4! Rxa4 31. Rxa4 Nxa4 32. d7 Nc5 33. Nd4.

30. Re5! Nb3 31. Rxa5 Nxa5 32. Rc5!

Efficiently maneuvering his Rook to g3.

32. … Nb3 33. Rc3 Na5 34. Rg3 c5 35. Nxg7 Kh7 36. d7 Rd8 37. Ne8 Kh8 38. Nf6 c4 39. Kf1?!

Quicker is 39. Rg8+ Rxg8 40. Nxg8 Nc6 41. Nxh6, when 41. ... Kg7 42. Nf5+ Kf6 loses to 43. h6! Kg6 44. Ne7+, while 41. ... c3 permits 42. Nxf7+ Kg7 43. Ne5! c2 44. Nd3.

39. … Nc6 40. Rg4 c3 41. Ke2 Ne5 42. Rg8+! Rxg8 43. Nxg8 Nxd7 44. Nxh6 Kg7 45. Nf5+ Kf6 46. Nd6 Nc5 47. a5

Threatening 48. Nxb7! Nxb7 49. a6.

47. … Nb3 48. Kd3 Nxa5 49. Kxc3

White’s pawns are unstoppable. 49. … b6 50. g4 Nc6 51. f4 Kg7

52. Kd3 Nd8 53. Ke4 Ne6 54. g5 Nf8 55. f5 Nd7 56. f6+

Not fearing 56. ... Nxf6 57. gxf6+ Kxf6, as 58. h6 Kg6 59. Nf5 b5 60. Kd5 leaves Black helpless.

56. … Kg8 57. Kf5 Nf8 58. Nxf7! Kxf7 59. g6+ Kg8 60. h6 Nd7 61. h7+ Kh8 62. Ke6, Black Resigns.

Pacific Coast Open


Mutatis mutandis

A source of contention over the last year has been the change

made at the 2006 Delegates’ Meet-ing to USCF rule 15A. This change required players to make their move on the board before writing the move on the scoresheet.

The background of the change is a little complicated. There has always been a (minority) school of thought holding that writing a move down and then changing it, or even writing the move before playing it, amounted to “use of written notes.” Fischer made this argument back in the 60s, though he didn’t have much success.

In 2006 an electronic score-keeping device called the “Mon-Roi” came on the market. Exactly why one would prefer a $400 PDA to a $.01 scoresheet is a good ques-tion, but some did. (The device was originally intended for invitational tournaments where the organizers would supply them, but that’s an-other story.) On the MonRoi, “writ-ing” a move meant moving the piece on a small digital board, so “chang-ing” one’s move really did amount to analyzing on another board.

The obvious solution would have been to make a special rule for electronic scorekeeping devic-es, but that’s not what the USCF

did. Instead, the Rules Committee recommended (and the Delegates adopted) a sledgehammer approach, requiring all players to move before writing. The effect was somewhat vitiated by the fact that the recom-mended penalty was a warning.

Over the following year, there were a number of complaints about this, from players who didn’t want to change their habits and from TDs who didn’t want their time wasted with frivolous disputes. So, at the 2007 Delegates Meeting, the rule was changed yet again. The

“basic” rule remains that one must move before writing, but a “varia-tion” was added, which I suspect most TDs will use:

15.A. (Variation 1) Paper scoresheet variation. The player using a paper scoresheet may first make the move, and then write it on the scoresheet, or vice versa. This variation does not need to be advertised in advance.

TD Tip: TD’s may penal-ize a player that is in violation of 20C. “Use of notes prohibited” if the player is first writing the move and repeatedly altering that move on their scoresheet before completing a move on the board.

So, we’re right back where we started. – John Hillery

TD Corner26.d5 Nh4 27.Qh3 Qe2 28.Qxh4

exd5 29.Re1 Qg4 30.Qxg4 hxg4 1–0

IM Alex Lenderman – GM Boris Gulko

US Open, Cherry Hill 2007B21 SICILIAN DEFENSE, Smith-

Morra Gambit 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3

4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Qe2 Be7 8.0–0 Nf6 9.Rd1 e5 10.Bb5 Bg4 11.Qc4 0–0 12.Bxc6 Rc8 13.Qa4 bxc6 14.Qxa7 d5 15.Qa4 d4 16.Qc2 Nd7 17.Ne2 c5 18.b3 c4 19.bxc4 Qc7 20.Ng3 Qxc4 21.Qxc4 Rxc4 22.Nf5 Bxf5 23.exf5 Ra8 24.Bb2 g6 25.fxg6 hxg6 26.Rdc1 Rb4 27.Rc7 Rxb2 28.Rxd7 Raxa2 29.Rc1 Bf6 30.Rf1 e4 31.Rd6 Kg7 32.Nxd4 Rd2 33.Nb5 e3 34.Rxf6 Kxf6 35.Nc3 e2 36.Re1 Rd1 37.Kh1 0–1

A. Balasubramanian – GM Ser-gey Kudrin

US Open, Cherry Hill 2007A36 ENGLISH OPENING

1.g3 c5 2.Bg2 g6 3.d3 Bg7 4.c4 Nc6 5.Nc3 e6 6.e4 Nge7 7.Nge2 a6 8.Be3 Nd4 9.h4 h6 10.Qc1 Nec6 11.0–0 d6 12.Rb1 Bd7 13.a3 a5 14.b3 Rb8 15.Bxd4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Bxd4 17.Nb5 Bxb5 18.cxb5 g5 19.hxg5 hxg5 20.Bf3 Qf6 21.Kg2 Kd7 22.Qd2

XIIIIIIIIY

9-tr-+-+-tr0

9+p+k+p+-0

9-+-zppwq-+0

9zpPzp-+-zp-0

9-+-vlP+-+0

9zPP+P+LzP-0

9-+-wQ-zPK+0

9+R+-+R+-0

xiiiiiiiiy

22...Rh2+ 23.Kxh2 Qxf3 24.Qxg5 Rh8+ 25.Qh4 Rxh4+ 26.gxh4 Be5+ 27.Kg1 Qg4+ 0–1

IM Amon Simutowe led the field until falling to Shabalov in round 8.

... Continued from page 4

IM Amon Simutowe – GM Hikaru NakamuraUS Open, Cherry Hill 2007A89 DUTCH DEFENSE, Leningrad

Variation1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 d6 4. g3

g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. 0–0 0–0 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. d5 Ne5 9. Nxe5 dxe5 10. e4 f4 11. gxf4 exf4 12. Bxf4 Nxe4 13. Qc1 e5 14. Be3 Nd6 15. Bg5 Qe8 16. Nb5 Rf7 17. Nxd6 cxd6 18. c5 dxc5 19. Qxc5 b6 20. Qc4 Bb7 21. Bh3 Kh8 22. Be6 Rf5 23. Qh4 Qb5 24. a4 Qxb2 25. Rac1 Qb3

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-+-mk0

9zpl+-+-vlp0

9-zp-+L+p+0

9+-+PzprvL-0

9P+-+-+-wQ0

9+q+-+-+-0

9-+-+-zP-zP0

9+-tR-+RmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

26. Rc7 Bxd5 27. Rxg7 Rxg5+ [27. ... Kxg7 28. Bh6+ Kh8 29. Qe7] 28. Qxg5 Bxe6 [28. ... Kxg7 29. Qxe5+] 29. Qf6 1–0


TacticsTacticsby NM Tim Hanks

All chess games should be drawn. In a recent instructional session a student found this perplexing. He

insisted that White, opening with the initiative, should theoretically have a won game with correct play. I explained that perhaps this conception might

“someday” be proven, but at this time, the notion remains that all chess games should be drawn when each side plays accurately. Black will always have counterplay or counter-chances that offsets White’s opening initiative. The initiative may be an advantage but does not necessarily equate to hav-ing a “won” game.

more games is understanding and improving your chess tactics. Tac-tics account for just about every-thing that goes on in a game. No phase of the game is without tac-tics. Understanding how to look for tactical motifs is one of the most important methods to discovering game winning combinations that often are missed and this is best accomplished with lots of practice. How many times do you play over your games using a chess program to help you analyze and improve only to discover combinations that you neglected to play and even worse never knew existed? Take a look at Problem No. 1 with Black to play. What would you do?

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wq-trk+0

9+pzplvlpzpp0

9p+n+p+-+0

9+-+pzP-+-0

9L+-zP-+-+0

9+-+-vLN+-0

9PzPPwQ-zPPzP0

9tR-+-mK-+R0

xiiiiiiiiy

What I like to do when helping others to seek out tactical combina-tions and to improve their tactical play is to have them write down at least three moves they have consid-ered in any given position. For each move they are to consider at least one basic reply. For this example what are some choices? Most ama-teurs that I quizzed almost always played 1. … b5, forcing the White Bishop to retreat to b3. Others played 1. … Re8, with White reply-ing by castling. Finally, 1. … Bb4 was suggested, attacking the White Queen, and 2. c3 is the expected re-ply.

All too often they did not really consider any strategic plan. They simply played the game one move at a time and reacted based on what their opponent did. You see this same kind of playing style with amateur pool players. They hardly ever pocket a ball to set up their next shot. Most will hit the balls re-ally hard and hope something will go in. Many times they have easier shots right in front of them but in-stead take longer shots and miss

– scattering balls that may have al-ready been set up for easy pocket-ing. Still others overlook the eight ball’s proximity to a pocket and ac-cidentally hit it in – losing instantly even though they may be way ahead with pocketed balls.

This same kind of “unaware-ness” and careless play happens in chess. Many play with reckless abandon, ignoring fundamental principles such as developing pieces

The game of chess has been kept alive over the centuries because there has been no mathematical proof of perfect play. There are so many variations and intricacies, many of which lead the game off in new directions, with unknowns still to be discovered and resolved. I once read that the total possible moves in a game of chess are 10 to the power (10 to the 50th). The idea that any computer can or will ever be able to calculate all of these moves and therefore discover a fi-nite solution is, frankly, incompre-hensible—at least in this century. What has occurred in recent years is statistical accounts of what open-ings and defenses offer the better prospects for winning (or drawing) and thus help chess players to bet-ter focus and refine their attention in game preparation. Even here the amount of time it takes to memo-rize the tremendous variety and amount of material or even to study and understand the basic strategic principles for any given line is over-whelming for just about everyone, even the world elite.

Because of this, I often empha-size that what’s truly paramount for playing chess well and winning


before attacking, castling early, do-ing their safety check, fighting for control of the center or for control of key squares. Some people go through life never understanding any of this. When faced with an experienced chess player they are quickly crushed and left baffled as to what they did wrong – especially since “they” have many years of playing experience?

Back to Problem No. 1, with Black to move. Black has two supe-rior choices that instantly win ma-terial. Neither was even considered by the amateurs. Both 1. … Nxe5 and 1. … Nxd4! are acceptable moves that employ a “discovered attack” motif. Did you look or even consider one of these choices? Let’s review.

After 1. … Nxe5 Black is attack-ing the White Bishop on a4. Thus if White replies 2. … dxe5 or 2. … Nxe5 Black responds 2. … Bxa4 and he has won a pawn. Also if 1. … Nxe5 2. Bxd7 Black can play either Nxf3+ 3. gxf3 Qxd7 or 2. … Nxd7. In either case Black has won a solid pawn and White has no compensa-tion for his material loss.

After 1…. Nxd4, which is my preference, the line is a bit more complicated and requires further insight, as it appears White has a refutation. The main line continues 2. Qxd4 c5 3. Qg4 and up to now it looks like White is holding the piece. However, Black responds 3… Qa5+ (double-attack motif) 4. Bd2 Qxa4 regaining the piece and retaining a pawn advantage with a continued initiative (via the attack on c2).

Although none of the moves con-sidered by the amateurs was an actual blunder, clearly there were better choices in the position that provided a solid material gain with no risk and improved the long-term winning chances.

In our next problem, I again asked a group of amateurs to ana-lyze the position and list 3 moves they would consider making. It’s Black to move. What would you do?

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+lwqk+-tr0

9zppzp-sn-vlp0

9-+nzp-+p+0

9+-+-+p+-0

9-+PsNP+-+0

9+-sN-vL-+-0

9PzP-wQLzPPzP0

9tR-+-mK-+R0

xiiiiiiiiy

After spending several minutes here’s what they chose:

1. … 0-0 expecting White to play 2. 0-0

1. … fxe4 expecting White to play 2. Nxe4

1. … Nxd4 expecting White to play 2. Bxd4

None of these choices are blun-ders. However, there is a better move (that will win material) which was not even considered.

So what did you choose? The best move is 1. … f4!, employing a tactical deflection motif via the White Bishop to move away from defending the White Knight on d4. So let’s review. If after 1. … f4 White responds:

2. Bxf4, then Nxd4 wins the Knight and Black has won a piece for a pawn and is clearly winning. One student went on to argue that White has compensation. He offered a few moves explaining White has a good initiative for the material defi-cit. But his analysis was quickly re-futed. For example, If 3. Bh6 Bxh6! 4. Qxd4 0-0 5. c5 Be6! 6. Bc4 Qc8! 7. cxd6 cxd6 8. Qxd6? Qxc4 9. Qxe7?? and then after Rxf2!! he realized White is totally lost and can resign.

2. Nxc6 then fxe3 3. Nxd8 exd2+ 4. Kxd2 Kxd8 and White is down a piece and has a lost game. Sometimes in lines like this, play-ers may not even realize they are losing material. Then later in the game they wonder, “Hey … when or where did I lose a piece?

Why none of the players con-sidered the deflection motif as a

method of pressing for an advan-tage can be discussed at length, I’m sure. Most amateur players simply do not think to put tactical combi-nations together. They play ultra-conservatively or simply cannot calculate accurately to foresee an outcome. Thus, their play is riddled with mistakes and/or missed win-ning opportunities throughout the game. It’s clear that studying tacti-cal problems works to improve your play. It also helps to force you to consider other moves in any given position. Many of my students have demonstrated exceptional advance-ment within only a few months of focusing only on tactics. For begin-ners this can prove to be more ben-eficial than learning or spending much time on opening variations.

In the featured game this month I focus on how a player’s style and reputation can work against him in practical play. If you look at the tournament results with less expe-rienced players you’ll discover very few draws. It’s not surprising since most amateurs always feel they have to win, even when trying to hold a draw may be the best they can ex-pect. These days the strongest play-ers have learned as White the impor-tance of being patient. When facing an aggressive opponent, known for mostly winning (or losing) games, and not willing to accept a draw … this can work against him. There is nothing wrong with accepting a draw. So many players feel draws are cowardly and thus prefer to go down in flames. It is always best to fight hard to win – and these kinds of games are certainly the best to learn from. However, watch how Kramnik takes on Topalov using the strategy of simply “waiting” for Topalov to try and make something happen and then taking advantage of this. It’s this kind of keen and shrewd psychological awareness that makes for a true great player and genuine chess champion.

Kramnik – Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 2003

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6


7. g3 d6 8. Bg2 Nbd7 9. Nf3 Bg7 10. Rb1 0–0 11. 0–0 Qa5 12. Bd2 Rfb8 13. Qc2

XIIIIIIIIY

9rtr-+-+k+0

9+-+nzppvlp0

9l+-zp-snp+0

9wq-zpP+-+-0

9-+-+-+-+0

9+-sN-+NzP-0

9PzPQvLPzPLzP0

9+R+-+RmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

So here we have the Benko Gambit. Lively. Fun to play and deadly if White is not constantly on alert. Black has sacrificed a pawn for a strong Queenside initiative. White does best to play solidly and remain patient. One slip and the entire White Queenside could fall. Black has full compensation for the sacrificed pawn and thus needs to sustain his own level of patience and work to build up further pres-sure on the Queenside or create a weakness there (or in the center) to attack. Play continued 13. ... Ne8 A standard maneuver –the Black forces build up for a Queenside as-sault. 14. Rfe1 This defends the e-Pawn. White is slowly building his position and avoiding complications as well as possible. White is almost saying, “Come on, Black. Do some-thing!” 14. … Nc7 Hitting the d5 pawn? Or is the pawn bait for some-thing else? Let’s see. 15. a4 Qb6

XIIIIIIIIY

9rtr-+-+k+0

9+-snnzppvlp0

9lwq-zp-+p+0

9+-zpP+-+-0

9P+-+-+-+0

9+-sN-+NzP-0

9-zPQvLPzPLzP0

9+R+-tR-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

16. b3! This kind of subtle move is what makes Kramnik so great

and, more important, a truly dead-ly tactician! His tactics, generally, are long-term in concept – and may be considered a kind of positional tactics. But that’s just one part of it. Kramnik is playing the board as well as his opponent’s style.

A serious aspect of gambit play is knowing when to regain your sacri-ficed material. Often, gambit play-ers are too anxious to regain their material so as to prove the sound-ness of the game (or line) and to re-gain “equality.” In doing so, if timed incorrectly, they may actually give up their advantage. In this game Topalov is anxious to make some-thing happen and miscalculates the ensuing subtle endgame difficulties for Black. The thing is ... it’s all his own doing, as Kramnik probably knew he would eventually lose his patience with this defense.

XIIIIIIIIY

9rtr-+-+k+0

9+-snnzppvlp0

9lwq-zp-+p+0

9+-zpP+-+-0

9P+-+-+-+0

9+PsN-+NzP-0

9-+QvLPzPLzP0

9+R+-tR-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

16. ... Bxc3!? In this critical po-sition, a more patient plan was for Black to play 16. … Ra7, and then if 17. e4 Bc8 with intentions of de-ploying a Knight to b4. But Topalov wants action and he wants it now.

White has no attack and is not really threatening anything directly. In any event Black has taken the

“bait” and the game enters phase II. Play continued 17. Bxc3 Nxd5 regaining the pawn – but at what cost?

XIIIIIIIIY

9rtr-+-+k+0

9+-+nzpp+p0

9lwq-zp-+p+0

9+-zpn+-+-0

9P+-+-+-+0

9+PvL-+NzP-0

9-+Q+PzPLzP0

9+R+-tR-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

18. Ne5! This grabs the initia-tive for Kramnik and sets the pace for the rest of the game. In one move, Topalov’s entire strategy to attack the Black Queenside is demolished. Kramnik now demonstrates his true strength and expertise -- win-ning in the endgame. Let’s watch. Play continued 18. … Nxe5 If 18.

… dxe5 19. Bxd5 Bb7 20. a5! (decoy) Qf6 (Black must guard his e-Pawn and beware of double-attacks. ) 21. Red1 and White will continue to build and remain in total control. Note also that if 18. … Nxc3 loses to 19. Nxc7 and Black will lose at least a piece. 19. Bxd5 Bb7 20. Bxb7 Rxb7 21. Bxe5 dxe5

Material is equal as the heavy artillery remains. However, White has an outside passed pawn, while Black has several pawn weakness-es. This is not the kind of endgame Benko Gambit players expect at all. It’s amazing how Kramnik set this all up.

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-+k+0

9+r+-zpp+p0

9-wq-+-+p+0

9+-zp-zp-+-0

9P+-+-+-+0

9+P+-+-zP-0

9-+Q+PzP-zP0

9+R+-tR-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

So now what? Black must defend – not the kind of game Topalov likes at all. Meanwhile, Kramnik just loves to squeeze wins out of posi-


tions like this. Notice how he takes his time not allowing any counter-play. This is absolutely amazing. See if you can guess the moves he makes to win this endgame.

22. Rec1 f6 23. Qe4! Not 23. Qxc5, as after Qxc5 24. Rxc5 Rxa4! and Black can draw easily. 23. … Kg7 24. Rc3 Rab8 25. Qc2 Qe6 See

Notice how White has re-orga-nized his forces to attack as well as defend. With this accomplished, how do you proceed for White?

XIIIIIIIIY

9-tr-+-+-+0

9+r+-zp-mkp0

9-+-+qzpp+0

9+-zp-zp-+-0

9P+-+-+-+0

9+PtR-+-zP-0

9-+Q+PzP-zP0

9+R+-+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

26. a5! Yes … Passed pawns

must be pushed. 26. … Kf7 27. Ra1 Rooks belong behind passed pawns. 27. … Rxb3 What else? 28. Rxb3 Qxb3 29. Qxc5 Maintaining mate-rial equality – but with positional superiority. 29. … Qb2 30. Qc4+ Kg7 31. Qa2 Again defending as well as preparing to push the pawn forward. 31. … Qxa2 Perhaps 31. … Qd4 improves. Time pressure may have played a part at this stage. 32. Rxa2 Ra8 33. a6 Ra7

Material is equal, but White has an outside passed pawn and Black has doubled pawns.

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-+-+0

9tr-+-zp-mkp0

9P+-+-zpp+0

9+-+-zp-+-0

9-+-+-+-+0

9+-+-+-zP-0

9R+-+PzP-zP0

9+-+-+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

34. Kg2 Kf7 35. Kf3 Ke6 36. g4 Kd6 37. h4 h6 38. g5! Every move must be precise. Black can only wait and hope for an error. 38.

… hxg5 39. hxg5 f5 40. e4 e6 41. Ra5! Now the Black e5 Pawn is the target. 41. … Kc7 42. Ke3 Kb8 43. Rxe5 Rxa6 44. Rc5 Kb7 45. Kf4 Kb6 46. Rc8 fxe4 47. Kxe4 Kb7 48. Rg8 Kc6 49. Rxg6 White fi-nally wins a clear pawn. The rest is very instructional technique. 49.

… Kd6 50. f4 Ra4+ 51. Kf3 Ke7 52. Rg7+ Kf8 53. Rb7 Rc4 54. g6 Rc1 55. Kg4 Rc5 56. Rf7+ Ke8 57. f5 1–0 Black resigns, as the White g-pawn will cost Black his Rook in order to stop.

This was a truly great and very instructional game. Kramnik em-ployed one key subtle move that led to a series of middlegame tac-tics. In the end Topalov sustained a serious positional weakness that offered very little hope for equality as Kramnik simply took his time to reel in the full point.

Improving your ability to calculate and visualize tactical combinations takes practice. Tactical problem solving will help in this development. Avoid moving the pieces when solving problems so as to strengthen your over-the-board play. Be alert, play sharp and always remember to do your safety check. Good luck and happy solving! Solutions on page 27.

Position No. 1. White to move. XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-+rmk0

9+q+P+Rzpp0

9p+-+-+-+0

9+p+-+-+-0

9-+-vL-+-+0

9+L+-+-+-0

9PzPP+-+PzP0

9+-+-+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

a) Black is winning. b) The position is nearly equal. c) White is winning. Prove your answer with analysis

and a variation.

Problem No. 2. White to move. XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-mkr+0

9+p+-tr-zpR0

9pwq-+-zp-+0

9+lzp-vlP+L0

9-+-+-+-+0

9zPQ+-+-+-0

9KzPPvL-+P+0

9+-+-+-+R0

xiiiiiiiiy

a) 1. c4 is correct and White will win

b) 1. c4 is incorrectValidate your move selection

with analysis.


9rwq-+-+k+0

9zpp+ntrpzpp0

9-+-+lsn-+0

9+-+-+-tR-0

9-+-wQP+-+0

9zP-+-+PsN-0

9-+-+L+PzP0

9+-vL-+RmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

a) Black is winning. b) The game is a roughly equal. c) White is winning. Prove your answer with a varia-

tion.



9r+-+kvl-tr0

9zp-+-zppzpp0

9-+p+-+-+0

9wq-+-+-+-0

9-+-zP-+-+0

9+Qsn-+P+-0

9PzP-+-zP-zP0

9tR-vL-mK-+R0

xiiiiiiiiy

a) 1. Qb7 is incorrectb) 1. Qb7 is correct and White is

better. Prove your answer with a varia-

tion.

RANK & FILE SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2007SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2007SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER

2007-2008 State Championship

Seeded into the Championship are 2007 champion Enrico Sevillano, up to three players selected on the basis of rating, and four from the 2008

Candidates Tournament.

July 29-July 1 Pacific Southwest Open Andranik Matikozyan Gregg Small Alaa-Addin Moussa July 7-15 State Championship Jack Peters Tim Taylor Julian Landaw Ron Hermansen John Daniel Bryant John Funderburg Reynaldo del Pilar

July 19-22 Pacific Coast Open Melikset Khachiyan Joel Banawa Jouaquin Banawa Harutyun Akopyan

August 11-12 San Diego County Open Adam Corper Ulric Aeria Leonard SussmanUpcoming

September 1-3 Southern California Open LAXSeptember 15 San Luis Obispo Cty. Champ. San Luis ObispoOctober 19-21 Western Pacific Open LAXNovember 22-25 American Open LAX

Each event qualifies two players (highest scoring Southern California residents not previously qualified) except that 1) In the event of a tie, all tied players will advance; 2) A score of 60% is required to qualify; 3) The SCCF Amateur, SCCF High School and any one-day event will each have one qualifying spot; and 4) All one-day tournaments shall require a 75% score and only one player shall qualify on tiebreak.

Bxe3 32. Kxe3 Nbc5 33. Rb6 Ra8 34. Nxc5 dxc5 35. Rb3 Ra5 36. Kf3?

A time pressure blunder, but 36. e5 Ra1 37. Ke4 Re1+ 38. Kd5 Rd1+ would not alter the result.

36. … Nd4+, White Resigns.

Brandon Harris – Harry Fassett Pacifi c Southwest Open, Bur-

bank 2007B34 SICILIAN DEFENSE

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 g6 6. Bb5 Bd7 7. Be3 Bg7 8. 0–0 Nf6 9. Qd2 Nxd4 10. Bxd7+ Qxd7 11. Bxd4 0–0 12. Rae1 e5 13. Be3 Ng4 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bh4 g5 16. Bg3 f5 17. f3 f4 18. Bf2 Nxf2 19. Rxf2 g4

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-trk+0

9zpp+q+-vl-0

9-+-zp-+-zp0

9+-+-zp-+-0

9-+-+Pzpp+0

9+-sN-+P+-0

9PzPPwQ-tRPzP0

9+-+-tR-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

... Continued from page 12 20. Ne2 h5 21. Ref1 Rf6 22. g3 Raf8 23. fxg4 f3 24. Nc3 hxg4 25. Qg5 Kh7 26. Rd1 Bh6 27. Qxe5 Be3 28. Kf1 Bxf2 29. Kxf2 Rh6 30. Qd4 Rxh2+ 31. Ke3 Rh6 32. Nd5 Qc6 33. c4 Qc5 34. b4 Qxd4+ 35. Rxd4 f2 36. Rd1 f1Q 37. Rxf1 Rxf1 38. a4 Rh3 0–1

Just another draw ...IM Enrico Sevillano – IM Jack

PetersPacifi c Southwest Open, Bur-

bank 2007B14 SICILIAN DEFENSE, Alapin

Variation1. e4 c5 2. c3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4.

cxd4 d5 5. exd5 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nxd5 7. Qb3 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Bg7 9. h4 Qc7 10. Bc4 0–0 11. h5 Nc6 12. hxg6 hxg6 13. Bd3 Be6

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-trk+0

9zppwq-zppvl-0

9-+n+l+p+0

9+-+-+-+-0

9-+-zP-+-+0

9+QzPL+-+-0

9P+-+-zPP+0

9tR-vL-mK-sNR0

xiiiiiiiiy

14. Bxg6 Bxb3 15. Bh7+ Kh8 16. Bc2+ Kg8 17. Bh7+ Kh8 18. Bc2+ ½-½


Pasadena Chess ClubThe 26-player Mount Wilson

Open was won by Ike Miller, 5-1, with Tianyi He and Randy Hough a half-point behind. Winners of class prizes included Gordon Brooks, Greg Hall, and Dave Matson (tied for Under 2000), Jerry Harrison and Bill Kiplinger (tied for Under 1800), Jason McKeen and Tai Yoon (tied for Under 1600), and Guanyang Yu (Under 1400). In August, The Lib-erty Open, with 36 players, was won by Larry Stevens and Dave Matson at 5-1. Ike Miller and Tianyi He trailed by a half point. Class win-ners included Gregg Fritchle (under 2000), Rolando Tenoso and Robert Xue (under 1800), Isidoro Can (un-der 1600), Guanyang Yu and Jared Ogassian (under 1400), and Ray-mond Law (unrated).

The club meets Friday nights at Throop Memorial Church, 300 S. Los Robles. For details, call Randy Hough, (626) 282-7412 or e-mail [email protected]. – Ran-dy Hough

Arcadia Chess ClubThe B.T. McGuire Memorial,

ending in June, had a fine turnout of 58 players. Ike Miller took first place with 6-0. Class prize winners included Randy Hough (X), Ryan Yeung (A), Roger Aramayo (B), Rob-ert Head and Eduardo Linsangan

(C), and Alvin Huang and Varton Ghazarian (D-E).

In July, Gregg Fritchle, Dave Matson, Ike Miller and Jeremy Stein tied for first in the 47-player Summer Open. Class prizes went to Wendell Salverson and Roel Sanchez (B), Robert Head, Hubert Jung, Eduardo Linsangan, Richard Luchetta and Richard Yang, (C), and Jeffrey Ding, Joel Pasternack and Zheng Zhu (D-E-unrated).

The Arcadia Chess Club meets at 6:30 p.m. Mondays in the Senior Citizens building, 405 S. Santa Ani-ta Ave. For information, call Fred Brock at (626) 331-1638 or Mel Clark at (626) 447-9355. Web site: www.geocities.com/arcadiachessclub.

Diversity Educational Center

On June 24, Shyam Gandhi, Henry Wang, Rianne Sanchez, Bry-an Tiu, Shelley Anthopoulos, Vince Ho and Roderick Law finished first in the Diversity Summer Quads in Arcadia. On July 14, Simone Liao won the Summer Scholastics, with other prizes going to Henry Wang, Aaron Householder, Justin Tay, Da-vid Chen, Evan Anthopoulos, Jona-than Meaglia and Matthew Ung. See diversityeducationalcenter.com for further information.

Los Angeles Chess Club

IM Tim Taylor won the Los An-geles Chess Club Championship, held on July 4, with a 6-0 score. The tournament of 25-minute games at-tracted 18 players. Mick Bighamian finished second at 5-1, followed by

Dan Alvira, Show Kitagami and Jeremy Stein.

The Los Angeles Chess Club meets on the second floor of 11514 Santa Monica Blvd., above Javan restaurant. For informa-tion, call Mick Bighamian at (310) 795-5710 or send a message to [email protected]. Web site: www.lachessclub.com.

Exposition Park Chess Club

On July 1, Auluvance Tillmon, David Alday and Johnny Sears topped sections in the monthly free tournament at the Exposition Park Chess Club. Winners on August 5 were Auluvance Tillmon, Jose Go-mez, Davetta Range, Reynaldo Cruz and Daniel Dudley. For photos of the club, see chess.expoparkla.com. The club meets every Sunday after-noon in the public library, 3665 S. Vermont Ave. in Los Angeles.

San Diego Chess ClubThe San Diego Chess Club com-

pleted the 2007 Capablanca Chal-lenge in June with 61 players trying to emulate the great Jose Raul Ca-pablanca, one of the most revered and popular World Champions ever to hold the crown. The Cuban won the title in 1921 by defeating Eman-uel Lasker, a German titan of the chess world in the early part of the 20th century. The match had been delayed for over 10 years due to an inability to agree to terms and, later by World War 1. Jose Raul was known for his clean, crisp style, unlike his predecessor, Lasker and also the man who followed him, Al-exander Alekhine, both of whom


liked to complicate things as much as possible. “Capa” was also known as an incredible talent who did not seem to need study the game much at all; it just came to him naturally with little effort. At least that is the myth, how much truth is in this myth is open to debate. What is known is that he was employed as a diplomat by the Cuban government and had a well dressed and dashing appearance with a charming and cosmopolitan manner. He also had a reputation as a ladies man. The night before a tournament he was more likely to be romancing the lo-cal beauty rather than preparing an opening line for his opponents. As today’s athletes want to “be like Mike” (Michael Jordan), with total dominance over their chosen sport, so do chess players in the past and even still today aspire to be like Raul.

The Capablanca Challenge was a 6 round event using the McMa-hon pairing system, where every-one plays in one large section, but the higher rated players start with bye points: Masters and Experts started with 4 points, Class A play-ers with 3, Class B with 2, Class C with 1 and Class D and below with 0. It is a fair system as long as your have enough players in each class so that most players end up play-ing someone fairly close to their own rating most of the time. One of the advantages of a McMahon sys-tem over a 5 section separate Class event is that you don’t have the problem of an uneven number (and thus unpaired players) in each sec-tion, so at most you will only need one house player with the McMa-hon, instead of possibly as many as 5 house players needed in the worse case scenario with a regular Class event. It is a little strange getting used to the McMahon at first, but we have found it works extremely well and are very proud to be one of the few clubs using this excellent system.

Bruce Baker won clear first place with 10 points, ahead of Ale-jandro Garamendi and Dimitry

Kishinevsky, who came in with 8½. The Class A prize was split between Hercules Madriaga and Ben Bar-quin, both with 7½ points while Ron Soto placed 3rd U1800. The Class B prize was won by Chuck Ensey with 6 points, followed by Fausto Robles, Shaun Sweitzer and Damani Fair, all with 5½. Then there was a 3-way tie for the Class C prize among Rocio Murra, Ryan Nichols and Robert Samuel, all with 4½ points. Manuel San German captured the top Class D prize with 4 points, and Anthony Arciga, Karen Kaufman and Monica Ness tied for second place with 3 points.

The club meets on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. in Balboa Park at 2225 Sixth Avenue and is open ev-eryday for casual play. The club is also known for hosting a four round G/45 event on Saturdays, the “Gam-bito Open,” now up to #333 (6½ years worth) in the history books. See our website at http://Groups.msn.com/sandiegochess for more stories, games and photos – Chuck Ensey

George Zeigler (2125) – Dimitry Kishinevsky (2189)

Capablanca Challenge, San Diego 2007

B00 IRREGULAR DEFENSE(Notes by IM Cyrus Lakdawala)George and Dimitry always seem

to play these psycho games, but this one topped them all. Zeigler played one of the best games I have seen played at the club in several years and then on the verge of victory, blundered twice to get mated him-self!

1. e4 a6!? Here we go, some provocation on

the first move! 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. d4 d6

5. f4! The KID Four Pawns Attack is

probably the best way for White to try and exploit Black’s move order.

5. ... Nf6 6. Nf3 0–0 7. Bd3 Perhaps 7. Be3! to discourage

... c5. Then 7. ... Ng4 8. Bg1 gives White the advantage.

7. ... Nc6!?

7. ... c5! 8. d5 e6 transposes back to a normal KID Four Pawns Attack where theory says Black is equal. ]

8. e5 8. d5 Nb4 9. Be2 a5 10. 0–0 c6 11.

a3 Qb6+ 12. Kh1 Na6 13. Bd3 Nc5 14. Bc2 cxd5 15. e5! dxe5 16. fxe5 Nfd7 17. Nxd5 Qd8 18. Bg5 (18. Be3) f6 19. exf6 exf6 20. Bf4 leaves Black very uncomfortable in the open cen-ter.

8. ... dxe5 9. fxe5 Ng4 10. Be4! f5?

10. ... f6 11. h3 Nh6 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Bxh6 Bxh6 14. Qe2 is slightly better for White.

11. Bd5+! e6 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Na4!

Excellent positional play by Zei-gler. White has achieved a massive bind on the Queenside and center.

13. ... Nh6 14. Bg5 Qe8 15. Qd2 Nf7 16. h4 h6 17. Bf4 Qe7 18. Nc5 a5 19. a4 Rd8 20. 0–0–0!?

He wants to be a hero. I would have played a bit more cowardly as White and tried to keep up the stra-tegic pressure with 20. Qf2 Rb8 21. b3 Bf8 22. Bd2.

20. ... Ba6 21. b3 Rdb8 22. Rhg1!

White’s attack is faster. 22. ... Rb4! A practical decision. Black’s only

chance is to sac on c4. 22. ... h5!? is strategic misery for Black.

23. g4

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-+k+0

9+-zp-wqnvl-0

9l+p+p+pzp0

9zp-sN-zPp+-0

9PtrPzP-vLPzP0

9+P+-+N+-0

9-+-wQ-+-+0

9+-mKR+-tR-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Also good was 23. Qc2!?.23. ... Bxc4 24. gxf5! Bxb3!If 24. ... exf5 25. Rxg6 Bxb3 26.

Rdg1 Rc4+ 27. Kb1 Rb8 28. Rxg7+ Kh8 29. Qb2! Rcb4 (29. ... Bc2+? 30. Ka1 Rxb2? 31. Rg8+) 30. Nxb3!


Rxb3 31. Rg8+ Rxg8 32. Rxg8+ Kxg8 33. Qxb3, White is winning.

25. Rxg6! Rc4+ 26. Kb2! Bxd1

No good is 26. ... Rc2+ 27. Qxc2 Bxc2 28. Kxc2 Nh8 29. Rg3! (29. Rxe6?! Qf7 30. f6 Qg6+ 31. Kc1 Qh5 32. fxg7 Ng6 33. Bd2 Qxf3 34. Rxg6 Rb8 35. Rdg1) 29. ... Kh7 30. Nxe6 Bf8 31. Rdg1 Nf7 32. Rg8! Rb8 33. Nxf8+ Rxf8 34. R1g7#.

27. Rxg7+! Kh8 28. f6?? After superb play Zeigler stum-

bles at the end. He wins with 28. Qxd1! Rb8+ 29. Ka2.

28. ... Rb8+ 29. Ka2?? 29. Ka1 Qxc5! 30. dxc5 Rxa4+

31. Qa2 Rxa2+ 32. Kxa2 Bxf3 33. Rxf7 Bd5+ 34. Ka1 Rb4 35. Bxh6 Rxh4 is probably a draw.

29. ... Qxc5! 0–1Nice. What a turnaround. Bravo

to both players! One of the most entertaining games played at the SDCC in a long time!

Gambito Open News The July Super Gambito Open

(#328) had a strong showing of 38 players, including 4 Masters and with the top 14 players all with a rat-ing over 1900. IM Cyrus Lakdawala won $200 with a 3½ score, despite allowing a draw to US Cadet champ NM Elliott Liu in Rd 3. Another rising young star, 9 year old Varun Krishnan beat NM Bruce Baker in Round 1. These kids are killing us old fogies! Bruce still came in 2nd Place with 3 for $75. Also scor-ing 3 (out of 4) were Carey Milton and Leonard Sussman, who tied for BU2200 for $75 each and Ben Barquin who won $100 for BU2000. Varun tied for 2nd U2000 with Ed Baluran with 2 points.

In the Reserve Section, another youngster, Alan Tsoi, took first place with a 3½ score, for a $100 prize. Alan was featured on the cov-er of the Reader magazine recently, although unfortunately they got his name wrong. Ironically the title of the article was “You can’t hide who you are when you play chess”! Tying for Second place with 3 were

Nestor Dagamat, Pejman Sagart, Aaron Ibarra and Jesse Orlowski. Tom Kuhn won BU1600 ($100) with 2 points while Ryan Nich-ols, Gene Arnaiz, and Harold Gon-zalez tied for 2nd U1600.

The August Super Gambito (#332) drew a more modest 30 players, but still with 13 of them over 1900. Cyrus Lakdawala won first place, scor-ing a perfect 4 points. Leonard Sussman and Carey Milton once again tied for BU2200, while John Funderburg, Rick Aeria and Raoul Crisologo split the 2nd U2200 prize. Daniel Felix won his first major vic-tory at the Gambito Open, taking the BU2000 prize all for himself. Three players tied for 2nd U2000: Hercules Madriaga, Chuck Ensey and Peter Hodges. In the Reserves (U1800), William Delaney won First Place with 3½ points while Nestor Dagamat tied with Pejman Sagart for 2nd U1600 with 3. Gene Arnaiz, Tom Kuhn and Darren Chow tied for BU1600 with 2.

The Gambito Open has been go-ing strong now for almost 7 years and once a year we play a Super Double Gambito Open, consisting of 8 rounds of G/45 over a 2 day period. This year the Super Double will be on November 3 instead of the usual December date, because we think we can get a bigger turnout in No-vember with less holiday conflicts than in the last month of the year. See our website http://groups.msn.com/sandiegochess for details on the generous prize fund. – Chuck Ensey

Bruce Baker (2277) – Elliott Liu (2320)

328th Gambito, San Diego 2007B23 SICILIAN DEFENSE, Rossolimo

Variation1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4

4. Bc4 e6 5. Nf3 a6 6.

Nxd4 cxd4 7. Ne2 b5 8. Bb3 Bc5 9. d3 Ne7 10. c3 dxc3 11. bxc3 Bb7 12. 0–0 0–0 13. d4 Bb6 14. Qd3 f5 15. f3 Kh8 16. Ba3 Rf6 17. Bd6 Bc7 18. e5 Rf7 19. Bc5 Nd5 20. a4 bxa4 21. Bxa4 Bb6 22. Bd6 a5 23. Rfb1 Qg5 24. c4 Ne3

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-+-mk0

9+l+p+rzpp0

9-vl-vLp+-+0

9zp-+-zPpwq-0

9L+PzP-+-+0

9+-+QsnP+-0

9-+-+N+PzP0

9tRR+-+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

25. Nf4 Qxf4 26. Rxb6 Bxf3 27. Rab1 h5 28. gxf3 Qxf3 29. R6b2 Qg4+ 30. Kf2 Qf4+ 31. Ke1 Ng4 32. Bd1 Nxh2 33. Qh3 Qe4+ 34. Be2 g6 35. Qxh2 Qxd4 36. Qf2 Qc3+ 37. Kf1 f4 38. Qf3 1–0

William Delaney (1708) – Nestor Dagamat (1667)

August Super Gambito, San Di-ego 2007

B01 Center Counter Defense1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3

Qd8 4. d4 h6 5. h3 Nf6 6. Nf3 e6 7. Bf4 Bb4 8. Qd3 0–0 9. a3 Ba5 10. Be2 Nd5 11. Bh2 c6 12. 0–0 Bc7 13. Nxd5 Bxh2+ 14. Nxh2 exd5 15. Qg3 Nd7 16. Rfe1 Nf6 17. Bd3 Nh5 18.

ELLIOTT LIU AND BRUCE BAKER


Qe5 Nf6 19. Qe7 Qb6 20. Qb4 Qc7 21. Re7 Qf4 22. Rae1 a5 23. Qc3 g6 24. R1e3 Qd6 25. Qe1 Ra7 26. Nf3 Be6

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-trk+0

9trp+-tRp+-0

9-+pwqlsnpzp0

9zp-+p+-+-0

9-+-zP-+-+0

9zP-+LtRN+P0

9-zPP+-zPP+0

9+-+-wQ-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

27. R7xe6 fxe6 28. Rxe6 Qf4 29. Re7 Raa8 30. Qe6+ Kh8 31. Bxg6 Rg8 32. Qxf6+ Qxf6 33. Rh7# 1–0

San Diego County Championship

State Champion IM Enrico Se-villano topped the field with 4½-½ in this 74-player event, held at the San Diego Chess Club August 11-12. Next with 4-1 was John Daniel Bry-ant. Tying for third, and earning spots in the State Championship qualifying cycle, were San Diego regulars Adam Corper, Ulric Aeria, and Leonard Sussman. Other sec-tion winners were Benjamin Bar-quin and Imre Barlay, tied at 4½-½ in Under 2000, and Andrew Daniel-son and Yash Pershad, both with 4-1 in U1600. Chuck Ensey and Bruce Baker directed.

The Long Viewby John Hillery

In 1895 Harry Nelson Pillsbury traveled to Europe to compete in his first international tournament

-- and he won, ahead of such lumi-naries as Lasker, Tarrasch and Chigorin. Though a frequent and successful tournament competitor over the next few years, he never succeeded in obtaining the match for the world championship he sought. His long illness and early death in 1906 deprived the world of one of its greatest players. Among his other contributions to the game, Pillsbury demonstrated the worth of the Queen’s Gambit in an era when anything other than 1. e4 e5 was often dismissed as “Irregular.”

Pillsbury – TarraschHastings 1895D55 QUEEN’S GAMBIT DECLINED

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Rc1 0-0 7. e3 b6 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. 0-0 c5 11. Re1 c4

At the time most masters thought that Black’s Queenside pawn majority should give him the advantage—given time, he will advanace his b- and c-pawns and create a passed pawn on the c-file. Pillsbury shows that White’s active pieces are of greater import.

12. Bb1 a6 13. Ne5 b5 14. f4 Re8 15. Qf3 Nf8 16. Ne2 Ne4 17. Bxe7 Rxe7 18. Bxe4 dxe4

White does not object to ex-changes, for the Black Bb7 cannot easily participate in the defense of the Kingside.

19. Qg3 f6 20. Ng4 Kh8 21. f5 Qd7 22. Rf1 Rd8 23. Rf4 Qd6

White has steadily strengthened his position while Black tempo-rized.

24. Qh4 Rde8 25. Nc3 Bd5 26. Nf2 Qc6 27. Rf1 b4 28. Ne2 Qa4

It seems that Black’s strategy has succeeded, for he must now ob-tain a passed pawn on the Queen-side. But all the White pieces are poised for an attack on the Black King.

29. Ng4 Nd7 Not 29. ... Qxa2? 30. Nxf6! and

wins.30. R4f2 Kg8 And now if 30. ... Qxa2 31. Nf4

Bf7 32. Ng6+ Bxg6 33. fxg6 h6 34. Nxh6 gxh6 35. Qxh6+ Kg8 36. Rf5 wins.

31. Nc1 c3 32. b3 Qc6 33. h3 a5 34. Nh2 a4 35. g4 axb3 36. axb3 Ra8

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-+k+0

9+-+ntr-zpp0

9-+q+-zp-+0

9+-+l+P+-0

9-zp-zPp+PwQ0

9+Pzp-zP-+P0

9-+-+-tR-sN0

9+-sN-+RmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

37. g5! Ra3 38. Ng4 Bxb3 39. Rg2 Kh8 40. gxf6 gxf6 41. Nxb3 Rxb3 42. Nh6

Threatening 43. Rg8 mate.42. ... Rg7 43. Rxg7 Kxg7 44.

Qg3+! Kxh6Forced, as 44. ... Kf8 45. Qg8+

picks off the Rook at b3.45. Kh1!A quiet but deadly move -- Black

is helpless against the threat to close the mating net with 446. Rg1.

45. ... Qd5 46. Rg1 Qxf5 47. Qh4+ Qh5 48. Qf4+ Qg5 49. Rxg5 fxg5 50. Qd6+ Kh5 51. Qxd7 c2 52. Qxh7 mate

A DETERMINED SEVILLANO PONDERS HIS NEXT MOVE

43rd Annual American OpenLAX Renaissance Hotel November 22-25

$$40,000 b/400, $20,000 guaranteed!see page 26 for full details


Top of the ClassMichael Angelo Purcell of Tor-

rance tied for second in the U1800 section of the 2007 National Open. Here is his spectacular last-round victory. Notes by the winner.

Michael Angelo Purcell (1747) – Haochi Shi, (1788)

National Open, Las Vegas 2007C45 SCOTCH GAME

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 My beloved Scotch Opening. I

have had years of success with this opening. I play it different as of-ten as I can so as to get out of well known lines early and make my op-ponents think and play real chess.

3. ... exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6

I love playing positions with many pawn problems for the other side and this exchange creates an isolated pawn, doubled pawns and three pawn islands for Black. 5. ... bxc6 6. e5 is usually played now.

5. ... bxc6 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. 0–0 Safety first. 7…Be7 Or 7. ... d5?! 8. e5 Nd7 9. Bf4. 8. Be3 Now we are in new territory.

The are no games with this position in my database.

8. ... 0–0 9. Nc3 Re8 A mistake that allows me to begin

a march to take the Black fortress. The Black Rook has removed the foundation to Black’s perfect house. Now I can send the Knight packing too. 9. ... d6 was much better.

10. e5 A kick in the shin with a big fat

grin! 10. ... Nd5

Games From Recent Events

At this stage I made my first as-sessment. I felt I had a winning po-sition. My Bishops are looking at a King with no Knight guarding the front door.

11. Nxd5 Arrest the guardian of the gate. 11. ... cxd5 12. f4 I sensed my inexperienced oppo-

nent would want to play d6 to try to get me to exchange and fix his pawns.

12. ... d6 13. e6 I spent a good 15 seconds check-

ing out this move which I had seen a move earlier. It had to be good. It forces Black to weaken his King even if he plays Rf8.

13. ... fxe6?! 14. Qh5 g6?!

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wqr+k+0

9zplzp-vl-+p0

9-+-zpp+p+0

9+-+p+-+Q0

9-+-+-zP-+0

9+-+LvL-+-0

9PzPP+-+PzP0

9tR-+-+RmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Black underestimated my at-tack. He thought I was playing for the draw. No way Jose! On 14. ... h6 15. Qg6 Bf6 16. Qh7+ Kf8 17. Bg6 d4 18. Bd2 Ke7 19. Bxe8 Qxe8 20. Rae1 White is much better, but it’s not as bad as the game.

15. Bxg6 hxg6 16. Qxg6+ Kf8 Mate in 5. On 16. ... Kh8 I saw

so many ways to win this that I was besides myself. Here it was the last round and I was going to end my game ahead of the top two boards.

I would then have to wait for their games to finish before knowing what place I would get. One way is 17. Bd4+ (or 17. Rf3 Bh4 18. Bd4+ e5 19. Qh5+ Kg7 20. fxe5 Bf2+ 21. Rxf2 Rf8 22. e6+ Qf6 23. Rxf6 Rxf6 24. Qf7+ Kh6 25. Be3+ Rf4 26. Bxf4#) 17. ... e5 18. fxe5 Rf8 19. Rxf8+ Qxf8 20. e6+ Bf6 21. Bxf6+ Qxf6 22. Qxf6+ Kh7 23. Qf7+ Kh6 24. Rf1 d4 25. Rf6+ Kg5 26. Qg7+ Kh5 27. Rh6#]

17. f5 He went into shock on this move.

Expecting I would play Qh6 and try for the draw.

17. ... Bf6 18. Bh6+ 1–0 Black resigned rather than face

the mate in two.

Fast and SlowThe Gambito tournaments fea-

ture a fast time control, but that proves no hindrance to the sort of slow positional maneuvering at which Lakdawala excels. Notes by the winner.

IM Cyrus Lakdawala – John Fun-derburg

Super Gambito #333, San Diego 2007

A45 OPOCENSKY OPENING1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 c5 3. d5!? Gambiting a pawn. Alternatives

are 3. Bxf6 gxf6 4. d5 Qb6 5. Qc1 f5 6. g3 (Lakdawala-Nakamura, 2005 US Championship), and 3. Nc3 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Qh4 with a strange Sicilian/Center Counter hybrid.

3. ... Qb6 4. Nc3 e5!? An IM played this on me recently

on ICC. The idea is to play a Czech Benoni where the White Bishop


on g5 is vulnerable to swaps and ... Nxd5 tac-tical shots. 4. ... Qxb2!? 5. Bd2 Qb6 6. e4 d6 7. f4 e5! (Vaganian won several crushing games in the 70’s with 7. ... g6?! 8. e5!) 8. fxe5 dxe5 9. Nf3 gave me good compensation for the pawn vs. GM Gil-berto Hernandez in the 2000 Dos Herma-nos qualifier.

5. Rb1 Be7 6. e4 d6 7. Nf3 Nbd7

If 7. ... Bg4?! 8. Be2 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 h6 10. Be3 Nh7 11. h4, and White is clearly better.

8. Nd2 a6 9. Be3! Weaker was 9. Be2?! Qd8! 10. a4

Nxd5 11. Bxe7 Nxe7 12. Nc4 0–0 13. Qxd6 Nc6, with equality.

9. ... Qc7 10. a4 White has a nagging space ad-

vantage, but Black’s position is weakness-free.

10. ... b6 11. Bd3 Nf8 12. f3 Ng6 13. g3 h6 14. Qe2 Nh7 15. h4

White is willing to loosen his Kingside in exchange for more space.

15. ... Nf6 16. Bf2 h5 17. Nc4 Nd7 18. Ne3 Bf8! 19. Kf1 Ne7 20. Kg2 g6 21. Rbf1

Playing for an f4 pawn break. 21. ... Bg7 22. b3 Nf6 23. Be1! Heading to c3, where the Bishop

will help with the f4 break. 23. ... Bh6 24. Bd2 Kf8 25. Rf2

Kg7 26. Rhf1 Qd7! 27. Rh1 Just testing. 27. ... Ne8 28. Nb1! Nc7 29.

Na3 Rb8 30. c4 I wanted black to play ... a5 to

seal the Queenside. Then I can con-centrate on a Kingside break with-out fear of Queenside counterplay. But John carefully keeps the ten-sion on the Queenside.

30. ... Bb7 31. Bc3 f6 32. f4 Rbf8

32. ... exf4?! is tempting for Black because it looks like he may get some central counterplay, but White can get a big advantage with

33. gxf4 Rbe8 34. Re1 Ng8 35. f5.

33. Nac2 Bc8 34. f5!

Undermin-ing h5.

34. ... Qe8 35. Rhf1

Also good was35. fxg6 Qxg6 36. Rhf1 Rhg8 37. Qf3

Bf4 38. Kh2. 35. ... g5 36.

Rh1! Rfg8If he closed the Kingside I had

planned 36. ... g4 37. a5! b5 38. b4!. 37. hxg5 Bxg5 38. Kf1 Rh6 39.

Rfh2 Rgh8 40. Ne1! The key to victory is to elimi-

nate Black’s “bad” Bishop, who isn’t so bad after all and covers all the Kingside dark squares.

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+l+q+-tr0

9+-sn-sn-mk-0

9pzp-zp-zp-tr0

9+-zpPzpPvlp0

9P+P+P+-+0

9+PvLLsN-zP-0

9-+-+Q+-tR0

9+-+-sNK+R0

xiiiiiiiiy

40. ... Bxe3 Or 40. ... Bd7 41. Nf3. 41. Qxe3 b5 42. axb5 axb5 43.

Nf3 Also strong was 43. Ba5. 43. ... Bd7 44. g4 Now Black’s Kingside pawn shel-

ter crumbles. 44. ... bxc4 45. bxc4 Qf7 46.

Bd2 Kf8 47. g5 Also winning was 47. Qxh6+. 47. ... fxg5 48. Qxg5 Qf6 49.

Qxf6+ Another was was49. Qh4. 49. ... Rxf6 50. Rxh5 Rxh5 51.

Rxh5 Kg7 52. Bg5 1–0If he moves the Rook f5-f6+ will

follow. A heavy-duty maneuvering game.

Solutions to Chess Quiz

(see page 28)

Domuls-Polyakov, Lat-via 1980: White would like to pin the Black Knight at f7, the enemy King’s only defend-er, but the key is to do so with check: 1. Rd8+ Nx8 2. Bh5+ Nf7 3. Rd8#.

Rohde-Liu, Cherry Hill 2007: Though they appear to be far apart, the White pieces cooperate marvelously after 1. Qxd7! Qxd7 2. Rg8+ Kxg8 3. Nxf6+, and White will emerge a piece ahead.

Rogers-Toth, Adelaide 2007: The Black King has lost his pawn shelter, but the deci-sive blow comes from the oth-er flank: 1. Rxa7!, and Black is helpless: 1. … Qxa7 2. Be6+ Qf7 (2. … Kf8 3. Qh8+ Ke7 4. Qxg7+ loses even more mate-rial) 3. Bxf7+ Rxf7 4. Qg4+ Rg7 5. Qe6+ Kh8 7. Rxf6, 1. … Qe8 2. Bh7+ Kh8 (2. … Kf8 3. Rxf6+) 3. Bg6+, or 1. … Qf8 2. Be6+ Rf7 3. Bxf7+ Kg7 4. Qg6+ Kh8 5. Rf5.

IM CYRUS LAKDAWALA


Upcoming Events

September 15COSTA MESA OCTOS. 3-SS, G/80. (Digital Clocks with delay G/75). 8 player sections by rating. Odd Fellows/Rebekah Hall, 2476 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA. EF: $27 advance, $32 at site, $2 disc. to all Southern Calif. Chess Federa-tion members. $$ prizes per entries. Reg. 9:45-10:15 a.m. Rds. 10:30-1:45-5:00. (New times) Rounds may start earlier if your opponent is present and ready. Info/Ent: Takashi Iwamoto ([email protected]), 24275 Tama Lane, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677. Home: (949) 643-2981 Cell: (949) 689-3511. Web site: http://members.cox.net/octochess/. NS, NC.

September 15 SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY CHAMPION-

SHIP. 4-SS, G/60. Mayr Gallery, 169 Granada #3, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. EF: $30 in advance; $40 at site; less $5 SCCF; Cash only at site. Prizes: 90% entries to be paid out. Reg.: 9-9:30 a.m. Rds.: 10-12:15-2:45-5. One 1/2 pt. Bye any rd. with entry. Ent: Payable to S.L.O. Chess Club, 234 Via La Paz, S.L.O., CA 93401. Info: (Barbara) 805-540-0747, [email protected]. State Championship Qualifier

September 15CHESS UNION FALL OPEN. 3-SS, G/75. No time delay allowed. Back to the Grind Café (lower level), 3575 Uni-versity Ave Riverside, CA 92501. Top 2 $$150-$75 Gtd., U1800 & U1600 prizes b/20. EF: $24 on-line/mail received by Sept. 8, $30 at door. Reg: 9:00-10:10 a.m. Rds: 10:15-1:00-4:00. Ent: Mail checks to the “Chess Union,” PO Box 1313, Bloomington, CA 92316. Info: Call (951) 990-7990. On-line entries at

TheChessUnion.com. No checks or credit card entries at door. NC.

October 13COSTA MESA OCTOS. 3-SS, G/80. (Digital Clocks with delay G/75). 8 player sections by rating. Odd Fellows/Rebekah Hall, 2476 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA. EF: $27 advance, $32 at site, $2 disc. to all Southern Calif. Chess Federa-tion members. $$ prizes per entries. Reg. 9:45-10:15 a.m. Rds. 10:30-1:45-5:00. (New times) Rounds may start earlier if your opponent is present and ready. Info/Ent: Takashi Iwamoto ([email protected]), 24275 Tama Lane, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677. Home: (949) 643-2981 Cell: (949) 689-3511. Web site: http://members.cox.net/octochess/. NS, NC.

October 19-215TH ANNUAL WESTERN PACIFIC OPEN. 5-SS, 3-day 40/2, SD/1, 2-day rds. 1-2 G/75 then merges. LAX Hilton, 5711 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045. $$10,000 b/200, 50% of each prize guaranteed. In 3 sec-tions: Open: 1600-1000-800-400-200, U2400 300-200, U2200 700-500-300. EF: $83 if received by 10/18, $95 door. Premier (U2000): $$ 700-500-300-100, U1800 400-200-150, U1600 400-200-150. EF: $83 if received by 10/18, $95 door. Amateur (U1400/Unrated): $$400-200-100, U1200 100, Unr 100, unrat-ed may win unrated prize only. EF: $67 if received by 10/18, $80 door. On-line entry: www.westernchess.com. No checks or credit card en-tries at door. All: $25 Best Game prize, all sections eligible. One half point bye if requested with entry, rds 4-5 cannot be revoked. SCCF membership req. of S. Cal. res., $14

reg, $9 junior. Reg: 5:30-6:30 p.m. 10/19, 9-10 a.m. 10/20. Rds: 3-day 7 p.m., 11-5:30, 10-4:30. 2-day: 10:30-1:30 (G/75), then merges. HR: $104, (310) 410-4000. Be sure to mention Western Chess. Parking $9/day. Info: [email protected]. Web site: www.westernchess.com. Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N. Wilton Pl. #1, Los Angeles CA 90038. NS. NC. F. GP: 40. State Championship Qualifier.

October 21WESTERN PACIFIC HEXES. 3-SS, G/90. LAX Hilton, 5711 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045. 6-player sections by rating. $$40-20-10 each section. EF: $20 if received by 10/18, $25 door. Reg: 9:30-10:15 a.m. Rds: 10:30-2-5. Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N. Wilton Pl. #1, Los Angeles CA 90038. On-line ent: www.westernchess.com.

October 21WESTERN PACIFIC SCHOLASTICS. 5-SS, SD/45. LAX Hilton, 5711 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Open to gr. 12-below. In two sections: Open: Trophies to top 5, top 3 U1200, top 2 Unrated, best each grade. Reserve (Grade 6/below U1000): Trophies to top 5, top 3 U700, top 2 Unrated. Reg: 8:30-9:15. Rds: 9:30-11-1:00-2:30-4. EF: $16 if received by 10/18, $20 door. On-line ent: www.west-ernchess.com. Info: John Hillery, [email protected]. Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N. Wil-ton Pl. #1, Los Angeles CA 90038.

November 22-2543RD ANNUAL AMERICAN OPEN. 8-SS, 40/2, SD/1. LAX Renaissance Hotel, 9620 Airport Bl, Los Angeles, CA 90045. $$40,000 b/o 400 entries, 50%


of each prize guaranteed. In 6 sec-tions (Unr. must play in U1400/Unr. or Open). Open: $4000-2000-1000-700-600-500, U2450/Unr. $1000-500, U2300/Unr. $600-300. U2200, U2000, U1800: Each $3200-1600-800-400. U1600: $2600-1300-650-350. U1400/Unr: $2200-1100-550, U1200 $1000-500 (not a separate section; U1200s also eligible for U1400 prizes), Unrated: $350-200 (Unrateds in this section eligible for these prizes only). EF: Open, U2200, U2000, U1800, U1600, U1400 $120 if rec’d by 11/20, $50 more for players rated under 2000 playing in Open, Unrated $40. All: $25 more at door. SCCF membership req’d, $14, $9 jrs under 19 includes Rank & File mag-azine, OSA. Elegant trophy each section winner. Special $1000 gtd. prizes in memory of Joyce Jillson: $100 (brilliancy), $100 (positional win by player 1700+), $100 (posi-tional win by player U1700), $100 (known true gambit); biggest rat-ing gain by established player rated over 1000: $400, $200 (latter fe-male only). No checks at door – cash, credit card or money order only. 4-day schedule: Reg. closes noon 11/22, Rds. 12:30-7:30, 12:30-7:30,

10:30-5, 10-4:30. 3-day schedule: Reg. closes 11:30 a.m. 11/23, Rds. 12-2:30-5-8 (G/1), schedules merge in Rd 5 and compete for common prizes. Byes (2 max) with advance notice. CCA minimum ratings and TD discretion will be used to protect you from improperly rated players. November Rating Supplement used. Lectures and videos. HR: $99, (310) 337-2800, mention chess. Parking$7. Info: Randy Hough (626) 282-7412, [email protected]. Ent: American Open, PO Box 205, Monterey Park, CA 91754 or www.americanopen.org. NS, W, F. GP: 100. State Championship Quali-fier.

November 24AMERICAN OPEN SCHOLASTIC. 5-SS, G/45. LAX Hilton, 5711 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045.Open to HS/below. In 4 sections: K-12: trophies top 5, 2 each grades 9-12, 1 each K-8. K-8: trophies top 5, 2 each K-8. K-6: trophies top 5, 2 each K-6. K-3: trophies top 4, 2 each K-3. EF: $16 received by 11/20, $20 at door. Reg: 9-9:45 Rounds: 10-11:30-1-3-4:30. Enter: www.americanopen.org or American Open, PO Box 205,

Monterey Park, CA 91754. Info: Randy Hough (626) 282-7412.

November 24AMERICAN OPEN QUICK CHESS CHAM-

PIONSHIP. 5-SS (double round), G/10. LAX Hilton, 5711 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045.$1000: $250-150; U2200, U2000, U1800, U1600, Unr. each $100 (Unrated eligible only for Open and Unr. prize). EF: $30 received by 11/20, $35 at site. Reg closes 8 pm. Rounds: 8:15-9-9:45-10:30-11:15. Double bye (1 pt) available for round 1. Enter: www.americanopen.org or American Open, PO Box 205, Monterey Park, CA 91754. Info: Randy Hough (626) 282-7412. GP: 6

November 25AMERICAN OPEN ACTION. 5-SS, G/30. LAX Hilton, 5711 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045. EF: $20 re-ceived by 11/20; $25 at door. 80% of entry fees returned in prizes Reg: 11-11:45 a.m. Rounds: 12-1:15-3-4:15-5:30. Enter: www.americano-pen.org or American Open, PO Box 205, Monterey Park, CA 91754. Info: Randy Hough (626) 282-7412.

Solutions to Tactics by Hanks(see page 18)

Problem no. 1: b. The position is nearly equal. White’s best try is 1. d8=N! Black has no time and must continue 1. … Raxd8 (best -- White threatened 2. Bxg7+ leading to mate) 2. Rxb7 Rxd4 3. Bxg8 Kxg8. White is up a pawn with an advantage, but Black retains draw-ing chances owing to his active Rook. Try playing Black against your computer and see if you can hold a draw.

Problem no. 2: b. c4 is incor-rect. If White plays 1. c4??, Black plays 1. … Bxc4, since if 2. Qxc4 (the White Queen is pinned) then Qb2#.

So what move did you choose? White has a forced mate in four that in-cludes a Queen and Rook sacrifice. 1. Qxg8+! (Did you even consider this move?) Kxg8 2. Rh8+ Kxh8 3. Bf7+ Bh2 4. Rxh2#.

Problem no. 3: c. White is winning. From a game Botvin-nik – Keres, Hague-Moscow 1948. White unleashes a winning attack. The main line goes 1. Rxg7+ Kxg7(if 1. … Kh8 then 2. Bg5 maintains winning pressure) 2. Nh5+ Kg6 3. Qe3 and mate comes quickly.

Problem no. 4: a. Qb7 is in-correct. From the game Nimzov-ich – Alekhine, Bled 1931. The game continued 1. Qb7 Nd5+ 2. Bd2 Qc7 3. Qxa8+ Kd7 – but now the White Queen is trapped. The best White can achieve may be 4.

Rc1 Nb6 5. Bf4 Nxa8 6. Bxc7 Nxc7 and Black’s two pieces vs Rook will dominate the endgame and win. Better is simply 1. bxc3 with rough-ly an even game.

SCCFPO BOX 205MONTEREY PARK CA 9754

DOMUL-POLYAKOV

LATVIA, 1980WHITE TO MOVE

ROGERS-TOTH

ADELAIDE, 2007WHITE TO MOVE

ROHDE-LIU

CHERRY HILL, 2007WHITE TO MOVE

Solutions on page 25

XIIIIIIIIY

9rsn-+k+-+0

9+-+-+n+-0

9-+-+-vL-+0

9+pzp-+-+-0

9-+p+PzpL+0

9+-+-+-+-0

9r+-tR-+PzP0

9+-+R+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

XIIIIIIIIY

9R+-+-+-+0

9zppzpr+pmk-0

9-+-+qvlpzp0

9+-+-zp-+-0

9-+-+P+N+0

9+-zPQ+-+P0

9PzP-+-zPP+0

9+-+-+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-tr-+k+0

9zp-+-wq-tr-0

9-+p+-zp-+0

9+-+p+L+Q0

9-zP-+p+-zP0

9tR-zP-zP-vl-0

9P+-+-+P+0

9+-+-+R+K0

xiiiiiiiiy

rank & file - · pdf filerank & file — issn 8750-9 64 usps 738-230, published...

Documents