July Knockout-Swiss Tournament 2018

Report 3

The 2018 Knockout & Swiss tournament is coming to its end. Next weekin the final knockout match Nelson Castaneda (white) and Suhas Kodali(black) will play for the championship title. The Swiss part of the tour-nament has five players tied for first with two points each. They are JoeBihlmeyer, Andrew Colwell, Mario Guevara - Rodriguez, Dennis Himes, andJithu Sajeevan.

The results of the Swiss part of the tournament were the following

White Result Black

Joe Bihlmeyer 1 – 0 FM Rick Bauer

Gert Hilhorst 1/2 – 1/2 Harold Blanchard

John Twombley 0 – 1 Mario Guevara - Rodriguez

Dennis Himes 1 – 0 Kevin Zimmerman

Jithu Sajeevan 1 – 0 Elizabeth Smith

Joe Mansigian 1/2 – 1/2 Laurent Lafosse

Norman Aldrich 1 – 0 Parthiv Malipeddu

Chris Hoffman 0 – 1 Yogahari Jegadeeswaran

Bill Campbel 0 Bye

In the knockout part the results of the two semifinals were the following

White Result Black

Andrew Colwell 0 – 1 Nelson Castaneda

Suhas Kodali 1 – 0 David Herscovici

1

The parings for the fourth round of the Swiss tournament are

White Result Black

Mario Guevara - Rodriguez Joe Bihlmeyer

Andrew Colwell Dennis Himes

FM Rick Bauer Jithu Sajeevan

Harold Blanchard David Herscovici

Norman Aldrich Gert Hilhorst

Elizabeth Smith Joe Mansigian

Kevin Zimmerman Yogahari Jegadeeswaran

Laurent Lafosse John Twombley

Parthiv Malipeddu Bill Campbel

Chris Hoffman 0 Bye

The standings in the Swiss tournament are

Player Points

Joe Bihlmeyer 2

Andrew Colwell 2

Mario Guevara - Rodriguez 2

Dennis Himes 2

Jithu Sajeevan 2

Rick Bauer 1.5

David Herscovici 1.5

Gert Hilhorst 1.5

Harold Bachard 1.5

Norm Aldrich 1.5

Joseph Mansigian 1

Kevin Zimmerman 1

John Twombley 1

Laurent Lafosse 1

Elizabeth Smith 1

Yogahari Jegadeeswaran 1

Bill Campbell 0.5

Chris Hoffman 0

Parthiv Malipeddu 0

2

Here are some games from round 3. I used Fritz 13 to help me evaluate thepositions and also comments I heard from the players after the games. Thegame Suhas Kodali vs. David Herscovici includes comments provided byDavid.

� Colwell, Andrew (1995) July Knockout Swiss 2018� Castaneda, Nelson (2356) Nimzo – Indian – E44

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb44. e3 0–0 5. Nge2 b6 6. a3 Be7

rmbl0skZo0opapop0o0Zpm0ZZ0Z0Z0Z00ZPO0Z0ZO0M0O0Z00O0ZNOPOS0AQJBZR

In the variation of the Nimzo - In-dian played here white has devel-oped the king-side knight to e2 tobe able to recapture with this knighton c3 in case black responds 6. ...Bxc3. So white would like to havethe pair of bishops without damag-ing the pawn structure. However, itis not clear that the pair of bishopsis an advantage because the struc-ture of pawns in the center is yet tobe determined. The move I played6.... Be7 is a common alternativeto the exchange in c3. The fight inthe middle game is about the center.With his next move Andrew aimsfor some space advantage with d5.Black first plan is to undermine the

center of white attacking it with e6and c6.

7. d5 d6 8. Ng3 c6 9. e4 Re810. Be2 a6 11. 0–0 Qc7 12. Be3

rmbZrZkZZ0l0apoppopopm0ZZ0ZPZ0Z00ZPZPZ0ZO0M0A0M00O0ZBOPOS0ZQZRJ0

My move 10... a6 does not seem tobe that good according to Fritz 13.I was aiming to get a pawn struc-ture alike the one from the Benonidefence capturing e x d5 at somepoint and playing g6. I wanted tohave the queen on c7 and a6 was toavoid jumps of the knight to b5.

12. . . Nbd7 13. Rc1 Bf8 14. f3e×d5 15. c×d5 c5 16. b4 g617. b×c5 b×c5

3

rZbZrakZZ0lnZpZppZ0o0mpZZ0oPZ0Z00Z0ZPZ0ZO0M0APM00Z0ZBZPOZ0SQZRJ0

Instead of 13. Rc1 it was better toplay 13. dxe6. Then white couldhave played with the advantage ofspace incorporating moves such asf4, and b4. It would be difficult forblack to advance any of the pawnsranging from the a to the e file with-out creating weaknesses.

After the move 14. f3 white hasto be alert to tactics involving thepotential capture of Rxe3. This isnot obvious now but it could havebeen a decisive factor later on in thisgame.

18. Qa4 Nb6 19. Qd1 Bg720. Qd2 Nbd7 21. Na4 h522. Nb2

rZbZrZkZZ0lnZpa0pZ0o0mpZZ0oPZ0Zp0Z0ZPZ0ZO0Z0APM00M0LBZPOZ0S0ZRJ0

White pursued an interesting planof improving the knight from c3 toc4. But there is a problem with

the execution. After the game An-drew told me that he was worriedabout the knight on b2 being indanger. It turns out that he wasright but we both missed the tac-tics that the computer immediatelyshows 22....Nxd5 The point is thatafter 23. exd5 then black can takeon e3 23....Rxe3. I dismissed 22....Nxd5 on the grounds that the queencaptures on d5 attacking the rook ofa8. What I didn’t realize is that af-ter 23. Qxd5 Bxb2 24. Qxa8 thequeen is trapped after 24....Nb6.

So 22. Nb2 is a mistake that loosesa pawn and black’s next move is amistake that misses the opportunityof winning a pawn.

22. . . Ne5 23. Nc4 N×c424. B×c4 Bd7 25. Qd3 Bb5

rZ0ZrZkZZ0l0Zpa0pZ0o0mpZZboPZ0Zp0ZBZPZ0ZO0ZQAPM00Z0Z0ZPOZ0S0ZRJ0

The last move is a standardmanuever that occurs often in theBenoni. When (or if) white cap-tures on b5 then the rook from a8attacks the pawn of a3.

26. Bf4 Nd7 27. B×b5 a×b528. Q×b5 R×a3 29. Rc2 Rea8

4

30. Rfc1

rZ0Z0ZkZZ0lnZpa00Z0o0ZpZZQoPZ0Zp0Z0ZPA0Zs0Z0ZPM00ZRZ0ZPOZ0S0Z0J0

Andrew and I agreed that white didnot play the rooks efficiently. Nowblack activates the knight and blackpieces are better placed than blackpieces.

30. . . Ne5 31. B×e5 B×e532. Ne2 Rb8

0s0Z0ZkZZ0l0ZpZ00Z0o0ZpZZQoPa0Zp0Z0ZPZ0Zs0Z0ZPZ00ZRZNZPOZ0S0Z0J0

White’s knight on g3 was not doingmuch so Andrew tries to bring it tothe queen side. Unfortunately forhim the knight on e2 is on the wayof the queen which is made clear bythe move 32. ... Rb8.

33. Qc6 Qd8

0s0l0ZkZZ0Z0ZpZ00ZQo0ZpZZ0oPa0Zp0Z0ZPZ0Zs0Z0ZPZ00ZRZNZPOZ0S0Z0J0

To 33. Qc4 I had prepared 33...Qa5 and 34. Nc3 is not good be-cause of certain attacks that startwith 34....Rb4. After 33. Qc6 thewhite queen gets trapped.

34. f4 Bg7 35. R×c5 d×c536. Q×c5 Ra2 37. Nc3 B×c338. Q×c3 Qb6+ 39. Kh1 Qf2

0s0Z0ZkZZ0Z0ZpZ00Z0Z0ZpZZ0ZPZ0Zp0Z0ZPO0ZZ0L0Z0Z0rZ0Z0lPOZ0S0Z0ZK

Now a mate in a few moves is forced.

40. Qg3 Qc2 41. Re1 Rb1

0-1

5

� Hoffman, Chris (832) July Knockout Swiss 2018� Jegadeeswaran, Yogahari (966) Nimzovitsch - Larsen Opening –A01

1. b3 d5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 e54. d3 Nf6 5. Nf3 d4 6. e×d4 e×d47. Be2 Bb4+

rZblkZ0sopo0Zpop0ZnZ0m0ZZ0Z0Z0Z00a0o0Z0ZZPZPZNZ0PAPZBOPOSNZQJ0ZR

Yogahari has developed nicely hispieces and obtained space advan-tage.

8. Nbd2 0–0 9. 0–0 Re8 10. a3Bc3 11. B×c3 d×c3 12. Nc4 Nd5

rZblrZkZopo0Zpop0ZnZ0Z0ZZ0ZnZ0Z00ZNZ0Z0ZOPoPZNZ00ZPZBOPOS0ZQZRJ0

Yogahari continues to improve hispieces. Now he is threatening to wina pawn with the attack b7 - b5.

13. Re1 b5

rZblrZkZo0o0Zpop0ZnZ0Z0ZZpZnZ0Z00ZNZ0Z0ZOPoPZNZ00ZPZBOPOS0ZQS0J0

Chris now would loose the e pawn ifhe plays 14. Ne3. But it seems thathe did not notice that he could havesaved the knight that way. With hismove he looses the knight.

14. d4 b×c4 15. b×c4 Nf416. Qc1

rZblrZkZo0o0Zpop0ZnZ0Z0ZZ0Z0Z0Z00ZPO0m0ZO0o0ZNZ00ZPZBOPOS0L0S0J0

Now Chris looses not the bishop buta whole rook because of the follow-ing fork. After a few moves Chriswill resign.

16. . . N×e2+ 17. R×e2 R×e218. d5 Ne5 19. Ng5 h6 20. Nh3

6

B×h3 21. g×h3 Qh4 22. Qf1Qg5+ 23. Kh1 R×c2 24. Qd1

Rd2 25. Qc2

0-1

7

David Herscovici has provided some comments to his game with Suhas. Ihave inserted some of his comments in blue.

� Kodali, Suhas (2100) July Knockout Swiss 2018� Herscovici, David (2117) Sicilian - Dragon – B70

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 c×d44. N×d4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2Nc6 7. 0–0 Bg7 8. Nb3 0–0

rZbl0skZopZ0opap0Zno0mpZZ0Z0Z0Z00Z0ZPZ0ZZNM0Z0Z0POPZBOPOS0AQZRJ0

This position is very similar to theposition in Mario Guevara – SuhasKodali from the previous round.There the game started as an En-glish opening but the treatment theplayers gave was the one of a Sicil-ian dragon with the colors reversed.Now that David is playing the Si-cilian Dragon we could say that theposition is one of the English open-ing with the colors reversed.

9. Bg5 Be6 10. Kh1 Rc8 11. f4Na5

0Zrl0skZopZ0opap0Z0obmpZm0Z0Z0A00Z0ZPO0ZZNM0Z0Z0POPZBZPOS0ZQZRZK

After the game Suhas, David, Rick,and other players analyzed the gamethoroughly. Unfortunately I missedtheir comments regarding this po-sition. This position is studied inthe book of Gufeld and Stetsko onthe Sicilian Dragon. In my opin-ion black has equalized. The crit-ical moves 11. e5 and 11. f5 havebeen thoroughly analyzed. Gufeldand Stetsko point out that at thispoint black is threatening not onlyto jump to c4 with the knight butalso the exchange sacrifice Rxc3that would be good is black canget the e pawn for it and damagethe structure of white pawns in thequeen side.

The book I have of Gufeld and Stet-sko is quite old. I am aware thatthere are newer probably deeperbook on the dragon but I am notfamiliar with them.

8

12. f5 Bc4 13. Bd3 Re8

0ZrlrZkZopZ0opap0Z0o0mpZm0Z0ZPA00ZbZPZ0ZZNMBZ0Z0POPZ0ZPOS0ZQZRZK

13. Bd3 is a standard manuever inthe Sicilian. It is not convenient forblack to take on d3 because after c2x d3 the pawn of e4 gets a good de-fender and the Knight from a5 can-not jump to c4. Now white queencan be brought to the king side viaf3.

I don’t understand the point of themove Re8. Perhaps it is to defendthe pawn of e7. Gufeld and Stet-sko recommend 13.... b5. It makessense for black to try to get space inthe queen side.

Stockfish suggests 13...b5 14.Nxb5Bxb5 15.Bxb5 Nxe4

14. f×g6

0ZrlrZkZopZ0opap0Z0o0mPZm0Z0Z0A00ZbZPZ0ZZNMBZ0Z0POPZ0ZPOS0ZQZRZK

I think white shouldn’t exchange on

g6 until it is necessary or immedi-ately useful.

14. . . h×g6 15. Qf3 Be6 16. Nd5

0ZrlrZkZopZ0opa00Z0obmpZm0ZNZ0A00Z0ZPZ0ZZNZBZQZ0POPZ0ZPOS0Z0ZRZK

This position was analyzed by theplayers and other members of theclub. I believe Joe Hricko was sug-gesting 16. Nd4. It makes sense tobring this knight from b3 to the ac-tion in the center.

16. . . Nc4 17. Nd4 Bg4

0ZrlrZkZopZ0opa00Z0o0mpZZ0ZNZ0A00ZnMPZbZZ0ZBZQZ0POPZ0ZPOS0Z0ZRZK

Black can just win a pawn with17...Bxd5 18.exd5 Ne5 19.Qe2 Nxd5g

18. Qf4 Ne5 19. B×f6 B×f6

9

0ZrlrZkZopZ0opZ00Z0o0apZZ0ZNm0Z00Z0MPLbZZ0ZBZ0Z0POPZ0ZPOS0Z0ZRZK

20. N×f6+ e×f6 21. Q×f6 Qd7

0ZrZrZkZopZqZpZ00Z0o0LpZZ0Z0m0Z00Z0MPZbZZ0ZBZ0Z0POPZ0ZPOS0Z0ZRZK

White has won a pawn and isthreatening to exchange queens. Toavoid this simplification David putsthe queen in a bad square. Itwas better to play 21....Qb6 withsome counterplay. White couldhave gained a decisive advantagewith 22.Bb5 Nc6 23.Rf4!h intend-ing Rf4-h4-h8m

Instead white weakens the king sidewith his next move

22. h3 B×h3 23. Bb5

again 23.Rf4! wins

23. . . B×g2+ 24. K×g2 Qg4+

25. Kh2

White cannot afford 25.Kf2 Qxe4,

since he cannot handle the threatsof 26.. . . Ng4+ and 26.. . . QXd4+

together with his empty spacearound the king, so black can nowforce a repetition with . . . Qh5+

and . . . Qg4+. Unfortunately, I gotgreedy and blundered with

25. . . Q×e4 26. Qf4 Q×f4+

27. R×f4 Re7 28. Kg3 Rc5 29. c3Nc4 30. B×c4 R×c4 31. Kf2 Rc532. Re1 Rce5

0Z0Z0ZkZopZ0spZ00Z0o0ZpZZ0Z0s0Z00Z0M0S0ZZ0O0Z0Z0PO0Z0J0ZZ0Z0S0Z0

Black has two pawns for a piece.Now Suhas forces the exchange ofone rook and with good techniquewins the game. Observe how heimproves the postition of the rook,knight and king. He blocks thepawns of the king side with theknight, brings the king as far as itis safe and penetrates with the rookthrough the only accessible openfile.

33. Nf3 R×e1 34. N×e1 Kg735. Nf3 f5 36. Rd4 Re6 37. Ng5Rf6 38. Kf3 b5 39. Kf4 a640. Rd2 Kg8 41. Re2 Kg742. Re7+ Kg8 43. Ra7 d5

10

44. Rd7 Rc6 45. R×d5 Kg746. Rd7+ Kg8 47. Ke5 Rc5+

48. Kf6 Rc6+ 49. Ke5 Rc5+

50. Rd5 Rc7 51. Rd8+ Kg752. Ne6+

1 - 0

11

� Bihlmeyer, Joe (2075) July Knockout Swiss 2018� Bauer, Rick (2200) Sicilian – B30

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e64. B×c6 b×c6 5. 0–0 Ne7 6. c3Ng6 7. d4 d5 8. Re1

rZblka0so0Z0Zpop0ZpZpZnZZ0opZ0Z00Z0OPZ0ZZ0O0ZNZ0PO0Z0OPOSNAQS0J0

White has met the Sicilian de-fence with the Rossolimo variation.White had given away the bishoppair to damage black’s pawn struc-ture.

8. . . Be7 9. e×d5 Q×d5

rZbZkZ0so0Z0apop0ZpZpZnZZ0oqZ0Z00Z0O0Z0ZZ0O0ZNZ0PO0Z0OPOSNAQS0J0

It seems that black wishes to clearthe h1 - a8 diagonal of pawns to takeadvantage of the fact that white hasno light square bishop. It would be

good for black if he could play c xd4 and advance the pawn from c6to c5. However, this is not so easyto accomplish as the game shows.White on the other hand wishes toblock the pawn of c6.

10. Be3 c×d4 11. c×d4 0–012. Nc3 Qh5 13. Ne5 Q×d114. Re×d1

rZbZ0skZo0Z0apop0ZpZpZnZZ0Z0M0Z00Z0O0Z0ZZ0M0A0Z0PO0Z0OPOS0ZRZ0J0

Both players go willingly into aqueenless middle game. White haswon the battle for the control of c5.

14. . . Bb7 15. Ne4 f5 16. N×g6h×g6 17. Nc5

rZ0Z0skZobZ0a0o00ZpZpZpZZ0M0ZpZ00Z0O0Z0ZZ0Z0A0Z0PO0Z0OPOS0ZRZ0J0

12

Now we have a game with bishopsof opposite colors and rooks. Whiteposition is a little better but shouldbe able to hold the draw.

17. . . f4 18. Bd2 B×c5 19. d×c5Rad8 20. Bc3 Rd5

0Z0Z0skZobZ0Z0o00ZpZpZpZZ0OrZ0Z00Z0Z0o0ZZ0A0Z0Z0PO0Z0OPOS0ZRZ0J0

Now one pair of rooks gets ex-changed and the game should becloser to a draw.

21. R×d5 e×d5 22. Re1 Kf723. f3 Re8

0Z0ZrZ0ZobZ0Zko00ZpZ0ZpZZ0OpZ0Z00Z0Z0o0ZZ0A0ZPZ0PO0Z0ZPOZ0Z0S0J0

Black aims to simplify to an op-posite color bishops endgame buthe probably miscalculated that heis going to loose two pawns. Heprobably did not mind loosing theg7 pawn. The move Re8 was notforced.

24. R×e8 K×e8 25. B×g7 Kf726. Bh6 Ke6 27. B×f4 d428. Kf2 Kd5 29. Ke2

0Z0Z0Z0ZobZ0Z0Z00ZpZ0ZpZZ0OkZ0Z00Z0o0A0ZZ0Z0ZPZ0PO0ZKZPOZ0Z0Z0Z0

White gives away the c pawn fornothing. It seems that this shouldgive black enough resources to drawthe game.

29. . . K×c5 30. Kd2 Kd5 31. h4c5 32. g4 Bc6 33. h5 g×h534. g×h5 Be8 35. h6 Bg6

0Z0Z0Z0Zo0Z0Z0Z00Z0Z0ZbOZ0okZ0Z00Z0o0A0ZZ0Z0ZPZ0PO0J0Z0ZZ0Z0Z0Z0

The only way white could passedpawns on the king side was gettingthe h and f pawns that are con-trolled by the bishop on the b1 - h7diagonal.

36. Bb8 a6 37. Bc7 c4 38. Bg3Bh7 39. Bf4 Bg6 40. a3 Bh7

13

41. Bg3 Bg6 42. Be1 Ke543. Ke2 Bh7 44. Kf2 Kf545. Kg3

0Z0Z0Z0ZZ0Z0Z0ZbpZ0Z0Z0OZ0Z0ZkZ00Zpo0Z0ZO0Z0ZPJ00O0Z0Z0ZZ0Z0A0Z0

Joe tried to advanced his king onthe king side but Rick stopped himusing his own king. Now he will tryto get black to advance his pawn tod3.

45. . . Bg6 46. Bf2 d3

0Z0Z0Z0ZZ0Z0Z0Z0pZ0Z0ZbOZ0Z0ZkZ00ZpZ0Z0ZO0ZpZPJ00O0Z0A0ZZ0Z0Z0Z0

This endgame is difficult to play forblack. 46. ... d3 is a concession. In-stead black should have traded thed pawn for the h pawn with 46....Kg5. Then the game could haveended in a draw.

Now Joe gets another object of at-tack that is the penetration with hisking to the queen side via b4. Ricktried to oppose white’s king with hisking but that was a lost battle.

47. Be3 Bh7 48. Kf2 Bg649. Ke1 Ke5

0Z0Z0Z0ZZ0Z0Z0Z0pZ0Z0ZbOZ0Z0j0Z00ZpZ0Z0ZO0ZpAPZ00O0Z0Z0ZZ0Z0J0Z0

I believe black could still havechances of drawing the game with49..... Kf6. The point is to controlthe h pawn with the king, attack thef3 pawn with the bishop to force f4.

50. Kd2 Kd5 51. Kc3 Bh752. Kb4

White will win another pawn andget passed pawns on both sides.Very well played endgame by Joe.It was very difficult to find the rightmoves for black with limited think-ing time.

0Z0Z0Z0ZZ0Z0Z0ZbpZ0Z0Z0OZ0ZkZ0Z00JpZ0Z0ZO0ZpAPZ00O0Z0Z0ZZ0Z0Z0Z0

1-0

14

� Twombley, John (1513) July Knockout Swiss 2018� Guevara, Mario (1938) Colle System – A48

1. d4 Nf6 2. h3 g6 3. Nf3 Bg74. g3 0–0 5. Bg2 d5 6. 0–0 Nbd77. b3 Ne4 8. Bb2 c5 9. Nbd2Nd6 10. Rb1 c×d4 11. N×d4 e5

rZbl0skZopZnZpap0Z0m0ZpZZ0Zpo0Z00Z0M0Z0ZZPZ0Z0OPPAPMPOBZZRZQZRJ0

White fiancheto the two bishops andlet black gain a center of pawns.

12. N4f3 Re8 13. Qc1 Nb614. e3 Bd7 15. c4 d×c4 16. b×c4

rZ0lrZkZopZbZpap0m0m0ZpZZ0Z0o0Z00ZPZ0Z0ZZ0Z0ONOPPA0M0OBZZRL0ZRJ0

Here black could have put morepressure by playing 15.... Rc8 notafraid of 16. c5 becuase he has timeto get out of the fork and attackthe c pawn with moves such as Bf5,Nd7, b6.

16. . . Na4 17. Qd1 N×b218. R×b2

rZ0lrZkZopZbZpap0Z0m0ZpZZ0Z0o0Z00ZPZ0Z0ZZ0Z0ONOPPS0M0OBZZ0ZQZRJ0

White should have kept his bishopby playing 17. Ba3 for example.

18. . . Bc6 19. Rc2 Rc8 20. c5Ba4 21. Nb3 Ne4

0ZrlrZkZopZ0Zpap0Z0Z0ZpZZ0O0o0Z0bZ0ZnZ0ZZNZ0ONOPPZRZ0OBZZ0ZQZRJ0

This moves allowed white to sim-plify the game.

22. Q×d8 Rc×d8 23. Nh4

15

0Z0srZkZopZ0Zpap0Z0Z0ZpZZ0O0o0Z0bZ0ZnZ0MZNZ0O0OPPZRZ0OBZZ0Z0ZRJ0

The knight goes to the wrong side.23....Nfd2 would have forced furthersimplifications and a more or lessequal game.

23. . . f5 24. B×e4 f×e4 25. f4 Rd326. Ng2 e×f4 27. g×f4

27. . . Red8 28. f5 g×f5 29. R×f5Bd7 30. Rg5 B×h3 31. Nf4 R×e332. N×h3 R×h3 33. Rcg2

0Z0s0ZkZopZ0Z0ap0Z0Z0Z0ZZ0O0Z0S00Z0ZpZ0ZZNZ0Z0ZrPZ0Z0ZRZZ0Z0Z0J0

While white was trying to improvehis knight position black activatedhis pieces and was able to gain twopawns.

33. . . Rd1+ 34. Kf2 Rf3+

35. Ke2 Rd7 36. Na5 Kf837. Nc4 Rc3 38. Nd6 Rc2+

39. Kd1 R×g2

0Z0Z0j0ZopZrZ0ap0Z0M0Z0ZZ0O0Z0S00Z0ZpZ0ZZ0Z0Z0Z0PZ0Z0ZrZZ0ZKZ0Z0

Mario is trading the rooks. Theendgame bishop against knight withtwo pawns advantage should be aneasy win.

40. R×g2 e3 41. Ke2 Bd442. Ne4 Rg7 43. R×g7 B×g744. K×e3 Ke7 45. Nd6 Kd7

0Z0Z0Z0ZopZkZ0ap0Z0M0Z0ZZ0O0Z0Z00Z0Z0Z0ZZ0Z0J0Z0PZ0Z0Z0ZZ0Z0Z0Z0

White is going to loose the c pawnalso. Perhaps white should havetaken the pawn on b7 and hope thatblack let him give the knight for thea pawn. Then with a bishop on darksquares and the pawn of h blackwouldn’t be able to convert. All thisis of course a dream.

46. Kd3 Kc6 47. Nf5 Bf848. Nd4+ Kd5 49. Nb5 B×c550. Nc3+ Kc6 51. Kc4 h552. Ne4 Be7

16

After a few more moves black pro-moted the h pawn and white re-

signed.

0-1

17

� Hilhorst, Gert (1933) July Knockout Swiss 2018� Blanchard, Harold (1507) Blackmar – Diemer Gambit – D00

1. d4 d5 2. e4 d×e4 3. Nc3 Nf64. f3 e×f3 5. N×f3

In the New Britain Chess Clubwebsite one can find an article byGert Hilhorst titled the Blackmar -Diemer gambit. That is the openingthat Gert used in this game.

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5. . . Bg4 6. h3 B×f3 7. Q×f3 c68. Be3 e6 9. Bd3 Bd6 10. 0–0Nbd7 11. Ne4 Bc7 12. Bg5 Qe713. N×f6+ g×f6 14. B×f6 Whitehas been putting pressure on the ffile but Harold has defended verywell. White gets back the pawn andstill have some pressure on the f filebut the material has considerablyreduced. The position is more orless equal.

14. . . N×f6 15. Q×f6 Q×f616. R×f6 Ke7 17. Raf1 Raf818. R1f3 h5

0Z0Z0s0sopa0jpZ00ZpZpS0ZZ0Z0Z0Zp0Z0O0Z0ZZ0ZBZRZPPOPZ0ZPZZ0Z0Z0J0

This was well played. The pawn onh7 is just a target. Black gains somespace in the king side.

19. g3

0Z0Z0s0sopa0jpZ00ZpZpS0ZZ0Z0Z0Zp0Z0O0Z0ZZ0ZBZROPPOPZ0Z0ZZ0Z0Z0J0

This is a blunder. Harold couldhave taken on g3. After 19....Bxg3white cannot capture on g3 becausethe rook of f3 is defending the rookon f6.

19. . . Rhg8 20. Kg2 Ke8

18

0Z0ZksrZopa0ZpZ00ZpZpS0ZZ0Z0Z0Zp0Z0O0Z0ZZ0ZBZROPPOPZ0ZKZZ0Z0Z0Z0

Both players are missing the tacticson g3. Black could have won a pawnwith 20....Rxg3.

21. Bc4 Bd8 22. Rh6 Rh823. R×h8 R×h8 24. Rf4 Bg525. Re4 Bc1 26. b3 Ke7 27. d5c×d5 28. B×d5 b6 29. Bc4Bg5 30. Kf3 Rh6 31. Bb5Rf6+ 32. Kg2 Rf5 33. Bd3 Rd5

34. Bc4 Rd2+ 35. Re2 Kd636. R×d2+ B×d2

0Z0Z0Z0Zo0Z0ZpZ00o0jpZ0ZZ0Z0Z0Zp0ZBZ0Z0ZZPZ0Z0OPPZPa0ZKZZ0Z0Z0Z0

with the rooks gone the endgamewith bishops of opposite colorsshould be a draw.

37. Be2 h4 38. g4 Kc5 39. Kf3

1/2-1/2

19

� Mansigian, Joe (1728) July Knockout Swiss 2018� Lafosse, Laurent (1167) French – Advanced Variation – C02

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3Nc6 5. Nf3 f6 6. Bf4 Qb6 7. b3c×d4 8. c×d4 Bb4+

rZbZkZnsopZ0Z0op0lnZpo0ZZ0ZpO0Z00a0O0A0ZZPZ0ZNZ0PZ0Z0OPOSNZQJBZR

The advanced variation of theFrench has been played. In thisopening white gets strong pawnson the central dark squares andblack attacks then with c5 and alsowith f6 sooner or later. 6. Bf4was not best because it gave blackchances of putting pressure on thedark squares.

9. Nbd2 Bd7 10. Be3 Bc311. Rc1 Qa5 12. Be2 f×e513. d×e5 N×e5 14. 0–0 Nf6

rZ0ZkZ0sopZbZ0op0Z0Zpm0Zl0Zpm0Z00Z0Z0Z0ZZPa0ANZ0PZ0MBOPOZ0SQZRJ0

Black won an important centralpawn.

15. N×e5 B×e5 16. Bc5 b617. b4 Q×a2 18. Nf3 b×c519. N×e5 c4 20. f4 0–0

rZ0Z0skZo0ZbZ0op0Z0Zpm0ZZ0ZpM0Z00OpZ0O0ZZ0Z0Z0Z0qZ0ZBZPOZ0SQZRJ0

The passed pawn on the c file is agood advantage for black.

21. N×d7 N×d7 22. B×c4 d×c423. Q×d7 Qa6 24. b5 Qb6+

25. Kh1 Rac8 26. Ra1 Rc7

0Z0Z0skZo0sQZ0op0l0ZpZ0ZZPZ0Z0Z00ZpZ0O0ZZ0Z0Z0Z00Z0Z0ZPOS0Z0ZRZK

Black ejects the white queen andputs the rook behind the passed cpawn.

20

27. Qd2 c3 28. Qd3 c2 29. Rac1Qc5 30. h3 Qc3 31. Qd6 Qc432. Rfe1 Q×f4 33. Q×e6+

White played the prophylactic moveh3. Black did not do the same.He should have played h6, and Kh8before contemplation other actions.The exchange of the f pawn for thee pawn gives more chances for whiteto defend. Instead of 30. .... Qc3 itwould have been better to centralizethe queen with 30....Qd5.

33. . . Qf7 34. Qe3 h6 35. b6a×b6 36. Q×b6 Qf1+

0Z0Z0skZZ0s0Z0o00L0Z0Z0oZ0Z0Z0Z00Z0Z0Z0ZZ0Z0Z0ZP0ZpZ0ZPZZ0S0SqZK

This move is a blunder. Whitecould have captured the queen onf1. There is no mate because white

already played h3. Joe was confusedan missed the opportunity to winthe game.

37. Qg1 Q×g1+ 38. K×g1 Rd839. Kf2 Kf7 40. Re2 Rdc841. Kf1 g5 42. Kf2 Kf6 43. Ke3Re7+ 44. Kf2

0ZrZ0Z0ZZ0Z0s0Z00Z0Z0j0oZ0Z0Z0o00Z0Z0Z0ZZ0Z0Z0ZP0ZpZRJPZZ0S0Z0Z0

Now black should have exchangedthe rooks on e2. Black could winthe game but he needs to find theright plan. Now black blunders bydropping the c pawn and the gameis drawn.

44. . . Rd7 45. Re×c2 R×c2+

46. R×c2

1/2-1/2

21

� Sajeevan, Jithu (1797) July Knockout Swiss 2018� Smith, Elizabeth (1184) Queen Pawn Opening – D00

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 Bf54. c4 a6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Qb3 b67. Nf3 Nbd7 8. c×d5

rZ0lka0sZ0onZpoppo0Zpm0ZZ0ZPZbZ00Z0O0A0ZZQM0ONZ0PO0Z0OPOS0Z0JBZR

Black has developed the light squarebishop ahead of the pawn chain.That is ok but you have to be alertof combined threats on d5 and b7.The move 7. ... Nbd7 drops the dpawn.

8. . . e×d5 9. N×d5 N×d510. Q×d5 Be6 11. Qc6

rZ0lka0sZ0onZpoppoQZbZ0ZZ0Z0Z0Z00Z0O0A0ZZ0Z0ONZ0PO0Z0OPOS0Z0JBZR

Lisa gets some compensation for the

pawn if she now plays 11.... Bb4+and castles. She tries to defend the cpawn and blunders the pawn on a6.Now Jithu gets a big advantage.

11. . . Rc8 12. B×a6 Bb4+

13. Nd2 0–0 14. B×c8 Q×c815. a3 B×d2+ 16. K×d2 Nf617. f3 Nd5 18. Be5 Rd8 19. e4f6 20. e×d5 B×d5

0Zqs0ZkZZ0o0Z0op0oQZ0o0ZZ0ZbA0Z00Z0O0Z0ZO0Z0ZPZ00O0J0ZPOS0Z0Z0ZR

Jithu will force the exchange of themajor pieces and win a rook vsbishop endgame.

21. Q×c7 f×e5 22. Q×c8 R×c823. d×e5 g6 24. Rac1 Rd825. Ke3 Be6 26. Rhd1 Rb827. Rd6 Ba2 28. g4 b5 29. Rc7Rf8 30. Rdd7 Rf7 31. R×f7B×f7 32. Rb7 Bc4 33. b3 B×b334. R×b5

1-0

22

� Aldrich, Norman (965) July Knockout Swiss 2018� Malipeddu, Parthiv (463) Italian – C55

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 h64. d3 Nf6 5. c3 d5 6. e×d5 N×d57. Bb5 a6

rZblka0sZpo0Zpo0pZnZ0Z0oZBZno0Z00Z0Z0Z0ZZ0OPZNZ0PO0Z0OPOSNAQJ0ZR

With this move Parthiv looses the epawn. He also gets the pawn struc-ture damaged. It was necessary tofinish the development with Bd6.

8. B×c6+ b×c6 9. N×e5 Qf610. 0–0 Q×e5 11. Re1

rZbZka0sZ0o0Zpo0pZpZ0Z0oZ0Znl0Z00Z0Z0Z0ZZ0OPZ0Z0PO0Z0OPOSNAQS0J0

The knight on e5 was untouchable.With the pin Re1 white gains thequeen for a rook,

11. . . Q×e1+ 12. Q×e1+ Be713. c4 Nf6 14. b3 0–0 15. Q×e7Re8 16. Q×e8+

rZbZQZkZZ0o0Zpo0pZpZ0m0oZ0Z0Z0Z00ZPZ0Z0ZZPZPZ0Z0PZ0Z0OPOSNA0Z0J0

White could have saved the queenwith 16. Qb4. Now the material isgoing to be close to equal. White isstill one pawn up.

16. . . N×e8 17. Ba3 Bf5 18. d4Nf6 19. Nd2 Rd8 20. Bc5 Re821. h3 Re2

0Z0Z0ZkZZ0o0Zpo0pZpZ0m0oZ0A0ZbZ00ZPO0Z0ZZPZ0Z0ZPPZ0MrOPZS0Z0Z0J0

White should have played 21. Kf1instead of 21. h3 to prevent theblack rook to enter the second rank.This rook give black good com-pensation for the missing pawn.

23

22. Nf3 Ne4 23. Kf1 R×f2+

24. Kg1

0Z0Z0ZkZZ0o0Zpo0pZpZ0Z0oZ0A0ZbZ00ZPOnZ0ZZPZ0ZNZPPZ0Z0sPZS0Z0Z0J0

When things were looking better forblack he blunders the rook in thenext move

24. . . Nd2 25. K×f2 N×f326. g×f3 B×h3 27. Re1 Bd728. Re7 Bf5 29. R×c7 Bb1 30. a4Ba2 31. R×c6 B×b3 32. R×a6

0Z0Z0ZkZZ0Z0Zpo0RZ0Z0Z0oZ0A0Z0Z0PZPO0Z0ZZbZ0ZPZ00Z0Z0J0ZZ0Z0Z0Z0

Playing with an extra rook Normwill not let the win go.

32. . . B×c4 33. Rc6 Bd3 34. a5Kh7 35. a6 B×a6 36. R×a6 f537. Be7 h5 38. d5 g6 39. d6Kh6 40. d7 h4 41. B×h4 Kh542. d8=Q g5 43. Q×g5m

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24

THE ELITE EIGHT

1. Nelson Castaneda

game tie-break

9. Dennis Himes

5. Joe Bihlmeyer

game tie-break

6. Andrew Colwell

game tie-break

game tie-break

game tie-break

4. Suhas Kodali

game tie-break

7. Mario Guevara - R.

3. David Herscovici

game tie-break

8. Gert Hilhorst

game tie-break

1

0

0

1

1

0

1/2

1/2

2

0

1

0

1

0

Nelson Castaneda

Andrew Colwell

Suhas Kodali

David Herscovici

Nelson Castaneda

Suhas Kodali

CHAMPION: