Chess Room Newsletter #855

Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club Newsletter #855
January 11, 2019

New Beginnings

Welcome everyone to the 1st newsletter of 2019. I believe very strongly that the Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club is a peoples’ chess club, with loyal members and players that make our chess room a part of their lives. I have spoken with many of our players over the past month, learning about how important this club is to them and getting a great deal of feedback regarding events and ideas to strengthen the club and make it more modern while retaining the history and legacy, all the while making it a welcoming place for anyone looking for a game to study, 7 days a week. To begin the New Year, I wanted to reshape the newsletter so that it also reflected these ideals. I want all our staff, coaches, players, and volunteers to have a voice in the newsletter, truly making it by and for the people.

I will be writing about current events, club news, scholastic chess and an occasional reflection on the state of chess and how it has the power to impact all our lives. It is a subject I am very passionate about, and my journey here was about willing to follow the river blindly and trusting in chess and hard work. Our Chess Coordinator FM Paul Whitehead will annotate a game and occasionally write about chess history and culture, especially in the San Francisco area. IM Elliott Winslow will continue to archive all TNM games as well as games from special events submitted. We remain committed to the preservation of our games for history, and using our everyday games as a learning experience and for puzzle solving in our newsletter. GM Nick de Firmian, our Grandmaster in Residence, will write a weekly endgame column for our readers, a subject he has a great deal of interest in and which I am sure our readers will enjoy. We will also include annotated games, reflections, interviews from our regular players, as I believe our community would love to hear what makes the club special to them.

We want you all to have the chance to be involved, and have your voices heard. I think you all will find the newsletter a true reflection of the club and personal to you. I also think the content will a shining example of what a chess club should be, and that it will serve as a guide for others. I am honored and proud to be your Chess Director, and I hope you find our newsletter speaks to you. We look forward to an amazing 2019!

Abel Talamantez
Chess Director, Mechanics’ Institute

U.S. #5 player GM Jeffery Xiong visits Mechanics’ Institute

On Monday January 7th, 2019, GM Jeffery Xiong (2760) visited the Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club and gave a 20-board simul. Jeffery is a former U.S. Junior Champion and World Junior Champion, and at 18 years of age, a star for American chess. It was a sold out event with a strong field, which included one NM and half the field rated over 1600. After 4 grueling hours, NM Eric Li, who at 2231 is the third highest rated 11 year old in the country, was the last man standing, but eventually lost to Jeffery who went a perfect 20-0. It was an honor to have Jeffery at our club and we wish him all the best in 2019.

This event was co-sponsored by Bay Area Chess, and I would like to thank Dr. Judit Sztaray, Executive Director of Bay Area Chess for securing GM Xiong for this event. We look forward to partnering on many special events in the future.

14-year-old FM Andrew Hong wins 2018 Neil Falconer Award

The Bay Area is known for its exceptionally strong scholastic players, and this year, FM Andrew Hong rose above the crown to win the prestigious 2018 Neil Falconer Award. The Mechanics’ Institute gives this award in honor of the late Neil Falconer, an avid chess player and Trustee of the Institute, to the highest rated player under 18 years of age from Northern California. The award is a check in the amount of the players December rating, which for Andrew was 2477! Many Mechanics’ Institute dignitaries attended this very special event, Mechanics’ Institute Chess Directors Jim Eade and John Donaldson, as well as former Executive Director Mark Pinto, Trustee GM Patrick Wolff, and Chess Committee members Vladimir Naroditsky and Mike Hilliard. We look forward to following Andrew’s progress, and congratulations to him again for this achievement.

SF Mechanics PRO Chess League Team starts new season Live at the club

The San Francisco Mechanics PRO Chess League team opened the season on Tuesday January 8th against the San Jose Hackers. The match was broadcast live by IM David Pruess, manager of the Mechanics team and PRO Chess League commentator. He was assisted by FM Andy Lee, FM Josiah Stearman and FM Andrew Hong, all also team members. The Mechanics fielded a strong team, led by GM Daniel Naroditsky on board 1, followed by GM Yannick Gozzoli, GM Vinay Bhat, and FM Ezra Chambers. The Hackers had a powerful lineup as well, with GM Shakhriyar Mamerdyarov leading the way, followed by GM Zviad Izoria, new IM Christopher Yoo and NM Ivan Ke. It was a hard fought and exciting match. The Mechanics showed strength and resiliency in mounting a comeback, but they fell just short, losing 8.5-7.5. Congratulations to the Hackers on their victory, and the Mechanics will look to rebound next Tuesday versus the Australia Kangaroos. We had quite a buzz at the club as not only was the broadcast happening live here, we had the broadcast on the big screen in the chess room for players to follow. We are all looking forward to the match next week.

To view a full replay of the match with commentary, please follow this link: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/361046842

To follow the SF Mechanics, please follow this link: https://www.prochessleague.com/san-francisco-mechanics.html

Winter Tuesday Night Marathon (TNM) kicks off the year with a packed house!

As if there was not enough going on at the club on January 8th between the Falconer Award and the PRO Chess League, the main event of the evening was the 1st round of the Winter Tuesday Night Marathon. With 80 players in attendance to kick off the first round, it was an outstanding turnout to start the year. With 13 players requesting a bye for the first round and more registrations coming over the next few weeks, we have a very good chance of passing the 120-player milestone!

It is still not too late to be part of the tradition. To enter the tournament for next week, please visit our club homepage, chessclub.org, to sign up, or email us at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Live Broadcasting of Boards 1 & 2 of TNM starting January 15th, 2019!

Starting next week, we will be broadcasting boards 1 & 2 of the TNM. This will provide the opportunity for people to view those games from their laptop or computer anywhere with Internet connection. We will provide the link on our home page before next week. Special thank you to Juan Cendejas and Tom Langland for helping Mechanics’ Institute provide this tool to our club.

11-year-old Vyom Vidyarthi wins 19th Bob Burger Open

The 19th Bob Burger Open took place on Saturday January 5th, 2019. This 5 round one-day event drew 24 players, and had some exciting games, mainly due to the time pressure inherent in a G/40;5 time control. In the end, Vyom Vidyarthi rose to the top with a perfect 5/5 to win clear first. Jonah Busch took clear 2nd with 4/5, his only loss at the hands of Vyom. For full results, please visit our club homepage.

Wednesday Night Blitz Report

Expert Jules Jelinek topped the field in the January 9th edition of the Wednesday Night Blitz with an impressive 11-1 score. 2nd was National Master Manuel Santos with 9 points and 3rd was unrated Romulo Silvestre with 8. A grand total of 17 players participated.

Odds and Ends

Online registration is open for our events, so please visit the homepage and register in advance. This saves us time on site and helps ensure rounds start on time. We have had over 70% of registrants do so on line and we hope this has added a level of convenience in paying as well.

We will now accept byes for the last two rounds of the TNM if requested before round 4. I feel this is much fairer for an event like the marathon since it takes place over several weeks.

Member Newsletter Contributions Wanted

We are looking for players and members interested in contributing content to the newsletter, be it a personal share about what the chess club means to you or an experience you have had at the chess club. Maybe you have a game you would love to annotate and discuss? If you are interested in writing something for your newsletter, please email us. While we may not be able to use all the content we receive in the newsletter, we do want to hear your stories, and perhaps we may be able to share it in the newsletter as well. The recording of personal stories and experiences regarding the club is something of great historical value and we want to encourage our players, members and visitors to share their experiences.

In Conclusion

In closing, Tuesday night was a great night. We had a lot of activity and engagement at the club and I think everyone could feel the energy. What was also special was that the two previous MI Chess Directors were all present, as well as many of our Trustees and members of the MI Chess Committee. I want to personally thank everyone for attending and making that night a very special evening. Until next week!

---

From round 1 of the 2019 Winter Tuesday Night Marathon:

(18287) Diaz,Conrado (2343) - Casares Jr,Nick (1600) [D03]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.1), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg5 Nbd7 [3...Ne4!?] 4.Nbd2 e6 5.e3 Be7 6.Bd3 h6 7.Bh4 0-0 8.0-0 c5 9.c3 cxd4 [9...g5 10.Bg3 Nh5 11.Be5 c4 12.Bc2 g4 13.Ne1 f5; 9...b6 10.Ne5 Bb7 11.f4 Ne4] 10.exd4 Nh5 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.Re1 Nf4 13.Bf1 b6 14.g3 Ng6 15.Bd3 Bb7 16.Bxg6 fxg6 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.Rxe5 Rf5 19.Qe2 Rf6 20.Re1 Re8 21.f4 Qf7 22.h4 Qd7 23.Nf3 Bc8 24.Re3 Kh7 25.Ne5 Qd6 26.Qd3 h5 27.Nf3 Ref8 28.Ng5+ Kh6?! 29.Qe2 Re8 30.Re5 Qc6 31.Qe3

31...Bd7 32.f5 gxf5 33.Nxe6+ Kh7 34.Ng5+ 1-0

(18288) Newey,Richard (1600) - Winslow,Elliott (2318) [B09]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.2), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 c5 7.dxc5 Qa5 8.0-0 Qxc5+ 9.Kh1 Bg4 [9...b5?! 10.e5 dxe5 11.fxe5 Ng4 12.Qd5 (12.h3 Nxe5 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.Qd5 Qxd5 15.Nxd5 Bd6 16.Bh6 (16.Bg5) 16...Rd8 17.Nxe7+! Bxe7 18.Bf3 Nc6 19.Bxc6 Rb8 1/2-1/2 (19) Zhilin,V-Vasiukov,E Moscow 1961) 12...Nf2+ 13.Rxf2 (13.Kg1 Nh3+ 14.Kh1 Nf2+ 15.Rxf2 Qxf2) 13...Qxf2 14.Qxa8 (14.Bd3 b4 15.Ne4 Qb6 16.Qxa8 Bb7 17.Be3 Bxa8-/+) 14...b4 15.Bg5 (15.Nd5 Qxe2 16.Bf4 Kh8 Nijboer, F-Azmaiparashvili,Z,Reykjavik op 1990-EXP 17.Qxa7 (17.Nxb4 Qb5 18.c3 a5 19.Nd4 Qb6 20.Nd5 Qxb2 21.Rd1 e6 22.Ne3 Bb7 23.Qa7 Be4 24.Qe7 Nc6 25.Qh4 Kg8 26.Bh6 Bxh6 27.Qxh6 Nxe5 28.Qh4 Ba8 29.Qf4 Nc4 30.Rg1 Nxe3 31.Qxe3 Qxa2 32.Ne2 Qc4 33.Nf4 Qe4 34.Qg3 a4 35.h4 e5 36.Nd3 a3 37.Nxe5 a2 38.Nd7 Qb1 39.Nxf8 a1Q 40.Rxb1 Qxb1+ 41.Kh2 Kxf8 42.Qd6+ Ke8 43.Qe5+ Kd7 44.Qd4+ Ke6 45.Qc4+ Bd5 46.Qc8+ Ke5 47.Qh8+ Kf5 48.Qd8 Qe4 49.g4+ Kxg4 50.Qg5+ Kf3 51.Kh3 0-1 (53) Nijboer,F (2485)-Azmaiparashvili,Z (2610) Reykjavik 1990) 17...Bg4 18.Ng5 Qc4 19.h3 Be6 20.Nc7 Bf5 21.Bh2 Nc6 22.Qe3 h6 23.Nf3 Nd8 24.Qb6 Qxc2 25.Nd5 Qxb2 26.Re1 Qxa2 27.Nxe7 Be6 28.Rd1 Qa8 29.Qxb4 Nc6 30.Nxc6 Qxc6 31.Qh4 Qc4 32.Bf4 Kg8 33.Kh2 g5 34.Bxg5 hxg5 35.Qxg5 Bd5 36.Rd4 Qc6 37.Rg4 Qg6 38.Qd2 Qc6 39.Qg5 Qg6 40.Qd2 Qc6 1/2-1/2 (40) Johansson,J (2415)-Dunnington,A (2345) Naestved 1991) 15...bxc3 16.bxc3 Qxe2 17.Bxe7 Re8 18.Qxb8 Bf8 19.Re1 Qxc2 20.e6 Bxe7 21.Qb5 Rf8 22.exf7+ Rxf7 23.Qe8+ Bf8 24.Qxc8 Qxa2 25.c4 Qf2 26.Qe6 a5 27.Ng5 a4 28.Nxf7 Qxf7 29.Qxf7+ Kxf7 30.Kg1 a3 31.Ra1 Ke6 32.Kf2 Kd7 33.Ke3 Kc6 34.Kd3 Bd6 35.h3 h5 36.Kc2 Kc5 37.Kb3 Kd4 38.Rd1+ Ke5 39.Rxd6 Kxd6 40.Kxa3 g5 41.Kb4 g4 42.h4 g3 43.c5+ Kc6 44.Kc4 Kc7 45.Kd5 Kd7 46.Ke5 Kc6 47.Kf4 1-0 (47) Fette,M-Zbikowski,W Germany North 1980; 9...Nc6 probably most accurate 10.Bd3 (10.Qe1; 10.Nd2) 10...Bg4 (10...e5 11.Qe1+/=; 10...Nb4 11.Qe1 Nxd3 12.cxd3 b6 13.Be3 Qh5 14.Bd4 Bb7 15.a4 Ba6 16.Qd2?! e5! 17.Bg1 exf4 18.Qxf4 Ng4|^ Schlosser,M-Popchev,M,Sochi-A 1989-CBM) 11.Qe1 Rfc8!? N: 0-1 (55) Chandler,M (2605)-Ivanchuk,V (2735) Reykjavik 1991 CBM 026 [Stohl,I](11...Bxf3 12.Rxf3 Nb4 (12...Rac8; 12...Rfc8!?) 13.Be3 Nxd3 14.cxd3 Qa5 (14...Qb4 15.Rb1 a5 16.Bg1 a4 17.e5 dxe5 18.fxe5 Nd7 19.a3 Qb3 20.d4 Rac8 21.Qh4 f6 22.Rh3 h5 23.Qe4+/= Gdanski,J-Sznapik,A,POL-ch 1991-EXP) 15.f5 b5 16.Bg5 b4 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Nd5 Kg7 19.Qd2 Rac8 20.Rh3 g5<=> Nunn,J-Sznapik,A,Haifa ETC 1989-TD 89_12) ; 9...Nbd7 10.Bd3 b6 11.Qe1 Bb7 12.Be3 Qc6 13.Nd4 Qc8 14.Qh4 Nc5 15.f5 Nxd3 16.cxd3 Ba6 17.Rad1 b5 18.Rf3 b4 19.Nd5-> Schlosser,M-Ludgate,A,Haifa ETC 1989-TD 89_12] 10.Ng5?!N [10.Qe1; 10.Bd3; 10.h3!? Bxf3 11.Bxf3 (11.Rxf3!? Nc6 12.Be3 Qb4 13.a3 Qa5 14.Qe1 Rac8 15.b4 Qc7 16.Bg1 e5 17.Rd1 Nd4 18.Bxd4 exd4 19.Rxd4 a6 20.Bd1 Qb6 21.Rdd3 Rfe8 22.Rfe3 Rcd8 23.Bf3 a5 24.Qd2 axb4 25.axb4 h5 26.b5 Bf8 27.Re1 Bh6 28.g4 hxg4 29.hxg4 d5 30.e5 d4 31.Ne4 Nxe4 32.Rxe4 Qxb5 33.Qh2 Bf8 34.Re1 Bb4 35.Red1 Kg7 36.Qf2 Bc3 37.Kg2 Rh8 38.Rh1 Rxh1 39.Kxh1 Ra8 40.Kg2 g5 41.Be4 Re8 42.Rf3 Qd7 43.Qg3 Bd2 44.f5 Bf4 45.f6+ Kf8 46.Qh3 1-0 (46) Shmatkov,M (2163)-Zakharov,A (2394) Odintsovo 2011) 11...Nc6 (11...Nbd7 12.Qd3 Qc7 13.Bd2 a6 14.Rae1 e6 15.Rd1 Rad8 16.a4 Rfe8 17.Be3 Nb6 18.b3 Nfd7 19.Qxd6 Qxc3 20.Bxb6 Nxb6 21.Qxb6 Rxd1 22.Bxd1 Re7 23.Qd8+ Bf8 24.e5 Rc7 25.Rf3 Qc6 26.Rd3 h5 27.Bxh5 Qxc2 28.Bd1 Qc1 29.Qh4 Rc2 30.Kh2 Rd2 31.Rxd2 Qxd2 32.Bf3 b6 33.Qg4 Bc5 34.h4 Be3 35.Kg3 Qe1+ 36.Kh3 Qh1+ 37.Kg3 Bd2 38.Be2 Be1+ 39.Kf3 Bxh4 40.Qh3 Qe1 41.Bxa6 Qd1+ 42.Be2 Qxb3+ 43.Kg4 1/2-1/2 (43) Kholmov,R (2480) -Guseinov,A Tallinn 1983) 12.Nd5 (12.Re1 Rac8 13.Be3 Qa5 14.Qd2 Rfd8 15.Qf2 Nd7 16.Bd2 Qb6 17.Qxb6 Nxb6 18.Bg4 e6 19.f5 h5 20.Bd1 Be5 21.fxg6 fxg6 22.Rb1 Nc4 23.Bc1 Bxc3 24.bxc3 b6 25.g4 hxg4 26.Bxg4 Re8 27.h4 N6e5 28.Be2 Rf8 29.Kg2 Kg7 30.Rh1 Rh8 31.Rb4 Na5 32.Bd2 Rc5 33.Rd4 Nf7 34.Kg3 b5 35.Rf1 Nc6 36.Rd3 Nce5 37.Rd4 a6 38.Bc1 Rxc3+ 39.Bd3 Nc4 40.Be3 Nxe3 41.Re1 Nxc2 0-1 (41) Ahn,M (2308)-Tjiam,D (2376) Belgium 2010) 12...Nd7 13.Be3 Qa5 14.Bd2 Qd8 15.c3 e6 16.Ne3 Qe7 17.a4 a5 18.Qb3 Nc5 19.Qa3 f5 20.exf5 gxf5 21.Rae1 Ne4 22.Bxe4 fxe4 23.Qb3 Rae8 24.f5 Ne5 25.fxe6 Rxf1+ 26.Rxf1 Qxe6 27.Qxb7 Nd3 28.Nf5 Bf6 29.Be3 Kh8 30.Qb6 Be5 31.Nh6 Nf4 32.Bxf4 Bxf4 33.Rxf4 Qxh6 34.Qd4+ 1-0 (34) Rogers,I (2555)-Reilly,T (2235) Canberra 2002] 10...Bxe2 11.Qxe2 Nbd7 [11...Nc6 12.a3 Na5 (12...Nd7) ] 12.Be3 Qc6 13.Qf3? h6 14.Nh3 b5-/+ 15.Rf2? b4-+ 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 Qb5?! [17...Qa6] 18.Rb1 [18.Re1!?; 18.f5 g5 19.Re1] 18...Nf6?! [18...Rfc8; 18...Qa4; 18...Qa6; 18...Qa5] 19.Rd2 [19.Rd1] 19...a5?! [19...Qa4; 19...Rac8; 19...Qc4] 20.Bd4 Rfe8 [20...Rac8 21.f5] 21.Nf2 [21.f5 Rf8!?] 21...Rac8 [21...Qa4 22.b3 Qd7] 22.Rbd1?!

[22.f5 Qd7 23.fxg6 fxg6] 22...e5! 23.dxe6 [23.fxe5 dxe5 24.Be3 e4 25.Qf4 Rcd8! 26.d6 Rd7-+ !] 23...Rxe6 24.h3 Rce8 25.Qd3? [25.Bxf6 Bxf6 26.Rxd6 Rxd6 (26...Bxb2 27.Rxe6 Rxe6 28.Rd8+ Re8 (28...Kg7) ) 27.Rxd6 Bxb2 (27...Qf1+ 28.Kh2 Bxb2 29.Qc6) ] 25...Qc6? [25...Qxd3 26.Rxd3 Re2-+] 26.Kh2?

[26.f5] 26...Nh5! 27.Bxg7?! [27.f5 Nf4 28.Qg3 (28.Qf3 Qxf3 29.gxf3 gxf5 30.Bxg7 Kxg7 31.Rxd6 Rg6 (31...Rxd6 32.Rxd6 Re2 33.Kg3 Nh5+ 34.Kh4 Rxf2 35.Kxh5 Rxf3 36.h4 Rg3) 32.Rxg6+ fxg6) ] 27...Nxf4 28.Qf3 [28.Qg3 Nh5] 28...Qxf3 29.gxf3 Kxg7 30.Rxd6 Rxd6 31.Rxd6 Re2 32.Kg1 Rxc2 33.Rd4 Ne2+ 0-1

(18289) Ye,Win Aung (2229) - Chan,John (1560) [C00]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.3), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 e6 2.d3 Nc6 3.Nf3 h6 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.0-0 d6 7.c3 Bd7 8.Re1 Rb8 9.Nbd2 Qc8 10.d4 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Nc4 Nge7 13.b4 b5 14.Ne3 0-0 15.Nd5 Bg4 16.a4 a6 17.Be3 Re8 18.Bc5 Nxd5 19.Qxd5 Ne7 20.Qd3 Rd8 21.Qc2 Nc6 22.axb5 axb5 23.Red1 Qe6 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.Qe2 Rb8 26.Qd3 Qe8 27.h3 Be6 28.Kh2 Bc4 29.Qe3 Kh7 30.Nd2 Be6 31.Bf1 Qd7 32.Nf3 Qd8 33.Ra6 Qd7 34.Be2 Bxh3?? [34...Nd8!=] 35.Rxc6 Qxc6 36.Kxh3+/- Qe6+?! [36...Bf8 37.Bxf8 Rxf8 38.Kg2+/-] 37.Kg2 c6 38.Nh2 [38.c4!] 38...Ra8 [38...h5] 39.c4! bxc4 40.Qc3 Qd7 41.Bxc4 h5 42.Qd3? [42.Qb3; 42.Qf3] 42...Qe8?? [42...Qxd3 43.Bxd3 Bf8= (43...f6= and ...Bf8 next) ] 43.Nf3 Bh6 [43...f6] 44.Qd6+- Ra1 45.Qf6 Bg7 46.Ng5+ Kh8 47.Nxf7+ Kh7 48.Qg5 [48.Qd6!] 48...Qd7 49.Nxe5 Bxe5 50.Qxe5 Ra8 51.Be6 Qg7 52.Qxg7+ Kxg7 53.Bd7 Kf6 54.f4 Ra2+ 55.Kh3 Kf7 56.Bxc6 1-0

(18290) Boldi,Nicholas (1521) - Wong,Russell (2200) [B02]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.4), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.exd5 Nxd5 4.Nxd5 Qxd5 5.d4 Nc6 6.Be3 Bf5 7.a3 e6 8.Nf3 a6 9.c4 Qd7 10.d5 exd5 11.cxd5 Ne7 12.Bc4 Ng6 13.Nd4 Be4 14.Nf3 Bd6 15.Bd3 Bxd5 16.Bxg6 hxg6 17.Qd4 Bxf3 18.gxf3 Qc6 19.Qxg7 0-0-0 20.Qxf7 Rd7 21.Qb3 Qxf3 22.Rf1 Rhd8 23.Rc1 Bxh2 24.a4 Bd6 25.Rg1

25...Bb4+ 26.Kf1 Rd1+ 27.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 28.Qxd1 Qxd1+ 29.Kg2 Qg4+ 30.Kf1 Qc4+ 31.Kg2 Bd6 32.a5 Qe2 33.b3 Bb4 34.Bd4 Qe4+ 35.f3 Qxd4 36.Rh1 Qd2+ 37.Kg3 Bd6+ 38.Kg4 Qf4+ 39.Kh3 Qg3# 0-1

(18291) Corper,Adam (2193) - Cole,Tony (1520) [C01]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.5), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 Nc6 3.d5 exd5 4.exd5 Nce7

5.d6!? [5.Qe2!?] 5...cxd6 6.g3 Qb6 7.Bg2 Nf6 8.Nf3 d5 9.0-0 d6 10.Nc3 Be6 11.Be3 Qc6 12.Nd4 Qd7 13.Bg5 0-0-0 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Nde2 Qc6 16.Nf4 Qd7 17.Ncxd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Bg7 19.Qd4 Bxd5 20.Qxd5 h5 21.Rfe1 Rde8 22.Rxe8+ Qxe8 23.Qxb7+ Kd8 24.Bh3 f5 25.Bxf5 Be5 26.f4 Bd4+ 27.Kh1 h4 28.Qc8+ Ke7 29.Re1+ Be5 30.Qxe8+ Kxe8 31.fxe5 Ke7 32.exd6+ Kxd6 33.g4 Rb8 34.b3 Rb5 35.Kg2 Rd5 36.Re2 Rd1 37.Kh3 a5 38.a4 Rg1 39.Kxh4 Kc5 40.Kg5 Rh1 41.Kf6 Kd6 42.Kxf7 Kc5 43.g5 Rf1 44.Kf6 Rf3 45.g6 Kb4 46.g7 Ka3 47.g8Q Rf1 48.Qf8+ Kb2 49.c4+ Kxb3 50.Qb8+ Kxc4 51.Rc2+ Kd4 52.Qe5# 1-0

(18292) Carron,Joel (1491) - Tsodikova,Natalya (2185) [C56]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.6), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 Be7 10.f3 Nc5 11.Be3 0-0 12.Nd2 f6 13.exf6 Rxf6 14.N2b3 Na4 15.Na5 c5 16.Ndb3 d4 17.Bg5 Re6 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.Re1 Nxb2 20.Rxe6 Qxe6 21.Qd2 Nc4 22.Nxc4 Qxc4 23.Qd3 Qd5 24.c3 Bf5 25.Qb5 dxc3 26.Qxc5 Qxc5+ 27.Nxc5 c2 28.Kf2 Rb8 29.Nb3 c5 30.g4 Bg6 31.Rc1 c4 32.Nd2 Rb1 33.Rxb1 cxb1Q 34.Nxb1 Bxb1 35.a3 c3 36.Ke2 g5 0-1

(18293) Ivanov,Aleksandr (2171) - Morgan,Jerry (1491) [D15]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.7), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 dxc4 4.Nf3 b5 5.e3 Nf6 6.a4 b4 7.Na2 e6 8.Bxc4 Ba6?! [8...Be7] 9.Bxa6 Nxa6 10.0-0 c5 11.Qe2 Qc8 12.Bd2 Bd6 13.Rfc1 Qc6 14.Nxb4 Nxb4 15.Bxb4 Nd7 16.Bxc5 Rc8 17.Bxd6 Qxc1+ 18.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 19.Ne1 f5 20.Kf1 Kf7 21.Qb5 Nf6 22.f3 Rhc8 23.Bc5 Kg6 24.Ke2 Rb1 25.Nd3 Nd5 26.Qd7 1-0

(18294) Baer,Michael A (1488) - Boldi,Ethan Kazanjian (2134) [C02]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.8), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.a3 c4 7.Be2 Be7 8.0-0 Bd7 9.Nbd2 g5 10.h3 h6 11.b4 a5 12.Rb1 axb4 13.axb4 Ra2 14.Bb2 Na7 15.Qc1 h5 16.Ra1 Rxa1 17.Qxa1 g4 18.hxg4 hxg4 19.Nh2 Bg5 20.Bc1

20...f5 21.exf6 Nxf6 22.Bxg4 Nxg4 23.Nxg4 e5 24.Qa5 Qxa5 25.bxa5 Bxg4 26.dxe5 0-0 27.Re1 Nc6 28.e6 Re8 29.a6 bxa6 0-1

(18295) Gaffagan,Steven (2054) - Harris,Clarence (1469) [C88]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.9), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.a4 Bb7 9.d3 Bc5?! [9...d6; 9...Re8; 9...h6] 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 d6 12.Nbd2 Nd4 13.Nxd4 exd4 14.axb5 axb5 15.Rxa8 Bxa8 16.f4 Re8 17.e5 dxe5 18.fxe5 g5 19.exf6 Rxe1+ 20.Bxe1 Qxf6 21.Qe2 Qc6 22.Ne4 Be7 23.Bg3 Kg7 24.Qh5 Qg6 25.Be5+ f6 26.Qxg6+ Kxg6 27.Bxd4 1-0

(18296) Bradley,Christopher (1427) - Askin,David Benjamin (2019) [E06]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.10), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 6.cxd5 exd5 7.d4 c6 8.b3 Re8 9.Ba3 Bg4 10.h3 Bh5 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.Ne5 Nbd7 13.g4 Bg6 14.Nxg6 hxg6 15.Nc3 Nf8 16.e3 Ne6 17.Qd3 Ng5 18.Rae1 Rad8 19.f3 Qd6 20.Ne2 Re7 21.h4 Ne6 22.g5 Nh5 23.f4 Rde8 24.Qd2 Nc7 25.Nc1 Ng3 26.Rf3 Nf5 27.Rh3

27...Ne6 [27...c5! 28.dxc5 Qxc5=/+] 28.Nd3 Nf8 [28...c5!? 29.dxc5 Nxc5 30.Ne5 Rxe5!? (30...d4 31.e4 Rxe5 32.fxe5 Qxe5) 31.fxe5 Rxe5~/=] 29.b4 Qc7? [29...f6=] 30.Ne5 Re6?! 31.h5 gxh5 32.Qc2?! [32.Rxh5+-] 32...g6 33.Bxd5 Rxe5? [33...R6e7 34.Bb3 Qd6 35.a3+/-] 34.dxe5 Qb6 35.Be4+- Ne7 36.a3 Ne6

37.Re2?? [37.Rf3; 37.Kh1; 37.Kh2; 37.Kg2; Perhaps best is 37.f5 gxf5 38.Bxf5 Nxf5 39.Qxf5 Ng7 40.Qf4] 37...Nxf4-+ It just takes one move 38.Rf3 Nxe2+ 39.Qxe2 Nd5 40.Bxd5 cxd5 41.Qf2 Qe6 42.Rf6 Qxe5 43.Rxf7 Qxg5+ 44.Kf1 Qxe3 45.Qxe3 Rxe3 46.Rxb7 Rxa3 47.Rd7 Rb3 48.Rxd5 Rxb4 49.Rd8+ Kg7 50.Rd7+ Kh6 51.Rxa7 h4 52.Ra2 Kh5 53.Kg2 g5 54.Kh2 Kg4 55.Rg2+ and "after many moves" .... 0-1

(18297) Askin,Michael (1993) - Frank,Robert H (1426) [C42]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.11), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 Bf5 [5...d5 6.Bd3 Bf5 With this move order it's the "latest thing" among the supers in 2018.] 6.Bd3 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Re1 [8.c4] 8...d5 9.Bf4 [9.Nc3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 Nc6 12.Re2 a6 13.Bf4 1/2-1/2 (60) Nepomniachtchi,I (2757)-Giri,A (2782) Dortmund 2018 CBM 186 [Szabo,Kr]; 9.Nbd2 Nd6 10.Bxf5 Nxf5 11.c3 c6 12.Qb3 Nd6 13.Nf1 Nd7 14.Bf4 1/2-1/2 (25) Anand,V (2771)-Duda,J (2739) Batumi 2018; 9.c4 Nc6 10.cxd5 Qxd5 11.Nc3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Rae8 13.Bf4 1/2-1/2 (29) Anand,V (2767)-Wei, Y (2743) Wijk aan Zee 2018] 9...c5 Black has played almost everything in the few games with 9.Bf4 (except 9...Nd6, which loses a piece). 10.Nbd2 [10.a3 is the only previous occasion, by a couple of kids: 10...Nc6 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Be3 Bxe3 13.Rxe3 Nd6 14.Bxf5 Nxf5 15.Rd3 Qb6 16.Rb3 (Now there's something you don't see every day) 16...Qc5 17.Qd3 Nd6 18.Ng5 g6 19.Nc3 d4 20.Nce4 Nxe4 21.Nxe4 Qe7 22.Qf3 Rfe8 23.Nf6+ 1-0 (39) Mai,N-Luong,N Viet-ch Girls U09, Ho Chi Minh City 2005; Stockfish 10 thinks 10.c4! is close to winning: 10...Nd7 11.cxd5 Ndf6 12.Be5 Qxd5 13.Qc2 cxd4 14.Bxf6] 10...cxd4?!

[10...Bf6!?] 11.Nxe4 [11.Nxd4! Nxf2 is quite a try, but doesn't seem to cut it. 12.Kxf2 Bxd3 13.cxd3 Bc5 14.N2b3 Bxd4+ 15.Nxd4 Qf6 16.Ne2 g5 17.Kg1 gxf4 18.Rf1 Nc6 (18...Qxb2 19.Rb1 Qxa2 20.Nxf4+- was just plain too greedy) 19.Nxf4 Kh8 20.Kh1+/-] 11...dxe4 12.Bxe4 Bxe4 13.Rxe4 Nc6 14.Nxd4 Bc5?! [14...Qd5!? 15.Nxc6 Qxe4 16.Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.Bd6+/-] 15.Nxc6 Qxd1+ [15...bxc6] 16.Rxd1 bxc6 17.Rc4 Rfd8 18.Rxd8+ Rxd8 19.Kf1 Rd4 20.Rxc5 Rxf4 21.Rxc6 h6 22.Ra6 Rd4 23.Rxa7 Rd2 24.Rc7 Rd1+ 25.Ke2 Ra1 26.a3 Rh1 27.h3 Rg1 28.Kf3 Rb1 29.b4 Ra1 30.Rc3 Kh7 31.b5 Rb1 32.Rb3 1-0

(18298) Cunningham,Charles (1414) - Walder,Michael (1970) [B02]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.12), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.exd5 Nxd5 4.Qf3 Nf6 5.h3 Nc6 6.Bb5 Bd7 7.d3 Nd4 8.Bxd7+ Nxd7 [8...Qxd7! 9.Qd1 (9.Qxb7 Nxc2+ 10.Kd1 (10.Kd2 Rd8! 11.Kxc2 Qxd3+ 12.Kb3 Nd7!; 10.Kf1 Qxd3+ 11.Nge2 Rd8-/+) 10...Rd8 11.Bd2 Nxa1 (11...e6) ) 9...e5=/+] 9.Qd1 e5 10.a3 Bd6 11.Nf3 0-0 12.0-0 Re8 13.Ne4 Nc5 14.Re1 Nxe4 15.Rxe4 f5 16.Re1 Qf6 17.c3 Nxf3+ 18.Qxf3 c6 19.Bd2 Rad8 20.Rad1 Re7 21.Qe3 Bb8 22.d4 e4 23.Qg5 Kf7 24.Qh5+ Qg6 25.Qh4 h6 26.Bf4 Bxf4 27.Qxf4 Qg5 28.Qxg5 hxg5 29.Re2 c5 30.d5 c4 31.a4 Rd6 32.Rd4 Rc7 33.g4 g6 34.Kg2 Rc5 35.Red2 Kf6 36.Kf1 Ke5 37.Ke2 Rcxd5 38.Ke3 f4+ 39.Ke2 Rxd4 0-1

(18299) Melville,Cailen (1954) - Adams,Sophie (1406) [E08]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.13), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 Nbd7 7.Qc2 c5 8.Nc3 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nb6 10.cxd5 Nbxd5 11.Rd1 Nb4 12.Qb3 Qa5 13.Bd2 Qc5 14.Ncb5 a6 15.Rac1 Qb6 16.Bxb4 Bxb4 17.Nc7 Rb8 18.a3 Bc5 19.Rxc5 Qxc5 20.Nxa6 bxa6 21.Qxb8 Bd7 22.Qb7 Bb5 23.Nxb5 axb5 24.Qc6 Qe5 25.Rd2 h6 26.e4 Qb8 27.Qd6 Qc8 28.e5 Ng4 29.Qd4 Nxe5 30.Qxe5 Qc1+ 31.Bf1 Qxd2 32.Qxb5 Qd5 33.b4 Qxb5 34.Bxb5 Rb8 35.Bc6 Kf8 36.b5 Ke7 37.a4 Kd8 38.a5 Kc7 39.Kf1 Rd8 40.Ke2 Rd4 41.Be8 f6 42.Ke3 Rb4 43.h4 g5 44.h5 e5 45.Kd3 Rb2 46.f3 f5 47.g4 fxg4 48.fxg4 Rb4 49.Bc6 Rxg4? [49...Rd4+-+ AND THEN ...Rxg4] 50.Be4! Rg3+ 51.Kc4 Rg4 52.b6+ Kb8 53.Kd5 Rxe4 54.Kxe4 g4 55.a6 Ka8 56.Ke3 e4?? [56...Kb8=] 57.Kxe4 g3 1-0

(18300) Hilliard,Michael (1404) - Lum,Michael K (1941) [D05]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.14), 08.01.2019

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.c3 d5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Bd3 Bg4 6.Nbd2 e6 7.0-0 cxd4 8.cxd4 Be7 9.a3 0-0 10.b4 Bd6 11.Bb2 Bc7 12.Qc2 Rc8 13.Bc3 Bh5 14.Rfe1 h6 15.Rac1 Re8 16.Qb1 Bxf3 17.Nxf3 Qe7 18.Ne5 Nxe5 19.dxe5 Ng4 20.f4 Bb6 21.Bd4 Qh4 22.h3 Qf2+ 23.Kh1 Nxe3 24.Bxe3 Bxe3 25.Rc2 Rxc2 0-1

(18301) Argo,Guy (1909) - Ansari,Jahaan (1390) [C02]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.15), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 [5...Nge7; 5...Bd7] 6.a3 a6 [6...c4] 7.b4 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nge7 9.Bd3 Bd7 10.Bb2 g6 11.Nbd2 Rc8 12.Nb3 Nxb4 13.axb4 Qxb4+ 14.Nfd2 Ba4 15.Rxa4 Qxa4 16.Nc5 Qxd1+ 17.Kxd1 Rc7 18.Ke2 Nc6 19.Ndb3 Nxe5 20.Nxa6 bxa6 21.dxe5 Rb7 22.Bc2 Be7 23.Ra1 0-0 24.Rxa6 Rfb8 25.Ba3 Bxa3 26.Rxa3 Kg7 27.Nd4 Kh6 28.Rh3+ Kg7 29.f4 Rc8 30.Rd3 Rb4 31.Bb3 Kh6 32.g4 Kg7 33.f5 gxf5 34.gxf5 Kh8 35.fxe6 fxe6 36.Nxe6 Re4+ 37.Kf3 Rxe5 38.Bxd5 Re8 39.Nf4 Rd8 40.Be4 Rxd3+ 41.Bxd3 Rg5 42.h4 h6?? 43.hxg5 hxg5 1-0

(18302) Latourette,Nicholas (1347) - Anderson,Michael (1903) [B43]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.16), 08.01.2019

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 b5 6.Be3 Bb7 7.f3 d6 8.Qd2 Be7 9.g4 Bh4+ 10.Bf2 Nc6 11.0-0-0 Bxf2 12.Qxf2 Qb6 13.Qd2 Nxd4 14.Qxd4 Qxd4 15.Rxd4 0-0-0 16.a4 b4 17.Rxb4 Ne7 18.Rd4 Nc6 19.Rd2 Ne5 20.Be2 g5 21.h4 gxh4 22.Rxh4 Ng6 23.Rh6 d5 24.exd5 exd5 25.a5 Kb8 26.Rd4 Ka7 27.Na4 Rde8 28.Kd2 Nf8 29.f4 Re6 30.Rh3 Nd7 31.c4 Nf6 32.Nc5 Ne4+ 33.Nxe4 dxe4 34.Rd7 Rf6 35.Rb3 Rb8 36.Ke3 Ka8 37.c5 Rh6 38.Rb6 Rh3+ 39.Kd4 Rh2 40.Ke3 Rh3+ 41.Kd2 e3+ 42.Kd3 Bc8 43.Re7 Bb7 44.c6 Rd8+ 45.Rd7 1-0

(18303) McKellar,Daniel (1872) - Otterbach,Renate (1281) [E91]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.17), 08.01.2019
[McKellar,Daniel]

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.d4 d6 4.e4 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Be2 0-0 7.0-0 Bg4 8.Be3 Bxf3 9.Bxf3 e6 [9...e5 10.d5; 9...Nd7 10.d5 Nce5 11.Be2 Nb6 12.Qb3 c6 13.f4 is one possible line] 10.Qd2 Ne8 11.Rad1 Ne7 12.Bh6 Nf6 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.e5 Nd7 15.exd6 cxd6 16.Bxb7 Rb8 17.Bf3 a5 18.Nb5 Nf5 19.Bg4 Nh6 20.Be2 Nf6 21.Qf4 d5 22.c5 Nf5 23.g4 Ne7 24.a4 Nc6 25.Rd3 [25.h4] 25...Rg8 [25...Ne4 26.f3 Ng5] 26.Rh3 Rh8 27.Nd6 Qd7 [27...Rxb2 28.Bb5; 27...Rb4 28.g5] 28.Bb5 Rbf8 29.Re1 [29.Bxc6 Qxc6 30.Qe5 h6 31.Rf3; 29.Rf3 Ne4 30.Bxc6 Qxc6 31.Nxf7] 29...h5 30.g5 Ne8 31.Nxe8+ [31.Rf3 Nxd6 32.cxd6 Qb7 33.d7 Nd8 34.Qf6+ Kh7 35.Rc1] 31...Qxe8 [31...Rxe8 32.Qf6+ Kg8 33.b4 axb4 34.Rb1 Rc8 35.Rf3] 32.Qc7 Qd8 33.Qxc6 Qxg5+ 34.Rg3 Qd2 35.Re2 [35.Kf1] 35...Qxd4 [35...Qc1+!? was much trickier for Black; 36.Kg2 h4 37.Rg4[] h3+ 38.Kg3[] (38.Kf3= 0.00! after any of 38...Rh6 (38...Rh5; 38...g5) ) 38...Qh1 (38...Qg1+ 39.Kf3 Qxh2 40.Re1[]) 39.f4[] Qg1+ 40.Kf3 Qh1+ 41.Ke3 Qe4+ 42.Kd2 Qxd4+ 43.Ke1 all very computer, White escapes] 36.Qd6 h4 37.Rge3 [37.Rd3!] 37...Qg4+ 38.Kh1 Rh5 39.h3 [39.f3 Qh3 40.Re1 is fine, too] 39...Qf5 40.Qe5+ Qxe5 41.Rxe5 Rxe5 42.Rxe5 Kf6 43.Re2 Ke7 44.Kg2 f6 45.Kf3 f5 46.Ke3 e5 47.f4(+) White won on time 1-0

(18304) Soffer,Aaron (1260) - Jensen,Christian (1857) [B21]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.18), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 d6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bc4 a6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.e5 dxe5 9.Qxd8+ Nxd8 10.Nxe5 b5 11.Bb3 Bb7 12.Rd1 e6 13.Bf4 Be7 14.a4 b4 15.Na2

15...g5?! [15...a5; 15...Bd5! Black had too many pieces (!). 16.Nc1 Nb7 as in the game] 16.Bd2 [16.Be3 a5 17.Bc4 Nd5 18.Nc1=/+] 16...a5 17.Be3 Nd5 18.Nc4 Nxe3 19.Nxe3 Bc5 20.Re1 0-0 21.Rad1 Bc6 I thought a nice redeployment during the game, but just [21...Nc6 22.Rd7 Bxe3 23.Rxe3 Ba6 is best] 22.Nc1 Nb7 23.Nd3 Rfd8 24.Nxc5 Nxc5 25.Bc2 Bxa4 26.Bxa4 Nxa4 27.b3 Nc5 28.Rb1 Rd3 29.Nc4 Rxb3 30.Ra1 a4 31.Nb6 Ra6 32.Nc4 Rc3 33.Nb2 Rc2 34.Nxa4 Rxa4 35.Rxa4 Nxa4 36.Rb1 b3 37.h3 b2 0-1

(18305) Harris,John (1854) - Capdeville,Barry (1219) [A23]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.19), 08.01.2019

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 Be7 4.Nc3 c6 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 0-0 7.Bf4 d6 8.Rd1 Ne8 9.Nf3 Nd7 10.0-0 Bf6 11.Qd2 Be7 12.Ne4 Nc5 13.Nxc5 d5 14.Na4 Nf6 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.Nc3 Be6 17.Nd4 Qd7 18.Nxe6 Qxe6 19.Nxd5 Rad8 20.Nxe7+ Qxe7 21.Qe3 1-0

(18306) Rushton,Peter (1186) - Pham,Tam Phu (1833) [B84]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.20), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 a6 3.Nf3 d6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Be2 e6 7.Nf3?! Qc7 8.Bf4 Nbd7 9.0-0 Be7 10.Bg3 0-0 11.Qd2 b5 12.b4 Bb7 13.Bd3 Rac8 14.Ne2 Bxe4 15.Nfd4 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Ne5 17.Qd1 Rfd8 18.f4 Nc4 19.Rb1 Ne3 20.Qd3 Nxf1 21.Rxf1 Qc4 22.Qa3 Nd5 23.c3 Nxc3 24.Qb2 Nxe2+ 25.Nxe2 Bf6 26.Qd2 Qc2 27.Rd1 Rc4 28.Kf1 Qxd2 29.Rxd2 Rxb4 30.Bf2 Kf8 31.g3 Ke7 32.h4 Rc8 33.Bd4 Bxd4 34.Nxd4 Rcc4 35.Nf3 h6 36.h5 Rc3 37.Kg2 Rc5 38.Nd4 Kd7 39.Kf3 Rxh5 40.Nc2 Rb2 41.a3 Rc5 42.Rd3 Rbxc2 43.Re3 R2c3 0-1

(18307) Marcus,Joel (1833) - Bayaraa,Timothy (1175) [D02]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.21), 08.01.2019

1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Bf5 3.e3 Nc6 4.c3 Nf6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Qb3 Rb8 7.Nbd2 Qd7 8.Bb5 Qd8 9.Ne5 Nd7 10.Ndf3 f6 11.Nxd7 Qxd7 12.0-0 Bd6 13.Rfe1 Bxf4 14.exf4 0-0 15.Nh4 Bg4 16.h3 Bh5 17.Re3 Qd6 18.g3 e5 19.Rae1 exf4 20.Re6 Qd7 21.g4 Bf7 22.Re7 Qd6 23.Nf5 Qd8 24.Bxc6 bxc6 25.Qa4 Re8 26.Qxc6 Rxe7 27.Rxe7 Bg6 28.Rxg7+ Kh8 29.Rd7 Qe8 30.Qxf6+ Kg8 31.Qg7# 1-0

(18308) Tabatabai,Hadi (1149) - Hakobyan,Sos (1829) [C01]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.22), 08.01.2019

1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.d4 Bd6 5.Bd3 Ne7 6.0-0 Bf5 7.Re1 Bxd3 8.Qxd3 h6 9.c4 dxc4 10.Qxc4 0-0 11.Ne5 Nd7 12.Bf4 Nf6 13.h3 Rc8 14.Re3 Ned5 15.Rf3 Nxf4 16.Rxf4 c5 17.Nd2 cxd4 18.Qxd4 Bxe5 19.Qxd8 Rfxd8 20.Rf5 Bxb2 21.Re1 Rxd2 22.Re7 Rc1+ 23.Kh2 Bd4 24.f3 Rcc2 25.Kg3 Rxg2+ 26.Kf4 g5+ 0-1

(18309) Babayan,Gagik (1806) - Tabatabai,Ashkon (1138) [C64]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.23), 08.01.2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.c3 d6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bd7 8.0-0 Nf6 9.Bxc6 Bxc6 10.Bxb4 Bxe4 11.Nbd2 0-0 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.Re1 Re8 14.Qc2 f5 15.Nd2 d5 16.Nf3 Rc8 17.Ne5 c5 18.dxc5 Rxe5 19.f3 Re6 20.fxe4 dxe4 21.Rad1 Qe7 22.Qc4 b6 23.c6 Qc7 24.Qxe6+ 1-0

(18310) Enkhjargal,Gabriel (1135) - Busch,Jonah (1799) [A00]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.24), 08.01.2019

0-1

(18311) Yun,Andrew (1780) - Chambers,Don (1127) [C44]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.25), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 f5 4.exf5 e4 5.Ne5 d5 6.Qh5+ Ke7 7.Qf7+ Kd6 8.Nc3 Nxd4 9.Qxd5+ Ke7 10.Bg5+ Nf6 11.Qf7+ Kd6 12.Nc4+ Kc6 13.0-0-0 Bc5 14.Na5+ Kb6 15.Na4+ Kxa5 16.Bd2+ Bb4 17.Bxb4+ Kxa4 18.b3+ Kxb4 19.Qc4+ Ka5 20.Qc5+ [20.Rxd4] 20...b5 21.Rxd4 Qxd4 22.Qxb5# 1-0

(18312) Persidsky,Andre (1814) - Perlov,Alexander (1720) [D38]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.26), 08.01.2019

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 Ne4 5.Qc2 d5 6.e3 c5 7.Bd3 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 f5 9.0-0 Nd7 10.Ne5 Nxe5 11.dxe5 0-0 12.f3 Ng5 13.f4 Nf7 14.cxd5 c4 15.Bxc4 exd5 16.Bb3 Be6 17.Ba3 Re8 18.Rad1 Rc8 19.Ba4 Qb6 20.Bxe8 Qxe3+ 21.Qf2 Qxf2+ 22.Rxf2 Rxe8 23.Bc5 b6 24.Bd4 Rc8 25.Ra1 g5 26.g3 gxf4 27.gxf4 Nd8 28.Rb1 Nb7 29.Kh1 Bf7 30.Rg2+ Bg6 31.h4 Kf7 32.Rbg1 Nc5 33.h5 Bxh5 34.Rg7+ Ke6 35.Rxh7 Bg4 36.Rh6+ Ke7 37.Bxc5+ Rxc5 38.Rh7+ Ke6 39.Rxa7 Rxc3 40.Rb1 d4 41.Rxb6+ Kd5 42.Rd6+ Ke4 43.Ra4 Kxf4 44.Raxd4+ Kxe5 45.a4 Rc2 46.a5 Bf3+ 47.Kg1 Ra2 48.a6 Be4 49.Rd2 Ra1+ 50.Kf2 Ra3 51.Rh6 Kf4 52.Re2 Kg5 53.Re6 Kf4 54.Rb2 Rh3 55.Reb6 Rf3+ 56.Ke1 Ra3 57.R2b3 Ra2 58.Rb2 Ra1+ 59.Kd2 Ra3 1/2-1/2

(18313) Mercado,Adam (1714) - Derleth,Christopher (1060) [B96]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.27), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 One of the most interesting and well-studied positions in chess! But suddenly... 7...e5? 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Nf5 Qxd1+ 10.Rxd1 Bxf5 11.Bxf6 Bg6?? 12.Rd8# 1-0

(18314) Dunlap,Steven (1057) - Sadowsky,Jacob (1703) [A31]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.28), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Bf4?? Bg7?? [5...e5 6.Bxe5 Qa5+ With c2-c4 and g7-g6 missing, this is one of the fastest losses ever registered by a titled player...] 6.Nb5 d6 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 0-0 9.e4 Nc6 10.Be2 Nxe4?? 11.0-0?? [11.Nxe4 Bxb2 12.Nc2 Bxa1 13.Qxa1 Bf5 14.Bh6 f6 15.f3+/=] 11...Nxc3 12.bxc3 Bxc3 13.Rc1 Bb2 Same thing a piece less 14.Bg4 Bxa3 15.Bxc8 Qxc8 16.Qf3 Bxc1 17.Rxc1 Qf5 18.Bh6 Qxf3 19.gxf3 Rfe8 20.f4 Nd4 21.Kh1 f6 22.Rg1 Nf5 0-1

(18315) Mays,Jerry L (1700) - Mendes Da Costa,Alex (990) [B07]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.29), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 [3...g6; 3...c6; 3...e5] 4.g3 e5 5.d5 Be7 6.Bg2 0-0 7.Nge2 c6 8.0-0 cxd5 9.Nxd5 Nxd5 10.exd5 a5 11.Kh1 b6 12.f4 Ba6 13.Re1 Re8 14.fxe5 Nxe5 15.Nd4 Bb7 16.Nf5 Rc8 17.Bf4 Qc7 18.c3 Bf6 19.Qe2 h6 20.Qb5 Red8 21.Rad1 Ng4 22.Qe2 Ne5 23.h3 Ng6 24.Bxh6 gxh6 25.Nxh6+ Kg7 26.Nf5+ Kf8 27.Qh5 Re8 28.Qh7 Rxe1+ 29.Rxe1 Re8 30.Rf1 Ba6 31.Nh6 Bxf1 32.Qg8+ Ke7 33.Qxf7+ Kd8 34.Qxf6+ Qe7 35.Qxf1 Ne5 36.Qa6 Qc7 37.Qb5 Nc4 38.Bf1 Re1 39.Kg1 Qc5+ 40.Qxc5 dxc5 41.Kf2 Rb1 42.Bxc4 Rxb2+ 43.Ke3 b5 44.Bb3 a4 45.Bxa4 bxa4 46.Kd3 Rxa2 47.Kc4 a3? 48.Kb3 Rg2 49.Kxa3 Rxg3 50.Kb3 Rxh3 51.Nf7+ Ke7 52.Ne5 Kd6 53.Ng6 Rf3 54.Kc4 Rg3 55.Nh8? [55.Nf8] 55...Rg1?? [55...Rg7; 55...Rf3; 55...Rg4+; 55...Ke7] 56.Nf7+ Ke7 57.Kxc5 Kxf7 1/2-1/2

(18316) Sullivan,George (958) - Cendejas,Juan (1686) [C64]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.30), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.c3 Qe7 5.d4 exd4 6.0-0 d3 7.Bxd3 d6 8.h3 Be6 9.Qe2 0-0-0 10.Be3 Bxe3 11.Qxe3 f6 12.b4 Kb8 13.Nbd2 h5 14.Nh2 g5 15.Be2 Qg7 16.f3 Nge7 17.a3 Ng6 18.g3 Bxh3 19.Rf2 Rde8 20.Qd3 h4 21.g4 Nf4 22.Qc4 Ne5 23.Qd4 Qd7 24.Nc4 Nxe2+ 25.Rxe2 Bxg4 [25...Nxf3+ is the same thing -- with the bishop still on the board. (In the way of the h-pawn? I think not.)] 26.fxg4 Nf3+ 27.Nxf3 Qxg4+ 28.Kf2 Qg3+ 29.Ke3 f5 30.Kd2 Qxf3 31.Re3 Qf4 32.exf5 Qxf5 33.Rae1 Ref8 34.Re7 Rhg8 35.Nxd6 cxd6 36.Qxd6+ Ka8 37.Rxb7 Rd8 38.Kc1 Rxd6 39.Ree7 Qf4+ 40.Kb2 Qd2+ 0-1

(18317) Greene,Sam (1672) - Nassif,Wassim (1119) [C78]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.31), 08.01.2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Bc5 6.c3 0-0 7.Re1 d6 8.h3 Bd7 9.d4 exd4 10.cxd4 Ba7 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 Nb8 13.Bc2 Bb5 14.a4 Bc4 15.Nbd2 d5 16.e5 Nbd7 17.exf6 Nxf6 18.Nxc4 dxc4 19.Qd2 Qd6 20.Bg3 Qc6 21.Re7 Nd5 22.Be4 f5 23.Rxc7 Qe6 24.Bxd5 Qxd5 25.Be5 Rf7 26.Rxf7 Kxf7 27.Nh4 g6 28.Qxh6 Rg8 29.Qh7+ Kf8 30.Nxg6+ Rxg6 31.Qxg6 Bxd4 32.Bd6+ 1-0

(18318) Soffer,Josiah (799) - Cortinas,Martin A (1666) [B11]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.32), 08.01.2019

1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bg4 5.Be2 e6 6.Ne5 Bxe2 7.Qxe2 Nd7 8.Nf3 Ngf6 9.Nxf6+ Nxf6 10.d4 h6 11.0-0 Qc7 12.Re1 0-0-0 13.g3 Bd6 14.c4 g5 15.c5 Bf8 16.h4 g4 17.Ne5 Rxd4 18.Be3 Re4 19.Bf4 Rxe2 20.Rxe2 Qe7 21.Rd1 h5 22.Nc4 Nd5 23.Rd3 Nxf4 24.gxf4 Qxh4 25.f3 Bxc5+ 26.Kg2 Qh3# 0-1

(18319) Rakonitz,David (1644) - Lintz,Michael [D58]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.33), 08.01.2019

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 b6 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bg3 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Nd7 10.e3 Bb7 11.Bd3 0-0 12.0-0 Nf6 13.h3 Ne4 14.Bxe4 Bxe4 15.Nd2 Bb7 16.e4 c5 17.dxc5 Bxc5 18.Re1 Qf6 19.Qc2 Rac8 20.Nf3 Qg6 21.Be5 Rfd8 22.Qe2 Bd6 23.Bd4 Rc7 24.Rad1 Qh5 25.Be5 Rcd7 26.Bxd6 Rxd6 27.Rxd6 Rxd6 28.Qe3 Qb5 29.Qf4 Rd8 30.Ne5 Rf8 31.Rd1 Qe2 32.Rd8 Rxd8 33.Qxf7+ Kh8 34.Qg6 Qxe4 35.Nf7+ Kg8 36.Nxh6+ Kh8 37.Nf7+ Kg8 38.Nh6+ Kh8 39.Nf7+ 1/2-1/2

(18320) Zeller,William Patrick - Xu,Jayden (1619) [E34]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.34), 08.01.2019

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.Nf3 d5 6.e3 b6 7.Bd2 Bb7 8.cxd5 exd5 9.a3 Be7 10.b4 Nbd7 11.Bd3 c5 12.bxc5 bxc5 13.0-0 c4 14.Bf5 Nb6 15.Rfb1 Rb8 16.a4 Nc8 17.Ra2 Nd6 18.Bh3 Nfe4 19.Rab2 Qc7 20.Ne5 f5 21.g3 a6 22.Bg2 Nf7 23.Nf3 Nh6 24.Rb6 Ng4 25.Be1 Rf6 26.Nxd5 Bxd5 27.Rxb8+ Kf7 28.h3 Nh6 29.Ne5+ Ke6 30.R1b6+ Bc6 31.Rxc6+ Qxc6 32.Nxc6 Nd6 33.d5+ Kd7 34.Qb1 Nhf7 35.Rb7+ Kc8 36.Nxe7+ Kd8 37.Qb6+ Ke8 38.Qc6+ Kf8 39.Rb8+ Nd8 40.Rxd8+ Kf7 41.Rxd6 1-0

(18321) Abraham,Michael (1609) - Golledge,Aiza [D27]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.35), 08.01.2019

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.e3 dxc4 5.Bxc4 Nf6 6.Nc3 a6 7.a4 Nc6 8.0-0 Na5 9.Ba2 Be7 10.e4 cxd4 11.Nxd4 e5 12.Nf5 Bxf5 13.exf5 Qc8 14.Nd5 Nc6 15.Nb6 Qb8 16.Nxa8 Qxa8 17.Qb3 0-0 18.Qg3 Nd4 19.Qxe5 Qd8 20.Be3 Nc6 21.Qg3 Qd7 22.Bh6 Nh5 23.Qg4 Bf6 24.Qxh5 Nd4 25.Be3 Nxf5 26.Rfd1 Nd6 27.Bc5 Be7 28.Qd5 Rd8 29.Bxd6 Bxd6 30.Qf3 g6 31.g3 b6 32.Rd3 Qf5 33.Qxf5 gxf5 34.Rad1 b5 35.Rxd6 Rb8 36.Rd8+ Rxd8 37.Rxd8+ Kg7 38.Rd7 bxa4 39.Rxf7+ Kg6 40.Ra7 h5 41.Rxa6+ Kg5 42.h4+ Kg4 43.Kg2 f4 44.Be6# 1-0

(18322) Reyes,Victor Hugo - Francis,Daniel E (1607) [A40]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.36), 08.01.2019

1.d4 e6 2.f4 f5 3.Nf3 b6 4.e3 Bb7 5.c4 Nf6 6.Bd3 c5 7.0-0 Ne4 8.Nc3 Be7 9.Bxe4 fxe4 10.Ne5 0-0 11.d5 d6 12.Ng4 exd5 13.Nxd5 Nd7 14.Qc2 b5 15.b3 h5 16.Nf2 bxc4 17.Qxc4 Kh8 18.Nxe4 Rf5 19.Nxe7 Qxe7 20.Ng3 Rd5 21.Qc3 Nf6 22.Bb2 h4 23.Ne2 Qe4 24.Rf3 Rd3 25.Qe1 Rxe3 26.Qxh4+ Kg8 27.Ng3 Qe6 28.Bxf6 Rxf3 29.Nf1 Qxf6 30.Qxf6 Rxf1+ 31.Rxf1 gxf6 32.Re1 Kf7 33.g4 Re8 34.Rxe8 Kxe8 35.Kf2 a5 36.h4 Be4 37.a3 Kf7 38.Ke3 d5 39.f5 Bc2 40.b4 axb4 41.axb4 cxb4 42.Kd2 b3 43.h5 Kg7 44.Kc3 Kh6 45.Kb2 d4 46.Kc1 Bxf5 0-1

(18323) Matz,James I (1601) - Dubensky,Walt [A07]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.37), 08.01.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.d3 e6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.0-0 unreadable scoresheet (one) 1-0

(18324) Bryan,Robert R (429) - Simpkins,Jerry (1508) [C40]
Mechanics' Winter TNM; G/2 d5 San Francisco (1.38), 08.01.2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bb5 c6 4.Ba4 fxe4 5.Nxe5 Nf6 6.0-0 d5 7.Nc3 Bd6 8.Nd3 exd3 9.cxd3 0-0 10.Re1 Bxh2+ 11.Kxh2 Ng4+ 12.Kg1 Qh4 13.Re2 Qh2+ 14.Kf1 Qh1# 0-1

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From the Jeffrey Xiong Simul:

(1) Xiong,Jeffery (2672) - Chea,Na (1676) [A20]
Mechanics' Institute Simul, S.F., 07.01.2019

1.c4 e5 2.d3 Nf6 3.a3 Be7 4.Nf3 d6 5.b4 0-0 6.Bb2 b6 7.Nbd2 Bb7 8.g3 Nbd7 9.Bg2 Nh5 10.0-0 f5 11.e3 Nhf6 12.d4 e4 13.Ng5 Qb8 14.d5 Ne5 15.Ne6 Rf7 16.Bxe5 dxe5 17.f3 c6 18.fxe4 fxe4 19.Nxe4 cxd5 20.cxd5 Nxd5 21.Rxf7 Kxf7 22.Qh5+ Kg8 23.N4g5 Bxg5 24.Qxg5! Kf7 25.Qxg7+

1-0

(2) Xiong,Jeffery (2672) - Newey,Richard (1642) [A00]
Mechanics' Institute Simul, S.F., 07.01.2019

1.b4 a5 2.b5 c6 3.e3 e5 4.Bb2 Qc7 5.Nf3 Bd6 6.d4 exd4 7.Nxd4 Bb4+ 8.Nd2 d5 9.bxc6 bxc6 10.c3 Bd6 11.c4 Ba6 12.cxd5 Bxf1 13.Kxf1 Nf6 14.dxc6 Ra6 15.Nf5 Be5 16.Bxe5 Qxe5 17.Nc4

1-0

(3) Xiong,Jeffery (2672) - Lehman,Clarence (1991) [D00]
Mechanics' Institute Simul, S.F., 07.01.2019

1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 h6 4.c4 g5 5.Bg3 Bg7 6.Nc3 c6 7.Nf3 0-0 8.Rc1 Qa5 9.Bd3 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Ne4 11.0-0 Nxg3 12.fxg3 Nd7 13.Bb3 Nf6 14.Ne5 e6 15.Qd3 Nd5 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Bc2 f5 18.g4 Qc7 19.gxf5 Bxe5 20.dxe5 Qxe5 21.f6 Qe4 22.Qc3 Qe6 23.Bg6 Rf7 24.e4 dxe4 25.Rce1 Qxa2 26.Rxe4 Be6 27.Rfe1 Re8 28.Qh3! Rxf6 29.Qxh6 Re7 30.Bh7+ Kf7 31.Bg8+ Kxg8 32.Qxf6

1-0

(4) Xiong,Jefferey (2672) - Liu,Felix (1461) [C14]
Mechanics' Institute Simul, S.F., 07.01.2019

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4 h6 7.Bxe7 Qxe7 8.Rh3 a6 9.Qg4 Rg8 10.Bd3 Qf8 11.Rf3 Nc6 12.0-0-0 Ndxe5 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Qg3 Nxf3 15.Nxf3 Qd6 16.Ne5 g6 17.Qf4 Rf8 18.Re1 Bd7 19.Qf6 Qe7 20.Nxd7 Kxd7 21.Nxd5 Qxf6 22.Nxf6+ Ke7 23.Ng4 Rad8 24.g3 h5 25.Ne5 Kf6 26.f4 c5 27.a4 Rd6 28.a5 Rfd8 29.Nc4 Rc6 30.Be4 Rc7 31.c3 Ke7 32.Kc2 Rcd7 33.Re2 f5 34.Bf3 Kf6 35.Nb6 Rc7 36.Re5 Rd6 37.Na4 c4 38.Nc5 b5 39.Bb7 Kf7 40.b4 cxb3+ 41.Kxb3 Kf6 42.Bxa6 Ra7 43.Bxb5 Rxa5 44.Nb7

1-0

---

Nick de Firmian Endgame Lab

Hong, Andrew Z - Stukopin, Andrey
Bay Area International 2019 round 02

Endgames are the last salvation of the older chess master. So often the battle goes the way of youth and energy in the opening and middle game, but to cash in one has to finish off in the end. The co-winner of the recent Bay Area International, held January 2-7, was Andrey Stukopin. He played young Andrew Hong in the second round in a long, up and down battle. Hong had a good position from the opening and the middle game leveled out to roughly even chances. At move 37 the players reached an unbalanced endgame of rook and queen vs. queen and knight (and extra pawn). This always offers chances to the side with the knight if there is a solid outpost in the center.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Be7 9. f4 Bd7 10. Nf3 b5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. f5 Qc7 13. g3 O-O-O 14. fxe6 fxe6 15. Bh3 Kb8 16. Ne2 Ne5 17. Nfd4 Nc4 18. Qd3 e5 19. Bxd7 Rxd7 20. Nf5 Rc8 21. Kb1 Qc5 22. Rhf1 Bf8 23. Rf3 d5 24. exd5 Re8 25. Qb3 e4 26. Rf4 Rxd5 27. Nfd4 f5 28. g4 Bh6 29. Rxf5 Rxf5 30. gxf5 Nd2+ 31. Rxd2 Bxd2 32. Qf7 Rc8 33. Qe6 Be3 34. Qxe4 Bxd4 35. Nxd4 Qd6 36. c3 Qxh2

37. Nc6+?

White seems to cause a lot of trouble attacking the Black king, but it’s not a mating attack. Better to leave the knight on its central outpost and play 37 Qe6! with slightly better chances. Note that White must avoid a trade of queens at all costs, as the black h-pawn would then just run down the board.

Kc7 38. Ne7 Qd6! 39. a3 Rd8 40. Ka2 Qc5 41. Kb1 Qc4 42. Qh1 a5 43. f6 Rd6 44. Qh5 Kd7 45. Qf5+ Ke8 46. Qh5+ Kd8 47. Nf5 Rxf6

Black misses a chance to close out with 47…Qe4+! 48. Ka1 Qe1+ 49. Ka2 Qe6+ 50.Ka1 Rd5!

48. Nd4 Qd3+ 49. Ka2 Ke7 50. Qe5+ Kf7 51. Qd5+ Kg6 52. Qg2+ Kh6 53. Qh1+ Kg7 54. Qb7+ Rf7 55. Qg2+ Qg6 56. Qd5 b4 57. Ne6+ Kf6 58. Qd6 Kf5 59. Qd5+ Kf6 60. Qd6?

This looks very threatening, but Black has a clever way out of the troubles. Instead, 60.Nd8 would leave White with fair drawing chances.

b3+! 61. Kxb3 Rb7+! 62. Kc4 

White must walk into the deadly pin that follows as 62. Ka4 Qe8+ would be a quick mate.

Qf7 63. Kc5 Qxe6 64. Qf8+ Kg6 65. Qf3 Qb6+ 66. Kd5 Qb5+ 67. Kd6 Rb6+ 68. Kc7 Qc5+ 69. Kd7 Qd6+ 0-1