Gens Una Sumus!
Newsletter #892
Nov 9, 2019
By Abel Talamantez
Table of Contents
- Round 3 of TNM
- GM Susan Polgar's visit
- Tournament Director's Corner
- Carroll Capps Memorial
- Paul Gallegos
- Wednesday Night Blitz Update
- FM Paul Whitehead's column
- Tony's Teasers
- Scholastic corner
- GM Nick de Firmian's Column
- TNM Games
- Feedback
Big Upset Highlights Round 3 of the TNM
A big upset and survival mode in the championship section were front and center during round 3 of the Fall TNM. Board 1 saw a hard fought draw between NM Eric Yuhan Li and NM Michael Walder. Walder continues to perform very strong after last week's upset of FM Kyron Griffith. On board 2, NM Russell Wong defeated Ethan Boldi. Board 3 saw a draw between Steffen Thieme and NM Larry Snyder, where it looked like Thieme was able to take advantage of Snyder's 1 second remaining on the clock to get a draw agreed to in what was a winning position for Snyder in a rook and pawn ending. However, not much looks clear with a second remaining and at least a half point was preserved. The news of the round occurred on board 5, where Kristian Clemens (1956) came back from a losing position and took advantage of a blunder (27. g6+) to go from 3.02 losing to 3.35 winning. He was able to successfully convert the ensuing ending to seal his first ever victory over an IM.
Kristian Clemens (black) used luck and skill to upset IM Elliott Winslow
What made this move interesting was that FM Kyron Griffith and FM Paul Whitehead had both calculated this line with 27. g6+, thinking Qxg6 and then 28. Rh5+ winning the queen. What they both missed, and Elliott as well, was that Clemens plays 27... Qxg6 with check! This was a blind spot that was missed by everyone, and told the tale of the match.
In the AB section, Jonah Busch and Robert Drane are the only perfect scores with 3/3 and will almost certainly face off next week. these are two strong A/B players who frequently are among the leaders in previous TNM's so this will be a great match to follow next week.
In the very competitive under 1600 section, we have 3 players with a perfect score; Albert Starr, Michael Martin, and Illia Gimelfarb. Many strong players lurk at 2.5, including Venugopal Mani, whose half point was the result of a bye. There are still many rounds to go, so there is plenty of time for redemption and making a push up the leaderboard.
The TNM also had a very special visit from the Mongolian women's national team. They were stopping by the Bay Area for a few days on their way to Los Angeles. They stopped by in the annex to play blitz and checked out some of the action of the TNM. This team included several WFM's and a WIM. Thank you to WFM and Mechanics' coach Mugi Tsegmed for making the visit possible!
For the full current standings, please follow this link:
https://www.milibrary.org/tuesday-night-marathon
To watch the live broadcast of round 3, clickk here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBAwIWo1HYs&t=8394s
GM Susan Polgar's visit to Mechanics' Institute Chess Club
Let me start this report by thanking this amazing chess community. Your support has been warming in the past month's and year, but Saturday evening it showed in the form of helping us welcome GM Susan Polgar with a full house! you all for coming and attending her event!
GM Susan Polgar started her visit with an interesting, and fun game that she played against women's world champion GM Maia Chiburdanidze at the Calvia Olympiad 2004. She went over the crucial elements of her game, and the interacive lecture was visibly engaging and enjoybale for all.
After the game review, Susan took some interesting, fun and sometimes surprising questions. Among those were the usual "What's your favorite opening?" or "Did Bobby Fischer propose to you?" Happy we had time for quite a few questions, we hope that all of you got to enjoy the answers.
As the last step of the visit, we had Susan's signature 20 piece puzzle competition. Many of the players stayed and enjoyed the 30-minute challenge. Top 5 scorers are encouraged to come and pick up a book from our office as a reward for their amazing performance! Here are the results:
https://www.milibrary.org/chess-tournaments/gm-susan-polgars-visit-mi
This link also has the pdf for the puzzles, so please check it out and attempt!
GM Susan Polgar lectures before a packed house on Saturday night.
Tournament Director's Corner
Illegal move - in FIDE tournaments
Tuesday Night Marathon has long been FIDE rated. When the tournament was changed from an Open, one section, to a three section setup, all three sections were kept FIDE rated.
This means that standard FIDE rules apply in situations. This week we are covering the illegal move case.
What happens if a player makes an illegal move in a FIDE rated game? Opponent should pause the clock, and get the tournament director. The position immediately before the illegal move shall be reinstated (7.5.1), and TD will be adjusting the clock: adding 2 minutes to the opponent's time (7.5.5). Second time the same player makes an illegal move in the same game, the game will be declared lost by the player who completed the second illegal move.
http://arbiters.fide.com/images/stories/downloads/2019/Arbiters-Manual-2019-v1.pdf
Interesting situations that are considered illegal moves:
- if a player uses two hands to complete one single move (castling for example);
- pressing the clock without moving;
- if a player moved a pawn to the furtherst rank, pressed the clock, but not replaced the pawn with a new piece (promotion was not completed.)
Hope this helps any and all players to be confident when calling out illegal moves. And it is also good for the tournament directors to review these rules often, so that the correct ruling can be made even at late hours of the day.
FM Kyron Grifith Dominant in Carroll Capps Memorial
The 48th Carroll Capps Memorial was held November 2-3. It was a 2-section event with a time control of G/90 +30, with both sections FIDE rated. In the 1800+ section FM Fyron Griffith scored a perfect 4-0. Griffith's toughest challenge came in round 3 against IM Elliott Winslow. However, he was able to grind out a win en route to sole first. Theo Biyiasas and Daniel Lin tied for second with 3/4. In the under 1800 section, Romeo Barreyro and Adam Culbreth scored 3.5/4 to tie for first. Taking sole third was Mechanics' regular Albert Starr. Congratulations to all the winners.
FM Kyron Griffith (white) faces off against IM Elliott Winslow on board 1, while Aksithi Eswaran and Theo Biyiasas do battle on board 2.
For complete results, please follow this link: https://www.milibrary.org/chess-tournament-archive?y=2019&t=76&e=239189
In memoriam, Paul Allen Gallegos (October 10, 1963 – October 31, 2019)
by Cesar B. Tamondong, Jr.
Life Master Paul Gallegos peacefully passed in the early morning of October 31, 2019 due to complications from Dyskeratois Congentia, resulting in the rejection of his lung transplant. Paul leaves behind his wife Susan and children Michael and Megan, stepchildren Ryan and Tara; mother Barbara and brother Daniel. He also has two sisters, Chris and Joanna.
Paul worked as a teacher in the Santa Rosa school district as a physical education teacher and principal for over 20 years and had resumed an active tournament schedule after retiring from teaching. Paul helped coach several scholastic teams and was recognized for his efforts by the San Francisco Unified School District. Along with tournament chess, Paul was a black belt in karate; enjoyed traveling with his wife, Susan and spending time with friends and family.
Paul held the USCF Life Master title and had a peak FIDE rating of 2148, with consistent results in local and national tournaments. Paul’s game against GM Timur Gareyev in the 2010 U.S. Open in Irvine, California was featured in John Shaw’s 2013 book, “The King’s Gambit” – Quality Chess (Paperback ISBN 978-1-906552-71-8 Hardcover ISBN 978-1-906552-74-9). I will provide an abridged annotation from Shaw’s book of Paul’s draw against GM Garyev in game he was winning, drawing in a tough ending.
Paul will be remembered in the chess community as a true gentleman master, taking the time to analyze with all opponents, lend a friendly ear and laugh. Paul always had an easy smile, kind word and positive outlook on life. As a teacher in Santa Rosa, he had the same impact among students and the community.
My last memory of Paul will be his emails and text messages, coaching me during the 2019 Western States’ Open Chess Tournament in Reno, Nevada. Before my final round game, Paul emailed me, imploring me to start playing the Queen’s Gambit Declined, Exchange Variation instead of the Catalan to generate more winning chances. I followed his advice and won my 6th round game. We last spoke on October 21, 2019, after I returned from the Reno tournament and planned on meeting up in Santa Rosa in early November to prepare for my next tournament. It is my hope we organize a tournament in 2020 in honor of Paul Gallegos – beloved husband, father, teacher and friend who will be missed by all whose lives were touched by his indomitable energy and kindness.
Memorial services will be on November 16, 2019, 1:30 p.m. at Saint Dunstan’s Church; 1133 Broadway Avenue; Milbrae, California 94030. You may send condolences to Mrs. Susan Gallegos; 196 El Encano Way; Santa Rosa, California 95409.
Remembering NM Paul Gallegos
by Aaron Thompson
As a National Master, someone with a black belt in karate, and a role model for physical fitness, Paul Gallegos was a Renaissance man. When I first met him in 2013, he was my middle school gym teacher. I had played in three rated tournaments before meeting Paul but I did not intend nor know how to break that barrier from casual to competitive play. We talked about chess during our lunchtime chess club and chatted before and after class. Those conversations gave me the passion for chess that will last a lifetime. When “Mr. Gallegos” finished playing one of his best events (FM Eric Shiller Schiller Championship in 2014), he told me about it after I ran a mile in his gym class. You can only imagine how motivating it was to hear him talk so casually about beating master after master!
As many chess players in our community can attest, Paul was never one to mince words. The directness with which he spoke helped me to improve quickly. Cutting the fat out of chess play and offering sound advice really does something for a player. I remember when I told him super excitedly before class that I had a refutation for 1. Nf3 Nf6 which was to play 2. g4. I was looking at him and waiting for his praise but instead he turned to me and said, “What are you talking about? I can just take the pawn for free”. At the time, it hurt, but making direct points like that is the best way to improve and reach one’s goals. At the end of the day, bad moves are bad and good moves are good.
I can go on and on and on with little vignettes about our shared experiences through the years but I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge Paul’s stature in our chess community. In the last tournament we played together, 2019 Stamer Memorial, I overhead two players as they spoke in hushed tones: “Is Gallegos coming?” “Yeah, I saw him on the pre-reg list” and I will always think of Paul as a chess icon. To me, Paul was always so cool. In his humble presentation, composure, and discipline, backed up with consistently stellar chess play it was hard to not want to be around him. He played arguably one of the most famous King’s Gambits of all time too, and I didn’t even know about it until recently.
I hope that everyone can take a little bit of Paul with them as they pursue their goals. Whether it is in trying to reach new heights in something specific like chess, or something broad like being a better person, we all have wings. Paul’s wings are just a little bit different now.
I’m going to miss you so much!
A Classic Game From NM Paul Gallegos
Cesar Tamondong, Annotations by GM John Shaw
(215) Gallegos,Paul (2102) - Gareyev,Timur (2614) [C30]
US op 111th Irvine (3), 05.08.2010
[GM John Shaw, The King's Gambit Quality Chess]
Annotation notes courtesy of GM John Shaw's book, "The King's Gambit", Quality Chess 2013. GM Shaw has extensive notes Paul's Game, it's Game 55 in Shaw's book. Notes from Shaw's book are followed by "(Shaw)" and My notes are followed by "(CT)". Scottish GM John Shaw's, "The King's' Gambit" is a 680 page volume devoted to the King's Gambit - a well-received book released by Quality Chess in 2013. During a lesson with Paul in November 2018, he told me in early 2011, GM Shaw emailed him, asking if could feature this game in his Kings' Gambit book. Paul agreed and provided notes. On a side note, this was the first tournament game, Paul's wife, Susan had seen him play. After coming back from lunch, Susan was looking for Paul since she thought he would be done with his game, and to her surprise, she saw over 50 plus people straining to see this game. According to Paul and others who were watching the game, the TDs had to cordon off Paul's board since a sizeable crowd had gathers, akin to waiting for an upset! Shaw devotes over 6 pages of detailed analysis to Paul's game, so if you have a chance to check out the Shaw book, the additional annotations by Shaw do justice to a game which Paul considered one of his best! (CT) 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.d3 Ng4!? This may appear scary, but if White is well prepared he should be happy to see this premature jump. (Shaw) 7.Ng5! 0-0
 |
Position after ...7. O-O. This has been Black's usual choice, but it may not be best. (Shaw) 8.f5 Bf2+ 9.Kf1 Ne3+ The only sensible try. (Shaw) 10.Bxe3 Bxe3 11.h4
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Position after 11. h4. White should avoid retreating if at all possible. 11...g6 12.Qg4 Ne7? 13.Qf3! An easy move to miss. The queen jas just moved from d1 to g4, so can a step back really be so devastating? Yes, it can. (Shaw) 13...Bxg5 [Any bishop retreat, say 13...Bd4 , is crunched by 14.Nxf7 Rxf7 15.fxg6; Black could have tried to confuse the issue with 13...d5 , but after 14.f6 dxc4 15.fxe7 Qxe7 16.Qxe3 White's extra piece will decide the outcome. (Shaw)] 14.hxg5 Nxf5 [Wholly justified deparation, as White was threatening a variety of mating attacks along the h-file. Just one example: 14...c6 15.fxg6 hxg6 16.Qf6 (Shaw)] 15.exf5 Qxg5 16.fxg6 hxg6 17.Ne4 [17.Kg1 planning Rf1 was even more convincing, but White is winning every which way. (Shaw)] 17...Qf5 18.Qxf5 Bxf5 19.g4 Bxe4 20.dxe4 Kg7 21.Ke2 f6 Black has stabilized his kingside, but White's extra piece should obviously be enough to decide the game. For a white! For a while it all goes fine. (Shaw) 22.Rh2 Rh8 23.Rah1 Rxh2+ 24.Rxh2 c6 25.Kf3 Rd8 26.Rd2 f5! Black's only chance is to give up a pawn in order to get his centre moving. (Shaw) 27.gxf5 gxf5 28.exf5 d5 29.Bf1 [Not bad, but 29.Bb3 , planning c2-c4 was more to the point. Note that 29...b5 weakens c6 and so is hit by 30.Rg2+ and 30...Kf6 31.Rg6+ (Shaw)] 29...Kf6 30.Bh3 Rh8 31.Kg3 e4 32.Rh2 Kg5 33.Bg4 Rxh2 34.Kxh2 d4 35.Kg2 [Not chosing 35.Kg3 is a little eccentric, but no harm has been done yet.] 35...c5 36.Kf2 b5 37.Ke2 [The text move spoils nothng, but White fails to find the quickest winning idea. He needs to get his king in among the black pawns and that means playing Kf4. The quickest path is to sacrifice the f5-pawn. As long as White realizes Kf4 is essential then everything should run like clockwork. For example: 37.c3!? b4 38.cxd4 cxd4 39.Kg3 a5 40.f6! Kxf6 41.Kf4 e3 42.Ke4+- (Shaw)] 37...a5 38.a3 [38.c3 still works of course. (Shaw)] 38...Kf6 39.Kd2 b4 40.axb4 axb4 41.b3 Kg5 42.Bh3 Kf6 43.Ke2 Ke5
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Position after ...43. Ke5. Several hours of exhaustive play, Paul plays the only move that draws. (CT) Paul had presented this endgame during one of our lessons. (CT) 44.Kf2?? [A step too far. White could have won with 44.Bg4 Now the bishop helps stop the pawns and the king is free to step forward, for instance: 44...Kf6 45.Kf2 Kf7 46.Kg3 e3 47.Kf4 Ke7 48.Ke5+- (Shaw)] 44...c4!= Absolutely securing the draw. (Shaw) 45.Ke2 [45.bxc4 is still a draw, but only after both sides find a series of only moves. 45...d3[] 46.cxd3[] b3[] 47.d4+[] Kxd4[] (47...Kf6?? 48.Bg2! Kxf5 49.Ke3+-) 48.f6[] b2[] 49.f7[] b1Q[] 50.f8Q[]= I do like the 'box' sign. In addition, to the likelyhood of a perpetual, Black can kill the final white pawn. (Shaw)] 45...c3 [Considering the way the game was going, it was worth trying 45...d3+!? After the likely 46.cxd3 cxb3 a horrible accident is possible: 47.Kd2?? (47.Kd1= is just one of the drawing moves (Shaw)) 47...e3+-+] 46.Bg4 "The disappointing ending should not obscure the fact that a 2100 player was crushing a 2600 with the King's Gambit. I doubt that this would have happened in a main line Spanish." (Shaw) We will miss Paul's energetic personality and style. Rest in Peace my friend. (CT) 1/2-1/2
Wednesday Night Blitz Update
Tony's Teasers
Darbo Densmore, 1917. Mate in 3.
Last week's solution:
1. Rg5!! Bb6
2. Nxa6+ Rxa6
3. Qb5#
Scholastic Corner
Scholastic Swiss - This SUNDAY, 11/10 @ 10AM
Two scholastic swiss tournaments in November as well at Mechanics' Institute Chess Club. First one is this Sunday, 11/10 and then the weekend before Thanksgiving, Saturday, 11/23.
As usual, the event is a 4 round of G/30;d5 game, and rewards are trophies to players who won more games than lost (winning record.) All others get a medal!
Trophies/medals can always be traded to chess books from our internal collections.
Good place for any player to start who can play through a game, but haven't been to a tournament before!
More information: https://www.milibrary.org/chess-tournaments/mechanics-institute-nov-scholastic-swiss
Register online to get the Welcome email: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/Tournaments2019/MechanicsInstituteNovemberScholasticSwiss
GM Nick de Firmian's Column
Great Women Chess Players: Week 2 - Nona Gaprindashvilli
Nona Gaprindashvilli comes from chess centered Georgia, a country with great respect for the Royal Game. Only last year (2018) Georgia hosted the epic Chess Olympiad in the city of Batumi. This former Soviet country has a good number of chess grandmasters, but the curious fact is that Georgia had the world’s best women chess players in the 1950s through 1980s.
Nona can be regarded as the first woman to break through the barriers of male dominated chess. She is the first to gain the (men’s) Grandmaster title, back in 1978. One must note that in those days that title was rarer and harder to come by. Thus all chess players, men and women had great respect for her play. Well, almost all. There was one very confident individual that thought women simply can’t play chess (he had the usual machismo reasons in those days). He said he would beat Nona in a match at knight odds! This individual was none other than Bobby Fischer, and as good as he was the boast was simply ridiculous. When Nona quickly accepted the challenge Bobby never said another word on the matter.
Nona has an appealing, aggressive style. She is a three-time Women’s World Champion, several times part of the Olympiad Champion Soviet Women’s teams in which she won nine gold medals (individual or team). She also won international tournaments where almost all players were men.
(1) Nona Gaprindashvili - Rudolf Servaty [B39]
Dortmund Dortmund FRG, 05.1974
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.c4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 Ng4 8.Qxg4 Nxd4 9.Qd1 e5
This variation was popular at one time, but White's next move was found to put Black under pressure. 10.Nb5! 0-0 11.Be2 Qh4?! [11...Qa5+ Is a better try for equality.] 12.Nxd4! exd4 13.Bxd4 Qxe4 14.Bxg7 Qxg2
15.Qd4! Qxh1+ 16.Kd2 Qxa1?
[16...Qxh2 17.Bf3 d5 18.Bxf8 Kxf8 19.Rh1 Qd6 20.Rxh7] 17.Qf6!
(2) Nona Gaprindashvili - Juraj Nikolac [B19]
Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee NED (1), 19.01.1979
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.h5 Bh7 8.Nf3 Nd7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bf4 Qa5+ 12.c3 Ngf6 13.a4 c5?! [13...Be7 14.b4 Qd5! 15.c4? Bxb4+] 14.0-0 Rc8 15.Rfe1 c4 16.Qc2 Be7 17.Ne5 0-0?!
22.g4+! Kh4 [22...Kxg4 23.Qg6+; 22...Nxg4 23.Qh7+] 23.f3 Nxg4 [23...Qc7 24.Re5! Cuts off the black queen.] 24.Re4
(3) Judit Polgar - Nona Gaprindashvili [C43]
Chess Olympiad (Women) Novi Sad YUG, 1990
This game was played while Judit was a teenager and not yet at her peak. Nona at this time was past her prime, but still extremely strong. An interesting battle of generations. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Nd7 6.Nxd7 Bxd7 7.0-0 Qh4 8.c4 0-0-0
2019 Fall TNM Games Round 3
Annotations by GM Nick de Firmian
(1) Li,Eric (2303) - Walder,Michael (2101) [A63]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Championship San Francisco (3.1), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Bg2 Bg7 8.Nf3 0-0 9.0-0 Re8 10.Re1 [10.Nd2; 10.Bf4] 10...a6 11.a4 Nbd7 12.Bf4
12...c4?! Many other moves have been played here. [Derek played 12...Nh5 but there are more pertinent things going on. 13.Bg5 Bf6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.e4 Rb8 16.Bf1 Ng7 17.Re3 Ne5 18.Nxe5 Qxe5 19.a5 b5 20.axb6 Rxb6 21.b3 Re7 22.Ra2 g5 23.Na4 Rb4 24.Bc4 f6 25.Rd2 Ra7 26.Nb2 Rbb7 27.Bf1 Bd7 28.Nc4 Qe7 29.f4 gxf4 30.gxf4 Kh8 31.Rg2 Rb8 32.Reg3 Rg8 33.Bd3 Bb5 34.e5 Bxc4 35.bxc4 fxe5 36.Qh5 e4 37.Qxh7+ 1-0 (37) Swiercz,D (2657)-O Connor,D (2245) Las Vegas 2018; 12...Ng4! was Moiseenko's choice, and it worked out nicely. 13.Qc1!? Nde5 (13...c4 14.h3 Nge5; 13...Nge5 14.Bh6) 14.Ne4 (14.Bg5 f6 15.Nxe5 fxg5 16.Nxg4 Bxg4 17.h3 Bd7 18.Ne4 Bxh3 19.Nxd6 Qxd6 20.Bxh3 Qxd5 21.Bg2 Qf5 22.Bxb7 Rab8 23.Bxa6 Bxb2 24.Qc4+ Kh8 25.Rad1 Rb4 26.Qd5 Qxd5 27.Rxd5 Re5 28.Rd8+ Kg7 29.Bb5 c4 30.Rd7+ Kf6 31.Rc7 c3 32.Rd1 Re7 33.Rc6+ Kg7 34.Rd5 Ra7 35.a5 Rxa5 36.Rd7+ Kh6 37.Rcc7 g4 38.Rxh7+ Kg5 39.Rc5+ Kf6 40.Rc6+ Ke5 41.Rxg6 c2 42.Rh5+ Ke4 43.Rxg4# 1-0 (43) Gleizerov,E (2507)-Gunduz,U (2107) Ankara 2017) 14...Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3 Ne5 16.Bg2 Bf5 17.Nd2 g5 18.Bxe5 Bxe5 19.Nc4 Bd4 20.e3 Bg7 21.e4 Bg6 22.Ra3 Bd4 23.Rb3 Qf6 24.Qc2 b5 25.axb5 axb5 26.Rxb5 Reb8 27.Rxb8+ Rxb8 28.Rf1 g4 29.Qa4 h5 30.Qc6 Be5 31.Nb6 Qd8 32.Nc4 Qf6 33.Nb6 1/2-1/2 (33) Gleizerov, E (2518)-Perez Mitjans,O (2427) Sevilla 2017; 12...Qc7 is the most common and sensible move.] 13.Bxd6 Qb6 14.Ba3 Ng4 15.e3 Nge5 16.d6 Nd3 17.Nd5 Qd8 18.Nc7 [18.Re2! simply consolidates.] 18...Rb8 19.Nxe8 Qxe8 White is up an exchange and a pawn, but it's a Benoni position, not easy to put Black away. ...b5 is looming. 20.a5 b5 21.axb6 Nxe1 22.Qxe1 White was happy to "lose" the exchange back for that monster knight. 22...Nxb6 23.Rc1 Be6 24.Nd2 [24.Nd4!] 24...Qa4 25.Ne4 Nd7 26.Qe2 Rb3?! Active, but flawed.. . 27.Nd2? [27.Ng5! is complicated but ultimately great. 27...c3 28.Nxe6 fxe6 29.Qd1! cxb2? 30.Bxb2! Bxb2 31.Bc6!] 27...Bxb2! Black is coming back 28.Bxb2 Rxb2 29.Qe1 Ne5 [29...Qb4!-/+] 30.Ra1?! [30.Ne4! would scramble to equality; 30...Nd3 31.Qc3] 30...Ra2? [30...Qb4!-+] 31.Rxa2 Qxa2 32.Ne4 Qb2 33.h3 Bxh3 34.Qa5 Nc6 35.Qd5 Bxg2 36.Kxg2 Qb5 37.Nc5 c3 38.d7 Nd8 39.Qe5 c2 40.Qe8+ Kg7 41.Qe5+ Kh6 42.Qf4+ Kg7 43.Qe5+ Kh6 44.Qf4+ Kg7 1/2-1/2
(2) Boldi,Ethan (2055) - Wong,Russell (2200) [A07]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Championship San Francisco (3.2), 05.11.2019
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.0-0 0-0 5.d3 d5 6.Nbd2 c6 7.c4 h6 8.Qc2 Na6 9.a3 Bd7 10.b4 Qc8 11.Bb2 Bh3 12.e4 dxe4 13.dxe4 Nc7 14.Ne5 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 Ne6 16.f4 Nd7 17.Ndf3 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 Bxe5 19.Nxe5 Qc7 20.Nf3 Rad8 21.Qf2 c5 22.f5 Nd4 23.Rac1 Nxf3 24.Qxf3 Qe5 25.Rf2 cxb4 26.axb4 Rd4 27.Re2 g5 28.b5 Rc8 29.Qc3 Qc5 30.Qe3 Rxc4 31.Qxc5 R8xc5 32.Rxc4 Rxc4 33.Kf3 Rb4 34.Ra2 Rxb5 35.Rxa7 Kg7 36.Ra8 Rb3+ 37.Kg4 Rb4 38.Kf3 Kf6 39.Ra5 h5 40.h3 Rb3+ 41.Kf2 b5 42.Ra7 g4 43.h4 Rf3+ 44.Kg2 b4 45.e5+ Kxe5 46.Rxe7+ Kxf5 47.Rxf7+ Ke4 48.Rb7 b3 49.Rb5 Kd4 50.Rxh5 b2 51.Rb5 Kc3 52.Rc5+ Kb4 53.Rc8 Rf5 54.Rg8 b1Q 55.Rxg4+ Kc3 56.Rf4 Rxf4 57.gxf4 Kd4 58.Kg3 Qf5 59.Kf3 Kd3 60.Kg3 Ke3 61.h5 Qxh5 62.f5 Qxf5 63.Kh4 Qg6 64.Kh3 Kf3 65.Kh2 Qg2# 0-1
(3) Thieme,Steffen (2014) - Snyder,Larry (2061) [D00]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Championship San Francisco (3.3), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 0-0 6.Be2 c5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.dxc5 Ne4 9.Nxe4 dxe4 10.Nd2 Bxb2 11.Bh6 Bg7 12.Bxg7 Kxg7 13.Nxe4 Qa5 14.Qd2 Bf5 15.Qxa5 Nxa5 16.Ng3 Bxc2 17.Rfc1 Ba4 18.Bf3 Rac8 19.Rab1 Bc6 20.Ne2 e5 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Rb4 Rb8 23.Rcb1 Rxb4 24.Rxb4 Rd8 25.f3 Rd5 26.Nc3 Rxc5 27.Ne2 Nc4 28.Ra4 a5 29.Kf2 Nb6 30.Ra3 a4 31.Nc3 f5 32.Ke2 Kf6 33.e4 f4 34.Kd3 g5 35.Ne2 Ke6 36.Rc3 Kd6 37.Rc1 Nd7 38.Nc3 Kc7 39.Rb1 Ra5 40.Rb4 Nb6 41.Nb1 c5 42.Rb2 Kc6 43.Na3 Ra7 44.Nc4 Nxc4 45.Kxc4 Rd7 46.a3 Rd4+ 47.Kc3 Rd1 48.Rb8 Rg1 49.Rh8 Rxg2 50.Rxh7 Rf2 51.Kc4 Rxf3 52.Rh6+ Kd7 53.Kxc5 Rxa3 54.Kd5 Rb3 55.Rh7+ Kc8 56.Ra7 a3 57.Kxe5 Rb5+ 58.Kd6 Rb3 59.e5 Rd3+ 60.Kc6 Rc3+ 61.Kd6 Rd3+ 62.Kc6 Rc3+ Black agreed to a draw in a winning position. (probably affected by a time scramble) 1/2-1/2
(4) Griffith,Kyron (2452) - Urquhart,Joe (1957) [B42]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Championship San Francisco (3.4), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.b3 Nc6 [3...d6 4.Bb2 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.c4 e5!? was Griffith-Winslow, Capps 2019 over the weekend. This time he made sure to get in the opening of the bishop's line.] 4.Bb2 d6 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Nf6 7.Bd3 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.c4 a6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.e5 [11.Nc3 e5 but White still has useful breaks (Na4/c4-c5, f2-f4).] 11...dxe5 12.Bxe5 Qa5 [12...Nd7 13.Bb2 f5!? tries to use Black's extra center pawn(s).; 12...Ra7 intending . ..Rd7, as if that square wasn't enough of a crossroad for Black's pieces.] 13.Bc3 Qb6 14.Nd2 Rd8 15.Qe2 Ra7 16.Nf3 Qc5? 17.Ne5 White has subtly won the opening battle. 17...a5 18.Rad1 Rc7 19.Rd2 Bb7 20.Rfd1 Rcc8 21.h3 [21.g4! h6 22.h4 Ne8 (22...Nh7 23.Nxf7) 23.g5] 21...h6 22.h4 (!) 22...Qb6
23.Ng4? [23.g4 is fairly crushing;; 23.Bg6 is especially crushing!] 23...Nxg4? [23...c5! 24.Bxf6 (24.Ne5) 24...Bxf6 25.Nxf6+ gxf6 is certainly better for White, but no knockout in sight.] 24.Qxg4 Bf8 25.Qe4! Rxd3 Frustrating but necessary. 26.Rxd3 c5 27.Qe5 f6 28.Qh5 Bc6 29.Rg3 [29.Bxf6!] 29...Rd8 30.Bxf6 Rxd1+ 31.Qxd1 Kf7 32.Be5 g6 33.Qd3 1-0
(5) Winslow,Elliott (2248) - Clemens,Kristian (1956) [D61]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Championship San Francisco (3.5), 05.11.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Qc2 0-0 8.h3 Re8 9.0-0-0 b6 10.cxd5 exd5 11.Bd3 Bb7 12.Kb1 Rc8 13.g4 c5 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 15.Bf5 Ra8 16.g5 Ne4 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.dxc5 Qb8 [18...Qc7] 19.c6 Bxc6 20.Qxc6 exf3 21.Qxf3 Qe5 22.Rd5 Qc7 23.Rc1! Qh2 24.Rh1 [24.h4!+-] 24...Qc7 25.Bxh7+?! Kxh7 26.Qxf7 Qc6! [26...Rac8 27.g6+ Kh6 28.Qf5; 26...Red8 27.Rc1 Qh2 28.Qxe7 Rxd5 29.Qe4+; 26...Bd6 27.Qh5+ Kg8 28.g6 (28.Rc1) 28...Rac8 29.Qh7+ Kf8 30.Rf5+ Ke7 31.Rf7+; 26...Bd8 27.Qh5+ Kg8 28.Qxe8+] 27.g6+?? I didn't notice -- the commentators didn't notice -- I even wonder if Clemens noticed! [In any case, there *is* a win (Stockfish helped here!), but there are an awful lot of "only" moves: (They are all marked by the "box" in Chessbase or compatible PGN viewer, or a "$8" if you're reading this without a viewer.) Most of them deserve "!!", but Chessbase only allows one or the other, so I went with the box. 27.Qh5+[] Kg8 28.g6[] threatening the Qh7/Qh8 mate 28...Bf6 best try (28...Qe6 29.Re5! (29.Qh7+ Kf8 30.Qh8+ Qg8 31.Rf5+ Bf6 32.Rxf6+ Ke7 33.Qxg8 Rxg8 34.Rf7+ Ke6 35.Rc1+-) 29...Qc4 30.Qh7+ Kf8 31.Rf5+ Bf6 32.Rxf6+ Ke7 (32...gxf6 33.g7+) 33.Qxg7+) 29.Rc1[] Qe6 (29...Qb7 30.Rcd1 (30.Rc4 also wins) 30...Rac8 31.R1d4[] (31.Rd7? Qe4+ and ...Qh4, defending) 31...Bxd4 32.Qh7+ Kf8 33.Rf5+ Ke7 (33...Bf6 34.Rxf6+ gxf6 35.Qxb7) 34.Rf7+ Ke6 35.Rxb7+-) 30.Qh7+[] (30.Rc7 Qe4+ 31.Kc1 Qh4 32.Qxh4 Bxh4 33.Rdd7 Bf6 34.Rxa7=) 30...Kf8 31.Rc7[] Re7 (31...Qg8 32.Rd6) 32.Rd6[] (Now *this* one *definitely gets "!!") 32...Qe4+ 33.Rc2[] Qh1+ (33...Re6 34.Rd7 Ke8 35.Rdc7[] (35.Rf7 Re7 36.f3[]=/+) 35...Kd8 36.Qg8+[] Re8 37.Qf7 (or 37.Qb3) 37...Qd3 (37...Be7 38.R7c4 best) 38.R7c6 Qd1+ 39.Rc1 Qd7 40.Qc4 (or 40.Qb3) ) 34.Rc1 Qe4+ 35.Ka1 Conclusion: I would probably have been better off not playing 25.Bxh7+ in the first place!] 27...Qxg6+ Here we all saw (I back when I played the bishop sack) 28.Rh5+ winning the queen. Except that WHITE is in check... 28.Qxg6+ Kxg6 29.Rg1+ Kf7 30.e4 Rad8 31.Rgd1 Rxd5 32.Rxd5 Rc8 33.a3 g6 34.Ka2 Rd8 35.Rb5 Bc5 36.Rb3 Rd2 37.f3 Rh2 38.Rd3 Ke7 39.f4 Rf2 40.f5 gxf5 41.exf5 a5 42.Kb1 Kf6 43.Rd5 Rxf5 44.Rd3 Rf2 45.Rb3 Ke6 46.Rd3 Re2 47.Rd8 Rh2 48.Rd3 Ke5 49.Rg3 Bd4 50.b3 Rb2+ 51.Kc1 Re2 52.b4 a4 53.Kd1 Re3 54.Rxe3+ Bxe3 55.Kc2 b5 56.h4 Bf2 57.h5 Be3 58.Kd3 Bc1 59.h6 0-1
(6) Jensen,Christian (1867) - Askin,David (2053) [E11]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Championship San Francisco (3.6), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Bg2 Bxd2+ 7.Nbxd2 [7.Qxd2] 7...d6 8.0-0 a5 9.Qc2 e5 10.e3 c6?!
11.c5! dxc5 12.dxe5 Always a radical transformation of the pawn structure, seen also in Kings Indians and Old Indians. 12...Nd5 [12...Ng4!? 13.Qe4 Be6 14.h3 Nh6 15.Qc2!] 13.Ne4?! [13.a3] 13...Nd7 14.Neg5!? g6 15.h4 b6! [15...Nxe5 16.Nxe5 Qxe5 17.Qxc5=] 16.e4 [16.Qa4! Bb7 17.e6! fxe6 18.Bh3= Nc7 19.Rfd1 h6 20.Qc2 hxg5 21.Qxg6+ Kh8=] 16...Nc7=/+ [16...Nb4!?] 17.e6!? Nxe6 18.Nxe6 Qxe6 19.Ng5 Qe7 20.f4
20...Re8? [20...Nf6! goes good for Black, having found good squares for his knight.; or 20...h6 21.Nf3 Nf6] 21.e5! Now everything is going well for White -- and trying to hold the pawn just makes it worse. 21...Bb7?! [21...Rb8 22.Bxc6 Rd8+/-] 22.h5 Preferable are various rooks to the center files, but getting everybody's favorite pawn involved doesn't endanger the +- 22...Nf8 23.hxg6 hxg6 24.Ne4 [24.Rae1] 24...Red8 [24...Ne6!? A knight on d4 is worth the exchange.] 25.g4?! [25.Rae1; 25.Kf2; 25.Rf2; 25.Nf6+ Kg7] 25...Rd4?! [25...Ba6!] 26.Qb3?! [26.Nf6+ Kg7 27.Rae1 Qd8 28.Rf2] 26...Rb4?! [26...Nd7+/=] 27.Nf6+?! [27.Qh3 Nh7 28.Rf2] 27...Kg7? [27...Qxf6 28.exf6 Rxb3 29.axb3 is a probable win, but it's going to take some work.] 28.Qh3! Game over. 28...Rd8 29.g5 Qxf6 30.exf6+ Kg8 31.Qh6 Ne6 32.Bh3 Rd7 33.Bxe6 fxe6 34.Qxg6+ Kf8 35.Qh6+ Kf7 36.Qg7+ Ke8 37.Qg8# 1-0
(7) Gaffagan,Steven (2040) - Melville,Cailen (1871) [A30]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Championship San Francisco (3.7), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.d4 e6 2.g3 c5 3.Nf3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.0-0 Nf6 6.c4 cxd4 7.Qxd4 Bc5 8.Qd3 0-0 9.Nc3 Na6 10.a3 d5 11.b4 Be7 12.Bb2 dxc4 13.Qxc4 Rc8 14.Qb3 Qc7 15.Rac1 Qb8 16.Bh3 Nc7 17.Rfd1 Ncd5 18.Nb5 Ne4 19.Be5 Qa8 20.Qd3 Ng5??
[20...a6=] 21.Nxg5 Bxg5 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.Nd6 Rd8?! 24.Nxb7 Qxb7 25.e4 1-0
(8) Davila,Carlos (2118) - Marcus,Joel (1850) [B07]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Championship San Francisco (3.8), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.f3 e5 5.Nge2 Be7 6.Be3 0-0 7.Qd2 c6 8.0-0-0? Aggressive but playing into an attack. 8...b5 9.g4 b4 10.Nb1 Qa5 11.g5 Ne8 12.Ng3 g6 13.Bc4 Nb6 14.Bb3 c5 [14...exd4!] 15.dxc5 dxc5 16.h4 Ba6?
[18...fxg6=] 19.Rxh7?? [19.Qh2! mate in four] 19...fxg6 20.Qh2 bxc2 21.Rh8+ Kf7 22.Rh7+ Ng7 23.Rxg7+
23...Ke8! 24.Rd2 cxb1Q+ 25.Kxb1 Bc4 26.b3 Bf7 27.Nf5 gxf5 28.Rxf7 Rxf7 29.Qh8+ Bf8 30.g6 Rd7 31.Bh6 Rxd2 32.Qxf8+ Kd7 33.Qf7+ Kc6 34.Bxd2 Qc5 35.g7 Qg1+ 36.Bc1 Rc8 37.Qe7 Kb5 38.Qxe5+ Ka6 39.Qb2 fxe4 40.fxe4 Qe1 41.Qd2 Qxe4+ 42.Ka1 Nd5 43.a4 Qe5+ 44.Bb2 Nc3 45.Qd3+ Kb7 46.Qd7+ Rc7 47.Qd1 Qxg7 48.Qh1+ Kb8 49.a5 Qd7 50.Bxc3 bxc3 51.a6 Qb5 52.Qh8+ Rc8 53.Qh2+ Ka8 54.Qc2 Qxa6+ 55.Kb1 Qf1+ 56.Ka2 Qa6+ 57.Kb1 Qd6 58.Qe4+ Qc6 59.Qc2 Qh1+ 60.Ka2 Qc6 61.b4 Rd8 62.b5 Qc4+ 63.Ka3 Rd2 64.b6 Qc5+ A wild and crazy game! 0-1
(9) Maser,Thomas (1914) - Askin,Michael (2000) [B18]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Championship San Francisco (3.11), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 Nd7 7.Bd3 e6 8.0-0 Ngf6 9.b3 Be7 10.c4 0-0 11.Bxg6 hxg6 12.Re1 Qa5 13.Bb2 Rad8 14.Qc2 Ba3 15.Bc3 Bb4 16.Bxb4 Qxb4 17.a3 Qb6 18.h3 a5 19.Qc3 c5 20.Rab1 cxd4 21.Nxd4 Nc5 22.Red1 Rd7 23.Nb5 Rfd8 24.Rxd7 Rxd7 25.Qc2 Qd8 26.Rb2 g5 27.b4 Nd3 28.Rb1 Nf4 29.Rb2 g4 30.hxg4 Rd1+ 31.Nf1 Nxg4-+ 32.Nc3
32...Rd3?? Every other rook move was winning, but [32...Rxf1+! 33.Kxf1 Qh4 34.Ke1 Nxf2! was a cut above.] 33.Ne2! Nxe2+? [33...Ng6 held onto an advantage] 34.Qxe2 Qd4 35.bxa5 [35.c5] 35...Rxa3 36.Rxb7 Rxa5 37.Qc2 Rf5 38.Rb8+?! Kh7 39.Rb3? [39.Rb5; 39.Qb2] 39...Qxf2+? Bad time to trade queens! [39...Nxf2!-+] 40.Qxf2 Nxf2?= [40...Rxf2-/+] 41.Ne3 [41.Ng3] 41...Rf6? [41...Rf4 42.g3 Rf3 43.Kg2 Ne4! 44.Kxf3 Nd2+ 45.Kf4 Nxb3=] 42.c5!+/= Ne4?! 43.c6+/- e5
44.Nd5?? [44.Rb4! Rxc6!+/-] 44...Re6?? [44...Rxc6! 45.Rh3+ Rh6-+ They were both hypnotized into thinking a king move...?] 45.c7+- Nd6 46.Rb8 Kg6 47.Rd8! f6 48.Rxd6? Too soon! White could set this up much better. [48.Kf2; 48.g4] 48...Rxd6 49.c8Q Rxd5 50.g4 Rd4 White is probably still justified in playing on... [50...Rd4 51.Qf5+ Kf7 52.g5 Rh4 53.g6+!] 1/2-1/2
(10) Drane,Robert (1800) - Mays,Jerry (1700) [C23]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (3.13), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Be7? 3.Qh5! g6 4.Qxe5 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Qf4 0-0 7.Nf3 [7.Nge2] 7...Bd6 8.Qe3 Ng4 9.Qe2 Bc5 10.Nd1 d5 11.Bxd5 Nb4 12.Bb3 Be6 13.a3 Nd3+!?
14.cxd3 Bxb3 15.Ne3 Be6 16.h3 Nf6 17.b4 Bd4 18.Nxd4 Qxd4 19.Nc2 Qe5 20.0-0 Bb3 21.f4 Qd6 22.e5 Qb6+ 23.Ne3 Qd4 24.Rb1 Bc2 25.Bb2 Qxd3 26.Qxd3 Bxd3 27.exf6 Bxb1 28.Rxb1 Rad8 29.Bc3 Rfe8 30.Kf2 Rd3 31.Re1 Kf8 32.Nc4 b5 33.Rxe8+ Kxe8 34.Ne3 Rd6 35.g4 Ra6 36.Bb2 Rd6 37.Ke2 Kd7 38.h4 Ke6 39.Bc3 Ra6 40.f5+ Kd6 41.fxg6 hxg6 42.h5 gxh5 43.gxh5 Rxa3 44.h6 a5 45.h7 1-0
(11) Khristoforov,Sergey (1947) - Reyes,Victor Hugo (1497) [D11]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (3.14), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Ne5 Bh5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Nc3 f6 7.Qa4+ Nd7 8.Qxd7+ Qxd7 9.Nxd7 Kxd7 10.Nxd5 e6 11.Nf4 Bf7 12.Bd2 g5 13.Nd3 Bd6 14.Rc1 Ne7 15.Nc5+ Bxc5 16.dxc5 Rhc8 17.e4 a6 18.b4 Nc6 19.Bc4 Nd4 20.Bc3 Nc6 21.Bxf6 Nxb4 22.a3 Nc6 23.0-0 Rg8 24.Rfd1+ Kc7 25.Rd6 Rae8 26.Rcd1 Kb8 27.Rd7 Ref8 28.Rb1 Na5 29.Be5+ Ka8
(12) Babayan,Gagik (1790) - Argo,Guy (1859) [B07]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (3.15), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.f4 e5 5.fxe5 dxe5 6.dxe5 Nxe5 7.Qxd8+ Kxd8 8.Bg5 c6 9.h3 Kc7 10.Nf3 Nfd7 11.Bf4 Bd6 12.0-0-0 Re8 13.Kb1 f6 14.a3 Nf7 15.Bxd6+ Nxd6 16.Bd3 Ne5 17.Nxe5 Rxe5 18.g4 a5 19.a4 Bd7 20.Rde1 h5 21.gxh5 Rxh5 22.Re3 Rah8 23.Rg3 g5 24.Bf1 g4 25.Rh2 gxh3 26.Rf3 R8h6 27.Rf4 Rh4 28.Rxh4 Rxh4 29.Bd3 Bg4 30.Kc1 Bf3 31.Kd2 Bg2 32.Ke3 Nf7 33.Nd1 Ne5 34.Nf2 Kd6 (... 1/2 52) 1/2-1/2
(13) Mercado,Adam (1699) - Robeal,Rafik (1800) [B19]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (3.16), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 Nd7 7.h4 h6 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Ngf6 11.Bd2 e6 12.0-0-0 Qc7 13.Ne4 0-0-0 14.Nxf6 Nxf6 15.Qe2 Kb8 16.Ne5? [16.c4; 16.g3; 16.Kb1] 16...Bd6? [16...Rxd4] 17.g4 c5 18.Qc4 Bxe5 19.dxe5 Rd4 20.Qe2 Re4 21.Qf3 Qxe5 22.Rhe1 Ka8 23.Rxe4 Qxe4 24.Qxe4 Nxe4 25.f3 Nf2? [25...Nxd2=] 26.Rf1 Nh3 27.f4 f5 28.gxf5 exf5 29.Rf3 Ng1 30.Re3 g5 31.fxg5 [31.hxg6!] 31...hxg5 32.Bc3 Rd8 33.Bf6 Rf8 34.Bxg5 b6 35.Bf4 Rf7 36.Kd2 Kb7 37.h6 Kc6 38.Ke1 1-0
(14) Uzzaman,Ashik (1935) - Cortinas,Marty (1697) [B23]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (3.17), 05.11.2019
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 a6 3.f4 b5 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 e6 6.d3 d6 7.Nf3 Nf6 8.0-0 Nc6 9.h3 Be7 10.Kh2 0-0 11.e5 dxe5 12.fxe5 Nd7 13.Qe2 Qc7 14.Bf4 Nb6 15.Rae1 Nd4 16.Nxd4 cxd4 17.Ne4 Nd5 18.Nf6+ Bxf6 19.Bxd5 Be7 20.Bxb7 Qxb7 21.Qg4 Rfd8 22.Bh6 Bf8 23.Re4 Qc7 24.Rf2 Ra7 25.Bg5 Rd7 26.h4 Qc5 27.a3 a5 28.h5 Rd5 29.h6 g6 30.Qf4 f5 31.exf6 Rxg5 32.f7+ 1-0
(15) Boldi,Nicholas (1653) - Fabiani,Lino (1850) [B38]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (3.18), 05.11.2019
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nc3 g6 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Bg7 7.Be2 Nc6 8.Be3 0-0 9.0-0 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Be6 11.Rc1 Nd7 12.Be3 f5 13.exf5 gxf5 14.Qd2 Qe8 15.Nd5 Rc8 16.Bg5 Nf6 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Bh6 Bg7 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.Qd4+ Kg8 21.Qxa7 Qf7 22.Qd4 f4 23.b3 Rc5 24.Bf3 Rg5 25.Rfe1 Bh3 26.Kh1 Bd7 27.Qe4 Re5 28.Qxb7 1-0
(16) Babb,Kevin (1803) - Rakonitz,David (1639) [E38]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (3.19), 05.11.2019
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 c5 5.e3 Nc6 6.Nf3 0-0 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 e5 9.d5 Ne7 10.e4 h6 11.h3 Ng6 12.Ne2 Nh5 13.Rb1 Qf6 14.a3 Ba5 15.Nh2 Nhf4 16.b4 Bc7 17.Re1 Nxe2+ 18.Bxe2 Nf4 19.Bg4 b6 20.Bxc8 Rfxc8 21.Ng4 Qg6 22.Bxf4 exf4 23.bxc5 dxc5 24.Nh2 Re8 25.Nf3 Re7 26.Re2 Rae8 27.Rbe1 f6 28.Qd3 Bd6 29.Nh4 Qh5 30.Nf5 Rd7 31.Nxd6 Rxd6 32.Qc3 Re5 33.a4 Qe8 34.a5 Qd8 35.axb6 Qxb6 36.Rb2 Qc7 37.f3 Rb6 38.Reb1 Re8 39.Rxb6 axb6 40.Rb5 Rb8 41.Qd2 Qd6 42.Qb2 Kf7 43.Qa1 Qc7 44.Qb2 Qd6 1/2-1/2
(17) Xu,Jayden (1774) - Lin,Aung (1642) [E11]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (3.20), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Ne4!?
(18) Acharya,Venkatagiri (1609) - Perlov,Alexander (1770) [B24]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (3.21), 05.11.2019
1.e4 c5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.d3 e6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Qc7 7.Qd2 b5 8.f4 d6 9.h3 Bb7 10.Nf3 Be7 11.0-0 d5 12.exd5 exd5 13.Bf2 d4 14.Ne4 0-0 15.a3 Rad8 16.Rae1 Rfe8 17.Re2 Nd5 18.Rfe1 Bf8 19.Kh2 Nce7 20.Ne5 Nf5 21.Ng4 h5 22.Ne5 Nde3 23.Bh1 Rxe5 24.fxe5 Qxe5 25.Nf6+ gxf6 26.Bxb7 h4 27.Rg1 Bd6 28.Qe1 Kh8 29.Be4 hxg3+ 30.Bxg3 Nxg3 31.Rxe3 Nxe4+ 32.Reg3 Nxg3 33.Qxe5 Bxe5 34.Kg2 Rg8 35.Kf3 Nf5 36.Re1 Ne3 37.Ke4 Rg3 38.b4 cxb4 39.axb4 Nxc2 40.Rb1 Rxh3 41.Rb2 Ne3 42.Ra2 Rh4+ 43.Kf3 Rf4+ 44.Ke2 Nd5 45.Rxa6 Nc3+ 46.Ke1 Kg7 47.Ra8 Kg6 48.Ra7 Bd6 0-1
(19) Latourette,Nick (1583) - Chea,Na (1601) [A45]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (3.22), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bd3 e6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.e5 Be7 9.a3 f5 10.d5 exd5 11.Bxf5 0-0 12.Qxd5+ Kh8 13.Qxd7 Qxd7 14.Bxd7 Nxe5?! 15.Nxe5 Bxg2 16.Rg1 Bb7 17.0-0-0 Rxf2 18.Bc6 Bxc6 19.Nxc6 Bf6 20.Rd2 Rf5 21.Nd4 Rc5 22.Ne4 Bxd4 23.Rxd4 Rf5 24.Rd7 g6 25.Rxc7 1-0
(20) Kaplan,Glenn (1668) - Baer,Michael (1430) [A16]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (3.23), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.Nf3 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.Qb3 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Rb8 10.Ng5 Na5 11.Qb4 b6 12.d3 h6 13.Ne4 Nc6 14.Qc4 Ne5 15.Qb3 Be6 16.Qc2 Bd5 17.Bf4 g5 18.Be3 Ng4 19.Bc1 f5 20.Nd2 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 Qd5+ 22.Kg1 Qc5 23.Qb3+ Kh8 24.d4 Qd6 25.h3
(21) Agdamag,Samuel (1465) - Carron,Joel (1573) [B35]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (3.24), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 0-0 8.Bb3 d6 9.Qd2 Ng4 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Bd4 Ne5 12.f4 c5 13.Bxe5 dxe5 14.0-0-0? Qxd2+ 15.Rxd2 exf4 16.Nd5 e6 17.Ne7+ Kh8 18.Rhd1 Bb7 19.Ba4 Bd4 20.Re2 Rad8 21.Rf1 Be3+ 22.Rxe3 fxe3 23.Nc6 Rd6 24.Ne5 Kg8 25.Re1 Rfd8 26.c3 Bxe4 27.Rxe3 Bxg2 28.Re2 Bh3 29.Rf2 Bf5 30.Nc6 Rf8 31.Ne7+ Kg7 32.h4 h5 33.Nc6 Rd3 34.Rh2 Rh3 35.Rd2 Rxh4 36.Rd7 Rxa4 37.a3 e5 38.Nxe5 Bxd7 0-1
(22) Tamondong,Cesar (1600) - Bielec,John (1790) [A57]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (3.25), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.b6 d6 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.Nf3 g6 8.e4 Bg7 9.Bd3 0-0 10.0-0 Nxb6 11.Bf4 Bb7 12.Re1 e6 13.dxe6 fxe6
(23) Gimelfarb,Ilia - Hansen,Mateo (1583) [B22]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (3.10), 05.11.2019
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.cxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Nf3 Bg7 7.Bc4 0-0 8.0-0 Nxe4 9.Bxf7+ Rxf7 10.Nxe4 h6 11.h3 g5 12.Nexg5 hxg5 13.Nxg5 Rf6 14.Qh5 Bf5 15.d5 Nd7 16.Re1 Ne5 17.Bd2 Nd3 18.Re6 Qe8 19.Qh4 Rxe6 20.Nxe6 Bxb2 21.Nc7 Qg6 22.Nxa8 Bxa1 23.Nc7 Bf6 24.Qg3 Qxg3 25.fxg3 Bd4+ 26.Kf1 a6 27.g4 Bd7 28.Ke2 Ne5 29.g5 Kf7 30.h4 e6 31.dxe6+ Bxe6 32.Nxe6 Kxe6 33.Kf1 Nc4 34.Bf4 Kf5 35.g3 Be5 36.Ke2 Bxf4 37.gxf4 d5 38.Kd3 b5 39.h5 Ke6 40.h6 Kf7 41.Kd4 Nb6 42.f5 b4 43.g6+ Kg8 44.f6 Nd7 45.f7+ Kf8 46.Kxd5 a5 47.Ke6 a4 48.g7# 1-0
(24) Starr,Albert (1517) - Nicol,George [A00]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (3.26), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 [2...Bxb4 3.Bxe5 Nf6 is the main line] 3.b5 Nce7 4.Bxe5 Ng6 5.Nf3N White is just up a pawn. [5.Bb2 has been played a few times.] 5...Nf6 6.c4 d6 7.Bc3 d5 8.e3 Bd6 9.d3 0-0 10.Be2 Re8 11.0-0 b6 12.Nbd2 Bb7 13.Nd4 Ne7 14.Bf3 c6 15.Nxc6 Nxc6 16.bxc6 Bxc6 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Bxd5 Two pawns. 18...Qe5 No wait! 19.g3 Bxd5 20.cxd5 Qxd5 Back to one. 21.Qb3 Qa5 22.Nc4 Qd5 23.Nxd6 Qxd6 24.d4 Rad8 25.Rab1 Both players avoid the c-file. 25...g6 26.Rfc1 Rb8 27.Qc4 Rbc8 28.Qa6 Rxc1+ 29.Rxc1 Ra8 30.Rc8+ Kg7?? 31.Rxa8 1-0
(25) Uzakbaev,Nursultan - Chan,John (1507) [C01]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (3.27), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 e6 3.Nf3 Be7 Chan goes his own way. 4.Bd3 d6 5.Be3 Nd7 6.0-0 e5 7.c3 Ngf6 8.c4 0-0 9.d5 Ng4 10.Bd2 Nc5 11.Bc2 Bd7 12.b4 Na6 13.h3 Nf6 14.Nh2 Qc8 possible danger on h3!? 15.Bd3 cxd5 16.exd5? [16.cxd5+/-] 16...e4 17.Be2 h6 18.a3 Bf5 19.Be3 Nh7 20.Nd2 Bf6 21.Rb1 Nc7 22.Qc2 Re8 23.Bg4 Be5 24.Rbe1 Bxh2+ 25.Kxh2 Bxg4 26.hxg4 Qxg4 Black won a pawn, just has to get his pieces into the game. 27.Rh1!? Now White dreams of a bishop sacrifice on h6. 27...Nf6 28.Qc3 Rac8 29.Bxh6 Wait, what? It's real! 29...Ncxd5 [29...b5!?] 30.Qd4
(26) Martin,Michael (1480) - Jade,Valerie [B40]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (3.28), 05.11.2019
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bb5+ Nc6 6.Qe2+ Be7 7.d4 Be6 8.Bf4 a6 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 10.0-0 Nf6 11.Na4 Ne4 12.Ne5 Qa5 13.b3 Qb5 14.Qd1 cxd4 15.Qxd4 c5 16.Qd3 Bf6 17.f3 Qxd3 18.cxd3 g5 19.fxe4 gxf4 20.exd5 Bxe5 21.Rae1 Bd4+ 22.Kh1 Be3 23.dxe6 fxe6 24.g3 e5 25.gxf4 Rf8 26.Rxe3 0-0-0 27.Rxe5 Rxd3 28.Nxc5 Rd2 29.a4 Rg8 30.Rg1 Rf8 1-0
(27) Bryan,Robert (390) - Mani,Venugopal (1598) [A50]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (3.29), 05.11.2019
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.e4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Nxd2 6.Nc3 Nxc4 7.Bxc4 d5 8.Bd3 c5 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Nf3 0-0 11.0-0 Nc6 12.Qe1 Re8 13.Na4 Bf8 14.Rc1 e5 15.h3 e4 16.Be2 exf3 17.Bxf3 Rxe1 18.Rfxe1 Nd4 19.Bxd5 Qxd5 20.Nc3 Qg5 21.Ne4 Qg6 22.Rcd1 Bxh3 23.Ng3 Qc6 24.gxh3 Nf3+ 25.Kf1 Nxe1 26.Rxe1 Qf3 27.Ne4 Qh1+ 28.Ke2 Qxe4+ 29.Kf1 Qh1+ 30.Ke2 Re8+ 31.Kd2 Qxe1+ 32.Kd3 Rc8 33.Kd4 f5 34.Kd5 Qe4# 0-1
(28) Ford,Andy Vincent - Harris,Clarence (1464) [C34]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (3.30), 05.11.2019
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 f5 5.d3 g5 6.Nd4 fxe4 7.Qh5+ 1-0
(29) Badgett,James (1084) - Thibault,William (1195) [B17]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Extra San Francisco (3.31), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Qe2 e6 6.Nf3 Be7 7.Bf4 Ngf6 8.Nd6+ Bxd6 9.Bxd6 Nb6 10.Bc5 Nbd7 11.Bd6 Nb6 12.Bc5 Nbd7 13.Ba3 Qc7 14.0-0-0 c5? 15.d5! 0-0 16.dxe6 Re8
(30) Ahrens,Richard (1206) - James,Charles (1480) [D10]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (3.32), 05.11.2019
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.a4 a5 4.e3 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Bd6 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.cxd5 exd5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Re1 Re8 11.Bd2 Ne4 12.Qc2 f5 13.Bc1 Ndf6 14.Nd2 Qc7 15.f4 Ng4 16.Ncxe4 fxe4 17.Bf1 Bf5 18.b3 Bxf4 19.exf4 Qxf4 20.Nf3 e3 21.Bd3 Be4 22.Rf1 Re6 23.g3 Qh6 24.Qe2 Rf8 25.Bxe4 Rxe4 26.h4 Qd6 27.Kg2 h6 28.Ba3 Qg6 29.Bxf8 Kxf8 30.Ne5+ 1-0
(31) Neygut,Eitan (993) - Radaelli,Lucas (1444) [A25]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (3.33), 05.11.2019
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 b6 5.Nf3 Rb8 6.0-0 Bb7 7.a3 Be7 8.b4 d6 9.e3 Qd7 10.Bb2 0-0 11.Re1 a6 12.d4 exd4 13.exd4 Rfe8 14.d5 Na7 15.Nd4 b5 16.cxb5 Nxb5 17.Ncxb5 axb5 18.Nc6 Bxc6 19.dxc6 Qg4 20.Qxg4 Nxg4 21.a4 bxa4 22.Rxa4 Bf6 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.Bxf6 Nxf6 25.Kf1 g6 26.Ra7 Re7 27.b5 Kf8 28.Rb7 d5 29.b6 cxb6 30.c7 1-0
(32) Hilliard,Michael (1429) - Bayaraa,Timothy (1084) [D02]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (3.34), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.e3 Bg4 4.Nbd2 e5 5.Be2 Bd6 6.dxe5 Bxf3 7.Nxf3 Bxe5 8.Bb5 Qd6 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 10.Nxe5 Qxe5 11.Qg4 Nh6 12.Qa4 0-0 13.Qxc6 Rad8 14.f4 Qh5 15.Qxc7 Rc8 16.Qe5 f5 17.c3
(33) Simpkins,Jerry (1426) - Dubensky,Walt (1078) [C55]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (3.35), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Nf6? 5.Ng5 d5 6.exd5 Nxd5
(34) Talamantez,Abel (1804) - Olson,David (1407)
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Extra San Francisco (3), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.e4 d5 5.e5 Ne4 6.Nxe4 [6.Nf3!+/-] 6...dxe4 7.Ne2 Bb4+ [7...Nb4! 8.Nc3 Qxd4!=/+] 8.Bd2 Bxd2+ 9.Qxd2 0-0 10.Rd1 Qe7 11.a3 Rd8 12.Qf4 b6 13.Qxe4 Bb7 14.Qg4 Rd7 15.Ng3 Rad8
(35) North,Jeff James - Allen,Tom (1400) [C63]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (3.37), 05.11.2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.d4 fxe4 5.Nxe5 Nxe5 6.dxe5 Qe7 7.0-0 Qxe5 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.f4 Qc5+ 10.Kh1 Be7 11.Qe2 0-0 12.Be3 Qf5 13.Bc4+ d5 14.Bb3 c5 15.Rad1 Be6 16.Nb5 Rfc8 17.c3 a6 18.Na3 b5 19.Nc2 c4 20.Nd4 Qg4 21.Bc2 Qxe2 22.Nxe2 Ng4 23.Bd4 Bc5 24.f5 Bxd4 25.Rxd4 Rf8 26.Ng3 Ne3 27.Rf2 Bxf5 28.Rdd2 Bg6 29.b3 Ng4 30.Rxf8+ Rxf8 31.h3 Nf2+ 32.Kg1 e3 33.Re2 Bd3 34.Bxd3 cxd3 35.Rxe3 d2 0-1
(36) Roberts,Joseph (1369) - Serra,Owen (1036) [C50]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (3.38), 05.11.2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.d3 h6 6.a3 0-0 7.Nd5 d6 8.b4 Bd4 9.Nxd4 Nxd4 10.c3 Ne6 11.0-0 c6 12.Ne3 b5 13.Bb3 Nf4 14.Nf5 N6h5 15.g3 Qg5 16.h4 Qd8 17.Bxf4 Nxf4 18.gxf4 Bxf5 19.exf5 Qxh4 20.Qf3 exf4 21.Rfe1 Qg5+ 22.Qg2 Qxf5 23.f3 Qxd3 24.Rac1 a5 25.Red1 Qe3+ 26.Kh2 d5 27.Rg1 g5 28.Qh3 Qe6 29.Qh5 Qg6 30.Qh3 f5 31.Bc2 axb4 32.axb4 Rae8 33.Kh1 h5 34.Rxg5 Qxg5 35.Rg1 Qxg1+ 36.Kxg1 Re7 37.Kf2 Rh7 38.Bxf5 Rh6 39.Ke2 Kf7 40.Qh4 Ke8 41.Qxf4 Rhf6 42.Qb8+ Kf7 43.Qc7+ Ke8 44.Qd7# 1-0
(37) Frank,Robert (1224) - Krezanoski,Paul [A81]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (3.39), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.Nf3 d5 5.0-0 Bd6 6.Ne5 c6 7.Nd2 Nbd7 8.f4 b6?? 9.Nxc6 Qc7 10.Ne5 Ba6 11.Ndf3 Nf8 12.c3 b5 13.b4?! Qxc3 [13...Ne4!] 14.Bd2 Qc7 15.Rc1 Qb6?? 16.Rc6 Qb7 17.Rxd6 Rc8 18.Ng5 Rc7 19.Nxe6 Nxe6 20.Rxe6+ Kd8 21.Qb1 Ne4 22.Bxe4 fxe4 23.f5 h6 24.Rd6+ Ke8 25.Rc1 Rc4 26.Nxc4 dxc4 27.Re6+ Kf7 28.Qxe4 1-0
(38) Sullivan,George (841) - Cole,Tony (1425) [D53]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (3.40), 05.11.2019
1.d4 e6 2.c4 d5 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 h6 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Bd3 Qb4 10.Qc2 0-0 11.0-0 Qe7 12.Bh7+ Kh8 13.Be4 Ndb4 14.Qd2 f5 15.Bxc6 Nxc6 16.g3 Bd7 17.d5 Nd8 18.Ne5 Rf6 19.f4 Nf7 20.Nxd7 Qxd7 21.Qg2 e5 22.h4 e4 23.Kh2 Nd6 24.Qe2 Qf7 25.b3 h5 26.Rh1 Qg6 27.Kg2 Nf7 28.Nd1 Nh6 29.Nf2 Rd6 30.Rad1 Rad8 31.Qb5 b6 32.Qa6 Ng4 33.Qxa7 Nxe3+ 0-1
(39) Gimelfarb,Natan (1118) - Parekh,Raj (1211) [C42]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (3.41), 05.11.2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Bg4 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.0-0 Nc6 6.d3 Nd4 7.Bg5 Qd7 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Nd5 Be7 10.h3 Nxf3+ 11.gxf3 Bxh3 12.Re1 Rg8+ 13.Kh1 Bg2+ 14.Kg1 Qh3 15.Nxc7+ Kf8 16.Ne6+ fxe6 17.f4 Qh1# 0-1
(40) Cendejas,Jon (1126) - Cowgill,Jackie (1115) [C55]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (3.42), 05.11.2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nxe4 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Nxe4 h6 7.d3 d5 8.Nc3 Bb4 9.Bd2 Bxc3 10.Bxc3 Re8 11.0-0 Kg8 12.h3 d4 13.Bd2 a5 14.Re1 b5 15.c3 Bb7 16.Qb3+ Kh8 17.Qxb5 Qb8 18.cxd4 Na7 19.Qb3 Bxf3 20.Qxb8 Raxb8 21.gxf3 Nc6 22.Kg2 a4 23.dxe5 Nxe5 24.Re3 c5 25.Bc3 Ng6 26.Rae1 Rxe3 27.Rxe3 Nf4+ 28.Kg3 Nd5 29.Re4 Nxc3 30.bxc3 Rd8 31.Rxa4 Rxd3 32.Rc4 Rd6 33.Rxc5 Ra6 34.h4 Rxa2 35.h5 Ra1 36.Rc8+ Kh7 37.f4 Rg1+ 38.Kf3 g6 39.Rc7+ Kg8 40.hxg6 Rxg6 41.Rc5 Kg7 42.Rc7+ Kg8 43.Rc5 Kg7 44.Rd5 Rc6 45.Rd3 Rg6 46.Rd7+ Kg8 47.Rd1 h5 48.Rh1 Rh6 49.f5 Kf7 50.Kf4 h4 51.Kg5 Rh8 52.Rxh4 Rg8+ 53.Kf4 Rc8 54.Rh7+ Kf6 55.Rh6+ Kf7 56.Rh3 Kf6 57.Rd3 Rc4+ 58.Rd4 Rxc3 59.Rd6+ Ke7 60.Re6+ Kf7 61.Kg5 Rc5 62.Rf6+ Kg7 63.Rd6 Rc7 64.f6+ Kf7 65.Rd5 Ra7 66.f4 Rb7 67.Re5 Ra7 68.f5 Rb7 69.Re7+ Rxe7 70.fxe7 Kxe7 71.Kg6 Kf8 72.Kf6 Kg8 73.Ke7 Kg7 74.f6+ Kg8 75.f7+ Kh7 76.f8Q 1-0
(41) Revi,Frank (1376) - Sun,Kevin (1100) [A85]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (3.43), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.Qc2 Nc6 7.a3 d6 8.Rd1 Bd7 9.e4 fxe4 10.Nxe4 d5 11.Ng3 Re8 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Bd6 14.Be2 a5 15.0-0 a4 16.Qc3 Kh8 17.c5 Be7 18.Qe3 Rf8 19.h3 Be8 20.Bd3 g6 21.Ne2 Bf7 22.Qh6 Rg8 23.Qg5 c6 24.Bc2 Rg7 25.Rd3 Kg8 26.Qh6 Be8 27.Rf3 Rf7 28.Nf4 Nd7 29.Nxe6 Qc8 30.Rxf7 Kxf7 31.Ng5+ Bxg5 32.Qxg5 Qd8 33.Qh6 Nxe5 34.Qxh7+ Kf6 35.dxe5+ Kxe5 36.Re1+ Kd4 37.Qg7+ Kxc5 Material equality! Not for long, not to mention his king on a death march. 38.Qc3+ Kb6 39.Qb4+ Kc7 40.Re7+ Bd7 41.Bxg6 Kc8 42.Bf5 b5 43.Bxd7+ Kc7 44.Be6+ Kb6 45.Rd7 Qe8 46.Qd4+ Ka6 47.Rd6 Rd8 48.Qc5 1-0
(42) Rushton,Peter (1237) - Ballantyne,Andrew (785) [B01]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (3.44), 05.11.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qe5+ 4.Be2 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qf6 6.Nd5 Qd6 7.Bc4 Bg4 8.Ne3 Qd7 9.h3 Bh5 10.c3 0-0-0 11.d4 Qd6 12.g4 Bg6 13.b4 e5 14.d5 Qf6 15.g5 Qf4 16.Qe2 Be4 17.dxc6 Bxf3 18.cxb7+ Kxb7 [One learns to hide behind the opponent's pawns: 18...Kb8] 19.Ba6+ Ka8 20.Qf1 Bxh1 21.Qxh1+ e4 22.Bd2 Rd6? 23.Ng2? [23.Nc4! actually wins for White right away...] 23...Qxd2+ Now Black is winning... 24.Kf1 Qb2 25.Re1 Rxa6 26.Rxe4
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