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Chess Room Newsletter #897

Gens Una Sumus!

 

Newsletter #897

Dec 13, 2019

By Abel Talamantez

Table of Contents


TNM Round 8

Round 8 Results Set Up Exciting Finale! NM Eric Li and WFM Natalya Tsodikova Will Likely Play For Championship, Alexander Perlov Wins Setting Up 4-Way Battle For First in A/B, Venugopal Mani Needs Just A Draw To Win U/1600.

It is fitting that the grand TNM Finale of 2019 is likely to pit the nations #2 ranked 12-year old against the California State Women's Champion for the Fall TNM Championship. NM Eric Li and WFM Natalya Tsodikova took care of business on Tuesday, each winning their games and placing them at a tie for first with 6/8. Both are playing very well after suffering early round setbacks, and this match will be THE match to watch next Tuesday. Steve Gaffagan and Kristian Clemens still have a shot at getting a share of the lead, but they do not control their own destiny. Both have 5.5/8, and need a win to have a shot. Clemens continued his breakout play by defeating NM Russell Wong. 

Eric Li and Natalya Tsodikova likely to meet next Tuesday for Championship

In the A/B, Alexander Perlov took advantage of a mistake, as he went on to win a game that looked like it would end in a draw. Mate was blundered on the board in a tricky looking position, moving Perlov and Busch to share first with 6.5/8. Close behind is Guy Argo with 6/8 after his win against Ashik Uzzaman and Sergey Khristoforov sits alone with 5.5/8. It seems these four players will face off in some combination to determine the winners of this section, and should make for an exciting finale. 

Alexander take his traditional posture as he thinks about his next move

In the under 1600 section, the tournament is Venugopal Mani's to lose, as he had another big win against the always dangerous Albert Starr. He now has 7.5/8, and only Illia Gimelfarb, who is at 6.5, can catch him. They played in an earlier round, so they will not play next week. A draw will secure the U/1600 title, but there are some dangerous players at 6/8 including Jerry Simpkins and Eitan Neygut. 

For the complete standings and information for the TNM, please follow this link:  https://www.milibrary.org/tuesday-night-marathon

You can re-live the live broadcast from our Twitch channel by visiting our YouTube page here: https://www.youtube.com/mechanicschess

Take our survey!

Closing the year 2019, we would love to hear your feedback and suggestions regarding the last 12 months. We have developed a short, 5-questions survey, which was available for our TNM players and anyone who visits the chess club.
We also have a slightly expanded version of this survey that is available online:  https://forms.gle/GXjnT7Dgx2bGdXo76
Thank you for your time and energy to provide feedback.
 

 

Wednesday Night Blitz Report

IM John Donaldson continued his string of recent appearances - and victories - at the MI by winning the December 11th edition of the Wednesday Night Blitz. Despite a last round loss his
5 - 1 score edged out Expert Jules Jelinek by a half-point.  Clear third with 3.5 - 2.5 was Expert
Manuel Santos.  Eight participants duked it out under the eagle eye of director Jelinek.
 
Join us next week for the final Wednesday Night Blitz of the Year!

 

MI Chess Club History: An Email from John Donaldson

IM John Donaldson frequently visits the club and on accasion plays our events. Every time he stops by, he takes the time to show me something about the history of the club, whether it be about the pictures, books, people, and in this most recent lesson, the chess tables. It is truly an honor to learn directly from him, and the stories are always facinating and fun. I hope I can one day tell the tales half as well as he has told them to me. He wrote all of us this email, which he has agreed to let me share. Not only is this a great story and picture, but goes to show the deep commitment he has to the club and the generosity to share the history directly with us. Thank you John!

------------------------
Hi guys and Judit,
 
Here are a few historical memories to pass along.
 
My partner Holly just found the attached funny picture she took several years ago. The Chess Room has two Drueke tables (near the Mens room) . One of them (I believe the one from Hans Baruch) had legs that came off and was easy to transport in a car. The other one, from Val Zemitis, did not and I didn't have access to a truck. Fortunately it was not heavy and it was only a 15 minute walk to BART so there was a simple solution. Transporting it on BART raised a few eyebrows but went off without a hitch. No doubt odder things have traveled by BART!
 
All the other individual tables in the Chess Room date back to 1913 except for the beauty that is currently doubling as the Go table. That was donated by David Baruch and belonged to his father Hans. David did the classic plaque that is on his father's Drueke table. Hans sponsored Mikhail Tal's participation in the 1991 Pan Pacific that Nick played a key role in organizing and also put on a very memorable party. The photo of Tal in the Annex was taken by Richard Shorman and is from the 1991 Pan Pacific. This oversize photo has a rich patina on it suggesting it is much older than it is. This is because from 1991 to 2015 it resided with the late Alan Benson who was a noted tournament director and like Tal a heavy smoker. After Alan's death it came to the MI which was fitting as Alan loved the place and was associated with it for over 50 years.
 
Most (probably all but one) of the tables in the Annex are from Jacqueline Piatigorsky's Steiner Chess Club and a few might have been used in the Piatigorsky Cups. There were in storage for almost 50 years until Jeremy Silman brought them to the Mechanics in late 2012/early 2013. During the ride North I thought we did a pretty good imitation of the Beverly Hillbillies as his car was packed to the brim.
 
One of the tables was used regularly by Jacqueline and is different from the rest. If you look in the Annex there is a photo with Mrs. P., Benko and Steiner and they are seated around the table. The photo might be from 1963 when the First Piatigorsky Cup was held.
 
There is one old table in the Annex, but since Mariusz Krubnik refinished it you might not be able to guess which at first glance. It dates back to at least 1916 as it is pictured in the Capablanca photo with A.J. Fink. It might well be the oldest table in the club.
 
The long tables in the Chess Room (4 boards) were converted from old tables in the MI library and the work was done by an MI member in either the 1950s or the 1970s. Paul might remember as conceivably they were done after he joined.
 
If you go to https://www.milibrary.org/chess-newsletters/841  there is an article from the mid-1950s which mentions the Club had 30 tables at the time so I thing the three long tables might well have come in the early 1970s. Possibly with the Fischer boom there was suddenly a real need for more tables.
 
Until a few years ago we had cane chairs that were not terribly comfortable but had been around forever. The new ones are a big improvement (much sturdier!). The ones in the Meeting Room are similar but not identical. They are definitely older. The Meeting Room chairs came out of the MI general fund but the Chess Room raised the money for its chairs (roughly 100) and the refinishing of the tables  (about $25,000 total - $15,000 for the chairs and $10,000 for the tables) by having plaques put on the back on the chairs and soliciting donations at $500 per chair.
 
Paul did a brilliant job putting up all the photos in the Annex about three to four years ago. Previously they had been out in the Chess Room in haphazard fashion. The present look is definitely cleaner.
 
John
 
 

 

 

Celebrate the legacy of IM John Donaldson, former Chess Director of MI

Next weekend:  IM Donaldson Championship

Dec 20-22

 

Come out for a fun and exciting weekend! Top 10 Boards are broadcasted via DGT. Live commentary by FM Paul Whitehead and guests. Space is limited, so register TODAY to save your spot and the late fee! Perhaps IM John Donaldson will himself is playing!!! Hope to see many of you that weekend!

Onsite Registration: Friday, 12/20: 5-5:45pm or Saturday, 12/21: 9-9:45AM

Rounds:  3-day Schedule: Friday 6pm, Saturday 10am, merge, 3pm, Sunday 10am, 3pm
               2-day Schedule: Saturday 10am, 12:30pm, merge, 3pm, Sunday 10am, 3pm

Time Control: 3-day schedule: all rounds G/90 +30s inc
                      2-day schedule: Round 1-2: G/60; d5 and Round 3-4-5: G/90 +30s inc

Prizes: $5000 b/90 - 60% guaranteed
Open (FIDE rated): 1st: $1000, 2nd: $500 3rd: $200 4th: $100, Best under 2200: $400
Section A (1800-1999, FIDE rated): 1st: $450, 2nd: $250, 3rd: $100
Section B (1600-1799):1st: $400, 2nd: $250, 3rd: $100
Section C (1400-1599): 1st: $400, 2nd: $250, 3rd: $100
Section DEu (under1400): 1st: $300, 2nd: $150, 3rd: $50

Fees: $70 for MI members, $80 for non-members.
Late fee of $20 when we reach 70 players!
Play-up: $20 (need to be within 200 rating point of the next section.)
USCF membership is required!

  Information - REGISTER ONLINE - Click HERE 

 

FM Paul Whitehead Column

Famous Chess Games You Should Know – Part One.

By FM Paul Whitehead.

I teach a class on Thursdays at the Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club, and give private lessons.  More and more I think of myself as a kind of nutritionist, dispensing advice on the health of my student’s chess games… and despairing sometimes when they don’t follow my recipes. 

The road to improvement in chess is tricky with lots of false turns: people spend years studying openings, but can’t find a simple 2 move mate in the middle-game.  No matter how many times they hear “develop your pieces!” they leave most of them at home, and find themselves getting crushed right out of the opening.  Over and over I find my students over-thinking simple situations, yet moving quickly through complicated situations.

We must recognize and unlearn our bad habits, and this takes a bit of work.  

I prescribe endlessly the usual tonics and cures:

 

- Sit on your hands, don’t rush your moves.

- Make a habit of studying puzzles, problems.

- Go over your games carefully, particularly your losses.

- Play often, and try to play people stronger than yourself.

- Play over zillions of games to improve your “feel” for positions.

The advice I give most strongly, yet the advice I think that’s most often ignored, is this: familiarize yourself with the great literature of chess, particularly the famous games played by the World Champions and other top-notch players. 

To me this was one of the most enjoyable aspects of chess – studying the best games by the best players!  Of course this will improve one’s game!  It’s a no-brainer, right?

Yet here comes a club player, that student of mine – they have spent hours on puzzle-rush or the Slav Defense, but have never played over a game from the Fischer – Spassky match! 

So, it’s education time, folks.  This column will now be devoted, for the foreseeable future, to the great games of chess, past and present.

I do not intend to provide exhaustive analysis by any means: these games can be found in many collections and on the internet with extensive notes, often by the players themselves.  I am just pointing in a certain direction. I urge you, the reader, to follow up and find these games on your own. 

In my introduction to each game I will try to give a simple heads-up: this game is a positional masterpiece because of (fill in the blank), or this game is famous for how many sacrifices were made.

Etcetera, etcetera.  I’m going to jump around in time, mix the old with the new. 

To all students of chess out there: you can improve, but you’re standing on the shoulders of giants.

Watch them play!

(1) Johannes Zukertort - Joseph Henry Blackburne [A13]
London London ENG (6.1), 05.05.1883
[chess]

These were 2 of the leading players of their day, and played each other to a virtual standstill after 44 games (Blackburne only +1).This game, featuring a slow white opening followed by a beautiful queen sacrifice and a sustained mating attack, has been called "Zuckertort's Immortal". 1.c4 e6 2.e3 Nf6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Be2 Bb7 5.0-0 d5 6.d4 Bd6Modern players would probably prefer to develop the bishop on a less vulnerable square, e7. 7.Nc3 0-0 8.b3 Nbd7 9.Bb2 Qe7 10.Nb5Gaining the 2 bishops. 10...Ne4 11.Nxd6 cxd6 12.Nd2 White prepares to evict the knight in order to play e4 himself. 12...Ndf6 13.f3 Nxd2 14.Qxd2 dxc4 15.Bxc4! d5

game1_122

Black will not be able to hold back e4 for long. 16.Bd3 Rfc8 17.Rae1! The c-file is not as important as building up for the coming pawn onslaught on black's king. 17...Rc7 18.e4 Rac8 19.e5 Ne8 20.f4

game1_123

Black's position is critical, and he tries to oppose the attack. 20...g6 21.Re3 f5 22.exf6! White opens up the position. 22...Nxf6 23.f5 Ne4 24.Bxe4 dxe4 25.fxg6!

game1_124

White ignores ...Rc2 and sets black's house on fire. 25...Rc2 26.gxh7+ Kh8 27.d5+ e5 28.Qb4!!

game1_125

This brilliant move, deflecting black's queen, raises this game to the finest in chess art. If 28...Qxb4 29.Bxe5+ and Black is mated in 7 moves. I urge readers to try to work the variations out - without moving the pieces. 28...R8c5 29.Rf8+!! Another fantastic deflecting sacrifice - this time it's the rook! 29...Kxh7 If 29...Qxf8 30.Bxe5+ and black is again mated, this time in 8 moves, against any defense. 30.Qxe4+ Kg7

game1_126

White now finishes black off with 2 quick strokes: 31.Bxe5+! Kxf8 32.Bg7+! Kg8 33.Qxe7

game1_127

A classic game, worth replaying for the sparkling tactical shots. 1-0

 

(2) Karpov,Anatoly - Spassky,Boris Vasilievich [B83]
Candidates sf Karpov-Spassky +4-1=6 Leningrad (9), 04.1974
[chess]

In 1974 Anatoly Karpov played a series of Candidates Matches to challenge Bobby Fischer. After defeating Polugaevsky and Spassky, he then took down Korchnoi in the final. Fischer didn't play and Karpov was crowned Champion. Along the way he produced this positional masterpiece against the former World Champion. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be2

game1_128

Karpov was very fond of this super-solid approach against various Sicilian systems. 6...Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.f4 Nc6 9.Be3 Bd7 10.Nb3

game1_129

White has more space and avoids exchanging pieces. 10...a5 Creating a bit of a weakness at b5. 11.a4 Nb4 12.Bf3 Bc6 13.Nd4 Redeploying the knight. 13...g6

game1_130

Spassky doesn't like to sit still. He prepares ...e5 without allowing Nf5. 14.Rf2 Every move of Karpov's in this game should be savored for it's subtle economy. The cumulative effect is devastating. White overprotects c2, clears f1 for his queen, increases the range of his rook. 14...e5 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.Qf1

game1_131

White now has the 2 bishops, pressure on the f-file. The c4 square beckons as a great spot for white's queen. 17...Qc8 Intending 18...Ng4. White nips that in the bud... 18.h3 Nd7 19.Bg4! Threatening 20.Rd1. Black feels compelled to weaken his king's position. 19...h5 20.Bxd7 Qxd7 21.Qc4

game1_132

Targeting f7. 21...Bh4 22.Rd2 Qe7 23.Rf1 Rfd8 24.Nb1!

game1_133

This is a brilliant re-routing of the white knight, and prepares to evict the black knight at b4 with c3. 24...Qb7 25.Kh2! Threatening 26.g3 winning the black bishop! 25...Kg7 26.c3 Na6 27.Re2 Rf8 28.Nd2 Bd8 29.Nf3

game1_134

Black has been pushed back, and the end is near. 29...f6 30.Rd2 Be7 31.Qe6 Threatening 32.Rd7. 31...Rad8 32.Rxd8 Bxd8 If instead 32...Rxd8 then 33.Nxe5! fxe5 34.Rf7+ wins. 33.Rd1

game1_135

Black is helpless. Now 34.Rd7 is the threat. 33...Nb8 34.Bc5 Rh8 35.Rxd8!

game1_136

Absolutely crushing, and a fitting end to this gem of a game. After 35...Rxd8 36.Be7 black is mated or suffers overwhelming loss of material. 1-0

Tony's Teasers

This Week's Problem: White to move and mate in 3 by C. Andrade, 1933
 

 

Last Week's Problem: 

Solution:

1. f7!!  exd4   2. f8+B!!  Kf6    3. Ra6#

 

 

SCHOLASTIC CORNER

Report on the Inaugural Winter Chess Championship
@ Hamilton School in Novato, CA
co-organizing with the Hamilton Chess Club
December 7 @ 10AM

Last weekend Mechanics' Institute Chess Club had the honor to collaborate with the Hamilton Chess Club in Novato in bringing a fun chess tournament to the chess players in Novato and neighborhood areas. Special thanks goes to Michele Huff, Jay Ferguson and WGM Carla Heredia for their tireless efforts and support in planning, and executing is this wonderful event.

The support from the city was crystal clear with Mayor Eric Lucan opening the tournament, welcoming everyone from and outside of Novato, and School District's superintendent also was present during the event.

Grandmaster Patrick Wolff, Trustee and former interim Executive Director of the Mechanics’ Institute, was also as the opening ceremony. The two-time US Champion shared his perspective on the game for the young chess players: “I believe chess is a special game. Anyone can learn and anyone can compete, no matter how old or young you are, no matter how big or small. In fact, kids can even beat their parents or teachers – as you may have already learned! And chess is the fairest game I know: there are no fouls, no balls or strikes to be called, and no luck. Whoever makes the best moves will win, and so chess teaches you to think, to learn from your experience, and to take responsibility for your moves.”
After the tournament began, Grandmaster Wolff noticed that the player on Board 1, Emily Elbing, was missing an opponent. It turned out that her opponent was unable to attend due to illness, so Grandmaster Wolff offered to play a game with her, and afterwards took the time to go over the moves and highlight some opportunities for her to learn.

The tournament had 60 players grouped in 3 different sections, based on grade and wether players wanted to have their games USCF rated or not. The tournament had 5 rounds on a rolling schedule, and concluded with a trophy ceremony around 2PM. Players between 3.0-5.0 points got trophies, and all others got participation medals.

Congratulate to the winners: Ishan Kaipa of the Kindergarten - Grade 3 nonrated section and Corin Musicant of the Grade 4-8 nonrated section, both of them scored a perfect 5.0/5.0 score. The winner of the rated section was Zee Chin with 4.5/5.0.

  

Chess Coaches Wanted

Mechanics' Institute Chess Club is expanding it's enrichment offerings and thus in need of chess coaches.
When? Weekdays afternoon anytime between 1PM and 6PM.
Where? San Francisco city and surroudning neighborhood (Hillsborough, Burliname, San Mateo.)
Conditions? Must pass background check, and TB test, and also must have own transportation.
Pay? We pay coaches per class, depending on experience, classroom management and other factors. Possible pay varies between $50-$100/class.
Interested? Reach out to Judit, [email protected], to schedule a phone or in-person interview.



Chess Camp during the Winter break at Mechanics'

Days offered: Dec 23, 26 27, 30, 31, Jan 2, 3  -- Pick one or pick all :)

Schedule: 9AM - 12:30PM Morning camp or 12:30 - 4PM Afternoon camp or Full-day 9AM - 4PM.
Full day students will have lunch break between 12:15-12:45PM. Bring your own lunch!

Camp activities include lectures, instructions, paired play, game reviews, fun activities such as blitz, bughouse, puzzles and other short and fun activities.

Fees:

Camp

1 day

2 days

3 days

4 days

5 days

6 days

7 days

Half-day (9AM-12:30PM or 12:30PM-4PM)

$49

$98

$145

$192

$239

$286

$333

Full day (9AM-4PM)

$79

$158

$235

$312

$389

$466

$543

INFORMATION: www.milibrary.org/chess/winter-break-chess-camp-mi
REGISTER ONLINE: mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/SeasonalCamps/Winterbreakcamp

 

Save the Date - Saturday, December 28th
End of 2019 Kids' Championship

Fun event is planned for the end of the year! Come out for a 5 round kids' tournament, where players can practice their skills, have fun and win some trophies!
More information: https://www.milibrary.org/chess-tournaments/end-2019-mechanics-institute-scholastic-swiss
Register online to save your spot: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/Tournaments2019/EndofYear2019MechanicsInstituteSeptemberScholasticSwiss

 

GM Nick de Firmian’s Column

Great Women Chess Players:  Week 8,  Pia Cramling -  Best of The West

The Russians, Soviets, and Chinese have (or had) programs to develop their chess talent, women included. Thus, we have seen many top Russian and Chinese women in chess and fewer from the rest of the world where players have to develop on their own. One such self-developed player is Pia Cramling from Stockholm Sweden. She is the fifth woman ever who earned the (men’s) GM title and has been one of the top women players for 3 decades, several times making the #1 spot on that rating list. Most likely she would have become Women’s World Champion if she had state support as in the east, but Sweden has limited economic opportunities for chess. Yet she has been a chess professional since the 1980’s and an inspiration for many western women players.

Pia is married to Spanish Grandmaster Juan Bellon and has a teenage daughter Anna, who also plays chess and managed to qualify for the Swedish Olympic Chess team in 2016.

(1) Pia Cramling (2528) - Stefan E S Kindermann (2530) [D86]
Hamburg SKA Hamburg GER, 1991

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 0-0 8.Ne2 Diagram

Cramling_156
A classic Exchange Grunfeld allows a strong center for White with attacking chances. Black of course has counterattacking chances against the center and is already castled. 8...b6 9.h4!? Pia goes straight for the attack! A very aggressive response. 9...Nc6 10.Bd5 Qd7 11.h5 e6 12.Bb3 Ba6 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.Nf4 Rfd8? Diagram
Cramling_157
Black should seek saftey on the a2-g8 diagonal by chasing the white squared bishop with 14...Na5 15.Nxe6! fxe6 16.Qg4 Bc8 17.Qxg6 The white attack is extremely strong. The rook on h1 and the bishop on c1 help the white queen with its advanced post. Kindermann tries a break out. 17...Nxd4!? 18.Rh3!? Diagram
Cramling_158
18...Nxb3 19.Qh7+ Kf8 20.Rf3+ Qf7 21.Bh6! Diagram
Cramling_159
This is a knock-out blow! The position leaves so many pieces attacked on both sides. 21...Qxf3 22.Qxg7+ Ke8 23.gxf3 Nxa1 24.Bg5! Nc2+ 25.Kf1 Diagram
Cramling_160
Mate in a few moves after black uses his checks. 1-0

 

(2) Pia Cramling - Viktor Korchnoi [B14]
Biel Biel SUI, 07.1984

Korchnoi was the 3rd ranked player in the world at this time. Young Pia was only 21 years old. 1.e4 c6 2.c4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.cxd5 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nxd5 6.Nf3 e6 7.d4 Bb4 8.Bd2 Nc6 9.Bd3 Diagram

Cramling_161
The Caro-Kan Opening has transposed to a variation of the Nimzo-Indian. 9...Be7 10.a3 Bf6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Qe2!? Bxd4 Black gains a pawn at the cost of a White initiative. 13.Nxd5 Qxd5 14.Be4 Qd6 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Nxd4 Qxd4 17.Bb4 Re8 18.Rfd1 Qb6 19.Qe5 Qb5 20.Qc7 White has nice activity for the pawn and the bishops of opposite color give attacking chances. Yet the position is objectively equal and the great Korchnoi wishes to beat his young opponent. 20...Qb6 21.Qe5 a5!? Declining to seek a repetition. 22.Bc5 Qb3 23.f4 Ba6 24.Rd7 Qc2 25.Bd4 Qg6 26.Re1 f6 27.Qc5 Qf5 28.Qd6 e5?! This loosens the Black position. More solid was 28..Bc4 with equal chances. 29.fxe5 fxe5 30.Bc5 Qf6? Diagram
Cramling_162
Korchnoi seeks a pawn up endgame, but is in for a surprise. Simply holding squares with 20...Rac8 would avoid the worst. 31.Qxf6! gxf6 32.Re3 Despite being in an endgame Pia has a great attack against the black king. The rook on d7 is major force. 32...Kh8?! [32...Bc4 33.Rg3+ Kh8 34.Be7! would force 34...Rxe7 35.Rxe7 when White would have a technically winning endgame.] 33.Rh3 Diagram
Cramling_163
The only decent way to avoid mate is 33...Bd3, losing the bishop. 1-0

 

(3) Anna Ushenina (2476) - Pia Cramling (2544) [D45]
North Urals Cup Krasnoturinsk RUS, 2008

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 a6 6.Qc2 Nbd7 7.b3 Bd6 8.Be2 0-0 9.Bb2 Diagram

Cramling_164
The Slav Defense is the battleground in this meeting between two of the world's top women players. 9...e5!? 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.0-0 Be6 13.Rac1 Rc8 14.Qd2 Nc6 15.Rfd1 Bb4 The isolated queen pawn can be a disadvantage, but if Black keeps active pieces then it is hard to exploit. 16.Qd3 Qe7 17.Ng5 Planning 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. Qxh7 mate. Black gives the king a square to run to on f8. 17...Rfd8 18.Na4 h6 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.Qg6 Bd6 21.f4 Rf8 22.Bf3 Bb8 23.Kh1 Ba7 24.Re1 Qd6 25.Nc3 Rcd8 26.Rcd1 Ne7 27.Qd3 Qb8 28.Ne2 Qc8 29.Nd4 Qd7 30.e4!? This break in the center allows Black to also have tactical posibilites. The game is reaching a critical point as the players seek time control. 30...dxe4 31.Bxe4 Ng4! 32.Qf3?! Diagram
Cramling_165
[32.Rf1] 32...e5! Guarding the knight on g4 while attacking d4. White is suddenly under heavy pressure. 33.Nf5? Diagram
Cramling_166
[The only good defense was 33.f5 though Black is better anyway after 33...Ne3! 34.Rxe3 Nxf5!] 33...Qxd1 34.Nxe7+ Kf7! Moving the king towards the center is the only way to win. White cannot capture twice on d1 because of Nf2 forking with check. 35.Bg6+ Kxe7 36.Qxb7+ Diagram
Cramling_167

White lost on time, though 36...Ke6 37. f5+ Kf6 is finished. 0-1

2019 Fall TNM Games Round 8

(1) Tsodikova,Natalya (2196) - Gaffagan,Steven (2040) [B40]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Championship San Francisco (8.1), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.b3 b6 4.Bb2 Bb7 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.c3 Nf6 7.0-0 d6 8.Re1 Be7 9.Bc2 Rc8 10.d4 cxd4 11.Nxd4 0-0 12.Nd2 a6 13.a4 Qc7 14.c4 Both sides of aquiesced to a Maroczy Bind / Hedgehog System; White's has a few oddities (like the Nd2) which she sets about correcting. 14...Rfe8 15.Rc1 Qb8 16.Qe2 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Bc6 18.Bd3

2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1088
18...e5?! This is usually a big concession; Black loses the flexibility so important for the Hedgehog. 19.Be3 Nd7 20.Ra1?! [20.Nb1!? Nc5 21.Nc3 Nxb3 22.Rb1 Nd4 (22...Nc5 23.a5 Bd8 24.axb6 Bxb6 25.Nd5 Bxd5 26.cxd5 Black loses the a-pawn and is still under pressure) ] 20...a5 [20...Nc5] 21.f3 Qc7 22.Rad1 h6 23.Nb1 Bh4 24.Rf1 Bg5 25.Bf2 Nf8 26.Bc2 Ne6 27.g3 h5 28.Qd3 Rcd8 29.Nc3 g6 30.Ne2 Bh6 31.Be3 Bg7 32.Qd2 Bf8 33.Nc3 Bg7 34.Qf2 Rb8 35.Rd2 Red8 36.Rfd1 Kh7 37.Ne2 [37.g4!] 37...Bf8
2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1089
38.f4!? [38.g4!?] 38...Bh6 39.Nc3 Bg7 40.f5 Nc5 [40...Nd4] 41.g4 hxg4 42.Qh4+ Kg8 43.Qxg4 Qe7 44.fxg6 f6 45.h4 Bd7 46.Qg3 Be6 47.h5 Qf8 48.Rf2 [48.Rg2! Bh6 49.g7 Qxg7 50.Bxh6] 48...Rb7 49.Qh4 Bh6 50.Bc1 Bxc1 51.Rxc1 Qh6 52.Rcf1 Rf8 53.Nd1 Nd7 54.Rg2 Kg7 55.Nf2 Rbb8 56.Ng4 Bxg4 57.Qxg4 Nc5 58.Qf3 Ne6 59.Qf5 Rbe8 60.Rd1 Nd4 61.Qd7+ Kg8 62.g7 Qe3+ 63.Kh1 f5 64.gxf8Q+ 1-0

 

(2) Snyder,Larry (2061) - Li,Eric (2303) [B22]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Championship San Francisco (8.2), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.cxd4 d6 7.Bc4 dxe5 8.Bxd5 Qxd5 9.Nc3 Qd6 10.d5 Nd4 11.Nxd4 exd4 12.Qxd4 e5 This is a tough line for White -- Black had so many ways to try to win a pawn for some suffering, but here the two bishops and pawn duo on e5 & f5 will pass that grief on to White. 13.Qa4+ Bd7 14.Qb3 Qa6 15.Be3 Rc8 16.f3 b5 17.Ne2 b4 18.Rc1 Rxc1+ 19.Nxc1 Bd6 20.Kf2 0-0 21.Re1 Rc8 22.Qd3 Qa4 23.Qb3 Qa5 24.Kg1 Bb5 25.Qd1 Bc4 26.b3 Bxd5 Black is willing, perhaps unnecessarily, to tread delicately with his extra pawn. 27.Qd2 Bf8 28.Kh1 Be6 29.h3 f6 30.Qf2 a6 31.Re2 Qd8 32.Qe1 a5 33.Rd2 Qe8 34.Ne2 a4 35.bxa4 Qxa4 36.Qb1 Ra8 37.Nc1 Qc6 38.Nb3 Bxh3 39.Qe4 Qxe4 40.fxe4 Be6 41.Bc5 Bxb3 42.Bxf8 Kxf8 43.axb3 Ra1+ 44.Kh2 Re1 0-1

(3) Clemens,Kristian (1956) - Wong,Russell (2200) [E91]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Championship San Francisco (8.3), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d6 5.e4 0-0 6.Be2 Nc6 7.d5! Ne5 8.Nxe5 dxe5 9.Be3 White simply claims a positional advantage. 9...a6 10.0-0 Bd7 11.a3 White advances little by little. [11.Qb3; 11.f4!? exf4 (11...Ne8 12.fxe5 Bxe5 13.Bd4 starts the central takeover) 12.Bxf4 e5 13.Bxe5 Re8 14.Bd4] 11...h5 12.f3 e6 13.Bc5 Re8 14.d6?! Bc6?! [14...Bf8!] 15.dxc7 Qxc7 16.Be3 Nd7 17.b4 Now White has a clear queenside majority, while Black's pawns on e6 and e5, while admittedly controlling central squares, have no particular future. 17...b6 18.Qb3 Bf8 19.Rfd1 Be7 20.Rac1 g5?!

2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1090
21.Nd5! Qb7 22.Nxe7+ Rxe7 23.b5 winning a piece. 23...Bxe4 24.fxe4 Qxe4 25.Bf3 1-0

 

(4) Winslow,Elliott (2248) - Walder,Michael (2101) [E73]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Championship San Francisco (8.4), 10.12.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Be3 Na6 7.h4 [7.g4!?] 7...h5 8.f3 c5 9.d5 e6 10.Nh3 exd5 11.cxd5 Re8 [11...Bxh3!? leaves White's rook weird for a while.] 12.Qd2?! [12.Nf2] 12...Rb8 13.a3 Nc7 14.Rb1 b5 15.b4 cxb4 16.axb4 a6 Last chance to take on h3! 17.Nf2 Na8! 18.g4?! Nb6?! [18...hxg4!? 19.fxg4 Nb6 Scary, but for both sides] 19.Bd4 [19.g5] 19...Qc7 20.Rc1 Nc4 21.Qf4 Qe7 22.Rd1 Bd7?! Taking the square from the knight. [22...hxg4 23.fxg4 Nd7 heads for the juicy e5 square.] 23.Rg1?! [23.g5!+/-] 23...Rbc8?! [23...Rec8!; 23...hxg4! 24.fxg4 Rbc8] 24.g5! Nh7 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Ra1! a5!? 27.bxa5 b4 28.Ncd1 [28.Bxc4! Rxc4 29.Ne2] 28...f5? [28...Bb5!] 29.gxf6+ Qxf6?! just into a lost ending [29...Nxf6 30.Bxc4 Rxc4 31.Ne3 Rc3 32.Rb1] 30.Qxf6+ Nxf6 31.Bxc4 [31.a6!] 31...Rxc4 32.Ne3 Rc3 33.Kd2 Ra8 34.Nd3 Ra3 35.Nc4! Rxa1 36.Rxa1 1-0

(5) Boldi,Ethan (2055) - Askin,David (2053) [A11]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Championship San Francisco (8.5), 10.12.2019

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 c6 4.0-0 Bg4 5.c4 e6 6.d3 dxc4 7.dxc4 Nbd7 8.b3 Bc5 9.Bb2 Qc7 10.Nbd2 0-0 11.Qc2 Rad8 12.a3 a5 13.Bc3 Rfe8 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 Bf8 16.Qb2 e5 17.e4 c5 18.b5 Bxf3 19.Bxf3 Nb6 20.Rfd1 g6 21.Qb3 Bh6 22.Nf1 Nfd7 23.Bd2 Bxd2 24.Rxd2 Nf8 25.Rxd8 Rxd8 26.Ne3 Ne6 27.Nd5 Qd6 28.Qc3 Nd4 29.Nxb6 Qxb6 30.Kg2 Rd6 31.Qe3 Qd8 32.Ra7 b6 33.Bg4 h5 34.Bh3 Qf6 35.f4 exf4 36.Qxf4 Qxf4 37.gxf4 Ne2 38.Kf3 Ng1+ 39.Kg2 Nxh3 40.Kxh3 Rd4 41.Rb7 Rxe4 42.Kg3 Rxc4 43.Rxb6 Rb4 44.Rb8+ Kg7 45.b6 c4 46.Rc8 Rb3+ 47.Kh4 Rxb6 48.Rxc4 Kf6 49.Rc3 Kf5 50.Kg3 Re6 51.Rc5+ Kf6 52.Rc3 Re1 53.Rc6+ Kg7 54.Rc2 Rg1+ 55.Kf2 Ra1 56.Rc3 Ra6 57.Kg3 Kf6 58.Rb3 Rd6 59.h3 Ke6 60.Re3+ Kf5 61.Re5+ Kf6 62.Re3 Re6 63.Ra3 Rb6 64.Rc3 Rb4 65.Rc6+ Kf5 66.Rc5+ Ke4 67.Re5+ Kd4 68.Re7 Rb3+ 69.Kg2 Kd5 70.Rxf7 Ke4 71.Rf8 Rb2+ 72.Kg3 Rb3+ 73.Kh4 Rf3 74.Kg5 Rg3+ 75.Kh4 Rf3 76.Re8+ Kf5 77.Rf8+ Ke4 78.Rf7 Rxf4+ 79.Rxf4+ Kxf4 1/2-1/2

(6) Pane,Gianluca (1887) - Askin,Michael (2000) [D53]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Championship San Francisco (8.6), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qc2 e6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Nc3 a6 8.Bd3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b5 10.Be2 c5 11.0-0 Bb7 12.Rfd1 Qb6 13.Rac1 0-0 14.e4?! Loosens White's center. 14...cxd4 15.Rxd4 Bc5!

2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1091
16.Rdd1? [16.Bxf6! Nxf6 17.Na4! was White's only road to equality.] 16...Bxf2+ 17.Kh1 Rac8 18.e5 Nd5 19.Nxd5 Rxc2 20.Nxb6 Rxc1 21.Rxc1 Bxb6 22.Bf4 h6 23.h4 Rc8 24.Rd1 Rd8 25.b4 Nf8 26.Rxd8 Bxd8 27.h5 Nd7 28.Kg1 Nb6 29.Nd2 Nd7 30.Bf3 Bxf3 31.gxf3 Bc7 32.Ne4 f5 33.Nc5 Bb6 34.Be3 Bxc5 35.Bxc5 Nxc5 36.bxc5 Kf7 37.Kf2 Ke7 38.Ke3 Kd7 39.Kd3 Kc6 40.Kd4 f4 41.Ke4 Kxc5 42.Kxf4 Kd4 0-1

 

(7) Thieme,Steffen (2014) - Jensen,Christian (1867) [D02]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Championship San Francisco (8.7), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.e3 d5 5.h3 Nbd7 6.c4 c6 7.Nc3 a6 8.Qb3 e6 9.Qa3 Nh5 10.Bd6 Bf8 11.Bxf8 Rxf8 12.e4 dxc4 13.d5 cxd5 14.exd5 Nb6 15.0-0-0 exd5 16.Nd4 Ng7 17.g3 Ne6 18.Bg2 Nxd4? [18...Qe7 Black has no problems.] 19.Rxd4 Be6 20.Re1 Qg5+ 21.Re3 Despite his two extra pawns, Black is busted. 21...Rd8 22.Qa5 Rd6

2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1092
23.Ne4! dxe4 24.Qxg5 Rxd4 25.Qc5 1-0

 

(8) Hakobyan,Sos (1809) - Lehman,Clarence (1900) [C57]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Championship San Francisco (8.8), 10.12.2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ Ke7 6.Bb3 Rf8 7.Nc3 Qe8 8.0-0 Qg6 9.d3 h6 10.Nf3 d6 11.Nh4 Qh7 12.Nd5+ Nxd5 13.exd5 Nd4 14.Qh5 Bf5 15.g4 g6 16.Qxh6 Qxh6 17.Bxh6 Rh8 18.g5 Rxh6 19.gxh6 Rh8 20.Kg2 Rxh6 21.Nxf5+ gxf5 22.Rh1 f4 23.c3 f3+ 24.Kf1 Nf5 25.Re1 Kf6 26.d4 Bb6 27.dxe5+ dxe5 28.Bc2 Nd6 29.Bd3 Rh4 30.b3 e4 31.Bb1 Ke5 32.c4 Bc5 33.h3 a5 34.Kg1 Nf5 35.Kf1 Nd6 36.Bc2 Kf4 37.Rh2 Ke5 38.Kg1 b5 39.Bd1 Bb4 40.Re3 Bd2 41.cxb5 Nxb5 42.Bc2 Bxe3 43.fxe3 Nc3 44.a4 Nxd5 45.Kf2 Rh6 46.h4 Rc6 47.Bd1 Rc1 48.Rh1 Nc3 49.Bxf3 Rc2+ 50.Kg3 exf3 51.Kxf3 Nd5 52.h5 Nf6 53.h6 Nh7 54.Rh5+ Kf6 55.Rxa5 c6 56.b4 Kg6 57.Rc5 Rxc5 58.bxc5 Nf6 59.a5 Nd5 60.a6 Nc7 61.a7 Kxh6 62.Kf4 Kg6 63.Ke5 Kf7 64.Kd6 Nb5+ 65.Kxc6 Nxa7+ 66.Kd7 Nb5 67.e4 Kf6 68.Kc6 Nc3 69.Kd7 Nxe4 70.c6 Nc5+ 71.Kd6 Ne6 72.Kd7 Ke5 73.c7 Nxc7 74.Kxc7 1/2-1/2

(9) Melville,Cailen (1871) - German,Felix (1859) [D07]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Championship San Francisco (8.11), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.cxd5 Qxd5 4.e3 e5 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Nf6 8.c4 Qd6 9.d5 Ne7 10.a4 c5 11.Bb2 0-0 12.Qb3 Ng6 13.Bd3 Rb8 14.Ne2 a6 15.0-0 b5 16.axb5 axb5

2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1093
17.Ba3 e4 18.Bc2 Ng4 19.Ng3 f5? 20.cxb5 Bd7 21.Qc3! Rxb5 22.Ba4 Rb7 23.Bxc5 Rc8 24.Qxg7+ Kxg7 25.Bxd6 Nh4 26.Nh5+ Kh6 27.Nf4 Rg8 28.Bxd7 Rxd7 29.Ra6 Ng6 30.Ne6 Nf6 31.Rd1 Rc8 32.Nd4 Kg5 33.f4+ exf3 34.Nxf3+ Kh5 35.Nd4 Nxd5 36.Nxf5 Nc3 37.Ng3+ Kh4 38.Rd4+ Kg5 39.Bf4+ 1-0

 

(10) Maser,Thomas (1914) - Urquhart,Joe (1957) [B07]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Championship San Francisco (8.12), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 d6 2.d4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Be2 [5.a4 e5 6.Bc4 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.h3!? is Negi's move order finesse (it's been played before of course).(8.Re1 exd4 9.Nxd4 (9.Qxd4 Ne5!) 9...Ne5) ] 5...e5 6.0-0 Be7 7.dxe5 [7.a4! The usual space move.] 7...dxe5 8.Bg5 Qc7 9.Nh4 Nc5 10.Nf5 Bxf5 11.exf5 b5 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Bf3 Rd8 14.Qe2 0-0 15.Rad1 Rd4 16.Qe3 Rfd8 17.b4 Nd7 18.Ne4 Nb6 19.c3 Rxd1 20.Nxf6+ gxf6 21.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 22.Bxd1 Qd7 23.Bc2 Qd5 24.Bb3 Qd7 25.g4 Nd5 26.Qd3 Kf8 27.a4 a6 28.c4 bxc4 29.Bxc4 Qb7 30.b5

2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1094
30...Nf4?? [30...axb5 31.axb5 Nf4 32.Qd6+ Kg7 33.Qxc6 Qa7=] 31.Qd6+ Kg7 32.Qxc6 Qe7 33.g5! Nh3+ [33...fxg5 34.f6+!] 34.Kf1 Nxg5 35.b6? [35.h4! Nh3 36.Qg2+ is a big big win] 35...Qa3? [35...Qb4! 36.h4!? (36.b7 Qb1+ 37.Kg2 Nh3! sets up a perpetual.) 36...Nf3 37.Kg2 Nd2 38.Be2 Qxh4 39.Bd1+/= is just too subtle for any human.] 36.Bxa6? [36.Be2! Qh3+ 37.Kg1 e4 38.Qc7 e3 39.Qf4 takes care of any counterplay, while the b-pawn thrives] 36...Qa1+? [36...Nh3=; 36...Nf3=] 37.Ke2? [37.Kg2! Qd1 38.Bf1!+/-] 37...Qb2+ 38.Kf1 e4? [38...Qd4= perpetual time again] 39.Qc5? [39.Be2!+/-] 39...Qb1+?! [39...Qa1+?! The other scoresheet says 40.Kg2 Nf3 41.Kg3 Qg1+; 39...Nf3!= 40.Kg2 Qb3! (40...Qb1 41.Kg3) 41.Bf1 Ne1+ 42.Kg1 Nf3+ 43.Kh1 Qd1 44.Qc4] 40.Kg2 Nf3 41.Kg3!+/= Qg1+ 42.Kf4
2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1095
42...Qxh2+?? [42...Qd1!=] 43.Kxe4+- Qg2 44.Kd5?? [44.b7+-; 44.Ke3+-; 44.Kd3+-] 44...Nd2+!-+ 45.Kd6 Ne4+ 46.Kc6 Nxc5+ 47.Kxc5 Qa8 48.Bb5 Kf8 49.Bc6 Qa5+ 50.Kd6 0-1

 

(11) Perlov,Alexander (1770) - Busch,Jonah (1871) [A60]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (8.9), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 b5 6.Bg2 d6 7.e4 g6 8.Nc3 b4 9.Nb1 Bg7 10.Nd2 0-0 11.Rb1 Re8 12.Ne2 Ba6 13.0-0 Nxd5 14.Re1 Bd3? [14...Nc7-+] 15.exd5 Bxb1 16.Nxb1 a5 17.b3 Nd7 18.Be3 Qc7 19.Nd2 Nb6 20.Qc2 a4 21.Rd1 Ra6 22.Nd4! The White minor pieces start to take over. 22...axb3 23.axb3 Qa7 24.Nc6 Qa8 25.Bf3 Nd7 26.Nc4 Ne5 27.N6xe5 Bxe5 28.Nxe5 Rxe5 29.Bf4 Re8 30.Qb2 Qd8 31.Bh6 f6 32.h4 Qe7 33.Rd2 Qe1+ 34.Kg2 Ra1 35.Kh3 Kf7 36.Be3 Rea8 37.Re2 Qd1 38.Bg5 Qd4 39.Qxd4 cxd4 40.Bf4 Rb1 41.Bxd6 Rxb3 42.Re7+ Kg8 43.Kg2 d3 44.Rb7? [44.Bf4+-] 44...d2 45.Be2 Rb1 46.Be7 d1Q 47.Bxd1 Rxd1 48.d6 Kf7 49.Rxb4 Ra7 50.Rb8 Ke6 51.Rf8 f5 52.Rf6+ Kd7 53.Rf7 Ra2 54.Bf8+ Ke6 55.Re7+

2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1096
55...Kf6?? [55...Kd5=] 56.Bg7# 1-0

 

(12) Argo,Guy (1859) - Uzzaman,Ashik (1935) [B23]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (8.13), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c5 2.f4 d6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.0-0 a6 7.a4 Nf6 8.d3 0-0 9.Qe1 Nd4 10.Nxd4 cxd4 11.Ne2 e5? [11...d5!] 12.h3?! [12.fxe5 dxe5 13.Qh4! Black is under heavy attack 13...Nh5 14.Bxf7+!] 12...d5?

2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1097
[12...Be6 13.Bxe6 fxe6+/=] 13.fxe5! Nxe4! 14.Bb3?! [14.Ba2!+/-] 14...Nc5 15.Nxd4 Nxb3 16.Nxb3 Qc7 17.d4 Qxc2 18.Rf3 Bf5?? That's the queen's retreat! [18...f6+/=] 19.Nc5 [19.Rc3! Qe4 20.Qf2 is pretty good as well!] 19...Be4 20.Rf2! Qc4 21.Be3 a5 22.b3 Qb4 23.Qxb4! Win the queen, win the ending, it's all the same. 23...axb4 24.Nxb7 f6 25.exf6 Rxf6 26.Rxf6 Bxf6 27.Nc5 Bf5 28.g4 Re8 29.Kf2 Bh4+ 30.Kf3 Bc2 31.a5 Be7 32.a6 Rf8+ 33.Ke2 Bxc5 34.dxc5 Bxb3 35.a7 Bc4+ 36.Kd2 Ra8 37.c6 Bb5 38.c7 Bd7
2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1098
39.Rb1 1-0

 

(13) Babayan,Gagik (1790) - Bielec,John (1790) [B43]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (8.14), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.a3?! Nf6 7.Be2 b5 8.0-0 Bb7 9.f3 Be7 10.Bd3?? Bc5 11.Be3 Qb6?

2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1099
[11...e5! 12.Nf5 g6-+] 12.Nce2?! [12.Bxb5! axb5 13.b4! Bxd4 14.Qxd4 Qxd4 15.Bxd4 with some play for the piece in those queenside pawns.] 12...e5 13.c3 exd4 14.cxd4 Be7 15.Qd2 0-0 But here it's just not enough. 16.Ng3 d6 [16...g6!] 17.Qf2 Nbd7 18.Nf5 Qd8 19.Qg3 Nh5 20.Qh3 g6 21.Nh6+ Kh8?! [21...Kg7! 22.Nf5+ Kh8] 22.f4 Ndf6?! 23.Qf3? [23.g4] 23...Ng7 24.d5 Ng8 25.Nxg8 Kxg8 26.f5 Bg5 27.Bf2 Rc8 28.g4 Qf6 29.Rab1 Rc7 30.Qg3 h5 31.h4 Bd2 32.Bb6 Rfc8 33.Rfd1 Rc1 34.Kg2 Rxd1 35.Rxd1 Qxb2 36.Bf2 Rd8 37.fxg6 f6 38.Kh3 hxg4+ 39.Qxg4 Bc8 0-1

 

(14) Kaplan,Glenn (1668) - Drane,Robert (1800) [A10]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (8.15), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.c4 f5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 d6 7.d3 e5 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Rb1 a5 11.Nd5 Nd7 12.Nxf6+ Nxf6 13.a3 a4 14.b3 axb3 15.Rxb3 c6 16.Nh4 Qe8 17.Qb1 Qh5 18.Bf3 Qf7 19.Bg2 g5 20.Nf3 Qh5

2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1100
21.Rxb7 Bxb7 22.Qxb7 Qe8 23.Qb4 d5 24.Nd2 e4 25.Nb1 Rf7 26.cxd5 cxd5 27.Qc5 Rc8 28.Qd4 Qc6 29.Qe5 Ng4 30.Qd4 Qc5 31.Qa4 Ra7 32.Qb3 Nf6 33.dxe4 Nxe4 34.e3 Ra6 35.Qb7 Rb6 36.Qd7 Rf6 37.Rd1 Qc6 38.Qa7 Qc2 39.Rf1 Rfc6 40.Qd7 Qb3 41.Qxf5 Rc1 42.Nd2 Rxf1+ 43.Nxf1 Qb7 44.Qg6+ Kh8 45.Qxh6+ Qh7 46.Qe6 Qg8 47.Qh3+ Kg7 48.Qd7+ Kf6 49.Bxe4 dxe4 50.Qd4+ Kf5 51.g4+ Kxg4 52.Qxe4+ Kh5 53.Ng3+ Kh6 54.Nf5+ Kh5 55.Qf3+ g4 1/2-1/2

 

(15) Cortinas,Marty (1697) - Chea,Na (1601) [D02]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (8.17), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 Bf5 4.Bg2 c5 5.c4 e6 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Nxd5 Qxd5 9.Be3 cxd4 10.Bxd4 Bb4+ 11.Bc3 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Qc4 13.Qb3 Qc5 14.0-0 Rb8 15.Rfd1 Qe7 16.Nh4 0-0 17.Nxf5 exf5 18.e3 Ne5 19.Rd5 g6 20.Rad1 Rfc8 21.Qb5

2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1101
21...Ng4? [21...Re8 prevents the invasion; level.] 22.Rd7 Qc5? 23.Rd8+! Rxd8 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.Qxc5 Rd1+ 26.Bf1 Rd2 27.e4 Nxf2 28.exf5 Rxa2 29.f6 1-0

 

(16) Carron,Joel (1573) - Zeller,William (1776) [B18]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (8.18), 10.12.2019

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 e6 7.Ne5 Bd6 8.Be3 Bxe5 9.dxe5 Qa5+ 10.Qd2 Qxe5 11.Rd1 Qc7 12.Bd3 Ne7 13.Bxg6 hxg6 14.0-0 Nd7 15.h3 0-0-0 16.Qb4 Nd5 17.Qa3 Nxe3 18.Qxe3 Qb6 19.Qc3 Nf6 20.b3 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Rd8 22.Rxd8+ Qxd8 23.Qc5 Kb8 24.Qe5+ Qc7 25.Qc5 Qd8 26.Qe5+ Kc8 27.Qc5 Qd1+ 28.Kh2 Kc7 29.Qe7+ Qd7 30.Qc5 b6 31.Qf8 Ne8 32.Ne4 f5 33.Ng5 Qd6+ 34.Qxd6+ Kxd6 35.Kg3 Nf6 36.Nf7+ Kd5 37.c4+ Kd4 38.Nd8 Kc3 39.Nxc6 a5 40.Kf4 Nd7 41.Ne5 g5+ 42.Kxg5 Nxe5 43.f4 Nd3 44.g3 Kb2 45.Kg6 Kxa2 46.h4 Kxb3 47.Kxg7 a4 0-1

(17) Casares,Nick (1600) - Babb,Kevin (1803) [B12]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (8.20), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.g4 Bg6 5.h4 h6 6.h5 Bh7 7.e6 fxe6 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 Qd6 10.Nf3 Nd7 11.Qg6+ Kd8 12.0-0 e5! 13.Re1 Qxg6 14.hxg6 e4 15.Nh2 e5 16.Be3 Bd6 17.c4 Ngf6 18.c5 exd4 19.cxd6 dxe3 20.f4 exf3 21.Rxe3 Re8 22.Rxe8+ Nxe8 23.Nd2 Nxd6 24.Nhxf3 Kc7 25.Nd4 Re8 26.b4 Ne5 27.Nf5 Nxf5 28.gxf5 Rf8 29.Rf1 Nc4 30.Nb3 Kd6 31.Nd4 Ke5 32.Ne6 Rxf5 33.Re1+ Kf6 34.Nf8 Ne5 35.Rxe5 Kxe5 0-1

(18) Reyes,Victor Hugo (1497) - Rakonitz,David (1639) [C00]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (8.21), 10.12.2019

1.e4 e6 2.e5 d5 3.f4 c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.d4 Qb6 9.c3 Nh6 10.Ng5 0-0-0 11.a3 Bb5 12.Rf2 f6 13.Nf3 Kb8 14.a4 Ba6 15.b3 Rc8 16.Ba3 Rhe8 17.Rb2 Nf5 18.Qd2 cxd4 19.cxd4 Rc7 20.Bxe7 Nxe7 21.b4 Bc4 22.Nc3 Rec8 23.a5 Qc6 24.Na4 b6 25.axb6 axb6 26.Rc2 Ra7 27.Rxc4 dxc4 28.Qd1 Nd5 29.Nb2 Rxa1 30.Qxa1 b5 31.Qc1 Nxb4 32.Nd1 Nd5 33.Nf2 f5 34.Ng5 h6 35.Nf7 b4 36.Nd6 Rc7 37.g4 g6 38.gxf5 gxf5 39.Nd1 c3 40.Ne3 Rg7+ 41.Kf2 Nxf4 42.Qf1 b3 43.Qb5+ Qxb5 44.Nxb5 c2 0-1

(19) Agdamag,Samuel (1465) - Raza,Aezed (1607) [B51]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (8.22), 10.12.2019

1.Nf3 c5 2.e4 d6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bb5 a6 5.Bxc6+ bxc6 6.0-0 Bg4 7.Re1 e5 8.d3 Be7 9.h3 Bh5 10.Kh2 Nf6 11.Rg1 Qc7 12.g4 Bg6 13.h4 h5 14.g5 Nd7 15.Bd2 Nf8 16.Ne2 Ne6 17.Qe1 Bd8 18.c3 0-0 19.Rg2 Rb8 20.Qb1 Be7 21.Qc2 Rb7 22.Rgg1 Rfb8 23.b3 a5 24.Rab1 Ra7 25.a4 Qb6 26.Be3 Qa6 27.Nd2 Rab7 28.f3 d5 29.Rbc1 Qb6 30.Rb1 Qc7 31.Rbc1 Rd8 32.Kh1 Qd7 33.Kh2 dxe4 34.dxe4 Qd3 35.Nc4 Rxb3 36.Qxb3 Qxe2+ 37.Kg3 Bxe4 38.fxe4 Rd3 39.Rce1 Qg4+ 40.Kf2 Qxe4 41.Qb8+ Kh7 42.g6+ fxg6 43.Nxe5 Bxh4+ 44.Kf1 Bxe1 45.Nxg6 Qf3+ 0-1

(20) Hack,Richard (1601) - Tamondong,Cesar (1600) [A21]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: AB San Francisco (8.23), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.c4 d6 2.g3 e5 3.Bg2 f5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Nc3 c6 6.e4 Be7 7.Nf3 0-0 8.0-0 Na6 9.Be3 Ng4 10.exf5 Nxe3 11.fxe3 Bxf5 12.Kh1 Qd7 13.e4? Weakens the dark squares. 13...Bg4 14.Qd2 Nc5 15.b4 Ne6 16.h3 Bxf3 17.Bxf3 Bg5 18.Qg2 Nd4 19.Bg4 Qe7 20.h4 Bh6 21.a4 Rxf1+ 22.Rxf1 Rf8 23.Ne2 Nc2 24.b5 Ne3 25.Rxf8+ Qxf8 26.Qf3 Qxf3+ 27.Bxf3 Nd1 28.bxc6 bxc6 29.g4 Be3 30.Ng3 g6?? [30...Nf2+ 31.Kg2 Nxd3 32.Nf5 Bc5 33.Ne7+ (33.Bd1 Kf7) 33...Kf7 34.Nxc6 Ke8-+] 31.Bxd1 Kf7 32.g5 Ke7 33.Bg4 h5 34.gxh6 Bxh6 35.h5 gxh5 36.Bxh5 Kf6 37.Nf5 Bf8 38.Be8 d5 39.Bxc6 dxe4 40.dxe4 Bc5 41.Kg2 Kg5 42.Kf3 a5 43.Ng7 Kf6 44.Ne8+ Ke6 45.Kg4 Be7 46.Bd5+ Kd7 47.Ng7 Kc7 48.Ne6+ Kb6 49.Kf5 Bd6 50.c5+ 1-0

(21) Mani,Venugopal (1598) - Starr,Albert (1517) [E90]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (8.10), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.d4 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.Bg5 b6 7.Be2 Bb7 8.d5 Nbd7 9.Qc2 Re8 10.Rb1 a5 11.0-0 e6 12.Nd4 exd5 13.exd5 Nc5 14.a3 Qd7 15.Bf3

2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1102
15...Nxd5! Initiating not unfavorable complications. 16.Nxd5 Bxd4 17.Bf6? Be5? [17...Bxd5! 18.Bxd4 Bxf3 19.gxf3 Qh3 is winning for Black.] 18.Bxe5 Bxd5 19.Bxd5 dxe5 20.Bxa8 Rxa8 21.b4 axb4 22.axb4 Ne6?! 23.Qe4+- wins the important e-pawn. 23...Re8 24.Qxe5 Nc5 25.Qa1 Ne4 26.Rfe1 Qd2 27.Rb2 Qc3 28.Rbe2 Qxc4
2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1103
29.Rxe4! Rxe4 30.Qa8+ Kg7 31.Qxe4 Mani remains a point ahead of the field with one round to go. 1-0

 

(22) Jade,Valerie - Simpkins,Jerry (1426) [C40]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (8.25), 10.12.2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Nc3 fxe4 4.Nxe4 d5 5.Ng3 e4 6.Ne5 Nf6 7.d3 Bd6 8.Bf4 Qe7 9.d4 0-0 10.Qd2 Bxe5 11.Bxe5 Ng4 12.f4 e3 13.Qe2 Nc6 14.0-0-0 Nf2 15.Qxe3 Nxd1 16.Kxd1 Bg4+ 17.Be2 Bxe2+ 18.Kxe2 Qb4 19.Re1 Rae8 20.Kf1 Nxe5 21.c3 Qc4+ 22.Kg1 Ng4 23.Qxe8 Rxe8 24.Rxe8+ Kf7 25.Rc8 Qxa2 26.Rxc7+ Kf6 27.h3 Qb1+ 28.Nf1 Ne3 29.g4 Qxf1+ 30.Kh2 Qg2# 0-1

(23) Neygut,Eitan (993) - Uzakbaev,Nursultan [A23]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (8.26), 10.12.2019

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 c6 4.Bg2 Bb4 5.e3 Bxc3 6.bxc3 d5 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.d4 e4 9.Ba3 Qc7 10.Qb3 Nbd7 11.Ne2 Nb6 12.h3 Bd7 13.0-0 0-0-0 14.Bc5 Kb8 15.Qa3 Bb5 16.c4 Bxc4 17.Nc3 Qc6 18.Rfc1 Nfd7 19.Bd6+ Ka8 20.g4 Rde8 21.Rab1 Re6 22.Nb5 a6 23.Nc7+ Ka7 24.Nxe6 fxe6 25.Bf1 Re8 26.Bc5 Ka8 27.Bxb6 Nxb6 28.Qc5 Qxc5 29.dxc5 Bd3 30.Bxd3 exd3 31.cxb6 e5 32.Rc3 e4 33.Rbc1 Kb8 34.Kf1 d4 35.exd4 d2 36.Rd1 Re6 37.Rb3 e3 38.fxe3 1-0

(24) Martin,Michael (1480) - Ahrens,Richard (1206) [C41]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (8.27), 10.12.2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7 6.Bc4 0-0 7.h3 c5 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.0-0 Ne5 10.Bd5 Nxf3+ 11.Qxf3 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 f5 13.Re1 fxe4 14.Nxe7+ Qxe7 15.Rxe4 Rxf3 16.Rxe7 Rf7 17.Rxf7 Kxf7 18.Bf4 d5 19.Bd6 c4 20.c3 b5 21.Re1 Be6 22.f4 Re8 23.g4 Bd7 24.Rxe8 Bxe8 25.Kg2 Ke6 26.Be5 g6 27.Kg3 a5 28.a3 a4 29.Kh4 Bf7 30.Kg5 Bg8 31.h4 Kf7 32.h5 gxh5 33.Kxh5 Ke8 34.f5 Bf7+ 35.Kh6 Bg8 36.g5 Kf7 37.Bd4 Kf8 38.g6 hxg6 39.Kxg6 Bf7+ 40.Kf6 Bg8 41.Bc5+ Ke8 42.Kg7 Bf7 43.Kf6 Bg8 44.Ke5 Bf7 45.f6 Kd7 1/2-1/2

(25) Sachs-Weintraub,Julian (1447) - Hilliard,Michael (1429) [B12]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (8.28), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 h6 5.c3 e6 6.Bd3 Bxd3 7.Qxd3 c5 8.0-0 Nc6 9.b3 cxd4 10.cxd4 Bb4 11.a3 Ba5 12.b4 Bc7 13.Bd2 Nge7 14.Nc3 0-0 15.Nh4 f5 16.Ne2

2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1104
16...g5!? 17.Qg3 Rf7 18.f4 g4 19.Nf3 Nc8 20.Ne1 Nb6 21.b5 Ne7 22.Qh4 Kh7 23.Rf2 Nc4 24.Bc1 Bb6 Black has an excellent French defense with the good bishop and his knight on c4. 25.a4 a6 26.bxa6 bxa6 27.Nc2 a5 28.Na3 Rc8 29.Nxc4 Rxc4 30.Be3 Qc7 31.h3 Rg7 32.Rc1 Rxc1+ 33.Bxc1 Bxd4 34.Nxd4 Qxc1+ 35.Kh2 g3+ 36.Qxg3 Rxg3 37.Kxg3 Qe3+ 38.Nf3 Ng6 39.Rc2 Qxf4+ 40.Kf2 h5 41.Rc7+ Kh6 42.g3 Qxa4 43.Ra7 Qc2+ 44.Kf1 Qe4 45.Kg2 Nxe5 0-1

 

(26) Allen,Tom (1400) - Serra,Owen (1036) [C44]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (8.29), 10.12.2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3 Nf6 5.e5 Ne4 6.Qe2 d5 7.exd6 Bf5 8.Ng5 d3 9.Qxd3 Nxd6 10.Qe3+ Be7 11.Be2 0-0 12.0-0 Bxg5 13.Qxg5 Qxg5 14.Bxg5 Rae8 15.Bf3 Ne5 16.Bd5 Nd3 17.b3 Re2 18.Nd2 c6 19.Bf3 Re5 20.Be3 a5 21.Be2 b5 22.Nf3 Rd5 23.Nd4 Ne5 24.Rad1 Bg6 25.f4 Nd7 26.Nxc6 Be4 27.Ne7+ Kh8 28.Nxd5 Bf5 29.Ne7 Ne4 30.Nxf5 Ndf6 31.Rd3 g6 32.Nd6 b4 33.Nxe4 Nxe4 34.cxb4 axb4 35.Bd4+ Kg8 36.Bf3 Nd6 37.Bc5 Ra8 38.Bxa8 Nf5 39.g4 Nh4 40.Rd8+ Kg7 41.g5 h6 42.Bd4+ f6 43.Re1 Nf3+ 44.Kf2 Nxe1 45.Kxe1 hxg5 46.fxg5 Kf7 47.Bd5+ Kg7 48.Bxf6+ Kh7 49.Rh8# 1-0

(27) Frank,Robert (1224) - Rushton,Peter (1237) [D04]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (8.31), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 Bd7 4.c4 dxc4 5.Bxc4 e6 6.0-0 Bd6 7.Nc3 a6 8.a4 Bc6 9.Ne5 0-0 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.e4 Be7 12.e5 Nd5 13.Ne4 Nd7 14.f4 c5 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.Qf3 c6 17.b3 Qb6 18.Kh1 Nxe4 19.Qxe4 Qb7 20.Rf3 Qc8 21.Bd3 f5 22.exf6 Nxf6 23.Qe5 Nd5 24.Qe4 Nf6 25.Qe2 Nd5 26.Qc2 Nf6 27.Rh3 g6

2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1105
28.Bxg6 Rf7 29.Bxf7+ Kxf7 30.Bb2 Qg8 31.Qxc6 Rd8 32.Rg3 Ng4 33.Qf3 h5 34.h3 Bh4 35.Rxg4 hxg4 36.Qb7+ Ke8 37.Qc6+ Kf7 38.Qc5 Qg6 39.Qc7+ Ke8 40.Qg7 Qxg7 41.Bxg7 Kf7 42.Be5 gxh3 43.gxh3 Rd3 44.Rg1 Rxh3+ 45.Kg2 Rxb3 46.Kf1 Rb1+ 47.Kg2 Rb4 48.Kh3 Be7 49.Ra1 Rc4 50.Kg4 Bf6 51.Bxf6 Kxf6 52.Kg3 Kf5 53.Rf1 Rxa4 54.Rf3 a5 55.Rf2 Ra3+ 56.Rf3 Rxf3+ 0-1

 

(28) Chan,John (1507) - Olson,David (1407) [A40]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (8.32), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 Be7 3.e4 Nf6 4.Bd3 h6 5.Nbd2 0-0 6.e5 Nh7 7.Bxh7+ Kxh7 8.Ne4 d5 9.Ng3 f5 10.h4 b6 11.c3 c5 12.Bd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 14.a3 b5 15.b4 a5 16.Rc1 Qb6

2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1106
17.Ng5+ Kg8 18.Qh5 hxg5 19.hxg5 Bxg5 20.Qh7+ Kf7 21.Bxg5 Ne7 22.Bxe7 Kxe7 23.Qxg7+ Rf7 24.Qg6 Bb7 25.Qg5+ Kd7 26.Nh5 Bc6 27.Nf6+ Kc7 28.Qg6 Re7 29.Rh7 Rxh7 30.Qxh7+ Kb8 31.Qg8+ Ka7 32.Qxe6 Kb7 33.Qe7+ Ka6 34.Qd6 Kb7 35.Nxd5 Bxd5 36.Qxd5+ Ka7 37.Rc5 Rd8 38.Qf7+ Ka6 39.d5 1-0

 

(29) Cole,Tony (1425) - Harris,Clarence (1464) [C46]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (8.33), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.d3 Nf6 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bg3 d6 9.h3 Bd7 10.Qd2 Nh5 11.Bh2 Nf4 12.Bxf4 gxf4 13.g3 Nd4 14.Nxd4 exd4 15.Ne2 fxg3 16.Nxg3 Qe7 17.0-0-0 Qg5 18.Kb1 Qxd2 19.Rxd2 Be5 20.Nh5 Ke7 21.f4 Bf6 22.Nxf6 Kxf6 23.e5+ dxe5 24.fxe5+ Kxe5 25.Bxf7 Raf8 26.Re2+ Kd6 27.Bc4 Bxh3 28.Reh2 Rf1+ 29.Rxf1 Bxf1 30.Rf2 Bh3 31.c3 dxc3 32.bxc3 h5 33.Rf6+ Kc5 34.Rf7 Kb6 35.d4 c6 36.Kb2 Bg4 37.Rf4 Re8 38.Kb3 Re1 39.Kb4 a5+ 40.Ka3 Re3 41.Kb2 a4 42.a3 Rf3 43.Re4 Rf2+ 44.Ka1 Rc2 45.Be6 Bxe6 46.Rxe6 Rxc3 47.Kb2 Rd3 48.Rh6 Rh3 49.d5 Kc7 50.Rh7+ Kd6 51.Rxb7 Kxd5 (... Somehow White won, probably on time) 1-0

(30) Ford,Andy Vincent - Radaelli,Lucas (1444) [C34]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (8.34), 10.12.2019

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 Be7 5.0-0 Bg4 6.d4 g5 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Nxg5+ Bxg5 9.Qxg4 h5 10.Qf5+ Qf6 11.Qd5+ Ke7 12.e5 dxe5 13.Qxb7 Qc6 14.Qb4+ Qd6 15.Qxd6+ cxd6 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.Nc3 Nf6 18.g3 Rg8 19.gxf4 exf4 20.Kh1 Nbd7 21.Bxf4 Bxf4 22.Rxf4 Rg5 23.Re1+ Kd6 24.Ne4+ Nxe4 25.Rfxe4 Re5 26.Rd4+ Rd5 27.Rde4 Re5 28.Rd1+ Rd5 29.Rde1 1/2-1/2

(31) Bryan,Robert (390) - Revi,Frank (1376) [B30]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (8.35), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.0-0 Be7 [4...Nge7] 5.c3 Qc7 6.d4 cxd4 7.cxd4 Nb4 8.Ne1 a6 9.Ba4 b5 10.Bb3 Bb7 11.a3 Nc6 12.d5 Ne5 13.f4 Qc5+

2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1107
14.Rf2? [14.Kh1!=] 14...Nf6? [14...Ng4! 15.Qxg4 Qxc1 16.Kf1 (16.Qxg7?? Qxe1+ 17.Rf1 Bc5+) 16...Nf6 17.Qf3 (17.Qd1 Qxd1 18.Bxd1 exd5 19.e5 Ne4) 17...Rc8! White stays tangled up] 15.fxe5 Nxe4 16.Be3?? White short circuits. [16.Nd3! Qd4 17.Nc3 Nxf2 18.Nxf2 Bc5 19.Qxd4 (19.Kh1!? Qxf2 20.Ne4 Qd4 21.Nd6+ Kf8 22.Nxb7) 19...Bxd4 20.Bf4 is good for White.] 16...Qxe3 17.Qe2 Bg5 [17...Bc5!] 18.Nf3 Qc1+ [18...Nxf2! 19.Qxf2 Qc1+ 20.Qe1 Qxb2] 19.Rf1 Be3+?! 20.Qxe3? [20.Kh1 is still a fight -- Black has to find 20...Qc5! (20...Nf2+?? 21.Qxf2!+-) ] 20...Qxe3+ 21.Kh1 Nf2+?! 22.Kg1 Nh3+ [22...Ne4+ 23.Kh1 Qxb3] 23.Kh1 Nf4 [Everybody dreams of bringing about Smothered Mate in one of their games -- but here it would be a nightmare: 23...Qg1+?? 24.Nxg1+- and the rook stays in place.] 24.Nbd2 Qe2 25.Rac1? Qxg2# An exciting game! And so close to a thousand-point upset! Bryan is one to watch. 0-1

 

(32) Li,Katherine (703) - Bayaraa,Timothy (1084) [C47]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (8.36), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d3 [4.Bb5; 4.d4] 4...d5!? 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Nxd5?! Qxd5 Bringing out the queen early is fine when there's no happy way to kick it back or around. 7.Qe2?! [7.Be2 prepares castling. Black is slightly better.] 7...Be7 8.g3? Bg4! Black jumps on this weakening. 9.Bg2 Nd4! 10.Nxd4 Qxg2 11.Qf1 Qxf1+ 12.Rxf1 exd4 Black is up a bishop and then some. 13.f3 Bh3 14.Rf2 0-0 [14...Kd7!] 15.Bf4 Bb4+ 16.Bd2 Rfe8+ 17.Kd1 Bxd2 18.Kxd2 a5 19.c4 b5!? 20.cxb5 Rab8 21.a4 c6 22.b4 cxb5 23.axb5 Rxb5 24.Ra4 Rc8 25.Re2 Rxb4 26.Rxa5 Rb2+ 27.Kd1 Rb1+ 28.Kd2 Rcb8 [28...Bf1!] 29.Rc5 Be6 30.Re4 R1b2+ 31.Ke1 Rxh2 32.Kd1 Rb1+ 33.Rc1 Rh1+ 0-1

(33) Capdeville,Barry (1226) - Nicol,George [B55]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (8.37), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Bd3?! [4.Nc3 cxd4 5.Nxd4; 4.Bb5+!? Nbd7 a) 4...Bd7; b) 4...Nc6? 5.d5 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.dxc6 bxa4 8.e5!? (8.c3!?) ; ] 4...cxd4 5.Nxd4 e5?! Black ends up playing to take advantage of the Bd3's weakening control of d5, to play ...d5 himself. But there's rather a faulty narrative in chess knowledge: Black's getting the "freeing" ...d5 in is in fact to be undertaken very carefully, as it's often White who can make something out of the resulting pawn structures and positions. [5...Nc6; or 5...g6 both target d4, which Bd3 also "unguarded".] 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.c3 Be6 8.Nbd2 d5 9.0-0 dxe4?! No hurry! [9...Be7] 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Bxe4 Qxd1 12.Rxd1 Bc5? [12...f6!=] 13.b4 [Just as good (well, better): 13.Bxc6+ bxc6 14.Nxe5] 13...Bb6 14.b5 [14.Bxc6+!] 14...Na5 15.Nxe5 0-0

2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1108
Black isn't so badly off, thanks to the corruption of White's majority. 16.Nd7? (anything else) 16...Rfe8? [16...Rfd8-+] 17.Be3?? [17.Nxb6 axb6 18.Be3] 17...Bxe3 18.fxe3 Bxd7 Now Black is just up a piece. 19.Rd4 Bxb5 20.Rad1 Rxe4? Still winning, but why? 21.Rxe4 Nc4 22.Kf2 b6 For some reason it is now 1-0. 1-0

 

(34) Tomasi,Christopher - Thibault,William (1195) [A46]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (8.38), 10.12.2019

1.d4 Nf6 2.e3 g6 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Bd2 Nbd7 7.e4 e5 8.0-0 Re8 9.Bg5 a6 10.a4 h6 11.Bh4 c6 12.Re1 Nb6 13.Bb3 Nh5 14.Bxd8 1-0

(35) Sun,Kevin (1100) - James,Charles (1480) [B87]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (8.39), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Be3 0-0 9.f4 b5 10.Bb3 Bb7 Black has a textbook Najdorf position vs. the Fischer-Sozin line. [10...b4!?] 11.Qd3 b4 12.Nce2 Bxe4 13.Qd2 d5 14.Ng3 a5 15.c3 Qd7 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Qe2 Rc8 18.Nb5 a4 19.Bc2 f5 20.Bxe4 fxe4 21.a3 b3 22.Rad1 Na6 23.Qg4 Nc5 24.Nd4 Bf6 25.f5 e5 26.Ne2 Nd3 27.Ng3 Ra6 28.Bh6 Kh8 29.Be3 Nxb2 30.Rb1 Nc4 31.Bg5 Nxa3 32.Rb2 Nc4 33.Rbb1 e3 34.Nh5 Bxg5 35.Qxg5 Nd2 36.Rb2 Nxf1 37.Kxf1 Rxc3 38.f6 Qb5+ 0-1

(36) Badgett,James (1084) - North,Jeff James [B20]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: U1600 San Francisco (8.40), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 e6 4.Qe2 d6 5.f4 Be7 6.Nf3 a6 7.a3 b5 8.Ba2 Nf6 9.d3 0-0 10.0-0 Nd4 11.Qf2 b4 12.axb4 Nxf3+ 13.Qxf3 cxb4 14.e5

2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1109
14...d5 15.exf6 Bc5+ 16.Be3 Bxe3+ 17.Qxe3 bxc3 18.fxg7 Re8 19.bxc3 Bb7 20.Rab1 Rb8 21.Rf3 d4 22.cxd4 Bxf3 23.Qxf3 Qxd4+ 24.Kf1 Rxb1+ 25.Bxb1 Rb8 26.Ba2 Qa1+ 27.Kf2 Qxa2 28.Qc6 Qd5 29.Qxa6 Qc5+ 30.Kf3 Qxc2 [30...Rb1 gets on with checkmate!] 31.Qd6 Qc8 32.h4 Rb5 33.g4 Rd5 34.Qa3 Now would be a good time to get rid of that g-pawn... 34...Qd8 35.Ke4 Qxh4?? 1-0

 

(37) Mercado,Adam (1709) - Talamantez,Abel (1804) [D37]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Extra Rated San Francisco (8.16), 10.12.2019

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Be7 5.h3 c6 6.a4 0-0 7.Bf4 Nbd7 8.e3 Qa5 9.Bd3 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Ne4 11.Qc2 Bb4 12.Rc1 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Be7 14.0-0 b6 15.Bd3 g6 16.e4 Ba6 17.c4 Rac8 18.Bd2 Bb4 19.Bh6 Rfd8 20.e5 b5 21.axb5 cxb5 22.c5 Nxc5 23.dxc5 Bxc5 24.Qe2 Rxd3 25.Qxd3 b4 26.Rxc5 Rxc5 27.Qd7 Rc8 28.Rd1 b3 29.Qe7 Be2 30.Qf6 1-0

(38) Chin,Alex Paul (1830) - Davila,Carlos (2118) [B12]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Extra Rated San Francisco (8.19), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h5 5.c4 e6 6.Nc3 Nd7 Scoresheet unreadable: 0-1 64. 0-1

(39) Neuberg,Bryan - Sullivan,George T (870)
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Extra Rated San Francisco (8.41), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 [2...d5] 3.e4 b6 [3...d5] 4.e5 Nd5 5.Qf3 Bb7 6.Qg3 a6 7.Qf3 d6 8.Bf4 Nd7 9.Bc4 b5 10.Nxd5 bxc4 11.Bg5 Bxd5! 12.Bxd8 Bxf3 13.Nxf3 Rxd8 14.0-0 d5 15.Rfb1 c5 16.dxc5 Bxc5 17.b4 Be7 18.a4 0-0 19.c3 Rb8 20.Nd4 Nxe5 21.b5 a5 22.b6 Rb7 23.f4 Nd7 24.Nc6 Bc5+ 25.Kh1 Bxb6 26.Rb5 Nc5 27.Rab1 Nb3 28.g4 f6 29.Nd4 Kf7 30.Nxb3 cxb3 31.R1xb3 Rfb8 32.h4 g6 0-1

(40) Krezanoski,Paul - Hansen,Mateo (1583) [D90]
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Extra Rated San Francisco (8.24), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.g3 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.e3 Be6 7.Bg2 h6 8.Qa4+ c6 9.Nd2 Nbd7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Rd1 Nd5 12.Qc2 Nb4 13.Qb1 Rb8 14.Nf1 Qa5 15.Bd2 Qh5 16.Ne4 Nd3 17.a3 Bg4 18.Rc1 Nxc1 19.Qxc1 b5 20.Bb4 Bf3 21.Bxf3 Qxf3 22.Nfd2 Qh5 23.Bxe7 Rfe8 24.Bb4 Re6 25.b3 f5 26.Nc3 cxb3 27.Qb2 Kh7 28.Qxb3 Rbe8 29.a4 a6 30.Qc2 Qh3 31.Ne2 Nb6 32.Nf4 Qg4 33.f3 Qg5 34.e4 Bxd4+ 35.Kg2 Bxa1 36.Nxe6 Rxe6 37.f4 Qg4 38.e5 Qe2+ 39.Kh3 Nd5 40.Qa2

2019_Fall_TNM_Rd8_1110
40...Nxf4+ 0-1

 

(41) Schley,Andrew (1746) - Ballantyne,Andrew (785)
Mechanics' Fall TNM: Extra Rated San Francisco (8.25), 10.12.2019
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 e5 2.d4 [2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4] 2...Nf6 [2...exd4!] 3.Bg5 [3.Bc4!? transposes into the famous Urusov Gambit of the Bishop's Opening.; while 3.Nf3 is now a major line in the Petroff Defense (3.d4).; 3.dxe5! Nxe4 scores well with about anything.] 3...Be7 4.Bd3 exd4 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.0-0 Nxe4?? 7.Bxe7 Qxe7 8.Bxe4 0-0 9.Re1 Qb4 10.Bxc6 dxc6 11.Qxd4 Qxd4 12.Nxd4 Bg4 13.Nd2 Rad8 14.N2f3 c5 15.Nb3 Bxf3 16.gxf3 c4 17.Nc5 b6 18.Ne4 Rd5 19.Rad1 Rg5+?? 20.Kf1?? Rf5 21.Ke2 Re5 22.Kd2 b5 23.Kc1 Rfe8 24.f4 Rxe4? 25.Rxe4 Rxe4 26.Rd8+ Re8 27.Rxe8# 1-0

 

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