Chess Room Newsletter #905

 

 

 

Newsletter #905

Feb 14, 2020

By Abel Talamantez

Table of Contents

• Max Wilkerson Memorial TNM
• Inaugural Championship Quads
• FM Paul Whitehead's Column
• TD Corner
• Tony's Teaser
• Scholastic Chess
• GM Nick de Firmian's Column
• TNM Games
• Submit your piece or feedback

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2020 Max Wilkerson Memorial TNM Round 5

TNM Round 5: Fast Paced Action and Frantic Finishes on Tuesday Night Entertainment

The 5th round of the Wilkerson Memorial TNM felt a bit unusual from the start. After two hours, many games had already finished, and what normally has been a full room at 8:30pm looked a bit barren on the 2nd side of the main chess club. Even in the championship section, there was one game that ended very quickly, and served as a reminder to young players about the perils of letting your opponent dictate the pace. The top 2 seeds finished off with wins, carrying them another round closer to finising at the top of the leaderboard. The last two rounds look like it will be about the top players holding off challenges from game veterans aiming to crack into the top spots. We expect the action to be lively and intense over the last two weeks.

One of the players at the top of the leaderboard in the championship section is young Nicholas Weng, who received a full point this week after his opponent could not make it. He is tied for 2nd at 4/5, and was paired with an extra rated game against club veteran NM Carlos Davila. The game finished quickly with Davila finishing Weng after 33 moves and 20 minutes of time for the whole game. One thing at all skill levels are young players being carried to the pace of their opponent, sometimes to the detriment of their own play. Maybe this was an opportunity for Weng, to have experienced this game as an extra rated game, so that he can learn this lesson all younger players need to realize. He has shown tremendous talent with wins over Tsodikova, Walder and Childress, and he will be playing a big game in round 6. He will certainly be a player to follow over the next several years.

Headed to round 6, FM Josiah Stearman remains in sole first place with 4.5/5 after a win against IM Elliott Winslow. Tied for 2nd are FM Kyron Griffith and Nicholas Weng at 4/5. Dangerous veterans lurk at 3.5 including Winslow, Natalya Tsodikova, Jason Childress, and David Askin. The latter two players have been playing superb chess of late, so they will certainly pose a challenge to the top of the leaderboard.

CM Ethan Boldi (white) against FM Kyron Griffith on board 2 during round 5 of the 2020 Wilkerson TNM. Both players will also be playing the 2020 US Amateur Team West Championship this coming weekend.

In the A/B section, Bruce Ricard continues to dominate and remains perfect at 5/5 after a win against Bob Drane. Ricard took control early and took advantage of better piece placement to gain the win. A couple of young and hungry players sit at 4/5, Jayden Xu and Nicholas Boldi, so we will see if youth can conquer experience in next weeks round. 

In the under 1600 section, Ilia Gimelfarb continues perfection after a dominating win against Jahaan Ansari. He is in sole first at 5/5 with Max Ross in clear 2nd with 4.5/5 after winning a drawish looking game against a very tough Valerie Jade. It looks like this will set up a big match where Ilia can either gain dominating separation from the field or allow Ross to take over sole lead. In a very large section, these two players look to run away from the crowd. 

It is never too late to join the marathon! To register, please email us: [email protected]

To watch the replay of the round: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI4cizO826U&t=1569s

For a full list of standings and results from the round, click here

Check out some photos from this round: https://www.facebook.com/mechanicschess/posts/520509015236513

 

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Inaugural Mechanics' Championship Quads

 

On Saturday, February 8^th the oldest chess club in the United States had a new, fun tournament: the first Mechanics’ Institute Championship Quads. We did not know what to expect when we first entertained the idea of holding this tournament. Credit goes to Maxim Elisam, who took time on a Friday afternoon in early January to stop by and explain why he thinks this format would work. After a quick brainstorming session, we came up with the basic, “pilot” formula (time control, entry fee, prize fund) and soon after approved the new tournament.

Why Quads? Because given enough players in the tournament, players get to play with others very close to their rating, which is always very useful for any player!

Why G/30? Because in three hours, one can play three games that will be affecting the regular rating (as well as the quick rating, hence it’s called dual rated.)

Why 3PM? As simple as it may sound: it’s after lunch, but have time to finish before dinner!

We called it a pilot, so that it is clear for everyone that we are testing out this format and gathering experience so that we can adjust the format as needed. Maxim said he’ll be the first one to register. Then came the biggest surprise - within the last few days of the tournament, we had more than 20-25 players sign up online! Together with the onsite registrations, we had 30 players show up, which made six quads and 6-player mini-Swiss. After grouping the players into quads, the pairings were generated for all three rounds, except of course the mini-Swiss, which was paired every round. The beauty of the quads is that the pairings are known for all three rounds at the beginning of the tournament, and once all four players finished their round in any given quad, they can automatically start the next round. This makes for a very player-friendly schedule.

The success and the strength of the event can be demonstrated by a few data points alone: the average rating of the top quad was 2107. MI club player, Albert Starr, was assigned to play in the bottom “mini-Swiss” group with his 1500 rating. Of the six quads, five of them had a clear winner, taking home the $60 prize alone. The top quad had a 2-way tie for first between the poker-expert and action-loving Daniel Smith, and the young and fierce Austin Mei.

Top Quad with an average rating of 2107!

   

What was even more reassuring besides the amazing turnout and the fun we had running this event, was the fact that many of our regular players who couldn’t make it took the time to write to us voicing their support and approval:

“I like the idea of the MI hosting quads.  I don't know if I will be able to participate on Feb. 8 but will try to make it in the future.”
“Love this format! Bummed I can’t make it.”
“I like this idea, unfortunately, not able to play but would otherwise definitely be a participant.”

Many thanks for all who took the time to send their feedback:

“Thanks for a wonderful tournament last Saturday and congratulations for the big success of the first Quads championship!”
“I really enjoyed the inaugural g30 quads as a format and hope to see more of it.”

More information with final standing and prize distribution: https://www.milibrary.org/chess-tournaments/mechanics-championship-quads-pilot

Stay tuned for the next one, which is on Sunday, March 1^st, at 3PM.
More information: https://www.milibrary.org/chess-tournaments/mechanics-championship-quads-2
Register at: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/Tournaments2020/MechanicsChampionshipQuads2

 

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FM Paul Whitehead's Column

Famous Chess Games You Should Know- More Random Brilliancies.

By FM Paul Whitehead

These games are masterpieces that are very well-known and have been extensively annotated elsewhere. Nevertheless, when I was developing as a player, I annotated my more interesting games. This brings me back to that time, and I encourage you, the reader, to consider this practice as well.

What’s your greatest game? Have you played a brilliancy?  Send it in to the newsletter – maybe we’ll print it with your notes!In the meantime, enjoy some flashy chess from some of the greatest chess players of all time.

(1) Wilhelm Steinitz - Curt von Bardeleben [C54]
Hastings Hastings ENG, 1895

This game is from the famous Hastings tournament of 1895/96, won by Pillsbury ahead of Lasker, Steinitz, Chigorin, Tarrasch and others. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4

We are in the main line of the Giuoco Piano. 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 d5?! Nowadays 7...Nxe4 8.0-0 Bxc3 9.d5 (the Moller attack) is the main line. 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.0-0 Be6 10.Bg5 Rapid development! 10...Be7

Now white initiates a series of exchanges designed to keep black's king in the center. 11.Bxd5 Bxd5 12.Nxd5 Qxd5 13.Bxe7 Nxe7 14.Re1 f6 15.Qe2 Qd7 16.Rac1

Now black should play 16...Kf7 uniting the rooks. 16...c6?! Designed to discourage white from playing d5. However... 17.d5! Anyway! White opens the d4 square for the knight. 17...cxd5 18.Nd4 Kf7 19.Ne6

The white knight takes up a strong position in black's camp. 19...Rhc8 20.Qg4 g6 21.Ng5+ Ke8

Now comes one of the most celebrated chess moves of all time: 22.Rxe7+!!

22...Kf8! Inspired defense! Also losing is [22...Kxe7 23.Re1+ Kd6 (23...Kd8 24.Ne6+ Ke7 25.Nc5+) 24.Qb4+ Rc5 (24...Kc6 25.Rc1#) 25.Re6+ wins everything.] 23.Rf7+! Kg8 [23...Qxf7 24.Rxc8+ Rxc8 25.Qxc8+ Qe8 26.Nxh7+ wins.] 24.Rg7+!

The rook is on a rampage on the 7th rank! 24...Kh8 [Of course if 24...Kxg7 25.Qxd7+] 25.Rxh7+

[At this point Bardeleben left the tournament hall! Steinitz announced mate in 10 moves (or black loses tons of material): 25.Rxh7+ Kg8 26.Rg7+ Kh8 27.Qh4+ Kxg7 28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.Qh8+ Ke7 30.Qg7+ Ke8 31.Qg8+ Ke7 32.Qf7+ Kd8 33.Qf8+ Qe8 34.Nf7+ Kd7 35.Qd6#

] 1-0

 

(2) David Bronstein - Ljubomir Ljubojevic [B03]
Petropolis Interzonal Petropolis BRA, 1973

David Bronstein drew a match for the World Championship vs Botvinnik in 1951 - a match he probably should have won. Author of one of the greatest chess books, on the Interzonal Tournament of Zurich 1953, 20 years later he produced this amazing game in another Interzonal, Petropolis 1973. 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4

The 4-Pawns Attack vs Alekhine's Defense, perfectly suited to Bronstein's aggressive style. 5...dxe5 6.fxe5 c5!? Luring white's pawns forward, Ljubojevic is true to his adventurous style. 6...Bf5 is standard. 7.d5 e6 8.Nc3 exd5 9.cxd5 c4 10.Nf3 Bg4

A very sharp position! 11.Qd4 Bxf3 12.gxf3 Bb4 13.Bxc4 0-0 14.Rg1

White trains his pieces towards black's king. 14...g6 15.Bg5!? Not wanting to waste time, white begins a fantastic sacrificial continuation. 15...Qc7 Attacking the bishop at c4... 16.Bb3 Bc5

This picks up the rook at g1, which has served it's purpose by provoking ...g6. 17.Qf4! Bxg1 18.d6 White attacks on the dark squares! 18...Qc8 18...Qc5 was later thought to be a better defense. 19.Ke2 Bc5 20.Ne4!

A rook down, white builds up the attack move by move. 20...N8d7 21.Rc1 Qc6 22.Rxc5!

Another rook sacrifice, to deflect the black knight. 22...Nxc5 23.Nf6+ Kh8 24.Qh4

Threatens mate. Black must take desperate measures... 24...Qb5+ 25.Ke3! Extensive analysis showed that 25.Kf2 would have allowed black to hold with 25...Nd3+. White's bold king move is simply stunning. 25...h5 26.Nxh5 Qxb3+ Black scrambles to defend. This move allows a knight to land at e6 to defend the g7 square, but the material balance now tips in white's favor! 27.axb3 Nd5+ 28.Kd4!

The white king moves forward, and takes one of the black knights! 28...Ne6+ 29.Kxd5 Nxg5 30.Nf6+ Kg7 31.Qxg5

It's all over. Ljubojevic kept playing until the time control on move 40, as Bronstein had only seconds left on the clock. 31...Rfd8 32.e6 fxe6+ 33.Kxe6 Rf8 34.d7 a5 35.Ng4 Ra6+ 36.Ke5 Rf5+

Wins the queen, but another appears soon enough. 37.Qxf5 gxf5 38.d8Q fxg4 39.Qd7+ Kh6 40.Qxb7 Rg6 41.f4

This game won the brilliancy prize for the tournament. 1-0

 

(3) Anatoly Karpov - Garry Kasparov [E86]
Linares Linares ESP, 1993

This nice little game was number 162 between Karpov and Kasparov! 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3

This, the aggressive Saemisch Variation vs the Kings Indian, doesn't seem to really suit Karpov's positional style. 5...0-0 6.Be3 e5 Kasparov chooses a classical response, rather than the Byrne set up with ...c6 and ...a6, or Panno's ...Nc6. 7.Nge2 c6 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.Rd1?! Closing the center with 9.d5, or queenside castling right away is better. Karpov is not familiar with these positions. 9...a6

Preparing ...b5. 10.dxe5?! Nxe5! Kasparov prefers active play to the stodgy 10...dxe5 11.c5 which would suit Karpov perfectly. 11.b3 b5 12.cxb5 [12.c5 d5 13.exd5 b4!-/+ according to Kasparov.] 12...axb5 13.Qxd6 Nfd7!

Black has sacrificed a pawn, but white's king remains in the center and he is woefully undeveloped. 14.f4 b4! The position becomes more and more complex. Now apparently 15.Qxb4 is met by 15...c5! 15.Nb1?! But this is miserable! 15...Ng4 16.Bd4 Bxd4 17.Qxd4 Rxa2

Black regains the pawn with a raging initiative. 18.h3 c5 19.Qg1 [19.Qd3 Ba6 20.Qxd7 Qh4+ 21.g3 Rxe2+ 22.Bxe2 Qxg3+ winning, is another pretty variation given by Kasparov.] 19...Ngf6 20.e5 Ne4

White is under tremendous pressure. 21.h4 c4! Clearing c5 for the black knights, and opening a path for the b-pawn! 22.Nc1 c3!

A temporary rook sacrifice. See all of Karpov's pieces sitting on the 1st rank! 23.Nxa2 c2 24.Qd4 A better defense was 24.Rc1, but black crashes through after 24...Nxe5! 25.Rxc2 Bg4! according to analysis by Kasparov and others. 24...cxd1Q+ 25.Kxd1 Ndc5!

Now white must trade queens. However... 26.Qxd8 Rxd8+ 27.Kc2 Nf2!

Here Karpov lost on time. He loses a rook or is mated: if 28.Rg1 Bf5+ 29.Kb2 Nd1+ 30.Ka1 Nxb3 mate is an amusing finish. 0-1

 

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Tony's Teasers

Last week's problem:

V. Schirdewan 1932 Mate in 3

Solution: 1. Ba8!!  e5  2. Nf3  Rxa8  3. Bxd2#

This week's problem:

White to move and mate in 3, J. Balik, 1924

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Scholastic Chess

Gearing up to the signature scholastic event of the year
2020 San Francisco Scholastic Championship

FREE EVENT - Register online to secure your spot!

Saturday, March 28, 2020 @ Golden Gate Park

Information - Registration - Flyer

 

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GM Nick de Firmian's Column

Practical Openings 4: Petrov’s Defense– 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6

This week we recommend a practical defense to 1. e4 that won’t take you long to learn - as there are limited variations - and yet is a first rate defense. Black simply copies White’s first two moves, not defending but just counter attacking. Indeed, the logic of that usually leads to both sides capturing the enemy e-pawn, when a rather symmetrical position arises. The one down side to the Petrov is that is can be drawish, and for this reason it has never had great popularity at the club level where many players feel the need to charge into daring complications right out of the start gate. Yet if you are looking for success the Petrov could be for you. Black simply counters in the center, develops the pieces and castles to safety. White faces a difficult task to gain even a small advantage.

The opening is named after the nineteenth-century Russian master who first practiced it regularly. It gained popularity in the grandmaster circuit during the 1980’s when Karpov started employing it. He would be very practical and often agree to a quick draw with the black pieces against strong grandmasters, yet he would play the opening to win against lower-rated opponents. Winning with the Petrov often takes endgame skill, of which Karpov had plenty. We should note that the world’s number 2 player, Fabiano Caruana, is a devoted user of Petrov’s Defense. Such an endorsement should give one confidence in this opening.

(1) White - Black [C42]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 Diagram

This straightforward counter attack on the e-pawn gives no ground to the player of the White pieces. Black refuses to acknowlege a disavantage by defending. 3.Nxe5 This is by far the most common response from White. There was a threat to the undefended e-pawn that Black ignored, so you take it. The less usual alternatives will be dealt with in example 3. 3...d6 [Black would invite trouble by the immediate recapture - 3...Nxe4?! 4.Qe2! Nf6?? (4...Qe7! 5.Qxe4 d6 6.d4 is just a pawn sacrifice, though not full compensation.) 5.Nc6+ wins the queen.] 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 [White gains nothing by 5.Qe2 Qe7 6.d3 Nf6 7.Bg5 Qxe2+ 8.Bxe2 Be7 9.Nc3 c6! with no problems at all.] 5...d5 6.Bd3 Be7 7.0-0 Nc6 Diagram

Black's best moves are simple straightforward development. It is White who needs to show any weakness in the Black setup. 8.c4 White tries to attack the center. Easy for Black is [8.Re1 Bg4 9.Bxe4 dxe4 10.Rxe4 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Nxd4] 8...Nb4! 9.Be2 0-0 10.Nc3 Be6 Diagram

Again, one should note the quick development Black follows to maintain the central squares. 11.Be3 [11.a3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6 is equal. Often the black knight will find a5 to be a good square as it hits c4 and b3.] 11...Bf5! Moving the bishop once again, but now planning to exchange knights and make a knight fork on the c2 square. 12.Rc1 dxc4 13.Bxc4 c6 Diagram

with a fully equal game. Black has developed, controlled the center and has no weakenesses. *

 

(2) White - Black [C42]
Petrov's Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Diagram

In recent years this has become a popular line for White against Petrov's Defense. One main reason is that the alternatives didn't trouble Black much. With 5. Nc3 White accepts doubled pawns, but tries for quick development and aggressive queenside castling. 5...Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.0-0-0 Diagram

This opposite side castling position is White's modern strategy to put Black in danger. White will often follow up with h2-h4 and other advances on the kingside to gain an attack. Yet Black need only follow the usual strategy of developing and taking enough control of the center, and so will obtain even chances. See the last example of this article, Carlsen vs Caruana for move on this variation. 9...Be6 10.Kb1 Ne5 Diagram

The game is roughly equal. White can try 11.h4 not fearing the doubled pawns that would open kingside files, or [11.Nd4] *

 

(3) White - Black [C43]
Petrov's Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Diagram

The aggressive advance tries to confuse the second player. Other sidelines are [3.Nc3 when 3...Nc6 is the solid Four Knight's game, though Black could also choose 3...Bb4.; 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Nc3 Nxc3 5.dxc3 f6! makes White's pawn sacrifice dubious.] 3...Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Nd7 This follows the basic theme of the defense - develop logically and contest the central squares. 6.Nxd7 Bxd7 7.0-0 Diagram

7...Qh4 [7...Bd6 8.c4 c6 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.Qh5 0-0 11.Qxd5 Bc6 is an alternative where Black has play for the pawn.] 8.c4 0-0-0 9.c5 g5 Diagram

This is a double edged game with attacking chances for both sides. It shows the Petrov need not be a solid dull game if the players are looking for aggressive lines. *

 

(4) Milos,Gilberto (2614) - Karpov,Anatoly (2692) [C42]
Najdorf Memorial 12th Buenos Aires (1), 04.09.2001

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.c4 Nf6 9.Nc3 0-0 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Re1 Be6 Diagram

This is simply an equal position. White has slightly more active play to compensate for his isolated d-pawn. 12.a3 Bf6 13.Be4 Rb8 14.Qd3 h6 15.Bh7+ Kh8 16.Bf5 Nxc3 17.bxc3 Bd5 18.Bf4 Ne7 19.Bg4 Ng6 20.Bg3 b5 One should note that the position is no more drawish than most openings. There follows logical maneuvers by both sides. White aims for the kingside and Black gets queenside play. 21.Qf5 a5 22.Re3 Rb7 23.Qh5 b4 24.axb4 axb4 25.Rae1 c6 26.cxb4 Rxb4 27.Ne5 Rxd4 Diagram

28.Nxg6+? [28.Nd7 Rg8 29.Bc7! Qxc7 30.Nxf6 Rf8 would be complicated but even chances. White's natural move lands in trouble.] 28...fxg6 29.Qxg6 Bf7 30.Qf5 g6! The white queen gets chased around and in the end cannot guard the bishop on g4. 31.Qf3 Bd5 32.Qe2 Bc4 33.Qf3 Bd5 34.Qe2 Bc4 35.Qf3 Bg7! winning a piece for a pawn 36.Qxc6 Rxg4 37.Bd6?! Qa8! Diagram

forcing the queen trade due to the mate on g2. The rest takes a while, but is simple technique for Karpov. 38.Qxa8 Rxa8 39.Be5 Bd5 40.Bxg7+ Kxg7 41.f3 Rd4 42.R1e2 h5 43.Kf2 Kf6 44.Rb2 Ra6 45.Re8 Be6 46.Rf8+ Kg5 47.Rb5+ Bf5 48.Rb2 Rad6 49.Ke3 Rc4 50.Rfb8 Rd3+ 51.Kf2 h4 52.Rh8 Rdc3 53.Rh7 Rc2+ 54.Rxc2 Rxc2+ 55.Kg1 h3! 56.g4 Bd3 57.Rxh3 Kf4 58.Rh8 Kxf3 59.Rh3+ Ke2 0-1

 

(5) Magnus Carlsen (2842) - Fabiano Caruana (2822) [C42]
Sinquefield Cup St Louis, MO USA, 25.08.2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 Black against the World Champion, one of the greatest players of all time. What opening to defend with? Of course the solid Petrov's! 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 Nc6 8.Bc4 Magnus varies slightly from the usual 0-0-0. 8...0-0 9.Qd2 Bf5 10.0-0-0 Qd7 Diagram

11.Kb1 Rfe8 12.h4 Bf8 13.h5 h6 14.Be2 Bg4 15.Nh2 Bxe2 16.Qxe2 Ne5 17.Bc1 Qc6 Diagram

The game is equal. The opening has done it's job. 18.f4 Nc4 19.Qd3 Qe4 20.g4 Ne3 21.Rde1 Qxd3 22.cxd3 Nd5 23.Reg1 Re6?! Fabiano has played well and had evened the game against the World Champ. Here he errs by not being aggressive. [23...Re2 24.g5 Kh7 25.Ng4 Rae8 26.gxh6 f5! would be more active. Black now gets in a little trouble.] 24.g5 Ne7 25.gxh6 Rxh6 26.f5 Rh7 27.Ng4 Kh8 28.f6 Ng8 Diagram

29.fxg7+ Rxg7 30.Be3 c5 31.Bf4 Re8 32.Ne3 Rxg1+ 33.Rxg1 Re6 Fabiano has been under pressure since his mistake on move 23. He defends carefully, and even the great Magnus cannot break through. 34.Nd5 Nf6 35.Nc7 Re2 36.Nb5 Re6 37.Rf1 [37.Nxa7 Kh7 38.Rg5 Re1+ 39.Kc2 Rf1 40.Rf5 Ne8! 41.Rxf7+ Kg8 would force the exchange sacrifice 42.Rxf8+ (42.Rf5 Bh6) ] 37...Kg8 38.Nc7 Re2 39.Nb5 Re6 40.Nc7 Re2 41.Nb5 Re6 Diagram

White has no advantage anymore and has nothing better than to repeat moves. 1/2-1/2

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2020 Wilkerson Memorial TNM Games Round 5

Annotations by GM Nick de Firmian

 

(1) Stearman,Josiah Paul (2445) - Winslow,Elliott Charles (2223) [B23]
MI Wilkerson TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (5.1), 11.01.2020
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 [2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.d4 cxd4 6.Qxd4 Nc6 7.Qd3 Rc8] 2...d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 [3...Nd7!?] 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.d4 cxd4 6.Qxd4 This is a very new system -- if you look in MegaDatabase 2019 there are not a lot of games (like -- five?), but if you look at, say, The Week In Chess, there are a couple dozen, almost all in 2019. Giri led the pack. 6...Nc6 7.Qd3 g6 [7...Rc8; 7...e6 was played by Josiah two rounds earlier: 1-0 (48) Stearman,J (2445)-Yan,R (2221) San Francisco (3.1) 2020 [Winslow,Elliott]] 8.Nf3 Bg7 9.0-0 [9.Bg5 Nf6 10.Rd1 Qe6 (10...0-0) 11.0-0 0-0 12.a3 Rac8 13.Rfe1 Nd7 14.Qd2 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Nde5 16.Nd4 Qd7 17.Qe2 Nxd4 18.cxd4 Nc4 19.Rd3 f6 20.Bh6 Rfe8 21.h4 d5 22.h5 dxe4 23.Qxe4 Nd6 24.Qd5+ e6 25.Qf3 Nf5 26.Be3 Rxc2 27.g4 Nxe3 28.Rdxe3 Qxd4 29.hxg6 hxg6 30.Rxe6 Rxe6 31.Rxe6 Rc3 32.Qe2 Rg3+ 33.Kh2 Rxg4 34.Re8+ Kg7 35.Qe7+ Kh6 36.Qf8+ Kg5 37.Re3 Qf4+ 38.Kh1 Qxf2 39.Re5+ f5 40.Qd8+ Kf4 0-1 (40) Safarli,E (2601)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2780) Moscow RUS 2019] 9...Rc8N [9...Nf6 10.Nd5 a) 10.Bg5 0-0 11.Rad1 h6 12.Bc1 Ng4 (12...Qd8 13.Nd5 Nd7 14.Qa3 Rc8 15.Rfe1 Re8 16.Bd2 Bf8 17.Ne3 e6 18.b4 a5 19.b5 d5 20.Qb3 Nc5 21.Qb1 Nxe4 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.Qc1 h5 24.Nf1 Bg7 25.Bh6 Nc3 26.Bxg7 Kxg7 27.Rd3 Qf6 28.Ng5 Rc7 29.Qd2 Nb5 30.Rf3 Qd4 31.Rd3 Qb4 32.c3 Qc5 33.Ng3 h4 34.Nf1 e5 35.Rh3 f6 36.Rxh4 fxg5 37.Qxg5 Qd6 38.Ng3 Rf7 39.Rh6 Re6 40.f4 Qc5+ 41.Kh1 e4 42.f5 Qxc3 43.Rf1 Qe5 44.Rh7+ 1-0 (44) Mamedov,R (2701)-Idani,P (2604) Astana KAZ 2019; 12...Rfd8 13.Nd5 Ne8 14.Rfe1 Rac8 15.Qa3 e6 16.Ne3 Qe7 17.b4 b5 18.c4 bxc4 19.Nxc4 Nd4 20.Nxd4 Rxc4 21.Nb3 Rdc8 22.b5 Qd7 23.e5 d5 24.Nd4 Bf8 25.Qb3 a6 26.a3 axb5 27.Nxb5 Qb7 28.Bd2 Nc7 29.a4 Nxb5 30.axb5 Bb4 31.Rf1 Bxd2 32.Rxd2 Rc3 33.Qb4 R8c4 34.Qb1 Qb6 35.h3 Rc5 36.Rb2 d4 37.Qe4 Rxb5 38.Rxb5 Qxb5 39.Qxd4 Qd3 40.Qf4 Qf5 41.Qxh6 Qxe5 42.Rd1 Rc8 43.Qh4 Kg7 1/2-1/2 (43) Asadli,V (2502)-Baglan,E (2336) Paracin SRB 2019) 13.h3 Nge5 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.Qg3 Rac8 16.f4 Nc4 17.f5 Ne5 18.Bxh6 Bxh6 19.Qxe5 Bg7 20.Qg3 Qe8 21.fxg6 fxg6 22.Rxf8+ Kxf8 23.Nd5 Be5 24.Qg4 Rxc2 25.Rf1+ Kg7 26.Qe6 Qb5 27.Qxe7+ Kh6 28.Qf8+ Kg5 29.Ne3 Qc5 30.h4+ Kh5 31.Qf3+ Kh6 32.Kh1 Rc1 33.Ng4+ Kh7 34.Nxe5 dxe5 35.Rxc1 Qxc1+ 36.Kh2 Qxb2 37.Qf7+ Kh6 38.Qf8+ Kh7 39.Qf7+ Kh6 40.Qg8 Kh5 41.Kh3 Qc3+ 42.g3 1-0 (42) Safarli,E (2601)-Andriasian,Z (2611) Moscow RUS 2019; b) 10.h3+/= sf11 10...0-0=; 10...0-0 (10...Ng4 11.c3 1/2-1/2 (30) Quesada Perez,Y (2538)-Ortiz Suarez,I (2519) Santa Clara CUB 2019) 11.Bg5 (11.c3 Ng4 12.Bg5 (12.Rd1 Nge5 13.Nxe5 Nxe5 14.Qe2 e6 15.Nb4 Qc7 16.Bf4 Rfd8 17.Nd3 Qc4 18.Kf1 Nc6 19.Ne1 d5 20.Qxc4 dxc4 21.a4 Be5 22.Bxe5 Nxe5 23.Ke2 g5 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.a5 b5 26.axb6 axb6 27.Ra7 Kg7 28.Rb7 Rd6 29.Nf3 Nxf3 30.Kxf3 Kf6 31.Ke3 h5 32.Rc7 b5 33.Rc5 Rb6 34.h4 gxh4 35.Rxh5 b4 36.e5+ Kg6 37.Rxh4 bxc3 38.bxc3 Rb5 39.Re4 Rd5 40.Ke2 Kf5 41.Rxc4 Rxe5+ 42.Kf3 Re1 43.Rf4+ Kg6 44.Re4 Rc1 45.Re3 Rc2 46.g3 f6 47.Rd3 e5 48.Ke3 Kg5 49.f4+ exf4+ 50.gxf4+ Kg4 51.Kd4 Kxf4 52.c4 Ra2 53.c5 Ra8 54.c6 Rc8 55.Kc5 f5 56.Rd7 Ke3 57.Re7+ Kd3 58.Rf7 Ke4 59.Kb6 f4 60.Kb7 Rh8 61.Re7+ Kd3 62.c7 f3 63.Rf7 Ke2 64.c8Q Rxc8 65.Kxc8 f2 66.Rxf2+ Kxf2 1/2-1/2 (66) Hovhannisyan,R (2630) -Brunello,S (2534) Reykjavik ISL 2019) 12...e6 13.Ne3 Nge5 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.Qc2 f5 16.f4 Nf7 17.Bh4 Qc6 18.exf5 gxf5 19.Rf3 Nh8 20.Raf1 Ng6 21.Be1 Rf7 22.h4 Kh8 23.h5 Ne7 24.Bh4 Rg8 25.Qd2 Nc8 26.c4 Qe4 27.Kh1 Qd4 28.R1f2 Qxd2 29.Rxd2 Bf6 30.Bxf6+ 1/2-1/2 (30) Quesada Perez,Y (2538)-Ortiz Suarez,I (2519) Santa Clara CUB 2019) ] 10.Nd5 Nf6 11.c3 0-0 12.Bg5 Nxd5 [12...Ng4; 12...Ne8= 13.Rad1 h6 (13...e6) 14.Bf4 e6 15.Ne3 f5 16.exf5+/-] 13.exd5 Ne5 14.Nxe5 dxe5 15.Rad1

15...h6N [15...Rfd8 16.c4 h6 17.Be3 Qa4 18.b3 Qxa2 19.Qc3 (19.c5+/= Qa6 (19...a6) 20.Qxa6 bxa6 21.f4 a5= (0.00)) 19...Qa3 20.Ra1 Qd6 21.Rxa7 b5 22.Rd1 e4 23.Qc2 Qb4 24.Rc1 bxc4 25.Qxe4 Qxb3 26.Qxe7 Rf8 27.Rc7 1/2-1/2 (27) Willmann,B (2120) -Huerga,A (2262) LSS email 2013] 16.Be3 b6? [16...b5 is so much better. Black contains White's majority and gives himself c4 for his rook.] 17.c4 Qa4 18.b3 Qa3 [18...Qxa2!? maybe wasn't so bad. 19.Ra1 e4! (19...Qb2? 20.Rfb1 e4 21.Qxe4) 20.Rxa2 (20.Qxe4?? Qxb3<=>) 20...exd3 21.Rd1 but White is doing well.] 19.Qd2 Kh7 20.f4 I underestimated White's attack is all. 20...Qd6 [20...exf4!?] 21.f5 gxf5 22.Rxf5 e6 [22...Qg6!? 23.Rdf1 e6 24.dxe6 fxe6 might look ugly, but the rooks come off, the queens stay on, and there is no knight to go to e4, my pawns might stay on the board for a while.] 23.dxe6 Qxe6 24.Qc2 e4 I was happy here! I thought I was mobilizing my center pawns. Alas they only went one square further... 25.Rfd5 f5 26.Rd6 Qe8 27.Qc1 I saw this! [(and actually 27.Qf2 was much better)] 27...Qh5 28.R1d5 but I didn't see this... 28...Rc7 29.Qd2 Re7 30.Qf2 It's a bind. 30...Ref7 31.Re6! Threatening e4, and there's not a lot I can do about it. 31...Kg8 32.h3 Rf6 33.Rxe4 Qg6 34.Rf4 Re6 35.Bd4 Rfe8 36.Rdxf5 Re1+ 37.Kh2 R8e2 38.Qf3 Rd2 39.Bxg7 h5 40.Bc3 1-0

 

(2) Boldi,Ethan [Kazanjian] (2090) - Griffith,Kyron Waykuan (2434) [A05]
MI Wilkerson TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (5.2), 11.01.2020

1.Nf3 d6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.d3 0-0 6.Nbd2 c5 7.e4 Nc6 8.Re1 e5 9.c4 Bh6 10.Nf1 Bxc1 11.Rxc1 Bg4 12.Ne3 Qd7 13.Nxg4 Qxg4 14.Qd2 Kg7 15.h3 Qd7 16.Rf1 Ng8 17.Nh4 Nd4 18.Kh2 Ne7 19.f4 f6 20.Bf3 Nec6 21.Rce1 Rab8 22.Ng2 b5 23.b3 bxc4 24.dxc4 a5 25.Bd1 a4 26.bxa4 Rb4 27.a3 Rb7 28.Ne3 Rfb8 29.Rf2 exf4 30.gxf4 Qd8 31.Rg1 Rb1 32.Nd5 Na5 33.Qc3 Nac6 34.Qd2 Qa5 35.Qe3 R8b2 36.h4 Qa6 37.f5 Ne5 38.fxg6 hxg6 39.Qf4 f5 40.Rxb2 Rxb2+ 41.Kh1 Qxc4 42.Ne3 Qf7 43.Rf1 fxe4 44.Qxe4 Rf2 45.Rg1 Rf4 46.Qd5 Rxh4+ 47.Kg2 Qf4 48.Nf1 Qg5+ 49.Ng3 Qd2+ 50.Be2 Rh2+ 51.Kxh2 Ndf3+ 52.Kg2 Qxd5 53.Rd1 Qc6 54.Kf2 Nd4 55.Rb1 Nxe2 56.Nxe2 Qxa4 57.Rb7+ Kf6 58.Ng3 Qf4+ 59.Ke2 Qf3+ 60.Ke1 Qxg3+ 61.Kd2 Qg2+ 62.Kc3 Qxb7 63.a4 Qb4+ 64.Kc2 c4 65.a5 Qb3+ 66.Kd2 Qd3+ 67.Kc1 Qe2 68.a6 c3 69.a7 Qd2+ 70.Kb1 Qb2# 0-1

(3) Weng,Nicholas (1864) - Davila,Carlos (2223) [B19]
MI Wilkerson TNM: Extra Rated Game San Francisco (5.3), 11.01.2020

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Ngf6 11.Bd2 e6 12.0-0-0 Be7 13.Ne4 0-0 14.Kb1 c5 15.c3 cxd4 16.cxd4 Nxe4 17.Qxe4 Nf6 18.Qd3 Qd5 19.Bf4 a5 20.Ne5 Qe4 21.Qxe4 Nxe4 22.Be3 a4 23.d5 exd5 24.Rxd5 a3 25.f3 Nf6 26.Rb5 axb2 27.Nc4 Rfd8 28.Kxb2 Nd5 29.Bb6 Bf6+ 30.Kb3 Nxb6 31.Rxb6 Rd3+ 32.Kb4 Be7+ 0-1

(4) German,Felix (1895) - Tsodikova,Natalya (2204) [E73]
MI Wilkerson TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (5.4), 11.01.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.h4 h5 7.Bg5 c5 8.d5 Nbd7 9.Qd2 b5 10.cxb5 a6 11.b6 Qxb6 12.g4 Rb8 13.gxh5 Qxb2 14.Qxb2 Rxb2 15.0-0-0 Rb4 16.hxg6 fxg6 17.Nh3 Ne5 18.f3 Kf7 19.Rdg1 Nc4 20.Nf2 Nh7 21.Nfd1 Nxg5 22.hxg5 Kg8 23.Nb1 Ne5 24.Rf1 Bd7 25.a3 Rb3 26.f4 Nd3+ 27.Kc2 c4 28.Bxd3 Rxd3 29.Nb2 Re3 30.Re1 Rf3 31.Nd2 Rxa3 32.Nbxc4 Rc3+ 33.Kb1 Rb8+ 34.Ka2 Rc2+ 35.Ka3 Bc3 36.Rb1 Rxb1 37.Nxb1 Bd4 38.Kb3 Rf2 39.e5 Rf3+ 40.Ka2 Rxf4 41.exd6 exd6 42.Nbd2 Rf2 43.Kb3 Rf5 44.Nxd6 Rxd5 45.N6c4 Rxg5 46.Rd1 Rb5+ 47.Kc2 Bf5+ 48.Kc1 Bc3 49.Ne3 Rc5 [49...Bb2#!] 50.Nxf5 Bxd2+ 51.Kxd2 Rd5+ 0-1

(5) Ivanov,Aleksandr Yu (2174) - Childress,Jason (2073) [B01]
MI Wilkerson TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (5.5), 11.01.2020

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Nf3 Qxd5 4.Nc3 Qa5 5.d4 Bg4 6.h3 Bh5 7.Bb5+ c6 8.Bc4 e6 9.0-0 Bd6 10.Re1 0-0 11.g4 Bg6 12.Ne5 Rd8 13.Bf4 Bb4 14.Re3 c5 15.Nxg6 hxg6 16.Rd3 Bxc3 17.bxc3 b5 18.dxc5 Na6 19.Bxb5 Nxc5 20.c4 Nxd3 21.cxd3 Qc3 22.Rc1 Rxd3 23.Rxc3 Rxd1+ 24.Kg2 Ne4 25.Ra3 Nd6 26.Bc6 Rc8 27.Bf3 Rd4 28.Kg3 Ne4+ 29.Kg2 Rdxc4 30.Rxa7 Nc3 31.Be3 Ra4 32.Rxa4 Nxa4 33.Bd1 Nc3 34.Bb3 Ra8 35.Kf3 Nxa2 36.Ke4 Nc3+ 37.Kd4 Nd5 38.Bxd5 Rd8 39.Ke4 Rxd5 40.Kf3 Kf8 41.Kg3 e5 42.g5 f5 43.Kf3 Kf7 44.Kg2 Ke6 45.f4 Rd3 46.Bc5 exf4 47.Bf2 Kd5 48.h4 Ke4 49.Be1 Re3 50.Bf2 Re2 51.Kf1 Kf3 52.Be1 Rxe1+ 53.Kxe1 0-1

(6) Walder,Michael (2124) - Askin,David Benjamin (2027) [B19]
MI Wilkerson TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (5.6), 11.01.2020
[Winslow,Elliott & Walder,Michael]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 [10...Qc7 11.Bd2 Ngf6 12.0-0-0 0-0-0 13.Ne4 1-0 (95) Hartston,W-Barcza,G Hastings 1973] 11.Bd2 Qc7 12.0-0-0 0-0-0 13.Ne4 Ngf6 14.g3 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Bd6 16.c4 [16.Kb1 is the subtle move. The main point is that Black really only wants to play ...c6-c5 in response to c2-c4. 16...Rhe8 (on 16...c5 White has some better options, given that c4 is available for queen or rook(!) 17.dxc5 Nxc5 18.Qc4 (18.Qe2 Rhe8 19.Rh4 Kb8 20.Rc4 Qe7 21.Bb4 f6 22.Rcd4 1-0 (42) Muzychuk,M (2503)-Fuchs,J (2315) Caleta 2014 CBM 159 [Muzychuk,M]) 18...Rd7 19.Bc3 e5 20.Rd5 f6 21.Rhd1 Rhd8 22.Nh4 Bf8 23.b3 Qc6 24.Rxd7 Rxd7 25.Rxd7 Nxd7 26.Qxc6+ bxc6 27.Nf5 1-0 (61) Karjakin,S (2635)-Asrian,K (2611) Warszawa 2005 Inf 94 [Karjakin, Sergey]) 17.Qe2! (17.c4 c5 18.Bc3 Be7!; Kramnik drew a few imitators to 17.Qh7?! ; he drew against Leko; others weren't so fortunate. 17...Rg8 1/2-1/2 (34) Kramnik,V (2770)-Leko,P (2741) Brissago 2004 CBM 103 [Prie,E]) 17...f5 a) 17...e5 18.dxe5 Nxe5 19.Nh4 Qd7 20.Ba5! b6 21.Bc3 (21.Bb4 Nd3!) ; b) 17...a6; c) 17...b5; ] 16...c5 17.Kb1 [17.d5; 17.Bc3] 17...a6?! [17...Rhe8] 18.Bc3 [18.d5!? Nf6 19.Qc2 exd5 20.cxd5 Rhe8 21.Bc3 Ng4 22.Rhe1 Rxe1 23.Rxe1 Qd7 24.Nh4 Bf8 25.f3 Nf6 26.Bxf6 gxf6 27.Rd1 Re8 28.d6 Re5 29.g4 Qb5 30.Nf5 Kd7 31.a3 Qe2 32.Qb3 Rxf5 1-0 Matanovic,A-Marovic,D Yugoslavia 1967 EXT 2010 [Petronijevic,Z]] 18...cxd4N [18...Rhe8 19.d5 exd5 20.Qxd5 Ne5 21.Rhe1 Nxf3 22.Qxf3 f6 23.Qf5+ Kb8 24.f4+/= 1-0 (95) Hartston,W-Barcza,G Hastings 1973] 19.Bxd4 (probably best of the four(!) captures 19...Nf6

20.Bxf6? "Ruining Black's pawn structure" was White's comment -- but the remaining bishop complements the pawns on e6/f7/f5 nicely. [20.Qe2 keeps a grip on e5 and chances for an advantage.] 20...gxf6 21.c5 Best, thinking of some attack some day. 21...Be7 Stockfish 11 alternates between "0.00" and some sort of miniscule Black advantage, reminding of the Tal quip "Equal means Black plus." 22.Rc1 Rd5 23.Nd4?! [23.Rc2 Rhd8 24.Rhc1 Qc6 25.Qh7 R5d7! 26.Ne1 Bf8 and White's play stalls.] 23...Kb8 [23...f5! 24.Qe3 Qe5! 25.Qxe5 Rxe5 26.Nb3 (26.c6 b6 27.c7 Rc5 28.Nc6 Bd6 is as far as White goes.) 26...Rd8-/+] 24.b4 Rhd8 [24...f5!] 25.Nb3 f5 26.Qe2 [26.Qf4 Bg5 27.Qxc7+ Kxc7 28.Rc3 is not a very convincing defense.] 26...Bf6 [26...Qc6!] 27.c6?! [27.Rhd1 Rxd1 28.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 29.Qxd1 Qe5 30.Qd2 Qc3 31.Qxc3 Bxc3 White has weak pawns on both sides.] 27...Rd3 [27...R8d6 28.cxb7 Qxb7 when it's White's king exposed.] 28.Rc2 b6 29.Rhc1 Ka7 30.Rd2 Rxd2 31.Nxd2 Rd6 32.a3 Rxc6 33.Rxc6 Qxc6 34.Qc4 Kb7 35.Kc2 Qa4+ 36.Qb3 Qxb3+ 37.Kxb3 Kc6 38.Nc4 Bd4 39.f3 f6 40.g4 fxg4 41.fxg4 b5 42.Nd2 Kd5 43.Kc2 Be3 44.Nb3 Ke4 45.Kd1 Kf4 46.Ke2 Bb6 47.Kd3 Kxg4 48.Nc5 e5 49.Nd7 Bd8 50.Nc5 Kxh5 51.Nxa6 Kg4 52.Nc5 h5 53.Nb7 Be7 54.Ke4 h4 55.Nc5 Bxc5 56.bxc5 h3 57.c6 h2 0-1

 

(7) Busch,Jonah M (1944) - Persidsky,Andre (1856) [A14]
MI Wilkerson TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (5.7), 11.01.2020

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 Nbd7 7.Bb2 b6 8.d3 Bb7 9.Nbd2 c5 10.Ne5 Nxe5 11.Bxe5 Nd7 12.Bb2 Bf6 13.Bxf6 Nxf6 14.Qc2 Qd7 15.e4 dxe4 16.dxe4 e5 17.Rad1 Qe7 18.Nb1 Rad8 19.Nc3 Rd4 20.Nd5 Qd6 21.f4 Bxd5 22.exd5 Rxd1 23.Qxd1 exf4 24.Rxf4 Re8 25.Rf2 Qe5 26.Bf3 Qe1+ 27.Qxe1 Rxe1+ 28.Rf1 Rxf1+ 29.Kxf1 Kf8 30.Ke2 Ke7 31.Kd3 Kd6 32.Kc3 Nd7 33.b4 Ne5 34.Be2 g5 35.g4 h6 36.b5 Ng6 37.Kd2 Ke5 38.Ke3 Nf4 39.Bf3 f5 40.gxf5 Kxf5 41.Be2 Ke5 42.Bf1 Ng6 43.Kf3 h5 44.Bd3 Nf4 45.Bh7 Nh3 46.Bg6 Nf4 47.Be8 g4+ 48.Kg3 Nd3 49.Kh4 Nb2 50.d6 Kxd6 51.Bf7 Nd3 52.Bxh5 Ne5 53.Bxg4 Nxc4 54.Kg5 Ne5 55.Bd1 Ke7 56.Kf5 Nf7 57.h4 Nd6+ 58.Kg6 Nxb5 59.Kg7 Nd6 60.h5 Nf7 61.Bb3 Ne5 62.h6 c4 63.Bxc4 Nxc4 64.h7 Nd6 65.h8Q Nf5+ 66.Kg6 Nd6 67.Qg7+ Kd8 68.Qxa7 1-0

(8) Argo,Guy (1939) - Lesquillier,Walter (1733) [B23]
MI Wilkerson TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (5.8), 11.01.2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 e6 6.0-0 Nge7 7.d3 0-0 8.a3 b6 9.Qe1 d5 10.Ba2 Bb7 11.Bd2 dxe4 12.dxe4 Ba6 13.Rf2 Nd4 14.Be3 Nxf3+ 15.Rxf3 Nc6 16.Rd1 Bd4 17.Bxd4 Nxd4 18.Rf2 Qe7 19.e5 Bb7 20.Bc4 Rad8 21.Rd3 a6 22.Rh3 Qd7 23.Bd3 Kg7 24.g4 b5 25.Be4 b4 26.axb4 cxb4 27.Nb1 Bxe4 28.Qxe4 Qd5 29.Nd2 Rc8 30.c3 bxc3 31.bxc3 Nb5 32.f5 Rxc3 33.f6+ Kh8 34.Rh6 Qd4 35.Qxd4 Nxd4 36.Ne4 a5 37.Ng5 a4 38.Rxh7+ Kg8 39.Rg7+ Kh8 40.Nxf7+ Rxf7 41.Rxf7 Nf3+ 42.Kg2 Nxe5 43.Rf8+ Kh7 44.f7 Rc7 45.Rh8+ Kxh8 46.f8Q+ Kh7 47.g5 1-0

(9) Hakobyan,Sos (1818) - Lum,Michael K (1914) [B18]
MI Wilkerson TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (5.11), 11.01.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 Nd7 7.Bd3 e6 8.0-0 Qc7 9.c4 Ngf6 10.Re1 Bb4 11.Bxg6 hxg6 12.Bd2 Bxd2 13.Qxd2 0-0 14.Rac1 Rfd8 15.Qg5 Qb6 16.b3 c5 17.Rcd1 cxd4 18.Rxd4 Rac8 19.Red1 Nb8 20.Qe3 Nc6 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.Rxd8+ Qxd8 23.Qd2 Qb6 24.h3 a5 25.Ne2 Ne4

26.Qe3? This drops a pawn. [26.Qe1 Stockfish 11 gives White absolutely nothing here.] 26...Qxe3 27.fxe3 Nb4 28.Ne1?! [28.Nc1 Nc2 Black does indeed pick off the e-pawn, but there will still be work before the point can be scored.] 28...Nxa2 29.Nc2 Kf8 30.g3 Ke7 31.Kg2 Kd6 32.h4 Nd2 33.Kh3 Nxb3 34.Kg4 Kc5 35.Kg5 Kxc4 36.Nf4 Nc5 37.Nxg6 So this was White's plan. But Black effectively ignores it. 37...Kd3 38.Ne1+ Kc3 39.Ne5 b5 40.Nxf7 b4 41.Nd6 b3 42.Nb5+ Kd2 43.Nf3+ Kxe3 44.Nfd4 b2 45.Nc2+ Kf3 46.Nca3 Kxg3 47.h5 Ne4+ 48.Kg6 Kg4 49.Nd4 Ng3 50.Nxe6 Nxh5 51.Nb1 Nf4+ 52.Nxf4 Kxf4 53.Kxg7 Ke3 54.Kf6 Kd4 55.Kf5 Nc3 56.Na3 b1Q+ 57.Nxb1 Nxb1 0-1

 

(10) Kuczek,Kevin W (1982) - Pane,Gianluca (1927) [B23]
MI Wilkerson TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (5.12), 11.01.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.f4 Nc6 4.Nf3 d5 5.Bb5 Nge7 6.0-0 a6 7.Bxc6+ Nxc6 8.d3 Be7 9.Qe1 b5 10.Qg3 g6 11.Ne2 Nb4 12.Bd2 [12.f5!? exf5 13.Bh6 Nxc2 14.Rac1 Nb4 doesn't really seem to work.] 12...Nxc2 [12...0-0!?] 13.Rac1 dxe4 [13...Nb4 14.Bxb4 cxb4 keeps options better.] 14.dxe4 Qd3? [14...Nb4 15.Rcd1 Qc7] 15.Bc3 [15.Qf2!+/-] 15...0-0 [15...f6!] 16.Qf2 Nb4 [16...b4!?] 17.Ng3 [17.Bxb4 cxb4 18.Ned4 Qxe4 19.Nc6 Bd6=] 17...Rd8? Immediately drawing fire at f7! [17...Qd6; 17...Qd8] 18.Ne5! [or 18.f5! right away] 18...Qd6

19.f5! [19.Nxf7!? Kxf7 20.f5 favors White, but there is no need (and the game move is much stronger).] 19...f6?! Maybe White won't notice... 20.fxg6! ...this. Black crumbles. 20...hxg6 21.Nxg6 Nd3 22.Nxe7+ [22.Qe3! Nxc1 23.Qh6 Nd3 24.Nh5 Kf7 25.Nxe7] 22...Qxe7 23.Bxf6?! Black's king is so unsafe that keeping White's queen around for attack is a priority: [23.Qf3; 23.Qe3] 23...Nxf2 24.Bxe7 Rd7 25.Rxf2 Rxe7 26.Rxc5 Yet another case of the computer thinking White has let the game slip into a merely totally won ending. 26...Bb7 27.Rg5+ Kh7 28.Rc2 Rf7 29.Rgc5 Raf8 30.Rc7 Kg6 31.Rxf7 Rxf7 32.h4 Rf4 33.h5+ Kg7 34.Rc7+ Rf7 35.Rxf7+ Kxf7 36.Kf2 1-0

 

(11) Perlov,Alexander (1825) - Reichwein,Axel (1892) [E81]
MI Wilkerson TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (5.13), 11.01.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Be3 Na6 7.Nge2 c5 8.Qd2 cxd4 9.Bxd4 Be6 10.Nf4 b6 11.Nxe6 fxe6 12.Be2 e5 13.Be3 Nh5 14.g3 Kh8 15.0-0-0 Nc7 16.Rhf1 Qe8 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.cxd5 Qa4 19.Kb1 b5 20.Rc1 Rfc8 21.Rc6 Rxc6 22.dxc6 Rc8 23.Rc1 Rc7 24.Qd5 Bf6 25.Qf7 h6 26.Qxg6 Ng7 27.Bxh6 Qa6 28.Bxg7+ Bxg7 29.Qe8+ Kh7 30.h4 Bh6 31.Rc2 Qb6 32.a3 b4 33.axb4 Qxb4 34.Bc4 Qe1+ 35.Ka2 Qa5+ 36.Kb3 d5 37.Bxd5 Qb5+ 38.Kc3 Qc5+ 39.Kd3 Qe3+ 40.Kc4 Qd4+ 41.Kb3 Qb6+ 42.Ka2 Qa5+ 43.Kb1 Qe1+ 44.Ka2 Qa5+ 45.Kb3 Qb6+ 46.Ka2 Qa5+ 47.Kb1 Qe1+

[47...Qe1+ 48.Rc1!! Qxc1+ 49.Ka2+-] 1/2-1/2

 

(12) Heidari,Ako (1940) - Lehman,Clarence E (1907) [C77]
MI Wilkerson TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (5.14), 11.01.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d4 b5 6.Bb3 Nxd4 7.Nxd4 exd4 8.e5 Qe7 9.0-0 Qxe5 10.Re1 Ne4

11.Bxf7+? [11.f3+-; 11.f4! Qf5 12.g4!+-] 11...Kd8? [11...Kxf7 12.Qf3+ Kg8!-/+] 12.Qe2? [12.Qf3 Bb7 13.Bf4+-; 12.Nd2 d5 13.c4!!+-] 12...d5? [12...Bb7! 13.Nd2 Bd6!-/+] 13.f3?! [13.Nd2!? Bd6 14.Nf3! (14.g3 Bb7 15.Nb3 Qf6 (15...Rf8 16.Na5!) 16.Bh5) 14...Qf5 15.Bxd5!=] 13...Bc5 14.Kh1?!

14...d3?? [14...Bd6! 15.g3 Nxg3+ 16.hxg3 Qxg3-+] 15.cxd3+/- Ng3+?! [15...Rf8 16.dxe4 Rxf7 17.Nc3+/-] 16.hxg3 Qxg3 17.Be3!+- Bd6 18.f4 [18.Kg1!] 18...Qh4+ 19.Kg1 Bg4 20.Qf2 It's been an extremely difficult attack and defense, but White finally seems to stabilize his material advantage. 20...Qxf2+ 21.Bxf2 c6 22.Be6 Bxe6 23.Rxe6 Kd7 24.Re2 Bxf4 25.Nd2 Rae8 26.Rxe8 Rxe8 27.Nb3 Re2 28.Nc5+ Kd6 29.b4 Be3 30.Bxe3 Rxe3 31.Kf2 Re7 32.Rh1 h6 33.Rh3 [33.Re1!] 33...a5 34.a3 axb4 35.axb4 Ra7 36.Rg3 g5 37.Rf3 Ke5 38.Re3+ Kd4 Black is getting some real counterplay 39.Re6 Ra2+ 40.Kg3 h5 41.Rxc6 h4+ 42.Kh2 Rb2 43.Na6 g4 44.Rg6 g3+ 45.Kh3 Kxd3 46.Rg4 d4 47.Rxh4 Ke3 48.Nc7 d3 49.Nd5+ Kd2 50.Rd4 Rb3 51.Kxg3 Kc1 52.Kf4 d2 53.Ne3 Rc3 54.g4 Rc8 55.Kf3 Rh8 56.g5 Rh3+ 57.Kf2 Rh2+ 58.Kg3 Rh1 59.Rd5 Rg1+ 60.Kf2 Re1 61.g6 Rh1 62.g7 Rh2+ 63.Ng2 Rh5 64.g8Q Rxd5 65.Qxd5 d1Q 66.Qxd1+ Kxd1 67.Ke3 Kc2 68.Kd4 What a battle! 1-0

 

(13) Ricard,Bruce (1849) - Drane,Robert William (1812) [A80]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U2000 San Francisco (5.9), 11.01.2020

1.d4 f5 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 a6 4.e3 Nf6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Be2 c5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.Ne5 Ne4 9.Nxe4 Nxe5 10.Bxe5 dxe4 11.Bh5+ Ke7 12.f3 exf3 13.Qxf3 Rg8 14.Qf2 g6 15.Bf3 Kf7 16.Rad1 cxd4 17.Rxd4 Qa5 18.Qg3 Bg7 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.Rfd1 Re8 21.b4 Qb6 22.Qe5+ Kf7 23.a4 Ra7 24.Kh1 a5 25.b5 Ra8 26.c4 Re7 27.Qh8 Re8 28.Rd7+ Bxd7 29.Rxd7+ Re7 30.Qxh7+ Kf6 31.Qxe7+ Ke5 32.Rd5# 1-0

(14) Mercado,Adam (1789) - Boldi,Nicholas Armen (1754) [C06]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U2000 San Francisco (5.15), 11.01.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.c3 c5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.Ngf3 cxd4 8.cxd4 f6 9.0-0 fxe5 10.dxe5 Qc7 11.Qa4 Nc5 12.Qc2 Nb4 13.Bb5+ Bd7 14.Bxd7+ Qxd7 15.Qc3 Nbd3 16.b4 Nxc1 17.Raxc1 Na6 18.a3 Be7 19.Nd4 0-0 20.Qh3 Nc7 21.f4 [21.N2b3!+/-] 21...Rae8?! [21...a5] 22.Qg4 Bd8 23.N2f3? [23.N2b3] 23...Nb5= 24.Nb3? Bb6+ 25.Kh1 [25.Nc5 Nxa3-/+] 25...Be3 [25...Nxa3] 26.Nc5 Qe7 27.Ng5 Bxc5? [27...Bxc1-+] 28.Rxc5=/+ Nxa3

29.Nxh7! Kxh7 30.Qh3+?! [30.Rc3! Nc4 31.Rh3+ Kg8 32.Qg6=] 30...Kg8 31.Qxa3 b6 [31...Rc8!] 32.Rc6 Qd7? [32...Rc8=/+] 33.b5+/- d4 34.Qb3 [34.Qd3!] 34...Qd5 35.Qd3? [35.Qxd5 exd5 36.Kg1!+/-] 35...Rc8= 36.Rd6 Qc4?! [36...Rc3= 37.Qxd4 Qxb5] 37.Rxd4?! [37.Qxd4?? Qxf1+; 37.Qxc4 Rxc4 38.g3+/=] 37...Qxd3 38.Rxd3 Rxf4=/+ 39.Re1?! Rc5 40.g3 Rf5 41.Rd8+ Kh7 42.Re8 Rfxe5 43.Rxe6 Rxe1+ 44.Rxe1 Rxb5 45.Re7 a5 46.Ra7 Rb2 47.Ra6 Rb4 48.Kg2 a4 49.Kh3 b5 50.g4 Rb3+ 51.Kh4 a3 52.g5 b4 [52...Rb4+ 53.Kh5 (53.Kg3 Ra4) 53...g6+! 54.Rxg6 Rh4+ 55.Kxh4 Kxg6] 53.Kg4 Rb2 54.h4 a2 55.Kh5 Rg2 56.g6+ Rxg6 57.Rxa2 b3 58.Rb2 Rg3 59.Re2 g6# 0-1

 

(15) Xu,Jayden (1712) - Malykin,Erika (1675) [A52]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U2000 San Francisco (5.16), 11.01.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Bf4 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bb4+ 6.Nbd2 Qe7 7.a3 Ngxe5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.e3 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 d6 11.Be2 h5 12.c5 dxc5 13.Rc1 Ng6 14.Bb5+ c6 15.Bd6 Qg5 16.f4 Qg4 17.Bd3 Nh4 18.0-0 c4 19.Rxc4 Rh6

20.f5 Qxg2+ 21.Qxg2 Nxg2 22.Re4+ Kd7 23.Bb4 c5 24.Bb5+ Kc7 25.Bxc5 a6 26.Bd3 Bd7 27.Rc1 Bc6 28.Re7+ Kd8 29.Be4 Nxe3 30.Bxc6 Rxc6 31.Rxe3 b6 32.Rd1+ Kc8 33.Re8+ 1-0

 

(16) Madhavan,Srikrishnan (1720) - Breedt,Rudolph Frans (1882) [E61]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U2000 San Francisco (5.17), 11.01.2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.Nc3 0-0 5.Bg5 d6 6.e3 c5 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.a3 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nxd4 10.exd4 Qb6 11.Bc2 Bd7 12.Rb1 Rac8 13.0-0 Rxc4 14.Qe2 Rcc8 15.Rfd1 e6 16.d5 e5 17.Qf3 Bg4 18.Qd3 Bxd1 19.Bxd1 e4 20.Qg3 Nh5 21.Bxh5 Rxc3 22.Be3 Rxe3 23.fxe3 gxh5 24.b4 Kh8 25.Rf1 Be5 26.Qh3 a5 27.Rf5 Qc7 28.Rxh5 f6 29.Rf5 Rg8 30.Qh6 Qg7 0-1

(17) Acosta,Anthony (1762) - Gurovich,Roman (1714) [B23]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U2000 San Francisco (5.18), 11.01.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 d6 2.f4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.Nc3 c5 5.Bb5+ Bd7 6.Qe2 Nc6 7.a3 e6 8.f5 Nd4 9.Bxd7+ Qxd7 10.Nxd4 cxd4 11.fxe6 fxe6 12.Nd1 Ne7 13.0-0 Rf8 14.Rxf8+ Kxf8 15.c4 Nc6 16.d3 a5 17.Nf2 Kg8 18.Bd2 a4 19.Ng4 h5 20.Nf2 d5 21.cxd5 exd5 22.Rf1 Re8 23.Re1 dxe4 24.Nxe4 Re5 25.Qd1 Na5 26.Qe2 Nc6 27.Rc1 Rb5

28.Bh6 Qe6 29.Bxg7 Kxg7 30.Rc4 Qg4 31.Qd2 h4 32.h3 Qd7 33.Qc2 Rf5 34.Qxa4 Qf7 35.Rc1 Ne5 36.Qxd4 Qb3 37.Rc7+ Kh6 38.Qe3+ g5 39.Qe2 Nxd3 40.Rc3 Qf7 Scoresheet goes unreadable; at least to move 42... 1-0

 

(18) Kaplan,Glenn (1676) - Abraham,Renjish (1861) [A17]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U2000 San Francisco (5.19), 11.01.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.d3 c6 8.a3 d5 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.Bf4 Nc6 11.Ne5 h6 12.Qa4 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Nd7 14.Bf4 Nc5 15.Qd1 d4 16.Na2 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Qd5+ 18.Kg1 e5 19.Nb4 Qe6 20.Bd2 a5 21.Nc2 Nb3 22.Rb1 Rac8 23.Ne1 Rc5 24.e3 Nxd2 25.Qxd2 dxe3 26.fxe3 Rd8 27.b4 axb4 28.axb4 Rb5 29.Nc2 Rbd5 30.d4 Qg6 31.Qe2 exd4 32.exd4 Bf6 33.Rbd1 Bxd4+ 34.Rxd4 Rxd4 35.Nxd4 Rxd4 36.Qe8+ Kh7 37.Qxf7 Qxf7 38.Rxf7 Rxb4 39.Kg2 Kg6 40.Rf8 Rb2+ 41.Kh3 h5 42.Rf4 b5 43.Rd4 b4 44.Rc4 b3 45.Rb4 Rb1 46.g4 hxg4+ 47.Rxg4+ Kf5 48.Rxg7 b2 49.Rg2 Ke4 50.Kg3 Kd3 51.Kg4 Kc3 52.Rg3+ Kc2 53.Rg2+ Kb3 54.Rg3+ Ka2 55.Rg2 Rc1 56.h4 Kb3 57.Rxb2+ Kxb2 58.h5 Kc3 59.Kf5 Kd4 60.h6 Last scoresheet ends. Position on board is quite drawn. Time? 0-1

(19) Hack,Richard (1567) - Babayan,Gagik (1784) [B12]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U2000 San Francisco (5.20), 11.01.2020

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 h6 6.Be3 Qb6 7.Qc1 c5 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Bxc5 Qxc5 10.c3 Bxb1 11.Rxb1 Nc6 12.0-0 a5 13.Qf4 Nge7 14.Rbd1 0-0 15.Bd3 f5 16.h4 Qb6 17.Rd2 Qc7 18.h5 Qd7 19.Bb5 Qe8 20.Qh4 Qf7 21.Re2 g5 22.hxg6 Qxg6 23.Qf4 Rf7 24.g3 Kh7 25.Kg2 Qg4 26.Qxg4 fxg4 27.Bd3+ Kg7 28.Nh4 Nf5 29.Nxf5+ exf5 30.e6 Rf6 31.Rfe1 Ne7 32.Bb5 h5 33.f4 Rh6 34.Rh1 Rah8 35.b4 axb4 36.cxb4 Rc8 37.a3 Rhh8 38.Bd7 Rc3 39.Ra2 Kf6 40.b5 Ng6 41.Re1 h4 42.Rae2 Rxg3+ 43.Kh2 Ne7 44.Re3 Rxe3 45.Rxe3 Ng6 46.a4 Ke7 47.a5 Nxf4 48.Rc3 g3+ 49.Kh1 Ra8 50.Rc7 Rxa5 51.Bc6+ Kxe6 52.Bxd5+ Kxd5 53.Rc1 Ra2 0-1

(20) Mays,Jerry L (1700) - Cortinas,Martin A (1662) [B33]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U2000 San Francisco (5.21), 11.01.2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Nf5 d5 7.f3 d4 8.Nb5 a6 9.Na3 Nxe4 10.fxe4 Bxf5 11.h4 Bxe4 12.Qg4 Bd5 13.Bd3 Be6 14.Qf3 Bb4+ 15.c3 dxc3 16.0-0 cxb2 17.Bxb2 Bc5+ 18.Rf2 Bxf2+ 19.Qxf2 Qxd3 20.Rf1 Rd8 21.Qb6 Rd7 22.Nb1 Nd4 23.Qc5 Qe3+ 24.Rf2 Ne2+ 25.Kh2 Qxc5 0-1

(21) Baer,Michael A (1441) - Casares Jr,Nick (1600) [D00]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U2000 San Francisco (5.24), 11.01.2020

1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4 a6 4.e3 Bd7 5.Bd3 e6 6.Nf3 Bd6 7.Ne5 0-0 8.0-0 c6 9.h3 h6 10.Qf3 Be8 11.Bxh6 gxh6 12.Qg3+ Kh8 13.Qh4 Kg7 14.Qg3+ Kh8 15.Qh4 Kg7 1/2-1/2

(22) Yamamoto,Craig (1500) - Hansen,Mateo Stephen (1624) [B21]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U2000 San Francisco (5.26), 11.01.2020

1.e4 c5 2.f4 e5 3.d3 exf4 4.Bxf4 Qf6 5.Qf3 Qxb2 6.Qd1 Qxa1 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.g3 Nf6 9.Bg2 Qxa2 10.0-0 Qe6 11.Re1 h6 12.c4 g5 13.Be3 Ng4 14.Bd2 Nf6 15.Be3 d6 16.Nc3 Ng4 17.Nd5 Nxe3 18.Nc7+ Kd7 19.Nxe6 Nxd1 20.Nxf8+ Rxf8 21.Rxd1 a5 22.Ra1 a4 23.Bh3+ Kc7 24.Bg2 a3 25.Nd2 a2 26.Nb3 Nb4 27.Nc1 Bg4 28.Kf2 Bd1 29.Ke3 Nc2+ 30.Kd2 Nxa1 31.Kxd1 Ra3 0-1

(23) Morgan,Jerry (1467) - Tamondong,Cesar Bercilla (1617) [B20]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U2000 San Francisco (5.27), 11.01.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.f4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3 Bg7 4.d3 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.g3 c5 7.Bg2 Nc6 8.0-0 Rb8 9.Na3 a6 10.Bd2 b5 11.Nc2 Bb7 12.Rb1 Qc7 13.Re1 e5 14.b4 cxb4 15.Nxb4 Nxb4 16.cxb4 Ng4 17.Qe2 Qb6+ 18.Kf1 f5 19.h3 fxe4 20.hxg4 exf3 21.Bxf3 exf4 22.gxf4 Bxf3 23.Qxf3 Qd4 24.Qe4 Qf6 25.Qe6+ Kh8 26.Kg2 Qd4 27.Qe4 Qf6 28.Qd5 Qh4 29.Qf3 Be5 30.Rh1 Qe7 31.Qe4 Bf6 32.Rbe1 Qxe4+ 33.dxe4 Rbc8 34.Rc1 Bb2 35.Rxc8 Rxc8 36.Kf3 Rc4 37.f5 gxf5 38.gxf5 Be5 39.Rc1 Rxc1 40.Bxc1 h5 41.Bf4 Kg7 42.Bxe5+ dxe5 43.Kg3

1-0

 

(24) Gimelfarb,Ilia (1599) - Ansari,Jahaan (1461) [C01]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (5.10), 11.01.2020

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.Nge2 0-0 7.0-0 Be6 8.Nf4 Bg4 9.f3 Be6 10.Nxe6 fxe6 11.a3 Ba5 12.Bg5 Bb6 13.Ne2 e5 14.c3 exd4 15.cxd4 c6 16.Qc2 h6 17.Bh4 Nbd7 18.Kh1 Rc8 19.Bh7+ Kh8 20.Nf4 Rf7 21.Bg6 Re7 22.Qf5 Bxd4 23.Ne6 Rxe6 24.Qxe6 Nf8 25.Qf5 Nxg6 26.Qxg6 Bxb2 27.Rab1 Bxa3 28.Rxb7 Rc7 29.Rxc7 Qxc7 30.Bxf6 gxf6 31.Qxh6+ Kg8 32.Qxf6 Bf8 33.g4 a5 34.Rc1 c5 35.Qe6+ Qf7 36.Qxf7+ Kxf7 37.Ra1 c4 38.Rxa5 c3 39.Ra7+ Ke6 40.Rc7 d4 41.Kg2 Kd5 42.Kf2 Bd6 43.Rc8 Bxh2 44.Ke2 Bf4 45.Kd3 Be3 46.Rd8+ Ke5 47.Rf8 Bd2 48.Rf5+ Ke6 49.f4 Be3 50.Re5+ Kf6 51.g5+ Kg6 52.Re6+ Kf7 53.Rf6+ Kg7 54.f5 Bd2 55.Re6 Bxg5 56.Rg6+ Kf7 57.Rxg5 Kf6 58.Rg4 Kxf5 59.Rxd4 1-0

(25) Jade,Valerie (1532) - Ross,Max L (1549) [C51]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (5.28), 11.01.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Be7 6.d4 d6 7.d5 Nb8 8.Qa4+ Bd7 9.Qb3 Nf6 10.Qxb7 Na6 11.Qxa6 Nxe4 12.Bb5 Nc5 13.Bxd7+ Qxd7 14.Qc6 Qxc6 15.dxc6 Nd3+ 16.Ke2 e4 17.Nd4 a6 18.f3 Nxc1+ 19.Rxc1 d5 20.fxe4 dxe4 21.Ke3?? Bg5+ 22.Kxe4 Bxc1 23.a4 0-0 24.Na3 Bb2 25.Ra2 Bxc3 26.Nc4 Bxd4 27.Kxd4 f6 28.Rb2 Rab8 29.Rb7 Rbc8 30.Kc5 Kf7?? 31.Nd6+ Ke6 32.Nxc8 Rxc8 33.Ra7 g5 34.Rxa6 Rd8 35.Ra7 Rd5+ 36.Kc4 Kd6

37.Rxc7 Rc5+ 38.Kb4

38...Rxc6?+- [38...Rc2! is, insists the computer, a draw. 39.Rf7 (39.Rxh7 Rxg2! (39...Kxc6? 40.g3) ) 39...Kxc6] 39.Rb7?= [39.Rxc6+ Kxc6 40.g4+- (in fact, mate in 20 moves)] 39...h5= [39...Rc2=] 40.Kb5?! Rc5+?! [40...Rc2!?=/+] 41.Ka6? [41.Kb4=] 41...Rc2-+ 42.a5 Rxg2 43.Rb6+ Ke7 [43...Ke5!] 44.Kb7 Rxh2! 45.a6 Ra2 46.Kc6 h4 47.Rb7+ Ke6 48.a7 h3 49.Kb5 h2 50.Rb6+ Kf5 51.Ra6 Rxa6 52.Kxa6 h1Q 0-1

 

(26) Sachs-Weintraub,Julian (1429) - Martin,Michael J (1387) [A17]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (5.29), 11.01.2020

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.cxd5 exd5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.g3 Be7 6.Bg2 0-0 7.Bf4 Bf5 8.Qb3 Bc8 9.Nxd5 Nxd5 10.Qxd5 Bb4+ 11.Bd2 Bxd2+ 12.Kxd2 c6 13.Qxd8 Rxd8 14.e3 Bf5 15.Ne2 Na6 16.h3 Re8 17.g4 Be6 18.a3 Rad8 19.f4 Bd5 20.Bxd5 Rxd5 21.Nc3 Rdd8 22.Ke2 Rxd4 23.Kf3 Rd3 24.Rhe1 Rd7 25.b4 Nc7 26.Red1 Red8 27.Rxd7 Rxd7 28.Ne4 Rd5 29.h4 Ne8 30.g5 Nd6 31.Rc1 Nxe4 32.Kxe4 g6 33.Rc5 Rxc5 34.bxc5 Kf8 35.Ke5 Ke7 36.a4 b6 37.Kd4 b5 38.axb5 cxb5 39.e4 a5 40.e5 Kd7 41.Kd5 Kc7 42.c6 b4 43.Kc4 Kxc6 44.Kb3 Kb5 45.Kb2 Kc4 46.Kc2 a4 47.Kb2 a3+ 48.Ka2 Kc3 49.Kb1 b3 50.h5 a2+ 51.Ka1 b2+ 52.Kxa2 Kc2 53.hxg6 b1Q+ 54.Ka3 Qb3# 0-1

(27) Radaelli,Lucas (1411) - Neugut,Eitan (1322) [B34]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (5.30), 11.01.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Be3 Bg7 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.f3 0-0 9.Qd2 d5 10.0-0-0 Bb7 11.e5 Nd7

12.h4!? Nxe5 13.h5 f6 14.hxg6 hxg6 15.Bh6 Rf7 16.Bxg7 Rxg7 17.Qh6 Kf7 18.Be2 Bc8 19.Rd4 Qb6 20.Rdh4 Rb8 21.b3 Qc5 [21...g5! Stockfish makes Black winning by quite a lot (-4.5) -- with moves like ...Bf5, ...Nf7 (after a king move), ...Qe3+, some rook contesting the h-file...] 22.Kb2 Nc4+? That knight is often a key defensive piece (from f7 mostly), here it trades for a bishop that wasn't participating. 23.Bxc4 dxc4 24.Qh8? [24.Qf4 combines defensive threats (Qxc4+) with further rook action on the h-file; White is better.] 24...cxb3 25.axb3

25...f5?? [25...Rg8 26.Rh7+?? (26.Qh7+ Rg7 27.Qh6 Bf5 28.g4 g5 29.gxf5 gxh4 30.Qh5+ Kf8 31.Rxh4 Rb4 the best White can get is a perpetual.) 26...Kf8] 26.Rh7! [26.Rd1! threatening Rd8 also works] 26...Qe5 [26...Rxh7 27.Qxh7+ (27.Rxh7+ Ke6 28.Qe8) 27...Kf8 (27...Ke6 28.Rd1; 27...Ke8 28.Rd1) 28.Qh8+ Kf7 29.Rd1] 27.Rxg7+ Qxg7 28.Rh7 1-0

 

(28) Roberts,Joseph (1358) - Harris,Clarence (1402) [C55]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (5.31), 11.01.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.d4 d6 6.d5 Na5 7.Bd3 c5 8.b3 Bg4 9.a3 0-0 10.b4 cxb4 11.axb4 Rc8 12.Ne2 Nc4 13.Ng3 Qb6 14.c3 Nh5 15.Nxh5 Bxh5 16.Qb3 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Bh4 18.0-0 Qc7 19.Rxa7 Nb6 20.Bb2 Bg5 21.Kh1 Bf4 22.c4 Qe7 23.Bc1 Bxc1 24.Rxc1 Qg5 25.Qd1 Rc7 26.c5+- Nc8 27.Ra8 Rd8 28.Bb5 f5 29.Qg1 [29.c6!] 29...Qf4 30.Rc3 fxe4 31.Qg3 Qxg3?! [31...Qd2 32.fxe4 Qe1+ 33.Kg2 Qxe4+ 34.Rf3 dxc5 35.Bd3 Qxd5] 32.hxg3 exf3 33.c6! b6 34.Rxf3 Rf8 35.Rxf8+ Kxf8 36.Ba6 Ra7 37.Rxc8+ Ke7 38.Bb7 g5 39.Ra8 [39.Rc7+ Kf6 40.Rd7] 39...Rxa8 40.Bxa8 Kd8 41.Kg2 h5 42.Kf3 Kc7 43.Ke4 h4 44.gxh4 gxh4 45.Kf3 1-0

(29) Uzakbaev,Nursultan (1415) - James,Charles (1404) [B20]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (5.32), 11.01.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c5 2.Bc4 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.a4 Nc6 5.Nf3 g6 6.d3 Bg7 7.0-0 Nge7 8.Bg5 0-0 9.Qd2 f6 10.Bh6 d5 11.Bxg7 Kxg7 12.Ba2 d4 13.Ne2 e5 14.h3 b5 15.Nh2 Qd6 16.Ng4 Be6 17.axb5 axb5 18.Bxe6 Qxe6 19.f4 f5

20.Nf2 c4 21.Rae1 Ra4? [21...fxe4 22.Nxe4 (22.dxe4 Ng8) 22...Nd5] 22.fxe5 [22.dxc4!] 22...Qxe5 23.exf5 Nxf5 24.c3 [24.Ng4!] 24...Qe3 25.Qc2 [25.Qd1] 25...cxd3 [25...Qg5! 26.Ne4 Qxg2+!-/+] 26.Qxd3 Qxd3 27.Nxd3 Ne3? [27...Kg8; 27...Rfa8; 27...dxc3] 28.Rxf8 Kxf8 29.cxd4 [29.Nxd4! Nxd4 30.Rxe3+-] 29...Nc2 30.Rf1+ Ke7 31.d5! Ne3?! [31...N6b4 32.Nc5] 32.Re1 [32.dxc6 Nxf1 33.c7 Rc4 34.Kxf1 Rxc7 35.Nc3 Rb7 36.b4+-] 32...Nc2 33.Rd1 N6d4 34.Rd2 [34.Nc3!] 34...Kd6 35.Nc3 Ra1+ 36.Kf2 b4?! [36...Ra8] 37.Nxb4 Nxb4 38.Rxd4 Nc2 39.Rh4 Re1 40.Rxh7 1-0

 

(30) Cendejas,Jon Rodolfo (1254) - Starr,Albert Martin (1552) [C42]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (5.33), 11.01.2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nxe5 Qe7 5.Nf3 Nxe4 6.Qe2 Nxc3 7.Qxe7+ Bxe7 8.dxc3 d6 9.Bd3 Bg4 10.Nd4 Nd7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Bf4 c6 13.Rfe1 Rfe8 14.h3 Bh5 15.Nf5 Bf8 16.Nxd6 Rxe1+ 17.Rxe1 Nc5 18.Bc4 b5 19.Bf1 Bg6 20.Re2 Ne6 21.Bg3 Rd8 22.Rd2 Nc5 23.Rd4 Bxc2 24.Nxb5 Rxd4 25.Nxd4 Be4 26.f3 Bd3 27.b4 Bxf1 28.Kxf1 Na4 29.Be1 c5 30.Nc6 cxb4 31.cxb4 Bd6 32.Nxa7 Kf8 33.b5 Ke8 34.Ba5 Bc5 35.Nc6 f6 36.Ke2 Kd7 37.Kd3 Kd6 38.Ke4 g6 39.g4 h6 40.Bd8 Nc3+ 41.Kd3 Nxb5 42.Na5 Kd5 43.Bxf6 Na3 44.Nb3 Bf8 45.Nd2 Ke6 46.Ne4 Nb5 47.a4 Nc7 48.Bb2 Bb4 49.Bc1 h5 50.gxh5 gxh5 51.h4 Be1 52.Bg5 Nd5 53.Kc4 Nb6+ 54.Kb5 Nd7 55.Nc5+ Nxc5 56.Kxc5 Kd7 57.Kb5 Bf2 58.a5 Kc7 59.a6 Kb8 60.f4 Ka7 61.f5 Bd4 62.f6 Be5 63.f7 Bd6 64.Bh6 Ka8 65.f8Q+ Bb8 66.Qf3+ Ka7 67.Qb7# 1-0

(31) Chan,John (1506) - Lintz,Michael Harry (1376) [D02]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (5.34), 11.01.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.h3 c5 4.e3 e6 5.c3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Bd6 7.Bb5 Bd7 8.Bxc6 Bxc6 9.0-0 Qc7 10.Re1 c4 11.b4 a5 12.bxa5 Rxa5 13.a4 b5 14.Ne5 Bxe5?! [14...Rxa4-+] 15.dxe5 Qxe5 16.Nf3 Qc7 17.Ba3 bxa4 18.Bb4 Ra8 19.Nd4 Ne4 20.Qg4 g6 21.Qh4 Nd6? [21...h5-+] 22.Qf6?

[22.Qf4!+/- Kd7 23.Bxd6 Qxd6 24.Qxf7+ Kc8 25.e4!+-] 22...0-0!= 23.Qe5? [23.Bxd6 Qxd6 24.Nf5! gxf5 25.Qg5+ Kh8 26.Qf6+=] 23...Rfd8-/+ 24.Reb1 Be8 25.Qg3 Nb5?! 26.Qg5 Nxd4 [26...Nd6!] 27.exd4 Bc6 28.Be7 Rdb8 29.Bf6 Rxb1+ 30.Rxb1

30...Rb8??+- [30...Qd6 keeping a bead on f8 31.Be5 Qd8 32.Bf6 h6! 33.Qf4 Qf8] 31.Re1 [31.Rxb8+ Qxb8 32.Be5] 31...Qc8 32.Be5 Rb3 33.Qf6 Kf8 34.Qh8+ 1-0

 

(32) Sterling,Isaac (1126) - Rothman,Ivan (1487) [E94]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (5.35), 11.01.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Nf3 Nbd7 7.0-0 e5 8.Be3 exd4 9.Nxd4 c5? 10.Ndb5 Qb6 11.Qxd6 Qxd6 12.Nxd6 b6 13.f4 Ne8 14.Rad1 Nxd6 15.Rxd6 Nf6 16.Rfd1 Bg4 17.Bxg4 [17.e5!] 17...Nxg4 18.Bc1 [18.Bf2] 18...Bd4+ 19.R1xd4 cxd4 20.Rxd4 Rad8 21.Nd5 Kg7 22.Bd2 Nf6 23.Bc3 Nxd5 24.cxd5 f6 25.Kf2 a5 26.Ke3 Rd6 27.e5 Re8 28.Kf3 fxe5 29.fxe5 Rf8+ 30.Ke4 Re8 31.Rd1 Rdd8 32.e6+ Kg8 33.Ke5 Rc8 34.Bd4 b5 35.d6 Rf8 36.d7 Rc2 37.Kd6 Ra8 38.Ke7 Rc7 39.Be5 Rb7 40.Rf1 b4 41.Rf7 Raa7 42.Rf8# 1-0

(33) Frank,Robert H (1222) - Simpkins,Jerry (1539) [A80]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (5.37), 11.01.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 f5 3.c3 Nf6 4.Nbd2 e6 5.Nb3 Bd6 6.Bg5 0-0 7.e3 Qe8 8.c4 c6 9.c5 Bc7 10.Be2 Ne4 11.Nbd2 Qg6 12.0-0?? [12.h4] 12...Nxg5 13.Nh4 Qf6 14.f4 Nh3+ 15.gxh3 Qxh4 16.Rf3 Nd7 17.Qf1 Nf6 18.Rg3 Ne4 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Qg2 g6 21.Qf2 Qe7 22.h4 Bd8 23.h5 Qf7 24.Qg2-+ Bf6?? 25.hxg6+- hxg6 26.h4?? [26.Rxg6+ Kh7 27.Rg3+-; 26.Bh5 Qh7 27.Bxg6 Qh6 28.Rh3 Bh4 29.Bh5+ Kh7 30.Rxh4 Rg8 31.Qxg8+ Kxg8 32.Bf7+ Kg7 33.Rxh6 Kxh6 34.Be8! (34.Kf2 Bd7 35.Rg1 Rf8 36.Bg8 Re8=) 34...e5! 35.Bf7!+/-] 26...Kh7-+ 27.Rh3 Rg8 28.Kh2 Bd7 29.Rg1 Rg7 30.Qf2 Rh8 31.h5 g5 32.h6 Rgg8 33.Bh5 Qe7 34.Be2 g4 35.Rh5 Be8 [35...Qf7] 36.Rg5 Bxg5 37.fxg5 Qxg5 38.Qf4 Qh4+ [38...Qxf4+] 39.Kg2 Qh3+ 40.Kf2 g3+ 41.Rxg3 Rxg3 [41...Qh2+] 42.Qxg3 Qxg3+ 43.Kxg3 Rg8+ 44.Kf2 Kxh6 45.Ke1 Bh5 46.Bc4 Re8 47.b4 e5 48.d5 cxd5 49.Bxd5 Re7 50.a4 Bf3 51.a5 f4 52.Kf2 fxe3+ 53.Kxe3 Rd7 54.Bxe4 Bxe4 55.Kxe4 Rd4+ 56.Kxe5 Rxb4 57.Kd6 Rb5 58.a6 bxa6 59.Kd7 Rxc5 0-1

(34) Rushton,Peter James (1294) - Bryan,Robert R (373) [B50]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (5.40), 11.01.2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 e5 5.Nxf7 Qd7 6.Nxh8 Nc6 7.Bf7+ Kd8 8.d3 b5 9.Bd2 a5 10.Na3 b4 11.Nc4 Rb8 12.Bg5 Be7 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Bd5 g5 15.Nf7+ Kc7 16.a4 Ba6 17.g4 Ne7 18.Nfxd6 h6 19.Qf3 Rf8 20.Qe3 Bg7 21.Qxc5+ Kb8 22.Qb6+ 1-0

(35) Ahrens,Richard William (1256) - Wagner,Tyler (1050) [E20]
MI Wilkerson TNM: Extra Rated Game San Francisco (5.41), 11.01.2020

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bd2 Nf6 5.a3 Bxc3 6.Bxc3 0-0 7.e3 b6 8.Nf3 Nbd7 9.b4 c5 10.dxc5 bxc5 11.Ne5 Ne4 12.Bb2 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 f6 14.Bb2 cxb4 15.axb4 a6 16.cxd5 exd5 17.Bd3 Qb6 18.0-0 Qxb4 19.Ba3 Qc3 20.Bxf8 Kxf8 21.Bxe4 dxe4 22.Qd6+ Ke8 23.Rfc1 Qe5 24.Qc6+ Bd7 25.Qxa8+ Ke7 26.Qxa6 Kf7 27.Qc4+ Kg6 28.Qd4 Qb5 29.Qxe4+ Bf5 30.Qf4 1-0

(36) Johnson,Nathaniel - Allen,Tom Carter (1426) [A00]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (5.44), 11.01.2020

1.h4 e5 2.e4 Nf6 3.d3 Bc5 4.Be2 Nc6 5.c3 d6 6.g3 Be6 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.Nf3 0-0-0 10.b4 Bb6 11.a4 g5 12.a5 Bxf2+ 13.Kxf2 g4 14.Nbd2 gxf3 15.Nxf3 d5 16.Qc2 a6 17.Rab1 Bg4 18.b5 Nb8 19.bxa6 Nxa6 20.Qb2 Nc5 21.Qb5 Nxd3+ 22.Qxd3 dxe4 23.Qxe4 Bxf3 24.Qxf3 Qxf3+ 25.Kxf3 Rd6 26.Rbd1 Rf6+ 27.Kg2 e4 28.Rdf1 Rc6 29.Rxf7 Rxc3 30.Kh3 Ra3 31.Re7 e3 32.Re5 Rf8 33.Bg4+ Kb8 34.Re1 Rf2 35.R1xe3 Raa2 36.Be6 Rh2+ 37.Kg4 Ra4+ 38.R3e4 Ra3 39.Re3 Ra4+ 40.Kh5 1-0

(37) Chambers,Don (1298) - Sullivan,George Thomas (914) [B50]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (5.45), 11.01.2020

1.e4 c5 2.Bc4 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.d3 Nc6 5.Nf3 g6 6.Ng5 e6 7.0-0 Bg7 8.h3 0-0 9.Nf3 d5 10.exd5 exd5 11.Bb5 Bd7 12.Bxc6 Bxc6 13.Bg5 Qc7 14.Nbd2 b6 15.g3 Nd7 16.Bf4 Qb7 17.d4 Rfe8 18.Re1 Rxe1+ 19.Qxe1 Nf6 20.Ne5 Re8 21.Ndf3 Nd7 22.Ng5 Nxe5 23.dxe5 d4 24.e6 Bh1 25.exf7+ 1-0

(38) Ballantyne,Andrew (877) - Gimelfarb,Natan (1134) [C55]
MI Wilkerson TNM: Extra Rated Game San Francisco (5.46), 11.01.2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 h6 5.0-0 d6 6.d4 Bg4 7.Qd3 Nb4 8.Qb3 Bxf3 9.Bxf7+ Kd7 10.Qxf3 Nxc2 11.Qf5+ Kc6 12.Be3 Nxa1 13.Rc1+ Kb6 14.dxe5+ c5 15.exd6 Bxd6 16.Bxc5+ Kb5 17.Bxd6+ Ka4 18.b3+ Nxb3 19.axb3# 1-0

(39) Dunlap,Steven (1037) - North,Jeff James (867) [D91]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (5.47), 11.01.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bg5 Ne4 6.Nxd5 Nxg5 7.Nxg5 0-0 [7...e6] 8.e4 e6 9.Nxh7 Kxh7 10.Nf4 Bxd4 11.Nh3 e5 12.Qf3 Nc6 13.Be2 Kg7 14.0-0 Rh8 15.Qa3 Bxh3 16.gxh3 Qe7 17.Rab1 Rad8 18.b4 Nxb4 19.Kh1 Rd6 20.f3 Nc2 21.f4 exf4 22.Qf3 Ne3 23.Rg1 Ra6 24.Bd3 Rxa2 25.e5 Qe6 26.Qe4

26...Rxh2+ 0-1

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