Chess Room Newsletter #907

 

 

 

Newsletter #907

Feb 28, 2020

By Abel Talamantez

Table of Contents

• Max Wilkerson Memorial TNM Round7
• Charlotte Chess Center Defeats Mechanics' Institute 14-10 in our 2nd Historic Club vs. Club Match
• 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 7 Recap

Section Favorites Win Out, Next TNM Starts Next Week!

There was excitement building for the final round of the Max Wilkerson TNM, as two sections had perfect scores, and the top section had one lone player able to catch up to championship leader FM Josiah Stearman. At the end of the day, the leaders showed their dominance in impressive fashion.

FM Josiah Stearman had a dominant TNM en route to a clear victory in the championship section

In the championship section, FM Josiah Stearman had a full point lead over one player, Nicholas Weng. Weng was asked on the broadcast after his impressive first round victory if he thought he would win, to which he smiled and said yes. This was a bold and confident statement from a 12-year old who is rated 1864, and he knew he would have to navigate through some tough opponents to be in contention. After victories over WFM Natalya Tsodikova and NM Michael Walder, however, he was showing he was up to the task of pulling off a major TNM upset. Neverthless, Stearman made short work of Weng en route to another TNM Championship. He finishes with 6.5/7, a point and a half above the rest. In a tie for 2nd and 3rd are TNM veteran IM  Elliott Winslow and CM Ethan Boldi, who turned in a solid TNM performance with 5/7. Congratulations to these three players!

In the u/2000 section, Bruce Ricard was chasing perfection as he was coming into the round 6/6, an amazing tournament showing considering it could prove difficult for even a master to go 6/6 in this section. Ricard's opponent called in last minute, however, and said he would not make the match. This gave Ricard 7/7, which was not needed as he had already clinched the section championship last week, with a point and a half ahead of the field. Ricard played an extra rated game against Mechanics' veteran NM Carlos Davila, and Davila showed there is still some things to an under 2000 player to learn, as Davila won in impressive fashion. Bruce turned in an amazing TNM showing, and we congratulate him. Bob Drane finished clear 2nd with 5.5/7 and 3rd is a tie between Renjish Abraham and Nicholas Boldi at 5/7. 

Bruce Ricard on board 5 and Ilia Gimelfarb on board 6 (both playing white) crusied to victories in their sections

In the u/1600 category, Ilia Gimelfarb continues to dominate the section, as he achieved absolute perfection withj a 7/7 score after defeating Joseph Roberts. His rating will put him into the next section for the TNM, and it will be interesting to follow his performance against stronger competition. In a 3-way tie for 2nd are Maz Ross, John Chan, and Nursultan Uzakbaev at 5.5/7.

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

To watch a replay of the live broadcast, please click here

Congratulations to all the winners and players of the Tuesday Night Marathon!

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Charlotte Chess Center Defeats Mechanics' Institute in our 2nd Match

The second of our club vs. club matches took place on Wednesday February 26, and it ended in a victory for the Charlotte Chess Center at 14-10. These matches are organized to faciltiate collaboration and competition of our chess clubs and showcase chess culture. They also give viewers an opportunity to learn about the players in our respective communities and the history of our chess clubs. The match was designed as a 12-player team match in which players play two games against the same opponent under a G/15 +2 time control with white and black. The players were chosen to represent sections divided by rating, giving players of many skill levels the opportunity to participate and represent their club. 

The Mechanics' team played from inside the chess club against the Charlotte Chess Center 

Here was the team representing Mechanics', along with their Chess.com handle. Mechanics' team is on the left.

u/2400

NM Eric Yuhan Li (wepkins) 2344 vs FM Peter Giannatos 2367

NM Ruiyang Yan (jij2018) 2218 vs Karthik Rangarajan 2338

u/2200

NM Michael Walder (FlightsOfFancy) 2126 vs Dominique Myers 2176

Kristian Clemens (kclemens) 2003 vs Vishnu Vanapalli 2137

u/2000

Guy Argo (guyargo) 1939 vs Alex Velasquez 1939

Ako Heidari (Oka_Ako) 1928 vs Andrew Chen 1882

u/1800

Jayden Xu (pianowizard) 1720 vs Garrett Browning 1771

Cesar Tamondong (cesarkan2) 1600 vs David Cogswell 1712

u/1600

Alejandro Canales (lilpix2) 1583 vs Enzo Restelli 1534

Valerie Jade (evariel) 1532 vs Jeffrey Prainito 1500

u/1400

Joseph Roberts (mojorobi) 1358 vs Bradley Juopperi 1392

Pete Rushton (prushton) 1181 vs Chalpati Gundumalla 1330

The match was broadcast on our Twitch channel with commentary from GM Nick de Firmian and FM Paul Whitehead. The Charlotte Chess Center had their own stream with commentary by GM Daniel Naroditsky, winner of the 2019 CalChess Blitz Championship held at Mechanics' Institute. It was great to have his stream covering the match, as he has a large following and was even raided on Twitch by Alexandra Botez. We appreciate the collaborative coverage and participation.

Parents and players watch on the screen as NM Ruiyang Yan is the final game left of the evening

While Mechanics' Institute did not win the match, our players performed well, and a couple of the games were close and could have easily turned the match the other way. I think it is safe to say that our team MVP of the evening was Eric Li, who defeated Charlotte Chess Center Director and founder FM Peter Gianattos 2-0. Despite the loss, players were socializing after the match, laughing, playing blitz, and just talking. The sound of that social interaction and togetherness reflect the intent of these matches and illustrate how brick and mortar clubs still have a powerful and pervasive place in our chess culture and community. 

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FM Paul Whitehead's Column

This column will return with the new TNM.

 

Tournament software calculated Post Tournament Rating

by Judit Sztaray, Senior Tournament Director, Fide Arbiter
 

In the past few weeks, I have received an increasing number of requests to include the tournament software calculated Post Tournament Rating (PTR). While I understand the interest, the main reason we have not used it is the risk of inaccuracy. With the current TNM concluded, however, we have the capacity to test it and demonstrate its accuracy to everyone.

Here are the Standings after Round 7, with the PTR included for the top 10 players in the Championship section, and top five players in the U2000 and U1600 section. Also included in the table is the MSA post rating that came out after the rating of the event, as well as the calculated difference between MSA and Swissys’ PTR.

 

#	Name	ID	Rating	Post	MSA	Diff
2	FM JOSIAH PAUL STEARMAN	14006506	2445	2458	2448	-10
2	IM ELLIOTT CHARLES WINSLOW	10363365	2223	2246	2252	6
3	ETHAN [KAZANJIAN] BOLDI	15088362	2090	2122	2131	9
4	WCM RUIYANG YAN	15462690	2221	2232	2242	10
5	NICHOLAS WENG	15499404	1864	1968	1939	-29
6	WFM NATALYA TSODIKOVA	12634942	2204	2200	2202	2
7	FM KYRON WAYKUAN GRIFFITH	12860484	2434	2436	2469	33
8	DAVID BENJAMIN ASKIN	13776967	2027	2046	2025	-21
9	JASON CHILDRESS	12625556	2073	2065	2067	2
10	AKO HEIDARI	15206848	1940	1976	1990	14
#	Name	ID	Rtng	Post	MSA	Diff
1	BRUCE RICARD	15741428	1849	1957	1943	-14
2	ROBERT WILLIAM DRANE	12478485	1812	1879	1871	-8
3	NICHOLAS ARMEN BOLDI	15088356	1754	1780	1863	83
4	RENJISH ABRAHAM	14384094	1861	1857	1863	6
5	RUDOLPH FRANS BREEDT	13701346	1882	1878	1888	10
#	Name	ID	Rtng	Post	MSA	Diff
1	ILIA GIMELFARB	17158733	1599	1708	1731	23
2	MAX L ROSS	16425248	1549	1631	1608	-23
3	JOHN CHAN	12561007	1506	1513	1511	-2
4	NURSULTAN UZAKBAEV	17137317	1415	1509	1494	-15
5	JOSEPH ROBERTS	16864855	1358	1472	1449	-23

 

I took another tournament, the Chernev memorial, which happened on January 25th. 

#	Name	ID	Rating	Post	MSA	Diff
1	ARCHIT DASIKA	14903402	2169	2174	2151	-23
2	SIDDHARTH ARUTLA	15336920	1658	1787	1755	-32
3	FM KYRON WAYKUAN GRIFFITH	12860484	2434	2435	2460	25
4	PATRICK PEIJUN LIU	16667410	1629	1675	1692	17
5	MICHAEL DA CRUZ	12554298	2004	1994	2000	6
6	KRISH MATAI	16444206	1712	1741	1743	2
7	CAILEN J MELVILLE	14006141	1884	1896	1975	79
8	ADITYA ARUTLA	16207801	1691	1746	1745	-1
9	VIKTOR MISHKIN	14960114	1892	1891	1892	1
10	JAMES J MAHOOTI	12621393	1853	1864	1865	1
11	ADAM MERCADO	16571026	1789	1810	1805	-5
12	SIMONA NAYBERG	14373224	1926	1893	1894	1
13	LINO FABIANI	14516978	1810	1794	1794	0
14	MANAS PALDHE	16418854	2041	2000	2002	2
15	STOYAN VASSILEV	12744505	2309	2278	2235	-43

 

A few things can be immediately concluded from the data:

1. SwisSys has the supplemental ratings listed as Rating, which is the pre-tournament rating. USCF always modifies the unofficial (aka actual rating), however, and that changes after each tournament. This is the first and main source of the inaccuracy listed on the standings coming out from this tournament software platform. The Tuesday Night Marathon has an even higher risk of inaccuracy due to the length of the tournament spanning several weeks and using an older supplement rating.
2. If the supplemental rating is the actual rating that USCF uses to update (i.e. the player hasn’t played any tournament since the third Wednesday of last month), then the estimation is much closer, in certain cases even 100% accurate.
3. Of course if any player is still in the provisional range, the accuracy cannot be expected to be close.

As a former data scientist, this quick demonstration did spark my interest in doing a deeper analysis on the influencing factors, and in general how we can improve the process, but will leave that discussion for another time. For now, I hope this serves to demonstrate the reason we are not using this system.

Any question, feedback, comment or opinion? Email us to [email protected] and let's continue the discussion.
 

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Tony's Teasers

Last week's problem:
White to move and mate in 3. K.S. Howard 1936
 

Solution: 1. e4!!  Kh5  2. Kf3  e5  3. g4#

This week's problem: B. Harley 1941. Mate in 3 #907

  

 

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Scholastic Chess
 

Tomorrow, SUNDAY, March 1st  - New start time: 11AM

Special Team Competition and Scholastic Swiss

Events Running Parallel - Pick One and Join Us!

This is the second time we are organizing these events, following the successful tournament at the end of January. 

Come out, and play against other high school kids as a team. All special rules will be explained on site.

3 sections: 700+, 400-699, and under400
First round: 11AM and then rolling schedule
Prizes: Trophies to Top 5 trophies, medals to all others!
Ideal for new tournament players - notation and use of clock is not necessary!
Register - More information
 

Our next big event is the signature scholastic event of
the Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club

2020 San Francisco Scholastic Championship

FREE EVENT – Everyone MUST register to secure your spot!

Saturday, March 28, 2020 @ Golden Gate Park

This year we’ll have two USCF rated sections: under800 and 800+. This was done to give a better experience for players at all levels.

We recommend for anyone who participated in a USCF-rated tournament before to register for any of the two sections.
If this is your first time competing, the best is to register for the non-rated section that best fits your grade level: Grade K-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-8, 9-12.

Welcome email will be sent out on Thursday for everyone who registered online. This email will have very important information on venue, logistics, event timeline, and the awards ceremony.

Information - Registration - Flyer

 

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GM Nick de Firmian's Column

Practical Openings 6: Dutch Defense 1. d4 f5
 

The Dutch Defense has several advantages over the most common responses Black has to 1.d4. It limits White’s options so that one does not have to learn the massive theory of the Queen’s Gambit or Slav or Indian defenses. Secondly, it avoids the (now popular) London System with its own new theory and the solid positions that make some White players very comfortable. Thirdly, it imbalances the pawn structure so that it will always be a double-edged game where Black can get winning chances. The fourth reason (that of all Practical Openings we have done in these weeks) is that you need only learn certain lines of play, and then you are all set against even strong opponents.

There are a few options for White to play against the Dutch. The most popular and most highly regarded is to fianchetto White’s king’s bishop with g3 and Bg2, to pressure the center and the queenside on the long diagonal. White also has straightforward development with 2. Nc3 and 3. Bg5. This logical play by White requires principled defense, yet then Black should be fine. The third choice for White is the Staunton Gambit, 2. e4 fxe4 3. f3, which offers a pawn for quick development and attacking chances. This gambit is tricky, but careful defense from Black takes the sting out of it.
 

(1) White - Black [A80]

1.d4 f5 2.g3 [White could also choose the move order 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 e6] 2...Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 The most popular line for Black in the Dutch is to fianchetto the bishop with 3...g6 - the Leningrad System. (It's curious how the name of the chess variation is one of the few memories of the temporary name for St. Petersburg.) That system for Black is reasonable but well known. We recommend something less investigated. 4.c4 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Nc3 d6 7.0-0 a5 

It is this move that is recommended to ensure Black has sufficient control over the whole board. In the older times Black would play directly for the kingside with [7...Qe8 though White would get some edge. e.g. 8.Re1 Qg6 9.e4! fxe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Rxe4! Qxe4? 12.Nh4 

wins the queen] 8.Re1 [8.b3 Bd7 9.Bb2 (9.d5 e5 10.Ng5 Na6 11.Ne6 Bxe6 12.dxe6 c6 has chances for both sides. The e6 pawn is as weak as it is strong.) ] 8...Ne4 9.Bf4 [9.Nxe4 fxe4 10.Nd2 d5 leaves Black strong in the center] 9...Nd7 10.Rc1 Ndf6 Diagram

Black is developing all the pieces and taking his/her fair share of the center. This is an unbalanced position with chances for both sides. *

 

(2) White - Black [A80]

1.d4 f5 2.Nc3 Diagram

One thinks that most people play the main lines against the Dutch, but that is not the case. Mostly people haven't prepared too much and they themselves would like some sideline in which they feel comfortable. 2...d5 taking a firm grip on the center which White cannot contest with c2-c4. Instead [2...Nf6 3.Bg5 e6 4.e4 fxe4 5.Nxe4 Be7 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 is playable but slightly passive.] 3.Bg5 g6 [3...Nf6 is perfectly playable. If White doubles the pawns Black's two bishops and central control will compensate. (see example 2)] 4.h4 Bg7 5.e3 c6 6.Bd3 Be6 the bishop develops before the knight on b8 so that they both take part in the action. 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Ngf6 9.hxg6 hxg6 10.Rxh8+ Bxh8 Diagram

with equal chances *

 

(3) White - Black [A82]

1.d4 f5 2.e4 Diagram

The Staunton Gambit, an aggressive line which can be met well with accurate play. 2...fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 d5! This maintains the gambit pawn while not allowing White to develop and controll the center. 5.Bg5 Bf5 6.fxe4 dxe4 7.Bc4 Nc6 8.Nge2 Qd7 Diagram

Gamibt players could be happy with the White side, but objectively Black has an edge. *

 

(4) Topalov,Veselin (2752) - Ivanchuk,Vassily (2769) [A80]
Wch Blitz Astana (10), 09.07.2012

A very entertaining game between two of the world's top players from the last decades. 1.Nf3 f5 2.d4 Nf6 3.Bg5 e6 4.Nbd2 Be7 Diagram

Black's set-up controls the center just as well as White's. 5.c3 b6 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.e4 Bb7!? 8.Bd3 g6! This holds the central squares. Black is fine with the two bishops to compensate for the White central space. 9.h4 Qe7 10.Qe2 Nc6 11.0-0-0 0-0-0 12.Ba6 Bxa6 13.Qxa6+ Kb8 14.Rhe1 Bxh4!? Greedy but risky. White has central play but needs to justify the pawn sacrifidce. [14...fxe4] 15.d5 Na5 16.exf5 gxf5 17.dxe6?! [17.Nd4!] 17...dxe6 18.Ne5 Bg5 Diagram

19.Qxa5 Rxd2! 20.Nc6+ Kb7 Diagram

21.Rxd2? [White could hold the game with the direct 21.Qxa7+ Kxc6 22.Rxd2 as Black must play ...Bxd2+ with equality since 22...Rd8? loses to 23.f4! Bxf4 24.Qa4+] 21...Bxd2+ 22.Kxd2 Qg5+ Black saves his queen and wins White's. 0-1

 

(5) Carlsen,Magnus (2693) - Radjabov,Teimour (2747) [A80]
Porto Vecchio m of the Hopes Porto Vecchio (5), 18.05.2007

This was a faster time game, but a great match of the world's top young players (who are still battling for the world title today). The Dutch is an opening to play against the world's best. 1.d4 f5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5 d5 4.Bxf6 exf6 5.e3 c6 Diagram

Radjabov is a very solid player who takes his central squares. Magnus was not yet #1 in the world at this time (that was just a couple years later), but clearly a formidable opponent. 6.Qf3 Be6 7.Bd3 g6 8.h3 Nd7 9.g4 Real aggression, but Black is solid. 9...fxg4 10.hxg4 Bf7 11.Nge2 Qb6 12.0-0-0 0-0-0 13.Nf4 Bb4 14.Nce2 Qa5 15.Kb1 Bd6 16.c3 b5 Black has a plan to advance on the queenside because the center is under control. Magnus does hits the center, but forgets about a tactic. 17.e4? dxe4 18.Bxe4 Qxa2+ 19.Kc1 Kc7?! 20.Bxc6? too greedy to get the pawn back [20.Nd3 Bb3] 20...Qa1+ 21.Kc2 Diagram

21...Bb3+! 22.Kd2 [22.Kxb3 Qa4#] 22...Qxb2+ 23.Ke1 Bxd1 24.Kxd1 Qb3+ 25.Kd2 Qa2+ 26.Kd1 Qb3+ 27.Kd2 Qa2+?! [27...Bxf4+! 28.Nxf4 Ne5! 29.Nd5+ Rxd5 30.Qxd5 Qb2+ would win for Black] 28.Ke3 Rhe8+ 29.Be4 f5 30.gxf5 gxf5 31.Ra1 desperation 31...Qxa1 32.Nd5+ Kb8 33.Qxf5 Qa5 34.Kf3 Rf8 0-1

 

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2020 Wilkerson Memorial TNM Games Round 7

Annotations by GM Nick de Firmian

 

(1) Stearman,Josiah Paul (2445) - Weng,Nicholas (1864) [B23]
MI Wilkerson TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (7.1), 25.02.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Nf3 g6 [4...a6!?] 5.Bc4 Bg7 6.Nxd4 cxd4 7.Qf3

Josiah has had a great tournament and wants to finish this last round quickly! In fact this threatened mate on f7 forces a decision by Black. 7...e6?! [7...Nh6 would avoid weakening squares in the center. 8.Ne2 0-0 9.d3 Ng4 10.Bb3 d6 11.h3+/=] 8.Nb5 d6

[Better to sac a pawn for development with 8...d5!? 9.exd5 a6 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.Na3 Nf6+/=] 9.Qa3! Be5?! [9...Bf8!?] 10.d3 g5?! 11.c3! Targeting the bishop on e5. Black cannot get his pieces developed in time. 11...d5 12.cxd4 [12.exd5 exd5 13.0-0! dxc4 14.Re1] 12...Bb8 13.Bb3 Qb6 14.Qc5 Qxc5 15.dxc5 a6 [15...dxe4 16.dxe4 Nf6 17.f3 h6 18.Be3] 16.Nc3 [16.Nd6+! Bxd6 17.cxd6 dxe4 18.dxe4 Nf6 19.f3 g4] 16...dxe4 17.Nxe4 White has an extra pawn. better development and better pawn structure. Josiah wraps it up efficiently. 17...h6 18.Bd2 f5 19.Bc3 Rh7 20.Ng3 Ne7 21.Nh5 Rf7?! 22.Ng7+

Winning more material, so Black resigned. Congratulations Josiah! 1-0

 

(2) Winslow,Elliott C (2223) - Childress,Jason (2073) [B01]
MI Wilkerson TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (7.2), 25.02.2020
[Winslow, Elliott C]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 [3.Bb5+ Bd7 (3...Nbd7!?) 4.Bc4 Bg4 5.f3 Bf5 6.g4 Bc8 Bishop ping-pong! 7.Nc3 Nbd7 8.g5 Nb6 9.Bb5+ Nfd7 10.f4 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 c6 12.Bc4 cxd5 13.Bxd5 Ne5 14.Be4 Bg4 15.Nf3 Nc6 16.d4 1-0 (30) Fischer,R-Bergraser,V Monte Carlo 1967] 3...Bg4 4.Bb5+ c6 5.dxc6 Bxd1??

[5...Qa5+; 5...Nxc6] 6.c7+! [There is a lure here, in that 6.cxb7+?? Nbd7-+ (note g2 hanging!) 7.Bc6 (7.bxa8Q Qxa8 8.f3 Bxc2-+) 7...Rb8 8.Kxd1 (8.Bf4 Qb6-+ (8...Qa5+ 9.Nc3 Rd8?! 10.Kxd1 Qb4 11.Nb5-+ Qxb2?? One must be ever awake! (11...e5) 12.Nc7# (woops!) 1-0 (12) Bellos,V (1499)-Darviris,D (1000) Petroupoli 2012) ) 8...Qb6] 6...Nc6 [6...Qd7? 7.c8R# (7.c8Q#) ] 7.cxd8Q+ Rxd8 8.Bxc6+ [8.Kxd1] 8...bxc6 9.Kxd1+- 1-0

 

(3) Askin,David Benjamin (2027) - Boldi,Ethan [Kazanjian] (2090) [D46]
MI Wilkerson TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (7.3), 25.02.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Bb4 This active looking move usually leads to a loss of tempo or trading the bishop for knight. [5...Bd6; or 5...Nbd7 is preferable.] 6.Bd2 0-0 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.0-0 Bxc3 [8...b6? falls into the trap 9.Nxd5! Nxd5 10.cxd5 Bxd2 11.dxe6 winning a pawn] 9.Bxc3 b6 10.Qe2 Bb7 11.Rfd1 with the two bishops, White holds an opening edge. 11...Rc8 12.Rac1 Qc7 13.cxd5 exd5 14.b4 Qb8 15.Bf5 g6 16.Bh3 a6 17.Ne5 '!' 17...Rcd8 18.Nd3?! There is no reason to abandon this square. [18.f3!] 18...Ne4 19.Be1 Ndf6 20.g3 [20.g4!] 20...Kg7 21.Bg2 Rfe8 22.f3 Nd6 23.Ne5 Qa8 24.Bf1?! [24.g4+-] 24...Nd7 25.Nxd7?! Better to hold the outpost with [25.e4!+/-; or 25.Bh3 as 25...Nxe5?! 26.dxe5 Rxe5?! 27.Bc3 wins the exchange.] 25...Rxd7= 26.Qd2 Rde7 27.Bf2 Qc8 28.Re1 Qf5 29.Kg2 h5 30.Bd3 Qd7 31.Qc2 b5 32.e4? dxe4 33.fxe4

33...Nxe4! 34.Bxe4 Rxe4 35.Rxe4 Rxe4 [35...c5!] 36.Kg1 Qd5 37.Qc5 Qe6 38.Qb6 Qd7 39.d5 Rc4?! [39...c5! 40.bxc5 Bxd5] 40.Rxc4 bxc4 41.Qd4+ Kh7 42.d6 c3 43.Qxc3 Qxd6 44.Bc5 Qd1+ 45.Kf2 Qd5 46.Bf8 Qf5+ 47.Kg1 f6 48.Qc4 Qd7 49.Bc5 Bc8 50.Qf4 Kg7 51.Qb8? [51.Qd6! forces an ending with good drawing chances] 51...Qd1+ 52.Kf2 Qd2+ 53.Kg1 Qd1+ 54.Kf2 Qd2+ 55.Kg1 Qe1+ 56.Kg2

56...Bh3+! 57.Kxh3 Qf1+ 58.Kh4 g5+ 0-1

 

(4) Yan,Ruiyang (2221) - Argo,Guy (1939) [B07]
MI Wilkerson TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (7.4), 25.02.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.g3 e5 5.Nge2 c6 6.Bg2 Qc7 7.a4 Be7 8.0-0 h6 9.h3 a5 10.Be3 White has a good setup and holds an opening edge. 10...b6 11.f4 Ba6 12.Rf2 0-0-0?! aggressive but risky. 13.d5 c5 14.g4 [14.Nb5] 14...Nh7?! [14...exf4] 15.Bf1 Bh4 16.Rf3 Rde8 17.Ng3 c4 18.Nf5 Bf6 19.Nb5 Bxb5 20.axb5 exf4 21.Bxf4 Be5 22.Ra4! winning a pawn 22...Bxf4 23.Rxc4 Nc5 24.Rxf4 g5 25.Rf3 Rxe4?!

This wins the pawn back but leads to tactical trouble. 26.Rxe4 Nxe4 27.Qd4 Re8?! This loses but Black is in trouble no matter what. [27...Qc5 28.Nxd6+!; 27...Nhf6 28.Bd3 Qc5 29.Bxe4 Qxd4+ 30.Nxd4 Nxe4 31.Rxf7] 28.Re3 Qxc2 29.Rxe4! There is a knight fork on d6. 1-0

 

(5) Kuczek,Kevin W (1982) - Tsodikova,Natalya (2204) [B23]
MI Wilkerson TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (7.7), 25.02.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bb5+ Nc6 6.Bxc6+ bxc6 7.d3 e6?! [7...Nf6; 7...Nh6] 8.0-0 Ne7 9.Qe1 [9.e5] 9...0-0 10.b3 f5 11.Rb1 fxe4 12.Nxe4 Nf5 13.a4 [13.Bb2! to trade dark-squared bishops would be nice for White.] 13...Rb8 14.Ba3 Rb7 15.Kh1 Re7 16.Qd2 Nd4 17.Rbe1?! [17.Nxd4 Bxd4 18.c3 Bg7 19.d4] 17...Nxf3 18.Rxf3 e5! Black starts to take over, using the power of her two bishops. 19.Ng5? [19.Bb2 Bh6 20.Qf2!?] 19...exf4 20.Ref1 h6 21.Ne4 g5 The black kingside pawns are too strong. 22.b4 c4 23.dxc4? Rxe4 0-1

(6) Busch,Jonah M (1944) - Heidari,Ako (1940) [C04]
MI Wilkerson TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (7.8), 25.02.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 e6 2.e4 d5 3.Nd2 Nc6 4.c3 e5!? 5.Ngf3!? [5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Ngf3 exd4 7.Bc4 Qh5 was a famous game: 0-1 (36) Fischer,R-Byrne,R US ch (8) New York 1965; 5.dxe5!? dxe4!? (5...Nxe5 6.Ngf3) 6.Qa4 Qd5!?] 5...exd4 6.cxd4 dxe4 7.Nxe4 Bb4+ 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.a3 Be7 [9...Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 0-0 is an easy game for Black.] 10.d5 This gives White a little more space in the coming positions. 10...Nb8 11.Bc4 0-0 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Bf4 Nb6 14.Ba2 Ne8 15.Qc2 Nd6 16.Nd4 Bd7 17.Rac1 Rc8 18.Qd3 a6 19.Rfe1 Re8 20.Re2 Bg5! exchanging pieces is good strategy when in a cramped position 21.Qg3 [21.Rxe8+ Nxe8 22.Be3] 21...Bxf4 22.Qxf4 Rxe2 23.Ncxe2 g6 24.h4 h5 25.Nf3 Qe7 26.Ned4 Kg7 27.Re1 Qf6 28.Qxf6+ Kxf6 The ending is equal. 29.Ne5 Be8 30.f3 Na4 31.b4?! [31.Nd3] 31...Nc3 32.Bb3 Ncb5 33.Nc2?! Nf5 Now White loses the h4 pawn. 34.a4 Nbd6 35.Kh2 Nxh4 36.g4 hxg4 37.fxg4 g5 38.Nd4 Ng6 39.Nxg6 Kxg6 40.Bc2+ Kg7 41.Nf5+ Nxf5 42.Bxf5 Rd8 43.Re7 Kf6?! [43...Bxa4 44.Rxc7 Rxd5] 44.Rxc7 Rxd5 45.Rxb7 Bxa4 46.Rb6+ Ke5 47.Rxa6 Bb5 48.Ra7 Bc4 49.Kg3 Rd2 50.Re7+ Kf6 51.Rb7 Rb2 52.Kf3?? [52.Rb6+ should draw] 52...Bd5+ 53.Be4

53...Rb3+! 54.Ke2 Bxb7 55.Bxb7 Rxb4 56.Bc8 Ke5 57.Kf3 Rb3+ 58.Kf2 Kf4 59.Kg2 Rg3+ 60.Kf2 Rxg4 0-1

 

(7) Perlov,Alexander (1825) - Clemens,Kristian (2019) [D23]
MI Wilkerson TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (7.9), 25.02.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qc2 dxc4 5.Qxc4 Bf5 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bg5 Be7 8.a4 0-0 9.e3 Nbd7 10.Be2 h6 11.Bh4 Rc8 12.Rd1?! [12.0-0] 12...Qb6! 13.e4 Bh7 14.e5 Nd5?! [14...Qxb2! 15.exf6 (15.Rd2 Qc1+ 16.Rd1 Qa3 17.exf6 Nb6!) 15...Bb4 16.0-0 Nb6 17.Qa2 Bxc3 18.Qxb2 Bxb2 wins a pawn] 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.b4?!

[16.Rd2] 16...Nd5! White should have castled earlier. 17.Nxd5 cxd5 18.a5? Dropping a pawn. [White is in trouble and needs to try 18.Qb5] 18...dxc4 19.axb6 Nxb6 20.0-0 Nd5 21.Rc1 b5! 22.Nd2 Nxb4 23.Rc3 a5 24.Rfc1 Na2 0-1

 

(8) Reichwein,Axel (1892) - Melville,Cailen J (1884) [C00]
MI Wilkerson TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (7.10), 25.02.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.g3 Nc6 5.Bg2 a5 6.Ngf3 dxe4 7.dxe4 e5 8.0-0 Bc5 9.h3 0-0 10.Re1 Qe7 11.c3 a4 12.Qc2 Rd8 13.Nf1 b6 Black has chosen a logical set-up against the King's Indian Attack. 14.Be3 a3 15.b4 Bxb4?! No need to sacrifice. 16.cxb4 Nxb4 17.Qb1 Ba6 18.Bg5 [18.Nxe5! would leave Black only one pawn for the piece.] 18...Bd3 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Qc1 Nc2 21.Nh4 Nxa1 22.Nf5 Qf8 23.Qxa1 b5 24.N1e3 b4 25.Ng4 Ra6 26.Bf1 Qc5 27.Qd1! Qc2 28.Qxc2 Bxc2 29.Bxa6 b3 30.Nxf6+ Kh8

31.axb3? [31.Ne3! stops Black on the queenside and converts the extra material.] 31...Rd1! 32.Rxd1 Bxd1

White is two pieces up but cannot stop the a-pawn! Yet 33.Bc4? [White can give both (!) pieces back: 33.Ne3! a2 (33...Bxb3?! 34.Nc2 Bxc2 35.Bc4 Bb1 36.Ng4 a2 37.Bxa2 Bxa2 38.Nxe5) 34.Nxd1 a1Q 35.Be2 when it's White playing for the win.] 33...a2 34.Kg2 a1Q 35.Bxf7 Qc3 The queen is too powerful. 36.Ne3 Kg7 37.Nfd5 Qxb3 38.Be6 Bc2 39.Nf5+ Kf8 40.f3 Qa2 41.Nb4 Qxe6 42.Nxc2 Qc4 43.Nfe3 Qe2+ 44.Kg1 Qxf3 45.Nf1 Qxe4 46.Nce3 c5 47.Kf2 Qd3 48.Kf3 c4 49.Kg4 Qg6+ 50.Kf3 c3 51.Nh2 Qc6+ 52.Ke2 c2 0-1

 

(9) Drane,Robert William (1812) - Breedt,Rudolph Frans (1882) [B03]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U2000 San Francisco (7.13), 25.02.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.Be3 g6 8.d5!? Ne5 9.Bd4

White weighs initiative over rote development and embarrasses Black's knight. 9...f6?! [9...Bg7?? 10.f4+-; 9...Bh6! places all sorts of obstacles in White's way to implementing f2-f4 and long diagonal play. White has a hard time even demonstrating any significant advantage. 10.Nf3!? Bg4 11.Bxe5 dxe5 12.c5 Nd7 13.Bb5 0-0 14.Bxd7 Bxd7 15.Nxe5 Bg7 16.Qd4 is Stockfish 11's best shot at one.] 10.b3?! [10.f4! Nf7 (10...Nexc4?? 11.Bxc4 Nxc4 12.Qa4+) 11.Bd3 (11.Nf3 Bh6 12.g3 0-0 13.b3) 11...Bh6 12.Nge2 pushes Black to the brink.] 10...Bg7 11.g3 [11.f4!] 11...Bg4?! [11...0-0] 12.Be2 Bf5 13.f4 Nf7 14.Be3 Nh6 15.Rc1 Nd7 16.Nf3 Bh3 17.Bf1 Bg4 18.h3 Bxf3 19.Qxf3 Nf5 20.Bf2 Nc5 21.h4 [21.g4 obviously makes more sense; And maybe best is 21.b4 Na6 22.a3 , saving g3-g4 for after White gets around to improving his development.] 21...h5?! "Punishing" White for his last, but it's an "out of the frying pawn" sort of move. 22.g4! hxg4 23.Qxg4 It's going to take quite an effort to save g6 (which ultimately fails anyway). 23...Kf7 24.Rg1 Rh6 25.b4 Na6 26.h5!? [26.a3 is of course just fine as well] 26...Qd7 27.Bd3 e6

28.Kd2! White couldn't castle anyway! 28...gxh5 29.dxe6+ Qxe6 30.Qxf5 Qxf5 31.Bxf5 Nxb4 32.Rb1 1-0

 

(10) Rakonitz,David (1613) - Boldi,Nicholas Armen (1754) [D61]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U2000 San Francisco (7.15), 25.02.2020

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Qc2 h6 8.Bh4 c6 9.Rd1 b6 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.0-0 Rc8 12.Rfe1 c5 13.Qe2 cxd4 14.Nxd4 Nc5 15.cxd5 Nxd5 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Nxd5 Bxd5 18.Bb1 Nd7 19.Rc1 Nf6 20.Red1 Qb7 21.f3 Qa8 22.e4 Bb7 23.Qe3 Rfd8 24.Nb5 Rxc1 25.Rxc1 Qb8 26.Qe1 a6 27.Nc3 b5 28.b4 Qa7+ 29.Kf1 Qb6 30.Rd1 Qc7 31.Rxd8+ Qxd8 32.Qd1 Qc7 33.Qd3 Qd7 34.Ke2 Kf8 35.Qxd7 Nxd7 36.Ke3 Ke7 37.Kd4 e5+ 38.Ke3 Kd6 39.Nd1 Nb8 40.Nb2 Nc6 41.Nd3 a5 42.a3 Bc8 43.Ba2 f6 44.Bd5 Nd4 45.Kd2 a4 46.Nc5 f5 47.Bb7 Bxb7 48.Nxb7+ Kc6 49.Nc5 Kd6 50.Kd3 fxe4+ 51.fxe4 Nc6 52.Nb7+ Ke7 53.Nc5 Na7 54.Ke3 Nc8 55.Nd3 Kf6 56.Kf3 Nd6 57.Nc5 Nc4 58.Nd7+ Ke7 59.Nc5 Nxa3 60.Ke3 Nc2+ 61.Kd3 Nxb4+ 62.Kc3 Nc6 63.Nd3 Kd6 64.Nb4 Nxb4 0-1

(11) Mercado,Adam (1789) - Gurovich,Roman (1714) [B19]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U2000 San Francisco (7.16), 25.02.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 Nd7 7.h4 h6 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Ngf6 11.Bd2 e6 12.0-0-0 Bd6 13.Ne4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Qc7 15.c4 0-0-0 16.c5 Bf8 17.Bf4 Qa5 18.Kb1 Qa4 19.Nd2

19...Nxc5 20.dxc5 Rd4 21.Qe2 Rxf4 22.g3 Rd4 23.Nb3 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 Be7 25.Rd4 Qb5 26.Rc4 Rd8 27.Kc2 a5 28.a4 Qa6 29.Qe4 Rd5 30.g4 Re5 31.Qd3 Rd5 32.Qe4 Re5 33.Qd3 Rd5 34.Rd4 Qxd3+ 35.Rxd3 Rxd3 36.Kxd3 Bd8 37.Nd4 Bf6 (...) 1-0

 

(12) Cortinas,Martin A (1662) - Kaplan,Glenn (1676) [A49]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U2000 San Francisco (7.18), 25.02.2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 Nc6 7.Bb2 Bf5 8.Nh4 Bg4 9.h3 Bd7 10.Nd2 Qc8 11.Kh2 e5 12.d5 Ne7 13.c4 Nh5 14.e4 Bh8 15.Qe2 f5 16.exf5 Nxf5 17.Nxf5 Bxf5 18.Qe3 Nf4 19.g4 Nxg2 20.Kxg2 Bd7 21.Ne4 Rf4 22.f3 Bg7 23.Rae1 Qd8 24.Bc1 h6 25.Qd3 Rf7 26.c5 a6 27.cxd6 Bb5 28.dxc7 Rxc7 29.Qd1 Bxf1+ 30.Rxf1 Rac8 31.Be3 Rc2+ 32.Rf2 Rxf2+ 33.Bxf2 Bf6 34.d6 Rc6 35.b4 Kg7 36.Bc5 Qd7 37.a3 b6 38.Be3 g5 39.Qd3 b5 40.Bc5 Kf7 41.Ng3 1/2-1/2

(13) Casares Jr,Nick (1600) - Malykin,Erika (1675) [B56]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U2000 San Francisco (7.19), 25.02.2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 d6 5.Be3 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bd7 7.f3 a6 8.Bc4 Rc8 9.Be2 g6 10.Qd2 Bg7 11.0-0-0 Ne5 12.g4 b5 13.Bh6 Bxh6 14.Qxh6 Qa5 15.Nb3 Qb6 16.h4 b4 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 Bb5 19.Bxb5+ Qxb5 20.Qg7 Kd7 21.f4 Nd3+ 22.Kb1 Nf2 23.Qxf7 Nxh1 24.Nd4 Qc5 25.Qe6+ Kd8 26.Qf7 Kd7 27.Qe6+ Kd8 28.Qf7 Qc4 29.Re1 Re8 30.Ne6+ Kd7 31.Nf8+ Kc7 32.Rxe7+ Kb6 33.Nd7+ Ka5 34.c3 Qd3+ 35.Kc1 bxc3 36.bxc3 Rxc3+ 0-1

(14) Baer,Michael A (1441) - Carron,Joel (1645) [A45]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U2000 San Francisco (7.20), 25.02.2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.Bf4 a6 4.e3 d5 5.Bd3 c5 6.dxc5 Bxc5 7.Nf3 Nbd7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Ne5 Nxe5 10.Bxe5 Bd6 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.Qf3 e5 13.Qg3 Rd8 14.Rfd1 e4 15.Qxd6 Rxd6 16.Bxe4 Be6 17.Bf3 Rad8 18.h3 b5 19.a3 Bf5 20.Rd2 d4 21.exd4 Rxd4 22.Rxd4 Rxd4 23.Rd1 Rxd1+ 24.Bxd1 Kf8 25.Kf1 Ke7 26.Ke1 Kd6 27.Kd2 Kc5 28.Bf3 a5 29.g4 Be6 30.Ne4+ Nxe4+ 31.Bxe4 h5 32.f3 hxg4 33.hxg4 Kd4 34.Bd3 Kc5 35.Ke3 Bd5 36.f4 g6 37.Be4 Be6 38.f5 gxf5 39.Bxf5 Bd5 40.Bd3 Be6 41.g5 Bd5 42.g6 fxg6 43.Bxg6 Be6 44.b3 Bd5 45.Be4 Be6 1/2-1/2

(15) Hansen,Mateo Stephen (1624) - Hack,Richard (1567) [C55]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U2000 San Francisco (7.23), 25.02.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 6.Nd5 d6 7.Nxe7+ Nxe7 8.d3 Bg4 9.h3 Be6 10.Bxe6 fxe6 11.c3 Ng6 12.Qb3 Qc8 13.Re1 c5 14.d4 c4 15.Qb4 Qc6 16.Nd2 b5 17.a4 a6 18.g3 Nd7 19.b3 exd4 20.bxc4 bxa4 21.cxd4 Nb6 22.d5 exd5 23.exd5 Qc7 24.Re6 Rad8 25.Rb1 Nc8 26.Ne4 Ne5 27.Bb2 Nf3+ 28.Kg2 Qf7

29.Nf6+ gxf6 30.Kxf3 Qg6 31.Rbe1 Qh5+ 32.Kg2 Rde8 33.Qxa4 Qg6 34.Rxe8 1-0

 

(16) Gimelfarb,Ilia (1599) - Roberts,Joseph (1358) [C60]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (7.6), 25.02.2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7 4.c3 g6 5.d4 Bg7 6.d5 Nb8 7.Ba4 0-0 8.Bg5 d6 9.Nbd2 Nd7 10.Nf1 Nf6 11.Bc2 Bd7 12.c4 c5 13.Qd2 b5 14.b3 Bg4 15.cxb5 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Rc8 17.Bd3 Qd7 18.h4 h5 19.a4 Rb8 20.Bh6 a6 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Ne3 Ne8 23.b4 Nc7 24.bxc5 dxc5 25.bxa6 Ra8 26.Qc3 f6 27.Qxc5 Nxa6 28.Qb5 Qc7 29.0-0 Rfb8 30.Qc4 Qd7 31.Kg2 Nb4 32.a5 Nxd3 33.Qxd3 f5 34.Nc4 fxe4 35.Qxe4 Nxd5 36.Nxe5 Qe6 37.Rfd1 Rb5 38.a6 Rf8 39.Nd3 Qb6 40.Rdc1 Rf7 41.Qe5+ Kh7 42.Qe8 Rc7 43.Rxc7+ Nxc7 44.Qf7+ Kh8 45.Qf8+ Kh7 46.a7 Ra5 47.Rxa5 Qxa5 48.Qf7+ Kh6 49.Nf4 Qf5 50.Qxc7 Qf6 51.a8Q g5 52.Qg8 1-0

(17) Radaelli,Lucas (1411) - Ross,Max L (1549) [C51]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (7.26), 25.02.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Be7 6.d4 d6 7.Qb3 Na5 8.Qa4+ c6 9.Bd3 exd4 10.cxd4 Nf6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Ba3 b5 13.Qc2 h6 14.Nbd2 Bd7 15.Rfe1 Rc8 16.Re2 c5 17.dxc5 dxc5 18.e5 Nd5 19.Be4 Nf4 20.Re3 b4 21.Bb2 c4 22.Nf1 c3 23.Bc1 Nc4 24.Bh7+ Kh8 25.Re4 Ng6 26.Bxg6 fxg6 27.e6 Be8 28.Ne3 Nxe3 29.Bxe3 Qd5 30.Rd1 Qb7 31.Ne5 Rf6 32.Ng4

32...Ba4 33.Qxa4 Qxe4 34.Nxf6 Bxf6 35.a3 Qxe6 36.axb4 c2 37.Rc1 Qc4 38.h3 Bb2 0-1

 

(18) Chan,John (1506) - Olson,David R (1400) [A46]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (7.27), 25.02.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.a3 Be7 4.Nc3 0-0 5.h3 b6 6.e4 c5 7.Be3 d6 8.Be2 a6 9.0-0 Qc7 10.Qc1 Bb7 11.e5 dxe5 12.dxe5 Nd5 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.Bf4 Qc6 15.Nh2 Rd8 16.Bf3 Qg6 17.Bg3 Ra7 18.Ng4 Nc6 19.Be2 Nd4 20.Bd1 h5 21.Nh2 Bc8 22.Kh1 Nf5 23.Bf4 Rad7 24.Nf3 Bb7 25.c3

25...d4 26.Rg1 d3 27.Qd2 c4 28.e6 Qxe6 29.Ne5 Rd5 30.Re1 Qf6 31.Bf3 Rxe5 32.Bxe5 Qg6 33.Bxb7 a5 34.Be4 Qe6 35.Bh2 Bc5 36.Bg1 g6 37.Rad1 Kg7 38.Bf3 Qf6 39.Bh2 Kh7 40.Bf4 Qg7 41.Be5 Qf8 42.Be4 Nh6 43.Bf4 Ng8 44.Bf3 Nf6 45.Bg5 Kg7 46.Bh6+ 1-0

 

(19) Martin,Michael J (1387) - Uzakbaev,Nursultan (1415) [C68]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (7.28), 25.02.2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 a6 5.Bxc6+ bxc6 6.dxe5 Bg4 7.exd6 Bxd6 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.h3 Bh5 10.g4 Nxg4 11.hxg4 Bxg4 12.Bg5 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Qxg5 14.Ne2 0-0-0 15.Qxf7 Rhf8 16.Qe6+ Rd7 17.Rxh7 Bc5 18.Rh2 Bxf2+ 19.Rxf2 Qh4 20.Nd4 Qxf2+ 21.Kd1 Qxd4+ 0-1

(20) Rushton,Peter James (1294) - Simpkins,Jerry (1539) [A04]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (7.29), 25.02.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be2 Nf6 5.d3 f4 6.d4 Nbd7 7.d5 Nc5 8.Bd3 Bg4 9.Bb5+ Bd7 10.Bxd7+ Qxd7 11.Ng5 h6 12.Ne6 Nxe6 13.dxe6 Qxe6 14.Qd3 c6 15.Bd2 Ng4 16.h3 Nf6 17.0-0-0 Be7 18.f3 Nh5 19.Be1 0-0 20.Bf2 Rfd8 21.Kb1 b5 22.Rhg1 Ng3 23.Bxg3 fxg3 24.Ne2 Bh4 25.f4 Qf6 26.f5 Qg5 27.Qb3+ Kh8 28.Rgf1 a5 29.Qe6 Qe3 30.Nc3 b4 31.Rd3 Qg5 32.Na4 d5 33.f6 gxf6 34.Qxc6 dxe4 35.Rd7 Rac8 36.Qd5 Re8 37.Nc5 f5

38.Nxe4 Qg6 39.Nd6 Qe6 40.Nf7+ Kg8 41.Nxh6+ Kh8 42.Nf7+ Kg8 43.Qd2 f4 44.Re1 Qf5 45.Nh6+ 1-0

 

(21) Jade,Valerie (1532) - Wagner,Tyler (1050)
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (7.30), 25.02.2020

0-1

(22) Starr,Albert Martin (1552) - Neugut,Eitan (1322) [A00]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (7.31), 25.02.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.Bxe5 Nf6 4.c4 Nc6 5.Bc3 0-0 6.Qb3 Qe7 7.a3 Bxc3 8.Nxc3 b6 9.e3 Bb7 10.Nge2 Rfe8 11.d4 Ne4 12.d5 Na5 13.Qb4 Nc5 14.Nd4 Qf6 15.Be2 Na6 16.Qb1

16...Nxc4 17.Bxc4 Qxd4 18.Qd3 Qe5 19.0-0 Nc5 20.Qc2 Ne4 21.Nxe4 Qxe4 22.Bd3 Qxd5 23.e4 Qe5 24.f4 Qd4+ 25.Kh1 c5 26.Rad1 Bxe4 27.Bxe4 Qxe4 28.Qb3 Qe6 29.Qf3 Rad8 30.h3 Qc6 31.Rd5 h6 32.Rfd1 Qe6 33.Rd6 Qe3 34.Qg4 Re6 35.R6d3 Qe2 36.Qf5 Qe4 37.Qxe4 Rxe4 38.Rxd7 Rxd7 39.Rxd7 Ra4 40.Rd3 Rxf4 41.g3 Ra4 42.Kg2 g5 43.Kf2 Re4 44.g4 c4 45.Rd7 a6 46.Rd6 Re6 47.Rd4 b5 48.a4 Kg7 49.axb5 axb5 50.Rd5 Rb6 51.Rc5 Kf6 52.Ke3 Ke6 53.Kd4 Kd7 54.Kc3 b4+ 55.Kxc4 b3 56.Rd5+ Ke6 57.Rd1 b2 58.Rb1 Ke5 59.Kc3 Kf4 60.Kc2 Kg3 61.Rg1+ Kxh3 62.Kb1 Kh2 63.Rd1 Rb4 64.Rd6 Kg3 65.Rxh6 Kxg4 66.Rf6 Rb7 67.Rc6 f5 68.Rc2 f4 69.Rg2+ Kf5 70.Rc2 f3 71.Rc5+ Kf4 72.Rc4+ Kg3 73.Rd4 f2 74.Rd3+ Kg2 75.Rd2 Kg1 0-1

 

(23) Ahrens,Richard William (1256) - Byrd,Bill [A57]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (7.32), 25.02.2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.e3 bxc4 5.Bxc4 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Bd2 0-0 8.Nf3 d6 9.0-0 Nbd7 10.e4 Nb6 11.Bd3 Bg4 12.Be2 a5 13.Ng5 Bd7 14.f4 e6 15.Bf3 exd5 16.exd5 Rb8 17.b3 a4 18.Rb1 Bf5 19.Be4 Nxe4 20.Ngxe4 Nxd5 21.Re1 Re8 22.Nxd5 Bxe4 23.Rc1 Bxd5 24.Ba5 Rxe1+ 25.Qxe1 Qe8 26.Bc3 Qxe1+ 27.Bxe1 Bd4+ 28.Kh1 axb3 29.axb3 Rxb3 0-1

(24) James,Charles (1404) - Morgan,Jacob (1227) [E20]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (7.34), 25.02.2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.e4 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Qc2 dxe4 7.Be3 0-0 8.Nxe4 Be6 9.Bd3 Nbd7 10.Nf3 h6 11.h3 Re8 12.0-0 Nd5 13.Bd2 Rc8 14.a3 c5 15.b3 cxd4 16.Qb2 Nc5 17.Nxc5 Rxc5 18.Rfe1 Bf6 19.Ne5 Rc8 20.Qxd4 Bxe5 21.Rxe5 Nf6 22.Qe3 Bxb3 23.f4 Bc4 24.Bf5 Be6 25.Bxe6 Rxe6 26.Rxe6 fxe6 27.Qxe6+ Kh8 28.Bb4 Qd4+ 29.Kh2 Qxf4+ 30.Kg1 Re8 31.Qf7 Qd4+ 32.Kh2 Qxa1 33.Bf8 Qe5+ 34.Kh1 Qg5 35.Be7 Rc8 36.Bf8 Rc1+ 37.Kh2 Qf4+ 0-1

(25) Dubensky,Walter Barnett (1120) - Chambers,Don (1298) [D02]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (7.35), 25.02.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bf4 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Bd3 e6 6.0-0 Bd6 7.Bxd6 cxd6 8.Nbd2 e5 9.c3 e4 10.Be2 exf3 11.Nxf3 Bg4 12.Qa4 Ne4 13.Rfe1 h5 14.Rac1 h4 15.h3 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Qg5 17.Bg4 f5 18.f4 Qg6 19.Bd1 Nd2 20.Rc2 Qg3 21.Re2 Nf3+ 22.Kf1

22...Rh6 [22...Nh2+ 23.Kg1 Ng4!] 23.Rf2 Nh2+ 24.Ke1 Re6 25.Rce2 Kf7 26.Qc2 Kf6 27.e4 dxe4 28.Qa4 e3 29.Rxe3 Rxe3+ 30.Be2 Rae8 31.Kd1 Qxf2 32.Kc2 Qxe2+ 33.Kb3 Qd1+ 34.Ka3 Qxa4+ 35.Kxa4 b5+ 36.Kb3 Nxd4+ 37.Ka3 a5 38.b3 Rxc3 0-1

 

(26) Hilliard,Michael (1476) - Harris,Clarence (1402) [A48]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (7.36), 25.02.2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.b3 Bg7 4.Bb2 d6 5.Nbd2 0-0 6.e3 Bf5 7.Bc4 d5 8.Be2 Nc6 9.a3 Re8 10.0-0 Qd6 11.Ne5 Qe6 12.Rc1 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Ng4 14.Bxg4 Bxg4 15.f3 Bxe5 16.Bxe5 Qxe5 17.fxg4 Qxe3+ 18.Kh1 e5 19.Rf3 Qc5 20.b4 Qe7 21.c4 e4 22.Re3 Qg5 23.Qe2 Rad8 24.cxd5 Qxd5 25.Nxe4 Qe5 26.Nf6+ Qxf6 27.Rxe8+ Rxe8 28.Qxe8+ Kg7 29.Re1 Qc6 30.Qe5+ Kg8 31.Qe8+ Kg7 32.Qxc6 bxc6 1-0

(27) Gimelfarb,Natan (1134) - North,Jeff James (867) [C02]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (7.37), 25.02.2020

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.e5 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 f6 6.Nf3 e6 7.Nc3 Bb4 8.Bf4 Bd7 9.Nh4 Ke7 10.exf6+ Nxf6 11.Qe2 Qa5 12.Nf5+ Kd8 13.Nxg7 Bxc3+ 14.Bd2 Bxd2+ 15.Qxd2 Qxd2+ 16.Kxd2 Rg8 17.Nxe6+ Bxe6 18.Re1 Re8 19.Bb5 Rc8 20.Bxc6 Rxc6 21.Rc1 Bd7 22.Rc5 Ne4+ 0-1

(28) Johnson,Nathaniel - Frank,Robert H (1222) [A00]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (7.39), 25.02.2020

1.h4 e5 2.e4 Nf6 3.d3 d5 4.Nd2 Bc5 5.Be2 Nc6 6.c3 0-0 7.Bf3 d4 8.c4 a5 9.h5 a4 10.a3 Bd7 11.Ne2 Bg4 12.Ng3 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Ne7 14.0-0 h6 15.b3 axb3 16.Nxb3 Bb4 17.Bb2 Bd2 18.Nxd2 c5 19.a4 Qa5 20.Qd1 Qb4 21.Ba3 Qa5 22.Nf3 Qc7 23.Bc1 Kh7 24.a5 Rg8 25.Qd2 Qd6 26.Nf5 Nxf5 27.exf5 Nxh5 28.Qe2 f6 29.Qe4 Qc7 30.Nh4 Nf4 31.Bxf4 exf4 32.Qf3 Ra7 33.Ng6 Rga8 34.Qxf4 Qxf4 35.Nxf4 Rxa5 36.Rxa5 Rxa5 37.Nd5 Ra3 38.Rb1 Rxd3 39.Rxb7 Rd1+ 40.Kh2 Rc1 41.Nxf6+ 1-0

(29) Ballantyne,Andrew (877) - Sullivan,George Thomas (914) [B21]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (7.40), 25.02.2020

1.e4 c5 2.d4 e6 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Nxc3 a6 6.Bc4 d6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.e5 Ng4 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.exd6 Qd7 12.Qd4 Nf6 13.Ne4 Nxe4 14.Ne5 Nc6 15.Qxe4 Qxd6 16.Nxc6 Qxc6 17.Qxc6+ bxc6 18.a4 Bb7 19.b4 0-0 20.b5 axb5 21.axb5 Rxa1 22.Rxa1 cxb5 23.Bxb5 Rd8 24.g3 Bf3 25.Ba4 g6 26.h4 h5 27.Kf1 e5 28.Ke1 e4 29.Bd1 f6 30.Bxf3 exf3 31.Ra3 Re8+ 32.Kf1 g5 33.hxg5 fxg5 34.Rxf3 Rf8 35.Rxf8+ Kxf8 36.Kg2 Kf7 37.f3 Kg6 38.Kh3 Kf5 39.g4+ hxg4+ 40.fxg4+ Kg6 41.Kg3 Kf6 42.Kf3 Ke5 43.Ke3 Kd5 44.Kd3 Ke5 1/2-1/2

(30) Bayaraa,Timothy (1193) - Neuberg,Bryan
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (7.41), 25.02.2020

0-1

(31) Pagan Griso,Simone - Hall,Diana [D07]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (7.42), 25.02.2020

1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bf4 Bd6 6.Bxd6 cxd6 7.e3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 d5 9.Bb3 0-0 10.0-0 Ne4 11.Bc2 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Qa5 13.Qd3 g6 14.h4 b6 15.h5 Ba6 16.Qd2 Bxf1 17.Rxf1 Qxa2 18.Nh4 Ne7 19.Rc1 Rac8 20.e4 Qb2 21.exd5 Nxd5 22.Qg5 f5 23.hxg6 Rf6 24.Qh6 Rc7 25.Bd1 Nxc3 26.Rc2 Ne2+ 27.Rxe2 Qxd4 28.Re1 a5 29.Nxf5 exf5 30.Bb3+ Kh8 31.Re8+ Rf8 32.Qxf8# 1-0

(32) Skwerer,Sean - Dunlap,Steven (1037) [D00]
MI Wilkerson TNM: U1600 San Francisco (7.43), 25.02.2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.f4 d5 3.Nf3 c5 4.dxc5 Qa5+ 5.c3 Qxc5 6.Nd4 Nc6 7.b4 Qb6 8.Be3 Ng4 9.Qd3 Nxe3 10.Qxe3 g6 11.b5 Nxd4 12.cxd4 Qa5+ 13.Qc3 Qxb5 14.e3 Qb6 15.a4 e6 16.Bb5+ Bd7 17.0-0 Bxb5 18.axb5 Qxb5 19.Na3 Qc6 20.Qa5 Bxa3 21.Qxa3 b5 22.Rab1 a5 23.Rfc1 b4 24.Qd3 Qd7 25.f5 0-0 26.fxg6 fxg6 27.e4 e5 28.Rf1 Rxf1+ 29.Rxf1 Rf8 30.Ra1 Qf7 31.dxe5 Qf2+ 32.Kh1 Qb2 33.Rf1 Rxf1+ 34.Qxf1 Qxe5 35.Qb5 Qa1+ 0-1

(33) Ricard,Bruce (1849) - Davila,Carlos (2066) [B12]
MI Wilkerson TNM: Rated Extra Game San Francisco (7.5), 25.02.2020

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nc3 e6 5.g4 Bg6 6.Nge2 c5 7.h4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 h5 9.f4 hxg4 10.Bb5+ Nd7 11.f5 Rxh4 12.Rf1 Rh5 13.Qxg4 exf5 14.Nxf5 Rxf5 15.Rxf5 Bxf5 16.Qxf5 Qh4+ 17.Ke2 0-0-0 18.Bxd7+ Rxd7 19.e6 Re7 20.Be3 Nh6 21.Bxh6 Rxe6+ 22.Be3 d4 23.Nd5 dxe3 24.Nf4 Qf2+ 25.Kd3 Qd2+ 26.Kc4 b5+ 27.Qxb5 Re4+ 0-1

(34) Poling,Scott E (1828) - Abraham,Renjish (1861) [E06]
MI Wilkerson TNM: Rated Extra Game San Francisco (8.14), 25.02.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 6.c4 c6 7.a4 Na6 8.Nc3 Rb8 9.Bf4 Bd6 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bxf6 Qxf6 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Qd8 14.Nxd6 Qxd6 15.c5 Qe7 16.Rb1 [16.Qd2] 16...Nb4 17.a5? [17.Qb3 a5 18.Ne5+/-] 17...b5 18.Qb3 Nd5 19.Ne5 Qc7 20.Ra1 a6 21.Bxd5 exd5 22.Qd3 Re8 23.b4 Be6

24.f4? [24.Rfe1] 24...f6! 25.Ng6 Bg4 [25...Bh3 26.Rfe1 Qd7] 26.Rfe1 Qd7 27.Nh4 Re7 [27...Re4! 28.Rxe4?! (But Black is about to take over the e-file anyway) 28...dxe4 29.Qxe4 Re8 30.Qd3 Qd5 White is in trouble. In fact, White is lost!] 28.Kf2 Rbe8 29.Rxe7 Qxe7 30.Nf3 Qe4! Black forces his way in, and everything goes wrong for White. 31.Qxe4 [31.Rd1 Bxf3 32.Qxf3 Qc2+ 33.Kf1 Qc4+] 31...dxe4 [31...Rxe4!? 32.Rd1 g5-/+ is also excellent.] 32.Ng1 e3+ (Quick, before Ke3 completely neutralizes this dangerous pawn) 33.Ke1 Be6?! [33...g5 keeps up the pressure. 34.fxg5 hxg5 when, after due preparation, ...f5-f4 is crushing. 35.d5!? cxd5 36.h3 might get counterplay with Rd1 or pushing the c-pawn, but Black is still ahead.] 34.Ke2?! [34.Ne2!? Bc4 35.f5!? Re4 36.Rd1 Bb3 37.Nc3! Rg4 38.Rd3 Bc2 39.Rxe3 Rxd4 40.Re6= (according to the computer)] 34...Bc4+ 35.Kf3 f5?! [35...g5 36.Re1 Bd5+ 37.Ke2 Kg7 when f5 is available for Black's king 38.f5 Kf7] 36.Re1 Re4 37.Rxe3 Rxd4 38.Re8+ Kf7 39.Ra8 Bd5+ 40.Ke3 Rxb4 41.Rxa6 Rb3+ After this mutual breakout it's Black on top. 42.Kd4 [42.Kf2 Rc3; 42.Kd2 Be4] 42...b4? [42...Rb1 43.Ne2 (43.Nh3 Rd1+ 44.Kc3 Rc1+ 45.Kd4 Ke6! (45...Rc4+ 46.Ke5 Rxc5) ) 43...Rd1+ 44.Kc3 Bf3 45.Nd4? b4+] 43.Ne2?! [43.Rb6!=] 43...Rb2-/+ 44.Nc1 [44.Ke3?? Rxe2+; 44.Kd3 Be4+ 45.Ke3 Ke6; 44.Ra7+ Kg6 45.Ke3 Rc2] 44...Ke6?= [44...Be4! still looks to pick off the c-pawn 45.Kc4?? Rc2+] 45.Nd3 Rd2 [45...Rc2] 46.Ke3 Rxh2? [46...Rc2 47.Nxb4 Rxc5 48.Nxd5 Kxd5 49.Kd3 Rb5=] 47.Nxb4 Rb2 [47...Rg2 48.Rb6 Rxg3+ 49.Kd4 Kd7 50.Nxd5 cxd5 51.Kxd5+-] 48.Rb6! Rb3+ (Scoresheet says 48...Rc2+) 49.Kd4 Kd7 50.Nxd5 1-0

 

(35) Chin,Alex Paul (1814) - Morgan,Jerry (1467) [B03]
MI Wilkerson TNM: Rated Extra Game San Francisco (7.17), 25.02.2020

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Bc4 Nb6 5.Bb3 d5 6.Be3 e6 7.c3 N8d7 8.a4 a5 9.Qg4 f5 10.Qg3 Qe7 11.h4 c5 12.Na3 cxd4 13.Bxd4 Nc5 14.Bc2 Ncxa4 15.Nb5 Nc5 16.Nd6+ Kd8 17.Bxc5 Qc7 18.b4 Nd7 19.Qg5+ 1-0

(36) Tamondong,Cesar Bercilla (1617) - Pane,Gianluca (1927) [D23]
MI Wilkerson TNM: Rated Extra Game San Francisco (7.25), 25.02.2020
[Tamondon,Cesar Bercilla]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Qc2 Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.Qxc4 Bf5 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.Bf4 e6 8.e3 Be7 9.Be2 Nh5 10.h3 Nxf4 11.exf4 h5 12.0-0 Rc8 13.Rad1 b5 14.Qb3 Qb6 15.Ne5 Nf6 16.Bf3 Nd5 17.Nxd5 cxd5 18.Rc1 Rxc1 19.Rxc1 f6 20.Nd3 [20.Bxh5++- Rxh5 21.Rc8+ Bd8 22.Nc6 Rh8 23.Rxd8+ Kf7 24.Rd7+] 20...0-0 21.Nc5 Rc8 22.Bxd5? [22.Bxh5+- Bxc5 23.Qe3 Qd8 24.dxc5 d4 25.Qb3 Kh8 26.Qxb5 Qc7 27.Qc4 Qxf4 28.Rd1 e5 29.b4 Qe4 30.Bg4 Bxg4 31.hxg4 Rc7 32.f3 Qe3+ 33.Kf1 Qh6 34.Qc1 Qg6 35.Qb1 Qh6] 22...exd5 23.Qxd5+ Be6 24.Qe4 Bxc5 25.dxc5 Qc6 26.Qe3 Bxa2 27.b4 Bd5 28.f3 Re8 29.Qa3 a6 30.Qd3 Kf7 31.Rd1 Bc4 32.Qf5 Qe6 33.Qxh5+ Kg8 34.Qg6 Qf7 35.Qf5 Qe7 36.Qd7 Qxd7 37.Rxd7 Re1+ 38.Kf2 Re2+ 39.Kg3 Re6 40.f5 Rc6 41.Kf4 Kf8 42.g4 a5 43.bxa5 b4 44.Rb7 b3 45.Rb6 Rxc5 46.a6 Rb5 47.a7 Rxb6 48.a8Q+ Here I offered a draw when my opponent has 1 minute , 17 seconds to my 20 minutes. I did not want to win on a cheapo. 1/2-1/2

(37) Shannon,Rex - Agdamag,Samuel Z (1522) [B01]
MI Wilkerson TNM: Rated Extra Game San Francisco (7.33), 25.02.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 c6 5.Bd2 Qc7 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.h3 Bh5 8.Be2 Nf6 9.Ne5 Bg6 10.Bf4 Qb6 11.Rb1 e6 12.0-0 Be7 13.Bg5 Nbd7 14.Nxd7 Nxd7 15.Bxe7 Kxe7 16.Re1 Rhd8 17.Qd2 Kf8 18.Na4 Qc7 19.Qb4+ Kg8 20.Rbc1 Nf6 21.Nc5 b6 22.Nd3 Nd5 23.Qd2 Qd6 24.Bf3 Bxd3 25.Qxd3 Nb4 26.Qb3 Nd5 27.Rcd1 Rac8 28.c4 Nf6 29.Rd2 Qf4 30.Red1 [30.Qd1] 30...Ne4 31.Re2 Ng5 32.g3 Nxf3+ 33.Kg2 Nh4+ 34.gxh4 Qxh4 35.Qc3 Qh5 36.Rde1 Qg5+ 37.Kh2 Qf4+ 38.Kg2 Qxd4 39.Qb4 c5 0-1

 

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