Chess Room Newsletter #908

 

 

 

Newsletter #908

Mar 6, 2020

By Abel Talamantez

Table of Contents

• New TNM
• Hurt Memorial report
• Quads report
• Brilliancy prize
• Paul Whitehead
• TD Corner
• Tony's Teaser
• Scholastic Chess
• GM Nick de Firmian's Column
• TNM Games
• Submit your piece or feedback

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Ted & Ruby Yudacufski TNM Report

The 2nd Tuesday Night Marathon (TNM) of 2020 began last Tuesday in honor of Ted and Ruby Yudacufski. Ted started and led the Monterey Chess Club in 1966, and the club ran through 2003. Many Bay Area players were influenced by their contribution to chess. 

There was no break between TNM's this time around, so this TNM will truly feel like a marathon for returning players. The top players were in good form for the first round, as FM's Kyron Griffith and Josiah Stearman won their games, along with IM Elliott Winslow, WFM Natalya Tsodikova, NM Larry Snyder, and CM Ethan Boldi. 

In the u/2000 section, many of the usual MI regulars started off with a victory, along with MI scholastic coaches Andrew Schley and Phil Warton. Also joining this section is back to back u/1600 section winner Ilia Gimelfarb, who started his u/2000 campaign with a nice win against the laways tough Marty Cortinas. 

In the u/1600 section, 41 players are currently registered in this section alone, including many new faces which is great to see. With Gimelfarb playing up to the next section, we will watch to see who is ready to take the next step in u/1600 TNM supremacy. 

Great moment captured before the start of the TNM, as former Mechanics' Institute Chess Director IM John Donaldson shows an opeing line 

For full standing after round 1, please follow the link 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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Jim Hurt Memorial Report

The Jim Hurt Memorial 1-day championship had a large turnout of 53 players! With a strong competitive top section with many of the nation's talented youngsters playing, it would prove to be an exciting afternoon and evening of chess. In the end, despite the wealth of young talent, it was professional poker player Daniel Smith who dominated the tournament with the lone perfect score of 4-0, after a final round victory over Arul Viswanathan. In the under 1800 section, David Li was also perfect, defeating some strong club players in the section including Teodoro Porlares and Alejandro Canales en route to sole first. Congratulations to the winners and everyone who participated in honoring tournament organizer and director Jim Hurt, who organized the LERA tournaments in Sunnyvale for many years, events which I played extensively as a young player in the mid 1980's. I remember him as a vary warm person who loved organzing those events and it was an honor for us to host a tournament in his name.

Crosstable for this event can be found by clicking here

Dan Smith (left with glasses) won the 2020 Jim Hurt Memorial

A strong field of kids included WIM Rochelle Wu, NM Vyom Vidyarthi, Austin Mei, Ethan Boldi, Abhinav Penagalapati, Arul Viswanathan, Andrew Guo, Jacon Chiang and Jeremy Cawthon.

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Mechanics' Championship Quads #2 Report

The 2nd Mechanics' championship quads were held on Sunday February 29th and drew 20 players. The section winners were as follows:

Quad 1: Austin Mei (2149) 3/3

Quad 2: Rohan Rajaram (1905) 2.5/3

Quad 3: Stewart Katz (1856) 3/3

Quad 4: Erika Malykin (1693), Albert Starr (1554) 2/3

Quad 5: Warren Tian (1374) 3/3

Congratulations to the winners! Full crosstable can be found here

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January/February Brilliancy Prize

We received only a few submissions for the monthly brilliancy prize. We will work harder to promote the brilliancy prize offering, but this game submitted is the winner for January/February. Congratulations to TNM player David Rakonitz.

(1) Hansen,Mateo - Rakonitz,David [C01]
Wilkerson TNM, 21.01.2020

1.e4 e6 The French Defense - this solid prickly opening can frustrate the player of the White pieces who likes open, tactical games. 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.d4 Mateo chooses the exchange variation, which allows Black quick equality. 4...Bd6 5.Bd3 Ne7 6.Ng5?! Direct aggression, but this early attack will not succeed against careful defense. 6...h6 7.Qh5 g6! 8.Qh4 Bf5 9.Nf3 Bxd3 Diagram

10.Qf6?! Strong aggressin again from Mateo! Black is fine but must be careful. 10...Rh7 [Also possible is 10...0-0 since 11.Bxh6? Nf5! defends the threatened mate and wins a piece.] 11.cxd3 Nd7 12.Qh4 Nf5 13.Qxd8+ Kxd8 Diagram

The attack is gone with the (necessary) trade of queens. Black is left with the better pawn structure in the ending. 14.0-0 c6 15.Bd2 Kc7 16.b4 a6 17.a4 Rhh8 18.Nc3 g5 [Not 18...Bxb4? 19.Nxd5+] 19.h3 Rhe8 20.Rfc1 Nf6 21.g4 Ng7 22.h4 Kd7!? Diagram

This is a more active defense is better than defending the g-pawn with ...Ne6. Black gets excellent compensation for the sacrificed pawn. 23.hxg5 hxg5 24.Nxg5 Nxg4 25.Nxf7 Nf5 [25...Rf8 26.Nxd6 Kxd6 27.Rf1 Rf3 would be strong pressure for the pawn.] 26.f3 Nxd4!? [Black could keep a simple advantage with 26...Nge3] 27.Nxd6 Kxd6 [27...Rg8 would be an aggressive move looking for a strong attack] 28.Bf4+?! [The best chance to hold the game would be 28.fxg4 Nf3+ 29.Kg2 Nxd2 30.Rc2 Nb3 31.Rh1 Re6] 28...Ne5! 29.Re1? [White is suffering in the endgame with his isolated pawns, but this move ends the game. Needed was 29.Kf2 Kd7 30.Bxe5 Rxe5 31.Rg1 Rf8 32.Rg3 Ref5 33.Rd1 when White can try to hold a pawn down ending] 29...Ndxf3+ 30.Kh1 Kd7 31.Bxe5 Nxe5 32.Rad1 Diagram

Now the black attack comes full force. 32...Rh8+ 33.Kg2 Rag8+ 34.Kf2 Rh2+ 35.Ke3 Rg4 36.b5 d4# Diagram

0-1

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FM Paul Whitehead's Column

Friendly Rivalries, Part 18.

By FM Paul Whitehead

Continuing from here: https://www.milibrary.org/chess-newsletters/894#whitehead

Reaching back 42 years ago to 1978, and spotlighting some more victories over my peers and rivals.  These folks were masters of the game, resourceful and experienced.

I’m proud to have known and played them.

1978 was a great year for me, co-winner of the American Open and U.S. Junior Closed, as well as co-winner of the Northern California (Bagby) Championship, tournaments I’ve written about in past newsletters.

Despite the distance of those years, the game scores help recall those days vividly. This is, I think, a wonderful way the chess player can keep in touch with personal history.

I’ve always found an interest in the lives people have lived outside of chess, and you can find out more about these folk here:

 

Julius Loftsson:

http://www.uschess.org/content/view/9116/512/

Douglas Root:

https://www.ntdaily.com/owning-the-board/

Craig Barnes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9IwRf9qhy8

Dennis Waterman:

https://www.ixgames.com/dennis_waterman/

Kenneth Regan:

http://www.buffalo.edu/news/experts/ken-regan-faculty-expert-chess.html

 

 

(1) Whitehead,Paul A - Loftsson,Julius H [A08]
SF vs LA Telephone Match, 1978

I never met Julius Loftsson in person! This game was played in the National Chess League of the late 1970's, with moves being relayed by the telephone to a TD, who would come over to your board and make the move. Undoubtably there were some shenanigans, but it was all in good fun. I played for the Berkeley Riots. The Washington Plumbers won in 1976, making the cover of Chess Life. GM Nick de Firmian told me he played Loftsson 23 times, with one win for Nick and 22 draws! This was a hard fought game, with the turning point coming on the 24th move: 24...Nb4?! was ill-advised. White's e-pawn turned into a monster. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.Nbd2 Bd6

6.Bg2 Nge7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Nh4 Bc7 9.f4 f5 10.exd5 exd5

11.Re1 Qd6 12.Ndf3 Bd7 13.c3 Rae8 14.Ne5 Be6 15.Nhf3 Kh8

16.Kh1 d4 17.c4 Nxe5 18.Nxe5 Qb6 19.Qb3 Bxe5 20.Qxb6 axb6

21.Bxb7 Bd7 22.fxe5 Bc6+ 23.Bxc6 Nxc6 24.Bf4 Nb4 25.Rad1 Nxa2

26.e6 Nb4 27.Bc7 Nc2 28.Re5 Ne3 29.Ra1 Ng4 30.Re2 Rc8

31.Bxb6 Rc6 32.e7 Re8 33.Ra8 Nf6 34.Bd8 Kg8 35.b3 Kf7

36.h3 Nd7 37.Kg2 g5 38.Ra7 Re6 39.Rf2 Ne5 40.Rxf5+ Kg7

41.Rf8 Nxd3 42.Rxe8 Re2+ 43.Kf3 Re3+ 44.Kg4 Ne5+ 45.Kh5

1-0

(2) Regan,Kenneth - Whitehead,Paul A [B40]
SF vs Westfield Telephone League Match, 1978

Revenge is sweet. Regan had defeated me a year earlier in the U.S.Junior Closed Championship in Denver. He had me crushed out of the opening here too: black's 7...Qg5?! is highly dubious. Better was 7...Bxb5 8.Nxb5 Nc6 with a good game. 17.Qc4?! let black back into the game (17.Nd4!) and white missed another chance to keep it level with the problematic 19.Rg3! Black scooped up a piece, kept his head in the flurry of complications and ultimately prevailed. Not pretty, but as a dish served cold... not bad either. 1.e4 c5 2.c3 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.e5 d4 5.cxd4 cxd4

6.Bb5+ Bd7 7.Nxd4 Qg5 8.Nf3 Qxg2 9.Rg1 Qh3 10.Nc3 Bb4

11.Rxg7 Bxc3 12.Bxd7+ Nxd7 13.dxc3 0-0-0 14.Bg5 f6 15.exf6 Ngxf6

16.Qe2 Nc5 17.Qc4 Rd5 18.Be3 b5 19.Qh4 Qxf3 20.Bxc5 Rxc5

21.Qd4 Rd5 22.Qxa7 Qh1+ 23.Ke2 Re5+ 24.Kd2 Rd8+ 25.Kc2 Qe4+

26.Kb3 Qc4+ 27.Ka3 Qc6 28.Rag1 Re4 29.Kb3 b4 30.Rc7+ Qxc7

31.Qa8+ Kd7 32.Rg7+ Kd6 33.Qa6+ Qc6 34.Qa7 Qd5+ 35.c4 Qxc4+

0-1

(3) Whitehead,Paul A - Barnes,Craig N [B70]
Berkeley Labor Day, 1978

Craig Barnes was National High School Champion in 1972, the year I started playing. I watched Craig play in the US Junior Closed at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco in 1973. He played at Lone Pine in 1971, and 1973 through 1976. This was our only encounter. Black was fine up until he mis-cued with 19...Qc7? Taking the knight at b3 was better. After 20.Nb5! black was faced with losing the a-pawn, but even worse his knight at b4 had nowhere to go. All the tactics worked in white's favor, and the game ended after a few more brutal moves. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 d6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6

6.Be2 g6 7.Nb3 Bg7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Bg5 Be6 10.Kh1 Qc8

11.f4 a5 12.a4 Nb4 13.Bf3 Re8 14.Nd4 Bc4 15.Rf2 Qc5

16.Rd2 h6 17.Bh4 Rad8 18.Bf2 Qc8 19.Nb3 Qc7 20.Nb5 Bxb5

21.axb5 d5 22.exd5 Qc4 23.c3 Nbxd5 24.Rd4 Qxb5 25.Rxa5

1-0

(4) Whitehead,Paul A - Waterman,Dennis [C19]
Marin Co. Championship, 1978

A strong master and friend of many of my chess pals, Dennis in a roundabout way made me a chess master. We played a game at the MI in 1973 when I was an up and coming player, maybe A Class already. I had completely outplayed him and he made the classic offer of a draw... which I took. After berating myself for hours afterwards, I told myself I would fight from now on in every game, no matter the strength or rating of my opponent. By the time Dennis and I met over the board again, there was no question that this would be for blood. In this game white pushes, pushes, pushes, with 22.a5, 23.Bc5 and 26.Nxc4! and black finally missteps: he should defend with 26...dxc4 as given in the notes. A few moves later black blundered in a difficult position with 31...Ne7? after which 32.Rd6! left black facing 33.Ba6+. 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+

6.bxc3 Qc7 7.Nf3 Ne7 8.a4 b6 9.Bb5+ Bd7 10.Bd3 Nbc6

11.0-0 c4 12.Be2 f6 13.Re1 0-0-0 14.Ba3 Be8 15.Bf1 Bf7

16.Qb1 h5 17.Qb5 Nf5 18.Reb1 h4 19.h3 Bh5 20.Nd2 fxe5

21.dxe5 g5 22.a5 Nxa5 23.Bc5 Qxc5 24.Qxc5+ bxc5 25.Rxa5 Rh7

26.Nxc4 Rc7 [26...dxc4 27.Bxc4 Rh6 28.Rxc5+ Kd7 29.Rb7+ Ke8 30.Rxa7~~] 27.Na3 Rdd7 28.Bb5 Rg7 29.Ra6 g4 30.hxg4 Bxg4

31.Rxe6 Ne7 32.Rd6

1-0

(5) Root,Douglas - Whitehead,Paul [E97]
American Open Championship, 1978

This is the only time Douglas Root and I played, on my way to a tied 1st (with David Strauss). This game was a lot of fun to play for black: white was too complacent, and black (as usual) dead-set on being as aggresive as possible. 11.exf5?! seems to be an experiment, and black gets an easy game. Later, black sacrifices his queen and drives the white king into the center. White becomes pinned down from all sides, and in the end the queen is no match for the swarm of black pieces. 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 0-0 5.e4 d6

6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.b4 Nh5 10.g3 f5

11.exf5 gxf5 12.Bb2 Ng6 13.c5 e4 14.Ne1 Nf6 15.f4 exf3

16.Nxf3 Ng4 17.Qb3 Qe7 18.Rae1 Qe3+ 19.Kh1 f4 20.Bd1 Nf2+

21.Kg1 Nxd1+ 22.Rxe3 Nxe3 23.Re1 Bf5 24.Bc1 Nc2 25.Rd1 fxg3

26.hxg3 Rae8 27.Nb5 Bg4 28.Qxc2 Bxf3 29.Bg5 Re2 30.Rd2 Re1+

31.Kf2 Rh1 32.Ke3 Bg4 33.Nd4 Re1+ 34.Ne2 Rf3+ 35.Ke4 Rxg3

36.cxd6 cxd6 37.Bf4 Rg2 38.Be3 Rexe2 39.Rxe2 Rxe2 40.Qc7 Bh6

41.Qd8+ Kf7

0-1

 

 

 

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Tony's Teasers

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

  

Solution: 1. Qc5!!  b3  2. Kb5  f6  3.Rxe7#

This week's problem:

White to move and mate in 3. C.S. Kipping, 1911

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Scholastic Chess
March Swiss - Report

We held our first March scholastic swiss on Sunday the first, right before the afternoon quads. 25 players came down to MI to participate, and the section winners were as follows:

700+: Samson Lieberman (1411) 3.5/4

400-699: Neev Patel (594) Lucas Tan-Choy (556) 3/4

u/400: Lawrence Wu (1016p) 4/4

Full crosstable for the event can be found here

We want to congratulate all the players and thank the parents for supporting scholastic chess!

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GM Nick de Firmian's Column

 

 

 

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Ted & Ruby Yudacufski TNM - Round 1

Annotations by GM Nick de Firmian

(1) Griffith,Kyron Waykuan (2469) - German,Felix (2007) [B01]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: Open San Francisco (1.1), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c6 [5...g6; 5...Bg4; 5...a6] 6.Ne5 An aggressive move, aiming to take control of this advanced square for an outpost. [6.h3] 6...Nbd7 7.f4 g6 8.Bc4 Nd5 9.Ne4 Qc7 10.0-0 Bg7 11.Qe1 0-0 12.c3 b6 13.Qh4 Bb7 14.Ng4!? Immediately initiating the attack. More normal would be to develop with 14. Bd2. 14...h5

[14...c5!] 15.f5! N7f6? [15...hxg4 16.Ng5 N7f6 17.fxg6 fxg6 18.Bd3 would give White excellent attacking chances for the piece. Still, Black should try this as at least he has a material edge.] 16.Nh6+ Kh8?! [16...Bxh6 17.Bxh6 Ng4 18.Bxf8 Rxf8 19.fxg6 fxg6 20.Rxf8+ Kxf8 21.Rf1+ Ke8 would survive longer.] 17.Nxf7+! Rxf7 18.fxg6 Rff8 19.Nxf6 Rxf6 20.Qxh5+ Kg8 21.Qh7+ Kf8 22.Bh6

1-0

 

(2) Askin,David Benjamin (2004) - Stearman,Josiah (2434) [E07]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: Open San Francisco (1.2), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 c6!? Not as bad as it looks. Black will now transpose into a closed Catalan. 5.Bg2 d5 6.0-0 Be7 7.b3 Nbd7 8.Bb2 0-0 9.Nbd2 Ba6 10.a4 Rc8 11.Rc1 Bb4 12.Qc2 Qe7 13.e4! dxc4?! 14.bxc4 e5 15.dxe5?! [15.Nxe5! Nxe5 16.dxe5 Nd7 17.Nf3 leaves White clearly on top.] 15...Ng4 16.Bh3 h5 17.Nh4?! [17.Nb3 Rcd8 18.Nbd4] 17...Ndxe5 18.Nf5 Qc7 19.f4

19...Rfd8! 20.Nb3 [20.fxe5 Rxd2] 20...Nxc4 21.Bxg4 hxg4 22.Bxg7 Qd7?! [22...Nd2] 23.Rfd1?! [23.Qe2! hitting the g4 pawn would leave Black in serious trouble.] 23...Na3 24.Rxd7 Nxc2 25.Rxd8+?! [25.Rxa7 Bc4 26.Nbd4 is still better for White] 25...Rxd8 26.Bf6 Rd3 27.Ne7+? [27.Rxc2 Rxb3 28.Rxc6 Bc5+ 29.Bd4 is equal] 27...Bxe7 28.Bxe7 Ne3 29.Na1 Rd2 Black has a winning attack in this endgame. 30.Nb3 Rg2+ 31.Kh1 Rb2 White resigns as 32. Nd4 Bd3! will wrap things up. A terrific battle! 0-1

 

(3) Winslow,Elliott Charles (2234) - Clemens,Kristian (2004) [D11]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: Open San Francisco (1.3), 03.03.2020
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4 5.Qb3 Qb6 6.c5 [Relevant: 6.Nc3 e6 7.Nh4 Nbd7 8.h3 Bh5 9.g4 Bg6 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Bg2 g5 12.0-0 Be7 13.Rd1 Nf8 14.cxd5 exd5 15.e4 1-0 (87), Wang,H (2756)-Shirov,A (2684) Moscow 2019] 6...Qxb3 [6...Qc7!? 7.Ne5!?] 7.axb3 Nbd7 8.b4 I confess to a perverse preference for this sort of pawn structure -- **if** and only if I can get b3-b4-b5 in. If Black could play ...a6 and move his rook (or be castled so it were protected) it would be a disaster for White. 8...Bxf3 9.gxf3 e5 10.b5 g6

Of course Black has various other moves here. (I left my memory book on move 5.) 11.b4N [Predecessor: 11.bxc6 bxc6 12.Nc3 1/2-1/2 (27) Spelec,D (2066)-Kuzner,C (1817) Ptuj 2012] 11...Bg7 12.bxc6 bxc6 13.Ba6 Rb8 14.b5 cxb5 15.c6 Nb6 16.dxe5 Nh5 17.c7 Ra8 18.Bxb5+ Ke7 19.f4 a6 20.Bxa6 Ke6 21.Nc3 f6

22.e4!? "Window-ledging," to use the term from David Smerdon's recent "Swindles" book. [22.c8Q+! Nxc8 (22...Rhxc8 23.Bxc8+ Rxc8 24.Ra6) 23.Nxd5! somehow had escaped my attention in this particular position.] 22...fxe5 23.Nxd5 Nxd5 24.exd5+ Kd6 25.c8Q Rhxc8 26.Ba3+

26...Kc7? [26...Kxd5! was my thought at the time, when I can win the exchange but maybe not the game. Two pawns each, all on the kingside, mine split and weak, knight (in the zone) for rook -- I'm suspcious of Stockfish's evaluation.] 27.Rc1+ Kb6 28.Rxc8 Rxa6 29.Rc6+ Kb7 30.Rxa6 Kxa6 31.fxe5 Bxe5 32.Ke2 Kb5 [32...Nf4+ 33.Kf3 Nxd5 34.Ke4 Nb6 35.Kxe5 Nc4+ 36.Kd5 Nxa3 37.Ra1] 33.Kd3 Nf6 34.Rb1+ Ka6 35.Kc4 Bxh2 36.Bc5 Nd7 [36...Bc7 37.d6 Bd8 38.Rb8 Rooks are just better pieces than bishops or knights, that's all there is to it.] 37.Rh1 Ne5+ 38.Kd4 h5 39.Ke4 Nd7 40.Rxh2 Nxc5+ 41.Ke5 Nd3+ 42.Kf6 Nf4 43.d6 Kb7 44.Rh4 Nd5+ 45.Ke6 g5 46.Rd4 Nf4+ 47.Rxf4 1-0

 

(4) Heidari,Ako (1971) - Tsodikova,Natalya (2204) [A26]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: Open San Francisco (1.4), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6 6.e4 f5 7.Nge2 Nf6 8.0-0 0-0 9.Be3 [9.Rb1 Is a good alternative. White has played a Botvinnik set-up, which is often seen with colors reversed.] 9...f4!? 10.gxf4 Nh5 11.f5 [11.fxe5 dxe5 12.Qd2] 11...Nd4 continuing in gambit style. Also possible was [11...gxf5 12.exf5 Bxf5 13.Ng3] 12.f4 [12.Qd2] 12...Nxf4 13.Nxf4 exf4 14.Bxf4 gxf5 15.Qh5 Be6 16.Bg5 [16.Rae1 gets the last piece in play.] 16...Qd7 17.Nd5 Bxd5! 18.cxd5 Qf7 19.Qh4 f4 20.Bh3 [20.Rxf4? Ne2+] 20...Kh8 21.Rae1 Be5 22.Kh1 f3 23.Be3 Nc2 24.Be6 Qe8 25.Bf5 Rxf5 26.exf5 Nxe1 27.Qxe1? The wrong capture, allowing Black to jump to the kingside. An even game goes downhill now. [27.Rxe1] 27...Qh5 28.Rf2 Qxf5 29.Qf1 Rf8 30.Rc2 Rf7 31.a4 Bg7 32.Qf2 Qxd3 33.Rd2 Qc4 34.h3 Qxa4 35.Bd4 Bxd4 36.Rxd4 Qb5 37.Re4 h5 38.Re8+?? Qxe8 0-1

(5) Smith,Daniel S (2147) - Lum,Michael K (1914) [D00]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: Open San Francisco (1.5), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d5 3.e3 Bf5 4.c4 e6 5.Qb3 Qc8 [5...Nc6 6.Qxb7 Nb4 7.Na3 Rb8 8.Qxc7 Qxc7 9.Bxc7 Rc8 10.Bg3 dxc4 would be a sharp and interesting alternative.] 6.Nc3 c6 7.Nf3 Nh5 8.Bg3 Nxg3 9.hxg3 Bd6 10.Nh4 Be4 11.Rc1 Qd7?! [11...0-0!] 12.Nf3 Bg6 13.c5 Be7 14.Ne5 Qc7 15.Nxg6 fxg6 16.Bd3 0-0 17.Ne2 Bf6 [17...Nd7!? 18.Nf4 e5 19.Ne6 Qa5+ 20.Ke2 (20.Rc3) 20...Rf7! 21.Qxb7 Rb8 22.Qxd7 Rxb2+ 23.Rc2 Rxc2+ 24.Bxc2 Qxa2 is a perpetual check by one player or the other. (or 24...Qc3) ] 18.Nf4 Re8

19.Nxg6? [19.Rxh7!+- Kxh7 20.Bxg6+ Kg8 21.Bxe8] 19...hxg6 20.Bxg6 Nd7! 21.f4 Nf8 22.Bxe8 Rxe8 23.g4 Ng6 24.g3 Qf7 25.Rc2 Bd8 26.Qd3 Bc7 27.Rh5 Ba5+ 28.Kd1 Bd8 29.Rch2 Qf6 30.Kc2 b6 31.Qa6 Qf7 32.f5 exf5 33.gxf5 Rxe3

34.fxg6? [34.Qc8! Qe8 35.Qxd8! Qxd8 36.fxg6 wins the queen back with an extra pawn 36...Kf8 37.Rh8+ Ke7 38.Rxd8 Kxd8] 34...Qxg6+ 35.Kd2 Bg5! 36.Rxg5 Qxg5 37.Kc2 Qf5+ 38.Kc1 Re1+ 39.Kd2 Re8 [39...Rb1!] 40.cxb6 axb6 41.Qd3 Re4 42.Re2 c5 43.dxc5 bxc5 44.Rxe4 dxe4 45.Qe3 Qd5+ 46.Kc3 Qxa2 47.Qxc5 Qb1 48.Qd5+ Kh7 49.Qf5+ Kg8 50.Qe6+ Kh7 51.Qf5+ Kg8 52.Qd5+ Kf8 53.Qd6+ Kf7 54.Qd7+ Kg8 55.Qe8+ Kh7 1/2-1/2

 

(6) Melville,Cailen Jeremiah (1909) - Walder,Michael (2102) [A65]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: Open San Francisco (1.6), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4 0-0 5.Nc3 d6 6.Nge2 c5 7.d5 e6 8.Ng3 exd5 9.cxd5

9...Nh5!? 10.Nxh5 gxh5 11.Be3 f5 12.Bd3 Nd7 13.0-0 f4 14.Bf2 Ne5 15.Be2 Qg5 16.Kh1 Bd7 17.g3?! [17.Rg1; 17.Na4; 17.Bb5!] 17...Ng6 18.Rg1 Qf6 19.Qd2 Rae8 20.Rae1 h4? [20...Kh8] 21.g4? [21.gxh4!=] 21...Re5? [21...Ne5; 21...h3] 22.h3 h5 23.gxh5 Rxh5 24.Kh2 Bh6 25.Bb5 Bc8 26.Bd3 Rg5 [26...Kh8!-/+] 27.Rxg5 Qxg5= 28.Qd1

28...Qe7? [28...Bg7; 28...Qf6] 29.Rg1 Kf7

30.Nb5? [30.Rxg6! Kxg6 31.e5+!+/-] 30...a6??

[30...Ne5=] 31.Rxg6!! Kxg6 32.Nxd6!+- Kh5 33.Nxc8 Rxc8 34.Qg1 Qg7 35.Qg4+! Qxg4 36.hxg4+ Kg5 37.b3?! [37.e5! Bg7 (37...c4 38.Bf5!) 38.e6!] 37...Bg7 38.Kh3

38...Be5 39.Bxh4+ Kg6?!

Now, after that great double combination to create all those passed pawns, Cailen misses his last chance to send them down the board! [39...Kh6+/-] 40.Be1?? [40.d6!! Rh8 41.d7 Rxh4+ (41...Bc7 42.g5 Kh5 43.Bc4 (43.e5) 43...Rf8 44.e5) 42.Kxh4 Bf6+ 43.g5! Bxg5+ 44.Kg4] 40...b5-/+ 41.Kg2 [41.d6 Rd8] 41...c4-+ 42.bxc4 bxc4 43.Bxc4 Rxc4 44.a3 Rc2+ 45.Kf1 Bd6 46.a4 Kf6 47.a5 Ke5 48.g5 Bc5 49.g6 Kf6 50.e5+ Kxg6 51.d6 Kf7 52.Bh4 Ke6 53.Bf6 Bxd6 54.exd6 Kxf6 55.Ke1 Ke6 56.d7 Kxd7 0-1

 

(7) Snyder,Larry (2061) - Lehman,Clarence E (1900) [C45]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: Open San Francisco (1.7), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nb3 Bb6 6.a4 Qf6 7.Qe2 a5 8.Nc3 Nge7 9.Be3 Bxe3 10.Qxe3 Nb4 11.0-0-0 c6 12.f4 0-0 13.g4 Ng6 14.f5 Ne5 15.g5 Qe7 16.Qf4 f6 17.h4 d5 18.Bh3 Qc7 19.Kb1 b5 20.g6?! [20.gxf6 opens the kingside to go after the black king.] 20...bxa4 21.Nxa4 dxe4 22.h5 Qe7 23.Qxe4 h6 24.Nd2 Ba6 25.Bf1 Bxf1 26.Rhxf1 Rfd8 27.Nc4 Rd5 [27...Nxg6! gets rid of the advanced g-pawn.] 28.Nxe5 Rxe5 29.Qc4+ Kf8? [29...Kh8] 30.c3 [30.Nb6! Re4 31.Nd7+ Qxd7 32.Qxe4 should win.] 30...Re4?! [30...Nd5 31.Qxc6 Rd8] 31.Qc5 Nd3?! [31...Na6 32.Qxc6 Re8] 32.Rxd3 Rxa4 33.Qxe7+ Kxe7 34.Re1+ Kf8 35.Rd7 There is no hope for Black in this endgame with the white rooks invading. 35...Rf4 36.Ree7 Rb8 37.Rf7+ Kg8 38.Rxg7+ Kh8 39.Rh7+ Kg8 40.Rxh6 Rf2 41.g7! Rfxb2+ 42.Ka1 Rb1+ 43.Ka2 1-0

(8) Xu,Jayden (1826) - Estolas,Brendyn (2030) [E17]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: Open San Francisco (1.8), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.Nc3 0-0 7.Qd3 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Ne5 c5 10.0-0 Na6 11.a3 Re8 12.Bf4 cxd4 13.Qxd4 Bc5 14.Qd3 Bd6 15.Nxd5?

15...Nxd5? [15...Nc5 wins as the knight hits the queen and guards the bishop on b7.] 16.Nxf7! Nxf4 17.Nxd8 Nxd3 18.Nxb7 Rxe2 19.Nxd6 Rd8 20.Bd5+?! [20.Nb5 is a pawn up] 20...Kf8 21.Bc4 Rxd6 22.Rad1 Nxb2! 23.Bxe2 Nxd1 24.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 25.Bxd1 Ke7 26.Kg2 Kd6 27.Kf3 Nc5 28.Bc2 Ne6 29.Kg4 g6 30.f4 Nd4?! [30...b5 31.f5 gxf5+ 32.Bxf5 Nf8 33.Kg5 a5 34.Kf6 is dynamically equal.] 31.Bd3 Ne6 32.f5 gxf5+ 33.Bxf5 Nf8 34.Kg5 Ke5 35.Bc2 b5 36.Bd3 a6 37.Kh6 Kd4 38.Bc2 Kc3 39.Bd1 Kd2 40.Bf3 Ke3 41.Bg4 Kf2?! [41...a5!] 42.Kg7 Kg2? [42...Ng6 43.Kxh7 Ne5 44.Bc8 a5 still gives Black chances.] 43.Bc8 a5 44.Kxf8 Kxh2 45.g4 b4 46.axb4 axb4 47.Kg7 Kg3 48.Kh6 b3 49.g5 Kf4 50.Be6 b2 51.Ba2 1-0

 

(9) Perlov,Alexander (1824) - Boldi,Ethan [Kazanjian] (2110) [E17]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: Open San Francisco (1.36), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Nf3 c6 7.Nc3 Nbd7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Bf4 b6 10.Re1 Bb7 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Nd7 14.Bf4 Bg5 15.Qd2 Bxf4 16.Qxf4 Nf6 17.Rad1 Re8 18.e4 Qe7 19.e5 Nd7 20.Re2 Nf8 21.Qd2 Rad8 22.Qc2 Ne6 23.f4 c5 24.dxc5 Qxc5+ 25.Rf2 Nc7 26.Bf3 Bc6 27.Kg2 a5 28.Ne4?? Simply a terrible blunder. 28...dxe4 29.Bxe4 Qxc2 0-1

(10) Boldi,Nicholas Armen (1862) - Davila,Carlos (2066) [B13]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: Extra Gam San Francisco (1.37), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 Nf6 6.0-0 e6 7.c3 Be7 8.Bf4 0-0 9.Nbd2 Nc6 10.Rc1 a6 11.h3 Bh5 12.Re1 Rc8 13.Bd3 b5 14.Rc2 Re8 15.Qb1 Qb6 16.a3 a5 A classic minority attack by Black. White now chooses to prevent ...b4 at the cost of a backward c-pawn. A reasonable choice here. 17.b4 a4?! [17...axb4 18.axb4 Ra8] 18.Rcc1 Bf8 19.Ne5 Bg6 20.Nxg6 hxg6 21.Nf3 Nh5 22.Bh2 Be7 23.Qb2 Na7 24.Qd2 Bd6 25.Bxd6 Qxd6 26.Ne5 Rc7 27.Be2 Nf6 28.Bd3 Rec8 29.Re3 Nd7 30.Nf3?! [30.Nxd7 Rxd7 31.Rg3] 30...Qf4 31.Be2 Nf6 32.Qe1 Ne4 33.Ne5 Qh6 34.Bf3 f5?! [34...Nd6 is more solid] 35.Bxe4 dxe4 36.Rc2 Nc6 37.Nxc6 Rxc6 38.Qe2 [38.f3!] 38...Qh5! 39.Qxh5 gxh5 40.Kf1

40...f4? [40...Rc4! 41.f3! exf3 42.gxf3 Kf7 43.Rd3 e5!] 41.Rxe4= Rxc3 42.Rxc3 Rxc3 43.Rxe6 Rxa3 44.Rb6 Ra1+ [44...Rd3] 45.Ke2 a3 46.Rxb5 a2?? [46...Rb1 47.Ra5 Rb3 48.h4+/=] 47.Ra5 Kf7 48.b5 [48.h4!+-] 48...Ke7 [48...g5!] 49.h4 Kd6 50.Kf3 Kc7 51.Ra6 g6 52.Kxf4 Rd1 53.Rxa2 Rxd4+ 54.Kg3 Rg4+ 55.Kh3 g5 56.hxg5 Rxg5 57.Rb2 Kb6 58.g3 Rg4 59.Re2 Rg5 60.Kh4 Rxb5 61.Re6+ Kc7 62.Rh6 Rb2 63.Rf6 Rb5 64.f4 Kd7 65.Rh6 1-0

 

(11) Argo,Guy (1939) - Acosta,Anthony (1761) [B01]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u2000 San Francisco (1.9), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Bc4 Bg4 6.f3 Bf5 7.Nge2 c6 8.0-0 e6 9.Ng3 Bg6 10.Qe2 Be7 11.f4 Qd8

12.f5! exf5 13.Nxf5 Bxf5 14.Rxf5 Nbd7 [14...Qxd4+? 15.Be3 Qd7 16.Bc5 would leave Black in an awful mess.] 15.Ne4 0-0 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.c3 Nb6 18.Bb3 a5 19.a4 g6 20.Rf3 Nd5 21.Bxd5?! Giving up the two bishops and most of White's advantage. 21...cxd5 22.Qb5 b6 23.Bh6 Bg7 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.Re1 Qd6 26.Re5 Rfd8 27.Rfe3 Ra7 28.g4 h6 29.Kg2 Rad7 30.h4 Qf6 31.Kg3 Qd6 32.Kh3 Qf6 33.Qe2 Qc6 34.Qc2 b5 35.h5 bxa4 36.Re6 Rd6! Keeping a cool head and not exposing the king due to greed. 37.Re7 R8d7 38.g5? hxg5 39.h6+? The last two moves have been chasing a win that's not there. They have just given away two pawns. 39...Kxh6 40.Kg4 Rxe7 41.Qh2+ Kg7 42.Rxe7 Qc8+ 43.Kg3 Rf6 44.Qe2 Qf5 45.Re8 Qf4+ 46.Kg2 g4 47.Kg1 g3 48.Ra8 Qc1+ 0-1

 

(12) Mahooti,James J (1870) - Porlares,Teodoro (1756) [E00]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u2000 San Francisco (1.11), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Be7 5.Bg2 d5 6.Nc3 c6 7.Nf3 0-0 8.0-0 dxc4 9.e4 Nbd7 10.Qc2 b5 11.e5 Nd5 12.Ne4 h6 13.a4 Bb7 14.b3 cxb3 15.Qxb3 b4! White now doesn't have enough compensation for the pawn. 16.a5 c5 17.dxc5 Nxc5 18.Nxc5 Bxc5 19.a6 Bc8 20.Rfc1 Qb6 21.Be1 Bd7 22.Nd2 Bd4 [22...Nc3! 23.Bxa8?! Rxa8 is a terrific exchange sacrifice. With the extra pawn and light squares Black is clearly ahead.] 23.Nc4 Qd8 24.Rab1 Rb8 25.Qd3?! [25.Bxd5 exd5 26.Ne3] 25...Nc3! 26.Bxc3 Bxc3 27.Qe4?! [27.Qe3 Bb5 28.Nd6 Bxa6 29.Qxa7 Is still a clear pawn down, but keeps White in the game. Now Black goes two pawns up.] 27...Bb5 28.Rd1 Qc7 29.Nd6 Bxa6 30.Rdc1 Qc5 31.Ra1 Rb6 32.Bf1 Bxf1 33.Kxf1 Qxe5 34.Qxe5 Bxe5 35.Nc4 Bxa1 36.Nxb6 axb6 37.Rxa1 Rc8 38.Rb1 Rc4 39.Ke2 f5 40.Rb3 Kf7 41.Kd2 e5 42.Re3 Ke6 43.f3 g5 44.Rb3 e4 45.fxe4 fxe4 46.Re3 Ke5 47.Rb3 Kd4 48.Ke2 g4 49.Rb2 Kc3 50.Rb1 Kc2 51.Rd1 b3 52.Rd2+ Kc3 53.Kd1 Rd4 0-1

(13) Horng,Timothy (1723) - Schley,Andrew (1819) [C18]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u2000 San Francisco (1.12), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 cxd4 6.axb4 dxc3 7.bxc3 [7.Nf3] 7...Qc7 8.Qd4?! [8.Nf3] 8...Ne7 [8...Nc6 9.Bb5 Nge7] 9.Bb2? Nbc6 10.Qg4 Qxe5+ 11.Be2 h5 Black has clearly won the opening battle. 12.Qg3 Nf5 13.Qxe5 Nxe5 14.Nh3 Nc4 15.Bc1 Bd7 16.0-0 a6 17.Rd1 Bb5 18.Nf4 g6 19.Nd3 0-0 [19...Ke7 would keep the king centralized.] 20.Nc5 b6 21.Nb3?! [21.Bxc4 leaves White with at least play on the dark squares.] 21...Ncd6 22.Bf3 Rac8 23.Bd2 Nh4 24.Nd4 Nxf3+ 25.Nxf3 Ne4 26.Be3 Nxc3 27.Rd2 Ne4 28.Rdd1 Rxc2 29.Nd4 Rc4 30.Nxb5 axb5 31.Bxb6 Rb8 32.Ba5 Rbc8 33.f3 Nc3 34.Re1 Na4 35.Kf2 Rc2+ 36.Kg3 R8c4 37.Reb1 Nc3 38.Rb3 Ne2+ 0-1

(14) Poling,Scott E (1817) - Kaplan,Glenn (1697) [A49]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u2000 San Francisco (1.13), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 0-0 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.Qd3 c5 8.e3 a6 9.a4 Rb8 10.Rd1 b6 11.Ra3 Bb7 12.Nd2 Bxg2 13.Kxg2 Qc8 14.Qe2 b5 15.axb5 axb5 16.Ra5 b4 17.Nce4 cxd4 18.Nxf6+ Bxf6 19.Ne4 Qb7 20.exd4 Bg7 21.f3 Rfc8 22.Bf4 Qc7 23.Rb5 Qxc2 24.Rd2 Qc4 25.Rxb8 Qxe2+ 26.Rxe2 Nxb8 27.d5 b3 [27...Nd7-+] 28.Nc3?! Bxc3 29.bxc3

29...Rc7 [29...Nd7 walks a tightrope to a bigger advantage: 30.Rxe7 b2 31.Re1 Rxc3 32.g4 Nf6 33.Bh6 Rc2+ 34.Kg3 Re2!] 30.Bxd6!? Rb7? [30...exd6 31.Re8+ Kg7 32.Rxb8 Rxc3 is a winning endgame.] 31.Bxe7?? [31.Bb4! quickly gets rid of the b-pawn and draws. 31...Nd7 32.Rb2 Nb6 33.d6! exd6 34.Rxb3=] 31...b2 32.Bf6 Nd7 33.Re8+ Nf8 0-1

 

(15) Hansen,Mateo Stephen (1691) - Chin,Alex Paul (1814) [D00]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u2000 San Francisco (1.14), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Bf5 4.e3 e6 5.Bd3 Bg6 6.0-0 c5 7.Ne5 Nc6 8.f4 cxd4 9.exd4 Qb6 10.Be3 Bd6 11.Na4 Qa5 12.b3 Ne4 13.Bxe4 Bxe4 14.Qg4 g6 15.Qh4 Be7 16.Qh6 Bf8 17.Qh4 Bg7 18.Nc5 Qc7 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.c3 Nxe5 21.fxe5 Qxc3 22.Qxe4 Qc6 23.Qh4 0-0 24.Rac1 Qd7 25.Bg5 h6 26.Bf6 Rac8 27.Rcd1 Rc2 28.Rd3 Qd5 29.Rdf3

29...Rxa2?? [29...Bxf6! 30.Qxf6 (30.exf6 Kh7) 30...Qxd4+ 31.Kh1 h5 (air!) (31...Rc7!?; 31...Qe4!?) 32.Rg3 Qe4] 30.Bxg7 Kxg7 31.Qf6+ Kg8

[31...Kh7 is the same (well, on f7)] 32.Qxg6+! fxg6 33.Rxf8+ Kg7 34.R1f7# 1-0

 

(16) Drane,Robert William (1812) - Tuck,Drew (1651) [C24]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u2000 San Francisco (1.15), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Nf3 d5 5.exd5 cxd5 6.Bb3 Nc6 7.0-0 Bd6 8.Re1 0-0 9.Bg5 d4 10.a3 h6 11.Bh4 g5 12.Bg3 Bg4 13.Nbd2 Nh5? [13...Re8 14.h3 Bh5] 14.h3! Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Nxg3?! [15...Nf4 16.Bxf4 exf4 17.Qh5 Kg7 18.h4] 16.fxg3! Ne7 [16...Kg7!? 17.g4 Qf6 White has a big plus with or without the queens on.] 17.Rf1 Ng6

18.Qf6 Good enough! [(But 18.Ne4!? leans in harder. With Qf5, h3-h4, f7 still going)] 18...Kh7 19.Bxf7 Qxf6 20.Rxf6 Nh8 21.Rxd6 Rxf7 22.Rf1 Raf8 23.Rxf7+ Rxf7 24.Re6 Ng6 25.Nc4 Rc7 26.a4 Kg7 27.Nxe5 Nxe5 28.Rxe5 White handles the rook ending well, never really letting Black into the game. 28...Kf6 29.Re2 a6 30.Kf2 b5 31.axb5 axb5 32.Ke1 b4 33.Kd2 Rb7 34.Re4 b3 35.Rxd4 bxc2 36.Kxc2 Rc7+ 37.Kd2 Rb7 38.b4 Rb5 39.g4 Re5 40.Re4 Rb5 41.Kc3 Rb7 42.Kc4 Rc7+ 43.Kd5 Rd7+ 44.Kc4 Rc7+ 45.Kb5 Rc2 46.d4 Rxg2 47.Re3 Rd2 48.Kc4 Rc2+ 49.Rc3 Rd2 50.Kc5 Ke7 51.b5 Kd7 52.b6 Kc8 53.d5 Kd7 54.Rc4 Rb2 55.Rb4 Rc2+ 56.Kd4 Rc8 57.b7 Rb8 58.Kc5 Kc7 59.d6+ Kd7 60.Kb6 1-0

 

(17) Carron,Joel (1645) - Mercado,Adam (1805) [C47]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u2000 San Francisco (1.16), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bc5 6.Be3 Bb6 7.Qd2 Ng4 8.Nxc6 Bxe3 9.Nxd8 Bxd2+ 10.Kxd2 Kxd8 11.f3 Ne5 12.Rd1 f5 13.Kc1 f4 14.Be2 Rf8 15.Rd5 d6 16.Rhd1 Bd7 17.R5d2 Be6 18.Nd5 Kd7 19.Nb4 Bc4 20.Nd3 Bxd3 21.Bxd3 [21.cxd3!] 21...Rf6 22.Bf1 g5 23.Rd5 Ke7 24.c4 c6 25.R5d2 a5 26.Rf2 c5 27.Be2 Ra6 28.g3?! fxg3 29.hxg3?

29...Ng4!-+ 30.Rh1 Nxf2 31.Rxh7+ Rf7 32.Rh2 Nd3+ 33.Bxd3 Rxf3 34.Rh7+ Kf6 35.Be2 Rxg3 36.Rxb7 Re3 37.Bh5 Rxe4 38.Rf7+ Ke5 39.Be2 Rd4 40.Rg7 Kf6 41.Rg8 Ra7 42.Bh5 Rh7 43.Bf3 Rh2 44.Bd5 Rf4 1-0

 

(18) Tsolias,Georgios (1791) - Lagrotta,Daniel S (1633) [C02]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u2000 San Francisco (1.17), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.cxd4 d5 5.e5 Qb6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Nf3 Bb4 8.Bd2 Nxd4 9.a3 Nxf3+ 10.Qxf3 Bxc3 11.Qxc3 Ne7 12.Qb4 Qxb4 13.Bxb4 Bd7 14.Rc1 Rc8 15.Rxc8+ Nxc8 16.Kd2 b6 17.Ba6 Ne7 18.Rc1 Nc6 19.Bd6 Kd8 20.Kd3 f6 21.f4 Black may be a pawn up, but it's a horrible bind he's in. 21...h5 22.b4 h4

23.Bb7? [23.b5 and Rc7 is the way to do it!] 23...Ne7 White's advantage has slipped away. 24.Bb8? and now: Advantage Black! 24...Bb5+ 25.Kd2 Bc4! 26.Bxa7? [26.a4 a5-/+] 26...Kc7 27.Ba6 Ra8 [27...f5!] 28.Bxc4

28...Rxa7? [28...dxc4! 29.Rxc4+ Kb7 wins both bishops of course.] 29.Bb5+! It's not much, but White has an edge. 29...Kd8 30.a4 Rc7? 31.Ra1? [31.exf6! gxf6 32.Re1 wins the e-pawn and the game.] 31...fxe5 32.fxe5 Nc6?

There were useful squares in the other direction: g6, f5. White now neatly liquidates into a win: 33.Bxc6! Rxc6 34.Rc1! Rxc1 35.Kxc1 Kc7 36.b5? [36.h3!; 36.b5 h3 37.gxh3 it's possibly unwinnable.] 1-0

 

(19) Rakonitz,David (1613) - Warton,Philip (1790) [A57]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u2000 San Francisco (1.18), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 c5 4.d5 b5 5.b3 bxc4 6.bxc4 Bg7 7.Bb2 Na6 8.Nc3 Rb8 9.Rb1

9...Rxb2 [9...Qa5! 10.Qd2 Ne4!! 11.Nxe4 Qxa2-+] 10.Rxb2 Ne4?! [10...Nxd5!] 11.Nxe4 Bxb2 12.e3? [12.Qd2] 12...Qa5+ 13.Ned2 Qxa2 14.Be2 0-0 15.0-0 Nb4 [15...d6] 16.Qb1 d6 17.Qxa2 Nxa2 18.Rb1 Bg7 19.Bd3 Nb4 20.Bf1 a5 21.Rb3 a4 22.Rb1 Bd7 23.Ne1 a3 24.Nb3 a2 25.Rc1 Bf5 26.Nf3 Bb2 27.Re1 Nc2 28.Rd1 a1Q 29.Nxa1 Bxa1 30.h3 Bf6 31.Nd2 Ra8 32.e4 Bd7 33.Rb1 Nb4 34.Nb3 Ra2 35.Nc1 Ra1 36.Rxa1 Bxa1 37.Nb3 Bc3 38.Nc1 Ba4 39.Ne2 Bd2 40.Ng3 Bc2 41.Be2 Bd3 42.Kf1 Bxe2+ 43.Kxe2 Bf4 44.Nf1 e6 45.g3 Bc1 46.Ke1 exd5 47.exd5 Bb2 48.Nd2 f5 49.Nf3 Bf6 50.Nd2 Kf7 51.Ke2 Nc2 52.Kd3 Nd4 53.Nf1 Nf3 54.Ke3 Ne5 55.Nd2 g5 56.Ke2 Bd8 57.f4 Ng6 58.Kf3 gxf4 59.gxf4 Ba5 60.Nb3 Nh4+ 61.Kf2 Bc3 62.Ke2 Kg6 63.Nc1 Kf6 64.Nd3 Bd4 65.Kf1 Ng6 66.Ke2 Ne7 67.Nc1 Nc8 68.Kd3 Nb6 69.Nb3 Bb2 0-1

 

(20) Babayan,Gagik (1784) - Casares Jr,Nick (1600) [E00]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u2000 San Francisco (1.19), 03.03.2020

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.a3 Be7 5.Bf4 Nh5 6.Bg3 Nxg3 7.hxg3 c5 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.cxd5 0-0 10.e3 exd5 11.Qxd5 Qe7 12.Qh5 h6 13.Bd3 Be6 14.Nf3 Nd7 15.Qh4 f6 16.b4 Bb6 17.Qe4 f5 18.Qh4 Rf6 19.0-0 g5 20.Qh2 Qg7 21.Na4 Bc7 22.Nd4 Raf8 23.Nxe6 Rxe6 24.Bc4 Qf6 25.Rad1 Kg7 26.Rxd7+ Re7 27.Rxe7+ Qxe7 28.Nc5 Re8 29.Qh5 Qf6 30.Qxe8 1-0

(21) Gimelfarb,Ilia (1599) - Cortinas,Martin A (1784) [B22]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u2000 San Francisco (1.20), 03.03.2020

1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 d6 7.exd6 e6 8.Nc3 Nb6 9.Nb5 Nd5 10.Ne5 a6 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Nc7+ Nxc7 13.dxc7 Qxc7 14.Qa4 Bd7 15.Bd2 Bd6 16.Ba5 Qa7 17.Bc3 0-0 18.Qc2 Rac8 19.b4 Rce8 20.Bd3 g6 21.0-0 Qc7 22.h4 Bh2+ 23.Kh1 Bf4 24.Bxa6 Ra8 25.Bd3 Rfd8 26.a4 Bh6 27.a5 Bg7 28.Rfe1 Bc8 29.Qb2 Qd6 30.Be4 Ba6 31.Rad1 Bb5 32.Re3 h5 33.Qc2 f5 34.Bd3 Bxd3 35.Qxd3 Ra7 36.Qc4 Re7 37.a6 Kf8 38.a7 e5 39.Qa6 Ra8 40.b5 Rexa7 41.Qxc6 Rd8 42.d5 e4 43.Qxd6+ Rxd6 44.Bb4 Ke7 45.Bxd6+ Kxd6 46.Rg3 Kc5 47.d6 Rd7 48.Rxg6 Be5 49.g3 Kxb5 50.Rh6 Kc5 51.Rxh5 Kc6 52.Rxf5 Bg7 53.h5 Bb2 54.h6 1-0

(22) Simpkins,Jerry (1539) - Krezanoski,Paul (1187) [C00]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u1600 San Francisco (1.10), 03.03.2020

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 d5 4.e5 a6 5.d4 Nge7 6.Be2 Nf5 7.0-0 Na7 8.Be3 c5 9.Bd3 Nxe3 10.fxe3 h6 11.Nbd2 Be7 12.e4 0-0 13.exd5 exd5 14.h3 Nc6 15.Rc1 Qb6 16.Qb3 Qxb3 17.axb3 cxd4 18.cxd4 Bb4 19.Nb1 Ba5 20.Na3 Re8 21.Nc2 Bb6 22.Kh1 Be6 23.b4 Ne7 24.b5 a5 25.b4 Nf5 26.bxa5 Ng3+ 27.Kg1 Nxf1 28.Kxf1 Bxa5 29.b6 Rab8 30.Bb5 Rec8 31.Ba4 Rc3 32.Rb1 Bxh3 33.Rb5 Rxf3+ 34.Ke2 Bxg2 35.Rxa5 Rf4 36.Ke3 Re4+ 37.Kf2 Bh1 38.Bd7 Rh4 39.Rc5 Kf8 40.Rc7 Ke7 41.Bc6+ Kf8 42.Bxb7 Rh2+ 43.Kg1 Rxc2 44.Rxc2 Rxb7 45.Kxh1 Rxb6 46.Rc5 f6 47.Rxd5 Ke7 48.Rc5 fxe5 49.dxe5 Ke6 50.Rc7 g5 51.Rh7 Kxe5 52.Kg2 Kf5 53.Kg3 Kg6 54.Rh8 h5 55.Rg8+ Kf5 56.Rc8 h4+ 57.Kh3 Rb3+ 58.Kh2 g4 59.Rc5+ Kf4 60.Rh5 Rb2+ 61.Kg1 g3 62.Rxh4+ Kf3 0-1

(23) Rushton,Peter James (1181) - Starr,Albert Martin (1507) [C42]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u1600 San Francisco (1.21), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bc4 0-0 5.0-0 d6 6.d4 Bg4 7.Qd3 Nbd7 8.a3 Ba5 9.b4 Bb6 10.Bb2 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 exd4 12.Ne2 Ne5 13.Qb3 Nxc4 14.Qxc4 Nxe4 15.Qd3 d5 16.Nxd4 Bxd4 17.Qxd4 Qf6 18.Qxd5 Qxb2 19.Qxe4 c6 20.c4 Rfe8 21.Qf3 Rad8 22.Rae1 Kf8 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.Qd3 Kg8 25.Qd7 Qe2 26.h3 Qe7 27.Qd4 a5 28.c5 Rd8 29.Qg4 h6 30.Qc4 Qc7 31.a4 axb4 32.Qxb4 Rd5 33.Rc1 Qd7 34.a5 Kf8 35.Rb1 Rd1+ 36.Rxd1 Qxd1+ 37.Kh2 Qd7 38.Qb1 Qc7+ 39.Kg1 Qxa5 40.Qxb7 Qxc5 41.Qc8+ Ke7 42.Qc7+ Kf6 43.Qf4+ Kg6 44.g4 Qd5 45.h4 c5 46.h5+ Kh7 47.f3 Qd4+ 48.Qxd4 cxd4 49.Kf1 g6 50.Ke2 Kg7 [50...gxh5 51.gxh5 Kg7] 51.Kd3 Kf6? [51...gxh5 52.gxh5 Kf6] 52.f4? [52.hxg6=] 52...gxh5 53.gxh5 Kf5 54.Kxd4 Kxf4 55.Kd5 f5 56.Ke6 Kg5 57.Ke5 f4 58.Ke4 Kg4 59.Kd3 Kg3 60.Ke2 Kg2 61.Ke1 f3 0-1

(24) Chan,John (1500) - Gimelfarb,Natan (1049) [D02]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u1600 San Francisco (1.22), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.h3 Bf5 5.Bg5 Ne4 6.Bf4 e6 7.g4 Bg6 8.Bg2 Bd6 9.Bxd6 Qxd6 10.Na3 0-0 11.0-0 f5 12.Nb5 fxg4?? 13.Nxd6 gxf3 14.exf3 Nxd6 15.Re1 Bf5 16.b3 Rf6 17.Qd2 Rg6 18.Kf1 Rh6 19.Ke2 Rf8 20.Rh1 Rff6 21.Rag1 Rfg6 22.Bf1 Bxh3 23.Rxg6 Bxf1+ 24.Rxf1 Rxg6 25.Rh1 Nf5 26.a4 Rg2 27.Kf1 Rg6 28.b4 e5 29.dxe5 Kf8 30.Qxd5 Rg3 31.Rxh7 Ke7 32.Qc5+ 1-0

(25) (),William C (1042) - Zirbel,Dominic Andrew (1467) [C02]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u1600 San Francisco (1.23), 03.03.2020

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.b3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bb4+ 8.Bd2 Nxd4 9.Nxd4 Qxd4 10.Bxb4 Qxe5+ 11.Be2 Qxa1 12.Nc3 Qxd1+ 13.Nxd1 Nf6 0-1

(26) Wagner,Tyler (1020) - Uzakbaev,Nursultan (1415) [D07]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u1600 San Francisco (1.25), 03.03.2020

1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Bg5 e6 4.Nf3 Bb4+ 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.e3 e5 7.Nxe5 Qd6 8.c5 Qe6 9.Qa4 Ne4 10.Nxc6 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Nxc3 12.Qa5 Ne4 13.Qxc7 Bd7 14.Nd8 Qf5 15.Bf4 Rxd8 16.Bd3 0-0 17.0-0 Qe6 18.Qxb7 Nd2 19.Rfe1 Qg4 20.Qxd5 Be6 21.Be2 Rxd5 22.Bxg4 Bxg4 23.Be5 Re8 24.f3 Bxf3 25.gxf3 Nxf3+ 26.Kf2 Nxe1 27.Rxe1 f6 28.Bd6 Re4 29.Rb1 Rf5+ 30.Ke2 Re8 31.c6 Rd5 32.c7 Rxd6 33.Rb8 Rde6 34.d5 Rxe3+ 35.Kd2 Re2+ 36.Kc3 Kf7 37.Rxe8 Rxe8 38.Kc4 Ke7 39.Kc5 Kd7 40.d6 f5 0-1

(27) Radaelli,Lucas (1411) - Sullivan,George Thomas (865) [B77]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u1600 San Francisco (1.26), 03.03.2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 g6 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Bc4 0-0 9.Qd2 Nc6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.0-0-0 Rb8 12.e5 Ne8 13.exd6 exd6 14.g4 Kh8 15.h4 f6 16.h5 gxh5 17.Rxh5 f5 18.Rdh1 Nf6 19.Bg5 Qd7 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Qh6 Rb7 22.Qxf8# 1-0

(28) Ballantyne,Andrew (818) - Harris,Clarence (1400) [C54]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u1600 San Francisco (1.27), 03.03.2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.0-0 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Be7 10.d5 Na5 11.Bd3 0-0 12.Qc2 g6 13.Bb2 Bf6 14.Qa4 b6 15.Qe4 Re8 16.Qf4 d6 17.Rfe1 Bg7 18.Ng5 Bf6 19.Rxe8+ Qxe8 20.Qxf6 Qe5 21.Qxf7+ Kh8 22.Qxh7# 1-0

(29) Martin,Michael J (1387) - Hall,Diana [C41]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u1600 San Francisco (1.28), 03.03.2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 f5 4.exf5 Bxf5 5.d3 Nf6 6.g3 Qe7 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Nd5 Qe6 10.Nxc7+ Kd7 11.Nxe6 1-0

(30) Chambers,Don (1298) - Pagan Griso,Simone [B10]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u1600 San Francisco (1.30), 03.03.2020

1.e4 c6 2.Bc4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 e5 5.Qe2 Nc6 6.Bb5 Bd6 7.d4 e4 8.f3 Nf6 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.fxe4 Nxe4 12.Qd3 Qh4+ 13.Kd1 Nf2+ 14.Kd2 Nxd3 15.Kxd3 Bf5+ 16.Kd2 Qxd4+ 17.Ke1 Rfe8+ 18.Nce2 Bb4+ 19.c3 Bxc3+ 20.bxc3 Qxc3+ 21.Kd1 Bc2# 0-1

(31) Belyavski,Laura - Revi,Frank (1298) [A34]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u1600 San Francisco (1.31), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 d6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Be2 Bg4 6.0-0 e6 7.Qa4?! Be7 8.b3? This banishing the queen to the side of the board will quickly cost White. 8...0-0 9.Bb2 a6 10.Rfd1?

10...Nd4! and Black is winning. 11.Re1 Nc2 [But Black is winning quite a bit more with 11...b5!] 12.Rec1 Nxa1 13.Rxa1 Qc7 14.b4 d5 15.Qd1 cxb4 16.Ng5 bxc3 17.h4 Bxe2 18.Qxe2 cxb2 19.Rb1 dxe4 20.Rxb2 Qc6 21.d3 exd3 22.Qxd3 h6 23.Nf3 Bd6 24.g3 Rad8 25.Qe3 Qxc4 26.Kh2 Ng4+ 27.Kh3 Nxe3 28.fxe3 Qf1+ 29.Kg4 f5+ 30.Kh5 Qxf3+ 31.Kg6 0-1

 

(32) Cendejas,Jon Rodolfo (1268) - Polivyanenko,Stanislav [C50]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u1600 San Francisco (1.32), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.0-0 d6 6.h3 Be6 7.Bxe6 fxe6 8.d3 0-0 9.Be3 Bb6 10.Na4 Bxe3 11.fxe3 Qe7 12.c4 d5 13.exd5 exd5 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.Qb3

[15.Qc1!?] 15...Qe6? [15...Rad8! 16.e4 Na5! 17.Qb5 Qb4! 18.Qxb4 Nxb4 seems to keep a balance!] 16.e4? Letting Black get away! [Either 16.Ng5 Qd6 17.Rxf8+ Rxf8 18.e4+-; Or 16.Nc5 Qd6 (16...Qf7 17.Nxe5 (17.Ng5) ) 17.Nxb7+-] 16...Nf4!

17.Qxb7? [17.Qxe6+ Nxe6 18.Nc3 sees Black on the high side of the balance.] 17...Qg6 [17...Rab8!? gets this move "for free" 18.Qa6 (18.Qxc7? Rf7!) 18...Qg6] 18.Nh4 Qg3 19.Qxc6?

[19.Rxf4 Qxf4 20.Qxc6 Qxh4 21.Qe6+ Kh8 22.Qxe5 is materially pretty good for White, but the knight is out of play and the rooks are jumping in pretty fast. 22...Rae8 23.Qd4 (23.Qxc7 Rc8) 23...Qg3] 19...Qxh4? [19...Nxh3+!-+ 20.Kh1 Nf2+ 21.Kg1 Qxh4 is crushing.] 20.Kh2!= Now White keeps it together. 20...g5? [20...Rad8] 21.Rf3 [21.Nc3!] 21...Kh8 [21...g4 22.Rg3 h5] 22.Raf1? [22.Qxc7+/-] 22...Rg8?? [22...g4!-+ Black lands first.] 23.Qf6+ Rg7 24.Qxe5+- Rf8 25.Nc5 Finally! Back in the game! 25...Kg8 26.Ne6 Nxe6 27.Qxe6+ Rff7 28.Qe8+ 1-0

 

(33) Dandurand,Daniel Rene - Ahrens,Richard William (1256) [D02]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u1600 San Francisco (1.33), 03.03.2020

1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nc6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Nbd2 Bb4 6.c3 Ba5 7.Bb5 Bd7 8.0-0 a6 9.Bd3 0-0 10.h3 b5 11.b4 Bb6 12.Qe2 Ne7 13.a4 c6 14.a5 Bc7 15.Bxc7 Qxc7 16.Ne5 Ng6 17.f4 Nxe5 18.fxe5 Ne8 19.Qh5 g6 20.Qh6 Ng7 21.Rf6 Qd8 22.Nf3 Nf5 23.Bxf5 exf5 24.Ng5 1-0

(34) Morgan,Jacob (1227) - Skwerer,Sean [C50]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u1600 San Francisco (1.34), 03.03.2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nh6 4.d4 f6 5.0-0 exd4 6.Nxd4 f5 7.exf5 Ne5 8.Re1 d6 9.f4 c5 10.Nf3 Nhg4 11.fxe5 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 Bxf5 13.Nc6+ Kd7 14.Nxd8 Rxd8 15.Qd5 Rb8 16.Qxf5+ 1-0

(35) Le,Thu Anh - Frank,Robert H (1222) [B45]
Ted and Ruby Yudacufski TNM: u1600 San Francisco (1.35), 03.03.2020
[de Firmian,Nick]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.e4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.Be3 [6.Ndb5; 6.Nxc6] 6...Bb4 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Nxe4 9.Bd3 Nxc3 10.Qd2 Nd5 11.Bg5 Nf6 12.Nf3 h6 13.Be3 e5 14.Be2 d5 15.c4 d4 16.Rd1 dxe3 17.fxe3 Be6 18.Qxd8+ Rxd8 19.0-0 Ng4 20.Rb1 Nxe3 21.Rfc1 Na5 22.c5 0-0 23.Nxe5 Rc8 24.Bf3 Nd5 25.h3 Rc7 26.Bg4 Bxg4 27.hxg4 Re8 28.Nd3 Re3 29.Rd1 Nc3 30.Re1 Rxd3 31.Rb3 Nxb3 32.Re8+ Kh7 33.Ra8 a6 34.Re8 Nxc5 0-1

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