Chess Room Newsletter #968

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Mechanics' Institute vs. Royal Dutch Chess Club 

The Mechanics' Institute was just edged out in a very close match against the Royal Dutch Chess Club 17-16. The Mechanics' had three trustees representing the team, including GM Patrick Wolff, FM Mark Pinto, and Mike Hilliard, along with many club regulars. This was the third event in our Spring Series Club Matches with the world's historic clubs. We would like to thank Gosse Romkes, Stefan, and all the players from the Royal Dutch Club for helping organize this very entertaining match.

You can watch the broadcast by following this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXp1Q8Cm0mU

Here are some games from the match, annotated by GM Nick de Firmian

(5) Gosse Romkes (GosseRomkes) DD1852 (1917) - FM Mark Pinto (bondtrader) Mechanics' (2218) [A40]
Live Chess Chess.com, 08.05.2021

1.d4 g6 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nc3 d5 James Bond(trader), a.k.a. Mark Pinto plays the sharp Gruenfeld Defense. His opponent decides not to capture on d5 and transpose into a kind of Catalan Opening. 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 c6 and now we are in a Neo-Gruenfeld. This is a solid defense which offers equal prospects. 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.0-0 Nc6 9.Bf4 Bf5 10.Qb3

10...Na5 Mark breaks the symmetry with an attack on the white queen. The plan of taking queenside space is aggressive and good. 11.Qa4 a6 12.Ne5 Rc8 13.g4?! [Simpler and safer was the devloping move 13.Rfc1] 13...Be6 [13...Nxg4 14.Nxd5 e6 is also favorable for Black] 14.h3 b5 15.Qb4?!-/+ allowing a tactical opportunity [15.Qa3] 15...Nc6?! [15...Nxg4! 16.hxg4 Bxe5 17.Bxe5 Rc4 18.Qa3 b4 19.Qa4 bxc3 would put White in a hole] 16.Nxc6 Rxc6 17.Rad1 Rc4 Nonetheless Black has an excellent position with the advanced queenside pawns taking territory. 18.Qb3 Qd7 19.Be5 Rd8 20.e3 h6 21.f4 GrosseRomkes charges forward with the kingside pawns. It takes space, but can leave weaknesses. 21...Qc6?! [It seems Black could keep some edge with 21...h5 putting the question to the white pawn front immediately. e.g. 22.Bxf6 Bxf6 23.gxh5 Bxh3 with good play] 22.Rfe1?!-/+ [22.f5 gxf5 23.gxf5 Bc8 24.Rf2 would have been a logical follow-up.] 22...Ne4! 23.Bxg7 Nxc3! 24.bxc3 Kxg7 This nice simplification has left Black with a clear positional edge. White's c3 pawn is weak and the kingside is more loose than threatening. 25.Rc1 f5 [25...Rc8!?] 26.Bf1 26...fxg4!? Black would certainly be better after the simple [26...Ra4 but the exchange sacrifice is also promising] 27.Bxc4 bxc4 [27...dxc4 opens the long diagonal for the black queen] 28.Qd1?!-/+ [28.Qb4! saves a tempo by hitting the black pawn on e7] 28...gxh3 29.Qf3 Bf5 a great positon for Black. Material is even but the bishop on f5 is as strong as a rook. 30.Kh2 Rb8 31.Qf2 Qe6 32.Re2 Qe4 33.Rg1 a5 34.Rg3 a4 35.Rb2 Rxb2 36.Qxb2 h5 37.Qb8? going for it in time pressure. Sometimes you take a risk by playing actively and hope your opponent doesn't see how to put you away. 37...h4 [37...Qc2+ 38.Kh1 Be4+ 39.Kg1 h2+ would have won immediately] 38.Rxh3 Bxh3 [38...Qc2+! 39.Kg1 Bxh3 40.Qe5+ Kf7 41.Qxd5+ Be6] 39.Kxh3 g5? [39...Qh1+ 40.Kg4 Kf7 would be the best way to win the queen ending] 40.Qe5+?-/+ [40.fxg5! Qxe3+ 41.Kxh4 Qe4+ 42.Kh5 should allow White to hold the draw] 40...Qxe5 41.dxe5 41...Kg6 The king ending is winning and Mark securely wraps up the point for the team. 42.Kg4 e6 43.fxg5 h3 44.Kxh3 Kxg5 45.Kg3 Kf5 46.Kf3 a3 47.e4+ dxe4+ 48.Ke3 Kxe5 49.Ke2 Kf4 50.Kf2 e3+ 51.Ke2 e5 52.Ke1 Kf3 53.Kf1 e2+ bondtrader won on time, though it's completely over anyway. 0-1

(6) FM Andy Lee (falsenarwhal) Mechanics' (1887) - DD1852 (1714) [C34]
Live Chess Chess.com, 08.05.2021

1.e4 e5 The brave (yet risky) King's Gambit. 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d6 4.Nc3 g5 5.g3 g4 6.Nh4 f3 7.d4 Be7

You must admire falsenarwhal's courage. It looks suspect for White, but in fact chances are close to even and the crazy position is probably to his liking. 8.Be3 Bxh4 9.gxh4 Qxh4+ 10.Bf2 Qg5 11.Nd5 Kd8 12.h4?! This gives Black two protected passed pawns. It is still a wild position, but it doesn't seem necessary to give away a decisive endgame advantage (should we get there). 12...Qg7 13.Rg1 h5? [13...Qh6 holds onto the the extra pawns with the advantage] 14.Qxf3! Now White is only one pawn down and the activity more than compensates for that. 14...Nc6 [14...gxf3? 15.Rxg7 Be6 16.Nf4 is a winning endgame for White] 15.Qd3 Nge7 16.Nxe7 Nxe7 17.0-0-0 Bd7 18.Qb3 Kc8 19.Bg2 a5! This takes a bit of queenside space and puts the rook on a8 to use. 20.a3 a4 21.Qc3 Bc6 22.Qd3 d5? This opens up the game and has a tactical flaw that White can win a pawn by capuring on d5 since there is a queen check on f5. 23.Bg3?! [23.exd5! Nxd5? 24.Qf5+] 23...dxe4 24.Bxe4 Ra5 25.Rgf1 f6?! White takes a clear plus after this passive move. There was the oppottunity to play [25...f5 26.Bxc6 Qh6+ 27.Kb1 Qxc6 and Black is only slightly worse] 26.c4 Bxe4 27.Qxe4 Rd8 28.d5 Ng6? This loses the f-pawn. ...f5 would have continued the battle with more chances 29.Qf5+ Kb8 30.Qxf6 Qxf6 31.Rxf6 Rg8 32.Kc2 Rc5 33.Kd3 b5 34.Rc1 bxc4+

35.Kd4! Fine endgame play by falsenarwhal! The king can often be a strong force at the finish and it certainly is here. 35...Rb5 36.Rxc4 Rc8? a blunder, guarding c7 but losing the knight [36...Rg7 37.d6! cxd6 38.Rxd6 Kb7 39.Rd8 would be a winning ending anyway] 37.Rxg6 Black resigned 1-0

(8) Blokje (1911) - FM Kyron Griffith (KyronGriffith) Mechanics' (2379) [B13]
Live Chess Chess.com, 08.05.2021

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Here we see sn Exchange Caro-Kann with advanced opening play. 4...Nc6 5.c3 g6 6.Bf4 Bh6 7.Bg3 [7.Qd2 Bxf4 8.Qxf4 Qb6 would be an interesting alternative] 7...Nf6 8.Nf3 Nh5 9.Nbd2 0-0 10.0-0 Bg4 11.Qb3 Nxg3 12.hxg3 Rb8 13.Rfe1 e6 14.Nf1 Bxf3 15.gxf3

We've seen principled play by both side. Kyron pursues the minority attack with Black while Blokje has the half open e-file and solid pawn structure. 15...b5 16.a3 Na5 17.Qc2 Nc4 18.Kg2 a5?! [safer was 18...Qc7 this allows White an opportunity] 19.f4?! [White had an opportunity on the queenside (where he probably was not looking). 19.a4! bxa4 20.Bxc4 dxc4 21.Rxa4 leaves White with solid pawns and Black with a couple weak ones.] 19...Qc7 20.Nh2 Rfc8 21.Ng4 Bg7 22.Rh1 b4! The thematic minority attack is powerful here. Black takes the initiative on the queenside, 23.axb4 axb4 24.f5?-/+ Looking for counterplay Blokje charges ahead to uncertain complications. Objectively better was [24.Rhc1 with only a slight disadvantage] 24...exf5 25.Bxf5 25...bxc3! This cool defensive move takes all the positional trumps and gives Black a big advantage. [25...gxf5? 26.Qxf5 would give White serious attacking chances, worth the sacrificed piece.] 26.b3 [26.Bxc8 cxb2! 27.Rab1 Qxc8 would be simply winning for Black] 26...Nd2 27.Bxc8 Qxc8 The white knight is attacked, the b-pawn and the d-pawn. Black has won the battle on the queenside and center and that is far more important than the exchange. 28.Ne3?! losing the d-pawn dooms Blokje [28.Nh6+ Bxh6 29.Rxh6 Rxb3 30.Rh4 would give more chances for White] 28...Bxd4 29.Nd1 sadly for White [29.Nxd5 Qb7 30.Ra5 Rd8 loses the knight] 29...Qb7 30.Ra4 Bg7 31.Qd3 d4+ 32.f3 Re8

KyronGriffith won by resignation. White could try to play on with 33. b4 but everything works so harmoniously for Black. 33.b4 Re3 34.Nxe3 Qxf3+ 35.Kh2 Be5 36.Rg1 dxe3 and White can't defend all the threats. 0-1

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May 2021 TNM Report

Everyone at Mechanics' Institute is excited that our traditional of in-person chess is returning, albeit gradually given local and state regulations, with our next TNM. While we are glad we were able to continue chess during the closures during a time of turmoil and uncertainty and will continue some virtual tournaments, nothing beats the feeling of being inside the Mechanics' Institute building and chess room with its wooden tables, historic pictures, and memories of games and people. Our online events served as a way for all of us to stay connected during the closures, while welcoming new players to our community. We look forward to seeing old friends and new players in person as we reopen.

Mechanics' Institute is grateful for the partnerships developed with other clubs in this country and around the world, which we plan to sustain and continue utilizing to stay connected to the larger, global chess community as well. Online play will continue to be a part of the Mechanics' Institute. The Thursday Night Marathon Online will continue, as well as some scholastic and regular events online in addition to live.  We will also continue online classes.

At this writing, 70 players are entered in this two section TNM. We always enjoy watching the first two rounds of the TNM in search of upsets, and the first round certainly delivered. Max Hao upset IM Elliott Winslow in the top section and Pranav Pradeep was upset by Adithya Chitta. GM Gadir Guseinov crusied through his first round, but was engaged in a very complex position in round 2 against NM Michael Wang that captivated almost the entire round 2 broadcast. FM Kyron Griffith, FM Eric Li, FM Max Gedajlovic, NM Eric Hon, and Austin Mei also remained perfect in the top section, making for some exciting rounds 3 & 4 matchups next week.

In the under 1800 section, top seed Aaron Nocoski took advantage of a critical blunder by Paul Krezanoski in a king and rook vs. king and pawn on 7th rank endgame to finish with 2/2. Also perfect after two rounds are Joshua Lamstein, Ethan Sun, Mike Hilliard, Sebby Suarez, Adithya Chitta and William Kelly.

Full tournament information can be found here: https://www.milibrary.org/chess-tournaments/may-2021-tuesday-night-marathon-online

To watch the broadcast of rounds 1&2, please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKoxQhVQBbo

Here are some games from the rounds, annotated by GM Nick de Firmian

(1) NM Michael Wang (coalescenet) (2108) - GM Gadir Guseinov (GGuseinov) (2638) [E71]
MI May TNMo Chess.com (2.1), 11.05.2021

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3 0-0 6.Bg5 Kotronias in the final volume of his five-book repertoire series on the King's Indian credits this to John Watson's own repertoire book, but it has been seen sporadically for years before. It is a sort of hybrid, akin to the Makagonov Variation (Nf3/h3) as compared to the Classical line (Be2/Nf3). [6.Nf3; and 6.Be3 are more common but not necessarily better.] 6...c5 Heading for some sort of Benoni. [Like in the Averbakh, 6...e5 is suspect: 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Nd5 Nbd7 10.Rd1! Rf8 11.Nxc7 Rb8 12.f3 is close to winning; there really is no compensation for the pawn, not to mention the troubled development.; 6...Na6 on the other hand is a fair preparation: 7.Bd3 e5 8.d5 c6 9.Nge2 Nc5 10.Bc2 cxd5 11.cxd5 a5 led to a quick draw a very high-level game: ½-½ (19) Kasparov,G (2785) -Kramnik,V (2765) Las Palmas 1996.] 7.d5 a6 [Kotronias goes with 7...e6 when after 8.Bd3 exd5 both of White's pawn recaptures require precise play: 9.cxd5 (9.exd5) ; The immediate Benko Gambit style 7...b5 8.cxb5 a6 allows 9.a4 with good results for White.] 8.Nf3 Hard to give this a question mark, but it's the next move that misses the point. [8.a4 puts ...b5 to rest for a long time, when it's back to 8...e6 A recent and curious game went 9.Bd3 h6 10.Be3 Nbd7 11.Nf3 Re8 12.0-0 a5 13.Qd2 Kh7 14.Nb5 Ra6 15.Rae1 e5 16.Nh2 Nf8 0-1 (37) 81, Ivanisevic,I (2606)-Kovalenko,I (2643) Lichess.org INT 2021.; Even 8.Bd3 makes more sense.] 8...b5 9.cxb5?! [9.Bd3!? bxc4 10.Bxc4+/- actually rates rather high, and has done a lot better.] 9...axb5 10.Bxb5?

[10.Bxf6 is the sort of move White should feel sick making, but it's probably the way to go.] 10...Nxe4! A stock combination in similar positions, leading to a clear advantage. Here the bishop on g5 threatening e7 is an unusual feature, but that capture will always be just too dangerous. 11.Nxe4 Qa5+ 12.Nc3 Bxc3+ 13.bxc3 Qxb5 14.Qe2 White isn't castling in any case. 14...Qxe2+ 15.Kxe2 Nd7 Black wants to go after the d-pawn. 16.Kd3N [This has all happened before! Then White even won, but the fact is Black is well on top now. 16.Kd2 Nb6 (16...Re8-+; 16...f6-+) 17.Bxe7 Re8 18.Rhe1 Bf5?! (18...Bb7!) 19.Kc1?-/+ 1-0 (68), Reis,T (2209)-Gendler,J Bayern 2014] 16...Ba6+ 17.c4 Nb6 18.Bxe7 [18.Nd2 Nxd5] 18...Bxc4+ 19.Kc2 Rfe8 20.Rhe1 Bxd5 21.Bxd6 Be4+-+ Material is even but Black has a lot of trumps: dangerous c-pawn, and especially ongoing attack on White's king. 22.Kb3 c4+ 23.Kb4 Nd5+ Black has various excellent continuations [The computer notices 23...Rec8! when 24.Rxe4? loses to 24...Nd5+ 25.Kb5 Nc3+] 24.Kc5 Nc3 This could get away from the GM in Baku. [24...Rac8+ 25.Kd4 Red8] 25.Be5 [25.a4!?] 25...Na4+! 26.Kxc4 Bc2 [26...f5! is better, but regardless, the king's exposed state will be the death of him.] 27.Nd4 Rec8+ 28.Kb4 Ra7 Black sets up a "rook-roller" just like in chess school, first lesson. 29.Rac1 Rb7+ [29...Nc3!] 30.Nb5 Nc5 31.Re3 31...Nd3+! A nice flurry of tactics ends the game. 32.Rxd3 Rxb5+! 33.Kxb5 Bxd3+ 34.Kb4 Rxc1 35.a4 Bf1 36.g3 Bxh3 37.a5 Bf1 Michael's opening choice could have worked out very well, but right away he fell into a shot and never recovered. 0-1

(2) Ako Heidari (Ako_H) (1872) - FM Eric Li (kingandqueen2017) (2169) [C11]
MI May TNMo Chess.com (1.3), 11.05.2021

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Be7 6.Ng3 passive [6.Bxf6 is standard.] 6...0-0 7.Nf3 b6 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.Ne5 [9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Be4 keeps an even keel.] 9...Nbd7 10.Qe2 h6

[10...Bxg2?! 11.Rg1 just asks for trouble] 11.h4?! Nxe5? [11...hxg5? 12.hxg5 is even worse trouble; Black should classically meet the "attack" with a counter in the center: 11...c5!=/+] 12.dxe5+/- Now the attack is real. 12...Nd5 13.Bxh6? [13.Qe4! is too easy. White is just winning. 13...f5 14.exf6 Bb4+ 15.Kf1 Nxf6 16.Qxb7 hxg5 17.hxg5 Qd5 18.Qxd5 Nxd5 19.Ne4+-] 13...gxh6 14.Qe4 [14.Qg4+!? Kh8 15.Nf5 Rg8! 16.Qh5 Qf8 17.Nxh6+/- with lots of pawn and a king target.] 14...f5 15.exf6 Rxf6 This also feels desperate, but somehow Black hangs on 16.Qh7+ Kf8 17.Bg6? [17.Nh5! is some plus] 17...Rxg6 18.Qxg6 Bf6? [18...Nf6 19.Qxh6+ Kf7 sets up a winning defense.] 19.Qxh6+ Kf7 20.Qh5+ Ke7 21.Qh7+ Kf8 White has a perpetual but tries for more... 22.0-0-0?! Qe7 23.Qxe7+ White used half his remaining ten minutes in a fruitless attempt to find an attack, finally conceding the exchange. For the rest of the game it's an up and down unbalanced mess, with Eric Li coming out on top. 23...Kxe7 [23...Bxe7 keeps the bishop safe] 24.Ne4 [24.Nh5! Bh8 25.Rhe1 is still good for Black but not that much so.] 24...Rg8? [24...Nf4! 25.Nxf6 Kxf6-/+ and White's pawns lose out to Black's minor piece pressure.] 25.g3! Bg7 26.Rhe1 Bh6+ 27.Kb1 Rf8 [27...Rg4!] 28.c4? Nf6? [28...Ne3! when again, the "extra" piece is working: 29.Rd4 c5 30.fxe3 cxd4 31.exd4 Kd7-+] 29.Ng5 [29.Nxf6 Rxf6 30.f4 Bf3 31.Rd3 Bg4 stymies the pawns.] 29...Bc8? [29...Bxg5 30.hxg5 Ne4-/+] 30.f4 Nh5 31.Re3+/- Now White looks good 31...Ng7 32.Rde1 Bd7 33.Kc2 [33.c5! and White is pressing] 33...Rh8 34.Re5 Rf8 35.Kb3 Rf6 36.R1e3 Nf5 37.Rd3 Nd6 38.Ne4 Nxe4 39.Rxe4 Be8 40.Rde3 c5 41.Re5? [Last chance to mobilize those pawns: 41.g4! Bxf4 42.g5 Rf8 43.Rxe6+ Kd7 44.R3e4 and even the bishops won't save White.] 41...Bg6 Now it's even, but Black wears White down in time pressure. 42.Kc3? [42.Ka4=] 42...Bg7 [42...Bf5! with the blockade: Black better.] 43.Kd2 Bf5 Got it. 44.Ke1? Kf7 45.Kf2? Rg6 winning the Exchange, and it's all but over. The rest is just time trouble, no time to find the "resign" button. 46.h5 Rg4 47.Rxf5+ exf5 48.Kf3 Bxb2 49.Re2 Bd4 50.Rh2 Rg8 51.h6 Rh8 52.Rh5 Kg6 53.Rg5+ Kf6 54.Rh5 a6 55.g4 fxg4+ 56.Kxg4 Kg6 57.f5+ Kh7 58.Kf4 b5 59.cxb5 axb5 60.Rh3 Ra8 61.Rg3 Kxh6 62.Rg6+ Kh7 63.Kg5 Rg8 64.Rxg8 Kxg8 65.Kf4 b4 66.Ke4 Kf7 67.Kd3 Kf6 68.Kc2 Kxf5 69.Kb3 Ke4 70.a4 bxa3 71.Kxa3 Kd3 72.Ka2 Bf2 73.Kb1 Kd2 74.Kb2 c4 A dangerous attack that got away from Ako, followed by a complicated and unbalanced queenless middlegame. 0-1

(3) Giorgios Tsolias (GiorgiosTsolias) (1679) - FM Max Gedajlovic (MMSANCHEZ) (2195) [C02]
MI May TNMo Chess.com (2.4), 11.05.2021

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Bd7 5.Nf3 Qb6 French Defense, Advance Variation, Wade Defense. Black solves the problem of his bad bishop before anything else. The problem is that it takes time away from developing the other pieces. 6.Be2 [6.a3!? at least doesn't have to worry about a quick . ..c4 and ...Nc6-a5-b3 (or does he?)] 6...Bb5

[6...cxd4!? 7.cxd4 Bb5 prevents the possibility on the next move, at the cost of clarifying the center and giving White c3 for a knight.] 7.0-0 [7.c4!? Bxc4 (7...dxc4 8.d5! is the idea -- White breaks through in the center and hopes to catch Black's king there. It's been fairly successful.) 8.Bxc4 Qb4+ 9.Nbd2 dxc4 10.a3 Qb5 Black can't really hold onto his ill-gotten gains, with White castling or Qe2 first.] 7...Bxe2 8.Qxe2 Qa6! And this is the rest of the point. Black fights for the light squares. 9.Re1 Qxe2 10.Rxe2 10...Nh6?!N Black forgets that two can play at that bad-bishop-elimination game! [Just development and setting up ...Rc8: 10...Nc6 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.b4 Be7 0-1 (38) Lewis,D (1583)-Gamble,R (1870) Hull 2018 (12...Bb6!?) ] 11.Bxh6! gxh6 12.dxc5! Bxc5 13.Nd4?! [13.Nbd2! fights for a piece on d4, with an advantage.] 13...Nc6 14.Nxc6 [When the computer prefers 14.Nf3 then something is off.] 14...bxc6 Now Black has another half-open file and the c-pawn to harass White. 15.Nd2 Rb8 16.b4 Be7 17.Nb3 Kd7 18.a3 Rhg8 19.Rd1 Kc7 20.Re3 Rg7 21.f4 Rg4 22.Rf1 Rbg8 23.g3 c5 24.f5! Bg5 [24...Kc6 looking to invade on the light squares] 25.Ref3 [25.Re2! holds up e5] 25...cxb4 26.fxe6 fxe6 27.Rf7+ [27.axb4!] 27...Kb6 Black is doing fine now. 28.cxb4?! [28.axb4] 28...Rc8?! [28...Be3+ 29.Kg2 R8g5] 29.Nc5?! Shorter on time (four minutes to fourteen) White loses the way. [29.Kg2 Be3 30.R1f6; Or even 29.Kh1 is a better try. 29...Be3 30.Re7 Rc3 Stockfish 8 64 0.16/28 ] 29...Be3+ 30.Kg2 Bxc5 31.bxc5+ Double rook endings are hard to orient, and often head to a draw if there are wholesale exchanges. 31...Rxc5 [31...Kxc5!? 32.Rxa7 Kd4 33.Rxh7 Kxe5 34.Rxh6 is even.] 32.Rb1+ Ka6 33.Rxh7 d4? [33...Rc2+ 34.Kf3 Re4 secures a path for the Black king] 34.Rbb7? [34.Re1! hangs on to the e-pawn, with some advantage for White.] 34...Rxe5? [34...Re4! gets that rook back into the game right away 35.Rxa7+ Kb5 just nudges Black's king to support the central pawns] 35.Rxa7+ Kb5 36.Rhd7? [With under three minutes White doesn't quite go far enough. 36.Rhc7! draws, cutting off the king.] 36...Rd5? [36...Kc4! when the extra support of the king makes it winning for Black.] 37.Rxd5+? [Again: 37.Rdc7!=] 37...exd5 Doubled or not those pawns are a problem for White. 38.Rd7 38...d3? [38...Kc4! is more threatening: 39.Kf3 Re4 40.Rc7+ Kd3] 39.Rxd5+? [39.Kf2! Re4 40.Rxd5+ Kc4 41.Rd6 is adequate to hold.] 39...Kc4 40.Rd8 Rd4 41.Rc8+ Kb3 White lost on time in a hopeless position. Another difficult ending, highlighting that so many points can be won or saved by developing a feel for these simplified but hardly simple positions. 0-1

(4) Aaron Nicoski (KingSmasher35) (1737) - Paul Krezanoski (pjkrizzle) (1594) [D00]
MI May TNMo u1800 Chess.com (2.1), 11.05.2021

1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 c6 3.c3 Qb6 4.Qb3 Bf5 In the popular London System, Black decides on the very same moves. Neither side wants to trade queens and give the other player the rook file and a nice pawn to advance. 5.e3 Nf6 6.Be2 Nbd7 7.h3 e6 8.Nf3 Ne4 Black is the first to cross the frontier line, but it means nothing. 9.0-0 Be7 10.Nbd2 0-0 11.Nxe4 Bxe4 12.Nd2

12...Nf6?! So it appears that Black doesn't accept that bishops might be worth a bit more than knights after all. [12...Bg6 stays calm; or 12...g5 13.Bh2 Bg6 with possible further kingside pawn advances.] 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Rfd1 c5?! Finally there is some change to the pawns! But it might not work out so well for Black. [Trading off one of the two might not be a bad idea here: 14...Bd6 is close to equality.] 15.Qxb6 [15.dxc5!? presents Black with a difficult choice of recapture.] 15...axb6 16.f3 Nf6 17.g4 Played a la Steinitz, restricting the knight to accentuate the value of the bishops. 17...c4 Dreaming of queenside expansion 18.a3 White stops things before they even get started. 18...h6 19.Kf2 Nh7 20.Bg3 f5 Looking for some activity (not to mention thoughts of White's king on the f-file) 21.Kg2 fxg4?! [21...b5 defending c4 again -- that d-pawn might be needed elsewhere.] 22.fxg4? [22.hxg4! Capturing towards the center, keeping the pawns in one mass, maintaining control of e4 with a pawn...] 22...Bg5? [22...Ng5!= returning to e4 is fine.] 23.e4! The pawns get targeted. 23...b5? 24.e5? [24.exd5 exd5 25.Bf3 Rfd8 (25...Nf6?? 26.h4; 25...Rad8 26.Re1 Bf6 27.h4 Again, containment! 27...Kf7 28.a4! Finally switching back to the queenside, with a win) 26.Re1 Bf6 27.h4 Kf7 and even here, White can play to open up the queenside with b2-b3.] 24...Rf7 25.Rf1 White trades the rooks before Black's doubling becomes annoying. 25...Nf8?! [25...Rxf1 26.Rxf1 Rf8] 26.Rxf7 Kxf7 27.Rf1+ Kg6?! 28.h4 Be7 29.h5+ Giving Black's bishop a square (g5). [29.Be1 sets up 29...Kh7 30.g5!? hxg5 31.h5! looking for open lines (the pawn is easily recovered on the way).] 29...Kh7 30.Bd1 Kg8 31.Bc2 Bg5 32.Bf4 Be7 33.Bc1 b6?! This could be a useful tempo lost in some later ending. 34.Kh3 Ra7 35.Rg1 White is poised to open lines everywhere, g4-g5, a3-a4, b2-b3. Black has his hands full keeping an eye on them all. 35...Nh7 36.Bg6 [36.Bxh7+!? Kxh7 37.g5 hxg5 38.Bxg5 Bxg5 39.Rxg5 Black is stuck. 39...Re7 40.Rg6 White can run his king over to a2 and play a3-a4!] 36...Ng5+?! [36...Bg5!? 37.Bxh7+?! Kxh7 38.Bxg5 hxg5 when Black can hold.] 37.Bxg5! Bxg5 38.Rf1 Both side's pawns are targets for the other player's bishop, but White can get to them faster. 38...Re7 39.Ra1 It's White's king that should be setting up the pawn breaks, it's doing nothing on h3. 39...Ra7 40.Be8? Impatient, a crime in the endgame! And Black is alert: 40...b4! 41.cxb4 [41.Rf1 is the road to complete equality.] 41...Be3 Now Black is very much in the game. 42.Rd1 c3? Played in a few seconds when Black had over 14 minutes on the clock. [42...Ra8 43.Bg6 Rf8 gives White something to think about. 44.b3! cxb3 45.Rd3 Rf3+ 46.Kg2 b2 47.Rc3 Rf4! is a hair-raising line that doesn't quite lead anywhere for either player. 48.Kg3 (48.Rxe3? Rxg4+ 49.Kf1! (avoiding ...Rh2+ in a few moves) 49...Rxg6 50.Rb3 Rg5 51.Rxb2 Rxh5 nonetheless favors Black) 48...Bxd4 49.Rc6 Bxe5 50.Rxe6 b1Q 51.Bxb1 Rxb4+ 52.Rxe5 Rxb1 53.Rxd5 Rb3+ and White holds.] 43.bxc3 Rxa3 44.Rd3 Bg5 [44...Bc1 45.Rf3 Bb2 46.Bf7+ Kf8 47.Bxe6+ Ke7 48.Bxd5 Rxc3 leads to one of those bishops of opposite colors endings that can't be won.] 45.Rf3 Ra7 46.Bg6 Rc7 47.Kg2 Bd2 48.Kg3 48...Bxc3? [48...Be1+ keeps the king off f4 later] 49.Bf7+ Kh7 50.Bxe6 Bxd4 51.Bf5+ [51.Kf4!] 51...Kg8?! [51...Kh8 52.e6 Kg8] 52.e6? [52.Be6+ Kh7 53.Kf4! Black's king is boxed in.] 52...Be5+ 53.Kf2 Bd6 [53...Kf8 54.Be4+ Ke7 55.Bxd5 Rc2+ 56.Ke3 Rc3+ trades rooks with another drawn bishop ending.] 54.Ra3 54...Bxb4? If only there weren't a lure in the b-pawn, Black would find the right move. [Black has to get out while he can: 54...Kf8!] 55.Ra8+ Bf8 56.Bg6! White wins the exchange. Black can still put up a fight with the extra pawns, but it's hard to see a certain draw. 56...b5? [56...Re7! would force White to decide. 57.Bf7+ (57.Bf5 g6!? 58.hxg6 Kg7 59.Rd8!+- The rooks on the board make the difference.) ] 57.Bf7+ White is down to four minutes. [57.Rb8! b4 58.Ke3 Re7 59.Rb6] 57...Rxf7+ 58.exf7+ Kxf7 59.Ke2 Be7 60.Kd3?! [60.Ra5! wins a pawn while he can] 60...Ke6 61.Rb8 b4?! [61...Ke5! 62.Rb7 (62.Re8 Kd6; 62.Rxb5 Kf4 63.Rb7 Bf6 64.Rb4+ d4) 62...Bg5! 63.Rxg7 Kf4 can't lose once all White's pawns go.] 62.Rb6+ Ke5 63.Rg6?? [63.Rb7! Ke6 64.Ke3!] 63...Bf6! (2:55 - 4:53) Suddenly Black is winning! 64.Kc2 d4 65.g5 hxg5 66.h6 gxh6 67.Rxh6 67...Ke4? Black loses it. There was only one way to the win. [But it's there: 67...g4! 68.Kd3 g3 69.Rg6 (69.Ke2 b3; 69.Kc4 Bg5 70.Rh1 Be3) 69...Bh4! 70.Rg4 Kf5! 71.Rxh4 g2 and touchdown.] 68.Rxf6 At least it's still a draw (2:00 - 3:49) 68...d3+? Not any more! [68...g4! draws against all tries.] 69.Kd2 Now it's very, very lost. 69...g4 70.Rb6? Going after the wrong pawn! Now it's drawn! Three other rook moves win: [70.Rd6 and Rxd3 stops either knight-pawn that tries to queen; 70.Rg6 Kf5 71.Rg8 (or 71.Rd6) ; Even 70.Re6+ wins but it's more complicated.] 70...b3? [70...g3 is the only move that makes the draw!] 71.Rxb3 g3 72.Rb4+? and it's drawn again! [72.Rxd3 wins of course. 72...g2 73.Rg3] 72...Kf3= 73.Kxd3 g2 74.Rb8 Kf2 [74...g1Q just forces king vs. king] 75.Rf8+

75...Kg1?? and that's it. The other two king moves are nothing for White. [75...Kg3; 75...Ke1] 76.Ke2 Kh2 77.Rh8+ Kg3 78.Rg8+ Kh2 79.Kf2 Kh1 Hoping for 80.Rxg2?? 80.Rh8# What an epic battle! And a lesson to study basic endgames for both players! It's incredible that Black had a win in there! 1-0

SwissSys Report: 2021 May Tuesday Night Marathon Online

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 Thursday Night Marathon Report

The Thursday Night Marathon concluded round 1 with 41 players. Players wishing to join for next week in round 2 may do so with a half point bye for round 1. Time control is G/60+5, 5 rounds in total with games starting at 6:30PM PT. If you wish to register, please follow this link: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/2021OnlineTournaments/ThursdayNightMarathonG605MayJune2021

Here are the standings after round 1.

SwissSys Standings. Mechanics' Institute May-June 2021 ThNM: Open (Standings (no tiebrk))

#	Name	Handle	ID	Rating	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Rd 4	Rd 5	Total
1	GM Gadir Guseinov	gguseinov	17343590	2700	W31					1.0
2	IM Elliott Winslow	ecwinslow	10363365	2278	W32					1.0
3	NM Michael Walder	flightsoffancy	10345120	2155	W33					1.0
4	Pranav Sairam	chesspilot01	15424820	2103	W34					1.0
5	Nathan Fong	nathanf314	13001390	2004	W35					1.0
6	Kristian Clemens	kclemens	13901075	1997	W36					1.0
7	Jason Ochoa	barok44	12440572	1759	W37					1.0
8	Jeff Andersen	zenwabi	11296106	1643	W38					1.0
9	Samuel Agdamag	sirianluv	14874734	1621	W39					1.0
10	Marina Xiao	programmingmax	16380642	1547	W40					1.0
11	Nursultan Uzakbaev	rimus11	17137317	1513	W41					1.0
12	Adam Stafford	aanval22	14257838	1288	W26					1.0
13	Charvi Atreya	charvii	16816706	1032	W27					1.0
14	Katherine Sunny Lu	2nf31-0	16425316	1008	W28					1.0
15	Joshua Lu	probablyjosh	30127073	unr.	W29					1.0
16	William Kelly	wkelly	30161947	unr.	W30		H---			1.0
17	Jeff Rosengarden	jrosengarden	30105422	unr.	B---					1.0
18	Mark Drury	birdorbust	12459313	1873	H---					0.5
19	Robert Smith	maturner	12463327	1853	D24					0.5
20	Alexander Huberts	cccalboy	16419664	1794	D25					0.5
21	Aaron Nicoski	kingsmasher35	12797931	1789	H---					0.5
22	Bryan Hood	fiddleleaf	12839763	1574	H---					0.5
23	Ian Liao	victor6688	16738735	1203	H---					0.5
24	Suhas Indukuri	suindu12	16887781	1181	D19					0.5
25	Ivan Zong	ivanzong	30131397	1081	D20					0.5
26	NM Thomas Maser	talenuf	10490936	1900	L12					0.0
27	Leo Wang	mu3tang	16061785	1765	L13					0.0
28	Matthew Chan	hip_hop_99	12541333	1659	L14					0.0
29	Jacob Wang	jacobchess857	17083655	1612	L15					0.0
30	Ethan Sun	sfdeals	16964125	1494	L16					0.0
31	Kevin Sun	kevin_mx_sun	16898540	1491	L1					0.0
32	Akshaj Pulijala	loltheawesomedude	16497860	1487	L2					0.0
33	Daniel Marcus	radio_on	12905558	1458	L3					0.0
34	Nick Reed	nxbex	16154827	1416	L4					0.0
35	Michael Xiao	swimgrass	16380636	1363	L5					0.0
36	Gabriel Ngam	boozerrip	13553308	1350	L6					0.0
37	Christopher Harris	charris6260	15496280	1017	L7					0.0
38	Andrejs Gulbis	andrejsg	16741331	826	L8					0.0
39	Cleveland Lee	vincitore51745	12814843	581	L9					0.0
40	Tobiah Rex	tobiahsrex	30164211	unr.	L10					0.0
41	Pratyush Bhingarkar	greenninja2019	30015889	unr.	L11					0.0