Chess Room Newsletter #973

Newsletter #973

June 19, 2021

 

Table of Contents

• June TNM Live Report
• Thursday Night Marathon Report
• Events/Class Schedule
• Scholastic Bulletin
• Submit your piece or feedback

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Tuesday Night Marathon Round 3 Report

by Abel Talamantez

Round 3 of the Tuesday Night Marathon was one of the longer nights ever, as we had nine games extend past 10:30pm, with the final two games ending after 10:45 pm on the top two boards. FM Kyron Griffith worked himself out of a losing position for much of the game, showing his master resilliency in creating enough complications to even out the position against Theo Biyiasas. He then took advantage of time pressure as he induced a miscalculation with less than a minute left on Theo's clock to take the win. It was an incredible game by Theo, who deserved a better outcome. Kudos however to Kyron for staying with keeping his composure to create his opportunity to win. On board 2, Gary Harris missed a winning move on move 33 that would have provided a big upset over IM Elliott Winslow, but it was Winslow who found all the right moves after in a sharp attacking position to close the show and get the win. Harris mentioned to me he was trying to channel the attacking spirit of Mikhail Tal, as he was sitting in the chair commemorating him in the chess room. He fell just short, but the game certainily showed a fighting spirit. Griffith and Winslow are the only two remaining perfect scores in the top section with 3/3, and will square off next week in what should be an exciting matchup. Abhinav Penagalapati of the San Jose Chess Club is close behind at 2.5/3. 

Theo Biyiasas and FM Kyron Griffith lit up round 3 with their exciting game on board 1

In the u/1800 section, unrated Leon Quin won a tough battle against Kevin Sun, using a rook and two knights effectively against Sun's two rooks. He brings his score to 3/3. Sebby Suarez and Nursultan Uzakbaev also won their games to get to 3/3. With Uzakbaev taking a bye next week, we should have a very exciting matchup between Suarez and Quin in round 4. Joel Carron is close behind at 2.5/3. 

You can watch the all the action of round 3 with commentary by GM Nick de Firmian and FM Paul Whitehead by clicking here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maV2HvNXGVQ

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

(1) Biyiasas,Theodore (1982) - Griffith,Kyron (2351) [E33]
Mechanics' June TNM San Francisco (3.1), 16.06.2021

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 Nc6 Sometimes called the Zurich Variation. It's nowhere near as frequent as the three big moves, but not for anything wrong with it. [4...d5; 4...c5; 4...0-0; And it's worth noting that the even less popular 4...d6 outscores them all (and has been seen played by Carlsen).] 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bd2 White goes with the gentle development of the dark-squared bishop, while putting Black's counterpart on notice. 6...0-0 7.a3 Bxc3 8.Bxc3 Qe7 9.e3 a5 10.b3 e5 11.Be2 [11.d5!? Nb8 12.Nd2+/=] 11...e4 12.Nd2

White has the two bishops (although they have yet to come into their own), while Black looks to maintain his advanced pawn. In sum the position favors White slightly, but a whole game ahead. 12...Bf5N [12...d5 13.Bb2 Bf5 14.Rc1 Rad8 15.h3 Rfe8 16.Qc3 h5 17.c5 Bd7 18.a4 h4 1/2-1/2 (72) Quan,Z (2303)-Hutters,T (2400) Kitchener 2003] 13.h3 h5

14.g4!? Radical. [14.Qd1+/- seems counterproductive but still intends to press forward on the kingside.] 14...hxg4?! The open h-file favors White of course. [14...Bg6!+/=] 15.hxg4+/- Nxg4?! [15...Bxg4+/- 16.d5 Ne5 17.Nxe4 still causes Black difficult problems, 17...Nxe4 18.Qxe4 f5 19.Qf4] 16.Bxg4+- Bxg4

17.f3! White gets a dream attacking scenario, with diagonals and files all pointing to a king whose forces don't seem to care. [17.Qxe4 Qxe4 18.Nxe4 Bf5=; 17.d5 Ne5-/+] 17...Bf5

18.fxe4? Too soon! It was just the right (i.e. last) moment to evacuate White's own king and add another rook to the fire: [18.0-0-0!+- Bg6 19.Nxe4 Bxe4 20.fxe4] 18...Bg6? [And Black could have stopped that very arrangement: 18...Bg4!-/+ A defensive ...f5 takes care of the king, while ...Rae8 will still be uncomfortable for White's king.] 19.0-0-0!+- White is back on track. 19...Rfe8 20.Rdg1! b5?! Objectively just making things worse, but in practice Black has to do something to at least seem to be counterattacking. [20...Bxe4? 21.d5! f6 no choice: (21...Bxc2?? 22.Rxg7+ Kf8 23.Rh8#; 21...Ne5? 22.Nxe4) 22.Nxe4 Qxe4 23.Qh2 Qxe3+ 24.Bd2 with multiple threats.; 20...Qf6 is a better defense. 21.Rg2 Rad8] 21.d5?! [21.cxb5 would have called Black's bluff. 21...Nb4 22.axb4 axb4 23.Bb2 (23.Bxb4 is winning as well) 23...d5 desperate to close the long diagonal, but now even 24.Rxg6 fxg6 25.exd5 is disaster.] 21...b4

22.Ba1!! Excellently keeping the guns aimed. [22.dxc6 bxc3 23.Qxc3 Qe5=] 22...Ne5 23.a4 Very logical, sealing the queenside. [23.c5!+- is one of those computer moves that makes sense eventually. The c-file stays closed, but c4 is available for the white knight, and White gets there first. But who wants to stare down 23...a4!?] 23...Qf6 [On 23...c6+/- White has 24.Nf1 getting out of the way to play Qh2.] 24.Bd4?! White is having trouble finding a knockout and divigates. [24.Rg3+-] 24...Qf2 [24...c5!?+/- 25.dxc6 Rac8 is still better for White -- Black hasn't broken through there yet.] 25.Qd1! Another excellent solution by Theo -- Black's knight has to seriously consider relocating (and opening the long diagonal again). 25...Nd3+ 26.Kb1! [26.Kc2? Nc5= and White's knight is pinned] 26...Rxe4 Best try, but with accurate defense insufficient. 27.Nxe4 Bxe4 28.Rxg7+ Still good for White [Precarious but winning was 28.Ka1! Bxh1 29.Qg4! g6 (29...Kf8 30.Rxh1!+-) 30.Rxh1 Ne5 31.Qh3 Kg7 32.Qh6+ Kf6 33.Qf4+] 28...Kf8 29.Ka1 [29.Rh8+ Ke7=] 29...Bxh1

30.Qxh1? The knight was more troublesome and should have been removed: [30.Qxd3!+- Re8 31.Qh7 Rxe3 32.Rg8+ Ke7 33.Bxe3 Qe1+ (33...Qxe3 White ignores the bishop and mates directly: 34.Qh4+ f6 35.Qh7#) 34.Kb2 Qe2+ 35.Qc2 Qxe3 36.Qc1+- White avoids the perpetual, when Black's king is in trouble.] 30...Qe1+? [30...Ne1= 31.Bb2 (31.Rg8+ Ke7=) 31...Nd3] 31.Qxe1+/- Nxe1 And it's into an ending, but there are still tactical problems... 32.Bf6! Rc8

33.Kb1 [33.c5!! There is still a mating attack! 33...dxc5 34.e4 The pawn goes to e6, the rook to h7. 34...c6! (34...Nd3 35.Rh7 Ke8 36.e5 Nf4 37.e6! fxe6 38.dxe6 Nxe6 39.Re7+) 35.d6 Ke8 36.e5 Nc2+ 37.Kb2 Nd4 38.Rh7 c4! 39.bxc4 c5 White is better, but the win isn't apparent just yet.] 33...Nd3 34.Kc2 Nc5 35.Rh7 Ke8 36.Bd4 Ne4 [36...Nb7+/-] 37.Rh4 Ng3 38.e4 [38.Kd3!?] 38...Ke7 [38...Ne2+/-] 39.Bf2 [39.Kd3+- It was surprising that Biyiasas didn't automatically put his king vis-a-vis Black's knight to keep it off squares.] 39...Ne2 40.Kd2 Nc3 41.Bd4 [41.Kd3+/- and again] 41...Rg8= 42.Bxc3 Rg2+ 43.Kc1 bxc3 44.Rh3 c2 45.Rc3 Re2 46.Rxc2 Rxe4 47.Kd2 Rh2-h8-a8xa5 takes a while, but in any case the rook had to be activated. 47...Rh4 48.Kc3 Rh3+ 49.Kb2 f5

50.Rc3? [50.Re2+= Kf6 51.Re6+ Kg5 52.Re7] 50...Rh7? [And it was surprising that Kyron didn't see 50...Rxc3!-+ as winning: 51.Kxc3 f4 just in time. 52.Kd2 Kf6 53.b4 axb4 54.a5 f3 55.a6 f2 56.Ke2 f1Q+ 57.Kxf1 b3 58.a7 b2 59.a8Q b1Q+ 60.Ke2 Qc2+ 61.Ke3 Qc3+! 62.Kf2 Qxc4 and the Lomonosov Tablebase helpfully declares "Black mates in 75"] 51.Re3+ Kf6 52.b4 f4 53.Re6+ Kf5 [53...Kg5!=/+ 54.bxa5 Rh8] 54.bxa5 Suddenly White has chances! 54...f3 55.Re8 Rf7 56.a6! f2 57.a7 f1Q 58.a8Q If only Theo had more time... 58...Qxc4 59.Qc8+ Kf4 60.Qe6 Qb4+ 61.Kc1 Qc4+ 62.Kb2 Qb4+ 63.Kc1 Qa3+ 64.Kd2 Qb2+ 65.Kd1 Qb1+ 66.Kd2 Threatening mate with Qe3+. 66...Qa2+ 67.Kc1 Qa1+ 68.Kd2 Qd4+ 69.Kc1 Rf5

70.Qe2 Qa1+

[70...Qxd5? 71.Qe3+ Kg4 72.Rg8+! Qxg8 73.Qg1+ Kh5 74.Qxg8+-; 70...Rxd5? 71.Qh2+ Kg4 72.Rg8+] 71.Kd2?? [71.Kc2! Qa2+ (71...Qxa4+ 72.Kb2 Qd4+ is drawn (Black takes d5, White initiates a perp) as long as White avoids (72...Qb4+ is just perpetual) losing the d-pawn with check: 73.Kb3?? (the trade of queens and rook and two connected pawns vs. rook (almost always lost): 73.Kc1?? 73.Kb1 0.00

73...Qa1+! 74.Kc2 Qa2+ 75.Kc3 Qxe2 76.Rxe2 Rxd5; 73.Kc2=; 73.Ka3=; 73.Kb1=; 73.Kb1= and White is okay. 73...Qxd5 74.Qe3+ Kg4 75.Rg8+ Rg5 76.Qg1+ Kf4 77.Qf1+ Ke4 78.Qh1+ Kd4 79.Qh4+ Kc3 80.Qe1+ Kd3 81.Qf1+ Ke4 82.Qh1+ Kd4 83.Qh4+ Kc3 84.Qe1+ Kd3 85.Qf1+ Ke4) ) 72.Kc3 Qxe2 73.Rxe2 Rxd5 74.Ra2 Ra5 75.Kb4 Ra6 76.a5 c6 is drawn.; 71.Kc2= Qa2+ 72.Kc3 Qxe2 73.Rxe2 Rxd5 74.Kb4] 71...Rxd5+ The worst of them all: mate follows shortly.Black mates. 72.Kc2 Qxa4+ [Slightly faster is 72...Qa2+ 73.Kc1 Rc5+] 73.Kc3 Qa3+ 74.Kc2 Rc5+ 75.Kd2 Qc3+ 76.Kd1 Qc1# What an epic! Biyiasas outplayed Griffith to a point, but he seemed to run out of batteries and collapsed at the end. But credit to the New In Chess "2020 Swindle of the Year" winner (!) for keeping his chances and grabbing them when they appeared. 0-1

(2) Winslow,Elliott (2278) - Gary Harris (1827) [B90]
Mechanics' June TNM San Francisco (3.2), 15.06.2021

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3!? This move goes back to Weaver (not Michael!) Adams in the 1950s, a poetic response to 5...a6. White aims to get in g2-g4 after all. 6...e5 7.Nde2 Be7 [The main battle involves the modern 7...h5 (well, there are isolated instances in the 1970s), when the question remains: whose h-pawn move is better? Top grandmaster discussion continues with no clear result.] 8.g4 0-0 All sorts of alternatives have been tried within the last year here. 9.Ng3 White has a lot of moves he'd like to get in, but only one at a time. So he aims for g4-g5 without allowing ...Nh5. [9.Be3 is certainly one of them, with some pedigree: 9...Nbd7 10.a4 Nb6 11.Bg2 Be6 12.0-0 Nc4 13.Bc1 Rc8 14.b3 Nb6 15.a5 Nbd7 16.Be3 (That was quite a sparring they went through!) 16...Re8 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 Nf8 19.Ng3 N6d7 20.Qd2 Ng6 21.Nf5 h6 1/2-1/2 (47) Lombardy,W-Fischer,R New York 1958] 9...Be6 [9...Ne8!? aims at the dark squares before White can grab them, but White still comes out on top. 10.Nd5 Bh4 11.Be3 Nc6 12.Qd2 Nd4!? 13.0-0-0 (13.Bxd4 exd4 14.Qxd4 really isn't so bad, if a bit antithetical (often a pawn for the dark squares is a fair trade).) 13...Nf6 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.c3 Qa5!? 16.cxd4+- Qxa2 17.Qb4 1-0 (35) Kupreichik,V (2535)-Dvoirys,S (2590) Leeuwarden 1993] 10.g5N

White has to be careful not to take on too many obligations. [10.Bg2 was what few games had been played so far.] 10...Ne8N Could be a problem on b6. [10...Nfd7 11.h4 Nc6 12.Nd5 b5 13.Be3 Rc8 14.Qd2 Nc5 15.0-0-0 Bxd5 16.exd5 Na5+/- 1-0 (31) Lambert,M (1962) -Bello,J ICCF email 2018 17.b4?? Nab3+] 11.h4 Nc6 See previous concern. 12.Be3 Qa5 13.Qd2 b5 14.Bg2 f6 15.0-0 White finally commits to the kingside with the king (Black had clearly made 0-0-0 inhospitable). 15...fxg5 16.hxg5 Rd8?! This ends up being a problem, taking away a queen retreat. But he's thinking about ...d5. [16...Rc8+/- guards the knight in some variations.] 17.Nf5!? White was trying to work the hanging knight on c6 into the works. But [17.a4!+- works better here: 17...Qb4 18.axb5 axb5 19.Qd1! (19.Nf5 is something as well; 19.Qc1!?) 19...Qxb2 20.Nd5 is trouble for Black.] 17...Nc7 [17...d5! was his intention, and he shouldn't have assumed White had stopped it! White has a path to an advantage: 18.Nxd5 Qxd2 19.Bxd2 Bc5 (19...Bxf5? 20.exf5 Rxf5 21.Nxe7+ Nxe7 22.Rad1+- and the two bishops will cut up the knights.) when Stockfish surprises with 20.Be3 Bxe3 21.fxe3!

(the knight recaptures are actually just as good)] 18.a3+/- Suddenly Black's queen is concerned! 18...b4

19.Nxe7+ White had a "concept" that he couldn't let go of. [19.axb4 Qxb4 20.Rfd1 was the sober approach, in the style of Mickey (not Weaver) Adams.] 19...Nxe7 20.Nd5 What? Well, White wins a pawn! [20.Na2 Qb5 White takes the pawn, but then has to contend with ...Ng6! with dangerous kingside play.; But best is 20.Ne2+/- was a serious advantage, even if Black still play. The kingside help is definitely significant. Note 20...Qb5 21.axb4 Bc4 22.Rfd1! maintaining pressure as well as the pawn.] 20...Ncxd5 21.exd5 Bf5!? [21...Bxd5? 22.axb4 Qb5 23.Ra5+-; 21...Nxd5!? 22.axb4 Qb5! (22...Qxb4?? 23.Bxd5 Qxd2 24.Bxe6+) 23.Ra5 Nxe3! 24.Rxb5 Nxf1 25.Bxf1 axb5 26.Bxb5 is still advantage White, but the glaring problems (f-file? ...d5?) will require White to play with accuracy to collect a point.] 22.axb4 Qb5

23.b3?! [White should try 23.f4!+/- exf4 24.Bxf4 to cover e5 (24.Rxf4 Ng6+/-) ] 23...Ng6= Black's counterplay is substantial and rather scary. White now took a lot of time to not get checkmated. 24.f3 [24.f4!= exf4 25.Bxf4 Bxc2! 26.Bxd6! Rxd6 27.Rxf8+ Nxf8 28.Qxc2 Qxb4 leaves White with next to nothing.] 24...Nh4-/+ Black has strong compensation. 25.Bh1 White's convoluted defense tricked up his less experienced opponent but probably wasn't so brilliant. [25.Bf2=/+ Nxg2 26.Kxg2] 25...Bc8?! [25...Bh3-/+ 26.Rf2 Perhaps some exchange sacrifice was called for 26...Qe8 is quite dangerous] 26.c4 Qe8 [26...Qd7!? 27.Qh2 Ng6 regroups] 27.Qh2! Nf5 [Black should play 27...Qh5-/+ threatening ...Rxf3, and it's hard to stop it.] 28.Bb6!? Trying to harass Black but just helps to mobilize that rook. [28.Bd2 Nd4 29.f4 is madness but seems to draw.] 28...Rd7 29.f4

[29.Rae1!?=/+ Rb7 30.Bf2] 29...e4?! Harris saw a new type of plus, a passed pawn, but White can keep a pretty good eye on it. [29...Rb7! would have been timely and advantageous, since 30.Rxa6?? Rb8 works.] 30.Rae1 Re7 31.Re2 Wrong rook probably. [31.Rf2=] 31...h6 32.Rfe1 [32.Be3= remains equal.] 32...e3-/+ 33.gxh6?

[33.c5-/+ is more resistant. 33...Nd4 34.cxd6 Nxe2+ 35.Qxe2 (35.Rxe2 Ref7-/+) ] 33...gxh6? [33...Rf6-+ 34.h7+ Kh8 35.Bxe3 Nxe3 as pointed out by the computer, is a win. For Black.] 34.Bf3!|^ The g-file cuts both ways. 34...Rg7+ [34...Kh7=] 35.Rg2+/- They were scrambling at this point, with clocks running out. 35...Rxg2+ 36.Bxg2 Hoping for Bxe3! [White had been planning 36.Kxg2 Qg6+ 37.Kh1 Ng3+ 38.Qxg3 (38.Kg2? Ne4+ 39.Kf1 Nd2+ 40.Ke2 Qc2-+; 38.Kg1 Rxf4-/+) but 38...Qxg3 39.Rg1 Qxg1+ 40.Kxg1 Rxf4 41.Kg2 Bg4 is won for Black.; 36.Qxg2+?! Kh7=] 36...Kh7?

[Better is 36...Rf7! but White still has his chances: 37.Qh5!+/-] 37.Bxe3!+- White produces a tactical sequence that seems to work well. 37...Nxe3 38.Qg3 Rg8 39.Rxe3 Qh5? [39...Qf7+- 40.Qe1!; 39...Rxg3 40.Rxe8 Bh3 (40...Bg4 41.c5) 41.Kh2] 40.Re7+ Kh8 41.Qc3+ To Harris's credit, a hard fought battle with excellent chances taken when they materialized. 1-0

(3) Weng,Nicholas (1731) - Mercado,Adam (1731) [C97]
Mechanics' June TNM San Francisco (3.5), 16.06.2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.h3 d6 9.c3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7

A classic Ruy Lopez, Chigorin Variation. Old school chess, but still one of the best lines for both sides. 12.d5 Nc4 13.b3 Nb6 14.a4 Qb7!?N [14...Bd7 or; 14...c4 may be better tries to equalize] 15.Nbd2 Bd7 16.c4 bxc4 17.bxc4 a5 18.Qe2 White has an edge due to the extra space. Both a-pawns are targets though. 18...Rab8 19.g4!? An aggressive move to take space on the kingside also. The battle however will be waged on the queenside where there is an open file. 19...g6 20.Nb3 Qa6 21.Bd2 starting the action. Slower is [21.Bh6 Rfe8 22.Nfd2] 21...Qxc4 22.Qxc4 Nxc4 23.Nxa5 Nxd2?! It seems logical to take White's nice dark-squared bishop, but the knights are better when they come to the powerful c4 square. 24.Nxd2 Rb2 25.Rec1 Ra8 26.Nac4

The strong white a-pawn is a looming threat. The white pawn on d5 helps restrict the black forces. 26...Rb4 27.Rcb1! Rbb8?! [27...h5 has more chance for counterplay.] 28.f3 Kg7 29.a5 Rxb1+ 30.Nxb1 Ne8 31.Nb6 Ra7 32.Nd2 Bd8 33.Rb1?! [33.Nxd7 Rxd7 34.Ba4! Re7 35.Nc4 would be even stronger] 33...Rxa5 34.Nxd7 Ra7? [Black is still much in the game after 34...Ra2 35.Rb8 (not 35.Rc1? Bg5! which is very good for Black.) ] 35.Rb8!

35...Bg5 [35...Rxd7 36.Ba4 wins] 36.Nc4 Rxd7 37.Rxe8 with a clear piece ahead White easily converts the point. 37...Bd8 38.Ba4 Ra7 39.Rxd8 Rxa4 40.Nxd6 Ra2 41.Rd7 Kf6 42.h4 1-0

(4) Cunningham,Thomas - Ahrens,Richard [C57]
TNM, 15.06.2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Nxf7 The famous Fried Liver Attack. 6...Kxf7 7.Qf3+ Ke6 8.Nc3

Black is under strong pressure for the piece. The trickiest and probably best move here is to guard the knight with also a counter threat 8...Ncb4 8...Nce7 Richard's move is solid but should lead to trouble if you are playing a great attacker like Morphy. 9.0-0 This is good but [9.d4! is the most aggressive move. Black cannot take the pawn as Qe4+ would immediately win the piece back.] 9...g6 10.d4 c6 11.Qg4+? This is the source of Whites troubles. The queen check looks aggressive but just drives the black king to a safer square and loses a tempo as the bishop on c8 uncovers an attack. [11.Re1 would be the way Morphy played. Also 11. Bg5 or 11. dxc5 would be good. Then White would have a strong attack worth more than the piece sacrificed.] 11...Kf6 12.dxe5+ Kg7! 13.Qg3 Be6 14.Bg5

14...Nf5 15.Bxd8 Nxg3

16.fxg3? [missing the important zwischenzug 16.Bf6+! Nxf6 17.exf6+ Kh6 with even chances] 16...Rxd8 Now Black's extra piece in the endgame is a huge advantage. The two extra pawns White has don't contribute much, so there is little hope for salvation. 17.Rad1 Be7 18.Ne4 Rhf8 19.Bd3 Ne3 20.Rxf8

20...Nxd1! Excellent! Black takes the other rook and gets his pawns back. 21.Rf3 Nxb2 22.Be2 Bxa2 White resigned. Not only does Black have the extra piece, but the a and b pawns are ready to move up the board. 23.e6 0-1

(5) Carron,Joel - Starr,Albert [C42]
TNM, 15.06.2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4?! Tricky, but dubious against precise play. 4.Nxe5 Qe7?! [4...0-0 is better way to play this variation. The threat of ...Re8 gives some real compensation for the pawn.] 5.Nf3 Nxe4

6.Nd5! This excellent move crosses up Black's plans. There is no good discovered check when the queen is attacked. 6...Qc5 7.Ne3 0-0? Continuing to play for quick development, but this costs a piece and the activity gained is not worth it. It was necessary to move the black queen or bishop and remain just a pawn down. 8.c3! Nc6 [8...Ba5 9.b4 Bxb4 10.cxb4 Qxb4 11.Bd3 is a piece and development ahead] 9.cxb4 Nxb4

At first sight it looks somewhat dangerous for White. Black is castled, the white king is in the center and neither white bishop has been developed while the black knights look active. It is an illusion though as Joel shows. There are no access squares for the black knights and now Albert just has to retreat with the queen's knight. 10.a3! Nd5 11.Qc2! forcing an ending if Black doesn't want to give up another piece. Very professional play. 11...Ndf6 12.Qxc5 Nxc5 13.b4 Ne6 14.Bc4 c6 15.0-0 d5 16.Bd3 g6 17.Bb2 Nh5 18.g3 Bd7 19.Ng4 with a threat of Nh6 mate! 19...f6 20.Ne3 Rad8 21.Nd4 Nc7 22.Rfe1 b6?! searching for activity with 23...c5 Albert creates a target on the c-file. [22...Ng7 would hold out some vague hope] 23.Rac1! c5 24.bxc5 b5 25.c6 Be8 26.Nxb5 Rb8 not good, but nothing else is either 27.Nxc7 Rxb2 28.Nxe8 Rxe8 29.c7 f5 30.c8Q Rxc8 31.Rxc8+ Kg7 32.Nxd5 Rxd2 33.Re7+ Kh6 34.Bc4 Rd4 35.h4 f4 36.g4 Ng7 37.Nf6

Very fine play by Joel against risky and dangerous play by Albert. 1-0

Here are the standings after three rounds:

SwissSys Standings. 2021 June Tuesday Night Marathon: 1800 (Standings (no tiebrk))

#	Name	ID	Rating	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Rd 4	Rd 5	Total
1	FM Kyron Griffith	12860484	2493	W15	W10	W4		H---	3.0
2	IM Elliott Winslow	10363365	2278	W13	W19	W11			3.0
3	Abhinav Penagalapati	15467440	2087	H---	W23	W12		H---	2.5
4	Theodore Biyiasas	13989054	2155	W16	W21	L1			2.0
5	Nicholas Weng	15499404	2013	L11	X25	W16			2.0
6	Kristian Clemens	13901075	1997	H---	W14	D8	H---		2.0
7	Ako Heidari	15206848	1980	X25	L11	W20			2.0
8	Rohan Rajaram	15739716	1929	D14	W18	D6			2.0
9	Andrew Guo	16192001	1925	D18	D20	W17			2.0
10	Gaziz Makhanov	16828914	1855	W22	L1	W21			2.0
11	Gary Harris	12834452	1827	W5	W7	L2			2.0
12	Guy Argo	12517167	1928	W17	H---	L3	H---		1.5
13	WCM Anika Rajaram	15446678	1860	L2	D22	W19			1.5
14	Max Hao	16083648	1804	D8	L6	W23			1.5
15	Mark Drury	12459313	1873	L1	L16	B---			1.0
16	Adam Mercado	16571026	1834	L4	W15	L5			1.0
17	James Mahooti	12621393	1800	L12	B---	L9			1.0
18	Alexander Huberts	16419664	1794	D9	L8	H---			1.0
19	Philip Gerstoft	12913356	1788	W24	L2	L13			1.0
20	Glenn Kaplan	12680193	1776	D23	D9	L7			1.0
21	David Rakonitz	12931024	1622	B---	L4	L10			1.0
22	Abhishek Mallela	12888811	2159	L10	D13	U---			0.5
23	Kayven Riese	12572270	1900	D20	L3	L14			0.5
24	Thomas Maser	10490936	1900	L19	U---	U---			0.0
25	Nelson Sowell	11103405	1807	F7	F5	U---			0.0

 

SwissSys Standings. 2021 June Tuesday Night Marathon: u1800 (Standings (no tiebrk))

#	Name	ID	Rating	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Rd 4	Rd 5	Total
1	Nursultan Uzakbaev	17137317	1513	W24	W18	W11			3.0
2	Sebastian Suarez	16875347	1422	W29	W21	W13			3.0
3	Leon Quin	30191497	unr.	W9	W7	W8			3.0
4	Joel Carron	16600505	1610	H---	W17	W21			2.5
5	Richard Hack	12796129	1569	W19	L11	W22			2.0
6	Lee Cooper	14563710	1529	W23	H---	D14			2.0
7	Stephen Parsons	16566932	1517	W31	L3	W24			2.0
8	Kevin Sun	16898540	1491	W25	W27	L3			2.0
9	Jacob Morgan	17099171	1365	L3	W31	W27			2.0
10	Paul Henry Reed	13373197	1322	H---	H---	W25			2.0
11	Andrew Imbens	30102682	1253	W20	W5	L1			2.0
12	Andrew Ballantyne	17079795	1251	D28	H---	W20			2.0
13	Nikhil Pimpalkhare	30179081	unr.	W30	W16	L2			2.0
14	Tobiahs Rex	30164211	unr.	H---	X---	D6			2.0
15	Nick Casares Jr	10424364	1600	L18	D23	W29			1.5
16	Joseph Roberts	16864855	1448	W26	L13	H---			1.5
17	Richard Ahrens	16953298	1228	H---	L4	W31			1.5
18	Shiv Sohal	30032729	1127	W15	L1	H---		H---	1.5
19	Simone Pagan Griso	17322263	1098	L5	H---	W28			1.5
20	Georgios Tsolias	17266862	1679	L11	W28	L12			1.0
21	Albert Starr	12844781	1609	W22	L2	L4			1.0
22	Stephen Wilson	12584515	1242	L21	W26	L5		H---	1.0
23	William Thibault	16716976	1050	L6	D15	H---			1.0
24	Aleksandra Singer	12853158	949	L1	X30	L7			1.0
25	Danny Cao	16939797	887	L8	B---	L10			1.0
26	Andrejs Gulbis	16741331	826	L16	L22	X30			1.0
27	Justin Stimatze	30189846	unr.	B---	L8	L9			1.0
28	Jim Cohee	12423364	1612	D12	L20	L19			0.5
29	Trent Hancock	30174249	unr.	L2	H---	L15	H---		0.5
30	Charles James	12448028	1368	L13	F24	F26			0.0
31	Thomas Cunningham	12923340	971	L7	L9	L17			0.0

SwissSys Standings. Extra games (Standings (no tiebrk))

#	Name	ID	Rating	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Rd 4	Rd 5	Total
1	Nicholas Weng	15499404	2013	W6	U---				1.0
2	Alex Chin	17050697	1974	U---	W8				1.0
3	Danny Cao	16939797	887	W7	U---				1.0
4	Paul Henry Reed	13373197	1322	D5	U---				0.5
5	Tobiahs Rex	30164211	unr.	D4	U---				0.5
6	James Mahooti	12621393	1800	L1	U---				0.0
7	Aleksandra Singer	12853158	949	L3	U---				0.0
8	David Nichol	12934283	435	U---	L2				0.0