Chess Room Newsletter #987

---

Tuesday Night Marathon Round 3 Report

by Abel Talamantez

FM Ezra Chambers won the battle of unbeatens in the top section of the TNM, taking advantage of a blunder by Nicholas Weng under time pressure and thus saving a losing position to take the point. It was an exciting positional game that had swings back and forth. Chambers' experience prevailed though, giving him the clear lead in the tournament with 3/3. Sean Kelly continues his very strong run with a win over Guy Argo. IM Elliott Winslow scored a victory over our favorite mate in 3 problemist Tony Lama. Both Kelly and Winslow are a half point behind Chambers at 2.5/3. 

Spectators gather around board 1 for the conclusion of the battle between Nicholas Weng and FM Ezra Chambers. IM Elliott Winslow and Tony Lama face off on board 11

In the u/1800 section, the 47-player section is left with five undefeated players after three rounds, including Marty Cortinas, who scored an impressive win against Sebby Suarez, Daniel Wang, Stephen Parsons, Richard Hack, and Christopher Dessert. Next week should see some tough games at the top, with the section standouts facing each other. 

Alex Chin waits as Adam Mercado ponders his next move. GM Nick de Firmian and FM Paul Whitehead provided live commentary on our Twitch channel https://www.twitch.tv/mechanicschess

It was a calm night inside the chess room, and it is starting to fill up again as more and more players are feeling comfortable coming back for live chess. We have been able to hold all games inside the main room, and it has been progressively filling up. I'm excited to see many of our players back in action, as well as welcoming many new faces to the Institute. It was nice to have the windows open, the sounds of the quiet battles over the board with the white noise of the city outside; the street cars, the pigeons, and the sounds of chess clocks being pressed. It is comforting to see and hear our vibrant chess community back again.

Watch the broadcast by following this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o6DcgxbUIs

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

(4) Weng,Nicholas (2001) - Chambers,Ezra (2314) [C02]
MI Sep-Oct TNM 1800+ San Francisco (3.1), 22.09.2021

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 The French Defence can lead to quiet, positional struggles.. . 3.e5 Or full-scale hard-core battles. And the Advance Variation tends towards those. 3...c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.Be2 Rc8 7.0-0 a6 8.Re1 Qb6 9.a3

Both sides are tossing in moves from several plans, thus leading to a fairly rare position. 9...c4?!N And with this commital move they reach one that is unique. [Previously Black played to fix the d-pawn for some pressure, with mutual chances: 9...cxd4 10.cxd4 Nge7 11.Nc3 Nf5 12.Na4 Qa7 13.Be3 b5 14.Nc3 Be7 15.Kh1 but here Black acquiesced to the exchange on e3, 15...Nxe3 16.fxe3 strengthening White's pawns but securing the Two Bishops. It was ½-½ (120)(!), Lyell,M (2274)-Farkas,T (2237) Kecskemet 2013] 10.Nbd2+/- Na5 Other than the rook on c8 this is one of the oldest plans for Black, but it's never been terribly convincing. 11.Bf1 [How about some full-court prophylaxis with 11.h4 h6 12.Rb1] 11...Ne7 12.h4 Nec6 [12...h6+/=] 13.Nh2 [13.h5+/-] 13...Kd8!?+/= Interestingly Stockfish 14's top move by no small amount, suggesting that Ezra learned something in St. Louis! The king spends the time to get to the safest neighborhood, not worrying about time as nothing much is happening. 14.h5 h6 To avoid any holes on the kingside. [He could keep walking: 14...Kc7+/= 15.h6 Kb8] 15.Ng4 [15.b4!? cxb3 16.Rb1 is the time-worn maneuver.] 15...Kc7 16.Ne3 [16.Rb1+/-] 16...Kb8! 17.f4?! The computer is adamant: this is not where White should be advancing just now. [Broken record: 17.Rb1+/=] 17...Be7 Black is hoping the play on the kingside will just be in his own interest. 18.Qg4 [18.Rb1=] 18...Qc7!-/+ 19.Qxg7?! Objectively a disastrous pawn grab! But it does lead to dangerous passed pawns -- at a price though! The queen is in trouble... [Better to step aside for the pawns to lead any advance: 19.Qh3-/+] 19...Rcg8-+ 20.Qxf7 Bh4! (So that ...Nd8 doesn't hang the bishop) 21.Nf3 White looks for a lot of material in compensation. 21...Bxe1?! [Here Chambers should just take out the queen: 21...Nd8 22.Qxg8 Rxg8 23.Nxh4 Nb3 24.Rb1 Be8 25.Be2 Qe7!-+ and White comes further undone across the whole board.] 22.Nxe1 Nb3 23.Rb1 Rf8 [23...Qd8!?] 24.Qg7 Rhg8 25.Qxh6 Qb6! The knight sacs on d4 are good. Preparing is even better. 26.f5 The big question is: will White's pawns overwhelm Black? [26.Qh7 Be8-/+] 26...Nxc1? A mirror of the exchange on e1, this lets a big chunk of advantage slip away. [26...Ncxd4!-+ 27.cxd4 Qxd4 28.f6 Be8 is complicated, but still offers good chances to come out on top. So often center pawns on the march are the best.] 27.Rxc1=/+ Qxb2 28.Rc2 Qb1 [28...Qxa3=/+ is the greedy computer's move; still, it will be a while before the passed queenside pawns matter. 29.Nf3!? (29.fxe6 Rh8-/+; 29.g4 exf5-/+; 29.f6!?) ] 29.Re2 [29.Nf3=/+ Ne7; 29.Kf2!?=] 29...Nd8 [29...Rh8-/+ 30.Qf4 Rxh5] 30.f6 Nf7 31.Qf4 Ng5 32.g4 White again saves his queen from a threat and has one of his own finally. 32...Ne4?!<=> Black is not holding back, but White gets some momentum now. [32...Be8 is a deft avoidance of Nxd5 exd5?; e6+] 33.Nf3 [33.Nxd5?? exd5 34.e6+ Ka7 35.exd7 Rxf6 leaves White in ruins.] 33...Nxc3 [33...Be8= is still after all important.] 34.Rg2 Be8 [34...Ka7 has its problems, i.e. 35.Ng5+/=] 35.Ng5!+/- And here it's even stronger. 35...Bd7 [>=35...Qb6] 36.Kh2! Nd1? [36...Ka7+/-] 37.Nxd1+- The game has completely turned around now. White is winning. 37...Qxd1 38.Nh7 In the way of the pawns? [38.Be2! Qa1 39.Nh3 is ready to march!] 38...Rf7 [38...c3!?] 39.Be2! Qb1 [39...Qe1 40.Ng5] 40.Ng5 Rff8 41.Nh3 [41.f7 Rh8 42.Qe3 thinks about both attack and defence] 41...c3!? 42.g5! White has strong compensation. 42...Be8 43.Qe3 c2 44.Rg1+/- The only move, but it holds the line at c1. 44...Rh8? [44...Bxh5+/- 45.Bxh5 Rh8 46.Bf3 White is still looking good.] 45.Nf4?? [45.g6+- is totally winning.] 45...Rfg8!-/+ And the game turns completely around once more! The pawns go once again from torpedoes to targets. 46.Bd3? [46.Nxe6?? Bxh5-+; 46.Qc1-/+ is the best try, although 46...Qb6 holds onto an advantage.] 46...Qb2-+ 47.Bxc2 and if Rg2 works, White does fine. 47...Bxh5 [47...Qxc2+ 48.Rg2 Qf5] 48.Nxh5 Rxh5+ 49.Kg2 Rhxg5+ A thoroughly uncompromising and wild game! Eventually it was the cooler and more experienced head that prevailed, but with time Weng will grow more and more dangerous. 0-1

(5) Winslow,Elliott (2269) - Lama,Tony (1805) [C06]
MI Sep-Oct TNM 1800+ San Francisco (3.11), 22.09.2021

Tony has recently come back to tournament chess. Here he get's a good workout against one of the tournament favorites. 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Ne2 cxd4 8.cxd4 Qb6 [8...f6 9.exf6 Nxf6 (9...Qxf6 10.Nf3 h6 11.0-0 Bd6 12.Be3 0-0 13.Rc1) ] 9.Nf3 Bb4+ 10.Bd2 Bxd2+?! Tony makes it too easy for Elliott to get control of the dark squares. 10...f6 is more of a fighting move. 11.Qxd2 Qb4 12.Rc1 Qxd2+ [12...f6!?] 13.Kxd2

This is simply a nice endgame for White. 13...0-0 [Previously seen was 13...Nb6 14.b3 Bd7 15.Nf4 0-0 16.h4 f6 17.g3+- SF14 (+/= Shaw 2018) 17...a6 18.h5 Rae8 19.Ke3 Re7 20.h6! g6 21.exf6 Rxf6 22.Ne5! 22...Rf8 23.Ne2 Nc8 24.f4 Nd6 25.g4 Nf7 26.g5 Nfxe5 27.dxe5 Ref7 28.Rh4 Rd8 29.Nd4 Nxd4 30.Kxd4 Bc6 31.a4 Rc8 32.b4 Rfc7 33.b5 axb5 34.axb5 Be8 35.Rxc7 Rxc7 36.Rh1 Kf7 37.Ra1 b6 38.Ra8 Rb7 39.Bxg6+ Kxg6 40.Rxe8 Kf5 41.Rf8+ Kg4 42.Rf6 Re7 43.f5 exf5 44.g6 hxg6 45.Rxg6+ 1-0 (45) Korneev,O (2615)-Moskalenko,V (2470) Barcelona 1999] 14.Bb5 Ne7? [14...Na5; 14...Ndb8] 15.Rxc8! Raxc8 16.Bxd7 With two pieces for a rook IM Winslow has no problem converting the advantage. 16...Rc7 [16...Rc4 17.Nc3 (17.b3 Rb4 18.Rc1) ] 17.Bb5 Rfc8 18.Bd3 Ng6 19.h4 Nf8 20.h5 h6 21.g4 Nh7 22.Nh4 Ng5 23.Ng3! Stopping any ideas of tricks based on ...Ne4+. 23...f5?! A desparate try before being pushed back by 24. f4 24.gxf5 exf5 25.Bxf5 Rf8 26.f4 Ne4+ 27.Nxe4 dxe4 28.Be6+ Kh7 29.Ng6 Rfc8?! 30.Bxc8 We predict Tony will be much tougher for their next encounter. 1-0

(6) Clemens,Kristian (1994) - Kaplan,Glenn (1766) [E91]
MI Sep-Oct TNM 1800+ San Francisco (3.2), 22.09.2021

1.Nf3 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 0-0 6.Be2 The Classical King's Indian. 6...Nbd7 [The overwhelmingly most common move is 6...e5 , tactically justified.; 6...Bg4 is a favorite of Gadir Guseinov, where it has appeared in his games from the Thursday Night Marathon.] 7.0-0 c5?! This is played too often -- it's just too clumsy. 8.d5 a6 9.Qc2 [9.a4 is the auto-response to ...a6, and indeed the most frequent here.] 9...Nb6 10.h3 Nfd7 11.Be3 Ne5 12.Nxe5 Bxe5 13.Rae1

13...f5?! 14.Bh6?! [14.exf5; 14.f4] 14...Rf7 [14...f4! is probably worth it!] 15.Bd3? [15.exf5 Bxf5 16.Qd2+- Black has permanent problems.] 15...f4!-/+ 16.f3 The critical moment of the game. 16...Nd7? [16...e6 17.Ne2 exd5 18.exd5 Qh4! 19.Bxg6 Qxh6 20.Bxf7+ Kxf7 is a huge advantage for Black as the white rooks are not effective.] 17.Ne2!+/- Now that advanced pawn is in trouble. 17...Nb6 18.Qc1 e6 19.Bxf4 Not only does White win the pawn, the bishop gets back in the game and White begins to take over the kingside. 19...Bg7 20.Bd2 exd5 21.exd5+-

21...Qh4? 22.Bg5 Qh5 23.Ng3 That's it. The black queen is trapped 23...Bxb2 24.Re8+ Rf8 25.Rxf8+ Kxf8 26.Qf4+ Bf5 27.Nxh5 Be5 28.Bh6+ Kf7 29.Qd2 Bxh3 30.gxh3 gxh5 31.Bf4 Rg8+ 32.Kh2 Bd4 33.Bxd6 Nd7 34.Qf4+ Ke8 35.Qe4+ Kd8 36.Qe7+ Kc8 37.Bf5 Rd8 38.Bxd7+ Rxd7 39.Qe8+ Rd8 40.Qe6+ Rd7 41.Rb1 Kd8 42.Qg8# Black had his chance, but needed to grab the moment. Other than that, nice play by Kristian! 1-0

(1) Chin,Alex (1992) - Mercado,Adam (1793) [B30]
MI Sep-Oct TNM 1800+ San Francisco (3.5), 22.09.2021

This is a game with some mistakes, but it is an absolutely fascinating battle. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 We are seeing a lot of the Rossolimo Variation these days. 3...e6 4.0-0 Nge7 5.c3 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bc2 Bb7 8.d4 Ng6 9.d5 Aggressively grabbing space. It's also probably the best move. 9...Nce5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.f4 Ng6 [11...Nc4 would be better place to stop White's pawn advances] 12.d6!? [12.f5 exf5 13.exf5 Ne5 14.Nd2 would be a nice edge for White] 12...Qb6 13.e5 Nh4

Black has played a positionally risky line but one that gives him counterplay. The white pawn chain d6, e5, f4 is seriously cramping. Meanwhile Black has play on the long white diagonal. If White can shut that down it would be positionally winning. 14.Rf2 h5 15.Nd2 f5 16.Nb3 Qc6? A serious error. Did Adam just miss White's next move? Black would have been a little worse in a double-edged position after 16...Rc8 or 16...Kf7. 17.Na5 Qb6 18.Nxb7 Qxb7 Suddenly Black has lost all counterplay on the long light-squared diagonal. This allows Alex to shut down the kingside play. 19.g3! Ng6 20.h4! Take a look at this position. The white pawns form a wall on the kingside and center that block out the black bishop, rook and knight. Black could eventually get the rook and knight to the queenside (after a very long time) but never the bishop. White needs only the open the queenside and invade there. 20...Rh7 21.Qf3 Qc8 22.Be3 Rb8 23.Rc1 This is a little slow. Just 23. a4 opens lines on the queenside. 23...Nh8! The best move in this lost position. From this square the knight can find a path to the queenside. 24.b4 c4 25.a4 Nf7 26.Ra1 g6 27.Bd1 Nd8 28.axb5 axb5 29.Qg2 Nc6 30.Bf3 Bh6 31.Rfa2?! This is still very good for White but it complicates things. 32. Bc5 would leave the black bishop trapped on the queenside. 31...Nxe5! Adam will have to deal with the White invasion yet he has a pawn and his bishop will now be useful on the long diagonal. 32.Ra8 Kf7 33.Bc5?! [33.R1a7! would set up tactical problems for Black that couldn't be solved. Alex plays a natural move instead and Black is right back in the game. 33...Rh8 34.Bd5! Re8 35.Bc5 exd5 36.Qxd5+ Kf8 37.Rxb8 Qxb8 38.fxe5 Qc8 39.e6 crashes through] 33...Nxf3+ 34.Qxf3 Rh8 35.R8a7 Rd8? Aiming to give the black queen for two rooks. Better was 35...Qe8 36.Rc7 Ra8 37.Rxc8?! [37.Ba7! wins the queen for less material] 37...Rxa1+ 38.Kf2 Rxc8 39.Qb7 Rca8 40.Qxd7+ Kg8 41.Qxe6+ Kh7 It looks as if Black will be able to make a draw with 42. R8a2+ followed by perpetual check with the rook on the first rank. It looks as if the white king has nowhere to hide. However.... 42.g4! A great move by Alex. The white king finds the safe g3 square since the bishop guards g1. Now White has time to press home a winning attack. 42...R8a2+ [42...hxg4 43.Qf7+ Bg7 44.Bd4 Rg8 45.h5! is finished] 43.Kg3 Rd1 44.gxf5 Rd3+ 45.Be3 gxf5 46.Qxf5+ Kh8 47.Qe5+ Kh7 [47...Bg7 48.Qxh5+ Kg8 49.Qe8+ Kh7 50.d7] 48.d7! Re2 49.Kf3 The d-pawn wins the game. 49...Rexe3+ 50.Qxe3 Rxd7 51.Qe4+ Kh8 [51...Kg7 52.Qe5+ Kf7 53.Qf5+ Ke7 54.Qh7+ wins the bishop] 52.Qe8+ Black resigns. A terrific battle. 1-0

(2) Suarez,Sebastian (1520) - Cortinas,Marty (1720) [B21]
MI Sep-Oct TNM u1800 San Francisco (3.9), 22.09.2021

This is a game of youth versus experience. 1.e4 c5 2.d4! Young players should try these gamit lines. Usually they love to have the attacking side. 2...cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 e6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bf4!? Rather unusual. The standard 6. Bc4 is probably better. 6...Bb4 [6...d6] 7.Bd2?! This has an idea to play 8. a3 yet one should not lose time after gambiting a pawn. 7...Nge7 [7...Nf6 8.Bd3 d5!] 8.a3 Ba5 9.b4 Bc7 [9...Bb6! is a better square as 10. Na4 Bc7 is then good] 10.Nb5 a6 11.Nxc7+ Qxc7 12.Rc1 0-0 13.Bd3

So we arrive at a type of position we might expect from these players. White has the bishop pair and some attacking chances and Black has an extra pawn. Chances are even. 13...b5 14.e5?! With ideas of a possible Bxh7+, but this is too direct. The e5 pawn becomes weak. 14...Ng6 15.h4 f5? Marty gets nervous and reacts to the attacking move. The cool [15...Bb7 16.h5? Ngxe5 is safe and good for Black] 16.exf6 Rxf6 17.Bc3 The raking white bishops and knight on f3 give White a powerful attack. 17...Rf7 18.Bxg6?! [18.Ng5! is a strong attacking move than wins at least the exchange] 18...hxg6 19.h5 Qf4! Black is still in trouble but Marty defends well by bringing the queen into the thick of the battle. 20.Rh4 Qf5 21.Bd2? [The bishop is well placed on the long diagonal. White would keep a good edge with 21.h6!] 21...Ne5! suddenly Black also has attacking chances. Trading off the important white knight on f3 turns the tide of the battle in Black's favor. 22.Rc3?! [22.hxg6 Nxg6 23.Rd4 e5 24.Rc5 Bb7 25.Be3 has better defensive chances] 22...Nd3+? [22...g5! 23.Rd4 Bb7 is all developed and super for Black] 23.Ke2 [23.Rxd3! Qxd3 24.Ne5! gives the advantage back to White] 23...Nb2 24.Qh1 g5! 25.Bxg5 Bb7 26.Bc1? The wrong square for the bishop. 26. h6 would have pressed the attack. 26...Bxf3+! 27.Rxf3 [slightly better, though still losing is 27.gxf3 Na4 28.Re3 Rc8 29.Bd2 Rc2 30.Rd4 Nb2!] 27...Qc2+ 28.Bd2 Rxf3 29.gxf3 Qd3+ 30.Ke1 The white queen and rook are away on the kingside while the black pieces move in on the white king. Here 30...Rc8 planning 31...Rc1+32 Bxc1 Qd1 mate would be quick, yet there is no defense against Marty's plan also. 30...Nc4 31.Bc1 Ne5 32.Rf4 Rc8 33.Be3 Qb1+ 34.Ke2 Qxh1 35.h6 Rc2+ 36.Bd2 Rxd2+ 37.Kxd2 Qxh6 38.Ke3 Ng6 39.a4 Qxf4+ 40.Kd3 Qxb4 41.f4 Nxf4+ 42.Ke3 e5 43.f3 Qd4# An entertaining game. We look forward to seeing future encounters as Sebby continues to learn more from each tournament. 0-1

(3) Kelly,Sean (1786) - Argo,Guy (1938) [B07]
MI Sep-Oct TNM 1800+ San Francisco (3.3), 22.09.2021

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.g3 e5 5.Nge2 c6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.0-0 Qc7 8.h3 h6 9.f4 b6 10.Be3 Ba6 11.Re1 Rd8 12.Qd2 0-0 13.g4

Sean has got an advantage in space yet the Black position is resilient if you watch for breakthroughs. 13...Nh7! 14.Rad1 Bh4 15.Bf2 Bxf2+ 16.Kxf2 exf4?! This gives up the e5 point in the center. White gets more freedom to maneuver. 17.Qxf4 Rde8?! [17...Rfe8 18.Ng3 Ndf8!] 18.Ng3 Re6 19.Nf5 Rfe8 20.Kg1 Rf6 21.Bf1?! [21.Qg3!] 21...Bc8?! [21...Bxf1] 22.Qh2 Ng5 23.Re3 g6?

24.h4! Seizing the moment for a crushing breakthrough. 24...gxf5 25.hxg5 hxg5 26.Rh3 The attack on the h-file is deadly. 26...Kf8 27.exf5 Qb8 28.Rh8+ 1-0

 

---

Howard Donnelly Memorial Report

by Abel Talamantez

Howard Donnelly was a former Chess Director at the Mechanics' Institute from 1964-1965 and this two-day FIDE rated event was held in his honor. We had 52 players participate, playing in two sections. FM Ezra Chambers rebounded from a tough loss in round 3 to Advay Bansal to win the tournament with 4/5. In a 4-way tie for 2nd were Theodore Coyne, Advay Bansal, Daniel Lin, and Vincent Qin with 3.5/5.

Advay Bansal and FM Ezra Chambers played a spectacular game in round 3. Though Bansal won, Chambers was able to still win the tournament. 2018 National Kindergarten Champion Katherine Zhuge in action for her first tournament at the Mechanics' Institute.

In the 1600-1999 section, Stephen Willy took clear 1st by a full point to win the section with 4.5/5, followed by Matthew Alioto, Teodoro Porlares, James Mahooti, and Hanchi Yao, all with 3.5/5.

In the under 1600 section, Axel Joseph continues an impressive string of tournament performances with a clear win in the section with 4/5. In a 3-way tie for 2nd were Tobiah Rex, Kevin Hou, and Eli Lee with 3.5/5.

Congratulations to all the winners, and we would like to thank all the participants for playing. 

SwissSys Standings. 20th Donnelly Memorial Championship: Open

---

Tony's Teasers

Tony challenges you to solve this problem, white to move and mate in 3.

---

 

Mechanics' Institute Events Schedule

Don't Miss our Exciting Upcoming Events!!

The Mechanics' Institute will continue to hold regular and online events. Here is our upcoming schedule for players:

Mechanics' Institute September/October TNM: FIDE Rated. September 7-October 19, 6:30PM PT.  Games G/120;d5: https://www.milibrary.org/chess-tournaments/tuesday-night-marathon-2021-sep-oct-person

20th JJ Dolan Memorial Championship: USCF Rated. October 2, 10AM PT. 4SS G/45;d5: https://www.milibrary.org/chess-tournaments/2021-jj-dolan-memorial-championship-g45-person

Mechanics' Institute October Quads: October 9, 3PM PT. 3 Games G/30;d5: https://www.milibrary.org/chess-tournaments/mechanics-championship-quads

2021 Mechanics' Institute Rapid Championship. October 9, 10AM PT. 6SS G/15+2: https://www.milibrary.org/chess-tournaments/2021-mechanics-rapid-championship

2021 Mechanics' Institute Blitz Championship. October 10, 11AM PT. 8SS G/3+2: https://www.milibrary.org/chess-tournaments/2021-mechanics-blitz-championship

 

Mechanics' Institute Class Schedule