Chess Room Newsletter #866

Newsletter #866

April 12, 2019

By Abel Talamantez

 

Spring TNM Update: NM Tenzing Shaw Stays Perfect as Big Names Continue the Chase

The 4th round concluded late Tuesday night, with NM Tenzing Shaw remaining perfect after a solid win against the tournament Cinderella Sos Hakobyan. He is in clear first place by a full point after 4 rounds in what is the strongest section ever at the TNM. Perhaps the most dramatic game was on board 4, where a wild game between FM Josiah Stearman and Alexander Ivanov saw active complicated play and big advantages swing back and forth. Just when it seemed Stearman was lost, he complicated play with his rook and bishop vs. Ivanov’s queen and managed to find the victory. On board 3, NM Eric Yuhan Li, the nation’s top 11 year old drew with GM Patrick Wolff, showing that the tournament is going to be competitive each and every week. WGM Carla Heredia also made her debut and scoring a win.

In the A/B section, 3 players are at the top of the leaderboard; Kristian Clemens, Thomas Maser and Jonah Busch are at 3.5/4.

In the under 1600 section, we also have 3 at the top of the leaderboard with perfect 4/4 scores from John Chan, Victor Reyes, and Susheel Khamkar.

One of the great things about the Tuesday Night Marathon is that it is a marathon, as after 4 rounds we are barely at the half way point. There are still very strong players in the hunt in each section and the battle will heat up to move up the leaderboard.

As always, fans can follow the action through our Live Chess link on our chess club homepage.

You can also follow our Live broadcast with commentary from FM Paul Whitehead and guests on our Twitch channel.

 

New Mechanics’ Institute Club Player Lucas Radaelli: A Blind Chess Player Finds a Home at Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club

New TNM player Lucas Radaelli just moved to San Francisco from Brazil for work, and he was looking for a chess club to play competitive games. He contacted us because he was interested in joining the TNM, and let us know that he is blind.

One of the many great things about the chess club is the ability to have a venue for players of many different circumstances. As a TD, I had not previously had a blind player in an event before, so I was curious and fascinated on how a blind player plays a game of chess under rated conditions.

Lucas uses him own smaller chessboard, with chess pieces that fit into slots on the board. The black and white pieces are differentiated by feel, as the top of the black pieces are pointed. Lucas uses feel to “see” the position. While Lucas is using his board, his opponent is using a regular board and making the moves for both sides. Both Lucas and his opponent call out the moves in algebraic notation, and call signal letters should be used to make clear the letter of the square. For example, a6 should be announced as alpha 6, just to be clearer. For notating, Lucas uses a small voice recorder, and stops and starts the recorder as moves are being made.

He played his first rated game last Tuesday and drew Bruce Ricard, who is rated almost 1900. It was great to learn and experience how accessibility rules open up competitive chess to all players. While many of these rules have been in place for years, many do often experience them and it is good to explain and educate the public when the opportunity arises.

Judit Sztaray is the Vice-Chairman of the Accessibility and Special Circumstances Committee of US Chess. She told me during a recent conversation that,

The committee is currently working on a comprehensive set of Accessibility Guidelines for US Chess.

The goal of the Guidelines is to increase the number of players with disabilities playing in regular integrated events. We can make that happen by teaching chess organizers and TDs how to make reasonable accommodations for players of all abilities.

A combination of policies how to include players and practical TD tips & tricks and procedures will help us create a safer, more comfortable, more dignified and fair environment for players of all abilities. Once we know how to better serve these players, we will have a more accessible and inclusive environment. More players can play more chess!

The Accessibility Guidelines are currently under review by the leadership of US Chess. We hope to see them published and available for use soon.

Here also is a great article by TD authority Tim Just on blind chess players and rules here.

 

Wednesday Night Blitz Report

Expert Arthur Ismakov narrowly took 1st place in the April 10th edition of the Wednesday Night Blitz with the score of 9.5 – 2.5. Sharing 2nd and 3rd with 9 – 3 scores were Expert Jules Jelinek and FM Paul Whitehead. Mr. Jelinek ran the 15-player event without fuss.

Next week is the last Wednesday Blitz until August 28th, so we hope to see you for a full house!

 

Tony’s Teasers

 

This week’s problem, Heinrich Meyer, 1903. White to move and mate in 3.

 

GM Nick de Firmian’s Bonus Mate in 3

---

Nick de Firmian’s Opening Lab

This week: Larsen’s Opening 1. b3

Bent Larsen was the West’s second best player in the 1960’s and 70’s. In fact he played first board for the world in the epic match of 1970 "USSR vs. Rest of the World." Bobby Fischer agreed to play second board due to Larsen’s great tournament victories and Fischer’s layoff of 1968-9. (In fact both Larsen and Fischer won the battle on their boards, though the USSR eked out a narrow victory in the 10 board match 20.5-19.5.) Larsen often used 1.b3 in his heyday and established much of the theory from White’s side.

The strategy behind Larsen’s opening is to pressure the center with the bishop on the long diagonal while retaining flexibility for central play. 1.b3 can be quickly followed with c4 giving the position an English feel to it. White could then follow up with e3 and d4 if he/she wants to have a queen’s pawn game with control of the center. Nimzovich was also an advocate of 1. b3 (in conjunction with a quick Nf3) to play a Queen’s Indian Reversed. Lastly, we must mention that even Bobby Fischer used the opening sometimes, such as his fine victory against Ulf Andersson in which the opening transposed to a type of Sicilian Reversed. The drawback to 1.b3 is that it allows Black many choices to occupy the center, which leave various routes to equality.

(1)

1.b3

Black could now choose to advance either center pawn. Pushing the queen pawn gives the game a slower strategic feel, often becoming a Queen's Indian Reversed: 1...d5 2.Bb2 Nf6 3.Nf3 c5 4.e3

4...e6 4...Nc6

5.Bb5 is a nice Nimzo-Indian Reversed. After 5...e6 6.Ne5 Bd7 7.Bxc6 Bxc6 8.f4

White has a good Bird's Opening 5.Be2 Nc6 6.0-0 Be7 7.c4 0-0 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.a3

White has a little edge in fluid position.

(2)

Most aggressive for Black is to answer 1.b3 with 1...e5

White usually follows with 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.c4

to control some of the center. Instead 3.e3

3...Nf6 4.Bb5 d6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.0-0 Be7

is fine for Black.3...Nf6

4.e3 is most sensible. Larsen tried once 4.Nf3?!

4...e4 5.Nd4 Bc5 6.Nxc6 dxc6 7.e3 Bf5 8.Qc2 Qe7 9.Be2 0-0-0

which left him behind in development against Spassky in the second game of the USSR vs Rest of the World match. That game concluded brilliantly 10.f4?! Ng4 11.g3 h5 12.h3

12...h4! 13.hxg4 hxg3 14.Rg1

14...Rh1!! 15.Rxh1 g2 16.Rf1 Qh4+ 17.Kd1 gxf1Q+

and Larsen resigned as 18. Bxf1 Bxg4+ is the end. 4...Be7

5.a3 0-0 6.Qc2

The flexible flank play leaves chances for both sides and scope for original play. 6...Re8 Sosonko gained equality against Petrosian in Tilburg 1981 with 6...d5!?

7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Nf3 Bf6 9.d3 g6 10.Nbd2 Bg7

7.d3 Bf8 8.Nf3 a5 9.Be2 d5 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Nbd2 f6 12.0-0 Be6

13.Kh1!? Qd7 14.Rg1! Rad8 15.Ne4 Qf7 16.g4 g6 17.Rg3

Occurred in Fischer - U. Andersson, Siegen 1970. Fischer's highly original kingside play resulted in a marvelous victory.

---

TNM Games Round 4

Annotations by IM Elliott Winslow

(1) Hakobyan,Sos (1829) - Shaw,NM Tenzing (2287) [C02]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (4.1), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 [5...Qb6; 5...Nge7] 6.Be2 [6.a3; 6.Bd3 Qb6 7.0-0 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nxd4 9.Nbd2 1-0 (41) Lee,F (2344) -Munkhchuluun,W (212), same tournament and round, board 5] 6...Nge7 7.0-0 [7.Na3 cxd4 (7...Ng6 8.h4!?; 7...Nf5 8.Nc2) 8.cxd4 Nf5 (8...Qb6; 8...Nc8!?) 9.Nc2 Qb6 10.0-0 (10.g4 Nfe7) ; 7.a3] 7...Ng6 [7...cxd4 8.cxd4 Nf5 (8...Rc8 9.Na3 anyway!? (9.Nc3) ) ] 8.Be3 [8.g3!? Be7 (8...f6!?) ] 8...Be7 9.Re1 [9.dxc5!?; 9.Bd3!?; 9.Nbd2 0-0 10.Re1 see below] 9...0-0 10.Nbd2 cxd4 [10...c4 (via 9.Nbd2 0-0 10.Re1) only showed up just now in ChessBase! 11.Qc2 f6 12.exf6 Bxf6 13.Nf1 Nh4 14.Ng3 Be8 15.Qd2 Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Bg6 17.Bf4 Qd7 18.Bg4 Bf5 19.Nxf5 exf5 20.Bf3 Rfe8 21.Bg5 Bxg5 22.Qxg5 Re6 23.Kf1 Rae8 24.Rxe6 Qxe6 25.g4 Rf8 26.Re1 Qd7 27.gxf5 Rxf5 28.Bg4 Rxg5 29.Bxd7 Kf7 30.h4 1-0 Dimitrov,Pavel (2465)-Shaw,Tenzing W (2164) Pula op (4) 2007! That's Croatia, a famous resort and chess town. And by the way, Black is quite lost in the final position (Be8+!)] 11.cxd4 f6 12.exf6N Bxf6+/= 13.Nf1?! heading for h5? Never happens. [13.Rc1; 13.Bd3] 13...Rc8 14.Qd2 Qb6 [14...Be7] 15.b3?! Be7 annoying; [15...Nh4 might even be more so; 15...a5] 16.Qb2 [16.a3] 16...Nf4 17.Ng3 Be8 18.Bf1 Nb4?! [18...Bb4] 19.Ne5? [19.Bxf4 Rxf4 20.Rac1] 19...Nc2 wins material 20.Rac1 Ba3 21.Qb1 Bxc1 22.Rxc1 Nxe3 23.Rxc8 Nxf1 24.Nxf1 Qxd4 25.Qe1 Bb5 26.Rxf8+ Kxf8 27.Nf3 Qd3 28.Qb4+ Kg8 29.N3d2 Ne2+ 30.Kh1 Bc6 31.Qe7 Qf5 32.Qd8+ Qf8 33.Qxf8+ Kxf8 34.Ne3 e5 35.f3 Kf7 36.b4 Ke6 37.Nb3 b6 0-1

(2) Griffith,FM Kyron (2452) - Diaz,NM Conrado (2343) [B33]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (4.2), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be3 [7.Qe2!? is Negi's recommendation in his Grandmaster Repertoire series. 7...Bb4 a) 7...Qc7 8.g4 h6 9.h4 a6 10.Bg2; b) 7...d6 8.g4 a6 (8...h6 9.h4 a6 10.Be3 Qc7 11.0-0-0 b5 12.Bg2) 9.g5 Nd7 10.Be3 Qc7 11.0-0-0 b5 12.f4; 8.Bd2 0-0 9.a3 Bxc3 (9...Be7 10.0-0-0 d5 11.exd5 exd5 12.Be3 Qc7 13.h3!) 10.Bxc3 e5 11.0-0-0 a5! and Negi goes crazy analyzing this for four pages...] 7...Qc7 8.Bd3 [8.a3 a6] 8...Bb4 Black has done well with most moves here [8...a6; 8...d6; 8...Be7] 9.0-0 Bxc3 10.bxc3 0-0 Black has castled queenside as well(!) 11.f4 b6 12.Qf3 d6 13.Qg3 d5 Change of tack! 14.Nd2 dxe4 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 f5 17.Bf3 Bb7 18.Rae1 Rae8 19.h4 Ba6 20.Bxc6 Qxc6 21.Bd4 Re7 22.Rf3 Bc4 23.Qg5 Rff7 24.a3 Bd5 25.Rg3 Rd7 26.h5 Qd6 27.a4 Qe7 28.Qxe7 Rfxe7 29.h6 g6 30.Ra1 Be4 31.Ra2 Rd5 32.Re3 Rc7 33.Re1 Ra5 34.Rb1 Bd5 35.Ra3 Be4 36.Ra2 1/2-1/2

(3) Li,NM Eric Yuhan (2228) - Wolff,GM Patrick (2623) [A89]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (4.3), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.d4 f5!? There are a few games in the database with this player and this move -- in the 1980s. (Well, one is 1990.) 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.0-0 d6 7.Nc3 Nc6 The "Classic" Leningrad. [Nowadays you're more likely to see 7...Qe8 including by a number of Mechanics' TNM regulars!; 7...c6 is also featured in the games of Nepomniatchi, Nakamura and M.S.Anderson (I thought I'd put those players together).] 8.d5 [The Wolff game closest to this went 8.b3 e5 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Ba3 Re8 11.e4 Nd4 12.exf5 Bxf5 13.Rc1 Bg4 14.Re1 Qd7 15.Nb5 Qf5 16.Nfxd4 exd4 17.Rxe8+ Rxe8 18.Qxd4 Re2 19.Rf1 c6 20.Nd6 Qa5 21.Qc5 Qa6 22.Bc1 1/2-1/2 (22) Wojtkiewicz,A (2475)-Wolff,P (2505) Hastings 1989] 8...Na5 [8...Ne5 used to be very exciting! 9.Nxe5 (9.Qb3) 9...dxe5 10.e4 (10.Qb3!?) 10...f4!? one of those positions where everything under the sun has been tried (16 moves) (10...e6!?) 11.gxf4 (11.f3!?) 11...exf4 (11...Nh5!?) 12.e5 Ng4 13.e6 madness; 8...Nb4!?; 8...Nb8!?] 9.b3 Less played than [9.Qd3; 9.Nd2; or 9.Qa4] but scores quite well 9...c5 [The challenge is 9...Ne4!? 10.Nxe4 Bxa1 11.Neg5 but White has done quite well] 10.Bb2 [10.Bd2!?] 10...a6 11.Nd2 Rb8 12.Qc2 b5 13.Rae1!? [13.Rab1!? bxc4 14.bxc4 Bd7 15.Ba1 Qc7 16.Rxb8 Rxb8 17.Nd1] 13...bxc4 14.bxc4 e5 [14...Ng4!? 15.Nd1 Bd7 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Qc3+ Kg8 18.h3 Nf6 19.f4 Qb6 20.Nf2 Qb4 21.Qe3 Rbe8 22.Qd3 e6 0-1 (40) Liptay,L (2401)-Haag,E (2327) Hungary 2003] 15.dxe6 [15.Nd1 Qc7 (15...Bd7 16.Bc3 Nb7 17.e4 f4 18.f3 fxg3 19.hxg3 Nh5 20.g4 Nf4 21.Nb3 Bf6 22.Ne3 Bh4 23.Rb1 Qg5 24.Be1 Bxe1 25.Rfxe1 Nd8 0-1 (25) Juhasz,L (2200) -Bogdan,D (2330) Gyula 2000) 16.Bc3 Nb7 17.f4 e4 18.Ne3 Bd7 19.g4 1-0 (52) Psakhis,L (2545)-Dolmatov,S (2590) Moscow 1982] 15...Bxe6 16.Nd1 [16.Nd5 Rxb2 17.Qxb2 Nxd5 18.Qc1 Nc3 19.e4 Nxa2 20.Qa3 Nb4 21.exf5 Bxf5 0-1 (21) Van der Heijden,A-Van Dooren,F Dieren 1985] 16...Qd7 17.Ne3 An improvement [17.Bc3 Nc6 18.a3 d5 19.cxd5 Bxd5 20.Bxd5+ Qxd5 21.Ne3 Qe6 22.Bxf6 Bxf6 23.Qxc5 Rfd8 24.Qc4 Kf7 25.Nf3 Nd4 26.Nxd4 Bxd4 27.Qxe6+ Kxe6 28.Nc4 Rdc8 29.Rc1 Kd5 30.Nd2 Bb2 31.Rxc8 Rxc8 32.Rd1 Rc1 33.Rxc1 Bxc1 34.Nf3 Bxa3 0-1 (40) Berta,K (2195)-Mozes,E (2360) Hungary 1999] 17...Ng4 18.Bxg7 Nxe3 19.fxe3 Qxg7 20.Qd3 [20.Rb1 Rxb1 21.Rxb1 Qc7=] 20...Rb6?! [20...Qc7=] 21.e4 [21.Rb1 Rxb1 22.Rxb1 Qc7 23.e4+/=] 21...fxe4 22.Bxe4 Qd4+ 23.Qxd4 cxd4 24.Nf3 Bxc4 25.Nxd4 Re8 26.Bd3 d5 27.Rb1 Reb8 28.Rxb6 Rxb6 29.Rb1 Rxb1+ 1/2-1/2

(4) Stearman,FM Josiah P (2387) - Ivanov,Aleksander (2171) [C07]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (4.4), 09.04.2019

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Ngf3 cxd4 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Nb3 Nc6 9.Nbxd4 Nxd4 10.Nxd4 a6 11.Re1 Qc7 12.Bb3 Bd6 13.Nf5 Bxh2+ 14.Kh1 0-0 15.Nxg7 Rd8 16.Qf3 Kxg7 17.Bh6+ Kg6 18.c3 Nh5 19.Be3 f5 20.g4 Nf6 21.gxf5+ exf5 22.Qg2+ Ng4 23.f3 b6 24.Bc2 Kf6 25.Bd4+ Rxd4 26.cxd4 Bg3 27.fxg4 Bxe1 28.Rxe1 Bb7 29.d5 Rd8 30.Rf1 Rxd5 31.Be4 Rd2 32.Bxb7 Rxg2 33.Rxf5+ Kg6 34.Bxg2 Qc1+ 35.Kh2 Qxb2 36.Kg3 Qxa2 37.Be4 Kg7 38.Rg5+ Kh8 39.Rd5 Qa3+ 40.Kf4 Qe7 41.Bf5 h6 42.Rd7 Qf6 43.Ke4 a5 44.Kd5 a4 45.Rd6 Qb2 46.Ke6 Qb3+ 47.Ke7 Qe3+ 48.Kf7 Qg5 49.Rg6 b5 50.Rxg5 hxg5 1-0

(5) Lee,FM Andy C (2344) - Munkhchuluun,WFM Tsegmed (2125) [C02]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (4.5), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.Bd3 Qb6 7.0-0 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nxd4 9.Nbd2!? The Modern finesse in this quite well-known pawn sacrifice [9.Nxd4 Qxd4 10.Nc3 a6 (10...Qxe5 11.Re1 Qb8! (11...Qd6 12.Nb5) 12.Nxd5 Bd6) 11.Qe2 Ne7 (11...Rc8) 12.Rd1 (12.Kh1) 12...Nc6! 13.Bxa6 Qxe5] 9...Nc6?! [9...Nxf3+ 10.Nxf3 h6 11.b4!?; 9...Ne7; 9...Bc5!?] 10.Nb3 f5?!N [10...Nge7 11.Be3 Qd8 (11...Qc7!? 12.Rc1 Ng6 13.Nc5) 12.Nc5 Rb8 13.Rc1 Ng6 14.Bb5 Be7 15.Nxd7 Qxd7 16.Bxa7 Ra8 17.Be3 Rxa2 18.Qb3 Ra8 19.h4!? Nxh4 20.Nxh4 Bxh4 21.Bc5 Rc8 22.f4 Be7 23.Bb6 0-0 24.Kh2 f6 25.Qh3 fxe5 26.fxe5 Bg5 27.Rce1 Qe7 28.Kh1 Rxf1+ 29.Bxf1 Rf8 30.Bd3 g6 31.Bg1 Rf4 32.g3 Rf3 33.Be2 Rb3 34.Bg4 Nd8 35.Qg2 h5 36.Bd1 Rd3 37.Qc2 Rxg3 38.Qxg6+ Qg7 39.Qe8+ Qf8 40.Qg6+ Qg7 41.Qe8+ Kh7 42.Bh2 Rh3 43.Bc2+ Kh6 44.Rg1 h4 45.Rxg5 Rxh2+ 46.Kxh2 Kxg5 47.Qxd8+ Kg4 48.Qf6 Qg8 49.Bd1# 1-0 (49) Topalov,V (2752)-Morozevich,A (2770) Astana 2012] 11.Be3 Qc7 12.Rc1+/- Nge7 13.Nc5 [13.Nfd4!?] 13...Ng6 14.Bxf5?! Maybe a bit too speculative and unnecessary. [14.Re1 f4 15.Bxg6+ hxg6 16.Bxf4 Bxc5 17.Rxc5 Qb6 18.Qc2 (18.Rc2) ; 14.b4 Bxc5 15.Bxc5 Ncxe5 16.Bxf5] 14...exf5 15.e6 Bc8 16.Qxd5 Be7 [16...f4? 17.Bd4] 17.Qxf5 Bf6 18.Qd5 Qe7 [18...Nce7; 18...Nge7] 19.Na6? [19.Ng5] 19...0-0 [19...Bxe6! 20.Nc7+ Kf7 21.Nxe6 Qxe6 22.Qb5 Rhb8-+ (22...Rab8-+) ] 20.Nc7 Qxc7?! [20...Rd8 21.Qc4 Kh8-/+] 21.e7+ Kh8 22.exf8Q+ Nxf8 23.Ng5 Bxg5 [23...h6] 24.Qxg5 Be6 25.Rfe1?! Qf7 [25...Bxa2!] 26.a3 Ng6 27.Rc5 Rf8 [27...h6] 28.Qg3 Nge7 [28...Bd5] 29.Qc7 Nd5?! Basic middlegame: NNvRP: keep queens on. 30.Qxf7 Bxf7 31.Rd1 Nxe3 32.fxe3 Be6 33.b4 a6 34.Rd6 Re8 35.a4 Kg8 36.b5 axb5 37.axb5 Nd8 38.Rc7 h6 39.Kf2 Bf5 40.Ke2 Kf8 41.Kd2 Be4 1-0

(6) Winslow,IM Elliott C (2306) - Kondakov,Adrian (2066) [E63]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (4.6), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.Nc3 d6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.0-0 a6 [7...e5 8.d5 Nb8!?] 8.b3 [8.d5 Na5 9.Nd2 (9.b3) 9...c5; 8.h3 Rb8 (8...Bd7) 9.e4 (9.Be3; 9.Nd5) 9...b5 10.e5] 8...Rb8 [8...Bd7] 9.Bb2 [9.Nd5!?; 9.e3; 9.d5!?] 9...b5 10.cxb5 axb5 11.d5?! [11.Rc1 1-0 31, Reshevsky-Fischer, 1956!; 11.Ne1] 11...Na5 12.Nd4 b4 [12...Bd7] 13.Na4 Bd7 [13...e5; 13...e6!; 13...Bb7] 14.Nc6!? [14.Qc2!?; 14.Rc1] 14...Bxc6N [14...Nxc6 15.dxc6 Bf5 16.e4 Bg4 17.Qd2 Qc8 18.Rac1 Bh3 19.Rc4 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Rb5 21.Rxb4 Rh5 22.f3 Bh6 23.Qf2 Qa6 24.g4 Rb5 25.Qe2 Rb6 26.Qxa6 Rxa6 27.Bxf6 exf6 28.Rc4 Bf4 29.Nc3 Be5 30.Nd5 Rxa2+ 31.Rf2 Ra7 32.f4 Ba1 33.Ra4 Rxa4 34.bxa4 Kg7 35.Nxc7 Rc8 36.Nb5 Rxc6 37.Ra2 1-0 (37) Smith,A (2481)-Svane,R (2493) Vaxjo 2014] 15.dxc6 Qc8 16.Rc1 Qa6 17.Qc2 e5 18.e3 Rfe8 19.Rfd1 Kh8 20.h3 Ng8 21.Re1 Ne7 22.f4 Nf5 23.g4 Nh4 24.Bh1 Qc8 25.Qf2 Qd8 26.Red1 h6 27.Rd5 Ra8 28.Qd2 exf4 29.exf4 Qe7 30.Kf2 f5 31.Rd3 fxg4 32.hxg4 Qe6

33.f5? [33.Nb6!! cxb6? 34.Bxg7+ (34.Rxd6; 34.c7; 34.f5) 34...Kxg7 (34...Kh7) 35.Rxd6 Qf7 36.Bd5; 33.Bd5 Qxg4 34.Rg3 Qh5 35.Bxg7+ Kxg7 36.Rh1 Kh7+/-] 33...gxf5 [33...Nxf5 34.Bd5 Bxb2 35.Bxe6 (35.Qxb2+ Qe5 36.gxf5) 35...Bxc1 36.Qxc1 Rxe6 37.gxf5 gxf5 38.Rd5+-] 34.Rh3??= [34.Nb6!! fxg4 35.Nxa8 Rxa8 36.Re1 Qf7+ 37.Kg1+-] 34...Bxb2! 35.Nxb2?! [35.Qxb2+ Kh7 36.Rxh4 Qe3+ 37.Kg2 Qg5 (37...Nc4 38.Rxc4 Qe1 39.Rxh6+ Kxh6 40.Qf6+=) 38.Rh2 Re4 39.Kg1= (39.Kf1=) ] 35...Qf6 36.Kg3 Qg5 [36...f4+ 37.Qxf4 Qxf4+ 38.Kxf4 Ng6+ 39.Kf3[]= (39.Kf5?? Kg7-+) ] 37.Qxg5 hxg5 38.gxf5 Re3+ 39.Kg4 Rxh3 40.Kxh3 Nxf5 41.Kg4 Nd4 42.Rc4?? [42.Rd1 Ndxc6 43.Nd3 Re8 (43...Ra7 44.Re1+/-) 44.Kxg5 Nd8 45.Nxb4 Kg7=] 42...Nxc4 43.Nxc4 Rxa2 44.Be4 Ra6 45.Kxg5 Nxc6 46.Kf6 Nd4 47.Ke7 Nxb3 48.Ne3 Nc5 49.Bf5 b3 50.Ng4 b2 51.Nh6 Ra1 52.Kf8 Ra8+ 53.Kf7 Nd7 54.Bc2 Ne5+ 55.Ke7 Ra1 0-1

(7) Tsodikova,WFM Natalya (2185) - Childress,Jason (2058) [D02]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (4.7), 09.04.2019

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 e6 3.e3 d5 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.Bg3 0-0 6.Bd3 c5 7.c3 Nc6 8.Ne5 cxd4 9.exd4 Bxe5 10.dxe5 Nd7 11.Qe2 Nc5 12.Bc2 d4 13.Be4 Qb6 14.Bxc6 d3 15.Qd2 Qxc6 16.0-0 Qa6 17.Qd1 Qb5 18.b3 Ne4 19.c4 Qd7 20.Nd2 Nc3 21.Qg4 b5 22.Bh4 Kh8 23.cxb5 Bb7 24.a4 Rac8 25.Kh1 Rc7 26.Rfe1 Qd5 27.Re3 Ne2 28.Rd1 Nf4 29.f3 Ng6 30.Nc4 Rd7 31.Be1 Rfd8 32.Bb4 Bc8 33.Bd6 f5 34.Qg5 Qb7 35.Rexd3 Ne7 36.Ne3 h6 37.Qh4 Ng6 38.Qc4 f4 39.Ng4 h5 40.Nf2 Re8 41.Ne4 Qb6 42.Nc5 Rdd8 43.b4 Bd7 44.Qe4 Kh7 45.Nb3 a6 46.Bc5 Qc7 47.b6 Qc8 48.b7 Qc7 49.Bd6 Qb6 50.b8Q Rxb8 51.Bxb8 Bc6 52.Rd6 Qxb8 53.Rxc6 Kh6 54.Rcd6 Rc8 55.Rxe6 Rc3 56.Qxg6# 1-0

(8) Heredia,WGM Carla (2291) - Marcus,Joel (1833) [C41]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (4.8), 09.04.2019

1.d4 d6 2.e4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.Nf3 e5 5.g4 h6 6.g5 hxg5 7.Bxg5 Be7 8.Qe2 c6 9.0-0-0 Qa5 10.Rg1 b5 11.Bd2 b4 12.Nb1 Qxa2 13.Rxg7 a5 14.dxe5 Ba6 15.Qe1 dxe5 16.Bxa6 Rxa6 17.Ng5 Nb6 18.Rxf7 Na4 19.Rxe7+ Kf8 20.Rf7+ Kg8 21.Bc3 Ra8 22.Bxe5 Nc3 23.Bxc3 bxc3 24.Qxc3 1-0

(9) Chambers,FM Ezra (2336) - Askin,Michael (1941) [B12]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (4.9), 09.04.2019

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nd2 e6 5.Nb3 Nd7 6.Nf3 h6 7.Be2 Ne7 8.0-0 Qc7 9.Bd2 Nc8 10.a4 Be7 11.a5 0-0 12.c4 f6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Rc1 Qd8 15.Re1 a6 16.exf6 Rxf6 17.Ne5 Rf8 18.Bg4 Nxe5 19.dxe5 Na7 20.Nd4 Qd7 21.Bxf5 exf5 22.e6 Qd6 23.Qh5 f4 24.Nf5 Rxf5 25.Qxf5 Rf8 26.Qe5 Nc6 27.Qxd6 Bxd6 28.Kf1 g5 29.Rb1 Re8 30.Bc3 d4 31.Bd2 Ne5 32.Re4 Nc6 33.b4 Kg7 34.b5 axb5 35.Rxb5 Re7 36.Rd5 Bc7 37.Ke2 Kf6 38.Rb5 Be5 39.Bb4 Rxe6 40.Rxb7 Kf5 41.f3 1-0

(10) Persidsky,Andre (1814) - Wong,NM Russell (2200) [A31]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (4.10), 09.04.2019

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 d6 6.g3 Qb6 7.e3 a6 8.Bg2 Bd7 9.0-0 g6 10.b3 Bg7 11.Bb2 0-0 12.Qd2 Nxd4 13.exd4 Bc6 14.d5 Bd7 15.Rfe1 Ng4 16.Rxe7 Nxf2 17.Kf1 Nh3 18.Qe3 Bd4 19.Na4 Bxe3 20.Nxb6 Bxb6 21.Rxd7 Nf2 22.Rxd6 Bc5 23.Rd7 Ng4 24.Bh3 Nxh2+ 25.Kg2 Rae8 26.Kxh2 Re2+ 27.Bg2 Rxb2 28.Rxb7 Re8 29.Kh3 Ree2 30.Bf3 Rh2+ 31.Kg4 Be3 32.Be4 Rbf2 33.Bxg6 f5+ 0-1

(11) Argo,Guy (1909) - Davila,Carlos (2075) [B23]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (4.11), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.f4 c5 2.e4 Nc6 3.Nc3 e6 4.Nf3 Nge7 5.d3 d5 6.Be2 b5 7.Nxb5? Qa5+ 8.Nc3 d4 9.Bd2 dxc3 10.Bxc3 Qb6 11.0-0 Nd4 12.Ne5 Ba6 13.Bg4 Nec6 14.Nxc6 Qxc6 15.b3 Be7 16.Bb2 0-0 17.c3 Nb5 18.Bf3 Rad8 19.Qc2 Qd6 20.Be2 Nc7 21.Rf3 f5 22.e5 Qd7 23.c4 Bb7 24.Rf2 Na6 25.a3 Nb8 26.Bc3 Nc6 27.Bf1 Nd4 28.Qd1 Kh8 29.b4 g5 30.b5 gxf4 31.Rxf4 Bg5 32.Rf2 Be3 33.Raa2 Rg8 34.Kh1 Qg7 35.Qe1 Qg4 36.Kg1 Nf3+ 0-1

(12) Pryor,Jamieson (2001) - Jensen,Christian (1815) [E99]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (4.12), 09.04.2019
[Ernst,T]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.Be3 f5 11.f3 f4 12.Bf2 g5 13.a4 [13.Nd3; 13.Rc1; 13.g4!?; 13.b4; 13.Nb5] 13...Ng6 [13...a5 14.Nd3 b6; 13...h5; 13...Nf6] 14.a5 Korchnoi's improvement [14.Nd3 Nf6 15.c5 h5 16.h3 Rf7 17.c6 a5~~ Kortschnoj-Kasparov/Amsterdam/1991/] 14...a6?! "weakens b6 in the long run" (was it Huzman?) [14...Rf7 15.b4 (15.c5!? Nxc5 16.Bxc5 dxc5 17.Bc4 Kh8 18.a6 bxa6 19.Nd3 Bf8 20.Na4 Rb8 21.Rf2~/= Kortschnoj-Popovic,P/Brno/1992/ (21.b3~/= Kozul,Z-Popovic,P/Novi Sad/1992/) ) 15...Nf6 16.c5 Bf8 17.cxd6 Bxd6~~ Kortschnoj-Polgar,J/Pamplona/ 1990-91/; 14...h5; 14...Kh8!? 15.Nd3 (15.b4!?; 15.g4!?) 15...Rg8!? 16.c5 Bf8 17.c6 bxc6 18.Nb4 Ne7 19.Nxc6 Nxc6 20.dxc6 Nf6 21.Nd5 (21.Bc4 Rg6 22.h3 g4 1/2-1/2 (41) Shirov,A (2685)-Nunn,J (2590) Germany 1993) 21...Be6 22.b4 h5 23.b5 ½-½ (45) Kortschnoj,V (2615)-Shirov,A (2740) Horgen 1994. Shirov likes this line...] 15.b4 [15.Nd3 Nf6 16.c5 h5 17.cxd6 cxd6 18.Na4 g4 19.Nb6 Rb8 20.Nxc8 Qxc8 21.Qa4 gxf3 22.Bxf3 Ng4 23.Bb6 Nh4 24.Rac1+/- 1-0 (56) Kortschnoj,V (2575)-Gelfand,B (2685) Tilburg 1992] 15...Nf6 16.c5 Rf7 17.Na4N relinquishing e4 protection, so: [17.cxd6 cxd6 18.Na4 (18.Kh1!?) ; 17.c6!?; 17.Kh1!?] 17...g4 18.cxd6!? g3!? [18...cxd6 19.Nb6 Rb8 20.Nxc8?! (20.Rc1 g3 anyway) ] 19.hxg3 fxg3 20.Bxg3 cxd6 21.Nb6 Nh5!? 22.Bh2

[22.Bf2!?] 22...Bh6? [22...Rb8 23.Nxc8 Rxc8 24.f4! Nhxf4 25.Bg4 Rc4 26.Be6 Nxe6 27.Rxf7 Kxf7 28.dxe6++/=] 23.Ra3? [23.f4+- Nhxf4 24.Nxa8 Nxe2+ 25.Qxe2 Bg4 26.Qd3 Rxf1+ 27.Qxf1 Qxa8 28.Nc2] 23...Rc7? [23...Bf4!-+ according to SF10, in the -3 range] 24.f4! [24.Nxa8 seems more annoying when it hits the R/c7, but 24...Rc1 intending ...Bf4 if the queen moves (!?) 25.f4!?; 24.Nd3!?] 24...Nhxf4 25.Bxf4 [25.Nxa8 Rc1 26.Nb6!] 25...Nxf4 26.Bg4 [26.Nxa8] 26...Bxg4 27.Qxg4++/= [27.Rg3?-/+ Kh8 (27...Rb8) 28.Rxg4 Rb8=] 27...Rg7

28.Rxf4! Bxf4 [28...Rxg4 29.Rxg4+ Kh8] 29.Qe6+ Kh8 30.Nxa8 Rg6 31.Qh3 Rh6 32.Qg4 Rh4 33.Qf5?? [33.Qe2+/=] 33...Bh2+ [33...Rh1+ is mate] 34.Kh1 Bg3+ 35.Kg1 Bh2+-+ 1/2-1/2

(13) Rudyak,Felix (1865) - Anderson,Michael (1943) [A84]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (4.13), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.d4 f5 2.c4 g6?! [2...Nf6 first!] 3.h4! (and, sick as it is, the computer LIKES it!) 3...h6 4.e4 e6 5.Bd3 [5.exf5! exf5 6.Ne2+-] 5...Ne7 6.g4?? [6.exf5 exf5 7.Nc3 Bg7 8.Nf3 (8.Nge2) 8...0-0 9.Bf4+-] 6...fxe4 7.Bxe4 d5 8.Bc2 [8.Bg2=/+] 8...Bg7 [8...Nbc6!; 8...dxc4] 9.Nf3?! Nbc6 10.c5? 0-0 11.Be3 b6 12.cxb6 axb6 13.h5 e5! [>=13...g5!] 14.Nxe5

14...Bxe5!! 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.hxg6 Bxg4 17.Qc1 h5 18.Nd2 Qe8 19.g7 Rf7 20.Qb1 Qb5 21.f3 Nxf3+ 22.Nxf3 Bxf3 23.Bd3 Qb4+ 24.Bd2 Qg4 25.Bh6 Nf5 26.Bxf5 Rxf5 27.Rf1 Re8+ 28.Kd2 Re2+ 29.Kc1 Qc4+ 30.Kd1 [30.Kd1 Rc2+ and mate;; 30.Kd1 Rf2+ 31.Ke1 Qxf1# (31...Qe2#) ] 0-1

(14) Uzzaman,Ashik (1931) - Poling,Scott E (1863) [B23]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (4.14), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 a6 3.f4 b5 4.Nf3 Bb7 5.d3 e6 6.g3 d5 7.exd5 exd5 8.Bg2 b4 9.Ne2 Nf6 10.c3 a5 11.a3 Nc6 12.axb4 axb4 13.Rxa8 Qxa8 14.0-0 Bd6 15.Re1 0-0 16.h3 Re8 17.g4 Qa1 18.Qc2 Qa2 19.Qd1 Qa1 20.Qd2 Na5 21.cxb4 cxb4 22.Ned4 Rc8 23.Kh2 Qb1 24.Nf5 Nb3 25.Qe3 It's already pretty bad. But 25...Re8?? 26.Qxe8+ Nxe8 27.Rxe8+ 1-0

(15) Uribe,Luiz Antoni (1863) - Ricard,Bruce (1892)
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (4.15), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

Forfeit 0-1

(16) Gaffagan,Steven (2019) - Lehman,Clarence E (1918) [E18]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (4.16), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 b6 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Nc3 Bb7 9.Bf4 a6 10.Rc1 Nbd7 11.Nh4 This position occurs 11 times in the Mega 2019 database. Three times each rook move; once each c-pawn move. [11.Ne5!; 11.Qb3!] Only once before did someone play 11...g6?

[11...Re8 12.Nf5 Bf8 White's position is preferable, but there is a whole game ahead.] 12.Bxc7! Gaffagan: 'Black's error on move 11 was played once before, in the 39th Indian Championship.' 12...Qe8 [12...Qxc7? 13.Nxd5 Qd6 14.Nxe7+ Qxe7 15.Bxb7 and White wins two pawns.] 13.Nf3 Rc8 [13...Ne4 14.Bf4 f5 15.Qb3 Qf7 16.Nxe4 dxe4 (16...fxe4 17.Rc7 exf3 18.Bxf3) 17.Qxf7+ Rxf7 18.Ng5 Bxg5 19.Bxg5+/- 1-0 (42) Harikrishna,P (2525)-Vijayalakshmi,S (2399) Nagpur 2002. Gaffagan: 'Harikrishna finished a half point behind the champion - Krishnan Sasikiran, who scored 14.5/19.'] 14.Bf4 Eat and run. 14...Qd8 15.Qb3 b5 16.Bh6 Re8 17.Bh3 [Gaffagan: 17.Ng5 was tempting, but 17...Nb6 seemed like a good reply for Black.a) 17...Ng4? 18.Nxf7! Kxf7 (18...Rxc3 19.Rxc3 Kxf7 20.Qxd5+ Bxd5 21.Bxd5+ Kf6 22.Rf3#; 18...Qb6 19.Nxd5; 18...Qa5 19.Bxd5 Bxd5 20.Qxd5) 19.Bxd5+ mates in 2.; b) 17...Rc4; ; 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.dxe5 Ng4 19.Bf4 g5 20.Be3 Nxe3 21.fxe3 Bc5 22.Nxd5+/-] 17...Rc4 18.Qd1 [18.a3; 18.e3] 18...b4 19.Nb1 Qa5 20.a4 [20.a3!] 20...Nb6 [20...Bd6; Gaffagan: I expected 20...bxa3] 21.b3 Rxc1 22.Qxc1 Bc8 23.Bg2 [23.Ne5!+-] 23...Bd7 24.Ne5 Rc8 25.Qf4 Be6 26.Rc1 Rxc1+ 27.Qxc1 Nc8 28.Nd2 [28.Nc6] 28...Qb6 29.e3 Na7 30.Bf3 Ne8 31.h4 f6 Gaffagan: '?!' 32.Nd3 Nc7 [Gaffagan: 32...Ng7 with the idea of trapping the Bishop on h6 may be met with 33.Nf4 Nf5 34.Bxd5] 33.Bf4 Bd6?? 34.Bxd6?? [34.a5 "undefends" the bishop] 34...Qxd6 35.Nf4?! [35.Nxb4] 35...Bf7 36.Be2 Kg7 37.Bf3 Qc6 38.Qxc6 Nxc6 39.Nd3 Be6 40.g4 Kf7 41.Kg2 Ke7 42.Kg3 Kd6 43.Be2 Bc8 44.f3 Ne6 45.f4 "The weakness at d5 is defended, so White launches an offensive on the king's side." 45...a5 46.Nf2 Nc7 47.Bd3 Ba6 48.Kf3 Bxd3 49.Nxd3 Na6

Black has been waiting patiently for White to make progress since grabbing that pawn on move 12. 50.g5 Very committal! 50...f5 Okay, so is this a fortress? White can try to set up some knight sack on g6, but Black can avoid with ...Ne7. And that P/e3... 51.Kg3 Nd8 Sending this knight onto the wrong track? 52.h5 Ne6 53.Ne5 Nf8 Okay, a more direct defense. 54.Kh4 Nb8 55.Ndf3 Ke6 56.hxg6 hxg6 57.Kg3 The scoresheets both end here; I suppose time scramble. "White eventually queened his g-pawn." 1-0

(17) Walder,NM Michael (1989) - Kuczek,Kevin W (2003) [C67]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (4.17), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Rd1+ Ke8 10.Bf4 Be6 11.Nbd2 h6 12.h3 Rd8 13.c4 Nd4 14.Nxd4 Rxd4 15.Be3 Rd3 16.b3 Bb4 17.Ne4 Rxd1+ 18.Rxd1 b6 19.f4 Bf5 20.Nf2 h5 21.g4 hxg4 22.hxg4 Bc8 23.Kg2 c5 24.Kg3 Bb7 25.a3 Bc3 26.Rc1 Bd4 27.Bxd4 cxd4 28.c5 Rh6 29.b4 bxc5 30.b5 c6 31.Rxc5 cxb5 32.Rxb5 Rb6 33.Rxb6 axb6 34.Nd3 Ba6 35.Nc1 Bc4 36.Kf3 Bd5+ 37.Ke2 Bc4+ 38.Kd2 Kd7 39.Nd3 Ke6 40.Nb4 g6 41.Kc2 g5 42.fxg5 Kxe5 43.Nc6+ Ke4 44.Kd2 b5 45.Kd1 d3 46.Kd2 1/2-1/2

(18) Melville,Cailen J (1941) - Pane,Gianluca (1863) [D17]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (4.18), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 [6.e3; 6.Nh4] 6...Na6 [6...Nbd7; 6...e6] 7.f3?! Thought to be falling into a trap. [7.e3! Nb4 8.Bxc4 e6 (8...Nc2+?? 9.Qxc2!) 9.0-0 (9.Nd3!?) 9...Bd6 (9...Be7 10.Qe2 h6; 9...a5) 10.Qe2] 7...Nd7! 8.Nxc4 e5! 9.dxe5 [9.e4 exd4 10.exf5 (10.Ne2!?; 10.Qxd4 Nb4 11.Qd1 Be6) ] 9...Qh4+ 10.g3 Qxc4 11.e4 Qe6 12.exf5 Qxe5+ It's White who is looking to equalize 13.Kf2 [13.Qe2 Nb4 14.Qxe5+ Nxe5 15.Kf2 Bc5+ 16.Kg2 Nc2 17.Rb1 Ne1+] 13...Bc5+N [13...Nb4 14.Bh3 when Black has his choice of sides (to castle): 14...0-0-0 (14...Bc5+ 15.Kg2 0-0) ] 14.Kg2 Nb4 15.Bc4 0-0-0 16.Qb3 Qxf5 17.Ne4

After all the flash there must be some lock draw around here, as the dreaded "0.00" is all over the eval column. 17...Be7?! Meek. [17...Rhe8 has both players walking the tightrope: 18.g4 (The only move to stay afloat) (18.Re1 Ne5!-+ 19.Nxc5 Qc2+! 20.Qxc2 Nxc2 21.Be6+ fxe6 22.Rxe5 Nxa1; 18.Bxf7 Rxe4!-+) 18...Qe5 (likewise) 19.Bxf7 (best, now) 19...Re7 (19...Nf6 20.Bxe8 Nxe4 21.Bf7 Ng5 22.Bc4 Nd5= (22...Rd4=; 22...Rd6=) ) ] 18.Bxf7 Nd5 19.Bxd5 Qxd5?! [All the indicators point to 19...cxd5 (shakier king, development) 20.Bf4? (20.Nf2+/=) 20...dxe4-+ and ...Nc5] 20.Qxd5 cxd5 21.Ng5 [21.Bg5!? dxe4 22.Bxe7 exf3+ 23.Kf2] 21...Rde8 22.Bf4 Bc5? Both players have held it together admirably, although the tide was already turning toward White, but this loses. 23.Rhe1?! [23.Rac1 Re2+ 24.Kh3 Rxb2 25.Rhd1 h6 26.Ne6 b6 27.Nxg7 (or 27.Rxd5 keeps turning out +-) ] 23...b6 24.Rac1 Kb7?!

[24...Rxe1 25.Rxe1 a5 (25...h6) ] 25.Rxe8 Rxe8 26.b4+- h6 27.bxc5! bxc5 28.Nf7 Kc6 29.h4 d4 30.Nd6 Re2+ 31.Kh3 g5 32.Nf5! Nice! 32...Kd5 33.hxg5 hxg5 34.Bxg5 c4 35.Nxd4! Re5 36.f4 Re4 37.Nb5 Kc5 38.Nxa7 Kb4 39.Nb5 Nb6 40.Rb1+ Ka5 41.Bd8 Re3 42.Nd4 An excellent game after surviving that perilous opening! 1-0

(19) Maser,Thomas (1901) - Gray,William (1962) [B29]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 1600-1999 San Francisco (4.19), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6!? 3.Nc3 [3.e5 Nd5 A sort of Alapin without 2.c3 4.Nc3 (As White I've played 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 e6 6.Bc4 Nc6 7.Qe4 d6 8.exd6 Nf6 9.Qe2 Bxd6 10.Nc3 (Can't do *that* in the Alapin!)) 4...Nxc3 (4...e6!? is the old variation, eventually considered sort of refuted. (I've played it a few times.) 5.Nxd5 exd5 6.d4 Nc6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qxd5 d6!? (8...Qb6 9.Bc4 Bxf2+ 10.Ke2) 9.exd6 Qb6 10.Qe4+ Be6 11.Qh4 pulls the plug on Black's fun (11.d7+!?) ) 5.dxc3 Nc6 (5...Qc7 is a flash game I remember from the "Sicilicide" chapter of a book on miniatures from the 60s: 6.Bf4 Nc6 7.Bc4 e6 8.0-0 b6 9.Re1 f5?

White decides the moment has come to hit that big red button: (Black is 0-3 with 9...Bb7 , but the compy doesn't believe it)) 10.Nh4 g6? (10...Ne7) 11.Nxf5! Na5 12.Bd5!! ("Better is 12.Bb5 " (Stockfish). "Shut up" (Winslow).) 12...Bb7 13.Nd6+ Bxd6 14.exd6 Qc8 15.Bh6 Rg8 16.Qf3 Bxd5 17.Qxd5 Nc6 18.Rad1 Nd8 19.Qg5 Nc6 20.Qf6 g5 21.Re5 1-0 (21) Gurgenidze, B-Lein,A Tbilisi 1967 (21.Rd5!) ) 6.Bf4 (Alapin himself had this line (no 2.c3!!) in a game he had to be proud of given his opponent: 6.Bc4 d6 7.Bf4 dxe5 8.Nxe5 Qxd1+ 9.Rxd1 Nxe5 10.Bxe5 a6 11.Bc7 Bg4 12.f3 Rc8 13.Bb6 Bf5 14.Bb3 e5 15.Ba4+ Ke7 16.c4 f6 17.Kf2 Kf7 18.Bd7 Bxd7 19.Rxd7+ Be7 20.Rhd1 Ke6 21.Rxb7 Bd6 22.Ba7 Rc6 23.Rxg7 a5 24.Rb7 Ra8 25.Rd5 h5 26.a4 h4 27.b3 Rac8 28.Rb5 1-0 (28) Alapin,S-Rubinstein,A Vilnius 1912) 6...Qb6!? 7.Qc1~~ 1-0 (38) Carlsen,M (2851)-Grandelius,N (2649) Stavanger 2016 CBM 172 [Nielsen,PH]] 3...d5 [3...d6!? 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 is a quaint little system (or three), when Black has circumvented the main Bb5+ lines.] 4.exd5 Nxd5 5.Bb5+ Bd7 6.0-0!? [6.Bc4; 6.a4!?; 6.Ne5!? Nf6 (6...Nxc3 7.Qf3) 7.Nxd7 Nbxd7 8.d4 1-0 (32) Kramnik,V (2775)-Seirawan,Y (2630) Amsterdam 1996 CBM 052 [Romero Holmes]; 6.Bxd7+?] 6...Bxb5!? [6...Nxc3 7.Bxd7+ Qxd7 is fine for Black] 7.Nxb5 Nc6 8.Re1 e6 9.d4 a6 10.Na3 cxd4 [10...Nf6] 11.Nc4?! [11.Nxd4 Nxd4 12.Qxd4 Nf6=] 11...Be7?! [11...Bc5-/+; 11...Bb4!?-/+] 12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 0-0=/+ 14.c3 Rc8 15.Ne3 Bc5 16.Qe4 Qb6 17.Re2 Nf6 18.Qf3 Rfd8 19.b4?! Bd6-/+ 20.Bb2 Be5 21.Nf5!? exf5 [21...Bxh2+ 22.Kxh2 exf5 23.Qxf5=/+] 22.Rxe5 Rd2 23.Re2 Rxe2 24.Qxe2 Re8 [24...Qe6!] 25.Qd2 [25.Qd3] 25...h6? [25...Rd8!] 26.Rd1? [26.c4!] 26...Qe6 27.a4 Qc4-/+ 28.f3? [28.Re1 Rxe1+ 29.Qxe1 Qb3-/+] 28...Re2-+ 29.Qd8+ Kh7 30.Ba1

30...Qf4?! [30...Qh4 31.Rf1 Qg5 is Mate in Eight! 32.g4 Qe3+ 33.Kh1 Nxg4!; 30...Qa2 31.Kh1 Rxg2 is slightly slower in the Mate Department] 31.Qd3 Qe5?? [31...Ng4 is still winning: 32.g3 Qe3+ 33.Qxe3 Nxe3 34.Rb1 Nc4 Not mate, but White might wish it were!; 31...Ra2 also keeps a big plus] 32.c4= Freedom! 0.00/0 32...Qe6?! [32...Re1+ 33.Kf2 Rxd1 34.Qxd1 Qxh2 35.Bxf6 gxf6=] 33.Kf1! Re3? [33...Ra2 34.Re1 Qd7 35.Qxd7 Nxd7 36.Bd4+/-] 34.Qd4 [34.Qc2!] 34...Re2 35.Bc3 Nh5 36.g4?? [36.Re1+/=] 36...fxg4?? [36...Rxh2-+ e.g. 37.Re1 Qg6] 37.Qd3++- g6 38.Qxe2 Qc6 39.Qe4 Qxa4 40.Qd4 Qe8 41.fxg4(+) Black's flag 1-0

(20) Ochoa,Jason B (1738) - Clemens,Kristian (1946) [A14]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 1600-1999 San Francisco (4.20), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 Nbd7 7.Bb2 c6 8.d3 b6 9.Nbd2 Bb7 10.Rc1 Rc8 11.Re1 Qc7 12.e3 Rfd8 13.cxd5 exd5 14.Nd4 Qb8 15.Nf5 Bf8 16.Nf3 g6 17.N5d4 c5 18.Ne2 Bg7 19.Bh3 Rc7 20.Nf4 Nh5 21.Bxg7 Nxg7 22.Ng5 Nf8 23.Qf3?? [23.d4+/=] 23...h6-+ 24.Qg4 Like a one-minute game: lost a piece? just keep moving 24...Bc8 [24...f5] 25.Qh4 hxg5 26.Qxg5 Bxh3 27.Nxh3 Nfe6 28.Qh4 Rdd7 29.e4 Qd8 30.Qg4 Qf6 31.f4 Nd4 32.Ng5 Nge6 33.Rf1 Nxg5 34.fxg5 Qe6 35.Qh4 Ne2+ 36.Kg2 Nxc1 37.Rf6 Qe5 38.Qh6 Rd6 39.Rf4 Qh8 0-1

(21) Babb,Kevin (1641) - Busch,Jonah M (1826) [D85]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 1600-1999 San Francisco (4.21), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 c5 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Rb1 0-0 9.Be2 Nc6 10.d5 Bxc3+!? [10...Ne5 is a massive main line] 11.Bd2 Bxd2+ 12.Qxd2 Na5 13.Qh6 [13.h4 Bg4 (13...f6 14.h5 g5 (14...gxh5) 15.Nxg5 fxg5 16.Qxg5+ Kh8 17.h6 Rf7 18.Bh5 Qg8 19.Qxg8+ Kxg8 20.Bxf7+ Kxf7 21.Rc1 b6 22.Rc3 e6 23.Rf3+ Ke7 24.Rh5 exd5 25.Re5+ Kd6 26.Re8 Nc6 27.Rf6+ Kd7 28.Rh8 1-0 (28) Savchenko,S (2530)-Svidler,P (2495) Groningen 1993) 14.h5 Bxf3 15.gxf3! when 15...e5 is the critical move, with a fantastic flurry of games starting in 1985 and still continuing(15...e6 16.Qh6 Qf6 17.hxg6 Qxg6 18.Qh2 Kh8 19.Kd2 f6 (19...f5 20.Rbg1 Qf7 21.dxe6 Rad8+ and here I played my worst ever move: 22.Ke3?? ?????????????????? Winslow-Lu, Berkeley May 2018) 20.Rbg1 Qf7 21.dxe6 Qe7 22.Rg6 Rac8 23.Rh6 Rc7 24.Bb5 Rd8+ 25.Ke2 Nc6 26.Bxc6 bxc6 27.Rxh7+ Qxh7 28.Qxc7 1-0 (28) Bjarnason,S (2355)-Gruenberg,R Brondby 1985) ] 13...f6 14.h4 Rf7

15.h5?! [15.Qe3; 15.Nh2; 15.e5 all won games] 15...g5 16.e5 Qf8 [Another A player played against the d-pawn first: 16...b6 17.Rd1 Bb7 18.Rh3 Bxd5 19.Nxg5 fxg5 20.Rg3 e6 21.Rxg5+ Kh8 22.Rxd5 exd5 23.e6 Qf8 (just as annoying as in our game) 24.Qxf8+ Rfxf8 25.Rxd5 Rfe8 26.Bg4 Rad8 27.Rxd8 Rxd8 28.f4 Kg7 0-1 (28) Gretzinger,H (1765)-Steck,W (1827) Wattens 2000] 17.Qxf8+ Rxf8 18.e6 Rd8 19.Rd1 b6 20.Bb5 a6 21.d6 axb5 22.d7 Bxd7 23.exd7 Ra7 24.Rb1 b4 25.a3 bxa3 26.Rxb6 a2 0-1

(22) Perlov,Alexander (1720) - Lamstein,Joshua D (1655) [D00]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 1600-1999 San Francisco (4.22), 09.04.2019

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 Bf5 4.Bg2 Nf6 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Nf3 Qd7 7.Nc3 Bh3 8.0-0 Bxg2 9.Kxg2 Nc6 10.Ne5 Qf5 11.Qa4 Rc8 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.f3 e5 14.e4 Qe6 15.dxe5 Qxe5 16.Bf4 Qh5 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Qxd5 19.Rad1 Qb5 20.Rfe1+ Be7 21.Qxb5 cxb5 22.Bd6 Rc2+ 23.Kh3 0-0 24.Bxe7 Rfc8 25.b4 Rxa2 26.Ra1 Rf2 27.Rf1 Re2 28.Rae1 Rec2 29.Ra1 R8c6 30.Rxa7 h5 31.Bc5 g5 32.Rf2 R6xc5 33.bxc5 Rxf2 34.c6 Rc2 35.c7 Kg7 36.Rb7 Kg6 37.Rb6+ f6 38.Rxb5 Rxc7 39.Rb2 Rc6 40.Kg2 f5 41.h3 1/2-1/2

(23) Robeal,Rafik (1716) - Newey,Richard (1620) [A13]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 1600-1999 San Francisco (4.23), 09.04.2019

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 dxc4 4.Qc2 Nf6 5.Bg2 Be7 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Rb8 8.0-0 b6 9.Nc3 a6 10.d4 Bb7 11.e4 0-0 12.Rd1 Qc8 13.a3 c5 14.Bf4 cxd4 15.Rxd4 Bc5 16.Nd6 Bxd4 17.Nxc8 Rbxc8 18.Bd6 Rfe8 19.Qd3 e5 20.a4 Rc6 21.Ba3 Rec8 22.Ne2 Nc5 23.Bxc5 Bxc5 24.Rd1 g6 25.Nc3 Bd4 26.Bh3 Rd8 27.Qf3 Rcd6 28.Kh1 Bxc3 29.Qxc3 Nxe4 30.Rxd6 Rxd6 31.Qxe5 Nxg3+ 0-1

(24) Cortinas,Martin A (1686) - Bradley,Christopher (1604) [B21]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 1600-1999 San Francisco (4.24), 09.04.2019

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 d3 4.Bxd3 g6 5.c4 Bg7 6.Ne2 Nc6 7.Nbc3 Nf6 8.0-0 Ng4 9.Nf4 Nge5 10.Rb1 Nxd3 11.Qxd3 Nb4 12.Qe2 0-0 13.Be3 d6 14.Rfd1 b6 15.a3 Na6 16.f3 Bd7 17.Ncd5 e6 18.Nb4 Nxb4 19.axb4 Qc7 20.b3 Rfc8 21.Qd2 e5 22.Nd5 Qd8 23.Ra1 Be6 24.Nc3 Bf8 25.Nb5 a5 26.bxa5 bxa5 27.Nxd6 Rc6 28.Nb5 Qxd2 29.Bxd2 a4 30.bxa4 Bxc4 31.Be3 Bb3 32.Rd2 Rxa4 33.Rb1 Rb4 34.Rdb2 Rxb5 35.Rxb3 Rxb3 36.Rxb3 Kg7 37.Kf2 Bc5 38.Bxc5 Rxc5 39.Rb2 g5 40.g4 1/2-1/2

(25) Cohee,James (1606) - Babayan,Gagik (1806) [B12]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 1600-1999 San Francisco (4.25), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nc3 e6 5.g4 Bg6 6.h4?! [6.Nge2 is the main line; 6.Be3; 6.Nce2!?] 6...h6?! [6...h5!] 7.Bd3 Bxd3 8.Qxd3 c5 9.Nf3 c4?! Maybe not the best sort of counterplay 10.Qe2 Bb4 11.a3 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Qa5 13.Qe3 Ne7 14.a4 Nbc6 15.0-0 Qd8 16.Ba3 0-0 17.Kg2 Qd7 18.h5 f6 19.Kh3 Climbing the walls! 19...fxe5 20.Nxe5 Nxe5 21.Qxe5 Rf3+ 22.Kg2 Nc6 23.Qe2 Rf6 24.Rae1 Re8 25.f4 Qc7 26.Bc1 Qa5 27.Qe3 Qxa4 28.Re2 Qa5 29.Ref2 Qc7 30.g5 Rf5 31.Qh3 Kh8 32.g6 Qd6 33.Re2 Ref8 34.Rfe1 Nd8 35.Re5 a5 36.Rxf5 exf5 37.Re5 Qd7 38.Ba3 Rg8

39.Re7? [39.Qxf5! Qxf5 40.Rxf5+-] 39...Qa4? [39...Qc8= SF10 0.00/0 ] 40.Qxf5!! Qc6 [40...Qxa3 41.Qd7 Qc1 42.Re8 Qxf4 (42...Qxc2+ 43.Kg3 Qd3+ 44.Kh4) 43.Rxg8+ Kxg8 44.Qxd8+ Qf8 45.Qxd5+ Kh8 46.Qxa5] 41.Rxg7?? [41.Bc5+-; 41.Kg3+-] 41...Re8?? [41...Kxg7! 42.Qe5+ Qf6 43.Qc7+ Nf7!!=] 42.Rh7+ [42.Rd7 #7/0 ] 42...Kg8 43.Rf7 [43.Be7! #8/0 ] 43...Qe6 44.Rf8+ Kg7 45.Qxe6 Rxe6 46.Rxd8 Re2+ 47.Kg3 Rxc2 48.Kg4 Rxc3 49.Bd6 [49.Bf8+ Kf6 50.Rd6#] 49...Re3 50.Be5+ Rxe5 51.fxe5 b5 52.Kf5 c3 53.Rd7+ Kg8 54.Kf6 1-0

(26) Drury,Mark L (1878) - Lesquillier,Walter (1752) [A45]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: 1600-1999 San Francisco (4.26), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.f4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.e3 Bg7 4.d4 d6 5.Bd3 0-0 6.0-0 b6 7.Nbd2 Bb7 8.Qe1 c5 9.c3 Nbd7 10.e4 cxd4 11.cxd4 Rc8 12.b3 Nb8 13.Bb2 Ba6 14.Qe2 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Qd7 16.Rac1 Rxc1 17.Rxc1 Rc8 18.Rxc8+ Qxc8 19.Qc4 Qxc4 20.bxc4

20...Nc6 21.Bc3 Nd7 22.d5 Ncb8 23.Bxg7 Kxg7 24.Nd4 Kf8 25.Nc6 a6 26.Nb3 Ke8 27.Nxb8 Nxb8 28.Kf2 Nd7 29.Ke3 Nc5 30.Kd4 Kd7 31.g4 Kd8 32.Nd2 Ke8 33.Nf3 Kf8 34.e5 Kg7 35.Ng5 h6 36.Ne4 Nxe4 37.Kxe4 f6 38.e6 Kf8 39.h4 Kg7 40.Kd3 Kf8 41.Kc3 Ke8 42.Kb4 Kd8 43.a4 Kc7 44.Kc3 a5 45.g5 fxg5 46.fxg5 hxg5 47.hxg5 Kd8 48.Kd4 Kc7 49.Kc3 1/2-1/2

(27) Porlares,Teodoro (1713) - Krasnov,Steven Le (1876) [E12]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: 1600-1999 San Francisco (4.27), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Bg5 Bb7 5.Nc3 h6 6.Bh4 Be7 7.h3 d5 8.e3 Nbd7 9.Bd3 0-0 10.0-0 c5 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Ne4 f5 14.Nc3 Rac8 15.Bb5 cxd4 16.Qxd4 N7f6 17.Ne5 Nxc3 18.bxc3 Rfd8 19.Qa4 Qc5 20.Ng6 a6 21.Be2 Kf7 22.Nf4 g5 23.Nh5 b5 24.Qb4 Qxc3 25.Qxc3 Rxc3 26.Nxf6 Kxf6 27.Rfc1 Rdc8 28.Rxc3 Rxc3 29.Bf3 Bxf3 30.gxf3

30...Rc2 31.Kg2 a5 32.a3 Ke5 33.Rb1 Rc5 34.Kg3 Kd6 35.f4 gxf4+ 36.Kxf4 Rc4+ 37.Kf3 Kc5 38.Rb3 e5 39.Rb2 Rc3 40.Ra2 Kc4 41.Ra1 Kb3 42.Rb1+ Ka4 43.Rd1 Rc5 44.Ra1 Kb3 45.Rg1 Kxa3 46.Rg6 b4 47.Rxh6 Rb5 48.Rf6 b3 49.Rxf5 b2 0-1

(28) McKellar,Daniel (1872) - Rakonitz,David (1674) [D02]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: 1600-1999 San Francisco (4.28), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 e6 3.e3 b6 4.Nf3 Bb7 5.Bd3 Be7 6.h3 0-0 7.Nbd2 d5 8.0-0 Nbd7 9.Qe2 Ne4 10.Ne5 c5 11.c3 cxd4 12.exd4 Nxd2 13.Bxd2 Nf6 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bh4 Ne8 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.f4 Nf6 18.f5 Rfe8 19.fxe6 Qxe6 20.Rae1 Re7 21.Bf5 Qd6 22.Nc4 Rxe2 23.Nxd6 Ba6 24.Rxe2 Bxe2 25.Re1 Bh5 26.g4 Bg6 27.Bxg6 fxg6 28.Re7 Kf8 29.Rf7+ Kg8 30.Rc7 a6 31.Rc8+ Rxc8 32.Nxc8 b5 33.a4 bxa4 34.Nb6 Kf7 35.Nxa4 Nd7 36.Nc5 Nxc5 37.dxc5 a5 38.Kf2 Ke6 39.Ke3 Kd7 40.Kd3 Kc6 41.Kd4 g5 42.b4 a4 43.Kd3 g6 44.Kc2 Kb5 45.Kb2 Kc6 46.Ka3 Kb5 47.c6 Kxc6 48.Kxa4 Kb6 (and White won) 1-0

(29) Mays,Jerry L (1700) - Drane,Robert Will (1800)
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 1600-1999 San Francisco (4.29), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

Forfeit 1-0

(30) Kim,Andy (1619) - Mercado,Adam (1714)
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 1600-1999 San Francisco (4.30), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

Forfeit 1-0

(31) Malykin,Erika (1637) - Casares Jr,Nick (1600) [D37]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 1600-1999 San Francisco (4.31), 09.04.2019

1.d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e6 4.Bd2 Be7 5.c4 0-0 6.Nc3 c5 7.Qc2 Nc6 8.cxd5 Nb4 9.Qb3 Nbxd5 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Rc1 Bb6 13.Bb4 Re8 14.Bb5 Bd7 15.Bxd7 Qxd7 16.0-0 Rac8 17.Rxc8 Qxc8 18.Bc3 Ne4 19.Qxd5 Nxc3 20.bxc3 Qxc3 21.Qxb7 Qa3 22.Qc6 Rd8 23.Qc4 h6 24.Ne5 Qf8 25.Rc1 Qd6 26.Qxf7+ Kh7 27.Qf5+ Kg8 28.h4 Rf8 29.Nc4 Qc6 30.Qb1 Qf6 31.Qb2 Qxh4 32.Nxb6 axb6 33.Rc6 Qd8 34.Qb3+ Kh8 35.Rxb6 Qd2 36.Qb2 Qd1+ 37.Kh2 Qh5+ 38.Kg3 Qg5+ 39.Kh2 Qh5+ 1/2-1/2

(32) Tamondong,Cesar B (1600) - Tillman,Glenn D (1729) [E00]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: 1600-1999 San Francisco (4.32), 09.04.2019

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Be7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.Nf3 Re8 6.0-0 d6 7.Nc3 Nbd7 8.e4 h6 9.Re1 c5 10.d5 Nf8 11.e5 N6h7 12.Bf4 a6 13.Qb3 f5 14.Rad1 Qc7 15.dxe6 Nxe6 16.Nd5 Qd8 17.exd6 Bf8 18.Ne5 Nd4 19.Rxd4 cxd4 20.Nc7 Bxd6 21.Bd5+ Kf8 22.Ng6# 1-0

(33) Dubensky,Walter B (1210) - Chan,John (1591) [C41]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.33), 09.04.2019

1.Nc3 e5 2.e4 c6 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 h6 5.b4 b5 6.Bb3 Nf6 7.0-0 Bg4 8.d3 Be7 9.Be3 Bh5 10.d4 exd4 11.Qxd4 Bxf3 12.gxf3 Nbd7 13.f4 Nf8 14.Rad1 Ng6 15.a4 a6 16.a5 Qd7 17.f5 Ne5 18.f3 0-0 19.Kh1 Kh7 20.Bf4 Qc7 21.Qf2 Nh5 22.Qe3 Nxf4 23.Qxf4 Bf6 24.Rg1 Rg8 25.Ne2 Rad8 26.Ng3 Bg5 27.Qxe5 dxe5 28.Bxf7 Qxf7 0-1

(34) Fernicola,Michael - Reyes,Victor (1290) [D31]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.34), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e6 4.Bf4 Bd6 5.Bxd6 Qxd6 6.e3 a6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.Be2 f5 9.0-0 Ngf6 10.Qc2 h6 11.Rfe1 Ng4 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Rac1 0-0 14.h3 Ngf6 15.Nh4 b5 16.Ng6 Re8 17.Bf3 Kh7 18.Nf4 g5 19.Nh5 Ne4 20.Nxe4 dxe4

21.Bxe4 Kg6 22.Bxa8 Kxh5 23.Bf3+ Kg6 24.a3 h5 25.Qc6 Qe7 26.d5 g4 27.Qxe6+ Qxe6 28.dxe6 gxf3 29.exd7 Bxd7 30.Red1 Bc8 31.gxf3 Kg5 32.f4+ Kh4 33.Kh2 Bb7 34.Rg1 Rd8 35.Rc2 Be4 36.Re2 Bf3 37.Rc2 Be4 38.Rgc1 Rg8 39.f3 Bxf3 40.Rf2 Be4 41.Rc7 Rg3 42.Rh7 Rxh3+ 43.Kg1 Rh1# 0-1

(35) Khamkar,Susheel S (1033) - Chambers,Don (1127) [D08]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.35), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.e4 [4.Nf3!] 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Bf4 Bb4+ 7.Nbd2 d3?!N [7...Nge7; 7...Qe7] 8.a3?! [8.Qb3 Bxf3 9.gxf3 Qh4 10.Be3; 8.Be3! Nxe5 9.Qa4+ Nc6 10.Ne5 Bd7 11.Nxd3] 8...Nd4 Requires drastic meaures 9.Bxd3

[9.Rc1!? Bxd2+ 10.Kxd2! Ne7 11.Be3 Ng6 12.Qa4+ Bd7 13.Qb4 Nxf3+ 14.gxf3 Bc6] 9...Nxf3+? It looks like it has to be good! But [9...Bxd2+! 10.Kxd2 (has to be played) 10...Ne7 11.Qa4+ Nec6 12.Nxd4 Qxd4 and White is able to keep it equal 13.Be3 (13.f3 Qf2+ 14.Kc3 Qd4+ 15.Kd2) 13...Qxe5 (13...Qxb2+?! 14.Qc2 Qxe5 15.h3!? f5!?) 14.Kc1 0-0-0 15.Bc2 Be2~~] 10.gxf3 Qxd3 [10...Bxd2+ 11.Qxd2 (11.Kxd2!?) 11...Bxf3 12.Rg1 Ne7 13.Qe3 Ng6 14.Qxf3 Nxf4 15.Qxf4 Qxd3 16.Rd1 Qxc4 17.Rxg7 +- King in the center] 11.axb4 Bh3 12.Qe2 [12.Rg1] 12...Qxe2+ [12...Qc2] 13.Kxe2 0-0-0?! 14.Rxa7 Ne7 15.Nb3 [15.Bg5!] 15...Be6? [15...Nc6] 16.Ra8+ Kd7 17.Rd1+ Kc6 18.b5+ mate in 18...Kb6 19.Be3+ c5

20.Bxc5+? or not! [20.Rd6+! Rxd6 21.Bxc5+ Kc7 22.Bxd6+ Kb6 23.c5+ Kxb5 24.Nd4+ Kb4 25.c6+ Kc4 26.Ra4#] 20...Kc7 21.b6+ Kc6 22.Raxd8 Can't really fault this 22...Bxc4+ 23.Ke1 Bxb3 24.R1d6+ Kxc5 25.Rxh8 Ng6 26.Rc8+ Kb5 27.Rd3 Bc4 28.Rc3 Nxe5 29.f4 Nd3+ 30.Kd2 Nxb2 31.Rc2 Nd3 32.R8xc4 Nb4 33.Rxb4+ Kxb4 34.Rc7 Kb5 35.Rxb7 Kc6 36.Rxf7 Kxb6 37.Rd7 Kc6 38.Rd3 h6 39.e5 1-0

(36) Frank,Robert H (1426) - Barreyro,Romeo [D06]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.36), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 Bf5 4.c4 e6 5.b3 Nc6 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Bd3 Ne4 8.0-0 Bd6 9.Nbd2?? [9.a3] 9...Nb4? [9...Nxf2-+] 10.Bxe4 dxe4 11.Ne1 Qh4 12.g3 Qg5 [12...Qh3] 13.Ng2 Nd5 [13...0-0-0] 14.Nc4 [14.f3!] 14...h5 15.h4 Qe7 16.Nxd6+ Qxd6 17.f4?! Bg4 18.Qc2 Bf3 19.Qc5 Qxc5 [19...Qd7] 20.dxc5 0-0-0 [20...Bxg2!?] 21.Bb2? [21.Ne1] 21...f6? [21...Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Nxe3+] 22.Bd4 Ne7 23.Rac1 Nf5 24.Kf2 Nxd4 25.exd4 Rxd4 26.Ne1 Bg4 [26...Rd2+ 27.Ke3 Re2+ 28.Kd4 Bg4] 27.Ke3 Rhd8 28.Rc3 f5 29.Nc2 Rd2 30.Nb4 Re2# 0-1

(37) Ahrens,Richard - James,Charles (1419) [B30]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.37), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 c5 2.d3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Be2 Nf6 5.0-0 Qc7 6.c4!? [6.Nc3] 6...Nd4?! [6...d6 7.Nc3 Be7] 7.Nxd4 cxd4 8.b3 Be7 9.f4! d6 10.f5 [10.Qe1 0-0 11.Qg3] 10...Bd7 11.Bb2?! "A job with no future." 11...b5?! 12.Nd2 b4 13.a3 Rb8 14.Qc2 a5 15.Rfc1 0-0 16.a4 and Black is just better -- no play for White unless you can engineer g4-g5, but everything is pointing in the wrong direction 16...g6 17.fxg6 [17.Rf1; 17.g4] 17...fxg6 [17...hxg6! keeping open a later ...f5] 18.Rf1 Rf7 19.Nf3? Ng4-+ 20.Bc1 Rbf8 21.Bg5? Bxg5 22.Nxg5 Ne3 23.Qd2 Nxf1 24.Bxf1 Rf6 25.Nh3 Bxh3 26.gxh3 Qf7 27.Qe1 Rf2 28.Be2 [28.Bg2] 28...Qf4 29.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 30.Kh1 Qxe2 31.Rg1 Rf1 0-1

(38) Ansari,Jahaan (1397) - Isreal,Andrew [D25]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.38), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 [3.Nf3; 3.e4] 3...Be6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Nf3 b5 6.Nxb5 Ne4 7.Ne5 c6 8.Nc3 Qa5 9.Qa4 Qxa4 10.Nxa4 g6 11.Bxc4 Bxc4 12.Nxc4 Bg7 13.Nd2 Nxd2 14.Bxd2 0-0 15.Rc1 Rd8 16.Nc5 e5 17.dxe5 Bxe5 18.Bc3 Bxc3+ 19.Rxc3 a5 20.0-0 [20.Ke2] 20...Rd2 21.Rb1 Nd7 22.Nxd7 Rd8 23.g3 R8xd7 24.Rxc6 Re2 25.a3 Rdd2 26.Rf6 Kg7 27.Rf4 g5 28.Rf5 Kg6 29.g4 h5 30.h3 a4 31.b4 axb3 32.Rxb3 Rd1+ 33.Kg2 f6 34.Rb6 hxg4 35.hxg4 Rd7 36.Rfxf6+ Kh7 37.Rh6+ Kg7 38.Rhg6+ Kh7 39.Rxg5 Red2 40.a4 Rf7 41.Rf5 Rg7 42.Kg3 Rd1 43.Rh5+ Kg8 44.Rb8+ Kf7 45.Rb7+ Kg8 46.Rxg7+ Kxg7 47.Rf5 Kg6 48.Kf4 Rf1 49.f3 1-0

(39) Chui,Kevin - Otterbach,Renate (1225) [B27]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.39), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Qd1 Bg7 7.Bc4 0-0 8.0-0 e6?! I am skeptical. [8...d6 thinks about further development -- although 9.h3 shuts down the pin.] 9.Bg5 [9.Qd6 Ne8 10.Qg3] 9...Qc7 [9...Qb6; 9...h6] 10.Bxf6?! Bxf6 11.Qd2 Ne5 12.Be2 b6 13.Qf4?! Bg7 14.Nxe5?! Bxe5 15.Qh4 Bb7-+ 16.Bd3 d5?! [16...f5! is a much better way to keep building up the pressure (which becomes decisive).] 17.f4? White caves in. [17.exd5 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Bxd5=/+ 19.c4] 17...Bd4+ [17...Qc5+; 17...Bxc3 18.bxc3 dxe4 19.Bb5?? Qc5+] 18.Kh1 Bxc3 19.bxc3 dxe4 20.Bb5 Qxc3 21.Ba4 e3 22.Qg3 Rac8 23.Rfe1 Rfd8 24.Qxe3 Rd2 25.Qxc3 Rxc3 26.Rad1? Rxg2 27.Rd3 Rxd3? One really ought to see the mate that happens after [27...Rg3+; or 27...Rg4+; or 27...Rg5+] 28.cxd3 Re2+ 0-1

(40) Tabatabai,Ashkon (1138) - Jijo,Wilson [C47]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.40), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nxe5? Nxe5 5.d4 Nice center. Not worth a knight! 5...Nc6 6.e5 Ng8 7.Bc4 f6 8.Bf4 fxe5 9.dxe5 d6 10.Qe2 Nxe5 11.Bxe5 dxe5 12.Qxe5+ Ne7 Both scoresheets give 13.0-0-0. Which is ILLEGAL. You're not allow to move "through" check! So I'm switching White's next two moves around to reach the same position. [12...Qe7 trades queens when up a piece.] 13.Nd5 Bd7 14.0-0-0 Back to "normal." 14...c6 15.Nc7+ Qxc7 16.Qxc7 Rd8 17.Be6 1-0

(41) Harris,Clarence (1400) - Simpkins,Jerry (1508)
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.41), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

Forfeit 0-1

(42) Revi,Frank (1375) - Yamamoto,Craig (1500)
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.42), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

Forfeit 1-0

(43) Capdeville,Barry (1219) - Morgan,Jerry (1491) [B05]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.43), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 exd6 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Nbd2 Nc6 8.Qc2 Be7 9.a3 Bf6 10.Qd3 0-0 11.Be2 Re8 12.0-0 Qd7 13.Ne4 Qf5 14.Nxf6+ Qxf6 15.Be3 Qf5 16.Qxf5 Bxf5 17.b3 Bc2 18.b4 Re7 19.Ne1

19...Nxd4! 20.Bxd4 Rxe2 21.Bxb6 axb6 22.Rc1 Bf5 23.Nf3 Be6 24.Nd4 Re4 25.Nxe6 fxe6 26.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 27.Rxe1 Kf7 28.Re3 c5 29.b5 Ra4 30.Rf3+ Ke7 31.Rc3 d5 32.Re3 Rxc4 0-1

(44) Cole,Tony (1487) - Soffer,Aaron (1260) [C77]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.44), 09.04.2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 a6 5.Ba4 b5 6.Bb3 Be7 7.d3 0-0 8.Bg5 d6 9.Qd2 Rb8 10.0-0-0 Nd4 11.h4 h5 12.Rdf1 Nxb3+ 13.cxb3 Be6 14.Nh2 c5 15.f3 c4 16.dxc4 bxc4 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.Qxd5 Rb5 20.Qc6 Rc5 21.Qa4 cxb3+ 22.Kb1 bxa2+ 23.Qxa2 Qb6 24.Rc1 Ra5 25.Qc4 Rb8 26.Rc2 Rc5 27.Qa2 Rxc2 28.Kxc2 Qf2+ 29.Kb1 Qxg2 30.Rc1 Qxh2 31.Rc2 Qh1+ 32.Rc1 Qxf3 33.Qxa6 Qxe4+ 34.Rc2 Kh8 35.Qxd6 Rd8 36.Qc7 Rd1+ 37.Ka2 Qa4# 0-1

(45) Sachs-Weintraub,Julian (1416) - Robertson,Wade (982) [C02]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.45), 09.04.2019

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Bb5 Qb6 6.Bxc6+ Qxc6 7.Nf3 c4 8.0-0 Ne7 9.b3 b5 10.a4 a6 11.axb5 axb5 12.Rxa8 Qxa8 13.bxc4 bxc4 14.Na3 Bd7 15.Qc2 h6 16.Qb2 Ng6 17.Nb5 Qb8 18.Na3 Qxb2 19.Bxb2 Be7 20.Nc2 0-0 21.Ra1 Rb8 22.Rb1 Nf4 23.Nd2 Nd3 24.Ba3 Rxb1+ 25.Nxb1 Bd8 26.Nb4 Nf4 27.g3 Nh3+ 28.Kg2 Ng5 29.f3 f6 30.h4 Nf7 31.f4 f5 32.Na6 Bc8 33.Nc5 Bb6 34.Kf3 h5 35.Ke3 Nd8 36.Kd2 Nc6 37.Kc2 Na7 38.Nd2 Nb5 39.Bb4 Nc7 40.Nf3 Na6 41.Ng5 Nxc5 42.Bxc5 Bd8 43.Bb4 g6 44.Kb2 Bd7 45.Ka2 Bxg5 46.hxg5 Kf7 47.Bd6 Bc8 48.Ka3 Ke8 49.Kb4 Kd7 50.Kc5 Bb7 51.Kb6 Bc6 52.Ba3 Ba4 1/2-1/2

(46) Caburi,Alwin - Hilliard,Michael (1404) [B14]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.46), 09.04.2019

1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.c4 e6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Bd2 0-0 8.Qb3 a5 9.a3 Bxc3 10.Qxc3 Nc6 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Bd3 Re8 14.0-0 Bd7 15.Rfe1 b6 16.Ne5 Re7 17.Nxc6 Bxc6 18.c5 bxc5 19.Qxc5 Ba4 20.Rac1 g6 21.Bc2 Bxc2 22.Rxc2 Rb7 23.Rd1 a4 24.Rd3 Qd8 25.Qc3 Rb3 26.Qd2 Rxd3 27.Qxd3 Qa5 28.h3 Rb8 29.Qe3 Kg7 30.Qe5+ 1-0

(47) Soffer,Josiah (799) - Starr,Albert (1543) [C42]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.47), 09.04.2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Bd3 Nc5 6.Bc4 Qe7+ 7.Be2 Nc6 8.0-0 Be6 9.Bb5 Qd7 10.d4 a6 11.Bxc6 Qxc6 12.dxc5 Qxc5 13.Qd4 0-0-0 14.Qxc5 dxc5 15.Bg5 f6 16.Bf4 g5 17.Bd2 h5 18.Re1 Bg4 19.Nxg5 fxg5 20.f4 gxf4 21.h3 Bf5 22.Bxf4 Bxc2 23.Bg5 Rd1 24.Rxd1 Bxd1 25.Nc3 Rg8 26.Bh4 Bf3 27.g3 Bg7 28.Rf1 Bxc3 29.Rxf3 Bxb2 30.Rb3 Bd4+ 31.Kg2 Rf8 32.Rf3 Rxf3 33.Kxf3 c4 34.Bg5 c3 35.g4 hxg4+ 36.Kxg4 Kd7 37.h4 Ke8 38.h5 Kf8 39.h6 Kg8 40.Kh5 Kh7 41.Bf4 c5 42.Bg5 b5 43.Bc1 b4 44.Kg5 a5 45.Kh5 a4 46.a3 b3 47.Kg5 c2 48.Kh5 b2 0-1

(48) White,Andrew Robbins - Olson,David R (1400) [E17]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.48), 09.04.2019

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 b6 5.g3 Bb7 6.Bg2 d5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.0-0 Nbd7 9.Bf4 Ne4 10.Nxe4 dxe4 11.Nd2 f5 12.e3 g5 13.Be5 Nf6 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Qh5+ Kf8 16.f3 Qe8 17.Qxe8+ Rxe8 18.fxe4 f4 19.exf4 Bxd4+ 20.Kh1 g4 21.Rac1 c5 22.b3 b5 23.Rce1 Kf7 24.f5 Kf6 25.h4 Ba6 26.Rf4 h5 27.Bf1 Bc3 28.Rf2 Rd8 29.Rd1 Bb7 30.Bxb5 Rd4 31.Re2 Rhd8 32.Kh2 Rxd2 33.e5+ Kxf5 34.Rf1+ Bf3 0-1

(49) Mayer,Carson - Roberts,Joseph (1332)
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.49), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

Forfeit 1-0

(50) Wagner,Tyler - Bayaraa,Timothy (1175)
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.50), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

Forfeit 1-0

(51) Sullivan,George (958) - Anderson,David [D35]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.51), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 Bg4 4.c4 e6 5.Nc3 c6 6.Be2 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Re1 Ne4 10.Nxe4 dxe4 11.Ne5 Bxe2 12.Qxe2 Nd7 13.Nxd7 Qxd7 14.g3 Rae8 15.a3 Re6 16.b4 a6 17.Bb2 Rh6 18.Qf1 Qg4 19.Bc3 Re8 20.Ra2 Ree6 21.f3? Definitely an "out of the frying pan" move, although that buried bishop was going to cost him eventually. 21...exf3 22.Rf2 Rh3 [22...Bxg3 mate in six more! 23.hxg3 Qh5] 23.Rxf3 Reh6 24.Re2

24...Bxg3! 25.Rg2 [25.hxg3 Rh1+ 26.Kf2 R6h2+ 27.Ke1 Rxf1+; 25.Rxg3 Qxg3+! 26.hxg3 Rh1+ 27.Kf2 Rf6+] 25...Bxh2+! [25...Bxh2+ 26.Kf2 Qxf3+ 27.Ke1 Qxe3+ 28.Kd1 Qxc3] 0-1

(52) Voight,Victoria - Latourette,Nicholas (1347)
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.52), 09.04.2019
[Winslow,Elliott]

Forfeit 0-1

(53) Bryan,Robert R (429) - Lintz,Michael Harry [C78]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.53), 09.04.2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Bc5 6.d3 d6 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Bd2 Nd4 9.Ng5 h6 10.Nh3 Bg4 11.Qe1 Bxh3 12.gxh3 Nf3+ 13.Kg2 Nxe1+ 14.Rfxe1 c6 15.a3 Nh5 16.b4 Bd4 17.Ne2 Bxa1 18.Rxa1 Nf4+ 19.Kf1 Nxh3 20.Kg2 Qh4 21.Ng3 Nf4+ 22.Kf1 Qxh2 23.Bxf4 exf4 24.Nf5 Qh1+ 25.Ke2 Qxa1 26.c4 Qxa3 27.Bc2 Qxb4 28.Nxd6 Qxd6 29.f3 a5 30.d4 Qxd4 31.c5 Rfd8 32.Bd3 Qxd3+ 33.Ke1 Qc2 34.Kf1 Rd1# 0-1

(54) Service,Bruce - Gulbis,Andrejs Juris [B20]
Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (4.54), 09.04.2019

1.e4 c5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Qf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e5 5.Nge2 d6 6.d3 Bg4 7.Qe3 Qd7 8.Nd5 Nb4 9.Bb3 Be6 10.a3 Nfxd5 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Qe4 Nf6 13.Qf3 Bxb3 14.cxb3 d5 15.0-0 Bd6 16.Re1 0-0 17.Nc3 Qe6 18.Bg5 d4 19.Ne4 Nxe4 20.Rxe4 Qxb3 21.Re2 Rae8 22.Qg3 Qd5 23.Bh6 e4 24.Qxg7# 1-0