Chess Room Newsletter #870

Newsletter #870

May 10, 2019

By Abel Talamantez

The newsletter will be on hiatus after this issue until the Friday after the start of the next TNM, which begins May 28^th. Thank you all for all your support and we always welcome any feedback regarding our events and programs. Send any comments to: [email protected].

 

Photos from the 2019 Mechanics’ Institute Rapid Championship, Presented by PRO Chess League

We had a professional photographer take some photos from this event, which was held on Thursday May 2^nd at the Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club. I have included a few of the pictures, but if anyone is interested in purchasing select photos, they can be seen by following this link:

https://www.umlautphotography.com/Chess/2019-MI-Rapid-Championship-Unlisted/n-SFv67Z/

GM Fabiano Caruana thinking in his final round game against GM Jon Ludvig Hammer

There were a total of 37 titled players, including 13 GM’s!

GM Fabiano Caruana and GM Sam Shankland added major star power to a wonderful night of chess

Final standings for this event can be seen by following this link:

https://www.milibrary.org/chess-tournaments/2019-mechanics-institute-rapid-championship-presented-pro-chess-league

 

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Stearman, Diaz and Winslow share 1^st of the Inaugural Sectioned TNM After Wild Final Round

The final round of the Spring TNM concluded last Tuesday with NM Conrado Diaz holding a full point lead over what began as one of the strongest fields ever. However, FM Josiah Stearman held on to a pawn advantage against Diaz in the final round to convert the endgame and shakeup the Championship section to tie for first. IM Elliott Winslow, the cagey veteran, won his game against NM Tenzing Shaw and rattled off 4 straight wins, including a victory over a pre tournament favorite FM Kyron Griffith, to move into a three way tie for first with 6/8. Congratulations to these three players in a very tough tournament, that required overcoming adversity and strong opposition to come out on top.

FM Josiah Stearman and NM Conrado Diaz squared off on board one. NM Eric Li and FM Ezra Chambers played to a draw, opening the door for both Stearman and Winslow to catch up

In the A/B section, the tension was alive and well as each section had players playing for the section title. William Gray and Kristian Clemens went into the final round as co-leaders. Gray managed a draw against Kevin Babb and Jonah Busch won a long, hard fought game against Kristian Clemens, propelling him into a 2 way tie for first with Gray at 6/8.

In the under 1600 section, Susheel Khamkar ran away with the title, scoring 7/8, with the only blemish being a 0 point bye as the result of needing to miss a week and our rule of 0 point byes in the last 2 rounds if not requested before the start of round 4.

Congratulations to all the players for participating in what was the largest TNM that I have experienced in my short time here. For complete final standings, please follow this link:

https://www.milibrary.org/tuesday-night-marathon

To register for the next TNM, and I encourage early registration due to our growing size, please follow this link:

https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/Tournaments2019/2019SummerTuesdayNightMarathon

The next TNM begins Tuesday May 28^th, with the same format; 3 sections with the option to play up with a $10 additional charge if you are within 200 rating points of the next section.

 

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GM Daniel Naroditsky Takes a Break From School To Dominate a Strong Field at the Schutt/Brandwein/Jay Whitehead Memorial Blitz

A strong group of players came out in force to participate in the annual Ray Schutt/ Steve Brandwein/ Jay Whitehead Memorial Blitz tournament held in our chess room on Sunday May 5^th. While many players did not participate in this year’s event after playing the Mechanics’ Institute Rapid Championship on Thursday, the 52 player field included many 2000+ players, and the battles over the chess board were fast and furious. Our very special thanks to Bill Schutt, who sponsored the event, and looked on with great enthusiasm throughout the event.

For full results, please follow this link:

https://www.milibrary.org/chess-tournaments/13th-annual-steve-brandwein-ray-schutt-jay-whitehead-memorial-blitz

Players look on during the Memorial Blitz Tournament, sponsored by Bill Schutt.

Round underway during the Memorial Blitz as the PRO Chess League finals play in the background.

IM Ladia Jirasek makes GM Daniel Naroditsky think hard in their match. Although they split their match, Naroditsky dominated the rest of the field to take clear first.

NM Michael “f-pawn” Aigner does battle with MI club player Felix Rudyak

 

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GM Eric Hansen Gives Simul at Mechanics’ Institute

The Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club followed up the great MI Rapid Championship on Thursday with another event in partnership with the PRO Chess League. GM Eric Hansen came to the club and gave a 15 board simul. GM Hansen was fun and interactive with the participants, and he ended up going +14 -0 =1, with the one draw against club regular Marty Cortinas.

(1) Hansen,Eric (2611) - Cortinas,Martin (1671)
Simultaneous, Mechanics' Institute, 03.05.2019

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Qc7 4.0-0 a6 5.Bxc6 Qxc6

6.Re1 d6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Qc7 9.Nc3 e6 10.Bg5 Be7

11.Bxe7 Nxe7 12.Qf3 0-0 13.Rad1 b6 14.Qg3 Bb7 15.h4 Rad8

16.Rd2 Rd7 17.Red1 Rfd8 18.Nde2 e5 19.f4 f6 20.h5 h6

21.Qg4 Kf7 22.Ng3 Qc5+ 23.Kh2 Qe3 24.fxe5 fxe5 25.Rf1+

25...Kg8 26.Rdf2 Bc8 27.Rf7 Qg5 28.Qxg5 hxg5 29.h6 gxh6 30.R7f6 Kh7

31.Nh5 Bb7 32.Rf7+ Kg6

Now GM Hansen misses a beautiful checkmate in 4 moves: 33.Rg7+ Kxh5 34.Kh3! g4+ 35.Kg3!! and mate next move! 33.g4 Ng8 34.R7f2 d5 35.exd5 Bxd5

36.Nf6 Nxf6 37.Rxf6+ Kg7 38.Rxb6 Bc4 39.Rf2 Rd2 40.Kg3 Rxf2

41.Kxf2 Rd2+ 42.Ke3 Rxc2 43.Rb7+ Kg6 44.Rb6+ Kg7 45.Rb7+ Kg6

46.Rb6+ Kg7 47.Ke4 Rg2 48.Kf5 Bd3+ 49.Kxe5 Rxg4 50.Rb7+ Kg6

51.Rb6+ Kg7 1/2-1/2

 

(2) Hansen,Eric (2611) - Poling,Scott (1801) [B31]
Simultaneous, Mechanics' Institute, 03.05.2019

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7

6.Bd3 Nf6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Qe2 d6 9.Bd2 b6 10.Rae1 Bb7

11.f4 Nc6 12.Nxc6 Qxc6 13.e5 Nd7 14.exd6 Bxd6 15.f5 e5

16.Be4 Qc7 17.Bxb7 Qxb7 18.Ne4 Qc6 19.Qg4 0-0-0 20.Qf3 Kb8

21.Be3 Ka7 22.c4 Nc5 23.Nxd6 Qxd6 24.Rd1 Qc7 25.b4 e4

26.Qg4 Nd3 27.c5 bxc5 28.bxc5 Qc6 29.Qxg7 Rdf8 30.Rb1 Rhg8

31.Qc3 Rb8 32.Qc4 Ne5 33.Qe2 Ng4 34.Rb6 Rxb6 35.cxb6+ Kb7

36.Rc1 Qb5 37.Rc7+ Kb8 38.Qxb5 axb5 39.Bf4

1-0

 

GM Eric Hansen ponders a move during the simul as IM Anna Rudolf looks on.

Marty Cortinas was the last man standing and took a draw in a better position rather than risk compromising it. Congratulations to him!

 

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Tony’s Teasers

Last week’s problem:

Solution:

1. Qc3!! Kc8
2. Qc5 Kb7
3. c8=Q#

This week’s problem, St. Louis Globe Democrat, 1906. White to move and mate in 3:

 

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Ireland 1983, Part 2.

By FM Paul Whitehead

Corrections, already, to part 1:

Apparently I won 7 tournaments in Ireland, as is written about here: https://irishchesshistory.wordpress.com/discontinued/greystones/

I thought it was 6, but who’s counting?

And I did play in Castlebar during the Irish Championship, just not the Premier event.

What other memories do I have from then?

• The wonderful hospitality of the Irish people, both North and South.
• The warm weather (!) that seemed to follow me about.
• The terrific food, particularly breakfast.
• The graciousness of the chess community: I was an outsider, and perhaps I did hear a grumble or two about “that Yank”, but nothing said led to fisticuffs... 

Excuse me, but all of this was a long time ago, and perhaps I’d enjoyed a pint or two of Guinness along the way... 

On to a few games, very workmanlike on my part -- just enough to get the job done, it might be said.

(1) Whitehead,Paul (2370) - Crowe,M
Derry Festival, Northern Ireland, 1983

A minature. 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Qd7 5.Bd2 b6

6.Nf3 Ne7 7.a4 Nbc6 8.Bd3 Nf5 9.Ne2 Be7 10.0-0 Bb7

11.c3 h6 12.Nf4 Na5? 13.Bxf5 exf5 14.e6 fxe6 15.Ne5

1-0

 

(2) Artt,D. - Whitehead,Paul (2370)
Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, 1983

Black wins a pawn on the 29th move, and that's it. 1.f4 g6 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.g3 d6 4.Bg2 c5 5.0-0 Nc6

6.d3 Bg4 7.c3 Qd7 8.Nbd2 Nf6 9.e4 0-0 10.Qe1 Rab8

11.Nh4 Bh3 12.Ndf3 Bxg2 13.Nxg2 b5 14.e5 Ne8 15.d4 cxd4

16.cxd4 Nc7 17.Qe4 dxe5 18.fxe5 Rbd8 19.Be3 Qd5 20.Qc2 Ne6

21.Nf4 Nxf4 22.gxf4 Rc8 23.Qf2 Nb4 24.Ne1 Qe4 25.Qf3 Qxf3

26.Rxf3 Rfd8 27.Rd1 f6 28.Kg2? fxe5 29.fxe5 Bxe5 30.Nd3 Nxd3

31.Rxd3 Bf6 32.Rf2 Rd5 33.Ra3 Rc7 34.Rd2 Rcd7 35.Bh6 Kf7

36.Be3 e5 37.Rad3 exd4 38.Bf4 g5 39.Bg3 Kg6 40.Rc2 h5

41.Rc6 h4 42.Bf2 R5d6 43.Rc5 a6 44.h3 Rd5 45.Rc8 Rf5

46.Rg8+ Kf7 47.Ra8 Rd6 48.Rd1 d3 49.Bc5 Rxc5

0-1

 

(3) O'Reilly,E - Whitehead,Paul (2370)
Greystones, Ireland, 1983

White plays a decent opening but allows a shot on the 20th move and is unable to recover. 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 c5 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 e6 5.Nf3 d5

6.cxd5 exd5 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Be7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Be3 Be6

11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Na4 Re8 13.Qc2 Qd7 14.Nc5 Bxc5 15.Qxc5 Bh3

16.Rac1 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Re6 18.h3 Ne4 19.Qb4 h5 20.h4? Nxg3!

21.fxg3 Rxe3 22.Rc2 Rae8 23.Rf2 R8e4 24.Qb8+ Kh7 25.b3 f6

26.a4 a5 27.Qa8 Rxh4!

0-1

 

(4) Whitehead,Paul (2370) - Pinkerton,A
Belfast Festival, Northern Ireland, 1983

Black lost his way on move 12 and sacrificed his Queen for insufficient compensation. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5

6.Bb3 Be7 7.d4 Nxe4 8.Qe2 d5 9.dxe5 Be6 10.Rd1 0-0

11.c4 bxc4 12.Bxc4 Nc5?! A poor alternative to 12...Bc5 or 12...Qd7. 13.Nc3 dxc4 13...d4 14.Be3 looks bad as well. 14.Rxd8 Rfxd8 15.Bg5 h6

16.Bxe7 Nxe7 17.Qe3 Nd3 18.Nd4 Nd5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.b3 c5

21.Nf5 Be6 22.Nd6 An amusing symmetry of opposing knights! 22...Nb4 23.Qxc5 cxb3 24.axb3 Rab8 25.Rb1 Nd5

26.h3 Rb6? Black was in severe difficulties anyway, with White about to play f4 and f5. 27.Rd1

1-0

 

(5) Whitehead,Paul (2370) - Houston,D
Dublin Championship, Ireland, 1983

My final tournament in Ireland, the Dublin City Championship. 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5

6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.Qd2 Be7 9.Be2 Qc7 10.0-0 cxd4

11.Nxd4 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Bc5 13.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 14.Kh1 Nb6 15.Bd3 Bd7

White is a little better, with more space and a nominally better minor piece. 16.a4 Nc4 17.Bxc4 Qxc4 18.Ne2 0-0 19.Nd4 Rac8 20.Rf3 Qc7

21.b3 Rce8 22.Re1 Bc8 23.Rfe3 Qe7 24.Qd3 g6?! 25.Nf3 Bd7

Black starts to drift. 26.Nd4 Bc8 27.g3 Bd7 28.Kg2 Rc8 29.Qd2 Qc5 30.g4 Kh8

31.g5!? Kg7 32.Rh3 b5 33.axb5 Bxb5 34.f5! Now Black comes under a very strong attack. 34...exf5 35.e6 Rfe8

36.Qf4 Qc7 37.Qh4 h5 38.gxh6+ Kh7 39.Qf6 fxe6 40.Rg3 Rg8

41.Rxe6 Rce8 42.Rxe8 Bxe8 43.Re3 Qf4 44.Rxe8 Rxe8 45.Qg7#

1-0

 

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GM Nick de Firmian's Opening Lab

This week: The Latvian Counter Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5!?

Gioachinno Greco originated this hyper aggressive counter attack four centuries ago. Latvian analysts revived the opening in the early 20th century, which gives it the current name. Some old timers still call it the Greco Counter Gambit.

Black's second move throws the game immediately into sharp, tactical territory. There is no comfort for the White player, and this can have a great psychological impact on a timid opponent. White has several tantalizing choices, but no clear refutation. These outright attempts to crush the counter gambit can backfire with one small slip. Safest for White is one of the circumspect lines, which seek only a small advantage. That is the drawback to the opening - that a well prepared player should gain a theoretical edge.

(1)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bc4

White develops with the plan of a quick attack to blow Black off the board. 3...fxe4 Black has also tried the odd 3...b5!? 4. Bxb5 fxe4 5. Nxe5 Qg5 with a nice mess. 4.Nxe5 d5!

This aggressive move provokes White into a tactical melee. 5.Qh5+ g6 6.Nxg6

6...hxg6

Forced. White has two tempting choices, but Black has counter chances in both. Taking the rook with 7. Qxh8 Kf7 8 Qd4 Be6 9. Bb3 Nc6 allows Black good activity for the exchange. More pressing is: 7.Qxg6+ Kd7 8.Bxd5

White has sacrificed a piece for three pawns and threatens mate. Yet the black pieces are coming out to defend and White cannot deliver a fatal punch. 8...Nf6 9.Nc3 Qe7

Black has at least equality in this crazy position. White has tried both 10. 0-0 and 10. d3 though neither has brought him an edge. *

 

(2)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.exf5

White plays the position like a King's Gambit reversed. He/she has and extra tempo, but it's not clear this helps. 3...e4 4.Ne5 Nf6 5.Be2

White is determined to give check on h5 to punish Black for weakening the kingside. 5...d6! 6.Bh5+ Ke7

Latvian players must be prepared to run with with their king! Now White even gets a knight fork. 7.Nf7

7...Qe8 8.Nxh8 Qxh5 9.Qxh5 Nxh5

White is up the exchange but the knight on h8 is trapped for the moment. 10.g4 Nf6 11.Nc3 c6

White has a small edge in another murky position. *

 

(3)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.d4

White plays directly in the center, like a Falkbeer Counter Gambit with the knight already on f3. 3...fxe4 4.Nxe5 Nf6 5.Bg5

The most aggressive move. 5. Bc4 d5 6. Bb3 Be6 is equal. 5...d6 6.Nc3

White must play aggressively now. The piece sacrifice requires very accurate play from Black. 6...dxe5 7.dxe5

7...Qxd1+ 8.Rxd1

8...h6! 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5

White has a very threatening position. Black would be worse after 10...Kf7 11. Nxc7. 10...Kd7!

This brave move gives Black some edge. After 11.Nb6+ Kc6 12.Nxa8 fxe5 13.Bc4 Bd6

Black is for choice. White has an extra exchange but the knight on a8 is a prisoner. *

 

(4)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Nxe5

This straightforward move is the choice of most masters. Now 3...fxe4? 4. Qh5+ would win, so: 3...Qf6 4.d4 d6

Forcing the knight off its premier square before recapturing the pawn. 5.Nc4 fxe4

6.Nc3 White has also tried 6. Be2 so that the black queen would walk into a pin if it goes to g6. After 6...Nc6 7. d5 Ne5 8. 0-0 White would have a small edge. 6...Qg6

7.f3! exf3 8.Qxf3

8...Nc6 9.Bd3 Qg4

Black offers a queen trade as White has developed quickly. 10.Qe3+ Be7

11.0-0! Nf6 Since 11...Qxd4?! 12. Nb5 Qxe3 13. Nxe3 Kd8 14 Nd5 is trouble. 12.d5 Nb4 13.Rf4

White has some edge due to better development. Black may be satisfied with the opening if he/she likes the off beat set up and the surprise value of this unusual counter attack. *

 

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TNM Games Round 8

Annotations by GM Nick de Firmian and IM Elliott Winslow

 

(1) Stearman,Josiah P (2387) - Diaz,Conrado (2343) [B23]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (8.1), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Nf6 5.exd5 exd5 6.d3 h6 7.Nge2 Bg4?! [Black could equalize easy with 7...Nc6; or 7...d4 8.Ne4 Nxe4 9.dxe4 Nc6] 8.h3 Bxe2 9.Qxe2+ Be7

10.Qf3! Nc6 11.Nxd5 not fearing ghosts! 11...Nd4 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.Qe4+ Qe7 14.Qxe7+ Bxe7 15.Kd1+- White's a solid pawn up in the endgame with two bishops. 15...0-0-0 16.c3 Nb5 17.Kc2 Rhe8 18.Re1 Bg5 19.Be3 Bxe3 20.fxe3 Re5 21.d4 Rg5 22.g4 Kc7 23.Rf1 Nd6 24.Rf4 h5 25.Raf1 h4 26.Kd3 f6 27.c4 b6 28.Bd5 Re8 29.a3 Re7 30.e4 [30.b4 holds the dark squares a bit better] 30...cxd4 31.b4 Rge5 32.a4 a5 33.bxa5 bxa5 34.Rb1 Kc8 35.Kxd4 The c-pawn is a monster 35...Ne8 36.Rf2 Rc7 37.Rfb2 Kd7 38.c5 Re7 39.Rb5 Rc8 40.Rxa5 Kd8 41.Rb6 Nc7 42.Rd6+ Ke8 43.Bc4 Kf8 44.c6?! still winning, but [44.Bd5 first was even better] 44...Ne8 45.Rdd5 Rxc6 46.Ra8 Rce6 47.e5 fxe5+ 48.Kd3 e4+ 49.Ke3 g6 50.Rdd8 Rf6 51.Bb5 That's it 51...Rf3+ 52.Ke2 Kg7 53.Rxe8 Rc7 54.Rxe4 Rxh3 55.g5 Rg3 56.Rxh4 Rxg5 57.Rd8 Rc3 58.Kd2 Ra3 59.Rd3 Rg2+ 60.Ke3 Raa2 61.Kd4 g5 62.Rhh3 g4 63.Rhg3 Rxg3 64.Rxg3 1-0

 

(2) Li,Eric Yuhan (2228) - Chambers,Ezra (2336) [D45]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (8.2), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 a6 7.Bd3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 b5 9.Be2 c5 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Rd1 cxd4 12.Nxd4 Rc8 13.a3 Qb6 14.Bd2 Bc5 15.Be1 0-0 16.b4 Be7 17.Qb3 Nd5 18.Bf3 Nxc3 A solid game, but it doesn't win the tournament. 1/2-1/2

 

(3) Winslow,Elliott C (2306) - Shaw,Tenzing (2287) [A90]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (8.3), 07.05.2019

[Winslow,Elliott]

1.d4 e6 [1...f5 2.g3 Nf6] 2.c4 f5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 c6 5.Nf3 d5 6.0-0 Bd6 7.b3 Hackneyed, but at least the most popular. [7.Nc3 0-0 8.Qc2 is Avrukh's edict in "Grandmaster Repertoire 1. d4 Volume Two" -- the rewrite just came out, suggesting maybe it's time I got on this.; 7.Qc2 scores best of all in the database, although it's not clear what next...] 7...Qe7 Sure, why even allow the possibility of 8.Ba3. 8.Bb2 [8.a4!? a5 (8...Na6 9.Ba3 has hardly even been played) 9.Ba3 "gets there first," but b4 remains a hole.; 8.Ne5!? does well. Worry about the bishop development later, just like Black.] 8...0-0 [8...b6!? in accordance with "Castle as *late* as you can."] 9.Nbd2 [9.Qc1!? I thought I might have played this before, but if so I haven't entered the game yet.] 9...b6 The "modern," and frankly rather annoying (for White) method of playing for Black. Are the days of Bc8-d7-e8-h5 over? I miss that maneuver! 10.Ne5 Bb7 11.Nd3 [11.Rc1 a5 12.e3 (12.Ndf3 Na6 13.Nd3 Ne4 14.Nfe5 Rac8 15.e3 c5 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.Nf4 Nb4 18.a3 Bxe5 19.Bxe5 Nc6 was drawn here in -- what? Avrukh,B (2425)-Gleizerov,E (2535) St Petersburg 1994! Well at least he was motivated to come up with something better!) 12...Na6 13.Nb1!? Bxe5!? 14.dxe5 Ne4 0-1 (52) Caruana,F (2802)-Carlsen,M (2863) Shamkir 2015 CBM 166 [Stohl,I] 15.Nc3!? Nac5 (15...Rac8!?) 16.Ba3 was +/= in notes by Stohl, 2015, but Stockfish 10 makes it +/- (1.12). Trust but verify!?] 11...a5 12.Qc2 [Just 12.Nf3 as planned might be better.] 12...Na6 Black has scored really well here, well 6-5... 13.Rac1 (I felt this was wrong not long after I played it -- consolation that two of the three highest rated players to reach this position also played this rook (others played the other one here). 13...Ne4 [13...Nb4 14.Qb1 Ne4] 14.f3 Nxd2 15.Qxd2 c5 16.e3 Nb4 17.dxc5N [17.Ba1 Rfd8 18.Rfe1 a4 19.Nxb4 cxb4 20.Bb2 axb3 21.axb3 dxc4 22.bxc4 Ra2 23.Ra1 Rda8 24.Rxa2 Rxa2 25.Ra1 Rxa1+ 26.Bxa1 Qc7 27.Qd3 Bc6 28.d5 Bd7 29.f4 e5 30.fxe5 Bxe5 31.d6 Bxd6 32.Qd4 Be8 33.Bd5+ Kf8 34.Kf2 Bc5 35.Qh4 h6 0-1 (35) Kutirov,R (2381)-Guliev,S (2528) Ohrid 2001] 17...bxc5 18.a3

18...dxc4?! Tenzing has done something like this before, in the first game we played, which was also a Dutch (but a Leningrad, i.e. ...g6 and ...Bg7 with that bishop). In that game I took a pawn, but instead of recapturing he attacked a knight, improving everything "when" I retreated. Except I didn't, took another pawn and got "lava pawns," running down the center and pushing his pieces away. (1-0 30, Winslow,E - Shaw,T, Mechanics' Winter TNM 2015.1.27) Alas, no lava pawns this time. (But one loose asteroid!) [18...Nxd3=/+ 19.Qxd3 a4 when White's queenside is weaker than Black's (or19...Rab8) ] 19.axb4?! Going for complicated instead of sober -- as the tournament situation called for. (See Board 2 for the other strategy) [19.bxc4 Nxd3 20.Qxd3 e5 leads nowhere for nobody (0.00)] 19...cxd3 20.b5 I'm worse, I'm probably going to still be down a pawn, but it's rather a crazy game. 20...Rfd8 21.Rfd1 [21.Qxd3 Bxg3 22.Qc3 Bd6-/+] 21...Qe8 [21...c4!? 22.Rxc4 (22.bxc4 Bb4 23.Bc3 Bc5 (23...Qc5) ) 22...Bd5 23.Rd4 Bb4 24.Qxd3 Bc5 doesn't hold together] 22.Qc3 Bf8 23.Qc4 [23.Rxd3 Qxb5 24.Rcd1 Rxd3 25.Qxd3-+ after a long computer perusal.] 23...Bd5 24.Qa4

24...Bb7? At the time I was pretty sure this was a solid misstep. [24...Rab8! 25.e4 (25.Rxd3 Rxb5) 25...Ba8! gets out of the way.] 25.Rc3 [25.Be5!?] 25...Qh5 [25...Bc8!? (the other way!) 26.Qc4 (26.Bf1 Bd7 27.Rdxd3 Rdb8! shows focus (and an advantage).) 26...Rb8 27.Bf1 Qxb5 28.Qxb5 Rxb5 29.Rdxd3 Rxd3 30.Bxd3 Rb7 31.Ba3 with some compensation but not enough.] 26.g4? [Stockfish likes 26.Rcxd3! Rxd3 27.Rxd3 Bxf3 28.Bxf3 Qxf3 29.Be5 with 0.00s everywhere.; 26.Kf2 and; 26.Qf4 don't cut it] 26...Qh4? [26...fxg4 27.Qxg4 (27.fxg4 Qh4-+) 27...Qxg4 28.fxg4 Bxg2 (28...Rab8)29.Kxg2 d2! 30.Kf2 Rab8 31.Ke2 Rxb5 32.Rxd2 Rdb8-/+] 27.gxf5 Qg5 Looks good, setting up threats, but I can meet them. [27...Qh5 28.fxe6 Bxf3 29.Bxf3 Qxf3 30.Rdxd3 Qe2 31.Qc4 Qe1+ 32.Kg2 Qe2+ is a perpetual] 28.Qf4! Qxf4 29.exf4=

Nice collection of pawns I have here. (Just kidding!) 29...exf5 30.Rcxd3 Re8?? [30...Be7!= doesn't concede the file and serious rook entry 31.Rd7 Kf7 32.Bf1 Bxf3 33.Bc4+ Ke8 34.Rxd8+ Rxd8 35.Rxd8+ Bxd8= 36.Kf2 Bh5 37.Bxg7 Bf7= ends the dream] 31.Be5 [31.Bf1 is quite good as well.] 31...a4 [31...c4 32.bxc4 a4 33.Bd6+- puts down the fire.] 32.bxa4 Rxa4 33.Rd8 Around here I saw the game continuation growing. 33...Rxd8 34.Rxd8 Ra8 35.Rd7 Bc8 36.Rc7 Rb8 [36...Be6 37.b6 Ra3 38.Ra7! c4 39.Rxa3 Bxa3 40.b7 Bc5+ 41.Kf1 Ba7 42.b8Q+ when my ragged pawns should still win.] 37.Bf1 Be6 38.Rc6 Re8

39.Rxe6 He definitely should have made getting rid of that b-pawn a priority! 1-0

 

(4) Childress,Jason (2058) - Ivanov,Aleksander (2171) [B21]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (8.4), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 a6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Bf4 e6 9.Qe2 Be7 10.Rfd1 Qc7 11.Rac1 The opening is about even; White has compensation for the pawn. 11...Qb8 12.h3?! [12.e5! is much more in the gambit spirit. 12...Nh5 13.Bg5] 12...Ne5 13.Bb3 0-0 Black is safe 14.Nd4 Bd7 15.Bg3 Rd8 16.f4 Nc6 17.Nf3 Na5 18.Bc2 b5 19.e5 Nh5 20.Bh2 g6 21.g4 Ng7 22.Ne4 Ne8 23.Kh1 Bc6 24.f5 Nc4 25.fxe6 fxe6 26.exd6 Nexd6 27.Nxd6 Bxd6 28.Be4 [28.Qxe6+ Kg7 is okay for Black; White's king is also loose.] 28...Bxe4 29.Qxe4 Bxh2 30.Rxd8+ Qxd8 31.Qxe6+ Kg7 32.Kxh2 Qc7+ 33.Kg2 Rf8 34.b3 Qf4 35.Qd7+ Rf7 36.Qd4+ Qxd4 37.Nxd4 Ne3+ 38.Kg3 Nf1+ 39.Kg2 Ne3+ 40.Kg3 Nf1+ 41.Kh4 Ne3 42.Ne6+ Kf6 43.Rc6 Ke5

44.Rxa6? Overlooking a devilish trap. [44.Ng5=] 44...Rf6 45.Nc5? Rxa6 46.Nxa6 Kf4! 0-1

 

(5) Tsodikova,Natalya (2185) - Uzzaman,Ashik (1931) [B52]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (8.5), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 [3...Nd7 is the "hot" move.] 4.Bxd7+ Nxd7 [4...Qxd7 way more popular and "normal" (the knight heads for c6) but the move played has its adherents.] 5.0-0 Ngf6 6.Qe2 [6.Re1] 6...g6 [6...e6 more common and successful 7.b3 (7.c3 Be7 8.d4 (8.d3!?) 8...cxd4 (8...0-0) 9.cxd4 d5) 7...Be7 8.Bb2 0-0 9.c4 a6] 7.c3 Bg7 [7...Bh6!? 8.d4 Bxc1 9.Rxc1 0-0 10.e5 Nh5 ½-½ (60) Caruana,F (2787)-Nakamura,H (2793) Saint Louis "Blitz Showdown" 2015] 8.d4 cxd4 [8...e5!?] 9.cxd4 0-0 [9...e5!?] 10.e5!? dxe5 11.dxe5 Ng4

12.e6 [12.Bf4 was "the master's move" 12...Qc7 13.Rc1 Qa5 14.Re1 Nc5 15.h3 Nh6 16.Nc3 Ne6 17.Bh2 1-0 (35) Breder,D (2220) -Hautot,S (2085) Mureck 1998] 12...Nde5 13.exf7+ [13.Ng5 fxe6 14.h3 (14.Nxe6 Qd6 15.Nxf8?? Nf3+) 14...h6 15.hxg4 hxg5 16.Bxg5 Qd3 17.Qe1 Qd6 18.Qe4 1-0 (44) Menzi,N (1911)-Rosales Murillo,C (1658) Caldas Novas 2011] 13...Rxf7= 14.Ng5

14...Rf5 [14...Rxf2!! 15.Rxf2 Nxf2 16.Qxf2! (16.Kxf2 Nd3+! 17.Kf1 (17.Kg1?! Qb6+ 18.Be3 Bd4-/+ 19.Qxd3 Bxe3+ 20.Kh1 Bxg5-/+) 17...Qd5 18.Nc3 Bxc3 19.bxc3 (19.Qxe7 Bg7) 19...Nxc1=/+) 16...Qd1+ 17.Qf1 Qd4+ 18.Kh1 Rf8 19.Nf3 Ng4= (19...Nd3=) ] 15.h3 Nh6 [15...Rxf2 16.Rxf2 Nxf2 17.Qxf2 Qd1+ 18.Qf1 Qd4+ 19.Kh1+-] 16.Rd1 Qb6 17.Nc3 Nc6 18.Be3 Qa5 [18...Qa6] 19.Nce4 Nf7 20.Nxf7 Kxf7 21.Rd7 [21.Qc4+!] 21...Qe5?! [21...Kg8] 22.Qc4+ [22.Nd6+! Ke6 23.Nxf5 Kxd7 24.Nxg7 Qxg7 25.Qb5] 22...Kf8 23.Rad1?! [23.a4!] 23...Qb5+/- 24.Qe6 Re8 [It's more urgent to kick out the queen with 24...Re5] 25.a4 [25.R7d5! Rxd5 26.Rxd5 when 27.Ng5 sends Black into panic 26...Nd8 27.Ng5! anyway] 25...Qe5 [25...Qxb2!? 26.Nc5 Qf6 27.Qc4] 26.Nc5! b6 27.Qxc6 bxc5 28.Rxa7 Qxb2 29.Bxc5 Qb3

30.Bxe7+ [30.Qxe8+!! Kxe8 31.Rxe7+ Kf8 32.Rd8#; 30.Bxe7+ Rxe7 31.Rd8+ Kf7 32.Qe8+] 1-0

 

(6) Walder,Michael (1989) - Askin,David (2013) [B10]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (8.6), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.e4 c6 2.c4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.cxd5 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nxd5 6.Nf3 e6 7.Bc4 Nb6 8.Bb3 Be7 9.d4 N8d7 10.0-0 Nf6 11.Re1 0-0 12.Ne5 Nbd5 13.a3 a6 14.Qd3 Qd6 15.Bc2 b5 16.Nxd5 Qxd5 17.Bb3 Qd6 18.Bf4 Nh5

19.Qf3?! [19.Bc2! f5 (19...g6 20.Nxg6!) 20.Bd2 wins 20...Bb7 21.Bb3 a5 (21...Bd5 22.Bb4! Qc7 23.Bxd5 exd5 24.Bxe7 Qxe7 25.Ng6 Qxe1+ 26.Rxe1 hxg6) 22.Nd7!] 19...Nxf4 20.Qxa8 Qxd4 21.Nc6 Qf6 22.Nxe7+ Qxe7 23.Qe4 Qc7 24.Qe5 Qxe5 25.Rxe5 Bb7 26.f3 [26.g3] 26...Rc8 27.Rd1 Nd5 28.Re2 g6 29.Rc2 Re8 30.Bxd5 Bxd5 31.Rc7 a5 32.Rdc1 Kg7 33.Rc8 Rxc8 34.Rxc8 a4 35.Kf2 h5 36.Ke3 Kf6 37.h4 Ke5 38.Rc5 g5 39.hxg5 Kf5 40.Rxb5 Kxg5 41.Rb4 Bc6 42.g3 e5 43.Rb8 f5 44.Rg8+ Kf6 45.Rh8 Kg5 46.f4+ exf4+ 47.gxf4+ Kg4 48.Rg8+ Kh4 49.Rg5 Be4 50.Kd4 Kh3 51.Rxh5+ Kg4 52.Rh8 Kxf4 53.Rh4+ Kf3 54.Ke5 Ke3 55.Rh3+ Kd2

56.Rc3?? In time pressure White blunders -- [Walder points out 56.b3!; or 56.b4! axb3 (56...Bc6 57.Rh7 Ke3 58.Rc7 it's over) 57.Rxb3 Bc6 58.Rb6 Be8 59.Rb8 when nice is 59...Bc6 60.Rd8+ Ke3 61.Rd4] 56...Bc2 57.Kf4 Kc1 58.Rc4 Kxb2 59.Rxa4 1/2-1/2

 

(7) Griffith,Kyron (2452) - Gaffagan,Steven (2019) [C08]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (8.7), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 a6 4.Ngf3 c5 5.exd5 exd5 6.Be2 Nc6 7.0-0 Bd6 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Nb3 Bd6 10.c3 Nge7 11.Re1 0-0 12.Nbd4 Nf5?!

[12...h6!] 13.Bg5! Be7 [13...Qa5 14.Nb3 Qc7] 14.Bxe7 Ncxe7 15.Bd3 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Nc6 17.Nb3 g6?!

Black can expect a long siege, what with the IQP and all those pawns on the color of the bishop. 18.Qd2 a5 19.a4 d4!? 20.Bb5! dxc3 21.Qxc3 Nb4 22.Rad1 Qb6 23.Qe5 [23.Nc5! Bf5 24.Bd7!] 23...Qe6 24.Qc3 Na2 25.Qg3! Qg4 26.Qxg4?! [26.Qc7!] 26...Bxg4 27.f3 Bc8 28.Re7 Be6 29.Nc5 Rad8 30.Re1 [30.Rxd8 Rxd8 31.Nxe6 fxe6 32.b3!] 30...Bc8 31.Nxb7 Bxb7 32.Rxb7 Rd2 33.Bc4! Nb4 34.Ree7 Nd3 35.h4 Nxb2?! 36.Bxf7+ Rxf7 37.Rxf7 Nxa4 38.Rg7+ Kf8 39.Rbf7+ Ke8 40.Ra7 1-0

 

(8) Hakobyan,Sos (1829) - Heredia Serrano,Carla (2291) [A01]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (8.8), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.g3 d5 2.Bg2 e5 3.b3 Nf6 4.Bb2 Nc6 5.d3 Bg4 6.Nd2 Bb4 7.a3 Ba5 8.c4 dxc4 9.bxc4 0-0 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.h3 Bh5 12.g4 Bg6 13.Bxe5 Re8 The pin on the e-file is trouble. 14.f4 Nd7 15.Ngf3 f6 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.f5 Bxd2+ 18.Nxd2 Qh4+ 19.Kf1

19...Ne5! 20.fxg6 [20.Qe1 Qh6!] 20...Rf8+ 21.Nf3 Nxf3

22.gxh7+ Kxh7 23.Kg2 Nd4 24.Rf1 Rae8 25.Ra2 Re3 26.Rxf8 Rg3+ 27.Kf1 Qxh3+ 28.Ke1 Rg1+ 29.Kd2 Rxd1+ 30.Kxd1 Qh1+ 31.Kd2 Qb1 32.Kc3 c5 0-1

 

(9) Askin,Michael (1941) - Davila,Carlos (2075) [E04]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (8.9), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

(Both their opponents couldn't make the round, so they played. But the score is suspect!) 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 d5 5.g3 dxc4 6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 c3 8.Nb3 cxb2 9.Bxb2 a5 10.Rc1 a4 11.Nc5 a3 12.Ba1 b6 13.Ne5 Nd5 14.Ncd3 Be7 15.e4 Nf6 16.g4 Bb7 17.Qe2 c5 18.dxc5 bxc5 19.Rfd1 Qa5 20.g5 Nfd7 21.Nc4 Qa6 22.Qg4 [22.Qh5!] 22...Nc6

23.Nb4? [23.h4!?=/+; 23.Nf4; 23.Bf6!!=] 23...Nxb4 [23...cxb4!?] 24.Rxd7 Nxa2 25.Rc2?! [25.Re1 doesn't quite hold either] 25...Nb4 [25...Qa4!] 26.Rc3 Na2 27.Rh3 Qxc4 28.Bf6?! [28.Qh4 h6; 28.Qh5 Bxe4; 28.g6!? hxg6 29.Qf4 a) 29.Rxb7 Qc1+ 30.Bf1 Rab8 (30...Qxa1 31.Rxe7 Qf6) ; b) 29.Rxe7 Qc1+ 30.Bf1 Ba6 it's always Black First.; 29...Qc1+ (29...g5) ] 28...Nc1 29.Qh4 and White resigned, seeing [29.Qh4 Ne2+ 30.Kf1 Ng3+ 31.Kg1 Qc1+ and mate. (Those moves on the Internet replay sites were the players analyzing.)] 0-1

 

(10) Rudyak,Felix (1865) - Melville,Cailen J (1941) [C01]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (8.11), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 5.Nxd2 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.e5 Ne7 8.Bd3 0-0 9.Qc2 h6 10.Rc1 Nbc6 11.Qc3 a5 12.Ne2 Ba6 13.a3 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 Qd7 15.0-0 f6 16.f4 fxe5 17.fxe5 [17.dxe5!+/-] 17...Rxf1+ 18.Rxf1 Rf8 19.Nf3 Qf5 20.Qb5? [20.Qxf5 Nxf5 21.Rc1+/=] 20...Qe4 21.Rd1 Qe3+ 22.Kh1

22...Rxf3! 23.gxf3 Qxf3+ 24.Kg1 Qg4+?! 25.Kf1 Qf3+ 26.Kg1 Nf5! 27.Rf1 Qg4+?! [27...Qe3+ 28.Rf2 (28.Kh1? Qe4+ 29.Kg1 Ne3-+) 28...Ncxd4 29.Qxd5+ Kh7 30.Nxd4 Qc1+ 31.Rf1 Qxf1+ 32.Kxf1 Ne3+ 33.Ke2 Nxd5 34.Kf3 Kg6 35.Ke4 and it looks like White could be hanging on] 28.Ng3?! [28.Kf2= Qh4+ 29.Kg1] 28...Qxd4+ 29.Kh1?! Nxg3+ 30.hxg3 Qe4+ 31.Kh2 Nxe5-/+ 32.Qe8+ Kh7 33.Rf8 Ng4+ 34.Kh3? [34.Kg1] 34...Nf2+ (taking costs the queen) 0-1

 

(11) Lehman,Clarence E (1918) - Persidsky,Andre (1814) [B20]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: 2000+ San Francisco (8.13), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.e4 c5 2.b4 e5 3.Bb2 Qc7 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.b5 Nd4 6.Bc4 Be7 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Nc3 0-0 9.d3 d6 10.h3 Bd7 11.a4 a6 12.Ne1 axb5 13.axb5 Ra5 14.Rxa5 Qxa5 15.f4 Nxb5 16.Bxb5 Bxb5 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.Nxb5 Qxb5 19.Bxe5 Rd8 20.Qf3 c4 21.d4 Qc6 22.d5 Qe8 23.Bd4 Rd7 24.c3 Bd8 25.Qg3 Bc7 26.Qg5 h6 27.Qf5 Nxe4 28.Qg4 f6 29.Nf3 Re7 30.Nh4 (# 30...Kh7?= [30...h5!-+] 31.Nf5! Rd7? [31...h5+/= 32.Qh4 g5 33.Qe1 Rd7 34.Qb1 Be5 35.Re1 Bxd4+ 36.Nxd4 f5 37.Ne6+/-] 32.Re1+- Qf7 33.Qxe4 g6 34.d6 [34.Nxh6! Qxd5 (34...Kxh6 35.Qh4+ Kg7 36.Re8!) ; 34.Qe6; 34.Ne3] 34...Bb8?! [34...Bxd6 35.Nxd6 Rxd6 36.Rb1] 35.Qe8 Qxe8 36.Rxe8 Bxd6 37.Nxd6 Rxd6 38.Re7+ Kg8 39.Rxb7 Rc6 ... and White won 1-0

 

(12) Babb,Kevin (1641) - Gray,William (1962) [A53]

Mechanics' Spring TNM:1600-1999 San Francisco (8.15), 07.05.2019

1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.d5 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.e4 Nc5 6.Qc2 a5 7.Nf3 Be7 8.Be2 0-0 9.h3 Nfd7 10.Be3 a4 11.0-0 g6 12.b4 axb3 13.axb3 Rxa1 14.Rxa1 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Nb5 f4 17.Bd2 Nb6 18.b4 Bf5 19.Qd1 Ne4 20.Ra7 Qb8 21.Be1 Bd7 22.Ra3 Nf6 23.Nc3 Qd8 1/2-1/2

 

(13) Clemens,Kristian (1946) - Busch,Jonah M (1826) [D95]

Mechanics' Spring TNM:1600-1999 San Francisco (8.16), 07.05.2019

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.d4 d5 5.e3 0-0 6.Be2 b6 7.0-0 Bb7 8.Qb3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 e6 10.Rd1 Nbd7 11.Qa3 Re8 12.Bd2 Bf8 13.Qb3 Qe7 14.Be1 c5 15.d5 exd5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Bxd5 Bxd5 18.Qxd5 Nf6 19.Qb3 Red8 20.Bc3 Bg7 21.Ne5 Qc7 22.f3 Re8 23.Nc4 Rad8 24.e4 Nh5 25.Bxg7 Nxg7 26.Ne3 Ne6 27.Nd5 Qe5 28.Qc2 Nf4 29.Nxf4 Qxf4 30.Qa4 Qc7 31.Rac1 Re6 32.Rxd8+ Qxd8 33.Rd1 Rd6 34.Rxd6 Qxd6 35.Qe8+ Kg7 36.e5 Qd4+ 37.Kf1 Qxb2 38.Qe7 Qb1+ 39.Ke2 Qxa2+ 40.Kd3 Qe6 41.Qxa7 Qd5+ 42.Kc2 Qxe5 43.Kd3 b5 44.g3 Qd4+ 45.Ke2 b4 46.Qb8 Qc3 47.h4 b3 48.h5 b2 49.h6+ Kxh6 50.Qf8+ Qg7 51.Qb8 c4 52.Qf4+ g5 53.Qf5 Qg6 54.Qc5 b1Q 0-1

 

(14) Maser,Thomas (1901) - McKellar,Daniel (1872) [B35]

Mechanics' Spring TNM:1600-1999 San Francisco (8.17), 07.05.2019

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 0-0 8.Bb3 a6 9.0-0 b5 10.Qe2 Nxe4 11.Nxc6 Nxc3 12.Nxe7+ Qxe7 13.bxc3 Bb7 14.Rad1 Bxc3 15.Qd3 Qe4 16.Qxe4 Bxe4 17.Rxd7 Rac8 18.Rfd1 a5 19.a3 a4 20.Ba2 Bxc2 21.R1d5 Bf5 22.Rxf5 gxf5 23.g3 Bg7 24.Rd5 Rc3 25.Bc5 Rc8 26.Bb4 Rc2 0-1

 

(15) Ochoa,Jason B (1738) - Krasnov,Steven Le (1876) [A34]

Mechanics' Spring TNM:1600-1999 San Francisco (8.18), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 d6 5.0-0 e5 6.Nc3 Be7 7.e3 0-0 8.d4 h6 9.d5 Nb8 10.e4 a6 11.h3 Nbd7 12.Qd3 Re8 13.Be3 Rb8 14.a4 b6 15.Rab1 Bf8 16.b4 Qc7 17.b5 a5 18.Nh4 g6 19.Rbe1 Bg7 20.Re2 Kh7 21.Kh2 Qd8 22.Rg1 Rb7 23.Bd2 Nf8 24.Bf3 Qd7 25.g4 Nh5 26.Bg2 Nf6 27.Qg3 Kh8 28.Bf3 N8h7 29.Ng2 Rf8 30.h4 Nxg4+ 31.Kh1 h5 32.Ne1 Rg8 33.Bg2 Qe7 34.f3 Ngf6 35.Bf1 Re8 36.Reg2 Qf8 37.Nd1 Ng8 38.Nf2 Ne7 39.Nh3 f5 40.Bg5 Nxg5 41.Nxg5 Qf6 42.Nd3 Bh6 43.Be2 Bxg5 44.hxg5 Qg7 45.Rh2 Rf8 46.Rh4 Kg8 47.Bf1 (unreadable scoresheet -- White won on move 62 or so) 1-0

 

(16) Drury,Mark L (1878) - Porlares,Teodoro (1713) [A03]

Mechanics' Spring TNM:1600-1999 San Francisco (8.20), 07.05.2019

1.f4 d5 2.Nf3 Bg4 3.e3 e6 4.b3 Nf6 5.Bb2 g6 6.Be2 Bg7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Ne5 Bxe2 9.Qxe2 Nfd7 10.d4 Nf6 11.Nd2 Nbd7 12.c4 c6 13.e4 dxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Nxe5 16.fxe5 Qa5 17.Bc1 Qc7 18.Bg5 c5 19.Bf6 Rfe8 20.Rad1 cxd4 21.Qxd4 Bf8 22.Qh4 Bg7 23.Rd3 Qc5+ 24.Kh1 Bxf6 25.Qxf6 Qe7 26.Qf3 Rad8 27.Rfd1 Rxd3 28.Qxd3 Qc7 29.Qd4 b6 30.Kg1 Rc8 31.Kf2 Kg7 32.Ke3 Qe7 33.Qd7 Qg5+ 34.Kf2 Qf4+ 35.Kg1 Qe3+ 36.Kh1 Rc5 37.Rf1 Kh6 38.Qxf7 Rxe5 39.h3 Rf5 40.Rxf5 exf5 41.Qf8+ Kh5 42.Qg7 h6 43.Qxa7 f4 44.Qh7 Qe1+ 45.Kh2 Qg3+ 46.Kg1 Qe1+ 1/2-1/2

 

(17) Bradley,Christopher (1604) - Cohee,James (1606) [B38]

Mechanics' Spring TNM:1600-1999 San Francisco (8.22), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 g6 6.e4 Bg7 7.f3? [7.Be3; 7.Nc2] 7...0-0? [7...Nxe4 8.Nxc6 Nxc3 9.Nxd8 Nxd1 10.Nxf7 Kxf7 11.Kxd1 d6-/+] 8.Be2? a6? 9.Be3 d6 10.0-0 Bd7 11.Qd2 Rc8 12.Rac1 Qa5 13.b3 Ne8 14.Rfd1 Qd8 15.Nc2 Nc7 16.Bh6 Bxh6 17.Qxh6 Ne5 18.h4 [18.f4!] 18...f5 19.h5 Rf6 [19...Nf7] 20.exf5 Bxf5 21.Nd4 gxh5 22.Qxf6 exf6 23.Nxf5 Qd7 24.Nxd6 Rb8 25.Nxb7 Qc6 26.Nd6 Qc5+ 27.Kf1 Rf8 28.Nde4 Ne6?? 29.Nxc5 1-0

 

(18) Robeal,Rafik (1716) - Casares Jr,Nick (1600) [D04]

Mechanics' Spring TNM:1600-1999 San Francisco (8.23), 07.05.2019

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 a6 4.Bd3 Nbd7 5.b3 e6 6.0-0 Be7 7.Bb2 b5 8.Nbd2 0-0 9.Ne5 Bb7 10.c4 dxc4 11.bxc4 bxc4 12.Ndxc4 c5 13.Rc1 Rc8 14.Qb3 Rb8 15.Qc3 Nd5 16.Qd2 f6 17.Nxd7 Qxd7 18.Na5 Ba8 19.dxc5 Rfd8 20.Qe2 Nb4 21.Bb1 Nc6 22.Nb3 e5 23.Qc4+ Kh8 24.Qxa6 Rb4 25.Qe2 Rh4 26.Rcd1 Nd4 27.exd4 Bxg2 28.f3 Bh3 29.Rf2 e4 30.Bxe4 f5 31.Bc6 Qxc6 32.Qxe7 Qg6+ 33.Kh1 Re8 34.Qxh4 1-0

 

(19) Kim,Andy (1619) - Perlov,Alexander (1720) [E11]

Mechanics' Spring TNM:1600-1999 San Francisco (8.24), 07.05.2019

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 c6 6.0-0 0-0 7.Bf4 Nbd7 8.b3 Ne4 9.Qc2 f5 10.Nbd2 b6 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.Qc6 Ba6 13.Qxe6+ Kh8 14.Rac1 Rc8 15.Rxc8 Bxc8 16.Rc1 Ndc5 17.Qc6 Bb7 18.Qc7 Qxc7 19.Bxc7 Ne6 20.Be5 Bb4 21.Nxe4 fxe4 22.Ne1 Bd2 23.Rd1 e3 24.Nf3 exf2+ 25.Kxf2 Bh6 26.h4 Kg8 27.Ke1 Rc8 28.Bh3 Kf7 29.Ng5+ Bxg5 30.Bxe6+ Kxe6 31.hxg5 Rc2 32.Rd2 Rxd2 33.Kxd2 g6 34.g4 Kd7 35.Ke3 Ke6 36.a4 a6 37.Bc7 1/2-1/2

 

(20) Mays,Jerry L (1700) - Lamstein,Joshua D (1655) [C78]

Mechanics' Spring TNM:1600-1999 San Francisco (8.25), 07.05.2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Bc5 5.0-0 d6 6.c3 b5 7.Bb3 Nf6 8.d4 exd4 9.cxd4 Bb6 10.Bg5 0-0 11.Bd5 Qd7 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Qc1 Bb7 14.Qh6 Qg4 15.Qxf6 Qg7 16.e5 Nd8 17.Nc3 dxe5 18.dxe5 c6 19.Be4 Ne6 20.Rad1 Rad8 21.h4 Qxf6 22.exf6 Rxd1 23.Rxd1 Bd8 24.Ng5 h6 25.Nxe6 fxe6 26.Rd7 Bc8 1/2-1/2

 

(21) Babayan,Gagik (1806) - Malykin,Erika (1637) [C64]

Mechanics' Spring TNM:1600-1999 San Francisco (8.26), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.Bb5 d6 5.0-0 Bg4 6.d3 Nge7 7.h3 Bh5 8.Nd5 a6 9.Bxc6+ Nxc6 10.c3 Qd7 11.Be3 Bxe3 12.fxe3 Ne7 13.Qb3 Nxd5 14.Qxb7?? Nb6 15.a4 0-0 16.a5 Rfb8 17.Qxb8+ Rxb8 18.axb6 Rxb6 19.b4 f6 20.g4 Bg6 21.Kg2 Qb5 22.Rfd1 c5 23.Ra5 Qc6 24.bxc5 dxc5 25.c4 Rb2+ 26.Kg3 h5 27.Rda1 Rb6 28.Nh4 Bf7 29.Nf5 Qe6 30.Rxc5 Qd7 31.Ra3 Be6 32.Kf3 Bxf5 33.exf5 h4 34.Rd5 Rd6 35.e4 Rxd5 36.exd5 Qd6 37.Ra5 Qb6 38.Ra3 Qb1 39.d6 Qf1+ 40.Ke4 Qh1+ 41.Ke3 Qc1+ 42.Ke4 Qxa3 43.Kd5 Qxd3+ 44.Ke6 Qxc4+ 45.Ke7 Qd3 46.d7 a5 0-1

 

(22) Mercado,Adam (1714) - Tamondong,Cesar B (1600) [B24]

Mechanics' Spring TNM:1600-1999 San Francisco (8.27), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 e6 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.d3 Nge7 7.Be3 d6 8.Qd2 h6 9.h4 a6 10.a3 h5 11.Ng5 Ne5 12.Bh3 f6 13.f4 fxg5 14.fxe5 g4 15.Bg2 Bxe5 16.Bf4 [16.0-0! Bxg3 17.Bg5 Be5 18.Ne2! Bxb2 19.Rab1 amazingly "=0.00"] 16...Bd7? [16...Bxf4 17.Qxf4 e5=/+ (17...Rf8=/+) ] 17.Bxe5 dxe5 18.Qg5 [18.0-0!+/-] 18...Qc7 [18...Rf8=] 19.Rf1 [19.0-0!+/-] 19...Bc6 20.Ke2? 0-0-0 [20...c4; 20...Qd6] 21.Rf7 Rd7 22.Qf6 Rhd8 23.Qxe6 Kb8 24.Raf1 Nf5 25.exf5 Bxg2 26.Rxd7 Bxf1+ 27.Kxf1 Rxd7 28.fxg6 Qd6 29.Qxd6+ Rxd6 30.Ke2 Rxg6 31.Nd5 b5 32.Ke3 Re6 33.Ke4 Kb7 34.Kf5 Re8 35.Nf6 Re7 36.Kg5 c4 37.Kxh5 cxd3 38.cxd3 Kc6 39.Kxg4 Kc5 40.h5 Kd4 41.h6 Kxd3 42.h7 Rxh7 43.Nxh7 e4 44.Ng5 e3 45.Nf3 e2 46.Kf4 Kc2 47.g4 Kxb2 48.g5 Kxa3 49.g6 b4 50.g7 b3 51.g8Q b2 52.Qg3 [52.Qb8 Ka2 53.Nd2] 52...Ka2 53.Nd2 e1Q 54.Qxe1 Ka3 55.Qe3+ 1-0

 

(23) Carron,Joel (1515) - James,Charles (1419) [B21]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (8.28), 07.05.2019

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 e6 5.Nf3 Bb4 6.Bc4 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Ne7 8.0-0 Qc7 9.Qe2 0-0 10.Ba3 Re8 11.Rfd1 Nbc6 12.Bd6 Qa5 13.Rac1 Ng6 14.e5 a6 15.Re1 b5 16.Bb3 Bb7 17.Ng5 Qd8 18.Qh5 h6 19.Ne4 Kh7 20.Nc5 Na5 21.Nxb7 Nxb7 22.Ba3 d5 23.exd6 Nf4 24.Qxf7 Qg5 25.Qxb7 Nd3 26.Qe4+ Qf5 27.Qxf5+ exf5 28.Rxe8 Rxe8 29.Rd1 Re2 30.d7 Nxf2 31.Kf1 1-0

 

(24) Khamkar,Susheel S (1033) - Chan,John (1591) [D00]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (8.29), 07.05.2019

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 c6 4.Bf4 h6 5.e3 Bg4 6.Be2 Nbd7 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Bxf3 e6 9.0-0 g5 10.Bh2 Bg7 11.Re1 0-0 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Bxe4 Qb6 15.c3 Rfe8 16.Rb1 Nf6 17.Bc2 Nd5 18.Qd3 f5 19.Bb3 Kh8 20.Qd1 Qd8 21.Qh5 Kh7 22.Re2 Nf6 23.Qf3 Nd5 24.Rbe1 Qf6 25.Bc2 Kh8 26.Qh5 f4 27.Qg4 Nc7 28.h4 Nd5 29.Rxe6 Rxe6 30.Rxe6 Qf8 31.hxg5 Re8 32.gxh6 Bxh6 33.Qg6 Nf6 34.Rxe8 Qxe8 35.Qxf6+ Bg7 36.Qh4+ Kg8 37.Bxf4 Qd7 38.Bb3+ Kf8 39.Qg3 Ke8 40.Qg6+ Kd8 41.Be6 1-0

 

(25) Morgan,Jerry (1491) - Ansari,Jahaan (1397) [A03]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (8.30), 07.05.2019

1.f4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 c5 4.b3 Nf6 5.Bb2 Be7 6.Ne5 a6 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.g4 Nxe5 9.Bxe5 Bd6 10.Bb2 d4 11.g5 Nd5 12.Qf3 Bd7 13.Na3 Bc6 14.Be4 f5 15.gxf6 gxf6 16.Qh5+ Kd7 17.Nc4 f5 18.Nxd6 Kxd6 19.Bf3 Nb4 20.0-0-0 Nxa2+ 21.Kb1 Nb4 22.exd4 cxd4 23.Bxd4 Qa5 24.Be5+ Kc5 25.Bb2 Bd5 26.Bxd5 exd5 27.Qxf5 Rhe8 28.d4+ Kb6 29.Rd2 Re6 1-0

 

(26) Reyes,Victor (1290) - Isreal,Andrew [D00]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (8.31), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.d4 d5 2.e3 Nc6 3.Bd3 e5 4.dxe5 Nxe5 5.f4 Nxd3+ 6.cxd3 Nf6 7.Nf3 Bg4 8.0-0 Bc5 9.Qa4+ c6 10.d4 b5 11.Qc2 Bb6 12.Qxc6+ Bd7 13.Qc2 Rc8 14.Qd3 0-0 15.Nbd2 h6 16.b4 Re8 17.Ne5 a6 18.Bb2 Rc7 19.Rac1 Ng4 20.h3 Nxe5 21.fxe5 Qg5 22.Nf3 Qg3 23.Kh1 Rxc1 24.Bxc1 Re6 25.Qe2 Rc6 26.a3 Bf5 27.Qe1 Qxe1 28.Rxe1 a5 29.Bd2 axb4 30.Bxb4 Be4 31.Nd2 Bd3 32.Kh2 Rc8 33.Kg3 Ra8 34.Nb3 Bc4 35.Nc5 Ba5 36.e4 Bxb4 37.axb4 dxe4 38.Nxe4 Ra4 39.Rb1 Bd3 40.Re1 Rxb4 41.Nc5 Rb1?? 42.Nxd3 Rxe1 43.Nxe1 b4 44.Nd3 b3 45.Kf3 Kf8 46.d5 Ke7 47.Ke4 f6 48.d6+ Kf7 49.Kd5 fxe5 50.Nxe5+ Kg8 51.Nc4 Kf7 52.Kc6 Ke6 53.d7 1-0

 

(27) Caburi,Alwin - Simpkins,Jerry (1508) [C40]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (8.32), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Nxe5 Qe7 Very good Jerry, playing the Latvian Gambit! [But I do suggest 3...Qf6 (in my opening article in the current Newsletter!)] 4.Qh5+! [4.d4 d6 5.Nc4 fxe4 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Bg5 c6 has been employed successfully (for White) in some previous Simpkins games.] 4...g6 5.Nxg6 Qxe4+ 6.Be2 Nf6 7.Qh3 Rg8 [7...hxg6 8.Qxh8 Qxg2 9.Rf1 Kf7 10.Qh4 has been seen here and there] 8.Nc3 Qc6 9.Nxf8 Kxf8N [9...Qxg2 10.Qxg2 Rxg2 11.Nxh7 Nxh7 12.d4 1-0 (36) Klausner,F (1718)-Glacner,K (1531) Brno 2016; 9...Rxf8 10.d4 Ne4 11.Qe3 Kd8 12.Nxe4+- 1-0 (15) Mentel,J (1997)-Tuchtenhagen,H (1893) Mecklenburg VP 2010 12...Qxe4 (12...fxe4 13.Qa3! & 14.Bg5+) 13.Qh6] 10.d3 [10.0-0!?] 10...d5 [10...Qxg2 11.Qxg2 Rxg2 12.Bf4 (12.Bf3) ] 11.Bf3 Be6 12.Qh6+ [12.0-0]12...Kf7 13.Bh5+ [13.Be3; 13.0-0] 13...Nxh5 14.Qxh5+ Rg6 15.Qxh7+ Rg7 16.Qh5+ Rg6 17.d4 Nd7 18.0-0 Nf6 19.Qf3 Rag8 20.g3 Ne4 21.Bf4 Ng5 22.Bxg5 Rxg5 23.Rae1 Rg4 24.Rd1 Qd6 25.Rfe1 f4 26.Re5 c6 27.Rde1 R8g6 28.h3!? [28.Kf1] 28...Rxg3+ 29.fxg3 Rxg3+ 30.Qxg3 fxg3 31.Rxe6 Move 31 is a line across White and into Black; perhaps there were more time pressure moves; but 1-0

 

(28) Starr,Albert (1543) - Olson,David R (1400) [A00]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (8.33), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

Both player's opponents didn't play, so they played this extra game. 1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 d6 3.e3 Nf6 4.d3 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 Nbd7 7.0-0 b6 8.Nbd2 Bb7 9.c4 e4 10.dxe4 Nxe4 11.a4 a5 12.b5 Ndc5 13.Nb3 Qd7 14.Nxc5 bxc5 15.Qc2 f5 16.Rfd1 Bf6 17.Bxf6 Rxf6 18.g3? (allowing ...f4 wasn't that bad) [18.Nd2=] 18...Re8 19.Ne1?! [19.Rd3] 19...Ng5 [19...Rh6 20.Bf1 Ng5 21.f4 Nh3+] 20.Bf1 [20.Ra3 Rh6 21.f4 Nh3+ 22.Kf1 Nxf4!] 20...Rh6 [20...f4! 21.exf4 Rxf4 22.Rd3 Rf6 White is actually in big trouble!] 21.Ra3 [21.f4 Nh3+! 22.Bxh3 Rxh3] 21...Qf7 22.f4

22...Ne4? It looks nice, Black knight in a super outpost, backward e-pawn. But think about how that same knight is in the way, from rooks attacking the pawn, from action on the long diagonal. [22...Nh3+! gets rid of White's bishop before it can neutralize Black's. 23.Bxh3 Rxh3 It took the computer quite a while, but eventually it convinced itself Black was winning. (I was willing to believe it right away!)] 23.Bg2= Qh5 24.Bf3 Qg6 [24...Qh3 25.Qg2 Qxg2+ 26.Bxg2 Rhe6=/+] 25.Ng2?

[25.Rb1=; 25.Rb3=] 25...Ba8? [25...Rxh2! 26.Kxh2 Qxg3+ 27.Kg1 Qxf3-+ If necessary, ...Re6-Rh6. It's a wipe-out.] 26.Kh1?? [26.Ne1!=/+] 26...Nxg3+ [26...Qxg3!] 27.Kg1 Bxf3 28.Rd2 Ne4 29.Rdd3 Qh5 30.Ne1 Rg6+ 31.Kf1 Qh3+ 0-1

 

(29) Barreyro,Romeo - Fernicola,Michael [A47]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (8.34), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.h3 b6 4.Bf4 Bb7 5.e3 c5 6.c3 Be7 7.Nbd2 0-0 8.Bd3 cxd4 9.exd4 Nc6 10.Qc2 d6 11.g4 Qd7 12.g5 Nd5 13.Bxh7+!? Kh8 14.Bg3 [14.Bh2!?] 14...g6 15.Bxg6 fxg6 16.Qxg6 Bd8 [16...Rf5] 17.Qh6+ Qh7?? [17...Kg8+/-] 18.Qxf8++- Qg8 19.Qxg8+ Kxg8 20.Bxd6 Be7 21.Bxe7 Ncxe7 22.h4 Rf8 23.Rg1 Nf4 24.0-0-0 Bxf3 25.Nxf3 Ne2+ 26.Kd2 Nxg1 27.Nxg1 Rxf2+ 28.Kc1 Rh2 29.Nf3 Rh3 30.Rf1 Nf5 31.Kc2?? Ne3+ 32.Kd2 Nxf1+ 33.Ke2 Nh2 34.Ne5 Rxh4 35.Kd3 Ng4 36.Nc6 Rh2 37.Nxa7 Rxb2 38.a4 Ra2 39.Nc8 Nf2+ 40.Kc4 Rxa4+ 41.Kb5 Ra5+ 42.Kxb6 Rxg5 43.Nd6 Rg3 44.Nb5 Ne4 45.c4 Rb3 46.Kc6 Kf7 47.Na7 Rd3 48.Nb5 Nd2 49.Nd6+ Ke7 50.d5 Nxc4 51.Nxc4 Rxd5 52.Nb6 Rd1 53.Kc5 e5 54.Nd5+ Ke6 55.Ne3 Rd6 56.Kc4 e4 57.Nc2 Ke5 58.Nb4 Kf4 59.Kb3 e3 0-1

 

(30) Jijo,Wilson - Otterbach,Renate (1225) [B34]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (8.36), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Qd1 Bg7 7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0 d6 9.a3 a6 10.b4 Bd7 11.Bb2 Ng4 12.h3 Nge5 13.Nxe5 Nxe5 14.Be2 Rc8 15.Nd5 e6 16.Ne3 Bc6 17.f3? Bh6? [17...Nxf3+-+] 18.f4 Bxe4 19.Bxe5 dxe5 20.Qxd8 Rfxd8 21.Ng4 Bxf4?? [21...Bg7 22.fxe5 Rxc2] 22.Nf6+ Kg7 23.Nxe4 Rxc2 24.Rad1 Be3+ 25.Kh1 Rd5?! [25...Rxd1 26.Bxd1 Rc6] 26.Rxd5 exd5 27.Bd3 Rc7?! [27...Rc6] 28.Nc5 Bxc5 29.bxc5 Rxc5 30.Rb1 b5 31.Kg1 e4 32.Be2 e3? [32...d4; 32...Rc2] 33.g4 g5?? [33...Kf6] 34.Kg2 Kf6 35.Kg3 Ke5 36.Rb4 a5?? [36...Rc2 37.Kf3 Ra2] 37.Rxb5 Rxb5 38.Bxb5 d4 [38...Ke4=] 39.Kf3 f5?? [39...h6=] 40.Bd3+- [40.gxf5 Kxf5 41.Bd3+ Ke5 42.Bxh7+-] 40...fxg4+ 41.hxg4 h6 42.Bg6? [42.Bc4 Kd6 43.Ke4 Kc5 44.Bd3] 42...Kd5?! [42...e2 43.Kxe2 Kf4 44.Bh5 Ke4 45.a4] 43.Bf7+?? [43.Bd3+-] 43...Ke5?? [43...Kc5!=] 44.a4??= [44.Bc4] 44...Kd6 45.Ke4?? e2 0-1

 

(31) Cole,Tony (1487) - Bayaraa,Timothy (1175) [C77]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (8.37), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 a6 5.Ba4 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.d3 Ng4?! [7...0-0; 7...h6; 7...d6] 8.0-0 d6 9.Bg5! Nf6? 10.Qd2? [10.Nd5!+-] 10...Nd4? [10...h6 11.Bxf6 Qxf6+/=] 11.Nxd4 Bxd4 12.Bd5[12.Nd5!; 12.a4!] 12...Rb8 13.Rab1 [13.Bc6++/-] 13...Be6? [13...Bd7] 14.Bc6+ Bd7 15.Bxd7+ Qxd7 [15...Kxd7!?] 16.Bxf6! gxf6 [16...Bxc3!] 17.Nd5 Kf8?? 18.Qh6+ Ke8 19.Nxf6+ Ke7 20.Nxd7 Kxd7 21.Kh1 Rbg8 22.Qf6 h5 23.Qxf7+ Kc8 24.c3 Bb6 25.f4 Rf8 26.Qe6+ Kb7 27.fxe5 dxe5 28.Qxe5 Rd8 29.d4 Rhe8 30.Qg5 Rd7 31.Qxh5 Rxe4 32.Qf3 Rde7 33.Rbe1 c6 34.Rxe4 Rd7 35.Re6 (Mate in Eight!) 1-0

 

(32) Ahrens,Richard - Chui,Kevin [E12]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (8.38), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Nc3 Bb7 5.e3 d5 6.a3 Be7 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.0-0 c5 9.b3 0-0 10.Re1 Bd6 11.e4 dxe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.Bxe4 Bxe4 14.Rxe4 Nf6 15.Re1 h6 16.Bb2 Bc7 17.dxc5 bxc5 18.Qxd8 Bxd8 19.Re5 Be7 20.h3 Rab8 21.Re3 Nh5 22.Be5

22...Bf6?? Any rook move! But White has some advantage regardless. 23.Rb1? [23.Bxb8 Bxa1 24.Be5! (24.Bxa7 Rc8 is also +-, but less so. The rook still needs to find its way in, and the a-pawn is not so scary (yet!).) 24...Bxe5 25.Rxe5 Takes advantage of Black's knight position 25...Nf4 26.Rxc5 White has accomplished two key ending goals: activating rooks and creating passed pawns. The c-pawn was Black's last line of defense.] 23...Bxe5 24.Rxe5 Nf6 25.Rxc5 Ne4 26.Rb5 Rxb5 27.cxb5 Nc3 28.Rb2 Nxb5 29.a4 Nd6 30.Rd2 Ne4 31.Rd7 f6 32.Rxa7 Rb8 33.Nd4 Nc5 34.Ra5 Nxb3 35.Rb5 Rxb5 36.Nxb5 g5 37.Nd6 f5 38.Nc4 Kg7 39.a5 Nc5 40.f3 h5 41.g3 Kf6 42.Kf2 e5 43.Ke3 f4+ 44.gxf4 gxf4+ 45.Kd2 Kf5 46.Nd6+ Kg5 47.Ne4+ Nxe4+ 48.fxe4 f3 49.Ke3 Kh4 50.a6 Kg3 51.a7 f2 52.a8Q f1Q 53.Qg8+ Kxh3 54.Qe6+ Kg2 55.Qg6+ Kh2 56.Qxh5+ Qh3+ 57.Qxh3+ Kxh3 1/2-1/2

 

(33) Sachs-Weintraub,Julian (1416) - Revi,Frank (1375) [B30]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (8.39), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e6 4.Bc4 d6 5.0-0 a6 6.a4 Nf6 7.d3 Be7 8.Be3 Qc7 9.h3 b6 10.d4 cxd4 11.Nxd4 Ne5 12.Bb3 Bb7 13.f3 Rd8 14.Nce2 0-0 15.c3 Ng6 16.Qe1 d5 17.exd5 Bxd5 18.Bxd5 Nxd5 19.Qf2 Bh4 20.g3 Nxe3 21.Qxe3 Bxg3 22.f4 Bh4 23.Nf3 Be7 24.Ne5 Nh4 25.b4 Nf5 26.Qf3 Bf6 27.Ng4 Bh4 28.Rfd1 on one scoresheet; the other has "R(d)e1" 28...Rc8 29.Ne5 Rcd8 Both say "Rd8" [29...Rfd8-+ is the better, since 30.Qc6? (30.Rxd8+ Rxd8 31.Qc6 Qxc6 32.Nxc6 Rd2 33.Ncd4 Nxd4 34.Nxd4 Bf2+) 30...Rxd1+ 31.Rxd1 Qxc6 32.Nxc6 Rxc6 notice that d8 is protected!] 30.Qc6!? Qe7? [30...Qa7] 31.Qxb6 Rxd1+ 32.Rxd1 Qf6 33.Kh2 Qh6 34.Qxa6 Ne3 35.Rg1 Qh5 36.Ng4 Nxg4+ 37.Rxg4 Bf6 38.Qb5 e5 39.a5 Qh6 40.a6 Be7 41.Qxe5 Bd6 42.Qg5 Qxg5 43.Rxg5 f5 44.Rg3 Ra8 45.b5 Kf7 46.Rd3 Ke7 47.Kg3 g5 48.Kf3 gxf4 49.Nxf4 Bc5 50.Rd5 Bb6 [50...Rc8 51.Rxc5] 51.Rxf5 Ba5 52.c4 Bd2 53.Nd5+ Kd6 54.Nb6 Re8 55.a7 Re3+ 56.Kf2 Ra3 57.a8Q Be3+ 58.Ke2 1-0

 

(34) Harris,Clarence (1400) - Bryan,Robert R (429) [C00]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (8.40), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

mutual opponents forfeited; extra game 1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.g3 Nc6 5.Bg2 Bd6 6.Ngf3 0-0 7.0-0 Re8 8.Re1 e5 9.exd5 Ne7 [9...Nxd5!] 10.Nc4 Bc5 11.Ncxe5 Nfxd5 12.d4 Bb4 13.Bd2 Bxd2 14.Qxd2 Rf8 15.c4 Nb6 16.Rac1 c5 17.d5 Bf5 18.Nh4 Bg6 19.Bh3 Nxc4?? 20.Nxc4 Qxd5?? 21.Rxe7 Qxd2 22.Nxd2 Rad8 23.Bd7 Bd3 24.Rxc5 b6 25.Rc7 Bb5 26.Nf5 Bxd7 27.Rcxd7 Rxd7 28.Rxd7 h5 29.Ne4 Kh7 30.Ne7 f6 31.Nf5 Kg6 32.Ned6 h4 33.Rxg7+ Kh5 34.g4# 1-0

 

(35) Yamamoto,Craig (1500) - Dubensky,Walter B (1210) [C57]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (8.41), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Qf3 Perhaps he just forgot to throw in [6.Nxf7 Kxf7 7.Qf3+] 6...Qxg5 7.Bxd5 Nd8 8.0-0 f5 9.d4 f4 10.dxe5 Bg4 11.Qxf4 Qxf4 12.Bxf4 c6 13.Bb3 Be7 14.Re1 Rf8 15.Be3 Rf5 16.f4 c5 17.h3 Bxh3 18.gxh3 Bh4 19.Rf1 Nc6 20.c3 b6 21.Bc2 Rh5 22.Be4 Kd7 23.Na3 a6 24.Nc4 Kc7 25.Rad1 Rf8 26.Rd6 Nd8 27.Rxb6 Be7 28.Kg2 a5 29.Ra6 h6 30.Ra7+ Kb8 31.Rxe7 a4 32.Nd6 g5 33.f5 Rg8 34.Bf3 Rh4 35.f6 h5 36.Bxc5 g4 37.Ba7# 1-0

 

(36) Mayer,Carson - Frank,Robert H (1426) [C43]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (8.42), 07.05.2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 c5 5.Nf3 Nxe4 6.Bd3 Qa5+ 7.Nbd2 Nxd2 8.Bxd2 Qd8 9.Qe2+ Qe7 10.Be4 d6 11.Bg5 f6 12.Be3 Qxe4 13.0-0-0 Nc6 14.Qd2 Bf5 15.Bf4 Nb4 16.Rhe1 Qxe1 17.Rxe1+ Be7 18.Qxd6 Nc6 19.Qxc5 g5 20.Nd4 Kf7 21.Nxc6 Bxc5 22.Re7+ Bxe7 23.Nxe7 Kxe7 0-1

 

(37) Wagner,Tyler - Hilliard,Michael (1404) [D46]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (8.43), 07.05.2019

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.e3 Bd6 6.Bd3 Nbd7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Qe2 e5 9.e4 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Re8 11.a4 b6 12.Rd1 Qc7 13.Bg5 a6 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 15.dxe5 Bxe5 16.h3 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Rxe4 18.Qd2 Be6 19.Bxa6 Bb3 20.Ng5 Rxa4 21.Rxa4 Bxa4 22.Qd6 Qxd6 23.Rxd6 h6 24.Nf3 Rxa6 25.Rd8+ Kh7 26.Ne5 c5 27.g4 Ra7 28.Rd6 Re7 29.f4 b5 30.h4 Ne4 31.Rd5 c4 32.g5 Nxc3 33.Rd6 Ne2+ 34.Kf2 Nxf4 35.Ng4 hxg5 36.hxg5 Nh3+ 37.Kg3 Nxg5 38.Rd1 Bxd1 39.Kf4 Bxg4 40.Kg3 Re4 41.Kh4 f6 42.Kg3 c3 43.Kf2 c2 44.Kg3 c1Q 45.Kf2 Qe3+ 46.Kg2 Qf3+ 47.Kh2 Re2+ 48.Kg1 Qg2# 0-1

 

(38) Capdeville,Barry (1219) - Tabatabai,Ashkon (1138) [C77]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (8.44), 07.05.2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3 Bc5 6.c3 d5 7.Nxe5 0-0 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.e5 Ng4 10.d4 Bb6 11.Bxc6 Rb8 12.Qf3 Qe7 13.Bxd5 Qh4 14.Bf4 Rd8 15.Bg3 c6 16.Bxh4 1-0

 

(39) Soffer,Aaron (1260) - Robertson,Wade (982) [C06]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (8.45), 07.05.2019

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.Bd3 c5 5.e5 Nfd7 6.c3 Nc6 7.Ngf3 Qb6 8.Qa4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Ndxe5 10.Bb1 Bd7 11.Qb5 Bc5 12.Qxb6 Bxb6 13.N2f3 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Rc8 15.0-0 0-0 16.Re1 Nc6 17.Nxc6 Rxc6 18.Bd3 a6 19.Bf4 f6 20.Bg3 e5 21.Kh1 e4 22.Bc2 f5 23.Bh4 h6 24.Be7 Rf7 25.Ba3 Bxf2 26.Re2 Bc5 27.Bxc5 Rxc5 28.Bb3 Bb5 29.Rd2 Bc4 30.Bxc4 dxc4 31.Rd8+ Rf8 32.Rd7 Rf7 33.Rd8+ Kh7 34.Re8 Rd5 35.Rb1 Rfd7 36.h3 Rd1+ 37.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 38.Kh2 Rd2 39.Re7 Rxb2 40.Rf7 Rxa2 41.Rxf5 Rc2 42.Kg3 Rxc3+ 43.Kf4 e3 44.Ke5 b5 0-1

 

(40) Radaelli,Lucas - Chambers,Don (1127) [D08]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (8.46), 07.05.2019

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.e3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 dxe3 7.Bxb4 exf2+ 8.Ke2 Qxd1+ 9.Kxd1 Nxb4 10.Be2 Bf5 11.Na3 0-0-0+ 12.Kc1 Nd3+ 13.Kc2 Nf4+ 0-1

 

(41) Sullivan,George T (958) - Gulbis,Andrejs Juris [E51]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (8.47), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Bb4 6.Bd2 0-0 7.Bd3 Re8 8.0-0 Bd6 9.h3 e5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Bxh7+?? Kxh7 14.Qh5+ Kg8 15.cxd5 Qxd5 16.f4 Qxd2 17.fxe5 Qxe3+ 18.Rf2 Rf8 19.Raf1 g6 20.Qh4 g5 21.Qc4 Be6 22.Qxc7 Bd5 23.Kh2 Rae8 24.Rxf7?? Rxf7 25.Rf3 Qxe5+ 0-1

 

(42) White,Andrew Robbins - Anderson,David [D53]

Mechanics' Spring TNM: Under 1600 San Francisco (8.49), 07.05.2019

[de Firmian/Winslow]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 [3.cxd5] 3...e6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Bxf6 [5.e3] 5...Bxf6 6.e3 Nc6 7.cxd5 exd5 8.f4 0-0 9.Nf3 Re8 10.Qd2 Bf5 11.Bd3 Bxd3 12.Qxd3

12...Qd7 [12...Nb4 13.Qd2 Rxe3+!] 13.0-0 a6 14.Rfe1 Ne7 15.e4 dxe4 16.Rxe4 Nf5 17.d5 Nh4 18.Nxh4 Bxh4 19.g3 Bf6 20.Rae1 Rxe4 21.Qxe4 g6 22.Kg2 Kf8 23.Rf1 Re8 24.Qb4+ Be7 25.Qxb7 Bb4?? 26.Qc6?? Qxc6 27.dxc6 Bxc3 28.bxc3 Re2+ 29.Rf2 Re1 30.Kf3 f5 31.Rd2 Re6 32.Rd8+ Ke7 33.Rd7+ Ke8 34.Rxc7 Kd8 35.Rxh7 Rxc6 36.Rh6 Rxc3+ 37.Kg2 Rc6 38.h4 Ke7 39.h5 Kf7 40.hxg6+ Kg7 41.Rh7+ Kxg6 42.Ra7 Rc2+ 43.Kh3 Rxa2 44.g4 1/2-1/2