Game of the week

June 20, 2021 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "Quito 1976"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Evgeni, Vasiukov"]  [Black "Oscar Panno"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "C94"]  [WhiteElo "2580"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "72"]  [EventDate "1976.??.??"]  [EventType "tourn"]  [EventRounds "17"]  [EventCountry "ECU"]  [EventCategory "5"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3  O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d3 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 (11... c5 $1 12. Nf1 Nb6 13. Ng3 c4 14.  Bc2 cxd3 15. Qxd3 Re8 $11 {Demuria-Sardarov, Tbilisi 1957}) 12. Nf1 Nc5 13. Bc2  Re8 14. Ng3 Bf8 15. Nh2 (15. Be3 $5 h6 16. b4 Ncd7 $11) 15... Ne6 ({The main  line is} 15... d5 $11) (15... a5 $5 $11) 16. Nf5 (16. d4 exd4 17. cxd4 c5 18.  d5 Nd4 $11) 16... Kh8 (16... c5 $11 {Babula-Thipsay, Poznan 1984}) 17. Qf3 (17.  d4 g6 $11) 17... Ng8 (17... c5 $11) 18. Ng4 (18. Ne3 $5) 18... g6 19. Nfh6 Nxh6  20. Nxh6 Bxh6 21. Bxh6 f5 22. g3 (22. Bd2 c5 $11) 22... Ng5 (22... a5 $5) 23.  Qg2 Qf6 24. h4 $6 (24. a4 fxe4 25. Bxg5 (25. dxe4 $2 Nf3+) 25... Qxg5 26. dxe4  bxa4 $11) 24... Nf7 25. Bd2 g5 (25... fxe4 $5) 26. Qf3 f4 27. Bb3 (27. Kf1 $5  Rg8 $15) 27... Rg8 28. Kh1 $6 (28. Kf1 c5 $17) 28... Raf8 $2 (28... c5 $1 29.  Bxf7 Qxf7 30. gxf4 gxf4 $19) 29. Rg1 Rg6 (29... c5 $17) 30. a4 $6 (30. Rg2 $5  c5 $17) 30... bxa4 31. Rxa4 (31. Bxf7 Qxf7 32. h5 Rh6 33. g4 d5 $19 {puts up  more resistance}) 31... Bc8 $1 32. Raa1 g4 $2 (32... Nh6 $19) 33. Qg2 Ng5 $6 (  33... Rh6 $16) 34. Rgf1 $2 (34. hxg5 Qxg5 35. Rgf1 Rh6+ 36. Kg1 Qh5 37. gxf4  exf4 38. Be3 c5 $17) 34... Nf3 35. Bc1 $2 (35. Bd1 {is a slightlj slower  ascent of the gallows}) 35... Rh6 36. Bd1 ({After} 36. Qh3 {White doesn't get  (immediately) checkmated}) 36... Rxh4+ 0-1

Game of the week

June 13, 2021 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "1994 Memorial Day Classic"]  [White "Walter Browne"]  [Black "Rafael Vaganian"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "D55"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "66"]  [EventDate "1994.05.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "6"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "Unknown"]  [SourceDate "2009.03.03"]  [SourceVersionDate "2009.03.03"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1  a6 9. a3 Nc6 $6 (9... c6 10. Bd3 (10. h4 $5) 10... Nd7 11. O-O Rb8 $11) 10.  cxd5 $6 (10. Bd3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 e5 12. d5 $14) 10... exd5 11. Be2 (11. Bd3 $1)  11... Re8 (11... Ne7 $1 $11) 12. O-O (12. Qb3 $5) 12... Na7 13. b4 c6 (13...  Qd6 $11) 14. a4 b5 (14... Be7 $1 $11) 15. a5 $6 (15. Bd3 $14) 15... Qe7 16. Qb3  (16. Na2 $5) 16... Bf5 17. Ne1 (17. Rfe1 $5) 17... Nc8 18. Bd3 (18. Na2 $5)  18... Bxd3 (18... Bd7 $5) 19. Nxd3 Nd6 20. Rcd1 (20. Rfe1 Nc4 21. Rcd1 Qd8 $11)  20... g6 21. Rfe1 Bg7 22. Nc5 f5 $5 (22... Nc4 $11) 23. Ne2 Qf7 (23... g5 $1  $11) 24. Nf4 g5 25. Nfd3 Nc4 26. g3 (26. Qc2 $5) 26... Ra7 (26... f4 $1 27.  exf4 Bxd4 28. Qc2 gxf4 $11) 27. Qc2 Qh5 (27... h5 $5) 28. Kg2 Rae7 29. Qc1 f4  30. exf4 Re2 (30... Bxd4 $5) 31. Rxe2 $2 (31. Ne5 Rxf2+ 32. Kxf2 Qxh2+ 33. Kf1  (33. Kf3 h5 $1 34. Ncd3 g4+ 35. Nxg4 hxg4+ 36. Kxg4 Re2 37. f5 Re4+ 38. Rxe4  dxe4 39. Nf4 Bxd4 $1 40. Rxd4 Ne5+ 41. Kg5 Nf7+ 42. Kg4 Ne5+ $11) 33... gxf4  34. gxf4 Rf8 35. Ng6 Qh5 36. Nxf8 Qf3+ $11) 31... Rxe2 32. fxg5 $2 (32. Re1  Bxd4 33. Rxe2 Qxe2 34. Kg1 Nd2 $19 {puts up a lot more (fruitless) resistance})  32... Ne3+ 33. Kg1 Qf3 0-1

Game of the week

June 6, 2021 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "1990 Canadian Open"]  [Site "Edmunston"]  [White "Danny Kopec"]  [Black "Georgy Timoshenko"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [ECO "B40"]  [WhiteElo "2468"]  [BlackElo "2543"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "81"]  [EventDate "1990.06.29"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "10"]  [EventCountry "CAN"]  [SourceTitle "CFC 1990.10"]  [SourceDate "2011.01.01"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2011.01.01"]  [SourceQuality "1"]   1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. b3 $5 Nf6 (4... a6 5. g3 Be7 $11) 5. Bb5 $146  {It's not often that you leave the database on move five!} (5. Bb2 d5 6. exd5 (  6. Bb5) 6... exd5 7. Bb5 Bd6 $11 {Malar-Winckelmann, Ireland 2000}) 5... e5 $2  (5... Qc7 $11) 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Nxe5 Nxe4 8. Nxe4 Qd4 9. O-O Qxe5 10. Ba3 Be6 $6  (10... Bf5 11. Ng5 Qf6 12. Re1+ $14) 11. Re1 Qf5 $6 (11... Qd5 12. c4 Qd4 13.  Ng5 O-O-O 14. Rxe6 $1 fxe6 15. Nxe6 $16) 12. d4 O-O-O 13. Bxc5 h5 $2 (13...  Bxc5 14. Nxc5 $16) 14. Bxf8 $6 (14. Bxa7 $18) 14... Rhxf8 15. c4 h4 (15... Qg6  16. f3 $16 {is very slightly better}) 16. h3 ({And here} 16. f3 $16 {is very  slightly better}) 16... Qg6 17. Kh1 (17. Kf1 $1 $16) 17... Bf5 18. Qd3 Rd7 19.  Rad1 Rfd8 20. f3 (20. Rd2 $1 $16) 20... Rxd4 21. Qxd4 Rxd4 22. Rxd4 Kc7 $6 (  22... a5 23. c5 Kb8 24. b4 Bxe4 25. Rdxe4 $16) 23. Nd6 (23. b4 $1 $16) 23...  Be6 24. Ne8+ $2 (24. b4 a6 (24... Kb6 $2 25. a4 $18) 25. Ne4 $16) 24... Kb6 25.  b4 a6 26. c5+ Ka7 27. Nd6 Qf6 $2 (27... Qg3 28. Re2 Bxh3 29. a4 (29. gxh3 $2  Qxf3+ 30. Rg2 Qxh3+ 31. Kg1 Qe3+ $19) 29... g5 30. b5 cxb5 31. axb5 a5 32. Kg1  Bxg2 33. Rg4 (33. Rxg2 $2 Qe1+ 34. Kh2 Qe5+ $19) 33... Qxf3 34. b6+ Ka6 35.  Rgxg2 Qc3 36. Rc2 Qe3+ $11) 28. Ree4 g5 $6 (28... a5 29. a4 b6 30. cxb6+ Kxb6  31. bxa5+ Kxa5 32. Nc4+ $16) 29. a4 g4 $6 (29... Qh8 30. a5 $16) 30. hxg4 h3 $2  (30... a5 $1 31. b5 $16) 31. Kh2 $2 (31. b5 $18) 31... hxg2 32. Kxg2 Bd5 $2 (  32... a5 33. Ne8 (33. bxa5 Qg5 34. Rb4 $18) 33... Qg5 34. Nc7 $18) 33. Rxd5 $2  (33. b5 axb5 34. axb5 Kb8 35. Re8+ Kc7 36. Nf5 $18) 33... cxd5 34. Nc8+ Kb8 35.  Re8 b5 $1 36. axb5 axb5 37. Nb6+ Kb7 38. Rb8+ Ka7 39. Ra8+ Kb7 40. Rb8+ Ka7 41.  Ra8+ 1/2-1/2

Game of the week

May 30, 2021 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "Netherlands 1975"]  [White "Jan Timman"]  [Black "Hans Ree"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "D43"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "45"]  [EventDate "1975.??.??"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 (5... dxc4 $1 $11) 6. Bxf6  Qxf6 7. e3 (7. Qc2 $5) 7... g6 (7... Bd6 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nd7  $11) 8. Bd3 (8. Ne5 $5 Nd7 9. f4 h5 $1 $11) 8... Bg7 9. e4 (9. O-O O-O 10. e4  dxe4 11. Nxe4 Qd8 $11) 9... dxe4 10. Nxe4 Qd8 11. Qd2 (11. c5 $5 O-O 12. O-O  Bxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Qc2 Nd7 15. Rfd1 Qg7 16. Nd6 Rb8 $11) 11... f5 $6 (11...  O-O 12. O-O-O Na6 $11) 12. Nc3 Na6 $6 (12... Bxd4 13. Bxf5 gxf5 14. Qxd4 Qxd4  15. Nxd4 $14) 13. c5 (13. O-O $1 $14) 13... e5 $2 (13... Nc7 14. O-O-O $14) 14.  Bxa6 exd4 $6 (14... e4 15. Bc4 exf3 16. O-O-O $16) 15. O-O-O (15. Qe2+ $5)  15... bxa6 16. Rhe1+ $6 (16. Nxd4 $18) 16... Kf7 17. Ne5+ $6 (17. Nxd4 $1 $16)  17... Bxe5 18. Rxe5 Qg5 $2 (18... Be6 19. Ne2 Qf6 20. f4 $16) 19. f4 dxc3 $2 (  19... Qd8 20. Qf2 $18) 20. Qd3 $2 (20. Qe3 $18) 20... cxb2+ $2 (20... Qxf4+ 21.  Qe3 cxb2+ 22. Kxb2 Rb8+ 23. Ka1 Qxe3 24. Rxe3 Rb5 $19) 21. Kb1 Qh4 $2 (21...  Qxf4 22. Qd6 Re8 23. Re7+ Rxe7 24. Qxf4 Be6 $11) 22. g3 (22. Qc4+ Kg7 23. Rd6  $18) 22... Rd8 $2 (22... Qf6 23. Qc4+ Kg7 24. Rd6 $18 {would prolong the game})  23. Qb3+ 1-0

Game of the week

May 16, 2021 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

Grandmaster Sadler turned 46 yesterday.

[Event "1989 World Youth Championship"]  [White "Matthew Sadler"]  [Black "Amador Rodriguez"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "A01"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "71"]  [EventDate "1989.08.??"]  [EventType "schev"]  [EventCountry "PUR"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 d6 (3... a6 $5 $11) 4. Bb5 (4. c4 $5)  4... Bd7 (4... Qg5 $5) 5. Ne2 ({Better is} 5. Nf3 a6 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. c4 g5 $5  $11) 5... a6 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. O-O Qg5 8. f3 f5 (8... O-O-O $11) 9. c4 (9. Na3 $5  ) 9... Nf6 10. Nbc3 (10. Qc1 $5 Be7 11. d4) 10... h5 (10... Be7 $5 $11) 11. Rf2  (11. b4 $5) 11... h4 12. d4 (12. Qc2 $5) 12... O-O-O $6 (12... h3 13. g3 Qh5  $11) 13. b4 (13. h3 $1 d5 14. dxe5 dxc4 15. Qc1 $14) 13... h3 14. g3 Nh5 $2 (  14... Qh5 15. Qf1 $14) 15. Qd2 $6 (15. b5 $1 Be8 (15... axb5 16. cxb5 Be8 17.  Qa4 $18) 16. bxa6 bxa6 17. Nd5 $18) 15... Be7 (15... f4 16. exf4 Nxf4 17. Nxf4  exf4 18. d5 $18 {puts up a tougher fight}) 16. b5 axb5 17. cxb5 Bd7 $2 (17...  Be8 {won't save the game but it's a lot better}) 18. Nd5 (18. f4 $1 $18 {  is even stronger}) 18... Be6 19. f4 exf4 20. exf4 Qg4 21. Nxe7+ (21. Ne3 $1 Qg6  22. d5 Bf7 23. b6 $18 {dispatches Black quicker}) 21... Kd7 22. d5 Bf7 23. Nc6  bxc6 24. dxc6+ Ke8 $6 (24... Ke7 {lasts a bit longer}) 25. b6 $1 cxb6 26. Qe3+  $6 (26. c7 Rc8 27. Qxd6 $18 {is the quick method}) 26... Kf8 27. Qxb6 Re8 28.  c7 Qg6 $6 ({Connecting the rooks with} 28... Kg8 29. Qxd6 Kh7 {puts up more  (futile) resistance}) 29. Rd1 Bxa2 $2 (29... d5 30. Qc5+ Kg8 31. c8=Q $18 {  is irrelevantly much better}) 30. Rxd6 Qf7 31. Rd8 (31. Qc5 $1) 31... Be6 $2 ({  Not that it matters but} 31... Kg8 {is much better}) 32. c8=Q (32. Nd4 $1 {  and mate in 21 according to Stockfish}) 32... Bxc8 33. Qc5+ Kg8 34. Rxc8 Rxc8  35. Qxc8+ Kh7 36. Qc2 1-0

Game of the week

May 9, 2021 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "1986 World Open"]  [White "Tim Taylor"]  [Black "Joel Benjamin"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "B12"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "52"]  [EventDate "1986.07.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "9"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "CL, Oct 1986"]  [SourceDate "2019.05.21"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2019.05.21"]  [SourceQuality "1"]   1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 (4... Nf6 $5 $11) 5. Nge2 dxe4 6. fxe4 (  6. a3 $5 Bxc3+ 7. Nxc3 exf3 8. Qxf3 Qxd4 9. Be3 Qf6 10. Qg3 $44) 6... Qh4+ 7.  Ng3 Nf6 8. Qd3 e5 (8... c5 $5) 9. dxe5 $6 (9. Be3) 9... Ng4 10. Bd2 $6 (10. Be2  O-O $11) 10... Bc5 11. Nd1 Na6 $6 (11... O-O $17) 12. a3 $2 (12. Qf3 O-O $11)  12... O-O 13. Qc3 Rd8 14. Bxa6 Bd4 15. Qa5 $2 (15. Qf3 bxa6 16. h3 Nxe5 $17)  15... b6 16. Qa4 Bxa6 (16... Nxh2 $1 17. Qb3 Bxa6 $19 {is even more crushing})  17. Qxa6 Nxh2 18. Qe2 (18. Qd3 Bxb2 $1 19. Qe3 Bxe5 $19 {is slightly (but  irrelevantly) better}) 18... Qxg3+ 19. Nf2 Bxb2 (19... Ng4 $1 {is stronger  still}) 20. Ra2 $2 ({White could prolong his suffering with} 20. Rd1) 20...  Qxg2 ({And} 20... Bc3 {would put White out of his misery a lot quicker}) 21.  Rxh2 Qxh2 22. Qf3 ({If White didn't want to be put out of his misery quickly,  he would play} 22. Rxb2) 22... Qg1+ 23. Ke2 Rxd2+ 24. Kxd2 Qc1+ 25. Ke2 Qxc2+  26. Ke1 Qb1+ 0-1

Game of the week

May 2, 2021 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "1983 Memorial Day Classic"]  [Site "Hollywood, CA"]  [White "James Tarjan"]  [Black "Nick De Firmian"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "A46"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "69"]  [EventDate "1983.05.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "6"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "Unknown"]  [SourceDate "2009.03.03"]  [SourceVersionDate "2009.03.03"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 b5 $5 4. Bg5 Bb7 5. Bg2 (5. Nbd2 $1) 5... c5 6. c3  Qb6 $6 (6... d5 $1 7. O-O Nbd7 8. a4 b4 $11 {Monell Camarasa-Pogorelov  Torredembarra 2009}) 7. Nbd2 (7. Bxf6 $1 gxf6 8. O-O $14) 7... cxd4 (7... Be7  $1 $11) 8. cxd4 (8. Bxf6 $1 gxf6 9. cxd4 a5 $1 $11) 8... Be7 9. O-O Nc6 (9...  d6 $5 $11) 10. e3 h6 $6 (10... d6 $11) 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Ne4 Be7 13. Rc1 d6 $6  (13... Rd8 14. Nc5 $14) 14. d5 $1 Nd8 (14... Na5 15. dxe6 Bxe4 16. exf7+ Kf8 (  16... Kxf7 $6 17. Ng5+ hxg5 18. Bxe4 Rab8 19. Bd5+ Ke8 20. b3 Kd8 21. Qg4) 17.  Nd4 Bxg2 18. Qh5 d5 19. Rc6 Qxd4 20. exd4 Nxc6 21. Rc1 $1 (21. Kxg2 Rd8 22. Rc1  $14) 21... Be4 22. Rxc6 $16) 15. Nd4 $2 (15. Nc3 $1 $16) 15... Bxd5 16. Nf5  Bxe4 17. Bxe4 d5 18. Bxd5 exd5 19. Qxd5 Rb8 20. Rfd1 $5 (20. Nxg7+ Kf8 21. Nf5  Rg8 $11) 20... Bf6 21. Qd7+ Kf8 22. Nd6 (22. Rd6 Rb7 $11) 22... Kg8 23. Rd5 (  23. b4 Kh7 24. Qf5+ Kg8 25. Qd7 $11) (23. e4 Bxb2 24. Rb1 Bf6 25. e5 Bg5 (25...  Bxe5 $2 26. Qe8+) 26. h4 Qc6 $11) (23. h4 $44) 23... a6 (23... Qa5 $5) 24. h4 (  24. Rf5 $5 Kh7 (24... Qa5 $6 25. Rc7 Qxa2 26. Qe8+ Kh7 27. Qe4 Kg8 28. Rxf6  gxf6 29. Re7 $14) 25. Rxf6 gxf6 26. Nxf7 (26. Rc7 Kg7 27. Qg4+ $11) 26... Rb7  27. Qf5+ Kg7 28. Nxh8 Kxh8 29. Rc8 $44) 24... Kh7 (24... Bxb2 $5 25. Rc2 Bf6  26. h5 $44) 25. Qf5+ Kg8 26. Rcd1 $2 (26. Qd7 $11) 26... Nc6 27. Ne4 (27. R5d2  Ne7 $17 {is somewhat better}) 27... Be7 $2 (27... Bxb2 28. Rd6 Ba3 $17) 28. h5  $2 (28. Rd7 $16) 28... Bf8 $2 (28... Nd8 29. Rd7 Rb7 $11) 29. Rd7 Ne7 30. Qf4  Rb7 $2 (30... Ra8 31. R1d6 $16) 31. Rd8 (31. R1d6 $1 Qa5 $2 (31... Qa7 $2 32.  Qg4) (31... Rxd7 32. Rxb6 Nd5 33. Qg4 $18 {is best}) 32. Qg4 {is even more  bone crushing}) 31... Kh7 $2 (31... f5 32. R1d6 Qc7 33. Qe5 $1 fxe4 34. Qe6+  Kh7 35. Qxe4+ Kg8 36. R8d7 $18) 32. R1d6 Qc7 $2 (32... Qxd8) 33. Qxf7 (33.  Rxh6+ $1 Kg8 (33... gxh6 34. Qxf7+ Bg7 35. Nf6#) 34. Nf6+ gxf6 35. Rxh8+ Kxh8  36. Qh6+ Kg8 37. Rxf8#) 33... Nd5 (33... Rg8 34. Nf6+ {would only prolong  Black's suffering}) 34. Qf5+ g6 35. Qxg6# 1-0

Game of the week

April 18, 2021 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "1998 Continental Open"]  [Site "Los Angeles, CA"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Alexander Shabalov"]  [Black "Suat Atalik"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "C30"]  [BlackElo "2585"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "53"]  [EventDate "1998.07.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "7"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "CL, Oct 1998"]  [SourceDate "2018.03.07"]  [SourceVersionDate "2018.03.07"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nc6 4. d3 Bc5 5. f4 d6 6. Nf3 a6 7. f5 h6 (7... b5  8. Bb3 Na5 9. Bg5 Bb7 $11) 8. a3 (8. Nd5 $5 Na5 9. b4 Nxd5 10. bxc5 Nf6 11. Bb3  O-O $11) 8... b5 9. Ba2 Bb7 (9... Nd4 $5) 10. Bd2 (10. Nd5 Nd4 11. Nxd4 Bxd4  $11 {Huerga Leache-Fernandez Romero, Azuqueca de Henares 2013}) 10... Nd4 11.  Nxd4 exd4 $6 (11... Bxd4 12. Qf3 Qd7 $11) 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 Bxd5 14. exd5  Qh4+ (14... Qe7+ $5) 15. g3 Qh3 (15... Qe7+ 16. Kf2 $14 {is slightly better})  16. Qf3 Kd7 (16... O-O-O $1 17. O-O-O $14) 17. O-O-O Rae8 18. f6 $6 (18. b4 $16  ) 18... g6 19. Rde1 (19. Rhf1 $5) 19... h5 $2 (19... Re5 20. Bf4 Ree8 21. b4  Bb6 22. Rhf1 $14) 20. Re7+ Rxe7 21. fxe7 Ke8 $6 (21... Kxe7 $2 22. Re1+ Kf8 23.  Qf6 $18) (21... Qf5 22. Qxf5+ gxf5 23. b4 Bb6 24. Bg5 $18) 22. b4 Bb6 23. Qf6  Rh7 24. Rf1 $6 ({The immediate} 24. Bg5 $18 {is the quick method}) 24... Qxh2  25. Bg5 (25. Qf3 $5) 25... Qe2 (25... Qxg3 $2 26. Qxg6 $1 Qe1+ (26... fxg6 $2  27. Rf8+ Kd7 28. e8=Q#) 27. Kb2 Qc3+ 28. Kb1 Qe1+ 29. Ka2 Qxe7 30. Qg8+ Kd7 31.  Bxe7 $18 {with a quick mate to follow}) 26. Kb2 Kd7 27. Rf4 (27. Rf5 $1 a5 (  27... gxf5 $2 28. Qxf5+ $18) 28. Bh4 axb4 29. Rxh5 $1 Rxh5 (29... gxh5 30. Qf5+  $18) 30. Qxf7 bxa3+ 31. Kxa3 Kc8 32. e8=R+ $18 {is a cute line as is}) (27.  Qxf7 $6 Rxf7 28. Rxf7 $18) ({I can't help wondering if Black on time. Even  though he's completely lost after} 27. Rf4 Qe1 28. Rf2 (28. Rf5 $1 {wins as in  the last note but if White didn't see it then, maybe he wouldn't see it now.  At least, Black could hold off resignation to find out.}) 28... Qc3+ 29. Ka2  $18 {, he might have played on for a few more moves.}) 1-0

Game of the week

April 11, 2021 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

A good example (for an organic player) of how to win with the bishop pair.

[Event "Los Angeles 1995"]  [White "Eduard Gufeld"]  [Black "Enrico Sevillano"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "C05"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "89"]  [EventDate "1995.??.??"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 (6... b6 $5) 7. Ne2  f6 $6 (7... cxd4 $5) 8. Nf4 Qe7 9. exf6 (9. Nf3 $1 cxd4 10. cxd4 Ndxe5 $1 11.  dxe5 fxe5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Qh5+ Nf7 14. O-O $14) 9... Nxf6 (9... Qxf6 $1 10.  Nf3 Bd6 11. Nh5 Qe7 12. O-O cxd4 13. cxd4 $14) 10. Nf3 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qc7 (11...  g6 $5 12. O-O Bg7 13. Re1 $14 {Kristof-Kovacs, Hungary 2006}) 12. O-O Bd6 13.  g3 O-O 14. Re1 e5 (14... g6 15. Bc2 Re8 16. Nd3 $16) 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5  Bxe5 17. Qb3 (17. Nxd5 $1 Nxd5 18. Qh5 $16 {Puraev-Guzikov, Novokuznetsk 2011})  17... Qd6 (17... Rd8 18. Bd2 $16 {is slightly better}) 18. Bd2 $6 (18. Be3 $16)  18... a5 19. h4 (19. a4 Kh8 20. Rac1 Bd7 $11) 19... a4 $6 (19... Bd7 $11) 20.  Qb4 Bxf4 $6 (20... Rd8 21. Qxd6 Bxd6 22. Bc3 $14) 21. Qxf4 Qxf4 22. Bxf4 Bd7  23. Re7 $5 (23. Kg2 $16) 23... Rae8 24. Rae1 Rxe7 25. Rxe7 Re8 $6 (25... Rf7  26. Re5 $16) 26. Rxe8+ Bxe8 27. f3 Bc6 (27... Bg6 $1 28. Bb5 $16) 28. Kf2 Kf7  29. Ke3 $6 (29. Bc2 $1 $16) 29... g6 $6 (29... d4+ $1 30. Kxd4 Bxf3 31. Bb5 $16  ) 30. Kd4 Nd7 (30... Ke6 {is somewhat better}) 31. g4 Ke6 (31... Nb6 32. Bg5  $18 {is a slight improvement}) 32. Bh6 $2 (32. h5 $18) 32... Nb6 $2 (32... Ne5  33. Be2 $16) 33. Bf4 $2 (33. f4 $18) 33... Nc4 (33... Nd7 34. h5 $18) 34. Bc1 (  34. b3 $1 $18) 34... Ne5 (34... Nd6 $5) 35. Be2 b6 (35... Be8 $5) 36. Bd1 (36.  f4 $1 $16) 36... Bb5 37. Kc3 a3 $2 (37... Nc6 38. Be3 $16) 38. bxa3 Nc4 39. a4  Bc6 40. Kd4 Ne5 (40... Nd6 41. Bc2 $18 {is slightly better}) 41. Bf4 (41. f4 $1  {is even stronger}) 41... Nd7 $6 (41... Nc4 {would prolong the game without  changing the result}) 42. Bc2 (42. Bc7 {is the quick method}) 42... Nf6 (42...  Kf7 {is slightly better (but who cares?)}) 43. h5 $6 ({Again} 43. Bc7 {is  better}) 43... Be8 $2 (43... gxh5 44. gxh5 Nxh5 45. Bc7 Ng7 46. Bxb6 h5 {  puts up a fight}) 44. h6 Nd7 (44... Ng8 {is (irrelevantly) better}) 45. Bc7 1-0

Game of the week

April 4, 2021 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

Congratulations to Grandmaster So for his recent naturalization as a US citizen.

[Event "2011 Hamilton Winter Open"]  [Site "Hamilton, Ontario"]  [White "Victor Plotkin"]  [Black "Wesley So"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "B22"]  [WhiteElo "2409"]  [BlackElo "2667"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "70"]  [EventDate "2011.03.26"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "6"]  [EventCountry "CAN"]  [SourceTitle "hb"]   1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nf3 e6 6. cxd4 d6 7. Bc4 Nc6 8. O-O  Be7 9. exd6 Qxd6 10. Nc3 Nxc3 (10... a6 $1 $11) 11. bxc3 b6 12. Ng5 (12. Re1 $5  $14) 12... Bb7 (12... Bxg5 $5 13. Bxg5 h6 14. Bc1 O-O 15. Re1 $14) 13. Qg4 $6 (  13. Re1 $14) 13... h5 $1 14. Qf3 (14. Qh3 $5) 14... Bxg5 15. Bxg5 Na5 16. Bb5+  Kf8 17. Bf4 (17. Qg3 $6 Qxg3 18. hxg3 f6 $15) 17... Qd5 18. Qxd5 Bxd5 19. Rfc1  (19. Rfe1 $5) 19... Bc4 20. Bd6+ (20. Ba4 f6 $11) 20... Kg8 21. Ba4 Rc8 (21...  Bd5 $5) 22. Bb4 (22. h4 $5) 22... Nc6 23. f3 $6 (23. h4 $1 f6 24. Bd6 Kf7 25.  Bf4 g6 $11) 23... h4 $1 24. Kf2 f6 (24... Rh5 $5) 25. Bd1 $6 (25. Bb3 Bxb3 26.  axb3 Kf7 $15) 25... Kf7 26. Ke3 $6 (26. Bd6 Rhd8 27. Bf4 e5 $17) 26... e5 27.  dxe5 $2 (27. Ba3 $1 Rhd8 $17) 27... Nxe5 28. Bb3 $2 (28. Bc2 h3 $19 {puts up a  lot more resistance}) 28... Rhe8 29. Kd2 $2 ({It doesn't really matter but} 29.  Bxc4+ Nxc4+ 30. Kf2 a5 $19 {is a whole lot better}) 29... Bxb3 $2 ({missing}  29... Nxf3+ $3 30. Kc2 (30. gxf3 $2 Re2+ 31. Kd1 Rd8+ 32. Bd6 Rxd6#) 30... Re2+  31. Kb1 Nd2+ {with a forced mate in 26 (and ruinous loss of material before  that)}) 30. axb3 a5 31. Ba3 ({White's position is so bad that Stockfish would  rather dump a piece with} 31. Bxa5) 31... Rcd8+ 32. Kc2 Nd3 33. Rg1 (33. Rd1 {  is irrelevantly better}) 33... Re2+ 34. Kb1 Ne1 35. Bc1 Rd1 0-1

ALL THINGS HUMAN

HOMO SUM; HUMANI NIL A ME ALIENUM PUTO.

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