2016 Canadian Senior If I’D Expected Even Half of That I Would Have Started Sooner!

Chess Canada K2 editor’s notes: 2 Chess Canada Each time I finish an issue of Chess Canada I wonder what took so long. Chess Canada (CCN) is the elec- Chess Canada Three Four years into the job and I’m only mildly surprised by how long it takes to do what I think of as my job as writer/editor: find interesting events tronic newsletter of the Chess K2 and games, bargain for submissions, write them myself when no one else will, Federation of Canada. Opinions proofread and blundercheck each contributors’ work, convert ChessBase, PGN expressed in it are those of the and Word files into something that works in PDF, find photos, white-balance jpegs that look like they’ve been shot through a slice of lemon, assemble the credited authors and/or editor, 300+ parts in Adobe, fiddle ‘til it flows, re-proofread and send. Simple, if not and do not necessarily reflect Chicken with Raz easy; and practice has made it easier. those of the CFC, its Governors, ...... 6 What I don’t understand is why it takes me so long to knuckle down and put in agents or employees, living or the 72 hours or so of concentrated work to get it done. Because, when I’m done dead. Dresden Reunion I really like what these issues become. I read them. I always spot flaws I missed ...... 44 the first dozen times, but I still think they’re pretty good. And sometimes they surprise me. This issue has 33 annotated games, but that’s a record-halving 6 annotated by me. It has games by almost all of my favourite regular contribu- subscriptions Edmonton Invitational tors, as well as first-timers like Leon Piasetski and Paul and Dave Ross. There’s CCN is distributed by email to ...... 69 a long interview with Canada’s second-youngest-ever GM, a player who’s been CFC members who have submit- contributing to Chess Canada since he was an FM and now talks about how he got to GM and what he might do in chess now that there are no more titles to ted their email address to the Commonwealth Championship win. In this issue, even Duncan Suttles makes an appearance! What more could CFC: ...... 83 I possibly ask for?* [email protected] 2016 Canadian Senior If I’d expected even half of that I would have started sooner! ...... 91 Or not. I really, really liked the Olympiad Issue; but that didn’t make me get to 2 submissions work any sooner or harder on this one. I have over 20 annotated games that CCN is looking for contributions: were ready-to-go and got cut from this issue because it’s already too long; from girls at the Susan Polgar Invitationals, Alex from the Quebec Grand Prix, Aman tournament reports, photos, an- Across Canada from Reykjavik, and Eric from TATA Steel... anada notated games. For examples, ...... 107 see this issue or read the 2013.06 I would read that. In fact, it sounds so good it’s almost enough to make me want to write an angry email to complain about having to wait! Probably not. Maybe

C Appendix for other ideas. Columns I should start thinking of my job as just the “getting started” part, since every- Critical Positions ...... 3 thing flows after that. Instead, I told the CFC exec I would quit if I don’t send them another issue within two weeks. suggestions Maybe that will work. If you have an idea for a story you Maybe we’ll have to wait and see.

would like to write, email me: - John Upper, editor Chess Canada.. [email protected] Cover: Ace detergent schools dirt. PS: K2 = Catch-up x Ketsup The silly titles are partly because calendar-based dating My pick for best chess-themed ad, makes no sense when the content and release dates are

hess so far apart, and party as a parody of the Informant’s new - John Upper even though the c8-sundae & random non-numerical titles. K2: Ketsup editor CCN g1-sock make no sense.

C *A: annotated game scores to a secret training RR between Yanofsky, Spraggett, Ivanov and Day. selected by the editor 3 Critical Positions XIIIIIIIIY The following diagrams are criti cal XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY positi ons from this issue of Chess 8r+-wqr+k+0 8-+ltr-+k+0 8-+-+-+-+0 Canada. You can treat them as ex- 7+l+n+p+-0 7+-+-wqpzpp0 7+-+-+-zpk0 ercises or as a teaser introducti on 6p+-zp-+p+0 6p+Q+p+-+0 6p+-+-+-+0 to what you’ll fi nd this month. 5+psnP+-+p0 5+-+-+-zP-0 5+p+-sn-+p0 4P+p+PvL-+0 4N+-+r+-+0 4-+-+-+-zP0 These “criti cal positi ons” can be: 3+N+-+-+-0 • winning combinati ons 3+-zP-+-sNP0 3+P+-+-+P0 • surprising tacti cs 2-zPLwQ-+PsN0 2P+-+-zP-+0 2PzPPmK-+-+0 • endgames requiring precise 1+-+-+RmK-0 1mK-+R+-tR-0 1+-+-+-+-0 play xabcdefghy xabcdefghy xabcdefghy • simple calculati on exercises ♘ ♘ • variati on-rich middlegames ...h4 or ...♕e7 ... c4+ or ... f3+ see: • moments when one player see: Razvan see: Razvan Razvan went badly wrong. XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 8-+-+-+-+0 8-+-tr-trk+0 8-tR-+l+-+0 2 7+-+-+-+-0 7+p+-wq-zpp0 7zp-+-trp+p0 The and squares next to 6-+-zpk+p+0 each diagram indicate the player 6-vl-+-+-+0 6-wQ-+l+-+0 5+p+-+-+-0 to move. 5+P+-+k+p0 5+-zpp+n+-0 4-zP-+PzP-+0 anada 4-+-+-+p+0 4-+-zPn+N+0 3+-+-zp-zPP0 3+-+-vLP+-0 3+-+-mK-+-0 C Soluti ons appear in the game anal- 2P+-+L+PzP0 ysis in this month’s CCN, in the red 2-+-+-+K+0 2PzP-+L+PzP0 1+-+-+-sN-0 1tR-+-+RmK-0 1+-+-+-+-0 diagrams in the reports named xabcdefghy under the diagram. Criti cal pos- xabcdefghy xabcdefghy ti ons usually feature signifi cantly ....d5 or ...f5 see: Razvan see: more analyti cal commentary than Razvan see: Dresden the rest of the game. hess K2: Ketsup C 4 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 8r+-+kvl-tr0 8-+-vl-+-+0 8-+-+-tr-+0 8r+lwq-trk+0 7+-+n+p+-0 7+-+Pmk-+-0 7zp-+-+-zp-0 7zpp+-+-vlp0 6pwql+p+pzp0 6-zp-+-zp-+0 6-+k+p+-zp0 6-+-+-+p+0 5+-zp-zP-+-0 5+P+-+L+K0 5+-+-+p+P0 5+-zpN+p+-0 4-+P+-zP-zP0 4-+p+-zP-+0 4-+-+-tRP+0 4-+P+-zP-+0 3zPnsNQvL-+-0 3+-+-+-zP-0 3+P+-+P+-0 3+-sNPtRn+-0 2-mKL+N+P+0 2-+-+-+-+0 2PmK-+-+-+0 2PzP-+-+PzP0 1+-+R+-+R0 1+-+-+-+-0 1+-+-+-+-0 1tR-+Q+-mK-0 xabcdefghy xabcdefghy xabcdefghy xabcdefghy

Attempt a perpetual or play for see: Edmonton see: Commonwealth si: Senior more? see: Dresden

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY

2 8-+l+-trk+0 8-+r+r+-+0 8-+-+rtrk+0 8-+r+ntrk+0 7+-+-vlpzpp0 7+-+n+-+k0 7+l+-+-wq-0 7+pwql+-zp-0 6p+-+psn-+0 6-+-+q+pzP0 6-+-zp-+p+0 6-+-+pvl-zp0 5+-+-+-+-0 5zpp+N+p+-0 5zp-sn-zppwQp0 5zp-+p+-+-0 anada 4-+-vL-+-+0 4-zpPzP-zP-+0 4PzpPzpP+-+0 4P+-+-+-+0

C 3+-+-+-zP-0 3+P+-+-+R0 3+P+P+PzPP0 3+NzP-vL-+-0 2PzP-+rzPLzP0 2P+-+-+Q+0 2-+-+-tRL+0 2-zPL+-zPPzP0 1tRN+R+-mK-0 1+-tR-+-mK-0 1+-sN-tR-mK-0 1tR-+QtR-mK-0 xabcdefghy xabcdefghy xabcdefghy xabcdefghy

see: Dresden What happens after ...♘f6? What happens on 34...f4 35.g4? White threatens ♕d3–h7; what should Black do? see: Commonwealth si: hess Senior see: Across Canada K2: Ketsup C XIIIIIIIIY 5 8rsn-+k+-tr0 7zp-sn-+qzp-0 6l+-+p+-zp0 5+-zp-zPp+P0 4-+P+-+-+0 3zP-+-+-wQ-0 2-+-+-zPP+0 1tR-vL-mKLsNR0 xabcdefghy

see: Across Canada

XIIIIIIIIY 8q+-+-tr-+0 2 7+N+-+Rvlk0 6-+-+-+pzp0 5+-+Qzp-+-0 anada 4-zp-zp-+-+0

C 3+-+-zp-zPl0 2P+-+P+-zP0 1+-tR-+-mK-0 xabcdefghy

see: Next Issue hess K2: Ketsup C Chicken with Raz by John Upper 6 At 17-years old, Razvan Preotu gratulati ons on getti ng the ti tle. is Canada’s youngest Grandmas- RP: Thank you very much. ter, and second-youngest ever (aft er Mark Bluvshtein, who did I guess getti ng that last Norm it at 16). took a bit longer than you ex- Razvan has been a regu- pected? lar contributor to Chess Canada, RP: Yeah, it took exactly two and an excellent one: prompt years. I knew it would take a lot, responses to email, and detailed but I thought a year max. notes that showed a lot of hard work with no apparent eﬀ ort to And you were playing a lot dur- keep his ideas secret. ing that ti me. With the GM ti tle fi nally in RP: I was very a c ti v .e his pocket, and with a big move coming up soon, it seemed like So even if you’re not at your a perfect ti me for an interview. I best, eventually you’re just go- picked up Razvan at his parents’ ing to hit it. 2 Burlington Ontario home, and RP: Exactly. we went for lunch at a nearby Swiss Chalet. [The waitress comes by and (somehow) that changes our anada topic to...]

C JU: I took only a quick look around the restaurant, what do 2016 Calgary you suppose the probability is that there’s another Grandmas- International ter in this restaurant right now? You won the 2016 Calgary In- RP: [laughs] I’d say that there is ternati onal, which made you a 100% chance that I’m the only the only Canadian to win un- one. shared fi rst in its history. Anton hess Kovalyov (when he was living in K2: Ketsup I think that’s a safe bet. Con- C 7 Canada but was sti ll registered Yes, I remember now: the Cal- gary in 2016. Why is that? In the Magnus documentary he with Argenti na) and Edward gary result pushed you within 8 Well, I feel aft er I got my ti tle talks about how he was teased Porper both shared fi rst. But or 9 points [of 2500], and then I should focus more on other in elementary school, and you you won outright, and ahead you got the extra points just af- things. One of them is school: can see it sti ll bothers him. of some really strong GMs: Ka- ter. it’s my last year. I remember when I was in el- msky and Bruzon both played, ementary school I got teased, and both have been way over [Razvan annotates two of his High School but in high school that wasn’t a 2700 not long ago. games from the 2016 Calgary In- You’re in grade 12 here in On- problem Yeah, it was a big surprise, for ternati onal plus key games over tario; what’s the name of the me… [laughs]… the summer In this issue of Chess school? Maybe high-school kids today Canada.] Dr. Frank J. Hayden. It’s one of are mature enough to see it as a I think a lot of people were sur- the newer schools, it’s been worthwhile accomplishment!? prised, but cheering you on. I’ve noti ced you haven’t been open for around 4 years. Yeah. Was that the fi rst ti me you playing much recently. I’ve played there? looked at the FIDE site and they When you got your GM ti tle Does your high school have a Yes. That was the fi rst Calgary have almost no games by you in was there an announcement at chess team? Internati onal for me. It was a 2017, and hardly any aft er Cal- school? No, but they have a chess club. great experience and I hope to Nope. But everyone who knows I come to help if people have play there again. me knows that I’m a Grandmas- questi ons. 2 ter. [Aft er the interview, Razvan’s They don’t try to compete or parti cipati on in the 2017 Calgary Do you ever get teased about send teams to tournaments? No. There’s an Ontario high- anada Internati onal was confi rmed.] chess at school? Nope, because there’s nothing school teams championship, I

C I can’t remember if you had al- much to tease about. [laughs] think it’s set up by Chris Mallon. ready got your last Norm then And I’m not focused enti rely It’s not like the CCC, but schools but the GM ti tle hadn’t been on chess, there are also other send teams of players from any confi rmed…? things I do. grade. We tried to get a team Yeah I did get my norm at the together but it was too diffi cult World Open [before Calgary] Are you on any teams? to set up. but I sti ll needed my rati ng No, but I go out with friends requirement, and that was a big and we play sports, just not on What are you studying in hess step. school teams. school? K2: Ketsup My areas are Maths and com- C Calgary Internati onal Champion IM Preotu is the only Canadian to win the ti tle outright. 8 puter science, which is where I pus, and I can work the travel I mean, some of those Univer- States starts in mid-August. want to focus on [in University]. fee into the chess subsidy… sity teams in the States are so strong — I think if Webster Uni- And what happens between The what? versity A team could enter the now and then, in school and University Chess They also give me a “chess fee” Olympiad they’d be in the top chesswise? When do your ex- Scholarship that I can spend on improving: 10, and they’re not much higher ams start? Where have you applied for on chess books or travelling to rated than UTD — what kind My exams start at the end of University? tournaments. of a lesson would be useful for June, roughly. I applied to many Canadian Uni- such a strong group? versiti es, but I think it is for sure How much is that? I think it’s going to be more like So you have only a month-and- that I will be going to Texas, to It’s $4,500. playing and team building, and a-bit off this summer? UTD [University of Texas at Dal- not chess lessons. It’s a great of- [laughs] Yeah, this summer is las] for a chess scholarship. Per school year? fer. I also went to the campus in rather short. School and uni- Yeah. February. It’s really nice. I met versity start here [in Canada] in Tell us about the chess schol- September, but in the States it Wow! That’s a lot; you could with some of the players on the arship, if you don’t mind, since team. starts earlier, but also ends ear- this will involve some questi ons go anywhere on that. You must lier, so that makes up for it. about money. I’m assuming that have to fi ll some requirements Who are some of them? because of your ti tle, and be- for them to keep that…? [Gil] Popilski. I met him in Cal- Do you think you’ll be playing 2 cause they want to att ract play- I have to fulfi ll a certain GPA gary... in any more tournaments? Are ers from all around the world, for school, and parti cipate in you going to play in the Cana- that this is a full scholarship, some team tournaments for [Note: Razvan didn’t just dian Junior in Mississauga this the school, and att end a summer? anada where you don’t pay anything “meet” Popilski in Cal- for courses. Does it include any- team meeti ng every gary: they played I might. I’d like to play in a few week, on Friday, C thing else? and Razvan won. more tournaments. One of Yes. Other than tuiti on, they for a couple of You can play them is the Canadian Open, in give me an allowance fee to buy hours. through his Sault Ste. Marie this summer. textbooks for school, stuff like notes in this is- They invited me and I am play- that. What’ll you do sue.] ing there. at those meet- Does it include residence and ings? Is it a prac- When do you Did they ask you to do any other travel fees, to fl y you home once ti ce session? It move? events there, like a simul? hess a year? can’t really be a School in the They did, but the ti ming is so K2: Ketsup Yes, there’s residence on cam- chess lesson can it? C 9 ti ght with other events that I will have been on the other side haven’t said yes. of simuls. What’s it like being I saw a picture of you doing a “on the inside”? Do you like giv- simul for RBC. Could you tell us Yeah; the Canadian Open oft en ing simuls? about that? starts a couple of days aft er the I like it, but I feel like there’s a It was a fundraising event for World Open, and that can make lot of pressure: you’re expected mental health by RBC. There extra events a problem. to win most of the games and were four boards, and anyone Exactly. get a really high percentage; but could join and play, and when I enjoy the games, it’s a really one person was done another [later, Razvan was invited to de- diff erent experience. could join, so it was like a simul fend his ti tle at the Calgary Inter- Are you able to remember any but people could come and go. nati onal, which ended just be- How have you done? of your simul games? fore the Candian Junior began, I’ve done prett y well, but most Probably not. Maybe a posi- and back-to-back events would of my simul games were against ti on or an interesti ng move, but have left him with too litt le ti me kids. none of them have been too to prepare to move to Texas] memorable. Simuls Inside and Outside A kid against GM Susan Polgar at the 2007 CYCC in Ott awa. IM Razvan at the Aurora CC, 2014. RBC Capitalize for Kids simul, 2016. 2 Simuls I want to ask you about simuls. I went to your blog, and there are pictures of simuls, but al- anada most all of them are in the last couple of years, since you got C You looked good in the photo your IM ti tle. When was your there where you’re wearing a fi rst one? suit. At the Aurora Chess Club. Yeah! That was right aft er your IM …much bett er than the informal ti t l e ? one of you in the cardboard cut- Yes. out. hess [laughs]

K2: Ketsup Most of the people reading this C 10 Did the RBC simul count for your always in Toronto, and this year That shows kind of weird thing get eliminated in the provincial Volunteer Hours? the Canadian Chess Challenge about the CCC… it’s sort of like qualiﬁ er. Have you played in all Yeah, that was part of it. is also in Toronto; and even if the Canadians qualifying for the of them? I don’t qualify for it – because world championship in curling: Grade 5 was my fi rst Ontario [Ontario high-school students Michael is a prett y strong player any one of the top Canadian Chess Challenge, and I’ve played have to do 40 hours of commu- – I’ll sti ll parti cipate in a simul teams could probably win the in all of them since then, and all nity service as part of their de- event there, which’ll be fun. world curling championship, the Canadian Chess Challenges gree requirement.] but they have to get by each I’ve qualifi ed for. [you can watch a video of the other to qualify, so a lot of the You are going to play at the Ca- start of that simul here: world’s best teams get knocked It’s an interesti ng event. On- nadian Open this summer. Are https://gmrazvanblog.com/events/ ] out in the Briar. You and Mi- tario can send a team with ex- there any other events you’ll chael are far and away the perts on almost every board, play in before going to Texas? You mean IM Michael Song, strongest players in your year, but some provinces might not I don’t have any slow [ti me right? Are you guys both in the but because there can be only have even one expert, so those control] events planned, but I’ll same grade? qualifying player per grade per matches are like Goliath vs Da- play at the Canadian Chess Chal- Yes. province, either you or Michael vid’s litt le brother. But then lenge. I’d be the highest ti tled there are the matches against player to compete in it. BC… … and Quebec, they are very 2 That’s true, and probably a re- close. cord that won’t ever be broken. You’ll never beat Tanraj’s record … yeah, and those matches anada though… could go either way, so it ends … with the wins? No, but I’d be up being competi ti ve anyway,

C the highest ti tled player. just not every round. Kind of like the Olympiads. Speaking of [BC’s Tanraj Sohal represented which… BC at the Canadian Chess Chal- lenge 12 years in a row and won his board prize 9 ti mes.] Where is it this year? Canadian Chess Challenge hess The Ontario Chess Challenge is Razvan plays every one... if he can

K2: Ketsup get past archfoe Michael Song. C 11 ing” upset? Or do you mean “I lent place to make Norms: it’s them and made the ti tle. Olympiad shouldn’t have punched a hole an 11-round event, with the ex- So, I was upset but not like “Oh Selection in the wall again” upset? Af- cepti on of the fi rst round you I HATE THEM for this decision!” ter all... the Olympiad comes won’t get any terribly weak or anything. The Canadian Olympiad team around only every two years, opponents, so your level is up; did excepti onally well in Baku, and you could arguably have it’s a one-game-a-day event so If you’re invited to join the team arguably the best Canadian been put on the previous Olym- there are chances to prepare, for the next Olympiad, would result ever. A lot of people piad because of a CFC rule and the Captain can even make you go? thought that the Selecti on Com- about giving special consider- favourable colour decisions; so If I could. I don’t know if I would mitt ee decision to pick Alex, ati on to promising juniors. And there were plenty of reasons to be busy when it is. rather than you or Bator was… when they made their decision put you on the team. But you’re rather strange. Bator had a in 2016 you sti ll were one Norm not going to “Hulk-out” about It’s in 2018, in Georgia. higher rati ng, and although Al- short for you GM ti tle, right…? it…? I mean, it depends on what ti me ex’s rati ng was sti ll higher than Yeah. No. I mean, it would have been of year it is… yours, his results in the year a good Norm opportunity, but since he started playing again …and the Olympiad is an excel- I had chances later, and I got Well… it sounds to me like the had been prett y poor – around University of Texas would con- 2350. Since then he has played sider it part of your chess devel- quite a lot bett er, but the selec- opment and might even encour- 2 ti on committ ee couldn’t have age you to play… known that when they made their decision. How do you feel [Razvan laughs, as if realizing it might be an academic obligati on anada about their decision? I was a bit upset. to play] C I thought I had a good chance to make the team, and I would have enjoyed playing at the Olympiad. But, in the end, there’s nothing I could do. But, yeah, I was a bit upset. Taking the high ground. When you say “a bit upset”, do On a 2016 visit to Romania. hess you mean “Oh, rats, it’s rain- K2: Ketsup C 12 PRO Chess When you’re playing online, is it points. So, my ICC 3/0 rati ng is sti ll try to win – I always try to League mostly blitz? around 2300, which means at win – but if it keeps happening, Yes. 3+0 or 5+0. that ti me control I play people once, twice, three ti mes… then You havn’t played much chess 2000 and up. it really does add up. lately, but you did play for the No bullet? No increment? Toronto Dragons in the PRO No bullet, I don’t think it helps I assume ICC saves all your on- Would you try to change your Chess League. Could you tell us improve my play. The problem line games. Do you ever go back expectati ons or your opening how that came about? with increment is that on ICC and look at them? choices for that opponent? Glenn Geffi n was organizing the there are presets of 3/0 and 5/0 Only if there was something Maybe expectati ons, or maybe team. He asked a ton of players and lots of people play them, interesti ng in them, but usu- an opening line, but not a whole if they wanted to be a part of so when you click those you get ally they just degenerate into repertoire. it. I thought it would be a great a game right away. But if you blunders and then I go on to the experience, fun, and a lot of want to play some other ti me next one. Your repertoire looks like it is strong players were in it. control you have to set it up and based on Fischer’s repertoire. wait for challenges. Bator Sambuev was on your You open 1.e4, and as Black you Did you get to play any strong Toronto Dragons team, so you play the King’s Indian and Ben- players? If you’re playing OTB blitz what’s didn’t play against him in the oni, a lot; and against 1.e4 you I played Li Chao [China, 2744]. your favourite ti me control? PRO League. For a while there it play… the Najdorf. 3+2 is best. seemed that you were the only I’ve also started playing more 2 Even though the PRO League Canadian player to be regularly positi onal defences, like the played at 15 + 2, which is a fast When you’re playing online, do beati ng him. How did you do Nimzo, which I’ve played before. rapid, the games made a lot of you mainly play friends, or do that? anada sense – they weren’t far off the you play whoever the server I think once you have a positi ve Fischer played the Nimzo too, quality of regular tournament pairs you with? record against someone then but so did every World Cham-

C games. Did you do any practi ce My friends aren’t always online they’re at a psychological disad- pion since the 1920s... for that ti me control to prepare? when I am, and I don’t think it’s vantage. It’s so solid. Nope. I just played some blitz. a good idea to play the same people over and over. Would you say that about your- Did you ever play 1.d4 and Online? self? If you have a losing record play the White side against the Yup. Do you have a rati ng range against someone, don’t you try Nimzo? which excludes lower rated op- to prep harder, or do you start I’ve experimented with 1.d4, but What sites do you play on? ponents? to aim for a draw? I don’t have a solid repertoire hess Mostly on ICC – Internet Chess I think I have it set to within 300 I don’t try to break the streak, I with it. K2: Ketsup Club. C 13 Do you ever just pick an open- ¤b8 10.d4 ¤bd7 11.¤bd2 24.£e3 ¤f6² (½–½, 36) Preotu,R 31.¦h1+ ¢g8 32.£e1= Motylev,A ing, maybe in the ﬁ rst round ¥b7 12.¥c2 ¦e8 13.¤f1 ¥f8 (2441)-Ghosh,D (2516) Gyor, (2634)-Stevic,H (2550) Istanbul, of a small event, and just play 14.¤g3 g6 15.a4 c5 16.d5 c4 2014. 2003. anything? 17.¥g5 No, I tend to play what I always XIIIIIIIIY 18.£d2 ¥e7 19.¥e3 22...exf4 23.¦xf4 ¥e5 play. 8r+-wqrvlk+0 19.¦a3 ¤fd7 20.h4 bxa4 24.¦af1!? ¥xf4 25.¥xf4 21.¥xa4 ¤xa4 22.¦xa4 a5 XIIIIIIIIY Do you do that online too? 7+l+n+p+p0 23.¦d1 ¥a6 24.¥xe7 ¦xe7 6p+-zp-snp+0 8r+-wqr+k+0 No. In blitz I play anything. 25.£h6 ¤c5 26.¦a2 ¥b5 27.£g5 7+l+n+p+-0 5+p+Pzp-vL-0 ¦e8 28.¤h2 f6 29.£h6 £e7 That’s the perfect ti me to ex- 6p+-zp-+p+0 periment with anything. 4P+p+P+-+0 30.¤g4 £g7 31.£xg7+ ¢xg7= 3+-zP-+NsNP0 (½–½, 72) Preotu,R - Hansen,E, 5+psnP+-+p0 But you weren’t experimenti ng Canadian Zonal, 2015. 4P+p+PvL-+0 during the PRO Chess League 2-zPL+-zPP+0 1tR-+QtR-mK-0 3+-zP-+-sNP0 were you? 19...¤fd7 20.¤h2 h5 21.¦f1 2-zPLwQ-+PsN0 No, those were serious games. xabcdefghy ¥f6 1+-+-+RmK-0 Razvan has had this position XIIIIIIIIY xabcdefghy The following game was played as White at least twice before 8r+-wqr+k+0 in the PRO Chess League match (see below). Both times he went ...h4 or ...♕e7

2 7+l+n+p+-0 between the Toronto Dragons for queenside play; this time he and Montreal Chessbrahs. goes for Black's ♔. 6p+-zp-vlp+0 25...h4? 5+psnPzp-+p0 ¹25...£e7 when White has anada Preotu, Razvan (2495) 17...¤c5 4P+p+P+-+0 some compensation in dark- Le Siege, Alexandre (2512) 17...h6 18.¥e3 £c7 19.£d2 h5: 3+-zP-vL-sNP0 square control. 26.¥g5 (26.¤f3

C ¤f6) C95 20.¥h6 ¦eb8 21.¥xf8 ¤xf8 2-zPLwQ-zPPsN0 26...f6 27.¥h4. PRO Chess League Chess.com, 22.£h6 £e7 23.¤d2 ¤6d7 1tR-+-+RmK-0 24.¦f1 ¥c8 25.f4ƒ ¤h7 26.axb5 The game move is natural, since 18.01.2017 xabcdefghy it undermines e4, but it lets Notes by John Upper axb5 27.¤f3 £f8= Grandelius,N (2643)-Karjakin,S (2785) Doha, 22.f4 White bring one more piece into 22.¤e2 ¥g7 23.g4 ¤f6 24.f3 the attack with... 1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 a6 2016 (1–0, 90). hxg4 25.hxg4 ¤h7 26.¢g2 4.¥a4 ¤f6 5.0–0 ¥e7 6.¦e1 20.¦a3 ¤c5 21.¦ea1 ¥e7 ¥f6 27.¦h1 ¤g5 28.¤f1 ¢g7 26.¤g4!!‚ hxg3 27.¥xd6 hess b5 7.¥b3 d6 8.c3 0–0 9.h3 22.¥g5 ¤h7 23.¥xe7 £xe7 29.¤fg3 ¦h8 30.¦xh8 ¢xh8 K2: Ketsup C XIIIIIIIIY 14 33.¤f7+ 38...£d8?? PRO Chess Leage Controversy 8r+-wqr+k+0 33.£h4!+–. Luckily for White, The Professional Rapid Online Chess League ex- 7+l+n+p+-0 Black got fixated on panded worldwide in 2016 and there were some 6p+-vL-+p+0 33...¢g8 34.¤h6+ ¢h8 trading ♕s. growing pains. 5+psnP+-+-0 35.£h4! ¤d3 36.¥xd3 cxd3 Miami defeated Toronto in the playoﬀ s, but 4P+p+P+N+0 XIIIIIIIIY ¹38...£e3+ 39.¢h1 Toronto was informed the next day by chess. 3+-zP-+-zpP0 8r+-+q+-mk0 £xh6™–+ (39...¦xh6? com that the loss had been overturned as one 40.¥e5+ ¤f6™ of the Miami players had failed anti -cheati ng 2-zPLwQ-+P+0 7+l+n+-tr-0 (40...¤xe5 41.f8£+ 6p+-vL-zp-sN0 measure and Miami was being disqualifi ed. Mi- 1+-+-+RmK-0 ¦xf8 42.¦xf8+ ¢g7 ami appealed, and the DQ was overturned, but xabcdefghy 5+p+PzP-+-0 43.£e7++–) 41.¦xf6 without any explanati on given. I know more than ¢h7™ 42.¦xh6+ White is down a ♖ for a pawn, 4P+-+-+-wQ0 one Toronto player felt cheated by the whole af- £xh6 43.£e4+ £g6 but Black is busted. 3+-zPp+-zpP0 fair. 44.£h4+=) 40.£xg3 Curiously, but perhaps only coincidentally, 2-zP-+-+P+0 ¦f8–+. 27...f6 1+-+-+RmK-0 about a month later that same Miami team play- ♕ er was permanently banned from chess.com for 27...£h4!? lets the defend, but xabcdefghy 39.£d4+ ¦g7 it's not enough: cheati ng. 37.exf6 40.f8£+ £xf8 The other side is to look at what chess.com This wins, but even stronger is: 41.¥xf8 has to do to combat online cheati ng. I tell Razvan

2 28.¥xc5! ¤xc5 29.¤h6+ ¢h8 30.£d4+ ¢h7 31.¦xf7+ 37.e6! ¦h7 38.¦xf6! (38.exd7?? attack2mateU won on about an interview with IM Danny Rench, one ¢xh6 32.£g7+ ¢h5 (32...¢g5 £e3+ 39.¢h1 ¦xh6–+) 38...¤xf6 time of chess.com’s rulers, where he discussed their 33.¦f5#) 33.¥d1++–. 39.£xf6+ ¦g7 40.£h4! (40.¤f7+ extensive anti -cheati ng measures. The details anada ¢g8 41.¥e5 wins more slowly.) 1–0 are trade secrets, and subject to non-disclosure 28.¤h6+ shows another 40...¦h7 41.¥e5++– #2. agreements when explained to the world’s top C attacking idea: 28...¢h8 players so they can feel confi dent they won’t get 29.¥xg3! £xg3 30.¤xf7+ ¢g8 37...¦h7 38.f7?? cheated, but Rench described two of them: one 31.£h6+–; The only mistake... but it could involves using the webcam to follow a players’ have turned a brilliancy into a eye movements to see if they are using exter- 28.£h6 ¦e7 29.e5! loss. nal analysis devices, another involves tracking 29.¤xf6+ ¤xf6 30.¦xf6+–. mouse movements to see if a player is adding 38.£d4™+– e.g. 38...¦f7 moves to an external board. 39.¤xf7+ £xf7 40.¦f4! £xd5 hess 29...¦h7 30.£xg6+ ¦g7 They don’t have everything right yet, but 41.¦h4+ ¢g8 42.£g4+ £g5 K2: Ketsup 31.¤h6+ ¢h8 32.£h5! £e8 they are defi nitely taking it seriously and spend- 43.£e6#.

C ing money on it. 15 Would you play again in the the Dvoretsky-like problems. When you say learning open- Online Play PRO League if you got a chance? ings, do you mean memorizing Yeah, I would defi nitely play Oh, I get ya: those Dvoretsky sequences of moves or typical As a GM or IM, do you get a free again. problems feel like they’re de- middle-game plans? membership on ICC? signed to embarrass super-GMs Learning typical middlegame I was a member on ICC for a and you’re looking for 2500-lev- plans for the kinds of positi ons long ti me before I got the ti tle, Training el tacti cs — really hard for me that could come up. and I was paying for that. As a Have you learned anything that but not super hard for you. GM I get free membership, but I you think as made you more ef- What is your tacti cs rati ng on Are there any parti cular au- don’t think IMs get them. ﬁ cient at learning? chess.com? thors or books you liked using Hmm, that’s interesti ng. I think, It’s like 2700, but that’s not for openings? Really! Those are some high I’ve used online tools more ef- so high on their server, where Not any parti cular author, but I standards they have there. fecti vely. There are the tacti cs there are rati ngs over 3000. always like Gambit books. There Maybe that’s why ICC isn’t do- exercises I menti oned. And was a John Nunn book on the ing quite so well any more, or when I want to learn an open- Are you a member on chess. Benoni that I liked. so I’ve been told. Have you no- ing I go online and play [blitz] com? ti ced this? games to practi ce, whereas be- Yes. I joined only aft er I got the Really! I think that was a real- Not really. There are sti ll a lot of fore I would have to wait to play IM ti tle, which got me a free pre- ly old book, maybe a Batsford ti tled players. But I think some games at a club to practi ce. mium membership and unlim- book which would have been 2 players like Nakamura only play ited tacti cs. published even before Gambit on chess.com. What do you do to work on tac- existed... maybe even before ti c s ? How many would you do in a you were born! I wonder if maybe chess.com Before tournaments I oft en use day? anada Do you have any GM mod- has too close a relati onship Tacti cs Trainer on Chess.com. Not a set number, but based on els? Players whose games you’ll with some of their top players, I don’t want to do really hard C ti me, about ½ an hour, which is always look at or maybe whose which leads to suspicions when tacti cs, just simple ones. enough for me to stay sharp. repertoires you happen to like? the disqualiﬁ cati on against Na- Not really. I follow the live kamura’s Miami team got over- How do you manage that on a When you’re learning an open- events, and I play through their turned on appeal without any website like chess.com? Doesn’t ing, do you use mostly data- games, but not for any parti cu- public explanati on. What did it tailor the problems to your bases, or books, or work with lar player. you think of that decision? rati ng, so that with your rat- friends...? I thought it was prett y strange ing you’d be getti ng really hard Before I mostly used coaches, Do you watch tournaments live hess that it got overturned. ones? they woudld show me the open- online with GM commentary? K2: Ketsup I mean, I don’t want to be doing ings. C 16 Or review the games with the play like your tournament op- through the ones on Fischer board… analysis on ChessBase? ponents. and… [thinks here]… Petrosian, No, I just play through the Spassky. [surprised] Really? games on ICC, with just a replay There’s another problem with It took a long ti me, but yeah. of the board. playing them: you stop looking Did you play through the ones It would have been easier with for tacti cal oversights. on the earlier World Champi- PGNs, but I didn’t have them. [we talk about some games from Yeah, you kind of just trust them. ons? the Grenke tournament, which I didn’t do the earlier ones. I’m not sure they’re all available was being played at the same And you should, because they as PGNs, but most Everyman day of the interview. Razvan had see further than you… and at Why not? Did you think each books are sold in paper versions played through the games that short ti me controls they see fur- one would take too long, or that or PGN/CBV databases. Given morning and described the win- ther further than we do, and you weren’t interested… the choice, would you rather go ning maneuvers from the top that’s exactly wrong prep for It’s not that I wasn’t interested, through the books with a board games. I asked if he watched the tournament chess where you it’s just that I thought it would or as a database? PRO League semis and fi nals, always have to be looking for take too long and that it would I’d rather go with the database. and he said he knew the results blunders and traps. My hunch is be best for me to study the later It’s a lot more convenient, since but had skipped the games.] that when people play against Champions. Chess has evolved you don’t have to keep resetti ng computers they play negati ve- so much since the earlier ones. the pieces. You have access to play against ly, trying to play safe and avoid 2 computers, do you ever do that? the initi ati ve. Yeah. If you’re studying Fischer, Exactly! Everybody who’s over [groans] I don’t like playing I think a lot of players have the even though he was playing 40 will remember going through against computers… same feeling about computers. over 40 years ago you can sti ll Informants or other books and learn a lot more about the Lo- resetti ng the pieces (incorrect- anada I know Magnus Carlsen doesn’t Why, are they not good enough play them. pez than you will by studying ly) and then can’t believe these

C for you? Steinitz’s games, so you’re sort guys are making all these tac- [laughs] They’re too good. of doubling up on your knowl- ti cal mistakes… [laughs]… and Books and edge. then... Does losing against a computer Exactly. ...you’ve wasted all of your ti me. sti ll hurt? Computers With a database you can just You grew up in the computer Did you play through them in Yeah, and I don’t think there’s generati on, but I read that you click back and that never hap- much to learn from them: books or did you get the digital pens. played through Kasparov’s My versions of them – CBV or PGN you’re not going to play like Great Predecessors series. hess them, and they’re not going to – that Everyman sells?

K2: Ketsup Not all of them. I played I got them as books, so I used a C 17 Grandmaster [Kotov], and an- lessons online, on ICC. didn’t have any games he would Coaches other was a Dvoretsky book choose a game, either a classic Who were your chess coaches? Tacti cal Play. How did those work? game or if he saw I was having Mikhail [Egorov] was my fi rst It’s like Skype, you open an in- a problem with some kind of coach. I was around 11, and How long did you study with vitati on to the other player and middlegame, like and IQP, then about 1800. I would play in Mikhail? you could both move pieces on he would choose a game for us weekly tournaments at the From when I was really litt le, the board and talk. to study. Hamilton chess club. He came — just aft er starti ng tournaments, to my house he lives in Burl- unti l I was around 2000. would you have the web cam How long did each of those les- ington too — and we would go on for that? sons run? over my games with a board, And then who? No, there wasn’t any point. About two hours, but only once and he would ask me “What My next coach was a Romanian per week. was your idea with this move?” Grandmaster my father knew. Would you email him games We didn’t study openings then, [George-Gabriel Grigore] Every- and then go over them? Did he give you homework? that would have been too body called him GGG. We did That was a big part of it. When I No. much. I think the important thing to get to Master level is Didn’t any of your chess coach- to study middlegames. es give you homework? No. [laughs]

2 Middlegame strategies, tacti c s … ? [I tease Razvan that he got oﬀ Thinking process. easy. In the precomputer era I took a few lessons with FM Ro- anada Have you read any good books man Pelts, who gave me pages on thinking process?

C of homework probems to solve. One was How to Think like a I couldn’t solve them and told myself they weren’t helping. Only decades later, when I started playing again, did I realize that those were exactly the Coach #1 Mikhail Egorov kinds of exercises I should have been working on: precisely tar- hess With Razvan and Michael Song geted at my weakest spots.]

K2: Ketsup at the 2011 WYCC in Brazil. C 18 How long did you work with working on your own down 2350, all you have to do is play class. But if you have a teacher GGG? there? one tournament a month and who is lower-rated than you… About two years, then he re- I’ve met the UTD chess coach. spend an hour or two a week apart from experience, I don’t ti red. Then I started working His name is Rade Milovanovic. on chess”. [both laugh] I am sure think there’s much chess-wise with [GM] Gergely Szabo. I stud- He’s not a top player, but he has that’s true about Aronian, and he can teach you. ied with him for a few years, a lot of experience, and I’ll be it’s probably true of most of unti l just before I got my fi nal happy to work with him, and I’ll the other 2700s -- even if they’d That’s a problem for all the top Norm. At that ti me we were study on my own if I have to. been slackers would sti ll get to players: unless they can pay tens prett y close in strength and FM without even trying… of thousands to hire Kasparov, there wasn’t much more he While we’re on this subject of Because they have a lot of tal- they have to work with coaches could teach me. coaching, I want to ask some ent. who are weaker players. Ca- questi ons about coaching. I’ve ruana worked with Chuchelov. You said there’s a Chess coach oft en thought that there can Yeah. But what it also means is And I think Tukmakov is work- at the UTD. There’s only one fa- be a problem if the coach is so that they have no idea – they ing with So now, and previously mous university chess coach in much stronger than the player can’t even imagine – how dif- worked with Giri. Those super the US, and she doesn’t work that the coach doesn’t really un- fi cult it is for weaker players GMs are all working with much in Texas anymore, but even she derstand the problems the play- to get good. But a player who lower-rated players as coaches. wouldn’t be strong enough or er faces. My favourite quote on is less talented might be more I feel like, even though there is a up-to-date enough to give les- this is from an Lev Aronian in- aware of the things that made big gap in rati ng between those 2 sons to the top players in the terview – it might have been a progressing more diffi cult, and coaches [and their super-GM US College system. Do you think Reddit AMA – where he might have ideas about how clients], they are sti ll Grandmas- you’ll be mostly says some- to work around those diffi cul- ters, and the lower rated player anada thing like ti es which the super-GMs didn’t could sti ll teach things to the “anyone can even noti ce. super-GMs, despite the rati ng

C get to I think it’s strange to have gap. someone who is lower rated as a coach; but having someone You mean like if they have dif- who’s only one class higher – ferent skill sets… if you’re an FM he’s an IM – I Yes. And since a lot of the work think that’s a signifi cant gap, is on openings, which is mostly and he can teach you things ti me, you don’t need someone about how he got to the next so close in playing strength. hess K2: Ketsup

C We meet again in Saint Louis! Susan Polgar presenti ng Razvan with a GM norm certi fi cate in St.Louis. Next ti me: UTD vs Webster and no smiles. 19 Do you know who helps Naka- more chess ambiti ons? Norms, and he wasn’t prepared Wow! mura on his opening prep? It doesn’t mean that… but if I to do that just to have a shot Nope. have any I’ll work on it myself. at it. The interviewer, who has Sam Shankland said he has an been around chess for decades, eideti c memory, and has no An expert named Chris Litt le- You said “if I have any”. Do you seemed really surprised by this, trouble remembering anything john. have any? which I think shows how many he reads. Do you know Deen Really!? [surprised] I want to keep improving in rat- people can’t imagine the kind Hergott ’s story about Anand? ing. I think 2550 would be good. of work necessary to get those No. He runs Nakamura’s computer Norms. Sielecki said that it had bank, and Nakamura trusts his To some people that might not taken him years to get his last [I tell him Deen’s story about chess judgement enough to tell sound like a very high number, IM Norm because he kept com- Anand memorizing and and the interesti ng ideas from not because you’re just below 2500 ing up ½ point short, but when cross-referencing an Informant interesti ng ones – he doesn’t now, so that’s only 55 points. he fi nally got it he got IM Norms in one day during the Olympiad. just send Nakamura a database But… in his next fi ve tournaments! I ask if he’s had any experiences with all the analysis. They’ve … at that level, with a k value https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/ like that. Razvan tells me this...] been working together for a of 10, you have to have a good new-blog/2017/1/11/international- master-christof-sielecki-aka-chess- few years, and Nakamura’s score against everyone, and a explained I was playing in Reykjavik in opening prep is fantasti c, and draw against another 2500 GM 2015 and went to their Pub he has one of the most diverse doesn’t help. Quiz. Carlsen and [Jon Ludwig] 2 and up-to-date repertoires out Memory and Hammer were there. There there, although someone as re- Exactly. I think a lot of people were a lot of obscure questi ons sourceful as Nakamura could underesti mate how diffi cult Talent on the quiz. Carlsen is not just a those last steps are. I was lis- A lot of top players have freak- anada make almost any opening seem great player, but he remembers playable. So, maybe someone tening to a podcast with IM ish memories, like Ivanchuk is so much about the history of rumoured to have memorized C with the right combinati on of Christof Sielecki. He’s around the game. It wasn’t that surpris- chess skills and computer ex- 2460, and the interviewer asked tens of thousands of games and ing, but I found it amazing that perti se is enough [even without if he was going to try to get the studies… a GM ti tle]. GM ti tle. Sielecki said that he …and some players even re- thought it was possible for him member the dates and places of Have you started working with to get the GM ti tle, but with his the games… someone else aft er Gergely? level of talent he would have to Um, no. sacrifi ce everything else in his Apparently Kasparov can re- hess life to completely focus on the member every phone number

K2: Ketsup Does this mean you have no he’s called. C 20 he knows so much about the started and Magnus is wait- Can you play blindfold? I can’t play even one blindfold game and its history, and so he ing but Kasparov was late and Yes. There are some guys at game. David Gordon is “only” was easily able to answer the they didn’t start his clock. And school who play chess, who 2300 and he played six games questi ons. there are all the usual monkey know how the pieces move, and blindfold last year! faces Kasparov makes when I thought it would be fun to try, Really?! And that’s why they won. How he doesn’t like his positi on – so I played them blindfold. They did you do on the Pub Quiz? eyes bugging out, head shak- couldn’t believe it! Yeah, he was doing it outdoors Were you playing with your ing—and Magnus getti ng an in Gati neau… and he doesn’t dad? ice cream treat aft er they drew; Were you playing one game even practi ce it. No, we were just spectati ng. that was extended footage I blindfold, or more? Oh yeah, I remember now. We were late; I don’t think we’d hadn’t seen before. There’s es- I haven’t tested myself with have done so well, but it would senti ally nothing about chess multi ple games blindfolded. And of course, Hans [Jung] can have been fun. We didn’t get a training or much about Mag- They were around 1600 and it do more than that. chance to talk, but I got a pic- nus’s chess improvement in it. was a long game, but I can keep You don’t have to be a ti tled ture with Magnus to remember. So it’s basically a biography but track of the pieces; so I can defi - player to play blindfold. without much chess detail. nitely do one game. Have you seen the Magnus documentary on Netf lix? Yeah. But even as a biography No. How is it? there are gaps: it spends ti me 2 on his earliest years playing, It’s…. bett er than I expected. and then jumps from him being There’s not much in it I hadn’t 14 to being world #1 at 19. It seen before, but there are a anada shows him celebrati ng his ﬁ rst lot of photos and videos from match win over Anand, and

C when Magnus was a really litt le playing blindfold. It’s worth kid which I hadn’t seen, and a watching, but it’s not really any lot of family ﬁ lms. There’s a lon- bett er than the 60 Minutes seg- ger version of his rapid game ment which was only a few min- against Kasparov in Reykjavik utes long and in fact starts the where they drew. You can see same way as the documentary, Magnus is bored, and that they with Magnus playing 10 people changed the rules for Kasp- blindfold. hess arov: all the other games had

K2: Ketsup Blindfold Date

C with Hans Jung outside the St Louis Chess Club. 21 But learning to play blindfold I usually get up about an hour achieved the ti tle. And I guess you less interested in playing might help you become a ti tled and a half before the game. it’s shown me that if you have a tournaments. player. That lets me get a long sleep, goal… and you try your best at Yes. For a long ti me getti ng the which helps; and it also gives something… [Razvan starts getti tle was the Big Goal, and now me ti me to prepare. ti ng self conscious here as I look that I’ve accomplished it... [trails Travel at him over the top of my glass- off ]... How many countries have you You don’t prepare the night be- es, expecti ng a Hallmark mo- been to to play chess? fore? ment] … then you can achieve it. What about playing in the I haven’t counted, but it’s quite a No. I think this way it’s fresher, It’s a life lesson. World Junior and maybe fi nish- lot. I’ve been to France, Greece, and there’s always a chance ing in the top 5? Iceland, Brazil, just to name a they’ll switch the pairings. Did you not believe that before No, not really. It would be a few. That’s not uncommon in North you achieved it? :) good experience, I’d want to American tournaments, and it’s Well… before… fi nish at the top but I don’t have You’re results in the World bett er to be safe than sorry and any score [to aim for]… Youth haven’t been super, is waste your ti me. You hoped it was true…? that fair? It took such a long ti me to get When did you think of applying Well, I haven’t medalled, but I my fi nal Norm – two years – of to UTD? Did you think it had to the most recent one was prett y constant play… be conditi onal on getti ng the successful, I was 5th or 6th. After Titles GM ti tle? 2 When you got your IM ti tle did Were you starti ng to wonder… I applied to UTD aft er I got the Do you fi nd it’s easier to play you noti ce it made any diff er- ? ti tle. I saw – Oh! They have such those big internati onal events ence to your playing, or were Yeah. good off ers… now that you’ve had more ex- you so focused on the GM ti tle anada perience? that it didn’t change much? Were you starti ng to think it I assume their off ers are scaled I can do more things bett er now might not be worth it? C Going for the GM ti tle was the to the ti tles, the higher the ti tle that I have more experience. next natural step, and one of No, not that. But that if I was the higher the pay. Just like pay my IM Norms was also a GM ever going to get it would have for annotati ng games for the Do you get jet lagged? Norm so that made it [the tran- to be soon, since I knew with Newslett er[Razvan laughs]. I as- No. I used to have trouble sleep- siti on] easier. school and university I wouldn’t sume that’s why you sent your ing away from home, but now have much ti me to put into annotati ons when you did: I re- I’m used to it. Apart from relief, have you no- chess. quested them when you were ti ce any diff erence the GM ti tle an IM, but you sent them a ft e r

hess Do you have any routi nes you has made to your life? I suppose one thing getti ng the you got the GM ti tle, so we have K2: Ketsup follow during tournaments? I feel accomplished to have GM ti tle has done is to make C 22 to pay the… 1.e4 c5 2.¤f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 a timely d6–d5 and equalize more flexible. 9...¥e7 10.¥d3 Wait, what!? 4.¤xd4 ¤f6 5.¤c3 a6 6.¥e3 comfortably.) 10...£a5 11.b3 0–0 11.0–0 (11.¥f2 getting ready e6 7.f3 b5 8.£d2 b4 ¥b7 12.a3 £c7 13.axb4 d5÷ for the break e4–e5 can now Just teasing. ;-) The Topalov variation, where leads to a very complicated be met with 11...d5 12.e5 ¤fd7 Black plays an early ...b4 to position where both kings are 13.f4 ¥b7 14.0–0 ¤c6=) 11...e5 attack the White knight. 8...¤bd7 likely to come under attack; see: 12.¤b3 a5=. Aft er the interview Razvan went is the main move. Caruana-Topalov Stavanger, through a collecti on of positi ons XIIIIIIIIY 2014 (½–½, 66). 10.¤b3 ¤c6 11.¥c4 I’ve been compiling to test chess 11.¥f2 with the idea of playing 8rsnlwqkvl-tr0 9.¤ce2 e5 10.¤b3 ¤c6 skills and knowledge: famous 7+-+-+pzpp0 ♘e3 was better, as White does positi ons, typical middlegames, 11.g4 (11.c4?! ¥e6 12.¤g3 a5 not want to commit his bishop endgame studies, etc. 6p+-zppsn-+0 13.¥e2 a4 14.¤c1 h5ƒ Although to c4 so early where it can be I won’t give a detailed re- 5+-+-+-+-0 Black has made a lot of pawn challenged. 11...d5 12.exd5 port on this unti l I have tried it 4-zp-sNP+-+0 moves, his pieces are optimally ¤xd5 13.¤e3 ¤xe3 14.£xd8+ with many more players, but I 3+-sN-vLP+-0 placed compared to White's ¢xd8 15.¥xe3 ¥e6 16.0–0–0+ will say that Razan’s ability to 2PzPPwQ-+PzP0 and has some initiative on the ¢c7² seems better for White. fi nd the best move in each po- queenside.) 11...h6 12.¤g3 siti on was excepti onal: accurate 1tR-+-mKL+R0 ¥e6 13.0–0–0 £c7 14.¢b1 d5 11...¥e6 12.£e2 and very fast. xabcdefghy 15.exd5 ¤xd5 16.¥d3 ¦d8 XIIIIIIIIY 2 9.¤d1 17.£e2 ¤xe3 18.£xe3 ¥e7÷ 8r+-wqkvl-tr0 With ♘d1 White's intentions of White has some initiative on the 7+-+-+pzpp0 Chess Canada is happy to pres- playing positionally and castling kingside, but Black should be able to neutralize it with precise 6p+nzplsn-+0 anada ent six games played by IM Raz- kingside are clear. 5+-+-zp-+-0 van Preotu, and an annotated by White has two other play. Also, Black has a strong counter-play threat of simply C GM Razvan Preotu. retreats that are seen more 4-zpL+P+-+0 often and tend to lead to sharper pushing the a-pawn to a4. 3+N+-vLP+-0 positions: 2PzPP+Q+PzP0 Notes by GM Razvan Preotu 9...e5 Erenburg, Sergey (2585) 9.¤a4 ¤bd7 10.0–0–0 (10. 1tR-+NmK-+R0 c4 bxc3 11.¤xc3 ¥b7 12.¥e2 One of the main ideas of ...b4, Preotu, Razvan (2452) xabcdefghy ¥e7 13.0–0 0–0 14.¦ac1 is a as the knight can no longer move B80 more positional way to play, but to d5. However it might have 12...£c8 2016 World Open Philadelphia after 14...£b8! Black should be been better to simply develop in 12...d5!? 13.¥xa6 £c7 is an hess (8), 04.07.2016 able to break in the center with order to keep the pawn-structure interesting pawn sacrifice that K2: Ketsup C XIIIIIIIIY 23 I did not consider enough in The position is blocked and 21.¤xc5 dxc5 22.¢h1 ¤d4³; the game. Black gets a lot of Black has stabilized. 21.¥xc5 dxc5³; 8-+q+-trk+0 compensation after 14.¤f2 ¥d6 21.£e2 is probably the best, but 7+-+-vl-zpp0 15.¤c5 0–0 16.¤xe6 fxe6 17.¥d3 15.¤f2 a4 16.¤d2 after 21...¤d4 22.¥xd4 exd4 6-+nzpp+-+0 ¤d4 18.¥xd4 exd4 19.g3 ¢h8 16.¤c1 ¥e7 17.¤cd3 is a better 23.¤xb4 ¥g5ƒ White is under 5tr-+-zp-+-0 since castling is not possible due square for the knight, as on d2 it pressure. 4-zpP+-+-+0 to perpetual check: 20.0–0 ¥xg3 is simply misplaced. XIIIIIIIIY 3zP-snNvLP+-0 21.hxg3 £xg3+ 22.¢h1 £h4+ 8-+q+-trk+0 23.¢g1 (23.¢g2?? ¤h5–+) 16...¥e7 17.¤d3 0–0 18.0–0 2P+-+-+PzP0 7+-+-vl-zpp0 1tR-+RwQNmK-0 23...£g3+=. ¤d7 6-+nzpp+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY xabcdefghy 13.¥xe6 5tr-sn-zp-+-0 8r+q+-trk+0 4pzpP+P+-+0 24.¦dc1 White must first exchange 7+-+nvl-zpp0 24.¤xb4 ¤xd1 25.¤xc6 £xc6 bishops before castling: 13.0–0?? 3+-+NvLP+-0 26.£xa5 ¤xe3 27.¤xe3 ¥g5µ; ¤d4–+. 6-+nzpp+-+0 2PzP-+-wQPzP0 5+-+-zp-+-0 24.axb4 ¤xd1 25.bxa5 ¤xe3 1tR-+R+NmK-0 26.¤xe3 ¥d8³. 13...fxe6 14.c4 4pzpP+P+-+0 xabcdefghy 14.a3 was the way to fight for 3+-+NvLP+-0 24...¦xa3 25.¤xb4 ¤xb4 an advantage. 14...d5 15.exd5 21...a3!

2 2PzP-sNQ+PzP0 26.¦xc3 ¦xc3 27.£xc3 exd5 16.axb4 ¥xb4+ 17.c3 ¥e7÷ The idea is to gain control of the XIIIIIIIIY Black has the center, but it could 1tR-+-+RmK-0 c3 square. potentially be weak in the future. xabcdefghy 8-+q+-trk+0

anada 21...¤xe4 22.£e1 ¤f6 23.¤xb4 7+-+-vl-zpp0 14...a5= Although Black does not have a real advantage, I was very ¤xb4 24.£xb4 ¦a8 25.¤g3³ is 6-+-zpp+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY C happy with my position and my slightly better for Black, but the 5+-+-zp-+-0 8r+q+kvl-tr0 chances. Black has the c5 and game continuation promises 4-snP+-+-+0 7+-+-+-zpp0 d4 outpost for a knight, while more. 3+-wQ-vLP+-0 6-+nzppsn-+0 White doesn't have any outposts. 22.bxa3 2P+-+-+PzP0 5zp-+-zp-+-0 1tR-+-+NmK-0 4-zpP+P+-+0 19.£f2 ¦a5 22.¤xc5 axb2 23.£xb2 dxc5µ. Preparing ...♘c5. xabcdefghy 3+N+-vLP+-0 22...¤xe4 23.£e1 ¤c3

hess 27...¤d5 2PzP-+Q+PzP0 20.¦fd1 ¤c5 21.¤f1?!

K2: Ketsup 27...d5! 28.a3 d4 29.£b3 ¤a6 1tR-+NmK-+R0 C xabcdefghy 24 30.¥f2 ¤c5µ was better than the 33.¦b8+? 36...¥d8 have the b5–square to offer an game, as Black has a passed 33.£b3! Threatening both ♕b8+ I was proud of this battery idea, exchange of queens. d-pawn and blocked White's and ♘d2. 33...£xc4 34.£b8+ ¦f8 but it's not enough to create any bishop. 35.£xd6 e4 36.£e5 ¥c1 37.¤g3 serious threats against the White 43.a4! e4 44.fxe4 dxe4 exf3 38.gxf3 ¥f4 39.£e2 £xe2 king. 45.£b5 £c2+ 28.£d3 ¤xe3 29.¤xe3 £c5³ 40.¤xe2 ¥e5³ Black is slightly 45...£xb5 46.axb5 ¢e5 47.¢f1 30.¢h1 ¥g5 better because of the bishop vs 37.g3 ¥b6 38.¢g2 d5 ¢d5 48.¢e2= is just a draw. I 30...¦c8 31.¦d1 ¦a8 32.£e2 ¦a3 knight, but it will be very difficult The only way to play for the win thought I need to keep queens 33.¦d3 ¦xd3 34.£xd3 ¥d8µ Is to win with so few pawns left. is to create a passed d-pawn. on in order to make it more better and leads to a very similar The problem is that this weakens complicated for my opponent. position in the game. 33...¢g7 34.¦b7+ ¦f7 Black's own king. 34...¢h6? allows White to get 46.¢h3 £f2 47.¤d2 31.¤f1 ¦f4 counterplay after 35.¤e3 e4 39.¤d2 ¢f6 40.cxd5 exd5 After some precise moves, White My idea is to play ...♖d4, but 36.£c3 ¥f6 37.¤g4+ ¦xg4 41.¤b3 £c6 42.£d3 forces the exchange of queens. after... 38.£xf6=. XIIIIIIIIY 8-+-+-+-+0 47...£f5+ 32.¦b1! 35.¦xf7+ ¢xf7 36.£e2³ XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 7+-+-+-+p0 White has counterplay on the 6-vlq+-mkp+0 8-+-+-+-+0 open b-file. 8-+-+-+-+0 2 7+-+-+-+-0 7+-+-+k+p0 5+-+pzp-+-0 4-+-+-+-+0 6-vl-+-mkp+0 32...g6 6-+-zpp+p+0 5+Q+-+q+p0 32...£c7 controlling the invasion 5+-wq-zp-vl-0 3+N+Q+PzP-0 anada 4P+-+p+-+0 squaresXIIIIIIIIY on the b-file is better. 4-+P+-+-+0 2P+-+-+KzP0 1+-+-+-+-0 3+-+-+-zPK0 C 8-+-+-+k+0 3+-+-+P+-0 xabcdefghy 2-+-sN-+-zP0 7+-+-+-+p0 2P+-+Q+PzP0 1+-+-+-+-0 6-+-zpp+p+0 42...h5? 1+-+-+N+K0 xabcdefghy 5+-wq-zp-vl-0 xabcdefghy Too slow a move. It's a good 4-+P+-tr-+0 idea to advance pawns in the 48.¢g2 The exchange of rooks has endgame to get space, but a 48.£xf5+ ¢xf5 helps Black, 3+-+Q+P+-0 made White's defense a lot more concrete way of thinking although with precise defense it 2P+-+-+PzP0 easier. was required. 42...e4 43.fxe4 is still a draw: 49.¤b3 e3 50.¤c1 hess 1+R+-+N+K0 dxe4 is better, as White does not ¢e5 51.¢g2 ¢e4 Zugzwang, K2: Ketsup

C xabcdefghy

25 the Black king is able to invade hoping to provoke a weakness is editor - As far as I can tell, 60.¢f1 ¥b8 61.¤e2 ¥c7 although it's not enough. 52.¢f1 the only plan Black has. 55.♘e2 is actually the losing XIIIIIIIIY ¢f3 53.¤e2 g5 54.¤c1 h4 move. After 55.hxg4+ I can't find 8-+-+-+-+0 55.gxh4 gxh4 56.¤e2 ¢e4 53.¤g1 a way for Black to win. Here are 7+-vl-+-+-0 57.h3=. 53.¤e1 Was a better square, as two tries: 6-+-+-+-+0 on g2 it attacks the pawn on e3 55...¢xg4 and Black can win the 48...£xb5 49.axb5= and does not get blocked by g5– g3–pawn, but with the wrong- 5+P+-+-+-0 The endgame is drawn, but as g4. corner ♗ and ♙ combo and 4-+-+-+p+0 we were both low on time the White's advanced b-pawn it's a 3+-+-zp-zP-0 chances for one of us to make 53...¢f5 54.h3? draw; e.g. 56.¤e2 ¥c7 57.¤g1 2-+-mkN+-+0 a mistake is very likely. With no The losing mistake. Now the g3– (57.¢f1 ¢f3 58.¤d4+ also draws, as the ♘ can give itself 1+-+-+K+-0 further additional time, we were pawn is a weakness that can't be xabcdefghy only relying on the 10 second defended in the long run. up for the e-pawn.) 57...¥xg3 delay. 58.b6™= h4 59.b7 h3+ 60.¤xh3 Another zugzwang, White loses 54.¢f3 g4+ 55.¢e2 ¢e4 56.¢d1 e2 61.¤f2+= or 61.b8£=; the g3–pawn and the game. 49...e3 50.¤f3 ¢f5 51.¢f1 Black cannot improve, White ¢g4 will just shuffle his king or knight 55...hxg4 56.¢f1 ¢e4 this is 62.¤d4 ¥xg3 63.b6 ¥b8 51...¢e4 52.¢e2. back and forth to the e2 square. as dominating a position as 64.b7 g3 65.¤f3+ ¢d1 Black can get, but White has 66.¤d4 ¥c7 67.¤b5 e2+ 2 an improbable fortress: 57.¢e2 52.¢g2 g5 54...g4–+ 68.¢g2 e1£ (57.¢e1 ) XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY also draws. 57...¥c7 A very important win, as this 8-+-+-+-+0 58.¢d1™ ¥xg3 59.b6 ¢d3 allowed me to play for a GM 8-+-+-+-+0 (59...¥f2?? 60.¤e2+–) 60.b7 and anada norm in the final round! 7+-+-+-+-0 7+-+-+-+-0 Black can't make any progress. 6-vl-+-+-+0

C 6-vl-+-+-+0 0–1 5+P+-+-zpp0 5+P+-+k+p0 55...¢e4 56.¤f4 ¥a7 4-+-+-+k+0 4-+-+-+p+0 57.hxg4 hxg4 3+-+-zpNzP-0 3+-+-zp-zPP0 White is in zugzwang and 2-+-+-+KzP0 2-+-+-+K+0 must allow the Black king to go 1+-+-+-+-0 1+-+-+-sN-0 through. xabcdefghy xabcdefghy 58.¤e2 ¢d3 59.¤f4+ ¢d2 hess Advancing the kingside pawns 55.¤e2 K2: Ketsup C 26 Notes by GM Razvan Preotu Black tries to trade light- 9.c4!? is an interesting idea that I very dangerous. Preotu, Razvan (2452) square bishops. 6...¤c6 is missed in the game, challenging Lenderman, Aleksandr more common, putting further Black's solid pawn formation. 15.0–0 b5 16.¤h4 pressure on d4. (2621) XIIIIIIIIY 9...¥xc4 10.¥xc4 dxc4 11.d5 8r+-+k+-tr0 C06 7.¤e2 ¥a6 8.¤f3 £c8 12.0–0 0–0 13.¤c3‚. 2016 World Open Philadelphia 7zp-+nsnpzp-0 (9), 04.07.2016 8.¥xa6 ¤xa6 9.0–0 is better, as 6q+-+p+-zp0 Black's knight is misplaced on a6 9...£c8 while the queen on d3 is not that Trying to exchange queens. 5+pzppzP-+P0 Having 6/8 I only needed a well placed. 4-+-zP-+-sN0 draw in the last round to get my final GM norm. Although I was 10.¥g5 ¥xd3 11.£xd3 £a6 3+-zP-+-+-0 playing a strong 2600 GM, I felt 8...¥e7 XIIIIIIIIY 2PzP-wQNzPP+0 confident as I had the White ¹8...¥xd3 9.£xd3 ¤c6. 8rsn-+k+-tr0 1tR-+-+RmK-0 pieces. XIIIIIIIIY 7zp-+nvlpzpp0 xabcdefghy 8rsn-wqk+-tr0 6qzp-+p+-+0 White's plan is simple: play f4– 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.¤d2 ¤f6 7zp-+nvlpzpp0 5+-zppzP-vL-0 f5 and go for mate. I was very Earlier this year in Manchester, 6lzp-+p+-+0 4-+-zP-+-zP0 optimistic with my position, Lenderman played the Tarrasch 5+-zppzP-+-0 3+-zPQ+N+-0 as Black's counterplay on the 2 variation with 3...c5. 4-+-zP-+-+0 2PzP-+NzPP+0 queenside looks very slow. 3+-zPL+N+-0 4.e5 ¤fd7 5.¥d3 c5 6.c3 1tR-+-mK-+R0 16...£b6 17.f4 b6!? 2PzP-+NzPPzP0 anada xabcdefghy XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 1tR-vLQmK-+R0 12.£d2 8r+-+k+-tr0 C 8rsnlwqkvl-tr0 xabcdefghy 12.£xa6 ¤xa6= gives White 7zp-+nsnpzp-0 7zp-+n+pzpp0 9.h4!? absolutely nothing. White has to 6-wq-+p+-zp0 6-zp-+p+-+0 A typical h-pawn advance in keep queens on in order to start 5+pzppzP-+P0 5+-zppzP-+-0 the French, having ideas such an attack on the kingside. 4-+-zP-zP-sN0 4-+-zP-+-+0 as ♗g5 and advancing h4–h5–h6 provoking weaknesses. 12...¤c6 13.¥xe7 ¤xe7 3+-zP-+-+-0 3+-zPL+-+-0 2PzP-wQN+P+0 2PzP-sN-zPPzP0 White has other testing options: 14.h5 h6 hess 9.¥xa6 ¤xa6 10.0–0²; 1tR-+-+RmK-0 1tR-vLQmK-sNR0 Allowing White to play h6 without K2: Ketsup the dark-square bishop looks xabcdefghy

C xabcdefghy 27 17...f5? strong, as trading queens leaves more precise, forcing the rook to has full compensation for the Too early. The opening of the the e6 and b5 pawns hanging: defend the d-pawn first. pawn and will likely win h5. position favours White. 20...£xd4+ 21.¤xd4 ¢d7 23.¦ae1 ¤c6 24...¦fe8 25.f5 e5 17...0–0 looks scary, but if Black 22.¤hf3 ¤f5 23.¤e5+ ¢c7 XIIIIIIIIY 25...¤xd4 26.¦f4 ¤c2 27.¦xe6 manages to play f7–f6 it will be 24.¤xb5+ ¢b6 25.a4 a6 26.¤d4 8r+-+-trk+0 ¤f6 28.¦f2 ¤d4=. difficult for White to attack: ¤xd4 27.cxd4 ¤xh5 28.¦f3² 7zp-+-+-zp-0 White has the better pawn 26.dxe5 ¤cxe5 27.¤xe5 18.f5 cxd4 19.cxd4 exf5 structure and pieces, as well as 6-+n+p+-zp0 5+p+p+-+P0 XIIIIIIIIY (19...¤xe5? 20.f6±) 20.¤xf5 the safer king; 8r+-+r+k+0 ¤xf5 21.¦xf5 f6! 22.exf6 ¤xf6 4-+-zP-zPnsN0 7zp-+-+-zp-0 23.£d3 ¤g4 24.¦af1 ¦xf5 20...£d6 21.a4 bxa4 22.£xa4+ 3+-+-+-sN-0 25.£xf5 ¤f6=; ¢f7 (22...£d7 23.¤d4±) 2PzP-+-+P+0 6-+-+-+-zp0 23.¦ae1² White has the initiative 1+-+-tRRmK-0 5+p+psNP+P0 18.¢h2 f6 19.¦ac1 a5 20.¦f3= because of the weak e6 pawn. 4-+-+-+n+0 xabcdefghy both sides find it difficult to 3+-+-+-sN-0 continue their attacks. 19...0–0 20.dxc5 £xc5+ 24.¤g6 2PzP-+-+P+0 21.£d4 £xd4+ 22.cxd4= 24.¦xe6 seems risky, as it opens 1+-+-tRRmK-0 18.exf6 ¤xf6 Both sides have weaknesses, so the position for Black's rook. 2 XIIIIIIIIY the position is equal. xabcdefghy 8r+-+k+-tr0 24...¤xd4 25.¦e7 ¦fe8 26.¦b7 27...¤xe5? 7zp-+-sn-zp-0 22...¤g4 ¦eb8 27.¦xb8+ ¦xb8 28.¦d1 A careless move. Black should anada 6-wq-+psn-zp0 22...¤c6 23.¦ad1 ¤g4 seems ¤c2 29.¦xd5 ¤ce3 30.¦d2 ¦c8 exchange a pair of rooks. 31.¤e2 ¦c5= Black obviously

C 5+pzpp+-+P0 4-+-zP-zP-sN0 3+-zP-+-+-0 2PzP-wQN+P+0 1tR-+-+RmK-0 xabcdefghy 19.¤g3? hess 19.dxc5! £xc5+ 20.£d4 is very K2: Ketsup C XIIIIIIIIY 28 27...¦xe5 28.¦xe5 ¤xe5 29.f6 away from the center before 38...¦e2+ 39.¢g3 ¦xb2 gxf6 30.¦xf6 ¦c8= Black has exchanging rooks. 8-+-+-mk-+0 40.¦c6!+– White's rook is enough counterplay to maintain 7zp-+-+-+-0 optimally placed, stopping the balance. 33.¢h2 ¦c4 34.¦g6+ ¢f8 6-+-+-+-tR0 Black's passed pawns. White will XIIIIIIIIY 5+-+p+-+P0 win the race; 28.f6 gxf6 8-+-+rmk-+0 4-+p+-+-+0 38...d4 39.¦f6+ ¢e7 40.¦f4: XIIIIIIIIY Analysis Diagram 7zp-+-+-+-0 3+-+-tr-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY 8r+-+r+k+0 6-+-+-+Rzp0 2PzP-+-+PmK0 7zp-+-+-+-0 8-+-+-+-+0 5+p+p+N+P0 1+-+-+-+-0 7zp-+-mk-+-0 6-+-+-zp-zp0 4-+rtR-+-+0 xabcdefghy 5+p+psn-+P0 6-+-+-+-+0 3+-+-sn-+-0 37...¦e5 5+-+-tr-+P0 4-+-+-+-+0 2PzP-+-+PmK0 37...¦e2 38.¦d6 ¦d2 (38...¦xb2 3+-+-+-sN-0 4-+pzp-tRP+0 1+-+-+-+-0 39.¦xd5 c3 40.¦c5 c2 41.a4± 3+-+-+-+-0 2PzP-+-+P+0 xabcdefghy White should be winning 1+-+-tRRmK-0 because of the connected 2PzP-+-+-mK0 35.¦xc4 xabcdefghy passed pawns.) 39.¢h3 ¢e7 1+-+-+-+-0 35.¦d3 keeps both queenside 40.h6! ¦xb2 41.¦xd5 ¦b8 xabcdefghy 29.¦d1!² pawns, but should lead to a 42.¢g4 ¦g8+ 43.¢f4 ¦h8 2 Most likely the move Lenderman drawn rook endgame after 40...d3 41.¦xc4 ¦d5 42.¦c1 d2 44.¦h5 c3 45.¢e3 ¦c8 46.¦h1 43.¦d1+–; missed. White wins back the 35...¤xf5 36.¦f6+ ¢e7 37.¦xf5 ¦d8 47.h7 c2 48.¦c1 ¦h8 pawn with the initiative due to ¦d8 38.¦e5+ ¢f6 39.¦dxd5 40...c3 41.bxc3 dxc3 42.¦c4 ¦e3 49.¦xc2 ¢d6 50.g4+–. 43.a4 a5 44.¢g2 ¦d3 45.¢f2 anada Black's weak pawns. ¦xd5 40.¦xd5 a6 41.¦d6+ ¢g5 42.¦xa6 ¢xh5. ¦h3 46.¢g2 ¦d3 47.h6 ¢f6 37...d4 38.¦c6 ¦e5 39.h6 d3 48.¦c6+ ¢g5 49.h7 ¦d2+ 50.¢f3 C Not 29.¦xf6? ¤f3+µ. 40.¦xc4 ¦d5 41.¦c1± White will ¦h2 51.¦xc3 ¦h3+ 52.¢e4 ¦xh7 35...bxc4 win the d-pawn and should be 53.¦c5+ ¢xg4 54.¦xa5+– With a 29...¤g4 35...dxc4 36.¦f6+ ¢g8 37.¤xh6+ winning. winning position according to the editor - 29...¤c4 30.¦xf6 ¤e3 ¢g7 38.¦g6+ ¢h7 39.g4+–. tablebase. 31.¦d4 transposes. 38.¢g3? 36.¤xe3 ¦xe3 37.¦xh6 38.g4! White needs to push 38...d4 39.¦d6 ¦xh5 30.¦d4 ¤e3 31.¦xf6 ¦ac8 the passed pawns right away. 40.¦xd4 ¦a5= hess 32.¤f5 ¦c1+ Surprisingly it doesn't seem like

K2: Ketsup It makes sense to chase the king Black can defend: C XIIIIIIIIY 29 8-+-+-mk-+0 Notes by GM Razvan Preotu more aggressively against 6...e6. 11...¤de5 Preotu, Razvan (2452) The drawback however is that 7zp-+-+-+-0 8.g5 ¤fd7 9.h4 b5 10.a3 is the c4 square is not guarded. 6-+-+-+-+0 Popilski, Gil (2542) currently the most popular way to 5tr-+-+-+-0 B81 play, and what I had prepared. 11...¤xd4 12.£xd4 b5 (Black 2016 Calgary Internati onal Cal- can play more slowly and 4-+ptR-+-+0 gary (5), 30.07.2016 3+-+-+-mK-0 8...¤fd7 9.¥e3 0–0 stop White's sacrifice idea 2PzP-+-+P+0 9...¤c6 10.£e2 0–0 11.0–0–0 with 12...£c7 but White has 1.e4 c5 2.¤f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 ¤xd4 12.¥xd4 b5. a strong idea of just pushing 1+-+-+-+-0 4.¤xd4 ¤f6 5.¤c3 a6 6.h3 the h-pawn to h6: 13.h4! b5 xabcdefghy Normally I play the English 10.£d2 14.h5 ¤e5 15.h6 g5 16.f4 gxf4 Black forces an exchange of Attack with 6.f3 but I thought it This allows White to capture the 17.¥xf4÷ Black's king position pawns, with an easy draw. would be a good idea to surprise knight on d4 with the queen if is weak, but the strong knight White's king and g-pawn are not my opponent. Black trades. on e5 compensates.) 13.e5 d5 advanced far enough to provide 14.¤xd5! Analysis Diagram any winning chances. 6...e6 7.g4 ¥e7 10.£e2 ¤c6 11.0–0–0 ¤xd4 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 12.¥xd4 b5 13.e5 d5 is played 8r+lwq-trk+0 41.a3 c3 42.bxc3 ¦xa3 8rsnlwqk+-tr0 more often, but White doesn't 7+-+nvlpzpp0 have an advantage, and in fact

2 43.¦c4 a5 44.¢f4 a4 45.¢e3 7+p+-vlpzpp0 6p+-+p+-+0 ¢e7 46.g4 ¦a2 47.g5 a3 6p+-zppsn-+0 scores badly. 5+p+NzP-+-0 48.¦a4 ¦a1 49.¢d3 a2 5+-+-+-+-0 4-+-wQ-+P+0 10...¤c6 11.0–0–0 anada 50.¢c4 ¢d7 51.g6 ¦g1 4-+-sNP+P+0 XIIIIIIIIY 3+-+-vL-+P0 52.¦xa2 ¦xg6 53.¦a7+ ¢c8 3+-sN-+-+P0 8r+lwq-trk+0 2PzPP+-zPL+0 C 54.¢b4 2PzPP+-zP-+0 7+p+nvlpzpp0 1+-mKR+-+R0 Although I knew I messed up 1tR-vLQmKL+R0 6p+nzpp+-+0 xabcdefghy a great position, I was still very xabcdefghy 5+-+-+-+-0 A cool sacrifice, and although it happy with a draw as I got my doesn't promise an advantage, final GM norm! It took two years 8.¥g2 4-+-sNP+P+0 After only 7 moves I forgot my it forces Black to play precisely. to get it, as I got my first and 3+-sN-vL-+P0 14...exd5 15.¥xd5 ¥c5 second norm in 2014. preparation! Although developing the bishop to g2 is typical in 2PzPPwQ-zPL+0 (15...¦b8? 16.£a7 £a5 17.¢b1² hess other lines, White should play 1+-mKR+-+R0 Black can't move many pieces, K2: Ketsup ½–½ xabcdefghy and White will win back the C 30 material with e5–e6.) 16.¥xf7+! ¤g6 16.f4 ¦b5 17.£c3 ¤xf4!? Black is getting the initiative. 16...£f6 ¦xf7 17.£xc5 ¥b7 18.£d6 ¥xh1 an interesting exchange sacrifice 16...¤g6 is the more challenging 19.e6 ¦f6 20.¦xh1 (20.g5 ¦g6 is in order to gain control over 16.£e1 move. Black has ideas of ...♕f6, similar.) 20...¤f8 21.£xd8 ¦xd8 the dark-squares. 18.¥f1 £c7 XIIIIIIIIY and ...♘f4 or ...♘h4. 17.f4 22.e7 ¦c8 23.exf8£+ ¦fxf8=. 19.¥xb5 cxb5 20.¢b1 ¤e2 8-trlwq-trk+0 £a5 18.¢b2 White threatens 21.£d3 d4 22.£xe2 dxe3 7+-+-+pzpp0 to consolidate with ♗d2. 12.¤xc6 bxc6 13.b3 23.¤d3 ¥b7 24.£xe3 ¦c8 6p+p+p+-+0 18...¤h4 19.¦g1 ¤xg2 20.¦xg2 13.¥f1 looks unappealing, but it's 25.¦d2 £c3 Black's active dxe4 21.¥d2 f5 22.£g3 ¦b7 probably a bit better as it doesn't pieces force a repetition: 5+-+psn-+-0 (22...£c7 23.gxf5 exf5 24.¤a4 weaken the king position. 26.¦hd1 h6 27.¦e2 ¥g5 28.£f2 4-vl-+P+P+0 ¦d8 25.¥xb4 ¦xd1 26.¥c3 ¦b7 ¥xe4 29.¦xe4 ¥f6 30.¢c1 ¥g5+ 3+PsN-vL-+P0 27.¤c5 ¦a7 28.£e3²; 22... 13...d5 31.¢b1 ¥f6=. 2P+P+-zPL+0 g6 23.gxf5 exf5 24.h4= White XIIIIIIIIY has enough activity for the 14...¦b8 15.¢a1 ¥b4!³ 1mK-+RwQ-+R0 pawn.) 23.¤b1 e5 24.¥xb4 8r+lwq-trk+0 A very annoying pin to get out of. xabcdefghy £xb4 25.gxf5 exf4 26.£xf4 ¥xf5 7+-+-vlpzpp0 27.£e3³ Black is up a pawn but 6p+p+p+-+0 has a weak pawn-structure and 5+-+psn-+-0 not a very good bishop. 4-+-+P+P+0 2 3+PsN-vL-+P0 17.¥d2 2P+PwQ-zPL+0 17.g5 ¤f3 18.gxf6 ¤xe1 1+-mKR+-+R0 19.¤xd5! Analysis Diagram anada xabcdefghy

C Black now threatens ...♘c4 again because of ...♗a3+ and ...♖b8+.

14.¢b1 14.¤a4 was better, as White doesn't waste time moving the king and focuses on controlling hess Preotu - Popilski, Calgary 2016 the c5–square. 14...¦b8 15.¤c5 K2: Ketsup Gata Kamsky in foreground. C XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 31 8-trl+-trk+0 8-trl+-trk+0 White has managed to This was my idea, Black will unscramble his pieces and not have some back-rank problems 7+-+-+pzpp0 7+-+-+pzpp0 lose any material. I felt good when the d-file opens. 6p+p+pzP-+0 6p+p+p+-+0 about my position because 5+-+N+-+-0 5+-+p+-+-0 although it's equal, White will 24...dxc3 4-vl-+P+-+0 4-vl-+P+P+0 be better if it's possible to trade The exchange sacrifice doesn't 3+P+-vL-+P0 3+PsN-+q+P0 dark-square bishops and place seem to provide enough 2P+P+-zPL+0 2P+PvL-zP-+0 the knight on c5 compensation. 24...¦xa4 25.bxa4 c5 26.cxd4 cxd4 27.£a5 1mK-+Rsn-+R0 1mK-+RwQ-+R0 21...¦d8 22.¥c3 e5 28.h4² White will be able to xabcdefghy xabcdefghy White now has ideas of ♗f6. control the c-file and activate the 19...¤xc2+ (19...exd5 20.¦hxe1 19.¦g1 22.¥xb4 ¦xb4 23.f3 e5=. rooks. ¥xe1 21.¦xe1 dxe4 22.¥f4 ¦b6 19.¤xd5? doesn't quite work: 23.¦xe4 g6 24.¥e3 ¦b5 25.¦e7 19...¥xd2 20.¤e7+ ¢h8 22...d4 25.£xc3 ¦xe4 26.£xc6 ¦f5 26.¢b2 ¦xf6 27.h4= The 21.£xd2 £f6+–+. 22...£d6 followed by ...a5 then 26.£c5 £f8! 27.£xc6 ¦b4 active bishop pair compensates ...d4 seems better, as Black 28.¤b6 ¥b7 29.£xb7 ¦b8 for the exchange.) 20.¢b2 ¤xe3 19...£f6 would rather recapture with the 30.£xa6 ¦4xb6 31.£e2 g6² 21.¤xe3 gxf6 22.¦hg1 ¢h8 19...£xh3? 20.¤xd5! now works pawn. White is up a full pawn but with 23.¥f3³ Black is up a pawn but ♕ all the major pieces still on the

2 because there is no ... f6+. White is very active and will likely 23.¥xb4 ¦xb4 board it will be very difficult to trade off Black's dark-square 20.g5 £e7 21.¤a4= XIIIIIIIIY win. bishop with ♘e3–c4–d6. XIIIIIIIIY 8-+ltr-+k+0 XIIIIIIIIY anada 8-trl+-trk+0 7+-+-wqpzpp0 8-+ltr-+k+0 17...¤f3 7+-+-wqpzpp0

C 7+-+-wqpzpp0 6p+p+p+-+0 17...¤g6 18.g5 £e5 19.exd5 6p+Q+p+-+0 £xe1 20.¦hxe1 exd5 21.¤e2 6p+p+p+-+0 5+-+-+-zP-0 ¥xd2 22.¦xd2 ¤h4 23.¥h1 5+-+p+-zP-0 4Ntr-zpP+-+0 5+-+-+-zP-0 ¥xh3 24.¤d4 ¦fe8 25.¦c1 4Nvl-+P+-+0 3+P+-+-+P0 4N+-+r+-+0 ¦bc8 26.c4³ White has good 3+P+-+-+P0 2P+P+-zP-+0 3+P+-+-+P0 compensation for the pawn, but 2P+-+-zP-+0 not fully. 2P+PvL-zP-+0 1mK-+RwQ-tR-0 1mK-+RwQ-tR-0 xabcdefghy 1mK-+R+-tR-0 hess xabcdefghy 18.¥xf3 £xf3 xabcdefghy K2: Ketsup 24.c3! C 32 26...¦e2? GM Kayden Troff by only 0.5 a 5.c3 ¤f6 6.e5 d5 Hoogeveen, 2014. Trying to set up some point. But there were also a lot XIIIIIIIIY counterplay against the White of players only 0.5 behind me, 8r+lwqk+-tr0 8.cxd4 ¥b6 9.0–0 0–0 10.¤c3 king, but it doesn't work. including GM Gata Kamsky. 7zppzp-+pzpp0 ¥e6 11.¥e3 Because Troff was Black against 6-+n+-sn-+0 XIIIIIIIIY 26...f5! was forced, making room Kamsky, I knew that if I win I 8r+-wq-trk+0 for the king. 27.£c5 (editor - had good chances to win the 5+-vlpzP-+-0 27.gxf6 £xf6+ 28.¤b2 ¦ed4 tournament. 4-+Lzp-+-+0 7zppzp-+pzpp0 29.¦xd4 £xd4 30.¦d1 £f6÷) 3+-zP-+N+-0 6-vln+l+-+0 27...£f8 28.£c7 ¦e8 29.¦d2 ¦e7 1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.d4 exd4 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 5+-+pzP-+-0 30.£c3 ¦e8 31.¦gd1². 4.¥c4 1tRNvLQmK-+R0 4-+-zPn+-+0 27.¤c3!+– XIIIIIIIIY xabcdefghy 3+-sN-vLN+-0 27.¤b6? ¦f8! 28.¤xc8? £a3–+ 8r+lwqkvlntr0 2PzP-+LzPPzP0 this is Black's idea. 7.¥e2!? 7zppzpp+pzpp0 An interesting move Jabova has 1tR-+Q+RmK-0 6-+n+-+-+0 played many times. xabcdefghy 27...¦xf2 28.¦xd8+ £xd8 5+-+-+-+-0 29.¦d1 11...f5 7.¥b5 ¤e4 8.cxd4 ¥b6 is played Black can't stop ♕c7 and ♖d8 4-+LzpP+-+0 11...f6 is more precise, as White 3+-+-+N+-0 more often, but the bishop on b5 doesn't have much of an option

2 winning material. 2PzPP+-zPPzP0 is often misplaced. White does but capture. not want to capture the knight 1–0 1tRNvLQmK-+R0 on c6, and might retreat to e2 if 12.exf6

anada xabcdefghy Black pins the knight with ...♗g4. Notes by GM Razvan Preotu 12.g3 is a possibility. I didn't like The Scotch Gambit, trying to get that the knight was cemented

C Preotu, Razvan (2452) my very experienced opponent 7...¤e4 on e4, but White could chase Mikhalevski, Victor (2545) out of his comfort zone. With 7...d3!? Black trades the it away with f3 in the future. C54 Mihalveski has written several right to castle in order to gain Then the passed e-pawn could 2016 Calgary Internati onal Cal- books on the Ruy Lopez. the bishop pair and center: provide an advantage. gary (9), 01.08.2016 8.exf6 (8.¥xd3? ¤g4³) 8...dxe2 4...¥c5 9.£xe2+ ¢f8 10.b4 ¥d6 11.b5 12...£xf6 13.¤a4 Going into the last round I ¤a5 12.¥g5 £e8 13.£xe8+ 4...¤f6 5.e5 d5 6.¥b5 ¤e4 13.¥d3 chases the knight away, was clear 2nd, right behind 7.¤xd4 is the main line. ¢xe8 14.fxg7 ¦g8= was played hess but Black can maneuver it to in the game Jobava-Timman, K2: Ketsup another good square. 13...¤d6 C XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 33 14.¤g5 ¤f5 15.£h5 h6 16.¤xe6 8r+-+-+k+0 8r+-+-trk+0 but it shouldn't be enough £xe6 17.¦fe1 £d7=. 7+p+-+-zpp0 7+pzp-+-zpp0 compensation. 6-+p+ltr-wq0 6-zp-+lwq-+0 13...¤e7 16...¤xe3 17.£xe3 (17.fxe3 XIIIIIIIIY 5+-+p+-+-0 5+-+psNn+-0 £h6 18.¦xf8+ ¦xf8 19.¥f3 ¤d2 8r+-+-trk+0 4-+-zPn+-+0 4-+-zPn+-+0 20.£c3 ¤xf3+ 21.gxf3÷ White 7zppzp-sn-zpp0 3+Q+-zPN+-0 3+Q+-vL-+-0 has a very strong knight but a 2PzP-+L+PzP0 2PzP-+LzPPzP0 weaker king position.) 17...£f4! 6-vl-+lwq-+0 preventing White from playing f2– 5+-+p+-+-0 1+-tR-+RmK-0 1tR-+-+RmK-0 f4. (17...c5 18.f4! ¦a4 19.¦ad1² 4N+-zPn+-+0 xabcdefghy xabcdefghy White is able to get the kingside 3+-+-vLN+-0 With a strong initiative for Black 16...c5?! majority moving and should 2PzP-+LzPPzP0 because of ideas such as Black gives a pawn to be better because of the pawn ...♗h3. Now the best White can create some counterplay, structure.) 18.a3 £xe3 19.fxe3 1tR-+Q+RmK-0 do is to exchange g6=. xabcdefghy pieces with: 20.¤e5 14.£b3 ¤d2 21.¦xf6 gxf6 14.¤xb6 axb6 15.¤e5 ¤f5 22.£d3 ¤e4 23.¤f3 16.£b3 transposes to the game. ¦xa2 24.¤d2 ¦xb2 2 14.¦c1 is what I wanted to play 25.¤xe4 dxe4 originally, but after 14...c6! 26.£xe4 ¢f7³. (14...¤f5 15.¤xb6 ¤xe3 16.fxe3

anada cxb6 17.¥d3 White can hope 14...¤f5 15.¤xb6 for an advantage because of axb6 16.¤e5

C the pawn-structure.) 15.£b3 ¤f5 16.¤xb6 axb6 taking the b6–pawn is very dangerous. 17.£xb6 ¤xe3 18.fxe3 £h6 19.£b3 ¦f6! Analysis Diagram

A place at the grownup’s table hess

K2: Ketsup Playing Kamsky on board 1,

C GM Victor Mikhalevski on board 2. 34 17.£xb6 ¦ad8 won't be easy to win because it's eliminate the defending ♘ with to strip away White's pawn cover XIIIIIIIIY backward. ...♗x♘g4, as in the note below. is enough for a big advantage: 8-+-tr-trk+0 7+p+-+-zpp0 18...£e7 19.f3 20.hxg3 28.gxh5 ¤xh5–+ e.g. 29.¦xe2 6-wQ-+lwq-+0 XIIIIIIIIY editor - 20.¦fe1? looks perfectly ¤f4+ 30.¢f1 £h3+–+, 5+-zppsNn+-0 8-+-tr-trk+0 natural, but allows Black a 7+p+-wq-zpp0 difficult-to-calculate but very 28.g5™ 28...¦xe3™ 29.£xe3 4-+-zPn+-+0 ¤f4+ 30.£xf4 £xf4µ when the 6-wQ-+l+-+0 strong attack after: 20...¥xg4 3+-+-vL-+-0 21.fxg4 ¤c3! 22.¥f3™ ¤ce2+™ Black ♕ has a lot of loose pawns 2PzP-+LzPPzP0 5+-zpp+n+-0 23.¢f2™ ¦de8! 24.£b3™ c4 to target. 1tR-+-+RmK-0 4-+-zPn+N+0 25.£a3™ Analysis Diagram XIIIIIIIIY 20...¤xg3 21.¥g5 xabcdefghy 3+-+-vLP+-0 2PzP-+L+PzP0 8-+-+rtrk+0 21.¤e5 ¤xe2+ 22.¢f2 ¤xd4 18.¤g4? 1tR-+-+RmK-0 7+p+-wq-zpp0 23.¥xd4 cxd4 24.£xd4 ¦c8=. My idea was to move the knight XIIIIIIIIY away to defend the bishop on e3 xabcdefghy 6-+-+-+-+0 5+-+p+-+-0 8-+-tr-trk+0 and prepare f3, but Black has a 19...¤fg3! 7+p+-wq-zpp0 good response. 4-+pzP-+P+0 The resource which I noticed one 6-wQ-+l+-+0 move too late. 3wQ-+-vLLsn-0 2 18.¥d3! essentially forces the 2PzP-+nmKPzP0 5+-zpp+-vL-0 exchange of queens: 19...¦d6 20.£b5 with the bishop 1tR-+-tR-+-0 4-+-zP-+N+0 18...¦d6 19.£xb7 on e2 defended, ...♘fg3 no xabcdefghy 3+-+-+Psn-0 anada cxd4 20.¥f4 longer works. 20...¥d7 2PzP-+L+P+0 ¤e7 (20... 21.£d3 ¤f6 (21... Even if you could see your 1tR-+-+RmK-0

C g5? 21.¤g4+–) c4 22.£a3 ¤g5 way to this position, it would 21.¥g3± White 23.¤e5 ¤e6 24.£c3²) be natural for Black to look for xabcdefghy has consolidated 22.¤xf6+ ¦dxf6 23.¥f2 something else, since now both 21...£xg5? the extra pawn. ¦e6 24.¦fe1². ♘s and his ♕ are attacked. But A miscalculation. 21...¤xe2+™ 18...¥c8 19.£xf6 Black crashes through with: 22.¢f2 £xg5 23.£xe6+ ¢h8 gxf6 20.¤f3 25...¦xf3+!! (25...c3 would be 24.£xe2 (24.¢xe2? ¦fe8–+) c4 21.¥c2 ¤xe3 editor - 19...¤eg3? is OK, if not for ♕xe7+–.) 26.gxf3 24...£xg4= While analyzing after 22.fxe3 ¦fe8² White the wrong ♘, since after £h4™ 27.¢g2™ h5™ Hard to the game, Mikhalveski said he hess is up a pawn, but it 20.¦fe1 Black can't believe, but Black's "slow" threat missed the pin on the f-file. K2: Ketsup C 35 22.£xe6+ ¢h8 23.¥b5 ¤xf1 29...£c3 Notes by GM Razvan Preotu provide a slight advantage 24.¦xf1+– editor - 29...£xc5+ wins a pawn, Preotu, Razvan (2469) because of the activity. (30.¢h1?? XIIIIIIIIY but after 30.£xc5 Pressman, Leif (2276) 8-+-tr-tr-mk0 ¦xc6–+) 30...bxc5 31.¦c1+– 7...d6 8.c3 Black's passers are controlled C61 7+p+-+-zpp0 2016 Washington Internati onal XIIIIIIIIY and White pushes his a-pawn at 8r+lwqkvl-tr0 6-+-+Q+-+0 will. Washington D.C. (1), 13.08.2016 5+Lzpp+-wq-0 7zpp+-+pzpp0 6-+pzp-sn-+0 4-+-zP-+N+0 30.cxb6 ¦fe8 31.b7 ¦b8 1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 3+-+-+P+-0 ¤d4 5+-+-+-+-0 32.£d7 £e3+ 33.¦f2 £c1+ XIIIIIIIIY 4-+LzpP+-+0 2PzP-+-+P+0 34.¥f1 £c5 35.¤xb8 ¦xb8 1+-+-+RmK-0 8r+lwqkvlntr0 3+-zP-+-+-0 36.¢h1 £c1 37.£d6 7zppzpp+pzpp0 xabcdefghy A very important win that allowed 2PzP-zP-zPPzP0 6-+-+-+-+0 1tRNvLQtR-mK-0 Black has no compensation, the me to finish clear first with 7/9!

two pieces are much stronger Kamsky defeated Troff so I was 5+L+-zp-+-0 xabcdefghy than the rook. only 0.5 points ahead of both of 4-+-snP+-+0 8...¤g4! them and Popilski. 3+-+-+N+-0 Black needs to play dynamically 24...£d2 25.dxc5 £xb2 2PzPPzP-zPPzP0 otherwise he is just worse for 2 This was my first time playing in nothing; e.g. 8...dxc3 9.¤xc3 26.a4 £b4 27.£e7 b6 Calgary and I enjoyed it a lot, it 1tRNvLQmK-+R0 ¥e7 10.d4². 28.¤e5 ¦c8 29.¤c6 was very well organized. I hope xabcdefghy XIIIIIIIIY I'll be able to play again next The Bird Opening! Not very anada 9.h3 8-+r+-tr-mk0 year to defend my title! commonly played anymore, 9.£e2 was another way to and for me it was my first time C 7+-+-wQ-zpp0 prevent ...♕h4. 9...b5 (9...£b6 1–0 playing against it. 6-zpN+-+-+0 10.d3 ¤e5 11.cxd4 ¤xc4 5+LzPp+-+-0 12.dxc4 £xd4 13.¤c3²) 10.¥d3 4.¤xd4 exd4 5.0–0 c6 6.¥c4 4Pwq-+-+-+0 £b6 11.¤a3 ¤e5 12.¤c2 3+-+-+P+-0 ¤f6 7.¦e1 dxc3 13.dxc3 ¥e7 14.a4 ¤xd3 7.d3 d5 8.exd5 ¤xd5 9.¦e1+ 15.£xd3 bxa4 16.¦xa4 0–0² 2-+-+-+P+0 ¥e7 10.¥g5 0–0 11.¥xe7 ¤xe7 White seems slightly better 1+-+-+RmK-0 12.¤d2² This is a less ambitious because of Black's pawn hess xabcdefghy variation for White, but it does weaknesses. K2: Ketsup C XIIIIIIIIY 36 9...¤e5 10.¥f1 piece and White's pawn structure 8-+ktr-vl-tr0 18.fxg6 fxg6 19.d4 ¥e7 20.£d3 10.d3 dxc3 11.¤xc3 ¤xc4 is a mess. 7zpp+-+pzp-0 0–0–0 21.¤d2² Black has the 12.dxc4² was White's last 6-+pzp-+-+0 bishop pair, but it's not worth a chance to claim an advantage. 12.¢h1 very healthy pawn. Now the game becomes very XIIIIIIIIY 5+-+-zP-+p0 sharp. 8r+l+kvl-tr0 4-+-+P+-+0 14.¦g3 7zpp+-+pzpp0 3+QzPL+-+P0 14.¦xd3? ¤xb2µ White loses the 10...d3 11.f4 6-wqpzp-+-+0 2PzP-zP-wq-+0 exchange without compensation. XIIIIIIIIY 14.¦f3 ¥g4 15.b3 d5! opening 5+-+-sn-+-0 1tRNvLR+-+K0 8r+lwqkvl-tr0 xabcdefghy the d6–square for the knight. 7zpp+-+pzpp0 4-+-+PzP-+0 16.exd5 ¥xf3 17.£xf3 ¤d6 3+-zPp+-+P0 Does Black have more than a 18.¥xd3 0–0–0 19.¥b2 cxd5 6-+pzp-+-+0 perpetual check? 20.£xd5 ¤e8 21.£f3 ¢b8= 5+-+-sn-+-0 2PzP-zP-+P+0 1tRNvLQtRL+K0 17...¦h6! Black has more than a Material is even, White has a 4-+-+PzP-+0 perpetual check. bishop and two pawns for the

3+-zPp+-+P0 xabcdefghy rook. 12...h5! 18.¦g1 (editor - 18.¦f1 £g3 XIIIIIIIIY 2PzP-zP-+P+0 19.£xf7 £xh3+ 20.¢g1 £g3+ 1tRNvLQtRLmK-0 A move that I missed. I was now 8r+l+kvl-tr0 very nervous about my position. 21.¢h1 ¦g6–+) 18...dxe5 7zpp+-+pzp-0 2 xabcdefghy 12...¤g6 13.£f3± White wins the 19.¥c4 (19.£d1 ¦xd3 20.£f1 6-wqpzp-+-+0 11...£b6+ d3 pawn for nothing. £xf1 21.¦xf1 ¦g6 22.¢h2 11...¤g6 was another serious ¥c5–+ White's up a piece, but 5+-+-+-+p0 those queenside pieces are anada alternative. 12.£f3 £f6 13.g3 h5! 13.¦e3! 4-+n+PzP-+0 so pathetic... just completely 14.h4 (14.£xd3 h4 15.f5 hxg3 The best and only move! 3+-zPp+-tRP0

C dominated. The king will not be 16.£xg3 £h4 17.¦e3 £xg3+ 13.fxe5? looks very dangerous, 2PzP-zP-+P+0 able to survive with just a lone 18.¦xg3 ¤h4 19.d3 g6° Black and it actually gives Black a rook.) 19...£f3+ 20.¢h2 £f4+ 1tRNvLQ+L+K0 has a lot of activity for one winning attack! 13...¥g4 14.£b3 21.¢h1 £xe4+ 22.¢h2 £f4+ xabcdefghy pawn.) 14...¥e7 15.£xd3 ¤xf4! £f2 15.¦d1 (15.£xb7? ¦d8–+) 23.¢h1 £f3+ 24.¢h2 ¥d6–+. 16.gxf4 £xf4 17.¦e2 ¦h6 18.£e3 15...0–0–0! 16.¥xd3 ¥xh3 14...¥g4 £xh4 19.¦h2 ¦g6+ 20.¢h1 17.gxh3: 14...£f2? right away is met by £g4 21.¥e2 ¥g5 22.¥xg4 ¥xe3 Analysis Diagram 13...¤c4 23.dxe3 ¥xg4 24.¤d2 ¢d7² 13...¤g6 14.f5 ¤e5 15.¥xd3 15.¦f3±; hess Black has two pawns for the ¤xd3 16.¦xd3 g6 17.¦f3 ¥d7 K2: Ketsup C 37 14...¤xb2 15.£e1 (15.£b3 £xb3 Analysis Diagram ¥xg4 21.£xg4 £f1+–+ and Black in trouble. 19.¥c2 (19.exd5 cxd5 16.axb3 ¤d1 17.¢h2 f5! a very XIIIIIIIIY wins the ♗ and the ♖.) 20...£f2 20.¥c2 ¤b2 21.c4 protecting the strong move, challenging White's 8r+l+kvl-tr0 and Black takes maximum knight on a3. 21...¤xc4 22.¦b1 center so d6–d5 is possible. 7zpp+-+p+-0 advantage of White's weak back £e6 23.£f2 b6 24.¤b5 a6÷ It 18.exf5 d5 19.f6 gxf6 20.¥xd3 rank. doesn't look easy for White to ¤f2 21.¥g6+ ¢d8 22.¥a3 h4 6-+pzp-+-+0 5+-+-+-tRp0 prove what compensation he has 23.¦f3 ¥xa3 24.¤xa3 ¤e4 15.£e1 ¤xb2 16.¤a3 ¤d1 for a pawn.) 19...dxe4 20.¥xd1 25.¥xe4 dxe4 26.¦e3 ¥f5=) 15... 4-+n+Pwq-+0 XIIIIIIIIY ¥xd1 21.£xd1 g5! White's pieces h4 (15...¢d8!? simply getting 3+-zPL+-+P0 8r+-+kvl-tr0 are in such awkward positions off the e-file to meet ♘a3 with 2PzP-zP-+P+0 7zpp+-+pzp-0 that Black wins the knight on d6–d5. 16.c4 h4 17.¦f3 ¤xc4 1tRNvLQ+-+K0 a3 by force. 22.d4 (22.¦xg5 18.¦xd3 £c7 19.¤a3 ¤b6 6-wqpzp-+-+0 £f2 23.d4 ¥xa3 24.£g1 £xg1+ 20.¥b2‚ Black is up a pawn, xabcdefghy 5+-+-+-+p0 25.¢xg1=) 22...£c7 23.¦xg5 but his position looks completely 17.¥xc4 £xg5 18.d4 £g6 4-+-+PzPl+0 ¥xa3 24.¦e5 ¥d6 25.¦xe4 f5 crazy. The king is stuck in the 19.¤d2÷ White has only a pawn 3sN-zPp+-tRP0 26.¦e6 ¥xf4+ 27.¥xf4 £xf4+ center and it should be just a for the exchange, but has a nice 2P+-zP-+P+0 28.¢h1=. matter of time before White can center and the Black king is still open the game more.) 16.¦e3 in the middle of the board. 1tR-vLnwQL+K0 17...¤f2+

¤c4 17.¦xd3 £c7 18.¦f3 ¤b6 xabcdefghy 17...£f2 was another strong 2 19.d4² White's center gives him editor - 17.¦xh5?! looks great, 17.¦xd3?! alternative. 18.¦e3 £xf4 19.¦e2 the advantage. but after 17...¦xh5 18.£xh5 ¤e5 A practical exchange sacrifice, ¥xe2 20.£xe2 ¤f2+ 21.¢g1 White is up two pawns but is although it's not a very good ¤g4! (21...¤xe4 22.d3 £f2+ 14...g5!? is a very interesting fatally behind in development: anada one. I didn't mind giving up 23.£xf2 ¤xf2 24.¢xf2=) 22.hxg4 move which I noticed, although some material if I could get the hxg4 23.d3 £g3 24.£e3 £h2+ it looked completely crazy. The 19.£e2 £g3 20.¥c2 ¥g4! C initiative, as we were both getting 25.¢f2 ¦h6‚ Black is the one idea is to deflect the rook or free 21.hxg4 ¤xg4–+ and White has low on time with a lot of moves with an attack now. the e5–square for the knight. to give up the ♕ to stop mate. left to make to reach the second 15.¦xg5 (15.fxg5 h4 16.¦f3 time control. 18.¢h2 ¤xd3 19.¥xd3 ¥e6 ¤e5 17.¥xd3 ¤xf3 18.£xf3 19.¥e2 Saves the ♗ and defends 20.¥c2 £c5 19.¥c2 £xg5 20.¤a3 f1; now White would be winning 17.¢h2 0–0–0 18.¥xd3 d5 is the £g3 21.£xg3 hxg3 22.d4 ¥h6 after ♘a3, but here Stockfish variation I saw, and I did not like 23.¥xh6 ¦xh6 24.¦e1³ White finds the very weird but strong: it. It looked like I would have to hess has compensation, but not 19...¤g4!! interfering with the ♕'s play very precisely just to not get K2: Ketsup enough.) 15...£f2 16.¥xd3 £xf4: defence of e2, 20.hxg4 (20.¥xg4 C XIIIIIIIIY 38 8r+-+kvl-tr0 The simple 21.d4 is better, as it also has counterplay with the 35.¤f5 ¥e5² White is up a pawn stops Black's reply of ...♕e5+. pawn advance g7–g5–g4. but Black has the bishop pair, 7zpp+-+pzp-0 Now White get ♘c4 as a free which will make it difficult to win. 6-wqpzpl+-+0 tempo. 24.d5 £e7 I wanted to finish the game off 5+-+-+-+p0 editor - !, since 24...cxd5? right away so I played what I 4-+-+PzP-+0 21...£e5+ 22.¢h1 ¥xf5 25.¥g5! threatens ♗a4+ and thought would be harder for my 3sN-zP-+-+P0 23.d4 captures with the e-pawn. opponent. 2P+LzP-+PmK0 XIIIIIIIIY 1tR-vL-wQ-+-0 8r+-+kvl-tr0 25.¥f4ƒ ¥d7 26...£f6 27.£e3 25...¥h7 was another option. XIIIIIIIIY xabcdefghy 7zpp+-+pzp-0 6-+pzp-+-+0 My opponent probably wanted 8r+-+kvl-tr0 20...£a5 to give back the material with a 7zpp+l+pzp-0 20...0–0–0 21.d4 d5 22.e5µ Black 5+-+-wql+p0 timely rook lift. 4-+-zPP+-+0 6-+pzp-wq-+0 is up a full exchange but White 5+-+P+-+p0 can still make it complicated 3sN-zP-+-+P0 26.¦b1 4-+-+PvL-+0 because of opposite-side 2P+L+-+P+0 26.¤c4 allows Black to give back castling. 1tR-vL-wQ-+K0 material in order to lower White's 3sN-zP-wQ-+P0 2P+L+-+P+0 xabcdefghy initiative. 26...¦h6 27.¥xh6 gxh6 28.£f2 ¥g7 29.¦f1 ¥xc3 30.£f3 2 21.f5? 1+R+-+-+K0 I thought my initiative would 23...£e6? ¥d4 31.£xh5 0–0–0 32.¦xf7 xabcdefghy become a lot stronger if I give up After 23...£e7 24.¥f4 ¥h7 (32.£xf7 £xf7 33.¤xd6+ ¢b8 another pawn, but there was no 25.¤c4 0–0–0µ It's difficult for 34.¤xf7 ¦f8 35.¥b3²) 32...£g5 27...¥c8?? anada need to do that. White to prove something. Black 33.¤xd6+ ¢b8 34.£xg5 hxg5 The losing blunder. It was C hess K2: Ketsup C 39 necessary to give up the Washington D.C. (5), 15.08.2016 The most popular move. White 10.f4 d6 (10...¥b4 11.e5 ¤d5 b7 pawn in order to start defends the e4–pawn so that 12.¥xd5 ¥xc3+ 13.bxc3 exd5 counterplay. Without a lot of time Having a score of 3.5/4, I was the pin with ...♗b4 is not a big 14.¥a3ƒ) 11.¥e3² the Bishop on left it's not very easy to realize. not only tied for first but only deal because of the simple ♗d2. e3 is better placed than on d2. a few decimals of rating off The queen on e2 is also typical 27...¥e7! 28.¦xb7 g5! 29.¥h2 reaching 2500! This was my in many Sicilians, as it allows 9...a6 10.f4 g4 30.¥d3 gxh3 31.gxh3 ¦g8 third time play Gata Kamsky in discoveries on the e-file. XIIIIIIIIY 32.¤c4 £g5 33.£xg5 ¦xg5 the summer, but although it was 8r+l+kvl-tr0 34.h4 ¦g4 35.¤xd6+ ¥xd6 a familiar experience, I was still 7...£c7 8.g4 7+pwqp+pzp-0 36.¥xd6 ¦xh4+ 37.¢g2³ White's nervous! Asking Black a question on how 6p+n+psn-zp0 bishop pair is very strong and to deal with the threat of g5. will likely win back the exchange, 1.e4 c5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 5+-+-+-+-0 only being down a pawn. Our first game of the summer 8...h6 4-+-+PzPP+0 was at the World Open; it went: Normally a weakening move 3+NsN-+-+-0 28.¥g5+– 2...e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.¤xd4 a6 that one wants to avoid playing, 2PzPPvLQ+-zP0 Black's queen is out of good 5.¤c3 b5 6.¥d3 £b6 Preotu- but the alternative didn't look 1tR-+-mKL+R0 squares, and White gets a Kamsky, Philadelphia, 2016 appealing: 8...d6 9.g5 ¤d7 xabcdefghy decisive attack. (½–½, 36). 10.¥e3 looks great for White, as he is much farther in the race. 10...d6 2 28...£g6 29.e5 ¥f5 30.exd6+ 3.d4 cxd4 4.¤xd4 £b6 10...b5!? 11.e5 ¤b4 (11... b4 12.exf6 bxc3 13.¥xc3 gxf6 ¢d7 31.¦xb7+ ¢c8 32.¦c7+ 5.¤b3 ¤f6 6.¤c3 e6 7.£e2 9.¥d2 ¢b8 33.£e8+ XIIIIIIIIY I would have liked to continue 14.¥xf6 ¦g8 15.f5 £f4 16.h3±) anada 12.exf6 ¤xc2+ 13.¢f2 ¤xa1 One of the most unusual games advancing my kingside pawns 8r+l+kvl-tr0 14.¤xa1 ¥b7 15.fxg7 ¥xg7 I've ever played! with 9.f4 but after 9...¥b4! White

C 7zpp+p+pzpp0 can't avoid the doubling of his 16.¥g2÷ leads to an interesting 6-wqn+psn-+0 position where Black has a rook 1–0 pawns with ♗d2 because f4 5+-+-+-+-0 would be hanging. 10.¥g2 ¥xc3+ and a pawn for two knights. 4-+-+P+-+0 11.bxc3 e5=. I would prefer White though Notes by GM Razvan Preotu 3+NsN-+-+-0 because in the middle game the Preotu, Razvan (2469) 2PzPP+QzPPzP0 9.¥g2 seems better because pieces are generally stronger Kamsky, Gata (2638) White prepares f4 without having than the rook. B33 1tR-vL-mKL+R0 to make a commitment with the hess xabcdefghy dark-square bishop; e.g. 9...a6 11.¥g2 b5 12.0–0–0 ¦b8

K2: Ketsup 2016 Washington Internati onal C XIIIIIIIIY 40 12...b4 13.¤a4 a5 threatens 8-trl+kvl-tr0 which isn't enough for full 14.e5!? ...♗c8–a6–b5, but Kamsky was 7+-+-+pzp-0 compensation but will make it Interesting, but not the best way probably worried about the hard for White to win. to open the center. sacrifice 14.e5! dxe5 15.¥e3 ¥a6 6p+q+psn-zp0 16.£d2÷. 5+p+-zP-+-0 13...h5 14.g5 ¤g4 15.¦he1! is very XIIIIIIIIY 4-+-+-+P+0 13...b4! 14.¤a4 h5 is a more strong, the threat of ♘d5 is 8-trl+kvl-tr0 3+NsN-+-+-0 precise move order, because awkward for Black to handle. 7+-wq-+pzp-0 2PzPPvLQ+-zP0 now the White knight is 15...b4 (15...£b6 16.¤d5 £f2 6p+nzppsn-zp0 1+-mKR+-+R0 misplaced. 17.¤e3 £xe2 18.¦xe2 ¤xe3 5+p+-+-+-0 xabcdefghy 4-+-+PzPP+0 15...¤d7 16.¤a5 £c7 17.¤e4 3+NsN-+-+-0 ¤xe5 18.¥f4 ¥e7 19.¢b1ƒ The 2PzPPvLQ+LzP0 pin on of the knight is a big 1+-mKR+-+R0 problem and Black might be best to sacrifice the exchange xabcdefghy with 19...f6 (19...¥d7 20.g5 hxg5 13.h4 21.¤xg5‚) 20.¥xe5 £xe5 (20... Probably the most natural fxe5? 21.¦hf1+–) 21.¤c6 £c7 2 move, but there was a stronger 22.¤xb8 £xb8 23.h4². alternative. 15...¤d5 16.¤xd5 exd5 (16...£xd5?? 17.¥a5+–) 17.e6! anada After the slow 13.¢b1 Black can challenge the center with 13... Opening the e-file before

C b4 14.¤a4 e5! which leaves the Black can blockade with ...♗e6. knight on a4 stranded. 17...£xe6 18.£g2 ¥e7 19.¦he1 Instead, White should open the £xg4 20.£xd5 ¥e6 21.£c6+ center with the strong 13.e5! ¢f8 22.¤c5 ¥xc5 23.£xc5+ dxe5 14.¥xc6+ £xc6 15.fxe5: ¢g8 24.¦g1 ¦c8 25.£e3 Black Analysis Diagram is forced to give up the exchange 25...£f5 (25...£h3? 26.£e5+–) 26.¥c3 g6 27.¦gf1 £g5 28.£xg5 hess hxg5 29.¥xh8 ¢xh8² Black

K2: Ketsup has a pawn for the exchange, C XIIIIIIIIY 41 19.¥xe3² White is enjoying a ¢e7 21.£d2 ¤xd1 22.¦xd1 £c7 22.gxf6 ¤xf6 23.¦e1 nice space advantage.) 16.¤d5 23.£b4+ ¢e6 24.¤c5+ ¥xc5 23.¦d3! With the idea of 8-tr-+-tr-+0 exd5 17.exd5+ ¤e7 18.¤d4‚. 25.£xc5 ¥b7 26.£d5+ ¢e7 attacking the e5–pawn with ♖e3 7+-+-+-zpk0 27.£c5+ ¢e6=) 18...f6 19.¤xf6+ is better. 23...e4 24.¥xe4 £f4+ 6p+-+-snn+0 14...dxe5 15.g5 ¤g4 16.f5 gxf6 20.¥xc6+ ¢f7 21.¦he1‚. 25.¤d2 0–0 26.¦d4=. 5+p+-tR-+p0 XIIIIIIIIY 4-+-+L+-zP0 8-trl+kvl-tr0 17.fxe6 23...0–0 3+N+-+-+-0 17.a3 ¥xc3 18.¥xc3 0–0 19.¥xc6 XIIIIIIIIY 7+-wq-+pzp-0 2PzPPtR-+-+0 £xc6 20.¥xe5 ¦a8 21.f6 g6= 8-tr-+-trk+0 6p+n+p+-+0 1+-mK-+-+-0 5+p+-zpPzPp0 Black has stabilized the kingside. 7+-wq-sn-zp-0 6p+-+-sn-+0 xabcdefghy 4-+-+-+nzP0 17...¥xe6 18.¤d5 ¥xd5 3+NsN-+-+-0 5+p+-zp-+p0 27...¤xe4 28.¦xe4 ¦be8³ 19.¥xd5 ¥xd2+ 20.¦xd2 4-+-+-+-zP0 The h4 pawn is a big weakness 2PzPPvLQ+L+0 ¤e7 21.¥f3 and hard to keep. 1+-mKR+-+R0 XIIIIIIIIY 3+N+-+L+-0 xabcdefghy 8-tr-+k+-tr0 2PzPPtRQ+-+0 29.¦xe8 ¦xe8 30.¦d5 ¦e5 White is offering a second pawn 7+-wq-snpzp-0 1+-mK-tR-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY to get the d5–square. 6p+-+-+-+0 xabcdefghy 8-+-+-+-+0 2 5+p+-zp-zPp0 24.£xe5?! 7+-+-+-zpk0 16...¥b4 4-+-+-+nzP0 White shouldn't rush in taking 6p+-+-+n+0 Kamsky does not want to enter 3+N+-+L+-0 this pawn. 5+p+Rtr-+p0 anada any complications. 2PzPPtRQ+-+0 4-+-+-+-zP0 24.£g2 With the idea of ♕g5 3+N+-+-+-0 C Black could have actually taken 1+-mK-+-+R0 is strong. 24...¤f5 25.£g5 e4 the pawn, although it looks xabcdefghy 26.¥g2 e3 27.¦dd1 £g3 28.£xf5 2PzPP+-+-+0 really dangerous. 16...exf5 £xg2 29.£e6+ ¦f7 30.£xe3=. 1+-mK-+-+-0 21...f5 17.¤d5 £a7 18.¥c3! Black has After 21...0–0 22.¥xg4 hxg4 xabcdefghy problems with the e5 pawn, as 23.£xg4ƒ White has a simple 24...£xe5 25.¦xe5 ¤g6 White threatens to undermine 31.¦xe5 plan of just pushing the king- 26.¥d5+ ¢h7 27.¥e4 it with ♗f3 and ♘a5. (18.¥e3 I thought defending the knight side pawns. This is what I was ¤xe3 19.¤f6+ Only leads to a endgame was my best chance hess hoping for. forced draw. 19...gxf6 20.¥xc6+ because I could activate my king K2: Ketsup quickly. C 42 31.¦d4 ¦e1+ 32.¢d2 ¦h1 the h-pawn: 32...¤f3+ 33.¢e3 Kamsky was probably confused Better was 44...¢xh4 45.¤xg6+ 33.¦d6 ¦xh4 34.¦xa6 ¦g4µ The ¤xh4 34.¤c5 a5 35.¤e4 ¢h6 on how to win the h-pawn ¢g4–+ With the same winning h-pawn is very hard for White to 36.¤d6 b4 37.c4 bxc3 38.bxc3µ without trading it for the g-pawn. plan as before. stop. White may be able to draw because of the counterplay with 40...¢g4 41.¤e6 g6 42.¤f8 45.hxg5 ¢xg5 46.¢e3 31...¤xe5 32.¢d2? the c-pawn. ¢xh4 43.¤xg6+ ¢g5 44.¤e5 XIIIIIIIIY My idea was to give a pawn in ¢f4 45.¤g6+ ¢g4 Black's 8-+-+-+-+0 order to activate my king, but 33.¢d3? winning plan is to control the ♘ 7+-+-sN-+-0 there was no need to do that. 33.¢c3 g5 looked extremely e5–square with ... c4 and chase 6-+-+-+-+0 dangerous to me, but White is in the knight away with ...♔g5. 32.¤c5 a5 (32...g5 33.¢d1 gxh4 time to get the king back to stop 46.¢d4 ¤c4 47.¢e4 ¢g5 5+p+-+-mkp0 34.¢e2 is similar.) 33.¤b7 g5 the pawn: 34.hxg5 ¢g6 35.¤d4 48.¤f4 h4–+ White won't be abe 4-+-+-+-+0 34.¢d1 gxh4 35.¢e2 a4 36.¢f2 ¢xg5 36.b3 ¤e5 37.¢d2 ¢f4 to stop the h-pawn and protect 3sn-zP-mK-+-0 ¤g4+ 37.¢g2 ¤e3+ 38.¢h3 38.¢e2=. the c3–pawn. 2-+-+-+-+0 ¤xc2 39.¢xh4= White should 1+-+-+-+-0 easily draw. 41.¤e8 g6 42.¤c7 ¢f5 33...¤xb2+ 34.¢e4 ¤a4 xabcdefghy XIIIIIIIIY 35.a3 ¤c3+ 36.¢d3 ¤b1 43.¤d5 ¢g4 44.¤e7 46...¢g4 8-+-+-+-+0 37.¤c5 ¤xa3 38.¤xa6 ¢g6– XIIIIIIIIY 7+-+-+-zpk0 8-+-+-+-+0 46...¤b1 47.¤d5 ¢f5 48.¤f4 2 + 39.¤c7 ¢f5 40.c3 6p+-+-+-+0 7+-+-sN-+-0 h4 49.¤d5 ¢e5 50.¤f4 ¢f5 XIIIIIIIIY (50...¤xc3 51.¤g6+=) 51.¤d5 5+p+-sn-+p0 8-+-+-+-+0 6-+-+-+p+0 ¢g4 52.¢f2=. anada 4-+-+-+-zP0 7+-sN-+-zp-0 5+p+-+-+p0 3+N+-+-+-0 6-+-+-+-+0 4-+-+-+kzP0 47.¢f2 C 2PzPPmK-+-+0 5+p+-+k+p0 3sn-zPK+-+-0 The king has gotten in front of 1+-+-+-+-0 4-+-+-+-zP0 2-+-+-+-+0 the pawn, so it's an easy draw. xabcdefghy 1+-+-+-+-0 Black's knight will always be 3sn-zPK+-+-0 stuck defending the b5–pawn. Should Black play ...♘c4+ or 2-+-+-+-+0 xabcdefghy ...♘f3+ 1+-+-+-+-0 44...g5? 47...¤c4 48.¤c6 ¤d6 xabcdefghy A strange mistake. Black gives 49.¢g2 ¤e4 50.c4 32...¤c4+? up an important tempo because hess 40...¢e5 A very important draw! The few Kamsky should have gone after the king will be on g5, not on g4. K2: Ketsup points I gained were enough C 43 for me to cross 2500, meeting the last requirement I needed to achieve my GM title.

½–½ 2011 Hamilton Open with GM Wesley So. 2010 Canadian Chess Challenge. 2017 visiti ng ﬁ rst coach at the Canadian Jr. 2017 upcoming book from Gambit...!! 2016 Washington Open, sleepy Rene needs sleep. photos Rene Preotu Calgary CC facebook Maryland Chess Associati on John Upper 2 links

anada Razvan’s Blog with photos and simul Videos

C https://gmrazvanblog.com/ events/ Razvan swindles blitz win vs FM Kostya Kavutskiy: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Av00X6SBHj0 Danny Rench interview: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/ hess new-blog/2017/4/4/episode-18-im- K2: Ketsup daniel-rensch-vp-of-chesscom C Dresden Reunion by IM Deen Hergott+ 44 editor - The 2016 World Senior Deen to write a Tournament Di- IM Deen Hergott Tom O’Donnell’s wedding back Teams Championship took place ary about his return. The three Tournamet Diary: 1 in the early 2000’s — Dave now in Radebeul, a suburb of Dres- parts of Deen’s report were writ- lives in the States, married to an den, in Germany. It is a 9-round ten and submitt ed before, dur- American. tournament for four-player ing, and aft er the event. Before the Event teams in 50+ and 65+ secti ons. Someti me in the Fall of 2015, I It’s always a pleasure to recon- Women’s teams play against the Canada’s 50+ Team received an e-mail from an old nect with old friends, but this men, but are eligible for sepa- IM Deen Hergott , FM Paul Ross, IM chess friend of mine, Dave Ross. was more than just a “catching rate women’s prize. Tom O’Donnell, IM Dave Ross, IM Someone who I haven’t seen or up” out of the blue — it was In the 50+ Secti on, Germa- Jean Hébert. talked to in a long ti me, since ny 1 (Tischbierek, Volke, Bönsch, Gauglitz, Bischoﬀ ) won on ti e- break ahead of Armenia (including Movsziszian and Anastasian), and England 1 (Nunn, Arkell, Speelman, Flear, Hebden) was 3rd. The Russian women won

2 the women’s prize. The Russian team of Balashov, Zhelnin, Push- kov, Vasiukov, and Sveshnikov won all their matches to take the anada 65+ secti on. If you think you noti ced a lot of GM names in those C line ups, you’re right. The chance to travel to a wonderful place with old friends to compete in a — I have to say it — junior-free event, brought together four veteran Canadian IMs (and one FM) and lured IM

hess Deen Hergott out of a nearly 10

K2: Ketsup year chess reti rement. I asked C 45 an invitati on to reconnect at a years, so that was also a deter- Preparati on? back far enough will fi nd exam- chess tournament. And not just rent. My preparati on has been prett y ples of what they may face. I also a North American weekender, Some months went by, I haphazard, lots of 3 and 5 min- played a lot of diﬀ erent things but a full-out European adven- toyed with the idea some more, ute games on ICC (mostly lost back then, so I’ll sti ll be a bit of a ture. and eventually I came to realize on ti me, but used more to test wild guess — some things don’t that this would be a YOLO op- some opening ideas), some ICC change! When Dave initi ally suggested portunity (You Only Live Once). videos, perusing of internati onal fi elding a Canadian team for this Jean Hébert (Montreal) and Tom chess news, and a look through Books?? Senior Championship, I was dis- O’Donnell (Kingston) live close my old chess library (appropri- I brought a funny collecti on of inclined to say yes. More from enough to Ott awa (even if I rare- ate for a Senior event, I think!). books with me (Tom O’D had a fi nancial point of view than a ly see them), but the Ross broth- Having no recent games a good chuckle) that I’ve spent chess one. Yes, my last serious ers (Dave in Jackson, Mississip- might be a bonus in terms of ad- a litt le ti me with over the past chess event was in 2005 — a pi), and Paul in Vancouver, BC, verse preparati on, but I’ve a feel- month or so — a Tony Miles col- four-citi es team event with Larry are good friends I haven’t seen ing I will be playing a fair number lecti on (someone I always en- Bevand’s Chess ‘n Math Asso- in many years (Paul, close to 20), of systems I’m familiar with from joyed as a creati ve player, and a ciati on, (scored 1.5/3, losing to and the chance to see them and my acti ve years, so anyone going leading practi ti oner of some sys- Igor Zugic, draw with Thomas socialize fi nally ti pped the scales, Roussel-Roozmon, and win over winning out over the cost factor an expert rep from Quebec City) and any anxiety I might harbour 2 — but I’ve kept abreast of world in playing an organized tourna- news and acti vity, writt en semi- ment again. I have to say that regularly, and done some chess team events are among my fa- anada teaching. So my chess interest vourite experiences (the Olym- hasn’t waned that much, just my piads were wonderful), and Eu- C drive to play dissipated at some rope is always a special treat. I point, parti ally due to weekend- also decided to tack on a week er schedules and work commit- of travel and sightseeing with a ments. close friend, to make the Euro- I expressed interest in the pean desti nati on even more ap- idea but some skepti cism in com- pealing. ing up with the necessary outlay of cash — I’ve had some major Shocked Witnesses Call hess

K2: Ketsup dental expenses in the past two FIDE Opening Ceremony

C “a circus”! Literally. 46 tems I play, English Defence 1.c4 I likely play anything theoreti cal Arrival 6.e4 d6 7.¥e2 ¥g7 8.¥e3 b6, as one example), one of the enough that that should be a I arrived in Radabeul aft er an ¥d7 9.0–0 0–0 10.£d2 ¤xd4 SOS (Secrets of Opening Surpris- necessary or real concern. exhausti ng travel ordeal yester- 11.¥xd4 ¥c6 12.f3 es) series, Keene’s Flank Open- The biggest hurdles to day evening — Berlin was in the XIIIIIIIIY ings, a random NIC Yearbook overcome besides some rusti - low 30s but super humid, and 8r+-wq-trk+0 with opening treati ses, and the ness are going to be the faster my train to Dresden had no AC 7zpp+-zppvlp0 blue volume of ECO (1.e4 e6 and ti me control (40/90 then game nor a seat (they overbooked) — 6-+lzp-snp+0 1.e4 e5) — yes I know, crazy! in 30 with 30-second incre- just in ti me to join everyone at a And Jonathan Tisdall’s How to ment per move) and the 9:30 am dinner buﬀ et. It was a sight for 5+-+-+-+-0 Improve Now — any book that start ti me. It may take me a few sore eyes and weary legs. Ev- 4-+PvLP+-+0 talks about positi ons and chess rounds to get into the swing, but eryone seems in a good mood, 3+-sN-+P+-0 thinking is useful for a good I’m hopeful that the general tour- and it’s been great to just have a 2PzP-wQL+PzP0 chess “state of mind”. And fol- nament bonhomie and team ca- few days to acclimati ze. Canada 1tR-+-+RmK-0 lowing along without a board is maraderie will see me through. is actually quite high in the rank- xabcdefghy also a form of training. So is hun- If things take a really bad turn ings, 6th or 7th of 60ish teams, kering down with a multi -million over the chessboard, at least I’ll so it will be a good chance to see A fairly standard position for game database, of course, but be surrounded by friends, right? if the veterans have sti ll got it! the Maroczy Bind variation of I’m defi nitely not coming in with the Accelerated Dragon. Most that level of preparati on, nor will No clowns in the playing hall. common here involve plans with 2 Notes by IM Deen Hergott Hergott, Deen (2385) ...a5, forestalling an advance of White's Q-side. Black's next Schmidt, Jorg (2112) must be considered dubious, or B38 anada at best very accommodating. World 50+ Teams Dresden (1), 26.06.2016 C 12...¦e8?! ¹12...¤d7 13.¥e3 a5 My first serious chess game ¹12...a5!? in over a decade! 1.♘f3 was always one of my favourites and seemed a safe approach for the 13.¦fd1 opening round.... Possibly more useful than Black's ...♖e8, but this is too temperate a reaction. 13.b4! is hess 1.¤f3 ¤f6 2.c4 c5 3.¤c3 definitely the right move. This K2: Ketsup g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.¤xd4 ¤c6 C 47 prevents Black's natural ...♘d7 15.¥e3 to deal with Black's outlier plays Black has achieved something maneuver and gains valuable Almost a reflex, given that this and gain a clear edge and space significant in the weakening of space. move is nearly always played advantage: 19...¢g8 20.f5 £e5 White's Q-side pawn structure. in response to ...♘f6–d7. My 21.£xe5 dxe5 22.¥f3 I saw this line but felt White 13...£a5?! team didn't like this at all in our should be able to demonstrate I was happy to see this as ...a5 post-mortem, but it ranks pretty 15.b4 ¥xd4+ 16.£xd4 £g5 some advantage. Possibly, but it would likely transpose to typical clearly 2nd by most engines. 17.¥f1!? is good enough for offers a lot less that the simple waters and exploit my cautious The captures on c3 give Black some small edge, but Black's trade on g7 would have afforded. play. Now it looks like b2–b4 is a plan, something that he has pieces make a bit more sense 18.¦a1! ¥a4 19.¦db1² intending going to happen again! lacked for some moves, and that here. The arrival of the Black ♖b4 and a2–a4. may be what they didn't care queen on g5 in this line may 14.¦ab1! ¤h5 for. It seems White still has the be partially responsible for my 16.b4 £c7 17.¦dc1 XIIIIIIIIY edge though with the B-pair, and decision to play ♗e3 in the game Lots of possibilities here: 8r+-+r+k+0 I am at least satisfied with that. (also anticipating ...♘f4 at some 17.¤d5, 17.a4, or 17.b5 ¥d7 7zpp+-zppvlp0 Trading on g7 is certainly simpler point). 18.b6!? but leaves split a- and and better though. XIIIIIIIIY c-pawns. 6-+lzp-+p+0 8r+-+r+k+0 5wq-+-+-+n0 One good thing I should mention 7zpp+-zppvlp0 17...b6 18.¤d5 £b7 4-+PvLP+-+0 here was that I had only used 6-+lzp-+p+0 XIIIIIIIIY 2 3+-sN-+P+-0 up 11 minutes on my clock (+30 8r+-+r+k+0 sec increments) at this point. 5wq-+-+-+n0 2PzP-wQL+PzP0 4-+P+P+-+0 7zpq+-zppvlp0 1+R+R+-mK-0 Normally a very deliberate player 6-zplzp-snp+0 anada (and the time control definitely 3+-sN-vLP+-0 xabcdefghy became an issue in several of 2PzP-wQL+PzP0 5+-+N+-+-0

C Black's last three moves have my games), I made a conscious 1+R+R+-mK-0 4-zPP+P+-+0 some point, but they all seem a effort to try to play quickly in xabcdefghy 3+-+-vLP+-0 bit inconsistent, and don't really positions I knew reasonably well. 2P+-wQL+PzP0 fit into any long-term plan. Apart That also would have affected 15...¤f6?! from a tactical moment later in my decision. 15...¥xc3!? 16.£xc3 £xc3 1+RtR-+-mK-0 the game, this might be the most 17.bxc3 b6! was certainly Black's xabcdefghy critical position to consider this 15.¥xg7 ¢xg7 (15...¤xg7 chance. White will try to engineer 19.¤xf6+ game. 16.b4±) 16.g4 ¤f6 17.b4 £e5 a4–a5, or hope to gain something This relieves the pressure hess 18.f4 £e6 19.£d4! is a nice way with advances on the K-side on Black's game, but I had a K2: Ketsup combined with the B-pair, but C 48 specific idea in mind which 21...¦ed8 Not a mistake, but Black should If White mistakenly captures on would not have been possible Why not 21...¦ad8 Weak a7? have grabbed a useful diagonal b6, the a-file gives Black enough otherwise. Objectively, White Maybe, but it seems difficult to with ...♕b6+. counterplay to compensate for does better to simply keep up the exploit. 22.¥c5 ¥e5! (22...exd6 the horrible pawns. But White's pressure and attempt to improve 23.¥d4!). Black isn't equal yet, 25.£e3 next is natural. the position (19.¥d4!? )and but he's getting closer. Back on track and threatening to force Black to contend with the win a piece by forking on c3. 29.¢f2 monstrous knight on d5. 22.¥f4 exd6 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 25...¥e8 26.¦b2 ¦ac8 8-+-trl+-+0 19...¥xf6 20.c5 8r+-tr-+k+0 XIIIIIIIIY 7zp-+-+pmkp0 This was my intention, and there 7zpq+-+p+p0 8-+rtrl+-+0 6-wq-zp-+p+0 was too much pressure against 7zpq+-+pmkp0 d5 to play it on the previous 6-+lzp-vlp+0 5+p+-+-+-0 move. 5+p+-+-+-0 6-+-zp-+p+0 4-zP-+P+-+0 4-zP-+PvL-+0 5+p+-+-+-0 3+-+-wQP+-0 20...b5! 3+-+-+P+-0 4-zP-+P+-+0 2P+R+LmKPzP0 The best try to keep the Q-side 2P+-wQL+PzP0 3+-+-wQP+-0 1+-+-+-+-0 closed. 1+RtR-+-mK-0 2PtR-+L+PzP0 xabcdefghy

2 1+-tR-+-mK-0 21.cxd6 xabcdefghy 29...¢f6 21.a4!? a6 I wasn't sure if 23.¥g5?! xabcdefghy A bit of a surprise, but not such throwing these in was an 23.¦b3! Again this idea! White 27.¦bc2 a great move. 29...d5! 30.£xb6 anada improvement or not. For the prepares to triple on d6 as the Natural and reflexive, but losing axb6 and again Black is getting moment I am aiming at a7 so I ♗f4 is already well placed for a little ground again. closer to his draw, but White

C left the Q-side as is. such a task. 23...d5 (23...¥e5 has a choice of ways to press, 24.¦d3 ¦d7 25.¥d1!± and with 27.¦xc8 £xc8 (27...¦xc8? including 31.e5!? 21.¦b3!? is an idea I hadn't ¥b3 coming, White's army 28.£d4+ and d6 hangs.) considered. Transferring the rook is coordinated and active. 28.£d4+! ¢g8 29.¢f2± Black 30.f4 £xe3+ 31.¢xe3 to d3 can be very useful in many My choice in the game is too can't really do much with the Some mild time pressure, but the lines. I like this move enough simplistic, and also yields some c-file and he remains with the position is tougher for Black. that had I seen it I would have Black square counterplay.) 24.e5 weaker pawn structure. chosen it over the game. 31...¢e6 32.¦c7! ¦d7 33.¦c8 hess 23...¥xg5 24.£xg5² ¢g7 27...¦xc2 28.¦xc2 £b6!? ¦e7 34.¦b8 K2: Ketsup C XIIIIIIIIY 49 the new time controls were going employed the English Defence Played after quite a bit of 8-tR-+l+-+0 to prove challenging — that was (1.c4 b6) successfully against thought, my opponent was 7zp-+-trp+p0 true for nearly all of my games. many decent players during critical of this after the game. If 6-+-zpk+p+0 his career. I only took six chess nothing else, my opening choice 5+p+-+-+-0 1–0 books to Dresden with me, and caught my opponent a bit off- 4-zP-+PzP-+0 no laptop. One of the books was guard. So, should Black play to 3+-+-mK-+-0 a Tony Miles games collection defuse a further h4–h5 advance, Notes by IM Deen Hergott (It’s Only Me). It happens that or ignore it and strike back in the 2P+-+L+PzP0 I remembered a game of his centre? 1+-+-+-+-0 Anastasian, Ashot (2532) against GM Baburin in which he xabcdefghy met 3.a3 with 3...g6 and later 6...h6 Hergott, Deen (2385) won because of the weakness of ....d5 or ...f5 A40 I opted for this, but 6...d5 was the b3–square! I’ve long been a a serious option and would World 50+ Teams Dresden (3), 34...d5? fan of Miles’ boundless creativity, certainly be the classical choice. 28.06.2016 and decided to give it a go! Black finally cracks. It may well be a better one. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 34...f5!!: 4.¤c3 ¥g7 7.¥e3 ¥b7 8.¥d3 d6 9.¤ge2 A radical way of preventing a pin 35.¥xb5 ¥xb5 36.¦xb5 ¢f6! The bishop finds a new diagonal with ... ¥b4. ¤d7 10.£d2 a6 37.e5+ dxe5 38.¦xe5 ¦xe5+ to operate on. XIIIIIIIIY 2 39.fxe5+ ¢xe5 and if there is a 8r+-wqk+-tr0 win here, I don't see it. 3...g6!? 5.e4 ¤e7 6.h4?! XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 7+lzpnsnpvl-0 anada 35.¥d3! and the d4–square 8rsnlwqkvlntr0 8rsnlwqk+-tr0 6pzp-zpp+pzp0 for White's King provides for 7zp-zpp+p+p0 7zp-zppsnpvlp0 5+-+-+-+-0 C nagging pressure, but this was 6-zp-+p+p+0 6-zp-+p+p+0 4-+PzPP+-zP0 the only way for Black to play 5+-+-+-+-0 5+-+-+-+-0 3zP-sNLvL-+-0 on 35...fxe4 36.¥xe4 d5 37.¥d3 2-zP-wQNzPP+0 ¢d6+ 38.¢d4±. 4-+PzP-+-+0 4-+PzPP+-zP0 3zP-+-+-+-0 3zP-sN-+-+-0 1tR-+-mK-+R0 35.¥xb5 ¥xb5 36.¦xb5 dxe4 2-zP-+PzPPzP0 2-zP-+-zPP+0 xabcdefghy 37.¦e5+ 1tRNvLQmKLsNR0 1tR-vLQmKLsNR0 Played in true Hippopotamus fashion. Of course there were hess A spotty game, but a win's a win. xabcdefghy xabcdefghy options along the way — a fast K2: Ketsup As I suspected pre-tournament, An idea of Tony Miles who C XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 50 ...d5 earlier, ...♘bc6, ...♕d7 8r+-wqk+-tr0 Despite the weakness of the 8r+-+k+-tr0 and ...0–0–0. We were both very backward d-pawn, I believe this much on uncharted territory 7+l+nsnpvl-0 is correct, opening the b-file 7+l+n+pvl-0 here, and importantly, as the 6pzp-zpp+pzp0 for counterplay. Naturally it took 6pwq-wQp+pzp0 game will show, I never lost sight 5+-zP-+-+-0 some calculation to ensure that I 5sn-zp-+-+-0 of that b3–weakness that Miles 4-+P+P+-zP0 had sufficient counterplay. 4-+P+PzP-zP0 exploited so well. Who was it 3zP-sNLvL-+-0 3zPPsN-vL-+-0 that pointed out the self-evident 2-zP-wQNzPP+0 13.f4 2-+L+N+P+0 truth that “pawns cannot move Stopping ...♘e5. backwards”? 1+-mKR+-+R0 1+-mKR+-+R0

xabcdefghy 13...¤c6 14.¥c2 ¤a5 15.b3 xabcdefghy 11.0–0–0 12...bxc5! £b6!? 16.£xd6 16...¥c6! Expected, with that h-pawn The point. Black intends to sticking out like a sore thumb, simply oust the White Queen but I was happy to see this. from d6 with ...♗f8, and recoup It clarified my intentions the b-pawn. Even ...♖b8, considerably, and lessened the increasing the pressure, is a impact of a space-grabbing possibility. Black is not worse, b2–b4 advance. I also started and White must tread carefully 2 calculating the possible arrival now. of a knight on b3 now, which is not as far away as one might 17.e5 anada originally think! 17.b4 ¤xc4 18.¥xc5 ¤xd6 19.¥xb6 ¤b5! and Black C 11...c5 12.dxc5 is emerging well from the 12.d5 exd5 13.exd5 ¤e5 White complications. 20.¥d4 ¥xd4 is better but Black can play. 21.¤xd4 ¤xc3 22.¤xc6 ¤xd1 23.¦xd1 g5!? and Black may be a smidgen better. Armenias’s 50+ GMs Karen Movsziszian & Ashot 17...¥f8 18.£d3 ¤xb3+

hess Anastasian would be on 19.¢b2

K2: Ketsup many country’s Olympiad

C Teams. XIIIIIIIIY 51 8r+-+kvl-tr0 Eliminating White’s light-squared either of these lines clearly 20.¢c1 ¤b3+ 21.¢b2 ¤d2+ bishop really cuts down on enough, I’d have likely chanced 22.¢c1 ¤b3+ 23.¢b2 ¤d2+ 7+-+n+p+-0 attacking ideas against Black s the materialist approach. There’s 6pwql+p+pzp0 ’ Short but sweet. Despite the K-side, so there is some logic always something seductive chance of playing for the full 5+-zp-zP-+-0 to this idea, and it should give about half a point against a point, I was satisfied with this 4-+P+-zP-zP0 Black some advantage, though higher-rated opponent though game — a successful opening 3zPnsNQvL-+-0 not as much as 19...♖b8. — tension throughout the experiment, a couple nice moves event manifested as a lack (...♗c6! was my fave), and a 2-mKL+N+P+0 of confidence in some of my 1+-+R+-+R0 19...¦b8 is most critical. 20.¦b1 draw with Black against a GM. (20.¢a2 ¤d2! 21.¦b1 is the decisions. That’s just a long way More than anything it reassured xabcdefghy same.) 20...¤d2+ 21.¢a2 ¤xb1 of describing “rust”! me of the fact that I was still Now what? Attempt a perpetual, 22.¦xb1 Analysis Diagram able to compete with top-notch play for more attack with ...♖b8? XIIIIIIIIY 22...£c7 23.¦d1 (23.¦xb8+ players after such a long layoff. Is there a Plan C? 8-tr-+kvl-tr0 £xb8 24.h5 gxh5! and Black’s It was a real tragedy that we lost 7+-+n+p+-0 King is surprisingly safe in this match to Armenia — Jean’s 19...¤d2+ the centre. Capturing on h5 is time forfeiture to Vaganian in 6pwql+p+pzp0 another idea I underestimated After some deliberation and 5+-zp-zP-+-0 what had become a winning B vs a descending clock, I chose when deciding what to play. N endgame was tragic. the line which would allow an 4-+P+-zP-zP0 Naturally Black will need to be 2 immediate draw by repetition. 3zP-sNQvL-+-0 a bit careful, but the position ½–½ There were, however, two 2K+L+N+P+0 should objectively be quite a bit serious alternatives to consider. 1+R+-+-+-0 better if the time control can be safely reached.) anada Probably I should have risked xabcdefghy playing for more, but 15 mins. 23...h5 24.¤e4 22...£d8!µ I didn t consider this ¥xe4 25.£xe4 C (+5 sec in increments) for 10 ’ ...it reassured me of the fact ♕ moves against a seasoned GM too strongly, focusing on ... c7 ¤b6! dealing that I was sti ll able to compete with nothing to play for but all out reserving the d8–square for the with ♗c2–a4, attack had me a bit worried, and rook. It’s quite powerful though. and with ....♗e7 with top-notch players aft er I opted for the sure thing. A rook trade now forces a queen coming, again trade as well! And both the h4– Black seems to such a long layoﬀ . 19...¤d4+ 20.¢a2 ¤xc2 and g2–pawns are hit now. And, be doing well, 21.£xc2 ¥xg2!? is an engine at least one major is coming barring a time- - IM Deen Hergott hess suggestion I didn’t consider at all. off now — White’s Queen is trouble accident. K2: Ketsup unfortunately placed. If I’d seen C 52 Notes by IM Deen Hergott wanted to avoid mainline theory White’s still a little better though, which will result in the win of Hergott, Deen (2385) and any surprises along the way. in any case. the B-pair. The position has a Nehmert, Uhlrich (2324) Black has many reasonable tries symmetrical pawn structure, but is also relatively open — seemed E02 here, and White can’t objectively 11...£xb5 12.¤xb5 a6 hope for more than a small edge. like a riskless plus to me. Maybe World 50+ Teams Dresden (5.2), 13.¤d6 not much, but I’ve always 30.06.2016 XIIIIIIIIY 5...¤bd7 6.¥g2 c5 7.0–0 enjoyed trying to nurse these 8r+l+-trk+0 small edges. 1.d4 d5 2.¤f3 ¤f6 3.c4 e6 cxd4 8.¤xd4 ¥e7 9.¦d1 7+p+nvlpzpp0 9.£xc4 ¤b6 is a little annoying. 4.g3 6p+-sNpsn-+0 13...¦a7!? XIIIIIIIIY 9...0–0 10.£xc4 £a5 5+-+-+-+-0 13...¤d5 is a more direct try. 8rsnlwqkvl-tr0 XIIIIIIIIY 4-+-+-+-+0 14.¥xd5 (14.e4!?) 14...exd5 7zppzp-+pzpp0 3+-+-+-zP-0 15.¤xc8 ¦axc8 16.¤c3 ¤f6 8r+l+-trk+0 17.¤xd5 ¤xd5 18.¦xd5 ¦c2 6-+-+psn-+0 7zpp+nvlpzpp0 2PzP-+PzPLzP0 5+-+p+-+-0 is a bit like the game in terms 6-+-+psn-+0 1tRNvLR+-mK-0 of pressure as compensation. 4-+PzP-+-+0 5wq-+-+-+-0 xabcdefghy Sometimes White’s edge will 3+-+-+NzP-0 4-+QsN-+-+0 So, how big is White’s advantage amount to something, sometimes 2PzP-+PzP-zP0 here? In layman’s terms, not. 19.¦d7 ¥f6 20.¦xb7 ¦xe2².

2 3+-+-+-zP-0 1tRNvLQmKL+R0 2PzP-+PzPLzP0 White has Catalan “pressure”, xabcdefghy 1tRNvLR+-mK-0 I was playing the Catalan 30 anada xabcdefghy years ago, before it had become a fashionable alternative to the 11.£b5 C QGD. Nowadays, the theory 11.¤c3 £h5!? was an idea for has grown substantially, but the Black (in my mind at least), general positional battle between but it’s not such a big concern. the light-squared bishops suits White’s long-term pressure my style well I think. on the Q-side, combined with continuing development give him 4...dxc4 5.£a4+ the upper hand. I opted for a way hess Not a line I’ve played often to shut down this “activity” on the

K2: Ketsup (compared with 5.♗g2), but I spot, but it’s a little too simplistic. C 53 14.¥e3 Fortunately Black also plays 19.¤c3 I had seen up to here in analysis XIIIIIIIIY second-best, and a move I had I spent a long time trying to trap and now another crossroads. 8-+l+-trk+0 expected, frankly! Black’s rook, and finally hit upon 7trp+nvlpzpp0 something that I thought was 23.¤xd1! 6p+-sNpsn-+0 15...¤g4! pretty much equalizes. strong. I missed the simplest of Guards f2 and b2, and intends A younger more tactically alert all though, controlling the only ♘e3 to chase Black’s rook off the 5+-+-+-+-0 me might have noticed this. A safe square for Black’s rook 7th. If 23.♖xd1, b2 will become a 4-+-+-+-+0 lucky break! 16.¥d4 (16.¥xb6? directly! problem again before long. 3+-+-vL-zP-0 ¤xb6 17.¤xb6 ¥c5 18.¤xc8 19.¤d2 e5 20.¥b6 ¥b4!³; 2PzP-+PzPLzP0 ¥xf2+µ) 16...e5 17.¥c3 ¥c5 19.¤a3 ¥xa3 20.bxa3 ¦c2³; 23...¤g4 1tRN+R+-mK-0 18.e3 b5. 19.¥f1 ¦c2 20.¥c3 ¤e4!³; 23...¥f5 24.¤e3 ¦xf2 25.¦c1!+–. 19.¦c1! ¥b4 20.¢f1 e5 xabcdefghy 16.¤xb6 ¤xb6 17.¥xb6 ¦c2 21.¢xe2 exd4± maybe just ♗ ♘ 24.¥f4? The engines like f4 and c3. 18.¥d4 ¦xe2 winning. White has to get XIIIIIIIIY I didn’t see the point in allowing XIIIIIIIIY developed but he has no real ...b5, but then I missed a strong weaknesses. 8-+l+-+k+0 tactical resource for Black. The 8-+l+-trk+0 7+-+-vlpzpp0 7+-+-vlpzpp0 main point of ♗f4 is to eye the c7 19...¦c2 6p+-+-+-+0 square, making it difficult for the 6p+-+psn-+0 19...¦xb2? 20.¤d5! 5+-+-+-+-0 2 ♖a7 to reenter society. Provoking 5+-+-+-+-0 4-+-+-vLn+0 ...e5 should be a good thing for 4-+-vL-+-+0 20.¦ab1 ¦d8 21.¥f1 e5 3+-+-+-zP-0 White in general as it weakens 3+-+-+-zP-0 d5. 22.¥xe5 ¦xd1 2PzPr+-zP-zP0 anada 2PzP-+rzPLzP0 XIIIIIIIIY 1+R+N+LmK-0 1tRN+R+-mK-0 8-+l+-+k+0 C 14...b6 15.¤c4?! xabcdefghy xabcdefghy 7+-+-vlpzpp0 I thought things were smoothly Ugh. Even though 24.♗d4 “felt” proceeding to plan, but this slip This position I had foreseen 6p+-+-sn-+0 right, I was seduced by the idea could have cost me most of my and assumed that Black’s rook, 5+-+-vL-+-0 of ♖c1, getting rid of Black’s rook advantage. Both 15.¤c3 and while active, would have some 4-+-+-+-+0 once and for all. The tactical 15.¤a3!? keep a more serious difficulty escaping to safety. I was refutation of my choice is not a plus. 3+-sN-+-zP-0 right in my thinking, but failed to 2PzPr+-zP-zP0 simple one, and that is probably set the biggest tasks for Black to what saved me. hess 15...¦c7 overcome. 1+R+r+LmK-0 K2: Ketsup xabcdefghy C 54 24...g5? 32.¥xa6 ¤c3 33.¥c4 ¢g7 the leaders, we are sitti ng with 24...¤xf2!! 25.¤e3 ¦d2 25.¦c1! ¥f5 26.¦xc2 ¥xc2 34.¢f3 f5 9 match points out of 14 (four Analysis Diagram 27.¤e3 XIIIIIIIIY wins, a ti e, and two losses) and XIIIIIIIIY This I had seen, and the rest is 8-+-+-+-+0 roughly where we should be. 8-+l+-+k+0 fairly smooth sailing. 7+-+-+-mkp0 The tournament is a litt le odd in 7+-+-vlpzpp0 that there are fi ve teams clear- 6-vl-+-+-+0 ly favoured (Iceland, England 1, 6p+-+-+-+0 27...gxf4 28.¤xc2 ¥c5 5+-+-+p+-0 5+-+-+-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY Armenia, and two powerhouse 8-+-+-+k+0 4-zPL+-zP-+0 German squads, with nearly all- 4-+-+-vL-+0 3+-sn-+K+-0 GM lineups), followed by a huge 3+-+-sN-zP-0 7+-+-+p+p0 rati ng gap (well over 100 points 6p+-+-+-+0 2P+N+-+-zP0 2PzP-tr-sn-zP0 1+-+-+-+-0 average) and a second ti er, of 5+-vl-+-+-0 which Canada is sitti ng at the 1+R+-+LmK-0 xabcdefghy xabcdefghy 4-+-+-zpn+0 top by a very small margin. We 35.¤e3 ¢g6 36.¥e6 ¢f6 drew our match with Thurin- and amazingly everything holds 3+-+-+-zP-0 37.¥b3 ¢g6 38.a4 ¤e4 gen (from Germany), who were for Black. The threat of ...♘h3+ 2PzPN+-zP-zP0 39.¥c2 ¤d6 40.a5 ¥d4 nearly identi cal to our team in saves Black in many lines, and 1+-+-+LmK-0 rati ng, and lost our matches to there are no good discoveries xabcdefghy 41.¥d3 higher-rated opponents. 2 against Black’s floating rook on Another flawed victory, but it I have to say that team spir- the 7th: 29.gxf4 felt good to get my feet wet 29.¥xa6! is a bit better, setting it has been quite high, and we’ve 26.¤c4 ¤h3+ 27.¥xh3 ¥c5+ again after so many years. And really come together as a group. 28.¥e3 ¥xe3+ 29.¤xe3 ¥xh3=; the Q-side in motion right away. it was great to see my chess anada It turns out ...f3 is nothing. 29... Games at 9:30 am provide most 26.¦c1 ¤h3+ 27.¥xh3 ¥xh3 colleagues again — all in all of the day free to relax, do a bit and c8 is still defended 28.¤f5?! f3 30.¥b7 ¥xf2+ 31.¢f1 ¥a7 a great trip, tournament and C ¦g2+ 29.¢h1 ¥f8µ; 32.¥xf3 ¤xh2+ 33.¢g2 ¤xf3 reunion! of preparati on, what have you. 34.¢xf3 and the pawns clearly We’ve taken to a nightly ritual carry the day. of walking 60-90 minutes, inves- 26.¤f5 26...¥xf5 27.¥xd2 ¤h3+ 1–0 ti gati ng Radebeul. One day we 28.¢g2 ¥xb1 29.¢xh3 ¥xa2 walked uphill towards the viner- 30.¥xa6= and the b-pawn isn’t 29...¤xf2 29...a5! Tournamet Diary: 2 ies one can see from our hotel going to be enough. During balcony. Once towards the fa- So, it’s round 8 of 9, and af- mous river Elbe. One aft ernoon hess Phew! Now White is a pawn up 30.b4! ¥b6 31.¢g2 ¤d1

K2: Ketsup in all lines. ter a small loss against one of we walked to a large open con- C 55 cept cemetery with wide path- of the Germany-Italy Euro Cup for bread, cheese, yogurt, fruit admit that being out of practi ce ways, integrated into a forested 2016 soccer match, which Ger- etc. Quality and price have been is causing a lot of issues with the area, which showcased a huge many won in a gruelling 9-round extremely reasonable. clock, as I’ve mismanaged posi- memorial dedicated to the fi re- penalty shootout. There were ti ons badly with incipient ti me bombing of Dresden at the end fi reworks, and open revelry Time Troubles & Old Times pressure. All of us have had some of World War II. Near the centre amongst German fans! Paul, my With a win in this penulti mate good and bad moments in our of the cemetery, we discovered roommate, and I have also taken round, we will likely have to face games, but we’ve been mostly a dozen large stone obelisks en- to visiti ng a nearby grocery store another powerhouse in the last sati sfi ed with overall results. graved with the names of the one — they are running out of One thing I have noti ced famous concentrati on camps opponents to play, and we are is that the majority of players (Auschwitz, Dachau, etc), ar- top-rated in any trailing point here don’t seem to be suﬀ ering ranged in a circle around a cen- group. This will be a huge test, as much with the ti me control. tral commemorati ve area — the but we haven’t shown anything They seem to make practi cal de- monument was stark, sombre, but goodwill as a team — trying cisions rather than calculati ng and quite evocati ve. Surrounded our best, someti mes failing, but the details of positi ons, some- by forest on a peaceful, comfort- just moving on to the next game. ti mes not the best or even sec- ably warm summer day, it was All of us have predictably ond best move, but unless a po- a moving juxtapositi on of tran- been having issues with the ti me siti on requires a decisive blow, quility set against the horror and simply keeping the status quo

2 control (40/90, game in 30, 30 tragedy of war. second increment on all moves), and saving fi ve minutes might Meals at the hotel have as well as the relati vely early well be worth it in the end. Most been consistently excellent, with start. Jean lost a tragic game games are decided by move 40, anada a wide variety of salads, cold on ti me against Vaganian in a so ti me management seems to and warm appeti zers, soup, veg- complicated but winning minor take on even more relevance in C etables, meat dishes, fi sh, pasta, piece endgame. That obviously these games. If I could add one breads, cheese plates and des- hurt, but he played the next day preparatory detail, it would be to serts. Dishes have been on some without complaint. He’s had the get more experience with these rotati on, so for variety we have toughest challenge on paper, as incremental TC’s. The team, in eaten out a few evenings as well there are a fair number of teams general, have all had some is- — once to a Greek restaurant, here with tough Board 1 players, sues with this, whereas Europe- and another night, Italian. That followed by a noti ceable drop. ans have regular team practi ce evening, the restaurant was in league and club play under hess I’ve scored decently, but my play

K2: Ketsup packed, quite possibly because has been very spott y. I’ll readily these conditi ons. C 56 And I think we have been We were the first team from line. I forgot it even existed!! I 8...0–0 9.b4 ¥f5?! surprised by how easy it’s been North America to compete but I told him all I remembered was This is playable but better is 9... to catch up on shared histo- hope not the last. We fell a liitle 5.♕c2 had a good reputation 30 a6, when I was going to settle for ries and enjoy the thrill of team short of our expected result but years ago. Engines prefer 5.d3 the modest 10.a3 with the kind of competi ti on again. It’s been a far exceeded it in terms of a with some advantage to White game I was looking for. pricy trip, but well worth it. The good time. but less than you would think... toughest ordeal for me was get- 10.b5! ti ng here, two fl ights, a bus, and I started playing FIDE 4.g3 XIIIIIIIIY a 2-hour overbooked train trip tournaments again about two I don't usually play this move 8r+-wq-trk+0 (Berlin to Dresden), with no seat years ago and I think this was order so had to take a good look 7zppzp-vlpzpp0 in humid 35+ degree weather, by far my worst performance. at 4...♗b4. 6-snn+-+-+0 no AC either. I was never so re- Ironically, by far far also my best lieved to fi nd our hotel (where result in terms of rating increase! 4...d5 5.cxd5 ¤xd5 6.¥g2 5+P+-zpl+-0 the tournament is being played), ¤b6 7.0–0 ¥e7 8.¦b1 4-+-+-+-+0 and my teammates welcom- I have been asked to analyse my XIIIIIIIIY 3+-sN-+NzP-0 ing me to dinner. Aft er a cool best game, so here it is. 8r+lwqk+-tr0 2P+-zPPzPLzP0 10-minute shower! 1.c4 e5 2.¤c3 ¤f6 3.¤f3 7zppzp-vlpzpp0 1+RvLQ+RmK-0 - Deen Hergott XIIIIIIIIY 6-snn+-+-+0 xabcdefghy 2 8rsnlwqkvl-tr0 5+-+-zp-+-0 10...¤d4 7zppzpp+pzpp0 4-+-+-+-+0 Weirdly enough 10...♘a5 11.d3 Notes by IM Dave Ross f6 might be a better line, at least Ross, Dave (2296) 6-+-+-sn-+0 3+-sN-+NzP-0 anada according to Fritz 15. Schulz, Michael (2127) 5+-+-zp-+-0 2PzP-zPPzPLzP0 1+RvLQ+RmK-0 C A29 4-+P+-+-+0 10...¥xb1? 11.bxc6 ¥f5 12.cxb7 World 50+ Teams Dresden (2.3), 3+-sN-+N+-0 xabcdefghy ¦b8 13.¤xe5 is not playable: 27.06.2016 2PzP-zPPzPPzP0 I have played this a few times White is not even down material 1tR-vLQmKL+R0 with good results. It certainly is here and the pawn on the 7th It was a great pleasure to reunite not objectively better than the combined with control of c6 and

with chess friends from thirty xabcdefghy far more often played 8.d3, but center pawns is too much. years ago to play in the world 3...¤c6 somehow Black opponents seem over 50 team championship in 3...e4 4.¤g5 b5!? My opponent less well prepared against this 11.d3 ¤xf3+ hess Radabeul Germany over the mentioned he used to play this line. 11...£d6 12.a4². K2: Ketsup summer. C 57 12.¥xf3 c6?! 14...¦c8 15.¤a4?! defense but White's advantage is similar.) 21...¥xd2 22.£xd2 and Again, playable, but it 15.a4! not in dispute. White's advantage White wins the c-pawn or the was preferable to sit tight consists of a healthier pawn a-pawn. with 12...♖b8 and await 15...¥h3 16.¦e1 structure and better piece developments: 12...¦b8 13.£c2 XIIIIIIIIY coordination. Black can dream of 21.¤xd5 £d7 14.¤e4². 8-+rwq-trk+0 getting in ...c4 some day, getting Strange that this clean win of a 7zp-+-vlpzpp0 rid of the most glaring weakness. pawn might be cashing in too 13.bxc6 bxc6 cheaply. I had my last big think XIIIIIIIIY 6-snp+-+-+0 18.£c2 here before my habitual time 8r+-wq-trk+0 5+-+-zp-+-0 Finally..... trouble kicked in. The engine 7zp-+-vlpzpp0 4N+-+-+-+0 prefers both a4 and ♘c4. 6-snp+-+-+0 3+-+P+LzPl0 18...¥b4 19.¦b1! XIIIIIIIIY 21...cxd5 22.¥xb4 axb4 5+-+-zpl+-0 2P+-vLPzP-zP0 1+R+QtR-mK-0 8-+rwq-trk+0 23.¦7xb4 ¦c8 24.£b2 d4 4-+-+-+-+0 7+R+-+pzpp0 25.¥g2 3+-sNP+LzP-0 xabcdefghy XIIIIIIIIY 16...¤d5? 6-+p+-+-+0 2P+-+PzP-zP0 5zp-+nzp-+-0 8-+r+-trk+0 1+RvLQ+RmK-0 This is the first outright weak move of the game. 4Nvl-+-+-+0 7+-+-+pzpp0

2 xabcdefghy Much better was 16...c5! 17.¥a5 3+-+P+LzPl0 6-+-wq-+-+0 14.¥d2 ¦b8 18.£c2 £d6 I assumed this 2P+QvLPzP-zP0 5+-+-zp-+-0 Amazingly the first new move! would be better for me but turns 1+R+-+-mK-0 4-tR-zp-+-+0 anada I was shocked. Maybe the old out it is next to nothing. xabcdefghy 3+-+P+-zPl0 move, ♕c2, was better: 14.£c2 2PwQ-+PzPLzP0 C ¦c8 15.a4 ¥e6 16.¥e3 f5 17.£b2 17.¦b7?! White's pressure is growing and ¥f6 18.£b4² This was a hard good enough to maintain the Black cracks. 1+R+-+-mK-0 line to find. I considered ♕c2, advantage but there are a few xabcdefghy but thought a position that could better moves: 19...£d6? I lost a game to IM Bindi Cheng have happened would be good 17.£c2! and 17.¤b2! 19...h6. in the 2016 GPO in this structure for me but it isn't. There were but with colours reversed. I can lines where I had my bishop 17...a5? 20.¤b6! ¦cd8 tell you it is a great structure for heading for a5 but it turns out to 17...¦c7 18.¥a5 ¤b6 19.¦xc7 editor - 20...¤xb6 21.¦xb6 Rook or Queen endings. This is hess be harmless. £xc7 20.£c2 c5² is a better (21.¥xb4 axb4 22.¦xb6 ¦b8! is because of the combination of K2: Ketsup C 58 flexibility and lack of weakness. 32...£a2™ 33.£d1 g5 34.¢f2 own team. The event How cool to benefit from my loss would be very hard to win, is superbly run and so quickly! though I would have had fun it is a chance to see trying! some legends in 25...¥xg2 26.¢xg2 £d5+ action: this event had 27.f3 33.£c2 £e1 34.£a2 £a5 Yusupov, Vaganian, This should be winning. 35.¢f2 h5 36.£c2 g5 Nunn and Speelman,

Now I found a forced win. just to name a few! I - Nunn Vaganian sure hope to do this 27...¦c5 28.¦b8 XIIIIIIIIY 28.a4. 37.£c6! £d2 38.£e4 f6 again. XIIIIIIIIY 8r+-+qtrk+0 28...g6 29.¦xf8+ ¢xf8 8-+-+-+-+0 1–0 7zp-+lzp-vlp0 30.a4+– ¢g7 7+-+-+-mk-0 6n+pzp-snp+0 XIIIIIIIIY 6-+-+-zp-+0 5+-+-+p+-0 8-+-+-+-+0 Notes by FM Paul Ross 4-zPP+-+-+0 5+-+-zp-zpp0 Vollak, Andreas (2024) 7+-+-+pmkp0 4P+-zpQ+-+0 3+QsN-+NzP-0 6-+-+-+p+0 Ross, Paul (2282) 3+-+P+PzP-0 A87 2P+-+PzPLzP0 5+-trqzp-+-0 1+RvL-+RmK-0

2 2-+-wqPmK-zP0 World 50+ Teams Dresden (2.4), 4P+-zp-+-+0 1+-+-+-+-0 27.06.2016 xabcdefghy 3+-+P+PzP-0 xabcdefghy 12...e5?! 2-wQ-+P+KzP0 1.d4 g6 2.c4 ¥g7 3.g3 d6 Both ...♔h8 and ...♘c7 have anada 39.f4! 4.¥g2 f5 5.¤f3 ¤f6 6.0–0 0–0 been played. The engines seem 1+R+-+-+-0 Splat. This rips Black's position 7.d5 ¤a6 8.¤c3 £e8 9.¦b1 to prefer ...h6 which doesn't C xabcdefghy to shreds. c6 10.b4 ¥d7 11.dxc6 bxc6 show up on the database. 12... 31.¦c1? 11...¥xc6 12.£b3 (12.b5 ¥xf3 e5 is probably overly aggressive The absolute worst move I 39...exf4 40.gxf4 gxf4 13.¥xf3 ¤c5=) 12...h6 13.c5+ and not necessary but does lead played this game. I was short of 41.£xd4 ¢g6 42.¢f3 ¢g5 ¢h7 14.¥b2 with a small to extreme complications which time, but thankfully so was my 43.h4+ ¢g6 44.£xf4 £e1 advantage for White. I seemed to be playing for most opponent, so I got away with it. 45.£g3+ of the tournament. Ironically, my 31.£b6! ¦c2 32.¦b2+–. I would highly recommend 12.£b3 last 5 games ended in draws, hess this event. The beauty of it is regardless of the complications

K2: Ketsup 31...¦xc1 32.£xc1 £a5?? anybody can go and make thier and material imbalances. C 59 13.¦d1 e4 14.¤d4 ¤xb4 18.e3? ¥xb2 25.¦xb2 £f7 26.£xf7+ 25...¤xa3 XIIIIIIIIY I was starting to get a bit happy ¢xf7 27.a4 ¥d3 28.¥f1 ¤e5 XIIIIIIIIY 8r+-+qtrk+0 after this move as it weakens d3 again, Black maintains a small 8-+r+-+k+0 7zp-+l+-vlp0 and f3. advantage. 7wQ-+l+-vlp0 6-+pzp-snp+0 18.¤d5!?= 6-+rzpq+p+0 5+-+-+p+-0 21.£a6= ¤e5 22.¥a3 ¦c6 5+-+N+p+-0 18...¤g4³ 19.¦d1 ¦fc8 23.£b7 4-snPsNp+-+0 19...£xc4 20.¤d5 ¦f7 21.¥b2 XIIIIIIIIY 4-+-+p+-+0 3+QsN-+-zP-0 £a4 22.£b4 £xb4 23.¤xb4 ¦b8 8r+-+-+k+0 3sn-+-zP-zP-0 2P+-+PzPLzP0 24.¥xg7 ¢xg7 25.¥f1 ¦b6³. 7zpQ+l+-vlp0 2P+-+-zP-zP0 1+RvLR+-mK-0 6-+rzpq+p+0 1+R+R+LmK-0 xabcdefghy 20.¤d5 xabcdefghy XIIIIIIIIY 5+-+Nsnp+-0 15.£xb4 8r+r+-+k+0 4-+P+p+-+0 26.£xa3? 15.¥f4!?± c5 16.¤db5 d5 17.¤c7 7zp-+l+-vlp0 3vL-+-zP-zP-0 Again, ♖b7 wins. We were both £f7 18.¤xa8 dxc4 19.£a3 2P+-+-zPLzP0 not able to see this during the ¦xa8 20.¥d6 ¦c8 21.¥xc5 ¦xc5 6-+-zpq+p+0 game. 22.¦xb4 ¦c7±. 5wQ-+N+p+-0 1+R+R+-mK-0 4-+P+p+n+0 xabcdefghy 26...¦d8 27.£a7 ¦c5 2 15...c5= 16.£a5 cxd4 3+-+-zP-zP-0 23...¦ac8? 28.¦bc1 ¦xc1 29.¦xc1 ¢h8 17.¦xd4 £e6 Throwing away all of the work to XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 2P+-+-zPLzP0 1+RvLR+-mK-0 get to a decent position. Much 8-+-tr-+-mk0 anada 8r+-+-trk+0 better, and keeping a balance, 7wQ-+l+-vlp0 7zp-+l+-vlp0 xabcdefghy is 23...¦d8 over protecting d7 is C 20...¦c5?! absolutely necessary. 24.£xa7 6-+-zpq+p+0 6-+-zpqsnp+0 5+-+N+p+-0 5wQ-+-+p+-0 Not best. I should have simply ¦xc4 25.¦b7 ¦a4 26.£b6 ¤f7 taken the c4 pawn. For example: 27.£b3 ¦aa8². 4-+-+p+-+0 4-+PtRp+-+0 3+-+-zP-zP-0 3+-sN-+-zP-0 20...¦xc4 21.¤b6 (21.¤c7 ¥c3! 24.£xa7 ¤xc4? 25.¥f1? 2P+-+-zP-zP0 2P+-+PzPLzP0 22.£d5 £xd5 23.¤xd5 ¥g7 Missing a win: 25.¦b7 ¦d8 1+-tR-+LmK-0 and Black maintains a small 26.¥f1 ¤xa3 27.£xa3 £e8 1+RvL-+-mK-0 advantage.) 21...¦c5= 22.£a6 xabcdefghy hess xabcdefghy 28.¥b5 and Black can resign. ¦d8 23.£xa7 ¥b5 24.¥b2

K2: Ketsup 30.¥c4? C 60 30.¤b6! ¥e8 31.¦c7 £f6 32.¦e7 The tournament organization The Prins Variation. 5...e5 ¥c6 33.£c7 winning material. was excellent, the playing With best play I doubt this gives The main line. If you like Q-less site was terrific and the White much (if anything) but middlegames then you have 30...£e8 31.¤c7 £e5 accommodations top-notch. it does have a couple of nice good chances of reaching one 32.¤d5 £e8 Canada could send at least benefits. First, if your opponent is here. Draw offered and agreed. White three teams in the 50+ Division a Dragon player, you can answer has an advantage and should that would be contenders for the 5... g6 with 6.c4 and they are 6.¤b3 continue with 33.♘b6. top ten spots. Next year it is in playing a pseudo Accelerated 6.¥b5+ ¤bd7 7.¤f5 d5! 8.exd5 Greece. Dragon. Second, Najdorf (5... a6 9.¥a4 b5 10.¥b3 ¤b6 11.¤e3 a6) players also get 6.c4 and no ½–½ ¥c5 Here I think Black has good 1.e4 c5 2.¤f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 Najdorf for them. compensation for the pawn, 4.¤xd4 ¤f6 though the line is reasonably Notes by IM Tom O’Donnell Though I do work on my popular. O'Donnell, Tom (2354) students' openings, I don't do much work on my repertoire. A 6...d5 7.¥g5 ¥e6 8.¥xf6 Lewis, Andrew P (2269) few years ago I picked up a copy gxf6 9.exd5 B55 of "Dangerous Weapons: The World 50+ Teams Dresden (3.2), XIIIIIIIIY Sicilian" by Emms and Palliser 8rsn-wqkvl-tr0 28.06.2016 and use a couple of ideas from 2 that book. Here's one line. 7zpp+-+p+p0 The team's participation in this 6-+-+lzp-+0 tournament started as a bit of a 5.f3 5+-+Pzp-+-0 joke. I mentioned in passing to anada XIIIIIIIIY 4-+-+-+-+0 Dave on facebook that here was 8rsnlwqkvl-tr0 3+N+-+P+-0

C a tournament that we were both "eligible" (due to our advancing 7zpp+-zppzpp0 2PzPP+-+PzP0 age ;-) ) to play in. Dave liked 6-+-zp-sn-+0 1tRN+QmKL+R0 the idea and managed to create 5+-+-+-+-0 xabcdefghy a team. His brother Paul handled 4-+-sNP+-+0 the administrative duties. Thanks 9...£xd5 to both of them. Also thanks to 3+-+-+P+-0 Taking with the bishop was also my teammates for combining 2PzPP+-+PzP0 possible, but it leads to very hess their generally good play with no 1tRNvLQmKL+R0 similar positions. For example: K2: Ketsup "drama". xabcdefghy 9...¥xd5 10.¤c3 ¥b4 11.£d3 C Spooky! German pole tries to steal Tom’s opening prep. Why else does it ask in English? XIIIIIIIIY 61 ¥c6 (11...¥xb3 12.£xd8+ ¢xd8 play in many tournaments and 18.¤xa7 ¦a8 19.a3 8-+r+-+-+0 13.axb3 (13.cxb3!?) 13...¤d7 don't practice by playing online As I learned later, this is the first 14.0–0–0²) 12.£xd8+ ¢xd8 13.0– (something I very rarely do). new move of the game. I did 7trp+-mk-+p0 0–0+ ¤d7 14.¤e4². consider simply retreating the N: 6-sn-+pzp-+0 13.¤b5 ¢d8 19.¤b5 ¦xa2 20.c3 is Vokarev v 5+-+-zp-+-0 10.£xd5 ¥xd5 11.¤c3 ¥e6 I expected 13...¢e7 14.¤c7 ¦c8 Paramonov, 2004: 4-+-+-+-+0 11...¥b4 12.0–0–0 ¥e6 another 15.¤d5+ ¥xd5 16.¦xd5 which XIIIIIIIIY 3sN-+R+P+-0 way of attempting to keep both turns out to be the suggestion in 8-+-+-+-tr0 2-zPP+-+PzP0 Bs fails to 13.¤d5. the book. I think White is slightly 7+p+nmk-+p0 1+-mKR+-+-0 better here but it's probably not 6-+-+pzp-+0 12.0–0–0 ¤d7 much. xabcdefghy 5+N+-zp-+-0 During the game I thought this XIIIIIIIIY was inaccurate. Lining up the 8r+-+kvl-tr0 14.¤a5 ¦b8 15.¥c4 ¥b4 4-vlN+-+-+0 3+-zP-+P+-0 ♘ and b-pawn this way looks 7zpp+n+p+p0 16.¥xe6 fxe6 17.¤c4 2rzP-+-+PzP0 suspicious to me, particularly 6-+-+lzp-+0 XIIIIIIIIY since Black isn't likely to want his 5+-+-zp-+-0 8-tr-mk-+-tr0 1+-mKR+-+R0 ♖ on a7 for much longer. 4-+-+-+-+0 7zpp+n+-+p0 xabcdefghy 3+NsN-+P+-0 6-+-+pzp-+0 This didn't look particularly 23.¢b1 f5 24.g4!? 2 2PzPP+-+PzP0 5+N+-zp-+-0 appealing during the game. Still, What can I say? I ran out of 4-vlN+-+-+0 it is unbalanced and White's useful things to do. 1+-mKR+L+R0 plan to trade some pieces then 3+-+-+P+-0 advance the Q-side majority has anada xabcdefghy 24...fxg4?! 25.fxg4 Based on his time usage, my 2PzPP+-+PzP0 some merit. One thing to keep XIIIIIIIIY in mind in all of these variations C opponent had obviously been 1+-mKR+-+R0 8-+r+-+-+0 surprised by this opening, as he xabcdefghy is that it is pretty tough for Black 7trp+-mk-+p0 to create a strong passed pawn. confirmed in the post-mortem, 17...¢e7 6-sn-+p+-+0 and had been moving slowly White mostly keeps the e4– 17...a6?? 18.¤b6 axb5 square covered and Black mostly 5+-+-zp-+-0 since 5...e5. We are still in 19.¤xd7+– was played in Prie theory, but here I couldn't recall just sits around. 4-+-+-+P+0 - Duncan, 1994. White wins 3sN-+R+-+-0 what I was supposed to play. material as there is no good way This sort of thing is a big and 19...¥xa3 20.¤xa3 ¦xa7 2-zPP+-+-zP0

hess to escape all the discovered common problem when you don't 21.¦d3 ¦c8 22.¦hd1 ¤b6 1+K+R+-+-0 K2: Ketsup checks.

C xabcdefghy 62 The exchange of f-pawns, editor - 31.¦h1 hoping to 39.¦xd8 ¢xd8 40.¢c5 ¤xc4 4.¥d3 c5 5.e5 ¤fd7 6.c3 which was totally unnecessary, advance the passer leaves Black 41.¤xc4 ¤c6 helps White a lot. Not only are with a choice of ways to get This was fairly symptomatic of XIIIIIIIIY the e-pawns rather weak, but counterplay: my play in the tournament. The 8r+lwqkvl-tr0 the ♖d3 can now get to h3 or f3 31...¤e3 32.c3 ¦d6 33.h4 ¦dd2 games that were generally well- under favourable circumstances. 34.h5 ¦h2=; or 7zpp+n+pzpp0 played were pretty dull. The 6-+n+p+-+0 31...e4 32.¦b3 e3 33.c4 ¤b6 more exciting games were pretty 25...¦a4 26.¦b3 34.¦xe3 ¤xc4=. bad. ;-) 5+-zppzP-+-0 I thought a long time about 4-+-zP-+-+0 whether to play the text for 31...¦xh2 32.c4 ¤f4= ½–½ 3+-zPL+-+-0 26.♖h3 first. It seems it doesn't Only now did I realize what my 2PzP-sN-zPPzP0 matter much either way. opponent intended. Sadly, I think it is too late to do much about it. Notes by IM Jean Hébert 1tR-vLQmK-sNR0 Plaskett, J (2445) 26...¦c6 27.¦h3 ¦xg4 xabcdefghy 33.¦bxe5 ¦xb2+! Hébert, Jean (2370) 7.¤gf3 28.¦xh7+ ¢f6 29.¦xb7 ¤d5 C06 30.¦e1 ¦g2 33...¤d3 34.¦5e2 was my This is the line that Plaskett plays intention. World 50+ Teams Dresden (3.7), all the time. Very often it involves XIIIIIIIIY 28.06.2016 8-+-+-+-+0 giving up d4 for good piece play. 34.¢xb2 ¤d3+ More common is 7.¤e2. 2 7+R+-+-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY I could have annotated the 6-+r+pmk-+0 somewhat more flattering game 8-+-+-+-+0 vs Vaganian, in which I was 7...g6 5+-+nzp-+-0 7+-+-+-+-0 winning most of the time before This has been prepared anada 4-+-+-+-+0 6-+r+pmk-+0 losing on time in a winning beforehand with Dave Ross' 3sN-+-+-+-0 and riskless endgame; but help, with the main plan being C 5+-+-tR-+-0 ♗ 2-zPP+-+rzP0 the following encounter full of ... g7 and eventually ...f7–f6. 4-+P+-+-+0 adventures is more typical of my Nowadays most common is 1+K+-tR-+-0 3sN-+n+-+-0 7...¥e7 with the aggressive xabcdefghy resilient but inconsistent play in 2-mK-+-+-+0 this event. Thinking of it, it is intention g7–g5. 31.¦b5? 1+-+-tR-+-0 probably the way I play most of 8.h4 ¥e7!? Better was 31.b3 ¦xh2 32.¤c4 xabcdefghy the time nowadays. ¦h5 33.¢b2² as this freezes Dave argued in favour of the hess the e-pawns and allows me to 35.¢c3 ¤xe5 36.¦f1+ ¢e7 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.¤d2 ¤f6 usual 8...h6, but at the board I

K2: Ketsup prepare to advance my Q-side. 37.¢b4 ¦c8 38.¦d1 ¦d8 chose a sideline I liked, based C 63 however on only one game. only good for equality: 23...¦xh7 h5. This appears to be neither only be enough for a draw Sure enough, Plaskett soon 24.¦xe5 £e7 25.£g6+ £f7 better nor worse for both sides. after 16...£xh5 17.£xh5 gxh5 went his own way putting me 26.£xf7+ ¢xf7 27.¦c5 b6 ½–½ 18.¦g3+ ¢h8 19.¥g7+ ¢g8 into a position I was much less Neelotpal,D (2490)-Ganguly,S 11...cxd4 12.cxd4 ¤xd4 20.¥h6+. I guess that I feared comfortable. (2573) Azul, 2006.) 23...¦xf6 12...a5 gaining space and pre- Plaskett may be able to find 24.£xf6 ¤xd3 25.£g6+ ¢d8 empting ♘b3 might be a decent some ways to keep the pressure, 9.0–0 26.£xd3 followed by c3–c4 with alternative to accepting the but there is no way really. XIIIIIIIIY an ongoing initiative. P-sac. 8r+lwqk+-tr0 16.¥xf8 ¤xf8 7zpp+nvlp+p0 10.¦e1 13.¤xd4 £xd4 14.¤b3! I now feel that this position is 6-+n+p+p+0 Putting me on my own. I had That came as a surprise, but it is playable but in the game I simply 5+-zppzP-+-0 looked at 10.dxc5 ¥xc5 11.£e2 clearly best. After the expected played several weak moves to (1–0, 39) Guseinov,G (2623)- 14.¤f3 £g4 White simply does reach a lost position. 4-+-zP-+-zP0 Volkov,S (2593) Moscow, 2013, not have quite enough for the P. 3+-zPL+N+-0 but frankly, I can't remember 17.¦c1 ¥d8?! 2PzP-sN-zPP+0 what was so appealing about it. 14...£h4 15.¥h6 17...£xh5 18.£xh5 gxh5 is 1tR-vLQ+RmK-0 A critical point in the game. quite reasonable. Keeping the xabcdefghy 10...0–0 11.h5 XIIIIIIIIY Qs on the board is hardly to my XIIIIIIIIY advantage.

2 8r+l+-trk+0 9...£b6 8r+l+-trk+0 7zpp+nvlp+p0 9...h6 is still reasonable, again 7zpp+nvlp+p0 18.hxg6 ¤xg6 19.g3 £g5 intending ...g5. 10.¦e1 g5?! 6-+-+p+pvL0 6-wqn+p+p+0 20.¤c5 anada 11.hxg5 hxg5 12.¤f1 £b6 5+-+pzP-+P0 5+-zppzP-+P0 XIIIIIIIIY 13.¥xg5 ¥xg5 14.¤xg5 cxd4 4-+-+-+-wq0 8r+lvl-+k+0 C 15.£f3 ¤cxe5 16.£f4 ¦f8 4-+-zP-+-+0 3+N+L+-+-0 7zpp+-+-+p0 17.¦ad1 dxc3 18.bxc3 f6 19.¤h7 3+-zPL+N+-0 2PzP-+-zPP+0 White is much better here while 2PzP-sN-zPP+0 6-+-+p+n+0 it is hard to improve on Black's 1tR-+QtR-mK-0 5+-sNpzPpwq-0 previous play. 19...¦f7 20.¤e3 1tR-vLQtR-mK-0 xabcdefghy xabcdefghy 4-+-+-+-+0 £c5 21.£h6?! (21.¤g4! ¢e7 15...f5!? 3+-+L+-zP-0 22.¤g5! would have kept the This d4 pawn sac has been Plaskett is a dangerous attacker attack going.) 21...¤xd3 22.¦xd3 played many times in Plaskett's 2PzP-+-zP-+0

hess so I was quite afraid of 15...¦d8 ¤e5 23.¤xf6+! (23.¦xd5? is game, without g7–g6 and h2–h4– 1+-tRQtR-mK-0

K2: Ketsup 16.¦e3! However this may xabcdefghy C 64 20...b6?! 26.£f3 ¦f8 27.£xd5+ ¢h8 29.¦xf8+ ¤xf8 35.¢g2 £d2+ 36.¦e2! £xd4 20...¥a5 21.¦e2 ¥b6 or 20...h5 XIIIIIIIIY Now Black is back in the game. 37.£xd4 ¥xd4 38.e6 ¤xe6 would have been OK. ...b6 shuts 8-+-+-tr-mk0 39.¦xe6 ¥xb2 with good drawing my ♗ in while weakening c6. 7zp-+R+-+p0 30.¦e4! chances. 6-zp-+-+n+0 The only move to keep some 21.¤b3 ¥d7 22.¤d4± ¥e7? advantage. 32.¢e2?! 5+-vlQzP-wq-0 There was no reason to allow a 22...f4 made more sense in a 4-+-sN-zp-+0 practical way but at this point 30...gxf2+ 31.¢xf2 check on f4. Better were 32.¢f3 Black's game is beyond repair. 3+-+-+-zP-0 XIIIIIIIIY or 32.¢f1. I put some hope on ...♗c5 but it 2PzP-+-zP-+0 8-+-+-sn-mk0 has a big tactical flaw. 1+-+-tR-mK-0 7zp-+-+-+p0 32...£g2+?! xabcdefghy 6-zp-+-+-+0 Missing 32...¤f4+! 33.¦xf4 23.¦c7! ¥c5 (forced) 33...£xf4 34.¤e6 and XIIIIIIIIY 28.¦f7? 5+-vlQzP-wq-0 now Black has no perpetual but 8r+-+-+k+0 Played after a long think. 4-+-sNR+-+0 he can defend his K: 34...£e3+ Curiously I think that we both 3+-+-+-+-0 35.¢d1 £g1+ 36.¢c2 ¥e7=. 7zp-tRl+-+p0 saw the same ghosts. 6-zp-+p+n+0 2PzP-+-mK-+0 1+-+-+-+-0 33.¢d1 £xb2 5+-vlpzPpwq-0 28.e6 wins easily, as I realised XIIIIIIIIY 2 4-+-sN-+-+0 during my opponent's think that xabcdefghy 28...fxg3 (28...£xd5 29.¦xd5 8-+-+-+-mk0 3+-+L+-zP-0 31...¤g6 7zp-+-+-+p0 2PzP-+-zP-+0 fxg3 30.fxg3) 29.£xg5+– is quite Bringing the ♘ into play seemed anada good since taking on f2 leads to 6-zp-+-+n+0 1+-+QtR-mK-0 logical, especially since that nothing. the idea of winning crept into 5+-vlQzP-+-0

C xabcdefghy my mind. After surviving a lost 4-+-sNR+-+0 24.¥xf5! 28.£b7 also wins but after position one sometimes feel 3+-+-+-+-0 This had been overlooked. 28...£h5 White had to foresee (quite correctly!) that everything 29.£h1!! £xh1+ 30.¢xh1+–. 2Pwq-+-+-+0 Otherwise Black was fine... becomes possible. 1+-+K+-+-0

24...exf5 25.¦xd7 f4 28...fxg3 Objectively though, going for xabcdefghy Now Plaskett becomes worried, 28...¦d8 29.£b7 ¤f8 30.¦f5 £g6 the checks might have been 34.¤c2 31.¦xf4 ¥xd4 32.¢g2±. better: 31...£d2+!? 32.¢f3 £d3+ hess but initially reacts correctly. 34.e6 was maybe somewhat 33.¢g4 £d1+ 34.¢g3 £d3+ K2: Ketsup better, but with a K exposed C XIIIIIIIIY 65 to many checks it is nearly 8-+-+Q+-+0 Now this P is doomed. 46...¢h6! Now I pin my hopes on taking impossible to calculate. the a4–pawn at a time when I am 7+-+-+-mkp0 not getting mated (for example 6-zp-+-+-+0 47.¢e4! h3 48.¤f5+ ¢h7 34...£b1+ 35.¢d2 a5 36.e6 49.£h5+ ¢g8 50.£xh3 £c6+ with the WK on g5), or some £b2?! 5zp-+-+-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY sort of perpetual. Figuring all Not such a good square. 4P+-+-+-+0 8-+-+-+k+0 this through calculation is quite 36...¢g7 is a clear improvement 3+-+-+-+-0 difficult in practice as the next 7+-+-+-+-0 moves will show. preventing the loss of my two 2-wqNmK-+-+0 6-zpq+-+-+0 minor pieces for R+P. 1+-+-+-+-0 5zp-+-+N+-0 51.¢e5 £e8+ 52.¢f6 £f8+ xabcdefghy 37.£d8+ ¢g7 38.e7 ¤xe7 4P+-+K+-+0 53.¢g6?! 39.¦xe7+ ¥xe7 40.£xe7+ 44...£f6 45.¤e3 3+-+-+-+Q0 53.¢e6 £c8+ 54.¢e7 £c7+ Now White intends to improve 55.¢f6 £c6+ 56.¢g5 £xa4 and ¢g6 2-+-+-+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY his K position. 1+-+-+-+-0 now it turns out (as unveiled by xabcdefghy the computer, of course) that 8-+-+-+-+0 45...h5 46.¢d3! h4? Black do get mated! 57.£d3! 7+-+-wQ-+p0 Best but several other moves 6-zp-+-+k+0 also win. 57...£e8 58.£d5+ ¢f8 59.£d6+ ¢g8 60.£f6+–.

2 5zp-+-+-+-0 4-+-+-+-+0 53...£e8+ 54.¢f6 £c6+ 3+-+-+-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY anada 2PwqNmK-+-+0 8-+-+-+k+0 1+-+-+-+-0 7+-+-+-+-0 C xabcdefghy 6-zpq+-mK-+0 I actually overestimated my 5zp-+-+N+-0 drawing chances here, even though they are real. Q+N makes 4P+-+-+-+0 for a dangerous pair. 3+-+-+-+Q0 2-+-+-+-+0 41.£e4+ ¢g7 42.£e7+ ¢g6 1+-+-+-+-0 hess 43.£e8+ ¢g7 44.a4 xabcdefghy K2: Ketsup C Plaskett on the prowl. 66 55.¢e7 XIIIIIIIIY 59...¢g6 contribution to my expenses 55.¢g5! wins as the previous 8-+-+-+-+0 Now it's drawn. White gets no without which this trip may not comment shows, but we should 7+-+-+-+k0 more chances. Sometimes I have been possible. add the variation 55...£c1+ 6-zp-sNK+-+0 wonder if games like this make 56.£e3! and Black must trade 5zp-+-+-+-0 you grow older faster. :) Along with the Ross brothers, Qs to a lost ending. 4q+-+-+-+0 Tom O'Donnell and Deen Hergott 60.£g2+ ¢h5 61.¤f5 £c4+ proved as expected to be perfect 3+-+-+-+-0 teammates and companions 55...£c7+ 56.¢e6 £c6+ 2-+-+-+Q+0 62.¢f6 £c3+ 63.¢f7 £c4+ 57.¤d6! without which such a team 64.¢e7 £c7+ competition cannot be that A good try that should win... 1+-+-+-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY xabcdefghy enjoyable. I was a pleasure to be 8-+-+-+-+0 around those people that I had Now White could have won, 57...£xa4 7+-wq-mK-+-0 not seen for at least 10 years, if but with a quiet move humanly At this point I felt that I should not 20 in some cases. See you impossible to find, as in an end- 6-zp-+-+-+0 draw, seeing no immediate next time guys ! mate. However things are not so game study. 5zp-+-+N+k0 simple. 4-+-+-+-+0 ½–½ 59.£h1+ 3+-+-+-+-0 58.£g2+ 59.£g3!! The only move and the 2-+-+-+Q+0

2 editor - In his ChessBase report computer announces mate in 14! 1+-+-+-+-0 If you find a good enough reason IM Deen Hergott (link at end) John Nunn shows that xabcdefghy 58.£g3+ is the start of a mate- why a human player should find Tournamet Diary: 3 in-9. a move like that I am interested 65.¢e6 £c4+ 66.¢e5 £c5+ anada in hearing it. 59...£a2+ 60.¢f6 67.¢f6 £c3+ 68.¢e6 £c4+ £a1+ 61.¢f7 £f1+ 62.¢e7 A ft er

C 69.¢d7 £b5+ 70.¢e6 28...¢h7 (62...£e2+ 63.¢f8 ) So close, but no cigar! We al- £c1 wins. As a final comment, I would like most had 5th place and a mod- 63.£d3+ ¢h6 to especially thank Dave and est prize within our grasp, but 64.¤f7+ ¢g7 Paul Ross who where the brains a narrow 1.5-2.5 loss to a sea- 65.£d4+ ¢h7 that made this exciting chess Someti mes I wonder if games 66.£e4+ ¢g7 soned team from Ukraine (pre- adventure possible. ranking 8th, compared to our like this make you grow older 67.£g4+ ¢h7 68.£f5+ ¢g7 6th) dropped us to 11th on ti e- faster. :) On a financial note, the FQE break. We were fortunate in any hess 69.£f6+ ¢h7 should be thanked for its event to avoid a team like Eng-

K2: Ketsup 70.¤g5++–. -

C IM Jean Hébert 67 land 1, only because of a variant player than Blitz, so these mo- ysis aft erwards proved the posi- suggesti on of fi elding a team. of Swiss pairing that expressly ments were costly, but I’d like to ti on to be far from simple. His I’m a bit amazed it came to- forbade giving a team three think that a solid 4.5/7 result on destructi on of a German GM in gether given that we were fi eld- consecuti ve Whites or Blacks Board 2 did help the team mo- Round 7 was moti vati ng to sit being expenses ourselves, but I’m on fi rst board. So the opportu- rale nevertheless. I even outper- side, but Jean and I were unable very glad that it did. His enthu- nity itself was fortunate, but we formed my FIDE rati ng, which to garner even a half point on the siasm for chess hasn’t waned at couldn’t quite manage to cash in. was a welcome surprise! With a top two boards that round — all from what I could tell, and he bit of practi ce, I’m sure I’d elimi- 2550+ GM’s are never easy, es- was a great teammate to have. Nonetheless, I think I can say nate some of the anxiety I felt. pecially someone as experienced I sense that he also felt like he without reservati on that all of us as former WC challenger, Artur may have squandered some enjoyed this event very much. Tom and Dave rounded out Yusupov! My opponent, Alexan- positi ons from lack of practi ce, We came without huge expec- Boards 3 and 4 well — both der Graf, was no slouch either. but in the end that’s probably tati ons, but gave our best, and seemed a bit more relaxed with Dave was arguably the one who something most of us feel at the given our overall rusti ness we the clock, although they were also got the ball rolling as far as the end of event, out of the spot- were prett y much sati sfi ed with aﬀ ected by the modern incre- our performance. Jean defi nitely mental TC. I know Tom was dis- had a tough mission on Board 1, heartened by his loss with Black Don’t call it a “post mortem”. We’re not dead yet! lots of very strong opponents (a in the last round, string of GM oppositi on at one but at one stage 2 point), and many with Black. He it looked as if a also played all but one round draw would do (8/9), and with no complaint. As us no good (and anada I have already menti oned, I was frankly a 2-2 ti e a bit dissati sfi ed with the consis- would have only C tency of my play, and had a num- bought us a few ber of draws from signifi cantly spots), so I think bett er positi ons. The clock gave he was right to me trouble and in more than a play sharply for a few games I found myself down win. I thought his nearly an hour on the clock, or positi on was ob- running into ti me trouble. I’ve jecti vely bett er always been a relati vely “slow at some point, hess

K2: Ketsup thinker”, a much bett er Rapid though our anal- C 68 light of a ti cking clock and over- players, oft en in their 60s and was a bit nebulous, and perhaps the-board pressure of choos- beyond, enjoying their shared a minor complaint, but one of Links ing one move over another! passion in a strong competi ti ve remarkably few for an event Finally, Paul (Dave’s brother), event — I wish I’d had a bit more with over 500 parti cipants. Homepage our reserve, and my roommate ti me to witness some of the big- (with many photos of German teams) for the event, went undefeat- ger matchups fi rsthand, but sim- Would I go again? In principal, http://schachfestival.de/world-team- ed, with a fi rst round win, and ply being part of it was thrilling absolutely! But realisti cally, I’m championship-50-65-2016-en fi ve messy entertaining draws. in its own right. not sure I could aﬀ ord it (I may I know he really wanted to win have to wait for the 65+ sec- Video one of these, and it wasn’t for The event was very well orga- ti on), and I wonder if something https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW lack of trying — several ti me nized, the hotel was more than modest could be set aside in CFC 9wSYOcH2Q&feature=youtu.be scrambles saw his positi ons go adequate, players had access subsidies, or an organized event from winning to losing to draw, to indoor/outdoor pools, sau- to help raise some sponsorship or vice versa. Nerve wracking to na, and an exercise facility, and funds. It’s probably not likely, but John Nunn report on ChessBase watch, and I’m sure even more food was never a problem. The it would certainly go a long way (showing Plaskett ’s missed #9 vs to play! But he seemed to thor- Euro 2016 Football Cup added towards helping get us there. Hébert) — oughly enjoy the event, and our to the internati onal appeal Apparently, we were the fi rst http://en.chessbase.com/post/ shared ti me in Europe — we had one evening Iceland somewhat North American team in the world-senior-team-championship-2016 a lot to catch up on personally surprisingly beat out the Eng- event, and this was their 4th 2 too, with nearly 20 years since lish squad (with several of their year! our last ti me seeing each other. GM’s following the game on a editor’s thanks to That, in itself, made the event a large hotel TV), only to see the • Deen for writi ng this anada special one for me personally. Brits wreak revenge the next thanks Tournament Diary. day over the chessboard! There I’d like to thank John Upper and • Rosses for the photos. C Concluding Thoughts were a number of special daily the CFC for requesti ng an arti cle • IM Jean Hébert, IM Tom I’ve had the experience of walk- events planned by the organiz- — this really was a unique and O’Donnell, IM Dave Ross, and ing into a room full of famous ers — we had hoped to take in enjoyable opportunity for all of FM Paul Ross for annotati ng players at Chess Olympiads, an organized bus tour of Dres- us, and it’s been great to share games, making this the ﬁ r s t but a room full of ti tled veter- den, but found out that the some of it with the readership. ti m e we have had a report ans was something new! Some buses were fully booked when I from a Canadian team where of the players on the winning made inquiries before that day’s - Deen Hergott every member annotated a round at 9:30 a.m. The proce- hess teams had tremendous person- game!

K2: Ketsup al scores. It was inspiring to see dure for signing up to excursions C Edmonton Invitational by FM Vladimir Pechenkin 69 Vladimir Pechenkin: 1. I am out of business aft er 4 2015 Edmonton Invitati onal Tournament Diary or 5 rounds already, then the The 2015 Edmonton Invitati onal ran from November 6-11 at the rest of the tournament be- Edmonton Chess Club. It was a 10-player RR designed to give 1. Before comes a social event. local players a chance to earn an IM Norm by bringing ti tled for- The 2015 Edmonton Invitati onal 2. I score 3.5/5 or more, then eign players and strong locals together. was created and designed spe- the remaining 4 rounds will cifi cally for Norms so it’s really be very interesti ng. The “hired guns” were GM Jesse Kraai and GM Enrico Sevillano about results and results only. (both USA) and GM Tejas Bakre (India). No opening experiments or risky Now let’s see what I got in those play before the ti me control, fi rst fi ve rounds... Unfortunately for local hopes, results went almost exactly ac- please. cording to rati ng, with the visiti ng ti tlists fi nishing a full½ 2 points The Norm requirement Round 1: ahead of their nearest local pursuer in a three-way ti e for fi rst of 7/9 looks daunti ng but that’s Black vs. GM Tejas Bakre with 7.5/9, with Kraai taking the ti tle on ti e-break. just the way it is. In order to suc- Not the greatest pairing for the ceed I must perform signifi cant- fi rst round. The winner of the Top Canadian fi nisher was FM Dale Haessel with 5/9, which was ly above my current rati ng. This just-fi nished Calgary Invitati onal sti ll 1½ points short of the IM Norm. Dale scored excellently requires extremely high moti - must be in great shape and hun- 2 against the locals, but lost all three games to the GMs. vati on, solid home preparati on, gry for more. I haven’t played hard work over the board and... him before so there isn’t much While “almost” all results went exactly according to rati ng, the a bit (or quite a bit) of luck. If all preparati on to do. I need to play of the above is in place, then the anada biggest possible upset actually happened: Vlad Rekhson, the something that I know well and lowest-rated player, beat the tournament winner and top seed Norm becomes possible. I can’t hopefully match my opponent’s

C Jesse Kraai (game below). complain about a lack of expe- performance at the board. rience as I have had plenty of it The top-rated Alberta player was FM Vladimir Pechenkin. Read- during the last few years. Round 2: ers of Chess Canada or the Alberta Chess Report will recognize The drawing of lots done Black vs. David Miller him as an experienced player and skilled annotator. Vladimir the day before round 1 produced David is a close friend of mine, agreed to write a Tournament Diary about his expectati ons and pairings that I can’t really be ex- so playing him is a litt le diffi cult eff orts before and during the Invitati onal, as well as annotate cited about. I anti cipate one of for this very reason. My large some of the games he liked. the following two scenarios: positi ve score against him (+9 hess - editor =6 -0) is deceiving and does not K2: Ketsup C 70 guarantee an easy life. In fact, ponents were in diff erent weight editor - This game is rather one- 9.¤d2 h6 10.¥e3 our last few games did not go categories. I’ll try to do bett er sided, but that makes it a good Now White is able to regroup well for me. David will be very this ti me, although at this point model for how to beat a (lazy) optimally. well prepared in the opening as it’s unclear to me how I should KID. Look at the nine diagrams White, while I must fi nd some approach this game. in the following game as though 10...¤c5 11.0–0 ¤e8 improvements in my favorite they're a comic strip and it will 11...¤fd7!? deserves attention lines to avoid prospectless posi- Round 5: seem like White gets to make all intending to answer 12.a3?! with ti o n .s White vs. Nicolas Haynes the moves while Black is almost 12...a4. Nic and I have both lived in Ed- completely motionless. Round 3: monton for the past seven years 12.a3 f5 White vs. FM Dale Haessel but have played each other only How to beat a GM: Part I Now 12...a4? simply loses a Dale has just had a good tour- twice. I can’t be sati sfi ed with the pawn to 13.¥xc5 dxc5 14.¤xa4. nament in Calgary and must be score (+0 =1 -1) so my moti vati on 1.c4 ¤f6 2.¤c3 g6 3.e4 d6 looking for more. Again, my large for this game will be higher than 4.d4 ¥g7 5.¤f3 0–0 6.¥e2 e5 13.f3 f4 14.¥f2 ¤d7 15.b4 plus score against him (+9 =7 -0) usual. Nic is a tricky opponent 7.d5 ¤bd7 8.¥g5 XIIIIIIIIY may not mean that much. Per- who can come up with a lot of XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwqntrk+0 haps, I’ll have some psychologi- unexpected moves. The moves 8r+lwq-trk+0 7+pzpn+-vl-0 cal advantage that I should try may not necessarily be sound, 7zppzpn+pvlp0 6-+-zp-+pzp0

2 to uti lize. Dale tends to vary his but that’s not easy to prove over 6-+-zp-snp+0 responses to my 1.c4 so it’s hard the board. I got a good positi on 5zp-+Pzp-+-0 for me to predict what he will out of the opening last ti me and 5+-+Pzp-vL-0 4-zPP+Pzp-+0 choose this ti me. Going through therefore will be happy to repeat 4-+P+P+-+0 3zP-sN-+P+-0 anada our previous games and marking the same line of the Catalan. 3+-sN-+N+-0 2-+-sNLvLPzP0 the criti cal juncti ons in the open- 2PzP-+LzPPzP0 1tR-+Q+RmK-0 C ing does look like a good start, Notes by 1tR-+QmK-+R0 xabcdefghy however. xabcdefghy FM Vladimir Pechenkin White has clearly won the Kraai, Jesse (2506) 8...a5 opening battle. The position Round 4: looks almost exactly like the Black vs. GM Jesse Kraai Sevillano, Enrico (2464) The most popular move here is E93 8...h6 and for a good reason: classical King's Indian (Mar del I played Jesse twice in 2009- Plata) line, except that Black 2010 and lost both games. One 2015 Edmonton Invitati onal after 9.¥e3 Black can harass the (2.1), 07.11.2015 bishop with 9...¤g4. lost two tempi with his queen's hess of them did look like a fi ght but knight. GM Kraai makes the K2: Ketsup it was sti ll obvious that the op- C 71 rest of the game look easy. He 28.£xg7+ ¥xg7 Here Black can try 29...¤c7!? Black finally achieves this keeps the opponent busy on the XIIIIIIIIY 30.¥c6 ¦b8 making it a little advance but it's not going to do queenside so Black can't even 8-+-+ntrk+0 harder for White. much. get his kingside attack going. 7+-+-+-vl-0 6-zp-zp-sn-+0 30.¦a8 ¦e7 31.¥c6 ¥f8 33.¤b5 gxf3 34.gxf3 ¦g7+ 15...g5 16.c5 h5 17.c6 ¤df6 5+-+Pzp-zpp0 32.¥xb6 g4 35.¢f1 ¢f7 36.¥d8 ¥e7 18.cxb7 4-+-+Pzp-+0 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY White is certainly not interested 3+-sN-+P+-0 8R+-+nvlk+0 8R+-vLn+-+0 in locking the queenside up so 7+-+-tr-+-0 7+-+-vlktr-0 he prevents b7–b6. 2-+-+LvLPzP0 1tR-+-+-mK-0 6-vLLzp-sn-+0 6-+Lzp-sn-+0 18...¥xb7 19.¤c4 axb4 xabcdefghy 5+-+Pzp-+p0 5+N+Pzp-+p0 20.axb4 ¦xa1 21.£xa1 £e7 29.¥b5 4-+-+Pzpp+0 4-+-+Pzp-+0 22.£a7 ¥c8 There is nothing wrong with the 3+-sN-+P+-0 3+-+-+P+-0 XIIIIIIIIY simple 29.¥xb6. 2-+-+-+PzP0 2-+-+-+-zP0 8-+l+ntrk+0 1+-+-+-mK-0 1+-+-+K+-0 7wQ-zp-wq-vl-0 29...¦f7 xabcdefghy xabcdefghy 6-+-zp-sn-+0 37.¤a7 2 5+-+Pzp-zpp0 White has remained in 4-zPN+Pzp-+0 complete control of the 3+-sN-+P+-0 game. Here his play may anada be slightly improved by 2-+-+LvLPzP0 37.¦a7!? ¢f8 38.¥xe7+

C 1+-+-+RmK-0 ¦xe7 39.¦a8 ¢f7 40.¦d8 xabcdefghy picking up the key d6–pawn 23.¤b6 ¥d7 24.¤xd7 £xd7 immediately. 25.b5 ¥h6 editor - 25...g4 looks more to the 37...h4 38.¥xe7 ¢xe7 point, though White can bail to a !! ALERT SPOILERS !! better ending with b5–b6. The GMs did their job and hess spoiled the local’s att empts

K2: Ketsup 26.¦a1 £g7 27.b6 cxb6 at earning an IM Norm. C Winning GMs Tejas Bakre, Jesse Kraai, and Enrico Sevillano with organizer Dusti n Koperski. 72 39.¤c8+ ¢f7 40.¦a7+ ¢f8 complete domination! The white Tournament Diary: 2 me. 41.¦xg7 ¢xg7 king will soon get to c6; Black's Round 3 featured a see- XIIIIIIIIY counterplay on the kingside is saw batt le with FM Dale Haessel. 8-+N+n+-+0 insufficient. During I didn’t like my positi on around As it turned out, the fi rst pre- move 30 and oﬀ ered a draw. 7+-+-+-mk-0 dicted scenario came true. Go- 6-+Lzp-sn-+0 44...¢f7 Dale declined, however, which is editor - 44...¤f6 gets to h3 ing through the games, I did get something that never happened 5+-+Pzp-+-0 faster, but loses the d- and lucky a few ti mes, but the other before in our games. I haven’t 4-+-+Pzp-zp0 e-pawns, 45.¤xd6 ¤h7 46.¤c4 three components necessary for checked the game with a com- 3+-+-+P+-0 ¤g5 47.¤xe5+–. a successful tournament were puter yet, but it seems to me like lacking. poor play from both sides aggra- 2-+-+-+-zP0 The start of the tourna- 1+-+-+K+-0 45.¢d3 ¢f8 46.¢c4 ¤f6 vated by never-ending ti me defi - 47.¤xd6 ¤h7 48.¤f5 ¤g5 ment was actually OK as I got a cit. At some point I lost control xabcdefghy fi ne positi on in the fi rst round 49.¤xh4 ¢e7 50.¢c5 of the clock and almost fl agged White is getting really close, but XIIIIIIIIY against GM Tejas Bakre. He re- a couple of ti mes. Aft er that, I the game isn't over yet. GM Kraai peated the line from his game decided to play it safe and ex- 8-+-+-+-+0 with Daniel Kazmaier at the Cal- finds a very nice way to win. 7+-+-mk-+-0 changed queens, which I realized gary Invitati onal that I believe was a clearly wrong practi cal de- 42.¥xe8 ¤xe8 43.h3 ¢f8 6-+-+-+-+0 to be innocuous for Black. How- cision. Nevertheless, the oppo- 2 44.¢e2 5+-mKPzp-sn-0 ever, I played overly aggressively site-colour bishop endgame may XIIIIIIIIY 4-+-+Pzp-sN0 in the middlegame, accepti ng an sti ll be winning for me; further 8-+N+nmk-+0 inferior structure for the sake of detailed analysis is required... 3+-+-+P+P0 initi ati ve. As it oft en happens, anada 7+-+-+-+-0 2-+-+-+-+0 the initi ati ve got exti nguished at 6-+-zp-+-+0 1+-+-+-+-0 further detailed analysis by

C some point, while the structural 5+-+Pzp-+-0 xabcdefghy defi ciencies remained on the FM Vladimir Pechenkin Pechenkin, Vladimir 4-+-+Pzp-zp0 The rest requires no comments. board and cost me the game. 3+-+-+P+P0 In round 2 I succeeded in (2327) 2-+-+K+-+0 50...¤xh3 51.d6+ ¢d7 avoiding a prospectless positi on Haessel, Dale (2204) against David Miller. Unfortu- A36 1+-+-+-+-0 52.¢d5 ¤g5 53.¢xe5 ¤f7+ nately, the prospects were ei- 54.¢xf4 ¢xd6 55.¢f5 ¤h6+ 2015 Edmonton Invitati onal xabcdefghy ther a checkmate or my queen (3.3), 07.11.2015 hess 56.¢g6 ¤g8 57.¢f7 A picturesque position illustrating getti ng trapped. How I managed K2: Ketsup 1–0 to win that game is a mystery to C XIIIIIIIIY 73 The game featured a lot of twists 66.£xg8+ ¢xg8 67.¢g4 ¢f7 8-+-vl-+-+0 square and after 73.d8£+ ¢xd8 and turns, eventually reaching 68.¥f5 74.¢xf6 White wins easily) 73.g4 the diagrammed position: XIIIIIIIIY 7+-+Pmk-+-0 Analysis Diagram XIIIIIIIIY 8-+-vl-+-+0 6-zp-+-zp-+0 XIIIIIIIIY 8-+-vl-mkqwQ0 7+-+P+k+-0 5+P+-+L+K0 8-+-vl-+-+0 7+-+P+-+-0 6-zp-+-zp-+0 4-+p+-zP-+0 7+-+Pmk-mK-0 6-zp-+-zp-+0 5+Pzp-+L+-0 3+-+-+-zP-0 6-zp-+-zp-+0 5+Pzp-+-+-0 4-+-+-zPK+0 2-+-+-+-+0 5+P+-+L+-0 4-+-+-zP-+0 3+-+-+-zP-0 1+-+-+-+-0 4-+-+-zPP+0 3+-+L+-zPK0 2-+-+-+-+0 xabcdefghy 3+-zp-+-+-0 2-+-+-+-+0 1+-+-+-+-0 The critical position of the 2-+-+-+-+0 1+-+-+-+-0 xabcdefghy endgame. 1+-+-+-+-0 xabcdefghy xabcdefghy The opposite-colour bishop 70.g4? White has an interesting Only now! endgame looks drawn, but my It's hard to refrain from this dilemma: to exchange or not to 73...¥c7 is insufficient: 74.g5 intuition was telling me that it advance with a minute on the exchange. fxg5 75.fxg5 ¥e5+ 76.¢h7 c2 might not be so simple. clock, but now Black achieves In principle, keeping the 77.¥xc2 ¢xd7 78.g6 and wins. a draw with a sequence of only 2 queens on the board would 68...¢e7 (but relatively obvious) moves. be the right practical decision, In case of 68...¢g7 the white The most stubborn defence is: especially since both players 73...c2 74.¥xc2 ¢xd7 75.¢f7, king suddenly changes his It is only when I went to sleep were down to a 30–second and remarkably, Black is anada mind: 69.¢f3 ¢f7 70.¢e4 that the following move dawned increment. Black's defence is not helpless. For example, 75...¢d6 ¢e7 71.¢d5+– with a decisive on me: 70.¢g6! I rushed back easy and he is likely to overlook 76.¥f5 ¢d5 (76...¥e7 77.¢e8 C penetration. to the computer to confirm that something sooner or later. and Black has to part with his White wins in all the lines with However, the problem was bishop because of another Black can try a different version: the help of zugzwang. The main that I had a hard time controlling zugzwang; 76...¢c7 77.¢e8 68...c4 69.¢h5 ¢g7 but after idea can be illustrated as follows: the clock and almost flagged on leads to the same result.) 70.g4 c3 71.g5 fxg5 72.fxg5 ¥e7 70...c3 71.¢h6! ¥c7 (71...¢f7 a couple of occasions. Therefore, 77.¢e8 ¥c7 78.g5 fxg5 79.fxg5 73.¥c2 White is winning. 72.g4! ¥c7 73.g5!+–) 72.¢g7 I decided to exchange, almost ¢e5 80.¥d7 and the g-pawn will The triangle is completed, entirely eliminating the risk of cost Black his bishop. 69.¢h5 c4 Black is in zugzwang. 72...¥d8 hess losing. (72...¥d6 loses control of the d8– K2: Ketsup 70...¥c7 71.g5 fxg5 72.fxg5 C 74 ¥e5 73.¢g6 77...¥g7 78.¥e4 c3 79.¢e7 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d6 3.d4 ¤f6 6.dxc5 Unfortunately, 73.g6 runs into ¥h8 80.¥f5 ¥d4 81.¥e4 4.¥d3 g6 5.¤f3 ¥g7 A relatively rare continuation. 73...¥g7. It can be concluded that the XIIIIIIIIY Apparently, White wants to force decision to exchange queens 8rsnlwqk+-tr0 the play as early as possible. 73...¥f4 wasn't a bad one, as the 7zpp+-zppvlp0 The difference from the line resulting opposite-colour bishop 6-+-zp-snp+0 Normal here is: 6.0–0 0–0 7.h3 above is that the g-pawn can't endgame was a win for White. ¤c6 8.d5 or 8.¦e1. move. 5+-zp-+-+-0 ½–½ 4-+-zPP+-+0 6...dxc5 7.e5 ¤g4 74.d8£+ ¢xd8 75.¢f6 ¢c7 3+-zPL+N+-0 In the aforementioned game, 76.g6 ¥h6 Notes by 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 Breckenridge-Almeida Saenz XIIIIIIIIY FM Vladimir Pechenkin 1tRNvLQmK-+R0 (Brownsville, 2015), Black opted 8-+-+-+-+0 for 7...¤d5 which could have led Breckenridge, Steven xabcdefghy to difficulties after 8.¥e4! 7+-mk-+-+-0 (2330) The line chosen by Black 6-zp-+-mKPvl0 Miller, David (2114) against the 2.c3 Sicilian did not 8.¥b5+ ¥d7 9.e6 5+P+-+L+-0 B22 surprise White as he had this Correct, as White's previous play 4-+p+-+-+0 2015 Edmonton Invitati onal same position just a few months doesn't make sense otherwise. 3+-+-+-+-0 (3.4), 07.11.2015 before. 2 2-+-+-+-+0 Rob Gardner, Dale Haessel, Vlad Rekhson, Nicholas Haynes, Vladimir Pechenkin, Tejas Bakre, David Miller, 1+-+-+-+-0 Steve Breckenridge, Enrico Sevillano, Jesse Kraai.

anada xabcdefghy 77.¢e6

C There is no reason to go for 77.g7 ¥xg7+ 78.¢xg7 ¢d6 79.¢f6 ¢c5 and it's only White who can lose here.

The remaining moves were played simply because I did not want to offer a draw for the hess second straight time. K2: Ketsup C 75 9...fxe6 11...£d3 12.¤xe6 ¥e5 13.¤xc5². 17.¥xe7 ¦e5+–+. 19...£d3 20.¢f2 ¦d5 21.£f4 9...¥xb5? 10.exf7+ ¢xf7 g5 11.£b3+ is to be avoided. 12.£xe6 ¥xg5 13.¥xg5 £d7 The computer suggests XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 15.¤a3!? trying to catch up in 8-+-+-+k+0 10.¤g5 8rsn-+k+-tr0 development. 7zpp+-zp-+p0 The most natural follow-up. 7zpp+qzp-+p0 6n+-+r+-+0 The computer also suggests an 6-+-+Q+p+0 15...¦f6! untried 10.¤a3!? White must have overlooked this 5+l+r+-zp-0 10...¥xb5 5+lzp-+-vL-0 simple response, after which the 4-+-+-wQ-+0 XIIIIIIIIY 4-+-+-+-+0 game is essentially over: White 3+-zPqvLP+-0 8rsn-wqk+-tr0 3+-zP-+-+-0 goes up a pawn but is fatally 2PzP-+-mKPzP0 7zpp+-zp-vlp0 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 behind in development. 1tRN+-+-+R0 1tRN+-mK-+R0 6-+-+p+p+0 16.£xc5 ¦e6+ 17.¥e3 ¤a6 xabcdefghy

5+lzp-+-sN-0 xabcdefghy XIIIIIIIIY White can safely resign — ♕ 4-+-+-+n+0 14.£e5? 8r+-+-+k+0 trapped, ♔ in a murderous 3+-zP-+-+-0 The exchange of queens 7zpp+qzp-+p0 crossfire, playing without either 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 leaves White with a nominal ♖ — but he decides to play 'til endgame advantage thanks to 6n+-+r+p+0 checkmate for some reason. 2 1tRNvLQmK-+R0 his better pawn structure. He 5+lwQ-+-+-0 xabcdefghy is clearly looking for more and 4-+-+-+-+0 22.£xg5+ ¦xg5 23.¥xg5 11.£xg4 overestimates his position. 3+-zP-vL-+-0 ¦g6 24.h4 h6 25.¤a3 £e2+ anada This is the right piece to capture. 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 26.¢g3 hxg5 27.h5 £e5+ After 11.£xd8+? ¢xd8 12.¤xe6+ 14...0–0! 1tRN+-mK-+R0 28.¢f2 ¦d6 29.¦he1 ¦d2+ C ¢d7 13.¤xg7 ¦g8 the knight is Black is happy to castle, while xabcdefghy 30.¢g1 £g3 31.¤xb5 trapped and will soon be lost. the opponent can't do the same. £xg2# 18.£g5 11...¥f6N 15.¥h6?? 18.£d4 is answered by 18...¦d6! 0–1 11...¥d7 12.¤xh7!± Denny,K White attacks the rook and and wins. (2290)-Amanov,M (2510) threatens a checkmate-in- Hastings, 2013 (1–0, 57). one, yet this move is a decisive 18...¦d8 19.f3 mistake! Also bad is 15.£xc5? in Now 19.¤a3 is impossible hess editor - Stockfish suggests view of 15...¦f5 16.£xe7 £xe7+ because of 19...£d2#. K2: Ketsup C 76 Tournament Diary 2.5: White should be OK in this line standing his losses in winning Round 7: even if he plays sub-par moves. positi ons. He hasn’t played in White vs. FM Stephen Brecken- I tried to play provocati vely and such round-robins before and is ridge During to enti ce Nic with some acti ve really excited about this oppor- Based on FM Breckenridge’s Round 4 against GM Jesse Kraai tries, but he played it calmly and tunity. Another excellent dem- was a nightmare. Aft er 7. Qf3 I tournament so far, I’d give him just took the draw by perpetu- onstrati on of why moti vati on is an award of “the most eccentric began wondering whether I’d ally att acking my queen. so important. Despite a big rat- make it to move 20 and how player of the event”. It seems ing diﬀ erence and a large plus that he can play either at a 2400 many queenside pieces I’d be Thus, as I said before, the rest score in my favor (+6 =3 -0) I able to develop in the process. level or as a 1900 player, depend- of the tournament will be more consider myself an underdog in ing on the circumstances. I have My conclusion was that devel- like a social event. Let’s see what this one and will be playing for oping more than one would be a no idea what to expect, and will awaits me in the last four rounds. a draw. Last ti me Vlad opted just try to play my own game. tremendous achievement, while for a French exchange variati on move 20 looked unreachable. Round 6: but I don’t think he’ll do it again In reality, I managed to surpass this ti me. The Classical line looks both numbers, but it’s defi nitely Black vs. Vladislav Rekhson As far as I can tell, Vlad is hav- like the most plausible opening not something to be proud of. choice for him. ing a great tournament notwith- The opening of round 5 against !! CHESS LESSONS FROM INDIA !!

2 Nicolas Haynes went almost as expected. Nic deviated on move GM Tejas Bakre went 2 for 2 in thwart- 10, but it should not have been a ing Albertan chess hopes by winning the surprise for me. In fact, I was go- Calgary Invitati onal in October with anada ing to prepare the line at a res- with 8/9, a point ahead of GM Enrico Sevillano and 2½ points ahead of top

C taurant during the lunch break. What happened, however, is Canadians FM Dale Haessel and Gary that Nic showed up at the same Ng (!) who won the qualiﬁ er. restaurant and we ended up sitti ng at the same table. A smart Bakre scored a combined 11/12 against way of avoiding the opponent’s Canadians in Calgary and Edmonton, preparati on! As a result, I had but conceding draws to Haessel in Calgary a vague idea what to do. Fortu- and Nicholas Haynes in Edmonton. hess nately, as I menti oned in my 2014 K2: Ketsup Edmonton Internati onal report, Tough love, maybe? C 77 Round 8: my encounter with Rob at the Notes by Despite Black's extravagant Black vs. Rob Gardner 2015 Edmonton Internati onal.) FM Vladimir Pechenkin looking system of development According to my records, this All in all, plenty of lines to look we are still in the book. However, Rekhson, Vladislav after White's next move the will be our 50th game. Again, at. (2078) despite a commanding overall game takes on an independent positi ve score (+24 =20 -5), I will Round 9: Sevillano, Enrico (2464) course. be playing for a draw. An inter- White vs GM Enrico Sevillano B06 esti ng though not atypical thing I don’t know GM Sevillano well, 2015 Edmonton Invitati onal 8.a4 e6 9.b4 ¤f7 10.¥a3 about Rob is that he is way more but I did play him a year ago (4.5), 08.11.2015 A logical alternative is 10.¦b1!? dangerous as White than Black. (draw) and examined some of preparing b4–b5. In fact, he reminds me of an his games as the editor of the Al- 1.e4 g6 2.d4 c6 3.¤c3 d5 old saying by GM Evgeny Svesh- berta Chess Report. Interesti ngly 4.¤f3 ¥g7 5.h3 ¤h6 6.¥e2 10...¦e8 11.¦b1 nikov that the white pieces give enough, Enrico doesn’t strike me 0–0 7.0–0 f6 XIIIIIIIIY a player an additi onal 200 rati ng a player of a true GM calibre but XIIIIIIIIY 8rsnlwqr+k+0 points. Compare: I am +14 =7 -1 such an impression is deceiving. 8rsnlwq-trk+0 7zpp+-+nvlp0 against Rob as White, but only His signifi cant practi cal strength 7zpp+-zp-vlp0 6-+p+pzpp+0 +10 =13 -4 as Black. Concerning cannot be underesti mated, and 6-+p+-zppsn0 5+-+p+-+-0 my opening preparati on, I ex- he will be a clear favorite in our 5+-+p+-+-0 pect a surprise from him very 4PzP-zPP+-+0 2 game. I am tempted to repeat early on. However, he may also Enrico’s pet Benoni line shown 4-+-zPP+-+0 3vL-sN-+N+P0 follow GM Kraai’s footsteps from to me by GM Victor Mikhalevski, 3+-sN-+N+P0 2-+P+LzPP+0 round 4. (Jesse based his open- but such a choice will require a 2PzPP+LzPP+0 1+R+Q+RmK-0 anada ing preparati on in that game on more careful thought. 1tR-vLQ+RmK-0 xabcdefghy xabcdefghy C 11...a6 hess K2: Ketsup C XIIIIIIIIY 78 Here Black has a chance to forward. 8r+-+r+kvl0 White takes full advantage of the break through in the center: 11... 7+p+-+q+-0 overloaded black queen. e5!? For example, 12.dxe5 fxe5 24...f5! 25.¤h5 f4 26.¥d2 6p+p+-+-zp0 13.exd5 e4 14.¤d4 cxd5 with a ¥h8! 5zP-sNp+-+-0 34...¦e6 promising position. Black is taking over. White must 4-zP-zP-zp-sn0 Relatively best. After 34...£xb7? do something about his knight 3+-zPQ+-+P0 35.¦xh5+ ¢g8 36.£h7+ ¢f8 12.a5 ¤d7 stranded on h5. 37.¦xh4 Black can resign. Now the game slows down. 2-+-vL-zP-+0 Over the course of the next 1+R+-tR-+K0 27.g3 ¤h4? 35.¤c5 ¦e7 dozen moves both players try to XIIIIIIIIY xabcdefghy XIIIIIIIIY gradually improve the positions Black is going to have serious 8r+-+-+-mk0 of their pieces. 8r+-+r+kvl0 problems on the g-file. 7+p+-+q+-0 7+-+-trqvl-0 13.¦e1 ¤d6 14.exd5 exd5 6p+psn-+-zp0 31...h5? 6p+p+-+-+0 15.¥d3 ¤f8 16.¤a4 ¥f5 5zP-sNp+-zpN0 The idea of this move is to 5zP-sNp+-tRp0 17.¥xf5 ¤xf5 18.¤c5 £c7 4-zP-zP-zp-sn0 take the g4–square away from 4-zP-zP-zp-sn0 19.¥c1 g5 20.£d3 ¤d6 the rook but White finds a nice 3+-zPQ+-+P0 3+-+Q+-zPP0 refutation. 21.¥e3 £f7 22.¤d2 ¤g6 2-+PvL-zP-+0 2-+-vL-zP-+0

2 23.¤f1 h6 24.¤g3?! 1+R+-tR-mK-0 1+R+-+-+K0 XIIIIIIIIY 32.¦g1+ ¥g7 33.¦g5 ¢h8 xabcdefghy The lesser evil, but Black's xabcdefghy 8r+-+r+k+0 The question mark is awarded to position is critical anyway. 36.¦gg1? anada 7+p+-+qvl-0 Black's whole dubious operation Both opponents were in time 34.¤xb7! 6p+psn-zpnzp0 that changes the situation on the XIIIIIIIIY pressure so White plays it safe. It C 5zP-sNp+-zp-0 board completely. A surprising 8r+-+r+-mk0 turns out that he can distract the 4-zP-zP-+-+0 turn of events, as Black's black queen again: 36.¥xf4! This position was very good and he 7+N+-+qvl-0 time the situation isn't so clear 3+-+QvL-sNP0 6p+p+-+-+0 2-+P+-zPP+0 had several decent candidate since Black can play 36...£xf4 moves. 5zP-+p+-tRp0 37.¦xh5+ ¥h6 White would 1+R+-tR-mK-0 4-zP-zP-zp-sn0 be lost here if he didn't have xabcdefghy 28.¤xf4 gxf4 29.gxh4 ¤f5 3+-zPQ+-+P0 38.£g3!! regaining the piece with a decisive advantage. hess This looks wrong as the black 30.c3 ¤xh4 31.¢h1! 2-+-vL-zP-+0 K2: Ketsup pawns are encouraged to roll 1+R+-+-+K0 C xabcdefghy 79 36...¦ae8 40...¤f5 As we are about to see, this may 42...¤e3 The computer discovers that XIIIIIIIIY have cost him the full point! Unfortunately for White, the rest 36...¥h6! suddenly equalizes. 8-+-+-vl-mk0 If White really wants is pretty much forced. The idea is to clear the g-file and 7+-+-+q+-0 to capture the a6–pawn then to create threats against the immediately, 41.£xa6!? is a 43.¢h2 £g8 44.¥xe3 £g3+ 6p+p+-+-+0 better way to do it. For example, enemy king. For example, the 45.¢h1 £xh3+ 46.¢g1 natural 37.¦be1? gets White in 5zP-sNp+n+p0 41...¥xc5 42.bxc5 £e6 43.£f1! serious trouble after 37...¦xe1 4-zP-zP-zp-+0 ¤e3 44.£e2 £xh3+ 45.¢g1 £g3+ 47.¢f1 £xf3+ 48.¢e1 38.¦xe1 ¦g8 etc. 3+-zPQ+P+P0 Black won the h3–pawn but his fxe3 49.£f1 2-+-+-+-+0 attack is stalled. XIIIIIIIIY 37.¦be1 ¦xe1 38.¦xe1 1+-+-vL-+K0 8-+-+-vl-mk0 41...£e6 ¦xe1+ 39.¥xe1 xabcdefghy 7+-+-+-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 6N+p+-+-+0 8-+-+-+-mk0 41.¤xa6? 8-+-+-vl-mk0 5zP-+p+-+p0 Even though White is still 7+-+-+-+-0 7+-+-+qvl-0 winning, I give this capture a 4-zP-zP-+-+0 6p+p+-+-+0 question mark for two reasons. 6N+p+q+-+0 3+-zP-zpq+-0 5zP-sNp+-+p0 First, the knight is now too far 5zP-+p+n+p0 2-+-+-+-+0 4-zP-zP-zp-sn0 away from kingside action, 4-zP-zP-zp-+0 1+-+-mKQ+-0 2 3+-zPQ+-+P0 forcing White to play very 3+-zPQ+P+P0 xabcdefghy precisely. Second, Vlad played 2-+-+-+-+0 2-+-+-zP-+0 this move way too quickly. Since A nice try but it doesn't work. 1+-+-vL-+K0 1+-+-vL-+K0 anada the time control passed, he got

xabcdefghy an extra half an hour on his xabcdefghy 49...£xf1+ 50.¢xf1 h4

C The only but sufficient move 39...¥f8? clock to examine the alternatives 42.¥f2? forcing a resignation. Slow. Black can attack and to find a defensive plan on Surprisingly, the losing move! immediately: 39...£e7 40.¥d2 the kingside. When I asked him The game could have concluded £g5 41.£f1 £f5 42.f3 £c2 with about it, Vlad said that he wasn't Correct is 42.£d2! ¤e3 43.£e2 as follows: 50...h4 51.¤c5 ¥xc5 an unclear position. 100% sure that he did make £xh3+ 44.¢g1 with the same the time control. His opponent's defensive setup as in the line 52.bxc5 h3 53.a6 h2 54.¢g2 e2 scoresheet had only 39 moves 55.a7 h1£+ 56.¢xh1 e1£+ 40.f3! above. In this case Black's recorded, so Vlad decided to bishop is still on the board so he

hess Now White should be winning. play another move just in case. can try to do something with it. 0–1 K2: Ketsup C XIIIIIIIIY 80 Notes by 10...cxb3 the bishop sacrifice on h3. 8r+lwqk+ntr0 Now White obtains a nice Nevertheless, developing the FM Vladimir Pechenkin 7zpp+-+pzpp0 structural advantage. queenside 17.¤a3 is still best. Rekhson, Vladislav 6-+nvl-+-+0 editor - 17...¥xh3? doesn't work: (2078) 5+-+p+-+-0 10...b5!? 11.a4 ¤a5 12.¤fd2 18.gxh3 £xh3 19.¦a2! Kraai, Jesse (2506) 4-+pzP-+-+0 looks like trouble for Black, but B22 there is a tactical justification: 17...£xf5 18.g4 £c8 19.¥e3 2015 Edmonton Invitati onal 3+-zP-+N+-0 2PzP-+LzPPzP0 12...b4! 13.bxc4 dxc4 14.¤xc4 f6 (8.1), 11.11.2015 ¤xc4 15.¥xc4 £c7 regaining the This is the right idea if Black 1tRNvLQ+RmK-0 pawn with a good position. knows what to do next. 1.e4 c5 xabcdefghy Jesse certainly paid attention to 8...¤ge7 11.axb3 ¥g4 12.h3 ¥f5 20.exf6 the game Rekhson-Pechenkin It's a little surprising that Black 13.¥d3 £d7 14.¤e5?! Correct. 20.e6? looks tempting, two days before that reached decided not to hold on to his Premature. It's time to develop but after 20...f5! the brave pawn the dreaded French exchange queenside pawn wedge. the queenside so a move like will soon perish. variation. Therefore, he decides 14.¤a3 should be preferred. to play the Sicilian rather than 8...a6!? 9.b3 b5 10.a4 ¦b8 is OK the French... 20...£c7! for him. This idea is available a 14...¥xe5 15.dxe5 ¤g6 16.f4 XIIIIIIIIY move later as well. 2 ¦ad8 8-+-tr-trk+0 2.c3 e6 3.d4 d5 XIIIIIIIIY ...but still can't avoid the 7zppwq-+-zpp0 9.¦e1 0–0 10.b3! 8-+-tr-trk+0 inevitable. XIIIIIIIIY 6-+n+-zPn+0 anada 7zpp+q+pzpp0 8r+lwq-trk+0 5+-+p+-+-0 4...exd5 5.¥d3 ¤c6 6.¤f3 c4 6-+n+-+n+0 4-+-+-zPP+0 C Of course, Black is playing for a 7zpp+-snpzpp0 5+-+pzPl+-0 6-+nvl-+-+0 3+PzP-vL-+P0 win and wants to unbalance the 4-+-+-zP-+0 2-+-+-+-+0 position. 5+-+p+-+-0 3+PzPL+-+P0 1tRN+QtR-mK-0 4-+pzP-+-+0 2-+-+-+P+0 7.¥e2 ¥d6 8.0–0 3+PzP-+N+-0 xabcdefghy 1tRNvLQtR-mK-0 21.£f3 2P+-+LzPPzP0 xabcdefghy 1tRNvLQtR-mK-0 White is trying to patch the holes hess 17.¥xf5 on the kingside. xabcdefghy K2: Ketsup White may be afraid of C 81 After 21.fxg7 Black has 21...¦f7! White to jump in the driver's board as possible to confuse the his king, so the other rook will with strong initiative. The f4– seat. 22...d4!? is still begging to opponent. try to inflict some damage on the pawn will soon be captured by be played. After 23.¥g5 ¤ge5 queenside. the knight. 24.£g2 dxc3 25.¤xc3 ¦d3! the 26.¦d1 d4 position is unclear. This push is long overdue 30...¢g7 31.c5 ¦d7 32.b4 21...¦xf6?! although it's still the best move. ¤d3 33.£f3 ¤xb4 34.¦b1 The trick is to leave that pawn 23.£f2 ¤g6 XIIIIIIIIY alone for now. A sad retreat. 23...¤e5 is 27.c4 8-+-+-+-+0 answered by 24.¤d2! Even so, Certainly not 27.cxd4? ¤xd4 7tRpwqr+-mkp0 Instead, Black should break in this is Black's best chance since when Black suddenly creates the center with 21...d4! 22.cxd4 he can try to mix things up with strong threats. 6-+-+-zp-+0 ¤xd4 23.¥xd4 ¦xd4 The number 24...¤xf5! 5+-zP-+P+-0 of pawns doesn't really matter for 27...¤b4 28.¤d2 4-sn-zp-+P+0 the time being; White's exposed 24.¥g5 ¤ge5 25.¥xf6 gxf6 XIIIIIIIIY 3+-+-snQ+P0 king and a lag in development XIIIIIIIIY 8-+-tr-+k+0 2-+-sN-+-+0 make it hard for him to hold the 8-+-tr-+k+0 position. 7zppwq-+-+p0 1+R+-+-mK-0 7zppwq-+-+p0 6-+-+-zp-+0 xabcdefghy 6-+n+-zp-+0 22.f5 5+-+-snP+-0 34...¤ec2? 2 XIIIIIIIIY 5+-+psnP+-0 4-snPzp-+P+0 The final mistake, allowing a 8-+-tr-+k+0 4-+-+-+P+0 3+P+-+-+P0 decisive breakthrough. 7zppwq-+-zpp0 3+PzP-+-+P0 2-+-sN-wQ-+0 anada 6-+n+-trn+0 2-+-+-wQ-+0 1tR-+R+-mK-0 34...£b8 was proposed and 1tRN+-tR-mK-0 closely analyzed in the post- C 5+-+p+P+-0 xabcdefghy xabcdefghy mortem. This is indeed the best 4-+-+-+P+0 28...¤c2?! move for Black, but White is still 3+PzP-vLQ+P0 Suddenly, White is up an Logical but overly optimistic. It is well ahead after 35.¦a5 2-+-+-+-+0 exchange for not that much. worth spending a tempo on 28... 1tRN+-tR-mK-0 However, the game is far from a6!? to prevent the opponent's 35.c6 £xc6 36.£xc6 ¤xc6 over. There is still 15 moves left queen's rook activation. 37.¦bxb7 ¦xb7 38.¦xb7+ xabcdefghy to play before the time control 22...¤h4? and it's clear that the GM will try ¢h6 39.¤e4 d3 hess 29.¦xa7 ¤e3 30.¦da1! This doesn't work and allows to create as much chaos on the K2: Ketsup White has enough pieces around C XIIIIIIIIY 82 8-+-+-+-+0 Vladimir Pechenkin: In round 8 I received another average out, so next ti me I may Tournament Diary gift , this ti me in a form of an un- need to rely on something more 7+R+-+-+p0 sound piece sacrifi ce 24. Nxe4? tangible — like skill — to score 6-+n+-zp-mk0 It was one of the few games of points. 5+-+-+P+-0 3. Aft er the tournament where my open- 4-+-+N+P+0 Contrary to my expectati ons, ing preparati on turned out to be FM Vladimir Pechenkin round 6 did feature the French bett er than my opponent’s. Even 3+-+p+-+P0 exchange variati on dreaded by 2-+n+-+-+0 so, I could have got myself in so many French players. Myself, trouble with a poorly-ti med cen- 1+-+-+-mK-0 I have such a poor record in this tral break 11...e5?! but it ended homepage xabcdefghy line that I actually consider it a up well thanks to my opponent’s http://www.albertachess.org/2015edmin legiti mate winning try for White. vitationalstandings.html 40.h4 cooperati on. This ti me White’s passive play 40.g5+ fxg5 41.¤f6 g4 42.h4 allowed me to get a bett er posi- editor thanks... turns out to be a quicker Round 9 was a disaster again. ti on, but aft er a couple of inac- I knew that the positi on aft er checkmate but the text move is curate moves my advantage dis- FM Vladimir Pechenkin for writ- good enough. 11 moves should be good for appeared. White, but, unfortunately, under ing this report, which can’t be much fun once the fi rst couple 40...¤e5 41.g5+ fxg5 the circumstances the objecti ve Round 7 went more or less as evaluati on of the positi on didn’t of games kill your Norm chances 2 42.hxg5+ ¢h5 43.¦xh7+ predicted. Aft er the ti me con- really matt er. The reason is that and take some of the urgency ¢g4 44.g6 trol I had a curious feeling that GM Sevillano is especially strong out of the event. The pawn is unstoppable. even though my positi on might in this type of game, while I can Dusti n Koperski for organizing anada be bett er according to the com- hardly say the same about my- 44...¢xf5 45.g7 ¢xe4 puter I should be the one play- self. It is thus not surprising that the Edmonton Internati onal.

C You can fi nd Dusti n’s Sound- 46.g8£ d2 47.¦h4+ ¢e3 ing for a draw. Both sides then aft er just 5 more moves I could played a fairly normal game for cloud chess mixes here: 48.£b3+ ¢e2 49.¦e4+ have already resigned. The rest https://soundcloud.com/dustin-koperski the following 20 moves reach- of the game was played just for ing a dead drawn positi on. The the spectators. ...and whoever donates a de- 1–0 evaluati on did not change unti l cent camera or cellphone to the move 74 when Black suddenly Overall, I can’t remember being Edmonton Chess Club... to help committ ed an inexplicable sui- so lucky in a tournament, but it them (and everyone else) see cide with 74...Kf6?? was only good enough for a 50% their future events :) hess

K2: Ketsup score. As we know, luck tends to C Commonwealth Ch by FM Shiyam Thavandiran 83 The 2016 Commonweath Cham- onship held from July 31st - Au- ly because of a terrible civil war Sri Lanka to att end my cousin’s pionship took place July 29 - Aug gust 7th. But Sri Lanka meant that started in the 80’s and only wedding in August, but I badly 6, 2016 in Waskaduwa, Sri Lanka. much more personally to me concluded in 2009. I was born wanted to play some chess. I 185 players competed than just another country host- and raised in Canada, and had checked the Sri Lankan chess in the Open secti on, including ing a chess tournament. Sri Lan- no idea late about the country calendar and was ecstati c to see 9 GMs and 6 IMs. The top 12 ka was the homeland of my par- that all my ancestors grew up in. that the Commonwealth Chess ranked players were all from In- ents, and unfortunately I never The ti ming could not have Championship would start a dia, including the top seed: GM had an opportunity unti l this been bett er this summer. I had few days aft er my last Master’s Abhijeet Gupta (2630) who con- summer to visit. This was main- already been planning to visit exam fi nished at the University ceded two early draws to experts but won with 8/9. A large Indian conti ngent is not an opti misti c sight for foreign players: to a perhaps lesser extent than China, Indian experts tend to have vastly under- rated FIDE rati ngs. Canadian FM Shiyam Thavandiran was ranked 2 13th. He writes about his experience at a tournament that was more than just a tournament... anada - editor

C Shiyam Thavandiran: Sri Lanka, also known by some as the “Paradise of the Indian Ocean”, was home of the 2016 Commonwealth Chess Champi-

hess Wedding Day in Jaﬀ na K2: Ketsup

C L2R: older brother Nimalan (who taught me the rules of chess and was my toughest opponent), my father, my mother and me. 84 of Western Ontario. I arrived a der 16 held in Vietnam as well as fore the rest day. I did not realize courses) foc using on my health. I week ahead of my family so that the 2011 World Junior held in In- it was mixed with local water and spent more ti me at the Western I could play in the tournament. dia. It was clear to me that this had to take anti bioti cs imme- Student Recreati on Center than Aft er the tournament, I spent was not a coincidence: I strug- diately aft er, which I had a bad I had ever before in my 6 years the next few weeks touring Sri gled with health in both tourna- reacti on to. Needless to say, I at the University of Western On- Lanka with my family before the ments. In Vietnam, I struggled was not in the best shape for the tario. While I was at the tourna- wedding. The icing on the cake with dehydrati on from the very second half of that tournament. ment, I drank more water than was a couple of days aft er the fi rst day, while in India I drank Thus, I decided to spend I have ever before in my life. I wedding, the Abu Dhabi Mas- some juice given by the organiz- the limited ti me I had in the sum- think it paid oﬀ because while ters would begin. This meant I ers at a dinner on the night be- mer (I was taking two graduate I lost something like 60 FIDE had to miss the recepti on but points in each of the tourna- it was important to me to play ments I menti oned above, I actu- in what would be the stron- ally managed to gain a couple of gest tournament in my career. rati ng points this ti me! But most Of course, it is not enough importantly, I went undefeated to just att end a chess event. To in a 9-round internati onal tour- do well, serious preparati on is re- nament, something I had never quired. I realized that this would done before. Granted, eight of be my third tournament in Asia. my nine opponents were lower 2 The fi rst two are undoubtedly rated, but there were no walk- the worst tournaments of my overs. All of them were under- career. I fi nished with less than rated and I had to fi ght for every anada 50% in both the 2008 WYCC Un- half point. I fi nished with 7.0/9 (fi ve wins and four draws), which C resulted in a ti e for rd3 place and 10th aft er ti ebreak. Unfortunate- ly, a strange ti ebreak was used. Aft er direct enounter, which was fi ne, the next ti ebreak was most wins followed by most The Wedding Ceremony games with the Black pieces. Aside from my own physi- hess Bride and groom seated center, with families on either side.

K2: Ketsup left : Nimalan and Shiyam congratulate the newlyweds. cal preparati on, the beauti ful C 85 5-star Citrus Hotel Waskaduwa in the tournament, while I have 1.d4 e6 2.c4 ¤f6 3.¤f3 for 4...a5, while 4...♕e7 is the played a huge role in my physical basic chess defi ciencies to work An unpleasant surprise. I had most popular move. and mental state. The organizers on, I was quite proud of my based my preparation exclusively provided free accommodati on fi ghti ng spirit. In round 5, I was on 3.g3 and moreover, I was no 5.¥xb4 cxb4 to all offi cial representati ves of dead lost aft er a terrible fi rst 6 longer a big fan of the Bogo- Very logical. White does not the Commonwealth countries. moves in the opening. I knew Indian which was my main object to what Black asks for: Federati ons were able to send the game was over but decided opening against 3.♘f3. doubled b-pawns after capturing an offi cial representati ve for to make it as tough as possible away from the centre. For each age group and gender, and for my opponent. I kept fi nd- 3...¥b4+ 4.¥d2 counterplay, Black will try to gain so indeed, the “warm Sri Lankan ing ways to extend the game XIIIIIIIIY control of the newly vacated c5 hospitality” as the organizers move by move but was sti ll com- 8rsnlwqk+-tr0 square for the b8 knight. had adverti sed, lived up to its pletely lost. Eventually, I man- 7zppzpp+pzpp0 name. The food was fantasti c, aged to fi nd a tacti cal trick and 6-+-+psn-+0 6.g3 b6?! the resort was beauti ful, and the miraculously saved half a point. I played this natural move staff were extremely friendly. The two games I show 5+-+-+-+-0 without thinking, but Black's main Nonetheless, the most im- below are further examples 4-vlPzP-+-+0 plan is to play ...d6 and ...e5 to portant thing about a chess tour- of this fi ghti ng spirit. Aft er not 3+-+-+N+-0 fight for the c5 square. Black can nament is the chess! It started playing the early stages of the 2PzP-vLPzPPzP0 develop the bishop through the off on a weird note, when it was game well, I managed to create c8–h3 diagonal and so it seems

2 1tRN+QmKL+R0 decided at the Technical Meet- winning opportuniti es with re- xabcdefghy that ...b6 is the start of a bad ing that the format be changed sourceful play. The fi rst game is plan. from 10 rounds to 9 rounds. This from Round 7 and the second While annotating this game, I 6...0–0 7.¥g2 d6 8.0–0 a5 anada was due to a suggesti on by de- game is from the fi nal round. was surprised to find out this 9.a3 ¤a6 10.¤bd2 £c7 11.¦c1 fending champion and top seed - FM Shiyam Thavandiran was the main line. I always felt ¦d8 12.¤e1 e5 (0–1, 35) L'Ami,E C GM Abhijeet Gupta of India. that 4.♘bd2 was more critical (2627)-Wang,H (2752) Wijk aan The fl oor was opened for ob- because White threatens a3, Zee, 2013. jecti ons, and though I am sure Notes by which forces Black to yield the there were many players that FM Shiyam Thavandiran bishop pair or yield the centre. 7.¥g2 ¥b7 8.0–0 0–0 9.¤bd2 would have rather stuck with Pujari, Rucha (2137) £c7 10.¦c1 d6 11.£b3 a5 the adverti sed format, but no- Thavandiran, Shiyam 4...c5 12.h3 body wanted to risk making ene- E16 I decided to improvise with this mies with the Champion himself. move, which I had never played hess 2016 Commonwealth Chess before. In the past I have opted

K2: Ketsup Evaluati ng my own play Championship (7), 04.08.2016 C XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 86 8rsn-+-trk+0 8-snr+r+k+0 Here I had a minor heart It seemed like White was in full 7+-wq-+pzpp0 attack thinking I was lost. Very control but suddenly I fight for 7+lwq-+pzpp0 fortunately, I was not going to be the initiative with an inventive 6-zp-zppsn-+0 6-zp-zp-sn-+0 down a pawn. pawn sacrifice. 5zp-+-+-+-0 5zp-+-zp-+-0 4-zpPzP-+-+0 4-zpPzP-zPP+0 21...¤xd2 22.¤xd5 £d7 29.gxh6 f5! 3+Q+-+NzPP0 3+-+QzP-+P0 23.£xd2 £xh3 The point of h5, which caused 2PzP-sNPzPL+0 2PzP-sN-+N+0 A saving grace. Still, White is White to give up control of the key 1+-tR-+RmK-0 better in almost every positional f6 square. 1+-tR-+RmK-0 sense. xabcdefghy xabcdefghy 30.£g2? 12...¤a6?! My opponent tries to punish 24.¦f2 ¤d7 25.¦h2 £e6? my waste of time. For some White wants to put pressure 12...¤bd7 Black's knight is much 25...£f5 This move has to be reason, I thought I was justified on g6, which could have been better here than on a6, since played to stop ♕d3. in trying to counter-punish her achieved by the simple 30.¦g2. White is by no means obliged to aggressive pawn storm. give up control of the c5 square. 26.b3!? 30... ¢h7 31.¦h3 26.£d3 g6 27.£h3². 18...exd4 19.exd4 d5? XIIIIIIIIY 13.¤h4!? 19...¤c6 Black should have all 8-+r+r+-+0 I confess that I thought White 26...b5 27.£d3 g6! 28.£h3 2 pieces in the war zone before was peacefully trading pieces XIIIIIIIIY 7+-+n+-+k0 initiating contact. here. Quite the contrary! 8-+r+r+k+0 6-+-+q+pzP0 7+-+n+p+p0 5zpp+N+p+-0

anada 20.g5 ¤e4 21.¤e3! 13...¦ac8 14.f4! XIIIIIIIIY 6-+-+q+p+0 4-zpPzP-zP-+0 Now the point of 13.♘h4 3+P+-+-+R0 C becomes clear. 8-snr+r+k+0 5zpp+N+-zP-0 7+-wq-+pzpp0 4-zpPzP-zP-+0 2P+-+-+Q+0 14...¥xg2 15.¤xg2 e5 16.e3 6-zp-+-+-+0 3+P+-+-+Q0 1+-tR-+-mK-0 ¦fe8 17.£d3! ¤b8 5zp-+p+-zP-0 2P+-+-+-tR0 xabcdefghy Black can't do without the knight. 4-zpPzPnzP-+0 1+-tR-+-mK-0 editor - What happens after ♘ 3+-+QsN-+P0 xabcdefghy ... f6? 18.g4! 2PzP-sN-+-+0 28...h5!! hess 31...¤f6!! 1+-tR-+RmK-0 I was very proud of this concept. K2: Ketsup A devilish trap.

C xabcdefghy 87 32.¤xf6+ ¦e1+ 38.¢g2 £f1+ 39.¢g3 32.¤e3 ¤g4³. ¦e3+ 40.¢h4 £f4#

32...£xf6 33.£b7+ ¦e7! 0–1 34.£xc8?? The decisive error, although White on a downward spiral. 34.£d5 and White is still playing. Notes by FM Shiyam Thavandiran editor - after 34.£xb5? £xd4+–+ Thavandiran, Shiyam and Black's majors force mate. Swapnil, S. Dhopade (2500) 34...£xd4+ 35.¢h1 £e4+ B19 36.¢g1 2016 Commonwealth Chess XIIIIIIIIY Championship (9), 06.08.2016 8-+Q+-+-+0 7+-+-tr-+k0 Going into this game on Board 3, it was possible that a win would 6-+-+-+pzP0 result in a tie for first place. 2 5zpp+-+p+-0 While it turned out later that the 4-zpP+qzP-+0 tournament was decided by a 3+P+-+-+R0 decisive result on the top board, hard Thinking in round 8. anada 2P+-+-+-+0 a win would still mean =2nd (3rd 1+-tR-+-mK-0 on tiebreak). C xabcdefghy 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.¤d2 Judging by opponent's slight 36...£xf4!–+ hesitation, and the fact that This had to be foreseen when my last two games against the Black played 31...♘f6. Caro-Kan went 3.e5, this was a surprise for him. 37.¦c2 hess 3...dxe4 4.¤xe4 ¥f5

K2: Ketsup 37.¦f1 £g4+ 38.¢h2 ¦e2-+. Thavandiran Shiyam FM C

XIIIIIIIIY 88 My turn to be surprised, as my concrete, I decided to play dubious. 8rsn-wqkvlntr0 opponent had no games in the normally. 7zpp+-zppzpp0 database with this move. One 20.¢c2! White tries to put the 6-+p+-+-+0 of Black's main ideas is to put 14.¥b4!? was what I spent most king on e2 so that the bishop can 5+-+-+l+-0 the queen on d5, so it seemed of my time on, but now I am not move freely. 20...f5 21.g3 ¦hf8 4-+-zPN+-+0 like this was not the best line. sure why I rejected it. 14...¤xe4 22.¤e5 Black's weak squares 3+-+-+-+-0 Instead, 12...¥e7 13.¢b1 0–0 15.£xe4 ¤f6 16.£e2 £d5 leave much to be desired. 14.¤e4 ¤xe4 15.£xe4 ¤f6 17.¢b1 It seems like White has 2PzPP+-zPPzP0 16.£e2 £d5. the more pleasant position. If 20...¦hf8 21.g4? c5 1tR-vLQmKLsNR0 Black tries to castle queenside, 21...f5!? I was worried about this xabcdefghy 13.¤e4 ¥c7 White has the annoying ♘e5. over the board, but there is not I used to exclusively play 5.♘c5 XIIIIIIIIY 17...0–0–0 18.¤e5. much to fear. During the game, here, but fortunately it is possible 8r+-wqk+-tr0 I hallucinated that at the end to get rid of (some) childish 7zppvln+pzp-0 14...¤xe4 15.£xe4 ¤f6 of line B White was worse, but habits. 6-+p+psn-zp0 16.£d3 £d5 17.c4 £e4 actually Black is down a pawn! 18.£xe4 ¤xe4 19.¥e3 0–0–0 At the very least, he has to 5+-+-+-+P0 XIIIIIIIIY spend time winning it back: 5.¤g3 ¥g6 6.h4 h6 7.¤f3 4-+-zPN+-+0 ¤d7 8.h5 ¥h7 9.¥d3 ¥xd3 8-+ktr-+-tr0 3+-+Q+N+-0 A) 22.f3? f4! 23.¥g1 (23.fxe4

2 10.£xd3 e6 11.¥d2 ¤gf6 7zppvl-+pzp-0 fxe3 24.¤g6 ¦f2) 23...¤g3–+; 12.0–0–0 2PzPPvL-zPP+0 6-+p+p+-zp0 1+-mKR+-+R0 XIIIIIIIIY 5+-+-+-+P0 B) 22.¤g6! f4 23.¤xf8 ¦xf8 8r+-wqkvl-tr0 xabcdefghy anada 4-+PzPn+-+0 24.f3 fxe3 25.fxe4 ¥g3 26.¢c2 7zpp+n+pzp-0 During the game I felt that this 3+-+-vLN+-0 e2 27.¦dg1 e1£ Here was C 6-+p+psn-zp0 was dubious and spent a long 2PzP-+-zPP+0 where I forgot that Black loses 5+-+-+-+P0 time trying to figure out how to a pawn by queening! 28.¦xe1 punish it. Unfortunately for me, 1+K+R+-+R0 ¥xe1 29.¦xe1 ¦f4 30.¢d3 ¦xg4 4-+-zP-+-+0 it turns out this idea has been xabcdefghy 31.¦f1ƒ. 3+-+Q+NsN-0 played many times before and is 20.¤e5?! 2PzPPvL-zPP+0 very sound. Again, I was still working under 22.f3 cxd4 23.¥xd4 ¥xe5 1+-mKR+-+R0 the very false assumption that 24.¥xe5 ¤d2+ xabcdefghy 14.¢b1 my play was flawless and my hess After failing to find anything opponent's opening play was

K2: Ketsup 12...¥d6!? C XIIIIIIIIY 89 8-+ktr-tr-+0 26.¥d6! 34...¢e5 35.¦d7. 38.¦a5+ ¢e6 39.f4²; 7zpp+-+pzp-0 It is important to not let Black 34...¢e7 35.¦a4 ¦a8 36.gxf5 open the f-file and seize the exf5 37.¦a6². B) 36...¦xf5? 37.¦xf5+! exf5: 6-+-+p+-zp0 initiative; e.g. 26.¥xf6 ¦xf6 Analysis Diagram 5+-+-vL-+P0 27.¦xd2 ¦xd2 28.¢xd2 ¦xf3ƒ. 35.¦f4! XIIIIIIIIY 4-+P+-+P+0 XIIIIIIIIY 8-+-+-+-+0 3+-+-+P+-0 26...¦xd6 27.¦xd2 ¦c6 28.b3 8-+-+-tr-+0 7zp-+-+-zp-0 2PzP-sn-+-+0 b5 29.¢b2 bxc4 30.¦c1 7zp-+-+-zp-0 6-+-+-+-zp0 1+K+R+-+R0 XIIIIIIIIY 6-+k+p+-zp0 5+-+k+p+P0 xabcdefghy 8-+k+-tr-+0 5+-+-+p+P0 4-+-+-+-+0 7zp-+-+-zp-0 White is left with a serious 4-+-+-tRP+0 3+P+-+P+-0 choice: to sac or not sac? 6-+r+pzp-zp0 3+P+-+P+-0 2PmK-+-+-+0 5+-+-+-+P0 2PmK-+-+-+0 1+-+-+-+-0 25.¢c1 4-+p+-+P+0 1+-+-+-+-0 xabcdefghy 25.¦xd2!? ¦xd2 26.¥xg7 ¦g8 3+P+-+P+-0 xabcdefghy (26...¦fd8 27.¢c1! ¦g2 28.¥xh6 2PmK-tR-+-+0 a) 38.b4? ¢c4™ (38...f4 ¦g8 29.¥e3²) 27.¥xh6 ¦f2 35...a5? 39.¢c3+–; 38...¢e6 39.¢c2+–; 28.¦h3 During the game, I 1+-tR-+-+-0 This merely helps White create 38...¢d4 39.a4™ ¢e3 40.b5 2 thought that this was unclear xabcdefghy a passed pawn. Black should ¢xf3 41.a5 f4 42.b6 axb6 and there were chances for both 30...f5 have tried to resolve the kingside 43.axb6 ¢e2 44.b7 f3 45.b8£+–) sides, but the computer shows 30...¢c7 31.¦dc2. pressure by activating his King or 39.a3 f4™ 40.¢c2 ¢d4™=;

anada that Black has at least a draw. stabilizing his rook with 35...¦f6 b) ( 38...g5=) 28...¦d8 29.¦h1 ¦g8=. 31.¦dc2 ¢d7 32.¦xc4 ¦xc4 36.gxf5 exf5= which is solid for 38.a4? ¢e6! or 39.¢c3 g5 40.hxg6 h5™ 41.¢d3 C Black. 33.¦xc4 ¢d6? h4™ 42.¢e3 a5™=; 25...f6! 33...fxg4 34.¦xg4 ¦f7 And I completely missed this 35...¢d5 36.gxf5: at least Black's rook exerts c) White must bring the King in move. If I had seen it, I would pressure on f3. I had no time to calculate the almost certainly have gone pawn ending but intuitively it to stop Black’s h-pawn 38.¢c3! ¢e5 39.¢d2+– ¢f4 40.¢e2 ¢g5 for the exchange sacrifice on 34.¦d4+! felt lost for Black due to the backward pawns on the kingside. 41.b4+-. the previous move: 25...¤xf3 34.¦f4 ¢e5. 26.¥xg7 ¦g8 27.¥xh6². hess A) 36...exf5 37.¦a4! ¦a8 36.¢c3 ¢c5 37.a3 ¦f7

K2: Ketsup 34...¢c6 C XIIIIIIIIY 90 38.gxf5 exf5 39.b4+ axb4+ 8-+-+-+-+0 53.¦h1 and White still has 57.¢h7 ¦f2 58.¢g8 ¦g2+ 40.axb4+ ¢b5 41.¦c4! f4 winning chances. 59.¢f8 ¢b5 60.¦e1 ¦g1 42.¦c5+ ¢b6 43.¢d4 ¦f6 7+-+-+-+-0 61.¦e5+ ¢b6 62.¦h5 h1£ 63.¦xh1 ¦xh1 64.¢g8 ¦g1+ 44.¢e4 6-mk-+-+-+0 53...¦e2! XIIIIIIIIY 5+-tR-+-mKp0 Now Black gets his pawn to the 65.¢h8 ¦f1 66.¢g8 ¢b5 67.f8£ 8-+-+-+-+0 4-zP-+rzP-+0 second rank, after which the ¦xf8+ 68.¢xf8 ¢xb4 game must end in a draw. 7+-+-+-zp-0 3+-+-+-+-0 ½–½ 6-mk-+-tr-zp0 2-+-+-+-+0 54.f7 ¦f2 55.¢g6 h2 56.¦h1 5+-tR-+-+P0 1+-+-+-+-0 ¦g2+! 4-zP-+Kzp-+0 xabcdefghy I missed that I never get time CrossTable http://www.chess-results.com/tnr232157. 3+-+-+P+-0 51.¦c1 to take on h2 because Black aspx?lan=1&art=4&wi=821&zeil 2-+-+-+-+0 As my opponent pointed out after keeps checking, or White has to en=99999 1+-+-+-+-0 the game, 51.f5 was the best impede the f-pawn to hide! way to win: 51.f5 ¦xb4 52.¦c1+–. xabcdefghy Passed pawns must be pushed! In Black's time pressure, White's Now, my opponent who was position has become very playing on increments, played a promising. series of only moves. 2

44...g5 45.hxg6 ¦xg6 51...h4! 52.f5?? 46.¢xf4 ¦f6+ 47.¢e4 ¦e6+ 52.¦h1 Very simple. White eli- anada 48.¢f5 ¦e3 49.f4 h5 50.¢g5 mates the passed pawn and also ¦e4 gets in f4–f5 with tempo. 52...¦xb4 C 53.¦xh4 ¢c6 54.f5+–.

52...h3! 53.f6?? I showed absolutely no concern about Black's counterplay and this cost me a =2nd finish. hess

K2: Ketsup Elephant Orphanage C In Kandy, Sri Lanka, my favourite city to visit due to its beauti ful scenery and cooler temperature. 2016 Can Senior by Victoria Jung-Doknjas+ 91 Since the inaugural BC Senior lanc and Victoria Jung-Doknjas, Island, Northern BC), Alberta, Championship took place in thought there was no bett er way Ontario and Washing- 2012 with 14 players, each year to allow more Seniors to experi- ton and Oregon States, we have welcomed more and ence this very special event in BC came to play. The event more Seniors to the event. The than by going nati onal. So, for was so popular that reg- second year more than doubled the fi rst ti me ever, the Canadian istrati on hit maximum att endance to 30 players and Senior Chess Championship took capacity 2 weeks before then last year we hit our record place in beauti ful Briti sh Colum- the start of Round 1 . 33 players. In considering how to bia on June 24-26, 2016. make the 2016 event even more Forty-nine players from special, Co-Organizers Paul Leb- BC (Lower Mainland, Vancouver 2 anada C hess K2: Ketsup C 92 Duncan Sutt les Kicks It Oﬀ In additi on, all players discovered Special guest GM Duncan Sutt les individually-addressed “Thank made the ceremonial opening You” group photo cards at their move. Paul Leblanc sponsored boards at the start of Round 5. a $50 “What Move Will Dun- Paul and I called up each can Sutt les Make?” contest that one of our sponsors to personal- was won by Tom O’Donnell, who ly thank them for their contribu- guessed 1. g3! GM Sutt les joined ti on and to present each of them in the group photo, as well as with a 5x7 group photo + 5x7 the photo with just the spon- Biggest Upset Awards Don Hack (1248 pts), Jofrel Landingin (407 Sponsor photo with GM Duncan sors. This allowed us to create a pts), Hugh Long (275 pts.), Rick Marti nson (455 pts), and Richard Bridg- Sutt les, which was autographed special GM Sutt les’ autographed er (389 pts. missing from photo); each with a $25 Tim Hortons gift card. by GM Sutt les. keepsake for our valuable sponsors. A Big Thank You to our Sponsors: Our Sponsors’ contribu- ber of entrants. In additi on, we Sponsors ti ons enable us to provide a were able to oﬀ er all the players Individual Patrons: $100+: Once again, we were blessed nice venue, prizes that included complimentary refreshments GM Duncan Sutt les, Paul Leb- with a number of sponsors and substanti al glass trophies and a during all 6 rounds, and $25 Tim lanc, Victoria Jung-Doknjas, Rich- modest prize fund that almost Hortons gift cards as “Biggest ard Lapenna, Duncan Haines,

2 it was important to the Co-Or- ganizers of this event, Victoria doubled due to the incredible Upset” Prizes for Rounds 1 to 5. Stewart Paulson, Gogs Gagnon, Jung-Doknjas and Paul Leblanc, sponsorship and maximum num- Frank O’Brien, Neale Monk- to ensure that our house, Doug Sly, and NM Roger anada wonderful sponsors Patt erson. were made to feel ap- C preciated and special, Individual Sponsors: $25 to $99 because they are in Graham Swett and Joe Soliven. fact very special to us and one of the main Corporate Sponsors: factors in helping to Gantzert Law Oﬃ ce, Tim Hor- make this fi rst-ever- tons, Chess Federati on of Can- in-BC Canadian Se- ada, BC Chess Federati on, and Victoria Chess. hess nior Championship a

K2: Ketsup very successful event. C 93 And now a word from two of our Sponsors... Foreign players were welcomed “Why do you think it is important to support and sponsor events like the BC Senior Championship, but only eligible for cash prizes. and for this year, the Canadian Senior Championship?” Only Canadian citi zens or Ca- nadian residents were eligible Duncan Haines: Richard Lapenna: for all prizes including trophies, “The reason I am happy to be a sponsor is sim- “I feel it’s important to sponsor ti tles, cash prizes, and the right ple: if there are no organizers then there will be Seniors’ events like this because to represent Canada at the Pan no tournaments. Excellent tournament orga- there are many older people in American Senior Championship. nizers like Roger Patt erson, Brian Raymer and this quickly aging world who Paul LeBlanc at Victoria Chess are willing to put have waited a very long ti me 50 Years or Bett er in the huge amount of ti me and eﬀ ort it takes (many decades!) to be able to In the 50 Years or Bett er sec- to have a great event. It is the same with Paul indulge in their creati ve pas- ti on, the highest rated player,IM LeBlanc and Victoria Doknjas organizing the BC sion: chess. It provides an outlet David Cummings, went unde- Senior (and recent Canadian Senior) tourna- for this arti sti c (and yes, com- feated, conceding only 1 draw in ments. Every detail looked aft er, excellent TD, peti ti ve) acti vity to be shared the fi nal round enroute to win- great locati ons, great playing conditi ons, every- with other like-minded folk, and ning the 2016 Canadian Senior thing on ti me etc. So I am very happy to make helps fulfi ll these “old” dreams. Champion trophy + $200. Victo- an additi onal monetary contributi on in order It also allows re-acquaintance ria Jung-Doknjas won the 2016

2 to show my grati tude and support for these or- with friends one might never Canadian Senior Woman Cham- ganizers. Thanks so much!” have thought to see again, and pion trophy and the 2016 BC Se- between them to be able to nior Woman Champion ti tle; in once again create memorable additi on with a 3/6 score, Victo- anada games that will be savored in ria earned the 2016 U1600 Cana- posterity.” dian Senior Champion trophy + C $100. Both IM David Cummings Format and Victoria Jung-Doknjas qual- As for the tournament itself, Champions of the 50 Years or ify to be our oﬃ cial Canadian there were 2 Secti ons: the 50 Bett er and 65 Years or Bett er representati ves to the 2016 Pan Years or Bett er and the 65 Years secti ons, and the Woman Cham- American Senior Championship or Bett er. Both were 6 round pion qualifi ed to be Canada’s Of- in Bolivia. Swisses, with a 90 mins + 30 sec. fi cial Representati ves to the Pan There was a 4-way ti e hess increment ti me control, and CFC American Senior Championship. for 2nd Place Overall in the 50

K2: Ketsup and FIDE-rated. Years or Bett er secti on, where C 94 Daniel E. Salcedo, Joe Soliven, ing the top scoring player from Paul Leblanc won 2nd Hugh Long scored 4 wins David Rupel (US player), and Briti sh Columbia. Place Overall in the 65 Years or out of 6 games and won the 2016 Duncan Haines all scored 4.5. 65 Years or Bett er Bett er secti on, scoring 4.5 pts./6 U1800 Canadian Senior Champi- The fi rst three players split the In the 65 Years or Bett er secti on, games, losing only one game on trophy + $100. Stephen Les- $100 prize, and Duncan Haines the highest rated player in that and that was to the Champion. ter-Smith and Brian Sullivan both received the 2016 U1800 Cana- secti on, IM Leon Piasetski, with Paul thinks that it is important scored 2.5pts/6 games and are dian Senior Champion trophy + a perfect 6/6 won the 2016 Ca- to support and organize events the 2016 U1600 Canadian Se- $100. Aft er ti e-breaks, Daniel E. nadian Senior Champion trophy like the BC Senior Championship, nior Co-Champions, splitti ng the Salcedo received the 2nd Place + $200 and the 2016 BC Senior and for this year, the Canadian $100 prize money, with Stephen Overall trophy and the 2016 BC Championship ti tle. Leon also Senior Championship because, taking the trophy with the bett er Senior Champion plaque; but, qualifi es to be our oﬃ cial Cana- “Chess is more than a game. It is ti e-break. shared the 2016 BC Senior Co- dian representati ve to the 2016 a social experience and this type Champion ti tle with Joe Soliven Pan American Senior Champion- of event provides the right at- Mau-Seng Lee (below) won the and Duncan Haines, all three be- ship in Bolivia. mosphere to foster that experi- 2016 Canadian Senior Champi- ence.” onship – 80 Years or Bett er trophy, scoring 2.5 pts/6 games. 2 anada C hess K2: Ketsup C XIIIIIIIIY 95 Games 8r+-+k+-tr0 access to f6 or g6. Playing ...f6 17...£d7 7zppzp-snpzpp0 makes sense to cover e5 and set 17...£f6 f6 would be a more Chess Canada has fi ve games up a quick ...g5 and ...h5 in case active square for my queen. from the 2016 Canadian Senior 6-+nwq-+-+0 opposite-side castling occurs However, I was anticipating both Championship, including two an- 5+-+p+l+-0 with Black on the queenside. pairs of rooks being exchanged notated by the Nati onal Champi- 4-+-zP-+-+0 10...0–0–0 is also good. on the e-file. 18.¤c2 ¥e4 ons. 3+-sN-+N+-0 19.¤e3 ¦e6³. 2PzPPwQ-zPPzP0 11.£f4?! Notes by Duncan Haines 1tR-+-mKL+R0 Looks like a waste of time to me. 18.¥f1 ¦xe1 Escandor, Manuel (1671) There is no real threat and the ¹18...¥e4=. Haines, Duncan (1789) xabcdefghy queen will soon have to retreat. C01 The exchange French leaves 19.¦xe1 ¦e8 20.¦xe8+ £xe8 2016 Canadian Senior Ch. (6), both sides with a number of 11...¦c8?! 21.¤c2 26.06.2016 options on how to place their Too passive. Again, I wanted to XIIIIIIIIY pieces. The computer says castle on the same side as White 8-+-+q+k+0 This game is from the final equal but that is not the same as but that was nothing to worry drawish. 7+pzp-+pzp-0 round of the Canadian Senior about. 11...0–0–0³ or 11...0–0³. 6p+n+-+nzp0 Championship, both players with 3.5 points, both going for the 9.¤b5 12.c3 a6 13.¤a3 ¤g6 5+-+p+l+-0 2 same trophy and prizes. Don't let Something about not moving First 0–0 made a bit more sense. 4-+-zP-+-+0 my opponent's rating fool you, a piece twice in the opening 3+-zP-+N+-0 in the past I've see him beat probably applies here. 14.£e3+ £e7 15.£d2 0–0 2PzPNwQ-zPPzP0 anada masters and experts, and in this 16.0–0 ¦fe8 17.¦fe1 1+-+-+LmK-0 tournament he won two games 9...£d7 XIIIIIIIIY

C xabcdefghy against experts. 9...£e6+ 10.¥e2 0–0–0 Is another 8-+r+r+k+0 way to go but I wanted to keep Trading rooks has helped White 7+pzp-wqpzp-0 more than Black. I thought about 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 the option of castling on the 6p+n+-+nzp0 4.¥f4 ¥d6 5.£d2 ¤e7 6.¤f3 same side as White. exchanging my bishop for the ¥f5 7.¥xd6 £xd6 8.¤c3 5+-+p+l+-0 knight but felt my bishop was still a good piece. I was also ¤bc6 10.¥e2 h6 4-+-zP-+-+0 10...f6 is a computer choice but I 3sN-zP-+N+-0 concerned this would allow a assumed my queen would soon queenside incursion by White's hess 2PzP-wQLzPPzP0 return to d6 and might want easy queen. K2: Ketsup 1tR-+-tR-mK-0 C xabcdefghy 96 21...¤ce7 During the last 1/2 dozen moves simple tactic: ...♕xg4–+. It isn't I like this move. It opens up my both sides had many different 30...£f6? like I didn't see the elements of queen and shifts my knight to options. But here we are, and What a wimp, too afraid to take it since I'm playing ...h5 knowing where it will be needed to help now ...♘f4 would be consistent the challenge. I should have! the bishop has no squares. Give fight for the important f4 and f5 with Black's previous play. But 30...bxc5 µ 31.£xa5 (31.dxc5 this position as part of a puzzle squares. instead I decided to move my a £xc5µ) 31...cxd4 32.a4 ¤e5 test and we would all solve it in and b-pawns to black squares, 33.¥d1 ¤7c6 34.£b5 g6µ. seconds. But after subjecting 21...¥xc2 22.£xc2 £e6 23.£b3 potentially away from the white- an overworked brain to 3 hours ¤d8 ¤a5 (23...¤d8 24.g3²) squared bishop. 31.¤e2 ¤h4 of intense planning, calculating, 24.£b4 b6 25.£a4 is equal, but 31...bxc5 32.dxc5 c6 33.b3 and evaluating, well... yeah, this was not to my taste at all. 28...a5 ¤e5=. there is still no excuse except: 28...¤f4=. go look at Carlsen-Anand game 22.¤e3 ¥e6 23.¥d3 £d7 32.¥g4 £g6 33.g3?? 6. Meanwhile, I owe an apology 24.¤f1 ¥f5 25.¥e2 £d6 29.c4!? 33.£e3 £e4=. to Nigel Hanrahan. The previous 26.¤g3 ¥g4 White could have continued to XIIIIIIIIY day he was showing us his game XIIIIIIIIY maneuver his pieces to better 8-+-+-+k+0 where both sides overlooked 8-+-+-+k+0 squares but instead is attracted 7+-zp-snpzp-0 an elementary tactic. And I was to my loose pawn. thinking, that's pretty bad. Now a 7+pzp-snpzp-0 6-zp-+-+qzp0 few days later I'm getting a well 2 6p+-wq-+nzp0 29...b6 30.c5? 5zp-zPp+-+-0 earned lesson in hubris. What 5+-+p+-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY 4-+-zP-+Lsn0 goes around... Sorry, Nigel! 4-+-zP-+l+0 8-+-+-+k+0 3+-+-+-zPP0 anada 3+-zP-+NsN-0 2PzP-wQNzP-+0 34.¤f4?? £b1+? 7+-zp-snpzp-0 With apologies to Britney Spears, 2PzP-wQLzPPzP0 6-zp-wq-+nzp0 1+-+-+-mK-0 C "Oops! We've done it again". 1+-+-+-mK-0 5zp-zPp+-+-0 xabcdefghy White gets 2 questions marks xabcdefghy 4-+-zP-+-+0 33...h5? because it's an instantly losing I did not have to trade this 3+-+-+LsNP0 So I am sitting at home, casually blunder. Again, 34...£xg4!–+. bishop but since queens and 2PzP-wQ-zPP+0 entering the moves in my knights work well together I was 1+-+-+-mK-0 computer and all of a sudden 35.¢h2 hxg4 36.gxh4 gxh3= comfortable with this decision. the evaluation jumps to over 36...£f5=. xabcdefghy -3!! I almost fell out of my chair hess 27.h3 ¥xf3 28.¥xf3 But this is too much. when Fritz pointed out this 37.b3?! £e4 K2: Ketsup C 97 And here I had a hallucination 41...¤f5 42.¢xh3 e3 43.fxe3 ceremony, I sit for a couple of Notes by Victoria Doknjas that I was threatening ...♕g2 ¤xe3=. minutes, helpless, thinking of Rampogren, Michael (1782) mate which would gain me a when to resign. Doknjas, Victoria (1545) ♘ tempo to move ... f5 next. 37... 42.¢xh3 ¤d6? B00 bxc5 38.dxc5 £f5µ. Two hasty moves and I've turned 48...¢e8 49.¢xg6 f4 2016 Canadian Senior Ch. (5), an equal endgame into a losing 50.¢f5?? 26.06.2016 38.cxb6 cxb6 39.£e3 b5 one. An endgame transition Inexplicable for a player of More active and forcing was worth study. Manuel's strength. From winning As the only woman participating 39...¤f5 40.£xe4 dxe4³. ¹42...f5 43.¤e6 g6 44.f3 ¤d6². to losing in one move, in a simple in the 2016 Canadian Senior position. 50.¤d4+– I would have Championship, I was guaranteed 40.£xe4 dxe4= 41.d5 43.¢g4 b4 44.¤e2 ¢f8 stopped my clock and shaken the 2016 Canadian Senior XIIIIIIIIY Here I realized my plan wouldn't hands. Woman Champion trophy and 8-+-+-+k+0 work and I was now losing. title, as well as the 2016 BC 7+-+-snpzp-0 44...¤b5 45.¤g3 ¤c3? 46.d6 50...e3–+ 51.fxe3 f3 Senior Woman Champion title. 6-+-+-+-+0 ¢f8 47.h5+–. And now it was Manuel's turn But that didn't mean it would 5zpp+P+-+-0 to sit helplessly, using his be an easy tournament: at the 45.¤d4 g6 46.¤c6 ¤b7 remaining time, searching for start I ranked #30 out of 35 4-+-+psN-zP0 47.¢f4 f5 48.¢g5 an escape that isn't there. I was players in the 50 Years or Better 3+P+-+-+p0 XIIIIIIIIY shocked, no doubt the spectators section, and the very top players 2 2P+-+-zP-mK0 8-+-+-mk-+0 felt the same. Chess can be in this section were IM David 1+-+-+-+-0 7+n+-+-+-0 very cruel; good thing it's only Cummings and three NMs: Brad a game. This position will likely xabcdefghy 6-+N+-+p+0 Booker, Roger Patterson, and anada be seared in my brain for a long Brian McLaren; so it was no 41...¤c8? 5zp-+P+pmK-0 time to come. surprise that all my 6 opponents C Time was getting short and this 4-zp-+p+-zP0 were higher rated than me by was played with relatively little 3+P+-+-+-0 52.h5 f2 53.h6 f1£+ 54.¢g6 214 pts. to as high as 589 pts. thought. I planned to go after 2P+-+-zP-+0 £f7+ 55.¢g5 £xd5+ White's a and b-pawns, but it I ended up tied for #14 out of was far more important to get 1+-+-+-+-0 0–1 35 players, with my last round rid of the weak pawn on e4. The xabcdefghy played on Board #5 with NM black king is in the d-pawn's And here, dead lost, with most Brian McLaren. At this point of square. of the other players watching the tournament (start of Round hess Chess can be very cruel; while waiting for the awards 5), I had just won my Round K2: Ketsup good thing it’s only a game C XIIIIIIIIY 98 4 game against Philip Harris, 8rsn-wqk+-tr0 John Doknjas, to help me get 8.¥d2 who was rated 223 higher. And ready for this year's Canadian NM John Doknjas was giving me I drew two players (George Kim 7zplzp-+pzpp0 Senior Championship. Joshua nightly chess lessons leading and Frank O'Brien) who were 6-zp-+p+-+0 and I decided for me to stay with up to the tournament. One of also 200+ rated higher, and lost 5+-+pzP-+-0 the Owen's Defence. I played them dealt with "Bad Bishops". to a 1900 player from Oregon, 4-vl-zPn+-+0 numerous training games online In deciding which piece to Joshua Standig. 3+-sNL+N+-0 and over-the-board, and equally exchange, I recognized that if 8... numerous Knights and Bishops ♘x¥d2, that I would be taking Michael Rampogren was rated 2PzPP+QzPPzP0 somehow kept getting knocked my opponent's Bad Bishop. I 237 points higher than me; but 1tR-vL-mK-+R0 off the board when I didn't get also thought I remember Joshua I was really motivated to win xabcdefghy the sequence of moves just right. saying that in this position I this game, and my confidence Similar to last year, in preparing In this game, it was one of the needed to take White's Knight on playing higher-rated players for the 2015 BC Senior rare ones that went into familiar c3. After the game, Joshua said I was building throughout the Championship, I asked my sons ground as far as the opening was mistaken, and it was indeed tournament. Winning this Round CM Joshua Doknjas and NM was concerned. the Bishop on d2 that I needed 5 game sealed my win of the to take in order to relieve some 2016 U1600 Canadian concerns with a full on attack if I Senior Championship wanted to castle on the Kingside, trophy + $100. I ended which is what I concluded during

2 the tournament with 3/6, the game. and a rating increase of 143 points, which editor - White hasn't had much was the 2nd most

anada success breaking Black's rating gain for the entire position, even when resorting to tournament. C a pawn sac: 8.0–0 ¤xc3 9.bxc3 ¥xc3 10.¦b1 ¤c6 11.£e3 ¥b4 1.e4 b6 2.¤f3 ¥b7 12.£f4 h6 13.¥b5 ¥e7 14.£g4 3.¤c3 e6 4.d4 ¥b4 g6 15.c3 £d7 16.¤e1 a6 17.¥a4 5.¥d3 ¤f6 6.£e2 d5 b5 18.¥d1 ¤a5 19.¤d3 £c6 7.e5 ¤e4 20.£e2 £xc3 21.¥d2 £a3 22.¥c1 £c3 23.¥d2 £a3 24.¥c1 ½–½ Nakamura,H (2798)- hess Gareev,T (2604) US Ch., 2015.

K2: Ketsup Michael Rampogren

C & Victoria Jung- Doknjas 99 8...¤xd2 9.£xd2 c5 10.a3 16.¥g4 ¤g6 17.f4 ¤h4 24.g3 the a-pawn promises Black an ¥xc3 18.¤f3 f5 19.exf6 ¤xf3+ 24.a4 White has time to just edge. 10...¥a5 At the time, I didn't think 20.¦xf3 ¦xf6 21.¦e1 £d6 move the pawn from being taken. 27.¥f3 I could make this move, thinking 22.£f2 ¦af8 23.¦e5 ¥c8 27.f5 would have kept the my Bishop would get trapped; XIIIIIIIIY 24...£xa3 25.£e2 £d6 situation tense and highly but if 11. b4 then cxb 12. axb 8-+l+-trk+0 26.¦fe3 ¦e8 unclear. ♗xb4, which keeps the Knight 26...¢f7 27.¥h5+ g6 28.¥f3 a5µ pinned and wins a pawn. 7zp-+-+-zp-0 27...¦ef8 28.¥g2 ¦f5 29.h4 6-zp-wqptr-zp0 ¦xe5 30.¦xe5 11.bxc3 ¤c6 12.0–0 h6 5+-+ptR-+-0 13.h3 c4 4-+pzP-zPL+0 XIIIIIIIIY 3zP-zP-+R+P0 8r+-wqk+-tr0 2-+P+-wQP+0 7zpl+-+pzp-0 1+-+-+-mK-0 6-zpn+p+-zp0 xabcdefghy 5+-+pzP-+-0 4-+pzP-+-+0 3zP-zPL+N+P0 2 2-+PwQ-zPP+0 1tR-+-+RmK-0

anada xabcdefghy This pushes White's

C Good Bishop back a bit and not directly shooting at the King-side, where I was planning to castle.

14.¥e2 0–0 hess 15.¤h2 ¤e7 K2: Ketsup C XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 100 8-+l+-trk+0 8-+l+-+-+0 40.£e5 £c6 41.¦f1 ¥h3 42.¦f7 Notes by John Doknjas £g6 43.¦a7 ¥f5 44.¦xa3 Soliven, Joe (1989) 7zp-+-+-zp-0 7+-+-+-zpk0 ¥xc2 45.¦a1 ¥e4± White has 6-zp-wqp+-zp0 6-zp-wqPtr-zp0 a comfortable edge, although Cummings, David (2418) 5+-+ptR-+-0 5+-+ptR-+-0 Black's Bishop on e4 could make D30 things somewhat unclear. 2016 Canadian Senior Ch. (4), 4-+pzP-zP-zP0 4-+pzP-+-zP0 25.06.2016 3+-zP-+-zP-0 3zp-zP-+-zPL0 editor - ?? White has a material 2-+P+Q+L+0 2-+P+-+-+0 advantage, but I don't see how 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.¥g2 dxc4 1+-+-+-mK-0 1+-+-wQ-mK-0 to turn that into anything while 4.£a4+ c6 5.£xc4 ¤f6 6.¤f3 xabcdefghy xabcdefghy keeping Black's ♕ away from b5 30...¦f5? 38.¥f5+ attacking g2. XIIIIIIIIY This gave White a chance to win This allowed Black to eliminate 8rsnlwqkvl-tr0 Black's Bishop. the e6–pawn, which greatly 40...£xf8 41.£xe6 £f3 7zp-+-+pzpp0 eases the pressure. Better 41...a2 would have been much 6-+p+psn-+0 30...a5 Once again pushing this was 38.e7! ¥xh3 39.e8£ ¦f1+ quicker. 42.£e1 £a3 43.£a1 5+p+-+-+-0 pawn would distract White from 40.£xf1 ¥xf1 41.¢xf1 £f6+ £a4 44.¢f1 £xc2 45.g4 £b1+ pressuring the e6 pawn. 31.¥h3 42.¢e2+–. 46.£xb1+ axb1£+. 4-+Q+-+-+0 ¦f6 32.f5 exf5 33.¦e8+ ¦f8–+. 3+-+-+NzP-0 2 38...¦xf5™ 39.¦xf5 ¥xe6 42.£e1 a2 43.¢h2 b5 2PzP-zPPzPLzP0 31.¦e3? XIIIIIIIIY 44.¢h3 £f5+ 45.g4 £xc2 1tRNvL-mK-+R0 ¹31.¦xf5! exf5 32.£e8+ ¢h7 8-+-+-+-+0 46.g5 £d3+ xabcdefghy anada (32...£f8 33.¥xd5+ ¢h7 46...£b1 was a good alternative: 7+-+-+-zpk0 With this move Black weakens 34.£xf8+–) 33.£xc8+–. 47.g6+ £xg6 48.¢h2 £b1 6-zp-wql+-zp0 his c-pawn but counts on being C 49.£xb1+ axb1£. 5+-+p+R+-0 able to push it to c5 later on in 31...a5 32.¥h3 ¦f6 33.¦e5 the game. a4 34.£d1 £a3 35.£e1 £d6 4-+pzP-+-zP0 47.¢h2 £e4 48.£g1 £xh4+ 36.f5 a3 37.fxe6 ¢h7 3zp-zP-+-zP-0 White resigns. 7.£c2 ¥b7 8.d4 2-+P+-+-+0 The game highly resembles 1+-+-wQ-mK-0 0–1 the Catalan opening. White has xabcdefghy some pressure along the c-file, hess 40.¦f8 but if Black manages to play c5 K2: Ketsup he will have a comfortable game. C 101 This line would keep the game cxd4 19.£b5= (1/2–1/2, 34) 15.¤e1 in more of an English-like game: Radjabov,T (2724)-Ponomariov, This move is strong and 8.0–0!? ¤bd7 9.b3 ¥e7 10.¥b2 R (2717) Tromso, 2014. has multiple purposes: it 0–0 11.d3 c5. transfers the Knight to the 11...¦c8 12.dxc5 Queenside to help fight for 8...¤bd7 9.0–0 c5 10.a4 b4³ 12.£d3 slows the development squares, as well as giving XIIIIIIIIY of the f8–Bishop. 12...¥e7 13.b3 White's Queen on d1 8r+-wqkvl-tr0 cxd4 14.¤xd4 ¦c3 15.£b5? some shelter on the d-file. 7zpl+n+pzpp0 (15.£b1! ¥xg2 16.¢xg2 ¤c5 6-+-+psn-+0 17.¤4f3 0–0 18.¥b2 £c7 15.¥d2 ¦fd8 16.£e1 ¥d6 19.¥xc3 bxc3° Black is down 17.¤fd4 ¤c5 18.¦c1 ¤xa4 5+-zp-+-+-0 an exchange but the monster 19.¦xc8 ¦xc8 20.£a1 4Pzp-zP-+-+0 pawn on c3 and White's lack of ¥xg2 21.¢xg2 £b7+ 22.f3 3+-+-+NzP-0 coordination seem to balance ¤c5 23.¤a5 £d5 24.¦d1 2-zPQ+PzPLzP0 it out.) 15...¥xg2 16.¢xg2 ¤b7 (24...£xd4 25.¥f4÷; 1tRNvL-+RmK-0 £a8+ 17.¤4f3 a6–+ 18.£g5 h6 24...¤g4!) 25.¤ab3?? 19.£xg7 (19.£a5 £b7 ...♗d8 (25.¤xb7 £xb7³) 25... xabcdefghy or ...♖c5.) 19...¦h7–+ (0–1, 30) e5!–+ 26.e4 ¤xe4™ Now Black has a slight edge due Fridman,D (2592)-Grischuk, A 27.fxe4 £xe4+ 28.¢h3 2 to having a more harmonious (2732) Mainz, 2003. (28.¤f3 £e2+–+) 28...exd4 placement of his pieces. The 29.£xa7 £e6+ 30.¢g2 £e2+ 17.¤d3 Queen on c2 will likely be forced 12...¥xc5 13.£d1 0–0 31.¢h3 £xd1 32.£xb7 £f1+ XIIIIIIIIY to move in order to avoid an 8-+rtr-+k+0 anada 14.¤b3 £e7 33.¢h4 ¦e8 0–1 Golcman,E attack along the c-file. XIIIIIIIIY (2336)-Cernousek,L (2321) 7zp-+nwqpzpp0

C 8-+r+-trk+0 Prague, 2005. 6-+-+psn-+0 11.¤bd2 5+-vl-+-+-0 Developing the Bishop before 7zpl+nwqpzpp0 Taking would give White the playing ♘bd2 would have 6-+-+psn-+0 Bishop pair advantage, but it 4Pzp-+-+-+0 put more pressure on Black's 5+-vl-+-+-0 opens up White's Queen to an 3+N+N+-zP-0 position. 11.¥g5 ¦c8 12.¤bd2 4Pzp-+-+-+0 attack along the d-file: 15.¤xc5? 2-zP-+PzPKzP0 ¥e7 13.¦fc1 h6 14.¥xf6 ¤xf6 3+N+-+NzP-0 ¤xc5 16.¥e3 ¦fd8ƒ. 1tR-vLQ+R+-0 15.£d3 0–0 16.¤e5 ¥xg2 xabcdefghy hess 2-zP-+PzPLzP0 17.¢xg2 £d5+ 18.¤df3 15...¥xg2 16.¢xg2 ¦fd8

K2: Ketsup 1tR-vLQ+RmK-0 17...h6

C xabcdefghy 102 This move stops ♗g5, which This move allows Black to win 23.¦c1 £d7 31.exf4 £d5 32.¥e3 makes sense. However, 17...e5 two Knights for a Rook. Targeting a4 and preparing to 32.£d1? ¦d8. would have seized the initiative centralize the Queen on d5. immediately: 17...e5! 18.¥g5 e4 20...a5?! 32...¦c3 33.¦d1 ¦d3 34.¦c1 19.¤dxc5 ¤xc5 20.£c2 ¤cd7 This still gives Black an edge, 24.£d1 £d5+ 25.¢g1 e5ƒ 34.¦b1 ¦xb3 35.¦xb3 £xb3 (editor - 20...¤b7 and the White but taking on c5 would have 26.¦xc8 ¦xc8 27.b3 e4 36.¥d4 would have been ♕ has to hide on b1.) 21.£b1 given a bigger one: 20...¦xc5! This gains more space, but at interesting, but Black is still £e6 22.¤d4 £e5³ Now the 21.¤xc5 ¥xc5–+ Most of the same time it gives White's winning: 36...£xa4 37.¥xf6 gxf6 Bishop on g5 just ends up being Black's pieces are in very active Knight the f4 square. Better was 38.£g4+ ¢f8 39.£c8+ £e8 a target. positions, whereas White will still 27...¤e4! 28.¥e1 f5 29.¤b2 (29. 40.£c5+ ¢g7–+. need a few moves to untangle e3? ¤g5–+) 29...f4–+. 18.£e1 ¥d6 19.¥d2 ¤e5 and get his Rooks into the game. XIIIIIIIIY 34...£xb3 35.¦c8+ ¢h7 28.¤f4 £c5 29.e3 ¥e5 36.g4 8-+rtr-+k+0 21.¤xe5 ¥xe5 22.¤d3 XIIIIIIIIY 7zp-+-wqpzp-0 XIIIIIIIIY 30.£e2 8-+rtr-+k+0 XIIIIIIIIY 8-+R+-+-+0 6-+-vlpsn-zp0 8-+r+-+k+0 7+-+-+pzpk0 5+-+-sn-+-0 7+-+-wqpzp-0 6-+-+psn-zp0 7+-+-+pzp-0 6-+-+-sn-zp0 4Pzp-+-+-+0 6-+-+-sn-zp0 5zp-+-+-+-0 2 5zp-+-vl-+-0 3+N+N+-zP-0 5zp-wq-vl-+-0 4Pzp-+pzPP+0 2-zP-vLPzPKzP0 4Pzp-+-+-+0 3+-+N+-zP-0 4Pzp-+psN-+0 3+q+rvL-+-0 1tR-+-wQR+-0 3+P+-zP-zP-0 2-+-+QzP-zP0 anada xabcdefghy 2-zP-vLPzPKzP0 1tR-+-wQR+-0 2-+-vLQzP-zP0 1+-+-+-mK-0 C A good move, forcing the 1+-+-+RmK-0 xabcdefghy exchange of White's Knight on xabcdefghy xabcdefghy A good try to get counterplay on d3. This will eliminate one of the 22...¥d4µ the Kingside. However, the lack attackers of the b4–pawn, as well 30...¥xf4 22...¦xd3!? 23.exd3 ¥xb2 of coordination between White's as allowing Black's Bishop to Now it's a "Good Knight" vs 24.¦b1 ¦c2µ Black is better, but pieces and his exposed King attack the vulnerable b2–pawn "Bad Bishop" game. White has this line is somewhat risky since makes this very difficult. from e5. Black is giving up the exchange managed to defend well against for the pawn. 22...♗d4 was the the attack, but the resulting

hess 36...£xa4 37.g5 £d1+ 20.¤bc5? safer move. situation is very passive for him.

K2: Ketsup Simplifying things into a winning C 103 endgame. What happens on 34...f4 35.g4? 40...¦h8 41.¥h3 ¤e6 42.¦h2 43.¢f2 ¥e8 44.¢e1 ¥h5 XIIIIIIIIY ¤xg5 and Black's ♖s crash in 45.£h1 £f7 46.¤c1 38.£xd1 ¦xd1+ 39.¢g2 ¤h5 8-+-+rtrk+0 along the h-file. 46.¤g1 saves the f3–pawn, but 40.¦b8 hxg5 41.fxg5 7+l+-+-wq-0 then 46...¤c5 wins b3 or d3. 6-+-zp-+p+0 35...¤e6 36.£g3 ¤xf4 1-0 5zp-sn-zppwQp0 37.¦d2 46...¥xf3 47.¦df2 ¥xg2 4PzpPzpP+-+0 37.h4 would stop the plan Black 48.£xg2 ¦xf2 49.£xf2 executes in the game, but Rampogren, Michael (1782) £xf2+ 50.¦xf2 ¦xf2 51.¢xf2 3+P+P+PzPP0 wouldn't change the result: Black Cummings, David (2418) 2-+-+-tRL+0 ¤f4 52.¢f3 could win by lining up on the XIIIIIIIIY B40 1+-sN-tR-mK-0 g-file and play ...g5. 2016 Canadian Senior Ch. (2), xabcdefghy 8-+-+-+k+0 24.06.2016 37...g5 38.¤e2 h4 39.£h2 7+-+-+-+-0 Notes by John Upper A curious position: 34 moves in and not a single pawn exchange. ¤e6 40.¢h1 ¦f6 41.¦f1 ¦ef8 6-+-zp-+-+0 5zp-+-zp-zp-0 1.e4 c5 2.¤f3 e6 3.¤c3 a6 Black has a space advantage 42.¢g1 and the only good minor piece XIIIIIIIIY 4PzpPzpPsn-zp0 4.g3 b5 5.¥g2 ¥b7 6.d3 b4 (on c5), but has to find a way to 8-+-+-trk+0 3+P+P+K+P0 7.¤e2 ¤c6 8.0–0 ¤f6 9.h3 make his ♖s useful. 7+l+-+-wq-0 2-+-+-+-+0 2 ¥e7 10.¤f4 d6 11.a4 0–0 6-+-zpntr-+0 1+-sN-+-+-0 12.c3 a5 13.¥e3 ¦b8 14.¤d2 34...f4 35.gxf4

35.g4 tries to keep things 5zp-+-zp-zp-0 xabcdefghy ¥a6 15.c4 ¤d7 16.b3 g6 4PzpPzpP+-zp0 anada 17.¤e2 ¥f6 18.¥h6 ¦e8 closed, but there's a tactical 52...¤xh3 problem: 35...h4! threatening 3+P+P+P+P0 Or 52...¢g7 53.¢g4 ¢g6‡. 19.¦b1 ¥b7 20.¤f3 ¤d4

C ...♕h7 (defending h4) then 2-+-tRN+LwQ0 21.¥e3 e5 22.¤e1 ¥g7 ...♘e6 trapping White's offside 1+-+-+RmK-0 53.¤a2 23.£d2 f5 24.¤c2 ¤f6 25.f3 ♕. 36.£xh4 g5! 37.£h5 ¦e6 xabcdefghy 53.¢g4 ¤f4 54.¢xg5 h3–+. £d7 26.¤cxd4 cxd4 27.¥g5 threatening to trap the ♕ with Are all of Black's pieces playing? ¦f8 28.¥h6 £e7 29.¥xg7 ...♖h6. 38.h4 ¦g6 39.hxg5 ¢f7 53...¤f4 54.¤xb4 threatening to trap the ♕ with £xg7 30.¦bc1 ¤d7 31.¦ce1 Did Black overlook something? ...♖h8. 40.£h1 (no, Reti would 42...¥c6! ¤c5 32.¤c1 ¦be8 33.¦f2 h5 not be proud of this hypermodern ... they will be soon.

hess 54...axb4 55.a5 ¤e6 34.£g5 battery along the h1–f3 diagonal)

K2: Ketsup No. C 104 56.a6 ¤c7 57.a7 h3 58.¢g3 3...c5 4.¤f3 ¤c6 Perhaps White was already not This was my idea - give up a g4 59.¢xg4 h2 XIIIIIIIIY happy at this point since ♘g5 pawn to gain the 2 bishops and looks like an attempt to muddy control d4. However, there is 8r+lwqkvlntr0 the waters. The alternative was a tactical flaw and at best the 0–1 7zpp+-zpp+p0 simply developing with ♘a3– resulting position is only equal. 6-+n+-+p+0 c2 and aiming for b2–b4. In Instead Stockfish recommends Notes by IM Leon Piasetski 5+-zppzP-+-0 any case Black can eliminate ...♘h4 with a small edge for Pantazi, Emanuel (1816) 4-+-+-zP-+0 the White centre with ...f6 Black. Piasetski, Leon (2380) 3+-+-+N+-0 and maintain a nice space B06 2PzPPzP-+PzP0 advantage. 14.¥xe3 dxe3 15.¤bc3 2016 Canadian Senior Ch. 65 (2), 15.¦xe3?? f5–+. 24.06.2016 1tRNvLQmKL+R0 9.¤g5 f6 10.exf6 exf6 xabcdefghy 11.¤e4 £e7?! 15...f5 16.¤d5 £d8 17.¤ec3 5.c4 I had just returned from a 3 Not the best. I was a bit 17.¤xc5? ¥d4 wins a piece An interesting choice but after month chess tour only two days concerned about the long because ...e2+ is a bigger threat. ...d4 Black gets a long-term earlier and was still knocked diagonal, but ...b6 was simple space advantage. On the other out when we played this game and correct, maintaining a clear hand, trying to maintain the 17...¤d4 18.¦xe3 ¤xf3+ in the evening (second game of advantage. XIIIIIIIIY the day on the first day of the centre with c3–d4 would run into

2 8r+lwq-trk+0 tournament). lots of pressure from ...♗g4, ...♘f5, ...♕b6 etc. 12.¥f3 ¤f5 13.¦e1 7zpp+-+-vlp0 XIIIIIIIIY 6-+-+-+p+0 1.e4 g6 2.f4 d5 3.e5 5...d4 6.d3 ¥g7 7.¥e2 ¤h6 8r+l+-trk+0 anada 8.0–0 0–0 5+-zpN+p+-0 My opponent was a reasonably 7zpp+-wq-vlp0 strong player around 1966, XIIIIIIIIY 4-+P+-zP-+0

C 6-+n+-zpp+0 having achieved draws against 3+-sNPtRn+-0 8r+lwq-trk+0 5+-zp-+n+-0 GMs Ree, Farago and Jansa. 7zpp+-zppvlp0 2PzP-+-+PzP0 However, here his opening 4-+PzpNzP-+0 choice was not successful. It 6-+n+-+psn0 1tR-+Q+-mK-0 3+-+P+L+-0 xabcdefghy would be wiser to play 2.♘c3 to 5+-zp-zP-+-0 2PzP-+-+PzP0 avoid ...d5 as future GM Hebden 4-+Pzp-zP-+0 1tRNvLQtR-mK-0 19.¦xf3 learned in 1983 after losing 3+-+P+N+-0 Here White missed a powerful against Lobron and then winning xabcdefghy hess 2PzP-+L+PzP0 exchange sac. In fact, Black against Shamkovitch both in the

K2: Ketsup 13...¤e3?! must avoid the sac and remain same New York tournament... 1tRNvLQ+RmK-0 C xabcdefghy

105 a pawn down with the worse 22...¥d4 29.£f3 £a6! 34.¦b8 ¢g7 35.¦b7+ ¢h6 position... Here I could have exchanged XIIIIIIIIY 36.¦c7 ¦e6! 37.¢h2 ¥c6 all the minor pieces to win back 8-+-+r+k+0 38.£d2 £d8 39.¦xa7 £e8 19.£xf3!!: a pawn, but wanted to maintain 7zpR+-+l+p0 I handled the final phase of 19...¥d7 20.¤e7+ ¢h8 21.¢h1 the pressure. Another interesting the game reasonably well for a £b6 22.¦ae1±; 6q+-+-+p+0 option was ...b5. sleepwalker :-) 22...¥xc3 23.bxc3 (23.¤xc3? 5+-zp-+p+-0 19... ¥d4? 20.¤b5 ¥xe3+ ¥xc4) 23...¥xd5 24.cxd5 £xd5. 4-+P+-zP-+0 0–1 21.£xe3 a6 (21...b6? 22.£e5 3+PvlP+Q+-0 ¦f7 23.¤d6+–) 22.¤bc7+–. 23.b3 £g7?! 2P+-+-+PzP0 fi nal thanks to Of course, I was blissfully 23...b5. unaware of these possibilities 1+-+-+R+K0 xabcdefghy • our individual and corporate and still thought I was better! 24.¦ff1 ¥f7?! Perhaps fatigue is good for sponsors for supporti ng our 24...£d7! 30.a4 confidence :-) event; 30.¦c7 £xa2–+ 31.¦xc5 (31.£b7 • our players for their enthusi- 25.¤e7+? £f2 32.£f3™–+) 31...£xb3 a s ti c p a r ti c i p a ti on; 19...¥e6 20.£d2!? 32.¦b5 ¥b4 33.¦b7 a5 34.¦a7 Weird play by both sides! My last • GM Duncan Sutt les for mak- 20.£b3!? ¥d2–+. two moves anticipated wholesale ing this special event that

2 rook exchanges on the e-file, much more special by joining 20...£d7 21.¦e1 ¦ae8 but instead White gave up two 30...¥d4 31.h4?–+ us this year; 22.¢h1?! knights for a rook and pawn plus White must have been dreaming • our Tournament Director Joe ¹22.b3=. control of the 7th rank. of attacking motifs but instead Roback for all his hard work anada XIIIIIIIIY unnecessarily weakens his to ensure a smooth running 8-+-+rtrk+0 25.h3 a6 is better for White kingside. tournament. C 7zpp+q+-vlp0 but the two bishops offer good chances to resist. 31...£f6? I want to especially extend a Big 6-+-+l+p+0 Much stronger was the 5+-zpN+p+-0 Thank You to my Co-Organizer 25...¦xe7 26.¦xe7 ¥xc3 immediate 31...¦e3! 32.¦b8+ Paul Leblanc who worked ti re- 4-+P+-zP-+0 27.£e2? ¢g7 33.£a8 £f6 and White gets lessly to ensure that our fi rst- mated before he can play ♖h8, 3+-sNP+R+-0 ¹27.£e3 b6 28.¦xa7 ¥a5³. ever-in-BC’s Canadian Senior 2PzP-wQ-+PzP0 ♕f8. Championship was a success and hess 1+-+-tR-+K0 27...£f6!µ 28.¦xb7 ¦e8 enjoyable to all parti cipants. God

K2: Ketsup 32.g3 ¦e3 33.£g2 ¥e8 bless and unti l next year, when xabcdefghy C 106 we do it all again at the 2017 BC Senior Championship in Victoria, Joe Roback Another reason that it’s important to be a BC. Nati onal Arbiter Joe Roback tells us why he part of these tournaments is that it’s prett y thinks it is important to support and be part rare that we interact with people who are a - Victoria Jung-Doknjas of events like the BC Senior Championship, lot older or younger than ourselves. Direct- Co-Organizer of the 2016 Cana- and the Canadian Senior Championship: ing this tournament has allowed me to meet dian Senior Championship some of the most kind and sophisti cated photos “It was such a pleasure to direct the Cana- people, and really puts things in perspec- http://wordpress.cvining.com/ dian Senior Championship this year. A few ti ve. A memorable moment was meeti ng canadian-senior-2016/ years ago, I wouldn’t have thought that I Grand Master Duncan Sutt les who made an would have been organizing and tournament appearance in the opening ceremony. He is Nigel Hanrahan, said this: directi ng but I’m glad that I am. The last probably the most famous BC player ever three BC Senior Championships and recently and known the world over for his unortho- The event was very well organized.... the Canadian Senior last weekend are a lot dox style. Because he reti red decades ago, I It’s the fi rst tourney I can remember more personal and friendly than other tour- fi gure that there is no way that I would have with fresh fruit, granola bars, Bel- naments I’ve att ended. The players enjoy the met him otherwise.” gian chocolates, as well as the usual coﬀ ee, tea, etc. for the players... event so much that there must have been 12 2 The hotel had a quiet lobby with who donated beyond their entry fee. plenty of space for skitt les and anal- Trophy winners (and empty-handed TD) ysis. Very collegial. anada Ably directed by Joe Roback, NA.

C The event took place in Surrey, at the Comfort Inn overlooking the val- ley of the Serpenti ne River. On the clear days, driving back and forth to the site, the massive Koma Kulshan or White Senti nel/White Mountain [Mount Baker] could be seen, tower- ing in the distance, dominati ng the hess

K2: Ketsup sky, like a Rook guarding the back

C rank. Very picturesque. Across Canada by John Upper 107 Notes by GM Bator Samubev First surprise. I expected any 10.¥d3 Gatineau Open variation but this one. Frankly In blitz I would probably play Sambuev, Bator (2641) speaking I know practically ♗e2 without thinking. But after The 2016 Gati neau Open was a Hébert, Jean (2457) nothing about this line. I heard some thinking I came to the 5-round Swiss, once again played B32 people call it Kalashnikov but conclusion that I have only one at the Gati neau City Hall and Tournoi Ouvert de Gati neau (3), have no idea why. And I knew vulnerable point — c4 — and ably Organized by Marcel Laurin 05.03.2016 next several moves. now I can protect it with ♕e2 and and TD’ed by Regis Bellemare. simultaneously prevent ...b7–b5. Once again the top seeds were 1.e4 c5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.d4 cxd4 5.¤b5 d6 6.c4 ¥e7 7.¤1c3 the same, and (once again) GM 4.¤xd4 e5 This knight. The point is that Nevertheless, it's a very rare Bator Sambuev beat IM Jean XIIIIIIIIY second one goes to c2 via a3 move. I've found only 3 games Hébert to fi nish fi rst overall with 8r+lwqkvlntr0 to cover d4–square. And there in my database with this move 5/5. Hébert was clear second 7zpp+p+pzpp0 is absolutely nothing to do for a played. The most popular moves with 4/5. Our-of-town juniors 6-+n+-+-+0 knight on d2. are 10.b3 ¤f6 11.¥d3 0–0 12.0–0 Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux and ¤d7. On the other hand, I could Nicholas Vett ese ti ed with local 5+-+-zp-+-0 7...a6 8.¤a3 ¥e6 9.¤c2 ¦c8 play b2–b3 practically at any Alex Davies with 3.5. 4-+-sNP+-+0 The main line here is 9...¥g5 moment and transpose to the 3+-+-+-+-0 As I mentioned above, I am not main line. I have no idea whether

2 Chess Canada is proud to have 2PzPP+-zPPzP0 a specialist of this variation. All there is any difference or not. annotations from the tournament 1tRNvLQmKL+R0 what I can say: it's logical move. winner to the critical game of the xabcdefghy As well as the text move. 10...¤f6 11.0–0 0–0 12.£e2 tournament... XIIIIIIIIY ¤d7 13.b4N anada 8-+rwqk+ntr0 XIIIIIIIIY

C Host with the 7+p+-vlpzpp0 8-+rwq-trk+0 Most 6p+nzpl+-+0 7+p+nvlpzpp0 Marcel Lau- 6p+nzpl+-+0 rin not only 5+-+-zp-+-0 made the 4-+P+P+-+0 5+-+-zp-+-0 tournament, 3+-sN-+-+-0 4-zPP+P+-+0 he brought a 2PzPN+-zPPzP0 3+-sNL+-+-0 birthday pres- 1tR-vLQmKL+R0 2P+N+QzPPzP0 hess ent for Nicho- 1tR-vL-+RmK-0 K2: Ketsup xabcdefghy las Vett ese!

C xabcdefghy 108 And only this move is a Novelty. 18.¥d2 On the previous move I could There was one interesting transpose to the main line with maneuver: 18.£f2!? ¦c3 b2–b3. After ♕e2, b2–b3 looks (18...¤b6 19.¥b2) 19.£f3 and inconsistent. I thought that now in the case of 19...¤b6 Black's last move was made 20.¥b2 followed by ♕f2. with two ideas: ...♗g5 and ...♘c5. Thus I prevent ...♘c5 18...g6 and prepare ♗b2 in the case of I don't understand this move. ...♗g5. Black's only counterplay is tied with 18...¤b6 with a few ideas: 13...¥f6 ...♘xd5, ...♘c4 or ...♘a4. And First inaccuracy. Apparently, after only after 19.g4 will 19...g6 make the immediate 13...¤d4 14.¤xd4 sense. exd4 15.¤d5 ¤e5 position is equal. Maybe instead of 12.♕e2 19.£f3 White should simply play 12.b3. XIIIIIIIIY 8-+rwqr+k+0 14.¤d5 ¥xd5 15.cxd5 ¤d4

2 7+p+n+p+p0 16.¤xd4 exd4 17.f4 6p+-zp-vlp+0 This is the difference. Now my light-squared bishop is safe. 5+-+P+-+-0 anada 17...¦e8 4-zP-zpPzP-+0 XIIIIIIIIY 3+-+L+Q+-0 C 8-+rwqr+k+0 2P+-vL-+PzP0 7+p+n+pzpp0 1tR-+-+RmK-0 6p+-zp-vl-+0 xabcdefghy 5+-+P+-+-0 19...¥g7 4-zP-zpPzP-+0 Now on 19...¤b6 20.e5 looks 3+-+L+-+-0 very unpleasant. But probably it looks more dangerous than it is. hess 2P+-+Q+PzP0 For example: 20...dxe5 21.fxe5 K2: Ketsup 1tR-vL-+RmK-0

C xabcdefghy 109 ¥xe5 22.£xf7+ ¢h8 and Black then I found one idea where it the center. But, apparently, I take on f5 with the rook. has some ideas: ...♕d5, ...♕h4 proves to be that it's better to overestimated my position - it's etc. Apparently, the simple keep my king on g1. So, I didn't not so easy to find a way to 27.¦g2?! £h4 20.♖ac1 is stronger. find anything better than breakthrough. It looks like I lose control over the position. After 27...fxg4 28.¦xg4 20.¦ae1 21.¦e2 ¤b6 24.h3 (28.hxg4? ¥e5 29.f5 £g5 and 20.¦fc1 is still more logical: I wouldn't say "mistake" but a A consequence of my wrong it becomes double-edged.) White concentrates his forces on serious inaccuracy. Apparently, evaluation. If I had realized 28...¦f5 White is still better, but I the queenside. But when I see my opponent got same problem: that Black's position is pretty don't understand clearly how to a possible breakthrough in the how to improve the position? But solid, I would break through make any progress. center it's too tempting. I was ready for this move! immediately: 24.g4 fxg4 25.£xg4 ¤xd5 26.f5 with a decisive 28.£g3 20...£e7 22.e5! ¦f8 attack. But I was sure that my 28.¢h2 followed by ♕e2 was XIIIIIIIIY 22...dxe5 23.fxe5 ¥xe5 24.¦xe5 position wins itself: I have an stronger, but I said to myself: "No 8-+r+r+k+0 £xe5 25.£xf7+ ¢h8 26.¦e1! extra pawn and two bishops. As more tricks!" 7+p+nwqpvlp0 Now you can see why I didn't usual, I missed some tricks... 6p+-zp-+p+0 play ♔h1. 28...£xg3 29.¦xg3 fxg4 24...¤c4 25.g4 ¤xd2 Black could take later. 5+-+P+-+-0 23.e6 f5 26.¦xd2 2 4-zP-zpPzP-+0 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 30.hxg4 ¥f6 3+-+L+Q+-0 8-+r+-trk+0 8-+r+-trk+0 XIIIIIIIIY 2P+-vL-+PzP0 7+p+-wq-vlp0 7+p+-wq-vlp0 8-+-+-trk+0 anada 1+-+-tRRmK-0 6psn-zpP+p+0 6p+-zpP+p+0 7+p+-+-+p0 xabcdefghy C 5+-+P+p+-0 5+-+P+p+-0 6p+-zpPvlp+0 On 20...¤b6 21.b5!? is 4-zP-zp-zP-+0 4-zP-zp-zPP+0 5+-+P+-+-0 interesting. For example, 3+-+L+Q+-0 3+-+L+Q+P0 4-zP-zp-zPP+0 21...¤c4 22.¥xc4 ¦xc4 23.bxa6 2P+-vLR+PzP0 2P+-tR-+-+0 3+-trL+-tR-0 bxa6 24.f5 with initiative. 1+-+-+RmK-0 1+-+-+RmK-0 2P+-+-+-+0 Here I realized that it's not easy xabcdefghy xabcdefghy 1+-+-+RmK-0 to improve the position. The first Finally I get something real — 26...¦c3 xabcdefghy hess candidate move is 21.♔h1. But a protected passed pawn in First surprise: now Black can 31.¦h3 K2: Ketsup C XIIIIIIIIY 110 Prophylaxis. Now in the case of 8-+-+-tr-+0 37.¦f7+ ¢e8 38.¦hh7 This appeared in the Tactics post ...♖a3 I have ♖f2 without allowing It's over. on the CFC Newsfeed: ...♗h4. 7+p+-vl-mk-0 http://chess.ca/newsfeed/node/793 6p+-zpP+pzp0 38...¥d8 39.¦xb7 ¦e3 31...¢g7 32.¢g2 h6 5+-+P+-+-0 40.¦b8 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 I can't criticize my opponent 4.¥d3 4-zP-zp-zPP+0 XIIIIIIIIY for this move, because it takes 3+-trL+-+R0 1–0 some time to find following 8rsnlwqkvlntr0 2P+-+-+K+0 combination, even for my 7zpp+-zppzpp0 1+-+-+-+R0 computer. Sambuev, Bator (2641) 6-+-+-+-+0 xabcdefghy Rodrigue-Lemieux, 5+-+p+-+-0 33.¦fh1 ¥e7 34.¦xh6! ¦xd3 35.g5! Shawn (2069) 4-+-zP-+-+0 This is the whole point! 35.¦h7+ B13 ¢f6 leads to a draw. 3+-+L+-+-0 HDR Panorama: 15 pix in 1 Gati neau Open (5), 06.03.2016 2PzPP+-zPPzP0 Notes by John Upper Absurdly complicated and not 35...¦g8 36.¦h7+ ¢f8 1tRNvLQmK-sNR0 worth the eﬀ ort... xabcdefghy 111 4...e6?! ♗d7, but that doesn't seem to White is preparing ♕d3–h7, two pawns for the piece but no This leaves the ♗c8 shut in. The equalize: driving the Black ♔ into the attack, as there's no good ♖ lift, main line goes: 4...¤c6 5.c3 ¤f6 15...¥b5 16.¥c2 declines the center. What should Black do? and Black can kick out the ♕ 6.¥f4 ¥g4 7.£b3 when Black trade, but concedes the diagonal. with ...♘g4 and ...♖g7. has several reasonable moves: 15...¥a4 16.£h5!? (16.¥c2 20...¥e7?! ...♕d7, ...♕c8, ...♘h5!? and is less energetic, but OK.) ¹20...¥e5! Frees f6 for the ♘ 21.£d3 ¤f6 ...♘a5. 16...¥xb3 17.axb3 £xb3 18.¥f4± and recycles the ♗ to d6 with a 21...¦f6 22.£h7+ ¢f8 (22...¢f7 threatening ♗xh6. tempo gain on h2. 23.¥d4+–) 23.¥g6 (23.¥d4 ¥d6 5.¤f3 ¥d6 6.0–0 ¤f6 7.¦e1 White has pressure on 24.g3 e5) 23...¥d6 24.h4± or 0–0 8.c3 ¤c6 9.¥g5 ¥d7 16.a4 ¦c8 17.¥f4 Black's center pawns, but by ♔h1!?. 10.¤bd2 h6 11.¥h4 ¥e7 White is going to play ♗e3, which forcing a pawn move in front 12.¤e5 ¤xe5 13.dxe5 ¤e8 forces the Black ♕ to give up its of the White ♔ (with g3! or h3) 22.¥xh6! attack on the ♘b3, and so frees Black stops attacking options 14.¥g3 £b6 15.¤b3 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY the White ♕ to attack Black's with ♖ lifts along the third rank 8-+r+-trk+0 kingside. and creates some weaknesses 7+pwqlvl-zp-0 8r+-+ntrk+0 in White's Kingside. 7zpp+lvlpzp-0 17...f5 18.exf6 ¥xf6 6-+-+psn-vL0 5zp-+p+-+-0 6-wq-+p+-zp0 18...¤xf6 19.h3 and White's a) 21.h3 ¥h2+ 22.¢h1 ¥f4²; 5+-+pzP-+-0 minor pieces get to use the 4P+-+-+-+0 2 4-+-+-+-+0 central dark squares now that his b) 21.£d3? It's complex, but 3+NzPQ+-+-0 3+NzPL+-vL-0 pawns are no longer on them. White gives up the advantage 2-zPL+-zPPzP0 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 by letting Black take on h2: 1tR-+-tR-mK-0 anada 19.¥e3 £c7 20.¥c2 1tR-+QtR-mK-0 21...¥xh2+ 22.¢h1 ¤f6 23.g3 xabcdefghy XIIIIIIIIY (23.¥xh6 ¥f4÷) 23...¥xg3

C xabcdefghy 22...¤e4 8-+r+ntrk+0 24.fxg3 £xg3=; White has a space advantage, 7+pwql+-zp-0 22...¤g4 attacking h2 and h6 is the d4 outpost, a weakened b1– too slow: 23.£h7+ ¢f7 24.£g6+ 6-+-+pvl-zp0 c) 21.£h5?! ¤f6 22.£h4 h7 diagonal to attack the Black ¢g8 25.£xg7#; (22.£g6? ¥e8µ) 22...¥d6 Black's King, and no weaknesses for 5zp-+p+-+-0 ♗d6 (rather than ♗e7) leaves him Black to target. 4P+-+-+-+0 22...gxh6 gets mated to a classic 3+NzP-vL-+-0 much better coordinated than in pattern: 23.£g6+ ¢h8 24.£xh6+ the game. Importantly, 23.¥xh6? 15...a5 ¢g8 25.£g6+ ¢h8 26.¦e3 e5 hess 2-zPL+-zPPzP0 is now just bad: (¹23.¤d4²) 23... Stopping ♖h3, but after 27.¦g3 K2: Ketsup Black would like to trade his bad 1tR-+QtR-mK-0 gxh6 24.£xh6 ¦f7µ White has

C xabcdefghy 112 there's no defence to both ♕g7 and e7. 25...gxh6 26.¤xf5 White 29.¦xd7+– White will be up three Notes by Mike Ivanov and ♕h6; will be up two pawns with a huge pawns in an endgame. Ivanov, Mike (2363) attack. Southam, David (2148) 22...e5 23.£g6 ¦f7 24.¥e3± XIIIIIIIIY 27.£g4 £e5 28.¥xf5 C18 White is up a pawn for free, and 8-+r+-+k+0 28.¤xe6! keeps the attack going, 2016 Toronto Closed, 17.05.2016 Black's ♔ is still not safe; for 7+p+lvl-zp-0 but White cashes in. example, 24...d4 25.¤xd4! exd4 6-+-wqp+-vL0 Going into the last round of the 26.¥xd4 White isn't down any 28...exf5 29.¤xf5 ¦f8 material and Black's exposed 5zp-+-+r+-0 Toronto Closed Championship, 30.¤xe7+ £xe7 31.¥e3 the situation was as follows. ♔ leaves him open to too many 4P+-sNQ+-+0 ¦e8 32.¦d4 £f7 33.h4 b5 tactics, including ♖xe7 then ♗xf6. 3+-zP-+-+-0 I was tied for first with Victor 34.axb5 ¥xb5 35.£g5 ¥c6 Plotkin 4.5 points apiece, with 2-zPL+-zPPzP0 36.£xa5 23.¦xe4! Mark Plotkin and others on our 1tR-+-+-mK-0 heels. If Victor won as he was 23.f3 is good, but not as forcing. xabcdefghy 1–0 the favourite to do, I'd need a 26.¦d1 full point to catch up and win 23...dxe4 24.£xe4+– on better tiebreaks. If both of us White already has two pawns for White has many winning moves, but chooses to "invite drew, then Mark would catch the exchange, 2016 Toronto up and anything could happen. and Black's ♔ everyone to the

2 A loss on my part would be and remaining party" as GM Yasser Closed Seriawan says. horrific, winning nothing after center pawn a great start to the event. are weak. The Toronto Closed was an 26.¥b3 ¦e5 27.£g4 Aggressive play was called for, anada 8-player RR held at the Annex with the usual Winawer sidelines ¥f6 28.¥f4+–. Chess Club at a rate of one 24...¦f5 being tossed into the can in

C Even the nutty- game per week. It ended in May Blocking the favour of the sharp main lines. looking 26.g4!? is with Mike Ivanov and FM Victor diagonal is A wild game ensued, with the good enough to win Plotkin tied for first with 5.5/7. Black's best advantage switching sides many 26...gxh6 27.gxf5 Mark Plotkin was 3rd, defeating hope; 24...¦f6 times over. 25.£h7+ ¢f7 exf5 28.£xb7+–. Ivanov in their head-to-head 26.¥xg7+–. game, but losing to his dad. Mike 26...¥c6 Ivanov annotates his go-for- 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.¤c3 ¥b4 25.¤d4 £d6 26...gxh6 27.¤xf5 broke last-round game, 4.e5 c5 5.a3 ¥xc3+ 6.bxc3 hess Defending e6 exf5 28.¦xd6 fxe4 K2: Ketsup C XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 113 8rsnlwqk+ntr0 8rsnl+k+ntr0 Queen, but one that shouldn't 10.¥b5+ ¢f8 11.£g6 (11.£h4 work so well with the inclusion cxd4 12.¤e2 a6 13.¥d3 dxc3 7zpp+-+pzpp0 7zp-wq-+-zp-0 of h5 and ...h6, as the g6 square 14.a4=) 11...£f7; 6-+-+p+-+0 6-zp-+p+-zp0 is fatally weakened. It does 5+-zppzP-+-0 5+-zppzPp+P0 give White a choice of tempting 10.exf6 ¤xf6 11.¥b5+ ¢f8 4-+-zP-+-+0 4-+-zP-+Q+0 variations however, which is a 12.£f4 (12.£f3 c4 (12...e5 editor) 3zP-zP-+-+-0 3zP-zP-+-+-0 strategy in itself... ) 12...£xf4 13.¥xf4 c4 14.¥d6+ 2-+P+-zPPzP0 2-+P+-zPP+0 ¢g8 15.¤f3 a6 16.¥xb8 ¦xb8 10.£g6+ 17.¥c6 ¢h7 18.¤e5 ¦d8; 1tR-vLQmKLsNR0 1tR-vL-mKLsNR0 Losing much of the advantage, xabcdefghy xabcdefghy here is what could have 10.£g3 ¥a6 11.¥xa6 ¤xa6 First time ever playing mainline A common idea in these lines to happened instead: 12.¤e2 £f7 13.a4 ¤e7 14.£d3 Winawer for White, which is what defend the g7 pawn with the c7 c4 15.£e3 ¤b8 16.¥a3 ¤bc6 happens when you look enough 17.¤f4 0–0 In all variations ♗b5 at these depressing positions is very tempting as it forces from the Black side...... ♔f8, yet although the king doesn't castle the ♗b5 runs into 6...£c7 7.h4 ...c4! with nowhere for him to Trying to provoke weaknesses run back. Although the bishop 2 on the dark squares. isn't actually trapped and always finds a way to survive, to go into those variations would require an 7...b6 engine's sense of courage. anada A positional approach in contrast to ...♘e7 which leads to more C forcing variations with Black 10...£f7 11.£g3 ¥a6 12.c4!? often castling queenside. White wants to avoid the trade of light-square bishops, even with a pseudo-pawn sacrifice if 8.h5 h6 9.£g4 f5!? needed.

When your name is Misha, 12.¥xa6 ¤xa6 13.a4 ¤e7 was you play the semi-sound sac. the more logical approach but hess Misha Ivanov at the 2016 Ca- led to easy play for Black which I K2: Ketsup nadian University Championship at C Queen’s in Kingston. XIIIIIIIIY 114 was trying to avoid. on g6 which calls for ♘f3–h4–g6. 8r+-+-trk+0 leaving White to suffer in a semi- 7zp-snn+-wq-0 salvageable endgame. 12...¤e7 Surprisingly ♘f3! Gives a Not falling for traps like 12...dxc4 decisive advantage to White, 6l+-+p+-wQ0 26...¥b7 13.£f3 :) since Black has to give up a 5+-zp-zP-+P0 XIIIIIIIIY editor - This is a trap for the pawn just to castle: 16.¤f3! ¤d7 4-+P+-zp-+0 8r+-tr-snk+0 White ♕: 13...¤e7! 14.£xa8 17.¤h4 0–0 18.¥xh6 f4 19.£g5+– 3zP-+L+N+-0 7zplsn-+-+-0 ¤ec6! and ...♗b7. . 2-+-+-zPP+0 6-+-+p+P+0 1+R+-mK-+R0 13.cxd5 ¤xd5 14.c4 ¤c7? 16...¤d7 17.¦b1 0–0 18.¥xh6 5+-zp-zP-sN-0 Seems like a strange alternative f4 19.£g5 ¢h8! xabcdefghy 4-+P+-zp-+0 to ...♘e7. Although the knight XIIIIIIIIY It turns out the queens are 3zP-+L+-+-0 protects the rook on a8, he's 8r+-+-tr-mk0 traded by force, leaving White 2-+-+-zPP+0 limited in scope and remains a 7zp-snn+qzp-0 wondering where his attack 1+-+RmK-+R0 went. Surprisingly, despite problem for the rest of the game. 6l+-+p+-vL0 being down material and having xabcdefghy 5+-zp-zP-wQP0 15.dxc5 bxc5 doubled g-pawns, White retains 27.¢e2 XIIIIIIIIY 4-+P+-zp-+0 dynamic equality due to the I saw that ♘h7 should lead to 3zP-+-+-+-0 h-file and the awkwardness of perpetual check in most lines, 2 8rsn-+k+-tr0 7zp-sn-+qzp-0 2-+-+-zPP+0 the black pieces. but by this point Victor had 1+R+-mKLsNR0 already won his game leaving 6l+-+p+-zp0 23.£g6 £xg6 24.hxg6 ¦fd8 me with the task of winning

anada xabcdefghy 5+-zp-zPp+P0 25.¦d1 ¤f8 this “promising“ position. 4-+P+-+-+0 Seeing this position in advance, 25...¥b7!? Here are the draws that could C 3zP-+-+-wQ-0 I couldn't believe that Black can have happened: 27.¤h7 ¥xg2 (27...¤xh7 28.¦xh7 ¦ac8 29.f3 survive after losing his g and 26.¤g5 2-+-+-zPP+0 h-pawns, even if for a bishop. ¥c6 30.¢e2 ¦d7 31.¦h4 ¦cd8 At this point White has to create 1tR-vL-mKLsNR0 32.¦dh1 ¦xd3 33.¦h8+ ¢g7 immediate threats of perpetual xabcdefghy 34.¦1h7+ ¢xg6 35.¦h6+ ¢f5 20.¥d3 gxh6 21.£xh6+ ¢g8 or the knight coming to d6/f6 36.¦h5+ ¢g6 37.¦5h6+ ¢f5=) 16.¥e3? 22.¤f3 if the game is to continue. The 28.¤f6+ ¢g7 29.¤h5+ ¢g8 Although it's a seemingly natural 22.¦h4 ¤xe5. last few moves have already 30.¤f6+ ¢g7=. hess move attacking the weakness on been too slow and Black should

K2: Ketsup c5, the real weakness is actually 22...£g7 consolidate with proper play, C XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY115 27...¥xg2? though the bishop seems 8r+-tr-snk+0 A brave decision but one which 8r+-tr-snk+0 trapped on g2, he would control is unnecessarily risky and 7zp-sn-+-+-0 key squares (h1) and allow many 7zp-sn-+-zP-0 allows White more play than 6-+-+p+P+0 ways to calm down the position 6-+l+p+-+0 he deserves. The logical ...♖d7 5+-zp-zP-sN-0 with the bishop coming out later. 5+-zp-zP-sN-0 would keep a slight edge for 4-+P+-zp-+0 For example: 28...f3+! 29.¢e3 4-+P+-+-+0 Black. 3zP-+L+-+-0 ¢g7 30.¤e4 ¦ab8 31.¤xc5 ¦b6 3zP-+LmKp+-0 32.a4 ¤xg6µ. 2-+-+-zP-tR0 28.¦h2? 2-+-+KzPltR0 A mistake, but one that was 1+-+R+-+-0 29.g7! 1+-+R+-+-0 rewarded by Black's next xabcdefghy After this, White creates enough xabcdefghy blunder. The surprising 28.g7! 28...¥c6? problems that Black has to 30...¦xd3+ would be enough for equality, Leaving White with all the play, choose from many dangerous- 30...¤g6 31.¦g1+–; but not more: 28.g7! f3+ 29.¤xf3 with equality plus initiative after looking variations. To his credit, 30...¤d7 31.¦g1 ¤xe5 32.¥h7+ ¥xf3+ 30.¢xf3 ¢xg7 31.¦dg1+ g7. For this reason, the black David chooses the safest of the ¢xg7 33.¤xe6+ ¢f6 34.¦h6+ ¢f7 32.¥g6+ ¤xg6 33.¦h7+ king should probably have bunch, but the resulting knights ¢e7 35.¦g7+ ¤f7 36.¤xc7+–; ¢f8 34.¦xg6 ¤e8 35.¦xe6 moved to g7 at some point to vs. Rook/pawn is still slightly 30...¢xg7 31.¦g1 ¤e8 ¦d4 36.¦eh6 is just enough for stop any play. However the more pleasant to play with White. 32.¤xe6+ ¢f7 33.¤xf8 ¢xf8 equality, although Black can eccentric 28...f3! would have 34.¦h8+ ¢e7 35.¦h7+ ¢f8 2 press. given Black a big edge. Even 29...f3+ 30.¢e3 36.¦g6 ¦ab8 37.e6+– So it does look like ¦xd3 is the way to go for Black. anada C hess K2: Ketsup C XIIIIIIIIY 116 31.¦xd3 ¢xg7 32.¦d1! 8-+-trnsn-+0 42.¦h2 2016 Maritime XIIIIIIIIY 7zp-+-mk-+-0 The wrong way to go, since the 8r+-+-sn-+0 a7 pawn should be captured Open 6-+-+p+-+0 as soon as possible in order 7zp-sn-+-mk-0 5+-zp-zP-+-0 6-+l+p+-+0 to distract the knights with the Twenty-four players came out to 4-+P+K+-+0 a-pawn. However, David was the Mariti me Open Champion- 5+-zp-zP-sN-0 3zP-+-+-+-0 playing on increment at this point ship in Charlott etown. 4-+P+-+-+0 2-+-+-zPR+0 and the allure of mating tricks 3zP-+-mKp+-0 1+-+-+-tR-0 and tactics proved too much. FM Robert Hamilton (Freder- 2-+-+-zP-tR0 icton) captured 1st place with a xabcdefghy 42...¢d8 43.¦h7 ¦d4 round to spare, scoring 5.5 out 1+-+R+-+-0 th xabcdefghy Logical play from both sides led 44.¦xa7 of 6. This is his 4 ti me as Cham- to this endgame, which should At this point my opponent pion, his previous ti tle was... 30 Renewing the threats on the g still be drawn with best play, but resigned (??). Miracles do years ago!! I don’t know if he’s and h-files since Black's clumsy Black still has ways to go before happen and the mating tricks even played more than once minors have trouble holding their the knight can come to suitable paid off as David truly believed since then, welcome back! Rob- ground. outposts. Until then, White can there was nothing Black could ert joins three others as a four- attack Black's weak pawns and do against ♖a8 and the multiple ti me champion and can try 32...¥e8 33.¦g1 ¥g6 cause problems for the black mate/skewer threats. for the record in Saint John at 2 34.¤xf3 ¤e8 35.¦hg2 ¢f7 king. But after 44.¦xa7 ¤b6! Thanksgiving, 2017. 36.¤g5+ ¢e7 37.¤e4 would continue the game with all Tied for second were Joe White prefers to go into two 39.¦b1 ¦d4+ 40.¢e3 ¦xc4 three results still on the table and Horton (Fredericton), Jason Man- anada rooks + pawn vs. Rook and 41.¦b7+ ¤d7 us both playing on increment. ley (Moncton), Richard Bowes two knights rather than allow XIIIIIIIIY In this way I was gifted the title (Hampton, NB), Bill Bogle (Saint C the three black minors+rook 8-+-+n+-+0 of Toronto Closed Champion, John), Roger Patt erson (Victo- to coordinate and gang up on 7zpR+nmk-+-0 since tiebreaks vs. Victor were ria, BC), and Kevin Bu (Charlott e- White's knight and two rooks. 6-+-+p+-+0 in my favour because of more town). Kevin took home the Top 5+-zp-zP-+-0 decisive games. It wasn't the U2000 prize. The other secti ons 37...¥xe4 38.¢xe4 ¦d8 cleanest game by any standard, all had shared winners: 4-+r+-+-+0 but sometimes Caissa favours • Top U1800 were Ken Cash- 3zP-+-mK-+-0 those who favour semi-correct in (Halifax), George Hensel 2-+-+-zPR+0 sacrifices. (Fredericton), and Tony Wu. hess • Top U1600 were Trevor Pardy K2: Ketsup 1+-+-+-+-0 1–0

C xabcdefghy 117 (Fredericton) and Arnab Kun- 1.d4 ¤f6 2.¤f3 g6 3.g3 ¥g7 Since Botvinnik wrote that in the (2605) Denmark, 1983 (0–1, 50). du (Charlott etown). 4.¥g2 0–0 5.0–0 d6 6.c4 c6 late 1950s, top GMs have tried other, less obvious moves: • Top U1400 were John Ma- 7.¤c3 ¥f5 9.b3 cLean (Halifax) and An Vo XIIIIIIIIY 9.d5 cxd5 10.cxd5 ¥d7 11.¥e3 (Charlott etown) 8rsn-wq-trk+0 8.b3!? ¤e4 9.¥b2 ¤xc3 10.¥xc3 ¤a6 12.¥d4: Analysis Diagram ¥e4 11.¦c1 ¤d7 12.e3 e6 XIIIIIIIIY report courtesy Fred McKim 7zpp+-zppvlp0 13.£e2 d5 14.¥h3 ¥xf3 15.£xf3 8r+-wq-trk+0 6-+pzp-snp+0 and White has the Bishop pair, 7zpp+lzppvlp0 The following game fi rst ap- 5+-+-+l+-0 but Black is as solid as a rock; 6n+-zp-snp+0 peared on the CFC Newsfeed: 4-+PzP-+-+0 Matlakov,M (2693)-Berkes,F http://chess.ca/newsfeed/node/881 (2636) Gjakova, 2016 (½–½, 40). 5+-+P+-+-0 3+-sN-+NzP-0 4-+-vL-+-sN0 Bleau, John (1938) 2PzP-+PzPLzP0 8.£b3!? £b6 (8...£c8 9.¦e1 3+-sN-+-zP-0 Hamilton, Robert (2232) 1tR-vLQ+RmK-0 ¤e4? 10.¤h4! (1–0, 29) 2PzP-+PzPLzP0 E62 xabcdefghy Fressinet,L (2718)-Czebe,A (2479) Bastia, 2010.) 9.¦e1 1tR-+Q+RmK-0 Mariti me Open (4), 01.08.2016 Botvinnik engraves: xabcdefghy Notes by John Upper "More common is ...♕a5 or ¤a6 (9...¤e4? 10.¤h4!) 10.h3 ...a6, immediately preparing £xb3 11.axb3 ¤b4 12.¦a4 a5 12...£a5 13.¦e1 ¤c5 14.e4 ¤a4 Robert “showed” me this game the counterblow ...b7–b5. 13.e4÷ Jumabayev,R (2618)- 15.¤xa4 £xa4 16.b3 £a3 17.f4² 2 over the phone. I like it because Continuations such as that Utegaliev,A (2485) Almaty, 2016. Botvinnik,M-Smyslov,V WCh g9, at move 15 White looks totally chosen by Black in the game Moscow, 1957 (½–½, 40). safe and even a bit bett er, but have only one point: the 8...¥e6 anada only 7 moves later he resigns opponent may turn out to be 8...¥d7 9.e4 e5 10.d5 cxd5 12...¤c7!? 13.a4 (13.e4 b5!) with a hopeless positi on despite insufficiently prepared for them. 11.¤xd5 ¤xd5 12.£xd5 ¥c6 13...e5 14.dxe6 ¤xe6 15.¤f3

C not making any obvious blun- Since White should not allow the 13.£d2 ¥f6 14.¦d1! A funny ¥c6 16.h3 ¦e8 17.e3 £d7 ders. I annotated it for the CFC knight jump ...♘f6–e4, and the mirror of the Spassky-Fischer 18.¢h2 b6 19.b4 ¦ac8 20.¦c1 Newsfeed with the ti tle “Master moves 8.♘d2 or 8.♘e1 have a game where Fischer let Spassky ½–½ Dautov,R (2601)-Baklan,V vs Amateur” because it’s such a less forcing character, White's mangle his kingside with (2636) Magdeburg, 2014. clear example of how a Master next move is fairly obvious." ♗x♘h5, and went on to score can see positi onal threats long Botvinnik-Smyslov his first win. 14...¤d7 15.£xd6 9...d5 10.cxd5 ¤xd5 before an Amateur does. I cer- (New in Chess, 2009). ¥xh4 16.gxh4 £xh4 17.¦d3 a5 10...cxd5 is not the way a tainly didn’t see it building... (17...¦fd8! 18.¦h3 ¤b6µ) 18.¦g3 higher-rated player can create hess 8.¤h4 £f6÷ Sloth,J (2380)-Spassky, B winning chances needed in a K2: Ketsup C 118 weekend Swiss. 13...£b6 15...¥xd4? is a recurring motif, 16...¥e6 13...£d6 14.£d2 ¦d8 15.¦ad1 but is too early here: 16.¥xd4 XIIIIIIIIY 11.¤xd5 ¥xd5 12.e4 ¥e6 ¥g4 16.f3 ¥e6 17.¦f2 (17.¥c3 c5 17.¥xc5 ¦xd2 18.¥xb6 ¦xd1 8rsn-tr-+k+0 XIIIIIIIIY ¥xd4+ 18.£xd4); 19.¦xd1 axb6 20.¦d8+ ¢g7 and 7zpp+-zppvlp0 8rsn-wq-trk+0 13...c5 14.e5 ¥d5 15.dxc5 ¥xg2 Black's ♖ and ♘ can't get out, 6-wqp+l+p+0 7zpp+-zppvlp0 16.¤xg2 £c7 17.¦c1 ¥xe5 though it's worth working out the 18.¥xe5 £xe5 19.¦e1 with a whole line after 21.♘f3 ♖xa2. 5+-+-+-+-0 6-+p+l+p+0 nice development advantage and 4-+-zPP+-sN0 5+-+-+-+-0 queenside majority for White. 16.f3 3+P+-+PzP-0 4-+-zPP+-sN0 16.¤f3 e5!? Not Black's only 2PvL-wQ-+LzP0 3+P+-+-zP-0 14.£d2 ¦d8 15.¦ad1 move, but good and complicated. 1+-+R+RmK-0 XIIIIIIIIY 17.d5 cxd5 18.exd5 e4: 2P+-+-zPLzP0 xabcdefghy 8rsn-tr-+k+0 Analysis Diagram 1tR-vLQ+RmK-0 XIIIIIIIIY 17.¥c3 xabcdefghy 7zpp+-zppvlp0 6-wqp+l+p+0 8rsn-tr-+k+0 17.£f2 breaks both the diagonal 13.¥b2 7zpp+-+pvlp0 the file pins on the d4–pawn and Natural, but maybe not best. 5+-+-+-+-0 threatens f3–f4–f5 now that ...♗g4 4-+-zPP+-sN0 6-wq-+-+p+0 can be met by ♖d2. 17...£a5 13.¥e3! c5?! would be the move 3+P+-+-zP-0 5+-+P+-+-0 requires a bold response from 2 that might scare someone from 2PvL-wQ-zPLzP0 4-+-+p+l+0 White: 18.d5 (18.¥a1 g5!) 18... playing ♗e3, and forces both 3+P+-+NzP-0 cxd5 19.¥xg7 ¢xg7 20.f4! dxe4 1+-+R+RmK-0 21.b4! £c7 22.f5! with a strong players to calculate exchange xabcdefghy 2PvL-wQ-zPLzP0 anada sacs; but White can keep an 1+-+R+RmK-0 initiative for White. edge with dynamic play: 14.d5! White is definitely a little better, xabcdefghy C (14.e5 gives Black a promising with the extra space provided by 17.f4 threatens f4–f5, but after exchange sac: 14...cxd4! his nice center. But Black is solid, 19.¥xg7 exf3? (19...¢xg7!³) 17...¥g4 18.¥f3! (18.¤f3 ¥xd4+ 15.¥xb7?! dxe3 16.£xd8 ¦xd8 with no particular weaknesses. 20.¥d4 fxg2 21.¥xb6 gxf1£+ 19.¥xd4 c5 20.¥xc5 £xc5+ 17.¥xa8 ¤d7 18.¥e4 ¥xe5³) 22.¦xf1 axb6 23.£g5+– the fork 21.£f2 £xf2+ 22.¢xf2 ¤c6 14...¥xa1 15.£xa1 ¥g4 16.¥h6± 15...¥g4N wins a piece and the game. White still has more space, White gets the exchange back Probing, and giving White a but with so few pieces it's no with more space and a lead difficult choice between very 19.¤e5! ¥xd1 20.¦xd1÷ advantage.) 18...¥h3 19.¦f2! in development and few good different middlegames. with a complicated mess that (19.¥g2 ¥g4 20.¥f3= shows how hess squares for Black's minors. computers evaluate as 0.00. hard it can be to play for a win K2: Ketsup C 119 as Black.) 19...¥xd4 20.¥xd4 c5 18...a4‚ 19...¤a6! 21...¤b5 21.¥xc5 ¦xd2 22.¥xb6 ¦xd1+ XIIIIIIIIY 19...¥c4! is also strong, 20.¦fe1 XIIIIIIIIY 23.¥xd1 axb6 24.¦d2² White 8rsn-tr-+k+0 e5!µ; 8r+-tr-+k+0 has better development and 7+p+-zppvlp0 19...a3 mechanically isolating 7+p+-zppvlp0 structure. 6-wqp+l+p+0 the b4–pawn is reasonable, but 6-wqp+l+p+0 not as strong as the game line. 17...a5! 5+-+-+-+-0 5+n+-+-+-0 Activating the ♖a8 without 4p+-zPP+-sN0 20.£b2 4pzP-zPP+-sN0 developing the ♘. Note that 3+PvL-+PzP-0 20.a3 ¥b3 and Black wins the 3+-vL-+PzP-0 ...♘d7 not only releases 2P+-wQ-+LzP0 exchange or the d4–pawn. 2PwQ-tR-+LzP0 pressure on d4, it gets skewered 1+-+R+R+K0 1+-+-+R+K0 by ♗a5. xabcdefghy 20.b5?! creates complications, xabcdefghy but the tactics don't help White, 17...¥xd4+ is possible, but Suddenly White's position is who is playing without his ♘a4 Attacks the d4–pawn and pins it simplifies to equality after: creaking, with weak pawns on d4 and ♗g2: to the ♗c3. 18.¥xd4 (18.¢h1 ¦d7!÷ and b3. 20...£xb5 21.¦b1 £c4 22.¦xb7 defending the ♖ and side- £xa2 23.£xa2 ¥xa2 24.¦xe7 22.¦fd1 ¥xa2! stepping the skewer on ♗a5.) 19.b4? ¥xd4–+. Wins a pawn and renews the 18...c5 19.¥xc5 £xc5+ 20.£f2=. Compare the activity of the 20...¤c7! is the simplest: threat of ...♗b3. 2 Bishops. 21.bxc6 bxc6 and the black ♘ 18.¢h1 comes to b5. 0–1 18.f4 ¥g4 19.¤f3 ¥xd4+ ¹19.f4 axb3 20.axb3 (20.f5? anada 20.¥xd4 c5 21.¥xc5 £xc5+ ¥c4–+) 20...£xb3 (20...¥xb3?! 20...¤c7!–+ 21.¦d2 22.£f2 £xf2+ 23.¢xf2 ¤c6=. 21.¦b1) 21.¦b1=. 21.a3 ¤b5 and White can resign. C hess K2: Ketsup C