July Knockout-Swiss Tournament 2018

Report 3

The 2018 Knockout & Swiss tournament is coming to its end. Next week in the final knockout match Nelson Casta˜neda(white) and Suhas Kodali (black) will play for the championship title. The Swiss part of the tour- nament has five players tied for first with two points each. They are Joe Bihlmeyer, Andrew Colwell, Mario Guevara - Rodriguez, Dennis Himes, and Jithu Sajeevan. The results of the Swiss part of the tournament were the following

White Result Black Joe Bihlmeyer 1 – 0 FM Rick Bauer Gert Hilhorst 1/2 – 1/2 Harold Blanchard John Twombley 0 – 1 Mario Guevara - Rodriguez Dennis Himes 1 – 0 Kevin Zimmerman Jithu Sajeevan 1 – 0 Elizabeth Smith Joe Mansigian 1/2 – 1/2 Laurent Lafosse Norman Aldrich 1 – 0 Parthiv Malipeddu Chris Hoffman 0 – 1 Yogahari Jegadeeswaran Bill Campbel 0 Bye

In the knockout part the results of the two semifinals were the following

White Result Black Andrew Colwell 0 – 1 Nelson Casta˜neda Suhas Kodali 1 – 0 David Herscovici

1 The parings for the fourth round of the Swiss tournament are

White Result Black Mario Guevara - Rodriguez Joe Bihlmeyer Andrew Colwell Dennis Himes FM Rick Bauer Jithu Sajeevan Harold Blanchard David Herscovici Norman Aldrich Gert Hilhorst Elizabeth Smith Joe Mansigian Kevin Zimmerman Yogahari Jegadeeswaran Laurent Lafosse John Twombley Parthiv Malipeddu Bill Campbel Chris Hoffman 0 Bye

The standings in the Swiss tournament are Player Points Joe Bihlmeyer 2 Andrew Colwell 2 Mario Guevara - Rodriguez 2 Dennis Himes 2 Jithu Sajeevan 2 Rick Bauer 1.5 David Herscovici 1.5 Gert Hilhorst 1.5 Harold Bachard 1.5 Aldrich 1.5 Joseph Mansigian 1 Kevin Zimmerman 1 John Twombley 1 Laurent Lafosse 1 Elizabeth Smith 1 Yogahari Jegadeeswaran 1 Bill Campbell 0.5 Chris Hoffman 0 Parthiv Malipeddu 0

2 Here are some games from round 3. I used Fritz 13 to help me evaluate the positions and also comments I heard from the players after the games. The game Suhas Kodali vs. David Herscovici includes comments provided by David.

 Colwell, Andrew (1995) July Knockout Swiss 2018  Castaneda, Nelson (2356) Nimzo – Indian – E44

center of white attacking it with e6 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 and c6. 4. e3 0–0 5. Nge2 b6 6. a3 Be7 7. d5 d6 8. Ng3 c6 9. e4 Re8 rmbl0skZ 10. Be2 a6 11. 0–0 Qc7 12. Be3 o0opapop 0o0Zpm0Z Z0Z0Z0Z0 0ZPO0Z0Z rmbZrZkZ O0M0O0Z0 Z0l0apop 0O0ZNOPO popopm0Z S0AQJBZR Z0ZPZ0Z0 0ZPZPZ0Z In the variation of the Nimzo - In- O0M0A0M0 0O0ZBOPO dian played here white has devel- S0ZQZRJ0 oped the -side to e2 to be able to recapture with this knight on c3 in case black responds 6. ... Bxc3. So white would like to have the pair of bishops without damag- My move 10... a6 does not seem to ing the structure. However, it be that good according to Fritz 13. is not clear that the pair of bishops I was aiming to get a pawn struc- is an advantage because the struc- ture alike the one from the Benoni ture of pawns in the center is yet to defence capturing e x d5 at some be determined. The move I played point and playing g6. I wanted to 6.... Be7 is a common alternative have the on c7 and a6 was to to the in c3. The fight in avoid jumps of the knight to b5. the middle game is about the center. With his next move Andrew aims 12. . . Nbd7 13. Rc1 Bf8 14. f3 for some space advantage with d5. e×d5 15. c×d5 c5 16. b4 g6 Black first plan is to undermine the 17. b×c5 b×c5

3 rZbZrakZ the execution. After the game An- Z0lnZpZp drew told me that he was worried pZ0o0mpZ about the knight on b2 being in Z0oPZ0Z0 danger. It turns out that he was 0Z0ZPZ0Z O0M0APM0 right but we both missed the tac- 0Z0ZBZPO tics that the computer immediately Z0SQZRJ0 shows 22....Nxd5 The point is that after 23. exd5 then black can take on e3 23....Rxe3. I dismissed 22.... Instead of 13. Rc1 it was better to Nxd5 on the grounds that the queen play 13. dxe6. Then white could captures on d5 attacking the of have played with the advantage of a8. What I didn’t realize is that af- space incorporating moves such as ter 23. Qxd5 Bxb2 24. Qxa8 the f4, and b4. It would be difficult for queen is trapped after 24....Nb6. black to advance any of the pawns ranging from the a to the e file with- So 22. Nb2 is a mistake that looses out creating weaknesses. a pawn and black’s next move is a mistake that misses the opportunity After the move 14. f3 white has of winning a pawn. to be alert to tactics involving the potential capture of Rxe3. This is not obvious now but it could have 22. . . Ne5 23. Nc4 N×c4 been a decisive factor later on in this 24. B×c4 Bd7 25. Qd3 Bb5 game. rZ0ZrZkZ Q N Q B Z0l0Zpa0 18. a4 b6 19. d1 g7 pZ0o0mpZ 20. Qd2 Nbd7 21. Na4 h5 ZboPZ0Zp 22. Nb2 0ZBZPZ0Z O0ZQAPM0 rZbZrZkZ 0Z0Z0ZPO Z0lnZpa0 Z0S0ZRJ0 pZ0o0mpZ Z0oPZ0Zp 0Z0ZPZ0Z The last move is a standard O0Z0APM0 manuever that occurs often in the 0M0LBZPO Benoni. When (or if) white cap- Z0S0ZRJ0 tures on b5 then the rook from a8 attacks the pawn of a3. White pursued an interesting plan of improving the knight from c3 to 26. Bf4 Nd7 27. B×b5 a×b5 c4. But there is a problem with 28. Q×b5 R×a3 29. Rc2 Rea8

4 30. Rfc1 33. Qc6 Qd8

rZ0Z0ZkZ 0s0l0ZkZ Z0lnZpa0 Z0Z0ZpZ0 0Z0o0ZpZ 0ZQo0ZpZ ZQoPZ0Zp Z0oPa0Zp 0Z0ZPA0Z 0Z0ZPZ0Z s0Z0ZPM0 s0Z0ZPZ0 0ZRZ0ZPO 0ZRZNZPO Z0S0Z0J0 Z0S0Z0J0

Andrew and I agreed that white did not play the rooks efficiently. Now To 33. Qc4 I had prepared 33... black activates the knight and black Qa5 and 34. Nc3 is not good be- pieces are better placed than black cause of certain attacks that start pieces. with 34....Rb4. After 33. Qc6 the white queen gets trapped.

30. . . Ne5 31. B×e5 B×e5 B R 32. Ne2 Rb8 34. f4 g7 35. ×c5 d×c5 36. Q×c5 Ra2 37. Nc3 B×c3 Q Q + K Q 0s0Z0ZkZ 38. ×c3 b6 39. h1 f2 Z0l0ZpZ0 0Z0o0ZpZ 0s0Z0ZkZ ZQoPa0Zp Z0Z0ZpZ0 0Z0ZPZ0Z 0Z0Z0ZpZ s0Z0ZPZ0 Z0ZPZ0Zp 0ZRZNZPO 0Z0ZPO0Z Z0S0Z0J0 Z0L0Z0Z0 rZ0Z0lPO White’s knight on g3 was not doing Z0S0Z0ZK much so Andrew tries to bring it to the queen side. Unfortunately for Now a mate in a few moves is forced. him the knight on e2 is on the way of the queen which is made clear by Q Q R R the move 32. ... Rb8. 40. g3 c2 41. e1 b1 0-1

5  Hoffman, Chris (832) July Knockout Swiss 2018  Jegadeeswaran, Yogahari (966) Nimzovitsch - Larsen Opening – A01

rZblrZkZ B N o0o0Zpop 1. b3 d5 2. b2 c6 3. e3 e5 0ZnZ0Z0Z 4. d3 Nf6 5. Nf3 d4 6. e×d4 e×d4 ZpZnZ0Z0 7. Be2 Bb4+ 0ZNZ0Z0Z OPoPZNZ0 rZblkZ0s 0ZPZBOPO opo0Zpop S0ZQS0J0 0ZnZ0m0Z Z0Z0Z0Z0 0a0o0Z0Z Chris now would loose the e pawn if ZPZPZNZ0 he plays 14. Ne3. But it seems that PAPZBOPO he did not notice that he could have SNZQJ0ZR saved the knight that way. With his move he looses the knight. Yogahari has developed nicely his pieces and obtained space advan- 14. d4 b×c4 15. b×c4 Nf4 tage. 16. Qc1

N R 8. bd2 0–0 9. 0–0 e8 10. a3 rZblrZkZ Bc3 11. B×c3 d×c3 12. Nc4 Nd5 o0o0Zpop 0ZnZ0Z0Z rZblrZkZ Z0Z0Z0Z0 opo0Zpop 0ZPO0m0Z 0ZnZ0Z0Z O0o0ZNZ0 Z0ZnZ0Z0 0ZPZBOPO 0ZNZ0Z0Z S0L0S0J0 OPoPZNZ0 0ZPZBOPO S0ZQZRJ0 Now Chris looses not the but a whole rook because of the follow- Yogahari continues to improve his ing . After a few moves Chris pieces. Now he is threatening to win will resign. a pawn with the attack b7 - b5. 16. . . N×e2+ 17. R×e2 R×e2 13. Re1 b5 18. d5 Ne5 19. Ng5 h6 20. Nh3

6 B×h3 21. g×h3 Qh4 22. Qf1 Rd2 25. Qc2 Q + K R Q g5 23. h1 ×c2 24. d1 0-1

7 David Herscovici has provided some comments to his game with Suhas. I have inserted some of his comments in blue.

 Kodali, Suhas (2100) July Knockout Swiss 2018  Herscovici, David (2117) Sicilian - Dragon – B70

0Zrl0skZ N opZ0opap 1. e4 c5 2. f3 d6 3. d4 c×d4 0Z0obmpZ 4. N×d4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2 m0Z0Z0A0 Nc6 7. 0–0 Bg7 8. Nb3 0–0 0Z0ZPO0Z ZNM0Z0Z0 POPZBZPO S0ZQZRZK rZbl0skZ opZ0opap After the game Suhas, David, Rick, 0Zno0mpZ and other players analyzed the game Z0Z0Z0Z0 thoroughly. Unfortunately I missed 0Z0ZPZ0Z their comments regarding this po- ZNM0Z0Z0 sition. This position is studied in POPZBOPO S0AQZRJ0 the book of Gufeld and Stetsko on the Sicilian Dragon. In my opin- ion black has equalized. The crit- ical moves 11. e5 and 11. f5 have been thoroughly analyzed. Gufeld This position is very similar to the and Stetsko point out that at this position in Mario Guevara – Suhas point black is threatening not only Kodali from the previous round. to jump to c4 with the knight but There the game started as an En- also sacrifice Rxc3 glish opening but the treatment the that would be good is black can players gave was the one of a Sicil- get the e pawn for it and damage ian dragon with the colors reversed. the structure of white pawns in the Now that David is playing the Si- queen side. cilian Dragon we could say that the The book I have of Gufeld and Stet- position is one of the English open- sko is quite old. I am aware that ing with the colors reversed. there are newer probably deeper book on the dragon but I am not 9. Bg5 Be6 10. Kh1 Rc8 11. f4 familiar with them. Na5

8 12. f5 Bc4 13. Bd3 Re8 g6 until it is necessary or immedi- ately useful. 0ZrlrZkZ opZ0opap 0Z0o0mpZ 14. . . h×g6 15. Qf3 Be6 16. Nd5 m0Z0ZPA0 0ZbZPZ0Z ZNMBZ0Z0 0ZrlrZkZ POPZ0ZPO opZ0opa0 S0ZQZRZK 0Z0obmpZ m0ZNZ0A0 0Z0ZPZ0Z 13. Bd3 is a standard manuever in ZNZBZQZ0 the Sicilian. It is not convenient for POPZ0ZPO black to take on d3 because after c2 S0Z0ZRZK x d3 the pawn of e4 gets a good de- fender and the Knight from a5 can- not jump to c4. Now white queen This position was analyzed by the can be brought to the king side via players and other members of the f3. club. I believe Joe Hricko was sug- gesting 16. Nd4. It makes sense to I don’t understand the point of the bring this knight from b3 to the ac- move Re8. Perhaps it is to defend tion in the center. the pawn of e7. Gufeld and Stet- sko recommend 13.... b5. It makes sense for black to try to get space in 16. . . Nc4 17. Nd4 Bg4 the queen side. Stockfish suggests 13...b5 14.Nxb5 0ZrlrZkZ Bxb5 15.Bxb5 Nxe4 opZ0opa0 0Z0o0mpZ 14. f×g6 Z0ZNZ0A0 0ZnMPZbZ Z0ZBZQZ0 0ZrlrZkZ POPZ0ZPO opZ0opap S0Z0ZRZK 0Z0o0mPZ m0Z0Z0A0 0ZbZPZ0Z ZNMBZ0Z0 Black can just win a pawn with POPZ0ZPO 17...Bxd5 18.exd5 Ne5 19.Qe2 Nxd5 S0ZQZRZK g

I think white shouldn’t exchange on 18. Qf4 Ne5 19. B×f6 B×f6

9 0ZrlrZkZ since he cannot handle the threats opZ0opZ0 of 26.. . . Ng4+ and 26.. . . QXd4+ 0Z0o0apZ together with his empty space Z0ZNm0Z0 around the king, so black can now 0Z0MPLbZ Q + Z0ZBZ0Z0 force a repetition with . . . h5 POPZ0ZPO and . . . Qg4+. Unfortunately, I got S0Z0ZRZK greedy and blundered with

25. . . Q×e4 26. Qf4 Q×f4+ 20. N×f6+ e×f6 21. Q×f6 Qd7 27. R×f4 Re7 28. Kg3 Rc5 29. c3 Nc4 30. B×c4 R×c4 31. Kf2 Rc5 0ZrZrZkZ 32. Re1 Rce5 opZqZpZ0 0Z0o0LpZ 0Z0Z0ZkZ Z0Z0m0Z0 opZ0spZ0 0Z0MPZbZ 0Z0o0ZpZ Z0ZBZ0Z0 Z0Z0s0Z0 POPZ0ZPO 0Z0M0S0Z S0Z0ZRZK Z0O0Z0Z0 PO0Z0J0Z Z0Z0S0Z0 White has won a pawn and is threatening to exchange queens. To Black has two pawns for a piece. avoid this simplification David puts Now Suhas forces the exchange of the queen in a bad square. It one rook and with good technique was better to play 21....Qb6 with wins the game. Observe how he some counterplay. White could improves the postition of the rook, have gained a decisive advantage knight and king. He blocks the with 22.Bb5 Nc6 23.Rf4!h intend- pawns of the king side with the ing Rf4-h4-h8m knight, brings the king as far as it Instead white weakens the king side is safe and penetrates with the rook with his next move through the only accessible open file. 22. h3 B×h3 23. Bb5 again 23.Rf4! wins 33. Nf3 R×e1 34. N×e1 Kg7 35. Nf3 f5 36. Rd4 Re6 37. Ng5 Rf6 38. Kf3 b5 39. Kf4 a6 B + K Q + 23. . . ×g2 24. ×g2 g4 40. Rd2 Kg8 41. Re2 Kg7 K 25. h2 42. Re7+ Kg8 43. Ra7 d5 White cannot afford 25.Kf2 Qxe4,

10 44. Rd7 Rc6 45. R×d5 Kg7 50. Rd5 Rc7 51. Rd8+ Kg7 46. Rd7+ Kg8 47. Ke5 Rc5+ 52. Ne6+ K R + K R + 48. f6 c6 49. e5 c5 1 - 0

11  Bihlmeyer, Joe (2075) July Knockout Swiss 2018  Bauer, Rick (2200) Sicilian – B30

good for black if he could play c x 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 d4 and advance the pawn from c6 4. B×c6 b×c6 5. 0–0 Ne7 6. c3 to c5. However, this is not so easy Ng6 7. d4 d5 8. Re1 to accomplish as the game shows. White on the other hand wishes to the pawn of c6. rZblka0s o0Z0Zpop 0ZpZpZnZ 10. Be3 c×d4 11. c×d4 0–0 Z0opZ0Z0 12. Nc3 Qh5 13. Ne5 Q×d1 0Z0OPZ0Z 14. Re×d1 Z0O0ZNZ0 PO0Z0OPO SNAQS0J0 rZbZ0skZ o0Z0apop 0ZpZpZnZ White has met the Sicilian de- Z0Z0M0Z0 fence with the Rossolimo variation. 0Z0O0Z0Z White had given away the bishop Z0M0A0Z0 pair to damage black’s pawn struc- PO0Z0OPO S0ZRZ0J0 ture.

8. . . Be7 9. e×d5 Q×d5 Both players go willingly into a queenless middle game. White has rZbZkZ0s won the battle for the control of c5. o0Z0apop 0ZpZpZnZ 14. . . Bb7 15. Ne4 f5 16. N×g6 Z0oqZ0Z0 h×g6 17. Nc5 0Z0O0Z0Z Z0O0ZNZ0 PO0Z0OPO rZ0Z0skZ SNAQS0J0 obZ0a0o0 0ZpZpZpZ Z0M0ZpZ0 It seems that black wishes to clear 0Z0O0Z0Z the h1 - a8 diagonal of pawns to take Z0Z0A0Z0 advantage of the fact that white has PO0Z0OPO no light square bishop. It would be S0ZRZ0J0

12 Now we have a game with bishops of opposite colors and rooks. White 24. R×e8 K×e8 25. B×g7 Kf7 position is a little better but should 26. Bh6 Ke6 27. B×f4 d4 be able to hold the . 28. Kf2 Kd5 29. Ke2

17. . . f4 18. Bd2 B×c5 19. d×c5 0Z0Z0Z0Z Rad8 20. Bc3 Rd5 obZ0Z0Z0 0ZpZ0ZpZ Z0OkZ0Z0 0Z0Z0skZ 0Z0o0A0Z obZ0Z0o0 Z0Z0ZPZ0 0ZpZpZpZ PO0ZKZPO Z0OrZ0Z0 Z0Z0Z0Z0 0Z0Z0o0Z Z0A0Z0Z0 PO0Z0OPO White gives away the c pawn for S0ZRZ0J0 nothing. It seems that this should give black enough resources to draw Now one pair of rooks gets ex- the game. changed and the game should be closer to a draw. 29. . . K×c5 30. Kd2 Kd5 31. h4 c5 32. g4 Bc6 33. h5 g×h5 21. R×d5 e×d5 22. Re1 Kf7 34. g×h5 Be8 35. h6 Bg6 23. f3 Re8 0Z0Z0Z0Z 0Z0ZrZ0Z o0Z0Z0Z0 obZ0Zko0 0Z0Z0ZbO 0ZpZ0ZpZ Z0okZ0Z0 Z0OpZ0Z0 0Z0o0A0Z 0Z0Z0o0Z Z0Z0ZPZ0 Z0A0ZPZ0 PO0J0Z0Z PO0Z0ZPO Z0Z0Z0Z0 Z0Z0S0J0 The only way white could passed Black aims to simplify to an op- pawns on the king side was getting posite color bishops endgame but the h and f pawns that are con- he probably miscalculated that he trolled by the bishop on the b1 - h7 is going to loose two pawns. He diagonal. probably did not mind loosing the g7 pawn. The move Re8 was not 36. Bb8 a6 37. Bc7 c4 38. Bg3 forced. Bh7 39. Bf4 Bg6 40. a3 Bh7

13 41. Bg3 Bg6 42. Be1 Ke5 K B K K 43. e2 h7 44. f2 f5 47. Be3 Bh7 48. Kf2 Bg6 K 45. g3 49. Ke1 Ke5 0Z0Z0Z0Z Z0Z0Z0Zb 0Z0Z0Z0Z pZ0Z0Z0O Z0Z0Z0Z0 Z0Z0ZkZ0 pZ0Z0ZbO 0Zpo0Z0Z Z0Z0j0Z0 O0Z0ZPJ0 0ZpZ0Z0Z 0O0Z0Z0Z O0ZpAPZ0 Z0Z0A0Z0 0O0Z0Z0Z Z0Z0J0Z0 Joe tried to advanced his king on the king side but Rick stopped him using his own king. Now he will try I believe black could still have to get black to advance his pawn to chances of drawing the game with d3. 49..... Kf6. The point is to control the h pawn with the king, attack the f3 pawn with the bishop to force f4. 45. . . Bg6 46. Bf2 d3

0Z0Z0Z0Z 50. Kd2 Kd5 51. Kc3 Bh7 Z0Z0Z0Z0 52. Kb4 pZ0Z0ZbO White will win another pawn and Z0Z0ZkZ0 0ZpZ0Z0Z get passed pawns on both sides. O0ZpZPJ0 Very well played endgame by Joe. 0O0Z0A0Z It was very difficult to find the right Z0Z0Z0Z0 moves for black with limited think- ing time. This endgame is difficult to play for black. 46. ... d3 is a concession. In- 0Z0Z0Z0Z stead black should have traded the Z0Z0Z0Zb d pawn for the h pawn with 46.... pZ0Z0Z0O Kg5. Then the game could have Z0ZkZ0Z0 ended in a draw. 0JpZ0Z0Z O0ZpAPZ0 Now Joe gets another object of at- 0O0Z0Z0Z tack that is the penetration with his Z0Z0Z0Z0 king to the queen side via b4. Rick tried to oppose white’s king with his king but that was a lost battle. 1-0

14  Twombley, John (1513) July Knockout Swiss 2018  Guevara, Mario (1938) Colle System – A48

1. d4 Nf6 2. h3 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 16. . . Na4 17. Qd1 N×b2 4. g3 0–0 5. Bg2 d5 6. 0–0 Nbd7 18. R×b2 7. b3 Ne4 8. Bb2 c5 9. Nbd2 Nd6 10. Rb1 c×d4 11. N×d4 e5 rZ0lrZkZ rZbl0skZ opZbZpap opZnZpap 0Z0m0ZpZ 0Z0m0ZpZ Z0Z0o0Z0 Z0Zpo0Z0 0ZPZ0Z0Z 0Z0M0Z0Z Z0Z0ONOP ZPZ0Z0OP PS0M0OBZ PAPMPOBZ Z0ZQZRJ0 ZRZQZRJ0

White fiancheto the two bishops and White should have kept his bishop let black gain a center of pawns. by playing 17. Ba3 for example.

12. N4f3 Re8 13. Qc1 Nb6 18. . . Bc6 19. Rc2 Rc8 20. c5 14. e3 Bd7 15. c4 d×c4 16. b×c4 Ba4 21. Nb3 Ne4

rZ0lrZkZ opZbZpap 0ZrlrZkZ 0m0m0ZpZ opZ0Zpap Z0Z0o0Z0 0Z0Z0ZpZ 0ZPZ0Z0Z Z0O0o0Z0 Z0Z0ONOP bZ0ZnZ0Z PA0M0OBZ ZNZ0ONOP ZRL0ZRJ0 PZRZ0OBZ Z0ZQZRJ0 Here black could have put more pressure by playing 15.... Rc8 not afraid of 16. c5 becuase he has time This moves allowed white to sim- to get out of the fork and attack plify the game. the c pawn with moves such as Bf5, Nd7, b6. 22. Q×d8 Rc×d8 23. Nh4

15 0Z0srZkZ 0Z0Z0j0Z opZ0Zpap opZrZ0ap 0Z0Z0ZpZ 0Z0M0Z0Z Z0O0o0Z0 Z0O0Z0S0 bZ0ZnZ0M 0Z0ZpZ0Z ZNZ0O0OP Z0Z0Z0Z0 PZRZ0OBZ PZ0Z0ZrZ Z0Z0ZRJ0 Z0ZKZ0Z0

The knight goes to the wrong side. Mario is trading the rooks. The 23....Nfd2 would have forced further endgame bishop against knight with simplifications and a more or less two pawns advantage should be an equal game. easy win.

23. . . f5 24. B×e4 f×e4 25. f4 Rd3 40. R×g2 e3 41. Ke2 Bd4 26. Ng2 e×f4 27. g×f4 42. Ne4 Rg7 43. R×g7 B×g7 44. K×e3 Ke7 45. Nd6 Kd7 27. . . Red8 28. f5 g×f5 29. R×f5 B R B N R 0Z0Z0Z0Z d7 30. g5 ×h3 31. f4 ×e3 opZkZ0ap 32. N×h3 R×h3 33. Rcg2 0Z0M0Z0Z Z0O0Z0Z0 0Z0s0ZkZ 0Z0Z0Z0Z opZ0Z0ap Z0Z0J0Z0 0Z0Z0Z0Z PZ0Z0Z0Z Z0O0Z0S0 Z0Z0Z0Z0 0Z0ZpZ0Z ZNZ0Z0Zr White is going to loose the c pawn PZ0Z0ZRZ Z0Z0Z0J0 also. Perhaps white should have taken the pawn on b7 and hope that black let him give the knight for the While white was trying to improve a pawn. Then with a bishop on dark his knight position black activated squares and the pawn of h black his pieces and was able to gain two wouldn’t be able to convert. All this pawns. is of course a dream.

33. . . Rd1+ 34. Kf2 Rf3+ 46. Kd3 Kc6 47. Nf5 Bf8 35. Ke2 Rd7 36. Na5 Kf8 48. Nd4+ Kd5 49. Nb5 B×c5 37. Nc4 Rc3 38. Nd6 Rc2+ 50. Nc3+ Kc6 51. Kc4 h5 39. Kd1 R×g2 52. Ne4 Be7

16 After a few more moves black pro- signed. moted the h pawn and white re- 0-1

17  Hilhorst, Gert (1933) July Knockout Swiss 2018  Blanchard, Harold (1507) Blackmar – Diemer – D00

0Z0Z0s0s N N opa0jpZ0 1. d4 d5 2. e4 d×e4 3. c3 f6 0ZpZpS0Z 4. f3 e×f3 5. N×f3 Z0Z0Z0Zp In the New Britain 0Z0O0Z0Z website one can find an article by Z0ZBZRZP POPZ0ZPZ Gert Hilhorst titled the Blackmar - Z0Z0Z0J0 Diemer gambit. That is the opening that Gert used in this game.

rmblka0s This was well played. The pawn on opo0opop h7 is just a target. Black gains some 0Z0Z0m0Z space in the king side. Z0Z0Z0Z0 0Z0O0Z0Z Z0M0ZNZ0 19. g3 POPZ0ZPO S0AQJBZR 0Z0Z0s0s opa0jpZ0 5. . . Bg4 6. h3 B×f3 7. Q×f3 c6 0ZpZpS0Z 8. Be3 e6 9. Bd3 Bd6 10. 0–0 Z0Z0Z0Zp N N B B Q 0Z0O0Z0Z bd7 11. e4 c7 12. g5 e7 Z0ZBZROP 13. N×f6+ g×f6 14. B×f6 White POPZ0Z0Z has been putting pressure on the f Z0Z0Z0J0 file but Harold has defended very well. White gets back the pawn and still have some pressure on the f file but the material has considerably This is a . Harold could reduced. The position is more or have taken on g3. After 19....Bxg3 less equal. white cannot capture on g3 because the rook of f3 is defending the rook 14. . . N×f6 15. Q×f6 Q×f6 on f6. 16. R×f6 Ke7 17. Raf1 Raf8 18. R1f3 h5 19. . . Rhg8 20. Kg2 Ke8

18 0Z0ZksrZ 34. Bc4 Rd2+ 35. Re2 Kd6 opa0ZpZ0 36. R×d2+ B×d2 0ZpZpS0Z Z0Z0Z0Zp 0Z0O0Z0Z 0Z0Z0Z0Z Z0ZBZROP o0Z0ZpZ0 POPZ0ZKZ 0o0jpZ0Z Z0Z0Z0Z0 Z0Z0Z0Zp 0ZBZ0Z0Z ZPZ0Z0OP Both players are missing the tactics PZPa0ZKZ on g3. Black could have won a pawn Z0Z0Z0Z0 with 20....Rxg3.

with the rooks gone the endgame 21. Bc4 Bd8 22. Rh6 Rh8 with bishops of opposite colors 23. R×h8 R×h8 24. Rf4 Bg5 should be a draw. 25. Re4 Bc1 26. b3 Ke7 27. d5 c×d5 28. B×d5 b6 29. Bc4 B K K Bg5 30. Kf3 Rh6 31. Bb5 37. e2 h4 38. g4 c5 39. f3 Rf6+ 32. Kg2 Rf5 33. Bd3 Rd5 1/2-1/2

19  Mansigian, Joe (1728) July Knockout Swiss 2018  Lafosse, Laurent (1167) French – Advanced Variation – C02

Black won an important central 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 pawn. Nc6 5. Nf3 f6 6. Bf4 Qb6 7. b3 c×d4 8. c×d4 Bb4+ 15. N×e5 B×e5 16. Bc5 b6 17. b4 Q×a2 18. Nf3 b×c5 rZbZkZns 19. N×e5 c4 20. f4 0–0 opZ0Z0op 0lnZpo0Z Z0ZpO0Z0 rZ0Z0skZ 0a0O0A0Z o0ZbZ0op ZPZ0ZNZ0 0Z0Zpm0Z PZ0Z0OPO Z0ZpM0Z0 SNZQJBZR 0OpZ0O0Z Z0Z0Z0Z0 qZ0ZBZPO The advanced variation of the Z0SQZRJ0 French has been played. In this opening white gets strong pawns The on the c file is a on the central dark squares and good advantage for black. black attacks then with c5 and also with f6 sooner or later. 6. Bf4 was not best because it gave black 21. N×d7 N×d7 22. B×c4 d×c4 chances of putting pressure on the 23. Q×d7 Qa6 24. b5 Qb6+ dark squares. 25. Kh1 Rac8 26. Ra1 Rc7

9. Nbd2 Bd7 10. Be3 Bc3 0Z0Z0skZ R Q B o0sQZ0op 11. c1 a5 12. e2 f×e5 0l0ZpZ0Z 13. d×e5 N×e5 14. 0–0 Nf6 ZPZ0Z0Z0 0ZpZ0O0Z rZ0ZkZ0s Z0Z0Z0Z0 opZbZ0op 0Z0Z0ZPO 0Z0Zpm0Z S0Z0ZRZK l0Zpm0Z0 0Z0Z0Z0Z ZPa0ANZ0 Black ejects the white queen and PZ0MBOPO puts the rook behind the passed c Z0SQZRJ0 pawn.

20 already played h3. Joe was confused 27. Qd2 c3 28. Qd3 c2 29. Rac1 an missed the opportunity to win Qc5 30. h3 Qc3 31. Qd6 Qc4 the game. 32. Rfe1 Q×f4 33. Q×e6+ Q Q + K R White played the prophylactic move 37. g1 ×g1 38. ×g1 d8 K K R R h3. Black did not do the same. 39. f2 f7 40. e2 dc8 K K K K He should have played h6, and Kh8 41. f1 g5 42. f2 f6 43. e3 R + K before contemplation other actions. e7 44. f2 The exchange of the f pawn for the e pawn gives more chances for white 0ZrZ0Z0Z to defend. Instead of 30. .... Qc3 it Z0Z0s0Z0 would have been better to centralize 0Z0Z0j0o the queen with 30....Qd5. Z0Z0Z0o0 0Z0Z0Z0Z Z0Z0Z0ZP 33. . . Qf7 34. Qe3 h6 35. b6 0ZpZRJPZ a×b6 36. Q×b6 Qf1+ Z0S0Z0Z0

0Z0Z0skZ Z0s0Z0o0 Now black should have exchanged 0L0Z0Z0o the rooks on e2. Black could win Z0Z0Z0Z0 the game but he needs to find the 0Z0Z0Z0Z right plan. Now black blunders by Z0Z0Z0ZP dropping the c pawn and the game 0ZpZ0ZPZ is drawn. Z0S0SqZK

R R R + This move is a blunder. White 44. . . d7 45. e×c2 ×c2 R could have captured the queen on 46. ×c2 f1. There is no mate because white 1/2-1/2

21  Sajeevan, Jithu (1797) July Knockout Swiss 2018  Smith, Elizabeth (1184) Queen Pawn Opening – D00

pawn if she now plays 11.... Bb4+ 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 Bf5 and castles. She tries to defend the c 4. c4 a6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Qb3 b6 pawn and blunders the pawn on a6. 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8. c×d5 Now Jithu gets a big advantage.

rZ0lka0s 11. . . Rc8 12. B×a6 Bb4+ Z0onZpop 13. Nd2 0–0 14. B×c8 Q×c8 po0Zpm0Z 15. a3 B×d2+ 16. K×d2 Nf6 Z0ZPZbZ0 17. f3 Nd5 18. Be5 Rd8 19. e4 0Z0O0A0Z B ZQM0ONZ0 f6 20. e×d5 ×d5 PO0Z0OPO S0Z0JBZR 0Zqs0ZkZ Z0o0Z0op Black has developed the light square 0oQZ0o0Z bishop ahead of the pawn chain. Z0ZbA0Z0 That is ok but you have to be alert 0Z0O0Z0Z O0Z0ZPZ0 of combined threats on d5 and b7. 0O0J0ZPO The move 7. ... Nbd7 drops the d S0Z0Z0ZR pawn.

8. . . e×d5 9. N×d5 N×d5 Jithu will force the exchange of the 10. Q×d5 Be6 11. Qc6 major pieces and win a rook vs bishop endgame. rZ0lka0s Z0onZpop 21. Q×c7 f×e5 22. Q×c8 R×c8 poQZbZ0Z 23. d×e5 g6 24. Rac1 Rd8 Z0Z0Z0Z0 K B R R 0Z0O0A0Z 25. e3 e6 26. hd1 b8 Z0Z0ONZ0 27. Rd6 Ba2 28. g4 b5 29. Rc7 PO0Z0OPO Rf8 30. Rdd7 Rf7 31. R×f7 S0Z0JBZR B×f7 32. Rb7 Bc4 33. b3 B×b3 34. R×b5 Lisa gets some for the 1-0

22  Aldrich, Norman (965) July Knockout Swiss 2018  Malipeddu, Parthiv (463) Italian – C55

11. . . Q×e1+ 12. Q×e1+ Be7 N Q 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 h6 13. c4 f6 14. b3 0–0 15. ×e7 R Q + 4. d3 Nf6 5. c3 d5 6. e×d5 N×d5 e8 16. ×e8 7. Bb5 a6 rZbZQZkZ Z0o0Zpo0 rZblka0s pZpZ0m0o Zpo0Zpo0 Z0Z0Z0Z0 pZnZ0Z0o 0ZPZ0Z0Z ZBZno0Z0 ZPZPZ0Z0 0Z0Z0Z0Z PZ0Z0OPO Z0OPZNZ0 SNA0Z0J0 PO0Z0OPO SNAQJ0ZR White could have saved the queen with 16. Qb4. Now the material is With this move Parthiv looses the e going to be close to equal. White is pawn. He also gets the pawn struc- still one pawn up. ture damaged. It was necessary to finish the development with Bd6. 16. . . N×e8 17. Ba3 Bf5 18. d4 Nf6 19. Nd2 Rd8 20. Bc5 Re8 B + N Q 8. ×c6 b×c6 9. ×e5 f6 21. h3 Re2 10. 0–0 Q×e5 11. Re1 0Z0Z0ZkZ rZbZka0s Z0o0Zpo0 Z0o0Zpo0 pZpZ0m0o pZpZ0Z0o Z0A0ZbZ0 Z0Znl0Z0 0ZPO0Z0Z 0Z0Z0Z0Z ZPZ0Z0ZP Z0OPZ0Z0 PZ0MrOPZ PO0Z0OPO S0Z0Z0J0 SNAQS0J0 White should have played 21. Kf1 The knight on e5 was untouchable. instead of 21. h3 to prevent the With the Re1 white gains the black rook to enter the second rank. queen for a rook, This rook give black good com- pensation for the missing pawn.

23 22. Nf3 Ne4 23. Kf1 R×f2+ 0Z0Z0ZkZ 24. Kg1 Z0Z0Zpo0 RZ0Z0Z0o Z0A0Z0Z0 0Z0Z0ZkZ PZPO0Z0Z Z0o0Zpo0 ZbZ0ZPZ0 pZpZ0Z0o 0Z0Z0J0Z Z0A0ZbZ0 Z0Z0Z0Z0 0ZPOnZ0Z ZPZ0ZNZP PZ0Z0sPZ S0Z0Z0J0 Playing with an extra rook Norm When things were looking better for will not let the win go. black he blunders the rook in the next move 32. . . B×c4 33. Rc6 Bd3 34. a5 Kh7 35. a6 B×a6 36. R×a6 f5 B 24. . . Nd2 25. K×f2 N×f3 37. e7 h5 38. d5 g6 39. d6 K B K 26. g×f3 B×h3 27. Re1 Bd7 h6 40. d7 h4 41. ×h4 h5 Q Q m 28. Re7 Bf5 29. R×c7 Bb1 30. a4 42. d8= g5 43. ×g5 Ba2 31. R×c6 B×b3 32. R×a6 1-0

24 THE ELITE EIGHT

1. Nelson Casta˜neda 1 game tie-break Nelson Casta˜neda 0 9. Dennis Himes 1 game tie-break Nelson Casta˜neda 0 5. Joe Bihlmeyer

0 game tie-break Andrew Colwell 1 6. Andrew Colwell

game tie-break

4. Suhas Kodali 1 game tie-break Suhas Kodali 0 7. Mario Guevara - R. 1 game tie-break Suhas Kodali 0 3. David Herscovici

1/2 2 game tie-break David Herscovici 1/2 0 8. Gert Hilhorst

CHAMPION: