[Event "MCC Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2012.10.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Balakrishnan, Shankar"]
[Black "Casareno, Erwin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B21"]
[WhiteElo "1902"]
[BlackElo "2203"]
[Annotator "Erwin Casareno"]
[PlyCount "102"]

{This penultimate game is a must win situation for me in order to get a chance
for a shot at the title. Two draws in earlier rounds has pushed me out of the
leading players. So I was mentally prepared to go all out for the win.} 1. e4
c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Bc4 cxb2 5. Bxb2 e6 {Diagram [#] I was pleasantly
surprised to play against the Danish gambit as White has to prove the
soundness of the 2 pawn sacrifice.} 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Nc3 d6 9. Re1 Be7
10. Qe2 O-O 11. Rad1 Qa5 12. Nb5 Ne8 ({There should be something better than
this defensive knight retreat. Exchanging center pawns with} 12... Nxe4 {could
be the best move.} 13. Qxe4 d5 14. Bxd5 Qxb5) 13. Bc3 Qb6 14. Rb1 Qc5 15. Nbd4
a6 16. a4 Bf6 17. Nxc6 Qxc6 18. Bb4 {Diagram [#]} Qxa4 {It took me some time
to decide between 18...Qxa4 and 18...e5.The thoughts of creating 2 connected
passed pawns on the queenside has blinded me to the idea that White can create
his own passed d-pawn after which chances will be equal.} 19. e5 Be7 20. Red1
Qd7 21. exd6 Bf6 22. Qe4 Rb8 23. Bd3 g6 24. Ne5 Bxe5 25. Qxe5 b5 26. Rbc1 f6
27. Qg3 Rf7 28. Be2 Bb7 {Diagram [#] Despite the 2 pawns deficit, White has
equal chances due to his passed d pawn.  What is critical in this position is
the invisible time pressure: White has only less than 5 minutes left on his
clock in a sudden death game and is starting to feel the pressure. Black has
23 minutes left and is relying on his passed queenside pawns to score the
point.} 29. Rc7 $2 ({I was worried about} 29. h4 Bd5 30. h5 Rg7 31. h6 Rf7 $13)
29... Nxc7 30. dxc7 Qxc7 31. Bd6 {Black returns the rook and with the passed
pawns, should be winning.} Qc2 $8 32. Bxb8 Qxe2 33. Rc1 Rd7 34. h3 Rd1+ 35.
Rxd1 Qxd1+ 36. Kh2 Qd5 {Diagram [#] Black has simplified into a won endgame
but should be careful in avoiding perpetual checks.} 37. Bf4 e5 38. Bh6 b4 39.
f3 b3 40. Qh4 Kf7 41. Qb4 a5 42. Qf8+ Ke6 43. Bg7 b2 44. Qxf6+ Kd7 45. Qb6 e4
46. Qxb2 exf3 47. gxf3 Qxf3 48. Qd2+ Bd5 49. Bh6 a4 50. Bf8 h5 51. Bb4 h4 0-1

[Event "World Blitz Championship"]
[Site "St.John"]
[Date "1988.02.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Thorsteins, Karl"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[Annotator "Stephen Wright"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1988.02.??"]
[EventType "blitz"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 Nf6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Nge2 O-O 8.
Ng3 Be6 ({Black would prefer to keep his bishop on the b1-h7 diagonal, but} 
8... Bg6 {would be met by the rapid advance of White's h-pawn.}) 9. Bd3 c6 10.
Qc2 Bd6 11. Nge2 Re8 12. h3 g6 13. O-O Nh5 14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15. Rab1 a5 16. a3 Nd7
17. Na4 Ng7 18. b4 axb4 19. axb4 b5 {Diagram [#] Both sides have displayed
some of the typical ideas in this Carlsbad structure. Here Black physically
blocks White's minority attack; this is usually only playable if Black has
some way of blocking the c-file, either by getting a piece to c4 or forcing
White to recapture with a pawn on c5, but for some reason Black rejects this
latter option over the next two moves.} 20. Nc5 Bf5 21. Rfc1 Nf6 $6 22. Ra1
Bxd3 23. Nxd3 Rxa1 24. Rxa1 Nd7 25. Ra7 Ne6 ({Now a White knight on e5 will
put too much pressure on c6 and f7 for Black to contemplate} 25... Nb6) 26. Qa2
Ng5 $6 (26... Rc8) 27. Qa6 Re7 $2 (27... Rb8) 28. Qc8+ Kg7 29. Qc7 Qf6 30. Ne5
Ne6 {Diagram [#]} 31. Qxd7 $2 (31. Qd6 Nef8 32. Qxf6+ Kxf6 33. Nxc6) 31... Rxd7
32. Rxd7 Nd8 33. Nf4 Kh6 34. Rxd8 $2 {One wonders how accurate the score is,
given that White has a queen-winning knight fork on this and the next move.} g5
35. Nfd3 Kg7 36. Rd7 Qe6 37. Rxf7+ Kg8 38. Nc5 Qc8 39. Ncd7 1-0

[Event "World Blitz Championship"]
[Site "St.John"]
[Date "1988.02.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[Annotator "Stephen Wright"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1988.02.??"]
[EventType "blitz"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. f3 Nbd7 4. c4 e5 5. d5 Be7 6. Be3 {After various
transpositions a position similar to a Sämisch King's Indian is reached, but
with Black's dark-squared bishop on e7 rather than g7. Kasparov continues in
King's Indian fashion, whereas the plan from the Czech Benoni of playing for
Bg5 would also be appropriate.} c6 7. Nc3 a6 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Nge2 Nh5 10. Qd2 g6
11. O-O Ng7 12. Kh1 f5 13. exf5 gxf5 14. f4 {Another plan known from the
Sämisch, limiting Black's kingside expansion and preparing to undermine the
pawn-chain with g2-g4.} e4 15. Bc2 c5 16. g4 fxg4 17. Nxe4 Nf6 (17... b5) 18.
N2g3 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Bf6 (19... h5 {or 19...b5 are perhaps more incisive.}) 20.
Qc2 {Diagram [#]} h5 $2 ({Best according to Houdini is} 20... h6 21. Bh7+ Kh8
22. Qg6 Ne8 23. Nh5 Qe7 {when Black can defend.}) 21. Bg6 $2 (21. Bh7+ Kf7 (
21... Kh8 22. Qg6) 22. Rae1 {and Black's king is in major trouble.}) 21... h4
22. Nh5 b5 23. f5 bxc4 24. Qxc4 Bb7 $2 (24... Nxh5 25. Bxh5 g3 {is the
computer's recommendation, leaving open the option of defending laterally with
Ra7 at some point.}) 25. Rad1 {In the next couple of moves Black should
preserve his dark-squared bishop by playing Nxh5 at some point, White should
eliminate it with Nxf6+.} Qe7 26. Bh6 Qe5 (26... Nxh5 {was still Black's best
chance, now he loses too much time with his queen.}) 27. Rfe1 Qxb2 28. Rb1 Qa3
29. Nxf6+ Rxf6 30. Rxb7 Qf3+ 31. Kg1 Nxf5 32. Bh7+ Kh8 33. Bxf5 $2 ({White has
an overwhelming position but this is not the most accurate.} 33. Rf1 {is
crushing.}) 33... Rxf5 34. Qe2 c4 (34... Qxe2) 35. Qxf3 gxf3 36. Kf2 (36. Ree7)
36... Rg8 37. Rg1 $2 (37. Ree7) 37... Rxg1 38. Kxg1 Rxd5 {Diagram [#]Now White
has to win the game over again.} 39. Kf2 Rd3 40. Rb6 d5 $2 (40... a5) 41. Rxa6
c3 42. Rc6 $2 (42. Bf4 {is necessary to protect the h-pawn.}) 42... d4 $2 (
42... Rd2+ 43. Kxf3 Rxh2 44. a3 d4) 43. a4 $2 (43. Bf4) 43... Kh7 $2 44. Bf4
Rd1 45. Kxf3 Ra1 46. Rc4 Rd1 47. Ke4 d3 48. Rxc3 d2 49. Kd3 Ra1 50. Bxd2 Rxa4
51. Rc4 Ra3+ 52. Bc3 Kg6 53. Rxh4 Kf5 1-0

[Event "World Blitz Championship"]
[Site "St.John"]
[Date "1988.02.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D26"]
[Annotator "Stephen Wright"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1988.02.??"]
[EventType "blitz"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. e3 Nc6 5. d4 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bc4 cxd4 8.
exd4 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 {Diagram [#]} Nf6 (10... Bf6 {is theoretically a
better way of defending this IQP position; the plan chosen by Dlugy does
nothing to stem White's d5 break.}) 11. a3 a6 12. Ba2 Qd6 13. Bg5 b5 {[diagram]
} 14. Bxf6 (14. d5 $1) 14... Bxf6 15. Ne4 Qd8 16. d5 exd5 17. Bxd5 Bd7 18. Rc1
Rc8 19. Nd6 (19. Rc2 {intending Rd2 is stronger.}) 19... Rc7 20. Qb3 {Diagram 
[#]} Ne5 $2 ({Black can still defend with} 20... Be6 $14 {, but after the text
his position collapses.}) 21. Nxe5 $8 Bxe5 22. Nxf7 Bxh2+ 23. Kxh2 Qh4+ 24. Kg1
Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Be8 26. Ne5+ Kh8 27. Qe3 1-0

[Event "World Blitz Championship"]
[Site "St.John"]
[Date "1988.02.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Georgiev, Kiril"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A38"]
[Annotator "Stephen Wright"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1988.02.??"]
[EventType "blitz"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. Rb1 d5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Nxd5 Qxd5 {Diagram [#] A variation that can be played by either side,
depending upon who gets their central break in first - compare the
Kasparov-Hamilton game below.} 10. b3 Qd6 11. d3 e5 12. a3 Bd7 13. b4 cxb4 14.
axb4 Nxb4 15. Ba3 {Piece play with Nd2 seems a better option on this or the
next move, rather than allowing Black's queenside pawns to advance.} a5 16. Qb3
b5 17. Ng5 Rac8 18. Bxb4 axb4 19. Qxb4 Qxb4 20. Rxb4 {Diagram [#] [diagram]}
Rc2 21. Re1 h6 22. Ne4 Rfc8 (22... Rb8 {to support the passed pawn.}) 23. Nd6
$2 (23. Rbb1) 23... R8c5 $2 (23... Bf8 24. Nxc8 Bxb4 25. Rb1 Rxc8 {wins a
piece for Black, White's back rank is too weak.}) 24. Rbb1 Ra2 25. Bf3 h5 26.
Rec1 Rxc1+ 27. Rxc1 Ra6 28. Ne4 Bf8 29. h4 b4 30. Rc7 Be6 31. Rb7 Ra1+ 32. Kg2
Rc1 33. Ng5 Ba2 34. Ra7 Rc2 35. Rb7 Bc5 36. Ne4 Bf8 37. Ng5 {Diagram [#]} Kg7
$2 {Walking into what should be trouble along the rank ...} 38. Ra7 $2 ({...
but White does not play} 38. Nxf7 Bxf7 39. Bd5 $6 $16 {immediately, instead
choosing a less favourable moment when Black's dark-squared bishop is more
actively placed. One suspects the players were in severe time trouble by now.})
38... Bc5 39. Rb7 Bf8 40. Ra7 Bb3 41. Nxf7 Bc5 42. Rb7 Bxf7 43. Bd5 Rxe2 44.
Rxf7+ Kh6 45. Kf1 Rd2 46. Bc4 Rb2 47. f4 exf4 48. gxf4 (48. Rxf4) 48... b3 49.
Rb7 Rf2+ 50. Ke1 b2 (50... Rxf4) 51. Bg8 {Diagram [#]} g5 $4 ({Kasparov deals
with the immediate mate, only to blunder into a second one.} 51... b1=Q+ 52.
Rxb1 Rxf4 $15 {would maintain Black's advantage.}) 52. hxg5+ Kg6 53. Bh7# 1-0

[Event "Cannes sim"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "1988.02.14"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Hamilton, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A39"]
[Annotator "Stephen Wright"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1988.??.??"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 c5 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nc6 8.
Nc3 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 d6 10. Qd3 {Diagram [#] A variation in which White
establishes a space advantage, but the time used gives Black the opportunity
to generate active counterplay.} a6 11. Bd2 Rb8 12. Rac1 Nd7 13. e4 b5 14. cxb5
axb5 15. b3 (15. Nxb5 $2 Nc5 16. Qe2 Ba6 {and Black will regain his pawn with
interest.}) 15... Nc5 16. Qe3 {Diagram [#]} e6 {Apparently a novelty; this
weakens d6 but covers the d5 square in preparation for driving White's knight
back.} 17. Rfd1 ({White might consider} 17. b4 {to counter Black's plan.})
17... b4 18. Ne2 Ba6 19. Be1 (19. e5 $1 Nd3 20. Rc6 {would expose the
drawbacks of Black's sixteenth move.}) 19... Qb6 20. Rc2 f5 {Black is
comfortably placed, but this further quest for activity is perhaps too
weakening. Placing a rook on the c-file is a sensible alternative.} 21. exf5
exf5 (21... Rxf5 {is stronger; after the text move White get the d5 square
back.}) 22. Nf4 Rfe8 23. Qd2 Kh8 24. Nd5 Qd8 25. Nxb4 Re2 {Diagram [#]} 26.
Qxe2 ({Houdini prefers to avoid the material imbalance with} 26. Qd5) 26...
Bxe2 27. Rxe2 {White has rook, bishop and pawn for his queen, the two bishops,
some weak squares on d5 and d6 to aim at, and two connected passed pawns on
the queenside; Black puts up stiff resistance but ultimately cannot cope.} Qf8
28. Nd5 Re8 29. Rc2 g5 {Producing more weaknesses, but the Black queen needs
targets and this is the only way to create any.} 30. b4 Ne6 31. Bc3 f4 32. a4
Qf5 33. Bxg7+ Kxg7 34. Rcd2 {Diagram [#]} f3 $2 {Black has no immediate way to
take advantage of this wedge, whereas the move closes lines, gives White use
of the e3 square, and expends a vital tempo. h7-h5-h4 is more to the point.}
35. Bf1 h5 36. a5 h4 37. Ne3 Qe4 38. Rxd6 hxg3 39. hxg3 Qxb4 40. a6 Rf8 41. a7
(41. Rxe6 {is also winning.}) 41... Qa5 42. Ra6 Qxa6 43. Bxa6 1-0

[Event "2013 Charlottetown Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.05.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Felix, Chris"]
[Black "Banks, Anthony"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C63"]
[WhiteElo "1933"]
[BlackElo "1984"]
[Annotator "Chris Felix"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d3 fxe4 5. dxe4 Nf6 6. O-O Bc5 7. Bc4 d6 8.
Nc3 Bg4 {Diagram [#]} 9. Bg5 ({editor - I'm always surprised when the 19th
century breaks out in a modern game. Think of this note as foreshadowing.} 9.
h3 Bh5 10. Bg5 Nd4 11. Nxd4 Bxd1 12. Ne6 Qd7 (12... Be2 $1) 13. Bxf6 (13. Nxc5
$1 dxc5 14. Raxd1 $40) 13... gxf6 14. Nd5 $13 Be2 $2 15. Bxe2 Kf7 $2 16. Bh5+
$1 {1-0 (16) Dvirnyy,D (2507)-Zelic,M (2270) Zagreb 2012}) 9... Nd4 10. Nd5 (
10. Nxd4 Bxd1 11. Ne6 Qd7 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Nd5 {An interesting try that I
missed over the board. I looked at the queen sacrifice but didn't believe it
was enough. Engine evaluation shows this position as roughly equal.}) {Diagram
[#]  Critical Position   Should Black:  A) castle kingside to prepare an
attack down the f-file?  B) Immediately capture the Nf3 to damage White's
Kingside and gain a tempo off the Rf1 with Bh3?  C) Play ...c6 to force the
Nd5 away?} 10... Nxf3+ {White's play in the game shows why this isn't the best.
} ({A)} 10... O-O $4 {(loses a piece)} 11. Nxf6+ Kh8 12. Nxg4 Nxf3+ 13. Qxf3 $1
Qxg5 14. Qe2 $18) ({B)} 10... Bxf3 {(not bad, though White seems to keep a
plus.)} 11. gxf3 c6 12. c3 cxd5 13. cxd4 dxc4 14. dxc5 O-O 15. cxd6 $14) ({C)} 
10... c6 $1 11. Nxf6+ (11. Ne3 $143 Nxf3+ $1 12. gxf3 Bh3 $1 $17 {unlike the
game, this line does not allow White a quick counterattack, so Black's better
structure dominates.}) 11... gxf6 12. Bh4 {(helps block the g-file)} (12. Be3
$143 Nxf3+ 13. gxf3 Bh3 14. Re1 d5 $1 15. Bf1 (15. exd5 $4 Rg8+ $19) 15... Rg8+
16. Kh1 Bxf1 17. Rxf1 d4 $17) 12... Nxf3+ (12... Qd7 $1 13. Bxf6 $140 $2 Bxf3
14. gxf3 Qh3 $19) 13. gxf3 Bh5 {Black will castle Queenside and have the
initiative after a well-timed ...f5.} (13... Bh3 $2 14. f4 $1 $132 {as in the
game.})) 11. gxf3 Bh3 12. f4 {editor - !! The move of the game: the threat of
Bxf6 and Qh5+ is so strong that Black has to give back an exchange to survive.}
Bxf1 13. Nxf6+ ({Diagram [#] editor: Attacking Practice  By material count,
White is down the exchange, but since neither of Black's Rs is doing anything
useful, it's best to think of this position as White being (temporarily) up
one minor piece with the Black K caught in the center.} 13. Kxf1 $142 $40 Rf8 (
13... h5 14. fxe5 dxe5 15. Qf3 $1 $18 {e.g.} Qd6 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Nxc7+ $3
Qxc7 18. Qxf6 $18 {(XRh8 and Bb5+)}) (13... exf4 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Qh5+ Kd7 (
15... Kf8 16. Qh6+ Kf7 17. Nxc7+ $18) 16. Qf5+ Kc6 17. b4 Bd4 18. Ne7+ Qxe7 19.
Qb5#) 14. Bxf6 (14. b4 $1) 14... gxf6 15. Qh5+ Kd7 (15... Rf7 16. Nb6 $18 {
White wins a whole R}) 16. Qf5+ Kc6 (16... Ke8 17. Qe6+ Qe7 18. Qxe7#) 17. a4 {
(threatening Bb5#)} a6 18. Bb5+ $1 {(anyway!)} axb5 19. axb5+ Kxb5 20. Rxa8
Qxa8 21. Nxc7+ $18) 13... gxf6 14. Qh5+ Kd7 15. Qf7+ Kc6 (15... Kc8 16. Be6+
Kb8 17. Bxf6 {And after Qe8, Qf8 or Rf8 white will have the better endgame.})
16. Qd5+ (16. Kxf1 {This was a better move, keeping the pressure on the black
king. Qd5+ was inaccurate, giving black an advantage.}) 16... Kb6 17. b4 Bxc4
18. bxc5+ dxc5 19. Qxc4 a6 20. Qe6+ Qd6 21. Rb1+ Kc6 22. Qxf6 {Diagram [#] The
attack is over, I'll end up in the endgame an exchange down, but with a two
passed pawns.} Rhg8 23. Kf1 Rg6 24. Qf7 exf4 25. Bxf4 Rf6 {A mistake, Rf8 was
much better. The position is equal now.} 26. Qb3 Qxf4 (26... Rxf4 27. Qxb7+ Kd7
28. Qxa8 Qd4 29. Qd5+ Qxd5 30. exd5 {This would have been a good endgame.}) 27.
Qd5# 1-0

[Event "2013 Charlottetown Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.05.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Turner, Peter"]
[Black "Bowes, Richard"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "1712"]
[BlackElo "2085"]
[Annotator "Fred McKim"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

{White plays well against the tournament winner, with the exception of 24 Qd2
dropping a pawn} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Bf5
7. O-O e6 8. Nc3 {Diagram [#]} Bd6 (8... h6 9. Qa4 Be7 10. Ne5 Qb6 11. Nxc6
bxc6 12. b3 O-O 13. Rd1 a5 14. Ba3 Bb4 $1 $17 {White had to give up an
exchange to save the trapped Qa4 in Eggleston,D (2368)-Gordon,S (2521)
Hastings 2009 (0-1, 33)}) 9. a3 h6 10. b4 O-O 11. Bb2 Rc8 12. Rc1 a5 13. b5 Nb8
14. Qb3 Nbd7 15. Nd2 Nb6 16. e4 $11 dxe4 17. Ncxe4 Bxe4 18. Nxe4 Nfd5 19. Rxc8
Nxc8 20. Nxd6 Qxd6 21. Rc1 Ncb6 22. Rc5 Rd8 23. Qc2 Qd7 {Diagram [#]} 24. Qd2
$2 (24. Bf1 $14) (24. Bf3 $14) 24... Na4 $1 25. Rc2 Qxb5 26. Bf1 Qb6 27. Bc1
Qa7 28. Bb5 Nab6 29. a4 Nc8 30. Ba3 Nce7 31. Bc5 b6 32. Ba3 Nf5 33. Qc1 Qb8 34.
Bb2 Nfe7 35. Ba3 Nb4 36. Rc7 Ned5 37. Rc4 $17 {The first round was played at a
rate of G/90.... the rest of the game was a flurry of moves, eventually
reaching a winning rook ending} 0-1

[Event "2013 Charlottetown Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.05.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "McKim, Fred "]
[Black "Creamer, Kyle "]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "1918"]
[BlackElo "1827"]
[Annotator "Fred McKim"]
[PlyCount "140"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Ba4 (6. Nxe5 {is much
more common}) 6... Be7 7. Nxe5 O-O 8. d4 Nf5 9. c3 {Diagram [#]} Nxe5 10. dxe5
(10. Rxe5 d6 11. Re1 d5 12. Nd2 c6 13. Nf3 Bd6 14. Ne5 f6 15. Nf3 Qc7 16. Bc2
Bd7 17. Qd3 g6 18. Bd2 Ng7 $11 19. b4 $4 Bf5 {0-1 Rostek,J (1577)-Van Wely,L 
(2651) Kuppenheim (blitz) 2004}) 10... d5 11. Nd2 c6 12. Nf3 Bc5 13. b4 Bb6 14.
Bg5 Qc7 15. Bc2 Ne7 16. h3 Bf5 17. Nd4 Bxd4 (17... Bxc2 18. Qxc2 Ng6 $11) 18.
cxd4 Bxc2 19. Qxc2 $14 Ng6 20. Be3 Qd7 21. Rac1 Ne7 22. f4 $11 Nf5 23. Bf2 a5
24. a3 $2 axb4 25. axb4 Ra3 26. Ra1 Rfa8 27. Qb2 (27. Rxa3 Rxa3 28. Qb2 Ra8 29.
g4 $14) 27... Rxa1 28. Rxa1 Rxa1+ 29. Qxa1 $11 Qc8 $2 (29... h5 $142 $11) 30.
g4 $14 Ne7 31. Qc1 Qa8 32. f5 Qa2 33. Qc5 Qb1+ 34. Kh2 Qf1 35. Qc2 Qc4 36. Qa4
Qa6 $14 {Diagram [#] Two class A players competing - fairly representative
game so far. Any mistakes have been small positional ones. Without the aid of
a computing device, I conclude that the ending without the queens is better
for me. Not winning, but some chances. What I find interesting is how many of
those 0.6 GM games turn out to be winning. My interpretation of that is that
best moves are easier to find when you have the edge, than when you are
defending.} 37. Qa5 {I'm thinking that with my pawn on a5 instead of b4, I can
get my bishop into play} Qxa5 38. bxa5 Nc8 (38... c5 $1) 39. Be1 Na7 40. Bb4
Nb5 41. Bc5 $14 Nc3 42. Kg2 Ne4 43. Bb6 $11 {Falling asleep at the switch -
who let the king out ?} (43. Bb4 $142 $14) 43... Kf8 44. Kf3 Ng5+ 45. Kg3 Ne4+
46. Kf4 h6 47. h4 Ke7 48. g5 $2 hxg5+ 49. hxg5 g6 50. Bc7 Kd7 {Diagram [#]} 51.
e6+ $1 Ke7 $1 (51... fxe6 $2 52. fxg6 $18) 52. exf7 Kxf7 53. f6 Ke6 54. Kg4 Kf7
55. Bf4 Ke6 56. Kf3 Kf7 57. Be3 Ke6 58. Kf4 Nd6 59. Bf2 Nc4 60. Be1 Nd6 61. Bb4
Nf5 62. Bc5 Nh4 63. Ke3 Ng2+ 64. Kd2 Nh4 65. Ke2 Nf5 66. Kd3 Nh4 67. Bf8 {
Diagram [#]} Nf3 68. Bh6 $8 Nh4 69. Kd2 $4 Nf5 $19 70. Bf8 Nxd4 {The fact that
I went on to win this lost game on time after more blunders by both players is
slightly embarrasing.} 1-0

[Event "Canadian Forces Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.05.05"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Leblanc, Paul (Crd. ret.)"]
[Black "Léveillée, Philippe (MCpl)"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E07"]
[WhiteElo "1942"]
[BlackElo "1812"]
[Annotator "Philippe Léveillée (MCpl)"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

{Game 5 of the CF chess championship was the most important for Léveillée. He
was playing against the defending champion, Paul Leblanc, who beat him the
year before in a seemingly drawn game. This was his chance of getting the
revenge he had been waiting for. He was having a very good tournament: he had
just drawn against the 3-time champion Roger Lebrun and his unit (CFS Leitirm)
was in the top 3. However, he knew things would only get tougher as the
tournament progressed.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6.
O-O Nbd7 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Nc3 c6 9. Qc2 Re8 10. Bf4 {Diagram [#]} Nb6 11. Ne5
Be6 12. Rfd1 Nbd7 13. e4 dxe4 14. Nxe4 Qb6 $6 {A doubtful move.} ({Rybka 4
prefers.} 14... Nxe4 15. Bxe4 (15. Qxe4 Nb6 16. Be3 Nd5) 15... Nf6 16. Bf3 Nd5
{In either case, the knight would have had a nice outpost on d5.}) 15. Ng5 Nf8
{The only logical move. This is a Queen's Gambit Declined theme: the knight
supports the bishop on e6, avoiding the creation of a problematic pawn on e6.}
16. Nxe6 Nxe6 17. Nc4 Qb5 18. Be5 Rad8 19. Rd3 Nd5 20. a4 Qa6 21. Bxd5 cxd5 {
Diagram [#]} 22. Ne3 $4 {By occupying e3, White traps his own bishop. The
knight should have gone to a3.} f6 23. Bf4 g5 24. Nxd5 Rxd5 25. Be3 Red8 26.
Rad1 b6 27. Qb3 Kg7 28. Qc2 Qb7 29. Qe2 Qd7 30. Qg4 Nc5 $1 {This move ends all
hope for White. The hanging queen is attacked as well as his rook on e3;
furthermore the knight on c5 cannot be taken. The queen exchange is forced.}
31. Qxd7 R8xd7 {Behind a piece and without any counter play, Leblanc resigns
after 31 moves, knowing that the d4 pawn will fall soon. After this victory,
Léveillée faced Maj Régis Bellemare in the 6th round and won the tournament in
his home town with 5/6. His unit (CFS Leitrim) also won the team championship
with 10 points.} 0-1

[Event "Arnprior Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.05.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Krolczyk, Jacob"]
[Black "Pacey, Kevin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C44"]
[WhiteElo "1893"]
[BlackElo "2225"]
[Annotator "Kevin Pacey"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2013.05.04"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

{The following was one of my more interesting games at Arnprior. After an
unambitious opening by White, a fairly equal middlegame arose in which I
invited my opponent to create an imbalance by trading a knight for a bishop,
with a basically symmetrical pawn structure.     Eventually a fairly
complicated endgame occured in which I had pair of knights against bishop and
knight. We each made a number of mistakes, and at one point I missed a win in
mild time trouble, relative to my opponent's. The final significant mistake
allowed me to win a piece, and the game.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. d3 Nc6 3. Nbd2 e5 4. e4
Nf6 5. g3 {After this Black can immediately demonstrate at least equality, in
dry fashion. Instead, playing a Reversed Philidor's Defence by 5.Be2 (or 5.c3
first), in spite of its modest appearance, may offer somewhat better hope for
more than equality, as for one thing if Black trades on e4 then the B/e2 is
released and is not needed on g2.} dxe4 6. dxe4 {Diagram [#]} Bc5 ({Even} 6...
Be7 {gives Black at least equality. After} 7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O {transposition to
a position in ECO A occurs, when its relevant footnote continues} Be6 9. c3 Nd7
10. b4 a5 11. b5 Na7 12. Qe2 c6 13. a4 Qc7 14. Bb2 Nc8 15. c4 Ncb6 $15 {
(Tischbierek-Hubner, Germany 1998/99). I would evaluate the position as level,
after 16.Rfc1.}) 7. Bg2 {White is playing a quite harmless version of a
Reversed Pirc Defence since he committed to playing Ndb2 plus e2-e4 early on.
Black's task as the higher rated player is to acquire sufficent winning
chances now that he has released the tension in the centre.} O-O 8. O-O h6 {
Instead ...Qe7 at once is fine, but Black can afford this luxury.} 9. Qe2 Qe7
10. a4 {Nb3 at once is at least as good.} a5 {Black has so little to fear that
...Rd8 is also possible here.} 11. Nb3 Bb6 12. Be3 {Jacob trades my active B
for his otherwise "good" one. His remaining bishop is now a slightly "bad" one.
Still, it's very microscopic stuff.} Bxe3 13. Qxe3 Be6 {After 13...Rd8 it's
possible Black might claim a tiny edge. Instead I offer my B for a White
knight, hoping one of my knights might outshine the White B better than my
good B might ever get the chance to. It's often better to have a knight vs. a
bad B, given such a choice, as for one thing the knight can operate on both
coloured squares, and for another it thus may be harder to swap the bad B off.}
14. Nc5 b6 15. Nxe6 Qxe6 16. b3 {In spite of White's slightly "bad" B the
position is still about equal, since he can hope to activate that piece, and
other pieces still are on the board.} Rad8 17. Rad1 Nb4 {Here 17...Rd7 was a
normal enough choice. I prefered to start to probe with my knight on the the
queenside.} 18. Qe2 Na2 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Rd1 Rd6 21. Rxd6 Qxd6 22. Bf1 {
Better was 22.Qd3.} Nc3 $15 23. Qa6 g6 (23... Nfxe4 24. Bd3 $14) 24. Bd3 Kg7 {
Preferable is 24...Qc5.} 25. Qc4 {Diagram [#] White restores equality with
this move. Jacob offered a draw, but I had no reason to accept.} Na2 {Going to
b1 was also somewhat interesting.} 26. Qb5 Nd7 27. Kg2 (27. Bf1 $142 $11) 27...
Nb4 $15 28. Ne1 (28. Qc4 $5) 28... c6 {Here or next move ...Nc5 was
interesting.} 29. Qc4 Qc5 30. Kf3 {30.h3 was a more natural choice.} Qxc4 {It
was better to creep into the centre with 30...Qd4.} 31. Bxc4 {White has
reached an equal, if rather slightly unbalanced, endgame.} Nc5 (31... Na2 $5)
32. Ke3 f5 {Allowing White to make his active B less "bad", after the ensuing
exchange that alters the basic symmetry of the pawn structure, in the hope of
increased chances for an eventual breakthrough.} 33. exf5 (33. f3 $5) 33...
gxf5 34. f4 e4 35. Kd4 {Better was 35.h3=.} Kf6 $15 36. Ke3 Ne6 {Diagram [#]
Now that the pawn structure has changed fairly significantly, Black is more
content to allow White to trade off his B. Instead ...Nd5+ here or next turn
is also interesting.} 37. h3 (37. c3 $5) 37... Nc7 {Jacob, who was in time
trouble by now, looked very unhappy upon seeing this move, which prepares a
queenside break. Again White's B is made less "bad" (and soon, completely no
longer so), but Black wants to create an outside passed pawn or else create a
potentially tender isolated White pawn on a4.} 38. Kd2 $6 (38. Bf1 $142) 38...
b5 $17 39. axb5 (39. Be2 $5) 39... cxb5 40. Be2 a4 41. bxa4 (41. c3 $5) 41...
bxa4 42. c3 Nc6 $2 (42... Nba6 $142) 43. Bc4 $2 {Again Jacob offered a draw.} (
{Instead} 43. Bd1 $1 a3 44. Bb3 {wins the a-pawn soon, giving White at least a
slight advantage.}) 43... Na5 $15 44. Ba2 Na6 45. Nc2 (45. g4 $5) 45... Nc5 {
Instead ...Nb3+ (here, or last move) leads to nothing more than equality if
the B takes.} 46. Nb4 {Here g4!? or Ne3!? are possible, naturally.} Nab3+ (
46... h5 $142) 47. Kc2 Ke6 {Diagram [#]} (47... h5 48. Nd5+ Ke6 49. Nb6 $11)
48. Nc6 $4 {This should lose. Just 48.g4 equalizes.} e3 49. Nd4+ (49. Kd1 Ne4
$19) 49... Kf6 $4 {A hasty move that temporarily throws away the win.} (49...
Kd5 $1 50. Kd1 (50. Nxf5 e2 $19) 50... Ne4 $19) 50. Ne2 $15 h5 (50... Nd2 $5)
51. h4 $6 (51. c4 $142) 51... Nd2 $5 {Diagram [#]} (51... Ke6 $17) 52. Bd5 (52.
Kb2 Ke7 53. Ka3 Nce4 54. Bd5 Kd6 55. Bxe4 Nxe4 56. Kxa4 Kd5 {intending ...Nd2
is better for Black, in spite of his being down a pawn at the moment.}) 52...
Nde4 $2 {Another gaffe, but both players could have used more time on the
clock here.} (52... a3 $142 $17) 53. Kb2 $11 Nf2 54. Bc4 (54. Ka3 Nfd3 {could
lead to a draw by repetition after} 55. Bc4 Nf2 56. Bd5 {etc.}) 54... Nce4 55.
Ka3 $4 {Essentially the final mistake.} (55. Bd5 Ke7 56. Ka3 Kd6 57. Bb7 Kc5
58. Kxa4 {is about equal despite White's extra pawn.}) 55... Nh1 $19 56. Kxa4
Nhxg3 57. Kb4 {Instead 57.Ng1 is a somewhat acedemic improvement.} Nxe2 58.
Bxe2 Ng3 {In spite of far from perfect play, in the end a Black knight did
overcome the White B.} 0-1

[Event "Arnprior Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.05.04"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Upper, John"]
[Black "Langer, Herb"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2251"]
[BlackElo "1757"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2013.05.04"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 {When I first started to play, I choose
the g3 lines against the King's Indian. Back then it seemed to me that the
mainline "Mar del Plata" lines, even if objectively favourable for White, were
too easy for Black to play. Strategically it seemed like a no-brainer: prep
your pawn storm and sac a piece on the White pawn chain. Tactically it also
seemed too easy: Black has so little space that there are really very few
choices about where to put the pieces, and so even a little familiarity with
it goes a long way for Black. I still think that's more-or-less right (perhaps
less right for those facing professional-quality opening preparation), but
last year I decided to change my White repertoire, and that meant no g3 here.}
d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. Be3 Ng4 9. Bg5 f6 10. Bh4 c6 {Diagram 
[#]} 11. h3 {White has fundamentally different ways to continue: exchange on
e5 and play for the d-file (especially the square d6), or d5 followed by
Queenside expansion. I spent some time trying to figure out which was best,
only to discover at home that they're equally playable. I decided to try d4-d5,
and played h3 because with a closed center Black might want to play ...h5 to
support the Kingside pawnstorm, and immediatley forcing ...Nh6 stops that.} (
11. Qc2 Nh6 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. b4 Nf7 14. Rfd1 Qe7 15. c5 Re8 16. Nd2 Nf8 {1/
2-1/2 (60) Shishkin,V (2507)-Onischuk,V (2349) Kiev 2005}) (11. b4 Qe7 12. dxe5
dxe5 13. c5 Re8 14. Nd2 Nh6 15. Nc4 $14 {1-0 (26) Shirov,A (2705) -Pragua,C 
(2126) Hamburg simul 2005}) (11. d5 Qe7 12. Ne1 Nh6 13. f3 c5 14. Nb5 g5 15.
Bf2 f5 16. Nc7 Rb8 17. Ne6 Rf7 {1/2-1/2 (17) Roiz,M (2200)-Petrosian,D Tallinn
1997}) 11... Nh6 12. d5 c5 13. Ne1 Qb6 14. Nd3 f5 15. f3 f4 16. Rb1 Bf6 17. Bf2
Qd8 {Diagram [#] I think White has a much better version than the regular KID:
White has made all the usual prep moves on both sides of the board, and Black
is nowhere near to a Kingside attack: the Nh6 prevents ...h5 helping the pawn
storm, the Bf6 gets in the way of the Ns. If that's right, then it's no longer
the usual KID opposite side race, and White should probably go for a slower
Queenside build up -- including the a-pawn or doubling on the b-file -- so
that when the break comes, it's a knockout.} 18. b4 b6 19. Nb5 Qe7 20. Nc7 Rb8
21. Ne6 (21. Qa4 $142 cxb4 22. Ne6 $1 (22. Qxa7 $4 Rb7 $19) 22... Nc5 23. Ndxc5
dxc5 24. Nxf8 Kxf8 $16) 21... Re8 22. Qa4 Rb7 23. bxc5 $14 Nxc5 24. Nexc5 bxc5
({Here I noticed that I'd miscalculated; I thought I might have this line:} 
24... dxc5 25. Nxc5 bxc5 26. Bxc5 {overlooking that} Qxc5+ $1 {is check}) 25.
Rxb7 Bxb7 {Diagram [#]} 26. Qxa7 $2 {Ironically, now Black gets the active
major piece invasion on the Queenside.} (26. Rb1 $142 Bc8 {I didn't see a way
to make progress here, but Houdini rates White as better after} 27. Rb8 $1 {
when White still has a Queenside initiative.}) 26... Ra8 27. Qb6 Rxa2 $11 {
Black had spend a total of 8 minutes up to here.} 28. Nc1 (28. Nxc5 $1 dxc5 29.
Bxc5 $44) (28. Rb1 Rxe2 29. Qxb7 Qxb7 30. Rxb7 Rc2 $11) 28... Ra6 29. Qb5 Bc8
30. Nb3 Qd7 31. Rb1 (31. Qxd7 Bxd7 32. Bxc5 dxc5 33. Nxc5 Ra7 34. Rb1 Nf7 $15)
31... Bd8 {After this I had 16 minutes (plus increment) for the rest of the
game; Black had an hour and 16 minutes.} 32. Qxd7 Bxd7 {Diagram [#]} 33. Nxc5
$5 (33. Bxc5 $142 dxc5 34. Nxc5 Rb6 $1 {I didn't see a good continuation here,
which is why I played 33.Nxc5. Houdini rates it equal after several precise
moves from Black:} (34... Rd6 $143 35. Rb8 Nf7 36. Ra8 $1 $36) (34... Bb6 35.
Rxb6 $8 Rxb6 36. Nxd7 $16) (34... Ra7) 35. Ra1 Be8 36. Ra8 Nf7 $13 37. Ne6 Rxe6
$22 38. dxe6 Bb6+ 39. Kf1 Nd6 $8 $11 {White might try c5 and Bb5/c4, but it's
probably unwinnable.}) 33... dxc5 34. Rb8 Nf7 35. Bxc5 $6 (35. Bh4 $142 Ra1+ (
35... g5 $2 36. Bxg5 $16) 36. Kh2 Rb1 37. Ra8 Ra1 $1 $14 {Is an amusing
deflection, which (of course) I didn't see.}) 35... Kg7 36. Bf2 Ra2 37. Bf1 Kf6
38. c5 Rc2 39. Rb7 (39. c6 {is fine, but gives no winning chances after:} Bxc6
40. dxc6 Rxc6 $11) 39... Ba4 40. Ra7 Be8 41. Ra6+ Ke7 42. Re6+ $138 Kf8 $8 43.
Ra6 Rc1 44. c6 $8 {Preventing ...Bb5. now Black's R keeps White's K and one of
the Bs out of the game, while White's R and pawns neutralize Black's minors.
During the game I didn't see a way for either side to play for a win, though
that didn't stop me from trying.} Bc7 45. g3 g5 46. Kg2 $6 Rc2 $1 47. Bd3 Rd2
48. Bf1 Ke7 49. Kg1 Rd1 $6 {pins the wrong B.} (49... Kd6 $142 $15) 50. Bc5+
Nd6 51. Ra7 Kd8 $8 52. gxf4 gxf4 53. Ra8+ Ke7 {Diagram [#]} 54. Rc8 $6 ({More
practical, given the time situation, and objectively no worse, is:} 54. Ra7 Kd8
55. Ra8+ Nc8 56. Bf2 {threatens Bh4#} Bd6 $8 57. Bb6+ Bc7 58. Bf2 $11) 54...
Bb6 $1 55. Rxe8+ Kxe8 56. Bxb6 Nc4 {Diagram [#]Playing on increment and
surprised at how uncoordinated my pieces are, I couldn't find the only saving
line.} 57. Bf2 $4 (57. Bc7 $8 $13 Ne3 58. d6 {Black has to play a perpetual.
The mainline here assumes both sides play the most uncompromising moves, which
leads to quite a pretty finish.} Nxf1 ({the simplest way for Black to force
the draw is:} 58... Rxf1+ 59. Kh2 Rf2+ $11) 59. d7+ Ke7 60. Bxe5 ({The
simplest way for White to force the draw is:} 60. d8=Q+ Rxd8 61. Bxd8+ Kxd8 $11
) 60... Ne3+ 61. Kh2 (61. Kf2 Rd2+ 62. Ke1 Rd1+ 63. Ke2 Rd2+ $8 64. Ke1 $8 $11)
61... Rd2+ 62. Kh1 Rc2 63. Bf6+ Kf7 64. d8=Q Rc1+ 65. Kh2 Rc2+ 66. Kg1 Rc1+ 67.
Kf2 Rc2+ 68. Ke1 Ng2+ 69. Kd1 Ne3+ $11) 57... Nd2 (57... Ne3 {sets up a
promotion net similar to Kramnik-Anand (WCh).} 58. Bxe3 fxe3 59. Kg2 Rd2+ $19)
58. d6 Rxf1+ 59. Kg2 Rxf2+ $8 $19 60. Kxf2 Nc4 61. d7+ Kd8 62. Ke2 Na5 63. Kd3
Nxc6 64. Kc4 Kxd7 65. Kd5 h6 (65... h6 66. h4 h5 $22) 0-1

[Event "McGill Open 2013"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.05.04"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Hebert, Jean"]
[Black "Laptos, Krzysztof"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2428"]
[BlackElo "2206"]
[Annotator "Keith MacKinnon"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]
[Source "CFC-McGill CC"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.03"]

1. c4 d6 2. d4 e5 3. Nf3 e4 $5 {An ambitious opening that scores well for
black. I confess not having much knowledge of the thematic ideas in the
position, but black's subsequent play demonstrates his main plan.} 4. Nfd2 f5
5. e3 Nf6 6. Nc3 c5 (6... g6 {followed by ...Bg7 and is the most common idea
in this position.}) 7. d5 {and white shows his hand} (7. Nb3 {does not commit
to locking up the centre so quickly}) 7... g6 8. b3 Bh6 $5 {Unconventional. It
seemed as if black wanted to fiancetto his bishop to counter the long diagonal,
but he has different ideas.} 9. Qc2 Nbd7 10. Be2 Ne5 11. Bb2 O-O 12. h3 Qe7 {
Black's position appears to be quite comfortable here.} 13. O-O-O {I would be
hesitant to play such a move. It's not that it's a mistake, it just invites
black's forthcoming queenside attack. What we will see is attacking chances on
both sides of the board} (13. O-O {was most likely objectively better but also
much more drawish}) 13... Bd7 14. Kb1 a6 15. Rdg1 {Diagram [#]} b5 ({editor -
As our annotator notes, both Black and White have played unusually and
provocatively, so I was surprised to find this position is already in my
database:} 15... Kh8 16. g4 Bg7 17. gxf5 $2 (17. g5 $142) 17... Bxf5 $1 $15 18.
a4 Nd3 $1 19. Bxd3 exd3 20. Qc1 b5 $1 $17 21. Ka2 bxa4 22. bxa4 $2 Rab8 $1 $19
23. Re1 Ne4 24. Ndxe4 Bxe4 25. Rh2 Qe5 26. f4 Qe7 (26... Rxb2+ $1) 27. Ba1 Rb4
$19 {0-1 (38) Mahia,G (2377)-Slupik,C Dos Hermanas (Internet Section, 8m+2s)
2004}) 16. g4 {and now we see real conflict on the queenside and the kingside!}
b4 17. Nd1 Bg7 {necessary to prevent g5 and to be able to recapture on f5 with
his g-pawn in the case of 18. gxf5} 18. g5 Nh5 $5 {Bold. I remember looking
over at the game at this point and thinking that ...Nh5 was a mistake, but it
appears this move causes white the most headaches in continuing his attack} 19.
f4 $6 (19. Bxh5 gxh5 20. f4 exf3 21. Rf1 {black is in the driver's seat but
this may have been a better continuation for white}) 19... exf3 20. Nxf3 {
Diagram [#]} a5 $6 {black gives away part of his advantage and offers white
chances. It's interesting to note that the computer takes quite some time to
realize how good black's position is here} (20... Nxf3 $142 21. Bxf3 f4 $1 $17
{activating black's d7 bishop with threats on the f5-b1 diagonal} 22. Bxg7 (22.
Bxh5 $4 Bf5 $19) 22... Nxg7 {And white is in very serious trouble. His pieces
are uncoordinated and his position is falling apart after} 23. Bg4 Bf5 24. Bxf5
Nxf5 25. exf4 Nd4 26. Qg2 Rxf4 $19 {The powerful knight in combination with
the open files should give black a nearly winning position}) 21. Nxe5 dxe5 $6 {
Giving white the protected passed d-pawn looks very risky, but it will be a
long-term weakness for black, and white never gets around to taking advantage
of it} 22. Bxh5 {What could be more natural than giving black doubled h-pawns?}
gxh5 23. g6 h6 24. Nf2 {To the casual observer, this position might look very
strong for white. The truth, though, is that he has few avenues of attack and
black's plan is far more straightforward} a4 25. Nd3 axb3 26. axb3 Ra6 27. Qe2
e4 {Diagram: Critical Moment [#]} 28. Nf4 $4 {I do not recall if time trouble
was a factor in this mistake, but the position went from bad to lost
immediately} (28. d6 $1 {a tough move to find, but possibly white's best hope.
editor - the point is to protect the Kb1 by deflecting either the Ra6 (slowing
Black's attack on the a-file) or the Qe7 (so that after Bxg7 Black doesn't
have ...Qxg7).}) 28... Rfa8 $8 $19 29. d6 {desperation} ({editor - here's why
the Q defelection with 28.d6 was necessary:} 29. Bxg7 Qxg7 30. Qb2 Ra1+ 31. Kc2
Qxb2+ 32. Kxb2 R8a2#) 29... Ra1+ 30. Bxa1 Rxa1+ 31. Kc2 Qe5 $1 32. Rxa1 Qc3+
33. Kd1 Qxa1+ 34. Kc2 Qxh1 $6 (34... Qb2+ 35. Kd1 Qb1+ 36. Kd2 Bc3# {The mate
in 3 is quite obvious. Sometimes, it is worth taking a couple extra seconds to
check if there is an even better move than the one you have planned although
his move wins easily as well.}) 35. Qd2 Qa1 36. Qd5+ Kh8 37. Qf7 Qc3+ 38. Kd1
Qxb3+ 39. Ke2 Qc2+ 40. Kf1 Qd1+ 41. Kg2 Qf3+ 42. Kh2 Qxe3 {and white resigned
as there is no way to prevent mate in the near future. A very exciting game
characterised by original play by black in the opening!} 0-1

[Event "McGill Open 2013"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.05.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Laptos, Krzysztof"]
[Black "Sambuev, Bator"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2206"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]
[Source "CFC-McGill CC"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.03"]

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 Nh6 7. b4 cxd4 8. cxd4
Nf5 9. Bb2 Be7 {Diagram [#]} 10. Bd3 Bd7 (10... a5 11. Qa4 $1 {scores well for
White}) 11. Bxf5 (11. O-O Rc8 12. Nbd2 g5 13. Nb3 h5 14. Rc1 g4 15. Ne1 a5 16.
Bxf5 $1 exf5 17. Nd3 $14 {1-0 (31) Khalifman,A (2678)-Dolmatov,S (2605)
Rethymnon 2003}) 11... exf5 12. Nc3 Be6 13. O-O O-O 14. Na4 Qd8 15. Nc5 b6 16.
Nd3 Qd7 17. h4 Rfc8 18. Re1 Nd8 19. Bc1 Rc4 20. Bg5 Bf8 21. h5 h6 22. Be3 a5
23. bxa5 Rxa5 $15 24. Bd2 Ra7 25. Qb3 Nc6 26. Be3 Rca4 27. Nb2 Rxa3 28. Rxa3
Rxa3 29. Qxb6 Na5 {Diagram [#]} 30. Rd1 $6 {I suppose this was played to
discourage ...Nc4, but it gives Black a surprising way to take the initiative.}
(30. Nd3 $142 Nc4 31. Qb1 $8 Qa4 {neither of the Bs on the e-file is doing
much, but all of Black's other pieces are more active than White's.}) 30... f4
$3 (30... Nc4 31. Nxc4 dxc4 32. d5 Bxd5 33. Qd4 Ra5 34. Qxc4 Qe6 $15) 31. Bxf4
Bg4 $40 32. Nd3 ({trying to preserve his pawn structure fails:} 32. Rd3 Nc4 33.
Qb8 Ra5 $1 {[%csl Gb5][%cal Ga5b5] (threatens ...Rb5)} 34. Nxc4 Ra1+ 35. Kh2
dxc4 $19) 32... Qf5 33. Bg3 Nc4 {White's Q has to retreat to b1 anyway, and
Black's N turns out to be less useful here.} (33... Bxf3 $142 34. gxf3 Qxf3 35.
Qb1 $8 (35. Nb2 $2 Nc4 $19) 35... Nb3 $5 (35... Qxh5 $17) (35... Qg4 36. Nf4
Rf3 $1 $40) 36. Ne1 $8 (36. Rf1 Nd2 $19) (36. Nf4 Ra1 $19) 36... Qxh5 $17) 34.
Qb1 $8 Bxf3 35. gxf3 Qxf3 36. Nf4 $8 {Threatens to equalize with Rd3.} Rb3 $1
37. Qc2 Rb2 38. Qd3 {Diagram [#]} Rxf2 $5 {Computers rate this as giving away
Black's advantage, but it's a good practical choice: White's exposed K leaves
him having to calculate forcing lines on every move, and Black's extra pawns
mean White has no realistic winning chances.    This is very similar to
Hartman - Sambuev (RA Fall Open, 2010), where Bator sac'ed an exchange to get
a Q + dark-squared B + safe K vs Q + R + exposed K, and tortured IM Hartman
for 45 moves, eventually inducing a blunder to win.} 39. Bxf2 Qxf4 40. Qg3 Qf5
41. Ra1 Nd2 42. Be3 Ne4 43. Qf4 Qxh5 44. Ra8 Ng5 45. Qg3 Ne6 46. Qg2 {Diagram 
[#]Critical Position  Calculate 46...Nxd4} Nxd4 $1 47. Qxd5 $4 (47. Bxd4 Qd1+
48. Kh2 Qxd4 49. Qe2 {Black is better, but White threatens to equalize
immediately with e6.}) 47... Qd1+ 48. Kg2 Qg4+ $8 49. Kf2 Qe2+ $8 0-1

[Event "McGill Open 2013"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.05.05"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Sambuev, Bator"]
[Black "Kleinman, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2382"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. e4 d5 6. exd5 Nxd5 7. c3 c5 8.
dxc5 Qc7 9. Bc4 Rd8 (9... Be6 $142 10. Nd4 $140 $2 Nxc3 $1) 10. O-O Qxc5 11.
Qe2 Nc6 12. Nb3 Qb6 13. Rad1 Nf6 14. h3 $14 {Diagram [#]White hasn't done much,
but has a clear development advantage: more active minors, and Black has
serious trouble activating the Bc8.} Rxd1 (14... Bd7 $142 15. Be3 $5 (15. Ne5
Nxe5 16. Qxe5) (15. Nfd4 Nxd4) 15... Qc7 16. Nc5 Be8 $14) 15. Rxd1 $32 Qc7 (
15... Bf5 16. g4 $1 Be4 $140 17. Nh2 $18 {Black's Be4 is in trouble.}) 16. Nbd4
Nxd4 17. Rxd4 Nh5 18. Rd1 (18. Rd3 $5 Bf5 $140 19. Re3 $1 $18) 18... Bf6 (18...
e6 $4 19. Rd8+ $18) 19. Bxf6 Nxf6 20. Rd4 Kg7 21. Ne5 e6 22. Rf4 $40 {Critical
Position [#] White targets f7, and plans g2-g4-g5.   Question: Does Black have
time for ...Bd7-e8?} Rb8 ({Answer: No, Black does not have time for ...Bd7-e8.
} 22... Bd7 $2 23. Rxf6 $3 Kxf6 24. Qf3+ {( ...Bd7 blocks the Qc7's defence of
f7, so Black can't safely retreat to g7.)} Ke7 (24... Kxe5 25. Qg3+ $18 {
skewers the Qc7}) 25. Qxf7+ Kd6 {Diagram Attacking Practice [#]} (25... Kd8 26.
Qf6+ $1 Ke8 (26... Kc8 27. Bxe6 $18 {wins the Bd7 or the Ra8}) 27. Qh8+ {is
simplest} (27. Bd3 $1 $40 {/\Nxg6 keeps up a crushing attack}) 27... Ke7 28.
Qxh7+ Kd6 29. Nf7+ $18) 26. Qf4 $8 {The key to the attack: the unstoppable
discovered check wins White big material.} Rc8 {(defends the Q to give the K
more freedom to run)} (26... h6 {(illustrates a mating net)} 27. Nd3+ Kc6 28.
Qe4+ Kb6 29. Qe3+ Ka5 (29... Kc6 30. Qc5#) 30. b4+ $18 {#4}) (26... Bc6 27.
Nf7+ Kd7 28. Bxe6+ $18 {wins the Qc7.}) (26... g5 {(tries to deflect the Q;
but White can win the Pg5 with check and carry on with the attack)} 27. Qd2+ $1
Ke7 (27... Kxe5 28. Qd4+ Kf5 29. Bd3#) 28. Qxg5+ $18) 27. Nxg6+ Kc6 28. Ne5+
Kd6 29. Qd2+ Ke7 (29... Kxe5 30. Qd4+ Kf5 31. Bd3+ Kg5 32. Qg7+ $18 {#2}) 30.
Qg5+ $18) 23. g4 g5 $8 (23... h6 24. h4 $1 g5 25. hxg5 hxg5 26. Rf3 $18 {/\Qe3
- transposes to something similar to the game.}) 24. Rf3 b5 $1 {A pawn sac to
slow the attack: White's Q is temporarily tied to defending the Bb5 and Ne5.} (
24... Bd7 25. Qe3 h6 26. Nxd7 (26. h4 $40) 26... Nxd7 27. Rxf7+ $8 $18) 25.
Bxb5 a6 $6 (25... Bb7 26. Rxf6 $8 Kxf6 27. Nd7+ Ke7 28. Nxb8 Qxb8 29. Qd2 $16)
26. Bc6 $1 Rb6 27. Qe3 $1 $18 h6 28. h4 $1 Rxc6 (28... gxh4 29. g5 $18) (28...
Nd5 29. Bxd5 f6 30. Nc4 $18) 29. hxg5 $1 Ng8 30. Rxf7+ 1-0

[Event "Keres Memorial 38th"]
[Site "Richmond"]
[Date "2013.05.18"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Kriventsov, Stanislav"]
[Black "Botez, Alexandra"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C12"]
[BlackElo "2038"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2013.05.18"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Qg4
Kf8 9. h4 {Diagram [#]} Nxd2 {Black ususally keeps the N on e4 until White
chases it away with Bd3. This allows Black's eventual ...c4 to gain a tempo on
the Bd3.  In the game line, White's attack is two tempi up on these normal
lines, and that' enough for a significant advantage.} (9... c5 10. Bd3 Nxd2 11.
Kxd2 c4 (11... Nc6 12. a3 c4 13. Be2 b5 14. Rh3 Bd7 15. Qf4 a5 16. Bh5 Be8 $13
{0-1 (30) Munguntuul,B (2459)-Batchuluun,C (2446) Ulaanbaatar 2011}) 12. Be2
Nc6 13. Rh3 Rg8 (13... Kg8 14. Rg3 Qf8 15. h5 Kh7 16. Nf3 Rg8 $13) 14. Rf3 Ke7
15. Nh3 Qa5 16. Qf4 Rf8 17. Rg3 Rg8 18. Bh5 $36 Nd8 19. Re1 b5 20. a3 Qxa3 21.
Rxg7 Rxg7 22. Qf6+ Kd7 23. Qxg7 b4 $132 24. Re3 $2 b3 $1 $36 25. Re1 Rb8 26.
Nf4 Qa2 27. Bxf7 $4 Qxc2+ 28. Ke3 Qe4+ {0-1 (28) Jenni,F (2471)-Kortschnoj,V 
(2643) Zuerich 2001 CBM 083 [Bangiev]}) 10. Kxd2 c5 11. Rh3 c4 (11... Nc6 12.
Rg3 Rg8 13. Bd3 g6 14. Qf4 g5 15. hxg5 hxg5 16. Qg4 c4 17. Bh7 Rg7 18. Qh5 Qe7
19. Qh6 b5 20. Nf3 {1-0 (20) Euwe,M-Boedyn Amsterdam 1920}) 12. Rg3 Rg8 13. Rf3
Nc6 14. Nh3 b5 15. Nf4 Ke8 16. Nh5 Kf8 17. Qf4 Qe7 18. a3 g5 $2 19. Qe3 $1 $16
a5 20. Nf6 Rh8 (20... Rg6 21. hxg5 hxg5 22. Rh3 $18 Kg7 $140 23. Rh7+ Kf8 24.
Rh8+ Kg7 25. Rg8+ Kh6 26. Qh3#) 21. hxg5 Rb8 22. g6 b4 23. g7+ Kxg7 24. Rg3+ (
24. Rg3+ Kf8 25. Qxh6+ Rxh6 26. Rg8#) 1-0

[Event "Keres Memorial 38th"]
[Site "Richmond"]
[Date "2013.05.18"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Gluckie, Jamin"]
[Black "Kolbus, Dietmar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D70"]
[WhiteElo "2198"]
[BlackElo "2356"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2013.05.18"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c6 8. Qd2
e5 9. d5 O-O 10. O-O-O $2 (10. h4 $142) (10. d6 $5) 10... cxd5 $15 11. exd5
N8d7 12. h4 Nf6 13. g4 e4 14. fxe4 Bxg4 15. Be2 Re8 16. Bg5 Qc8 17. Bxg4 Qxg4
18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Nge2 Rac8 $17 20. Kb1 Na4 (20... Nc4 $1 21. Qd3 Nxb2 $1 22.
Kxb2 Rxe4 $1 $19 {(White has no way out of all the pins. The immediate threat
is ...Rxe2+)} 23. Kb1 (23. Ka3 Rec4 24. Rc1 b5 $1) 23... Rb4+) 21. Rdg1 Nxc3+
22. Nxc3 Bxc3 23. bxc3 Qxe4+ 24. Ka1 Qe3 25. Qxe3 Rxe3 26. d6 Rd8 27. Rd1 Re6
0-1

[Event "Keres Memorial 38th"]
[Site "Richmond"]
[Date "2013.05.18"]
[Round "2.5"]
[White "Kaufman, Raymond"]
[Black "Lo, Ryan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D97"]
[WhiteElo "2304"]
[BlackElo "2156"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2013.05.18"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 a6 8. e5
b5 9. Qb3 Nfd7 10. e6 fxe6 11. Be2 (11. Be3 Nf6 12. a4 bxa4 13. Rxa4 Nc6 14.
Bc4 Rb8 15. Bxe6+ Kh8 16. Qc4 Bxe6 17. Qxe6 Qd6 18. Ng5 Nd8 19. Qc4 Rxb2 20.
Rxa6 c6 21. O-O Ng4 22. g3 {1/2-1/2 (22) Morozevich,A (2715)-Kurnosov,I (2662)
Pamplona 2010}) (11. Qxe6+ Kh8 12. Qe4 (12. Ng5 Nb6 (12... Ne5 $5 13. Qd5 Qxd5
14. Nxd5 Nec6 15. Be3) 13. Nf7+ Rxf7 14. Qxf7 Nc6 $13) 12... Nb6 13. Qh4 Nc6
14. Bd3 Rxf3 $1 15. gxf3 Nxd4 16. Be4 $8 Bf5 $13 (16... Qf8 $1 17. Bxa8 $140 $2
Nxa8 $19) 17. Be3 c5 18. Bxd4 cxd4 19. Rd1 Rc8 20. Rg1 Bf6 21. Qh6 Bg7 22. Qh4
Bf6 23. Qh6 Bg7 {1/2-1/2 (23) Karpov,A (2770)-Kamsky,G (2735) Elista 1996 CBM
054 [Gurevich,M]}) 11... Nb6 12. Be3 Nd5 13. h4 Nxe3 14. fxe3 Qd6 15. O-O-O c5
16. h5 c4 17. Qc2 Bb7 18. hxg6 h6 19. Rh5 Nd7 20. Rdh1 Nf6 21. R5h4 Bxf3 22.
Bxf3 Rac8 23. Ne4 Nxe4 24. Qxe4 c3 $1 $36 25. Bg4 cxb2+ 26. Kb1 Rf6 27. Qd3 $2
Rf2 $1 28. Qb3 $2 Rc4 $1 29. Bf3 Qc7 0-1

[Event "Keres Memorial 38th"]
[Site "Richmond"]
[Date "2013.05.19"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Orlov, Georgi"]
[Black "Kriventsov, Stanislav"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[Annotator "Stephen Wright"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2013.05.18"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 {The Glek variation; more common are 4.Bb5 or 4.
d4} 4. g3 g6 ({A rare response; usual is} 4... d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nxc3 7.
bxc3 Bd6 8. O-O O-O {with a transposition to the Vienna Game.}) 5. d4 exd4 6.
Nxd4 Bg7 7. Nde2 {Avoiding an exchange which would alleviate some of Black's
space difficulties. Compare with 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3
g6 6.g3 Nc6 7.Nde2.} d6 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O {Diagram [#]} Bd7 ({The game has now
transposed to a g3 Pirc; one plan for Black in that line is to exchange
knights in the centre followed by Bc6, but given that White has already
avoided that possibility placing the bishop on d7 is a bit passive.} 9... Bg4 {
to provoke a pawn move is possible, or 9...Be6 intending Bc4 at some point.})
10. h3 Qe7 $6 ({Perhaps this is playable, but the plan of placing the queen in
the centre of the board looks artificial.} 10... Re8 {is more natural.}) 11.
Bg5 Qe5 12. Qd2 Rae8 13. f4 {Somewhat loosening, but the queen is short of
squares.} Qc5+ 14. Kh2 h6 $6 (14... Be6 {removes the bishop from potential
problems down the d-file involving White playing e4-e5 and makes Bc4 possible.}
) 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nd5 Bd8 (16... Bxb2 $2 17. c3 $1 Bxa1 $140 18. Nf6+ Kh8 19.
Nxd7 $18) 17. b4 Qc4 18. Rfb1 Nb8 $6 ({It's not clear what the point of the
text move is.} 18... a5 {is one way to fight for Queenside squares.}) 19. Nec3
b6 $2 ({Providing an escape hole, but the Black queen never gets the chance to
use it.} 19... Nc6 {, giving Black the option of Qd4, appears best.}) 20. b5 $1
{Prevents a ...Qc6 escape and opens b4; White threatens Rb4 trapping the Q.} c5
21. Rd1 $1 {Diagram [#]} Kg7 $4 ({Looks harmless, but it lets White trap the
Qc4. After} 21... Be6 22. Bf1 Qd4 23. Qxd4 (23. Qe1 Qg7 {shows why ...Kg7
costs the game.}) 23... cxd4 24. Rxd4 {White has the advantage but Black can
still put up resistance.}) ({editor} 21... Kh7 22. Qe3 $18 {now the R covers
d4 and Bf1 traps the Qc4}) ({editor} 21... Qd4 {saves the Q, but is hopeless:}
22. Qxd4 cxd4 23. Rxd4 f5 24. Ra4 $18) 22. Bf1 Qd4 23. Qe1 {Black's Kg7 is
blocking his Q's escape diagonal.} 1-0

[Event "Keres Memorial 38th"]
[Site "Richmond"]
[Date "2013.05.19"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Lo, Ryan"]
[Black "Kolbus, Dietmar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2156"]
[BlackElo "2356"]
[Annotator "Stephen Wright and Upper"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2013.05.18"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Ne2 c5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 Qc7 11. Rc1 {Diagram [#]} Na5 ({An offbeat response
to the Classical Exchange Grünfeld -} 11... Rd8 {is the overwhelming choice of
most players in this position.}) 12. Bd3 b6 13. f4 (13. Qd2 {is more common, e.
g.,} Bb7 14. Bh6 Rad8 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. f4 {as in Jakovenko-Areshchenko,
Khanty-Mansiysk 2009 (1-0 in 29).}) 13... e6 ({Paradoxically} 13... f5 {has
been played more often but scores substantially worse than the text.}) 14. f5 {
If Black is allowed to play 14...f5 White's kingside play will come to a halt.}
exf5 15. exf5 Qe7 16. Qd2 {Diagram [#]Critical Position} ({A novelty.} 16. Rf3
{has previously been played:} Bb7 17. Rg3 Be4 (17... Rfe8 18. Bg5 Qd6 19. Qf1
Be4 20. Rd1 {1/2-1/2 Erdos-Szeberenyi, Budapest 2004}) 18. Nf4 Rfe8 19. Nh5 Bh8
20. Bg5 Qd6 21. Bxe4 Rxe4 22. Qf3 Rae8 23. fxg6 hxg6 $2 24. Rf1 $18 Qe6 25.
Nf6+ Bxf6 26. Bxf6 Re3 27. Qh5 $8 Qxf6 28. Rxf6 Rxg3 29. Qd5 $1 {1-0
Radev-Merdinjan, Bulgaria 1973}) 16... Bxf5 $6 (16... Re8 17. Bg5 (17. Rf3 Bxf5
$1) 17... f6 18. Rce1 (18. Bh4 $4 c4 $19) 18... fxg5 19. Ng3 Qd7 20. Rxe8+ Qxe8
21. f6 Bxf6 22. Rxf6 {leads to equality, according to Houdini.}) 17. Rxf5 $1 ({
This appears to be a thematic way of continuing the attack, but in fact the
exchange sacrifice is almost forced if White is to avoid being significantly
worse, e.g.,} 17. Bxf5 $2 Nc4 $1 18. Bg5 (18. Qd3 Nxe3 $19) 18... Nxd2 19. Bxe7
Rfe8 20. Rfd1 Rxe7 21. Rxd2 Bh6 $19) 17... gxf5 (17... cxd4 18. Nxd4 $8 $18 (
18. Bxd4 $2 Bxd4+ 19. Nxd4 gxf5 20. Nxf5 Qc5+ 21. Kh1 Kh8 $13) 18... gxf5 19.
Nxf5 Qe6 20. Nxg7 Kxg7 21. Bd4+ f6 22. Qg5+ Kh8 23. Rf1 $18) 18. Ng3 cxd4 $2 (
18... Qe6 $1 {, allowing Black's offside knight to exchange itslef for the
attacking Nf5, leaves the position approximately equal.} 19. Nxf5 (19. Bxf5 Nc4
$13) 19... Nc4 $1 20. Bxc4 Qxf5 $8 $13 (20... Qxc4 $2 21. Bh6 $18)) 19. Nxf5 $1
$40 {Diagram [#]} Qe6 $8 {Black must defend against piece invasions on h6.} (
19... Qb7 20. Bh6 $1 Bxh6 21. Qxh6 f6 22. Be4 $1 Qd7 23. Bd5+ $1 Kh8 24. Bxa8
$18 Rxa8 (24... Rf7 25. Re1 dxc3 26. Bd5 $18) 25. Qxf6+ Kg8 26. Nh6#) (19...
Qd7 20. Nxg7 Kxg7 (20... dxe3 21. Bxh7+ Kxh7 22. Qxd7 $18) 21. Bh6+ Kh8 22.
Bxf8 Rxf8 23. Qh6 $18 {with two mate threats.}) 20. cxd4 $1 {The exchange on
d4 has left White in control of the c4 square and Black's knight remains out
of play.} (20. Bxd4 $143 Bxd4+ 21. cxd4 Kh8 $13) 20... Rac8 $2 ({Still
fighting for c4, but missing or underestimating White's next.} 20... Rad8 {was
called for.}) 21. d5 $3 $18 {Deflecting the Q from the sixth rank.} Qe5 ({Of
course not} 21... Qxd5 $4 22. Ne7+ $18) ({Her Majesty is embarassed for
squares: if} 21... Qd7 22. Nxg7 {and recapturing allows mate threats} Kxg7 23.
Bh6+ Kh8 24. Bxf8 $18 Rxf8 $140 25. Qh6 {again, with two mate threats.}) 22.
Rxc8 $6 ({An immediate} 22. Bd4 {is more precise, after the text move Black
has c7 available for the queen.}) 22... Rxc8 23. Bd4 {Diagram [#]} Qxd4+ $6 (
23... Qc7 24. Bxg7 Qc1+ 25. Qxc1 Rxc1+ 26. Kf2 {is somewhat better, although
still losing; perhaps Black felt there were increased chances of constructing
a fortress with the game continuation.}) 24. Nxd4 Bxd4+ 25. Kf1 Bg7 26. Qg5 h6
27. Qe7 Rc3 28. Qe8+ Bf8 29. Bh7+ $6 (29. Qe4 {is objectively stronger, but
White prefers to simplify and clarify the position. There may be a few
inaccuracies in the ensuing technical portion of the game, but the final
result is never in doubt.}) 29... Kxh7 30. Qxf8 Rc1+ 31. Kf2 Rc2+ 32. Kg3 Kg6
33. Qb4 $6 (33. d6) 33... Rc5 34. d6 Nc6 35. Qe4+ Kf6 36. d7 Kg7 37. Qxc6 $5
Rxc6 38. d8=Q Rc5 39. Qd4+ Kg6 40. Kf3 h5 41. Ke3 Ra5 42. a4 Kh7 43. Kd3 Kg6
44. Kc3 Kh7 45. Qd7 Kg6 46. Kb4 Kf6 47. Qc6+ Ke7 48. g4 hxg4 49. Qe4+ Kf6 50.
Qxg4 Rg5 51. Qf4+ Kg6 52. h4 Ra5 53. Kb3 Kg7 54. Qg4+ Kh7 55. Kb4 Kh8 $2 56. h5
Kh7 57. Qf4 Kg7 58. h6+ Kg6 59. Qh4 1-0

[Event "Keres Memorial 38th"]
[Site "Richmond"]
[Date "2013.05.20"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Kaufman, Raymond"]
[Black "Yoos, Jack"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2304"]
[BlackElo "2382"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2013.05.18"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 c6 8. d5 Na6
9. O-O Ng4 10. Bd2 f5 {Diagram [#]} 11. Rb1 $146 {Most games from this
position have seen White exchange on f5 and play f2-f4, to block the Bc8.} (11.
Ne1 Nf6 12. exf5 gxf5 13. Kh1 Kh8 14. f4 e4 15. Nc2 c5 16. Ne3 Bd7 17. h3 Nc7
18. a4 Rg8 19. Be1 Qe7 20. g4 Nfe8 21. g5 Na6 22. Qb3 Nb4 23. a5 h6 24. h4 Bd4
25. Bf2 hxg5 26. hxg5 Be5 27. Bh4 Bd4 28. Nc2 Nd3 29. Kg2 Nf6 30. Bxd3 exd3 31.
Nxd4 cxd4 32. Rae1 Qf7 33. Nb1 Ng4 34. Bf2 Kh7 35. Bxd4 Kg6 36. Qa3 {1-0 (37)
Sarkar,J (2405)-Felgaer,R (2556) Gibraltar 2007}) (11. Ng5 Nf6 12. exf5 gxf5
13. f4 e4 14. Be3 c5 15. Nh3 (15. a3 Bd7 16. Rc1 Kh8 17. Nb5 Qe7 18. a4 h6 19.
Nh3 Nb4 20. Nf2 a6 21. Nc3 Qf7 22. Kh1 Qg6 23. g3 h5 24. Qd2 Ng4 25. Nh3 Bf6
26. Ng5 Rg8 27. h4 Qg7 28. Rcd1 Rge8 29. Bg1 Kg8 {0-1 (80) Kortschnoj,V (2635)
-Milov,V (2610) Switzerland 1997}) 15... Ng4 16. Bxg4 fxg4 17. Nf2 Bxc3 18.
bxc3 h5 19. Qe2 Bf5 {1/2-1/2 (59) Gelfand,B (2665)-Topalov,V (2750) Novgorod
1996}) 11... c5 12. Ng5 Nf6 13. f4 $5 h6 ({Houdini suggests:} 13... Nxe4 14.
Ncxe4 fxe4 15. Bg4 exf4 16. Be6+ Bxe6 17. Nxe6 Bd4+ 18. Kh1 Qe7 $14) 14. Ne6
Bxe6 15. dxe6 Nxe4 16. Nxe4 fxe4 17. Qc2 Qe7 18. Qxe4 Qxe6 (18... Kh7 $2 19. f5
$1 $40 gxf5 20. Rxf5 Rxf5 21. Qxf5+ Kh8 22. Bd3 $18) 19. Qxb7 Nb4 {Diagram [#]}
20. a3 $1 exf4 ({Black should probably recycle the N with} 20... Nc2 21. Bd3
Nd4 22. fxe5 dxe5 23. Be3 {But even so, Black's Nd4 isn't enough compensation
for his broken pawns, loose Kingside, stunted Bg7, and White's Bishop pair.})
21. Bf3 $8 $18 Qxc4 (21... Rab8 22. Qxa7 {the Nb4 is trapped and there's not
way to harrass the Qa7.}) 22. axb4 1-0

[Event "Keres Memorial 38th"]
[Site "Richmond"]
[Date "2013.05.20"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Orlov, Georgi"]
[Black "Pechisker, Alfred"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E91"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2275"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2013.05.18"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 c5 7. O-O Na6 8. d5
Nc7 9. Bf4 a6 10. a4 b6 11. h3 Bd7 12. Qd2 Rb8 13. e5 Nfe8 14. Ne4 Bf5 15. Ng3
{Diagram [#]} Bd7 (15... Bc8 16. b4 $6 cxb4 17. Qxb4 b5 18. Rab1 Bb7 19. Ne4
bxc4 20. Bxc4 dxe5 21. Nxe5 Nxd5 22. Bxd5 Qxd5 23. Rfd1 (23. Nxg6 $1 hxg6 24.
Bxb8 Ba8 (24... Qxe4 25. Qxb7) 25. f3 $16) 23... a5 $4 24. Qe1 Qxe4 25. Qxe4
Bxe4 26. Rxb8 $18 {1-0 (57) Farago,I (2440)-Maciejewski,A (2470) Bucharest 1974
}) 16. Bh6 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. b3 $16 Rb6 20. Qc3 Kg8 21. Qe3
Kg7 {Black must prevent Qh6.} (21... bxc4 22. bxc4 (22. Qh6) 22... Rb2 23. Qh6
f6 24. e6 Bc8 25. h4 $18 (25. Bd3 $18)) 22. Bd3 bxc4 23. bxc4 Rb3 24. Nh5+ $3
$18 Kg8 (24... gxh5 25. Qg5+ Kh8 26. Qh6 $18 {(threatening two mates)}) 25. Qh6
f6 26. Bxg6 hxg6 27. Qxg6+ Kh8 28. Nh4 fxe5 29. Qh6+ Kg8 30. Ng6 {White's
winning combination is very similar to one in Petersons - Filipowicz, 1963} 1-0

[Event "POL-LAT m"]
[Site "Soviet Union"]
[Date "1963.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Petersons, Andrejs"]
[Black "Filipowicz, Andrzej"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E91"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "n1b1nrk1/1q2ppbp/p2p2pB/2pPP3/2P5/1r1B1NNP/RP1Q1PP1/5RK1 w - - 0 21"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "1963.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]

{Diagram [#]} 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 $2 (21... Nxg7 22. Ne4 $40 Bf5 $140 $2 23. Qh6 $18
{escaping the attack on h7 costs Black several pieces.}) 22. Nh5+ $3 $18 Kg8 (
22... gxh5 $2 23. Qg5+ Kh8 24. Qh6 $18 {threatening mate on h7 and f8.}) 23.
Qh6 f6 24. Bxg6 $1 hxg6 25. Qxg6+ Kh8 26. e6 (26. Nh4 $1 {as in Orlov -
Pechisker is quicker.} fxe5 (26... e6 {trying to bring over the Qb7 doesn't
help:} 27. Qh6+ Kg8 28. Ng6 Qh7 29. Qxf8#) 27. Qh6+ Kg8 28. Ng6 $18) 26... Nac7
27. Nh4 $18 Bxe6 (27... Rg8 $2 28. Qh6#) 28. Qh6+ Kg8 29. Ng6 Bxd5 30. Qh8+ Kf7
31. Qh7+ Ke6 32. Nxf8+ Ke5 33. Rd1 $1 {Closing the exit.} Bxc4 34. f4# 1-0

[Event "Ontario Open"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2013.05.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kleinman, Michael"]
[Black "Sambuev, Bator"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D34"]
[WhiteElo "2385"]
[BlackElo "2682"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. d4 e6 5. O-O Nf6 6. c4 Be7 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Nc3
O-O 9. Bg5 c4 {9...cxd4 is more than twice as common, and scores slightly
better, but ...c4 is recommended in Aagaard & Ntirlis's The Tarrasch Defence 
(Quality Chess, 2011).} 10. Ne5 Be6 {Diagram [#]} 11. Nxc4 {"This trick brings
White no joy against correct play." - Aagaard & Ntirlis} dxc4 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13.
d5 Qb6 $1 ({Here's the kind of major piece ending White wants, played by one
of the best players of the 1930s.} 13... Bd7 14. dxc6 Bxc6 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16.
Qc2 (16. Qa4 $1) 16... Rb8 17. Rab1 Qa5 18. Ne4 Qxa2 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 20. Ra1 $1
Qxb2 21. Qxc4 $16 {Diagram [#] Black has five isolated pawns and an exposed K.
It's interesting how White refuses to take pawns when that would allow Black
to exchange a pair of rooks.} Rb4 (21... Qb6 22. Qg4+ Kh8 23. Ra4 $40) 22. Qxc6
Qxe2 23. Qxf6 Rb6 24. Qd4 Rfb8 25. Rfe1 Qb2 26. Qd7 R8b7 27. Qd5 Re6 (27... Rf6
28. Ra2 $14) 28. Red1 a6 29. Rac1 Rb8 30. h4 Qe5 31. Qd7 h6 32. Rc4 Rf6 33.
Qg4+ Rg6 34. Qf3 Re8 35. Rf4 Re7 36. Rf5 Qg7 $2 37. h5 $16 (37. Rd8+ $142 $1
Kh7 38. h5 Rge6 39. Rf4 $18 {/\Qd3+}) 37... Rge6 38. Kg2 Qb2 39. Rd8+ Re8 40.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 41. Rxf7 {1-0 (41) Flohr,S-Maroczy,G London 1932}) 14. Qc1 Bd7 15.
dxc6 Bxc6 16. Rd1 ({Aagaard & Ntirlis continue:} 16. Bxc6 Qxc6 17. Rd1 Rfd8 18.
Qc2 b5 $1 $146 19. e4 Bxc3 20. bxc3 a5 $15) 16... Rad8 17. Qc2 h5 18. Bxc6 Qxc6
19. e4 $6 {Diagram [#]} Bxc3 $8 $15 20. bxc3 Rfe8 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 $15 22. h4 Rd3
$1 23. Re1 g6 24. Qc1 Qc5 25. e5 $4 {Even 2300+ players make beginner-like
blunders.} Rxg3+ $19 {White has three isolated pawns and an exposed K.} 26. Kf1
Rh3 27. Qd2 Qc6 28. Re3 Rh1+ (28... Rxe3 29. Qxe3 Qh1+ 30. Ke2 Qxh4 $19) 29.
Ke2 Qg2 30. Rf3 $1 {Diagram [#]} Qf1+ $1 (30... b5 $4 31. Qd8+ Kg7 32. Qf6+ $18
{#3}) 31. Ke3 Qd1 $1 {Black kills any hope for counterplay against his K, and
White won't be able to defend his isolated pawns on a2, c3, and h4.} 32. Qxd1
Rxd1 33. Ke4 (33. Ke2 Rd5 34. Re3 Ra5 $19) 33... Kf8 34. a3 ({Here, and in
other lines, White can't break up Black's pawns with} 34. e6 {because of} Re1+
$1) 34... Ke7 35. Re3 Ke6 36. f4 Rh1 37. Re2 Rxh4 38. Rg2 (38. Rd2 g5 $19)
38... Rh3 39. Kd4 Rf3 40. Ke4 Rxc3 0-1

[Event "Ontario Open"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2013.05.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Plotkin, Victor"]
[Black "Gordon, David"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2395"]
[BlackElo "2288"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "164"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nf3 {Diagram [#] This seems to be
Victor's main line against the Sicilian. In Hugh Brodie's CanBase, he's scored
+6=3-3 from this position. That might not sound so impressive for a player who
is around 2400, but those three losses are against Hikaru Nakamura, Wesley So,
and the final round game at the 2011 Canadian Zonal that clinched Arthur
Calugar his IM title.} d6 (5... Nc6 6. Bc4 Nb6 7. Bb3 d5 8. exd6 Qxd6 9. Nxd4
Nxd4 10. cxd4 g6 $5 11. Qf3 Be6 12. Qxb7 Bg7 13. O-O Bxd4 14. Nc3 $14 {but got
out-played after the Qs came off; Plotkin,V (2215)-Nakamura,H (2701)/Toronto
2009/(0-1, 59)}) 6. cxd4 Nc6 {My database has Black scoring 54%, but Elo-20
from here; which (I think) means that it usually occurs when White is the
lower rated player.} (6... e6 7. Bc4 Nc6 (7... Nc7 $6 8. Nc3 Be7 9. Bb3 Nc6 10.
Qe2 d5 11. O-O f5 $6 12. exf6 Bxf6 13. Bf4 O-O (13... Nxd4 $2 14. Nxd4 Bxd4 15.
Bxc7 Qxc7 16. Nxd5 $18) 14. Rad1 Ne8 15. Rfe1 {It's turned into a Tarrasch
French, where White has a lead in development and a bind on e5;  Plotkin,V 
(2192)-Patterson,R (2179) Guelph CAN 2005 (1-0, 51)}) (7... Nb6 8. Bb3 dxe5 9.
Nxe5 Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 $11 {0-1 (84) Plotkin,V (2422)-Calugar,A (2401) Guelph
CAN 2011}) 8. O-O Be7 9. exd6 Qxd6 10. Nc3 Nxc3 $5 $14 11. bxc3 b6 12. Ng5 $1
Bb7 13. Qg4 (13. Re1 $1 $14) (13. d5 $5 $36) 13... h5 $1 14. Qf3 Bxg5 15. Bxg5
Na5 16. Bb5+ Kf8 17. Bf4 $1 (17. Qe2 $2 Bxg2 $1 $17) 17... Qd5 18. Qxd5 Bxd5
19. Rfc1 Bc4 $11 {0-1 (35) Plotkin,V (2409)-So,W (2667) Hamilton CAN 2011}) 7.
Bc4 dxe5 8. dxe5 Nb6 9. Qxd8+ Nxd8 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Nc3 e6 12. Be3 (12. O-O Bb4
13. Bxd7+ Nxd7 14. Ne4 Nc6 15. Bf4 (15. Nd6+ Ke7 16. Nxb7 Rhb8 17. Nd6 Ndxe5
$15) 15... Nb6 16. Rfd1 Nd5 17. Bg3 h6 18. h4 O-O $11 {1/2-1/2 (72) Vallejo
Pons,F (2698)-Andreikin,D (2689) Moscow 2011}) 12... Bb4 13. Bxd7+ Nxd7 14. Bd2
Nc6 15. a3 Bxc3 16. Bxc3 b5 17. Nd4 Nxd4 18. Bxd4 Ke7 19. Rc1 Rhc8 20. Kd2 a6
21. f4 Kd8 22. g4 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Rc8 24. Ra1 Rc4 25. Kd3 Kc7 26. b3 Nc5+ $1 27.
Bxc5 $8 Rxc5 $11 28. Rf1 {Diagram [#]} h6 29. f5 $2 {White over presses. This
is done at your own peril in a R ending against David Gordon.} Rxe5 30. fxe6
Rd5+ (30... f6 $1 31. h4 $140 Kd6 $17) 31. Ke4 fxe6 32. Rf7+ Rd7 33. Rf8 Rd2
34. Rf7+ Kc6 35. h4 g5 36. Rf6 gxh4 37. Rxh6 (37. Rxe6+ Rd6 38. Re5 $11) 37...
Kd6 38. Rxh4 Ra2 $15 39. Rh7 Rxa3 40. Ra7 Kc5 41. g5 Kb6 42. Re7 (42. g6 $5
Rxb3 43. Re7 $11 Rg3 44. Rxe6+ Ka5) 42... Rxb3 43. Rxe6+ Ka5 44. g6 Rg3 45. Kf4
Rg1 46. Rd6 Rg2 47. Re6 Rg1 48. Rd6 Rf1+ 49. Ke5 b4 50. g7 Rg1 51. Kf6 Rxg7 (
51... b3 52. Rd5+ Ka4 53. Rg5 $1 Rxg5 54. Kxg5 b2 55. g8=Q b1=Q $11 {Black has
the better half of a draw.}) 52. Kxg7 b3 {Diagram [#]Critical Position  Can
White save this game?  Yes, but only by playing like a table-base, which is
what I've used to annotate this.} 53. Kf6 $2 {White draws only with R moves on
the d-file, except 53.Rd4, which loses to 53...b2[], since the R would have to
go to d1 to stop the pawn, and Black will win a tempo off it when his K gets
to c2.} (53. Rd3 Kb4 54. Rd8 $1 ({or} 54. Rd7 $1) 54... a5 55. Rb8+ $8 Ka3 (
55... Kc3 56. Rc8+ $8 Kd2 57. Rd8+ $8 Kc1 58. Rc8+ $8 Kb1 59. Ra8 $11) 56. Kf6
$8 b2 57. Ke5 $8 a4 (57... Ka2 58. Ra8 $11 (58. Kd4 $11)) 58. Kd4 $8 Ka2 59.
Kc3 $8 a3 60. Kc2 $8 Ka1 61. Rb3 Ka2 (61... a2 62. Rxb2 $11) 62. Rxa3+ $11)
53... b2 $8 $19 54. Rd1 Kb4 $2 (54... Ka4 $8 55. Ke5 a5 $8 56. Kd4 Kb3 $8 {#31}
) 55. Rd6 $2 {(As in the note to move 53, only Rd7 and Rd8 draw.)} Kc5 $1 $19
56. Rxa6 (56. Rd1 Kc4 $8 $19 {Black's K can now keep the White K away 
("shouldering") while advancing the a-pawn.}) 56... b1=Q 57. Ra5+ Kd4 58. Ra4+
Ke3 59. Rg4 Kf3 60. Rc4 Qb5 61. Rc8 $2 {this is what the carbon says, though
it's hard to believe both players would miss ...Qa6+ fork. Similarly, 61.Rc1
gets forked from b2.} Ke4 $2 62. Rd8 Qb6+ 63. Ke7 Ke5 64. Rd7 Qc6 65. Rd1 Qe6+
66. Kd8 Qb6+ 67. Ke7 Qb4+ 68. Kd8 Ke6 69. Kc7 Qc4+ 70. Kd8 Qh4+ (70... Qb3 $1 {
faster, threatening # and the R.}) 71. Kc7 Qh7+ 72. Kb6 Qc2 73. Rd8 Qa4 74. Kb7
Qb5+ 75. Kc7 Ke7 76. Rc8 Qa6 77. Rb8 Qd6+ 78. Kb7 Kd7 79. Ka7 Qa3+ 80. Kb7 Qa5
$22 {It's a good calculating exercise to work out all the ways to fork the R
if it moves away from the K.} 81. Ra8 Qb5+ 82. Ka7 Kc7 0-1

[Event "Ontario Open"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2013.05.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Sambuev, Bator"]
[Black "Hamilton, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B27"]
[WhiteElo "2682"]
[BlackElo "2356"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. Nf3 c6 4. c4 d5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. exd5 Nf6 7. Bc4 Nxd5 8.
Qb3 e6 9. Bg5 {Diagram [#]} Qb6 (9... f6 10. Bd2 Nc6 11. O-O O-O 12. h3 Qd7 13.
Re1 Qf7 14. a3 Rd8 $14 {1/2-1/2 (36) Kurajica,B (2539)-Graf,A (2605) Skopje
2002}) 10. Nc3 (10. Bxd5 $143 exd5 11. Nc3 (11. Qxb6 axb6 12. Nc3 Be6 $11)
11... Be6 12. Qxb6 axb6 13. Nb5 Na6 (13... Kd7 14. Ne5+ Bxe5 $1 15. dxe5 Rc8
$32 {Black threatens ...Rc2 and ...Rc4-b4/g4}) 14. Rc1 f6 15. Bf4 Kd7 16. a3 g5
17. Bg3 h5 $13 {1-0 (34) Kornev,A (2575)-Voitsekhovsky,S (2490) Voronezh 2006})
10... Qxb3 11. axb3 Nc6 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. Bxd5 Nb4 (13... Nxd4 $2 14. Nxd4 Bxd4
15. O-O-O $16 {White is too well developed.}) 14. Be4 f5 15. Bb1 Be6 16. O-O
Kf7 17. Bd2 Nd5 $2 18. Ng5+ Kf6 {Diagram [#]} 19. Nxe6 {The B-pair and open
center give White a clear plus.} ({Computers prefer} 19. h4 {, possibly
because White can postpone NxB while developing against Black's loose minors
and Pa7.}) {It's funny how Black can't ever take the Pd4: the tactics always
favour White.} 19... Kxe6 20. b4 Kd6 21. Ba2 Rhc8 (21... Bxd4 $4 22. Rad1 $18 {
Black will lose one of the pieces on the d-file.}) 22. Bb3 a6 23. Ra5 Nc7 24.
Rc5 Kd7 (24... Bxd4 25. Bf4+ Kd7 26. Rd1 $18) 25. Bf4 Bf8 {Diagram [#]} 26. Rc2
({The computer finds an amazing exchange sac:} 26. Rd1 $3 Bxc5 27. dxc5+ Ke8 (
27... Kc6 $2 28. Rd6+ Kb5 29. Rb6#) (27... Ke7 28. Bg5+ Kf8 $140 29. Rd7 $18)
28. g3 $18 {A cruel quite move.  Materially, Black is fine, but his Ra8 and
Ke8 are so inactive and exposed that any move he makes loses material.} a5 $140
{to activate the Ra8 gives up control of b5, and so alllows White an
unblockable B check from a4.} (28... Nb5 29. Bd5 $18) 29. Re1+ $18) 26... Nb5 (
26... Bxb4 $2 27. Rfc1 $16 Bd6 (27... Nb5 $140 28. Be6+ $18) 28. Be5 {It's
nearly zugzwang.}) 27. Rxc8 Rxc8 28. Re1 {Diagram [#]} Nc7 (28... Re8 {is a
reasonable try}) ({But Black still can't take on d4, since after} 28... Nxd4 $2
29. Rd1 Bg7 30. Be3 Ke7 31. Bxd4 Bxd4 32. Rxd4 Rc1+ 33. Rd1 $18 {there is no
back-rank mate.}) 29. Bd2 Bg7 30. Kf1 Re8 (30... Bxd4 $5 {is playable now} 31.
Bg5 Bxb2 32. Re7+ Kd6 33. Rxh7 Ne6 $14) 31. Rd1 Re4 32. Be3 Bf8 (32... f4 $2
33. Bc2 $16) 33. Bg8 Ke8 34. Rc1 Bd6 35. g3 Kf8 36. Bb3 Re7 37. Bh6+ Ke8 38.
Bg5 Re4 39. Rd1 Nb5 40. Bf6 Nc7 41. Bg5 Nb5 42. Bd5 {Diagram [#] Bishop Power 
The remainder of the game gives a good example of why strong players prefer
playing with the B-pair. It wouldn't surprise me if a world-class player like
Kramnik or Carlsen considered this position a technical win for White.} Rxd4
43. Rxd4 Nxd4 44. Bxb7 Bxb4 45. Bf6 Bc5 46. Bxa6 Nf3 47. Ke2 Ng1+ (47... Nxh2
48. f3 {White doesn't have to win the N, keeping it boxed out makes the passed
bP more threatening.}) 48. Kd3 Bxf2 49. Bb7 f4 50. gxf4 Nh3 51. Be5 Bg1 52. Bc8
Nf2+ 53. Ke2 Ne4 54. h3 Nc5 55. b4 Nd7 56. Bc3 Ke7 57. Kd3 Bh2 58. Bd2 Nb8 59.
Be3 h6 60. b5 Kd6 61. Bb7 Nd7 62. Kc4 Nf6 {Diagram [#]} 63. Bf3 Nd7 64. Be4 (
64. b6 $2 Nxb6+ 65. Bxb6 Bxf4 66. Be4 g5 67. Bd4 h5 68. Bf2 g4 69. h4 $8 g3 70.
Be1 Ke6 {Computers rate White as clearly winning, but it looks like a fortress
to me.}) 64... Nf6 65. Bxg6 Nd7 66. Be4 Bg3 67. Bc6 Nf6 68. Bd2 Nh5 69. f5 Bh4
70. Bf3 Ng3 71. b6 Bd8 72. b7 Bc7 73. f6 1-0

[Event "Ontario Open"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2013.05.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kalra, Agastya"]
[Black "Doubleday, William G"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B32"]
[WhiteElo "2178"]
[BlackElo "2158"]
[Annotator "William Doubleday"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qb6 {[%csl Ga6,Ge6]} 5. Nb3 Nf6 6. Be3 (
6. Nc3 e6 7. Bd3 {may be more challenging.}) 6... Qc7 7. f3 e6 {Diagram [#]} 8.
c4 {asking for trouble} Bb4+ 9. N1d2 (9. Nc3 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 d6 (10... O-O) 11.
c5 (11. Nd4) 11... d5 12. exd5 Nxd5) 9... d5 $15 10. a3 Be7 11. Be2 O-O 12. O-O
Rd8 13. cxd5 exd5 $17 14. Qc2 Bd6 15. f4 {Diagram [#]} d4 16. e5 dxe3 17. exd6
Qxd6 (17... Rxd6 $17) 18. Nc4 Qe7 19. Rf3 Nd5 20. Bd3 g6 21. Be4 $6 (21. Re1)
21... Bg4 $2 (21... e2 $19 22. Bxd5 e1=Q+ 23. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 24. Rf1 Qe7) 22. Bxd5
Rxd5 23. Rxe3 Qf6 $17 24. Rf1 Rad8 25. Ne5 $2 (25. Qc3 $17) 25... Nxe5 26. fxe5
Qb6 $19 27. Qf2 Be6 28. Nc1 Rd2 29. Re2 Qxb2 30. Qf3 Bc4 31. Rxd2 Rxd2 32. e6
Bxe6 33. Nd3 Qd4+ (33... Qxa3 $19) 34. Nf2 Bd5 35. Qg3 Kg7 36. h3 b5 37. h4 h5
38. Re1 a5 39. Re8 b4 40. axb4 axb4 0-1

[Event "Ontario Open"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2013.05.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Sambuev, Bator"]
[Black "Nicholson, Matthew"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2682"]
[BlackElo "2221"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 Bd6 5. b3 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Bb2 b6 8. Nbd2
Bb7 9. Ne5 c5 10. f4 Ne4 {Diagram [#]} 11. Bxe4 $1 {After this, White has the
mobile Queenside majority against Black's crippled Kingside majority, and the
better minor piece. It may not seem like much, but Capablanca always made this
seem like a forced win.} dxe4 12. Ndc4 Be7 13. Nxd7 Qxd7 14. dxc5 Qxd1 15.
Rfxd1 Bxc5 16. Ba3 $1 {Eliminating the Bishop pair and trading Black's better
minor piece.} Rfc8 (16... Bxa3 $142 17. Nxa3 Rfd8 18. Kf2 $14 {1-0 (46)
Fuentes,M (2305)-Arencibia,J (2400) Holguin 1991}) 17. Bxc5 Rxc5 18. Nd6 Rc7 {
Diagram [#]} 19. Rd4 $146 ({Bator's been here before:} 19. c4 Bc6 20. Rd4 f5
21. Rad1 Kf8 22. a4 Ke7 23. Nb5 Rd7 $6 (23... Bxb5 $1 24. axb5 a6 $1 25. Ra1
Rca7 $132) 24. Nc3 Rc7 25. Kf2 $14 Rf8 26. Ra1 Kf6 27. a5 Rb8 28. b4 bxa5 29.
b5 $1 $16 Be8 30. Rxa5 Rbc8 31. Ra4 a6 $2 32. Rxa6 Rxc4 33. Nd5+ $1 $18 Kf7 34.
Ra7+ $1 Kf8 35. Rxc4 $1 Rxc4 36. Nc7 $1 Ke7 37. b6 $1 $18 Rc2+ 38. Kg3 Rb2 39.
Na6+ {1-0 (39) Sambuev,B (2513)-Hansen,E (2425) Canadian Zonal 2011 (playoff)})
19... f5 20. a4 a5 21. Nc4 Rb8 22. Na3 $1 (22. Nxb6 $2 Rxc2 $11) 22... Ba6 23.
c4 Re7 24. Rad1 e5 25. fxe5 Rxe5 26. Rd7 {Diagram [#]Critical Position  White
has a clear plus: better minor piece, control of the only open file,
opponent's K cut off. What is White's threat and what should Black do about
it?  White was threatening 27.Ra7, when 27...Bc8 gets mated, and 27... Bb7
lets White double on the 7th.  There's no amazing saving resource here:
White's position is a lot better and Black has to defend well just to prolong
the game, even if it can't be saved.} Rb7 $4 (26... Rf8 $142 27. R1d6 (27. R7d6
$140 Rb8 $1 $16) 27... f4 $6 (27... Bc8 $1 28. Rd8 $16) 28. exf4 $1 (28. Rxb6
$2 fxe3 $11) 28... Rxf4 $2 (28... Ree8 $142 29. Rxb6 Bc8 30. Rd4 $16) 29. Rxb6
e3 30. Nc2 e2 31. Rb8+ $8 Rf8 32. Rxf8+ Kxf8 33. Kf2 $18) 27. Rd8+ Kf7 28. Ra8
1-0

[Event "Ontario Open"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2013.05.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Doubleday, William G"]
[Black "Zhang, Joey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E99"]
[WhiteElo "2165"]
[BlackElo "2074"]
[Annotator "William Doubleday"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Be3 f5 11. f3 f4 12. Bf2 g5 13. Nd3 Ng6 14. c5 Nf6 {Diagram
[#]editor - Houdini, Stockfish and Fritz all rate White as much better here,
but in practice Black outscores White 60:40.} 15. cxd6 (15. Rc1 Rf7 16. a4 Bf8
17. a5 h5 18. cxd6 cxd6 19. Nb5 g4 20. Nxa7 Bd7 21. Qb3 g3 22. Bb6 Qe7 23. Rc7
Ne8 24. Rxd7 gxh2+ $1 $13 {1/2-1/2 (150) Meier,G (2656)-Nakamura,H (2770)
Dortmund 2011}) 15... cxd6 16. a4 Rf7 (16... h5 17. a5 g4 18. Nb5 g3 19. Bxa7
Ne8 20. h3 Qh4 21. Qd2 Bd7 (21... Bxh3 22. gxh3 Qxh3 23. Bd1 $8 Nh4 $13) 22.
Bb6 Bxb5 23. Nxe5 Nxe5 24. Bxb5 Nf6 25. Qb4 $13 {0-1 (43) Doubleday,W (2064)
-Davies,L (2174) Victoria 2012}) 17. a5 h5 (17... Bf8) 18. Qb3 g4 19. Rfc1 g3
20. hxg3 fxg3 21. Bxg3 h4 22. Bf2 Bh6 23. Nb5 (23. Rc2) 23... a6 {Diagram [#]}
24. Bb6 $14 Qf8 25. Nc7 Bxc1 26. Rxc1 Rxc7 (26... Rb8 27. Ba7 $16) 27. Rxc7 Nh5
28. Bf2 Ng3 29. Qc2 (29. Bd1 $5 $18) 29... Ne7 (29... Qd8 30. Bb6 Qf8 31. Bd1
$18) 30. Qd2 (30. Bd1 Qf6 31. Qd2 Kh8 32. Nxe5 $1 $18) 30... Qg7 31. Bd1 Kh8 {
Diagram [#]} 32. Be3 (32. Nxe5 $1 dxe5 33. d6 $18) 32... Bh3 33. Bh6 (33. Bg5
$1 Qg6 34. Rxe7 Rg8 35. Bxh4 Ne2+ 36. Qxe2 Qh6 37. g4 Qxh4 38. Re6 Qg3+ 39. Kh1
Kg7 40. Qf2 $18) ({editor} 33. gxh3 {is a playable way to kill Black's attack,
but it gives back most of White's advantage.} Nxe4+ 34. Qg2 Qxg2+ 35. Kxg2 Nxd5
36. fxe4 Nxc7 $16) 33... Qg6 34. Rxe7 (34. Qg5 $1 Qxg5 35. Bxg5 Nxd5 36. exd5
Rc8 37. Rxb7 Bf5 38. Nf2 $18) 34... Ne2+ 35. Qxe2 Qxh6 36. Rc7 $2 (36. Ba4 $1
Qf6 37. Re8+ Rxe8 38. Bxe8) (36. f4 $1 Rg8 37. Ne1 Bg4 38. Qd2 h3 39. Bxg4 Rxg4
40. Qc3 h2+ 41. Kh1 Rxf4 42. Re8+ Rf8 43. Qh3 Qxh3 44. Rxf8+ Kg7 45. gxh3 $18)
36... Rg8 {Diagram [#]Critical Position} 37. g4 $8 ({editor} 37. Ne1 $2 Bxg2 $8
38. Nxg2 h3 39. Rc8 $1 Rxc8 40. Ne3 Qf4 $13) ({editor} 37. Rc2 Rxg2+ $8 (37...
Bxg2 $2 38. Kh2 $1) 38. Qxg2 Bxg2 39. Kxg2 Qg5+ $14 {White ought to be better,
but it's difficult to untangle.}) 37... hxg3 38. Ne1 $4 (38. Rc2 $8 Bd7 (38...
Rg7 39. Qd2 Qh4 40. Ne1 Rh7 41. f4 $8 Bd7 42. Bf3 $1 $18) 39. Qd2 Qh4 40. Qg2
Rg6 41. f4 exf4 42. Qh1 Qxh1+ 43. Kxh1 Bb5 44. Nxf4 Rf6 45. Nh5 Rf1+ 46. Kg2
Rxd1 47. Rc7 Rd2+ 48. Kxg3 Kg8 49. Kf4 Rf2+ 50. Kg5 $18) 38... Bf1 $3 $19 39.
Qc2 Qe3+ $4 (39... g2 $1 $19) (39... Qh3 $1 40. Ng2 Be2 $1 $19) 40. Kxf1 Qh6
41. Qg2 Rg5 42. f4 exf4 43. Nf3 Rh5 44. Ke2 Qg6 (44... Rh2 45. Nxh2 gxh2 46.
Rc8+ $18 {#5}) 45. Kd3 Rxd5+ 46. Nd4 Re5 47. Qh3+ Kg8 48. Bb3+ Kf8 49. Qh8+ 1-0

[Event "Ontario Open"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2013.05.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Danilov, Alex"]
[Black "Erickson, John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A38"]
[WhiteElo "1755"]
[BlackElo "1724"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[Source "CFC"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.05"]

{At the start of the last round, Black was tied for first with 4/5.} 1. c4 c5
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. O-O Bg7 7. Rb1 O-O 8. a3 Bf5 $5 {
Diagram [#] This seems strange, but it's Black's follow up that makes it so.
If Black is going to encourage e2-e4 by offering White a free tempo, maybe he
should be able to trade light-squared B's by playing an immediate ...Qd7/c8
supporting ...Bh3, as in the excerpts below.} 9. d3 Ng4 (9... Qc8 10. b4 {1/
2-1/2 (10) Czerwonski,A (2407)-Danielsen,H (2510) Barlinek 2008}) (9... Qd7 10.
b4 Rac8 11. Bd2 b6 12. b5 Nd4 13. a4 Bh3 $11 {1/2-1/2 (42) Ricardi,P (2465)
-Larsen,B (2535) Buenos Aires 1992}) 10. h3 Nge5 11. Nxe5 (11. Nh4 $5 {keeping
the Ns on with a space advantage.}) 11... Nxe5 12. e4 Bd7 13. Be3 Qc8 14. Kh2
Rb8 15. Nd5 Re8 16. b4 e6 17. Nf4 b6 18. Qd2 Qd8 19. Ne2 Bc6 20. f4 Nd7 21. d4
cxb4 $6 {Diagram [#] Black gives up his toe hold on the center, probably
hoping for play against Pc4. That turns out to be a bit too slow, and now
White will have choices between b4-b5 (fixing the backwards Pa7), and breaking
in the center with c4-c5 or d4-d5.  Probably better was continuing in hedgehog
style with ...Qc7 and ...a6, when White would have to be constantly ready to
defend the Pc4.} 22. axb4 Nf6 23. Nc3 Qc7 (23... d5 24. e5 Ne4 25. Nxe4 dxe4
26. b5 $16 {White has more space, a choice of pawn breaks, and his "weak"
pawns (c4, d4) are harder to attack than Black's weak pawns on a7 and e4.}) 24.
d5 (24. b5 $1 Bb7 25. e5 (25. Qd3) 25... Bxg2 26. Qxg2 Qxc4 27. exf6 Qxc3 28.
Bd2 $16) 24... exd5 25. cxd5 Ba8 {Diagram [#]White has a mobile pawn center
and Black's Queenside pieces are awkwardly placed. What should White play:  a)
e4-e5  b) Nb5xd6 and then e4-e5  c) something else?  Answer: Houdini's top
choices are: Bd4, Rac1, Rfc1, and f4-f5, all with advantage to White.   There
are a lot of ?s in the analysis below, but that's because this is the
tactically most complex position in the June CCN, so it's hardly surprising
that neither side found their way through it.} 26. e5 $6 {Objectively, this is
probably "?", because with accurate play Black get an advantage; but the
variations are so complex that hardly anyone would find their way through.} (
26. Nb5 $6 Qd7 27. Nxd6 Qxd6 28. e5 Qd8 $11 {White has "succeeded" in trading
the mobile center for Black's weak Pd6.}) 26... dxe5 27. fxe5 (27. d6 $6 Qd7 {
and White has lost a pawn.}) {Diagram[#]} 27... Nd7 $2 {Black misses his only
chance, and the rest of the game is one-way traffic.} (27... Qxe5 $2 28. Bf4
Qxc3 29. Qxc3 Ng4+ 30. hxg4 Bxc3 31. Bxb8 Rxb8 $16) ({Here's the Kasparov-like
line that shows is why 26.e5 was bad:} 27... Rxe5 $1 28. Bf4 $140 Nh5 $1 {with
powerful Benoni-KID dark-square play.} 29. d6 $1 (29. Bxe5 $143 Bxe5 30. Ne2
Nxg3 31. Nxg3 Bxg3+ 32. Kh1 $17) 29... Qxc3 $3 30. Qxc3 Re2 31. Qd2 Nxf4 $8 32.
Qxe2 $8 Nxe2 33. d7 Bxg2 34. Kxg2 Nd4 $15 {/\...Ne6 - it'sdifficult, but I'd
rather have the minor pieces.}) 28. Nb5 $5 ({Even better is:} 28. e6 $1 fxe6
29. Nb5 $1 Qd8 30. Nxa7 exd5 31. Bxd5+ Kh8 32. Nc6 Bxc6 33. Bxc6 $18 {White
wins an exchange.}) 28... Qd8 $2 (28... Qxe5 $1 29. Bf4 Qe2 30. Qxe2 Rxe2 31.
Bxb8 Bxd5 $8 32. Rg1 Nxb8 $16) 29. Nd6 $6 (29. Bg5 $1 f6 30. exf6 Bxf6 31. Bf4
Ne5 (31... Be5 32. Nxa7 $18) 32. Rbc1 g5 33. Be3 Re7 (33... Nd7 34. Nc7 {the
Re8 has no good squares.})) 29... Rf8 30. e6 $1 (30. Nxf7 $3) 30... fxe6 $8 31.
dxe6 Ne5 $6 {Hard to imagine, but the Ne5 is trapped!} (31... Nf6 $8) 32. Bxa8
$1 Rxa8 33. Qd5 Qe7 {Diagram [#]Critical Position  White to play and win.} 34.
Bd4 $2 (34. Bf4 $142 $1 {Best.} Rfd8 35. Rbd1 $18 {it costs an exchange to
save the Ne5.}) (34. Bg5 $1 {also wins:} Qxg5 35. e7+ Kh8 36. exf8=Q+ Rxf8 37.
Rxf8+ Bxf8 38. Qxe5+ Qxe5 39. Nf7+ $18) 34... Rfd8 $8 35. Bxe5 Bxe5 36. Qxe5
Rxd6 $4 (36... Qxd6 $8 $13 37. Rf8+ $4 Qxf8 $8 $19) 37. Rf7 $8 $18 Rd2+ 38. Kg1
Qxf7 39. exf7+ Kxf7 40. Qf4+ 1-0

[Event "Nova Scotia Open 2013"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.05.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Martin, Brendan"]
[Black "Nuschke, Alex"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2048"]
[BlackElo "1887"]
[Annotator "Brendan Martin"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. cxd4 d5 5. exd5 Nf6 6. Bc4 Nxd5 7. Qb3 e6 {
Diagram [#]} 8. Nf3 {The main alternative is Nc3. It attacks d5 but runs into .
..Bb4!. Black develops as he fights for the centre, daring White to play Bh6?
after which his game unravels.} (8. Nc3 Bb4 $1 9. a3 (9. Bh6 $2 Nc6 10. Bxd5
Qxd5) 9... Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Nc6 11. Bd3) 8... Nb6 $2 {The threat to trade knight
for Bishop is toothless, even if Black had time to execute it. The Knight is a
crucial defender. ...Nc6, threatening Na5, was better.} (8... Nc6 9. Nc3 Bb4
10. Bd3) 9. Bg5 Qc7 $2 {9...f6 is obviously unpleasant but Black had a subtle
resource in 9...Be7. White can again try the tempting Bh6, but it wastes time,
allowing Black the opportunity to free himself. After 10. Bxe7 Black stands
better than in the game.} (9... Be7 10. Bh6 Nc6 {Threatens Nxd4 and Nxc4
followed by Qd5 and Qh5} 11. Bb5 Qd5) 10. Bf6 Rg8 {Consideration must be given
to the exchange sacrifice Qxc4. The position that results offers Black
compensation in the form of the Bishop pair but his King is weak and White
should be able to engineer advantageous exchanges.} (10... Qxc4 $6 11. Qxc4
Nxc4 12. Bxh8 Nxb2) 11. Bb5+ Bd7 12. Nc3 Bg7 {Diagram [#]} 13. Bxg7 $5 {This
move maintains the tempo of the game, allowing White to castle immediately and
press on with the attack. However Bh4 may have been wiser. The Bg7 will be of
less use in the defence than its opposite number will be in the attack
following d5.} Rxg7 14. O-O a6 $2 {Encourages the rerouting of the White
Bishop to a more useful square from which it can abet the d5 thrust.} 15. Bd3
Bc6 16. Be4 {Premature. 16...Bxe4 17.Nxe4 offers less pressure than could be
achieved by further building moves.} N8d7 17. d5 {This resolves much of the
tension, taking advantage of the exposed king and misplaced Rook.} Nc5 18. Qa3
Nxe4 19. Nxe4 Nxd5 20. Nd6+ {Diagram [#]} Kd8 (20... Kf8 21. Nf5+ Kg8 22. Nxg7
Kxg7 23. Rac1 {Progress for White seems difficult from here. Though a win
seems likely, the absence of greater advantage demonstrates the insufficient
preparation underlying White's attack.}) (20... Kd7 $2 21. Ne5+ Kd8 22. Nxb7+
Qxb7 23. Qf8+ $18) 21. Nxb7+ Kd7 $2 {One of several successive moves made in
great haste. Up to the point I had played quickly and aggressively with an eye
towards making dinner plans for which I was already late. This haste produced
this inaccuracy and the blunder that follows it. 22. Nc5+ was clearly better.}
(21... Qxb7 $2 22. Qf8+ Kc7 23. Qxg7 $18) 22. Na5 $2 Bb5 23. Rfe1 f6 $2 {The
fatal error; other moves produce positions of Spartan comfort but some
defensibility.} (23... Qd6 24. Ne5+ Ke7 25. Nac6+ Bxc6 26. Nxc6+ Kd7 27. Ne5+
Ke7 28. Qa4 $16) 24. Nb3 Qd6 $2 25. Nc5+ Kc8 26. Rxe6 Qf4 {Diagram [#]} 27.
Re8+ $4 {The last several moves having been the product of great thought by my
opponent, I played this with only the most cursory glance at the board. Hoping
to force the issue (and catch my bus) I saw only the handful of lines that
confirmed the win.} Bxe8 28. Ne6 Qb4 29. Qxb4 Nxb4 30. Nxg7 Bd7 31. Nd4 Kb7 32.
a3 Nc6 33. Nge6 Nxd4 34. Nxd4 Rc8 35. Re1 Rc7 36. Kf1 $14 {Black lost on time
and White lost his dinner reservation.} 1-0

[Event "Nova Scotia Open 2013"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.05.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Desforges, Jean"]
[Black "Burrows, Zach"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A31"]
[WhiteElo "2184"]
[BlackElo "2038"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]

1. d4 c5 2. Nf3 cxd4 3. Nxd4 Nc6 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 $5 6. g3 {Diagram [#]} d5
(6... e6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Nb3 Qc7 10. Bf4 d6 11. Rc1 Ne5 12. c5 $1 dxc5
13. Nxc5 $1 Qxc5 14. Nd5 $8 Nc4 $8 15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. Rxc4 $14 {1/2-1/2 (46)
Ma,Z (2369)-Chan,Y (2342) Ho Chi Minh City 2012}) 7. Bg2 e6 8. O-O Be7 9. cxd5
exd5 10. e4 $5 (10. Nxc6 $142 bxc6 11. e4 $1 {with two of the minor pieces
already off, White gets a favourable IQP position.} d4 $140 $2 12. e5 $1 $16)
10... Nxd4 11. Qxd4 dxe4 12. Qxd8+ Bxd8 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 O-O 15. Bf4 Bf6
16. Rab1 (16. Rfe1 Bxb2 17. Rab1 Bc3 $14) 16... Re8 17. f3 Bd4+ 18. Kg2 f5 19.
Bd5+ Be6 20. Bxb7 Rad8 {Diagram [#]} 21. b3 (21. Bxa6 Bxa2 22. Ra1 (22. Rbd1
$14) 22... Bf7 $14) 21... Bc8 22. Bc6 Re2+ 23. Kh1 Bf6 24. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1
Rxa2 26. Bd5+ Kh8 27. Rc1 Ra1 $1 28. Rxa1 Bxa1 29. Kg2 g6 30. Bh6 Bd7 31. b4
Bc3 32. Bf8 a5 33. bxa5 1/2-1/2

