Some recent losses Pt. 1

A couple of weeks ago I went to San Luis Opbispo to play in the SLO county Championship.  I went in with high hopes having just reached my highest ever rating of 1794.  However, the tournament went poorly for me as I managed a meager +0 =1 -4.  I would like to annotate some of the games here.
In round 1 I was paired against Viktor Hendriks.   On the pairing sheet it said that he was rated 2115.  Little did I know that this was under his actual strength!  Here's the game.


[Event "SLO CHAMP"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "11.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Peter Gaffney"]
[Black "HENDRIKS"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "11.17.12"]
[Source "MonRoi"]

{E18: Queen's Indian: Old Main Line (4 g3 Bb7 5 Bg2 Be7 6 0-0 0-0 7 Nc3)} 1. d4
Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 d5 8. b3 c5 (8...
Ne4 9. Bb2 Nxc3 10. Bxc3 Nd7 11. cxd5 Bxd5 12. Qc2 Nf6 13. Rfd1 Qc8 14. Ne5
Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Qb7+ 16. Kg1 c5 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18. b4 Be7 19. b5 Nd5 20. Bd4 Rac8
21. Nc6 Nb4 22. Qb2 Nxc6 23. bxc6 {Novikov,I (2596)-Shahade,G (2458)/New York
2001/CBM 084/1-0 (37)}) 9. Ba3 $146 (9. dxc5 bxc5 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Bb2 Nxc3
12. Bxc3 Na6 13. Qc2 Nb4 14. Qb2 Bf6 15. Rfd1 Bxc3 16. Qxc3 Qb6 17. a3 Nd5 18.
Qc2 Nf6 19. Ne5 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Rab8 21. Rd3 a5 22. f3 a4 23. b4 cxb4 {Van
Tilbury,C (2303)-Jacobusse,W (2022)/Turin 2006/CBM 113/1/2-1/2}) (9. Ne5 cxd4
10. Qxd4 Bc5 11. Qd1 Bd6 12. Nd3 Qc8 13. Nb5 Be7 14. cxd5 Bxd5 15. Bxd5 Nxd5
16. Bb2 a6 17. Rc1 Qb7 18. Nd4 Nd7 19. e4 Nb4 20. Nxb4 Bxb4 21. Qe2 Rac8 22. a3
Be7 23. b4 b5 {Hidalgo Duque,C (2127)-Rodriguez Gonzalez,I (2244)/Mondariz
2005/CBM 108 ext/1-0 (44)}) (9. e3 dxc4 10. bxc4 Ne4 11. Qc2 Nxc3 12. Qxc3 Nd7
13. Bb2 Qc7 14. Rfd1 Be4 15. Ne1 Bxg2 16. Nxg2 cxd4 17. exd4 Rac8 18. Rac1 Bf6
19. Qb4 Rfd8 20. Ne3 Nb8 21. d5 Bxb2 22. Qxb2 Qe7 23. Qe5 Nd7 {Szelecki,
J-Wuensche,K/Hauenstein 1991/GER/1-0 (66)}) (9. dxc5 dxc4 10. Be3 Qc8 ) 9...
dxc4 10. dxc5 Qxd1 11. Rfxd1 cxb3 12. axb3 bxc5 13. Nd2 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 {White
king safety dropped} Nc6 (14... Nbd7 15. Nb5 ) 15. Nde4 {The isolani on c5
becomes a target} Nxe4 16. Nxe4 Rfb8 17. Nxc5 (17. Bxc5 Bxc5 18. Nxc5 h6)
17... Rb5 18. Na6 (18. Ne4 Bd8) 18... Bf6 {Black threatens to win material:
Bf6xa1} (18... Rxb3  19. Bxe7 Nxe7) 19. Nc7 (It was here that I felt pretty good about the position.  I started playing a little too quickly and didn't capture the bishop back first forgetting that I would just be making an even trade here)  Bxa1 20. Nxb5?! (20. Rxa1
Rab8 21. Nxb5 Rxb5) 20... Bf6  21. Rc1 {White threatens to win material:
Rc1xc6} Nd4 {Black threatens to win material: Nd4xb5} 22. Nxa7? (It was here that I thought about trading knights and offering a draw.  It was about this time that I started feeling the fatigue from the 2.5 hour drive that morning to the tournament) (22. Nxd4 Bxd4
23. e3 Bb6) 22... Nxe2 23. Rc8+ (23. Rc4 Nd4) 23... Rxc8 $15 24. Nxc8 {
A minor pieces endgame occured} Nd4 {Black threatens to win material: Nd4xb3}
25. Bb2 Nxb3 26. Bxf6 gxf6 {A knight endgame occured} 27. Nd6 Kg7 28. Kf3 Kg6
29. g4 Nd4+ 30. Kg3 (30. Ke4 Ne2) 30... f5 $15 31. f4 (31. Nc4 f6)
31... fxg4 32. Kxg4 h5+ 33. Kg3?? {further deteriorates the position} (33.
Kh3) 33... Nf5+ $19 34. Nxf5 (34. Kf3 {cannot undo what has already
been done} Nxd6 35. Ke3) 34... Kxf5 (34... exf5  35. Kh4) 35. Kf3 (
35. h4 e5 36. Kf2 exf4 37. Ke1 Ke4 38. Kd1 f3 39. Kd2 f5 40. Kc3 f2 41. Kb4
f1=Q 42. Kc5 Qa6 43. Kb4 Kd4 44. Kb3 Kd3 45. Kb2 Qb5+ 46. Ka3 Kc3 47. Ka2 Qb2#)
35... f6 (35... h4 {makes it even easier for Black} 36. Ke3 Kg4 37. f5 Kxf5
38. Kf3) 36. h3 e5 37. fxe5 (37. Ke3 {doesn't change the outcome of the
game} exf4+ 38. Kf3 h4 39. Ke2 Ke4 40. Kd1 f3 41. Kd2 f5 42. Kd1 Ke3 43. Kc1 f2
44. Kc2 f1=Q 45. Kb3 Qb5+ 46. Kc3 f4 47. Kc2 Qb4 48. Kc1 Kd3 49. Kd1 Qb1#)
37... Kxe5 38. Ke3 (38. Kg3 {a fruitless try to alter the course of the game}
f5 39. Kf3 f4 40. Kg2 Ke4 41. Kf2 f3 42. Kg1 Kf4 43. Kf2 h4 44. Kf1 Kg3 45. Ke1
Kg2 46. Kd2 Kxh3 47. Ke3 Kg3 48. Kd4 f2 49. Kd5 h3 50. Kc4 h2 51. Kd5 h1=Q+ 52.
Ke5 f1=Q 53. Kd6 Qf6+ 54. Kc7 Qfc6+ 55. Kb8 Qb7#) 38... f5 39. Kf3 f4 40. Kf2??
{the pressure is too much, White crumbles} (40. Kg2) 40... Ke4 (40...
Ke4 41. h4 f3 42. Kf1 Kf4 43. Kf2 Kg4 44. Kf1 Kxh4 45. Kf2 Kg4 46. Kg1 Kg3 47.
Kh1 h4 48. Kg1 f2+ 49. Kf1 h3 50. Ke2 h2 51. Ke3 h1=Q 52. Kd4 f1=Q 53. Kc5 Qb7
54. Kd4 Qbb5 55. Ke4 Qfd3#) 0-1

B86 Win for Black!

1		SICILIAN def. NAJDORF var.
	nr3 - maestrogaffney
	0:1, 11/ 2/2012.

1. e4 c5 2. ¤f3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. ¤xd4 ¤f6 5. ¤c3 a6 6. ¥c4 e6 7. O-O ¥e7 Normally here I would play Nc6 or something like that.  After studying some of the ideas in this line I play this before committing my queenside minor pieces.   8. f4 O-O 9. e5 dxe5 10. fxe5 ¤fd7 11. £h5?! b5! 12. ¥d3 g6 13. £h6?

I can't agree with this move.  It allows so many tactics and misplaces the queen on a square that I will be able to attack rather easily and win tempi.  Better was Qe2 in my opinion.   13... ¤xe5 14. ¥f4?? ¤xd3! This first to eliminate the two bishop advantage first.  15. cxd3 £xd4 16. ¢h1 £g7 Up a whole piece I saw no reason not to simplify; with more queenside space and better prospects on the kingside and a ready made target in the isolani on d3 I felt like the only dangerous my opponent had was his queen. 17. £h3? e5! That queen move to h6 has made so many of these tactics possible.   18. ¥h6 ¥xh3! 19. ¥xg7 ¥xg2 20. ¢xg2 ¢xg7 21. ¤e4? f5 22. ¤c3 ¤c6 23. ¦ae1 ¥b4 24. ¦e2 ¥xc3 25. bxc3 ¦ad8 26. ¦e3 e4 27. d4 ¤a5 Heading for that beautiful sqaure c4! 28. ¦c1 ¤c4 29. ¦e2 e3 30. a4 f4 31. ¢f3 ¤d2 {Game 265 (nr3 vs. maestrogaffney) nr3 resigns [...]

[0:1]

Sweet Revenge

[Event "VETS"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2012.11.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Turner, Jesse"]
[Black "Gaffney, P.R.."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B53"]
[Annotator "Gaffney,PR"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "11.??.??"]
[Source "MonRoi"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 {This move caught me off guard.  My
opponent doesn't usually play this that I know of.  I knew this was going to
be a good game already.} a6 (4... Nc6 5. Bb5 a6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. O-O e5 8. Qd3)
5. Bc4 Nc6 6. Qd3 e6 7. Nc3 Be7 {I played this instead of Nf6 because I wanted
to see where he was going to develop his bishop.} 8. Be3 Nf6 9. a4 {After the
game my opponent thought this was over-aggressive.  I thought it was good
because I wasted my chance to play b5.} Qc7 10. a5 $2 Nb4 (10... Nxa5 11. Bb3
b5 12. Nd4 Bb7 13. f3 $17) 11. Qe2 Nxc2+ 12. Qxc2 Qxc4 {I chose this over the
above variation because I didn't want him to have the bishop pair.   It leads
to some difficulties for me.} 13. Ra4 Qc7 (13... Qc6) 14. Bb6 Qb8 15. Rc4 O-O (
15... Bd7 {I looked at this as well and didn't think the move I chose was that
much worse.  Computer seems to disagree, but in the heat of battle I wanted to
get my king out of the middle of the board.}) 16. Bc7 Qa7 17. Na4 Bd7 18. Nb6
Bb5 19. Rd4 $2 (19. Rc3) 19... Rac8 (19... Rfc8 20. Qc3 d5 21. exd5 Nxd5 22.
Nxc8 Rxc8 23. Bb6 Qb8 24. Qd2 Bb4 25. Rxb4 {I couldn't this during the game.
I recalled that this type of position happened in a game I saw and instead of
saving the rook the player sacrificed the exchange and by doing so he got rid
of one of whites best attackers.}) 20. Rd1 Nxe4 21. Nxc8 Rxc8 22. Qxe4 Rxc7 {
OK, so I'm down an Exchange, but I have two pawns for it.  He can't castle
which means one of his rooks is out of the game for at least a few moves.
Black is doing fine!} 23. Nd4 Qc5 {Threatening to replace the bishop with the
queen if the knight captures.} 24. Ra1 $4 {This was the first time in the game
where I felt like I was clearly winning.} Qb4+ 25. Kd1 e5 (25... d5 $1 {This
led to a really nasty finish that I wasn't able to see.} 26. Qf4 Qxb2 27. Qxc7
Qxd4+ 28. Kc2 Bd3+ 29. Kd1 Be4+ 30. Kc1 Qxa1+ 31. Kd2 Qd4+ 32. Ke1 Bb4+ 33. Qc3
Bxc3+ 34. Ke2 Qd3#) 26. Rc1 Rxc1+ 27. Kxc1 Qxd4 {While this isn't the clearest
win, I was down to less than 10 minutes on the clock and needed to simplify so
I wouldn't spend a lot of time calculating.} 28. Qxd4 exd4 29. g3 Bd8 30. b4
Kf8 31. Rd1 d3 32. Kd2 d5 33. Re1 b6 34. axb6 Bxb6 35. f4 a5 36. Re5 Bc4 37.
Re1 axb4 38. Ra1 Bd4 39. Ra8+ $2 {By this point in the game my opponent was
shaking his head talking to himself.  I'm glad I had my headphones on.} Ke7 40.
Rb8 Bc3+ 41. Ke3 d2 42. Rb7+ Kd6 {White resigns.  And thus a defeat of my
favorite opponent gets notched in my belt.} 43. Rxf7 d1=Q 44. Rd7+ Kxd7 45. f5
Qe2+ 46. Kf4 Bd2# 0-1

A Recent Loss

[Event "Dia de los Muertos"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "12.11.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gaffney"]
[Black "Turner"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "A57"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "12.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. b6 d6 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. a4 Nxb6 8. a5
Nbd7 9. Nf3 g6 10. Nd2 Bg7 11. e4 O-O 12. Nc4 Ne8 13. Bf4 Nc7 14. Qc2 Nb5 15.
Ne2 Bb7 16. g3 Qc7 17. Bg2 Rac8 18. O-O Ne5 19. Nb6 Rb8 20. Rfd1 Bc8 21. Rac1
Bg4 22. b4 Nf3+ 23. Bxf3 Bxf3 24. bxc5 Bxe2 25. Qxe2 Nc3 26. Rxc3 Bxc3 27. cxd6
exd6 28. Rc1 Qc5 29. Nd7 Qxa5 30. Nxb8 Rxb8 31. Bxd6 Re8 32. Qd3 Bg7 33. Kg2
Qa4 34. Rc4 Qd7 35. Rc6 a5 36. Qc4 f5 37. e5 Bxe5 38. Bxe5 Rxe5 39. Rc8+ Re8
40. Rxe8+ Qxe8 41. d6+ Qf7 42. d7????(42.Qc8+!) Qxc4 43. d8=Q+ Kg7 44. Qxa5 Qe4+ 45. Kg1 f4
46. Qc7+ Kh6 47. Qxf4+ Qxf4 48. gxf4 Kh5 49. Kg2 Kg4 50. f3+ Kxf4 51. h4 h6 52.
Kf2 h5 53. Kg2 Ke3 54. Kg3 Ke2 55. Kf4 Kf2 56. Kg5 Kxf3 57. Kxg6 Kg4 58. Kf6
Kxh4 59. Kf5 Kg3 *

Never give up

Well here is one of those games where my blindness in an opening trap was made up for by my sheer determination.  I fell for a very obvious opening trap in a 15 min ICC game and then proceeded to win the game 12 moves later.  My opponent played too passively with his material advantage and I was able to take advantage of that.  Here it is.
 

 

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2 Nxe4?? Knowing that there was a trap here I captured anyway. During casual games I will grab stuff like this to see what the trap is and remember it so I don't do it in a tournament game. 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.Qxe4 d5 7.Qc2 e5 8.d3 Be7 9.0–0 0–0 10.Nbd2 Here I embark on a plan that involves his undefended bishop on e2 and his undefended queen on c2. The plan is to reroute my c8-bishop to g6 and use my pawns to attack his center using a series of pins and forks and discovered attacks. 10...Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 12.Re1 Bg6 13.Nh2? c4 PIN 14.Ndf3?? This move actually makes my plan highly effective. Now my pawns become superstars. 14...cxd3 FORK 15.Bxd3 e4 FORK 16.Be2?? exf3 DISCOVERED ATTACK Line

　

Benko gone Bad

(1) maestrogaffney (1470) - damarojaxl (1518)

ICC Internet Chess Club, 14.10.2012

A57: Benko/Volga Gambit 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.b6 e6 6.Nc3 Nxd5 7.Nxd5 exd5 8.Qxd5 Nc6 9.Nf3 Rb8 10.Ne5 Qf6 Black threatens to win material: Qf6xe5 11.Bg5??N throwing away the advantage [11.Nxc6 dxc6 12.Qg5 (12.Qf3 Be7 13.Bd2 (13.b7 Rxb7 14.e4 0–0 15.Bxa6 Rxb2 16.Qxf6 Bxf6 17.Bxb2 Bxb2 18.Bxc8 Bxa1 19.Ke2 Bd4 20.Bb7 Rb8 21.Rb1 c4 22.f3 Kf8 23.a4 Ke7 24.a5 Kd6 25.a6 Rd8 26.Rc1 c3 27.Kd3 Kc7 Korotkjevich,S (2307)-Kishnev,S (2488)/Germany 2004/CBM 098 ext/½–½; 13.e4 Rxb6 14.Bc4 0–0 15.Qe2 Qd4 16.Rb1 Rb4 17.b3 Be6 18.Bxe6 Qxe4 19.Qxe4 Rxe4+ 20.Be3 fxe6 21.Kd2 Rd8+ 22.Ke2 Bg5 23.Rhd1 Rd5 24.Kf3 Ree5 25.Rxd5 Rxd5 26.Bxg5 Rxg5 27.Rc1 Rf5+ Rychagov,A (2495)-Bursteinas,R (2200)/St Petersburg 1997/CBM 061 ext/1–0 (64)) 13...Qxb2 14.Bc3 Qxb6 15.e4 (15.Bxg7 Rg8 16.Bc3 Bg4 17.Qe4 Rg6 18.g3 h5 19.h3 Be6 20.Qc2 Bd5 21.e4 Bxe4 22.Qxe4 Re6 23.Qxe6 fxe6 24.Be2 h4 25.0–0 Bd6 26.Bc4 e5 27.g4 Qd8 28.Rae1 Kf8 29.Re4 Rb7 Hillarp Persson,T (2507)-Kallio,H (2360)/Stockholm 2000/CBM 074 ext/0–1 (44)) 15...Be6 16.Qg3 Bf6 17.e5 Be7 18.Qxg7 Kd7 19.Qh6 Rhg8 20.g3 c4 21.Bh3 Qb1+ 22.Rxb1 Rxb1+ 23.Ke2 Rxh1 24.Bxe6+ fxe6 25.Qxh7 Rb8 26.h4 Rc1 Hillarp Persson,T (2548)-Kallio,H (2452)/Gothenburg 2000/CBM 076/1–0 (37)) 12...Be7 13.Qf4 Rxb6 14.Qc7 Bd8 15.Qxc8 0–0 16.f3 Rxb2 17.Bxb2 Qxb2 18.Qxa6 Qxa1+ 19.Kf2 Bg5 20.g3 Be3+ 21.Kg2 g6 22.h4 Rd8 23.Qxc6 Qxa2 24.h5 g5 25.Qf6 Qd5 Zielinska,D (2060)-Li Ruofan (2245)/Zagan 1997/CBM 059 ext/½–½ (58); 11.Nxc6 dxc6 12.Qe4+ Be7 13.g3=] 11...Qe6 [¹11...Qxe5 ends the debate 12.Qxe5+ Nxe5–+] 12.Qxe6+± fxe6 13.Nxc6 dxc6 14.0–0–0 [¹14.Bd2±] 14...Rxb6?? cause more grief [¹14...Be7 15.Bf4 Rxb6±] 15.Rd8++- Kf7 16.Rxc8 h6 17.Be3 [17.Bd2 keeps an even firmer grip 17...Rg8+-] 17...g5 [17...Rg8 doesn't improve anything 18.Rc7+ Kf6 19.b3+-] 18.Bxc5! Deflection: f8 18...Bxc5 [18...Bxc5] 19.Rxh8 Bxf2 [19...Bd4 does not win a prize 20.Rh7+ Kg6 21.Ra7 Bxb2+ 22.Kc2+-] 20.Rxh6 Bd4 [20...Be3+ does not improve anything 21.Kc2 Rb5 22.g3+-] 21.b3 a5 [21...Be3+ doesn't get the bull off the ice 22.Kc2 g4 23.Rh5+-] 22.Rh5 [¹22.e3!? seems even better 22...Bxe3+ 23.Kc2 g4 24.Rh7+ Kf6+-] 22...a4 23.Kc2 Kf6 [23...Kg6 does not solve anything 24.Rh3 g4 25.Rg3 axb3+ 26.axb3+-] 24.Rh6+ [24.e3 makes it even easier for White 24...Kg6 25.Rh3 g4+-] 24...Kf7 [24...Ke7 does not help much 25.e3 axb3+ 26.axb3+-] 25.e4 [25.e3 might be the shorter path 25...Bg7 26.Rh5 axb3+ 27.axb3 Rb8+-] 25...axb3+ 26.axb3 Be3 [26...Bg7 is not the saving move 27.Rh3+-] 27.Bc4 c5 28.Rf1+ Ke7 [28...Bf4 cannot undo what has already been done 29.g3 Kg7 30.Rxe6 Rxe6 31.Bxe6+-] 29.Rh7+ Kd6 30.Rf6 [¹30.e5+ and White has prevailed 30...Kxe5 31.Re1 Kf5 32.Rxe3 Kg6+-] 30...Ke5 31.Rxe6+! a forceful and devastating end 31...Rxe6 32.Bxe6 Kxe6 33.Kd3 Bd4 [33...Bf4 doesn't do any good 34.Rh6+ Kf7 35.g3+-] 34.h4 [¹34.b4!? and White can already relax 34...Ke5 35.b5 Kd6+-] 34...gxh4 35.Rxh4 1–0

This game was not a sparkling gem for me, but I felt like I had a better understanding of the resulting positions, except for that 11.Bg5 fiasco.  Can't remember the justification I had for playing it either...  Oh well.  A couple nice tactics help me win a pawn and Exchange and another tactic killed all chances my opponent had. 

　

Man I've been busy!

Alright so it's been a while since I posted.  I have to analyze a game tonight and post it on this blog.  I have played several good games with openings I've studied and I am feeling like I have more of an idea of what to do in the opening phase of the game.  But I am noticing that it is very difficult to keep up each facet of my game equally.  Sure there is always going to be something that slips a little, but lately it's been so crazy that I almost blew a completely won king and pawn vs. king endgame!  Here is the position.

 

 

Here I almost picked up my king and thought better of it and moved my a pawn to a4.  This move would've come automatically before but now it seems to take a bit more time.  While in the end the king move would still have won it is simpler I think with the pawn move first.  I guess this why my blitz rating, which used to be higher than my standard on ICC, has now gotten about 200-300 point lower.

Trying hard to retain...

Ever have one of those subjects that just doesn't want to stick in your head?  For me, right now, it's the rooks section of Reasssess Your Chess.  I see the ideas and I understand them, but when I look at the position after a few minutes away I completely forget the ideas of the position. 
  I need to practice patience during my games.  Recent games have shown some major oversights of positional ideas and factors.  I am going to try and play one serious game a week from now until I feel like I'm patient enough.  If my chess is going to improve I need to take each game seriously.  I'll keep you up to date...

Soo...tired....

Well I have hit that point in my chess study where my brain has stopped accepting applications for new memories.  I am glad that the weeks of opening study are over with.  While they have been really beneficial, I am ready for the rest and Gestalt that comes with it.  I played an online game with a friend of mine.  He set up a very basic discovered attack on my queen and I completely overlooked it and had to resign the next move.  I am going to limit my study this week to 4 nights and no more.  Silman's Reasses and that will be enough for me each night.  Now if you'll excuse me I am going to lay my head on my keyboard and try not to short circuit the computer as I drool on the computer.

  sjgrmnvbrte;mjvs;erfht,vjse;knnhbtemjnvbtfe;kmvbs

I am getting really lucky lately!

Well, so far each week I have studied an opening that I have never played before and each time the opening gets used in a tournament game right away!  Here is my recent win using the Bayonet Attack against the KID.  My opponent made some strategic mistakes and I made some huge tactical ones.  Some less than accurate play from my opponent after he equalized and I was able to bring home the point.  Here is the game with some diagrams inserted. 

[Event "Team 45 45 League T54"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2012.09.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "maestrogaffney"]
[Black "Warpdrive"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1717"]
[BlackElo "1612"]
[Opening "King's Indian: orthodox, Aronin-Taimanov, bayonet attack"]
[ECO "E97"]
[Time "22:03:07"]
[TimeControl "2700+45"]

 

 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0–0 6.Be2 e5 7.0–0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.b4

The now popular Bayonet Attack. Kramnik has brought this line back to popular use by beating Kasparov with this line. Causing Kasparov to give up one of his favorite weapons as black is saying something for the white ideas here. 9...a6? First positional mistake. I have no desire to play b5. I want to open the c-file for invasion by my rook. This also wastes time by not getting a kingside attack going. [9...Nh5 10.Re1! Kramnik's move that revived this line. 10...f5 (10...Nf4 11.Bf1 f5 12.Bxf4 exf4 13.e5) 11.Ng5 Nf6 12.Bf3] 10.c5 This is one of the points of the b4 line. 10...b5?! 11.a4??

 And now my first tactical oversight. My opponent was playing very slow. I already had a 15 minute lead on time here. I just got impatient already. Not a good sign. 11...bxa4?? [11...dxc5! 12.bxc5 b4] 12.Rxa4 dxc5? Still ignoring his kingside. He needs to get something rolling or else I'm gonna roll him on the queenside. 13.bxc5 Bg4 14.h3 [14.Bxa6 Qe8 15.Bb5 Qb8 16.Rxa8 Qxa8 17.Qa4 And the black minor pieces are looking a little sad.] 14...Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Qb8 16.Ba3?! [16.Be3 Qe8 17.Qa1 Qc8 18.Be2] 16...Re8 17.Qc2 Qc8 18.Rd1?! The beginning of a faulty tactical plan. 18...Nd7 19.d6 cxd6 20.cxd6 Nc6 21.Rc4??

And here is the masterstroke of that faulty plan. [21.Nd5! Right away is much better. I looked at this line, but not seriously enough. This was screaming at me to be played and I ignored it thinking that I had some clever move instead. 21...Nd4 22.Qxc8 Rexc8 23.Ne7+ Kf8 24.Nxc8 Rxc8 25.Rxa6] 21...Nd4 22.Rxc8 [22.Qd3 Nxf3+ 23.gxf3] 22...Nxc2 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.Bc1 Nd4 25.Nd5 Nxf3+ 26.gxf3 Bf8 27.Ba3 a5?! Another positional slip up. [27...Kg7 28.Rc1 Rd8 29.Rc6 a5 I have an advantage though it will still take accurate play to realize it. 30.Kg2 ] 28.Rc1 Kg7 29.Rc7 Rd8 30.f4!

 Clearance sacrifice. The best option is to accept it! 30...f6?? 31.Nb6 Black resigns.

　

Bayonet Attack

Well I've started learning the dangerous Bayonet Attack against the KID.  This is the opening that caused Kasparov to practically give up the KID!!  Even though is it extremely complex, I am finding it simple in a way.  It seems to have a straightforward approach which makes it easier to read and remember the variations and, more importantly, the reasons behind the variations. 
  I recently listened to some friends at my local chess club talking about what kind of KID is the best.  They all agreed that the a5 KID is the best.  I sat and listened quietly until they asked what I thought.  I told them that a5 doesn't necessarily lead to any great advantage and showed them a game where black got creamed and showed them why their variations were not enough to hold.  Being able to answer questions on the fly like that makes me feel more comfortable in this opening.  Still have a long way to go but I feel like I've got a good start.

A recent Najdorf Victory!

(1) Andrew6 (1592) - maestrogaffney (1721) [B92]

ICC Internet Chess Club, 06.09.2012

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6

Can you believe it!? I get to play a Najdorf in tournament play! 6.Be2 The Karpov System. I have been reading up on this and was way more prepared than I expected for this game. I had no idea what opening to expect from this guy. I couldn't find any recent games by him to prepare with. I got lucky I guess. 6...e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.0–0 0–0 9.Kh1 Nc6 10.f4 a5!

 While the normal move in the Karpov system is to get b5 in, I decided to try this move to stop his eventual a5. This move was to keep his queenside ideas to a minimum.  He wanted to launch a kingside pawn storm, but I thought that with his knights on the queenside and his bishops not yet fully developed I need to hurry with my plans and fire away at the queenside. 11.a4 Nb4 12.Be3 Be6 This move was perfect here, I thought. 13.Nd2?! [13.f5 Bxb3 14.cxb3 d5 15.Nxd5 Nbxd5 16.exd5 Qxd5 17.Bc4 Qxd1= I thought there was more but at least I'm not worse.] 13...exf4 [13...d5 14.fxe5 d4 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.e5 dxe3 (16...Bxe5? 17.Nf3 dxe3 18.Nxe5) 17.exf6 Qxd2 18.Qxd2 exd2 19.Rad1 This was just way too messy for me to want to go into so I decided on the move in the game instead.] 14.Rxf4?! [14.Bxf4 Rc8 15.Rc1 d5 16.e5 Nd7 17.Nf3 Nc5 18.Nd4 Both the knights have good outposts.] 14...d5 15.exd5? Nfxd5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Rf3 Bg4 [17...Nxe3 18.Rxe3 Bg5 19.Rd3 Qb6 20.b3 Bf5 21.Rf3 Qc5 Might've been better, but I was happy with what I chose. It led to threats against the white king that had to be dealt with and I wasn't sure if he would find all the perfect moves.] 18.Rg3 Bd6 19.Bg5? Qxg5 20.Rxg4 Qh6 [20...Qh5?? 21.Rxg7+! Kxg7 22.Bxh5 I'm guessing this was what he was hoping for with Bg5.] 21.Nf1 Ne3 These are some of my favorite moves in chess. It can be captured for free. It would just cost him his king. 22.Rxg7+?? This told me my opponent was feeling kinda desperate. The more I looked though, I still had to be careful. 22...Kxg7! The right capture. [22...Qxg7 23.Nxe3 Bxh2 24.Bd3 Qg5 25.Qf3 Rae8 26.Qh3 h5 There's just too much space around my king for my liking here.] 23.Qd4+ Kg8 And not... [23...Qf6?? 24.Qxf6+ Kxf6 25.Nxe3] 24.Qxe3 Qxe3 25.Nxe3 Rae8 26.Nf5 Rxe2 27.Nxd6 b6! Killing some of his counterplay. 28.Kg1?! Trying to eliminate backrank problems, but more care needs to be on the queenside. [28.Nc4 Rxc2 29.Nxb6 Rb8 30.Nd5 Rbxb2 31.Rg1 Rc4 And I'm crushing.] 28...Rxc2 29.Ra3? This seems more of a scare tactic than a real threat. I think he knew he was lost and was just trying for a blunder on my part. I've tried really hard through the years to not relax in a won position. Hardest thing to win is the won position, right? 29...Rd8! 30.Rg3+ Kf8 [30...Kh8?? 31.Nxf7#] 31.Rd3 Rc6 32.Nxf7 Rxd3 33.Ne5 Rc1+ {Game 352 (Andrew6 vs. maestrogaffney) Andrew6 resigns The finish might have been. 34.Kf2 Rc2+ 35.Ke1 Re3+ 36.Kd1 Rxb2 37.Nc4 Rd3+ 38.Kc1 Rxg2 39.Nb2 Rc3+ 40.Kb1 Rb3 41.Ka2 Rgxb2+ 42.Ka1 Re2 43.h3 Rxh3 44.Kb1 Rh1# 0–1

5...a6

10...a5!

13.Nd2?!

14.Rxf4?

19.Bg5?

22.Rxg7??

33...Rc1+
White Resigns

　

Alright it's time to work hard on more openings!  Having won some great games with the Najdorf, I got my backside whooped a lot in a variation I hadn't studied yet.  Ah the neverending pursuit of opening prep! 
My next project is to look at the Bayonet Attack in the KID.

  Many of the moves that were confusing to me before are now making much more sense.  I feel like I'm getting a handle on opening logic and ideas with less fear than before. 

I will also be looking at the Benko Gambit from the white side. 

I might play it a few times as black just to see some of the ideas from the other side of the board.  I'll see what comes of it and give updates in the coming days on my progress. 

Next week will be the Catalan and that is an opening I would love to get a better handle on.

 While I have had some neat wins with it, I would like to feel more comfortable when black goes into a non-Catalan setup like a KID.  Never have I been this excited about opening preparation before.  I am feeling that I was too intimidated with all the advanced concepts behind some of these openings.  Now my strength has achieved a sufficient level that I am grasping more of the ideas than ever before!  This is gonna be great!!

Finding my way

Today I changed game plans on how I approach my chess reading.  I decided to concentrate on the most often seen variations of the Najdorf that I see.  This may seem obvious and it is.  Chess books are often written for the better player.  Those looking to break into master rating range and so the books gives deep analysis of lines that those players will face.  The other 90% of us are still in Patzer class and would like something that acts like a bridge from the mortals to the upper echelon.  I see the Fischer approach to the Najdorf a bunch and see the English attack a lot.  These are pretty far down the line as far as analysis goes in some books.
But I will fight on learning these lines and be better for it in the end. 

Brain....hurts....

Alright so the post title might be a little dramatic but I am having a hard time learning the ins and outs of the Najdorf.  I know it's very complex but still when I play online NOBODY wants to play into it!  I'm thinking of jumping straight to the chapter covering the variation of the opening that I see the most OTB.  The Karpov approach, while being very solid and forcing black to know what he's doing, is not something I have ever seen by players under 2000.  The 6.Bg5 or 6.Be3 lines are gonna be my main points of study for the rest of the week and hopefully some of the material will seem familiar as I have seen it at least in my own games.  Wish me luck...

Najdorf Work

Working on the Najdorf this week.  Much of this book covers the 6.Be2 lines.  I have never had an opponent play that against me.  Mainly 6.Be3 is what I see, but I'm going to try it and pick up what ideas I can about the general handling of the Najdorf as a weapon against 1.e4. 
  I'm finding that I don't study openings real well.  I keep feeling like I have to memorize everything in them.  I know that I have to memorize a few things, but going through this book slowly and methodically will help sort out all the rubbish I'm hoping.  Let you know in a few days how it's going.

Way to Go Nick!!

Congratulations to an old friend from my junior golf days!  Nick Watney wins the 2012 FedEx Cup Playoffs opener by 3 shots!!!

My endgame studies

Got my copy of Silman's Endgame book in the mail this week and have been plowing through it.  Already up to the Expert Section.  Spent a long time on the minor piece section making sure that I keep the middlegame ideas from Reassess in mind when I look at the relevant endgame section.  Trying to work on linking the 2 parts of the game.  I'll get there yet!!

   The things I love most about studying endgame are all the cool moves that confound those who don't understand them!  Outflanking, triangulation, opposition, and how to effectively use them are basic tools in endgame but so few study this part of the game that they have no idea what they are missing!

White to move.  1. Kf2! (1.Ke3? Ke5! and white must give way) e3! (1...Ke5? 2.Ke3! and black loses the pawn and his chances) 2.Ke2! (2.Kxe3? Ke5! leads to the same problem as the note to move 1) Ke5 3.Kxe3  All about triangulation!! 

 

White to move 1.g5 Kh7 2.g8=Q+! (2.g6+?? leads to 2...Kg8 and to avoid stalemate the white king must let on of the pawns fall and go into a dead drawn K+P vs. K position; 2.Kf7?? is a little something we call stalemate) 2...Kxg8 3.Kg6  White gets the opposition and black loses.  How can someone see positions like these last two and think that studying endgames is boring??  If you say such things you must be doing it wrong. 

Middlegame Reading Summary

The week of August 12-18 I read How to Reassess Your Chess 4th Edition.  I started from the beginning and read up through minor pieces.  While learning/reinforcing what I knew about the ideas regarding these pieces, I still found things that I could use even better than I previously had.  Seeing that a piece can, no NEEDS TO BE, redeveloped to be more effective was something that I hadn't really considered OK before. 

 

Bc1!

 

This kind of move is something that wouldn't have occurred to me before reading this section.  Now, however I see the almost obvious reasons as to why it has to be played!  Redeploying to the a3-f8 diagonal will either prevent black from castling or great control over the d6 square.