[Event "Emerald City Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.06.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Moore, Michael"]
[Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "1950"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "5400+10"]

{This is my round 1 game against Michael Moore. Interestingly enough I've also
played him in the Memorial Day Washington Open in round 2 of that tournament,
as well as in the blitz event. So this is the third time I'm playing him,
which is quite unusual, but that means that I am getting more familiar with
his style. This is the first time I have black against him.} 1. d4 d6 2. e4 {
First small surprise. I thought he's mostly playing with Nf3 and g3 setups
here based on his recent games.} (2. Nf3 {I expected this.}) 2... Nf6 3. Nc3 e6
{counter surprise. This is a very unusual move but in my opinion, better than
the way it looks :) I've played this move twice before in classical games,
winning against a 2450 fide player and a 2300 fide player. It is a surprise
weapon, trying to get the person out of theory right away. Since I knew that
Michael is reasonably well knowledgable in theory, I figured this would be a
better choice than a more traditional choice of 3)... e5 or 3)...g6.3)...Nbd7
and 3)...c6 are also possible moves.} (3... e5) (3... Nbd7) (3... g6) (3... c6)
4. Be3 (4. Nf3) (4. f4 {These moves are more common here.}) 4... Nc6 (4... Be7
{Maybe this was more flexible.}) 5. Bd3 (5. f3 {Here, this might be the best
setup for white, more consistent with Be3. Also, now e5 can be met with d5 and
Ng4 is shut down.} e5 6. d5 (6. Nge2)) (5. h3 Be7 6. f4 {Was also possible.})
5... e5 6. dxe5 (6. d5 {Was more ambitious and led to a complex fight.} Ne7 7.
Nce2 (7. h3)) 6... dxe5 7. h3 Bb4 8. Nf3 (8. Nge2 {I thought this is safer.})
8... O-O 9. O-O Bxc3 10. bxc3 Qe7 {Here I was quite happy with this unbalanced
structure.} 11. Qe2 Rd8 12. Rfb1 $6 {This move seemed strange to me. He wanted
to stop Be6 perhaps, but I was planning to play b6 anyway.} (12. Bg5 $5 {
Was probably better.}) 12... b6 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bh4 g5 15. Nxg5 $5 {I have to
say, I underestimated this move. I didn't think it worked, but somehow it
created me some problems.} (15. Bg3 Nh5 {Here I liked my position. I thought I
go Nf4, and also none of the tactics really work for him.} 16. Bxe5 (16. Nxe5
Nxg3 17. Nxc6 Nxe2+ {I take the queen with check, that's the key point}) (16.
Bb5 Nxg3 17. fxg3 Na5 $17) 16... Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Nf4) 15... hxg5 16. Bxg5 Rd6 17.
Qf3 {Here I thought for a while and I was happy to find a good idea to give
the material back but get rid of his most dangerous pieces.} Qe6 18. Bc4 Qxc4
19. Bxf6 Rxf6 $6 {But this wasn't necessary it turned out.} (19... Qe6 20. Qg3+
Kf8 {I somehow didn't consider allow the bishop to stay on f6, but in fact
there is no mate, I have everything covered, and I'll end up simply with an
extra piece.} 21. Qg7+ Ke8 22. Qg8+ Kd7 {Here the knight on c6 covers the d8
square.}) 20. Qxf6 Qxe4 21. Re1 Qg6 22. Qh4 {Here he definitely at least has
some play and I probably did not handle the complications in the best way.} Bf5
(22... f5 {This was better, a prophylaxis against Re3.} 23. Re3 f4) 23. Re3 Qd6
(23... Qe6 24. f4 {Here f4 concerned me}) 24. Rg3+ (24. Qg5+ $1 Bg6 (24... Qg6
{I was planning to do this and after Qh4 to play another move.} 25. Qh4 Qe6)
25. h4 {Was stronger for white. Objectively white is not worse here.}) 24...
Bg6 25. Re1 $6 {This turned out to be too slow.} (25. Qg5 $1 {Again, this was
important to try to play a quick h4.}) 25... Kg7 26. Ree3 Rh8 27. Qc4 Ne7 {
Now I'm consolidating and getting my pieces into good squares.} 28. Ref3 {
Creating a not so subtle threat of taking on f7 :)} Nd5 29. Qg4 Nf4 30. Kh2 Rh5
31. Qc8 (31. Rxf4 exf4 32. Qxh5 fxg3+ {Was obviously winning for me.}) 31... e4
(31... Ne2 {Was tempting but less clear because of an intermediate move...} 32.
Rd3 $1) 32. Re3 Rh8 33. Qg4 Nh5 34. Rxe4 Nf6 35. Qf3 Nxe4 36. Qxe4 Qxg3+ 37.
fxg3 Bxe4 {AlexanderL won by resignation. An interesting round one struggle.
Was an exciting warmup :)} 0-1

[Event "Emerald City Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.06.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Black "Guha, Eshan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E18"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2129"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "167"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "5400+10"]

{In this game I am playing against one of my higher rated students, Eshan Guha,
who is 2100+ USCF, and a very hard working student. He's a tough competitor
and very resilient and I expected a tough game, and indeed, got one.} 1. Nf3
Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 b6 {Probably this is
favorable for white. If black wants to play closed catalan, he should usually
play c6 first.} (6... c6) 7. cxd5 exd5 8. O-O Bb7 9. Bf4 Na6 10. Ne5 {I think
one move too soon. I couldn't recall my earlier game precisely.} (10. Rc1 {
This is better first and then after c5, see how he takes back, meanwhile white
is flexible.} c5 11. dxc5 bxc5 (11... Nxc5 12. Nb5) 12. Qb3 Qb6 13. Qxb6 (13.
Nd2) 13... axb6 14. Nd2) 10... c5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 {Now this should be fine for
black.} 12. Rc1 Nfe4 (12... Rc8 13. Bh3 Ne6 {Was possibly more logical.} (13...
d4 $5)) 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Qc2 Rc8 15. Qb1 (15. Rfd1 Nd3) 15... Bg5 (15... g5
16. Rfd1 Bd5 17. b4 $1 $16) 16. Rfd1 Qf6 (16... Qe7 {I expected this although
here I'm also better.} 17. b4 Bxf4 18. gxf4 f6 (18... Ne6 19. Rd7) 19. bxc5
fxe5 20. cxb6 axb6 21. Qb3+ Kh8 22. fxe5 Qxe5 23. Qxb6 $16 {With an extra pawn.
}) 17. Rxc5 bxc5 18. Nd7 Qf5 19. Bxg5 Qxg5 (19... Rfe8 20. Be3 $18) 20. Nxf8
Rxf8 21. Bxe4 Bxe4 22. Qxe4 g6 {Now this should be a relatively easy techincal
win but I was really misplaying it, possibly getting too relaxed in a winning
position.} 23. b3 $2 {I'm very upset at myself for this lazy move. Absolutely
no reason to let him trade rooks and contest the file.} (23. Kg2 Rd8 24. Qe3) (
23. Qc4 {Was a nice prophlyaxis move.} Rd8 24. Rxd8+ Qxd8 25. Qxc5 Qd1+ 26. Kg2
Qxe2 27. Qxa7 Qe4+ 28. f3 $18) 23... Rd8 24. Rxd8+ Qxd8 25. Kg2 Qa5 26. a4 Qb6
27. Qd5 Qc7 28. e4 Qe7 $6 (28... h6) (28... h5 {Was more stodgy.}) 29. a5 Qc7
30. a6 Qb6 31. Qb7 Qe6 32. h3 Kg7 33. Qxa7 $2 {I thought it just wins easily
but in fact the battle only starts here. Very ashamed at myself for having
this letdown in an easy winning position.} (33. Kg1 h5 34. Qxa7 Qxe4 35. Qb7
$18 {Was just so simple.}) 33... Qxe4+ 34. Kh2 Qe2 35. Qb7 c4 $1 {A very nice
resource, which I just missed.} 36. bxc4 $6 {Again not the most precise.} (36.
Kg2 c3 {Was afraid of c3 but white should be winning here.} 37. a7 c2 38. Qc6
Qd2 39. a8=Q c1=Q 40. Qce8 {I thought that with both sides queening it's a
draw but I didn't see that I can create mating threats while black cannot.})
36... Qxf2+ 37. Qg2 Qa7 38. Qb2+ Kg8 39. Qa2 h5 $1 {Again, strong resistance
by Eshan. Somehow I thought c5 c6 will just win easily but no, here I have to
actually win the game over again, and do some unpleasant calculation.
Therefore a good lesson here. Better to work harder earlier, spend an extra
3-5 minutes, and win cleanly, then get here and then do the unpleasant work.}
40. h4 g5 $1 {Of course! The only chance.} 41. hxg5 h4 42. gxh4 $6 {Looks like
a mistake. Here I feel like I was tilting, being very upset to have gotten to
this point in the first place.} (42. Qd2 hxg3+ 43. Kxg3 Qxa6 44. Qd5 {Was
maybe objectively better with decent winning chances.}) 42... Qc7+ $6 {
tempting but wrong.} (42... Qd4 $3 {When in doubt, centralize your queen! It
works 9/10 times, I noticed in chess.} 43. a7 Qxh4+ 44. Kg2 Qg4+ {And I cannot
escape perpetual.}) 43. Kg2 Qc6+ 44. Kg1 Qb6+ 45. Kf1 Qc6 46. Kf2 Qc5+ 47. Kg2
Qc6+ 48. Kg1 Qb6+ 49. Qf2 Qxa6 50. Qd4 {As unpleasant as it was to have to
give up that beautiful a6 pawn, I knew that I should be able to win this step
by step with a centralized queen, a passed pawn and 2 pawns up. It will just
take time and I'll have to win the game over again.} Qa2 51. c5 Qb1+ 52. Kf2
Qf5+ 53. Kg3 Qe6 54. Qd8+ Kh7 55. Qd3+ Kg8 56. Qc3 Qc6 57. Qe5 {Again
centralizing the queen. From here my technique was probably not perfect, but
good enough.} Qb5 58. Qd4 Qb3+ 59. Kf4 Qb8+ 60. Qd6 $5 {A pawn sac. GIving up
material to make my queen and my c-pawn stronger. That's a common motif in
material-up endgame to give up some of your material to strengthen your
position.} Qb4+ 61. Ke5 Qxh4 62. Qd8+ Kg7 63. Qf6+ Kg8 64. Kd6 Qg3+ 65. Qe5
Qd3+ 66. Kc7 Qa6 67. c6 Qa7+ 68. Kd8 Qa8+ 69. Kd7 Qa4 70. Qf6 Qg4+ 71. Kd8 Qd1+
72. Kc7 Qa4 73. Qf5 Qa7+ 74. Kd8 Qd4+ 75. Kc8 Qa7 76. c7 Qa8+ 77. Kd7 Qb7 78.
g6 fxg6 79. Qxg6+ Kh8 80. Qf6+ Kh7 81. Qf7+ Kh8 82. Qf8+ Kh7 83. Qc5 $1 {
This is cleanest, since I saw that c5 is one of the key squares which controls
b6(pinning square when my king goes to d8) and d5, the checking square. Now
black is lost.} Kg8 84. Kd8 {AlexanderL won by resignation. I was happy with
the result, and happy with my student's resistance, but dissapointed with me
relaxing too early in a winning game.} 1-0

[Event "Emerald City Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.06.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Raptis, Nick"]
[Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2393"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "217"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "5400+10"]

{This game is against Nick Raptis, a very formidable master, with whom I've
played many blitz games going way back. He is a tough creative player with a
very versatile opening reportoire, so I knew it will be a tough game.} 1. d4
Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 a6 {This is kind of designed against the Catalan.} 4. Nc3 (
4. g3 b5 {Is the point. I think black is doing well here.}) 4... d5 5. a4 $5 {
Now, this surprised me. Much more common are...} (5. cxd5) (5. Bg5) (5. e3) (5.
c5) 5... Bb4 {This was a critical moment for me since I never saw the move a4.
I was trying to figure out under which circumstances would the a6 a4 inclusion
be the most ideal for me. Eventually I decided on Bb4.} (5... Be7 {I also
considered this.}) (5... c5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 (6... cxd4 {However this or exd5
maybe deserved attention where a4 is really misplaced.}) (6... exd5 7. Bg5 (7.
g3)) 7. e4 Nxc3 8. bxc3 {In this structure I thought that a6 isn't so well
placed for me due to the weakness of the b6 square.}) (5... c6 6. Bg5) (5...
Nc6 {Engine likes Nc6 and h6 which I didn't consider all that much.}) (5... h6)
(5... dxc4 {Finally this would transpose into the vienna where a4 is
reasonably placed, it will look like a main line QGA.} 6. e3) 6. Bd2 $6 {
Now this also surprised me, and probably this isn't so good. I expected
something more along the lines of Bg5.} (6. Bg5) 6... O-O 7. e3 b6 $6 {
Possibly inaccuracy in return.} (7... c5 {Here c5 might make sense, since
white's most logical move would be a4-a3, except for that's illegal now :)}) (
7... Qe7 {Also Qe7 might be good to prepare c5.}) 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 {Now we
get sort of a theoretical position with a4 and a6 included. I decided to take
advantage of a6 played and wanted to wait with playing Bb7. Probably, I
overcomplicated it.} Bd6 {I wanted to discourage Ne5. Of course, it still
might be playable here. Also, taking advantage of the fact that Nb5 is not
available for white.} (9... c5 10. O-O (10. Ne5) 10... Bb7 11. Ne5) 10. O-O Re8
11. Qc2 c5 $6 {I regretted this move after my opponent's move. I saw my
opponent can play e4 in reply to c5 but really underestimated it, perhaps
subconsciously I wasn't thinking he would play it, at least not right away.} (
11... Bb7 {This is probably more solid and sensible, keeping the tension and
hoping to outplay him later. Though I doubt I'm better here after a5.} 12. a5)
12. e4 $1 {Very strong move. Otherwise white might be worse.} (12. dxc5 bxc5
13. e4 c4 14. Be2 dxe4 {Clearly is good for black.}) (12. Bf5 Nc6 {Is also
very comfortable for black. I guess I was expected to get such a position.})
12... c4 (12... cxd4 13. Nxd5) (12... dxe4 13. Nxe4) 13. e5 cxd3 14. Qxd3 Nc6 (
14... Be7 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Rfe1 {Is solid for white.}) 15. exd6 Qxd6 (15...
Nb4 {In restrospect I probably should've included this move.}) 16. Rfe1 Bg4 17.
Ne5 $1 {Another nice move that I underestimated. I thought it just loses a
pawn but then realized he gets a lot of compensation. In general my opponent
was playing very principled and creative chess and was asking me a lot of
questions, which was very irritating.} Nb4 (17... Nxe5 18. dxe5 Rxe5 19. Rxe5
Qxe5 20. Re1 Qd6 21. Bg5 {Here he just gets full compensation and it seems
like I cannot create any winning chances anymore.}) 18. Qg3 Bf5 19. Bf4 Nh5 {
Now, this was a fascinating position, which took a lot of energy from me. I
had a lot to calculate.} (19... Qd8 20. Bg5 {Would feel like a concession.}) (
19... Nc2 {This move somehow I didn't see.} 20. Nxf7 Nxa1 21. Rxe8+ Rxe8 22.
Nh6+ Kh8 23. Nf7+ {Although it leads to a forced draw which I wasn't as happy
with.}) 20. Qg5 $1 {The principled move.} Nxf4 (20... g6 {From before I played
Nh5 I was really trying to make this move work but ultimately I thought it
didn't work.} 21. g4 $1 f6 (21... Nxf4 {Objectively best is this, but this is
a concession.} 22. Qxf4 Be6 23. Rac1 (23. Nxg6 {I thought even this is
playable but looks like I misevaluated it.} Qxf4 24. Nxf4 Nc2 25. Ncxd5 Bxd5 {
Here black just wins.}) (23. Re2 {And here the f6 square is a bit weak.})) 22.
Nxg6 $3 {On one hand I was very happy to have spotten this resource for my
opponent and therefore, I avoided playing this tempting line. On the other
hand it was very frustrating for me that this resource had to exist for him :(
I'm not even sure if he saw this when he played Qg5, but unfortunately white
is just better in all the lines, and the computer approves of my calculation
in this case.} fxg5 23. Bxd6 Bxg6 24. Bxb4 {And my knight happens to hang to
rub salt into my wounds.}) 21. Qxf5 f6 $1 {I was very happy to have spotted
this actually before I played Nh5.} 22. Qd7 $2 (22. Qxf4 Nc2 {This is the
point. He is losing material here.}) (22. Ng4 $11 {Objectively best was Ng4,
which I expected, and here I thought it's about equal.}) 22... Qxd7 {I played
this fairly quickly since I was happy that I was winning the exchange and
thought I should have good winning chances. I didn't see that I had something
much better and more subtle which apparently just wins.} (22... Qe6 $3 {
Sadly I didn't consider this move.} 23. Qxe6+ Nxe6 24. Nd7 Rad8 25. Nxb6 Nc2 {
This is just game over.}) 23. Nxd7 Red8 24. Nxb6 Rab8 25. a5 Nc2 26. g3 Nxa1 $6
{Another inaccuracy. Selling my advantage cheaply.} (26... Nd3 27. Reb1 (27.
Red1 Nxb2 28. Rdb1 Nxa1 29. Rxb2 {I think if I remember correctly, I stopped
my variation here, thinking my knight is in a box, but black is winning here
with a very important...} Rdc8 $1 30. Ncxd5 Rc1+ 31. Kg2 Nc2 $19) 27... Nxa1) (
26... Nxe1 27. Rxe1 Nd3 28. Rb1 Nb4 $17 {This would also give me excellent
winning chances.}) 27. Rxa1 Ne6 28. Rd1 Nc7 29. b4 Rd6 30. Nca4 Rc6 31. Nc5 Kf7
32. Kf1 Rd8 33. Kg1 Na8 34. Nba4 {Here I had a very hard time coming up with a
good plan.} Rb8 35. Rb1 g5 36. Kf1 h5 37. Ke2 Nc7 38. Nb6 Rh8 39. Kd3 Rb8 40.
Ncd7 Re8 41. Nc5 Nb5 42. Rd1 Kg6 43. Rd2 $6 {Giving me a chance, which at
first I capitalize on.} Re1 44. Re2 Rxe2 $6 {But now I go badly wrong.} (44...
Ra1 45. Nxd5 (45. Rd2 Nc7 46. Kc3 Rh1 {and most likely black should win with
perfect play.}) 45... Rd6 {Was just winning.}) 45. Kxe2 Nxd4+ 46. Kd3 Nb5 47.
Nxd5 Rd6 48. Kc4 Na3+ 49. Kb3 Rxd5 $6 {This is already playing with fire. At
this point I should make a draw. This whole endgame I am ashamed of the way
I've played.} 50. Kxa3 Rd6 $2 {And this is the decisive mistake.} (50... Kf5
51. Nxa6 Ke5 52. Nc5 Kd6 {Would still be enough for a draw for black.}) 51. Ka4
Rd2 (51... Kf5 52. Nxa6 {This is the idea I missed from far away :(} Rxa6 53.
b5 {And the pawns are unstoppable.}) 52. Nxa6 Rxf2 53. b5 Ra2+ (53... Rb2 54.
Nb4 {Is losing right away.}) 54. Kb4 f5 (54... Rxh2 55. b6 h4 56. gxh4 gxh4 57.
Kc3 $1 (57. Kb5 h3 58. b7 Rb2+ 59. Nb4 h2 60. b8=Q h1=Q {Would actually be a
draw.}) 57... Ra2 58. b7 Rxa5 59. b8=Q Rxa6 {We could've reached almost by
force this interesting endgame. It looks like white should eventually win
though.} 60. Qg8+ $18) 55. Nc5 f4 56. gxf4 gxf4 57. b6 f3 58. b7 Rb2+ 59. Nb3
f2 60. b8=Q Rxb3+ 61. Kxb3 f1=Q 62. Qb6+ {I was not very optimistic about this
being holdable, but my only hope was that he was low on time, and my accuracy
probably suffered here since I was mostly playing on his time now. However the
increment really helped him here going forward. I could've probably defended
more tenaciously but I guess I was always lost from here.} Kf5 63. Qc5+ Kg6 64.
Qc2+ Kf6 65. Qc6+ Kg7 66. Qc7+ Kg6 67. Qd6+ Kg7 68. Kb4 Qb1+ 69. Kc5 Qc2+ 70.
Kb6 Qf2+ 71. Qc5 Qb2+ 72. Qb5 (72. Kc6 Qg2+ 73. Kd6 {Was more accurate since
Qxh2+ is met with Qe5+}) 72... Qxh2 73. Qg5+ Kf7 74. Qf5+ Ke7 (74... Kg7 {
I should probably keep the king further closer to the edge to avoid potential
tactics with queen exchanges.}) 75. Qe4+ Kd8 76. Qd5+ Kc8 77. Qg8+ Kd7 78. Qf7+
Kd8 79. Qf6+ Kd7 80. Qc6+ Kd8 81. Kb7 $1 {This was a nice move which I missed.
Now it is very difficult to defend.} Qe2 $1 {Looks like only chance.} (81...
Qb2+ 82. Qb6+ Qxb6+ 83. axb6 (83. Kxb6 h4 84. a6 h3 85. a7 h2 86. a8=Q+) 83...
h4 84. Ka7 h3 85. b7 h2 86. b8=Q+ {He queens with check.}) 82. Qb6+ Kd7 83.
Qc7+ Ke8 84. a6 Qb2+ 85. Kc8 Qa3 86. Qd7+ Kf8 87. a7 {Here even the engine is
confused about whether this is winning for white or a draw. Either way, I
could've defended better from here probably.} Qa6+ (87... Qc5+ 88. Qc7 Qf5+ 89.
Kb7 Qb5+ 90. Qb6 Qd7+ 91. Ka8 Qd5+ 92. Kb8 Qe5+ 93. Kb7 {Looks like might
eventually win. Probably a tablebase is important here.}) 88. Kb8 Qb6+ 89. Qb7
Qd6+ 90. Qc7 Qb4+ 91. Kc8 Qe4 (91... Qg4+ {Maybe this was a better try.}) 92.
Qc5+ Kg7 93. Kb8 Qe8+ 94. Kb7 Qe4+ 95. Qc6 Qb4+ 96. Kc7 Qa5+ 97. Qb6 Qe5+ 98.
Kb7 Qe4+ 99. Qc6 Qb4+ 100. Kc8 Qf8+ 101. Kc7 Qf4+ 102. Qd6 Qc4+ 103. Kd8 Qg8+
104. Kd7 Qa8 105. Qe5+ Kh6 106. Qf6+ Kh7 107. Qe7+ Kh6 108. Qe3+ Kg6 $6 (108...
Kh7 {This would prolong the fight but probably not change the result.} 109. Kc7
h4 110. Qa3 $18) 109. Qe8+ {LADIESGET2KNOWME won by resignation. Tough loss.}
1-0

[Event "Emerald City Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.06.21"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Black "Bagchi, Sounack"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "1995"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "5400+10"]

{After a tough loss against Raptis, I ended up being paired against another
one of my students, Sounak Bagchi, who I think is under-rated at 2000. I
wanted to play something interesting, so I decided to play into his Benoni,
which he plays quite well.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6
6. e4 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Bd3 Re8 (9... b5 {This is the main line here
which leads to sharp complications.}) 10. O-O Na6 11. Re1 Nc7 12. a4 b6 13. Bf4
Ba6 14. Bb5 {Not best.} (14. Bxa6 Nxa6 15. Nd2 {Is a stable advantage for
white.}) (14. Bg3 {This mysterious computer move is apparently best. It is
very hard for black to actually play a move, and it seems like e5 might come
soon.} Nh5 (14... Qd7 15. e5) 15. Bh2) (14. e5 dxe5) 14... Bxb5 15. axb5 Nh5 $5
{I didn't even see this move somehow but it turned out that white has lots of
compensation here for the pawn.} (15... a6 16. bxa6 Rxa6 17. Rxa6 Nxa6 18. Nd2
Bf8 {Might be more stodgy for black.}) 16. Bh2 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Nxb5 18. c4 Nc7
19. e5 dxe5 20. Nxe5 {White is actually winning here. I have very powerful
pieces, a potential attack on the king, and black's knights are very clumsy.}
Ng7 21. Qf3 Nf5 22. g4 Nd6 23. Qf4 {Maybe not the most precise since this
allows Rxe5 where black holds for some time. I was trying to make Nc6 first
work but I couldn't quite calculate it until the end.} (23. Nc6 Qd7 24. Qf4
Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Re8 (25... Nce8 26. Re7 Qc8 27. Ne5 $18) 26. Ra1 $18) 23... Rxe5
24. Rxe5 a5 25. Rae1 $5 {Commital but good. I abandon the a-pawn but my attack
on the king will be stronger.} a4 26. Re7 Nce8 27. Qe5 a3 28. Bf4 a2 29. Qa1 {
I calculated until here and thought that I should have winning threats on his
king, and for now black cannot utilize his passer.} Qc8 30. Bh6 f6 31. Kh2 {
Just getting out of the way of some checks.} Ra3 32. R1e6 Qa8 33. Rxd6 (33. Qe1
{Was a quicker mate.} a1=Q 34. Rxe8+) 33... Nxd6 34. Rg7+ (34. Qe1 {Somehow I
was blind and I didn't see Qe1 earlier in the game. However, I was always
still winning.}) 34... Kh8 35. Rf7 (35. Qxf6 $4 a1=Q {Would be a tough way to
lose, since now the queen from a1 controls the g7 square.}) 35... Ne4 36. Rxf6
(36. Rf8+ {Would be less precise since black can still struggle on here down a
queen.} Qxf8 37. Bxf8 Kg8) 36... Nc3 37. Rf8+ Qxf8 38. Bxf8 {Now his king is
also terminally weak.} Kg8 (38... Rb3 39. Bh6) 39. Bh6 Rb3 40. Qe1 {AlexanderL
won by resignation. Unstoppable mate. My student fought very strong, but
unfortunately for him, the position I got out of the opening was too strong
for me.} 1-0

[Event "Emerald City Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.06.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Black "Mahajan, Rushaan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E38"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2208"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "5400+10"]

{This is my last round game against young master Rushaan Mahajan, who is also
organizing good online events, in which I have also played twice. I was very
happy to be given white in the last round.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4.
Qc2 {I played this line because I saw that he consistently plays the line he
played against me, where I really believe in white's chances. My opponent told
me he was surpised by it. I have played it here and there between 2015-2019
but lately most games I've played with 1)Nf3, so I knew that this can come as
a surprise for Rushaan as well.} c5 (4... O-O 5. Nf3 c5 6. dxc5 Na6 {This line
with Na6 is more common for black when white already committed Nf3.}) 5. dxc5
Na6 (5... O-O) (5... Bxc5) 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. Qxc3 Nxc5 8. f3 {This is Jan
Gustafsson's recommendation from his chess24 video series on the Qc2 nimzo
indian.} (8. b4 Nce4 9. Qd4 d5 10. c5 b6 11. f3 bxc5 12. bxc5 Qa5+ 13. Qb4 Qc7
14. fxe4 Rb8 {Is the complicated mess that black is perhaps hoping for playing
this line.}) 8... a5 $6 {Too slow. Black needs to develop here.} (8... d6 9. e4
e5 (9... O-O 10. Be3 Bd7 11. Nh3 $14 {White is slightly better here but black
is not without counterplay.})) 9. e4 d6 (9... a4 10. Bf4 Qa5 11. Qxa5 Rxa5 12.
Rd1 $16) 10. Be3 Qb6 $6 {Probably not the best idea to step into a pin.} (10...
Qc7) 11. Rd1 O-O 12. b4 $6 {This wins a pawn but it's too risky since my
kingside is undeveloped. I fell into a materialistic trap.} (12. Qd2 Rd8 (12...
Nfd7 13. Ne2 $16 {Would simply lead to a huge advantage for white.}) 13. e5 $18
) 12... axb4 13. axb4 Na4 14. Qd2 Qc7 15. Qxd6 Qxd6 16. Rxd6 Nc3 $6 {This
looks logical and it's a move I expected, but black misses an incredible
opportunity here, which I also did not see coming.} (16... Nb2 $3 {Somehow
this move disturbs my harmony and doesn't let me develop my pieces very easily.
It's quite complicated still but possibly, black has full counterplay.} 17. Bd4
Ra1+ 18. Kf2 Rb1 {is one sample line where it is actually not easy for me to
complete my development.}) 17. Bd3 {looks so natural but surprisingly this
might also be an inaccuracy.} (17. Ne2 $1 {This would be quite good to offer a
knight trade, trading off his best piece and also preparing to block Ra1+ with
Nc1.} Ra1+ 18. Nc1 e5 19. Bd2 Na2 20. Kd1 Bd7 21. Kc2 Nxc1 22. Bxc1 Rfa8 23.
Bd3 $16 {Here white consolidates his extra pawn and two bishop advantage.})
17... Ra1+ $6 {The most direct move, but this line I calculated and probably
white is just winning now.} (17... e5 $1 {Development is key here, black
needed to get his bishop out to a good square. Now was the last good time to
do it.} 18. Kd2 Na2 $1 19. Bc5 Nd7 $1 {And even though white has an advantage,
black is still alive and kicking.}) 18. Kd2 Na4 19. Bd4 Ra2+ 20. Bc2 (20. Ke3
Rxg2 21. Ne2 {Was stronger, since Rxg2 doesn't work as the knight on a4 gets
stranded.}) 20... b6 $6 {This loses without a fight.} (20... Nd7 21. Ne2 e5 22.
Ra1 Nab6 $1 23. Rxa2 Nxc4+ 24. Ke1 Nxd6 25. Bf2 $16 {White is much better here
but black can still fight on.}) 21. Ne2 Bb7 22. Ra1 $1 {Simple and strong.
Trading off his most active piece and avoiding any Bxe4 and Nxe4 tricks.} Nb2
23. Bxb2 Rxb2 24. Kc3 Ne8 25. Rxb6 {AlexanderL won by resignation Not a
perfect game by me but I was happy to finish the tournament on a good note and
even somehow get into 2nd place mix after a very tough round 3 loss.} 1-0

[Event "Emerald City Open"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2020.06.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Wang, Ze (Tony)"]
[Black "Vijayakunar, Advaith"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B21"]
[WhiteElo "2135"]
[BlackElo "2026"]
[Annotator "Ze Wang"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "6.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "90+10"]
[WhiteClock "1:37:10"]

{This is the fifth round of Emerald City Open. I am white and use my good
knight to clinch the victory.} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} c5 2. f4 Nc6 3. Nf3 g6 4.
Bb5 Bg7 5. O-O {There are two options in this move. Bc6 and 0-0 are both good
choices.} Nd4 6. Nxd4 cxd4 7. d3 a6 8. Bc4 d6 9. Nd2 {At this point, I thought
for 10 minutes. I was wondering if I should push f5 at this point. I thought
it premature. But it turns out it is a good move to create some problems in
the kingside and also free my bishop at c1.} Nf6 10. Nf3 O-O 11. Qe1 b5 {
My opponent might consider d5 instead because it can break my center pawn. But
b5 is a definitely okay move.} 12. Bb3 Nd7 13. Qh4 {At this moment, I take
large amounts of time to think. Maybe 13. f5 is a better choice. After 13. ....
Nc5, I still have the option to play Bd5. I have a clear space advantage and
ready to attack.} e6 14. Qg3 {A clear bad move. I just waste a tempo and let
black to play an important move e6. Nc5 is already a big threat for me. My
light-squared bishop is in a danger. The best choice should be simply trading
my queen and look for a small edge in the endgame.} Nc5 15. f5 {The only
attacking move now. Since e6 and g6 provides protect to f5 square, it cannot
be very useful. But it frees my c1 Bishop to join kingside attack.} Nxb3 16.
axb3 exf5 17. exf5 Bxf5 18. Bf4 d5 {18.... d5 is a really bad move for my
opponent. Since it gives me the chances to get d4 pawn. d4 pawn is much more
important than d6. Therefore, Re8 prepare all the pieces out can be a much
better choice to try.} 19. Be5 Qd7 {Another dubious move and positional
mistake. Since black's pawn are all in light squares. Dark-squared bishop can
be extremely valuable to defense. I think f6 avoid the exchange is the best
choice.} 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Nxd4 {Good Knight vs. Bad bishop. I am very close
to winning this position. It only needs patience.} Be6 22. b4 {A good
positional move. Lock Black's pawn structure and create permanent weakness on
a6} Rfc8 23. Qe5+ Kg8 24. c3 Re8 25. Qf4 f5 26. Ra5 Bf7 27. Rfa1 Qb7 28. h3 {
In this position, Black's pieces are all locked down. White is the only one
who can attack and it is good to play some quiet moves for avoid checks in
future attack.} Red8 29. Qg5 Qb6 30. Kh1 Kh8 31. Qf4 Re8 32. Nxb5 {Final
attack starts. White is winning.} Qe3 33. Qxe3 {Trade the queen can secure the
victory.} Rxe3 34. Rxa6 Rxa6 35. Rxa6 Rxd3 {d4 should be the best attempt to
free the bishop. I underestimate the power of this bishop. After d4 Nd4 Bd5,
g2 pawn is a little vulnerable.} 36. Nd4 Rd2 37. b3 Kg7 38. b5 Rd1+ 39. Kh2 Re1
40. b6 Re8 41. b7 Rb8 42. Rb6 Be8 43. Ne6+ Kf7 44. Nc5 d4 45. cxd4 {1-0 White
wins. The knight on d4 shows the dominant power who helps white to gain the
victory.} 1-0

[Event "Emerald City Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.06.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Goktepe, Derin"]
[Black "Mahajan, Rushaan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "1930"]
[BlackElo "2208"]
[Annotator "Rushaan Mahajan"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "5400+10"]
[WhiteClock "0:51:56"]
[BlackClock "0:06:49"]

{Brief Background: In this game I (Rushaan) was playing against the rising
Washington Talent Derin Goktepe. I have played Derin several times and he has
been a strong opponent who has been getting better at a rapid pace. Coming in
to the game I had 2/2, this was a crucial game for me to stay atop the
standings.} 1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:08]}
b6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 4. Nf3 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 5. e3 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Bxc3+ {[%emt 0:01:
37] In this position I rushed to take the knight on c3 because I felt like
ruining his pawn structure was more important than having the bishop pair.} 6.
bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:17]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 7. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:
00:44]} 8. O-O {[%emt 0:00:56]} Ngf6 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 9. Bb2 {[%emt 0:00:11]}
O-O {[%emt 0:00:23]} 10. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Re8 {[%emt 0:01:30]} 11. e4 {
[%emt 0:00:44]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:24] This type of position is very common and
usually seen as about equal but I like playing it as white has some positional
problems.} 12. Rfe1 {[%emt 0:00:35]} Nf8 {[%emt 0:17:49]} 13. Bc1 {[%emt 0:03:
22]} Ng6 {[%emt 0:03:26]} 14. h3 {[%emt 0:04:16]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:01:31]} 15. Nh2
{[%emt 0:01:24]} Bc8 {[%emt 0:07:22] Here is where the attack starts. I line
up all my pieces to land a vicious attack on the the white's kingside.} 16. Nf1
{[%emt 0:01:54]} Nh5 {[%emt 0:00:29] This is an important idea to bring the
knight to the crticial f4 square.} 17. Ne3 {[%emt 0:03:16]} Ngf4 {[%emt 0:04:
29]} 18. Nd5 {[%emt 0:01:57]} Qg5 {[%emt 0:03:38]} 19. Nxf4 {[%emt 0:01:07]
This was a critical moment here and after some thought I took with the pawn as
I thought practically the attack would be extremely hard to stop.} exf4 {
[%emt 0:03:42]} 20. Kh2 {[%emt 0:01:31] If many of you have gone through
complicated positions you know sometimes the computer gives you 0.00 "triple
zeros" which is funny as this is a really interesting position.} Re6 {[%emt 0:
00:20]} 21. e5 {[%emt 0:02:15]} Rh6 {[%emt 0:13:56]} 22. exd6 {[%emt 0:02:26]}
Bxh3 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 23. gxh3 {[%emt 0:01:44]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:09] In this
position I was super confident as I had calculated for about 15 min and saw
everything looked winning. Believe it or not this position is losing after the
amazing recource of 24. Bf5.} 24. Bxf4 {[%emt 0:06:46] This is a blunder.
Better was to play 24. Bf5 and the bishop does a great job of defending the
kingside.} (24. Rg1 Rxh3+ 25. Kxh3 Qxg1 {With a deadly mating threat of Qhl#})
24... Qxf4+ {[%emt 0:00:45]} 25. Kg1 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Rxh3 {[%emt 0:00:59]} 26.
Be4 {[%emt 0:01:28]} Nxe4 {[%emt 0:03:53]} 27. Qxe4 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Qxe4 {
[%emt 0:04:18]} 28. Rxe4 {[%emt 0:00:06] After having big hopes of a crushing
position it fizzled out into a practically winning rook endgame for me.} cxd6 {
[%emt 0:00:01]} 29. Rae1 {[%emt 0:00:23]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 30. c5 {[%emt 0:
00:33]} bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:21]} 31. dxc5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} dxc5 {[%emt 0:00:06]}
32. Rc4 {[%emt 0:00:06] This is a great recource by my opponent as now it is
very unclear and white has a chance to hold and make a draw} Rh5 {[%emt 0:00:
22]} 33. Re7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Rf5 {[%emt 0:06:34]} 34. Rc7 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Rb8
{[%emt 0:01:22]} 35. R7xc5 {[%emt 0:00:26]} Rxc5 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 36. Rxc5 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} Rb6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 37. Ra5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:
24]} 38. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:27]} Rc6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 39. Kf1 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Kg7
{[%emt 0:01:14]} 40. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 41. Kd3 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Ke6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 42. c4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} h5 {[%emt 0:00:02]
} 43. Kd4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} f6 {[%emt 0:01:26]} 44. Ra3 {[%emt 0:00:32] This
position is unclear but blacks plan for victory is to sacrifice the rook for
the c-pawn and use the majority on the kingside along with the king to promote
one of the pawns.} g5 {[%emt 0:00:55]} 45. Re3+ {[%emt 0:00:11]} Kf5 {[%emt 0:
00:07]} 46. Kd5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:55]} 47. Rf3+ {[%emt 0:01:00]}
Kg6 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 48. c5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} g4 {[%emt 0:01:05]} 49. Rg3 {
[%emt 0:00:24]} Kg5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 50. Kd6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} h4 {[%emt 0:00:
13]} 51. Rg1 {[%emt 0:00:05]} f5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 52. c6 {[%emt 0:00:12]} f4 {
[%emt 0:00:28]} 53. Kd7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Ra8 {[%emt 0:02:19]} 54. c7 {[%emt 0:
00:24]} h3 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 55. c8=Q {[%emt 0:01:26]} Rxc8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 56.
Kxc8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} h2 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 57. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:08] This
position might look like white is winning because of the extra rook but the
white king is far away and the pawns are connected causing them to outlast the
rook} g3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 58. fxg3 {[%emt 0:00:32]} fxg3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 59.
Rc5+ {[%emt 0:00:20]} Kf4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 60. Rc4+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} Ke5 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} 61. Rc5+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} Kd4 {After a long fighting game I
was able to finish victorious. After this game I was able to advance to 3/3 in
a tie for first place. In the next game I would play IM David Shahinyan from
Armenia. (I drew against IM David Shahinyan) :)} 0-1

[Event "Emerald City Open (Reserve)"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.06.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Tessiore, Luca"]
[Black "Li, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D32"]
[WhiteElo "1135"]
[BlackElo "1344"]
[Annotator "Luca Tessiore"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2020.06.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "5400+10"]
[WhiteClock "1:18:02"]
[BlackClock "1:19:01"]

1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:04] [A Queens
Gambit is on the baord.]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} c5 {
[%emt 0:00:02] [The Tarrasch defense.]} 4. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:
00:23] [Better was cxd4.]} 5. cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} exd5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 6.
dxc5 {[%emt 0:00:17]} d4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 7. Na4 {[%emt 0:01:03] [If Ne4, then
Nf6 would force a trade and the position would be in black's favor. Na4
protects the pawn and seeks to win the bishop pair.]} Bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:49]} 8.
Nxc5 {[%emt 0:00:15] [Now white has the bishop pair and a comfortable position.
]} Qa5+ {[%emt 0:00:03]} 9. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Qxc5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 10. Rc1
{[%emt 0:00:16]} Qb6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 11. b3 {[%emt 0:00:52] [This move is an
innacuracy but it had the idea of fianchettoing the bishop on d2.]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:00:44]} 12. e3 {[%emt 0:03:30]} dxe3 {[%emt 0:00:13] [Better was 0-0.]}
13. Bxe3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Qb4+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} 14. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:40]} Qe7+ {
[%emt 0:00:39]} 15. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:02]} 16. O-O {[%emt 0:
00:03]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 17. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:25] [Preparing a discovery.]}
Rfe8 {[%emt 0:00:11] [Better was Bf5]} 18. Ba6 {[%emt 0:01:39]} Be6 {[%emt 0:
00:48]} 19. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:24] [Pin the knight.]} Rac8 {[%emt 0:00:37]} 20.
Bc3 {[%emt 0:01:13]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:04:55] [Better was a6.]} 21. Bb2 {[%emt 0:00:
27] [Keep the bishop pair.]} Qd6 {[%emt 0:02:48] [This is a serious mistake
because the knight on d5 is pinned and cannot defend h7 from the threat of Ng5.
]} 22. Ng5 {[%emt 0:01:41]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:40] [This comes too late as now Qh5
threatens mate.]} 23. Qh5 {[%emt 0:01:17]} h6 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 24. Rxe6 {
[%emt 0:00:55] [A brilliant move that wins a piece: capturing is simply fatal.]
} Rxe6 {[%emt 0:00:00] [Better was Qf8, but black is down a piece and losing
anyway.]} 25. Qxf7+ {[%emt 0:00:18]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:00:35]} 26. Bxg7# {[%emt 0:
00:06] [The final blow delivered with the dark square bishop the king is at
it's demise.]} 1-0

[Event "National Tournament of State Senior Cha"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.07.26"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carter, David"]
[Black "Kuhner, Mary"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C18"]
[WhiteElo "2269"]
[BlackElo "1878"]
[Annotator "Mary Kuhner"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "5400+10"]
[WhiteClock "0:01:14"]
[BlackClock "0:05:36"]

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Qc7 8. Bd3
{This twist on the usual Poisoned Pawn Winawer is popular in Oregon,
apparently due to a book by Negi that I have not read. Compared to the regular
Poisoned Pawn, White's bishop is more active on d3 than f1, but the g-pawn
tends to hang and a rook on g2 can be dangerous for White ( or for Black, who
can easily lose it ) . Some years ago I managed to win a dramatic sacrificial
game in this line, so I was happy to see it again.} cxd4 {[%emt 0:02:56]} 9.
Ne2 dxc3 10. Qxg7 Rg8 11. Qxh7 Nbc6 12. f4 ({I felt that} 12. Bf4 {was
stronger, not opening the diagonal g1-a7 against White's king.}) 12... Rxg2 {
[%emt 0:12:22] Stockfish thinks I ought to play ...Bd7 and castle as quickly
as possible, only then thinking about the attack.} 13. Be3 {Here and on many
subsequent moves, Rg1 to exchange the aggressive rook can be recommended. I
think that White may have felt entitled to trap the rook, even though it can't
be done at the moment, and therefore didn't want to trade it off; but this
will end up being an expensive preoccupation.} ({The immediate} 13. Ng3 {
does not trap the rook due to} Qb6) 13... Nf5 $6 {Having my king stuck in the
center is only normal for this opening, but after the subsequent exchanges I
will have a very tough time developing my queenside pieces. I was worried
about the dark squares if I tried ...Bd7 and ...0-0-0, but this is no cure.}
14. Bxf5 exf5 15. Qh8+ Kd7 {[%emt 0:15:26]} 16. Rd1 {I did not think this was
a sufficiently forcing move: I have only one response but it elegantly covers
several weak squares, and also opens lines for my queen. It's an interesting
detail of this opening that White can basically never castle long because the
a-pawn can't be held after ...Qa5, but Stockfish thinks that there are several
queen moves with more real threat value than this.} Ne7 17. Qf6 Ke8 $6 {
[%emt 0:07:20]} (17... b6 {is the engine recommendation, with hair-raising
complications}) 18. Qd6 {It's evident that neither player can really figure
out this position, which is very typical of the opening. I was delighted to
see this move, as I don't have to trade queens and felt the initiative was
falling into my hands. Stockfish thinks this is dead equal.} Qc4 19. Rd3 {
Moving the knight away allows the destabilizing ...Rxc2.} b6 {At this point
each player had used about 45 of the available 90 minutes ( with 10 second
increment ) . However, my opponent used 32 minutes on his next move, a
decision that was to cost him dearly later on.} ({The engine favors} 19... Qa2
{but I never even considered this piece of pawn-grubbing. I should have,
though; I knew the c2 pawn was more important than it looks.}) 20. Bf2 $2 {
Despite the long think, this is a losing move. With 32 minutes to think myself,
I had not even conceived of it, however, and in my startlement made a poor
reply.} ({Last call for} 20. Rg1 {says the engine}) 20... Qe4 $2 {The right
idea, but what could easily have been a fatally wrong order of moves.} ({
I did consider the winning} 20... Ba6 {but could not calculate either line in
enough detail to decide between them.}) 21. Re3 Qxc2 22. Rxc3 {[%emt 1:26:03]
White has the serious threat of playing Rc7 and, when the knight moves, Qc6+
winning the rook in the corner. I calculated that I could avoid this by
protecting the c6 square, but this defense fails.} Qb1+ 23. Rc1 Qb5 24. Qb4 $2
{White, who has just 7 minutes on his clock, has had enough of these threats
and counter-threats. But it will turn out that getting rid of the queens does
not solve his problems.} ({White should be bold:} 24. Rc7 Ng6 25. Nc3 {with
too many threats.}) 24... Qxb4+ {I liked the structure after the direct
capture a little better than after ...Ba6.} 25. axb4 Ba6 {[%emt 0:36:03]
Taking stock: Black is up a pawn, but her pawn structure leaves something to
be desired. Her bishop and the g2 rook have some definite prospects. White has
the usual passed h-pawn seen in almost all lines of this opening, but Black's
passed d-pawn, it turns out, cannot be disregarded either. I felt happy with
my position but not convinced I had an exploitable advantage--other than my
opponent's clock.} 26. Kf1 $6 {With only 4 minutes left White makes a move
that seems to add to his problems rather than resolving them.} Rg4 {Very
natural looking, but I soon regretted not putting it on g6 where it could
swing to the queenside.} 27. Bg3 {The bishop is little more than a pawn here,
though this move is consistent with his apparent desire to be rid of the
intrusive rook for good.} d4 {I felt I could exploit the awkward positions of
White's pieces with this move, though the engine does not agree.} 28. Kf2 Rd8 {
I was quite pleased with my d-pawn, and the ominous white h-pawn was going
strictly nowhere.} 29. Rhd1 d3 30. Ng1 $6 {[%emt 0:05:06] It was at this point
that I began to believe I was winning. Black's pieces and d-pawn are gaining
more and more energy, whereas White's appear confused.} (30. Nc3 {is much
better; the engine insists that the only way to advantage is} Bc4 {which I am
not at all sure I would have found}) 30... Nd5 31. h3 {I though this move was
a blunder, though Stockfish disagrees. I will argue with the engine here:
destabilizing the bishop and the knight behind it must be wrong!} Rg6 {I had
10 minutes left myself, and my heart was pounding.} 32. Ra1 $2 {[%emt 0:00:27]
The engine pegs this as the actually losing move; White just can't afford to
give up the c-file.} Nc3 {Disaster: not only is the rook threatened, but ...
Ne4+ will win the miserable bishop. White's position simply collapses.} 33.
Rxa6 {[%emt 0:00:50]} Nxd1+ 34. Kf3 {[%emt 0:02:09]} Nc3 {The d-pawn has not
yet spoken and will claim still more material.} 35. Be1 {White had 25 seconds
on his clock, and may have continued play simply because you don't resign in
blitz.} d2 {I had eight minutes myself and was just hoping to avoid a mistake!}
36. Bxd2 Rxd2 {To add insult to injury, I don't think White's knight can be
saved.} 37. Ke3 Rd1 {[%emt 0:14:00]} 38. Nf3 Rg3 39. Kf2 {[%emt 0:01:06]} Ne4+
40. Ke2 Rb1 41. Rxa7 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Rb2+ 42. Ke3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Rb3+ 43.
Kd4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Rgxf3 44. Ra8+ Ke7 45. Kd5 {Evidently the goal is to
cheapo me off with a back-rank mate or perhaps an advance of the e-pawn. My
opponent is evidently a good blitz player and had actually earned back half a
minute by this point, whereas I was down to about 6. However, unusually for me
I had managed to make a successful transition to blitz-like thinking myself,
avoiding my usual time-trouble panic.} Rxb4 46. Ra7+ Kf8 47. e6 Rd3+ 48. Ke5 ({
The mate is delayed only slightly by} 48. Kc6 Rc3+ 49. Kb7 Nd6+ 50. Kb8 Rc8#)
48... Rb5# {[%emt 0:04:17]} 0-1

[Event "Washington vs Oregon Match"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.08.08"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Goktepe (WA), Derin"]
[Black "Feldman (OR), Konner"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E73"]
[WhiteElo "1930"]
[BlackElo "2054"]
[Annotator "Konner Feldman"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[WhiteTeam "WA"]
[BlackTeam "OR"]

{This game from the WA vs OR match was a KID where White locked the center and
gave up the KID bishop's counterpart. The deciding factor was Black's total
control over pawn breaks, when I was able to improve even my king before
opening up the board. The bind was especially mentally taxing to White, who
seemed like he could not sit still and do nothing (which was the appropriate
course of action).} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 {Sigh. I
know this could still be main line, but the only reason people play these move
orders is to play some weird sideline.} O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 a5 8. g4 Na6 9. h4
Nc5 10. f3 h5 11. g5 Ne8 12. Nh3 Qe7 13. Qd2 Bd7 14. b3 $2 {An error.
Advancing on the queenside only gives Black targets.} Na6 {Threatening Pa5 to
disrupt White's pawn structure and create play.} 15. a3 Nc5 16. Bxc5 $4 {
Never give away the KID bishop's counterpart.} dxc5 17. a4 {And here I
realized the battle revolved around whether Black could activate his Bg7 or
White his Be2. This means that White's only break, Pf4, is positional suicide.
Thus, Black has all the time in the world to prepare his own break: Pf6. But
first, some obvious moves:} Nd6 18. O-O-O (18. Nb5 Nxb5 19. cxb5 (19. axb5 b6)
19... c4) 18... Kh7 {To support an eventual Bh6 if I ever needed it.} 19. Rdg1
{Here White begins flailing around with phantom threats(Pf4). White must
accept that he can only draw if Black does not blunder horrendously. He should
enable Be2-f1-h3 and trade it off, then create a defensive setup and shuffle
his king.} b6 20. Bd1 {I want to prepare Pf6. But I don't want to endanger my
king in any way. The solution: get my king to b7. After all, it is already
established that opening up the center with Pf4 is losing positionally.} Rh8 $3
21. Qg2 Kg8 22. Kb1 Kf8 23. Rf1 Ke8 24. Rf2 Kd8 25. Rhf1 Kc8 26. Ng1 Kb7 27.
Nge2 Rae8 28. Ng3 f6 29. Nge2 fxg5 30. hxg5 (30. Qxg5 Bf6 31. Qxg6 Reg8) 30...
Rhf8 ({I knew that this pawn structure was extremely favorable for Black and I
still could take as much time as I needed. The computer does reccomend:} 30...
h4 {But this move was commital, and so I had decided to explore every other
opportunity first as I could always remanuver my pieces if all else failed.
This is one of the advantages of having such a dominating position, and it was
every bit a mental advantage as it was an on the board one.}) 31. Rh1 Rf7 32.
Rh4 Ref8 (32... Bh6 {A missed opportunity, but there are many ways to win from
here on.}) 33. Qg3 Bg4 34. Ng1 Qxg5 35. Rhh2 Qe3 (35... Nf5 36. Qg2 Nd4) 36.
Kc2 Bh6 37. Qg2 Qd4 (37... Qc1+ 38. Kd3 Nxe4) 38. Nh3 Be3 39. Rf1 Rf6 40. Ng1
Bxg1 41. Qxg1 Bxf3 42. Bxf3 Rxf3 43. Qxd4 cxd4 44. Rxf3 Rxf3 45. Nd1 Nxe4 0-1

[Event "104th US Open"]
[Site "Los Angeles, CA"]
[Date "2003.08.12"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Tate, Emory"]
[Black "Lin, Benjamin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B02"]
[WhiteElo "2433"]
[BlackElo "2097"]
[Annotator "Benjamin Lin"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2003.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]

1. e4 Nf6 {After discovering the pairings about an hour before this game began,
I asked Oleg Zaikov if he had access to a chess database. We eventually
borrowed a laptop from his friend Hana Itkis. It quickly became apparent that
the late Emory Tate played aggressively. With no more time left to prepare,
Alekhine's defense seemed like the most reasonable choice for embracing the
madness that was sure to ensue. Incidentally, Oleg's South Eugene teammate
Morgan Griffiths drew Emory the round before. Morgan had been crowned 2003
National High School Champion a few months earlier.} 2. Nc3 d5 3. e5 Ne4 4. d4
{The mainline is 4. Nce2 because white hopes to take advantage of the
misplaced knight on e4.} Nxc3 5. bxc3 c5 6. Be3 Nc6 {6... e6!? voluntarily
hems in the bad French bishop, but black gets a MacCutcheon formation without
having given up the valuable dark-squared bishop.} 7. Qd2 Bf5 $5 {Trying to
play a French structure without a bad bishop might be asking too much of this
position because the queenside immediately becomes a target.} 8. Rb1 Qc7 $2 {
The critical continuation is 8... c4! 9. Rxb7 e6 10. Be2 Qc8 11. Rb2 Ba3 with
lots of activity for a measly doubled pawn.} 9. Nf3 e6 10. dxc5 O-O-O $4 {
10... Be7 would be the sane way to play.} 11. Be2 Bg4 12. Nd4 Bxe2 {Trading
off the bad French bishop, but clearly things have gone terribly wrong for
black.} 13. Qxe2 Nxd4 $4 {13... Bxc5! 14. Nb5 Qe7 15. O-O Kb8 16. Bxc5 Qxc5 17.
Nd6 Rd7 18. Qa6 Nd8 proved to be too difficult to calculate over the board.}
14. cxd4 f6 15. f4 g5 {Without a concrete plan, Black is simply lashing out.}
16. O-O gxf4 17. Bxf4 f5 18. Rf3 $1 {A beautiful rook lift to join the
queenside attack.} Rd7 19. Ra3 a6 $4 20. Rxa6 {!!! Triple Exclam!!! is the
title of Emory's biography written by Daaim Shabazz. I should have anticipated
this powerful sacrifice, especially after my pre-game preparation. Emory was
known for his uncompromising style of play.} bxa6 21. Qxa6+ Kd8 22. c6 $4 {
22. Qxe6! was crushing and black is totally helpless. Instead, the text allows
black to survive.} Qa7 $1 23. Bg5+ Be7 {Almost everything is hanging and
strangely nothing can be taken.} 24. c7+ Rxc7 25. Qd6+ Ke8 26. Bxe7 $4 {
26.Qxe6 was white's last chance to save the game.} Kf7 {Black has finally
consolidated with a winning advantage.} 27. Bd8 Rd7 28. Bb6 Rxd6 29. Bxa7 Ra6
30. Rb7+ Kg6 31. Bc5 Rxa2 32. Re7 Rxc2 33. Rxe6+ Kg5 34. Ra6 Rb8 35. h4+ Kg4
36. Ra3 Rbb2 37. e6 Rxg2+ 38. Kf1 Rbf2+ 39. Ke1 Re2+ 40. Kf1 Ref2+ 41. Ke1 Rb2
42. Kf1 Rgf2+ {White resigned because after 43.Kg1 Rfe2 threatens both mate
and the passed pawn on e6.} 0-1

[Event "2001 Continental Open (U2000)"]
[Site "Las Vegas, Nevada"]
[Date "2001.07.29"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Angel, Antonio"]
[Black "Lin, Benjamin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "1900"]
[BlackElo "2027"]
[Annotator "Benjamin Lin"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2001.07.29"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]

1. Nf3 g6 {Although this game was played in 2001, the story begins a year
earlier. Shortly after winning the National Junior High Team Championship,
scholastic super stars Oleg Zaikov and Ryan Thurlow both defeated me for 400+
point upsets. Ryan did it twice in the same month!! Those three games cost me
almost 100 ratings points. Soon afterwards, I was no longer an expert. This
was the perfect time to enter one of those CCA tournaments run by Bill
Goichberg. My friends Stacey Mitchell, Steve Schwartz, and Nick Raptis also
played in this tournament. After a disappointing loss in round two, my chances
for winning a big prize seemed dismal. Thoughts filled with self-doubt
lingered. Was I just another patzer or could I play like an expert once again?
Playing numerous blitz games with Stacey between rounds was fun and uplifting.
After achieving four wins in five rounds, a four-figure payday was back on the
agenda. All I had to do was win this game!} 2. e4 Bg7 3. d4 c6 $5 {Aiming for
the Gurgenidze variation, which I had never played before as black. However, I
had lots of experience from the white side since this was my brother's pet
line. I also remembered that IM Georgi Orlov had published a game in NWC
featuring this system.} 4. Bc4 $2 {This loses a tempo. The mainline is 4. Nc3
d5 5. h3} d5 5. exd5 cxd5 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Bxd7+ Nxd7 {The white bishop has
helped black to develop!} 8. Be3 {More strange bishop moves from white.} Ngf6
9. Qc1 Rc8 10. c3 Qb6 11. b3 $2 {Castling was definitely indicated.} Ng4 12.
Bd2 Qe6+ 13. Kf1 Qa6+ 14. Ke1 O-O 15. h3 Ngf6 16. Bh6 Rfe8 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 {
White has successfully traded another pair of bishops and is now lost due to
lack of development.} 18. Ne5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Ne4 20. Qe3 Qa5 21. b4 Qc7 22. f4
Nxc3 23. Nd2 a5 {23... d4 ! 24. Qxd4 Red8 with tremendous activity and
pressure.} 24. a3 axb4 25. axb4 Nb5 26. Kf2 Qc3 $2 {I missed 26... d4 27. Qe2
Qb6 28. Nc4 Qe6 29. Nd2 Rc2!} 27. Qe2 $4 {Trading queens would have offered
significantly more resistance. Around here, Nick wandered over from the Open
section to observe my big money game. I resolved to play actively like Nick
would.} Nd4 28. Qd1 Nc2 29. Rb1 Qe3+ 30. Kf1 Qxf4+ 31. Kg1 Qd4+ 32. Kh2 Qxe5+
33. g3 Rc3 34. Nf3 Qe3 35. Rf1 d4 36. Rb2 d3 37. Nd2 Qe2+ 38. Qxe2 dxe2 39. Rc1
e1=Q 40. Rcxc2 Qxg3+ 0-1

[Event "Seattle Seafair Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.07.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Shapiro, Michael"]
[Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A10"]
[WhiteElo "1360"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "5400+10"]

{In the first round I was playing a player around 1600 so I expected a
relatively easy game, but I got anything but.} 1. c4 b6 (1... e6) 2. Nf3 Bb7 3.
Nc3 e6 4. a3 {A slightly unusual move, but I couldn't really find a way to
punish this.} (4. g3) (4. d4) 4... Nf6 {I thought this is normal.} (4... d5 5.
cxd5 exd5 6. d4) 5. g3 (5. d4 {This could've transposed into the Nimzo indian.}
) 5... c5 6. Bg2 Nc6 {Somehow the engine really dislikes this.} (6... d5 7.
cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 (8. O-O Nc6 9. Qa4 Qd7 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. d4) 8... Qxd5 9. O-O
{I considered this but I thought that he plays d4 too easily and the game can
fizzle.}) 7. O-O (7. e4) 7... Be7 8. b3 (8. d4 Nxd4 9. Nxd4 Bxg2 10. Kxg2 cxd4
11. Qxd4 O-O {I was willing to play this position, but I wasn't really that
happy with this.}) (8. e4 {I wasn't really worried about this, but apparently
I might be slightly worse here, although at least here I keep all my pieces on
the board.} e5) 8... O-O 9. d4 Nxd4 (9... d5) 10. Nxd4 Bxg2 11. Kxg2 cxd4 12.
Qxd4 Qc7 (12... d5 13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 exd5 15. Bb2 Bf6 16. Qd2 {This
position is equal but with almost no winning chances for white.}) 13. Kg1 (13.
e4) 13... Rfd8 14. Bb2 Qc6 15. Qd3 d5 {I think this move is objectively best
and I thought I'll have some winning chances in the endgame due to my
positions being slightly more active. However, maybe it was a practical
mistake.} (15... d6 16. Rfd1 Nd7) 16. cxd5 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 (17. Qf3) 17... Rxd5
18. Qc3 Qxc3 19. Bxc3 h5 (19... Rc8 20. Bb4 {Here I was worried about this and
I thought that this rook endgame might not yield enough winning chances.}) (
19... a5 20. a4 {I also considered a5 but I thought that this structure would
potentially be problematic for me.}) 20. b4 Rc8 21. Rac1 a5 22. e3 $3 {I
didn't see this move coming but it is a really strong move, preparing Bd4 and
mantaining very strong drawing chances.} Rd3 23. Bd4 Rb8 (23... Rxc1 24. Rxc1
axb4 (24... Rxa3 25. Rc8+ Kh7 26. bxa5 bxa5 27. Rc7 {Here I thought I had no
winning chances.}) 25. axb4 b5 26. Rc8+) 24. Rc7 Bf8 (24... Bd8 25. Rc3) 25.
Rc3 $6 {I was happy to see this move and I thought I'll have real winning
chances, but somehow he defended really well even after this.} (25. Ra1 $11)
25... Rxc3 26. Bxc3 Rc8 27. Bd4 axb4 28. axb4 b5 29. Ra1 Bxb4 30. Rb1 Rc4 31.
Kg2 f6 32. f4 $1 {Another strong prophylactic move.} Kf7 (32... f5 33. Be5) 33.
Kf3 Ke7 $4 {What can I say? Loss of concentration, it happens to all of us :(
Truth be told though, even if I don't blunder, this is objectively not easy to
win. I am not sure what exactly went wrong for me this game. I thought I
played a reasonably good game up to this point, but somehow perhaps, my
opponent played the game of his life :)} (33... Ke8 34. Ke2 Kd7 35. Kd3 Kc6 36.
Ra1 {Because of my poor coordination of my pieces, he gets too much
counterplay, which is enough for equality.}) 34. Rxb4 {Of course!
Unfortunately it's such a blunder, from which there is simply no recovery.}
Rxb4 35. Bc5+ Kd7 36. Bxb4 Kc6 37. Ke4 Kd7 38. h4 g6 39. Kf3 Kc6 40. Ke4 Kd7
41. Kd4 Kc6 42. e4 Kb6 43. f5 gxf5 44. exf5 exf5 45. Kd5 Kc7 46. Ke6 Kc6 47.
Kxf5 Kd5 48. Kxf6 Ke4 49. Kg5 Kf3 50. Kxh5 Kxg3 51. Kg5 {funmath won by
resignation} 1-0

[Event "Seattle Seafair Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.07.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Black "Tran, Nugen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "1047"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "5400+10"]

{In round 2 after a tough loss to a 1500 player, I re-entered with a
half-point bye and ended up playing an 1100 player who upset a higher rated
player in round 1. So, I was the highest 0.5 and my opponent was the lowest 1.
I figured my opponent was under-rated. I don't think I played people that
level in a tournament ever since I became a GM, except for in a simul. However,
these days we cannot look at the ratings, since noone has been able to play
rated tournaments for the last few months, and it is quite possible that many
players, especially younger players might already be a few hundred points
higher in level than their official rating that might be lagging behind. For a
while my opponent played quite well, until the unexpected rook blunder.} 1. Nf3
d5 {My pet line.} 2. e3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. b3 c5 (5... O-O {0-0 is
more common here.}) 6. Bb2 Nc6 (6... d4 {This doesn't quite work here.} 7. exd4
cxd4 8. Nb5 d3 9. Qb1 $18) 7. cxd5 exd5 8. d4 Be6 (8... O-O {0-0 again was
probably more accurate.}) 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Bb5 O-O 11. O-O a6 $6 (11... Qe7 {
I would play something like Qe7 since I wanted to take on c6 anyway.}) 12. Bxc6
bxc6 13. Rc1 Ba7 (13... Bd6) 14. Na4 Rc8 15. Qd3 {This is a strong
multi-purposeful move, getting the queen into an active position where I
attack a few of my opponent's targets, the a6 pawn on the queenside and the h7
pawn on the kingside.} a5 16. Ng5 g6 17. Qa6 (17. Nc5 {This move might
actually be the most precise.}) 17... Bb8 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Bxf6 (19. Rxc6 {
Originally I thought I can play this but then I saw Bxh2+ with some murky
complications, which I didn't want to allow.} Bxh2+ $1 20. Kxh2 Ng4+ 21. Kh3
Qg5 {This was already enough for me to see in order to avoid going into this.}
22. f4 Qh5+ 23. Kg3 Rce8 $1 (23... Qh2+ $2 24. Kf3 Qh5 25. Rxc8 {Here white
wins.}) 24. Rxe6 Nxe3 25. Rxe3 Rxe3+ 26. Kf2 Re2+ 27. Qxe2 Rxf4+ 28. Ke1 Re4 {
With a very unclear position.}) 19... Qc7 $1 {A very nice intermediate move
that I didn't see. It's a very impressive move for a player slightly below
1100! Just goes to show how much the quality of chess in general has improved
since I was a starting out chess player.} 20. g3 Rxf6 21. Rc2 e5 22. Rfc1 Qa7
$4 {Thankfully for me, a blunder came.} (22... Kg7 $16 {White is clearly
better due to black's weak queenside pawns and white's active pieces, but
black is still in the game.}) 23. Qxc8+ Kf7 24. Rxc6 Rf3 25. Rc7+ Bxc7 26.
Rxc7+ Qxc7 27. Qxc7+ Kf6 28. Qd6+ Kf5 29. Qxd5 Kg4 30. h3+ Kxh3 31. Qxf3 e4 32.
Qxe4 g5 33. Qf5+ g4 34. Qh5# {AlexanderL won by checkmate} 1-0

[Event "Seattle Seafair Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.07.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Gottumukkala, Ananth"]
[Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B15"]
[WhiteElo "1785"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "5400+10"]

{After a quick round 2 win, I was paired against a young Indian player who is
around 1800 but I knew he's quite dangerous since he has beaten Nick Raptis
before.} 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 g6 ({Last time in a similar tournament I
played 3)...Nf6 against IM Georgi Orlov without lots of success. This time I
wanted to switch it up in order to avoid preparation by my opponent and to
keep my opponents guessing.} 3... Nf6) 4. d4 Bg7 5. h3 dxe4 6. Nxe4 Nf6 7.
Nxf6+ {This might be slightly worse for black but is supposed to be fairly
solid and reliable for black. However, I quickly got an unpleasant position in
this game.} exf6 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O a5 10. Re1 Na6 11. c4 Be6 $6 {Showing lack
of understanding of this position. Taking squares away from the knight on a6
was very uncalled for.} (11... Nc7 {This move would be normal with ideas like
Ne6 and f5, putting pressure on white's d4 pawn. Another idea can be b5. Black
should challenge white's center, or else black will be worse.} 12. b3 Re8 (
12... f5)) 12. a3 (12. Bf4 {Normal development was also possible.}) 12... Re8 (
12... b5 $1 {I don't think I considered this. Apparently this concept of
sacrifising the pawn for some initiative, gaining control of some open files
and key squares was beyond my understanding of the position.} 13. cxb5 cxb5 14.
Bxb5 Nc7 15. Bf1 Bd5 $44) 13. Bf4 Bf8 14. Rc1 Bd6 15. Qd2 a4 16. d5 $5 {
Simplifying the game and getting to a risk-free position.} (16. Bxd6 Qxd6 17.
Re4 $14 {This plan might've been more ambitious to try to go after my king.})
16... cxd5 (16... Nc5 {Apparently this move was possible which I also don't
think that I saw.} 17. dxe6 Bxf4 18. exf7+ Kxf7 19. Bxg6+ hxg6 20. Qxf4 Nd3 21.
Rxe8 Nxf4 22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23. Rc2 $11 {However, here white has to play some
precise moves, and even here, black still can continue fighting.}) 17. cxd5
Bxf4 18. Qxf4 Bxd5 19. Rxe8+ Qxe8 20. Qxf6 Qd8 $6 {Continuing showing the bad
form from earlier in the day.} (20... Rc8 $11) 21. Qxd8+ Rxd8 22. Bxa6 {
Somehow I totally missed it, I only saw this possibility about 5 minutes into
his thinking.} Bxf3 {A sad necessity.} (22... bxa6 23. Rd1 $16 {Would be a
very unpleasant pin for me.}) 23. Bb5 $6 {Phew.} (23. gxf3 {Of course, if he
played this move, I should be able to hold a draw, but white reaches a
position where he cannot lose. I would have to then accept a draw against an
1800 after already losing to a 1500 earlier in the day. This just goes to show
that everyone can play good chess these days and even if you are a GM but you
are out of form, they can easily be scalped to a draw or even a win.} bxa6 24.
Rc4 Rd2 25. Rxa4 Rxb2 26. Rxa6 g5 {Where black should easily hold a draw
thanks to his rook activity, but of course white can never lose unless he goes
crazy trying to win at all costs.}) 23... Bd1 {I suspect my opponent might've
missed this move. At least now, the game doesn't immediately fizzle into a
draw, so I started to be slightly optimistic.} 24. Kf1 (24. Rc4 Bb3 25. Rb4
Rd1+ 26. Kh2 Rd2 27. Kg3 {Would probably just be a dead draw.}) 24... Rd2 25.
Rc8+ $6 (25. Bc4 Bb3 26. Bxb3 axb3 27. Rc7 {Is still a draw.}) 25... Kg7 26.
Ra8 Rxb2 27. Bxa4 Be2+ 28. Ke1 (28. Kg1 b5) 28... b5 {Here at least white has
to answer some questions.} 29. Rb8 $6 (29. Re8 {This move should still
probably draw but already here white has to work for a draw in most lines.}
bxa4 (29... Bh5 {I was probably going to play this move.} 30. Bxb5 $1 Rxb5 31.
g4 Ra5 32. Re3 Bxg4 33. hxg4 Ra4 34. f3 {And with accurate play, white should
draw, but at least here there are some imbalances, so I can hope for a miracle.
}) 30. Rxe2 Rb1+ 31. Kd2 Ra1 32. Re3 Ra2+ 33. Ke1 h5 {This is objectively a
draw but here my rook is more active than his since my rook ties his rook down
to his pawn. This is a draw but I can still play many moves and try to trick
him.}) 29... Bd3 (29... Bc4 {I was spending some time here trying to compare
Bc4 and Bd3, and it looks like I chose the wrong one.} 30. Bd1 Rb1 31. Kd2 Ra1
32. Ra8 Bd5 33. Ra7 b4 34. Ra5 Ra2+ 35. Ke1 Bxg2 36. axb4 Rb2 {With decent
winning chances for black.}) 30. Bd1 Ra2 31. Ra8 Be4 32. Ra5 $6 {I also
expected this but now black might be close to winning.} (32. Ra7 Bxg2 33. Bb3
Ra1+ 34. Kd2 Bxh3 35. Bxf7 {Would give white good counterplay and excellent
drawing chances.} Kf6 36. Be8 $1 $15) 32... Bxg2 33. Rxb5 Rxa3 $6 (33... Bxh3 {
Was probably better.}) 34. h4 h6 35. h5 $6 {An instructive mistake, fixing his
pawn on a weak h5 square where I can attack him with a bishop and a rook. Now
white is lost.} (35. Rb4 {Objectively here, white still has very good chances
to hold.}) 35... g5 36. Rb6 Bf3 37. Bb3 (37. Bxf3 Rxf3 38. Ke2 Rh3 $19) 37...
Bxh5 38. Rb7 Ra1+ 39. Kd2 Rf1 40. Ke3 Re1+ 41. Kd3 Bg6+ 42. Kd2 Re4 43. Rd7 h5
44. f3 Rb4 45. Kc3 Rf4 46. Bd5 h4 47. Ra7 Bh5 48. Kd2 Rd4+ {AlexanderL won by
resignation. I was happy to get the win and keep myself in contention in the
tournament. However, I was not very happy with this game.} 0-1

[Event "Seattle Seafair Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.07.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Black "Whale, Nicholas"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E62"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2065"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "5400+10"]

{In round 4 I played against a strong local expert, Nicholas Whale. He has
proven to be very dangerous, beating the strong GM Vitaly Bernadskiy last
round. Actually I didn't even expect to play him, so I was on my own in the
opening.} 1. d4 (1. Nf3) 1... Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 d6 6.
Nf3 c6 7. O-O {A sideline of sidelines. I was on my own here, since I couldn't
quite recall what I should do here.} Qa5 8. e4 Qh5 {The idea of Qa5.} 9. Ng5 (
9. e5 dxe5 10. Nxe5 $14 {Would also be slightly better for white.}) (9. Qb3 {
Would be interesting, trying to not allow Bh3.} e5 10. d5) 9... Qxd1 10. Rxd1
h6 (10... Nfd7 $5 11. Nf3 Nb6 12. b3 c5) 11. Nf3 Rd8 12. h3 {probably
unnecessary} (12. Be3 Ng4 13. Bd2 Nf6 14. Rac1 $14) 12... Na6 (12... d5 $5 {
Might've been possible.}) (12... Be6 {Also this move might've made sense to
play earlier.}) 13. Be3 Be6 14. d5 {Probably not the most accurate move. I
cannot hold my space.} (14. b3 {This was preferred since I am keeping the
tension. I was worried about him playing d5 but quite clearly, it is not that
great for him.} d5 15. cxd5 cxd5 16. e5 Ne4 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Nd2) 14... Bd7
15. e5 $2 {This is just a careless move. I don't know why I assumed he has to
take.} (15. dxc6 Bxc6 (15... bxc6 16. e5 {Here e5 would be good.}) 16. Nd4 $14
{This is a solid but stable advantage.}) 15... Ne8 $1 {of course! Now I
realized that I cannot hold my space and I am losing all of my advantage and
in fact, I have to be lucky not to be worse.} 16. dxc6 Bxc6 17. exd6 $2 {
Another mistake, helping his knight get into the game, but at this point I was
struggling to find a move.} (17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. Rxd5 Nec7 {I couldn't see what
to do here, but in fact here, I just have good compensation for the pawn.} 19.
Rdd1 dxe5 $6 (19... d5 20. Rac1) 20. Ne1 $1) 17... Nxd6 18. Nd2 Bxg2 19. Kxg2
Bxc3 (19... b6 $17 {Amazingly I am just much worse here. My pieces are just
not harmoniously placed. Another very poor opening play by me.}) 20. bxc3 Nf5
21. Nf1 Nxe3+ 22. Nxe3 e6 $6 {Now I can breathe a little bit easier.} (22...
Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Nc5 $17 {With everything else being equal, my pawn structure is
a wreck.}) 23. Rd4 Kf8 $6 (23... Kg7 24. Rad1 Rdc8 $17) 24. Rad1 Ke7 25. Ng4 {
Now I am creating counterplay and at least worst is over for me.} h5 26. Ne5
Rxd4 27. cxd4 (27. Rxd4 {This is tempting but would be a mistake since after
Nc5, all the pentration squares are covered and my pawns are still very weak.})
27... b6 28. Rd3 (28. f4 {This was more accurate to keep the knight on e5
since I stop g5.}) 28... g5 29. Rf3 f6 30. Nc6+ Kd6 31. d5 Rf8 $1 {This is
precise.} (31... f5 32. Nd4) 32. Ra3 (32. Nxa7 exd5 33. cxd5 Nc7 $11) 32...
exd5 33. cxd5 Kxd5 34. Ne7+ Ke6 35. Rxa6 (35. Ng6 Rg8) 35... Kxe7 36. Rxa7+ Kd6
37. Rb7 {Still a draw after this but it creates the most practical problems
for black at least.} (37. Rh7 Ra8 38. Rxh5 Rxa2 {Is an easy draw for black.})
37... Kc6 38. Rh7 Ra8 39. Rh6 (39. Rxh5 Kd6) 39... Rxa2 40. Rxf6+ Kc5 41. Rf5+
Kc4 42. Rxg5 b5 43. Rxh5 b4 44. Rh4+ Kc3 45. Rh8 {This is still a draw but at
least black has to do some calculation.} b3 46. Rc8+ (46. Rb8 b2 47. h4 Ra4)
46... Kd2 47. Rb8 Kc2 48. h4 b2 49. h5 b1=Q $2 {After many accurate moves by
black in the endgame, finally he errs.} (49... Ra8 $1 {Would gain a very
important tempo for black.} 50. Rb7 b1=Q 51. Rxb1 Kxb1 52. g4 Rg8 53. f3 (53.
Kf3 Kc2 54. Kf4 Kd3 55. h6 Rf8+ {Would be complicated but leads to a draw.})
53... Kc2) (49... Ra3 {Would also be sufficient since...} 50. h6 (50. Rxb2+
Kxb2 51. g4 Kc3 52. Kf3 Kd4+ 53. Kf4 Kd5 54. Kf5 Rh3 $11) 50... Ra6 $1 $11 (
50... Rb3 $2 51. Rxb3 Kxb3 52. h7 b1=Q 53. h8=Q $18)) 50. Rxb1 Kxb1 51. g4 (51.
h6 $4 Ra6) 51... Ra6 52. g5 Ra5 53. f4 Kc2 54. h6 Ra4 55. h7 Rxf4 56. h8=Q Rg4+
57. Kf3 Rxg5 58. Qc8+ {I calculated that I can win the rook by force since
it's unprotected, meaning I don't even have to prove my Queen versus rook
technique.} Kb3 59. Qb8+ Kc3 60. Qc7+ Kb3 61. Qf7+ Kc2 62. Qc4+ Kb2 63. Qe2+
Kb1 64. Qd1+ {AlexanderL won by resignation. It was nice to grind out this win.
I was happy with how I played the endgame, but very unhappy with how poorly I
played in the opening. At least with this win, I got myself into contention
going into the last round.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle Seafair Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.07.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Raptis, Nick"]
[Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2393"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O e5 5. d3 Ne7 6. e4 O-O 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Nc3
(8. Re1 Nc6 9. Nc3 Nde7 10. Bd2 {seems to be the normal and slightly more
forcing move order, though it isn't clear that Black can take advantage of the
transposition.}) 8... Ne7 (8... Nxc3 9. bxc3 e4 {gives White interesting
options and perhaps a slight edge.}) 9. Re1 Nbc6 10. Bd2 h6 11. b4 $1 {I don't
know all that much about these reverse modern positions, but I like the
enterprising mindset behind this queenside spike, offering to exchange wing
for center pawn and threatening to drive off the c6-knight. Note the
unassuming 10.Bd2 that made it possible.} a6 (11... Nxb4 12. Nxe5 $14) 12. a4
Nf5 13. Rb1 Re8 14. Ne4 Kh7 15. Nc5 Rb8 16. h4 b6 17. Ne4 f6 $2 ({This move
seems quite anti-positional, reducing the influence of the dark-square bishop
and seriously weakening the kingside light squares.^^I suppose it's possible
the GM suffered a hallucination here and worried about some kind of Ng5+
tactic. Indeed, if Black doesn't guard the c6-knight, then takes the first
knight to check on g5, things are grim. However,} 17... Bb7 18. h5 Ncd4 {
seems to make sense, with perhaps a small advantage to White.}) ({But even if
Black plays "pass" here,} 17... Z0 18. Neg5+ Kg8 {is fine.} (18... hxg5 $2 19.
Nxg5+ Kg8 20. Bxc6 {is, of course, bad.})) 18. h5 gxh5 $2 ({I think Black
needs to try} 18... g5 {, though White still establishes solid control of the
light squares:} 19. g4 Nd6 (19... Nfd4 20. Nxd4 Nxd4 21. c3 Ne6 22. Ng3 {
is also in White's favor.}) 20. Nxd6 Qxd6 21. Nh2 {, heading to e3 or g3 via
f1.}) 19. Nh2 h4 20. Qh5 hxg3 $2 ({Black is playing with fire. Opening the
f-file can only be good for White.} 20... Rf8 $14 {White still has attacking
chances, but it's far from decisive.}) 21. fxg3 Rf8 22. Rf1 Nce7 23. g4 Qd4+
24. Kh1 Ne3 25. Bxe3 Qxe3 26. Rbe1 Qd4 27. g5 $1 {Nice.} f5 28. Nf6+ (28. gxh6
Bxh6 (28... Bf6 29. Ng4) 29. Ng4 $1 Ng8 30. Ng5+ Kg7 31. Nxe5 Rf6 32. Rg1 $18)
28... Rxf6 (28... Kh8 29. Nf3 Qd6 30. Nxe5 {might last a minute longer.}) 29.
gxf6 Bxf6 30. Qf7+ 1-0

[Event "Seattle Seafair Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.07.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Petrosyan, Tigran"]
[Black "Aleksandrov, Aleksej"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2452"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[Annotator "Tigran Petrosyan"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "5400+10"]

1. e4 {Before the game it was a bit difficult to choose an opening, because my
opponent plays almost the same with black. So I choose Italian with c3-d4
which was less played.} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5
7. Be2 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. O-O O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 (10... Bg4 {Bg4 is played more,
the positions after the opening are usually equal.}) 11. Na4 {I watched a game
played by Jobava, and I liked this idea, I will attach the game.} f6 12. exf6 {
From here I actually forgot my preparations and started to play on my own.} (
12. Be3 {This move happened in Jobava's game.} Qe7 13. exf6 Rxf6 14. Rc1 Raf8
15. Nxb6 axb6 16. Ne5 h6 17. f4 Nd6 18. Bf2 Be4 19. Bh4 g5 20. fxg5 Rxf1+ 21.
Bxf1 Nxe5 22. dxe5 Nf5 23. Bf2 hxg5 24. Qd2 c5 25. b4 c4 26. Bxb6 Qxe5 27.
Qxg5+ Kf7 28. Be2 Ke6 29. Bc5 Qf6 30. Qg4 Qb2 31. Rf1 Rf7 32. Bxc4 Qxg2+ 33.
Qxg2 Bxg2 34. Re1+ Kf6 35. Bd3 Bh3 36. Kf2 Rh7 37. Bd4+ Kg5 38. Rg1+ Kf4 39.
Bb2 Rf7 40. Re1 Kg4 41. Rg1+ Kf4 42. a4 Nd6 43. Rg7 Ne4+ 44. Ke2 Rf8 45. Bd4
Bg4+ 46. Ke1 Nd6 47. Bc5 Re8+ 48. Kd2 Ne4+ 49. Bxe4 dxe4 50. Rf7+ Ke5 51. Rxb7
Rd8+ 52. Ke1 Bf3 53. Be3 Rd3 54. Rb5+ Ke6 55. Bf4 Ra3 56. a5 Kf6 57. Kd2 Rd3+
58. Kc2 Bd1+ 59. Kc1 Be2 60. Re5 Rd1+ 61. Kc2 Rd7 62. Rc5 Bd1+ 63. Kb2 Rd3 64.
Rc3 Rd4 65. a6 Rxb4+ 66. Kc1 Bf3 67. Rc6+ Kf7 68. Be3 Bg4 69. a7 Ra4 70. Rd6
Ke7 71. Rd4 Ra6 72. Rxe4+ Be6 73. h4 Kf7 74. Re5 Rc6+ 75. Kb2 Rc8 76. h5 Ke7
77. h6 Kd6 78. Bf4 Kd7 79. Rxe6 {1-0 (79) Jobava,B (2722)-Anton Guijarro,D 
(2607) Doha 2014}) 12... Qxf6 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bf4 Rac8 15. Rc1 {Maybe a
little bit slow.} (15. Ne5 $13 {Of course this is the first move chess player
should consider first, but I didn't like it for a simple reason.} g5 {Now for
white it is not clear what to do} (15... Nxe5 $14 16. Bxe5) 16. Nxc6 (16. Bc1
$13 {This is interesting} Nxe5 17. dxe5 Qxe5 18. f3 Nd6 19. Bxg5 {[%cal Gc7c5,
Gd5d4] Here the position is not very clear again. Black king is very weak, but
instead black has a powerful centre and can push c5 and d4}) (16. Be3 $15 {
This doesn't work} Nxe5 17. dxe5 Qxe5 18. f3 Nc3) 16... gxf4 17. Ne5 $13 {
Here the position is very unclear, black has more space on the kingside + g
file is open for the rooks and the queen. I didn't like this during the
calculation.}) (15. Be5 {This was also possible, but for me it was a strange
move.}) (15. a3 $5 {I think this is better, to start b4->b5 immidiately}) 15...
Be6 16. Be3 h6 17. a3 {There is an interesting story I remembered before
making this move. It was 2015 or 2016, I was playing in Al-Ain, UAE. That day
we had 2 games, the first game I played 6 hours and could hold my bad position,
and the second game had to start in one hour. My opponent was GM Kravtsiv
Martyn. So I went to eat, quickly prepared for the game and came to the game.
We played this opening. My opponent got a very strong knight on e5, and I
couldn't do anything against it, and I lost. In my game, when I was thinking
the plan, I remembered that game and with a3 started the plan to bring the
knight to e5.} Nd6 {Here we have the critical position. Black wants to play
Nc4 or Nf5, white must play active too, so I decided to follow my plan} 18. b4
Nc4 (18... Nf5 {I was a bit scared of this move, and wanted to continue b5} 19.
b5 Nxe3 20. fxe3 Na5 21. Ne5 {And here I didn't know how to analize this
position. White knight on e5 is really nice, but black can prepare c5. I
thought it is a playable position.}) 19. Bxc4 dxc4 20. b5 Na5 21. Ne5 {The job
is done, white knight is on e5. But during the game I wasn't very confident
about my position. My only plan is to push f pawn, because I have pawn
majority on the kingside, and black has to create the counterplay on the
queenside} Rfd8 22. f4 c5 {Again, a very important part. During the game I was
looking at two moves. I choose f5, but I will show what happens after bxc6} 23.
f5 {But after f5 too I wasn't expecting too much. Let me show you few
variations I calculated} (23. bxc6 Nxc6 (23... bxc6 $6 {Not a very good move,
white can push f5 for free} 24. f5) 24. Nxc4 (24. f5 $2 $17 Nxe5 25. fxe6 Qxe6)
24... Nxd4 25. Ne5 Rxc1 26. Bxc1 {[%csl Rd1] Here I thought even black is
better. White queen's position is very bad.}) 23... cxd4 $6 {This move I
looked first of course, and to find the answer was very easy} (23... Bf7 $11 {
For me it was the best move to play} 24. Ng4 Qh4 25. Bf2 Qg5 (25... Qe7 $6 26.
f6 {[%csl Rg8][%cal Gf5f6,Gf6e7,Gf6g7]}) 26. Be3 Qh4 $11 {[%cal Ge3f2,Gf2e3] I
wanted to finish the game with repetition. Playing any further seemed very
dangerous to me, especially if black takes on d4. Maybe there is a way to play
g3, or f6, but I would not risk that much}) (23... Bxf5 $14 24. Qh5 g6 25. Qxh6
Qg7 26. Qh4 cxd4 27. Bg5 {[%cal Gg2g4,Gg5f6,Gf1f7] I calculated this, and I
thought this is just a good position to play for white. Against the sacrificed
pawn white has a huge counterplay.}) (23... Bd5 $16 24. Ng4 Qh4 25. Rf4 cxd4
26. Rxd4 {Something like this. Of course I checked the variations after the
game and found many mistakes in the game.}) 24. Ng4 Qe7 {I didn't look at this
move, because I thought I can simply take on h6 and destroy the king} (24...
Qh4 {Just winning the bishop} 25. Bf2 Qg5 26. fxe6) 25. Bxh6 Bd5 {Here again,
it was an important part for me. My opponent had less time, and I was feeling
that my position is much better, and I thought I found a way to win} 26. f6 (
26. Re1 {I wanted to play Re1, more queitly} Qf8 27. Bg5 d3 {but after d3 I
thought black gets some counterplay} 28. f6 {but later I checked f6 and now
see that this is also very good for white}) 26... Qe4 27. Rf2 gxh6 28. Nxh6+
Kf8 29. Qh5 {I thought I was winning after this move, because my calculation
finished after Qh5. My plan was to Play Nf5 and checkmate the king, but to my
very big dissapointment my opponent played... .} Qh7 {[%csl Ra5] It was like a
cold shower, I didn't know what to do. Maybe my opponent saw this, because he
offered me a draw. But I beleived in my position, because the black king is
really very very weak, so I started to think. And please look at the knight on
a5, it is completly out of the game and can't take part in defense.} 30. Re2 $1
$18 {[%cal Ge2e7] After 15 minutes of thinking I found this move( I found it
earlier, but there was one variation I couldn't see).} Be4 {This is losing too}
(30... Rc7 $18 {this is losing after} 31. Re7 Rxe7 32. fxe7+ Kxe7 (32... Qxe7
33. Rf1+ Kg7 34. Nf5+ {[%cal Gf5e7]}) 33. Nf5+) (30... Re8 $18 {losing for the
same reason} 31. Re7) (30... Bf7 $18 {This was the move I couldn't do anything
with. But suddenly I found a very interesting idea} 31. Re7 Bxh5 32. Rxh7 {
[%csl Rf8][%cal Gh7h8] And black just can't protect the king from the
checkmate.} Ke8 33. Re1+ Kf8 34. Rh8#) (30... Bf3 $18 31. Re7 Bxh5 32. Rxh7)
31. Rxe4 Rc5 32. Re7 Rxh5 33. Rxh7 {Now again, the checkmate threat, black has
to sacrifice the rook} Rxh6 34. Rxh6 {[%csl Gc4,Gd4,Rf8] And white is winning
only because of very bad black king, because black could have a good
counterplay with pawns c4 + d4} Kf7 35. Re1 Rg8 36. Re7+ Kf8 37. Rhh7 Rg6 38.
Rc7 Kg8 39. f7+ Kxh7 40. f8=Q+ {Petrosyan_Tigran won by resignation} 1-0

[Event "Seattle Seafair Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.07.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Boey, Chad"]
[Black "Chen, Minda"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "1496"]
[BlackElo "1966"]
[Annotator "Chad Boey"]
[PlyCount "184"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "5400+10"]
[WhiteClock "0:02:12"]
[BlackClock "0:01:50"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:04] I was having a bad tournament so far, with only two wins
and two losses.} c5 {[%emt 0:00:03] The last time I faced the Sicilian defense
was a day prior. A grandmaster unhatched his evil plan against me wherein he
sat back and did nearly nothing and waited for me to make a mistake. When the
mistake was finally made, punishment was swift and lethal. Is this how chess
is played? If so, I quit. But I still have hope there is room for art on the
board.} 2. d4 {[%emt 0:00:43] This time my opponent is not a grandmaster but
carries a title of "CM" which I can only guess stands for "criminal mastermind.
" I thought she might be sporty and willing to accept my gambit.} cxd4 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} 3. c3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:04] I was wrong. This
is the most annoying way to decline the gambit, though not as cowardly as
playing pawn to d3. Only one master I've faced has ever accepted the gambit.}
4. e5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 5. Nf3 {[%emt 0:04:37]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} 6. cxd4 $2 {[%emt 0:00:25] 6. Bc4 is preferable. This was a
hasty and unnecessary capture by me, which I regretted, but not for long.} (6.
Bc4 Nb6 7. Bb3) 6... d6 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 7. Bc4 {[%emt 0:05:03]} Nb6 {[%emt 0:
00:06]} 8. Bb3 {[%emt 0:04:11]} h6 $2 {[%emt 0:02:42] Mistake, dxe5 is much
better. I understood why she made this move, because I think she wanted to
play Bg4 to pin my knight soon, as most criminals do. If Bg4 immediately, it
falls to the tactic Bxf7, Kxf7, Ng5+ and wherever the king goes, Qxg4 would
come next.} (8... Bg4 9. Bxf7+ Kxf7 10. Ng5+ Ke8 11. Qxg4) 9. e6 $3 {[%emt 0:
03:41] The move I'm most proud of here. This is a pawn sacrifice I've employed
frequently against Alekhine's defense. I calculated the continuation after
fxe6 and my opponent, wisely I think, opted to sacrifice a piece for two pawns.
Not a coward after all!} Bxe6 $6 {[%emt 0:11:20] Taking with fxe6 would leave
black's kingside development in a jam to untangle and create holes in the
fortress.} (9... fxe6 10. Qd3 Kd7 11. Qg6) 10. d5 {[%emt 0:00:30]} Nxd5 {
[%emt 0:01:47]} 11. Bxd5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Qa5+ {[%emt 0:03:26]} 12. Nc3 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} Bxd5 {[%emt 0:00:03] A bold choice, but I understand the
reasons behind it. Black is seeking clarity and simplicity in the position.
Whether she knows it or not, she is communicating to me that she would like to
move on to the endgame stage. Message received, and I will do my best to not
cooperate with her plans.} 13. Qxd5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Qxd5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 14.
Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Kd7 $1 {[%emt 0:00:04] Now black's plan becomes clear to
me. The black king stands strong behind army of pawns that will march forward.
I wish I had eaten lunch, this is going to take some work.} 15. O-O {[%emt 0:
00:05] Premature castling by me, much better would have been 15. Be3} e6 {
[%emt 0:01:54]} 16. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:27]} Be7 {[%emt 0:03:19]} 17. Bf4 $2 {
[%emt 0:01:00] This bishop would be better on e3.} g5 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 18. Bg3
$2 {[%emt 0:03:43] Again, I obsess over this diagonal and pay the price. The
bishop should have gone to e3. Caught between the enemy soldiers and the
castle walls, the bishop is going to jail for now.} (18. Be3 f5 19. Rfd1) 18...
f5 {[%emt 0:01:53]} 19. h3 {[%emt 0:06:43]} h5 {[%emt 0:10:07]} 20. Rfd1 {
[%emt 0:03:34]} f4 {[%emt 0:01:28]} 21. Bh2 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Raf8 {[%emt 0:10:
43]} 22. Ne4 $1 {[%emt 0:08:22] I dare you to play g4!} g4 {[%emt 0:09:53]} 23.
Nc5+ {[%emt 0:07:57]} Kc8 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 24. Nxe6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Rfg8 {
[%emt 0:02:01] Black chooses to keep the rook pair and allow me to move my
knight. But then I realize that black's g-pawn will simply push forward,
twice-defended and I will lose a piece either way.} 25. Bxf4 $6 {[%emt 0:10:39]
I have accepted that black will equalize and decide to keep the bishop.
Perhaps it would have been better to move the knight and allow the g-pawn to
come forward, keeping the castle walls intact.} (25. Ne1 g3 26. Rac1 gxh2+ 27.
Kxh2) 25... gxf3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 26. g3 {[%emt 0:00:47]} h4 {[%emt 0:04:24]
Now I see that black's h-pawn and f-pawn are willing to work for me. Maybe
they just want to be on the winning side? They arrive and I welcome them as
reinforcements to my castle walls. With their help, the pigs will never break
through.} 27. g4 {[%emt 0:02:33]} Rg6 {[%emt 0:02:12]} 28. Nd4 {[%emt 0:02:14]}
Rf8 {[%emt 0:04:04]} 29. Be3 {[%emt 0:04:18]} Ne5 {[%emt 0:03:32]} 30. Kh1 {
[%emt 0:01:24]} a6 {[%emt 0:01:51]} 31. Nf5 {[%emt 0:01:32]} Kd7 {[%emt 0:00:
28]} 32. Rac1 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Re8 {[%emt 0:03:42]} 33. Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:21]}
Bd8 {[%emt 0:02:31]} 34. Rc3 {[%emt 0:02:49]} Nf7 {[%emt 0:02:17]} 35. Rxf3 {
[%emt 0:00:33]} Re2 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 36. Rd2 {[%emt 0:00:28]} Re1+ $6 {[%emt 0:
00:36] A blitz move?} 37. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Re4 {[%emt 0:01:24]} 38. Bh2 {
[%emt 0:01:14]} Bg5 $2 {[%emt 0:01:18] Another blitz move! If only I had used
my time to calculate how to punish it.} 39. Rc2 $2 {[%emt 0:01:10] More
accurate was Nxh4 and then black would have to make some choices.} (39. Nxh4
Bxd2 (39... Bxh4 40. Rxf7+) 40. Nxg6 Ng5 41. Rd3) 39... Ne5 {[%emt 0:01:21]}
40. Rfc3 {[%emt 0:02:07]} Bd8 {[%emt 0:00:36]} 41. f3 {[%emt 0:00:55]} Re1 {
[%emt 0:00:55]} 42. Bf4 {[%emt 0:03:03]} Ba5 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 43. Rb3 {[%emt 0:
00:51]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 44. Re3 $6 {[%emt 0:00:21] Inaccuracy. Nxh4 was
best.} (44. Nxh4 Re6 45. Nf5 Bb6 46. Bxe5 R6xe5 47. h4 Rd1 48. h5 Re6 49. Rbc3
a5 50. h6 Re8) 44... Rxe3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 45. Bxe3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Nc4 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} 46. Bf2 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Bd8 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 47. b3 $36 {
[%emt 0:00:29] Perhaps better is to take the h-pawn immediately with Bxh4, but
I saw no reason to simplify the game with the resulting trade of pieces when I
had the advantage in both material and time.} (47. Bxh4 Bxh4 48. Nxh4 Ne3+ 49.
Kg3 Nxc2 (49... Rxg4+ 50. fxg4 Nxc2 51. Nf5 Ke6 52. h4) 50. Nxg6) 47... Ne5 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} 48. Bxh4 {[%emt 0:00:28]} Bxh4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 49. Nxh4 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} Re6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 50. Nf5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Nd3 {[%emt 0:00:
06]} 51. Kg3 {[%emt 0:00:36]} a5 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 52. h4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} a4 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} 53. bxa4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} bxa4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 54. h5 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} Nc5 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 55. h6 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Re8 {[%emt 0:00:
03]} 56. Rd2 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Nb7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 57. Rd4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} a3
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 58. Ra4 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Re1 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 59. Rxa3 {
[%emt 0:00:06]} Rh1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 60. Ra8 $2 {[%emt 0:00:12] A nonsense
move. Simply 60. Kg2 is winning.} (60. Kg2 Rxh6 61. Nxh6) 60... Ke6 {[%emt 0:
00:06]} 61. h7 $4 {[%emt 0:00:10] The worst move I made all game. Fatigue set
in. It is at this stage of the game that my opponent's skills start to shine.}
Rxh7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 62. Ra7 {[%emt 0:00:18]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:21]} 63. Nd4+ {
[%emt 0:00:19]} Kd6 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 64. a4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Kc5 {[%emt 0:00:
09]} 65. Ne6+ {[%emt 0:00:22]} Kb6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 66. Ra8 {[%emt 0:00:08]}
Re7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 67. Nd4 {[%emt 0:00:40]} Re1 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 68. g5 {
[%emt 0:01:15]} Kc5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 69. Nb5 $6 {[%emt 0:00:17] Inaccuracy.
Nf5 was best.} (69. Nf5 Rg1+ 70. Kf4) 69... d4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 70. Rc8+ {
[%emt 0:00:09]} Kd5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 71. Rc7 $4 {[%emt 0:00:13] Another
blunder I made. Kf2 was best. The endgame is her comfort zone and she is
making it known. The tables have turned. My weakness and her strength are on
full display now. Do I have time to pop something in the microwave? Gosh I'm
hungry.} (71. Kf2 Rh1 72. f4 Rh4 73. Kg3) 71... Nc5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 72. Rc8 {
[%emt 0:00:30]} d3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 73. Kf4 {[%emt 0:00:28]} Kc4 {[%emt 0:00:
18]} 74. Nd6+ $6 {[%emt 0:01:28] A better move would have been Na3+:} (74. Na3+
Kb4 75. Nb1) 74... Kb4 {[%emt 0:00:53]} 75. Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Rxe4+ {
[%emt 0:00:27]} 76. fxe4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 77. Rd8 $10 {
[%emt 0:00:04] It is now that I have accepted this will be a draw. Black's
devious plan to draw the game has come to fruition. Criminal masterminds
frequently do this against me.} Ne6+ {[%emt 0:00:02]} 78. Ke3 {[%emt 0:00:03]}
Nxd8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 79. Kxd2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Kxa4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 80. Ke3 {
[%emt 0:00:01]} Kb5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 81. Kf4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Kc6 {[%emt 0:00:
01]} 82. Kf5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Kd7 {[%emt 0:00:07] Black offers the draw. I
know it's a draw, but I say: prove it!} 83. g6 {[%emt 0:00:13] I've been
robbed again and I'm not happy. You have achieved a draw, but that doesn't
mean I'm going to lay down and take it.} Ke8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 84. e5 {[%emt 0:
00:06]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 85. Kg5 {[%emt 0:00:36]} Ne6+ {[%emt 0:00:28]} 86.
Kh6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 87. Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:26]} Ng7 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} 88. Kh6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Ne6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 89. Kh5 {[%emt 0:
00:07]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 90. Kg4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Kxg6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 91.
Kf3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Kf5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 92. Ke3 {[%emt 0:00:01] This type of
draw is more painful for me than a loss. It won't be a draw the next time we
meet, one way or another.} Kxe5 {[%emt 0:00:01] 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Seattle Seafair Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.07.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Chen, Angela"]
[Black "Zhang, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "1421"]
[BlackElo "977"]
[Annotator "Michael Zhang"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "5400+10"]
[WhiteClock "0:40:52"]
[BlackClock "0:32:29"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} 3. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 4. d3 {[%emt 0:00:
15]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 5. Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:08] This is not good move because
black has not castled.} h6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} (5... d6) 6. Bh4 {[%emt 0:00:05]}
g5 {[%emt 0:00:41] Black could have waited to play this move because this move
may scare white from castling king side.} 7. Bg3 {[%emt 0:00:19]} d6 {[%emt 0:
00:21] This move opens the light square bishop and defends the e5 pawn.} 8. O-O
{[%emt 0:00:28]} Bg4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} (8... h5 {h5 sets up a trap but requires
sacrificing the queen.} 9. Nxg5 (9. h4 {h4 is white's best defense because the
position will be locked.} g4 10. Ng5) 9... h4 10. Nxf7 hxg3 11. Nxd8 Bg4 12.
Qd2 Nd4 13. Re1 (13. Nc3 Nf3+ 14. gxf3 Bxf3 {Checkmate is unstoppable.}) 13...
Nf3+ 14. gxf3 Bxf3 15. Rf1 (15. Kf1 Rxh2 16. fxg3 Rh1#) 15... gxh2#) 9. h3 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} Bh5 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 10. c3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} g4 {[%emt 0:00:09]
} 11. hxg4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Bxg4 {[%emt 0:00:09] Black keeps the pin on the f3
knight.} 12. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:15] This move stopped black's king side attack.}
h5 {[%emt 0:00:07] A better move for black is Nh5 or Qd7 to avoid the pin by
Bh4.} 13. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:34]} d5 {[%emt 0:02:00] This is a losing move for
black because it opens the center when black king has not castled yet.} 14.
exd5 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 15. Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:30]} h4 {
[%emt 0:02:00]} 16. Nxc6 {[%emt 0:00:12]} bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 17. Rfe1+ {
[%emt 0:01:33]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 18. Be5 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Rh6 {[%emt 0:00:
19]} 19. d4 {[%emt 0:00:14]} h3 {[%emt 0:02:53] Black is focusing on opening
the white king. But this is a bad move because black would lose a piece.} 20.
dxc5 {[%emt 0:01:59]} hxg2 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 21. Kxg2 {[%emt 0:00:36] Now white
king is openn} Bh3+ {[%emt 0:00:08]} 22. Kg1 {[%emt 0:03:03]} Qg5+ {[%emt 0:00:
19]} 23. Bg3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Nf4 {[%emt 0:00:43] Black brings more pieces
into the attack on white king.} 24. Qe4 {[%emt 0:01:46] White brings more
defenders to the king. It is not looking good for black.} Rg6 {[%emt 0:07:09]}
(24... Nh5 {Nh5 is a better move because it puts pressure on the pinned piece.}
) 25. Nf3 {[%emt 0:03:32]} Qf6 {[%emt 0:06:08]} 26. Ne5 {[%emt 0:01:58]} Rg7 {
[%emt 0:00:58] Black retreats rook to g7 to defend the f7 pawn,} 27. Nd7+ {
[%emt 0:00:08] White blundered a piece with this move.} Bxd7 {[%emt 0:00:07]}
28. Re3 {[%emt 0:03:22] I think white is trying to do Alekhine's Gun. But
black did not allow this to happen.} Nh3+ {[%emt 0:01:11]} 29. Kg2 {[%emt 0:05:
28]} Nf4+ {[%emt 0:22:41]} (29... Qxf2+ {This move looks tempting but black
will run of good checks.} 30. Kh1) 30. Kg1 {[%emt 0:03:46]} Nh3+ {[%emt 0:02:
42]} 31. Kf1 {[%emt 0:12:01] White made this move probably because white does
not want a draw by repetition. But this move put the white king under a pin.
Black played decisively from this point on.} Rxg3 {[%emt 0:00:36]} 32. Ke2 {
[%emt 0:01:50] White could avoid forced mate with Qe7+. After this move,
checkmate is unstoppable.} Qxf2+ {[%emt 0:00:59]} 33. Kd3 {[%emt 0:05:03]} Bf5
{[%emt 0:03:47]} 34. Kd4 {[%emt 0:02:07]} Bxe4 {[%emt 0:02:11]} 35. Kxe4 {
[%emt 0:00:57]} Rxe3+ {[%emt 0:00:16]} 36. Kd4 {[%emt 0:01:10]} Qd2+ {[%emt 0:
02:54]} (36... Qf4# {Black missed a checkmate in one here.}) 37. Bd3 {[%emt 0:
00:17]} Qxd3# {[%emt 0:00:02] Black won by checkmate} 0-1

[Event "Seattle Seafair Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.07.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Beck, Alec"]
[Black "Kona, Vidip"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E65"]
[WhiteElo "1942"]
[BlackElo "1261"]
[Annotator "Vidip Kona"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "5400+10"]
[WhiteClock "0:02:25"]
[BlackClock "0:54:50"]

1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:26]} g6 {[%emt 0:
00:12]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 4. g3 {[%emt 0:00:42] I
played kings indian defence.} O-O {[%emt 0:00:16]} 5. Bg2 {[%emt 0:01:46]} d6 {
[%emt 0:00:29]} 6. Nf3 {[%emt 0:01:06] I thought here White would play the
move d5 and gain some space in the center. But my opponent castled in king
side.} c5 {[%emt 0:01:01]} 7. O-O {[%emt 0:00:39]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:59] I
wanted to play b6. Since Bishop on g2 is targeting my a8 rook,so I played Rb8
first to avoid future threats.} 8. e3 {[%emt 0:01:02]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 9.
b3 {[%emt 0:03:04]} b6 {[%emt 0:00:43]} 10. Bb2 {[%emt 0:01:59]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:
00:11] I think my position is okay and my pieces are developed} 11. Qc2 {
[%emt 0:02:25]} a6 {[%emt 0:01:18]} 12. a4 {[%emt 0:02:03]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:00:41]
} 13. Rac1 {[%emt 0:07:51]} Rbc8 {[%emt 0:00:31] My Rook on B8 is doing
nothing, so I improved my piece by lining the rook to attack the queen on c2.}
14. Qb1 {[%emt 0:01:13]} Qb8 {[%emt 0:00:31]} 15. Rfd1 {[%emt 0:01:17]} Rfd8 {
[%emt 0:01:20]} 16. Ne1 {[%emt 0:01:20]} Bxg2 {[%emt 0:00:37] I am happy to
exchange the light square Bishop in this position.} 17. Nxg2 {[%emt 0:00:31]}
Qb7 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 18. d5 {[%emt 0:02:31]} Ne5 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 19. Nf4 {
[%emt 0:01:26]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:01:49] My plan is to play Qg4 and try to create
some pressure on White King side.} 20. Ne4 {[%emt 0:08:24]} Nxe4 {[%emt 0:01:
06]} 21. Qxe4 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Nf3+ {[%emt 0:00:21]} 22. Qxf3 {[%emt 0:00:02]}
Bxb2 {[%emt 0:00:13] Here I felt black has slight advantage because Bishop is
more active and controlling the center.} 23. Rc2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:
00:18]} 24. Nd3 {[%emt 0:01:31]} Re8 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 25. e4 {[%emt 0:01:30]}
Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:31]} 26. Re1 {[%emt 0:02:13]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 27. Rce2 {
[%emt 0:08:41]} e6 {[%emt 0:01:42]} 28. e5 {[%emt 0:11:50] I didn/^t expect e5
move in this position, i think this is good move. I thought While will play
dxe6, Rxe6 and I have some counter play with that move.} dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:49]}
29. Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:41]} exd5 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 30. Qxd5 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Rbd8
{[%emt 0:01:08]} 31. Qc6 {[%emt 0:04:02]} Qxc6 {[%emt 0:01:37]} 32. Nxc6 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} Rxe2 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 33. Rxe2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rd3 {[%emt 0:
00:02]} 34. Re3 {[%emt 0:00:30]} Rd6 {[%emt 0:01:17]} 35. Ne7+ {[%emt 0:01:44]}
Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:34]} 36. Nd5 {[%emt 0:01:49]} Bd4 {[%emt 0:02:42] In this
position I played Bd4 to give some room for my king to come into the game.} 37.
Re2 {[%emt 0:01:58]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:49]} 38. axb5 {[%emt 0:01:35]} axb5 {
[%emt 0:00:24]} 39. Nc7 {[%emt 0:03:03]} bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 40. bxc4 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} Rb6 {[%emt 0:01:47]} 41. Nb5 {[%emt 0:01:29]} Ra6 {[%emt 0:01:
48] Here I thought my opponent capture my bishop and take the game to Rook
ending. But he didn/^t exchange.} 42. Rd2 {[%emt 0:02:11]} Bf6 {[%emt 0:01:02]}
43. Nc7 {[%emt 0:03:33]} Rc6 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 44. Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:29]} Bd4 {
[%emt 0:00:21]} 45. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Re6 {[%emt 0:00:39]} 46. Kf3 {[%emt 0:
00:46]} f5 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 47. Re2 {[%emt 0:00:41]} Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 48.
Ra2 {[%emt 0:00:30]} g5 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 49. Ra7+ {[%emt 0:02:29]} Kg6 {
[%emt 0:00:32]} 50. h4 {[%emt 0:00:26]} h6 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 51. Ne7+ {[%emt 0:
00:37]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 52. Nd5+ {[%emt 0:00:29] My opponent is in time
trouble but I don/^t have any good moves in this position to win the game. We
repeated the moves and agreed for draw.} Kg6 {[%emt 0:03:36]} 53. Ne7+ {
[%emt 0:00:05]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 54. Nd5+ {[%emt 0:00:03]} Kg6 {[%emt 0:00:
53] Game drawn by repetition} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Seattle Seafair Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.07.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kona, Vidip"]
[Black "Razmov, Valentin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "1261"]
[BlackElo "1986"]
[Annotator "Vidip Kona"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "5400+10"]
[WhiteClock "1:00:47"]
[BlackClock "0:00:42"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:12] My opponent is very strong player, but I don't want to
give up. I decided to give tough fight to my opponent.} e5 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 2.
Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:19] Standard Ruy
lopez opening} a6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 4. Ba4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:03]}
5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:16]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 6. d3 {[%emt 0:01:09]} b5 {
[%emt 0:00:28]} 7. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:35] Black main idea is
play Na5 and take the Bishop on b3. So I decided to play a3 to give some space
to my Bishop.} 8. a3 {[%emt 0:00:45]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:32]} 9. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:
46]} Bg4 {[%emt 0:05:39]} 10. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:56]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:10:18]} 11. Nd5
{[%emt 0:00:31]} h6 {[%emt 0:13:54]} 12. c3 {[%emt 0:00:31]} Rfe8 {[%emt 0:03:
04]} 13. Nxf6+ {[%emt 0:00:30]} Bxf6 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 14. Bd5 {[%emt 0:00:14]}
Be6 {[%emt 0:02:33]} 15. c4 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Rab8 {[%emt 0:01:38]} 16. b4 {
[%emt 0:01:02]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:02:14]} 17. Bxe6 {[%emt 0:01:44]} Qxe6 {[%emt 0:
00:38]} 18. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:27]} Rec8 {[%emt 0:05:04]} 19. c5 {[%emt 0:00:56]}
d5 {[%emt 0:01:08]} 20. Qc2 {[%emt 0:01:59]} d4 {[%emt 0:01:32]} 21. Bd2 {
[%emt 0:00:30]} c6 {[%emt 0:01:19]} 22. Ne1 {[%emt 0:01:04] After this my plan
is to play g3, Ng2 , f4 to grab some space} g5 {[%emt 0:05:49]} 23. Qb2 {
[%emt 0:00:34]} Ng6 {[%emt 0:01:30]} 24. g3 {[%emt 0:01:12]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:02:
54]} 25. Nc2 {[%emt 0:01:26]} Rg8 {[%emt 0:02:05]} 26. Na1 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Qh3
{[%emt 0:01:51]} 27. f3 {[%emt 0:01:10]} Nf4 {[%emt 0:06:48]} 28. Bxf4 {
[%emt 0:00:31] I am not comfortable in this position after Qh3. Black has
advantage. So I decided to exchange some pieces to avoid strong attack from
Black side.} (28. gxf4 gxf4+ 29. Kf2 Rg2+ 30. Ke1 Qxh2) 28... gxf4 {[%emt 0:00:
03]} 29. Qg2 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Qxg2+ {[%emt 0:01:26]} 30. Kxg2 {[%emt 0:00:14]
After Queens exchanged from the board, My position is better.} fxg3 {[%emt 0:
03:11]} 31. hxg3 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Bh4 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 32. g4 {[%emt 0:00:18]}
Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 33. Rc2 {[%emt 0:00:19]} Be3 {[%emt 0:01:49]} 34. Nb3 {
[%emt 0:00:19]} Rbf8 {[%emt 0:01:14]} 35. Kh3 {[%emt 0:01:13] I want to stop
h5 move so, I played Kh3} Rc8 {[%emt 0:02:18]} 36. Na5 {[%emt 0:00:51]} Rc7 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} 37. Rh2 {[%emt 0:00:34]} Rg5 {[%emt 0:01:08]} 38. Kg2 {[%emt 0:
01:01]} Kg6 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 39. Rfh1 {[%emt 0:00:33]} h5 {[%emt 0:00:56]} 40.
Rxh5 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Rxh5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 41. gxh5+ {[%emt 0:00:26]} Kh6 {
[%emt 0:00:17]} 42. Kg3 {[%emt 0:02:06]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:04:17]} 43. Kg4 {[%emt 0:
00:53]} Rg8+ {[%emt 0:02:10]} 44. Kf5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Rg3 {[%emt 0:01:28]} 45.
Kxe5 {[%emt 0:00:54]} Rxf3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 46. Nxc6 {[%emt 0:00:40] My king
is in center of the board and all my other pieces are active to capture the
black Pawns. I think black doesn/^t have any counter play.} Bf2 {[%emt 0:00:24]
} 47. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Kxh5 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 48. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Rg3
{[%emt 0:01:06]} 49. Nf5 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Rg6 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 50. Rh1+ {
[%emt 0:01:24]} Kg4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 51. Rh2 {[%emt 0:00:34]} Kf3 {[%emt 0:00:
22] I decided to exchange the pieces so I can promote my pawns easily.} 52.
Nh4+ {[%emt 0:01:33]} Bxh4 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 53. Rxh4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Ke3 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} 54. Rh3+ {[%emt 0:00:16] Now Black king is doing nothing with
Rh3 move. My opponent doesn/^t have any good moves to improve his position.}
Kd2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 55. d4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Re6+ {[%emt 0:00:27]} 56. Kd5 {
[%emt 0:00:27]} Re8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 57. c6 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Rd8+ {[%emt 0:00:
03]} 58. Kc5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Kc2 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 59. d5 {[%emt 0:00:12] My
pawns are very strong it's going to promote to queen in few moves hence my
opponent resigned .} 1-0

[Event "Seattle Seafair Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.07.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kona, Vidip"]
[Black "McConnell, Sullivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "1261"]
[BlackElo "2224"]
[Annotator "Vidip Kona"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "5400+10"]
[WhiteClock "1:08:40"]
[BlackClock "1:19:41"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:11] My opponent is NM and he is very strong player. I am
happy with my performance so far in this tournament. I beat couple of strong
players and drew with another strong player. I decided to give tough fight in
this game as well.} e6 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 2. d4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:
03] My opponent played French.} 3. e5 {[%emt 0:00:49]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 4.
c3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 5. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:
00:05]} 6. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:37]} Qb6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 7. O-O {[%emt 0:00:13]}
Nh6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 8. Na3 {[%emt 0:01:18] I played Na3 in this position. If
black plays Nf5, I will play Nc2 to defend the d4 pawn.} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:07]}
9. cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:48]} Nf5 {[%emt 0:01:26]} 10. Nc2 {[%emt 0:00:18]} h5 {
[%emt 0:00:18]} 11. b3 {[%emt 0:00:51]} a5 {[%emt 0:01:07] My plan is to Bb2
and improve the night to better square.} 12. Bb2 {[%emt 0:01:13]} a4 {[%emt 0:
00:34]} 13. Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:33] I thought my opponent will capture axb3. I
prepared for this in case if he captures, I will win the pawn back with some
counter play. But he didn/^t take my pawn.} Be7 {[%emt 0:01:40]} (13... axb3
14. axb3 Qxb3 15. Ba3 Qc3 (15... Qa4 16. Bxf8 Rxf8 17. Ra1) 16. Bxf8 Rxf8 17.
Rxb7) 14. Qd3 {[%emt 0:00:58]} a3 {[%emt 0:01:39]} 15. Ba1 {[%emt 0:00:19]} g5
{[%emt 0:00:25]} 16. Qb5 {[%emt 0:00:44]} Qxb5 {[%emt 0:00:05] Exchanging the
queens in this position is bad for me. I am losing my pawn on e5. I didn/^t
calculate properly. Black is better now.} 17. Bxb5 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Nxe5 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} 18. Bxd7+ {[%emt 0:00:46]} Nxd7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 19. Ne3 {
[%emt 0:01:01]} Nxe3 {[%emt 0:01:25]} 20. fxe3 {[%emt 0:00:16]} f5 {[%emt 0:00:
15]} 21. Rbc1 {[%emt 0:00:33]} g4 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 22. Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:32]} Bd6
{[%emt 0:00:09]} 23. Rc2 {[%emt 0:01:01] I played Rc2 to double the rooks on C
file.} Nb6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 24. Rfc1 {[%emt 0:01:16]} Kd7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 25.
Bc3 {[%emt 0:01:15]} Rhc8 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 26. Nb1 {[%emt 0:01:18]} Rc6 {
[%emt 0:00:06] I think my opponent plan is to exchange the rooks and take the
game to end game since he is pawn up. So I want to equalize the position
before all major pieces exchanged from the board.} 27. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:26]}
Rac8 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 28. Rxc6 {[%emt 0:00:19]} Rxc6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 29. Rxc6
{[%emt 0:00:14]} Kxc6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 30. Bc1 {[%emt 0:00:14] Now more
pressure on a3 pawn and I am winning the Pawn back} Kb5 {[%emt 0:00:38] Here
computer suggests, Nxa3 with the check. But I want to keep my Night on the
board so I captured with Bishop.} 31. Bxa3 {[%emt 0:00:51]} Bxa3 {[%emt 0:00:
02]} 32. Nxa3+ {[%emt 0:00:17]} Kb4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 33. Nb1 {[%emt 0:00:16] I
think this position looks draw for me. Black king cannot enter into white
territory. I decided to bring my King into the game and create some threats to
Black.} Nc8 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 34. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:23]} h4 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 35.
Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:29]} Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 36. Kd3 {[%emt 0:00:43]} Ne4 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} 37. Kc2 {[%emt 0:00:44]} h3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 38. gxh3 {[%emt 0:
00:30]} (38. g3 {I cannot block the pawn g4 with move g3. He will sacrifice
his Knight and promote the pawn. so captured h3 pawn.} Nxg3 39. hxg3 h2) 38...
gxh3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 39. Kb2 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Nf2 {[%emt 0:00:09]} (39... Ng3
40. Nd2) 40. a3+ {[%emt 0:00:36]} Ka5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 41. Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:14]}
Ng4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 42. Nf1 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Kb5 {[%emt 0:00:49]} 43. Kc3 {
[%emt 0:00:58] I think game is equal} Kc6 {[%emt 0:00:56]} 44. Kd3 {[%emt 0:00:
34]} Kd6 {[%emt 0:02:26]} 45. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:18]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:02] I am
trying to bring my king to capture the pawn on h3 and create passed pawn.} 46.
Kf3 {[%emt 0:00:34]} Ke6 {[%emt 0:01:27]} 47. Kg3 {[%emt 0:00:19]} Nxe3 {
[%emt 0:00:05] Nxe3 is a mistake and loses game immediately.} 48. Nxe3 {
[%emt 0:00:27]} f4+ {[%emt 0:00:02] Kf3 is the blunder. I should play Kxh3 and
I will create the passed pawn and win my game easily. After Kf3, game is draw.}
49. Kf3 {[%emt 0:00:16]} fxe3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 50. Kxe3 {[%emt 0:00:21]
Computer suggesting, for black Kf5 is draw. Luckily, my opponent didn't play
that move.} e4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 51. a4 {[%emt 0:00:57]} Kf5 {[%emt 0:00:38]}
52. b4 {[%emt 0:00:21] This position is winning for whilte} Ke6 {[%emt 0:00:01]
} 53. a5 {[%emt 0:00:26]} Kd6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 54. b5 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Ke6 {
[%emt 0:00:07] I am going to promote my pawn and opponent resigned} 1-0

[Event "Seattle Seafair Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.07.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kona, Vidip"]
[Black "McConnell, Sullivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1261"]
[BlackElo "2224"]
[Annotator "Valentin Razmov"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/1p6/4k3/3pp3/3P4/PP2K2p/7P/8 b - - 0 50"]
[PlyCount "14"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]

50... e4 $2 {was played in the game. The move seems logical and intuitive --
establishing a protected passed pawn to keep the White king busy while Black
would surely be able to stop White's queen-side pawns and earn at least a draw.
But there's a subtle mistake with this \"generally correct\" thinking -- this
position has a special aspect to it, which is not commonly shown in endgame
books.} (50... Kd6 {draws, as White is not fast enough to win Black's d5-pawn,
then win Black's h3-pawn and finally promote their own h-pawn, only by
distracting the Black king with a future distant passed a-pawn} 51. dxe5+ Kxe5
52. a4 d4+ 53. Kf3 ({or} 53. Kd3 Kf4 $1 54. Kxd4 Kf3 55. a5 Kg2 56. b4 Kxh2 57.
b5 Kg1 58. a6 bxa6 59. b6 h2 60. b7 h1=Q 61. b8=Q {and the resulting Q+P vs Q
endgame is a theoretical draw}) 53... Kd5 54. a5 $1 {the only non-losing move}
Kc5 55. Ke4 Kb4 56. Kxd4 Kxa5 (56... Kxb3 57. Kc5 Ka4 58. Kb6 Kb4 59. Kxb7 Kxa5
{=}) 57. Kc5 b5 58. Kc6 Kb4 59. Kb6 Kxb3 60. Kxb5 Kc3 61. Kc5 Kd3 62. Kd5 Ke3
63. Ke5 Kf3 64. Kd4 $1 {again, the only non-losing move} Kg2 65. Ke3 Kxh2 66.
Kf2 {=}) (50... exd4+ {also draws, though may seem potentially losing at first}
51. Kxd4 Kd6 {the simplest method} (51... Kf5 $5 {even this works for a draw
with a few twists along the way that may lead to either side slipping and
losing} 52. Kxd5 Kf4 53. a4 Kf3 54. Kd4 $1 {the only non-losing move: the
Black king is fast enough with the capture on h3 and promotion of his own
h-pawn, but he can be cornered and thus not allowed to complete this feat!} Kg2
55. Ke3 Kxh2 56. Kf2 b6 $1 {the only drawing move for Black this time -- Black
needs to count the precise timing of White's queening to make sure it leads to
a stalemate situation} (56... Kh1 $2 {loses after} 57. a5 $1 h2 (57... Kh2 58.
b4 Kh1 59. b5 b6 (59... h2 60. Kf1 $1 b6 61. Kf2 $1 bxa5 62. b6 a4 63. b7 a3
64. b8=Q a2 65. Qb7#) 60. Kf1 bxa5 (60... Kh2 61. axb6) (60... h2 61. Kf2 $1)
61. b6 a4 62. b7 a3 63. b8=Q a2 64. Qb2) 58. a6 $1 bxa6 (58... b5 59. a7 b4 60.
a8=Q#) 59. b4 a5 60. b5 a4 61. b6 a3 62. b7 a2 63. b8=Q a1=Q {luckily for
White, this promotion is not with a check} 64. Qb7#) 57. b4 b5 $1 {ensures a
stalemate or a promotion of Black's h-pawn -- in both cases reaching a draw} (
57... Kh1 $2 58. b5 $1 h2 (58... Kh2 59. a5 Kh1 60. Kg3 ({or} 60. Kf1 Kh2 61.
a6) 60... bxa5 61. b6 Kg1 62. Kxh3) 59. a5 {as before...} bxa5 60. b6 a4 61. b7
a3 62. b8=Q a2 63. Qb7#) 58. axb5 ({or} 58. a5 Kh1 59. a6 h2 60. a7 {=}) 58...
Kh1 59. b6 h2 60. Ke3 $1 {attempting to avoid the stalemate and continue
playing for a win} Kg2 61. b7 h1=Q 62. b8=Q {and although this is a
theoretical Q+P vs Q draw, in practice it is not easy to achieve, nor is it
easy for White to win it within the established limit of number of moves}) 52.
a4 Kc6 53. b4 Kd6 54. Kd3 (54. b5 $2 b6 {wins for Black as the white pawns are
blockaded and Black's king will reach and capture both white pawns, while the
black d-pawn will serve as a \"distant passed pawn\" distractor.}) (54. a5 $2
Kc6 {also loses for White, since Black is now able to reach and capture both
white queen-side pawns in exchange for his own d-pawn}) 54... Ke5 55. Ke3 (55.
a5 Kd6 56. b5 $1 Kc5 57. a6 bxa6 58. bxa6 Kb6 59. Kd4 Kxa6 60. Kxd5 Kb5 {=})
55... d4+ 56. Kd3 Kd5 57. a5 Ke5 58. b5 Kd5 59. a6 bxa6 60. bxa6 Kc6 61. Kxd4
Kb6 62. Ke4 Kxa6 63. Kf4 Kb6 {and Black draws, because White's h2-pawn is too
far back: it cannot promote fast enough, nor can White's king capture on h3
and then shoulder Black's king to avoid typical rook-pawn draws}) 51. a4 Kf5 {
Black can only wait...} 52. b4 Ke6 53. a5 Kd6 54. b5 {and around here Black
resigned, though they may well have tried to check if White sees the win.} Kc7
55. Kf4 $1 {a move in the right direction, though the king is tied up to
Black's protected passed pawn, isn't he?} Kd6 56. Kg3 $1 {reveals the essence
of White's winning approach -- the h3-pawn can be won, while the White king
still stays within the square of Black's protected passed e4-pawn.} Kc7 57.
Kxh3 {and White wins due to their two distant passed pawns a- and h-, which
cannot simultaneously be stopped by Black.} 1-0

[Event "Vancouver Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.07.25"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Black "Lu, Ryan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "1948"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "4500+10"]

{In the first round in the Vancouver Open I am playing against Ryan Lu. I
already played him in one tournament before with black, so I had a rough idea
of what to expect in this game.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 {My pet line.} Nf6 3. c4 e6 4.
Nc3 Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 c5 7. cxd5 exd5 (7... Nxd5 {This is more common at
the higher level while exd5 is more common at the lower levels though exd5 is
also a decent option.}) 8. d4 Nc6 9. Be2 Be6 (9... Ne4 {This move with the
idea of Bf6 with pressure on d4 is more principled.}) 10. O-O Rc8 11. dxc5 Bxc5
12. Rc1 Qe7 13. Nb5 {Trying to blockade the isolated pawn and also threatening
Bxf6 along the way.} (13. Bd3 {Was perhaps more harmonious trying to play Ne2
next move and stopping Ne4. It's important also that d4 doesn't work yet
because of...} d4 $2 14. Na4) 13... Ne4 14. Nbd4 Nxd4 $6 (14... Nb4 $5 {
Possibly this move was an improvement. In general, black probably doesn't want
to release the tension and exchanging on d4, since my knights on d4 and f3 are
somewhat redundant.} 15. a3 (15. Ra1 Bg4 {And here black is probably ok.})
15... Na2 $3 {Is the point.} 16. Rc2 (16. Ra1 Nac3 $11) 16... Bxa3 17. Bxa3
Qxa3 18. Qa1 Rxc2 19. Nxc2 Qc5 20. Qxa2 Nc3 {And the tactics work out for
black.}) 15. Nxd4 a6 16. Bd3 Rfd8 17. Rc2 Nf6 $6 {Probably unnecessarily
passive.} (17... Bd6) 18. Qb1 (18. Nf5 Bxf5 19. Bxf5 Rc6 20. g3 $14 {Was also
possible.}) 18... Bd6 19. Rxc8 Bxc8 {Kind of forced.} (19... Rxc8 20. Nf5 Bxf5
21. Bxf5 Rc6 22. Bxf6 Qxf6 23. Bxh7+ {Was the point.}) 20. Qc2 h6 (20... Bxh2+
{This one here doesn't work since my knight can go back to f3 and defend h2.}
21. Kxh2 Ng4+ 22. Kg1 Qh4 23. Nf3) 21. Rc1 Bg4 (21... Ne4) 22. Bf5 {Fighting
for the f5 square.} Ba3 23. Bxg4 Bxb2 24. Qxb2 Nxg4 25. h3 Nf6 26. Qc3 {
Now seizing control of the open c-file} Ne4 27. Qc7 Qd7 28. Qxd7 Rxd7 29. f3
Nf6 30. Rc8+ Kh7 31. g4 Kg6 $6 {This only helps white since the black king
isn't safe there.} (31... Ng8 {followed by Ne7 was the best chance to try to
defend though white is much better due to the control of the c-file, better
pieces and better pawn structure.}) 32. h4 Nh7 $2 {And now this just loses.}
33. Rh8 {Threatening h5 winning a piece, therefore forcing ...} Nf6 (33... h5
34. gxh5+ Kh6 35. Kf2 {Also didn't work for black.} (35. Nf5+ $6 Kxh5 36. Rxh7+
Kg6 37. Rxg7+ Kxf5 38. h5 Ke6)) 34. Ne2 {AlexanderL won by resignation. A nice
finishing touch. Black either gets mated or has to give up a piece, so
therefore he resigned. Nice start for me.} 1-0

[Event "Vancouver Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.07.25"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bell, Harry"]
[Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2000"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "4500+10"]

{In round 2 I played a veteran player, Harry Bell who is floored at 2000, and
that means he was probably 2100+ or maybe even 2200+ at his peak.} 1. Nf3 e6 2.
c4 $5 {Move 1 I expected but move 2 was actually a slight surprise.} (2. d4 {
I expected this move and then I saw that my opponent in a recent blitz game
fell for a cute little trap, so one of the reasons for me choosing 1)... e6
was that maybe I would get a quick win :)} c5 {And here since he's typically
played London, he played Bf4?!} 3. Bf4 $6 (3. e4) (3. c4) (3. e3) (3. c3 {
Are all reasonable alternatives.}) 3... cxd4 4. Nxd4 $4 {And here his opponent
played Nc6?? missing...} e5 $1 5. Bxe5 Qa5+ $19) 2... d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 {
I didn't actually expect my opponent to go into mainstream stuff. Now I had a
choice to make.} a6 {I decided to choose the most solid option.} 5. cxd5 exd5
6. Bf4 (6. Bg5 {This is probably more common but Bf4 was not bad either.}) 6...
c5 {probably this is the equalizing line but maybe I could've chosen a
different line to get more winning chances.} 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. e3 Nc6 9. Be2 O-O
10. O-O h6 (10... d4 {Here I knew that I should play d4 and equalize but I was
afraid that the game would fizzle out too much and I am playing someone much
lower rated, so I wanted to keep the tension even if I might be slightly worse.
}) (10... Be6 11. Bg5 {In this case this move felt annoying.}) 11. Rc1 Ba7 12.
Qd3 (12. Qb3 $5 {This was interesting, trying to stop me from playing Be6.
White is probably slightly better here.}) 12... Be6 13. Rfd1 Qe7 (13... Nh5 $5
{Was an interesting alternative which I didn't really see.} 14. Nxd5 Bxd5 15.
Qxd5 Nxf4 16. exf4 Qb6 17. Rf1 Qxb2 $11 {However, here the game also kind of
fizzles.}) 14. Ne5 Rfc8 $6 (14... Rfd8 {At first I wanted to play this but
then I didn't like...} 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Na4 {But then I have...} d4 17. e4
Bxa2) 15. Bf3 {Somehow I was so focused on Nxc6 that I forgot about Bf3.} Rd8
16. Ne2 {My opponent is playing very logical positional chess. I realized that
he's getting comfortable so I was looking for tactics to unbalance the game.
Suddenly I spotted an interesting tactic to trap his bishop, but I wasn't sure
at all about whether it was truly good for me or not.} Nb4 $1 {It is important
to start with this.} (16... g5 $6 17. Rxc6 $1 {Is very strong.} gxf4 18. Ng6 $1
Qe8 (18... fxg6 19. Qxg6+ Kf8 20. Qxh6+ Kg8 21. Qg5+ Kh7 22. Rxe6 Qxe6 23. Nxf4
$16) 19. Rxe6 fxe6 20. Ngxf4) 17. Qb1 (17. Qa3 $1 {This move was important to
keep in contact with my knight on b4.} g5 18. Bg3 g4 19. Rc7 $3 Qxc7 20. Nxg4
Qe7 21. Nxf6+ Qxf6 22. Qxb4 $16 {Here white has tremendous compensation for
the exchange.}) 17... g5 18. a3 $6 {Hoping for Nc6 but it was an inaccuracy.} (
18. Bg3 g4 19. Bh4 {I was more worried about this since I thought the pin was
very annoying. Indeed it does seem like white has enough compensation here.}
gxf3 20. Nf4 $1 {Very important to keep up with the momentum.} d4 (20... Bb8 {
I was planning this actually but it fails to a brilliant...} 21. Neg6 $3 {
If this happened, this game might've been good for a brilliancy prize! :)} fxg6
(21... Qd7 22. Bxf6) 22. Qxg6+ Qg7 23. Qxg7+ Kxg7 24. Nxe6+ $18) 21. Nh5 Nbd5
22. exd4 fxg2 23. Qd3 Nxh5 24. Bxe7 Nxe7 25. Qf3 Ng7 {With a very unclear
position.}) 18... gxf4 (18... Nc6 $4 {Of course not this because} 19. Rxc6) 19.
Nxf4 (19. axb4 fxe3 {Is completely lost for white.}) 19... Nc6 20. Nxc6 (20.
Rxc6 bxc6 21. Nxc6 Qd6 {Also didn't really help.}) 20... bxc6 21. Rxc6 Rd6 22.
Ng6 $5 {Good try but too little too late, I don't have to take.} Qd8 23. Rdc1
$6 {This loses more material.} (23. Rxd6 Qxd6 24. Nf4 {Was still lost in the
long run but much more tenacious.}) 23... Rxc6 $1 24. Rxc6 Qe8 $1 {Now white
loses more material.} 25. Rxa6 (25. Ne5 Bb8 $19) 25... fxg6 26. Rxe6 Qxe6 27.
Qxg6+ Kf8 28. Qxh6+ Ke7 29. h4 Rg8 {AlexanderL won by resignation. Just too
much extra material for me. It was a very interesting game. I was happy though
to navigate through the complications well.} 0-1

[Event "Vancouver Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.07.26"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Black "Martinez Alcantara, Jose"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2692"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "4500+10"]

{In the last round I played a strong GM from Peru, Jose Martinez, whom I've
already played several times online in shorter time controls and even played
him in 2013 over the board when he was a 14-year old 2200 kid. Already then, I
recognized a special talent in him. At least I was happy to get white in the
last round.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 {I decided to repeat this line
against him since I saw he almost exclusively plays d6 against it and I
thought I'll be able to get a game here.} 4. Qc2 d6 5. Nf3 (5. Bd2 {I played
this against him in the decisive blitz game against him in Rushaan's Learn to
Chess tournament and won a nice game. However I thought he would prepare for
this, so I decided to change it a little bit.}) 5... Nbd7 6. g3 b6 7. Bg2 Bb7
8. O-O O-O 9. Nd1 $5 {The principled choice. I didn't have a lot of time to
prepare but I saw that some people played this. The idea is to try to play
against the b4 bishop and at the moment I'm threatening to trap it. However,
perhaps since I didn't have time to check it deeply, it might've been better
to play a more solid option. Also I didn't feel great so it was possibly
better to play a less dynamic game this time.} c5 {This move I didn't really
analyze since I thought it's not really playable but in fact I needed to play
precisely to get an advantage here.} (9... d5 {Is another logical choice.} 10.
a3 Bd6 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Nc3 {With a slightly more comfortable position due to
black's bishop on b7 blocked in. Obviously the whole line isn't totally forced.
}) 10. a3 Ba5 11. Qa4 $6 {I thought this is quite strong but I missed a few
details.} (11. Ne3 {Seemed to give some advantage to white.} Rc8 12. b4 {
Or the more ambitious...} (12. d5 b5 (12... exd5 13. Nf5 $1) 13. dxe6 fxe6 14.
cxb5) 12... cxb4 13. axb4 Bxb4 14. Rxa7 $14) (11. b3 {With a slower idea of
Qb2 seems also decent, though in that case black can play b5 and try to get
some compensation for the pawn, for example...} Qb8 $1 12. Qb2 b5 $1 13. cxb5
cxd4 14. Nxd4 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 e5) 11... Rc8 {This is the move I expected, but it
wasn't the best surprinsgly to me.} (11... b5 $1 {I saw that move but I
thought I would be better here somehow, but it turns out black has hidden
compensation here.} 12. Qxb5 (12. cxb5 a6 {This move I didn't see somehow.} (
12... cxd4 13. Nxd4) 13. bxa6 Rxa6 14. Ne3 Qa8 $44 {This feels like a good
Benko gambit for black.}) 12... Rb8 13. Qa4 Qc7 14. b4 cxb4 15. axb4 Bxb4 $11)
12. b4 cxb4 13. axb4 Rxc4 14. Ba3 {I calculated up to here, and from far away
before I played Qa4, I missed black's next move.} Nd5 (14... Bxb4 {If this
right away I thought I was much better with...} 15. Qb3 Bxa3 16. Qxc4 d5 17.
Qb3 Bd6 18. Rxa7 $16 {And black loses a very important a7 pawn.}) 15. Qb3 {
Another tough choice.} (15. Ne3 {I considered seriously this move but then I
didn't like it because of ...} Bc6 (15... Nxe3 16. fxe3 Bxb4 17. Qb3 Bxa3 18.
Qxc4 d5 19. Qd3 Be7 20. Rxa7 Qb8 {Is relatively best for black perhaps, but
here white is of course better, since black only has one pawn for the exchange.
}) 16. Qb3 {Even better is...} (16. Qd1 $1 $16) 16... Rxb4 17. Bxb4 Nxb4 18.
Rfc1 {However here I am much better somehow still.}) 15... Rxb4 16. Bxb4 Nxb4
17. Ne3 (17. Nb2 {This might've been better.}) 17... d5 18. Rfc1 Nc6 19. Qa4
Qa8 20. Rc2 Rc8 $6 (20... a6 $15 {Was probably better.}) 21. Rac1 {Suddenly
for a few moves I have initiatve, though during the game I didn't realize that
I'm doing well here.} a6 22. Bh3 $6 {The right idea, the wrong execution.} (22.
Ng5 $3 {Here I had this unexpected resource, which I totally didn't see.
Amazingly I am much better in all the lines.} h6 (22... Nf6 23. Bh3 $1 {
Even here despite black being seemingly solid, because of his queen on a8 far
away from action, as well as his bishop on a5, I have these dynamic
possibilites.} b5 (23... Rc7 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. Bxe6+ Kh8 26. Nxd5 Nxd5 27. Bxd5
$18) 24. Qa3 Bb4 25. Qb2 {And now black has no good defence against Nxe6.} Rc7
26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Bxe6+ Kh8 28. Nxd5 Nxd5 29. Bxd5 Be7 30. Bf3 Bf6 31. Qa3 $1
$18 {Black's pieces are very poorly coordinated still, white has potentially
very strong points and black can easily lose more material. The lines can
really get fun here, for example...} b4 32. Qxb4 $3 Nxb4 33. Rxc7 Bc6 34. Bxc6
Qg8 35. Bb7 Bd8 36. Rc8 Nd5 37. Rb8 Nb6 38. Rc6 Nd7 39. Rxd8 Qxd8 40. Rc8 $18 {
And finally after all the smoke clears, white ends up being in a winning
endgame.}) 23. Nxf7 $3 Kxf7 24. Nxd5 $1 {Somehow he is discoordinated and I am
crashing through.} b5 25. Qa3 b4 26. Qe3 b3 27. Nf4 $3 {The only move for an
advantage.} Re8 28. Rb2 $18) 22... Nf6 $6 (22... Rc7 $1 23. Nxd5 exd5 24. Bxd7
Rxd7 25. Rxc6 Bxc6 26. Rxc6 b5 27. Qc2 Qb7 28. Ne5 Rd8 {Was relatively best
for black.}) 23. Ne5 $2 {Offiically losing the plot.} (23. Ng5 $1 {This was my
2nd chance to transpose into these winning lines for white.}) 23... b5 24. Qa1
(24. Qa3 Bb4 25. Qb2 Bd6 26. N3g4 {Was somehow better.}) 24... Bb6 (24... Bd8)
25. Nxc6 Rxc6 26. Rxc6 Bxc6 27. Nc2 $6 (27. Qa3 {This was better.} Bxd4 28. Ng4
Ne4 29. Bg2 {With counterplay.}) 27... a5 28. Nb4 Be8 29. Nd3 g6 30. e3 Qb8 31.
Qc3 Kg7 32. Qc8 Qa7 {Game drawn by agreement. I was very surprised that my
opponent offered me a draw here. I thought he is much better here, with 2
bishops, 2 nice passed pawns, and I don't really have any counterplay. I was
very happy to accept the draw here even though it didn't give me much. I was
very surprised though that my opponent didn't want to play for a win here,
since a win would give him shared 1st-2nd, while draw was only 2nd-5th. Anyway,
it was a very interesting game!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vancouver Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.07.25"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Guha, Eshan"]
[Black "Tien, Sophie"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E09"]
[WhiteElo "2129"]
[BlackElo "1916"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "4500+10"]

{In this game, my student, Eshan Guha is playing against a talented girl from
Seattle, Washington, Sophie Tien. I knew this game would be tough for Eshan
since despite her 1900 rating, Sophie is very resilient and a tough defender.
From what I saw, she also gave a tough battle to an eventual winner of the
tournament, David Shahinyan, possibly being very close to making a draw. In
fact, they played each other in a serious online game one month earlier.} 1. d4
d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 (6... c6 {I prefer
here the more flexible c6, waiting to see what white does.} 7. Qc2 (7. Nc3 {
After this I would prefer Nbd7.} Nbd7 {To meet Nd2 with...} 8. Nd2 b5 $1 9.
cxb5 cxb5 10. Nxb5 Qb6 11. a4 a6 12. Nc3 Qxd4 $11) 7... b6 {Here I prefer b6
in order to keep the d7 square for the other knight in the following line...}
8. Nbd2 Bb7 9. e4 Na6 10. e5 Nd7 {And here black will get c5 in and should be
fine.}) 7. Qc2 c6 8. Nbd2 Bd6 $6 {I was surpirsed to see that Sophie didn't
seem to learn the opening line after getting a tough position the last time
they played. This move seems very illogical, to go Be7 and a few moves later,
Bd6, without developing the c8 bishop yet.} (8... Re8 $6 {[%emt 0:00:38] This
was played in an earlier game where white also got an advantage, though later
after a back and forth game, the game ended up being a draw.} 9. e4 {[%emt 0:
00:24]} Nxe4 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 10. Nxe4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} dxe4 {[%emt 0:00:02]}
11. Qxe4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 12. Qe2 $16 {[%emt 0:00:18] 1/
2-1/2 (50) BigPiano (1774)-penhotien (1920) Chess.com 2020 [Alex]}) (8... b6 {
This is the main line here with many possibilites for black after e4.} 9. e4
Bb7 (9... dxe4 10. Nxe4 Bb7 11. Nxf6+ $14) (9... dxc4 $5 10. Nxc4 Bb7 {Is
probably the most logical move.}) 10. e5 Ne8 11. cxd5 cxd5 {Is also theory
though probably supposed to be slightly better for white.}) 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4
Nxe4 11. Qxe4 c5 12. Rd1 Rb8 $6 {Another move that turns out awkward
tactically.} 13. dxc5 $1 Nxc5 (13... Bxc5 14. Ng5 g6 15. Qh4 $18 h5 16. g4 $40)
14. Qd4 $2 {This is a very natural move that Eshan played very quickly but
unfortunately, this move blows a lion's share of white's advantage since now
the black bishop can safely move away and the queens will be probably
exchanged, making black survive. The lesson here is that it is very important
that when we see a good move that we like, even if it is safe and natural, we
should be disciplined enough to always consider better moves and making
candidate moves.} (14. Qc2 {Just wins since white has too many threats, in
particular, b4 and c5.} Qe7 {And this is met with...} 15. Rxd6 $1 Qxd6 16. Bf4
$18 {Taking advantage of black's misplaced rook. I think that had white spent
more time here, and look for better moves it was very easy to spot this.}) (14.
Qe1 {Also works.}) 14... Be7 15. Qxd8 Rxd8 16. Rxd8+ Bxd8 17. Bf4 Ra8 18. b4
Na6 19. Rd1 Be7 20. a3 f6 {White is obviously still much better but now black
is still in the game at least.} 21. Bd6 (21. Be3 e5 22. Nd2 {Maybe this was
better, not exchanging pieces, and also preventing Rb8 followed by b6. Here it
is very difficult for black to untangle.}) 21... Kf7 22. c5 e5 23. Nd2 Nb8 (
23... Bxd6 24. cxd6 Rb8) 24. Bd5+ Ke8 25. Nc4 Nc6 26. b5 $6 {This was based on
a forced concrete line which leads to a favorable endgame for white. However,
the problem for white is that the endgame isn't nearly as easily winning as it
seems at first. Here again, white would be better off not calculating this
line deeply, but instead to look around and look for simpler possibilites
which don't allow black much counterplay.} (26. f4 $1 {Was simpler and clearer.
Here black just doesn't have a satisfactory move. Black's main source of
counterplay is with the knight on d4 and pawn on e5 and now white just gets
rid of it.} exf4 $6 (26... Bxd6 27. Nxd6+ Kf8 28. fxe5 Nxe5 29. Nxb7 $18 {
White is up a pawn with a much better game and black has no counterplay.}) 27.
Bxc6+ bxc6 28. Re1) 26... Nd4 27. Rxd4 $1 {The point of white's last move.}
exd4 28. c6 Bxd6 29. Nxd6+ Ke7 30. cxb7 Bxb7 31. Nf5+ Kf8 32. Bxb7 Rd8 {
However this endgame turns out to not be easy to win.} 33. Kf1 g6 34. Nh4 d3
35. Ke1 {This is fine but there was an interesting alternative.} (35. Bf3 $5 {
I think this was simpler.} d2 36. Bd1 {Trying to play a4 and defend the pawn.}
Ke7 $1 37. Nf3 Kd6 38. Ke2 Kc5 39. Nxd2 Kxb5 40. Bb3 {With good winning
chances for white.}) 35... Re8+ 36. Kd2 Re2+ 37. Kxd3 Rxf2 {Now this gets
sharp and calculation is required.} 38. Nf3 {A natural human move but possibly
an inaccuracy.} (38. Kc4 $5 Rxh2 39. Nf3 Rg2 40. a4 {And apparently white's
pawns are faster. However this was far from obvious.}) 38... Ra2 39. Kc4 Rxa3
40. Nd4 Ra2 $6 (40... Ke7 {This was better.}) 41. Nc6 $1 Rxh2 $6 (41... Ke8)
42. Nxa7 $2 {I assume this was a blunder since I saw Eshan thought for a while
after black's reply.} (42. Ba6 {It looks like white is winning here since
black's pawns will be slow and white's pawn and two pieces should produce a
queen. Then white will just need to prove he knows how to mate with bishop and
knight.}) 42... Rc2+ 43. Kd5 Rc7 44. Bc6 {Thankfully white's b-pawn saves the
day and white can still draw.} Rxa7 45. b6 Ra2 46. b7 Rb2 47. Kc5 Rxb7 $1 {
This is forced because otherwise white plays Bb5 and blocks the rook and
queens the pawn.} 48. Bxb7 f5 49. Kd6 Kg7 50. Ke5 h5 51. Bd5 Kh6 52. Kf4 h4 $1
53. gxh4 Kh5 54. Kg3 g5 55. Bf7+ Kh6 56. h5 {Sadly for white, he cannot win
because he has the h-pawn and a wrong-colored bishop.} Kg7 57. Be8 Kh7 58. Bg6+
Kh6 59. Kf3 g4+ 60. Kf4 g3 61. Kxg3 f4+ 62. Kxf4 Kg7 63. Kg5 Kg8 64. Kf6 Kh8
65. h6 Kg8 66. Bd3 Kh8 67. Kg6 Kg8 68. Bc4+ Kh8 69. h7 {Game drawn by
stalemate. A very nice battle!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vancouver Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.07.26"]
[Round "5"]
[White "McConnell, Griffin"]
[Black "Guha, Eshan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "2051"]
[BlackElo "2129"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "4500+10"]

{This was a last round game that Eshan played against a young player Griffin
McConnell rated 2051 from Colorago. I was happy with Eshan on how he played
that last game and with how he finished the tournament.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3.
f4 {The grandprix attack.} g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bb5 Nd4 6. O-O a6 7. Bd3 d6 8. Nxd4
cxd4 9. Ne2 Nf6 10. b3 (10. Nxd4 $2 Qb6 {Doesn't work for white.}) (10. c3 {
I think c3 should be played though.}) 10... O-O 11. Ng3 b5 12. Qe2 Nd7 13. Bb2
Nc5 14. Rae1 Bb7 15. c3 dxc3 16. Bxc3 Qb6 17. Qe3 Bxc3 18. dxc3 Nd7 {Smart
play by black, neutralizing any aggressive play from white by exchanging the
queens and getting into a decent endgame thanks to white's weak c3 pawn and
black potentially controlling the c5 square.} 19. Qxb6 Nxb6 20. Rc1 Rfc8 21.
Rc2 Rc7 22. Rfc1 Rac8 23. Kf2 Nd7 24. c4 Nc5 25. Ke3 b4 $1 {Showing good
understanding, ensuring that white's d3 bishop remains bad because of all the
queenside pawns being on the color of the bishop.} 26. Be2 (26. Rd2 a5 27. Bc2
{Was more tenacious.}) 26... a5 $1 {Planning to open up the queenside.} 27. Rb1
Ra8 28. Bf3 a4 29. bxa4 Rxa4 30. Rcb2 Ra3+ 31. Kd2 Nd3 (31... h5 $1 32. h4 f5
$1 {Was even stronger for black.}) 32. Rb3 Nxf4 33. Rxa3 bxa3 34. Rb4 Bc6 35.
Kc3 Ne6 36. Rb3 Ra7 37. Rb6 Bd7 38. Ne2 Nc5 39. Rb1 Na4+ 40. Kc2 Nb2 41. Kc3
Be6 42. Nd4 Bxc4 43. Ra1 Rc7 44. Nb3 Be6+ 45. Kb4 Nd3+ 46. Kb5 Rb7+ 47. Ka4
Bd7+ 48. Ka5 Rb5+ 49. Ka6 Nb4+ 50. Ka7 Bc6 {A very nice mating net for black
and a very cute finish to a great game played by Eshan. A good ending to a
tournament that started tough for Eshan with a loss to a lower-rated player.
Eshan proved to be a great fighter.} 0-1

[Event "Vancouver Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.07.25"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Gottumukkala, Ananth"]
[Black "Bagchi, Sounak"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "1785"]
[BlackElo "1995"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "4500+10"]

{This is a game of another one of my students who is rated around 2000, Sounak
Bagchi. Here in round 3, he's playing against a tough young player slightly
below 1800, but he is dangerous since he beat Eshan very convincingly in the
first round and in an earlier tournament beat FM Nick Raptis. He gave me a
very good battle in the Seafair Open where if he played one more accurate move
at some point he could've more or less secured a draw.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 {This line has become fashionable
lately.} Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb6 {The right way of playing.} (8... Bb4+ $6 9. Bd2) 9.
Nc3 O-O 10. Be3 Nxc3 (10... Bg4 {Is another possibility.}) 11. bxc3 Bf5 (11...
f6 {Here black should probably play f6 right away.}) 12. O-O f6 13. exf6 Qxf6
14. Be2 (14. Bg5 Qg6 15. Qd2 $14 {Might be a slightly better option.}) 14... h6
(14... Rae8) 15. a4 Rae8 16. Qb3 Be6 {Slightly passive.} (16... Qd6 {In order
to play Be4 in some cases.}) 17. Bb5 (17. Rae1) 17... Na5 18. Qb4 c6 19. Bd3
Nc4 $5 {An ambitious move.} (19... Bf5 20. Bxf5 Qxf5 21. Ne5 Bc7 22. f4 b6 {
Was very solid for black.}) 20. a5 Bc7 (20... Bd8 {Was interesting to not lose
a tempo.}) (20... Bh3 $5 {Was also possible but probably white can make a draw
if he wants.} 21. axb6 Bxg2 22. Kxg2 Qxf3+ 23. Kg1 Qg4+ (23... Nxe3 24. fxe3
Qxe3+ 25. Kg2 Qxd3 26. Rxf8+ Rxf8 27. bxa7 {Here black has nothing better than
a draw.}) 24. Kh1 Qf3+) 21. Bxc4 dxc4 22. Qxb7 Bd6 $6 {This move is strange
since it loses a tempo.} (22... Bb8) (22... Re7 23. Qxc6 Qf7 $44) 23. Qxc6 Rd8
24. Ne5 {Now white is in control but Sounak fights strong.} Bxe5 25. dxe5 Qf5
26. Rad1 Rd3 27. Rxd3 (27. Bd4 {Is probably much better for white.}) 27... cxd3
28. Qd6 Rf7 29. Bxa7 $6 {A little bit too greedy.} (29. f4 $16) 29... Rd7 $2 (
29... d2 $1 {This is the strongest.} 30. Be3 (30. Qxd2 Rxa7) 30... Rd7 31. Qb8+
Kh7 32. Bd4 Qc2 33. Qb1 Bb3 $17 {black wins a rook but white is still in the
game thanks to his amount of passed pawns creating counterplay.}) 30. Qb8+ Kh7
31. Bd4 Bd5 32. Qb2 (32. e6 {This was the best chance for white to continue
the game.}) 32... Bxg2 {Forcing a draw, probably rightfully so, since
otherwise he's just worse down a few pawns.} 33. Kxg2 Qg4+ 34. Kh1 Qf3+ 35. Kg1
Qg4+ {Game drawn by agreement. A very interesting fight.} (35... Rf7 {Black
could've considered delaying taking the draw and asking a few questions, but
if white plays precisely it should still be a draw.} 36. h3 (36. Re1) 36... Rf5
37. Be3 Rh5 38. Qd2 Qxh3 39. f3 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vancouver Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.07.25"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Bagchi, Sounak"]
[Black "Devadithya, Lavindu"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "1995"]
[BlackElo "1535"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]
[TimeControl "4500+10"]

{This is Sounak's round 1 win. Even though he's playing a lower-rated, I
thought it was a nice win.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 {Sounak's
pet line.} a6 5. Be2 Nc6 6. Qe3 Nf6 7. c4 g6 8. Nc3 Bg7 9. h3 Nd7 10. O-O O-O
11. Rd1 {White gets a nice Maroczy Bind structure.} Nde5 $6 (11... Nc5 {
Was probably better.}) 12. Rb1 (12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. c5 {Was probably stronger.})
12... Bd7 (12... Nxf3+ 13. Bxf3 e5 {Was interesting, fighting for the d4
square.}) 13. Nxe5 $6 {Here I don't like this move since it's one move too
late and now black can take with the pawn and control the d4 square.} Bxe5 $6 (
13... dxe5 $1 {Was fine for black.}) 14. b3 (14. b4 $5) 14... Na7 $6 {Too
passive.} (14... Qa5) 15. f4 Bg7 16. Bb2 b5 17. Nd5 (17. c5) (17. e5) 17... Nc8
18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Qc3+ (19. c5 {This is probably better right away.}) 19... Kg8
(19... f6 20. c5) 20. c5 dxc5 21. Qxc5 e6 22. Nb4 $6 (22. Nc7 Ra7 23. Rbc1 {
Was even stronger since here black cannot move his pieces.}) 22... Qb6 23. Qxb6
Nxb6 24. Rd6 a5 25. Nd3 (25. Nc6) 25... Rfb8 26. Ne5 Be8 27. f5 exf5 28. exf5
Nc8 29. Rd4 Ne7 30. fxg6 fxg6 31. Bg4 Nc6 $6 {White played imprecisely and
lost his advantage, and now black could've equalized with...} (31... Rd8 32.
Rbd1 Rxd4 33. Rxd4 a4 $11) 32. Nxc6 Bxc6 33. Rc1 $1 {Seizing the initiative
now.} Be8 34. Rc7 Rd8 $2 {Missing white's idea and loses on the spot.} (34...
Ra6 {Here white is better but black is still in the game.}) 35. Be6+ Kh8 36.
Rf4 $1 {Now it is all over. Black's pieces are uncoordinated and black cannot
defend against mate without losing lots of material.} Rd1+ 37. Kh2 Bc6 38. Rff7
{DampFalcon won by resignation. A nice start by Sounak, demonstrating good
opening preparation and tactical alertness.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle Classic Scholastic (K6 Open 2D)"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.08.02"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Wang, Ted"]
[Black "O'Brien, Hansol"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "1529"]
[BlackElo "1349"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+
8. Nbxd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 Nce7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfe1 c6 13. a4 a5 14. Ne5
Ra7 15. Ne4 b6 16. Nxc6 $6 (16. Rac1 $14) 16... Nxc6 17. Bxd5 Nxd4 18. Qc4 Nf5
(18... Rd7 $1 $15) 19. Rad1 Qc7 20. Qb3 Ne7 21. Bxf7+ $1 $16 Rxf7 $2 (21... Kh8
{struggles on.}) 22. Ng5 Ng6 23. Nxf7 Qxf7 24. Re8+ Nf8 25. Rdd8 $1 {#diagram,
perhaps?} g6 26. Rxf8+ Kg7 27. Rxf7+ Rxf7 28. Qxf7+ Kxf7 29. Rxc8 h5 30. Rc6 g5
31. Rxb6 g4 32. Rb5 g3 33. Rxh5 gxf2+ 34. Kxf2 Ke7 35. Ke3 Ke6 36. Ke4 Kd6 37.
Re5 Kc6 38. Rd5 Kb6 39. Kd4 Ka6 40. Kc5 Ka7 41. Rd6 Kb7 42. Rc6 Ka7 43. Rb6 Ka8
44. Kc6 Ka7 45. Kc7 Ka8 46. Ra6# 1-0

[Event "Seattle Classic Scholastic (4-12 Open)"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.08.01"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Deng, Lily"]
[Black "Cheng, Edward"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "1432"]
[BlackElo "1526"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]

1. e4 d6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Bc4 Bg7 5. h3 O-O 6. O-O e5 7. d3 Nc6 8. Be3
Kh8 9. Qd2 Nh5 10. Rfe1 f5 11. exf5 gxf5 (11... Bxf5 12. g4 $6 Bd7 $15) 12. Bg5
Qe8 13. Nd5 Qd7 14. c3 Na5 15. Be7 Nxc4 16. dxc4 Rf7 17. Qg5 Nf4 18. Nxf4 exf4
$2 (18... Rxe7 $14) 19. Rad1 b6 20. Ne5 dxe5 21. Rxd7 Bxd7 22. Bd8 c5 23. Bc7
Re8 24. b4 Bc6 25. Bd6 Be4 26. Qh5 Rfe7 27. Bxe7 Rxe7 28. Rd1 h6 29. Rd8+ Kh7
30. Rd6 Kg8 31. Qg6 Rf7 32. Rd8+ Rf8 33. Rd7 Rf6 34. Qxg7# 1-0

[Event "Seattle Classic Scholastic (1-3 Open)"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.08.01"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Arul, Sharvesh"]
[Black "Xu, Owen"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C55"]
[WhiteElo "1342"]
[BlackElo "1524"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.27"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nxe4 5. Nxe4 d5 6. Bd3 dxe4 7. Bxe4 Bd6
8. O-O O-O 9. d3 Bg4 10. c3 Kh8 11. h3 Bh5 12. Be3 (12. g4 Bg6 13. Be3) 12...
Re8 (12... f5 $17) 13. g4 Bg6 14. Bxg6 fxg6 15. d4 e4 16. Nd2 Qh4 17. Kg2 g5
18. f4 $2 exf3+ (18... gxf4 19. Bxf4 Bxf4 20. Rxf4 e3 21. Nc4 e2 22. Qe1 Qd8)
19. Rxf3 Rf8 20. Bf2 (20. Ne4) 20... Qh6 21. Qe2 Rae8 22. Rxf8+ Rxf8 23. Nf3
Qf6 24. Re1 Qf4 25. a3 h5 26. gxh5 $2 (26. Qe4 $14) 26... g4 27. hxg4 Qxg4+ 28.
Kf1 Qxf3 29. Qd2 Bg3 30. h6 Qxf2+ 31. Qxf2 Bxf2 32. hxg7+ Kxg7 33. Re2 Bxd4+
34. Ke1 Bf6 35. Rg2+ Kh6 36. Rh2+ Kg5 37. Rg2+ Kh4 38. Rh2+ Kg3 39. Rf2 Bxc3+
40. Rd2 Bxd2+ 41. Kxd2 Rf2+ 42. Kc3 Kf3 43. Kb3 Ke3 44. Kc3 Rd2 45. Kb3 Nd4+
46. Kc3 a5 47. b4 Rc2# 0-1

