[Event "Seattle Chess Classic"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.08.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Pang, Ashley"]
[Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "1947"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[TimeControl "6000+30"]

{[%evp 0,110,43,43,30,19,-3,2,14,10,18,-38,-43,-43,-1,-19,-27,-27,-27,-27,-39,
-40,-40,-43,-26,-83,-72,-76,-73,-69,-54,-54,-27,-40,-22,-22,-19,-22,21,-12,-3,
-12,43,64,63,78,82,61,64,44,50,41,119,52,52,46,57,33,57,33,100,49,100,57,52,43,
59,53,48,45,45,12,19,11,0,-2,-2,-8,-8,-61,-61,-49,-53,-93,-101,-101,-101,-150,
-98,-193,-141,-223,-406,-526,-703,-703,-739,-739,-820,-948,-1034,-1082,-1082,
-1082,-1110,-1110,-1161,-29989,-29990,-29991,-29992,-29999,-30000] In the
first round I am playing a girl, Ashley Pang rated around 1900. The game was
extremely hard and felt like a long-suffering never-ending game to me where at
many times I was simply stuck and could not even find a satisfactory move. I
was happy to prevail in the end.} 1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. Ngf3 Nc6 5.
g3 (5. e5 {This is principled.} Nd7 6. d4 f6 {This would take the game in a
different direction.}) (5. Be2 {This would be a Phillidor up a tempo for white.
}) 5... dxe4 6. dxe4 e5 7. Bg2 Bc5 8. O-O O-O 9. Qe2 b6 10. c3 a5 $1 $15 {
It all started very promising. I don't think I could've asked for anything
more out of the opening with black. After I played this, I thought I might
have a relatively easy win, since I felt like I got the perfect setup out of
the opening and I was playing a 1900. Once I won very quickly against some
2100 when he blundered some Ng4 stuff against this setup.} 11. b3 Ba6 {In a
few moves I regretted playing this, since my bishop ended up misplaced there.}
(11... Qe7 {Maybe I should play this.}) 12. c4 {The engine said that it's a
mistake but I couldn't exploit it.} (12. Nc4 Qe7) 12... Qe7 (12... Nd4 13. Nxd4
Qxd4 14. Rb1 {I also considered this but I wasn't as sure about this but
probably I'm much better now after Rad8.} Rad8) 13. Bb2 Rfd8 (13... a4 14. Rad1
Rfb8 {For some reason this setup with rook on b8 was better for me than rook
on d8. Most likely it's to play b5. I'm not sure why I didn't consider this.})
14. Rad1 a4 15. Nb1 {Around here the laboring part started. Suddenly I was
just struggling to find a plan.} Rxd1 16. Rxd1 axb3 17. axb3 Ng4 18. Rf1 {
Here I was spending forever trying to figure something out and couldn't find
anything I liked.} Re8 (18... Qd6 {Apparently I might still be better but now
it's based on some freak tactical ideas.} 19. Nc3 (19. h3 Nxf2 20. Rxf2 Bxf2+
21. Kxf2 Qc5+ 22. Qe3 Bxc4 $1) 19... Na5) 19. h3 Nf6 20. Nc3 Nd7 $6 {There's a
reason they say that backward knight moves without a good reason often end up
not as good.} (20... Nd4 21. Nxd4 exd4 {Was better I guess. I think I might've
missed exd4 for some reason.}) 21. Nd5 Qd8 22. Rd1 Bd6 23. Nh4 g6 24. Qd2 Bc8
25. b4 Bf8 26. b5 $6 {At least it gives me some hope because I am controlling
some squares.} (26. Nf3 Bg7 27. Qc2 {Somehow this is just very unpleasant for
me. I'm very passive.}) 26... Na5 27. Qe2 Bg7 {For some reason the engine
doesn't like this.} (27... Bd6) (27... Bb7) 28. Bc3 (28. Ba3) 28... Nb7 29. Nb4
Re6 30. Nd5 Rd6 $2 {Around here I was just simply struggling to find moves.} (
30... Nd6 31. Nf3 Bb7 {Was better.}) 31. Nf3 (31. f4 {Apparently this was
strong, I was always worried about this but couldn't calculate it clearly.}
exf4 32. Bxg7 Kxg7 33. Qb2+ Kg8 34. e5) 31... Nbc5 32. Ne1 Bb7 33. Nc2 Ne6 34.
Ncb4 Ndc5 35. Qc2 Rd7 36. Nc6 $5 Bxc6 37. bxc6 Rd6 38. f4 $1 f6 39. fxe5 $2 {
A relief! Finally she made a positional mistake and started to lose the thread.
The big reason why fxe5 is a big mistake is because it opened up my bishop on
g7.} (39. Ra1 $16) 39... fxe5 40. Qa2 Nd4 41. Bxd4 $2 {This makes my bishop on
g7 even more powerful, giving it the e5 square.} exd4 42. Qa7 Ne6 43. Qb7 d3 (
43... Be5 44. Ra1 Kg7) 44. Bf1 (44. Qa7 {This would be very hard to play
though.}) 44... Be5 45. Kg2 Nc5 46. Qa7 (46. Qxc7 Rxd5 {Was of course the
point.}) 46... Rxd5 {Here I just wanted to kill all her counterplay with the
knight and queen tandem, defend c7 for good, and create an unstoppable attack.
From here on, white is defenseless on the dark squares, missing the knight or
a dark squared bishop. Opposite colored bishops increase attack opportunities!}
47. cxd5 Qg5 48. Qa2 Qxg3+ 49. Kh1 Qf3+ 50. Kg1 Bd4+ 51. Kh2 Qxd1 52. d6+ Kg7
53. d7 Qxf1 54. Qg8+ (54. d8=Q Be5# (54... Qg1#)) 54... Kh6 55. h4 Be5# {
AlexanderL won by checkmate} 0-1

[Event "Seattle Chess Classic"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.08.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Black "Talukdar, Rohan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D72"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2402"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[TimeControl "6000+30"]

{[%evp 0,61,19,31,14,-14,35,5,8,14,21,9,42,21,-18,-7,31,42,36,18,43,38,31,32,
13,33,41,23,87,85,108,88,94,97,78,21,38,38,203,218,185,200,263,301,265,329,326,
318,358,328,377,524,570,404,407,412,412,427,427,426,463,489,1999,2150] In
round 2 I am playing FM Rohan Talukdar, who I failed to beat the last two
times I faced him. However, this is the first time I am playing white against
him in one of these tournaments. Luckily for me it worked out better for me
since I was able to prepare well for his Grunfeld and get the position I
wanted to play, which gave me an opportunity to play a good game.} 1. d4 Nf6 2.
c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nb6 7. Ne2 c5 8. d5 e6 9. O-O exd5
(9... O-O {I think this is more accurate, not yet declaring the intensions.}
10. Nec3 Na6 {So that if I play Nec3, black can play Na6, and white now needs
to make a commitment on how he continues his development.}) 10. exd5 O-O 11.
Nec3 Na6 12. Nd2 Bf5 13. Nde4 {This was all preparation to this point which as
far as I knew was good for me.} Bxe4 $6 {probably not best since my knights on
c3 and e4 are redundant anyway.} (13... h6) 14. Nxe4 {I took some time on this
move since I knew I wanted to take with the knight from a positional
standpoint of view. First of all, I have the Bg5 idea. Also, I am controlling
the d6 square more, which means it is less likely that my pawn on d6 will be
blockaded. Rohan has won a game earlier this year against my student in a
similar opening where he got his knight to d6. However, having said all that,
I needed to make sure that he cannot take on d5, and I calculated that he
couldn't under favorable circumstances.} h6 {Sensible trying to stop Bg5.} (
14... Nxd5 $6 15. Bg5 Qd7 16. Nc3 $1 {This is a very important move which
ensures an advantage for me.} Bxc3 (16... Nb6 17. Qxd7 Nxd7 18. Bxb7 $16) 17.
bxc3 Nac7 18. c4 Qf5 19. Bh6 $16 {And because of this important move, white
ends up being up an exchange.}) 15. d6 {Here I had a deep think since I was
trying to evaluate how good d6 is, and whether I'm not overextending my pawn.
I was also trying to see if I had a better move. Ultimately I decided that
this was my best course of action after 10 minutes of thought.} (15. Bf4 {
I also considered this but didn't like it because of...} f5 16. Nc3 g5) (15. a4
{I briefly looked at this but then Nxd5 might be possible.} Nxd5) 15... Re8 16.
Qc2 {This was good but even better might've been...} (16. Be3 Nc4 (16... Re6
17. Rc1) 17. Qd5 $1 {The point! Because of how strong the f-file is, I didn't
have to be afraid of Nxe3.} Nxe3 18. fxe3 $18) 16... c4 17. Be3 Nb4 18. Qd2 c3
$5 {I have to admit that I missed this idea completely but luckily for me, it
wasn't that dangerous for me.} 19. bxc3 Nc4 20. Qd1 Nxe3 21. fxe3 {it turns
out that the positional weaknesses that were created are irrelevant because of
all the dynamics that the open f-file has created for me.} Nc6 22. Rxf7 $1 {
And now the petite combination that wins the game for me.} Qb6 {sort of forced.
} (22... Kxf7 {This move loses routinely of course to...} 23. Qd5+ Kf8 24. Rf1+
Bf6 25. Rxf6+ Kg7 26. Qf7+ Kh8 27. Rxg6 $18 {with unstoppable mate threats.})
23. Kh1 $1 {I liked this move. The way I came up with this move was since I
didn't see a way I can win immediately with forcing moves and I saw that Kxf7
is still not a threat, I wanted to play a move that I will need to play anyway,
and now it's a case where a threat is stronger than the execution. Some of my
threats now include Rb1 and Qd5, where the pawn on e3 isn't hanging with check,
while if he plays now Qxe3, I can take on b7.} Ne5 (23... Qxe3 24. Rxb7 (24.
Qb3 $18 {Is also more than good enough.}) 24... Rxe4 25. Qd5+ Re6 26. Qxc6 $18)
24. Rxb7 Qxe3 (24... Qxb7 25. Nf6+ {Is the point of course.}) 25. Qd5+ Kh8 26.
Rxg7 {One of many wins in this position.} Kxg7 27. d7 Nxd7 28. Qxd7+ Kh8 29.
Qc6 Rg8 30. Nf6 {Now I win a piece by force or mate.} Rac8 31. Qd7 {AlexanderL
won by resignation. Unstoppable mate now. I was very happy with this game,
this game felt like by far my most quality game in a very long time. It also
had a brilliancy, Rxf7. Therefore, I submit this game for brilliancy/best game
prize.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle Chess Classic"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.08.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bernadskiy, Vitaliy"]
[Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2679"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[TimeControl "6000+30"]

{[%evp 0,23,19,31,33,23,44,32,64,31,30,30,32,31,35,21,21,6,57,56,33,35,26,34,
21,5] In round 3 I am already playing a GM since the field is very small. I
was looking forward for a fighting game but somehow the way the game played it,
it didn't work out like this.} 1. d4 e6 {I was actually luring him into a
french since I wanted to play a French and get a nice opposite side castles
fighting position.} 2. e4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 (4. e5 {He plays e5 here more
often.}) 4... dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nbd7 {The safest most reliable line, and a line
that I was the most familiar with.} (5... Be7 6. Bxf6 gxf6 {Is also a good
line for black but it is highly theoretical where one mistake can be very
costly for black.}) 6. Nf3 Be7 7. Bxf6 (7. Nxf6+ {Here, interestingly, more
common is Nxf6 Bxf6 and h4!?} Bxf6 8. h4 {With interesting sharp theory to
follow.}) 7... Nxf6 8. Bd3 c5 $6 {Looking back at the game, it was a
regrettable decision since as a result, I got a position where his play is
very easy and comfortable and I have to defend.} (8... Nxe4 {This was my first
instinct and I should've followed it. I overthought things, thinking that I am
helping him with bringing his bishop and potentially the queen to a better
attacking position but it turned out that keeping the two bishops was more
important.} 9. Bxe4 c5 10. c3 {Now I thought that something like c3 and Qc2
can be annoying but anyway, it was much better to go for this position than
the other one.} (10. Qd3 $4 f5) (10. Qd2) (10. dxc5 Qa5+) (10. d5 $2 f5 $17)
10... O-O (10... cxd4 11. Qa4+ Bd7 (11... Qd7 12. Qxd4 Qxd4 13. Nxd4 Bd7 14.
O-O-O $11) 12. Qxd4) 11. O-O (11. dxc5 $11 {Probably in these positions white
doesn't risk that much but at least I would be on a more comfortable side of
equality.})) 9. Nxc5 Bxc5 10. dxc5 Qa5+ 11. Qd2 Qxc5 12. O-O-O {Game drawn by
agreement. Here we agreed to a draw since I wasn't a big fan of my position, I
thought that my king will be under attack and I didn't see clearly how to
equalize. Here are some additional lines of how the game might've proceeded
with perfect play from both sides.} Bd7 {This was my plan if I were to decline
a draw.} (12... O-O 13. Rhe1 {This I also didn't like so much. I guess I can
try b6 here.} b6 (13... Bd7 14. Ne5) 14. Ne5 (14. Qe3 {Would be a risk-free
endgame for white probably.}) 14... Bb7 15. Qf4 (15. f4 Rad8 16. g3 {Here it
looks like white has a small grip but black can probably hold with best play.})
15... Rad8 {Here probably black's fine.}) 13. Rhe1 {I wasn't sure about what
to do here.} O-O (13... Rc8 14. Ne5) 14. Ne5 {Somehow this type of position
seemed uncomfortable to me but I guess with precise play I can hold, but it
was hard for me to psychologically turn down the draw on the table and instead
play this position where I feel like one wrong move can get me mated :)} Rac8
15. g4 Bb5 {Looks like best play for black and now both} 16. Bxb5 {and...} (16.
g5 Nd5 17. Be4 {promise white some initiative.}) 16... Qxb5 17. g5 Nd5 18. Re4
$36 1/2-1/2

[Event "Seattle Chess Classic"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.08.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Black "Tarjan, James"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E07"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2469"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[TimeControl "6000+30"]

{[%evp 0,125,25,-16,5,-17,-19,-24,-11,-11,3,-1,11,11,25,26,27,24,22,10,49,34,
51,50,39,73,55,63,70,10,59,68,67,30,51,63,58,48,67,5,38,3,40,43,42,22,46,46,25,
25,25,18,91,89,113,110,114,100,133,124,117,116,138,117,146,103,146,119,153,153,
157,143,159,158,160,150,152,156,161,157,141,152,145,139,158,147,146,147,158,
143,146,153,135,136,118,108,112,149,222,222,202,213,183,187,183,180,213,222,
221,213,219,228,269,263,258,245,251,262,278,280,347,353,328,340,592,610,619,
610] After a relatively quick draw against GM Bernadskiy I wanted to get a
fighting game with white against experienced GM Jim Tarjan. I have lost to him
the last serious game I played with him, also with white so I was looking for
revenge.} 1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 c6 7. b3
Nbd7 8. Bb2 b6 9. Nc3 {This was all preparation but now my opponent surprised
me.} a5 {I expected more...} (9... Bb7) (9... Ba6) 10. Nd2 {A pretty natural
move but objectively speaking might've not been the best move.} (10. Ne5 {
I also considered this but it seemed unclear to me because of the following
variation:} Nxe5 11. dxe5 Nd7 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. e4 Ba6 $132) (10. a3 {However
at the high depth, the myserious a3 move apparently might be best. I don't
think any human would seriously consider such a move but it looks like the
idea is to meet b5 with c5 and then to play b4, and also discourage black to
play b4.} Ba6 11. Nd2 b5 12. c5 $14) 10... Ba6 {Natural and expected, but not
best.} (10... b5 $3 {I knew that this idea existed in the closed Catalan but I
just didn't think it worked with my bishop already being on b2 and with him
already played a5, but it seems like black might have enough counterplay here.}
11. cxb5 cxb5 12. Nxb5 Qb6 13. a4 (13. Nc3 a4) 13... Ba6 $44) 11. e4 b5 {
almost forced, or else I just get a free advantage.} (11... a4 12. e5 a3 (12...
Ne8 13. bxa4 $16) 13. exf6 axb2 14. fxe7 $18 {doesn't work for black.}) 12.
exd5 exd5 13. cxb5 Bxb5 14. Re1 Bb4 (14... Ba6 15. Nf3 $16 {I thought that
black cannot favorably move the bishop on b5 anyway, so I avoided exchanging
it.}) 15. Nxb5 cxb5 16. Re3 (16. a3 {I considered this but didn't like it
because of black seizing the c4 square.} Bxd2 17. Qxd2 a4 18. Qb4 {However,
it's possible that black is facing concrete problems with the b5 pawn.}) 16...
Re8 (16... a4 {this was probably more accurate.}) 17. Nf1 {eventually trying
to bring the knight to e3.} a4 18. Qd3 (18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 19. Ne3 {I think this
was more accurate to not allow him counterplay with Qa5 and also I ensure that
I get the knight to e3 right away and put pressure on d5.}) 18... Qa5 19. Rc1
Rec8 $1 {Now after this clever move, suddenly I found my harmony on the
kingside to be a bit awkward. I have to now lose a tempo to bring my knight to
the game.} 20. Rc2 g6 $6 (20... Rxc2 21. Qxc2 Qa6 {was more accurate with Rc8
to follow. Black should probably equalize here.}) 21. Ree2 {now I felt like I
was pressing again.} axb3 22. axb3 Rxc2 23. Rxc2 Ba3 {a good move to try to
get rid of my 2 bishops.} 24. Bxa3 Qxa3 25. Bf3 (25. Ne3 {this right away is
met with an annoying...} Qa1+) 25... Qb4 26. Ne3 Ra3 $2 {The first real
mistake of this game. I assume this was some kind of a blunder where my
opponent might've missed that after Rc3, I have an unexpected Nc2 threat,
which is hard to deal with, since Nxd5 also becomes a threat.} (26... Ra1+ 27.
Kg2 Qe1 {Black should create counterplay.} 28. Bd1 {was my plan, but I had a
feeling that black should be fine here in several different ways.} Nf8 $132)
27. Rc3 Ra6 {played after a long thought. It was a decent try but
unfortunately for black, he loses material no matter what.} 28. Bxd5 Rd6 29.
Nc2 {this attacks the queen with a tempo and defends d4.} Qa5 30. Bg2 (30. b4 {
maybe it made sense to also include this move.}) 30... b4 31. Rc8+ (31. Rc4 Ne5
32. Rc8+ Kg7 33. Qd2 {might've been a slightly better version for white.})
31... Kg7 32. Ra8 Qh5 33. Qf3 Qg5 34. Qd1 h5 35. h4 Qb5 36. Qf1 {step by step
consolidating my extra pawn and on my way in winning a second pawn.} Qxf1+ 37.
Kxf1 Ng4 38. Ra7 (38. Rd8 {maybe this was cleaner.}) 38... Ndf6 39. Ra4 Re6 40.
Rxb4 Nh2+ 41. Kg1 Re2 42. Ne3 Nhg4 43. Nxg4 Re1+ 44. Bf1 hxg4 45. Kg2 Rd1 {
In the last few moves black did a good job at creating good practical chances.
Here I spent some time trying to calculate a clean win but couldn't find one.}
46. Be2 (46. Bc4 {I tried to calculate this deeply.} Rxd4 47. Rb7 Nd5 48. Kh2 (
48. Rd7 $4 Ne3+) (48. Kf1 {however, apparently this still promises white very
good winning chances. I didn't want to part with my pawn though.}) 48... Rd2
49. Rd7 Rxf2+ 50. Kg1 Nb6 {unfortunately for me, this move saves the day for
him.} 51. Rb7 Rf6 52. Bxf7 Rxf7 53. Rxb6 Rf3 {and black should draw.}) 46...
Rd2 47. Kf1 Ne4 48. Ke1 f5 $6 {probably not the best as it leads to a lost
rook endgame for black.} (48... Rb2 49. Bxg4 Nxf2 50. Be2 Ne4 51. Bd3 Nxg3 52.
d5 {was my intension with very good winning chances for white.}) (48... Ra2 49.
Bxg4 Nxf2 50. Be2 Ne4 51. Bd3 Nxg3 52. d5 Ra8 {this line, however might give
black serious drawing chances.}) 49. f3 $1 gxf3 50. Bxf3 Rb2 (50... Rd3 {
I expected this move more. However white should win after the accurate...} 51.
Ke2 $1 Rc3 52. Bxe4 fxe4 53. g4 Rg3 54. g5 Rg4 55. Rb7+ Kf8 56. b4 $18) 51.
Bxe4 fxe4 52. d5 Kf6 53. d6 {I thought this is the simplest but probably not
the only way to win.} Ke6 54. Rxe4+ Kxd6 55. b4 Kd5 56. Rg4 Ke5 57. Kd1 Kf5 58.
Kc1 Rg2 59. Rg5+ Ke4 {This is a last-ditch counterplay attempt but it falls
way short.} 60. b5 Kd3 61. b6 Rg1+ 62. Kb2 Rg2+ 63. Kb3 {AlexanderL won by
resignation. I was very happy with this win. This game took 4 hours and came
down to the wire. Jim Tarjan is a very formidable opponent who has even beat
Kramnik in one game. I consider him a legend of US chess and because of his
experience, he can be dangerous in any particular game and always can be
counted to give a very good game, and this game was not an exception. I was
very happy to come out on top after a long fight.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle Chess Classic"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.08.14"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Shahinyan, David"]
[Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B26"]
[WhiteElo "2502"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[TimeControl "6000+30"]

{[%evp 0,48,39,18,47,43,35,13,23,21,28,22,4,8,21,-13,-19,-33,-43,-27,-6,-22,
-24,-22,-5,-19,-26,-33,-64,-64,-70,-40,-22,-53,-20,-30,-14,-22,-19,-39,-38,-38,
-34,-27,-8,-20,6,18,16,9,16] In this game I was playing against Armenian IM
David Shahinyan, who has been very succesful so far in the Washington Chess
events, winning several of them. I knew he's quite a good player but I wanted
a fight against him, so I chose the Sicilian defence.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3.
g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. Be3 Rb8 7. Qd2 b5 8. Nge2 b4 9. Nd1 h5 10. h3 Nd4
{Up to this moment it was preparation for me, since I saw that David almost
exclusively plays this system, specifically with 6)Be3, and Nd4 was my
"improvement over his game. However, later on, unfortunately I just misplayed
my position.} 11. O-O e6 12. Nc1 Ne7 13. c3 Ndc6 14. Ne2 {Around here I was on
my own and I started to drift.} bxc3 (14... Ba6 {possibly this was better.})
15. bxc3 Qa5 (15... Ba6) 16. f4 f5 17. Nf2 Ba6 18. Rab1 Kf7 (18... O-O) 19. g4
d5 20. gxf5 gxf5 21. e5 Rxb1 (21... Ng6 $1 {I wanted to play this move but the
following line bothered me....} 22. Rxb8 Rxb8 23. c4 $2 Qxd2 24. Bxd2 {But I
totally misevaluated it. I'm actually winning here!} Rb2) 22. Rxb1 Bf8 (22...
Ng6 23. c4 Qxd2 24. Bxd2 Nce7 {was still somehow good for me.}) 23. Kh2 c4 $2 {
a positional mistake.} (23... Ng6 24. c4 Qxd2 25. Bxd2 Nce7 {not sure why but
I kept being afraid of this type of position but somehow I'm doing very well
here.}) 24. d4 Ng6 {Game drawn by agreement. Since I didn't like where this
game was heading I decided to offer a draw. I think this position is close to
equal but if anyone can try it's probably him. I offered a draw since he
offered me a draw earlier so I thought it can be appropriate to offer a draw
back.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Seattle Chess Classic"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.08.15"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Black "Chang, Eddie"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D72"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "1887"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[TimeControl "6000+30"]

{[%evp 0,57,39,15,22,3,37,20,32,13,19,22,22,35,35,11,46,46,50,54,46,45,47,23,
35,45,53,73,101,56,103,120,112,98,138,102,119,133,89,59,55,36,50,65,54,61,87,
85,120,115,151,143,204,187,203,203,262,270,262,262] In this game I am playing
a dangerous Eddie Chang. He might be under 2000 but seeing his games, I
noticed that he's quite creative and has beaten many higher rated players, so
I knew to not underestimate him.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5.
cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nb6 7. Ne2 c5 8. d5 e6 9. O-O O-O {Interestingly enough, the
opening is the same as against Rohan Talukhdar in round 2. I knew he plays
Grunfeld, and I was also aware that he prepares quite well for his games.
Therefore, this time I decided to change a little bit and play with the other
knight to c3 to throw him off :)} 10. Nbc3 (10. Nec3 {I played this against
Rohan.}) 10... Na6 {He blitzed this out so that told me that he prepared since
that's also the best move in the other line.} 11. Nf4 exd5 12. Nfxd5 Be6 $6 {
I think his prep ended here since he started thinking and made not the best
move.} (12... Nb4 {as far as I was aware, this is the main line.} 13. Be3 N6xd5
14. exd5 c4 $1 15. Bc5 Nd3 16. Bxf8 Qxf8 $44 {with compensation for exchange.
This would lead to interesting play.}) 13. Bf4 {The most natural.} Bxd5 14.
exd5 Nc4 15. Qb3 (15. Qe2 {This move might be better.} Nd6 16. Ne4 Re8 17. Bxd6
) 15... Nd6 16. Rad1 Re8 17. Rfe1 $6 (17. Nb5 {Here this move might've been
better.}) 17... Rxe1+ 18. Rxe1 c4 {Somehow I missed this move that now after
Qa3 there is now Bf8!} 19. Qd1 Nc5 20. Bf1 {I'm lucky to still retain some
advantage here. From this point though my opponent started to play very
inaccurately.} Rc8 (20... a6 $1 {This was better.} 21. Bxd6 Qxd6 22. Bxc4 b5)
21. Bxd6 Qxd6 22. Bxc4 Bxc3 $6 {Creative but not the best since it gives my
queen a very strong d4 square.} (22... Nd7 $14) (22... a6) 23. bxc3 Nd7 24. Qd4
Qc5 (24... Qf6 25. Bb3 Rxc3 26. Qxf6 Nxf6 27. Re7) (24... a6 $16) 25. Bb3 Qxd4
(25... Qxc3 26. Re8+ Nf8 27. Qxc3 Rxc3 28. Re7 $18 {Would also be dominating
for me.}) 26. cxd4 Kf8 27. d6 Re8 28. Rc1 Rd8 29. Rc7 {AlexanderL won by
resignation. I was happy to win this game quickly and keep pace with the
leaders.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle Chess Classic"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.08.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Levine, Joseph"]
[Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B10"]
[WhiteElo "2094"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[TimeControl "6000+30"]

{[%evp 0,72,19,38,60,15,25,30,47,41,48,7,49,39,62,45,36,19,26,-8,-9,-18,-14,
-14,-24,-20,-8,-13,-10,-5,-17,-14,-13,-13,-13,-22,-22,-36,-17,-11,-15,-46,-48,
-47,-50,-47,-31,-37,-8,-42,0,-98,-92,-94,-94,-97,-92,-81,-85,-78,-68,-76,-73,
-78,-69,-74,-62,-57,-53,-49,-4,26,18,25,6] In round 7, I was playing against a
talented young player, Joseph Levine, rated around 2200. I have won against
him with white last year in Seattle, but this time, I was black and I had a
feeling the game will not be as easy. It turned out unfortunately that not
only was my prediction right, but I failed to even win the game.} 1. e4 c6 {
I decided to play Caro this time since I saw what Joseph plays against it, and
I liked the kind of position that I would get out of it.} 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 g6 4.
Ngf3 Bg7 5. g3 e5 6. Bg2 Ne7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 d4 9. a4 c5 10. Nc4 Nbc6 {
around here my preparation ended. I was happy with the opening outcome since I
felt like I have a pleasant space advantage and also a position with all the
pieces still on the board. However, from here on, I don't think I played it
the best way.} 11. Nfd2 {He is not hiding his intension, wanting to play f4
and take with the g-pawn} Be6 12. f4 Qd7 (12... exf4 {I considered this of
course, but I wanted to perhaps wait until he plays a move like Nf3.} 13. gxf4
f5 {Here I wanted to play f5 but I saw that then he can play...} (13... Qd7 14.
e5 {Here I also didn't like the idea of giving him e5 and Ne4 but I can
disturb his harmony first with...} Bg4 15. Bf3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Nb4 $15 17. Qd1 f6
) 14. e5 $6 (14. exf5 {He should probably take here.} Bxf5 (14... Bxc4 15. Nxc4
Nxf5 16. Bd2 {with a complex game. He gets 2 bishops but his king is
compromised and my knight on f5 is powerful.}) 15. Ne4) 14... Nd5 15. Nf3 $2 {
And I thought he gets the d6 square. However, I am simply winning here after...
} Bh6 16. Ng5 Bxg5 17. fxg5 f4) (12... f6 {I also considered f6 but didn't
like it due to...} 13. f5 gxf5 14. exf5 Bxf5 15. Ne4 {And he gets ne4. That's
also why I wanted him to play Nf3 first.}) 13. Nxe5 {I was more worried about
Nf3.} (13. Nf3 {Here I was debating whether to take on f4 or play f6.} exf4 (
13... f6) (13... Bxc4 14. dxc4 exf4 15. gxf4 Rad8) 14. gxf4 f5) 13... Nxe5 14.
fxe5 Nc6 (14... Bxe5 {Perhaps it was better to keep the knights on the board.}
15. Nf3 Bg7) 15. Nf3 Nxe5 (15... Bg4 16. Bf4 (16. Rf1)) 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 17. Bf4
f6 (17... Qd6 {I considered this to gain a tempo and not let him play b3.
However, he can still play Bh6 or even...} 18. Bxe5 Qxe5 19. b3 {but maybe
that was a better version for me than the game.}) 18. b3 b6 (18... g5 {The
engine likes this, which I considered briefly.} 19. Bxe5 fxe5 20. Qh5 Qg7 21.
Rf1 {However, here I would probably have to trade lots of pieces, and I was
just not sure how good were my winning chances here.}) 19. Qd2 Qd6 20. h4 Rae8
21. Rf1 Bd7 22. Bxe5 Rxe5 23. Qh6 Rf7 (23... Rh5 24. Qf4 Qxf4 25. Rxf4 g5 26.
hxg5 fxg5 {was playable but felt like nothing so special.}) 24. Rf2 a6 25. Kh2
$2 {With a positional idea of Bh3, but this is the move I was hoping for,
since it's a blunder. However, unluckily for me, his position doesn't actually
collapse and he still has some hidden compensation even after this. From here
on Joseph defended really well and found the best chances.} Rh5 26. Qf4 Qxf4
27. Rxf4 g5 {The point! Now I'm winning at least a pawn.} 28. Rf2 gxh4 29. g4
$1 {This move, however, is very strong. He sacrifises another pawn but blocks
the h-file from my rook and now he has counterplay against my weak pawns.} Bxg4
$6 {I played this relatively quickly but apparently it wasn't best.} (29... Rg5
30. Raf1 Kg7 {Here I would still keep very good winning chances.}) 30. Raf1 Kg7
31. Bh3 Bxh3 32. Kxh3 Kg6 $2 {After this mistake it looks like my game isn't
winnable anymore.} (32... a5 {I should've played this move.}) 33. Rf5 Rxf5 34.
Rxf5 Re7 $6 {This move looked very attractive with the idea of Re5. Somehow I
only considered Kxh4 and Rd5, but completely missed his move. I only saw it
after he played it.} (34... a5 {Was a try even here but now it shouldn't yield
winning chances anymore after} 35. Kxh4 Rg7 36. Rd5 Kf7 37. Rd7+ $1 Kg6 38. Rd6
) 35. a5 $1 {Of course! a very strong move.} bxa5 36. Rxc5 {Now we reach an
amazing position. I am currently 2!! pawns up and it's my move, and my king is
safe. Yet, after looking at the position for a few minutes, I realized that
not only is it hard for me to keep winning chances, but in fact I have to be
very precise to not even lose! That reminded me of a famous episode where
during Soviet Union times, two strong masters were analyzing a certain
adjourned position and were looking for a way to create winning chances in a
position. Then, Vassily Smyslov, the 7th World Champion came nearby and they
asked him to try to find a winning attempt since he was known for being an
endgame maestro! Smyslov looked at the position and said: Yes, I think with
very precise play, maybe, we can make a draw!!! :) With that story, I will let
you, the readers, try to analyze the endgame and see why this is the case here.
I didn't want to chance it and decided to offer a draw after my move before it
is too late :)} Rb7 {Game drawn by agreement} (36... Re5 {This was my
intension but...} 37. Rc4 f5 38. Rxd4 Kg5 $2 {This was what I was hoping to
work but this is one sample line where I can even lose!!!.} 39. Rd5 $1 {
Always be aware of these King and Pawn endgames!} Rxd5 40. exd5 f4 41. d6 Kf6
42. c4 Ke6 43. c5 f3 44. d4 Kd7 45. d5 $18 {And eventually I run out of moves!
:) That would be comical! Not for me though :)}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Seattle Chess Classic"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.08.16"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Black "Yan, Rui Yang"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2151"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[TimeControl "6000+30"]

{[%evp 0,119,25,18,30,1,6,-2,-18,-7,-10,-20,20,18,14,14,7,-19,-30,-5,4,4,1,-6,
-12,-8,-11,-18,-11,-1,-3,-3,-3,-37,-5,-21,0,0,0,0,0,-19,-15,-45,-15,-39,-48,
-41,-45,-38,8,6,-6,2,14,15,16,16,18,18,21,23,19,17,27,26,20,18,21,25,32,18,8,
19,9,5,4,4,0,0,0,0,9,7,20,11,11,-21,0,-22,0,2,37,46,67,68,60,66,66,77,60,86,
121,122,298,314,340,348,416,416,524,582,578,582,772,772,772,772,772,794,1614,
1639] In round 8, I am playing Rui Yang, a talented young girl, rated 2200+.
I've played her a few times with black but it's the first time I played her
with white. I was looking forward to a slow grind from a pleasant position
based on what she played in the past against the Catalan. However, she threw a
very unpleasant surprise at me early on.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2
dxc4 $5 {Oh no! Had I known that she prepared the open Catalan against me
where I had to show my deep preparation and remember it, I would try to play
in a different way in the opening.} (4... Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O c6 {I expected
something along those lines from her.}) 5. Nf3 a6 6. O-O Nc6 7. e3 Rb8 {
She played all of this very quickly. She's inviting me to enter the
complications after 8)Nfd2, which is the main line.} 8. Qe2 {A bit of a
concession. Now black is happy, she keeps her pawn, and is able to develop her
bishop to b7.} (8. Nfd2 {This is the main line and now...} e5 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10.
dxe5 Ng4 11. Nxc4 Be6 {Here the theory only starts, and the lines can get very
sharp and interesting all the way up to move 30-40. I was not interested in
entering into a large theoretical debate against someone who I was sure has
just looked at these lines, and at the moment I couldn't remember the details.}
) 8... b5 9. b3 cxb3 10. axb3 Be7 11. Bb2 (11. Rd1 O-O 12. Nc3 Bb7 13. Ne5 {
Was maybe a better try but I don't think I can realistically fight for an
advantage here.}) 11... O-O 12. Rc1 Bb7 13. Nbd2 Nb4 {She was still blitzing.
I was getting very restless here. I'm down a pawn, my compensation is fading
away, and I'm facing a well-prepared player. Definitely not something I signed
up for in the morning. Now I'm just fighting to try to not be worse with white
after 14 moves, definitely not a pleasant feeling. I was just trying to find
the strong will in myself to try to keep fighting rather than just to offer a
draw out of frustration.} 14. Ne5 {Looks like relatively best.} Bxg2 15. Kxg2
Rb6 16. Qf3 $6 {The engine doesn't like this.} (16. Ba3 Qa8+ 17. e4 {Was
probably still roughly equal.}) 16... Bd6 (16... Nd7 17. Nc6 Nxc6 18. Rxc6 Rxc6
19. Qxc6 Nb8 $15 {Here black seems to keep some advantage thanks to her extra
pawns and for sure she guards all her weaknesses. Not clear how I should
proceed here.}) 17. Nc6 $6 {Also not best.} (17. Ba3) 17... Qa8 $6 {Missing a
great chance.} (17... Nxc6 18. Rxc6 Qa8 $17 {And I'm down a pawn with minimal
compensation.}) 18. Nxb4 Bxb4 19. Qxa8 Rxa8 20. Nf3 {At least I gain a tempo
on the c7 pawn.} Bd6 (20... Nd5 {was maybe even better.}) 21. Ra5 $6 {A very
awkward move} (21. Bc3 $15) 21... Bb4 22. Ra2 Bd6 23. Ba3 {Yes, I'm actually
playing for a win down a pawn. I felt like my opponent was unsure of herself
when she started to repeat and I wanted to make her believe that my position
isn't as bad. I was also trying to be confident in my position since I didn't
see anything that clear for her. However, as it turns out, I'm just much worse}
b4 24. Bb2 a5 $2 {This is a serious mistake though.} (24... Ne4 $1 {Stops Nd2
and therefore, keeps the pawn alive.}) 25. Nd2 Rba6 26. Nc4 Kf8 27. Rca1 Ke8
28. Rxa5 Rxa5 29. Rxa5 Rxa5 30. Nxa5 {Phew! I got the pawn back. Now at least
I figured I cannot be worse. I didn't really believe I can be better here, but
this position felt like paradise now where I can try to play without too much
risk for a long time and balck cannot force a draw immediately.} Kd7 31. Nc4
Kc6 32. Kf3 Nd7 33. Ke2 f6 34. Kd3 Be7 35. g4 Kb5 36. e4 Bd6 37. e5 $5 {
A bit risky but I felt like this was my only chance to create some imbalance
to be able to outplay her.} fxe5 38. dxe5 Nc5+ 39. Kc2 Be7 40. f4 g6 41. Ne3
Kc6 42. Bd4 (42. g5 {I should've played this move 1 move earlier but I was
mostly trying to play f5, and only saw the g5 idea later out of desparation.})
42... Nb7 43. g5 (43. f5 exf5 44. gxf5 gxf5 45. Nxf5 Bd8 {Doesn't really yield
winning chances for me, in fact I might have to be careful here to keep the
balance.}) 43... Na5 (43... Bc5 44. Bxc5 Kxc5 45. Ng4 Kd4 46. Nf6 Ke3 47. f5 $1
Nd8 {Leads to a draw with best play.}) 44. h4 Bf8 45. Bb2 h5 $6 {I actually
missed this move and at first I was scared since I thought that now I cannot
go Ng4 and then I have to fight for a draw. However, luckily for me, I had an
excellent move here. As I teach my students, one of the pluses of pawn moves
is that sometimes it clears a very important square for your piece, and this
is exactly the case here!} 46. f5 $1 {Of course! If not for this move I would
even be worse.} gxf5 $6 {Also a mistake.} (46... exf5 47. Ng2 Nb7 48. Nf4 Nc5
49. Bc1 $1 (49. Nxg6 Ne6 $11) 49... Kd7 50. Nxg6 Ne6 51. Kd3 Ke8 {Still
yielded drawing chances.}) 47. Ng2 Kd7 48. Nf4 Ke7 49. Nxh5 Kf7 50. Nf4 c5 51.
h5 {Now my connectors on the kingside win the game.} c4 52. bxc4 Nxc4 53. h6
Ke7 54. Bd4 b3+ 55. Kxb3 Nd2+ 56. Kc2 Ne4 57. h7 Bg7 58. g6 Bh8 59. Nh5 Kf8 60.
Bb2 {AlexanderL won by resignation. A very big relief and even a surprise that
I was somehow able to win this game, it was definitely not without at least
some luck.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle Chess Classic"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.08.16"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Whale, Nicholas"]
[Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E19"]
[WhiteElo "2065"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[TimeControl "6000+30"]

{[%evp 0,80,19,29,18,2,2,-10,34,17,14,23,19,10,12,9,16,11,23,22,13,16,30,4,1,
-1,-10,-10,4,-13,-12,-23,-8,-1,-11,-16,-14,-11,-5,-5,-11,-11,-11,-4,-3,-9,26,
-10,-20,-13,-16,-16,-10,-20,-12,-26,-7,-7,-7,-35,-11,-4,-13,-99,-71,-112,-49,
-160,-206,-737,-806,-853,-888,-896,-916,-922,-928,-936,-951,-962,-887,-894,
-911] In the last round, I am playing against expert, Nicholas Whale, a local
Washington State player. This game like all my black games in this tournament
was also quite a struggle.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 b6 {Inviting
complications after 4)e4.} 4. g3 (4. e4 Bb7) (4. d4 Bb7 5. e3 {Is what I
expected from my opponent since I thought he likes systems with e3.} d5 {
Here I was just going to go for this kind of a fight.}) 4... Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 (
5... Bb4 6. O-O O-O 7. Qc2) 6. O-O O-O 7. d4 Ne4 {This is comfortable equality
for black I thought but how to win this, is another question.} 8. Qc2 (8. Bd2 {
This is the main line here.}) 8... Nxc3 9. Qxc3 Be4 (9... c5 {This might be
better but again, how to create winning chances?}) 10. Rd1 Bf6 11. Qe3 (11. Ne5
{This gives white some chances for an advantage.} Bxg2 12. Kxg2 c5 (12... d6
13. Qf3) 13. dxc5) 11... d5 12. Ne5 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 dxc4 14. Qf3 Qd5 15. Nxc4 {
Now here comes a very important critical moment.} Nc6 (15... Qxc4 {I was
trying hard to make this work but just couldn't.} 16. Qxa8 Nc6 17. Qb7 {
And here I calculated many lines but I just couldn't find something I really
liked.}) (15... Rd8 {I also looked at this but after Bf4 it seemed too drawish
to me.} 16. Bf4 $1) (15... Qxf3+ 16. Kxf3 Nc6 {I also considered this but
after e3 I didn't see how I can do much.} 17. e3) 16. Qxd5 exd5 17. Ne5 {
I didn't even see this, I only looked at Ne3.} Nxe5 18. dxe5 Bxe5 19. Rxd5 Rfe8
20. Rb1 Rad8 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Be3 {This position is just equal but I was
hoping with my 3 on 2 majority on the queenside and control of the open file,
I might generate some winning chances.} f5 {I wanted to at least take away the
e4 square from the king.} (22... c5 23. f4 Bf6 24. Kf3) 23. b3 (23. b4 {
I was more concerned over this move.}) 23... c5 24. Rc1 Kf7 25. Kf3 Ke6 26. Rc2
a5 27. Rc4 (27. Rd2 $6 Rxd2 28. Bxd2 Kd5 {Here I thought I might have good
winning chances because my king gets to the center first and I can play c4
next move and create a passed pawn.}) 27... h5 (27... Rd1 {This right away
might've been better.} 28. h3 Rh1 29. Kg2 Rb1) 28. Bg5 Rd1 29. e4 {A strong
move.} Rh1 (29... Bd4 30. Be3 fxe4+ 31. Kxe4 b5 32. Rc2 {I was just not sure
about this position but I think this was the best winning try.} Re1 $15) 30.
exf5+ Kxf5 31. Bd8 {I didn't even see this move! Just total blindness. I was
lucky that I'm not actually worse here.} Rxh2 32. Bxb6 Bd4 33. Rc2 (33. g4+
hxg4+ 34. Kg3 Be5+ 35. f4 Rh3+ 36. Kg2 Bxf4 37. Rxc5+ Ke6 38. Rxa5 Rh2+ 39. Kg1
Rb2 40. Bd4 {Gave white good drawing chances but of course the line was
complicated.}) 33... g5 {I was lucky I had all this since I didn't foresee
this at all.} 34. Bxa5 $2 {This loses.} (34. Rxc5+ {I was very surprised he
didn't go for this since I didn't actually see how I'm winning here.} Bxc5 35.
Bxc5 Rh1 $2 {One of these rare occasions when the the engine is flat out wrong.
The engine screams for Rh1 and gives -3 for black but in fact I think it's
just a fortress.} (35... g4+ {My intension was to play this to not allow the
king to get to g2.} 36. Ke3 Rh1 37. Bb6 (37. Bd4 Re1+ 38. Kd2 Rf1 39. Bb6 Ke4 {
I might not be winning but I thought my winning chances are good here.}) 37...
Ra1 38. Bxa5 Rxa2 {And here I was hoping that I'm winning.}) 36. Bb6 Ra1 37.
Bxa5 Rxa2 38. b4 Rb2 39. Kg2 {I don't think this is winnable.} g4 (39... h4 40.
gxh4 gxh4 41. Kh3) (39... Kg4 40. Bc7 Rxb4 41. Be5 h4 42. gxh4 gxh4 43. Bd6 h3+
44. Kh2 Rb2 45. Bc5 $11) 40. Bb6 Rxb4 41. Bc5 $11) 34... g4+ 35. Ke2 Rxf2+ 36.
Kd1 Rxc2 37. Kxc2 h4 {My guess is that my opponent only calculated Ke4 and
bishop moves, but missed h4.} 38. gxh4 g3 39. Bc7 Be5 40. Bb6 Bd6 {AlexanderL
won by resignation. My pawn queens. I was very happy to finish the last day
with two wins. However, both of these games were quite tough. I never felt
like I had that much control of the result until the very end.} 0-1

[Event "Seattle Chess Classic"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2020.08.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Raptis, Nick"]
[Black "Vemparala, Nikash"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2393"]
[BlackElo "1684"]
[Annotator "Nikash Vemparala"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]

{[%evp 0,58,28,29,12,15,15,-2,28,20,20,26,44,28,42,-42,50,18,54,26,51,41,46,22,
20,-7,3,3,15,22,5,0,0,0,63,24,24,3,16,-140,-11,-11,-29,-95,-95,-95,-197,-214,
-112,-562,-371,-505,-473,-634,-525,-29995,-29996,-29997,-29998,-29999,-30000]} 
1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 {this is the chigorin variation!!!!! i did not really know
what to play here, so i went with my normal opening against d4 i saw later
that this is the chigorin.} Nf6 3. Bg5 {this is the richter veresov attack!!!!
again i had no clue what to do here.after bg5 i was considering a couple of
moves like g6 and e6 but i think that g6 was best..} g6 4. Nf3 {i think nf3 is
a mistake.i think the best move is bxf6. here is a variation for bxf6} (4. Bxf6
exf6 5. e3 (5. Nf3 Bg7 6. g3 O-O 7. Bg2 Be6) 5... Bg7 6. Nf3 O-O) 4... Bg7 5.
e3 c6 6. Be2 $5 {i am not sure why he played be2. i think that bd3 is better
as it has a better diagonal there and is more active. but i think he played
be2 to defend against bg4.} (6. Bd3 Nbd7 7. O-O O-O) 6... Nbd7 7. Qd2 Qc7 $4 {
this was a big mistake on my part. i realized during the game he was going to
castle long and i wanted to prepare c5 and a possible e5.i missed bf4 here
which was a costly mistake.} 8. Bf4 Qd8 9. h4 h5 $3 {h5 is a good move here as
it stops h5 ideas and blocks off g4 for the moment.but ne5 could have been
interesting} 10. O-O-O (10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. Bxe5 O-O 12. f3 Bd7 13. O-O-O b5)
10... a5 {here b5 was better.i played a5 first because i had the idea of a4
and a3.} (10... b5 11. Rdg1 Qa5 12. a3) 11. Ng5 $6 {i was not sure why he
played ng5. during the game i felt like if he was going to move the knight he
should have moved it to the outpost on e5.} (11. Ne5 Nxe5 12. Bxe5 O-O) 11...
b5 {during the game i was a bit scared to play b5 because i felt like some
bxb5 sacs were possible.but when i analyzed i found out it was not a threat.so
i played b5 to attack on the queenside.} 12. Bf3 {here i think he played bf3
to get ready to play e4.during the game i was thinking about how to prevent e4
and i found an idea.} (12. Bxb5 cxb5 13. Nxb5 O-O 14. Nc7 (14. Bc7 Qe8) 14...
Ra7) 12... b4 $3 (12... Nb6 13. e4 Nc4 14. Qe2 e6 15. e5 Nd7 16. g3 (16. g4 {
and here white is better})) 13. Na4 Nb6 $1 {the idea of b4 and nb6 to get to
the c4 square i thought was very nice.} 14. Nc5 $5 Nc4 15. Qe1 $5 {during the
game i was not quite sure why he played qe1. i think qe2 would have been better
} (15. Qe2 Bf5) 15... O-O 16. e4 {here he played e4. during the game i was not
quite sure what to do here but i thought that e6 was best} e6 (16... dxe4 17.
Ngxe4 Nd5) 17. e5 Nd7 18. Nxd7 Bxd7 19. g4 {in this postion i thought i was
toast.durng the game i thought to myself how do i stop his attack? after
thinking for about 10 minutes i realized i could not stop his attack.then i
realized it. if u cant defend the attack, then you have to attack yourself} Qb6
{here i started my attack. my thought process here was to protect the b4 pawn
so i coul;d play a4.} (19... hxg4 20. Bxg4 f6 21. exf6 Qxf6 22. Nxe6 Bxe6 23.
Bxe6+ Kh8 24. h5) 20. gxh5 {here i had to continue my attack. so i continued
it with a4} a4 21. h6 {here in this position during the game i realized it was
do or die.i had to go for the attack no matter what the cause!!!! so i
continued the attack.} b3 22. cxb3 axb3 23. a3 {here i was calculating lots of
sacs on a3 here but i did not think it would work. little did i know that rxa3
was winning!!!!!!} Bxh6 (23... Rxa3 24. bxa3 b2+ 25. Kc2 Nxa3+ 26. Kd2 Qb4+ (
26... Qxd4+ 27. Ke2 Qxf4 {this works because if hxg7 then qxe5} (27... Qc4+ 28.
Rd3 Qc2+ 29. Rd2) 28. hxg7 Qxe5+) 27. Ke2 Qc4+ 28. Rd3 {here there is no
attack. that is why you have to play qxd4 instead of qb4}) 24. h5 {after h5 i
thought there was a checkmate after nxa3. so i went for it} Nxa3 25. bxa3 b2+
26. Kd2 {i think kc2 is better here} (26. Kc2 Rxa3 27. Rd3) 26... Rxa3 27. hxg6
Qb4+ 28. Ke2 Qb5+ 29. Kd2 Qd3# {after hxg6 it is just game over. wb4 leads to
checkmate.0-1} 0-1

[Event "Seattle Chess Classic"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.08.15"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Talukdar, Rohan"]
[Black "Shahinyan, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2402"]
[BlackElo "2502"]
[Annotator "Rohan Talukdar"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]

{[%evp 0,89,40,10,86,60,75,75,87,28,40,14,68,51,51,30,50,46,31,26,22,26,14,29,
35,4,23,13,52,-30,37,32,34,22,22,2,0,-18,-37,-34,25,14,22,8,-11,6,43,63,151,
131,139,72,209,217,189,181,197,179,183,185,198,197,236,210,372,371,361,357,362,
362,375,383,375,356,359,365,366,378,371,403,389,398,436,406,506,471,538,539,
522,621,834,915] A very tactical and interesting game which includes
mysterious rook moves, a queen sacrifice, and a lot of hidden tactical
resources} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nge2 {A safe setup which aims to
fianchetto my bishop} (4. Nf3 {is what I played last time against my opponent
and did not achieve much in the opening} Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 c6
8. a4 exd4 9. Nxd4 Ne5 10. Ba2 Re8) 4... c6 $1 {This move deserves an
exclamation mark because it masks black's idea of g6 and waits for white to
make the commital g3} (4... g6 {right away allows me to develop a nasty
attacking game} 5. f3 {this is a typical setup for attacking play} Nc6 6. Be3
Bg7 7. Qd2 O-O 8. O-O-O exd4 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Be6 11. g4 {with an
attacking game for white}) 5. g3 (5. f3 {is now met with} Be7 {and now white's
attack will be much weaker than if the bishop was on g7}) 5... g6 {This move
order does not allow me to play the typical f3 stuff. Now I have to continue
with my fianchettoed setup and black's bishop is better placed on g7 than e7.}
6. a4 {just stopping any potential b5 ideas which could happen at any time} (6.
Bg2 {would probably transpose to the game}) 6... Bg7 7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O Qc7 {
a rare move but a solid one} (8... a5 {is the main line with the idea of
playing Na6 Nb4} 9. h3 Na6 10. Be3 Nb4 11. Qd2 Be6 12. Rad1 Bc4 13. Rfe1 Qc7
14. b3 Ba6 15. g4 {with complex play}) 9. h3 b6 $5 10. Be3 Ba6 {this is a good
diagonal for the light squared bishop to be on} (10... a6 {with the idea of
Bb7 then b5 is probably too slow as white has} 11. f4 Bb7 12. g4 b5 13. axb5
axb5 14. Rxa8 Bxa8 15. g5 $14) 11. Re1 Nbd7 12. g4 Rfe8 (12... h5 $6 {is not
so good here because white has} 13. g5 Ne8 14. d5 $1 c5 15. Ng3 Qd8 16. Nf5 $1
$40) 13. Ng3 Nf8 $6 {[%cal Gf8e6,Ge6d4,Ge6f4] black's idea of Ne6 Nd4 is slow
and should be stopped} (13... exd4 {was probably the best here} 14. Bxd4 h6 15.
Qd2 Rad8 16. Rad1 Nf8 17. Be3 Kh7 18. f4 {with a preferable position for white}
) 14. Qd2 $6 {this is a positional mistake because this allows my opponent to
get a decent position with Ne6} (14. d5 $1 {was the correct move because it
stops black's knight maneuver and attacks c6.} Bb7 (14... c5 15. g5 N6d7 16. h4
f6 17. Bh3 {is very unpleasant for black}) 15. g5 N6d7 16. h4 {Black's problem
is that he lacks breathing space} cxd5 17. Nb5 Qb8 18. exd5 f5 19. gxf6 Nxf6
20. h5 $16) 14... Ne6 15. d5 cxd5 16. exd5 Nd4 $1 {A very strong move which
establishes a strong knight in the center. I completely overlooked this move.}
(16... Nf4 {was what I was expecting and I thought I would be a nice pawn up
after} 17. Bxf4 exf4 18. Qxf4 Nd7 19. Nge4 {but here black has some
compensation for the pawn} Re5 20. g5 Rf8 $44) 17. Rec1 $1 {A mysterious rook
move as Nimzowitsch would call it! This is a really creative plan that I start
here. It looks really strange that the rook is strangely protecting c2 when it
is not even in danger. The idea will be revealed later.} (17. Bxd4 {was
playable but black gets compensation after} exd4 18. Qxd4 Ne4 $1 19. Qe3 $1 {
a sudden resource that white has} Nxc3 20. Qxe8+ Rxe8 21. Rxe8+ Bf8 22. bxc3
Bc8 $1 (22... Qxc3 23. Rae1) 23. Rae1 Bd7 {and here a draw can be made by} 24.
Ra8 Qb7 25. Rd8 Qc7 $11) 17... Rac8 {a logical move but now the rook has
stopped protecting a7} 18. Ra3 $5 {[%cal Gc3a2,Gc2c3,Ga2b4,Gb4c6] the idea of
this move is actually to move the knight and then play c3 to trap the knight.
The rook on c1 enables the knight on c3 to move in the future.} (18. Nb5 {
was objectively the best and I considered this but I had a different idea in
mind} Nxb5 (18... Bxb5 19. axb5 Nxb5 20. Qb4 Qc4 21. Qxc4 Rxc4 22. Bf1 Rb4 23.
g5 $16) 19. axb5 Bxb5 20. c4 Bd7 21. b4 $16 {white is down a pawn but has
really strong compensation as c5 is coming so white is better}) 18... Qc4 $2 {
My opponent was really confused about what I was doing. He now stops knight
moves but his queen is misplaced} (18... Rf8 $5 {planning some future f5 and
now I can show my idea} 19. g5 Ne8 20. Na2 $1 f6 21. Nb4 Bb7 22. Bxd4 exd4 23.
Nc6 {now white is a bit better here}) 19. g5 (19. Na2 $2 Nxd5) 19... Nh5 {
The most dynamic option but this ruins black's structure} (19... Nd7 {gives
white a really nice position after} 20. a5 b5 21. Nce4 Qc7 22. Rc3 {I had seen
up to here and figured that white has to be much better now} Qb8 {now engine
suggests} 23. Rc6 $1 {It is amazing how the rook on a1 is now on c6!} Nxc6 24.
dxc6 Nf8 (24... Rxc6 25. Nf6+) 25. Qxd6 $16) 20. Nxh5 gxh5 21. Qd1 $6 {[%csl
Gh5] A logical human move which attacks the weak h5 pawn but the ideas with
Ne4 and Rd3 were stronger} (21. a5 $1 {was the best as white has a really nice
trick which is shown by Stockfish} b5 22. Ne4 $1 {I did not think this was
anything special during the game but} Red8 $6 {fails to} (22... Ne2+ 23. Kh1
Nxc1 24. Nxd6 Qc7 25. Nxe8 Rxe8 26. Qxc1 $16) 23. Rd3 $1 {The insertion of a5
b5 favors white and now white is going to have Bxd4 then Nf6 with a winning
position!} Kh8 24. Bxd4 exd4 25. Nf6 Bxf6 26. gxf6 Rg8 27. Rxd4 $18) 21... e4
$1 {Black starts to get a lot of counterplay on his own} 22. Qxh5 Qb4 23. Bxd4
Bxd4 $2 {My opponent sets up a trap here but it doesn't work} (23... Qxb2 {
is lost because} 24. Rb1 Qxa3 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Qh6+ Kh8 27. Nxe4 $18 {[%cal
Ge4f6]}) (23... Qxd4 $1 {was the best because black has an amazing resource
possible} 24. Rd1 e3 $3 {Black's e-pawn and the rook is more compensation than
his queen!!! When Stockfish first pointed out this move, I thought it was
crazy.} 25. Rxd4 Bxd4 26. fxe3 Rxe3 27. Kh2 Be5+ 28. Kg1 Bd4 {White cannot
save himself and has to take the draw!}) 24. Rb3 Bxf2+ $1 {I completely missed
this idea but luckily it doesn't work!} 25. Kh1 {Now it is hard for black to
make the proper move as he doesn't really want to retreat and lose the e-pawn}
(25. Kxf2 $4 Qd4+ 26. Kg3 (26. Ke1 Qg1+) 26... Qe3+ 27. Kh2 Qxc1 $19) 25... Qc4
$6 {a really logical move but I have a hidden resource} (25... Qd4 {was
objectively the best} 26. Rd1 Qg7 (26... Qc4 27. Bf1 {will transpose to the
game}) 27. Nxe4 Re5 28. Qf3 Bc5 29. Nf6+ Kh8 30. h4 Be2 31. Qh3 Rd8 32. Rd2 $16
{White is in control and black does not have so many threats anymore}) 26. Bf1
{without this move I am lost!} Qxf1+ 27. Rxf1 Bxf1 28. Nxe4 $1 {The move that
my opponent missed! Without this, black would have very dangerous compensation
for the queen} (28. Rb4 $6 {would probably be my move if I didn't see Nxe4}
Rxc3 $1 {A very strong positional sacrifice} 29. bxc3 Bc5 30. Rb1 Bc4 {The two
bishops and the passed pawn are worth the queen! Stockfish is showing equal
right now even though white has the queen. The more the engine thinks, the
more it prefers black's position.}) 28... Rxe4 29. Rf3 {[%csl Gf1,Gf2,Gf7]
This is a really unique chess position! It's not every day that a rook pins
bishops that are on f1 and f2, and attacks f7. Black has to lose a bishop now}
Re7 (29... Bd4 {may have been the better bishop to keep but black needs to
keep the f7 pawn} 30. Qxf7+ Kh8 31. Rxf1 Be5 32. c3 $18) 30. Rxf2 Bc4 31. Kh2
$1 {Very strong prophlyaxis!} Rc5 {It looks like black will win the d5 pawn
but now white has another hidden resource which my opponent missed} (31... Bxd5
$2 {loses to} 32. g6 hxg6 33. Qxd5 $18) 32. b3 $1 Bxd5 (32... Ba6 {is just
lost because of} 33. c4 {[%csl Ga4,Gb3,Gc4,Gd5] This structure restricts the
bishop and the queen will be too powerful}) 33. b4 $1 {The idea of misplacing
the rook. The rook cannot protect the bishop anymore} Rc4 34. g6 hxg6 35. Qxd5
{My idea has suceeded and I have a queen against a rook} Rxb4 36. Qxd6 Rbe4 37.
c4 {Correct practical move to try to advance my pawns} Kg7 38. a5 $1 R7e6 39.
Qb8 bxa5 (39... Rxc4 {does not work} 40. Qxa7 {[%csl Gb6,Gf7]}) 40. Qxa7 (40.
c5 {was definitely the most accurate as after} a4 (40... Rc4 41. Qc7) 41. c6 $1
Rxc6 42. Qb7 {f7 cannot be protected now} Rce6 43. Qxf7+ Kh6 44. Qf8+ Kh5 45.
Rg2 {and mate is on the way}) 40... Re7 41. Qb6 R7e6 42. Qb5 (42. Qxa5 Rxc4 43.
Qa7 {was the best as f7 is too weak}) 42... R6e5 43. c5 a4 44. Qb2 f5 $6 (44...
a3 {was the best try but after} 45. Qxa3 Rc4 46. Qa6 Rcxc5 47. Qf6+ Kh7 48.
Qxf7+ Kh6 49. Qf8+ Kh5 50. Rg2 g5 51. Qg8 Kh6 52. h4 {mate is on the way}) 45.
c6 {My c-pawn is hard to stop and my opponent has no chances so my opponent
resigned. A very complex and interesting battle.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle Chess Classic (Reserve)"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.08.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Morris, Brian L"]
[Black "Nallabothula, Varin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C24"]
[WhiteElo "1382"]
[BlackElo "1293"]
[Annotator "Varin Nallabothula"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[TimeControl "6000+30"]
[WhiteClock "1:44:31"]
[BlackClock "0:29:55"]

{[%evp 0,100,25,16,10,0,0,-18,-9,-9,47,19,36,32,22,42,53,15,43,50,55,33,13,-14,
18,5,54,26,68,39,84,42,37,35,16,-9,-16,-25,-20,-14,-18,-26,-32,-252,-248,-298,
-296,-304,-297,-290,-293,-293,-290,-289,-293,-297,-297,-353,-353,-364,-361,
-373,-379,-547,-546,-554,-558,-541,-568,-581,-563,-681,-651,-662,-738,-799,
-826,-857,-872,-903,-903,-903,-867,-992,-994,-1108,-1075,-1966,-992,-1108,-956,
-1403,-1533,-1587,-2015,-2340,-2513,-2513,-28342,-29983,-1504,-29981,-2513]} 1.
e4 {[%emt 0:00:43]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 2. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:
00:07]} 3. d4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} exd4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 4. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} d5
{[%emt 0:01:03]} 5. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:26]} Nxd5 $6 {[%emt 0:00:29] This move is
bad because white can castle and my king will still be in the center} 6. Qxd4
$6 {[%emt 0:04:28] I don't like this move either since now it is easier for me
to castle} Be6 {[%emt 0:00:56]} 7. O-O {[%emt 0:10:09]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:39]} 8.
Bb5 {[%emt 0:01:10]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:01:59]} 9. Bxc6+ {[%emt 0:03:10]} bxc6 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} 10. Qxd8+ {[%emt 0:01:14]} Rxd8 {[%emt 0:00:16] Trading off
the pieces} 11. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:34]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 12. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:
48]} a6 {[%emt 0:01:00] I played a6 because i didn't feel comfortable with his
knight coming to b5} 13. Rfd1 {[%emt 0:03:04]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:56]} 14. Nxd5 {
[%emt 0:03:53]} Bxd5 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 15. Ne5 {[%emt 0:02:26]} f6 {[%emt 0:01:
38]} 16. Nd3 {[%emt 0:02:19]} c4 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 17. Nf4 {[%emt 0:06:25]} Bf7
{[%emt 0:02:48]} 18. Rxd8+ {[%emt 0:04:26] Trading off more pieces} Kxd8 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} 19. Rd1+ {[%emt 0:03:08]} Kc8 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 20. c3 {[%emt 0:
05:02]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:01:03]} 21. Nd5 $4 {[%emt 0:02:57] This move was a
blunder because of Rd8} Rd8 $3 {[%emt 0:00:53] This is a brilliant move
because it is the only move that is winning in this position as this move will
win some material} 22. Kf1 {[%emt 0:06:21]} (22. Nf4 g5 23. Nh3 Bxh2+ 24. Kxh2
Rxd1) (22. Nb4 Bxh2+ 23. Kxh2 Rxd1) 22... Bf8 $3 {[%emt 0:01:14] This is also
the only winning move in the position as it stops Ne7} (22... Be5 $4 23. Ne7+
Kb8 24. Rxd8+) 23. Nb6+ {[%emt 0:13:50] Trying to get at least a pawn} cxb6 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} 24. Rxd8+ {[%emt 0:00:10]} Kxd8 {[%emt 0:00:02] In this
position there is no hope for white} 25. Bxb6+ {[%emt 0:00:03]} Kd7 {[%emt 0:
00:02]} 26. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Kc6 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 27. Bd4 {[%emt 0:00:16]}
a5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 28. a4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Be8 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 29. Kd2 {
[%emt 0:01:37]} Kb7 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 30. Kc2 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Bxa4+ {[%emt 0:
00:06]} 31. b3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Bxb3+ {[%emt 0:00:12]} 32. Kb2 {[%emt 0:00:06]}
a4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 33. h4 {[%emt 0:00:21]} a3+ {[%emt 0:00:02]} 34. Ka1 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} Kc6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 35. g4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Kd5 {[%emt 0:00:
03]} 36. f3 {[%emt 0:00:46]} Bd1 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 37. g5 {[%emt 0:02:07]} fxg5
{[%emt 0:00:13]} 38. hxg5 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Bxf3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 39. Ka2 {
[%emt 0:00:19]} Ke4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 40. Kb1 {[%emt 0:02:20]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:
17]} 41. Ka2 {[%emt 0:01:31]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 42. Bf6 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Bd6
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 43. Kb1 {[%emt 0:02:30]} Be5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 44. Ka2 {
[%emt 0:01:03]} Kf5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 45. Bxe5 {[%emt 0:01:14]} Kxe5 {[%emt 0:
00:02]} 46. Kxa3 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Kf5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 47. Kb2 {[%emt 0:00:08]}
Kxg5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 48. Kc2 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Kf4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 49. Kd2 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} Kg3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 50. Ke1 {[%emt 0:01:23]} Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:
04] Varin_N won by resignation This is just losing since i will promote my
pawn and there is no hope so my opponent resigned here! This was a very
intense game and i enjoyed it!} (50... Kg2 51. Kd2 h5 52. Ke3 h4 53. Kd4 h3 54.
Kxc4 {[%eval -6003,0]}) 0-1

[Event "Seattle Chess Classic Blitz"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.08.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Black "Donaldson, John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2420"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2020.08.16"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[TimeControl "300+3"]

{[%evp 0,75,29,23,58,60,47,14,19,30,29,21,25,19,53,24,15,10,27,36,44,72,92,93,
94,11,49,52,27,4,10,11,17,15,29,9,4,-34,-27,-25,-22,-44,-36,-19,-19,-42,-37,
-33,-4,-45,-40,-45,-16,-46,-34,-123,-35,-69,-79,-55,-83,-165,-158,-156,-142,
-156,-150,-158,-104,-105,-23,-38,-11,0,222,242,482,490] In this game I am
playing the legendary US captain, IM John Donaldson, who I've gotten to know
quite well over the years since I coached the US Olympiad two years in a row
and also played in two World Team Championshps for John. This is my first ever
game against him.} 1. Nf3 c5 2. d4 $5 {A tricky move order that I use for my
blitz games. Now, I either get the Smith-Morra Gambit accepted, which I used
to play a lot as a kid, or I get an exchange slav which I also play.} cxd4 3.
c3 d5 (3... dxc3 4. Nxc3 {Is of course principled, but it's tricky to play in
blitz if you don't expect it coming.}) 4. cxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 a6 7. Rc1
Bf5 8. e3 e6 (8... Rc8 {This is considered theory.}) 9. Qb3 {An important move
to disturb black's harmony.} Na5 $6 {This is imprecise but I didn't take
advantage of it.} 10. Qa4+ Nc6 11. Ne5 Qb6 12. Nxc6 $2 {Missing a chance for a
big advantage.} (12. Bb5 $1 {I looked at this briefly but I didn't think it
was anything special. However, it was very good for white since I simply win
the c6 pawn.} Rc8 13. Bxc6+ bxc6 14. O-O Be7 15. Ne2 $1 $16 {Black is one
tempo short here in his development and that costs him.}) 12... bxc6 {Now
there is simply no knockout punch, and positionally black isn't doing so badly
anymore.} 13. Be2 (13. f3 $5 {Was a better try, which I also missed. This move
opens the f2 square for the king and takes away the e4 square from the knight.}
Be7 14. g4 Bg6 15. Nd1) (13. Nd1 {Right away doesn't work because of} Bb4+)
13... Be7 14. O-O O-O 15. Qb3 (15. Qd1 Qxb2 16. Na4 {Was perhaps a slightly
better try for some initiative.}) 15... Qxb3 16. axb3 Nd7 17. Na4 Rfc8 {
Now black is totally fine. Moreover, I think black's position is easier to
play. I was simply fishing for a plan and from here I am ashamed of the way I
played.} 18. Rc3 $6 {What on earth was this? Just losing a tempo after Bb4. I
saw this earlier and for some reason I blanked out and forgot about it.} (18.
g4 Bg6 19. Kg2 $11) 18... Bb4 19. Rcc1 f6 20. g4 Bg6 21. g5 Kf7 22. h4 $6 {
Continuning on a wrong plan.} (22. gxf6) 22... Bf5 23. Bg3 a5 24. gxf6 gxf6 25.
Bh5+ Bg6 26. Bg4 h5 (26... Ke7) 27. Bh3 $4 {Now this is just very bad. I was
really trying to stop black from playing e5, but this move is just a blunder.}
(27. Be2 $11 e5 28. Rfd1) 27... c5 $4 {Missing the chance.} (27... Bd3 28. Rfd1
Be2 $19 {I guess this game set the tone for me. When you get lucky like this,
you often end up winning the tournament! :)}) 28. dxc5 Bxc5 {Even here, black
is much better.} 29. Rfd1 Bb4 30. Bf1 Bc2 31. Bb5 {I'm just trying to confuse
here.} Bxd1 32. Rxd1 Ne5 33. Nb6 Rab8 $6 (33... Rc5 34. Nxa8 Rxb5 35. Rc1 Bd6 {
Was just crushing for black. My knight on a8 is stranded, and my pawns are
very weak.}) 34. Nxc8 Rxc8 $2 (34... Rxb5 {Was still much better for black.})
35. Be2 Kg6 36. Kf1 $1 {My only good move in the game, a tricky move, which
unexpected yielded an immediate win for me.} Rc2 $4 {I couldn't believe my
luck here.} 37. Bxe5 fxe5 38. Bd3+ {AlexanderL won by resignation. A very poor
game on my part, but sometimes you need to get lucky to win a tournament.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle Chess Classic Blitz"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.08.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Black "Yip, Carissa"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E62"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2493"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2020.08.16"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[TimeControl "300+3"]

{[%evp 0,77,24,14,19,2,52,10,15,17,17,20,13,23,37,22,17,22,36,42,54,10,66,-3,
20,19,15,28,22,15,59,55,79,87,79,72,109,67,83,77,71,61,68,64,64,62,65,28,28,41,
41,13,15,14,76,76,72,67,54,6,35,24,24,-84,-54,-54,51,45,59,59,82,110,161,161,
226,233,233,233,261,261] In this game I am playing with white against Carissa
Yip. We are both at 3/3 at the moment.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d6
5. Nf3 O-O 6. Nc3 Bf5 {She plays her Kings Indian, which plays quite often.} 7.
Nh4 Bc8 8. O-O c6 9. e4 e5 10. Nf3 Bg4 11. d5 Na6 12. h3 Bd7 13. Be3 cxd5 14.
cxd5 b5 15. a3 $14 Re8 $6 {I didn't really understand this move.} (15... Nc7)
16. b4 {I was very happy with the outcome out of the opening.} Nc7 17. Nd2 h5
18. Nf3 {An overreaction to her idea.} (18. Nb3 {I should've just continued
with my plan and not be afraid of h4.} h4 (18... Qc8 19. Kh2 h4 20. Na5) 19.
Bg5) 18... Qb8 19. Qd3 Qb7 20. Rab1 Rac8 21. Rfc1 Na8 22. Nd2 a6 23. Nb3 Nb6
24. Na5 (24. Nc5 $1) 24... Qb8 25. a4 Nxa4 26. Nxa4 Rxc1+ 27. Rxc1 bxa4 28. Nc6
Qb5 29. Bf1 {Looked promising in blitz since I saw I was winning the a6 pawn.
However, black had an amazing defence here which we both missed.} (29. Qc2 $16)
29... Qxd3 30. Bxd3 Bxh3 31. Bxa6 (31. f3 {This was better but it would also
allow her to play Ra8 and defend her position for now.} Ra8) 31... Nxe4 32. b5
{I thought this is more or less winning for me because the pawn is unstoppable
but there are hidden dynamic ideas here, which are almost impossible to spot
in a blitz game.} Nc5 (32... f5 $5 33. b6 f4 $1 {Suddenly opening her bishop.}
34. Rc4 $3 {The only move that gives white an advantage. At this point we are
reaching the "impossible for a human to find" territory, especially in a blitz
game.} Bf5 35. gxf4 exf4 36. Bxf4 g5 37. Bc1 Nc5 38. Rxc5 dxc5 39. b7 {And
white should have good winning chances after winning the rook.}) 33. Bxc5 dxc5
34. b6 e4 $6 (34... Bf8 {This still gave a defensive chances.} 35. b7 Bd6 36.
Ra1 Kg7 37. Rxa4 Bd7) 35. b7 e3 36. fxe3 Bf5 (36... a3 37. Bc4) 37. b8=Q Rxb8
38. Nxb8 a3 39. Bc4 {AlexanderL won by resignation. After the smoke cleared I
ended up being up a rook. A nice game for me.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle Chess Classic Blitz"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.08.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Robson, Ray"]
[Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2020.08.16"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[TimeControl "300+3"]

{[%evp 0,91,23,24,34,34,34,20,48,48,48,56,52,49,31,24,29,27,21,20,14,-22,-1,
-17,-5,-8,39,37,37,37,29,38,29,28,29,20,23,14,18,2,12,3,8,25,32,32,46,43,43,51,
66,31,59,50,50,50,50,0,0,0,42,42,32,32,59,30,62,14,14,0,0,0,0,8,13,-8,66,76,60,
61,126,55,55,46,52,0,0,-7,-19,-11,-11,-14,0,-43] This game against Ray Robson
was ultimately a battle for first place in the blitz event.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5
3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 {The Rubinstein is my pet opening in blitz these days.}
5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Be3 Bd6 9. Bd3 b6 10. Qe2 Bb7 11. O-O-O
Nd5 (11... O-O {Right away is also possible.}) 12. Bd2 Nf4 13. Bxf4 Bxf4+ 14.
Kb1 O-O 15. Be4 Bxe4 16. Qxe4 Qf6 17. h4 Rad8 18. g4 {White starts his
aggressive play against my king.} Bd6 $6 {In blitz, my knee-jerk reaction was
to meet g5 with Qf4, but it was a passive move and a bit of a concession which
gave white the initiative.} (18... c5 {I should've fought for the initiative
myself and not worried about g5.} 19. g5 Qf5 {This position is totally fine
for black.}) 19. g5 Qf4 20. Qe2 h5 $6 (20... c5 {This was still better.}) 21.
g6 fxg6 22. Qxe6+ Kh8 {Here I realized that my desired Qf7? is met with Ng5!
winning the exchange.} (22... Qf7 $2 23. Ng5 Qxe6 24. Nxe6 $16) 23. Ng5 Rf6 (
23... Qf5 {This was better.}) 24. Qc4 Rg8 $6 {An awkward move} (24... Re8) 25.
a3 (25. f3 $1 Qf5 26. Ne4 $14) 25... Qf5 26. Rde1 Bf4 27. Ne6 Bd6 28. f4 $5 {
Fighting for the win.} b5 29. Qb3 a5 (29... c6 $1 {Was strong, preventing d5,
which cements the knight on e6.}) 30. d5 Rb8 31. Rhg1 a4 32. Qf3 Bxf4 33. Ref1
Bd6 34. Qxf5 gxf5 35. Nxg7 Rg8 36. Nxh5 Rxg1 37. Rxg1 Rh6 (37... Rf7 {Was
better.} 38. Ng3 Rg7 39. Ne2 Rxg1+ 40. Nxg1 Kg7 $11) 38. Rg5 f4 39. Rf5 f3 $2 {
This is a mistake which thankfully for me went unpunished, partially because
by now he was getting very low on time, having under 30 seconds.} (39... Kh7
40. Nxf4 Rxh4 41. Ne6 Rh1+ 42. Ka2 Kg6 {Gave better drawing chances.}) 40. Nf4
$2 (40. Nf6 $1 {Was very nasty, with the idea of meeeting Rxh4? with Rg5!!}
Rxh4 $2 41. Rg5 {I think we both missed this.} (41. Rxf3 Rh1+ 42. Ka2 Rh2 {
I thought I'll just have to play this endgame.})) 40... f2 41. Nd3 Rxh4 42.
Rxf2 Rd4 {Now luckily for me I get the pawn back.} 43. Rf5 Kg7 44. Kc1 Kg6 45.
Rf3 Rxd5 46. Kd2 {Game drawn by agreement. A very nice fight and a close shave.
I think it was a well-played game for a blitz game.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Let\\'s Play!"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.06.11"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lang, Jamie"]
[Black "Roland, Jeffrey T"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "1774"]
[BlackElo "1584"]
[Annotator "Jeffrey Roland"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[TimeControl "1/604800:0"]

{[%evp 0,33,14,22,11,7,10,11,7,21,61,-4,6,-32,-14,-27,6,-8,-11,-11,0,-1,-8,-9,
6,-13,-5,-19,-10,-3,-12,0,26,5,44,-20]} {Seven days per move.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 {The Giuoco Piano. I guess this is becoming popular again. It
is certainly a beautiful opening. It was somewhat of a surprise to me to see
Jamie Lang play this though. He usually has played 3.Bb5 in our casual games.
I normally play the Two Knights' Defense with 3...Nf6 here, however, as this
was correspondence game, I decided to try to learn something new (or old!)} 4.
c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 d6 7. O-O Ba7 {I remembered a long time ago, in the
Karpov vs Korchnoi match of 1981, they took great pride in finding an
improvement that allowed Black to go to a7 in one move rather than two...
something like that. Anyway, that's kind of why I played ...a6 when I did too.}
8. Nbd2 O-O 9. h3 h6 10. Re1 Be6 {Now that ...h6 has been played, I felt I
could do this becuase if White takes on e6 and doubles my pawns, I get the
open f-file with a bishop aiming at f2 (and things like ...Nh5, ...Qf6
possible, and g3 by White not possible due to my bishop-pin along the long
diagonal a7-g1), so it would have to be good, plus this is a good developing
move anyway and with ...Qd7 I can look to bust open the kingside should White
make an error.} 11. Nf1 Re8 12. Ng3 {It does seem pretty intimidating being
Black and seeing these two knights getting ready to pounce!} Bxb3 13. axb3 d5
14. Qe2 dxe4 15. dxe4 Kh7 {In so many lines I was thinking that White is just
better. Moves like Be3, and Rad1, I just couldn't find anything weak in
White's position. But I did see a weakness in mine. I felt that when an
eventual Nf5 comes, h6 would be weak and I would have trouble kicking him out
if the h6-pawn isn't defended.} 16. b4 {This was probably played to prevent
Black from playing ...Bc5 next move and regrouping defense to the kingside.
Also White seems to threaten b5, sort of, but not yet. Before White plays b5,
he must take away Black's ...Bxf2+ tactic.} Qd7 17. Nh4 Ne7 18. Nhf5 Neg8 19.
Rd1 {White keeps hitting Black, but given that Black has pretty good
development, I don't think anything bad is going to happen. But the big
decision is where to put the queen.} Qe6 20. Nh4 (20. Be3 Nxe4 $2 21. Qg4 $1
Ng5 22. Bxg5 hxg5 23. Qxg5 $18) 20... Rad8 21. Be3 {White wisely does this now,
completing his development and taking away most of Black's tricks in the
position.} Bxe3 22. Qxe3 Qb3 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Qe2 Ne7 25. Nf3 Ng6 {Oddly
enough, White's 25.Nf3 practically forces me to go to this great square. Now
I'm looking at ...Nf4, which could seriously win the b-pawn! Jamie finds a
move that surprisingly works here.} 26. Rc1 Nf4 27. Qc2 Qxc2 28. Rxc2 Rd1+ 29.
Kh2 {This position I probably spent the most time on the entire game. I wanted
to play 29...Nd3, which now that I can look at computers, it turns out that
was best! But during the game, I can't use a computer, and so I was trying to
figure everything out. In so many of my variations I found that White could
sometimes thwart me with the simple Nxe5.} Nd7 30. Ne2 {I had not even seen
this move as a possibility, and yet he played it, therefore it must be good,
right?} Nd3 31. Ng3 {Perhaps Jamie was hoping I would go for a draw here by
repeating the position. The thing is, it's really not easy to find a move for
White here, so I felt like I was winning here and played a move which further
tied up White's possibilities.} g6 32. h4 $2 {Okay, this move was just bad! I
don't know what White was thinking here. Now my knights can infiltrate at will.
} Nf6 33. Kh3 {This move loses to mate in two. He played this after only about
five minutes thought. I played my reply with about five seconds thought.} Nf4+
{(03-10-2020)} 0-1

[Event "Oregon Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.09.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Moore, Michael"]
[Black "Aleksandrov, Aleksej"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C91"]
[WhiteElo "1950"]
[BlackElo "2608"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2020.09.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]

{[%evp 0,72,13,6,19,21,20,15,25,13,2,6,20,5,8,1,17,-25,-15,-15,13,9,18,-36,0,0,
0,0,-9,-10,-3,7,8,8,0,0,2,-34,-62,-53,-36,-57,-46,-46,-55,-62,-62,-71,-59,-55,
-7,-25,114,108,99,101,70,26,54,27,28,-32,-37,-89,-51,-110,-87,-91,-88,-114,
-112,-139,-139,-201,-182] Before all the sheltering-in-place, the number of
games submitted to the magazine tended to be manageable. I'd scan virtually
all of them, pick a few based on both chess appeal and editorial needs, and
annotate as space allowed. ^^Now, with all the games being played online and
automatically submitted, we have a pgn (portable game notation) file of
perhaps 1000 new games each month. Just playing over all these games for one
issue could bankrupt the games editor time budget for the entire year. ^^So I
need to apply new selection criteria. Since strong Grandmasters are annotating
their own games in NW events these days, I thought I'd focus on a non-master
who scores well and often manages to produce very interesting chess.} 1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. d4
(9. h3 {is the most common move, avoiding the ...Bg4 pin before attempting to
occupy the center, and leading to centuries of theory.}) 9... Bg4 10. Be3 Bh5 (
10... exd4 11. cxd4 Na5 12. Bc2 c5 (12... Nc4 13. Bc1 c5 14. b3) 13. h3 {
, etc. Tale as old as time...}) 11. d5 (11. h3) (11. Nbd2) 11... Na5 12. Bc2
Nc4 13. Bc1 c6 14. b3 ({I don't think White needs to expend a move (and create
slight queenside weaknesses) to drive away the knight here.} 14. dxc6 Qc7 15.
Nbd2) 14... Nb6 15. dxc6 Qc7 16. Nbd2 Qxc6 17. Bb2 a5 18. a4 $6 ({Perhaps an
overreaction to Black's queenside advance, creating permanent weaknesses.} 18.
Qe2 a4 19. Rab1 axb3 (19... a3 20. Ba1) 20. axb3 $15 {Black has a pleasant
game and clearly some initiative, but White looks solid.}) 18... bxa4 19. bxa4
Rab8 20. Bd3 Nxa4 21. Qxa4 Qxa4 22. Rxa4 Rxb2 23. Nc4 Rb3 24. Rc1 d5 $6 (24...
Bxf3 25. gxf3 (25. Nxa5 Bxe4 $1 26. Bxe4 Rb6 $17) 25... Rc8 26. Rxa5 Nh5 $15 {
. The weakness of c3 and Black's secured outpost on f4 offer an edge.}) 25.
exd5 e4 $6 (25... Nxd5 26. Nfxe5 Nxc3 27. Rxa5 {is heading to a no-win
situation. So Black enters the complications.}) ({Also} 25... Bxf3 26. d6 (26.
gxf3 Nxd5 27. Nxe5) 26... Bxd6 (26... Bc6 27. dxe7 Bxa4 28. exf8=Q+ Kxf8 29.
Nxa5) 27. Nxd6 Bd5 28. Rxa5 {leads nowhere.}) 26. Nfd2 $1 Rb5 (26... Rxc3 $5 {
would be complex, but ultimately no more successful:} 27. Rxc3 Bb4 28. Nxe4 $1
Nxe4 29. Rca3 $1 (29. Bxe4 Bxc3 30. d6 (30. Nxa5 f5 31. Bc2 Bxa5 32. Rxa5 Rc8
33. g4 $1 Bxg4 34. d6)) (29. Rc1 Nc3 30. Raa1 Be2 31. Nb2 Bxd3 32. Nxd3 Ne2+
33. Kf1 Nxc1 34. Rxc1 {is a tactical flurry leading to dead equality.}) 29...
Nc5 30. Nxa5 Bxa3 31. Rxa3 $14 {.}) 27. d6 $1 Bxd6 28. Nxe4 $2 ({Why not} 28.
Nxd6 $1 {, hitting the rook b5?} Rd5 29. N6xe4 Rxd3 ({or} 29... Nxe4 30. Bxe4
Rxd2 31. Rxa5 $16) 30. Nxf6+ gxf6 31. Rxa5 $16 {leaves White clearly ahead in
the ending, though Black may be able to grovel a draw eventually.}) 28... Bc7
29. Ne3 Re5 30. Ng3 $6 ({For some reason White now avoids exchanges, leading
to some awkward piece placements.} 30. Nxf6+ {should be completely equal:} gxf6
31. Ng4 Re6 (31... Bxg4 32. Rxg4+ Kh8 33. Rc4 (33. Rh4 Rd8 34. Rxh7+ $6 (34.
Bxh7) 34... Kg8 35. Rh3 (35. Bb1 $4 Red5 $19))) 32. Bf5 Rd6 33. Ne3) 30... Bg6
31. Bf1 (31. Bxg6 fxg6 {White really shouldn't have much trouble holding this
position either.}) 31... h5 32. Ba6 (32. Ne2 $15) 32... Nd7 33. Be2 Nc5 34. Ra3
Rb8 35. Nc4 Ree8 ({Black likely also considered} 35... Rxe2 36. Nxe2 Bd3 37.
Nxa5 Bxe2 {, and perhaps decided it could be difficult to convert with no
favorable pawn imbalance.}) 36. Bxh5 $2 (36. Bf1 a4 $17) 36... Bxg3 37. Bxg6
Bf4 38. Bxf7+ ({If the goal is to struggle on, removing the a5-pawn seems more
critical than taking f7.} 38. Rd1 fxg6 39. Rxa5 Ne4 40. g3 {. It's hard to
believe White has any real chances to survive, but at least there are still
some technical questions.}) 38... Kxf7 39. Rca1 a4 {The rest is, as they say,
a matter of technique, and the Grandmaster is quite up to the task.} 40. g3 Re4
41. Na5 Bc7 42. Nc6 Rb3 43. Nd4 Rxa3 44. Rxa3 Be5 45. Nc6 Bf6 46. Na5 Re1+ 47.
Kg2 Rc1 48. c4 Bb2 49. Rf3+ Kg6 50. Nc6 Bf6 51. Rf4 a3 52. Nb4 Rb1 53. Na2 Rb2
54. Nc1 Rc2 0-1

[Event "Oregon Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.09.05"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Chang, Eddie"]
[Black "Moore, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E51"]
[WhiteElo "1887"]
[BlackElo "1950"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2020.09.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]

{[%evp 0,70,25,26,18,-17,3,2,30,28,34,28,29,28,26,36,29,24,61,27,50,18,51,-5,
67,23,49,6,39,-32,-28,-2,6,-21,12,-4,-7,0,0,2,2,2,33,56,25,41,42,2,86,67,66,54,
55,0,23,0,-105,-127,-226,-614,-287,-282,-201,-388,-386,-488,-850,-863,-921,
-931,-29986,-29987,-677]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bd2 {A lesser line,
but not at all bad for White.} O-O 5. e3 d5 ({I'd probably try} 5... b6 {
instead. In general Black's b4-bishop is exerting indirect influence on the
e4-square, so if Black can achieve piece control in the center, that's a
success for the ...Bb4 pin. However, if Black sets up the ...e6/...d5 central
pawns, exchanging the dark bishop for a knight-c3 makes less positional sense.}
) 6. Nf3 c5 7. a3 Bxc3 8. Bxc3 b6 9. cxd5 (9. dxc5 bxc5 10. Bd3 $14) 9... exd5
$6 (9... Nxd5) 10. Rc1 (10. dxc5 bxc5 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Qxd5 Qxb2 13. Rd1 $14 {
is an obscure tactically forcing line.}) 10... c4 11. Ne5 Bf5 12. Be2 Re8 13.
O-O Nbd7 14. f4 Ne4 15. g4 Nxc3 16. Rxc3 Be4 17. Bf3 Nf6 18. g5 Bxf3 19. Qxf3
Ne4 20. Rc2 b5 (20... f6 $5 21. gxf6 Qxf6 {is fairly balanced.}) 21. Rg2 a5 22.
Qh5 (22. f5 $1 Nxg5 (22... f6 23. gxf6 Nxf6 $14 (23... Qxf6 $2 24. Ng4 $18 {
followed by the can-opener f5-f6.})) 23. Qh5 f6 24. h4 $16 {White's attack
starts to look quite dangerous here.}) 22... g6 23. Qh6 Rxe5 $5 24. fxe5 $2 ({
While it's understandable that White wants to open the f-file, it is quite
difficult to get anything going along that line. The weakened g5-pawn, however,
begins to require major-piece support.} 24. dxe5 {is, therefore, stronger.} Qf8
{appears necessary to avoid problems with a rook-lift to the h-file.} 25. Qxf8+
Kxf8 26. Rd1 $16 {targeting d5, and slowing the mobile black pawn mass.}) 24...
b4 25. axb4 axb4 26. Rg4 ({Rg4 is not a mistake per se, but combined with the
plan of h4-h5 it turns out badly.} 26. h4 {is fine here, as White can force
through h5 and hxg6. For example} Qd7 27. h5 Qh3 28. hxg6 Qxe3+ 29. Kh2 fxg6
30. Qh3 {.}) 26... Ra7 27. h4 $2 {After this the queen never escapes from its
box, as White can't find the time to push it on to h5. The loose rook-g4 gives
Black extra time to infiltrate with major pieces.} (27. Rg2 $13) ({or} 27. Kh1
{.}) 27... Qc8 28. Rgf4 Qh3 29. R4f3 Qg4+ 30. Kh2 c3 31. e6 Qxe6 32. bxc3 Ra2+
33. Kh1 Qd6 34. Rf4 Ng3+ 35. Kg1 Nf5 (35... Nxf1 36. Kxf1 Qa6+ {is even
stronger, though it's hard to argue with a move that forces resignation!}) 0-1

[Event "Oregon Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.09.06"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Moore, Michael"]
[Black "Seshadri, Sridhar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B04"]
[WhiteElo "1950"]
[BlackElo "1626"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2020.09.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]

{[%evp 0,43,18,5,75,81,81,44,56,47,70,72,78,78,91,65,77,80,65,63,64,-3,42,32,
84,85,85,115,203,98,98,58,77,45,0,43,425,374,513,513,29995,29996,29997,29998,
29999,-30000]} 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 e6 {Not recommended. Black
needs to challenge White's center, and the c8-bishop should participate either
at f5, directly hitting center squares or on g4, pinning and contesting the
squares the f3-knight controls.} (4... Bg4 5. Be2 e6 {would make more sense.})
5. c4 Nb6 6. exd6 cxd6 7. Nc3 Be7 8. Bd3 Nc6 9. Qe2 $14 ({I'd prefer} 9. O-O {
, as I am not yet certain where the queen belongs.}) 9... O-O 10. h4 $5 {
Making 0-0 less secure, but setting a basic opening trap...} Bf6 $4 (10... e5
$1 {should lead to dynamic and roughly balanced possibilities. Sacs on h7
don't work here because Black can take, retreat to g8, and defend along the
diagonal with ...Bf5 when faced with the attack in the next note.}) 11. Bg5 $4
({If you're going to set up the tactic with h4, you should at least follow
through when the opponent allows the sacrifice. Completely winning is the
standard Greco-Roman} 11. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 12. Ng5+ Kg8 13. Qh5 Bxg5 (13... Re8 {
avoids mate for awhile, if you enjoy torturing yourself.} 14. Qxf7+ Kh8 15.
Nce4 Bxd4 16. Rh3 Ne7 17. Nxd6 Nf5 18. Nxe8 {, and it doesn't get any better.})
14. hxg5 f6 15. g6 {.}) 11... h6 (11... d5 12. c5 Nd7 $14) 12. Qe4 g6 13. Bxh6
d5 14. Qf4 (14. cxd5 exd5 15. Qf4 Re8+ 16. Kf1 $16) 14... e5 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16.
O-O-O Nxd3+ 17. Rxd3 Bg7 (17... Bf5 $16) 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. h5 Qf6 20. h6+ Kh7
21. Qxf6 Rg8 22. Ng5# 1-0

[Event "Oregon Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.09.06"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Whale, Nicholas"]
[Black "Moore, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2065"]
[BlackElo "1950"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2020.09.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]

{[%evp 0,89,18,-4,41,49,72,47,65,66,52,24,15,1,-3,-8,0,0,16,6,39,-19,8,-17,-7,
-19,9,-14,31,29,17,-22,-22,-10,13,-6,1,-46,-53,-65,33,39,50,38,73,34,199,203,
219,214,292,309,309,308,317,313,313,297,328,313,386,262,275,262,358,265,233,
262,298,234,328,325,324,311,336,336,336,354,378,375,372,379,407,423,465,470,
472,412,422,416,429,436]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. O-O a6 5. Bd3 Ngf6
6. c3 e6 ({More common:} 6... b5 7. Bc2 Bb7 8. Re1 e5 9. d4 Be7 10. Nbd2 O-O
11. Nf1 Re8 {with a very familiar feel.}) ({Weirder:} 6... Ne5 $5 7. Nxe5 dxe5
8. Bc2 $13 {has a more unique aspect.}) 7. Bc2 Be7 8. d4 Qc7 9. Bg5 b5 10. Nbd2
Bb7 11. Re1 e5 {As occasionally happens, the Sicilian has transformed into a
Spanish (Ruy Lopez) structure.} 12. Rc1 O-O 13. Nf1 Rfe8 14. Ng3 h6 15. Bxf6
Nxf6 16. d5 a5 17. Nd2 a4 18. Bd3 (18. c4 $1 $13) 18... c4 19. Be2 a3 $6 ({
No need to rush forward. Stockfish gives} 19... Bc8 $1 {, apparently with the
point that from d7, the bishop defends b5, and eventually the threat of a
tactical advance will force White into either b3 or a3, creating either a
passed black a-pawn or a big hole on b3.^^If White tries to break up the
queenside pawns right away, things go awry:} 20. b3 (20. a3 Nd7 $17) 20... cxb3
21. axb3 (21. Bxb5 Bg4 $1 22. Ne2 Reb8 23. Bc6 b2 24. Rb1 a3 $17) 21... Bd7 $17
) 20. b3 cxb3 21. Qxb3 Ba6 (21... Reb8) 22. Qxa3 $6 {Black has plenty of
compensation for the pawn here -- really it's hard to worry at all about the
pawn at this stage. Black's bishop-pair and nice potential outposts for the
knight, open lines for the majors, and pressure on weak white pawns probably
should be evaluated as a slight edge.} (22. c4 {might be better, starting to
eliminate weak pawns on the road to equality.}) 22... b4 $4 {Apparently just
an oversight, perhaps missing that the black queen would be under attack after
cxb4, or the error could have been slightly deeper, thinking ...Bxe2 would be
possible.} 23. cxb4 Qb6 (23... Bxe2 24. Qxa8 Qxc1 25. Qxe8+ {game over.}) 24.
Rc6 Qd4 25. Nb3 Bxe2 26. Qxa8 Qxb4 27. Qa5 {Not much more to say. All the
tactics work for White.} Qxa5 28. Nxa5 Bd3 29. Nc4 Ra8 30. Nb2 Bb5 31. Rb6 Be8
32. a4 Nd7 33. Rb7 Bd8 34. Nd3 Rxa4 35. Nf5 Ra6 36. Nb4 Rb6 37. Rxb6 Bxb6 38.
Nxd6 Bc5 39. Nxe8 Bxb4 40. Rb1 Bc5 41. Rb7 Nb6 42. Nd6 Nxd5 43. exd5 Bxd6 44.
Rd7 Bc5 45. Rd8+ Kh7 46. d6 Kg6 47. d7 Kf6 48. Re8 Bb6 49. d8=Q+ Bxd8 50. Rxd8
Ke6 51. Kf1 1-0

[Event "Oregon Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.09.07"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Moore, Michael"]
[Black "Tang, Zoey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B63"]
[WhiteElo "1950"]
[BlackElo "2097"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2020.09.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]

{[%evp 0,52,18,24,36,41,90,65,51,30,26,25,49,22,72,54,43,30,26,-6,9,-35,-25,
-24,-44,-17,5,1,13,8,9,1,24,15,3,20,0,-1,-1,14,14,-6,-9,-10,0,-39,-25,-21,46,
81,81,80,77,82,114]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6.
Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O O-O {(Diagram after 8...0-0} 9. Nxc6 $6 ({Mr. Moore
often goes his own way in the opening around move nine or ten.} 9. f4 {is the
most popular -- and the most theoretical -- line here.} Nxd4 (9... h6 10. h4 $5
) 10. Qxd4 Qa5 11. Bc4 (11. Kb1 $5) 11... Bd7 12. e5 dxe5 13. fxe5 Bc6 14. Bd2
Nd7 (14... Bc5 15. Qh4 Nd7 {with complications.}) 15. Nd5 Qd8 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7
17. Rhe1 Rfd8 $14 {: bishop-pair advantage for White, two vs three
pawn-islands structural edge to Black, but White's pieces are more mobile and
agressive, and the e5-pawn confers space to maneuver as well. Theory (and
several games) actually continues further from here:} 18. Qg4 Nf8 19. Bd3 Rd5 (
19... Rxd3 $5 20. cxd3 Qd7 21. Bb4 Ng6 $14 {has been tried more than once.})
20. Bb4 ({or} 20. Be4 Rd7 21. Bb4 Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1) 20... Qd8 21. Bd6 Ng6 $14 {
But enough on the theory tangent. Back to the real chess.}) 9... bxc6 10. f4 d5
11. Be2 Rb8 12. Qe3 Qc7 $6 (12... h6 13. h4) (12... c5) 13. e5 $1 Ne8 (13...
Qb7 $1 14. b3 (14. Na4 Ne4 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Bf3 Rb4 17. Rd4 Rxd4 18. Qxd4 c5
$13) 14... Ba3+ 15. Kb1 Nd7 $13) 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Na4 {Suddenly White
establishes good knight vs bad bishop, with a strong bind on the dark squares.}
Qb4 (15... Rb4 16. Rd4 Nc7 17. c3 $6 (17. Qc3 Rxd4 18. Qxd4 $14) 17... Rb5 $1)
16. Rd4 Qa5 17. Qc3 Qxc3 18. bxc3 $5 Nc7 19. Nc5 f6 {(#Diagram after 19...f6}
20. Re1 ({More accurate is} 20. Rf1 $1 {, when} fxe5 $2 21. fxe5 Rxf1+ 22. Bxf1
{succeeds only in exchaning Black's remaining active piece. Black's position
is very difficult, and may already be lost.}) 20... fxe5 21. fxe5 a5 (21... Rf2
{probably doesn't equalize, but may offer more hope.} 22. Ra4 (22. Bf3 Ba6) (
22. Bf1 Nb5 23. Rb4 Rb6 24. Kb2 d4 25. c4 Nc3 26. a3 $16 {seems a dance too
intricate for the bulls-in-the-china-shop role that rooks normally play. Nb3
is coming soon to undermine much of Black's counterplay.}) 22... Nb5 23. Bxb5
Rxb5 24. Nd3 Rf7 25. c4 $14 {.}) 22. Kd2 Nb5 (22... Rf2 23. Rg4) 23. Rg4 Rf5 $2
24. Bd3 Rf2+ 25. Ke3 Rf7 26. Rb1 $1 Ra8 27. Rb3 $18 {All of Black's activity
has been Petrosianed off the board, leaving only the problem of organizing the
final onslaught. White manages this in exemplary style.} g6 28. a4 d4+ 29. cxd4
Nc7 30. c4 Na6 31. Ne4 Nb4 32. Nf6+ Kh8 {(#Diagram after 32...Kh8} 33. Bxg6 $1
hxg6 34. Rh4+ Kg7 35. Rh7+ Kf8 36. Rh8+ Kg7 37. Rg8+ Kh6 38. Kf4 Nd5+ 39. cxd5
exd5 40. g4 {Notice that the c8-bishop never left its square.} 1-0

[Event "Oregon Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.09.07"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Chen, Megan"]
[Black "Moore, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B21"]
[WhiteElo "1826"]
[BlackElo "1950"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2020.09.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]

{[%evp 0,59,18,16,45,23,29,-16,25,19,22,18,28,17,13,17,8,7,20,19,-24,-31,55,32,
21,17,40,40,7,7,12,-42,-41,-41,29,32,102,53,200,174,181,175,193,186,186,157,
153,146,137,115,114,126,141,121,138,119,122,75,56,79,108,86]} 1. e4 c5 2. d4
cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 ({There are lines in which Black does
without ...a6 and queenside expansion, such as} 5... d6 6. Bc4 e6 7. O-O Nf6 8.
Qe2 Be7 9. Rd1 e5 10. h3 O-O 11. Be3 Be6 12. Bxe6 fxe6 {. White has partial
compensation for the pawn.}) 6. Bc4 a6 7. O-O b5 8. Bb3 Na5 9. Bc2 Bb7 10. e5 {
This is a good point to pause and discuss positional features. ^^Black has an
extra backward pawn, of course, on the d-file. He has queenside space and good
control of the c4-square on the open file. The long diagonal looks useful, and
the f8-bishop has potential. The g-knight will take a few moves to find a
purpose, but could prove helpful on c4, d5, f5, or g6. The queen, and
especially the king, have yet to find secure lodging. ^^White has central
space and some control over the dark squares, with the e5-pawn keeping an eye
on d6 and f6. Her king is secure, there are plenty of open lines for rooks and
bishops, and good places to drop a knight, if given a chance. ^^White's
development advantage is approaching the Smith-Morra gambit "holy grail"
number of three moves, assumed by adherents to be at least adequate
compensation for a pawn.} d6 ({Black challenges the advanced central pawn, but
at the cost of allowing further development for White.} 10... Rc8 $5 11. Ne4 (
11. Bg5 $4 Bxf3 $19 {, an extra bonus of removing the rook from a8.}) 11... Be7
$15 {, followed by ...f5, is an attempt to close the development gap while
improving the two major positional plusses for Black: the c-file and long
diagonal.}) 11. Bg5 $1 Qc7 (11... Be7 12. Bxe7 Nxe7 13. exd6 Nd5 $13) 12. exd6
Bxd6 13. Ne4 Be7 14. Bxe7 Kxe7 (14... Nxe7 $4 15. Nd6+ Kf8 16. Ng5 $18) (14...
Qxe7 $2 15. Nd6+ Kf8 16. Ne5 $16) 15. Qe2 (15. Qd4 $1 Qxc2 $4 (15... Nf6 16.
Qb4+ $16) ({or} 15... Kf8 16. Rfd1 Ne7 17. Rac1 {with very definite and more
than sufficient compensation for the pawn.}) 16. Qb4+ Ke8 17. Nd6+ Kf8 18.
Nxb7+ Ne7 19. Nxa5 $18) 15... Nf6 16. Rfd1 Nxe4 ({Black is very comfortable
after} 16... Rhd8 $1 17. Nxf6 (17. Rac1 Rxd1+ 18. Rxd1 (18. Qxd1 $2 Rc8 $19)
18... Nd5 $17) 17... gxf6 18. Bxh7 Qf4 $17 {.}) 17. Bxe4 Bxe4 $2 (17... Rac8
18. Bxb7 Nxb7 $13) 18. Qxe4 Qc4 19. Rd7+ $1 ({Or} 19. Qe3 $1 {, eying Qg5+ as
well as swinging rooks to the center files, when Black has huge problems with
king safety.}) 19... Kxd7 20. Ne5+ Ke7 21. Nxc4 Nxc4 {White's active queen and
rook combined with the exposed black king should prove decisive, despite the
near equality in material terms.} 22. b3 (22. Qb7+ Kf6 23. a4) 22... Nd6 23.
Qh4+ f6 24. Qg3 g6 25. Qe3 Nf5 26. Qc5+ Kf7 27. Rd1 Rhe8 28. Qc7+ Re7 29. Qc6
Raa7 30. g4 ({Black has done a little to repair the king safety issues and his
pieces are beginning to be better coordinated, but there are still problems.} 
30. h3 {for luft, and then perhaps White can try to infiltrate on the back
rank.}) 30... Rec7 (30... Nh4 $5 $16) 31. Qb6 Ne7 32. Qb8 Kg7 33. Rd8 ({
The attempt} 33. Qe8 g5 $1 34. Rd8 Rc1+ 35. Kg2 Ng6 $14 {fails to force a win.}
) 33... Rab7 34. Qa8 Ra7 35. Qe4 Rc6 (35... Nd5 $5 {, since} 36. Qxe6 $4 Rc1+
37. Kg2 Nf4+ {.}) 36. g5 $1 Rac7 37. gxf6+ Kxf6 38. Qh4+ (38. Rf8+ Kg7 39. Re8
{also sets Black some problems that are very difficult to solve.}) 38... g5 39.
Qh6+ Ke5 40. Qg7+ Kf5 41. Rf8+ Ke4 42. Qxg5 Nf5 43. Qg4+ (43. Qd2 $1 Rc1+ 44.
Kg2 R7c2 45. Qd7 {.}) (43. Rf7 $5 {, with the idea} Rxf7 44. Qg2+) 43... Ke5 ({
Black might try running toward the queenside instead:} 43... Kd3 44. Rd8+ Kc3 {
.}) 44. Qe2+ Kd6 45. Qd2+ Ke5 46. f4+ $4 ({Save the pawn check until it wins
material! Among others:} 46. Qb2+ Ke4 47. Qe2+ Kd5 48. Rd8+ Rd6 49. Qd3+ Ke5
50. f4+ {.}) 46... Ke4 47. Qg2+ Kxf4 48. Qg3+ Ke4 49. Qg4+ Ke3 50. Qg5+ Kf3 51.
Qg2+ Ke3 52. Qf2+ Ke4 53. Qe2+ Kf4 54. Rd8 Rc2 55. Qf1+ Ke5 56. Qa1+ Kf4 57.
Qf1+ Ke5 58. Qa1+ Kf4 {Black's tenacity saves the half point.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Oregon Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.09.05"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Black "Gottumukkala, Ananth"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B09"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "1785"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2020.09.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]

{[%evp 0,73,19,38,75,73,85,92,86,39,41,34,112,83,87,74,68,71,52,39,33,31,19,
-11,-18,-18,51,32,47,68,66,57,69,65,94,84,95,61,123,123,138,106,125,96,96,106,
136,129,121,149,149,174,170,168,161,170,215,183,201,186,270,275,334,334,324,
313,341,341,326,301,314,318,328,358,379,391] After taking a bye in round 1, in
round 2 I am playing against a very under-rated player who won his first game
against a higher player and has won against many higher players in the
Washington State online tournaments from what I noticed. Despite his
relatively low rating, slightly under 1800, I estimate his real strength to be
at minimum expert. Therefore, I expected a tough game.} 1. e4 {I normally play
1)d4 or 1)Nf3, but I decided to play 1)e4 to play a sharp game against his
Pirc Defence, which he plays all the time. By the way, his chess.com nickname
also partially gives it away :)} d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 c5 $5
{Here he surprised me. Even though c5 is one of the main lines here, from what
I saw on chess.com, he always castled on move 5, and I was looking forward to
playing some interesting sharp positions. I had some basic knowledge as white
against 5)...c5 but very soon, I was improvising.} (5... O-O 6. Bd3 Nbd7 {
This is something that he was always playing and I was looking forward to some
sharp complications after} 7. e5 Ne8 8. Ng5 $5) 6. dxc5 (6. Bb5+ {The other
main move to my knowledge is Bb5+, but I have a feeling he was theoretically
more equipped than me there.} Bd7 7. e5 Ng4 {with lots of theory to follow.})
6... Qa5 {Of course, the point of this line.} (6... dxc5 $2 7. Qxd8+ Kxd8 8. e5
$16 {Would be just bad for black where I have center, and lead in development.}
) 7. Qd3 {A tricky move} (7. Qd4 $5 {Is another line.} O-O (7... dxc5 8. Qc4
O-O 9. Qb5 Qxb5 10. Bxb5 $14) 8. Bd2 Nc6 (8... dxc5 9. Qg1) 9. Qc4) 7... Qxc5 (
7... Nxe4 {Can be tempting but loses badly to} 8. Qb5+ $1 Qxb5 9. Bxb5+ {
And white wins a piece.}) 8. Be3 Qa5 9. Qb5+ Qxb5 10. Nxb5 (10. Bxb5+ {This
might've also been possible.} Nc6 (10... Bd7) 11. O-O-O) 10... Na6 11. Bd4 {
I thought this is logical, to activate my bishop, pin his knight, and
stabilize, but the engine isn't a fan of it.} (11. Nc3 O-O 12. O-O-O Nc7 $11 {
However, doesn't yield much to white either.}) (11. Nxa7 $6 {Isn't so great
because of} Bd7 12. e5 Nd5 13. Bf2 Nc5 {And black has very good counterplay
here and will at minimum get the f4 pawn back.}) 11... O-O 12. e5 Nd5 $2 {
This move is my opponent's first serious mistake of the game.} (12... dxe5 {
Was very important so that I don't get a chance to take on d6 and weaken his
pawn.} 13. fxe5 Nd5 {And here black is totally fine since white cannot really
take on a7 safely.} 14. Nxa7 $2 (14. Bxa7 Nab4) 14... Nab4 $17 {White simply
doesn't have a great way to defend all his weak spots like c2 and his pieces
lack coordination.}) 13. exd6 exd6 14. O-O-O Nxf4 15. Be3 {This is interesting
to drive his knight to an awkward square.} Ne6 16. Nxd6 Nac5 17. Bc4 Rb8 {
Here I felt much that I was much better because of much better piece
coordination. However, I spent a lot of time here to try to find a knockout. I
was already looking at sacrifices on f7 but unfortunately they didn't quite
lead to something I liked.} 18. Rhf1 {I felt that this shouldn't be bad since
I'm bringing my last piece into the game, to a semi-open file where I can
target one of his weaknesses. My other two serious candidate moves were} (18.
Nxf7 {I was trying to make it work but} Rxf7 19. Bxc5 Bh6+ $3 {A very
important move without which black will be lost.} (19... Nxc5 $2 20. Rd8+ Bf8
21. Ng5 $18 {Black is totally paralyzed here and loses material.}) 20. Kb1 Nxc5
21. Rd8+ Kg7 {Now black has the g7 square for the king.} 22. Bxf7 Kxf7 23. Ne5+
Ke7 {And black is definitely alive, I couldn't find the knockout here, and it
turned out that indeed, there is no knockout here.}) (18. Rhe1 $1 {Objectively
this move was probably the best. It turns out that in complications, the rook
on e1 is slightly better placed than on f1. However, it is very hard for a
human to see all that and notice these subtle differences.} Na4 {Now if black
tries to do what he did in the game} 19. c3 b5 20. Bxa7 Ra8 21. Nxb5 Ba6 22.
Rd7 Nac5 23. Re7 Bf6 24. Bxc5 Nxc5 25. Rc7) 18... Na4 $5 19. c3 b5 $1 {Lots of
credit goes to black here for finding a creative way to create counterplay and
make it messy and complicated, forcing me to continue to calculate.} 20. Bd5 $6
{Not the best move for me in this critical moment. It was just hard for me to
navigate through all these complications.} (20. Bxa7 $6 {This move didn't seem
to work for white.} Ra8 21. Nxb5 Ba6 22. Bd4 Rfb8 {Black has more counterplay
than I would like to see on these open files against my king.}) (20. Bxb5 $1 {
Was good for white.} Nxb2 21. Kxb2 a6 {I kind of stopped here thinking it's
good for black but} 22. Ba7 $1 Ra8 (22... Rxb5+ 23. Nxb5 axb5 24. a3 $16) 23.
Be8 $3 {A brilliant move, cutting communication between black's pieces and now
he loses material.} Rxa7 24. Nxc8 Rb7+ 25. Kc2 Rxe8 26. Nd6 $18 {I will be
winning here up an exchange.}) (20. Bb3 $5 {I also considered this. However, I
didn't quite see all the details after that.} Nac5 21. Bxc5 $1 (21. Bd5 {
I only considered Bd5 here but} b4 {seemed to be annoying}) 21... Nxc5 22.
Bxf7+ $1 Kh8 (22... Rxf7 23. Nxf7 Kxf7 24. Ng5+ Ke8 25. Rfe1+ $18) 23. Bd5 $16)
20... b4 $1 {Continuing strong energetic play. As they say, when you say A,
you want to say B!} (20... Nb6 21. Bb3 $16 {I was counting on this, where I
felt that I have a pretty safe advantage and I kill the complications.} a5 22.
a3) 21. Bxa7 Ba6 22. Bxb8 $6 {Again not the best.} (22. Rfe1 bxc3 23. b3 Nb2 {
Seemed very risky for me but} 24. Bxb8 Rxb8 25. Nxf7 $1 {The key move, after
which white ends up being on top, though it's still a bit tricky.}) 22... Rxb8
$6 {Here black erred.} (22... Bxf1 {I think it was important to regain the
material here.} 23. Rxf1 Rxb8 24. Nxf7 {I was hoping that this move would work
but it doesn't.} (24. Bxe6 fxe6 25. Nc4 bxc3 26. b3 {This line ultimately is
best, keeping me with some advantage, though black can still make white's task
quite hard.} Nc5 27. Kc2 Ra8 28. a3 e5 29. b4 e4 {Still with some
counterchances.}) 24... Kxf7 25. Nd4+ Ke7 26. Nxe6 (26. Nc6+ Kd6 27. Nxb8 Kxd5
28. c4+ Kd6 {Is also not so clear.}) 26... bxc3 $3 27. Nxg7 cxb2+ 28. Kc2 b1=Q+
29. Rxb1 Rxb1 30. Kxb1 Nc3+ 31. Kb2 Nxd5 32. Kb3 Kf7 33. a4 Kxg7 34. a5 {
And white is the one who has to fight for the draw, though he probably makes
it, since the black king is far from the a-pawn and knights are nutoriously
bad in dealing with the a or h pawns.}) 23. Bc4 $6 {Now it's my turn to be a
bit imprecise.} (23. c4 $1 {I really wanted to play this move to shut down his
bishop and keep my strong construction. However, I just couldn't quite work
out what to do against b3.} b3 24. axb3 {It turns out that it's just very good
for white.} Rxb3 25. Bxe6 Bxb2+ 26. Kc2 Rc3+ 27. Kb1 fxe6 28. Nd2 $18 {It
looks menacing, but white is up an exchange, black's bishop on a6 is out of
play, and black's king isn't totally safe either.}) (23. Rfe1 {Is also good.}
bxc3 24. b3 Nb2 25. Nxf7 {Again that Nxf7 appears.}) 23... Bxc4 $6 {I was very
happy to see this played, since I knew that now I'm in relatively safe waters.}
(23... bxc3 {This move quite concerned me, and even though I saw this move, I
still couldn't quite find anything better than Bc4 somehow.} 24. b3 Nb2 $1 {
Sacrificing more material but} 25. Bxa6 Nxd1 26. Rxd1 Ra8 {And suddenly black,
despite being down a piece has serious counterplay because my pieces are
uncoordinated. If I move the bishop, he has Rxa2 and that pawn on c3 becomes a
big nuance. My best now is to give back the piece and still be better due to
my passed pawns.} 27. a4 (27. Bc4 $2 Rxa2 28. Re1 Bh6+ 29. Kb1 Rb2+ 30. Ka1
Rxg2 {Is one line that shows how dangerous it can be for white. Not clear how
I should stop the pawn now.}) 27... Rxa6 28. Nb5 $16) 24. Nxc4 bxc3 25. b3 Nb2
$6 {Natural but missing the last chance.} (25... Ra8 $3 {Was still a chance
since} 26. bxa4 Rxa4 27. Ne3 Bh6 28. Rfe1 Rxa2 {Here despite me up a rook,
it's still quite hard for me to play.}) 26. Nxb2 cxb2+ 27. Kb1 Nc7 {A good
attempt but thankfully, I can defend here.} 28. Nd4 {Taking away the b5 square,
from where the knight would attack the a3 and c3 squares.} Nd5 29. Rf3 {
Making sure to cover the c3 square.} Rd8 30. Ne2 Re8 31. Rxd5 Rxe2 32. Rd8+ Bf8
33. b4 {Now my pawns will be unstoppable.} Kg7 34. Rb3 Be7 35. Rd1 Bf6 36. a4
Rxg2 37. a5 {AlexanderL won by resignation. A very interesting tough battle. I
was very happy to win it in the end but also have my brain be really forced to
work.} 1-0

[Event "Oregon Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.09.06"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Belanoff, Ted"]
[Black "Tang, Zoey"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2241"]
[BlackElo "2097"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2020.09.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]

{[%evp 0,58,27,10,49,-12,5,10,10,6,5,-2,41,25,24,23,32,36,21,0,40,-3,18,-21,
-11,-14,-43,-37,-22,-18,-23,-87,-39,-82,-100,-185,-177,-153,-194,-198,-164,
-190,-183,-349,-452,-459,-514,-1004,-1127,-1105,-1145,-1202,-1222,-1665,-1665,
-1953,-1928,-29989,-29988,-29991,-29992] In this game, in round 2 of the
Oregon Open, master Ted Belanoff from New York is playing against a young
expert female player from Oregon, Zoey Tang, who I had the privilege of facing
the very next round. Ted I knew from the few times he played at the famous
Marshall Chess Club. I knew he is a relatively fast player.} 1. e4 c5 2. g3 {
Trying to play a closed sicilian.} (2. Nc3 {This is the more traditional way
of playing a closed sicilian.}) 2... d6 (2... d5 {Is an interesting approach
trying to take advantage of the move order.} 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 {With an
interesting game.}) 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Nge2 e6 (5... g6 {This is also
quite common here.}) 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 {transposing into an open sicilian.} cxd4
8. Nxd4 O-O 9. Be3 a6 10. Qd2 $6 {This allows Ng4.} (10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Na4 {
Was probably better.}) 10... Bd7 $6 (10... Ng4 {This would be awkward to meet
for white.} 11. Nxc6 bxc6 {And black will get two bishops.}) 11. Kh1 $6 {
Still allowing ng4.} Ng4 12. Rad1 Nxe3 13. Qxe3 Rc8 14. Nde2 b5 15. f4 Qc7 $6 (
15... Na5 {This was stronger.} 16. a3 (16. b3 b4) 16... Nc4 17. Qc1 a5 18. b3
Nxa3 19. Qxa3 b4 20. Qa1 bxc3 $17) 16. f5 $2 {This is quite antipositional,
giving up the e5 square. White does have some merit to give up the e5 square,
putting pressure on e6, but in this caes it is not nearly enough to compensate
for the e5 weakness.} (16. Rd2 Na5 17. b3 $15 {Was better to defend the c2
pawn in case of b4.}) 16... Ne5 17. Bh3 b4 18. Nb1 exf5 19. exf5 Bc6+ $1 20.
Kg1 Bf6 {These bishops are now monsters on the long diagonals.} 21. g4 Rfe8 22.
Qg3 Qb6+ 23. Rf2 Bh4 $1 {A very nice tactic to finish off a good game.} 24.
Qxh4 Nf3+ 25. Kf1 Nxh4 26. Rxd6 Bg2+ 27. Bxg2 Qxd6 28. Ke1 Nxg2+ 29. Rxg2 Rxc2
{A nice game for Zoey, taking advantage of white's serious positional
inaccuracies.} 0-1

[Event "Oregon Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.09.06"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Tang, Zoey"]
[Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2097"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2020.09.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]

{[%evp 0,66,19,9,75,53,72,71,88,91,97,46,75,60,45,22,11,-18,35,13,51,54,33,49,
32,32,49,-83,-85,-125,-117,-237,-55,-72,-72,-72,-122,-169,-155,-199,-110,-104,
-104,-129,-129,-158,-120,-124,-43,-85,-113,-132,-118,-114,-141,-141,-141,-213,
-248,-391,-288,-629,-356,-523,-385,-853,-853,-1078,-1971] After another bye in
round 3, In round 4, I played Zoey Tang, a young female player, rated around
2100. She had 2.5 and just beat a master player, so I knew she would be
dangerous. I was looking forward to an interesting fight.} 1. d4 f5 $5 {
Going for a sharp fight right away.} 2. Bg5 {This was played instantly. I have
a feeling she must've expected the Dutch slightly since I recently played it
in another tournament against GM Aleksandrov.} g6 (2... h6 3. Bh4 g5 4. e3 Nf6
{Is another line.} (4... gxh4 $4 5. Qh5#)) (2... c6 {Is also a line as a
vaguely recall but probably not the best one.}) 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e3 (4. e4 fxe4 5.
Nxe4 d5 {As far as I knew, this is supposed to be decent for black.}) 4... Nf6
$6 (4... h6 {I have a feeling that I might've chosen a wrong move order.} 5.
Bf4 (5. Bh4 d6 {With an interesting Dutch fight.}) 5... Nf6) 5. h4 $1 h6 $2 {
Apparently this is already bad.} (5... c6 {Maybe this move was the lesser of
the evils, with the idea of d5.} 6. h5 Ne4 {White might be better but it seems
like black is fighting.}) 6. Bf4 $2 {Transposing into well-known theoretical
lines but not taking advantage of an unexpected chance.} (6. Bxf6 $1 Bxf6 7.
Qf3 d6 8. O-O-O $16 {White has a nearly winning position already, with black's
king being so compromised.}) 6... d6 7. Bd3 (7. Bc4 e6) 7... O-O {This is
probably objectively ok still but flirting with danger. I don't understand why
I simply didn't play} (7... Nc6 {And now I have flexibility in my ideas. Black
is probably for choice here. It also stops e4, one of his ideas.} 8. d5 (8. e4
$2 Nxd4) (8. Nf3 {And only after this I can castle but I don't even have to.}
O-O (8... Nb4 9. Bc4 e6 $11) 9. Qd2 Nb4) 8... e5 $1 9. dxc6 exf4 $17) 8. Qd2
Nh5 $6 {This is quite poor. Somehow I failed to realize that I'm not really
ever threatening to take on f4.} (8... Nc6 {Was again asking to be played.} 9.
e4 (9. O-O-O Qe8 (9... Kh7)) 9... fxe4 10. Nxe4 Ng4 11. f3 d5 12. Nc3 e5 $1 {
With a messy but good position for black. Now white has to be careful not to
get under a serious initiative.} 13. dxe5 d4 14. Ne4 Rxf4 $1 15. Qxf4 Ne3) 9.
O-O-O (9. Bh2 e5 {Was my plan. Even here, white is doing well.}) 9... e6 $6 {
Here I'm definitely overanalyzing.} (9... Nxf4 10. exf4 e6 (10... Bxd4 $6 11.
Bc4+) (10... h5 11. Nf3) 11. h5 $16 {White has a strong attack.}) (9... Nc6 {
Again, this was the best choice.}) 10. Nge2 Qf6 11. f3 e5 12. Bh2 Nc6 {At last!
} 13. g4 $6 {Very tempting but probably not best. However, I did expect this
move, and I might've played it myself.} (13. Bc4+ Kh8 14. Nd5 Qd8 15. dxe5 dxe5
16. Qe1 $16 {Was objectively stronger.}) 13... fxg4 14. fxg4 Bxg4 15. Rhg1 $2 {
Looks logical but actually it just gives up the pawn on h4 with tempo.} (15.
Nd5) 15... Bf5 $2 (15... Qxh4 {Don't ask me why I didn't take this pawn :)})
16. e4 Bd7 17. Bc4+ $2 {I didn't understand this move. It pushes my king to go
to where it wants to anyway, that is to defend my g6 pawn and free my queen.} (
17. Nd5 Qxh4 18. Rxg6 {Would lead to a mess since} Qxh2 $4 (18... Kh7 19. Rg2 {
Is objectively around equal.}) 19. Qxh6 Rf7 20. Rdg1 {Leads to a winning
attack for white.}) 17... Kh7 18. Rg2 $6 {Also losing a tempo.} Bh3 19. Rgg1
Nxd4 $6 {A poor move, giving white unnecessary counterplay.} (19... Qxh4 {
Is sort of game over without too much counterplay.}) 20. Nxd4 exd4 21. Nd5 Qxh4
22. Nxc7 Rad8 (22... Rac8 $2 {At first I thought I can just play here and win,
but I forgot that white can take on d6 and defend everything.} 23. Bxd6) (22...
Rf2 23. Nxa8 Rxd2 24. Rxd2 Bf6 $19 {Was also good for black.}) 23. Qb4 Nf4 24.
Kb1 Qe7 25. Nb5 (25. Bxf4 Qxc7 26. Bc1 {Here white is down two pawns but still
has some small compensation. Probably it was better for white to eliminate my
knight earlier.}) 25... Qxe4 26. Rge1 Qg2 27. Bxf4 Rxf4 28. Nxa7 $6 {This just
loses.} (28. Rg1 {Is also losing for white in the long run, but the game
continues.} Qc6 $17) 28... d3 $1 {Probably my only good move of the game! The
idea is to activate two of my pieces, my bishop and rook and create many new
tactical possibilites. Now white is just lost.} 29. Rxd3 d5 30. b3 Bf5 31. Rd2
Qg5 32. Red1 dxc4 {A cute little finish.} 33. Rxd8 Qxd8 {AlexanderL won by
resignation. White resigned since taking the queen would lead to quick mate
after Rf1+. A back and forth game, definitely an interesting game, but
definitely my hope is to be able to navigate through the complications better.}
0-1

[Event "Oregon Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.09.07"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Moore, Michael"]
[Black "Tang, Zoey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B63"]
[WhiteElo "1950"]
[BlackElo "2097"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2020.09.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]

{[%evp 0,79,27,10,53,39,99,62,62,67,67,67,42,31,79,58,46,38,30,3,13,-4,19,-6,
-24,-42,45,26,30,21,21,27,25,21,25,25,8,0,14,17,16,-28,-23,-32,2,-21,-30,-11,
52,70,91,97,97,88,97,99,55,119,252,249,258,263,255,247,261,211,217,285,334,860,
864,1089,1154,1282,1502,1596,1596,775,808,808,808,861] This is a game in round
5 between Michael Moore, a dangeorus tactical mid 1900 player and Zoey Tang,
who was already mentioned in the games against me and Ted Belanoff.} 1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 {The sharpest variation of
the Classical Sicilian, the Rauzer Attack.} e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. Nxc6
$6 {This I think is inaccurate since it opens the b-file for black to attack
and helps black to play d5.} (9. f4 {f4 first is more common here.}) 9... bxc6
10. f4 d5 11. Be2 Rb8 12. Qe3 Qc7 $6 {This is too passive,however.} (12... Qa5
13. e5 Bc5 14. Qg3 Ne8 15. a3 f6 {Was better for black.}) 13. e5 Ne8 (13... Qb7
14. b3 Ba3+ 15. Kb1 Nd7 {It was better to try to keep bishops on the board so
that the c5 square does not get weakened.}) 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Na4 Qb4 16. Rd4
Qa5 17. Qc3 (17. Qa3 {might be even better.}) 17... Qxc3 18. bxc3 Nc7 19. Nc5
f6 20. Re1 (20. Rf1 {This was a bit more accurate here since the key is to not
allow Rf2 counterplay. White certainly does not mind exchanging rooks here
since all the rest of the pieces are in white's favor.}) 20... fxe5 21. fxe5 a5
22. Kd2 (22. Rf1 {Again this was better.}) 22... Nb5 (22... Rf2 23. Rg4 Na6 {
Was an improvement.}) 23. Rg4 Rf5 (23... h5 24. Rg5 Na3 25. Rxh5 Nb1+ {Was the
last chance for counterplay.}) 24. Bd3 $1 {Now white gets total control of the
game.} Rf2+ 25. Ke3 Rf7 26. Rb1 Ra8 27. Rb3 g6 28. a4 d4+ 29. cxd4 Nc7 30. c4
Na6 31. Ne4 Nb4 32. Nf6+ Kh8 33. Bxg6 $1 {A nice finishing touch!} hxg6 34.
Rh4+ Kg7 35. Rh7+ Kf8 36. Rh8+ Kg7 37. Rg8+ Kh6 38. Kf4 Nd5+ 39. cxd5 exd5 40.
g4 {This was a very nice positional game by Michael Moore, beautifully
exploiting the dark square domination and killing black's c8 bishop. Then, the
attack was also excellently executed.} 1-0

[Event "Oregon Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.09.07"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Talukdar, Rohan"]
[Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B09"]
[WhiteElo "2402"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "2020.09.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]

{[%evp 0,134,20,18,86,66,79,72,68,51,44,39,46,36,48,25,0,-11,5,-18,-18,-28,-25,
17,2,-30,-30,-14,-14,-14,-10,-6,-9,9,-3,4,-6,1,-22,-4,-21,-32,-32,-43,-28,-52,
-38,-43,-50,-46,-17,-20,-20,-25,-4,-4,-25,-16,-16,-14,-20,-15,-16,-12,-7,0,33,
13,0,0,-13,-4,-4,0,-14,-80,-80,-91,-93,-72,-70,-83,-79,-80,-85,-79,-76,-83,-72,
-64,-43,-99,-98,-123,-100,-113,-113,-112,-151,-149,-149,-157,-192,-188,-189,
-223,-198,-240,-221,-251,-282,-341,-327,-344,-384,-378,-471,-507,-507,-515,
-517,-527,-527,-567,-527,-567,-567,-567,-567,-577,-577,-577,-577,-577,-547,
-577,-547] In round 5, I am playing against a strong young player from Canada,
FM Rohan Talukdar, who is close to 2400 Fide and against whom I've already
played many times. He has gotten a draw against me at least four times as far
as I could remember and I was only able to win a couple of games, so I knew
this would be very challenging.} 1. e4 g6 {I am trailing so I need to win on
demand, hence the opening choice.} 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. f4 Nf6 5. Nf3 O-O 6.
Bd3 Nc6 $5 {A relatively modern line, which might've came as a surprise to my
opponent.} (6... Na6 {This is more common, with the idea of c5, and Rohan
already had a game here.} 7. O-O c5 8. d5 Bg4 {With lots of theory to follow
here.}) 7. e5 (7. O-O e5 {Would be my idea here with sharp play to follow,
exactly what I wanted in a must-win game.}) 7... dxe5 8. dxe5 (8. fxe5 {
This is also an important line, after which black follows with} Nh5 9. O-O Bg4
10. Be3 f6 {With interesting play.}) 8... Nd5 9. Nxd5 Qxd5 10. Qe2 Bg4 11. Be4
Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qb6 {Up to here it is still my preparation, where we are
following the game, Firouzja-Duda, where black won in a very nice way. However,
here, white improves on this game in a logical way.} 13. O-O-O (13. Bc3 $6 {
Was played by Firouzja in a rapid event, after which his position turned sour.}
Rad8 14. h3 $6 (14. Qf2) 14... Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Nd4 16. Qg3 f6 $17 17. Bd3 fxe5
18. O-O-O exf4 19. Qg4 Qc5 20. Rhe1 Nc6 21. Qe6+ Kh8 22. Bxg7+ Kxg7 23. Kb1 Rf6
24. Qg4 Ne5 25. Qg5 Rd5 26. Be2 Nd3 27. Qxd5 Qxd5 28. Bf3 Qxf3 29. Rxe7+ Kf8
30. gxf3 Kxe7 31. Rxd3 Rd6 {0-1 (31) Firouzja,A (2723)-Duda,J (2758) Moscow
RUS 2019}) 13... Nd4 (13... f6 {I also considered this move but it's not so
great.} 14. exf6 Bxf6 15. c3 $16 {Somehow, I didn't like it, and indeed,
black's pieces are very uncoordinated here.}) 14. Qe3 (14. Qd3 Rfd8 15. Be3 {
Was quite good for white.}) 14... Rfd8 (14... Rad8 {Was also possible. I
couldn't decide which rook to move to d8.}) 15. c3 (15. Rhe1 {I thought it was
better to bring the last piece in the game.}) 15... Nxf3 16. Bxf3 Qxe3 {
I was a bit hesitant in going into this game, since even though I could be
marginally better, I knew it might not be enough. However, ultimately, I
decided that this was still the best objectively.} (16... Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Qa6 {
Is also something I seriously contemplated. However, I did not think I had
more than equality here after} 18. a3 {His king looks a bit weak but he will
play Be3, exchange the rooks, and my bishop on g7 is restricted. I didn't
think I can realistically be better here.}) 17. Bxe3 Bxf3 18. gxf3 f6 {I
thought this would be the most challenging.} 19. exf6 exf6 20. Rxd8+ (20. f5 $5
{Was an interesting pawn sacrifice.} gxf5 21. Bf4 {activates his bishop and
keeps his bishop restricted. However, I can hope to play for a win after c6
here.} c6 $15) 20... Rxd8 21. Rd1 Re8 (21... Rxd1+ {I was calculating this and
trying to see whether I can have real winning chances here but decided that
it's better to keep the rooks on the board.} 22. Kxd1 a6 23. Ke2 Kf7 24. Kd3
Ke6 25. Ke4 {The problem is, his king makes it in time to prevent Kf5, and I
just didn't see how I can create winning chances here.}) 22. Rd3 (22. Bxa7 $2 {
Didn't work because} b6 23. Rd7 (23. Rd4 Ra8 24. Ra4 Kf7 25. Ra6 Bh6) 23... Bh6
$1) 22... Bf8 23. Kd2 Bd6 24. c4 Bb4+ $6 {Strange move, not sure why I played
this.} (24... b6 25. c5 bxc5 26. Ra3 {I was afraid of this I think but here I
can still play for a win with} Ra8 27. Ra5 (27. Ra6 Rd8 28. Kc2 Re8 29. Kd2 c4
30. Ra4 Rb8 31. Kc2 Kf7 32. Rxc4 Rb5 {And white still has to answer some
questions.}) 27... a6) 25. Kc2 b6 26. a3 Bd6 27. b4 Re6 28. c5 bxc5 29. bxc5
Be7 30. Kb3 Kf7 31. Kc4 {Here I wasn't optimistic anymore about my chances of
winning. I tried my last resort.} g5 $5 {Just trying to confuse matters.} 32.
Rb3 a6 33. fxg5 fxg5 34. Kd3 (34. Kd5 {I thought this was better, to induce c6,
and therefore, opening the b6 square for the rook.}) 34... Ke8 35. Rb8+ Kd7 36.
Rh8 (36. Rg8 {This seemed like an easier draw to me.}) 36... Rh6 {Now it
starts getting to the point where white has to be very precise to hold the
balance.} 37. f4 $6 {This is already a serious inaccuracy.} (37. Ra8 $1 {
Was strong, tying me down to the a6 pawn. This keeps the balance.}) 37... Rh3 {
I have a feeling my opponent missed this move. Now I win a pawn.} 38. Ke4 gxf4
39. Bxf4 Bxc5 40. a4 Bd6 41. Bg3 Bxg3 $6 {Definitely this was inaccurate. Why
give white a chance to start pushing his g-pawn and create counterplay, when
white cannot take on d6 anyway.} (41... Kc6 $17) 42. hxg3 Kc6 43. g4 {Now this
is probably closer to a draw than a win. But I was up a lot on time.} Rh1 44.
g5 Kc5 45. Ra8 Kb6 46. Ke5 $6 {Seems logical but the wrong plan.} (46. Kd3 {
Keeping the king around the queenside would yield white very good drawing
chances.} Rh4 (46... Ka5 47. Ra7) 47. Rh8) 46... Rh4 (46... c5 47. Rh8 Rh5 {
Was perhaps a better try in this complicated endgame.}) 47. Rb8+ Ka5 48. Rc8
Kxa4 49. Rxc7 a5 50. Rb7 Ka3 {I thought this is a real winning chance for
black but it turns out it is still a draw.} 51. Kf6 $6 {This is the wrong
direction however.} (51. Kd5 $1 a4 52. Kc5 Ka2 53. Rf7 Rh2 54. Kb4 a3 55. Rf3
Rh4+ 56. Kc3 {And I cannot make progress. The side checks idea saves white.})
51... a4 52. Kg7 Rh5 53. Kf6 Ka2 54. g6 $4 {A very poor move, which came as a
shock to me, since now black can probably win in many different ways since the
white king is very far away.} (54. Rb8 a3 55. Rb7 Rh3 56. Ke5 Ka1 57. Kf6 a2
58. Kf7 Rh2 59. Kf6 {White can wait here. Black cannot make progress since Rb2
is always me with} Rb2 60. Rxh7 Kb1 61. Ra7 {And now the all-important g-pawn
saves the day for white.}) 54... hxg6 55. Kxg6 Re5 56. Kf6 Re2 {The white king
is cut-off on 4 ranks so I knew it is a theoretical win.} 57. Kf5 a3 58. Kf4
Ka1 59. Kf3 Rb2 60. Ra7 a2 61. Re7 Rb3+ 62. Kf2 Kb2 63. Re2+ Ka3 64. Re1 Rb1
65. Re3+ Kb4 66. Re4+ Kc5 67. Re5+ Kd6 {AlexanderL won by resignation. A nice
grind for me where I felt like my patience and perseverence paid off and
eventually my strong opponent cracked. This important win with black put me in
excellent position to win this tournament, which I was able to do after I won
my last round game with white while Rohan was only able to draw his last round
game, and he ended up getting 2nd.} 0-1

[Event "Oregon Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.09.07"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Lu, Ryan"]
[Black "Russell, Corey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "1948"]
[BlackElo "2202"]
[Annotator "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "2020.09.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]

{[%evp 0,135,27,25,90,66,80,69,76,74,84,53,61,56,72,56,70,56,55,55,44,39,85,61,
72,22,22,15,38,33,28,30,58,52,56,-9,-11,-6,-14,-10,-21,-37,-12,-35,5,8,7,9,1,
-10,-5,-16,-1,-39,-20,-37,-17,-34,-45,-67,-72,-82,-28,-22,-39,-20,0,-60,49,31,
31,38,71,-71,-50,-94,-44,-65,0,21,21,0,0,0,0,-63,0,0,0,-59,-54,-69,-61,-83,-83,
-95,-72,-77,0,-88,-80,-75,-100,-92,-38,-32,0,0,16,-24,21,20,49,-45,-46,-351,
-221,-411,-423,-430,9,0,61,60,1282,1302,1312,1385,1282,1459,1459,1721,29656,
29964,29967,29968,29977,29974] This was a last round game between a young
player, Ryan Lu in the mid-1900s and an experienced master, Corey Russel. And
what a fight it was, down to the wire!} 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6
5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. a4 {Stopping b5. White is playing a solid line against
black's aggressive Pirc defence.} a5 8. h3 Na6 9. Be3 Nb4 10. Qd2 Qc7 11. Rad1
d5 12. exd5 $6 {Up to here, white's play is logical but here white starts
losing his edge.} (12. e5 {It was better to gain the space advantage here.} Ne4
(12... Nd7 13. Bf4 Qb6 14. Rfe1 $14) 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Ng5) 12... Nbxd5 13.
Nxd5 cxd5 14. c3 Bd7 15. Qc2 Rfc8 (15... b5 {This was stronger.} 16. axb5 Rfb8)
16. Ne5 Be8 17. f4 $2 {This move is a serious mistake, giving up the e4 square,
especially here since white's attack is really going nowhere. Since white
started to play solidly and positionally it would be better for white to
continue playing like that rather than mixing plans.} (17. Bf4 Qd8 18. Bd3 {
Would keep a slight edge for white due to more active pieces.}) 17... Ne4 18.
Bd3 e6 (18... f6 19. Nf3 Bc6) 19. Ra1 (19. Bxe4 {This would be stronger
probably.} dxe4 20. Qxe4 (20. d5 $1) 20... Bxa4) 19... f6 20. Ng4 Nd6 21. Bc1
b5 22. axb5 Nxb5 (22... Bxb5 {It was probably more accurate to exchange the
bishops here, trading off pieces and leaving white with a bad c1 bishop.}) 23.
Qe2 Qb6 24. Kh1 (24. f5 $5 {It was interesting to sacrifice the pawn to
activate the bishop on c1.} exf5 25. Nh6+ (25. Ne3 Qc6 26. g4 fxg4 27. Nxg4 $36
) 25... Kh8 26. Bf4 $44) 24... Nc7 (24... f5 25. Ne5 Nd6 $15 {I think
ultimately, the knight should head back to e4.}) 25. Nh2 Bb5 26. Bxb5 Qxb5 27.
Qf3 Rf8 28. g4 e5 $1 {It makes sense for black to open up the center when
white's king is weak.} 29. dxe5 (29. f5 {This was better at cutting his losses
so that black's bishop doesn't get active. Always all about piece activity.})
29... fxe5 30. f5 Ne6 $2 {This was just a bit careless, losing a tempo.} (30...
Ne8 $15 {Once again, heading towards e4.}) 31. Qg2 Nc7 32. Bg5 Ra6 33. Rad1 h6
34. Be7 Rf7 35. Bd8 d4 36. fxg6 $2 (36. Bxc7 {It was better to get rid of this
knight first before it can later do some damage.}) 36... Rxf1+ 37. Rxf1 Nd5 $6
(37... Ne6 {This was better, gaining a tempo and heading to f4.}) 38. Qf3 dxc3
39. Qf7+ Kh8 40. g5 $1 {This gets very sharp.} hxg5 41. Bxg5 Qc6 42. bxc3 Nf4+
43. Nf3 Qxg6 44. Qxg6 (44. Qb7 {It was probably practically better to keep
queens on here since the endgame turns out to be unpleasant.}) 44... Nxg6 45.
h4 e4 46. Nd4 (46. Nd2 {This was probably better but it was a complicated
position.}) 46... a4 47. Ra1 Ne5 48. Kg2 Nc4 49. Kf2 (49. Kg3 {Here this was
more accurate to go right after the e4 pawn.}) 49... a3 50. Ke2 Kh7 51. Kd1
Bxd4 (51... Rb6 {Would be good here to prevent kc2.} 52. Kc2 (52. Bc1 Rf6 $1 {
And seizing control of the file and trying to play Rf1.}) 52... Rb2+) 52. cxd4
Rd6 53. Kc2 Kg6 54. Kb3 Rc6 55. Rc1 Kf5 56. Rc3 Ke6 57. Be3 $4 {By now
probably both players are in time pressure and deep into the endgame, both
players might be tired. White here makes the first big mistake in an endgame
that is currently balanced.} (57. Ka2 Kd5 58. h5 Kxd4 59. Rh3 {Was equal.})
57... Kd5 $6 {Still wins but not the cleanest.} (57... Na5+ $1 58. Kc2 Rxc3+
59. Kxc3 a2 60. Kb2 Nc4+ {And here it becomes evident by Be3 was a mistake as
white now loses this bishop by force and with it, the game.}) 58. h5 Na5+ 59.
Kb4 Rxc3 $4 {Ironically, the same idea that was winning a few moves earlier,
now with white having gained a tempo with h5 doesn't win anymore.} (59... a2
60. Ra3 Nc4 61. Rxa2 Nxe3 $19 {Was quite a straightforward win.}) 60. Kxc3 Nc4
61. Kb3 $1 Ke6 $4 {Probably here black realized to his horror that Nxe3
doesn't actually win and made a losing blunder. This is why precise
calculation is very important in endgames.} (61... Nxe3 62. h6) (61... a2 62.
Kxa2 Ke6 {Was still giving a draw.}) 62. Kxc4 a2 63. d5+ $1 {Of course.
Preparing Bd4, stopping the pawn. Could black have missed this?} Kf5 64. Bd4 e3
65. Kd3 {And now that both of black's pawns are stopped, black is lost since
he cannot stop both pawns with his own king.} e2 66. Kxe2 Ke4 67. Ba1 Kxd5 68.
Kf3 {And because the bishop controls the right corner, h8, white wins, so
black resigned. A very exciting up and down game unfortunately marred by time
pressure most likely.} 1-0

[Event "Oregon Open (U2000)"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.09.06"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Peng, Brandon"]
[Black "Ramkumar, Aditya"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E13"]
[WhiteElo "1686"]
[BlackElo "1452"]
[Annotator "Brandon Peng"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2020.09.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:54:42"]
[BlackClock "0:38:25"]

{[%evp 0,93,19,34,29,0,-11,-10,25,31,29,11,24,2,10,-11,1,-19,6,5,12,8,10,-12,
14,-1,5,-17,16,-30,-11,-26,-32,-36,-35,-43,-34,-30,-13,-19,-30,-21,14,10,0,-4,
-7,3,3,5,10,-81,-65,-68,-78,-61,-62,-65,-68,-65,-65,-68,-65,-68,29,38,160,192,
190,194,648,650,29989,831,29985,708,718,718,718,718,741,756,817,844,1151,844,
2057,823,835,875,915,988,1470,1094,29993,28796]} 1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:00:26]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:
02]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:01:18]} 4. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} O-O {[%emt 0:01:36]} 5. Bg5 {
[%emt 0:00:06]} d6 {[%emt 0:05:16]} 6. e3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:02:01]
} 7. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} h6 {[%emt 0:02:54]} 8. Bh4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Bxc3+ {
[%emt 0:02:40]} 9. bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} b6 {[%emt 0:01:21]} 10. O-O {[%emt 0:
01:19]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:01:35]} 11. Qc2 {[%emt 0:01:57]} c5 {[%emt 0:03:14]
Better would have been 11. g5} 12. Rfd1 {[%emt 0:01:32]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:04:17]}
13. Rac1 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Rac8 {[%emt 0:04:03]} 14. Qb2 {[%emt 0:00:50]} Rfe8 {
[%emt 0:04:35]} 15. Bg3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} (15. Nd2 Ne4 16. Bd3 Nxd2 17. Qxd2 {
This variation leads to an equal position, rather than 15. Bg3 which gives
Black an advantage.}) 15... Nh5 {[%emt 0:02:01]} 16. Qb3 {[%emt 0:03:52]} Nxg3
{[%emt 0:02:22]} 17. hxg3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:02:44]} 18. Nd2 {
[%emt 0:07:23]} d5 {[%emt 0:06:16]} 19. cxd5 {[%emt 0:04:47]} exd5 {[%emt 0:01:
05]} 20. Nf3 {[%emt 0:02:31]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:01:52] This move evens up the
position. After 21. Nxd4 both sides don't have much play.} 21. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:
00:18]} Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:53]} 22. c4 {[%emt 0:00:27]} dxc4 {[%emt 0:01:01]} 23.
Rxc4 {[%emt 0:00:58]} Qe5 {[%emt 0:01:23]} 24. Rxc8 {[%emt 0:01:50]} Rxc8 {
[%emt 0:00:23]} 25. Bc4 {[%emt 0:01:23] This allows black to take the
initiative with 25. Qf6, attacking the f pawn and forcing white into a passive
position.} Qf6 {[%emt 0:00:54]} 26. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:35]} Nc5 {[%emt 0:01:30]}
27. Qc2 {[%emt 0:04:10]} Bxf3 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 28. gxf3 {[%emt 0:00:25]} Qxf3 {
[%emt 0:00:09] Black now has a slight advantage in this position. White can't
really advance much, but there are possibilities of Rd4 and Rf4 to
double-attack the f7 pawn.} 29. Ba6 {[%emt 0:00:53]} Re8 {[%emt 0:01:14]} 30.
Bb5 {[%emt 0:03:09]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:01:18]} 31. Rd4 {[%emt 0:03:40]} g6 $2 {
[%emt 0:02:42] This move gives up black's advantage, as white can now start
his attack with Bc4} 32. Bc4 {[%emt 0:02:19]} Qc6 $4 {[%emt 0:03:16] After 33.
Bd5 black is in a losing position. The rook will swing to f4 and the black
kingside is very weak, with a pinned and weak f7 pawn as well as the threat of
Qxg6 if the black Queen leaves that pawn unprotected.} 33. Bd5 {[%emt 0:03:51]}
Qf6 {[%emt 0:01:34]} 34. Rf4 {[%emt 0:00:31]} Qg5 {[%emt 0:00:27]} (34... Qa1+
35. Kh2 Kh8 {Although not great, this line keeps most of black's pieces intact.
Qg5 just loses to Rxf7 and the threats of a mate and discovered attacks.}) 35.
Rxf7 {[%emt 0:02:50]} Rd8 {[%emt 0:01:37]} 36. Bc4 {[%emt 0:01:33]} (36. Qc3
Ne6 37. Bxe6 Qe5 38. Qxe5 Rd1+ 39. Kg2 Rg1+ 40. Kxg1 b5 41. Qg7# {Although Bc4
gives white a decisive advantage, there was a forced mate here.}) 36... b5 {
[%emt 0:02:29] Once again, Qb2 or Qc3 lead to a forced mate.} 37. Rf5+ {
[%emt 0:00:31]} bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 38. Rxg5 {[%emt 0:00:42]} hxg5 {[%emt 0:
00:23]} 39. Qxc4+ {[%emt 0:00:49]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 40. Qxc5 {[%emt 0:00:
04]} Rd2 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 41. Qxa7+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} Kh6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 42.
Qb8 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Kh5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 43. Qh8+ {[%emt 0:00:59]} (43. f3
Rd1+ 44. Kh2 Rd2+ 45. Kh3 Rh2+ 46. Kxh2 g4 47. fxg4+ Kxg4 48. Qf4+ Kh5 49. Qh4#
{Another forced mate here.}) 43... Kg4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 44. Qc8+ {[%emt 0:00:
03]} Kf3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 45. Qc6+ {[%emt 0:00:03]} Kg4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 46.
Qxg6 {[%emt 0:00:32]} Rxa2 {[%emt 0:00:08] After 47. Qe6+, Black loses his
rook to a fork and the game is over.} 47. Qe6+ {[%emt 0:00:05] Black resigned.
Game may have continued...} (47. Qe6+ Kh5 48. Qxa2 Kg6 49. Qg8+ Kf5 50. Qf7+
Ke5 {[%eval 6205,0]}) 1-0

[Event "Oregon Open (U1600)"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.09.07"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Adebolu, Ademidun"]
[Black "Wang, Ted"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "1260"]
[BlackElo "779"]
[Annotator "Ted Wang"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2020.09.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]

{[%evp 0,48,34,35,58,35,39,14,20,12,12,26,59,45,55,-6,-6,-6,6,15,15,15,15,19,
18,-1,41,-6,31,-192,-221,-210,-198,-198,-220,-227,-186,-213,-189,-252,-231,
-316,-333,-648,-655,-656,-659,-663,-674,-691,-679]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4
cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 {Black saw black pawn would be
doubled if white played Bxf6. However, this gave black an open g file.} 8. Na3
b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 {The action expected at move 8 happened.} 10. Nd5 Be6 {The
main line was supposed to be f5.} 11. Bd3 f5 12. Qh5 Rg8 13. g3 Rg6 {If queen
captured h7, it would be trapped} 14. exf5 {This was a mistake.} Bxd5 15. fxg6
hxg6 16. Bxg6 Qf6 17. Bxf7+ Qxf7 18. Qxf7+ Kxf7 {At this point, although white
had material advantage, black had much better position.} 19. Rg1 b4 20. Nb1 Nd4
21. Kd1 Bf3+ 22. Kd2 Bh6+ 23. Kd3 Be2+ 24. Ke4 Nxc2 {tedwpnw won by
resignation Black turned the position advantage into material advantage. Given
white king was exposed and material down, white resigned.} 0-1

[Event "Oregon Open"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.09.07"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Valentin Razmov"]
[Black "Edward Li"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "1986"]
[BlackElo "1595"]
[Annotator "Valentin Razmov"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2020.09.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]

{[%evp 0,49,25,26,13,-23,2,0,6,-5,-6,-9,25,25,28,45,48,16,18,8,10,15,29,28,30,
28,44,-7,-17,-22,140,147,121,136,136,49,55,62,71,93,578,649,740,714,787,787,
787,805,805,412,29997,29998]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 {The
exchange variation of Queen's Gambit Declined is not without teeth for either
side, as this game illustrates.} exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 c6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Qc2 h6
9. Bh4 Be6 {The more popular plan for black is to put a knight on this square,
via Nb8-Nd7-Nf8-Ne6, combined with ...Re8.} (9... Nbd7 10. Nge2 Re8 11. f3 c5
12. O-O Nf8 13. Rad1 c4 14. Bf5 Bxf5 15. Qxf5) 10. Nge2 {One of two main plans
for white, intended to include f3+e4 for central dominance. Hence the knight
avoids the f3 square, making room for the f-pawn. In turn, black has to decide
when to play the pawn break ...c6-c5.} Nbd7 11. O-O (11. Nf4 $5 {has the idea
of weakening the light squares around the black king, while enjoying the
advantage of a bishop pair. I considered this seriously, but decided to stick
to my original plan, rather than be distracted away by \"side attractions.\"}
Bd6 12. Nxe6 fxe6) 11... Rc8 12. f3 Qc7 13. e4 $2 {Consistent with the overall
idea, but the timing is wrong. White converts one weakness into another - now
the d4-pawn becomes weak. Due to a miscalculation, I hadn't foreseen Black's
strong defense and upcoming counterplay. Suddenly the calm maneuvering game
becomes loaded with tactical opportunities.} (13. Rae1 {would have been a
logical continuation.}) ({Note that} 13. Rac1 $2 {intending to fortify the
queen on c2 in preparation for an upcoming ...c6-c5 would be a subtly hidden
tactical mistake: Black has} Ng4 $1 {, winning a pawn by taking advantage of
several weaknesses at once in white's position: the hanging or ill-defended
pawns on e3 and h2, and the bishop on h4. A knight jump to remember!}) 13...
dxe4 (13... c5 $2 {would lose material to} 14. e5) 14. fxe4 c5 $2 ({Remember
that knight jump idea from two moves ago?} 14... Ng4 {It's easier to spot now 
(at least the knight is not en prise on g4), and while it doesn't win a pawn
on e3 any more, it helps to put pressure against the newly weakened d4-pawn.
Both players apparently missed that detail.} 15. Bg3 Qb6 {Underscoring the
weakness of white's dark squares around the center... Black is threatening the
...Ne3 fork, but also the pawn thrust ...c6-c5-c4, sometimes with a discovered
check.} 16. Qd2 Bg5 17. Bf4 Bxf4 18. Rxf4 (18. Qxf4 $6 c5) 18... Rfd8 {⩱})
15. e5 {Once you've lit the fire, the only way out is through!} cxd4 16. exf6 {
[#Diagram Position after 16.exf6]} Nxf6 $1 {This is the move I had missed from
my calculation vantage point at move 13. The automatic recapture 16...dxc3?
obviously leads to a White win. White is now - unexpectedly - up a piece, but
the knight on c3 is pinned and cannot escape.} (16... Bxf6 $6 17. Bxf6 Nxf6 18.
Nxd4 Ng4 19. Nf3 Ne3 20. Qf2 Nxf1 21. Rxf1 {and White will have successfully
made it through the scary moments, arriving at a pleasant endgame position.})
17. Bxf6 $1 {Realizing that the game can turn on its head if another
miscalculation happens, I spent many minutes evaluating variations here. It
became clear that the position requires to eliminate, once and for all,
Black's attacking possibilities associated with ...Ng4. There was simply no
other safe way forward.} ({In contrast, after my pre-planned move} 17. Nxd4 $6
{, Black has that same knight jump idea:} Ng4 18. Bg3 Qb6 19. Rf4 Bc5 20. Bf2
Nxf2 21. Qxf2 Rcd8 22. Nce2 Qxb2 {and White barely hangs on to the pinned
knight. Who would want to play this position as White, and who could be
confident that Black can't somehow win that knight - and with it the game -
after all! Especially after the earlier miscalculation, I was not willing to
take additional calculation risks.}) 17... gxf6 $2 {A surprise, played
surprisingly quickly... Black voluntarily weakens his king's position, without
forcing White to give up the exchange (on f6) for that. This immediately felt
like a mistake, giving me wings (tactically and psychologically) for the rest
of this game.} (17... Bxf6 {was the main, and sound, alternative.} 18. Rxf6 {
Practically forced and planned upfront.} ({If} 18. Ne4 $2 Qxc2 19. Bxc2 Rxc2
20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Nxd4 Rxb2 22. Rxf6 Rxa2 23. Rxa2 Bxa2 24. Rxh6 {, the
resulting position would be a losing endgame for White due to Black's two
connected queen-side passers and the presence of the long-range bishop.}) 18...
gxf6 19. Nxd4 Qb6 20. Qf2 Rfd8 21. Nce2 Bg4 {Here White would have to find} 22.
Bf5 ({or} 22. Nf5)) {with approximate equality.} 18. Qd2 $1 {Getting out of
the pin with tempo and winning a crucial pawn on the next move. I could not
ask for more!} dxc3 19. Qxh6 Qc5+ $4 {Move order often matters a lot. In this
position too! Black has seen the correct defense ...f6-f5, but adding this
queen check spoils it.} (19... f5 {was an only move.} 20. Rf3 ({Neither} 20.
Bxf5 $4 Qb6+ 21. Kh1 Bxf5 22. Qxb6 axb6 23. Nxc3 Be6 {-+}) ({nor} 20. Rxf5 $4
Bxf5 21. Bxf5 Qc5+ 22. Kh1 Qxf5 {-+ would work for White, spectacular as they
may look at first. The black queen's options for double-attack checks on b6 or
c5 prevent these sacrificial White moves.}) 20... cxb2 21. Rd1 {This is a good
moment to pause and look for Black's \"only move\" to stay in the game.} Bc4 $1
{An important in-between move, allowing black to exchange queens and thus
reduce the pressure on their own king.} 22. Bxc4 Qb6+ 23. Qxb6 axb6 24. Bd3 {
± White would still have a long technical endgame ahead, though thankfully
playing for only two results now. Plus, endgames are fun and I would have
enjoyed it.}) 20. Kh1 f5 21. Rf3 {A textbook rook lift and suddenly the game
is over. There are too many mating threats to try to prevent.} ({Interestingly,
} 21. Rf4 {would have worked too, as the threat of Rg4+ and Qh7# cannot be
adequately defended against.}) 21... Qe5 22. Rg3+ Qxg3 23. Nxg3 cxb2 24. Rf1
Rc6 (24... f6 {would not change the end result after} 25. Qg6+ Kh8 26. Nxf5 {+-
}) 25. Nh5 {Valentin Razmov won by resignation} 1-0

[Event "Oregon Open (U2000)"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.09.07"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Wang, Felicity"]
[Black "Shapiro, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C61"]
[WhiteElo "1667"]
[BlackElo "1502"]
[Annotator "Michael Shapiro"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2020.09.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 {I expected my opponent to play the Ruy Lopez
against me.} Nd4 {I studied this move for a bit and wanted to surprise my
opponent.} 4. Nxd4 exd4 5. Bc4 h5 6. d3 (6. O-O {here is more commonly played.
For example:} Bc5 7. c3 c6 8. cxd4 Bxd4 9. Nc3 d6 10. d3 Nf6 11. Be3 Bxe3 12.
fxe3 d5 13. exd5 cxd5 14. Bb5+ Kf8 15. Qd2 Qb6 16. Rf4 Be6 {(Alexander
Morozevich - Evgeniy Najer)}) 6... Bc5 7. Nd2 c6 8. f4 $6 ({I was very
surprised to see this move happen on the board. From all the games that I have
seen, White usually castles here.} 8. O-O d6 (8... d5 9. Bb3 Nf6 10. Qe2 Bg4
11. Nf3 Qe7 12. Bg5 dxe4 13. dxe4 O-O-O 14. h3 Rde8 15. Rfe1 Qxe4 16. Qxe4 Nxe4
17. Bxf7 d3 {(Vladimir Belov - Evgeniy Najer)}) 9. Nf3 Bg4 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3
Qf6 12. Qd1 Ne7 13. Bd2 a5 14. a3 a4 15. Qe2 O-O-O {(Emil Anka - Tamas Ruck).})
8... Qh4+ $6 ({In this game, I played 8...Qh4?! to do ...Qh3 and stop White
from castling. I did not realize that my queen would be misplaced there.
Stronger here was} 8... d5 9. exd5 cxd5 10. Bb5+ Kf8 {.}) 9. g3 Qh3 10. Qe2 ({
If} 10. Qf3 $6 d6 11. Qf1 h4 12. Qxh3 Bxh3 {and I am doing just fine here.})
10... b5 $6 {The idea behind this was to force the bishop to go to b3 and play
12...Bb4 pinning the knight to the king and not allowing hte knight to go to
f3.} ({Interesting here is} 10... Kf8 $5 {preparing the idea of ...h4 and then
...d5} 11. Nf3 d5 $1 12. Ng5 (12. Ng1 $6) (12. exd5 $2 Bg4 13. Ng5 Bxe2 14.
Nxh3 Re8 {and this is good for me.}) 12... Qd7 13. exd5 cxd5 14. Bb3 h4 15. g4
Qxg4 16. Qxg4 Bxg4 17. Bxd5 Re8+ 18. Kf1 (18. Kf2 $2 Re2+ {and then ...Rxc2.})
18... Bb4 {.}) 11. Bb3 Bb4 {I was happy here that the knight now cannot go to
f3 and then to g1 kicking my queen out. However, I wasn't happy about the fact
that my knight on g8 and bishop on c8 are not working. A move like 11...Kf8 is
still possible here.} 12. a3 Ba5 ({If} 12... Bxd2+ {then} 13. Bxd2 {and White
has better pieces than mine.}) 13. Ba2 b4 $2 {I played this move to stop White
from playing b4 so that I can keep the knight pinned to the king. But I never
ealized that I can lose a pawn this way. There is an interesting idea of
playing} (13... d5 $5 14. exd5+ Kf8 15. dxc6 Bg4 {and then ...Re8.}) 14. Nb3 {
I was a little discouraged to see this move on the board. However, not only is
White's knight not gong to go to f3, most of his pieces are on the queenside
of the board. It will take some time for White to make all of his pieces work.}
Bb6 15. axb4 Nf6 {Finally my knight comes into the game.} 16. Qf1 Qg4 17. Rg1
d5 (17... h4 $2 {fails because of} 18. h3 $1 Qg6 (18... Qe6 $4 19. Nxd4) (18...
Qh5 19. g4 {.})) 18. e5 Qe6 19. Qe2 Ng4 20. Rh1 $2 {I was very surprised to
see this move. In the game, I expected my opponent to do} (20. h3 Ne3 (20...
Nh6 21. Qxh5) 21. Bxe3 dxe3 22. d4 {After my opponent played 20.Rh1?, I felt
that I still had a chance to win the game.}) 20... h4 21. Qg2 f6 22. h3 fxe5 $1
{I was very proud of this move.} 23. hxg4 $4 {Because of this move, I won the
game quickly. White should have done} (23. f5 Qxf5 24. hxg4 Qxg4 {with kind of
a bad position (especially because of that h-pawn that I have) but it's still
a game.}) 23... exf4+ {My pawns are too strong and his king is open.} 24. Kf1 (
{If} 24. Qe2 {then} Qxe2+ 25. Kxe2 Bxg4+ 26. Kf1 fxg3 {and one of those pawns
will promote.}) 24... fxg3 25. Bd2 O-O+ $1 {What a fun little check!} 26. Kg1
Rf2 27. Qh3 Rxd2 {Whie resigned because ...Qe3+ is unstoppable.} 0-1

[Event "Oregon Open (U1600)"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.09.06"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Li, Emma"]
[Black "Malakar, Saarthak"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B28"]
[WhiteElo "1342"]
[BlackElo "1270"]
[Annotator "Saarthak Malakar"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2020.09.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]

{[%evp 0,108,19,38,40,41,78,56,34,25,42,45,46,30,48,11,27,27,18,-13,-5,3,-18,
-18,-16,-40,-44,-47,4,8,13,7,0,-8,17,0,4,-4,0,6,2,9,2,0,15,9,8,10,12,10,21,0,0,
2,9,2,28,-6,32,32,54,-7,-9,-11,-11,-20,-23,-14,-10,-21,-19,-20,-7,0,1,10,-7,
-23,-26,0,12,10,2,0,0,0,0,-43,-11,-32,-52,-95,-43,-85,-86,-83,-88,-87,-87,-87,
-88,-99,-99,-100,-109,-105,-109,-109,-87,-87,-87] This was indeed a tactical
game and I loved it!} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 {Normal O’Kelly System.} 3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. Bd2 O-O 8. Bd3 d6 9. O-O {Now the
middlegame is reached.} Nbd7 10. a3 Bxc3 {Here I wanted to take the knight
because then I play ...Nc5 which gets an active knight.} 11. Bxc3 Nc5 {In this
position, White has a bishop pair. By looking we can state that White’s
black bishop is better than White’s white bishop. Trading off the knight for
the white bishop would be useless. So, I planned to trade my knight for the
white bishop, and then I have a good bishop and a knight.} 12. Re1 Na4 13. Qd2
Nxc3 14. Qxc3 Be6 {Here you can see that Black’s bishop is pretty good
whereas White’s bishop is not that good. It can be referred to as a “tall
pawn” where the bishop is doing nothing but just standing there like a pawn.}
15. Rad1 Rc8 16. Qd2 b5 17. Ng5 {Here, I have two choices: ...Bd7 and ...Bg4. .
..Bd7 does nothing, just a retreat, so that’s why I thought ...Bg4 was
better; turns out both of them were okay.} Bg4 18. Be2 Bxe2 {I was forced to
trade here because if I did ...Be6, she would have traded her knight for my
awesome bishop. The other option ...Bd7 just loses a pawn by Qxd6.} 19. Rxe2 h6
20. Nf3 Qc7 21. c3 {This position seems clearly equal to me. I thought it
would be a draw.} Rfe8 {A fun trap, Qxd6 loses to ...Red8. But I was pretty
sure my opponent was going to see it. Note that this trap only because of the
rook on e2. If it was on e1 instead of e2, it wouldn’t have worked.} 22. Ree1
{Now it doesn’t.} Red8 23. Qe2 Qb7 24. h3 Nh5 25. g3 Nf6 26. Nh4 g6 27. Ng2
Kg7 28. Rd3 Rc4 29. f3 {Still clearly a draw. Here I tried an interesting idea
of ...d5 followed by ...e4.} d5 30. exd5 e4 {I get my pawn back anyways.} 31.
Rdd1 {In the game, I calculated that 31.fxe4 is a bad move because of ...Rxe4
where my pieces are really active.} Rxd5 32. Rxd5 Qxd5 33. Ne3 {You might
think Black’s losing here but it is actually not.} Qd6 34. Qf2 {If Nxc4, ...
Qxg3+, that’s why Black isn’t losing.} Rc8 {Retreating my rook.} 35. Rd1
Qc6 $6 {You might prefer ...Qe6 and say ...Qc6 is an inaccuracy. Even an
engine might prefer the same, but I played differently.} 36. f4 Re8 37. f5 g5 {
I still thought this is a draw because both White and Black had no attack.} 38.
g4 Qc7 39. Qh2 Qxh2+ 40. Kxh2 {Just traded off my queens, seeing that I
couldn’t do anything more.} h5 41. Kg3 hxg4 42. hxg4 Rh8 43. Nd5 $2 {The key
moment of the game and for White, this is a critical mistake. I was really
hoping for this move because, after Rxd5, I have ...Rh1, penetrating into
White’s camp.} Nxd5 44. Rxd5 Rh1 45. Re5 Rb1 {After the game, when I was
analyzing, I saw that the engine suggested ...Rg1+ for Black but I played
differently. I just went with normal attacking play.} 46. Rxe4 Rxb2 47. a4 Rb3
48. Kf2 Rxc3 49. axb5 axb5 50. Rb4 Rc5 {...Rc4 also works here, threatening to
take the last two pawns by Rxg4 followed by ...Rf4+ and ...Kf6.} 51. Ke3 Kf6
52. Kf3 Rc3+ 53. Ke2 Rc4 $1 {Finally found that idea in the game.} 54. Rxb5
Rxg4 {It’s clearly losing for White here because the last pawn is going to
fall and rook and two pawns versus rook should be an easy win for me. It was
indeed a nice and tactical experience.} 0-1

