[Event "Oregon Open 2023"]
[Site "Portland Oregon"]
[Date "2023.09.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Zhou, Nathan L"]
[Black "Willy, Stephen"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B28"]
[WhiteElo "1898"]
[BlackElo "2100"]
[Annotator "Stephen WIlly"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.09.15"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 {Time to make things imbalanced $1} 3. c4 {(note for future opponents I know how to play vs this now) when I had played a6 I had forgotten about c4 probably due to fatigue and I had tried to review this line a bit but I could not find a clear line for black so I already knew I was in some trouble here as I did not know how to play these structures} Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 g6 {Going for the dragon was a big mistake psychologically as I did not follow up with the typical dragon setup} (5... e5 {Has some interesting variations}) (5... e6 {I also knew some stuff about this position but without a6}) (5... Nf6) (5... d6) 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be3 e6 $5 {[%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;Interesting;persistent;true] I knew this was terrible objectively because of all my dark squared weaknesses but he probably knew what he was doing in the mainline dragon and I was facing a maroczy structure with no clue what to do so I thought why not play e6 and try and make him have to use actual skill as now my plan is rather simple if you give black a few tempos black will play Nge7 and castle and d5 (I even had some ideas of f5)} 8. Nxc6 $1 {[%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This move is necessary at some point or else white has no advantage (At the time I thought this move didn't make sense as I had bxc6 and some attempts at tactics on b2 but when I analyzed I realized that I am 1 tempo too short for any tactics on b2 to work} bxc6 9. Qd2 {There is a problem here that is the dark squares which I knew would be a big problem but I underestimated how big of a problem they are and once I actually analyzed I realized that its almost impossible to get castled as during the game I thought on Nf6 he can play Bh6 and I just am suffering however if I don't play Nf6 then I will never be developed so I have to just suffer I was thinking after Nf6 Bh6 I can play Bxh6 Qxh6 Qb6 with some attempts at counterplay but it probably didn't work} Nf6 10. Bc5 {Oh wait why did I not think about this Qa5 doesn't work due to b4 gotta break out with d5 I guess} (10. Bh6 Bxh6 (10... O-O 11. h4) 11. Qxh6 Qb6 12. Qg7 (12. Be2) (12. O-O-O) 12... Qxb2 13. Qxh8+ Ke7) 10... d5 11. exd5 exd5 12. cxd5 $6 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;Inaccuracy;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true] I wasn't sure why he didn't just play Be2 and simply target my pawn but ok} (12. Be2) 12... Nxd5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true] cxd5 and I just lose the pawn at some point and still have no castling this move is typical in the normal dragon and I thought why not try it here (if you have seen my game against Erin in the state championship this is actually the same type of structure just I am not castled} (12... cxd5 13. Be2 {[%c_arrow e1g1;keyPressed;none;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false,h1f1;keyPressed;none;from;h1;opacity;0.8;to;f1;persistent;false,f1e1;keyPressed;none;from;f1;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false,e1e8;keyPressed;none;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,e2f3;keyPressed;none;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;f3;persistent;false]}) 13. Ne4 $2 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] One bad move comes after another this move is good in mainline theory (like in my game against erin) however here the difference is I am not castled and white should castle and try and mate me} (13. Bc4 $1 {[%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] And I am just lost I have no clue how I would have made counterplay here}) 13... Rb8 $1 {[%c_effect b8;square;b8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] I dont care about my king being on d7 as its actually more safe there than on e8 and now my counterplay on b2 actually exists} 14. Nd6+ Kd7 15. Nc4 $4 {[%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;Blunder;persistent;true] You need to just play Ba3 and defend the pawn properly because of my next move} (15. Ba3) 15... Rxb2 $3 {[%c_effect b2;square;b2;type;Brilliant;persistent;true] Not the most pleasant thing to see at the board} 16. Qd3 $6 {[%c_effect d3;square;d3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] I thought he should take on b2 and accept being down a queen and a pawn for a rook and a bishop and try and use my king on d7 for some counterplay this makes the conversion relatively easy} Re8+ 17. Kd1 Rb5 18. Rc1 Rxc5 19. Ne5+ Rxe5 20. Rxc5 Kc7 21. Rc4 Ne3+ {White resigns} (21... Bf5 {This is probably slightly better}) 0-1

[Event "Oregon Open 2023"]
[Site "Portland Oregon"]
[Date "2023.09.03"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Wang, Ted"]
[Black "Willy, Stephen"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B15"]
[WhiteElo "1976"]
[BlackElo "2100"]
[Annotator "Stephen WIlly"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.09.15"]

1. e4 {Ted was going to be a hard challenge despite already being really strong he had started off the tournament with wins against a 2500 and a 2200......} c6 {I was preparing for Ted and noticed he played into the Tartakower which despite not playing I knew some theory and ideas} 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. c3 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Qc2 Re8+ 9. Ne2 h5 10. Be3 (10. O-O {I think this line is best for white as the mainline white does not get an easy attack}) 10... Nd7 11. O-O-O Nf8 12. Ng3 $6 {[%c_effect g3;square;g3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] I noticed Ted had played this in a previous tournament game and its not really that accurate} (12. c4 {[%emt 0:00:12] This is better rather than Ng3 it is played with Kb1 and both can be played on move}) (12. Kb1) 12... g6 {I remembered preparing this move and while it is also fine for black I think Be6 is more accurate} (12... Be6) 13. Ne4 Be7 {This was the end of my prep I knew black tries to go for Be6 b5 etc etc in these positions} 14. c4 Be6 {Preparing b5 as b5 right away is a free pawn white needs to do something or else he is blown off the board in these types of positions sometimes d5 is an idea against b5 (and maybe even without b5 in some scenarios) white would also like to have h3 g4 ideas but I think this Ng3 Ne4 maneuver makes that plan too slow} (14... b5 15. cxb5) 15. Nc3 Qa5 {The idea of Qa5 is to pressure a2 and also to play b5 and after cxb5 cxb5 Bxb5 I can move my rook to c8 now} 16. Kb1 (16. Qa4 {Stockfish likes trading the queens at this point}) 16... b5 17. cxb5 (17. d5 cxd5 18. cxb5 {Apparently this a thing too}) 17... cxb5 18. d5 Bd7 19. Ne4 {I thought this was a good move to get away from any ideas of b4 with tempo} f5 {I wanted to get the knight out before Bd4 butchers me I did not like Rc8 ideas because of Qd2} (19... Rac8 20. Qd2) 20. Nc5 (20. Qc3 {During the game I thought this was interesting for him}) 20... Rac8 21. Nb3 (21. Rc1 {Stockfish tries to say white is fine after this but this looks tedious for white}) 21... Qa4 $1 {[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Now if Qd2 just Bb4 and f4 wins the piece so he has to go to e2 right away} 22. Qe2 f4 $1 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] I was hesitant to play this move as I couldn't see a forcing variation that worked but I just felt that the forcing move that forces his pieces back must be good and I was right} 23. Bc1 (23. Bd4 $4 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;Blunder;persistent;true]} Bf6) 23... Bb4 $6 {[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] I was not happy with any Qd2 ideas so I tried to stop it however Bg5 allowing it but protecting f4 is better (stopping Qf3) as I had the right idea (I was thinking Qf1 Re5) but this is the idea on Bg5 Qd2/Qf1} (23... Bg5 24. Qf1 (24. Qd2 Re5) 24... Re5) 24. Qf3 $1 {[%c_effect f3;square;f3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] I don't know why I overlooked this and for a moment I was considering taking the exchange but it felt wrong as he gets a bishop and a pawn as well as freeing his pieces up and I thought he had compensation and I was right so here I played the forcing move} (24. Qf1 Re5 {This was my idea}) 24... Bd6 {Protecting f4 and threatening to trap the queen} 25. h3 $1 {[%c_effect h3;square;h3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Nh7 {Trying to win the queen I thought here he should try to play g4 and use this opportunity to try and attack me} 26. g3 $2 {[%c_effect g3;square;g3;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} (26. g4 Ng5 $1 {[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 27. Qg2 f3 28. Qg1 Ne4 29. gxh5 Bf5 {White has no more attack but better try}) 26... Ng5 $1 {[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] And here comes a set of forcing moves that keeps away the queen and the attack for white} 27. Qg2 f3 $1 {[%c_effect f3;square;f3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 28. Qf1 $1 {[%c_effect f1;square;f1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Ne4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 29. Ka1 $2 {[%c_effect a1;square;a1;type;Mistake;persistent;true] He is just moving into the attack} Be5 $6 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Stockfish here shows a rather nice idea} (29... Nc3 $3 {[%c_effect c3;square;c3;type;Brilliant;persistent;true]} 30. bxc3 Rxc3 31. Kb1 {Only move to get out of losing a piece} Rxd3 $1 {[%c_effect d3;square;d3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is the point and white's king is too weak}) 30. Re1 $2 {[%c_effect e1;square;e1;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Now its just dead lost he needed to take the knight and try and trade the queens but that is rather unpleasant} (30. Bxe4 Qxe4 31. Qd3) 30... Nc3 $1 {[%c_effect c3;square;c3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] I almost missed this but then saw it now the game is over} 31. Bb1 Bf5 32. bxc3 Bxc3+ 33. Bb2 Rxe1 34. Qxe1 Bxe1 35. Rxe1 Bxb1 36. Rxb1 Qe4 37. Rd1 Qe2 38. Rc1 Rxc1+ 39. Bxc1 Qxf2 40. d6 Qb6 41. Bf4 f2 42. Nd2 g5 43. Be5 Qe3 44. d7 Qxd2 45. d8=R+ Qxd8 {White resigns} 0-1

[Event "Oregon Open 2023"]
[Site "Portland Oregon"]
[Date "2023.09.03"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Willy, Stephen"]
[Black "Breckenridge, Steven"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2100"]
[BlackElo "2293"]
[Annotator "Stephen WIlly"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.09.15"]

1. e4 e5 {I had no clue what I wanted to play as I had no time to prepare so I almost went for something dubious before backing out by the possibility of him knowing it and going for the scotch instead} 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 {For higher rated players this line is annoying as its hard to play for advantage so he went for something different than the mainline with Bb4} Bc5 $5 {[%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Unfortunately for him a GM had played this line a few weeks before this game and after getting destroyed I analyzed what was best} (5... Bb4 {Even though its drawish I think its less hope chess of a move}) 6. Be3 Bb6 7. Nf5 $1 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] White will get a strong control over the d5 square} (7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Bxb6 axb6 {I played like this vs the GM and lost}) 7... O-O 8. Bxb6 axb6 9. Ne3 Re8 10. Bc4 Ne5 (10... b5 {Apparently some thematic move we didn't know}) 11. Be2 $6 {[%c_effect e2;square;e2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Against d6 and Ng4 at some point but rather passive and runs into some problems} (11. Bb3 b5 (11... d6)) 11... Ng6 12. f3 c6 {Preparing d5} 13. Qd4 {Protecting my knight against d5 which somehow can still be played with a combination of b5 too $2} Nf4 (13... d5 14. exd5 b5) 14. e5 $2 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} (14. Qd6 {I should just block the d-pawn}) 14... N6h5 (14... Nxe2 {I think this is also pretty strong} 15. Nxe2 (15. Kxe2 c5 {Black is better}) 15... c5 16. Qc3 d5 17. exd6 Qxd6 {I have some structural compensation I guess but I have to play kf2 and stuff}) 15. O-O-O {My idea against Rxa2 was Kb1 Ra8 Bc4 but this is refuted by b5 and Qa5} Qg5 $2 {[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] While this looks good I am luck that his pieces are too tangled to win the e5 pawn} (15... Rxa2 16. Kb1 Ra8 17. Bc4 b5 $1 {[%c_effect b5;square;b5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 18. Bb3 Qa5 $1 {[%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 16. Bf1 $1 {[%c_effect f1;square;f1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] I must protect g2} b5 (16... Qxe5 17. Qxe5 Rxe5 18. Nc4) (16... Rxe5 17. Ne4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Qe7 18. g3 {His pieces are too tangled to take on e5}) 17. g3 $1 {[%c_effect g3;square;g3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Ne6 {He probably missed my next move} 18. f4 $1 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Nxd4 19. fxg5 {He has problems in this position as his c8 bishop is out of play and his d4 knight is hanging while I have ideas to try and win his h5 knight (he is pretty much lost already)} c5 (19... Ne6 20. Be2 g6 21. Bxh5 gxh5 22. Ne4) 20. Bxb5 {His c8 bishop is a problem in many lines as well as his h5 knight in a few other} Rxe5 21. Nc4 Re6 22. Rhe1 d5 23. Nb6 Ra5 24. Nxc8 Nxb5 25. Nxd5 g6 26. g4 Rxe1 27. Rxe1 Ng7 28. Nf6+ Kh8 29. Re7 Ra8 30. Nb6 Rd8 31. Nbd7 Nd4 32. c3 (32. Ne5 {Never too late to blunder mate} Ne2+ 33. Kb1 Rd1#) 32... Nc6 33. Rxf7 c4 34. h4 Ra8 35. h5 Rg8 36. h6 Nd8 37. hxg7+ {He grabbed his knight to take the rook but then put it back} Rxg7 38. Rf8+ Rg8 39. Rxg8# 1-0

[Event "Oregon Open 2023"]
[Site "Portland Oregon "]
[Date "2023.09.04"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Zavortink, Matt"]
[Black "Willy, Stephen"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2286"]
[BlackElo "2100"]
[Annotator "Stephen WIlly"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.09.15"]

{[%evp 0,56,19,29,55,12,10,-9,9,19,7,9,64,46,32,32,26,12,18,20,-50,-72,34,18,23,-7,-7,22,22,-5,27,-27,-106,-70,-100,-69,-63,-92,-73,-73,-85,-106,0,-20,61,81,46,46,46,-84,-247,-289,-422,-584,-596,-671,-690,-717,-758]} 1. Nf3 c5 {Thanks to Ted I knew that he played the Reti so rather than playing what I normally play I wanted to play against him getting any setups with d4 that he might be comfortable with (here I was hoping he did not go into a sicillian as I was not sure what I was going to do)} 2. g3 (2. e4) 2... Nc6 {Trying to go for e5} 3. Bg2 e5 4. c4 {Now its like an english} d6 5. Nc3 Nge7 {Trying to stop him from putting a knight on d5 too easily} 6. O-O (6. d3 {My coach suggested this saying that this move order with Nge7 doesn't work for black however I have an idea that happens in a few openings that allows this to work} g6 7. Bg5 Bg7 8. Nd5 {This is the point now the knight is strong and white goes after the f6 square however....} h6 9. Bf6 Bxf6 10. Nxf6+ Kf8 {I just give him the f6 square and go to g7 and in fact I am perfectly fine here}) 6... g6 {Because of thinking about Be5 f6 for so long I am about 30-40 minutes behind (I don't remember exactly how much)} (6... Be6 7. d3 f6 {I was so tempted to do this but in my mind I knew it had to be bad (it is because Nd2 and then white has the d5 square and the long diagonal) but its not nearly as bad as I thought}) 7. a3 (7. d3 {This makes more sense to me}) 7... Bg7 8. b4 {He told me after the game that this is a thematic idea that normally black should not allow however its hard to see what this actually does to black if I just ignore it (I think the only prospect of the b4 pawn is to take on c5 at some point when white wants to) delaying d3 clearly has a toll for a bit} O-O 9. Rb1 (9. d3 e4 {This would be bad for him}) 9... f5 {He still can't play d3 because of e4} 10. Nd5 {This is an interesting move normally playing Nd5 when you can only take back with the pawn is bad but I thought if I took then after he takes back he blocks up my pieces and its hard for me to move I always have the choice of e4 here but idk I like being flexible and not having the prospect of being undermined} h6 11. d3 {Initially I wanted ideas like g5 but I realized that doesn't work here (Nxg5 followed by b5 is good for white) so instead I decided to go for Be6 since he can't play Ng5 anymore} Be6 {Here I thought it made sense for him to go Nd2 and keep the knight strong on d5 (as is good in many of these positions) also apparently b5 is a line because if Nd4 then Nd2 and I have to give my knight room} 12. bxc5 {Here I initially planned to play dxc5 and hold everything together because his knight on d5 is under attack and if he takes on e7 with check I just play Qxe7 and defend my pawn but then I realized that after Nxd5 cxd5 Bxd5 cxd6 rather than having to take on d6 right away I can just play Rb8 and then take on d6 and be fine} (12. b5 Nd4 13. Nd2 f4 14. e3 fxe3 15. fxe3 Ndf5) (12. Nd2) 12... Nxd5 (12... dxc5 13. Nxe7+ Qxe7) 13. cxd5 Bxd5 14. Rxb7 (14. cxd6 Rb8 (14... Qxd6 15. Rxb7)) 14... dxc5 15. Qa4 $2 {[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] He loses any advantage he has here because he missed something a bit subtle about the variation with e4} (15. Rb5 {He should just be annoying and go after my c-pawn}) 15... e4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] I realized the variation that he played in the game is best for him quite fast however he spent quite a big amount of time on his next moves} 16. dxe4 fxe4 17. Nd2 Nd4 $1 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Here he missed Rd7 is met by Qe8} 18. Rxg7+ {He must play this for any hope of compensation but now he has about 20 minutes} (18. Rd7 Qe8) 18... Kxg7 19. Bb2 {Now he attacks my e4 pawn and threatens to play e3 and win my knight here I considered offering a draw but then I took a quick look the the game between Vikram and Ted and even though it looked like it was headed towards a draw Vikram had some chances to win as it was a knight endgame with equal pawns but he has a sneaky passed b-pawn which might give him some chances so I decided not to offer a draw} Qf6 {Threatening Nxe2+ or if e3 Ne2+ still} 20. Kh1 {Avoiding check and I had calculated this variation from when I played e4 however here I did not know what to do but then I saw an interesting idea to play Bc6 and then e3 if he allows me} (20. e3 Ne2+) 20... Bc6 21. Qd1 {Uh oh I missed that and now he is threatening e3 and e3 doesn't work for me (Qa5/Qc4 attacking c5 was better but yeah he didn't play that) here I was quite nervous with the entire tournament on the line I needed to find a way to not lose 2 pieces for the rook and be worse so I spent some time calculating and at first I was calculating Rae8 e3 Bb5 Nxe4 Rxe4 Bxf1 Qxf1 Qxf2 Qxf2 Bc3 and thought I couldn't avoid exd4 so I discarded that variation and started to think of ways to sacrifice the knight after like Rae8 e3 move smth exd4 and cxd4 but that didn't seem like it would help then somehow I came back to the variation I did before and saw that at the end of that line I have Re2 $1 after Bc3 and if he takes the knight I take his bishop so I played Rae8} (21. Qa5) (21. Qc4) 21... Rae8 22. e3 Bb5 $1 {[%c_effect b5;square;b5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 23. Re1 $6 {[%c_effect e1;square;e1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Rg1 and Qc1 was needed for black to not have some advantage apparently} (23. Rg1 Qxf2 24. Qc1) 23... Qxf2 24. Ba1 $4 {[%c_effect a1;square;a1;type;Blunder;persistent;true] This loses the game} (24. Bc3 Kh7 25. Nxe4 Rxe4 26. Bxe4 Be2 27. Qd2 {[%eval -60,0] And black is only about}) 24... Kh7 $1 {[%c_effect h7;square;h7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 25. exd4 e3 26. Ne4 Rxe4 27. Bxe4 e2 28. Rxe2 Bxe2 {White flags 0-} 0-1

[Event "Oregon Open 2023"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2023.09.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Srivastava, Vikram"]
[Black "Heath, Derek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2177"]
[BlackElo "1865"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.09.15"]

{[%evp 0,67,28,4,25,45,40,42,58,45,61,48,46,7,43,4,45,31,10,13,16,35,41,16,30,-2,26,19,24,16,24,0,32,2,2,-26,-18,-18,-2,-23,-23,-39,-35,-13,-13,-11,-19,-21,19,-21,-24,-24,32,86,47,85,78,92,171,177,177,126,236,267,277,267,543,541,541,544]} 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 {This move appears to avoid losing time by capturing with the queen. But jump ahead to Black's move 4 for a counterargument.} ({The most popular line is} 2... Qxd5 {It allows White to gain time for development with} 3. Nc3 {but the line is perfectly playable, even at the top levels. It was good enough for Larsen to beat Karpov at Montreal in 1979.}) 3. Nf3 {This natural developing move is a good way to pursue an edge while avoiding Black's tricky theoretical lines. In Kaufman's "New Reprtoire for Black and White" the author says "I would choose 3.d4 for correspondence games or when fully prepared, 3.Nf3 otherwise."} (3. d4 Bg4 {is the tricky Portuguese Gambit.}) ({Attempting to keep the extra pawn with} 3. c4 {usually backfires} c6 (3... e6 $5 4. dxe6 Bxe6 {is the Icelandic Gambit}) 4. dxc6 $6 (4. d4 cxd5 5. Nc3 {transposes to the Caro-Kann, Panov-Botvinnik variation.}) 4... Nxc6 5. Nf3 e5 {and Black has more than a pawn's worth of compensation.}) 3... Bg4 4. Be2 (4. Bb5+ {is a more complex path to an advantage. Vikram continues his "safety first" policy.}) 4... Qxd5 {We teach beginners not to bring their queen out early in the game, but this is the best move in this position. Real chess doesn't always follow the beginner guidelines.} (4... Nxd5 5. d4 e6 6. c4 $14) 5. d4 Nc6 6. Be3 e6 {the second most popular choice.} (6... O-O-O {is the most popular move. Players who love sharp games find it hard to resist opposite sides castling.}) ({But the third most popular move} 6... e5 {might be Black's best shot at equality.}) 7. Nbd2 $14 {White is solid, has a little more space, and a few more plans. Nothing concrete, but White's position has more promise.} Rd8 8. c3 Be7 9. h3 Bh5 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 Rfe8 12. Qa4 a6 13. Rac1 Qd7 14. Qb3 Qc8 15. c4 Nb8 {Black undevelops his knight to allow a pawn break in the center.} ({White has stopped the other central pawn break} 15... e5) 16. Nf1 {Seems logical, as the knight wasn't doing much on d2, but Stockfish says it gives away White's edge.} ({Stockfish bravely suggests} 16. g4 Bg6 17. Ne5 $14 {but it is a lot easier to tell other players to weaken their king's pawn cover than to do it yourself. Especially when you know that Black is about to open the center with} c5) 16... c5 17. dxc5 Nbd7 $11 18. c6 Qxc6 19. Nd4 Qc7 20. Bxh5 Nxh5 21. Red1 Nc5 22. Qc2 Nf4 {Black's knights are threatening, but they don't have stable support squares. Both sides will need to be careful.} 23. Ng3 (23. Rd2 $11) 23... h6 (23... Ncd3 $5 24. Rxd3 $2 (24. Rb1 $15) 24... Nxd3 25. Qxd3 e5 $17) 24. Rd2 Bf6 25. Rcd1 Be5 $2 {Black has been playing steady chess, but his minor pieces do not have safe anchors, resulting in a position where it is easy to make a mistake.} (25... Bg5 $11) 26. b4 $1 $16 Nd7 27. Nf3 Ng6 28. Ne4 Bf4 29. Bxf4 Nxf4 30. Nd6 Rf8 $2 (30... Re7 {prevents White's game continuation by indirectly protecting Black's queen on c7} 31. Qe4 $6 Nd5 $1 $14 32. cxd5 Nf6 33. Qc4 Rxd6) 31. Qe4 $1 Ng6 (31... Nd5 32. cxd5 Nf6 (32... Qxd6 33. dxe6 Qxe6 34. Qxe6 fxe6 35. Rxd7) 33. Qc4 Qxd6 34. dxe6) 32. Qxb7 Qb6 33. c5 Qxb7 34. Nxb7 1-0

[Event "Oregon Open 2023 U2000"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2023.09.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Sherrard, Jerry"]
[Black "Disenhof, Jonathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B15"]
[WhiteElo "1900"]
[BlackElo "1646"]
[Annotator "Chessify Cloud Stockfish (8m)"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.09.15"]

{[%mdl 8192][%evp 0,74,28,20,64,56,62,36,36,42,40,35,32,27,26,26,26,15,9,9,28,23,36,42,40,18,17,5,0,-10,30,-19,28,-19,42,-21,41,22,19,22,43,1,-6,-41,-63,-62,-62,-67,-130,-191,-191,-197,-143,-158,-93,-100,-51,-35,-29,-24,-6,-17,-27,-62,-17,-9,7,0,7,7,7,2,8,8,10,9,2] B15: Caro-Kann: 3 Nc3: 3...g6 and 3...dxe4 4 Nxe4 Nf6 5 Nxf6+ exf6} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. c3 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Qc2 Re8+ 9. Ne2 h5 10. O-O h4 11. h3 Nd7 12. Kh1 Nf8 13. Ng1 Be6 {last book move} 14. Bd2 Qd7 (14... c5 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. b4 $11) 15. Rae1 (15. f4 f5 $11) 15... Rac8 (15... Bxa2 $2 16. b3 $18) 16. c4 Bb8 17. Bc3 Qd6 (17... Ng6 18. Re3 $11) 18. f4 (18. Nf3 Ng6 $11) 18... Bd7 19. c5 Qc7 20. b4 (20. Bd2 Be6 $11) 20... Be6 (20... Rcd8 21. Rxe8 Rxe8 22. Bd2 $11) 21. Bf5 (21. Nf3 $5 $11) 21... Rcd8 $15 22. Bxe6 (22. Bd3 Bd5 $15) 22... Nxe6 $17 (22... fxe6 $6 23. Rb1 $11) 23. Re4 (23. Ne2 Qd7 $17) 23... f5 24. Re3 $4 (24. Re5 $142 g6 25. Nf3 $17) 24... Nxf4 $19 25. Re5 (25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. Nf3 $19) 25... Rxe5 (25... Nh5 $142 26. Rfe1 Ng3+ 27. Kh2 Ne4 $19) 26. dxe5 $17 Nd5 (26... Nh5 $5 27. Kh2 Rd5 28. Nf3 $17) 27. Re1 Re8 (27... Nxc3 $142 $5 28. Qxc3 Qe7 $17) 28. Nf3 $11 {WG - Jerry has survived the worst.} Qe7 (28... Nxc3 29. Qxc3 Qd8 30. Qc1 $11) 29. Bd2 f4 (29... Qd7 30. Qd3 $11) 30. a3 Bc7 31. Qf5 {[%cal Ye5e6] White prepares e6} g6 32. Qg4 Bd8 33. e6 Kg7 34. exf7 Qxf7 35. Rxe8 Qxe8 36. Bxf4 Nxf4 37. Qxf4 Bf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Oregon Open 2023 U2000"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2023.09.04"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Sherrard, Jerry"]
[Black "Murray, David Edward"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B15"]
[WhiteElo "1900"]
[BlackElo "1825"]
[Annotator "Chessify Cloud Stockfish (8m)"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.09.15"]

{[%mdl 8192][%evp 0,99,17,13,56,57,57,28,28,31,33,34,36,13,25,25,28,9,32,23,33,19,51,43,37,34,34,22,43,41,39,38,46,45,69,20,34,38,37,-19,83,10,2,-68,-26,-24,-23,-39,-8,-80,-74,-153,-128,-128,-116,-143,-115,-105,-105,-258,142,142,133,118,118,118,118,54,238,24,96,114,114,114,121,117,117,117,128,128,128,156,196,198,198,198,198,273,358,482,1069,1161,1436,1515,1914,1945,29961,29962,29963,29966,29967,29968] B15: Caro-Kann: 3 Nc3: 3...g6 and 3...dxe4 4 Nxe4 Nf6 5 Nxf6+ exf6} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. c3 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Qc2 Re8+ 9. Ne2 h5 10. O-O h4 11. h3 Nd7 12. Bd2 Nf8 13. Rae1 g6 {last book move} 14. Kh1 (14. Nf4 Rxe1 15. Rxe1 a6 $11) 14... f5 (14... Bc7 15. b3 $11) 15. Qc1 Nh7 (15... Be6 16. c4 $11) 16. Ng1 $14 Be6 17. Nf3 (17. c4 Be7 18. Nf3 Bf6 $14) 17... Bd5 $11 18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 19. Nxh4 Be7 (19... Qe7 20. Nf3 $11) 20. Nxf5 (20. Nf3 Bxf3 21. gxf3 Qd7 $11) 20... gxf5 $11 21. Qb1 (21. Bxf5 Be6 (21... Bxa2 $2 22. Qc2 Nf6 23. b3 $18) 22. Bc2 Qd7 $11 (22... Bxa2 $2 23. b3 $18)) 21... Kh8 (21... Bg5 22. Bxg5 Nxg5 23. Re1 $17) 22. Bxf5 (22. c4 Be4 $11) 22... Qg8 $15 23. Be4 Be6 (23... Nf6 24. Bxd5 cxd5 $15) 24. f4 (24. Bf4 $5 $11) 24... Nf6 $17 25. f5 (25. b3 $5 $17) 25... Nxe4 $19 26. Qxe4 Bd5 27. Qe2 Qh7 28. Kh2 Rg8 29. g3 $2 (29. g4 $142 Bd6+ 30. Bf4 Bxf4+ 31. Rxf4 $19) 29... Bd8 (29... Rxg3 $142 $1 30. Qe5+ Rg7 $19) 30. c4 $11 {WG - Jerry survives another Tartakover Caro-Kann.} Rxg3 31. Qe5+ Rg7 32. cxd5 f6 33. Qf4 {(Here, my opponent grabbed his bishop to play Bc7, then set it back down, so he had to move it!)} (33. Qe6 Qh4 34. Bf4 $11) 33... Bb6 $4 (33... cxd5 34. Bb4 $11) 34. Qh6 (34. d6 $142 Qh5 35. Re1 $18) 34... Bc7+ (34... cxd5 35. Re1 Qxh6 36. Bxh6 $11) 35. Kh1 $14 Qxh6 (35... cxd5 $5 36. Rc1 Kg8 37. Qxh7+ Rxh7 $14) 36. Bxh6 $16 Rg3 37. Bf4 Bxf4 38. Rxf4 cxd5 $4 (38... Rxh3+ $142 39. Kg2 Rh7 $14) 39. Rh4+ $1 Kg7 40. Rg4+ $1 Rxg4 41. hxg4 {WG - A winning pawn-up ending.} Kh6 42. Kg2 Kg5 43. Kf3 b6 (43... Kh4 44. Kf4 a6 45. a3 a5 46. a4 b6 47. b3 Kh3 48. g5) 44. b3 a6 (44... Kh6 45. Kf4 b5 46. b4 Kg7 47. g5) 45. a3 a5 (45... Kh4 46. Kf4 Kh3 47. g5) 46. a4 Kh6 47. Kf4 Kg7 48. g5 Kf7 49. gxf6 Kxf6 50. Kg4 (50. Kg4 Kf7 51. Kg5 Kg7 52. f6+ Kf7 53. Kf5 Ke8 54. Ke6) 1-0

[Event "Oregon Open 2023 U2000"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2023.09.04"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Rankin, Andrew"]
[Black "Sherrard, Jerry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "1776"]
[BlackElo "1900"]
[Annotator "Chessify Cloud Stockfish (8m)"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.09.15"]

{[%mdl 8256][%evp 0,62,17,17,28,16,30,9,16,13,33,8,6,13,13,16,15,10,10,-4,-9,-22,-2,-25,-27,-52,-52,-74,-43,-56,-56,-94,-37,-73,-76,-76,-81,-87,3,5,-21,-13,-19,-37,-42,-139,-135,-152,-147,-147,-147,-184,-183,-294,-110,-110,-102,-102,-71,-154,-100,-132,-132,-747,-749] D05: Colle System with ...e6} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 Bd6 5. b3 b6 6. Bb2 Bb7 7. O-O O-O 8. Nbd2 c5 9. Ne5 Nc6 10. a3 Ne7 11. f4 Ne4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Bc4 {last book move} Nd5 (13... Nf5 14. Qe2 $15) 14. Bxd5 (14. Ng4 Kh8 $11) 14... exd5 $15 (14... Bxd5 $143 15. c4 Bb7 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. Qg4 $14) 15. Qg4 Bc8 (15... Qc8 16. Qg3 f6 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Ng4 $15) 16. Qg3 (16. Qh5 Bb7 $15) 16... f6 $15 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Ng4 Bxg4 (18... Be6 $5 $15) 19. Qxg4 $11 Qe7 20. Rfd1 Rad8 21. Rxd5 (21. Qe2 Qe6 $11) 21... Bxf4 $1 {WG - Black would be lost without this resource, but now stands better.} 22. Rad1 $2 (22. Rxd8 $142 $5 Bxe3+ 23. Kf1 Rxd8 24. Re1 $15) 22... Bxe3+ $17 23. Kh1 (23. Kf1 Bd4 $1 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 $17 (24... Qxd8 $143 25. c3 $16)) 23... Bd4 $1 24. Rxd8 (24. Bxd4 cxd4 {Discovered attack} (24... Rxd5 {Interception Decoy})) 24... Rxd8 25. c3 $2 (25. Bc1 $5 f5 $1 26. Qe2 h6 $17) 25... Be5 (25... Bf2 $142 26. Rxd8+ Qxd8 $19) 26. Re1 $4 (26. Bc1 f5 27. Qe2 f4 28. Rxd8+ Qxd8 $19) 26... Qd7 (26... f5 $142 27. Qh3 g6 $19) 27. Qxe4 $17 Qd2 (27... Qd3 28. Qxd3 Rxd3 29. Kg1 $17) 28. Ba1 h6 29. Rf1 $2 (29. b4 Qd1 $1 $17) 29... Qd3 (29... Qd1 30. Qf3 Qxb3 31. c4 Qxf3 32. gxf3 $19) 30. Qe1 (30. Qxd3 Rxd3 31. Kg1 Kf7 $17) 30... Qc2 31. Kg1 $4 (31. Qe3 $142 $17) 31... Rd2 $19 (31... Rd2 32. Rf2 Bxh2+ ({WG - or} 32... Rd1 33. Rxc2 Rxe1+ 34. Kf2 Rxa1) 33. Kxh2 Rxf2 34. Qe6+ Kh7 35. Qg4 f5 36. Qh3 Rf1 {WG - wins the hapless bishop.}) 0-1

[Event "Oregon Open 2023 U1700"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2023.09.04"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Vora, Rohan"]
[Black "Vemuri, Vihari Narasimhavih"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "1501"]
[BlackElo "1659"]
[Annotator "Rohan Vora"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.09.15"]

{[%evp 0,65,16,28,76,71,75,77,94,78,88,71,67,67,124,48,105,31,54,55,74,51,87,52,41,52,71,14,89,76,305,279,406,365,801,155,105,110,435,91,51,51,46,54,58,92,164,107,88,94,118,125,144,174,520,363,407,407,407,407,344,187,29985,29986,29995,29996,29999,-30000]} 1. e4 d6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Bc4 Bg7 5. d4 O-O 6. h3 Nbd7 7. Be3 e5 8. d5 a5 9. a4 Ne8 10. g4 Nc5 11. Qd2 Bd7 12. b3 f5 13. Bxc5 fxe4 {Starting to set up the discovery check.} 14. Ng5 Rf4 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 e3 {Missed e7+. I didn't see the continuation after Kh8, but it's simply Qd5 and black can't really defend. I also missed the more straight forward Bxe3, consolidating and up a minor piece. Instead went for the questionable fxe3, hoping to keep e7+ ideas alive later on.} 17. fxe3 Qh4+ 18. Kd1 Rf2 19. Qd5 c6 20. Qd3 dxc5 21. Ne4 Kh8 {Now that the pin on the King is gone, white doesn't have e7+. This means the problem of Rd8 pinning the queen has to be solved. Queen doesn't have any good squares to go to, and Kc1 allows Rd8 followed by Rdd2 which feels really bad. I thought for a long time and found g5 here which I was really happy with. The pawn is protected by the knight. and between the knight and pawn, blacks queen is really limited. During the game I thought this was the only move that continued, but engine doesn't mind Nxf2 and getting both rooks for the queen after Rd8, which seems a lot harder to play out in practice, especially with white king in the middle of the board.} 22. g5 Rf8 23. e7 Rf5 24. Rf1 Qxh3 25. Rxf5 gxf5 26. Qd8 Qh5+ 27. Be2 Qh1+ 28. Kd2 Qxe4 29. Qxa8 Qd5+ 30. Kc1 Qh1+ 31. Bd1 h6 32. Qxe8+ Kh7 33. g6# 1-0

[Event "Oregon Open 2023 U1700"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2023.09.04"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Tammar, Ethan"]
[Black "Qiao, Enjie"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "1798"]
[BlackElo "1491"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.09.15"]

{[%evp 0,134,19,31,19,14,26,32,24,11,31,6,5,1,4,-8,5,-12,10,6,0,-20,-18,-16,-16,-22,-12,-22,-20,-17,-23,-28,-22,-17,-6,-18,-23,-13,17,17,23,-37,-21,-71,-57,-80,-68,-62,1,-53,-29,-27,-26,-80,-90,-93,-86,-102,-85,-101,-113,-115,-102,-90,-84,-98,-82,-74,-62,-59,-43,-64,-13,-85,-80,-94,-94,-155,-155,-151,-145,-234,-225,-225,-196,-236,-233,-224,-224,-306,-344,-346,-372,-390,-372,-434,-477,-516,-592,-644,-705,-717,-740,-748,-765,-784,-791,-797,-637,-865,-620,-682,-508,-525,-432,-447,-555,-590,-553,-1012,-1032,-1032,-1032,-1032,-1002,-1276,-1479,-29981,-29982,-29983,-29984,-29985,-29972,-29973,-29980,-29981,-1022]} 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 {The London is still a fearsome weapon, but it is no longer a surprise weapon. Most of us have some idea of how to survive this opening these days.} Nf6 3. e3 Bf5 4. Bd3 Bg6 5. Bxg6 hxg6 6. h3 e6 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. Qe2 a6 9. Nbd2 Bd6 10. Ne5 Bxe5 11. Bxe5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Nd7 13. f4 Qh4+ {Younger players no longer fear endgames.} 14. Qf2 Qxf2+ 15. Kxf2 g5 16. b3 O-O-O {This takes the king away from the action on the kingside and center, where it could defend Black's pawns on the kingside and center, and perhaps support a central advance. Nothing interesting could ever happen on the queenside, right? Skip ahead to move 38 if you want to find out.} 17. Nf3 gxf4 18. exf4 f6 19. exf6 gxf6 {Perhaps younger players no longer fear endgames because they have discovered ways of unbalancing them to create winning chances. Will White's outside passed pawns win the race, or will Black central pawns decide the game?} 20. Rhe1 Rde8 21. Re2 e5 22. b4 e4 23. Nd4 Reg8 24. Rh1 Rh4 25. g3 Rh5 26. f5 {Grabbing the e6 square for White's knight but giving up the e5 square to Black's knight. A clear example of Bobby' Fischer's maxim - "To get squares, you gotta give squares."} b6 {preparing the central pawn advance c7-c5, but White manages to distract Black from this goal.} 27. Kg2 Ne5 (27... c5 28. bxc5 bxc5 {looks a little loose for Black, with White's knight jumping into e6 or c6, and the Whites' rook swinging over to the b-file.}) 28. Rf1 Rgh8 29. h4 Kd7 30. a4 Rg8 31. Kh3 Kd6 32. b5 {Stopping Black's central pawn advance. Both White's and Blacks pawns looked so menacing on move 20 but are now both blockaded.} axb5 33. axb5 Kc5 34. c3 Rh7 35. Ra1 Kd6 36. Rea2 {White takes over the only open file, but Black has sufficient counterplay.} Rhg7 37. Ne2 Kc5 $1 {I did not foresee this king raid when Black castled queenside on move 16.} 38. Ra8 (38. Rb1 {White could try to use his rook for passive defense, but using rooks generally look better on offense than defense.} Nc4 {threatens} 39. Z0 Nd6 {attacking the pawns on f5 and b5}) 38... Kxb5 39. Rxg8 Rxg8 40. Nd4+ Kc4 41. Ne6 e3 42. Re1 Kd3 43. Nf4+ Ke4 44. Nxd5 Kxd5 45. Rxe3 c5 46. Re2 Kc4 47. Rb2 b5 48. h5 Rg5 49. Kh4 Nf3+ 50. Kh3 Rxh5+ 51. Kg4 {Does white regain the piece with this king fork?} Rh2 {Nope. Very clever.} 52. Rb1 Ne5+ 53. Kf4 Rf2+ 54. Ke4 b4 55. cxb4 cxb4 56. Rc1+ Kb3 57. Rc8 Rc2 58. Rf8 Rc6 59. Rxf6 Rxf6 60. Kxe5 Rf8 61. f6 Ka2 62. g4 b3 63. g5 b2 64. g6 b1=Q 65. g7 Rg8 66. f7 Qb2+ 67. Ke6 Qxg7 0-1

[Event "Oregon Open 2023 U1700"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2023.09.04"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Vemuri, Vihari Narasimhavih"]
[Black "Bayrambeyli, Emel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "1659"]
[BlackElo "1503"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.09.15"]

{[%evp 0,90,19,31,14,30,23,4,10,9,16,16,29,25,45,15,22,22,11,20,15,-5,-13,-12,12,-8,-8,-143,-135,-145,-141,-135,-134,-130,-130,-161,-120,-122,-126,-133,-132,-124,-128,-135,-131,-124,-111,-106,-104,-106,-31,-30,-31,-31,-38,-42,-41,-41,-22,-29,-33,-83,-79,-71,-27,-33,-28,-89,-28,-53,-90,-24,-99,-95,-95,-135,-186,-194,-308,-481,-700,-575,-952,-952,-982,-982,-992,-992,-992,-992,-992,-1002,-1002]} {Emel plays a steady game in the last round to tie for second in the U1700 section. Another young player disproves the notion that "kids can't play endings."} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 b6 ({Most players play} 6... h6 7. Bh4 {before playing} b6 {leading to the main lines of the Tartakover variation of the Queens Gambit Declined - repertoire books have Black playing 6...h6 or even 5...h6 without comment. But is it really inaccurate for Black to omit h6. The conventional wisdom is that it removes the h-pawn from a potential attack if White lines up with Bd3 and Qc2. But as John Watson points out in Mastering the Chess Openings, Volume 2 - "On the flip side, Black makes a weakness when he plays ...h6 and you never know how that might end up hurting him" (or in this game, her). Stockfish does not find much of a difference between 6...b6 and 6...h6 7.Bh4 h6. Brick by brick the edifice of conventional opening wisdom crumbles.}) 7. Be2 ({One way to try to exploit the missing h7-h6 move is to play} 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. Bd3 c5 11. Qc2 {, but Stockfish says Black is fine.} h6 $11 ({Or more speculatively -} 11... Nc6 $5 12. dxc5 bxc5 13. Bxh7+ Kh8 14. Bd3 Nb4 15. Qd1 d4)) 7... dxc4 8. Bxc4 Bb7 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Be2 c5 11. Qa4 Nd5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 $11 13. Ne5 $2 {This is a step towards an inferior ending.} Nxe5 14. dxe5 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Qg5 $1 {winning a pawn} 16. Qg4 Qxe5 17. Rad1 Rfd8 (17... Qxc3 {seems unnecessarily greedy, given Black is already a pawn up.}) 18. Qh4 f6 19. Qf4 Qxf4 20. exf4 Kf7 21. Bd3 g6 22. f3 Ke7 23. Rfe1 Rd6 24. Bc4 Rad8 {gives back the extra pawn, but in the resulting endgame Black will still be effectively up a pawn, as Black has a working 3-2 queenside while White's majority on the kingside is crippled by the doubled pawns.} (24... Rxd1 25. Rxd1 {keeps the extra pawn but makes it hard to oppose rooks on the open d-file.} {Stockfish spots a tricky maneuver} Bd5 26. Bxd5 exd5 27. Rxd5 Rd8 {leading to a won king and pawn ending.}) 25. Rxe6+ Rxe6 26. Rxd8 Kxd8 27. Bxe6 {Black is still much better.} Ke7 28. Bg8 $2 (28. Bc4 $15) 28... Bc8 $1 29. g4 (29. Bxh7 $2 Kf7 {traps and wins White's bishop.}) 29... h5 30. f5 hxg4 31. fxg6 f5 $2 (31... Kf8 $17) 32. Kf2 Kf6 33. Bf7 b5 34. fxg4 fxg4 35. Ke3 Bf5 36. Kf4 a5 37. g7 $2 Kxf7 38. Kxf5 Kxg7 39. Ke4 (39. Kxg4 {looks like White is better with the outside passed h-pawn, but Black's distant majority rules the day.} b4 40. cxb4 cxb4 41. Kf4 a4 42. Ke3 a3 43. Kd3 b3 {Black promotes the a-pawn}) 39... Kg6 40. Kd5 b4 41. cxb4 cxb4 42. Kc4 Kg5 43. Kb5 Kh4 44. Kxa5 Kh3 45. Kxb4 Kxh2 0-1

[Event "Oregon Open 2023 U1100"]
[Site "lichess.org"]
[Date "2023.09.04"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Tongco, Cesareo"]
[Black "Carson, Andrew"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "1096"]
[BlackElo "979"]
[Annotator "Ceasaro Tongco and Wilson Gibbins"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.09.15"]

{[%evp 0,56,19,38,75,73,85,92,86,65,57,40,42,31,48,49,42,42,50,48,43,11,68,41,45,45,32,32,114,82,88,88,128,130,131,126,129,112,155,34,36,32,29,20,23,35,35,7,21,-41,41,27,123,80,104,121,144,148,193]} {Comments marked "CT" come from Cesareo Tongco. Comments marked "WG" come from Wilson Gibbins.} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. h3 {TT - In this game, I knew that I just needed I draw to win the tournament, but I still wanted to win. Because of this, I played an obscure line against the Pirc I had seen in my GothamChess e4 course. WG - The line may be obscure, but it is very flexible. White might be preparing to transpose into any of these more mainstream lines: 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.h3 0-0 6.Be3 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 c6 5.h3 Nbd7 (Chapter 9 of Marin's "The Pirc Defense"). White can play either 6.g4 (the Archbishop Attack) or 6.f4, which leads into a line that Marin covered in New In Chess Yearbook 73 with the title "Can White Refute the Pirc with moves like h3 and a3?!"  White might even try an "exaggerated fianchetto" approach. Instead of playing g3, Bg2, h3, and then a later g4 to attack, just play h3, g4, and Bg2, saving a tempo.  White's move 4.h3 keeps Black guessing about his true intentions. Note that Black plays 4...Bg7 and 5...0-0 in some of the lines above but plays 4...c6 and 5...Nbd7 in others, delaying developing the dark squared Bishop and avoiding castling into an attack. But after 4.h3, how can Black determine which approach is correct?} Bg7 5. g4 {WG - My ChessBase Reference tab gives this move an exclamation mark, noting that it has been played by Nakamura.} c6 6. Bg2 {WG - White might still play 7.Nge2 and 8.0-0 with an "exaggerated fianchetto"} Na6 {WG - Black is carefully delaying castling kingside into the attack.} 7. Be3 Nc7 8. Nge2 d5 {WG - a mistake, giving White a space advantage on the kingside.} ({WG - If Black wants to continue delaying castling into a kingside attack, perhaps} 8... b5 {will remind White that castling queenside will entail some risks.}) 9. e5 Nd7 10. f4 e6 11. Qd3 b6 12. O-O-O Ba6 13. Qd2 Bxe2 {WG - Black is cramped, so it seems logical to trade his bad bishop for a knight.} 14. Qxe2 b5 {WG - Maybe Black can keep his king safe behind the blocked center pawns, and successfully launch a queenside attack against White's king? Black's decision not to castle kingside certainly looks correct.} 15. f5 Nb6 (15... gxf5 16. gxf5 exf5 17. Qh5 Qe7 18. Ne2 O-O-O 19. Ng3 {WG - Black's king is safe, but his game is in tatters.}) 16. f6 Bf8 17. h4 Bb4 18. h5 ({WG - White should not allow Black to open lines around his king.} 18. Qd3) ({and} 18. Nb1 {are safer}) 18... Bxc3 19. bxc3 Kd7 {WG - Black finds a way to get his king to safety, but White still has a space advantage.} 20. hxg6 hxg6 21. Rxh8 Qxh8 22. Rh1 Qg8 23. Rh6 Nc4 24. Bg5 {WG - Black has played his way back into the game} Na6 ({WG - the move} 24... Qf8 {allows Black to initiate a counterattack against White's queenside, and the outcome of the game is still in question.}) 25. Qf3 b4 {WG - this appears to be opening lines against White's king, but White has everything under control.} ({WG - Stockfish says Black gets more counterplay after} 25... c5 26. Bf1 Rc8) ({WG - Stockfish also approves} 25... Kc7 $14) 26. Qh3 bxc3 27. Qxc3 {CT - I moved my queen to h3 and then moved it again to take the c3 pawn. I had originally moved my queen to play Rh7 and Rg7, but I wanted to move my queen to the queenside so that it could stop any potential counterplay.} Qf8 28. Bf1 Nb4 29. Bxc4 dxc4 30. Qxc4 Rb8 31. Rh7 Nd5 32. Qc5 {CT - I had a strong feeling that I was going to win the game. I played this move because I knew that if he traded queens, I would be in a winning endgame. He would not be able to defend the f7 pawn because after Ke8 there would be a skewer after Rh8+. I also knew that if he moved his queen away like he did in the game, I would be able to infiltrate with the queen on the weak dark squares.} Qg8 33. Qd6+ Kc8 34. Qxc6+ Nc7 35. Qh1 Qd8 36. Rxf7 Qxd4 37. Rf8+ Kd7 38. Rxb8 Qa1+ 39. Rb1 Qxe5 40. Qd1+ Kc6 41. Qf3+ Nd5 42. Bd2 Qxf6 43. Qxf6 Nxf6 44. Rb4 Nd5 45. Re4 Kd6 46. c4 Nf6 47. Bb4+ Kd7 48. Rf4 Ne8 49. Rf7+ Kc6 50. Rxa7 {In this position, my opponent resigned.} 1-0

[Event "King County Open"]
[Site "Seattle"]
[Date "1984.11.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Silman, Jeremy D"]
[Black "McGeary, William"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[Annotator "kings"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1985.01.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Likely the only player to win the state championships of Washington (1982) and Alaska (1992), Bill McGeary was rated around 2300 USCF at his peak. This clean victory by Silman was one of his best efforts while living in Seattle.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 e5 4. Bxc4 exd4 5. exd4 Nc6 $6 (5... Bd6 $1 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. O-O O-O 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. Bg5 (9. h3 h6) 9... h6 10. Bh4 Bg4 {is the path to equality for Black according to Max Dlugy in his new book on the Queen's Gambit.}) 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. h3 {[#] Denying ...Bg4 is critical to White's strategy. Black seems to have an easy life in this IQP position as his queen bishop is not blocked by a pawn on e6, but in fact this piece has no good square to develop to as will soon become apparent.} O-O 9. Nc3 Bf5 (9... h6 10. Bf4 Bd6 {and now} 11. Be5 {or} (11. Ne5 {offer White a small but pleasant advantage.})) 10. a3 {This prepares a reteat on a2 for the bishop.} (10. Re1 Na5 11. Bf1 {was an equally valid approach.}) 10... Ne4 11. Re1 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Bf6 (12... Qd7 13. Bf4 Bd6 {was a more solid approach.}) 13. Bf4 Na5 14. Ba2 c5 {[#] Black's play looks thematic but now White's position comes alive.} 15. Ne5 $1 {The pressure against f7 now comes into play.} Rc8 $6 (15... cxd4 16. cxd4 Nc6 {looks like a better try although Stockfish 15 gives White a clear advantage after} 17. Nxf7 Rxf7 18. Bxf7+ Kxf7 19. Qb3+ Kf8 20. Rad1 Ne7 21. Qxb7 Rc8 22. Qxa7 Qd5 23. Rc1 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Be4 {but Black definitely has chances.}) 16. Qf3 cxd4 17. cxd4 Qxd4 $2 ({The losing move. After} 17... Nc6 18. Rad1 {White's more active pieces give him a sizeable advantage but without an immediate knockout blow.}) 18. Rad1 Qa4 {[#]} (18... Qc3 19. Re3 Qc2 20. Bb1 Qxb1 21. Rxb1 Bxb1 22. Nd7 {wins.}) 19. Nxf7 Rxf7 20. Bxf7+ Kxf7 21. Qh5+ g6 (21... Bg6 22. Qd5+ {mates.}) 22. Qxh7+ Bg7 23. Re7+ Kxe7 24. Qxg7+ Ke6 25. Rd6# 1-0

[Event "2023 Eastern Idaho Open"]
[Site "Pocatello, Idaho"]
[Date "2023.09.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Belew, Finn"]
[Black "Thomas, Jeremy N"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A15"]
[WhiteElo "1769"]
[BlackElo "1722"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2023.09.23"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.09.15"]

{[%evp 0,85,30,-18,-10,-59,-21,-24,10,-16,2,5,19,15,19,-9,64,28,49,-18,-9,-5,-1,-6,-1,-53,-20,-28,21,26,20,24,54,47,46,24,29,19,18,2,11,19,41,-11,19,-30,43,11,12,17,119,126,128,54,75,58,42,25,30,-14,39,30,143,134,112,124,180,140,186,189,189,204,212,210,210,210,218,234,237,229,257,263,259,267,314,263,305,228]} 1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 e6 3. Bg2 Be7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 e5 $5 6. Nge2 Nc6 7. O-O Rb8 $6 8. a3 (8. d4) 8... a5 9. f4 $6 Bc5+ 10. Kh1 d6 11. h3 Nd4 12. f5 (12. d3) 12... c6 (12... b5 $5 {, as} 13. Nxd4 exd4 14. Nxb5 c6 {forces White into contortions to attempt to extract the knight:} 15. b4 Bb6 16. Nxd6 Qxd6 17. c5 Qe5 18. cxb6 {, and now} Nxe4 {, with our without ...d3 thrown in first, seems to leave Black with the initiative.}) 13. d3 (13. g4) 13... d5 $6 (13... b5 {starts to justify Black's earlier ...Rb8.}) 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. Bg5 Nxe2 16. Qxe2 d4 17. Nd5 Be7 18. Nxe7+ Qxe7 19. g4 h6 $6 {It's usually a bad idea to offer an oncoming pawn storm a hook that can be used to open attacking lines.} 20. Bd2 Ra8 21. Rf3 $6 ({A slightly awkward square for the rook at this point. Simply} 21. g5 hxg5 22. Bxg5 $16 {, putting the bishop on f3 and rooks to the g-file, is quite hard to counter.}) 21... Nh7 22. Qf2 b5 23. b4 a4 24. h4 g5 $6 ({24...g5 loses, but it's such a worthwhile idea that I can't bring myself to call it a blunder.} 24... Ra6 $5 {might offer some chances to defend, suggesting a transfer to the c-file as well as some extra protection along the sixth rank.The idea behind ...g5 is to blockade the kingside dark squares. If successful, White's attaching prospects on that wing vanish.}) 25. fxg6 ({Strong enough, but even better is} 25. hxg5 $1 hxg5 (25... Nxg5 26. f6 {is similar.}) 26. f6 $3 Qd6 {when there are several ways to win, such as the maneuver Rf1 followed by Qg3-h2-h6. Very cool, though, is} 27. Bxg5 $3 Bxg4 (27... Nxg5 28. Qh4 $1 Nxf3 29. Bxf3 Qxf6 30. Qxf6 $18) 28. Bh6 Bh5 29. Rg1 Bg6 30. Bh3 Ra6 31. Qa2 $1 {. Now, faced with the threat of Rxg6, Black must part with his queen -- although even that offers no relief from the attack.} Qxf6 32. Rxf6 Rxf6 33. Qd5 Re8 34. Qxb5 $18) 25... fxg6 26. Rxf8+ $6 (26. Bxh6 Rxf3 27. Bxf3 $16) 26... Qxf8 27. Qg3 Qg7 28. g5 hxg5 29. hxg5 Nf8 30. Rc1 {The last four or five moves have converted a dominating attacking position for White into a balanced, relatively lifeless technical late middlegame. White will need to win the game all over again.} Nd7 $2 (30... Bd7 31. Rc5 Rc8 $13) (30... Ne6 {, as White's attempt to win the e-pawn gives Black some chances to infiltrate.} 31. Bh3 Bd7 32. Bxe6+ $6 Bxe6 33. Rc5 $6 (33. Rc6 $13) 33... Rf8 34. Kg1 (34. Qxe5 $4 Qh7+ 35. Kg1 Qh3 36. Bf4 Qg4+ 37. Bg3 Qd1+ 38. Kh2 Qe2+ {and mates, to give just one example.}) (34. Rxb5 $4 Qf7 35. Qg2 Qh7+ 36. Kg1 Bh3 $19) 34... Qf7 35. Qg2 (35. Rc1 $2 Qf3 $1 36. Qxf3 Rxf3 37. Rc6 Kf7 $19) 35... Qd7 $15) 31. Bh3 Nb6 32. Rc6 Qh7 33. Kg2 Bxh3+ 34. Qxh3 Nd7 35. Qe6+ Qf7 36. Qxg6+ Qxg6 37. Rxg6+ Kf7 38. Rc6 Rg8 39. Kf3 Rg6 40. Rc7 (40. Rxg6 Kxg6 41. Kg4 $18 {White attacks e5 with the bishop and creates zugswang.}) 40... Ke7 41. Kg4 Kd8 42. Rc1 Ke7 43. Kf5 Kf7 44. Rc7 Rd6 45. Rb7 ({Alternatively,} 45. g6+ Kg7 46. Bg5 {. White can win the knight with a well-timed Be7, if nothing better turns up.}) 45... Ke7 46. Rxb5 Rc6 47. g6 (47. Ra5) 47... Rf6+ 48. Kg4 $6 (48. Kg5 Rf3 (48... Rf1 49. Kh6 $18) 49. Kg4 Rxd3 50. Bg5+ Ke6 51. g7 Kf7 52. Rb7 $18) 48... Rxg6+ 49. Bg5+ Ke8 50. Ra5 Rc6 51. Rxa4 Rc3 52. Ra8+ Kf7 53. Ra7 Ke6 54. Ra6+ Kf7 55. Rd6 Nf8 56. Kf5 Rxa3 57. Kxe5 $6 (57. Bh6 {here avoids some of the possible complications below.}) 57... Rxd3 58. Bh6 ({White avoids} 58. Rxd4 $2 Rxd4 59. Kxd4 Ne6+ {with a draw.}) 58... Ng6+ 59. Kd5 Rd1 60. b5 d3 61. Kc5 Rh1 62. Bg5 (62. Bd2) 62... Rh5 63. Rd5 $2 (63. Rf6+ $1 Kg7 64. Rf5 {, when} d2 $2 ({A sneakier try is} 64... Ne7 $5 {, when} 65. Bxe7 $4 ({The winning idea is} 65. Bf6+ $1 Kh6 66. Rxh5+ Kxh5 67. Bc3 $18 {.}) 65... Rxf5+ 66. exf5 d2 {makes a black queen... though it's still a draw.}) 65. Bxd2 {accomplishes nothing.}) 63... Ne7 64. Re5 d2 $2 (64... Kg6 $1 {is better, and just holds the game, though it isn't instantly obvious why there's such a difference.} 65. Rxe7 Rxg5+ 66. Kc6 (66. e5 Rg2 $1 67. Rd7 Rc2+ $1 {And now:} 68. Kd4 (68. Kd6 Rb2 69. Ke6 Rxb5 70. Rxd3 Kg5 $1) (68. Kb6 d2 69. e6 Kf6 70. e7 Kf7 71. Kb7 Ke8 72. Rd3 Kxe7 73. b6 Ke6 74. Ka7 Ra2+ 75. Kb8 Rb2 76. b7 Ke7 {The famous "building a bridge" of course doesn't work here due to the black d2-pawn.}) 68... d2 69. Ke3 Kf5 70. Rxd2 Rxd2 71. Kxd2 Kxe5 72. Kc3 Kd6 73. Kb4 Kc7 74. Ka5 Kb7) 66... Rg1 ({Or the spectacular} 66... Rd5 $3 {, interfering on the d-file.}) 67. Rd7 Rc1+ $1 (67... Rd1 $2 {is insufficient, though it's educational:} 68. Rd6+ $1 Kg7 69. e5 d2 70. Kd7 $1 {Hiding from checks behind the rook while staying closer to the e-pawn.} Rb1 71. Rxd2 Rxb5 72. e6 Rb7+ {The black rook needs one more file of checking distance. So ironically if the white pawn had been on a5 instead of b5, 72...Ra7+ would now be drawing.} 73. Kd8 Kf6 74. e7 Rb8+ 75. Kd7 Rb7+ 76. Kd6 Rb8 (76... Rb6+ 77. Kc7 Re6 78. Kd8 $18) 77. Rf2+ Kg7 78. Rb2 $1 (78. Rf5 Ra8 79. Ra5 $1 Rxa5 80. e8=Q {may be more efficient.}) 78... Ra8 (78... Rxb2 79. e8=Q $18 {, but White will need to spend some time evading checks, then regrouping, before demonstrating the non-trivial winning technique.}) 79. Ra2 $1 Rb8 80. Kc7 $1 Rh8 81. Kd7 Kf7 82. Rf2+ Kg7 83. e8=Q $18) 68. Kb7 {Hiding in front of the b-pawn doesn't work out.} Rd1 $1 69. b6 d2 70. Kb8 Rb1 (70... Kf6 71. b7 Ke6 72. Rd5 Ke7) 71. Rxd2 Rxb6+ 72. Kc7 Re6 (72... Rb4) 73. Rd6 Kf7 $1 ({But not} 73... Kf6 $4 74. Kd7 Rxd6+ 75. Kxd6 $18)) 65. Rxe7+ {Presumably White next plays Rd7, giving up the bishop but halting the d-pawn, then wins by advancing the b-pawn -- however our scoresheet stops around here.An amazing battle with unseen depths.} 1-0

[Event "Washington Women Championship"]
[Site "Seattle"]
[Date "2023.09.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Selina Cheng"]
[Black "Te Wei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "1417"]
[BlackElo "1565"]
[Annotator "Te Wei"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.09.15"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Be2 e6 8. O-O dxc4 9. Qa4 Bd6 10. Bg5 O-O 11. Qxc4 Bf5 {h6 or Bf3 might be worth exploring} 12. d5 exd5 13. Nxd5 {Qb5 and Rad1 later could be better} Be6 14. Rfd1 $2 {[%c_effect d1;square;d1;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} Bxd5 15. Rxd5 $2 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} Bxh2+ $3 {[%c_effect h2; square;h2;type;Brilliant;persistent;true] White gave me a chance for the discovered check} 16. Kxh2 Qxd5 17. Qh4 Qe6 18. Bd3 {this leads to fork for the next move} Qd6+ 19. g3 Qxd3 20. Kg2 {good move to counterattack} Qg6 {my king needs more protection} 21. Rh1 Rfe8 22. Be3 Qe4 {I want to trade pieces when I am under attack} 23. Qh2 Ne5 {after this move, white did not have many options and let me break through the king side} 24. Kf1 Qxf3 25. Qh3 Rad8 26. Kg1 Rd1+ 27. Qf1 Rxf1+ 28. Kxf1 Qxh1+ 29. Ke2 Rd8 30. f4 Qf3+ 31. Ke1 Rd1# {[%c_effect g8;square;g8;type;Winner,e1;square;e1;type;CheckmateWhite]} 0-1

