[Event "Oregon Class Championships"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2023.11.04"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Vega, Isaac"]
[Black "Omori, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "1824"]
[BlackElo "2153"]
[Annotator "Michael Omori"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2023.11.04"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

{[%evp 0,74,28,5,78,-4,-7,-10,35,30,63,3,5,7,17,7,6,-6,36,-54,-39,-35,-27,-35,-34,-67,-30,-52,-24,-58,-42,-60,-41,-49,-36,-122,-127,-132,-113,-159,-104,-176,-161,-189,-180,-160,-180,-193,-171,-316,47,38,180,-151,-164,-195,-226,-297,-215,-211,-219,-219,-235,-189,-307,-381,-386,-589,-589,-1052,-953,-1046,-1046,-1046,-1132,-1200,-1323]} 1. e4 g6 2. f4 $6 {Inaccuracy. d4 was best.} d5 {I had recently played Isaac in a tourney the previous month as black and decided to mix things up. This was my prep and I chose this move order over a c5 setup first as this way I could get my light square bishop out of my pawn structure. This move ordering already gives black a slight advantage as white doesn't really want to take d5 because the king will be exposed in an open position and with e5, black gets a superior setup compared to similar openings.} 3. e5 c5 {a must to maintain the fight over the d4 square} 4. Nc3 {innacurate because the knight can get kicked easily} a6 $6 {Inaccuracy. Nc6 was best. A miscalculation on my part as I thought after nc6, bb5, I was going to get the classic doubled pawns, but I missed nxe5!} (4... Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Nf3 (6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. d4) (6. Nxd5 Nxe5 7. Bxd7+ Nxd7 8. Qe2 Bg7 9. Nf3 Nh6 10. O-O e6 11. d3 O-O 12. Nc3 Qc7 13. Bd2 Nf5 14. Rac1 Nf6 15. Kh1 h5 16. Ne5 Rac8 17. b3 Rfe8 18. Ne4 Nd7 19. Nf3 b5 20. c3 a5 21. Rb1 Nf6 22. Ne5 b4 23. Rbc1 Qb7) 6... Nh6 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. d4 Nf5 9. Ne2 e6 10. c3 h5 11. Ng3) 5. a4 $2 {Mistake. d4 was best. stopping b5} (5. d4 e6 6. Nf3 Nh6 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. Be3 c4 9. Be2 b5 10. a3 Nf5 11. Bf2 h5) 5... Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 {pin to win} 7. Be2 e6 8. O-O h5 9. Ne1 Bxe2 {I was happy to trade off my bad bishop, though I missed the very strong idea of nh6} (9... Nh6 10. Bxg4 hxg4 11. g3 Qc7 12. d3 O-O-O 13. Bd2 c4 14. Rb1 Bc5+ 15. Kg2 Nf5 16. Qxg4 Be3 17. Qe2 Ncd4) 10. Nxe2 Nh6 11. Nf3 Nf5 12. g3 Be7 13. c3 {Having gotten my pieces into their optimal squares, with a strong knight outpost on f5. It was time to determine my plan, and I was debating between d4 and c4 as white's idea is to go d4 and solidify the center. My gut told me to go d4, but I calculated for a few minutes and chose the slightly inferior plan of c4.} c4 $6 {Inaccuracy. d4 was best.} (13... d4 14. d3 Qb6 15. Bd2 O-O (15... O-O-O {I missed the bold plan of queenside castling as it looked risky but according to the computer, black has nothing to fear.} 16. cxd4 Kb8 17. dxc5 (17. a5 Qb5 18. d5 Rxd5 (18... exd5 19. Qc2 Nb4 20. Bxb4 cxb4 21. Qb3 Rd7)) 17... Bxc5+ 18. Kh1) 16. c4 {I had calculated this variation, in which black maintains the space advantage, but it doesn't look decisive.}) 14. b4 $2 {Mistake. d4 was best. I'm guessing the next move was missed.} (14. d4 b5 (14... Na5) (14... cxd3 15. Qxd3) 15. axb5 axb5 16. Bd2) 14... d4 15. cxd4 Nxb4 $6 {Inaccuracy. Nfxd4 was best. At this point I have 4 different captures and I spent about 4 minutes unsure of which one to choose, so I just picked one, and unluckily the worst option according to stockfish.} (15... Nfxd4 16. Nexd4) (15... Ncxd4 16. Nexd4 Nxd4 17. Rb1 h4 18. g4 Qb6 19. Kg2 (19. Kh1 O-O-O 20. b5 h3 21. Nxd4 Rxd4 22. Qe2 Rhd8 23. Bb2 (23. Qe3 Qa5 24. bxa6 Qd5+ 25. Qf3 bxa6 26. Qxd5 R8xd5 27. Rb6 Re4 28. Rxa6 (28. f5 gxf5 29. gxf5) 28... Kb7))) 16. Ba3 (16. a5 O-O 17. Ba3) 16... a5 17. Bxb4 $2 {Mistake. Qb1 was best.} (17. Qb1 Qd5 18. Nc3 Qd7 19. Qe4 O-O 20. Rfc1 Rfd8 21. Nb5 Rdc8 22. Kg2 Ra6 23. Rab1 Rb6) 17... axb4 {In this position black should have good chances of converting with a passed pawn 3 moves away from queening and white's pawn structure severely compromised with doubled pawn in the center, black's strong bishop, and black's a8 rook pressuring the isolated a4 pawn.} 18. Qc2 Qd5 19. h3 $6 {Inaccuracy. Rac1 was best.} (19. Rac1 Rc8 20. h3 Kf8 21. Kf2 Kg7 22. Ra1 b6 23. Rfc1 Rc7 24. Rab1 Ra8 25. g4 Nh4) 19... Kf8 $6 {Inaccuracy. b5 was best. A standard procedure to castle by hand and keep the rook on the file that may be potentially opened.} (19... b5 20. a5 (20. axb5 Rxa1 21. Rxa1) 20... b3 21. Qb1 (21. Qb2 b4 22. a6 Ra7) 21... b4 22. a6 Kf8 23. Qe1 Kg7 24. Qf2 b2 25. Rab1 Rxa6 26. Rxb2) 20. Kf2 {A very clever idea to get the rook to the h1 square and potentially let the king flee to the queenside.} Kg7 {fianchettoing the king} 21. Rh1 b6 22. Rac1 $2 {Mistake. Rhc1 was best.} (22. Rhc1 Rhc8 23. Rcb1 Ra5 24. Rc1 Qa8 25. Qb2 Qb7 26. Rc2 Qd5 27. Qc1 Raa8 28. g4 Nh4) 22... Rac8 $2 {Mistake. b5 was best.} (22... b5 {I missed this very nice idea which is a temporary pawn sac, but if white takes the poisoned pawn, black can invade with the rook and dominate the 3rd rank.} 23. Rhf1 (23. axb5 Ra3 24. Nh2 (24. Ne1) 24... Rc8 (24... Nxg3 25. Nxg3 Bh4 26. Rhg1 Qxd4+ 27. Ke2 Bxg3 28. Qxc4 Qf2+ 29. Kd1 Qxg1+ 30. Kc2 Qxh2) 25. Qb2 Rd3 26. Rhg1 h4 27. g4 Nxd4 28. Nxd4 Rxd4) 23... Rxa4 24. Ra1 Rha8 25. Rxa4 bxa4 26. g4 Nh4 27. Nxh4 Bxh4+ 28. Kg1 a3 29. f5) 23. Rcg1 $6 {Inaccuracy. Qa2 was best.} (23. Qa2 b3 24. Qa1 Qa8 25. Nc3 Rhd8 26. Nb5 Kg8 27. Rhd1 h4 28. g4 Ng3 29. d3 cxd3) 23... Rhd8 {My longest think of the game for 17 minutes. My pieces were mostly in good squares, so moving any of them would make a slight concession. I was calculating nxd4 but it doesn't work out well enough. Unable to resist the urge to pawn grab, I piled up onto d4 hoping to get my reward.} (23... Nxd4 24. Nexd4 Bc5 25. Ke3 Rhd8 26. Qe4 Bxd4+ 27. Nxd4) 24. g4 hxg4 $6 {Inaccuracy. Nxd4 was best.} (24... Nxd4 25. Nexd4 Bc5 26. Kg2 b3 27. Qb1 Bxd4 28. Rc1 b2 29. Rc3 Bxc3 30. dxc3 Qb7 31. Qxb2) 25. hxg4 Nxd4 26. Nexd4 Bc5 {the tactical shot} 27. Kg3 Bxd4 28. Rg2 Rh8 29. Rgh2 b3 30. Qb1 b2 {the pawn ties down the queen} 31. Ng5 Rxh2 32. Rxh2 Bxe5 {black has several options but I thought this was the most fun} (32... Qd7 {black could get easily get into trouble with a lazy move} 33. Rh7+ Kg8 34. Qh1) 33. Rh7+ Kg8 34. Rxf7 Qd3+ {removing the defender} 35. Qxd3 cxd3 36. fxe5 b1=Q 37. Rf6 Qe1+ {0-1} 0-1

[Event "Oregon Class Championships"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2023.11.04"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Morehouse, Ethan"]
[Black "Sherrard, Jerry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "1806"]
[BlackElo "1915"]
[Annotator "Ethan Morehouse"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2023.11.04"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3 h5 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Rc8 11. Kb1 Qc7 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. exd5 g6 14. c4 {c4 was the last idea that I had reviewed in this line, so from here on out I had to come up with my own plans. It proved to be difficult in this position} b6 15. Rc1 Be7 16. Bd3 Kf8 17. Qf2 Kg7 18. Be4 Nc5 (18... Nxe4 19. fxe4 {would give away the bishop pair, but strengthen my center and give me the half open f-file.} Rcf8 20. Nd2 Nc5 21. Rc3) 19. Nxc5 bxc5 20. Rc3 Rb8 21. Qc2 Rb7 22. b3 h4 23. f4 exf4 24. Bxf4 Nh5 25. Bc1 Bf6 26. Rf3 Qe7 27. Rhf1 Bd4 28. Bb2 (28. Rxf7+ {I had assumed this would be better for me, but if you take a closer look} Qxf7 29. Rxf7+ Rxf7 30. Bf3 (30. Bxg6 Rf2 $1) 30... Re8 {all of black's pieces activate and mine are stuck defending}) 28... Qe5 29. Bxd4 Qxd4 30. Qb2 Qxb2+ 31. Kxb2 Re7 32. Bd3 f5 33. Kc3 Nf6 34. g3 hxg3 35. Rxg3 Kf7 36. h3 Nh5 37. Rgf3 Rhe8 38. Kd2 Kf6 39. R1f2 Re5 (39... Re1 {A little trick I had concocted} 40. Rxf5+ gxf5 41. Rxf5+ Kg7 (41... Kg6 42. Re5+) 42. Rxh5 {It's probably still winning for black after} Ra1 {but I thought I'd complicate things}) 40. a3 f4 41. Be2 g5 42. Rd3 Ng7 43. h4 Nf5 44. hxg5+ Kxg5 45. Rg2+ Ng3 46. Bf3 Re3 {He played this move in about a minute and just overlooked that his pawn was overloaded} 47. Rxg3+ fxg3 48. Rxe3 Rh8 49. Re2 1-0

[Event "Oregon Class Championships"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2023.11.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Stephen Willy"]
[Black "Carl Haessler"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]
[WhiteElo "2214"]
[BlackElo "2200"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2023.11.04"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[WhiteTeam "US"]
[BlackTeam "US"]

{[%evp 0,69,19,38,25,16,75,61,61,56,98,86,87,53,56,31,34,0,4,-4,46,53,70,41,47,45,53,41,74,51,78,78,50,20,9,-30,-51,-48,-48,-40,-40,-53,57,51,229,-9,-23,-62,0,-62,20,-158,-160,-151,-138,-276,-41,-54,170,146,245,3,93,78,214,-26,563,563,727,721,1149,1398] Carl was in good form, starting the tournament with two wins and a fighting draw against Jason Cigan. Stephen Willy was in good form demonstrated by his Oregon Open co-championship in September and obtaining a National Master title in October. So this shaped up to be a key game in the tournament. Carl invited me to analyze the game with him during the downtime between rounds 4 and 5. As we started to look at the game a small crowd gathered, eventually including Stephen Willy. There were lots of suggested alternatives to the moves the players chose, but the suggestions rarely led to clarity. Therefore, I was interested to see what the engines had to say. They confirmed that this was a very complicated game.  Comments from the players will be prefixed by their names, followed by a colon. All comments without prefixes should be blamed on Wilson Gibbins.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 {Is Carl planning to bleed some of the life out of the game with a stogy Philidor Defense with the hope of minimizing the creative attacking dreams of his opponent who is over 50 years younger?} 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 g6 {No way - Carl is young at heart and plays the ultra-aggressive Larsen variation of the Philidor Defense. It is sort of like a Dragon Sicilian, with the exception that Black has a half-open e-file instead of a half-open c-file. This seems like a bad tradeoff to a Sicilian player. But as someone who has stumbled into this line as White, I have seen Black's c-pawn advance rapidly towards my long castled king. The evaluation of this position isn't as simple as calling it a better version of the Yugoslav Attack in the Dragon Sicilian.} 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. h3 {Stephen chooses a less popular line where the outcome of the game will rely on both players' abilities to improvise.} ({The main lines are} 7. Qd2) ({and} 7. f3 {aiming to castle long, advance the h-pawn, trade off dark squared bishops with Be3-h6, and "sac, sac, and mate" as Bobby Fischer put it.}) {Stephen Willy: When I played h3 for some reason I thought if i played f3 there would be eventual problems with d5 (funny enough there aren't after f3 but there is after what I played).} 7... O-O 8. g4 Re8 {Carl uses the open e-file that was mentioned in the note to move 4.} ({Carl can simplify his way to equality by borrowing from the Dragon Sicilian and using the standard pawn break} 8... d5 {but that would have deprived us of a very entertaining game.}) 9. Bg2 c6 10. Qd2 Na6 {This reminds me of the game Cesareo Tongco played against Andrew Carson in the 2023 Oregon Open, which you can see on page 14 of your November 2023 issue.} 11. O-O {Cesareo castled long, and his king did come under attack before he pulled out the win. Stephen decides that discretion is the better part of valor.} Nc5 12. f3 {White's kingside is starting to look a little drafty, but his space advantage combined with good development allows Stephen to keep everything under control. Well, at least for a little while.} a5 13. Rad1 Qe7 14. Rfe1 h5 {Carl tries to open lines around that drafty kingside} 15. Bf4 {Shoring up the dark squares around White's king and bearing down on the weak d-pawn.} ({Stockfish prefers to grab space.} 15. g5 Nfd7 16. f4 {Since Black can't easily attack the e-pawn with a second minor piece, White can afford to advance the f-pawn, as he no longer needs pawn protection of e4.  Stephen Willy: Of course instead of Bf4 I should play g5 and f4 I saw what he played but underestimated it.}) 15... hxg4 16. fxg4 $1 {I will be sprinkling in a few exclamation marks for moves that are by no means winning and only slightly better than the alternatives but are non-intuitive to your author. Here is the first. White (1) gives up pawn protection of his e-pawn, (2) grants Black a permanent outpost on e5 and (3) takes on a third pawn island, so this is not a move I would choose. But it is a good move, as issues 1 and 3 will disappear on the next move. Stephen Willy: My decision of fxg4 was probably to open up the light squared bishop.} Nfd7 17. Nf5 $1 {This isn't a winning move - the game is still equal. But it is the best move in the position, creating a position where, as Tal put it, "You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one." Stephen Willy: I played Nf5 as if I don't I just get a worse position after he gets a blockade on e5 so why not try to complicate things.} gxf5 18. Bxd6 Qh4 {Carl is following the path so far, but this position has so many candidate moves that appear to result in the evaluation "unclear" that he is unlikely to stay on the path for long.} 19. exf5 Be5 {Better than all alternatives except one.} (19... Rxe1+ 20. Rxe1 b6 $1 $11 {a quiet move in a sharp position, not easy to find. Stockfish says White has lots of tries, but all result in equality.}) 20. Re3 b6 21. Rde1 Qf6 ({As further demonstration of how irrational this position is, Black's best move is} 21... Qh6 $16 {where White's only reply that retains a significant advantage is to give up one of his pawns and the potential of a rolling kingside pawn majority with} 22. g5 {luring Black's queen off the attack of the bishop on d6 so White can play Qf2} (22. Qf2 $2 Qxd6) 22... Qxg5 23. Qf2 $1 Bxd6 $1 (23... Qf6 24. Bxe5 Rxe5 25. Qg3+ {another reason for the g4-g5 pawn sacrifice - open up the g-file.} Kf8 26. Rxe5 Nxe5 27. Rxe5 $16) 24. Rxe8+ Kh7 25. Qd4 $1 $16 Bf8 $8) 22. Kh1 $2 {Stephen also faces the problem of consistently finding best moves in a complex position.} ({It seems funny to be grubbing pawns in such a sharp position, but} 22. Bxc6 $1 $18 {opens the d5 and b5 squares for White's knight on c3.} Bd4 (22... Bb7 23. Bxb7 Nxb7 24. Bxe5 Nxe5 25. Qd5 Nd6 26. Rxe5) 23. Nd5 {Stephen Willy: I saw Bxc6 ideas but didn't play it on move 22 because I was worried about Bd4 however this is met with Nd5 and I am winning} Qxd6 24. Qxd4 Rxe3 25. Rxe3 Bb7 26. Ne7+) 22... Bb7 $11 {And Carl is back in the game.} 23. a3 a4 $1 {stops White from playing b2-b4 to drive away the knight on c5, and perhaps Black will develop the rook on a8 to a5 to defend across the fifth rank.} 24. R1e2 {Stephen Willy: At this point we were pretty low on time making a huge influence on the decisions.} Red8 $6 ({Many Black moves retain the balance, but Stockfish likes} 24... Kg7 {the most}) 25. Bxe5 $14 Nxe5 26. Qe1 Nc4 27. Rg3 ({Once again Stockfish suggests sacrificing one of pawns in White's potential kingside pawn roller with} 27. g5 $1 Qxf5 28. Rf3 Qg6 29. Qh4 Nd7 $1 {stopping 30.Rf6} 30. Ne4 $1 Ra5 $1 {Black's queenside rook finally decides to contribute to the effort in the late middlegame.} 31. Rd3 Rd5 $1 32. Nf6+ Nxf6 33. gxf6 Rxd3 34. cxd3 {And Stockfish claims a very slight edge for White after an unlikely sequence of "only" moves.} Nd6 $1 35. Be4 $1 Nxe4 $1 36. Rg2 $1 Nd6 $1 {though this position looks extremely unclear to me.}) 27... Kf8 $2 {Carl's king can run but it can't hide.} ({In the post-mortem I suggested trying to block the pawn roller using Black's queen, a piece not known as great blockader.} 27... Qg5 28. Rf3 {threatening 29.h4, as 29...Qxg4 fails to 30.Rg3, pinning the queen. But I didn't see the sequence leading to a repetition of moves} Nd2 ({Black can play on with} 28... Nd6) ({or} 28... Ba6) 29. Rfe3 Nc4 30. Rf3 Nd2) ({My suggestion isn't nearly as good as} 27... Qh4) ({or} 27... Nd6 {with an edge for Black, though there is still a lot of chess to be played.}) 28. g5 $1 $14 Qxf5 29. g6 Nd7 $2 {After conducting a creative defense in a series of mind-boggling positions, Carl finally oversteps the bounds of playability. It is logical to bring a piece back to the defense of the king, but unfortunately there are tactical issues. Well, maybe not so unfortunate for Stephen.} (29... Nd6 30. gxf7 Qf6 $16) 30. Be4 {Reaching a winning position again} ({But there were better moves, including} 30. Rf2) ({and} 30. gxf7) 30... Qh5 31. Rf2 f6 32. Qf1 {Attacking the knight on c4 and threatening to take with the rook on f6} (32. g7+ $1 {is even better} Kg8 33. Bg6 Qe5 34. Re2) 32... Kg7 (32... Nce5 {requires White to find a lot of "only" moves} 33. Rxf6+ Kg8 34. Rf7 $1 Rf8 35. Qf4 $1 Rae8 36. h4 $1 Ba6 37. Rg5 Qh6 38. Nd5 $1 cxd5 $2 {but all other moves are also losing} 39. Bxd5 {and despite Black's two extra pieces there is too much firepower raining down on his king, with discovered checks and passed pawns rearing their ugly heads.}) 33. Qxc4 Ne5 34. Qe6 Rf8 35. Qe7+ {A crazy game. Carl Haessler: Yes, it was a crazy game indeed. It nicely illustrates the battle between calculation and "feel".} 1-0

[Event "Oregon Class Championships"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2023.11.05"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Bhaskaran, Sidharth"]
[Black "Morehouse, Ethan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E67"]
[WhiteElo "1824"]
[BlackElo "1806"]
[Annotator "Ethan Morehouse"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2023.11.04"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O O-O 5. c4 d6 6. d4 Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. e3 c6 9. b3 Qc7 (9... Re8 {is the typical plan which I had forgotten otb} 10. Bb2 e4 11. Nd2 d5) 10. Bb2 (10. Ba3 {was the move I expected and the plan was} Rd8 11. Rc1 Nf8 {If he chose to close the center} 12. d5 c5 13. Nd2 {I evaluated here that although he controls the e4 square, my bishops would be easier to activate with ideas like Bf5, h5 and Bh6.}) 10... Ne8 11. b4 f5 12. c5 e4 13. cxd6 Nxd6 14. Qb3+ Kh8 15. Nd2 (15. Ng5 Nb6 16. Nh3 {was another plan for white I evaluated. It seemed better to me since the f4 knight will control more important squares in my position like d5 and e6.}) 15... Nb6 16. a4 Qf7 17. Rac1 (17. Qxf7 Rxf7 18. a5 Nd5 19. Nxd5 cxd5 20. Rfc1 {I evaluated as best since white gets control of the open file, though my minor pieces are currently in much better condition.}) 17... Be6 18. Qc2 Nd5 19. Nxd5 Bxd5 20. f3 Qe6 21. fxe4 fxe4 22. Rfe1 Rae8 23. Ba3 b5 24. axb5 cxb5 25. Qd1 Rc8 26. Qe2 Nc4 27. Nxc4 Bxc4 28. Qd2 Rc6 29. Red1 Qd5 30. Bb2 Rcf6 31. Qc2 Rf2 $2 (31... Bh6 32. Re1 {I wanted to play this but couldn't come up with a plan. Ideally I wanted to move the queen, but then there's issues with d5. Maybe I should've just waited with something like} Re8 {and continued to slow play} (32... Kg8 $1 {Stepping out of the x-ray from the bishop} 33. Bxe4 (33. Qxe4 Qxe4 34. Bxe4 Re8) 33... Qf7 34. d5 Bxe3+ $1 35. Kh1 (35. Rxe3 $4 Rf1+ 36. Kg2 Rf2+) 35... Bxc1 (35... Rf2 36. Qc3) 36. Bxf6 Qxf6 37. Rxc1 {Unclear who is better here.})) 32. Qxf2 Rxf2 33. Kxf2 Qh5 34. Re1 Qf5+ 35. Kg1 Qe6 36. Ra1 Qe7 (36... a6 {I didn't see this but I'm able to defend this pawn after} 37. Ra3 Bh6 38. Rea1 Bd5 39. Bc1 (39. Rxa6 Bxe3+ 40. Kh1) 39... Bb7) 37. Bc3 Kg8 38. Ra3 Bh6 39. Bd2 Bd3 (39... Bd5 40. Rea1 Qc7 41. Rc3 (41. Rxa7 Qc2) 41... Qb7 {seems to defend a little better}) 40. Rea1 Qc7 41. Rc3 (41. Rxa7 Qc2 42. R7a2 {White is winning, and the last attempt to complicate things would've been} Qxd2 43. Rxd2 Bxe3+ 44. Rf2 $1 (44. Kh1 $4 Bxd2 $10)) 41... Qb7 {I had calculated this move when I thought of playing 39. Bd5, and automatically played this and immediately realized...} 42. Rxd3 {I could've resigned here since there is little to no counterplay in the position. I played on, but went under 5 mins so I lost the notation. My opponent cleanly converted and ended up winning.} 1-0

[Event "Oregon Class Championships"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2023.11.05"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Zoey Tang"]
[Black "Stephen Willy"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D32"]
[WhiteElo "2329"]
[BlackElo "2214"]
[Annotator "Stephen Willy"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2023.11.04"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[WhiteTeam "US"]
[BlackTeam "US"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 {Well I was hoping for a game that wasn't me getting outplayed very boringly} 4. cxd5 cxd4 {She started taking time here so I thought I had some hope of her messing up the theory} 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxd4 exd5 7. Qxd5 Nf6 8. Qd1 Bc5 9. e3 {Oh well she didn't mess up theory but this is still a decent position for black} O-O 10. Nf3 Nc6 11. a3 $6 Qc7 {This is often the square you use for the queen in these positions as it clears the way for the rooks to be on d8 and e8 and then a future Ne5 etc it also helps that b4 is tactically prevented by Nxb4} 12. Be2 (12. b4 Nxb4) 12... Rad8 13. Qc2 $6 Ne5 {And Ne5 happens} 14. O-O Bd6 {This was where I started my first think in the game I had considered Nfg4 and Bc6 as well and I feel like Bc6 was a good move here} (14... Bc6 15. Qf5 {For some reason during the game I didn't like this move but after Rfe8 I just have a bunch of development} (15. Nd4 {Stockfish starts suggesting some interesting lines} Nfg4 16. g3 Bxd4 (16... Rxd4 {The computer also thinks becoming gothamchess for a moment isn't a bad idea either}) 17. exd4 (17. Nb5 Bxb5 18. Qxc7 Bxe2 19. exd4 Nf3+ 20. Kg2 Nxd4 21. h4 Rc8 22. Qf4 Rc4 23. Qd6 {This is the end of a very forcing computer line starting with Nb5}) 17... Nf3+ 18. Bxf3 Bxf3) (15. Rd1 {This is the much more calm variation where black has equalized}) 15... Rfe8) (14... Nfg4 15. Ng5 {Somehow I missed this during the game but it gets a bit interesting} (15. Nxe5 {I was calculating this during the game} Qxe5 16. Bxg4 Bxg4 17. Qe4 (17. e4 {Strange move but only way for white to get a slight edge}) 17... Qxe4 18. Nxe4 {I wasn't sure if the compensation here was good or not}) 15... Nd3 16. g3 Bf5 17. Nce4 Nge5 18. Nxc5 Qxc5 19. Qxc5 Nxc5 20. b4 Nb3 21. Ra2 Nd3 {Some long computer variation that feels pleasant for black}) 15. Nxe5 $6 Bxe5 16. f4 {During the game even though I saw this I was quite frustrated with the endgame we got despite it being fine only white has winning chances and I have to play accurately} Bxc3 17. Qxc3 Qxc3 18. bxc3 Rfe8 {Going for some Nd5 ideas} 19. Bf3 (19. c4 {Probably analyzed this during the game but I don't remember what I thought. While analyzing this game it feels like my compensation despite existing according to the engine is rather unclear (stockfish thinks I have a variety of options here that are good)}) 19... Bb5 {Stockfish likes Bc6 but I wanted to stop c4 although I do have to consider the b7 pawn I guess} (19... Bc6 {And again stockfish has a variety of ideas but I guess it wants to fight against the light squared bishop}) 20. Re1 Nd5 {Threatening both Nxf4 and Nxc3 if white tries to give up the bishop pair with Bxd5 I should be perfectly fine as white has a bunch of bad pawns as well as opposite colored bishops} 21. Rb1 {During the game I realized Zoey had e4 ideas to get rid of the bad e3 pawn and that might give her a small advantage and instead of Rb1 indeed e4 is the best move} (21. Bxd5 Rxd5) (21. e4 Nxc3 22. e5 {I am still fine though}) 21... Nxc3 22. Rb2 {Stockfish again really likes Bc6 for me but my mind was rejecting that which didn't end up well} (22. Rb3 {My guess is she thought she had this but Rd3 is problematic} Rd3) 22... a6 23. Bxb7 f5 $2 {Initially my idea was Nd5 and try and force the light squared bishop to trade (like I said before if opposite colored bishops are left I should be fine) however Nd5 fails to Rd2 $1 and for some reason I missed Ne4 here with the same idea and it actually works (I realized I had Ne4 just a move or two later and was frustrated with myself for missing it)} (23... Ne4 $1 24. Rc2 $1 Re7 25. Rc8 $1 Rxc8 26. Bxc8 Rc7 27. Bf5 Bd3) 24. Bf3 Rd3 25. Rd2 $6 Red8 (25... Rdxe3 26. Rxe3 Rxe3 27. Rd8+ Re8 28. Rxe8+ Bxe8 {This endgame did not look enjoyable also knowing myself its the type of endgame I would play for another 5 hours and still manage to lose}) 26. Rxd3 Rxd3 27. Bb2 Ne4 $4 {Clearly I am trying to let her win for no reason during the game I realized Bd4 is quite annoying and it indeed gives white a strong advantage of about 1.6 for white, the bishop on d4 with Rc1 Rc7 is quite annoying and I have a light squared bishop that couldn't help with the defense no matter how hard it tries because it's hopes and dreams cant change it into a dark squared bishop so because of that I will proceed to be giving the rook a free meal of 2 pawns and then get destroyed by the 2 kingside pawns white has which will promote} 28. Be2 {Of course I will clearly take on e3 and lose the game. All jokes aside I was very confused when she didn't play Bd4 in fact now this allows me to force trades which are good for me} Rb3 29. Bxb5 axb5 30. Bd4 h5 {This move will help in some lines where if the white rook tries to go to c7 and she attemps to play h3 while her rook is on c1 she can't go Rc7 as I have h4 with putting the knight on g3 and then mate ideas stop her from getting her rook active} 31. h4 {Apparently she doesn't want to get mated $2 oh well might as well take on a3 now there should be enough counterplay to make Rc1 Rc7 ideas not so powerful} Rxa3 32. Rb1 (32. Rc1 Kf7 33. Rc7+ Ke6 34. Rxg7 Rd3 {And Rd1 with Nf2 is indeed enough compensation} 35. Rh7 Rd1+ 36. Kh2 Nf2 {And then with normal moves the position is equal but watch out about taking h5 $1} 37. Rxh5 Rh1+ 38. Kg3 Ne4+ 39. Kf3 Rf1+ 40. Ke2 Ng3+ 41. Kd3 Nxh5) 32... Nd6 33. Bc5 Rd3 34. Bxd6 (34. Ra1 {Yeah this doesn't work either I have a pretty decent position}) 34... Rxd6 35. Rxb5 {And now the position is dead drawn I have no clue why she continued even after I proved I am not letting her get the e4 break in} g6 36. Kf2 Kf7 37. g3 Rd2+ 38. Kf3 Rd3 39. Rb7+ Ke6 40. Rb6+ Kf7 41. Ke2 Ra3 42. Rd6 Ra1 43. Rd4 Ra3 44. Rd3 {Trading rooks is a draw but I couldn't calculate all that with both of us having low time (she had like 5 minutes ish and I had about 1.5 minutes} Ra2+ 45. Kf3 Ra4 46. Rd4 Ra3 47. Rb4 Rc3 48. Kf2 Rc2+ 49. Kf1 Rc3 50. Kf2 Rc2+ 51. Kf3 Rc3 {And after what felt like the 10 millionth draw offer by me in the rook endgame she finally accepted (I did not want to sit there playing for another hour in a dead drawn endgame when there was a 3 hour drive home)} 1/2-1/2

[Event "2023 Washington Challenger's Cup"]
[Site "Seattle, WA"]
[Date "2023.10.28"]
[Round "4"]
[White "FM Ryan Porter"]
[Black "Stephen Willy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A22"]
[WhiteElo "2252"]
[BlackElo "2202"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2023.10.28"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

{[%evp 0,127,19,-18,-25,-23,-26,-22,28,12,70,-7,9,1,49,20,41,14,58,48,48,35,43,64,78,92,65,65,95,107,107,27,27,-55,-52,-52,-27,-45,-7,-12,-9,-7,9,12,53,48,32,44,55,48,62,47,127,123,142,147,148,0,67,78,74,74,84,105,133,153,183,118,157,128,150,168,109,98,113,107,107,99,91,92,139,132,146,147,147,133,170,169,180,122,223,189,197,140,151,184,184,180,235,74,146,63,43,35,38,2,41,30,44,41,42,41,44,44,44,43,41,45,46,44,53,52,52,72,72,69,69,547,29989,29990]} 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 e4 4. Ng5 c6 ({Forty years ago theory went something like} 4... b5 $1 5. d3 $1 (5. Nxb5 c6 6. Nc3 d5 $13) 5... exd3 (5... bxc4 6. dxe4 {, if memory serves.}) 6. cxb5 h6 7. Nf3 $14 {, though there are many other branches.}) 5. Qa4 ({This is all new for me, but I'd be tempted to play} 5. Ngxe4 {and claim I'd just picked up a center pawn. After} Nxe4 6. Nxe4 d5 7. cxd5 cxd5 8. Ng3 {Black probably has some compensation with the modern idea} h5 {, when the g3-knight is still uncomfortable.}) 5... Qe7 6. Qc2 b5 ({The white queen went to a4, pinning the c-pawn in case of ...d5. The return to c2 is now justified because the c8-bishop is no longer defended:} 6... d5 7. cxd5 cxd5 $4 8. Nxd5 {and Black collapses. Black could probably drum up some compensation with 7...Bf5 in this line instead.}) 7. cxb5 (7. Ngxe4 Nxe4 8. Nxe4 bxc4 $13) 7... d5 8. e3 c5 ({I'm not sure how far the home preparation goes here, but clearly Black had other reasonable choices:} 8... a6 $5) (8... Qb7) ({and} 8... h6 {, among others.}) 9. d3 h6 10. Nh3 Bb7 ({Completely different types of positions arise from} 10... exd3 11. Bxd3 c4 (11... Bxh3 12. gxh3 Nbd7) 12. Be2 Bxh3 13. gxh3 Nbd7 {.}) 11. dxe4 d4 $6 ({As a consequence of 10...Bb7, Black's best may be} 11... dxe4 {, though after some natural moves such as} 12. Be2 Nbd7 13. O-O g5 14. a4 $14 {White keeps the extra pawn and has little to fear on the kingside.}) 12. Nd5 $1 Nxd5 13. exd5 Bxd5 $6 ({Lets the knight rejoin the action with tempo.} 13... Nd7 $14) 14. Nf4 Bb7 15. Qe2 $6 (15. Bc4 $16) 15... Nd7 16. exd4 cxd4 17. Nd3 Qxe2+ 18. Kxe2 (18. Bxe2 Bxg2 19. Rg1 Be4 $13) 18... Bd6 ({Now Black comes under serious pressure for most of the rest of the game. It seems better to avoid exchanges and try to take advantage of the exposed white king.} 18... Be7 19. Bf4 Rc8 $13) 19. Bf4 Bxf4 20. Nxf4 O-O-O $5 (20... g5 21. Nd3 Ke7 $14) 21. f3 g5 22. Nd3 g4 23. fxg4 (23. Kf2 $5) 23... Nf6 24. Nc5 Rhe8+ $6 (24... Nxg4 $14) 25. Kd2 Re5 26. Rc1 Kb8 27. Bd3 Bxg2 28. Rhe1 (28. Rhg1) 28... Nxg4 29. Na6+ Ka8 30. Rg1 Ne3 31. Rc7 f5 $6 (31... Bd5) 32. Nb4 $6 ({Stronger options:} 32. Rf7 $1 Rc8 (32... Bd5 33. Nc7+ Kb8 34. Nxd5 Nxd5 35. Rgg7 $18) 33. Rc1 $1 Bb7 (33... Rxc1 $4 34. Rf8+ Kb7 35. Rb8#) 34. Rxc8+ Bxc8 35. Rf8 Kb7 {and the quiet move} 36. Be2 {seals things.}) ({Also} 32. Rg7 $1 {intending} Bb7 33. Rg8 {looks winning.}) 32... Nd5 33. Rxa7+ (33. Rc5 $5) 33... Kxa7 34. Nc6+ Kb6 35. Nxe5 (35. Nxd8 $2 Nf4 $13) 35... Nf4 36. Bxf5 (36. a4 Re8 37. Re1 $16) 36... Rd5 37. Re1 Rxb5 38. Nc4+ Kc5 39. b3 Bd5 40. Rf1 Bxc4 (40... Ng2 $5) 41. bxc4 (41. Rxf4 $1 Bg8 42. Be4 $16 {with the idea} Ra5 $4 43. Rf5+ {and wins the bishop ending.}) 41... Rb2+ 42. Kc1 (42. Bc2 $2 Ng2 {creates challenging complications.}) 42... Rxh2 43. Rxf4 Kxc4 44. Rf3 Kb4 (44... h5) 45. a3+ Kc5 46. Bc2 h5 47. Kb2 Kc4 48. a4 Rg2 49. a5 $4 (49. Rb3 {retains the a-pawn, and looks like a theoretical win.}) 49... Kb5 50. Kb3 (50. Rf5+ Kb4 51. Kc1 Rg3 52. a6 Ra3 {and while White can certainly continue, it isn't clear how to manufacture progress from here.} 53. Rf6 h4 54. Be4 h3 {-- Now what?}) 50... Kxa5 51. Rf5+ Kb6 52. Rxh5 Rd2 53. Be4 Kc7 54. Kc4 Kd6 55. Bd3 Ke6 56. Kxd4 Kf6 57. Rh6+ Kg7 58. Rd6 Rf2 59. Ke5 Kg8 60. Rd7 Kh8 $4 {Black seems to have headed straight for the dark-square corner. There is no such simple drawing rule in R+B vs R endings, and this is the losing blunder.} ({Still drawing, theoretically, are} 60... Rb2) ({and} 60... Kf8 {, likely with ...Rb2 to follow. This ending is worth studying. White can (and should) continue to put pressure on the defense, and even Grandmasters are capable of losing this. There are two reliable drawing methods, the Cochrane and the second rank defense, and it's good to know both.Perhaps I'll do a Coaching Corner on this ending. Like winning with queen versus rook, study of this pays dividends.}) 61. Bf5 $1 Rg2 62. Rh7+ $1 Kg8 63. Kf6 $1 Rf2 ({In case you thought the win was now trivial, here is the most tenacious defense:} 63... Kf8 $1 64. Ra7 Re2 65. Rb7 Re1 66. Rh7 Rg1 67. Bh3 $1 {Aha! No check on f1.} Rg3 68. Be6 $1 Rf3+ 69. Bf5 $1 Rg3 70. Rf7+ $1 Kg8 (70... Ke8 71. Rc7 {Note that d3 is controlled by the bishop.}) 71. Rd7 Kh8 72. Rd4 $1 (72. Rd2 Rg2 $1 {delays things a bit.}) 72... Rg1 (72... Rg7 73. Bg6 ({or} 73. Rh4+ Kg8 74. Be6+) 73... Rg8 74. Rh4#) 73. Rh4+ Kg8 74. Be6+ Kf8 75. Rh8+ Rg8 76. Rxg8#) 64. Rd7 1-0

[Event "2023 Washington Challenger's Cup"]
[Site "Seattle, WA"]
[Date "2023.10.29"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Siddharth Bhaskarin"]
[Black "LM Viktors Pupols"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "1742"]
[BlackElo "2200"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2023.10.28"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. e5 f5 ({Very unusual, at least this early in the game.} 3... c5 {is a nearly universal choice against the Advance French.}) 4. Nf3 c5 5. Bb5+ (5. c3 {supports the pawn chain.}) 5... Nc6 ({For some reason Black isn't tempted to offer the exchange of his bad bishop with} 5... Bd7 {.}) 6. Bxc6+ $6 bxc6 7. O-O Nh6 $6 ({Viktors chooses to be provocative.} 7... cxd4 {is perfectly fine for Black.}) 8. Bxh6 gxh6 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Nd4 O-O 11. c3 Qb6 12. b3 $6 (12. b4 Be7 (12... Bxd4 13. Qxd4 Qxd4 14. cxd4 a5 $13) 13. Nd2 a5 14. a3 c5 15. bxc5 Bxc5 16. N2f3 $13 {Stockfish evaluates this as about a half pawn in favor of White, but it's a little hard to see how White gets at the weak h-pawns. Meanwhile, Black has the bishop pair and play on the g-file.}) 12... Rf7 13. Re1 Bf8 14. Nd2 c5 15. N4f3 ({Knights can become passive when they guard each other.} 15. Ne2 {eyes f4 and reserves f3 for the other horse.}) 15... Rg7 16. Nf1 Bd7 (16... d4 $1 {is an interesting gambit offer, certainly too dangerous to accept.} 17. Ng3 (17. cxd4 cxd4 18. Qxd4 $2 (18. Nxd4 $4 Rd7) 18... Bc5 19. Qb2 Bb7 20. Qe2 Kh8 21. Ng3 Rag8 $17) 17... Bb7 {Black is well-coordinated.}) 17. Ng3 Be8 $6 {Missing the tactic.} 18. Nxf5 $1 Rg6 $2 (18... Rd7 19. Ng3 $14) 19. Ng3 $2 ({Opportunity missed:} 19. N3h4 Rg5 20. f4 Bh5 (20... Rh5 21. Qg4+ Kh8 22. Ng3) 21. Qd2 Rxf5 (21... Rg4 22. h3) 22. Nxf5 $16) 19... Be7 20. Qd2 Bf7 (20... Bc6) 21. Qf4 $6 Rf8 22. Nh5 $4 (22. Qd2 $13) 22... Rxg2+ $1 23. Kxg2 Bxh5 24. Qxh6 (24. Qg3+ Kh8 25. Re3 Rg8 $19) 24... Bxf3+ 25. Kh3 Rf7 26. Rg1+ Kh8 27. Rg3 Be4 $6 (27... Qd8 $1 28. Rag1 Be4) 28. Rag1 $6 (28. Qh5 Bf5+ 29. Kg2 Rf8 $17) 28... Bf5+ (28... Qd8 29. f3 Bf5+ 30. Kg2 Bh4) 29. Kg2 Qd8 30. Kf1 Qf8 31. Rg8+ $6 ({White's queen is not hanging, so there's no rush on this decision.} 31. Ke1 $5 Qb8 32. Kd1 c4 33. Qh5 Qf8 34. bxc4 dxc4 $15 {is a bit murky.}) 31... Qxg8 32. Rxg8+ Kxg8 {We reach a very unusual material imbalance. This sort of thing is very much in Viktors' wheelhouse.} 33. b4 $6 cxb4 34. cxb4 Bxb4 35. Qg5+ Kh8 36. Qd8+ Bf8 37. h4 h6 38. Ke2 Kg7 39. Qa5 Bg4+ 40. Ke3 Be7 41. Qa4 h5 42. f4 Bxh4 43. Qe8 Be7 44. Qb5 Bd8 45. Qb4 Bh4 46. Qb1 Bg3 47. a4 (47. Qg1 Bxf4+ 48. Kd4 Bg5 $19) 47... Rxf4 48. a5 (48. Qb7+ Rf7 49. Qb8 (49. Qb4 Bxe5 $19) (49. Qb2 Rf3+ 50. Kd4 Bf2+) 49... h4 50. Qd8 Bf4+ 51. Kd4 Bf5 52. Qxh4 Rc7 {, among other methods of execution.}) 48... d4+ {Black will win the queen.} 0-1

