[Event "Oregon Class Championships - Masters/Exp"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.11.02"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Tang, Zoey"]
[Black "Thorwe, Pratik"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Zoey Tang"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2431"]
[BlackElo "1974"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[GameId "2239991694319992"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2025.01.15"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Nge2 Ne4 10. Bxe7 Nxc3 11. Nxc3 ({debated} 11. Bxd8 Nxd1 12. Be7 (12. Kxd1 $1 Rxd8) 12... Nxb2 13. Bh7+ Kxh7 14. Bxf8 Nd7 15. Bd6 Nc4 {but decided the Nc4 would be too annoying}) 11... Qxe7 12. O-O Nd7 13. Re1 Nf6 14. f3 {preventing Ne4 and preparing potential e4} Be6 15. Bc2 Rad8 16. Rb1 (16. Qd3 g6 17. Qd2 {was more provocative}) 16... Qd6 17. b4 b5 $6 18. a4 a6 19. Ne2 $6 {couldn't come up with something better during the game} (19. a5 {, preventing Nd7-Nb6-Nc4, was better.} Qd7 20. Qd3 g6 21. Nd1 Ne8 22. Nf2 Nd6 23. Qc3 $16 {with the plan of Nd3-Nc5}) 19... bxa4 20. Bxa4 Rb8 21. Qd2 Rb6 22. Bc2 {preventing Bf5} Rfb8 23. e4 dxe4 24. fxe4 Ng4 $5 {a good-looking tempo, but the knight is almost trapped} 25. Nf4 Ne5 26. Qc3 Nd7 27. Nd3 Rd8 28. Nc5 Nf8 29. Rbd1 Bg4 $2 {I was happy to see this move, as now my rook gets to lift for free} 30. Rd3 Rdb8 31. Rg3 Bh5 32. d5 {attack!} Bg6 33. e5 Qxd5 34. Bb3 Qd8 35. e6 Qf6 36. Qxf6 gxf6 37. e7 Rxb4 38. exf8=Q+ Kxf8 39. Nd7+ Kg7 40. Nxb8 Rxb8 41. Bc2 Rb7 42. Bxg6 fxg6 43. Ra1 {Note to Wilson: the game continued on for ~20 moves (I continued notating), but I didn't enter the rest of the game into Chessbase. I won eventually (shockingly)} 1-0

[Event "Oregon Class Championships - Masters/Exp"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.11.02"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Tang, Austin"]
[Black "Hutton, Jesse"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Austin Tang"]
[ECO "C86"]
[WhiteElo "2159"]
[BlackElo "1947"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[GameId "2239974090134710"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2025.01.15"]

{[%evp 0,61,18,14,14,14,14,14,28,-6,5,-1,30,-5,-2,-1,9,-18,-26,-21,-27,6,13,16,14,15,57,35,56,24,74,80,65,58,137,114,106,62,65,77,74,80,80,68,76,73,105,64,56,74,104,81,126,113,173,151,199,187,194,282,428,410,607,603] This was my fourth round game. I am at 2/3 and need a win if I want to win a prize} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Qe2 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. Rd1 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. d5 {This is the mainline of the Worral, it is supposed to be decent for white according to the engine, though it's not clear in human play} g6 (12... Bd7 {is the mainline}) 13. b3 {the idea is to respond to c4 with b4, and respond to b4 with c4. This way, the knight on a5 is stuck there} Nh5 14. h3 {Black can't play f5 anyway, so I was just making slow improvements to see what he would play} (14. Bh6 {was better to avoid Bf6-Bg7 and force Ng7 here}) 14... Nb7 $6 {The Rubinstein maneuver, though it's probably not the best idea. The queenside is weak, this is too slow} (14... Bf6) 15. Bh6 Re8 16. Nbd2 Nd8 17. a4 bxa4 18. bxa4 f6 {completing the Rubinstein maneuver, though the queenside is too open for black to create initiative} 19. Be3 Nf4 $6 {I felt like this was his final "mistake", black loses all chance of counterplay after this} 20. Bxf4 exf4 21. a5 Bf8 22. Nc4 Ra7 23. Nfd2 Nf7 24. Rdb1 Bb7 25. Qd3 Raa8 26. Rb6 Rab8 27. Rab1 Be7 28. Ba4 Rec8 29. Qc2 Ba8 $2 (29... Nd8 30. Qb2 {technically, white can't win material, though just look at the position... black can't do anything. White could plan Bd1-Bg4 next.}) 30. Qb2 Rb7 (30... Rxb6 $5 31. axb6 Qb7 32. Na5 Qb8 33. b7) 31. Rxb7 1-0

[Event "Oregon Class Championships - Masters/Exp"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.11.01"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Thorwe, Pratik"]
[Black "Lim, Hayul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Pratik Thorwe"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "1974"]
[BlackElo "2048"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[GameId "2241718386761761"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2025.01.15"]

1. e4 {[%eval 18,0]} c5 {[%eval 24,0]} 2. Nf3 {[%eval 2,0]} Nc6 {[%eval 3,0]} 3. Bb5 {[%eval 17,0]} g6 {[%eval 24,0]} 4. Bxc6 {[%eval 53,0]} dxc6 {[%eval 5,0]} 5. d3 {[%eval 4,0]} Bg7 {[%eval 28,0]} 6. Nc3 {[%eval 23,0]} c4 {[%eval 57,0]} 7. d4 {[%eval 5,0]} (7. dxc4 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Qxd1+ 9. Kxd1 Nf6 10. Re1 Bg4 11. Be3 O-O-O+ 12. Kc1 Bxf3 (12... Nxe4 13. Ne5 Be6 14. Bxa7 Nd6 15. c5 Nc4 16. Nxc4 Bxc4 17. Bb6 Rde8) 13. gxf3) 7... Bg4 {[%eval 0,0]} 8. Be3 {[%eval 18,0]} (8. O-O Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Qxd4 10. Be3 Qe5 11. Qe2) 8... Bxf3 {[%eval 42,0]} 9. gxf3 {[%eval 41,0]} (9. Qxf3 Bxd4 10. O-O-O Bxe3+ 11. Qxe3 Qb6 12. Qf4 Nf6 13. e5 Nd5 (13... Nd7 14. Kb1 Nc5 (14... Qc5) 15. Qxc4) 14. Nxd5 cxd5 15. Rxd5) 9... Nf6 {[%eval 35,0]} 10. Qd2 {[%eval 23,0]} (10. Qe2 b5 11. a4 a6) 10... b5 {[%eval 25,0]} (10... O-O 11. Ne2 (11. h4 h5 12. Ne2 c5 13. dxc5 Qxd2+ 14. Bxd2 (14. Kxd2 Rac8 (14... Rfd8+ 15. Ke1 Nd7 16. Nc3 Bxc3+ 17. bxc3) 15. Rad1 (15. Nc3 Rfd8+ 16. Ke2) 15... Nd7 16. c3 Nxc5))) 11. Ne2 {[%eval 31,0]} (11. a4 b4 12. Ne2 Qa5 13. Bh6 Bxh6 (13... O-O 14. h4 (14. e5 Nh5 15. Ng3 c3 16. bxc3 bxc3 17. Qg5 Bxh6 18. Qxh6 Ng7 19. h4 f6 20. h5 g5 21. f4 Qd5 22. fxg5 fxg5 23. Qxg5 Kh8 24. h6 Ne6 25. Qxe7)) 14. Qxh6 b3+ 15. c3) 11... a5 {[%eval 33,0]} 12. Bh6 {[%eval 33,0]} Bxh6 {[%eval 33,0]} 13. Qxh6 {[%eval 32,0]} e6 {[%eval 48,0]} 14. Qg7 {[%eval 12,0]} Rg8 {[%eval 0,0]} 15. Qh6 {[%eval 0,0]} Qe7 {[%eval 21,0]} (15... g5 16. e5 Nd5 17. Qxh7 Ke7 18. h4 Rh8 19. Qe4 gxh4 20. Rxh4 Kd7 21. Rxh8 Qxh8 22. O-O-O Qh2) 16. a3 {[%eval 3,0]} e5 $6 {[%eval 63,0] Inaccuracy. g5 was best.} (16... g5 17. e5 Nd5 18. h4 O-O-O 19. hxg5 Rxg5 20. Qxh7 Rf5 21. Rh5 Rxh5 22. Qxh5) 17. Qg5 {[%eval 39,0]} (17. Qd2 exd4 18. Nxd4 Qc5 19. O-O-O) (17. dxe5 Qxe5 18. O-O-O g5 19. Qh3 Rd8) 17... Nd7 {[%eval 36,0]} 18. Qd2 {[%eval 0,0]} exd4 {[%eval 3,0]} 19. Nxd4 {[%eval 5,0]} Qc5 {[%eval 16,0]} 20. Rd1 {[%eval 4,0]} (20. O-O-O b4 (20... Ne5 21. f4 (21. Kb1 O-O-O 22. Qxa5 Rxd4 23. Rxd4 Qxd4 24. Qa8+ Kc7 25. Qxg8) 21... Nd3+ 22. cxd3 Qxd4) 21. Ne6 c3 (21... fxe6 22. Qxd7+ Kf8 23. Qxe6 bxa3 24. Rd7 axb2+ (24... Qg5+ 25. Kb1 Rg7 26. h4 Qf4 27. Rhd1 Re8 28. Qxc6) 25. Kb1)) 20... Nf6 $4 {[%eval 268,0] Blunder. O-O-O was best.} (20... Ne5 21. f4 Nd3+ 22. cxd3 Qxd4 23. dxc4 Qxe4+ 24. Qe2 Qxe2+ 25. Kxe2 bxc4 26. Rhe1 Kf8 27. Rd6 Kg7 28. Rxc6) (20... O-O-O 21. Qxa5 Kb7 22. Qb4 Rge8 23. O-O Qg5+ 24. Kh1 Qh5) 21. Qf4 {[%eval 278,0]} Nh5 {[%eval 289,0]} 22. Qc7 {[%eval 289,0]} Kf8 {[%eval 288,0]} 23. Nxc6 $2 {[%eval 154,0] Mistake. Nf5 was best.} (23. Nf5 gxf5 (23... Nf6 24. Rd6 gxf5 25. Rxf6 Qe7 26. Qxc6 Rd8 27. Rxf5 Rg6 28. Qxb5 Rgd6) 24. Rd8+ Rxd8 (24... Kg7 25. Rg1+ Kh6 26. Rgxg8) 25. Qxd8+ Kg7 26. Rg1+ Kh6 27. Rxg8 fxe4 28. Qd2+ e3 29. Qxe3+ Qxe3+ 30. fxe3) 23... c3 $4 {[%eval 499,0] Blunder. Qg5 was best.} (23... Qg5 24. h4 (24. Nd8 Qf4 25. e5 Qxf3 26. Rg1 Qe4+ 27. Kf1 Qf5 28. e6 Kg7 (28... fxe6 29. Qd6+ Kg7 30. Qe7+ Kh6 31. Nf7+)) 24... Qf6 25. Qd6+ Qxd6 26. Rxd6 Ra6 27. O-O Kg7 28. Rfd1 c3 29. b3) 24. Rd7 {[%eval 512,0]} Kg7 $4 {[%eval 32760,0] Checkmate is now unavoidable. Rh8 was best.} (24... Rh8 25. Rxf7+) 25. Rxf7+ {[%eval 32762,0]} Kh6 {[%eval 32762,0]} 26. Rxh7+ {[%eval 32764,0]} Kg5 {[%eval 32764,0]} 27. h4+ {[%eval 32766,0]} Kf6 {[%eval 32766,0]} 28. Qf7# {1-0 White wins.} 1-0

[Event "Oregon Class Championships - Masters/Exp"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.11.02"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Cigan, Jason"]
[Black "Thorwe, Pratik"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pratik Thorwe"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2215"]
[BlackElo "1974"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[GameId "2241718305140760"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2025.01.15"]

1. e4 {[%eval 18,0]} e6 {[%eval 22,0]} 2. d4 {[%eval 29,0]} d5 {[%eval 31,0]} 3. Nc3 {[%eval 28,0]} dxe4 {[%eval 29,0]} 4. Nxe4 {[%eval 26,0]} Nd7 {[%eval 3,0]} 5. Nf3 {[%eval 31,0]} Ngf6 {[%eval 33,0]} 6. Nxf6+ {[%eval 33,0]} Nxf6 {[%eval 35,0]} 7. c3 {[%eval 25,0]} Be7 {[%eval 31,0]} (7... c5 8. Ne5 (8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bxd7+ Qxd7 10. Ne5 Qd5 11. Qa4+ Nd7 12. Be3 cxd4 13. Nxd7 Qxd7 14. Qxd4 Qxd4 15. Bxd4 Bd6 16. O-O-O Ke7 17. g3 f6) 8... cxd4 (8... Qd5 9. Bb5+ Nd7)) 8. Bd3 {[%eval 49,0]} O-O {[%eval 52,0]} (8... b6 9. Ne5 Bb7 (9... O-O 10. Nc6 Qd6 11. Qf3 Bd7 12. Nxe7+ Qxe7 13. Qg3) 10. Bb5+ c6 11. Bxc6+ Bxc6 12. Nxc6 Qd5 13. Qf3 Qxf3 14. gxf3 Bd6) (8... c5 9. dxc5 Qc7 10. b4 O-O 11. Bb2 e5 12. Qc2 Rd8 13. Bc4 Bg4 14. O-O Bxf3 15. gxf3 b6 16. cxb6) 9. Qe2 {[%eval 53,0]} b6 {[%eval 49,0]} (9... c5 10. Be3 (10. dxc5 Qc7 11. Be3 (11. Bg5 Qxc5 12. O-O-O h6 13. h4 b5 (13... Rd8) 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Qe4) (11. b4 b6 12. Qe5 Qd7 13. Nd4 bxc5 14. bxc5 Bb7 15. Ba3 Bxg2 16. Rg1 Bc6 17. Bc1 Rfd8 18. Bg5 Kf8)) 10... b6 11. O-O-O) 10. Bg5 {[%eval 5,0]} Bb7 {[%eval 4,0]} 11. O-O-O {[%eval 29,0]} h6 {[%eval 71,0]} (11... Qd5 12. Kb1 c5 13. c4 Qd6 14. dxc5 Qxc5 15. Ne5) 12. h4 {[%eval 39,0]} Qd5 $6 {[%eval 122,0] Inaccuracy. Bxf3 was best.} (12... c5 13. dxc5 Qc7 14. cxb6 (14. Ne5 bxc5 15. Bc2 Rfd8 16. Bf4 Qb6 (16... c4 17. Qxc4 Qxc4 18. Nxc4 Bxg2 19. Rhg1 Rxd1+ 20. Kxd1 Bf3+ 21. Kc1 h5)) 14... axb6 15. Kb1) (12... Bxf3 13. Qxf3 (13. gxf3 hxg5 14. hxg5 Nd5 15. Bh7+ (15. Qe4 g6) 15... Kh8 16. Be4+ Kg8 17. f4 (17. Rh8+ Kxh8 18. Rh1+ Kg8 19. Bh7+) 17... Nxf4) 13... Qd5 14. Bxf6 (14. Qxd5 Nxd5 15. Bxe7 Nxe7 16. Be4 Rad8) (14. Qg3 hxg5 15. hxg5 Ne4 16. Qh3 Bxg5+ 17. Kb1 Bh6) (14. Qe3 Ng4 15. Qg3 hxg5 16. Qxg4 gxh4 17. g3 (17. Kb1 Qg5 18. Qe4 g6 19. f4 Qg4 20. g3 h3 21. Be2 Qf5 22. Qxf5 exf5 23. Rxh3 Kg7 24. Rdh1 Rh8 25. Rxh8 Rxh8 26. Rxh8 Kxh8 27. Kc2)) 14... Qxf3 15. gxf3 Bxf6) 13. c4 {[%eval 122,0]} Qa5 {[%eval 147,0]} 14. Ne5 {[%eval 148,0]} (14. Bxh6 gxh6 15. Ne5 Qxa2 16. Qe3 Kg7 17. Rh3 (17. d5 Qa1+ 18. Bb1 Rh8 19. Rh3 Rae8 20. Qd4 Bc8 21. Rf3) 17... Qa1+ 18. Bb1 Be4) (14. Qe3 b5 15. cxb5 Qxa2 16. Ne5 c5 (16... Qa1+ 17. Kc2 Qa4+ 18. Kb1 Bd5 19. Bxh6 Qa2+ 20. Kc1 Bb3 (20... Ne8) 21. Bb1)) 14... Rfd8 {[%eval 141,0]} (14... Qxa2 15. Ng4 (15. Rh3 Rfd8 16. Rg3 Rxd4 17. Bxh6 Bf8 18. Bh7+ Kxh7 19. Rxd4 gxh6 20. Nxf7 Qa5 21. Ne5 Bg7 22. Qd3+ Kh8 23. Qg6 Nh5 24. Rg5 hxg5 25. Qxh5+ Kg8 26. Qf7+ Kh8 27. hxg5 Qe1+ 28. Rd1 Qxd1+ 29. Kxd1 Bxe5 30. g6 Bg7 31. Qxe6 Bxg2 32. f4) 15... hxg5 (15... Qa1+ 16. Bb1 (16. Kc2 Qa4+ 17. Kb1 Nxg4 18. Bxe7 Rfe8 19. Bg5 f5 20. Bc2 Qc6 21. f3 hxg5 22. hxg5 Rad8 23. Rh4) 16... hxg5 17. Nxf6+ Bxf6) 16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. Bh7+ Kxh7 18. hxg5+ Kg8 19. gxf6 Rfd8 20. Qg4 g6 21. Qh4) 15. Bb1 {[%eval 155,0]} b5 {[%eval 143,0]} 16. c5 {[%eval 149,0]} (16. cxb5 Bd5 (16... Rd5 17. Rh3 Qxb5 18. Bd3 Qe8 (18... Qa4 19. Bc4 hxg5 20. hxg5 Rxe5 21. Rdh1 Nh7 22. Rxh7 Bxg5+ 23. Kb1 Be4+ 24. Bd3 Bxd3+ 25. Qxd3 Bh6 26. dxe5 Qf4 27. R7xh6 gxh6 28. Qe3 Qxe3 29. fxe3) 19. Be3) 17. Bd2 Qa4 18. Rh3 Bxa2 (18... c6 19. bxc6 Rac8 20. Rc3 Bb4 21. g4 Bxc3 22. Bxc3 Bxc6 23. g5 Nd5) 19. Bc2 Qxd4 20. Nc6 Qc5 21. Rc3 Qd6 22. Bxh6) 16... Bd5 $2 {[%eval 279,0] Mistake. Rd5 was best.} (16... Rd5 17. c6 Ba6 18. Qe3 b4 19. Bxh6 b3 20. axb3 Bd6 21. Qg5 Ne8 22. f4 Rxd4 23. Rxd4 Qc5+ 24. Rc4 Qe3+ 25. Kc2 Qe2+ 26. Kc1 (26. Kc3 Bxc4 27. Nxc4 Be7 28. Qxe7 Nf6) 26... Qe3+) (16... Qb4 17. c6 Ba6 18. Qd3 Qa4) 17. Rh3 {[%eval 261,0]} b4 {[%eval 318,0]} 18. Bd2 {[%eval 274,0]} (18. Bxh6 b3 19. Rg3 bxa2 20. Rxg7+ Kf8 21. Rh7+ Kg8 22. Rg7+ Kf8 23. Bxa2 Qxa2 24. Qb5 Be4 (24... c6 25. Rxf7+ Ke8 26. Qb7)) 18... Qa4 {[%eval 327,0]} (18... Bxc5 19. dxc5 Qxc5+ 20. Bc2 Bxa2 21. Rg3 b3 22. Rc3 Qf8 23. Bxb3 Bxb3 24. Rxb3 Rd5) 19. Rg3 $6 {[%eval 253,0] Inaccuracy. Bxh6 was best.} (19. Bxh6 Kf8 20. Qe3 Bd6 21. Bxg7+ Kxg7 22. Qg5+ Kf8 23. Qxf6 Bxe5 24. Qxe5 Bxa2) 19... Bxa2 $6 {[%eval 397,0] Inaccuracy. Kf8 was best.} (19... Kf8 20. Rxg7 (20. Bxh6 gxh6 21. Qe3 Bd6 (21... Bxa2 22. Qxh6+ Ke8 23. Qh8+ Bf8 24. Qxf6) 22. Qxh6+ (22. cxd6 cxd6 23. Qxh6+ Ke7 24. Ng6+ Kd7 25. Qg7 Kc7 26. Qxf7+ Nd7 27. Kd2 Qb5 28. Ke1) 22... Ke7 23. cxd6+ cxd6 24. Ng6+ Kd7 25. Qg7) 20... Kxg7 21. Bxh6+ Kxh6 22. Qe3+ (22. Qd2+ Kg7 23. Qg5+ Kf8 24. Qh6+ Ke8 25. Qh8+ Bf8 26. Qxf6 Rd7 27. h5 Bxa2 28. Bc2 Bb3 29. Bxb3 Qxb3 30. h6 Qd5 31. h7 Qe4 32. h8=Q b3) 22... Kg7 23. Qg5+ Kf8 24. Qh6+ Ke8 25. Qh8+ Bf8 26. Qxf6 Rd7 27. h5 b3 28. a3 Bxg2) 20. Bxh6 {[%eval 393,0]} Bf8 {[%eval 378,0]} 21. Bg5 $4 {[%eval 101,0] Blunder. Qf3 was best.} (21. Qf3 Bxb1 22. Kxb1 Kh7 23. b3 (23. Qd3+ Kh8 (23... Kg8 24. Qf3 Kh7 25. Bg5 Be7 26. Nc6 b3 27. Nxe7 Qa2+ 28. Kc1 Qa1+ 29. Kd2 Rxd4+ 30. Ke1 Rxd1+ 31. Qxd1 Qxd1+ 32. Kxd1 Ne4 33. Rxb3 Nxc5 34. Rb5)) 23... Qe8 24. Bg5 Nd5 25. Bxd8 f6 26. Bxc7 Nxc7) 21... Bxb1 {[%eval 94,0]} 22. Bxf6 $2 {[%eval 27,0] Mistake. Kxb1 was best.} (22. Kxb1 b3 (22... Ne4 23. Rgd3 Nc3+ 24. bxc3 bxc3 25. Qa2 Rdb8+ 26. Ka1 Qxa2+ 27. Kxa2 f6 28. Bf4 fxe5 29. Bxe5 Rb2+ 30. Ka3 Rxf2 31. Rxc3 Rxg2 32. Bxc7 Rc8 33. Be5) 23. Bxf6 Qa2+ 24. Kc1 Qa1+ 25. Kd2 Rxd4+ 26. Ke1 Rxd1+ 27. Qxd1 Qxb2 28. Nd7) 22... Bf5 {[%eval 27,0]} (22... Qa1 23. Kd2 (23. Bxd8 Rxd8 24. Qe3 Bxc5 25. dxc5 (25. Nc6 Rd7 26. Kd2 Bxd4 (26... Bd6 27. Ne5 Qxb2+ 28. Ke1 Bxe5 29. Qxe5 Bg6))) 23... Qxb2+ 24. Ke1 Qxe2+ 25. Kxe2 Bc2 26. Rd2) 23. Bxd8 {[%eval 27,0]} Rxd8 {[%eval 12,0]} 24. Rgd3 {[%eval 28,0]} (24. Qc4 Qa1+ 25. Kd2 Qxb2+ 26. Ke1 a5 27. Re3 Qc2 28. Qb5 {0-1 Black wins.}) 24... b3 {[%eval 34,0]} 25. g4 {[%eval 1,0]} Bxd3 {[%eval 21,0]} 26. Qxd3 {[%eval 14,0]} Bxc5 {[%eval 0,0]} 27. Nf3 {[%eval 0,0]} Bb4 {[%eval 0,0]} 28. Ne5 {[%eval 0,0]} Rxd4 29. Qb1 Qc6+ (29... Rd6 30. Rxd6 Bxd6 31. Nd3 Qe4) 0-1

[Event "Oregon Class Championships - Masters/Exp"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.11.02"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Morris, Mike"]
[Black "Wang, Leonardo"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Mike Morris and Wilson Gibbins"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2002"]
[BlackElo "1939"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[GameId "2242835739062349"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2025.01.15"]

{[%evp 0,95,26,10,9,10,8,24,22,15,6,12,22,19,32,32,43,31,38,38,47,54,37,38,38,47,34,40,57,41,37,33,41,41,46,39,46,17,4,-1,177,-43,11,0,25,-31,81,90,100,39,124,87,181,1,117,17,7,134,90,81,-7,15,-42,-6,-115,-79,-34,-1,1,-177,1,-313,-46,-46,71,-4,259,141,189,216,290,207,304,358,176,242,379,303,242,326,417,36,206,172,190,202,196,193]} {Annotations from Mike Morris are preceded by an "MM-", all others by Wilson Gibbins. So don't blame Mike for the tedious engine analysis - that is all Wilson's fault.} 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. h3 Nb8 {The Breyer Variation of the Ruy Lopez. It often leads to long maneuvering games. That said, both players need to stay alert for tactics which may appear later in the game, just as the players' time starts to run short.} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 c5 13. d5 Qc7 {this seems natural} (13... c4 {is the most popular move, creating a square on c5 for Black to post a knight.}) 14. Nf1 (14. c4 {would stop Black's c5-c4 plan.}) 14... c4 {Black does not give White a second chance.} 15. Ng3 g6 16. Bh6 Rfb8 17. Nh2 Bf8 18. Be3 a5 19. Rf1 b4 20. f4 Bh6 21. Qd2 bxc3 {this seems logical, opening a file for Black's rooks to provide a queenside distraction to White's kingside buildup.} (21... b3 $5 {might generate even more open queenside lines and a bigger distraction.} 22. axb3 $2 (22. fxe5 {is best, but Black has some surprising responses that lead to equal-ish but not drawish looking positions.} Qb6 (22... Qc5 23. Bxc5 Bxd2 24. Bxd6 bxc2 {A position that looks unbalanced to me that Stockfish calls equal.}) (22... Bxe3+ 23. Qxe3 Nxd5 24. exd5 bxc2 {is also roughly equal.}) 23. Bxb6 Bxd2 24. axb3 cxb3 25. Bxb3 {is roughly equal despite both sides having some loose material.}) 22... cxb3 23. Bd3 (23. Bxb3 $2 Ba6 {and the bishop on b3 and rook on f1 are both under attack.}) 23... Ba6 24. Bxa6 Rxa6 25. fxe5 Bxe3+ 26. Qxe3 dxe5 $15) 22. bxc3 exf4 23. Bxf4 $16 Bg7 {best} (23... Bxf4 $2 24. Rxf4 {and White's kingside attacking chances are much more relevant than Black's control of the outpost on e5.}) 24. Rf2 $16 Re8 25. Raf1 {With all White's pieces aimed at Black's king and Mike Morris controlling the white's pieces, you can expect fireworks soon.} Nc5 26. Re1 (26. Bh6 $1 Nfxe4 27. Bxe4 Nxe4 28. Nxe4 Rxe4 29. Bxg7 Kxg7 30. Qg5 $1 Rf8 31. Ng4 {and Black must give up the exchange for the knight on g4 to stop White's invasion on either f6 or h6}) 26... Ra6 (26... h5 $1 {prevents White's knight from reaching g4 though White still stands better based on his kingside attack.}) 27. Bg5 Nfd7 28. Ng4 Ne5 29. Nf6+ Bxf6 30. Rxf6 Rb6 31. Ref1 Rb2 32. Bh4 Ncd7 {Diagram [#]} 33. Qh6 $2 (33. Nh5 $1 Rxc2 34. Qxc2 gxh5 35. Qd2 Nc5 36. Qg5+ Ng6 37. Rxf7 Qxf7 38. Rxf7 Kxf7 39. Qf6+ Kg8 40. Qxd6 {and Black's rook and two pieces are not sufficiently coordinated to fend off White's hyperactive queen.}) 33... Rxc2 {equal, despite Black's extra piece. Sometimes White has a perpetual, sometimes Black.} 34. R6f5 $11 ({Stockfish says} 34. Nh5) (34. Nf5 gxf5 35. R6xf5 f6 $1 36. Bxf6 Nxf6 37. Rg5+ Ng6 38. Rxg6+ hxg6 39. Rxf6 Qb6+ 40. Kh2 Rxg2+ 41. Kxg2 Qb2+ {with a perpetual}) (34. Rxf7) (34. Kh2) ({and} 34. Kh1 {are all equal.}) 34... f6 $1 35. Rh5 $2 (35. Nh5 gxh5 36. Bxf6 Nxf6 37. Rg5+ Ng6 $1 38. Rxf6 Qg7 39. Rgxg6 hxg6 40. Rxg6 Re7 41. Rxg7+ Rxg7 42. Qe6+ {and White's hyperactive queen single-handedly holds the draw with a perpetual.}) 35... Nf8 $2 {back to equal} (35... Re7 $1 $17) 36. Bxf6 $1 Bc8 $2 (36... gxh5 37. Bxe5 dxe5 38. Nxh5 Qe7 39. Nf6+ Kh8 40. Nxe8 Ng6 $1 41. Rf6 Qxe8 42. Rxg6 Qxg6 43. Qf8+ Qg8 44. Qf6+ Qg7 45. Qd8+ $11) 37. Rg5 $18 Re7 38. Bxe5 Rf7 39. Bf6 Qb6+ 40. Kh1 $16 (40. Bd4 $18) (40. Kh2 $18) 40... Rf2 (40... Qb2 41. Nh5 $1 $16) 41. Rxf2 Qxf2 42. Bd4 Qxa2 43. Nh5 (43. Kh2 $1) 43... Qb1+ 44. Kh2 Qxe4 {Diagram [#]} (44... Qb7 45. Nf6+ Rxf6 46. Bxf6) 45. Rg3 ({MM - missing} 45. Qg7+ $1 Rxg7 46. Nf6+ Kh8 47. Nxe4) 45... Qf5 46. Rg5 Qf1 47. Rg3 Qf5 48. Rg5 {MM - With both of us under a minute, a draw was agreed} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Oregon Class Championahips - Class A"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.11.02"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Rachmuth, Moshe"]
[Black "Rhoades, Alan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Moshe Rachmuth"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "1894"]
[BlackElo "1824"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[GameId "2249071690977296"]
[SourceVersionDate "2025.01.15"]

{[%evp 0,47,14,-23,0,61,20,29,24,28,57,44,38,38,51,46,101,71,95,87,89,83,89,78,123,115,146,70,183,116,95,126,140,111,15,96,240,217,262,258,637,688,605,677,1002,750,761,815,29995,29996] On Friday, two days before this game, I saw a fantastic game, Short-Ljubojevic, Amsterdam, 1991. Short sacrificed a knight and followed with highly accurate moves to eventually enter a winning endgame some 12 moves later. On Saturday, I felt inspired, and tried very hard to produce a brilliant attack against Roger Hanson, ending up losing my queen for a rook and a bishop. I was lucky to survive after my opponent blundered in time-trouble. On Sunday, I entered the tournament hall telling myself, "Remember, you are not Nigel Short. Try not to hang any of the bigger pieces. That should be enough."} 1. f4 {    The move of a player who knows they are not world-champion material.} g6 2. e4 Bg7 {   } (2... d6) 3. d4 d6 {    3...d5 would be the only option to get into a line I prepared.     With 3...d6, I was out of my opening preparation. I had a feeling so was Alan.     I decided on three rules to go by:     1. Play healthy moves.     2. It's OK to lose a pawn.     3. It's not OK to lose a piece.     The only challenge with this rules was to judge what makes a move "healthy."} 4. Nf3 Nh6 $6 $14 {    +1.26 .4...c5 leads to equality according to SF 17.        } (4... c5 5. d5 Nf6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Bd3 c4 8. Bxc4 b5 9. Nxb5 Nxe4 10. O-O Qb6+ 11. Nbd4 Nf6 12. Qe2 Bb7 13. Kh1 Qc5 14. f5 Bxd5 15. Bxd5 Qxd5 16. b3 Nc6 $10) 5. c4 $6 $14 {    +0.50 5.Nc3 seemed "healthier" (developing a piece) but the wall of four pawns attracted me: if the pawns are in the front, I can only lose a pawn, not a piece.    } (5. Nc3 $14) 5... c5 6. d5 O-O 7. Nc3 Bg4 $6 $16 {    +1.91 / +0.41     SF 17.1 shouts for 7...f5, which makes a lot of sense after Black played Nh6. After 7...Bg4, I immediately wanted to play 8.h3 (the best move, according to SF 17.1) and win the bishop-pair. I decided it was not healthy for two reasons: it opens the e1-h4 diagonal before I have castled and puts my queen in the center (after 8...Bxf3 9. Qxf3) too early. When I had decided not to think too much over the opening, I accepted that I might miss some early big advantages, so there you are.    } (7... f5 8. Bd3 $10) 8. Be2 $6 $14 {    +0.51 / +1.91    } (8. h3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Bxf3 {       } (9... Bd7 10. g4) {   } 10. Qxf3 Nd7 11. Be2 Kg7 12. Rb1 Qc7 13. g4) 8... Nd7 $6 $14 {    +1.26 / +0.51    } (8... e5 {! This was the moment to gain some space in the center.}) 9. O-O Bxf3 10. Bxf3 f5 11. Qd3 Re8 12. Bd2 {    White keeps playing those "healthy" moves and the rooks are now connected. I was willing to lose a pawn after 12...fxe4 13.Nxe4.} Rb8 {   } (12... fxe4 13. Nxe4 Bxb2 14. Rae1 {[%eval 1701,0] This was my plan. It's not ideal play by White but would have been enough for a +1.9 according to SF}) 13. Rae1 {    I was still willing to playing according to my rule that losing a pawn is fine. My only piece that is not fully happy is the bishop on d2, but even that piece has a future after moving to c3.} Nf6 {    "Is e4-e5 a healthy move?" The answer is yes, it's a close-to-winning move. During the game I thought I might be going too far with the pawns.    } (13... fxe4) ({   } 13... fxe4 14. Nxe4 Bxb2 15. Ng5 {and the knight would soon land on e6. Then White would play Bc3, exchange the dark-squares bishops and put a lot of pressure on g7. (+3.3, SF)}) 14. h3 $6 $16 {    +1.96 / +2.93    } (14. e5 Nd7 {I was expecting dxe5 here.        } (14... dxe5 15. fxe5 Nfg4 {           } (15... Nd7) {       } 16. Bf4 {Threatening h3.} Nf7 {I "saw" this far and thought the e5 pawn would fall, but of course White is winning after 17.Bxg4 fxg4 18.Qg3 and Black is pushed off the board. 17. e6 also keeps a nice edge.} 17. Bxg4 fxg4 18. Qg3) {   } 15. e6 Nf6 16. h3) 14... fxe4 15. Nxe4 Nf5 {    Here was my longest thinking of the game (12 minutes). I thought about 16.Ng5 (SF: the best move, +2.6) and 16.g4 (SF: the second best move, +2.3) but thought to myself, "Don't weaken g3, don't open your king, just keep improving your pieces. Remember that you are not Nigel Short." So I made a move that was just "not terrible."} 16. Bc3 $6 $16 {    +1.99 / +2.73    } (16. Ng5 b5 17. b3 Nd4 18. Bc3 Qc8 19. Bd1 Qf5 20. Qd2 a5 21. Bxd4 cxd4 22. Bc2 {is the beginning of the computer line.}) 16... Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Nd4 $6 $18 {    +3.67 / +2.26     17...Rf8 would have demanded me to decide whether or not I had the courage to play g4 and start a pawn storm in front of my own king. White is winning but I would at least have to take some risk.     After 17...Nd4, I thought, "18.f5 cannot be anything other than winning. It opens lines for the f1 rook, for the light-squares bishop, and for the queen."    } (17... Rf8 18. g4 Nd4 19. f5 gxf5 {       } (19... g5 20. h4) {   } 20. Bxf5 Nxf5 21. Rxf5 Bxc3 22. bxc3) 18. f5 g5 {   } (18... Rf8 19. fxg6 h6 {I thought this would be the best for Black. SF says it's still winning after 20.Rf7.}) ({   } 18... gxf5 19. Bxf5 Nxf5 20. Rxf5 {I thought this would have to be a winning attack because White has the rook, the queen and the bishop in the attack against the weak duo of the g7 bishop and h7 pawn. SF agrees.} Bxc3 21. Rh5) 19. f6 Bxf6 $2 $18 {    +8.49 / +4.60     A happy moment. With the pawn still stuck on e7. There's no way for Black to get the queen involved with the defense.    } (19... exf6 20. Bxh7+ Kf8 {White is winning but there is neither mate nor material advantage. The game is still long ahead of us.}) 20. Bxh7+ Kh8 21. Qg6 Rf8 {    22.Bg8 is a cute way to finish the game, but I didn't see it.} 22. Qh6 Bg7 {    The only thing that bothered me was that Alan seemed very calm. I had never met him so I didn't know if he was seeing something I wasn't. Two moves looked very winning: 23.Qh5 and Bxd4. Was he seeing that only one of them is winning? After 7 minutes of deliberating I decided to randomly choose one of them. (SF: both are easily winning).} 23. Qh5 b6 24. Bg6+ {    Mate in two.    } (24. Bg6+ {4:+327.48} Bh6 25. Qxh6+ Kg8 26. Qh7#) 1-0

[Event "Oregon Class Championahips - Class D"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.11.01"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nicholas, Danielle"]
[Black "Dewey, Chris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Danielle Nicholas"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "1164"]
[BlackElo "1020"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[GameId "2239552695398400"]
[SourceVersionDate "2025.01.15"]

{[%evp 0,67,16,-4,14,22,27,39,25,15,17,1,29,12,13,5,-1,6,31,15,29,-99,6,14,-40,-46,25,0,39,-36,-40,-49,-43,-49,-23,-50,-45,-103,-41,-82,-69,-71,-64,-83,-87,-69,-122,-113,76,-1,29,45,152,54,54,1,106,170,223,198,232,166,261,255,670,589,673,708,1814,1807]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Bd3 a6 6. Nc3 e5 7. Nf3 Be7 8. O-O b5 9. a3 Bb7 10. Nd5 $2 {This was my first moment of concern. If Black had replied 10…Bxd5 11.exd5, the pawn push on e4 would have forked my f3-knight and my d3-bishop, supported perfectly by his knight on f6.} {Luckily for me, Chris chose:} Nbd7 {and my pieces lived to blunder another day.} 11. Nxe7 Qxe7 12. Re1 O-O 13. b4 Rac8 14. Bb2 $15 {This was awkward at best, self-sabotage at worst. The bishop wandered to b2 and immediately started questioning its career choices.} ({The healthier plan was the direct} 14. a4 bxa4 15. Rxa4 {challenging Black’s queenside. Instead, I chose passive development and soon paid the positional tax.}) 14... Nb6 15. Qe2 Rc7 16. Nd2 Qe6 17. f3 Rfc8 18. Rac1 Nh5 19. g3 g6 20. Rf1 Qa2 $15 {His queen landing on a2 felt a little spooky and demanded precision from me.} 21. Rb1 Rxc2 $6 {Black sacrifies material; the initiative is heating up. He had a comfortable position, but decided to steer the game into sharp, unclear territory.} 22. Bxc2 Rxc2 23. Qe3 $1 $11 {Qe3! is strong because it immediately targets the knight on b6 while also removing the pin on Nd2, allowing White to meet the potential knight threat on c4. If Black captures on b2, White can reply with Rxb2; after …Qxb2, Qxb6, …Qxd2, and Qxb7, the reciprocating captures dissolve Black’s pressure on the 2nd rank. White would remain up the exchange for the pawn.} Na4 24. Bc1 Nc3 25. Rb3 Na4 (25... Ne2+ $1 26. Qxe2 Qxb3 $11) 26. Rd3 Qe6 27. Qa7 Bc8 28. Qb8 Nc3 29. Rxd6 Qh3 {Black builds pressure on the kingside and the position looks dangerous over the board.} {The Turning Point} 30. Rd8+ Kg7 31. Qxe5+ $1 {A quiet but targeted infiltration that sets up the key tactic.} Kh6 32. Nb3+ $1 {My favorite move of the game. The discovery forces Black to respond with Rxc1 to avoid immediate mate. After the recapture Nxc1, White wins the exchange and secures control of e2, stopping the knight check. This single idea neutralizes the threat and flips the momentum.} Rxc1 33. Nxc1 Qg2+ {For a moment I wondered if I had miscalculated and whether my king was about to be ensnared by his knights. Was my fate sealed? Fortunately not. Chris gave the check with a smile.} 34. Kxg2 {And he promptly resigned, a lighthearted finish to a sharp and lively game.} 1-0

[Event "Oregon Class Championahips - Class E"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.11.02"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ewel, Charles"]
[Black "Seethamraju, Sai Priyanka"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Charles Ewel"]
[ECO "C56"]
[WhiteElo "1201"]
[BlackElo "1101"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[GameId "2241822290587700"]
[SourceVersionDate "2025.01.15"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. e5 d5 6. Bb5 Ne4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. O-O c5 {This was the first move that took me out of book. The moves I was prepared for here were} (9... Bc5 10. f3 Ng5 11. Be3 Bb6 12. f4) (9... Be7) 10. Ne2 {[%emt 0:01:22]} (10. f3 cxd4 11. fxe4 dxe4 12. Qxd4 Bc6 {I considered this line as well, but I thought it was very boring and I didn't see much advantage here}) (10. Nb3 c6 (10... Bc6 $2 11. Na5) 11. c4 dxc4 12. N3d2 Nxd2 13. Nxd2 {According to the notes in my repertoire book this is what I should have played against c5, as the tripled pawns are impossible to defend. I didn't consider Nb3 as a candidate move, it seems it is good because it forces black to defend with c6 and not Bc6 as Bc6 is well met by Na5}) 10... c6 11. f3 Ng5 12. f4 Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:11] It's funny that f3,f4 actually saves us a tempi compared to going f4 on move} 13. Nbc3 {[%emt 0:01:20] I was fine with black damaging my structure with Nxc3 since now the open b-file doesn't matter as much and I can use the doubled c-pawns to attack black's center} Bg4 {This seems like it loses a pawn since after the line I played unpin the e2 knight with check and I don't see a good way for black to defend the e4 pawn after that} 14. Nxe4 {[%emt 0:01:18]} dxe4 15. Qxd8+ Rxd8 16. Ng3 Bd1 17. Rf2 {[%emt 0:01:13]} (17. c3 Bc2 18. Be3 {I thought about something like this, but after Bd3 by my opponent it might be rather tricky to dislodge the bishop as we don't have a lsb and that gives my opponent time to castle}) 17... Bg4 18. Be3 Be7 19. Nxe4 Rd5 20. c4 {[%emt 0:01:04] I recognized that this move gave up control of d3, but thought it was worth it to win a second pawn} Rd3 21. Bxc5 Bxc5 22. Nxc5 Rd4 23. b3 O-O {Thought for a while here, I'm up two pawns, but I am a little worried about my opponent doubling up on the d-file. I played h3 both to give myself luft and to break my opponents control of d1, but in retrospect that may have been a mistake as I think the bishop could be stronger on f5} 24. h3 {[%emt 0:01:00] Somewhere in the upcoming sequence my game goes bad and I go from winning to drawn or possibly worse on move 30} (24. Nb7 {This prevents Rd8 and prepares Nd6 which seems like a good square for the knight. I also maybe threaten Na5 hitting the c6 pawn which if advanced gives me the d5 square as well}) 24... Bf5 25. Nb7 f6 26. Nd6 Be6 27. c5 $4 {[%emt 0:00:52] I missed that this move gave up control of d5. I saw fxe5 fxe5 Rxf2 Kxf2 Rd2+ but figured my king was just getting more active after Kg3, I missed that black had the strong follow up of Bd5} (27. Raf1 {I think this move, if I had played it ever in this sequence from move 24-27 would have saved my advantage, it gets this rook more active and makes it so that Rxf2 doesn't have to me met with Kf2, giving black access to my second rank with check.} fxe5 28. fxe5 Rxf2 29. Rxf2 Rd1+ 30. Kh2 {Now I am doing much better, of course Re1 does seem a bit annoying, but it turns out I can tactically defend the e pawn with Nf5} Re1 31. Nf5 Rxe5 (31... g6 32. Ne7+ Kg7 33. Nxc6) 32. Ne7+ Kh8 33. Rf8+) (27. Re1 {[%cal Gc4c5]} fxe5 28. fxe5 Rxf2 29. Kxf2 Rd2+ 30. Re2 {This is also good, possibly better, as now Rd2+ is met with Re2 controlling my own second rank and I don't need to do tactics with the knight to defend e5}) 27... fxe5 28. fxe5 Rxf2 29. Kxf2 Rd2+ 30. Kg3 {[%emt 0:00:42]} Rd5 (30... Bd5 {[%csl Ge1]} 31. Rg1 (31. Kf4 {I think I would have played this over Rg1, simply because having that rook be passive just seems like a non-starter. After Rxg2 maybe I can play Re1 and start pushing the e pawn, which is essentially what I did in the game} Rxg2 32. Re1 Be6 33. b4 Rxa2 34. b5 cxb5 35. Nxb5 Rc2 36. Nd4 Rc4 37. Re4 Bd5 {[%cal Ge6d5]} (37... Rxc5) 38. c6 Bxe4 (38... Bxc6 39. Nxc6 Rxc6 40. e6 Kf8 41. Ra4 a6) 39. Kxe4 a5 40. Kd5 Rc1 41. Ne6 a4 (41... Rd1+ 42. Kc5 a4 43. c7 Rc1+ 44. Kb4 {[%csl Gc6,Ge6][%cal Gc1c6,Gc6f6]} Kf7 (44... Rc6 45. Kb5 Rc1 46. Nc5) 45. Nc5) 42. Nc5 a3 43. c7) (31. Re1 Rxg2+ 32. Kf4) 31... Rxa2 {This looks pretty miserable, we're now only up one pawn and our rook is tied to the defense of g2.}) 31. Re1 Rxc5 32. Re2 {[%emt 0:00:39] Now I feel like I am back in control, the second rank is secure and I can try to push my e pawn} h5 {I think this is where the game slipped away from my opponent, now my king can infiltrate and help the e pawn promote} (32... h6) 33. Kf4 Kh7 34. Kg5 Rc3 35. Kxh5 {[%emt 0:00:34]} g6+ (35... Rg3 {I was worried about getting checkmated here when my opponent declined to protect their h-pawn. But I saw that on h4 the h3 pawn protected my king from rook checks, and I had my knight currently controlling the f7 square to protect from a bishop check so I couldn't find a mate for black here}) 36. Kg5 Rg3+ 37. Kf6 Bd5 38. e6 Bxg2 39. e7 Rf3+ 40. Kg5 Rg3+ 41. Kf4 Rf3+ 42. Kg4 Rd3 43. e8=Q Bf3+ 44. Kf4 Bxe2 45. Qxe2 Rxd6 46. Qe7+ Kh6 47. Qxd6 Kh5 48. Qf6 Kh6 49. Qh8# {1-0 White wins by checkmate.} 1-0

[Event "Oregon Class Championahips - Class B"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.11.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Lin, Yian"]
[Black "Liu, Merrick"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "1687"]
[BlackElo "1479"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "173"]
[GameId "2242834837925933"]
[SourceVersionDate "2025.01.15"]

{[%evp 0,173,12,36,19,20,33,1,5,11,26,14,35,19,10,23,30,28,39,54,59,45,49,37,25,43,46,67,52,9,125,43,90,56,108,34,148,118,68,109,123,108,164,158,92,145,207,122,193,176,179,168,166,141,53,143,206,166,250,150,178,175,238,294,400,209,204,206,385,196,404,224,433,426,455,443,935,757,2366,485,426,484,565,433,562,555,346,519,592,380,603,543,370,530,543,560,636,527,633,669,569,709,718,713,710,713,895,776,1026,757,899,802,946,943,936,896,892,877,916,860,947,479,788,767,599,544,791,534,874,413,862,874,835,538,1412,1536,1597,1362,1686,1229,1316,1426,1577,1452,29975,1289,29977,1299,29981,29984,29993,29986,29987,29988,29989,29990,29993,29988,29995,29990,29991,29988,29989,29990,29989,29990,29991,29994,29995,29996,29997,29996,29997,29998,29999,29999]} {White plays solid chess and Black's King's Indian aggressive predilections lead him to create sufficient weaknesses for White to exploit for the win.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bf4 Bg7 4. h3 d6 5. e3 Bf5 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O Re8 8. c4 h6 9. Nc3 g5 10. Bh2 Nbd7 11. Rc1 e5 {When I have played these positions with Black, I am undeservedly proud of myself whenever I am able to block White’s dark squared bishop with pawns on e5, d6, and c7. But I generally get carried away “attacking” by advancing my pawn from e5 to e4 and re-awakening White's Bishop to support White's queenside pawn advance.} 12. b4 Ne4 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. Nd2 Bh7 15. Nb3 Rb8 16. Bf3 e4 $2 {So tempting, gaining space for Black's attack on the kingside and time on the bishop. But it is exactly what White wants.} (16... exd4 17. Nxd4 Ne5 {is roughly equal.}) 17. Be2 Nf6 18. a4 b6 19. b5 Bf5 20. c5 {White's queenside attack is much more effective than Black's kingside attack. White will open files and his rooks will invade. This is the rare game where White wins without needing tactics, only logical positional moves.} Rb7 21. cxd6 cxd6 {From the once proud string of pawns on e5, d6, and c7, only the pawn on d6 remains, as a weakness to drop off on move 37.} 22. d5 Nh7 23. Nd4 Bg6 24. Nc6 Qd7 25. Qb3 Bf8 26. Qb4 Rc7 27. a5 Rb7 28. axb6 axb6 29. Ra1 Rc8 30. Ra6 Qc7 31. Rfa1 Qd7 32. Rc1 Re8 33. Rca1 Rc8 34. Ra8 Rbc7 35. R1a6 Rb7 36. Rxc8 Qxc8 37. Bxd6 Qd7 38. Bxf8 Nxf8 39. Qd4 Qd6 40. Rxb6 Rxb6 41. Qxb6 Kh7 42. Qd4 Nd7 43. b6 Nxb6 44. Qxb6 Qxd5 45. Nd4 Qd7 46. Qc6 Qe7 47. Qd5 Qf6 48. Bd1 Qb6 49. Bc2 Kg8 50. Bxe4 Bxe4 51. Qxe4 Qc7 52. Qc6 Qd8 53. Qxh6 f6 54. Nf5 Kf7 55. Qh7+ Ke6 56. Nd4+ Kd6 57. Qf5 Qe7 58. Qc2 Qd7 59. Qb3 Ke7 60. Qb5 Qc7 61. Qc6 Qxc6 62. Nxc6+ Ke6 63. Nd4+ Kf7 64. g4 Kg6 65. Kg2 Kf7 66. Kg3 Kg6 67. h4 gxh4+ 68. Kxh4 Kf7 69. g5 fxg5+ 70. Kxg5 Ke7 71. f4 Kf7 72. f5 Ke7 73. Kg6 Kf8 74. f6 Kg8 75. f7+ Kf8 76. Ne6+ Ke7 77. f8=Q+ Kxe6 78. Qf5+ Ke7 79. Qf6+ Kd7 80. e4 Kc7 81. e5 Kb7 82. Qd6 Ka7 83. e6 Kb7 84. e7 Ka7 85. e8=R Kb7 86. Re7+ Kc8 87. Qc7# 1-0

[Event "Oregon Class Championahips - Class F"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.11.01"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Christensen, Scott"]
[Black "Curteman, Alex"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "969"]
[BlackElo "916"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[GameId "2242395404435467"]
[SourceVersionDate "2025.01.15"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 e6 4. a3 Bd6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. h3 O-O 7. O-O b6 8. Re1 Ne5 9. Ba2 Ba6 10. d4 Nxf3+ 11. Qxf3 Be7 12. e5 Ne8 13. Qg3 cxd4 14. Ne4 d6 15. exd6 Nxd6 16. Bh6 Nf5 17. Qb3 Nxh6 18. g4 Rc8 19. Rad1 Bc4 20. Qxc4 Rxc4 21. Bxc4 e5 22. c3 Kh8 23. Ng3 Qc7 24. Bb5 Rd8 25. cxd4 exd4 26. Bd3 g6 27. Re2 Kg7 28. Rde1 Bh4 29. Ne4 Re8 30. g5 Nf5 31. Nf6 Rxe2 32. Rxe2 Qc1+ 33. Kh2 Qf4+ 34. Kh1 Qf3+ 35. Kg1 Qxd3 36. Re8 Bxg5 37. Ng4 Qxh3 38. Ne5 Nh4 39. Nf3 Qg2# 0-1

[Event "2025 Washington Women's Championship"]
[Site "Bellevue, WA"]
[Date "2025.10.12"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Kuhner, Mary"]
[Black "Karamali, Saiya"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Saiya Karamali"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "1784"]
[BlackElo "1701"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[GameId "2254805912916494"]
[EventDate "2025.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceVersionDate "2025.01.15"]

{[%evp 0,79,13,18,29,37,53,38,75,16,52,50,57,32,32,27,27,14,17,2,0,-36,-35,-27,-29,-41,-17,-7,4,9,24,12,18,7,1,-9,-10,-37,-37,-100,-125,-147,-159,-158,-175,-169,-182,-191,-124,-120,-127,-132,-105,-93,-90,-92,-83,-86,-74,-69,-78,-167,-135,-129,-130,-178,-182,-246,-271,-285,-282,-316,-292,-339,-321,-388,-380,-1018,-1125,-1255,-1297,-1323] Mary absolutely crushed me in the women's championship last year, but I was feeling confident after my win the previous evening.} 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. Be2 Qxd5 5. O-O Nc6 6. Nc3 Qf5 {Funnily enough, I reached this position in my round 1 game, forgot my prep, and played ...Qh5?!, leaving me vulnerable to an h3 pawn advance. This move is preferable when white delays d4.} 7. d3 O-O-O 8. Be3 e5 9. Ng5 Bxe2 10. Nxe2 Qg6 {This move was unnecessary. The immediate ...Nd5, followed by ...h6, was already possible.} 11. Ng3 h6 12. N5e4 Nd5 $6 (12... Nxe4 {Again, I could have played more decisively.} 13. Nxe4 f5 14. Nc3 f4 15. Bd2 Nd4 16. f3 {[%cal Gh6h3]} Bc5 17. Kh1 {[%csl Ge3]} Nf5 {and my knight heads for e3.}) 13. Nc3 f5 $6 (13... Nxc3 {This was better, not allowing white to gain a tempo with Qf3.} 14. bxc3) 14. Nxd5 Rxd5 15. Qf3 Ne7 16. Ne2 Kb8 17. Nc3 Rd8 18. a4 {A bit slow, but white doesn't have any great options to attack. Meanwhile, black's kingside attack is finally going to come.} Nc6 19. Rfb1 $2 (19. Qd1 {white's last chance to avoid allowing ...Nd4 with tempo. Black still stands much better though.}) 19... f4 20. Bd2 Nd4 21. Qd1 f3 22. g3 Qg4 23. Nb5 Qh3 $2 {Attempting to cash in too early, and giving white some counterplay as a result.} (23... Ne2+ 24. Kh1 Bc5 25. Qf1 h5 {Simply bringing more pieces into the game. Black's attack is unstoppable, and if she tries h3, black need not move the queen!} 26. h3 h4 $1 27. gxh4 (27. hxg4 hxg3+) 27... Rxh4) 24. Qf1 Qxf1+ 25. Rxf1 Nxc2 26. Rac1 {This turned out to be trickier than I expected, and I proceeded to play inaccurately.} c6 $6 (26... Nb4 {was better, playing less materialistically. White's d pawn is weak, and Nxc7 is not such a big threat.} 27. Bxb4 Bxb4 28. Nxc7 Rxd3 {[%cal Gf1e1] My pieces are active, and white cannot bring a rook to e1.}) 27. Rxc2 cxb5 28. Bc3 Rd5 29. Re1 Bd6 30. Re3 $4 {The position was quite holdable up to this point, but allowing me to keep my b5 pawn is a big blunder.} (30. axb5 Rxd3 $15) 30... b4 31. Bd2 Rf8 32. Rc4 a5 33. Rg4 Bc5 34. Re1 Rxd3 35. Bc1 Bd4 {Keeping the g4 rook out of position.} (35... Rf7 {I had been intending to defend my g pawn at this point, but I realized it was unnecessary.}) 36. Rxg7 Rc8 37. Bxh6 {White cannot stop the rook from penetrating.} Rc2 38. Rf1 Rxf2 {White resigned, as the only way to avoid mate is to give up the rook and run with the king. I was quite proud of this game! I played the opening well, got a strong attack, and then 34. ...Bd4 led to a nice finish. 0-1 Black wins.} 39. h4 (39. Rxf2 Rd1#) 39... Rxf1+ 40. Kh2 (40. Kxf1 Rd1#) 0-1

[Event "2025 Washington Women's Championship"]
[Site "Bellevue, WA"]
[Date "2025.10.11"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Karamali, Saiya"]
[Black "Bayrambeyli, Emel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Saiya Karamali"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "1701"]
[BlackElo "1918"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[GameId "2254806043042364"]
[EventDate "2025.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceVersionDate "2025.01.15"]

{[%evp 0,67,25,13,30,-9,-5,4,60,79,74,75,81,67,118,118,94,91,84,38,98,84,103,104,101,44,44,-9,-10,-18,-19,-19,-2,-28,-30,-19,-34,-42,-56,-61,-61,-49,-86,-89,-15,-28,23,0,26,2,4,-25,23,0,141,138,337,384,424,424,493,225,29987,29988,29995,29996,29997,29998,29999,29999] Going into this game, I was 2/2, having beaten two lower-rated players. Now, I found myself on board 1, playing one of the top seeds ... and I must say, I wasn't feeling particularly confident.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Bd3 Bg4 (8... a6 9. h3 b5 10. O-O {is an alternative way of playing this for black, where she gets queenside expansion but her light squared bishop is quite restricted.}) 9. Qa4+ {Not allowing the bishop to be exchanged for the knight.} Bd7 (9... Nbd7 10. Nd2 {starts to get precarious for black, as she needs to be very precise to avoid losing the bishop.}) 10. Qb3 Qc7 {After} (10... Qb6 $2 {, white simply trades queens and black's d-pawn is far too weak.}) 11. O-O O-O 12. Nd2 $6 {Premature. Getting the knight to c4 is one possible plan, but there's no rush.} (12. Re1 {is a natural developing move, preparing to play to push the pawn to e5 eventually.}) 12... Na6 13. Bxa6 {Giving black the open b-file in exchange for the doubled a-pawns. I was worried that leaving the a6 knight on the board would allow a quick ...b5, but it's not so easy: for instance,} (13. a3 Rab8 14. Re1 b5 15. Nxb5 Qa5 16. a4) 13... bxa6 14. Qc4 $6 {Avoiding ...c4, but it's really nothing to worry about.} (14. Qc2 {was the way to go, preparing to put the knight on c4. After} c4 15. Nf3 {, White's knight can jump to d4, and black's c4 pawn is quite weak.}) 14... Qb6 15. a4 {Avoiding ...Bb5} Ng4 16. h3 (16. Qe2 Ne5 {[%cal Gh2h3]}) 16... Ne5 17. Qe2 g5 $5 {[%cal Gf1e1,Gd2f1,Gf1g3,Gg3f5,Gg3h5] A creative way to stop me from playing f4, at the cost of weakening the light squares.} 18. Nc4 {White should act quickly to address possible ...g4 ideas.} (18. Nf3 {is a slightly better way to execute the same idea, where white's queen ends up better placed} Nxf3+ 19. Qxf3) 18... Nxc4 19. Qxc4 f5 20. Bxg5 {Initiating a complex continuation that seemed unclear to me.} Qxb2 21. Rfc1 {I was terrified to play this move, keeping the pin on the long diagonal, but I could see nothing wrong with it. This move frees my other rook to go to b1 and harass black's queen.} (21. Rac1 {looks safer, but I couldn't really see how to continue from here.}) 21... Qb4 22. Qd3 fxe4 23. Qg3 Rf7 24. Rab1 (24. Be3 {was a possible improvement, depriving black's queen of the d4 square.}) 24... Qd4 {Now, it's not so clear how to proceed. My c1 rook is tied down to the defense of the knight, and if I play Be3, black's queen can go to d3.} 25. Rb7 $1 {Now black has to play precisely.} Raf8 26. Be3 Qd3 $4 {Attacking the knight, but this fails tactically.} (26... Qe5 {was the only defense. Up to this point, both players have played recklessly with our pawns, often justifiably! But the d6 pawn is vital to the integrity of black's position.}) 27. Qxd6 Bxh3 28. Rxf7 Rxf7 29. gxh3 Bxc3 30. Qxc5 Be5 {Now white mates in seven.} 31. Qc8+ Kg7 (31... Rf8 32. Qe6+ Kh8 33. Qxe5+ Kg8 34. Bh6 Rf7 35. Rc8+) 32. Qg4+ Kf8 33. Rc8+ Ke7 34. Qe6# {After this game, my heart was pounding and I truly had no idea what had happened and how I had won. When I played 21. Rfc1, I thought I might be in big trouble. A few moves later, I was mating, and I had no idea where white had gone wrong! This game left me with 3/3 and in clear first heading into the second day. 1-0 White wins.} 1-0

[Event "2025 Washington Women's Championship"]
[Site "Bellevue, WA"]
[Date "2025.10.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Sridhar, Riya"]
[Black "Jem, Ann"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Ann Jem"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "856"]
[BlackElo "1024"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[GameId "2254805980090923"]
[EventDate "2025.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceVersionDate "2025.01.15"]

{[%evp 0,78,19,38,76,74,58,62,53,52,52,12,32,33,60,45,62,41,50,13,47,30,30,27,17,14,22,-9,-12,-9,44,30,-8,-19,4,13,22,0,0,-37,-27,-38,-46,-161,-117,-116,-119,-281,-180,-334,-179,-435,-427,-433,-432,-432,-350,-329,-340,-337,-340,-337,-337,-386,-339,-430,-405,-436,-405,-418,-383,-452,-443,-457,-453,-511,-358,-470,-400,-29999,-29999] Riya and I both won our round 1 games. Having never played her before, I sat down at our board for round 2, uncertain what to expect. The game turned out quite positional, and I hope you find it as interesting as I did.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. h4 {I was surprised to see this move, and indeed it is very rare, only happening around 0.1% of the time OTB and online.} h5 6. Nc3 (6. c4 {is the more commonly played move here according to Lichess's masters game database.} dxc4 7. Bxc4 Nd7) (6. Bd3 {Almost half of Lichess online games that reached this position continued this way.} Bg4) 6... c5 7. Bb5+ Nc6 8. Be3 c4 {I decided that due to my lack of development, it would be much safer to keep the structure locked down.} 9. a3 a6 10. Bxc6+ bxc6 11. Qd2 Be7 $6 (11... Ne7 {with ...Bg6 and ...Nf5 to follow would be a better way to develop — the text move leaves the knight without a good developing square and keeps the king stuck in the center.}) 12. Na4 {With a cramped position, a king in the center, and undeveloped pieces, I thought I was in big trouble. However, the engine considers this position equal.} Rb8 13. Ng5 {Allows black's knight to get to h6 and the king to castle at last.} Qc7 {Intending to make use of the semi-open b-file.} 14. O-O Rb5 15. Rab1 {Now Nc3 to harass the rook is possible as b2 is defended.} Nh6 16. Rfe1 Ng4 {Provoking f3. I knew it would come and drive my knight back, but I thought it would create greater weaknesses down the line.} 17. Bf4 Qb7 18. f3 (18. Rbc1) 18... Nh6 19. Qc3 O-O 20. Be3 Bg6 21. Nc5 Bxc5 22. dxc5 $17 {White's bishop is locked behind its pawns, while the black counterpart enjoys an open diagonal.} Nf5 23. Bd4 Rb8 {The pressure on b2 will become too much to bear.} 24. f4 $2 (24. b4 cxb3) 24... Nxh4 25. Qg3 $2 {An unnecessary attack, allowing the knight to retreat with tempo and take out a defender of b2.} Nf5 26. Qc3 Nxd4 27. Qxd4 Rxb2 28. Rxb2 Qxb2 29. Qxb2 Rxb2 $19 30. c3 Kf8 (30... d4 {I did not look at this move, not wanting to connect white's pawn chain and allow counterplay; however, black's passed c-pawn would be much faster and too well-supported, particularly by the bishop on the long diagonal.} 31. cxd4 c3 32. Rc1 c2 33. Kf2 Rb1) 31. Kh2 Ke7 32. Kh3 Ra2 (32... Rb3 {would perhaps have been better, but in any case, there is no fear of Rb1. There is no way for white's rook to infiltrate.}) 33. Kh4 Rxa3 34. Nf3 Ra2 35. g3 a5 36. Nd4 Kd7 37. Kg5 Rg2 38. Kh4 f6 39. Ra1 $4 {Rh1 or Kh3 is forced.} Rh2# 0-1

