[Event "Oregon Junior Closed (Championship)"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2025.12.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Lim, Hayul"]
[Black "Tang, Austin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "2064"]
[BlackElo "2172"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[GameId "2251966819364912"]
[EventDate "2025.12.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

{[%evp 0,53,31,24,17,67,11,15,-13,9,-2,-25,-9,-18,-23,-13,-99,24,7,57,19,57,53,59,75,-60,153,84,-29,63,62,-138,55,-69,43,73,131,84,1,121,136,145,145,42,127,-1,193,1,1,175,278,241,249,138,286,37]} {Round 1 game between the top two seeds in the Championship Section. Hayul normally playes 1.Nf3, so his first move 1.e4 indicates he has something prepared against Austin's Sicilian. White makes a lot of strong, agressive moves, but ends up grabbing a draw by perpetual from an exchange down position where Stockfish still prefers White.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bc4 Nc6 6. O-O e6 7. d4 $5 {This is fun. But not original - there are hundreds of games in my database.} Nxd4 {capturing the "free" pawn while preserving Black's pawn struture} ({better is} 7... cxd4 {which gains time by attacking the knight on c3. Black will lose the pawn on d4, but will complete his development and obtain an equal position.} 8. Nb5 Nge7 9. Nbxd4 d5 $13) 8. Be3 $1 $14 Qb6 (8... Nf6 $14) 9. e5 $1 $16 Nf5 (9... Nxf3+ 10. Qxf3 Ne7 11. Bb5+ Kf8 12. b4 $1 {is also better for White.}) 10. Bb5+ Kf8 11. Bf2 a6 12. Be2 Qc6 (12... Qxb2 $2 13. Na4 (13. Ne4)) 13. exd6 $16 (13. g4 $5 {is a riskier way to pursue White's attack.}) 13... Bxc3 14. bxc3 Nxd6 {Black is defending creatively, but White is still better.} 15. Ne5 Qc7 16. Qd3 Nf6 17. Bf3 Kg7 18. Rfd1 Nfe8 $1 19. Nc4 Nf5 (19... Nxc4 20. Qxc4 Nd6 21. Qxc5 Qxc5 22. Bxc5 Nc4 23. Bd4+ f6 24. Rab1 $16) 20. g4 $1 {Not sure if I would have the courage to play this move.} Ne7 21. Qe3 Nf6 (21... Nd5) 22. Nd6 Nfd5 23. Bxd5 Nxd5 24. Rxd5 $1 exd5 25. Qe5+ Kg8 {Black is an exchange and a pawn up, but his rooks are not participating and the dark squares around his king are vulnerable. White is winning, but the way forward is not obvious.} 26. Qe8+ (26. Bh4 $1 Bd7 27. Qe7 Rf8 28. Bf6 $18 {White is threatenening 29.Bxh8 Kxh8 30.Qxf8. If Black moves is queen to the back rank to defend the rook on f8, he loses material.}) (26. f5 {is also good.}) 26... Kg7 27. Qe5+ {Hayul grabs a perpetual and a half point against the top seed.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Oregon Junior Closed (Challengers)"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2025.12.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Bimod, Karthik"]
[Black "Lin, Yian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "1999"]
[BlackElo "1778"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[GameId "2252176506953833"]
[EventDate "2025.12.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

{[%evp 0,57,19,19,21,-1,26,34,30,29,36,-5,67,68,70,70,70,74,71,71,67,67,41,43,119,56,67,67,69,77,57,57,123,122,125,98,73,73,81,43,22,35,33,-105,-75,-65,-84,-83,-88,-87,-99,-99,-105,-97,-105,-100,-99,-120,-127,-137]} {Kathik was the top seed in the Challengers section, and tournament-time ratings woul dh ave put him in the Championship section. Karthik sacrifices a knight to obtain a winning position, but Yian keeps his cool and emerges from the complications with a winning position.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nbd2 e6 5. g3 dxc4 6. Nxc4 b5 7. Nce5 Bb7 8. Bg2 Nbd7 9. O-O Be7 10. Nxf7 Kxf7 11. Ng5+ Ke8 12. Nxe6 Qb6 13. Nxg7+ Kf7 14. Nf5 c5 15. d5 Rad8 16. e4 Rhe8 17. Kh1 Bf8 18. Bg5 c4 19. f4 Nc5 20. e5 Bxd5 (20... Rxd5) 21. Nd6+ Rxd6 $1 (21... Bxd6 22. Bxd5+ $18) 22. exd6 Bxg2+ 23. Kxg2 Qxd6 24. Qxd6 Bxd6 25. Bxf6 Kxf6 26. Rfe1 Rd8 27. Re2 Nd3 28. a4 b4 29. Rc2 {scoresheets became illegible, but Black won in 7 moves} 0-1

[Event "Oregon Junior Closed (Challengers)"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2025.12.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Maokhampio, Lucas"]
[Black "Adebolu, Ademidun"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[ECO "B56"]
[WhiteElo "1934"]
[BlackElo "1749"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[GameId "2252160941629487"]
[EventDate "2025.12.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

{[%evp 0,76,10,24,22,20,16,46,16,12,15,7,31,25,21,28,39,-27,63,41,72,123,113,121,143,127,131,69,61,18,105,102,93,114,109,127,118,138,-21,144,322,211,241,171,79,-1,-1,-1,40,15,156,-71,-44,-1,97,-215,-56,-8,-141,-449,-263,-188,-118,-164,-371,-862,-652,-893,-696,-928,-899,-828,-882,-1253,-1026,-1416,-1503,-29987,-29988]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Nd5 a5 (8... Be7) 9. a4 $14 Bxd5 10. exd5 Nb4 11. Bb5+ $1 $16 Nd7 12. c3 Na6 13. Bxd7+ Qxd7 14. Nxa5 (14. O-O Be7 15. f4 $16) 14... Nc5 15. b4 Be7 16. O-O Bd8 17. Nc4 Nxa4 18. Nxd6+ Ke7 19. Nf5+ Kf6 {This middlegame king centralization is very brave / borderline desperate.} ({Perhaps desperation is called for, as the saner} 19... Qxf5 20. Rxa4 {is much better for White}) 20. g4 $18 Bb6+ 21. Be3 Nxc3 22. Qc2 (22. Qd3 $18) 22... Bxe3+ 23. Nxe3 Nxd5 24. g5+ (24. Qd3 $1 Nb6 25. g5+ Ke7 26. Nf5+ Kd8 27. Qe3 $18) 24... Kxg5 25. Qd2 $16 Nf6 26. Qg2+ Kh5 27. Kh1 g5 $11 (27... Rxa1 28. Rxa1 g5 $17) 28. Rg1 h6 29. f4 exf4 30. Qe2+ g4 (30... f3 31. Qxf3+ Kg6) 31. Rxa8 (31. Rad1 $17) 31... Rxa8 32. Nc4 Qd5+ 33. Qg2 Qxc4 34. h3 Qe4 35. hxg4+ Kg5 36. Qxe4 Nxe4 37. Re1 Ng3+ 38. Kg2 Kxg4 0-1

[Event "Oregon Junior Closed (Championship)"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2025.12.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Tang, Austin"]
[Black "Iyengar, Varun"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2172"]
[BlackElo "2003"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[GameId "2262776591168246"]
[EventDate "2025.12.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 {Austin chooses the Rossolimo Attack.} ({This is just as effective as} 3. d4 {for keeping White's first-move advantage while avoiding the memory-intensive Sveshnikov} cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 {He is rewarded with a kingside attack without allowing significant counterplay.}) 3... g6 4. Bxc6 {This unprovoked trade of a bishop for a knight's first appearance in my database was in 1857, played by John Cochrane of Cochrane gambit fame (1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Ne5 Qh4+ 6.Kf1 f3) and Simon Alapin of Alapin Sicilian fame (1.e4 c5 2.c3). They were both ahead of their time, as it did not come into fashion until 1990, getting a big boost in popularity in 1992 when Bobby Fischer played it twice against Boris Spassky and Gary Kasparov played it against Valery Salov.} dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. a4 a5 7. h3 Nf6 8. Be3 b6 9. Nc3 Nd7 10. Qd2 h6 11. Nh2 e5 12. O-O Nf8 13. f4 exf4 14. Rxf4 ({The move} 14. Bxf4 {is more popular and is Stockfish's preference. Austion's move scores better and gets his rooks doubled on the f-file more quickly.}) 14... g5 {This looks weakening, but Stockfish says it is best.} 15. Rf2 Ne6 $6 {This looks like a good idea, getting the knight to the active square d4 before posting the bishop on e6. But it turns out to be too ambitious.} (15... Be6 $11) 16. Raf1 O-O $6 (16... Ra7 $16 {is shaky for Black, but it avoids castllng into the attack.}) 17. Ne2 $1 {a nice knight maneuver. White's knights are finding some targets on light squares around Black's king. Black's bishops are not providing much counterplay.} Qd6 (17... Bxb2 $6 {gives Black a pawn and a series of tricks to prevent the immideiate loss of a the semi-trapped dark squared bishop. But the bishop is needed for defense of the kingside, so the tricks will not keep him out of trouble.} 18. c3 Ba3 19. Qa2 Qxd3 20. Ng4 h5 21. Nf6+ Kh8 22. Rf3 Ba6 23. Qxa3 Qxe2 24. Qc1 {and some of Black's kingside pawns will soon fall, making it difficult to maintain a defense for the king.}) 18. Ng4 {The rest is carnage. White's pieces walk into Black's kingside without much resistance. Predictable results ensue.} Ba6 19. h4 h5 20. Nf6+ Bxf6 21. Rxf6 g4 22. Bh6 Qe7 23. R1f5 Bc8 24. e5 Bd7 25. Rg5+ Kh7 26. Rxh5 Kg8 27. Rg5+ Kh7 28. Bxf8 Qxf8 29. Ng3 Ng7 {Stockfish is predicting mate in 8. 30,Rg6+ is an attactive start, as 30...Kxh6 allows 31.Rh5+ Kg6 32.Rh6#} 1-0

[Event "Oregon Junior Closed (Championship)"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2025.12.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nobles, William"]
[Black "Lim, Hayul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "1967"]
[BlackElo "2064"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "154"]
[GameId "2252229714629627"]
[EventDate "2025.12.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

{[%evp 0,154,16,-12,11,11,40,27,15,5,8,1,16,-8,29,1,-2,-12,-4,-26,12,9,12,20,16,-19,-21,-34,-12,-7,-7,-5,93,128,125,16,64,50,47,60,62,94,65,72,49,1,0,-21,19,52,62,-7,28,-7,36,27,17,35,69,22,80,75,130,68,58,64,100,55,62,55,58,32,43,44,51,23,31,6,10,-32,0,0,0,-8,0,0,49,92,128,83,107,29,38,29,354,120,231,141,85,107,105,105,225,-195,-255,-193,0,0,0,-272,-258,-290,-311,-537,-554,-591,-621,-662,-519,-535,-608,-828,-911,-931,-893,-939,-939,-973,-1004,-1082,-932,-1005,-922,-1017,-636,-715,-675,-778,-398,-502,-778,-778,-591,-608,-624,-707,-556,-603,-632,-654,-664,-1214,-615,-682,-682,-29995,-29996]} {Will has switched from 1.e4 to 1.c4 recently. Hayul has been playing positional openings like this as White for as long as I can remember, so he is comfortable playing this style of chess.} 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. d3 a6 6. e4 b5 7. f4 (7. cxb5 axb5 8. Nxb5 {and Black has more than enough compensation for his pawn, with the long-term positional idea of putting his rooks on b8 and a8 to exert queenside pressure as one does in the Benko gambit, and the short-term tactical idea of playing} Ba6 (8... Qa5+ $5 9. Nc3 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Qxc3+ 11. Bd2 Qxd3) 9. Nc3 Nb4 $44) 7... b4 8. Nce2 d6 9. h3 Bd7 {What ever happened to developing the kingside and castling? Hayul has a good feel for these positions, realizing that the position is mostly closed and he does not need to make kingside commitments. Will has a history of kingside attacks - why give him a target?} 10. Nf3 Rc8 (10... Qc8 {is another idea, putting Black's queen on a slightly awkward square to prevent White from castling.}) 11. O-O e6 12. g4 Nge7 13. Rb1 Qa5 14. a3 (14. Be3 $5 Qxa2 15. Qe1 $13) 14... Rb8 15. axb4 Qa2 $6 {Hayul presses his luck, and gets rewarded for his courage.} (15... Qxb4) 16. Be3 $1 $16 Rxb4 17. Ra1 $14 {White retains a small advantage.} ({But there was a large advantage available} 17. e5 $1 dxe5 18. Nc3 Qb3 19. fxe5 Qxd1 20. Rfxd1 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 Bxe5 22. Bxc5 $16) 17... Qxb2 18. Rxa6 $14 O-O 19. e5 Bc8 20. Ra8 Rb8 21. Rxb8 Qxb8 22. exd6 Qxd6 23. Ng3 Nd4 24. Ne4 Qc7 25. Qd2 Rd8 26. Rd1 Bb7 27. Nxd4 cxd4 28. Bf2 e5 ({Black can get away with} 28... f5 {in spite of it creating a seemlingly weak pawn on e6} 29. Ng5 Bxg2 30. Kxg2 (30. Nxe6 $5 Qd6 31. Nxd8 Bf3 32. Re1 Qxd8 $13) 30... Qc6+) 29. Bg3 Bxe4 30. Bxe4 exf4 31. Bxf4 (31. Qxf4 $1 $16) 31... Be5 {As Black, I too would be hoping for some sort of good knight vs. bad light squared biship ending, but according to Stockfish, White is still a shade better.} 32. Bh6 Bg7 33. Bf4 Be5 34. Rf1 f6 35. h4 Qd7 36. Qg2 Qd6 37. Bd2 Rb8 38. Qf3 Rb2 39. Rf2 Bg3 40. Re2 Bxh4 {Black has tricked White out of a pawn, but White still has sufficient compensation, partly due to Black's offside bishop on h4.} 41. Bf4 Rb1+ 42. Kh2 Qd8 $6 {Black should prevent White's pawn on c4 from advancing.} (42... Qc5) (42... Qa3) 43. c5 $1 $16 {Black's extra pawn isn't going anywhere soon. White's c-pawn is becoming dangerous.} Be1 {trying to get the bishop back to help with the defense against the advance of the c-pawn} 44. Ra2 Kg7 45. Ra7 Rb2+ 46. Kh1 (46. Kh3 $18) 46... Rb1 (46... Rf2 $1 47. Qd1 (47. Bc7 Qd7 48. Qd1 Nc6 {and lots of material is hanging, but Stockfish says roughly equal.}) 47... Rf1+ 48. Kg2 Rxf4 49. Qxe1 Rxg4+ 50. Kf1 Rg5 51. Qb4 {and believe it or not, Stockfish says that this position is balanced}) 47. Kg2 $18 Rb2+ 48. Kh3 Rf2 49. Qg3 Rf1 50. Qh2 h5 51. Qa2 $2 (51. Bg3 $1 {is the only move to retain White's winning advantage.}) 51... hxg4+ {Now Black has the overwhelming Stockfish advantage in an overwhemingly complicated position.} 52. Kg2 Rf2+ {natural, but the winning line is} (52... Rxf4 53. Qe6 Kh6 $19 {as} 54. Qxe7 ({or} 54. Rxe7 Rf2+ 55. Kg1 Qb8 {and while both sides seem to have good attacking positions, Stockfish says Black gets there first.}) 54... Qxe7 55. Rxe7 Rf2+ 56. Kg1 Rc2 $19 {White's passed c-pawn is under control. Black's kingside pawns cannot be controlled.}) 53. Qxf2 Bxf2 54. Bd6 $2 {Clever, but not good enough.} (54. Kxf2 $11 {The material balance does not look good, but White's c-pawn and active pieces will keep Black from realizing his material advantage}) 54... Bh4 55. Rxe7+ Kh6 56. Bf4+ Bg5 57. Bxg5+ Kxg5 58. Ra7 Qb8 59. Rb7 Qf4 60. c6 Qd2+ 61. Kg3 Qf4+ 62. Kg2 Qd2+ 63. Kg3 f5 64. Rb5 Qe3+ 65. Kg2 Qh3+ 66. Kg1 g3 67. Bg2 Qh2+ 68. Kf1 Qh5 69. Ke1 Qh2 70. Kf1 Qh5 71. Ke1 Qh7 72. Rb7 Qh8 73. c7 Qe5+ 74. Kd1 Qc5 75. Bd5 Kf4 76. Bg2 Qc3 77. Bd5 Ke3 0-1

[Event "Oregon Junior Closed (Challengers)"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2025.12.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Adebolu, Ademidun"]
[Black "Lin, Yian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "1749"]
[BlackElo "1778"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[GameId "2252194580830621"]
[EventDate "2025.12.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

{[%evp 0,18,28,37,24,-21,41,36,41,22,39,11,0,7,16,9,12,21,15,2,63]} {The games starts as a civilized Catalan and breaks loose into chaos.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. d4 d5 4. Nc3 e6 5. g3 dxc4 6. Ne5 b5 7. Bg2 Nd5 (7... a6 8. Nxc6 Qb6) 8. e4 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bb7 (9... Be7 $14) 10. Qh5 $1 $16 g6 11. Nxg6 $1 fxg6 12. Qe5 Qe7 13. Qxh8 Nd7 14. h4 O-O-O 15. Bg5 Qf7 16. Bxd8 Bg7 $1 17. Qxh7 Nf8 $1 18. Qxg7 Qxg7 19. Ba5 $16 Nd7 20. O-O-O Nf6 (20... Qf8 $1 21. Kb1 $1 (21. Bb4 Qxf2 22. Rd2 Qe3 $17) (21. a4 Qa3+ 22. Kd2 Nf6 $15) 21... Qxf2 22. Bh3 $1 $13) 21. Kb2 $16 Qh6 22. Bf3 Kd7 23. e5 Ng8 24. h5 g5 25. g4 Qf8 26. Rh3 (26. h6 Nxh6 27. Be4) 26... Nh6 27. Rg3 (27. Ka1) (27. Bb4) 27... Nxg4 $1 $14 28. Rxg4 (28. Bxg4 Qxf2+ $19) 28... Qxf3 29. Rdg1 Qxf2+ (29... c5 30. dxc5 Be4 $13) 30. Ka1 c5 31. dxc5 Bf3 32. Rxg5 Bxh5 33. R1g2 (33. Rg7+ Kc6 34. Rb1 $1) 33... Qe1+ $11 34. Kb2 Be2 (34... Bf3 $11) 35. Rg7+ $1 Kc6 36. Rc7+ Kd5 37. Rd7+ Kxe5 38. Bc7+ Kf6 39. Bg3 1-0

[Event "Oregon Junior Closed (Championship)"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2025.12.06"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Tang, Austin"]
[Black "Gupta, Saahil"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2172"]
[BlackElo "1970"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[GameId "2252268476506185"]
[EventDate "2025.12.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.01.27"]

{[%evp 0,63,13,9,24,31,21,21,20,7,28,19,9,0,4,3,32,11,22,26,39,36,33,38,36,29,48,47,43,9,18,22,28,14,-50,0,18,-29,40,40,45,-1,44,-7,70,20,37,31,36,26,40,1,26,21,14,1,-1,-1,1,-1,1,-1,-1,1,-1,0]} 1. e4 e6 {Saahil varies from the Sicilian he played in round 1.} 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 cxd4 {Wolfgang Uhulmann had a deep understanding of the French Defense, but Saahil finds a steadier opening approach than the one Wolfgang tried against Tal a mere 54 years earlier.} (4... Nc6 5. Bb5 dxe4 6. Nxe4 Bd7 7. Bg5 Qa5+ 8. Nc3 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bb4 10. O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3 Qxc3 12. Nf5 exf5 13. Re1+ Be6 14. Qd6 a6 15. Bd2 Qxc2 16. Bb4 axb5 17. Qf8+ Kd7 18. Red1+ Kc7 19. Qxa8 {1-0 Tal,M-Uhlmann,W Alekhine Memorial-02 Moscow 1971 (6)}) 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd7 7. Nxc6 Bxc6 8. Bxc6+ bxc6 9. c4 Nf6 10. Qa4 Qc7 11. exd5 exd5 12. O-O Be7 13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Nf3 O-O 15. Bd2 Bf6 16. Qc2 Rab8 17. Rab1 h6 18. b3 Rfe8 19. Rfe1 Qb6 20. Rbc1 Rxe1+ 21. Rxe1 Bd4 22. Re2 c5 23. Qc4 Rd8 $1 24. Nxd4 cxd4 25. Re5 Nc3 $1 26. a4 Qg6 27. g3 Ne4 28. Ba5 Ng5 $1 29. Rxg5 Qxg5 30. Bxd8 Qxd8 31. Qd3 Qd5 32. Kf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Oregon Junior Closed (Championship)"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2025.12.06"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Lewis, Kai"]
[Black "Lim, Hayul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "1947"]
[BlackElo "2064"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[GameId "2254000745416376"]
[EventDate "2025.12.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.01.27"]

{[%evp 0,98,16,10,16,10,5,0,2,4,-46,-7,-9,-32,-2,20,16,-6,20,71,43,-45,-50,-57,-37,-168,-180,-163,-176,-182,-148,-169,-48,-154,-152,-175,-94,-147,-145,-151,-188,-291,-228,-84,-258,-141,-251,-240,-238,-593,-248,-76,-211,-98,-239,-79,-259,-126,-216,-85,-232,-267,-50,-200,-192,-234,-1,-288,-342,-579,-452,-507,-519,-563,-474,-637,-478,-638,-625,-702,-573,-687,-711,-729,-409,-743,-725,-754,-581,-744,-755,-768,-671,-779,-794,-1239,-1259,-1277,-1287,-1582,-853] A lot of the participants were playing positional like the English and 1.Nf3. Kai usually played 1.e4 in the past. Hayul has always played positional openings as White, so he seems comfortable in these positions.} 1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 $11 6. e3 Nf6 7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O Nxd4 9. exd4 d5 10. b3 (10. c5 $11) (10. cxd5 $11) 10... Bg4 11. Qd3 Bf5 12. Qc3 dxc4 13. Bb2 (13. bxc4 Ne4 14. Bxe4 Bxd4) 13... cxb3 14. axb3 Qd7 15. Nd2 Rac8 16. Qb4 b6 17. Nc4 Rc7 18. Rfe1 Nd5 19. Bxd5 Qxd5 20. Rxe7 Rxe7 21. Qxe7 Bh3 22. Ne3 Qxb3 23. Ba3 Rc8 24. Qh4 Qc3 (24... Qxa3 $1) 25. Rd1 Qxa3 26. Qxh3 Rc1 27. Qf1 Rxd1 28. Qxd1 Qd6 29. d5 b5 30. Qc2 a6 31. Qc6 Bf8 32. Kg2 b4 33. Kf3 b3 34. Qb7 Qb4 35. Qxb4 Bxb4 36. Nc4 a5 37. Nb2 Bc3 38. Na4 Bf6 39. d6 b2 40. Nxb2 Bxb2 41. Ke4 Kf8 42. Kd5 Ke8 43. Kc6 Kd8 44. Kb5 Bc3 45. Kc4 Bb4 46. Kd5 a4 47. h3 a3 48. Kc4 a2 49. Kd5 a1=N 0-1

[Event "Oregon Junior Closed (Challengers)"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2025.12.06"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Plaunty, Jiro"]
[Black "Adebolu, Ademidun"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[ECO "B20"]
[WhiteElo "1755"]
[BlackElo "1749"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[GameId "2252535191818326"]
[EventDate "2025.12.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.01.27"]

{[%evp 0,11,16,28,44,38,22,-31,25,2,14,10,-11,-19] Jiro tries a speculative gambit and is rewarded with a great position. But Ademidum hangs in there and gets the win.} 1. e4 c5 2. a3 Nc6 (2... g6 {avoids the complications that follow}) 3. b4 $5 {This isn't a theortical way to play for an advantage, but it is a practical one.} cxb4 ({Black can decline the pawn with} 3... e6) ({or} 3... Nf6 $5 4. b5 Nd4 5. c3 Ne6 {both resulting in decent positions for Black, but very chaotic}) 4. axb4 Nxb4 5. c3 Nc6 6. d4 d5 (6... d6) 7. exd5 Qxd5 8. Na3 $14 e6 $6 9. Nb5 $1 $16 Bd6 10. Bc4 $5 {tempting, leads to an advantage, but not strongest.} (10. Qg4) (10. c4) 10... Qe4+ (10... Qxc4 11. Nxd6+) 11. Ne2 Bb8 12. O-O Nge7 13. Ba3 O-O 14. Nd6 Qh4 $13 {White still has compensation, but Black has survived the worst.} 15. Ng3 Bxd6 16. Bxd6 Rd8 17. Ba3 b6 (17... Nd5) 18. Re1 Bb7 $2 19. Re4 $1 $18 {White is back on the attack.} Qf6 20. Nh5 Qg6 21. Rg4 Qxh5 22. Rxg7+ Kxg7 23. Qxh5 Ng6 24. Re1 Na5 25. Bd3 Rd5 26. Re5 Rad8 27. Bxg6 hxg6 28. Qe2 Nc4 {White is still winning, but Black is continuing to pose problems.} 29. Rxd5 (29. Be7 $1 R8d7 30. Rxe6 $1 fxe6 31. Qxe6 {would be hard for mortals to find over the board.}) (29. Qxc4 Rxe5 30. h3 {is still a little better for White}) 29... Bxd5 $11 {Stockfish says that Black is fine.} 30. Bc1 {Black's dark squares give the impression that White may be able to invade with his queen and Bishop.} a5 31. h4 Rh8 32. g3 $2 {A natural defense to the h-pawn, but Stockfish disapproves.} (32. Qg4) 32... a4 $1 $17 33. Qa2 a3 34. f4 (34. Bxa3 Ra8) 34... Ra8 35. g4 Ne3 36. Qe2 a2 37. Bb2 a1=Q+ 38. Bxa1 Rxa1+ 39. Kf2 Ra2 40. Qxa2 Nxg4+ 41. Kg3 Bxa2 42. Kxg4 Kf6 0-1

[Event "Oregon Junior Closed (Championship)"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2025.12.07"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Lim, Hayul"]
[Black "Iyengar, Varun"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2064"]
[BlackElo "2003"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[GameId "2252557882178830"]
[EventDate "2025.12.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.01.27"]

{[%evp 0,49,24,19,19,17,29,10,12,5,2,1,0,0,14,10,18,19,22,37,23,25,50,33,69,65,77,78,74,66,63,24,-8,31,27,40,70,50,91,73,106,116,72,80,234,428,406,482,576,573,687,591]} 1. Nf3 {After his round 1 experiment with 1.e4!? Hayul returns to his usual positional approach to the white openings.} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 Be7 5. b3 c5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. d4 O-O 8. Bb2 Nc6 9. Be2 b6 10. O-O Bb7 11. Rc1 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 {White is close to an ideal position against Black's IQP. Black will need to develop activity quickly if he wants to avoid defending a buildup on the pawn on d5.} Bc5 14. Qf4 Bd6 15. Qh4 (15. Qf5) 15... Be5 {so far, so good. Black still has equality.} 16. Ba3 Re8 (16... Ne4 17. Be7 g5 $1 $11) 17. Bb5 Re6 (17... Bxc3 $5 18. Bxe8 (18. Rxc3 Re4) 18... d4 19. exd4 Qd5 20. Qh3 Bxd4) 18. Rfd1 (18. Ne2) 18... Rc8 19. Ne2 a6 20. Rxc8 Bxc8 21. Bd3 Rc6 $2 {Black misses a nice tactic} (21... Re8 $14 {defends the queen, which is critical, as you will soon see.}) 22. Bxh7+ $1 Kh8 23. Rxd5 $1 Bxh2+ (23... Qxd5 24. Be4+) (23... Qc7 24. Rxe5 Qxe5 25. Be4+ Kg8 26. Bxc6 Qa1+ 27. Nc1) 24. Qxh2 Qxd5 25. Be4+ 1-0

[Event "Oregon Junior Closed (Championship)"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2025.12.07"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Lewis, Kai"]
[Black "Tang, Austin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[ECO "A23"]
[WhiteElo "1947"]
[BlackElo "2172"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[GameId "2252550752020636"]
[EventDate "2025.12.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.01.27"]

{[%evp 0,48,10,19,0,14,-2,14,-8,9,-3,8,40,24,1,-18,-3,-14,-8,-13,0,-36,27,23,78,84,95,90,71,95,109,-27,-15,-34,-33,-41,-31,-56,65,-139,-38,-132,-257,-204,-238,-394,-662,-503,-651,-899,-1013]} 1. c4 e5 {Austin needs to win has last two games and hope Hayul can't maintain perfection. He probably would have preferred a Sicilian, but perhaps a reversed Sicilian is the next best thing.} 2. g3 c6 3. Nf3 e4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Qb6 {This is a theoretical move and probably strongest. So much for teaching players not to bring their queen out too early.} 6. e3 {I would be nervous about the weak squares on d3 and f3, but this too is a theoretical move that is perfectly playable. The game is still roughly equal.} d5 7. d3 Bb4 {Black needs to pin the knight on c3 to prevent his center from crumbling, but if he has to exchange it for the knight it will be a small price to pay for the easy development he has in the resulting position.} 8. Bd2 Bg4 9. Be2 Bh3 $6 (9... Bxe2 10. Qxe2 exd3 11. Qxd3 Qa6 $13) 10. cxd5 (10. dxe4 dxe4 $2 (10... Nxe4 $14) 11. g4 $16) 10... cxd5 (10... exd3 {distracting the bishop from supporting the pawn advance g3-g4} 11. Bxd3 O-O $11) 11. Qa4+ (11. a3 Bd6 (11... Bxc3 12. Bxc3 Bd7 $16) 12. g4 $16) 11... Nbd7 $6 (11... Bd7) 12. Nxe4 $1 Bxd2+ 13. Nxd2 O-O 14. Qb3 Qc7 15. g4 $6 (15. Bf1 $16) 15... Bxg4 $11 16. Bxg4 Nxg4 17. Qxd5 Nde5 18. Ke2 $6 {a decent try - White's king looks as safe in the center as it is on the kingside.} ({Stockfish suggests} 18. O-O {and says White is equal in spite of White missing the g-pawn from the King's protective cover.} Nxd3 19. N2f3) 18... Rad8 $1 19. Qb3 (19. Qg2 Qb6 $17) 19... Rfe8 (19... Rxd4 20. exd4 Nc6 21. Nf3 Re8+ 22. Kf1 Qf4 23. Kg2 Re2 24. Raf1 Ne3+) 20. h3 Rxd4 $1 21. hxg4 (21. exd4 Nxd3+ 22. Kxd3 Nxf2#) 21... Rxd3 22. Qb5 Rxd2+ 23. Kxd2 Nf3+ 24. Ke2 (24. Kd1 Qd6+ 25. Kc2 Rc8+ 26. Kb3 (26. Kb1 Nd2#) 26... Nd2+ 27. Ka4 Rc6 28. Rac1 Ra6+ 29. Qxa6 Qxa6+) 24... Nd4+ 0-1

[Event "Oregon Junior Closed (Challengers)"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2025.12.07"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Adebolu, Ademidun"]
[Black "Bimod, Karthik"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[ECO "E66"]
[WhiteElo "1749"]
[BlackElo "1999"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "174"]
[GameId "2252595578522945"]
[EventDate "2025.12.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.01.27"]

{[%evp 0,174,15,0,19,9,34,-8,12,10,6,12,38,14,37,98,27,14,11,21,34,57,75,28,105,-1,73,55,-20,7,215,22,46,31,22,-40,31,40,33,-81,30,1,-22,-105,-80,-114,-93,-97,-115,-95,-98,-83,-65,-176,-188,-103,-179,-189,-126,38,-98,-142,-103,-62,-107,-38,-66,-108,-18,-87,-91,-122,-185,-134,-139,-135,-151,-159,-276,-279,-152,-118,-179,-142,-182,-352,-147,-162,-164,-156,-178,-209,-89,-200,-62,-187,-202,-186,-232,-330,-232,-236,-1,-142,-149,-390,-374,-425,-398,-382,-383,-391,-236,-258,-254,-357,-348,-355,-358,-380,-400,-537,-508,-533,-523,-527,-487,-557,-537,-548,-369,-361,-366,-363,-364,-362,-362,-363,-380,-366,-368,-375,-378,-394,-380,-392,-426,-446,-427,-435,-433,-464,-501,-517,-461,-485,-537,-537,-547,-555,-555,-575,-575,-604,-589,-775,-690,-827,-837,-857,-908,-1012,-847,-1190,-1292,-857,-1085] Ademidum is 3-0 and Karthik is 2-1, so Karthik needs a win with Black. Luckily for Karthik someone created the ideal defense for his predicament - the King's Indian. I am addling lots of unfair puntuation to this game. It is extremely difficult to consitently make accuratre moves in King's Indian positions. The players are coming up with admirable ideas in spite of what Stockfish says.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. d4 c5 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. d5 Na5 9. Nd2 Re8 ({I thought Black had to rescue his errant knight with} 9... a6 10. Rb1 Rb8) ({or start staking a claim in the center with} 9... e6) ({or} 9... e5 {But Stockfish says Karthik's choice is just as good as the main lines}) 10. a3 Ng4 $6 (10... Bd7 11. b4 $6 (11. Rb1 a6 12. b3 b5) (11. Qc2 Rc8 12. b3) 11... cxb4 12. axb4 Nxc4 13. Nxc4 Qc7 $13) 11. Qc2 $1 Ne5 12. b3 a6 13. h3 b5 14. cxb5 (14. f4 $1 Nd7 15. Bb2 $16) 14... axb5 15. Bb2 $11 Rb8 (15... Qb6) 16. f4 $1 $14 Nd7 17. b4 (17. Nce4 Bxb2 18. Qxb2 Nb6 19. Nc3 $14) 17... Nc4 (17... cxb4 18. axb4 Nc4) 18. Nxc4 bxc4 19. b5 $1 $16 Qa5 20. Rfb1 (20. a4 Nb6 21. Nd1 Bd4+ 22. Kh2 $16 (22. e3 $2 Bf5)) 20... Nb6 21. Nd1 $2 (21. a4 $11) (21. e4 $11) 21... Bxb2 22. Nxb2 c3 $1 23. Nd1 Na4 24. b6 Ba6 25. e4 Rb7 26. Rc1 Rxb6 27. Nxc3 Nxc3 28. Qxc3 Qxc3 29. Rxc3 Reb8 30. g4 h6 31. h4 Be2 32. g5 hxg5 33. hxg5 Rb1+ 34. Rc1 (34. Rxb1 Rxb1+ 35. Kf2 $11) 34... R1b3 (34... R1b2 35. a4 R8b3 36. a5 Kg7 37. a6 $2 Bxa6 38. Rxa6 Rg3) 35. Ra2 Bd3 $1 $19 {The game has gone back and forth up to here, but at this point Black siezes the advantage and never lets go.} 36. e5 Ra8 37. exd6 exd6 38. Rca1 Bb1 39. Re2 Raxa3 40. Rxa3 Rxa3 41. Re8+ Kg7 42. Rd8 Ra6 43. Rc8 Bd3 44. Rc6 Bb5 45. Rc7 Ra8 46. Bh3 Kf8 47. f5 gxf5 48. Bxf5 Re8 49. g6 fxg6 50. Bxg6 Re5 51. Rf7+ Kg8 52. Rf6 Kg7 53. Rxd6 Rg5+ 54. Kf2 Rxg6 55. Rd8 Kf7 56. Rc8 c4 57. Ke3 Rg4 58. Rc5 Ba4 59. Rc7+ Kf6 60. Ra7 Bb3 61. Ra6+ Ke5 62. d6 Rg7 63. Ra5+ Kxd6 64. Kd4 Rg4+ 65. Kc3 Kc6 66. Rh5 Rg6 67. Kb4 Rd6 68. Rc5+ Kd7 69. Rh5 Rf6 70. Rd5+ Ke6 71. Rd8 Ke5 72. Rd2 Ke4 73. Rd8 Rf5 74. Kc3 Rf3+ 75. Kb4 Rd3 76. Re8+ Kf3 77. Re7 Re3 78. Rh7 Ke2 79. Rh2+ Kd3 80. Rh7 Re2 81. Rh3+ Kc2 82. Ka3 Rd2 83. Rc3+ Kb1 84. Rh3 Rd3 85. Rh8 Ba2+ 86. Kb4 c3 87. Rh1+ Kb2 0-1

[Event "Oregon Junior Closed (Championship)"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2025.12.07"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Gupta, Saahil"]
[Black "Nobles, William"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[ECO "E02"]
[WhiteElo "1970"]
[BlackElo "1967"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "159"]
[GameId "2252590067342640"]
[EventDate "2025.12.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.01.27"]

{Saahil gets a smooth positional win. Kids today - where are the gambits of yesteryore?} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Qxc4 a6 7. Qc2 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. d4 c5 10. Nc3 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Bc5 12. Nb3 Ba7 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Nf6 15. Bg2 Qe7 16. Bd2 e5 17. a3 Re8 18. Bb4 Qe6 19. Rad1 e4 20. Rd6 Qe5 21. Rfd1 Qh5 (21... Bg4) 22. Bc5 Bxc5 23. Nxc5 Bf5 24. e3 $11 Rac8 25. b4 Bh3 26. Qd2 Ng4 $6 (26... Bxg2 27. Kxg2 Qf3+ 28. Kg1 h5 29. h4 $11) 27. Qd5 $1 g5 28. Bxh3 Qxh3 29. Qxg5+ Kh8 30. Qh4 Qxh4 31. gxh4 Ne5 32. Kf1 Nf3 33. Ke2 Nxh4 34. Nxb7 Nf3 35. Nc5 Nxh2 36. Rxa6 Ng4 37. Ra7 Ne5 38. Rb7 f5 39. Rh1 Rcd8 40. Rbxh7+ Kg8 41. Rh8+ Kf7 42. Rxe8 Rxe8 43. Rd1 Rh8 44. Rd5 Kf6 45. Nd7+ {drops the a-pawn but avoids complications and simplifies into a clearly winning rook ending.} Nxd7 46. Rxd7 Ra8 47. Rd2 Rxa3 48. Rb2 {With the rook behind the passed pawn, the win is straightforward.} Ra6 49. b5 Rb6 50. Kd2 Ke5 51. Kc3 Kd6 52. Kc4 Kc7 53. Kd5 Rf6 54. Rc2+ Kb7 55. Rc6 Rf8 56. Ke5 Ra8 57. Rf6 Ra5 58. Kxf5 Rxb5+ 59. Kxe4 Kc7 60. Re6 Kd7 61. Re5 Rb6 62. Kf5 Rb8 63. f4 Rf8+ 64. Ke4 Kd6 65. Rh5 Ke6 66. Rh6+ Ke7 67. Ke5 Rg8 68. Rh7+ Ke8 69. f5 Rg3 70. e4 Ra3 71. f6 Kf8 72. Kf5 Rf3+ 73. Ke6 Kg8 74. Rd7 Rf4 75. e5 Rf1 76. Rd8+ Kh7 77. Ke7 Rf5 78. e6 Ra5 79. f7 Ra7+ 80. Rd7 1-0

[Event "Oregon Junior Closed (Championship)"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2025.12.07"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nobles, William"]
[Black "Tang, Austin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[ECO "A22"]
[WhiteElo "1967"]
[BlackElo "2172"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[GameId "2254016486312655"]
[EventDate "2025.12.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.01.27"]

{[%evp 0,66,22,4,6,2,6,0,9,9,13,6,5,-14,9,45,2,-6,-83,-25,-31,-47,-50,-66,-64,-74,-12,39,-88,-78,-57,-66,68,-6,-10,125,10,23,55,114,44,23,25,-79,-119,-101,2,-128,-156,-130,-96,-45,-94,-103,-91,-192,-183,-313,-314,-269,-264,-301,-267,-323,-370,-371,-288,-919,-731] Will used to play 1.e4, but has gone to 1.c4 for this tournament. Austin probably would have preferred a Sicilian in a must-win round, but has plenty of experience with 1.c4 e5. Austin is still 1/2 point behind Hayul.} 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bb4 4. Bg2 O-O 5. d3 c6 6. Nf3 Re8 (6... d5 7. Nxe5 $2 d4) 7. O-O h6 8. a3 Bf8 (8... Bxc3 9. bxc3 d5 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. c4 dxc4 12. dxc4 Qc7) 9. b4 (9. e4) 9... d5 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. e4 a5 (11... d4 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 Bg4 (13... Qxd5 14. Re1 Qd6 $44)) 12. Rb1 Na6 13. b5 $2 (13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 axb4 15. axb4 Nxb4 16. Bb2 $13) 13... Nc5 14. Qc2 g6 (14... d4 15. Na4 Nxa4 16. Qxa4 Nd7 $17) 15. Nd2 dxe4 (15... d4) 16. Ndxe4 Nfxe4 17. dxe4 Be6 $11 18. Rd1 Qf6 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. Rxd5 Rac8 21. f4 exf4 22. Bb2 $1 $44 Qe7 23. Bh3 (23. Qc3 f6 24. e5 fxe5 25. Rxe5 Qxe5 26. Qxe5 Rxe5 27. Bxe5 fxg3 28. Bxg3 {And Stockfish claims equality}) 23... Ne6 $1 24. Qd3 fxg3 25. hxg3 Bg7 (25... Rcd8) 26. Bxg7 Kxg7 27. Rd7 $2 {tempting, but} (27. Rf1 $13) 27... Qc5+ $1 $19 28. Kh1 Qh5 29. g4 Qe5 30. Rf1 Nf4 31. Qf3 g5 32. Bg2 Qxb5 33. e5 $2 Qxd7 0-1

[Event "Oregon Junior Closed (Championship)"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2025.12.07"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Gupta, Saahil"]
[Black "Lim, Hayul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "1970"]
[BlackElo "2064"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[GameId "2253988614941642"]
[EventDate "2025.12.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.01.27"]

{[%evp 0,12,21,37,14,20,25,37,39,23,39,41,92,-152,79]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Bg5 b4 5. a3 bxa3 6. Rxa3 d6 7. Bxf6 (7. e4 $5 Nxe4 8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bd3 Nf6 10. O-O {and Stockfish says +2.}) (7. Nc3) 7... exf6 8. e4 g6 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Qe2 (10. Bd3 $5) 10... Bg7 11. O-O O-O 12. Bxd7 Nxd7 13. Nc3 Qe7 14. Qd3 Nb6 (14... Rfb8 $11) 15. Nd2 Rfb8 16. b3 Rb7 17. Nd1 a5 18. Nc3 (18. Ne3 $14) 18... f5 19. exf5 gxf5 (19... Qe5 $11) 20. Na4 $16 {Whate grabs a clear advantage and never relinquishes it.} Nxa4 21. Rxa4 Qd7 22. Nc4 Rbb8 23. Ne3 Rb4 24. Nxf5 Rxa4 25. bxa4 Re8 26. Nxg7 Kxg7 27. Qc3+ Kg8 28. Qxa5 Qf5 29. Qb5 Kf8 30. Qb3 Re2 31. c4 Qc2 32. Qb8+ Kg7 33. Qxd6 Qxc4 34. Qc6 Rd2 35. d6 Qd5 36. Qxd5 Rxd5 37. g3 Rxd6 38. Rc1 Rd4 39. a5 c4 40. a6 Rd6 41. Ra1 Rd8 42. a7 Ra8 43. Kf1 {Not all rook endings are drawn.} Kf6 44. Ra5 Ke6 45. Ke2 Kd6 46. Kd2 Kc6 47. Kc3 Kb6 48. Ra2 Kb5 49. g4 Kc5 50. h4 f6 51. f4 Kd5 52. g5 Ke6 53. Ra5 fxg5 54. hxg5 Kf7 55. Ra6 Kg7 56. Kxc4 Kf7 57. Kb5 Kg7 58. Kb6 h6 59. gxh6+ Kh7 60. Kb7 Re8 61. a8=Q Re7+ 62. Kc6 Re6+ 63. Kb7 Re7+ 64. Kb8 Re8+ 65. Ka7 1-0

[Event "Oregon Junior Closed (Challengers)"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2025.12.07"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Bimod, Karthik"]
[Black "Plaunty, Jiro"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[ECO "E73"]
[WhiteElo "1999"]
[BlackElo "1755"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[GameId "2252618442549967"]
[EventDate "2025.12.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.01.27"]

{[%evp 0,44,48,28,29,1,36,27,38,36,29,33,35,10,20,10,10,20,31,-20,35,28,28,26,34,9,32,4,-23,3,-6,-6,0,0,8,26,22,28,12,-16,4,31,86,94,151,169,285] Karthik wins quickly in round 5 to claim a share of the challengers championship.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 h6 7. Be3 e5 8. d5 a5 9. g4 Kh7 10. h4 Nfd7 11. Nf3 Na6 12. Nd2 {Black has made normal King's Indian moves, yet White has obtained a clear advantage. But there will be a little King's Indian Chaos(tm) before the dust settles.} Ndc5 13. Nf1 ({after} 13. h5 g5 {White's king will be perfectly safe castling kingside.} 14. O-O) 13... f5 {Black is riskily opening lines towards his own king, but he must play this move to create complications. If moves like this look foolheardy to you, consider taking up the Queen's Gambit Declined.} 14. gxf5 gxf5 15. exf5 Bxf5 16. Ng3 Qf6 17. Qd2 Nb4 18. Bxc5 $1 dxc5 19. Nge4 Bxe4 20. Nxe4 Qf5 21. f3 $1 $18 {White has an overwhelming advantage. He can castle long and build up an attack on Blacks King.} h5 $2 {Black's Bishop on g7 is the worst piece on the board, so he finds a way to activate it on h6. However...} 22. a3 $1 Bh6 {Not sure if White actually played 24.Ng5+! or Black saw it and resigned before he played it.} (22... Na6 {still loses. One line is} 23. Rg1 Qf4 24. Qxf4 exf4 25. Ng5+ Kh8 26. Ne6 Bxb2 27. Rb1 Bc3+ 28. Kf1 Rg8 29. Rxb7 {and Black's weak pawns start to fall.}) 1-0

[Event "Oregon Junior Closed (Challengers)"]
[Site "Portland, OR"]
[Date "2025.12.07"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Adebolu, Ademidun"]
[Black "Bayrambeyli, Emel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Wilson Gibbins"]
[ECO "E02"]
[WhiteElo "1749"]
[BlackElo "1866"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "141"]
[GameId "2253988706245612"]
[EventDate "2025.12.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.01.27"]

{[%evp 0,141,25,26,21,13,23,6,14,23,26,8,14,32,28,14,40,24,42,-39,30,14,32,28,55,53,80,81,84,69,78,75,105,37,77,92,-19,27,-36,10,18,-22,-16,-35,-25,-22,-16,-16,-112,-32,0,-16,-23,-79,-93,1,-66,-66,-97,-79,-91,-111,-37,-253,-49,-187,-84,-97,-43,-49,-1,148,51,52,55,50,154,-6,122,151,528,451,604,547,613,496,302,352,482,471,369,514,396,540,343,532,582,598,601,535,594,535,609,581,615,630,614,445,383,335,411,410,547,441,618,745,791,794,813,687,792,495,619,472,640,516,681,489,694,547,667,657,797,1002,1160,1228,1432,1672,29985,29986,29991,29992,29995,29996] Ademidum also wins round 5 to claim a share of the Championship.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 Bd7 8. Qxc4 Bc6 9. Nc3 a6 10. Bg5 b5 11. Qd3 b4 (11... Nbd7) 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Ne4 Be7 14. Rac1 Bb5 15. Qc2 c6 16. Rfd1 Nd7 17. Ne5 Rc8 18. Nc5 Nxc5 19. dxc5 Qc7 20. f4 Rfd8 21. a4 bxa3 22. bxa3 Qa5 23. Rxd8+ Bxd8 24. Qb3 Be7 25. Qe3 Bf6 26. Nc4 Bxc4 27. Rxc4 Qe1+ 28. Bf1 Rd8 29. Rc1 Qa5 30. Kg2 Bd4 (30... g6) 31. Qe4 Rd5 32. f5 e5 33. f6 Qd8 34. fxg7 Qf6 (34... Qg5 35. Rc2 $11) 35. e3 Bxc5 (35... Qh6) 36. Bd3 Qxg7 37. Rf1 Be7 (37... Rd6) 38. Bc4 Rd2+ 39. Kh1 Bf6 40. Qxc6 Qh6 41. Qe8+ Qf8 42. Bxf7+ Kg7 43. Qxf8+ Kxf8 44. Rxf6 Ke7 45. Rf1 Rd3 46. Bc4 Rxe3 47. Rf7+ Kd6 48. Rxh7 Rxa3 49. Rh6+ Kc5 50. Bxa6 e4 51. Kg2 Ra2+ 52. Kf1 Kd4 53. g4 Ke3 54. Rh3+ Kf4 55. Be2 Ra1+ 56. Kf2 Rh1 57. Bf1 e3+ 58. Kg2 e2 59. Bxe2 Ra1 60. Rf3+ Kg5 61. Rf5+ Kg6 62. Bf3 Ra3 63. Kg3 Ra7 64. h4 Kg7 65. h5 Kh6 66. g5+ Kg7 67. Rf4 Ra5 68. Kg4 Kh7 69. Be4+ Kh8 70. h6 Ra8 71. Bxa8 1-0

[Event "2025 Washington Challenger's Cup"]
[Site "Bellevue, WA"]
[Date "2025.10.12"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Ravuri, Vinesh"]
[Black "Jammalamadaka, Vihaan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[ECO "D77"]
[WhiteElo "2333"]
[BlackElo "2164"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[GameId "2232263905628160"]
[EventDate "2025.10.11"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.01.27"]
[TimeControl "90+30"]

{[%evp 0,58,25,19,18,24,39,14,24,7,16,15,9,-3,8,16,14,22,34,0,-2,-11,18,24,25,-26,0,0,0,16,26,32,74,75,60,188,190,185,181,156,168,174,252,200,312,272,311,309,308,299,266,292,358,383,794,421,783,828,1358,1441,29995]} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d5 6. c4 {My pgn software calls this "King's Indian: fianchetto (without c4)." This seems a bit ironic, considering White's sixth move. It looks more like a Gruenfeld to me, though as with many queen-side openings, transpositions abound.} dxc4 {Queen's Gambit Accepted?} 7. Na3 c3 8. bxc3 c5 9. Bb2 ({Still in known territory, but committing the bishop to this blocked-up diagonal seems premature to me.} 9. e3 Nc6 10. Qe2 Bf5 11. Rd1 {seems most played here, though the bishop very well may end up on b2 eventually.}) ({I'd be interested to see} 9. Qb3 Nc6 10. Rd1 Na5 11. Qb2 {, evaluated as equal by Stockfish, but showing a considerable plus for White in practical human results.}) 9... Nc6 10. Re1 ({The engine approves. The only theory in my small database is} 10. e3 Bf5 11. Qe2 e5 {, when Black is doing fine.}) 10... cxd4 11. cxd4 Ne4 12. Nh4 ({Maybe just a little decentralizing. I'd probably prefer completing development while essentially guaranteeing the central pawn duo:} 12. Qc2 $5 Nd6 (12... Bf5 $2 13. g4 $1 {wins material.}) (12... f5 $6 13. Qb3+ e6 (13... Kh8 14. d5 $16) 14. Nc4 $14) 13. e4 $14 ({or} 13. Rad1 $14)) 12... f5 (12... Nd6 $13 {is solid, complex, and interesting.}) 13. Qb3+ e6 14. Red1 (14. Rad1 {seems natural. White prefers the d- and c-files for the rooks.}) 14... Kh8 $6 (14... b5 $5 $13 15. Rac1 Qb6) 15. Rac1 Qd5 16. Nc4 b6 17. f3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 18. e4 Qd8 (18... fxe4 19. fxe4 $16 Nxe4 $4 20. Qe3 $18) 19. Ne5 Na5 20. Qe3 Nh5 $6 (20... Kg8 $16 {, while not good for Black, reduces the impact of some of the tactics aimed at g6.}) 21. Ba3 (21. exf5 exf5 22. f4 Rb8 23. d5 {looks dominating.}) 21... Rf6 ({Trying to save the f8-rook seems a lost cause; one reason is the white bishop has become a much better piece than the rook.} 21... f4 22. Qe1 Qe8 23. Bxf8 Bxf8 24. Bh3 Ba3 {doesn't really offer enough compensation for the material, and White remains positionally better as well, but it's arguably better than the game continuation.}) 22. g4 f4 23. Qe1 g5 24. gxh5 gxh4 (24... Qe8 25. Rc7 Qxh5 26. Bh3 Qxh4 27. Qxh4 gxh4 28. Kh1 $18 {, with a fun attack along seventh rank, g-file, and diagonals.} (28. Be7 {is also a direct path to win material without much diminishing the attack.})) 25. Qxh4 Ba6 26. d5 exd5 27. Rxd5 Qe8 28. Rc7 h6 29. Rxg7 Z0 (29... Kxg7 30. Rd7+ {wins the house.}) 1-0

[Event "US Chess Senior Women's Championship 202"]
[Site "Salt Lake City, UT, USA"]
[Date "2025.11.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Airapetian, Chouchanik"]
[Black "Skidmore, Jennifer M"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[ECO "C41"]
[WhiteElo "1894"]
[BlackElo "1968"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[GameId "2264918900469842"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.01.27"]

{[%evp 0,115,25,16,25,12,72,62,61,62,51,51,48,35,31,40,51,18,40,12,61,59,49,40,31,36,62,51,48,64,90,76,97,79,123,127,260,277,267,269,261,256,300,211,233,215,211,197,241,214,212,161,165,148,138,101,91,91,176,176,167,199,177,150,128,87,103,46,113,103,158,150,150,179,124,92,146,159,137,157,156,70,113,105,39,22,3,0,0,22,63,103,104,167,167,93,322,168,277,124,155,131,134,128,28787,29984,29985,186,29989,29990,29991,29990,29991,29992,29997,29998,29999,29999]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 (3... exd4 {will likely transpose to the game after} 4. Nxd4 ({, but} 4. Qxd4) ({and} 4. Bc4 {head in other directions.})) 4. Nc3 ({By choosing this move order, Black appears to be inviting the other main line:} 4. dxe5 Nxe4 5. Qd5 Nc5 6. Bg5 {, when} Be7 ({or} 6... Qd7 7. exd6 Bxd6 8. Nc3 O-O 9. O-O-O $14) 7. exd6 Qxd6 8. Nc3 $14 {seems a bit better for White.}) 4... exd4 5. Nxd4 Be7 6. Bc4 ({Perfectly acceptable, but} 6. Be2) (6. g3) ({and} 6. Bf4 {are seen more often.}) 6... O-O 7. O-O c5 $6 ({Creating a backward pawn on d6 and a weak potential outpost for White on d5. Something approaching equality can be found defending} 7... c6) (7... Nc6 $5) ({or perhaps even} 7... Nxe4 {.}) 8. Nde2 a6 9. a4 Nc6 10. Nf4 Re8 11. Nfd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 Bf8 13. Re1 Be6 14. Bf4 Nd4 $6 15. Ra3 (15. a5) (15. c3) 15... Rc8 (15... b5) 16. Rg3 b5 $2 (16... Kh8) 17. Bg5 $1 Qa5 (17... Bxd5 18. Bxd8 Bxc4 {is another way to gift the queen.}) 18. b4 $1 ({White wins the queen, but even stronger is} 18. Nf6+ $3 Kh8 (18... gxf6 19. Bxf6+ Bg7 20. Rxg7+ Kf8 21. Rxh7 {and mate follows.}) 19. c3 Be7 (19... Bxc4 20. Qh5 h6 21. Bxh6 g6 22. Bxf8+ gxh5 23. Bg7# {is a pretty mate.}) 20. Bxe6 Nxe6 21. Nxe8 $18) 18... Bxd5 (18... cxb4 19. Nf6+ Kh8 20. Qh5 {checkmates soon. White's 18.b4 was needed first to interfere on the a5-e1 diagonal.}) 19. bxa5 Bxc4 20. axb5 axb5 21. Ra3 (21. Bf6 $16 {Things have been going White's way so far. Now Black starts to put up stiff resistance, and control slips a bit.}) 21... b4 22. Ra4 Bb5 23. Ra1 Ra8 24. Bf4 Bc4 25. e5 d5 26. Re3 g6 27. Kh1 Ne6 28. Bg3 d4 29. Re1 Red8 30. Bh4 Rd7 31. Qf3 ({Stockfish's} 31. f4 {is a little too subtle for me. One idea is} Nxf4 32. Qf3 {forces} Nd5 {, when} 33. Qg4 Rda7 34. e6 {offers open lines and some edge.}) 31... Bd5 32. Qg3 Bh6 33. Red1 Nf4 $6 (33... c4 {. Black's advanced pawns are becoming dangerous.}) 34. f3 ({Stockfish again suggests clearance with} 34. e6 $14) 34... Ne2 $2 (34... Ne6 $13) 35. Qg4 Rda7 36. Bf6 Nc3 37. Rf1 Be6 38. Qh4 Bf8 39. Bd8 Nd5 40. f4 Ne3 41. Bb6 Nxf1 42. Rxf1 Rxa5 43. Bxa5 Rxa5 44. g4 Bd5+ 45. Kg1 Ra2 (45... Ra8 46. f5 $14 {Now things again turn decisively in White's favor.}) 46. Qd8 Be4 47. Re1 Bf3 48. e6 fxe6 49. Rxe6 $6 (49. f5 $1 $18) 49... Ra8 50. Qc7 Bxg4 51. Rf6 Bf5 52. Qf7+ Kh8 53. Rc6 $2 ({There's an important tempo gain here that avoids the possible defense in the next note.} 53. Ra6 $3 {, intending 54.Ra7 and forced mate after rook moves along the eighth rank.}) 53... b3 $4 ({Black must defend against the checkmate and attempt to build a fortress:} 53... Bg7 54. Rxc5 Rf8 55. Qe7 (55. Rxf5 gxf5 56. Qb7 d3 57. cxd3 {is a slightly different version.}) (55. Qc4 d3 56. cxd3 b3) 55... d3 56. Rc7 Rg8 57. cxd3 b3 58. Qb4 b2 59. Rxg7 Rxg7 60. Qb8+ Rg8 61. Qxb2+ Rg7 62. Qb8+ Rg8 63. Qe5+ Rg7 64. d4 $14 {Lots of work still to do here.}) 54. Rc7 g5 55. Qf6+ Kg8 56. Qxf5 Bg7 57. Qf7+ Kh8 58. Qxg7# 1-0

[Event "19th Annual SPICE Cup Open"]
[Site "Bellevue, WA, 98004, USA"]
[Date "2025.11.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Karthikeyan, Harishkumar"]
[Black "Pisan, Kai"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[ECO "B15"]
[WhiteElo "1948"]
[BlackElo "2003"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[GameId "2264921307026065"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.01.27"]
[WhiteTeam "USA"]
[BlackTeam "USA"]
[WhiteClock "0:52:30"]
[BlackClock "0:19:14"]

{[%evp 0,65,25,16,61,57,49,36,44,31,41,41,44,27,37,24,27,-3,23,5,35,20,45,39,39,34,30,36,30,26,90,73,74,82,106,61,62,60,69,71,91,51,81,38,89,53,64,60,53,60,61,70,57,38,9,7,4,0,0,0,112,151,2344,29982,29983,29984,29985,29986]} 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. Bf4 Nf8 (12... Rxe2 $2 13. Qxe2 Bxf4 14. Qe4 $16) 13. Bxd6 Qxd6 14. Rae1 c5 $6 ({This looks like a freeing move, almost standard in many roughly similar central structures. Here, however, it doesn't serve to free anything in Black's position. It does open the position a little, but that slightly favors White, with better development, as well as giving the e2-knight a nice central outpost on d4. Also, in a long-term general sense, it's easier to defend a three versus four queenside structure than a two versus three.} 14... g6) 15. dxc5 Qxc5 16. Nd4 Be6 17. Qa4 ({With} 17. Re4 $1 g5 18. f4 {White's advantage is growing.}) 17... Bd7 18. Qb3 Be6 (18... b6) 19. Nxe6 Nxe6 20. Qa4 (20. Bc4 $14) 20... Qd6 (20... Rad8 21. Re3 Qg5 $13) 21. Re3 (21. Bb5 Red8 22. Qxh4 $14) 21... g5 22. Rd1 Qf4 23. Re4 Qc7 24. Re3 Qf4 (24... Kg7 $13) 25. Re4 Qc7 26. Bb1 Red8 27. Ree1 Rxd1 28. Qxd1 Rd8 29. Qh5 Rd2 $6 (29... Nf8) 30. Qh6 $1 Nf8 31. Bh7+ $1 (31. Qxf6 $6 Qf4 {is only a relatively small edge for White.}) 31... Kh8 32. Bc2+ $1 {This pretty bishop maneuver guards the back rank.} Kg8 33. Re8 1-0

[Event "19th Annual SPICE Cup Open"]
[Site "Seattle, WA, US"]
[Date "2025.11.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nyzhnyk, Illya"]
[Black "Vemparala, Nikash"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2544"]
[BlackElo "2193"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[GameId "2264921306624602"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.01.27"]
[WhiteTeam "UKR"]
[BlackTeam "USA"]
[WhiteClock "0:09:59"]
[BlackClock "0:01:35"]

{[%evp 0,72,25,13,13,-10,-10,2,18,18,23,23,19,18,13,22,14,-35,-27,-22,-16,-31,-34,-80,-37,-31,-41,-39,-31,-66,-55,-75,-35,-89,-93,-88,-62,-76,-58,-43,-35,-52,-52,-29,-19,-107,-73,-116,-80,-121,-59,-49,19,-10,-28,-44,-37,-69,-60,-71,-133,-98,-95,-87,-103,-83,-109,-129,-137,-243,-189,-184,0,-434,-455]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 h6 ({Rare.} 4... Be7) ({,} 4... c6 {, and about a bazillion other moves are more common. 4...h6 is understandable, though. It does no real harm, and avoids all of the lines that players might prepare involving the standard Bg5 for White.}) 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. h3 ({This one I don't get. There's an appreciable weakening of the king position, and it doesn't appear to threaten or prevent anything.} 8. b3 {makes more sense.}) 8... dxc4 9. e4 e5 {This central counter is consistent with Black's ...Nc6/...Bd6; so much so that one wonders why White allowed it. Possible was a change of structure back around move seven: 7.c5!? Be7 8.Bf4!?, perhaps.} 10. d5 $6 ({Releases tension and makes it hard for White to recover the gambit pawn. White can maintain the tension with something like} 10. Be3 {, which even makes 8.h3 look reasonable, as both ...Ng4 and ...Bg4 are discouraged.}) 10... Na5 11. Nd2 c6 12. dxc6 bxc6 13. Qe2 Be6 14. f4 Bc5+ 15. Kh2 Qd3 {Black is satisfied with a small, safe, advantage out of the opening. Very practical.} 16. Qe1 exf4 17. gxf4 Rfe8 18. e5 Bd5 19. Nxd5 Nxd5 20. Ne4 Bb4 21. Qf2 c3 22. Ng3 (22. Rg1 $13 {White's bishop-pair and activity are compensation for the pawn.}) 22... cxb2 (22... Nc4 $5 23. Be4 (23. bxc3 Bxc3 24. Be4 Qd4 25. Qxd4 Bxd4 26. Rb1) 23... cxb2 24. Bxb2 Qd2 $13) 23. Bxb2 Ne3 24. Rg1 Rad8 25. Ne4 Kf8 ({Stockfish believes Black has plenty of compensation for the exchange in the line} 25... Nac4 26. Nf6+ Kf8 27. Nxe8 Bc5 {.}) (25... Kh8 $13 {is also reasonable.}) 26. a3 (26. e6 $5) 26... Be7 27. f5 Bg5 28. Bc3 Nac4 29. Bb4+ (29. e6 {is still plausible.}) 29... Kg8 30. e6 fxe6 31. Nxg5 hxg5 32. Bxc6 exf5 33. Bxe8 Rxe8 34. Rae1 g4 35. Bc5 f4 $6 ({The engine loves Black's compensation after} 35... Re6 {.}) 36. Bxe3 $4 (36. Qxf4 $13) 36... g3+ 0-1

[Event "19th SPICE Cup Blitz"]
[Site "Seattle, WA, US"]
[Date "2025.11.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Aziz Degenbaev"]
[Black "Illia Nyzhnyk"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2393"]
[BlackElo "2608"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[GameId "2264921340089197"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]
[EventType "blitz"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.01.27"]
[WhiteClock "0:01:01"]
[BlackClock "0:00:04"]

{[%evp 0,61,25,24,54,38,79,63,55,38,30,23,55,48,47,39,32,5,58,52,44,43,33,29,38,29,10,32,32,24,25,17,13,-5,12,18,24,14,41,58,68,61,73,71,99,107,82,76,82,85,84,84,81,67,76,59,63,63,483,445,481,490,499,413]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. h3 (8. f3 {is the main move here.}) 8... h5 9. Qf3 (9. f4 $5) 9... Nbd7 10. O-O-O Rc8 11. Rg1 h4 12. g4 hxg3 13. fxg3 Be7 ({Black has a promising (even if the theme is rather well-known) exchange sacrifice here.} 13... Rxc3 $1 14. bxc3 Qc7 15. Rd3 Qc6 16. Bg2 Be7 {Black might threaten to occupy c4 with a knight (...Nb6), essentially forcing White to exchange the e3-bishop. Or, with ...Qa4, force the king to b2 and try ...Nc5, as the b3-knight would be pinned to the a2-pawn. White must wait passively for an opportunity to give back material, but those doubled, isolated pawns, not to mention the other pawn weaknesses, wiil still be there.}) 14. g4 Nh7 15. Kb1 Ng5 ({Once again,} 15... Rxc3 16. bxc3 Ng5 {looks promising.} 17. Bxg5 Bxg5 18. Rxd6 Qc7 {seems to give Black compensation for the exchange and a pawn. White might try returning some material now:} 19. Rxe6+ fxe6 20. Rh1 {, but after} Nb6 {the knight is swinging to a4.}) 16. Bxg5 Bxg5 17. Rxd6 Qc7 18. Rd1 b5 19. Bd3 g6 20. Rh1 Kf8 21. Nd5 Qa7 22. h4 Rxh4 (22... Bxh4 23. g5 (23. Ne3 Rh6 24. Rh2 Bg5 25. Rxh6 Bxh6 $13) 23... Kg7 24. Ne7 Bxg5 (24... Rce8 25. Nf5+ gxf5 26. exf5 {with favorable complications for White:} Bxb3 27. f6+ Kf8 28. axb3 Qb6 29. Qg4 Nxf6 30. Qb4+ Kg7 31. gxf6+ Qxf6 32. Rdf1 Qd8 33. Qg4+ {and the black king is in jeopardy. In fact, Stockfish now thinks} Bg5 34. Bh7 $1 {is best, and White is winning.}) 25. Nxc8 Rxc8 {. One of these exchange sacrifices is not like the others... Black doesn't have quite enough for the material.}) 23. Rxh4 Bxh4 24. Rh1 g5 25. Rf1 Kg7 26. Nf6 Rf8 27. Nxd7 Qxd7 28. Qf6+ Kh7 $4 ({Black cracks. Necessary was} 28... Kg8 29. Nc5 (29. Qxe5 {is also possible.}) 29... Qd6 30. Nxe6 Qxe6 31. b4 {White is still better, but perhaps not yet winning.}) 29. Nc5 Qd8 30. Nxe6 Qxf6 31. Nxf8+ 1-0

[Event "19th SPICE Cup Rapid Championship"]
[Site "Seattle, WA, US"]
[Date "2025.11.24"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Willy, Stephen"]
[Black "Porter, Ryan W"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2246"]
[BlackElo "2200"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[GameId "2264921378919362"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]
[EventType "rapid"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.01.27"]
[WhiteTeam "USA"]
[BlackTeam "USA"]
[WhiteClock "0:00:46"]
[BlackClock "0:02:16"]

{[%evp 0,65,25,24,71,61,62,64,92,82,90,45,62,52,59,28,48,27,31,16,45,42,39,39,46,30,43,35,34,29,155,150,150,36,71,14,25,-6,25,41,41,38,40,39,124,0,105,112,152,162,170,142,126,122,163,185,193,183,250,187,291,296,223,142,214,219,621,643]} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 a6 5. f3 b5 6. h4 h5 7. Qd2 Nbd7 8. Nh3 Bb7 9. Ng5 c5 10. dxc5 dxc5 11. O-O-O e6 12. Ne2 ({I like the maneuver of the knight to f4, but White could also consider} 12. e5 $5 Nd5 (12... Nxe5 13. Qxd8+ Rxd8 14. Rxd8+ Kxd8 15. f4 ({Or} 15. Bf4 Nfd7 16. Bxe5 Nxe5 17. f4 Bg7 18. fxe5 Ke7 19. Nce4 $16) 15... Neg4 16. Nxf7+ Ke8 17. Nxh8 Nxe3 18. Nxg6 $16) 13. Nge4 Be7 (13... Nxe5 14. Bxc5 $14) (13... Nxc3 $4 14. Qxd7+ Qxd7 15. Nf6+ Kd8 16. Rxd7+ Kc8 17. bxc3 $18) 14. Bg5 Nxe5 15. Nxc5 $14) 12... Qb6 13. Nf4 Bg7 14. g3 Rd8 $6 (14... O-O) 15. Bh3 O-O (15... e5 16. Nfe6 fxe6 17. Nxe6 $16 {forking d8, g7, and c5. One weird example continuation:} Bf8 18. Bg5 $1 Rb8 (18... Be7 19. Nxd8 Qxd8 20. Bxf6 Nxf6 21. Qg5) 19. Nxf8 Nxf8 20. Qc3 $1 N6d7 21. Rxd7 Nxd7 22. Rd1 $18 {White, despite being down a rook, breaks through on e5.}) 16. Qf2 ({After all that build-up, why not make the breakthrough on e6?} 16. Nfxe6 $1 fxe6 17. Nxe6 (17. Qd6 Qxd6 18. Rxd6 Ne5 19. Bxe6+) 17... Rde8 18. Nxf8 ({Also} 18. Nxg7 Re7 (18... Kxg7 $2 19. Bxd7 Rd8 20. Bh6+ $18) 19. Bh6 (19. Nxh5 gxh5 20. Qd6 Qxd6 21. Rxd6 {is interesting.}) 19... Rff7 20. Qg5 $16 Rxg7 21. Bxg7 Rxg7 22. e5 Nh7 23. Qe3 Ndf8 24. Rd6 $16) 18... Nxf8 19. Qd6 $16 {White gets rook and two important pawns for the two minors. Black's pieces are suffering a bit of a traffic jam, and White's rooks look active and powerful.}) 16... Qc6 (16... Rfe8 {is an attempt to reinforce e6.}) 17. Qd2 $2 ({As this doesn't seem a likely position for an offer to draw by repetition, perhaps White wanted to journey one move into the past and revisit the sacrifice on e6? In any case, there was no need to reposition the queen for that, as even here} 17. Nfxe6 $1 fxe6 18. Bxe6+ Kh8 19. Bf4 {seems excellent compensation for the piece.}) 17... Rfe8 18. Qd6 Bf8 (18... Qxd6 19. Rxd6 Bf8 {and Black has equalized.}) 19. Qxc6 Bxc6 20. Nfxe6 $1 fxe6 21. Nxe6 Rb8 (21... Rxe6 22. Bxe6+ Kh7 23. Bf4 $14) 22. Bf4 (22. Nxf8 $1 Rxf8 (22... Nxf8 23. Rd6 Nxe4 24. fxe4 Bxe4 25. Rf1 $16) 23. Rd6 Rb6 24. Rhd1 $16) 22... Rb7 (22... Be7 23. Nc7 (23. Bxb8 Rxb8 24. Ng5 $13) 23... Rf8 24. Bd6 Bxd6 25. Rxd6 Ne5 $13 {Possibly the complications slightly favor White.}) 23. Nxf8 Rxf8 24. Rd6 Nb8 25. Bh6 Rff7 26. Be6 Kh7 $6 (26... Bd7 27. Bxf7+ Kxf7 28. Be3 $14) 27. Bxf7 Rxf7 28. Bf4 Bb7 29. e5 Nd5 (29... Bxf3 30. e6 Re7 31. Rf1 Bg4 (31... Bg2 32. Rf2 Ne4 33. Rxg2 Nxd6 34. Bxd6 Rxe6 (34... Re8 35. Rf2) 35. Bxb8 $18) 32. Bg5 $18) 30. e6 Rf8 31. Be5 (31. Bg5) 31... Re8 (31... Ne7 32. Rhd1 Kg8 33. Rd7 Nxd7 34. Rxd7 Nc6 35. Bd6 $16) 32. Rd1 Ne3 33. Rd8 1-0

[Event "19th Annual SPICE Cup Open"]
[Site "Seattle, WA, US"]
[Date "2025.11.21"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Corrales Jimenez, Fidel"]
[Black "Belous, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2519"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[GameId "2264921307046546"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.01.27"]
[WhiteTeam "USA"]
[BlackTeam "RUS"]
[WhiteClock "0:08:53"]
[BlackClock "0:10:04"]

{[%evp 0,95,30,30,45,44,52,39,31,40,60,43,77,72,87,61,70,38,43,31,80,48,50,45,59,67,76,62,62,81,45,42,46,52,58,72,64,47,79,31,62,56,64,37,41,47,17,19,6,14,14,20,20,18,18,0,59,67,59,59,84,-125,-126,-106,-95,-92,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,-25,227,215,269,278,286,285,290,278,298,282,327,344,383,383,387,383,383,387,493,493,493,493,29999,29999]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Bb4 9. f3 b5 ({It's fairly rare to play ...b5 this early. Far more often seen are the lines} 9... Ne5 10. Nb3 b5) ({and} 9... O-O 10. g4 b5 {.}) 10. Nxc6 Qxc6 11. Bd4 Be7 12. e5 $5 ({Introducing a significant change in the pawn structure. White could instead choose to begin kingside play with} 12. g4 {.}) 12... Nd5 13. Nxd5 Qxd5 14. Kb1 Bb7 15. Qe3 Bc5 16. Bc4 $1 ({A flashy way to force the exchange of minor pieces on White's terms. After a more quiet developing move, such as} 16. Be2 {,} Rc8 {makes} 17. Bxc5 $2 {unattractive.} Qxc5 $15 {leaves White with the worse bishop, multiple targets, and less coordinated forces. White has trouble hanging on to material here. For example:} 18. Qxc5 $2 Rxc5 19. f4 Bxg2 20. Rhg1 Be4 $17) ({White isn't forced to find 16.Bc4, though. In the line above, White can decline to capture 17.Bxc5, preferring 17.c3, perhaps, with a slight edge. The alternative} 16. h4 {here is also fine, gaining kingside space.} Rc8 17. h5 {starts to look positionally dangerous for Black.}) 16... Bxd4 17. Rxd4 Qc5 18. Bd3 Rc8 19. h4 Bd5 20. h5 h6 21. Rd1 O-O 22. c3 d6 23. f4 (23. exd6 Qxd6 (23... e5 24. d7 Rcd8 (24... Rc7 $4 25. Rxd5 Qxe3 26. d8=Q $18) 25. Re4 Qxe3 26. Rxe3 Rxd7 27. Rxe5 Rfd8 28. Re3 {and White may be able to drag a tiny plus into the endgame.}) 24. Bc2 $14) 23... Rfd8 (23... dxe5 24. fxe5 f5 25. exf6 Rxf6 $14) 24. g4 dxe5 25. fxe5 Qe7 26. Bc2 Qg5 27. Qd3 (27. Qxg5 hxg5 28. Bb3 Kf8 29. Bxd5 Rxd5 30. Rxd5 exd5 31. Rxd5 Ke7 {The proximity of the black king to the kingside pawns makes the extra white pawn of little value.}) 27... Qxe5 28. Rf1 Kf8 29. Qg6 Qc7 (29... Rd7 30. Rdf4 Rcc7 $13 {defends.}) 30. Qh7 (30. g5 $5 {can lead to serious complications, requiring evaluation of some pawn-down endings. Also some rook-down positions. Not easy.} Bxa2+ $1 31. Kc1 $1 (31. Kxa2 $6 Rxd4 32. gxh6 Qc4+ 33. Bb3 Qxf1 34. Qxg7+ Ke7 35. Qxd4 $13) (31. Ka1 Rxd4 32. gxh6 gxh6 33. Qxh6+ Ke8 34. Qh8+ Ke7 35. Qf6+ Ke8 36. h6 $13 {, likely favoring White.}) 31... Rxd4 32. gxh6 $1 gxh6 33. Qxh6+ Ke7 34. Qf6+ Kd6 35. Qxd4+ Bd5 36. h6 {and despite being down material, White's remote passed pawn combined with the less safe situation of the black king likely favors White.}) 30... Bxa2+ 31. Kxa2 Rxd4 32. Bb3 Rc4 $6 (32... Ra4+ 33. Bxa4 bxa4 34. Ka1 Qc4 35. Rf2 Qxg4 36. Qh8+ Ke7 37. Rxf7+ Kxf7 38. Qxc8 Qxh5 $15 {It isn't certain that Black has actual chances, but at least it's clear that White can't win.}) 33. g5 hxg5 34. Qh8+ Ke7 35. Qxg7 Rf8 36. h6 Re4 $2 ({Stockfish claims} 36... Qc5 {has better chances to save the game.}) 37. h7 Qe5 38. Rxf7+ $1 Rxf7 39. Qxe5 Rxe5 40. h8=Q Re2 41. Qh6 Rff2 42. Qxg5+ Kd7 43. Qg7+ Kc6 44. Qa7 Rxb2+ 45. Ka3 Rbe2 46. Qxa6+ Kc5 47. Qb7 e5 $2 (47... Kd6 48. Qxb5 Ke7 49. Bc4 $18) 48. Qc7# 1-0

