Big Announcement from Wisconsin Chess Association President Mike Nietman

To all:

Earlier this evening I received a phone call from USCF Executive Director Bill Hall and National Event Director Pat Knight Smith who told me that Bill had just signed a contract with the Madison Marriott West in Middleton (just off the Beltline at Greenway Blvd.) to host the 2013 US Open Chess Championships!!

The event will be held Saturday, July 27 – Sunday, August 4 and is a nine round event.  Traditionally there have been at least three schedules to choose from.  The Traditional schedule is one round per night at 7 or 7:30 pm for nine days except the last round which is usually at 3 pm on the last Sunday.  The Six Day schedule starts Tuesday and plays two rounds Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to catch up.  Both the Traditional and Six Day time controls are 40/120 SD/1.  The third schedule is the Four Day which starts on Thursday and plays six rounds of G/60.  All sections merge Friday night for the last three rounds at 40/120 SD/60.

In addition to the main event, there are day tournaments, the US Open Blitz Championship, a Fischer 960 (Random) tournament, USCF Sales bookstore, workshops and lots more!  Two very prestigious invitational events take place at the US Open as well.   They are the Grandmaster Arnold Denker Tournament of High School State Champions and the Dewain Barber Tournament of K-8 State Champions.  As the host state, we will be allowed to enter a second participant in these events in the event there is an uneven number. 

Room rates at the Marriott will be $99 but you may have up to four in a room.  About a dozen restaurants in all price ranges are within a ten minute walk as Greenway Station is renowned for its eating and shopping culture.

The US Open was last held in Wisconsin in 1953 or 1954 in Milwaukee.

In 2006 the Wisconsin scholastic chess community turned out in large numbers for the National High School Championships.  Now it is everyone’s turn to show the national chess crowd that we can support a large open, national event!

Much more later!

Thanks,

Mike

Championship Summary/Chess in the Fall

Area Chess Club Finishes 1st Annual Club Championship

The River Valley Community Chess Association (RVCCA) finished up their first annual club championship recently. The club, formed three summers ago by high school friends looking to bring chess into the local community, has grown greatly since its initiation. The club championship was divided into two levels: Scholastic (16 and under) and Regular. The championship was open to all chess players in the lower WI river valley area that were members of the club. The format was a double round robin played over several weeks, allowing all participants to play each other twice, once as each color. 1^st prize for the scholastic champion was a laser engraved crystal trophy, while the 1^st prize for the regular club champion was a walnut decade traveling trophy.

RVCCA Club Championship 2011 – Regular

1^st Place: Mike Rohe (Arena)

2^nd Place: Taylor Scott (Arena)

3^rd Place: Mike Wittje (Dodgeville)

Mike Rohe - RVCCA Club Champion 2011

RVCCA Club Championship 2011 – Scholastic

1^st Place: Jake Anders (Spring Green)

2^nd Place: Noah Hamblen (Spring Green)

3^rd Place: David Young (Cross Plains)

Jake Anders - RVCCA Scholastic Champion 2011

The club is next rebooting their weekend meetings during the school year. Starting September 10^th the club will be meeting at the Spring Green Library community room from 9:30am-12:30pm every Saturday for community/scholastic oriented meetings. Tentative schedules for those meetings call for skittles (fun) games, lessons, puzzles, and competitive games. With a beginner/refresher lecture at the same time September 17^th.

Starting September 17^th the club will also be holding Adult oriented chess meetings at local cafés from 12:30-4:00+pm every Saturday; starting with Arcadia Books, and an Adult refresher/beginner’s lecture at the same time.

Questions/RVCCA Newsletter: ContactRVCCA@gmail.com

More Information/Upcoming Meetings: www.rvchess.blogspot.com

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

 

1st Annual 
River Valley Community Chess Association (RVCCA)
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

Non-Rated Double Round Robin 
Regular: GAME/60 +5 
Scholastic: GAME/45 +5

________________________________________________________________

Restrictions:
Must  live in the vicinity of one of the following towns: Arena,  Avoca, Black Earth, Cross Plains, Dodgeville, Lone  Rock, Mineral Point, Mazomanie, Muscoda, Plain,  Prairie du Sac, Richland  Center, Sauk City or Spring Green; and be a member of the River Valley Community Chess Association (RVCCA): Memberships.

 
Location:

Tuesdays and Thursdays (and other posted days): Arcadia Books

101 East Jefferson Street, Spring Green, WI

5PM 
*Regular Section* and *Scholastic Section*
 
*Spectators are Welcome! Regular club and informal games may be played during these times.*

ALL GAMES MUST BE COMPLETED BY: AUGUST 25TH

Prizes: 
Regular 
- RVCCA Club Champion Decade Traveling Trophy

Scholastic 
- RVCCA Scholastic Club Champion Laser-Engraved Crystal Trophy and runner-up medal

Questions: contactrvcca@gmail.com
Tournament Director: USCF Certified Club TD Taylor Scott
________________________________________________________________


REGULAR SECTION  -  WALL CHART AND PAIRINGS

REGULAR SECTION -  CURRENT STANDINGS

________________________________________________________________


SCHOLASTIC SECTION -  FINAL STANDINGS

________________________________________________________________

Game of the Week: Club Championship

T.Scott–M.Wittje

RVCCA Championship Game

Arcadia Books and Café, Spring Green, WI.

August 17th, 2011

Time Control: G/60 +5

[English opening (A13) |>| Nimzo-Indian: Leningrad Variation (E30)]

1.c4

English opening (A13)

1…e6 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.d4 d5

What started out as an English Opening transposed into a Queen's Gambit Declined.

4.Bg5 h6 5.Bh4

Possibly better was Bxf6.  If Black recaptured with his queen, White could win the d-pawn; if Black recaptured with the g-pawn, then he'd have doubled pawns (although this may not be too bad for Black, especially if he were to castle queenside vs White castling kingside).

5…Bb4

Transposes into a variation of E30: Nimzo-Indian: Leningrad Variation

6.Qd2

e3 protecting the c-pawn is stronger; White would be OK trading his knight for bishop, even though doubling his pawns.

6…c5=/+ 7.e4?

[Better is: 7.e3=/+ and White could well hope to play on]
Loses a pawn...

7...g5-+ 8.e5??

[shortens the misery for White]

[Better is: 8.exd5 gxh4 9.a3 cxd4 10.Qxd4 Bxc3+ 11.Qxc3 exd5 12.Nf3-+ ]
Now loses a piece...

8...Ne4

[8...gxh4?! is clearly worse 9.exf6 cxd4 10.Qxd4-+ ]

9.Qf4

[9.Qc2 does not save the day 9...Qa5 10.0-0-0 Bxc3-+ (10...gxh4?! is no comparison 11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.a3 Bxa3 13.bxa3-+ ) ]

Allows trading of queens & loss of a pawn (or 2?), in addition to losing a piece.

White resigns to the fact that the bishop is gone and tries for a startling move and damage control.

9...gxh4

[Better is: 9...Nxc3 and Black can celebrate victory 10.a3 Ba5 (10...gxf4?! is easily refuted 11.Bxd8 Nc6 12.axb4 Nxb4 13.bxc3 Nc2+ 14.Kd1 Nxa1 15.Bf6-/+ ; 10...gxh4?! is a bad alternative 11.axb4 Ne4 12.f3-+) 11.bxc3 Bxc3+ 12.Ke2 Bxa1-+ ]

10.a3 Bxc3+

[10...Ba5!? makes it even easier for Black 11.b4 cxb4 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Qxe4 bxa3+ 14.Kd1-+ ]

11.bxc3 Nxc3

[11...Qa5 and Black can already relax 12.Ne2 cxd4 13.cxd5 exd5 14.f3-+ ]

12.dxc5 Qa5 13.Nf3

[13.Qd2 doesn't change the outcome of the game 13...d4-+ ]

13...Ne4+

If Black wanted to attack White's king, he'd be better off developing his queenside pieces prior to embarking on checks that are easily parried.

14.Nd2 Qc3

[Better is: 14...Nc6 might be the shorter path 15.Rd1 Nc3 16.cxd5 exd5-+ ]
The previous check would have made more sense if Black intended to trade queens & knights (which he could enforce and would be a good idea, since he's ahead a piece).

15.Ra2

[15.Rd1-+ otherwise it's curtains at once]
This move loses the rook via Qc1+ 16. Ke2 Nd3+ forking king & rook.  Better was Rd1, protecting the knight and keeping Black from trading off pieces.

15...Nxc5

[Better is: 15...Qc1+ keeps an even firmer grip 16.Ke2 Nc3+ 17.Kf3 Qd1+ 18.Ke3 Nc6-+ ]
Black missed the tactic & settled for grabbing a pawn.  He still had a winning position though.

16.Be2

[16.Qf3 cannot change what is in store for ? 16...Qxe5+ 17.Qe3 Qxe3+ 18.fxe3 b6 19.cxd5 exd5-+ ]
This move loses the queen via Qc1+ 17. Bd1 Nd3+ forking king & queen.

16...Nd3+

[Better is: 16...Qc1+ makes sure everything is clear 17.Bd1 Nd3+ 18.Ke2 Nxf4+ 19.Ke1 Nc6-+ ]
Black again missed a knight fork, but trading pieces retained his winning edge.

17.Bxd3 Qxd3

[17...Qc1+ makes it even easier for Black 18.Ke2 Qxh1 19.Rc2-+ ]

18.Qg4

[18.cxd5 does not improve anything 18...exd5 19.Qxh4 Rg8 20.Qxh6 Nc6-+ ]

18...dxc4

[Better is: 18...Nc6-+ seems even better]

19.Qg7

[19.Qxc4 what else? 19...Qxc4 20.Nxc4-+ ]

19...Rf8 20.Qxh6 c3 21.Qg5

[21.Qxh4 is no salvation 21...Nc6 22.Qg3 cxd2+ 23.Rxd2 Qe4+ 24.Kf1 Qb1+ 25.Ke2 Qb5+ 26.Qd3 Qxe5+ 27.Qe3 Qh5+ 28.Qf3 Qh4-+ ]
White sets a desperation trap...

 21...cxd2+

Black's greed loses his queen, since Rxd2 pins the queen to d8, a checkmate square.

22.Rxd2 Qc3???

[Better is: 22...Qe4+ and Black has prevailed 23.Qe3 Qxg2-+ ]
Loses instantly.  Black would still have been in the game with a +2 material advantage if he had traded queen for rook, instead of moving the queen out of the way.
 
23.Qd8#

White Mates

1-0

Black outplayed White for most of the game, but committed a few vital sins (notably leaving his king exposed and not developing his queenside pieces) & then made a couple of major blunders that allowed White to swindle the win.

[Analysis by tChess and Deep Rybka 4.1 ]

Annotation by Taylor Scott and Mike Rohe

 DOWNLOAD .PGN 

Games of the Week: Club Championship

J.Anders–D.Young

RVCCA Scholastic Club Championship Game

Arcadia Books and Café, Spring Green, WI.

August 11th, 2011

Time Control: G/45 +5

[KP (B00), Nimzovich defence]

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3

[KP (B00), Nimzovich defence]

2…e5 3.Nc3 a6 4.d3 d6 5.Bg5 Nce7 6.d4 d5 7.Nxe5 Nf6 8.Be2 dxe4 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Bh5 Nc6 11.Bxf7+ Ke7 12.Qg4 Bxg4 13.Nxg4

[13.Nd5+ cannot change destiny 13...Kd6 14.Nxg4 f5-+ ]

13...Nxd4

[Better is: 13...Kxf7 keeps an even firmer grip 14.d5 Nb4 15.Ne3-+ ]

14.Bc4

[14.Bb3 otherwise it's curtains at once 14...Nxb3 15.axb3-+ ]

14...Nxc2+ 15.Kf1

Actual move played was 15.d1, an illegal move. Available moves are 15.Ke2 and 15.Kf1. 15.Kf1 is played here in lieu of the illegal move (does not affect play).

 

15...Nxa1 16.Ke2 Nb3!  
[Mate threat]

17.axb3

[17.axb3 c6 Combination; 17.Bxb3 Qd3+ 18.Ke1 Kd8 Combination; With the idea: 17.-- Qd2+ Mate threat]

17...a5

[Better is: 17...f5 secures the point 18.Rd1 Qb8 19.Nd5+ Kd8 20.Nde3+ Bd6 21.Nxf5-+ ]

18.Nd5+

[18.Rd1 doesn't do any good 18...Qb8 19.Nd5+ Kd8 20.Ndxf6+ Bd6 21.Nxe4 Ke7-+ ]

18...Ke8

[18...Kd6 keeps an even firmer grip 19.Rd1 Kc6 20.Ndxf6-+ ]

19.Ngxf6+

[19.Ndxf6+ is still a small chance 19...Ke7 20.Rd1 Qxd1+ 21.Kxd1 Rd8+ 22.Ke2-+ ]

19...Kf7 20.Nxe4

[20.Rd1 doesn't change anything anymore 20...Kg7 21.Nf4 Qc8-+ ]

20...a4

[20...b5 21.Bxb5 Bh6 22.Ndf6-+ ]

21.Ng5+

[21.Nxc7+ cannot change what is in store for ? 21...Kg6 22.Nxa8 Qxa8 23.bxa4 Qxa4-+ ]

21...Ke8

[21...Qxg5 22.Nxc7+ Kg6 23.Nxa8 Qg4+ 24.Kd3 Qf5+ 25.Kc3 Bg7+ 26.Kb4 Rxa8 27.Ka3 Qc5+ 28.Ka2 axb3+ 29.Kxb3 Qb6+ 30.Kc2 Qxf2+ 31.Kd3 Rd8+ 32.Bd5 Rxd5+ 33.Kc4 Qc2+ 34.Kxd5 Qc6# ] 

22.Ne4

[22.Ne6 doesn't improve anything 22...Qc8 23.Ndxc7+ Kd7 24.Rd1+ Bd6 25.Nxa8 Qxa8-+ ]

22...a3

[Better is: 22...Bg7 seems even better 23.Rd1 Qb8 24.bxa4-+ ]

23.g4

[23.Rd1 doesn't change the outcome of the game 23...Bd6 24.bxa3 Rxa3 25.Nxc7+ Qxc7 26.Rxd6 Ra2+ 27.Ke3 Qa5-+ ]

23...a2

[Better is: 23...axb2 might be the shorter path 24.Rd1 Bd6 25.g5-+ ]

24.g5 Bg7

[Better is: 24...a1Q keeps an even firmer grip 25.Nef6+ Kf7 26.Nxc7+ Ke7 27.Ncd5+ Kd6 28.Rxa1 Rxa1 29.Kf3-+ ]

25.Ra1 Bxb2 26.Rxa2 Rxa2 27.Ke3 Bg7 28.h4 Ra5 29.f4 Rxd5 30.Bxd5 Qxd5 31.h5 Bd4+

[31...Qd4+ 32.Kf3 Qd3+ 33.Kg2 Qxe4+ 34.Kh3 Qf3+ 35.Kh2 Qxf4+ 36.Kh3 Qf3+ 37.Kh2 Rf8 38.h6 Be5+ 39.Kg1 Qf1# ] 

32.Kf3 Bg7 33.h6 Bf8 34.Ke3 Qxb3+ 35.Kd4 Qb6+ 36.Ke5 c6

[36...Bd6+ 37.Kd5 Qb3+ 38.Kd4 c5+ 39.Nxc5 Qb4+ 40.Kd3 Qxc5 41.g6 hxg6 42.Ke4 Qc4+ 43.Ke3 Rxh6 44.Kf2 Qe4 45.Kg3 Qxf4+ 46.Kg2 Rh1 47.Kxh1 Qh2# ] 

37.Nf6+ Kf7 38.Nd7 Qc7+

[38...Qe3+ 39.Kf5 Qe6# ]

39.Kf5 Qxd7+ 40.Ke4 b5

[40...Qd5+ 41.Ke3 Bc5+ 42.Ke2 Re8+ 43.Kf1 Qf3# ]

41.f5 b4 42.g6+ Ke8

[42...hxg6 43.fxg6+ Kxg6 44.Ke3 Bxh6+ 45.Kf2 Qg4 46.Kf1 Be3 47.Ke1 Rh1# ]

43.g7 b3

[43...Qd5+ 44.Kf4 Bd6+ 45.Kg5 Qd2+ 46.Kh5 Qh2+ 47.Kg4 Qf4+ 48.Kh5 Qf3+ 49.Kg5 Be7+ 50.f6 Bxf6# ]

44.gxh8Q b2!

Mate threat

45.Qe5+

[45.Qxb2 Qd5+ 46.Ke3 (46.Kf4 Qc4+ Double attack (46...Bd6+ Deflection; 46...Bxh6+ Zwischenzug) ) 46...Qc5+ Double attack (46...Qxf5 Deflection; 46...Bxh6+ Zwischenzug) ; With the idea: 45.-- b1Q+ Mate threat]

45...Kd8

[45...Qe7 46.Kd4 b1Q 47.Qe6 Qd1+ 48.Kc3 Qxe6 49.fxe6 Bc5 50.e7 Kxe7 51.Kb2 Bb4 52.Ka2 Qc2+ 53.Ka1 Bc3# ]

46.Qf6+

[46.Qb8+ doesn't get the bull off the ice 46...Ke7 47.f6+ Kf7 48.Qxb2 Qd5+ 49.Kf4 Bxh6+ 50.Kg4 Qe4+ 51.Kg3 Bf4+ 52.Kf2 Qe3+ 53.Kg2 Qg3+ 54.Kf1 Qh3+ 55.Qg2 Qxg2+ 56.Kxg2 Kxf6-+ ]

46...Be7

[46...Qe7+ 47.Qxe7+ Bxe7 48.f6 b1Q+ 49.Ke3 Bxf6 50.Ke2 Qe4+ 51.Kf2 Be5 52.Kf1 Qc2 53.Ke1 Bg3+ 54.Kf1 Qf2# ]

47.Qh8+

[47.Qxb2 hoping against hope 47...Qd5+ 48.Kf4 Qd6+ 49.Ke4 Qxh6 50.Qb8+ Kd7 51.Qa7+ Ke8 52.Qa5-+ ]

47...Kc7

[Better is: 47...Qe8 secures the win 48.Qxe8+ Kxe8-+ ]

48.Qxb2 Qe6+

[48...Qd5+ 49.Kf4 Qc4+ 50.Kf3 Qd3+ 51.Kg2 Qe4+ 52.Kg1 Bc5+ 53.Kh2 Qh4+ 54.Kg2 Qg4+ 55.Kf1 Qg1+ 56.Ke2 Qf2+ 57.Kd3 Qxb2-+ ]

49.fxe6+- Bd8 50.Qa3

[50.Qg7+!? might be the shorter path 50...Kb8 51.Qxh7 Bh4+- ]

50...Kb6 51.e7 Bxe7 52.Qxe7

Black tries to resign in acceptance that he cannot win; he is persuaded to try for a stalemate. 

52...c5 53.Qxh7 c4 54.Kd4 Kb5 55.Qb7+ Ka5 56.h7

[56.Kxc4 Ka4 57.Qb4# ]

56...Ka4

Black incorrectly makes two moves in a row after some kibitzing and moves 56(2)...a3. This move is omitted as it does not change play. 

57.h8=Q c3 58.Qha8#   
White Mates
1-0

[Analysis by tChess and Deep Rybka 4.1 ]

Annotation by Taylor Scott 

J.Anders–D.Young - RVCCA Scholastic Club Championship - 11.8.11 - 1-0

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_________________________________________________________ 

M.Rohe–T.Scott

RVCCA Championship Game

Arcadia Books and Café, Spring Green, WI.

August 4th, 2011

Time Control: G/60 +5

[Dutch (A80)]

 

1.d4 f5

[Dutch (A80)]

The Dutch Defense surprised White, who was expecting the Queen's Gambit Accepted from Black.  White had never faced this defense before & neither had he studied it.  Kudos to Black for coming up with an unexpected opening; throwing White off his game.

2.e3 e6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bd3 b6 6.Qf3 Nc6= 7.d5

[White threatens to win material: d5xc6 {7.Qd1 Bb7 8.Nf3 Nb4=}]

Not a strong move, and not in line with the style White usually plays.  Although it seems to be aggressive, it actually leads White into a passive position.

7...Nb4

[Black threatens to win material: Nb4xd3 {7...Ne5 8.Qe2=/+}]

8.Bb1= Bb7 9.a3

[White threatens to win material: a3xb4 ]

9...Na6 10.Qe2

[10.b4= ]
White was looking at a potential tactic on the knight on a6, but it would have been better to simply develop.

10...c5

[10...Nc5!? might be a viable alternative 11.Qd1 0-0=/+ ]

11.dxc6

[11.Nf3 exd5 12.Bxf5 Nc7+/= ]

11...Bxc6= 12.Nf3 0-0 13.0-0 Nc5 14.Bc2 Nfe4 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Ne5

Nd4 may have been the better square to attack the bishop from.

16…Rc8

The bishop was a strong piece, so Black likely would have been better off moving at back rather than allow White to exchange it.

17.Nxc6 Rxc6 [White has the pair of bishops]

18.Qf3

[18.Ba4!? Rc7 19.Bb3= ]
White goes into a funk and plays several inferior moves over the next sequence.  f3 driving away the knight is stronger and keeps the game relatively even.

 18...Rxc4 19.b3??

[Better is: 19.Bd3 is the best chance 19...Ng5 20.Qe2=/+ ]

Blundering a piece.  Qe2, protecting the bishop; attacking the rook was a better move here.  As stated above, White should never have moved the queen from e2 in the first place.

19...Rxc2-+ 20.Qd1 Bf6

[Better is: 20...Qc7 and Black can already relax 21.f3 Nf6 22.Bd2-+ ]

21.Rb1

[21.Qxc2 cannot change what is in store for ? 21...Bxa1 22.f3 Nc3-+ ]

21...Rc6

[Better is: 21...Ra2 might be the shorter path 22.Qd3 Be5 23.f4-+ ]

Being down in material, White did not want to trade off pieces, but that was a mistake in this situation.

22.b4

[22.Bb2-+ what else?]

Another blunder, as this allows a knight fork; black the loss of the exchange (rook for knight). 
 

22...Nc3 23.Qc2

[23.Qd3 doesn't change the outcome of the game 23...Nxb1 24.b5 Rc5 25.Qxb1 Qb8-+ ]

23...Nxb1 24.Qxb1 Be5

[24...Qc7 keeps an even firmer grip 25.Bd2 Rc2 26.Be1-+ ]

25.Re1

[25.Bb2 is no salvation 25...Bxb2 26.Qxb2 Qc7-+ ]

Although White does not want to exchange pieces, he should again strongly consider Bb2, since his dark squared bishop is a weak piece, and Black's counterpart is stronger.

25...Qh4

[Better is: 25...Qc7!? seems even better 26.Bd2 Bxh2+ 27.Kf1-+ ]

26.g3 Qh3

The next several moves feature a lot maneuvering - Black looks to bring an attack on White's king & White first tries to set up defense; then tries to create counterplay.

 27.Qd3

[27.Bb2 doesn't get the cat off the tree 27...Bxb2 28.Qxb2 Rfc8-+ ]

27...d5

[Better is: 27...Rfc8 secures the point 28.Qd1 Rxc1 29.Qxc1 Rxc1 30.Rxc1-+ ]

28.f4

[28.Bd2 doesn't change anything anymore 28...Rfc8-+ ]

28...Bc3 29.Rf1

[29.b5 does not improve anything 29...Rc5 30.Qf1 Qg4-+ ]

29...Rf6

[29...Rfc8 30.Qd1 Bxb4 31.axb4 Qxf1+ 32.Kxf1 Rxc1 33.Qxc1 Rxc1+ 34.Ke2 a5 35.bxa5 bxa5 36.e4 fxe4 37.f5 Rc8 38.fxe6 a4 39.Ke3 a3 40.e7 a2 41.Kf4 a1Q 42.Kg4 Qf6 43.Kh3 Qf5+ 44.Kh4 g5+ 45.Kh5 Re8 46.h4 g4+ 47.Kh6 Qg6# ]

30.Qe2 d4 31.Qb5

[31.b5 doesn't do any good 31...Rc5-+ ]

31...Rh6 32.Rf2 Rc8 33.Qd7

[33.Rc2 a fruitless try to alter the course of the game 33...Qh5 34.Qf1 Rd8-+ ]

33...Rf8

White has successfully achieved getting his queen to a threatening position.  Black still has a lot of pieces around White's king, but White is secure for the time being.

34.exd4

[34.Qc6 cannot change destiny 34...Qh5 35.h4 Rg6-+ ]

34...Be1 35.Rg2 Bxg3!

[Decoy: g3 ]

36.Kf1

[36.Rxg3 Qxh2+ Decoy Double attack; 36.hxg3 Qh1+ Skewer; With the idea: 36.-- Bxh2+ Wins material]

White sets a desperation trap and prays for a major oversight.

36...Bxh2

[36...Qh5 37.hxg3 Qh1+ 38.Kf2 Qxc1 39.Kf3 Qc3+ 40.Kf2 Rc8 41.Qxc8+ Qxc8 42.d5 Rh1 43.Rg1 Qc2+ 44.Ke3 Rxg1 45.Kd4 Rd1+ 46.Ke5 Rxd5+ 47.Kxe6 Qe4# ]
White's prayers are answered... Black was up by +8 (by tChess analysis) before this move & appeared to have the game well in hand.

37.Qxg7#

White Mates

1-0

 

Black had significantly outplayed White for most of this game, but his only blunder lost the game instantly.

[Analysis by tChess and Deep Rybka 4.1 ]

Annotation by Taylor Scott and Mike Rohe


DOWNLOAD .PGN 

Game of the Week: Club Championship

M.Wittje–T.Scott

RVCCA Championship Game

Arcadia Books and Café, Spring Green, WI.

July 28th, 2011

Time Control: G/60 +5

[Closed Sicilian (B23)]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6
Sicilian (B23), closed, 2...Nc6

 3. a3 b6 4. Bc4 e5 
[4...Nf6 5.Nf3+/- ]

5. Qf3
White sets up for an easy win with 6.Qxf7. Needless to stay, it is noticed
[Better is: 5.Nf3!?+- ]

5...Nf6+/= 6. d3
[6.Nge2 Nd4 7.Nxd4 cxd4+/= ]
 
6...g6 
 [6...Nd4 7.Qd1 b5 8.Bxb5 Qa5+/- ]

7. Bg5 Bg7??

White wins a piece with Nd5, attacking the pinned knight a 3rd time.

[the position is going down the drain {7...Be7 8.Nge2 0-0+/-}]

8. Bxf6?

White misses the opportunity to win a piece, and takes a trade instead.
[Better is: 8.Nd5 nails it down 8...Nd4 9.Nxf6+ Bxf6 10.Qxf6 Qxf6 11.Bxf6+- ]

8... Bxf6+/=
[Black has the pair of bishops]

9. Bd5
[>=9.Nge2!?+/= has some apparent merit]
 
9...Nd4 

[Black threatens to win material: Nd4xf3]

10. Qd1 Rb8 11. Nf3 Bb7
[11...0-0 12.0-0= ]
 
12. Ba2

White chooses to retain the bishop on a strong diagonal vs trading bishops and then playing Nd5, giving the knight a strong, lasting outpost.
[Better is: 12.Bxb7!? Rxb7 13.Nxd4 cxd4 14.Nd5+/- ]

12... O-O= 13. Nxd4 exd4 14. Nd5 d6
[14...Be5!?=/+ ]
 
15. Qf3 Bxd5 
[15...Be5 16.0-0= ]
 
16. Bxd5+/=
[Opposite coloured bishops appeared. Here comes the goal-getter]


16...Qd7?? 
[16...Qe7 17.0-0+/= ]
 
17. O-O-O??

Black leaves his bishop hanging, but White had castling on his mind and missed it.
[Better is: 17.Qxf6 and the rest is a matter of technique 17...Qd8 18.Qf4+- ]

17... Kg7 18. h4 h5 19. Rdg1
[>=19.Qg3+/= ]
 
b5 20. b3??

[not a good decision, because now the opponent is right back in the game {Better is: 20.g4!? hxg4 21.Rxg4+}]

20...b4
[Black gains space {20...Qg4 21.Qxg4 hxg4 22.h5=}]

21. a4
[21.axb4 cxb4 22.g4 hxg4 23.Rxg4+- ]
 
21...a5?
[Better is: 21...Qg4= and Black can hope to survive]

22. g4 Rh8?

Black should trade pawns with hxg4, as the move played simply loses the h-pawn (or worse) because of the pin on the g-pawn.
[Better is: 22...hxg4 23.Rxg4 Qe7+- ]

23. gxh5 Rxh5??

Black doesn't realize the g-pawn is pinned and thus the rook has no guard and is hung.
[23...Qe7+- is the last straw]

24. Qxh5 Rh8 25. Qg4
[25.Qf3 seems even better 25...Rxh4 26.Rxh4 Bxh4+- ]

25...Qe8 26. Kb2
[26.h5 seems even better 26...Qd8+- ]

26...Qe5 27. f4
[27.h5 Kf8 28.hxg6 Rxh1 29.gxf7 Rxg1 30.Qc8+ Kg7 31.f8Q+ Kg6 32.Qh3 Bh4 33.Qxh4 Rb1+ 34.Kxb1 Qh5 35.Qff6+ Kh7 36.Qxh5# ]
 
27...Qe8 28. f5
[28.h5 might be the shorter path 28...Rh6 29.Qf5 Qe7+- ]
 
28...Qc8???

Removes an important defender of the g-pawn that allows White to win that pawn and set up a devastating attack on the king.

29. h5?? 

White loses the opportunity to win the g-pawn, and allows black to lock up the position on the kingside.  White still retains a significant material advantage, but the position is much tougher to crack now.

29... g5! 

Locks up the pawn structure and thus makes life harder for White.  Drawing chances have increased considerably...

30. Qh3 
[30.h6+ makes it even easier for White 30...Kf8+- ]

30...Kh6?

Hangs the f-pawn.

31. Bxf7 Rh7 32. Be6
[32.Bg6 keeps an even firmer grip 32...Rh8+- ]

32...Qf8 33. Rg4 Rg7 34. Rhg1 Qe7
Having locked up his side, Black starts the process of waiting.

35. Qh2 Qf8 36. Qd2 Qe7 37. Qc1 Qf8 38. Rxg5?? [!]?

White tries to break open the position, but this move just loses a rook.
[Mate threat]?

38... Bxg5 
[38...Bxg5 39.Qf1 Combination; 38...Rxg5 39.Qf4 Combination; With the idea: 38...-- 39.Rg6+ Mate threat]

39. Rxg5??

Loses the exchange.  This series of exchanges changed the evaluation from a winning position for white, to a nearly equal position.
[Better is: 39.Qd1+- secures the point]

40... Rxg5 40. Qf1??
[White lets it slip away {Better is: 40.Qf4!?+- }]

40...Kg7  
[40...Qe7!?+/= ] 

41. Qh3 Kh6 42. Qh4 Rxh5 43. Qf4+

White can salvage a draw with perpetual checks by his queen.
(There was a win for White even after 43.Rg5....but it took over 40 moves for a computer to find)

43...Rg5 44. Qxd6???

White simply gives the queen (and the game) away...

[an unfortunate move that relinquishes the win {44.f6+/- }]

44...Qxd6–+
White Resigns
0-1

[Analysis by tChess and Deep Rybka 4.1 ]

Annotation by Taylor Scott and Mike Rohe

 

M.Wittje-T.Scott - RVCCA Club Championship - 28.7.11 - 0-1

- PART 2

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