[Event "2015 Alberta Closed"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.04.03"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Yam, Alex"]
[Black "Arruebarrena, Rafael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2367"]
[BlackElo "2334"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2015.04.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nf3 e6 6. cxd4 d6 7. Bc4 Nc6 8. O-O
Be7 9. Qe2 O-O 10. Qe4 {A tabiya of the system. Black has tried no fewer than
15 different moves so far.} Qa5 {In this game Black opts for a very rare
continuation.} ({More popular is} 10... Qc7) ({or} 10... Bd7) 11. Nbd2 dxe5 {
Black releases the tension in the center a little early.} (11... Bd7 {has been
preferred so far.}) 12. dxe5 Rd8 13. a3 ({Here and later White has a chance to
play} 13. Nb3 $5 {and then complete his development with a good position.})
13... b5 14. Bd3 g6 15. h4 Bb7 16. h5 Qb6 ({The computer likes} 16... Qa4 $5 {
with an almost inevitable exchange of queens.}) 17. hxg6 $2 {White must not
hurry with this capture.} ({Instead, after} 17. Bb1 Rac8 {the position is
approximately equal.}) 17... hxg6 18. Bb1 Kg7 $1 {White has done all the hard
work opening up the h-file. Black says "thank you very much" and then uses the
file to his advantage.} 19. Qg4 {Clearing up the e4-square for the knight but
there is no time for that.} (19. Nb3 {is also insufficient as Black can simply
play} Rh8 {with an idea to double the rooks on the h-file.}) 19... Ne3 $1 {
This tactical blow is spectacular and fully sound.} ({Nevertheless, the
"boring"} 19... Rh8 $5 {also deserves attention.}) 20. Qf4 {The lesser evil.} (
20. fxe3 Qxe3+ 21. Rf2 {is not a bad practical chance but after} Bc5 22. Qh4
Nxe5 23. Nxe5 Qxe5 24. Nf1 Kg8 $1 25. Bc2 Rac8 {black attains an overwhelming
position.}) 20... Nxf1 21. Nc4 {Another nice try but Black finds a refutation.}
({Alternatively, if} 21. Nxf1 Rh8 22. Be3 Qd8 {then Black is up an exchange
for not very much.}) 21... Rd1 $1 {Crushing.} ({Wrong is} 21... bxc4 $2 22.
Qh6+ Kg8 23. Bxg6 fxg6 24. Qxg6+ {with a perpetual check.}) 22. Qh6+ ({No
better is} 22. Nxb6 Rh8 23. Bc2 Ng3+ 24. Bxd1 Rh1#) 22... Kg8 23. Nxb6 Ne3+ {
White resigned.} ({A possible conclusion of the game is} 23... Ne3+ 24. Kh2
Ng4+ 25. Kg3 Nxh6 26. Nxa8 Rxc1 {with at least a piece more for Black.}) 0-1

[Event "2015 Alberta Closed"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.04.03"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Porper, Edward"]
[Black "Ng, Gary"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2492"]
[BlackElo "2320"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2015.04.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. c4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 Bf5 6. Qb3 b5 7. cxd5 cxd5 8. a4
b4 9. Qxb4 Nc6 10. Qc5 Na5 11. Qa3 e6 12. b4 Nc6 13. Na2 Qb8 14. Bd2 Ne4 15.
Qc1 $5 (15. Rc1 {was played in the game Chiburdanidze-Gustafsson, 2003, and
after} Qb7 16. a5 Nxd2 17. Kxd2 Nxb4 18. Qa4+ Qd7 19. Qxd7+ Kxd7 20. Ne5+ Ke8 {
Black restored material equality with a comfortable position.}) 15... Qb6 $1 {
Correct.} ({White's idea is revealed after} 15... Nxb4 $2 16. Nxb4 Bxb4 17.
Bb5+ $1 axb5 18. Qc6+ $1 Kd8 19. Bxb4 {with a large advantage.}) 16. b5 Nxd2 {
A human choice.} ({The computer promises Black full compensation after} 16...
Na5 $5 {but the consequences of this move are hard to calculate.}) 17. Nxd2 Na7
$2 ({Now} 17... Na5 {is no good in view of a simple} 18. bxa6) ({Black's best
is impossible to find:} 17... Rc8 $3 18. a5 Qb7 19. bxc6 Rxc6 20. Qd1 Bc2 {
with equality according to the computer.}) 18. Qb2 $2 {Edward gives his
opponent another chance to equalize.} ({Instead, White should immediately
clarify the situation by means of} 18. a5 $1 Qxa5 19. Nc3 Qc7 20. Rxa6 {
maintaining a healthy extra pawn.}) 18... axb5 $2 {Natural but insufficient.} (
18... Rc8 $3 {is again Black's best although it's impossible to figure out why.
} {White should now try something like} 19. Nb4 ({since} 19. a5 $6 {allows
Black too much activity after} Qxa5 20. bxa6 Bd6 21. Nc1 Rc2 $1)) 19. axb5 Be7
20. Nc3 {Now White consolidates and maintains his strong passed pawn. The rest
of the game needs no comments.} O-O 21. Be2 Nc6 22. O-O Nb4 23. Na4 Qd6 24. Nc5
Nc2 25. Rac1 Na3 26. Rc3 Nc4 27. Bxc4 dxc4 28. Nxc4 Qd8 29. b6 Rb8 30. Qb5 Qd5
31. Ne5 Bd6 32. Ned7 Be4 33. f3 Qh5 34. h3 Bf5 35. Ne4 1-0

[Event "2015 Alberta Closed"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.04.03"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Kazmaier, Daniel"]
[Black "Wang, Richard"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D23"]
[WhiteElo "2312"]
[BlackElo "2401"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2015.04.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bg4 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. e4 e5 {
This move was Magnus Carlsen's choice at the 2014 Olympiad.} (7... Bxf3 8. gxf3
e5 9. Be3 {was an earlier game between the same players that Dan won.}) 8. Nxe5
Nxe5 9. dxe5 Be6 10. Qd3 Ng4 11. Qxd8+ Rxd8 12. f4 ({The aforementioned game
Nyback-Carlsen, 2014, continued} 12. Bf4 Bc5 13. Bg3 Bd4 14. Rd1 Bxe5 {and
ended in a draw.}) 12... Bc5 {Black has full compensation for the pawn.} 13.
Be2 Ne3 14. Bxe3 Bxe3 15. g3 h5 16. h4 Ke7 17. Rf1 Bh3 18. Rf3 $6 {White is
trying to solve his development problems by simple means but it doesn't quite
work.} Bd2+ 19. Kf2 Bg4 20. Rd3 Rxd3 21. Bxd3 Rd8 22. Bf1 Bxc3 $6 {Black parts
with the bishop pair too early.} (22... Rd4 $5 {maintains the pressure and
promises Black a better position. White will not be able to hold on to his
extra pawn for long.}) 23. bxc3 Rd2+ 24. Ke3 Rc2 25. c4 {Again, Black has full
compensation for the missing pawn but no more than that.} g6 ({More forceful is
} 25... Rc3+ $5 26. Bd3 Ra3 {For example,} 27. Rb1 b6 28. Rb2 Be6 29. Kd2 Bg4
30. Rc2 c5 31. Ke3 g6 {and White cannot make any progress whatsoever.}) 26. a4
Kd7 (26... Be6 $5 {looks like a draw but Black may have been playing for a win.
}) 27. a5 c5 28. Ra3 Kc7 29. Ra1 {White elects to wait.} ({Instead,} 29. Rb3 $5
{deserves serious attention as now Black cannot easily create a passer.} {In
case of} Ra2 {White sacrifices a pawn but breaks through on the kingside:} 30.
f5 $1 gxf5 31. exf5 Bxf5 32. Be2 Rxa5 33. Bxh5 Be6 34. Bf3 b6 35. Rc3 {The
h-pawn is very dangerous and it is White who will be playing for a win here.})
29... Kc6 30. Ra3 Kc7 31. Ra1 a6 32. Ra3 Rb2 33. Ra1 ({It was a good moment to
execute the same key breakthrough:} 33. f5 gxf5 34. exf5 Bxf5 35. Be2 {Black
is facing a difficult defensive task here.}) 33... b6 34. axb6+ Kxb6 35. Ra3 a5
36. Ra1 Ka6 37. Ra3 Rh2 38. Rd3 ({Again,} 38. f5 $1 {is the right continuation.
}) 38... a4 39. Rd2 Rh1 40. Bd3 Ka5 41. f5 $2 {White has finally advanced on
the kingside but Black's passed pawn has become too strong in the meantime.} ({
It was time to seek a draw:} 41. Rb2 $1 {For example,} a3 42. Rb5+ Ka6 43. Rb3
Ra1 44. Kd2 a2 45. Ra3+ Kb6 46. Kc3 Rc1+ 47. Kb2 Rg1 48. Rb3+ {etc.}) 41...
gxf5 42. exf5 Re1+ 43. Kf4 {The position has suddenly become quite sharp, and
now every tempo is important.} Kb4 $2 ({The winning move is} 43... a3 $1 {in
accordance with the principal that passed pawns must advance.} {For example,}
44. e6 fxe6 45. f6 e5+ $1 46. Kg5 Be6 47. Bg6 Bxc4 48. f7 Rf1 {The position
still looks unclear but Black's passers are more dangerous than White's.}) 44.
Rf2 $2 {Unfortunately, a wrong move order.} ({Instead,} 44. e6 $1 {secures a
draw:} f6 (44... fxe6 45. f6 {is risky for Black}) 45. Be4 Kxc4 46. e7 Rf1+ 47.
Ke3 Re1+ 48. Kf4 {and neither side can avoid repetition.}) 44... a3 45. Be4 ({
Black wins after} 45. e6 {although it would be nice to see it on the board:} f6
46. Be4 Be2 $1 47. e7 a2 48. e8=Q a1=Q 49. Qb5+ Kc3 {The white king is in
desperate need of squares. Relatively best is} 50. Qxc5 {but after} Qc1+ 51.
Qe3+ Qxe3+ 52. Kxe3 Bd3+ {Black is up a piece.}) 45... Kb3 46. Bc2+ Kxc4 47.
Be4 Be2 48. Bb1 Rxb1 ({Black has a number of winning continuations here
including} 48... Kb4 49. Ba2 c4) 49. Rxe2 Rb8 50. Ke4 Kb3 51. Re3+ Kb4 52. Kd5
Rd8+ 53. Kc6 a2 54. Re1 Ra8 55. Ra1 c4 56. e6 fxe6 57. fxe6 Kb3 58. Kc5 c3 0-1

[Event "2015 Alberta Closed"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.04.04"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Arruebarrena, Rafael"]
[Black "Wang, Richard"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B36"]
[WhiteElo "2334"]
[BlackElo "2401"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "2015.04.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 d6 8.
Be3 Bg7 9. Be2 O-O 10. Qd2 Bd7 11. f3 a5 12. b3 Bc6 13. Rb1 Nd7 14. O-O Rc8 {
A novelty. Black usually leaves his queen's rook on a8 anticipating future
queenside operations.} ({The most popular move is} 14... Nc5) 15. Rfd1 f5 $6 {
This works in White's favor.} (15... Nc5 {is still the right continuation.})
16. exf5 Rxf5 17. Bd3 Rf8 18. Be4 {This natural attempt to increase control of
the light squares gives Black an opportunity to change the structure.} ({White
has a lot of useful moves at his disposal, e.g.,} 18. Rbc1 $5) 18... Bxc3 $1
19. Qxc3 Bxe4 20. fxe4 $1 Qc7 21. Qd4 Nf6 22. h3 Rfd8 23. Qb6 (23. Rf1 $5 {
deserves attention intending Bg5 next.}) 23... Nd7 $2 {This works in White's
favor.} ({Best is} 23... Re8 $1 {sacrificing the a5-pawn temporarily.} {Then}
24. Qxc7 Rxc7 25. Bb6 {leads nowhere: after} Rc6 26. Bxa5 Ra6 27. Bb4 Rxa2 {
Black recovers his pawn with equality.}) 24. Qxc7 Rxc7 25. e5 $1 {Black must
have missed this resource.} Rc6 {A sad necessity as either capture on e5 loses
an exchange to Bb6.} 26. exd6 exd6 (26... Rxd6 {is worse:} 27. Bf4 Rxd1+ 28.
Rxd1 Kf7 29. Bc7 Rc8 30. Bxa5 {and White's advantage is decisive.}) 27. Rd5 b6
28. Rbd1 Nc5 29. Bf4 Nb7 ({Instead of passively defending Black can try} 29...
a4 $5 {intending to exchange a few pawns. A sample line is} 30. Bxd6 axb3 31.
Bxc5 Rxd5 32. cxd5 Rxc5 33. d6 Rc8 34. axb3 Rd8 35. d7 Kf7 36. Rd6 Ke7 37. Rxb6
Rxd7 {with chances to hold.}) 30. Re1 Kf7 31. Rd2 Re8 32. Rf1 Kg7 {White has a
pleasant position but just one weakness (d6) is not enough to win. Some
kingside action is required to create a second weakness. Unfortunately, Rafael
loses the thread of the game at this point and blunders before the time
control.} 33. Bg5 Nc5 34. Rdf2 Rc7 35. Bf6+ Kg8 36. Bd4 Rce7 37. Rf6 $2 Ne4 $1
{Black wins an exchange obtaining what looks like a decisive advantage.} 38.
R6f4 Ng3 39. Bxb6 Ne2+ 40. Kh2 Nxf4 41. Rxf4 Re2 42. Bxa5 Rxa2 43. Bb4 Ree2 44.
Rg4 Ra6 45. Rd4 Raa2 46. Rg4 {It turns out that things are not so simple for
Black as he cannot keep the d6-pawn. Only a detailed analysis can show whether
Black can actually win this position.} Rab2 47. Rg3 Re6 48. Rd3 Ree2 49. Rg3
Rb1 50. Bxd6 Reb2 51. c5 Rxb3 52. Rxb3 Rxb3 53. c6 Rc3 54. c7 Kf7 55. Kg1 Ke6
56. Bh2 Rc2 57. Kf1 Kd5 ({The computer suggests} 57... g5 {but how can Black
make real progress?}) 58. Ke1 Ke4 59. Kd1 Kd3 60. h4 h6 61. Bg3 Rc6 62. Bf4 Rc4
63. g3 {Material is about to be exhausted soon.} Rc6 64. Ke1 Ke4 65. Ke2 Rc4
66. Kd2 g5 67. hxg5 hxg5 68. Bxg5 Rxc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "2015 Alberta Closed"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.04.04"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Ng, Gary"]
[Black "Kazmaier, Daniel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A00"]
[WhiteElo "2320"]
[BlackElo "2312"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2015.04.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. b4 e5 2. Bb2 Bxb4 3. Bxe5 Nf6 4. c4 O-O 5. Nf3 d5 6. e3 Re8 7. Bb2 Bf5 8.
Qb3 Nc6 9. Be2 ({The greedy} 9. a3 Bf8 10. Qxb7 $2 {is punished by} Na5 11. Qa6
Nb3) 9... Ne4 {A novelty involving a pawn sacrifice. However, the
complications favor White.} (9... a5 $5 10. a3 a4 11. Qd1 Bd6 {with normal
play.}) 10. cxd5 {White correctly picks up the gauntlet.} Nc5 11. Qc4 Re4 $2 ({
Immediate} 11... b5 $1 {is best.} {A sample line is} 12. Qxb5 Qxd5 13. O-O Rab8
14. Qc4 Qxc4 15. Bxc4 Bd3 16. Bxd3 Nxd3 17. Bd4 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 {White is up a
pawn but Black's active pieces give him some compensation.}) 12. Bd4 $1 b5 {
This is still the best chance.} (12... Nxd4 13. Nxd4 {leads nowhere.}) 13. Qxb5
Rb8 $2 {The white queen is about to be trapped but the price will be too high
for Black.} ({After relatively best} 13... Qxd5 14. O-O Rb8 15. Qc4 {the
e4-rook gets in the way of other black pieces.}) 14. Qxc6 Rb6 ({Black can try
to trap the opponent's queen in a different way} 14... Rxd4 15. Nxd4 Bd7 {
Nevertheless, White remains on top, the most precise continuation being} 16. a3
Bxc6 17. axb4 Qxd5 18. bxc5) 15. Qxc5 Bxc5 16. Bxc5 Rg6 17. Nc3 {White is up
material and his minor pieces will soon dominate the opponent's queen. Black's
desperate tries don't change much.} Rxg2 18. Bxa7 Rb4 19. Bc5 Rb8 20. a4 {This
passed pawn is very difficult to stop.} Qf6 21. Bd4 Qg6 22. Be5 Be4 23. Kf1 Rg4
24. Bxc7 Ra8 25. Ne5 Qg5 26. f3 Rh4 27. Nxe4 Rxe4 28. fxe4 Qf6+ 29. Bf3 Re8 30.
Ke2 Rxe5 31. Bxe5 Qxe5 32. a5 Qb8 33. a6 Qb5+ 34. Kf2 Qb2 35. a7 1-0

[Event "2015 Alberta Closed"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.04.04"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Yam, Alex"]
[Black "Porper, Edward"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C29"]
[WhiteElo "2367"]
[BlackElo "2492"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2015.04.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. d3 Nxc3 7. bxc3 d4 $1 {
The key move in this line that scores excellently.} 8. Bb2 dxc3 9. Bxc3 Qd5 (
9... Bg4 $5 10. Be2 Bc5 {looks even more promising. Black will castle next and
then take control of the important d4-square.}) 10. Be2 Bc5 11. d4 Bb6 12. O-O
{Perhaps, the critical moment of the whole game.} O-O $2 {This natural move
turns out to be too slow.} ({Bad is} 12... Nxe5 $2 {that wins a pawn but
leaves Black desperately behind in development.} {White has} 13. a4 $1 a5 14.
Nxe5 Qxe5 15. Bb5+ Kd8 16. Qf3 {with massive attack.}) ({Correct is} 12... Be6
$1 {intending to increase the pressure on the opponent's center by castling
queenside.} {Now after} 13. Bb2 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5 15. Kh1 Qa5 {White may not
even have enough compensation for the pawn.}) 13. Kh1 $1 {There is enough time
to consolidate.} Bg4 14. Bb2 $1 {The way is clear for the pawns.} Rad8 15. c4
Qe4 16. Bd3 Qe3 17. Qb3 Qh6 18. c5 Ba5 $2 ({Black's last chance to stop the
pawns is} 18... Be6 $1) 19. d5 {Now White's position is simply overwhelming.}
Nb4 20. Bc4 Na6 21. Bd4 Qf4 22. Rad1 Nb8 23. e6 Rc8 24. e7 Rfe8 25. Be5 Qe4 26.
d6 Bh5 27. Qd3 (27. Ng5 Qxe5 28. Bxf7+ {is the quickest way to victory
although it doesn't really matter.}) 27... Qxd3 28. Rxd3 cxd6 29. Bxd6 Nc6 30.
Ng5 Nxe7 31. Rh3 Bg6 32. Nxf7 {The rest of the game is a massacre.} h5 33. Bxe7
Rxe7 34. Nd6+ Kh7 35. Nxc8 Rc7 36. Nd6 Rxc5 37. Bd3 Rc7 38. Rxh5+ 1-0

[Event "2015 Alberta Closed"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.04.04"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Porper, Edward"]
[Black "Arruebarrena, Rafael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D80"]
[WhiteElo "2492"]
[BlackElo "2334"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2015.04.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 Bg7 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nxd5 Qxd5 7. Ne2 O-O 8.
Nc3 Qd8 9. Be2 c6 10. O-O e5 11. dxe5 Bxe5 12. e4 Qe7 13. Qc2 Nd7 14. Be3 Re8
15. Rad1 Bg7 16. Bd4 Nb6 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Rd4 Be6 19. Rfd1 Qg5 20. b3 (20. Qd3
$5 {is interesting as now Black cannot exchange any rooks.}) 20... Rad8 21. Qd3
Rd7 22. Rxd7 Nxd7 23. Qd4+ Qf6 24. f4 Qxd4+ 25. Rxd4 Nb6 26. Bf3 f6 27. Kf2 Kf7
28. Ke3 Ke7 29. h4 h6 30. Rd1 a5 31. g4 Bf7 32. Be2 Ra8 33. Rb1 g5 34. h5 gxf4+
35. Kxf4 Be6 36. Bc4 Rd8 {The position has become a little tricky. Black
decides to play it safe before reaching the time control but it turns out to
be not so safe.} ({The principal line is} 36... Nxc4 37. bxc4 Rg8 $1 38. Rxb7+
Kd6 {when White has nothing better than} 39. e5+ (39. Rh7 $2 Rxg4+ 40. Kf3 Rh4
{loses a pawn}) 39... fxe5+ 40. Ke3 Bxc4 41. Ne4+ Ke6 42. Nc5+ Kd5 43. Ne4 Ke6
44. Nc5+ {with a repetition of moves that neither side can favorably avoid.})
37. Bxe6 Kxe6 38. Rd1 Rxd1 39. Nxd1 {Suddenly, it looks like Black is in
trouble because of his weak pawn on h6.} a4 $1 (39... Nc8 {covers the
f5-square in time but White can strike from the other side:} 40. Nb2 Nd6 41.
Na4 {Black's position is difficult to hold.}) 40. Ne3 {The h6-pawn is about to
fall, and White appears to be winning.} c5 41. Nf5 axb3 42. axb3 c4 43. bxc4
Nxc4 44. Nxh6 b5 {Black's counterplay turns out to be sufficient for a draw.}
45. Nf5 b4 46. Nd4+ ({Or} 46. h6 Kf7 47. h7 Ne5 48. g5 Ng6+ 49. Kg4 b3 50. Nd6+
Kg7 51. gxf6+ Kxf6 52. Nc4 Kg7 {with the same result.}) 46... Kf7 47. g5 fxg5+
48. Kxg5 Kg7 49. Nb3 Nd6 ({The players agreed to a draw here since after} 49...
Nd6 50. e5 Nf7+ 51. Kf5 Nxe5 52. Kxe5 Kh6 {Black picks up the opponent's last
pawn.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "2015 Alberta Closed"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.04.04"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Kazmaier, Daniel"]
[Black "Yam, Alex"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D75"]
[WhiteElo "2312"]
[BlackElo "2367"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2015.04.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. O-O c5 8.
dxc5 Na6 9. a3 $2 {The root of all White's problems as this move is too slow.}
(9. Ng5 {is the most popular continuation that scores well.}) 9... Nxc5 10. Qc2
Qb6 $1 {White is already in trouble.} 11. Nfd2 Be6 12. e4 (12. Nc4 $2 Qb3 $1 {
only makes things worse.}) 12... Nf6 13. Nc3 Rac8 14. h3 ({After} 14. b4 Ncxe4
15. Ndxe4 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Rxc3 17. Bb2 Rc4 18. Qe2 Rfc8 {White's position is
simply depressing.}) 14... Rfd8 15. Kh2 Qa6 16. f4 b5 17. Qb1 $2 {Too passive.}
({White's last chance to create some play is} 17. f5 $5 gxf5 18. exf5 Bd7 19.
Nf3 {at least getting pieces into the game.}) 17... Na4 18. Nxa4 bxa4 19. e5 (
19. Re1 {may slow Black down but not for long.}) 19... Bf5 20. Qa2 Ne4 {Black
takes advantage of the fact that the f1-rook is insufficiently defended.} 21.
Nf3 Rc2 22. Re1 Qc8 {An excellent illustration of a complete domination.} 23.
Ng1 Nf2 24. h4 Ng4+ 25. Kh1 Be6 26. Qb1 Nf2+ 27. Kh2 Ng4+ 28. Kh1 Qc6 29. Nf3 (
29. Bxc6 {allows} Rh2#) 29... Bd5 30. Rf1 Bxf3 0-1

[Event "2015 Alberta Closed"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.04.04"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Wang, Richard"]
[Black "Ng, Gary"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2401"]
[BlackElo "2320"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2015.04.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Nbd2 c5 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. Nb3 {The game
followed a relatively unexplored path meaning that both opponents are probably
out of book at this point.} Be7 {This is not the right square for the bishop.}
({Better is} 7... Bb6 $1 {fighting for the d4-square and keeping e7 available
for the knight.}) 8. Nbd4 {It turns out that placing the other knight on the
same square is preferable. After the text move Black should be OK.} Be4 9. Bb5+
Nd7 10. O-O a6 11. Be2 g5 {Ambitious.} ({The simple} 11... Bc5 {promises at
least equality.}) 12. Be3 g4 13. Nd2 Nxe5 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Bxg4 Nf6 16. Be2
Qc7 17. c3 O-O-O {Black may be satisfied with the outcome of the opening. His
position is easier to play. Over the course of the following few moves White
cannot find a good plan and his position rapidly deteriorates.} 18. h3 Rhg8 19.
Qa4 Nd5 20. Qc2 Nxe3 21. fxe3 Bg5 $1 22. Kh1 {Correct.} ({Black's idea is
revealed after} 22. Qxe4 $2 {:} f5 23. Qb1 Bxe3+ 24. Kh1 Qg7 {with a crushing
attack.}) 22... Rde8 ({Even stronger is} 22... Rg6 {with the same idea of
overprotecting the e6-pawn.}) 23. Qxe4 f5 24. Qc2 Bxe3 25. Qb3 $2 ({White
should try to disrupt the opponent's coordination by means of} 25. Bh5 {Here}
Bxd4 26. Bxe8 Rxe8 $2 {loses material to} 27. Qa4) 25... Qg7 {Now Black's
attack must be decisive.} 26. Rg1 {The only defence.} Bxg1 27. Rxg1 {Black has
an extra exchange and the initiative.} Qd7 $2 {This understandable desire to
consolidate allows White to stay in the game.} ({The computer points out to a
strong blow} 27... Ng4 $1 {threatening checkmate in two.} {After} 28. Bxg4 fxg4
29. Nxe6 Qe5 {White's days are numbered, e.g.,} 30. Qc4+ Kb8 31. Nc5 Ka7 32.
Qb4 Qd5 {etc.}) 28. Bh5 $1 {An unpleasant surprise.} Ng6 (28... Re7 $2 {is
terrible in view of} 29. Nxf5 $1) 29. Re1 e5 30. Nxf5 Kb8 31. Bf3 Rgf8 32. Rd1
Qb5 33. Qxb5 axb5 34. Nd6 Rd8 35. Kg1 ({Certainly not} 35. Nxb5 $2 Rxd1+ 36.
Bxd1 Rf1+ {and wins.}) 35... Nh4 36. Be2 {White managed to get a pawn back but
Black remains in the driver's seat.} Nf5 37. Nxb5 Rxd1+ $6 ({Correct is} 37...
Ng3 $1 {forcing} 38. Rxd8+ Rxd8 {The bishop doesn't have a good square, while
the white king may also get in trouble.}) 38. Bxd1 Rd8 39. Bc2 {Black must
have underestimated this resource.} Nd6 $2 {This mistake robs Black of all his
winning chances.} ({He is still ahead after} 39... Ne3 40. Bxh7 Rd2 41. Be4
Rxb2 42. a4 Ra2 43. Bf3 Rxa4 44. Kf2 Nf5) 40. Nxd6 Rxd6 41. Bxh7 Kc7 ({
Unfortunately, after} 41... Rd2 $2 42. g4 Rxb2 43. g5 {the pawn cannot be
stopped.}) 42. Be4 Rd2 43. h4 Re2 44. Bd3 Rd2 45. Be4 Re2 46. Bd3 Rd2 47. Bf5 {
White correctly decides to give it a try.} Kd6 48. g4 Rxb2 $2 {The losing move.
} (48... e4 $3 {is the only way but it is hard to find:} 49. Bxe4 Ke5 50. Bxb7
Rxb2 51. Bc8 Rxa2 {Black will soon pick up the c-pawn with an easy draw.}) 49.
g5 Ke7 50. h5 Rxa2 51. h6 Kf8 52. g6 Ra6 53. Kg2 {Black is helpless as the
white pawns are too strong.} Rd6 54. Kf3 Rc6 55. Ke4 1-0

[Event "2015 Alberta Closed"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.04.05"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Arruebarrena, Rafael"]
[Black "Ng, Gary"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2334"]
[BlackElo "2320"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2015.04.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Kb1 c5 14. Ne4 Qb6 {
A rare continuation. Black automatically castles most of the time.} 15. Ne5 {
This pawn sacrifice is sound.} cxd4 16. Nxd7 Nxd7 17. Qg3 Kf8 18. Bf4 Rc8 19.
Rhe1 {White has full compensation for the pawn.} Nf6 20. Be5 Qc6 21. Qd3 Nxh5
22. Qxd4 Qxc2+ 23. Ka1 {The black king in the center justifies White's second
pawn sacrifice.} Qc4 {An exchange of queens will not solve Black's problems.} (
{Instead, he should try to get his king to safety} 23... Kg8 $5 {and then
connect the rooks.}) 24. Qxa7 {White seizes an opportunity to get material
back but loses the initiative.} ({Correct is a somewhat surprising} 24. Qxc4 $1
Rxc4 25. Rd7 {and White's position is to be preferred despite a two-pawn
deficit.}) 24... Nf6 25. Bxf6 {Risky.} ({White should simply grab a second pawn
} 25. Qxb7 Nxe4 26. Qxe4 Qxe4 27. Rxe4 f6 28. Bc3 Kf7 {with an equal position.}
) 25... gxf6 26. Qxb7 Rc7 ({Here and later Black has a strong resource} 26...
f5 {seizing the initiative.}) 27. Qb6 Kg7 28. Nc3 Ra8 29. Re4 Qc5 30. Rg4+ Kh7
31. Qxc5 Bxc5 32. Rc4 {The previous few moves featured inaccuracies from both
sides; White emerged with a slight advantage. The queens are off the board
meaning that he can start advancing his queenside passed pawns. First of all,
however, Black must get rid of the pin.} Rg8 $2 {A surprising blunder.} ({
Correct is} 32... Rcc8 {intending to answer} 33. Ne4 {with} Be7) 33. Ne4 Rgc8
34. Rdc1 ({The simplest way to win is actually} 34. Rxc5 Rxc5 35. Nxc5 Rxc5 36.
b4 Rb5 37. Rb1 {then the pawns advance quickly.}) 34... Bb6 35. Rxc7 Rxc7 36.
Rxc7 Bxc7 37. Nxf6+ Kg6 38. Nd7 Bd6 39. a4 {Nevertheless, White has won a pawn
and it seems that he shouldn't have much trouble converting.} Bb4 40. Ne5+ Kf5
41. Nc6 Be1 42. f3 $2 {This natural move loses time that suddenly becomes
precious. In fact, White may not be winning anymore!} ({Best is} 42. a5 $1 Bxf2
43. a6 e5 44. a7 Bxa7 45. Nxa7 {The knight and the king will stop the e5-pawn,
then the b-pawn will tell.}) 42... Kf4 43. b4 Kg3 44. b5 Kxg2 45. b6 h5 46. a5
h4 47. a6 h3 48. a7 h2 49. a8=Q h1=Q 50. Kb2 Qh4 {This position is drawn but
White's misadventures aren't over yet.} 51. Qg8+ $2 {Hard to believe but it's
the losing move.} (51. Qa2 {is probably the simplest way to get a draw.}) 51...
Kf1 $1 {The white king is surprisingly defenceless and it's too late to do
anything about it.} 52. Qxf7 Qf2+ 53. Ka3 Qc5+ {Precisely played.} 54. Ka2 Qc4+
55. Ka3 Bd2 56. Kb2 Bc1+ 57. Kb1 Qc3 0-1

[Event "2015 Alberta Closed"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.04.05"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Yam, Alex"]
[Black "Wang, Richard"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "2367"]
[BlackElo "2401"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2015.04.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. c3 e5 6. Be2 {White is playing the
Hanham variation of the Philidor defence with two extra tempi. The following
few moves indicate, however, that it may still not be enough for an opening
advantage.} a5 ({After} 6... Bc5 {Black has to seriously reckon with} 7. b4) 7.
a4 dxe4 8. dxe4 Bc5 9. O-O O-O 10. Qc2 Qe7 11. Nc4 Rd8 12. Bg5 h6 13. Be3 Bxe3
14. Nxe3 Be6 15. Bc4 Bxc4 16. Nxc4 Qc5 17. Qb3 {White initiates complications
and temporarily sacrifices the e4-pawn.} ({Instead, a simple move like} 17. b3
{is OK.}) 17... Nxe4 18. Rae1 Qd5 19. Qb5 f5 20. Re3 $6 {After this White may
not be able to regain his pawn.} ({Correct is} 20. Ne3 Qxb5 21. axb5 Na7 22.
Nxf5 Nd2 23. Nxd2 Rxd2 {with an objectively equal position.}) 20... Rab8 $1 {
Now the white pieces are stuck.} 21. h3 ({It is worth mentioning that} 21.
Nfxe5 Qxb5 22. axb5 Nxe5 23. Nxe5 Rd5 {leads to simplifications favoring Black.
}) 21... Qe6 $1 {An excellent move emphasizing that the white queen doesn't
have many squares. Black is going to put his rook on d5 next.} 22. g4 {A
desperate attempt to muddy the waters at a cost of another pawn.} fxg4 (22...
g6 {is also possible and may be a more practical decision.}) 23. Rxe4 gxf3 24.
Kh2 h5 ({Black has plenty of good consolidating moves, one of them being} 24...
Rd5) 25. Rg1 Qf5 $6 (25... Rd5 {should still be the cornerstone of Black's
defence.}) 26. Qb3 {A tempting move but not the best one.} ({Instead, after} 
26. Ree1 $5 {White is probably going to win the e5-pawn soon maintaining the
initiative.}) 26... Kh7 $6 {This looks natural but gives White more tactical
ideas.} ({Of course not} 26... Qxe4 $4 27. Nd6+ {and wins.}) ({The computer
suggests a remarkable} 26... Kh8 $1 27. Qc2 g5 $3 {preventing White's idea in
the game.}) 27. Qc2 g6 28. h4 $1 {The position has become totally unclear.
White has a strong initiative and is probably going to regain material soon.}
Qd7 $2 {This leaves the black king too lonely.} ({Tenacious} 28... Qf6 {is
correct.}) 29. Rxg6 {A tempting, spectacular and a fully sound rook sacrifice.}
({Nevertheless, an equally spectacular} 29. Rf4 $5 {deserves serious attention.
}) 29... Kxg6 30. Rg4+ Kf7 31. Qg6+ Ke7 32. Qg7+ ({The computer points out to
a cold-blooded} 32. Qxh5 $5 {continuing the attack with a rook less.}) 32...
Ke6 33. Qg6+ Ke7 34. Qg7+ Ke6 35. Qg6+ ({White can deviate with} 35. Qh6+ Kd5
36. Qd2+ Kc5 37. Qe3+ {with a more forceful transposition to the game.}) 35...
Kd5 $2 {This winning attempt backfires badly.} (35... Ke7 {is a must.}) 36.
Qe4+ Kc5 {The critical position of the battle.} 37. Qe3+ {Not bad as White's
attack remains strong.} ({Nevertheless, the computer finds the following
spectacular win:} 37. b4+ $3 axb4 38. cxb4+ Nxb4 ({or} 38... Kxb4 39. Qb1+ Kxa4
40. Nb6+ Ka3 41. Ra4#) 39. Qxe5+ Qd5 40. Qxc7+ Qc6 41. Qe7+ Qd6+ 42. Nxd6 hxg4
43. Nxb7+ {with a decisive material advantage.}) 37... Nd4 38. Qxe5+ Qd5 {The
only move.} ({Black can't be satisfied with} 38... Kxc4 $2 39. Rxd4+ Qxd4 40.
Qb5#) 39. Qe7+ {Understandably, White decides to play it safe but lets Black
off the hook.} ({Instead, after} 39. Qxc7+ $1 Qc6 40. cxd4+ Kxc4 41. d5+ Kxd5
42. Qxa5+ b5 43. Qd2+ Kc5 44. Qe3+ Kd6 45. Rg6+ {White maintains good winning
chances in the endgame. Finding this line on move 39 must be impossible though.
}) 39... Kxc4 40. Rxd4+ Qxd4 41. cxd4 Kxd4 $2 {This renews White's winning
hopes.} ({Correct is} 41... c6 {as the d4-pawn isn't going to run away.} {A
sample line is} 42. Qe3 Rxd4 43. Qc3+ Kd5 44. Qxf3+ Ke6 45. Qxh5 Rf8 {The
black rooks are very active securing a draw.}) 42. Qe3+ Kd5 43. Qxf3+ {Now the
rooks are passive and White can play on.} Kd6 44. Qf6+ Kd7 45. Qf7+ Kd6 46.
Qf6+ Kd7 47. Qf5+ Kd6 48. Qxh5 b6 49. Qg6+ Kd7 50. f4 Rg8 51. Qf5+ Kc6 52. Qe4+
Kd6 53. Qe5+ Kc6 54. Qe4+ Kd6 55. Qd4+ {Somewhat surprisingly, a draw was
agreed here.} ({It would have been interesting to see how Black was going to
save half a point after} 55. h5 {In any case, a tremendous battle!}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "2015 Alberta Closed"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.04.05"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Porper, Edward"]
[Black "Kazmaier, Daniel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D91"]
[WhiteElo "2492"]
[BlackElo "2312"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2015.04.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bg5 c6 (5... Ne4 {is the most
popular continuation endorsed by a lot of big names.}) 6. e3 O-O 7. Qb3 dxc4 8.
Bxc4 b5 9. Be2 Be6 10. Qd1 Nbd7 11. O-O h6 12. Bf4 g5 {This looks too
weakening.} ({Immediate} 12... Nh5 $5 {deserves attention.}) 13. Bg3 Nh5 14.
Be5 f6 {An attempt to justify Black's previous play but White finds a strong
riposte.} 15. d5 $1 Bf7 ({After} 15... cxd5 16. Nd4 Nc5 17. Nxe6 Nxe6 18. Bxh5
fxe5 19. Nxd5 {White's positional superiority is indisputable.}) {Now several
pieces are in awkward positions so the situation on the board has become quite
confusing. The following few moves are full of inaccuracies until White
emerges with an extra piece.} 16. Nd4 $6 ({The complications after} 16. Bd4 $1
{favor White but it was difficult to calculate.}) 16... Nxe5 $1 {The only but
sufficient move.} 17. Bxh5 Bxd5 $6 ({Instead,} 17... b4 $1 18. Bxf7+ Rxf7 19.
Ne6 Qd7 {is equal.}) 18. f4 Nc4 19. Nf5 $6 e6 $1 20. Nxg7 Kxg7 21. e4 {This
ends up well for White but only thanks to Black's cooperation.} Qb6+ $2 ({
Instead, after} 21... Nxb2 22. Qe2 Bc4 23. Qxb2 Bxf1 24. Kxf1 gxf4 {Black
obtains material advantage and should be the one playing for a win.}) 22. Rf2
Rad8 23. exd5 cxd5 24. Qd3 {White is now up a piece and the black king is
unsafe.} f5 25. Ne2 d4 26. Ng3 Qd6 27. b3 Ne3 28. fxg5 hxg5 29. Qxb5 g4 30. Rc1
d3 31. Rd2 e5 $2 ({Black managed to create some play at a cost of a pawn and
now} 31... Qd4 $5 {would present White with some problems to solve.}) 32. Qa4
$2 ({The game is essentially over after} 32. Rc6 Qd5 33. Rg6+ Kh7 34. Qa6 Rd7
35. Rh6+ Kg8 36. Bg6 {etc.}) 32... Qd4 {Black doesn't miss it for the second
time.} 33. Rc7+ Kh6 34. Rc6+ ({White can retain his material advantage by
playing with a computer precision:} 34. Qxa7 Qxa7 35. Rxa7 f4 36. Ra6+ Kg5 37.
Rg6+ Kh4 38. Bxg4 Nxg4 39. Ne4) {Now, all of a sudden, it's very hard for
White to keep his winning hopes alive.} 34... Kg5 35. Rg6+ Kh4 36. Qxd4 Rxd4
37. Rh6 Kg5 38. Rg6+ Kh4 39. Rh6 f4 40. Be8+ {White has to take a draw to
avoid the worst.} Kg5 41. Rg6+ Kh4 42. Rh6+ Kg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "2015 Alberta Closed"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.04.05"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Kazmaier, Daniel"]
[Black "Arruebarrena, Rafael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2312"]
[BlackElo "2334"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2015.04.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bf4 d5 4. f3 Nf6 5. c4 e6 6. Nc3 Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8. c5
(8. e4 {looks like a logical follow-up but White has a different setup in mind.
}) 8... Qe7 9. f4 O-O 10. b4 b6 11. e3 a5 12. a3 {So White seized a lot of
space but barely moved any pieces.} c6 ({The computer points out to an amazing
} 12... Ng4 $3 {taking advantage of White's lag in development.} {The e3-pawn
can be defended by the king only so White should prefer} 13. Qxg4 axb4 14. Nb1
bxc5 {In this highly unbalanced position Black's pawn mass outweighs White's
knight.}) 13. Bd3 Ba6 ({A very interesting opportunity is} 13... e5 $5 {For
example,} 14. dxe5 axb4 15. axb4 Rxa1 16. Qxa1 bxc5 17. exf6 Qxe3+ 18. Be2 cxb4
{with initiative and a lot of pawns for a piece.}) 14. Bc2 Nbd7 15. Nf3 Ng4 16.
Ng5 $2 {White gets in trouble after this.} f5 $1 17. Qd2 e5 $1 {This
spectacular breakthrough refutes White's whole strategy.} 18. O-O-O axb4 19.
axb4 bxc5 20. dxc5 Bc4 21. h3 Nh6 22. Bd3 Bb3 23. Bc2 Bc4 24. Bd3 Bxd3 25. Qxd3
Nf7 26. Nxf7 Qxf7 27. Kc2 {White managed to exchange a few pieces but his
position remains bad because of his exposed king. Unfortunately, Black must
have lost the thread of the game at this point and allowed the opponent to
escape.} Rab8 {Too slow.} ({After another elegant breakthrough} 27... d4 $1 28.
exd4 e4 29. Qe3 Qc4 {White's position becomes critical.}) 28. Rb1 Qg6 29. Rhg1
Rb7 $2 30. g4 $2 ({White misses an opportunity to win an important pawn by} 30.
Nxd5 $1) 30... fxg4 $2 {Black loses the rest of his advantage, and the game
peters out to equality.} 31. Qxg6 hxg6 32. Rxg4 exf4 33. exf4 g5 34. b5 Nxc5
35. Rxg5 Rxf4 36. bxc6 Rf2+ 37. Kd1 Rxb1+ 38. Nxb1 Rf6 39. Nc3 Rxc6 40. Nxd5
Rd6 41. Ke1 1/2-1/2

[Event "2015 Alberta Closed"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.04.05"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Wang, Richard"]
[Black "Porper, Edward"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2401"]
[BlackElo "2492"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2015.04.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. d4 d6 2. c4 e5 3. e3 Nd7 4. Nc3 Ngf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Rb1
{This move may be considered a loss of a tempo.} ({White can start advancing
the pawns immediately:} 8. b4 Re8 9. a4 e4 10. Nd2 {etc.}) 8... Re8 9. b4 e4
10. Nd2 Nf8 11. f3 {Technically, a novelty.} ({A normal move is} 11. a4 {
playing the King's Indian attack (KIA) with the colors reversed.}) 11... exf3
12. Bxf3 {Old KIA theory judged this plan to be insufficient for equality
although the evaluation may have changed since.} Ne6 13. Bb2 Ng5 14. e4 {
Otherwise, White is simply worse.} h5 {A typical thrust in the KIA.} ({The
computer recommends a useful semi-waiting move} 14... c6 $5 {inviting White to
define his intentions.}) 15. h3 c5 $6 {It is tempting to undermine the white
center but giving up the d5-square turns out to be a significant concession.} (
15... c6 $5 {is still good as White is in some difficulties finding a useful
move.} {Moreover, after something like} 16. a4 $2 {Black has} Ng4 $1 17. hxg4
Bxd4+ {with a decisive attack.}) 16. dxc5 dxc5 17. e5 $6 {Too optimistic.} ({
It turns out that the simple} 17. bxc5 $1 {is correct. For example,} Qd4+ 18.
Kh1 Qxc5 19. Nd5 Nxd5 20. cxd5 Bxb2 21. Rxb2 {and White is a little better.})
17... Rxe5 18. Nd5 Nxd5 {Now White can breathe a sigh of relief.} ({It would
have been interesting to see what Richard was going to do after} 18... Rf5 $1 {
For example, after} 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Nxf6+ $2 Qxf6 {Black has an extra pawn
and the better position.}) 19. Bxd5 ({Certainly not} 19. Bxe5 $2 {which loses
immediately to} Ne3 20. Qe2 Bxe5) 19... Rf5 {One move too late.} ({Instead,
Black can sacrifice an exchange} 19... Rxd5 20. cxd5 Qxd5 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22.
bxc5 Qxc5+ 23. Kh1 Qd5 {with an equal position.}) 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. bxc5 Qe7
22. Nb3 $6 {This knight is needed on the kingside.} ({Instead, White should
just exchange pawns by means of} 22. Rxf5 Bxf5 23. Rxb7 Qxc5+ 24. Kh1 {with a
better position.}) 22... Qe3+ 23. Kh1 Ne4 $1 {Correct.} (23... Nxh3 {is
tempting but White has a strong reply} 24. Qd4+ Qxd4 25. Nxd4 Rxf1+ 26. Rxf1
Ng5 27. Nb5 {and it is Black who has to fight for a draw.}) 24. Bxe4 Qxe4 25.
Re1 Qxc4 26. Re8 {White was counting on this resource but it has a well-hidden
flaw.} ({Instead, after} 26. Rc1 Qd5 27. Qe2 {the computer gives White full
compensation for the pawn.}) 26... Rd5 $1 27. Qe1 {The critical position of
the whole tournament.} Qd3 $2 {What a pity!} ({Black has an amazing} 27... Bxh3
$3 {with a decisive advantage in all lines.} {For example,} 28. Rxa8 Bxg2+ 29.
Kh2 Rg5 $1 30. Qf2 Qe6 {etc. Certainly, the position is complex and difficult
to calculate. However, Black should have gone for it simply because the game
continuation is terrible for him.}) 28. Rc1 $1 {Now Black doesn't even have a
meaningful move.} Rd7 $2 29. c6 $1 {And suddenly it's all over.} Rd5 ({Or} 
29... bxc6 30. Nc5 {and Black can resign.}) 30. c7 b6 31. Qe7 Rf5 32. Qf8+ Kf6
33. Qe7+ Kg7 34. h4 Rf1+ 35. Kh2 $1 ({Avoiding} 35. Rxf1 $2 Qxf1+ 36. Kh2 Qf4+
37. Kg1 Ba6 38. Rxa8 Qf1+ 39. Kh2 Qf4+ {with a perpetual check.}) 35... Be6 36.
Qf8+ Kf6 37. Qe7+ Kg7 38. Rxa8 Rxc1 39. Qf8+ 1-0

[Event "2015 Alberta Closed"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.04.05"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Ng, Gary"]
[Black "Yam, Alex"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A00"]
[WhiteElo "2320"]
[BlackElo "2367"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2015.04.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. b4 e5 2. Bb2 Bxb4 3. Bxe5 Nf6 4. c4 O-O 5. Nf3 Re8 6. e3 Nc6 7. Bb2 d5 {
Both players follow an official main line of the Sokolsky opening.} 8. a3 Bf8 (
8... Ba5 {intending to delay d2-d4 is more popular.}) 9. cxd5 ({White can take
advantage of Black's last and play} 9. d4 $5 {immediately.}) 9... Nxd5 10. Be2
Na5 11. O-O c5 12. Ne5 {Too fancy.} ({White should just develop with} 12. Nc3)
12... Be6 ({Here} 12... Bf5 $5 {deserves attention not allowing White to
develop his queen's knight.}) 13. Nc3 f6 14. Nf3 Rb8 15. d4 a6 ({Black can
favorably unbalance the position with} 15... c4 {with the idea} 16. e4 $6 Nxc3
17. Bxc3 Nb3 18. Ra2 b5 {His queenside pawns are more dangerous than White's
center.}) 16. dxc5 $1 {denying Black the idea of c5-c4} Bxc5 17. Nxd5 ({The
computer really likes White after} 17. Qc2 Nxc3 18. Bxc3) 17... Bxd5 {White's
position is still fine but the problem is that it's unclear what he should do.}
18. Nd4 b5 19. Bc3 Nc4 20. Bb4 Bb6 21. Bf3 $2 {Somewhat surprisingly, a
decisive mistake.} (21. Nf5 {maintains the balance as} a5 $2 {loses material to
} 22. Ne7+) 21... a5 22. Bc3 ({Relatively best is} 22. Nc6 Bxc6 23. Bxc6 axb4
24. Bxe8 Qxe8 {but White was obviously not so excited about this line.}) 22...
Nxe3 $1 23. fxe3 Rxe3 {Material losses are unavoidable.} 24. Kh1 ({The
trickiest line is} 24. Bxa5 {but Black remains on top after} Bc4 $1 25. Bxb6
Qxb6 26. Qd2 Rd3) 24... Rxc3 25. Nxb5 Rc5 {The rest is a matter of technique.}
26. a4 Bc4 27. Qxd8+ Rxd8 28. Rfc1 Bb3 29. Rcb1 Bc2 30. Rc1 Bf5 31. h3 h6 32.
Kh2 Kh7 33. Kg3 Rd2 34. Rxc5 Bxc5 35. Rd1 Ra2 36. Rd5 Bf2+ 37. Kf4 Bc2 38. Nc3
g5+ 39. Kg4 Kg6 40. Bd1 Bxd1+ 41. Nxd1 Ra3 0-1

[Event "2015 Alberta Reserves"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.04.04"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Nguyen, Kim"]
[Black "Shi, Diwen"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2231"]
[BlackElo "2201"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2015.04.04"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4 Nc6 6. Nc3 g6 7. d4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bg7 9. Nde2 Nf6 10. f3 O-O 11. O-O Rac8 12. Be3 Rfe8 13. Qd2 Qc7 14. b3 a6
15. Rab1 Qa5 16. a4 Red8 17. Rfd1 e6 18. Bg5 Rd7 19. Bh4 h6 {After a fairly
standard opening and early middlegame play the opponents reached a typical
position in the 3.Bb5+ Sicilian line.} 20. Qe3 Qc5 21. Qxc5 $2 {This capture
is hard to explaing as White loses all his structural advantage at once.} ({
Better is} 21. Bf2 {and White can pressure the d6-pawn for a long time.}) 21...
dxc5 22. Rxd7 Nxd7 23. Rd1 Nf8 {Perhaps, White was hoping to get control of
the d-file  but the problem is that his rook has no entry squares.} 24. Rd3 Nd4
25. Nc1 g5 26. Be1 Ng6 27. Kf1 $2 {White will lose at least a pawn after this.}
(27. N3e2 {covering the f4-square was essential.}) 27... Nf4 28. Rd1 $2 {Now
White loses even more material.} (28. Rd2 Nxb3 29. Nxb3 Bxc3 {is relatively
best but Black has excellent winning chances anyway.}) 28... Nc2 $1 {White can
resign here but keeps playing on.} 29. Rd2 Nxe1 30. Nd1 Nexg2 31. Rd7 b6 32.
Ne2 Nxe2 33. Kxe2 Nf4+ 34. Kd2 Bf6 35. Kc2 Ne2 36. Kd3 Nd4 37. Nf2 Nxf3 38. Ng4
Ne5+ 39. Nxe5 Bxe5 40. Rb7 Bc7 41. h3 a5 42. e5 Kf8 43. Ke4 Ke7 44. Kf3 Kd7 45.
Kg4 Rh8 46. Kh5 Kc8 0-1

[Event "2015 Lethbridge Open"]
[Site "Lethbridge"]
[Date "2015.04.11"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Nguyen, Kim"]
[Black "Davies, Jack"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2222"]
[BlackElo "1692"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2015.04.11"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 b5 7. Bd3 {A rare
move that scores poorly for White.} (7. g4 Bb7 8. Bg2 {is normal.} {White can
meet} b4 {with} 9. Nd5) 7... Bb7 8. Qe2 Nbd7 9. O-O $146 e6 10. f4 Qc7 {This
position looks like a Sicilian Kan with a rather useless h2-h3 included.} 11.
Nf3 {White intends to break in the center with e4-e5.} e5 {Typical but not
really necessary in this particular situation.} ({Instead, Black can play} 
11... b4 $5 12. Nd1 Be7 {not fearing} 13. e5 dxe5 14. fxe5 Nh5) 12. Nh4 b4 13.
Nd1 g6 14. c3 $6 {Too slow.} ({White should continue developing:} 14. fxe5 dxe5
15. Bg5 {etc.}) 14... Nc5 15. Bc2 Ncxe4 16. fxe5 dxe5 17. Ba4+ Bc6 18. Bg5 $2 {
White is trying to confuse his opponent but this move is just bad.} Nd7 $6 {
Black may have got confused.} ({Simpler is} 18... Bc5+ 19. Kh2 Bxa4 20. Bxf6
Nxf6 21. Rxf6 O-O {and White's position is in ruins.}) 19. Qc4 $2 ({Instead,
after} 19. Bxc6 Qxc6 20. Qf3 f5 21. Nf2 Bc5 22. cxb4 Bxf2+ 23. Rxf2 {the
position is not so clear.}) 19... Bc5+ $1 20. Be3 O-O ({Black has several good
continuations here including} 20... Nd6 21. Qb3 Bxa4 22. Qxa4 bxc3 23. bxc3 O-O
{with an excellent position.}) 21. Bxc5 Bxa4 22. Qxe4 Qxc5+ 23. Kh1 Bb5 24. Re1
bxc3 25. Nxc3 Bc6 26. Qg4 Qd4 27. Qg3 Rae8 28. Rf1 e4 {Black has played well
keeping an extra pawn and a firm grip on the position. Here Kim made a move
with a few seconds still left on his clock. Unfortunately, he pressed a wrong
clock in a hurry and didn't have enough time to correct his mistake. As the
time on his clock expired, Kim had to be forfeited. In any case, a great game
by Jack Davies and a fully deserved point.} 0-1

[Event "2015 Lethbridge Open"]
[Site "Lethbridge"]
[Date "2015.04.12"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Pechenkin, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tran-Ly, Tristan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2389"]
[BlackElo "2109"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2015.04.11"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 O-O 8.
O-O Ng4 9. e3 d6 10. b3 ({Accepting the sacrifice} 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Bxc6 Rb8 {
is not good for White as I have already learned the hard way in a game against
the same opponent.}) 10... Nge5 11. h3 Nxd4 12. exd4 Nc6 13. Be3 e5 14. dxe5
dxe5 {In this line Black plays quite logically but spends a lot of time moving
his king's knight. As a result, White's lead in development becomes a
significant factor.} 15. Bc5 Re8 16. Nb5 ({Another promising direction is} 16.
Qxd8 Rxd8 17. Rad1 Bf5 18. Nb5 Bf8 19. Bxf8 Kxf8 20. Nd6 Bc2 21. Rd2 Rab8 22.
c5 Nd4 23. f4 {etc.}) 16... Bf8 17. Bxf8 Rxf8 18. Qxd8 Rxd8 19. Rad1 {White's
advantage in development becomes more and more important with every exchange.}
Nd4 (19... Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Kf8 {may be a better try.}) 20. f4 f6 {After this
White's advantage becomes decisive but it's hard to recommend an alternative.}
21. fxe5 fxe5 22. Nxd4 exd4 ({No better is} 22... Rxd4 23. Rxd4 exd4 24. Bd5+
Kg7 25. Rf7+ Kh6 26. Bxb7 {etc.}) 23. Bd5+ Kh8 24. g4 {The most accurate
continuation as the d4-pawn isn't going to run away.} a5 25. Rxd4 Ra6 26. Re4
Kg7 27. Rf7+ Kh6 28. Ree7 Kg5 29. Re5+ Kh6 30. g5+ 1-0

[Event "2015 Alberta Seniors"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2015.04.26"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Seehagen, Terry"]
[Black "Purewal, Sardul"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "1726"]
[BlackElo "1964"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2015.04.25"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. d4 c6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Be3 Nf6 8.
Qe2 Nbd7 9. h3 Bh5 10. O-O-O Be7 11. Kb1 O-O 12. g3 Qb4 13. Bd3 Nd5 14. Nxd5
cxd5 15. g4 Bg6 16. h4 Bxd3 17. Rxd3 Qd6 18. g5 Rfc8 {White's attack is going
to be faster:} 19. h5 f6 20. Rg1 Kh8 21. g6 $1 Rg8 (21... h6 {runs into} 22.
Bxh6 gxh6 23. g7+ Kh7 24. Rg6 {then the white queen will attack the h6-pawn
with a decisive penetration.}) 22. gxh7 Kxh7 23. Nh4 g5 24. hxg6+ Kg7 25. Bd2 {
Alas.} ({The computer finds the following beautiful checkmate:} 25. Bh6+ Kxh6
26. Nf5+ exf5 27. Qh5+ Kxh5 28. Rh3#) 25... Rh8 26. Rh3 f5 27. Bg5 Rae8 28. f4
Nf6 29. Rgh1 Ng4 {Unfortunately, Terry lost faith in his attack and agreed to
a draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "10th Edmonton International Qualifier"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2015.05.03"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Gardner, Robert"]
[Black "Haynes, Nicolas"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A53"]
[WhiteElo "2239"]
[BlackElo "2277"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2015.05.02"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 e5 4. d5 Be7 5. e4 c6 6. Nge2 a6 7. f3 O-O 8. g4 {
Surprisingly, the opponents are already on an unchartered territory.} b5 9. Ng3
{White's opening strategy is clear: seize as much space as possible, then
catch up with development. Since the position is closed, such an approach
often works well.} Bb7 $6 10. Nf5 $1 bxc4 11. Bxc4 cxd5 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5
Bxd5 14. Qxd5 Nd7 {White managed to maintain a firm grip on the position and
stands clearly better.} 15. Be3 {A slight inaccuracy. Castling kingside is
preferable.} Rb8 {Now White has to do something about the b2-pawn.} 16. O-O-O
$2 {This is overly optimistic.} ({White has a nice positional advantage and
there is no reason for him to invoke complications. Correct is} 16. b3 {
followed by kingside castling.}) 16... Bg5 $2 ({Black misses a golden
opportunity:} 16... Qc7+ 17. Kb1 Rxb2+ $1 18. Kxb2 Rb8+ 19. Qb3 {(the only
move)} Rxb3+ 20. axb3 Bf8 {The computer evaluates this position with
unbalanced material as equal.}) 17. Bxg5 {Rob doesn't give his opponent
another chance and smoothly cruises to victory.} Qxg5+ 18. Qd2 Qxd2+ 19. Rxd2
g6 20. Nxd6 Nc5 21. Rd5 Na4 22. b3 Nc3 23. Ra5 Nb5 24. Rxa6 Nd4 25. Rf1 Rfd8
26. Kb2 Rd7 27. Nc4 Rc7 28. Kc3 Nb5+ 29. Kd3 Rd8+ 30. Ke3 Nd4 31. Rf2 Nc6 32.
Rd2 Nd4 33. g5 1-0

[Event "2015 Red Deer Open"]
[Site "Red Deer"]
[Date "2015.05.17"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Nguyen, Kim"]
[Black "Miller, David"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B55"]
[WhiteElo "2210"]
[BlackElo "2216"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2015.05.17"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 e5 6. Nb3 Be6 7. c4 Nbd7 8. Nc3
a6 9. Be3 Rc8 10. Nd5 Bxd5 11. cxd5 Nh5 12. g3 Be7 13. Qd2 h6 14. Bh3 Bg5 15.
O-O Bxe3+ 16. Qxe3 O-O 17. Rac1 Rb8 18. Rc3 b6 19. Bxd7 Qxd7 20. Rc6 Rfd8 21.
Rfc1 Nf6 22. R1c3 Qb7 23. Qc1 Ne8 24. f4 $6 exf4 $2 25. gxf4 $2 Qd7 26. Qd1
Rdc8 27. Nd4 Nf6 28. Qf3 $2 ({Black is on the ropes after} 28. Nf5 $1 {
threatening a fork on e7.} {The d6-pawn falls as} Rxc6 {doesn't help because of
} 29. dxc6 $1) 28... Re8 29. Re3 Rbc8 30. Qg2 $2 {Apparently, White is trying
to organize an attack against g7 but it doesn't work.} ({A move like} 30. h3 {
covering the g4-square is OK.}) 30... Nxd5 $1 31. Nf5 g6 32. Rxc8 Rxc8 33.
Nxh6+ Kg7 34. exd5 $1 ({Black has set a nice trap:} 34. Nf5+ $2 Qxf5 $1 35.
exf5 Rc1+ {with decisive material gains, e.g.,} 36. Re1 Rxe1+ 37. Kf2 Re2+ $1
38. Kxe2 Nxf4+ {etc.}) 34... Rc1+ 35. Kf2 Rc2+ 36. Re2 Rxe2+ 37. Kxe2 Qb5+ 38.
Ke1 $6 ({Correct is} 38. Ke3 Qc5+ 39. Kd3 {when Black is forced to take the
knight} Kxh6 {White will have to suffer in the endgame but his drawing chances
are quite high.}) 38... Qb4+ $1 39. Kd1 Qd4+ 40. Kc2 Kxh6 ({Black can improve
his position further by means of} 40... Qc4+ 41. Kd1 Qd3+ 42. Kc1 {and only
then} Kxh6) 41. Qf3 Qc5+ 42. Kd3 Qg1 43. Qe3 $2 {White gambles.} ({He was
obviously not excited about the normal} 43. f5 Qxh2 44. fxg6 Kxg6 {but the
pawn endgame is simply lost for him.}) 43... Qb1+ $2 {Black misses his chance.}
({After} 43... Qxe3+ 44. Kxe3 Kh5 45. Kf3 Kh4 46. f5 g5 $1 {White's days are
numbered. For example,} 47. f6 Kh5 48. Ke4 Kg6 {etc.}) 44. Kc3 Qxa2 {The
endgame is still tricky but after a few mutual inaccuracies White finds a
perpetual check.} 45. f5+ Kg7 46. Qd4+ f6 47. Qe4 Qa5+ 48. Kc2 Qc5+ 49. Kb3
gxf5 ({Here, for example, the computer indicates that Black is close to
winning after} 49... b5 $3 {creating mating threats.}) 50. Qxf5 Qb5+ 51. Ka3
Qc5+ 52. Ka2 a5 53. Qg4+ Kf7 54. Qd7+ Kg6 55. Qg4+ Kf7 56. Qd7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "2015 Red Deer Open"]
[Site "Red Deer"]
[Date "2015.05.17"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Nguyen, Kim"]
[Black "Hughey, Micah"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2210"]
[BlackElo "2167"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2015.05.17"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. h3 O-O 7. O-O Re8 8. Ba4
Bd7 {Curiously, this position cannot be found in the database.} 9. Be3 {This
move doesn't look bad but White is going to regret it soon.} ({Normal is} 9.
Nbd2 {etc.}) 9... Bxe3 10. fxe3 d5 $1 {Black seizes the initiative.} 11. exd5
Nxd5 12. Qd2 e4 $1 13. c4 $2 {The decisive mistake already.} (13. dxe4 Nf6 $1 {
leads to an excellent position for Black but White is very much in the game.})
13... Nxe3 $1 14. Qxe3 exf3 15. Qf4 ({Certainly,} 15. Qxf3 Ne5 16. Qd1 Bxa4 17.
Qxa4 Qd4+ 18. Kh1 Nxd3 {is terrible for White but the game continuation is
hardly any better.}) 15... Ne5 16. Bc2 fxg2 17. Kxg2 Bc6+ 18. Kh2 {Black has
way too many winning moves here.} Qd6 19. Nc3 Nf3+ 20. Kg3 Qxf4+ 21. Kxf4 Nd4
22. Bd1 Re6 23. Bg4 f5 24. Bxf5 Rf8 25. Kg4 h5+ {White is going to lose a
piece so he resigned.} 0-1

[Event "10th Edmonton International"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2015.06.26"]
[Round "6.5"]
[White "Hambleton, Aman"]
[Black "Haessel, Dale"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2446"]
[BlackElo "2180"]
[PlyCount "160"]
[EventDate "2015.06.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. e3 Nc6 6. Nge2 d6 7. O-O O-O 8. d4
cxd4 9. exd4 Bf5 10. h3 h5 11. Bg5 Qd7 12. Kh2 e5 13. d5 {White may be
satisfied with the outcome of the opening. His last move indicates a desire to
play a complex game.} (13. dxe5 $5 dxe5 14. Qxd7 Nxd7 15. Rad1 {with pressure
is a good alternative.}) 13... Na5 $6 {The knight is going to be out of play
for a long time.} (13... Nb4 {is preferable.}) 14. b3 a6 15. Na4 (15. f3 $5 {
intending to trap the bishop is an interesting alternative.}) 15... Qc7 16. Rc1
Bd7 17. Nec3 b6 18. Be3 Rfb8 19. f4 {Logical. The black rook has left the
f-file so White initiates play on the kingside.} exf4 20. Rxf4 Qd8 21. Nb2 b5
22. c5 $6 ({White has made good progress over the last few moves and} 22. cxb5
axb5 23. Nd3 {would maintain a nice advantage.}) 22... dxc5 23. Bxc5 Nb7 24. b4
{Now the position is unclear.} Bf5 25. d6 {White is ready to sacrifice an
exchange for the opponent's dark-squared bishop but Black refrains from taking
it for the time being.} Qd7 $6 ({The computer advocates a retrograde} 25... Ne8
{intending to eliminate the annoying d6-pawn even at a cost of an exchange.})
26. Qh1 $5 {Increasing the pressure along the long diagonal.} Bh6 {Black
finally decides to take the exchange but the timing isn't perfect.} ({The
computer suggests} 26... a5 {with the idea to get the a8-rook in play.} {
However, after} 27. Bc6 Qc8 28. Nxb5 Nxc5 29. Bxa8 Rxb5 30. Rxc5 Rxc5 31. bxc5
Qxc5 32. Qc6 {White forces favorable simplifications with good winning chances.
}) 27. Bc6 {Both players were already short of time at this point, which
explains mutual inaccuracies in this very complicated position.} (27. Nd3 $1 {
is surprisingly strong as after} Bxd3 $2 28. Rxf6 Bxc1 29. Qxc1 {the knight
will jump to d5 soon with a decisive attack.}) 27... Qc8 28. Rxf5 $2 (28. Nd3 {
is still good.} {After} Bxf4 29. Nxf4 {White has fantastic compensation for
the exchange.}) 28... gxf5 $2 {Black returns the favor.} ({Correct is} 28...
Qxf5 $1 {and White doesn't have time to take on b7.} {After} 29. Rf1 Qc2+ 30.
Qg2 Qxc3 31. Bxb7 Rxb7 32. Qxb7 Re8 {Black's counterplay is sufficient for
equality and maybe more.}) 29. Rf1 Nxc5 30. bxc5 Ra7 31. Nd3 Qe6 32. Qf3 {
White has an overwhelming position notwithstanding a small material deficit.
However, the time control is still far away.} Rc8 33. Nd5 $2 ({After} 33. Re1
$1 {Black wouldn't be able to last long. For example,} Qc4 34. Nd5 Nxd5 35.
Bxd5 Qc3 36. c6 {etc.}) 33... Ne4 $1 {A strong riposte changing the situation
on the board once again.} 34. Qxh5 {White bets everything on his attack but it
should be enough only for a draw.} ({Best is} 34. d7 Rxd7 35. Bxd7 Qxd7 36. Nb6
Qd8 37. Nxc8 Nd2 38. Qxf5 Nxf1+ 39. Qxf1 Qxc8 40. Qe2 {with some winning
chances in the endgame.}) 34... Rxc6 35. Rxf5 Bg7 36. N3f4 Qe8 37. Nb4 $2 ({A
logical conclusion at this point would be} 37. Qg4 Rxc5 38. Nh5 Rc2+ 39. Kg1
Rc1+ 40. Kh2 Rc2+ {with a draw by repetition.}) 37... Rc8 ({A few spectators
saw} 37... Nxg3 $1 38. Kxg3 Qe1+ 39. Kf3 Qxb4 {completely turning the tables.})
38. Nbd3 Qd7 $2 ({Missing another great chance} 38... Nxd6 $1 39. cxd6 Rc2+ 40.
Ng2 Rd7 {White's attack is over and Black's material advantage will soon tell.}
) 39. Ne5 Bxe5 $2 {Hard to believe but it's the losing move.} ({Correct is} 
39... Qe8 {asking White to repeat the position:} 40. Ned3 Nxd6 $1 {etc.}) 40.
Rxe5 Re8 {The players finally made the time control and got an extra half an
hour to work with. White has a number of ways to force a draw by a perpetual
check but can he try for more?} 41. Rg5+ $2 {Aman thought for more than 20
minutes but just couldn't find the winning continuation.} ({The only way is} 
41. Qg4+ $1 {distracting the black queen.} {After} Qxg4 (41... Kf8 {runs into}
42. Qh4 $3 Kg7 43. Rh5 {with a crushing attack.}) 42. Rxe8+ Kh7 43. hxg4 Nxc5
44. Re7 {the computer evaluates the endgame as completely winning for White.})
41... Nxg5 {Dale immediately grabbed the rook and played the following moves
quickly.} 42. Qxg5+ Kf8 43. Qh6+ Kg8 44. Nh5 Re2+ 45. Kg1 Re1+ 46. Kf2 Qf5+ $1
{The rook sacrifice secures a draw by a perpetual check.} 47. Kxe1 Qe4+ 48. Kf2
Qf5+ 49. Ke2 Qe5+ 50. Kd2 Qd5+ 51. Ke1 Qe5+ 52. Kf1 Qf5+ 53. Ke2 Qe5+ {At this
point everybody in the audience was sure that the piece treaty would be signed
soon.} 54. Kd3 Qd5+ 55. Ke2 Qe5+ {The position has repeated for the third time
but neither player claimed a draw.} 56. Kd1 Qd5+ 57. Kc1 $6 {Objectively, the
position is still drawn but White is playing with fire.} Qxc5+ 58. Kb1 Qb4+ 59.
Kc2 Qc4+ 60. Kd1 Qd5+ (60... Qd4+ 61. Ke2 f6 {is a winning try for Black that
White may have been hoping for. The game is still drawn in this case.}) 61. Ke1
$2 {In an attempt to win White loses objectivity and crosses the line.} {Dale
spent a lot of time here but found the right continuation.} Qe6+ $1 62. Qxe6
fxe6 63. d7 Ra8 {The only but sufficient move.} 64. Nf6+ Kf7 65. Ne4 Ke7 {Now
Black is winning.} 66. Nc5 a5 ({Somewhat surprisingly, the pawn endgame after} 
66... Kd6 67. d8=Q+ Rxd8 68. Nb7+ Ke7 69. Nxd8 Kxd8 {is also lost for White.
For example,} 70. h4 Ke7 71. Kd2 a5 72. g4 b4 73. g5 e5 74. h5 a4 75. h6 Kf7
76. Kd3 b3 77. axb3 a3 78. Kc2 e4) 67. h4 b4 68. Kd2 Rg8 69. Kc2 (69. Ne4 {
doesn't help because of} Rg4) 69... Rxg3 70. Nxe6 Kxd7 71. Nd4 Kc7 72. a3 Kb6
73. axb4 axb4 74. h5 Ka5 75. Ne6 Ka4 76. Kb2 Rg2+ 77. Kb1 Rh2 78. Nd4 b3 79.
Nf3 Rxh5 80. Nd4 Ka3 {A tremendous battle!} 0-1

[Event "10th Edmonton International"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2015.06.27"]
[Round "8.5"]
[White "Hambleton, Aman"]
[Black "Ganguly, Surya Shekhar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2446"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2015.06.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 b5 4. a4 c6 5. Nc3 a6 6. axb5 cxb5 7. Nxb5 axb5 8.
Rxa8 Bb7 {This interesting exchange sacrifice became quite popular lately. It
was played by a few strong grandmasters including Kasimdzanov, Nisipeanu and
even Hikaru Nakamura.} 9. Ra2 (9. Ra1 {is much more popular but not
necessarily better.}) 9... e6 {Correct.} ({White's idea is revealed after} 9...
Bxe4 $6 10. f3 Bd5 11. b3 {and then the rook can swing along the second rank.})
10. f3 Nc6 11. Ne2 Bb4+ 12. Bd2 Nge7 ({The computer strongly prefers} 12... Nf6
) 13. b3 O-O 14. bxc4 bxc4 15. Qb1 (15. Qc1 $5 Qb6 16. Qxc4 {going after the
c4-pawn deserves attention.}) 15... Qb6 16. Bxb4 $2 {This capture changes the
evaluation of the position dramatically.} ({The fearless computer point out to
the right continuation:} 16. Rb2 $1 Bxd2+ 17. Kxd2 c3+ 18. Kxc3 Qa5+ 19. Kd3
Ba6+ 20. Ke3 Bxe2 21. Bxe2 Qc3+ 22. Kf2 Qxd4+ 23. Ke1 {The position remains
unclear though because of the white rook stuck in the corner.}) 16... Nxb4 17.
Nc3 Nec6 18. Rd2 Ra8 {This gives the opponent an opportunity to simplify the
position.} (18... Ba6 $5 {holding on to the c4-pawn is stronger.}) 19. Be2 $2 {
White misses his chance and never gets another real one to come back.} ({He
should have tried} 19. Bxc4 Nxd4 20. Rxd4 Qxd4 21. Qxb4 Ba6 22. Ne2 Qxc4 23.
Qxc4 Bxc4 24. Nc1 {with good chances to hold the endgame.}) 19... Ra3 20. Qc1
Nxd4 21. Bd1 Ra8 22. Na4 Rxa4 $1 {Black will be down a lot of material but his
spectacular attack is irresistible.} 23. Bxa4 Nxf3+ 24. gxf3 Qe3+ 25. Kf1 Qxf3+
26. Kg1 Qe3+ 27. Kf1 Qf3+ 28. Kg1 Qe3+ 29. Kf1 Nd3 $1 30. h4 {White is
defenceless.} ({For example,} 30. Qxc4 Qe1+ 31. Kg2 Qxd2+ {etc.}) 30... Qf4+
31. Kg1 Qe3+ 32. Kf1 c3 $1 33. Rhh2 Ba6 {A superb picture of complete
domination!} 34. Rhe2 Qxe2+ {Black is going to regain all his material
investments with a lot of interest.} 0-1

[Event "10th Edmonton International"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2015.06.28"]
[Round "9.2"]
[White "Wang, Hao"]
[Black "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2704"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2015.06.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Nd5 Nxd5 {In general, this capture
is premature is Black can't quickly remove the d5-pawn off the board.} (5...
Bc5 {is more flexible and popular.}) 6. cxd5 Nd4 7. Nxd4 (7. Nxe5 $2 {gets
White is trouble after} Qe7) 7... exd4 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O d6 10. Qc2 Bc5 11. b3
Bg4 12. e3 {White can be satisfied with the course of the opening so far. If
Black captures on e3, White will obtain a superior structure and a comfortable
position while playing for two results. Therefore, Black tries to mix things
up a bit.} Qd7 13. Bb2 Bf5 14. e4 $1 Bg6 15. d3 {The d4-pawn is cut off from
the rest of the army and is going to be lost.} Rfe8 16. Kh1 Rac8 17. f4 f6 18.
Qf2 Qb5 19. Bxd4 Qxd3 20. Bxc5 dxc5 21. Rad1 $1 {White evaluated the position
correctly. Instead of trying to win material immediately he strengthens his
presence in the center.} Qa6 22. Rfe1 Qd6 23. Qb2 Rcd8 24. e5 fxe5 25. fxe5 Qe7
26. h4 Bh5 27. Rd2 g5 $5 {Black's position looks so passive that he seeks
counterplay notwithstanding the weakening of his king.} 28. hxg5 Qxg5 29. Qc3
Rd6 30. Rf2 Qg7 31. Re3 Rg6 32. Kg1 Rg5 33. e6 {Black has been playing
creatively but White maintains a firm grip on the position.} Qxc3 34. Rxc3 c6 (
34... b6 $6 {isn't going to help since White breaks through with} 35. b4 $1)
35. dxc6 bxc6 36. Re3 Bg4 37. e7 Rg6 {It seems that White is getting close but
the future course of the game suggests that he should look for improvement
right here.} 38. Rc2 {This wins a pawn but allows the opponent to get rid of
an annoying nail on e7.} ({The following regrouping deserves serious attention:
} 38. Rf4 $5 Bd7 39. Bf1 Kg7 40. Bc4 Rf6 41. Rfe4 {and it feels like Black is
on the ropes.}) 38... Kf7 39. Rxc5 Rxe7 40. Rxe7+ Kxe7 41. Bxc6 Kd6 42. Rc3 {
During the game it looked like White was going to convert his advantage into a
full point but Black somehow managed to hold.} Rg5 43. Be4 Ra5 44. Rc2 h5 45.
Kf2 Bd7 46. Rd2+ Kc7 47. Bd5 Rc5 48. Ke3 Rc1 49. Bf3 Be8 50. Kf4 Rf1 51. Rc2+
Kd6 52. Rc3 Rf2 53. a3 a5 54. Kg5 Rh2 55. Rc8 ({Perhaps,} 55. Rd3+ Ke7 56. Re3+
{is a better try.}) 55... Bd7 56. Ra8 a4 57. bxa4 Ra2 58. Ra6+ (58. Bxh5 Rxa3
59. g4 Rxa4 60. Rxa4 Bxa4 {is a tablebase draw.}) 58... Ke7 59. a5 Rxa3 60. Kf4
Ra4+ 61. Be4 Bb5 {Now Black can breathe a sigh of relief.} 62. Ra7+ Kd6 63. Ke3
Ra3+ 64. Kf4 Ra4 65. Ke3 Ra3+ 66. Kd4 Ra4+ 67. Ke3 1/2-1/2

[Event "10th Edmonton International Open"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2015.06.28"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Fellah, Mohamad"]
[Black "Briones, Dante"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C18"]
[WhiteElo "1793"]
[BlackElo "1990"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "2015.06.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cxd4 7. Nb5 Bc7 8. f4 Nc6
9. Qg4 Kf8 10. Nf3 a5 11. Rb1 axb4 12. axb4 g6 13. Bd3 Kg7 14. O-O Ra4 15.
Nfxd4 Nxd4 16. Nxd4 Nh6 17. Qh3 Nf5 18. Bxf5 exf5 19. Qb3 Ra8 20. Be3 Bb6 21.
Rfd1 Bxd4 22. Bxd4 Be6 23. Bc5 b5 24. Qh3 h5 25. Ra1 Qd7 26. Qh4 Rhe8 27. Rxa8
Rxa8 28. Be7 Ra2 29. h3 Rxc2 30. Ra1 Qb7 31. Qf6+ Kg8 32. Bf8 Kxf8 33. Qd8+ Kg7
34. Ra8 Qxa8 35. Qxa8 d4 36. Qd8 Rd2 37. Kh2 d3 38. Kg3 Bc4 39. Qf6+ Kh7 40. e6
Bxe6 41. Qc3 Rd1 42. Kh4 Bc4 43. Kg5 Rb1 44. Kf6 Rf1 45. Qd4 Re1 46. Qd8 Re6+
47. Kg5 Kg7 48. g4 fxg4 49. hxg4 hxg4 50. Kxg4 Re2 51. f5 gxf5+ 52. Kxf5 Re6
53. Qd4+ Kh7 54. Kg5 Rg6+ 55. Kf4 Re6 56. Kg5 f6+ 57. Kf5 Kg7 58. Qd7+ Kf8 59.
Qd4 Kf7 60. Kf4 Re7 {The game featured a number of twists and turns finally
reaching a position that is objectively drawn. Due to an exposed position of
his king Black can't make real progress. It seems, however, that White was
still playing for a win not taking into account the changed circumstances.} 61.
Kf5 $4 {A terrible blunder that cost White his tournament.} ({Instead, after a
normal waiting move like} 61. Qd6 {a handshake is in order.}) 61... Be6+ $1 62.
Kf4 Rd7 $1 {This regrouping is decisive.} 63. Qg1 d2 64. Qd1 Ke7 65. Kg3 Bb3
66. Qe2+ Kd8 67. Qxb5 d1=Q 0-1

[Event "2015 Fort McMurray Open"]
[Site "Fort McMurray"]
[Date "2015.07.04"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Pechenkin, Vladimir"]
[Black "Abad, Arden Troy G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2385"]
[BlackElo "1788"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2015.07.04"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nb6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
a3 Be6 9. b4 O-O 10. Rb1 a6 11. d3 f6 12. Bb2 Kh8 13. Qc2 Qd7 14. Ne4 Bh3 15.
Nc5 Bxc5 16. bxc5 Nd5 17. Rfd1 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Qg4 19. Bc1 Rab8 20. h3 Qe6 21. e4
Nde7 22. d4 exd4 23. Nxd4 Nxd4 24. Rxd4 Nc6 25. Rd5 Ne7 26. Rd1 f5 27. Re1 {So
far the game has developed normally. White has pressure on the queenside and
intends to increase it by putting the bishop on f4. Black seeks his chances on
the kingside.} Nd5 $2 {This looks like a creative way to prevent Bf4 as White
can't take the knight. Or can he?} 28. exd5 $3 {It turns out that the capture
is not only possible but also ends the game immediately.} Qxe1 29. Be3 ({Black
resigned in view of the following line:} 29. Be3 Qa5 30. Bd2 Qxa3 31. Bb4 {and
the queen is trapped.}) 1-0

[Event "2015 Fort McMurray Open"]
[Site "Fort McMurray"]
[Date "2015.07.05"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Pechenkin, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gardner, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2385"]
[BlackElo "2220"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2015.07.04"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 Nge7 6. e3 d6 7. Nge2 Be6 8. Nd5
Qd7 9. Nec3 Nd8 10. Nxe7 Qxe7 11. Bd2 {White's setup is not very impressive
but the position remains about equal.} c6 12. b4 O-O 13. Rc1 f5 14. O-O g5 15.
f4 e4 $2 {The complications initiated by this break work in White's favor as
Ra8 and Nd8 are too far from action.} 16. dxe4 Bxc4 17. Re1 fxe4 18. Nxe4 d5
19. Nxg5 h6 20. Nf3 Bxa2 21. Qc2 Bc4 22. e4 {The game is going to open up, and
White's pieces are simply better prepared for that. Black's position is
critical.} Qf7 23. exd5 Bxd5 24. Ne5 Qe6 $2 (24... Bxe5 25. Rxe5 Bxg2 26. Kxg2
Ne6 {is more tenacious.}) 25. Ng6 Bd4+ 26. Kh1 Bxg2+ 27. Kxg2 Qd5+ 28. Qe4 {
Black's lag in development essentially decides the outcome of the game.} Qxe4+
({Or} 28... Rf7 29. Ne7+ Rxe7 30. Qxd5+ cxd5 31. Rxe7) 29. Rxe4 Rf6 30. f5 {
The most incisive continuation.} c5 31. Ne7+ Kf7 32. bxc5 Bb2 33. Rc2 Ba3 34.
g4 Ra6 {Black managed to avoid major material losses. Nevertheless, White is
up a pawn and his superior piece coordination makes his advantage decisive.
Black plays for tactical tricks trying to utilize his advantage on the clock.}
35. Nd5 Rc8 36. Be3 Kf8 37. h4 Nf7 38. g5 hxg5 39. hxg5 Rd6 40. Ne7 Rc7 41. f6
b6 42. Ng6+ {Fortunately, White finds a line that wins the whole rook.} Kg8 43.
Re8+ Kh7 44. Nf8+ Kg8 45. Ne6+ 1-0

[Event "2015 Canadian Closed"]
[Site "Guelph"]
[Date "2015.07.11"]
[Round "3.16"]
[White "Shi, Diwen"]
[Black "Chen, Richard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2214"]
[BlackElo "2297"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2015.07.10"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Nge7
8. Qf3 Be6 9. Ne2 Qd7 10. Ng3 O-O-O 11. O-O h5 12. h4 Rdg8 13. Re1 f6 14. Qe2
Bf7 15. f4 Kb8 16. Be3 Qg4 17. Qxg4 hxg4 18. Bf2 Rxh4 19. Nf5 Nxf5 20. Bxf5
Rhh8 21. Bxg4 g5 22. f5 Re8 23. Bg3 Na5 24. Kf2 Nc4 25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. Rh1 Ne3
27. Kf3 {The position is objectively equal. However, Black started grabbing
White's queenside pawns underestimating the opponent's play on the kingside.}
Nxc2 $2 28. Rh6 Nxa3 29. Rxf6 Re7 30. Rh6 Nc4 31. f6 $2 {White must have been
satisfied with a draw at this point.} ({Otherwise, he would have found} 31. Bh5
$1 Bxh5+ 32. Rxh5 {when the f-pawn decides the game in his favor. For example,}
Re8 33. Kg4 a5 34. f6 {etc.}) 31... Re8 $2 {Black must have been playing for a
win.} ({Otherwise, he would have taken the draw:} 31... Nd2+ 32. Kf2 Ne4+ {
with a repetition.}) 32. Rh7 $2 {Same problem.} (32. Bh5 {is still winning.})
32... Nd2+ 33. Kf2 Ne4+ 34. Kf3 Rf8 {Correct. The insertion of a couple of
moves gives Black the right to play for a win.} 35. Be5 a5 36. Bf5 $2 {This
natural continuation runs into a crushing blow:} Nxf6 $1 37. Bxf6 Bg6 $1 {The
point.} 38. Bxg6 Rxf6+ 39. Bf5 Rxf5+ 40. Kg4 Rf2 41. g3 Rc2 42. Kxg5 Rxc3 43.
g4 {Can you believe that White managed to win this position?} Rc4 $2 {A wrong
approach. Black doesn't need more passed pawns to win.} ({Correct is} 43... a4
44. Kf4 a3 45. Rh1 a2 46. Ra1 Rc2 47. g5 b5 {etc.}) 44. Kf6 Rxd4 45. g5 Rg4 $2
{Now the position is drawn.} ({Black can still get a full point by} 45... Rf4+
46. Ke5 Rg4 {gaining a crucial tempo with a check.}) 46. g6 b5 {Black keeps on
playing for a win but he should already be thinking about a draw.} ({The
simplest way is} 46... a4 {with a sample line} 47. Rh5 Ka7 48. Rxd5 Kb6 49. g7
a3 50. Rd3 a2 51. Ra3 Rf4+ 52. Kg6 Rg4+ {and a repetition is in order.}) 47.
Rh5 Rxg6+ {Probably the best decision.} 48. Kxg6 Kb7 ({Black is not obligated
to give up one of his pawns and can try} 48... c6 $5 49. Kf6 a4 50. Ke5 Kc7 51.
Kd4 Kb6 {with a very interesting position.}) 49. Rxd5 c6 {This is actually a
draw according to the tablebases.} 50. Rd1 b4 51. Kf5 Kb6 52. Ke4 Kb5 $2 (52...
a4 $1 {is the only way to get half a point but don't ask me why.}) 53. Kd3 $1 {
The only but sufficient move. Diwen plays the rest of the game precisely and
never lets the win slip away.} c5 54. Kc2 a4 55. Rd8 c4 56. Rb8+ Kc5 57. Rc8+
Kb5 58. Rb8+ Kc5 59. Kb2 c3+ 60. Kc2 Kc4 61. Rc8+ Kb5 62. Ra8 a3 63. Kb3 Kb6
64. Rb8+ Kc5 65. Rxb4 1-0

[Event "8th Calgary International"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.08.02"]
[Round "7.5"]
[White "Yam, Alex"]
[Black "Humphreys, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B14"]
[WhiteElo "2306"]
[BlackElo "2207"]
[PlyCount "161"]
[EventDate "2015.07.29"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. cxd4 d5 5. exd5 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Qb3 O-O 8.
Be2 Na6 9. Bg5 Qb6 10. Qxb6 axb6 11. Nf3 Nb4 12. O-O Nfxd5 13. a3 Nxc3 14. bxc3
Nd5 15. Rfc1 Rd8 16. c4 h6 17. Bd2 Nc7 18. Bb4 Bf6 19. Rab1 Bf5 20. Rb3 Ne6 21.
d5 Nf4 22. Bf1 b5 23. cxb5 Nxd5 24. Bd2 Kg7 25. h3 Be6 26. Bc4 Rdc8 27. Kh2 Rc5
28. Bxd5 Rxd5 29. Bc3 Rf5 30. Bxf6+ Kxf6 31. Rb2 Rxa3 32. Nd4 Re5 33. Nxe6 Rxe6
34. Rc7 b6 35. Rb4 Rd3 36. Rb7 Rd5 37. f3 Kg7 38. Kg3 f5 39. Rb2 Kf7 40. Rb8
Rd4 {Looking at the diagram it's hard to imagine that White can dream of
anything more than a draw.} 41. Rc2 $5 {The time control has passed and White
decides to activate the second rook at a cost of another pawn.} Rb4 42. Rcc8
Rxb5 $2 {Black must not be in a rush to capture this pawn.} ({Instead, he
should improve his position on the kingside:} 42... g5 {Then} 43. Rf8+ {may be
answered by} Kg6 44. Rg8+ Kh5 $1) 43. Rf8+ Kg7 44. Rg8+ Kf6 45. f4 $1 {An
excellent resource. Suddenly, Black must play precisely.} Rd6 $2 {He doesn't.}
({Correct is} 45... Re3+ {clearing the e6-square for the king with a tempo.
For example,} 46. Kh4 g5+ 47. fxg5+ hxg5+ 48. Rxg5 Rb4+ 49. Kh5 e6 {and
Black's winning hopes are alive.}) 46. Rbf8+ Ke6 47. Rxg6+ Kd7 48. Rxd6+ Kxd6
49. Rh8 Rc5 50. Rxh6+ e6 {Now the game should be drawn but the adventures are
far from being over.} 51. Kh4 b5 52. g4 fxg4 53. hxg4 Ke7 ({Black is playing
for a draw now. Therefore,} 53... Rc1 {looks the simplest.}) 54. Rh7+ Kf6 55.
Rb7 Rc4 56. Kh5 Rxf4 57. g5+ Ke5 58. Rxb5+ Kd6 {This position is a tablebase
draw but White has a right to test his opponent.} 59. Rb7 e5 60. g6 Rf1 61. g7
Rh1+ 62. Kg6 Rg1+ 63. Kf7 {The critical position of the endgame.} Kc5 $2 {This
natural move loses!} ({The only way to draw is} 63... Rf1+ $1 64. Ke8 Rg1 {If
White tries} 65. Kf8 {then} Kc5 {is good enough to split the point.} {Here the
approach from the game} 66. Rb1 $4 {doesn't work because of} Rxb1 67. g8=Q Rb8+
{(that's why the white king had to be lured to the 8-th rank).}) 64. Rb1 $1
Rxb1 ({After} 64... Rg2 65. g8=Q Rxg8 66. Kxg8 e4 67. Kf7 Kd4 68. Ke6 e3 69.
Kf5 Kd3 70. Kf4 e2 71. Kf3 Kd2 72. Kf2 {Black lacks exactly one tempo to save
the game.}) 65. g8=Q Rb6 {This type of endgame has a reputation of being hard
to win but this time everything goes smoothly for White.} 66. Qg1+ Kc6 67. Ke6
e4 68. Qd4 Kc7+ 69. Ke5 Rc6 70. Kxe4 Rd6 71. Qa7+ Kd8 72. Ke5 Rg6 73. Qb7 Rh6
74. Qb3 Ra6 75. Qb4 ({I am not sure that the end of the game was recorded
properly as} 75. Qd3+ {wins immediately.}) 75... Rc6 76. Qb8+ Kd7 77. Qb7+ Rc7
78. Qb5+ Ke7 79. Qb4+ Kd8 80. Kd6 Rc8 81. Qh4+ 1-0

[Event "8th Calgary International"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.07.30"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Ng, Gary"]
[Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A00"]
[WhiteElo "2194"]
[BlackElo "2538"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2015.07.29"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. b4 b6 2. Bb2 Bb7 3. c4 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. a3 d5 6. Nf3 a5 7. b5 Bd6 8. Be2 O-O
9. O-O Nbd7 10. d4 Qe7 11. Nbd2 Rad8 12. Qc2 Ne4 13. cxd5 exd5 14. Nxe4 dxe4
15. Nd2 Nf6 16. Nc4 Nd5 17. Nxd6 cxd6 18. Rac1 Kh8 19. Bc4 f5 {Gary opted for
this favorite Sokolsky and obtained a promising position out of the opening.
Black has just launched a dangerous looking kingside attack so White decides
to clarify matters.} 20. Bxd5 ({The computer advocates} 20. Qb3 {but after} Qe6
{it's unclear what to do next.}) 20... Bxd5 21. Qc7 Qe8 $6 ({Black can
actually force the white queen back by} 21... Rd7 $1 {since} 22. Qxb6 {runs
into} Ra8 $1 {followed by Rb7 trapping the queen.}) 22. Qxb6 f4 23. Qxa5 $6 {
This is way too provocative.} ({The computer suggests} 23. Kh1 $5 {getting
ready for} f3 $2 24. Rg1 $1) 23... f3 {Now what?} 24. g3 $2 {The losing move.}
({Remarkably, the only way to continue is} 24. g4 $1 {White tries to buy
enough time to play Kh1 and Rg1.} {The computer then recommends} Bc4 $1 25.
Rxc4 Qe6 26. h3 Qxc4 {with a highly unbalanced position and chances for both
sides.}) 24... Ra8 25. Qe1 Rf6 {It's all over now.} 26. g4 Rh6 27. Kh1 Qe7 0-1

[Event "8th Calgary International"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.07.30"]
[Round "2.5"]
[White "Gardner, Robert"]
[Black "Yam, Alex"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A52"]
[WhiteElo "2138"]
[BlackElo "2305"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2015.07.29"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. e3 Nc6 6. a3 a5 7. b3 O-O 8. Bd3
Re8 9. Bb2 Ra6 10. Qc2 Ncxe5 11. Bxh7+ Kh8 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Bf5 Qg5 14. Nc3 {
Black has a strong initiative that is worth more than a pawn.} Bxe3 $2 {A
little too early.} ({Somewhat surprisingly, the best move is} 14... Rf6 $1 {
White has no way of exploiting Black's awkwardly placed pieces.}) 15. fxe3 d5
$2 {The losing move.} ({Correct is} 15... Qxe3+ {keeping the enemy king in the
center. The position remains unclear.}) 16. O-O $1 Qxe3+ 17. Qf2 {Black is
simply down a piece for not much at all.} Nf3+ 18. gxf3 Qg5+ 19. Kh1 Qxf5 20.
Nxd5 Rae6 {A desperate try that suddenly works.} 21. Nxc7 Re2 22. Qh4+ Kg8 23.
Nxe8 Rxb2 {White has a ton of winning moves.} 24. Qd4 $4 {but not this one.}
Rxh2+ $1 {A draw was agreed here as White can simply take the rook and allow a
perpetual check.} ({In fact, he can actually give a try to the following
forced variation:} 24... Rxh2+ 25. Kg1 Rh1+ 26. Kf2 Rh2+ 27. Ke1 Qe6+ 28. Qe4
Qh6 29. Rd1 Bf5 30. Qe7 Bd3 31. Rg1 Qh4+ 32. Qxh4 Re2+ 33. Kf1 Rd2+ {and it is
only now that the perpetual check is unavoidable.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "8th Calgary International"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.08.02"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Black "Kazmaier, Daniel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A89"]
[WhiteElo "2538"]
[BlackElo "2198"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2015.07.29"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 {
One of the main lines of the Leningrad Dutch is on the board.} Na5 9. Qd3 {
White protects the c4-pawn and threatens to trap the black knight with 10.b4.}
c5 {The usual reply.} (9... e5 $5 {is also possible.}) 10. Bd2 a6 11. Ng5 b5 $6
{A dubious looking novelty that somehow worked well in this game.} ({So far
everybody prepared the queenside expansion with} 11... Rb8) 12. b3 $2 {Too
timid.} ({White should just go ahead and grab the pawn:} 12. cxb5 axb5 13. Nxb5
{etc. Black has no real compensation.}) 12... Ng4 ({Immediate} 12... b4 {looks
good.}) 13. f4 {An interesting decision. The exchange sacrifice looks dubious
but White may actually be able to get full compensation.} ({Nevertheless,} 13.
cxb5 {is still the right continuation.}) 13... b4 14. Na4 Bxa1 15. Rxa1 {
White's main plan is to create threats along the a1-h8 diagonal. He will also
be looking for a good moment to break in the center with e2-e4.} Nf6 16. Re1
Qc7 17. Bc1 ({Here and later the computer advocates the central breakthrough} 
17. e4 $5 {For example,} fxe4 18. Bxe4 Nxe4 19. Qxe4 {with enough compensation
for the exchange.}) 17... Bd7 18. Bb2 Rae8 19. h3 Bxa4 20. bxa4 ({White should
have thrown in} 20. Ne6 $1) 20... Qd7 21. e4 $2 {Unfortunately, the worst
possible timing for this break.} (21. Ne6 $5 {is still relatively best. White
can then follow up with g3-g4.}) 21... Qxa4 $1 {The queen excursion looks
risky but Black must have calculated the following sequence precisely.} 22.
exf5 Qxa2 $1 23. Qe2 Nxc4 $1 {The dormant knight joins the game just in time.}
(23... Qxc4 $2 {is wrong:} 24. Qe6+ Kh8 25. fxg6 hxg6 26. Qg4 {and Black has
to sacrifice a lot of material to prevent the white queen from coming to h7.})
24. Qe6+ Kh8 $1 {The right square for the king.} (24... Kg7 $2 25. Bxf6+ Rxf6
26. Qd7 {and White wins.}) 25. Ba1 {What else?} (25. Bxf6+ {can be answered by}
exf6 $1) 25... b3 26. Bc3 ({The best try is} 26. Nxh7 $5 {when Black has to
tread carefully.} {For example,} b2 27. Bxb2 Qxb2 28. Nxf8 Rxf8 29. fxg6 {and
the position is still not so clear.}) 26... Qc2 27. Nxh7 {One move too late.}
Qxc3 28. Nxf8 Rxf8 {In comparison with the line above Black's b-pawn is still
on the board. The game is essentially over.} 29. fxg6 Ng8 30. Kh2 Rf6 31. Qe4
Qc2 32. Qf3 Rxg6 33. Re2 Nd2 34. Qh5+ Rh6 35. Qg5 Rh7 36. f5 b2 0-1

[Event "2015 Battle of Alberta"]
[Site "Red Deer"]
[Date "2015.09.12"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Kazmaier, Daniel "]
[Black "Arruebarrena, Rafael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2310"]
[BlackElo "2354"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2015.09.12"]
[EventType "team-match"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[WhiteTeam "South"]
[BlackTeam "North"]

1. g3 Nf6 2. Bg2 d5 3. Nf3 g6 4. c4 dxc4 5. Qa4+ c6 6. Qxc4 Bg7 7. Nc3 Nbd7 8.
d4 O-O 9. O-O Nb6 10. Qd3 Be6 11. b3 c5 12. dxc5 Nfd5 13. Nxd5 Bxa1 14. cxb6
Qxd5 15. Qxd5 Bxd5 16. Be3 Bf6 17. bxa7 Rfd8 18. Rd1 e6 19. Rd3 Rdc8 20. Nd2
Rc1+ 21. Nf1 Rc3 22. Rd2 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Bd8 24. b4 Bc7 25. Rd7 b6 26. a4 Rxa7
27. a5 Ra6 28. axb6 Bxb6 29. b5 Rxe3 30. Nxe3 Ra4 {White was better out of the
opening but should have used his advantage more efficiently. Here Black is
threatening to take on e3 making White's win in the rook endgame problematic.}
31. Kf3 $2 {It's hard to question mark this move but it loses all the
advantage.} ({White has an amazing move to solve his problems:} 31. Ng4 $3 {
Black has no satisfactory way of saving the key f7-pawn, while} Rxg4 {runs into
} 32. f4 {followed by 33.h3 trapping the rook!}) 31... Rb4 32. Ng4 Rxb5 {The
position is drawn now although Dan managed to win thanks to Rafael's mistake
later on.} 33. Nf6+ Kf8 34. g4 h5 35. h3 Ba5 36. e3 hxg4+ 37. hxg4 Rb2 38. g5
Bb6 39. Rd6 Ke7 40. Rd7+ Kf8 41. Ne4 Rb5 42. Rxf7+ Kxf7 43. Nd6+ Ke7 44. Nxb5
Ba5 45. Ke4 Be1 46. f4 Bd2 47. Nd4 Kd6 48. Nf3 Bc3 49. Nh4 e5 50. Nxg6 exf4 51.
exf4 Ke6 52. f5+ 1-0

[Event "2015 Battle of Alberta"]
[Site "Red Deer"]
[Date "2015.09.12"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Banerjee, Bitan"]
[Black "Ng, Gary"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2312"]
[BlackElo "2301"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2015.09.12"]
[EventType "team-match"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[WhiteTeam "North"]
[BlackTeam "South"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 d5 6. Nbd2 Be7 7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O
c5 9. Rd1 Nc6 10. Qa4 Qc8 11. dxc5 dxc4 12. b4 b5 13. Qa3 Nd5 14. Ne1 Ndxb4 15.
Ne4 Nd5 16. Bf4 Nxf4 17. gxf4 b4 18. Qa4 Rb8 19. Nd6 Bxd6 20. cxd6 Bb5 21. Qc2
c3 22. Nf3 Qa6 23. Ng5 g6 24. Qe4 {White played poorly in the opening and got
outplayed in the early middle game. Here Black is up a pawn but he decided to
grab another one that turns out to be quite hot:} Bxe2 $6 25. Re1 $1 Bb5 {Now
White launches a desperate looking attack but it is actually sufficient for a
draw.} 26. f5 $1 exf5 27. Qh4 h5 28. Bd5 Nd8 {Black reinforces f7 but it's not
enough.} ({Initially, the computer prefers} 28... Kg7 {but then after} 29. Nxf7
Rxf7 30. Bxf7 {Black has to accept the perpetual to avoid the worst:} Kxf7 31.
Re7+ Nxe7 32. Qxe7+ Kg8 33. Qe6+ {etc.}) 29. Nxf7 Nxf7 $2 {Surprisingly, the
losing move.} ({Correct is} 29... Rxf7 $1 {intending to meet} 30. Qf6 {with}
Be2 $1 {Now the white rook cannot join the attack so easily and he has to be
satisfied with a perpetual check:} 31. Qxg6+ Kf8 32. Kh1 $3 Qd3 33. Qh6+ Kg8
34. Rg1+ Bg4 35. Rad1 Qxd1 36. Rxd1 Bxd1 37. Qg6+ {etc.}) 30. Qf6 ({Even
stronger is} 30. Re6 Kh7 31. Qf6 {and Black is defenceless.}) 30... Rb6 (30...
Be2 $1 {with the same idea as above is the most tenacious defence.} {In this
line, however, White can take advantage of the poorly placed black pieces and
still win in a crazy fashion:} 31. Qxg6+ Kh8 32. Qf6+ Kh7 33. Qxf5+ Kg7 34. Kh1
$1 Bg4 35. Rg1 $1 Qe2 36. Qxh5 Nh6 37. f3 $1 {etc.}) 31. Re7 {Now it's all
over.} Be8 32. Rxe8 1-0

[Event "2015 Battle of Alberta"]
[Site "Red Deer"]
[Date "2015.09.12"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Zhang, David"]
[Black "Valencia, Belsar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B40"]
[WhiteElo "2298"]
[BlackElo "2299"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2015.09.12"]
[EventType "team-match"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[WhiteTeam "South"]
[BlackTeam "North"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. O-O d5 6. e5 Nd7 7. Re1 Qc7 8. Qe2
Be7 9. h4 b6 10. Bc2 Bb7 11. a3 c4 12. d4 cxd3 13. Bxd3 Nc5 14. Bc2 h6 15. b4
Ne4 16. Bxe4 dxe4 17. Qxe4 Nxb4 18. Qe2 Na6 19. Nd4 Nc5 20. Nd2 a6 21. Rb1 b5
22. c4 Rd8 23. Qg4 g5 24. N2b3 Nxb3 25. Nxb3 bxc4 26. Nd4 h5 27. Nxe6 fxe6 28.
Qxe6 Qc6 29. Qxc6+ Bxc6 30. Bxg5 Rg8 31. Rb6 Bxg5 32. Rxc6 Bd2 33. Rb1 c3 34.
Re6+ Kd7 35. Rbb6 {White is down a piece but threatening a perpetual check.}
Rb8 $2 {Black agrees to split the point but he wasn't obligated to.} ({The
only but sufficient winning move is} 35... Rg7 $1 {intending} 36. Rbd6+ Kc8 37.
Rc6+ Rc7 {White doesn't really have any other ideas.}) 36. Rbd6+ Kc8 37. Rc6+
Kd7 38. Rcd6+ Kc8 39. Rc6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "2015 Battle of Alberta"]
[Site "Red Deer"]
[Date "2015.09.12"]
[Round "1.8"]
[White "Rekhson, Vlad"]
[Black "Gardner, Robert "]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2207"]
[BlackElo "2256"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2015.09.12"]
[EventType "team-match"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[WhiteTeam "South"]
[BlackTeam "North"]

1. e4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. f4 c6 4. d4 b5 5. Nf3 b4 6. Nb1 Nf6 7. e5 Nd5 8. a3 O-O
9. Bc4 Qb6 10. O-O d6 11. axb4 Qxb4 12. b3 Bg4 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Qb6 15. Qf2
Nd7 16. Bd2 Qc7 17. Nc3 N5b6 18. Bd3 e6 19. Ne4 d5 20. Nd6 f5 21. g4 Nc8 22.
Bb4 c5 23. dxc5 fxg4 24. Qe3 a5 25. Nb5 Qb8 26. Ba3 Ne7 27. Nd4 Re8 28. hxg4
Nf8 29. Bb5 Rc8 30. Kg2 g5 31. c6 gxf4 32. Qxf4 Neg6 33. Qf7+ Kh8 34. Bd6 Qb6
35. c3 Nxe5 36. Qb7 Qd8 {White has had an overwhelming position for the past
15 moves or so and now it was the time to pull the trigger.} 37. Be7 $2 (37.
Rxf8+ $1 Bxf8 38. Bxe5+ Kg8 39. Bd3 {etc.}) 37... Qe8 38. Rae1 $2 ({It wasn't
too late for} 38. Rxf8+ Bxf8 39. Bf6+ Kg8 40. Bxe5 {still winning.}) 38... Qg6
{The exposed white king gives Black enough counterplay.} 39. g5 Qh5 40. Be2 Qh4
41. Bf6 $4 {Throwing away the remaining half a point.} ({Correct is} 41. Rh1
Qe4+ 42. Bf3 {when the game goes on.}) 41... Bxf6 42. gxf6 Nfd7 {Now it's
suddenly over.} 43. f7 Rg8+ {Checkmate is inevitable.} 0-1

[Event "2015 Battle of Alberta"]
[Site "Red Deer"]
[Date "2015.09.12"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Arruebarrena, Rafael"]
[Black "Kazmaier, Daniel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]
[WhiteElo "2354"]
[BlackElo "2310"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2015.09.12"]
[EventType "team-match"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[WhiteTeam "North"]
[BlackTeam "South"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qa5 7. Bd2 Qa4 8. Qg4
Kf8 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. Bd3 c4 11. Be2 Qxc2 12. Rc1 Qb3 13. h4 Nge7 14. h5 h6 15.
Bd1 Qxa3 16. Bc2 b5 17. Rh3 Nf5 18. Qf4 Bd7 19. g4 Nfe7 20. Bg6 Nd8 21. Nh4 Ke8
22. Bb1 Nec6 23. g5 Qe7 24. gxh6 gxh6 {White sacrificed a couple of pawns in
the opening for a dangerous looking kingside attack. The game went back and
forth after that reaching the position on the diagram.} 25. Rg3 $1 {White is
setting up his next blow.} a5 {Black must have missed the opponent's idea but
his position is difficult anyway.} ({The computer suggests} 25... Qf8 {but
after} 26. Qf6 Ne7 27. Ke2 {strongly prefers White.}) 26. Qxh6 $3 {It is
actually not a real sacrifice but spectacular nonetheless.} Qf8 ({After} 26...
Rxh6 27. Rg8+ Qf8 28. Rxf8+ Kxf8 29. Bxh6+ {the h-pawn will be almost
impossible to stop.}) 27. Qg5 b4 28. h6 bxc3 29. Be3 Nxd4 $2 {I am not sure
about the idea of this move, after which the game is essentially over.} 30.
Bxd4 Nc6 31. Ng6 Qa3 32. Rgxc3 Qb4 33. Nxh8 Nxd4 34. Qg8+ Ke7 35. Qxa8 Nb3 36.
Nxf7 Kxf7 37. Kf1 Nd2+ 38. Kg1 Qe7 39. Rg3 1-0

[Event "2015 Alberta Open"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2015.10.11"]
[Round "4.6"]
[White "Koperski, Dustin"]
[Black "Efemuai, Martins"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B21"]
[WhiteElo "1779"]
[BlackElo "2289"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 e6 5. Nf3 a6 6. Bc4 d6 7. O-O Be7 8. Qe2
b5 9. Bb3 Nd7 {So far all the moves have been normal and typical for the Morra
gambit.} 10. Re1 $6 {This looks like a novelty that is unlikely to attract
many followers.} (10. Rd1 {is where the king's rook usually belongs in the
Morra.}) 10... b4 11. Na4 ({White may also try} 11. Nd5 $5 exd5 12. Bxd5 Ra7
13. Nd4 {but it's a different story.}) 11... e5 $4 {Simply unbelievable!} ({
After the natural} 11... Ngf6 {Black doesn't have much to worry about.}) 12.
Qc4 $1 {The f7-pawn can be defended only at a cost of a piece so Black decided
to resign.} 1-0

[Event "2015 Alberta Open"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2015.10.12"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Miller, David"]
[Black "Villavieja, Butch"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B99"]
[WhiteElo "2284"]
[BlackElo "2182"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Nbd7 8. Qf3
Qc7 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Bd3 b5 11. Rhe1 h6 ({By far the most popular move here is
} 11... Bb7) {I do not intend to begin a theoretical discussion here but will
note that the position is very promising for White. He has several candidate
moves that all look good.} 12. e5 Bb7 13. Qh3 ({If this position occurs again,
David may try} 13. Nxe6 $5 fxe6 14. Bg6+ Kf8 15. exf6 Bxf3 16. fxe7+ Kg8 17.
Rxe6 Bxd1 18. e8=Q+ Rxe8 19. Rxe8+ Nf8 {and will then decide how to get the
queen back with the most interest.}) 13... dxe5 14. Nxe6 {White must sacrifice.
} fxe6 15. Bg6+ Kd8 $2 {The king is going the wrong way.} (15... Kf8 {is
significantly better. Black intends to meet} 16. Qxe6 {with} Qc4 {when the
position remains unclear.}) 16. Bxf6 gxf6 {After this White finds a clear-cut
way to finish the game quickly.} ({Relatively best is} 16... Bxf6 {although
Black's position remains unenviable after} 17. Qxe6) 17. Qxe6 Bc6 18. fxe5 fxe5
19. Rxe5 Bg5+ 20. Kb1 Kc8 21. Rc5 {Black resigned as major material losses are
inevitable.} 1-0

[Event "2015 Alberta Open"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2015.10.12"]
[Round "6.5"]
[White "Villavieja, Butch"]
[Black "Koneru, Nimai"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2182"]
[BlackElo "1808"]
[PlyCount "175"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 dxc4 7. d5 e5 8. Bg3
Nb4 9. Bxc4 Bf5 10. Rc1 Rc8 11. Bb5+ Bd7 12. Be2 Bf5 13. Bxe5 Nfxd5 14. Bb5+
Bd7 15. Bxd7+ Qxd7 16. Nge2 Nxc3 17. Qxd7+ Kxd7 18. Rxc3 Rxc3 19. Bxc3 Nd5 20.
O-O Nxc3 21. Nxc3 Bb4 22. Rd1+ Kc6 23. Ne2 Re8 24. Kf1 Re7 25. Nd4+ Kb6 26. a3
Bc5 27. Nb3 Kc6 28. Rc1 b6 29. Nd4+ Kb7 30. Nb3 Kc6 31. Nd2 Kd5 32. Nf3 a5 33.
Rc2 f6 34. Nd2 Re5 35. Nc4 Re4 36. Nd2 Re5 37. g3 h6 38. Nf3 Re7 39. Nh4 Re5
40. Ng6 Re4 41. Nf4+ Kd6 42. Kg2 g5 43. Ne2 f5 44. Nc3 Re7 45. Nb5+ Kd5 46. b3
Re1 47. h3 Ra1 48. a4 Re1 49. Kf3 Rh1 50. Kg2 Re1 51. Rd2+ Kc6 52. Na7+ Kc7 53.
Rd5 Rb1 54. Rd3 Rb2 55. Rf3 g4 56. Rxf5 gxh3+ 57. Kxh3 Rxf2 58. Rh5 Rf3 59.
Rxh6 Rxb3 60. Nb5+ Kd7 61. Rh4 Rb4 62. Rf4 {Black has been pressing for quite
some time and still has the right to play for a win despite reduced material.}
Rxf4 {An understandable decision in time pressure as Black's play becomes
simple.} ({Nevertheless, keeping the tension with a move like} 62... Kc6 $5 {
should be preferred.}) 63. gxf4 Ke6 64. Kg4 Kd5 65. f5 {This risky move was
played too quickly.} ({Here White should spend more time and realize that the
position after} 65. Kf3 Kc4 66. Ke4 Kb3 67. Kd3 Kxa4 68. Kc4 {is a draw.
Easier said that done, of course.}) 65... Kc4 66. f6 $2 {This natural advance
loses.} ({White can still draw with} 66. Kf4 Kb4 67. Ke5 Kxa4 68. Nd6 {For
example,} Bb4 69. Kd5 Bc3 70. Kc4 {achieving essentially the same position as
in the line above.}) 66... Kb3 {Now White lacks a tempo to save the game.} 67.
Nc7 Kxa4 68. Kf5 Kb3 69. Ke6 a4 70. Na6 ({Perhaps, the original plan was} 70.
Nd5 {but Black has a relatively simple win:} a3 71. Ne7 a2 72. f7 Bxe7 73. Kxe7
a1=Q 74. f8=Q Qa3+ {and the queens are off the board.}) 70... Ba3 71. Kd5 Bf8
72. Nc7 a3 73. Ne6 a2 $6 {A step in a wrong direction although Black is still
winning.} (73... Bh6 {is the simplest probably forcing an immediate
resignation.}) 74. Nxf8 a1=Q 75. Nd7 Qd1+ 76. Ke6 Qg4+ 77. Ke7 Qe4+ 78. Kd6
Qd4+ {Black suddenly ran into difficulties.} ({Interestingly enough, pretty
much the only winning idea is} 78... Qe8 $1 {stopping the pawn. With the clock
ticking Nimai couldn't find it but it's hard to blame him. I was watching the
game live and I didn't see it either.}) 79. Ke7 Qb4+ 80. Ke6 b5 $2 81. f7 {
Remarkably, the position is now drawn!} Qc4+ 82. Ke7 Qh4+ 83. Ke6 Qd8 84. f8=Q
Qxf8 85. Nxf8 b4 86. Nd7 Kc4 87. Nb6+ Kd3 88. Kd5 1/2-1/2

