[Event "11th Edmonton International Qualifier"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2016.05.01"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Findlay, Ian"]
[Black "Gardner, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2282"]
[BlackElo "2242"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2016.04.30"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 c6 4. Nc3 b5 5. Bd3 d6 6. h3 Nd7 7. O-O Bb7 8. Re1 e5
9. d5 ({It is interesting that exactly the same position occurred in
Findlay-Hebert, 1989. In that game Ian preferred} 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Be3 Ngf6 11.
a4 {maintaining slightly better chances.}) 9... a6 10. dxc6 Bxc6 11. Bf1 ({
Immediate} 11. a4 {looks promising.}) 11... Qc7 {It turns out to be not the
best square for the queen as it can be hit by a white knight from d5.} (11...
Qb8 $5 {intending to meet} 12. a4 {with} b4 13. Na2 Ngf6 {is better.}) 12. a4
bxa4 ({Now} 12... b4 {runs into an unpleasant} 13. Nd5) 13. Nxa4 Ngf6 14. Nc3
Nc5 15. Ng5 {This way of covering the e4-pawn looks artificial but is not
necessarily bad.} ({There is nothing wrong with} 15. Nd5 $5) 15... h6 16. b4
Ncd7 (16... hxg5 17. bxc5 dxc5 18. Bxg5 {is clearly in White's favor.}) 17. Nf3
Bb7 18. Ra3 O-O 19. Qd3 ({Here and later} 19. Nh2 $5 {deserves serious
attention. White intends to trade this relatively passive knight for a good
one on f6. Then the d5-square may become more accessible for the white pieces.}
) 19... Rfc8 {Black took advantage of the opponent's somewhat artificial and
relatively slow play. He created strong pressure along the c-file, which gives
him at least equal chances.} 20. Rd1 Bf8 21. Rb3 $2 Nb6 $2 ({Both opponents
miss a surprising} 21... a5 $1 {that puts White in trouble. Black is going to
win at least a pawn since} 22. bxa5 $2 {loses more material to} Nc5) 22. Be3
Nc4 23. Bc1 Nb6 (23... a5 $1 {is still strong:} {in case of} 24. bxa5 $2 Nxa5
25. Ra3 Ba6 {White can't avoid material losses.}) 24. Be3 Rd8 {Black declines
a silent draw offer and plays on.} 25. Qe2 {The position is objectively equal
but there is a lot of play left, of course.} Rac8 26. Qe1 Ra8 27. Nh2 Bc8 {
With the idea to prevent the white knight from jumping to g4.} 28. Bxb6 ({
Nevertheless,} 28. Ng4 $1 {is possible!} {For example,} Nxg4 29. hxg4 Bxg4 $2 {
runs into} 30. Bxb6 Qxb6 31. Nd5 {followed by a fork on f6.}) 28... Qxb6 29.
Bc4 {White intends to play on the light squares.} Bb7 {This allows White to
carry out his plan.} ({The computer suggests} 29... Be6 $5 30. Nd5 Nxd5 31.
Bxd5 Bxd5 32. Rxd5 {taking advantage of the fact that the knight is relatively
far from the d5-square.} {Then} Rdc8 {creates some counterplay on the
queenside.}) 30. Ng4 $1 {White finally forces this favorable exchange.} Nxg4
31. hxg4 Rac8 32. Bd5 Rc7 33. Rd3 ({White has achieved a great position and
can increase the pressure by means of} 33. b5 $1 {taking advantage of the
opponent's awkwardly placed pieces. After} axb5 34. Rxb5 Qa7 35. Ra1 Qb8 36.
Rab1 Rdd7 37. Na4 {Black is in trouble.}) 33... Bc8 34. Qd1 Kg7 35. g3 ({
Here and later the computer advocates} 35. b5 $1 {putting Black under more
pressure on the queenside.}) 35... Be6 36. Kg2 Rdc8 37. Qf3 Qa7 38. Bxe6 $6 ({
It was the last call for} 38. b5 $1 {maintaining advantage.}) 38... fxe6 {
Now Black is OK.} 39. g5 hxg5 40. Qg4 {White is playing on the wrong side of
the board, which can lead to trouble.} Rf7 $1 41. Rf3 $6 ({Better is} 41. Rd2
$1 {keeping the d4-square under control.}) 41... Rxf3 42. Qxf3 Be7 $6 {Black
misses an opportunity to punish the opponent.} (42... Qd4 $1 {turns out to be
strong.} {It's hard to find a move for White. For example,} 43. Ne2 {brings no
relief in view of} Qd2) 43. Qg4 Rf8 44. Nd1 Rf6 45. Qe2 Qb6 46. Ne3 Rf8 47. Qc4
Qb7 48. f3 {The position is back to being approximately equal.} ({Instead,} 48.
Ra3 $5 {presents Black with some problems to solve.}) 48... Qc8 {The queen
exchange is possible but not necessary.} ({After} 48... Kf7 {the position also
remains equal.}) 49. Ra3 Qxc4 50. Nxc4 Rc8 51. Ne3 Rc6 52. c4 g4 {A nice try
but White responds correctly:} 53. f4 {denying the bishop the g5-square.} Rb6
54. Ra4 exf4 55. gxf4 g5 $2 {Allowing White reconquer the d5-square is wrong.}
({After} 55... Bf6 {the game should end in a draw. White can win the
opponent's bishop:} 56. e5 dxe5 57. Nxg4 exf4 58. b5 axb5 59. Ra7+ {but after
the correct} Be7 $1 60. Rxe7+ Kf8 61. Rc7 bxc4 {he loses his last pawn.}) 56.
f5 $1 exf5 $2 {The final mistake.} (56... Kf7 {leaves Black in the game.} {
For example,} 57. Kg3 Bf6 58. Kxg4 Bd4 59. fxe6+ Kxe6 60. Nd5 Rb8 61. Rxa6 Ke5
62. b5 Bc5 {with good drawing chances thanks to the reduced material left on
the board.}) 57. Nd5 {The knight gets access to the d5-square under favorable
circumstances, which decides the outcome of the game.} Rb7 58. exf5 {Unlike
the line above, the black king can't come to the rescue.} Ra7 59. b5 a5 60. b6
Rb7 61. Rxa5 Bd8 62. Ra7 1-0

[Event "11th Edmonton International Qualifier"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2016.05.01"]
[Round "4.5"]
[White "Karmali, Hafiz"]
[Black "Dave, Bhavik"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D90"]
[WhiteElo "1977"]
[BlackElo "1897"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2016.04.30"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bd2 Bg7 6. e4 Nxc3 7. Bxc3 O-O 8.
Nf3 b6 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. O-O e6 11. Rc1 Nd7 12. b4 c5 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Bxg7 Kxg7
15. Bb5 Nf6 16. e5 Ng4 17. Rxc5 Rc8 18. Rxc8 Qxd1 19. Rxd1 Rxc8 20. Nd4 Nxe5
21. h3 Kf6 22. f4 Nc6 23. Nxc6 Bxc6 24. Rc1 Bd7 25. Rxc8 Bxc8 {The ending
looks rather routine but will turn out to be quite eventful.} 26. Bc6 $2 ({
White must centralize the king immediately:} 26. Kf2 e5 27. Ke3 {and a draw
should be easy to achieve.}) 26... e5 27. fxe5+ Kxe5 28. Kf2 f5 $2 ({After the
natural} 28... Kd4 29. a3 Kc3 {Black picks up at least a pawn with good
winning chances.}) 29. Ke3 g5 ({Black has an interesting try here:} 29... Be6
30. a3 Bd5 {forcing White to find the only move} 31. b5 $1 ({the pawn ending
after} 31. Bxd5 Kxd5 {is lost. A sample line is} 32. Kd3 g5 33. g3 h5 34. a4 h4
35. gxh4 gxh4 36. Ke3 Kc4 {etc.}) {Black can then try} 31... f4+ 32. Kf2 Bxc6
33. bxc6 Kd6 {although White has just enough time to save half a point:} 34.
Kf3 Kxc6 35. Kxf4 Kb5 36. Kg5 Ka4 37. h4 Kxa3 38. Kh6 a5 39. Kxh7 a4 40. g4 Kb4
41. h5 gxh5 42. gxh5 a3 43. h6 a2 44. Kg8 a1=Q 45. h7 {with a theoretically
drawn position.}) 30. b5 h5 31. a4 {Now the position looks completely drawn
but play continues.} h4 32. a5 Kd6 33. Kd4 g4 34. hxg4 fxg4 35. Be4 Kc7 36. Kc5
$4 {A blunder throwing the game away.} ({White has several moves that draw,
the simplest way being} 36. Ke3 h3 37. gxh3 gxh3 38. Kf4) 36... Bb7 {It's
suddenly all over.} 37. Kd4 ({Or} 37. Bf5 h3 38. gxh3 g3 {and the pawn queens.}
) 37... h3 38. gxh3 gxh3 0-1

[Event "11th Edmonton International Qualifier"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2016.05.01"]
[Round "4.9"]
[White "Mo, Michelle"]
[Black "Hughey, Leah"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "1544"]
[BlackElo "1664"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2016.04.30"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Nf3 c5 6. Bb5 a6 7. Bxd7+ Bxd7 8.
Be3 Qb6 9. b3 cxd4 10. Bxd4 Qa5 11. O-O Bb4 12. Ne2 Bb5 13. a4 Bxe2 14. Qxe2
Nc6 15. Qe3 Nxd4 16. Nxd4 Bc3 17. Rad1 Rc8 18. Ne2 O-O 19. Nxc3 Rxc3 20. Qd2
Rfc8 21. h3 Qc7 22. Rc1 Rxc2 23. Rxc2 Qxc2 24. Qxc2 Rxc2 25. Rd1 Rb2 26. Rd3 h6
27. Rc3 g5 28. g3 Kh7 29. Rc7 Rxb3 30. Rxf7+ Kg8 31. Rf6 Rb4 32. Rxe6 Rxa4 33.
Rb6 Re4 34. e6 Kf8 35. Rxb7 Rxe6 36. Rd7 Re1+ 37. Kg2 Rd1 38. Ra7 Ra1 39. Rd7
Ra5 40. Kf3 h5 41. Ke3 Ra3+ 42. Kd4 Ra2 {Black had a large advantage but
allowed the opponent back into the game.} 43. Rxd5 $4 ({Here the simplest is} 
43. Rh7 {After a plausible} h4 44. gxh4 gxh4 45. Kxd5 Rxf2 46. Rxh4 {there is
nothing left to play for.}) 43... Rd2+ 44. Kc5 Rxd5+ 45. Kxd5 {A textbook win
for Black.} Kf7 46. Kc5 Ke6 47. Kd4 Kf5 48. Ke3 h4 49. Kf3 a5 50. Ke3 Ke5 51.
Kd3 a4 52. f4+ gxf4 53. gxh4 Kf5 54. Kd4 a3 55. Kc3 f3 56. h5 f2 57. h6 f1=Q
58. h7 a2 59. Kd4 a1=Q+ 60. Kc5 Qc3+ 61. Kd5 Qfd3# 0-1

[Event "11th Edmonton International Qualifier"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2016.05.01"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Ebrahim-Shirazi, Behrooz"]
[Black "Findlay, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2126"]
[BlackElo "2282"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2016.04.30"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Qa4+ Nc6 7. Ne5 (7. Bg5
{is the main move.}) {This jump doesn't give White anything after the natural
response} 7... Bd7 8. Nxc6 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Bxc6 10. Qa3 Ne4 11. Bf4 Qf6 12. e3 g5
({Black can also play} 12... Nxf2 13. Kxf2 g5 {with not much to worry about.})
13. Bg3 Qe6 $6 ({The game Lodhi-Serper, 1995, continued} 13... h5 14. Qb2 Nxg3
15. hxg3 O-O-O {with a perfectly fine position for Black.}) 14. Bd3 {A solid
continuation.} ({White avoids complications after} 14. Bxc7 Rc8 15. Bg3 h5)
14... Kd7 $6 ({It is time for} 14... Nxg3 15. hxg3 h5 {even though it should
have been done earlier under more favorable circumstances.}) 15. Bxe4 {Not a
bad move but White is going to sorely miss this bishop.} ({Instead,} 15. Rc1 $5
{preparing c3-c4 deserves attention. White will be clearly better if he
achieves this break.}) 15... Qxe4 16. O-O h5 17. f3 $6 {The white bishop is in
some trouble but sacrificing a pawn to rescue the cleric is too high a price.}
({The e3-pawn needs to be protected first. Curiously, the computer advocates a
suicidal-looking} 17. c4 $5 {and claims a nice advantage after} dxc4 18. f3 Qe7
19. Qc3 h4 20. Bf2 h3 21. d5 $1 Bb5 22. g3) 17... Qxe3+ 18. Kh1 Rhe8 19. Be5 {
White has compensation for the pawn but no more than that.} h4 20. h3 Re6 {
The game now revolves around pawn breaks c3-c4 and f3-f4; it is tricky to play
for both sides.} 21. Rad1 $6 Qe2 $6 (21... f6 $1 22. Bh2 Bb5 {prevents c3-c4
for a long time leaving Black in complete control of the position.}) 22. Rfe1
$6 (22. c4 $1 {is actually possible.} {After} Qxc4 23. f4 $1 gxf4 24. Rxf4 {
White achieves his goal of opening up lines; Black will probably have to
return his extra material soon.}) 22... Qc2 23. Rc1 Qa4 24. Qxa4 Bxa4 {The
exchange of queens has brought relief to the black king.} 25. Kg1 $2 ({However,
here White has a chance to play} 25. c4 $1 dxc4 26. d5 {The following sample
line} Ree8 27. Rxc4 f6 28. Rxc7+ Kd8 29. Rc4 Rxe5 30. Rxe5 fxe5 31. Rxa4 {
doesn't look bad for him.}) 25... Rae8 {Black is back in the driver's seat.} ({
Even stronger is} 25... Bb5 {preventing c3-c4 for good.}) 26. c4 {White
finally achieves this break but it's a little late.} dxc4 27. Rxc4 ({The
difference is that here} 27. d5 $4 {is impossible because of} Rxe5) 27... Bc6
28. Rec1 f6 29. Bh2 Re1+ 30. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 31. Kf2 {Black has excellent winning
chances despite the opposite-color bishops.} Rh1 {I can't say that it's the
best move but it makes the rest of the game very interesting.} 32. Bg1 {
I suppose that it was a part of Black's plan.} b6 33. Rc3 Bd5 34. a3 a5 35. Rc1
Kd6 36. Bh2+ {White decides to take the exchange and seek practical chances.}
Rxh2 37. Kg1 Rxh3 38. gxh3 b5 39. Kf2 b4 40. axb4 axb4 41. Ke3 Be6 42. Rb1 c5
43. dxc5+ Kxc5 44. Rc1+ {The critical position of the game.} Kd5 $2 {Very
surprisingly, a mistake that could have deprived Black of the fully deserved
win.} (44... Kb5 $1 {turns out to be the only winning move.} {In case of} 45.
f4 {Black can continue as in the game:} Bxh3 46. fxg5 fxg5 {etc.}) 45. f4 $2 {
To be fair to the players, who had to make decisions in real time over the
board, the subtleties of the variations were very hard to understand even in
the analysis.} ({After} 45. Rd1+ $1 {it looks like a draw!} {If} Kc6 ({Another
line is} 45... Kc4 46. Rd6 Bxh3 {but after} 47. Rc6+ $1 Kb3 48. Rxf6 {White
holds on somehow}) {then White gets a crucial tempo to save half a point:} 46.
f4 Bxh3 47. fxg5 fxg5 48. Rg1 g4 49. Kf4 b3 50. Kg5 Kb5 51. Kxh4 Kb4 52. Rb1
Kc3 53. Rc1+ {etc.}) 45... Bxh3 {Now White lacks that tempo, and Black wins.}
46. fxg5 fxg5 47. Rg1 g4 48. Kf4 b3 49. Kg5 Kc4 50. Kxh4 b2 $1 {This makes all
the difference.} 51. Kg3 Kc3 0-1

[Event "11th Edmonton International"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "3.5"]
[White "Sambuev, Bator"]
[Black "Haessel, Dale"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2234"]
[PlyCount "159"]
[EventDate "2016.06.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 d5 5. e3 c5 6. c3 Qb6 7. Qb3 O-O 8. Be2
Nc6 9. O-O Bf5 10. Qa3 cxd4 11. exd4 h6 12. Bh4 Nh5 13. Rfe1 Nf4 14. Bf1 g5 15.
Bg3 e6 16. h4 Bf6 17. hxg5 hxg5 18. Ne5 Be7 19. Qb3 Qc7 20. Ndf3 Kg7 21. Bxf4
gxf4 22. Bd3 Nxe5 23. Nxe5 Bxd3 24. Nxd3 Rh8 $1 25. Qd1 Rh4 26. Qf3 Bd6 27. Kf1
Qe7 28. Ke2 Qg5 29. Rh1 Rah8 30. Rxh4 Rxh4 31. b3 Rg4 32. Ne1 Qg6 33. Rd1 Rg5
34. Rd3 b5 35. b4 Rh5 36. Rd1 Rh8 37. Qd3 Rc8 38. Ra1 e5 39. dxe5 Bxe5 40. Rc1
Qc6 {Both players just made the time control. Black has some pressure but the
position is not easy to evaluate.} 41. Nf3 (41. Qf5 $5 {is an interesting
resource intending to pick up the f4-pawn later on.} {For example,} Qc4+ 42.
Nd3 Bxc3 43. Kf3 $1 Re8 44. Nxf4 Qe4+ 45. Qxe4 dxe4+ 46. Ke3 Bxb4 47. Rc6 {
White's active pieces will allow him to regain his pawn shortly with equality.}
) 41... Bxc3 {Black may indeed snatch this pawn. The pin looks dangerous but
it can be dealt with.} 42. Nd4 Qe8+ 43. Kf1 $2 {This safe square happens to be
wrong for the king.} ({Correct is} 43. Kf3 Bxb4 44. Rxc8 Qxc8 45. Nxb5 {
and White is going to pick up the f4-pawn soon restoring material equality.})
43... Bxb4 44. Rb1 ({The problem is that now} 44. Rxc8 $4 {is simply
impossible in view of} Qe1#) 44... Rc4 $1 {For the time being, Black has two
extra pawns along with excellent winning chances.} 45. a3 Bc5 46. Nb3 (46. Nxb5
{is possible but after} Qe4 {Black also forces the queens off the board.})
46... Qe4 47. Qxe4 dxe4 48. Nd2 Rd4 49. Rxb5 {The critical position of the
game.} Rxd2 $2 ({After the simple} 49... Bxa3 {White has nothing better than}
50. Ke2 {Then} Kg6 {followed up by a quick f7-f5 guarantees Black an easy win.
Note that} 51. Ra5 $4 {loses immediately to} Rxd2+) 50. Rxc5 f3 $2 {Now
Black's winning chances evaporate.} ({On the contrary,} 50... Kg6 $5 {keeps
his winning hopes alive.} 51. Rc7 $6 {may be answered by} Rd1+ 52. Ke2 Rg1 {
picking up the g2-pawn.}) 51. gxf3 exf3 52. Kg1 $1 {The f3-pawn will be gone
sooner or later making further efforts futile.} Rd6 53. Rc3 Rg6+ 54. Kh1 Rf6
55. Kh2 Kg6 56. Kg3 Kg5 57. a4 a5 58. Rc5+ Rf5 59. Rb5 Kf6 60. Rb3 Ke5 61. Re3+
Kd4 62. Kg4 Rf6 63. Kg5 Rg6+ 64. Kf5 Kc5 65. Rxf3 Kb4 66. Rf4+ Kb3 67. Ke5 Re6+
68. Kd5 Re7 69. Kc6 Re6+ 70. Kc5 Re5+ 71. Kb6 Ka3 72. Kc6 Kb3 73. Rxf7 Kxa4 74.
f4 Re1 75. f5 Rf1 76. f6 Kb3 77. Rb7+ Kc3 78. f7 a4 79. Ra7 Kb3 80. Kd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "11th Edmonton International"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2016.06.21"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Wang, Richard"]
[Black "Findlay, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2341"]
[BlackElo "2257"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2016.06.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 d5 4. Bd3 c5 5. b3 Nc6 6. O-O Bd6 7. Bb2 O-O 8. Ne5 {
Richard opts for his usual Colle-Zukertort setup.} Qc7 {This trick has been
known for more than 100 years. The idea is to exchange White's dangerous
light-squared bishop.} 9. f4 cxd4 10. exd4 Nb4 11. Nc3 Nxd3 12. Qxd3 {As far
as I know, Richard has a pretty good score from this position despite the fact
that the computers tend to give a slight advantage to Black. Perhaps, the
reason is that White's plan is clear and relatively simple, while it's not so
obvious what Black should do.} Bd7 13. Rf3 Bc6 ({Richard faced} 13... Rac8 {
in one of his earlier high-level games.}) {The purpose of the text move is to
establish control of the e4-square, rather than create pressure along the
c-file.} 14. Rh3 Ne4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Qg3 f5 ({The computer advocates} 16...
f6 $5 {and asserts that White's best continuation is} 17. Rxh7 Kxh7 18. Qh3+
Kg8 19. Qxe6+ Kh7 20. Qh3+ {with a perpetual. Perhaps, Richard will show an
improvement in his next game.}) 17. c4 Bxe5 18. fxe5 {The correct recapture.} (
{After} 18. dxe5 $6 Rfd8 {White's heavy pieces would look a little silly.})
18... f4 $5 {The most interesting and probably best continuation. Now White
cannot block the f-pawn.} 19. Qh4 h6 20. Qg4 Qf7 $2 {Surprisingly, this gives
White decisive advantage.} ({The only move maintaining equilibrium is} 20...
Kh7 $3 {stepping out of the check.} {Now} 21. Qxe6 $2 {loses an exchange to}
Bd7 22. Qe7 Rae8 23. Qh4 Bxh3) 21. Rxh6 f3 {Black may have counted on this
resource but White has a strong reply:} 22. Rf6 $1 Qe7 {One of the critical
positions of the game.} 23. Qxe6+ $2 {Capturing with a wrong piece,
unfortunately.} (23. Rxe6 $1 {is decisive.} {Here} Bd7 24. Rxe7 Bxg4 25. gxf3
Bxf3 26. d5 {leaves Black with nothing.}) 23... Qxe6 24. Rxe6 f2+ {Natural.} ({
Another interesting possibility is} 24... e3 $5 25. gxf3 Rxf3 {, also with
counterplay.}) 25. Kf1 e3 26. Rxc6 $1 {The black pawns have become very
dangerous but Richard finds the only way to play for a win.} ({If} 26. d5 $6
Bd7 {, then White has to sacrifice the exchange anyway:} 27. Bd4 $1 ({not} 27.
Rg6 $2 Bf5 {and Black wins}) 27... Bxe6 28. dxe6 {Here after a plausible} Rf4
29. Bxe3 Re4 30. Bxf2 Rxe5 31. Re1 Rxe1+ 32. Kxe1 Re8 33. Kd2 Rxe6 {a
handshake is in order.}) 26... bxc6 27. Ba3 {This is a logical way to activate
the bishop but Black finds a great reply.} ({Also insufficient for advantage is
} 27. Ke2 {which gives Black an option of} f1=Q+ 28. Rxf1 Rxf1 29. Kxf1 Rf8+
30. Ke1 Rf2 {The active rook guarantees Black at least equality.}) ({The best
move is a surprising} 27. g3 $3 {preventing the opponent's next maneuver. In
this case White's winning hopes would be alive.}) 27... Rf4 $1 28. Bc5 Re4 $1
29. Ke2 a6 30. b4 ({The tactical justification of Black's idea is that} 30. Kf3
{may be answered by} Kf7 {The rook is taboo:} 31. Kxe4 $4 e2 {and queens.})
30... Kf7 31. a4 g5 {The tension is mounting. I believe that both opponents
were playing for a win at this point.} 32. g3 {White finally covers the
f4-square but allows the following play on the kingside.} (32. h3 {looks more
tenacious but has its own downsides.}) 32... Rh8 33. Rh1 Kg6 34. a5 Kf5 35. h3
$1 {The black king must not be allowed to penetrate.} Ke6 36. b5 $1 {Correct.
White must make his queenside pawn majority count.} cxb5 37. cxb5 Rg4 {Black
has been planning this move for some time.} ({An alternative is} 37... axb5 {
although after} 38. a6 Ra8 39. a7 Kd5 40. Ra1 {White's counterplay should be
sufficient for a draw.}) 38. Rd1 $1 {The best move.} ({Certainly not} 38. Kf3
$2 Rxh3 {and Black wins.}) 38... Rxg3 (38... Rxh3 {leads to the following
spectacular draw:} 39. bxa6 Rgxg3 40. a7 Rh8 41. d5+ Kf5 42. Bxe3 Rg1 43. Bxf2
Rxd1 44. Kxd1 Ke4 45. e6 Kxd5 46. e7 Ra8 47. Bg3 Kc6 48. Bb8 Kd7) 39. d5+ {
The point of White's previous. It looks like Black cannot take the e5-pawn. Or
can he?} Kxe5 {It turns out that the capture is possible! While I was watching
the game live, I thought that Black was just winning here.} ({An alternative is
} 39... Kf5 40. Bxe3 Rg1 41. Rxg1 fxg1=Q 42. Bxg1 axb5 43. e6 Ke5 44. e7 Kxd5
45. Be3 {with a probable draw.}) 40. Bd4+ Ke4 {The tactical justification of
Black's idea.} ({The computer actually advocates the following line:} 40... Kf4
41. Bxh8 Rg1 42. Bd4 Rxd1 43. Bxe3+ Ke4 44. Bxf2 Rxd5 45. bxa6 Rxa5 46. a7 Ra2+
47. Kd1 Kf3 48. Bb6 Kg3 49. Kc1 Kxh3 50. Kb1 {with a tablebase draw.}) (40...
Ke4 {The time control passed, and Richard got plenty of extra time on the
clock to contemplate the situation on the board. The principal continuation is,
of course,} 41. Bxh8 {since White's previous play doesn't make sense otherwise.
} {However, what to do after} Rg1 {?} 42. Rf1 (42. Ra1 $3 {A very hard move to
see! Now it is Black who has to fight for a draw:} f1=Q+ 43. Rxf1 Rg2+ 44. Ke1
Kd3 {Here White has a great resource} 45. Bd4 $1 {although after} Rc2 46. Bxe3
Kxe3 47. Kd1 Rd2+ 48. Kc1 Rxd5 49. bxa6 Rxa5 50. Rf6 {the most likely outcome
is a draw.}) {loses to} 42... Rxf1 43. Kxf1 Kf3 {with a checkmate in one.
During the game I was sure that Richard had no choice but to resign here,
which is what he did after a prolonged thought. But the story doesn't end at
this point. Shortly afterwards I went to a nearby restaurant for dinner. There
I met a friend of mine who was following the games live. He immediately asked
me whether there had a transmission problem with Richard's game because White
isn't worse in the final position according to the computer. I couldn't
believe that but the answer to the riddle was soon found.}) 0-1

[Event "11th Edmonton International"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2016.06.25"]
[Round "8.3"]
[White "Sethuraman, S P."]
[Black "Findlay, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A06"]
[WhiteElo "2653"]
[BlackElo "2257"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2016.06.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. e3 d5 4. b3 c5 5. Bb2 Nc6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bb5 Bd6 8. d4
O-O 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. O-O Qd6 11. Qc2 Nb4 12. Qe2 Bg4 13. a3 Nc6 14. Nbd2 Rfe8
15. Qd3 Rad8 16. Rfc1 Bb6 17. b4 Re7 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Nd4 Bd7 20. a4 Ne4 21.
N2f3 Ree8 22. Ba3 Qh6 23. Ra2 Rc8 24. Rac2 {The position looks fairly standard:
White develops pressure on the queenside, while Black seeks his chances on the
kingside.} g5 $5 {Fearless! The position quickly becomes complicated and hard
to play for both sides. This explains a number of errors in what follows.} (
24... Qg6 {is a "normal" alternative.}) 25. g3 g4 26. Nh4 {The point of
White's previous move.} (26. Nd2 $2 {runs into} Nxf2 $1 27. Kxf2 Qxh2+ 28. Kf1
Qxg3 {with a crushing attack.}) 26... Bd8 {The right idea in principle but the
execution is imprecise.} ({It is better to play} 26... a5 {first to clarify
the situation on the queenside.} {If} 27. bxa5 {then} Bd8 {and as in the game.}
) 27. Ng2 ({The computer advocates} 27. b5 $5 {not fearing} Bxh4 28. bxc6 $1
Be6 29. gxh4 Qxh4 {White understandably doesn't want to expose his king so
much.}) 27... Ng5 28. Bb2 {White wants to create threats along the weakened
long diagonal.} ({Nevertheless,} 28. b5 $1 {winning a pawn is stronger.}) 28...
Bf6 29. Ne1 {Overprotecting the f3-square as Black had an idea of taking on d4
followed by Nf3.} Nh3+ 30. Kg2 Bg5 $2 {Preparing the following combination
that White either misses or underestimates.} 31. b5 $2 ({However, leaving the
long diagonal unprotected allowed the following tactical sequence:} 31. Nxc6 $1
Rxc6 32. Rxc6 Bxc6 33. Qd4 {and Black has nothing better than} Qf6 34. Qxf6
Bxf6 35. Bxf6 Bxa4 {with a worse endgame.}) 31... c5 ({Everything is actually
ready for} 31... Nxf2 $1 32. Rxf2 Bxe3 {etc.}) 32. Nc6 $2 ({White had a chance
to disrupt the opponents attack by means of} 32. Nf5 $1) 32... Nxf2 $3 {
A well prepared crushing blow giving Black decisive advantage.} 33. Rxf2 Bxe3
34. Rd1 Rxc6 $1 {Another spectacular sacrifice. The black bishops will soon
become monsters controlling the whole board.} 35. bxc6 Bxc6 36. Qe2 d4+ 37. Kg1
Qg6 38. Ng2 Qe4 (38... Bf3 {wins on the spot. For example,} 39. Qe1 Bxf2+ 40.
Qxf2 Bxd1 {etc.}) 39. Kf1 c4 $2 ({It was time to switch to simple chess:} 39...
Bxf2 40. Qxe4 Bxe4 41. Kxf2 Bxg2 {with three pawns more in the ending.}) {
Now White bails out by returning some of his extra material.} 40. Bxd4 $1 Bxd4
41. Qxe4 Rxe4 42. Rf4 $1 {Trading a pair of rooks is also good for White.}
Rxf4+ 43. Nxf4 Be5 {Objectively, this endgame should end in a draw.
Unfortunately, Black commits a suicide later on.} 44. a5 a6 45. Rd8+ Kg7 46.
Rc8 Bb5 47. Nd5 h5 48. Kf2 Bd4+ 49. Ke2 Be5 50. Ke3 h4 $1 51. gxh4 Bxh2 52. Nc3
Bd7 53. Rxc4 Bg3 54. h5 Be5 55. Rc5 f6 56. Nd5 Kh6 57. Nf4 Bb5 58. Rc8 Kg5 $2 {
The losing move.} ({White doesn't have much after} 58... Kh7) 59. Rg8+ Kf5 ({
Also hopeless is} 59... Kh6 60. Rg6+ Kh7 61. Nd5 {etc.}) 60. Nd5 g3 61. h6 1-0

[Event "11th Edmonton International"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2016.06.26"]
[Round "9.3"]
[White "Wang, Richard"]
[Black "Shankland, Sam"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A47"]
[WhiteElo "2341"]
[BlackElo "2646"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2016.06.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]
[WhiteClock "1:02:18"]
[BlackClock "0:44:30"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. Bg5 e6 4. e4 h6 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. O-O g6 8.
Nbd2 Bg7 9. Qe2 O-O 10. Rfe1 d6 11. e5 {Perhaps, a little early.} (11. c3 $5 {
strengthening the center deserves attention.}) 11... Qe7 12. c3 c5 13. Nc4 {
Looks promising but Black finds a way to maintain the balance.} Bxf3 14. Qxf3
d5 15. Nd6 cxd4 16. cxd4 Nc6 17. Qe3 {The knight looks good on d6 but it
allows the following tactical blow:} Nxd4 $5 18. Nxf7 $1 {Correct. This
desperado is the only way to keep the material even.} ({Certainly not} 18. Qxd4
$2 Qxd6 {with a pawn more for Black.}) 18... Qxf7 19. Qxd4 Rac8 20. Rac1 ({
If White wants to play for a win, he should keep the rooks on the board:} 20.
Re2 $5 {In the future White may be able to develop a kingside attack using the
opposite-color bishops to his advantage.}) 20... g5 21. g3 {Objectively, the
position is absolutely equal. Black finds a nice way to force a draw by
perpetual that guarantees him the title.} Bxe5 $5 22. Qxe5 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Qxf2+
24. Kh1 Qf3+ 25. Kg1 Qf2+ {Neither side can favorably avoid the repetition of
moves.} (25... Qxd3 26. Qxe6+ Rf7 27. Rc8+ Kg7 28. Qe5+ {leads to the same
result.}) 26. Kh1 Qf3+ 27. Kg1 Qf2+ 28. Kh1 Qf3+ 29. Kg1 Qf2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Edmonton International Open"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2016.06.25"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kadavil, Suresh"]
[Black "Gardner, Robert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A01"]
[WhiteElo "1653"]
[BlackElo "2240"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2016.06.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. b3 c5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 e5 4. c4 d6 5. g3 f5 {Already a new position in the
database!} 6. f4 {Overly creatively.} ({Normal development like} 6. Bg2 Nf6 7.
Nc3 g6 8. Nge2 Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. d3 {leads to a good position for White.})
6... Nf6 7. Nc3 Be6 8. Bg2 e4 9. d3 $1 {A dream scenario for White. Black's
ambitious play in the opening left his position overextended.} Ng4 $1 {The
best try.} ({After a natural} 9... exd3 10. Qxd3 Qd7 11. Nf3 O-O-O 12. O-O {
White has excellent prospects in the center and on the queenside.}) 10. Qd2
exd3 11. Qxd3 Nb4 12. Qd2 ({The computer points out that Black's play can be
refuted by} 12. Qe2 $1 {with the idea} Nxe3 $2 13. Kd2 $1 Nxg2 14. Qxe6+ {
The stranded g2-knight will soon be picked up leaving White with an extra
piece.}) 12... Nxe3 13. Bxb7 Nec2+ 14. Kf2 Nxa1 15. Bxa1 Rb8 16. Bd5 Bxd5 $2 {
This gets Black in serious trouble.} ({Correct is} 16... Nxd5 {keeping the
light-squared bishop on the board.} {After} 17. Nxd5 Kd7 $5 {the position is
unclear.}) 17. Nxd5 Nxd5 18. Qxd5 Qa5 19. Qe6+ ({According to the computer,
the most incisive continuation is} 19. Nf3 Qxa2+ 20. Nd2 {Nevertheless,
despite a huge score in White's favor he still has to convert his lead in
development into a full point.}) 19... Kd8 20. Bf6+ $2 {Tempting but incorrect.
} ({Developing the kingside} 20. Ne2 $1 {is still best.}) 20... Kc7 {Certainly,
Black is not obligated to capture the bishop.} 21. Ba1 Qxa2+ 22. Ne2 Qc2 23.
Re1 $2 {Too slow.} ({White has granted the opponent two crucial tempi but
after the correct} 23. Qf7+ {the position remains highly unclear.} {For
example, a plausible} Kd8 24. Bc3 Be7 25. Rc1 Qe4 26. Re1 Qc2 27. Rc1 {may
lead to a draw by repetition.}) 23... Qe4 24. Qf7+ Qe7 25. Qd5 $2 {Now Black
can breathe a sigh of relief.} ({After} 25. Qxf5 {White is still in the game.})
25... Re8 {The rest goes smoothly for Black.} 26. Bc3 Qe3+ 27. Kf1 Qe4 28. Ba5+
Kd7 29. Qd2 Qf3+ 30. Kg1 Qe3+ 31. Qxe3 Rxe3 32. Kf2 Rxb3 33. Nc3 Ra3 0-1

[Event "2016 Canadian Open"]
[Site "Windsor"]
[Date "2016.07.16"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Shi, Diwen"]
[Black "Cherniaev, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2132"]
[BlackElo "2451"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2016.07.10"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 a6 4. f4 b5 5. Nf3 Bb7 6. Bd3 d6 7. e5 Nd7 8. Qe2 {
Delaying castling in favor of more useful developing moves also keeps the
option of queenside castling open.} c5 9. Ng5 {Leaving the d4-pawn undefended
but White probably knows what he is doing.} cxd4 {Black is up to the challenge.
} 10. e6 f6 $2 {A novelty that will not attract any followers.} ({So far Black
has exclusively played} 10... f5 {with great results in spite of unfavorable
computer evaluation after} 11. exd7+ Qxd7 12. Nd1 e5 13. fxe5 dxe5 14. a4 $1)
11. exd7+ Qxd7 12. Ne6 dxc3 {The first critical position of the game.} 13. Qg4
$2 {After this White is left empty-handed.} ({On the contrary, after} 13. f5 $1
{he wins the opening battle.} {Black is hard pressed to find a move. For
example,} Bd5 14. Nxg7+ Kf7 15. Ne6 cxb2 16. Bxb2 Bxe6 17. fxe6+ Qxe6 18. Qxe6+
Kxe6 {and the white bishops outweigh the opponent's pawns.}) 13... Qc6 14.
Nxg7+ Kf7 15. Ne6 Nh6 {Gaining valuable time on the queen.} 16. Qh3 Qxg2 17.
Qxg2 Bxg2 18. Rg1 Bb7 19. Nd4 cxb2 20. Bxb2 e5 {In comparison with the line
above, Black kept an important light-squared bishop and managed to put his
central pawn mass in motion.} 21. fxe5 dxe5 22. Nb3 {The position is
approximately balanced.} Rhc8 23. O-O-O Rc7 24. Na5 Bf3 $2 {This natural move
has a tactical flaw but Black gets away with it.} ({Instead,} 24... Bd5 $5 {
loses a pawn to} 25. Bxg6+ hxg6 26. Rxd5 {but somehow gives Black sufficient
counterplay:} Nf5 {(threatening the c2-pawn)} 27. Rd2 Rh8 {with compensation
for the material deficit.}) 25. Rde1 $2 {Pity.} ({After} 25. Bxe5 $1 {Black
loses a pawn without a shred of compensation.} {For example,} Re7 ({or} 25...
fxe5 26. Rgf1) 26. Rdf1 Rxe5 27. Rxf3) 25... Bg4 26. Rgf1 Bf5 $1 27. Bxf5 $2 ({
Leaving the opponent's pawn structure as is by means of} 27. Kb1 {is a lesser
evil.}) 27... gxf5 28. Kb1 Rac8 29. Re2 f4 30. Nb3 Ng4 31. Nc1 $2 {Blundering
another pawn certainly doesn't help White's cause.} Rxc2 32. Rxc2 Rxc2 33. Kxc2
Ne3+ 34. Kd3 Nxf1 {Black's passer will decide the outcome of the game.} 35. h3
Ke6 36. Ke2 Ne3 37. Nd3 Nc4 38. Bc1 a5 39. Nb2 Kd5 40. Nxc4 Kxc4 41. Bb2 b4 42.
Kd2 a4 43. a3 bxa3 44. Bxa3 Kb3 45. Be7 f5 46. Bd6 e4 47. Bxf4 a3 48. Be5 a2
49. Bd4 f4 50. Be5 f3 0-1

[Event "9th Calgary International"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2016.07.28"]
[Round "2.13"]
[White "Wu, Chenxi"]
[Black "Ebrahim-Shirazi, Behrooz"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "1757"]
[BlackElo "2050"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2016.07.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Qb6 8. O-O
Nxd4 9. Nbd2 {The main line of the Milner-Barry gambit.} Rc8 {A rare move that
looks playable though.} 10. Nxd4 Qxd4 11. Nf3 Qb6 12. Ng5 Bb5 $2 {Black
achieves a positionally desirable trade of light-squared bishops but gets
behind in development and loses almost by force.} ({After a solid} 12... Be7 $5
{a complex struggle lies ahead.}) 13. Qh5 g6 (13... Nh6 {doesn't help either:}
14. Be3 Qa6 15. Bxb5+ Qxb5 16. Nxe6 g6 17. Qg5 fxe6 18. Qf6 {etc.}) 14. Qf3 Rc7
15. Be3 {Winning an important tempo.} Qa5 ({Black can try} 15... Bc5 {but after
} 16. Rac1 Nh6 17. Rxc5 Rxc5 18. b4 {White wins material.}) 16. Bxb5+ Qxb5 17.
Rac1 $1 {Exchanging a key defender and seizing the c-file.} Qd7 18. Rxc7 Qxc7
19. Rc1 Qe7 20. Qf4 Bh6 21. Qa4+ Kd8 22. Bb6+ {Black resigned in view of an
inevitable checkmate in a couple of moves. The punishment has been executed
exemplarily!} 1-0

[Event "9th Calgary International"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2016.07.28"]
[Round "3.5"]
[White "Troff, Kayden"]
[Black "Bruzon, Lazaro"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2543"]
[BlackElo "2643"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2016.07.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 c6 7. Nc3 d5 8.
Ne5 O-O 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. e3 Bb7 11. Be2 Nc6 12. f4 Ne7 13. O-O Ne8 14. Bd3 Nd6
15. Qg2 Rc8 16. Rac1 f6 17. Qh3 Nef5 18. g4 fxe5 19. fxe5 Nc4 20. gxf5 Qg5+ 21.
Kf2 Nxb2 22. Bb1 exf5 23. Rg1 Qg4 24. Qf3 Nc4 25. Nb5 Nd2 26. Qxg4 fxg4+ 27.
Kg3 Ba6 28. Nd6 Rxc1 29. Rxc1 h5 30. Bf5 g5 31. e6 Nc4 32. Rxc4 Bxc4 33. e7 Rb8
34. Bg6 Kg7 35. Bxh5 Kf6 36. e8=Q Rxe8 37. Nxe8+ Ke7 {The position looks
totally winning for White. The only problem is his extra knight that is kind
of stuck in the enemy territory.} 38. a3 ({The most incisive continuation is} 
38. Kxg4 $1 {neglecting the a2-pawn.} {After} Bxa2 ({the pawn endgame} 38...
Be2+ 39. Kxg5 Bxh5 40. Kxh5 Kxe8 41. Kg6 {is also an easy win for White}) 39.
Kxg5 a5 40. Nf6 {the knight is back into play, and White should have no
problems converting.}) 38... a5 39. a4 $2 ({Best is} 39. Nc7 Kd6 40. Na8 $1 {
intending to return some material.} {After} Kc6 41. Be8+ Kb7 42. Nxb6 Kxb6 43.
Kxg4 {White ends up with two healthy extra pawns.}) 39... b5 $1 40. axb5 Bxb5
41. Nc7 Bc4 {How to stop the a-pawn now?} 42. Be8 Kd8 {The critical position
of the endgame.} 43. Kxg4 $2 {Curiously, this turns out to be insufficient for
a win.} ({The only way to keep White's winning hopes alive is} 43. Nxd5 $1 {
Black can capture either minor piece but White's central passed pawns will
give him good winning chances.} Kxe8 ({or} 43... Bxd5 44. Ba4 Bf3 45. Kf2 Kc7
46. Ke1 Kd6 47. Kd2) 44. Nc3 Be6 45. e4) 43... Kxc7 44. Ba4 Kb6 45. Kxg5 Bb5 {
Black's counterplay in just enough for a draw. The remainder of the game is
played perfectly by both sides.} 46. Bb3 Bc4 47. Bc2 Kb5 48. h4 a4 49. h5 a3
50. Bb1 a2 51. Bxa2 Bxa2 52. e4 dxe4 53. Kf4 Kc6 54. h6 Bg8 55. Kxe4 Kd6 56.
Kf5 Bh7+ 57. Kf6 Kd5 58. Kg7 Be4 59. h7 Bxh7 60. Kxh7 Kxd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "9th Calgary International"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2016.07.30"]
[Round "6.6"]
[White "Kazmaier, Daniel"]
[Black "Chiku-Ratte, Olivier-Kenta"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2194"]
[BlackElo "2386"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2016.07.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4 d6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. Nge2 O-O 7. O-O Nc6 8. f4
Bg4 9. h3 Bxe2 10. Nxe2 Nd7 11. d3 Rb8 12. Rb1 Qa5 13. a3 b5 14. b3 Rfc8 15. h4
Nb6 16. Bh3 Rc7 17. f5 Ne5 18. h5 gxf5 19. h6 Bh8 20. Bxf5 Nbd7 21. Nf4 Nf6 22.
Nd5 Nxd5 23. exd5 Bf6 24. Be4 bxc4 25. dxc4 Qc3 26. Bf4 Kh8 27. Kh2 Rcb7 28.
Qh5 {A double-edged battle is in progress. With his last move (Qh5) White
indicated his intention to put the queen on f5 with strong threats.} Rxb3 $2 {
Ignoring the threat should have cost Black the game.} ({Correct is} 28... Ng6
$1 {when it's not clear for White how to proceed.} {A sample line} 29. Qf5 Rxb3
30. Rxb3 Qxb3 31. Rb1 Qa2+ 32. Kh3 Rg8 33. Bxd6 $1 Qxc4 34. Rb8 Qc1 35. Rxg8+
Kxg8 36. Qc8+ Nf8 37. Qg4+ {leads to a draw by perpetual.}) 29. Rxb3 {This
wins if followed up correctly.} ({Nevertheless,} 29. Rfc1 $1 {is even stronger.
} {The main idea is seen after} Qd4 ({Black can also try} 29... Rb2+ {but after
} 30. Kh3 $1 Qxa3 31. Rxb2 Qxb2 32. Qf5 Ng6 33. Rb1 {White wins a lot of
material.}) 30. Rxb3 Rxb3 31. Qf5 $1 {creating two lethal checkmate threats.})
29... Qxb3 {Relatively best.} (29... Rxb3 {loses immediately to} 30. Qf5 Rb2+
31. Kh3) 30. Bxe5 $2 {Unfortunately, White goes wrong here, probably missing
Black's next move.} ({Correct is} 30. Rb1 $3 {with the same ideas as above.} {
For example,} Qa2+ 31. Kh3 Rxb1 32. Qf5 {and Black is helpless.}) 30... Bxe5
31. Rf3 Qd1 $1 {The only but sufficient resource.} 32. Bxh7 $2 {A nice try but
it loses quickly.} (32. Qxf7 Qd2+ 33. Kh3 Qxh6+ 34. Kg2 {may not look very
inspiring but the game is far from being over here.}) 32... Rb2+ 33. Kh3 Qh1+
34. Kg4 Qxh5+ 35. Kxh5 Rh2+ {An important finesse.} ({Clearly wrong is} 35...
Kxh7 $2 36. Rxf7+ Kg8 37. Kg6 Rb8 38. Rxe7 {and it is suddenly White who is
playing for a win.}) 36. Kg4 Kxh7 37. Rxf7+ Kg6 38. Rxe7 Rxh6 {The remainder
of the game needs no comments.} 39. Re6+ Kg7 40. Re7+ Kf8 41. Rxa7 Rg6+ 42. Kf5
Rxg3 43. Ra4 Ke7 44. Ra7+ Kd8 45. Ra8+ Kc7 46. Ke6 Kb7 47. Ra5 Rg4 48. Ra4 Rg8
49. Kd7 Kb6 50. Ke6 Rb8 0-1

[Event "9th Calgary International"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2016.07.31"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Popilski, Gil"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2542"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2016.07.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. e5 Ng8 8.
Bc4 {A pretty good line for White who scores more than 70% from here. But with
his next two moves Black is going to make it even worse.} Qc7 $2 {This turns
out to be not a good square for the queen.} (8... Bg7 {minimizes the damage.})
9. Bf4 {Now White has strong tactical threats that Black decides to ignore for
some reason.} Bg7 (9... e6 {looks ugly but may be the lesser evil.}) 10. Bxf7+
({Winning material in this manner is better than} 10. e6 Qxf4 11. exf7+ Kf8 12.
fxg8=Q+ Rxg8 13. Bxg8 Kxg8 {when Black gets some compensation for the lost
exchange.}) 10... Kd8 11. Qe2 Nh6 12. Bb3 Rf8 13. g3 Rb8 14. O-O-O {White is
up a pawn and has a large positional advantage. In the following he doesn't
give Black a single chance to come back into the game.} Rb4 15. Bd2 Qb8 16. f4
Nf5 17. Ne4 Nd4 18. Qd3 Nxb3+ 19. axb3 Rb5 20. Bc3 Bh6 21. Qc4 Qb6 22. Kb1 a5
23. Rd2 g5 24. fxg5 Bg7 25. Bd4 Qb8 26. Nc5 Kc7 27. Rhd1 Rf3 28. Bc3 1-0

[Event "9th Calgary International"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2016.07.31"]
[Round "7.3"]
[White "Panjwani, Raja"]
[Black "Bruzon, Lazaro"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2388"]
[BlackElo "2643"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2016.07.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. b3 e6 4. Bb2 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. d4 cxd4 7. exd4 d5 8. Bd3
b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. Nbd2 Nbd7 11. Qe2 Rc8 12. Rac1 g6 13. Rfd1 Re8 14. Nf1 Bf8
15. Ne3 Bg7 16. Ne5 dxc4 17. Bxc4 {White has more space and more active pieces.
} Nb8 (17... Nd5 {intending to bring the other knight to f6 is a decent
alternative.} {Black may have been worried about} 18. Bb5 {but the computer
says that it may be answered by} Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Nxe5 $1 {with at least equality
in all lines.}) 18. Bb5 Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Re7 20. Qc4 {A big fight for the c-file
is in progress.} Nd5 {Correct.} (20... a6 $2 {initiates the following tactical
sequence that works in White's favor:} 21. Ba3 axb5 22. Bxe7 Qxe7 23. Qc7 Qxc7
24. Rxc7 Ba6 25. Ra7 Bf8 26. Rxf7 {Material is approximately equal but White's
pieces are far more active, while Black's lack coordination.}) 21. Nxd5 exd5 ({
Certainly not} 21... Bxd5 $2 22. Qc8 {and White wins material.}) 22. Qc3 {
White keeps control of the c-file for the time being and retains some
initiative.} Qd6 $6 ({The computer advocates} 22... f6 {(possibly followed by
a7-a6) kicking the white pieces back.} {Black may have been worried about} 23.
Ba3 fxe5 24. Bxe7 Qxe7 25. Qc7 {but he manages to hang on by the skin of his
teeth:} Qxc7 26. Rxc7 Ba6 27. a4 exd4 28. Rxa7 Bxb5 29. axb5 Be5 {etc.}) 23.
Qg3 $1 {Creating new tactical opportunities.} Rc7 (23... a6 $2 {runs into} 24.
Nxg6 $1 {winning on the spot.}) 24. Re1 $5 {Avoiding a trade of rooks is an
interesting decision giving White even more tactical ideas along the h2-b8
diagonal.} Bf8 $2 {Surprisingly, the decisive mistake.} ({After} 24... Na6 {
that kind of protects the c7-rook White can execute the following sequence:}
25. Bxa6 Bxa6 26. Nxg6 Qxg3 27. Re8+ Bf8 28. Rxf8+ Kg7 29. hxg3 hxg6 {Due to
the presence of the opposite-color bishops his extra pawn may not be enough to
win but he can certainly play on with no risk of losing.}) {It looks like with
his last move Black has defended against the Nxg6 threat but it is not the
case at all.} 25. Ba3 $3 {Precisely calculated. White wins in all lines.} Qxa3
({After} 25... Qd8 {White has} 26. Nxf7 Rxf7 27. Re8 Qf6 28. Rxb8 {etc.}) 26.
Nxg6 hxg6 27. Qxc7 Qb4 ({At first glance it looks like} 27... Ba6 {saves Black
but} 28. Be8 $1 {is crushing.}) 28. Re8 Ba6 29. a4 {The simplest solution. The
b8-knight is now doomed.} Bxb5 30. axb5 Qxb3 31. g3 Qxb5 32. Qxb8 Qb4 33. Qxa7
Kg7 34. Qb8 Bd6 35. Qd8 b5 36. Kg2 1-0

[Event "Over 1800"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2016.08.27"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Findlay, Ian"]
[Black "Macleod, Damon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2264"]
[BlackElo "1908"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2016.08.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

{The best game of the tournament was played in the very first round on one of
the top boards. Not something one normally sees at a typical weekend event
when the pairings are mismatched.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5.
Bxc6 dxc6 6. Qe2 Qd6 7. Nbd2 Be6 8. O-O h6 9. c3 Nd7 10. Rd1 b5 11. d4 exd4 12.
cxd4 Bb6 13. a4 O-O 14. axb5 cxb5 15. d5 Bg4 16. Qxb5 Ne5 17. Ra3 f5 {White is
up a pawn but the situation on the board is unclear. His pieces are not well
coordinated and most of them are far away from the king.} 18. Nc4 Nxf3+ {
Black goes for a tempting sequence.} (18... Nxc4 $5 19. Qxc4 fxe4 20. Qxe4 Bh5
{with full compensation for the pawn.}) 19. gxf3 Bxf2+ {This strike would be
great if White were obligated to take the bishop but he isn't.} ({Instead, the
computer points out to} 19... Qg6 $5 {indirectly defending the g4-bishop and
threatening a checkmate in two.} {After} 20. Ne5 Qh5 $1 {the position is
totally unclear.} {Taking the bishop} 21. fxg4 $2 {is still no good in view of}
fxg4 {with too many threats.} {For example,} 22. Nd3 $2 {loses immediately to}
g3) 20. Kg2 $1 ({Certainly not} 20. Kxf2 $2 Qxh2+ {when the white king gets in
big trouble.} {For example, after} 21. Ke3 {Black can play} Bxf3 22. Kxf3 Qh5+
23. Ke3 Qxd1 {regaining material while maintaining a strong attack.}) 20...
Bxf3+ {Spectacular but unsound.} ({Relatively best is} 20... Qg6 {but after}
21. Kxf2 fxe4 22. Ne5 Qh5 23. Nxg4 Qxg4 24. Qe2 {White should be able to
consolidate his extra piece.}) 21. Rxf3 Qg6+ 22. Rg3 $2 ({White has to call
the opponent's bluff with} 22. Kxf2 fxe4 23. Rxf8+ Rxf8+ 24. Ke3 $1 {although
it's easier said than done, of course.} {A sample line is} Qg5+ 25. Kd4 Qf6+
26. Kc5 Qe7+ 27. d6 cxd6+ 28. Nxd6 Rc8+ 29. Kb4 {and the king walks away to
safety.}) 22... Bxg3 23. hxg3 f4 $1 {The tables have suddenly turned; Black's
attack is irresistible.} 24. Qb3 Qxe4+ 25. Kh3 fxg3 26. Ne3 Rf2 27. d6+ Kh8 28.
Ng4 {The only problem for Black is that he has too many winning moves.} Qg2+ (
28... Rf3 {intending g3-g2 was the quickest way to victory.}) {The text
continuation leads to an amazing position.} 29. Kh4 g5+ 30. Kh5 Qh3+ $2 {
Hard to believe but this natural check loses the game. Let's consider a few
alternatives.} ({After} 30... cxd6 31. Qc3+ Kh7 32. Qd3+ {Black has to accept
a draw by perpetual:} Kh8 33. Qd4+ Kh7 34. Qd3+ {etc.}) (30... Raf8 {is an
interesting try but White saves half a point by} 31. Nxf2 Qxf2 32. dxc7 Qe2+
33. Kg6 {Miraculously, Black doesn't have more than his own perpetual:} Qe8+
34. Kxh6 Rf6+ 35. Kxg5 Qe5+ 36. Kh4 Qe4+ 37. Kh3 Qf5+ 38. Kg2 Qf2+ 39. Kh3 Qh2+
40. Kg4 Qe2+ {etc.}) ({It turns out that} 30... Rg8 $3 {is the only move
keeping Black's winning hopes alive.} 31. Nxf2 (31. Qc3+ Rg7 {prevents the
perpetual}) ({Here} 31. Qxg8+ Kxg8 32. d7 {doesn't work because of} Kg7 33.
Nxh6 Qh3+ {with a forced checkmate to follow.}) 31... Qh2+ 32. Kg4 h5+ 33. Kf5
Qxf2+ 34. Ke4 Qe2+ 35. Kd4 cxd6) 31. Kg6 {White has the only legal move but it
wins.} Rg8+ (31... Qxg4 {is no good either in view of} 32. Qc3+) 32. Qxg8+ {
Again, the only legal but sufficient move.} Kxg8 33. d7 Qxg4 (33... Rf8 34.
d8=Q {makes no difference.}) 34. d8=Q+ Rf8 35. Qd5+ 1-0

[Event "Under 1800"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2016.08.28"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Hughey, Leah"]
[Black "Ivanescu, Cristian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C12"]
[WhiteElo "1639"]
[BlackElo "1738"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2016.08.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. exf6 hxg5 7. fxg7 Rg8 8.
Qh5 Qf6 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. Bb5 Bd7 11. Bxc6 Bxc6 12. Qxg5 Qxg5 13. Nxg5 Rxg7 14. h4
Ke7 15. g3 e5 16. O-O-O e4 17. Rhe1 Kd6 18. Re3 Bd7 19. Rh1 c5 20. Ngxe4+ dxe4
21. dxc5+ Kxc5 22. Nxe4+ Kb6 23. Rb3 a5 24. Rd1 Kc7 25. a3 Be6 26. Rbd3 Be7 27.
Rc3+ Kb6 28. Nd6 Rg6 29. Nc4+ Bxc4 30. Rxc4 Bc5 31. Rf4 f6 32. Rd5 Re8 33. Kd1
Kc6 34. Rff5 Re5 35. Rdxe5 fxe5 36. Ke2 Kd6 {White has three pawns for a piece,
including two connected passers.} 37. Kf3 ({It is more practical to play} 37.
h5 {first, limiting the opponent's options.}) 37... Ke6 $1 {The f5-rook can
barely move, and White has to make a difficult choice.} 38. Ke4 ({The
alternative} 38. g4 {looks wrong to the computer but Black doesn't have
anything concrete.}) 38... Rg4+ 39. f4 Bd6 {Now White can breathe a sigh of
relief.} (39... exf4 $5 {is actually possible: after} 40. gxf4 (40. Rxc5 $2 {
loses to} fxg3+ 41. Kf3 g2) 40... b6 {it's White who has to fight for the draw.
} {She can probably exchange all the pawns by means of} 41. b4 $5 axb4 42. axb4
Bxb4 43. Rg5 $1 Rxh4 44. Rg6+ Kd7 45. Rxb6 {but as we know, holding the R
versus R+B ending is far from easy in a practical game.}) 40. Rg5 $1 {The only
but sufficient resource.} Rxg5 41. hxg5 b6 $2 {This allows White to achieve a
favorable pawn structure on the queenside leading to a winning position.} ({
Instead,} 41... exf4 42. gxf4 a4 43. f5+ Kf7 44. Kd5 Be7 {should suffice for a
draw although proving it over the board wouldn't be easy. For example,} 45. f6
Bf8 46. c4 b6 47. Kc6 Bc5 48. Kb5 Bd4 49. Kxa4 Bxb2 50. Kb5 Bxa3 51. Kxb6 Bc1
52. c5 Bxg5 53. c6 Bf4 {etc.}) 42. a4 $1 exf4 43. gxf4 Bc5 44. f5+ Kf7 45. c3
Ke7 46. Kd5 Be3 47. g6 Kf6 48. Kc6 $1 Bc1 {Obviously, the f5-pawn is taboo.}
49. Kxb6 Bxb2 50. c4 (50. Kxa5 {also wins but in a highly not-trivial fashion:}
Bxc3+ 51. Kb5 Kxf5 52. Kc4 $1 Be5 53. Kd5 $1 Bc3 54. a5 Kxg6 55. a6 {and
queens.}) 50... Kxf5 51. c5 Kxg6 52. c6 Be5 53. Kxa5 Kf7 54. Kb6 Ke7 {The
critical position of the game. White has played very well after the opponent's
mistake on move 41 and is now inches away from a full point.} 55. c7 $4 {
Now it's only a draw, unfortunately.} (55. Kb7 Kd8 56. a5 {would have probably
forced a resignation.}) (55. a5 Kd6 56. a6 {suffices as well.}) 55... Kd7 56.
a5 Bxc7+ 57. Kb5 Bxa5 58. Kxa5 1/2-1/2

[Event "2016 Battle of Alberta "]
[Site "Red Deer"]
[Date "2016.09.10"]
[Round "1.8"]
[White "Leuchanka, Siarhei"]
[Black "Villavieja, Butch"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E84"]
[WhiteElo "2198"]
[BlackElo "2166"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2016.09.10"]
[EventType "team-match"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]
[WhiteTeam "South"]
[BlackTeam "North"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nc6 7. Nge2 a6 8. Qd2
Rb8 9. Nc1 e5 10. d5 Nd4 11. Nb3 Nxb3 12. axb3 c5 13. b4 cxb4 14. Na4 b5 15.
cxb5 axb5 16. Qxb4 {So far both players have followed the main roads.} Nh5 17.
O-O-O $6 {This novelty looks overly optimistic.} ({All the games that reached
this position continued} 17. Nc3 {which is the best move.}) 17... f5 18. Nc3
Rf7 19. Kb1 Rfb7 20. g3 Nf6 21. Bd3 fxe4 {The computer doesn't like this
capture that releases the tension a little too early.} 22. Nxe4 $1 {Black may
have underestimated this recapture.} Nxe4 ({The consequences of} 22... Nxd5 23.
Qb3 Be6 24. Ng5 {are unclear but Black is better off avoiding this line.}) 23.
Bxe4 $6 {An interesting moment.} (23. fxe4 {is evaluated as equal. The reason
may be that in this case Black's dark-squared bishop will remain out of play
for a long time. On the contrary, after the text move Black will have a chance
to free his bishop by playing e5-e4 as soon as White moves the e4-bishop
anywhere.}) 23... Ra8 {Correct. Black intends to create threats along the
a-file.} 24. b3 $1 {White covers the a4-square...} Ra4 $5 {but Black goes
there anyway.} 25. bxa4 $5 {This leads to a highly unbalanced position with
chances for both sides.} ({Nevertheless, the computer prefers} 25. Qd2 {
forcing the a4-rook back.}) 25... bxa4 26. Qxb7 Bxb7 27. Rd2 Qa5 28. Rc1 Ba6
29. Rb2 a3 30. Rb3 ({Curiously, it is possible to get the queen back by means
of} 30. Bd2 axb2 31. Bxa5 bxc1=Q+ 32. Kxc1 {with a draw but neither side
probably wanted this to happen.}) 30... Qa4 31. Rb8+ Kf7 32. Rc3 Bb5 33. Bc2 $2
{Allowing the e-pawn to move forward is not a good idea that should have cost
White the game right away.} ({It turns out that after a waiting move like} 33.
Ka1 {Black cannot make progress on the queenside.}) 33... Qb4+ 34. Rb3 Qe1+ 35.
Ka2 Bc4 $2 ({The winning move is} 35... e4 $3 {freeing the dark-squared bishop
in a true King's Indian style.} {After something like} 36. Rb7+ Kf8 37. R3xb5 (
37. Kxa3 Qa5#) 37... Qa1+ 38. Kb3 Qb2+ 39. Ka4 Qxc2+ 40. Kxa3 Qc3+ 41. Ka4 Qxe3
{Black wins material.}) 36. R8b7+ Kf6 37. Bb6 $3 {Excellent! This
counterattacking resource is the only way to save half a point.} Kg5 38. h4+ (
38. Rxg7 $2 {is not good in view of} Qc1 {threatening a checkmate in one.})
38... Kh6 39. Bd8 Bxb3+ 40. Kxa3 $2 ({After the natural} 40. Kxb3 {the
following sequence of moves is forced:} Qe3+ 41. Ka2 Qxf3 42. Bg5+ Kh5 43. Rxg7
Qxd5+ 44. Kxa3 {And the game goes on.}) 40... Bf6 $3 {The only but sufficient
winning move.} 41. Bxf6 Qa5+ 42. Kxb3 Qxd5+ 43. Kc3 Qxb7 {An amazing battle!}
0-1

[Event "2016 Battle of Alberta "]
[Site "Red Deer"]
[Date "2016.09.10"]
[Round "2.8"]
[White "Villavieja, Butch"]
[Black "Leuchanka, Siarhei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B00"]
[WhiteElo "2166"]
[BlackElo "2193"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2016.09.10"]
[EventType "team-match"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]
[WhiteTeam "North"]
[BlackTeam "South"]

1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bd3 e6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Qe2 Be7 6. e5 c5 7. c3 Qc8 8. O-O Ba6
9. Na3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 c4 11. Qd1 Nc6 12. Nc2 a6 13. Bd2 Bd8 14. Re1 Nge7 15. Ng5
h6 16. Qh5 Ng6 17. Nh3 Nh4 18. Ne3 g6 19. Qe2 Ne7 20. Ng4 Ng8 21. g3 Nf5 22.
Qf3 h5 23. Ne3 Ngh6 24. Nf4 Nxe3 25. Bxe3 Be7 26. Bd2 Nf5 27. Ng2 Qd8 28. h3
Bg5 29. Rad1 Bxd2 30. Rxd2 Qg5 31. Rde2 b5 32. Nf4 Rb8 33. a3 a5 34. Kh2 O-O
35. h4 Qe7 36. Ng2 b4 37. axb4 axb4 38. Ne3 Nxe3 39. Rxe3 bxc3 40. bxc3 Ra8 41.
Kh3 Rfb8 42. Rg1 Kg7 43. g4 hxg4+ 44. Rxg4 Rh8 45. Qg3 Rh5 46. Rf3 Rf5 47. Rxf5
exf5 48. Rg5 Ra3 49. Kg2 {At first glance, the position looks dead equal. A
more careful examination reveals, however, that Black must be careful not to
allow White to develop initiative on the kingside.} Qe6 $2 {Black defends the
f5-pawn but suddenly loses the game.} ({Curiously, the only way to maintain
equilibrium is} 49... Rb3 $1 {intending to meet} 50. Rxf5 {with} Rxc3 51. Rxf7+
Kxf7 52. Qxc3 Qxh4 {The queen ending is indeed dead drawn.}) {White's
following play is exemplary; he doesn't give the opponent a shred of hope.} 50.
h5 $1 Ra1 51. hxg6 fxg6 52. Rh5 $1 Ra8 53. Qg5 Rg8 54. Rh1 Re8 55. Qh6+ Kg8 {
It's checkmate in 2.} 1-0

[Event "2016 Battle of Alberta "]
[Site "Red Deer"]
[Date "2016.09.10"]
[Round "2.9"]
[White "Boehmer, Kris"]
[Black "Hughey, Micah"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D34"]
[WhiteElo "2191"]
[BlackElo "2117"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2016.09.10"]
[EventType "team-match"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]
[WhiteTeam "South"]
[BlackTeam "North"]

{This game illustrates perfect opening preparation.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3
c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. Nc3 O-O {A tabiya of the
Tarrasch defence that must have occurred in hundreds of Micah's games.} 9. dxc5
d4 {This interesting pawn sacrifice is Micah's pet line.} ({The natural} 9...
Bxc5 {is, of course, the most popular continuation here. I can say that I have
played the position after} 10. Na4 {with both colors and I really like White's
relatively simple play against the isolani.}) 10. Na4 Bf5 11. Bf4 Be4 12. Rc1 {
The game smoothly follows White's preparation.} Qd5 {The most popular but not
necessarily best.} ({The purpose of White's previous is to get ready for} 12...
Nd5 {which can now be met by} 13. Bd6 Bxd6 14. cxd6 Qxd6 15. Nc5 {with an
excellent position.}) ({Caution: White must be prepared for all kinds of moves
here including} 12... h6 $5) 13. Qb3 Qh5 14. Rfd1 Rad8 15. Qxb7 $1 {This
simple pawn grab has been recommended by GM Boris Avrukh although there are no
practical examples in the database.} d3 {The critical test but White is ready.}
16. Nc3 dxe2 17. Rxd8 Rxd8 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Ne1 {Avrukh ends his analysis
here with a verdict "White wins". The computer agrees. White's prep has worked
out perfectly!} Qg6 {The only issue is that Black does have some activity
along with a "nail" on e2 that gives him tactical opportunities. White may be
asked to find a few precise move to extinguish the opponent's initiative.} 20.
Qa6 Bxc5 {A nice try but there is a refutation.} 21. Bxe4 Qxe4 22. Rxc5 $1 Rd1
23. Rc1 $2 ({Correct is} 23. Bd2 $1 Rxd2 24. Qxc6 Qxc6 25. Rxc6 {taking
advantage of Black's back rank problems. In this line Black has to resign
immediately but now things get complicated.}) 23... g5 $2 {The right idea but
not the execution.} ({Interestingly enough, the best move is a cold-blooded} 
23... h6 $1 {casually creating a much needed luft for the king. It turns out
that White doesn't have a useful move, and after, say,} 24. Qb7 {(to pin the
knight)} g5 25. Be3 Qb4 $1 26. Qxb4 Nxb4 27. Kg2 Nxa2 {Black will regain a
piece with equality.}) 24. Qc8+ {White plays it safe, which is not a bad
practical decision.} ({Objectively, after the brave} 24. Bxg5 $1 {Black's days
would have been numbered but such a continuation requires nerves of steel and
precise calculation.} {The knight cannot move yet because of a checkmate in a
couple of moves but Black has ideas like} h6 $5 {creating another luft square
for the king with a tempo.} {After, say,} 25. Bxh6 Ne5 26. Rc8+ Kh7 {White has
to foresee} 27. Rh8+ $1 Kxh8 28. Qf6+ Kh7 29. Qg7# {or he is lost!}) 24... Kg7
25. Qg4 h6 26. Rxd1 exd1=Q 27. Qxd1 gxf4 28. Qg4+ Kh7 29. Nf3 Qb1+ 30. Kg2 fxg3
31. hxg3 {So Black managed to survive for the time being although this endgame
isn't much fun for him.} a5 ({Certainly not} 31... Qxb2 $4 32. Qe4+ {picking
up the c6-knight.}) 32. Qd7 Qg6 33. Nh4 $2 {After this careless move the win
becomes problematic if not impossible.} ({White should prepare the knight jump
with} 33. Qd5 {taking the e4-square under control.}) 33... Qe4+ $1 34. Kh2 Ne5
35. Qf5+ {Probably best although Black is happy to exchange queens.} Qxf5 36.
Nxf5 Nd3 37. b3 Nxf2 38. Nd6 ({The computer indicates that} 38. a3 $5 {is the
best try for a win.}) 38... Nd3 ({Even better is} 38... Ng4+ 39. Kg2 Ne5 {
keeping the number of pawns on the board even.} {A handshake is in order after}
40. Nc4 Nc6) {Now White manages to keep his extra pawn, which gives him the
right to play on.} 39. Nxf7 Nc1 40. Nd6 Nxa2 41. Nc4 Nb4 42. Nxa5 Kg6 43. Kh3
Kg5 44. Nc4 {Nevertheless, the position is probably drawn.} Nd3 45. Nd2 Nf2+
46. Kg2 Nd3 47. Kh3 Nf2+ 48. Kg2 Nd3 49. Kf3 h5 50. Ne4+ Kf5 51. Ke3 Nb4 52.
Nf2 Kg5 53. Ke4 h4 54. g4 {Nice try but Black's passer guarantees him half a
point.} (54. gxh4+ Kxh4 {is a tablebase draw.}) 54... Nc2 55. Kd3 Nb4+ 56. Kc4
Na2 57. Kd4 Kf4 58. Kc4 Kf3 59. g5 Kxf2 60. g6 h3 61. g7 h2 62. g8=Q h1=Q 63.
Qf7+ Ke2 64. Qe6+ Kd2 65. Qd5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "2016 Battle of Alberta "]
[Site "Red Deer"]
[Date "2016.09.10"]
[Round "2.10"]
[White "Kalisvaart, Peter"]
[Black "Tam, Erik"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A41"]
[WhiteElo "2107"]
[BlackElo "2142"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2016.09.10"]
[EventType "team-match"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]
[WhiteTeam "North"]
[BlackTeam "South"]

1. d4 d6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 dxe5 4. Qxd8+ Kxd8 5. Nc3 Be6 6. e4 c6 {Black
achieves an excellent score in this line but the main reason may be a big
difference in rating in favor of the Black players.} 7. f4 f6 ({The computer
advocates} 7... exf4 {although White's game is easy after} 8. Bxf4) 8. Nf3 Nd7
9. fxe5 fxe5 ({Better is} 9... Nxe5 $1 {exchanging the f3-knight before it can
jump to g5. This was David Bronstein's choice in his 1982 game against Grigory
Press.}) 10. Ng5 Ke7 11. g3 {Black's position looks suspicious but White
doesn't really have anything concrete.} Ngf6 12. Nxe6 Kxe6 13. Bh3+ Kf7 14. Bg5
Bc5 (14... Bb4 $5 {threatening to ruin the opponent's pawn structure is
interesting.}) 15. O-O-O h6 16. Rhf1 {This looks like a bluff that suddenly
works out really well.} ({There is nothing wrong with} 16. Bd2 {when the
chances remain approximately equal.}) 16... Rad8 $4 {A blunder in a critical
position.} ({Black may have stopped calculating after the principal} 16... hxg5
17. Rxd7+ {but it was worth going further: after} Be7 $1 {White's pieces are
hanging.} {Then after} 18. Bg4 Ke8 19. Rxf6 {(forced)} gxf6 20. Rxb7 Rxh2 21.
Bd7+ Kf8 22. Bxc6 {White has active pieces and compensation for a slight
material deficit but Black has his chances as well.}) {Now it's all over.} 17.
Rxd7+ Rxd7 18. Bxf6 {Black must have missed this cute intermezzo. Now he
cannot avoid material losses.} Be3+ 19. Kb1 Rd2 20. Bxe5+ Rf2 21. Rxf2+ Bxf2
22. Kc2 Re8 23. Bd6 Bg1 24. e5 Bxh2 25. e6+ Rxe6 26. Bxe6+ Kxe6 27. Bb8 {
White ended up with an extra piece and went on to win convincingly.} h5 28. Kd3
Bg1 29. Ne2 Bf2 30. Nf4+ Kf5 31. Nxh5 g6 32. Ke2 Bd4 33. Nf4 Bxb2 34. Kf3 Bd4
35. g4+ Kf6 36. Ne2 Bc5 37. Ng3 Bg1 38. Ne4+ Ke6 39. Ng5+ Kf6 40. Nh3 Bc5 41.
Ke4 b5 42. g5+ Ke6 43. Nf4+ Kf7 44. cxb5 cxb5 45. Kd5 Be3 46. Kc6 b4 47. Kb5
Bd2 48. Bd6 a5 49. Ka4 Kg7 50. Nh3 Kf7 51. Bc7 Ke6 52. Bxa5 b3 53. axb3 1-0

[Event "2016 Alberta Open"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2016.10.09"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Yam, Alex"]
[Black "Gardner, Robert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2378"]
[BlackElo "2264"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2016.10.08"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

{A very typical win for Rob Gardner: a dubious opening, lost position after 12
moves, fight on, take advantage of the opponent's mistakes and get a winning
position after move 22.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Qc7 4. O-O a6 5. Bxc6 Qxc6
6. Nc3 e6 7. Re1 d6 8. d4 cxd4 9. Qxd4 Nf6 {This whole line looks good for
White. He parted with the bishop pair but gained a considerable lead in
development.} 10. Bg5 (10. Nd5 $5 {is possible right here.}) 10... Be7 11. Nd5
$1 {This gives White a winning attack.} exd5 12. exd5 Qc7 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14.
Qxf6 Rf8 (14... Rg8 {looks like a more tenacious alternative although Black
certainly didn't like} 15. Ng5) 15. Rxe7+ $6 {Tempting but not entirely
correct.} ({The computer suggests} 15. Re3 $5 {with a simple plan of doubling
the rooks and indicates that Black's position is critical.} {A sample line is}
Kd8 16. Qh6 Bg4 17. Nd4 $1 Re8 18. Rae1 Bd7 {Black is on the ropes but it's
not obvious how White can deliver a knock-out punch.}) 15... Qxe7 16. Re1 Be6
$1 {The only move.} ({After} 16... Qxe1+ 17. Nxe1 {Black's lack of
coordination will soon prove fatal.}) 17. Qc3 $1 {Best. White maintains
pressure but his position is not as dominating as in the line above.} Rc8 18.
Qb3 Rc5 19. dxe6 Kd8 20. Qb6+ $2 {Surprisingly, this extra check loses all of
White's advantage.} ({Correct is the immediate} 20. Nd4 $1 {since} fxe6 {
may be answered by} 21. Nxe6+ {(with a check!)} Kc8 22. Re3 {White will soon
be two pawns up.}) 20... Kc8 21. Nd4 $6 ({The computer indicates that White
should start playing for a draw:} 21. exf7 Qxf7 22. Re2 {With the material
being approximately equal, a draw is indeed the most likely outcome.}) 21...
fxe6 22. Re3 $2 ({Here} 22. Nxe6 $2 {runs into} Rxc2 {followed by Black's
deadly counterattack.}) (22. Qb3 $1 {the queen returns to defend the king})
22... Kb8 {Too much prophylaxis.} (22... Qh4 $1 {turns out to be surprisingly
strong.} 23. Nf3 {may then be answered by} Rxc2 $1 {taking advantage of the
opponent's back rank problems. White doesn't have a good way out of this mess.}
) 23. f4 $2 {After this Black assumes full control of the position and never
lets the opponent off the hook.} ({The best chance is} 23. Rxe6 $1 Rxc2 24. g3
Qc7 25. Qxc7+ Rxc7 26. Rxd6) 23... Rxf4 24. Rxe6 Qf8 25. Nf3 Rxc2 26. Rxd6 Rc8
27. Rd7 Qc5+ 28. Qxc5 Rxc5 29. Rxh7 Rc2 30. Rg7 Rxb2 31. h4 Rxa2 32. h5 Rf6 33.
Ne5 Rf5 34. Nd7+ Ka7 35. g4 {This loses the knight but White has no good move
anyway.} Rd5 36. Rf7 Rd1+ 37. Rf1 Rxd7 38. Rf2 Rxf2 39. Kxf2 a5 40. h6 a4 41.
g5 a3 42. g6 a2 43. g7 a1=Q 44. g8=Q Rd2+ 0-1

[Event "2016 Alberta Open"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2016.10.09"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Gardner, Robert"]
[Black "Kazmaier, Daniel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2264"]
[BlackElo "2286"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2016.10.08"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. d4 f5 2. Bg5 h6 3. Bh4 g5 4. e4 Bg7 5. Bg3 fxe4 (5... f4 $2 {is known to be
bad for Black. After} 6. Bxf4 gxf4 7. Qh5+ Kf8 8. Qf5+ Nf6 9. e5 d6 10. Qxf4 {
White regains his piece with a superior position.}) 6. h4 Nf6 $6 {This natural
move gives White strong initiative.} (6... d5 $5 {occurred only once in
practice but may be Black's best.} {The idea is to keep developing and to
answer} 7. hxg5 {with} Nc6 {The check on h5 is actually not dangerous in these
lines because the black king has a nice shelter on f8.}) 7. hxg5 hxg5 8. Rxh8+
Bxh8 9. Qd2 g4 10. Nc3 d5 11. O-O-O Bf5 {White has several promising
continuations here.} 12. f3 {but this one allows Black to equalize:} Nc6 $1 13.
Nb5 $6 {This sortie works out in Black's favor.} ({The most direct approach} 
13. fxe4 Nxe4 14. Nxe4 Bxe4 15. Qg5 {can lead to some wacky variations after}
e6 ({the game can also end in a draw by repetition:} 15... Bf6 16. Qxg4 Qc8 17.
Qg8+ Kd7 18. Qg4+ Ke8) 16. Qxg4 Qf6 $5 17. Qg8+ Kd7 18. Qxa8 Nxd4 19. Be1 $1
Ne2+ 20. Nxe2 Qxb2+ 21. Kd2 Qxc2+ 22. Ke3 Qxd1 {etc.}) 13... Rc8 14. Qf4 e6 15.
Qh6 (15. Nxc7+ Kf7 {leads White nowhere.}) (15. fxg4 Bxg4 16. Be2 Bxe2 17. Nxe2
{looks better but Black is still ahead after} Kd7 $1) 15... Kd7 $1 {Black has
emerged with a large advantage that he doesn't relinquish for the rest of the
game.} 16. Be2 Qf8 17. Qh2 a6 18. Nc3 (18. Nxc7 {opening up the c-file for the
black rook doesn't look right.}) 18... gxf3 19. gxf3 b5 20. fxe4 Nxe4 21. Nxe4
Bxe4 22. Rf1 Qg7 23. c3 Nxd4 $1 {The most incisive continuation. Black is not
afraid to sacrifice material in order to break through.} ({With that said,} 
23... b4 {is also a good way to continue the attack.}) 24. cxd4 Qxd4 25. Rf7+
Kc6 26. Bf3 Bg6 $1 27. Rxc7+ Rxc7 28. Bxc7 Bf6 {Black has just two pawns for a
piece at the moment but his attack is irresistible.} 29. Bf4 e5 30. Bh6 Qc4+
31. Kd1 Qxa2 32. Qd2 Qb3+ 33. Ke1 e4 34. Be2 Bxb2 35. Qg5 Qc3+ 36. Kd1 Qd4+ 37.
Kc2 Qf6 38. Qg4 (38. Qxf6+ Bxf6 {prolongs the agony but the black pawns will
eventually decide the game.}) 38... Bf5 39. Qf4 Qc3+ 40. Kd1 e3 41. Bxb5+ axb5
42. Qxe3 Bg4+ 43. Ne2 Qxe3 44. Bxe3 d4 0-1

[Event "2016 Alberta Open"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2016.10.10"]
[Round "5.6"]
[White "Booker, Brad"]
[Black "Daniluk, Jim"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2221"]
[BlackElo "1986"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2016.10.08"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Na5 4. c3 a6 5. Bd3 d5 6. e5 g6 7. Bc2 Bg4 8. d4 Qc7
9. Nbd2 Rc8 10. Bd3 Nc6 11. h3 Bd7 12. a3 Qb6 13. dxc5 Qc7 14. O-O Bg7 15. Nb3
Nxe5 16. Bf4 Ba4 17. Bc2 e6 18. Kh1 Ne7 19. Re1 Nd3 20. Qxd3 Qxf4 21. Nfd4 O-O
22. Kg1 Qc7 23. Rad1 e5 24. Ne2 Bxb3 25. Bxb3 Qxc5 26. Bxd5 Rfd8 27. c4 b5 28.
b4 Qa7 29. Qf3 Nxd5 30. cxd5 Rd6 31. Ng3 f5 32. Nf1 e4 33. Qg3 Qd7 34. Ne3 Rc3
35. Rc1 Rd3 36. Rc8+ Qxc8 37. Qxd6 Qc3 38. Qe6+ Kf8 39. Re2 Qa1+ 40. Kh2 Qe5+
41. Qxe5 Bxe5+ 42. g3 Rxa3 43. Rc2 Bd6 44. Rc8+ Kf7 45. Rc6 Bxb4 46. Nc2 Rb3
47. Nxb4 Rxb4 48. Rxa6 Rd4 49. d6 Ke6 50. Rb6 {White dreams of exchanging the
d6-pawn for the b4-pawn with a theoretical draw but Black finds a nice and
clear path to victory.} Rb4 51. Kg2 Rb1 52. h4 b4 53. Kh2 b3 54. Kg2 b2 $1 {
Such a committal decision requires precise calculation. Black must have
foreseen the winning plan at this point.} 55. Kh2 {White can't do anything to
cross the opponent's plan. The rook has to stay on b6, while the king is
restricted to just two squares: g2 and h2.} h6 56. Kg2 g5 57. hxg5 hxg5 58. Kh2
f4 59. gxf4 gxf4 60. Kg2 f3+ (60... e3 {is also sufficient.}) 61. Kh2 e3 62.
d7+ Kxd7 63. fxe3 f2 0-1

[Event "Edmonton Fall Sectional A"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2016.10.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Malek, Omid"]
[Black "MacKinnon, Keith"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2180"]
[BlackElo "2295"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2016.10.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 c6 3. Nd2 Qb6 4. Bxf6 gxf6 5. Nb3 d5 6. e3 Bf5 7. Ne2 h5 8. h4
a5 9. a4 e6 10. Nf4 Bb4+ 11. c3 Bd6 12. Be2 Bxf4 13. exf4 Nd7 14. Ra3 Bg6 15.
Qd2 Ke7 16. f3 f5 17. Nc1 f6 18. Rb3 Qc7 19. Nd3 b6 20. Nf2 c5 21. O-O Rhg8 22.
Re1 c4 23. Ra3 Be8 24. Kh2 Nf8 25. g3 Ng6 26. Bf1 Kf7 27. Nh3 Qd6 28. Re3 Bc6
29. Ra1 Rg7 30. Re2 Ne7 31. Rg2 Qd7 32. Qc2 Nc8 33. b3 Nd6 34. Be2 Rgg8 35. Nf2
b5 36. axb5 Bxb5 37. bxc4 Nxc4 38. Nd1 Rge8 39. Qc1 Qc7 {After a long
maneuvering middlegame battle Black has achieved a better position. White's
main consolation is a safer king but after his next it's no longer the case.}
40. g4 $2 hxg4 41. fxg4 Rh8 $1 42. h5 fxg4 43. Bxg4 Nd6 44. Nf2 Nf5 $6 {
not the right plan.} (44... Rag8 {looks pretty good.}) 45. Nh3 Ng7 $2 (45...
Rag8 {still looks good. After} 46. Bxf5 Rxg2+ 47. Kxg2 exf5 {the h5-pawn is
going to fall soon leaving Black with both material and positional advantage.})
46. Qb1 f5 {Forced. The white queen must not be allowed to penetrate.} 47. Qxb5
({Also possible and probably better is} 47. Bf3 $5 {intending to play Rg5 next.
} {Black, however, can play} Nxh5 {with the following wacky variation:} 48.
Bxd5 Nxf4 49. Qxf5+ Ke8 50. Bxe6 {and it's only the computer that knows why
this position is drawn. A possible way to get to this result quickly is as
follows:} Nxh3+ 51. Kh1 Nf2+ 52. Kg1 Nh3+ 53. Kh1 Nf2+ {with a perpetual.})
47... fxg4 48. Ng5+ $2 {This knight is an important defender.} ({Correct is} 
48. Rxg4 {even though Black's chances must be preferred after} Rxh5) 48... Kf6
49. Rxg4 Rxh5+ 50. Kg2 Qxc3 $2 {Looks crushing except that White has a great
reply.} ({Instead, after} 50... Rah8 {White is in serious trouble.}) 51. Qe2 $3
{Suddenly turning the tables. The queen is going to e5 with lethal threats so
Black doesn't have time to take the rook.} Rah8 $2 {Throwing away the rest of
the full point.} (51... Rg8 {was proposed in the post-mortem and this move
does hold Black's position together.} {After} 52. Rb1 Qc7 $1 {Black has
everything covered.}) ({Another good move is} 51... Ke7 {Now after} 52. Qe5 {
Black can take a draw by perpetual:} Qb2+ 53. Kf3 Qc3+ 54. Kf2 Qb2+ {etc.}) 52.
Qe5+ Ke7 53. Qxg7+ Ke8 {In this position White has two ways to win.} 54. Qg6+ {
Omid demonstrates the first one.} ({The other route is} 54. Qf7+ Kd8 55. Nxe6+
Kc8 56. Rg8+ Rxg8+ 57. Qxg8+ Kd7 58. Nc5+ {with a quick checkmate to follow.})
54... Kd8 55. Qf6+ Kc8 56. Qxe6+ Kc7 57. Qe7+ Kc6 58. Qc5+ $1 {The only but
sufficient move here.} Qxc5 59. dxc5 Rh2+ 60. Kg3 Kxc5 61. Rxa5+ Kc6 62. f5 {
The rest is redundant.} Rh1 63. Nf3 Rd1 64. Rg6+ Kb7 65. Ra2 Rh5 66. Re2 1-0

[Event "Edmonton Fall Sectional A"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2016.10.30"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Gardner, Robert"]
[Black "Villavieja, Butch"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E84"]
[WhiteElo "2291"]
[BlackElo "2201"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2016.10.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nc6 7. Nge2 a6 8. Qd2
Rb8 9. Rc1 e6 10. g4 Bd7 11. Ng3 e5 12. Nce2 exd4 13. Nxd4 Ne5 14. Be2 b5 15.
cxb5 axb5 16. g5 Ne8 17. b3 c5 18. Nc2 f5 19. exf5 Bxf5 20. Nxf5 Rxf5 21. f4
Nd7 22. Bg4 Rf8 23. h4 Nb6 24. h5 Qe7 25. O-O b4 26. hxg6 hxg6 27. Qd3 Nc7 28.
Rce1 Qf7 29. Qxd6 Nbd5 30. Bxc5 Bc3 31. Re4 Rfe8 32. Rxe8+ Rxe8 33. f5 Kg7 34.
f6+ Kg8 35. Rf2 Be5 36. Qc6 Bf4 37. Qd7 Re5 38. Kf1 Bxg5 39. Qxf7+ Kxf7 40. Bd6
Re4 41. Bf3 Re6 42. Bxc7 Nxc7 43. Nxb4 Rxf6 44. Bd5+ Ke7 45. Nc6+ Kd6 46. Rxf6+
Bxf6 47. Be4 {An interesting endgame that has a drawish flavor thanks to the
presence of the opposite-color bishops on the board. Also, White doesn't have
many pawns left.} Nb5 48. a4 Nc3 (48... Nd4 {looks like a clear-cut way to a
draw:} 49. Nxd4 Bxd4 {and the white pawns will be blocked soon.}) 49. Bf3 g5 {
Possible but makes Black's task more complicated.} ({Simpler is} 49... Kc5 {
intending to meet} 50. a5 {with} Kb5 {with an easy draw.}) 50. a5 Nb5 $2 {
It's hard to believe but after this natural move Black won't be able to stop
the a-pawn.} ({Correct is} 50... Nd5 $1 {which doesn't really look right at
first glance.} {Now} 51. a6 ({White can also try} 51. Bxd5 Kxd5 52. Nb4+ {
hoping for} Kc5 $2 ({but after} 52... Kd6 {a draw is inevitable}) 53. a6 $1 Kb6
54. Nd5+) 51... Kxc6 52. Bxd5+ Kb6 {is an easy draw.}) 51. a6 $1 {White seizes
his chance.} Kc5 52. a7 Nc7 53. Nb8 $1 Kd4 (53... Kb4 54. Na6+ {leads to the
same result.}) 54. Na6 1-0

[Event "2016 Banff Open"]
[Site "Banff"]
[Date "2016.11.11"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Haessel, Dale"]
[Black "Kobalenko, Jerry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E73"]
[WhiteElo "2264"]
[BlackElo "1927"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2016.11.11"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Ne8 8. g4 f5
9. gxf5 gxf5 10. Nf3 ({Another promising direction is} 10. exf5 $5 {with a
different pawn structure.}) 10... f4 11. Bd2 Kh8 12. Qc2 a5 13. O-O-O Na6 14.
Rdg1 Nc5 15. h4 Bd7 16. h5 {White's following plan ends up working in Black's
favor.} ({Instead,} 16. Ne1 $5 {intending to exchange the c5-knight deserves
attention.}) 16... Bh6 17. Nh2 Nf6 18. Ng4 Nxg4 19. Bxg4 Bxg4 20. Rxg4 Rg8 21.
Rxg8+ Qxg8 {Exchanges have improved Black's position a lot, and he has also
seized control of the g-file. White must now switch to defence.} 22. Nb5 $2 {
This sortie leads to trouble.} ({It is essential for White to find the
following line:} 22. f3 $1 Qg2 23. Qd1 {The point is that} Nd3+ 24. Kc2 Nf2 $2
{doesn't work in view of} 25. Rg1 Nxd1 26. Rxg2 Nxc3 27. Bxc3 {with a much
better endgame for the first player.}) 22... Qg2 23. Re1 Qxf2 24. Nxc7 Rc8 {
Good enough for decisive advantage but there is an even stronger alternative.}
(24... Rg8 $1 {turns out to be lethal.} {The threat of Rg2 is hard to parry;
in case of} 25. Bc3 f3+ 26. Kb1 Qxc2+ 27. Kxc2 f2 28. Rf1 Rg1 {the white king
suddenly walks into a checkmate:} 29. Rxf2 Rc1#) 25. Nb5 f3 26. Kd1 Qxd2+ $2 ({
It turns out that} 26... Qg2 $1 {clearing the way for the pawn wins on the
spot.} {White has nothing better than} 27. Bxh6 f2 28. Qe2 {then} fxe1=Q+ 29.
Kxe1 Qh1+ {etc.}) 27. Qxd2 Bxd2 28. Kxd2 f2 29. Rf1 Nxe4+ 30. Kd3 Rxc4 $1 31.
Rxf2 $2 {blundering a piece.} ({Instead, after} 31. Kxc4 Nd2+ 32. Kd3 Nxf1 33.
Ke2 Ne3 34. Kxf2 Nf5 {Black is up a pawn but has got work to do to convert.})
31... Rb4 0-1

[Event "2016 Banff Open"]
[Site "Banff"]
[Date "2016.11.12"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kobalenko, Jerry"]
[Black "Sasata, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "1927"]
[BlackElo "2341"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2016.11.11"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. d4 e6 5. O-O d5 6. b3 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Bc5 8. Bb2
Qb6 9. e3 Bd7 10. a3 Rc8 11. Nxc6 Bxc6 12. Nd2 Be7 13. Bd4 Qc7 14. c4 O-O 15.
Qe2 dxc4 16. Bxc6 Qxc6 17. Nxc4 Qb5 18. Rfb1 b6 19. a4 Qb4 20. Qb2 Rfd8 {
After 20 moves of play the position looks normal and approximately equal.} 21.
f3 $6 {Voluntarily weakening his own king.} ({Instead, rearranging the rooks
by means of} 21. Rd1 Ne8 22. Rac1 {is logical.}) 21... h5 ({Immediate} 21...
Ne8 {is preferrable.}) 22. Kf2 {Steinitz would have been delighted but this
king's centralization doesn't look right.} Ne8 23. Bc3 Qc5 24. Bd4 Qf5 25. Rd1
$6 {Looks natural but the rook had to go to c1 instead.} Bf6 ({Black misses a
chance to play} 25... Nd6 $1 {threatening to jump to e4 or to take on c4.} {
Here} 26. Nxd6 $2 {doesn't work in view of} Rc2+ 27. Kg1 Rxd6 $1 28. Qb1 Rdc6 {
with deadly threats.}) 26. e4 $1 {Forcing favorable simplifications.} Bxd4+ 27.
Qxd4 Rxd4 ({Black can try} 27... Qh3 {but after} 28. Qxd8 Rxd8 29. Rxd8 Qxh2+
30. Ke3 Kf8 31. Rad1 Qxg3 32. Ra8 {White's active rooks will be a big nuisance.
}) 28. exf5 Rxd1 29. Rxd1 exf5 30. Rd7 Rc7 31. Rxc7 Nxc7 32. Nd6 {Black will
not be able to hold on to his extra pawn, so the endgame should be a draw.} Ne6
$6 ({The computer recommends} 32... f4 $5 {intending to split White's
queenside pawns. After} 33. gxf4 (33. Nc8 fxg3+ 34. Kxg3 Nd5 35. Nxa7 f6 {
is also OK for Black}) 33... Nd5 {the position is drawn.}) 33. Nc8 {Now Black
has problems with his queenside that he was unable to solve.} a5 34. Nxb6 Nc5
35. Ke3 Nxb3 36. Kd3 f4 37. gxf4 Kf8 38. Kc3 Nc5 $2 {Black's desire to defend
the a5-pawn gives White a crucial tempo.} ({The best chance is} 38... Nc1 $5
39. Kc4 Ke7 40. Kb5 Kd6 41. Nc4+ Kc7 42. Nxa5 Ne2 {and the game is far from
being over.}) 39. Kc4 Nb7 ({The last chance is} 39... Ne6 40. Kb5 Ke7 41. Nc4
Kd7 {bringing the king to the queenside.} {White's position still looks pretty
good though after a plausible} 42. Ne5+ Kc7 43. Nxf7 Nxf4 44. Kxa5) 40. Kb5 Ke7
41. Nc4 Ke6 42. Kb6 Nd8 43. Nxa5 Kf5 44. Nc6 Ne6 45. a5 Nxf4 46. a6 1-0

[Event "2016 Banff Open"]
[Site "Banff"]
[Date "2016.11.12"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Kobalenko, Jerry"]
[Black "Findlay, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "1927"]
[BlackElo "2319"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2016.11.11"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 c5 7. d4 Nc6 8. Nbd2
b6 9. c4 Bb7 10. e3 Rc8 11. Ne5 cxd4 12. exd4 dxc4 13. Ndxc4 b5 $1 {A good
novelty.} (13... Nd5 {was played before, which is less energetic.}) 14. Nxc6 $6
{Inaccurate.} ({White's best is} 14. Ne3 {keeping pieces on the board.}) ({
If he does want exchanges, the way to do it is} 14. Bxc6 Bxc6 15. Nxc6 Rxc6 16.
Ne5 {etc.}) 14... Bxc6 15. Bxc6 $6 (15. Ne3 {is still relatively best.}) {
Now Black takes advantage of the opponent's inaccuracies.} 15... bxc4 $1 16.
Bf3 c3 {This strong passer gives Black a significantly better position.} 17.
Bc1 Nd5 18. a3 a5 19. Qc2 Qb6 20. Rd1 Rfd8 21. Rd3 Bf6 22. Be3 $2 ({Black's
last two moves gave White a chance to bail out with} 22. Bxd5 $1 Rxd5 23. Be3
Bxd4 24. Bxd4 Rxd4 25. Rxc3 {simplifying into an almost equal endgame.}) 22...
Nxe3 23. fxe3 e5 24. d5 e4 $1 25. Bxe4 Re8 26. Bf5 Rxe3 ({The computer
advocates} 26... Rcd8 $5 {even though it gives White time for} 27. Re1) 27. Qf2
$2 {White is trying to be tricky but this move should lose the game.} ({
Relatively best is} 27. Rxe3 {although White's position remains unpleasant
after a plausible} Qxe3+ 28. Kg2 Re8) 27... Rxd3 $2 {Black must have
overlooked something.} ({He should play} 27... c2 $1 {first hitting the rook
on a1. Then after} 28. Rc1 Rxd3 29. Qxb6 Bd4+ {works well.}) (27... Rce8 {
is not bad either as White remains on the ropes after} 28. Rxe3 Rxe3) 28. Qxb6
Bd4+ 29. Qxd4 Rxd4 30. Bxc8 c2 31. Bg4 $1 {This may be the resource that Black
missed in his calculations.} Rxg4 $2 ({It is time to secure half a point by
means of} 31... a4 $1 {After} 32. bxa4 Rxg4 33. Rc1 Rc4 {Black holds on to the
c2-pawn for a few moves. The position is drawn as White's pawns are too weak.})
32. Rc1 Kf8 33. Rxc2 Rd4 34. Rc5 a4 35. bxa4 Rxa4 36. d6 $1 {An excellent try.}
Ke8 37. Re5+ Kd7 38. Re7+ Kxd6 39. Rxf7 g5 40. Rf3 Ke5 {Black has good drawing
chances but was unable to hold this ending.} 41. Rb3 h5 42. h3 Rc4 (42... g4 $5
{intending to exchange pawns may be a draw right there.} 43. h4 Ra5 {is not
dangerous for Black.}) 43. Re3+ Kf5 44. Kf2 h4 45. g4+ Kf4 46. Rf3+ Ke4 47. Kg2
Ra4 $2 ({Why not} 47... Rc2+ 48. Rf2 Rc4 {?} 49. Rb2 {may be answered by} Ke3 {
and White cannot make progress.}) 48. Rb3 $1 Ke5 49. Kf2 Kf6 50. Ke2 Kg6 {
Things are quickly going downhill for Black from here.} 51. Kd2 Ra8 52. Kc3
Rc8+ 53. Kb2 Ra8 54. Rb4 Ra7 55. a4 Ra8 56. Ka3 Ra7 57. Rb5 Re7 58. a5 Re3+ 59.
Rb3 Re5 60. Ka4 Re4+ 61. Rb4 Re3 62. a6 Re1 63. Ka5 Ra1+ 64. Kb6 Re1 65. a7 Re8
66. Ra4 1-0

[Event "2016 Banff Open"]
[Site "Banff"]
[Date "2016.11.13"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Malek, Omid"]
[Black "Kobalenko, Jerry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2177"]
[BlackElo "1927"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2016.11.11"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 g6 3. Bxf6 exf6 4. e3 f5 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 d5 7. Ne2 b6 $2 {
There is no such move in the database, and for a good reason.} 8. c4 $1 {
Certainly. White is going to win the d5-pawn soon.} c6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nbc3
Bb7 11. Qb3 O-O 12. O-O Nc6 13. Qxd5 Qe7 14. Qb5 {White already has a decisive
advantage.} Na5 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. Qd5 Qe7 17. a3 Rfd8 18. Qg2 Nc4 19. b4 Rac8
20. Rfc1 a6 21. h4 b5 22. Kh2 Bh6 23. a4 Rb8 24. axb5 axb5 25. Nd5 Qd6 26. Nec3
Nd2 27. Ra7 Kg7 28. Rca1 Rdc8 29. R1a6 Rc6 30. Rxc6 Qxc6 31. Rc7 Qe6 32. Rc5
Qa6 33. f4 Nb3 34. Nc7 {Allowing Black to exchange the queenside pawns brings
him some relief.} ({Better is} 34. Rc7 $1 {maintaining a dominating position.})
34... Qa3 35. Rxb5 Rxb5 36. N7xb5 Qxb4 {Starting from here, White gradually
goes astray and ends up losing his extra pawn.} 37. d5 Nc5 38. Qd2 Kg8 39. d6
Nd7 40. Qg2 Bf8 41. e4 Bxd6 $2 {This natural move is actually a blunder.} ({
Correct is} 41... fxe4 42. Qxe4 Qc5 $1 {emphasizing the White's pieces are
tied up.}) 42. Nxd6 $2 {The final mistake.} ({Instead,} 42. Qd2 $1 {wins a
piece.} {Perhaps, Black counted on} Bc5 43. Qxd7 Qb2+ 44. Kh3 Bg1 {threatening
checkmate, and White understandably decided not to take any chances.} {In fact,
after} 45. exf5 $1 Qh2+ 46. Kg4 h5+ 47. Kg5 Qxg3+ 48. Kf6 Qxh4+ 49. Ke5 {
the king reaches safety, and then White's extra piece should tell.}) 42... Qxd6
43. e5 Qc5 44. Nd5 Kg7 45. Qd2 h5 {There is nothing left to play for.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "2016 Alberta Junior Championship"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2016.11.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Fellah, Mohamad"]
[Black "Wang, Kaixin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2051"]
[BlackElo "1845"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2016.11.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

{The most adventurous game of the tournament.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3 Be7 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11.
g4 {Both players follow the main roads of the Najdorf.} Rc8 ({Here} 11... b5 {
is far more popular.}) 12. g5 Nh5 13. Rg1 Nb6 14. Qf2 $6 ({In such positions} 
14. Kb1 {is usually a good move. White doesn't fear} Nc4 15. Bxc4 {etc.}) 14...
Nc4 {Natural.} ({Nevertheless, Black has a very interesting resource} 14...
Rxc3 $5 15. Bxb6 Bxg5+ 16. Kb1 Bh4 $1 {He will end up with a slightly better
position when the dust settles.}) 15. Bxc4 Bxc4 16. Na5 $6 {Looks like a trap
that suddenly worked.} ({Michael Adams opted for a solid} 16. Kb1 {in his 2005
game against Alexander Grischuk.}) 16... Qxa5 $2 {Now the black queen will be
trapped.} ({Instead,} 16... Be6 $1 {leaves him with a slightly better position.
} {Here} 17. Nxb7 $2 Qc7 18. Na5 {doesn't work because the c4-square has
become available:} Qxa5 19. Bb6 Qb4 20. a3 Qc4 {and the queen returns home
unscathed.}) 17. Bb6 Qxc3 (17... Qb4 18. a3 {doesn't make much of a difference.
}) 18. bxc3 Nf4 {Black has a lot of positional compensation but still not
enough to offset the material deficit.} 19. Rg4 {White's idea to return some
material is correct but the execution isn't the best.} ({The computer advocates
} 19. Rge1 $5 Bxg5 20. Be3 {consolidating.}) 19... Bxa2 20. Kb2 Be6 21. Rxf4 $1
{It is indeed the right decision to eliminate this knight.} exf4 22. Bd4 $2 {
But sacrificing the g5-pawn is not.} ({Correct is} 22. h4 $1 {keeping the
g5-pawn.}) 22... Bxg5 23. Rg1 f6 $1 {The only defence that White must have
underestimated.} 24. h4 Bh6 {Now he doesn't have any material advantage.} 25.
Rd1 Rc6 26. Bb6 Rfc8 27. Ba5 b6 28. Bb4 Rd8 (28... a5 $5 {looks more to the
point.} {I don't think that White would have gone for} 29. Bxd6 ({an
alternative is} 29. Ba3 {but Black can still play} Rxc3 30. Rxd6 Rxc2+ 31. Qxc2
Rxc2+ 32. Kxc2 {and here} Bh3 $1 33. Rxb6 Bg2 {gives him enough counterplay
for a draw.}) 29... Rxc3 30. Qxb6 Rxc2+ 31. Ka1 {exposing his own king to the
maximum.}) 29. Rd4 Kf7 30. Qd2 {What to do now?} Ke7 $2 ({Black has to let the
d6-pawn go:} 30... a5 31. Bxd6 Rdc8 {and he may still be OK.}) {Now White
finds a winning breakthrough:} 31. Qe2 $1 b5 32. e5 $1 fxe5 33. Qxe5 {The pin
decides the outcome of the game.} Kf7 34. Rxd6 Rdxd6 35. Bxd6 Rc4 36. Bc5 Ra4 {
White's attack is irresistible, and he finds a right way after a few moves.}
37. Qc7+ Kg6 38. Qe5 Kf7 39. Qh5+ Kf6 40. Bd4+ Ke7 41. Qc5+ Ke8 42. Qe5 Kf7 43.
h5 Rc4 44. Bc5 g6 45. Qc7+ Kg8 46. Qd8+ {It's checkmate in 3.} 1-0

[Event "2016 Alberta Junior Championship"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2016.11.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Wu, Chenxi"]
[Black "Fellah, Mohamad"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B91"]
[WhiteElo "1892"]
[BlackElo "2051"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2016.11.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.20"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 e5 7. Nde2 Be7 8. Bg2
O-O 9. O-O b5 10. h3 Nbd7 11. g4 b4 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 f5 14. gxf5 Nc5 15.
Be3 Qc7 16. Ng3 Bxf5 17. Nxf5 Rxf5 18. Qg4 Raf8 19. f4 exf4 20. Bxf4 g6 21.
Rae1 a5 22. Qg3 Qd8 {Black is threatening Bh4. White decided to parry the
threat by striking first:} 23. Rxe7 $2 ({Correct is} 23. Qg4 {with a normal
game.}) 23... Qxe7 24. Bxd6 Rxf1+ 25. Bxf1 Qa7 $1 {The refutation.} 26. Qe3 ({
Certainly not} 26. Bxf8 $2 Ne4+ {and the white queen is gone.}) 26... Rc8 $2 {
This justifies White's play.} ({The winning move is} 26... Rxf1+ $1 {with the
idea} 27. Kxf1 Qa6+ 28. Kf2 Qxd6) 27. Bb5 Qb6 28. Bc6 Na4 29. Qxb6 ({The
computer advocates a pawn sacrifice} 29. Kf2 $5 Qxe3+ 30. Kxe3 Nxb2 31. Kd4 {
when the d5-pawn becomes very strong.}) 29... Nxb6 {Now the position is equal
but White misses a trick later on.} 30. Kf2 Kf7 31. b3 Kf6 32. Ke3 $2 ({
He should play} 32. Bf4 {maintaining equality.}) 32... Nxd5+ {That's the trick.
} 33. Bxd5 Rd8 34. Kd4 Rxd6 35. Kc5 Ke5 {And Black went on to win this endgame.
} 36. Bc4 Rd2 37. Bd3 Rh2 38. Kb5 Kd4 39. Kxa5 Kc3 40. Ka4 Rxh3 41. a3 bxa3 42.
Kxa3 g5 43. b4 Rh4 44. b5 h5 45. b6 Rb4 46. Bg6 h4 47. Bd3 Rxb6 0-1

