[Event "Alberta Closed"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2010.04.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Pechenkin, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gardner, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A26"]
[WhiteElo "2343"]
[BlackElo "2163"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "2010.04.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. g3 d6 4. Bg2 e5 5. d3 Nc6 6. e4 f5 7. Nge2 Nf6 8. O-O
Be6 9. Nd5 Qd7 10. Bg5 O-O 11. Qd2 Nd8 12. Rad1 Bxd5 13. cxd5 Nf7 14. Bh4 h6
15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. exf5 gxf5 17. d4 exd4 18. Nxd4 Bxd4 19. Qxd4 Ne5 20. f4 Ng4
21. Rfe1 Qg7 22. Qxg7+ Kxg7 23. Rc1 Rf7 24. Bf3 h5 25. h3 Nf6 26. Kf2 Rd8 27.
Re6 Rdd7 28. Rce1 Kf8 29. b4 Rde7 30. b5 b6 31. R1e3 Rxe6 32. Rxe6 Kg7 33. Re3
Rf8 34. Re7+ Rf7 35. Re3 Rf8 36. Rc3 Rc8 37. Ra3 Ra8 38. Rc3 Rc8 39. Ke3 Kg6
40. Kd4 Nd7 41. Re3 Nc5 42. Re7 a6 43. bxa6 Ra8 44. Be2 Nxa6 45. Bxa6 Rxa6 46.
Rxc7 Rxa2 47. Rc6 Ra4+ 48. Kd3 Ra3+ 49. Kc4 Rxg3 50. Rxd6+ Kf7 51. Kd4 Rxh3 52.
Rxb6 h4 53. Ke5 Rd3 54. Rf6+ Ke7 55. Rxf5 Re3+ 56. Kd4 Re1 57. Rh5 Rd1+ 58. Ke5
Rh1 59. Rh7+ Ke8 60. Ke6 Re1+ 61. Kf6 {When I was looking through this endgame,
it occurred to me that I had already seen something very similar before. I
checked my records and wasn't disappointed, indeed. The position on the
following diagram, taken from the first round of the 2010 Alberta Closed, is
identical to the one in Goganov - Vitiugov! The colors must be reversed, of
course. Let's see how the game proceeded.} Rh1 {Correct.} 62. d6 $2 {This
hasty push allows Black to escape. We were approaching midnight, and the
fatigue might have been taking its toll.} ({As we already know, the right way
is} 62. f5 h3 63. Ke6 Re1+ 64. Kd6 {etc.}) 62... h3 63. f5 h2 $2 {Rob makes
the same mistake as GM Goganov.} ({The computer points out that Black has two
moves that lead to a draw, the simpler one is} 63... Kd8 {Now White cannot
regroup as in the game.  If} 64. Ke6 Re1+ 65. Kf7 Rh1 66. f6 {then just} h2 {
and White runs out of ideas.}) ({We are already familiar with a more cynical
alternative:} 63... Rh2 64. Re7+ Kd8 65. Re3 Kd7 66. Ke5 Rh1 67. f6 Rh2 $3 {
etc.}) 64. Re7+ $1 Kd8 65. Rh7 {White repeats the position to gain some time
on the clock. Fortunately, there is nothing that Black can do at this point.}
Ke8 66. Re7+ Kd8 67. Re2 $1 Kd7 68. Rd2 ({Similarly to Vitiugov's game,} 68.
Ke5 {also wins but I already calculated the other winning line.}) 68... Ke8 {
Now White has to demonstrate the entire idea.} (68... Ra1 69. Rxh2 Kxd6 70.
Rd2+ {is an easy win.}) (68... Kd8 69. d7 Rf1 70. Rxh2 Kxd7 71. Re2 $1 {
doesn't change anything.}) 69. d7+ Kd8 {Another curious moment. It seems that
White is in zugzwang and cannot make further progress. GM Sergey Shipov, who
was doing live commentary of the game Goganov - Vitiugov, actually got to this
very position in his express analysis and declared it drawn! Certainly, he had
very little time on his "clock" so this superficial judgement is fully
exusable. Nevertheless, it's quite delightful to prove the opposite in a real
game!} 70. Kf7 $1 Rf1 {What else?} 71. Rxh2 Rxf5+ (71... Kxd7 72. Rd2+ Kc7 73.
f6 {is a familiar theme.}) 72. Ke6 Rf8 73. Rc2 {Black is defenceless and has
to resign. The above examples prove once again how difficult rook endgames
actually are. On the other hand, it is quite a thrill if one can play them
correctly at least every once in a while.} 1-0

[Event "66th ch-RUS 2013"]
[Site "Nizhnij Novgorod"]
[Date "2013.10.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Goganov, Aleksey"]
[Black "Vitiugov, Nikita"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Qe7 5. g3 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 Nc6 7. Nc3 d5 8.
Ne5 dxc4 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bg2 O-O 11. O-O Rb8 12. Rfd1 Rd8 13. Qc2 Ba6 14. Ne4
Nxe4 15. Bxe4 g6 16. Bxc6 Qb4 17. Rab1 Rd6 18. Bf3 Qa5 19. b3 Rb4 20. bxc4 Rxc4
21. Rb8+ Kg7 22. Qb2 Qc3 23. Qxc3 Rxc3 24. Ra8 c5 25. Rxa7 cxd4 26. Rd2 Bc4 27.
h4 e5 28. Rb2 Ra6 29. Rxa6 Bxa6 30. a4 Rc4 31. Bb7 Rxa4 32. Bxa6 Rxa6 33. f3 h5
34. Kf2 Kf6 35. e3 Ke6 36. exd4 exd4 37. g4 Ke5 38. gxh5 gxh5 39. Rb5+ Kf4 40.
Rxh5 Ra2+ 41. Ke1 f5 42. Rh8 Ke3 43. Re8+ Kxf3 44. h5 Rh2 {Once upon a time I
happened to follow some of the games at the Russian Championship, a strong
round-robin tournament featuring several top players in the world. In the very
first round of the event my attention was drawn to the following rook endgame.
Black is up a pawn and appears to be winning but the battle isn't over yet.}
45. Rh8 {Best. The other moves are simply bad.} ({For example,} 45. Rd8 Rxh5
46. Rxd4 $2 {loses immediately to} Ke3) 45... f4 {Correct.} 46. h6 {White's
main (and obvious) idea is to push his passed pawn to h7 and then to look for
an opportunity to deliver a deadly rook check followed by the pawn promotion.
Conventional wisdom suggests that the outcome of the game largely depends on
whether Black will be able to create a shelter for his king avoiding such a
check.} Re2+ {GM Vitiugov follows the conventional wisdom intending to create
the shelter on the e-file. Quite surprisingly, even though this approach looks
right, it fails to achieve anything special if White defends correctly.} ({
Instead, the winning plan is to relocate the king to d3 and then push the
f-pawn:} 46... Ke3 47. Re8+ Kd3 {A plausible conclusion of the game is then}
48. Rh8 (48. Rf8 $2 {loses to the familiar} Rxh6 49. Rxf4 Ke3 50. Rf1 Ra6)
48... f3 49. h7 ({or} 49. Rf8 Rxh6 50. Rxf3+ Kc2) 49... f2+ 50. Kf1 Kd2 51. Rd8
Rxh7 52. Rxd4+ Ke3 {and wins.}) 47. Kd1 Re6 $2 {It's hard to believe but this
logical move allows White to escape with a draw. The defensive idea is far
from obvious though.} ({Black has to "take it back":} 47... Rh2 48. Ke1 {then
go for} Ke3 49. Re8+ Kd3 {etc.}) 48. h7 $2 {After this final mistake Black
plays very precisely and converts his advantage in a computer-like fashion.} ({
The path to a draw is narrow but it does exist:} 48. Kd2 Ke4 49. Ke2 f3+ 50.
Kd2 $1 d3 51. Rh7 $3 {The point of keeping the h7-square availabe to the rook.
White avoids the zugzwang, and Black cannot make progress.  For example,} Re5
52. Rf7 Rh5 53. Re7+ {with a draw.}) 48... Re7 $1 49. Kd2 Ke4 50. Ke2 d3+ 51.
Kf2 f3 {Now White is in zugzwang and has to abandon his passer.} 52. Ra8 Rxh7
53. Ra4+ {GM Vitiugov must still find a few precise moves.} Kd5 $1 {And he
does.} 54. Ke3 ({The point of Black's previous is that after} 54. Kxf3 {the
white king can be cut off by means of} Re7 $1 {with an easy win.}) 54... Rf7 $1
55. Ra1 f2 56. Rf1 Kc4 {The rest is straightforward.} 57. Kd2 Ra7 58. Rc1+ Kd4
59. Ra1 Ra2+ 0-1

[Event "9th Edmonton International Qualifier"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.06.01"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Gardner, Robert"]
[Black "Yam, Alex"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2301"]
[BlackElo "2383"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2014.05.31"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Qa4+ Nd7 8.
Nf3 O-O 9. Be2 c5 10. Be3 Nb6 $146 {A novelty.} ({So far in practice Black has
preferred} 10... Nf6 {but it's not necessarily better than the text move.}) 11.
Qa3 Qc7 $6 {Uncharacteristically slow for Alex.} ({Correct is} 11... cxd4 12.
cxd4 Bg4 {with typical dynamic counterplay against d4.} {After a plausible} 13.
O-O Bxf3 14. Bxf3 Bxd4 15. Rad1 e5 {and Black is OK.}) 12. d5 $2 {A grave
error that loses all the advantage.} ({The natural} 12. O-O {is very strong as
now Black doesn't have enough pressure against d4.}) 12... f5 $1 {Emphasizing
temporary lack of coordination in White's camp.} 13. e5 {Relatively best.} Nxd5
14. Bc4 $1 {A very important intermediate move maintaining the balance.} Rd8
15. Bxc5 $2 {White overestimates his chances and ends up in serious trouble.} (
{After the correct} 15. Qxc5 e6 {the position is equal.}) 15... b6 $1 {Black
has a number of good moves but the game continuation is the strongest.} 16.
Bxe7 (16. Bxd5+ Rxd5 17. Bd4 {may be the lesser evil but after} Be6 {White is
positionally lost.}) 16... Qxc4 17. Bxd8 Ba6 {Black is practically winning in
all lines.} ({The computer points out to the most precise continuation:} 17...
Qe4+ 18. Kf1 Bf8 19. Qb3 Ba6+ 20. Kg1 Rxd8 {with an overwhelming position.})
18. O-O-O {The only chance.} Rxd8 ({A simpler solution is} 18... Nxc3 19. Qb3 {
(what else?)} Nxd1+ 20. Qxc4+ Bxc4 21. Rxd1 Rc8 {The endgame is very difficult
for White, and he is probably going to lose a pawn soon.}) 19. Rd4 $1 {The
best move again. Black's pieces are suddenly hanging.} Bh6+ {Possible but it
is now Black who has to be careful. Still, I can hardly classify this move as
a mistake.} ({The following line preserves the advantage for Black if he plays
with a computer precision:} 19... Bf8 20. Qb3 Qc6 21. Rhd1 Bb7 22. c4 b5 23.
Qxb5 Ba3+ 24. Kd2 Qxb5 25. cxb5 Bc5 {etc. Good luck in finding this over the
board.}) 20. Kb2 Qe2+ 21. Ka1 Bc4 $1 {The only good move. At this point Black
must have already calculated the variations till the end of the game.} 22. Re1
$1 Qxf2 23. Rxc4 Ne3 ({In a must-win situtaion Black would prefer} 23... Qxg2
$5 {Here the position remains unclear and all three results are possible.}) 24.
Qe7 {Correct.} (24. Qb3 $6 {is a mistake.} {After the cold-blooded} Kh8 $1 {
Black will regain his exchange with a better position.}) 24... Nc2+ 25. Kb1 Bf8
{A draw was agreed as a perpetual check to either king is inevitable.} ({For
example,} 25... Bf8 26. Qxd8 Na3+ 27. Ka1 Nc2+ 28. Kb2 Na3+ {and White has to
repeat the moves since} 29. Kb3 $4 {runs into} Qc2#) 1/2-1/2

[Event "9th Edmonton International Section B"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.06.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Gardner, Robert"]
[Black "Sequillion, Aaron"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A60"]
[WhiteElo "2295"]
[BlackElo "2214"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2014.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 Bd6 6. e4 O-O 7. Bd3 Re8 8.
Nge2 Bc7 9. O-O a6 10. a4 d6 11. Bg5 Nbd7 12. f4 Nf8 13. e5 dxe5 14. Ne4 Ng6
15. f5 Nf4 16. Nxf4 exf4 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Qh5 Be5 19. Rf3 Qxd5 20. Rh3 Bd4+
21. Nf2 Re3 22. Qxh7+ Kf8 23. Kh1 Rxh3 24. Nxh3 f3 25. Nf4 fxg2+ 26. Nxg2 Bxb2
27. Re1 Be5 28. Be4 Qd2 29. Qh5 Qg5 30. Qh8+ Ke7 31. Ne3 {This game was a
see-saw battle with a number of twists and turns. In the diagrammed position
the black kings is in trouble despite two extra pawns but there was a solution
available.} Rb8 $2 {This loses quickly, just like every other move except one.}
({The spectacular} 31... Bxf5 $3 {saves the game:} 32. Nxf5+ Qxf5 33. Qxa8 Qf2
$1 {the point} 34. Qxb7+ Kf8 {White has to be content with the perpetual to
avoid being checkmated:} 35. Qc8+ Ke7 36. Qb7+ {etc.}) 32. Nd5+ Kd7 33. Qf8 {
Black is defenseless.} Bd6 34. Qxf7+ Kd8 35. Rg1 Qxg1+ 36. Kxg1 b5 37. Qxf6+
Kd7 38. Qe6+ Kc6 39. Nf6+ Kc7 40. Ne8+ 1-0

[Event "9th Edmonton International Section B"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.06.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Zeggelaar, Mike"]
[Black "Gardner, Robert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B09"]
[WhiteElo "2011"]
[BlackElo "2295"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2014.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Nf3 c5 7. e6 fxe6 8. Ng5
Nf6 9. dxc5 Nc6 10. Be3 O-O 11. Qd2 Qa5 12. Bc4 d5 13. Be2 d4 14. Bxd4 Rd8 15.
Qe3 Nxd4 16. O-O-O Nxe2+ 17. Qxe2 Nd5 18. Nxd5 Rxd5 19. Rxd5 exd5 20. Qxe7 Bf5
{White was lost after move 12 but Black's inaccuracies allowed the opponent
counterplay.} 21. Qf7+ Kh8 22. Qxd5 {Now Black must be careful.} h6 ({Correct
is} 22... Rf8 $1 {intending} 23. Nf7+ Rxf7 24. Qxf7 Qa4 $1 25. Qb3 Qxf4+ {when
the raging bishops leave White with little hope for survival.}) 23. h4 (23.
Nf7+ Kh7 24. h4 {is a more accurate move order.} {Then} Bg4 {transposes back
to the game.}) 23... Bg4 ({Again, Black should play} 23... Rf8 $1 24. Nf7+ Rxf7
25. Qxf7 Qb4 26. Qb3 Qxf4+ {similarly to the line above.}) 24. Nf7+ Kh7 {
Suddenly, the position is unclear.} 25. f5 (25. h5 $5 {is another interesting
resource with the idea} Bxh5 $2 26. g4 $1 Bxg4 $4 27. Ng5+ Kh8 28. Qxb7 Rf8 29.
Rxh6+ $1 Bxh6 30. Qh7#) 25... gxf5 $2 ({Even though} 25... Rf8 {is long
overdue, it is still the best move.} {To be fair,} 26. fxg6+ Kxg6 {does look
scary for Black.}) 26. Ng5+ hxg5 27. hxg5+ $2 {Missing his chance.} ({White
draws after} 27. Qe6 $3 Bh5 {(what else?)} 28. hxg5 {and Black has to take the
perpetual himself:} Bxb2+ 29. Kxb2 Qb4+ 30. Ka1 Qc3+ 31. Kb1 Qb4+ {etc.}) 27...
Kg6 {Now it's all over.} 28. Qe6+ Kxg5 29. Rh7 Qc7 30. Qe3+ Kg6 31. Rh1 Qe5 32.
Qb3 Re8 0-1

[Event "9th Edmonton International Section B"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.06.24"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Salehian, Mohammad"]
[Black "Zeggelaar, Mike"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "1859"]
[BlackElo "2011"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2014.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Nd2 Ne8 10. c5 f5 11. f3 f4 12. Bf2 Nf6 13. cxd6 cxd6 14. Nc4 Ne8 15.
O-O g5 16. Nb5 h5 17. Nxa7 h4 18. Qb3 h3 19. Nxc8 Rxc8 20. gxh3 Qd7 21. Nb6
Qxh3 22. Nxc8 Nxc8 23. Rfc1 Nf6 24. Qxb7 g4 25. Rxc8 g3 26. Rxf8+ Bxf8 27. hxg3
fxg3 28. Bxg3 Qxg3+ 29. Kf1 Nh5 30. Qd7 Qh2 31. Qg4+ Kf7 32. Qe6+ Kg7 33. Qg4+
Kf7 34. Qg2 Qh4 35. Qf2 Qh1+ 36. Qg1 Qh4 37. Bb5 Bh6 {White's large material
advantage gives him a winning position. Care is required, however, as Black's
threats must be taken seriously.} 38. Qa7+ $2 {The queen is needed for defence,
there is no time for counterattack.} ({A good way to consolidate is} 38. Bd7 $5
{intending to put the bishop on g4 when necessary.}) 38... Kf6 39. Be8 $2 {
This is clearly asking for trouble.} ({White should acknowledge his mistake
and play} 39. Qg1) 39... Qh1+ 40. Qg1 $2 {Now Black wins quickly.} (40. Ke2 {
saves the game in a miraculous fashion, which is, however, beyond the scope of
this example. An interested reader may quickly verify it with a computer.})
40... Qxf3+ 41. Qf2 {Apparently, White was pinning his hopes on this defensive
resource but it doesn't work.} ({Black also wins after} 41. Ke1 Qxe4+ 42. Kf1
Qd3+ 43. Kg2 Nf4+ {etc.}) 41... Ng3+ 42. Ke1 Bd2+ $1 {A nice tactical shot
forcing an immediate resignation. White has to part with his queen or allow
checkmate.} 0-1

[Event "9th Edmonton International Section B"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.06.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Zeggelaar, Mike"]
[Black "Sequillion, Aaron"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2011"]
[BlackElo "2214"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2014.06.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 Nc6 7. Qd2 Bd7 8.
Be2 e6 9. O-O Be7 10. Rad1 O-O 11. f4 Qc7 12. Nf3 Rfd8 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Kh1
Be8 15. Bd3 Rac8 16. Ng5 h6 17. Nf3 Nb4 18. Ne2 Nxd3 19. cxd3 Qc2 20. Ned4 Bxd4
21. Nxd4 Qa4 22. b4 a5 23. Rb1 Bd7 24. Rb2 Rc7 25. Nf3 Rdc8 26. bxa5 Rc2 27.
Qb4 Rc1 28. Nd2 Rxf1+ 29. Nxf1 Rc1 30. Kg1 Qd1 31. Rf2 Qxd3 {The pin is deadly
and Black is totally winning.} 32. Qd2 {Desperation.} Qxd2 {Good enough.} ({
However, a simple tactical shot} 32... Rxf1+ 33. Rxf1 Qxd2 {forces an
immediate resignation.}) 33. Rxd2 Bb5 34. Rf2 Re1 {White resigned on move 39.}
35. a4 Ba6 36. g3 Rxe4 37. Rd2 Re1 38. Rf2 Kf8 39. Kg2 Bxf1+ 0-1

[Event "9th Edmonton International Reserves"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.06.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Mah, Sean Kenneth"]
[Black "Briones, Dante"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "1461"]
[BlackElo "1968"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2014.06.28"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. d4 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. Bd3 e6 4. f4 c5 5. c3 Bd6 6. Nd2 Nbd7 7. Ngf3 b6 8. Ne5
Bb7 9. Qf3 g6 10. O-O h5 11. b3 Qc7 12. Bb2 a5 13. Qe2 Rg8 14. Rac1 g5 15. h3
gxf4 16. exf4 c4 17. Bb1 Ke7 18. Rf2 Rg7 19. Kh1 Rag8 20. Rg1 Rh8 21. bxc4 dxc4
22. Ne4 b5 23. Nxd6 Qxd6 {All I can say is that it's hard to figure out what's
going on even with computer assistance.} 24. f5 $6 {Looks tempting but Black
has a strong reply.} ({In this complex position White can try} 24. a4 $5 {
undermining the opponent's queenside pawn chain.}) 24... Ng4 $1 25. Nxg4 $2 {
The decisive mistake. Opening up the h-file is suicidal.} ({White should prefer
} 25. Rf4) 25... hxg4 26. Rgf1 Rxh3+ {Exactly the same pattern as in the
previous example!} 27. Kg1 Qh2# 0-1

[Event "9th Edmonton International Reserves"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.06.29"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Hughey, Leah"]
[Black "Grossmann, Lenard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A22"]
[WhiteElo "1510"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2014.06.28"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bb4 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nd5 Nxd5 6. cxd5 c6 7. a3 Be7 8. b4
a5 9. Bb2 f6 10. Qb3 Kh8 11. Nh3 Qb6 12. O-O axb4 13. Rfc1 Ra6 14. a4 c5 15.
Rc4 d6 16. Rac1 Bd7 17. Rh4 f5 18. Rcc4 Bxh4 19. Rxh4 Qd8 {Black's large
material advantage is supposed to give him a win but White's attack is not to
be underestimated.} 20. f4 $1 {The best try.} e4 $2 {Surprisingly, after this
innocent looking move White wins by force.} ({Black should try to keep the
long diagonal closed. After} 20... Qe7 21. fxe5 dxe5 22. Qe3 Re8 23. Ng5 h6 {
White doesn't have anything concrete.}) 21. Ng5 h6 {Black may have pinned his
hopes to this move but it doesn't help.} ({No better is} 21... Kg8 22. Rxh7 Qe7
23. Rxg7+ Qxg7 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. g4 $1 {and White's attack is decisive.}) 22.
Rxh6+ {Of course. The g7-pawn is pinned!} Kg8 23. Rg6 Rf7 {White has a wide
choice of winning moves here.} 24. Ne6 Bxe6 25. dxe6 Re7 26. Rxg7+ Kf8 27. Bf6
Nc6 28. Qb2 Rxg7 29. Bxd8 Nd4 30. e7+ Ke8 31. e3 Ne2+ 32. Kf2 {The rest is
redundant. White won on move 38.} Nc3 33. dxc3 bxc3 34. Qxc3 Rg8 35. Qb3 Rg7
36. Qxb7 Rxa4 37. Qb5+ Kf7 38. e8=Q# 1-0

[Event "9th Edmonton International"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.06.21"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Panjwani, Raja"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2440"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2014.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2
d6 9. e3 Nbd7 10. d4 Ne4 11. Qe2 f5 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 13. Rfd1 Qe8 14. Ne1 Nf6 15.
f3 Bb7 16. Nd3 Rc8 17. e4 cxd4 18. e5 Nd7 19. Bxd4 dxe5 20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. Bxe5
Rf7 22. f4 Bc5+ 23. Kh1 Bxg2+ 24. Qxg2 Rd7 25. Rxd7 Qxd7 26. Qf3 Rd8 27. Bc3 a5
28. Kg2 h6 29. Rc1 {Black's position is more pleasant as he firmly controls
the only open file. However, White has all the entry squares covered and it's
unclear how Black can make progress.} g5 $5 {Brilliant! This move looks very
risky and requires precise calculation.} ({The computer recommends} 29... Qd3
30. Qxd3 Rxd3 {with a slightly better endgame.}) 30. h3 $2 {Black's aggression
pays off immediately.} ({Correct is} 30. fxg5 hxg5 31. h3 {not creating a weak
pawn on f4.}) 30... Qd3 $1 {Now this is strong.} 31. Qh5 {This tempting sortie
loses.} ({White must accept an inferior endgame after} 31. Qxd3 Rxd3 32. Rc2
gxf4 33. gxf4 Kf7) 31... Qe4+ 32. Kh2 gxf4 33. Qg6+ Kf8 {The black king walks
away, while his white colleague is about to be checkmated.} 34. Qg7+ Ke8 35.
Qg8+ Kd7 36. Rd1+ Kc6 37. Qxd8 Qe2+ 0-1

[Event "9th Edmonton International"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.06.24"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B46"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2014.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Qd2 e5 $5 {
This move had been played only twice before! Curiously, one of the games was
Molner - Kovalyov, 2014, that I annotated for the March 2014 edition of Chess
Canada.} 8. Nf5 d5 9. exd5 Nb4 10. Ng3 Nfxd5 11. a3 ({The aforementioned game
continued} 11. Bg5 f6 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Qxd5 Nxd5 14. O-O-O Be6 {Anton
equalized fairly comfortably and then outplayed his opponent in an instructive
endgame.}) {Wesley tries a different approach but can’t get any opening
advantage either.} 11... Nxe3 12. fxe3 Qxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Nc6 {The computer
evaluates this position as equal. In fact, Black's play is easier thanks to
the bishop pair and a better pawn structure.} 14. Bc4 Bg4 15. h3 Rd8+ 16. Ke1
Bd7 17. Rf1 f6 18. Ke2 Na5 19. Ba2 Rc8 20. Kd3 b5 21. Nd5 Nc4 22. Bxc4 Rxc4 23.
Nb6 Rc6 24. Nxd7 Kxd7 25. c3 g6 26. Ne4 Be7 27. Ke2 Ke6 28. g4 h5 29. Rh1 a5
30. Nd2 {Vassily outplayed his opponent and achieved a sizeable lead.} b4 $6 {
This, however, gives White a chance that Wesley does not miss.} ({Instead,
after} 30... Rcc8 31. Rag1 Rcg8 {Black is ready to utilize his kingside pawn
majority.}) 31. axb4 axb4 32. c4 b3 33. g5 $1 {The purpose of this excellent
pawn sacrifice is to keep the h-file closed.} fxg5 34. Ra7 Rb8 35. Rc1 $6 (35.
Rg1 $5 {preventing Black's next maintains equality.}) 35... g4 $1 36. hxg4 hxg4
37. Rg1 Rh8 38. Rg2 Bb4 $2 {Unfortunately, Black misses the strongest
continuation.} ({Instead, after} 38... g3 $1 {White is facing new problems as}
39. Rxg3 $2 {loses material to} Rh2+) 39. Rxg4 $1 {The move that saves the
game.} Kf5 {Black has to be satisfied with equality.} (39... Rh2+ 40. Kf3 Rxd2
$2 {doesn't work because of} 41. Rxg6+ Kf5 42. Rxc6) {The game went on for
another 20 moves but the peaceful outcome was never in doubt.} 40. Rg2 Bxd2 41.
Rf7+ Ke6 42. Rg7 Rxc4 43. R2xg6+ Kd5 44. Rd7+ Kc5 45. Rc7+ Kb5 46. Rxc4 Kxc4
47. Rg4+ Kd5 48. Kxd2 Rc8 49. Kd3 Rc2 50. Rb4 Rxb2 51. Rb5+ Kd6 52. Kc3 Rb1 53.
Rxb3 Rxb3+ 54. Kxb3 Kd5 55. Kc3 Ke4 56. Kd2 Kf3 57. Kd3 Kf2 58. Ke4 Ke2 59.
Kxe5 Kxe3 1/2-1/2

[Event "9th Edmonton International"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.06.24"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Krush, Irina"]
[Black "Shankland, Sam"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2484"]
[BlackElo "2632"]
[Annotator "Shankland, Samuel"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2014.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. d4 {The Edmonton International was far from my best event, but in spite of
some really poor play in a lot of key moments I did produce some interesting
games. Ironically the most interesting was my only draw of the tournament,
against the reigning US Women's Champion} d5 2. c4 e6 {I'm not much of a QGD
player but I felt like playing solidly and playing a long game} 3. Nc3 Nf6 4.
cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 {This is the old move. Probably good enough for a
slight edge but black is very solid in the resulting ending} (6. Qc2 {This is
more common at top level nowadays}) 6... Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6
gxf6 {The next 15 moves are uninteresting} 10. Kd2 Nd7 11. Bd3 Nb6 12. b3 a5
13. a4 Rg8 14. g3 Bb4 15. Nge2 Rc8 16. Rac1 Ke7 17. Nf4 Nd7 18. Ke2 Bd6 19.
Rhg1 Bxf4 20. gxf4 Bxd3+ 21. Kxd3 f5 22. Rg3 Nf6 23. Rcg1 Rg6 24. f3 Rcg8 25.
Rg5 {So far the game had been going exactly as I had hoped. Black has managed
to push a white pawn to the f4 square, depriving the white pieces of it, and
his doubled fpawns can hardly be exploited. At the same time, one day he can
hope to make use of the queenside majority. While the position is surely drawn
with proper play, I was reasonably optimistic here.} h6 $2 {This is the first
really notable moment of the game. I has studied very similar endings where
all the rooks get traded and only knights are left, which generally favors
black. However, I failed to realize the the pawn is actually much worse on g6
than f7 because now white has an active plan- Ne5.} (25... Ke6 {Something like
this was prudent. It's not too easy for white to come up with a plan} 26. Ne2
Ne8 $1 {The knight heads for d6. Then f6 wil come} 27. h4 {This is natural but
plays into black's hands} (27. R1g3 Nd6) 27... f6 28. Rxg6 Rxg6 29. Rxg6 hxg6 {
This would be what I am aiming for. White's play on the previous moves was
complacent but it's clear black actually has a plan}) 26. Rxg6 Rxg6 27. Rxg6
fxg6 28. h4 Kd6 29. Ne2 Nh5 $6 {Too ambitious. I still had not noticed white
has a plan} (29... c5 {Black should have no troubles here. I would expect a
draw promptly}) 30. Kc3 Kc7 31. Kd2 Ng7 32. Nc1 {Now it occurred to me Ne5 is
coming} Ne6 33. Nd3 Kd6 34. Ne5 c5 $6 {Objectively a poor move, but if I had
played the prudent Nf8, the game would have been far less interesting...} (
34... Nf8 {Black is a bit passive but solid enough. I don't think he should
have any problems making a draw} 35. Nf7+ {White will trap his own knight} (35.
Kc3 b5 36. b4 axb4+ 37. Kxb4 bxa4 38. Kxa4 c5 $11) 35... Ke7 36. Nxh6 Kf6) 35.
dxc5+ Kxc5 36. Nxg6 Kb4 {Let the fun begin} 37. Kc2 Nc5 38. Ne7 d4 $1 {The
computer hates this one, but it does slow white's pawns down a lot.
Incidentally I hate the computer's suggestion, so we don't get along too well.}
(38... Nxb3 39. Nxf5 h5 40. e4 $18 {The engine prefers this to what I played.
I find it unfathomable}) 39. exd4 Nxb3 40. Nxf5 Kxa4 {Here we see the point of
playing d4. White does not get connected passers and Nch6 can be met with
Nxd4+, trading another pawn and running to f8 really fast} 41. h5 (41. Nxh6 $2
Nxd4+ 42. Kd3 Ne6 43. f5 Nf8 {White's pawns are too uncoordinated for any real
winning chances}) (41. d5 $1 {This was probably a bit more accurate. White
will play d6, forcing Nc5, and then get Kb2 before black can go Ka3} b5 (41...
h5 42. Ng7 {Doesn't really change anything}) 42. Nxh6 Nd4+ (42... Ka3 43. Nf5
$1 {Black is unable to get Nd4+ in}) 43. Kb2 {computer says +8}) 41... b5 42.
d5 (42. Nxh6 {This also worked because the pawn on b5 prevents the black King
from running back} Nxd4+ 43. Kb2 Ne6 44. Nf7 $1 $18) 42... Ka3 $1 {The best
practical chance in a lost position. Nd4+ will gain a crucial tempo} (42... b4
$2 43. Nxh6 Nd4+ 44. Kb2 $1 $18 {The king on b2 stops everything}) (42... Nc5
$2 43. Nxh6 b4 44. Nf5 b3+ 45. Kb1 {The knight on f5 gets back to the defense
very quickly, then the hpawn goes}) 43. Nxh6 $1 {Taking the bait} (43. d6 {
Advancing this pawn is not particularly important. White wants to go Nxh6 and
queen the hpawn, not the dpawn, and this tempo turns out to be huge} Nc5 44.
Nxh6 b4 45. Kb1 b3 46. Nf7 Na4 47. d7 Nc3+ 48. Kc1 b2+ 49. Kd2 b1=Q 50. d8=Q {
White retains some winning chances but I think black should hold without a ton
of trouble}) 43... Nd4+ 44. Kd3 $2 {Not throwing the win away, but making it
harder. This is a very unfortunate square for the white king} (44. Kd2 $1 {
White needed to leave the d3 square for the knight} b4 45. Ng4 b3 46. Ne5 Ka2
47. Nd3 (47. Nc4 {This also wins} Nf5 48. d6 $1 {A key recource available
because b1=Q does not come with check} Nxd6 49. Nxd6 $1 b2 50. Ne4 $18)) (44.
Kb1 $4 {One can dream} Kb3 $1 45. d6 a4 46. Nf5 Nc2 $1 {And black wins}) 44...
b4 45. Ng4 (45. Kxd4 $2 b3 46. d6 b2 47. d7 (47. Nf7 $1 {Ironically this is
still a draw}) 47... b1=Q 48. d8=Q {White queens as well with an extra knight,
but...} Qd1+ {The tables have turned}) 45... b3 46. Ne5 Ka2 47. Nc4 Nf5 {Now
the white pawns are blockaded nicely and black has some counterplay} 48. Kc3 a4
49. Kb4 $2 {Finally white slips up and allows a draw. h6 was winning, but this
is much easier to say with an engine running. I expected Kb4 during the game
as well} (49. h6 $1 Nxh6 50. d6 $1 Nf7 51. d7 $1 Nd8 (51... a3 52. Kb4 {Never
helped anyone}) 52. f5 $1 Nf7 53. f4 $1 (53. f6 $2 a3 $1 54. Kb4 b2 55. Nxa3
Ne5 $1) 53... Nd8 54. f6 $1 {After a very precise 5 move sequence only a
silicon brain can understand, white is indeed winning} Nf7 55. Ne5 b2 56. Nxf7
b1=Q 57. d8=Q $18) 49... a3 $1 (49... Ne3 {This draws as well. I missed that
Nxe3? b2 Nd1 b1/Q Nc3+ fails to Qxb4. This is how one knows they are off form..
.}) 50. Nxa3 b2 $11 {This guy will queen} 51. Ka4 (51. h6 Ne3 $1 {Should lead
to the same position as the game}) 51... Nd6 52. h6 Nc4 53. h7 Nxa3 54. h8=Q
b1=Q 55. Qh2+ {White is rather fortunate to have this check. If the pawn were
on f2, black would be winning} Nc2 56. Qd2 Qb3+ 57. Ka5 Qc4 58. Kb6 Kb3 59. d6
Nd4 60. Qd1+ Kb4 61. Qe1+ Kb3 62. Qb1+ Ka3 63. Qa1+ Kb3 64. Qb1+ Ka3 65. Qa1+ {
A wild game, largely due to the poor play by both sides, but a fascinating one
to analyze. Regrettably I was unable recreate all the gems from the 5 player
post-mortem, but hopefully I was able to show some nice lines in what
initially looked like a very boring and equal endgame. I'd like the thank the
Edmonton Chess Club for inviting me, and with any luck I'll be able to show
better chess in future editions.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "9th Edmonton International"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.06.27"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Krush, Irina"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E41"]
[WhiteElo "2484"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[PlyCount "160"]
[EventDate "2014.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 cxd4 7. exd4 dxc4 8.
Bxc4 Qc7 9. Qd3 O-O 10. O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3 Nbd7 12. Bg5 b6 13. Bh4 Nh5 14. Bb3
Bb7 15. Ng5 Ndf6 16. f3 Rac8 17. Rac1 Rfd8 18. Rfe1 Bd5 19. Ne4 Qf4 20. Nxf6+
Nxf6 21. Bf2 Bxb3 22. axb3 Nd5 23. Bg3 Qf6 24. Qd2 a5 25. c4 Nb4 26. Bf2 h6 27.
Rcd1 Rd7 28. Qe2 Qf5 29. Rd2 {White's position looks solid and slightly better
thanks to the strong center. However, Black's next shakes the foundation of
White's position to the core and invites her to go for broke.} b5 $5 30. d5 $6
({The computer recommends a restrained} 30. Ra1 bxc4 31. bxc4 {maintaining a
slight plus.}) 30... bxc4 31. dxe6 Rxd2 32. Qxd2 cxb3 ({Right after the game
the opponents analyzed} 32... Nd3 {which Vassily thought might be better than
the text move.} {The computer finds a defence, however:} 33. Re4 $3 {The most
interesting line here is} cxb3 34. Qxd3 Rc1+ 35. Be1 Rxe1+ 36. Rxe1 Qxd3 37. e7
b2 38. e8=Q+ Kh7 39. Qb8 {The computer evaluates this position as a draw, e.g.,
} Qc3 40. Kf1 a4 41. Qb5 Qc2 42. Qb4 Qd3+ 43. Kf2 a3 44. Kg3 Qg6+ 45. Kh3 Qf5+
{etc.}) 33. Qd7 {The only move.} (33. e7 $2 Re8 34. Qd8 Qb5 $1 {and White is
out of ideas.}) 33... Rf8 34. Qa4 {The time pressure is taking its toll, and
White decides to accept an endgame a pawn down.} ({Instead,} 34. Bd4 $1 {leads
to equality. The point is that the e6-pawn cannot be captured because of the
checkmate.}) 34... fxe6 35. Qxb3 Rf6 36. Bd4 Nc2 37. Re4 Nxd4 38. Rxd4 Qc5 39.
Qe3 Qb6 40. Kf2 Rf5 {Despite mutual inaccuracies in time pressure Black
reached the time control with a clean extra pawn. However, White was able to
hold the endgame by tenacious defence.} 41. Re4 Qb2+ 42. Qe2 Qxe2+ 43. Kxe2 Kf7
44. Rc4 Rb5 45. Rc7+ Kf6 46. Ra7 Rb2+ 47. Kf1 Ra2 48. h4 g6 49. Kg1 a4 50. Kh2
a3 51. Ra5 Ke7 52. Ra6 Kd7 53. Kg3 Ke7 54. Kh3 Ra1 55. Kg3 Kf6 56. Kf4 Ra2 57.
g4 g5+ 58. hxg5+ hxg5+ 59. Kg3 Ra1 60. Ra5 e5 61. Kg2 Ke6 62. Kf2 Ra2+ 63. Kg3
Kd6 64. Kh3 Kc6 65. Rxe5 Kb6 66. Re6+ Kb5 67. Re5+ Kb4 68. Re4+ Kc3 69. Re3+
Kd2 70. Re5 Ra1 71. Kg2 a2 72. Ra5 Kc3 73. Ra8 Kb3 74. Rb8+ Kc3 75. Rc8+ Kb3
76. Rb8+ Kc3 77. Rc8+ Kb3 78. Rb8+ Kc3 79. Ra8 Kb3 80. Rb8+ Kc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "9th Edmonton International"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.06.27"]
[Round "6.3"]
[White "Wang, Richard"]
[Black "Shankland, Samuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2365"]
[BlackElo "2632"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2014.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 b6 4. Bd3 Bb7 5. O-O d5 6. b3 Be7 7. Bb2 O-O 8. Ne5
Nbd7 9. Nd2 c5 10. f4 cxd4 11. exd4 Ne4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Bc4 Bd5 14. Qe2 f5
15. Rad1 Qc7 16. Ba6 Rad8 17. c4 Ba8 18. a3 Bf6 19. b4 Nb8 20. Bb5 Bc6 21. Nxc6
Nxc6 22. d5 Bxb2 23. Qxb2 exd5 24. cxd5 Ne7 25. Qd4 Qd6 26. Bc4 Rc8 27. Bb3 Ng6
28. g3 Rc7 $2 {As Richard pointed out, this is Black's first real mistake in
the game.} ({Instead, after} 28... Rfd8 {the position is equal.}) 29. Rc1 $1 {
Now all of a sudden White is winning!} Rff7 ({The planned} 29... Rfc8 {fails to
} 30. Rc6 $1 {For example,} Qd8 31. Rfc1 Kh8 32. Rxc7 Rxc7 33. Rxc7 Qxc7 34. d6
Qd8 35. Qd5 {and the d-pawn is unstoppable.}) 30. Rfd1 {Renewing the threat of
Rc6.} Rxc1 31. Rxc1 Ne7 32. Qe5 {White's position is overwhelming; Black's
defeat is inevitable.} Rf6 33. Rc7 (33. Qxe7 Qxe7 34. d6+ {wins immediately.})
33... Kf8 34. Rxa7 g5 35. Ra8+ Kf7 36. Ra7 Kf8 37. Rd7 ({Black resigned in
view of} 37. Rd7 Qxd7 38. Qxf6+ Ke8 39. Qh8+ Kf7 40. d6+) 1-0

[Event "9th Edmonton International"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.06.27"]
[Round "7.4"]
[White "Yam, Alex"]
[Black "Krush, Irina"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "2299"]
[BlackElo "2484"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2014.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 Nc6 5. g3 Bd6 6. Bg2 Nge7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1
Bc7 9. c3 d4 10. Nb3 b6 11. cxd4 cxd4 12. e5 Rb8 13. Bg5 Bb7 14. Rc1 Re8 15.
Qd2 Qd7 16. h4 {White obtained a good position out of the opening but
underestimated Black's play against the e5-pawn.} Ng6 $1 {What to do now?} 17.
Bf6 $5 {Objectively, a dubious move but the computer's alternative doesn't
inspire at all.} ({The silicon brain advocates} 17. Nh2 Ncxe5 18. Bxb7 Rxb7 19.
h5 Ne7 {but White's compensation for the lost pawn is insufficient.}) 17...
gxf6 18. exf6 Bd8 19. Qg5 Kh8 $2 {Now the situation changes dramatically.} ({
Returning the piece by means of} 19... e5 $1 20. h5 Qd6 $1 21. hxg6 hxg6 {
allows Black to consolidate and then get rid of the nail on f6.}) 20. Nbxd4 $1
{Black must have missed this blow.} Rg8 {Alas.} ({The point is that} 20... Nxd4
{runs into} 21. Ne5 $1 Qb5 22. h5 {with a crushing attack. For example,} Kg8
23. hxg6 hxg6 24. Rc4 Nf5 25. Nxg6 {etc.}) 21. Rxc6 Bxc6 22. Nxc6 Qxc6 23. Qh5
$1 {The knight jump to g5 is going to be lethal so it's high time for
desperate measures.} Nf4 24. gxf4 Rxg2+ 25. Kxg2 Bxf6 26. Qxf7 Rg8+ 27. Kf1
Bxb2 28. Ng5 Qh1+ 29. Ke2 Qxh4 30. Rg1 Bg7 31. Rg3 Rc8 {After Black's mistake
on move 19 White has played excellently and achieved and overwhelming position.
Unfortunately, the rest of the game was marred by mutual mistakes in time
pressure but there is no doubt that Alex fully deserved his first GM scalp.}
32. Nf3 Qf6 33. Qxa7 Bh6 34. Ne5 Rf8 35. Qxb6 Qxf4 36. Qe3 Qf6 37. Qd4 Bf4 38.
Rf3 Kg8 39. Nc6 e5 40. Qd5+ Kg7 41. d4 exd4 42. Nxd4 Qa6+ 43. Nb5 Qg6 44. Qd4+
Kg8 45. Rxf4 Qc2+ 46. Kf3 Qc6+ 47. Qe4 Rxf4+ 48. Kxf4 Qxb5 49. Qe6+ 1-0

[Event "9th Edmonton International"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.06.29"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Pechenkin, Vladimir"]
[Black "Krush, Irina"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2311"]
[BlackElo "2484"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2014.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 dxc4 {This time I was
unable to predict the opponent's opening choice and had to struggle a little.
Fortunately, it's one of those lines where White can hardly get a worse
position even in case of some inaccuracies.} 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7
10. Bd2 Be4 11. Qc1 Nc6 {Irina follows my game from 2012 that I actually
barely remembered.} 12. Be3 {The engine's first line.} ({The aforementioned
game continued} 12. e3 Nb4 13. Bxb4 Bxb4 14. a3 Be7 15. Nc3 Bb7 16. b4 {Here
Black made a grave positional error} Ne4 $2 {allowing} 17. Ne5 Nxc3 18. Qxc3
Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Bf6 20. Nc6 {with a dream position in the Catalan for White in
Pechenkin - R. Kaufman, 2012.}) 12... Rc8 13. Rd1 {White has taken care of the
d4-pawn, and now Black has to do something about his queen's bishop.} Na5 ({
Black may not be satisfied with} 13... Nb4 14. Nc3 Bb7 15. a3 Nbd5 16. Ne5 Nxc3
17. Qxc3 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 {which looks kind of similar to the line above.}) 14.
Nbd2 {White intends to keep the a5-knight at bay for as long as possible.} Bb7
({More accurate is} 14... Bd5 {making it hard for White to achieve} 15. a3 {in
view of} Nb3) 15. Ne5 {Here this thematic thrust doesn't produce the desired
effect.} ({The game Giri - Sanikidze, 2011, continued} 15. a3 {Due to the lack
of control of the b3-square Black was more or less obligated to go for} b4 16.
axb4 Bxb4 17. Ra4 Nd5 {and here White could have tried} 18. Qa1 $5 Nxe3 19.
fxe3 Nc6 20. Nc4 {increasing his grip on the dark squares.}) 15... Bxg2 16.
Kxg2 Qd5+ 17. Ndf3 {Otherwise, Black will achieve the freeing c7-c5.} Qb7 {
After this seemingly logical move Black begins experiencing some difficulties.}
({During the game I didn't like} 17... Ne4 {and it's indeed Black's best.
White has problems untangling his pieces.}) 18. Qc2 $1 {If Black doesn't do
something quickly, White will restore the coordination of his pieces and will
simply stand better. That's why Black opts for a thematic break:} c5 $1 19.
dxc5 Nd5 20. Bd4 {Correct.} ({After} 20. Rxd5 exd5 21. b4 Nc4 22. Bd4 {White
gets enough compensation for the exchange but he doesn't need to resort to
such drastic measures.}) 20... f6 {Otherwise, Black may not be able to win her
pawn back.} 21. Nd3 e5 22. e4 $1 {The only but sufficient continuation.} exd4
$2 {After this natural capture White obtains a large positional advantage.} ({
The computer strongly recommends} 22... Nb4 $5 23. Nxb4 exd4 {which may indeed
be the only way for Black to keep the position close to equality. After} 24.
Nd5 Bxc5 25. Rac1 Nc4 {the knight is back into play, and White may not have
anything special here.}) (22... Nc7 $2 {is simply bad in view of} 23. Bc3 $1
Nc6 24. b4) 23. exd5 Qxd5 24. b4 Nc6 ({During the game I was a little
concerned about} 24... g5 $5 {This move is indeed playable but White can
preserve the advantage by means of} 25. bxa5 g4 26. Rac1 gxf3+ 27. Kg1) (24...
Nc4 $2 {is no good as White wins a pawn immediately:} 25. Nf4 Qc6 26. Rxd4) 25.
Qb3 ({Another good plan is} 25. Nf4 Qf7 26. a3 {intending to win the d4-pawn
quickly. Black's best is} f5 {playing for tricks.}) 25... Qc4 26. Rdc1 Qf7 (
26... Qxb3 27. axb3 Ra8 {is an alternative. White doesn't have the a2-a4 lever
anymore but maintains strong pressure after} 28. Ra2 Ra7 29. Re1 Kf7 30. Rae2)
27. Qxf7+ Kxf7 28. a4 {I was tempted to immediately commence operations on the
queenside as Black faces a difficult choice.} Rb8 {Not best.} ({The computer
recommends} 28... Ra8 {For example,} 29. Ra3 Rfb8 30. axb5 axb5 31. Rca1 Rxa3
32. Rxa3 Ke6 33. Ra6 Kd7 {White maintains a very nice position but has got a
lot of work to do to get a full point.}) (28... bxa4 29. Rxa4 Ra8 {is worse as
White obtains a firm grip on the queenside:} 30. Nd2 Rfb8 31. Nc4 Rb5 32. Nb6
Ra7 33. Rca1 {Black can hardly move anything.}) 29. axb5 Rxb5 {The critical
moment of the game.} ({White would certainly like to see} 29... axb5 $2 30. Ra6
Rfc8 31. Rxc6 $1 Rxc6 32. Nfe5+ fxe5 33. Nxe5+ Kf8 34. Nxc6 {but it's too
cooperative.}) 30. Rc4 $2 ({I briefly considered the correct} 30. Rxa6 $1 Nxb4
31. Nxb4 Rxb4 32. c6 {but rejected it: the material remains equal, and Black's
passed pawn looks more dangerous than before. It was worth calculating further:
} d3 33. Ra7 Rb2 34. Rd7 $1 {the key maneuver that allows White to pick up the
opponent's d-pawn under more favorable circumstances than in the game} Rc8 35.
Rxd3 Rb6 36. Nd4 {The c-pawn promises White good winning chances.}) 30... a5 $1
{The queenside is going to be liquidated.} 31. bxa5 Rxa5 32. Rxa5 Nxa5 33. Rxd4
Rc8 34. Rd7 {Now Black wins the pawn back with a dead draw.} ({The best try is
} 34. Rb4 {keeping the pawn for now. After} Nc6 (34... Bxc5 $4 35. Rb5) 35. Rb3
{Black still needs to find a way to surround and win White's passer.}) 34...
Nb3 35. c6 Na5 ({The hurried} 35... Rxc6 $2 {allows} 36. Nfe5+ fxe5 37. Nxe5+
Ke6 38. Rxe7+ Kxe7 39. Nxc6+ {and White will torture the opponent for a while.}
) 36. Nf4 Nxc6 37. Nd5 Ke6 38. Nxe7 Kxd7 39. Nxc8 Kxc8 40. h4 1/2-1/2

[Event "9th Edmonton International"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.06.29"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Shankland, Samuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D70"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2632"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nc3 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Qc7 8.
Qd3 Nc6 9. O-O d6 10. b3 Bd7 11. Bb2 Rfc8 12. Nc2 a6 13. Ne3 Qa5 14. Rfb1 Rab8
15. Ncd5 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 b5 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. b4 Qd8 19. c5 dxc5 20. bxc5 Be6 21.
Rd1 Bxd5 22. Qc3+ Kg8 23. Bxd5 Qc7 24. Rac1 Rd8 {White has the initiative but
Black's position looks fairly solid.} 25. h4 $5 {White intends to push this
pawn to h6 creating strong mating threats. Surprisingly, Black decided to
ignore it completely.} Rbc8 $6 (25... h5 {looks necessary. In this case White
has got a lot of work to do to get a full point.}) 26. h5 e6 $2 {After this
mistake Black's position suddenly collapses.} (26... gxh5 {is as ugly as it
looks but it's still the best way to deal with White's kingside threats.}) 27.
h6 Ne5 28. Bb7 $1 {Black may have missed this nice distraction. White would be
fully satisfied with just picking up the opponent's queenside pawns.} b4 ({
Also hopeless is} 28... Qxb7 29. Rxd8+ Rxd8 30. Qxe5 f6 31. Qxe6+ {etc.}) 29.
Qxb4 Rxd1+ 30. Rxd1 Rb8 31. c6 Nxc6 32. Qc3 $1 {The only but sufficient
winning move.} Qe5 33. Qxc6 Qxe2 34. Qd6 Rf8 35. Bxa6 1-0

[Event "Canadian Seniors 65+ Championship"]
[Site "Kitchener"]
[Date "2014.08.02"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Willis, Bradley"]
[Black "Deline, Ralph"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2024"]
[BlackElo "1865"]
[Annotator "Willis, Bradley"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1R2b1k/1r3q1p/3p4/1p2pPpN/1P1pP1P1/P2Q3P/8/2R3K1 b - - 0 35"]
[PlyCount "8"]
[EventDate "2014.08.04"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

{In an inferior but tenable position, Ralph committed the oversight} 35... Rbb8
$2 ({instead of} 35... Rxc8 {which holds}) 36. R1c7 {The game concluded} Qxh5 (
{Now if} 36... Qa2 37. Nf6 Rxc8 38. Rxh7# {mate}) ({Or if} 36... Rxc8 37. Rxf7
Rc1+ 38. Kf2 Rac8 39. Qd2 Bh6 (39... R1c2 40. Rxf8+ Rxf8 41. Qxc2) 40. Nf6) 37.
gxh5 Rxc8 38. Rxc8 Rxc8 39. Qxb5 {and Black resigned in a few moves.} 1-0

[Event "2014 Over 1800"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.08.31"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Sequillion, Aaron"]
[Black "Cheng, Louis"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B77"]
[WhiteElo "2184"]
[BlackElo "2093"]
[PlyCount "159"]
[EventDate "2014.08.30"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. f3 Nc6 8. Bc4
O-O 9. Qd2 Qa5 10. O-O-O Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Be6 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. h4 Nh5 14. Bxg7
Kxg7 15. Kb1 Qe5 16. Qg5 Qxg5 17. hxg5 Kg8 18. e5 d5 19. Nb5 Ng7 20. Nd4 Rac8
21. Rh3 Rf7 22. Rdh1 Nh5 23. Nxe6 Rf5 24. g4 Rxe5 25. gxh5 Rxe6 26. hxg6 Rxg6
27. Rxh7 Rc7 28. f4 d4 29. b3 a5 30. R1h5 Rd7 {White is totally winning as his
g-pawn should cost Black a rook soon.} 31. f5 $2 {A surprising blunder that
loses White's main trump for no good reason.} ({Instead, after} 31. Rh8+ Kf7
32. f5 Rg7 ({or} 32... Rg8 33. R5h7+ Kf8 34. g6 Rxh8 35. g7+ {with a checkmate}
) 33. g6+ Kf6 34. Rf8+ Ke5 35. f6+ {Black has to resign.}) 31... Rxg5 {Of
course!} 32. Rh8+ Kg7 33. Rxg5+ ({A better try is} 33. R5h7+ Kf6 34. Rf8+ Ke5
35. f6 {However, if Black finds} Ke6 36. Rff7 Rg8 $1 37. fxe7 Re8 $1 {he has
good chances to hold on.}) 33... Kxh8 34. Kc1 Rd5 35. Rg4 b5 36. Kd2 (36. Re4 {
was White's last chance to create problems for his opponent.}) 36... Rxf5 37.
Rxd4 Kg7 {Now the endgame is completely equal, and a draw was agreed on move
80.} 38. Rd7 Kf6 39. Ra7 b4 40. Kd3 Rc5 41. Kd4 Rh5 42. Ra6+ e6 43. c4 bxc3 44.
Kxc3 Rd5 45. a3 Kf5 46. Kc4 Ke5 47. Rb6 Kf5 48. a4 Ke5 49. Rb5 Kd6 50. Rb6+ Ke5
51. Ra6 Kf5 52. Ra7 Ke5 53. Rf7 Rd4+ 54. Kc5 Rb4 55. Ra7 Rxb3 56. Rxa5 Re3 57.
Kb6+ Kd6 58. Rb5 Rc3 59. a5 Rc6+ 60. Kb7 Rc7+ 61. Kb8 Re7 62. a6 Kc6 63. Rb7
Re8+ 64. Ka7 e5 65. Rb6+ Kc7 66. Rb7+ Kc6 67. Rb8 Re7+ 68. Rb7 Re8 69. Rb6+ Kc7
70. Rb1 e4 71. Rc1+ Kd6 72. Kb6 Rb8+ 73. Ka5 Rb2 74. a7 Ra2+ 75. Kb6 e3 76.
Rd1+ Ke5 77. Rd8 Ke4 78. a8=Q+ Rxa8 79. Rxa8 Kf3 80. Re8 1/2-1/2

[Event "2014 Over 1800"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.08.31"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Pedersen, Rick"]
[Black "Miller, David"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "1854"]
[BlackElo "2261"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2014.08.30"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bc4 e6 5. e5 dxe5 6. Nxe5 a6 7. a4 Bd6 8. Ng4
Nbd7 9. d3 Nxg4 10. Qxg4 Nf6 11. Qf3 h6 12. Bf4 O-O {The position is
approximately equal if White simply castles kingside.} 13. O-O-O $6 {Overly
ambitious as Black's attack should develop faster.} e5 $2 {Black intends to
trap the opponent's queen in the corner of the board but it doesn't work.} ({
Instead,} 13... Bxf4+ 14. Qxf4 b5 {looks promising.}) 14. Bg3 Bg4 15. Qxb7 Rb8
16. Qxa6 Bc8 $2 {Playing for a loss.} ({Objectively, Black should force a draw
by} 16... Ra8 17. Qc6 Rc8 18. Qb7 Rb8 {etc.}) ({After} 16... Bxd1 17. Rxd1 {
the material is equal but White has a large positional advantage.}) 17. Qa7 Rb7
18. Qa8 Qb6 19. a5 $2 (19. b3 Bg4 20. Qa6 {with a subsequent trade of queens
leads to White's large advantage.}) 19... Qxb2+ $2 ({After a very subtle} 19...
Qb4 $1 {the position becomes unclear.} {For example,} 20. Qa6 $2 Qxb2+ 21. Kd2
Rb3 $1 {and White is suddenly in trouble.}) 20. Kd2 Bg4 21. Qa6 Bxd1 22. Rxd1 {
Black's pieces are hanging, and he can't avoid material losses. He tries his
last trick.} Be7 23. Rb1 Ne4+ 24. dxe4 Bg5+ 25. Kd3 $2 {All of sudden, this
loses.} ({The only but sufficient move is} 25. f4 $3 {For example,} Rd8+ 26.
Bd5 exf4 27. h4 $1 fxg3+ 28. hxg5 {and wins.}) 25... Rd8+ 26. Bd5 Rxd5+ 27.
exd5 e4+ $1 {The point.} 28. Kxe4 Qxc2+ {The white king will not be able to
survive.} 29. Kf3 Qxc3+ 30. Kg4 Qd4+ 31. f4 h5+ 32. Kxg5 Qxd5+ 33. Kh4 Rxb1 34.
Qc8+ Kh7 35. a6 Qe6 {Black decides to take it easy.} (35... f6 36. a7 Ra1 {
wins faster.}) 36. Qxe6 fxe6 {and Black converted after 20 more moves.} 37. Bf2
c4 38. Bd4 Rb5 39. a7 Ra5 40. h3 Kg6 41. g4 hxg4 42. hxg4 Kf7 43. Kg3 g6 44.
Kf3 Ke7 45. Bb6 Ra6 46. Bc5+ Kd7 47. Ke4 Kc6 48. Be3 Kb5 49. f5 gxf5+ 50. gxf5
exf5+ 51. Kxf5 Kb4 52. Ke4 Kb3 53. Bf2 c3 54. Kd3 c2 55. Be3 Rxa7 0-1

[Event "2014 Under 1800"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.08.30"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Koperski, Dustin"]
[Black "McLeod, Logan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B21"]
[WhiteElo "1716"]
[BlackElo "1566"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2014.08.30"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 e6 7. O-O Nf6 8.
Qe2 Be7 9. Rd1 Qc7 10. Nb5 Qb8 11. Bf4 e5 12. Bg5 a6 13. Nc3 b5 14. Bb3 O-O 15.
Rac1 Bb7 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 $2 Bxg5 $2 18. dxc6 Bxc1 19. cxb7 Qxb7 20. Rxc1
Rac8 21. Rd1 Qe7 22. h3 Kh8 23. Qe3 Rc5 24. Nd4 Qf6 25. Nc2 a5 26. Qe4 Qe7 27.
Ne3 g6 {The position after 27 moves is yet another example of a pair of minor
pieces fighting against a rook and a couple of pawns.} 28. Nd5 {In this
particular case White's initiative outweighs a small material deficit.} Qb7 $2
{The queen should stay on the kingside.} (28... Qg5 $1 {is necessary when it's
not so easy for White to proceed.}) 29. Qh4 $1 {Now the black king is in
trouble.} f5 30. Nf6 (30. Ne7 Kg7 31. Rxd6 {is a good alternative.}) 30... Qg7
31. Rxd6 g5 $2 {Black must have counted on this resource but White refutes it
brilliantly.} (31... Rc7 {holds on for the time being.}) 32. Qh5 $1 Rxf6 33.
Rd8+ Rf8 34. Qe8 $3 {Excellent! Black is defenceless.} Rc1+ 35. Kh2 {And White
went on to win on move 44.} Rc4 36. Qxf8+ Qxf8 37. Rxf8+ Kg7 38. Bxc4 Kxf8 39.
Bxb5 Ke7 40. f3 f4 41. Kg1 Kd6 42. Kf2 Kd5 43. Ke2 e4 44. fxe4+ Kxe4 1-0

[Event "2014 Battle of Alberta"]
[Site "Red Deer"]
[Date "2014.09.13"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Pechenkin, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ng, Gary"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2386"]
[BlackElo "2252"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2014.09.13"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]
[WhiteTeam "North"]
[BlackTeam "South"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CAN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CAN"]

1. c4 c6 2. g3 d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Bg2 g6 5. b3 Bg7 6. Bb2 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Qc2
Re8 9. Nc3 dxc4 10. bxc4 e5 11. d3 Nc5 12. Rfd1 Qc7 13. Ng5 Bf5 14. Rab1 Rad8
15. Na4 Nfd7 16. Bc3 h6 17. Nxc5 Nxc5 18. Ne4 Bxe4 19. Bxe4 f5 $6 {Black is
tempted by his kingside attack prospects as well as by a strong outpost for
the knight. However, White's bishop pair will soon prove to be the most
significant positional factor.} ({Correct is} 19... Nxe4 20. dxe4 {when the
game is completely equal.}) 20. Bg2 Qf7 21. Bb4 {The knight is about to be
dislodged.} Bf8 22. Qb2 $1 Rd7 {Gary regarded this move as a mistake but it is
the computer's top choice. The b7-pawn must be protected.} 23. Qa3 Na6 $2 {Now
White quickly obtains a decisive advantage.} ({Black is going to lose a pawn
anyway, so he should minimize the damage by playing} 23... Ne6 $1 {White is
better after} 24. Qxa7 Bxb4 25. Rxb4 Qe7 26. Rdb1 Nc5 {but Black is very much
in the game. Most importantly, his pawn structure remains intact.}) 24. Bxc6 $1
{The only but sufficient move that must be precisely calculated.} bxc6 (24...
Nxb4 {looks scary at first but after} 25. Bxd7 Qxd7 26. Rxb4 {Black can't take
advantage of the pin.} {Relatively best here is} Bxb4 27. Qxb4 {with a healthy
extra pawn for White.}) 25. Qxa6 Re6 26. Bxf8 Qxf8 27. Rb7 {Black's kingside
attack remains but a dream as White's play along the b-file is too strong.}
Rxb7 28. Qxb7 Qc5 29. Qc8+ Kf7 30. Rb1 f4 31. Rb7+ Kf6 32. Qd8+ ({The computer
shows that} 32. Qh8+ Kg5 33. Qd8+ Rf6 34. h4+ Kf5 35. Qc8+ Re6 36. Rf7+ {wins
faster but the game continuation is simpler.}) 32... Re7 33. Qxe7+ Qxe7 34.
Rxe7 Kxe7 35. Kg2 Kd6 {If Black waits passively, White is going to create a
passed pawn in the center that will decide the game.} 36. Kf3 fxg3 37. fxg3 Kc5
38. Ke4 Kb4 {Desperation.} 39. Kxe5 Ka3 40. d4 1-0

[Event "2014 Battle of Alberta"]
[Site "Red Deer"]
[Date "2014.09.13"]
[Round "1.12"]
[White "Karmali, Hafiz"]
[Black "Ottosen, David"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2039"]
[BlackElo "2128"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2014.09.13"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]
[WhiteTeam "South"]
[BlackTeam "North"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CAN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CAN"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 e6 4. e4 {White offers a theoretical duel in a very
sharp Marshall gambit.} dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 {but then changes his mind.} (
{The main line of the gambit is} 6. Bd2 Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8. Be2 {White's
compensation for the sacrificed pawn looks more than sufficient but quite a
few Black players have been up to the challenge to prove otherwise.}) 6... c5
7. Be3 cxd4 8. Bxd4 ({With the benefit of hindsight, White should prefer} 8.
Qxd4 $5 {going for an endgame.}) 8... Nf6 9. a3 Be7 10. Nf3 Nc6 11. Be3 O-O {
Black has equalized but White shouldn't have any problems either.} 12. Qc2 {
This natural move appears to be the root of all evil.} ({It was well worth
spending a tempo on} 12. h3 $5) 12... Ng4 $1 {Black begins a fierce fight for
the initiative. His following play is almost exemplary.} 13. Bf4 e5 $1 {Time
is at a premium!} (13... Qa5 {was played in Raicevic - Ciric, 1979. This
allowed White to castle before being demolished.}) 14. Bg3 f5 {Aggressive
enough although there is an even more energetic (computer) alternative
available.} (14... e4 $3 {denies White any time to consolidate.} {A plausible
continuation is} 15. Nxe4 Bf5 16. Bd3 Qa5+ 17. Kf1 Nb4 18. Qc3 Rfd8 {White
remains under tremendous pressure.}) 15. Rd1 Qe8 $1 16. h3 Nd4 $1 17. Nxd4 exd4
18. Ne2 Nf6 19. Rxd4 {After this fearless capture of the poisoned pawn Black's
attack becomes irresistible.} ({White should try to dig in:} 19. f3 Nh5 20. Bf2
{etc.}) 19... Bc5 20. Rd1 Ne4 21. Qd3 f4 {The white king is hopelessly stuck
in the center and is going to be ruthlessly executed.} 22. Bh4 Bf5 23. Qd5+ Kh8
24. f3 Qh5 25. fxe4 Qxh4+ 26. g3 fxg3 27. Bg2 Bf2+ 28. Kf1 Bg6 29. Qxb7 Rab8
30. Qc6 Rxb2 31. e5 Bh5 {A fantastic game by David Ottosen.} 0-1

[Event "2014 Battle of Alberta"]
[Site "Red Deer"]
[Date "2014.09.13"]
[Round "2.7"]
[White "Shi, Diwen"]
[Black "Gardner, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2194"]
[BlackElo "2225"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "2014.09.13"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]
[WhiteTeam "South"]
[BlackTeam "North"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CAN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Bg5 Bg7 5. Qd2 O-O 6. O-O-O c5 $2 {This pawn
sacrifice looks dubious at best and has been tried only once so far.} 7. dxc5
Qa5 8. cxd6 Nxe4 $2 {The piece sacrifice is unsound, which White proves very
quickly.} ({Fercec - Bosnjak, 2010, continued} 8... exd6 9. Bc4 Nc6 10. Nf3 Bg4
11. Bh6 {with a large advantage for White although Black somehow managed to
win the game.}) 9. Nxe4 Qxa2 10. Qb4 $1 {After this precise response Black's
attack is over. In the meantime, he is down a lot of material.} Bf5 {Black's
desperate attempts do not change anything.} ({If} 10... Nc6 {then} 11. Qa3 {
and wins.}) 11. dxe7 Nc6 12. Qa3 Qe6 13. exf8=Q+ Bxf8 14. Nf6+ 1-0

[Event "2014 Battle of Alberta"]
[Site "Red Deer"]
[Date "2014.09.13"]
[Round "2.8"]
[White "Miller, David"]
[Black "Ebrahim-Shirazi, Behrooz"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]
[WhiteElo "2235"]
[BlackElo "2188"]
[PlyCount "173"]
[EventDate "2014.09.13"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]
[WhiteTeam "North"]
[BlackTeam "South"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CAN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qa5 7. Bd2 Qa4 8. Qb1
c4 9. h4 Ne7 10. h5 h6 11. Nf3 Nbc6 12. Nh4 Bd7 13. Be2 O-O-O 14. f4 Rdf8 15.
O-O Nf5 16. Nf3 Ng3 17. Rf2 Ne4 18. Rf1 f5 19. Be1 Be8 20. Nh4 Qa5 21. Qb2 Qd8
22. Rb1 Qe7 23. g4 b6 24. gxf5 exf5 25. Kh2 Nd2 26. Bxd2 Qxh4+ 27. Kg2 Kc7 28.
Rh1 Qe7 29. Bf3 Qe6 30. Rbg1 Rfg8 31. Kf2 g6 32. hxg6 Rxg6 33. Qc1 Rhg8 34.
Rxg6 Rxg6 35. Rg1 Ne7 36. Rxg6 Qxg6 37. Qh1 Bf7 38. Qh4 Kd7 39. Qh1 b5 40. Qb1
Qb6 41. Qb4 a5 42. Qb1 Qc6 43. Qh1 Qg6 44. Ke3 Kc6 45. Be1 Nc8 46. Bh4 a4 47.
Kf2 Nb6 48. Be7 h5 49. Qh4 Nc8 50. Bf6 Kd7 51. Qg5 Ke6 52. Bd8 Qxg5 53. fxg5
Na7 54. Kg3 Nc6 55. Bf6 b4 56. cxb4 Nxb4 57. Bd1 c3 58. Bd8 Nc6 59. Bb6 Bg6 60.
Kf4 h4 61. Bc5 Be8 62. Be2 Bg6 63. Bb5 h3 64. Kg3 Nxe5 65. dxe5 f4+ 66. Kxh3
Bxc2 67. Bd4 Bf5+ 68. Kg2 c2 69. Bb2 d4 70. Bxa4 d3 71. Bc1 Kxe5 72. Kf2 Be4
73. Bb3 Kf5 74. g6 Kxg6 75. Bxf4 Kf6 76. Bc1 Ke7 77. Ke3 {Black quickly played}
Bh1 {probably believing the position to be drawn. At first glance, it seems to
be the case, and quite a few spectators were of the same opinion. However,
with careful play White should win almost on auto-pilot. Black needs a trade
of the light-squared bishops but it's not going to happen. White will
gradually push his king and the a-pawn forward, and there is nothing that
Black can do about it.} (77... Bf5 {looks more tenacious but White adopts the
same winning plan disregarding Black's passers. The computer gives White a
huge plus score at a large depth confirming this evaluation.}) 78. Kxd3 Kd7 79.
Kxc2 {At this point tablebases may be used to confirm White's win. In the
following, he never lets the full point slip away.} Kc6 80. Kc3 Kb7 81. Kb4 Ka8
82. a4 Bg2 83. Kc5 Kb7 84. a5 (84. Bc4 {is slightly more convincing. The game
could have concluded as follows:} Kc7 85. a5 Kb7 86. Be3 Be4 87. a6+ Kb8 88.
Kb6 Bf3 89. Be6 Be4 90. Bf4+ Ka8 91. Bc8 Bf3 92. Bb7+ Bxb7 93. axb7#) 84... Bf1
85. Bd5+ Ka6 86. Bd2 Be2 87. Kc6 {The king goes to c7, then Bb7+ clears the
way for the passer.} 1-0

[Event "Edmonton Jr. Regional Ch."]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.10.05"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Mah, Sean"]
[Black "Grossmann, Lenard"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B21"]
[WhiteElo "1555"]
[BlackElo "1701"]
[PlyCount "192"]
[EventDate "2014.10.04"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 d5 4. Qa4+ Nc6 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. cxd4 Qxd4 7. Bb5 Qxa4
8. Bxa4 Bd7 9. Nc3 O-O-O 10. Be3 e6 11. O-O-O Nf6 12. Nf3 Nb4 13. Bxd7+ Nxd7
14. Bxa7 b6 15. Kb1 Kb7 16. Nb5 Bc5 17. Nfd4 Bxd4 18. Rxd4 Nc6 19. Nd6+ Kxa7
20. Ra4+ Kb8 21. Nxf7 Rhf8 22. Nxd8 Rxd8 23. Rc1 Nc5 24. Rg4 Ne5 25. Rxg7 Rd7
26. Rxd7 Ncxd7 27. Re1 Kc7 28. f4 Nd3 29. Rxe6 Nxf4 30. Rh6 Nxg2 31. Rxh7 Kd6
32. h4 Nf4 33. h5 Nf6 34. Rb7 Kc6 35. Ra7 N6xh5 36. a4 Nf6 {The position is a
dead draw after any reasonable move. However,} 37. Ra6 $2 {allowed} Kb7 {
trapping the rook.} 38. Rxb6+ Kxb6 {With six pieces left on the board, this
position is in Nalimov's tablebases. Interestingly enough, White draws after
any pawn move.} 39. Kc2 {Nalimov disapproves this one.} ({The most natural
would be} 39. a5+ {trying to get rid of both pawns as quickly as possible.})
39... N6d5 {Now Black delivers checkmate in 94! It may seem that White will be
able to claim a draw by a 50-move rule way before that but it is actually not
the case if both sides play perfectly. Needless to say, the route to victory
is highly nontrivial. I don't think that I would be able to find it over the
board.} 40. Kd2 Ka5 41. b3 Kb4 {Understandably, both young players are
confused about what they should really be doing.} ({Best is} 41... Nb4 {
blocking the pawns, with a checkmate in 90 to follow.}) 42. Ke1 Kxb3 {Black
finally decides to grab both pawns and to verify experimentally whether two
knights can deliver checkmate or not.} 43. a5 Nb4 44. Kf2 ({Interestingly
enough,} 44. a6 {is the only move according to the tablebases.}) 44... Ka4 ({
Again,} 44... Na6 {would preserve White's last pawn giving Black a chance to
win in 92.}) 45. Ke3 Nfd5+ 46. Kd4 Kxa5 {Now it's officially over. Lenard did
try his best for the following 50 moves but could not change the theoretical
verdict. White claimed a draw on move 97.} 47. Ke5 Kb5 48. Kd4 Nb6 49. Ke5 Kc4
50. Ke4 Nd3 51. Ke3 Nd7 52. Ke4 N7c5+ 53. Ke3 Kd5 54. Kf3 Ke5 55. Ke3 Nf4 56.
Kf3 Ncd3 57. Ke3 Kd5 58. Kf3 Kd4 59. Kg4 Ke4 60. Kg5 Nd5 61. Kg4 Ne5+ 62. Kg5
Nf3+ 63. Kg4 Nf6+ 64. Kg3 Ke3 65. Kg2 Ne4 66. Kh3 Kf4 67. Kg2 Nfd2 68. Kh3 Kg5
69. Kg2 Kg4 70. Kg1 Kg3 71. Kh1 Ng5 72. Kg1 Nge4 73. Kh1 Nf1 74. Kg1 Nh2 75.
Kh1 Nc3 76. Kg1 Nd1 77. Kh1 Ne3 78. Kg1 Nhg4 79. Kh1 Kh4 80. Kg1 Kh3 81. Kh1
Ne5 82. Kg1 Nd3 83. Kh1 Nc5 84. Kg1 Ne4 85. Kh1 Nc4 86. Kg1 Ncd2 87. Kh1 Kg3
88. Kg1 Kf3 89. Kh2 Ng5 90. Kg1 Kg3 91. Kh1 Kf2 92. Kh2 Ndf3+ 93. Kh1 Ne5 94.
Kh2 Ng4+ 95. Kh1 Ne3 96. Kh2 Nf1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "2014 Alberta Open"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2014.10.11"]
[Round "2.16"]
[White "Koperski, Dustin"]
[Black "Zhao, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C57"]
[WhiteElo "1703"]
[BlackElo "1434"]
[PlyCount "22"]
[EventDate "2014.10.11"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nd4 6. c3 b5 7. Bf1 Nxd5 8.
cxd4 Qxg5 9. Bxb5+ Kd8 10. O-O Bb7 {The game follows a well-trodden path with
more than a hundred examples in the database.} 11. d3 $4 {This natural move
was played in only two games, both of which ended precisely as the current one.
} ({The correct continuation is} 11. Qf3 {with an interesting battle lying
ahead.}) 11... Nf4 {Quick checkmate is inevitable.} 0-1

[Event "2014 Alberta Open"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2014.10.12"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Gardner, Robert"]
[Black "Willis, Bradley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2244"]
[BlackElo "2004"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2014.10.11"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 c6 5. Qd2 h6 6. f3 Bg7 7. Bd3 b6 8. Nce2
Na6 9. h3 Bb7 10. f4 c5 11. Ng3 h5 12. e5 Nd5 13. Be4 h4 14. N3e2 c4 15. Nf3
Qd7 16. Bf2 Bh6 17. Bxd5 Bxd5 18. Nxh4 Qc6 19. Rg1 dxe5 20. dxe5 O-O-O 21. Nd4
Qb7 22. O-O-O Nc5 23. Qe3 Ne4 24. g3 {White is up a pawn but Black has a
strong initiative that more than compensates for a small material deficit.} Qa6
$1 {Brad finds the best move increasing the pressure on the queenside.} 25. Kb1
({After} 25. a3 c3 {Black's attack is also dangerous.}) 25... c3 26. Nb3 {
Relatively best.} Nd2+ ({An excellent alternative is} 26... e6 $5 {The
light-squared bishop is solidified, while the dark-squared one can soon join
the attack via f8. On the other hand, White's pieces remain poorly coordinated.
}) 27. Rxd2 cxd2 28. Rd1 (28. Qxd2 {allows a spectacular} Qxa2+ $5 29. Kxa2
Bxb3+ 30. Kxb3 Rxd2) 28... e6 $1 29. Nf3 {The critical moment of the game.}
Bxb3 $2 {Unfortunately, this loses all the advantage.} ({Black had a beautiful
tactical shot that would have won the game:} 29... Bxf4 $3 30. Qxf4 (30. gxf4
Rxh3 {is hopeless for White}) 30... Qe2 31. Qxd2 Bxf3 {etc.}) 30. axb3 {
Black's attack is over. White will soon restore material equality by picking
up the d2-pawn so the position is approximately equal as well. The game could
have ended with any of the three possible results; Rob was the last but one to
make a mistake and won.} Qb7 31. Nd4 Qd5 32. c4 Qd7 33. Ka2 Bf8 34. Nb5 Bc5 35.
Qf3 Qb7 36. Qxb7+ Kxb7 37. Bxc5 bxc5 38. Nd6+ Rxd6 39. exd6 Rxh3 40. Rxd2 Rh8
41. b4 cxb4 42. Kb3 a5 43. c5 Rd8 44. Kc4 Kc6 45. b3 Rd7 46. Rh2 Rb7 47. Rh8 a4
48. Ra8 a3 49. Ra6+ 1-0

[Event "2014 Alberta Open"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2014.10.13"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Sasata, Robert"]
[Black "Gardner, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E38"]
[WhiteElo "2378"]
[BlackElo "2244"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2014.10.11"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 Bxc5 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Bg5 Nc6 8.
e3 Be7 9. Be2 a6 10. O-O Qc7 11. Rfd1 d6 12. Rac1 Rd8 13. a3 b6 {White's lead
in development allows the following standard operation:} 14. Nd5 $1 Qb7 {The
lesser evil.} ({After} 14... exd5 15. cxd5 Nxd5 16. Rxd5 {Black's hedgehog is
in ruins, not to mention an unpleasant pin along the c-file.}) 15. Nxe7+ Qxe7
16. b4 Bb7 17. Qb2 {An inaccuracy that allows Black to get rid of White's
dangerous dark-squared bishop.} ({Prophylactic} 17. h3 $5 {looks good. The
bishop will find shelter on h2.}) 17... h6 18. Bh4 g5 $1 {Black seizes his
opportunity.} 19. Bg3 Ne4 20. Nd2 Nxg3 21. hxg3 Ne5 $2 {This optimistic move
invites the following crushing blow.} ({Best is} 21... f6 {preparing the
e5-square for the knight. White retains the better chances though.}) 22. c5 $1
{Black's position on the dark squares is about to fall apart.} bxc5 ({The only
move is} 22... Qf6 {although after} 23. Nc4 {White's pressure on the dark
squares is excruciating.}) 23. bxc5 f6 24. f4 $1 {The decisive thrust. White
has too many threats.} Nc6 25. Ne4 dxc5 26. Nxf6+ Kf8 27. Nd7+ {A nice finish.}
Kg8 ({Black is checkmated after} 27... Rxd7 28. Qh8+ Kf7 29. Bh5#) 28. Qxb7 1-0

[Event "2014 Alberta Open"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2014.10.13"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Sasata, Robert"]
[Black "Porper, Edward"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E33"]
[WhiteElo "2275"]
[BlackElo "2427"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2014.10.11"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bd2 Qe7 7. a3 Bxc3 8.
Bxc3 e5 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. e3 O-O 11. b4 e4 12. Nd4 Ne5 13. Be2 Bg4 14. O-O Bxe2
15. Nxe2 Qe6 16. Ng3 Ned7 17. Bb2 h5 18. Rad1 h4 19. Ne2 Qf5 20. Qc3 $6 Rfe8
21. Nf4 c6 22. Rd6 Ne5 23. Rfd1 {The position is approximately equal. White
controls the d-file but doesn't have a good entry square yet. On the other
hand, Black's potential attack on the kingside is not to be underestimated.}
Nh5 {The f4-knight is an important piece cementing White's position so Black
intends to exchange it.} 24. Ne6 $4 {A very strange blunder that immediately
costs White the game.} ({A normal continuation is} 24. Nxh5 Qxh5 25. h3 Qg5 {
maintaining a balanced position.}) 24... f6 {Good enough but there was an even
more brutal refutation.} (24... Rxe6 25. Rxe6 Qg4 {and suddenly the whole
White's position is hanging. The threat of h4-h3 is lethal; if} 26. Qc2 {then
simply} Qxe6 {with an extra piece.}) 25. Nf4 {Now Black wins prosaically.} ({
After} 25. Nc7 {the game could have taken a really beautiful course:} h3 26.
Qe1 Nf3+ 27. gxf3 Qg6+ 28. Kf1 Nf4 29. exf4 Qg2+ 30. Ke2 exf3+ 31. Kd3 Rxe1 32.
Rxe1 Qxf2 33. Bc3 Qxh2 34. Nxa8 f2 35. Rf1 Qg1 36. Ke2 h2 {Black will soon get
a new queen or maybe even two new queens.}) 25... Nxf4 26. exf4 Nd3 27. Qd2 h3
{White decided to throw in the towel. He is going to lose at least a pawn, and
his kingside will be destroyed.} 0-1

[Event "2014 Alberta Open"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2014.10.13"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Robichaud, Martin"]
[Black "Shi, Diwen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2193"]
[BlackElo "2208"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2014.10.11"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Be2 Nc6 7. Na3 Be7 8. Nb5
Qd8 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. Bf4 Nd5 12. Bg3 Ke7 13. O-O a6 14. Nbd4 Bd7
15. Rfe1 f6 16. Bc4 Kf7 17. Rad1 Nce7 18. Nb3 Ba7 19. Bxd5 exd5 20. Bd6 Nf5 21.
Rxd5 Be6 22. Rdd1 Rad8 23. Bc7 Rc8 24. Bf4 Rc4 25. Bg3 Rg4 26. Na5 Nxg3 27.
hxg3 Rb8 28. Rd6 Bc8 29. Rd2 Rxg3 30. Rde2 Rg4 31. Re7+ Kg6 32. Nb3 Ra4 33. a3
Rf4 34. Nbd4 Bc5 35. Re8 Bd6 36. g3 Rg4 {Over the course of the previous 36
moves the evaluation of the position changed quite a few times but it is at
this point that White had a really great shot at winning the game.} 37. Nh2 $2
(37. Rg8 $1 {creates a threat of winning a piece.} {If} Bd7 {then} 38. Rxb8
Bxb8 39. Re7 Bc6 40. Nh4+ $1 {It is one of those positions where two knights
outplay the bishop pair, mainly because of the deplorable situation of the
black king.} {After} Kh5 41. Nhf5 {White wins a pawn with a decisive advantage.
}) 37... Rg5 38. Ndf3 {White wants to get more out of the pin but his idea
doesn't work.} Rb5 ({A simpler way may be} 38... Rd5 {intending to move the
c8-bishop next.}) 39. Nh4+ $6 ({Objectively, the safest way is} 39. Rd8 Bc7 40.
Rd2 {with equality but that wasn't the point of White's previous play.}) 39...
Kf7 40. Rd8 Bc7 41. Rde8 Be5 $1 {Black correctly judges that he has a right to
play for a win.} 42. Rh8 Rxb2 ({Simple unpinning} 42... Be6 {is also good.} {
Here} 43. Rxe5 $2 {loses to} Rxh8) 43. N2f3 Bd6 $1 44. Ree8 {White finally
doubled the rooks and appears to be winning material.} g5 $1 {This precise
reply refutes White's approach.} 45. Rd8 {The best try.} ({After} 45. Ng2 {
Black has} Bg4 $1) 45... Ke7 {Pity.} ({The way to play for a full point is} 
45... Bg4 $1 46. Rxb8 ({Diwen may have been afraid of} 46. Rxh7+ Ke6 47. Nd4+ {
but after} Kd5 {the black king is safe in the middle of the board.}) 46... Bxb8
47. Rxb8 gxh4 48. Nxh4 Rb1+ 49. Kg2 Bd7 {This endgame is difficult for White
to hold as his queenside pawns are weak.}) 46. Rde8+ Kf7 47. Rd8 {Diwen
decided to take a draw claiming clear second overall.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "7th Calgary International"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2014.11.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Sevillano, Enrico"]
[Black "Arruebarrena, Rafael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2456"]
[BlackElo "2268"]
[Annotator "Sevillano, Enrico"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2014.11.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 e6 ({The main line here is} 4... Nc6) ({
Also possible is} 4... d6) 5. d4 (5. Bc4 {is most played.}) 5... cxd4 6. cxd4
d6 {This is the main line. Other moves like b6, Nc6 or Be7 are also possible.}
7. Nc3 ({The best move here is} 7. Bc4 {also playable is 7.a3, 7.exd6 or 7.Bd3.
}) 7... Nxc3 8. bxc3 Qc7 $5 9. Bd2 ({Maybe} 9. Qb3 {is more deserving.}) 9...
Nd7 10. Ng5 ({Also interesting is} 10. exd6 Bxd6 11. Bd3 b6 12. O-O Bb7 13. Qe2
) 10... h6 $1 (10... dxe5 $6 11. Qh5 Nb8 (11... Nf6 12. Bb5+ {is good for White
}) 12. Bb5+ Nc6 13. Nxh7 {and White is better.}) 11. exd6 Bxd6 12. Ne4 Bf4 13.
Bxf4 Qxf4 14. Bd3 O-O 15. O-O b6 16. Re1 Bb7 17. Re3 Rac8 $1 {Pressure on c3.}
18. Qe2 Qc7 (18... Bxe4 19. Rxe4 Qg5 20. Rg4 Qa5 {looks scary but Black has a
slight advantage here.}) 19. c4 Rfe8 (19... Bxe4 $5 {deserves attention.}) 20.
Re1 Kh8 $6 ({Again,} 20... Bxe4 {is equal.}) 21. Nd2 $2 (21. Nc3 $1) 21... Red8
$2 (21... Rf8 $1 {is equal.}) 22. Rh3 $2 (22. d5 $1 {and White is better.})
22... Nf6 $1 23. Nb3 $2 ({I think that} 23. Rh4 {is a forced move.}) 23... a5 (
23... Qf4 $1 24. a4 a5 25. Qe3 Qxe3 26. Rhxe3 g6 {and Black is better.}) 24.
Qb2 $2 (24. Qe3 {is equal.}) 24... Qc6 $6 (24... a4 $1 25. Nc1 a3 26. Qa1 Ba6 {
is almost winning for Black.}) 25. d5 $1 {The only move to equalize.} exd5 26.
Nd4 Qc5 27. Nf5 d4 $4 (27... Re8 {is the only move.}) 28. Qc1 {Now White has a
decisive advantage.} Re8 29. Rxe8+ Rxe8 30. Nxg7 Re3 31. fxe3 Kxg7 32. e4 Ng8
33. Qf4 1-0

[Event "7th Calgary International"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2014.11.08"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Mikhalevski, Victor"]
[Black "Sevillano, Enrico"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2456"]
[Annotator "Mikhalevski,V"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2014.11.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

{This game was played in the third round of the 2014 Calgary international and
was very important as there were only three grandmasters in the tournament and
any game between them could become a decisive factor for the final standings.} 
1. d4 {Recenetly I played more often 1.c4 and 1.Nf3, although I don't think
the text came as a surprise for Enrico.} Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5.
cxd5 d6 6. Nf3 g6 7. Bf4 {Usually I meet the Benoni with the Fianchetto
variation, 7.g3. During the home preparation I saw that my opponent plays
exclusively 7...Bg7, instead of the main line, 7...a6 and so decided to
surprise him with this line.} Bg7 {Sevilliano is faithful to himself.} 8. Qa4+
{The most challenging line against 7...Bg7 and the reason why 7...a6 is more
popular. This way White provokes Black's light-squared bishop to d7, where
it's misplaced as this square belongs to the b8-knight.} Bd7 {The only move.
Otherwise Black loses either the d6-pawn or the right to castle.} 9. Qb3 {A
double attack on b7 and d6.} Qc7 {The most natural move. Black protects his
hanging pawns.} (9... b5 {is the main alternative, but the move is very risky
and you don't see it too often in the modern tournament practice, although it
was tested by Vugar Gashimov. Now after} 10. Bxd6 Qb6 11. Be5 O-O 12. e3 c4 13.
Qd1 {black usually chooses between 13...Na6 and 13...b4 with certain
compensation for the sacrificed pawn.}) 10. e4 O-O 11. Nd2 {An important
subtlety. White plays this move before developing his bishop to e2 in order to
avoid both 11...b5 and exchange of the Black's light-squared bishop, when it
gets to g4.} ({Thus after the natural} 11. Be2 {Black can choose between
playing} Nh5 ({and} 11... b5 {The latter leads to some complications. For
example,} 12. Nxb5 (12. Bxb5 Nxe4 13. Nxe4 Qa5+ 14. Nc3 (14. Bd2 Qxb5 15. Qxb5
Bxb5 16. Nxd6 {is more popular.}) 14... Bxb5 15. O-O-O Bd7 16. Bxd6 Na6 17.
Bxf8 Rxf8 18. Rhe1 Rb8 19. Qc4 Rb4 20. Qd3 c4 21. Qe3 Rxb2 22. Rd2 Bxc3 23.
Rxb2 Qa3 {0-1 Moradiabadi,E (2570)-Sevillano,E (2526)/Los Angeles 2012.}) 12...
Bxb5 13. Bxb5 Nxe4 {as in Hess,R (2624)-Sevillano,E (2526)/Los Angeles 2012.
After going over those game I realized that I want to play 11.Nd2.}) 12. Be3 a6
13. a4 Bg4 {and Black exchanges his light-squared bishop , which is often
Black's problem in the Benoni.}) 11... Nh5 12. Be3 a6 {A pretty rare
continuation as Black later uses this square for his queen's knight} (12... f5
{is the main line.} 13. exf5 Bxf5 14. Be2 Nf6 15. h3 Na6 16. a3 {and so on.})
13. a4 {White is preventing b5.} f5 14. exf5 Bxf5 ({Black played} 14... gxf5 {
more often. White can meet it with} 15. Be2 Be8 (15... f4 16. Bxc5 f3 {is
strongly answered by} (16... Qxc5 {is relatively better, but White retains a
clear edge after} 17. Nde4 Qc7 18. Bxh5 $16) 17. Bb6 $18 {with the decisive
edge.}) 16. Nf3 $16 {and weakness of the f-pawn plus the weak e6-square
promise White a comfortable edge.}) 15. Be2 Nf6 16. h3 {We've got a position
from the main line with inclusion of moves a6 and a4, which seems to be in
White's favour, who doesn't have to worry about Na6. Moreover the knight can't
be developed to d7 in view of g4.} Re8 {Enrico has already spent a lot of time,
but found an interesting tactical idea.} (16... Nbd7 $4 17. g4 {and the bishop
on f5 is traped.}) 17. O-O Nbd7 {This move came as a surprise as I considered
it to be impossible.} 18. g4 {I played this move rather quickly.} Ne4 $1 {
That's what Black was cooking. Even though Black doesn't lose a piece here
White can obtain a serious edge.} 19. Rae1 $2 {This move was played after
one-hour thought. As usual, such a long thought leads to a mistake.} ({I
started my calculations with the correct} 19. gxf5 $1 Nxd2 20. Bxd2 Bxc3 21.
Qxc3 Rxe2 22. Rae1 $1 ({During the game I considered mostly} 22. Rfe1 {in
order to meet} Rae8 {with} 23. Rxe2 Rxe2 24. Be3 {with the idea to trap the
rook by means of 25.Kf1. That's why the f-rook went to e1. However Black can
save the rook.} Qb6 $1 25. Rb1 Qb4 {and the rook gets an escape square on c2.
Nevertheless White continues} 26. Kf1 Qxc3 27. bxc3 Ra2 28. Rxb7 Nf6 29. fxg6
hxg6 30. Rb6 Nxd5 31. Rxa6 Nxe3+ 32. fxe3 {with an extra pawn in the rook
endgame, but Black retains good chances for a draw.}) 22... Rae8 (22... Re5 $2
23. fxg6 hxg6 24. Bf4 Ree8 25. Re6 $1 $18) ({After} 22... Ree8 23. Bh6 Nf8 24.
fxg6 hxg6 25. Bxf8 Rxe1 26. Rxe1 Rxf8 27. Re6 Qf7 28. Qg3 $16 {White wins a
pawn.}) 23. Bh6 Nb6 24. fxg6 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 26. Qxe1 hxg6 27. Qe6+ Qf7 28.
Qxd6 Nxd5 29. Qxc5 $16 {with an extra pawn for White, although he still has t
solve some technical problems on his way to a win.}) 19... Bxc3 {This capture
isn't yet bad, although I would have preferred 19...Nxd2 or 19...Nxc3.} (19...
Nxd2 $5 20. Bxd2 Be4 21. f3 (21. Bf4 $5) 21... c4 $1 22. Bxc4 Nc5 23. Qd1 Bd3 {
leads to a position with good compensation for a pawn thanks to activity of
the black pieces.}) (19... Nxc3 $5 20. bxc3 Be4 21. c4 (21. Bc4 {is answered by
} Ne5) ({It has to be mentioned that} 21. f3 $6 {is dubious in view of} Bc2 22.
Qxc2 Rxe3 $15) 21... Qb6 $1 22. Qxb6 ({or} 22. Qa2 Bd4 $1) 22... Nxb6 23. a5
Na4 24. Nxe4 Rxe4 25. Bd3 Ree8 {with counterplay.}) 20. bxc3 Nxd2 21. Bxd2 Rxe2
$4 {It's not so obvious, but this move is the decisive mistake.} ({After the
correct} 21... c4 $1 22. Qxc4 Qxc4 23. Bxc4 Bc2 {Black obtains counterplay.})
22. Rxe2 Bd3 23. Re7 $1 {Black has underestimated this move. Now Black's king
start to feel lonely, while a pin along the seventh rank only makes it more
difficutl for Black.} Bxf1 24. c4 $1 $18 {This intermediate move creates a
deadly threat of 25.Qc3 or 25.Qb2, while the bishop on f1 is traped anyway.} ({
For the truth sake it has to be said that even the simple} 24. Kxf1 {is
sufficient for the decisive advantage. For example,} Qd8 25. Bg5 Qc8 26. c4 Ne5
27. Bh6 b5 28. f4 $1 bxa4 29. Qe3 $18 {and White wins.}) 24... Qd8 25. Bg5 $1 {
The key-move. White is threatening with 26.Qb2 again.} h6 {Enrico is trying to
sac the queen for a rook and a bishop.} (25... Qc8 26. Kxf1 Ne5 27. Bh6 $18 {
is hopeless too, as after 24.Kf1.}) 26. Qb1 $1 Nf8 ({In case of} 26... Ne5 {
White wins with} 27. Rxe5 $1 hxg5 28. Qxg6+ Kh8 29. Qh6+ Kg8 30. Rxg5+ $18 {
with a clear win.}) 27. Bf6 {Now White is threatening with 28.Rg7, which
forces Black to capture the rook.} (27. Qxb7 $18 {Also wins. For example,} Qb8
28. Rg7+ Kh8 29. Qf7) 27... Qxe7 28. Bxe7 Bxc4 29. Qxb7 (29. Qxb7 {and Black
resigned as after} Re8 30. Bf6 {he can't stop checkmate. A relatively short,
but interesting game.}) 1-0

[Event "7th Calgary International"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2014.11.09"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Haessel, Dale"]
[Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A06"]
[WhiteElo "2155"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2014.11.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]
[WhiteClock "0:01:33"]
[BlackClock "0:04:50"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 e6 4. Qc2 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Nf6 6. Bg5 b5 7. Qc2 Bb7 8. e4
Nbd7 9. Nbd2 Rc8 10. e5 $6 h6 11. Bh4 g5 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Qb6 14. exf6 c5
15. Rc1 c4 16. Qc3 Qa6 17. a3 Nb6 18. h4 Na4 19. Qc2 Nxb2 20. Qxb2 Bxa3 21. Qb1
Bxc1 22. Qxc1 Bd5 23. Rh3 b4 24. Be2 Bxg2 25. Re3 Bd5 26. f4 Kd8 {After a lot
of creative and risky play from both sides the game has reached a very sharp
and highly unbalanced position. Black has strong connected passed pawns but
his king feels uncomfortable in the center.} 27. f5 $1 {White intends to clear
as many files and diagonals in the center as possible. His main goal is to
dislodge the excellently placed enemy bishop.} Re8 $1 {Black correctly holds
on to the key e6-square.} 28. Re5 Qc6 $2 {Surprisingly, this natural looking
move is a decisive mistake.} ({The computer's top choice is a somewhat
paradoxical} 28... Qa3 $5 {maintaining equilibrium. The position remains
highly unclear, of course.}) 29. Qa1 $3 {The white queen has been passive so
far but now she is ready to penetrate the enemy position with a devastating
effect.} Rc7 30. Qa5 c3 {Black doesn't have much of a choice.} (30... Qb6 31.
Qxb6 axb6 32. fxe6 Bxe6 33. d5 Bd7 34. Nxc4 {is hopeless.}) 31. fxe6 $1 cxd2+
32. Bxd2 Bc4 {Looks like desperation.} ({After} 32... Bxe6 33. d5 {all the
lines work in White's favor.}) 33. e7+ {A step in a wrong direction. Even
though White is still winning, his task has just become way more difficult.} ({
I  believe that after the programmed} 33. d5 $1 {Black would not have been
able to save the game.}) 33... Kc8 34. Bg4+ Kb8 {The critical moment.} 35. Bf4
$2 {Alas.} ({Surprisingly,} 35. Kf2 $3 {is the only winning move.} {It looks
crazy to give up the f6-pawn with a cheque} Qxf6+ {especially since after} 36.
Kg3 {Black might be able to capture the e7-pawn as well.} {However, after}
Rexe7 $2 37. Qxb4+ {Black loses a lot of material and the game is over.
Granted, going for a line like this in time pressure may be possible only for
a computer.}) 35... Qh1+ {Now Black escapes with a perpetual check.} 36. Kf2 ({
White can try} 36. Kd2 {but then} Qf1 $1 {still draws.} {For example,} 37. Rb5+
Ka8 $1 38. Qxc7 Qd3+ 39. Kc1 Qc3+ {etc.}) 36... Qf1+ 37. Kg3 Qg1+ 38. Kf3 Qf1+
1/2-1/2

[Event "7th Calgary International"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2014.11.11"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Black "Shi, Diwen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A50"]
[WhiteElo "2530"]
[BlackElo "2219"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2014.11.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nf3 e6 4. a3 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. e4 d6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
Re8 9. d5 Ne5 10. Nxe5 dxe5 11. Be3 exd5 12. cxd5 Bd7 13. Qb3 Qb8 14. Rac1 c6
15. dxc6 Bxc6 16. Bc4 Re7 17. Rfd1 b6 18. Bg5 Rb7 {The piece placement
emphasizes that the grandmaster completely outplayed his young opponent.} 19.
Nb5 $1 Nxe4 {There is really not much else. Black cannot give up his
light-squared bishop for a knight, and the f7-pawn is about to fall anyway.}
20. Rd8+ Qxd8 21. Bxd8 Rxd8 22. Bxf7+ $1 Rxf7 23. Rxc6 {The GM executed the
best line and attained a decisive advantage.} Kh8 $1 {However, Black isn't
going to resign just yet as he has a few tactical ideas.} 24. f3 Bh6 $5 ({
Diwen realizes that after the immediate} 24... Rfd7 {White will return the
queen:} 25. fxe4 $1 Rd1+ 26. Kf2 R8d2+ 27. Kf3 Rd3+ 28. Qxd3 Rxd3+ 29. Ke2 {
The back rank problem more or less forces} Rd8 30. Nxa7 {with an easily won
endgame for White.}) 25. h4 $2 {Surprisingly, this natural looking move allows
Black to not only regain the material but also achieve a better endgame!} ({
Correct is} 25. g3 $1 {clearing more squares for the king. Black's counterplay
turns out to be insufficient in all lines.}) 25... Rfd7 $1 26. fxe4 {There is
nothing else.} Rd1+ 27. Qxd1 ({Alas,} 27. Kh2 $2 {runs into} Bf4+ 28. g3 R8d2+
29. Kh3 Rh1+ 30. Kg4 h5+ 31. Kf3 Rf1# {checkmate!}) (27. Kf2 R8d2+ 28. Kf3 Rd3+
29. Qxd3 Rxd3+ {transposes to the game.}) 27... Rxd1+ 28. Kf2 Rd2+ 29. Kf3 Rd3+
{Diwen prefers taking an immediate draw and it's really hard to blame him for
not playing on.} ({Objectively, after} 29... Rxb2 30. Rc8+ Kg7 31. Rc7+ Kg8 32.
Rc8+ Bf8 33. Nxa7 Rb3+ 34. Ke2 Kg7 {Black's chances are to be preferred.}) 30.
Kf2 Rd2+ 31. Kf3 Rd3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "7th Calgary International"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2014.11.11"]
[Round "9.2"]
[White "Humphreys, Michael"]
[Black "Mikhalevski, Victor"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2190"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2014.11.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]
[WhiteClock "0:10:04"]
[BlackClock "0:54:08"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Bg7 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 b6 10. O-O Bb7 11. d5 Bxc3 12. h4 Nd7 13. h5 Bg7 14. hxg6 hxg6
15. Ng5 Nf6 16. Rb3 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 Qxd5 18. Rd3 Qxa2 19. Ng5 c4 20. Ra3 Qb1 21.
Qd7 Qc2 22. Qh3 Rfd8 23. Bf3 Bd5 24. g4 c3 25. Bxd5 Rxd5 26. Qf3 Rad8 27. Qxf7+
Kh8 28. Ne6 Rg8 29. Qf3 Rgd8 30. Nxd8 Rxd8 31. Rxa7 Qd3 32. Qh1+ Kg8 33. Rxe7
Rd4 {White just needs to defend the g4-pawn, then the extra rook will tell.}
34. Qh4 (34. Qg2 {is the simplest solution.}) 34... Qf3 35. Rxg7+ $6 {Perhaps,
White believes that he can win this game by playing just about anything. This
may be correct but his task has just become more difficult.} ({The computer
advocates} 35. Kh2 {intending} Rxg4 36. Re8+ Bf8 37. Qh3 $1 {and Black's
attack comes to an end.}) 35... Kxg7 36. Qh6+ Kg8 37. Qxg6+ Kh8 38. Qh6+ Kg8
39. Qe6+ Kh7 40. Qe7+ Kg8 41. Qe8+ Kh7 42. Qh5+ Kg8 {Now what?} 43. Qe8+ ({The
road to victory isn't so obvious anymore:} 43. Kh2 $1 Rxg4 44. Qxg4+ $1 Qxg4
45. Rg1 Qxg1+ 46. Kxg1 b5 47. Ba3 $1 {and the black pawns aren't going
anywhere.}) 43... Kh7 44. Qe7+ Kg8 45. Qe6+ Kh7 46. Qh6+ {It's hard to believe
but a draw was agreed here.} ({Apparently, White decided not to try} 46. Qf5+
Qxf5 47. gxf5 {which is objectively winning for him.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "7th Calgary International Reserves"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2014.11.08"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Pua, Richard"]
[Black "Wu, Chenxi"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "1897"]
[BlackElo "1633"]
[Annotator "Wu, Chenxi"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2014.11.07"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Be2 Bg4 8. Be3
Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. h3 Bxf3 ({Maybe} 10... Bd7 {would be a better alternative.
Bxf3 gives up my light-squared bishop and gives White's bishop a better
diagonal. Bd7 would have kept my bishop, and now my opponent has the bishop
pair.}) 11. Bxf3 Qd7 12. Qd2 Rfd8 13. Rfd1 e6 {Weakens my d6 pawn. However, my
opponent cannot target it at the moment. The purpose of the move was to
prepare for d4. If it is followed by e5, then Ne8 and I plan to move the
knight to b6.} 14. Rac1 Rac8 {I played this slow going move to see White's
reply. I felt that White planned to break through with d5, and that would be
benificial for my knight coming to e5.} 15. d5 Ne5 16. Be2 Nc4 17. dxe6 Qxe6
18. Bxc4 Rxc4 {Not Qxc4, because Rxc4 adds an attacker to e4.} 19. Bxa7 {In my
opinion this isn't a very good move, because it deflects the bishop away and
basically leaves the e4 pawn for me without even putting up a fight.} Nxe4 20.
Nxe4 Rxe4 {This opens my queen to attack a2, as well as threatening e2,
indirectly attacking b2.} 21. Rc2 ({There is a beautiful albeit cooperative
line beginning with} 21. Be3 Qxa2 $6 22. Qxd6 $3 {If black doesn't take the
queen, then white regained the pawn with a roughly even game.} {However,} Rxd6
$2 {runs into} 23. Rc8+ Bf8 24. Bh6 $3 Rxd1+ 25. Kh2 Rh1+ 26. Kxh1 Qb1+ 27. Kh2
{and white wins!}) 21... Qxa2 22. Bb6 Rde8 23. Qxd6 $4 {I was up a pawn before,
but this move loses the game.} Re1+ 24. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 25. Kh2 Be5+ 26. Qxe5 Rxe5
27. Rc8+ Kg7 28. Bd4 Qd5 29. Bc3 Kh6 {Getting out ofthe pin, and Black's queen
easily gets the better of White's rook.} 0-1

[Event "2014 AB Jr. Championship"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.11.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Tolentino, Patrick"]
[Black "Shi, Diwen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "1653"]
[BlackElo "2230"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2014.11.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Na5 4. d3 $6 a6 5. Ba4 g6 6. f4 Bg7 7. Nf3 b5 8. Bb3
e6 9. O-O Ne7 10. Be3 d6 11. Qe1 Bd7 12. e5 $1 Bc6 13. exd6 Qxd6 14. Ne4 Bxe4
$2 15. dxe4 Qc7 16. c3 O-O 17. Qh4 Nxb3 18. axb3 Rfd8 19. Rfd1 a5 20. Ne5 f5
21. Nd3 c4 22. bxc4 bxc4 23. Nc5 {Black's position looks suspicious as his
sensitive e6-square is difficult to cover.} {Diwen tries an interesting
approach:} Kf7 ({The computer recommends} 23... Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Rd8 {with the
idea to take advantage of White's temporary back rank problems.} {Nevertheless,
after} 25. Re1 $5 Rd6 26. Qf2 {Black will have a hard time protecting all his
weaknesses.}) 24. Qxh7 {This move is extremely tempting but gives Black a
chance to equalize with precise play.} Qc6 $2 {Diwen misses his chance.} ({
Correct is} 24... Qb6 $1 {If White continues as in the game} 25. Rxd8 $2 Rxd8
26. Bd4 $2 Rxd4 27. cxd4 {then Black obtains a winning position after} Qxb2 28.
Rd1 Qe2 29. Rb1 Qe3+ 30. Kh1 Qxd4 {etc.}) ({No doubt both players knew that} 
24... Rh8 $2 {would lose immediately to} 25. Qxg7+ $1 Kxg7 26. Nxe6+) 25. Rxd8
$1 ({Certainly not} 25. Bd4 $2 {in view of} Rxd4 26. cxd4 Rh8 {and it is Black
who wins.}) 25... Rxd8 26. Bd4 $1 {Now this approach is very strong.} Rxd4 27.
cxd4 Qd6 28. Rd1 $1 Qxf4 $2 {Black finally falls for the same trick but his
position is lost anyway.} 29. Qxg7+ $1 1-0

[Event "2014 WBX Team Tournament"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.12.13"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Nguyen, Kim"]
[Black "Arruebarrena, Rafael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B47"]
[WhiteElo "2060"]
[BlackElo "2233"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2014.12.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. g3 a6 7. Bg2 d6 8. O-O
Bd7 9. Re1 Be7 10. g4 Rc8 11. Nde2 b5 12. Ng3 b4 13. Nce2 h6 14. Bd2 Nf6 15. h3
O-O 16. f4 Nh7 17. Kh1 Qb6 18. c3 a5 19. Rg1 Kh8 20. Qf1 d5 21. exd5 exd5 22.
Bxd5 {Black has just sacrificed a pawn to grab the initiative.} Bc5 23. Rg2 Ne7
{The knight is going to h4 presenting White with a difficult defensive task.}
24. Be4 (24. Bf3 {looks better but after} Ng6 25. Ne4 Nh4 26. Nxc5 Qxc5 {White
should give up the exchange} 27. Nd4 {to avoid the worst.}) 24... Nf6 25. Be1 (
{The computer recommends} 25. f5 {preventing the following sequence although
White's position remains unenviable in any case.}) 25... Nxe4 26. Nxe4 Bc6 27.
N2g3 f5 $1 {The key thrust. The catastrophe on the light squares is
unavoidable.} 28. gxf5 Nxf5 29. Re2 Nxg3+ 30. Bxg3 Rce8 31. Qf3 Rf7 32. c4 ({
White can try} 32. Rae1 Rfe7 33. Kh2 {but it doesn't help:} bxc3 34. bxc3 Rxe4
35. Rxe4 Bxe4 36. Rxe4 Qb2+ {and Black wins.}) 32... Rfe7 33. Rae1 Rxe4 34.
Rxe4 Rxe4 (34... Rxe4 {White resigned in view of} 35. Rxe4 Qb7 36. Re8+ Kh7)
0-1

[Event "2014 WBX Tournament"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2014.12.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gardner, Robert"]
[Black "Pechenkin, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A01"]
[WhiteElo "2101"]
[BlackElo "2302"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2014.12.13"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. b3 b6 2. Bb2 Bb7 {This game has been picked because of the opening. After a
few painful losses in the 1.b3 system I have decided to follow GM Anton
Kovalyov's recommendation that was very simple: just do the same thing!} 3. d4
e6 4. Nd2 {However, the next few moves do not represent a great play, and
multiple improvements for both sides are possible.} c5 5. e4 cxd4 6. Ngf3 d6 7.
Nxd4 Nf6 8. Bd3 Nbd7 9. O-O Be7 10. f4 O-O {Somehow the position transposed
into something closely resembling an Open Sicilian. Since neither opponent has
a Sicilian defence as a main weapon in the opening repertoire, the following
may look a little funny to the experts.} 11. g4 Nc5 12. Qe2 d5 13. e5 Nfe4 14.
Rf3 {Apparently, White intends to deliver checkmate on h7.} Nxd2 15. Qxd2 Ne4
16. Qe2 Bc5 17. Rh3 ({The correct move order is} 17. g5 $1 {After} Qe7 18. Rh3
{Black can still break with} f6 {but in this case it is sufficient only for
equality.}) 17... f6 $1 18. b4 {White decides to test the opponent's idea but
all the lines just work in Black's favor.} ({The computer advocates} 18. Kg2 $1
Qe7 19. Nf3 {intending to recapture on e5 with the knight. Black's position
remains preferable though.}) 18... fxe5 {Forced.} 19. bxc5 ({Or} 19. fxe5 Bxd4+
20. Bxd4 Qg5 {also with good prospects.}) 19... exd4 20. Bxd4 Rxf4 ({Much
weaker is} 20... bxc5 21. Bxe4 dxe4 22. Be5 {as the f4-pawn plays a big role.})
21. Be5 (21. Be3 Rf7 {doesn't change much.}) 21... Rf7 22. Bxe4 dxe4 {This
position turns out to be really bad for White because of his exposed king and
poorly coordinated pieces. His attempt to preserve the initiative at all cost
quickly backfires.} 23. Rd1 Qe7 24. Rd6 bxc5 25. Qd2 Raf8 26. g5 Rf1+ 0-1

[Event "2015 John Schleinich Memorial A"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.01.03"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nguyen, Kim"]
[Black "Ng, Gary"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A01"]
[WhiteElo "2255"]
[BlackElo "2285"]
[Annotator "Ng, Gary"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2015.01.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bd6 5. Ne2 a6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. d3 Qe7 8. h3
{Out of theory.} (8. e4 Nd7 9. O-O O-O 10. Nd2 Nc5 11. f4 Bg4 12. f5 f6 13. h3
Bxe2 14. Qxe2 a5 {Vaisser, A (2515) - Gozzoli, Y (2520) 1/2-1/2 2010}) 8... h5
9. Nd2 Be6 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. c4 c5 12. Qc2 h4 13. O-O-O O-O-O 14. Nc3 c6 15. Rhe1
g5 16. Ne4 g4 17. Nfg5 gxh3 18. f4 $6 {Fireworks!} hxg2 $1 {Best move here in
a complicated and scary position. Black calmly collects two passers that white
can't ignore.} 19. d4 $2 (19. Nxd6+ Qxd6 20. Qxg2 $15 {Black is up a pawn but
white has some compensation here.}) 19... cxd4 (19... h3 $1 20. dxe5 Bc7 21.
Nd6+ Kb8 $19) 20. f5 Bb4 (20... Bxf5 21. Nxd6+ Qxd6 22. Qxf5 Qf6 23. Qxf6 Nxf6
24. Nxf7 h3 25. Nxd8 h2 $19) 21. fxe6 fxe6 {Not the most efficient but works.}
(21... Nc5 $19) (21... Bxe1 22. exd7+ Rxd7 23. Rxe1 h3 24. Nxh3 Rxh3 25. Qxg2
$17) 22. Qxg2 Bxe1 23. Rxe1 Rdg8 24. Qg4 Nc5 25. Ba3 Nd3+ 26. Kd2 Qxa3 27.
Qxe6+ Kb8 28. Kxd3 Re8 (28... Qxa2 {Looks risky here and I missed 33.Qa5!} 29.
Qxe5+ Ka8 30. Nc5 h3 31. Nge6 h2 32. Nc7+ Ka7 33. Qxd4 Qa5 $1 $19) 29. Qd6+
Qxd6 30. Nxd6 Reg8 31. Ngf7 Rh5 32. exd4 exd4 33. Kxd4 $2 (33. Re7 {White's
best chance to draw.} Ka8 (33... h3 $2 34. Ne5 Ka8 35. Nd7 Ka7 36. Ne5 $11) 34.
Ne5 Rgh8 $1 (34... h3 $2 35. Nd7 Ka7 36. Ne5 $11) 35. Nd7 R5h7 $19) 33... h3
34. Rh1 h2 35. Ne4 Rg1 36. Nf2 Rxh1 37. Nxh1 Rf5 38. Nd6 c5+ 39. Kd3 $2 Rf1 40.
Ng3 Rd1+ 41. Ke2 Rxd6 0-1

[Event "2015 Northern Alberta Open"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2015.02.15"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Gardner, Robert"]
[Black "Arruebarrena, Rafael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D91"]
[WhiteElo "2095"]
[BlackElo "2224"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2015.02.14"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bg5 Ne4 6. Bh4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 dxc4 8.
Qa4+ Qd7 9. Qxc4 b6 10. e3 Ba6 11. Qb3 Bxf1 12. Kxf1 O-O 13. Ke2 Nc6 {So far
the game has followed a well-trodden path with more than 60 predecessors in
the database.} 14. Bg3 {A novelty that is unlikely to attract many followers.}
(14. Rhd1 {has been played almost exclusively so far and for obvious reasons.
The omission of this move allows Black to strike immediately.}) 14... Na5 15.
Qb4 c5 $1 16. dxc5 $2 {This capture is as reckless as it looks.} ({Being in a
must-win situation, White cannot accept the passive} 16. Qb2 {and decides to
take the bull by the horns.}) 16... Rac8 ({Best is} 16... Rfc8 17. Rad1 Qe8 {
not disconnecting the rooks. Black will soon regain the c5-pawn anyway.}) 17.
Rhd1 Qb7 $2 {The only moment of the game when Rafael can be criticized.} ({
Black has a comfortable advantage after} 17... Qf5 18. Nd4 Qh5+ 19. Kf1 Rxc5)
18. Rd3 $2 {White misses his chance and he isn't going to get another one.} (
18. Rab1 $1 {takes the sting out of} Qa6+ {in view of} 19. Qb5 {Black should
probably sacrifice a pawn or two to maintain the initiative.}) 18... Rxc5 19.
Rad1 Qa6 20. Nd4 $2 e5 $1 {It's all over now. Black finishes off the game in
style.} 21. Nb3 Rc4 22. Qe7 e4 23. Rd7 Ra4+ 24. Ke1 Nxb3 25. axb3 Bxc3+ 26.
R7d2 Bxd2+ 27. Rxd2 Ra1+ 28. Rd1 Rxd1+ 29. Kxd1 Qd3+ 0-1

[Event "2015 AYCC U12"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2015.02.22"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Wang, Kaixin"]
[Black "Mah, Sean"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "1819"]
[BlackElo "1640"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2015.02.22"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. d4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 e5 6. Ne2 e4 7. Bc2 Nf6 8. Bf4
Bg4 9. Nd2 Bd6 10. Bg3 Qc7 11. Nf1 Rc8 12. Ne3 h5 13. Bxd6 Qxd6 14. h3 Be6 15.
Qd2 Na5 16. Ba4+ Bd7 17. Nf5 Qf8 18. Bxd7+ Kxd7 19. Qg5 Rg8 20. Nf4 Nc4 21. Rb1
Nd6 22. Ne3 Nc4 23. Nfxd5 Qd6 24. Qf5+ Qe6 25. Nxf6+ gxf6 26. Qxe6+ fxe6 27.
Nxc4 Rxc4 28. g3 Kd6 29. Ke2 e5 30. Rbd1 Rg7 31. Rd2 exd4 32. Rxd4+ Rxd4 33.
cxd4 Rc7 34. Rd1 Kd5 35. Rd2 Rg7 36. Ke3 f5 37. Rc2 b6 {White is up a pawn and
controls the only open file.} 38. b3 $2 {White must have underestimated the
opponent's reply.} ({The best move is} 38. h4 $1 {slowing down Black's play on
the kingside.}) 38... h4 $1 39. gxh4 (39. g4 {is possible and may have been
the best continuation.}) 39... Rh7 $1 40. Kf4 Rxh4+ 41. Kg3 Rh7 42. Rc4 $6 ({
The situation on the board has changed. White should activate his rook by
means of} 42. Rc8 {then take a draw:} Kxd4 43. Rd8+ Ke5 44. Re8+ {etc.}) 42...
Rg7+ {Not bad but Black had an even better move.} ({After} 42... f4+ $1 {White
faces a difficult choice.} {For example,} 43. Kxf4 Rxh3 44. Rc7 Rf3+ 45. Kg4
Rxf2 46. Rd7+ Ke6 {and Black's passed pawn is very strong.}) 43. Kf4 Rg2 44.
Ke3 f4+ ({There is nothing wrong with} 44... Rh2 45. Rc7 Rxh3+ 46. Ke2 Kxd4 47.
Rxa7 {and Black can play for a full point.}) 45. Kxf4 Rxf2+ 46. Kg3 $2 {The
losing move.} ({Correct is} 46. Ke3 {keeping the king in front of Black's
passer.} {After} Rf3+ 47. Ke2 Rxh3 48. Rc7 {the position is drawn.}) 46... Rf3+
({Black can play} 46... e3 {immediately.}) 47. Kg2 Rf7 48. Rc2 Kxd4 49. Rf2
Rg7+ 50. Kf1 Kd3 51. Ke1 $2 {This loses on the spot.} Rg1+ 52. Rf1 Rxf1+ 53.
Kxf1 Kd2 0-1

[Event "2015 AYCC U14"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2015.02.21"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Wu, Chenxi"]
[Black "Saheb, Arya"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B91"]
[WhiteElo "1663"]
[BlackElo "1667"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2015.02.22"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 d6 7. Bg2 e6 8. O-O
Qb6 9. Nde2 Be7 10. h3 O-O 11. g4 h6 12. Ng3 Rd8 13. Na4 Qb4 14. c3 Qa5 15. Be3
Nd7 {Black can be satisfied with the outcome of the opening but after} 16. b4 {
he opts for a dubious maneuver that his opponent punishes.} Qe5 $2 ({Correct is
} 16... Qc7 {with a complex position.}) 17. f4 $1 Qf6 18. Nh5 $1 Qg6 19. f5
exf5 20. exf5 Qh7 {The queen will be out of play for a long time. Consequently,
White has a wide choice of good continuations.} 21. Be4 Nf6 22. Nxf6+ Bxf6 23.
Nb6 Rb8 24. Nd5 Re8 $2 {After this White's advantage becomes overwhelming.} (
24... Bh4 {is more tenacious.}) 25. Nxf6+ gxf6 26. Bxc6 bxc6 27. Qxd6 Bb7 28.
Bd4 h5 {Black is trying to free his queen but it's too late.} (28... Qg7 {may
prolong the agony.}) 29. Qxf6 hxg4 30. Qg5+ Kf8 31. Bc5+ Re7 32. Qxe7+ Kg8 33.
Qg5+ {White won a whole rook, and Black resigned in a few moves.} Qg7 34. Qxg4
Qxg4+ 35. hxg4 f6 36. Rad1 1-0

[Event "2015 AYCC U16"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2015.02.21"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Saheb, Salar"]
[Black "Shi, Diwen"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A50"]
[WhiteElo "1853"]
[BlackElo "2198"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2015.02.22"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 {Diwen's pet line.} 3. Nc3 e5 4. dxe5 {This is too
unambitious and allows Black to equalize.} (4. d5 {is the main continuation,
of course.}) 4... Nxe5 5. e3 Bb4 6. Bd2 O-O 7. a3 Bxc3 8. Bxc3 Qe7 {A novelty.}
(8... Re8 {was played in the only 2 games found in the database.}) 9. Qc2 Rd8
10. Bxe5 {There is no need to give up the bishop pair but White is eager to
complete his development as quickly as possible.} Qxe5 11. Nf3 Qe7 12. Bd3 d5
13. cxd5 Bg4 {Aggressive play from the rating favorite!} ({There is nothing
wrong with} 13... Rxd5) 14. O-O-O {Black may have underestimated this reply.}
c6 ({Obviously,} 14... Rxd5 $2 {loses material to} 15. Bxh7+ {so Black
sacrifices a pawn for the initiative.}) 15. dxc6 Rdc8 16. Qa4 Rxc6+ 17. Kb1 Rb6
18. h3 {There is no need to spend time on this move.} (18. Rd2 $5 {
strengthening the queenside is more to the point.}) 18... Bd7 19. Qa5 Ne4 {
Black is in a hurry to create threats.} ({Instead,} 19... Bc6 $5 {intending to
recapture on e4 with the bishop deserves attention.}) 20. Bxe4 Qxe4+ 21. Ka1
Be6 22. Rd4 Qc2 {The critical position of the game. Black's play has been
quite logical so far but White has a strong resource that can put him in the
driver's seat.} 23. Rd2 $2 {Unfortunately, Salar misses his chance.} ({The
consolidating} 23. Qd2 $1 {suddenly threatens a checkmate on d8 so Black has
no time to take on b2. In fact, an exchange of queens is almost unavoidable
leaving White with a healthy extra pawn in an endgame.}) 23... Qb3 $1 {Now
it's all over.} 24. Kb1 Rc8 {The checkmate is inevitable, and White resigned
in a few moves.} 25. Qc5 Qa2+ 26. Kc2 Rxc5+ 27. Kd1 Qb1+ 28. Ke2 Bc4+ 0-1

[Event "2015 March of Kings"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.03.14"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Nguyen, Kim"]
[Black "Koneru, Nimai"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2231"]
[BlackElo "1619"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2015.03.14"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Nd7 6. O-O Ne7 7. Nbd2 Bg6 8. Nb3
Nf5 9. c3 Be7 10. g4 Nh6 11. Ne1 Ng8 12. Bd3 Bxd3 13. Nxd3 h5 14. gxh5 Nh6 15.
Bxh6 Rxh6 16. Kh1 Bf8 17. Qg4 g6 18. Nf4 gxh5 19. Nxh5 Rg6 20. Qh3 Qg5 21. Rg1
Qh6 22. Rxg6 Qxg6 23. f3 O-O-O 24. Nf4 Qc2 25. Qg2 Qf5 26. Ne2 Be7 27. Ng3 Qf4
28. Rf1 Rg8 29. Nc1 Bh4 30. Nce2 Qg5 31. f4 Qg7 32. Qf3 Rh8 33. f5 Qh6 34. Rf2
a6 35. Qf4 Bg5 36. Qg4 Bh4 37. Rg2 Nb6 38. fxe6 fxe6 39. b3 Kd7 {White has a
healthy extra pawn and a positional advantage.} 40. a4 {White decides to
weaken the opponent's king position but this approach suddenly backfires.} ({
Energetic} 40. Nf4 $1 {forces favorable exchanges} Bxg3 41. Qxg3 Nc8 42. Qg7+
Ne7 43. Qxh6 Rxh6 44. Rg7 {with a much better endgame for White.}) 40... Nc8 $1
41. c4 $2 Ne7 42. cxd5 cxd5 43. Qf4 Bg5 44. Qf3 Be3 45. Qf1 Rf8 $1 46. Qa1 {
White's plan is now clear: the queen is going to d6. However, Black can live
with it as all other white pieces are passive.} Qh3 $2 {The queen doesn't do
much here.} ({Correct is} 46... Nc6 $1 {with a following sample continuation:}
47. Qa3 Bd2 $5 48. Qd6+ Kc8 {(the white queen is in danger of being trapped)}
49. Qc5 Kb8 50. Qd6+ Ka8 51. Qc5 {White has no active plan and has to wait
passively. Black may try to improve his position further by activating the
knight} Nb4 $5 {etc.}) 47. Qa3 Nc8 $4 {Unfortunately, Black misses that the
f8-rook is no longer defended.} ({After the correct} 47... Ke8 48. Qd6 Nc6 {
the position is still about equal.}) 48. Qxf8 1-0

[Event "2015 March of Kings"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.03.15"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Wu, Chenxi"]
[Black "Nguyen, Kim"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B91"]
[WhiteElo "1681"]
[BlackElo "2231"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2015.03.14"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 e5 7. Nde2 Be7 8. Bg2
b5 9. O-O Bb7 10. f4 O-O 11. h3 Nbd7 12. g4 Nc5 13. Ng3 exf4 14. Bxf4 b4 15.
Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Bf6 17. Nf5 Qb6 18. Rb1 Rfe8 19. Kh1 Ne4 20. Kh2 {The
position is approximately equal.} g6 $2 {This should have cost Black the full
point.} ({The computer recommends} 20... Bc8 {intending to exchange White's
active knight. The d6-pawn is defended tactically.} {The game may continue} 21.
Ng3 Nxg3 22. Bxg3 Bd7 {with equal play.}) 21. Be3 $1 Qa5 ({Black can try} 21...
Be5+ {but after} 22. Kg1 Nc5 23. Nh6+ {White picks up the f7-pawn with a large
positional advantage.}) 22. Nh6+ Kg7 23. Bxe4 Rxe4 {The critical moment of the
game.} 24. Qf3 $2 {Unfortunately, this wrong move order turns the tables
completely.} ({After the correct} 24. Rxf6 $1 {Black is in serious trouble no
matter what he does.} {For example,} Rxe3 ({Or} 24... Kxf6 25. Qf3+ Ke5 26.
Nxf7+ Kxd5 27. Rd1+ {etc.}) 25. Rxf7+ Kxh6 26. g5+ Kxg5 27. Qg4+ Kh6 28. Qh4#)
24... Be5+ {Now it is Black who wins.} 25. Kg1 Bxd5 26. Nxf7 Rf4 $1 {The only
but sufficient move.} 27. Nxe5 Rxf3 28. Nxf3 Bxf3 29. Rxf3 {and Black
converted his advantage into a full point.} Rf8 30. Bh6+ Kxh6 31. Rxf8 Qxa2 32.
Rff1 Kg5 33. Kg2 Kh4 34. Kh2 d5 35. Rfc1 Qc4 36. Rg1 Qxc2+ 0-1

[Event "2015 March of Kings"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2015.03.15"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Fellah, Mohamad"]
[Black "Zhao, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "1657"]
[BlackElo "1639"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2015.03.14"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.08"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 Nf6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Ng4 14. h3 Qh4
15. Qf3 {We have transposed to the famous game Capablanca-Marshall, 1918, that
gave the line its name!} Nxf2 16. Re2 Nxh3+ ({Marshall opted for} 16... Bg4 17.
hxg4 Bh2+ 18. Kf1 Bg3 {but, as we know, Capablanca managed to repel the
opponent's attack and win that historic game.}) {The text move doesn't promise
Black much as White won almost all the games in the database.} 17. gxh3 Bxh3
18. Re4 Qg3+ 19. Qxg3 Bxg3 20. Re3 Bf4 21. Rxh3 Bxc1 22. Rh2 Rae8 23. Na3 $2 {
A novelty that gives away a major portion of White's advantage.} ({Back in
1949, White played} 23. Kf1 {and won.}) 23... Re1+ 24. Kf2 Rfe8 25. Rb1 $2 ({
Best is} 25. Nc2 {when White can still play for a win after} R8e2+ 26. Kg3 Rxh2
27. Kxh2) 25... R1e2+ {Unfortunately, Black decides to take an immediate draw.}
({White can be punished by} 25... R8e2+ 26. Kg3 Rg1+ 27. Kh3 Re3+ 28. Kh4 Re4+
29. Kh3 Reg4 {when he is in serious trouble.}) 26. Kg1 Re1+ 27. Kf2 R1e2+ 28.
Kg1 Re1+ 29. Kf2 R1e2+ 1/2-1/2

