Philadelphia Inventors - Round 5 Recap

Several USCL pundits (including USCL Commissioner IM Greg Shahade and IM Alex Katz) touched on an interesting puzzle regarding the Inventors surprising success in the first five games of USCL 2014 season.  What is the secret sauce for the team's performance?

In an unprecedented attempt to squelch speculations, the team decided to lift the curtain and reveal highlights from the rigorous training sessions prior to the first five matches:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj0jzepk0WA

The home of the Inventors is the Franklin-Mercantile (FM) Chess Club, located next to the fashionable Rittenhouse Square in downtown Philly.  The FM Chess Club was founded in 1885 and is the second oldest Chess Club in America, second only to San Francisco’s Mechanics Institute. Fans of the team (and the city of Philadelphia) will have noticed in the video clip many of Philly’s most memorable places including the Museum of Arts, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Constitution Hall, the Liberty Bell and the Schuylkill River Park along Kelly Drive.

In game 5, The Philadelphia Inventors faced their toughest opponents to date, the Rio Grande Ospreys, one of the USCL elite teams.  The Ospreys featured two strong GM’s and an up-and-coming WGM on the top three boards.   The various pre-match predictions suggest a clear win for Rio Grande.   However, from an early stage of the match, it was clear the Inventors had a completely different idea about the final score.

The Inventors lineup included IM Tom Bartell, FM Rodion Rubenchik, IM Richard Costigan, and NM Todd Bryant.  All four games displayed fighting chess and after the smoke had cleared, Philly coasted to a 3 – 1 win and a kept their surprising first place standing in the GM-heavy East division.

Philadelphia Inventors			Rio Grande Ospreys
IM Tom Bartell: 2448	1.0	0.0	GM Andrey Stukopin: 2631
FM Rodion Rubenchik: 2329	1.0	0.0	GM Holden Hernandez: 2582
IM Richard Costigan: 2288	1.0	0.0	WGM Katerina Nemcova: 2362
NM Todd Bryant: 2201	0.0	1.0	Jeffrey Serna: 2074
Average Rating: 2317			Average Rating: 2412
Philadelphia Total	3.0	1.0	Rio Grande Total

Following are recaps of the games:

Bartell,Tom (2448) - Stukopin,Andrey (2631) [A43]

USCL Week 5 Internet Chess Club, 23.09.2014

 1.d4 c5 2.d5 d6 3.e4 g6 4.c4 e6 5.Nc3 exd5 6.cxd5 Bg7 7.h3 a6 8.a4 Nd7 9.Nf3 Ne5 10.Nxe5 Bxe5 11.Bd3 Qh4 12.Be3 f5 13.exf5 Bxf5 14.Bxf5 gxf5 15.0–0 f4 16.Bxc5 Bxc3 17.Bxd6 Bf6 18.Re1+ Kf7 19.Rc1 Nh6 20.Rc7+ Kg6 21.Qd3+ Nf5 22.Rc4 Rhe8 23.Rxe8 Rxe8 24.Rxf4 Qh5 25.g4 Qg5 26.Rxf5 Qc1+ 27.Kg2 Kg7 28.Rxf6 Kxf6 29.Qf5+ Kg7 30.Qd7+ 1–0

Following two fantastic performances with Black against GM Emil Anka and prodigy IM Samuel Savien, IM Tom Bartell has done it again.  Tom faced the strong GM Andrey Stukopin leading the USCL MVP race.  Stukopin used an unusual move order to reach a Benoni setup.  The plan with f5 seems a little suspicious as Black’s pawn structure was not optimal and  his king was still in the center.   On the other hand he enjoyed some activity and controlled several key squares. 

 

15… f4? is clear mistake (N-f6 is better with an unclear position).  White’s 16. Bxc5 is an intuitive and strong piece sacrifice as White gets two pawns for the piece and Black’s king is in the center while his other pieces are undeveloped and his position lack any harmony.   After 22.Rc4  White won a third pawn as Rxf4 can't be stopped and finished the game with the aesthetic 28.Rxf6 combination.

Excellent performance by Tom and a game worthy of its GOTW nomination.

Hernandez,Holden (2582) - Rubenchik,Rodion (2329) [D31]

USCL Week 5 Internet Chess Club, 23.09.2014

 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.g3 b5 6.Bg2 Bb7 7.0–0 Nd7 8.e4 Ngf6 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bxf6 Nxf6 11.Ne5 Be7 12.Qd2 0–0 13.a4 b4 14.Ne2 c5 15.d5 exd5 16.exd5 Bxd5 17.Bxd5 Qxd5 18.Qxd5 Nxd5 19.Rad1 Nb6 20.a5 Bf6 21.f4 Bxe5 22.fxe5 Na4 23.Rd2 Rfd8 24.Rc2 c3 25.b3 Nb2 26.Nxc3 bxc3 27.Rxc3 Nd3 28.Rd1 Nxe5 29.Rxd8+ Rxd8 30.Rxc5 f6 31.b4 a6  0–1

Rodion used his Semi-Slav / Noteboom variation against GM Hernandez.   White chose to avoid the most popular lines with the Fianchetto setup.  9. B-g5 seems inferior to 9.e5 and White compensation for the sacrificed pawn seems to evaporate quickly as Rodion responded accurately. 

 

After another inaccurate move by White, Black was able to challenge White center with a timely 14… c5 and cruised to victory a few moves later relaying on the power of its Noteboom twin passers in a game which seems too easy for Black.

Costigan,Richard (2288) - Nemcova,Katerina (2362) [A45]

USCL Week 5 Internet Chess Club, 23.09.2014

 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.e3 c5 4.Nd2 Nc6 5.c3 Qb6 6.Qb3 Qxb3 7.axb3 Nd7 8.Bb5 e5 9.Ngf3 e4 10.Ng1 a6 11.f3 exf3 12.Ngxf3 Bd6 13.e4 cxd4 14.exd5 Nce5 15.Ne4 Nxf3+ 16.gxf3 Be5 17.cxd4 Bc7 18.Ke2 f6 19.Bh4 Kd8 20.Bg3 Re8 21.d6 Bb8 22.Kd3 Ra7 23.Bc4 Nb6 24.Rhe1 Bf5 25.Kd2 Nd7 26.Nc5 Rxe1 27.Rxe1 Nf8 28.Bd5 Bc8 29.d7 Nxd7 30.Ne6+ Ke7 31.Nxg7+ Kf8 32.Re8+ Kxg7 33.Bxb8 Nxb8 34.Rxc8 1–0

This game featured the return of the Inventors veteran battle horse IM Richard Costigan playing the strong WGM Nemcova.   Richard started with the Trompowsky, a proven formula against a younger active opponent.   Black helped her opponent’s plan by opening the a file with 6. Qxb3 and a quick expansion in the center.   However, the position seems about even until White gained ground in the center following 11. exf3 and 13.e4.   It was clear that Black’s position lacks harmony and her king was stuck in the center.   After 17 cxd4 White won a pawn and cruised to a victory using energetic and tactical play against the Black king.

 

A powerful game by IM Costigan and well deserved nomination for GOTW.

Serna,Jeffrey (2074) - Bryant,Todd (2201) [B72]

USCL Week 5 Internet Chess Club, 23.09.2014

 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.Bc4 0–0 8.Bb3 Ng4 9.Qd2 Nxe3 10.Qxe3 Nc6 11.Nde2 Bd7 12.0–0 a6 13.h3 b5 14.a3 Na5 15.Rfd1 Nxb3 16.cxb3 Bc6 17.Rac1 e6 18.Qd3 Qh4 19.Qxd6 Bxe4 20.g3 Qh5 21.g4 Qxh3 22.Nxe4 Qxg4+ 23.N4g3 h5 24.Qf4 Qxf4 25.Nxf4 Bh6 26.Nxg6 fxg6 27.Rc6 Rae8 28.Rxa6 h4 29.Ne4 Rf4 30.Nc5 Rg4+ 31.Kh2 Rf8 32.Kh3 Rg5 33.Nxe6 Rf3+ 34.Kxh4 Rh5+ 35.Kg4 Rfh3 36.Ra8+ Kf7 37.Nd8+ Ke7 38.Nc6+ Ke6 39.Re8+ Kf7 40.Re7+ Kg8 41.Rd8+ Bf8 42.Ree8 R5h4+ 43.Kg5 Rh5+ 44.Kf6 Rf3+ 45.Ke6 Rxf2 46.Ne5 Rhf5 47.Rb8 Rf6+ 48.Kd5 R2f4 49.Re6 Rxe6 50.Kxe6 g5 51.Ng6 Rf2 52.Rxf8+ Rxf8 53.Nxf8 Kxf8 54.Kf5

1–0

Last week NM Todd Bryant won brilliantly against Boston.   This game was frustrating for him.   Black had a fantastic position following the unorthodox 9. Q-d2.  Black had a clear strategic advantage before 17… e6?!   And 18… Q-h4? (B-e5 or d5 were still better).   White had better continuations later on and allowed Black back to get back in the game.   

Black is a bit better here, but the position is messy.  25… Bxb2 creates a position where Black as four pawns for a piece and good long-term prospects, while 25… B-h6 created an unclear position after 26. Nxg6.

Tough loss for Todd, but an excellent performance so far.

Philadelphia Inventors - Round 4 Recap

Philadelphia Inventors - Round 4 Recap

The Philadelphia Inventors faced an ever increasing challenge.   The various pre-match predictions heavily favored Boston Blitz, a higher rated team led by a one of the nation’s most promising stars.   For a while, it seems as if the predictions will materialize,  however, tenacious fighting defense and luck produced a surprising final outcome.

The Inventors lineup included IM Tom Bartell, FM Dov Gorman, FM Peter Minear and the team secret weapon NM Todd Bryant.  All four games displayed enterprising and fighting chess and after a roller-coaster battle, Philly won 3 – 1 and a kept its surprising first place in the GM-heavy East division.

Boston Blitz			Philadelphia Inventors
IM Samuel Sevian: 2571	0.5	0.5	IM Tom Bartell: 2448
FM Denys Shmelov: 2473	0.5	0.5	FM Dov Gorman: 2400
NM Chris Williams: 2310	0.0	1.0	NM Peter Minear: 2365
NM Ilya Krasik: 2264	0.0	1.0	NM Todd Bryant: 2201
Average Rating: 2405			Average Rating: 2354
Boston Total	1.0	3.0	Philadelphia Total

Following are recaps of the games:

Sevian,Samuel (2571) - Bartell,Tom (2448) [B12]

USCL Week 4 Internet Chess Club, 17.09.2014

 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.Be3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Ne7 8.Nd2 Nbc6 9.N2f3 Be4 10.0–0 Bxf3 11.Nxf3 Nf5 12.Bf4 h6 13.g4 Nfe7 14.c4 h5 15.h3 hxg4 16.hxg4 Ng6 17.Bg3 dxc4 18.Bxc4 Be7 19.Qb3 Qb6 20.Rfd1 Nh4 21.Bxh4 Bxh4 22.Qxb6 axb6 23.Bb5 Be7 24.Rac1 Rxa2 25.Bxc6+ bxc6 26.Rxc6 0–0 27.Rxb6 Ra4 28.Nh2 Rc8 29.Kg2 Rc2 30.Rb8+ Kh7 31.Rd3 Rf4 32.Rf3 Rxf3 33.Nxf3 Bc5 34.Ng5+ Kg6 35.Ne4 Bd4 36.Rb5 Bxb2

½–½

IM Bartell used his pet Caro Kann last week to beat GM Emil Anka.  This week his opponent was Samuel Savien, a young rising star.   The game started as the Advanced variation and Black used the fashionable 9. B-e4 plan.   The evaluation hovered around an equality for most of the opening until around move 18 when White was able to provide more scope for his pieces and Black’s pieces were somewhat uncoordinated.   White seem to choose the wrong plan around move 24 of exchanging his a2 pawn for Black’s c6 which allowed Black to be more active.  

 

31. R-d3 was a mistake (R-d7 is better) and Black could even fight for a small advantage based on the strength of his bishop.   The game ended peacefully a couple of moves later.

 

Gorman,Dov (2400) - Shmelov,Denys (2473) [B12]

USCL Week 4 Internet Chess Club, 17.09.2014

 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.c4 e6 5.Nc3 Nd7 6.Nge2 Ne7 7.Ng3 Bg6 8.h4 h6 9.h5 Bh7 10.Be3 Nf5 11.Nxf5 Bxf5 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Qb3 Rb8 14.Rc1 Be7 15.Qd1 0–0 16.Bd3 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 Rc8 18.Rh3 f5 19.exf6 Nxf6 20.Ke2 Bd6 21.g4 Nh7 22.Qg6 Rf6 23.Qd3 Qf8 24.Rhh1 Bf4 25.Nb5 Re8 26.Rhf1 Ng5 27.Nc3 Qd6 28.Kd2 Ref8 29.Kc2 Bxe3 30.fxe3 Qg3 31.Rxf6 Rxf6 32.Qb5 Qxg4 33.Qxb7 Qf5+ 34.Kb3 Rf7 35.Qb8+ Kh7 36.a3 Nf3 37.Ka2 Qxh5 38.Nb5 Qh2 39.Qe8 Ng5 40.Qa8 Rf2 41.Rb1 Re2 42.Qxa7 Rxe3 43.Qb6 Ne4 44.Rc1 Nd2 45.Qc7 Qf2 46.Qc2+ Ne4 47.Qxf2 Nxf2 48.a4 Rf3 49.Rf1 g5 50.a5 g4 51.a6 g3 52.a7 Rf8 53.Rg1 Ne4 54.Nc7 h5 55.a8Q Rxa8+ 56.Nxa8 Kg6 57.Nc7 Kf5 58.Rf1+ Nf2 59.b4 h4 60.b5 h3 61.b6 g2 62.Rxf2+ Ke4 63.Re2+

½–½

  

This entertaining game, and a candidate for GOTW, started as the advanced variation of the Caro Kann.   After the initial opening moves, White started to drift and Black deployed his pieces effectively to gain the advantage.   White initiated a king march to the queen-side in search of safety.   Black started to drift due to time pressure and White was able to gain counter-play on the queen-side.

 

After 45.Qc7 Qf2 46.Qc2+ The position became unclear and White was looking better and better.   55. b4 seems to be winning for White as he will reach first in the pawn race.   However, after missing this opportunity, black was a full rook down, but with connected passed pawns which concluded the game in a draw.

Williams,Chris (2310) - Minear,Peter (2365) [C77]

USCL Week 4 Internet Chess Club, 17.09.2014

 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.h3 g6 7.0–0 Bg7 8.c3 0–0 9.Nbd2 h6 10.Re1 Be6 11.d4 exd4 12.cxd4 d5 13.e5 Nh7 14.Nf1 Ng5 15.Nxg5 hxg5 16.Be3 b5 17.Bc2 f5 18.exf6 Qxf6 19.Rc1 Bf5 20.Bxf5 gxf5 21.Bxg5 Qg6 22.Qf3 Nxd4 23.Qxd5+ Kh8 24.h4 c6 25.Qd7 Rae8 26.Ng3 Rxe1+ 27.Rxe1 f4 28.Ne4 Nc2 29.h5 Qxh5 30.Rd1 f3 31.Be7 Rg8 32.Ng3 Qh7 33.gxf3 Be5 34.Qe6 Bxb2 35.Kg2 Qg6 36.Rh1+ Kg7 37.Qd7 Qe8 38.Qe6 Qg6 39.Qd7 Qe8 40.Bf6+ Kxf6 41.Rh6+ Kg5 42.Qh3 Ne1+ 43.Kf1 Nxf3 44.Rh5+ Kf6 45.Qf5+ Ke7 46.Qxf3 Kd8 47.Rh7 Rg7 48.Rh6 Kc7 49.Qd3 Be5 50.Qe3 Kb7 51.Ne4 Re7 52.Nc5+ Ka8 53.Nxa6 Bb8 54.Qd2 Rd7 55.Qc2 Rd6 56.Rh3 Qd7 57.Qb3 Rd1+ 58.Kg2 Qg4+ 59.Rg3 Bxg3 60.Qxg3 Qxg3+ 61.Kxg3 Kb7 62.Nc5+ Kc7 63.f4 Ra1 64.f5 Kd6

0–1

This was certainly one of Peter’s luckiest wins ever.  Peter had faced Chris once before at USATE many years ago, and he was prepared for Chris’s uncompromising approach.   The opening seemed fairly normal, but Black’s plan of h6, Be6, and d5 was not effective and White gained an advantage.  Blacks  probably should have played 9. ...b5, followed by the typical plan on the queenside with moves such as Na5 and c5.  In Black attempts to create counterplay with 17. ...f5, his king became exposed and he was in great danger for most of the middlegame. However, a Houdini act was destined to follow.   

 

In time scramble White could not find better continuations (R-e6!) and Black kept fighting.   Black’s king started of what felt to the spectators as the Long March through China.   However, once the king reached d8 on its way to a8, it seemed safe and Black started to think about a win. 

 

Bryant,Todd (2201) - Krasik,Ilya (2264) [E32]

USCL Week 4 Internet Chess Club, 17.09.2014

 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0–0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 b6 7.Bg5 Bb7 8.Nf3 d6 9.e3 Nbd7 10.Bd3 e5 11.Bf5 exd4 12.Qxd4 Nc5 13.Qh4 h6 14.Bxh6 gxh6 15.Qxh6 Be4 16.g4 Ne6 17.Rg1 Re8 18.g5 Ng4 19.Qh7+ Kf8 20.Bxe4 Nc5 21.Rxg4 d5 22.g6 Qf6 23.gxf7 Rxe4 24.Rg8+ Ke7

1–0

Todd, in his first USCL year is defining himself as the Inventors’ secret weapon having scored his second win in a row.  Ilya surprised us with a Nimzo-Indian but seem a uncomfortable with the defense selecting an unusual setup.  12… N-c5 is a mistake (12… Q-e8 is a better alternative).

13.Qh4! h6 [13...h5!?] 14.Bxh6! [Intuitive and strong,] 14...gxh6 15.Qxh6 [A bizarre position. White is down a piece, but Black's pieces can barely move due to mate threats.]

15...Be4 [15...Bc8 16.g4! Nce4; 15...Nce4 16.Ng5 Nxg5 17.Qxg5+ Kh8 18.Qh6+ Kg8 19.g4!! The main justification of this whole sacrifice. Black can't do anything about g5xf6 19...Bxh1 20.g5; 15...Ne6 16.Ng5 is the same line; 15...Re8 16.Ng5 was my idea. Bh7+ is going to lead to a brutal discovery. 16...Qe7 (16...Be4 17.g4!! again) 17.Bh7+ Kh8 18.Be4+ Kg8 19.Bxb7 Nxb7 20.Rd1!! an amazing idea that the computer finds. Black is helpless against the rook lift; 15...Qe7 16.g4 with similar play]

16.g4!! [everything is hanging and we are down a piece, but our attack is unstoppable.]

16...Ne6 [16...Nd3+ 17.Kf1 Ne5 (17...Bxf3 18.g5; 17...Bxf5 18.gxf5 Nxf2 19.Rg1+ N2g4 20.h3) 18.Rg1!!; 16...Bxf3 17.g5 Nd3+ 18.Kf1 i is hopeless; 16...Bxf5 17.gxf5 Nd3+ 18.Ke2 Nxf2 19.Rhg1+! (19.Kxf2?? Ng4+) 19...N2g4 20.Rxg4+ Nxg4 21.Rg1 was one of the key lines I saw in the game.; 16...Re8 the toughest defense. 17.Ng5! threatening Bh7 disasters 17...Nd3+ 18.Kf1 Nxf2 19.Rg1!!]

17.Rg1! [another slow move, setting up a fatal discovered check.]

17...Re8 [17...Bxf3 18.g5 and mate is going to happen on g7 or h7]

18.g5 Ng4 19.Qh7+ Kf8 20.Bxe4 Nc5 21.Rxg4 d5 22.g6 Qf6 23.gxf7 Rxe4 24.Rg8+ Ke7 [and Black resigned in view of 25.f8Q+ Ke6 26.Qh3+ leading to mate] 1–0

Strong and determined display by Todd, and a game that should have been a candidate for GOTW.

Philadelphia Inventors - Round 3 Recap

The Philadelphia Inventors faced a surprising team, the Seattle Sluggers.   On USCL round 2, the Sluggers has just demolished the strong San Francisco Mechanics 3.5 – 0.5 and were ready to continue their momentum.  However, this optimistic scenario was a not in the cards for the Sluggers.  

The Inventors lineup included IM Tom Bartell, FM Dov Gorman, FM Rodion Rubenchik and the talented youngster NM Josh Camen.  All four games displayed uncompromising chess and after a tough battle, Philly won 2.5 – 1.5 and a temporary first place in the tough East division.

                                                       

Seattle Sluggers			Philadelphia Inventors
GM Emil Anka: 2497	0.0	1.0	IM Tom Bartell: 2448
FM Costin Cozianu: 2466	0.0	1.0	FM Dov Gorman: 2400
FM Tian Sang: 2325	0.5	0.5	FM Rodion Rubenchik: 2329
NM Samuel He: 2207	1.0	0.0	NM Angel Hernandez-Camen: 2231
Average Rating: 2374			Average Rating: 2352
Seattle Total	1.5	2.5	Philadelphia Total

Following are recaps of the games:

Anka,Emil (2497) - Bartell,Tom (2448) [B19]

USCL Week 3 Internet Chess Club, 09.09.2014

 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bf4 Bb4+ 12.c3 Be7 13.0–0–0 Ngf6 14.Qe2 Nd5 15.Bd2 b5 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.dxe5 Qb6 18.f4 0–0–0 19.Ne4 Rd7 20.Kb1 Rhd8 21.Rc1 Kb8 22.c4 bxc4 23.Qxc4 Rb7 24.Rc2 Nb4 25.Bxb4 Rd4 26.Bd6+ Bxd6 27.Qe2 Ba3 28.Nc3 Rb4 29.Nd1 Rxf4 30.Rh3 Be7 31.Rhc3 c5 32.Qd2 Rf1 33.a3 a5 34.Ka2 a4 35.Qe2 Rh1 36.Rc1 Qc6 37.Ka1 Rg1 38.Qf2 Qxg2 39.Qxf7 Rxd1  0–1

The game started as a Classical variation of the Caro Kann.   GM Anka used an uncommon plan starting with 14. Q-e2.  The position seems roughly equal when White played 22 c4 which looks like a double-edge sword as it opened lines against the White king.  After 27… B-a3 Black was already better and won a pawn on move 29.  

  

The White king was still in danger (36. N-e3 Q-b3+ mates), and a few moves later the game was over.   Excellent effort by IM Bartell.

 

Gorman,Dov (2400) - Cozianu,Costin (2466) [A10]

USCL Week 3 Internet Chess Club, 09.09.2014

1.c4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 3.Nf3 e5 4.d4 exd4 5.Bg5 f6 6.Qxd4 Nc6 7.Qe3+ Nge7 8.Bh6 0–0 9.Bxg7 Kxg7 10.0–0–0 d6 11.h4 Qe8 12.Nb5 Qf7 13.Qc3 Bg4 14.Ng5 Qg8 15.f3 Ne5 16.Ne4 Bd7 17.Na3 Bc6 18.Nf2 Qe6 19.e4 Nd7 20.Nc2 Nc5 21.Nd4 Qf7 22.h5 g5 23.h6+ Kh8 24.Ng4 Bd7 25.Ne3 a5 26.g3 g4 27.Bg2 gxf3 28.Bxf3 Ng6 29.Nd5 Bc6 30.Rdf1 Ne5 31.Bh5 Qg8 32.Qc2 Bxd5 33.exd5 Qxg3 34.Ne6 Rg8 35.Kb1 Ncd7 36.Be2 Rac8 37.Ng7 c6 38.Nf5 Qg2 39.Ne7 cxd5 40.Nxc8 Rd8 41.Rfg1 1–0

This complex game started as rare line in the English opening and White played energetically the opening following previous games until move 11.   White position should be preferred as the Black king is somewhat exposed and weakened.   However, Black found several dynamic defensive resources to get counter-play.   16. fxg4 fxg5 16,e4 was a clear plus for white.  In the next few moves White’s play was timid and Black improved his position.   After 19… N-d7 Black started a dubious plan.   31. B-h5? allowed Black new options.     

However, after the regrouping 36. B-e2 followed by the strong knight maneuver N-g7-f5-e7, Black was lost.  R-d8 is clearly a mouse slip, but the position is already inferior.

Sang,Tian (2325) - Rubenchik,Rodion (2329) [C12]

USCL Week 3 Internet Chess Club, 09.09.2014

 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4 8.Bd3 Nxd2 9.Qxd2 c5 10.Nf3 Qa5 11.0–0 0–0 12.Rab1 Nd7 13.dxc5 Qxc5 14.Rb4 f5 15.c4 Nb6 16.Rb5 Qc7 17.cxd5 Nxd5 18.c4 Ne7 19.Rfb1 Rd8 20.Qe3 b6 21.Be2 Ba6 22.R5b3 Rac8 23.Ra3 Bxc4 24.Bxc4 Qxc4 25.Rxa7 Nd5 26.Qa3 b5 27.h4 b4 28.Qa5 Qg4 29.Qa6 Nf4 30.Ne1 Ne2+ 31.Kf1 Nc3 32.Rc1 Qxh4 33.Qxe6+ Kh8 34.Nf3 Qe4 35.Re1 Qd3+ 36.Kg1 Ne2+ 37.Rxe2 Qxe2 38.Rxg7 Kxg7 39.Qf6+ Kh7 40.Qxf5+ Kg7 41.Qf6+ Kh7 42.Qf7+ Kh8 43.Qf6+ Kh7 44.Qf7+ Kh8 ½–½

Rodion as Black, played the McCutcheon variation of the French.   White chose a unambitious line of 8.B-d3 and Black could have an opening advantage. Following a liquidation of the central pawns, White had some pressure.  In the next few moves Black was able to centralize his heavy artillery and control key squares. White’s 27. h4 led to fatal weakness of the king’s position and Black had a winning position.  

30… R-c3 with the idea of R-h3 and N-e2+ would seal White’s fate.   However, Rodion started to lose the thread of the position and White escaped with a perpetual.  

Hernandez-Camen,Angel (2231) - He,Samuel (2207) [D12]

USCL Week 3 Internet Chess Club, 09.09.2014

 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 d5 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Bg6 7.Qb3 Qc7 8.Nxg6 hxg6 9.g3 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Nbd7 11.Bd2 Be7 12.Be2 0–0 13.0–0 e5 14.Rac1 Rad8 15.Rfd1 exd4 16.exd4 Qb6 17.Qc4 Rfe8 18.Be3 Qb4 19.d5 Ne5 20.Qxb4 Bxb4 21.dxc6 Nxc6 22.Bf3 Bxc3 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 24.Rxc3 Nd5 25.Bxd5 Rxd5 26.Kg2 f6 27.Rb3 Rd7 28.a3 Kf7 29.Rc3 a6 30.b4 g5 31.g4 Ne5 32.h3 b5 33.Rc8 Nc4 34.Rc6 Rd6 35.Rxd6 Nxd6 36.Kf3 Ke6 37.Ke2 Nc4 38.Bc1 Kd5 39.Kd3 Ne5+ 40.Ke3 Kc4 41.Ke4 Kb3 42.f3 Nc4 43.f4 gxf4 44.Bxf4 Kxa3 45.Kf5 Kxb4 46.Kg6 a5 47.Kxg7 a4 48.Bc1 Kb3 49.h4 Kc2 50.h5 Kxc1 51.h6 a3 52.h7 a2 53.h8Q a1Q 54.Qh1+ Kb2 55.Qd5 Qa6 56.Qd4+ Kc2 57.Qe4+ Kc3 58.Qe1+ Kd4 59.Qf2+ Kd5 60.Qf3+ Kc5 61.Qf5+ Kd4 62.Qf4+ Kd3 63.Qf1+ Ke4 64.Qb1+ Kf4 65.Qf5+ Kg3 66.Qd3+ Kxg4 67.Qe4+ Kg3 68.Qd3+ Kf2 69.Qd4+ Ke2 70.Qg4+ Kd3 71.Qf3+ Ne3 0–1

Josh Camen had the White pieces on Board 4 and faced Samuel He who adopted the Slav, an opening Josh is fairly familiar with. Black was the first to deviate from opening lines, allowing White to get a slight advantage. Josh played well in the middlegame, although maybe Qc4 wasn't the best, and White could have been a more accurate by taking the queen on b4 right away with complications. White achieved a clearly better endgame with the bishop pair vs. two knights.  However, White allowed an exchange of one bishop after 24. Rxc3, which reduced his advantage.   In the ensuing R+B vs. R+N endgame, Josh started to lose the thread and after an unfortunate exchange of the rooks, Black won the endgame.