Games

VivianAndy v. Mahony – GMI Round 2, February 2021

February 20, 2021 By Mike Leave a Comment

In this game, I made a simple mistake in the opening, found myself defending some intense pressure on the Queenside, defended and then turned the tables, only to miss a win in the endgame.

  [Event "Live Chess"]  [Site "Chess.com"]  [Date "2021.02.14"]  [Round "?"]  [White "VivianAndy"]  [Black "mikemahony"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [ECO "A34"]  [WhiteElo "1464"]  [BlackElo "1533"]  [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 4.0 (7s)"]  [PlyCount "106"]  [EventDate "2021.??.??"]   {[%evp 13,106,17,15,-32,0,0,0,11,6,0,19,24,43,9,42,43,44,35,37,27,31,-5,-8,-14,  5,0,0,0,0,0,0,-5,-11,-16,0,-19,-21,-15,-13,-53,-33,-75,-27,-108,-87,-82,-80,  -131,-129,-139,-132,-135,-126,-168,-136,-163,-111,-126,-106,-106,-106,-108,-77,  -104,-103,-109,-104,-118,-117,-120,-117,-117,-117,-114,0,-71,-67,-403,-422,  -695,-642,-674,-504,-534,-346,-583,0,0,0,-1,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3.  g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nf3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. O-O c5 8. Nh4 {[%eval -32,19]} (8.  d4 $11 {[%eval 15,15]}) 8... Nxc3 (8... e6 9. d3 (9. Nf3 Nc6 (9... Ne7 10. d3 (  10. Na4 Na6 11. h4 h6 12. d3 $15 {[%eval -33,13] [%wdl 279,369,351]}) 10...  Nbc6 11. Be3 b6 12. d4 $11 {[%eval 7,21] [%wdl 297,420,282]}) (9... Qb6 10. d3  (10. Na4 Qc7 11. d4 cxd4 12. Nxd4 $11 {[%eval -25,19] [%wdl 253,444,301]})  10... Nc6 11. Na4 Qb5 12. Nc3 $11 {[%eval 1,9] [%wdl 119,761,118]}) 10. d3 (10.  Qa4 Bd7 11. Qb3 Rc8 12. Rb1 $17 {[%eval -95,13] [%wdl 226,332,441]}) 10... b6  11. Bg5 Qd7 12. Qd2 $15 {[%eval -40,14] [%wdl 242,437,319]}) (9. b3 Nf4 (9...  Nc6 10. Bb2 (10. Nf3 b6 11. Bb2 Nc7 12. a3 $15 {[%eval -58,12] [%wdl 249,376,  373]}) 10... b6 11. Rb1 Re8 12. Nf3 $15 {[%eval -54,13] [%wdl 245,398,356]}) (  9... b6 10. Bb2 (10. Rb1 Bb7 11. Bb2 Re8 12. Nxd5 $15 {[%eval -60,18] [%wdl  205,483,310]}) 10... Nc6 11. Rb1 Re8 12. Nf3 $15 {[%eval -54,14] [%wdl 244,400,  355]}) 10. gxf4 (10. Be4 Bxc3 11. dxc3 Qxd1 12. Rxd1 $19 {[%eval -423,10]  [%wdl 33,31,935]}) 10... Qxh4 11. Ba3 Na6 12. e3 $15 {[%eval -63,19] [%wdl 247,  370,381]}) (9. a3 Nf4 (9... Nc6 10. d3 (10. Rb1 Qd6 11. Ne4 Qe7 12. d3 $15 {  [%eval -47,14] [%wdl 263,372,363]}) 10... b6 11. Bd2 Bb7 12. Nf3 $15 {[%eval  -36,14] [%wdl 252,422,324]}) (9... Re8 10. Nf3 (10. e4 Nf4 11. gxf4 Qxh4 12. d3  $15 {[%eval -48,19] [%wdl 249,404,346]}) 10... Nc6 11. d3 b6 12. Bd2 $15 {  [%eval -33,13] [%wdl 256,421,321]}) 10. Bf3 (10. gxf4 Qxh4 11. d3 Nc6 12. Bd2  $17 {[%eval -78,16] [%wdl 245,331,422]}) 10... Nd5 11. Ng2 Nc6 12. Ne3 $15 {  [%eval -39,16] [%wdl 259,400,340]}) (9. Rb1 Nc6 (9... Re8 10. a3 (10. d3 Bxc3  11. Bxd5 exd5 12. bxc3 $15 {[%eval -52,14] [%wdl 238,419,342]}) 10... Nc6 11.  Re1 b6 12. b4 $15 {[%eval -45,15] [%wdl 235,442,321]}) (9... b6 10. b4 (10.  Nxd5 exd5 11. b4 cxb4 12. Rxb4 $15 {[%eval -35,17] [%wdl 254,421,323]}) 10...  cxb4 11. Nxd5 exd5 12. Rxb4 $15 {[%eval -32,15] [%wdl 257,421,320]}) 10. a3 (  10. d3 Bxc3 11. Bxd5 exd5 12. bxc3 $15 {[%eval -53,15] [%wdl 235,423,340]})  10... Qd6 11. Ne4 Qe7 12. d3 $15 {[%eval -48,14] [%wdl 259,379,361]}) 9... b6 (  9... Nc6 10. Bd2 (10. Nf3 b6 11. Bg5 Qd7 12. Qd2 $15 {[%eval -40,15] [%wdl 240,  441,318]}) 10... b6 11. a3 Bb7 12. Nf3 $15 {[%eval -37,13] [%wdl 252,421,325]})  (9... Re8 10. Nf3 (10. Bd2 b6 11. Rc1 Nc6 12. a3 $15 {[%eval -36,12] [%wdl 256,  414,329]}) 10... Nc6 11. Bd2 b6 12. a3 $15 {[%eval -32,12] [%wdl 256,423,319]})  10. Nf3 (10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Nf3 Bf5 12. Bg5 $15 {[%eval -66,17] [%wdl 231,402,  365]}) 10... Nc6 11. Bg5 Qd7 12. Qd2 $15 {[%eval -39,14] [%wdl 243,438,318]})  9. dxc3 Qb6 10. Qc2 Nc6 11. Be3 a5 12. Qb3 Ra6 13. Rab1 Bf6 14. Qxb6 Rxb6 15.  Bxc5 Rb5 16. Ba3 Be6 17. b3 Bxc3 18. Rfc1 Nd4 19. Kf1 Bb4 20. Bxb4 Rxb4 21. Rc7  a4 {[%cal Ra4b3]} 22. e3 Nc6 23. Bxc6 bxc6 24. Rxc6 axb3 25. axb3 Bxb3 (25...  g5 $5 26. Ng2 $8 Rfb8 $11) 26. Rbc1 e6 27. f4 {[%eval -75,21]} (27. R6c3 $15 {  [%eval -33,20]}) 27... Bd5 {[%eval -27,22]} (27... Kg7 $17 {[%eval -75,21]})  28. R6c3 {[%eval -108,24]} (28. R6c2 $11 {[%eval -27,22]}) 28... Rb2 29. R3c2  Rfb8 30. Kf2 {[%eval -131,24] [#]} (30. Re2 $142 {[%eval -80,23]}) 30... Be4 $1  $17 {[%cal Re4c2]} 31. Rxb2 Rxb2+ {[%mdl 4096] Endgame KRB-KRN} 32. Kg1 h6 {  Strongly threatening ...g5.} 33. Rf1 {[%eval -168,26]} (33. Rc4 $17 {[%eval  -126,22] keeps fighting.} Bd5 34. Rd4) 33... Re2 $19 34. Nf3 Rxe3 {[%eval -111,  25]} (34... Kg7 $19 {[%eval -163,21]} 35. Rf2 (35. Nh4 Rxe3 36. Kf2 Ra3 37. Re1  Ra2+ $19 {[%eval -321,13] [%wdl 50,101,848]}) 35... Rxe3 36. Ne5 f6 37. Nd7 g5  $19 {[%eval -199,19] [%wdl 114,295,589]}) (34... Bd5 35. Rf2 (35. Nh4 Rxe3 (  35... g5 36. Nf3 f6 37. Rf2 Rxe3 $19 {[%eval -246,14] [%wdl 81,186,732]}) 36.  Rd1 Re2 37. h3 g5 $19 {[%eval -291,15] [%wdl 59,124,815]}) (35. Ne1 f6 (35...  Rxe3 36. Nc2 Rc3 37. Nd4 Kg7 $19 {[%eval -226,14] [%wdl 94,233,671]}) 36. Nf3  Kf7 37. Rf2 Rxe3 $19 {[%eval -230,19] [%wdl 92,218,689]}) 35... Rxe3 36. Ne5  Rc3 37. Rf1 Kg7 $17 {[%eval -123,20] [%wdl 132,542,324]}) (34... f6 35. Rf2  Rxe3 (35... Bxf3 36. Rxf3 Kf7 37. h4 Ke7 $11 {[%eval -7,10] [%wdl 37,923,39]})  36. Nd4 e5 37. fxe5 fxe5 $15 {[%eval -66,15] [%wdl 105,727,166]}) 35. Ne5 $17 (  35. Re1 Rxe1+ (35... Rxf3 36. Rxe4 Rd3 37. Re2 g5 $15 {[%eval -49,14] [%wdl 75,  818,106]}) 36. Nxe1 g5 37. Kf2 Kg7 $17 {[%eval -153,23] [%wdl 129,457,412]})  35... Re2 {( -> ...Rg2+)} (35... Kg7 36. Ra1 g5 37. Ra7 Bg6 $15 {[%eval -63,18]  [%wdl 92,763,143]}) (35... Rb3 36. Rc1 Rb7 37. h4 Kg7 $15 {[%eval -62,13]  [%wdl 100,744,154]}) 36. Rf2 Rxf2 (36... Re1+ {is more complex.} 37. Rf1 Rxf1+  38. Kxf1 f6 39. Ng4 Kg7) 37. Kxf2 {KB-KN} h5 (37... g5 $15 {[%eval -52,11]  [%wdl 83,797,119]}) 38. Nd7 {Threatens to win with Nf6+.} Kg7 39. h3 Bf5 40.  Kg2 f6 41. Nb6 e5 42. fxe5 fxe5 43. Nc4 e4 {[%eval 0,29]} ({Better is} 43...  Kf6 $17 {[%eval -114,25] aiming for ...Ke6.} 44. h4 Ke6) 44. Ne3 {[%eval -71,  27]} (44. Nd6 $1 $11 {[%eval 0,29]}) 44... Kf6 45. g4 $2 {[%eval -403,28][%mdl  8192]} ({White should play} 45. h4 $15 {[%eval -67,31]}) 45... hxg4 $19 46.  hxg4 Be6 47. Kg3 {intending Kf4.} Kg5 48. Kh3 Kf4 49. Ng2+ Kf3 $2 {[%eval -1,  25]} (49... Ke5 $19 {[%eval -583,32]} 50. Kh4 (50. Ne1 g5 51. Kg3 Kd4 52. Kf2  e3+ $19 {[%eval -335,15] [%wdl 49,53,896]}) (50. Kg3 g5 51. Ne3 Kd4 52. Kf2 Kd3  $19 {[%eval -294,15] [%wdl 61,71,866]}) 50... Bf7 51. Kg3 g5 52. Ne3 Be6 $19 {  [%eval -267,17] [%wdl 74,97,828]}) 50. Nh4+ $11 {The position is equal.} Kf2  51. Nxg6 e3 52. Nf4 e2 {[#]} 53. Nxe2 $1 {[%mdl 512]} Bxg4+ {Weighted Error  Value: White=0.31/Black=0.31} (53... Kxe2 54. Kh4) 1/2-1/2

Mahony v. IM Arjun

February 20, 2021 By Mike Leave a Comment

I am playing in the February 2021 Gramdmasters Institute tournament. My first round opponent was IM Arjun. I missed a chance to gain an edge with my 12th move. Here you go!

  [Event "GMI February 2021 Tourney"]  [Site "lichess.org"]  [Date "2021.02.04"]  [Round "1"]  [White "MIchael, Mahony"]  [Black "Arjun, Kalyan"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "B23"]  [WhiteElo "2153"]  [BlackElo "1500"]  [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 4.0 (6s)"]  [PlyCount "57"]  [EventDate "2021.??.??"]   {[%evp 11,52,-6,-8,-43,-43,-43,-39,-39,-22,-18,-19,-19,0,0,5,-166,-155,-151,  -130,-150,-153,-216,-226,-208,-154,-207,-180,-243,-234,-252,-252,-252,-252,  -480,-382,-382,-384,-388,-378,-371,-362,-523,-517]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4  g6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Bc4 Bg7 6. Nf3 d6 7. Nxd4 {B23: Closed Sicilian: Lines  without g3.} cxd4 8. Ne2 Nf6 9. d3 {Black is slightly better.} Qb6 10. O-O O-O  11. Qe1 {[#]} (11. Bb3 Be6 12. Bxe6 (12. Kh1 Bxb3 13. axb3 $11 {[%eval -17,22]}  ) 12... fxe6 13. Kh1 $11 {[%eval -11,24]}) (11. Kh1 e6 (11... Ng4 12. Rb1 Bd7  13. h3 $11 {[%eval -9,23]}) (11... d5 12. exd5 Qc5 13. c3 $11 {[%eval -9,24]}))  (11. f5 e6 12. fxg6 hxg6 13. Bb3 $11 {[%eval -18,23]}) (11. a4 Qc5 (11... d5  12. exd5 Qc5 13. Ng3 $11 {[%eval 0,24]}) 12. Ng3 h5 (12... Bg4 13. Qe1 $11) 13.  Qe1 $11 {[%eval -10,25]}) (11. h3 d5 12. exd5 Qc5 13. Ng3 $15 {[%eval -47,24]})  11... Rd8 $146 ({Predecessor:} 11... Bd7 12. Kh1 (12. a4 a5 13. f5 $11) 12...  Rac8 13. Bb3 Qc5 14. Qh4 a5 15. c4 dxc3 16. bxc3 Qh5 17. Qf2 Ng4 {0-1 (30)  Biasi,I-Rosell,S (1995) Helsingor 2015}) (11... e6 12. Bb3 $11 {[%eval -26,18]}  Bd7 13. Qg3 $11 {[%eval -15,21]}) (11... a5 12. a4 Qc5 13. Bb3 $11 {[%eval -6,  22]}) 12. f5 d5 ({I had feared the move} 12... Nxe4 13. dxe4 d3+ 14. Kh1 (14.  Rf2 dxe2 15. c3 e6 16. fxg6 $11 {[%eval 9,25]}) 14... dxe2 15. Qxe2 $11 {  [%eval 28,20]} e6 $14 {[%eval 33,21]} 16. Bg5 $14 {[%eval 32,24]} (16. fxg6 $14  {[%eval 44,24]})) 13. e5 $2 {[%eval -166,18] [#]} ({I don't know why, but I  thought I had to push the e-pawn here. I missed the follow up after} 13. exd5  $11 {[%eval 5,18] and White has nothing to worry.} Nxd5 14. fxg6 hxg6 15. Nf4)  13... dxc4 14. exf6 Bxf6 {...cxd3 is the strong threat.} ({Stronger than} 14...  Qxf6 15. fxg6 Qxg6 16. Nf4 $11) 15. fxg6 hxg6 16. Kh1 {[%eval -216,21]} (16.  Ng3 $17 {[%eval -153,18]}) 16... cxd3 $19 17. cxd3 Kg7 18. Qg3 {[%eval -207,19]  } (18. Ng3 $17 {[%eval -154,18]}) 18... Rh8 19. Ng1 {[%eval -243,20]} (19. Bg5  $142 {[%eval -180,19]}) 19... Rh5 20. Nf3 Bf5 21. Rd1 Rah8 22. Qf2 $2 {[%eval  -480,20]} (22. Kg1 {[%eval -252,20] was called for.}) 22... Bg4 23. Bf4 Rf5 24.  Bg3 Bxf3 25. gxf3 Bg5 26. f4 {[%eval -523,20] [#]} (26. Qg2 $142 {[%eval -362,  17]}) 26... e5 $1 {[%mdl 512] Weighted Error Value: White=0.47/Black=0.12} 27.  Qf3 (27. fxg5 Rxf2 28. Bxf2 Rh5 29. h4 $19 {[%eval -642,26]}) 27... Bxf4 28.  Bxf4 $19 {[%eval -553,20]} Rxf4 $19 {[%eval -610,23]} 29. Qg2 $19 {[%eval -640,  25]} 0-1

Mahony v. Kobersky – FIDE Arena

July 31, 2020 By Mike Leave a Comment

I play often on the FIDE Arena. The players there are stronger. This is one example.

[Event "Challenge 64854767"]  [Site "online arena"]  [Date "2019.09.10"]  [Round "1"]  [White "Mahony, Michael"]  [Black "Kobersky, Petr"]  [Result "1-0"]  [Termination "resign"]  [Mode "ICS"]  [ECO "B50"]  [WhiteElo "1804"]  [BlackElo "1513"]  [TimeControl "1800"]  [Time "09:05:34"]   1. e4 {[%clk 00:29:59]} c5 {[%clk 00:29:58]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 00:29:44]} d6 {[%clk 00:29:55]}  3. Bc4 {[%clk 00:29:10]} e6 {[%clk 00:29:37]} 4. O-O {[%clk 00:28:04]} d5 {[%clk 00:29:34]}  5. exd5 {[%clk 00:26:00]} exd5 {[%clk 00:29:21]} 6. Bb5+ {[%clk 00:25:42]} Nc6 {[%clk 00:29:12]}  7. Re1+ {[%clk 00:24:01]} Be7 {[%clk 00:26:43]} 8. Qe2 {[%clk 00:23:26]} Be6 {[%clk 00:25:56]}  9. d4 {[%clk 00:21:59]} a6 {[%clk 00:24:51]} 10. Bxc6+ {[%clk 00:21:28]} bxc6 {[%clk 00:23:44]}  11. dxc5 {[%clk 00:20:48]} Bxc5 {[%clk 00:23:35]} 12. Ng5 {[%clk 00:20:13]} Ne7 {[%clk 00:22:31]}  13. Nxe6 {[%clk 00:19:15]} fxe6 {[%clk 00:21:25]} 14. Qxe6 {[%clk 00:18:46]} Rf8 {[%clk 00:21:17]}  15. Qxc6+ {[%clk 00:18:23]} 1-0

One of my current focuses is building a bulletproof opening repertoire that fits my playing style. As a player who likes to play 1.e4, there are so many openings I need to know something about. This game was interesting.

   [Event "Rated Rapid game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/OANe9BVI"] [Date "2020.07.25"] [White "mikemahony"] [Black "chiemmy"] [Result "1-0"] [UTCDate "2020.07.25"] [UTCTime "16:15:47"] [WhiteElo "1925"] [BlackElo "1822"] [WhiteRatingDiff "+47"] [BlackRatingDiff "-4"] [Variant "Standard"] [TimeControl "600+0"] [ECO "B01"] [Opening "Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation"] [Termination "Normal"] [Annotator "lichess.org"]   e4 { [%clk 0:10:00] } d5 { [%clk 0:10:00] } 2. exd5 { [%clk 0:09:57] } Qxd5 { [%clk 0:09:59] } { B01 Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation } 3. Nc3 { [%clk 0:09:55] } Qd8 { [%clk 0:09:57] } 4. d4 { [%clk 0:09:54] } a6 { [%clk 0:09:55] } 5. Nf3 { [%clk 0:09:49] } Bg4 { [%clk 0:09:53] } 6. h3 { [%clk 0:09:48] } Bf5 { [%clk 0:09:51] } 7. Bd3 { [%clk 0:09:45] } Bxd3 { [%clk 0:09:45] } 8. Qxd3 { [%clk 0:09:43] } e6 { [%clk 0:09:44] } 9. O-O { [%clk 0:09:40] } Nf6 { [%clk 0:09:42] } 10. Bf4 { [%clk 0:09:32] } Bd6 { [%clk 0:09:40] } 11. Bxd6 { [%clk 0:09:24] } Qxd6 { [%clk 0:09:38] } 12. Rfe1 { [%clk 0:09:10] } O-O { [%clk 0:09:35] } 13. Ne4 { [%clk 0:09:09] } Nxe4 { [%clk 0:09:33] } 14. Qxe4 { [%clk 0:09:08] } Nc6 { [%clk 0:09:30] } 15. Ng5 { [%clk 0:09:05] } g6 { [%clk 0:09:14] } 16. Qh4 { [%clk 0:08:58] } h5 { [%clk 0:09:09] } 17. g4 { [%clk 0:08:56] } Qxd4 { [%clk 0:08:51] } 18. Rad1 { [%clk 0:08:53] } Qf4 { [%clk 0:08:43] } 19. Re4 { [%clk 0:08:45] } Qf6 { [%clk 0:08:21] } 20. gxh5 { [%clk 0:08:42] } gxh5 { [%clk 0:08:10] } 21. Qxh5 { [%clk 0:08:38] } Qg6 { [%clk 0:08:02] } 22. Qh4 { [%clk 0:08:29] } f6 { [%clk 0:07:59] } 23. Rg4 { [%clk 0:08:26] } fxg5 { [%clk 0:07:57] } 24. Rxg5 { [%clk 0:08:24] } Qxg5+ { [%clk 0:07:11] } 25. Qxg5+ { [%clk 0:08:21] } Kf7 { [%clk 0:07:09] } 26. Rd7+ { [%clk 0:08:17] } Ke8 { [%clk 0:07:03] } 27. Rxc7 { [%clk 0:08:04] } Rd8 { [%clk 0:06:28] } 28. Qg6+ { [%clk 0:07:57] } Rf7 { [%clk 0:05:34] } 29. Qxf7# { [%clk 0:07:49] } { White wins by checkmate. } 1-0

IECC Grunfeld Thematic: Michael Mahony and Michael Bertel

May 22, 2017 By Mike Leave a Comment

These are two games played in the IECC Grunfeld Thematic. I have been exploring playing this opening as Black. I’ve used it in some 15 minute games and done quite well. In this 2 game match I went 1.5-0.5, with the win coming with the White pieces.

  [Event "TH-M-3049-2"]  [Site "IECC"]  [Date "2016.4.21"]  [Round ""]  [White "Mahony, Michael J."]  [Black "Bertel, Michael"]  [Result "1-0"]  [Eco "D70"]  [Annotator ""]  [Source ""]   1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3  O-O 8.f4 f5 9.Qb3+ e6 10.e5 a5 11.Nf3 a4 12.Qc2 Nc6 13.a3 Ne7  14.h4 Bd7 15.h5 gxh5 16.Rxh5 Qe8 17.Rh3 Qg6 18.Kf2 Bc6 19.Be2  Ned5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Ng5 Nxe3 22.Kxe3 Bxg2 23.Rg3 Bd5 24.Rag1  c5 25.Nf3 cxd4+ 26.Nxd4 Qh6 27.Rxg7+ Qxg7 28.Rxg7+ Kxg7 29.Bf3  Ba2 30.Bxb7 Rab8 31.b4 Bb3 32.Qc7+ Kg8 33.b5 Kh8 34.Bc6 Rg8 35.b6  Rbc8 36.Qd6 Rcd8 37.Qe7 Rb8 38.b7 Rg3+ 39.Kf2 Rg7 40.Qd6 Rgg8  41.Nxe6 {   (12/6/16)} Bxe6 42.Qxe6 Rg6 43.Qc8+ Rg8 44.Qc7 Rbd8  45.e6 h5 46.Qe5+ Rg7 47.e7 1-0   [Event "TH-M-3049-1"]  [Site "IECC"]  [Date "2016.4.21"]  [Round ""]  [White "Bertel, Michael"]  [Black "Mahony, Michael J."]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [Eco "D70"]  [Annotator ""]  [Source ""]   1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.Nc3  O-O 8.f4 c5 9.dxc5 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Qxd1+ 11.Rxd1 Na4 12.Rd4 Nxc3  13.Ne2 Nxa2 14.Ra4 Be6 15.Nd4 Nc3 16.Nxe6 Nxa4 17.Nxf8 Kxf8 18.Bb5  Nc3 19.Bd3 Na2 20.Kd2 Nc6 21.Bc4 Rd8+ 22.Kc2 Nab4+ 23.Kc3 a5  24.Rb1 Kg7 25.g4 e6 26.g5 Rd7 27.Rf1 Kf8 28.h4 Kg7 29.Ra1 Kf8  30.Rf1 Kg7 31.Ra1 Rd8 32.Bb5 Kf8 33.Bf2 Ke7 34.Bc4 Kf8 35.Bb5  Kg8 36.Rb1 e5 37.Bxc6 bxc6 38.fxe5 Rd3+ 39.Kc4 Rf3 40.Rb2 Kf8 1/2-1/2

Michael Mahony v. Lucian Gavriletenau IECC CL3-2017.02.08

May 22, 2017 By Mike Leave a Comment

This game was a quiet draw. I don’t usually play the main line Sicilian opening at all. I tend to use an offbeat anti-Sicilian when playing against the Sicilian. This type of game exemplifies why. Black has too much theory backing him up and can simply play it safe.

   [Event "CL3-2017.02.08"]  [Site "IECC"]  [Date "2017.2.7"]  [Round ""]  [White "Mahony, Michael J."]  [Black "Gavrileteanu, Lucian"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [Eco "B86"]  [Annotator ""]  [Source ""]   1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.a3  Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.Qf3 Re8 10.Rd1 Nbd7 11.Qg3 Bf8 12.Ba2 b5 13.f3  Bb7 14.Be3 Ne5 15.Rd2 Qc7 16.Rad1 Rac8 17.Nde2 d5 18.Bd4 Bc5  19.exd5 Bxd5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Bxd5 exd5 22.Nc3 Qc6 23.h3 Bxd4+  24.Rxd4 Nc4 25.Nxd5 Nxb2 26.Re1 Kf8 27.Rxe8+ Rxe8 28.Qc7 Qxc7  29.Nxc7 Rc8 30.Nxa6 Rxc2 31.Rd8+ Ke7 32.Rb8 1/2-1/2

Matt Lewis v. Michael Mahony IECC Pyramid Challenge

May 22, 2017 By Mike Leave a Comment

This hard fought win brought me into the #2 spot on the IECC Pyramid. A draw was offered by white around move 28. I declined that offer and decided to play for a win. I was able to squeeze my opponent by using my two bishops and leveraging a passed h-pawn.

   [Event "P-5015"]  [Site "IECC"]  [Date "2016.12.14"]  [Round ""]  [White "Lewis, Matt"]  [Black "Mahony, Michael J."]  [Result "0-1"]  [Eco "C85"]  [Annotator ""]  [Source ""]   1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.d3  Nd7 8.Nbd2 f6 9.Nh4 g6 10.Nc4 Nc5 11.Be3 O-O 12.Qe2 Ne6 13.c3  Nf4 14.Bxf4 exf4 15.Nf3 Be6 16.d4 a5 17.a4 Qe8 18.b3 Qf7 19.h3  Rfe8 20.Rfe1 b6 21.Nfd2 g5 22.Qf3 Qg6 23.h4 h6 24.g3 Kh7 25.hxg5  fxg3 26.fxg3 Qxg5 27.Qf4 Qxf4 28.gxf4 Rg8+ 29.Kf2 Rg4 30.Kf3  Rag8 31.Ne3 Rg3+ 32.Ke2 Bd6 33.Rf1 Rh3 34.Rf3 Rh2+ 35.Kd3 Bf7  36.Re1 Be7 37.Nf5 Bf8 38.Ng3 Rg2 39.Ngf1 c5 40.d5 Rg1 41.c4 Bd6  42.e5 fxe5 43.fxe5 Bg6+ 44.Kc3 Be7 45.Rg3 Rh1 46.Nf3 h5 47.Rg1  Rxg1 48.Nxg1 h4 49.Ne3 Rf8 50.Kd2 Rf2+ 51.Re2 Rf4 52.Nh3 Rd4+  53.Kc1 Re4 54.e6 Kg7 55.Kd2 Bd6 56.Ke1 Bg3+ 57.Kf1 Re5 58.Nf2  Bh5 59.Nfg4 Rg5 60.e7 h3 61.Kg1 Bd6 62.Kh1 Kh8 63.Re1 Bg6 64.Nf2  Bxe7 65.Kh2 Rh5 66.Nf1 Bd6+ 0-1

Leon Blackman v. Michael Mahony IECC Swiss 581.1.04

May 22, 2017 By Mike Leave a Comment

This game took place via email. It is the 3rd time I’ve played this same opponent. He is an amazingly nice guy and plays a decent game, but I came out on top for the 3rd time.

   [Event "Swiss 581.1.04"]  [Site "IECC"]  [Date "2017.1.30"]  [Round ""]  [White "Blackman, Leon"]  [Black "Mahony, Michael J."]  [Result "0-1"]  [Eco "B04"]  [Annotator ""]  [Source ""]   1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 Bg7 7.Ng5  e6 8.O-O dxe5 9.dxe5 Qxd1 10.Rxd1 h6 11.Nf3 Nc6 12.Bf4 g5 13.Bg3  Bd7 14.h3 O-O-O 15.Nbd2 Na5 16.c3 Bb5 17.Bc2 Bd3 18.Bxd3 Rxd3  19.b4 Nc6 20.Ne4 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Nc4 22.Nf6 b5 23.Ng4 a6 24.Rd3  Nb2 25.Rd2 Na4 26.Nf6 Rd8 27.Rxd8+ Kxd8 28.Ne4 Ne7 29.h4 Nd5  30.hxg5 Naxc3 31.Nxc3 Nxc3 32.a3 Kd7 33.Kf1 Nb1 34.Bf4 hxg5 35.Nxg5  Nxa3 36.Nxf7 Nc2 37.Bd2 Bf8 38.g4 Nxb4 39.Ng5 a5 40.Nh7 Bg7 41.Nf6+  Ke7 42.g5 Bxf6 43.exf6+ Kf7 44.Ke2 c5 45.Bf4 Nd5 0-1

US Championship 2016, Rounds 1 thru 5

April 19, 2016 By Mike Leave a Comment

The 2016 US Championship is being held in St. Louis, Missouri. It has attracted a strong field.

   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.14"]  [Round "1.1"]  [White "Caruana, Fabiano"]  [Black "Akobian, Varuzhan"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2795"]  [BlackElo "2615"]  [ECO "B01"]  [Opening "Scandinavian defence"]  [WhiteFideId "2020009"]  [BlackFideId "13300580"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bc4 Bg4 5. f3 Bf5 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. g4 Nb6 8.  b3 Bc8 9. Bb2 Nfxd5 10. Nxd5 Nxd5 11. Qe2 e6 12. O-O-O b6 13. Nh3 Bb7 14. f4 Bd6  15. f5 Qe7 16. Bxg7 Rg8 17. Bb2 O-O-O 18. Rhf1 Rde8 19. f6 Qf8 20. g5 h6 21. Rg1  hxg5 22. Nxg5 Rh8 23. h3 Rh6 24. Rdf1 a5 25. Kb1 Kb8 26. Rg4 Rd8 27. h4 Ka7 28.  Be5 Rd7 29. Bb5 Rd8 30. Bxd6 cxd6 31. Bc4 Nc7 32. Nxf7 Qxf7 33. Rg7 Qf8 34. Rxc7  Rxf6 35. Rxf6 Qxf6 36. Qxe6 Qxh4 37. Bd5 Rb8 38. Qf7 Qe1+ 39. Kb2 Qe5+ 40. c3 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.14"]  [Round "1.2"]  [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]  [Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2787"]  [BlackElo "2618"]  [ECO "D43"]  [Opening "QGD semi-Slav"]  [WhiteFideId "2016192"]  [BlackFideId "2021285"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 5. g3 dxc4 6. Bg2 b5 7. O-O Bb7 8. b3  cxb3 9. Qxb3 Be7 10. Ne5 a6 11. Rd1 O-O 12. Ne4 Qc7 13. Ng5 a5 14. Bh3 a4 15.  Qc2 Bc8 16. Bf4 Qd8 17. Ng4 g6 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19. Ne4 Bg7 20. Bg2 Qb6 21. Bd6  Re8 22. Rac1 Qd8 23. Bc5 Ba6 24. Bb4 Qc7 25. d5 exd5 26. Nd6 Qd7 27. Nxe8 Qxe8  28. e4 d4 29. e5 h5 30. f4 f6 31. Rxd4 fxe5 32. fxe5 Bc8 33. Rcd1 Bd7 34. Rd6  Qxe5 35. Qxg6 Qf5 36. Bc3 Qf7 37. Rf1 Qxg6 38. Rxg6 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.14"]  [Round "1.3"]  [White "So, Wesley"]  [Black "Kamsky, Gata"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2773"]  [BlackElo "2678"]  [ECO "C95"]  [Opening "Ruy Lopez"]  [Variation "closed, Breyer, Borisenko variation"]  [WhiteFideId "5202213"]  [BlackFideId "2000024"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3  O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.  Bg5 h6 16. Bd2 Bg7 17. a4 c6 18. axb5 axb5 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Nh4 Qd8 21. Qc1 Kh7  22. Nhf5 gxf5 23. Nxf5 Re6 24. Bxh6 Ne8 25. Bg5 Bf6 26. Bxf6 Qxf6 27. d5 Re7 28.  g4 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.14"]  [Round "1.4"]  [White "Shankland, Samuel L"]  [Black "Chandra, Akshat"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "IM"]  [WhiteElo "2656"]  [BlackElo "2477"]  [ECO "C07"]  [Opening "French"]  [Variation "Tarrasch, open variation"]  [WhiteFideId "2004887"]  [BlackFideId "25006711"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 cxd4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nf6 8.  Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 a6 11. Re1 Qc7 12. Bf1 Bd6 13. Nf5 Bxh2+ 14. Kh1  Kf8 15. Qd4 exf5 16. Qxf6 h6 17. Qd4 Bd6 18. Bc4 Bd7 19. b3 Qc5 20. Qh4 b5 21.  Be3 Qc7 22. Bd5 Bc6 23. Rad1 Kg8 24. Qh5 Bxd5 25. Rxd5 g6 26. Qd1 Bf8 27. Bd4  Rh7 28. Bf6 Qb6 29. Bd4 Qc6 30. Bb2 f6 31. Rd8 Rxd8 32. Qxd8 Rf7 33. Re8 Qxc2  34. Ba3 b4 35. Bxb4 Qc1+ 36. Re1 Qc7 37. Qxc7 Rxc7 38. Re8 Rf7 39. Ra8 Kg7 40.  Bxf8+ Rxf8 41. Rxa6 g5 42. b4 Rd8 43. b5 Rd2 44. b6 Rb2 45. g3 Kg6 46. Kg2 h5  47. a4 f4 48. gxf4 g4 49. a5 h4 50. Ra8 Kf5 51. Rh8 h3+ 52. Kg3 Rb3+ 53. Kh2 Rb2  54. a6 Rxf2+ 55. Kg1 g3 56. Rxh3 Kg4 57. Rh8 Rb2 58. a7 Rb1+ 59. Kg2 Rb2+ 60.  Kf1 g2+ 61. Kg1 Kg3 62. Rg8+ Kh3 63. a8=Q 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.14"]  [Round "1.5"]  [White "Onischuk, Alexander"]  [Black "Xiong, Jeffery"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2664"]  [BlackElo "2618"]  [ECO "D20"]  [Opening "Queen's gambit accepted"]  [WhiteFideId "14101025"]  [BlackFideId "2047640"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 b5 4. a4 b4 5. Bxc4 Nf6 6. Qf3 c6 7. Ne2 e6 8. e4 Bb7  9. Bg5 Be7 10. Nd2 h6 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. e5 Be7 13. Ne4 O-O 14. Rd1 Ba6 15. Bb3  Nd7 16. Nf4 Qa5 17. Qg3 Nxe5 18. Nxe6 Nd3+ 19. Rxd3 fxe6 20. Re3 Kh8 21. Qe5  Qxe5 22. dxe5 Rad8 23. Bxe6 Rd3 24. Rxd3 Bxd3 25. Nd6 Bxd6 26. exd6 Rf6 27. Kd2  Rxe6 28. Kxd3 Rxd6+ 29. Kc2 c5 30. Rd1 b3+ 31. Kc1 Ra6 32. Rd8+ Kh7 33. Kd2 Rxa4  34. Kc3 Ra1 35. Rd2 a5 36. Kxb3 a4+ 37. Kc4 a3 38. bxa3 Rxa3 39. Kxc5 h5 40. Kd4  Ra5 41. Ke4 g6 42. f4 Kg7 43. h3 Kf7 44. Rd6 Ra2 45. g4 hxg4 46. hxg4 Ra7 47. g5  Rb7 48. Ke5 Ra7 49. Rf6+ Kg7 50. Rc6 Re7+ 51. Kd6 Re4 52. Rc7+ Kg8 53. Rc8+ 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.14"]  [Round "1.6"]  [White "Shabalov, Alexander"]  [Black "Robson, Ray"]  [Result "0-1"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2528"]  [BlackElo "2663"]  [ECO "D43"]  [Opening "QGD semi-Slav"]  [WhiteFideId "2008572"]  [BlackFideId "2023970"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. g3 dxc4 6. Bg2 b5 7. O-O Bb7 8. e4 Be7  9. e5 Nd5 10. Ne4 Nd7 11. Bg5 O-O 12. Nd6 Bxg5 13. Nxb7 Qe7 14. a4 Bh6 15. axb5  cxb5 16. Nd6 N7b6 17. Nxb5 Qb4 18. Nd6 Qxb2 19. Ra5 Nc3 20. Qa1 Bc1 21. Qxb2  Bxb2 22. Nd2 Ne2+ 23. Kh1 Rab8 24. N2xc4 Nxc4 25. Nxc4 Bxd4 26. f4 g6 27. Ra2  Nc3 28. Rd2 Bc5 29. Rd3 Na4 30. Rd2 Rfd8 31. Rc2 Bb4 32. Ra1 Nc3 33. Bf1 Nb5 34.  Kg2 Rbc8 35. Rca2 Rc7 36. Ra4 Bc5 37. Ra5 Nc3 38. Rc1 Bb4 39. Ra6 Rd4 40. Nd6  Rd2+ 41. Kh3 h5 42. Ne8 Ne2 0-1   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.15"]  [Round "2.1"]  [White "Caruana, Fabiano"]  [Black "Shankland, Samuel L"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2795"]  [BlackElo "2656"]  [ECO "C19"]  [Opening "French"]  [Variation "Winawer, advance, poisoned pawn variation"]  [WhiteFideId "2020009"]  [BlackFideId "2004887"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. Qg4 O-O 8. Bd3  Nbc6 9. Qh5 Ng6 10. Nh3 Qc7 11. Be3 c4 12. Bxg6 fxg6 13. Qg4 Qf7 14. Nf4 Ne7 15.  h4 h6 16. Qe2 Bd7 17. g4 b5 18. f3 a5 19. Kf2 Rab8 20. Kg3 Be8 21. Bd2 b4 22.  axb4 axb4 23. Rhb1 Nc6 24. Qe3 b3 25. Bc1 Bd7 26. Ba3 bxc2 27. Rc1 Rfc8 28. Rxc2  Ra8 29. Rca2 Be8 30. Bd6 Rxa2 31. Rxa2 Qd7 32. Qc1 Bf7 33. Qb1 Qe8 34. Qb7 Kh7  35. Ra6 Kg8 36. Bc7 Ne7 37. Bd6 Nc6 38. Kg2 Kh7 39. Kh3 Kg8 40. Kg3 Kh7 41. Nh3  Kg8 42. g5 h5 43. Nf4 Kh7 44. Ng2 Bg8 45. Ne3 Bf7 46. Nc2 Bg8 47. Na3 Bf7 48.  Kf2 Bg8 49. Ke3 Bf7 50. Kd2 Bg8 51. Kc2 Bf7 52. Kc1 Kg8 53. Nb5 Ne7 54. Na7 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.15"]  [Round "2.2"]  [White "Kamsky, Gata"]  [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2678"]  [BlackElo "2787"]  [ECO "A45"]  [Opening "Queen's pawn game"]  [WhiteFideId "2000024"]  [BlackFideId "2016192"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 e6 3. e3 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nd2 d5 6. Ngf3 Bd6 7. Bg3 O-O 8. Bd3  b6 9. e4 Be7 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Nxe4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Bxe4 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1  Rb8 15. Ke2 Ba6+ 16. Ke3 Rfd8 17. f4 Rxd1 18. Rxd1 Rd8 19. Rxd8+ Bxd8 20. Bf2 h5  21. b3 Bb5 22. c4 Bd7 23. h3 g6 24. g4 hxg4 25. hxg4 Kg7 26. g5 Be7 27. Kd3 Kf8  28. a4 a5 29. Be3 Ke8 30. Bf2 Kd8 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.15"]  [Round "2.3"]  [White "Chandra, Akshat"]  [Black "So, Wesley"]  [Result "0-1"]  [WhiteTitle "IM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2477"]  [BlackElo "2773"]  [ECO "B12"]  [Opening "Caro-Kann"]  [Variation "advance variation"]  [WhiteFideId "25006711"]  [BlackFideId "5202213"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h5 5. c4 e6 6. Nc3 Ne7 7. Nge2 Nd7 8. Ng3 Bg6  9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Be2 Qa5 11. Bd2 Nb4 12. O-O Qb6 13. Bg5 Nc2 14. Rc1 Nxd4 15.  Bxh5 Bxh5 16. Nxh5 Nxe5 17. Re1 Nef3+ 18. gxf3 Rxh5 19. f4 g6 20. Na4 Qb4 21.  Re4 Bg7 22. Nc5 Qxb2 23. Rc4 Rxg5+ 24. fxg5 O-O-O 25. Nb3 Nxb3 26. Qxb3 Qa1+ 27.  Kg2 Rd1 28. Qc2 Kd8 29. Kf3 Ke8 30. Rb4 Rc1 31. Qe2 b5 32. Rb3 Rh1 33. Kg4 Kf8  34. Rg3 Kg8 35. Ree3 Qd4+ 36. Re4 f5+ 37. gxf6 Qxf6 38. f4 Qxh4+ 39. Kf3 Rh2 40.  Qd3 Qh5+ 0-1   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.15"]  [Round "2.4"]  [White "Robson, Ray"]  [Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2663"]  [BlackElo "2664"]  [ECO "A46"]  [Opening "Queen's pawn game"]  [WhiteFideId "2023970"]  [BlackFideId "14101025"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. Bf4 d5 4. e3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. Bg3 Qe7 8. Ne5  Bxe5 9. dxe5 Nd7 10. Bb5 a6 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Qa4 Bb7 13. Bh4 f6 14. exf6 gxf6  15. c4 Rg8 16. O-O h5 17. Qd1 Rg4 18. Bg3 Qh7 19. Rc1 a5 20. Re1 Ba6 21. cxd5  cxd5 22. e4 d4 23. Qa4 Bb7 24. Qb3 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.15"]  [Round "2.5"]  [White "Akobian, Varuzhan"]  [Black "Xiong, Jeffery"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2615"]  [BlackElo "2618"]  [ECO "D83"]  [Opening "Gruenfeld"]  [Variation "Gruenfeld gambit, Capablanca variation"]  [WhiteFideId "13300580"]  [BlackFideId "2047640"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Rc1 Be6 7. b3 c5 8. cxd5  Bg4 9. Nge2 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Bxe2 11. Kxe2 Nbd7 12. g3 Nh5 13. Qb4 Nb6 14. Bg2 Bxc3  15. Qxc3 Nxd5 16. Qc5 Ndxf4+ 17. gxf4 Rc8 18. Qd5 Qb6 19. Qxb7 Qe6 20. Be4 Rfd8  21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Rd1 Nf6 23. Bf3 Rc2+ 24. Rd2 Rc1 25. Rd1 Rc2+ 26. Rd2 Rc1 27.  Rd1 Rc2+ 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.15"]  [Round "2.6"]  [White "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]  [Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2618"]  [BlackElo "2528"]  [ECO "D45"]  [Opening "QGD semi-Slav"]  [Variation "Stoltz variation"]  [WhiteFideId "2021285"]  [BlackFideId "2008572"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd2 O-O 8. O-O-O  b5 9. cxb5 c5 10. Kb1 Bb7 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Nd4 Qe7 13. f3 Rfc8 14. Be1 Qe8 15.  g4 Bf8 16. g5 Nh5 17. Be2 g6 18. f4 a6 19. Rc1 axb5 20. Bxb5 Qd8 21. Qe2 e5 22.  fxe5 Qxg5 23. Bd2 Qxe5 24. Rcf1 Bg7 25. Be1 Ne4 26. Nxe4 dxe4 27. Rhg1 Nf6 28.  h4 Nd5 29. Bg3 Qe7 30. Rc1 Nb4 31. Rxc8+ Rxc8 32. h5 Qc5 33. hxg6 hxg6 34. a3  Nd5 35. Bf2 Qb6 36. Ka1 Bxd4 37. exd4 e3 38. Bg3 Qxd4 39. Rd1 Qe4 40. Bd3 Qa4  41. Bb1 Nf4 42. Qg4 f5 43. Bxf5 e2 44. Rb1 Rc3 45. Be6+ Kg7 46. Qxf4 Rxa3+ 47.  bxa3 Qxa3+ 48. Ba2 Qc3+ 49. Rb2 e1=Q+ 50. Bxe1 Qxe1+ 51. Bb1 Qa5+ 52. Ba2 Qe1+ 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.16"]  [Round "3.1"]  [White "So, Wesley"]  [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2773"]  [BlackElo "2795"]  [ECO "A35"]  [Opening "English"]  [Variation "symmetrical, four knights system"]  [WhiteFideId "5202213"]  [BlackFideId "2020009"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e3 e6 5. d4 d5 6. a3 a6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. b4 Bd6  9. Bb2 O-O 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Be2 Be6 12. O-O Qe7 13. Rc1 a5 14. Nb5 axb4 15.  Nxd6 Qxd6 16. axb4 Qxb4 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Rb1 Qe7 19. Rb5 Rfd8 20. Nd4 Kg7 21.  Re1 Nxd4 22. Qxd4 Bf5 23. Rxd5 Rxd5 24. Qxd5 Be4 25. Qd1 Qb4 26. Rf1 Ra2 27. Qd7  Bg6 28. Bf3 b5 29. h4 Rd2 30. Qh3 h5 31. Qg3 Qd6 32. Qxd6 Rxd6 33. Rd1 Rb6 34.  e4 b4 35. Rd2 f5 36. exf5 Bxf5 37. Bxh5 b3 38. Rb2 Bc2 39. Bf3 Rb5 40. Be2 Rb4  41. Bf3 Rxh4 42. Bd5 Rb4 43. Kf1 f5 44. Ke2 Kf6 45. f4 Ke7 46. Bg8 Kf8 47. Bd5  Kg7 48. Ke3 Kg6 49. Bf3 Kf6 50. Bd5 Kg6 51. Bf3 Rc4 52. g4 Rc3+ 53. Kf2 Bd3 54.  Bd1 Bc4 55. Ke1 Rg3 56. Kf2 Rh3 57. Ke1 Be6 58. Re2 Bc4 59. Rb2 Kf6 60. Kd2 Rd3+  61. Kc1 Rc3+ 62. Kd2 Rg3 63. gxf5 Kxf5 64. Kc1 Kxf4 65. Rh2 Ke3 66. Kb2 Kd4 67.  Rh4+ Kc5 68. Ka3 Bd5 69. Rh5 Kd4 70. Rxd5+ Kxd5 71. Bxb3+ Kd4 72. Kb2 Rg2+ 73.  Ka1 Kc3 74. Ba2 Rg7 75. Bb1 Rb7 76. Ba2 Kc2 77. Bd5 Re7 78. Bg8 Re1+ 79. Ka2 Rh1  80. Bd5 Rh4 81. Bb3+ Kc3 82. Be6 Rf4 83. Bg8 Rf2+ 84. Kb1 Rb2+ 85. Ka1 Kc2 86.  Bh7+ Kc1 87. Bg8 Rb1+ 88. Ka2 Rb8 89. Bf7 Rb2+ 90. Ka1 Rb7 91. Bd5 Ra7+ 92. Ba2  Kc2 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.16"]  [Round "3.2"]  [White "Xiong, Jeffery"]  [Black "Robson, Ray"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2618"]  [BlackElo "2663"]  [ECO "D00"]  [Opening "Queen's pawn, Mason variation"]  [WhiteFideId "2047640"]  [BlackFideId "2023970"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. dxc5 g6 5. c3 Bg7 6. Nd2 O-O 7. Ngf3 Nbd7 8. Nb3  Ne4 9. Qxd5 Ndxc5 10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. Nxc5 Nxc5 12. Bc7 Rd7 13. Be5 Bxe5 14. Nxe5  Rd5 15. f4 Be6 16. Nf3 Na4 17. Nd4 Nxb2 18. Rb1 Na4 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20. Bc4 Rd6  21. Rxb7 Nxc3 22. O-O Kf8 23. Rc1 Nd5 24. Bb3 Rb6 25. Rxb6 axb6 26. Kf2 Nb4 27.  Kf3 b5 28. Rc5 Nxa2 29. Rxb5 Nc3 30. Rb6 Ra1 31. Bc4 Nd5 32. Rxe6 Nf6 33. Rb6  Rc1 34. Be6 Rf1+ 35. Ke2 Rg1 36. Kf2 Rh1 37. g4 Rxh2+ 38. Kg1 Re2 39. g5 Rxe3  40. gxf6 exf6 41. Kf2 Re4 42. Kf3 f5 43. Rb8+ Kg7 44. Rb7+ Kf6 45. Bd5 Re7 46.  Rb6+ Kg7 47. Rd6 Kf8 48. Be6 Kg7 49. Rc6 Kf6 50. Bc4+ Kg7 51. Rd6 Rc7 52. Be2  Re7 53. Rc6 Kf8 54. Kf2 Kg7 55. Bf3 Kf8 56. Kg3 Kg7 57. Kh4 h6 58. Kg3 Kh7 59.  Bd5 Kg7 60. Kf3 Kh7 61. Kf2 Kg7 62. Bc4 Kh7 63. Be2 Kg7 64. Rc4 Kf6 65. Rc8 Kg7  66. Rd8 Kh7 67. Bf3 Kg7 68. Bd5 Kh7 69. Rd6 Kg7 70. Be6 Kf6 71. Bd5+ 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.16"]  [Round "3.3"]  [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]  [Black "Chandra, Akshat"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "IM"]  [WhiteElo "2787"]  [BlackElo "2477"]  [ECO "A13"]  [Opening "English opening"]  [Variation "Agincourt variation"]  [WhiteFideId "2016192"]  [BlackFideId "25006711"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3 dxc4 4. Bg2 a6 5. O-O Nf6 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Qxc4 b5 8. Qb3  Bb7 9. a4 c5 10. d3 Bd5 11. Qc2 Nbd7 12. Nc3 Bc6 13. Ne1 Bxg2 14. Nxg2 Rb8 15.  axb5 axb5 16. Ra6 Qc7 17. Qb3 b4 18. Nb1 Nb6 19. Bg5 Nfd7 20. Nd2 O-O 21. Ne4 h6  22. Be3 Be7 23. Rfa1 Ra8 24. Rxa8 Rxa8 25. Rxa8+ Nxa8 26. Qa2 Nab6 27. Nd2 Qc6  28. Ne1 Qa4 29. Qxa4 Nxa4 30. b3 Nc3 31. Kf1 f5 32. Nc4 Kf7 33. Bd2 Nb5 34. Nc2  Bf6 35. e4 Ne5 36. exf5 exf5 37. Be3 Nd7 38. h4 Ke6 39. Ne1 Nd4 40. Bxd4 Bxd4  41. Nf3 Bf6 42. Ke2 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.16"]  [Round "3.4"]  [White "Shankland, Samuel L"]  [Black "Akobian, Varuzhan"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2656"]  [BlackElo "2615"]  [ECO "C10"]  [Opening "French"]  [Variation "Rubinstein variation"]  [WhiteFideId "2004887"]  [BlackFideId "13300580"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bd3 c5 7. Nxf6+ Nxf6 8.  Be3 Qc7 9. Qd2 Nd5 10. c3 c4 11. Bc2 Bd6 12. Qe2 b5 13. Bd2 Bb7 14. O-O O-O 15.  Qe4 g6 16. Qh4 Bf4 17. Be4 Bxd2 18. Nxd2 Rab8 19. g3 a5 20. Rfc1 Nb6 21. Re1 b4  22. Qh6 Nd5 23. Rac1 bxc3 24. bxc3 Nf6 25. Bxb7 Rxb7 26. Qg5 Kg7 27. Qe5 Qxe5  28. Rxe5 Nd5 29. Nxc4 Rc7 30. Nxa5 Ra8 31. Nb3 Rxc3 32. Re2 Rd3 33. Rb2 Nb4 34.  a4 Nd5 35. a5 Rb8 36. Rcb1 Ra8 37. a6 Rxa6 38. Nc5 Raa3 39. Rb7 Rd2 40. Nxe6+  Kf6 41. Nd8 Kf5 42. Rxf7+ Ke4 43. Re1+ Kxd4 44. Ne6+ Kc4 45. Rc1+ Nc3 46. Rxh7  Kb5 47. Rb7+ Kc6 48. Rxc3+ Rxc3 49. Rc7+ Kd6 50. Rxc3 Kxe6 51. Rf3 Rd4 52. h4  Ke5 53. Kg2 Ke6 54. Kh3 Ke5 55. g4 Rd1 56. g5 Rd6 57. h5 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.16"]  [Round "3.5"]  [White "Shabalov, Alexander"]  [Black "Kamsky, Gata"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2528"]  [BlackElo "2678"]  [ECO "A05"]  [Opening "Reti"]  [Variation "King's Indian attack"]  [WhiteFideId "2008572"]  [BlackFideId "2000024"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b3 Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. d4 c6 7. Nbd2 a5 8. a4 d5  9. O-O Bf5 10. Ne5 Nbd7 11. Nd3 Ne4 12. Nf3 Nd6 13. Rc1 Qb6 14. Nfe5 Rfd8 15. e3  Nxe5 16. dxe5 Ne8 17. Qe2 Nc7 18. f4 f6 19. exf6 exf6 20. Nf2 Re8 21. Rce1 Re7  22. Qd2 Ne8 23. Bd4 Qc7 24. c4 dxc4 25. bxc4 Be6 26. Rc1 Rd8 27. Qe2 f5 28. Bxg7  Kxg7 29. Qb2+ Kg8 30. e4 fxe4 31. Nxe4 Bf5 32. Nf2 h5 33. Qc3 Qb6 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.16"]  [Round "3.6"]  [White "Onischuk, Alexander"]  [Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2664"]  [BlackElo "2618"]  [ECO "D10"]  [Opening "QGD Slav defence"]  [WhiteFideId "14101025"]  [BlackFideId "2021285"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Bf5 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Qb3 Qc7 6. Nc3 e6 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. Nh4  Be4 9. Bd2 Be7 10. Nxe4 dxe4 11. d5 exd5 12. Nf5 g6 13. Nd4 Qd7 14. Bb5 Bf6 15.  Bc3 Kf8 16. O-O Kg7 17. f3 Nxd4 18. exd4 Qd6 19. fxe4 dxe4 20. Rae1 Rc8 21. Rxe4  Rc7 22. Bb4 Bxd4+ 23. Kh1 Qb6 24. Rxd4 Qxd4 25. Bc3 Rxc3 26. bxc3 Qd6 27. Qxf7+  Kh6 28. Qf8+ Qxf8 29. Rxf8 Kg7 30. Rb8 b6 31. Rb7+ Kh6 32. Rf7 g5 33. Bd3 g4 34.  Kg1 Kg5 35. Rf8 Kh6 36. Ra8 a5 37. Rb8 Kg7 38. Rb7+ Kf8 39. Rb8+ Kg7 40. Rb7+  Kf8 41. Rxb6 Ne7 42. Rb8+ Kg7 43. Rxh8 Kxh8 44. Be4 Kg7 45. Kf2 Kf6 46. Ke3 Ke5  47. Bxh7 Nd5+ 48. Kd2 Kf4 49. Kd3 g3 50. hxg3+ Kxg3 51. Be4 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.17"]  [Round "4.1"]  [White "Caruana, Fabiano"]  [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2795"]  [BlackElo "2787"]  [ECO "B90"]  [Opening "Sicilian"]  [Variation "Najdorf"]  [WhiteFideId "2020009"]  [BlackFideId "2016192"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 h5 8. a4 Nc6  9. Bc4 Qc7 10. Qe2 Be7 11. O-O Ne5 12. Bb3 Bd7 13. f4 Neg4 14. Kh1 Nxe3 15. Qxe3  Qc5 16. Rad1 g6 17. Qe2 O-O-O 18. f5 e5 19. Nf3 gxf5 20. Ng5 f4 21. Rd3 Kb8 22.  Nxf7 h4 23. Nxh8 Rxh8 24. Qf2 Qb4 25. Nd5 Nxd5 26. Bxd5 Bxa4 27. Ra3 h3 28. c3  Qb5 29. b3 Bh4 30. bxa4 Qd3 31. g3 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.17"]  [Round "4.2"]  [White "Shankland, Samuel L"]  [Black "So, Wesley"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2656"]  [BlackElo "2773"]  [ECO "D37"]  [Opening "QGD"]  [Variation "classical variation (5.Bf4)"]  [WhiteFideId "2004887"]  [BlackFideId "5202213"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. a3 c5 8. cxd5  Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Be5 Bf6 12. Be2 Bf5 13. O-O Be4 14. Bxf6  Qxf6 15. Nd4 Ne6 16. Rc1 Nxd4 17. Qxd4 Qxd4 18. exd4 Rac8 19. f3 Bc2 20. Kf2  Rfd8 21. Ke3 Rc7 22. Kd2 Rdc8 23. Rfe1 Kf8 24. Bb5 a6 25. Re8+ Rxe8 26. Bxe8  Kxe8 27. Rxc2 Rxc2+ 28. Kxc2 Kd7 29. Kd3 Ke6 30. Ke3 Kf5 31. g3 h5 32. b4 b5 33.  Kf2 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.17"]  [Round "4.3"]  [White "Akobian, Varuzhan"]  [Black "Robson, Ray"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2615"]  [BlackElo "2663"]  [ECO "D45"]  [Opening "QGD semi-Slav"]  [Variation "Stoltz variation"]  [WhiteFideId "13300580"]  [BlackFideId "2023970"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O  dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Bb3 Bb7 11. Rd1 Rc8 12. a3 a6 13. e4 c5 14. Bg5 cxd4 15.  Rxd4 Qc7 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Rxd6 Qxd6 18. e5 Qc5 19. exf6 Bxf3 20. fxg7 Rfd8 21.  gxf3 Qg5+ 22. Kh1 Rd2 23. Qe4 Rxf2 24. Rg1 Qh5 25. Rg2 Rf1+ 26. Rg1 Rf2 27. Rg2  Rf1+ 28. Rg1 Qxf3+ 29. Qxf3 Rxf3 30. Bc2 Rf2 31. Bb1 h6 32. Ne4 Rf4 33. b4 Rd8  34. Nc5 Rf3 35. Be4 Rf2 36. Bb1 Rf3 37. Be4 Rf2 38. Bb1 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.17"]  [Round "4.4"]  [White "Kamsky, Gata"]  [Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2678"]  [BlackElo "2664"]  [ECO "A45"]  [Opening "Queen's pawn game"]  [WhiteFideId "2000024"]  [BlackFideId "14101025"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 cxd4 6. exd4 Bf5 7. c3 e6 8. Qb3  Qc8 9. Nh4 Be4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Bd3 Bd6 12. Bxe4 Bxf4 13. Bd3 g5 14. Nf3 g4 15.  Ng1 h5 16. Ne2 Bh6 17. Bb5 a6 18. Bxc6+ Qxc6 19. Nc1 Bxc1 20. Rxc1 Qb5 21. Qc2  O-O-O 22. a4 Qc4 23. b3 Qc7 24. O-O Kb8 25. Qd2 Rd6 26. c4 dxc4 27. Rxc4 Rc6 28.  Rfc1 Rxc4 29. Rxc4 Qd6 30. Qg5 f5 31. g3 e5 32. dxe5 Qd1+ 33. Kg2 Qf3+ 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.17"]  [Round "4.5"]  [White "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]  [Black "Xiong, Jeffery"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2618"]  [BlackElo "2618"]  [ECO "D83"]  [Opening "Gruenfeld"]  [Variation "Gruenfeld gambit, Capablanca variation"]  [WhiteFideId "2021285"]  [BlackFideId "2047640"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Rc1 Be6 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.  Nxd5 Qxd5 9. b3 Qa5+ 10. Qd2 Qxd2+ 11. Kxd2 c6 12. Nf3 Bd5 13. Bc4 Bxf3 14. gxf3  e6 15. b4 a6 16. a4 Nd7 17. Rhd1 Rfc8 18. a5 Bf8 19. Kc3 Nf6 20. e4 Nd5+ 21.  Bxd5 exd5 22. exd5 cxd5+ 23. Kb3 f6 24. Re1 Kf7 25. Bc7 Re8 26. Rxe8 Rxe8 27.  Bg3 g5 28. Rc7+ Re7 29. Rc5 Re8 30. Rc7+ Re7 31. Rc1 Re2 32. Rc7+ 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.17"]  [Round "4.6"]  [White "Chandra, Akshat"]  [Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "IM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2477"]  [BlackElo "2528"]  [ECO "B19"]  [Opening "Caro-Kann"]  [Variation "classical, Spassky variation"]  [WhiteFideId "25006711"]  [BlackFideId "2008572"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5  Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Bd6 13. Kb1 Qb6 14. Ne4 Nxe4  15. Qxe4 Nf6 16. Qe1 Qc7 17. Qe2 O-O-O 18. c4 Rhe8 19. Bc3 Kb8 20. Ne5 Ka8 21.  g4 Nh7 22. Rd3 Nf8 23. Rhd1 f6 24. Ng6 Nxg6 25. hxg6 Qd7 26. Re3 Re7 27. Re1  Rde8 28. Re4 a6 29. Qd3 Kb8 30. R1e3 Kc8 31. Qe2 Kd8 32. Qf3 Kc8 33. Qe2 Kd8 34.  a3 f5 35. gxf5 exf5 36. Rxe7 Rxe7 37. d5 cxd5 38. cxd5 Bc5 39. Re5 Qd6 40. b4  Ba7 41. Rxe7 Qxe7 42. Qxe7+ Kxe7 43. Bxg7 h5 44. Be5 h4 45. d6+ Ke6 46. g7 Kf7  47. d7 Bb6 48. Kc2 h3 49. Kd3 f4 50. Bxf4 Kxg7 51. Ke2 Kf7 52. Be3 Bc7 53. Bf4 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.18"]  [Round "5.1"]  [White "Shabalov, Alexander"]  [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2528"]  [BlackElo "2795"]  [ECO "A07"]  [Opening "Reti"]  [Variation "King's Indian attack"]  [WhiteFideId "2008572"]  [BlackFideId "2020009"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 c6 5. O-O Nf6 6. b3 O-O 7. Bb2 Bf5 8. c4  Nbd7 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nc3 Rc8 11. Rc1 Nb8 12. Ne5 Nc6 13. e3 h5 14. Qe2 Nxe5 15.  dxe5 Ne4 16. Nb5 Qa5 17. Nd4 Bd7 18. f3 Nc5 19. Bc3 Qb6 20. f4 Ne4 21. Bb2 Qa5  22. a4 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Rc8 24. Rxc8+ Bxc8 25. Bxe4 dxe4 26. Kf2 Qc5 27. Qb5 Qxb5  28. Nxb5 Be6 29. b4 a6 30. Nc7 Bd7 31. b5 axb5 32. axb5 e6 33. Ba3 f6 34. Bd6  Kf7 35. h3 fxe5 36. fxe5 Bh6 37. Ke2 Bg5 38. Kd2 Kg7 39. b6 Kf7 40. Na6 Bc6 41.  Nc5 Bd5 42. Ke2 Ke8 43. Bc7 Ke7 44. Kf2 Ke8 45. Ke2 Ke7 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.18"]  [Round "5.2"]  [White "So, Wesley"]  [Black "Akobian, Varuzhan"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2773"]  [BlackElo "2615"]  [ECO "C10"]  [Opening "French"]  [Variation "Rubinstein variation"]  [WhiteFideId "5202213"]  [BlackFideId "13300580"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. c3 c5 8.  Be3 cxd4 9. Bxd4 Be7 10. Bd3 O-O 11. Qc2 h6 12. O-O-O Qa5 13. Kb1 Rd8 14. Ne5  Bd7 15. Qe2 Bc6 16. Rhe1 Bd5 17. c4 Bxg2 18. Bc3 Qb6 19. Rg1 Bc6 20. Nxf7 Kxf7  21. Rxg7+ Kxg7 22. Qxe6 Qxf2 23. Qxe7+ Kg8 24. Bh7+ 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.18"]  [Round "5.3"]  [White "Robson, Ray"]  [Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2663"]  [BlackElo "2618"]  [ECO "A07"]  [Opening "Reti"]  [Variation "King's Indian attack (Barcza system)"]  [WhiteFideId "2023970"]  [BlackFideId "2021285"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. O-O Nd7 5. h3 Bh5 6. d4 e6 7. c4 Ngf6 8. cxd5  exd5 9. Nh4 Ne4 10. Nc3 Nd6 11. Bf4 Nf6 12. Qb3 Qb6 13. Qa4 O-O-O 14. Rac1 Kb8  15. b4 Ka8 16. Qb3 Nde4 17. g4 Bg6 18. b5 Nxc3 19. Rxc3 c5 20. dxc5 Bxc5 21. a4  Ne4 22. Bxe4 Bxe4 23. a5 Qf6 24. Rxc5 Qxf4 25. f3 Qg3+ 26. Ng2 Rhe8 27. a6 Bg6  28. Rxd5 Rb8 29. Rd7 Qe5 30. Rc1 Re7 31. f4 Qe4 32. axb7+ Rxb7 33. Rc8+ Rb8 34.  Rxe7 Qxe7 35. Qd5+ Qb7 36. Qxb7+ Kxb7 37. Rxb8+ Kxb8 38. f5 Kc7 39. fxg6 hxg6  40. Kf2 Kb6 41. Ke3 Kxb5 42. Kd4 a5 43. Ne3 a4 44. g5 Kb4 45. Nc4 f5 46. Kd3 Kb3  47. e3 Kb4 48. Kd4 Kb3 49. Kd3 Kb4 50. Ne5 Kb3 51. Kd2 a3 52. Nf3 a2 53. Nd4+  Kb2 54. Nc2 Kb3 55. Kd3 Kb2 56. Kd2 Kb3 57. h4 Kb2 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.18"]  [Round "5.4"]  [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]  [Black "Shankland, Samuel L"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2787"]  [BlackElo "2656"]  [ECO "B11"]  [Opening "Caro-Kann"]  [Variation "two knights, 3...Bg4"]  [WhiteFideId "2016192"]  [BlackFideId "2004887"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 e6 6. g3 g6 7. d4 Bg7 8. Be3  Nf6 9. Bg2 O-O 10. O-O Na6 11. e5 Nd7 12. Qd1 c5 13. f4 cxd4 14. Bxd4 Nb4 15.  Ne2 Qc7 16. c3 Nc6 17. Be3 Rfc8 18. Kh1 b5 19. Rc1 Bf8 20. g4 Bc5 21. Nd4 Qb6  22. Bg1 b4 23. f5 bxc3 24. bxc3 Ncxe5 25. fxe6 fxe6 26. Nxe6 Bxg1 27. Rxg1 Kh8  28. Qxd5 Rab8 29. Rge1 Qb2 30. c4 Rb6 31. c5 Rbc6 32. Rcd1 h6 33. Nf4 Rf6 34.  Nd3 Nxd3 35. Qxd7 Nf2+ 36. Kg1 Rcf8 37. Qd2 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.18"]  [Round "5.5"]  [White "Xiong, Jeffery"]  [Black "Kamsky, Gata"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2618"]  [BlackElo "2678"]  [ECO "B03"]  [Opening "Alekhine's defence"]  [Variation "exchange variation"]  [WhiteFideId "2047640"]  [BlackFideId "2000024"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6 cxd6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Be3 Bg7 8. Rc1  O-O 9. b3 Bf5 10. d5 e5 11. dxe6 Bxe6 12. Nge2 d5 13. c5 Nc6 14. Nd4 Bxd4 15.  Bxd4 Re8 16. cxb6 Qh4 17. Ne2 axb6 18. Qd2 Bf5 19. Kd1 Rxe2 20. Bxe2 Nxd4 21. f3  Qf2 22. Re1 Be6 23. Rc3 Nc6 24. Bf1 Qh4 25. Bb5 Nd4 26. Bf1 Nf5 27. Rd3 d4 28.  g3 Qf6 29. Ke2 Bd7 30. a4 b5 31. a5 Bc6 32. Kf2 Ne3 33. Be2 Rd8 34. Kg1 Kg7 35.  Bd1 Bxf3 36. Bxf3 Qxf3 37. Rexe3 dxe3 38. Qb2+ 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.18"]  [Round "5.6"]  [White "Onischuk, Alexander"]  [Black "Chandra, Akshat"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "IM"]  [WhiteElo "2664"]  [BlackElo "2477"]  [ECO "E32"]  [Opening "Nimzo-Indian"]  [Variation "classical variation"]  [WhiteFideId "14101025"]  [BlackFideId "25006711"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 b6 5. e4 c5 6. d5 Qe7 7. Be2 exd5 8. exd5  Qe4 9. Qd2 Qe7 10. Nf3 O-O 11. O-O Bxc3 12. bxc3 d6 13. Re1 Bg4 14. Bd3 Qc7 15.  Nh4 Re8 16. Rxe8+ Nxe8 17. Qg5 Bc8 18. Bf4 Nd7 19. Nf5 Ne5 20. Nxd6 Qxd6 21.  Bxe5 Qd7 22. Qh4 h6 23. Re1 Qg4 24. Qe7 Qd7 25. Bg3 Qxe7 26. Rxe7 Kf8 27. Re1  Ba6 28. a4 Nf6 29. Bf1 Bc8 30. a5 Bf5 31. Bc7 Nd7 32. f3 h5 33. g3 Rc8 34. Bd6+  Kg8 35. h3 bxa5 36. Ra1 Bc2 37. Rxa5 Bb3 38. Ra3 Bd1 39. Rxa7 Nb6 40. Ra6 Na4  41. Be7 1-0

V. Topalov v. L. Aronian – Candidates Tournament 2016 Round 3

March 14, 2016 By Mike Leave a Comment

   [Event "Candidates 2016"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2016.03.13"]  [Round "3"]  [White "Topalov, Veselin"]  [Black "Aronian, Levon"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "A10"]  [WhiteElo "2780"]  [BlackElo "2786"]  [Annotator "Sagar Shah"]  [PlyCount "100"]   1. c4 {Topalov plays his first white today and opens with the c-pawn.} Nf6 { Aronian played this quite instantly, so the English Opening wasn't really a surprise for him.} 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nd5 e4 7. Nh4 { This is quite a common position and usually Black replies Re8. But Aronian went for a relatively unknown move which has not been played by any top player. } d6 $5 {This move has been played by Aronian's country-mate Minasian, and it is quite possible that Levon picked it up from him.} 8. Nxb4 (8. Nxf6+ Qxf6 9. Bxe4 Re8 $1 10. Bg2 Bg4 $1 {Just have a look at the black pieces. This is a completely winning position for Black.} 11. f3 Be6 $19) 8... Nxb4 9. a3 Nc6 10. d3 d5 $1 {A very concrete way to approach the position.} 11. O-O (11. cxd5 Qxd5 $1 12. dxe4 Qxd1+ 13. Kxd1 Rd8+ 14. Kc2 Nd4+ $36) 11... exd3 12. Qxd3 $6 (12. exd3 $11 {would have given White an entirely viable position, but without any advantage. This was not to Topalov's liking.}) (12. cxd5 {is also fine but does not give an advantage.} dxe2 13. Qxe2 Nxd5 $11) 12... Ne5 13. Qd4 (13. Qc2 Nxc4 14. e4 {is a possible way to play. The queen is of course better placed on c2 than on d4.}) 13... Nxc4 14. e4 Be6 15. b3 Na5 16. Qa4 Nc6 (16... c6 17. Bd2 b6 18. Bxa5 bxa5 19. Qxc6 (19. exd5 cxd5 $17) 19... dxe4 20. Bxe4 Rc8 21. Qa4 Qb6 $17 {is some sort of a computer line showing that even c6 was not so bad.}) (16... c5 {is possible and Topalov as intending to meet it with} 17. b4 cxb4 18. axb4 Nc4 $15 {Black seems to be slightly better.}) 17. Rd1 $2 { [#] This was a big blunder by Veselin, after which he is effectively two pawns down.} (17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Bb2 $44) 17... Nxe4 $1 18. Bb2 (18. Bxe4 Qf6 $1 $17 { This move, which attacks the a1 rook, was missed by Topalov.}) 18... Qe7 $17 { Black is two pawns up and with some care he should win the game with ease. Aronian didn't realise his advantage in the best possible manner but it was good enough.} 19. b4 a6 20. Qc2 f6 21. Rac1 Rad8 22. Bf1 Rd7 23. f3 Nd6 24. Re1 (24. Bd3 g5 25. Ng2 Nc4 26. Bxc4 dxc4 27. Rxd7 Qxd7 28. Rd1 Qe7 29. f4 { was a line suggested by Aronian in the press conference as better than what Topalov played in the game. But here the computer comes up with an anti-intuitive move that gives Black a strong advantage.} gxf4 $5 {Usually humans would never make such a move because the knight on g2 was passive and on f4 it would sit very nicely. But the engine sees that the knight on f4 cannot do much due to the bishop on f7 and Black has a huge advantage.} 30. Nxf4 Bf7 $19) 24... Qf7 25. Bd3 g5 26. Ng2 Nc4 27. f4 Nxb2 28. Qxb2 Bh3 29. a4 h6 30. b5 axb5 31. axb5 Ne7 32. Qf2 Nf5 33. Qf3 Kg7 34. Kh1 Re7 35. Rxe7 Qxe7 36. Qh5 (36. Qxd5 {is possible, but after} Rd8 37. Qe4 Qxe4 38. Bxe4 Nd6 39. Rxc7+ Rd7 40. Rxd7+ Bxd7 41. Bd5 Bxb5 $17 {Black should have excellent winning chances.}) 36... Bxg2+ 37. Kxg2 Ne3+ 38. Kg1 f5 39. Qe2 Rf6 40. Qb2 gxf4 41. gxf4 Kh7 42. Kh1 Qg7 43. Qe2 d4 44. Qf3 c6 45. bxc6 bxc6 46. h3 Rg6 47. Rb1 Rg3 48. Qh5 Qd7 49. Kh2 Rg2+ 50. Kh1 Qd5 {One can say that this was a pretty one sided affair and Topalov didn't really have a chance in the game after he was two pawns down.} 0-1