World Open: The Last Leg
Submitted by
on Mon, 07/07/2008 at 2:07am.
When we last left off, I was resting at a slightly more comfortable 2 out of 5 score, after having lost my first three games and beginning to see an upturn with wins on Thursday and Friday.
Saturday, day six of the event, saw to it that the weekend would start off with a bang as I won my 6th round against William Hook (2200) in quick fashion. With this I would like to start another newsletter, My Saturday Morning Miniatures. Unlike my earlier suggestion, this could fulfil more than a one week obligation! The game, which brought me to an even 3/6 score, is given with annotations at the end of this entry.
Unfortunately, I seemed to be in a set pattern of threes this time around as I went on to lose my last three games of the tournament. My friend and fellow Michigander, Seth Homa, related my tournament to an Oreo cookie. Dark sets of losses sandwiched around a batch of white, creamy wins.
This brought my final score at the World Open to 3/9. When players have asked how I finished, and upon giving this answer, I have so far received the reply "Oh... Well, that's not too bad." In fact, I am perfectly satisfied with the result. My goal for the event was to have a solid showing against FIDE-rated opposition. As it turns out, my opponents had an average FIDE rating of 2186. Three points against that group is not bad at all.
In other Michigan player news:
Seth Homa (2234) finished with 3.5/9 in the Open section. Scoring a solid 7 draws!
Prashantha Amarasinghe (1881) scored 2/9 playing up in the U2400.
Michael Bowersock (1808) ended the tournament with 5/9 in the U2000 section.
Jack Wood (1667), who has been making his way back from a 5 year hiatus from competitive chess, scored a whopping 6/9 in the U1800 section of the main tournament, as well as taking top prize for U1800 with 8/10 in the Sunday night Blitz Tournament! This is great representation in big events, but spells trouble for the local tournaments back home! Welcome back, Jack!
That will about wrap up this lowly player's perspectives on the World Open. I will leave the more large-scale result reporting to your major chess sources. Congratulations to all of the event winners. To all the participants and my opponents, thank you for making this a fun and respectful event. These were some of the most considerate and friendly groups of players I have ever had the pleasure to come across. My first time in the big WO certainly does not mark my last. I look forward to next year!
1. Nf3 g6
This tends to suggest that one is willing to play a Modern Defense, or at least a King's Indian.
2. d4 Nf6
Black now shows he is not interested in the theoretically risky Modern. If 2...Bg7, 3.e4!? could put Black's diligence to the test.
3. Nc3!?
This is a sneaky move order, trying to trick Black into a Pirc Defense. Not all King's Indian Defense players like to play the Pirc.
3... Bg7
If Black wants to avoid the Pirc, his best bet may be to play a tpye of Gruenfeld Defense with 3...d5. Again, not necessarily a happy place for KID'ers.
4. e4 d6 5. Be3
White begins the 150 Attack. Known for its natural attacking themes.
5... O-O 6. Qd2 c6 7. h3
White takes the quiet approach, holding back Black's development of the light-squared bishop. An immediate strike with 7.Bh6 is the main alternative. 7... Nbd7 8. e5
White becomes a bit too aggressive. Slowly building up pressure with 8.Bd3 is better and scores very well.
8... Ne8 9. O-O-O Qa5?!
This move intuitively feels wrong to me. One previous game saw White play 10.exd6 here, but I feel that taking immediate action against the orphaned e7-pawn is better.
10. Bg5 f6
To protect his impoverished e-pawn, Black has to make concessions elsewhere. With this move Black weakens his king position. Not a good sign when facing an aggressive opening! Again, I feel that 9...Qa5 is the culprit of Black's current struggles.
11. exf6 exf6 12. Bf4 d5 13. Bd3
Compare the two armies at this point. White has set up active, aggressively poised pieces to pounce on the Black kingside weaknesses (g6 and h6 stand out among these). But what has Black achieved? At the moment he would like to believe his army is prepared to hold back the coming horde. But with no activity and hardly a legal piece move, is this what Black wants from the opening?
13... Nb6
Black strains for some breathing room and the chance to finish developing. Meanwhile, White is trying to find the first hole to slip into...
14. Rhe1?!
Slightly inaccurate, though not detrimental. The other rook would be preferred, 14.Rde1, so as to leave the other rook supporting a potential pawn wedge after h3-h4-h5 -- a common attacking idea against kingside fianchetto positions.
14... Bd7
Black is developing, but doesn't seem to be making his pieces more mobile in doing so.
15. Re7
Because of his earlier misplaced rook move, White feels compelled to force a penetration. Had the other rook been played to e1 (see note for move 14), then perhaps White could afford some time in building up pressure on the kingside with h4, or g4.
15... Rf7 16. Rde1 Bf8?
Black misses an opportunity to gain some time in his defense. Better would be 16...Rxe7 17.Rxe7 Bf8, when White's rook would be forced to retreat. When defending a high-pressure attack, every breath counts.
17. Rxf7 Kxf7 18. g4
White makes use of the breath Black wasted at move 16. This move builds pressure like a low storm cloud on Black's position, restricting potential defensive pawn advances on the kingside. That having been said, Black can still seek shelter from the rain...
18... Nd6??
Black blunders the last of his defense away trying to activate his forces. Tedious defense is a hard situation to maintain, and a challenging mental state to be in. Now the lightning strikes quickly and furiously.
19. Bxd6 Bxd6
White clears the path along the important c1-h6 diagonal. The one he has aimed to make use of since move 5!
20. Qh6
Now the game is over.
20... Rg8
Other defenses fail as well. Remember those weak squares we mentioned earlier, g6 and h6? White now occupies one, and the other makes its appearance. If 20...Rh8 to defend the h7-pawn, then 21.Bxg6+! when the pawn is pinned. If 20...Kg8, then 21.Bxg6! hxg6 22.Qxg6+ Kh8 23.Qxf6+ Kg8 (23...Kh7 24.Ng5+) 24.Qxd6 when White is up 3 pawns in addition to having numerous mating threats.
21. Qxh7+
Black resigns, in light of 21...Rg7 22.Bxg6+! Kf8 23.Qh8+ Rg8 24.Qxf6# and 21...Kf8 22.Bxg6 Rxg6 (only way to meet Qf7 threats) 23.Qxg6 when Black struggles to protect against Qxf6 followed by Ng5.