Bloomington Normal Chess Club

2021.03

Downloads for 2021.03
2021.03.02.BNAK

2021.03.09.BNAK

2021.03.16.BNAK

2021.03.23.BNAK

2021.03.30.BNAK

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.30 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/tspp0K2s"] [Date "2021.03.30"] [Round "5"] [White "Lavanur, Mahendra, MlavanuR"] [Black "Sivagnanum, Kavin, Kavin9520"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "1838"] [BlackElo "1613"] [PlyCount "94"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15;5"] {MlavanuR was 1st this week on tie-break over Kavin} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Be7 {Nf6; e5 d5; ef dc;} 5. c3 d3 6. Qxd3 Nf6 7. Be3 O-O 8. Nbd2 d6 9. O-O Be6 10. Bb3 d5 11. exd5 Bxd5 12. Nd4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 {Fritz says Qe4 or Bd5. This allows a piece-winning pin.} Qd7 {Black misses the pin. Bb3 followed by c5} 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Qxd5 Qg4 {Qd5; Bd5 Rad recovers the piece} 16. Nf3 Rad8 {c6 first, says Fritz} 17. Qxb7 h5 18. Qxc7 h4 19. h3 Qh5 20. Qh2 {Why is the queen hiding under the bed? Qa7} Rde8 21. Rae1 Rd8 22. Ne5 Rde8 23. Nxf7 Rxe1 24. Rxe1 Kh7 25. Bc2+ Kg8 26. Ne5 {Fritz likes Qd6 when Rf7 is met with Bb3} Re8 27. Bb3+ Kh7 28. Nd3 {The best chance is Bc2+, but g6; Bg6+ Qg6; Ng6 Re1 leaves the king scowling at the queen. Fritz likes f4} Rxe1+ 29. Nxe1 Be5 30. f4 Qe2 31. Nf3 Qe3+ 32. Kf1 Bxf4 33. Ng5+ Kg6 34. Qxf4 Qxf4+ 35. Nf3 Qc1+ 36. Kf2 Qxb2+ 37. Kg1 Qxc3 38. Nxh4+ Kg5 39. Nf3+ Kf4 40. Kh2 Ke3 41. Ng1 Kf2 42. Nf3 Qc7+ 43. Kh1 Qg3 44. Nh4 Qxh4 45. Bd5 Qd4 46. Bf3 Qa1+ 47. Kh2 Qg1# 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.30 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/tHfiH9Em"] [Date "2021.03.30"] [Round "5"] [White "Ramamurthy, Ajitesh, Ajitesh1215"] [Black "Lavanur, Mahendra, MlavanuR"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "1554"] [BlackElo "1836"] [PlyCount "58"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15;5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Nc3 Bc5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 h6 7. Be3 Bb6 8. a4 {Since a5 just loses a pawn, this is a wasted move. I like Qd2 when the threat of Bh6 encourages Black to trade bishops.} a5 {d6 to bring out more pieces.} 9. Nb5 d6 10. c3 {consistent support for d4, but h3 preventing the pin should be considered.} Bg4 11. Rb1 Qd7 12. b4 axb4 13. cxb4 d5 14. exd5 {White now plays consistently to set up a fork on c7.} Nxd5 15. Bxd5 Qxd5 16. Bxb6 Bxf3 17. gxf3 {If Qf3 then Black could trade queens and there is no fork.} cxb6 18. Nc7 Qd6 19. Nxa8 Rxa8 20. f4 {White has an exchange plus but his pawns are swiss cheese and his king is a rat in a maze.} exf4 21. Kg2 Qg6+ 22. Kf3 {You do not want your king in the center.} Nd4+ 23. Kxf4 Qf5+ 24. Ke3 Rd8 25. Kd2 Qf4+ 26. Kc3 Qe5 27. Kb2 {Kd2 Staying in the discovered check is death.} Nb5+ 28. Kb3 Qc3+ 29. Ka2 Qa3# 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.30 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/TxKwchiS"] [Date "2021.03.30"] [Round "5"] [White "Ramkumar, Gautham, niranjanadevi"] [Black "Lavanur, Mahendra, MlavanuR"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "1690"] [BlackElo "1823"] [PlyCount "110"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15;5"] {niranjanadevi was 3rd this week} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d3 h6 6. Be3 Bb6 7. O-O Ng4 8. Qe2 d6 {Why did the knight go to g4? To threaten the bishop. So take the bishop already.} 9. h3 Nf6 {Ditto last note.} 10. Rad1 O-O 11. d4 exd4 12. Bxd4 Bxd4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Rxd4 Be6 15. Rd2 {White is flailing. You don’t look for a move. You look for a realizable plan. Rad threatening e5 or just e5 now} Qd7 16. Bd5 Rab8 17. e5 Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Rxd5 Rfe8 20. Re1 Qc6 21. Qe4 dxe5 22. Rxe5 Rxe5 23. Qxe5 Qxc2 24. Re2 Qd1+ 25. Re1 Qd6 26. Qc3 Rd8 27. Kf1 Qd3+ 28. Qxd3 Rxd3 29. Re8+ Kh7 30. Re7 Rd2 31. Rxc7 Rxb2 32. Rxf7 Rb1+ {This helps White bring the king into the action. As soon as possible, Black wants to activate his queen-side pawns. Ra2; Rb7 a5} 33. Ke2 Rb2+ 34. Kf3 Rb6 35. Re7 {Both realize that after a rook trade Black has an easy win.} Rf6+ 36. Ke3 Rb6 37. Kf3 Kg6 38. Kg4 Rb4+ 39. Kf3 Rb6 40. g3 Rb2 41. Kg2 Rxa2 42. Rxb7 a5 43. Rb6+ Kf5 44. g4+ Ke5 45. Rg6 a4 46. Rxg7 a3 47. Ra7 Ra1 48. Kg3 a2 49. Kf3 {Black threatened Rg1+ and a1/Q} Kd4 50. h4 Kc3 51. g5 hxg5 52. hxg5 Kb2 53. g6 {Kf4 Now the pawn is too far away for the king to help. Fritz points out the draw with Rb7+ Keep checking until the king is too far away to help the pawn queen.} Rg1 54. Rb7+ Kc3 55. Rc7+ Kd4 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.30 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/XQ6cskdP"] [Date "2021.03.30"] [Round "5"] [White "Sivagnanum, Kavin, Kavin9520"] [Black "Ramkumar, Gautham, niranjanadevi"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "1599"] [BlackElo "1687"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15;5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O d6 5. h3 Be6 6. Bb3 Nf6 7. d3 h6 8. Be3 Bb6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Ne1 {Qd2 to let the rooks come to the center.} Qe7 11. Qf3 Nd7 12. Qg3 Qf6 13. f4 Kh7 14. f5 Bxb3 15. axb3 Nd4 16. Nf3 {That knight was guarding c2. Nd5 to force the Black bishop off the board.} Nxc2 17. Nd5 Bxe3+ 18. Kh1 Qd8 19. f6 Nxf6 {There was a mate threat.} 20. Nxf6+ Qxf6 21. h4 {Both sides ignore the attacked rook?} Qg6 22. Ng5+ hxg5 23. Rf5 Nxa1 24. Qxe3 Qh5 25. Rxg5 Qxh4+ 26. Kg1 Qh6 27. Qg3 f6 28. Rg4 Kg8 29. Rg6 Qh7 30. Rg4 Kf7 31. Rh4 Qg8 32. Qg4 Nxb3 {It’s hard to win a won game. Protecting the king is a start. Rad} 33. Qd7+ Kg6 34. Rg4+ Kh5 35. Qf5+ g5 36. g3 Qg6 {Kh6} 37. Rh4# 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.30 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/KJEM1HLu"] [Date "2021.03.30"] [Round "5"] [White "Nagpavan, Parasa, Ved0224"] [Black "Ramkumar, Gautham, niranjanadevi"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "1586"] [BlackElo "1686"] [PlyCount "94"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15;5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. h3 Be6 7. Bb3 Bb4 8. d3 Bxc3 9. bxc3 O-O 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bh4 g5 12. Bg3 Nh5 13. Bh2 Qf6 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. d4 {Fritz points out Ne5 recovering the piece on h5} Rfd8 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Qe2 Nf4 18. Bxf4 exf4 19. Rad1 {Fritz suggests Rab or e5 instead of just abandoning the c3 pawn.} Qxc3 20. Rxd8+ Rxd8 21. Rd1 Rxd1+ 22. Qxd1 Qg7 23. h4 {Fritz says this allows g4; Ne1 g3. Pawns cannot be un-moved. He suggests Qd3 or a3} Ne5 {A little too aggressive. Of course Qd4 loses to Nf3+ but White is better after Qd8+ Kh7; Nd4 when Black cannot protect g5 and e6} 24. Qd8+ Kh7 25. Nxe5 Qxe5 26. Qd7+ Kg6 27. f3 {And now too passive. Black is still a pawn up. White should continue checking, looking for a draw.} Qc5+ 28. Kh2 Qc6 {Qd6 is much better. Black’s pawns don’t get doubled.} 29. Qxc6 bxc6 30. hxg5 hxg5 31. g4 fxg3+ {Fritz says the king-side is locked and Black has an extra pawn on the queen-side. And his king is much closer to the queen-side after Kf6} 32. Kxg3 c5 33. f4 c6 34. fxg5 {That’s a blunder. Now the White king gets crowded out. Fritz says sit on the position with Kg4. Hoping to be the crowder rather than the crowdee.} Kxg5 35. Kf3 e5 36. Ke3 {Kg3, says Fritz.} Kg4 37. c3 c4 38. Kd2 Kf4 39. Ke2 Kxe4 40. Kd2 c5 {Continue pushing the White King with Kf3} 41. Kc2 Kf3 42. a4 e4 43. Kd2 e3+ {Kf2 covering the queening square is easier} 44. Ke1 e2 45. a5 a6 46. Kd2 Kf2 47. Kc1 e1=Q+ {pawn endings are very common. It is very important to understand crowding out the enemy king.} 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.30 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/RoE5xGnr"] [Date "2021.03.30"] [Round "5"] [White "Sivagnanum, Kavin, Kavin9520"] [Black "Ramamurthy, Ajitesh, Ajitesh1215"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C40"] [WhiteElo "1608"] [BlackElo "1552"] [PlyCount "33"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15;5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Bc5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bc4 h6 {Nf6; Ng5 0-0} 5. O-O Nf6 6. d3 O-O 7. Be3 Nd4 {Who’s guarding e5? d6 was correct. Bring out all of your pieces before you attack.} 8. Nd5 d6 9. h3 Nxd5 10. Bxd5 Nxf3+ 11. Qxf3 Bxe3 12. fxe3 Qh4 {A one-piece attack is not an attack. Be6; Bb7 Rab and …Rb2} 13. Bxf7+ Rxf7 {Kh8 with Be6 to follow} 14. Qxf7+ Kh8 15. Qe8+ Kh7 16. Rf8 Bxh3 17. Rh8# 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.30 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/UINlyXPJ"] [Date "2021.03.30"] [Round "5"] [White "Viswandha, Saketh, sakethvishy"] [Black "Sivagnanum, Kavin, Kavin9520"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "1487"] [BlackElo "1608"] [PlyCount "121"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15;5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. Nc3 O-O 6. d3 h6 7. Be3 Bb6 8. Qe2 d6 9. h3 Be6 10. Bb3 Qd7 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Bxb6 axb6 13. Qe3 Qf7 14. Nb5 d5 {Fritz doesn’t like that move. Black’s e-file becomes weak. He likes Nh5 heading for f4 and perhaps a sacrifice on h3 that leaves the f3 knight vulnerable. Or perhaps Rad to support a pawn push.} 15. c3 dxe4 16. dxe4 Qg6 {Chess is a two-player game. In his eagerness to attack, Black forgets that White can also attack.} 17. Nxc7 Rac8 18. Nxe6 Nxe4 {Winning a pawn, losing a rook?} 19. Nxf8 Rxf8 20. Nh4 Qh5 21. Qxe4 Rf4 22. Qd5+ Kh7 23. g3 Qg5 24. Nf3 Qf5 25. gxf4 Qxf4 26. Qd3+ e4 27. Qc4 Qxf3 28. Rfe1 Ne5 29. Qc7 Nd3 30. Rf1 Nf4 31. Qxf4 Qxf4 32. Rad1 Qg5+ 33. Kh2 Qf4+ 34. Kg1 Qf3 35. Rd7 e3 36. fxe3 Qxe3+ 37. Rf2 Qxh3 38. Rxb7 h5 39. Rxb6 Qe3 40. Ra6 h4 41. Ra5 Qg3+ 42. Rg2 Qe1+ {Qe3+ keep many checks possible.} 43. Kh2 g6 44. Ra7+ Kh6 45. Ra6 Qe5+ 46. Kh3 Kh5 {Check and keep checking looking for a fork while the rooks are separated.} 47. Raxg6 Qe3+ 48. Kh2 Qf4+ 49. Kh1 Qf3 50. Kg1 Qd1+ {Qe3+ This time it is critical. Black is out of checks.} 51. Kh2 h3 52. Kxh3 Qf1 53. Rg8 Qh1+ 54. Kg3 Qe1+ 55. Kh2 Qe5+ 56. Kg1 Qe1+ 57. Kh2 Qe5+ 58. R8g3 Qf4 59. Kh1 Qc1+ {Qf1+ but then Rg1 Qf5 stops Rh3 mate but allows Rg5 trading off all the pieces and leaving White with three passed pawns.} 60. Rg1 Kh4 61. R3g2 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.30 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/bp7pIBwX"] [Date "2021.03.30"] [Round "5"] [White "Ramamurthy, Ajitesh, Ajitesh1215"] [Black "Nagpavan, Parasa, Ved022"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "1559"] [BlackElo "1545"] [PlyCount "50"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15;5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bc5 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 h6 7. Be3 Bb6 8. a3 d6 9. b4 {h3 to prevent the pin} Bg4 10. a4 a6 {Nb4} 11. b5 axb5 12. Bxb5 Bxe3 13. fxe3 Nb4 14. Rb1 Na6 15. Qd2 Qe7 16. Qf2 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Nc5 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. exd5 Nxa4 20. Bxa4 Rxa4 21. Rxb7 Ra2 22. Rfb1 Raa8 23. R1b4 Ra1+ 24. Kf2 Qh4+ 25. Ke2 {Rh4} Qe1# 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.30 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/usEkCqCA"] [Date "2021.03.30"] [Round "5"] [White "Ramamurthy, Ajitesh, Ajitesh1215"] [Black "Nagpavan, Parasa, Ved022"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "1547"] [BlackElo "1552"] [PlyCount "71"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15;5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bc5 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 h6 7. h3 d6 8. Be3 Bb6 9. Qc1 {Qd2 is better because it lets the rooks come to the center.} g5 {Those pawns are supposed to be protecting the king. Be3 removes an attacking piece.} 10. Bxg5 hxg5 11. Qxg5+ Kh7 12. Nh4 Rg8 {Turning back the sacrificial attack.} 13. Qd2 Bxh3 14. g3 {Forgetting that the f-pawn is pinned.} Rxg3+ 15. Kh2 Bxf1 16. fxg3 Ng4+ 17. Kh1 Nf2+ 18. Kg1 {Kh2 Now the discovered check costs the queen.} Nxe4+ 19. Qf2 Bxf2+ 20. Kxf1 Nd4 {Bg3 offers to trade knights. Fritz points out Ng3+; Kf2 Qh5} 21. Nxe4 Nxc2 22. Rc1 Ne3+ 23. Kxf2 Nxc4 24. Rxc4 d5 25. Ra4 dxe4 26. Rxe4 f6 27. Nf5 Qxd3 28. Rh4+ Kg6 29. Ne7+ Kg5 30. Kg2 Qe2+ 31. Kh3 Qxb2 32. Rg4+ Kh5 33. Rh4+ Kg5 34. Rg4+ Kh6 35. Rg6+ Kh5 36. g4# {resourceful play by White} 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.30 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/I9Kdwiti"] [Date "2021.03.30"] [Round "5"] [White "Nagpavan, Parasa, Ved0224"] [Black "Viswandha, Saketh, sakethvishy"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "1459"] [BlackElo "1491"] [PlyCount "18"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15;5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4 4. Nxe5 {I commented on this last week. Nd4 ed; c3. Those who will not learn from history are condemned to repeat it.} Qg5 5. Nxf7 Qxg2 6. Rf1 Qxe4+ 7. Qe2 Nxe2 8. Nxh8 Nc3+ 9. Be2 Qxe2# 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.23 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/cvI7Cbwc"] [Date "2021.03.23"] [Round "4"] [White "Upadhyay, Anshuman, FirstCamel"] [Black "Ramkumar, Gautham, niranjanadevi"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A28"] [WhiteElo "955"] [BlackElo "954"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15; 5"] {FirstCamel was 1st this week. niranjanadevi was 3rd.} 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. e4 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. Be2 d6 6. O-O Be6 7. Ng5 h6 8. Nxe6 fxe6 9. Bh5+ Kf8 10. Qf3 Nd4 11. Qh3 Nxh5 12. Qxh5 Qf6 13. d3 g6 14. Qh3 Kg7 15. Nb5 {Fritz doesn’t like that move. Be3 or Rb1. Develop all the pieces} Nxb5 16. cxb5 Raf8 17. Be3 c6 {This leaves Black with serious weaknesses on the c-file. Be3 or Bd4} 18. bxc6 bxc6 19. Bxc5 dxc5 20. Qe3 Qe7 21. Rac1 Rf4 {That does nothing about the storm on the c-file. Rd8; Rc5 Rd3} 22. Rxc5 Qd6 23. Rfc1 Rc8 24. Ra5 Rf7 25. Rxa7 Qd4 26. Qxd4 exd4 27. Rxf7+ Kxf7 28. e5 Rb8 29. b3 Rb6 30. f4 Ra6 31. Rc2 g5 32. fxg5 {g3 to help protect e5} hxg5 33. Rf2+ Kg6 {Ke7 would keep the White rook out} 34. Rf6+ Kh5 35. h3 Rxa2 36. Rxe6 Rc2 37. Re8 Kh4 38. Kh2 g4 {White threatened Rh8 mate!} 39. Rh8+ Kg5 40. h4+ Kf4 {Black has no mate and Kf5 was needed to stop the e-pawn.} 41. e6 g3+ 42. Kh3 Rc1 43. Rf8+ {Black had a mate threat!} Ke5 44. e7 {An exciting game with both kings in jeopardy at the end.} 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.23 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/IzcBvm2X"] [Date "2021.03.23"] [Round "4"] [White "Ramkumar, Gautham, niranjanadevi"] [Black "Viswanadha, Saketh, sakethvishy"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "954"] [BlackElo "000"] [PlyCount "184"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15; 5"] {sakethvishy was 2nd this week.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d3 h6 6. Be3 Bb6 7. Bb5 {Attacking the e-pawn, but White is better after 0-0 or Qd2 with 000 to follow} O-O 8. Bxc6 dxc6 9. O-O {Ne5 is the obvious follow-up to BxN} Bg4 10. h3 Bh5 11. Bxb6 axb6 12. g4 Bg6 13. Nxe5 Nd7 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. f4 Bh7 16. Qf3 Qd4+ 17. Kh2 h5 {Why are you giving away a pawn and opening a file leading to your king?} 18. Qf2 {And why didn’t you take it?} Qf6 19. e5 Qh6 20. f5 {Qg3 first. Fritz suggests Qh4} hxg4 21. Qg3 Qd2+ {Qh3+ Now White could play Rf2 Qh6; Qg4} 22. Qg2 Qxg2+ 23. Kxg2 gxh3+ 24. Kxh3 Rfe8 25. d4 Rad8 26. Rad1 c5 27. Nb5 cxd4 28. Rxd4 Rxd4 29. Nxd4 Rxe5 30. f6 c5 31. Nb5 Bf5+ 32. Kg3 c4 {Bc2} 33. Nd6 Bxc2 34. Nxc4 Rg5+ 35. Kh4 Rg6 36. fxg7 Kxg7 37. Ne5 Rh6+ 38. Kg5 {chess is a cruel game} f6+ 39. Kf4 fxe5+ 40. Kxe5 Rh5+ 41. Ke6 Rh6+ 42. Ke7 Rh4 43. Rg1+ Bg6 44. Rc1 Re4+ 45. Kd7 Bf5+ 46. Kd6 Re6+ 47. Kd5 Kf6 48. Rc7 Be4+ 49. Kd4 Bh1 50. Rh7 Re4+ 51. Kd3 Bf3 52. Rh3 Bg2 53. Rg3 Bh1 54. Rg1 Rh4 55. Rf1+ Ke5 56. Re1+ Kd5 57. Rg1 Rh3+ 58. Kc2 Be4+ 59. Kd2 Rd3+ 60. Ke2 Kd4 61. Rg7 Bf3+ 62. Kf2 Ke4 63. Re7+ Kf4 64. Rf7+ Ke4 65. Re7+ Kd4 66. Rd7+ Ke4 67. Rxd3 {I watched this and thought, no, if you win the bishop you lose the game.} Kxd3 68. Kxf3 Kc4 {Kc2 is not quite as good as I thought. Ke4 Kb2; Kd4 Ka2; Kc4 and White eats the last 2 pawns for a draw.} 69. Ke2 Kb4 70. Kd2 b5 71. Kc2 {Kd3} Kc4 72. b3+ Kb4 73. Kb2 b6 74. a3+ Ka5 75. Kc3 Ka6 {Fritz shows b4+; ab+ Kb5 is still drawing} 76. b4 {Kb4 wins the first pawn. This should only draw} Kb7 77. Kd4 Kc6 78. Kc3 {Ke5 to push back the enemy king} Kc7 79. Kd4 Kb7 {Kd6 Don’t let him squeeze you into a little box} 80. Kd5 Ka6 {Kc7 still draws} 81. Kc6 Ka7 82. Kxb5 Kb7 83. a4 Ka7 84. Kc6 Ka6 85. Kc7 b5 86. a5 Ka7 87. Kc6 Ka6 88. Kd5 {Kc5 wins the second pawn and the game} Ka7 89. Kc5 Ka6 90. Kd6 Ka7 91. Kc6 Ka6 92. Kc7 Ka7 {Studying endings will win you a lot more games than studying openings.} 1/2-1/2 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.23 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/BM6HNwHP"] [Date "2021.03.23"] [Round "4"] [White "Prabakarn, Ishanth, IshanthP"] [Black "Ramkumar, Gautham, niranjanadevi"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C20"] [WhiteElo "719"] [BlackElo "954"] [PlyCount "92"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15; 5"] 1. c4 e5 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d3 h6 5. Nf3 Bc5 6. h3 d6 7. Be3 Bb4 {Fritz says Black is better after Be3 or Nd4. Now White is slightly favored.} 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 O-O 10. Be2 Be6 11. O-O Qe7 12. d4 exd4 13. cxd4 Bd7 14. d5 Ne5 15. Nxe5 Qxe5 16. Bd4 Qe7 {Fritz would take the e-pawn and accept getting the queen chased or the king-side busted open. A pawn is worth a little trouble.} 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Bd3 Qg5 19. Qf3 f5 20. exf5 Bxf5 21. Bxf5 Rxf5 22. Qe3 Qg6 23. Qe6+ {The queens are a trade, but the resulting pawn on e6 is lost.} Qxe6 24. dxe6 Re8 25. Rfe1 Re5 26. Rxe5 dxe5 27. Rb1 b6 28. Rc1 Rxe6 29. a4 e4 30. c5 Rc6 31. Rd1 Rxc5 32. Rd8+ {Why help the opponent develop? Rd4} Kf7 33. Rd4 Re5 34. Rd7+ Re7 35. Rxe7+ {You can’t trade into an ending two pawns down.} Kxe7 36. Kf1 Ke6 37. Ke2 Ke5 38. Ke3 c6 39. f4+ Kd5 {take in passing to remove the only Black weakness and leave Black with passed pawns in the ending.} 40. g4 b5 41. axb5 cxb5 42. h4 b4 43. Kd2 b3 44. Kc3 e3 {Take your pick, says Black. One will queen} 45. Kxb3 e2 46. Kc2 e1=Q 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.23 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/DVWu2xpq"] [Date "2021.03.23"] [Round "4"] [White "Ramkumar, Gautham, niranjanadevi"] [Black "Viswanadha, Saketh, sakethvishy"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "954"] [BlackElo "000"] [PlyCount "52"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15; 5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Be7 {Too passive. Nf6 e5; d5 Make White prove he has something for the pawn.} 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. O-O c5 {Fritz suggests d6 to prevent e5} 9. f4 Bb7 10. e5 Ne8 11. Qg4 Bh4 {d5 or d6. The bishop is endangered for no reason.} 12. g3 {f5 would threaten f6 leaving the bishop unprotected} d5 13. Bxd5 {Fritz says Rd1 and White has 3 attackers on d5 to Black’s 2 defenders. And there is still the bishop on h4 to consider.} Bxd5 14. Nxd5 Qxd5 15. Qxh4 Qd4+ 16. Kh1 {Fritz gives Rf2 Qd1+; Kg2 Qd5+; Kh3 with advantage to White.} Qe4+ 17. Kg1 Qd4+ 18. Kg2 Qe4+ 19. Rf3 Qxc2+ 20. Rf2 Qe4+ 21. Rf3 Qc2+ 22. Rf2 Qe4+ 23. Kf1 Qd3+ 24. Re2 Qf3+ 25. Ke1 Qh1+ 26. Kf2 Qe4 {Mousing error? White was about to break his pieces free after Qd5; Be3 and Black’s pieces are still tied up.} 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.23 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/DCCRRpUk"] [Date "2021.03.23"] [Round "4"] [White "Ramkumar, Gautham, niranjanadevi"] [Black "Viswanadha, Saketh, sakethvishy"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "954"] [BlackElo "000"] [PlyCount "12"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15; 5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4 4. Nxe5 {Losing. I talked about Black’s opening last week, but I did not tell how to meet it. 4. Nd4 ed; c3 dc; dc and White has a vast lead in development.} Qg5 5. Bxf7+ Ke7 6. Bxg8 {Now 0-0 giving Black a piece. This is worse} Qxg2 {White resigned in view of Rf1 Qe4+; Qe2 Qe2 mate. Fritz points out d3 Qh1+; Kd7 Qh2 which is also resignable.} 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

We switched from G/10 to G/15 this week. Fewer games, but better games. That’s why there are more games this week.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.16 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/hqZTg2aV"] [Date "2021.03.16"] [Round "3"] [White "Ramamurthy, Ajitesh, Ajitesh"] [Black "Sivagnanam, Kavin, Kavin"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "687"] [BlackElo "827"] [PlyCount "34"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15; 5"] {Kavin came first in this arena, winning 5 of his 10! games} 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 h6 7. h3 d6 8. Nh4 {A knight on the rim looks grim. This allows Black to make a temporary sacrifice to win a pawn.} Nxe4 9. Nxe4 Qxh4 10. Nxc5 dxc5 11. Qf3 Be6 12. Bb3 Nd4 13. Qxb7 Bxh3 {This is a real sacrifice, and Black has the knight to back it up.} 14. g3 {gh Qh3 with a deadly knight coming to f3 or e2} Qg4 15. Re1 Nf3+ 16. Kh1 Qh5 17. Bd5 Bf1# 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.16 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/0sJtVuje"] [Date "2021.03.16"] [Round "3"] [White "Ramamurthy, Ajitesh, Ajitesh"] [Black "Lavanur, Mahendra, MlavanuR"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "687"] [BlackElo "800"] [PlyCount "98"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15; 5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 h6 6. Nc3 d6 7. h3 O-O 8. Be3 Bb6 9. Nd5 Be6 10. c3 Bxd5 11. Bxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Ne7 13. c4 Nf5 14. Qd2 Qf6 15. b3 Qg6 16. a4 a5 17. g3 Qxg3+ 18. fxg3 Bxe3+ 19. Qxe3 Nxe3 20. Rfe1 {Fritz says Rf2 or Rfc to avoid Nc2} Nf5 21. g4 Ne7 22. d4 Ng6 {f6 would provide a third defender to match white’s three attackers on e5.} 23. dxe5 dxe5 24. Nxe5 Nxe5 25. Rxe5 f6 {Rfe Black should fight for the e-file} 26. Re6 {Re7 gains a tempo for Rae} Rfe8 27. Rxe8+ {Rae Now Black gets the only open file. Think ahead to the next move.} Rxe8 28. Kg2 {Kf2 keeps the rook out} Re3 29. Kf2 {Rb1 Now Black can choose which pawn he wants} Rxb3 30. Re1 Rxh3 31. Re7 Rh4 {Ra3 Now Kg3 and White’s rook will gobble pawns.} 32. Rxc7 Rxg4 33. Rxb7 {d6 will cost Black a rook, says Fritz} Rxc4 34. Rb8+ {Black’s king wants to go to the center. This helps him.} Kf7 35. Rb7+ Ke8 36. Rxg7 Rxa4 37. Rg6 Ra2+ 38. Ke3 f5 39. Rxh6 a4 40. d6 a3 41. Rh7 Ra1 42. d7+ Kd8 43. Kd3 a2 44. Rh2 Rd1+ {This is a trick worth knowing to queen the pawn.} 45. Kc3 a1=Q+ 46. Kc4 Qd4+ 47. Kb5 Rb1+ 48. Ka5 Qb4+ 49. Ka6 Qb6# 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.16 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/3PopH1ka"] [Date "2021.03.16"] [Round "3"] [White "Ramkumar, Gautham, niranjanadevi"] [Black "Sivagnanam, Kavin, Kavin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "954"] [BlackElo "827"] [PlyCount "109"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15; 5"] {Niranjanadevi came second this week, playing only 4 games, but winning all 4 of them including 2 against Kavin} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 {Nf6 or Bb4+} 5. c3 d3 6. Qxd3 d6 7. h3 Nf6 8. Bg5 O-O 9. O-O h6 10. Bf4 Be6 11. Bb3 Qd7 12. Bc2 Nh5 13. Bd2 {e5 threatens mate and g6 allows Bh6. Black should respond with f5} Bxh3 {Fritz can’t decide if that’s a blunder or just a mistake. The resulting position is difficult, but favors White.} 14. gxh3 Qxh3 15. Nh2 Ng3 {But that’s definitely a mistake. White should respond Bf4} 16. Qf3 Ne5 17. Qg2 Qh4 {A trade on g2 followed by a trade on f1 would even up the material. Black wants more.} 18. Be3 {logical, but Fritz says just get the rook out of trouble and Black is down a piece.} Ne2+ 19. Kh1 Qh5 20. Bxc5 {Bd1 Fritz says Black is over-extended.} dxc5 21. f3 Nf4 22. Qg3 Nh3 {Neg6, says Fritz. Now Black loses a piece.} 23. Bd1 f5 24. f4 Nf2+ {With both knights and the queen attacked, Black makes a desperate sacrifice. After Qf2 Black could resign} 25. Rxf2 Qxd1+ 26. Qg1 Qh5 {The queen trade is forced. The rest is technique.} 27. fxe5 fxe4 28. Rxf8+ Rxf8 29. Qg4 Rf1+ 30. Kg2 Rf2+ 31. Kxf2 Qxh2+ 32. Qg2 Qf4+ 33. Kg1 e3 34. Na3 Qxe5 35. Re1 a6 36. Nc4 Qe6 37. b3 b5 38. Nxe3 c4 39. Qd5 Qxd5 40. Nxd5 cxb3 41. axb3 a5 42. Nxc7 a4 43. bxa4 bxa4 44. Nb5 Kf7 45. Ra1 Kf6 46. Rxa4 Kf5 47. Kf2 g5 48. Kf3 Kg6 49. Re4 Kh5 50. Nd6 Kg6 51. Kg4 h5+ 52. Kg3 h4+ 53. Kh3 Kh5 54. c4 Kg6 55. c5 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.16 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/QPSZwIUJ"] [Date "2021.03.16"] [Round "3"] [White "Sivagnanam, Kavin, Kavin"] [Black "Viswanadha, Saketh, sakethvishy"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "827"] [BlackElo "000"] [PlyCount "14"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15; 5"] {This is an interesting little trap.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4 4. Nxe5 Qg5 5. Nxf7 Qxg2 6. Rf1 Qxe4+ 7. Be2 Nf3# 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.16 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/4NkrkIKX"] [Date "2021.03.16"] [Round "3"] [White "Lavanur, Mahendra, MlavanuR"] [Black "Parasu, Nagpavan, Ved0224"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C30"] [WhiteElo "800"] [BlackElo "588"] [PlyCount "112"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15; 5"] {Ved came 3rd in his first arena, winning 3 of 6 games} 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Bd7 5. Nc3 f6 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Bxb5 9. Nxb5 Nh6 10. O-O Be7 11. Bd2 O-O {c6 first to drive back the knight and then 0-0} 12. Qc4+ Nf7 13. Nxc7 {losing a piece. Qc7 Qc7; Nc7 Rac; Nd5 and White has time for c3 or Bc3 with a pawn plus.} Rc8 14. Ne6 Rxc4 15. Nxd8 Rxd8 16. Bc3 Rxe4 17. Rad1 Ra4 18. a3 f5 19. Rfe1 Bh4 20. Re3 {g3 drives the bishop back and protects f4} Rxf4 21. Rh3 Bf2+ 22. Kh1 Ng5 23. Rhd3 Nf7 24. g3 Rg4 25. Rf3 Bc5 26. Rxf5 Ng5 {Now the pin lets White recover the piece.} 27. Rxc5 Nh3 28. Rh5 {Rf5 protects both rooks.} Nf2+ 29. Kg2 Nxd1 30. Rd5 Nxc3 31. bxc3 Ra4 32. Rb5 b6 33. Rb3 Re8 34. Kf3 Rf8+ 35. Ke3 Re8+ 36. Kf3 Rf8+ 37. Ke3 Rf1 38. Ke2 Ra1 39. Rb5 R4xa3 40. Rd5 Rxc3 41. Kd2 Rc4 {Rc6 protects the pawn} 42. Rxd6 Rh1 43. Rd8+ Kf7 44. Kd3 Ra4 45. Rd7+ Ke6 46. Rxg7 Rd1+ {Rh2} 47. Ke2 Rh1 48. Rxh7 a5 49. Ke3 Re1+ 50. Kd3 Rd1+ 51. Ke3 Ra3+ 52. Ke2 Rc1 53. Rh6+ Kf5 54. Rxb6 Rxc2+ 55. Kd1 Rxh2 56. Ra6 Ra1# 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.16 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/dxdNBelS"] [Date "2021.03.16"] [Round "3"] [White "Viswanadha, Saketh, sakethvishy"] [Black "Parasu, Nagpavan, Ved0224"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "000"] [BlackElo "588"] [PlyCount "113"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15; 5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bc5 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 h6 7. Be3 Bb6 8. Qe2 d6 9. h3 Bd7 10. Bb5 Qe7 11. Bxc6 Bxc6 12. Rae1 Ba5 13. Bd2 Bxc3 14. Bxc3 Qe6 15. d4 Qxa2 {Fritz says Ne4 and there is no fork} 16. dxe5 {And now Ra1 forces the queen back into the fork} dxe5 17. Bxe5 Qe6 18. Bxc7 Bxe4 19. Nd4 Qd5 20. Rd1 Qd7 {Fritz likes Bg2} 21. Nb5 Qc6 22. Rd6 Qxc2 23. Rd2 Qc5 {stepping into a fork. Qc6 would threaten g2} 24. Bd6 Qb6 {Qg5 looks good, but f4 leaves White ahead} 25. Bxf8 Rxf8 26. Rd6 Qa5 27. Qc4 a6 28. Nd4 {Hard to believe centralizing a piece is a blunder, but Fritz found Qe5; Rb6 Qg5; g3 Nd5; Rd6 Ne3 favoring Black. the knight had to retreat to the third rank.} Qd2 29. Nf5 Qxb2 {Now Fritz points out Rf6 followed by Qe4 wins two pieces for a rook. This is even better after Black’s next move.} 30. Ne7+ Kh7 31. f3 Bc2 {And now Black steps into a pin.} 32. Rf2 Qc1+ {stepping from one pin into another. Qb1+ would let the bishop escape.} 33. Rf1 {Kh2. Now Black can trade pieces.} Qe3+ 34. Rf2 Qxe7 35. Qxc2+ g6 36. Rfd2 Qe1+ 37. Kh2 Qe5+ 38. Kg1 Qe1+ 39. Kh2 Qe5+ 40. g3 h5 41. f4 Qe1 {leaving the poor knight to die? Qe7} 42. Rxf6 h4 43. gxh4 Qxh4 44. Qb2 Kg7 45. Rxa6+ {Winning a pawn is good, but a discovered check should be worth more. Rg6+ Kg6; Rg2+ and Kf5; Qe5 is mate or Kh7; Qg7 is mate or Kh6; Qg7+ Kh6; Qh7 is mate.} Kh7 46. Qxb7 {Ra4} Qxf4+ 47. Kg1 Qxd2 48. Qe4 Qd1+ 49. Kh2 Qd2+ 50. Kh1 Qd1+ 51. Kg2 Qd2+ 52. Kg1 Qc1+ 53. Kf2 f5 {Yikes! Keep checking. Now Black’s king is the one being hunted.} 54. Ra7+ Kg8 55. Qd5+ Kh8 56. Qe5+ Kg8 57. Qg7# 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.16 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/hiSKKcWD"] [Date "2021.03.16"] [Round "3"] [White "Parasu, Nagpavan, Ved0224"] [Black "Sivagnanam, Kavin, Kavin"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "588"] [BlackElo "827"] [PlyCount "38"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/15; 5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. Nc3 O-O 6. d3 h6 7. Bd2 d6 8. h3 Be6 9. Bb3 Qd7 10. Qe2 {Be3 This invites the sacrificial attack on h3. Fritz says that attack is unsound} Bxh3 11. gxh3 Qxh3 12. Nd5 Nh5 13. Ba4 {Fritz says Be3 and Black’s attack vanishes} Ng3 14. Nh2 {there was a mate on h1} Nxe2+ 15. Kh1 Ncd4 16. Ne7+ Kh8 17. Rg1 Nxg1 18. Nd5 Ndf3 19. Ne3 Qxh2# 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.09 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/VApsZCRO"] [Date "2021.03.09"] [Round "2"] [White "Uphadhyay, Anshuman, FirstCamel"] [Black "Ramkumar, Gautham, niranjanadevi"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "953"] [BlackElo "954"] [PlyCount "89"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/10; 5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. c3 Nf6 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Nxe4 8. Bxb4 Nxb4 9. Bxf7+ Kxf7 10. Qb3+ d5 11. Qxb4 Re8 12. Ne5+ Kg8 13. O-O Qe7 14. Qxe7 Rxe7 15. f3 Nf6 16. Nc3 Bd7 17. Rae1 Rae8 18. Kf2 c6 19. Nxd7 Nxd7 {Note that Re1 loses to Nf6+ and then Re1} 20. Rxe7 Rxe7 21. Re1 Rxe1 22. Kxe1 Nb6 23. b3 Kf7 24. Ke2 Ke6 25. Ke3 g5 26. g4 h6 27. f4 gxf4+ 28. Kxf4 Kf6 29. h4 Nd7 30. g5+ hxg5+ 31. hxg5+ Kg6 32. Ne2 c5 {Note that Nf8 heading for e6) meets Kg4 Ne6 Nf4+ with an easy win.} 33. Kg4 b5 34. Nf4+ Kg7 35. dxc5 Nxc5 36. Nxd5 Nd3 37. Nc7 b4 38. Nd5 a5 39. Ne3 Nc1 40. Nc4 a4 {this loses quickly. Black’s best chance is Na2. Trade off all the queen-side pawns and then hope to trade the knight for White’s last pawn.} 41. bxa4 Nxa2 42. a5 b3 43. a6 Nb4 44. a7 b2 45. Nxb2 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.09 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/4qFjspbE"] [Date "2021.03.09"] [Round "2"] [White "Ramkumar, Gautham, niranjanadevi"] [Black "Sivagnanum, Kavin, Kavin9520"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "954"] [BlackElo "827"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/10; 5"] {Kavin was 1st in this arena, niranjanadevi was 3rd} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 h6 7. Be3 Bb6 8. Nd5 Nxd5 9. Bxd5 Nd4 10. Bxd4 Bxd4 11. c3 Bb6 12. Qd2 d6 13. h3 Qf6 14. Nh2 Qg6 15. Kh1 Qh5 16. f4 Bxh3 {where are the pieces to back up this sacrifice?} 17. gxh3 Qxh3 18. Qg2 Qxd3 19. f5 {Black has 3 pawns for the piece, but White has a powerful attack. Kh7 is needed now so that f6 can be met with g6.} c6 20. f6 g6 21. Rf3 {Qg6+ is mate next. Pins are powerful} Qb5 22. c4 Qa4 23. Ra3 Qb4 24. Rg3 g5 {Kh7, but then Rag and the rooks come crashing through} 25. Rxg5+ hxg5 26. Qxg5+ Kh8 27. Qg7# 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.09 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/TKbBr6oh"] [Date "2021.03.09"] [Round "2"] [White "Vishwanadha, Saketh, sakethvishy"] [Black "Ramkumar, Gautham, niranjanadevi"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "0000"] [BlackElo "954"] [PlyCount "40"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/10; 5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. Nc3 O-O 6. d3 h6 7. Be3 Bb6 8. h3 d6 9. Bb3 Bxe3 10. fxe3 Nh7 11. d4 exd4 12. exd4 Qe7 13. d5 Ne5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5 15. Qf3 Ng5 16. Qd3 f5 17. Rfe1 {The other rook isn’t doing anything. Rae1} f4 18. h4 f3 19. Rf1 Qg3 20. hxg5 {pity. I would have liked to see if niranjanadevi would have found Qd2 f2+; Rf2 Nh3+; Kf1 Rf2+; Qf2 Qf2 mate} Qxg2# 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.09 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/6bL3hXjy"] [Date "2021.03.09"] [Round "2"] [White "Sivagnanum, Kavin, Kavin9520"] [Black "Lavanur, Mahendra, MlavanuR"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "827"] [BlackElo "800"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/10; 5"] {MlavanuR was 2nd in this arena} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Be3 Bb6 7. Nc3 h6 8. h3 d6 9. Bb3 Be6 10. Ne1 Qd7 11. Qf3 Rad8 12. Qg3 Nh5 13. Qh4 Bxb3 14. axb3 Bxe3 15. fxe3 g6 16. Nd5 f5 17. exf5 Rxf5 18. Rxf5 Qxf5 19. Ne7+ {Qd8+ Nd8; Ne7+ and NxQ wins an exchange} Nxe7 20. Qxe7 Rf8 21. Nf3 Rf7 22. Qd8+ Kg7 23. Nh4 {The impatient knight throws open the gates to the castle. Ra7 is better.} Qf2+ 24. Kh1 Qxc2 25. Rxa7 Qxb2 {Now the queen is out of play. Qc1+; Kh2 Qe3; Ra8 Qf4+ should draw with winning chances for Black.} 26. Ra8 Rf1+ {That’s the losing move. Fritz says Ng3+; Kh2 Nf1+; Kh1 Ng3+ with perpetual check.} 27. Kh2 Rf7 28. Qh8# 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.09 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/etQ3K9Zf"] [Date "2021.03.09"] [Round "2"] [White "Ramamurthy, Ajitesh, Ajitesh"] [Black "Sivagnanum, Kavin, Kavin9520"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "657"] [BlackElo "827"] [PlyCount "56"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/10; 5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Nf3 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. h3 {d3 or Nc3 to protect e4} O-O 6. Nc3 h6 {Fritz points out that this is not really necessary as d6; Bg5 Be6 meets the threat of Nd5 leaving Black a smidgen ahead.} 7. d3 d6 8. Be3 Bb6 {Although this is the move I usually play, it is not the strongest move. Fritz says Be3 is better.} 9. a4 Bd4 {Running from shadows. White can’t play a5. Be6 or Re8} 10. Bxd4 Nxd4 11. Nxd4 exd4 12. Nb5 c6 {c5 protecting d4} 13. Nxd4 d5 14. exd5 cxd5 15. Bb3 Nh7 {Black is down a pawn. He needs to be developing pieces, not undeveloping them. Fritz suggests Re8 or Qa5.} 16. Nf3 {On Qf3 Fritz gives Qf6; c3 Qf3; Nf3} Ng5 17. Nxg5 Qxg5 18. Qf3 Be6 19. c4 {Black has a weakness in the isolated d-pawn. This allows him to trade it away. White could double rooks on the e-file.} dxc4 20. dxc4 b6 21. Qd3 {Bring the rooks to the center. White’s queen moves cost him a piece.} Rad8 22. Qe4 Bf5 23. Qf3 Rd3 24. Qb7 Bxh3 {Rb3} 25. g3 Bg4 {Take the bishop or take the rook. Black sees a mate, but Bd1 now would save all of White’s pieces.} 26. Bc2 Bf3 {Trade you a rook for a queen.} 27. Qxa7 Qh5 {Make that a king} 28. Bxd3 Qh1# 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "BNAK 2021.03.09 Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/UOrsrhAz"] [Date "2021.03.09"] [Round "2"] [White "Ramamurthy, Ajitesh, Ajitesh"] [Black "Sivagnanum, Kavin, Kavin9520"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "657"] [BlackElo "827"] [PlyCount "118"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/10; 5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 {There are two main lines. Nf6; e5 d5 is one. Bb4+ is the other. I have played Bc5. It is not good enough.} 5. Ng5 d3 {The lines here are complicated with sacrifices and counter-sacrifices. Nh6 and Ne5 are both played. Note that after taking on f7 twice, White has Qh5+ to pick off the bishop on c5.} 6. Nxf7 Qh4 7. O-O d5 {Fritz gives Nf6; Nh8 Ng4 with two attacks on h2 and 3 on f2.} 8. Bxd5 Nf6 9. Nxh8 Ng4 10. Bf7+ Kf8 11. h3 Nxf2 12. Rxf2 {Fritz points out that Bb3 pins the deadly knight!} Bxf2+ {Fritz says Bf2+ is equal, but Qf2+ is mate in 15!} 13. Kh1 {Kf1. Now Black has a killer sacrifice.} Bxh3 14. Qf3 Bxg2+ {Bg4+ wins both queen and king} 15. Kxg2 Ke7 16. Qxf2 Qg4+ 17. Kf1 Qd1+ 18. Qe1 Qf3+ 19. Kg1 Qe2 {You can’t trade when you are that far behind. Rh8} 20. Qxe2 dxe2 21. Kf2 Nd4 22. Nc3 {Na3} Nxc2 23. Rb1 {Bg5+ and then Rc1} e1=Q+ 24. Kf3 Nd4+ 25. Kf4 {Kg2 White’s only chance is Bg5+ winning the queen} Qf1+ 26. Ke5 Qf6+ {Fritz is showing mate in 9. It was mate in 4 after Nc6+} 27. Kd5 Rd8+ 28. Kc4 Qf1+ 29. Kb4 a5+ 30. Ka3 Nc2+ 31. Kb3 a4+ 32. Kxa4 {Kc2 Qd3 is mate} Qa6+ 33. Kb3 Nd4+ 34. Kb4 c5+ 35. Kxc5 Rc8+ {Worried about a bishop skewer, Black drops a piece.} 36. Kxd4 Qd6+ 37. Ke3 Rxh8 38. Bd5 Qg3+ 39. Kd4 Qg1+ 40. Be3 Qg2 41. Bxb7 Rd8+ 42. Kc4 Qc2 43. Bg5+ {And there’s the skewer Black was worried about.} Ke8 44. Bc6+ Rd7 45. Bxd7+ Kxd7 46. Rd1+ Kc6 47. b3 Qf2 48. Rd2 Qc5+ {The danger of letting the pieces get separated – a fork.} 49. Kd3 Qxg5 50. Kc2 h5 {White has no way to stop the pawns on the other side of the board.} 51. a4 h4 52. a5 h3 53. a6 Kb6 54. Rd6+ Ka7 55. Rd1 h2 56. Ne2 Qg2 57. Kd3 h1=Q 58. Rxh1 Qxh1 59. b4 Kxa6 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

There were 8 players in this simul. Two stopped responding after just a few moves. FirstCamel had homework. Here are the best games from the rest of the event. Special congratulations to Srihit Bayyarapu who got a draw.

[Event "JosephOAlford 2021.03.02 simul"] [Site "https://lichess.org/v9RwceeJ"] [Date "2021.03.02"] [Round "0"] [White "Bayyarapu, Srihit, srihitchess"] [Black "JosephOAlford"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C45"] [WhiteElo "890"] [BlackElo "1920"] [PlyCount "46"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/60; 5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nb3 Bb6 6. Nc3 Qf6 7. Qe2 Nge7 8. Be3 O-O 9. O-O-O d6 10. h4 Bxe3+ {Fritz says, what’s the hurry? Bd7 and bring the rooks to the center.} 11. Qxe3 Ne5 {Again, premature. a6 or Be6. I did consider Bd7 to protect b5.} 12. f3 N5g6 {Black is stuck on this idea that he has to do something. a6 or Be6 are still the best moves.} 13. g3 Bd7 14. f4 Bg4 15. Be2 Bxe2 16. Qxe2 Nc6 {Giving the other knight a place to go. Fritz says Rfe for the same reason.} 17. Nd5 Qd8 18. h5 Nge7 19. Qg4 Nxd5 20. Rxd5 Qe7 21. h6 g6 22. f5 Rae8 23. Nd2 Ne5 {It was 8:00. I offered a draw.} 1/2-1/2 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "JosephOAlford 2021.03.02 simul"] [Site "https://lichess.org/AT2Gi52f"] [Date "2021.03.02"] [Round "0"] [White "Upadhyay, Anshuman, FirstCamel"] [Black "JosephOAlford"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "955"] [BlackElo "1920"] [PlyCount "16"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/60; 5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. e5 d5 6. Bb5 Ne4 7. Bxc6+ bxc6 8. Nxd4 c5 {FirstCamel had to drop out to do homework. I’ve included this game as an example of how to play this opening.} 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "JosephOAlford 2021.03.02 simul"] [Site "https://lichess.org/FxwogJgx"] [Date "2021.03.02"] [Round "0"] [White "Raamkuman, Gautham, niranjanadevi"] [Black "JosephOAlford"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "954"] [BlackElo "1920"] [PlyCount "58"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/60; 5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Nc3 d6 5. h3 Nf6 6. d3 h6 7. Be3 Bb6 8. O-O O-O 9. Qd2 Bxe3 10. fxe3 Be6 11. Bb3 Qd7 12. d4 exd4 13. exd4 Bxb3 14. axb3 a6 15. Rad1 Rae8 16. Rfe1 Re7 17. Qf4 Nh7 18. Nd5 Ree8 19. e5 dxe5 20. dxe5 Qc8 {Nf6+ was threatened} 21. Qg3 Re6 22. Nh4 Kh8 23. Nf5 Rg6 24. Qf4 Re8 {Fritz considered the position equal until this. Now Nh4 wins the f-pawn.} 25. Re3 Rg5 26. Rf1 {g4 is better, with threats against the rook.} Nf8 27. h4 {Fritz says it’s time to sacrifice. Ng7 Rg7 (not Kg7 Qf7+); Nf6 or Nh6 gh; Qf6+ Rg7; Qh6+ Rh7; Qf6+ with a draw by perpetual check} Rg6 28. Rfe1 {Fritz still likes the Ng7 attack.} Ne6 29. Qc4 Nf8 {Fritz likes Ned4; Nd4 Qg4 when the mate threat recovers the knight with advantage to Black. White offered a draw here. I did not accept it, but there was no response to my Nf8} 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "JosephOAlford 2021.03.02 simul"] [Site "https://lichess.org/NSQ8YZt1"] [Date "2021.03.02"] [Round "0"] [White "Sairam, Sathvik Reddy, sathvikreddychess"] [Black "JosephOAlford"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C46"] [WhiteElo "575"] [BlackElo "1920"] [PlyCount "88"] [EventDate "2021.03.02"] [TimeControl "G/60; 5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Bc5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 h6 6. O-O Nf6 7. h3 O-O 8. a3 Be6 9. Be3 Bb6 10. b4 Qd7 11. Bxe6 Qxe6 12. Nb5 Qe7 13. Bxb6 axb6 14. Nc3 Nh7 15. Nd5 Qd8 16. b5 Ne7 17. Nc3 f5 18. Qe2 fxe4 19. Qxe4 c6 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. Rfb1 Nf6 22. Qc4+ d5 23. Qa2 b5 {Qc7 would protect both pawns. I did not even notice the e-pawn was attacked} 24. Nxe5 Qd6 25. Nf3 Nh5 26. Re1 Nf4 {Threatening Nh3+; gh Rf3 which White hurries to block. There is no fork on d4 because the d-pawn is pinned.} 27. Re3 Kh8 28. Rae1 Nf5 29. Re5 Qg6 30. g3 Nxh3+ 31. Kg2 Nxf2 {a temporary sacrifice to destroy White’s castle.} 32. Kxf2 Qxg3+ 33. Ke2 Nd4+ 34. Nxd4 Qxe5+ 35. Kd1 Qxd4 36. Ne2 Qg4 {Now we pile up on the pinned piece until it falls.} 37. Rg1 Qh5 38. Qb2 Ra7 {White had a mate threat!} 39. Qxg7+ Rxg7 40. Re1 Rg2 41. c3 Re8 42. Kd2 Rexe2+ 43. Kd1 Rc2+ 44. Re2 Qxe2# 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.