Bloomington Normal Chess Club

2023.06

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[Event ""] [Site "ARC"] [Date "2023.06.22"] [Round "4"] [White "Alford, Joseph"] [Black "Parker, Bob"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B13"] [PlyCount "82"] [EventDate "2023.06.01"] [SourceDate "2023.06.22"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Qf3 Be6 8. Bf4 Nf6 9. Bb5+ Nc6 10. Nge2 Bd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfd1 {Played because I want to recapture on f4 with the knight to attack the second bishop. That does not work out as planned. Fritz suggests Rfe or Rac} Bxf4 13. Nxf4 Bg4 14. Qg3 Bxd1 15. Rxd1 a6 16. Ba4 Re8 17. h4 Ne4 18. Nxe4 Rxe4 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. f3 Re8 21. Qf2 Qd6 22. Nd3 a5 23. Rc1 Re7 24. Rc5 f6 25. Qc2 Ra6 26. Qc3 Re3 27. Qd2 Qe6 { The rook should retreat.} 28. Kf2 Rxd3 29. Qxd3 Rb6 30. Qc3 a4 31. Ra5 h5 32. Rxa4 Qd6 33. Ra8+ Kh7 {Losing move. Kf7} 34. Qc2+ g6 35. Ra7+ Kh6 36. Qd2+ g5 37. hxg5+ {Qc2 or Qd3 and Black’s pawns are prison bars} fxg5 38. Qc2 Qg6 39. Qxg6+ Kxg6 40. b3 h4 41. Ke3 Rb8 {and Black resigned} 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event ""] [Site "ARC"] [Date "2023.06.22"] [Round "4"] [White "Parker, Bob"] [Black "Alford, Joseph"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D05"] [PlyCount "50"] 1. d4 e6 2. b3 d5 3. Bb2 Nf6 4. e3 c5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bd3 Nb4 {In this set of games, I spend a lot of time trading knights for bishops. White now goes ahead in development, but active play soon brings him back} 7. O-O Nxd3 8. Qxd3 b6 9. Nbd2 Bb7 10. c4 {Fritz prefers dc activating the remaining bishop} Be7 11. Rfe1 O-O 12. e4 {blunder. dc is still best.} dxe4 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. Rxe4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 cxd4 16. Bxd4 Bf6 17. Be5 Bxe5 18. Nxe5 Qd6 19. Re1 Rad8 20. Nf3 Qd3 21. Qe5 Qc2 22. Qe2 Qxe2 23. Rxe2 Rd1+ 24. Ne1 Rfd8 25. Kf1 R8d2 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event ""] [Site "ARC"] [Date "2023.06.22"] [Round "4"] [White "Alford, Joseph"] [Black "Parker, Bob"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B50"] [PlyCount "85"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 e6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O a6 6. a4 Nc6 7. Nc3 h6 8. h3 Qc7 9. Nh2 Nf6 10. f4 O-O 11. Ng4 Nxg4 12. Qxg4 d5 {Fritz suggests Qd8 or Bf6} 13. Bxd5 exd5 14. Nxd5 Qd8 15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. f5 Qf6 17. Be3 Ne5 18. Qg3 b6 19. d4 Nc4 {Fritz says Bh6 is met with Nd3} 20. e5 Qc6 21. f6 g6 22. Bxh6 Bb7 {The rook should move.} 23. Bxf8 Kxf8 24. Rf2 {White must block the mate on g2 before he can threaten his own mate.} cxd4 25. Qh4 Ke8 26. Qxd4 Rd8 27. Qh4 Rd2 28. Re1 Rxf2 {Fritz shows Qg2+; Rg2 Rg2+; Kh1 (Kf1 Nd2 mates!) Rg4+ with a win for Black.} 29. Qxf2 Qe6 30. Qd4 Qc6 31. Re2 Qe6 32. b3 Na5 33. Qd6 {Good enough, but Rd2 was much stronger} Nc6 34. Qxe6+ fxe6 35. Kh2 Kf7 36. h4 Nxe5 37. Rxe5 Kxf6 38. Re2 e5 39. Rd2 Ke7 40. Kg3 Ke6 41. Kg4 Be4 42. c3 b5 43. Kg5 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event ""] [Site "ARC"] [Date "2023.06.22"] [Round "4"] [White "Parker, Bob"] [Black "Alford, Joseph"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A48"] [PlyCount "60"] [EventDate "2023.06.01"] [SourceDate "2023.06.22"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bf4 Bg7 4. e3 Nh5 5. Be5 f6 6. Bg3 Nxg3 7. hxg3 d5 8. Bd3 Qd6 9. Bxg6+ {Not realizing that the rook is protected. Fritz shows the right way: Rh7 with Bg6 to follow.} hxg6 10. Rxh8+ Bxh8 11. Qd3 Bf5 12. Qb3 Nc6 13. c3 Bxb1 14. Rxb1 O-O-O 15. Qc2 Rg8 16. Qd2 Bg7 17. g4 Rh8 18. Ke2 e5 19. g3 exd4 20. cxd4 Qb4 21. a3 Qxd2+ 22. Kxd2 Kd7 23. b4 a6 24. Nh4 Ne7 25. Ke2 g5 26. Nf5 Nxf5 27. gxf5 Bf8 28. g4 Bd6 29. f3 Rh2+ 30. Kd3 Rf2 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event ""] [Site "The Proving Ground"] [Date "2023.06.20"] [Round "3"] [White "Frank , Cole"] [Black "Alford, Joseph"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C78"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2023.06.01"] [SourceDate "2023.06.20"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 Bc5 6. O-O b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. Bg5 { Fritz prefers c3 to make an escape square for the other bishop. He shows a minor plus for Black instead of a minor plus for White.} h6 9. Bh4 Na5 10. Nbd2 Nxb3 11. axb3 Bg4 12. c3 Qd7 {Please open that g-file to your king with BxN. Fritz is not impressed, saying g5 is better. White now has regained the first move edge.} 13. Qc2 {h3, says Fritz who did not read my last note about opening lines to the king. Black now has the edge again.} g5 14. Bg3 Nh5 15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4 Bb6 17. e5 {Fritz calls this premature. Qd3 or Rfe1 would be better.} Nxg3 18. hxg3 dxe5 {A serious mistake that gives White good winning chances. Bf5 or d5 would leave Black in good shape.} 19. Nxe5 Qxd4 {Disaster with the Black king still in the center. Bf5 left Black still with a small advantage} 20. Qc6+ Ke7 21. Rae1 Be6 {The move I was counting on to protect the king, but White can destroy this defense with Nf7.} 22. Ng6+ fxg6 {Now the game can’t be saved. I rejected Kf6 Nh8; Rh8 which Fritz claims still favors Black} 23. Rxe6+ Kf7 24. Nf3 Qxb2 25. Ne5+ Kg7 26. Qd7+ Kf8 27. Qf7# 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event ""] [Site "ARC"] [Date "2023.06.22"] [Round "4"] [White "Alford, Joseph"] [Black "Parker, Bob"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C68"] [PlyCount "43"] [EventDate "2023.06.01"] [SourceDate "2023.06.22"] {Played at the Adult Recreation Center at 1 pm on Thursday} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Bd6 6. d4 exd4 7. Qxd4 Be7 { The ugly f6 is best} 8. Qxg7 Bf6 9. Qg3 Ne7 10. e5 Nf5 {second choice for Fritz who prefers Rg8 and suggests White take the bishop, knight, and rook with more than enough for the queen} 11. Qf4 Be7 12. Nc3 Be6 13. Rd1 Qc8 14. Ng5 h6 15. Nxe6 Qxe6 16. Ne4 Rd8 17. Rxd8+ Kxd8 18. Be3 Kc8 19. Bc5 b6 20. Bxe7 Nd4 {Losing a piece. Ne7} 21. Qd2 Qxe5 22. Bf6 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event ""] [Site "ARC"] [Date "2023.06.22"] [Round "4"] [White "Parker, Bob"] [Black "Alford, Joseph"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D04"] [PlyCount "65"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. b3 d5 5. Bb2 O-O 6. Nbd2 Nbd7 7. c4 c6 8. Bd3 Nb6 9. O-O Bg4 10. c5 Nbd7 11. Qc2 Qc7 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Nxf3 Nh5 14. g4 Ng3 { Cute, but the knight is better back on f6. Now fg Qg3+; Qg2 Qg2+; Kg2 Nc5 gets two pawns for the piece.} 15. Rfe1 {fg Qg3+; Qg2 should win here or next move} f5 16. g5 {I liked this move. Fritz does not, suggesting Ng5. Note that fg gives the same 2 pawns for a knight as on move 15} f4 {Fritz says this gives up too much for a dubious attack. Ne4 with advantage or e5 with equality.} 17. e4 dxe4 18. Bxe4 Nh5 {Ne4 leaves White all the attacking chances but this allows a pretty sacrifice} 19. Rad1 Rae8 20. Bxg6 hxg6 21. Qxg6 Ng3 {offering the knight again with even worse chances this time.} 22. Qc2 {taking the knight should be good enough, but Fritz points out the deadly d5} Nf5 {And Fritz shows Black ahead at this point! This knight has led a charmed life.} 23. h4 e5 24. dxe5 Nxe5 25. Bxe5 Bxe5 26. Kg2 Qg7 27. Qc4+ Kh8 28. h5 {There is a move missing here. The scoresheet says 18 h6. If the move is h5 then Fritz suggests Nh4+ sacrificing the knight for two pawns and an attack.} -- 29. h6 Nxh6 {A blunder, but Qg6; Re5 Re5; Ne5 Qg5+ favors White.} 30. Rh1 Rf6 31. Rh3 Qg8 32. Qxg8+ Rxg8 33. Nxe5 {Black resigned. But Rg5+ followed by Re5 leaves Black a piece ahead} 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event ""] [Site "ARC"] [Date "2023.06.22"] [Round "4"] [White "Alford, Joseph"] [Black "Parker, Bob"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [PlyCount "67"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bc5 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 Bg4 9. h3 Be6 10. Nd5 Bxd5 11. Bxd5 g5 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Bg3 Nd7 14. Qd2 Qf6 15. Nh2 h5 16. Nf3 h4 17. Bh2 Qh6 18. Qxg5+ Qxg5 19. Nxg5 Rae8 20. Nf3 f5 21. exf5 Rxf5 22. Nxh4 Rh5 23. Bg3 Re7 24. Kh2 Nf6 25. Rae1 Reh7 26. f4 Rxh4 27. Bxh4 Rxh4 28. fxe5 Nh5 29. e6 Ng7 30. e7 d5 31. e8=Q+ Nxe8 32. Rxe8+ Kg7 33. g3 Rh6 34. Kg2 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event ""] [Site "ARC"] [Date "2023.06.22"] [Round "4"] [White "Parker, Bob"] [Black "Alford, Joseph"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E90"] [PlyCount "67"] [EventDate "2023.06.01"] [SourceDate "2023.06.22"] 1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6 3. c4 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 d6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Bd3 Nfd7 8. O-O Ne5 9. Nxe5 Bxe5 10. f4 Bd4+ 11. Kh1 Nd7 12. Qf3 Nf6 {The bishop is cut off from defense of the king. Fritz prefers a6 or Re8} 13. h3 e6 {The knight needs to get out of the way} 14. Ne2 e5 15. Nxd4 exd4 {Even worse is cxd4; fxe5} 16. e5 Nh5 17. g4 Ng7 18. Bd2 f5 {Fritz suggests h5. The f-pawn is needed to protect e6} 19. e6 Qh4 {Fritz says try b5 to activate the bishop on b7} 20. Rae1 fxg4 21. Qxg4 Qxg4 22. hxg4 b6 {Fritz is still suggesting b5. Now the White pawns will come crashing through} 23. Kg2 Bb7 24. f5 gxf5 25. gxf5 Rae8 26. Kh3 Rf6 27. Bg5 Nh5 28. Bxf6 Nxf6 29. b3 Re7 30. Kh4 h6 31. Rg1+ Kh7 32. Rg6 a6 33. a4 b5 34. Rxf6 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/D0Gofi2A"] [Date "2023.06.22"] [Round "4"] [White "bitterroot88"] [Black "JosephOAlford"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D30"] [WhiteElo "1742"] [BlackElo "2095"] [PlyCount "100"] [EventDate "2023.06.01"] [TimeControl "G/30; 30"] {Played on Lichess on Thursday evening at 7 PM} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Bd3 a6 7. cxd5 exd5 8. O-O Bg4 9. Nbd2 Ne4 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Rc1 c6 {As soon as I made the move I realized that Nd2 was much stronger. White’s castle will be cracked open. White should have played Qc2} 12. Rc2 {An awkward solution to the problem of the last note. Fritz wants to eliminate the problem with Qc2 or Qb3. Black now has a slight advantage} Nd7 13. Be2 Rae8 14. Ne1 Nxd2 15. Rxd2 Bxe2 16. Rxe2 f5 {Perhaps a trifle over optimistic, but Black’s pieces are ready to attack. Fritz was looking for calmer moves like Qd6} 17. Nd3 {This does not protect f4. Fritz says Qb3 which seems rather passive} f4 {Now Nf4 Rf4; ef Qe2} 18. Ree1 f3 {I really liked that move. Fritz says fe; Re3 Qh4 is better} 19. g3 Rf6 {I considered Qd6 and Qe6 and Qg5 and Qe4 (favored by Fritz). I decided the best line had rooks on f8 and h6} 20. Nf4 g5 21. Nh5 Rff8 22. g4 Nf6 23. Nxf6+ Rxf6 24. Kh1 Ref8 25. Rg1 Rh6 26. Rg3 Qd6 27. Qd3 Rff6 28. a3 Rh4 29. Qf1 Qe6 30. h3 Qe4 {Fritz likes h5} 31. Qg1 Rfh6 32. Qh2 a5 33. b4 axb4 34. axb4 Rf6 35. Rgg1 Qe7 {Black misses Rh3; Qh3 Qe6 with Rh6 to follow} 36. Rg3 Qxb4 37. Qg1 Qf8 38. Rb1 Rfh6 39. Qh2 Qc8 40. Rbg1 b5 41. Rc1 {Rf3 gives White an even game. Black has about 3 minutes left to White’s 28.} b4 42. Rc5 Qa6 43. Rc1 b3 44. Rb1 { Fritz claims Rf3 is now equal.} Qd3 45. Rbg1 b2 46. Re1 b1=Q 47. Reg1 Qxg1+ 48. Qxg1 Rxh3+ 49. Rxh3 Rxh3+ 50. Qh2 Qf1# 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event ""] [Site "ARC"] [Date "2023.06.15"] [Round "3"] [White "Alford, Joseph"] [Black "Kellum, Keneth"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B30"] [Annotator "JosephOAlford"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2023.06.01"] [SourceDate "2023.06.15"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 g6 5. O-O Bg7 6. h3 O-O 7. Nc3 e5 8. Bg5 { Encouraging Black to create a target on h6} h6 9. Be3 d6 10. Qd2 Nd4 11. Nxd4 { I was writing numbers on my scoresheet and replied without thinking. Fritz suggests Nh2 or Ne1} cxd4 12. Nd5 {Fritz says Bh6 is better.} dxe3 13. fxe3 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Rb8 15. Rf3 b6 {Not necessary and the immediae Be6 is better.} 16. Raf1 Be6 17. Qf2 Bxd5 18. exd5 f6 19. e4 Rc8 20. c3 Qd7 21. Qg3 Kh7 22. h4 f5 {h5 is better. Fritz also likes Qb5} 23. h5 fxe4 {Black realized immediately that he had overlooked something, but the game is still in Black’s favor. Black should have played f4 or gh. The pawn is not really important. It is access to Black’s king that matters.} 24. hxg6+ Kh8 25. Rf7 Rxf7 26. Rxf7 Qxf7 {Black thought he had to take the rook to avoid mate.} 27. gxf7 Rf8 28. dxe4 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event ""] [Site "ARC"] [Date "2023.06.15"] [Round "3"] [White "Kellum, Kenneth"] [Black "Alford, Joseph"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D91"] [PlyCount "46"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. O-O Re8 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 cxd5 11. Rc1 Qb6 12. b3 e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Bf4 Bg4 15. Be2 Nxf3+ 16. Bxf3 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 d4 18. Rfd1 dxe3 {I thought I had discovered a nead way to eliminate my isolated pawn. Fritz does not approve, seeing the coming rook penetration.} 19. Bxe3 Qa6 20. a4 {White is for choice after either rook moves to the 7th rank with attacks on b7 and f7} Rad8 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Rc7 Qf6 23. Qxf6 Rd1# {If you can’t be good, be lucky.} 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event ""] [Site "ARC"] [Date "2023.06.15"] [Round "3"] [White "Alford, Joseph"] [Black "Kellum, Kenneth"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B21"] [PlyCount "35"] 1. e4 c5 2. f4 Nc6 3. Nf3 g6 4. Bc4 e6 5. O-O Bg7 6. c3 Nge7 7. d3 O-O 8. Be3 { Fritz gives Black a slight edge after this move. He prefers Qe2 or Bb3} b6 9. Nbd2 {Fritz wants White to play d4 before Black plays d5} d5 10. Bb3 d4 11. cxd4 cxd4 {Blocking off his own pieces. Black is plus after Nd4. White has problems on d3 and b2.} 12. Bf2 Ba6 13. Bc4 {Fritz prefers Nc4. My thought was that b5 would block off Black’s bishop.} b5 14. Bb3 Nb4 15. Qe2 Rc8 16. e5 Nf5 {Renewing defense of d4. White renews his attack on that square.} 17. Qe4 f6 { Fritz shows Black wth a slight edge after Qd7.} 18. Bxe6+ 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event ""] [Site "https://lichess.org/UZ9dWkDf"] [Date "2023.06.15"] [Round "3"] [White "daone309"] [Black "Newman, Steven, bitterroot88"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C46"] [WhiteElo "1634"] [BlackElo "1711"] [PlyCount "60"] [EventDate "2023.06.01"] [TimeControl "G/30, 30"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Bc5 4. Bc4 {Fritz points out Ne5 Ne5; d4 Bd6; de Be5 } d6 5. O-O {That’s a little too passive for Fritz who suggests Na4 or d3} Nf6 6. d3 Ng4 {The trade of bishop and knight for rook and pawn is almost always a bad idea. Bg4, threatening Nd4} 7. Ng5 O-O 8. Kh1 {h3. Now Black could simply play Nf2 winning the pawn plus an exchange.} h6 9. Nxf7 {It’s still a bad trade when White does it. Nf3} Rxf7 10. Bxf7+ Kxf7 11. Qf3+ Kg8 12. Ne2 { Preventing Nd3, but Black’s attack now gets very strong.} Qh4 13. h3 Bd7 {That was a shock. I expected Nf2+} 14. Be3 Rf8 15. Qg3 Nxf2+ {Fritz says trade queens first. Now White could recapture with the bishop on f2 and then also on g3 saving a piece.} 16. Kg1 Qxg3 17. Nxg3 Bxe3 18. Kh2 Nd4 19. Nh5 Nf3+ { Another shocking move. I expected Nc2. Fritz likes Nc2, but also likes chasing the White knight with Be8 or g6.} 20. gxf3 Rxf3 21. Kg2 Rxh3 22. Ng3 Rh4 23. Rfe1 {Two passed, connected pawns down, White is not ready to trade rook for two minor pieces.} Ng4 24. Nf5 Rh2+ 25. Kf3 Bxf5 26. exf5 h5 27. Rh1 Rf2+ 28. Kg3 Rxf5 29. c3 g6 30. Rad1 Nf2 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/3eqd5PiY"] [Date "2023.06.08"] [Round "2"] [White "Goodnight, Renton, Syonico"] [Black "Newman, Steven, bitterroot88"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "1185"] [BlackElo "1718"] [PlyCount "54"] [EventDate "2023.06.08"] [TimeControl "G/30; 30"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. O-O d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Nc3 Be6 7. d4 {Both sides miss the win of a piece by Nc3} f6 8. dxe5 Nxc3 9. Qxd8+ Rxd8 10. bxc3 { ruining the pawn structure and allowing Black to win a piece with tempo. Be6 is better.} Bxc4 11. exf6 {Re1} Bxf1 12. Bg5 Ba6 13. Re1+ Kf7 14. fxg7 Bxg7 15. Bxd8 Rxd8 16. Ng5+ Kg8 17. Ne6 Re8 18. h3 Bc4 19. Nxg7 Rxe1+ 20. Kh2 Kxg7 21. g4 Ne5 22. Kg3 Bd5 23. h4 Nf3 24. h5 h6 25. a4 Ng5 26. f4 Re3+ 27. Kh4 Rh3# 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "Casual Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/pX6YGd4H"] [Date "2023.06.08"] [Round "2"] [White "Goodnight, Renton, Syonico"] [Black "Witte, Jared, Wittyboythe3rd"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C57"] [WhiteElo "1175"] [BlackElo "1500"] [PlyCount "117"] [EventDate "2023.06.08"] [TimeControl "G/30; 30"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 {Bc5 first to meet Ng5 with 0-0} 4. Ng5 Bc5 {d5; ed Na5} 5. Nxf7 Rf8 6. Nxd8 Nxd8 7. Nc3 d6 8. O-O Bg4 9. Qe1 Nc6 10. d3 O-O-O 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Nd5 a6 14. Bb3 Nd4 15. f3 Be6 16. Ne7+ Kb8 17. Ng6 Rg8 18. Bxe6 Rxg6 19. Bf5 Nxf3+ 20. Kh1 Nxe1 21. Raxe1 Rg5 22. c4 Rdg8 23. g3 h5 24. Be6 R8g7 25. Rf5 {Not Rf6 when h4 is dangerous. For example: gh Rg1+; Rg1 Rg1 mate!} h4 26. Rxg5 Rxg5 27. Rg1 {Putting the rook in front of the bishop. gh is playable} hxg3 28. Rxg3 Rh5 29. Kg2 b5 30. b3 c6 31. h3 Rh8 32. Rg6 Rf8 33. h4 Kb7 34. h5 Kb6 {The passed pawn is deadly and must be stopped. Be3} 35. h6 bxc4 36. bxc4 Kc7 {Last chance for Rh8} 37. Kh3 {Rg8 and the pawn queens.} d5 38. exd5 cxd5 39. Bxd5 Kd6 40. Kh4 Be3 41. Kh5 Rh8 42. a3 Kc5 43. Rxf6 Kd4 44. Rxa6 Kxd3 45. Ra8 {Re6 Now Black should take the h-pawn} Rh7 46. Ra6 e4 47. Re6 Bc1 48. a4 {Be4+ is more to the point} e3 49. Bf3 Kxc4 50. Re4+ Kd3 51. Kg6 Ra7 52. h7 Ra8 53. Rd4+ {Re3+} Kxd4 54. Bxa8 e2 55. h8=Q+ Kd3 56. Qd8+ Kc4 57. Qc8+ Kb4 58. Qxc1 Kxa4 59. Qe1 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "Casual Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/DXTGMVRI"] [Date "2023.06.08"] [Round "2"] [White "Witte, Jared, Wittyboythe3rd"] [Black "Goodnight, Renton, Syonico"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "1500"] [BlackElo "1175"] [PlyCount "86"] [EventDate "2023.06.08"] [TimeControl "G/30; 15"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Bg5 d6 7. Nc3 a6 {White threatens Nd5 busting open Black’s castle. To prevent this Black should play Be6 or h6.} 8. a3 b5 9. Bd5 Bb7 10. Bxf6 {Trade when it improves your position. This improves Black’s position. White should play Ba2 threatening to bring the knight to d5.} Qxf6 11. b4 Bd4 12. Qd2 h6 13. Nxd4 exd4 14. Ne2 Qg5 {This does not address the problem on d4. Fritz suggests Nd8 eventually allowing a pawn to protect d4} 15. f4 Qe7 16. c3 {White could win the d-pawn by trading on c6} dxc3 17. Qxc3 Qd7 18. Nd4 {Right idea: attack the pinned piece, but it fails to a tactic. Rac1} Nxd4 19. Qxd4 {Not Bb7 when Ne2+ wins White’s queen.} Bxd5 { This still leaves White with a small advantage. Fritz suggests c5; bc dc; Qc5 Bd5; Qd5; ed Rfd8 recovering the sacrificed pawn with good play along the d-file.} 20. Qxd5 g6 21. Rac1 Rac8 22. e5 Qe6 23. Qe4 dxe5 24. fxe5 Rfd8 25. Rc6 Qd5 {When I saw this I immediately thought Rg6+ but I didn’t see more than a draw by perpetual check. Fritz shows Rg6+ Kh7; Rf7+ Qf7; Rf6+ Kg8; Qg4+ Qg7; Rg6} 26. Qxd5 Rxd5 27. Re1 Rxd3 {Advantage to Black after either Ra3 or Rd6} 28. e6 {Advantage to Black after either Ra3 or Rd6} fxe6 29. Rexe6 {Now White’s rooks get very active.} Rd1+ 30. Kf2 Rf8+ 31. Ke2 Ra1 32. Rxg6+ Kh7 33. Rxh6+ Kg7 34. Rxa6 Ra2+ 35. Kd3 Rxg2 36. h4 Rg3+ 37. Kd4 Rf4+ 38. Kc5 Rf5+ 39. Kd4 Rg4+ 40. Kc3 {Ke3 Now White is in danger of getting mated.} Rc4+ {Rf3+ The rooks need to work as a team} 41. Kd3 c6 {That should lose. Either White rook can take with advantage. The correct route would be Rf3+ and Rxa3} 42. h5 Kxh6 43. Rxc6+ Rxc6 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/x2OVdkih"] [Date "2023.06.08"] [Round "2"] [White "JosephOAlford"] [Black "Newman, Steven, bitterroot88"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2064"] [BlackElo "1723"] [PlyCount "119"] [EventDate "2023.06.08"] [TimeControl "G/30; 30"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Bg5+ Ke8 10. Rd1 Be6 11. Nc3 h6 {Fritz is already showing a slight plus for Black based on his two bishops. The proper reply is the ugly Bd2} 12. Bf4 g5 13. Bg3 Nxg3 14. hxg3 Bg7 15. Re1 Ke7 16. Nd4 Rad8 17. Nxe6 Kxe6 18. f4 f6 19. exf6+ Kxf6 20. Ne4+ Kf5 21. c3 Rhe8 22. Nc5 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 b6 {Avoiding gf; gf Kf4; Ne6+} 24. Ne6 Rd7 25. Nxg7+ Rxg7 26. fxg5 Kxg5 27. Re6 c5 28. Kf2 Rf7+ 29. Ke2 h5 30. Re4 a5 31. a4 Rf6 {This gives White a chance. Rd7 or Rh7} 32. Re7 c6 33. Rb7 Kg4 34. Rg7+ Kf5 35. Rh7 Kg5 36. Rb7 Kg4 37. Rg7+ {In effect, offering a draw. Here and later Black need only repeat the previous sequence.} Kf5 38. Rb7 Rg6 39. Kf3 Rf6 40. Ke3 {Offering the draw again, but White is now better after Rb6} Re6+ 41. Kf3 Re4 42. Rxb6 {Slightly better for White, but Fritz suggests Rf7+ Ke6; Ke4 Kf7; Ke5 Ke7; c4 and Black is out of moves} Rxa4 43. Rxc6 c4 44. Rc5+ Kg6 45. Kf4 Kh6 46. Rc6+ Kh7 47. Kg5 Ra2 48. Rc7+ Kg8 49. Rb7 a4 50. Kxh5 {Rb4 is much stronger, says Fritz.} a3 51. bxa3 Rxa3 52. Kg6 Ra8 {If Kf8 the Rf7+ and Rf3} 53. Rc7 Ra6+ 54. Kf5 Ra5+ 55. Ke4 Rg5 56. Kf4 Rg7 {Losing immediately. Ra5} 57. Rxg7+ Kxg7 58. Ke5 Kg6 59. Kd5 Kg5 60. Kxc4 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event ""] [Site "The Proving Ground"] [Date "2023.06.06"] [Round "1"] [White "Alford, Joseph"] [Black "Witte, Jared, Wittyboy3"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C65"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2023.06.06"] [SourceDate "2023.06.06"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. Nxe5 Nxe5 6. d4 Bd6 7. dxe5 Bxe5 8. f4 Bxb2 {Bd6 e5; Bc5+} 9. Bxb2 O-O 10. e5 Ne4 11. Qf3 d5 12. Ba3 Re8 {Fritz suggests c5} 13. Bxe8 Qxe8 14. c4 {Fritz suggests Qb6+ and Qd4} Qc6 15. cxd5 Qxd5 16. Rd1 Qxd1+ {if the queen leaves the file White mates} 17. Qxd1 Bf5 18. Nd2 Rd8 19. Nxe4 Rxd1+ 20. Rxd1 h6 {Of course White saw the back rank mate before offering the queen.} 21. Ng3 Be6 22. Rd2 g5 23. f5 Bc4 24. Rd8+ Kh7 25. Be7 b5 26. Bf6 Bxa2 27. Rh8# 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event ""] [Site "The Proving Ground"] [Date "2023.06.06"] [Round "1"] [White "Witte, Jared, Wittyboy3"] [Black "Alford, Joseph"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [PlyCount "30"] [SourceDate "2023.06.06"] 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Nf3 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nc3 Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bxf6 {You should not open a line to your king. Bh4 or Be3} gxf6 10. g4 { Now Black has an edge. Fritz suggests Na4 to remove the dangerous bishop or Bb5 to keep the knight from joining the attack on f3.} Qd7 11. Ne2 {if White takes the bishop then Qh3 and the open file is deadly, but White can play Nd5 with a threat on f6} Bxg4 12. hxg4 Qxg4+ 13. Kh1 Qxf3+ 14. Kg1 {On Kh2 Bf2 is deadly} Rg8+ 15. Kh2 Qg2# 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/ivny2oI4"] [Date "2023.06.01"] [Round "1"] [White "daone309"] [Black "bitterroot88"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "1623"] [BlackElo "1741"] [PlyCount "29"] [EventDate "2023.06.01"] [TimeControl "G/30; 30"] 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Nf3 Bc5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bg5 {In a symmetrical position, it is important to strike first. Black could have prevented this attack with h6 instead of d6.} Be6 7. Nd5 Bxd5 {h6 now encourages White to open the g-file for Black.} 8. Bxd5 O-O 9. O-O h6 10. Bh4 Qd7 {But you don’t want the file opened while your king is on it. g5 and then Nd5} 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Nh4 {Fritz suggests Bc6 first so that the Black knight can’t go to e7} Nb4 {The losing move. Black can no longer defend the shattered castle.} 13. Nf5 Nxd5 14. Qg4+ Kh8 15. Qg7# 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/6WVVPsW4"] [Date "2023.06.01"] [Round "1"] [White "bitterroot88"] [Black "daone309"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D10"] [WhiteElo "1676"] [BlackElo "1656"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [TimeControl "1800+30"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Bf4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bf5 5. e3 e6 6. Be2 Be7 7. Nf3 O-O 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Rc1 c5 10. cxd5 exd5 11. h3 Nb6 {Activate the last piece with Rc8} 12. Ne5 Nbd7 13. Bf3 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Ne4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Bg4 Bxg4 17. Qxg4 f6 18. Bh2 f5 19. Qe2 cxd4 20. Qc4+ Kh8 21. exd4 Rf6 22. d5 b6 23. Rfd1 Bc5 24. Be5 Rg6 25. Bd4 Qg5 26. g3 Bxd4 27. Qxd4 h5 {Which is stronger, White’s potential queen or Black’s mating attack? Here f5 would gain an important tempo but Black is afraid of a back-rank mate. Fritz likes Rd8 or Rd6 to stop the pawn.} 28. d6 h4 29. d7 Rd8 30. Rc8 hxg3 31. f4 Qe7 {After ef (in passing) Rd8+ Qd8; Rc1 White is on top.} 32. Kg2 Kh7 33. Rxd8 Qxd8 34. b4 {Rc1} Rh6 35. Qe5 Qh4 36. Qxf5+ g6 37. Qf7+ Kh8 38. d8=Q+ 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "Casual Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/9UvrWLQW"] [Date "2023.06.01"] [Round "1"] [White "Wittyboythe3rd"] [Black "JosephOAlford"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "1500"] [BlackElo "2064"] [PlyCount "50"] [EventDate "2023.06.01"] [TimeControl "G/30, 30"] {A new player. He lost the first 2 games to opening tricks, but then got steadily stronger for the last 3 games} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O d6 5. Nc3 Bg4 6. Be2 Nf6 7. d3 h6 8. Be3 Bb6 9. a3 O-O 10. h3 Bh5 11. g4 {Fritz likes Nd2 to eliminate Black’s bishop.} Bg6 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 Ne7 14. c4 f5 15. Nh4 fxg4 16. hxg4 Bh7 17. Qd2 {The knight should retreat.} Nxd5 18. cxd5 Qxh4 19. Rfc1 Rf7 20. Bxb6 axb6 21. Rc3 Raf8 22. Rf1 {Finally, a piece to the king-side, but it’s too late. Black ends the game with a cute little sacrifice.} Rf3 23. Bxf3 Rxf3 24. Rxc7 Qxg4+ 25. Kh1 Rh3# 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

[Event "Casual Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/cqHpOUz2"] [Date "2023.06.01"] [Round "1"] [White "Wittyboythe3rd"] [Black "JosephOAlford"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B02"] [WhiteElo "1500"] [BlackElo "2064"] [PlyCount "44"] [EventDate "2023.06.01"] [TimeControl "G/30, 30"] 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Bc4 {c4 is better. I like Reuben Fine’s treatment: c4 Nb6; c5 Nd5; Nc3} Nb6 4. d3 {Bb3. Black’s knight is somewhat out-of-play in this opening. A chance to trade it for White’s bishop is a dream come true.} Nxc4 5. dxc4 e6 6. Nf3 Bc5 7. O-O O-O 8. Be3 b6 {Black could trade, leaving White with two sets of doubled pawns.} 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. Nd4 Nc6 11. Nxc6 Bxc6 12. Bxc5 bxc5 13. Qd3 {Free pawn for Black. Fritz suggests Qg4} Qg5 14. g3 Qxe5 15. Rfe1 Qh5 16. a3 f5 17. b4 f4 18. bxc5 fxg3 19. fxg3 Rf3 20. Qe2 Raf8 21. Rf1 Rxg3+ 22. hxg3 Qh1# 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.