Hans Niemann Wins Capa Memorial With Carlsen-esque Style

Grandmaster Hans Moke Niemann

https://xpertchesslessons.wordpress.com/2021/07/18/hans-niemanns-world-open-trifecta/

drew in his penultimate round game after winning his antepenultimate round game, which can be found in the previous post, and was a full point in front of the pack with one game to play. GM Niemann defeated his opponent in the final round to win the tournament two points ahead of Shekhar Ganguly of India, and Cubans Vasif Durarbayli and Luis Ernesto Quesada Perez Surya. His performance rating was 2857. The current World Human Champion, Magnus Carlsen, is rated 2864.

Hans Moke Niemann (2637) USA vs Mustafa Yilmaz CUB (2626)
Capablanca Mem. Elite (round 9)
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Nimzovich-Rossolimo, Moscow) attack

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. O-O a6 5. Bd3 Ngf6 6. Re1 e6 7. Bf1 b6 8. c4 Bb7 9. Nc3 Ne5 10. d4 Nxf3+ 11. gxf3 Be7 12. d5 e5 13. f4 Bc8 14. fxe5 dxe5 15. f4 Bd6 16. Qf3 Qc7 17. f5 Be7 18. Bg5 Qd6 19. Bh3 Bd7 20. a4 Nxd5 21. exd5 Bxg5 22. f6 Bxf6 23. Ne4 Qe7 24. d6 Qd8 25. Bxd7+ Kxd7 26. a5 Rc8 27. Qh3+ Kc6 28. Qf3 Kd7 29. Qh3+ Kc6 30. Qd3 Kb7 31. Qd5+ Kb8 32. d7 Rc7 33. Red1 Rb7 34. axb6 Qxb6 35. Nxf6 Rd8 36. Qxe5+ Ka7 37. Rd6 gxf6 38. Qxf6 Rg8+ 39. Kh1 1-0
   https://live.followchess.com/#!capablanca-mem-elite–2022/556086478
   https://lichess.org/broadcast/capablanca-in-memoriam–elite/round-9/vRxolTEV

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. O-O (Stockfish 14 @depth plays 4 c4, as does SF 301221, but SF 070222 @depth 36 prefers 4 d4) 4…a6 5. Bd3 (SF 220521 @depth 59 plays this move, but SF 301221 @depth 66 will play 5 Bxd7+. For the record SF 9 @depth 40 plays 5 Be2, how do you do…) 5…Ngf6 (SF 14, SF 14.1, and some “New Engine” all play 5…e6) 6. Re1 (SF 13 @depth 60 will play the game move, and just to be sure you know what it will play the CBDB shows it TWICE! Then there is my new favorite little ‘engine’ that could, can, and does play 6 Qe2! Just sayin’…) 6…e6 (SF 14 @depth 51 and SF 310821 both play the game move, but Fat Fritz @depth 6 [That is NOT a misprint! What did I say about a tune-up for the CBDB?] will play 6…g6) 7. Bf1 (SF 13 @depth 59 plays the most often played move, 7 c3, which has scored only 44%. SF 12 @depth 44 plays the game move. Fritz 16 @depth 28 will play 7 b3. The ChessBaseDataBase contains only two examples of the move and both game were lost by White, so it has scored Zero; Zip, Nada, 0.0. Maybe the CBDB is in need of an upgrade. The only other game located with 7 Bf1 can be found below) 7…b6 8. c4 (This is a TN. The three antiquated programs shown at the CBDB, Fritz 16; Stockfish 8; and SF 14, all play 8 d4)

Jan Smeets (2585) vs Vincent Keymer (2568)
Event: ch-Schachbundesliga 2020
Site: Karlsruhe GER Date: 09/20/2020
Round: 7.2
ECO: B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Nimzovich-Rossolimo, Moscow) attack
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.O-O a6 5.Bd3 Ngf6 6.Re1 e6 7.Bf1 b6 8.d3 Bb7 9.Nbd2 Be7 10.c3 b5 11.d4 O-O 12.h3 Qb6 13.Bd3 Rfc8 14.Nf1 Bf8 15.Ng3 g6 16.Be3 b4 17.cxb4 cxd4 18.Nxd4 Qxb4 19.a3 Qa5 20.b4 Qd8 21.Nb3 d5 22.Na5 Rcb8 23.Bf4 e5 24.Bd2 d4 25.Rc1 Bd6 26.Qf3 Bc7 27.Nxb7 Rxb7 28.Rc6 Rb6 29.Rec1 Bd6 30.Nf1 Rxc6 31.Rxc6 Nb8 32.Rc2 Nbd7 33.Rc6 Nb8 34.Rc2 Nbd7 35.Bc4 Qe7 36.Nh2 Kg7 37.Ng4 Ng8 38.Nh2 Ngf6 39.Ng4 Ng8 40.Qd3 h5 41.Nh2 a5 42.Bd5 Ra7 43.bxa5 Ngf6 44.Bc6 Nc5 45.Qb5 Ncxe4 46.Nf3 Nxd2 47.Rxd2 Bc7 48.a6 Qxa3 49.Bb7 e4 50.Nh2 e3 51.Rd1 exf2+ 52.Kh1 Bxh2 53.Kxh2 Qd6+ 54.g3 h4 55.Qg5 Rxa6 56.Bxa6 Qxa6 57.Kg2 Qc6+ 58.Kh2 Qf3 59.Rf1 Ne4 60.Qxh4 d3 61.Qf4 Qxf4 62.gxf4 d2 0-1
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=4270627&m=14

Hans Niemann Is A Young American On Fire

After seven rounds Grandmaster Hans Moke Niemann leads the field of the Capablanca Memorial Elite 2022 by a full point with a record of five wins and two draws. His performance rating thus far is 2894. (https://chess-results.com/tnr629945.aspx?lan=1&art=9&fed=USA&flag=30&snr=5) GM Niemann is most definitely a young American on fire.

Tallulah Roberts with fellow streamers Anna Cramling and Hans Niemann | photo: Hallfríður Sigurðardóttir / Reykjavik Open https://chess24.com/en/read/news/female-player-reports-harassment-in-reykjavik-open

GM Hans Moke Niemann (2637) vs GM Albornoz Cabrera (2574)
Capablanca Memorial Elite 2022 (round 7)
ECO: B95 Sicilian, Najdorf

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qf3 Nbd7 8. O-O-O Qc7 9. Qg3 h6 10. Be3 b5 11. Bxb5 axb5 12. Ndxb5 Qb8 13. Nxd6+ Bxd6 14. Qxd6 Qxd6 15. Rxd6 Ng4 16. Re1 Nxe3 17. Rxe3 Ne5 18. b3 Ke7 19. Rb6 g5 20. f3 Ba6 21. a4 Rhb8 22. Rxb8 Rxb8 23. Nb1 Kd6 24. Nd2 Kc5 25. Kb2 Rd8 26. Kc3 Kb6 27. Re1 h5 28. b4 h4 29. b5 Bb7 30. h3 Rc8+ 31. Kb3 Rd8 32. Rd1 Kc7 33. Kc3 Ng6 34. Re1 Nf4 35. Nc4 f6 36. a5 Nxg2 37. Ra1 g4 38. hxg4 h3 39. a6 Ba8 40. b6+ Kb8 41. Na5 Nf4 42. Rb1 Ne2+ 43. Kc4 Rd7 44. a7+ Kc8 45. b7+ Rxb7 46. Nxb7 Bxb7 47. Rh1 Nf4 48. Kd4 e5+ 49. Ke3 Kc7 50. Ra1 Ba8 51. Rb1 Bb7 52. Kf2 Ne6 53. Kg3 Nd4 54. Ra1 Ba8 55. Rh1 1-0
   https://live.followchess.com/#!capablanca-mem-elite–2022
   https://lichess.org/broadcast/capablanca-in-memoriam–elite/round-7/hVZr3WG3

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 (Stockfish 13 @depth 63 plays 6 Be2; SF 14.1 @depth 60 surprisingly goes with 6 Bd3, a move with only 573 games in the CBDB. The most often played move, with 6118 games, 6 Bc4, has not scored well as it shows only 48% for white. There are 12366 games with Be2. The new Fish in town, Stockfish 15 @depth 67 will play 6 f3, a move scoring 53% in 3669 games. The most often played moved these daze is 6 Be3. The 21553 games have produced 54%) 6…e6 7. Qf3 (This move is the choice of Fritz 18 @depth 36. Stockfish 14.1 @depth 57 and SF 100222 @depth 61 both play 7 f4, as have 10959 other players. The second most often played move 7 Qf3 has been played in 484 games) 7…Nbd7 8. O-O-O Qc7 9. Qg3 h6 (SF 14 and Houdini play 9…b5. SF 071221 @depth 50 will play 9…Be7, a move that in 35 games has held White to only 47%. 9…h6 shows 50%) 10. Be3 (There are 20 games with this move contained in the CBDB and it has held White to only 48%, yet Houdini, SF8, and SF 251220 @depth 53 all prefer 10 Bxf6, which has scored 67%, but in only 3 games) 10…b5 11. Bxb5 (11 a3 is the choice of SF 15. See Milov vs Daechert below)
   11…axb5 12. Ndxb5 Qb8 14. Qxd6 Qxd6 15. Rxd6 Ng4 (This is the choice of the programs. See Fichtl vs GM Larry Evans)

Jiri Fichtl vs Larry Melvyn Evans
Event: Munich ol (Men) fin-A
Site: Munich Date: ??/??/1958
Round: 9
ECO: B95 Sicilian, Najdorf, 6…e6
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qf3 Nbd7 8.O-O-O h6 9.Be3 Qc7 10.Qg3 b5 11.Bxb5 axb5 12.Ndxb5 Qb8 13.Nxd6+ Bxd6 14.Qxd6 Qxd6 15.Rxd6 Ng4 16.Re1 Ke7 17.Rd4 Nxe3 18.Rxe3 Bb7 19.f3 g5 20.h3 h5 21.b3 h4 22.Kb2 Ne5 23.Ne2 Ba6 24.c4 Rhb8 25.Rc3 Nc6 26.Rd1 e5 27.a3 Bc8 28.Nc1 Be6 29.Na2 Ra7 30.Nc1 f6 31.Nd3 Rd7 32.Nf2 Rd4 33.Rdc1 Rd2+ 34.R1c2 Rxc2+ 35.Kxc2 Nd4+ 36.Kb2 Ne2 37.Rc2 Nd4 38.Rc3 Ne2 39.Rc2 Nf4 40.Nd1 Rd8 41.Ne3 Rd3 42.Rc3 Rxc3 43.Kxc3 Nxg2 44.Nxg2 Bxh3 45.Ne3 Bg2 46.Nxg2 f5 47.Ne3 fxe4 48.fxe4 h3 49.Nf1 g4 50.c5 1-0
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=2542366&m=31

Herman C Van Riemsdijk, (2405) vsSeverino Januario Pereira
Event: Maalox Plus op
Site: Brasilia Date: 01/22/1999
Round:
ECO: B95 Sicilian, Najdorf, 6…e6
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qf3 Nbd7 8.O-O-O h6 9.Be3 Qc7 10.Qg3 b5 11.Bxb5 axb5 12.Ndxb5 Qb8 13.Nxd6+ Bxd6 14.Qxd6 Qxd6 15.Rxd6 Ra6 16.Rxa6 Bxa6 17.f3 Ke7 18.b3 Rc8 19.Kb2 Ne5 20.Rd1 Nfd7 21.Na4 h5 22.h3 f6 23.Kb1 g5 24.c4 Nxc4 25.bxc4 Rxc4 26.Nb2 Rc6 27.Rd2 Ne5 28.Bd4 Nc4 29.Nxc4 Bxc4 30.Kb2 e5 31.Be3 Bf1 32.a4 g4 33.hxg4 hxg4 34.fxg4 Rc4 35.Rf2 Bd3 36.g5 Rxa4 37.Bc5+ Kf7 38.Rxf6+ Kg7 39.Bf8+ Kg8 40.g6 Ra6 41.Bd6 Bxe4 42.g4 Rc6 43.g5 Kg7 44.Re6 Rc2+ 45.Ka3 Bxg6 46.Bxe5+ Kf7 47.Rf6+ 1-0

Leonid Milov (2440) vs Peter Daechert (1862)
Event: Rhein Main op 7th
Site: Bad Homburg Date: 06/10/2004
Round: 2.2
ECO: B95 Sicilian, Najdorf, 6…e6
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qf3 h6 8.Be3 Nbd7 9.O-O-O Qc7 10.Qg3 b5 11.a3 Rb8 12.f3 b4 13.axb4 Rxb4 14.Nb3 Nb6 15.Rd4 Rxd4 16.Bxd4 e5 17.Bxb6 Qxb6 18.Bc4 g6 19.Rd1 Be7 20.Kb1 Kf8 21.f4 exf4 22.Qxf4 Kg7 23.e5 dxe5 24.Qxe5 Bd8 25.Nd5 Qc6 26.Qc3 Kh7 27.Rf1 Bf5 28.Ne3 Ne4 29.Qd3 Nd6 30.Nxf5 Nxc4 31.Ne7 Qe6 32.Nxg6 fxg6 33.Nc5 Qe8 34.Qxc4 Rf8 35.Rd1 Bf6 36.Rd7+ Kh8 37.c3 a5 38.Ka1 Qc8 39.Qd5 Qa8 40.Rb7 Qc8 41.Ne6 Rg8 42.Rf7 Bg7 43.Rxg7 Rxg7 44.Qe5 1-0
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=2954424&m=22

In The Last Round Some Gotta Win, Some Gotta Lose

Alex Malekan vs Mel Goss (2180)
27th Space Coast Open (round 5)
B40 Sicilian defence

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d3 Nc6 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 d5 6. Nbd2 dxe4 7. dxe4 e5 8. O-O Qc7 9. c3 Be7 10. Re1 h6 11. Nc4 Be6 12. Qe2 O-O 13. Nh4 Rfd8 14. Ne3 Rd7 15. Nef5 Bf8 16. Qf3 Nh7 17. Bf1 Rad8 18. Be3 a6 19. g4 b5 20. Qg2 Ng5 21. Bxg5 hxg5 22. Nf3 f6 23. h4 gxh4 24. g5 Ne7 25. Qg4 Nxf5 26. exf5 Bd5 27. g6 c4 28. Qh5 Bc5 29. Qh7+ Kf8 30. Qh8+ Bg8 31. Re4 Rd1 32. Rxd1 Rxd1 33. Kg2 Qd7 34. Nxh4 Qd5 35. f3 Qd2+ 36. Be2 Re1 0-1
   https://live.followchess.com/#!27th-space-coast-open-2022/-1809779182

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 (Interesting is that Stockfish 14.1 @depth 65 will play the game move, but Stockfish 14.1677, a new one to me, will play 2 Nc3, which was the move I played when facing a Sicilian) 2…e6 3. d3 Nc6 4. g3 Nf6 (Both SF 14.1 and Komodo play 4…d5) 5. Bg2 (SF 14 plays 5 Qe2! And so does the AW. In 16 games the move has scored 66% against 2430 ELO averaged players. Just sayin’…) 5…d5 6. Nbd2 (SF 14.1 plays 6 Qe2. SF 141221 @depth 60 castles, but @depth 61 changes its something or other to 6 Qe2) 6…dxe4 (SF 14.1 @depth 57 will play 6…Be7 as have 1493 other players according to the CBDB) 7. dxe4 e5 (Deep Fritz likes this move, but SF 14.1 will play 7…Be7) 8. O-O (Deep Fritz castles, but Fritz 17 and SF 14 will play 8 c3, a move not contained in the CBDB. Ten games can be found at 365Chess ) 8…Qc7 9. c3 Be7 10. Re1 (This move has been most often played but the Stockfish 14+NNUE program at LiChess shows 10 Nc4 best) 10…h6

Siegfried Klausner (2120) vs Dieter Blaickner
Event: AUT-chT3 9899
Site: Austria Date: 11/06/1998
Round: 4
ECO: A07 Reti, King’s Indian attack (Barcza system)
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.O-O Be7 5.d3 c5 6.Nbd2 Nc6 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4 Qc7 9.Re1 e5 10.c3 h6 11.Nc4 Be6 12.Nfd2 Rd8 13.Qc2 O-O 14.a4 Rfe8 15.b3 b6 16.Ne3 Bf8 17.Bb2 a6 18.c4 Nd4 19.Qc3 b5 20.axb5 axb5 21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.exd5 b4 23.Qd3 Bd6 24.Ra6 Ra8 25.Rea1 Rxa6 26.Rxa6 Qd7 27.Qb1 Qe7 28.Qa1 Nc2 29.Qa4 Ne1 30.Ne4 Nxe4 31.Bxe4 Rf8 32.Qc6 f5 33.Bb1 Bb8 34.d6 Qg5 35.Qd5+ Kh8 36.Kf1 Qg4 1-0
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=906476&m=22

FM Zdenek Ramik 2288 (CZE) vs IM Ladislav Langner 2398 (CZE)
Tatry Open 2002
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d3 d5 4.Nbd2 Nf6 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.O-O h6 8.Re1 Qc7 9.c3 dxe4 (9…0-0 SF 14.1 & SF 15) 10.dxe4 e5 11.Nc4 Be6 12.Qe2 O-O-O 13.Nfd2 h5 14.Nf3 Nd7 15.Ng5 Bxg5 16.Bxg5 f6 17.Be3 h4 18.Red1 hxg3 19.hxg3 Nb6 20.Rxd8+ Nxd8 21.Nxb6+ axb6 22.b4 g5 23.bxc5 Qh7 24.g4 b5 25.Qxb5 Bxg4 26.c6 Nxc6 27.Rb1 Qh2+ 28.Kf1 Rh7 29.Qb3 Bh3 30.Qg8+ Nd8 31.Bxh3+ Qxh3+ 32.Ke2 Qg4+ 33.f3 Rh2+ 34.Bf2 Qe6 35.Qxe6+ Nxe6 36.Rb6 Nf4+ 37.Kf1 Rh3 38.Rxf6 Rxf3 39.Rf8+ Kd7 40.Rg8 Rxc3 41.Rxg5 Rc1+ 42.Be1 Nd3 43.Ke2 Nxe1 44.Rxe5 Ng2 45.Rd5+ Kc6 46.Rd2 Nf4+ 47.Ke3 Ne6 48.Rh2 Rc3+ 49.Kd2 Ra3 50.Kc1 Re3 51.Kb2 Rxe4 52.Rh5 Re3 53.Rh6 Kb5 54.Rh5+ Nc5 55.Rg5 Kb4 56.Rg4+ Re4 57.Rg2 Nd3+ 0-1 (From the chessBaseDataBase)

Dedicated to Jim ‘Fingers’ Kraft (https://xpertchesslessons.wordpress.com/2021/10/25/just-like-bob-dylans-bill-kirchens-and-dr-zwigs-blues/)

Putin Has Weaponized Conspiracy Theories

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/25/opinion/putin-russia-conspiracy-theories.html

The Five Conspiracy Theories That Putin Has Weaponized
April 25, 2022, 1:00 a.m. ET
By Ilya Yablokov

Mr. Yablokov is a historian of Russian media and the author of “Fortress Russia: Conspiracy Theories in the Post-Soviet World.”

Vladimir Putin’s Russia is driven by conspiracy theories.

For two decades, journalists and officials, in concert with the Kremlin, have merrily spread disinformation. However far-fetched or fantastical — that the C.I.A. was plotting to oust Mr. Putin from power, for example — these tales served an obvious purpose: to bolster the regime and guarantee public support for its actions. Whatever the personal views of members of the political establishment, it seemed clear that the theories played no role in political calculations. They were stories designed to make sense of what the regime, for its own purposes, was doing.

Not anymore. Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two months ago, the gap between conspiracy theory and state policy has closed to a vanishing point. Conspiratorial thinking has taken complete hold of the country, from top to bottom, and now seems to be the motivating force behind the Kremlin’s decisions. And Mr. Putin — who previously kept his distance from conspiracy theories, leaving their circulation to state media and second-rank politicians — is their chief promoter.

It is impossible to know what is inside Mr. Putin’s head, of course. But to judge from his bellicose and impassioned speeches before the invasion and since then, he may believe the conspiracy theories he repeats. Here are five of the most prevalent theories that the president has endorsed, with increasing fervor, over the past decade. Together, they tell a story of a regime disintegrating into a morass of misinformation, paranoia and mendacity, at a terrible cost to Ukraine and the rest of the world.

The West wants to carve up Russia’s territory

In 2007, at his annual national news conference, Mr. Putin was asked a strange question. What did he think about the former U.S. secretary of state Madeleine Albright’s comment that Russia’s natural riches should be redistributed and controlled by America? Mr. Putin replied that such ideas were shared by “certain politicians” but he didn’t know about the remark.

That’s because it was entirely made up. Journalists at Rossiyskaya Gazeta, a state-owned newspaper, had invented the quote on the grounds that Russian intelligence was able to read Ms. Albright’s mind.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/25/opinion/putin-russia-conspiracy-theories.html

“Eye In The Sky”

Don’t think sorry’s easily said
Don’t try turning tables instead
You’ve taken lots of chances before
But I ain’t gonna give anymore
Don’t ask me
That’s how it goes
‘Cause part of me knows what you’re thinking

Don’t say words you’re gonna regret
Don’t let the fire rush to your head
I’ve heard the accusation before
And I ain’t gonna take any more
Believe me
The sun in your eyes
Made some of the lies worth believing

I am the eye in the sky
Looking at you
I can read your mind
I am the maker of rules
Dealing with fools
I can cheat you blind
And I don’t need to see any more to know that
I can read your mind (looking at you)
I can read your mind (looking at you)
I can read your mind (looking at you)
I can read your mind

Don’t leave false illusions behind
Don’t cry cause I ain’t changing my mind
So find another fool like before
Cause I ain’t gonna live anymore believing
Some of the lies while all of the signs are deceiving

I am the eye in the sky
Looking at you
I can read your mind
I am the maker of rules
Dealing with fools
I can cheat you blind
And I don’t need to see any more to know that
I can read your mind (looking at you)
I can read your mind (looking at you)
I can read your mind (looking at you)
I can read your mind

I am the eye in the sky
Looking at you
I can read your mind
I am the maker of rules
Dealing with fools
I can cheat you blind
And I don’t need to see any more to know that
I can read your mind (looking at you)
I can read your mind (looking at you)
I can read your mind (looking at you)
I can read your mind

https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/alanparsonsproject/eyeinthesky.html

For Valerie

Class A Andrew Guo vs Expert Nicolas De La Colina In Space Coast Open Saturday Night Leningrad Dutch Fight

After a busy day that involved much writing the Warrior was badly in need of an Armchair. After going for a walk and dinner a chair with arms was settled into and the radio was tuned to 90.1 WABE FM in time for another Saturday night with H. Johnson and Jazz Classics. Next came surfin’ the myriad Chess websites looking for games of interest. One was found and the entire evening was spent following one game sans annotations, and that game follows. Two websites were used in the viewing, FollowChess.com and lichess.org. Too tired to go over the annotations provided by LiChess after the game they were checked them out with coffee this morning. As usual I will add what was found concerning the opening only, so you must go to (https://lichess.org/broadcast/27th-space-coast-open-chess-festival/round-3/crxLjB1h) to obtain the game annotated by Stockfish 14+ NNUE. And what a game it was, what with all the surprising moves played by the combatants. Many times the response, at least in my mind, was, “Humm…didn’t see that one coming!”

Andrew Guo 1842 vs Nicolas De La Colina 2142
27th Space Coast Open
ECO: A88 Dutch, Leningrad, main variation with c6

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nc3 c6 8. Qc2 Na6 9. a3 Qc7 10. Bf4 Nh5 11. Bd2 e5 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. e4 f4 14. b4 Bg4 15. Ne2 Rad8 16. Rad1 Qc8 17. Kh1 Nc7 18. Neg1 Ne6 19. Bc3 Nd4 20. Bxd4 exd4 21. Qd3 c5 22. Rd2 b6 23. Re1 Bh6 24. Rc2 Qc7 25. bxc5 bxc5 26. Ne2 fxg3 27. hxg3 Be3 28. fxe3 Bxf3 29. Nf4 Nxg3+ 30. Kg1 dxe3 31. Nd5 Qe5 32. Qxe3 Bxg2 33. Rxg2 Nh5 34. Qxc5 Rf7 35. Qe3 Nf4 36. Nxf4 Qxf4 37. Qxf4 Rxf4 38. c5 Rc8 39. Rc2 Kf7 40. c6 Ke6 41. Rc4 Rc7 42. Rd1 Rf8 43. Rc5 Rfc8 44. Rdc1 Kd6 45. Rd5+ Ke6 46. Rdc5 Rb8 47. R1c3 Rb2 48. R3c4 Kd6 49. Rd5+ Ke6 50. Rdc5 Kd6 51. Rd5+ Ke6 52. Rdc5 1/2-1/2
   https://live.followchess.com/#!27th-space-coast-open-2022/-1479615190

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 g6 (Stockfish 14.1 @depth 50 plays 3…e6. The ChessBaseDataBase shows Stockfish 15 @depth 40 will play 3…d6, as in Leningrad style…) 4. g3 (SF 14.1 prefers 4 Nc3) 4…Bg7 5 Bg2 (This is weird…Stockfish 14.1 @depth 42 will play either 5 Bg2 or 5 Nc3. I kid you not…) 5…0-0 (SF 14.1 will play 5…d6 and so should you) 6. 0-0 d6 (SF 14.1 prefers 6…c6. Well blow my hole open!) 7 Nc3 c6 8 Qc2 (SF 250322 @depth 54 will play the game move, but SF 100221 @depth 47 plays 8 Qb3; SF 14 @depth 51 will play 8 Bg5. The CBDB contains only 9 games with the move 8 Bg5 and White has only scored 39%) 8…Na6 9 a3 (Fritz 16 plays this move, but SF 14 And Houdini both play 9 Rb1) 9…Qc7 (Three different Stockfish programs prefer 9…Nc7) 10 Bf4 (This move is a TN. Fritz 13, SF 14, and Houdini all prefer 10 b4)

Miguel Najdorf vs Jorge Pelikan
Event: ARG-ch sf-A
Site: Mar del Plata Date: ??/??/1968
Round: 3
ECO: A88 Dutch, Leningrad, main variation with c6
1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nf3 g6 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 d6 6.Nc3 O-O 7.O-O c6 8.Qc2 Na6 9.a3 Qc7 10.Bg5 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.b4 Nh5 13.Bc1 ½-½
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=2609272&m=20

Nachum Salman (2215) vs David Sprenkle (2325)
Event: Midwest Masters
Site: Chicago Date: ??/??/1985
Round: 2
ECO: A88 Dutch, Leningrad, main variation with c6
1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 O-O 6.Bg2 d6 7.O-O c6 8.Qc2 Na6 9.a3 Qc7 10.b4 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Bb2 e4 13.Nd4 Qf7 14.Na4 Nc7 15.f3 exf3 16.exf3 Ne6 17.Ne2 f4 18.g4 h5 19.h3 Nd7 20.Bxg7 Qxg7 21.Rad1 Ne5 22.Rd2 hxg4 23.hxg4 Ng5 24.Rd6 Be6 25.Nb2 Rae8 26.Nd4 Nef7 27.Nxe6 Nxe6 28.Rd2 Nd4 29.Qa4 Qe5 30.Nd1 Ne2+ 31.Kf2 Ng3 32.Rg1 Qe2+ 0-1
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=2136445&m=24

Ishaq Saeed (2411) vs RaunakSadhwani (2603)
Event: 4th Sharjah Masters 2021
Site: Sharjah UAE Date: 09/21/2021
Round: 5.16
ECO: A88 Dutch, Leningrad, main variation with c6
1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 g6 5.g3 Bg7 6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O c6 8.Qc2 Na6 9.a3 Qc7 10.b4 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.e4 f4 13.Bb2 Nh5 14.Ne2 Bg4 15.h3 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Nf6 17.Rad1 Rae8 18.c5 Qc8 19.Kh2 Rf7 20.Qc4 Re7 21.Rd6 Qf8 22.gxf4 Ne8 23.Rd8 exf4 24.Nd4 Bf6 25.Rc8 Nac7 26.Rg1 Kh8 27.Ba1 Be5 28.a4 Qg7 29.b5 Qf6 30.b6 axb6 31.cxb6 Ne6 32.Nxe6 Rxe6 33.Bxe5 Rxe5 34.Rd1 Kg7 35.Qd4 Rfe7 36.Qd8 Qf7 37.Rd2 h5 38.Rd1 Kh6 39.Qd4 Qe6 40.Rd8 g5 41.Rg1 c5 42.Qd1 Qf7 43.a5 c4 44.a6 bxa6 45.Qd4 Qe6 46.Rb1 Rb7 47.Rd5 Rxd5 48.exd5 Qf6 49.Qxf6+ Nxf6 50.d6 Rb8 51.b7 Kg6 52.Ra1 g4 53.Bc6 c3 54.Rc1 Kf5 55.Rxc3 Ke6 56.Rd3 Nd7 57.hxg4 Ne5 58.Bd5+ Kxd6 59.Rd1 hxg4 60.Kg2 Kc7 61.Rc1+ Kb6 62.Re1 Nd3 63.Re6+ Kc5 64.Be4 Nb4 65.Rf6 a5 66.Rf5+ Kb6 67.Rf6+ Ka7 68.Rf5 f3+ 69.Kg3 Kb6 ½-½
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=4307334&m=24

Putin Won’t Back Down

Russia’s missile test fuels U.S. fears of an isolated Putin

The Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile launches at Plesetsk testing field in Russia on Wednesday. | RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY / VIA AFP-JIJI

by David E. Sanger/The New York Times

WASHINGTON – Russian President Vladimir Putin’s calculated move Wednesday to test-launch a new intercontinental ballistic missile, declaring it a warning to those in the West who “try to threaten our country,” fed into a growing concern inside the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden: that Russia is now so isolated from the rest of the world that Putin sees little downside to provocative actions.

In private, U.S. officials have been more direct about the potential for an isolated Russian leader to lash out in further destabilizing ways. “We have been so successful in disconnecting Putin from the global system that he has even more incentive to disrupt it beyond Ukraine,” one senior intelligence official said in a recent conversation, insisting on anonymity to discuss intelligence assessments. “And if he grows increasingly desperate, he may try things that don’t seem rational.”

Mad Vlad Putin https://www.drudgereport.com/

Putin, assessments delivered to the White House have concluded, believes he is winning, according to a senior U.S. official who asked for anonymity to discuss intelligence findings.

It is hardly surprising that Putin has not backed down in the face of economic sanctions and measures to cut off his country from technology needed for new weapons and now some consumer goods. He has often shrugged off Western sanctions, arguing he can easily manage around them.

“We can already confidently say that this policy toward Russia has failed,” Putin said Monday. “The strategy of an economic blitzkrieg has failed.” (https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/04/21/world/russia-missile-test-fuels-us-fears/)

TCEC Championship Leningrad Dutch Battles

The Chess program known as Stockfish is in the process of drubbing the Chess program known as Komodo in the latest battle for supremacy of the “engines.” What is the point? To make things worse, some obviously inept human has chosen the openings for the “players.” I can understand assigning a particular opening, such as the Sicilian, and making the opening moves of 1 e4 c5 for the programs and let them go from there. I could even understand forcing the programs to play the Najdorf, far and away the most often played Sicilian, by beginning the game with White choosing the sixth move after 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6. I cannot understand a game beginning after ten inferior moves, as is the case in the following examples. The TCEC show seems to be a complete exercise in futility. The only interesting thing about TCEC is what move the top programs will play in the opening when out of ‘book’. That said, you know this writer found interest in the two Leningrad Dutch games which follow. I must add that the move 7…Nc6 is no longer the “main variation” of the Leningrad Dutch. Stockfish prefers 7…c6, and so should you.

KomodoDragon vs Stockfish
TCEC match game 51.1
A89 Dutch, Leningrad, main variation with Nc6

1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. c4 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. d5 Ne5 9. Nxe5 dxe5 10. Qb3 h6 11. Be3 Ng4 12. Bd2 e4 13. Rad1 a5 14. Kh1 Kh7 15. Qc2 Qd6 16. f3 e3 17. Be1 Nf2+ 18. Bxf2 exf2 19. f4 e5 20. dxe6 Qc5 21. Na4 Qb4 22. a3 Qe7 23. Rxf2 Bxe6 24. Bxb7 Rad8 25. Rff1 Bd7 26. Bf3 Bxa4 27. Qxa4 Bxb2 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Qxa5 Bxa3 30. Rb1 Bc5 31. Kg2 Bb6 32. Qb5 h5 33. h4 Kh6 34. Qa4 Qe8 35. Qc2 Qe3 36. Qb2 Bd4 37. Qb7 Qe7 38. Qc6 Rd6 39. Qa8 Rd8 40. Qa5 Bb6 41. Qb5 Qd6 42. Qa6 Bd4 43. Qa5 Bb6 44. Qa1 Bd4 45. Qa2 Be3 46. Kh3 Bf2 47. Qa4 Qd7 48. Qb3 Qd6 49. Kg2 Bd4 50. Qa4 Be3 51. Bd5 Qc5 52. Qa6 Bd4 53. Kh3 Qe7 54. Bf3 Qd6 55. Qa4 Bf2 56. Qa5 Qc5 57. Qxc5 Bxc5 58. Rb5 Ba3 59. Re5 Rd7 60. Re6 Re7 61. Rc6 Bb2 62. Kg2 Bd4 63. Kf1 Bb2 64. Bd5 Kg7 65. c5 Bd4 66. Be6 Kh7 67. Bc4 Kg7 68. Kg2 Kh7 69. Kf1 Kg7 70. Bd3 Be3 71. Bc2 Bd4 72. Bd1 1/2-1/2

1.d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. c4 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. d5 Ne5 9. Nxe5 dxe5 10. Qb3 h6 (The was the last ‘book’ move. I kid you not. Some inept human forced the programs to begin playing in this position. It makes me wonder what’s going on…I was curious, so regular readers know what comes next…Let us begin anew…)

1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 (Although Stockfish 14 @depth 52 prefers the move played in the game, SF 14.1 will fire 2 Bg5 at you! Is that amazin’, or what? If you play the Dutch you had better come to the board armed with the latest ideas after 2 Bg5 or you will go down HARD, like rot-gut whiskey. According to the ChessBaseDataBase the most often played move has been 2 g3, with the CBDB containing 8954 games with the move. Deep Fritz 13 prefers this move, which has scored 59%. The game move shows 5006 games with white scoring 56%. 3 c4 comes in third with 4240 examples scoring 56%. In fourth place is the move 2 Nc3. In 2923 games it has scored 57%. 2 Bg5 comes next with 1895 games that have scored 58% for white. The move 2 e4 is next and it has scored only 48% for white in 707 games) 2…Nf6 (Stockfish 14.1 @depth 48 will play this move, as will Fritz 17 @depth 28, but leave it running a little longer and at depth 29 the program plays 2…e6, which is proof positive there is something amiss in the bowels of Fritz 17) 3. g3 g6 (Although Sockfish 14 plays 3…e6, SF 14.1 corrected the obvious problem by switching to 3…d6, which has scored the highest, 58%, albeit in limited action of only 555 games. The game move has been the most often played move while scoring 55% in 2409 games) 4. Bg2 (According to the CBDB this move has been played far more than all other moves shown combined and it is not even close, as the game move has been played 5094 times while scoring 56%. With 863 games the move 4 c4 is next, and it, too, has scored 56%. It is indeed interesting that Stockfish 14.1 @depth 47 will play 4 Bg2, but @depth 51 shows 4 b3, a move having been seen in only 108 games while scoring 59%. But then at depth 60 it reverts to 4 Bg2. It makes me wonder, why?) 4…Bg7 (This move has been played in 5496 games and has scored 57%, but in 1079 games 4…d6 has scored 59% for white. Here’s the deal…@depth 44 Stockfish will play 4…Bg7, but leave it running only a short time and @depth 45 it changes it’s algorithm to 4…d6…) 5. c4 d6 (5…0-0 has been the most often played move, and it is the choice of Stockfish 10 [TEN? What happened to the latest programs? The CBDB is in dire need of a tune-up!]. Fritz 17 will play the second most often played move of 5…d6. Deep Fritz 13 will play 5…c5. The CBDB contains only ONE GAME with the move 5…c5) 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Nc6 (As has been written on this blog previously, 7…c6 is the best move in the position. 7…Qe8 was the choice of the leading exponent of the Leningrad Dutch, GM Vladimir Malaniuk.

https://de.chessbase.com/post/vladimir-malaniuk-und-tatiana-zatulovskaya-gestorben

https://www.twirpx.com/file/2926788/

ForwardChess.com sent two new books

chess4less.com

which were downloaded onto the laptop, and were the first two books read via computer. Unfortunately, the author, Mihail Marin,

gainesvillechesstraining.com

focused exclusively on the above mentioned, second-rate move, 7…Qe8 for the Leningrad Dutch. Not wanting to write a negative review, I eschewed writing about the book. Marin dedicated the book “To my late mother, who used to tell me: “Play beautifully, Bobita!” The author writes, “…I became so deeply involved in the world of the Leningrad that in five consecutive tournaments I played 1…f5 in all my games, except those starting with 1 e4. I actually adopted a similar strategy with White, starting all my games in those tournaments with 1 f4.” Regular readers know what that meant to the AW! Before reading the books I ‘just had’ to replay each and every one of those games, while making notes for the review that never was…You, too, can reply the games, which are easy to locate at 365Chess.com. Let me say that the book was enjoyed immensely, but I have trouble recommending any book using an antiquated line as the basis for the book. On the other hand, his other Dutch book, Dutch Sidelines, is an EXCELLENT book that I highly recommend, and it should be read prior to any player attempting to play the Leningrad Dutch, or any opening beginning with 1…f5, because the players sitting behind the White pieces will throw everything including the kitchen sink at you before you ever get to play a Leningrad Dutch proper, so you better be prepared for all the sidelines, and this is a FANTASTIC book for just that purpose! See (https://xpertchesslessons.wordpress.com/2021/09/08/a-chess-game-begins-with-the-opening/) You can thank me later…) 8. d5 Ne5 9. Nxe5 dxe5 10. Qb3 h6 (In 128 games this move has allowed White to score 64%. Stockfish 14.1 @depth 46, and Komodo 14 @depth 37, will play 10…e6, a move shown in only 24 games at the CBDB. White has scored 69% against the move, so if you intend on playing the Leningrad Dutch you need to produce better moves before reaching this position.

White to move after 10…h6

Stockfish vs KomodoDragon
TCEC match game 52.1
A89 Dutch, Leningrad, main variation with Nc6

1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. c4 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. d5 Ne5 9. Nxe5 dxe5 10. Qb3 h6 11. Bd2 e6 12. e4 f4 13. Rac1 Kh7 14. Rfd1 exd5 15. cxd5 Ng4 16. f3 Ne3 17. Bxe3 fxe3 18. Ne2 h5 19. Qxe3 Bh6 20. f4 Bg4 21. Bf3 Bd7 22. Rc3 a5 23. d6 c6 24. Rb3 Rb8 25. Rbd3 h4 26. b3 Qf6 27. Rf1 hxg3 28. hxg3 g5 29. fxe5 Qxe5 30. g4 Kg6 31. Kg2 Bg7 32. Ng3 Rf4 33. Nh5 Rf7 34. a4 Rbf8 35. Ng3 Rh8 36. Nh5 Rhf8 37. Ng3 Rh8 38. Rf2 Rh4 39. Rc2 1/2 – 1/2

I wondered about the move 11 Be3 in the first game and was therefore not surprised when Stockfish varied. 11 Bd2 (varies from 11 Be3 in the first game of the mini-match. Komodo 14 @depth36 will play 11 Rd1. The CBDB contains 48 games with the move and it has scored 66% versus 2445 opposition. Going one fathom deeper to depth 37 Komodo 14 plays 11 Bd2. There are only 4 games in which this move has been attempted while scoring 50% against a composite player rated 2433. Stockfish 14.1 @depth 41 prefers the move 11 a4. Only two games are shown at the CBDB, and both ended in wins for players of the White. At depth 39 Stockfish 11 [SF 11?! How many years has it been since SF 11 was state of the art?] will play 11…e4. Going one fathom deeper the same antiquated ‘engine’ plays 11…e6…

Pavel Eljanov (2680) vs Gary William Lane (2358)
Event: Gibraltar Masters 2019
Site: Caleta ENG Date: 01/22/2019
Round: 1.20
ECO: A89 Dutch, Leningrad, main variation with Nc6
1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.O-O O-O 6.c4 d6 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.d5 Ne5 9.Nxe5 dxe5 10.Qb3 h6 11.a4 g5 12.a5 a6 13.Be3 Qe8 14.Bc5 Qf7 15.Qa3 Re8 16.e3 g4 17.Rad1 Rb8 18.Rfe1 Nd7 19.Bb4 e4 20.Ne2 Ne5 21.Qb3 Nf3+ 22.Bxf3 gxf3 23.Nf4 e5 24.dxe6 Bxe6 25.Bc3 Bxc4 26.Qa3 Bf8 27.b4 Rbd8 28.Ba1 Bd6 29.Qc3 Kh7 30.Rd4 Bb5 31.Red1 Be5 32.Rxd8 Bxc3 33.Bxc3 Bd3 34.Rd4 Re7 35.Nxd3 Qb3 36.Nf4 1-0
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=4171953&m=22

IM Edward Song vs IM Arthur Guo and Non-Stop Chess

Edward Song (2383)

https://chessstream.com/profile/edward-song-5760

vs Arthur Guo (2432)

https://www.chess.com/member/arthurguo

New York Spring Invitational GM A 2022
C28 Vienna game

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Na5 5. Bb3 Be7 6. f4 Nxb3 7. axb3 d6 8. Nf3
   exf4 9. Bxf4 O-O 10. O-O c6 11. h3 d5 12. e5 Ne8 13. Qd2 Nc7 14. Ne2 Ne6 15. Be3
   c5 16. d4 b6 17. Ng3 f5 18. exf6 Rxf6 19. Nh5 Rf8 20. Nf4 Nxf4 21. Bxf4 Bf5 22.
   Ne5 Bf6 23. c3 Be4 24. Ng4 Bh4 25. Be5 Qe7 26. Qe2 h5 27. Nf2 Bg6 28. Nd3 Bg3
2. Qd2 Bxd3 30. Rxf8+ Rxf8 31. Bxg3 Be4 32. Be5 Qf7 33. Qe2 a5 34. dxc5 bxc5
3. Bd6 Rc8 36. Rxa5 Rc6 37. Bxc5 Bxg2 38. Ra8+ Kh7 39. Rf8 Qg6 40. Qxg2 Qxg2+
4. Kxg2 Rxc5 42. b4 Rb5 43. Rf5 Kg6 44. Re5 Kf6 45. Rxh5 g6 46. Rh4 Rb8 47. Kf3
   Ke5 48. Ke3 Ra8 49. b5 g5 50. Rg4 Kf5 51. Kf3 Rh8 52. Kg2 Rb8 53. Rb4 Rb6 54.
   Kf3 Rh6 55. Kg3 Rb6 56. b3 1-0
   https://lichess.org/broadcast/2022-new-york-april-invitational–gm-a/round-1/dMxkwdNQ

1.e4 e5 2. Nc3 (C25 Vienna game) 2…Nc6 (You will not be surprised to learn Stockfish 14.1 plays 2…Nf6. For what it’s worth, Deep Fritz 13 will play the game move… This move makes it a C25 Vienna game, Max Lange defence) 3. Bc4 Nf6 (Now it has become the C28 Vienna game) 4. d3 (According to 365Chess the opening is still the C28 Vienna game but ‘back in the day’ it was called a “Bishop’s Opening”) 4…Na5 (Stockfish 14 preferred 4…Bb4, but SF 14.1 plays the move made in the game) 5. Bb3 (For 5 Qf3 and a discussion of the position see the recent post: Esipenko vs Nakamura Bishops Opening Battle https://xpertchesslessons.wordpress.com/2022/03/31/esipenko-vs-nakamura-bishops-opening-battle/) 5…Be7? (I was surprised to learn this move has been attempted in 16 games, with White to score 66%. There are 126 games contained in the ChessBaseDataBase in which 5…Nxb3 was played culminating in a 50% score. There are only 47 games in which other moves have been attempted with White scoring 60+%. Arthur’s move is very passive. It is one thing to play a move taking your opponent out of book, but this move is another thing entirely) 6. f4 Nxb3 (The programs all prefer 6…d6) 7. axb3 d6 8. Nf3 (The programs all prefer 8 fxe5, yet the move made in the game is the only move shown at the CBDB!) 8…exf4 9. Bxf4 O-O 10. O-O c6 11. h3 (Although SF 14.1 will, given the chance, play this move, no human has yet to make it over the board so that makes 11 h3 a THEORETICAL NOVELTY! Or is it? A game featuring the move was located at 365Chess.com. Unfortunately the player sitting behind the Black pieces needed ten points to break the Master level of 2200…but wait! The player who actually made the TN move of 11 h3 WAS A RATED MASTER! Therefore, Arthur’s move of 11…d5 is the THEORETICAL NOVELTY!

Michael Schulz (2222) vs Juergen Schmidt (2190)
Event: Berlin-ch op
Site: Berlin Date: ??/??/1999
Round: 8
ECO: C30 King’s gambit
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Be7 5.O-O Nf6 6.d3 O-O 7.Nc3 exf4 8.Bxf4 Na5 9.Bb3 Nxb3 10.axb3 c6 11.h3 Nh5 12.Bh2 g6 13.Qd2 Be6 14.Kh1 d5 15.exd5 Bxd5 16.Nxd5 Qxd5 17.Ra5 Qd8 18.g4 Ng7 19.Be5 f6 20.Bc3 b6 21.Ra6 Qc8 22.Rfa1 Qb7 23.Qf4 Rf7 24.Qc4 h5 25.Kg2 hxg4 26.hxg4 Bd6 27.b4 Bb8 28.Bxf6 Ne8 29.g5 Nxf6 30.gxf6 Qc7 31.Qh4 Qf4 32.Rxb6 Qxf6 33.Qxf6 Rxf6 34.b5 Bd6 35.Rxc6 g5 36.Nd2 Rh6 37.Rh1 1-0
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=721235&m=22

It was a back and forth kinda game until Arthur Guo let go…of the rope, that is, when blundering horribly with his 37th move, which was so bad Arthur could have resigned on the spot after his opponent made his next move. Instead, he made his opponent “play it out,” while no doubt suffering with each and every move made…

In addition to the picture, the following was found at Chess.com:

Hi, I’m Arthur Guo. I just turned 14 and I’m an IM. I’m a three-time National Chess Champion. I won 2018 National Junior High (K-9) Championship as a 6th grader and won 2016 National Elementary (K-6) Championship as a 4th grader. I’m also a three-time International Youth/Junior Chess Tournament Gold Medalist/Co-Champion for Team USA. I was the Co-Champion for 2018 Pan American Junior U20, Champion for Pan American Youth U12 and U8. I placed 4th place (tied for 2nd) in 2018 World Cadets Chess Championship in Spain. I also love playing golf.
https://www.chess.com/member/arthurguo

Arthur Guo is still a child. He is a teenager, but still too young to obtain the learner’s permit to drive a car. He has recently been playing non-stop Chess. Back in the days before Bobby Fischer

https://fightingmonarch.com/2019/12/03/bobby-fischer-targeted-by-the-new-world-order/

seats at the board were taken by grown men. Chess has changed so drastically that now the few men who occupy those seats are facing boys young enough to be their sons, or grandsons. After two years of the Covid pandemic things have changed and there has been an explosion of Chess activity. Things have reached a point where sixteen year old phenom Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa

© Provided by Free Press Journal R Praggnanandhaa

went from winning the Reykjavik Open in Iceland to playing THE NEXT DAY at the La Roda International Open in Spain! Now that Chess has become one continuous tournament with no time between tournaments to rest, relax, and review the games played, a question must be asked. Is this good for the children and younger players, or will it be deleterious to their mental health?

In a little over one month young Mr. Guo has participated in three Chess tournaments: SPRING 2022 CCCSA GM/IM NORM INVITATIONAL (NC); 2022 NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP (TN); and the NEW YORK SPRING INVITATIONALS (NY) (http://www.uschess.org/msa/MbrDtlTnmtHst.php?14772092). Arthur played nine games in winning the first event; seven in winning the second event; and nine more in the last event, for a total of 25 games between March 16 until April 18. The quality of the moves made by Arthur Guo dropped dramatically in the last tournament, as should be expected. Arthur played what appeared to be “tired Chess.”

Burnout in Chess has been a problem for decades but it has now become exponentially more dangerous for the young(er) players. Organizers need to ask themselves, “What the fork are we doing?”

Smashing The Dutch Defense

The following game was contained in the Mechanic’s Institute Newsletter, which can be located @ https://www.milibrary.org/chess. I urge you to surf on over and check it out if you are unfamiliar with the Mechanic’s Institute Chess Room. The weekly MIN is FREE and can and will be in your inbox if you drop them an email. You will find Paul Whitehead’s annotations to this game there. I have decided to publish the short game because there is much to be learned from this game. For instance, the player behind the Black pieces surely must have learned that if one is contemplating playing a sharp opening like the Dutch, he better be well prepared because the Dutch is not the kind of opening to “wing it.” A player simply MUST KNOW some lines in order to survive the opening. I would like to add that before any future Grandmaster plays any opening he simply MUST LEARN THE OFFBEAT LINES FIRST! There is a superb book for just this situation, which will, hopefully, be reviewed in the near future on this blog:

James Reilman vs Bradley Matthews
April Quads Mechanics’ Institute
A84 Dutch defence
1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Bg5 h6 4.Bxf6 gxf6 5.e3 h5 6.Be2 e6 7.Bxh5+ Ke7 8.Nc3 c6 9.d5 cxd5
10.cxd5 e5 11.d6+ Ke6 12.Qd5# 1-0

1.d4 f5 2.c4 (The most often played move has been 2 g3, with the ChessBaseDataBase containing 8954 games in which the g-pawn move has been attempted. With it White has scored 59% against an ELO avg opponent rated 2437. It is the move of Deep Fritz 13 @depth 29. Stockfish 14 @depth 52 will play 2 Nf3, a move that has scored 56% against 2406 rated opposition in 5006 games. 2 Bg5 is the choice of Stockfish 14.1 @depth 53. There are 1895 games with the move in the CBDB and it has scored 58% versus 2407 opposition. The move in the game, 2 c4, has been played in 4240 games versus 2415 rated opposition and it has scored 56%) 2…Nf6 (SF 11 plays this move, but SF 14 will play 2…d6, and so should you any time White plays the d4/c4 combo against the Leningrad Dutch, as I have previously written on this blog) 3.Bg5 (Houdini likes 3 g3; SF 14 prefers 3 Nc3; and SF 14.1 plays 3 Nf3. In order we find 2112 games with Nc3; 1513 with Mf3; and 1237 with 3 g3) 3…h6? (You will not find this move in the CBDB, or 365Chess. If you do not know why, you will momentarily…Stockfish 14.1 will play 3…Ne4, and so should you) 4 Bxf6 gxf6 5.e3 h5 6.Be2 e6 7.Bxh5+ Ke7 8.Nc3 c6 9.d5 cxd5 10.cxd5 e5 11.d6+ Ke6 12.Qd5# 1-0

Martin Sebensky (1900) vs Ladislav Sipeky (1952)
Event: SVK-chT2A 0607
Site: Slovakia Date: 01/13/2007
Round: 7.3
ECO: A84 Dutch defence
1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Bg5 Ne4 4.Bd2 e6 5.Nc3 Nxd2 6.Qxd2 b6 7.d5 Bb4 8.dxe6 dxe6 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.O-O-O+ Ke7 11.Nb5 Na6 12.Nf3 Bb7 13.e3 Bd6 14.Nxd6 cxd6 15.Be2 e5 16.Nd2 Rac8 17.Kb1 Nc5 18.f3 Rhd8 19.Nb3 Nxb3 20.axb3 a5 21.Rd2 Rc7 22.Rhd1 Rcd7 23.g4 fxg4 24.fxg4 h6 25.h4 Be4+ 26.Ka2 d5 27.cxd5 Bxd5 28.Bc4 Bxc4 ½-½

IM Kevin Wang vs IM Arthur Guo

The AW burned the midnight oil watching the game that follows. It looked as though our Georgia hero, Arthur Guo, was on the ropes and going down, but the game, as are many, if not most, of the games played by the winner of the National Open, was full of vicissitudes that kept me enraptured for hours. I will say that this kid is fun to watch because he plays to win! It was amazing watching Arthur somehow hold it all together as the house was burning… Young Mr. Guo is resilient if nothing else… In lieu of annotating the game I want to do something different and present the game to you in diagram form, showing what I thought were the critical positions. At one point late into the night I stopped surfin’, closed all other windows, and sat in the quiet, vicariously watching only the game…and WHAT A GAME IT WAS!

IM Kevin Wang (2389)

https://lichess.org/coach/kwchez

vs Arthur Guo (2432)

https://new.uschess.org/news/back-us-chess-school-im-craig-hilby-50-saint-louis

New York April Invitational GM A
D38 Queen’s Gambit Declined, Ragozin variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Bd7 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Qc2 O-O 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bh4 Qe7 12. e3 Bg4 13. Bd3 Qe6 14. O-O Bxf3 15. gxf3 Ne7 16. c4 Rac8 17. cxd5 Nfxd5 18. Bg3 c6 19. Rab1 b6 20. Rfe1 Nf6 21. e4 Nh5 22. Rbd1 Qf6 23. Be2 Nf4 24. Bf1 Ne6 25. Be5 Qxf3 26. Re3 Qh5 27. Rh3 Qg6+ 28. Rg3 Qh7 29. Bh3 Ng6 30. Bf5 Rfe8 31. Qb3 Nef8 32. Bxc8 Rxc8 33. Bd6 Ne6 34. Qe3 Rd8 35. e5 Ngf4 36. Re1 Qf5 37. Kh1 Rc8 38. Qe4 Qh5 39. Qf3 Qxf3+ 40. Rxf3 g5 41. Rd1 Kg7 42. Rd2 Nd5 43. Kg1 Kg6 44. Kf1 Nef4 45. Rc2 Kf5 46. e6 fxe6 47. Bxf4 Nxf4 48. Re3 Rd8 49. Re5+ Kg4 50. Re4 Rd6 51. Rc3 Kf5 52. f3 h5 53. Kf2 h4 54. Rc4 Kf6 55. Ke3 c5 56. Rc2 Rd5 57. a4 Ke7 58. Rd2 Kf6 59. Rc2 h3 60. Rd2 cxd4+ 61. Rdxd4 Rc5 62. Rc4 Rd5 63. Red4 Re5+ 64. Re4 Ra5 65. Rc8 Rd5 66. Rf8+ Ke7 67. Rh8 Rd3+ 68. Kf2 Rd2+ 69. Kg1 Rd1+ 70. Kf2 Rd2+ 71. Ke3 Rxh2 72. Rh7+ Kf6 73. Kd4 Kg6 74. Rh8 Kg7 75. Ra8 Rd2+ 76. Kc4 Rd1 77. Rxa7+ Kg6 0-1
   https://live.followchess.com/#!new-york-spring-invitationals-gm-a-2022/-555666883

The first position arises in the transition to the middle game:

Black to move after 15 gxf3

Although the Black pawn structure is better White has the two Bishops and must be better. My thoughts turned to something like g5 and Knight to the rim before taking the Prelate in order to get rid of one of the nasty Bishops. Granted, Nxg3 would enhance the White pawn structure, but he would no longer have the dreaded two Bishops versus the two Knights. It may be time to move a Rook, but where, and which one? The only other alternative was to move the Knight on c6, but that would mean moving it to the rim, where it is said it is “grim.” Who am I to argue? That leaves the move chosen by Arthur, 15…Ne7.

Next we have the position after 22…Qf6:

position after 22…Qf6 with White to move

I was expecting 23 e5 and had to check again after the move played to be sure the pawn on f3 could not be captured. As a general rule the Bishops are much better at attacking than defending, so the retreat of the Bishop was rather limp-wristed.

Position after 25 Be5

Position after 25…Qxf3

At the top level this is a game losing move. The next position vividly illustrates why this is so:

Position after 30 Bf5

While watching I was having thoughts about what to call this game and “The Entombed Queen” came to mind. This game is SO WON. All IM Wang has to do is move the King and replace it with the Rook and after preparation fire the h-pawn…all contingent on how Black responds. There were thoughts of turning in early last night…and then…

Position after 31…Nef8

No doubt hoping IM Wang will take the bait. But what Chess player would trade that strong Bishop on f5 that completely dominates the game?

Position after 32 Bxc8

Thank you, IM Wang. If you had not played the unbelievably bad move we would not have seen what follows!

Position after 34 Qe3

I did not understand this move last night and still don’t understand it…

Position after LIBERATION!

Wow, have things changed since the last diagram. The Queen is FREE! I’m thinking, “If anyone has an advantage it would be Arthur.”

Position after move 40…g5

Back in the day the game would have been adjourned here. Have you ever wondered how players of the past would fare under todaze conditions? How about watching Bobby Fischer play Mikhail Tal sans adjournment…

Position after 66…Ke7

This seems to be the place to stop writing and allow you to see what comes next, and if I have done a good job, you will do just that and do it here: https://lichess.org/broadcast/2022-new-york-april-invitational–gm-a/round-3/k2iftQci

Here is the opening rundown:

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 (Stockfish prefers taking the pawn with 4 cxd5) 4…Bb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. a3 (SF plays 6 e3 as do most humans) 6…Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Bd7 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Qc2 (Three different SF programs prefer 9 Bg5 and so should you) 9…O-O (SF 14.1 prefers 9…Na5) 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bh4 Qe7 (Two games were found with this move the second game was located only at the ChessBaseDataBase)

Santiago Suarez P
Valente Arguelles Ovando
Event: Yucatan-ch
Site: Merida Date: 08/02/1998
Round: 6
ECO: D38 Queen’s Gambit Declined, Ragozin variation
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bb4 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Bd7 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Qc2 O-O 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 Qe7 12.e3 Qe6 13.c4 Ne7 14.Ne5 Bc8 15.Bd3 c6 16.O-O Ne4 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.Bxe4 dxe4 20.Rfc1 Bf5 21.Qc7 Qxc7 22.Rxc7 b6 23.Nc6 Be6 24.d5 Bc8 25.d6 Be6 26.d7 1-0
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=992155&m=23

GM Valentina Guinina 2471 (RUS) vs Ronaldo A Moreira 2088 (BRA)
Titled Tuesday intern op
ECO: D38 Queen’s Gambit Declined, Ragozin variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 O-O 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 Bd7 10.cxd5 exd5 11.Qc2 Qe7 12.e3 Rfe8 13.Bd3 Qd6 14.Bg3 Qe6 15.Bxc7 Rac8 16.Bg3 Na5 17.O-O Ne4 18.Bxe4 dxe4 19.Nd2 Bb5 20.Rfe1 Bd3 21.Qb2 b6 22.f3 exf3 23.gxf3 Nc4 24.Nxc4 Qxc4 25.Rac1 Re6 26.e4 Rec6 27.Re3 f5 28.Qd2 fxe4 29.fxe4 Qxd4 30.cxd4 Rxc1+ 31.Re1 R8c2 32.Qxd3 1-0