My game yesterday, in round 4 against the Armenian star Sargissian, was an uneventful draw.  I thought I had something in a Spanish, but missed a small tactical opportunity, and then had to retreat and make a cautious draw.  My team went down in flames 5-1.  Three rounds to go and my team’s chances of remaining in the Honor division are almost zero.  Today I play against Bruzon.

Below are several tidbits, tactics and/or interesting positions from yesterday’s round and earlier during the tournament.  ENJOY!

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Perez De Aranda A., Leonardo I

im Argandona Riveiro, Inigo

Position after 30 moves.  An unusual game and now finally it seems as though Black is in the game and is even threatening mate…HOWEVER, in chess having the move is often all that makes the difference between winning and losing.

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!

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Bofill Mas, Alejandro

Moreno Tejera, Emilio

Position after 17 moves of a sharp Sicilian with opposite side castling.  In such instances the race is the most importante factor. Here Black is attacking with his pieces (Rooks already doubled) while White is mostly attacking with his pawns…

WHAT IS WHITE’S BEST COURSE OF PLAY?

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NO REST FOR HIS MAJESTY!

This game was played yesterday and it is quite impressive!  I am certain theoreticians may argue about the value of Black’s pawn sacrífice, but for chess fans such as myself it is the creative beauty of the game’s continuation that is all that matters.

Edouard, Romain–Delchev, Aleksander:

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 dxc4 4.e3 Bg4 5.Bxc4 e6 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.Bb5 Bd6 8.Qa4 Bxf3 9.gxf3 O-O 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Qxc6 Rb8 12.f4 Nd513.Qc4 Qd7 14.a3 Rfc8 15.Qd3 Rb3 16.Qc2 Rcb8 17.Ne4 Qa4 18.O-O

gm  Delchev, Aleksander

 gm Edouard,Romain

White hopes to get his King into safety as soon as possible, but , as we shall soon see, all of Black’s pieces soon migrate over to the Kingside!

18…Nxf4! 19.Nc3?!  Nh3+ 20.Kg2 Qc4 21.f4 g5! 22.Qd1?!

22…Rxb2+! Black is now clearly winning 23.Bxb2 Rxb2+24.Kxh3 Qxc3 25.Qg4 Qxe3+ 26.Qg3 Bxf4 27.Qxe3 Rxh2+ 28.Kg4 h5+29.Kf3 Rh3+ 0-1

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ATTACKING  PROWESS

im  Almagro Llamas, Pablo

gm  Van Wely,L

From yesterday’s round.  Postion after 22 moves.  Black is up two pawns but has advanced his Kingside pawns and must exercise great caution.  Especially, the White pieces are very active and centralized.  Notice the presence of opposite colour Bishops: they DO favour the attacking side!  The real question , ofcourse, is whether all of this is compensation for two pawns?  I do not know…but enjoy the continuation!

23.Be5!?

The best chance!  The Bishop should not be taken.  Probably the cool 23…Qb3 is the best way to proceed.  INSTEAD, Black immediately goes wrong and is soon swept away by a tornado!

23…Rac8 ? 24.Bxf6+!

Best is now 24…Kg8, but after  25.Qd4 White is clearly dominating.

24…Kg6 ?! 25.h5+! Kf7 ( 25…Kxh5 26.Qh3+ Kg6 27.Bxg5 ! ) 26.Qe5 !

Now White has an unstoppable mating attack!

26…Be6

At this point it makes little difference what Black does…

27.Rd7+!

1-0

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Moreno Tejera, Emilio–Bofill Mas, Alejandro:  18.Bxg7!! b5!? ( Creative. Taking  the Bishop allows White to recover the piece with 19.f6+ with a crushing position) 19.Bf6 b4 20.Nd5? Bf8? (Black should take the Knight with the better game!. Black returns the favour…)21.g6 White is winning again. 21… exd5 22.gxh7+ Kxh7 23.Qe1 Ra8 24.Bd8 Qxd8 1-0(Now simply 20.Pxe6 wins the game)

Argandona Riveiro, Inigo–Perez De Aranda A., Leonardo I:  31.Rxc8+! 1-0  The game is over as it is forced mate.