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2005 WV State Championship

Benjamin Good

2005.12.16

Table of Contents

Introduction

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Summary

Prize Winners

Notable Performances

Crosstable

Index of Games Alphabetically by Player

Index of Openings

Introduction

The 2005 state championship was held at the Saint Albans Municipal Utility Commission building from September 3 through September 5. Although the event only had 18 players, this was one of the strongest state championship tournaments in recent memory, with an average rating just under 1800. The front runners of the event were Mark Hathaway and Donald Griffith (as usual), with Ben Good nipping at their heels through the final rounds. Mark won his final game while Ben and Donald both lost, leaving Mark as the sole winner. This was Mark's sixth state title in the last seven years.

Here are the games from the tournament, analyzed by Ben Good.

Round 1 Pairings

Round 1 Games

The best game for round 1 was Jason Young - Katie King. Unfortunately, the score for that game was not available. Out of those games presented, Shih-Houng Young - Mark Hathaway is the best game. For each round, a best game and a "lucky dog" will be selected. The lucky dog for round 1 is Ben Good for his win in a completely drawn opposite color bishop endgame.

Game 1: Igor Boss - Gary Cummings

Trompowsky Attack

In Game 1, Black weakened his pawn structure with moves such as 6...f5 and 8...Nf6, allowing White a free hand at attacking the king. Black's kingside proves indefensible and he succumbs in 21 moves.

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bf4 e6 4. e3 d5 5. Bd3 Nd7 6. Nd2 f5?!

Everything was fine until this move. Black should retreat the knight to f6 or trade it on d2, then play for ...c5.

7. Bxe4 dxe4 8. f3 Nf6?

Better was 8...exf3. The e4 pawn is now lost, and Black has a weak kingside and center.

9. fxe4 fxe4 10. Nh3 Bd6

Also good for White is 10...c5 11. c3 Qb6 12. Qc2.

11. O-O O-O 12. Ng5 Nd5?

White now has a forced win as Black is unable to defend his king against a direct attack. Black may be able to play on for a while after 12...Bxf4 13. Rxf4 Qd5 14. Ngxe4 Nxe4 15. c4 Qc6 16. Rxe4.

13. Qh5! h6 14. Bxd6 cxd6 15. Rxf8+ Qxf8 16. Rf1 Nf6

An amazing winning line is 16...Qe7 17. Ndxe4! hxg5 18. c4! Nf6 19. Qxg5 Kf7 20. Qh5+! Kf8 21. Qh8+ Kf7 22. Nxf6 gxf6 23. Rf3 b5 24. Rg3.

17. Qg6 hxg5 18. Nxe4 Kh8 19. Nxf6 gxf6 20. Rxf6 Qg7 21. Qe8+ Black resigns.

Game 2: Shih-Houng Young - Mark Hathaway

Sicilian Defense, Alapin Variation

White missed an opportunity to claim an advantage in the early middle game, and after a series of bad exchanges Black converted his advantage to a win in the endgame.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3

This move order (Nf3 before c3) can be used to reach various lines in the Sicilian, such as the Kopec System with 4. Bd3. The Alapin or King's Indian Attack is a better choice than the Kopec System when 2...e6 has been played instead of 2...d6.

3...d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Nc6 6. Be3

A main line of the Alapin variation has been reached. 7. dxc5 is threatened.

6...cxd4 7. cxd4 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 Nf6 9. Bd3 h6

9...e5 and 9...O-O are the most common moves played here.

10. O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3 b6? 12. c4 Qd6 13. Qd2

Black has weakened the light squares on the queenside with 11...b6. White's move is aimed to discourage castling because of the sacrifice Bxh6, but White should take advantage of Black's weakness by 13. c5!

A) 13. c5 Qd5 14. Qa4

A1) 14...Bb7 15. Bc4 Qd7 16. Qb5! (threatening the b6 pawn) bxc5 17. d5! exd5 18. Bxc5 Ne4 19. Rfe1

A2) 14...Bd7 15. Bc4 Qf5 16. Bb5 Qd5 (16...Rc8 17. Ne5 Qe4 18. cxb6) 17. Ne5 Rc8 18. Nxc6 Bxc6 19. Bxc6+ Qxc6 20. Qxa7

B) 13. c5 Qc7 14. Rc1 bxc5 15. d5! Nxd5 16. Bxc5

13...Qb4

Trading queens would help Black untangle. Black could then try to pressure the c4 pawn by ...Ba6.

14. Qc2 Qe7

This retreat appears necessary. If the queen does not retreat, White will play c5 and Bd2 when the Black queen may become trapped.

15. Be4

15. Rfd1 was better. White's only realistic plan seems to be placing the rooks on the c and d files and playing for c5 or d5. 15. Be4 allows Black to trade off White's strong bishop.

15...Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Bb7 17. Qg4 f5 18. Qg6+ Qf7 19. Qxf7+ Kxf7 20. Rab1 Ba6 21. Rfc1 Rhd8 22. h4

The queens have been traded, and Black has a little bit more active pieces and pawns. There are no serious weaknesses on either side, however. White could also play 22. c5 b5 23. Ne5+ Nxe5 24. dxe5 Rac8 25. c6, which should be a draw.

22...Rac8

22...f4! looks like the way to create a weakness in the White position.

A) 22...f4 23. d5? exd5 24. cxd5 fxe3 25. dxc2 e2 26. c7 Rc5

B) 22...f4 23. Bxf4 Nxd4 24. Ne5+ (24. Nxd4 Rxd4 25. Be5 Rxc4 ) Nf6 25. Rb2 Rac8 26. Rd2 b5! 27. c5 b4 Black has renewed the ...Ne2+ threat and will likely coerce White into playing Re1, when Black will win the c5 pawn.

23. a3 Ke7 24. a4 Na5

Both sides underestimate the importance of ...f4. 24...f4! is now clearly winning, as there is no choice but to capture on d4, leaving White with 3 weak pawns on the 4th rank. Black has now forced White to play c5 and equalize.

25. c5 bxc5 26. dxc5 Rd5 27. Bd4 Kf7 28. Ne5+ Kg8 29. Ba1?

29. Rb4 holds the pawn. The White pieces look tied down, but White appears to be holding the position after 29...Rcd8 30. Bb2. (30...Rxe5 31. Bxe5 Nc6 32. Bc3 Nxb4 33. Bxb4 Rd4 looks drawn.)

29...Rdxc5 30. Rxc5 Rxc5 31. Rb8+ Rc8 32. Rxc8+ Bxc8 33. Bc3 Nb7 34. Bb4 a6 35. h5

White should play 35. f4 and leave the h4 pawn alone. Mark soon shows that the h5 pawn can become a weakness.

35...Nd8 36. f4 Bb7 37. Nd3 Nc6 38. Bc3?

By playing 38. Bc5, White would be able to trade the B for the N on e7 instead of f6, which would allow him time to bring the king up and hold the position. For example, 38. Bc5 Kf7 39. Kf2 Ne7 40. Bxe7 Kxe7 41. Nc5 Bc6 42. a5 Bb5 43. Ke3 Kd6 44. Kd4 Be2 45. g3.

38...Ne7 39. Nc5 Bc8 40. Kf2 Nd5 41. Be5 Kf7?

This may throw the win away. Black should immediately play ...Nf6. 41...Nf6 42. Bxf6 gxf6 43. Ke2 Kf7 44. Kd3 Ke7 45. Kd4 Kd6, followed by ...e5 wins.

42. Ke2?

After 42. Kg3! White can guard the h5 pawn. Black must then play ...g5 or ...g6 when it's unclear if he will ever activate his bishop. Now Black is again winning.

42...Nf6 43. Bxf6 Kxf6

43...gxf6 is probably still better. Now the position resembles the one after the comment to move 38. The difference is that Black will have time to play ...a5.

44. Nd3 Ke7 45. Ke3 Kd6 46. Kd4 Bd7?

Now White can play a5 and reach the position in the comment to move 38 (42. a5). 46...Bb7 was necessary. 46...Bb7 47. g3 Bd5 (47...a5 48. Ne5 Bd5 49. Nc4+ Bxc4 50. Kxc4 ) 48. Ne5 Bb3 49. a5 Bd1

47. Nc5? Bc6 48. g3 a5

Now White's last chance has passed.

49. Kc4 e5 50. fxe5+ Kxe5 51. Kd3 Be8 52. Nb7 Bxa4 53. Nxa5 Bd1 54. Nc6+ Kf6 55. Nd4 Bxh5 56. Ke3 g5 57. Kf2 Ke5 58. Nc2 Ke4 59. Ne3 Bf7 60. g4 fxg4 61. Nxg4 h5 62. Kg3!

A swindle attempt from Shih-Houng. This is one of those moments when you should realize that when someone offers you a free piece, that there is often a reason to it, and that you should think before you accept it. Here the reason is that Black cannot take the knight and guard his pawns, leaving a king and bishop versus king draw.

62...h4+ 63. Kg2 Kf4 64. Nh2 g4 65. Nf1 Be6 66. Ng3

Now there is no reason not to take the knight.

66...hxg3 67. Kg1 Kg5 68. Kh1 Kh4 69. Kg2 Bd5+ 70. Kg1 Kh3 White resigns.

Game 3: James Fields - Donald Griffith

English Opening

Black achieved a great position out of the opening, but allowed White to mix things up by allowing him to advance a passed pawn to the 7th rank. White then erred by allowing Black to win a piece while still preventing the pawn's advance.

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nf3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Qb3 Nc6 8. O-O

Perhaps White should play 8. d4 while he has the chance.

8...Nc6 9. Ne1?

This decentralization of the knight allows Black to take control of the position. 9. d3 is better, but Black is still doing well.

9...Nd4 10. Qd1 e5 11. e3 Ne6 12. b3

White must activate his pieces somehow. Another (perhaps better) method is to play d3, e3, Qc2, and Rd1 aiming for d4.

12...f5 13. Ba3 Rf7 14. Rc1 c6

Black controls a lot of the squares that White would like to use.

15. Ne2

Desperately trying to free himself with d4. Black's next move makes this impossible.

15...Rd7! 16. d3 Nd5 17. Rc4!? a5 18. Nc2

With d4 out of the question, perhaps now was the time to play e4.

18...Ra6

Due to the threat of ...b5, Black has forced White to play e4. Perhaps he could try 18...Nb6 19. Rc3 a4!?

19. e4 Nf6 20. Ne1?

The pin on the d-file now allows Black to win a pawn. Better is 20. exf5 gxf5 21. Nc1. In this line, White has removed the rook from danger by playing e4 to drive the knight away, then exf5 to open up the bishop's attack on c6. Now Black cannot play ...b5 due to Rxc6. Also note that after 20. exf5 gxf5, 21. d4 allows 21...Ne4! which adds the g7 bishop into the attack on the d4 pawn, and blocks the diagonal of the White bishop to renew the ...b5 threat.

20...b5?!

This move allows some wild complications. 20...fxe4 is simpler and better. 20...fxe4 21. Bxe4 b5 22. Bxc6 bxc4 23. Bxd7 Qxd7 24. bxc4 is winning for Black.

21. exf5 bxc4 22. fxe6 Rxd3 23. Nxd3 Qxd3?

23...cxd3 is better as it prevents White from using the d-file in support of his passed pawn. 23...cxd3 24. e7 Qd7 25. Nc3 d2

24. bxc4??

White allows Black to capture the bishop on a3, perhaps expecting that he could queen his pawn. Donald now shows that this will not happen. Better is 24. e7!

A) 24. e7 Bg4 25. f3 Bf5 26. Nc1 (an important move in several lines) Qe3+ 27. Kh1

B) 24. e7 Kf7 25. Nc1 Qxd1 26. Rxd1 Be6 27. Bf1 Ra7 28. Bxc4 Nd5 29. Re1 Nxe7 30. Nd3 Bxc4 31. bxc4

24...Qxa3 25. Qd8+ Qf8 26. e7 Qe8

Black has stopped the pawn for good, and goes on to win without difficulty.

27. Rd1 Bg4 28. Kf1 Kf7 29. Rd6 Qxe7 30. Qxe7+ Kxe7 31. Rxc6 Rxc6 32. Bxc6 Kd6 33. Bb5 Kc5 34. a4 Be6 35. Ke1 Bxc4 36. Nc3 Bxb5 37. axb5 Nd7 38. Kd2 Nb6 39. Kc2 Nd5 White resigns.

Game 4: Ben Good - Chuck Waugh

Sicilian Defense, Alapin Variation

White pressured Black from the early middlegame right to the end. Black defended admirably for nearly the entire game, only to slip when the draw was within his grasp.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Bg4 6. Be2 Nf6 7. O-O e6 8. Be3 cxd4 9. cxd4 Be7 10. Nc3 Qa5

During the game, I felt that my position was a little bit better here, but now it does not seem to be true. Black has no problems.

11. a3 Nd5 12. Qb3 Nxc3

12...Qb6 should also be considered.

13. bxc3 Qc7 14. Bf4!?

An interesting move which is more bark than bite. Black can capture the bishop as in the game, or simply sidestep with 14...Qd7.

14...Qxf4 15. Qxb7 O-O 16. Qxc6 Rfc8 17. Qb7 Qc7

17...Bd6 18. g3 Qf6 19. Rfb1 Rab8 20. Qd7 Qe7

18. Qxc7

18. Ba6 or 18. Rfb1 could also be played. Either way, it does not appear that Black will have any difficulty in holding the position.

18...Rxc7 19. c4 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Rd8 21. Rfd1 Bf6 22. Rab1 g6 23. d5 exd5 24. cxd5

A mostly forced sequence of moves. Black is still fine.

24...Rc5 25. Rb7

The d5 pawn will not be taken now due to Bc4 and a capture on f7.

25...a5 26. d6 Kf8 27. Rc7

There were a lot of moves to choose from, but none of them really gained anything. White has active pieces, but it just isn't enough to win.

27...Rg5+ 28. Kf1 Be5

Excellent defense from Chuck.

29. Bc4 Rf5

I felt good about my position until this move was played. Now it is finally sinking in that there is nothing more than a draw.

30. Rd5

This move is "almost" a blunder. Fortunately, there is the in between move 33. Rxf5.

30...Rxd6 31. Rxa5 Rd1+ 32. Ke2 Bxc7 33. Rxf5 gxf5 34. Kxd1 Bxh2

This endgame should definitely be drawn. Chuck offered a draw a couple of times around here, but I wanted to play it out just to be sure. There are still a few chances that Black could make a mistake.

35. Bd3 Bd6 36. a4 Bc5 37. Bxf5 h5 38. Ke2 Ke7 39. f4 Kf6 40. Bc8 Bb6 41. Kf3 Kg6 42. Kg3 f5 43. f3 Be3 44. Bd7 Bd2 45. Be8+ Kh6 46. Kh4 Bxf4

White cannot take on h5 due to ...Bg5+.

47. a5 Bb8

I would have preferred to keep the bishop closer to the center to keep the option of checking the king.

48. a6 f4

Another way is 48...Ba7 49. Kg3 h4+ 50. Kxh4 f4 51. Kg4 Be3

49. Bxh5 Kg7??

Now White is winning. Still drawn is 49...Ba7 50. Kg4 Be3 51. Be8 Kg7 52. Kf5 Kf8.

50. Kg5 Kf8 51. Kf6 Ba7 52. Ke6 Black resigns.

Game 5: Jim Olson - John Roush

Modern Defense

An unusual opening choice for Black that works out very well.

1. d4 g6 2. e4 d6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be3 Nf6 6. Qd2

White willingly allows his bishop to be repositioned away from support of the d4 pawn. Perhaps he should play 6. h3 since Black will have used two moves to play ...c5.

6...Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 b5 9. Bd3 Nd7 10. h3 Ngf6 11. a4

White could play 11. e5 dxe5 12. dxe5 Nh5 13. e6 Ne5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. exf7+ Kxf7 with a slightly better position.

11...b4 12. Ne2 a5 13. c3 c5 14. cxb4 cxb4 15. Rc1 Bb7 16. d5?

White could have played e5 on any of the last 3 moves as well, with a similar continuation to the note to move 11. Now Black has all the play.

16...O-O 17. O-O Nc5 18. Qc2 b3 19. Qb1 Nxa4

Black has won a pawn, but it's his active pieces and White's backward e-pawn that make more of a difference.

20. Ned4 Nd7 21. Bc4 Ndc5 22. Rfd1 Qb6

It appears that Black is building up for an attack on the queenside, but the center is his true target.

23. Ne1 e5! 24. Ne2 Bc8 25. Nc3

White must trade pieces, allowing Black more queenside play, or sit tight and watch his center disappear.

25...Nxc3 26. Rxc3 f5 27. exf5 Bxf5 28. Bd3? e4 29. Rxc5 Qxc5 30. Bxe4 Rae8 White resigns.

Game 6: Dave Hines - Dave Hundley

King's Gambit

The King's Gambit. So fun to watch, but so tough to play. This game does not disappoint.

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 Nc6

The more popular 3...g5 is the best choice.

4. d4 Bb4+?

This check only helps White.

5. c3 Be7 6. Bxf4 d6 7. Bb5 a6 8. Bxc6+ bxc6 9. O-O Bd7

Another possibility is 9...Nf6 10. Qa4 Rb8 (11. Qxc6+? Bd7).

10. e5 Qb8 11. Qe2 d5 12. b3 Qb6

Black could immediately play 12...c5.

13. Ng5 Nh6?

Black fails to defend e6. Better was 13...c5, which opens up the Queen's defense of the e6 square.

14. Nxf7?

Better is 14. e6! fxe6 15. Nxe6 Bxe6 16. Bxh6 Kd7 17. Bxg7 Rhg8 18. Bf6 Rae8 19. Qd3

14...Bg4! 15. Nd6+

White must either play this or Qxg4, which highlights the problem with 14. Nxf7.

15...cxd6 16. Qe1 O-O-O 17. h3 Bf5?

Better is 17...Bd7 18. exd6 Bf8. It may take Black some time to unravel, but he has the extra piece and White has no more threats against the king.

18. Nd2?

18. Bxh6 is much better. 18. Bxh6 Bxb1 19. Bxg7 Be4 20. Bxh8 Rxh8 21. Rf7 Rg8 22. g4 Qc7 23. Qf1 Unclear, but White is probably at least equal. Compare to the previous position where he is down a piece and has little play.

18...Bd3?

Black can consolidate his position with 18...g5 19. exd6 Bf6 20. Be5 Rhe8

19. exd6 Bxf1?

19...Bf8 was necessary. Black is starting to slip.

20. dxe7 Rde8 21. Qe6+ Kb7 22. Qd7+?

An innocent looking check which allows Black to trade queens and keep endgame chances. 22. Rxf1 maintains the pressure. 22. Rxf1 Ka8 23. Bd6 Qb7 24. c4 Ng8 25. Rf7

22...Ka8 23. Rxf1 g6??

After 23...Qb7 24. Qxb7+ Kxb7 White will not be able to hold the e7 pawn, and Black may win the endgame.

24. Bxh6 Qb8 25. Qxc6+ Ka7 26. Qc5+ Ka8 27. Qxd5+ Ka7 28. Qc5+ Ka8 29. Nc4 Rhg8 30. Rf6 Rxe7 31. Qxe7 Qb5 32. Nb6+ Kb8 33. Bf4+ Qe5 34. Bxe5 mate.

Game 7: Sean Parli - Chris Que

Queen's Gambit Declined

A rather uneventful game for the most part. White blundered on move 22 only to end up in a drawn endgame after Black missed the winning reply on move 24.

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 Nbd7 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Qc2 Re8 10. O-O h6 11. Bxf6

White should maintain the tension with 11. Bf4 or 11. Bh4.

11...Nxf6 12. a3 bd6 13. b4 a6 14. Rfb1

White plays for the standard minority attack.

14...Qe7 15. Nd2 Ng4 16. Nf1 Qc7

Black has made some simple threats, but has no real attack. White will be better if his minority attack succeeds.

17. h3 Nf6 18. a4 Bd7 19. b5 axb5 20. axb5 Rxa1 21. Rxa1

Not much has come out of the attack, and a drawish position is reached.

21...cxb5 22. Rb1??

A tactical mistake. 22. Qb3 was equal.

22...Rc8 23. Nxb5 Qxc2 24. Bxc2 Be7??

Black missed a free piece, or severely underestimated the following endgame.

24...Bxb5 25. Rxb5 Rxc2 26. Rxb7 Ne4 27. f3 Ng3 28. Rd7 Nxf1 29. Kxf1 Bg3 30. Rxd5 Rf2+ 31. Ke1 (31. Kg1? Re2 mates) Rxg2+ 32. Kd1 g5 33. Rd7 Rf2 34. d5 Rxf3 35. Ke2 Rf6

25. Bd3 Ne4 26. f3 Nf6 27. Ng3 Ra8 Draw agreed.

Round 2 Pairings

Round 2 Games

Best game of the round is Katie King - Jim Olson. The game had a level of tactical play rarely seen in amateur games. The lucky dog for round 2 is Shih-Houng Young. He escaped certain death after Chuck Waugh used two moves to execute a one-move maneuver.

Game 8: John Roush - Igor Boss

Sicilian Defense, Taimanov Variation

Black engages in a daring attack in the middlegame. White trades into a lost endgame in an attempt to escape from the attack.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Qc7 6. g3

John played the fianchetto against the Sicilian a few times in the tournament. Here it can be useful to stop Black from attacking h2.

6...a6 7. Bg2 Bc5

6...a6 not only stopped Nb5, but also left the c5 bishop room to retreat if necessary.

8. Nb3 Ba7 9. Bf4

White would love for Black to play ...e5 when the d5 square becomes an outpost for a White knight.

9...Ne5

Black does not want to move the queen to b6 and allow Bd6. It seems that 7...Bc5 may not have been the right plan for development after all.

10. a4

A reasonable move, but White missed an opportunity to take the advantage with 10. Bxe5 Qxe5 11. f4 Qc7 12. e5 Ne7 13. Ne4 O-O 14. Nd6 f6 15. exf6 gxf6 16. Qg4+ Kh8 17. O-O-O

10...Ne7 11. Bxe5 Qxe5 12. O-O

Now f4 and e5 do not look as good, since Black has his e7 knight in play.

12...O-O 13. Kh1

Preparing for f4 (the a7 Bishop pins the f2 pawn.)

13...Qc7 14. f4 d6 15. Qe2 d5 16. exd5 Nf5!?

Black has started on a daring attempt to blow White off the board.

17. Be4

17. Rfd1 Ne3 18. d6 Qd7 19. Ne4! Now it's White's turn to try to blow Black off the board.

17...Ne3 18. Rfe1 e5 19. fxe5 Qxe5 20. Qd3?

20. Nd2 f5 21. Bd3 f4 22. Nc4 appears to repel the attack.

20...f5

Black has become very active, and rather than allow ...f4, White removes the annoying knight. Unfortunately, this results in a lost endgame.

21. Rxe3 Bxe3 22. Qxe3

22. Rf1 fxe4 23. Rxf8+ Kxf8 24. Qxe3 Bg4 25. Nd2 Re8 is also good for Black.

22...fxe4 23. Qxe4

White could possibly try 23. Nc5. Trading queens leaves him in a hopeless position.

23...Qxe4+ 24. Nxe4 Bf5 25. Nbd2 Rae8 26. Re1 Re5 27. g4 Bxe4+ 28. Rxe4 Rxd5 29. Re2 Rf4 30. c4 Rd3 White resigns.

Game 9: Mark Hathaway - Ben Good

Caro-Kann Defense

A normal looking ...Bf5 Caro-Kann. White did not choose the most active middlegame plan, and a draw is reached on move 30.

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. Nf3 e6 7. h4

Also good is 7. Ne5. The early Ne5 move used to be considered dangerous for Black and it was avoided by ...Nd7, but recent theory has changed that opinion.

7...h6 8. Bd3

The benefit of not playing h5 before Bd3 is that White can sometimes use the h5 square for a knight in an attack on the kingside.

8...Bxd3 9. Qxd3 Nf6 10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. Qxe4 Nd7 12. Bd2

12. Bf4 Qa5+ 13. Bd2 Qc7 is sometimes seen in similar positions. The game could take a much different route if 13. c3.

12...Nf6 13. Qe2 Qc7 14. O-O-O O-O-O 15. Kb1

A standard type of Caro-Kann position. White usually plays for an attack on the kingside, while Black tries to create counterplay by ...c5.

15...c5 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Ne5

17. Bc3 is also good.

17...Rd4

A strange looking move, but it threatens ...Re4.

18. Nd3

18. f4 Rhd8 19. c3 R4d5 20. g4 is another option.

18...Bb6 19. Bc3 Rdd8 20. Be5 Qc4

The pin on the knight is rather annoying here.

21. f3 Bd4

In some Caro-Kann endgames, White has a commanding advantage due to the pawns e5, f4, g4, and h4 versus e6, f7, g7 and h7. In this position, Black does not have such problems on the kingside, and can trade pieces without getting into a passive endgame.

22. Bxd4 Rxd4 23. c3 Rd5 24. b3 Qc7 25. c4 Rd4 26. Qe5 Rhd8

Black does not allow White to post his knight on e5 by trading queens.

27. Qxc7+ Kxc7 28. Kc2 Nh5 29. g4 Nf4 30. Nf2 Draw agreed.

Game 10: Donald Griffith - Dave Hines

Pirc Defense

Black advances the wrong pawn, leaving him with an isolated pawn and leaving White with control of the position. Black loses a piece in an attempt to create counterplay and White finishes the game shortly thereafter.

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6

The Pirc is not very common in West Virginia (or anywhere else for that matter.)

3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O c6.

Now the game resembles a Modern Defense.

7. h3

As was mentioned in the Jim Olson - John Roush game, White plays h3 to prevent ...Ng4.

7...Nbd7

Black builds up for an ...e5 advance.

8. Be3 Qc7 9. Qd2 e5 10. Rad1 d5?

Better is 10...b5, aiming to drive the c3 knight from the defense of the e4 pawn. Donald now trades everything, leaving Dave with an isolated pawn.

11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. c3 Be6 16. Bf3 Rad8 17. Bd4

Another possibility is 17. Bxa7 b6 18. Qe3 Qxa7 19. Qxe5 Qxa2 20. Rd2 Rfe8 21. Qg5 Qc4 22. Rfd1 Kg7

17...f6

It's hard to suggest a better move, but it's looking bad for Black.

18. Rfe1 b6?

Black misses the White reply. Better is 18...Bf7.

19. Qe3! Bh2+ 20. Kh1 Bc8 21. g3 Bxg3 22. fxg3 Bxh3 23. Qf4 Qxf4 24. gxf4 Kf7 25. Re3

White has gained a piece and traded the queens in the process. 26. Bxd5+ is threatened.

25...Be6 26. Rde1 Rfe8 27. f5

Forcing more trades.

27...Bxf5 28. Bxd5+ Kf8 29. Rxe8+ Rxe8 30. Rxe8+ Kxe8

The rest is simple.

31. Bxf6 Kd7 32. Kg2 Kd6 33. Bb3 b5 34. Kg3 a5 35. Kf4 b4 36. Kg5 h5 37. Bf7 Bb1 38. a3 bxa3 39. bxa3 Kc5 40. Be7+ Kb5 41. Bxg6 Ba2 42. Be8+ Kb6 43. Kxh5 Bc4 44. Kg5 Be6 45. Kf4 Bc4 46. Ke4 Bb3 47. Kd4 Be6 48. c4 Kc7 49. Kc5 Bb7 50. Kb5 a4 51. Kc5 Black resigns.

Game 11: Chris Que - Paul Davis

Sicilian Defense, Dragon Variation

An old variation of the Sicilian is played in which Black gambits a pawn for an attack against the queenside-castled White king. White accepts the pawn and manages to reach the endgame with a much better position.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. f3 Bg7 7. Be3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. O-O-O d5 10. Nxc6

10. Qe1 is the most popular move these days. After the text, Black gets compensation from the open files on the queenside.

10...bxc6 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Qxd5 Qc7 14. Qc5

14. Qxa8 Bf5 15. Qxf8+ has been played many times before and is overwhelmingly in Black's favor.

14...Qb8 15. Bd4 e5

15...Bf5 is more common.

16. Bc3 Be6 17. Qd6

White should play 17. Qa3 or 17. Qa5. White apparently does not think Black can get away with capturing on a2.

17...a5?

Black can afford to take the pawn. 17...Bxa2 18. b3 a5 19. Kb2 a4

18. Qxb8 Rfxb8 19. a4

Now White is clearly better, being a pawn up and not having to face an attack on the king.

19...Rc8 20. Bb5 Rc7 21. Rhe1 Rac8 22. Re2 Bc4 23. Bxc4 Rxc4 24. Kb1 R4c5 25. Rd7 e4 26. Bxg7 exf3 27. gxf3 Kxg7 28. b3 Rf5 29. Rd3 Rc6 30. Kb2 Rcf6 31. Ree3 Rh5 32. Rd2 Rh3?

It seems that Black should keep a rook on the 5th rank.

33. c4 Rhxf3

After this series of exchanges, White has a winning position.

34. Rxf3 Rxf3 35. c5 Rf6 36. Ka3 Re6 37. Rc2 Re8 38. b4 Re3+ 39. Kb2 axb4 40. c6 Re8 41. Kb3 Kf8 42. Kxb4 Rc8 43. Kc5 Ke7 44. a5 kd8 45. Rd2+ Kc7 46. Rd7+ Black resigns.

Game 12: Gary Cummings - Sean Parli

Max Lange Attack

The Max Lange Attack is a wild attacking opening that can turn disastrous in a hurry. Black blunders on move 11 and that very thing happens.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O Nxe4 6. Re1 d5 7. Bxd5 Qxd5 8. Nc3 Qd8 9. Nxe4 Be7 10. Bg5 Bg4 11. Bxe7 Bxf3??

Up until now, Black had played the opening very well. Lasting this long against Gary's favorite opening is not so easy.

12. Nf6+ gxf6 13. Bxf6+ Kf8 14. Qxf3 Black resigns.

Game 13: Chuck Waugh - Shih-Houng Young

King's Indian Defense

White was in control of the queenside and ready to take home the full point, until a momentarily lapse of reason cost him the game.

1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 c6 6. e4 d6 7. Nge2 Be6?

The bishop isn't going to stay here. Black has just given an extra tempo after playing d5.

8. d5 cxd5 9. cxd5 Bg4 10. h3 Bd7 11. O-O Na6 12. Be3 Rc8 13. Rc1

A lot of players have been conditioned into thinking they can never get away with taking the rook pawn with a bishop. Here is another example where it works. 13. Bxa7 b6 14. Qb3

13...b6 14. Nd4 Nc5?

This gives White a free chance to grab some space on the queenside.

15. b4 Nb7? 16. Qd2?

White missed a golden opportunity to play Nc6: 16. Nc6 Bxc6 17. dxc6 Rxc6 18. e5

16...a5 17. b5 Rc4

Black is treading on thin ice here. The rook may become trapped behind enemy lines.

18. Nc6 Bxc6 19. bxc6 Nc5 20. Bxc5 bxc5 21. a3 Ne8 22. Nb5 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Qb6 24. a4 Nc7 25. Rb1

25. Nxc7 Qxc7 26. Rb1 is a little bit better.

25...Na6 26. h4 h5

This move wasn't really necessary, and it becomes a problem shortly.

27. Qc2 Nb4 28. Qe2 Kh7 29. Bh3 Na6 30. Qd1!

White correctly keeps an eye on the h5 square (which stops f5) while guarding his rook and setting up Nxd6.

30...c4??

After 30...Rb8 31. Bf1, White is still better, but there is no breakthrough yet.

31. Nxd6 Qxb1? 32. Qxb1 exd6 33. Qb5 c3 34. Qc4?

White should just take the knight. There is time to get back and stop the pawn.

34...Rb8 35. Qxa6??

Now there is not time to take the knight and stop the pawn. Why take two moves to do something that works perfectly well in one move? 35. c7 was completely winning.

35...c2 White resigns.

Game 14: Dave Hundley - James Fields

Sicilian Defense

White plays without a plan and Black wins without effort.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4?

This move is a waste of time. The bishop has no future on c4.

3...e6 4. O-O a6 5. c3 b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. Re1 Nf6 8. d3 Be7 9. Bf4 Nh5 10. Bd2 Qc7 11. a3 Nf6 12. Re2

I don't see the point of this move. It could cause a problem if the long diagonal gets opened.

12...Nbd7 13. Qc1

White appears to be playing without a plan and is just moving pieces around.

13...c4 14. dxc4 bxc4 15. Bc2 Nc5 16. Ng5?

The knight defends the e-pawn, but it's easily chased away.

16...h6 17. e5 dxe5 18. Nh3 Qc6 19. f3 Nd3 20. Qf1 Rd8 21. b3?

White now loses a piece and the game is over quickly thereafter.

21...cxb3 22. Bxb3 Qb6+ 23. Be3 Qxb3 24. Nd2 Qxc3 25. Rc1 Nxe1 26. Nb1 Nxe2+ 27. Qxe2 Qd3 28. Qd2 Qxb1+ 29. Kf2 Rxd2+ 30. Bxd2 Bc5+ 31. Kg3 Qg6+ 32. Ng5 Nh5+ 33. Kh3 hxg5 34. g4 Nf4+ 35. Kg3 Rh3 mate.

Game 15: Katie King - Jim Olson

Center Counter Defense

This was easily the best game of the round. Katie came into the tournament rated 1235, but showed tactical prowess like that of a seasoned master. Both players provided for some excitement that was very much enjoyed by those who stayed late enough to see the finish.

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6

Jim's trademark defense.

3. Bc4 Nxd5 4. Qh5

This doesn't accomplish anything. The queen will be chased away shortly.

4...c6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Qf3 e6 7. Nge2 Bg7 8. O-O O-O 9. Re1 Nd7 10. d4 b5 11. Bd3 Bb7 12. Be3?!

This gives Black a chance to open the position in his favor with 12...Nxe3 13. Qxe3 e5. 12. Nxd5 and 12. Ne4 are better alternatives.

12...Re8 13. Nxd5

Katie doesn't give Jim a second chance to take the bishop.

13...exd5 14. Rad1 Nf6 15. c3 Bc8

Black correctly decides that his bishop has more useful squares than b7.

16. h3 Ne4 17. Ng3 f5 18. Qf4!?

I'm not sure if this move was meant to provoke ...g5 or to stop ...Qc7 and ...f4. Whatever the intention, it seemed to work well.

18...g5 19. Qf3 Bb7??

Black falters here. He should either guard the pawn or go into the following: 19...f4 20. Bxf4 gxf4 21. Nxe4 dxe4 22. Bxe4 Bb7 23. Bxc6 Bxc6 24. Qxc6 Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Rb8. It's hard to judge this position, but it says a lot about Katie's recent improvement if she was willing to go into a position like this at all.

20. Qxf5 Rf8 21. Qe6+ Kh8 22. Nxe4 Bc8

22...dxe4 23. Qxe4 loses for Black due to the mate threat on h7.

23. Qxc6 dxe4 24. Qxa8 exd3 25. Qxa7

There is nothing wrong with this move, but White could have saved herself a lot of trouble by just taking on d3.

25...Bf5 26. Qc5 Qa5 27. Bxg5 Bg6 28. a3 Qa4 29. Rd2

Now was a good time to make use of the d-pawn.

29...Qb3 30. Qb4 Qd5 31. Re5!

This square comes in very handy for White.

31...Qb7 32. Rxb5 Qe4 33. Re5 Qc6 34. Rc5 Qe6 35. Kf1 Bf5 36. h4 Qa2 37. f3 Qb1+ 38. Kf2 Re8 39. Be3

This game was very hard to watch with all the tactical motifs involved. You watch for a minute, go outside, then forget about a certain tactic. Then come back in and think one side has blundered, only to remember later why it wasn't a blunder. Here I had forgotten that the Black rook could not leave the back rank.

39...Bh6 40. Re5!

There's that square again!

40...Bxe3+ 41. Rxe3 Rg8 42. Qd6 Rxg2+

A last ditch attempt to weasel out.

43. Kxg2 Bh3+ 44. Kxh3 Qf1+ 45. Kg4 Qg1+ 46. Kf5 Black resigns.

Round 3 Pairings

Round 3 Games

The best game of the round goes to Boss - Griffith. Cummings Auvil deserves honorable mention. Jim Olson and Dave Hundley share the lucky dog award for their game. Jim had built up an impressive position and it looked as if Dave would be finished by more 30. Jim got careless and Dave won a pawn, only to give it right back within a few moves. A draw was perhaps the best result for such a game.

Game 16: Igor Boss - Donald Griffith

Marshall Gambit

White misplays the opening and is left with a weak pawn structure. Black takes advantage and crashes through the kingside.

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 e6 4. e4

This little-known opening is called the Marshall Gambit, not to be confused with the Marshall Attack of the Ruy Lopez. White gambits a pawn for dark square pressure and to weaken the Black king position.

4...Bb4

Black chooses the road less traveled by. The main line of the Marshall Gambit is 4...dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+. The main line can become very complicated; it is not a bad idea to choose a sideline such as this if you are not familiar with the theory.

5. e5 c5 6. a3

Perhaps a better idea is 6. cxd5 Qxd5 7. Bd2, when 7...Qxd4 8. Nf3 Qd8 9. Nb5 leads to a favorable position due to the outpost on d6. However, Black can always decline the pawn and play 7...Bxc3.

6...Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Ne7 8. Nf3 Nbc6 9. g4!?

White decides not to allow Black an outpost at f5, which would give Black another attack against the d4 pawn. 9. Bd3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 cxd4 11. cxd4 Nf5 12. Be3 is another option.

9...b6

Another idea is 9...O-O 10. h4 f6, which gives Black the opportunity to pressure the f-file with ...Rf7 and ...Qf8.

10. dxc5 bxc5 11. Be3

It is hard to suggest something better, but it appears Black is taking control in the game. Black's pieces are becoming active, while White is stuck with the weaknesses created by 9. g4. 10. cxd5 Qxd5 11. Be2 cxd4 12. cxd4 Ba6 is strong for Black.

11...Qa5 12. Qd2 Bb7

The pressure is mounting. Now tactical threats based on ...d4 come to mind.

13. Bg2 Rd8

Black is in control of the d-file, where White's queen resides. ...Ba6 will follow, forcing White to give up the c4 pawn or open the d-file for the Black rook. The immediate 13...Ba6 is also good.

14. O-O Ba6 15. Rfc1 Bxc4 16. Bg5

16. Bg5 attempts to preserve the e5 pawn by preventing ...Ng6.

16...Rd7 17. h4 Ng6 18. Bf4

18. h5 Ngxe5 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. h6 f6 21. hxg7 Rg8 22. Bxf6 Nxg4 gets nowhere for White.

18. h5 Ngxe5 19. h6 Nxf3+ 20. Bxf3 g6 21. Bf6 O-O also gets nowhere. Black will answer the threat of Qg7 and a bishop move by ...f6 followed by a skewer on the f-file. For example, 22. Qg5 Rb7 23. Bd4 f6

18...Nxf4 19. Qxf4 Qc7 20. h5

White decides to counterattack the Black king. Another option is 20. Qe3 Na5 21. Rab1 O-O, but at some point White will run out of moves and must attack the king or die a slow death.

20...O-O 21. g5? f6 22. gxf6 gxf6 23. Qg4+ Kh8

Black is now winning. The open g-file shortly spells doom for the White king.

24. Qxe6 Nxe5 25. Nxe5 fxe5 26. Re1 Rg7 27. Re3

This allows a tactic, but there is nothing better to do.

27...d4 28. Qxc4 dxe3 29. fxe3 Rxg2+

The simplest move. 29...Qb7 also wins.

30. Kxg2 Qg7+ 31. Kh1 Qg3 32. Qe4 Rg8 33. Qc2 Qf3+ White resigns.

Game 17: Jason Young - Mark Hathaway

Sicilian Defense, Kan Variation

White misses his chance for attacking the Black king, and Black takes control in the endgame.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6

The Kan variation of the Sicilian Defense is one of the lesser-played lines. The ...a6 move allows the Black bishop to retreat from c5 to a7 like in some Ruy Lopez variations. Black also delays moving the d-pawn so that he can use his queen on c7 in a possible attack on h2 after White castles. White often plays g3, and fianchettos the bishop to prevent this attack.

5. Nc3 b5 6. a3

This move isn't necessary and it commits White to kingside castling. White would not want to castle queenside when Black can open up a file near the king by a move like ...b4. I must mention, though, that this has been played several times before.

6...Bb7 7. f3

This is a passive way of defending the e-pawn. An active plan for White that is often employed in this opening is to play Bd3, O-O, and f4. White can still play f4 of course, but at the loss of a tempo.

7...Qc7 8. Be3 Nc6

8...Bc5 leads to some interesting continuations:

A) 9. Ndxb5!? axb5 10. Nxb5 Qa5+ 11. b4 Bxb4+ 12. axb4 Qxa1 13. Nd6+ Ke7 14. Nxb7

B) 9. Ndxb5 axb5 10. Nxb5 Qc8 11. Bxc5 Qxc5 12. Qd6 Qe3+ 13. Be2 Na6

C) 9. a4 b4 10. Ndb5 axb5 11. Nxb5 Qe5 12. Bxc5 Qxc5 13. Nd6+ Ke7 14. Nxb7 Qb6 15. Qd2 f6

9. Qd2 Nf6 10. Be2 Be7 11. g4 h6 12. h4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 e5 14. Be3 Rc8

The game has switched gears into more usual Sicilian motifs. Neither side seems to have any weaknesses yet. White is the first to try and create one with the g4 and h4 moves.

15. Bd3 d6 16. Rg1 Nd7?!

Black seems to have the better of it after 16...d5 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Bxb5+ axb5 20. Qxd5 Bxh4+ 21. Kf1 O-O.

17. g5 hxg5 18. hxg5 g6?

Black has created some problems for himself on the kingside. Much better is the immediate 18...Nc5, but White still has the advantage based on the open h-file and Black's king position.

19. Qf2?

White misses the opportunity presented to him. Better is 19. O-O-O, followed by an assault against the Black position with Rh1 and f4. With the queen on f2, ...Qa5 and ...Rxc3 ideas come into play.

19...Nc5 20. Rd1 Ne6 21. f4

This move is now nothing to fear since White allowed Black time to get his knight to a better square.

21...exf4 22. Bxf4 Qc5 23. Be3 Qe5 24. Qg3 Qxg3+ 25. Rxg3 Rh5

Black is starting to take control of the game.

26. Be2 Rh4

26...Bxg5 leads to a draw after 27. Bxh5 Bh4 28. Kf2 gxh5 29. Rxd6 Nc5 30. Bxc5 Rxc5 31. Kf3 Bxg3 32. Kxg3.

27. Rg4 Rh3 28. Kd2 Kf8 29. Rf1 Kg7 30. Nd5 Bd8

30...Bxd5 31. exd5 Rxe3 32. Kxe3 Bxg5+ would likely end in a draw.

31. Rg2 Rh4

The exchange sac looks promising at this point. 31...Rxe3 32. Nxe3 Nxg5 33. Bd3 Nxe4+

32. Rgf2??

This is just a simple blunder. Black wins without too much resistance once the kingside pawns advance.

32...Nxg5 33. Bxg5 Bxg5+ 34. Kd3 Bxd5 35. exd5 Rh3+ 36. Rf3 Rxf3+ 37. Bxf3 Bf6 38. c3 Be5

Black maneuvers his bishop to allow the pawns to advance and the end follows shortly.

39. Rg1 f5 40. Be2 Kf6 41. Ke3 Rh8 42. a4 Rh3+ 43. Kf2 bxa4 44. Bxa6 a3! 45. bxa3 Rxc3 46. Ke2 Rxa3 47. Bc8 Ra1 48. Rxa1 Bxa1 49. Ke3 g5 50. Kf3 g4+ 51. Kg3 Kg5 52. Be6 f4+ 53. Kg2 f3+ 54. Kg3 Be5+ 55. Kf2 Kf4 56. Bc8 g3+ White resigns.

Game 18: Ben Good - Chris Que

Sicilian Defense

Black advances his pieces too far into the enemy queenside, and loses material. White then shifts gears and wins on the kingside with his superior force.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Be2

A rarely played sideline. I have tried this on occasion and found it to my liking. Black cannot take on e4 due to Qa4+, winning the knight.

4...Nc6 5. O-O g6

There was no reason Black could not take the pawn this time. White does not get much compensation.

6. d4

White does not allow Black a second opportunity to capture the pawn. Now 6...Nxe4 loses to 7. d5, followed by Qa4+.

6...cxd4 7. cxd4 Bg7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. h3

This move is aimed to prevent ...Ng4 after White plays e5.

9...d5 10. e5 Ne4

Black plays accurately. The position is even.

11. Bd3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Qa5 13. Bd2 Qa3 14. Qc2 e6

Black should not close off his light-squared bishop from the kingside. This also creates a potential weakness of the dark squares.

15. Rab1

White aims to use the Black queen's limited mobility to gain time for aggressive piece development on the queenside.

15...Na5?

This move is asking for trouble. White now gains several tempi chasing the Black pieces back.

16. Bc1 Qe7 17. Qa4 b6??

Black misses the upcoming skewer. Better is 17...Qc7, but White still has the advantage after 18. Ba3 Rd8 19. Bd6 Qxc3 20. Be7!

18. Ba3 Qc7 19. Bxf8 Bxf8 20. Qc2 Bd7

As is typical of positions where one player has gained material, the other player gains some time to develop his pieces while the attacking player regroups. White now starts an attack on the king with his superior force.

21. h4 Rc8 22. Qe2 Nc4?

Black shies away from 22...Qxc3 23. Rfc1 Qxc1+ 24. Rxc1 Rxc1+, but without good reason. Black would have active pieces, and White would not have enough remaining force to break through on the kingside. White would be best to ignore the queen and continue with his attack.

23. h5 Be7 24. hxg6 fxg6 25. g4 Rf8 26. Kg2 g5?

After 26...g5? Black is lost. The weakness of the g5 and h7 pawns and the h5 outpost for a rook prove to be too much for Black to defend.

27. Rh1 Rf7 28. Rh5

A missed tactical opportunity was 28. Bxh7+ when 28...Rxh7 29. Rxh7 Kxh7 30. Qd3+ leads to mate.

28...Be8 29. Nxg5 Bxg5 30. Rxg5+ Rg7 31. Rxg7+ Kxg7 32. Rh1 Bg6 33. Qf3 Bxd3 34. Qxd3 Kg8 35. Qf3 Qg7 36. Rh5 Nd2 37. Qf4 Ne4 38. f3 Black resigns.

Game 19: Gary Cummings - Terry Auvil

Sicilian Defense, Dragon Variation

This game could make a player a nervous wreck (well maybe not one who plays the Dragon a lot.) The sidelines that could have been taken contain some wild sacrifices. Kudos to both players for managing to avoid serious blunders while still keeping the game interesting.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2

Gary often opts for the lesser-played Be2. It is typically followed by kingside castling.

6...Bg7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. g4?!

This is an interesting idea, but White should not get enough compensation for the pawn. 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. e5 dxe5 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. O-O Kc7 leads to an even position. 8. O-O O-O 9. f4!? Qb6 is unclear.

8...Nxg4 9. Bxg4 Bxg4 10. Qxg4 Nxd4 11. O-O-O Nc6 12. Nd5

White has a good outpost for his knight, but Black can chase it away if necessary.

12...O-O 13. h4 Qa5

A natural move, but a strong one. Black attempts to take advantage of the weak White king position by a direct assault.

14. a3 b5?

...b4 would be a great move, but in this case White gets to the Black king sooner. Best is 14...e6! 15. Nf4 b5. Now the White knight is in the way of the dark-squared bishop, making h5 less effective. Furthermore, the knight no longer helps to defend the White king and Black wins straightaway in the case of 16. h5? Bxb2+! 17. Kxb2 Ne5.

15. Bd2

White now attempts to exchange some pieces to help with his kingside problems. This is not a bad idea, but White has a winning attack with 15. h5! as the following variations illustrate:

A) 15. h5 b4 16. hxg6 hxg6 17. Qh3 Rfb8 18. Qh7+ Kf8 19. Bh6! Bxh6+ 20. Rxh6 Ke8 21. Rxg6!! fxg6 22. Qxg6+ Kd8 23. Rh1 Ne5 24. Qe6

B) 15. h5 b4 16. hxg6 fxg6 17. Qe6+ Rf7 (17...Kh8 18. Rxh7+!) 18. Rxh7! bxa3 19. b4 a2 20. Nxe7+!

B1) 20...Nxe7 21. Rxg7+ Kxg7 22. Bd4+ and White wins now that a1 is covered.

B2) 20...Kf8 21. Nxg6+ Kg8 22. Rxg7+ Kxg7 23. Bh6+ Kg8 24. Ne7+ Nxe7 25. Rg1+ Kh8 26. Bg7+ Kg8 27. Bf6+ with mate to follow.

B3) 20...Kxh7 21. Qxg6+ Kh8 22. Rh1+

C) 15. h5 b4 16. hxg6 bxa3 17. gxh7+ Kh8 18. Qxg7+!!

D) 15. h5 Rfc8 16. hxg6 hxg6 17. Qh4 b4 18. Qh7+ Kf8 19. Bh6 Bxh6+ 20. Rxh6 Ke8 21. Rxg6 fxg6 22. Qxg6+ Kd8 23. Qg8+ Kd7 24. Qg4+ Kd8 (White checks to cover d7 with tempo before playing Rh1) 25. Rh1

15...Qa4 16. Bc3 f5

Black tries to win another pawn, but the opening of the king position will give White some attacking chances. 16...b4 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. h5 bxa3 19. b3 Qa5 20. f4

17. Qg5?!

This move allows Black to do exactly what was aimed for by playing ...f5. Black gets to win another pawn, while using the f-file for his rook. White has nothing better than 17. Qh3.

17. Qh3 fxe4 18. Bxg7+ Kxg7 19. Nc7 Rf3 (19...b4 20. Nxa8 Rxa8 21. h5) 20. Qd7 Qc4 21. Rxd6 Qa2 22. Rxc6 Qa1+ 23. Kd2 Rxf2+ 24. Kc3 Rf3+ 25. Kd4 Qxh1 26. Qxe7+ Kh6 27. Qg5+ with perpetual check.

17...Qxe4?

It is unclear why Black would capture with the queen. This opens up the e-file for the White rooks and fails to activate his own rooks on the f-file.

18. Rhe1

The text allows Black to shed his extra material and reach a drawn endgame. White must be aware of this possibility if he wants to play for a win. 18. h5 Qg4 19. Qe3 (19. Qd2 immediately allows 19...Bxc3 20. Qxc3 Qc4 21. hxg6 Qxc3 22. gxh7+ Kh8 23. Nxc3 ) 19...Qe4 20. Qd2 e5 (20...Bxc3 21. Nxc3) 21. hxg6 hxg6

18...Qg4 19. Bxg7 Qxg5+ 20. hxg5 Kxg7 21. Nxe7 Nxe7 22. Rxe7+ Rf7 23. Re6 Draw agreed.

Game 20: Shih-Houng Young - John Roush

Sicilian Defense, Alapin Variation

White played an excellent game until one mistake allowed Black to equalize, and a second allowed Black to win.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 exd5

This is not played very often. 4...Qxd5 is the main line.

5. d4 c6 6. Bb5

A position that resembles an Exchange French has been reached, and it seems that White's extra move has more significance than usual.

6...a6?

This is not necessary. It only gives White an extra tempo in a position that is already becoming difficult for Black to develop his pieces.

7. Bxc6+ bxc6 8. O-O Nf6 9. Ne5

Even better is 9. Re1+ Be7 10. Ne5 Qb6 11. Qa4 Bd7 12. dxc5 Qxd5 13. Nxd7 Nxd7 14. Qg4! and White is building up a dominating position. Black will get some cheap shots at the White queen, but with two pawns soon to be in the bank, White stands well.

9...Bd7 10. Bg5 Be7 11. dxc5 O-O 12. Nd2

White now has an extra pawn and good squares for his minor pieces. Also possible was 12. b4 Ne4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nd4.

12...h6

12...Bxc5 13. Ne4!? Be7 14. Nxf6+ gxf6 15. Nxd7 Bxd7 16. Bf4 is not so bad for Black, but he must be careful.

13. Be3 Re8 14. f4 Qc7 15. b4 Rf5 16. Nb3 Ne4 17. Bd4?!

17. Nd4 Bd7 18. Qh5 Rf8 19. c4 and White stands much better.

17...f6

Black's position is now close to equal. White did not attack while he had the chance, and Black can now post his pieces more actively.

18. Nd3 Qd7 19. Nf2 Bd8

Black maneuvers his bishop to the b8-h2 diagonal.

20. Qh5 Kh7 21. Rae1 Bc7 22. Be3?!

White leaves his pieces in some danger. Better is 22. Nxe4 Bxe4 23. Re3.

22...Nxf2 23. Rxf2 Bg4 24. Qh4 g5 25. fxg5??

White opens up the f-file, which in turn opens up Black's bishop to the only return square for the White queen. White may have underestimated his chances in the exchange-down endgame after 25. Qg3 gxf4 26. Rxf4 Re4 27. Qxg4. White can also keep some material on the board with 27. Qf2. Either way, White has some compensation for the rook in his good minor pieces and Black's somewhat weak queenside pawns.

25...fxg5 26. Rf7+ Qxf7 27. Qxg4 Bf4 28. Bf2? Rxe1+ 29. Bxe1 Bxe3+ White resigns.

Game 21: Dave Hines - James Fields

Sicilian Defense, Closed

An early mistake by Black leads to the demolition of his entire position.

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6

This move is played a bit too early. Black should wait and see how White approaches the position before playing ...d6 so that he will have the option of playing ...d5 in one move.

3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 e6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. d3 Rb8 7. a4 a6 8. O-O Be7 9. Re1 Qc7

Black has been preparing for ...b5, but still has not played it. Surely it must be played soon if two preparation moves were spent towards it.

10. Bf4 Nd7 11. Qe2

White appears to be preparing for an e5 advance, but that does not seem to gain anything concrete.

11...b5

At last it is played. White, however, has had a free hand in executing whatever plan he chose.

12. axb5 axb5 13. e5 d5??

Black has blundered and White duly takes control of the game. The only option seems to be heading for the endgame with 13...dxe5 14. Nxe5 Ncxe5 15. Bxe5 Nxe5 16. Qxe5 Qxe5 17. Rxe5. White has active rooks, but with no weaknesses and the two bishops, Black should be fine. The rest of the game does not need comment.

14. Nxd5! Qd8 15. Nxe7 Nxe7 16. c3 Ng6 17. Bg5 Qc7 18. d4 h6 19. Be3 Ne7 20. Nd2 Bb7 21. Bxb7 Rxb7 22. Ne4 O-O 23. Nd6 cxd4 24. Bxd4 Rfb8? 25. Nxb7 Rxb7 26. Ra8+ Nb8 27. Rea1 Nec6 28. f4 Qd7 29. Qe3 Qd5 30. Ba7 Kh7 31. Bxb8 Nxb8 32. Qd4 Nc6 35. Qxd5 exd5 34. R8a6 Ne7 35. Ra7 Rxa7 36. Rxa7 Nf5 37. Rxf7 Black resigns.

Game 22: Paul Davis - Katie King

Sicilian Defense

Opposite-side castling leads to opposite-side king attacks. Black flinches and White's attack crashes through.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Bd3

White apparently wishes to avoid 5. Nc3 Bb4.

5...Nc6 6. Nb3 Be7

Black should take the chance to play 6...d5 while she can.

7. f4 d6 8. Nc3 a6 9. Be3 O-O 10. Qe2 Qc7 11. g4

A typical move in the Sicilian defense. Both sides are preparing for their assaults against the enemy king.

11...b5 12. g5 Nd7 13. O-O-O Bb7 14. Rhg1 Rac8 15. f5?!

This is a bit too committal. It also gives Black control of e5, which is important for the defense of the king. A knight on e5 controls f7 and g6, while also threatening to trade the bishop on d3 as part of an attack on the king.

15...Rfe8

This move is not in the spirit of the Sicilian Defense counterattack. Black is fine after 15...b4 16. Nb1 Kh8 17. Rdf1 Nce5.

16. g6

Again White is pushing the wrong pawns. Now Black also gains access to f6 for a bishop. White should bring the h-pawn into the attack, or attempt to play f6.

16...Nf6??

This move is a serious error due to the opening of the g-file, the king being drawn towards e6, and Nd5. Best is 16...hxg6 17. fxg6 fxg6 18. Rxg6 Bf6 19. Rdg1 Nce5. White's attack is then not so difficult to defend against, and Black still has all of her attacking possibilities.

17. gxf7+ Kxf7 18. Qg2 Bf8 19. fxe6+ Kg8

19...Rxe6 20. Nd5 Nxd5 21. exd5 Re3 22. Qf2+

20. Nd5 Nxd5 21. exd5 Ne5 22. Be4 Qe7 23. Nd4 Qf6?? 24. Bg5 Qxg5+ 25. Qxg5 Rc7 26. Nf5 b4 27. e7 Rcxe7 28. Nxe7+ Rxe7 29. Rdf1 Bc8 30. Bxh7+ Kxh7 31. Rxf8 g6 32. Qxe7+ Black resigns.

Game 23: Sean Parli - Chuck Waugh

Queen's Gambit Declined

White trades off his bishop for a knight and soon finds himself with no plan. Black wins the rook and pawn endgame when White fails to find counterplay for Black's passed pawn.

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 Be6 10. Qc2

The queen probably does not belong on c2 so soon with the possibility of the c-file being opened soon.

10...Nbd7 11. O-O c5 12. Bxf6

White has given up his bishop for no good reason. Better is 12. Rac1.

12...Nxf6 13. Ne5 Qc7 14. f4

Not much will come out of this advance, but what else can White do? There are plenty of decent moves, but no good plan comes to mind.

14...c4 15. Be2 a6 16. a4 Bb4 17. Na2 a5 18. Nxb4 axb4 19. b3 c3

Black has a passed pawn that will be there for a long time. It does not look easy for Black to break through the White position, though. White should try to hold tight and not allow Black to open the position.

20. Bd3 Nd7 21. f5?

This is exactly the type of thing White should not do here. He has allowed Black to open the position and reach and endgame that is very much in Black's favor.

21...Nxe5 22. fxe6 Nxd3 23. exf7+ Rxf7 24. Rxf7 Qxf7 25. Qxd3 Rf8 26. Ra2

Already it is evident that Black is controlling the play.

26...Qd7 27. Rc2 Rd8 28. Ra2 Ra8 29. Qe2 Qf5 30. Qc2 Qxc2 31. Rxc2 Ra5

The queens have been traded, and now it's up to the king and rook to try to enter the White position. Black takes aim at the weak b3 pawn.

32. Kf2 b5 33. axb5 Rxb5 34. Ke2?

Better is 34. e4 Rxe4 35. Ke3 when White should draw.

34...Ra5 35. Rc1??

This hands the game to Black. White should try 35. Kd3 Ra3 36. Rf2 and hope to hold the pawn-down rook and pawn endgame. 35. Kd3 Ra3 36. e4 loses to 36...Rxb3 37. exd5 Kf7 38. Re2 Rb2 39. Rxb2 cxb2 with a winning king and pawn endgame due to the outside passed pawn.

35...Ra2+ 36. Kf3 Rb2 37. e4 dxe4+ 38. Kxe4 Kf7 39. cxd5 Rxb3 40. Kc6 Ke7

40...c2! followed by 41...Rc3+ is quicker.

41. Kc7 Ke6 42. Kc6 c2! 43. d5+ Ke7 44. Re1+ Kd8 45. d6 Rc3+ White resigns.

Game 24: Jim Olson - Dave Hundley

Trompowsky Attack

Weak opening play by Black allows White to build up a dominating position. A misplayed attack allows Black trade queens and win a pawn. Black blunders his extra pawn shortly thereafter and a draw is reached.

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. e4 Be7?!

An innocuous looking move, but White gets some pressure because of it. Better is 3...h6.

4. Nc3 h6 5. Bxf6 Bxf6 6. e5 Be7 7. Qg4 g6

Black has a bad looking set of pawns on the kingside, but this could be better than trying to brave the storm after 7...O-O.

8. Bd3 h5 9. Qf3 Nc6 10. Nge2 b6?

This simple looking move is a positional mistake. White obtains pressure on the light squares due to the pin of the knight that follows this move. Black is forced into a passive position where White can attack at will.

11. Be4! Bb7 12. O-O-O Bg5+ 13. Kb1 Qe7 14. g3 O-O-O 15. Qg2 Rhf8 16. f4 Bh6 17. d5

White decides to try to steamroll Black and rightfully so.

17...Na5 18. d6 cxd6 19. exd6 Qf5 20. Nb5?

A good move, but poorly timed. White must first have an answer for ...Qf5! before playing this. The best method seems to be 20. h3, followed by g4.

20...Bg7 21. c3 Bxe4?

21...Qf5! as mentioned previously.

22. Qxe4 Kb8 23. Nc7

A little hasty, as the knight does not really have a target from c7, and Black can force a queen trade. Better is 23. Ned4, which covers f5 and brings another piece into the fray.

23...Qf5! 24. Qxf5 gxf5 25. Nd4 Kb7 26. Nf3

White should first play 26. b3 to prevent the Black knight from going to c4 and taking on d6.

26...f6

Better yet is 26...Nc4!

27. b4 Nc4 28. Rd4 Nxd6! 29. Rxd6 Kxc7 30. Rhd1 Rf7

Better was 30...Re8 which also frees the f8 square for the bishop, but helps to support the e-pawn advance as well.

31. Kb2 Bf8 32. R6d3 e5??

Black carelessly throws away his extra pawn, and a drawish position is reached. Black should first defend the e5 square, and then play ...e5. The endgame would be difficult for White to defend.

33. fxe5 fxe5 34. Nxe5 Re7 35. Ng6 Re2+ Draw agreed.

White may even be justified in playing on by 36. R1d2.

Round 4 Pairings

Gary Cummings withdrew after round 3.

Round 4 Games

Unfortunately, not too many scoresheets were turned in for round 4. The Davis - J. Young game would have been a good one to report. It was a very long game that ended in king and pawn versus king.

The best game of the round goes to Hathaway - Boss. Mark showed great patience in finding a winning plan. The lucky dog for round 4 is again Ben Good for a miracle draw against Donald Griffith.

Game 25: Donald Griffith - Ben Good

Caro-Kann Defense, Panov-Botvinnik Variation

Black chose to play 9...Nbb in the Panov-Botvinnik without being prepared for it and blundered on move 10. Only by White's mistake on move 16 did Black manage to escape with a draw.

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qb3 Bxf3 9. gxf3 Nb6!?

This is a sideline of the Panov-Botvinnik that avoids the "Endgame Opening" line 9...e6 10. Qxb7 Nxd4 11. Bb5+ Nxb5 12. Qc6+ Ke7 13. Qxb5 Qd7 14. Qxd7+ Kxd7 15. Nxd5 exd5.

10. Be3 Nxd4??

This move is horrible. Black even thought for at least 5 minutes before playing this. Black had not counted on Bxd4.

11. Bxd4! Qxd4 12. Bb5+ Nd7 13. O-O

Also possible is 13. Rd1 Qe5+ 14. Ne4 O-O-O 15. Rd5 Qc7 16. Bxd7+ Rxd7 17. Rc5

13...O-O-O!

The only practical attempt at survival. Now Black is in "pray for a mistake" mode.

14. Rfd1 Qb6 15. Rac1 Nc5

That Black has to resort to pinning his own pieces illustrates how bad the situation is.

16. Nd5??

Black's prayer is answered and he now equalizes. 16. Na4 or 16. Ne4 are crushing.

16...Qg6+ 17. Kh1 e5 18. Qe3 Kb8

Black is happy to escape with a rook for two pieces when he should have been at least a piece down earlier.

19. Rxc5 Bxc5 20. Qxc5 Rc8 21. Qe3 Qd6 22. Nc3 Qc5 23. Rd5 Qxe3 24. fxe3 Draw agreed.

If the opening had not been so wild, perhaps the players would have agreed to play on. This would be an interesting endgame to see played out. It seems like White has a small dynamic advantage and that the longer the game goes, the better Black's chances should be.

Game 26: Mark Hathaway - Igor Boss

Sicilian Defense, Taimanov Variation

Black moves his knight to e5 early on which jump starts White's attack on his king. Black fails to find adequate defense, and White launches a great positional attack with an exchange sacrifice on f6.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 a6 7. N5c3 Ne5

Apparently Black wasn't happy with the knight on c6, but I see no reason why not to be.

8. Be2 Nf6 9. O-O Be7 10. b3

White defends the c4 pawn from a potential ...Qb7. It is not absolutely necessary, but is a sound strategic decision. 10. Be3 Qc7 11. Nd2 is another option.

10...O-O 11. Be3 b6 12. f4

White gains time to start an attack against the king due to the odd placement of Black's pieces.

12...Ned7 13. Nd2 Bb7 14. Bf3 Qc7 15. Rc1 Rac8 16. Qe2 Qb8

White has finished the development of his pieces, and the attack now begins in earnest.

17. g4 Qa8 18. g5 Ne8 19. Rf2

White has placed the rook where it may access the g-file if necessary. Also good are 19. Qg2 and the immediate 19. f5.

19...Nc7 20. f5 Ne5

Black places the knight where it may help defend on the kingside. Some other possibilities are:

20...exf5 leaves White clearly better:

A) 20...exf5 21. exf5 Rfe8 22. f6

A1) 22...Bf8 23. Bg4 Ne6 24. fxg7 Bxg7 25. Bf5 Nef8 (25...Nd4 26 Bxh7+) 26. Nf1

A2) 22...Bxf3 23. Rxf3 gxf6 24. Rcf1 Bf8 25. Rg3 f5 26. Rxf5 Bg7 27. Qh5 Re7 28. Nde4 Ne8 29. Nd5 Rxe4 30. Qxf7+ Kh8 31. Nf6 Nc7 32. Nxe4

B) 20...exf5 21. exf5 d5 22. f6 gxf6 23. Bg4 Ne6 24. Bf5

B1) 24...fxg5 25. Qh5 Nf6 26. Qh6 d4 27. Bd3 Rfd8 28. Rxf6 Nf8 29. Rxf7 Kxf7 30. Rf1+ Ke8 31. Bxg5 Bxg5 32. Qxf8+ Kd7 33. Rf7+ Ke6 34. Bf5+ Ke5 35. Qg7+ Kf4 36. Nd1 Bf6 37. Qh6+ Kxf5 38. Rxf6+ Kg4 39. Rf4 mate

B2) 24...Rfe8 25. Qg4 Kh8 26. Qh4 Nef8 27. Bd4 Bc5 28. Bxc5 Rxc5 29. gxf6 Qd8 30. b4 Rc7 31. Bc2 Ng6 32. Bxg6 fxg6 33. Qd4 Re5 34. Rd1 Kg8 35. f7+ Kf8 36. Nxd5

B3) 24...Ne5 25. gxf6 Bxf6 26. Bxh7+ Kxh7 27. Qh5+ Kg8 28. Rxf6

20...b5! is the best move.

C) 20...b5

C1) 21. a3 Ne5 22. Bg2 exf5 23. exf5 Bxg2 24. Rxg2 d5 25. c5 Rfe8 26. b4 Bf8

C2) 21. b4 a5 22. a3 axb4 23. axb4 Qa3

C3) 21. Bg4 b4 22. fxe6 bxc3 23. exf7+ Rxf7 24. Rxf7 Kxf7 25. Bxd7 cxd2 26. Rf1+ Kg8 27. Bxc8 Qxc8

21. Bg2 f6?

Black decides to stop f6 completely. However, White gains control of critical squares around the king and Black is left helpless to defend against White's attack. Better is 21...b5 22. f6 Bd8 23. c5 Ne8 24. cxd6 Qb8 (24...Nxd6 25. fxg7 )

22. fxe6 Nxe6 23. gxf6 Bxf6 24. Nd5 Bxd5 25. exd5 Ng5?

This gives White a free move and allows a powerful exchange sacrifice due to the knight interfering with the rook's defense of f6. 25...Nc5is much better.

26. h4 Ngf7 27. Rxf6! gxf6 28. Rf1 Qb7 29. Bh3 Kh8 30. Ne4 Rg8+ 31. Kh2 Rg7

Another possibility is 31...Rcf8 32. Nxf6 Rg7 33. Nh5 Rgg8 34. Qf2 Rg6 35. Bxb6

32. Nxf6 Rf8 33. Nh5 Rg6 34. Bg5 b5 35. Be6 Qa7 36. Bf6+ Rxf6

Black has too many pieces to deal with and decides to give up the rook for one of them. Fortunately for White, his remaining pieces are also very strong.

37. Rxf6 Rg8 38. Qf2 Qe7 39. Kh3 Rf8 40. cxb5

Also winning is 40. c5:

A) 40. c5 dxc5 41. Qb2 Nd3 42. Rxf7+ Nxb2 43. Rxe7

B) 40. c5 b4 41. cxd6

C) 40. c5 Kg8 41. Qg3+ Ng6 42. Rxg6+ Kh8 43. Rg7

40...axb5 41. a4

White is in no hurry, and decides to exchange some pawns first. Black is just waiting for execution.

41...bxa4 42. bxa4

White is now ready to transfer his queen to the long diagonal where the pinned knight will allow him to win material.

42...Rb8

Black prevents Qb2, but White uses a mate threat to arrive at the long diagonal on the following move.

43. Qg3 Rg8 44. Qc3 Nd8

Black is forced into losing material, the f7 knight being insufficiently guarded.

45. Bxg8 Kxg8 46. Qg3+ Kh8 47. Rxd6!

Black cannot capture the rook due to the mate threat on g7.

47...Ng6 48. Rxd8+ Black resigns.

A great lesson in positional play from the reigning state champion.

Game 27: John Roush - Dave Hines

Pirc Defense

White has a large space advantage and gains two pawns in the middlegame. White then proceeds to exchange pieces until just a queen and bishop remain with the pawns. White begins to attack but allows Black to escape with perpetual check.

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nge2 Bg7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 c6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. h3

White has chosen an uncommon method of playing against the Pirc. He retains the option of playing f4 later instead of the more aggressive early f4 of the Austrian Attack (4. f4). 8. h3 prepares for Be3 by stopping ...Ng4.

8...Qc7 9. Be3 e5 10. Qd2 Nb6

Black prepares for ...d5 with ...Nb6 and ...Be6.

11. b3 Be6 12. f4 exd4 13. Nxd4 d5?

Black should either admit his plan was mistaken and retreat the bishop to d7, or allow White to capture on e6 by playing ...Rad8. The pawn on d5 is in the way of his pieces, and White can now play e5 and gain a large amount of space.

14. e5 Ne4

Black decides to give up a pawn to try to maintain space for his pieces. White has a strong position after 14...Nfd7.

14...Nfd7 15. g4

A) 15...c5 16. Ndb5 Qd8 17. Nxd5 Nxe5 18. Ndc7 Qxd2 19. Bxd2 Rad8 20. Be3 Nc6 21. Bxc5 Bxa1 22. Bxf8 Kxf8 23. Rxa1

B) 15...Nb8? 16. f5 Bd7 17. e6 fxe6 18. fxe8 Be8 19. Rxf8+ Bxf8 20. Rf1 It is clear that White is in control here. A possible continuation would be 20...Na6 21. Bf4 Qe7 22. Bg5 Qd6 23. Bf6 Nc7 24. Qe3 Bg7 25. g5

15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Bxe4 Rad8?

Black does not see the coming White move. Better is 17...Nd5.

17...Nd5 18. Bc5 Rfd8 19. Qf2

A) 19...Bf8 20. Bxf8 Rxf8 21. c4 Nc3 22. Bxg6 hxg6 23. Qc2 Qh7 24. Kg2 Nd5 25. cxd5 cxd5 26. Rac1

B) 19...Nc3 20. Bg2 Bf8 21. Bxf8 Rxf8 22. Qc5 Nd5 23. c4 Ne7 24. Rad1

18. Qa5 Rd7 19. Qxa7 Nd5 20. Bxd5

I would prefer to keep the bishop, but it's hard to argue against exchanges when up two pawns.

20...Rxd5 21. c4 Rd3 22. Rad1 Rfd8 23. Rxd3 Rxd3 24. Kf2 Qd7 25. Qa5

Also possible is 25. Bc5 Rd2+ 26. Kg1 or 25. Bc5 Bf8 26. Qb8 Rd2+ 27. Kg1 Qd8 28. Qxd8

25...Bf8 26. Ke2 Kg7 27. Qe1 b5 28. Qc1 bxc4 29. Qxc4 Rd5 30. Qc2 Qb7 31. Rd1 Qa6+ 32. Kf3

White has repelled the Black attack and is poised to go on the attack himself.

32...Rxd1 33. Qxd1 Qxa2? 34. Qd7+ Kh8 35. Qxe6

35. Qd8 is another option.

A) 35...Qa3 36. Qf6+ Bg7 37. Qxe6 Black is forced to the back rank and White wins easily. For example, 37...Qa8 38. Bc5 Qb8 39. b4

B) 35...Kg8 36. Bc5 Qxb3+ 37. Kg4 h5+ 38. Kh4 g5+ 39. Kxh5 Qf3+ 40. Kg6 Qe4+ 41. Kxg5 Qf5+ 42. Kh4

35...Qh2

White must now find a way out of the checks.

36. Qf6+

The winning plan is 36. Qc8! This covers the h3 pawn and allows the king to march into the attack.

36. Qc8 Qh1+ 37. Kg4 Qd1+ 38. Kg5

A) 38...Kg7 39. Qc7+ Kh8 40. Kf6 Qxb3 (40...Qd5 41. Bb6) 41. Qf7 Qb8 42. Bb6!

B) 38...Qh5+ 39. Kf6 Qh6 40. Qd7 Bb4 41. Qe8+ Bf8 42. h4 Qg7+ 43. Ke6 h6 44. Qf7

36...Kg8 37. e6?

Still winning was 37. Qe6+ Kg7 (37...Kh8 transposes to the note to move 36.) 38. Qd7+ Kg8 39. e6 Qh1+ 40. Kg4

37...Qh1+ 38. Ke2 Qg2+ 39. Bf2

After 39. Kd3 Qf1+ 40. Ke4 Qb1+ White is unable to escape due to the unguarded queen.

39...Qe4+ 40. Kf1 Qh1+ 41. Ke2 Qe4+ Draw agreed.

Game 28: Chris Que - Terry Auvil

Pirc Defense

Both players wasted some time in this game, White in his development, and Black in his attack. A drawish position was approaching when White voluntarily opened up a file to his king and was unable to find the correct defense.

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. e3

A matter of preference, but most would consider this move passive. 3. c4 leads to standard King's Indian Defense lines.

3...Bg7 4. Bd3 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. e4

This seems to admit the "mistake" on move 3. Now the game is a Pirc with an extra tempo for Black.

6...Nc6 7. c3 e5 8. d5

8. dxe5 has been played more often. After the text White may have difficulty with his light-squared bishop, but for the moment he has more space. I can't help but think the position looks like a King's Indian Defense with extra moves for Black.

8...Ne7 9. c4 h6

Black chooses 9...h6 apparently to stop Ng5, but this doesn't seem necessary. 9...Nd7 with the idea of 10...f5 is good for Black.

10. Nc3 Nh5

Black has created the option of playing ...f5 and ...Nf4.

11. Bd2

Seeing as how White captures the knight when it reaches f4 next move, perhaps a more useful move could be played instead of wasting another tempo moving the bishop twice.

11. Be3 Nf4 12. Qd2 Nxd3 13. Qxd3 f5 14. Rac1 f4 15. Bd2 g5 16. b4 a5 17. a3 g4 18. Ne1 Ng6 19. c5 f3

11...Nf4 12. Bxf4 exf4 13. Qd2 g5 14. Bc2

Played to clear d4 for the knight. White prefers d4 to e1.

14...Ng6 15. Nd4 Ne5

Another tempo gained for Black (the c4 pawn is under attack.)

16. b3 a6

16...f3! highlights the problem with White's b3. The diagonal has been weakened along with White's king position.

A) 17. gxf3 Qf6 18. Qe3 Nxc4 19. bxc4 Qxd4

B) 17. Rad1

B1) 17...g4 18. gxf3 Qh4 19. Qf4 Nc6! 20. dxc6!? Be5 21. Qg3 Bxg3 22. fxg3 Qh3 23. Nd5 gxf3

B2) 17...Qf6 18. Ncb5 Bg4 19. Nf5 fxg2 20. Kxg2 Bf3+ 21. Kg1 Rae8! (covers e7, allowing ...Qg6) 22. Nxc7 Qg6 23. Nxe8 Qh5

B3) 17...Qf6 18. Qe3 g4 19. Kh1 Qh4 20. gxf3 gxf3 21. Nxf3 Nxf3 22. Qxf3 Be5 23. Rg1+ Kh8 24. Rg2 Bh3 25. Rg3 Bxg3 26. Qxg3 Qh5

17. Rad1 Qf6

Again Black is preparing for a move that could be played immediately. Now White attempts to block Black's access into the position.

18. f3 h5 19. Nce2

Prevents ...g4 by double-attacking f4.

19...Kh8 20. Nf5

Also possible is 20. g3 Bh3 (20...fxg3 21.Nxg3) 21. Rf2 Rg8 22. Kh1 Bh6 23. Rg1 c5 24. dxc6 bxc6

20...Bxf5 21. exf5 Rg8 22. Be4 Bh6 23. Kh1 Rg7 24. Nc1!

It seems that Black's attack was too slow, and White aims to trade some pieces and reach an equal (at least) position. Perhaps Black could have tried 21...h4.

24...g4 25. Nd3 Rag8 26. Nxe5 Qxe5 27. Rg1

27. Rde1 Qf6 28. Re2 gxf3 29. Bxf3 Qxf5 is probably equal.

27...b5 28. h3?!

Not necessarily a bad move, but a bad practical decision. White will be forced to find a series of "only" moves to defend. There was no need to take action on the kingside, as Black did not have sufficient force to break through. White should set his sights on the queenside with a move like 28. Rc1.

28...gxh3 29. gxh3 Rg3 30. Kh2 Qg7 31. Qf2 Qg5 32. Bb1?? Bg7?

For the next several moves, both players miss the idea of ...Qh4. 32...Qh4 33. Qf1 Rxg1

33. Rg2?? Be5 34. Rd2 Qg7?

34...Qh4

35. Qe2? Bc3?

35...Qg5 36. Qf2 Qh4

36. f6

36. Rc2 Qg5 37. Qf1 Bd4 38. Rce2 Qh4 39. Rxg3 Qxg3+ 40. Kh1 Qg1+

36...Qxf6 37. Qe4

As many times as Black had missed ...Qh4, maybe White should play Rc2 and hope he doesn't find it.

37...Qg7 White resigns.

Black doesn't need the ...Qh4 idea now that the rook on d2 is hanging.

Game 29: James Fields - Chuck Waugh

English Opening

Two English opening fans engage in a slow maneuvering game until a mistake ends the game quickly.

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. e3 e5 6. Nge2 Nge7 7. f4 d6 8. O-O Be6 9. Nd5 Rb8 10. Nec3 O-O 11. fxe5?!

Until now, both sides have played well. Neither player can claim an advantage and a long game should ensue. By 11. fxe5, White has released Black from any grip he could have had on the position, and the game is even more equal.

11...dxe5 12. Rb1 Qd7 13. b3 f5 14. Ba3 b6 15. d4?

Black can now win a pawn and perhaps the game. 15. d3 is better.

15...cxd4 16. exd4 exd4 17. Nxe7+ Nxe7 18. Nd5 Rfe8??

Perhaps Black did not see that he could win the pawn by 18...Bxd5. Also, 18...Nxd5 exchanges a rook for a bishop and two pawns. Black looks promising in both lines.

A) 18...Nxd5 19. cxd5 Bxd5 20. Bxd5+ Qxd5 21. Bxf8 Bxf8

B) 18...Bxd5 19. cxd5 Rfd8 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21. Re1 Qd7

19. Nxe7+ Rxe7 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21. Re1 Qd6 22. Rxe6 Black resigns.

Round 5 Pairings

Round 5 Games

The best game of round 5 was Griffith - Hathaway. Mark tried for hours to grind Donald down in a bishop endgame, but Donald played perfect defense and held the draw. There was no clear lucky dog in round 5, but the closest cases would be Ben Good and Dave Hundley. Ben was in a worse position when John Roush traded into a drawn endgame, and Dave lost a piece but had enough counterplay to hold the position when Chuck Waugh did not find the strongest way to attack.

Game 30: Donald Griffith - Mark Hathaway

Sicilian Defense, Kan Variation

You don't see endgame struggles like this one every day. White exchanges into a endgame where he has an isolated pawn. Black wins the pawn but is unable to break through in the bishop endgame.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6

Again Mark plays the Kan variation. Donald plays the standard Bd3.

5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nxc6 dxc6 7. O-O e5 8. f4

White attempts to open the f-file and make the Black king uncomfortable. Black has no problems developing, however. A more aggressive option was 7. Nd2 e5 8. Qh5 Bd6 9. Nc4.

8...exf4

Black does not fear the opening of the f-file and decides to isolate the e-pawn.

9. Bxf4 Be6 10. Nc3 Ne7

10...Qb6+ 11. Kh1 Qxb2 is a risky option. With Mark being tied for first place, it's no wonder he did not go for it.

11. Qf3 Ng6 12. Bg3 Bd6

Black has completed his development without any difficulty. Black may be slightly better here due to the White e-pawn.

13. Bxd6 Qxd6 14. Ne2

White appears to be aiming for Nf4 and another piece trade.

14...Qc5+ 15. Kh1 Qg5 16. Nf4 Nxf4

Black has no other chance to win other than in the endgame.

17. Qxf4 Qxf4 18. Rxf4 O-O-O 19. Kg1 Rd4 20. Kf2 Rhd8 21. Ke3 c5

Black is quickly improving the position of his pieces. White will likely lose his e-pawn, but he still retains drawing chances.

22. Rf2 c4 23. Bf1 f6 24. c3 R4d6 25. Rc1

White tries to maneuver for more exchanges.

25...b5 26. h3 Kc7 27. Rcc2 Bc8

Black allows White to exchange rooks. 27...Re8 would win the e4 pawn, but with only rooks left, Black would be hard-pressed to win.

28. Rcd2 Rxd2 29. Rxd2 Rxd2 30. Kxd2 Kd6 31. Ke3 Ke5 32. g4

32. b3 cxb3 33. axb3 leads to an easy draw once White's pawn reaches b4. White can defend the e4 pawn from d3 and not have to worry about ...f5. After the text, White does not have the d3 square available, and the bishop is involved in a pin on the long diagonal that allows Black to win the pawn.

32...Bb7 33. Bg2 g6 34. Bf3 Bc6 35. h4 h6

White will soon run out of moves and Black will win the pawn.

36. Bg2

If White plays the a-pawn, Black can shuffle the bishop from c6 to b7 until White has no more moves.

36...f5 37. gxf5

37. g5?? loses after 37...hxg5 38. hxg5 Bxe4 39. Bh3 Bd5. White will either have to move the bishop away from h3, which allows ...f4+ and ...Kf5, or move the king, which allows ...Kf4.

The bishop easily wins after 37. exf5?? Bxg2.

38. Bf3 Bxe4 39. Bd1 f4+ 40. Kf2

Black has won the pawn, but the fight is not over. Black must be able to exchange the bishops and win the king and pawn endgame, or somehow create a second weakness so that White becomes overloaded.

40...Kf5 41. Bh5 Bb1 42. a3 Be4 43. Ke2 Ke5 44. Be8 Kd6 45. a4 Kc5 46. axb5 axb5

Now Black's only chance is to find a way to penetrate with the king to c3.

47. Kf2 Bd5 48. Bd7 b4

48...Kb6 49. Be8 Ka5 50. Bg6 Ka4 51. Bc2+ prevents the king's entry to b3.

49. Be8 bxc3 50. bxc3 Bc6

Black tries to use the bishop as a shield for the king to reach a4 and b3.

51. Bf7

White keeps an eye on the c-pawn, preventing the king from leaving its defense. White missed a forced draw, though, based on a queen versus pawn book draw:

51. Bxc6! Kxc6 52. Kf3 Kb5 53. Kxf4 Ka4 54. Kf5 Kb3 55. Kg6 Kxc3 56. Kxh6 Kd2 57. Kg7 c3 58. h5 c2 59. h6 c1=Q 60. h7

51...Bd5 52. Be8 Kd6

The other attempt also draws: 52...Kb6 53. Ke2 Ka5 54. Kf2 Bb7 55. Bd7 Ba6 56. Kf3 Bb5 57. Bxb5 Kxb5 58. Kxf4

53. Ke2 Ke5 54. Bh5 Kf5 55. Kf2 Ke4 56. Bg6+ Ke5 57. Ke2 Kf6 58. Bh5 Kf5 59. Kf2 Draw agreed.

Game 31: Ben Good - John Roush

Sicilian Defense, King's Indian Attack

White makes an error in judgment on move 5 that allows Black to get the upper hand out of the opening. Black exchanges a few too many pieces, and a drawn endgame quickly arises.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d3 d5 4. Qe2!?

Qe2 has been played in some of Morozevich's King's Indian Attack games and varies a little bit from standard KIA lines.

4...Nc6 5. exd5?

Here White thought that the position would be good for him, but this just isn't the case. Black's c5 pawn and the semi-open d-file gives him a firm grip on d4.

5...Qxd5 6. Nc3 Qd7 7. g3 b6 8. Bg2 Bb7 9. O-O Be7 10. Bf4 Nf6 11. Rad1 Nd4

Black trades the control of d4 for pressure along the c-file.

12. Nxd4 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 cxd4 14. Ne4 Rc8 15. c4

Perhaps better is first playing 15. Be5 before c4. This allows White another attack on the d4 pawn.

15. Be5 Qd5 16. f4 O-O 17. c4 dxc3 18. bxc3

15...dxc3 16. Nxc3?

I still do not know why I chose this over the much better 16. bxc3.

16...O-O 17. Qf3 Rfd8 18. d4 Nd5?!

Black trades a better piece. Black should first chase the c3 knight away before playing ...Nd5. For example, 18...b5 19. Rfe1 b4 20. Ne4 Nd5

19. Nxd5 Qxd5 20. Qxd5 Rxd5 21. Rc1

White uses the back-rank weakness to trade the rooks and reach a drawn endgame.

21...Rdd8 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Rc1 Rxc1 24. Bxc1 Bf6 25. Be3 Kf8 26. Kf3 Ke7 27. Ke4 Kd7 Draw agreed.

Mark and Donald were happy to see this game end in a draw and leave only the two of them in first place.

Game 32: Terry Auvil - Dave Hines

Pirc Defense, Austrian Attack

This is a game of missed opportunities. Every few moves the players would go back and forth handing over the advantage to the other player. In the end, Black got back on track and took home the full point.

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O

The Austrian Attack. White will typically attempt to advance on the kingside, while Black fights for counterplay in the center.

6. Bd3 c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. O-O

This is a bit too early. First White should play e5, then Qe2 and Be3 to stop Black's center play before castling.

8...Nc6 9. e5 Nd5 10. Ne4 b6

Another possibility is 10...Ncb4 11. Bc4 Nb6 12. Be2 Bf5

11. h3 Bb7

11...Ndb4 12. Be2 Bf5 is again better for Black.

12. c3 Qd7 13. Qe2 Rad8 14. Bb5? Nc7 15. Ba4 Qd3

15...Ba6 wins the exchange. (15...Ba6 16. Qd1 Qe6)

16. Qxd3 Rxd3 17. Bc2 Rd7 18. g3 f5?

Black ignores the d-file and voluntarily weakens the a2-g8 diagonal. Better is 18...Rfd8.

19. Bb3+ e6 20. Nd6 Ba6 21. Rd1?

White again blunders the exchange.

21...Be2 22. Kf2 Bxd1 23. Bxd1 Ne8

Somewhat better is 23...Rb8 24. Be3 Bf8 25. Nc4 Rbd8.

24. Ba4?

24. Bb3 targeting e6 is best. The text allows Black to take control.

24...Nxd6 25. Bxc6 Ne4+

Somewhat better is 25...Rc7 26. Ba4 Ne4+ followed by Rd8.

26. Bxe4?

White should instead play 26. Kg2 Rd1 27. Ba4 Rdd8 28. Bc2.

26...fxe4 27. Ng5

No better is 27. Nd2 Bxe5 28. Nxe4 Bg7 as White still has not gotten his pieces out and ...e5 is coming.

27...Bxe5 28. Ke3 Bb8 29. Nxe6 Re8

The knight now has no retreat.

30. Ng5 h6 White resigns.

Game 33: Igor Boss - Paul Davis

Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch Variation

Both sides struggled for an advantage and an imbalanced position was reached where White had a knight and two pawns for a rook. The position was rather level until Black unexplainably dropped a piece and White easily won.

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. b3 Ne4 10. Bb2 Bf6 11. Nb5!?

Hundreds of games in this opening line have been played, and nearly all of them featured 11. Na4. The text allows 11...Qa5 12. a4 a6 13. Na3 Qb4 winning a pawn. White still has some possibility of gaining some time chasing the Black pieces back, however.

11...a6 12. Na3 Re8 13. Nc2 b5 14. Ne3 Be6 15. Rb1

White guards the bishop, opening up the possibility of capturing on c5.

15...Nb4?!

Black is asking for trouble. He either must continue the knight journey and play ...Na2 next, or retreat back to c6 when White will capture on c5. Better is 15...Rc8 16. dxc5 Bxb2 17. Rxb2 Qf6 18. Qc1 Nb4 19. a3 Rxc5 20. Qa1 Nc6 21. b4 Rc3

16. a3 Na2

Also possible is 16...Nc6 17. dxc5 Bxb2 18. Rxb2 Qa5.

17. Qc2 b4 18. dxc5 Nac3 19. axb4

White is more or less forced to do this, but he gets a strong passed pawn and seems to be equal if not slightly better.

19...Nxb1 20. Rxb1 Rb8 21. Nd2 Rxb4 22. Nxe4 dxe4 23. Bxf6 Qxf6 24. Bxe4 Rxb3??

The position was being clarified and it was heading towards an interesting endgame until this blunder. Black has simply given up a piece for nothing.

25. Rxb3 Bxb3 26. Qxb3 Qe5 27. Bc6 Rb8 28. Qd5 Qa1+ 29. Kg2 a5 30. Nf5 Qf6 31. Qd6 Qxd6 32. Nxd6 Kf8 33. Bd5 f6 34. c6 Black resigns.

Game 34: Shih-Houng Young - James Fields

Sicilian Defense, Scheveningen Variation

Black sacrifices a piece for unknown reasons and finds himself defenseless to White's superior force.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 Be7 8. Qd2 Bd7 9. g4 Nc6 10. h4 Ne5

Black appears like he is trying to mix a Dragon theme in with a Scheveningen variation. I doubt this will work well.

11. h5 Nexg4?

Black gets absolutely nothing out of this sacrifice.

12. fxg4 Nxg4 13. Nf3 Bc6 14. O-O-O Qa5 15. Kb1 Rd8 16. Rg1 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 Bf6

Now White opens up the position to the uncastled Black king.

18. e5 Bxf3?

Now Black will not only be one piece down, but he will have a rook stuck on g8. It's as if White has two extra pieces.

19. exf6 Bxd1 20. fxg7 Bxc2+ 21. Kxc2 Rg8 22. h6 Rc8 23. Kb1

White has a complete lock on the position. He has now made his king safer and is ready to lash out.

23...Rc5 24. Ne4 Re5 25. Bd3 Ke7 26. Qd4 f5 27. Qxd6+ Ke8 28. b4 Qa3 29. Nf6+ Kf7 30. Nxg8 Black resigns.

Game 35: Jason Young - Chris Que

Caro-Kann Defense, Advance Variation

Black has a good position out of the opening. When he tried to organize an attack, White quickly traded the pieces off and a draw is agreed. Black still had good endgame chances when the draw was declared.

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. c4

A rarely played move. It does not pose Black any serious problems.

5...dxc4 6. Bxc4 Nd7 7. O-O Nb6 8. Bb3 Bxb1

Black trades off his bishop for no apparent reason. The bishop was certainly doing more than the knight was at b1.

9. Rxb1 Ne7 10. Bg5 Qd7 11. a4 a5 12. Rc1 Ned5 13. Nd2

Heading for e4.

13...h6 14. Bh4 g5

Black apparently wants to castle queenside. Black must now be careful to guard the dark squares in the center.

15. Bg3 h5 16. h4

A provocative move. White is giving Black the open files near his king.

16...Be7 17. hxg5 Bxg5 18. Ne4

White figures that he would rather not waste time moving his rook and that the Black dark-squared bishop is important to covering the dark squares in the center.

18...Be7

Black apparently agrees with White's decision.

19. Qd2 h4 20. Bf4 Bb4

20...Nxf4 21. Qxf4 h3 22. Nf6+ Bxf6 23. Qxf6 Rg8 24. g3 Qd8 is equal.

21. Qc2 O-O-O

21...f5! Threatens to capture on f4 and after 22. Nf6+ Nxf6 23. exf6 h3 Black is better.

22. Bd2 Be7 23. Bxa5 Rdg8

Black simply did not have enough time for a slow buildup. ...h3 should have been played earlier. White now trades off the pieces in the hopes of reaching a drawn endgame. Black still will have the superior minor piece, though.

24. Nc5 Bxc5 25. Qxc5 Qd8 26. Bxd5 Qxd5 27. Qxd5 Nxd5 28. Bc3 Nf4 29. Kh1 Nxg2 30. Bd2 h3 31. Rc3 Nh4 32. Rg3 Nf5 33. Rd3 Draw agreed.

Black looks better after 33...h2 34. a5 Rh4 35. Bc3 Rgg4 36. Rfd1 Rf4 37. Be1 Rxd4 38. Rxd4 Rxd4 39. Rxd4 Nxd4.

Game 36: Chuck Waugh - Dave Hundley

Queen's Indian Defense

Black blunders a piece for two pawns in the middlegame. White misses an important intermezzo before capturing the piece and Black found enough counterplay to hold a draw.

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3

A move made popular in part by Kasparov.

4...Bb7 5. Nc3 h6

An unnecessary move. 5...d5 is the most common.

6. Qc2 Nc6?

Black blocks the c-pawn and White may gain some space in the center by chasing the knights back. ...c5 should be considered.

7. e4

Threats involving Bf4, d5, and a fork on c7 are possible. White has a lot of options since the Black forces are not developed well.

7...Ne7 8. e5 Nfg8

Black's pieces are going from bad to worse

9. Be2 Nf5 10. g4??

White apparently didn't see the knight on f3 being pinned by the bishop on b7. Suddenly Black is better.

10...Nxd4 11. Qd3 Nb3 12. Rb1 Nxc1 13. Rxc1 Qe7?

Again Black is placing his pieces poorly. The queen interferes with the bishop here. Black should challenge the center with ...d6.

14. Ne4 O-O-O?

A poor strategic decision. Black must have had this in mind when playing ...Qe7. White now has attacking chances.

15. c5 Kb8 16. cxb6 axb6 17. O-O f5!

A good move which challenges the knight for control of the center and attempts to open up the white king position.

18. exf6?

Exchanges will help Black catch up in development and make his extra pawn show. Also, White will have less left to attack the Black king with, where Black will have the g4 weakness to play against.

Better is 18. gxf5 exf5 19. Qc4 Rc8 20. Nc3

18...Nxf6 19. Ng3 Nxg4??

For a moment, the g4 pawn was immune. Black now loses a piece.

20. Qc4 Nxf2 21. Qxc7+ Ka7 22. Kxf2

White can get a jump start on the attack before recapturing the knight by 22. Rc4! b5 23. Rb4 d5 24. Qa5+ Kb8 25. Rxf2

22...d6 23. Qc4 d5 24. Qa4+ Kb8 25. Rc2 Qf7 26. Rfc1?

White should first move the king: 26. Kg2 d4 27. Kh3! Qf6 28. Qb5

26...Bc5+ 27. Kg2 Rhf8?

Better is the immediate ...d4 to pin the knight.

28. b4

This seems obvious but the position is not that simple to figure out.

28...Bd6!

This is important to cover the c7 square. Other moves do not save Black:

A) 28...Be3 29. Rc7 Qf4 30. R1c6! Rf6 31. Rxg7 Rf7 32. Rd6! Qxd6 33. Rxf7

B) 28...Qf4 29. Ne5! Be3 30. Rc8+!! Bxc8 31. Nc6+ Kc7 32. Qa7+ Bb7 33. Nxd8+ Kxd8 34. Rf1 Qd6 35. Rxf8+ Qxf8 36. Qxb7

29. Rf1

White takes his rook out of the attack and Black now gets his turn to attack. Other moves may lead to a White advantage but it is not clear.

A) 29. Qb5 d4 30. Qxb6 Bf4 31. Rc5 Bxc1 32. Rxc1 d3 33. Bd1 Qf4

B) 29. Rc6 Bxc6 30. Rxc6 Bc7 31. Qa6 Rd7 32. Kh3 Qf6 33. Rxc7 Rxc7 34. Qxb6+ Rb7 35. Qd6+ Ka8 36. Qa6+ Kb8 37. Nd4 Qxd4 38. Qd6+ Ka7 39. Qxf8

C) 29. Rc6 Bf4 30. R1c2 d4 31. Bd3 Bxg3 32. Be4 Qf4 33. Re2 Rd6 34. Rxd6 Qxd6 35. hxg3

29...Qg6?

The pressure on f3 with the threat of ...d4 was a strong point in Black's position. 29...Qg6 removes those threats.

30. Qb3

White again removes a piece from the attack. Better is 30. Rc6 Bxc6 31. Qxc6 Qf7 32. Qxb6+ Qb7 33. Qa5 Bc7 34. Qa4 e5 35. Rc1.

30...d4 31. Bd3 Qf7 32. Rcf2 Draw agreed.

Final Round Pairings

Final Round Games

The best game of the round goes to John Roush for his fine attacking win over Donald Griffith. Mark Hathaway for sure enjoyed it as it left him as the sole champion again. The lucky dog for the final round was Dave Hundley. He was lost for a good part of the game, but Sean Parli could not find the moves necessary to put him away and eventually Sean blundered a rook.

Game 37: Dave Hines - Mark Hathaway

Sicilian Defense, Closed

White makes a bad exchange on d4 that leaves Black in total control. Black starts to collect pawns until White loses both knights and resigns.

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 g6 5. d3 Bg7 6. Nge2 d6 7. Be3 Nd4 8. Nf4

This is an odd placement for the knight since it has no future on this square.

8...Rb8 9. O-O b5

Black takes time to grab some space on the queenside before castling as White isn't doing anything active.

10. Rb1 b4 11. Bxd4?

Generally in the Closed Sicilian, this exchange is not good for White. The backwards c-pawn becomes a serious weakness and White does not have enough space to organize his pieces for its defense.

11...cxd4 12. Nce2 Ne7 13. c3

White tries to confront his problems head-on.

13...bxc3 14. Qa4+?

After the coming series of moves, White regains his pawn but the Black pieces take control. Better is 14. bxc3 Rxb1 15. Qxb1 dxc3 16. Rc1 Qa5 17. Qb3. Black will still have an advantage, but it will not be nearly as much as in the game.

14...Qd7 15. Qxd7+ Kxd7 16. bxc3 Rxb1 17. Rxb1 dxc3 18. Rc1 Ba6 19. Nxc3 Rc8

White's pieces have become tangled in the attempt to guard each other and the weak pawns.

20. Nce2 g5 21. Nh3 h6 22. f4

White cannot prevent the loss of a pawn. 22. Rd1 Rc2 will win the a-pawn and White will still have the same problems as before.

22...Bxd3 23. Rxc8 Nxc8 24. Nc1 Bb1

Now even more material is lost.

25. fxg5 hxg5 26. Nxg5?

This loses a piece.

26...Bd4+ 27. Kf1 Be3 28. Nxf7 Bxc1 29. a4 Ke7 White resigns.

A second piece is lost and Mark is guaranteed a tie for first place.

Game 38: John Roush - Donald Griffith

Sicilian Defense, Dragon Variation

Black, in a must-win situation, opens the position in an attempt to avoid a draw. The attempt leaves White with a winning attack, and save for one blunder (which Black missed) White executes it perfectly.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. g3

Again John plays the fianchetto against the Sicilian Defense.

6...Bg7 7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O Nc6 9. Nde2

White avoids the exchange so as to keep his queen off of the diagonal where Black's bishop sits.

9...Bd7 10. h3 Rc8 11. Bg5

This appears to be an attempt to force Black into capturing on d5 when White plays Nd5. White would also welcome ...h6 when the bishop retreats to e3 without having to worry about ...Ng4. Other moves that have been played in this position are a4, Nf4, and the immediate Nd5.

11...Qb6

Black targets the b-pawn, but this move does allow some complications.

12. Rb1

12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Nd5 Qxb2 14. Rb1 Qxa2 15. Nxf6+ exf6 16. Qxd6 Be6 17. Nc3 Qc4 18. Nd5

12...Be6 13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. exd5 Ne5 15. b3 Qa5 16. a4

Black will soon run out of things to attack on the queenside and the position of the knight on e5 may help White launch an attack with f4.

16...Rc7 17. Bd2 Qc5 18. c4 Rcc8

Black decides that the queen needs some room to escape and frees the c7 square.

19. Be3 Qc7 20. Nd4

20. Bxa7? b6 21. f4 Ned7 22. Nd4 Qxa7 23. Nc6 Rxc6 24. dxc6 Nc5

20...a6 21. Qd2

White is preparing for the assault. Black can do nothing to stop it.

21...Rfe8 22. f4 Ned7 23. f5 Nc5 24. Qc2

Hinting at the idea of playing g4-g5 and b4 to trap a knight.

24...a5 25. Rfe1

25. Rbe1 is better as White can respond to ...Nfd7 with fxg6 and Qf2.

25...Nfd7 26. Rbd1 Ne5

White's slight inaccuracy on move 25 has given Black some chance to place his knights better for defense.

27. Bf2

It's not too late to go back to the f-file with the rook.

27...Kh8 28. Qb1

White apparently has run out of ideas and decides to see what Black will do.

28...e6??

Donald was in a must-win situation and he decided to open the position at all costs. The move however is a blunder because the d6 pawn is not guarded. Black cannot recapture the pawn on e6 without allowing Nb5 and Nxd6, forking the rooks.

29. fxe6 fxe6 30. dxe6 Rcd8

30...Nxe6 31. Nb5

31. Bd5

The pawn is solidified and White goes on the offensive.

31...Rf8 32. Be3 Rde8 33. Rf1 Qe7 34. Rxf8+ Rxf8 35. Rf1 Kg8 36. Bg5!

A very strong move. 36...Qxg5 37. e7+ is easily winning for White.

36...Rxf1+ 37. Qxf1 Qe8 38. e7+ Kh8 39. Qf6!

Also strong was 39. Nb5.

39...h6 40. Qxd6 Ned7

Black tries his best to stop White from promoting the pawn.

41. Nf3??

A blunder that allows Black to escape. White apparently missed that Black can free g7 for his king while attacking the e7 pawn with ...Bf6. 41. Qc7, 41. Nb5, and 41. Ne6 are all still winning.

41...hxg5 42. Nxg5 Be5??

Black is even after 42...Bf6 43. Qf4 Kg7 44. Qh4 Bxg5 45. Qxg5 Nf6 46. Qe5 Ncd7 47. Qe3 Ng8 48. Qc3+ Kh7 49. Qxa5 Qxe7.

43. Nf7+ Qxf7 44. Bxf7 Bxd6 45. e8=Q+ Bf8 46. Bxg6 Black resigns.

Game 39: Igor Boss - Ben Good

Queen's Gambit, Noteboom Variation

Black was also in a must-win situation being ½-point behind the leaders on board 1 and 2. The Noteboom variation of the Slav, which is known for wild games was played. Black has a good position until he allowed White too much of an attack and crumbled under the pressure. This was the first game finished in round 6, and it gave the leaders a little bit of solace in knowing that there would not be more than two possible state champions.

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 b5 7. Ne5

This is often played in amateur games, and I see no reason why it is not played in master games as well. There is still some unexplored territory in the Noteboom variation. The main line is 7. Bd2 a5 8. axb5 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 cxb5 10. b3 when Black cannot play ...b4 until the a8 rook is guarded and therefore White regains his pawn.

7...Bb7

7...Nf6 is a good alternative. It would deter the queen sortie that follows shortly at least.

8. Bd2 a5 9. Qg4 Kf8

9...Kf8 is a little bit less risky than 9...g6 as there is always the possibility of ...Bxc3, Bxc3 when the long diagonal can open up for the White bishop.

10. Qf3 Qc7

10...Qe7 is better as it does not have the problem of a discovered attack after Qg3.

11. Qg3 Qd8

I had been wary of the possibility of axb5 which allows ...Bxc3, Bxc3 cxb5, d5 ideas. Here I had let that thought slip out of my mind for a moment and missed the far superior 11...Qe7.

12. axb5 Bxc3 13. Bxc3 cxb5 14. d5

This was to be expected.

14...f6??

I did not give this sufficient thought. White simply ignores the threat to his knight and Black is busted. 14...Nf6 was the only move when Black should be okay.

15. dxe6! fxe5

Also insufficient is 15...Nh6 16.Rd1 Qe7 17.Nd7+

16. Bxe5 Nf6 17. e7+! Kxe7

17...Qxe7 18. Bd6 wins the queen.

18. Qxg7+ Ke6 19. Qxb7 Nbd7 20. Bxf6 Qxf6

The only reason I played on in this position was that the top two boards were still going on, and I had the hopes of Igor making a mistake as he tends to move very quickly. I found out that he doesn't tend to make mistakes in such a position.

21. Qxb5 c3 22. Qc6+ Ke7 23. Qxf6+ Kxf6 24. bxc3 Rhb8 25. Be2 Rb2 26. Bf3 Ra7 27. O-O

You don't see castling on move 27 every day.

27...a4 28. Ra3 Nc5

Black holds on to his last bastion of hope, the a4 pawn.

29. h4 Rb3 30. Rfa1 Rxa3 31. Rxa3 Ke5 32. Bc6 Rc7 33. Bb5

Of course the a4 pawn is immune as the bishop would be pinned and won.

33...Rb7 34. c4 Ra7 35. f3 Ra8 36. Kf2 Rd8 37. f4+ Kf6 38. g4 Ne4+ 39. Kf3 Nc5 40. g5+

White has stopped any chance of the a4 pawn advancing and simply advances his kingside majority.

40...Ke7 41. f5 Rd6 42. f6+ Kf8 43. Ra2 Black resigns.

White can now win the a4 pawn as the bishop can retreat from the pin to b3 and guard the rook on a2.

Game 40: Paul Davis - James Fields

Sicilian Defense - Najdorf Variation

White takes control early on and a mistake by Black leads to a quick White victory.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. O-O-O Nc6

9...Nbd7 is much more common. In this line, White is already ahead in his potential attack on the kingside, and exchanging any possible attackers of his own leaves Black worse.

10. Nxc6 Qxc6 11. Bd3

11. e5 Qxf3 12. gxf3 dxe5 13. fxe5 Nd7 14. Bxe7 Kxe7 15. f4 g5 16. fxg5 leaves White better, but not by much.

11...Bd7?!

This would be a good move if White didn't have Qg3 coming. Black should first play 11...h6.

12. Qg3

Threatening e5.

12...Nh5 13. Qh4 Bxg5?

The only good option is 13...Nxf4 14. Bxe7 Ng6 15. Qg5 h6 16. Qg3 Kxe7 when White is better, but Black is still hanging on.

14. Qxg5 g6 15. g4 h6

15...Ng7 16.e5 leaves White in control of the position.

16. Qh4 Nxf4 17. Qf6 Nxd3+ 18. Rxd3 Rh7 19. Rhd1 d5

19...Qc7 20. Rxd6 Bc6 21. h4 Qe7 is a better attempt at defending.

20. exd5 Qc7 21. dxe6 Bxe6 22. Ne4 b6 23. Qd4 Qf4+? 24. Kb1 Ke7 25. Qb4+ Ke8 Black resigns.

Black realizes that his queen will be lost after 26. Nd6+.

Game 41: Chris Que - Jim Olson

Center Counter Defense

White gets a small, lasting advantage out of the opening and Black makes an error in defense allowing White to break through on the queenside.

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. Nf3 g6 5. c4 Nb6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. Be3 e5 10. d5 Ne7

As the opening phase is nearing an end, it appears that both players have their own pluses and minuses. White has some space on the queenside and the potential for a passed pawn while Black is poised for aggressive piece play on the e-file and f-file. This looks like a typical hypermodern game where if White lashes out too soon, Black will take over.

11. Bc5

This is not necessarily bad, but it does look awkward. I'm not sure what White will accomplish other than trading off his active d5 pawn. 11. a4 and 11. Qc2 should be considered (11. Qc2 Bf5 is no concern, as White would then play 12. Qd2 and the bishop gets in the way on f5.)

A) 11. a4 Nf5 12. Bg5 f6 13. Bd2 Nd4 14. Nxd4 exd4 15. Nb5 c6 16. Nxd4 cxd5 17. c5

B) 11. Qc2 Bf5 12. Qd2

11...Re8 12. Qd2 Nf5 13. Ne4 Nd6

A good alternative is 13...Nd7 14. Ba3 Nd4 15. Nxd4 exd4 16. Nc5 Nxc5 17. Bxc5 b6 18. Ba3 (18. Bxd4?? Bxd4 19. Qxd4 Rxe2) 18...b5

14. Nxd6 cxd6 15. Ba3 Bf8?!

The bishop was fine on the long diagonal. Better is 15...Bg4 16. Rac1 e4 17. Ne1 Bxe2 18. Qxe2 f5

16. Rac1 Nd7 17. b4 b6

17...a5 equalizes.

18. Bb2 Bg7 19. Qc3 Qf6

This can get in the way of his pieces much like the bishop would have on f5 in the note to move 11.

20. Nd2

First White should stop ..e4. 20. Qe3 Bb7 21. Nd2

20...e4 21. Qxf6 Bxf6 22. Bxf6 Nxf6 23. Nb3 Ba6

The bishop won't stay here for long. Better is 23...a5 24. a3 axb4 25. axb4 Ra4 26. b5 Bd7 27. Ra1 Rea8 28. Rxa4 Rxa4 29. Ra1

24. Rfd1 Rac8 25. Nd4 Rc7 26. Nc6 Bc8

White has found an outpost for the knight, but without any clear targets Black is still fine.

27. b5

The arguably more logical 27. a4 does not gain anything:

A) 27. a4 a5 28. c5 dxc5 29. bxa5 bxa5 30. Rxc5 Bb7 31. Bb5 Rec8 32. Rdc1 Nxd5 33. Rxd5 Bxc6 34. Rdc5 Bxb5 35. Rxc7 Rxc7 36. Rxc7 Bxa4

B) 27. a4 Bd7 28. a5 Kg7 29. Ra1 Bxc6 30. dxc6 Rxc6 31. b5 Rc7 32. Rxd6 Nd7

27...h5 28. Rc3 a5?

Black did not need to fear Ra3: 28...Nd7 29. Ra3 Ne5 30. Rxa7 Rxa7 31. Nxa7 Bg4 32. Bxg4 hxg4 33. Rc1 Nd3 34. Ra1 Ne5

29. bxa6 Bxa6 30. Ra3 Bc8 31. Rb1 Nd7 32. Nd4

Suddenly Black has no defense for the d-pawn and the whole position crumbles.

32...Rc5 33. Nb5 Rxb5 34. Rxb5

White wins the exchange and the game

34...Bb7 35. Ra7 Rb8

This makes White's job a little bit easier as the pieces are pinned by both rooks.

36. a4 Kf8 37. a5 Ke8 38. axb6 Kd8 39. h4 Nc5 40. Rb2 Nd7 41. Bd1 Ne5 42. Rb4 Nd7 43. Ba4 Nc5 44. Bc6 f6 45. Rb5 Ke7? 46. Rxc5 dxc5 47. Rxb7+ Rxb7 48. Bxb7 Kd7 49. Bc6+ Kd8 50. d6 Black resigns.

Game 42: Dave Hundley - Sean Parli

Sicilian Defense

After a rather dull opening, White goes on the offensive. A series of blunders on both sides follows and in the end Black blunders a rook.

1. e4 c5 2. Bc4?

Again Dave plays this atrocious Bc4. The bishop will do nothing but invite Black to take over the center with ...d5.

2...e6 3. c3 d6

3...d5 is much better.

4. Nf3 Nc6 5. O-O Nf6 6. d3

White gets nowhere after 6. d4 Nxe4 7. d5 exd5 8. Bxd5 Nf6 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Re1+ Ne5

6...Be7 7. Re1 O-O 8. Nbd2 Rb8 9. a3 Qc7 10. Nf1 b5 11. Bb3 Na5

Black chases the bishop back to a better diagonal only to move his knight back to c6 next move.

12. Bc2 Nc6 13. Ng3 a5 14. h4 Re8 15. Ng5

White, apparently bored with the way things were going, goes on the offensive. This will only spell disaster as Black counterattacks in the center and comes out ahead.

15...Ne5 16. d4 Ned7 17. f4 e5 18. Rf1 cxd4 19. cxd4 exd4 20. Bb3 Rf8 21. Nf5?

Black has already won a pawn and more is on the way. The e4 pawn is the next one set to fall.

21...Nc5 22. Nxf7?? Rxf7??

Black misses the winning 22...Nxb3!

23. Bxf7+ Kxf7 24. Nxe7 Qxe7 25. e5 Nfe4

The Black minor pieces are strong, and with the White pieces still not completely developed, Black is much better.

26. Qh5+ Kg8 27. b4 Ng3

White continues in his reckless aggression and now finds himself in serious danger on the kingside.

28. Qf3??

28. exd6 is the only chance to survive.

28...Nxf1?

28...Nce4 will win heavy material as White is caught in a mating net.

29. bxc5 Ne3 30. Bxe3 dxe3 31. cxd6 Qxh4 32. Qxe3 Rb7??

This allows White to push his pawns with devastating effect.

32...Be6 stops the White pawns and leaves Black better.

33. Qc5?

33. e6 Qd8 34. Rc1 Qe8 35. f5

33...Bd7??

Black hangs his rook. 33...Qg4 is the correct move as 33...Be6 34. f5 Bxf5 35. Qd5+ is unpleasant.

34. Qd5+ Black resigns.

Summary

Personally, I'll remember this state championship as the year that I was closest to becoming state champion. Although I must admit my play was not up to par. I had sinus surgery the week before the tournament, and it appeared to have some effect on my play.

I'll also remember this year for being a small, strong, tournament. It's been a while since we've had six experts and four class A players in the tournament. Two of the class B players were within 2 points of being class A as well. For the most part, the games were all hard fought, with several games nearing the end of the sudden death time control.

In the end, Mark took home the trophy with his usual stellar play. I have to admit that if West Virginia ever had players that deserved the master title, Mark is one of them. He's dominated the small number of tournaments that he has played here for years and he always excels at the large open tournaments such as the Land of the Sky in Asheville, NC.

Prize Winners

State Champion - Mark Hathaway

Junior Champion - Igor Boss

First Under 1800 - Paul Davis and Shih-Houng Young

First Under 1400 - Katie King and Dave Hundley

Notable Performances

Katie King

In the first round, she had a rook and some passed pawns (I believe she had four or five pawns extra at one point) for a rook and bishop and pawns. It was a very long game and it was clear that Katie was no longer playing like a 1200-rated player. Then in the second round, she gave Jim Olson all he could handle and then some, winning the game in a very complicated tactical battle. Katie did not fare as well in the latter part of the tournament, but with the competition of the event, I still believe she did very well.

Terry Auvil

Terry has recently returned to chess after a long hiatus. In the last few events that he played in, he was showing rust. It appears that the rust is starting to be knocked off and he will soon be back to the top of West Virginia chess. I must also note that he came close to matching Aaron Richardson's five draws of the 1994 state championship.

John Roush

John had been out of form for some time now and after the first few rounds, nothing seemed to have changed. John apparently decided it was time to play some aggressive chess and played well in his last three games. John could have gone three-for-three in those positions. The Dave Hines game was a disappointment for John, but it was very difficult to see the win at the end.

Mark Hathaway

Of course I must commend our state champion for his sixth title. Mark looks to be unstoppable for some time to come. Perhaps only West Virginia's newest master, Jens Madsen of Morgantown, can give him a run for his money?

Best Games and Biggest Upsets

Although it wasn't relevant to the fight for first place, my choice for the best game of the event is Katie King - Jim Olson from round 2. Honorable mention goes to Donald Griffith - Mark Hathaway from round 5, and John Roush - Donald Griffith from round 6. Katie King - Jim Olson also happens to be the biggest upset.

Crosstable

PLR#       NAME        ST PreRate PstRate   1     2     3     4     5     6   TOTAL
---- ----------------- -- ------- ------- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
  1  Mark Hathaway     WV 2125*   2138*   W---8 D---5 W--10 W---2 D---3 W---6  5.0
  2  Igor Boss         WV 2161/14 2146/20 W--16 W---4 L---3 L---1 W---7 W---5  4.0
  3  Donald Griffith   WV 2019*   2032*   W--14 W---6 W---2 D---5 D---1 L---4  4.0
  4  John Roush        WV 2000*   2008*   W--15 L---2 W---8 D---6 D---5 W---3  4.0
  5  Benjamin Good     WV 2012*   2017*   W--17 D---1 W--11 D---3 D---4 L---2  3.5
  6  David Hines       WV 1926*   1935*   W--12 L---3 W--14 D---4 W---9 L---1  3.5
  7  Paul Davis        SC 1795*   1814*   D---9 L--11 W--13 W--10 L---2 W--14  3.5
  8  Shih Houng Young  WV 1794*   1805*   L---1 W--17 L---4 W--13 W--14 D---9  3.5
  9  Terry Auvil       WV 2097*   2071*   D---7 D--10 D--16 W--11 L---6 D---8  3.0
 10  Jason Young       WV 1929*   1917*   W--13 D---9 L---1 L---7 D--11 W--17  3.0
 11  Chris Que         WV 1914*   1899*   D--18 W---7 L---5 L---9 D--10 W--15  3.0
 12  David Hundley     WV 1365*   1387*   L---6 L--14 D--15 H---- D--17 W--18  2.5
 13  Katherine King    WV 1219*   1262*   L--10 W--15 L---7 L---8 H---- B----  2.5
 14  James Fields      WV 1656*   1645*   L---3 W--12 L---6 W--17 L---8 L---7  2.0
 15  James Olson       WV 1534*   1505*   L---4 L--13 D--12 W--18 H---- L--11  2.0
 16  Gary Cummings     WV 1829*   1834*   L---2 W--18 D---9 U---- U---- U----  1.5
 17  Chuck Waugh       WV 1501*   1487*   L---5 L---8 W--18 L--14 D--12 L--10  1.5
 18  Sean Parli        WV 1365*   1340*   D--11 L--16 L--17 L--15 B---- L--12  1.5