June 2004

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The First Move

The Official Newsletter of McHenry Area Chess

Volume 1 Number 4 www.McHenryAreaChess.org June 2004

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page 1

- Purposes of the Organization

- June Tournament Announcement

- Area Chess News

Page 2

- Chess Happenings

- May Quad results

- Tournament schedule for rest of year

Page 3

- Game of the Month

Page 5

- Other tournament positions

Page 6

- The Opening Door

Page 9

- Announcements

Page 10

- June Tournament Flyer

Purposes of the Organization

McHenry Area Chess is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a venue for players in the county to play chess competitively and for recreation.

Any and all profits from McHenry Area Chess (M.A.C.) events will be used for club operations, prize funds, or donated charitably.

We hope you enjoy receiving our monthly bulletin. If you wish to receive this bulletin via regular mail, we will need a fee of $10 to cover yearly costs for printing and postage. E-mail delivery is free. There are no other membership fees at M.A.C. To join, please contact us at www.mchenryareachess.org, or speak to Bob, Andrew or Jeff in person.

June Tournament Announcement

The next M.A.C. tournament will be held on June 19, at the Crystal Lake Park District Building. It will be a Four Round Swiss, with a time control of G/60 (G/55 with 5 second delay). Registration is from 8:30 to 9:15, and the first round is at 9:30. The entry fee is $10. You may pre-register by contacting Bob, Andrew or Jeff. Please see the flyer in this newsletter for more details.

Area Chess News

For those of you in the western Lake County area, there is a new chess club starting in Wauconda. They meet on the 1^st, 2^nd and 4^th Sundays of each month from 6 to 10 PM, at 505 West Bonner Road, at the Wauconda Township Office Community Hall. Annual club dues are $35. Contact Howard Fried at 847-526-3902 for more information. Please note that this is a courtesy announcement, and that McHenry Area Chess is not associated with this club.
Chess Happenings

McHenry Area Chess has a nice description in the Crystal Lake Park District Summer 2004 catalog. It describes the purpose of the group, and gives our meeting times and tournament dates for the remainder of the year. If you live in the Crystal Lake Park District region, check it out on page 51.

May Quad won by Bob C.

Top seeded Bob C. went undefeated in the May Quad to take first place. Andrew W. lost only to Bob to take second place, and Jeff C. and Bob Cu. tied for the remaining spots by drawing against each other.

Bob C. Andrew Jeff Bob Cu.

Bob C. X 1 1 1

Andrew W. 0 X 1 1

Jeff C. 0 0 X ½

Bob Cu. 0 0 ½ X

Tournament schedule set for rest of year

Events have been scheduled for the rest of the year. All events have registration starting at 8:30, with the first round at 9:30. Except for the Crystal Lake Championships and Quick Tournament, all entry fees are $10 and approximately 60% of entry fees will be used as a prize fund. The August Championship tournament offers trophy prizes, and the December Quick Tournament is a half day tournament at half the usual entry fee.

June 19: 4 round Swiss, Game/60

July 17: Quads, Game/80

August 21: McHenry County Championships

September18: 4 round Swiss, Game/60

October16: Quads, Game/80

November 20: 4 round Swiss, Game/60

December 18: 4 round Quick Tournament,

Game/20, entry fee $5.

January 15, ‘05: Quads, Game/80

Game of the Month

Last month this newsletter described a game between Andrew W. and Bob C, a Nimzovich Caro-Kann opening which Andrew won convincingly. In our May tournament these two players met again with the same colors, and Andrew tried the same opening, hoping lightning would strike twice. It did, but when the smoke cleared, the other player got burned.

This game, like it’s predecessor, also shows a lot of tactics, both in the main line and in the variations that weren’t played.

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Last month white responded to this move with 5.

Ng5 instead of the move played and got clobbered for it. That move isn’t bad itself, but it has to be handled carefully. This move gives the present game a very different character.

5. … Ngf6 6. Ng3 e6 7. Bc4 This move leaves the book behind. It's not listed in MCO 14 at all, nor in Nunn's Chess Openings. More normal is 7. Bd3, but also commonly seen are 7. Be2 and 7. c3. The ideas behind this move are to adhere to the principals of normal development, while keeping an eye open for either the possibility of exchanging to isolating black's e pawn, or initiating an attack by sacrificing on e6 or maybe f7. None of this may come to pass, but the potential is there.

7. ... c5 Normally this pawn push is an important thrust in the Caro-Kann, but in this position 7. ... Nb6 would have been better. White is not likely to take the pawn, as that would only expedite the development of black's king's bishop. White would rather black start any exchanges, and will simply continue with his development in the meantime.

8. O-O Qc7 This move looks perfectly natural on the surface, but actually it is a poor choice which causes black no end of grief. Again, better would have been 8. ... Nb6, and white must either trade his good light squared bishop for black's bad one, or else retreat with 9. Be2 or it will be harassed by ... c4 followed by ... b5 and ... Bb7 with a good position for black.

9. d5 An excellent move that takes maximum advantage of blacks minor error. White considered and rejected 9. dxc5 Bxc5 as only aiding black's development, and rejected 9. Re1 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Bc5 11. Qc3 Nb6 12. Bb5+ Bd7 since that solves all of black's problems. However, once d5 was seen, the superiority of that move became apparent, and the more it was looked at, the better it appeared.

9. ... exd5 This move loses for black. Reluctant to accept the permanent structural defect of the isolated pawn on e6 by 9. ... Nb6 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bxd7+ Qxd7 12. dxe6 fxe6 (not 12. ... Qxd1 13. exf7+ Kxf7 14. Rxd1 winning a pawn). White would also be happy with 9. ... e5 10. d6!? Bxd6 (10. ... Qxd6 11. Ng5 Qxd1 12. Bxf7+ Kd8 13. Rxd1) 11. Ng5 O-O 12. Nf5 Ne8 13. Ne4 wins the bishop. So black searches for alternatives. Although much of white's attack is expected, black expected to lose a piece and then regain it by capturing white's light squared bishop. But he overlooked the check that bishop could give should the black knight on d7 move in the defense. This small mistake in judgment led black to pick a line that just doesn't work.

10. Re1+ Be7 What is black to do? No good is 10. ... Ne4 11. Qxd4 loses a

piece as the knight is threatened on e4 as well as the pawn on f4, which then threatens d7 with added force and future pins. 10. ... Ne5 11. Rxe5+ loses immediately. The move played goes wrong as the game shows. Ugly but best for black is actually 10. ... Kd8 11. Bxd5 h6 (11. ... Bd6 12. Ng5 Ne5 13. Rxe5 Bxe5 14. Bxb7+) or (11. ... Nxd5 12. Qxd5 Qc6 13. Qxf7 Nf6 14. Rd1+ Nd7 15. Ne5) 12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. Bxb7+ Bd6 14. Bxa8

11. Nf5 Ne5 Tempting but inadequate is 11. ... dxc4 12. Rxe7+ Kd8 (12. ... Kf8 13. Ng5 Kg8 14. Rxf7) 13. Ng5 Rf8 14. Rxf7 Re8 15. Rxf6! and Black is completely busted with mate threats all over the place. Trying to avoid the mate invariably involves losing the queen. Granted, the move played is an act of desperation but the situation doesn't allow any better choices. Knowing that losing a piece is inevitable, black attempts to control the piece which is lost, even though this only results in the loss of more material.

12. Nxe7 Seemingly more aggressive but more long winded is 12. Nxg7+ Kf8 13. Bh6 Kg8 (13. ... Nxf3+ 14. Qxf3 Bg4 15. Nh5+) 14. Rxe5 Ng4 (14. ... Bg4 15. Rg5) 15. Qxd5 Nxh6 16. Rae1 is conclusive. But the move played was adequate.

12. ... Nfg4 Less damaging is 12... dxc4 13. Rxe5 Be6 14. Nf5 O-O 15. Qd6 and black will still lose but not so spectacularly.

13. Nxd5 Qd6 14. Nxe5 Black is down two pieces, and cannot make it up. If 14. ... Nxe5 15. f4 hits the pinned knight again and maintains the advantage. And if 14... O-O 15. Nxg4 Bxg4 16. Qxg4 is also sufficient. Black is far behind with no counterplay and white has plenty of material to continue the assault. Black makes the correct move and decides to conserve his strength for the next game by resigning early.

Other tournament positions

Look at these positions and more by viewing the games with analysis on our website. Our viewer allows you to play over all the games, including variations, with just an easy click of your mouse. It’s fun and informative to use. Check it out!

Jeff vs Bob C. White to move

What would you do here? Jeff made the excellent attacking move 13. Bxh7+! White has to capture, because running loses the queen to 14. Ng6+. White’s attack is strong and sustained, and it seems mate is likely. Would you be brave enough to try it? See how the rest of the game went online at our website.

Jeff C. vs Bob Cu. Black to move

Can you find a move for black that wins material? The best play is 18. … Bf7, which puts pressure on the pawn at c4, which cannot be defended again. Further, the black bishop on c4 would skewer the white queen and rook.

The Opening Door

This article begins a feature about various openings we hope will appear monthly. If you have a favorite opening, or one you’re wondering if it’s good to play, drop us a note and we’ll try to cover it in future issues.

Since following openings with variations can be confusing, we’ll start each major variation with a repeat of the original moves. This should make it easier to keep track of the position as we discuss variations and go back to previous positions.

The Danish Gambit

We’ll begin by looking at a very aggressive and fun opening called the Danish Gambit. It’s an ambitious line for White, who sacrifices two pawns right off the bat. For the material, White gets a powerful developmental lead. Black must play carefully or he’ll find himself under an attack that can cost a major piece or worse. Careless play by Black is often fatal. This is an excellent line for players who enjoy open, tactical games, or who don’t expect their opponent to be familiar with the proper defenses. It’s a King’s Pawn opening, so there are plenty of opportunities to spring it.

1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 White offers the first pawn sacrifice, since he didn’t recapture when he had the chance. … dxc3 4. Bc4 cxb2 Look at this position!

White is down two pawns and Black is a move away from queening, and we’re not even to move five yet! Yet with 5. Bxc2 White has two pieces developed, and Black doesn’t have a pawn or piece on the board that’s even moved. White’s bishops controls adjacent long diagonals, and are like eagle talons raking the board. This is the classical position of the accepted Danish Gambit. Black now has to make a decision. He can attempt to hold onto his material advantage, in which case he will have to fend off White’s attack. Or, he can return the material and in the process blunt White’s attack. Since that’s the most common line, let’s consider it first.

5. … d5 6. Bxd5 Nf6 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7 8. Qxd8 It looks for a moment that White has won Black’s queen for a bishop, but Black has a discovered attack that wins it back. 8. … Bb4+ 9. Qd2 Black cannot simply block the Bishop’s check, as then Black would take back the queen without further loss of material, and end up a piece ahead. 9. … Bxd2 10. Nxd2 which now supports the white e pawn.

Although material is even and no side has a strong edge, the position is unbalanced, with White having a preponderance of pawns on the kingside while Black has the pawn majority on the queen side. Both players possess a protected passed pawn. From this point on the focus of play for both sides will be to advance those pawns without making foolish mistakes. From here, Black can continue 10. … c5 11. Ngf3 Nc6 12. e5 Nd5 13. Ne4 b6 14. O-O-O with chances for both. Or Black can play 10. … Re8 11. Ngf3 Nc6 12. O-O h5 puts pressure on the white e pawn since if it’s captured White no longer has a knight fork on g5. Black has to be careful not to lose the g pawn by having its defenders drawn off. This position is about even.

There is another good alternative for Black. After returning the first pawn, Black can go on the offensive with 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Bb4 cxb2 5. Bxb2 d5 6. Bxd5 Bb4+. White needs to think carefully about what to do here, either to block the check (one way or another) or to move the King. This is scary, as 7. Kf1 is very dangerous. If White tries to run like that, Black can follow up with 7. … Nf6. White can’t capture the knight with 8. Bxf6 since Qxf6 for Black wins a piece, as the rook is now attacked on the diagonal and the knight can’t move without being captured. Better in this version would be 8. Qa4+ Nc6 9. Bxc6+ dxc6 (now not 10. Qxb4 Qd1+ is mate, so White can’t touch the enemy bishop.) 10. Qxc6+ Bd2 11. Qc2 Bb5+ 12. Ne2 O-O and Black is better off. So, instead of moving the king after the check, White should play as follows: 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Bb4 cxb2 5. Bxb2 d5 6. Bxd5 Bb4+ 7. Nc3. (worth considering but not as good is 7. Nd2 Bxd2+ 8. Qxd2 Nf6 9. Qg5 O-O leaving Black a pawn up). The game could continue 7. … Bxc3+ 8. Bxc3 Nf6 9. Qf3 Nxd5 10. exd5 O-O 11. Ne2 Re8

and although White has better development, he is down a pawn and his d pawn is isolated. With decent play on both sides, Black should end up winning this game.

Not so good for black is 7. … Nf6, as that allows white to take the strong initiative with 8. Bxf7+ Kxf7 9. Qb3+ Be6 10. Qxb4. Here, material is even, but white’s more aggressive stand is very hard to deal with. This game is better for White, who will often win.

Another alternative for White is 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Bb4 cxb2 5. Bxb2 d5 6. Bxd5 Bb4+ 7. Ke2 in response to the check. After 7. … Nf6 8. Qa4+ c6 9. Bxf7+ Kxf7 10. Qxb4 Re8 the game continues with even material and equal chances or both sides.

That’s enough for now. Next month we’ll consider two alternatives where Black tries to keep both of the pawns. Following that, we’ll touch on variations where Black declines the pawn sacrifices. There’s a lot to this interesting opening

McHenry Area Chess Membership Info

McHenry Area Chess members receive the online newsletter for free, and can pre-register for our events without paying in advance (just call or e-mail). In addition, you can renew your USCF membership through our club to receive our affiliate discount and save a few bucks

Area schools with chess clubs will receive a free mailed newsletter. For all other members, we ask that you provide $10 printing and postage if you wish to receive a printed copy of the newsletter through the mail.

To sign up, please visit our website, mail us at the address below (please include a $10 check if you wish to receive a mailed newsletter) or meet us at Borders in Crystal Lake on Tuesday night, or in McHenry on Thursday night.

Come On Out!

Join us for some casual play during the week. We meet every Tuesday night from 7 PM to 10 PM at the Borders Bookstore on Route 14 in Crystal Lake (815-455-0302) and on every Thursday at the Borders on Route 31 (North of Route 120, 815- 578-9330) in McHenry at the same times. There are no fees to play, and you don’t have to be in the USCF. You don’t even have to bring a set or clock, though it’s good if you have one.

We have players at varying strengths from beginners to very experienced, and people of all ages attend. It’s common to see one of our players helping out some of the kids who show up, and it’s not uncommon to see some of the kids in fierce competition against an older player. Sometimes people practice particular openings with a friend. Some people like to play Blitz, and others prefer to play without a clock. Occasionally you can get involved in a game of Bughouse Chess, an amusing variant of team chess where players can use pieces captured by their partner, leading to some truly wacky play.

If you prefer rated competition, come to our monthly tournaments. They’re held on the third Saturday of every month in the Crystal Lake

Park District administration building. We offer cash prizes, except at our August Championship tournament when we give out trophy prizes. We return a majority of the entrance fees in prizes, only reserving a little to cover expenses and to build our annual scholarship fund. See our website for more details about this program.

So whether you prefer your chess serious or silly, you can always find people interested in sharing their enjoyment of the game at our meetings.