Memorable Encounters

Beating Titled Players

The "2015 ICC Open" is an occasion for the hundreds of ICCers to measure their strength against super-strong players. The ICC Open was an amazing event, with many strong GMs participating, a plethora of IMs and FMs, with GM Alexander Grischuk showcasing his top form and crowned as Champion. 

I'll share with you two memorable games from the said event (against a GM and an IM) to learn something from and inspire young chess fans.

I. Bishop and Rook Tandem in the Endgame
Radja (2433) - (GM) TasteOflover (2788) [C10]

ICC Open 2015 Internet Chess Club (3), 30.05.2015

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Bg5 "In a standard game, i would prefer 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 followed by 7.Bg5 Be7 then 8.Bc4." 6...h6 7.Nxf6+ Nxf6 8.Bh4 Be7 9.Bd3 Bd7 10.Qe2 Bc6 11.0–0 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 c6 13.c3 Qd5 14.Qe2 Qh5 15.Bg3 Qxe2 16.Bxe2 0–0 17.Bf3 "More accurate is to develop the least active piece with 17.Rad1 and keep the Bishop pair by Bf4 next move." 17.Rfd8 18.Rfe1 Kf8 19.a4 a5 20.Re2 Bd6 21.Bh4?! g5 22.Bg3 Bxg3 23.hxg3 "Capturing with 23.fxg3 is better giving the a1-rook a semi-open f-file." 23...Ne8 24.Be4 Nf6 25.Bc2 Rac8 26.Re5 b6 27.Rd1 Ke7 28.f3 Rd5 29.c4 Rxe5 30.dxe5 Nd7 31.f4 Nc5 32.Kf2 Na6 33.Rh1 Rd8 34.Ke3 gxf4+ 35.gxf4 Nb4 36.Be4 "The black Knight on b4 seemed active and stable but clearly dominated by its counterpart, the white Bishop on e4." 36...Rh8 37.g4 Kf8 38.g5 Kg7 (D)

White's turn

39.g6!! "My favorite move of the game." 39...fxg6 40.Rd1! "The rook takes control of the only open file, in time when Black's second rank is vulnerable." 40...Rf8 41.Rd6 Re8? "The crucial mistake giving White a dominating position." 42.Rd7+ Kg8 43.Bxg6 Rf8 44.Bh7+ Kh8 45.Be4 Kg8 46.Rh7 "Even stronger is 46.Re7! to win the e6-pawn which would give White two connected passed pawn and an easy win." 46...Rd8 47.Rxh6 Kf7 48.Rh7+ Kg8 49.Re7 Rd1 50.Rxe6 "It's game over at this point." 50...Re1+ 51.Kf3 Kf7 52.Rf6+ Ke7 53.Rh6 Rf1+ 54.Kg4 Rc1 55.f5 Rxc4 56.f6+ Kf7 57.Kf5 Kf8 58.e6 Rc5+ 59.Kg6 1–0

II. Attacking the Weak Castled King
Radja (2433) - (IM) mvillalba [C77]

ICC Open 2015 Internet Chess Club (11), 29.05.2015

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Bxc6 "Delayed exchange variation - waiting for Black's Knight to reach f6 before trading with Bxc6 - also avoiding the theoretical battle in the main line of the Marshal Attack." 5...dxc6 6.d3 Bd6 7.Nbd2 0–0 8.Nc4 Qe7 9.Bg5 "Inviting Black to chase away the white Bishop with ...h6, giving the g2-g4-g5 push a lift." 9...h6 10.Bd2 Nd7 11.g4 Nc5 12.Rg1 b5 13.Ne3 g6? "Weakening Black's King castle even more." 14.Qe2?! "White could have plunged into the water starting with 14.Nf5! Bxf5 15.gxf5 followed by Qe2-e3 with a strong attack." 14...Ne6 (D)

White's turn

15.Nf5! "Played this move without thinking." 15...gxf5 "Forced to capture, as the Knight threatens the Queen and h6-pawn at the same time." 16.gxf5+ Kh7 17.fxe6 Bxe6 18.Ng5+!! "The winning move, allowing the White Queen to join in the attack with tempo." 18...Kh8 19.Qh5 Qf6 20.f4 exf4?? "A blunder in a very difficult situation. Missing the point of f2-f4 if taken by the e-pawn." 21.Bc3! "A sudden decisive shot that ends the game on the spot." 21...Bb4 22.Qxh6+ Kg8 23.Qh7# "Black is checkmated." 1–0

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