Monday 082415 – Casual Chess

Girl Power! Women can play this game too!

We had seven players tonight for casual chess. It was a good night with friends. Come on by and join the group.

Remember, our league is planning to start in mid-September so drop on in, register, and play a few casual games to establish a club rating. Believe me when I tell you – our chess league is a lot of fun – and it is free to all who enter.

Also check out the Michigan Open in Lansing over the Labor Day weekend. Play in it, or stop by to see real chess tournament action.

Now a game that proves females need no special help or treatment to play great chess. Review this game of Jessica Regam – playing White in the National Girls Invitational Tournament in 2014. Thank you to the Michigan Chess Association for publishing the game. Notes are mine and analysis by Igor3000.

1. e4                    e5       

2. Nf3                  Nc6

3. Bb5                 a6

4. Ba4                  Nf6

5. O-O                 b5

6. Bb3                 Bc5

7. c3                    d6

8. d4                    Bb6

9. a4                    Bb7

10. Re1?!               O-O

(=) 10. d5 is better as it is more aggressive, so it would be (+.3).

11. h3                    h6

12. Bc2                  Re8

13. d5                    Ne7

14. b3                    c6

15. c4?                   bxc4

White to move after 15. ....bxc4

(-.5) Jessica’s first misstep. Attacking the Queen-side pawns from the front instead of the base with 15. dxc6, which would have left the game virtually even (-.1).

16. bxc4                cxd5

17. cxd5                Rc8

18. Be3                  Ba5?

Black’s first error. Trading bishops is better for Black than moving off that good g1-a7 diagonal, and leaving White’s bishop on the good c1-h6 diagonal (+.2).

19. Re2                  Bb4

20. Na3                 a5

21. Bd2                 Ba6

22. Nb5                 Qd7

23. Rb1                 Bxb5

24. axb5                Nexd5?

(+2.5) An ill-advised or miscalculated sacrifice. Black tries to open the center for an attack.
Better was 24. ....Bxd2 25. Qxd2, Rc5 26. Qxa5, Ng6 and things are not as bleak for Black at (+.6).

25. exd5                Nxd5

26. Bxb4               Nxb4

27. Ba4                  Qf5

28. b6!                   .........

Black to move after 28. b6!

 Passed pawns must be pushed!

28. .......                Red8

29. Rc1                  Rb8

30. b7                    Rxb7?

(+3.5) The defensive move of 30. .....Qf6 was needed to stop the following tactic.

31. Rxe5!              dxe5??

(-11) It’s over now. Black had to take his lumps and play 31. .....Qd3 and try and stay in the game at (+3.5).

32. Qxd8+             Kh7

33. Rc8                  Qb1+

34. Kh2                 Qe4

35. Nh4                 Qf4+

36. Kg1                 Resigns