Last Monday of 2016 Had Everything

Girls and guys play chess at LCCC.

 Ten players made it out on a really cold winter night.

We hosted our 2016 - 2017 Action Tournament - round 2.

We had casual chess played as an LCCC member came all the way from West Point to see the club members while visiting family. Hello Zade and thank you for your service!

We had three new members stop by the club; Aaron, Cole and Ty. Welcome all!

We had some chess lessons given to our newest and close to youngest members.

We had some game analysis, where several of us gathered around and tried to find the "best" move.

Just an overall fun night of chess action.

Now a reminder that the Chess Club will be closed for the next two Mondays. We return on January 9, 2017 with the continuation of Round 2.

Lets take a look at a game from a past tournament:

1. d4               e6
2. Bf4             f5
3. e3               Nf6
4. Nf3             Be7
5. c3               O-O
6. Bd3            d6
7. Qc2            Qe8
8. Nbd2           a5
9. Bc4             Kh8
10. Ng5           d5
11. Bd3           Ne4

Position after Black's 11th move

White should consider castling before starting trades in the center of the board.
Black should consider developing his queen side pieces as they will be needed soon.

12. h4             Qh5?
This move will lose a tempo (or waste a move). 12. ....c5 keeps the game even. 12. .....Bd7 is OK also.
According to the computer grandmaster Igor3000, White now has a two pawn advantage positionally (+2).

13. Be2           Qe8
See the lost move? Black is forced to retreat. White got move 12 for free.

14. Bxc7         Nxg5
15. hxg5         Bxg5
16. Nf3           Bf6
17. Bd3          Nc6
18. O-O-O      Bd7
19. g4             Rc8
20. Bd6          Be7
21. Be5?        .........  
This move allows Black to trade a "bad" knight for a "good" bishop, as the knight is doing very little and the White bishop is well placed. This would allow Black to ease the pressure he  feels on the dark squares. But, alas Black had more aggressive (but not as good) plans. (+1.3)

21. ........         Nb4
22. Qb1?!        .........

Position after White played 22. Qb1 ?!

This move looks natural (+.5), but White is losing ground. This is where computers - or most grandmasters - can simply out-calculate us mere mortals. White had; 22. gxf5, Nxc2 23. fxe6, h5 24. exd7, Qxd7 25. Rxh5, Kg8 26. Rg1, Rf6 27. Rxg7, Kxg7 28. Rxh7, Kg8 and White's advantage grows to (+4).

22. ..........        Nxd3?
Trading errors, although White has a better excuse as queen sacs are scary to even consider. 22. ...Bb5 would keep Black alive by adding pressure. The knight is safe because the pawn is pinned. This trade simply lowers Black's power on the queen side and gives White less to worry about. Chess addage here: "To take is a mistake". (+1.5)

23. Qxd3         b5?
Needed was 23. ......Bb5 as it restricts White's queen. Also better was 23. .... Kg8 to get out from the h1 White rook x-ray attack. (+3) Time pressure is making Black stumble along without a plan.

24. gxf5          exf5
25. Rdg1         Rg8??
The losing move. 25. ....Rf7 allows Black's queen a chance to help out on the g-file or it allows the King an escape square. Instead the queen is blocked and the king entombed.

26. Nh4?        ........
White had a faster win with 26. Qf1 as you follow it with 27. Rxh7+, Kxh7 28. Qh3+

26. ........         b4?
One last hope for Black was 26. ...... Bxh4.

27. Ng6+         Qxg6
28. Rxg6         bxc3
29. bxc3           Black Resigns