Eight Players in LCCC Action Championship - 112017

Chess is the perfect game to play while on the mend.

Eight players entered our 30 minute championship. We will play probably 3 rounds - one every other week - skipping of course Kid's night on December 11.

Hopefully some players will share their games with us.

In the meantime, here is a slug-fest from the 2000 US Championship.

White was GM Alex Yermolinski and Black was GM Gregory Kaidanov.

The players play for victory as the clocks tick down - and the errors by both - go back and forth.
But this is what makes chess so exciting, as the game can turn on every move.

D27: Queen's Gambit Accepted - Classical Main Line
1. d4          d5
2. c4           dxc4
3. Nf3         a6
4. e3           e6
5. Bxc4      Nf6
6. O-O        c5
7. Bb3        Nc6
8. Nc3        cxd4
9. exd4       Be7
10. Re1       O-O
11. h4 !?      ........
From what I have read, this move is a GM Vladimir Kramnik idea. But what would he know? This pawn gets to h6 in a hurry. White's position is very active but no advantage yet.

11. ......        Na5
12. Bc2        b5
13. Qd3       Bb7
14. h5?         Bxf3
15. Qxf3      Qxd4
16. Bf4         b4
White has the appearance of good activity, but the computer Igor3000 - who has no emotional components has Black with a slight lead in the position at (-.4).

17. Rad1      Qc5
18. Re5        Qb6
19. Qg3        bxc3?
20. Bh6        g6?

Position after Black moves 20. ...... g6?

Forced was 20. .....Ne8 21. Bxg7, Nxg7 to keep the game at (+1) for White instead of (+2).

21. hxg6      fxg6?
Igor finds a mate in in 15 for White after the BETTER 21. ....hxg6. As it is White is now up (+3.3). Black is walking a tightrope as one wrong move forces mate. Even correct ones do eventually.

22. Bxg6      Kh8
23. Bxh7      Rf7
24. Bg6        Rg8
25. Be3         c2
26. Rf1         Qxb2?
It was no salvation but 26. ...Qd8 was better. White now up (+3.6).

27. Rxa5?       Nh7?
White's turn to play less than perfect as the clock ticks down. 27. Qh2+ was the move. (+1.6) Now that pinned bishop is a little annoying for White, and Black had better with 27. ....Rh7, 28. Rg5, Rh6. So now White is back to a (+3.7) lead. As I said earlier, this game goes back and forth!

28. Qg4??     .......
Now White has serious problems! 28. Rh5, Bf6 29. Qg4 kept the lead. Now, just like that, White is losing (-1).

28. .......        Rfg7??
Black gives White new hope immediately. Under time pressure, even GM's get rattled. 28. ....Qg7, 29. Rc1, Qxg6 30. Qxg6, Rxg6 was better.

29. Qd4        Qxd4
The game is back to EVEN here. Who offered a draw? Nobody!

30. Bxd4       Bf6
31. Bxf6       Nxf6
32. Rxa6??   .........  
The final error and White makes it. (-7.7) 32. Bxc2 was required.

32. ......         Rxg6
33. g3           Rc8
34. Rc1         Nd5
35. Ra4         Rg7
36. Kf1         Rb7
37. Ke1         Rb1
38. Kd2        Nb4
White resigns    
An exciting game.