usate warm up

I played two rated games today to warm up for next weekend. My team is USATE is Matan Prilleltensky, Matheu Jefferson, Charley McMillan, and me. Anyone got a great idea for a name?

You might think this is wimpy, but I like to play just a couple games a day, instead of torturing myself with 12 hours of chess. baby steps.

I saw a Brooklyn Castle poster on the J train on my way to the tournament, which I figured was auspicious. I haven't played a tournament since last summer, and only a couple in the last few years, so I was mentally prepared for mediocrity.

(30) Bonin,Jay - Spiegel,Elizabeth [E09] g/75
1.d4 d5
2.Nf3 Nf6
3.c4 c6
4.Nbd2

I've played Jay maybe 20 times, and I think I'm 0-20. He's played this against me before, but I'd forgotten and had no idea what to do. Of course, I wanted to play 4...Bf5, but I was worried about 4...Bf5 5.Qb3 Qb6 6.Qxb6 axb6 7.cxd5 cxd5, which the engine says is ok, but I thought would torturous and Jay would grind me down.

Later, at lunch, Matan told me I can just play 5...Qc7, and his Nd2 prevents Bf4 ? Rc1/ any annoying attacks with the knight.

4...e6  I play the semi-slav, and I was trying to console myself that ii would be a bit like that, but it really isn't. For one thing, I can't take on c4 and play b5-b4 hitting the Nc3.

5.Qc2 Be7   I thought it would be worse on d6 because of e4: 5...Bd6 6.e4 dxe4 7.Nxe4 Nxe4 8.Qxe4 Nd7 9.Bd3 Nf6 10.Qh4

6.g3 0-0
7.Bg2
At this point I was starting to panic. How am I going to generate any play or develop my bishop?  I thought it would be hard to play e5, and even if I did, it would weaken the long diagonal and his Bg2 somehow win the game easily. I should just calm down and play b6 and Bb7.
7...b5?!

I was expecting 8. b3, when I was planning to take with the b pawn and play Ba6. I figured at least I'd have the b file?! But Jay immediately played

8.c5 Nbd7
9.0-0
the computer wants to play ...a5 here, gaining a little space, but I was already feeling desperate and decided I had to open the position now, while I was still behind in development...
 9... e5?
10.dxe5   Taking with the knight is even better: 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Nd7 12.Nf3 and both captures lose: 12...Nxc5 13.Be3 Na4 14.b3 Nb6 15.Qxc6 wins a pawn, while 12...Bxc5 13.Ng5 g6 14.e6 is even worse
10...Ng4
11.Nb3 Ngxe5
12.Nfd4 Bb7
13.e4 dxe4 I rejected 13...Nf6 because of 14. f4 Nc4 15. e5 Nd7, but that's ok for me.
14.Qxe4 Re8
15.Qc2 Qc7 I had thought he was threatening Nxb5, but I can just play Ba6 and I'm winning an exchange.
16.Bf4 Rad8
17.Rfe1 Bf8
18.Qc3 g6
19.Na5

So for a while I've been worse, but defending. I have used a ridiculous amount of time, and only have 7 minutes left when I suddenly see a ray of hope...
19...b4!
20.Qxb4 Bxc5
21.Qxb7 Qxa5

 
Amazing, I have three threats: Bxd4, Rb8 trapping the queen, and Nf3+! I can hardly believe my good fortune and tug on my hat with excitement.
22.Nb3 
I immediately, arrogantly, played 22...Nf3+? which loses two pieces for a rook. I spent the next six moves in deluded paradise, thinking I was up the exchange. It wasn't until move 28, when I realized something unexpected had happened, countingwise.
   I should have played 22...Bxf2+! 23.Kxf2?  (23.Kf1 Qb6 24.Qxb6 Bxb6 and I'm up a pawn but his bishops are very strong) 23...Nd3+ 24.Kg1 Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 26. Bf1 Qf2+ 27. Kh1 Qxf1#.  23.Bxf3 Rxe1+ 24.Kg2 Qb4 25.Nxc5 Qxb7 26.Nxb7 Rxa1 27.Nxd8 Rxa2 28.Bxc6 Nb6 29.Be5 Kf8 and I lost in a few moves. Not such an accurate game, but I felt I came up with a few ideas and made it a fight. I need to learn the opening, manage my time better, calculate more accurately, and have a braver attitude.

Netx round, I was paired with a 1650.


Spiegel,Elizabeth - Grasso? [B51] g/75 ChessPub Guide

1.e4 c5
2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bb5 d6
4.0-0 Bd7
5.Re1 g6
6.c3 Bg7
7.d4

my favorite opening: the Bb5 sicilian

The Bb5 Sicilian is like gold against anyone under 2000. He's already played it somewhat weirdly, combining a few different development schemes. Usually, they play 5....Nf6 and 6...a6, and then on 7. Bf1 Bg4. His next move struck me as just bad:

7... e5  My first instinct was to play d5, trade the light squared bishops, and enjoy my space advanatge and better bishop, but I also thought it might be hard to get at him.
 8.dxc5 dxc5
9.Be3 Qb6
10.Na3 a6
11.Nc4

I've won several games with this idea.

11...Qc7
12.Nd6+ Ke7
13.Bxc5 b6

14.Ba3 Kd8
15.Bxc6 Qxc6
16.Nxf7+ Kc7
17.Nxh8 Bxh8
18.Qd5 Be6
19.Bd6+ 

1-0 hurray!

In other news, my video of Greg playing Samuel Sevian has over 100,000 views!