2nd Round Loss from UW Winter Open

I finished with 2-1=1

USCF Results here

I know how important it is to not to pay much attention to a player's rating, but when paired against a low rated adult player in round 2, I let my guard down. I have to make sure I don't do that again!

Lately I have been going over some games by Tal and felt like 1800 version of Tal (with none of the talent!) when I played my last move Nd4.
White didn't find the best move (Qb7) and a few moves later we arrived at the following position with White to play: I was too busy congratulating myself on my win of the exchange, that I didn't pay enough attention to the strong passer and paid for it! I dicided to blockade the pawn with the Queen, usually not a good idea. I should have played Rfd8 and attacked the White king.

Tournament Directing

This entry is dedicated to comments on Guy Hoffman's actions at the team tournament and the upcoming FIDE/USCF tournament in Milwaukee

UW Winter Open

Round 5

1) Romich 4.0 vs Parker 3.5 DRAW
2) Santarius 3.0 vs Yusim 3.5 1-0
3) Nietman 3.0 vs Smail B. 3.0 1-0

USATE

It looks like the following team will represent the East in the play-offs. The 3 grandmaster team will not be eligible.

My last round game from the USATN

I was very happy with my 3-0=1 performance. My favorite game was the last round win against Tony Dutiel(1834) from the Kansas City CC A-team. He was 4-0 going into this round. His team had 3.0 points to our 2.5, so it was a "must win" round for us.

I was playing board 3. We had an early win on Board 4. It looked to me like boards 1 and 2 should at least draw. Board 1 drew, but we lost on board 2. So I had to win my game. This game was one of the last three to finish, and was surrounded by other players whose fortunes depended on this game. The pressure was on!

I spent too much time early in the game deciding if I should go for the double minor piece exchanges which prevents White from castling. I got myself into terrible time preassure and had to make several quick moves before the time control at move 30. I was especially happy with this position (Black to play) where I am down a pawn, but my pieces are extremely well placed, just look at those rooks! The Black rooks attack 15 squares, the White 6.

Click here for game replay

Winners of the 4 USAT events

East : Interview with a member of the winning team

1) 2714 Izoria, Zviad
2) 2592 Perelshteyn, Eugen
3) 2586 Dzindzichashvili,Roman
4) 110 Fanning, Stephen (That's right 110!)

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North

Trevor,Erik,Ashish & Alexander

1) 2282 Betaneli Alexander
2) 2239 Vaja Ashish
3) 2175 Santarius Erik
4) 2003 Magness Trevor

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West

Jonathan,Benjamin,Robby & Landon

1) 2386 Robby Adamson
2) 2246 Landon Brownell
3) 2115 Jonathan Cox
4) 2100 Benjamin Marmont

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South

Gilberto, Javier, Jeffrey & Bruci

1) 2468 Bruci Lopez
2) 2136 Jeffrey Haskel
3) 2108 Javier Gonzalez
4) 2069 Gilberto L Luna

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Phote credits :

East : http://castlingqueenside.blogspot.com/

West, South : http://www.uschess.org/

USATN

USCF results here

Click here for wallcharts

More wall charts

The following team went 5-0, and will represent the the North in the national play-offs.

Right to left

1) 2282 Betaneli Alexander
2) 2239 Vaja Ashish
3) 2175 Santarius Erik
4) 2003 Magness Trevor

IM Mesgen Amanov Checking out the last round action. (He did not play in the main event, but won the unrated blitz event)

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My team came in 3rd overall and won the U1900 prize. We also won the best team name with "Team Name Here"

1) 2000 WILLIAM M WENZ 1.5/4.0
2) 1905 STANLEY T GARVIN 0.5/4.0
3) 1851 Me 3.5/4.0
4) 1823 NEIL J GLEASON 2.0/3.0
5) 1643 NOLAN R HENDRICKSON 3.5/5.0

I drew a 1980 and beat 1601, 1709 & 1834

Rating change 1856->1886

U.S. Amateur Team Champ. Milwuakee Feb 16-17

Pre-entries

1. 2175 WI Chess Academy's Surprise
2. 1955 U Knighted We Stand
3. 1939 Nimzowitsch's Knights
4. 1895 Team Name Here
5. 1863 The Kansas City Chess Club A
6. 1862 Becker's Bishops
7. 1862 The Racine Ches Club
8. 1860 University of Chicago
9. 1859 Kistler's Team
10. 1781 Team G
11. 1734 Henderson's Creation
12. 1700 Dean's Disciples
13. 1570 The Kansas City Chess Club B
14. 1494 The Crop of WI Talent
15. 1449 The Shiny People
16. 1444 Bad Bishops
17. 1345 University School

Scholastic pre-entries

Click here for tournament information

Click here for information on the Saturday night Blitz tournament

Link to the USCF pre-view of this event

The hotel has a nice indoor pool/game room

There are currently 17 teams registered in the Open section (7 in the Scholastic):

Wisconsin : 12
Indiana : 2
Missouri : 2
Illinois : 1

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The team favored to win it all:

1) 2282 Alex Betaneli
2) 2239 Ashish Vaja
3) 2175 Erik Santarius
4) 2003 Trevor Magness

Avg. rating = 2175

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I will be part of the following team:

1) 2000 WILLIAM M WENZ (BYE ROUND 1)
2) 1905 STANLEY T GARVIN (BYE ROUND 3)
3) 1851 IVAN WIJETUNGE (BYE ROUND 2)
4) 1823 NEIL J GLEASON (BYE ROUND 4)
5) 1643 NOLAN R HENDRICKSON (BYE ROUND 5)

Av. Rating = 1895

Waukesha G/29 -4 Round Swiss Quick rated event

Since there was no play last Wednesday due to the snow the event concluded today.

I played two Blacks and scored 1.5/2.0 beating J.Becker (2018) and drawing W.Williams (2125) to finish tied for first with Bill with 3.5/4.0

Results here ; I had a quick rating gain of 62 points.

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I sacrificed my queen for mate in the 2nd round:

21.Bxf6

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Expert John Becker is back after last playing in 2000. He plans to play in the FIDE tournament in Milwaukee, March 8-9. He was a member of the winning team at the 1993 U.S. AMATEUR TEAM CHAMP - (IL) . He also won the NE Open in 1994.

Wisconsin's newest Expert

Anthony Parker finished 3-0 at the FAB SWISS (WI) to become WI latest expert with a rating of 2009.

Major National Event in Milwaukee Feb. 16-17 2008

The deadline for the $120 entry fee is Feb. 10 ($190 there after)

U.S. Amateur Team Championships North - Wisconsin
5SS, Best Western Hotel, 5105 S. Howell Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (414)769-2100. Special chess rate of $89, reserve early. Free hot breakfast.

Two sections:

OPEN (four players plus alternate: must play in rating order, top four average rating below 2200, December supplement used.

Prizes: 4 digital clocks to top two teams, 4 clocks to top teams with average rating u1900, u1600, and u1300.Winning team qualifies for national play-offs. Prizes to top score on each board. Prizes to best team name.

EF: $120 per team if received by Feb. 10th, $190 thereafter. Cash only at site.
TC: g/90 rds 1-3, 30/90 sd/60 rds 4-5.
Late reg.: 8:30-9:30am on Saturday. Rds.: 10:30am-3pm-7pm; 10:00am-3:30pm.

SCHOLASTIC (all players must be High School age or younger; average rating u2200). Prizes: 4 digital clocks to top team overall, top High School Team, top Middle School Team, top Elementary team. 4 clocks to second best High School Team, second best Middle School team, second best Elementary school team. Prizes to top club team, top team composed of all girls, and to best name team. EF: $116 per team if received by Feb. 10th, $190 thereafter. Cash only at site. TC: G/90. Late reg.: 8:30-9:30am on Saturday. Rds.: 10:15am-3pm-7pm; 10:00am-2pm. SIDE EVENT: blitz tournament on Saturday night; details at site.

INFO/ENTRIES: make checks payable and send to: Alex Betaneli, POB 260122, Madison WI 53726. abetaneli@hotmail.com 608-334-2574. Bring boards/sets/clocks. NC. NS. W.