Saturday, March 27, 2010

Victoria Open (March 27, 2010)

This 4 Round G/60 event was hosted by the Chess Club of the Golden Crescent of Victoria.

There isn't much rated chess down here, but on this Saturday there happened to be 2, both less than 2 hours away. The one in San Antonio was a bigger event with an extra round, but I decided on the one in Victoria because that's place I have not been to. It's always nice to seee new places & meet new people.

The tournament director, Mario Leal remembered my name. I had played in an event he directed back in 2000 when he lived in Waco!

I was the the 3rd seed out of 16 and expected to have a good result.

After winning the first two rounds I was derailed by Ralph Belter(1871) in round 3.

I am White here and liked my position although I was behind on the clock. I had to quickly come up with a plan. This is what I came up with:
  • Get rid of the Knight on f6
  • Pawn storm

You know what they say "any plan is better than no plan!"


This is what I had in mind


But f4 by Black has left me with an inferior (losing?) position.


What's amazing is that even right at the end I had a chance to draw, by playing a3 here, but with only seconds left on my clock I played g5.

I finished in a tie for 4th place. Final results here.