Friday, March 30, 2007

Interesting game against a master

I played this game against Tim Mc Entee (2200) in the last round of the Hawkeye Mind Chellenge last Sunday(March 25th)

Click here to replay

[Event "Hawkeye Mind Challenge"]
[Site "Iowa City"]
[Date "2007.02.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Mc Entee, Tim"]
[Black "Wijetunge, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2200"]
[BlackElo "1866"]
1. d4 c6 2. c4 d5 3. Nf3 dxc4 4. e3 b5 5. a4 Bb7 6. axb5 cxb5 7. b3 e6 (7... a5
8. bxc4 b4) 8. bxc4 b4 9. c5 a5 10. Ne5 Be7 11. Bb5+ Kf8 12. O-O Qd5 13. Qf3
Qxf3 14. gxf3 f6 (14... Bd8 15. e4 Ne7 16. Rd1 Bc7) 15. c6 Bc8 (15... fxe5 16.
cxb7 Ra7 17. dxe5 Bd8 (17... Rxb7 18. Bc4 Bd8 19. f4 Ke7) 18. Bc4 Ke7 19. Rd1)
16. Nc4 Bd8 17. e4 Ne7 18. d5 g6 (18... exd5 19. exd5 Ba6 20. Bxa6 Rxa6) 19.
Bh6+ Kg8 20. Rd1 Ba6 21. Bxa6 Rxa6 22. c7 Bxc7 23. d6 Bxd6 24. Rxd6 Rxd6 25.
Nxd6 1-0

I tried a side line 4....b5 and although it looked to me and others watching that Black was in a bad way most of the game, infact black was only slightly worse until the bad move 18...g6. (The idea was to find a home for the king at g7 so thet I could get the king's rook out, but I completely missed the obvious reply Bh6)

If I had played 14...Bd8 or 15...fxe5, I was still in the game.

Friday, March 23, 2007

Hawkeye Mind Challenge XIV Mar. 24-25 Iowa City, IA

Betaneli scores 4.5/5, wins clear first and $500

Beteneli (left). On the right is Siem Tesfaslase from Iowa City, who tied for 2nd and gained 101 rating points. He has brought he rating from 1573 to 1760 in the last two tournaments (10 games) !

Siem is also the current Iowa Quick Chess Champion finishing ahead of an expert and several A-players.


I scored 2-2=0 with a bye in round 2.

I won with black against Brian Blackbarth (1450) in the first round. My 10 game unbeaten streak ended when I lost to Betanel in round 3. I won with white against Thomas Gaul (1792) in round 4. I then lost the last round to Iowa master Tim Mc Entee.

I gained a few rating points to end with 1874. (which will be my highest published rating for the May 2007 supplement)

Round 1 Click to replay Blackbarth vs Wijetunge
Final position

Round 3 Click to replay Wijetunge vs Betaneli

I had an interesting game againts Betaneli, I sacrificed a Bishop for 2 pawns in an equal position, but lost my way. Later analysis shows that the postion is unclear.
[Event "Hawkeye Mind Challanege"]
[Date "2007.03.24"][Round "3"]
[White "Wijetunge, Ivan"]
[Black "Betaneli, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"][ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "1866"]
[BlackElo "2274"]
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. c4 e6 5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2Bb7 9. O-O a6 10. a3 c5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. b4 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Ncd7 14. Bb2 Be7 15.Nxb5 (15. e4 Nxe4 16. Nxe4 Bxe4 17. Bxg7) 15... axb5 16. Bxb5 Bxf3 17. gxf3O-O-O 18. Rdc1+ (18. Rac1+ Kb8 19. Bc6) 18... Kb8 19. Bc6 Bd6 20. b5 (20. f4 e5) 20... Be5 21. Rc2 Bxb2 22. Rxb2 Ne5 23. Rc2 Rc8 24. Rac1 Nxc6 25. Rxc6 Rxc626. Rxc6 Kb7 27. a4 Ra8 28. Rc4 Nd5 29. Rg4 g6 30. Rh4 h5 31. e4 Rxa4 0-1

Black (Betaneli) to move

Saturday, March 10, 2007

26th Annual Waukesha Memorial

A great turn out: 47 players

Considering the fact that there are no monetary prizes this is remarkable.

Tournament results

I finished with 2-0=1 with a draw agianst the top seed Jon Breider 2152 in the last round.

Round 1
I won against a 1300

I am playing Black above with White to play.


Round 2
I won against a 1700
I am playing White above with Black to play, Black lost on time in a bad position.

Round 3
I took a bye

Round 4

Jon Breider 2152 vs me. Jon won the 2005 Chicago Open Under 2200 section by going 7-0! 1.5 points above second place. He re-entered the tournament after having overslept and missed the first round!

I managed to get my self into a completley lost position, but wriggled out with a draw in the end.


Click here to replay the game.

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Etc.

There is a great tactics website at:

http://chess.emrald.net/

Over 23,000 tactics for your solving pleasure.

I attempted over 1000 in two days.



I just finished the following book. GM Chris Ward is 1996 British Champion. This book is very instructive and his writing style is entertaining.

and started on: