Roman Lewit - Aug 26,27

Pete suggested that I play openings that I have never played before. So I tried all kinds of openings like 1.b3 as white.

Tournament Result

Looking at losses. Link to losses

I was thinking about the 4 games I lost in this tournament. I think the opening experiment was a good one. I got to experience many new kinds of positions, although it was unnerving at times, for instance having to face the kings gambit. I think I got out of the opening in fairly decent shape, except in the kings gambit game.

Loss 1 / Parker,A (1938) vs Me
Misplayed the black side of a Kings Gambit.

Loss 2 / Me vs Her,S (1665)
After having just won a piece, I made one of the worst moves possible, and even after dropping the queen I could have still gone into a slightly worse ending with a rook+minor piece vs queen, but I made a second bad move.

Loss 3 / Me vs Grochowski,R (1678)
Got my self into really bad time trouble after arriving about 20 min. late for the G/60 game, and dropped my queen.

Loss 4 / Me vs Schmakel,S (1708)
Got a great attacking positon with all my pieces bearing down on the king. Didn't have the tactical insight to see the killer blow on more than one occation, and ended up dropping a piece.


What I have observed in looking at these and other recent losses is that in the early part of the game I do okay and calculate fairly accurately, but as the game goes on I make very elementary tactical mistakes. Time trouble has something to do with it, but maybe I just get bored/tired. Maybe I should take a break in the middle of the game and go for a short walk/ drink some coffee etc.

Link to wins

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I was planning on taking the coming w-end off, but I decided to play in the Michigan Open. I plan to play in the 4-day option and take a bye for the first round. The 40/120 G/60 time control is great.

Progress(No Progress) Report

Well, I am almost at the point where I start playing a lot less and instead study/get lessons. As far as gaining rating points I have a net gain of zero! But since I mainly spent my time playing this is hardly surprising. I have played every w-end for the last 13 w-ends in addition to the Wednesday and Thursday games at the local chess clubs.

What I have noticed in many of my losses is that I play well up to a point and then make one or two move tactical errors(sometimes very basic) which cost me the game. I have to learn to concentrate until the game is over.

Schedule:
September:
2-4 Michigan Open

16-17 Iowa Open

October:
13-15 or 14-15 15th Annual Midwest Class Championships

November:

December:

Getting to 1801?

A couple of my friends have suggested that I change the name of this blog to "Getting to 1801". The way I am playing right now, that might not be a bad idea.

I am trying to get off my floor before the October supplement comes out. Which means I still have the 7 round G/60 tournament coming up this w-end.

Today I lost a game to a 1764 player. There are many ways of losing, this way is pretty painful.

I am playing white. After an equal game where black may have been better, black finds himself 2 pawns down. He then thinks for a while and sacrifices a rook. I did not expect this sac and started to panic. Then I realized that the rook sac was a bluff, since I had the "always" relaible defensive knight move 33.Nf3. But just before I played it I saw another defensive move (33.Ra2), which I thought was eqally good, and only realized after I payed it that it loses quickly.

Escanaba observes Eastern Time! Final Update

David Cardenas and I am here to play in the UP Open. We planned to get there about an hour early and hoped to be paired down the first 2 rounds. But we didn't think about the time difference and ended up getting there just when the round was about to start. We had 2 options, play each other or take 1/2 point byes. We decided to play. I ended up losing the game, due to my lack of tactical intuition. I had to play 32.g3 It was masked because I induced the defensive move Rg6, which also happens to be a potent offensive move.

(12) Me(1800) - Cardenas,D (1906) [D03]UP Open G/120 (1), 19.08.2006
1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bg5 Nf6 4.e3 h6 5.Bh4 b6 6.Bd3 Bb7 7.Nbd2 Be7 8.c3 Nbd7 9.Qe2 Ne4 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Nxd2 14.Qxd2 f6 15.exf6 Rxf6 16.Rae1 Rd8 17.Qc2 e5 18.c4 [ 18.e4 d4 19.Rc1] 18...e4 19.Be2 d4 20.exd4 Rxd4 21.Qb3 Rd2 22.c5+ Qe6 23.Bc4 Bd5 24.Bxd5 Rxd5 25.cxb6 axb6 26.Qc4 Rc5 27.Qxe4 Qxa2 28.Ra1 Qe6 29.Ra8+ Kf7 30.Qh7 Re5 31.Rg8 Rg6 32.Rd8 [ 32.g3 Re1 33.Qh8 Rxf1+ 34.Kxf1 Qc4+ 35.Kg2 Qe4+ 36.Kg1 Qb1+ 37.Kg2 Qe4+ 38.Kg1] 32...Rxg2+ 33.Kxg2 Qg4+ 34.Kh1 Qf3+ 35.Kg1 Rg5# 0-1

Cardenas is the UP Champion. He finished 3-0=2 to finish clear first. He continues to improve and will be very close to 2000 in the next supplement.

I finished 3-2 with a win against Douglas Younkle (1911) in the last round. But this loss to David Sundeen (1600) ensured that I don't gain any rating points. David has been making the 7 hour drive to this tournament for the last 24 years!

(15) Sundeen,D (1600) - Me (1800) [B01]UP Open G/120 (2), 19.08.2006
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Be2 a6 6.d3 e6 [ 6...e5 7.d4 Nc6 8.dxe5] 7.0-0 Be7 8.Bd2 b5 [ 8...Nc6 9.Bg5] 9.a3 Bb7 10.Qc1 0-0 11.Ng5 c5 12.Nge4 Qd7 [ 12...Nxe4 13.Nxe4] 13.Bf3 Nc6 14.Re1 Rfd8 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Bg5 Bxg5 17.Qxg5 Nd4 18.Bxb7 Qxb7 19.Rac1 Rac8 20.Ne4 c4 21.dxc4 bxc4 22.Nf6+ Kh8 23.Nh5 f6 24.Qg4 Rc5 25.Rcd1 Rg5 26.Qh3 Rdd5 [ 26...Rgd5 27.Kf1 ( 27.Qg4 f5) 27...Nxc2 ( 27...Qxb2 28.Nf4) 28.Rxd5 exd5 29.Nxf6 gxf6 30.Qc3 Rb8 ( 30...d4 31.Qxc2 Qc7 ( 31...Qc6 32.Qf5 Rg8 33.f3) 32.Qf5) 31.Qxc2 Qxb2 32.Qf5 Qd4; 26...Nf3+ 27.Qxf3; 26...Ne2+ 27.Kf1; 26...h6 27.Kh1 Rgd5 28.c3 Nc2 29.Rxd5 Qxd5 30.Rg1] 27.Nf4 Rde5 28.Rxe5 fxe5 29.Nh5 g6 [ 29...Qxb2 30.c3 Qb3 31.Re1; 29...Qd5 30.Kf1 Qe4; 29...Qd5 30.c3 Ne2+] 30.Nf6 Rf5 31.Ng4 Ne2+ [ 31...Qxb2 32.Qh4 ( 32.c3 Qc2) 32...Rf7 33.Qd8+ Kg7 34.Qd6 Nxc2 35.Qd2] 32.Kf1 Nf4 [ 32...Rh5 33.Qe3 Nf4 34.f3 Nd5 35.Qc5] 33.Rd8+ Kg7 34.Qh6+ Kf7 35.Qf8# 1-0

A couple of wins

This(the Hetzel vs. Me game) is the 6th game of a 5 round double round robin tournament. I started off 1-3. Based on the ratings of the players I had to score 5/6 to avoid a rating loss. (Now 4/5). The rating loss I am talking about is hypothetical since I am at my floor. But since this tournament won't be rated till sometime in October, any good results I may have up to then will be wiped out when this tournament is rated, unless I can turn things around.

Two games is a row where I develop the Queens rook via a7! But this time in a winning cause. I am not sure if 7...c5 was a good move by me, but since white did not play d4 when he got the chance, it worked out in my favor. The variation 20...Bg5 after 20.Nxd4 is very interesting. I stopped looking after I saw that White can play 24.Nc6 after 23...Bxe1. But the variation is not over as I can play Rc7 then Rfc8 (If White plays 25.Rxe1, but his best is 25.d4), force the knight to move and then either fork the Knight and Bishop or trap the Bishop. (Courtesy of Fritz)

So far the main story is the performance of 8 year old Alexander Velikanov who is in my section and has a score of 6-0!. I was supposed to play him next Wednesday with the black pieces, but the game has been postponed for late September. This is my loss as white gainst him played a few weeks ago.

Won a game in the Hales Corner Club Championahip. I think it was a mistake for me to play 8.c4 and give the black bishop scope. Other than that I don't think I made any bad moves.

Annotated Game etc.

I am playing the in-form David Cardenas, who has gained a lot of rating points in a the last few tournaments. He should be close to 1950 after this tournament gets rated.

Game Link (G/100)

I had dinner at a George Webb last night. There was this old waitress working hard and I decided that I was going to give her a really nice tip, but then I saw her go outside for a smoke. I figured she would just waste it on cigarettes, so I just went with 15%. I wasn't sure if I did the right thing. What do you think?

My work out program is coming along fine. I joined the WAC . My program consists of several (4-6) weeks of moderate training followed by a couple of weeks of more intense training. (Both weights and cardio) I just started the intense period.

My goals are:

1. to get to about 155 lb with a good muscle to fat ratio. I am at about 146 lb right now.
2. get in good cardiovascular shape

Improving/Training Etc.

This is my plan:

Phase I:

Play tournament games with time control of at least G/60.

Phase II:

Use the games from above to figure out an improvement strategy with the help of a coach. Study more and not play as much.

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I am in the transition from Phase I to II, but since I enjoy playing so much its going to be hard to study instead of play. But if I want to improve that is what I have to do. I have started taking lessons from NM Pete Karagianis

I was planning on taking the coming w-end off, but that was before I saw the following tournament:

Aug. 19-20 34th Upper Peninsula Open
5SS, G/120. Bay College Cafeteria Center, 2001 N. Lincoln Rd, Escanaba MI. EF: $30 (19 and under $20), $5 more if after 8/12. $200 first pl. guar; other prizes based on entries. Trophy to top UP player and UP Jr. Reg: 9-9:30. Rds: 10-2:30-7, 10-2:30. Byes avail. Checks payable to LSCA c/o Robert John, 315 E Prospect St, Marquette MI 49855, 906-228-8126, rjjjr@chartermi.net.

I have never played in MI and Escanaba seems like a really nice place.

More Chess Blindness US G/45

I am black and played Bd6?? When Qxe5 just wins. I lost this game. I really can't explain gross blunders like this. The only explanations is that I have been playing a lot. In the next few months I will be playing a lot less and studying more.

US Open 2006 - 3

Susan Polgar won the Blitz tournament

US Open 2006 - 2

Today is Friday round 7 is winding down The Anzis family from Iowa

Aigner, Michael (Left) Had a remarkable 7/9 taking home $2000

Voje, Daniel(Mr. Chess Castle, Minneapolis) who won close to $300 in the A-Class

Mc Entee, Tim R vs Edelstein, Sam

US Open 2006 - 1

Lots of action today with 3 different schedules playing at the same time! I am in the 5-day with a .5 bye for round 1.

Traditional Schedule Round 5

Jose Gatica (Right)

Tim Mc Entee

6 Day Round 4

William Aramil

Emory Tate

5 Day Round 2

Alexander Stamnov(left) vs Gopal Menon (Stamnov won)

My Results

1. Bye
2. Loss Me (1800) vs Sean Vibbert (1480)Note to self - when Bishop attacks your undefended rook, do something about !
   1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d6 3.Nf3 g6 4.Nbd2 Bg7 5.e3 0-0 6.Bd3 Bg4 7.c3 c5 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 Nc6 10.0-0 Qd7 11.Rad1 cxd4 12.exd4 d5 13.Rde1 Ne8 14.Bb5 e6 15.Qg3 Nd6 16.Ba4 Nf5 17.Qd3 e5 18.Bxc6 bxc6 19.dxe5 h6 20.Bf4 g5 21.Bh2 Ne7 22.Nf3 Qf5 23.Qe3 g4 24.Nd4 Qg6 25.hxg4 Qxg4 26.f4 Nf5 27.Nxf5 Qxf5 28.Qc5 Rfc8 29.Qd6 Bf8 30.Qf6 Qxf6 31.exf6 Bc5+ 32.Kh1 Kh7 33.f5 Re8 34.b4 Bf8 35.Kg1 h5 36.Kf2 Bh6 37.Re7 Rxe7 38.fxe7 Bg7 39.Kf3 Re8 40.Re1 Bxc3 41.Bd6??
3. Win Benjamin Corcoran(1512) vs Me
4. Win Paul Garner(1620) vs Me
5. Loss Me vs Waldemar Shultz (2064)
   1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 Nf6 3.Nd2 Bf5 4.e3 Nbd7 5.Ngf3 h6 6.Bh4 e6 7.Bd3 Bd6 8.0-0 0-0 9.Qe2 [ 9.Bxf5 exf5 10.c4] 9...c6 10.c4 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 Re8 12.Qb3 [ 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Be7 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 15.Ne5] 12...Qb6 13.c5 Qxb3 14.axb3 Bc7 15.b4 a6 16.Nb3 Ne4 17.Nfd2 Nxd2 18.Nxd2 e5 19.Bg3 f5 20.dxe5 Bxe5 21.Ra2 Bxg3 22.hxg3 Ne5 23.Ra3 Rad8 24.Nf3 Nxf3+ 25.gxf3 d4 26.Re1 dxe3 27.fxe3 Rd2 28.Rb3 Red8 29.Kf1 R8d3 30.Rxd3 Rxd3 0-1
6. Win Seth Diekman(1370) vs Me
7. Bye
8. Loss Me vs BROOKSHEAR, TIMOTHY (2000) 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.Nd2 Nbd7 4.e3 c5 5.c3 Qb6 6.Qb1 e6 7.Ngf3 Bd6 8.Bd3 h6 9.Bh4 0-0 10.0-0 Qc7 11.Qd1 b6 12.Rc1 Bb7 13.c4 Rac8 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Bf5 [ 15.dxc5 Nxc5 ( 15...bxc5 16.Qc2) 16.Bxf6 gxf6] 15...g5 16.Bg3 Bxg3 17.hxg3 Qd6 18.Ne5 Rc7 19.Ndf3 [ 19.Nxd7 Nxd7 20.Qh5 Kg7 21.dxc5 bxc5 22.Bxd7 Qxd7 23.Nb3] 19...Qe7 20.g4 [ 20.Nxd7 Nxd7 21.dxc5 bxc5 22.Qc2 Ne5] 20...Nxe5 21.Nxe5 Bc8 22.Qf3 Bxf5 23.gxf5 Rfc8 24.Qh3 Kg7 25.f4 cxd4 26.Rxc7 Rxc7 27.fxg5 Qxe5 28.Qxh6+ [ 28.gxf6+ Kh7 29.Qg4 Qxe3+ 30.Kh1 Qg5 31.Qxg5 hxg5 32.Rd1 Rc2 33.Rxd4 Rxb2 34.Rxd5 Rxa2 35.Rd7] 28...Kg8 29.exd4 Qe3+ 30.Kh1 Rc1 0-1
9. 
   Loss Placek, Philip C (1451)

I think its a case of too much tournament chess. I plan to hit the books, get a coach, and play a lot less.

US Open 2006 - Chicago

5 Round G/90 - Side Event (Aug 5-6)
There are 42 players, only 5 A players.

The top 2 seeds:

2454 Rohde, Michael(front-right) 2447 Tate, Emory (back-left)

My Results

1. Win HAYES, ROBERT W (1310) vs Me
2. Loss Me vs Tate, Emory (2447) I lasted 43 moves and and was the 2nd to last game to finish. He said that he took too many chaces in the opening.
   
   Me (1800) - Tate,E (2447) [A40]Chicago G/90 (2), 05.08.2006
   1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 b6 3.Bg5 f6 4.Bh4 Bb7 5.e3 Nh6 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.c3 Ne7 8.Nbd2 Nhf5 9.Bg3 h5 10.e4 h4 11.Bf4 Ng6 12.Be3 Nxe3 13.fxe3 Qe7 14.Qa4 a6 15.Rf1 c5 16.Rc1 b5 17.Qd1 cxd4 18.cxd4 Qb4 19.Qb3 Qa5 20.Ke2 Be7 21.a3 h3 22.g3 0-0 23.Ng1 Rab8 24.Nxh3 b4 25.Rf5 Qd8 26.a4 d5 27.Rf2 Qe8 28.Kf1 Rc8 29.Rc2 [ 29.Rxc8 Qxc8 30.Kg2 Qc1 31.Nf4 Nxf4+ 32.exf4 Rc8] 29...Qd7 30.e5 f5 31.Nf4 Nxf4 32.exf4 Bc6 33.Qa2 [ 33.Bxa6 Bxa4 ( 33...Ra8 34.Bb5 Bxb5+ 35.axb5 Qxb5+) 34.Bxc8 Bxb3] 33...Bxa4 34.b3 Bb5 35.Rf3 [ 35.Bxb5 Qxb5+ 36.Kg2 g5] 35...Rc3 [ 35...Bxd3+ 36.Rxd3 Qb5 37.Ke2] 36.Bxb5 [ 36.Rxc3 bxc3 37.Nb1 Rc8 38.Qc2 Bxd3+ 39.Rxd3 Qb5 40.Nxc3 Bb4] 36...Qxb5+ 37.Kg2 Rfc8 38.Rb2 [ 38.Rcxc3 bxc3 39.Qc2 Qe2+ 40.Rf2 Qe3 41.Nf3 Qe4] 38...g5 39.Rf2 gxf4 40.Rxf4 Bg5 41.Rf1 Be3 42.Nf3 Qd3 0-1
3. Win WELT, STEPHEN (1527) ws me
4. Loss Me vs SOTO-ARRIVI, JUAN MANUEL (1538)
   1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 d5 4.Nd2 Nf6 5.e3 Bf5 6.Ngf3 e6 7.c3 Bd6 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 Nbd7 10.Qb3 Qc8 11.Rc1 c5 12.c4 b6 13.Be2 Qb7 14.0-0 0-0 15.Qa4 Rac8 16.cxd5 exd5 17.Ba6 Qb8 18.Bxc8 Rxc8 19.Bg3 Bxg3 20.hxg3 b5 21.Qa5 c4 22.a3 Qb7 23.Nb1 Ne4 24.Qb4 Nf8 25.a4 a6 26.Nc3 Nxc3 27.Rxc3 Ng6 28.Nh4 Nxh4 29.gxh4 Qd7 30.axb5 axb5 31.Ra1 Be4 32.f3 Bf5 33.Ra5 Qe6 34.Rxb5 Qg6 35.Kf2 Qf6 36.Rc1 Qxh4+ 37.Kg1 Qg5 38.Qe1 Bd3 39.Rc5 Rb8 40.Qf2 (white lost on time)
5. Loss 1359 NASZODI, LASZLO (1359)1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.c4 Qd6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Qb3 Bxf3 7.gxf3 Nc6 8.Nb5 Qe5+? [ 8...Qd7] 9.Qe3 Rc8 10.d4 Qxe3+ 11.fxe3 a6 12.Nc3 e5 13.d5 Nb4 14.Kd1 a5 15.a3 Na6 16.Bh3 Rd8 17.Ke2 Nc5 18.e4 Nb3 19.Rb1 Nd4+ [ 19...Nxc1+ 20.Rhxc1 Nh5 21.Bg2 Nf4+ 22.Kf1 Bc5] 20.Kf2 Nc2 21.Rf1 Bc5+ 22.Ke2 h6 23.b3 g5 24.Bb2 Nh5 [ 24...Nd4+ 25.Kd1 Nxb3 26.Nb5] 25.Na4 Bd4 26.Bc1 f6 [ 26...Nf4+ 27.Kd2 ( 27.Bxf4 gxf4) ] 27.Bf5 Nf4+ 28.Kd1 Ne3+ 29.Bxe3 Bxe3 30.Nc3 c6 31.b4 Bd4 32.Ne2 Nxe2 [ 32...Ng2 33.Nxd4 exd4] 33.Kxe2 Rb8 34.Kd3 axb4 35.axb4 Ra8 36.Rb3 Ra2 37.h3 Ke7 38.c5 Rha8 39.Rc1 Rf2 40.Bg4 Raa2 [ 40...cxd5 41.exd5 f5 42.Bh5 Rh2 43.Rbb1 Rxh3 44.Rh1 Rg3] 41.b5 Rfd2+ [ 41...cxd5 42.exd5 f5 43.d6+ Kd8 44.Bh5 Rfd2+ 45.Kc4 Bb2 46.Rxb2 Raxb2] 42.Kc4 Rac2+ [ 42...Ra4+ 43.Rb4 Rxb4+ ( 43...cxb5+ 44.Kxb5 Rxb4+ 45.Kxb4 Rb2+ 46.Kc4 b5+) 44.Kxb4 Rb2+ 45.Ka4 Rxb5 46.dxc6 ( 46.Bc8 Bxc5 47.Bxb7 Rb4+ 48.Ka5 Rxb7 49.Rxc5 cxd5 50.exd5 Rb3 51.Rc7+ Ke8 52.Rh7 Rxf3 53.Rxh6 Ke7) 46...bxc6; 42...cxd5+ 43.exd5 Rdc2+ 44.Rxc2 Rxc2+ 45.Kd3 Rxc5] 43.Rxc2 Rxc2+ 44.Kd3 Rb2 [ 44...Rxc5 45.bxc6 b5 46.Ra3 Rc1] 45.Rxb2 Bxb2 46.dxc6 bxc6 47.bxc6 Kd8 48.Kc4 Kc7 49.Kd5 Ba3 50.Bd7 Bb4 51.Ke6 Bxc5 52.Kxf6 Bd6 [ 52...Kd6 53.Kg6 Be3] 53.Kg7 Be7 54.Kxh6 *

Just couldn't shake off the round 4 loss. Back to square 1!
Score: 2-3=0
Rating:1816-1800

Other News

Alexander Stamnov is back, just in time for the big event. He is playing in the G/90 event as well.

Hales Corners G/30 3 Round Swiss

I had great games in both the games I did not win, and could have picked up a lot of rating points, but with only 30 min on the clock many mistakes were made. I still gained a few points.

1. Win Me vs DEMLER, JOHN A (1527)
2. Draw FRICANO, PAUL ROYAL (1993) vs me
3. Loss Me vs MCELWEE, PATRICK (1977)

I had black in round 2 in the position above, and only managed a draw! (Black to play)

Score: 1-1=1
Rating: 1813-1816

A painful loss - Comments/Advice welcome

Using Non-Chess Tactics that came back to bite me!

This game is part of G/90 tournament that is played at the rate of one game a week. I noticed that my opponent always arrives late (up to 30 min.), so I decided to take the delay off my clock. But this time he came on time, and I am the one who ran out of time!

Game Link

Michael Abron's quest to play rated chess in all 50 states

I met Michael Abron from the east coast in Sussex, Wisconsin. He plans to play rated tournaments in all 50 states. He has 20 to go.

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*2/19/2018 Update from Michael
I am completing my quest to play in all 50 States by beginning to play in the 20 States that needed to complete the task. 

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*7/26/2018 Update
45 States completed; only 5 left:

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*3/07/2019 Update : Only Alaska to go!

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*10/12/2019 Alaska done!!

Michael  in action (2006 Sussex, Wisconsin.)

1. 2019-10-12 Alaska NATIONAL CHESS DAY 1 (AK)
2. 2019-03-17 South Dakota 2019 JACKRABBIT OPEN AND RESER (SD)
3. 2018-11-10 Wyoming 2018 NEW WYOMING OPEN (WY)
4. 2018-09-16 Montana 2018 BIG SKY COUNTRY (MT)
5. 2018-09-03 Hawaii 2018 HAWAII STATE OPEN (HI)
6. 2018-07-22 Nebraska 2018 CORNHUSKER (NE)
7. 2018-07-14 North Dakota MIKE ABRON INVITATIONAL (ND)
8. 2018-07-07 Arkansas SEVEN MORE STATES (AR)
9. 2018-06-25 Mississippi MICHAEL'S TOUR (MS)
10. 2018-06-24 Louisiana 2018 US SENIOR OPEN (LA)
11. 2018-05-20 New Mexico MINI SENIOR (NM)
12. 2018-05-20 Arizona UNITY WEEKLY MAY 20TH, 2018 (AZ)
13. 2018-05-12 Utah GAME-IN-SIXTY CHAMPIONSHIP (UT)
14. 2018-05-05 California 18TH CHARLES POWELL MEMORIAL (CA)
15. 2018-04-29 Washington CLARK HARMON MEMORIAL (WA)
16. 2018-04-22 Oregon APRIL 2018 PCC SUNDAY QUADS (OR)
17. 2018-04-15 Idaho  2018 IDAHO OPEN (ID)
18. 2018-03-04 Colorado 2018 COLORADO SPRINGS OPEN (CO)
19. 2018-02-24 New Hampshire 5TH QUEEN CITY TORNADO (NH)
20. 2018-02-20 Maine SACOVALLEY QUASI QUICK QUADS (ME)
21. 2006-07-29 Wisconsin  SCORCHING 15 (WI)
22. 2006-07-23 Kansas KANSAS OPEN (KS) 
23. 2006-07-16 Oklahoma OKLA OPEN 2006 JERRY SPANN MEM (OK)
24. 2006-06-27 Rhode Island CRANSTON-WARWICK JUNE MONTHLY (RI)
25. 2006-06-25 Michigan 2006 MICH BOTTOM-HALF CHAMPION (MI)   
26. 2006-06-10 Indiana JUNE OPEN (IN)
27. 2006-05-28 West Virginia UNITED STATES AMATEUR SOUTH (WV)
28. 2006-04-23 Kentucky 2ND LOUISVILLE OPEN!? (KY)
29. 2006-02-19 Iowa HAWKEYE MIND CHALLENGE XIII (IA)
30. 2005-06-12 Nevada 2005 NATIONAL OPEN (NV)
31. 2004-02-22 Texas SOUTHEAST AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP (TX)
32. 2003-08-10 Vermont 13TH VERMONT RESORT OPEN! (VT)
33. 2003-06-15 New Jersey 2003 SOUTH JERSEY OPEN (NJ)
34. 2002-11-29 Massachusetts 2002 NORTHEAST CHESS FALL GETA (MA)
35. 2002-11-29 Delaware DELAWARE STATE QUICK CHAMP (DE)
36. 2000-09-04 New York 122ND NYS CHAMPIONSHIP! (NY)
37. 2000-08-13 Minnesota 101ST ANNUAL US OPEN - 2000 (MN)
38. 2000-06-16 Virginia BOOZ ALLEN 2ND CLUB CHAMPIONSH (VA)
39. 2000-06-09 Maryland FMCA EVERY FRI KNIGHT QUICK (MD)
40. 2000-04-23 Connecticut 2ND ANNUAL FOXWOODS OPEN (CT)
41. 1999-06-20 Ohio 1999 COLUMBUS OPEN (OH)
42. 1999-06-13 South Carolina SOUTH CAROLINA OPEN (SC)
43. 1999-05-31 Illinois 8TH ANNUAL CHICAGO OPEN (IL) 
44. 1999-03-28 Florida 7TH ORLANDO OPEN! (FL)
45. 1998-12-29 District of Columbia 25TH EASTERN OPEN (DC) 
46. 1998-10-25 North Carolina NC OPEN (NC)
47. 1998-11-29 Missouri US CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS (MO)
48. 1996-03-17 Alabama 1996 SPACE CITY OPEN (AL) 
49. 1994-07-04 Pennsylvania 22ND ANNUAL WORLD OPEN (PA)
50. 1991-12-08 Georgia 21ST ANNUAL ATLANTA OPEN (GA)
51. 1991-12-08 Tennessee SOUTHEASTERN AMATEUR TEAM CHAM (TN)

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1. Alabama United States Amateur South 19 (AL)
2. Alaska
3. Arizona UNITY WEEKLY MAY 20TH, 2018 (AZ)
4. Arkansas SEVEN MORE STATES (AR)
5. California 18TH CHARLES POWELL MEMORIAL (CA)
6. Colorado 2018 COLORADO SPRINGS OPEN
7. Connecticut FOXWOODS OPEN (CT)
8. Delaware 4TH SATURDAY QUAD # 31 (DE)
9. Florida 8TH SOUTHERN OPEN (FL)
10. Georgia 2006 EMORY GRAND PRIX (GA)
11. Hawaii 2018 HAWAII STATE OPEN (HI)
12. Idaho 2018 IDAHO OPEN (ID)
13. Illinois CHICAGO OPEN (IL)
14. Indiana JUNE OPEN (IN)
15. Iowa HAWKEYE MIND CHALLENGE XIII (IA)
16. Kansas KANSAS OPEN (KS)
17. Kentucky 2ND LOUISVILLE OPEN!? (KY)
18. Louisiana 2018 US SENIOR OPEN (LA)
19. Maine SACOVALLEY QUASI QUICK QUADS (ME)
20. Maryland MAYWEEKEND2006 (MD)
21. Massachusetts 2002 NORTHEAST CHESS FALL GETA (MA)
22. Michigan 2006 MICH BOTTOM-HALF CHAMPION (MI)
23. Minnesota FIRST ANNUAL HB GLOBAL CHESS C (MN)
24. Mississippi MICHAEL'S TOUR (MS)
25. Missouri US CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS (MO)
26. Montana 2018 BIG SKY COUNTRY (MT)
27. Nebraska 2018 CORNHUSKER (NE)
28. Nevada 2005 NATIONAL OPEN (NV)
29. New Hampshire 5TH QUEEN CITY TORNADO (NH)
30. New Jersey 2003 SOUTH JERSEY OPEN (NJ)
31. New Mexico MINI SENIOR (NM)
32. New York NY AUGUST UNDER 1800! (NY)
33. North Carolina LAND OF THE SKY XVII (NC)
34. North Dakota MIKE ABRON INVITATIONAL (ND)
35. Ohio 61ST OHIO CHESS CONGRESS (OH)
36. Oklahoma OKLA OPEN 2006 JERRY SPANN MEM (OK)
37. Oregon APRIL 2018 PCC SUNDAY QUADS (OR)
38. Pennsylvania 2006 GREATER PHILADELPHIA OPEN (PA)
39. Rhode Island CRANSTON-WARWICK JUNE MONTHLY (RI)
40. South Carolina GRU-BELL OCTOBER 2000 (SC)
41. South Dakota 2019 JACKRABBIT OPEN AND RESER (SD)
42. Tennessee 10TH VULCAN MATERIALS FUN-FEST (TN)
43. Texas DCC WED 7.19.06 (TX)
44. Utah GAME-IN-SIXTY CHAMPIONSHIP (UT)
45. Vermont 13TH VERMONT RESORT OPEN! (VT)
46. Virginia BOOZ ALLEN 2ND CLUB CHAMPIONSH (VA)
47. Washington CLARK HARMON MEMORIAL (WA)
48. West Virginia UNITED STATES AMATEUR SOUTH (WV)
49. Wisconsin SCORCHING 15 (WI)
50. Wyoming 2018 NEW WYOMING OPEN (WY)
51. District of Columbia DC)US CHESS CENTER LADDER (DC)

1. 
   

Green Bay Open July 22-23

Results

There were 79 entries. The top seeds were:

1) 2302 BETANELI, ALEXANDER
2) 2121 SANTARIUS, ERIK F
3) 2113 VAJA, ASHISH

The winner was SANTARIUS, ERIK F who beat BETANELI, ALEXANDER in the last round to finish with a perfect score.

Another great performance by 9 year old LUO, BRIAN J who finished clear second with 4.5 points. He is now rated 2025.

My Results
1) Draw Me vs FEDUNOV, DANIL (1728)
2) Win MC CLANAHAN, BRYCE (1233) vs Me
3) Win Me vs BORMAN, KELLY L (2003)
4) Draw ELGER, WILLIAM A (1964) vs Me
5) Loss HOFFMAN, GUY G (1922) vs Me
In this game I was offered a draw in a clearly equal position, but since 3.5 points was not enough for any prize money, I decided to play on and ended up getting a knight trapped!

Score: 2-1=2
Rating: 1800-1813

July 15-16 Minneapolis Chess Castle

This is a seven round G/60 with 15 sec. delay
Results

1) Loss to a 2118
2) Win against a 1250
3) Win against 850
4) Loss to a 2102
5) Loss to a 1996
6) Win 1822
7) Draw 1640

Score : 3-3=1
Rating : 1801-1800

Some pictures taken at the Chess Castle

Hales Corners SWCC Club Championship

This is a 6 round Swiss with 1 game a week G/100

The top seeds are:
1) Jon Breider 2144
2) Raymond Hayes 2100
3) Allen Becker 2039

My Results

1. Win Me vs SCHULTZ, MARVIN A (1500) - July 13th
2. Loss ROYCHOUDHURY, SOUVIK (1969) vs Me - July 24th
3. Win vs DEMLER, JOHN A (1466) - July 27th
4. Loss CARDENAS, DAVID R (1905) - Aug 15 - 2006
5. Win vs FIXEL, MICHAEL R (1642)
6. Loss Me vs IRELAND, JOHNATHAN (1786)

Waukesha CC Team Championship (Jul 5 - Sep 20)

This is a 6 person double round robin(10 games) with one game a week tournament, time control G/90.

I did not get off to a good start. Lost the first game to a 1707. There are 9 more games to go so I have planty of chances to come back. I need to score 6/10, (make that 6/9) in order not to lose rating points.

Round 2 ( I need to make-up Round 1)

[Event "Waukesha CC G/90"]
[Site "Waukesh CC"]
[Date "2006.07.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Me"]
[Black "Hetzel, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "1707"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2006.06.11"]
1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 h6 3. Bh4 Nd7 4. e3 Ngf6 5. Nd2 e5 6. Ngf3 (6. dxe5 Nxe5 7.
Ngf3 Ng6 8. Bg3) 6... exd4 7. exd4 Be7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Re1 Nf8 11.
Ne5 Ne6 12. c3 c5 13. Bxf6 (13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. Bb5 Bd7 (14... Ncd7) (14... Nfd7
15. Bxe7 Rxe7 16. Bxd7 Nxd7 17. Ndf3 Nxe5 18. Rxe5 Bg4 19. Rxe7 Qxe7 20. h3
Bxf3 21. Qxf3) 15. Nxd7 Nfxd7 16. Bg3 (16. Rxe7 Rxe7 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Nf3 Nf6
19. Qd4 Ne6 20. Qd2 Rd8 21. Rd1 Ne4 22. Qc2) 16... a6 17. Bf1) 13... Bxf6 14.
Qh5 (14. Bb5 Re7) 14... Bxe5 15. dxe5 (15. Qxe5 cxd4 16. cxd4 Bd7) 15... Nf4
16. Qf3 Qg5 17. g3 Nh3+ 18. Kg2 Qxd2 19. Re2 Qg5 20. Kh1 Bg4 21. Qg2 Bxe2 22.
Bxe2 Qd2 23. f4 Qe3 24. Rf1 d4 25. Bb5 Red8 26. Qxh3 dxc3 27. bxc3 Rd2 28. Bd7
Qe4+ 29. Kg1 Rd8 30. e6 fxe6 31. Bxe6+ Kf8 32. c4 Rxa2 33. Bd5 Qd4+ 34. Kh1 b6
35. Qf5+ Qf6 36. Qh7 Re2 37. Qd3 Rde8 38. Qh7 R8e3 39. Qg8+ Ke7 40. Qa8 a5 41.
Qb7+ Kf8 42. Qc8+ Re8 43. Qd7 Re1 44. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 45. Kg2 g5 0-1

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Mistake 1
In a d4 opening if Black can play e5 comfortably, or play d5 in a e4 game, he has equalized. I forgot this in this game. I should have played Ngf3 instead of Nd2. Black did not take full advantage of this.

This is the critical moment of the game. This move determined the future of the game.

Candidate moves

dc This is the move I wanted to play and analyzed dc, Nc5, Bb5 when I may win the two Bishops and saddle Black with an isolated pawn.

I also looked at 13. Bxf6 first, then playing dxc and B b5.

I chose the above two moves as candidates and tried to see who the resulting position might favor. I thought that the first option was the best.

Mistake 2
But then I did some thing that I knew I shouldn't do. I looked at a few candidate moves, analyzed them, and then suddenly saw something else which looks good, and played it without much analysis.

13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Qh5 Bxe5 15. dxe5 Nf4

I didn't see the Nf4 move (I am worse now). After this second mistake, I was disappointed in myself and could not concentrate. I then proceeded to drop a piece. My focus level during the game was not good. Sometimes I feel completely focused and have a sense of being one with the game. Reminds me of what a 2200 hundred player was telling me about a recent game he had won. He said his opponent was playing well, but suddenlystarted playing as though he was a random move generator. I felt I was doing this in this game at various times.

Results - This tournament is turning out very badly for me. When it is rated in late September I will lose any gains I may have made. I have to win 5/6 in order not to lose any rating points!

1. To be played ALKER, ARLEN P (1820) vs Me
2. Loss Me vs HETZEL, JOSEPH H (1707) - July 13th
3. Loss Me vs VELIKANOV, ALEXANDER (1781) - July 20th
4. Win FIXEL, MICHAEL R (1642) vs Me - July 26th
5. Loss Me vs PUCHNER, JOHN (1733)
6. To be played Me vs ALKER, ARLEN P
7. Win HETZEL, JOSEPH H vs Me - Aug 16
8. To be played - VELIKANOV, ALEXANDER vs Me
9. Aug 30 - Me vs FIXEL, MICHAEL R
10. Sep - 6 PUCHNER, JOHN D vs Me

Round 1 make up Sep - 13 WALKER, ARLEN P (1820) vs Me

Round 6 make up Sep - 20 Me vs WALKER, ARLEN P

July 9, 3rd Coast Challenge

A very strong field showed up.
Results


(1) AngeloYoung 2460 (R) (2) Mehmed Pasalic 2408 (L)

(3) Anthony Cozzie 2399 (L) (4) Alexander Betaneli 2302 (R)

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Story of the tournament

9 year old Brian Luo has performance rating of 2430! He finished with 3-1 which included wins over Jon Burgess 2233 and Steven Szpisjak 2200. He now has a rating of 2011, which makes him the top rated 9 year old in the nation.

Brian Luo in action in the last round against Mehmed Pasalic

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My Results

Round 1: Loss to Steven Tennant 2209, Round 2: Win against a 1274, Round 3 loss to a 1965, Round 4 win against a 1684. I gained 1 rating point!

Allen Becker and Tom Fogec, fellow Southwest Chess Club members.

Result: 2-2=0
Rating: 1800-1801