What a surprise! I shared 1st place in the under 1610 section of the 2011 Senior Open held Dec. 8-10 in Windsor Locks, CT.  Although I lost 3 games to players rated 1600- 1900, I did manage to win one game against a 1466 player and was granted a full point bye for the final round (odd man out on the pairings). Played very strong in 2 of the losses and even had to navigate the Polish Opening over the board.

The following is my winning game.  I played black in the Caro-Kann and had to parry a dangerous rook sac on move 15 in a mating attempt by white. I saw the possibility of a sac but didn't think my oppenent would have the gumption to attempt it.  He did and I had to sweat out the many hazards and knight forks that were presented in the position. The sac was sound but my opponent's move order was not perfect so I ended up ahead. A great exercise in defense.

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. Nf3 Nd7 7. h4 h6 8.
h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bf4 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Nd5 13. Bd2 c5 14.
Rhe1 cxd4 15. Rxe6+ fxe6 16. Qg6+ Ke7 17. Re1
17... N7f6 18. Nf5+ Kd7 19. Qf7+ Kc8 20. Rxe6 Qd7 21. Ne5 Qxf7 22. Nxf7 Rg8
23. Nxd4 Bc5 24. Nf5 Kd7 25. Re2 Rae8 26. Ne5+ Kc7 27. c4 Nb4 28. Bf4 Nxh5
29. Bh2 b6 30. Nf7+ Kc6 31. Ne5+ Kb7 32. Rd2 Nf6 33. a3 Nc6 34. b4 Nxe5 35.
bxc5 Nxc4 36. Rd4 Re1+ White resigns.
0-1

Next up the Empire City Open, 6SS in NYC Christmas week.