21^st of March

Quick morning check shows no changes in the table. 14 games left, which is still a lot™. In two games, I’m a pawn up, and I’ll prioritize converting those to gradually reduce the load. Some games will still be slow rolled, while I’m trying to figure out my main competitors in the group.

This will be one of my featured games (assuming it moves fast enough). I’m two pawns up, but the position is open, and the conversion is not immediate. Nb5 is the first move that jumps to mind, both to keep pawn on c5, and threaten Nd6+ to inhibit black’s development. a3 is a quieter move that I’d go for only if Ndb5 does not work.

I don’t have time to calculate deeply, but the lines above take me in the right direction. Nb5 it is.

Analysis shows a few holes in my calculations. Nb5 is actually a mistake, as it allows black to rapidly get counterplay through Bg4 and Rd8. Better idea was to continue development with Bb5, Qf3, and 0-0.

Just got another weird move:

Black just played e5 instead of taking my knight on d4. Weird. Now I’ve got another game to convert.

Another interesting game:

Black’s last move was Nc5, which is quite optimistic. f4 is begging to be played, but I need a few minutes to calculate first.

Should get converted to a point today-tomorrow.

This game is becoming my top priority, not the least because it’s one of the players yet to have a loss. I hope to fix that. The main question here is what to take with. Originally, I planned Qxd6, but on closer inspection, there’s too many worrisome lines.

cxd6 it is, with a lot of work to be done.

While the decision itself was sound (cxd6 is indeed the better and safer choice), the lines again have quite a few holes in them. The surprising aspect is the eval at the end of the main line - the engine only gives +0.4 despite the bishop pair and extra pawn.

Going back to the priba white game – f4 works from every direction.

Again, the quality of the calculation leaves a lot to be desired, but the choice was correct. The main point here is that black also has Ne6, which is by far better than 0-0-0.

In the meantime, there’s a couple of new results in the table, both from the wolf who lost one and won one:

In my top priority game, black played 0-0. I was less worried about that compared to Ne4.

Before I start thinking of my middlegame strategy, the first order of the day is getting the king out of the center, and securing the d6 pawn. Considering that Ne4 is still an option for black, the only path I see is Qd2 and castling long, which makes the position sharper than I’d like.

It doesn’t look too bad. I don’t see immediate threats for black, or massive counterplay, while I can also develop an attack on the kingside if the d6 pawn won’t be enough.

I also have a plan in my black game with the same opponent.

It’s simple. Pile up on the c4 pawn with b6, Ba6, Na5. Considering that Bd3 is an awkward position, I might have options with a d5 break, and Nh5-f4.

The citizen of the world in the 7^th place started timing out again. Hopefully, he’ll include me in his beneficiaries list this time.

A successful day otherwise. I have two games with an extra minor piece, and a couple of games with 1+2 pawns up. So far, the tournament plan is working out.

22^nd of March

The day starts with another point; second one against the Egyptian wolf.

However, I didn’t get the two timeouts I hoped for. It’s really annoying when people selectively time out against part of the field. One conclusion – I’ll start playing faster against the guy in the 7^th place, and see if he eventually adds me to the club.

Going back to the win, another quick analysis shows a couple of basic mistakes on my part this time, so that’s a worrying signal. This one I’ll need to analyze better.

I’m being offered a pawn in yet another game. I just need to convince myself that the delay in development is not going to cost me. I can’t see any major problems after a bit of calculation, so the pawn on c2 goes.

In the “pile-up-on-c4” game, white rightfully repositions the bishop to e2.

I won a couple of tempos but need to adjust my plan. The black knight would do well on f4 but moving it right now won’t work because of Nxe5.

Another basic error in calculations. 12...Nh5 does work, because 13. Nxe5 fails to Rxh5.

Another option is moving the other knight to c5 and invading via Ba4 on the queenside. One downside of Be2 is that d2-d4 doesn’t work anymore due to pawn on e4 hanging.

Originally, I intended to play Nxd3+ and Qd8, but it doesn’t look too great:

This did not look great, but the engine shows equality. 16...Rc8 is an improvement to the line above, as black does not have to give up d5 so easily.

Nxd3+ with Be7 also does not work because of b5.

The more I look at it, the grimmer it becomes. Starting to get really worried now. I find a line that could just not lose immediately, but it’s really thin:

This happens to be very close to the top engine line, with eval hovering around 0.00. The problem here was not calculation, but evaluation. True, Nd5 looks scary and far better than the bishop, but white's pawn weakness compensate for it.

Saved by the bell! White has taken with the rook, which makes my life much easier. Will choose between Be7, Qd8 and Rc8 later today. This game needs to be slowed down.

Rxd3 leads to a very similar evaluation. The main themes with white getting hold of d5 remains.

Qf5 was an unexpected move here, I calculated only Rd8 and Ng4. Not sure what the goal is here, but I no longer have to hurry with 0-0-0, and can look at calmer development, say with Be2, and 0-0. I’m still tempted to castle long though. Part of that is getting the king out of dodge quicker, the other is that I think white has a better chance to keep the initiative with opposite castling. Also, if the idea behind Qf5 was to play Nb4, 0-0-0 will dispel it.

Black’s last move was Qe4+, which is unexpected - the usual move here is e4. First reaction: I’d like to find a way to use black’s dubious development, and avoid exchanges with Qe2. However, Bg4 is going to be a problem after Be2.

So, I’d rather play it safe with Qe2. Bishop pair in an open position, and safe play is a better bet.

The table moved a bit. Pruett racked up a couple of points – he looks like someone I should pay attention to.

I come back before my late evening calls to the “problematic” game:

While I’m still glad white let me off the hook with Rxd3, I’m not out of the woods yet. Analysis shows the Be7 and Rc8 are equivalent, as I need to play them both eventually anyway. Be7 is just slightly better, in case white for some reason doesn’t play dxc6. Qd8 just seems way too defeatist.

By the way, 17…Qg5 is an interesting resource. Gives a whiff of counterplay, though I’m still fighting for a draw here.

I missed a6 here, which prevents white from playing b5. The rest of the thought process was correct. For the record, the engine persistently shows 0.00 - though it's far less pleasant to play with black. There was also the psychological element: I won the first game against the same opponent so easily, so did not expect to have such perplexing struggles.

Pruett notched another win and stands well in most other games. I know now my main adversary in this group.

Last decision point for the day is this game:

Black’s last move, Nb4, is more venomous than I originally thought. The threat is 15…Rxd6 16. Qxd6 Qxc2#. One possible defense is Kb1, but it has to be thought through. I regret the 0-0-0 move from earlier today.

Looks like it holds, though it’s a bit thin for my liking. I don’t see better alternatives though.

I didn't see better alternatives, but they existed.15. g4 Qg6 16. Bf4 is one way to go. Also, nothing to regret about 0-0-0: it was the top line. The only downside is that it required me to calculate a bit.

Analysis of today's win:

My first blunder and miss of the round - probably of the tournament. In fact, I managed to fill in almost every single move category.

Looks bad. Let's have a closer look at these blunders and misses:

Undeserved win. I have no explanation for 16. b4, and my blindness toward the threats on f2. This was a sign of things to come.

Continued here: https://www.chess.com/blog/romank66/chess-com-2023-2nd-round-s01e04-being-left-behind