Titled Tuesday Tales #2

Here's another edition

Long time ago on this blog, I showcased a win by GM Jeffery Xiong @jefferyx  here

https://www.chess.com/blog/thechesscorner64/blitz-opening-set-up-for-black-sicilian-kan-bc5-qc7-h5

Since then, Jeffery Xiong is now rated 2990 on chess.com (blitz rating) versus 2700 back in November last year.

GM Jeffery Xiong won the titled tuesday today ! @Jefferyx scored 9.5/11 against a 2800 average rating opponents !

This is a an impressive performance.

Let me annotate one game 

Jeffery is white. Keith Arkell(GM) plays the Burn variation 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 4Nc3 dxe4

Game continues

White has a small advantage, more space and controls the center. Lets follow the game, White to play here

Xiong played 15 g2-g4!? . Definitely going for a kingside attack.

Black to play in next diagram

Black played 19..a7-a6 which basically means he doesn't know what to do. I would consider 19..Rad8 or 19..e5.

It turns out White has an interesting idea to increase attacking chances after 19..a7-a6?. Can you spot it ?

Here's how the game ended with annotations.

A textbook game against 3..dxe4 Burn variation in the french defense.

@jefferyx  scored an important win in the 10th round with the Black pieces.

Let me show you the positional idea he found here, Black to play

What would you play with Black ?

Answer: 14..Nd7 with the idea to keep a knight on the e5-square even if White tries to take on e5 once. Black has an easier play in this sicilian Najdorf variation with Be2 for White. 

a knight formation to remember in this pawn structure !

let's see how the game continued

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not a great tournament for me. started with several losses in a row and finished with 5 points out of 11. but a clear underperformance from a rating standpoint as I played mostly lower rated players following my awful start.

Last game : My opponent is trying the bongcloud on me like this

I have the black pieces. clearly my opponent thinks he will outsmart me. 

I must confess I dont think I should "study" such an opening. I played quickly and in the center, following normal piece developments.

Here's the game