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In case anyone missed it and is interested, this coming weekend the Seattle Chess Club is running the Seattle City Championship:http://seattlechess.c...­Format: 2-sec., 5-rd. Swiss. TC: 40/120, SD/60 (Rd.1 2-day option – G/60); d5. EF: Championship $42 ($33 for SCC mem., $38 for mem. of other NW dues-req’d CCs) by 1/13, $50 ($39, $44) at site; GMs, IMs, WGMs free. Reserve (U1800) $33 ($24 for SCC mem., $29 for mem. of other NW dues-req’d CCs) by 1/13, $42 ($33, $38) at site. Unrateds free w/purch. 1-yr US Chess & WCF. Add $1 for 2-day schedule (Rd 1–Sat. 10 a.m., G/64). Prize Fund: $$1010 (b/52, 5/prz gp). Prizes: Championship $250-150, X 100, A 80; Reserve (U1800) $140-90, C 70, D 60, E & under 50, Unr. 20. Reg: Fri. 7-7:45 p.m. or Sat. 9-9:45 a.m. Rds: Fri. 8, Sat. (10 @ G/64)-12:30-6:30, Sun. 11-5. Byes: 2 available. Rounds 4 or 5 must commit at registration. Misc: US Chess, WCF/OCF/ ICA memb. req’d, OSA. NS, NC.

Time for a new tournament. Let me know if you are interested and if we have enough people I'll start a new one. Three day per move time control.

I won this game in a simul.

Here is a game from today's meetup at uptown espresso. Really enjoyed this game. I made several blunders and missed some good attacking chances. Game highlights my continued blindness to pinned pawns. Something I need to correct to improve my game. Really highlights that what I need to focus on most right now is tactics, tactics, and more tactics. Will be getting good use out of the tactics trainer here on chess.com Thanks Eddie for a fun game. Here is the PGN text: [Event "Seattle Chess Meetup"] [Site "?"] [Date "2013.03.28"] [Round "?"] [White "Matt"] [Black "Eddie"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C10"] [PlyCount "110"] 1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3 e6 4. Nxe4 c5 {Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64: 4)} 5. Be3 (5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Bxd7+ Nxd7 7. Nf3 Ngf6 8. Nxf6+ Nxf6 9. O-O Be7 10. c3 O-O 11. Ne5 cxd4 12. cxd4 Qd5 13. Be3 Rfd8 14. h3 Bd6 15. Nf3 Qh5 16. Rc1 Nd5 17. Re1 Nxe3 18. fxe3 Rac8 19. Rxc8 Rxc8 20. Qa4 a6 21. Qd7 {1-0 Armanda,I (2326) -Petrina,T (2097)/Bosnjaci 2009/CBM 128 Extra}) (5. dxc5 Qxd1+ 6. Kxd1 f5 7. Nd6+ Bxd6 8. cxd6 Nf6 9. Bf4 Ne4 10. Ke1 Nc6 11. Bb5 Bd7 12. f3 Nf6 13. Bxc6 Bxc6 14. Ne2 Nd5 15. c4 Nb6 16. Rc1 Rd8 17. Kf2 Nd7 18. b4 Nb6 19. Nd4 Bd7 20. Be5 O-O 21. c5 Nd5 22. b5 Nb4 23. Rhd1 Rc8 24. a3 {1-0 Lorenzini,M (2325) -Gonzalez,D/Buenos Aires 1997/EXT 2001}) (5. Nf3 cxd4 6. Qxd4 (6. Nxd4 Nc6 7. Be3 Nf6 8. Nxc6 Qxd1+ 9. Rxd1 bxc6 10. Nxf6+ gxf6 11. Be2 Bb4+ 12. c3 Ba5 13. Bf3 Bd7 14. O-O Bb6 15. Bh6 Rg8 16. Rd6 Rc8 17. Rfd1 {1-0 Schmidt,V (1955) -Putz,W (1748)/Suedwestfalen 2000/EXT 2007}) 6... Qxd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8. Bf4 Nf6 9. Nxf6+ gxf6 10. Nb5 Bxb5 11. Bxb5+ Nd7 12. O-O-O O-O-O 13. Rd3 Ne5 14. Rxd8+ Kxd8 15. Rd1+ Kc8 16. Be3 a6 17. Be2 h5 18. Kb1 f5 19. Bd4 f6 20. f4 Nd7 21. Bc4 e5 22. Bc3 exf4 23. Be6 Rh7 24. Bxf5 Rf7 25. b3 Kc7 26. Bd2 Bd6 27. Rf1 Rg7 28. Be4 Nc5 29. Bf3 Ne6 30. Bd5 Re7 31. Re1 Be5 32. Bxe6 Rxe6 33. Bxf4 Kc6 34. Bxe5 fxe5 35. Kb2 b5 36. Re4 Kd5 37. Rh4 e4 38. Rxh5+ Kd4 39. Rh8 Ke3 40. Rf8 Kd2 41. Rd8+ Ke1 42. Kc1 e3 43. Rf8 Rd6 44. h4 Rg6 45. h5 Rxg2 46. h6 Rh2 {1/ 2-1/2 Vandeweeghe,S (2065)-Van Maele,R (1910)/Bethune 2000/EXT 2003}) (5. Nxc5 Bxc5 6. dxc5 Qxd1+ (6... Qa5+ 7. c3 Qxc5 8. Be3 Qc7 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. Be2 Nf6 11. Bc5 Ne4 12. Ba3 Bd7 13. Qc2 f5 14. Rd1 Rc8 15. O-O Kf7 16. Bd3 Nf6 17. Bc4 h6 18. Qxf5 {1-0 Mancini,M (2285)-Van Maele,R/Bethune 1998/EXT 2001}) 7. Kxd1 Nf6 8. Nf3 O-O 9. c3 a5 10. Ne5 (10. Be3 Ng4 11. a4 Nd7 12. b4 Nxe3+ 13. fxe3 Nf6 14. Bc4 Rd8+ 15. Kc2 Bd7 16. Kb3 Bc6 17. Rhe1 Kf8 18. Re2 Ne4 19. Nd4 e5 20. Nxc6 bxc6 21. Kc2 Ke7 22. Bd3 Nf6 23. Bc4 Rdb8 24. b5 Rc8 25. Rb1 Rab8 26. bxc6 Rxb1 27. Kxb1 Rxc6 28. Rb2 Nd7 29. Rb7 Kd8 30. Bb5 Rc7 31. Rxc7 Kxc7 32. c6 Nc5 33. Kc2 f6 34. Kd2 g6 35. Ke2 Kd6 36. Kf3 Ne6 37. g4 f5 38. gxf5 gxf5 39. Kg3 Nc7 40. Bd3 e4 41. Bc4 Ke5 42. Bg8 h6 43. h3 Na8 44. Bc4 Nc7 45. Kh4 Kf6 46. Kh5 Kg7 47. Bb3 Ne8 48. Be6 Kf6 49. Bd7 Nc7 50. Kxh6 f4 51. exf4 Ne6 52. Bxe6 Kxe6 53. f5+ {1-0 Boros,D (2198)-Gazic,J (2215)/Budapest 2001/CBM 084 ext}) 10... Rd8+ 11. Ke1 Rd5 12. f4 Rxc5 13. Be3 Rc7 14. Rd1 Nfd7 15. Bb6 Rc6 16. Nxc6 Nxc6 17. Bf2 f6 18. Bc4 Kf7 19. Rd6 Nd8 20. Ke2 b6 21. Rhd1 Ke7 22. Bb5 Ra7 23. Bxd7 Bxd7 24. Bxb6 Rb7 25. Bxd8+ Kxd8 26. b4 axb4 27. Rxd7+ Rxd7 28. Rxd7+ Kxd7 29. cxb4 Kd6 30. Kd3 Kd5 31. a4 h6 32. a5 g5 33. g3 g4 34. a6 Kc6 35. b5+ Kb6 36. Kc4 h5 37. Kd4 Ka7 38. Kc5 h4 39. gxh4 e5 40. fxe5 f5 41. e6 f4 42. e7 g3 43. hxg3 fxg3 44. e8=Q {1-0 Resika,N (2203)-Gazic,J (2215)/Budapest 2001/CBM 084 ext}) ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64: 1)} 5. Nf3 cxd4 6. Qxd4 Qxd4 7. Nxd4 a6 8. Bf4 Bd7 9. Nd6+ Bxd6 10. Bxd6 Nc6 11. Nb3 Nce7 12. Rd1 Nf6 13. c4 Nf5 14. Be5 Ng4 15. Bc7 Ba4 16. Be2 Bxb3 17. axb3 {0.50/5}) ({Houdini 2. 0c x64 Main _20_x64: 2)} 5. Nxc5 Bxc5 6. dxc5 Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1 Nf6 8. Nf3 Nbd7 9. Be3 O-O 10. Bd3 e5 11. Nd2 Ng4 12. Ne4 f5 13. Ng5 f4 14. h3 Nxe3+ 15. fxe3 Nxc5 16. Bxh7+ Kh8 17. Ke2 Bd7 18. exf4 Bb5+ {0.50/19}) ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64: 3)} 5. dxc5 Qxd1+ 6. Kxd1 Nf6 7. Nxf6+ gxf6 8. Be3 Nd7 9. b4 a5 10. c3 axb4 11. cxb4 Ne5 12. Nf3 Nxf3 13. gxf3 Rg8 14. Bd3 Rg2 15. Kc2 Bd7 16. Bxh7 Ra3 17. Bd3 Bc6 18. Bf1 {0.33/5}) (5. Be3 {Better continuations existed. Nf3 is the most common move here with 149 games in my database and a white score of over 70%. If I face this in the future Nf3 will be my move. The point of this opening is to maintain the initiative. All moves in this opening need to improve my position and maintain initiative. Be3 places this bishop on a temporary square that does not really accomplish anything - placing me in a defensive position and turning the initiative over to black. Nf3 develops a piece to a useful square and achieves the same defensive objective. Opening lesson learned.} {Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64: 1)} cxd4 ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64: 2)} 5... Nf6 6. Nxc5 Nd5 7. Nd3 Bd6 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Be2 Qc7 10. O-O b6 11. Bd2 Nd7 12. Rc1 Ba6 13. Nde5 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Bxe2 15. Qxe2 Bc5 16. c3 {0. 43/5}) ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64: 3)} 5... Qa5+ 6. Bd2 Qd8 7. dxc5 Nf6 8. Nxf6+ Qxf6 9. Bc3 Qg6 10. Qf3 Nc6 11. b4 e5 12. Bd3 f5 13. Qg3 e4 14. Bc4 a5 15. Qxg6+ hxg6 16. b5 Nd8 17. Rd1 Ne6 18. c6 bxc6 19. bxc6 Nf4 20. g3 Be6 {0. 64/5}) 6. Bxd4 Nc6 7. Bc3 Qxd1+ 8. Rxd1 f5 9. Nd6+ Bxd6 10. Rxd6 Nf6 11. Rd1 Kf7 12. Nf3 Ne4 13. Be5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5+ Kf6 15. Nc4 b5 16. Na5 a6 17. c4 Nc5 18. f3 Rf8 19. b4 Na4 20. c5 Nc3 21. Rd6 Nxa2 {0.22/5}) 5... Nc6 {This move takes us out of my database. A better continuation is cxd which does appear in the database and is more aggressive.} (5... cxd4 6. Bxd4 (6. Qxd4 Qxd4 7. Bxd4 Nc6 8. Bc3 a6 9. O-O-O f5 10. Nd6+ Bxd6 11. Rxd6 Nf6 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. g3 Ke7 14. Rd2 b5 15. Bg2 Bb7 16. Ne2 Rhd8 17. Rhd1 Rxd2 18. Rxd2 Rd8 19. Nd4 Rd6 20. Nxc6+ Bxc6 21. Rxd6 Kxd6 22. Bxc6 Kxc6 23. Kd2 Kd5 24. Kd3 Ke5 25. b3 f4 26. c4 fxg3 27. hxg3 bxc4+ 28. Kxc4 Ke4 29. b4 Kf3 30. a4 e5 31. Kd5 e4 32. g4 Kxg4 33. b5 axb5 34. axb5 Kf3 35. b6 f5 36. b7 Kxf2 37. b8=Q e3 38. Qf4+ {1-0 Mraz, M (1821)-Hajas,L (1943)/Slovakia 2009/EXT 2011}) 6... Nc6 7. Bc3 (7. Bb5 Bd7 8. Nf3 Nxd4 9. Bxd7+ Qxd7 10. Nxd4 Nf6 11. Nxf6+ gxf6 12. O-O O-O-O 13. Nb3 Qxd1 14. Rfxd1 Rxd1+ 15. Rxd1 Be7 16. h3 Rd8 17. Rxd8+ Bxd8 18. a4 e5 19. Kf1 f5 20. Ke2 h5 21. f3 f6 22. g4 hxg4 23. hxg4 fxg4 24. fxg4 Kd7 25. Nc5+ Kc6 26. b4 a5 27. Ne6 Bb6 28. c3 axb4 29. cxb4 Bd4 30. Nxd4+ exd4 31. Kd3 Kd5 32. a5 {1-0 Kurics,L-Talaber,Z/Ajka 1998/EXT 2004}) 7... Qxd1+ 8. Rxd1 e5 (8... f5 9. Nd6+ Ke7 10. Nf3 Nf6 11. Bc4 h6 12. h4 g6 13. O-O Bg7 14. Rfe1 Rd8 15. Nxc8+ Raxc8 16. Rxe6+ Kf8 17. Rdd6 Rxd6 18. Rxd6 Ke7 19. Re6+ Kf8 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Rxf6+ Kg7 22. Rf7+ Kh8 23. Bb3 Na5 24. Ne5 Nxb3 25. cxb3 Rb8 26. Nxg6+ Kg8 27. Rc7 a6 28. Ne7+ Kf8 29. Nxf5 {1-0 Minnebo,J-Moernaut,K/Hengelo 2003/EXT 2005}) 9. Nf3 Nf6 10. Ng3 Bg4 11. Be2 Bb4 12. Bxb4 Nxb4 13. c3 Nc6 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Rd8 16. Rxd8+ Kxd8 17. Nf5 e4 18. Bd1 {0.30/19}) 6. dxc5 Qc7 7. Bb5 {Better was Nd6+. Bb5 does not really accomplish much and does not maintain the momentum.} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 7. Nd6+ Bxd6 8. cxd6 Qa5+ 9. c3 Nf6 10. Nf3 O-O 11. b4 Qd8 12. b5 Na5 13. Qd4 a6 14. bxa6 Nc6 15. Qd2 bxa6 16. Rb1 Ne4 17. Qd3 Nxd6 18. Bc5 Nf5 19. Bxf8 Qxf8 20. g4 Nd6 21. Ng5 f5 22. Qh3 {1.33/20}) 7... Qa5+ 8. Nc3 Nf6 9. Qf3 {better was Nf3, allowing short castle and developing a piece.} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 9. Nf3 Nd5 10. Ne5 Nxc3 11. Nxc6 Qc7 12. bxc3 bxc6 13. Qf3 cxb5 14. Qxa8 Bxc5 15. Bxc5 Qxc5 16. O-O O-O 17. Qf3 Bd7 18. Qe3 Qc7 19. Rad1 Bc6 20. Qc5 Rc8 21. c4 bxc4 22. Qxc4 Rb8 23. f3 {0.86/18}) 9... Nd5 10. Nge2 a6 11. Bxc6+ bxc6 12. O-O Bb7 {exchanging was better for black here} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 12... Bxc5 13. Bxc5 Qxc5 14. Ne4 Qe7 15. c4 Nc7 16. Nd4 Bb7 17. Qb3 c5 18. Qxb7 cxd4 19. Qc6+ Kf8 20. Rad1 Rd8 21. c5 h5 22. Nd6 Nb5 23. Nxb5 axb5 24. Qxb5 h4 25. c6 h3 26. g3 Qc7 27. b4 Kg8 28. Qb7 {1.07/20}) 13. a3 {I had a crazy idea I might kick away the queen but this was a silly move. I should have kept up the momentum building towards an attacl with Ne4.} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 13. Ne4 Qc7 14. Rad1 Be7 15. Nd6+ Bxd6 16. cxd6 Qd7 17. Bc5 a5 18. c4 Nf6 19. Nc1 O-O 20. Nd3 Qd8 21. d7 Nxd7 22. Bxf8 Qxf8 23. Rfe1 Qe7 24. Qg3 Nb6 25. Ne5 f6 26. Qb3 Qb4 27. Nd3 Qxb3 28. axb3 {2.33/19}) 13... Nxe3 14. fxe3 {Black actually did me a favor here} Qc7 15. Ne4 {better was Rad1 immediately grabbing the open file.} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 15. Rad1 f5 (15... Bxc5 {Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 16. Ne4 {3.91/19}) 16. Na4 g6 17. b4 Rd8 18. Nb6 Bd6 19. Rxd6 Rxd6 20. cxd6 Qxb6 21. Qg3 Bc8 22. Rxf5 exf5 23. Qe5+ Kf7 24. Qxh8 Qxe3+ 25. Kf1 Qe6 26. Qxh7+ Ke8 27. Nf4 Qxd6 28. Qxg6+ Ke7 29. Qxd6+ Kxd6 30. Kf2 c5 31. Ke3 Bb7 {2.90/19}) 15... a5 16. Rad1 {ended up there anyway} Ba6 17. Nd6+ {better was Rf2 here, which I ended up playing later anyway} ({Houdini 2. 0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 17. Rf2 {2.64/19}) 17... Bxd6 18. cxd6 Qd7 19. Rf2 O-O 20. Ng3 Rab8 21. b3 {This was a mistake. Ne4 led to a very good game for white - the pawn was not an issue and I should not have been trying to protect it.} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 21. Ne4 Rb5 (21... Rxb2 22. Nc5 Qd8 ( 22... Qa7 23. Qxc6) 23. Nxa6) 22. Qg3 Kh8 23. b4 f6 24. Nc5 Rxc5 25. bxc5 Rb8 26. e4 e5 27. Qh3 Qxh3 28. gxh3 Kg8 29. Kg2 Kf7 30. Kf3 Ke6 31. d7 Ke7 32. Rd6 Bb5 33. Rg2 g6 34. Ke3 Bc4 {3.33/19}) 21... Rb5 22. e4 {...continuing to miss Ne4} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 22. Ne4 Rd5 23. c4 Rxd1+ 24. Qxd1 Qa7 25. Qd3 f5 26. Ng5 Bc8 27. Qd4 Qb7 28. Nf3 Qxb3 29. d7 Bxd7 30. Qxd7 Qxc4 31. Rd2 Qe4 32. Qa7 a4 33. Qb6 Qc4 34. Qb2 Qb5 35. Qd4 {1.85/18}) 22... Rb6 23. Nh5 f6 24. e5 f5 25. Qg3 Kh8 26. Rd4 ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 26. Qc3 Rb7 27. Qxa5 Ra8 28. Nf4 Qe8 29. Qc5 g5 30. Ne2 Bxe2 31. Rxe2 Qd7 32. a4 Kg7 33. Rf2 Rbb8 34. Rf3 f4 35. h4 h6 36. a5 Rb5 {2.58/19}) 26... Rb7 27. Rh4 {I could have also considered Ra4 here picking up a pawn but I was very focused on kingside attack at this point} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 27. Ra4 Ra8 28. Rxa5 Rb5 29. Qc3 Qe8 30. Nf4 Rxa5 31. Qxa5 g5 32. Nh3 h6 33. Qc7 Bc8 34. a4 Qd7 35. Qxd7 Bxd7 36. Rf1 Ra5 37. Re1 Kg7 38. Kf2 Kf7 39. Ng1 g4 40. Kg3 Rd5 { 2.86/19}) 27... Rg8 {This was a blunder for black. But I failed to see an obvious tactic, falling victim to pawn pin blindness. This is a major problem for me in my games that I need to work on.} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 27... Qf7 28. Nf4 Kg8 29. Nh3 Qe8 30. Ra4 Qh5 31. Rd2 Ra8 32. Rxa5 Qe8 33. Nf4 Qd7 34. Nh5 Kh8 35. Rf2 Rb5 36. Qc3 Qe8 37. Nf4 Rxa5 38. Qxa5 g5 39. Nh3 h6 40. Qc7 Bc8 41. a4 Qd7 42. Qxd7 Bxd7 43. Rf1 Ra5 44. Re1 Kg7 45. Kf2 Kf7 46. Ng1 g4 47. Kg3 Rd5 {2.86/20}) 28. Nf4 {This was where my game came off the rails. Having put all that pressure on the kingside I missed my opportunity and gave black a more equal position. I really need to force myself in critical positions to take a moment and look for any pawn pins.} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 28. Qg6 Rgb8 29. Nf4 h6 30. Nxe6 Qf7 31. Rxh6+ gxh6 32. Qxh6+ Kg8 33. Rf3 Be2 34. Qg5+ Qg7 35. Nxg7 Rxg7 36. Qxf5 Bxf3 37. Qxf3 a4 38. Qxc6 axb3 39. cxb3 Rgb7 40. d7 Rxb3 41. Qg6+ Kh8 42. Qf6+ Kh7 43. d8=Q Rxd8 44. Qxd8 Rc3 45. a4 Rc1+ 46. Kf2 Rc2+ 47. Kg3 Rc3+ 48. Kf4 Kg7 49. Qe7+ Kg6 50. Qf6+ Kh7 51. a5 Rc4+ 52. Kg5 {11.31/20}) 28... g5 29. Nh5 {This was a major blunder. During the game I had the idea that my knight would prove more valuable than my rook in this particular position but I had miscalculated.} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 29. Rxh7+ Kxh7 30. Qh3+ Kg7 31. Nh5+ Kf8 32. Nf6 Qg7 33. Qc3 Kf7 34. Nxg8 Qxg8 35. Qxc6 Qa8 36. g4 Bb5 37. Qf3 Rb8 38. gxf5 Qxf3 39. Rxf3 a4 40. f6 Rc8 41. Rh3 Kg6 42. c4 Bd7 43. b4 g4 44. Rh4 Rxc4 45. Rh8 Re4 46. Rg8+ Kf7 47. Rg7+ Ke8 48. Re7+ Kd8 {0.52/20}) 29... Qf7 {This could have let me back into a strong position if I took it.} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 29... gxh4 30. Qxg8+ Kxg8 31. Nf6+ Kf8 32. Nxd7+ Rxd7 33. Rf4 h3 34. gxh3 Ra7 35. Kf2 Ke8 36. Rf3 a4 37. Rg3 axb3 38. cxb3 Rf7 39. Rg8+ Kd7 40. Ra8 Bb7 41. Ra7 Ke8 42. b4 Bc8 43. Ra8 Kd8 44. Ke3 Rg7 45. Kf4 Rg2 46. Ra7 Re2 47. Rxh7 Re4+ 48. Kg5 Rxe5 {-0.52/23}) 30. Nf6 {Another blunder. For some reason during the game I thought retreating my took would not save it but that was a miscalculation. Rh3 was my opportunity to get back into a great attacking position.} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 30. Rh3 g4 31. Rh4 a4 32. Nf6 Rg7 33. Qc3 Bb5 34. Qd4 axb3 35. cxb3 Qf8 36. a4 Ba6 37. b4 Qb8 38. Rf4 Qd8 39. Qc5 Rb8 40. Rh6 Bd3 41. Rd4 Be2 42. d7 g3 43. Qxc6 gxh2+ 44. Kxh2 {4.06/19}) 30... gxh4 31. Qxg8+ Qxg8 32. Nxg8 Kxg8 33. Rd2 Rd7 34. b4 a4 35. Rd4 Kg7 36. Kf2 ({ Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 36. Rxh4 Kf8 37. Kf2 Rg7 38. Ke3 Ke8 39. c4 c5 40. bxc5 Bb7 41. g3 Kd7 42. Kd4 Kc6 43. h3 Kd7 44. Rh6 Bc6 45. Rh4 Bf3 46. Rh6 Be2 47. Rh4 Kc6 48. Ke3 Bf1 {-0.10/22}) 36... Kg6 37. Rxh4 Kg5 38. g3 Rf7 39. Rf4 ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 39. Ke3 {0.27/20}) 39... h5 40. h4+ ({ Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 40. Ke3 Bc8 41. h4+ Kg6 42. Rc4 Bd7 43. Rc5 Kh6 44. Ra5 Rg7 45. Kf2 Kg6 46. Ra7 Rf7 47. Ke3 Rg7 48. Rxa4 Kf7 49. Kf3 c5 50. Ra7 Ke8 51. Rc7 cxb4 52. axb4 Rg4 53. c4 Rd4 54. b5 Rd3+ 55. Kf2 {0.55/21}) 40... Kg6 41. c4 Rb7 42. c5 {Best chance for white was to break here. With c5 we agreed to a draw. Even breaking here, the game may well have ended in a draw.} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 42. b5 Bxb5 43. cxb5 cxb5 44. Rd4 Rb8 45. Rb4 Kf7 46. Ke3 Ke8 47. Kd4 Kd7 48. Kc5 Rg8 49. Kxb5 Rb8+ 50. Kxa4 Ra8+ 51. Kb3 Ra5 52. Rb7+ Kd8 53. Rh7 Rxe5 54. a4 Rd5 55. Kc4 Kc8 56. Rxh5 Kd7 57. Rg5 Rd1 58. h5 Ra1 59. Kb3 Rb1+ 60. Kc3 Rc1+ 61. Kd2 Rh1 62. a5 Ra1 63. Rg7+ Kxd6 {0.85/24} {Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 64. h6 Rxa5 65. Ke3 Ke5 66. h7 Ra3+ 67. Kf2 Ra2+ 68. Kg1 Ra1+ 69. Kg2 Ra2+ 70. Kh3 Ra1 71. Re7 Rh1+ 72. Kg2 Rh5 73. Rf7 Rh6 74. Kf3 Rh2 75. Ke3 Rh3 76. Ke2 Ke4 77. Kf2 Rh2+ 78. Kg1 Rh6 79. Kg2 e5 80. Re7 Rh5 81. Kf2 Rh2+ 82. Kg1 Rh5 83. Kg2 Rh6 84. Rc7 f4 85. g4 f3+ 86. Kg3 Rh1 87. Rc4+ Ke3 88. Rc3+ {0.42/23} {Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} Kd4 89. Rc7 Ke3 90. g5 f2 91. Rf7 Rxh7 92. Rf3+ Kd4 93. Rxf2 Rg7 94. Kg4 e4 95. Ra2 e3 96. g6 Rxg6+ {0.00/23}) {Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 42... Kf7 43. Ke3 Ke8 44. Rd4 Rg7 45. Kf3 Rh7 46. Ke3 Kd7 47. Kf4 Rg7 48. Kf3 Rg6 49. Kf2 Rg8 50. Kf3 Rg7 51. Kf2 Bb5 52. Kg2 Ke8 53. Kf3 Ba6 54. Kg2 Kd7 55. Kf3 Rg6 {-1.19/27} 1/2-1/2

This game moved into an interesting end game that, while white had the advantage, I think was difficult for white to find a win. We ended up with a draw by repetition. Josh see my analysis with help from Houdini. Curious what your thoughts are on the game (aside from what the heck was black up to into that middlegame I was lucky to come out of that). [Event "Let's Play!"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2012.12.28"] [Round "?"] [White "joshuay"] [Black "mattchessus"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E91"] [WhiteElo "1669"] [BlackElo "1719"] [PlyCount "142"] [EventDate "2012.??.??"] [TimeControl "1"] 1. d4 g6 2. c4 (2. Nf3 Bg7 (2... f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 d6 7. Bb2 c6 8. Nbd2 Qc7 9. Qe1 a5 10. e4 fxe4 11. Nxe4 a4 12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. Qd2 Qa5 14. Qxa5 Rxa5 15. b4 Rf5 16. Rae1 Bg7 17. Nd2 R5f7 18. Nc4 b5 19. Ne3 g5 20. c3 h6 21. Re2 d5 22. Bc1 Nd7 23. Ng4 h5 24. Ne5 Nxe5 25. dxe5 g4 26. Bg5 Be6 27. Rfe1 Kh7 28. Be3 Bf5 29. e6 Rf6 30. Bd4 Rg6 31. a3 h4 32. Re3 Bh6 33. R3e2 h3 34. Bf1 Be4 35. Rxe4 dxe4 36. Rxe4 Bg7 37. Bd3 Kh8 38. f4 Rd8 39. Kf2 Rd6 40. f5 Rg5 41. Rf4 Bxd4+ 42. cxd4 Kg7 43. Be2 Kf6 44. Bxg4 Rd8 45. Ke3 Rdg8 46. Bf3 Rxf5 47. Bxc6 Rxf4 48. Kxf4 Kxe6 49. Bxb5 Kd5 50. Bxa4 Ra8 51. Bd7 Rxa3 52. Bxh3 Ra2 53. Bg4 Rxh2 54. Ke3 Rb2 55. Bf3+ Ke6 56. Be4 Rxb4 57. Bf3 Kf5 58. g4+ Kf6 59. Be2 Kg5 60. Ke4 Rb6 61. Ke3 Rf6 62. Ke4 Rc6 63. Ke3 Rc1 64. Kf3 Rc3+ 65. Ke4 Ra3 66. Bf3 Ra4 67. Be2 Ra1 68. Ke3 Kh4 69. Kf4 Ra2 70. Bf3 Ra6 71. g5 Ra5 72. g6 Rg5 73. Be4 Kh5 74. Bf5 Rg1 75. Ke5 Re1+ 76. Be4 Kh6 77. Kf5 Kg7 78. Ke5 Ra1 79. Ke6 Kf8 80. Ke5 Re1 81. Kf5 Ke8 82. Bd5 Rf1+ 83. Ke5 Rg1 84. Be4 Re1 85. Kf5 Kd8 86. Bd5 Rg1 87. Be4 Kd7 88. Ke5 Re1 89. Kd5 Ra1 90. Ke5 Ke8 91. Ke6 Kf8 92. Ke5 Ra4 93. Bf5 Ra5+ 94. Ke6 Rb5 95. Be4 Rb2 96. Ke5 Re2 97. Kf5 e6+ 98. Ke5 Ke7 99. d5 exd5 100. Kxd5 Kf6 101. Kd4 Ra2 102. Bd3 Ra4+ 103. Kd5 Ra8 104. Kd4 Rd8+ 105. Kc3 Rd7 106. Kc4 Ke5 107. Kc3 Rc7+ 108. Kb2 Kd4 109. Bf5 Re7 110. Kb3 Re2 111. Bc2 Rf2 112. Kb2 Rd2 113. Kb3 Rg2 114. Bf5 Rg5 115. Bc2 Rg3+ 116. Kb4 Rg2 117. Kb3 Rg1 118. Kb4 Ke5 119. Kc3 Kf6 120. Kd4 Kg7 121. Be4 Rg5 122. Bd3 Rh5 123. Be4 Rg5 124. Bd3 Rh5 125. Be4 Rh4 126. Ke5 Rxe4+ 127. Kxe4 Kxg6 {1/2-1/2 Raznikov,D (2465)-Nakamura,H (2786)/Eilat 2012/CBM 151}) 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 cxd4 5. exd4 Qb6 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. Rb1 O-O 8. Be2 d6 9. O-O Bf5 10. h3 Rc8 11. Bd3 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 Nc6 13. a3 Na5 14. Rfe1 Nc4 15. Rxe7 Nxb2 16. Qd2 Qd8 17. Rxb7 Nc4 18. Qd3 Nxa3 19. R1b3 Nc4 20. Ng5 Nd7 21. Nd5 Na5 22. Bxd6 Qxg5 23. Ne7+ Kh8 24. Nxc8 Nxb7 25. Rxb7 Nf6 26. Nxa7 Qd5 27. Rb8+ Rxb8 28. Bxb8 Nd7 29. Bg3 Qxd4 30. Qxd4 Bxd4 31. Nc6 Bc5 32. Ne7 Kg7 33. Nd5 Bd4 34. Kf1 f5 35. f3 Kf7 36. Bf2 Be5 37. Nb6 Nb8 38. Nc4 Bc7 39. Bb6 Bf4 40. Be3 Bc7 41. Bb6 Bf4 42. Be3 Bc7 43. Ke2 Ke6 44. Kd3 Nc6 45. c3 Kd5 46. Bd4 Bf4 47. Nb6+ Ke6 48. Nc4 h5 49. Be3 Bc7 50. Bb6 Bb8 51. Bd4 g5 52. g4 fxg4 53. fxg4 hxg4 54. hxg4 Bf4 55. Be3 Bxe3 56. Nxe3 Ke5 57. c4 Kf4 58. c5 Ne5+ 59. Kd4 Nc6+ 60. Kd5 Nb4+ 61. Kc4 Nc6 62. Kd3 Kf3 63. Kd2 Ne5 64. Nc2 Kxg4 65. Ke3 Kh3 66. Nd4 g4 67. Nf5 { 1/2-1/2 Grachev,B (2654)-Kramnik,V (2791)/Moscow 2010/EXT 2011}) 2... Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 (3... d6 4. e4 c5 (4... Nf6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O c6 8. Re1 Nbd7 9. Bf1 a5 10. Rb1 Re8 11. d5 Nc5 12. b3 Bd7 13. a3 cxd5 14. cxd5 a4 15. bxa4 Nxa4 16. Nxa4 Bxa4 17. Qd2 Re7 18. Rb4 Rc7 19. Qb2 Qc8 20. Be3 Ng4 21. Bb6 Rc2 22. Qb1 Bh6 23. h3 Nf6 24. Be3 Bxe3 25. Rxe3 Ra7 26. Ne1 Rc3 27. Qb2 Rxe3 28. fxe3 Qc5 29. Kf2 Bd1 30. Bb5 g5 31. a4 g4 32. Nd3 gxh3 33. gxh3 Qc8 34. Kg3 Qd8 35. Kh2 Bf3 36. Qf2 Bh5 37. Rc4 Ra8 38. Qh4 Ng4+ 39. Kg3 Qxh4+ 40. Kxh4 Nxe3 41. Rc7 Bd1 42. Rc3 f5 43. Nf2 f4 44. Rc7 Bxa4 45. Bxa4 Rxa4 46. Kg5 b5 47. Kf6 h5 48. Rb7 b4 49. Rb8+ Kh7 50. Rb7+ Kh6 51. Rb8 Kh7 52. Rb7+ {1/2-1/2 Mikhalevski,V (2579)-Ivanchuk,V (2764)/Caleta 2011/CBM 141}) 5. Nge2 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Nc6 7. Be3 Nf6 8. Be2 Nxd4 9. Bxd4 O-O 10. O-O Bd7 11. Qd2 a5 12. b3 Bc6 13. f3 Nd7 14. Be3 Nc5 15. Rab1 Qb6 16. Rfc1 Rfc8 17. Rc2 Qd8 18. Kh1 h5 19. a3 Kh7 20. Bf1 Be5 21. Nd5 e6 22. Nc3 Qh4 23. Bg1 Qe7 24. Ne2 Rd8 25. Nd4 Qf6 26. b4 axb4 27. axb4 Bxe4 28. fxe4 Nxe4 29. Qe3 Qh4 30. Ne2 f5 31. Qh3 Qf6 32. Rd1 Ra4 33. b5 Rda8 34. Nd4 Ra1 35. Qd3 R8a3 36. Rxa1 Rxd3 37. Bxd3 Bxd4 38. Rd1 Nc5 39. Bxd4 Qxd4 40. Be2 Qf4 41. Bf3 b6 42. Rcd2 e5 43. Rxd6 e4 44. Be2 Qf2 45. R6d2 e3 46. Rc2 Ne4 47. Bd3 Qh4 48. Bxe4 Qxe4 49. Re2 f4 50. Rc1 f3 51. gxf3 Qxf3+ 52. Rg2 h4 53. Kg1 h3 54. Rgc2 e2 55. Re1 Qe3+ 56. Kh1 Qe4+ {0-1 Le Quang,L (2693)-Carlsen,M (2837)/Astana 2012/CBM 149 Extra}) 4. d5 Nf6 (4... Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 f5 6. e4 fxe4 7. f3 Qa5 8. Qd2 Nf6 9. Rb1 d6 10. Rb5 Qc7 11. fxe4 O-O 12. e5 dxe5 13. Qe3 b6 14. Nf3 e4 15. Ng5 Qe5 16. Rb3 h6 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. dxe6 Ng4 19. Qg3 Qxg3+ 20. hxg3 h5 21. Be2 Nc6 22. Bxg4 hxg4 23. Bf4 Rf6 24. Rh4 Rxe6 25. Rxg4 Na5 26. Rb1 Nxc4 27. Rd1 Nb2 28. Rd7 Nd3+ 29. Ke2 b5 30. Be3 a5 31. Rd5 b4 32. Bxc5 bxc3 33. Rxe4 c2 34. Rxe6 c1=Q 35. Rxd3 Qxc5 36. Rxg6+ Kf7 37. Rg4 {0-1 Royset,J (2180)-Nakamura,H (2741)/Oslo 2010/CBM 139 Extra}) ( 4... d6 5. e4 e6 6. Nf3 Ne7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O a6 9. a4 Nd7 10. dxe6 fxe6 11. Be2 Ne5 12. Nxe5 Bxe5 13. Bh6 Rf7 14. f4 Bh8 15. Bg4 Qc7 16. Qd2 Nc6 17. Rae1 Nd4 18. f5 Bg7 19. fxg6 hxg6 20. Qg5 Bxh6 21. Qxh6 Rxf1+ 22. Rxf1 Qg7 23. Qg5 Bd7 24. Rf6 Kh7 25. Qh4+ Kg8 26. Qg5 Kh7 27. Qh4+ Kg8 28. Qg5 Kh7 29. Qh4+ Kg8 30. Qg5 {1/2-1/2 Makhmutov,R (2363)-Inarkiev,E (2707)/Tyumen 2012/CBM 149}) 5. Nf3 (5. e4 d6 6. Bd3 (6. Nge2 O-O 7. Ng3 a6 8. a4 e6 9. Be2 exd5 10. cxd5 Nbd7 11. O-O Re8 12. f3 Rb8 13. Be3 h5 14. Qd2 Nh7 15. Bh6 Bd4+ 16. Be3 Bg7 17. Rfd1 h4 18. Nf1 h3 19. g3 b5 20. axb5 axb5 21. Nxb5 Ne5 22. Nc3 f5 23. Ra7 Qb6 24. Rxg7+ Kxg7 25. b4 Ba6 26. b5 Bxb5 27. Nxb5 Qxb5 28. f4 Qa4 29. fxe5 Qxe4 30. Bh6+ Kg8 31. Ne3 Qxe5 32. Bf4 Qe7 33. Bd3 Nf6 34. Nc4 Rbd8 35. Bg5 Qf7 36. Qb2 Rf8 37. Bf1 Rb8 38. Qc1 Ne4 39. Bxh3 Rb3 40. Bf1 f4 41. Bxf4 g5 42. Nxd6 Nxd6 43. Bxd6 Qf2+ 44. Kh1 Rf5 45. Bxc5 Qa2 46. Bc4 {1-0 Ivanchuk,V (2776) -Andreikin,D (2687)/Havana 2011/CBM 143}) 6... O-O 7. Nge2 Nbd7 8. Bc2 Ne8 9. O-O Nc7 10. a4 Na6 11. f4 Nb4 12. Be3 e6 13. dxe6 fxe6 14. Qd2 Nf6 15. Rad1 Ng4 16. Bb1 Nc6 17. Kh1 Nxe3 18. Qxe3 Nd4 19. e5 dxe5 20. fxe5 Rxf1+ 21. Rxf1 Bd7 22. Nxd4 cxd4 23. Qxd4 Bc6 24. Qg4 Qe7 25. b3 Bxe5 26. Ne2 Rd8 27. Be4 Be8 28. Qf3 b6 29. Nf4 Bf7 30. Nd3 Bd6 31. Qe3 Qh4 32. h3 Qg3 33. Qxg3 Bxg3 34. Rf3 Bc7 35. Kg1 Rd4 36. Re3 g5 37. Kf2 h5 38. Re2 a5 39. Ke3 Rd8 40. Bf3 Kg7 41. Rb2 Bd6 42. Rb1 Kf6 43. Rf1 Ke7 44. Be4 Rg8 45. Rh1 h4 46. Bf3 Rf8 47. Rd1 Rd8 48. Rf1 Bg6 49. Be4 Bh5 50. Bf3 Rf8 51. Nf2 Bg6 52. Ne4 Bc5+ 53. Kd3 Rd8+ 54. Kc2 g4 55. hxg4 h3 56. Rd1 Rf8 57. Kd3 h2 58. Rh1 Bg1 59. Ke2 Bxe4 60. Bxe4 Kf6 61. Bf3 Rd8 {0-1 Caruana,F (2781)-Nakamura,H (2769)/Wijk aan Zee 2013/CB04_2013}) 5... d6 6. e4 Bg4 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O Nbd7 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Ne5 11. Be2 a6 12. f4 Ned7 13. Bf3 (13. Be3 Qc7 14. Qd2 Rab8 15. a4 Rfd8 16. Rad1 Nb6 17. Kh1 Nxa4 18. Nxa4 Nxe4 19. Qe1 b5 20. Nc3 Nxc3 21. bxc3 b4 22. Bd2 b3 {1/2-1/2 Hruska,J (1785)-Odehnalova,L/Klatovy 2005/EXT 2006}) (13. g4 Ne8 14. Qe1 e6 15. Qg3 Bf6 16. g5 Bd4+ 17. Kg2 Qe7 18. Bd3 f5 19. dxe6 Nb6 20. Nd5 Nxd5 21. exd5 Qg7 22. Rb1 Nc7 23. Be3 b5 24. Qf2 Bxe3 25. Qxe3 b4 26. Bc2 Rfe8 27. Be4 Re7 28. Rf2 Ra7 29. h4 a5 30. a3 b3 31. Rh1 h5 32. gxh6 Qxh6 33. h5 Kf8 34. hxg6 Qg7 35. Kf1 Ne8 36. Qh3 {1-0 Klewe,W-Biester/DDR 1987/Corr Nr. 1}) 13... Ne8 14. Ne2 $146 {Starting at Move 14 we are in new and/or rare territory. No games in my database at this point.} (14. g4 Rb8 15. a4 Qa5 16. Qd3 Bd4+ 17. Kh1 Qd8 18. a5 b6 19. axb6 Rxb6 20. Bg2 e5 21. f5 Qh4 22. Bd2 Nc7 23. Be1 Qe7 24. Na4 Rb7 25. Ra2 Rfb8 26. Ba5 Rb3 27. Nc3 Ne8 28. Qe2 Qh4 29. fxg6 {1/2-1/2 Blair,D (2240) -Canibal,J (2295)/ICCF corr 1997/Corr 2002}) (14. Qd3 Nc7 15. Be3 Rb8 16. a4 Ne8 17. b3 Qa5 18. Bd2 Qc7 19. g3 Rc8 20. Kg2 Kh8 21. Rae1 b6 22. Re2 Kg8 23. Nd1 Kh8 24. Nf2 Rb8 25. Rfe1 Rb7 26. e5 Qb8 27. e6 Ndf6 28. exf7 Rxf7 29. f5 gxf5 30. Qxf5 Kg8 31. Ng4 Nxg4 32. Qxg4 Nf6 33. Qe6 Qc7 34. Rf1 Qd7 35. Bg4 Kf8 36. Ref2 {1-0 Noack,M (2149)-Von Rosenberg,C (1688)/DESC email 2001/Corr 2004}) (14. a4 b6 15. Be3 Rb8 16. Qd2 Nc7 17. Be2 f5 18. Rab1 fxe4 19. Nxe4 b5 20. axb5 axb5 21. b4 bxc4 22. bxc5 Rxb1 23. Rxb1 c3 24. Nxc3 Nxc5 25. Bf3 Qc8 26. h4 Qf5 27. Rd1 Rb8 28. g4 Qf6 29. Bd4 Qxh4 30. Bxg7 Qg3+ 31. Qg2 Qxg2+ 32. Kxg2 Kxg7 33. Rb1 Ra8 34. Nb5 Nxb5 35. Rxb5 Rf8 36. Kg3 Nd3 37. Rb7 Rf7 38. f5 gxf5 39. gxf5 Kf6 40. Be4 Nc5 41. Rb4 Nxe4+ 42. Rxe4 Kxf5 43. Re6 Kg5 44. Kh3 h5 45. Kg3 Rh7 46. Kh3 h4 47. Kg2 h3+ 48. Kh2 Kf5 49. Kg1 h2+ 50. Kf2 Kg5 51. Re2 Kf6 52. Re6+ Kf7 {0-1 MacElligott,G (2145)-Galligan,B/Cork 2005/CBM 105 ext}) 14... e5 {b5 or Rb8 would have been better. Houdini points out I should be playing on the queenside in this position.} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64: 1)} 14... b5 15. Qb3 Qa5 16. Qc2 Qb4 17. cxb5 axb5 18. a3 Qa4 19. b3 Qa6 20. Ra2 Nc7 21. Be3 b4 22. a4 Nb5 23. Qd3 Qb6 24. Bg4 Rfd8 25. Rc2 Na3 26. Rcc1 {-0.17/22}) ({ Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64: 2)} 14... Rb8 15. Qc2 b5 16. cxb5 axb5 17. Be3 Nc7 18. a3 Nb6 19. Ra2 e6 20. dxe6 Nxe6 21. Rd1 Qe7 22. Bf2 Rfe8 23. Qd3 Na4 24. Rd2 c4 25. Qxd6 Qxd6 26. Rxd6 Nxb2 27. f5 Rbd8 28. Rxd8 Nxd8 {-0.02/22}) 15. f5 gxf5 16. exf5 Bf6 ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64: 1)} 16... b5 17. Ng3 bxc4 18. Qc2 Nef6 19. Qxc4 Re8 20. Qc2 Rb8 21. Rb1 Qa5 22. b3 Qb4 23. Be4 Nb6 24. Rd1 c4 25. Be3 c3 26. Bf3 e4 27. Rd4 Qa3 28. Nxe4 Nfxd5 {0.07/20}) ({ Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64: 2)} 16... Qh4 17. Bg4 Qe7 18. f6 Ndxf6 19. Ng3 b5 20. Nf5 Qb7 21. b3 Kh8 22. Be2 Rg8 23. Qc2 bxc4 24. bxc4 Rb8 25. Kh1 Bf8 26. Bf3 Qd7 27. Rb1 Rxb1 28. Qxb1 {0.23/19}) 17. Be4 Nb6 {Moving my knight away from my kingside in this position was a blunder....better was to simply move my king over} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 17... Kh8 18. Nc3 Bg5 19. Rf3 Bxc1 20. Qxc1 Nef6 21. Bd3 Rg8 22. Qh6 Qf8 23. Qxf8 Raxf8 24. Re1 e4 25. Nxe4 Ne5 26. Rfe3 Nxe4 27. Bxe4 Nxc4 28. Rc3 b5 29. b3 Ne5 30. f6 b4 31. Rc2 Re8 { 0.04/19}) 18. b3 a5 {continuing to ignore king safety and fiddle around on the queenside. Interesting that when I should have been playing queenside I played kingside and when I needed to pay attention kingside I played queenside. Fundamental misunderstanding of the position.} 19. a4 Bg5 ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 19... Kh8 20. Nc3 Nd7 21. Qh5 Ng7 22. Qh6 Ne8 23. Kh1 Bg7 24. Qe3 Rg8 25. Qe2 Ndf6 26. Bc2 Nc7 27. Re1 Qe7 28. Bb1 Qd7 29. Qf3 Rad8 30. Ne4 Nxe4 31. Bxe4 {0.76/21}) 20. Ra2 h6 {rather than trying to blockade the dark squares I would have been better off simply trading off the bishops} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 20... Bxc1 21. Qxc1 Qh4 22. Nc3 Kh8 23. Qe1 Qxe1 24. Rxe1 Rg8 25. g4 h5 26. Bf3 Nf6 27. Nb5 Rad8 28. Rh2 Nc8 29. Kf2 Kh7 30. Ke3 Ne7 31. Kd3 Rg5 32. Kc3 Kg7 {0.39/22}) 21. Ng3 ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 21. f6 Nxf6 22. Bxg5 hxg5 23. Ng3 Nxe4 24. Nxe4 f5 25. Raf2 f4 26. Qh5 Qe7 27. Nxg5 Rf6 28. Ne4 Rf7 29. Qg6+ Rg7 30. Nf6+ Kf8 31. Qh6 Kf7 32. Nh5 Rag8 33. Re1 Rg6 34. Rxf4+ Ke8 35. Nf6+ Kd8 36. Nxg8 Rxh6 37. Nxe7 exf4 38. Nf5 Rf6 39. Ng7 Kd7 40. Ne6 f3 41. Rf1 Nc8 42. Rxf3 Rxf3 43. gxf3 {1.85/22}) 21... Nf6 22. Bb1 ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 22. Bxg5 hxg5 23. Qd2 Re8 24. Qxg5+ Kf8 25. Bb1 Nbd7 26. Qe3 Qb6 27. Ne2 Qb4 28. Bc2 Ke7 29. Nc3 Rg8 30. Nb5 Rg7 31. Bd1 Rag8 32. Re2 Rg3 33. Qh6 R8g7 34. Kh1 Rh7 35. Qf4 Rg8 36. Bc2 Kd8 37. Qe3 {1. 10/21}) 22... Nh7 ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 22... Bxc1 23. Qxc1 Kh7 24. Ne4 Rg8 25. Re2 Rg7 26. Kh1 Qe7 27. g4 Nbd7 28. Nc3 Rag8 29. Rh2 Rg5 30. Qe3 Kg7 31. Nb5 Re8 32. Re2 Rg8 33. Rfe1 Rd8 34. Be4 Nxe4 35. Qxe4 {0.49/20}) 23. Ne4 {White had an opportunity here to swing the game decidedly in his favor with f6. Fortunately for me he did not play it, leaving me the chance to play f6 instead.} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 23. f6 Bf4 24. Bxf4 exf4 25. Qg4+ Ng5 26. Qxf4 Re8 27. Nf5 Qxf6 28. h4 Kf8 29. hxg5 hxg5 30. Qxd6+ Qxd6 31. Nxd6 Ke7 32. Nxe8 Rxe8 33. Re2+ Kd8 34. Rxe8+ Kxe8 35. Rf5 Nd7 36. Rxg5 Ke7 37. Kf2 b6 38. Rh5 Nf6 39. Rh4 Ne8 40. Rh6 Nd6 41. Kf3 Kd7 42. Kf4 {9.85/20}) 23... f6 24. Qg4 ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 24. h4 Bxc1 25. Qxc1 Rf7 26. Qxh6 Rg7 27. Bc2 Qf8 28. Bd1 Kh8 29. Qe3 Nd7 30. Bh5 Qe7 31. Bg6 Nb8 32. g4 Nd7 33. h5 Rgg8 34. Rg2 Ndf8 35. Kh2 Rd8 36. Re2 b6 37. Qh6 Qg7 {2.55/21}) 24... Rf7 { Houdini prefers moving the king out of the line of fire here} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 24... Kh8 25. Qh5 {1.47/20}) 25. h4 {Houdini shows white as winning here - but does white have a clear winning plan from here?} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 25. h4 Rg7 26. hxg5 hxg5 27. Rf3 Qe7 28. Rh3 Nd7 29. Rh6 Ra6 30. Qh5 Qf7 31. Qh3 Kf8 32. Re2 Qe7 33. Qh5 Qf7 34. Qh3 Qe7 {5.40/21}) 25... Rg7 26. hxg5 hxg5 27. Ng3 Nf8 28. Nh5 Rh7 {This position helps to illustrate some of blacks key mistakes earlier in the game. First, with Bxg5 looming it becomes crystal clear black needed to exchange off the dark square bishops earlier (see earlier comments). Second, black's knight on b6 is completely useless and this illustrates how damaging it was to move that knight away from the kingside. Were the knight at the kingside black would be in much better shape.} 29. Qh3 {White needed to play Bxg5 here to bust through} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 29. Bxg5 Rg7 30. Nxg7 Kxg7 31. Bh6+ Kf7 32. Qg7+ Ke8 33. Qxf8+ Kd7 34. Qf7+ Kc8 35. Bf8 Kb8 36. Qe7 Qxe7 37. Bxe7 Nd7 38. Bxd6+ Kc8 39. Kf2 Ra6 40. Be7 Rb6 41. Ra3 Kb8 42. Rh1 Ka7 43. d6 Rc6 44. Be4 Rb6 45. Rh6 Ra6 46. Kf3 Rb6 47. g4 Kb8 48. Bxf6 Rxd6 49. g5 Rd1 50. Rh8+ Ka7 51. Be7 Rf1+ 52. Kg3 {15.56/20}) 29... Nbd7 {White's last move gave black some time to relocate the ill-placed knight to come into defense of the kingside} 30. Be4 {again the best bet was Bxg5 to weaken my kingside further} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 30. Bxg5 Kf7 31. Bc1 Rh8 32. Re2 Rb8 33. Rf3 Qe8 34. Qh2 Rh7 35. Rh3 Ke7 36. Nf4 Rxh3 37. Qxh3 Qf7 38. Ne6 Qh7 39. Qf3 Nb6 40. Bd2 Nfd7 41. Bxa5 Rh8 42. g3 Kf7 43. Bd2 Qh3 44. Bc1 Nc8 45. a5 {6.10/22}) 30... Qe8 {threatening to take the knight and improve my position} 31. g4 { Mitigating the threat but also locking up the position further} b6 {better was Qf7 reinforcing the rook in case of Rh2 and opening of the h file after the knight moves} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 31... Qf7 32. Rh2 Rh8 33. Kg2 Rc8 34. Qc3 Ra8 35. Rfh1 Rh7 36. Be3 Qe7 37. Rf1 Qd8 38. Rh3 Qe8 39. Qd2 Qe7 40. Rfh1 Nb6 41. Bf2 Qf7 42. Qe2 Nfd7 {4.44/23}) 32. Rh2 Qf7 {we get to the position discussed earlier anyway} 33. Kg2 ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 33. Bxg5 fxg5 34. Qe3 Rxh5 35. Rxh5 Nf6 36. Rxg5+ Kh8 37. Kg2 N8h7 38. Rg6 Rg8 39. Qf3 Rg7 40. Rh1 Kg8 41. Rhh6 Qf8 42. Rxg7+ Kxg7 43. Rg6+ Kf7 44. Bc2 Ke7 45. g5 Nxg5 46. Rxg5 Qh6 47. Rg6 Qc1 48. Qe2 Kf7 49. Rg3 Qb2 50. Bd1 Qd4 51. Qd3 Qb2+ 52. Qc2 Qd4 {6.17/20}) 33... Rb8 34. Rfh1 {continuing to neflect Bxg5} Rb7 35. Qg3 Kh8 {Seems like a strange move but I could not think of anything to improve the position so I just "passed"} 36. Rh3 {I think white "passed" the ball back to me here.} Rc7 {Another waiting move. Not waiting for anything in particular but at this point my "plan" is to not do anything to make my position worse and see if white breaks through. Not sure much else could be done at this point.} 37. Qh2 Nb8 {This was a mistake - if my plan was to not worsen my position I did not stick with the plan. When I did this my thought was to connect the rooks and queen - but the knight was useful where it was. This moves it away from defense again.} 38. Bxg5 {White takes this opportunity to break up my kingside.} fxg5 39. f6 Ng6 {trying to protect my rook} 40. Bxg6 {This was a blunder an I think white converted a win to a draw here} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 40. Kg1 Nd7 41. Nf4 Nh4 42. Ne6 Nxf6 43. Nxg5 Qg7 44. Bxh7 Qxg5 45. Rxh4 Qe3+ 46. Kf1 Kg7 47. Qe2 Qf4+ 48. Qf2 Qg5 49. Kg1 Rf7 50. Bf5 e4 51. Bxe4 Re7 52. Bf5 Qe3 53. Qxe3 Rxe3 54. R4h3 Re5 55. Kf2 Re7 56. Re3 Rf7 57. Kg3 Kg8 58. g5 Rg7 59. Be6+ Kf8 60. Rh8+ Ke7 61. Bf5+ { 8.77/21}) 40... Qxg6 41. Ng3 Qc2+ 42. Kg1 Qb1+ 43. Nf1 Rcf7 {could have also considered exchanging here} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 43... Rxh3 44. Qxh3+ {1.82/21}) 44. Rxh7+ Rxh7 45. f7 ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 45. Qxh7+ Qxh7 46. Nd2 Qxh1+ 47. Kxh1 Nd7 48. Ne4 Kg8 49. Kg1 Kf8 50. Kf2 Kg8 51. f7+ Kf8 52. Kf3 Ke7 53. Kg2 Kf8 54. Kf2 Ke7 55. Ke2 Kf8 56. Kf1 Ke7 57. Kf2 Kf8 58. Kf3 {1.75/28}) 45... Nd7 {realizing my knight needed to get back into the defense} 46. Qxh7+ Qxh7 47. Rxh7+ Kxh7 {From here white had to play carefully for a win.} 48. Ng3 ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 48. Ng3 Kg6 49. Nf5 Kxf7 50. Nxd6+ Kg6 51. Ne4 Nf8 52. Kf2 Nh7 53. Nd6 Nf6 54. Kf3 e4+ 55. Nxe4 Nd7 56. Nd6 Ne5+ 57. Ke4 Nxg4 58. Nc8 Kf6 59. Nxb6 Ne5 60. Nc8 Nf7 61. Kf3 Nd8 62. Kg3 Nf7 63. Na7 Ne5 64. Nc6 Nxc6 65. dxc6 Ke6 66. Kg4 Kd6 67. Kxg5 Kxc6 68. Kf4 Kd6 69. Kf5 Kc7 70. Ke5 Kd7 71. Kd5 {1.29/31}) 48... Kg7 49. Nf5+ Kxf7 50. Nxd6+ Kf6 51. Ne4+ Kg6 52. Kg2 Nf6 53. Kf3 Nd7 54. Nd6 Kf6 55. Ke4 Kg6 56. Ne8 Kf7 57. Nc7 Kg6 58. d6 Kf6 59. Kd5 Nb8 60. Nb5 e4 61. Kxe4 Ke6 62. Nc3 Nd7 {This is necessary here - taking with the king loses because it let's white get to g5 } 63. Nd5 Ne5 64. Ne3 {Better was Nc7+ although even that is not a clear win} ( {Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 64. Nc7+ Kxd6 65. Kf5 Nf3 66. Nd5 Kc6) 64... Nf7 {From here I think the game is a dead draw} 65. Nf5 ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 65. Nf5 Nd8 66. Nh6 Nb7 67. Nf5 Nd8 68. Nh6 {0.28/29}) 65... Nd8 66. Nh6 Nb7 67. Nf5 Nd8 68. Ng7+ Kf6 69. Nh5+ Ke6 70. Ng3 Nb7 71. Nf5 Nd8 { Draw by repetition} 1/2-1/2

Here are some of the games from today. I have also pasted the PGN so you can see database games for reference more easily. Matt v. Vince Interesting game with plenty of mistakes to go around [Event "Seattle Chess Meetup"] [Site "Seattle"] [Date "2013.03.24"] [Round "?"] [White "Matt"] [Black "Vince"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C10"] [Annotator "Houdini 2.0c x64 Main (30s)"] [PlyCount "63"] [TimeControl "300"] {400MB, Fritz13.ctg, matt_alienware C10: French with 3 Nc3: Unusual Black 3rd moves and 3...dxe4} 1. d4 {0} d5 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 c5 {0.58/16 last book move} 4. e5 {-0.17/19 exd5 and Nf3 are more frequently played} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main: } 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bb5+ (5. Nf3 c4 6. g3 Bb4 7. Bg2 b5 8. O-O Bxc3 9. bxc3 Ne7 10. Ba3 O-O 11. Re1 Re8 12. Qd2 Be6 13. Ng5 Ng6 14. Nxe6 Rxe6 15. Rxe6 fxe6 16. Qe3 Qf6 17. Bh3 e5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. f4 Ng6 {1-0 Karpov,A (2696)-Korwin Mikke, J/Radom 2000/EXT 2005}) 5... Nc6 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. dxc5 O-O 9. Be3 Qa5 ( 9... Bg4 10. h3 d4 11. Bxc6 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 dxe3 13. Qxd8 exf2+ 14. Rxf2 Raxd8 15. b4 a5 16. a3 axb4 17. axb4 Rd4 18. Rb1 Rc4 19. Nb5 Nd7 20. Re2 Bf6 21. Bxb7 Ne5 22. Bd5 Rh4 23. Nd6 Ng4 24. Nf5 {1-0 Grischuk,A (2720)-Zachmann,R/Mainz 2005/EXT 2007}) 10. Re1 Ne4 11. Qd3 Nb4 12. Qe2 Bxc5 13. Bxc5 Nxc5 {0.58/16}) ( 4. Nf3 Nc6 (4... dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nc6 6. Be3 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nxd4 8. Bxd4 Bd7 9. Be2 Bc6 10. Bf3 Nf6 11. Nxf6+ gxf6 12. Bxc6+ bxc6 13. Qf3 Be7 14. Qxc6+ Kf8 15. Be3 Bb4+ 16. c3 Rc8 17. Bh6+ Kg8 18. Qe4 Bxc3+ 19. bxc3 f5 20. Qe5 {1-0 Triapkin,P (2337)-Kim,S/Uljanovsk 2011/CBM 140 Extra}) 5. exd5 exd5 6. Be2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. Bg5 O-O 9. dxc5 Be6 10. Qd2 Qa5 11. Rfd1 Rfd8 12. Nb5 Qxd2 13. Nxd2 Bxc5 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Nb3 Bb6 16. c3 Ne5 17. a4 a6 18. N5d4 Rac8 19. Kf1 Kf8 20. h3 Ke7 21. Re1 Kf8 22. a5 Ba7 23. Ra4 Rd6 24. Rb4 Rc7 25. f4 Nc4 26. Bd3 h6 27. Re2 Bd7 28. Ke1 Bc8 29. Ra4 Be6 30. Ra1 Re7 31. Kf1 Rd8 32. Rae1 Rde8 33. Nxe6+ Rxe6 34. Bxc4 dxc4 35. Nd2 Be3 36. Nxc4 Bxf4 37. Nb6 Bg3 38. Rxe6 fxe6 39. Rd1 Re7 40. b4 Ke8 41. c4 Bc7 42. Na4 Bb8 43. Nc5 f5 44. b5 axb5 45. cxb5 e5 46. b6 e4 47. Rb1 Kd8 48. a6 bxa6 49. b7 a5 50. Na6 Ba7 51. b8=Q+ Bxb8 52. Rxb8+ Kd7 53. Rb5 Kc6 54. Rxa5 Rf7 55. Nb4+ Kd6 56. Nc2 Rc7 57. Ne1 Ke6 58. Ra6+ Ke5 59. Rxh6 Kf4 60. Ra6 Rc3 61. Ra5 Rb3 62. Rc5 Rb1 63. Rc3 Kg5 64. Rg3+ Kf4 65. Rg6 Ke3 66. Ra6 {1-0 Tan Cheng Xuan (2410)-Farina,S (2120)/Rome 1995/EXT 2000}) 4... cxd4 {-0.03/19} 5. Qxd4 {-0.15/20 Nb5 is more frequently played here} (5. Nb5 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bc5 (6... Bb4+ 7. c3 dxc3 8. bxc3 Bc5 9. Bd3 Nge7 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 Ng6 12. Ng5 Qb6 13. Qh5 Bxf2+ 14. Kh1 h6 15. Nxf7 Nce7 16. Nxh6+ gxh6 17. Bxh6 Rf5 18. Bxf5 exf5 19. Reb1 f4 20. Bg5 Bf5 21. Rb3 Qe3 22. Nd4 Qxe5 23. Bxe7 Nxe7 24. Rxb7 Rf8 25. Rxe7 Qxe7 26. Nxf5 Qf6 27. Nh6+ Kg7 28. Ng4 Qxc3 29. Qg5+ Kh8 30. Rb1 Bb6 31. Ne5 Kh7 32. Rf1 f3 33. Qg6+ Kh8 34. Qh6+ Kg8 35. Qe6+ Kh7 36. gxf3 Qc7 37. Nd7 {1-0 Vosahlik,J (2456)-Popov,A (1314)/Chessfriend.com 2004/Corr 2008}) 7. a3 (7. h4 a6 8. Nbxd4 Bxd4 9. Nxd4 Nxe5 10. Bf4 Ng6 11. Bg3 e5 12. h5 Qa5+ 13. c3 exd4 14. Qxd4 Nf6 15. hxg6 fxg6 16. Bd6 Kf7 17. Be5 Re8 18. O-O-O h5 19. Kb1 Bf5+ 20. Bd3 Bxd3+ 21. Rxd3 Rad8 22. Rf3 Re6 23. g4 hxg4 24. Rxf6+ gxf6 25. Bc7 {1-0 Vosahlik,J (2456)-Yarokhovich,Y (1800)/Chessfriend. com 2004/Corr 2008}) 7... a6 (7... Nge7 8. b4 Bb6 9. Bd3 a6 10. Nd6+ Kf8 11. O-O Ng6 12. Bxg6 hxg6 13. Re1 Bc7 14. Bf4 g5 15. Bxg5 f6 16. Nxc8 fxg5 17. Nd6 Bxd6 18. exd6 Qxd6 19. g3 e5 20. Nxg5 Kg8 21. f4 Rf8 22. fxe5 Nxe5 23. Rf1 Rxf1+ 24. Qxf1 Qg6 25. h4 Nf7 26. Qxf7+ Qxf7 27. Nxf7 Kxf7 28. Rd1 Ke6 29. Rxd4 {1/2-1/2 Nejtek,J (2453)-Hayes,M (2067)/ICCF email 2008/Corr 2011}) 8. b4 axb5 9. bxc5 Nge7 10. h4 Qc7 11. h5 Nxe5 12. h6 Rg8 13. Nxd4 Qxc5 14. Nb3 Qc7 15. hxg7 Rxg7 16. Bb2 f6 17. Bxb5+ Bd7 18. Bxd7+ Kxd7 19. Qe2 Rc8 {Equidistance-Raj quidistance-Rajlich,V (2304) playchess.com INT 2006 0-1 (56)}) 5... Nc6 {-0.24/ 19} 6. Bb5 {-0.31/20} (6. Qe3 d4 7. Qd3 dxc3 8. Qxd8+ Nxd8 9. bxc3 Bc5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bxd7+ Kxd7 12. Nf3 Ne7 13. O-O Ng6 14. Rb1 b6 15. Bg5 h6 16. Rfd1+ Kc7 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. fxe3 Nc6 19. Rb5 Rhd8 20. Nd4 a6 {Grodas,O-Winkler,S (1916) Caleta 2010 0-1 (46)}) 6... Nge7 {-0.31/18} (6... Bd7 7. Bxc6 bxc6 (7... Bxc6 8. Nf3 Qb6 9. Qxb6 axb6 10. O-O Bc5 11. Rd1 Ne7 12. Nd4 Bxd4 13. Rxd4 b5 14. Bd2 O-O 15. Rb4 Ra4 16. Ne2 Rfa8 17. a3 R4a6 18. Rb3 Nf5 19. Bb4 Rd8 20. Rd1 Rd7 21. g4 Ne7 22. h3 Ra8 23. f4 g6 24. Kf2 Re8 25. Bxe7 Rexe7 26. Nd4 Re8 27. c3 Ra8 28. Nxb5 Ra5 29. a4 Rxa4 30. Rd4 Bxb5 31. Rxb5 Rxd4 32. cxd4 Rc7 33. g5 Kg7 34. h4 h6 35. Rc5 Rc6 36. b4 hxg5 37. b5 Rxc5 38. dxc5 Kf8 39. c6 {1-0 Giglio,S (1741)-Orza,P (1600)/Mestre 2001/EXT 2005}) 8. Nf3 c5 9. Qg4 Ne7 10. O-O h5 11. Qh3 Qb8 12. a3 g5 13. Nxg5 Qxe5 14. Bd2 Qf5 15. Rfe1 Qxh3 16. Nxh3 Bg7 17. Nf4 O-O-O 18. Rab1 Nf5 19. Nce2 Bb5 20. b3 Bxe2 21. Nxe2 Kd7 22. c4 dxc4 23. bxc4 Kc6 24. Bc3 Bxc3 25. Nxc3 Nd6 26. Nb5 Nc8 27. Rbc1 Rd3 28. Kf1 a6 29. Nc3 Nd6 30. Red1 Rd4 31. Rxd4 cxd4 32. c5 Nb5 33. Nb1 Rb8 34. Ke2 e5 35. h3 f5 36. g3 e4 37. Rc4 a5 38. Rc1 Nc7 {0-1 Splichal,J (2261)-Hladecek,M (2281)/ ICCF 2005/Corr 2008}) 7. Nf3 $146 {-0.31/18 Houdini considers this to be the best move - however Bg5 is more common in my database with 4 out of 7 games. Only 1 of the four was a win for white however.} (7. Bg5 Bd7 8. Bxc6 Nxc6 9. Qd2 Qc7 10. f4 a6 11. Nf3 Bc5 12. Bh4 O-O 13. Bf2 Bxf2+ 14. Qxf2 f6 15. exf6 Rxf6 16. g3 Raf8 17. O-O-O b5 18. Qc5 Rc8 19. Rhe1 Qb8 20. Nxd5 exd5 21. Qxd5+ Kh8 {Jones,R-Zialor,M Turin 2006 1-0 (58)} 22. Qxd7 Rd8 23. Qg4 b4 24. Rxd8+ Qxd8 25. Rd1 Qe8 26. Ne5 h5 27. Qd7 Qxd7 28. Nxd7 Re6 29. Rd5 g6 30. Ne5 Ne7 31. Rd6 Rxd6 32. Nf7+ Kg7 33. Nxd6 Kf6 34. Kd2 Ke6 35. Ne4 Kd5 36. Kd3 a5 37. h3 a4 38. a3 Nc6 39. c4+ bxc3 40. Nxc3+ Kd6 41. Nxa4 Na7 42. Nc3 Nc8 43. b4 Kc6 44. a4 Nd6 45. g4 hxg4 46. hxg4 Nf7 47. Kd4 Nh6 48. b5+ Kb6 49. Nd5+ Kb7 50. Nf6 Nf7 51. Kc5 Ka7 52. a5 g5 53. fxg5 Nxg5 54. Kd5 Nf7 55. Ne4 Nh6 56. g5 Nf5 57. Ke5 Ne7 58. Ke6 Ng6 {1-0 Jones,R-Zialor,M/Turin 2006/CBM 113}) 7... a6 {-0. 21/20} (7... Ng6 8. Qg4 Be7 9. Bd3 O-O 10. Bg5 Ncxe5 11. Nxe5 Bxg5 12. Nf3 Bf6 13. h4 e5 14. Bf5 e4 15. h5 exf3 16. hxg6 Bxc3+ 17. bxc3 Qe7+ 18. Kd1 Qe2+ 19. Kc1 fxg6 20. Bxc8 Raxc8 21. gxf3 Rxc3 22. Qa4 b5 23. Qb3 Rxb3 24. axb3 Rc8 25. Ra2 a5 26. Kb1 a4 27. bxa4 bxa4 28. Rc1 d4 29. Ra3 Rc3 30. Ra2 d3 31. Rb2 a3 32. Ra2 dxc2+ 33. Raxc2 a2+ 34. Kb2 Rxc2+ 35. Rxc2 a1=Q+ 36. Kxa1 Qxc2 {0-1 Yaniz Gonzalez,J (1525)-Romero Calduch,S (1948)/Valencia 2012/CBM 147 Extra}) 8. Bxc6+ {-0.17/19} Nxc6 {-0.02/18} 9. Qd1 {-0.50/20 Qf4 was better here leading to an equal game. Rescues the queen while also putting it on a useful square (adding protection to both e5 and d4 and also putting pressure on the kingside.} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 9. Qf4 h6 10. O-O Bd7 11. Be3 Ne7 12. Bc5 Rc8 13. Bd6 Qb6 14. Qc1 Nf5 15. Bxf8 Kxf8 16. Rd1 Rc4 17. Ne2 Re4 18. Nc3 Rb4 19. b3 Kg8 20. h3 Kh7 21. a3 {-0.19/22}) 9... Be7 {-0.36/18} 10. a3 { -0.57/20 Not a very useful move. Nb4 here is not a threat - it is already on a great square preparing d4 and pressuring e5. My move a3 just wasted time. Time to just castle.} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 10. O-O O-O 11. a3 Bd7 12. Qd3 h6 13. Re1 Rc8 14. b4 Qb6 15. Rb1 Qc7 16. Bd2 b5 17. h3 Rfd8 18. Rbd1 Re8 19. Rb1 d4 20. Ne2 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 Qxe5 22. Nxd4 {-0.39/20}) 10... O-O {-0. 47/17} 11. O-O {-0.51/19} f6 {-0.23/19} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 11... Bd7 12. Qd3 h6 13. Re1 Rc8 14. Bf4 Qb6 15. Be3 Qc7 16. Rad1 Rfe8 17. Bf4 Bc5 18. Be3 Bf8 19. h3 Be7 20. Ra1 Red8 21. Rab1 Re8 22. Rbc1 Rf8 23. Ra1 Rfd8 24. Rab1 {-0.40/22}) 12. Re1 {-0.53/19 Was better to simply take here} ({Houdini 2. 0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 12. exf6 Bxf6 13. Qd3 Bd7 14. Re1 Rc8 15. Rb1 Qc7 16. Ng5 Bxg5 17. Bxg5 Ne5 18. Qd4 Rf5 19. Be3 Nc4 20. f3 b5 21. Bf2 Nxa3 22. Rbc1 Nc4 23. b3 Na3 24. Qb4 Qxc3 25. Qxa3 a5 {-0.32/20}) 12... fxe5 {-0.73/20} 13. Nxe5 {-0.48/19} Nxe5 {-0.70/18} 14. Rxe5 {-0.47/19} Bf6 {-0.47/18} 15. Rh5 {-1.24/ 18 This adventure on the kingside was silly - I had no real attack} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main:} 15. Re2 Qb6 16. a4 Bd7 17. a5 Qb4 18. Ra3 Qc4 19. Rb3 Bc6 20. Rxe6 d4 21. Rxc6 bxc6 22. Ne4 Be5 23. Rb6 Qd5 24. Qe2 Bc7 25. Rb7 Rae8 26. f3 Qxa5 27. Qc4+ Qd5 28. Qxa6 {-0.47/18}) 15... d4 {0.06/20} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main:} 15... Qb6 16. Na4 Qc6 17. Nc3 d4 18. Na2 e5 19. c3 Qe4 20. h3 Be6 21. cxd4 Bf7 22. Rxe5 Bxe5 23. dxe5 Rfd8 24. Qf1 Qxe5 25. Nc3 Rac8 26. Be3 Bc4 27. Qb1 Rf8 28. Qe4 {-1.24/18}) 16. Ne4 {0.19/18} g6 {0.06/17} 17. Rh3 {-0.29/21 I thought about Qg4 here but was worried abot e5 - however in retrospect I did not need to be} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 17. Qg4 b6 (17... e5 18. Qg3 {and white is OK}) 18. Bh6 Rf7 19. Qg3 Bb7 20. Nd6 Rd7 21. Nxb7 Rxb7 22. Rh3 Rc8 23. Qd3 Rf7 24. Rf3 a5 25. Re1 Qd5 26. a4 Qc6 27. Qb3 Qxc2 28. Qxe6 {0.09/ 21}) 17... e5 {-0.29/18} 18. Nxf6+ {-0.29/20} Qxf6 {-0.26/21} 19. Rf3 {-0.09/22 } Qe7 {0.24/19} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 19... Bf5 20. g4 Bxc2 21. Rxf6 Bxd1 22. Rxf8+ Rxf8 23. Bh6 Bxg4 24. Bxf8 Kxf8 25. Kf1 Ke7 26. Rc1 Bh3+ 27. Ke2 Kd6 28. Rg1 Bd7 29. Kd2 Kd5 30. Re1 g5 31. f3 Bc6 32. Rg1 h6 33. Rg3 Be8 34. Rg1 b6 35. Rc1 {-0.18/22}) 20. Bh6 {-0.07/20} Rf7 {0.32/22} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 20... Re8 21. h3 {-0.10/21}) 21. Rxf7 {0.43/21} Qxf7 { 0.45/20} 22. Qd3 {-0.07/22 f4 push was better here trying to get control of the diagonal with my queen} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 22. f4 Qd5 23. fxe5 Bf5 24. Qe2 Rd8 25. Re1 d3 26. cxd3 Qd4+ 27. Kh1 Qxd3 28. Qxd3 Bxd3 29. Kg1 Re8 30. Kf2 Kf7 31. Kg3 Bf5 32. Bg5 Ke6 33. Rc1 Kxe5 34. Rc7 b6 35. Rxh7 { 0.40/22}) 22... Bf5 {-0.07/20} 23. Qd2 {-0.07/20} Rc8 {-0.01/19} 24. Rc1 {-0. 08/18} Qc4 {0.02/18} 25. b3 {-0.29/18 This was a time waster. I ended up playing Qg5 later anyway - was better to just play it now.} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 25. Qg5 Qe6 26. c3 d3 27. Re1 Re8 28. Qe3 Qd5 29. Qb6 e4 30. Qf6 Qd7 31. c4 Qe7 32. Qb6 Qd7 33. Qb4 Rc8 34. h3 a5 35. Qc3 a4 36. c5 Re8 37. Qf6 Rc8 38. Qc3 Re8 {0.00/5}) 25... Qc3 {-0.01/23} 26. Qg5 {0.10/21} Qc7 {0.06/21} 27. h4 {-0.21/20 This pawn push was an empty threat. Better was g4 that actually attacked the bishop or qf6 right away.} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64: 1)} 27. Qf6 Re8 28. c3 d3 29. Re1 Qe7 30. Qxe7 Rxe7 31. f3 Kf7 32. c4 b5 33. c5 e4 34. Kf2 exf3 35. gxf3 Rxe1 36. Kxe1 Ke6 37. Kd2 a5 38. b4 axb4 39. axb4 Kd5 40. Be3 Kc6 41. Bf4 h5 42. h4 {0.03/22}) ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64: 2)} 27. g4 Bd7 28. f4 d3 29. Qf6 Bxg4 30. fxe5 Bh3 31. Rf1 Bxf1 32. Qe6+ Kh8 33. Qf6+ Kg8 34. Qe6+ {0.00/5}) 27... d3 {-0.04/20} 28. h5 {-1.38/20 Wasting time with this pawn push nearly cost me the game. Much better was g4 or cxd (although cxd could result in a rapid transition to a bishop endgame)} ( {Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64: 1)} 28. cxd3 Qxc1+ 29. Qxc1 Rxc1+ 30. Bxc1 Bxd3 31. Bb2 e4 32. Kh2 Kf7 33. Kg3 Bf1 34. Be5 Ke6 35. Bd4 Kf5 36. Be3 Bd3 37. Bg5 Bc2 38. b4 Bd3 39. Bd2 Bb5 40. Be3 Bd3 41. a4 Bc4 42. Bd4 Bd3 43. Be3 Bc4 {0. 00/5}) ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64: 2)} 28. g4 Be6 29. Qf6 Qf7 30. Qxe5 dxc2 31. Be3 Qe7 32. h5 gxh5 33. Bd4 hxg4 34. b4 Kf7 35. Qh5+ Kf8 36. Bc5 Rxc5 37. bxc5 Qd7 38. Qh6+ Ke8 39. Rxc2 Qd1+ 40. Kh2 Qxc2 41. Qxe6+ Kd8 42. Qf6+ Ke8 43. Qe6+ Kd8 {0.00/5}) 28... Qf7 {0.12/21} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main:} 28... dxc2 29. Qf6 Re8 30. Kf1 Bd3+ 31. Kg1 gxh5 32. Qf3 Bg6 33. b4 Qf7 34. Qg3 Qd7 35. Qc3 b5 36. Qf3 Qe6 37. Qb7 Qe7 38. Qxa6 Rd8 39. Rf1 Be8 40. Bc1 Rd1 41. Qb6 { -1.38/20}) 29. cxd3 {0.25/22} Rxc1+ {0.15/14} 30. Qxc1 {0.22/20} Bxd3 {#2/11 White blundered. Qxb3 would have kept the game even. This led to mate.} ({ Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 30... Qxb3 31. Kh2 Qxd3 32. Qc5 Kf7 33. Qxe5 Qd7 34. hxg6+ hxg6 35. Bg5 Kg8 36. f3 Qe6 37. Qc7 Qd7 38. Qb8+ Qc8 39. Qd6 Qd7 40. Qc5 Qh7+ 41. Kg1 Qf7 42. Qe5 b5 43. Bd2 Qd7 {0.17/5}) 31. Qc8+ {#1/12} Qe8 {#1/11} 32. Qxe8# 1-0 Matt v. Steve I keep missing tactics, like pinned pawns [Event "Seattle Chess Meetup"] [Site "?"] [Date "2013.03.24"] [Round "?"] [White "Matt"] [Black "Steve"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D00"] [Annotator "Houdini 2.0c x64 Main (30s)"] [PlyCount "36"] {D00: 1 d4 d5: Unusual lines} 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4 dxe4 4. f3 exf3 5. Nxf3 g6 6. Bc4 {Bc4 is the most common continuation but Bf4 seems to be slightly better statistically for white. Houdini likes Bc4.} (6. Bf4 Bg7 7. Qd2 O-O 8. O-O-O c6 (8... a6 9. h4 b5 10. h5 Nxh5 11. Bh6 Bg4 12. Be2 Nd7 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. Rh4 Ndf6 15. Ne5 b4 16. Nxg4 bxc3 17. Qh6+ Kg8 18. Nxf6+ Nxf6 19. g4 Rb8 20. bxc3 Qd6 21. Rf1 Rfe8 22. Bc4 Qc6 23. Bd3 Qxc3 24. g5 Qa3+ 25. Kd2 Qa5+ 26. Ke3 Qd5 27. Be4 Qd6 28. gxf6 exf6 29. Kf3 Qxd4 30. Qxh7+ Kf8 31. Qh6+ Ke7 32. Re1 Kd8 33. Bxg6 Qc3+ 34. Re3 Rxe3+ 35. Qxe3 Qxe3+ 36. Kxe3 Rb2 37. Rh8+ Ke7 38. Rh7 Rxa2 39. Rxf7+ Kd6 40. Rxf6+ Ke7 41. Rc6 Kd7 42. Be4 a5 43. Kf4 a4 44. Ke5 Rb2 45. Ra6 Rb5+ 46. Kf6 Rb6+ 47. Rxb6 cxb6 48. Ke5 b5 49. Kd4 {1-0 Haugen, A (2556)-Bastos,P (2473)/ICCF email 2008/Corr 2011}) 9. Kb1 a5 10. h4 h5 11. Bd3 Na6 12. Bxa6 Rxa6 13. Bh6 a4 14. a3 b5 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Rhe1 Bf5 17. Na2 Qd6 18. Nb4 Ra7 19. Nd3 Rb8 20. Ka1 Bxd3 21. Qxd3 b4 22. Ne5 Rab7 23. Nc4 Qc7 24. Re5 bxa3 25. bxa3 Ng4 26. Re2 Rb5 27. Rf1 Rd5 28. Ne3 Qb7 29. c4 Nxe3 30. Qxe3 Rf5 31. Rd1 e6 32. Ka2 Rf4 {0-1 Haugen,A (2556)-Donnelly,M (2486)/ICCF email 2008/Corr 2011}) 6... Bg7 7. Be3 $146 {castles is the most common continuation here, followed by Ne5. Be3 has been played but statistically is much worse even though houdini shows all the moves being roughly equal.} (7. Bf4 a6 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O Nbd7 10. h4 h5 11. Bh6 b5 12. Bb3 Bb7 13. Qg5 Kh7 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Bxf7 Rxf7 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Qc8 18. exf6+ exf6 19. Qd2 Qg4 20. Ne2 Re8 21. Nf4 Re4 {Balogh,P (1836)-Sosovicka,M (1955) Sliac 2011 1-0 (34)}) (7. Bg5 O-O 8. Qd2 (8. O-O Nbd7 9. Qe1 Nb6 10. Bb3 a5 11. a4 c6 12. Qh4 Nbd5 13. Rae1 Be6 14. Ne5 Rc8 15. Rf3 Rc7 16. g4 Qc8 17. Rh3 Bxg4 18. Nxd5 cxd5 19. Bxf6 Bxh3 20. Bxe7 Rxe7 21. Qxe7 Be6 22. c3 Qd8 {Herzog,F-Froeschl,F (2210) Austria 1995 0-1 (32)}) 8... a6 (8... Nbd7 9. O-O-O c6 10. Qf4 Nb6 11. Bd3 Nbd5 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. Qh4 Re8 14. Rhf1 Be6 15. Bh6 Bf6 16. Bg5 Ne3 17. Rde1 Nxg2 18. Qg3 Nxe1 19. Rxe1 Bd5 20. Ne5 Bxe5 21. dxe5 Qa5 22. a3 Be6 23. Bd2 {Balo,T (2025)-Kobaly,V Hungary 2008 0-1 (34)}) 9. a3 b5 10. Bb3 Nbd7 11. Qf2 Bb7 12. Rd1 Qc8 13. O-O c5 14. Qh4 c4 15. Ba2 Qc6 16. Rde1 Rae8 17. Rf2 h6 18. Bxh6 Bxh6 19. Qxh6 Ng4 20. Qh4 Nxf2 21. d5 Qb6 {Flindt,T (2171)-Pilgaard,K (2415) Esbjerg 2005 0-1}) (7. O-O O-O 8. h3 (8. Qe1 Nc6 9. Qh4 Ng4 10. h3 Nxd4 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Be3 Nf5 13. Rxf5 Bxf5 14. Rd1 Qe8 15. g4 Bxc2 16. Rd2 Ba4 17. Rf2 Kh8 18. Nxh7 {1-0 Kauppala,P (2510)-Gambaeck,B/ICCF corr 2002/Corr 2008}) 8... a6 9. a4 Qd6 10. Qe1 Nc6 11. Qh4 Bf5 12. Bf4 Qb4 13. Bb3 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Qxd4+ 15. Kh1 c5 16. Qe1 Rfe8 17. Be5 Qd7 18. a5 Qc8 19. Na4 Qc6 20. Nb6 Bxh3 21. Qg3 Be6 22. Ba4 Qe4 23. Rae1 Qb4 24. Qf4 Qxa5 25. Nxa8 Rxa8 26. Bc7 Qb4 27. Qxb4 cxb4 28. Ba5 b5 29. Bb3 Bxb3 30. cxb3 Nd5 31. Rf2 Rc8 32. Rd1 e6 33. Rdf1 f5 34. Re2 Kf7 35. g4 f4 36. Kg2 g5 37. Kf3 Bf8 38. Rd1 h6 39. Ra1 Bg7 40. Rd1 Bf8 41. Ra1 Rc6 42. Rd1 Be7 43. Rh1 Rd6 44. Rd1 Nf6 45. Rxd6 Bxd6 46. Bd8 Be7 47. Bc7 Nd5 48. Be5 Bf6 49. Bd6 a5 50. Rc2 a4 51. Rc5 Bxb2 52. Rxb5 a3 53. Ra5 Bc3 54. Ra7+ Kg6 55. Bf8 h5 56. gxh5+ Kxh5 57. Ra6 g4+ 58. Ke4 Kg5 59. Rxe6 Nf6+ {0-1 Djurhuus,R (2510)-Raaste,E (2345)/Jyvaskyla 1998/EXT 2000}) 7... O-O 8. O-O (8. Qd2 c6 9. a4 Nbd7 10. O-O Nb6 11. Bb3 Nbd5 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Bh6 Bf5 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Ne5 Be4 16. Rf2 Ng8 17. Raf1 f6 18. Ng4 Qd7 19. Ne3 Rad8 20. Rf4 Nh6 21. Rh4 Nf7 22. Qe2 Rc8 23. c3 Rc6 24. Rhf4 Rb6 25. Bd1 e5 26. R4f2 Re6 27. Qg4 Qe7 28. Qg3 exd4 29. cxd4 Qd6 30. Qh3 Ng5 31. Qg4 Bd3 32. Re1 Re4 33. Qg3 Qxg3 34. hxg3 Rfe8 35. Bb3 Rxe3 36. Rc1 Bc4 37. Bxc4 dxc4 38. Rxc4 R3e7 39. Rfc2 Ne4 {0-1 Duda,R (1900)-Capaces,F (2175)/Metz 1996/EXT 1998}) 8... c6 9. Ne2 { better was Qd2, although in the few games in my database, black ultimately won. Qd2 has the advantage of protecting the bishop and also threathening Bh6.} (9. Qd2 Nbd7 (9... Ng4 10. Ng5 Nxe3 11. Bxf7+ Kh8 12. Kh1 Nxf1 13. Rxf1 Na6 14. Rf4 Bh6 15. d5 Bxg5 {0-1 Stanulis,T-Walker,L/Detroit 1992/EXT 2003}) 10. Rad1 (10. Rae1 Nb6 11. Bd3 Nbd5 12. Bh6 Re8 13. Qg5 Bh8 14. Ne5 Qb6 15. Nxd5 cxd5 16. c3 Ne4 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. Rxe4 Bf6 19. Qd2 Bf5 20. Re2 Rad8 21. Bg5 Bxe5 22. Rxe5 f6 23. Rexf5 gxf5 24. Bh6 e5 25. Qf2 f4 26. dxe5 Qxf2+ 27. Rxf2 Rd1+ 28. Rf1 Rxf1+ 29. Kxf1 fxe5 30. g3 Kf7 31. gxf4 Kg6 32. Bg5 exf4 33. Bh4 Kh5 34. Bf2 Kg4 35. a3 Kf3 36. Bxa7 Re2 37. b4 Rxh2 38. a4 Rh1+ 39. Bg1 h5 {0-1 Hampel, D-Gattermayer,R (2020)/Poysdorf 1994/EXT 2002}) 10... Nb6 11. Bb3 Nbd5 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Bh6 Bg4 14. Rde1 Bxf3 15. Rxf3 e6 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Ref1 Ne4 18. Qf4 Rc8 19. Re1 Qc7 20. Qh4 Qd8 {1/2-1/2 Graham,N (1925)-Heard,A (1975)/Hinckley Island 2008/EXT 2010}) ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 9. Qd2 Bf5 10. Rae1 Nbd7 11. Bf4 Nb6 12. Bd3 Nh5 13. Be3 Bxd3 14. Qxd3 Nf6 15. Bf4 Nbd5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Bd2 Qd6 18. c4 Nb4 19. Bxb4 Qxb4 20. a3 Qd6 21. Ne5 Rad8 {-0.20/19}) 9... Bg4 10. c3 {Not very active - should not have worried about protecting d4 yet again and instead should have played Qd2 for the reasons previously stated. } Nbd7 11. Qb3 $2 {I keep neglecting Qd2} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64:} 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Rxf3 e5 13. Qd2 e4 14. Rff1 Nd5 15. Rae1 Qe7 16. Nf4 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 Rae8 18. Nd3 Nb6 19. Bb3 Qc7 20. Nc5 Nd5 21. Bxd5 cxd5 {-0.55/18}) 11... b5 12. Bd3 Bxf3 13. Rxf3 e5 14. Bg5 h6 {This was a mistake by black that gave me chances again - but I missed the opportunity...} 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Qc2 {Had the right idea but executed it wrong. Missed that the pawn was pinned and I could have immediately taken Bxg6. Also missed that in this position the bishop sac would amount to nothing after Bg7.} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main _20_x64: } 16. Bxg6 exd4 17. cxd4 Qe7 18. Re3 Qd6 19. Rf1 Rad8 20. Kh1 Qd5 21. Qxd5 cxd5 22. Bh5 Bg5 23. Rg3 Kh7 24. Nc3 f5 25. Nxd5 Nf6 26. Nxf6+ Rxf6 27. Rc3 Rxd4 28. Rc7+ Kg8 29. Rxa7 Rc6 30. Rb7 b4 31. Bf7+ Kf8 {0.83/19}) 16... exd4 17. Bxg6 fxg6 18. Qxg6+ Bg7 {...and white has nothing. I played on for a bit and then resigned.} 0-1 Josh v. Matt I missed another obvious tactic opportunity in this game [Event "Seattle Chess Meetup"] [Site "?"] [Date "2013.03.24"] [Round "?"] [White "Josh"] [Black "Matt"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A45"] [Annotator "Houdini 2.0c x64 Main (30s)"] [PlyCount "54"] {A45: Trompowsky Attack} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 g6 3. Bxf6 exf6 4. e4 Bg7 5. Ne2 $146 (5. Bd3 Qe7 (5... d6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O c5 8. c3 Nc6 9. Nbd2 Bg4 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Nxf3 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. cxd4 d5 14. Qf3 dxe4 15. Bxe4 f5 16. Bxb7 Rb8 17. b3 Bxd4 18. Rac1 Qb6 19. Bd5 Rbc8 20. Bc4 {Leonard,B-Dias,P Szombathely 1993 0-1 (41)}) (5... O-O 6. Nf3 d5 7. exd5 Re8+ 8. Be2 Qxd5 9. O-O Nc6 10. c3 Bg4 11. Nbd2 Rad8 12. Re1 Qh5 13. h3 Bc8 14. Ne5 Qg5 15. Ndf3 Qh6 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Bc4 g5 18. Qa4 f5 19. Qxa7 g4 20. Qxc7 {Trojacek,P (2165)-Jirkovsky,T Czechia 1996 1-0}) 6. Ne2 d6 7. O-O O-O 8. c3 Re8 9. Ng3 b6 10. Nd2 Bb7 11. Qc2 c5 12. d5 Nd7 13. f4 a6 14. c4 Rab8 15. a4 Ba8 16. Ne2 f5 17. exf5 gxf5 18. Ng3 Bd4+ 19. Kh1 Qf6 {Gosztola,I-Papai,J (2255) Szekszard 1989 1-0 (37)}) (5. f4 O-O 6. Bd3 d5 7. Ne2 c5 8. c3 Re8 9. exd5 Qxd5 10. O-O c4 11. Bc2 Bg4 12. Re1 Qe6 13. Kf1 Nd7 14. Nd2 Bh6 15. h3 Bxe2+ 16. Qxe2 Nb6 17. Qxe6 fxe6 18. g3 e5 19. Ne4 Bg7 {Haller,C (2180)-Gladyszev,O (2325) Balatonbereny 1996 1/2-1/2}) (5. Bc4 d6 6. Ne2 O-O 7. O-O f5 8. exf5 Bxf5 9. Ng3 Be6 10. d5 Bd7 11. Nc3 f5 12. f4 a6 13. a4 Bc8 14. Nge2 Qf6 15. Qd2 Nd7 16. Rad1 Re8 17. Nd4 Qxd4+ 18. Qxd4 Bxd4+ 19. Rxd4 Nf6 {Sandham,D (1925)-Armstrong,W (1960) Telford 2005 1/2-1/2 (40)}) 5... d6 6. Nd2 O-O 7. Rc1 f5 8. f3 fxe4 9. fxe4 Nc6 10. c3 f5 11. Ng3 fxe4 12. Ndxe4 Bh6 13. Rc2 Bf5 14. Bc4+ d5 15. Nxf5 Rxf5 16. Bb3 Qh4+ 17. Ng3 Re8+ 18. Re2 Rff8 19. Bxd5+ Kh8 20. Bf3 Be3 21. d5 Na5 22. Qd3 Nc4 23. b3 Bd2+ 24. Kd1 { Blunder by white. Unfortunately I was asleep at the wheel and missed the opportunity to fork king and queen.} Rxe2 ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main:} 24... Nb2+ 25. Kxd2 Nxd3 26. Kxd3 Rxe2 27. Nxe2 Re8 28. h3 Qf2 29. Rd1 Kg7 30. a4 a5 31. Rd2 Qf1 32. Kc2 Qa1 33. Kd3 Qb1+ 34. Kc4 Qf1 35. Rc2 h5 36. Rc1 Qf2 37. Rc2 Qe3 38. b4 axb4 39. cxb4 {-3.53/21}) 25. Bxe2 Qf4 {Still missing it! and also destroyed my position in the process.} ({Houdini 2.0c x64 Main:} 25... Nb2+ 26. Kxd2 Nxd3 27. Kxd3 Rf2 28. Bf3 Qf4 29. Rd1 Rxa2 30. b4 a6 31. Ne4 a5 32. bxa5 Rxa5 33. Kc2 Qe5 34. Ng3 Kg7 35. Rb1 b6 36. Rb4 Qe1 37. Ne2 Ra2+ 38. Kd3 Qd1+ 39. Ke3 g5 {-4.91/20}) 26. Qxc4 Qxc4 27. Bxc4 Bxc3 {Black resigns shortly thereafter} 1-0

I thought the following game was very interesting in that it has instructive middle game content as well as end game content (well instructive at my level anyway ). Some interesting aspects of the game: 1. It is a bit off-beat variation of the Pirc 2. In the middle game some tactics were completely missed 3. At the end game both Rogerio and I misread the position and thought black had the advantage - we were convinced this was a win for black 4. Had the game continued properly, it would have been a queen race resulting in both sides queening 5. I am convinced this is a draw - backed up by running a tournament pitting Houdini v. Houdini from the queened position See game below with some comments...

I found this game to be a lot of fun. It was a 30 minute game and we were able to record it. Some interesting tactics were missed and I think there are some nuggets in this game. I was black and had some really good opportunities that I missed, and then blew the transition into the endgame. Some comments by me and a lot of houdini 2 lines. Also included houdini 2 move evaluations with depth noted. Well played Kevin.

Now that a number of us are settled in at chess.com, I can start a tournament for us (limited to members of the meetup group). Let me know if you are interested and if we have more than three people in addition to me I'll start it.

Here is a recent game with Ani at last Thursday's meetup. It was an interesting game with each of us making several errors passing the advantage back and forth, but overall Ani played a better game and the game ended with mate in six.

Ani this is the position we reached. I can't find a way for us to continue the game from this position but we can do it in this thread using the position embed tool. White clearly has a huge material advantage - but I am not sure how easy this will be to turn into a mate. 1...kf6

i was wondering if anyone could see a reason why white resign once i took his pawn?

http://www.chess.com/tournament/improving-you-pirc-skills i created a tournament for people that want to explore the pirc defense.

This is a repeat of info on our main website, but thought it worthwhile to post here as well. Here are some links to get you started with open source chess programs and software. For a commercial/paid chess analysis client, I strongly recommend Chess Aquarium. I use it for managing my database and analyzing my past games. You can install any UCI compatible chess engine to it. You can purchase Aquarium from ChessOK. Don't get the fancy version with deep rybka, since now there are open source engines out there that are much stronger than Rybka there really is no point. In my opinion Aquarium is MUCH better than the Fritz client. However, you don't need to spend a dime to have excellent chess software. See below. Chess.Com itself has an extensive downloads database: http://www.chess.com/downloads Discussion Forums: http://www.open-chess.org/index.php http://www.autochess.com/forum/ http://rybkaforum.net/cgi-bin/rybkaforum/forum_show.pl#bid9 Engines: Some awesome open source engines include: Houdini 1.5 (formerly the top engine, now there is Houdine 2.0 but that one is paid - I bought it but frankly 1.5 is awesome enough). Houdini is a tactical monster. Komodo 3...this is a great engine that is more "human like" in its moves. It is expected to become the #1 engine soon when they release a multiprocessor version. Consensus is it does better in positional play. Stockfish...another fantastic engine. Critter - yet another very strong engine Fire - this engine is believed to basically be a clone of deep Rybka http://www.cruxis.com/chess/houdini.htm http://www.stockfishchess.com/ http://komodochess.com/ http://www.chess.com/download/view/critter-12 http://www.chesslogik.com/ (select FIRE from here...it is another strong engine) Chess Clients (that you install engines to): http://www.playwitharena.com/ Chess Database Software: http://scid.sourceforge.net/ Chess Databases in PGN Format: http://www.pitt.edu/~schach/Archives/ http://www.chessgameslinks.lars-balzer.info/ http://chessok.com/?page_id=694 http://www.supreme-chess.com/chess-game-collection-a.html Please add to this list and post any resources you find!