TCC-41 Round 1

Travis Hatley and NM Vadim Kudryatsev reel off 10 moves of theory in a Caro-Kann Rubinstein Exchange Variation and get a  very even position.  Hatley takes the time to trade off the strong Black dark squared bishop.  Hatley's real problems begin with the anti-positional 21.Nd4 which allows Black to open the c-file and gain the initiative by attacking the d-pawn.  The natural 21.Rad1 would maintain a level position. Vadim is quick to seize the file and his advantage grows as he advances his queenside pawns creating entry points into White's position.  Hatley eventually gets overrun, plays a bad move 28.b3 followed by the horrible 31.Rc3?? creating a far advanced Black passer, loses a pawn, tries to defend by trading rooks, loses more pawns and the game.

I sought to trade bishops early in my game against Paschal.  He got his bishop misplaced trying to prevent an unclear pawn break of c4.  I was able to carry out a Pillsbury type Queen maneuver to induce a darksquare weakness on the kingside. Paschal missed a tactic that allowed me to end the game quickly.

The players both play their version of a Smith-Morra Attack in the Sicilian.  The move 10.h3 seems out of sorts with the activity White is suppose to generate in this opening.  The move 12.e5 should have been played followed by 13.Ne4 and White would have full compensation. Instead, the developing 12.Be3 is a bit too passive and allows Marius to play the very good 12...Na5 sowing disharmony in the white camp.  For better or worse, White must commit to the move e5, but instead plays another routine developing move that lands him in hot water.

James plays another Blackmar-Diemer Gambit (BDG) and King handles it fine until he decides to trade his bishop for the knight.  5...Nxe4 is much better keeping the bishop pair with a small edge.  Still the silicon thinks things are fine for Black after the knight captures. James misses 9.d5 cramping Black. On 14...Rd8, King doesn't take care of his king. Still he can get equality late in the game with 26...Rdd8. Instead he loses the exchange and the game.                                                                                       

Ryan Larson plays a very tough game against Dominick and only on move 23.Rd1 did he falter for a tactic, lose the exchange and the game.