[Event "Capablanca sim"]
[Site "Winnipeg"]
[Date "1912.05.12"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, Jose Raul"]
[Black "Spencer, Robert John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C49"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1912.05.12"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,47,22,12,12,16,23,18,18,18,23,21,6,3,10,-2,-4,-6,46,-6,36,22,51,48,48,
48,57,23,55,55,66,43,65,64,79,79,79,58,187,194,194,188,188,183,187,195,182,188,
188,196]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Bg5
Bxc3 8. bxc3 Ne7 9. Nh4 Kh8 10. f4 exf4 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Qh5 Ng6 13. Nf5 Rg8
14. d4 Be6 15. Rf3 {[%mdl 32832] [#] "Threatening mate in 16 with Qxh7+..." -
Capablanca} Nf8 $2 (15... d5 $142 $13) ({Here is Capablanca's line, showing
the theatened Qxh7+ sac from the diagram:} 15... Z0 16. Qxh7+ Kxh7 17. Rh3+ Nh4
18. Rxh4+ Kg6 19. Rh6+ Kg5 20. h4+ Kg4 21. Ne3+ $3 (21. Be2+ $2 f3 22. Bxf3+
Kf4 23. Rf1 Bxf5 $19) 21... fxe3 (21... Kg3 22. Nf1+ $8 $18 Kg4 23. Be2+ f3 24.
Bxf3+ Kf4 25. Kf2 $1 $18 Rxg2+ $1 26. Bxg2 {and it won't be Capa's
mate-in-sixteen, but Black's horribly exposed K costs too much to save the
game.}) 22. Rf1 {[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position Analysis Diagram So far,
Black has had no choice of moves. But here he does.} {The problem with the
whole Q sac is this:} Kg3 $8 $11 {getting the K out of Be2 coming with check,
so that a later double-deflection with ...Bc4 then ...d5 will gain a tempo on
the B so as to eliminate the Pe4 and give the Black K an escape route. After
22...Kg3!!, White has nothing better than forcing a repetition:} ({
Capablanca's analysis continued:} 22... Bc4 23. Bxc4 d5 24. Be2+ Kg3 25. Rf3+
Kg4 26. Kh2 (26. Rxe3+ {is faster, but this isn't the main problem - ed.})
26... Qd6+ 27. Rg3+ Kf4 28. Rxf6+ Qxf6 29. Rf3+ Kg4 30. Rf5+ Kxh4 31. Rh5# {
- Capablanca. Translated by Edward Winter; see: CFC NL Jan 2010.  However, it
turns out there is an error in Capa's analysis, and so there is a problem with
this "problem". Can you find it?}) ({Three leading Cuban players, Juan Corzo,
Rafael Blanco and René Portela, suggested the following variation from the
diagram "which prolongs resistance and would end in mate if Black played
weakly" :} 22... f5 23. Be2+ Kg3 24. Rf3+ Kg4 25. Rxf5+ Kg3 26. Rf3+ Kg4 27. g3
$1 (27. Rxf7+ $142 $18) 27... Kh3 (27... Qxh4 28. gxh4 Bc4 29. Kf1 $8 $18) 28.
Bf1+ Kg4 29. Kg2 $18 Qxh4 30. Be2 (30. Rxh4+ $142) 30... Qxg3+ $2 31. Rxg3+ Kf4
32. Rh4+ Bg4 33. Rgxg4+ Rxg4+ 34. Rxg4# {This is mostly right, but the Cubans'
analysis goes wrong on move 22.}) 23. Rf3+ (23. Be2 $2 Bg4 $19) 23... Kg4 $8
24. Be2 $2 (24. Rf1 $8 Kg3 $11 {with a bizarre repetition.}) 24... Bc4 $8 25.
Bxc4 (25. Bd1 $2 e2 $19) 25... d5 $1 26. Be2 (26. Bxd5 f5 $1 27. Rxf5 e2 28.
Kf2 Rg6 $19) 26... dxe4 27. Rfxf6+ Kg3 $19 {and there's no repetition.}) 16.
Rxf4 Rg5 17. Qh6 d5 18. Bd3 {[#]} c5 $2 (18... Bxf5 $142 {eliminates the N and
blocks the diagonal to keep the Bd3 out of the attack.}) 19. exd5 Bxd5 20. Ne3
$1 Ng6 21. Raf1 Qf8 22. Qxf8+ Rxf8 23. Bxg6 hxg6 24. h4 (24. h4 $1 Rh5 25. g4 {
wins the B.}) 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-08 Preliminaries A"]
[Site "Buenos Aires"]
[Date "1939.08.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Yanofsky, Daniel Abraham"]
[Black "Dulanto, Alberto Ismodes"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1939.08.24"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Canada"]
[BlackTeam "Peru"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CAN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "PER"]

{[%evp 0,55,24,17,58,39,39,33,56,32,29,29,19,29,37,27,27,38,29,33,38,45,44,49,
41,34,42,18,149,119,119,112,112,112,126,112,268,209,315,319,315,315,293,273,
1004,956,1066,1127,1133,1246,1664,1526,29987,29988,29989,29990,29995,29996]} {
Dr. Tartakower wrote in the Argentine newspaper La Razon: "In all the
preceding chess Olympiads new ... talent was discovered. For example, Hamburg
1930 is associated with the names of Flohr and Kashdan. Warsaw (1935) with
Keres, Szabo, etc. Actually at Buenos Aires in 1939, the appearance of the
very young Canadian, Yanofsky -- only fifteen years old! -- created a
sensation, and his elegant style will lead him to become a great star in chess.
" This flattering write-up was occasioned by the following game won from
Peru's champion on my only appearance at first board for Canada!  - Abe
Yanofsky, "Chess the Hard Way", game 17} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5
dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nbd7 6. Nf3 Be7 7. Nxf6+ Nxf6 8. Bd3 c5 9. dxc5 Qa5+ 10. c3 Qxc5
11. O-O O-O 12. Re1 Rd8 13. Ne5 b6 {[%mdl 32832] Diagram [#] The finale of
this game is well known, as it was highlighted in Alekhine's book "107 Great
Chess Battles", but the setup deserves to be seen:} 14. Bxf6 $1 $18 {"This
move was the result of half an hour’s study of the position. The rest of the
game I was able to play almost rapid transit as I had calculated to after 22.
Rxe6+." - Abe Yanofsky, "Chess the Hard Way".} Bxf6 (14... gxf6 15. Qg4+ (15.
Bxh7+ $18) 15... Kf8 16. Bxh7 $18 {and Black has to play ...Qxf2+ to make a
square for his K to run.}) 15. Bxh7+ $1 Kf8 (15... Kxh7 16. Qh5+ Kg8 17. Qxf7+
Kh7 18. Re3 $18) 16. Qh5 $1 Bxe5 17. Rxe5 Qc7 (17... Rd5 18. Rxd5 Qxd5 19. Qxd5
exd5 20. Bc2 $18 {White is up a pawn with a better structure and minor piece.})
18. Be4 Bb7 (18... f5 $5 19. Rxf5+ $1 $18) 19. Bxb7 Qxb7 20. Qh8+ Ke7 21. Qxg7
Rg8 {"In the diagrammed position, Dulanto was looking quite happy with White
faced with mate or the loss of the Queen. I shall not attempt to describe his
facial expressions after my next move." - AY, CtHW   Diagram [#] Critical
Position Black is threatening White's queen and mate on g2. Can the 14 year
old Abe Yanofsky get out of it?} 22. Rxe6+ $8 {Everything else loses.} Kxe6 23.
Re1+ $8 Kd6 24. Qf6+ $8 Kc5 (24... Kc7 25. Qxf7+ $18) 25. Re5+ Kc4 26. b3+ {
Qf4+ and Qh4+ are equally fast.} Kd3 27. Qd6+ $8 Kc2 28. Re2+ $8 {It's mate in
2. "This game created a minor sensation and resulted in Alekhine, the world
champion, taking a great interest in me to the extent of watching all of my
remaining games in the tournament and analyzing them with me after they were
over." - Abe Yanofsky, "Chess the Hard Way".} 1-0

[Event "Staunton Memorial"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1946.08.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Flohr, Salo"]
[Black "Yanofsky, Daniel Abraham"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D19"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "1946.08.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "19"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,103,24,26,22,-8,40,40,40,5,24,17,17,9,14,14,29,24,36,-6,35,38,35,40,
39,16,16,-34,-31,-25,-20,-34,-41,-35,-29,-41,-41,-41,-52,-65,-65,-65,-53,-35,
-56,-56,-43,28,28,25,35,35,35,35,44,-35,-14,-14,0,0,2,-70,-44,-34,-32,-89,-89,
-89,126,126,92,92,86,86,92,86,70,70,70,99,159,194,236,207,229,237,256,255,228,
245,307,313,317,272,277,292,368,378,438,438,438,438,438,414,414,414]} 1. d4 d5
2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O O-O 9.
Qe2 Bg4 10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. e4 Qe7 12. e5 Nd5 13. Ne4 h6 14. h3 Bh5 15. g4 Bg6 16.
g5 hxg5 17. Nexg5 $1 Bh5 $11 18. Qe4 g6 (18... Bg6 19. Qh4 $4 (19. Qe2 $11)
19... f6 $1 $19 20. exf6 gxf6 21. Ne4 Kf7 $19) 19. Rf1 f6 20. exf6 N7xf6 21.
Qh4 Nh7 22. Qg3 Bd6 23. Ne5 Rf5 24. Ne4 Bxe5 25. dxe5 Rf3 26. Qg2 Qh4 27. Re1
Raf8 28. Ra3 $1 Rxa3 29. bxa3 Rf3 $1 30. Bf1 (30. Nd6 $13) 30... Nf4 31. Bxf4
$8 Qxf4 32. Ng3 $2 Ng5 $8 33. Rb1 $1 {[%mdl 32832] [#]Critical Position
Black's pieces are menacingly placed, but White has just made a threat with
Re1-b1; what should Black do?} b6 $4 (33... Rxa3 {is playable, though Black
has to tiptoe through a minefield after:} 34. Nxh5 gxh5 $8 35. Rb4 $5 (35. Rxb7
Rxh3 $19) 35... Qxb4 36. Qxg5+ Kf8 37. Qf6+ Ke8 38. Qxe6+ Kd8 $8 $19) (33... a5
$1 {takes away b4! White gets to activate his R, but his Q and B are still
tied down.} 34. Rxb7 Rxa3 (34... Kf8 $1 {unpinning the N.}) 35. Nxh5 gxh5 36.
Rb1 (36. Qxc6 $2 Nf3+ {and White has to give the Q to avoid mate.}) 36... Rxh3
{winning a P and threatening ...Rh2 then ...Nf3!, among other things.}) 34.
Nxh5 $1 gxh5 35. Rb4 $8 $18 {The real point of Rb1, which Black must have
missed.} Qxe5 36. h4 Rf5 {[#]} 37. Bd3 (37. Rb3 $1 {immediately also works, to
block the g-file after taking the N:} Kh8 38. hxg5 Rxg5 39. Rg3 $18) 37... Qe1+
38. Bf1 $8 Qd2 39. Rb3 $8 $18 Kf8 40. hxg5 Rxg5 41. Rg3 Rxg3 42. Qxg3 Qd7 43.
Qf3+ Ke7 44. Qxh5 {White plays for mate or a Q exchange.} Kd8 45. Qe5 c5 46.
Bb5 Qd1+ 47. Kh2 Qd2 48. Kg3 Qd1 49. Qf6+ Kc7 50. Qe7+ Kb8 51. Bc6 Qd3+ 52. Kh2
1-0

[Event "CAN-ch"]
[Site "Montreal"]
[Date "1959.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Hoover, Walter"]
[Black "Yanofsky, Daniel Abraham"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "1959.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,40,24,17,99,75,88,70,90,65,66,-10,2,-1,2,11,17,-17,-8,-1,17,17,56,-12,
33,13,75,33,52,38,25,12,12,29,27,16,11,0,-16,-69,-196,-632,-596]} 1. e4 g6 2.
d4 Bg7 3. Bc4 d6 4. Ne2 Nf6 5. Ng3 c6 6. c3 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8. h3 e5 9. Bg5 Qb6
10. Bb3 Re8 11. Na3 Qc7 12. Re1 Nf8 13. Qf3 Qe7 14. Nc2 h6 15. Bd2 Ne6 16. Rad1
Nh7 17. Bc1 Nhg5 18. Qe3 Nf4 {[%mdl 448] [#] Should White reinforce the center
with f3, or try something else?} 19. f3 $4 {Anything else is better, but only
if Black finds this:} Ngxh3+ $3 $19 {This works in part because f2-f3 left the
Ng3 undefended.} 20. Kf1 (20. Kh2 Qh4 $18) (20. gxh3 Qh4 $8 $19 21. Kf2 (21.
Qf2 Nxh3+ $19) (21. Nf1 Qg5+ {#2}) 21... Nxh3+ 22. Kg2 Nf4+ 23. Kf2 Qh2+ 24.
Kf1 Bh3#) 20... Qg5 $1 0-1

[Event "CAN-ch"]
[Site "Montreal"]
[Date "1959.08.26"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Anderson, Frank"]
[Black "Yanofsky, Daniel Abraham"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C06"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1959.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,82,24,17,39,39,31,42,6,6,17,4,-17,30,10,8,31,48,39,37,48,37,22,42,30,
-5,3,-1,8,8,24,0,15,33,44,40,69,32,27,-29,-28,-25,-22,-9,-26,-54,-22,-160,-188,
-180,-197,-181,-162,-113,-129,-192,-210,-192,-192,-196,-181,-153,-165,-171,
-162,-183,-179,-174,-169,-186,-120,-203,-207,-214,-204,-268,-303,-340,-383,
-400,-400,-393,-432,-443,-376]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3
c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 Qb6 8. Nf3 cxd4 9. cxd4 f6 10. exf6 Nxf6 11. O-O Bd6 12.
Nc3 O-O 13. Be3 Bd7 14. Rc1 Rae8 15. a3 a6 16. Na4 Qc7 17. Nc5 Bc8 18. h3 Qe7
19. Nxa6 e5 20. Bb5 exd4 {[%mdl 32960] [#] Those pieces on the queenside are
not typos...  White could take on d4 at any time, but how about immobilizing
the Nf6 first with Bg5?} 21. Bg5 $2 (21. Nxd4 $1 $13) (21. Bxd4 $2 Nxd4 22.
Qxd4 bxa6 23. Bxe8 Qxe8 $19) 21... Bd7 $11 {A good multi-purpose move --
defends c6, gives Black extra options if ...bxa6, and threatens ...Ne5! -- but
not nearly the best.} (21... Bxh3 $3 $19 {[#]  Computers, am I right? This is
an obvious candidate (in blitz), but there are several "quiet" moves in the
main line that it would be easy to dismiss as leaving White with "too many
options", one of which "has" to work.} 22. gxh3 (22. Bxc6 bxc6 23. Rxc6 {
Material is equal, White has two connected queenside passed pawns and d4 is
weak, how could White be in trouble?} Qd7 $1 {The key move in all variations:
gaining a tempo on the Rc6 to go ...Qg4.} (23... Bg4 $19 {is also good, White
needs that Na6 to teleport to d2 to stop Black's kingside attack.}) 24. Rxd6
Qg4 $1 (24... Qxd6 25. gxh3 Qxa6 $19 {also wins, but brings shame to your
family.}) 25. g3 (25. Nh4 Qxg5 $19) 25... Ne4 $1 $19 {among other wins.}) 22...
Qe6 $8 {Threat: ...Qxh3 then ...Ng4.} 23. Kg2 Ne4 $8 {[#] Analysis Diagram 
White is up a piece for a pawn, but two of White's pieces are out to lunch on
the queenside, and on the side where the action is happening Black has Q, ¥,
N, and both ¦s pointed at White's fractured kingside. In fact, Black's attack
is so strong that even if we teleport the Na6 to d2 Black is still winning! 
Black's threats include ...Nxg5 then ...Qe5, or ...Qg6 directly, as well as
piling on f3 with ...Rf5-Ref8, and ...Qg6 to attack along the g-file.} 24. Bh4
(24. Bxc6 bxc6 25. Qxd4 (25. Nxd4 Qg6 $8 $19) 25... Rxf3 $1 $19) 24... Qg6+ $1
25. Kh1 Qh5 $19 {overloading the Nf3 to get the piece back with a crushing
attack.}) 22. b4 $2 (22. Nb4 $13) 22... Ne5 $1 $19 {threatening Na6 and Bb5}
23. Bxd7 Nxf3+ $8 24. Qxf3 Qxd7 25. Bxf6 {[#]} bxa6 (25... Rxf6 {also wins the
Na6, since} 26. Qxd5+ Kh8 27. Nc5 $2 Bh2+ $19 {wins the Q for a B.}) 26. Qxd5+
Rf7 27. Qc4 (27. Bxd4 $4 Bh2+ $19) 27... gxf6 28. Qxa6 $19 {White has two
pawns for the piece... and the choice between losing this to a mating attack
on the g-file or losing in an endgame.} Rg7 29. Kh1 Qe6 (29... Kh8 $142) 30.
Qc4 Rc7 31. Qxe6+ Rxe6 32. Rxc7 Bxc7 33. g3 Re2 34. Rd1 Bb6 35. Kg2 Ra2 36. Rd3
Kf7 37. Kf3 Ke6 38. g4 Kd5 39. h4 Kc4 40. Rd1 d3 41. a4 Rxf2+ {Surely both
sides had made the time control here.} 0-1

[Event "CAN-ch"]
[Site "Montreal"]
[Date "1959.08.30"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Patty, Jack"]
[Black "Anderson, Frank"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E25"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1959.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,68,31,27,28,-16,-3,4,10,-2,-7,-1,13,-35,-22,-28,20,2,41,41,41,58,59,
59,41,42,53,13,31,46,61,51,65,69,70,88,83,75,81,92,67,44,54,16,70,0,0,0,0,0,16,
0,17,-78,-72,-155,-206,-204,-220,-218,-544,-575,-583,-737,-772,-817,-824,
-29993,-29994,-29997,-29998]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3
c5 6. f3 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. dxc5 Qa5 9. e4 Nf6 10. Be3 O-O 11. Qb3 Nc6 12. Bb5
Bd7 13. Bxc6 Bxc6 14. Qb4 Qc7 15. Ne2 Rfd8 16. O-O Rd7 17. Nd4 Rad8 18. Rab1 h6
19. a4 Nh5 20. Nxc6 bxc6 21. a5 Nf4 22. a6 Qe5 23. Bxf4 Qxf4 24. Kh1 h5 25. Qa4
h4 {[%mdl 33088] [#] Challenge for the d-file, or stop ...h3?} 26. Rbd1 $2 (26.
h3 $8 $11 Rd2 27. Rbd1 Qg3 28. Rxd2 Rxd2 29. Rg1 $11 {Black might force a draw
with ...g5-g4 and ...Rxg2, but not more.}) 26... h3 $8 $19 {White is now weak
on g2, f3, and h2.} 27. Rxd7 (27. g3 $2 Qxf3+ $19) (27. gxh3 Rd2 $19) 27...
Rxd7 28. Rd1 (28. g3 Qd2 29. Rg1 Qf2 $19 {Xf3}) (28. gxh3 Rd2 $19 {Xh2.}) 28...
Qe3 $1 {Exploiting the weak back rank. (28...Rd5 is the only other winning
move)} 29. Qc2 {[#]} e5 $1 {Letting White discover that he has no good moves!}
30. c4 {If the Q leaves the second rank Black tightens the noose further with:}
(30. Qc1 Qe2 31. Rg1 hxg2+ 32. Rxg2 Rd1+ $19) 30... Rd4 31. Rg1 Rd2 32. Qb1 Qf2
33. Qb8+ Kh7 34. Qxe5 hxg2+ 0-1

[Event "CAN-ch"]
[Site "Montreal"]
[Date "1959.09.01"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Smolij, Joe"]
[Black "Yanofsky, Daniel Abraham"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1959.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Bd3 e5 $5 {Yanofsky was one of
the first players to try this here. Fedosiev and Sasikiran have beaten strong
GMs with it, but only at fast time controls.} 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Nc3 Be7 8. Qe2 a6
9. a4 O-O 10. O-O Nc5 11. Bc4 Bg4 12. Rd1 Ne6 13. Be3 Nh5 14. Nd5 Rc8 15. Bb3
Bg5 16. c3 Bxe3 17. Qxe3 Nhf4 18. Rd2 Kh8 19. Nb6 Bxf3 20. Nxc8 Bxg2 21. Bxe6
fxe6 22. Nxd6 Qf6 23. Qg3 Bh3 24. Nc4 h5 25. Ne3 Qh6 26. Kh1 g5 27. Rg1 g4 {
[%mdl 41280] [#] Critical Position Is Black threatening ...h4, and if so, what
should White do about it?} 28. f3 $2 ({Black really is threatening ...h4,
since that tactics after Nxg4 don't save White:} 28. a5 $2 {illustrates
Black's threat} h4 $19 29. Nxg4 hxg3 (29... Qh5 {also wins, but after} 30. Nf6
{Black has to go into the variation with ...g2+ anyway.}) 30. Nxh6 g2+ 31. Rxg2
Bxg2+ $19) (28. Qh4 $4 {delays but does not stop ...h4} Ng6 $8 $19 29. Qg3 h4
30. Nxg4 hxg3 31. Nxh6 gxf2 32. Rxf2 Rxf2 33. Rxg6 Kh7 $1 34. Rg3 Rf1+ $8 35.
Rg1 Rxg1+ 36. Kxg1 Kxh6 $19) (28. Nc4 $8 $16 {threatening e5 and making a safe
retreat for the Q while also keeping an extra pawn defending g3.}) 28... h4 $1
$17 29. Qe1 (29. Nxg4 hxg3 30. Nxh6 g2+ $19 {leaves Black up at least an
exchange.}) (29. Qf2 g3 $8 (29... gxf3 $4 30. Qxf3 $18 {Black's pieces are
stuck and White can push the queenside.}) 30. Qe1 $8 (30. hxg3 $4 hxg3 $19 31.
Rxg3 Bg2+ 32. Kg1 Qh1#) 30... Rg8 $40) 29... gxf3 $8 30. Qf2 Bg2+ $8 $19 31.
Nxg2 (31. Rxg2 fxg2+ 32. Kg1 Nh3+ $19) 31... fxg2+ 32. Rxg2 Nxg2 33. Qxg2 {
[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position Just when it looks like White has escaped...
} h3 $8 $19 34. Qe2 Qxd2 $8 35. Qh5+ Kg7 36. Qxe5+ Rf6 37. Qg3+ Rg6 0-1

[Event "Canadian Open"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "1962.08.31"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Witt, Laszlo"]
[Black "Theodorovich, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B32"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1962.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,91,48,22,48,56,53,36,23,0,31,29,26,-28,-25,-15,23,-39,1,4,-2,-3,-6,4,
61,-13,57,70,89,57,65,65,80,31,31,31,15,32,48,47,31,18,37,40,103,98,72,49,79,
34,58,37,24,24,62,57,87,72,93,53,75,30,63,37,34,34,79,64,64,0,0,0,97,0,48,71,
61,62,60,68,68,68,68,0,0,0,328,355,430,454,1000,1078,29987,29988]} 1. e4 c5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 a6 7. N5a3 g6 8. Be3 Bg7 9. Nc3
Nge7 10. Nc2 f5 11. f3 O-O 12. Qd2 f4 13. Bf2 Be6 14. Rd1 Nc8 15. Nd5 g5 16. b4
N6e7 17. c5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Bf5 19. Bd3 Bxd3 20. Qxd3 g4 21. Na3 Qf6 22. Nc4 Rf7
23. Nd2 a5 24. b5 Qh6 25. Ke2 dxc5 26. Bxc5 b6 27. Ba3 gxf3+ 28. gxf3 Bf8 29.
Rdg1+ Kh8 30. Bb2 Bg7 31. Ne4 Nd6 32. Ng5 Re7 33. Ne6 {[%mdl 33216] [#]
Critical Position White threatens Rxg7. Should Black: a) resign; b) take the
Ne6; c) counter-attack with ...e4; d) somthing else?} {c)} e4 $2 {is the game
line, and is definitely wrong, but only if White finds the one and only (and
beautiful) refutation. see 2013 CYCC/CO Logo} ({b) Taking the Ne6 isn't bad:} 
33... Rxe6 34. dxe6 Qxe6 35. Rd1 Nc4 (35... Qxa2 $6 36. Rd2 $8 Qc4 $1 $18) 36.
Bc1 $1 $16) ({d) The engines' top choice is "something else":} 33... Bf6 $1 34.
Rg2 $140 (34. h4 $11) 34... e4 $1 35. Bxf6+ $1 Qxf6 36. fxe4 f3+ 37. Qxf3 Qb2+
$11 {Black has a perpetual, since the White K can't go to the f-file without
allowing ...Rf7-+}) 34. Bxg7+ $2 (34. Qc3 $3 {Beautiful, the only move (along
with Qd4) that gives White an advantage, and winning.} exf3+ 35. Kd1 $8 {
[#] Analysis Diagram} (35. Kd3 $2 {goint up allows Black a Q check from g6 or
h3 in critical variations.} Ne8 $8 $13 36. Qc6 $140 $2 Bxb2 37. Qxa8 f2 $19)
35... Rxe6 (35... Bxc3 36. Bxc3+ $18 {and Black has to give back the Q
immediately.}) (35... Nxb5 36. Qxg7+ Rxg7 37. Bxg7+ $18 {ditto.}) (35... Ne8 {
(or ...Nf5)} 36. Rxg7 Nxg7 37. Qc6 $8 {Hits the Ra8 and creates a discovered
attack on the Qh6.} Rg8 (37... Rea7 38. Bxg7+ $18) (37... Raa7 38. Qc8+ Re8 39.
Qxe8#) (37... Rb8 38. Nxg7 Qxc6 39. Nf5+ $18) (37... Rf8 38. Bxg7+) 38. Nxg7 $8
Qxg7 (38... Rgxg7 39. Qc8+ {and mate next.}) 39. Bxg7+ Rexg7 40. Qxb6 $18 {
and Black's advanced pawns are no comp.}) 36. Qxg7+ Qxg7 37. Bxg7+ Kg8 38. dxe6
f2 39. Be5+ $1 {prettiest} fxg1=Q+ 40. Rxg1+ Kf8 41. Bxd6+ Ke8 42. Rg8#) 34...
Qxg7 $8 (34... Rxg7 35. Qc3 $1 exf3+ 36. Kd3 $18) 35. fxe4 f3+ 36. Kf2 Qb2+ (
36... Qe5 $142 $1 37. Rg4 Rc8 $36 38. Rhg1 $140 $2 h5 $1 $19) 37. Ke3 Rc8 38.
Qd4+ $8 Qxd4+ 39. Kxd4 Rc4+ 40. Ke5 Nxe4 41. Rc1 (41. Rg4 $1 Nd2 $8 42. Rxc4
Nxc4+ 43. Kd4 $14) 41... Nc3 $1 (41... Rxc1 $2 42. Rxc1 Nc5 43. Rf1 $18) 42.
Rhf1 {[%mdl 32832] Diagram [#] Critical Position Should Black defend the Pf3,
or use his active pieces against the White K?} Rd7 $2 (42... Rf7 $8 $13 43. Ng5
Re7+ 44. Kd6 Re3 $13) 43. Rxf3 $8 {The problem isn't so much that Black has
lost the Pf3, it's that he will now lose the Nc3.} (43. Nf4 $4 Re4+ 44. Kf5
Rf7+ $19 45. Kg5 Rexf4 46. Rxc3 R7f5+ 47. Kh6 Rh4#) 43... Rxd5+ 44. Kf6 Rc8 ({
I think Black only now realized that he pays too much to "win" the Rc1 with
the discovered attack:} 44... Ne4+ 45. Ke7 Rxc1 46. Rf8#) 45. Rfxc3 Rg8 46. Rc8
1-0

[Event "CAN-ch"]
[Site "Winnipeg CAN"]
[Date "1963.??.??"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Macskasy, Elod"]
[Black "Fuster, Geza"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E03"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1963.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,86,19,31,19,23,28,5,28,7,33,3,12,-19,-28,1,-26,-29,-47,-48,-41,-88,
-88,-68,-76,-81,-77,-117,0,0,-236,-374,-303,-305,-284,-298,-143,-143,-143,-163,
-155,-171,-160,-160,-197,-211,-237,-245,-213,-246,-243,-238,-102,-132,-132,
-124,-108,-128,-116,-166,-145,-150,-156,-148,-177,-177,-142,-135,-126,-147,
-151,-159,-122,-122,-104,-112,-112,-151,-95,-104,-77,-293,-320,-316,-313,-322,
-311,-340,-337]} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Qa4+ Nbd7 5. g3 a6 6. Qxc4
e6 7. Bg2 b5 8. Qc2 Bb7 9. O-O c5 $1 $15 10. b3 Rc8 11. Qd1 cxd4 12. Qxd4 $6 (
12. Nxd4 $142 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 h5 $1 $15 (13... Qc7 $15)) 12... Bc5 {[%mdl 32832]
[#] Critical Position A Catalan where White has already made five moves with
his Q. Now where?} 13. Qh4 $2 (13. Qd3 $2 e5 $1 $19 {and the Q is exposed to
more hits; e.g.} 14. Ng5 {gets out of the ...e4 fork, but} Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Bd4
$19 {nets a R.}) (13. Qb2 $142) (13. Qd1 $142 $15) 13... Bxf2+ $1 14. Kxf2 (14.
Rxf2 Rxc1+ $19) 14... Ne4+ $19 15. Ke3 (15. Kg1 Qb6+ 16. e3 (16. Kh1 Rxc1 $1 {
and smothered mate if White takes on c1.}) 16... Rxc1 17. Rxc1 Qxe3+ {and a
smothered mate anyway!}) 15... Qb6+ 16. Nd4 (16. Kd3 Ndc5+ $19) 16... e5 {[#]}
17. Bb2 (17. Bxe4 Qxd4+ $19) 17... Nef6 (17... Rc2 $1 18. Bxe4 Rxb2 19. Bxb7
exd4+ $19 20. Qxd4 Rxe2+ $1) 18. Bxb7 exd4+ 19. Bxd4 Qxb7 20. Kf2 O-O 21. Na3
Rfe8 22. Qh3 Qe4 23. e3 Ng4+ 24. Kg1 Nxe3 25. Rf4 Qc6 26. Re1 Nd5 27. Rff1 N5f6
28. Qf5 Re6 29. Qg5 h6 30. Qd2 Qd6 31. Qb2 Rce8 32. Rxe6 fxe6 33. Nc2 e5 34.
Be3 Qd3 35. Re1 Ng4 36. Nb4 Qd6 37. Qd2 Re6 $1 38. Nd3 Qd5 (38... e4 $1) 39.
Qe2 Qe4 40. Bf4 $4 Qxe2 41. Rxe2 Rd6 $1 42. Nxe5 Ngxe5 43. Re3 (43. Bxe5 Re6
$19) 43... Rd5 0-1

[Event "Fischer clock simul"]
[Site "Montreal"]
[Date "1964.02.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Allan, Denis"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C57"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1964.02.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,41,22,22,22,22,13,21,21,2,10,5,51,58,44,61,48,25,25,8,24,17,123,129,
58,79,61,32,61,71,74,65,138,132,131,162,348,401,409,552,533,555,599,685] This
game should have been in the VIP section of the previous issue, but Chessbase
has Black listed as "NN". Since then, I read John Donaldson's book on
Fischer's simul tours, which identifies NN as Canadian Denis Allan. The notes
here include another Fischer simul game, a couple of recent games, and
improvements over earlier analysis.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 {
Fischer played this often in his simuls.} d5 5. exd5 Nd4 6. c3 b5 7. Bf1 Nxd5
8. cxd4 Qxg5 9. Bxb5+ Kd8 10. Qf3 {[#]} e4 {This is a critical move -- opening
lines for Black's pieces -- but it is now thought to be worse than ...exd4.
But is it?} (10... exd4 $142 11. Bc6 Nf4 $1 (11... Nb4 $5) 12. O-O (12. h4 $1
$146) (12. Bxa8 $4 Bg4 13. Qe4 (13. Qg3 Qe5+ $19) (13. Qb7 Nd3+ 14. Kf1 Bd6 $19
) 13... Bd6 14. Bc6 f5 $19) 12... Bg4 13. Re1 Bd6 $1 14. Qe4 Bd7 (14... Be2 $5
15. Rxe2 $4 Nxe2+ 16. Qxe2 Qc5 $19 {forking the Bs and threatening mate.}) 15.
d3 Bxc6 16. Qxc6 Qd5 17. Qxd5 Nxd5 $15 {(½-½, 57) Wei,Y (2641)-Duda,J (2599)
Pune, 2014.}) (10... Bb7 11. O-O exd4 12. Qxf7 $4 Nf6 $8 {An extreme example
of a multi-purpose move: stops mates on e8 and d7, creates a mate threat on g2,
and attacks the hanging Bb5. Fischer resigned here: 0-1 Fischer,R-Burger,R.
San Francisco (simul), 1964.}) 11. Qxe4 Bd6 12. O-O Bb7 13. d3 $2 {[%mdl 32832]
[#] Critical Position ...Nf4 is begging to be played, but should it be? If not,
what?} (13. Re1 $142 $16) 13... Nf4 $4 {This is clearly the move Black wants
to play, but it's bad.} ({Black might try} 13... Qh5 $5 14. f4 $1 $13) ({
It's not as obviously bad as} 13... Rb8 $4 14. Bxg5+ {1-0 Cuevas Araya,W (2120)
-Euler,G (2274) Lichess.org, 2021.}) ({About 13...Nf4, John Donaldson's book
on Bobby Fischer's simul tours, "A Legend on the Road", says:  Brilliant!
Brilliant!. The only trouble is that it loses! With} 13... Bxh2+ $3 {Black
could have pulled off a neat win, because} 14. Kxh2 (14. Kh1 Bf4 $19) 14... Nf4
$1 15. Bxf4 (15. Qxf4 Qxg2#) (15. Qxb7 Qh4+ 16. Kg1 Ne2#) 15... Qh4+ 16. Kg1
Bxe4 17. dxe4 {leaves White too far down in material. - LoR. That is a correct
assessment of the final position, but instead of 17.dxe4, White has the
intermediate 17.Bg3} (17. Bg3 $1 Qh5 18. Nc3 $13 {and although White has only
BNP for the Q, Black's exposed K and lack of open files for his rooks give
White adequate compensation. - JKU})) ({Black can slightly improve on this
with:} 13... Bxh2+ $1 14. Kxh2 Nf4 15. Bxf4 Qh5+ $1 {avoiding the tempo loss
to Bg3 and eyeing Bb5, but after} 16. Kg1 Bxe4 17. Nc3 $1 {It's still a game:
White has two pieces and pawn for the Q, and a huge lead in development, and
the B-pair, and lots of good squares for his minors.}) 14. Bxf4 $8 Qxb5 15. d5
$1 (15. Nc3 $1) 15... Qxb2 (15... Re8 16. Qd4 Bxf4 17. Qxf4 Qxb2 18. Nd2 $18)
16. Bxd6 cxd6 17. Re1 Qf6 (17... Qxa1 18. Qe7+ Kc8 19. Rc1+ {mates.}) 18. Nc3
Rc8 19. Qb4 Re8 20. Qa5+ $1 Kd7 21. Qa4+ $1 1-0

[Event "Winnipeg GM"]
[Site "Winnipeg"]
[Date "1967.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Keres, Paul"]
[Black "Yanofsky, Daniel Abraham"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B11"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1967.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,83,24,17,75,66,51,31,71,25,30,41,52,-3,3,2,3,2,-2,-5,11,-29,-4,-4,11,
2,3,24,21,-10,-22,-10,-1,11,-5,2,-15,-15,-8,-9,-1,-9,1,-1,-11,-11,-7,-54,-48,
-32,-56,-64,0,-20,-39,-11,0,0,0,-47,24,27,79,97,91,76,66,66,238,42,80,50,27,53,
49,49,76,49,49,84,122,108,227,409,29027,29984]} 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4
4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 Nf6 6. d3 e6 7. Bd2 Nbd7 8. g4 h6 9. Bg2 Bb4 10. Qd1 Qe7 11.
a3 Ba5 12. O-O dxe4 13. dxe4 e5 14. Nd5 cxd5 15. Bxa5 dxe4 16. Qe2 O-O 17. Bxe4
Nxe4 18. Qxe4 Nc5 19. Qd5 b6 20. Bc3 Rfe8 21. Rfe1 Qh4 22. Rxe5 Qxh3 23. Qg2
Qxg2+ 24. Kxg2 Na4 25. Rae1 Rec8 26. Bd4 Rxc2 27. g5 Nxb2 28. gxh6 gxh6 29. Rh1
Kh7 30. Rf5 Rg8+ 31. Kf3 Rg6 $1 32. Rxf7+ Kg8 33. Rxa7 {[%mdl 10304] [#]
Critical Position Black's N is offside, what should he do about it?} Nd3 $4 {
This certainly looks good: centralizing and threatening ...Nxf2; but White has
a phenomenal refutation.} (33... Nc4 $8 34. Re1 Nd2+ $8 35. Kf4 {keeping the
e-file free.} Rc8 36. Ree7 {trying to play Rh7-h8. Black has a study-like way
to stop this by harassing the B and K with the N.} Nb3 $1 37. Be5 (37. Bb2 Nd2
{threatening ...Rf8+ then ...Nc4+, eliminating the B.}) 37... Nd2 $8 $14 {
threatening ...Rf8+ then ...Nc4+, eliminating the B.} (37... Nc5 $2 38. Ke3 {
preventing ...Nd3+.} Re6 39. Rg7+ Kf8 40. f4 $18)) 34. Rh5 $6 {This isn't it.}
(34. Rd1 $142 $8 {is a very nice way to double R's on the 7th by threatening
to trap the N} Nxf2 (34... Nb2 $4 35. Bxb2 Rxb2 36. Rd8#) (34... Nc1 35. Bb2 $1
$18 {threatening mate and the N.}) 35. Re1 $8 {Fantastic: White has given the
f2 pawn so his second R could take the only (now) available open file.} (35.
Bxf2 $2 Rf6+ {was Black's "threat" with ...Nd3:} 36. Ke3 Rcxf2 37. Rd8+ Rf8 $11
) 35... Kf8 36. Ree7 $1 {White has too many threats to the K and the N.} Nh3 {
makes the N safe and prevents Rh7, but} 37. Bg7+ $8 $18 {and Black has to give
the exchange to prevent mate by Rh8.}) 34... Rd6 (34... Nxf2 $2 35. Rd5 $18 {
wins the N.}) 35. Rg7+ Kf8 36. Rf5+ Ke8 37. Be3 Rcc6 38. Ke2 Rc2+ 39. Kf1 {[#]}
Rcc6 $4 {Connecting Rs to make the time control; but losing} (39... Ra2 $1 $11
{is the most convincing: activity vs activity.} 40. Rff7 Ra1+ 41. Ke2 Ra2+ 42.
Kf1 $8 Ra1+ 43. Kg2 Rg6+ $1 $11 {is the tricky point: breaking up White's R
pair.}) (39... Nc5 $14) 40. Rff7 $8 $18 Rf6 41. Rb7 Rc8 (41... Kf8 42. Rgd7 {
wins the N.}) 42. Bxh6 $1 {Stylish!} (42. Bxh6 $1 Rxf2+ 43. Kg1 {the Bh6
prevents mate on c1!} Rf8 (43... Kf8) 44. Rge7+ Kd8 45. Rbd7#) 1-0

[Event "Olympiad"]
[Site "Lugano"]
[Date "1968.10.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Van der Laat Ulloa, Jorge"]
[Black "Suttles, Duncan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A26"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1968.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,76,19,29,78,46,25,19,37,12,26,11,6,3,24,17,4,5,51,55,55,60,73,52,90,
42,21,-4,-12,-14,-11,-7,19,21,36,-26,56,-44,17,21,21,0,20,40,136,71,124,-68,
-55,-62,-55,-54,-49,-39,-57,-52,-57,-48,-44,-97,-41,-64,-70,-138,-91,-117,-63,
-60,-57,-95,139,-423,-351,-29991,0,0,0,-156,0]} 1. Nf3 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6
4. g3 Nc6 5. Bg2 e5 6. d3 Nh6 7. Rb1 O-O 8. O-O f5 9. Bg5 Qd7 10. Nd5 Kh8 11.
Qd2 Ng8 12. Nh4 Nd4 $1 $15 13. Qd1 c6 14. Nc3 Ne6 15. Bd2 {[#]} g5 $1 16. Nf3
f4 17. b4 Ne7 18. b5 h5 $6 (18... g4 $1) 19. Ne4 g4 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. Nh4 {[#]}
d5 $4 22. cxd5 cxd5 23. Nc3 $4 (23. Bb4 $1 $18 dxe4 24. Bxe7 $19 Re8 (24...
Qxe7 25. Ng6+ $19) 25. Bxe4 $18 {and the Ra8 has no escape.}) 23... Ba6 (23...
Bb7 $142) 24. Nxd5 Nxd5 25. Ng6+ Kh7 26. Be4 Kh6 $8 27. Nxf8 Rxf8 28. Qb3 Nb6
$13 29. Rfc1 Nd4 30. Qd1 Bb7 31. gxf4 $2 exf4 32. Rb4 Bxe4 $19 33. dxe4 h4 (
33... Kh7 $1) 34. Bc3 {[%mdl 32832] Critical Position [#] Black has a menacing
pawn storm, but the Nd4 is hanging...} g3 $3 $19 (34... Rc8 $1 {also works,
tactically defending the N, and threatening ...Rxc3 then ...Nxe2+.} 35. Bxd4
Bxd4 $8 (35... Rxc1 $4 36. Bxg7+ $18 {with check}) 36. Rxd4 (36. Rxc8 Bxf2+ $19
) 36... Qxd4 $8 $19 37. Qxd4 Rxc1+ 38. Kg2 h3#) 35. Bxd4 (35. hxg3 fxg3 $8 (
35... hxg3 $2 36. Kg2 $13) 36. Bxd4 Qh3 $1 37. f3 Bxd4+ 38. Qxd4 Qh2+ 39. Kf1
g2+ $19) 35... Qh3 $8 36. Bxg7+ {[#]} Kh7 $8 ({Chessbase 2022 has} 36... Kxg7
$4 {which is both unnecessary and very bad: capturing a superfluous piece and
allowing a draw with:} 37. Rc7+ $1 Kg6 $8 (37... Rf7 $4 38. Rxf7+ Kxf7 39. Qb3+
Kg7 40. hxg3 hxg3 41. fxg3 fxg3 42. Qf3 $18) 38. Rxb6+ $1 axb6 39. Rc6+ $11)
37. hxg3 fxg3 38. fxg3 hxg3 $138 {Black lost on time, but it's mate in 2 after
Bxf8. Suttles earned a GM norm in this event.} 0-1

[Event "Toronto Closed"]
[Site "Toronto CAN"]
[Date "1973.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fuster, Geza"]
[Black "Dobrich, Vlad (Walter)"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E64"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1973.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,75,31,14,79,53,44,42,36,23,41,5,3,13,13,18,30,19,48,34,51,44,41,30,67,
67,73,80,143,115,115,121,121,119,200,157,177,222,206,206,206,180,198,167,180,
157,133,110,119,63,85,85,98,98,98,98,106,-58,95,99,70,106,76,59,151,-54,-122,
-122,-115,-126,-116,-105,-107,-136,-111,-143,-143,-252]} 1. d4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3.
c4 d6 4. g3 c5 5. d5 Nf6 6. Bg2 O-O 7. Nc3 Na6 8. O-O Nc7 9. e4 Bg4 10. Bg5 Nd7
11. Qd2 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 Ne5 13. Be2 Qd7 $6 14. f4 $1 h6 $1 15. Bh4 g5 16. fxg5
Ng6 17. gxh6 Bd4+ 18. Kh1 Nxh4 19. gxh4 $18 {[#] An unusual position: three
isolated h-pawns, all of them white.   In the next phase White seems to
struggle to find a plan, and his advantage declines. In the game he tries to
attack with the majors, but it might have been better to get his minor pieces
into the attack with Bh5, clearing e2 for the N with a tempo on Black's
essential DSB, then maybe Ne2-g3-f5.} Kh8 20. Rf5 Rg8 21. Qf4 Ne8 22. Rg5 $6
Nf6 23. h7 (23. e5 $142 $1 {clearing e4 and the b1-h7 diagonal.}) 23... Rg7 24.
Rxg7 Kxg7 25. e5 dxe5 26. Qg5+ Kh8 27. Rf1 {[#] Threatening Rxf6.} e4 $1 28.
Rf5 $4 Nxh7 $2 $14 (28... Be3 $142 $17 {wins the exchange as the Q has no safe
squares to defend the R.}) 29. Qh5 Rg8 30. Bg4 Rg7 31. Nxe4 {[%mdl 32832] [#]
Critical Position ...Qa4 or ...Kg8?} Qa4 $5 {Black goes for counterplay, which
could have cost him, but it's also likely Fuster was in time trouble, and the
refutation is not simple.} (31... Kg8 $1 $14 {defends f7 and unpins the N.
There are no clever tactics with discoveries on the Qd7; e.g.} 32. Rg5 $5 (32.
Qxh7+ $4 Kxh7 (32... Rxh7 $4 33. Rg5+ $18) 33. Rh5+ Kg8 34. Bxd7 Rg1#) 32...
Nxg5 $8 $19 33. Bxd7 Nxe4 34. Bg4 (34. h3 Ng3+ $19) 34... Nf2+ (34... Rxg4 $4
35. Qxg4+ {is check!}) 35. Kg2 Nxg4 $19 {with a safe K, active pieces, and a
winning material advantage.}) 32. Rxf7 $4 (32. Rg5 $4 Qxc4 $1 {threatens mate
on f1,} 33. Be2 Qxd5 $1 {exploiting the pin to g1 as in the game.}) (32. Ng5 $8
$18 {[#] blocking the g-file and attacking f7 is the only winning move, but it
leaves the white K open to what might feel like a deadly counterattack; e.g.}
f6 $5 {(not Black's only move, but it puts the most pressure on White)} 33.
Nf7+ $1 {is the computer move. It's not a crushing sac, it just improves the N
and gives White time to make his K safe before going back on the attack.} (33.
Ne6 $4 Qd1+ $1 $19) (33. Nxh7 Qd1+ $17) (33. b3 $5 Qxa2 34. Qe8+ Rg8 35. Nf7+
Kg7 36. Qxe7 Qb1+ 37. Kg2 Qg1+ 38. Kh3 Qe3+ 39. Qxe3 $18 {with a winning
endgame.}) (33. Bd1 $1 Qd7 (33... Qxc4 34. Qe8+ $8 Rg8 35. Nf7+ Kg7 36. Qxe7
$18 {Black has no checks, and} Kg6 37. Bh5+ $1 Kxf5 38. Nd6+ Kf4 39. Qe4#) 34.
Rf1 {threatening Bc2,} fxg5 35. Rf8+ $8 Rg8 36. Bc2 e5 37. Rf7 $18) 33... Kg8
34. Nh6+ (34. Rf1 {also works, since} Rxf7 35. Be6 $18) 34... Kf8 35. Rf1 Qxc4
36. Be2 {and Nf5 or Qf5 with a winning attack.}) 32... Qd1+ $1 {The main
tactical point of ..Qa5: Black wins the B and forces off the Qs.} 33. Kg2 $8 ({
The B is pinned to g1, so} 33. Bxd1 $2 Rg1#) 33... Qxg4+ 34. Qxg4 Rxg4+ 35. Kf3
Rg7 $1 36. Rf5 Kg8 37. b3 Rg1 38. Ke2 0-1

[Event "Olympiad"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "1974.06.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "McKay, Roderick"]
[Black "Biyiasas, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C71"]
[WhiteElo "2330"]
[BlackElo "2420"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1974.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,68,26,12,10,24,17,22,18,2,20,-4,54,9,5,-34,13,16,20,4,12,23,22,36,55,
41,58,75,92,90,79,61,64,-3,-19,-1,-20,-37,-12,-83,-79,-85,-55,-68,-44,-73,-41,
-43,-37,-56,-70,-99,-172,-156,-159,-152,-159,-164,-165,-154,-154,-203,-168,
-183,-177,-242,-374,-311,-337,-337,-374]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4
d6 5. d3 g6 6. c3 Bg7 7. Nbd2 Nh6 8. Nf1 Bd7 9. h4 f6 10. h5 g5 11. Ne3 Nf7 12.
Bb3 h6 13. Nh2 O-O 14. Qf3 Qc8 15. Nhg4 Kh7 16. Bd1 Ne7 17. Bc2 Kh8 18. O-O d5
19. Nh2 d4 20. Neg4 f5 21. exf5 Nxf5 22. Bd2 c5 23. Bb3 Bc6 24. Qe2 Qc7 25. Nf3
Rae8 26. cxd4 Nxd4 27. Nxd4 exd4 28. Qd1 Ne5 29. Nxe5 Bxe5 30. Qg4 Bh2+ 31. Kh1
Bf4 32. Rad1 (32. Bxf4 Rxf4 33. Qg3 Re2 34. Kg1 Qe5 {with tremendous pressure
and a winning bind.}) 32... Bxd2 33. Rxd2 Rf4 34. Qg3 {[%mdl 32832] Diagram [#]
What happens if ...Re3?} Re3 $3 {White resigns! A move Alekhine would proud of.
If White takes the Re3 the win is obvious. But what if he's stubborn?} (34...
Re3 $3 {...but what if he's stubborn?} 35. Qh2 (35. fxe3 Rxf1+ 36. Kh2 Rh1+ $19
) 35... g4 $1 {threatening ...Rh3} (35... Rh4 $2 36. Qxh4 $13) 36. Kg1 {
(unpinning the g-pawn)} g3 $1 37. fxg3 Rxf1+ 38. Kxf1 Qe5 39. Rd1 Rxg3 40. Rd2
Qe3 $19 {Material is equal but White's K is exposed and his majors are in a
bind. Black might continue with ...Rg4-f4.}) 0-1

[Event "Montreal"]
[Site "Montreal"]
[Date "1975.05.29"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Keres, Paul"]
[Black "Piasetski, Leon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A22"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "1964.02.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. g3 e5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 Nc6 5. Bg2 Qe7 6. e3 O-O 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8.
cxd5 Nd8 9. Ne2 Kh8 10. f4 Bd6 11. f5 c6 12. O-O f6 13. Nc3 b6 14. d3 Ba6 15.
Rd1 g6 16. Be4 Nb7 17. Qc2 Rac8 18. dxc6 dxc6 19. d4 g5 20. Qg2 c5 21. d5 Bb8
22. b3 Nd6 23. Bf3 Rce8 24. e4 Nb5 25. Nxb5 Bxb5 26. Be3 Bd6 27. Rac1 Rc8 28.
Be2 Bxe2 29. Qxe2 Qb7 30. a4 a6 31. Ra1 Rc7 32. Rdc1 Rfc8 33. Kh1 b5 34. axb5
axb5 35. Ra5 c4 36. bxc4 Rxc4 37. Rxc4 bxc4 38. Kg2 c3 39. Ra2 Qb4 40. Qc2 Rc4
41. Bc1 Rd4 42. Ra6 Kg7 43. Rc6 Bc5 44. Rc7+ Kg8 45. Qe2 Bd6 46. Rd7 Qb1 $8 47.
Rd8+ $2 (47. Rxd6 Qxc1 48. Rd8+ (48. Kh3 $13) 48... Kf7 (48... Kg7 49. Rd7+ Kh6
$4 50. Qh5+ $1 $18) 49. Rd7+ Ke8 50. Qh5+ $8 $11 {Black's Q and R can't block
the perpetual.}) 47... Bf8 $1 48. d6 Rxe4 49. Be3 $8 Qb7 {[%mdl 32832] [#]
It's 50 moves into a 10-board clock simul.} 50. Kf2 $4 {Natural: getting out
of the discovered attack and defending the B. But losing.} (50. Qa2+ $1 Kg7 51.
Qa7 $8 Qxa7 52. Bxa7 Re2+ (52... Rd4 $4 53. Bxd4 exd4 54. d7 d3 55. Rxf8 $18)
53. Kf3 c2 (53... Rxh2 $5) 54. Rc8 Rxh2 55. d7 Rd2 $17) 50... Rb4 $1 $19 51. d7
Qc7 $4 $11 (51... Kg7 $1 52. Rxf8 Qxd7 $8 $19 {there's no defense to ...Rb2
and ...Kxf8}) (51... Rb2 $2 52. Rxf8+ $8 $11) 52. Rc8 $4 (52. Qa2+ $8 $11 Kg7
53. Rxf8 Rb2+ $8 (53... Qxd7 $4 54. Qg8+ $18 {mates}) 54. Ke1 Rxa2 55. d8=Q
Ra1+ 56. Kf2 $8 Ra2+ $8 $11) 52... Qxd7 53. Rxf8+ (53. Rxc3 Qxf5+ {should be
an easy win.}) 53... Kxf8 54. Bc5+ Kg7 55. Bxb4 {[#]} Qd4+ $8 56. Qe3 Qxb4 $19
57. Qa7+ Kh6 58. Qf7 Qd4+ 59. Kf3 Qd3+ 60. Kg2 Qe4+ 61. Kg1 Qxf5 62. h3 Qb1+
63. Kf2 Qc2+ 64. Kf3 Qd3+ 65. Kg2 Qd6 66. h4 gxh4 67. gxh4 c2 0-1

[Event "Montreal"]
[Site "Montreal"]
[Date "1975.05.29"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Keres, Paul"]
[Black "MacKean, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C33"]
[Annotator "Peter MacKean"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1964.02.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Bc4 {Paul Keres’ suggested innovation, which, after
this game, appeared not to be very strong.} d5 {This counter gambit appears to
give Black at least equality. I can’t recall whether we had considered this
move earlier in the day [during Keres' lecture]. I believe not.} 4. Bxd5 (4.
exd5 $2 Qh4+ 5. Kf1 Bd6 $15) 4... Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 {[#]} 6. Nge2 $2 ({This move
is weak. Simply} 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O Bxc3 8. dxc3 (8. bxc3 Nxd5 9. exd5 Qxd5 10.
d4 Nd7 {possibly followed by ...c5, ...b6, ...Bb7 etc. seems OK for Black.})
8... c6 {seems to equalize. - PM ed - White still has a development advantage
and the B pair, which may be why Fischer could win this so quickly in an
earlier simul game where he tried 3...Bc4:} 9. Bc4 Qb6+ 10. Kh1 Nxe4 11. Qe1 $1
$16 Re8 (11... Nf6 12. Bxf4 $32) 12. Bxf4 Nd6 13. Bxd6 $3 Rxe1 14. Raxe1 Bd7 (
14... Be6 15. Ng5 {or Rxe6 both win.}) 15. Ng5 Na6 16. Rxf7 {1-0 Fischer,
R-Nyman,W. Cicero, 1964.}) 6... Bxc3 7. dxc3 {The alternatives are not any
better; e.g.} (7. Nxc3 Bg4 8. Ne2 Nxd5 9. exd5 Qxd5 $19) (7. bxc3 Nxd5 8. exd5
Qh4+ $19 9. g3 (9. Kf1 f3) 9... fxg3 10. Nxg3 Bg4) 7... c6 8. Bb3 (8. Bc4 {
would save a tempo.}) 8... Qxd1+ 9. Kxd1 Nxe4 {This would not be possible if
the N was placed on f3 on move six. - PM  ed. - I don't see why not. White can
pin the N with Re1, but after ...Bf5 White has no way to attack the Ne4 with a
lower-value piece as there are no pawn levers (f4?!); and any threatening N
moves can all be met by the annoying ...Bg4+, giving Black time enough to
castle.} 10. Ke1 (10. Re1 $2 Nf2+ 11. Kd2 O-O $19) 10... g5 11. h4 f6 12. Bc4
Bg4 13. Bd3 Nc5 $1 14. g3 Nxd3+ 15. cxd3 {[%mdl 34944] [#] Critical Position:
White is looking for endgame activity to make up for the missing pawn in this
King's Gambit. What should Black do: ...fxg3 ...f3 something else?  (NB:
White's K has already moved)} fxg3 $6 {This keeps an advantage, but isn't
nearly best. - ed.} (15... gxh4 $2 16. Rxh4 h5 17. Bxf4 $13) (15... f3 $17 16.
Ng1 Nd7 {aiming for d3.} 17. d4 (17. hxg5 O-O $1 $19 {developing and
supporting the Pf3.}) 17... c5 18. hxg5 (18. Be3 cxd4 19. cxd4 Rc8 $19) 18...
O-O $17) (15... Nd7 $1 {Black has a winning development advantage, and if
White grabs the kingside pawns it opens lines against his K; e.g.} 16. gxf4 (
16. d4 {keeping the N away} O-O 17. gxf4 Rae8 18. Rh2 Rf7 19. Kf1 Rfe7 $19)
16... O-O-O 17. hxg5 (17. Kf2 Nc5 $19) 17... Rhe8 18. Rh2 fxg5 19. fxg5 Ne5 $19
) ({Similarly,} 15... O-O $1 16. gxf4 Re8 17. Rh2 gxh4 18. Kf1 Nd7 19. d4 {
keeps the N back, but burries the Bc1.} Re4 $17 {or even ...f5.}) 16. Nxg3 $6 (
16. hxg5 $142 $15 fxg5 17. Bxg5 Rg8 {Black still has winning chances but
it’s not clear.}) 16... gxh4 17. Rxh4 h5 18. Be3 (18. Bf4 $142 {covering e5.}
) 18... Nd7 19. Ne4 $2 (19. d4 {prevents ...Ne5 but Black should still win on
the long term strength of his kingside passers}) 19... Ne5 $1 {[#] Keres
obviously overlooked this move, and stood at this position for a long time 
(likely looking at the exchange sac via Nxf6xg4, although it doesn’t work).
I actually thought that he might resign here as I am winning a second pawn. In
fact, his flag fell. Of course, I didn’t point it out to him and simply
played on! Mr. Keres also played on until move 50, presumably since we had Bs
of different colors, and he was now winning the b pawn, thus saddling black
with all isolated pawns, and rendering the Black win slightly more challenging
to achieve.} 20. Kf2 (20. Nxf6+ Ke7 21. Nxg4 Nf3+ $19) 20... Nxd3+ 21. Kg3 f5
22. Nd6+ Kd7 23. Nxb7 Rhb8 24. Nc5+ Nxc5 25. Bxc5 Rxb2 26. Rhh1 Rc2 27. Bd4 c5
28. Be5 Re8 29. Rhe1 Kc6 30. a4 Kd5 31. Bf6 Rxe1 32. Rxe1 Ra2 33. Re5+ Kd6 34.
Re8 Rxa4 35. Rd8+ Kc7 36. Rd5 f4+ 37. Kh4 Kc6 38. Rd2 Ra1 39. Be5 Rh1+ 40. Kg5
f3 41. Ra2 Rg1 42. Kh4 Rg2 43. Ra6+ Kb5 44. Rf6 Kc4 45. Bg3 Kxc3 46. Ra6 Kd3
47. Rxa7 f2 48. Ra3+ Kd4 49. Ra4+ c4 50. Ra1 Be2 {On move 51, Mr. Keres laid
down his King, shook my hand and signed my scoresheet. Unfortunately, the
signed score sheet was misplaced, but the game was quickly reconstructed with
the help of a chess friend. I felt honored to have had such an opportunity to
receive a tutorial and engage in a simultaneous game with such a chess legend.
I feel that, with Mr. Keres inspiration, we were able to collaboratively
refute 3. Bc4 in the King’s Gambit on that day, with the simple 3...d5. 
During the simultaneous exhibition, Leon Piasetski was the only other player
to defeat Mr. Keres that evening. As is well documented, Mr. Paul Keres died
soon after leaving Canada, having just completed the Canadian Tour, and has
since been honored in Canada by the hosting of the Annual Keres Memorial Chess
Tournament, held in Vancouver since 1975. - Peter MacKean (via Fred McKim)} 0-1

[Event "Olympiad"]
[Site "Buenos Aires"]
[Date "1978.11.06"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Gamarra Caceres, Carlos"]
[Black "Piasetski, Leon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2335"]
[BlackElo "2350"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "1978.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,36,19,38,40,41,41,1,24,-10,1,-6,8,33,70,3,26,27,33,63,71,-18,-4,-15,
-13,-69,-46,-27,-17,-111,-88,-70,-49,-37,-64,-359,-404,-29993,-29994]} 1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 d5 4. e5 Bd7 5. d4 Qb6 6. Be2 Bb5 7. c4 Bxc4 8. Bxc4 dxc4 9. d5
Ne7 10. dxe6 Qxe6 11. O-O Nbc6 12. Nbd2 Ng6 13. Ng5 Qd5 14. Qa4 Ngxe5 15. f4
Qd4+ 16. Kh1 Nd3 {[%mdl 32832] Critical Position[#] Black is behind in
development but has two extra pawns. What should White do: Qxc4, Nxc4,
something else?} 17. Nxc4 $2 (17. Qxc4 $2 Qxc4 $8 (17... Nf2+ $4 18. Rxf2 Qxf2
19. Qxf7+ Kd8 20. Ne6+ Kc8 21. Qc7#) 18. Nxc4 Be7 $19 {Black is up a pawn for
free.}) ({The answer is "something else", but White is still significantly
worse:} 17. Ngf3 $142 Nf2+ $2 (17... Qd7 $1 $17) 18. Kg1 $8 Nh3+ 19. Kh1 Nf2+ (
19... Qg1+ $4 20. Nxg1 {is not how smothered mate works.}) 20. Kg1 $11) 17...
b5 $3 {This fork deflects the Q from defending d1, and is the only move that
not only keeps an advantage, but wins.} (17... Nf2+ $4 18. Rxf2 Qxf2 19. Be3
$18 {White is down the exchange but has a winning lead in development:} Qh4 (
19... Qe2 20. Qb5 $18) 20. Ne5 $18) 18. Qxb5 Nf2+ {It's either a smothered
mate (after 19.Kg1 Nh3+) or a back rank mate after 19.Rxf2 Qd1+).} 0-1

[Event "Olympiad"]
[Site "Buenos Aires"]
[Date "1978.11.07"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Preissmann, Emmanuel"]
[Black "Day, Lawrence"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2320"]
[BlackElo "2365"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1978.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,50,29,28,73,84,84,73,81,80,80,71,54,64,34,10,5,12,8,6,14,8,45,16,36,
20,24,30,27,48,38,51,19,27,67,59,20,39,43,-9,42,-19,33,9,55,-34,-38,-112,-89,
-94,-99,-29991,-29994]} 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. dxc5 Qa5 5. Nge2 Nf6 6.
Qd3 Na6 7. Be3 O-O 8. f3 Nxc5 9. Qb5 Qxb5 10. Nxb5 d6 11. Nc7 Rb8 12. e5 Ne8
13. Nd5 Bxe5 14. Nxe7+ Kh8 15. O-O-O Be6 16. Nd5 b5 17. Nef4 Ng7 18. Nxe6 fxe6
19. Nb4 Nf5 20. Bf2 Na4 21. Nd3 Bg7 {[%mdl 32832] Critical Position [#]Re1 or
Bxa7?} 22. Bxa7 $4 (22. Re1 $142 $14 {attacking the Pe6 gains a tempo to make
space for the K.}) 22... Ra8 $8 $19 23. Bf2 Nxb2 $3 24. Nxb2 Rxa2 25. g4 $2 (
25. Nd3 $2 Bc3 $1 {#2}) (25. Kd2 $8 Rxb2 $19) 25... Bc3 $1 (25... Bc3 $1 26.
Kb1 Rfa8 {mates.}) 0-1

[Event "Ontario op"]
[Site "Hamilton CAN"]
[Date "1980.05.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Brown, Grant"]
[Black "Pacey, Kevin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B77"]
[WhiteElo "1680"]
[BlackElo "1899"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "1980.05.17"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Bc4
Nc6 9. Qd2 Bd7 10. h4 Ne5 11. Bb3 {[#]} Qa5 (11... h5 $1 {is the modern line
-- popularized by English GM Jon Mestel, who played it in 1975 -- but might
not have been known by the players.}) 12. h5 Nxh5 13. g4 Nf6 14. Bh6 Bxh6 15.
Qxh6 Rfc8 {[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position Should White connect Rs with 000
or Kd2, or something else?} 16. Kd2 $4 {This position would be OK if it were
White's move -- g5! followed by an exchange sac on h5 -- but it isn't, and
Black gives him a lesson in the Dragon counterattack:} (16. O-O-O $142 $6 Rxc3
$8 {(otherwise Nd5 wins by removing the guard on f6)} 17. bxc3 Qxc3 18. Kb1 Rc8
19. Rhf1 $2 (19. Nf5 $8 gxf5 (19... Bxf5 20. gxf5 Nc4 $17) 20. gxf5 Qxf3 21.
Rdg1+ Neg4 22. Rh4 $13) 19... a5 $1 $19 20. a4 Nc4 21. Qc1 Qb4 22. Ka2 Bxa4 $19
{(0-1, 29) Golubka,P (2503)-Korol,D (2291) Lutsk, 2018.}) ({Retreating the Q
must feel like an admission that White's mating attack -- "sac, sac, mate" --
is not going to come; but it's better than getting smashed by Black's attack.} 
16. Qe3 $142 Nc4 (16... Rxc3 $5 17. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 18. bxc3 Rc8 (18... g5 $5 $13)
19. g5 Nh5 $13 {(1-0, 75) Cain,C (2310)-Myo,N (2425) Bangkok, 2004.}) 17. Bxc4
Rxc4 18. O-O-O Rxc3 $5 $13 (18... Rac8 $5)) (16. Nde2 Nxf3+ $19) (16. Qd2 $142
Be6 $5 {since the Nd4 must guard f3.} (16... Rc4 $5 {is a different kind of
exchange sac.})) 16... Rxc3 $1 $19 17. bxc3 Rc8 $1 {[#]} 18. Qe3 (18. Ne2 {
defends c3, but} Nxf3+ {and White loses all his kingside pawns.}) 18... Rxc3 $3
19. Qxc3 Nxf3+ $8 20. Kd3 (20. Nxf3 Nxe4+ $19) 20... Ne5+ $8 {Black wins the Q
with a continuing attack.} (20... Ne5+ 21. Kd2 Nxe4+ $19) 0-1

[Event "Toronto Closed"]
[Site "Toronto CAN"]
[Date "1981.02.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Fuster, Geza"]
[Black "Kourkounakis, Ilias"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2238"]
[BlackElo "2319"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1981.02.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 Ne4 5. Bh4 cxd4 6. cxd4 Nc6 7. Nc3 Qa5 8.
Qb3 e6 9. e3 Qb4 10. Qc2 Qa5 11. Rc1 Bd7 12. a3 Rc8 {[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical
Position Bd3, Bb5, or something else.} 13. Bd3 $4 {Perfectly natural, but
losing!  The game line and variations below show how even an opening with as
boring a reputation as the exchange Slav can be a tactical minefield.} (13. Bb5
$4 Nxc3 14. Bxc6 Ne4+ 15. b4 Bxb4+ $8 $19) (13. Nd2 $142 Nxc3 14. Nb3 $1 Qb6
15. Qxc3 Nxd4 $15 16. Qxd4 (16. Qxc8+ $2 Bxc8 17. Rxc8+ Kd7 18. Rd8+ Qxd8 19.
Bxd8 Nxb3 $19) 16... Qxb3 17. Rxc8+ Bxc8 18. Qxa7 Bd6 $15) (13. Qb3 $142 $1 b5
$5 {[#] Analysis Diagram Development is equal, but Black has a pawn sac!?} 14.
Qxb5 (14. Bxb5 $4 Nxc3 15. bxc3 (15. Rxc3 $4 Rb8 {and ...a6 wins the Bb5.})) (
14. Bd3 $2 b4 $1 15. Nxe4 bxa3+ 16. Ned2 Rb8 $8 $19 {with ...axb2 Black
already has two pawns for the N, but also has too many ways to attack the
queenside (...Nb4. ...Ba4).}) (14. Be2 Nxc3 15. Qxc3 $8 (15. Rxc3 $2 b4 $19)
15... Qxc3+ 16. Rxc3 b4 17. Rd3 {to save the a-pawn,} Na5 $15 {with a
queenside initiative.}) 14... Bxa3 $1 15. Qxa5 Nxa5 16. bxa3 Rxc3 17. Rxc3 Nxc3
{White has the Bs (for now), but after ...f6 his N is worse than Black's. SF15
and Leela both slightly prefer Black.}) 13... Nxc3 $19 14. Qxc3 (14. bxc3 Bxa3
15. Ra1 Nb4 $8 $19) 14... Nb4 $1 15. Qxc8+ Bxc8 16. Rxc8+ Kd7 17. Rd8+ Kc7 {[#]
} 18. Ke2 (18. axb4 Bxb4+ {and ...Rxd8.}) 18... Nxd3 $8 (18... Nc6 $2 19. Ra8
$14) 19. Kxd3 Qb5+ 20. Kc2 Bxa3 $1 21. Rxh8 Qxb2+ 22. Kd3 Qb5+ $1 23. Kc2 Qc4+
24. Kd2 Bb4+ 25. Kd1 Qd3+ 0-1

[Event "Fou du Roi final"]
[Site "Quebec"]
[Date "1981.03.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Ivanov, Igor Vasilievich"]
[Black "Berry, Jonathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "28"]
[EventDate "1981.??.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,28,22,22,82,78,78,26,26,12,33,32,27,0,-24,-14,-33,-35,-19,-15,-15,-39,
-21,-46,-44,-78,-74,-71,-62,-313,-322]} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 c5
5. dxc5 Qa5+ 6. Nc3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Qxc3+ 8. Bd2 Qxc5 9. Ne2 Nf6 10. O-O O-O 11.
Rb1 Nc6 12. Nc3 Bg4 $1 13. Qe1 Nd4 {[%mdl 32832] [#]Critical Position White
dared Black to give up his DSB for a N and P, and Black went for it. What
should White do now?} 14. Be3 $4 {Not one of Igor's better days.} (14. Rxb7 $2
Rfe8 {threat ...Bc8-a6} (14... Bc8 15. Rxe7 Ba6 16. e5 $1 $132) 15. Rb1 Nxc2
16. Qc1 Nd4 $19) (14. Qe3 $1 b6 $1 $17 {defending the Q and b7 pawn.} 15. e5 $2
dxe5 16. Bxa8 Rxa8 $19 {White's kingside light squares are hopelessly weak.})
14... Qxc3 $1 (14... Qxc3 $1 15. Qxc3 Ne2+ $19) 0-1

[Event "Olympiad"]
[Site "Dubai"]
[Date "1986.11.23"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Braga, Fernando"]
[Black "Day, Lawrence"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C76"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2375"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1986.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventCountry "UAE"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. c3 a6 6. Ba4 d6 7. d4 Bd7 8. Re1
Qe7 9. Be3 Nf6 10. d5 Nb8 11. Bc2 Ng4 12. Bd2 b6 13. c4 f6 $6 14. b4 O-O 15.
Nc3 f5 16. exf5 gxf5 17. h3 Nh6 18. c5 bxc5 19. bxc5 Bc8 20. c6 a5 21. Nb5 Kh8
22. a4 Qf7 {[#]} 23. Bc3 (23. Ng5 $1 $18 {and Black is getting masacred in a
very bad KID.}) 23... Na6 24. Bxa5 Bf6 25. Ra3 Rg8 26. Nh2 $2 f4 $132 27. Kh1
Bh4 28. Re2 (28. Nf3 Bxf2 29. Nxe5 dxe5 30. Rxe5 $18) 28... Qg7 29. f3 Nf5 30.
Bxf5 Bxf5 31. Bc3 Rae8 32. Ra1 h5 33. Ba5 Bf6 34. Rc1 (34. Bxc7 Nxc7 35. Nxd6
$16) 34... Bd8 35. Bc3 $2 Nc5 36. Rd2 Nd3 37. Rcc2 Qg6 $1 38. Ra2 Nc5 $6 39.
Ba5 Rg7 40. Bc3 Reg8 41. Ra1 Bh4 42. Ba5 {[%mdl 32832] Diagram [#] Critical
Position Find a pretty way to finish off White.} Nd3 $1 (42... Bxh3 {is the
brute force way, but Black's actual continuation is prettier:} 43. gxh3 Nb3 44.
Ng4 (44. Qxb3 Qg1+ 45. Rxg1 Rxg1#) 44... Nxd2 45. Bxd2 hxg4 $19) (42... e4 {
also wins.}) 43. Qf1 Bxh3 $1 44. gxh3 (44. Qxd3 Qxd3 {(taking on g2 also mates
faster, but this is very simple)} 45. Rxd3 Bxg2+ 46. Kg1 Bxf3+ $19) 44... Be1
$1 {Interfering with the defence of g1 by cutting off the Ra1. Going 45... Ne1
also works, but this move also skewers the Ba5.} 45. Rxe1 Nxe1 46. Ng4 hxg4 $1
(46... Nxf3 $19) 47. hxg4 Rh7+ 48. Rh2 Nxf3 49. Qxf3 Qb1+ {and Black wins the
Rh2. Lawrence Day won a Bronze Medal at this Olympiad.} 0-1

[Event "Quebec-ch"]
[Site "Montreal"]
[Date "1987.05.28"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ivanov, Igor Vasilievich"]
[Black "Leveille, Francois"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2249"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1987.05.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,20,24,24,25,9,13,-6,-5,-5,-12,-3,17,17,27,32,41,16,62,62,52,57,47]} 1.
Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. d4 O-O 6. O-O c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. e4 Nb6
9. dxc5 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. Nc3 Nc6 12. Bf4 Bd7 $2 (12... f6 $142 13. Rac1
e5 14. Nb5 (14. Nd5 $14 {(½-½, 24) Timman,J (2605)-Khalifman,A (2688) Wijk
aan Zee, 2002.}) 14... exf4 15. Rxc5 {½-½ Portisch,L (2610)-Dlugy,M (2520)
New York, 1987.}) 13. Rac1 Rfc8 14. Nb5 {[%mdl 32832] [#]Critical Position Can
Black untangle with ...Ne5, or should he just suffer with ...Bf8.} Ne5 $2 (
14... Bf8 15. b3 {and Black is getting squeezed, but it's not over.}) 15. Nc7
$8 $18 Rxc7 (15... Nxf3+ 16. Bxf3 $18 {with a double attack on a8 and c5.}) 16.
Nxe5 $8 (16. Bxe5 $2 Rcc8 $11) 16... Ba4 (16... g5 17. Bxg5 ({or} 17. Be3)) (
16... Bb5 17. Nd3 $19) 17. b3 $8 Bb5 18. Nd3 $1 (18. b4 {also wins.}) 18...
Bxd3 19. Bxc7 Ba3 20. Rc3 1-0

[Event "Saint John op-2"]
[Site "Saint John"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Southam, Todd"]
[Black "Foisor, Ovidiu"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E44"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "152"]
[EventDate "1988.02.08"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,152,20,20,30,-23,0,-10,17,17,37,6,4,8,-7,2,20,41,28,35,35,8,10,39,56,
27,51,51,50,70,70,60,80,83,67,68,74,52,114,78,88,53,63,60,124,126,125,125,97,
133,150,166,177,168,155,135,169,153,217,211,210,231,251,249,211,77,74,-85,-90,
-109,-106,-167,-92,-99,-102,-117,-67,-61,-61,-61,-47,-17,-13,-78,-81,-49,0,0,
26,-88,-75,0,0,-75,-53,-89,-59,-16,-9,-17,-23,0,0,-14,-73,-141,-80,-77,-132,
-160,-137,-213,-213,-230,-232,-258,-272,-263,-260,-264,-175,-226,-175,-253,
-209,-244,-185,-300,-184,-258,-194,-216,-194,-216,-221,-229,-231,-185,7,-179,
-113,0,0,0,110,120,120,145,128,135,123,119,118,118,145]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.
Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Nge2 Bb7 6. a3 Be7 7. Ng3 O-O 8. e4 d6 9. Be3 Nbd7 10. Bd3
Re8 11. O-O Bf8 12. Be2 a6 13. f4 e5 14. fxe5 dxe5 15. d5 Bc5 16. Qd2 a5 17.
Kh1 Bxe3 18. Qxe3 Nc5 19. Rf2 Rf8 20. Nf5 Ne8 21. Raf1 f6 22. b4 axb4 23. axb4
Na6 24. Rb1 Bc8 25. c5 Kh8 26. Bb5 Nb8 27. Rff1 g6 28. Ng3 Kg7 29. Ra1 Rxa1 30.
Rxa1 bxc5 31. bxc5 $18 c6 32. Ra7+ $2 Rf7 33. Ra8 Bb7 34. Ra1 cxb5 $17 35. Nxb5
Ba6 36. Nc3 Rb7 37. c6 Qb6 38. Nf5+ gxf5 39. Qg3+ Kh8 40. cxb7 Bxb7 41. Rb1 Qc7
42. Qf2 Bc8 43. Nb5 Qd8 44. Qc5 Nd7 45. Qc6 Nf8 46. Na7 Bd7 47. Qc5 Kg8 48. Nc6
Bxc6 49. dxc6 fxe4 50. Qc4+ Kg7 51. Rb7+ (51. Qxe4 $13) 51... Nc7 52. h4 e3 53.
Qg4+ Kf7 54. Qe4 Qd6 55. Qxe3 Qxc6 56. Qb3+ Nfe6 57. Rb6 Qe4 58. Rb4 Qe1+ 59.
Kh2 Qd2 60. Qc4 Qd6 61. Qc3 Nd4 62. h5 Nce6 63. Ra4 Qb6 64. Qa3 Nc7 65. Qa2+
Kg7 66. Ra3 Nde6 67. Rd3 Qc6 68. Qd2 {[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position Black
has a winning material advantage, but only if he can get his Ns going. Where
should he move the Ne6?} Ng5 $2 (68... Nd4 $2 69. Rg3+ Kf7 $8 70. Qh6 $8 $11) (
68... Nc5 $2 69. Rg3+ Kf7 70. Qh6 $11) (68... Nf4 $2 69. Rc3 $11) (68... h6 $2
69. Rd7+ Kg8 70. Qd3 $8 $11) (68... Nf8 $1 $19 {guarding d7 and h7 before
improving the other N is the only good move for the Ne6.}) 69. Rd7+ $2 (69. Rc3
$8 $11 {Too simple to see, or overpressing for the win? This wins the Nc7, but
not the game:} Qb6 (69... Ne4 $2 70. Rxc6 Nxd2 71. Rxc7+ Kh6 72. g4 f5 73. Kh3
$8 $18) 70. Qd7+ Kh6 $8 71. Rxc7 Kxh5 $11 {Both K's are too exposed to play
for a win.}) 69... Nf7 $2 (69... Kg8 $8 $19 70. Rd8+ Ne8 $8 71. Qa2+ Nf7 $19) {
[#]} 70. h6+ $1 ({Or} 70. Qd3 $1 {followed by h6+} Ne6 (70... e4 $2 71. Qg3+
$18 {wins c7.}) 71. h6+ $8 Kg8 72. Rxf7 $8 Kxf7 73. Qxh7+ Kf8 $8 74. Qh8+ Ke7
$8 (74... Kf7 $2 75. h7 $18) 75. h7 (75. Qh7+ $11) 75... Qe4 $11 {and Black
forces a repetition.}) 70... Kg8 71. Qd3 $8 {Threat Qg3+ or Rxf7 as in the
previous note.} f5 (71... Ne6 72. Rxf7 $8 Kxf7 73. Qxh7+ Kf8 $8 74. Qh8+ $11)
72. Qg3+ Qg6 $8 73. Qxg6+ hxg6 74. h7+ Kh8 $8 75. Rxf7 Ne6 76. Re7 Ng5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wentworth Active"]
[Site "Ancaster"]
[Date "1993.08.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Day, Lawrence"]
[Black "Nickoloff, Bryon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2473"]
[BlackElo "2518"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1993.08.??"]
[EventType "rapid"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,68,20,-11,-5,-10,-15,-14,28,17,15,15,15,-11,20,20,21,-1,21,0,6,4,31,0,
25,21,16,16,53,16,24,16,31,-7,22,-7,-7,-234,-256,-206,-206,-210,-213,-227,-232,
-227,-228,-317,-267,-246,-267,-283,-229,-212,-213,-280,-311,-330,-267,-330,
-311,-459,-476,-488,-496,-497,-498,-550,-544,-572,-570]} 1. g3 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3.
Bg2 c6 4. O-O Bf5 5. d3 e6 6. b3 Be7 7. Bb2 O-O 8. e3 a5 9. a4 h6 10. Qe2 Bh7
11. Nc3 Nbd7 12. e4 Nc5 13. e5 Ne8 14. Bh3 Nc7 15. Nd4 N7a6 16. Kh1 Nb4 17.
Rad1 Qb6 {[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position} 18. Qe3 $4 {Black was
threatening ...Nxd3 with a discovered attack on the Nd4. White's move protects
the Nd4, but allows a different tactic, which Black found.} (18. Qd2 $2 Ncxd3
$1 $19) (18. Nf3 $142 {is better than the game, but it's hard to see what
White is playing for after this.}) (18. Nb1 $142 $1 {defending Nd4, ready to
push f4.}) 18... Nxc2 $3 $19 19. Nxc2 Qxb3 $8 20. Qc1 {Defending the forked
minors, but} Nxd3 {Forking c1 and b2.} 21. Rxd3 $8 Bxd3 22. Na1 Qc4 23. Re1 Bb4
{[#] Black is winning with three pawns and a Rook for the two Ns. He converts
by ruthlessly pushing his passed d-pawn.} 24. Rd1 d4 25. Nb1 Qxc1 26. Rxc1 c5
27. Bg2 Rad8 28. Na3 Be2 29. Bf1 d3 30. Nb3 Bxf1 31. Rxf1 d2 32. Rd1 Rd3 33.
Nc4 Rxb3 34. Kg2 Rd8 0-1

[Event "Beloeil (30 min)"]
[Site "Beloeil CAN"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hebert, Jean"]
[Black "Koliada, Timour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A83"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
[EventType "rapid"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. Bg5 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. e4 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 {
[#] White has played a dangerous anti-Dutch line: conceding the B pair for a
lead in development and an early e4.} O-O (7... Nc6 $5 8. c3 O-O 9. Bd3 d6 10.
Qc2 h6 11. O-O g5 $5 12. Qe2 (12. Rae1 $1) (12. Ng3 $1) 12... Bd7 13. Nfd2 $6
e5 $1 14. d5 Ne7 15. Nxf6+ $6 Rxf6 16. Ne4 Rf7 $13 17. Rad1 a5 18. Bb1 Qf8 19.
Ng3 Kh8 20. c4 b6 21. b3 Qg7 22. a3 Ng6 23. Bxg6 Qxg6 $11 {And they've reached
a kind of KID middlegame where Black has conceded the e4 square to a N, but
has traded all of his usually-cramped minors; Zherebukh,Y (2595)-Kamsky,G 
(2675) Las Vegas, 2016 (0-1, 37).}) 8. h4 d5 9. Neg5 c5 {[%mdl 32960] [#]
Critical Position ...Qd3, Bd3, or something else?} 10. Qd3 $1 {White has
terrific pressure on the light squares after this or other moves, but there
was no need to put more ammo in the gun...} (10. Bd3 $6 {White's attack is
much stronger with the Q in front.} h6 (10... g6 11. Nxh7 $5 $13) 11. Bh7+ Kh8
12. Qd3 $14) ({White not only has a promising attacking position, he has an
attack:} 10. Nxh7 $142 $3 $16 Kxh7 11. Ng5+ $8 Kg8 (11... Kg6 12. Qd3+ Kh5 13.
g4+ $18 {and mate next.}) 12. Qh5 $18 {Black has various defensive tries but
is so lost that White usually has multiple winning continuations against every
defence. Here's an example:} Re8 (12... Bxg5 13. hxg5 {and g6 is a common
pattern in these attacks.}) 13. Qf7+ {(the attack is so strong that 000 wins
too)} Kh8 14. Bd3 Qd7 $1 15. Qg6 Kg8 16. Rh3 {going for Rf3xf6.} Kf8 (16... c4
17. Rf3 cxd3 18. Rxf6 $18 {and Qh7#}) 17. h5 Bxg5 18. Qxg5 Re7 19. h6 Kg8 (
19... Ke8 20. h7 $18) 20. Bh7+ $1 $18) 10... g6 11. Nxh7 $1 $13 Kxh7 12. h5 $8
{[#]} Nc6 $2 (12... Qe7 $142 13. Ne5 $36 c4 (13... Nc6 14. Nxg6 c4 $8 15. Nxf8+
Kg7 $14) (13... Rg8 $4 14. hxg6+ Kg7 15. Rh7+ $18) 14. hxg6+ (14. Qxg6+ $5 Kh8
15. Qh6+ Kg8 16. Ng6 $14) 14... Kg8 15. Qg3 (15. Qh3)) (12... Rg8 $2 13. hxg6+
Kg7 14. Rh7+ Kf8 15. Ne5 Nc6 16. Ng4 $1 $18 (16. Qh3 $1 $18)) 13. Qxg6+ $18 Kh8
14. Bd3 $1 Qe7 15. Qh6+ $8 Kg8 16. Rh3 $8 e5 (16... Rf7 17. Rg3+ Rg7 18. Qh7+
Kf7 19. Rxg7+ Bxg7 20. h6 $18) 17. Rg3+ $8 Kf7 {[#] All of White's moves since
10.Qd3 have been straightforward, but not here: although it might look crazy
with his K still on e1, White must immediately force open the e-file.} 18. Qg6+
$4 (18. dxe5 $142 $18 Nxe5 (18... Bh8 19. Qg6#) 19. Nxe5+ Qxe5+ 20. Re3 (20.
Kf1 {wins too, bringing in the last piece with Re1.}) 20... Qg5 21. Bg6+ $18 {
and mate next.}) (18. Nxe5+ $142 $18 Ke8 19. O-O-O $8 Be6 20. Ng6 Qg7 21. Qxg7
Bxg7 22. Nxf8 $18 {White has a R and three connected passed pawns for the two
minors. This is a common result in lines where Black escapes mate.}) 18... Ke6
19. dxe5 {[#]} Kd7 $8 (19... Nxe5 $2 20. Nxe5 Kd6 (20... Kxe5 21. Re3+ $18) 21.
Re3 $18 Be6 22. Nc4+ $1 dxc4 (22... Kc7 23. Bf5 $18) 23. Bxc4 $18) 20. Bb5 Bxe5
21. Nxe5+ Qxe5+ 22. Re3 Qf6 $15 1/2-1/2

[Event "North Bay op"]
[Site "North Bay"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Nickoloff, Bryon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2390"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,92,19,38,25,16,16,3,15,-10,3,-3,1,10,13,25,29,2,0,-26,-1,-12,-14,-6,
-1,10,13,0,17,26,24,30,30,-1,64,48,27,-15,-10,-11,-12,-17,17,-18,-23,-11,4,0,
13,-5,10,-2,17,0,0,0,-17,-172,27,-54,20,-86,-86,-149,76,6,30,34,16,20,11,23,25,
-3,-22,-30,-34,-31,-29,-29,-16,-20,-24,-14,0,0,0,0,0,-29,-28,0,-14,-16,-15]} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 Bd6 8. c3 O-O
9. Nbd2 h6 10. d4 Re8 11. Re1 Bf8 12. Nf1 d6 13. Ng3 {This position is more
commonly reached with White to move, having saved a tempo by playing d2-d4 in
one move.} Na5 14. Bc2 Nc4 15. b3 Nb6 16. a4 c5 17. dxc5 dxc5 18. Qe2 bxa4 19.
bxa4 a5 20. Nd2 c4 21. Nxc4 Nxc4 22. Qxc4 Rc8 23. Qa2 Rxc3 24. Bb3 Re7 25. Bb2
Rd3 26. Bc4 Rd2 27. Qb3 (27. Nf1 Rc2 28. Qb3 Bxe4 29. Rxe4 Rxb2 $15) 27... Bc6
28. Nf5 $2 {[%mdl 32832] [#]} Nxe4 $6 {Not a bad move -- it starts a series of
exchanges which result in a balanced endgame -- but not nearly the best.} (
28... Rb7 $142 $8 $19 {Skewers the Bb2.} 29. Qg3 (29. Bb5 {saves the Bb2, but
leaves Black in charge after the simple} Bxb5 30. axb5 Bc5 $19) 29... Nxe4 $3 (
29... Rbxb2 $4 30. Nxh6+ $8 Kh7 (30... Kh8 $2 31. Nxf7+ $19) 31. Nxf7 $18 {
threatening Qd8 and Q-h-file mate.}) (29... Kh7 {L.Day, in "Nick's Best", is
also good, but after} 30. Ba3 $15 {it's still a fight.}) 30. Rxe4 (30. Nxh6+
Kh7 {White has too many bits hanging.}) (30. Bxf7+ Kxf7 $19 {just makes it
worse.}) 30... Bxe4 31. Nxh6+ Kh7 32. Nxf7 Rxf7 33. Qh3+ (33. Bxf7 Rd1+ $19 {
mates.}) 33... Kg8 34. Bxf7+ Kxf7 $19) 29. Nxe7+ $8 Qxe7 30. Rad1 Rxf2 $1 31.
Rxe4 $8 {[#]} Qc5 $5 (31... Qa7 $142 {gets off the a3-f8 diagonal, and so
avoids White's next} 32. Qe3 $1 Bc5 $5 (32... Qxe3 33. Rxe3 Rxg2+ 34. Kf1 Rxb2
$13) 33. Rd8+ $1 Kh7 34. Bd4 $8 exd4 $8 (34... Bxd4 35. Rexd4 $18) 35. Qxf2
Bxe4 (35... d3 $4 36. Red4 $8 $18) 36. Qxf7 $14 {with a pawn-up version of
what happens in the game.}) (31... Rxb2 $142 32. Qxb2 Bxe4 $11) 32. Ba3 $1
Rxg2+ $8 33. Kxg2 Bxe4+ $8 34. Kg3 Qxa3 $8 35. Bxf7+ Kh7 36. Bg8+ {[#]} Kg6 $8
{This would get mated if White's Q wasn't pinned along the third rank.} (36...
Kh8 $4 37. Qxa3 Bxa3 38. Rd8 $18) 37. Bf7+ Kf6 38. Rf1+ Bf5 39. Qxa3 Bxa3 40.
Bd5 Bb4 $11 41. h4 h5 42. Be4 g6 43. Kf3 Bd7 44. Bc2 Bh3 45. Rg1 Bg4+ 46. Rxg4
hxg4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "CAN-ch"]
[Site "Hamilton"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nickoloff, Bryon"]
[Black "Baragar, Fletcher"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2390"]
[BlackElo "2285"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1994.08.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,63,27,27,27,0,19,40,43,43,44,44,29,14,59,25,19,43,43,39,79,10,49,24,
66,17,17,16,24,23,23,19,45,45,19,31,31,23,44,49,53,53,50,50,57,-8,0,0,0,0,0,
-100,2,-78,-79,-82,0,0,0,0,41,32,50,76,906,910]} 1. d4 {photo in Nick's...} Nf6
2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. Be3 Ng4 8. Bg5 f6 9. Bh4
Qe8 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. c5 c6 12. Nd2 Nh6 13. f3 Qe7 14. b4 Rd8 15. Qa4 Be6 16.
Nc4 Nf7 17. Bf2 Nd7 18. Na5 Nf8 19. O-O a6 20. Rad1 Rxd1 21. Rxd1 Rd8 {[%mdl
32832] [#]} 22. Nxc6 $3 Rxd1+ 23. Bxd1 bxc6 24. Qxc6 Bc4 {Defending a6.} 25. a4
$4 (25. Nd5 $142 $1 $18 Bxd5 (25... Qd8 26. Bb3 $18) 26. exd5 Qd7 27. Qxd7 Nxd7
28. c6 $18) 25... Nd8 (25... f5 $1 $132) 26. Qa8 (26. Qc8 $142 $16) 26... Qd7
$1 27. Nd5 $1 Nfe6 $2 {[%mdl 64] This gives White the chance to be brilliant. 
[#] Critical Position} (27... Kh8 $142 {SF15, gets away from Ne7 checks and
doesn't self-pin the Nd8, both of which help control c6.}) 28. Be2 $3 {A
fantastic deflection sacrifice.} (28. c6 $4 Bxd5 $19 {pins the Pc6 to the Q;
this shows why the B has to be deflected from d5.}) 28... Bxe2 $8 (28... Bb3
29. a5 $1 {White wins the a-pawn and his queeside armada sails through.}) 29.
c6 Qf7 (29... Nc7 30. Qb8 $8 $19) 30. Bb6 $8 Qf8 $2 (30... Bf8 $1 {keeps the Q
on the 7th, but requires Black to find another fantastic move} 31. Bxd8 Bc4 $8
32. c7 (32. Nxf6+ $5 Kg7 33. Nd7 Qf4 34. h4 Qc1+ 35. Kh2 Qf4+ $11) 32... Bxd5
$1 33. Qxd5 Nxc7 $14) 31. Bxd8 Nxd8 32. c7 1-0

[Event "Olympiad"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.05"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Krylov, Sergei"]
[Black "Spraggett, Kevin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2290"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 d6 5. Be2 Nf6 6. O-O O-O 7. a4 Nbd7 8. h3
Qc7 9. Re1 b6 10. Bf1 e5 11. Bg5 h6 12. Be3 Re8 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Qd2 Kh7 15.
Rad1 Bf8 16. Qc1 Nc5 17. Nd2 a6 18. b4 Ncd7 19. Bc4 Bxb4 20. Na2 Bc5 21. Bxf7
Re7 22. Bb3 Bxe3 23. Rxe3 Nc5 24. Nb4 Nh5 25. Nd3 (25. Nxc6 $142 $18) 25...
Nxd3 26. cxd3 Nf4 27. Nf3 c5 28. Qc3 a5 29. Rb1 Bd7 30. h4 Rf8 31. Rb2 Qd6 32.
g3 Nh3+ $1 33. Kg2 g5 $1 34. hxg5 hxg5 35. Nh2 g4 36. Bd1 Qg6 37. Re1 Kg7 38.
Rh1 Rh8 $8 39. Qb3 Rh6 40. Qc3 Kf8 41. Nf1 Qh5 42. Rh2 Rf7 43. Bb3 {[%mdl
32832] Diagram [#] Critical Position} Qf5 $3 $19 {Not the only winning move,
but objectively the strongest and subjectively the most impressive.} 44. f4 (
44. exf5 Bc6+ 45. f3 Bxf3#) (44. Bxf7 Qf3#) (44. Bd1 Qxf2+ 45. Rxf2 Rxf2+ 46.
Kh1 Rxf1+ 47. Kg2 Rg1#) (44. Ne3 Qxf2+ $3 45. Rxf2 Rxf2+ 46. Kh1 Rxh2+ 47. Kxh2
Nf4+ 48. Kg1 Ne2+ $19 {and Black is up a R.}) 44... gxf3+ $1 ({I think the
person who keyed it in got confused by the en passant capture, since Chessbase
Megabase continues with the obviously awful:} 44... exf4 $6 45. Kh1 f3 $4 46.
Bd1 $4 (46. exf5 $18) 46... Qf6 47. Qc4 Ng5 {0-1}) 45. Kh1 f2 $1 46. Bd1 (46.
exf5 Bc6+ 47. Rg2 Nf4+ 48. Nh2 Bxg2#) 46... Qf6 47. Qc4 Ng5 0-1

[Event "CAN-op"]
[Site "Toronto"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Dougherty, Michael"]
[Black "Zugic, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2225"]
[BlackElo "2462"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "1995.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,33,28,28,55,31,28,28,30,1,12,-42,49,38,-60,21,-71,-75,-75,-82,-82,-82,
-80,-87,-85,-42,-50,-50,-39,-70,-41,-57,457,476,579,999]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3.
Nc3 Bb4 4. exd5 exd5 5. Qf3 Ne7 6. Bd3 c5 7. dxc5 d4 8. a3 Qa5 9. axb4 Qxa1 10.
Nce2 Nbc6 $15 11. Nh3 Nxb4 12. Bb5+ Nbc6 13. O-O O-O 14. Ng5 Qa5 15. Bd3 {
[%mdl 32832] [#] What should Black do about White's threat to h7?} f5 $4 (15...
h6 $1 16. Nh7 $1 Re8 $4 17. Nf6+ gxf6 18. Qg3+ $18) (15... g6 16. Ne4 $1 $16 {
White is down an exchange for the DSB, but has a huge initiative against
Black's kingside dark squares; e.g.} f5 17. Bc4+ Kg7 18. Nxd4 fxe4 19. Bh6+ $8
$18) 16. Bc4+ $1 Kh8 17. Nxh7 $1 (17. Nxh7 $1 Qxc5 18. Qh5 $18 Qxc4 19. Nf6#)
1-0

[Event "Masters-Juniors"]
[Site "Montreal CAN"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Goldenberg, Danny"]
[Black "Hebert, Jean"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B49"]
[WhiteElo "2255"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1997.12.17"]
[EventType "schev"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 Qc7 7. O-O Nf6 8.
Be3 Bb4 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bd3 d5 11. exd5 cxd5 12. f4 {[#]} Bc5 $5 $15 {An
interesting choice: trading the "good" B and giving White easier access to the
central dark squares. Worth remembering when this game gets decided by control
of d5 and e5.} (12... Bxc3 13. bxc3 Qxc3 14. Kh1 $13 {enabling Bd4 with lots
of comp.}) 13. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 14. Kh1 O-O 15. Qf3 Bb7 16. Rae1 Rab8 17. Re5 $5 {
Stops ...d4 and prepares to swing the R to the g- or h-file.} Qb6 18. Qh3 {
[#] If you need yet another Critical Position try this: ...Qxb2 or ...?} g6 $1
{There's nothing objectively wrong with ..Qxb2, but this was a Masters vs
Juniors tournament, and the cagy veteran playing Black may have thought it was
better not to jump into a calculating battle against a junior.} (18... Qxb2 $5
{leads to interesting complications} 19. Rb1 $1 (19. Bxh7+ $4 Nxh7 20. Rh5 Qxc2
{defending h7} 21. f5 {interfering with the defence} d4 $1 {attacking c3 and g2
} 22. Rxh7 Qxg2+ $1 $19 {and taking the Rh7 with a winning endgame.}) 19... Qa3
(19... Qxc3 $4 20. Bxh7+ $18) 20. Bxh7+ $1 Nxh7 21. Rh5 Bc8 $8 {threatening
mate in 2 with ...Rxb1} 22. Rg1 (22. Rxh7 Rxb1+ 23. Nxb1 Qc1#) 22... e5 23. Qh4
f6 24. Rxh7 Bf5 25. Rh8+ Kf7 26. Rxf8+ Rxf8 27. Nxd5 $13) 19. Qh4 Kg7 {[#]} 20.
f5 $1 (20. g4 $2 d4+ 21. Ne4 Nxe4 22. Bxe4 Bxe4+ 23. Rxe4 Qb7 24. Rfe1 f5 $19)
20... Rbe8 (20... exf5 21. Bxf5 $5 d4 $1 (21... gxf5 $2 22. Rexf5 $18 Ne4 23.
Nxe4 dxe4 24. Rg5+ Kh8 25. Rh5 Qg6 26. Rf6 Qg7 27. Rfh6 $18) 22. Ne4 $15) 21.
fxg6 fxg6 $8 22. Na4 {Attacking the Qb6 and hoping to set up Qd4.} Qa7 $1 (
22... Qc6 $6 23. Qd4 $1 {with discovered attacks on the diagonal and pressure
on e6 with Nc5.}) 23. Rfe1 Rf7 {[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position What
happens if Rxe6? What if 24. b4 Ne4?} 24. b4 {Supporting Nc5. The
hard-to-consider move Qb4!+/= -- going after the queenside dark squares -- is
the computer's choice.} (24. Rxe6 $2 Rxe6 25. Rxe6 Ne4 $8 $19 {with back rank
issues. Note: if Black's R was still on f8 instead of f7, White would win here
with Re7+.} 26. h3 (26. Bxe4 $2 Rf1#) 26... Qd4 $8 $19 {again this square!
Black threatens ...Nf2+ winning the Q.} 27. Bxe4 Rf1+ 28. Kh2 Qg1+ 29. Kg3 Qf2+
$18 {wins the Q or mates.}) 24... Ne4 {[#] The tactics here are about who can
get a Q to d4, and both sides have ways to exploit minor pieces geting pinned
to their Q.} 25. Bxe4 $2 (25. Nc5 $142 $13 Nxc5 $2 (25... Qb6 $142 26. Bxe4
Qxb4 $5 (26... dxe4 27. a3 $13) 27. Rxe6 Ref8 $1 28. Re7 $13) 26. Qd4 $8 $18
Kg8 (26... Nxd3 27. Qxa7 Nxe5 28. Qd4 $8 $18) 27. Rxe6 $1 Rxe6 28. Rxe6 Nxd3
29. Re8+ $8 $18) 25... Qd4 $1 26. Nc5 $2 (26. Qg3 $142 dxe4 27. Qc3 (27. Nc5
Bd5 $17) 27... Qxc3 28. Nxc3 Rf5 $1 29. Rc5 Rxc5 30. bxc5 $15) 26... Qxe5 27.
Nxb7 dxe4 {[#] Black is up an exchange and has a passed pawn and has play
against the white K. Black uses all of those to win quickly.} 28. Nc5 Ref8 29.
g3 e3 30. Qh3 Rf5 31. g4 Rf3 32. Qg2 Qd5 33. Kg1 Kg8 34. Nd3 Qd4 35. Re2 e5 36.
g5 e4 37. Ne1 Rf2 38. Qg4 Rxe2 39. Qxe2 Qd2 40. Qc4+ Kh8 0-1

[Event "Quebec-ch U18"]
[Site "Montreal CAN"]
[Date "1998.03.07"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Charbonneau, Pascal"]
[Black "Marineau, Remi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A08"]
[WhiteElo "2126"]
[BlackElo "1777"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1998.03.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d3 d5 4. Nbd2 Nc6 5. g3 Nf6 6. Bg2 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. Nh4
b5 9. f4 c4 10. e5 Bc5+ 11. Kh1 Nd7 12. Ndf3 Qb6 13. c3 {[#]} cxd3 14. Qxd3 b4
$1 $15 15. c4 $2 dxc4 16. Qxc4 Ba6 17. Qe4 Bxf1 18. Bxf1 Rfd8 19. f5 exf5 20.
Nxf5 Ndxe5 $1 $19 (20... Ncxe5 $1 {also clears the 6th rank and the long
diagonal.}) 21. Ng5 {[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position Black is up an
exchange and a pawn, but White's Ns hover over the black K (Nh6+!?). Choose
between ...g6, ...Ng6, or something else.} (21. Nxe5 Nxe5 22. Qxe5 $2 Qb7+ 23.
Bg2 Rd1+ $19) 21... Ng6 $4 {weakens f7 (and c4), which White immediately
punishes.} (21... g6 $142 {feels wrong to move pawns where the opponent is
attacking, but here it works:} 22. Nh6+ Kg7 $19 23. Bf4 Rf8 $1 $19) (21... Rd1
$142 $19 {Best: ties down White's back rank. With the Ne5 defending f7 the
attack with Nh6+ fails; e.g.} 22. Nh6+ gxh6 23. Qxh7+ Kf8 24. Ne6+ (24. Qh8+
Ke7 25. Qxa8 Rxf1+ $19) 24... Ke8 $1 $19 {remember that the Bf1 can't join the
attack (Bh3+) because it's pinned.} (24... fxe6 $4 25. Bxh6+ $18)) 22. Nxf7 $3
$11 Rd1 $1 {The best defence, but now it only draws.} (22... Kxf7 $4 23. Bc4+
Kf8 24. Qe6 $18 {with mates on f7 or g8.}) (22... Rf8 $6 {might be playable,
but it is asking for trouble:} 23. Bc4 Rxf7 24. Bxf7+ Kxf7 25. Qd5+ Kf8 26. Bg5
{threat: Rf1} Rd8 $8 27. Bxd8 Nxd8 28. Rf1 Be7 $8 $13) 23. N7h6+ $1 (23. N5h6+
gxh6 24. Nxh6+ Kg7 25. Bg5 $1 Rxa1 26. Nf5+ $11 {with a perpetual.}) {[#]}
23... Kh8 $8 (23... gxh6 $4 24. Qe6+ Kh8 (24... Kf8 25. Bxh6#) 25. Qf6+ Kg8 26.
Qg7#) (23... Kf8 $4 24. Bg5 $8 Rxa1 25. Qe6 $18 {with mates on f7 or g8.}) 24.
Nf7+ Kg8 25. N7h6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "CAN-op"]
[Site "Vancouver CAN"]
[Date "1999.07.03"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Harmon, Clark"]
[Black "O'Donnell, Tom"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2283"]
[BlackElo "2489"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "1999.07.02"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4 Nf6 4. e3 Be7 5. Bd3 O-O 6. Nbd2 c5 7. c3 b6 8. Ne5
Bb7 9. Qf3 Nbd7 10. h4 cxd4 11. exd4 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Nd7 {[%mdl 32832] [#]
Critical Position If White had Nf3 and Qd1 then Bxh7+ would be a winning
"Greek Gift" sacrifice. What if Bxh7+ now?} 13. Bxh7+ {Good enough for a draw,
if Black plays accurately.} (13. O-O-O Rc8 14. Bxh7+ $4 {It's hard to believe
that the moves 000 and ...Rc8 make this attack so much worse for White than it
is in the game; but having the K on c1 means Black will get a life-saving
tempo with ...Bxg5+ in one critical line, reversing the evaluation of the
position and the sacrifice.} Kxh7 15. Qh5+ Kg8 16. Nf3 f6 $8 17. Ng5 fxg5 $8
18. hxg5 {Analysis Diagram  [#]} Rxf4 $4 (18... Nxe5 $8 $19 {Black must get
rid of the g5 pawn, and defending g6 and deflecting the Bf4 guarantees it.} 19.
Qh7+ (19. g6 Nxg6 20. Qxg6 Rxf4 $19) 19... Kf7 20. Bxe5 Bxg5+ $8 {without 000
this would not be check and White would win with Qxg7+ then Qxb7.} 21. Kb1 Bf6
$8 $19) 19. Qh8+ Kf7 20. g6+ {1-0 Tristan,L (2535)-Moreda,L (2266) lichess.org,
2020.}) 13... Kxh7 14. Qh5+ Kg8 15. Nf3 {[#]} Ba6 $5 {aiming for ...Bd3
defending h7.} (15... f6 {duplicates the defence we see in the main game:} 16.
Ng5 $8 fxg5 $8 17. hxg5 Rf5 ({Here,} 17... Nxe5 $4 {fails because after} 18.
Bxe5 $18 {...Bxg5 does not come with check.}) 18. Qh8+ Kf7 19. Qh5+ {½-½
Kachanov,V (2165)-Goncharov,A (2220) Dagomys, 2004.}) 16. Rd1 $8 (16. O-O-O $4
Be2 $8 $19 {and Black pins the Nf3 out of the attack.}) 16... f6 (16... Re8 {
also draws:} 17. Ng5 Nf8 $8 18. Qxf7+ Kh8 19. Qh5+ $11) 17. Ng5 $8 fxg5 $8 18.
hxg5 $8 {[#]} Rf5 $1 {One of only two moves that draw.} (18... Rxf4 $2 19. Qh8+
Kf7 20. g6+ Kxg6 21. Qh5# {shows why the R has to be on f5.}) (18... Bxg5 $1 {
is the other.} 19. Bxg5 (19. Qh7+ Kf7 20. Qh5+ $11) 19... Qc7 (19... Qe8 $2 20.
Qh7+ Kf7 21. Rh4 $18) 20. Qh7+ Kf7 21. Qh5+ $8 $11) 19. Qh8+ Kf7 20. Qh5+ Kg8
$8 (20... g6 $4 21. Qh7+ Ke8 22. Qxg6+ Rf7 23. Rh7 $8 $18) 21. Qh8+ Kf7 22.
Qh5+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "CAN-ch"]
[Site "Brantford CAN"]
[Date "1999.09.02"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Yoos, John"]
[Black "Duong, Thanh Nha"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C38"]
[WhiteElo "2302"]
[BlackElo "2332"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1999.08.31"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{We can't have a Tactics issue without at least one King's Gambit from Jack
Yoos, and this one is pretty interesting as Black continually rejects drawing
lines to play for the win.} 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 d6 4. Bc4 h6 5. d4 g5 6.
h4 Bg7 7. O-O Nc6 8. c3 Qe7 9. a4 Bd7 10. a5 {[#]} a6 (10... O-O-O 11. b4 Nb8
$2 12. b5 Nf6 13. e5 $14 {(1-0, 45) Anderssen,A-Riemann,F Breslau, 1874.}) 11.
Qd3 Nd8 12. b3 Ne6 13. e5 dxe5 14. Ba3 Qd8 15. Re1 g4 $1 16. Nxe5 Qxh4 17. Nd2
Bxe5 18. Rxe5 O-O-O {[#]} 19. Ne4 $2 (19. Qe4 $142 $15 {and if ...g3 White can
defend with Nf3.}) 19... g3 $1 $19 20. Bxa6 Qh2+ 21. Kf1 Qh1+ 22. Ke2 {[#]
Critical Position What happens if ...Qxa1?} Qxa1 $6 {[%mdl 33344] Black is
winning after this, but he should have started by taking on g2 with check, and
then going back to threaten the R.} (22... Qxg2+ $142 {wins the g-pawn before
going back to take the Ra1.} 23. Ke1 Qh1+ $1 24. Kd2 (24. Qf1 {saves the R, but
} g2 $19 {wins even more.}) 24... Qxa1 {is like the game, but Black has two
passed pawns... and a much wider margin for error.}) 23. Bxb7+ $8 {[%mdl 512]
The only try.} ({If White passes Black can take on a3 or fortify with ...Bc6,
but he must avoid taking the Ba6:} 23. Kd2 bxa6 $2 24. Qxa6+ Kb8 25. Rxe6 $8
fxe6 (25... Bxe6 26. Qb5+ $11 {White has a perpetual.}) 26. Bc5 $11 {and Black
must force a draw.}) 23... Kxb7 $2 {[#]} (23... Kb8 $142 $19 {Analysis Diagram
[#]  It looks like suicide to allow Qa6, but Black has a winning counterattack
against that and anything else:} 24. Qa6 (24. Rxe6 $2 Bxe6 $8 25. Qa6 (25. Kf3
Bd5 $19) 25... Bg4+ 26. Kd3 Qb1+ 27. Kc4 Be2+ $19 {skewers a6.}) (24. Rb5 $5
Ka7 $8 $19 25. Bd5 Rb8 26. Bxe6 Bxb5 (26... fxe6 $4 27. Bc5+ $18) 27. Bc5+ Ka6
$8 $19 (27... Ka8 28. Bd5+ c6 29. Bxc6+ Bxc6 30. Qa6#) 28. Bc4 Qb2+ 29. Kf3
Qxb3 $1 $19) 24... Nxd4+ $8 $19 (24... c5 $2 {hoping to run to c7} 25. Nxc5 $1
Qxa3 26. Qd6+ Nc7 27. Na6+ Kxb7 28. Qb6+ Ka8 29. Nxc7#) 25. cxd4 (25. Kd3 Bb5+
$19) 25... Bg4+ 26. Kd2 Rxd4+ $19 {with a winning attack for Black.}) 24. Rxe6
$8 {[%mdl 512] Removes the guard of c5 and threatens mate-in-3 with: Qa6+ then
Rb6+ then Bd6#. Black has draws in hand, but playing for more has a paper thin
margin of error.} Ra8 $4 {Margin exceeded.} ({Taking the rook draws:} 24...
Bxe6 $142 25. Qb5+ $11 (25. Nc5+ Kc6 $8 26. Qa6+ $8 Kd5 27. Qc4+ Kd6 28. Ne4+
$11)) (24... fxe6 $142 25. Nc5+ $8 Kb8 $8 26. Nxd7+ $8 Kc8 (26... Rxd7 27. Qb5+
Kc8 28. Qa6+ Kb8 29. Qb5+ $11) 27. Nb6+ $8 $11 Kb7 (27... cxb6 28. Qa6+ $8 Kd7
29. Qb5+ $8 $11) 28. Qb5 $8 {in this position, with the additional moves ...
Qa2+ and K-backrank Black has a winning defence based on a ...Rxd4+ enabling
the Q to defend b6, taking the N and winning the game (see below).} c6 29. a6+
$8 Kc7 30. Qe5+ Kxb6 31. Qc5+ Kxa6 32. Qxc6+ $11) ({Black's only way to play
for more than a draw is with the intermdiate move:} 24... Qa2+ {An obvious
move, but almost impossible to see why it is necessary before playing ...Ra8.}
25. Kf3 $1 {[#] Analysis Diagram} (25. Ke1 $2 fxe6 $1 (25... Bxe6 $2 26. Qb5+
$11) 26. Nc5+ Kb8 $8 27. Nxd7+ Kc8 $8 28. Nb6+ Kb7 {Leads to the position
mentioned in the note above, but here Black has a defence.} 29. Qb5 (29. Qe4+
c6 $19) 29... Qf2+ $8 30. Kd1 Rxd4+ $8 {This is why the White K cannot retreat
after 24...Qa2+, but should go to f3.} 31. cxd4 Qxd4+ 32. Kc1 cxb6 $19) 25...
Ra8 $5 {This avoids the forced draws, but depending on the evaluation of the
final diagram in this line, maybe Black should go for the draw.} ({With the
White K on f3 Black only draws by taking the R:} 25... fxe6 26. Nc5+ Kb8 27.
Nxd7+ Kc8 28. Nb6+ Kb7 29. Qb5 $8 $11 Qf2+ 30. Kg4 Qxg2 (30... Nf6+ 31. Kh3
cxb6 $8 $11) 31. Nd5+ $8 $11 Kc8 32. Qa6+ Kd7 33. Qb5+ Kc8 $11 {blocking with .
..c6 loses the Q to a discovered N check.}) (25... Bxe6 {leads to a perpetual
we have seen:} 26. Qb5+ Kc8 27. Qa6+ Kd7 28. Qb5+ Kc8 $8 $11 ({because} 28...
c6 $4 29. Qb7+ Ke8 30. Nf6+ $1 Nxf6 31. Qe7#)) 26. Ra6 $3 (26. Nc5+ $2 Kc8 $19
{with the K on f3 (instead of e2) White cannot win with} 27. Qe4 {since} Qf2+
28. Kg4 Nf6+ $1 $19 {exploits the pin on the R to win the Q and the game.})
26... Qxa3 $5 (26... Rxa6 {draws} 27. Nc5+ Kb8 28. Nxd7+ $8 Kc8 29. Qxa6+ Kxd7
30. Qb5+ $11) 27. Nc5+ {leads to a long forced sequence and a very strange
position:} Qxc5 $8 28. dxc5 Rxa6 29. Qxd7 Nf6 30. Qb5+ Ka7 31. c6 Rb8 32. Qc5+
Ka8 33. b4 {WTF [#] Has Black really been avoiding draws to get this?? Leela
and SF15 both prefer Black here, and if he could get Nd6 there would be reason
for optimism. But Black's pieces are so preposterously uncoordinated -- is the
Ra6 so much better than the Pa5? -- that I think Black will struggle to hold.
Any ideas? . Back to the game.}) 25. Nc5+ $8 $18 {[#] After this, all lines
lead to mate.} Kb8 (25... Kc8 26. Qe4 $8 $18 {threatening mate by taking the
Ra8 and by ...Re8+. The white K can excape checks by zigzagging to c2 and
blocking with the B. If Black had pushed the white K to f3 with 24...Qa2+ ,
then this double-attack with Qe4 would lose to ...Qf2+ and ...Nf6+ winning the
Q.}) 26. Nxd7+ Kc8 27. Nb6+ $1 Kb8 28. Qb5 (28. Re8+ Kb7 29. a6+ Rxa6 (29...
Kxb6 30. Bc5+ $18) 30. Qe4+ c6 31. Re7+ Nxe7 32. Qxe7+ Kxb6 33. Bc5+ Ka5 34.
Qc7+ Rb6 35. Qxb6#) 28... Qa2+ 29. Kd1 (29. Kf3 {also wins.}) 29... Nf6 (29...
fxe6 30. Qe8+ Kb7 31. Qxa8#) 30. Nxa8+ Kc8 31. Qa6+ {[#]} Kb8 (31... Kd8 32.
Be7+ {#2}) 32. Rb6+ $1 {[%mdl 512]} 1-0

[Event "Eastern Ontario op"]
[Site "Ottawa CAN"]
[Date "2000.06.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Pacey, Kevin"]
[Black "Voloaca, Mihnea"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2341"]
[BlackElo "2239"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2000.06.10"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Be3 O-O 9. f4 a6 10. a4 Qc7 11. Nb3 b6 12. Qe1 Na5 13. Qg3 Bb7 14. Nxa5 bxa5
15. Bd4 Rfb8 16. Kh1 g6 17. Bd3 Bc6 {[#] A standard Sicilian middlegame where
White chooses between triggering a piece explosion with e4-e5, or a positional
battle for d5 with f4-f5.} 18. e5 Nh5 19. Qh3 Rb4 $1 20. Ne2 Nxf4 21. Rxf4 dxe5
22. Rxf7 $1 Kxf7 23. Qxh7+ Ke8 24. Qxg6+ Kd7 25. Bc3 Rh4 26. Rd1 {[#]} Kc8 $6 {
Black bets everything on bringing his Rs to the kingside, but first gets his K
out of the way.} (26... Qd6 $15 {looks like it asks for trouble, but the Rd1
is undefended, and Black can block the d-file with ...Bd5.}) ({In fact, he
could have doubled immediately, since there is no great discovery on the
d-file:} 26... Rah8 $5 27. Bxa6+ $5 (27. Bf5+ Kc8 28. Qxe6+ Kb7 29. h3 R8h6 30.
Qb3+ $13 {and White will have to defend against takes twice on h3.}) 27... Bd5
$8 28. Rxd5+ $8 (28. Bb5+ Kc8 $19) 28... exd5 $13) 27. Qxe6+ Kb7 $6 {[%mdl
32832] [#] Critical Position White has extra material, but Black has threats
against the white K -- if it were Black's move ...Rah8 would win -- so White
should play: h3, Bxe5, or something else?} 28. Bxe5 $8 $18 (28. Ng3 $4 Rxh2+
29. Kxh2 Rh8+ $19) (28. h3 $2 Re8 $17 29. Bxe5 Rxh3+ $1 30. Qxh3 Qxe5 $19)
28... Rxh2+ $1 {[%mdl 512] Black's only try.} 29. Kxh2 $1 (29. Bxh2 $2 Rh8 $13
30. Ng3 $1 (30. Bxa6+ Kxa6 31. Qc4+ Kb7 32. Qf4 $13) (30. Qb3+ $6 Ka7 $8 31.
Bh7 $8 Rxh7 32. Qe3+ Kb7 33. Qf4 $13) 30... Qxg3 $8 31. Qxe7+ Ka8 32. Qd8+ Kb7
(32... Rxd8 $4 33. Bxg3 $18) 33. Qe7+ Kb6 34. Qd8+ $8 Kb7 $1 35. Bxa6+ $1 Ka7
$5 36. Qd4+ Kxa6 37. Qd3+ Qxd3 38. Rxd3 Bxa4 $16 {with good winning chances,
despite the opposite Bs.}) 29... Rh8+ {[#]} 30. Kg1 $4 (30. Kg3 $8 $18 {
White's K is exposed, and Black has some checks, but this simple move
basically ends the game.} Rg8+ (30... Bh4+ 31. Kg4 $18) 31. Qxg8 Qxe5+ 32. Kf2
$18) 30... Bc5+ $8 $11 31. Kf1 (31. Nd4 Bxd4+ 32. Bxd4 Qh2+ 33. Kf2 Qxg2+ $11)
31... Rh1+ 32. Ng1 Rxg1+ 33. Ke2 Rxg2+ 34. Ke1 $11 Qb6 35. Qf7+ $8 Ka8 36. Qf4
$8 Be3 37. Qf8+ $11 Ka7 {[#] Not a fun position to play when you're low on
time.} 38. Qe7+ $4 (38. Bb8+ $8 Qxb8 (38... Ka8 $4 39. Bc7+ $18) 39. Qe7+ Ka8
40. Qxe3 $11) 38... Bb7 $8 $19 {Now Black's K is safe and White's is wide open.
} 39. Bc7 Qh6 $1 40. Qh7 {[#]} Bd2+ $1 41. Kf1 Rg1+ $1 {[%mdl 512]} 42. Kxg1
Qg5+ {and ...Qg2#.} 0-1

[Event "Hartman Active RR"]
[Site "Ancaster"]
[Date "2000.10.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nickoloff, Bryon"]
[Black "Teplitsky, Yan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E42"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2576"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2000.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Nge2 d5 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. Nxc3 cxd4 8.
exd4 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nc6 10. Be3 O-O 11. O-O b6 12. Qf3 Bb7 13. Bd3 Qd7 14. Qh3
Ne7 15. Bg5 Ng6 $8 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Rad1 Qd6 18. Rfe1 Rfd8 {[%mdl 32864] [#]
How can White activate his pieces?} 19. d5 $1 {Classic positional pawn sac. No
matter what Black does, White will end up with at least a good N vs bad B.} (
19. Bxg6 $2 hxg6 $15) (19. Be4 $5 Bxe4 20. Nxe4 Qf4 21. g3 Qf3 22. Qh5 $5 $16)
19... exd5 (19... e5 $2 20. Ne4 Qe7 21. d6 $18) (19... Bxd5 20. Be4 Qc6 21.
Bxd5 exd5 22. Rd4 $14 {White has more than enough for the pawn, but Black is
not doomed.}) 20. Nb5 Qf4 $2 (20... Qf8 21. Qf3 Qg7 22. Nd4 Ne5 23. Qf4 $16 {
and Re3-g3.}) 21. g3 $1 {[#]} Qa4 (21... Qf3 $2 22. Nd4 $18) (21... Qg5 22. f4
$1 $18 Nxf4 23. Qxh7+ Kf8 24. Qh8+ $18 {wins the N.}) 22. Nd4 Bc8 (22... Qxd4
$2 23. Bxg6 $18 {threatening mate and the Q.}) 23. Qh6 $1 {Black has no good
defence to White's attack, beginning with h2-h4-h5.} 1-0

[Event "Olympiad"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2000.11.06"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Spraggett, Kevin"]
[Black "Ivanisevic, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2506"]
[BlackElo "2543"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2000.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,91,19,-12,11,2,18,19,18,4,6,0,14,8,24,3,14,4,7,3,34,-24,24,-28,-27,
-14,-14,6,22,8,16,24,78,35,35,-1,1,-13,-2,-105,-2,-2,0,-7,4,4,11,10,2,0,0,0,15,
9,13,-4,22,22,-39,22,-12,-25,-34,-30,-25,-31,-44,-33,-32,-29,-15,-26,280,294,
285,285,339,351,297,153,179,146,151,152,299,334,372,447,547,584,580,634,650,
718]} 1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. e3 e6 6. Nge2 Nge7 7. Nf4 Ne5
8. d3 Nf5 9. Qc2 h5 10. h3 Rb8 11. b3 b5 12. Bb2 bxc4 13. dxc4 Ba6 14. Rd1 d6
15. O-O Qe7 16. Ne4 Bb7 17. h4 O-O {[#] A rare configuration of minor pieces:
four fianchettos and a knight cube.} 18. Qc1 Rfd8 19. Qa1 Ng4 20. Bxg7 Nxg7 21.
Qc3 Nf5 22. Rfe1 Ba8 23. Re2 Rb6 24. Red2 Rdb8 25. Qd3 a5 26. Nc3 Bxg2 27. Nxg2
Rb4 28. Qe2 Ne5 29. Ne1 Qb7 30. e4 Nd4 31. Rxd4 cxd4 32. Rxd4 Qe7 33. Nc2 R4b6
34. Rd1 Kg7 35. Nd4 {[%mdl 32768] [#] Critical Position Black has an exchange
for a pawn, but no open lines for his R's, while White might consider
queenside pressure with Na4 and Nb5!? Is ...g5 to to open a file on the
kingside worth a try?} g5 $4 {[%mdl 80] It's hard to sit still, but Black
really doesn't have anything to do.} (35... Nc6 $5 36. Ndb5 $14 {and Black has
to tread water some more.}) 36. Nd5 $1 $18 {Now that f5 isn't doubly defended.}
(36. Qxh5 {is good too, but Spraggett's move is crushing.}) 36... Qd8 (36...
exd5 37. Nf5+ $18) 37. Nxb6 Rxb6 38. c5 $1 {The rest of the game is fun
watching Spraggett keep playing for the initiative, rather than cashing in on
his obvious threats.} Rb4 (38... dxc5 $2 39. Nf5+ $18 {with a double attack on
K and Q.}) 39. f4 $5 gxf4 40. gxf4 Ng4 41. Nc6 {[#] Winning an exchange?} Qc7 {
Setting a trap...?} (41... Qxh4 $142 42. Nxb4 Qg3+ 43. Qg2 $8 Qe3+ 44. Kh1 $8 (
44. Kf1 Qxf4+ $11) 44... axb4 45. cxd6 {the N is pinned so there's no fork on
f2.} Kh7 (45... Kf8 46. d7 $1 $18) 46. Rf1 Qd3 47. e5 $16) 42. Rxd6 $1 {
No trap for you!} (42. Nxb4 $2 Qxc5+ 43. Kg2 Ne3+ $16 (43... axb4 $5)) 42... e5
(42... Rb7 43. Qb2+ Kh7 44. Qd4 $18 {with two extra pawns and complete
domination.}) 43. Qd3 Kh7 44. Qd5 Rb7 45. Nxe5 Ne3 46. Qd4 {Spraggett won the
center, and the Silver Medal.} 1-0

[Event "Wch U10 Girls"]
[Site "Chalkidiki"]
[Date "2003.10.31"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Yuan, Yuanling"]
[Black "Pavlidou, Ekaterini"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B21"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2003.10.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. f4 d5 4. Nf3 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. d3 Nf6 7. Qe2 O-O 8. g3
b6 9. Bg2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Nc6 11. h4 $5 Qc7 12. Bc3 Nxe4 $1 13. dxe4 Rfd8 14. Ng5
g6 (14... h6 $1 15. Qh5 Bf8 {and how can White make kingside progress?}) 15.
Qg4 {[%mdl 33216] [#] Should Black go ...Nd4 or ...h5?} Nd4 (15... h5 $1 {
Moving a pawn on the side where the opponent has the initiative: the books say
"No!", but the computer says it's Black's only move to get an advantage. Who
ya gonna trust?} 16. Qe2 (16. Qh3 Nd4 $17) (16. Nxe6 $2 Qd7 $19) 16... Nd4 17.
Qf2 Ba6 $1 $15) 16. h5 $3 (16. O-O-O $4 h5 $1 17. Qh3 Ne2+ 18. Kb1 Nxc3+ $19)
16... Nxc2+ $2 17. Kf2 $8 $18 (17. Ke2 $2 Bxg5 18. Qxg5 Nd4+ $1 $15) 17... c4 (
17... Bxg5 18. Qxg5 $16 Nxa1 $2 19. hxg6 $8 $18) 18. hxg6 $1 Qc5+ {[#]} 19. Kf1
$3 {Stepping into the fork! (not the only winning move, but both objectively
and aesthetically strongest).} Ne3+ (19... hxg6 20. Rh8#) (19... fxg6 20. Qxe6+
Kf8 21. Qf7#) 20. Ke2 $1 Bf6 {Black sees the threat, but it's too late.} (20...
Nxg4 21. gxh7+ Kf8 22. h8=R#) 21. gxh7+ {Not the only winning move.} Kf8 22.
Bxf6 $18 (22. Nxe6+ $18) 22... Rd2+ 23. Kxd2 c3+ 24. bxc3 Nc4+ 25. Ke1 $1 Qe3+
26. Qe2 $8 Qxg3+ 27. Qf2 Qxf2+ (27... Qxc3+ 28. Bxc3 {oops.}) 28. Kxf2 Nb2 29.
h8=Q# 1-0

[Event "Canadian op"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2005.07.16"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Bluvshtein, Mark"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2705"]
[BlackElo "2529"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2005.07.09"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,46,19,18,18,25,27,20,33,34,35,27,27,30,66,44,49,59,47,-31,-31,36,17,
-12,18,-62,-6,3,22,38,224,162,141,0,-103,-123,-59,-110,246,-31,79,81,0,0,0,0,0,
-181,-181]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7.
O-O O-O 8. c4 c6 9. Qc2 Na6 10. a3 Bg4 11. Ne5 Bf5 12. b4 f6 13. Nf3 Qe8 {
[#] Mark had some serious experience in this line when he faced Shirov:} 14. b5
(14. c5 Bb8 15. Nc3 Bg6 16. Nh4 f5 17. Nxg6 Qxg6 18. Ne2 (18. b5 Nc7 19. bxc6
bxc6 20. Ne2 $11 {(0-1, 34) Lagno,K (2472)-Bluvshtein,M (2462) Montreal, 2004})
18... Nc7 19. f3 Ne6 20. fxe4 fxe4 21. Rxf8+ Nxf8 22. Bxe4 dxe4 23. Qc4+ $14 {
(½-½, 49) Nataf,I (2553)-Bluvshtein,M (2462) Montreal, 2004.}) 14... Qh5 $5
15. bxa6 Bg4 $8 {Threatening ...Bxf3 to remove the guard and ...Qxh2 mate.
White makes the most natural move, but had the opportunity for an amazing
defence which would surely have shocked Black.} 16. Re1 $2 (16. Nh4 $142 $3
Qxh4 17. f4 $1 $14 {White has just returned the piece, but Black's attack has
stalled and his queenside is a mess.}) 16... Bxf3 17. gxf3 Qxh2+ 18. Kf1 {
[%mdl 32960] [#] Critical Positon Compare ...f5 with ...Ng5.} f5 $6 {Threat: ..
.Rae8 then ...Qh1+ and ...Nc3+.   Mark's 18... f5 is spectacular, and it does
no worse thand draw, so rating it as "dubious" might seem harsh; but it turns
a forced win into what should be a draw, and Shirov comes within one "only
move" of holding the game.} (18... Ng5 $8 $19 {threatens to use the N as an
attacking piece -- ideally with ...Nxf3-xd4 -- and not only as bait to pry
open the f-file.} 19. Bxg5 {gets rid of the N but opens the f-file anyway, but
(unlike the game) without requiring Black to sac the N for a pawn on e4, and
without leaving White the possibility of defending with Bc1-e3.} ({White can
finish developing and adding defenders, but Black's nimble N is too strong:} 
19. Be3 Rae8 20. Nd2 (20. Ke2 Rxe3+ $1 $19) 20... Nh3 $19 {threatening ...Rxe3
and mate on f2, and if White defends f2 with} 21. Nb3 Nf4 $1 {#4}) (19. axb7 {
shows a different way to use the N:} Qh3+ $1 20. Ke2 (20. Kg1 $4 Nxf3#) 20...
Rae8+ $8 21. Be3 Nxf3 $8 {threatens ...Nxd4+} (21... Qxf3+ $4 22. Kd2 $18) 22.
Kd1 Nxe1 $19 23. Kxe1 (23. Bxh7+ Qxh7 $1 $19 {wins on material.}) 23... f5 $1
$19) 19... fxg5 20. Ke2 (20. Bxh7+ Kh8 $8 $19) (20. Nd2 Rae8 $19 {closes the
only exit.}) (20. Re3 {building a bridge} Rae8 $1 $19 {breaks the bridge.})
20... Rae8+ 21. Kd1 Rxe1+ 22. Kxe1 Qg1+ $19) 19. cxd5 $8 {Better than
immediately taking on e4 because in some lines White will need a Q check on
the a2-g8 diagonal (see note to 23.axb7).} (19. fxe4 $4 fxe4 {does more than
win back the B:} 20. Rxe4 (20. Bxe4 dxe4 21. Rxe4 Qh1+ 22. Ke2 Rxf2+ $19 {
and then Q skewers the Q.}) 20... Qh1+ 21. Ke2 Qf3+ 22. Ke1 (22. Kd2 dxe4 23.
Bxe4 Bf4+ $19) 22... dxe4 23. Bf1 Bg3 24. Ra2 e3 25. Bxe3 Qxe3+ $19) 19... cxd5
(19... Rae8 $5 20. fxe4 Qh3+ 21. Ke2 $8 (21. Kg1 $2 Bh2+ $19 {#8 as Black will
get a free tempo for ...Bg3.}) 21... fxe4 $8 22. Bxe4 $8 Qf3+ $8 $13 23. Kf1
Rxe4 24. Rxe4 Qh1+ $13 {probably a draw.}) {[#]} 20. fxe4 $8 (20. axb7 Rae8 21.
Re3 (21. Be3 $2 f4 $1 $19) 21... Bg3 $8 $19 22. b8=Q (22. fxg3 Nxg3+ 23. Ke1
Qg1+ $19) 22... Rxb8 23. fxg3 Qh1+ 24. Ke2 Rbc8 $19) 20... fxe4 21. Bxe4 $8
dxe4 $8 22. Be3 $8 {[#] Critical Position Black has sac'ed a piece for a big
attack. Now what?} (22. Nc3 $4 Qh3+ 23. Kg1 (23. Ke2 Rxf2+ $19) 23... Bh2+ $19
{#4}) (22. Rxe4 Qh1+ 23. Ke2 Rxf2+ 24. Kxf2 Qh2+ $19) 22... Bg3 $1 {[%mdl
33088]} ({Keeping up the pressure and forcing White to find the only
game-saving move.  Black has decent alternatives: He could force a draw with:} 
22... Qh3+ 23. Ke2 Rxf2+ $8 24. Bxf2 Qf3+ 25. Kf1 Qh1+ $11) ({There's also
another sac that (probably) leads to a repetition:} 22... Rxf2+ 23. Qxf2 $5 Rf8
$8 24. Qxf8+ Kxf8 25. Nc3 (25. axb7 $4 Qh1+ 26. Ke2 Qg2+ 27. Kd1 Qb2 $19) 25...
Bf4 $1 26. Ra2 (26. Bxf4 Qxf4+ $11) 26... Qh3+ $1 $11) 23. Ra2 $2 {The right
idea -- defending everthing on the 2nd rank -- but the wrong move order.} (23.
Ke2 $2 Rxf2+ $19 {wins the Q or mate in 2.}) (23. Qc4+ $2 {gains a tempo to
put the Q on a safer square (and defend a Ra2), but not enough:} Kh8 24. Ra2
Qh3+ (24... Rac8 $5 $19 {gains back the tempo to add the R to the attack.}) 25.
Ke2 Bxf2 26. Bxf2 Qf3+ 27. Kf1 e3 $19 {threatening the B and ...e2+ then ...
Qh1#.}) (23. Qb3+ $2 {Like Qc4+ this gains time to safety the Q, and it also
defends the Be3 while not exposing the Q to ...Rc8; however, it leaves the Be3
pinned after} Kh8 24. Ra2 Qh3+ 25. Ke2 Bxf2 $19) (23. axb7 $8 $11 {Analysis
Diagram [#]  Gains time on the Ra8, and narrows Black's options by changing
endgames which would be unclear into wins for White.} Rab8 {threatening ...
Bxf2 and then win the Q with ...Qh1+ and ...Rxf2+ and a skewer.} (23... Rxf2+
$4 24. Qxf2 $8 Rf8 25. Qxf8+ $8 Kxf8 26. Nc3 $8 $18 (26. Nd2 $2 $11 {blocks
the Ks escape route from checks on h1 and h5.})) 24. Ra2 $8 {Defending the Q
and f2.} Qh3+ $8 (24... Qh1+ $2 25. Ke2 Qh5+ 26. Kd2 Bxf2 27. Qc4+ $1 $18 {
or Qb3+ are the only winning moves for White... which is why White needed to
exchange on d5 at move 19.}) 25. Ke2 $8 (25. Kg1 $4 Bh2+ 26. Kh1 Bd6+ 27. Kg1
Rf6 $19) 25... Bxf2 $8 26. Bxf2 {Analysis Diagram  [#]} Qh5+ (26... Qf3+ 27.
Kd2 (27. Kf1 Qh1+ $11) 27... Qxf2+ 28. Kd1 Qxd4+ $13 {is similar to the main
line.}) 27. Ke3 $5 {A risky line, but some people love tightrope walks...} (27.
Kf1 {lets Black choose between a draw or playing for more:} Qh1+ 28. Ke2 Qf3+
29. Kd2 (29. Kf1 $11) 29... Qxf2+ 30. Kd1 $8 (30. Re2 $4 Qxd4+ 31. Ke1 Qg1+ 32.
Kd2 Rfd8+ $19 {is mating.}) 30... Qxd4+ 31. Nd2 Rxb7 32. Qxe4 $11 {Computers
rate this it equal, and I doubt many strong humans would prefer White as it's
hard to believe there are any chances for more than a draw with such an
exposed K.}) 27... Rf3+ 28. Ke2 $8 Rc3+ $5 (28... Rd3+ {forces a draw} 29. Kf1
Qh1+ 30. Ke2 Qf3+ $11) 29. Kd2 Rxc2+ 30. Rxc2 Rxb7 $13) 23... Rf3 $1 {White
resigned.  This is one of only two classical games between 1995 and 2023 that
Shirov has lost as White in under 25 moves. The other was to Karpov, also in
23 moves.} (23... Rf3 $1 {[#]   White resigned here. He has a losing postion
and was playing a GM who had been outplaying him for hours, so that's not
surprising. But how many of us untitled players would mess up this winning
position as Black? Work out the win, if you're so sure. To be helpful, I've
indicated all of Black's "only moves". --------------------------------- The
immediate threat is ...Qh1 then ...Rxe3+, when fxe3 hangs the Re1 with mate.}
24. Qc4+ (24. Nc3 Qh1+ $8 25. Ke2 Rxe3+ $8 $19) (24. Qxe4 Qh1+ $8 25. Ke2 Rxf2+
$8 $19 {with a check, a discovered attack, and a skewer.}) (24. Qb3+ Kh8 $8 25.
axb7 Raf8 $19 {notice that Black has three pieces defending b8... all of which
are also attacking f2! White can delay the inevitable with b8=Q, but after
taking it Black will just go back to attacking.}) (24. axb7 {is too slow now,
as Black can play either ...Raf8 (making the R safe while adding an attacker)
or this:} Qh1+ $1 25. Ke2 Rxe3+ $8 26. Kxe3 (26. fxe3 Qxe1#) 26... Qxe1+ $8 27.
Qe2 Bxf2+ $8 28. Kf4 (28. Kxe4 Re8+ 29. Kf3 Rf8+ {transposes.}) 28... Rf8+ 29.
Kxe4 Qxb1+ $1 $19) (24. Rc1 Raf8 $1 25. Ke2 (25. Ke1 Rxe3+ $1 $19) 25... Rxf2+
$1 {#2.}) 24... Kh8 25. Nc3 Qh3+ {Black can also toss in ...b5 at several
points, gaining a tempo on the Q while preventing any back rank tricks after
axb7; this would be a good "safety first" choice in time trouble, but it's not
necessary.} 26. Ke2 Bxf2 $1 27. Bxf2 Rxc3 $8 $19 28. axb7 Rf8 (28... Re8 $4 29.
Qb5 $11) 29. Qb5 Qf3+ 30. Kd2 Rb3 $8 $19 {threatening the Qb5, the Bf2, and if
Qe2 then ...Qc3 mates.}) 0-1

[Event "Canadian Open U2000"]
[Site "Kitchener"]
[Date "2006.07.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Upper, John"]
[Black "Ramenaden, Matthew"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "1993"]
[BlackElo "1778"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,69,20,18,16,-22,-8,-21,10,-5,11,15,16,13,17,8,46,21,71,38,35,48,134,
137,152,150,153,149,170,172,176,158,139,146,197,184,185,159,213,175,213,104,99,
96,72,170,170,186,171,192,192,212,228,194,156,182,182,209,282,296,317,256,220,
220,293,327,425,451,884,978,2069,1085]} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 d5
5. b3 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. e3 Na6 8. Bb2 Nc5 9. d4 Nce4 10. Ne5 dxc4 11. bxc4 Nd6
12. c5 Nde8 13. Nd2 Nd5 14. e4 Ndc7 15. Qc2 f6 16. Nd3 Kh8 17. Rfe1 Na6 18.
Rac1 Rf7 19. Qb3 Bf8 20. d5 $1 exd5 {The only testing choice.} 21. exd5 cxd5 {
[%mdl 32896] [#] Critical Position Can White play Qxd5?  The interesting thing
for me analyzing this with computers 15 years after playing it, is how much
wider White's winning margin is than I thought at the time.  During the game I
thought I played accurately (which the computer confirms) and that once I
played d4-d5 I had a very narrow path to victory (which the computer
thoroughly refutes).  In fact -- as is probably obvious to stronger players
than me who look at the diagram -- White is not only clearly winning, but has
_many_ different ways to convert the space advantage and more active pieces
into the win, and that these winning paths continue to exist even if White
plays suboptimally. Having played maybe 200,000+ tactics exercies since then,
I find this easier to believe... but playing into it at the time felt like
"hope chess".} 22. Qxd5 $1 (22. Bxd5 $6 {is also winning, but I avoided it....
due to a miscalculation} Rd7 {The only critical move.} 23. Bc4 $1 (23. Be4 $5
Nxc5 24. Nxc5 Rxd2 $8 $16) (23. Bg2 $1 Rxd3 $6 24. Qxd3 $8 {is similar to the
game} Qxd3 25. Rxe8 $8 $18 Be6 $5 (25... Kg8 26. Bf1 $18) 26. Rxa8 Qxd2 27.
Rxf8+ Bg8 28. Ba3 $8 Qxa2 29. Rd1 $1 Qxa3 30. Bd5 h5 31. Bxg8 $1 $18) (23. Bf7
$2 {This was the only move I considered when thinking about Bxd5} Rxd3 24. Rxe8
(24. Qxd3 $13) 24... Qxe8 25. Bxe8 Rxb3 26. Nxb3 $15) 23... Nxc5 24. Nxc5 Rxd2
25. Ne4 Rd7 26. Bb5 $18 {and White's Bs slice Black to shreds.}) 22... Rd7 (
22... Qxd5 $4 {loses a piece to} 23. Bxd5 Re7 24. Rxe7 Bxe7 25. Re1 $18) 23.
Qh5 $1 {Best, but not as I had long thought, the only move -- Qf3 directly
also wins -- but it is the best, since forcing ...g6 creates extra tactics on
the long diagonal.} g6 $8 (23... Nec7 $2 24. Be4 $18) 24. Qf3 $1 ({I'd
originally planned} 24. Qe2 {when Black's worse if he tries to fight back:}
Rxd3 $2 25. Qxe8 Rxd2 $2 26. Qxd8 Rxd8 27. Bxf6+ $18) ({The exchange sac was
tempting, but Black's OK:} 24. Rxe8 $2 Qxe8 25. Bxf6+ Bg7 $1 26. Qf3 Rf7 $13) (
24. Qh4 $1 {is also very strong, hitting f6.}) 24... Bg7 ({The Nd3 can't be
taken:} 24... Rxd3 $2 25. Rxe8 $8 Qxe8 26. Qxf6+ Kg8 27. Qh8+ Kf7 28. Qxh7+ {
and Black is soon mated.}) (24... Nac7 25. Ne5 $1 {the Pf6 is pinned against
the back-rank mate} Re7 26. Ne4 $1 $18) 25. Nc4 $1 {[#] Black's terrible
development mean White can simply consolidate with Bf1 with a huge advantage,
but this is more fun.} Nac7 ({The critical line, which we both saw, was this:} 
25... Rxd3 26. Qxd3 $1 (26. Rxe8+ {also wins, so I guess a lot of my
calculation was unnecessary here.}) 26... Qxd3 27. Rxe8+ Bf8 28. Rxf8+ Kg7 29.
Rxf6 $18 {White's Nc4, Bb2 and Rc1 trio leave the Black Q with nothing to
attack, and on Kg7 moves, White can win with Rxa6 or even try to set up a
mating net.}) (25... Nec7 26. Nd6 $1 $18 {simply piles on the pressure, since
Black can't hit back with} Nxc5 $2 27. Rxc5 Rxd6 28. Rxc7 $1 Rxd3 29. Qxd3 $1
$18) 26. Nde5 $1 (26. Nb4 $1 {is the computer's improvement, theatening c5-c6.}
) 26... fxe5 27. Nxe5 Nf6 ({Of course not} 27... Bxe5 $4 28. Qf8#) (27... Ne6
$5 {is trickier, which makes it the better practical choice, but it's no
better against accurate play:} 28. Nxd7 Bxd7 (28... Qxd7 29. c6 $1 bxc6 30.
Rcd1 Qe7 31. Ba3 $1 $18 {a dream position for a Bg2, Bb2 opening.}) (28... Bxb2
29. Rxe6 $1 {[%csl Gf8][%cal Gf3f8]} Ng7 {[%csl Ge6,Gf8][%cal Yd8f8,Rg7e6]} 30.
Rd6 $1 Bxc1 31. Ne5 {(/\Nf7+, Rd8)}) 29. Rcd1 $1 Bxb2 (29... Nxc5 $4 30. Qf8#)
30. Qxb7 $1 Rb8 31. Rxd7 $1 $18) 28. Nxd7 ({I saw White could win the Q and
lose the game with this:} 28. Rcd1 $2 Rxd1 29. Nf7+ Kg8 30. Nxd8 $4 (30. Rxd1
$142 Qf8 $1 31. Nd6 Bg4 $17) 30... Rxe1+ 31. Bf1 Bh3 32. Qb3+ Ncd5 $19) 28...
Bxd7 29. Rcd1 Ncd5 30. Bxf6 {Simplest.} Nxf6 31. Qxb7 $8 Rb8 32. Qxa7 Qc8 33.
c6 Bf5 34. c7 Rb7 35. Qxb7 {I got lucky in round 8 and went on to win the
U2000 section.} 1-0

[Event "RA vs Gatineau"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2010.07.04"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Groleau, Gilles"]
[Black "Upper, John"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C06"]
[WhiteElo "1992"]
[BlackElo "2188"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2010.07.04"]
[EventType "team-match"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Gatineau"]
[BlackTeam "RA"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4
f6 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. O-O Bd6 11. Nf3 Qc7 12. Bg5 {[#] This maneuver --
Bc1-g5-h4-g3 -- aims to trade the DSBs, thereby eliminating the Bd6 which
attacks the kingside and defends e5. It makes perfect positional sense, but
Black's dynamic play had been well worked out when this game was played.} O-O
13. Bh4 Nh5 {[#]} 14. Bg3 $6 (14. Qc2 h6 (14... g6 $4 15. Bxg6 hxg6 16. Qxg6+
Ng7 17. Ng5 $18) 15. Bh7+ (15. Bg6 Rxf3 16. gxf3 Bxh2+ 17. Kh1 Nf4 $13 {
1/2-1/2 (39) Ulybin,M (2536)-Berg,E (2531) Santa Cruz de La Palma 2005}) 15...
Kh8 16. Bg6 Rxf3 $1 {with nearly 450 games in Megabase 2022.} 17. gxf3 (17.
Bxh5 Rf8 18. Bg3 $13) 17... Bxh2+ 18. Kg2 Nf4+ 19. Nxf4 Qxf4 20. Bg3 Bxg3 21.
fxg3 $14) 14... Nxg3 15. Nxg3 g6 16. Rc1 Qg7 17. Bb1 Bd7 {[#] Around this time
I was playing only the French against 1.e4, and had had positions like this
frequently in the 3...Nd2 lines. The ...Qc7-g7 maneuver was from a Korchnoi
game.} 18. a3 $2 (18. Rc3 $142 $15 {so that if} Rf4 19. Ne2 {defends d4 and
guards the Nf3 so that ...Rxf3 won't shatter White's kingside.}) 18... Rf4 $1
$19 {Tripling up on d4. I thought Black was clearly better here, but I
underestimated it: at 28 ply, SF15 rates the position as -2.} 19. Ne2 Rxf3 $8 {
A stock sacrifice in this line of the Tarrasch French. It smashes White's
kingside and removes the best defender of d4 and h2.} 20. gxf3 g5 $4 {I didn't
want to trade the DSB because without it I didn't see any shot at mate; but I
should have allowed the trade because Black gets a winning position even
without the mating attack:} (20... Qh6 $142 $1 21. f4 Bxf4 22. Nxf4 Qxf4 $19 {
Black is going to win d4 (making it two pawns for the exchange) and have a
mobile center, while White is left with a shattered kingside and no open files
for his Rs.  (0-1, 32) Hofer,E (2185)-Lyell,M (2313) Budapest, 2015.}) 21. Rc3
Kh8 22. Kh1 $1 $14 Qh6 $1 23. Ng3 $2 (23. f4 $142 $1 {Giving the pawn to block
Black's attacking lines.}) 23... Rf8 24. Rg1 $1 Rf4 25. Rd3 {[%mdl 32832]
Defends d4. [#] Critical Position Black has played a typical ...RxNf3 trade in
a Tarrasch French. Now what?} (25. Ne2 $2 Rxd4 $19 {threatening mate on h2 and
Q on d1.}) 25... e5 $3 {Very strong, but White has a defence. Q moves to g7 or
f6 are both decent ways to continue attacking d4, but both are weaker than the
game line, which wins d4 immediately due to a pretty tactic.} (25... Qg7 26.
Ne2 (26. Nh5 $2 Rh4 $3 $17) 26... Rh4 27. Rg2 $13) (25... Qf6 26. Ne2 (26. Qb3
$5) 26... Rxf3 27. Rg2 Rxf2 28. Rxf2 Qxf2 29. Rh3 $14) 26. dxe5 $2 (26. Nf1
$142 $6 {avoids the game line, but White doesn't have much hope after} exd4 $17
) (26. Rg2 $142 $8 Nxd4 27. Ba2 Bc6 {White's Rs look ridiculous, but he's
hanging tough. The computer says White is only slightly worse after} 28. Nf1 {
but I don't think even Steinitz would choose White here.}) 26... Qxh2+ $8 {
the tactical reason why ...e5 works.} 27. Kxh2 Rh4+ (27... Rh4+ 28. Kg2 Bh3+
29. Kh2 Bf1#) 0-1

[Event "CAN-op"]
[Site "Toronto"]
[Date "2010.07.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Hambleton, Aman"]
[Black "Friedel, Joshua"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2315"]
[BlackElo "2586"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2010.07.10"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,41,33,28,24,13,13,13,33,-4,-2,-4,-2,-2,9,3,26,4,-14,-14,8,10,21,21,21,
-114,-3,-201,-201,-321,-322,-786,-599,-616,-394,-394,-394,-406,-496,-564,-602,
-602,29995,29996]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3
d5 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 c5 9. dxc5 g5 (9... d4 $1) 10. Bg3 Ne4 11. Qc2 Na6 {[#]}
12. O-O-O $4 (12. b4 $142 Naxc5 $8 13. Nf3 (13. bxc5 $4 Qa5+ 14. Kd1 Bd7 $19 {
threat ...Ba4 and then Black's Rs get into the attack while White's kingside
is asleep.}) 13... Nxg3 14. hxg3 Qf6 15. Rd1 Ne4 16. e3 g4 $13 {(1-0, 45)
Akobian,V (2619)-Friedel,J (2527) ICC INT, 2010.}) 12... Naxc5 $19 13. f3 ({
As in the note above,} 13. b4 {gets smashed after} Bd7 $3 14. bxc5 Nxc5 $19 ({
or} 14... Qa5 $19)) 13... Bd7 14. b3 dxc4 15. b4 Nb3+ 16. Kb1 Ned2+ 17. Ka2 Ba4
18. Be5 a5 19. h4 axb4 20. hxg5 {[%mdl 32768] [#] Critical Position  A wild
position where both sides are attacking ferociously.  Q: Does Black have
anything better than ...Qd5?} Qd5 $4 {A: almost everything was better than ...
Qd5. Before this, SF15 rated the position -60.} (20... Qxg5 $142 $1 $19 {
keeps out the Rh1.}) (20... f5 $142 $19 {keeps out the Q.} 21. Rxh6 Qd5 22.
Rg6+ Kf7 23. Rf6+ Ke7 $19) (20... Nc1+ $142 $1 {is the computer's top line} 21.
Qxc1 c3 (21... b3+ $4 {actually gives away the win} 22. Kb2 c3+ $8 23. Qxc3 $8
Nc4+ $8 24. Qxc4 Qxd1 25. Qd3 $8 Qc2+ $8 26. Qxc2 bxc2 27. Rxh6 f6 28. Rg6+ Kh7
29. Rh6+ $11) (21... Bb3+ {is simplest} 22. Ka1 Rxa3+ $19) 22. Bxc3 Qd5+ 23.
Ka1 bxc3 $19) 21. Qh7+ $3 {Only move to not only save the game, but force mate.
Aman discusses this, his first win over a GM, in his "My Best Move" video for
chess.com  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMSChuAHhkQ} (21. Qh7+ Kxh7 22.
Rxh6+ Kg8 23. Rh8#) 1-0

[Event "Canadian Open"]
[Site "Toronto"]
[Date "2010.07.17"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Yoos, John"]
[Black "Barrios, Felix"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B72"]
[WhiteElo "2389"]
[BlackElo "2207"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2010.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,66,19,38,40,41,90,62,58,36,26,27,84,48,65,50,49,43,142,25,67,38,42,15,
21,1,0,-10,11,-43,259,273,326,325,352,178,174,188,243,288,336,546,530,460,570,
452,470,484,465,497,443,487,503,331,343,346,390,292,537,551,562,529,567,726,
715,611,610,683,884]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6.
Be3 a6 7. f3 Nbd7 8. Qd2 b5 $6 {[#] The Dragadorf was still a relatively
unexplored sideline when this game was played. Even so, two of the earliest
books to mention it -- Simon William's "The New Dragon" (2005), and Andrew
Martin's "Starting Out: The Sicilian Dragon" (Everyman, 2006) -- said this was
bad: "WARNING: Black mustn't rush to follow up 7...a6 with ...b7-b5 until
White has castled queenside as otherwise a quick a4-counter is just too strong.
"  Since then, the Dragadorf has been dissected in many games and several
books and the current consensus confirms Martin's warning:  ...b5 is not good
before 000 because after 9... a4!, White's minors will get good squares on the
queenside and Black will have trouble finding places for his.} 9. O-O-O $5 {
White is a go-for-the-throat player, and heads back toward a classical
Yugoslav Attack...} (9. a4 $1 b4 10. Na2 a5 11. c3 bxc3 12. Nxc3 {"White has a
pleasant edge with good prospects on the queenside," - Negi "GM Repertoire 1.
e4 v2: vs Sicilian" (Quality Chess, 2015).}) (9. a4 $1 bxa4 (9... b4 10. Nd5
Nxd5 11. Nc6 Qc7 12. exd5 $16 {Shaw}) 10. Nxa4 Bg7 11. Be2 Bb7 (11... d5 12.
exd5 Nxd5 13. Nf5 $1 $16) 12. c4 O-O 13. O-O {"White has a pleasant position
with good chances to exert pressure against Black's weakened queenside. This
is why, as a general rule, Black should wait for White to castle on the
queenside before playing ...b5."  - John Shaw, Playing 1.e4 (Quality Chess,
2018).}) 9... h5 $1 {... which Black immediately blunts.} (9... Bg7 $6 10. g4
b4 {and White has a choice of N moves that keep a plus:} 11. Nce2 (11. Nd5 Nxd5
12. Nc6 Qc7 13. exd5 $14) (11. Na4 $146) 11... Ne5 12. Ng3 h5 13. g5 Nfd7 14.
f4 Ng4 15. Bg1 h4 16. Ngf5 $1 (16. Nge2 Bb7 (16... h3 $5) 17. Bg2 Nc5 18. h3 $1
Bxe4 19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Qe1 $18 {(1-0, 35) Ter Sahakyan,S (2480)-Zhou,Y (2259)
Mersin, 2008.}) 16... gxf5 17. Nxf5 $18 {threatening both Nxg7+ and Qg2,
winning the trapped Ng4.}) 10. Kb1 Bb7 {[#] Black couldn't ask for much more
in a Dragadorf: his minors are mostly out and White's kingside play has no
target, and how vulnerable could that Ke8 really be?} 11. h3 (11. h4 Rc8 12. a3
Bg7 13. Bg5 Qb6 $11 {(1-0, 35) Lobanov,S (2504)-Carlsson,P (2456) Moscow, 2019.
}) (11. Nb3 Rc8 12. Bd4 Qc7 (12... Bh6 $5) 13. Qf2 e5 14. Be3 b4 $36 {(0-1, 29)
Wei,Y (2244)-Wang,H (2715) China, 2010.}) 11... Rc8 12. Bd3 Bg7 13. g4 Nb6 $6 {
[%mdl 32832] ...Ne5, ...Nc5, and ...h4 are all about equal.  [#] Critical
Position What hapens after e4-e5?} 14. e5 $1 dxe5 $4 {Of Black's choices, this
is clearly worst.} (14... Nfd7 $2 {isn't as bad, but White has huge advantage
after} 15. e6 $1 $36 ({or} 15. exd6 $1)) (14... Nc4 $5 15. Bxc4 $8 dxe5 $8 {
White is up a piece, but has two hanging.} 16. Qe1 (16. Qe2 $2 {defends f3, but
} exd4 17. Bxd4 (17. Rxd4 $2 Qa5 $19 18. Bb3 hxg4 $19 {suddenly the open lines
all work for Black.}) 17... Qc7 18. Bb3 $14) (16. Ne6 $5 Qxd2 $8 17. Nxg7+ Kf8
18. Rxd2 Rxc4 19. g5 $14 {the Ng7 is trapped; White is down a pawn but better
developed.}) 16... Rxc4 17. Nf5 Qc8 18. Nxg7+ Kf8 19. Nxh5 gxh5 20. Rf1 $40) (
14... Nfd5 $1 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 $8 $13 (15... Nxd5 $4 16. e6 $8 $18) 16. e6 fxe6 (
16... Nc4 $14) 17. Bxg6+ Kd7 $8 $13 {Black's position looks weird, but he
threatens both ...Nc4 and ...Bxd4 then ...Bxf3.}) 15. Ne6 $8 $18 {Forking d8
and g7 and exposing an attack on the Nb6. Black is completely busted at move
15.} Nc4 (15... fxe6 16. Bxg6+ Kf8 17. Qxd8+ $18) (15... Qd7 16. Nxg7+ Kf8 {
traps the N, but Bxb6 or Nxh5 first are both +-.}) 16. Qf2 (16. Nxg7+ {also
wins, but requires more precision:} Kf8 17. Ne6+ $8 fxe6 18. Bh6+ $8 $18 {
and Qg5 or Bxc4 win.}) 16... Qa5 17. Bxc4 fxe6 18. Bb6 {[#]} Qb4 (18... Qxc3 $5
19. bxc3 bxc4 {is the computer's improvement, but it's still two pieces and
horrible pawns for a Q.}) 19. Bxe6 Rb8 (19... Rxc3 $2 {typical Dragon
counterplay?} 20. Rd8# {Nope.}) 20. g5 Nh7 21. Ne4 Nf8 22. a3 $1 {Cute: the Q
has no escape.} Qxe4 23. Bf7+ $1 {More than cute: gains a tempo to keep the
initiative.} Kxf7 24. fxe4+ Kg8 25. Rhf1 Bxe4 26. Rd8 Rxd8 27. Bxd8 Bf5 28. h4
Kf7 29. Qa7 Kg8 30. Bxe7 Ne6 31. Rxf5 gxf5 32. g6 Rh6 33. Qa8+ Bf8 1-0

[Event "Eastern Ontario Open"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2012.06.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Tuxanidy Torres, Aleksandr"]
[Black "Upper, John"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C06"]
[WhiteElo "2200"]
[BlackElo "2335"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,58,19,38,43,18,28,33,-13,-5,-5,9,-8,9,24,23,0,17,19,18,13,18,26,18,38,
13,7,-10,25,14,16,11,19,3,7,12,53,53,93,86,54,55,104,87,75,-57,72,47,54,-234,
-234,-231,-241,-262,-262,-1922,-2506,-2614,-2068,-29989,-29990]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4
d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4 f6 9. exf6
Nxf6 10. O-O Bd6 11. Nf3 Qc7 12. Bg5 O-O 13. Rc1 Ng4 14. h3 Rxf3 15. hxg4 Rf8
16. a3 Qb6 17. b4 e5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Bb1 Bxg4 20. Qxd5+ Kh8 21. Nd4 Rae8 22.
Kh1 Bh5 $4 (22... Nf7 $142 23. f4 $8 $15) (22... Nd3 $1 $17 23. Bxd3 (23. Nb5
Nxc1 $19) 23... Re5 $8 24. Qc4 Rxg5 $19 {with a winning attack.}) (22... Ng6 $1
23. Rce1 Nf4 $1 $19) 23. Nf5 $1 Bb8 {[%mdl 41024] [#] Critical Position Be7 or
something else?} 24. Be7 $4 (24. f4 $8 Bf7 (24... Nf7 25. Be7) 25. Qd1 $1 $18
Ng6 (25... Qg6 26. Nh4 {wins the N}) 26. Qd7 {Black is running out of moves
and White can improve, e.g.} Qe6 27. Qd4 Rg8 28. Bh6 $18) (24. Nd4 $2 h6 25.
Be3 Bf7 26. Qe4 Bg6 27. Qh4 Bxb1 28. Rxb1 Qg6 $19 {aiming for ...Ng4 and a
winning attack on the dark squares.}) (24. Qd4 Qg6 25. Qh4 Nf3 26. gxf3 Bxf3+
27. Kg1 Rxf5 $36) 24... Rxe7 $8 $19 (24... Rf7 $13) (24... Rxf5 $2 25. Bxf5
Rxe7 (25... Qh6 26. Bh3 $16) 26. Rc8+ Re8 27. Rfc1 $8 $18) (24... Rg8 25. f4
$14 (25. Bd6 $14)) 25. Nxe7 Qh6 $8 {Black threatens a deadly discovered check.}
26. Nf5 (26. Kg1 Nf3+ $1 $19 {mates.}) 26... Rxf5 $8 {[#] The problem with 24.
Be7: White has no back rank mate after ...Be8 discovered check (followed by a
Black mating attack).} (26... Bf3+ $4 27. Nxh6 Bxd5 28. Nf5 $18) 27. f4 (27.
Qd8+ Be8+ $8 28. Kg1 Nf3+ 29. gxf3 Qh2#) (27. Bxf5 Bg4+ $1 28. Kg1 Nf3+ $8 29.
Qxf3 Qh2#) (27. Qd2 g5 $1 $19) 27... Be8+ $1 {best} (27... Ng4 {also wins.})
28. Kg1 Ng4 $1 29. Rfe1 Qh2+ {White is getting mated.} 0-1

[Event "Toronto Closed"]
[Site "Toronto"]
[Date "2013.04.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Tonakanian, Stephan"]
[Black "Song, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A49"]
[WhiteElo "2129"]
[BlackElo "2354"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. b3 Nc6 7. Bb2 Nd7 8. c4
a6 9. Nc3 Rb8 10. Rc1 e5 11. d5 Ne7 12. e4 Bh6 13. Rc2 f5 14. exf5 gxf5 15. Bc1
Bg7 16. b4 h6 17. Nh4 Qe8 18. f4 Ng6 19. Nxg6 Qxg6 20. Re1 h5 21. c5 e4 {[#]}
22. Nxe4 $5 ({Of course, White doesn't have to go all in here; he could just
continue developing with} 22. Be3 {when an immediate Black Kingside attack with
} h4 {backfires against} 23. g4 $1 {when White's Rooks and minors are better
placed for the newly opening center.}) 22... fxe4 23. Bxe4 Qf6 24. Bb2 Qh6 25.
Bxg7 Kxg7 26. cxd6 cxd6 (26... Qxd6) 27. Rc7 $36 Kg8 28. Qd3 $2 Qf6 $6 (28...
Nf6 $142 29. Bg6 Bh3 $8 $17) 29. Bf3 Qf5 $2 30. Be4 $2 $11 {and Black might
prudently go for the repetition.} (30. Qxf5 $142 {see below}) 30... Qf6 $8 31.
Bf3 Qf5 $6 {[%mdl 32832] Diagram [#] Critical Position White enterprisingly
sac'ed a N for PP and initiative, and is still ahead in development. Now what?}
(31... Qh6 $142) 32. Qe3 $2 {White has three decent choices.} (32. Qd4 $142 {
leads to an extremely long string of "only moves" from both sides:} Nf6 33.
Ree7 Qb1+ 34. Kg2 Qxa2+ 35. Be2 $5 Bf5 {preventing Rg7+ and Rh7+ mating and
threatening to swap Rs with ...Rbe8.} 36. Kg1 $1 Qb1+ 37. Bf1 Bg6 38. Re6 Qf5
39. Qc3 $13) (32. Qxf5 $142 Rxf5 33. Re6 $16 {White will get at least a third
pawn for the piece, and I don't see how Black will develop his Queenside.
Certainly not like this:} Rf6 ({or this} 33... Nf8 $4 34. Re8 $18) 34. Rxd7 $18
) (32. Qc3 $142 $5 $16 {sets a wicked trap:} Nf6 $140 $2 (32... Ne5 $4 33. Be4
$18) (32... Qf6 $1 33. Qe3 $1 {is an improvment over the game (where Black's Q
was on f5): White is threatening Bxh5, and because Black's Q is on f6 the Nd7
has no squares and so Black is still several moves from developing the
queenside.}) 33. Be4 $3 $18 Qg4 (33... Nxe4 $4 34. Qg7#) 34. h3 $8 {transposes}
Qxh3 35. Bh7+ Kh8 36. Qxf6+ Rxf6 37. Re8+ Rf8 38. Rxf8#) 32... Nf6 $8 33. Qe7
Bd7 $1 34. Be4 (34. Qxd6 Rbe8 $19 {White got a third pawn, but now Black is
fully developed and White's K is in more danger.}) 34... Qg4 35. Qxd6 Rbe8 $1
$19 {[#] And here comes the counterattack.} 36. Rc4 Bb5 37. Rd4 Nxe4 38. Rdxe4
Rxe4 39. Rxe4 Qd1+ 40. Kf2 Qf1+ 41. Ke3 Qd3+ 42. Kf2 Qxe4 43. Qe6+ Qxe6 44.
dxe6 Bc4 0-1

[Event "Eastern Ontario Open"]
[Site "Ontario"]
[Date "2013.06.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Hamilton, Robert"]
[Black "Yuan, Yuanling"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E84"]
[WhiteElo "2355"]
[BlackElo "2336"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2013.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nc6 7. Nge2 a6 8. Qd2
Rb8 9. Nd5 b5 10. Nxf6+ Bxf6 11. Rc1 bxc4 12. Rxc4 Bd7 13. h4 Na7 14. h5 c5 15.
hxg6 fxg6 16. dxc5 Rxb2 17. Rc2 Rxc2 18. Qxc2 Qa5+ 19. Kf2 $14 {[%mdl 32832]
Diagram [#]Critical Position} dxc5 $4 (19... e6 $142) (19... Nc6 $142) 20. Nf4
$6 $16 {An interesting oversight: both players are focused on the centre and
kingside attacks, and they miss the non-thematic win of a piece on the
queenside:} (20. Qb3+ $142 Kh8 21. Qb7 $18 {wins the N or B.}) 20... Qc3 $2 (
20... Bd4 $142 21. Bxd4 cxd4 22. Qc4+ ({Now} 22. Qb3+ {to b7 leaves the Nf4
hanging.}) 22... Rf7 (22... e6 23. Nxe6 $18) 23. Rxh7 $8 $16) 21. Qxc3 Bxc3 22.
Bc4+ $1 $18 Kg7 (22... Kh8 23. Nxg6+ $18) 23. Ne2 $8 {White threatens Nxc3 and
Bh6+.} Bd4 (23... Bb4 24. Bh6+ $18) 24. Nxd4 {Recapturing loses the N or the R.
} 1-0

[Event "2013 Canadian Open"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2013.07.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Matsytsyn, Vitaly"]
[Black "Zhou, Qiyu"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B70"]
[BlackElo "2160"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2013.07.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Bg5 Bg7 8.
Qe2 O-O 9. O-O Nc6 10. Nb3 {[#]} Rc8 $15 (10... a6 $15 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. e5
dxe5 13. Rad1 Qc7 14. Rfe1 Bf5 $15 {(1-0, 79) Cote,J-Kiviaho,B (2230) North
Bay, 1996.}) 11. Rad1 Ne5 12. f4 Bg4 13. Qe3 Bxd1 14. fxe5 Ng4 $8 15. Qxa7 Bxc2
16. Qxb7 Bxb3 17. axb3 Rc7 (17... Bxe5 $1 18. Nd5 $140 Rb8 $1 $19) 18. Qb6 Bxe5
19. Nd5 {[%mdl 32832] Diagram [#] Critical Position Don't play the Dragon
unless you love tactics.} Rc5 $3 $19 {Blocks the white Queen's defence of the
a7-g1 diagonal, attacks the undefended Qb6, attacks the Bb5... and commits
Black to a Queen sac.} (19... Rc8 $4 20. Nxe7+ {and the Ne7 moves with check
allowing Bxd8.}) (19... h6 {lets Black untangle, but doesn't win:} 20. Bxe7
Rxe7 {(Black can toss in ...Bxh2+ anywhere here.)} 21. Qxd8 Rxd8 22. Nxe7+ Kg7
(22... Kf8 $2 23. Nxg6+ $16) 23. h3 Bd4+ 24. Kh1 Nf2+ $15) 20. Nxe7+ (20. Qxd8
Rxd8 21. Bxe7 (21. Bc4 Ra8 22. Nxe7+ Kh8 $1 $19 {both sides have loose pawns,
but Black is up an exchange.}) 21... Rxb5 22. Bxd8 Bd4+ 23. Kh1 Nf2+ 24. Kg1
Nxe4+ {and wins the Nd5.}) 20... Kh8 $8 (20... Kg7 $4 21. Nf5+ $8 $18 {winning
BB vs R ending:} gxf5 22. Bxd8 Bd4+ 23. Kh1 Nf2+ 24. Rxf2 Rc1+ 25. Rf1 Rxf1+
26. Bxf1 Bxb6 27. Bxb6 $18) (20... Qxe7 $2 21. Bxe7 Bd4+ 22. Kh1 Nf2+ 23. Rxf2
Rc1+ 24. Rf1 Rxf1+ 25. Bxf1 Bxb6 26. Bxf8 Kxf8 {and White has the better side
of a draw.}) 21. Nxg6+ (21. Qxd8 Rxd8 22. Nxg6+ fxg6 23. Bxd8 Rxb5 $19 {
the attack on the Bb5 was essential.}) {[#]} 21... fxg6 $8 {The attack down
the open f-file leaves White's back rank too weak.} 22. Bxd8 Bd4+ $8 ({The Rf1
is protected by the Bb5, otherwise this would win:} 22... Bxh2+ $4 23. Kh1
Rxf1+ 24. Bxf1 $18) 23. Kh1 (23. Rf2 Rc1+ $19) 23... Nf2+ 24. Kg1 (24. Rxf2
Rc1+ 25. Bf1 Rxf1+ 26. Rxf1 Rxf1#) 24... Nd3+ {Blocks the defence of f1 and
forces mate. Excellent combo from the 13-year-old future WGM.} 0-1

[Event "Canadian Amateur"]
[Site "Kitchener"]
[Date "2013.08.03"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Song, Terry"]
[Black "Peng, Jackie"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "2155"]
[BlackElo "2219"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "140"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,140,19,38,40,46,70,62,56,59,45,36,37,18,15,-13,-11,-47,-39,-42,-37,
-66,-61,-61,2,-27,-22,-60,-71,-82,-74,-76,-86,-80,-57,-51,-28,-32,-47,-46,-76,
-113,-60,-151,-130,-192,-192,-195,-197,-190,-110,-76,-84,-64,-80,-76,-60,-67,
-64,-55,-38,-39,-28,-125,-115,-125,-120,-125,-126,-133,-117,-122,-117,-133,
-122,-127,-129,-178,-163,-167,-155,-167,-170,-167,-167,-167,-178,-178,-178,
-178,-178,-251,-252,-302,-314,-302,-336,-362,-360,-364,-384,-404,-397,-404,
-404,-407,-451,-844,-1011,-1011,-1011,-1022,-1187,-1022,-1421,-1914,-1934,
-1934,-2382,-2756,-2422,-2481,-2686,-2372,-2845,-3012,-29970,-29975,-29978,
-29981,-29976,-29987,-29980,-29981,-29978,-29979,-29976,-29977,-29980,-29981,
-29982,-29983,-29984]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 Nc6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. O-O
Bg7 7. Qe1 Nd4 $1 8. Nxd4 cxd4 9. Bxd7+ Qxd7 10. Nd5 e6 11. Nb4 f5 12. Nd3 $6
Nf6 13. e5 Ne4 $1 $17 14. c4 dxe5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. fxe5 d3 17. Qe3 O-O 18. b3
Rfd8 19. Bb2 Rac8 20. Rf4 Qc6 (20... b5 $1 $19) 21. Re1 b5 $1 $19 22. cxb5 Qxb5
23. Rxe4 fxe4 24. Qxa7 {[%mdl 49216] Diagram [#] Critical Position Black's up
an exchange, should she trade the opponent's most dangerous piece with ...Qc5+
or try something else?} Qc5+ $4 {This misunderstands Black's advantage: with
Queens off White's K is safe and can consolidate in the center.} (24... Ra8
$142 $19) (24... Rc2 $142 $19 25. Qe7 (25. Bc3 $2 Rxc3 $19) (25. Rf1 Qd7 $19)
25... Qd7 $19) (24... Rd7 $142 $19 25. Qe3 Qa5 26. a4 Rc2 27. Bc3 Rxc3 $1 $19)
25. Qxc5 Rxc5 26. Kf2 $8 $11 ({As before,} 26. Bc3 $2 Rxc3 27. dxc3 e3 $8 $19)
(26. Rxe4 Rc2 27. Bc3 Rxc3 28. dxc3 d2 $19) 26... Rc2 27. Bc3 {A rare position
here where ...Rxc3 doesn't win now that the white K is close.} Rxa2 28. Rxe4
Ra3 29. Rb4 $1 (29. b4 $4 Rxc3 $19) 29... Rd7 30. Ke3 Raa7 31. Bd4 $6 (31. Rc4
{or Rb8+ then b3-b4 and it's hard to believe White can be beaten.}) 31... Rab7
{[%mdl 4096] Diagram [#]} 32. Rxb7 $2 {White has less counterplay without the
R, and has to hope for a fortress.} (32. Rc4 Rxb3 33. Rc8+ Kf7 34. Rh8 {
Black has to give up either the h pawn or the e pawn, since trying to save
them both gives White a perpetual:} h5 (34... Kg7 35. Re8 Rb4 36. Bc5 Rc4 37.
Bd6 {with good drawing chances.}) 35. Rh7+ Ke8 36. Rh8+ Ke7 37. Bc5+ Kf7 38.
Rh7+ {White has a perpetual.}) 32... Rxb7 $19 33. Kxd3 Rxb3+ 34. Ke4 Kf7 35.
Be3 Rb5 36. h4 Ke7 37. g3 Kd7 {Diagram [#]} 38. Bd4 ({This is a tough position;
here's one neat line:} 38. Kf4 Kc6 $2 39. Kg5 $3 Rxe5+ $140 40. Kh6 Rh5+ 41.
Kg7 $11 {Now Black has to play accurately to draw! The threat of Bg5 followed
by g4 lets White win the kingside pawns.}) 38... Kc6 39. Be3 Rb1 40. Bf2 Rb4+
41. d4 Rb2 42. Be3 Rb1 43. Bd2 Rg1 44. Bf4 h5 45. Kf3 Kd5 46. Be3 Rf1+ 47. Ke2
(47. Kg2 Rf5 $19 {and the Black K gets in.}) 47... Rf7 48. Bf4 Kxd4 49. Kf3 Rb7
50. Kg2 Ke4 51. Kh3 Rb5 (51... Rb2 {will be zugzwang.} 52. Bh6 Rc2 53. Bg7 Kf3
54. Bh6 Re2 55. Bf4 Rg2 $22) 52. Kg2 {[#]} Rxe5 $1 {Converts to a winning pawn
ending.  Black is over 2200, and should be expected to know how to win this;
and White is over 2100 and should know that.} 53. Bxe5 Kxe5 54. Kf3 Kf5 55. Ke3
Kg4 56. Kf2 e5 57. Kg2 e4 58. Kf2 Kh3 59. Ke3 Kxg3 60. Kxe4 Kxh4 61. Kf3 g5 62.
Kg2 Kg4 63. Kh2 Kf3 64. Kh3 g4+ 65. Kh2 Kf2 66. Kh1 Kg3 67. Kg1 Kh3 68. Kh1 g3
69. Kg1 g2 70. Kf2 Kh2 0-1

[Event "2nd Annual Washington International"]
[Site "Rockville, MD"]
[Date "2013.08.06"]
[Round "2.6"]
[White "Thavandiran, Shiyam"]
[Black "Chirila, Ioan Cristian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C85"]
[WhiteElo "2357"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "Vladimir Pechenkin + editor"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2013.08.06"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,63,28,30,5,28,33,8,16,9,-7,4,20,23,17,9,12,-1,0,-7,-3,-25,-12,-18,-18,
-5,-6,2,6,-6,-10,-8,8,5,5,11,12,-6,-5,-4,5,-8,40,15,24,21,24,37,41,21,246,271,
265,283,275,280,343,343,333,307,644,299,1049,1078,1078,1506]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. d3 Nd7 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. Nc4
f6 10. Nh4 Nc5 11. Nf5 Bxf5 12. exf5 Re8 13. Be3 b6 14. Qh5 Qd5 15. b3 a5 16.
Rad1 Nb7 17. d4 e4 18. f3 Bb4 19. a3 Bd6 20. Nd2 Bf4 21. Bxf4 Qxd4+ 22. Kh1 e3
23. Bxe3 Qxe3 24. Ne4 {[%mdl 32832] Diagram [#]Critical Position White is
threatening Rd1-d7. Should Black play: a) ...Rad8,  b) ...Red8, c) ...Rf8.}
Rad8 $4 {Another example in a notorious collection of players picking a wrong
rook.} ({Granted, after} 24... Red8 $142 25. Rde1 $1 Qd4 {White has a pleasant
position but there is no reason for Black to panic.}) (24... Rf8 $142 25. Rfe1
(25. Rd7 Nc5 $13) 25... Rad8 $8 $11) 25. Rde1 $8 $18 {Exploiting the developed
but exposed Re8.} Rxe4 {Worth a try.} ({The difference from the line above is
easy to see:} 25... Qd4 {or ...Qf4} 26. Nxf6+ Qxf6 27. Rxe8+ Rxe8 28. Qxe8+ {
with an extra exchange for White.}) 26. fxe4 $1 Qc3 27. e5 $1 {White gives
Black no time to reorganize and finishes the game quickly.} fxe5 28. f6 gxf6
29. Re4 Rf8 30. Rc4 Qe3 31. Rg4+ Kh8 32. Rh4 1-0

[Event "NAYCC U18"]
[Site "Toronto"]
[Date "2013.08.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Knox, Christopher"]
[Black "Qin, Zi Yi (Joey)"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E71"]
[WhiteElo "2074"]
[BlackElo "2286"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2013.08.17"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,116,27,24,27,2,40,40,44,44,44,18,19,26,36,24,27,17,30,23,20,36,36,9,
23,16,22,-74,-62,-60,-70,-69,-65,-135,-38,-68,-30,-28,-33,-32,-38,-40,-64,-87,
-73,-87,-90,-120,-104,-101,-87,-87,-80,-64,-61,-68,-46,-32,-41,-50,-33,-50,-50,
-55,0,0,13,0,0,5,17,14,14,0,14,19,16,9,32,-185,-110,-181,-125,-159,-133,-136,
-152,-152,-147,-151,-151,-171,-176,-160,-168,-175,-171,-174,-174,-275,-287,
-357,-364,-359,-366,-742,-813,-1096,-1219,-1297,-1320,-1750,-27723,-1320,
-29976,-29981,-29974,-29983,-28266]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.
Bd3 O-O 6. Nge2 e5 7. d5 c6 8. h3 Na6 9. Bg5 Nc5 10. Bc2 a5 11. Qd2 cxd5 12.
cxd5 Bd7 13. g4 b5 14. Ng3 b4 15. Nce2 Qb6 16. Rg1 b3 17. axb3 Nxb3 18. Bxb3
Qxb3 19. Ra3 Qc4 20. Rc3 Qa2 21. b3 Qb1+ 22. Qc1 Qxc1+ 23. Nxc1 Rfb8 24. f3 a4
25. bxa4 Rb2 26. Nce2 Rxa4 27. Kf2 h6 28. Bc1 Rb7 29. Be3 Ra2 30. Rcc1 Rab2 31.
Ra1 Bf8 32. Ra8 Rb8 33. Rxb8 Rxb8 34. Ra1 Rb2 35. Ra8 Ne8 36. Rd8 Bb5 37. Rb8
Kg7 38. Rb7 Nf6 {[%mdl 32832] [#]Critical Position Can White win a pawn with
Bxh6+?} 39. Bxh6+ $4 {This move seems to win a pawn, but it loses because of
the double-attack it allows on move 43; my guess is that White just didn't
calcuate far enough.} (39. Bc1 $142 $1 Rb3 40. Nf1 $1 $14) 39... Kxh6 $8 $19
40. Rxf7 Bg7 $1 (40... Nd7 $2 {saves the piece, but lets White back into the
game.} 41. h4 $8 Bg7 $8 (41... g5 $2 42. h5 $18) 42. g5+ Kh7 43. h5 gxh5 (43...
Kg8 44. hxg6 $13) 44. Nf5 $8 (44. Nxh5 $4 Rxe2+ 45. Kg3 Kg6 $19) 44... Rxe2+
45. Kg3 $13) 41. g5+ (41. h4 Kh7 $19) 41... Kxg5 42. Rxg7 Bxe2 $1 43. Nxe2 Nh5
$1 $19 {[#] Here's the double attack: the Nh5 threatens the Rg7 and threatens .
..Nf4 winning the pinned Ne2; White has no good defence.} 44. h4+ $5 Kf6 $1 $19
(44... Kxh4 $4 45. Rh7 $11 {and pinning one N saves the other.}) 45. Rd7 Nf4
46. Rxd6+ Ke7 47. Re6+ Nxe6 $2 (47... Kf7 $142 {wins the N and doesn't drop
the e5 pawn because} 48. Rxe5 Nd3+ $19 {wins the R.}) 48. dxe6 Kxe6 {[#]} 49.
f4 $4 (49. Ke3 $142 {gives White some real drawing chances.}) 49... Rb3 $8 $19
50. Kg2 Re3 51. Kf2 Rxe4 52. Kf3 Rxe2 53. Kxe2 exf4 54. Kf2 Ke5 55. Ke2 Ke4 56.
Kf2 f3 57. Kf1 Kf4 58. Kg1 Kg3 0-1

[Event "KW Labour Day Open 2013"]
[Site "Kitchener"]
[Date "2013.09.03"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Pace, Christopher"]
[Black "Jung, Hans"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A00"]
[WhiteElo "2126"]
[BlackElo "2292"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2013.09.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 8192]} 1. e4 d5 2. Nc3 $6 d4 3. Nce2 e5 4. d3 Bd6 5. g3 g5 $5 {Black
takes radical steps to discourage a typical King's Indian (reversed) break
with the f-pawn.} (5... h5 $5 {is similar: anticipating f4 and preparing to
soften White's kingside.}) 6. Bg2 c5 7. h3 h6 8. Nf3 Be6 9. Nd2 Nc6 10. Nc4 Bc7
11. a4 b6 12. h4 g4 $13 13. h5 {I don't undersand this move; it's not as
though White can surround and win the Pg4; maybe White hopes to tie Black to
defending h6?} a6 14. Bd2 b5 15. axb5 axb5 16. Rxa8 Qxa8 17. Na3 Qa6 18. f4
gxf3 19. Bxf3 c4 $1 20. O-O c3 $1 21. Bc1 b4 (21... Bd6 $1 {(threatening ...
cxb2)} 22. Nb1 b4 $1 $19 {and although White's Nb1 won't be playing any more
in this game, at least it's already set up for the next one.}) 22. Nc4 Bxc4 23.
dxc4 Qxc4 24. bxc3 bxc3 25. Bg4 Rh7 26. Kh2 Rg7 27. Ng1 {[#] In principle,
Black ought to be better since he has a space advantage, but it's a difficult
position to come up with a plan. Neither side has any weak points which can be
atttacked more than they can be defended, and I don't see any feasible pawn
breaks. Maybe Black can lock the kingside with ...f6 and swing his R to the
a-file!?} Rxg4 $5 {I think this move could fairly be given any of the usual
chess punctuation marks: !!, !, !?, ?!, ?, or ??.  It looks really strong:
Houdini rates it as winning for Black... until it gets up to 20 ply, when it
rates it as =/+. But as far as I can tell (not very far, even with computers)
White just has enough activity to stay afloat.   The down-side is practical:
while both sides have to play really precisely to keep the balance, White's
moves (Q checks and forks) are easier to choose than Black's.  2022: Ditto
SF15 intitially rates it winning, but quickly drops to 0.00.} 28. Qxg4 Qxf1 29.
Qxg8+ Ke7 (29... Kd7 30. Qg4+ $8 $13 (30. Bxh6 $2 Qf2+ 31. Kh3 (31. Kh1 d3 $19)
31... Bd6 $1 $19) 30... f5 $5 (30... Kd6 $4 31. Ba3+ $8 $18) (30... Kd8 31.
Qg8+ $8 $11) 31. exf5 $13) 30. Bxh6 (30. Qc8 $1 Qxc1 31. Qxc7+ Kf8 32. Qxc6
Qxc2+ 33. Kh3 $11 {Black can try to promote, but can't escape White's checks.})
30... Qf2+ (30... Bb6 $1 {allows White a lot of checks, but no good way to
deal with ...d3.}) 31. Kh1 {[%mdl 32832] Diagram [#]Critical Position (hard)
What happens on ...Qxc2? Does Black have better? What follows below is mostly
a lot of computer-checked variations with not many words.  Personally, I
prefer words: a concise verbal summary of the essence of a position is much
easier to understand than a mass of variations. If there is a verbal
explanation that adequately conveys the truth about this complex position,
unfortunately, I haven't found it.} Qxc2 $2 {[%mdl 64] The game shows why ...
Qxc2 loses.} (31... d3 $6 32. Qc8 $8 Bd8 33. Qb7+ $8 (33. Qxc6 $2 d2 $11) 33...
Kd6 34. Bf8+ Be7 (34... Ne7 35. Qd5+ Kc7 36. Qxd3 $18) 35. Bxe7+ Nxe7 36. Qa6+
Kc7 37. Qxd3 (37. Qc4+ $5 {may be an improvement: trying to force the Black K
further away.}) 37... Qd2 38. Ne2 Qxd3 39. cxd3 c2 $14 {White is close to
winning, but it's a N ending with a passed rook pawn.... :(}) (31... Nd8 32.
Bf8+ Kd7 33. Qg4+ Ne6 34. h6 $8 d3 35. h7 dxc2 36. Ba3 Bb6 37. Ne2 Qf1+ 38. Kh2
Qf2+ 39. Kh3 Qf1+ 40. Kh4 $4 (40. Kh2 $11) 40... Qh1+ 41. Qh3 Bd8+ 42. Kg4
Qxe4+ $19) (31... Bb6 $1 {keeps the Pf7 defended while making space for the
Ke7 to get out of the crossfire, and threatens ...d3.} 32. Bf8+ Kd7 33. Qg4+
Kd8 (33... Ke8 {this cute move tries to avoid the tricky endgame lines below,
but it doesn't seem to work:} 34. Qg8 (34. h6 d3 35. Nh3 Qe1+ 36. Kg2 Qe2+ 37.
Qxe2 dxe2 $19) 34... Ne7 $5 35. Bxe7+ Kxe7 36. Qb8 $8 (36. Qg5+ Qf6 $19) 36...
Qf6 (36... d3 $2 37. Qxe5+ $11) 37. Kg2 d3 38. cxd3 Qf2+ 39. Kh3 Bd4 (39...
Qf1+ 40. Kg4 $8 $11) (39... Qxg1 40. Qxe5+ $11) 40. Qc7+ Ke6 (40... Kf8 $4 41.
Qd8+ Kg7 42. Qg5+ Kf8 43. h6 $18) 41. Qc6+ $11) (33... Kc7 34. Qf3 $1 d3 35.
Qxf2 Bxf2 36. cxd3 c2 {Diagram [#]} 37. Ne2 $1 (37. Ba3 $2 {White needs the B
to support Ph5-h6.} Be3 38. Ne2 Nd4 39. Nc1 Kd7 40. Kg2 Ke6 ({or} 40... Bh6 41.
Kf1 Ke6 42. Ke1 Kf6 $19) 41. Kf1 Bxc1 42. Bxc1 Nb3 $19 {the Black K is inside
the square of the P.}) 37... Be3 38. h6 $11 Nd4 39. h7 $8 Nxe2 40. Ba3 $8 Bc1
41. h8=Q $8 Bxa3 42. Qxe5+ $11) 34. Qf3 (34. Qd1 d3 35. Qxd3+ Ke8 36. Nh3 Qe1+
37. Kg2 Qd2+ $19) (34. Qg5+ {[%mdl 32768]} Ke8 (34... f6) 35. Qg8 Kd7 36. Qg4+
Kc7 37. Qf3 $1 $11) 34... Qxf3+ {(simpler than the lines above, possbily
because pulling the N to f3 makes harder for White to fight for c1.)} (34... d3
35. Qxf2 Bxf2 36. cxd3 c2 37. Ne2 (37. Ba3 Be3 38. Ne2 Nd4 $19) (37. Bh6 Nd4
38. Bc1 Ke7 $1 $19 (38... Bxg3 $2 39. h6 Bh4 40. h7 Bf6 41. Bg5 $3 $11)) 37...
Nd4 38. Nc1 Be3 39. h6 Bxc1 40. h7 Bg5 $8 (40... Be3 $4 41. Ba3 $18) 41. h8=Q
c1=Q+ $19 42. Kg2 Qc2+ 43. Kh3 Qxd3 44. Bh6+ Kd7 45. Bxg5 Qf1+ 46. Kg4 Qf3+ 47.
Kh3 Qh1+ $19) 35. Nxf3 Ke8 $1 36. Bg7 (36. Ba3 d3 $1 37. cxd3 Be3 38. g4 f6 $1
$19) 36... d3 $1 37. cxd3 c2 38. Bh6 Ba5 39. Kg2 (39. Bc1 Bc3 40. Kg2 Nb4 $19)
39... Bc3 40. Kf2 Bb2 41. Ke2 c1=Q 42. Bxc1 Bxc1 $19) 32. Bf8+ $8 $18 Kd7 (
32... Ke6 $2 33. Qg4+ $18) 33. Qg4+ $8 Ke8 34. h6 $8 {[#]} Kxf8 ({If both
sides race to promote, Black gets mated:} 34... d3 35. h7 d2 36. h8=Q d1=Q 37.
Bc5#) (34... Bd8 {is tougher, but still inadequate:} 35. Bc5 $1 (35. h7 $2 Bf6
$8 36. Bg7 Bxg7 37. Qxg7 Qxe4+ 38. Kh2 Qc2+ $8 39. Kh3 Qf5+ 40. Kh4 Kd7 41.
h8=Q Ne7 $1 {...Ng6+ will cost White a Q, but after} 42. Nf3 $1 $11 {Black's K
is too exposed to win.} (42. Qxe5 $4 Ng6#)) 35... Qb1 36. Qg8+ $8 Kd7 37. Qxf7+
Kc8 38. Qe6+ Kb7 39. Qd7+ Bc7 40. h7 $8 $18 (40. Bd6 $2 Qxe4+ $11) 40... Qxe4+
41. Kh2 c2 42. h8=Q c1=Q 43. Qhc8#) 35. h7 $8 d3 36. h8=Q+ {White has faster
ways to win, but he gets the job done.} Ke7 37. Qg5+ Kd7 38. Qf5+ Kd6 39. Qf8+
Ne7 40. Qf6+ Kc5 41. Q8xe7+ Kd4 42. Qb4+ Ke3 43. Qg5+ Kf2 44. Qc5+ 1-0

[Event "2013 Battle of Alberta"]
[Site "Red Deer"]
[Date "2013.09.07"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Kazmaier, Daniel"]
[Black "Wang, Richard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D23"]
[WhiteElo "2292"]
[BlackElo "2492"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2013.09.07"]
[EventType "team-match"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bg4 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. e4 Bxf3 8.
gxf3 e5 9. Be3 Qc7 10. Bh3 Bd6 11. Bxd7+ Nxd7 12. Rg1 exd4 13. Bxd4 Be5 14. f4
Bxd4 15. Qxd4 Qxf4 16. Qxg7 O-O-O 17. Qg3 Qh6 18. Rd1 Rhe8 19. Ke2 f5 20. Qe3
f4 21. Qxa7 Qxh2 22. Rg7 f3+ 23. Kd3 Qh6 24. Rdg1 Qd6+ 25. Kc2 Re7 26. Rxe7
Qxe7 27. b4 Ne5 (27... Qxb4 $4 28. Rb1 $18) 28. b5 $36 {[%mdl 33088] Diagram 
[#]Critical Position How should Black defend: ...Qb4, ...Qc7, or something
else?} Qc7 $2 {This protects against mates, but leaves Black so tied up that
White can win material and create new threats before Black can untangle.} (
28... Qb4 $2 29. Rg7 Rd2+ (29... Nd7 {leaves Black with no counterplay, so
simply} 30. bxc6 $18) 30. Kxd2 Qb2+ 31. Kd1 $8 $18) (28... Kc7 $6 {Not the
best, but there is no clear cut refutation. It gets out of mates, but walking
the K into the center leaves Black exposed and blocking the d-file stops
counterplay:} 29. b6+ $1 Kd6 30. Rh1 $1 (30. Rd1+ $2 {wins a pawn but concedes
a perpetual} Ke6 31. Rxd8 Qxd8 32. Qxb7 Qd3+ 33. Kb3 Qc4+ $11) 30... Rg8 31.
Rh6+ Rg6 32. Rh5 $1 $18 {or Qa3+ is a computer line rated at +3. Material is
equal, but Black is more and more tied down to defending.}) (28... Nd3 $8 {
to bring the N to defend via b4, which White can stop with} 29. b6 (29. a3 cxb5
$8 30. Qa8+ $1 (30. Rd1 {or Nxb5} Qc5 $11 {forces off Qs.}) 30... Kc7 31. Nd5+
Rxd5 $8 32. Qa5+ {(to block checks from e2)} Kd7 $8 33. exd5 {[#] Analysis
Diagram} Qc5+ $3 (33... Qe2+ 34. Qd2 Nxf2 $14 {with an ending Black might
struggle to hold.}) 34. Kb1 (34. Kxd3 Qxd5+ $8 $11 {Black has a perpetual,
checking on the light squares even after the Pf3 drops. An excellent example
of how much stronger a centralized Q is than major pieces on the edge of the
board!}) 34... Qxd5 $14 {White is nominally better, but the exposed K and weak
Pf2 give Black excellent drawing chances.}) 29... Nb4+ 30. Kb1 Na6 $8 $13) 29.
b6 $8 $18 Qb8 (29... Qd6 30. Rd1 $18 Nd3 31. Qa8+ $1 Kd7 32. Qxd8+ $1 Kxd8 33.
Rxd3 $18) 30. Rg7 $1 {Thtreatens Rc7+.} Nd7 (30... Qxa7 31. bxa7 {and the P
promotes}) 31. Rxh7 Qd6 32. a4 $1 {[#] Black has nothing on the d-file since
N-moves allow mate on b7, and there's no good defence to a5-a6.} Rg8 33. a5 $1
(33. Qa8+ {wins too} Qb8 (33... Nb8 34. Qxb7+ Kd8 35. Qc7+ $18) 34. Qxb8+ Nxb8
35. Rc7+ Kd8 36. Rxb7 Nd7 37. a5 $18) 33... Rg2 (33... Qb8 34. a6 $18) 34. Rh8+
Nf8 35. Rxf8+ 1-0

[Event "WYCC U14g"]
[Site "Durban"]
[Date "2013.12.24"]
[Round "8.36"]
[White "Ponomarchuk, Anastasia"]
[Black "Tapp, Ashley"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B02"]
[WhiteElo "1804"]
[BlackElo "1520"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "32"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "RSA"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "RUS"]
[BlackTeam "CAN"]

{[%evp 0,32,27,46,55,30,33,33,48,23,34,49,60,63,60,28,71,50,72,56,74,40,79,39,
84,61,91,82,118,-39,-39,-31,-35,-29999,-30000]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4.
exd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Bd3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Re1 Nd7 10. Ne5 Nf6
$6 11. Re3 Qc7 12. Rh3 $16 g6 $1 13. Qd2 Rd8 14. Qg5 $5 (14. Qf4 $1) 14... cxd4
15. cxd4 $4 (15. Bf4 $142 Qxc3 16. Rb1 $18) (15. Bxg6 $142 $1 $18 hxg6 16. Nxg6
fxg6 (16... Nd5 17. Nxe7+ Kf8 18. Rh8#) 17. Qxg6+ Kf8 18. Bh6#) 15... Qc3 $1 {
[%mdl 320] [#] Critical Position Which of the three results will it be?} 16.
Bxg6 $4 {[%mdl 33088] One move too late.} ({During the streaming post-mortem,
the interviewer tried to convince Ashley that White would have a strong attack
after:} 16. Be3 $2 {Ashley politely pointed out that she could win the Ra1 with
} Qxa1+ {and although she didn't say so, after} 17. Bf1 $19 {or Bc1 you would
have to be suicidally "creative" to find a move that doesn't win for Black.}) (
{In the diagam White has only one move to stay in the game:} 16. Rxh7 $3 Qe1+
$8 (16... Qxa1 $4 17. Rxf7 $18 {Think of this as destroying Black's kingside
pawns by sac'ing the Ra1 rather than the Rh3.}) 17. Bf1 Kxh7 (17... Nxh7 $2 18.
Qxe7 Rf8 19. Bh6 $18) 18. Qh6+ (18. Nxf7 $2 Qxf2+ $3 19. Kxf2 Ne4+ $15) 18...
Kg8 19. Nxg6 {[#] now Black has only two saving moves:} fxg6 $1 ({not} 19...
Nh7 $4 20. Nxe7+ Kh8 21. Bg5 Qxa1 22. Bf6#) ({the simplest} 19... Qxf2+ $1 20.
Kxf2 Ng4+ 21. Kg1 Nxh6 22. Nxe7+ Kg7 $13) 20. Qxg6+ Kh8 21. Qh6+ {is an
immediate perpetual, since} (21. Bh6 $2 Rg8 $8 22. Qxg8+ Nxg8 23. Rxe1 Nxh6 $19
) (21. Bg5 $5 Qxa1 $8 22. Bxf6+ $11 {with a different perpetual}) 21... Nh7 $4
(21... Kg8 $11) 22. Bf4 $8 {Threatening mate and the Q.} Bf8 23. Qg6 $8 $18)
16... Qe1# {You don't see that every day.} 0-1

[Event "Guelph Pro-Am"]
[Site "Guelph"]
[Date "2014.01.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Starr, Nava"]
[Black "Hua, Eugene"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2138"]
[BlackElo "1900"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,85,24,18,18,18,10,8,12,9,-7,-10,0,8,15,10,12,7,37,19,26,-2,-11,-26,31,
-19,12,12,-5,7,23,0,0,32,68,74,68,36,40,98,119,137,148,97,127,122,281,228,647,
189,325,308,308,298,1198,1285,1287,1333,29997,1657,29991,824,1564,1370,1476,
1098,1101,782,780,815,815,921,1242,1275,1308,1190,1255,1277,1277,1323,1436,
1853,29983,29984,29987,29988,29989,29990]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4
exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d6 (7... d5 {is the mainline, but Caruana
plays ...d6 too.}) 8. O-O h6 9. h3 O-O 10. f4 Re8 11. Qf3 Bc5+ 12. Kh2 Qe7 13.
Bd2 Bd4 14. Rae1 Rb8 15. b3 $16 {White is beautifully centralized and can push
in the center and kingside whenever she likes.} Bd7 16. Nd1 Nh7 17. Ne3 Nf8 18.
Qh5 Qf6 19. Nc4 Qe7 20. c3 Bb6 21. Rf3 Nh7 22. e5 dxe5 23. fxe5 Qe6 $6 24. Ref1
({or} 24. Nxb6 $1 axb6 25. Bc4 {immediately and Black can resign.}) 24... Rf8
25. Nxb6 cxb6 26. Bc4 Qe7 27. Rxf7 Rxf7 28. Rxf7 Qc5 29. Rxd7+ Kh8 {[%mdl
32832] [#] Critical Position White is up a piece and has a crushing position.
What are the quickest crushes?} 30. Qe2 $6 (30. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 31. Qf5 $18 {#2})
(30. Qf7 $1 Qxe5+ 31. Bf4 $18) 30... Rf8 31. b4 Qf2 32. Qxf2 Rxf2 33. Be3 Rf8
34. Rxa7 {White is up a piece and two pawns, and 200+ rating: why is Black
playing this out?  The remaining moves are not objectively bad, but resigning
was better.} b5 35. Bf7 $1 Rb8 36. e6 Nf6 37. Bd4 Nd5 38. e7 Nxe7 39. Rxe7 Rf8
40. Bb3 Rd8 41. Rxg7 Rxd4 42. Rg8+ Kh7 43. cxd4 {Black either resigned or
flagged.} 1-0

[Event "Toronto Crown op"]
[Site "Toronto"]
[Date "2014.04.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Sapozhnikov, Roman"]
[Black "Cheng, Bindi"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D97"]
[WhiteElo "2311"]
[BlackElo "2425"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "2014.04.18"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 a6 8. Be2
b5 9. Qb3 c5 10. dxc5 Be6 11. Qc2 Nbd7 12. Be3 Rc8 {[#]} 13. Ng5 (13. Rd1 $142
b4 14. Nd5 Bxd5 15. exd5 Nxc5 16. Bxc5 $2 (16. O-O $142 Nce4 17. Qd3 $14 {
(½-½, 29) Matlakov,M (2698)-Svidler,P (2723) Moscow, 2020.}) 16... Nd7 17.
O-O Nxc5 18. Qd2 $6 (18. Bc4 $15) 18... Qb6 19. Nd4 Na4 $2 20. Nc6 $1 $13 {
(½-½, 50+) Upper,J-Cheng,B Harbourfront Chess Fest, 2014.}) 13... Nxc5 14.
Bxc5 Rxc5 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Qb3 Re5 $15 17. Bf3 Nd7 18. Rd1 Qc7 {[%mdl 32832] 
[#]Critical Position} 19. O-O $4 (19. Bg4 $4 Nc5 20. Qc2 Nxe4 $19) (19. a4 $2
Nc5 20. Qc2 Nxa4 $19) (19. h4 $5 Nc5 20. Qc2 Nxe4 $4 (20... Na4 $15) 21. Bxe4
b4 22. Ne2 $8 $18 {unpinning the Be4 to defend the Qc2.}) 19... Nc5 $1 $19 (
19... Rxf3 $143 {is also winning, but allows the White Q to get back to defend
enough to extend the game:} 20. Rxd7 (20. gxf3 Rg5+ 21. Kh1) 20... Qxd7 21.
gxf3 Rg5+ 22. Kh1 Qd3 (22... Qd6 23. Rd1 $13) 23. Qxe6+ $2 (23. Qd1 Qc4 $17)
23... Kf8 $8 24. Qh3 Rh5 25. Qg2 Be5 26. h3 Rg5 $1 27. Rd1 Rxg2 28. Rxd3 Rxf2
$19) 20. Qb4 (20. Qc2 Rxf3 $1 21. gxf3 Rg5+ {as in the game.} 22. Kh1 Qf4 23.
Qe2 Be5 $19) 20... Rxf3 $8 21. gxf3 Rg5+ 22. Kh1 Qf4 0-1

[Event "WWCCh 2015"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2015.03.17"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Yuan, Yuanling"]
[Black "Muzychuk, Mariya"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B15"]
[WhiteElo "2257"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "Yuanling Yuan"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2015.03.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,91,26,20,67,54,58,48,46,47,36,30,30,36,44,44,41,48,33,36,41,21,16,16,
32,14,23,13,15,15,15,9,8,13,36,32,22,19,22,8,-7,-8,0,-3,8,0,0,-19,54,28,36,-28,
-27,-39,-62,-87,-53,-91,-67,-67,-67,-119,-101,-158,-183,-218,128,-183,-80,-82,
-82,-196,-76,-49,-49,-92,-95,-136,-123,-105,102,102,261,297,297,355,355,379,
379,315,889,29990,29991,29992]} {This was the very first time that I
represented Canada at the Women's World Championship and naturally I was very
excited. However, being one of the lowest rated players meant that I had a
really tough round 1 pairing - GM Mariya Muzychuk, 8th seed player in the
entire tournament. Nonetheless, I was excited to play against a GM!} 1. e4 c6
2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. Nf3 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O Bg4
9. h3 Bh5 10. Be4 Na6 11. c3 Nc7 12. Qd3 Bg6 13. Bxg6 hxg6 {[#] Black has an
interesting pawn structure here. She has a pair of double pawns next to each
other, which can be quite deadly if they choose to advance concurrently} 14. c4
Qd7 15. Be3 g5 16. Nd2 g4 17. hxg4 Qxg4 18. Ne4 Be7 19. Ng3 g6 20. Qe4 Qd7 21.
Rad1 Kg7 22. d5 cxd5 23. cxd5 Nb5 24. Qf3 Rh8 25. Ne4 f5 26. Ng3 Rh4 27. Bf4
Rah8 28. Rfe1 Bd6 29. Bg5 Rg4 30. Bc1 Qc7 31. Rd3 $2 {I remember that at this
point in the game I was already scrambling for time.} Rgh4 32. Bg5 {[%mdl
32832] [#]Critical Position How should Black pile up the pressure: ...Rg4, ...
Rh2, other?} Rg4 $4 ({Black has so many pieces pointed at White's K that there
is more than one way to finish the attack:} 32... Rh2 $142 $1 {making the R
safe and renewing the threat of ...Bxg3 then ...Rh1+.} 33. a4 Bxg3 34. fxg3
Rh1+ 35. Kf2 Rxe1 36. Kxe1 Rh1+ 37. Ke2 $19 Qc2+ 38. Bd2 Nd6 $8 $19 {/\ ...Nc4.
}) (32... Bxg3 $142 $19 33. Bxh4 Bxh4 34. d6 Qc5 35. d7 Nd4 36. Qe3 Ne6 $19 {
forces the Qs off while keeping control over d8.} (36... Bf6 $19)) 33. Bd2 $2 (
{ed -} 33. Nxf5+ $8 gxf5 $1 34. Qxf5 Rxg5 35. Qxg5+ Kf8 36. Rh3 $16) 33... Qd8
$2 (33... Rgh4 {Black should have continued to pursue the plan ...Bxg3 and ...
Bh1-Bxe1, ...Nd6.}) 34. b3 Qh4 35. a4 {[#]} Nc7 $2 {Here we both had less than
2 minutes to make move 40.} (35... Bc5 $1 36. Kf1 Nd4 {White has to give up
the exchange to stop the threats of ...Qh1 mating and ...Nxf3.}) 36. Bc3+ f6
37. Kf1 Rf4 38. Qd1 (38. Qe3 $5 {prevents ...Bc5.}) 38... Bc5 39. Rf3 {Diagram
[#]} Qg4 $4 {This was the fatal mistake.} (39... Rd8 $142 {preventing the
advance of the d-pawn while still maintaining pressure on White's kingside.})
40. d6 $1 {editor - Attacking the N, blocking Black's defence of e7, and
freeing d5 for White's Q: there is no way for Black to save the game after
this multipurpose move.} Rxf3 41. Re7+ $1 (41. gxf3 $4 Qh3+ 42. Ke2 Re8+ $13)
41... Kf8 ({editor -} 41... Kh6 42. gxf3 $18 Qh3+ 43. Ke2 Bxf2 44. Qc1+ g5 45.
Bxf6 {Black is hanging everywhere.}) 42. gxf3 Qh3+ 43. Ke2 Qg2 44. Be1 Ne8 45.
Qd5 Nxd6 46. Qe6 {Black resigned. After 40.d6 there was already no cure for
the lost position. Although there were many imperfections in my play, I was
still very excited about my very first victory against a GM, and especially
against the player who eventually went on to win the tournament and earn the
title of the 2015 Women's World Champion! - Yuanling Yuan} 1-0

[Event "4NCL"]
[Site "England"]
[Date "2015.05.02"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Cummings, David H"]
[Black "Lyell, Mark"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2337"]
[BlackElo "2312"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2015.05.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "South Wales Dragons"]
[BlackTeam "Hackney"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ENG"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ENG"]

{[%evp 0,41,22,26,60,73,69,63,71,-3,63,51,51,52,52,40,88,46,94,73,25,9,46,-207,
-4,-73,-14,-35,158,158,794,1268,1391,1429,1421,1771,29989,29990,29995,29996,
29997,29998,29999,-30000]} 1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5 d5 4. f3 c5 5. e4 cxd4 6.
Qxd4 Nc6 7. Bb5 Kf7 $2 8. Qa4 d4 9. O-O-O e5 10. Bc4+ Kg6 {[#]} 11. exf5+ $4 {
This allows Black a tightrope-like defence.} (11. f4 $142 {or h4.}) ({e.g.} 11.
h4 h6 (11... f4 {closing} 12. g3 $1 {opening} h6 13. gxf4 hxg5 14. f5+ Bxf5 15.
exf5+ Kxf5 16. Qb3 $18) 12. exf5+ $1 Bxf5 13. g4 $1 hxg5 14. gxf5+ Kxf5 15. Bf7
$1 Qe7 16. Qc4 $18) 11... Bxf5 $4 {Here's an example of how much chess engines
have improved over the past 7 years. In 2015, Stockfish 6 rated this position
as slightly better for White. In 2022, Stockfish 15 immediately rates White as
clearly winning on multiple continuations. One result is that its
identification of "the losing move" now comes at a much earlier point in the
game than it did in 2015, another is that SF is much quicker at finding (and
avoiding) losing variations.} ({2022 versions of Stockfish and Leela both
figure Black can survive after} 11... Kxg5 $1 12. g4 Kh6 13. h4 Bxf5 $8 14. Nh3
$11 (14. g5+ Kg6 15. gxf6 gxf6 $13) (14. Bf7 $2 g6 $19) (14. gxf5 $2 Qa5 $17)
14... Bd6 15. Ne2 Nxg4 $1 $13) 12. g4 Bd7 13. Qb3 $1 {[%mdl 32832] [#]
Critical Position White is winning, but calculate the mates on various
defences like ...h6 and ...Qe8} Qe8 (13... h6 14. Bd3+ $1 e4 15. Nxe4 hxg5 16.
Nd6+ Kh6 17. Nf7#) (13... Kxg5 14. h4+ Kh6 (14... Kf4 15. Nce2#) (14... Kg6 15.
Bf7+ Kh6 16. g5#) 15. g5+ Kh5 16. Bf7+ g6 17. Nge2 {and Ng3#}) (13... h5 14.
Bd3+ e4 15. Nxe4 hxg4 16. Nd6+ Kxg5 17. f4+ {forces mate.} (17. Nf7+ {
obviously wins.})) (13... Na5 14. Bf7+ Kxg5 15. h4+ Kh6 16. g5#) 14. h4 ({
editor -} 14. Bd3+ Kxg5 15. h4+ $8 $18 {also wins.}) 14... Na5 15. Bf7+ Qxf7
16. h5+ Kxg5 17. Nh3+ {[#]} Kh4 (17... Kh6 18. g5+ Kxh5 19. Qxf7+ {also mates
quickly.}) 18. Nf2+ Kg3 {Now everything wins of course, but White has a nice
mate in 3 with:} 19. Ne2+ Kg2 20. Rdg1+ Kxf2 21. Rh2# {One of my earliest
chess books was The King-Hunt by W.H.Cozens. It was nice to get to play one in
19th century style!} 1-0

[Event "Edmonton 10th"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2015.06.28"]
[Round "9.3"]
[White "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Black "Matras Clement, Agnieszka"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D10"]
[WhiteElo "2656"]
[BlackElo "2269"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2015.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Qb3 Nc6 $1 {Diagram [#]
The Glasgow Kiss This line -- which gets its name from a Scottish euphemism
for a head butt -- was almost unknown before 2012, but by 2014 Boris Avrukh
had a whole chapter on it in his book "The Classical Slav". That chapter
concludes: "a refreshing change and provides a relatively untested theoretical
background... which normally leads to an IQP structure where Black has a lead
in development and numerous open lines to compensate for the missing pawn.
Depending on how White continues, Black may find active play on either flank,
sometimes linking from one to the other, for instance with a rook switch from
b6 to the kingside. The theory of the line is still in its infancy but, after
a deep investigation which uncovered many new ideas for both sides, my
conclusion is that Black's chances are perfectly adequate." - Avrukh, "The
Classical Slav" (Quality, 2014).} 7. Qxb7 Bd7 {Update: Between 2016-2023,
there have been 161 games between players rated 2000+ from this position;
White scores 57% but Elo -2.} 8. Qb3 Rb8 9. Qd1 e5 $1 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Be2 (
11. Nxd5 $6 Nxd5 12. Qxd5 Bb4+ 13. Bd2 Bxd2+ 14. Qxd2 Qf6 15. Be2 Rxb2 $1 $15)
11... Bd6 12. Nf3 O-O 13. O-O Re8 $5 $146 14. Nd4 Rb6 15. b3 Bb8 16. Bb2 Nfg4
$1 17. h3 Rh6 $1 $13 18. Qd2 $6 {[%mdl 32960] This natural move -- connecting
the Rs and defending e3 -- leaves Black with an over-abundance of attacking
chances.  [#]Critical Position Attack or Die} (18. hxg4 $2 Nxg4 $1 $19 (18...
Qh4 $2 19. f4 $8 {is only a draw.}) 19. Bxg4 Bh2+ $1 20. Kh1 Bf4+ $8 {
preventing f2-f4.} (20... Be5+ 21. Kg1 Qh4 $2 22. f4 $8 $11) 21. Kg1 (21. Bh3
Bxh3 $19) 21... Qh4 $19) (18. Nxd5 $142 Nh2 $1 19. f4 (19. Re1 Bxh3 $15) 19...
Nxf1 20. Bxf1 $13) 18... Rxh3 $2 {A piece sac on h3 is a key part of any
attack, but the R is the wrong piece: Black needs it to attack on the h and
g-files.} (18... Qh4 $5 {Bringing another piece into the attack.} 19. Nxd5 $1
Nh2 $1 20. Nf4 (20. Rfd1 $2 Bxh3 $19) (20. Kxh2 $4 Nf3+ $19) 20... Nxf1 21.
Kxf1 $14 {with continuing pressure in an explosive position; e.g.} Ng4 (21...
g5 $2 22. Nf3 $1 Nxf3 23. Qxd7 $8 $18) 22. g3 (22. Bxg4 Bxg4 23. hxg4 Bxf4 $13)
22... Nxe3+ $8 23. Qxe3 Rxe3 24. gxh4 Re8 $14 {White has NN for R, but all
three results are in play.}) (18... Nxe3 $1 {A shocking sac, given that White
just added a defender on his previous move, but a very strong move: clearing
the g-file for Black's majors.} 19. fxe3 (19. Qxe3 $2 Ng6 20. Qd2 Nf4 21. g3 (
21. Bf3 $2 Nxh3+ 22. gxh3 Qc7 $19) 21... Nxh3+ 22. Kg2 Nf4+ 23. Kg1 Rg6 24. Bd3
Qh4 $3 $17) 19... Bxh3 {with two pawns and a very strong attack; e.g.} 20. Rf2
$1 $13 (20. gxh3 $4 Rg6+ {or ...Qg5+} 21. Kh1 Qh4 $19)) (18... Nh2 $3 {Best.
Black threatens ...Bxh3, and the N forks from f3 add critical tactics.} 19. f4
$8 (19. Kxh2 $4 Nf3+ $19 {exploiting 18.Qd2.}) (19. Rfd1 Bxh3 $1 20. gxh3 Qg5+
$19) 19... Bxh3 $1 {[#]  Analysis Diagram Black has three pieces hanging, but
as Tal said, they can take only one at a time.} 20. gxh3 $8 (20. fxe5 Bxg2 $1
21. Rf2 Bh3 $19) (20. Kxh2 Bxg2+ 21. Kxg2 Qh4 22. Rh1 Rg6+ $19) 20... Qd7 $1 (
20... Qh4 $4 21. Nf5 $18) 21. Bg4 (21. f5 $2 Rxh3 $17) 21... Nhxg4 (21... Nexg4
22. hxg4 Nxf1 23. Rxf1 Qxg4+ 24. Qg2 Qh5 $13) 22. hxg4 Qxg4+ 23. Qg2 $13 Qxg2+
(23... Qd7 $5 24. Nce2 $8 Rg6 25. Ng3 $13) 24. Kxg2 Rg6+ $11 25. Kh1 Rh6+ $8
26. Kg2 Rg6+ $8 {The K can't escape checks without giving up a pawn and an
exchange:} 27. Kf2 $6 Ng4+ $1 $15 (27... Nd3+ $2 28. Ke2 Nxb2 29. Rf2 $14 {
the Nb2 is stuck, and White gets the d5-pawn}) 28. Ke2 Nxe3 $15 {threatening
both Rs by ...Nxf1 and ...Nc2+.}) 19. gxh3 Qh4 {[#] White must find a string
of only moves to win the game, and he does.} 20. Bxg4 $8 Nxg4 (20... Bxg4 21.
f4 $8 $18) (20... f5 21. Nxf5 Bxf5 22. Qxd5+ $18) 21. f4 $1 $18 {So the Q and
Rf3 defend the squares abandoned by the pawns.} Nxe3 (21... Rxe3 22. Rf3 $18)
22. Rf3 $8 $18 Bxf4 23. Qf2 $8 Qg5+ 24. Kh1 $8 Bd6 25. Re1 $1 Ng4 26. Rxe8+
Bxe8 27. hxg4 Qxg4 28. Nce2 Bd7 29. Rg3 1-0

[Event "World op 43rd"]
[Site "Arlington"]
[Date "2015.07.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Jacobson, Aaron"]
[Black "Kovalyov, Anton"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B96"]
[WhiteElo "2214"]
[BlackElo "2613"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2015.07.01"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,62,24,17,46,50,78,57,67,33,65,26,49,55,81,20,42,38,38,15,14,22,21,-16,
91,81,64,26,26,24,20,22,26,22,36,43,43,31,44,36,48,30,58,76,77,70,121,69,131,0,
-99,-197,-203,-252,-297,-451,-549,-526,-523,-29993,-29994,-29995,-29996,-29997,
-29998]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4
Qc7 8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. Qf3 b5 10. Bd3 Nd7 11. f5 Nc5 12. O-O Nxd3 13. Qxd3 b4 14.
Nd1 e5 15. Ne2 a5 16. c4 Qc5+ 17. Kh1 Bh6 18. Rf3 Bb7 19. Rh3 {[%mdl 64] [#]
Critical Position Black's Bh6 is on a good diagonal, but if ...Bg5 White might
trap it with Rh5 and h4. Where should the B go?} Bg5 $1 {[%mdl 32832]} 20. Rh5
$2 {Now the B has no escape from White's pawns, but...} Ke7 21. h4 $2 {
Consistent: White plays to trap the B.} Bf4 $1 {Makes sure White's h-pawn
blocks the R's retreat.} 22. g3 Rag8 $1 $19 23. gxf4 (23. Kh2 Rxg3 (23... Rg7
$19) 24. Nxg3 Rg8 $19) 23... exf4 $8 $19 {Preventing Ne3-d5, and revealing
Black's hilarious point: [#]  Black "lost" a B, but White's Rh5 is permanently
trapped and his K is a sitting duck. Black has to find a series of only moves
to win, and Kovalyov does play the rest perfectly.} 24. Qf3 (24. Nxf4 $4 Qg1#)
24... Rg7 $8 25. Qxf4 (25. Qf2 Bxe4+ 26. Kh2 Rg2+ $19) 25... Qxc4 $8 26. Ng3 {
[#]} Rxg3 $8 $19 (26... Rhg8 $2 27. Rg5 $1 fxg5 28. f6+ $13) 27. Qxg3 Qxe4+ 28.
Kg1 Rg8 $1 29. Qxg8 Qe1+ $8 30. Kh2 Qh1+ 31. Kg3 Qg2+ {and ...Qf3#. A very
nice finish by Kovalyov.} 0-1

[Event "WYCC U14"]
[Site "Porto Carras"]
[Date "2015.11.02"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Chen, Richard"]
[Black "Shevchenko, Kirill"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2117"]
[BlackElo "2359"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2015.10.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,87,24,18,40,50,77,48,79,53,50,48,51,59,28,28,49,31,59,47,81,53,44,58,
63,22,23,21,17,12,26,31,28,28,28,15,15,13,2,7,28,-18,-7,-43,-51,-41,-41,-34,
-50,-40,0,0,12,12,-1,-14,0,-38,45,72,72,67,69,89,88,85,104,76,116,110,146,142,
125,140,199,205,195,105,124,235,274,132,343,394,479,474,491,513,523,527]} 1. e4
c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 a6 6. Bxd7+ Bxd7 7. Nc3 Rc8 8. O-O
e5 9. Qb4 Bc6 10. Be3 Be7 11. Rfd1 Qc7 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. exd5 Nf6 14. Rac1 b5
15. c4 Qb7 16. Bg5 O-O 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. b3 Qd7 19. h3 h6 20. cxb5 axb5 21. Rc6
Rxc6 22. dxc6 Qxc6 23. Qxd6 Qc2 24. Qd2 Qc7 25. Rc1 Qb7 26. Qe2 e4 27. Nd2 Re8
{[%mdl 32832] Diagram [#]Critical Position Material is equal: Black's b and
e-pawns are possible targets, but the B is better than the N which has no
useful squares supported by pawns. Should White go ...Rc5, hoping Black will
go ...b4 to concede the c4 square, or should White try something else?} 28. Rc5
$2 (28. Nf1 $142 $11) 28... Bd4 $2 (28... e3 $3 {This pseudo-pawn sac turns
the game around.} 29. Nf3 $1 (29. Rxb5 $4 exf2+ 30. Kf1 (30. Qxf2 {drops the
Rb5.}) 30... Rxe2 31. Rxb7 Rxd2 $19) (29. fxe3 $2 Bd4 $8 $19 {this is the main
tactical point of ...e3. It's not hard to find... if you already know that ...
e3 is a good move.} 30. Rxb5 Rxe3 $8 31. Qc4 Re2+ 32. Qxd4 Qxg2#) 29... exf2+
30. Qxf2 b4 $17 {with the better minor piece, pawn structure, and king safety.}
) 29. Rxb5 $14 (29. Qxb5 $2 Qxb5 30. Rxb5 e3 $1 $19 31. Nf3 (31. Nf1 e2 $19) (
31. fxe3 Bxe3+ 32. Kf1 Bxd2 $19) 31... e2 32. Ne1 Bc3 $19) 29... Qc6 (29... Qa6
30. Nf1 $16 {and Black can't exploit the pin on the Rb5 without taking a tempo
to avoid Rb8+.}) 30. Nf1 $8 Re6 31. Rb4 Qd6 32. Rc4 Qe5 33. Ne3 {[#]} Bc5 $2 ({
The general rule is not to trade pieces when you're down pawns, but here the
trade would give Black very good drawing chances based on the exposed White K
in a 4 major piece ending.} 33... Bxe3 $1 34. fxe3 (34. Qxe3 Qa1+ 35. Kh2 Qxa2
$14 {is probably White's best try.}) 34... Qa1+ 35. Kh2 (35. Qf1 Qxa2 36. Rc8+
Kh7 37. Qxf7 Qxb3 $11) 35... Qe5+ 36. g3 Rf6 $11 {with enough activity to draw.
}) 34. b4 Bd6 35. g3 h5 36. Rc8+ Bf8 37. Qc4 h4 38. Qc5 $1 {The Q exchange
leaves Black with no chance.} Qxc5 39. bxc5 hxg3 40. fxg3 Ra6 41. c6 g6 42. c7
Rc6 43. Nd5 Kg7 44. Rd8 {Update 2023.01: Black got his GM title two years
after this game, and is ranked 88th in the world.} 1-0

[Event "Ottawa Winter Open"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2016.01.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Sambuev, Bator"]
[Black "Yao, Sammy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B41"]
[WhiteElo "2599"]
[BlackElo "2083"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,91,24,8,46,43,44,34,37,52,58,37,49,26,27,-5,20,-3,-3,-3,7,0,15,-2,-2,
-3,-3,-4,54,35,41,66,58,82,137,146,149,163,157,153,172,150,170,152,165,112,133,
116,110,108,108,120,157,159,159,152,109,130,143,155,113,58,44,5,151,164,185,
191,188,167,198,189,200,192,208,208,195,200,209,223,262,278,273,257,268,262,
264,363,330,403,372,423,439,462]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5.
f4 b5 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. Qe2 Nf6 8. Nd2 Nc6 9. Nxc6 Bxc6 10. Nf3 Bc5 11. Be3 Qb6 12.
Bxc5 Qxc5 13. O-O-O Qb4 14. Rhe1 d5 15. c3 Qa4 16. Nd4 Bd7 17. e5 Ne4 18. Bxe4
dxe4 19. Kb1 Rc8 20. Nb3 Qc4 21. Qg4 g6 22. Qh4 Qc7 23. Nd2 Bc6 24. Nxe4 Bxe4+
25. Rxe4 Qc6 26. Red4 O-O 27. Qg5 $6 {White is up a pawn and continues to play
for the attack, but Black's counterplay is fast and White's Q is now misplaced.
Better was Qf2.} a5 28. h4 b4 29. c4 h5 30. g4 {[%mdl 34880] Critical Position
Diagram [#]White has an extra pawn, control of the only open file and a
kingside initiative. Is Black just lost?} Qf3 $8 {The only move: defending h5 
(of course) but also (amazingly) creating enough counterplay to equalize.} (
30... hxg4 $2 31. h5 {and White has a winning attack.}) (30... Qg2 $2 {pins
the g-pawn, but White tears open the kingside without it:} 31. f5 $1 exf5 32.
e6 $1 $18 Kg7 (32... Kh7 33. Qf6 $1 $18 {and e7 wins.}) 33. e7 Rfe8 34. gxf5
Qxg5 35. hxg5 {FWIW: if White's K was on c1 this position would be =/+, but
the difference between Kc1 and Kb1 is +9.} gxf5 (35... Rxe7 36. f6+ $18) 36.
Rd8 $18) 31. gxh5 (31. f5 $5 exf5 32. gxh5 Rxc4 $1 {is similar to the next
note.}) 31... Qxh5 $2 {The Rook ending is hopeless, and Black had a miracle
save with:} (31... Rxc4 $8 {Wins back the pawn and exposes White's King, whose
pawn cover is as useless as Black's.} 32. hxg6 (32. Rxc4 Qxd1+ 33. Rc1 Qxh5 $11
) (32. h6 $4 Rxd4 $8 33. Rxd4 Kh7 $1 $19 {e.g.} 34. Qe7 Qf1+ 35. Kc2 Rc8+ $19)
32... Rxd4 $8 33. gxf7+ Kh7 $8 (33... Kxf7 $4 34. Qf6+ Ke8 35. Qxe6+ $8 $18)
34. Rxd4 Qf1+ 35. Kc2 Rc8+ 36. Kd2 $8 (36. Kb3 Qf3+ $19 {and ...Qc6+.}) 36...
Qf2+ $11 {with a perpetual.}) 32. Qxh5 $1 gxh5 {[#]} 33. Rg1+ $1 {Good
technique. This will force Black to either leave his king cut off on the
h-file, or (better?) exchange a pair of Rooks, when White's centralized king
and extra pawn give him a straightforward win.} Kh7 34. Kc2 Rg8 35. Rxg8 Kxg8
36. Kd3 $18 Kg7 37. Rd7 Kg6 38. Kd4 a4 39. c5 b3 40. axb3 axb3 41. Kc4 f6 42.
Rd6 $1 Kf5 43. exf6 Kxf6 44. c6 Kf5 45. Kc5 Kxf4 46. Rxe6 1-0

[Event "Mauricie op U2000"]
[Site "Trois-Rivieres"]
[Date "2016.03.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Marcone, Malcom"]
[Black "Saha, Ananda"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E18"]
[WhiteElo "1846"]
[BlackElo "1941"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2016.03.18"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,52,24,26,20,3,6,6,6,-33,14,14,5,2,33,30,31,32,31,16,21,20,20,33,33,-3,
-6,-11,-9,-8,-8,0,0,-19,-10,-23,-4,-53,-56,-54,-37,-28,-27,-75,-62,-105,-85,
-219,-59,-152,-148,-339,-317,-29995,-29996]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3
Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O b6 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Nc3 Bb7 9. Qb3 Nbd7 10. Nh4 Re8 11.
Nf5 Nf8 12. Bg5 c6 13. e3 Ne6 14. Nxe7+ Qxe7 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. a4 Ng5 17. Qd1
Bc8 18. h4 Nh3+ 19. Bxh3 Bxh3 20. Re1 Qf5 21. Ne2 Bg4 22. Qd2 Bf3 23. Nf4 Re4
24. Kh2 {[%mdl 32960] [#]Critical Position White's kingside is porus, can
Black exploit it?} g5 $1 {Forcing open the g or h-file and the attack crashes
through. FWIW, White's kingside is so compromised that Black could "waste" a
move with ...Rae8 first, before prying open the kingside.} (24... Rxf4 $4 25.
exf4 $8 $18 {keeping the h-file closed.}) 25. hxg5 (25. Nh3 gxh4 26. Rg1 Kh8
$17) 25... Qxg5 (25... Rxf4 $1 {also works, bringing the Q to the h-file via
g4.}) 26. Nh3 Rh4 $3 {...Qh5 also wins, but this is both prettier and more
efficient. There's no defence to ...Rxh3 and mate on the h-file.} 0-1

[Event "Grand Pacific Open 10th"]
[Site "Victoria"]
[Date "2016.03.27"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Fier, Alexandr"]
[Black "Cao, Jason"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B49"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2367"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2016.03.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,82,19,38,40,41,41,40,25,21,45,42,74,81,79,51,52,60,48,24,24,30,49,24,
25,9,3,16,28,-4,2,-24,-12,7,5,14,8,7,0,6,10,-36,-63,50,46,20,116,6,6,-29,0,64,
0,0,0,-5,57,61,62,0,0,0,49,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. e4
c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Be2 Nf6 8. O-O Bb4
9. Na4 O-O 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. c4 Be7 12. Bd3 c5 13. f4 d6 14. Qf3 Bb7 15. Nc3
Nd7 16. Qh3 Rfe8 17. e5 g6 18. exd6 Qxd6 19. Rad1 Qc7 {[#] Critical Position
What happens if 20.f5 exf5 21.Bxf5?} 20. f5 $5 exf5 {[%mdl 32832]} 21. Bxf5 $5
{Objectively bad, but challenging to refute... and (as we'll see) challenging
to follow up accurately too!} Nf6 $2 {Black has to do something about the
triple attack on d7.} ({If Black is going to decline, then} 21... Nf8 $142 {
puts the N on a safer square, though White is a bit better after} 22. Be4 Bxe4
23. Nxe4 $14) ({Black's best is to accept. Of course, defending this OTB is no
picnic, but that's life when you play the Sicilian and White sacs.} 21... gxf5
$8 $19 22. Rxf5 {[#] Threatening Rxd7 then Rg5+} Nf8 $8 (22... Bf6 23. Bf4 $8 (
23. Rxd7 $2 Qxd7 24. Rg5+ Bxg5 25. Qxd7 Bxe3+ $19) 23... Qb6 $8 (23... Qc6 $2
24. Rxd7 Qxd7 $140 25. Rg5+ Bxg5 26. Qxd7 Bxf4 27. Qg4+ $1 $16 {with equal
material, but Black's K is exposed and his pawns are all isolated.}) 24. Rxd7
Re1+ $8 {forcing the K onto f2 for counterplay with ...Qxb2 and so an exchange
sac on f6 would leave the Bf4 pinned on the f-file.} 25. Kf2 Re6 $13) 23. Rdf1
Bc8 24. Nd5 $1 Qd6 $8 (24... Bxf5 $2 25. Qxf5 Qd6 $8 26. Qxf7+ $14) 25. Nxe7+
Rxe7 26. Rg5+ Ng6 27. Qf3 Bb7 28. Qf2 $17 {White gets a second pawn (c5) for
the piece and Black's remaining pawns are all isolated, but when Black's Ra8
gets to a center file it should be clearly better for Black.}) 22. Bf4 $2 {
Both players go wrong in the complications.} (22. Bd7 $8 $18 {[#] Analysis
Diagram leads to complications where White's play on the f-file cashes in.
Note: there are various improvements in White's attack in the following
variations, but I have simplified them by choosing the thematic Rxf7 lines.}
Red8 (22... Nxd7 23. Rxd7 Qc8 24. Rxf7 $1 (24. Bg5 $1 {also wins.}) 24... Kxf7
25. Qxh7+ Ke6 26. Rd1 $1 $18 {White is down a R but Black's K is going home in
a box.}) (22... Bc8 23. Rxf6 $1 Bxf6 24. Nd5 Qd6 25. Qf3 $8 $18 {unpinning
both the Bd7 and protecting the Rd1 leaves Black hanging the Re8 and Qd6 (to
Nxf6+).}) 23. Bf4 $8 Qb6 (23... Qa5 24. Be5 $18) 24. Na4 $8 Qb4 25. Be5 Nxd7 (
25... Kg7 26. Qh4 $18) (25... Ne4 26. Rxf7 $1 $18 {again.}) 26. Rxd7 Qxa4 27.
Rxf7 $3 $18) 22... Qb6 $1 $11 23. Be5 (23. Bd7 {doesn't win now because the
Bf4 blocks the f-file, so there's no Rxf7,} Nxd7 $8 24. Rxd7 Bc8 (24... Bc6 $11
) 25. Nd5 $8 Bxd7 $11) 23... Rad8 (23... gxf5 $2 24. Qxf5 $18) 24. Rde1 Rd2 $1
25. Ne4 Nxe4 26. Bxe4 Bxe4 27. Rxe4 {[#]} Red8 (27... Qb7 $5 28. Bc3 (28. Qe3
$6 Rxg2+ $1) 28... Qxe4 29. Bxd2 Bf8 $15) 28. Bc3 R2d3 $8 (28... R2d7 $2 29.
Rxf7 $8 $18) 29. Qxd3 $5 Rxd3 30. Rxe7 f5 (30... Rxc3 31. bxc3 Qb2 32. Rfxf7
Qxc3 $11) 31. Rfe1 $11 Qd6 32. R7e6 Qd7 33. Re8+ Kf7 34. Rh8 Qa4 35. Rxh7+ Kf8
36. Kf2 Rd1 37. b3 Qxa2+ 38. Re2 Qb1 39. Rh8+ Kf7 40. Rh7+ Kf8 41. Rh8+ Kf7
1/2-1/2

[Event "McGill Open"]
[Site "Montreal"]
[Date "2016.05.01"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Yu, Zong Yang"]
[Black "Hirschberg, Valerian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2342"]
[BlackElo "2317"]
[Annotator "Keith MacKinnon"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2016.04.28"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,49,33,17,44,29,24,9,87,87,71,80,71,54,60,74,73,70,70,47,45,34,31,39,
43,59,52,58,112,123,123,144,153,170,170,117,121,114,246,260,327,108,121,156,
162,281,313,307,285,297,298,319]} 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5.
e4 Nb4 6. Bc4 Nd3+ 7. Ke2 Nf4+ 8. Kf1 Ne6 9. b4 cxb4 10. Nd5 Nc6 11. Bb2 Nc5 $2
12. Qc2 (12. Be5 $1) 12... e6 13. d4 $16 b3 14. axb3 Nd7 15. Ne3 Be7 16. d5
exd5 17. exd5 Nb4 18. Qe4 Nf6 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. Rd1 O-O {[%mdl 32832] [#]
Critical Position} 21. d6 $1 {White has more than one way to win, but this is
best: it adds to White's attacking potential by forcing Black's Bishop to d6,
where it will be in trouble once a Knight gets to f5.} (21. Nh4 {does not
quite have the same power due to} Bd6 22. Nhf5 Kh8 {and White is clearly
better, but the win is further off.}) ({Even} 21. h4 $5 {works, threatening
Ng5 to attack h7; e.g.} Bd6 (21... Qd6 22. Ng5 $1 fxg5 23. hxg5 h5 (23... Qg6
24. Qxe7 $18) 24. Rxh5 Qg6 25. Qh4 $18) 22. Nf5 Bxf5 23. Qxf5 $18 {with
threats of Ng5 and/or Rd4.}) 21... Bxd6 22. Nh4 {And again, it is getting a
Knight to f5 that matters.} Qc7 (22... Qe7 {just puts the Q into attack from
Nf5 after} 23. Qf3 $18) 23. Nhf5 Bf4 24. Ne7+ $8 Kh8 25. N7d5 {Winning a full
piece.  An exemplary display by FM Zong Yang Yu who is the deserving champion
of the 2016 McGill Open!} 1-0

[Event "Edmonton 11th"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Haessel, Dale R"]
[Black "Findlay, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2234"]
[BlackElo "2257"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2016.06.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,51,32,33,29,0,0,6,6,6,23,17,27,33,33,16,19,-9,-9,-37,-37,-37,-48,-41,
-51,-47,-42,-51,-51,-74,-74,-119,-126,-126,-126,-347,-181,-148,-82,-179,-179,
-179,-120,-282,-282,-530,-340,-561,29995,29996,29997,29998,29999,-30000]} 1. d4
Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3 Nc6 8. cxd5
Nxd4 $1 9. Nxd4 Qxd4 $15 10. Rd1 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Qb6 12. e3 exd5 13. Qxd5 Be6
14. Qe4 Qa5 15. Bd3 Qxc3+ 16. Ke2 O-O-O $19 17. Rb1 {[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical
Position} Bd5 $6 {Defends b7 and keeps a big advantage, but a big miss
nevertheless, and maybe a sign that Black was not calculating well that day.} (
17... Rxd3 $142 $19 {is just winning} 18. Qxb7+ (18. Qxd3 Bc4 $19) (18. Rhc1
Rd2+ 19. Kf1 Qd3+ $19) 18... Kd8 19. Qb8+ (19. Rhd1 {is nothing} Rxd1 (19...
Bc4 $1) (19... Qc2+ 20. Ke1) 20. Rxd1+ Ke7 $19) 19... Ke7 $1 (19... Bc8 {
keeps the material and also wins, e.g.} 20. Rhc1 Rd2+ 21. Kf1 Rc2 $19) 20. Qxh8
Rd2+ 21. Kf1 (21. Kf3 Qf6+ 22. Kg3 Qxf2#) 21... Qd3+ 22. Kg1 Rd1+ {mate next.})
18. Qf4 {Threatening Rhc1, skewering the Q and c7.} Qf6 19. Bf5+ Kb8 20. Rhc1
Qd6 21. Qa4 Bxg2 $1 (21... b6 {is good too, but this wins a pawn and threatens
mate on d2.}) 22. Rc2 Rhe8 23. f3 {[#]Is White trapping the Bg2?} Qxh2 $4 {
Missing White's only good move...} ({The B isn't trapped, and Black can even
"give it up" with} 23... Bh3 $1 24. Bxh3 $140 Qxh2+ $19) (23... g6 24. Be4 b6
$8 $19) (23... b6 24. Kf2 Qxh2 $19) 24. Rxb7+ $8 $18 {forcing mate.} Kxb7 25.
Qc6+ Kb8 26. Rb2# 1-0

[Event "Edmonton 11th"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2016.06.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Sethuraman, SP."]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2653"]
[BlackElo "2682"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2016.06.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,43,27,30,13,4,24,26,31,25,46,40,55,44,42,44,21,25,24,-13,50,25,59,-5,
46,25,186,150,216,55,78,109,107,89,109,40,23,19,58,76,99,87,146,110,263,259]} 
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. a3 Bd6 10. O-O O-O 11. Qc2 Rc8 12. b4 c5 13. bxc5 Bxf3 14. cxd6 Nd5 15.
gxf3 Qg5+ 16. Kh1 Qh5 17. Be2 Nxc3 18. Rg1 Nf6 19. Bb2 Na4 20. Qd2 {[%mdl
32832] [#]Critical Position Can Black win the d6-pawn with ...Rfd8xd6, or does
that maneuver lose a piece to e4-e5?} Rfd8 (20... Rc6 $4 21. d5 $18 {with a
double attack on Rd6 and the undefended Nf6.}) 21. e4 Rxd6 22. e5 $1 {Black
resigned, becuase this does win a piece!} (22. e5 {The point, which Shirov
only now noticed, is that after the move he had counted on} Qxe5 $1 {White has
the even more startling} 23. Qh6 $3 $18 {which unpins the d-pawn and threatens
mate.}) 1-0

[Event "2016 Canadian Senior Ch. 65"]
[Site "Victoria"]
[Date "2016.06.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Pantazi, Emanuel"]
[Black "Piasetski, Leon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "1816"]
[BlackElo "2380"]
[Annotator "Leon Piasetski"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,78,37,23,91,-2,3,-10,16,10,6,-60,-59,-35,-31,-38,-49,-46,-54,-79,-85,
-99,-84,-84,-81,-78,-79,-87,14,-13,-30,0,0,0,24,19,28,21,123,7,6,0,5,4,-25,-16,
0,1,41,30,40,-60,-45,-59,-59,-77,-74,-74,-86,-92,-94,-105,-81,-638,-135,-135,
-120,-140,-119,-182,-208,-339,-413,-418,-283,-307,-290,-320,-300,-1201,-1417]} 
1. e4 g6 2. f4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. c4 d4 6. d3 Bg7 7. Be2 Nh6 8. O-O O-O
9. Ng5 f6 10. exf6 exf6 11. Ne4 Qe7 12. Bf3 Nf5 13. Re1 Ne3 14. Bxe3 dxe3 15.
Nbc3 f5 16. Nd5 Qd8 17. Nec3 Nd4 18. Rxe3 {[%mdl 33344] [#]Critical Position 
Should Black take on f3?} Nxf3+ $2 {ed - this just trades Black's well-placed
N. ...Bd7 or ...Kh8 are better.} (18... Bd7) 19. Rxf3 $2 {Here White missed a
powerful exchange sac. In fact, Black must avoid the sac and remain a pawn
down with the worse position ...} (19. Qxf3 $3 Bd4 $2 (19... Bd7 $142 20. Ne7+
Kh8 21. Kh1 Qb6 22. Rae1 $16) 20. Nb5 Bxe3+ 21. Qxe3 a6 (21... b6 $2 22. Qe5
Rf7 23. Nd6 $18) 22. Nbc7 $18 {Of course, I was blissfully unaware of these
possibilities and still thought I was better! Perhaps fatigue is good for
confidence :-)}) 19... Be6 20. Qd2 $5 (20. Qb3 $5) 20... Qd7 21. Re1 Rae8 22.
Kh1 $6 {Diagram [#]} (22. b3 $142 $11) 22... Bd4 {Here I could have exchanged
all the minor pieces to win back a pawn, but wanted to maintain the pressure.
Another interesting option was ...b5.} (22... Bxc3 23. bxc3 (23. Nxc3 $2 Bxc4)
23... Bxd5 24. cxd5 Qxd5) 23. b3 Qg7 $6 (23... b5) 24. Rff1 Bf7 $6 (24... Qd7
$1) 25. Ne7+ $2 {Weird play by both sides! My last two moves anticipated
wholesale rook exchanges on the e-file, but instead White gave up two knights
for a rook and pawn plus control of the 7th rank.} (25. h3 a6 {is better for
White but the two bishops offer good chances to resist.}) 25... Rxe7 26. Rxe7
Bxc3 27. Qe2 $2 (27. Qe3 $142 b6 28. Rxa7 Ba5 $15) 27... Qf6 $1 $17 28. Rxb7
Re8 29. Qf3 Qa6 $1 {Diagram [#]} 30. a4 (30. Rc7 Qxa2 $19 31. Rxc5 (31. Qb7 Qf2
32. Qf3 $8 $19) 31... Qxb3 32. Rb5 Bb4 33. Rb7 a5 34. Ra7 Bd2 $19) 30... Bd4
31. h4 $2 $19 {White must have been dreaming of attacking motifs but instead
unnecessarily weakens his kingside.} Qf6 $2 ({Much stronger was the immediate} 
31... Re3 $1 32. Rb8+ Kg7 33. Qa8 Qf6 {and White gets mated before he can play
Rh8, Qf8.}) 32. g3 Re3 33. Qg2 Be8 34. Rb8 Kg7 35. Rb7+ Kh6 36. Rc7 Re6 $1 37.
Kh2 Bc6 38. Qd2 Qd8 39. Rxa7 Qe8 {I handled the final phase of the game
reasonably well for a sleepwalker :-)} 0-1

[Event "Edmonton 11th"]
[Site "Edmonton"]
[Date "2016.06.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ganguly, Surya Shekhar"]
[Black "Wang, Richard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B76"]
[WhiteElo "2654"]
[BlackElo "2341"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2016.06.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,49,26,23,32,48,75,58,58,29,27,24,84,63,50,31,33,28,25,28,53,38,55,54,
53,53,60,59,41,19,40,33,47,19,27,56,68,72,80,82,74,74,51,71,122,31,156,0,0,101,
553,551]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3
Nc6 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O d5 10. Qe1 e5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. exd5 cxd5 13. Bg5 Be6
14. Bc4 Qc7 15. Bxd5 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5 Rab8 18. b3 Rfc8 19. c4 $6 Qb7
20. Qe4 Qb4 21. Kd1 f5 22. Qe1 $2 (22. Qd3 $142 $18) 22... Qa3 $2 (22... Rxc4
$3 $14) 23. Rd7 $4 {[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position No the Kd1 and Qe1 are
not typos.} (23. Qd2 $8 $18) 23... h6 $2 ({In his notes to the game for
ChessBase, Ganguly says he'd seen the following lines:} 23... Qb2 $2 24. Qd2
Qb1+ 25. Ke2 $8 Qxh1 26. Rxg7+ $8 Kxg7 27. Qd7+ Kg8 28. Qe6+ Kg7 29. Qxe5+ Kf7
30. Qe7+ Kg8 31. Qe6+ Kg7 32. Bf6+ Kh6 33. Qe3+ Kh5 34. Qg5#) (23... Qxa2 $8
24. Rxg7+ $8 Kf8 $8 $11 {[#] White has promising-looking continuations, but
has to settle for a draw.} (24... Kh8 25. Bf6 $18) 25. Bh6 $4 (25. Be7+ $1 Kxg7
26. Qxe5+ Kf7 27. Qf6+ Ke8 28. Qh8+ $1 {with a perpetual.}) (25. Qxe5 $4 Qxb3+
26. Ke1 Qb1+ 27. Kf2 Qb2+ $19 {forces off the Qs with a check and so wins the
Rg7 and the game.}) (25. Rxh7 {also draws after} Rd8+ {or ...Qxb3+.}) 25...
Qxb3+ $8 (25... Rd8+ $4 26. Rd7+ $18) 26. Ke2 Qxc4+ $8 27. Kf2 Qh4+ $8 $19) 24.
Qd2 $8 $18 {Suddenly White has a crushing attack.} Rb6 $2 ({If Black takes the
B then White can push his h-pawn to overload the defence:} 24... hxg5 25. Qd5+
Kh7 26. h4 g4 (26... Kh6 27. hxg5+ Kxg5 28. Qd2+ Kf6 29. Rd6+ Kf7 30. Qd5+ $18)
27. h5 $1 Kh6 (27... g5 28. h6 $18) 28. Qf7 $18) 25. Rxg7+ $1 1-0

[Event "World 50+ Teams"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2016.06.30"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Hergott, Deen"]
[Black "Nehmert, Uhlrich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E02"]
[WhiteElo "2385"]
[BlackElo "2324"]
[Annotator "Deen Hergott"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Bg2 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Be7 9. Rd1 O-O 10. Qxc4 Qa5 11. Qb5 Qxb5 12. Nxb5 a6 13. Nd6 Ra7 14. Be3
b6 15. Nc4 Rc7 16. Nxb6 Nxb6 17. Bxb6 Rc2 18. Bd4 Rxe2 {[%mdl 64] This
position I had foreseen and assumed that Black's rook, while active, would
have some difficulty escaping to safety. I was right in my thinking, but
failed to set the biggest tasks for Black to overcome. [#] Can White trap the
Black R? Critical Position} 19. Nc3 {I spent a long time trying to trap
Black's rook, and finally hit upon something that I thought was strong. I
missed the simplest of all though, controlling the only safe square for
Black's rook directly!} (19. Nd2 e5 20. Bb6 Bb4 $1 $15) (19. Na3 Bxa3 20. bxa3
Rc2 $15) (19. Bf1 Rc2 20. Bc3 Ne4 $1 $15) (19. Rc1 $1 Bb4 20. Kf1 e5 21. Kxe2
exd4 $16 {maybe just winning. White has to get developed but he has no real
weaknesses.}) 19... Rc2 (19... Rxb2 $2 20. Nd5 $1) 20. Rab1 Rd8 21. Bf1 e5 22.
Bxe5 Rxd1 {I had seen up to here in analysis and now another crossroads.} 23.
Nxd1 $1 {Guards f2 and b2, and intends Ne3 to chase Black's rook off the 7th.
If 23.Rxd1, b2 will become a problem again before long.} Ng4 (23... Bf5 24. Ne3
Rxf2 25. Rc1 $1 $18) 24. Bf4 $2 {[%mdl 32832] Ugh. Even though 24.Bd4 "felt"
right, I was seduced by the idea of Rc1, getting rid of Black's rook once and
for all. The tactical refutation of my choice is not a simple one, and that is
probably what saved me. [#] Critical Position White's minors have been
discombobulated in an attempt to evict the Rc2. Can Black keep up the pressure?
} g5 $2 (24... Bc5 $2 25. Bd3 $18) (24... Nxf2 $3 25. Ne3 $1 (25. Nxf2 Bc5 $11)
25... Rd2 $8 {Analysis Diagram [#] and amazingly everything holds for Black.
The threat of ...Nh3+ saves Black in many lines, and there are no good
discoveries against Black's floating rook on the 7th.} 26. Nf5 $1 (26. Nc4 Nh3+
27. Bxh3 Bc5+ $8 28. Be3 $8 Bxe3+ 29. Nxe3 Bxh3 $11) (26. Rc1 Nh3+ 27. Bxh3
Bxh3 {and c8 is still defended} 28. Nf5 $2 Rg2+ $8 29. Kh1 Bf8 $17) (26. Ng4 $4
Nxg4 $19 27. Bxd2 Bc5+ 28. Kg2 (28. Kh1 Nf2+ 29. Kg2 Bb7+ $19) 28... Bb7+ 29.
Kh3 Nf2+ 30. Kh4 Be7+ 31. Bg5 f6 $19 {White has to give up the B to avoid
being mated.}) 26... Bxf5 $8 27. Bxd2 Nh3+ 28. Kg2 Bxb1 29. Kxh3 Bxa2 30. Bxa6
$11 {and the b-pawn isn't going to be enough.}) 25. Rc1 $8 {Phew! Now White is
a pawn up in all lines.} Bf5 26. Rxc2 Bxc2 27. Ne3 $1 {This I had seen, and
the rest is fairly smooth sailing.} gxf4 28. Nxc2 $1 Bc5 {[#]} 29. gxf4 (29.
Bxa6 $1 {is a bit better, setting the Q-side in motion right away. It turns
out ...f3 is nothing.} f3 30. Bb7 Bxf2+ 31. Kf1 Ba7 32. Bxf3 Nxh2+ 33. Kg2 Nxf3
34. Kxf3 {and the pawns clearly carry the day.}) 29... Nxf2 (29... a5 $1) 30.
b4 $1 Bb6 31. Kg2 Nd1 32. Bxa6 Nc3 33. Bc4 Kg7 34. Kf3 f5 35. Ne3 Kg6 36. Be6
Kf6 37. Bb3 Kg6 38. a4 Ne4 39. Bc2 Nd6 40. a5 Bd4 41. Bd3 {Another flawed
victory, but it felt good to get my feet wet again after so many years. And it
was great to see my chess colleagues again - all in all a great trip,
tournament and reunion!} 1-0

[Event "2016 Canadian Open"]
[Site "Windsor"]
[Date "2016.07.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ivanov, Mike"]
[Black "Tarjan, James"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2260"]
[BlackElo "2443"]
[Annotator "Mike Ivanov"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2016.07.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bb4+ 5. c3 Bc5 6. Be3 Bb6 7. Nf5 Bxe3 8.
Nxe3 Nf6 9. f3 O-O 10. c4 d6 11. Nc3 Nd7 12. Qd2 Nc5 13. Be2 a5 14. O-O Be6 15.
Rae1 f6 16. Kh1 Ne5 17. b3 Re8 18. Rb1 c6 19. f4 Nf7 20. Bd1 Qb6 21. a3 Bc8 22.
Bc2 Qc7 23. Rf3 Nd7 24. Rbf1 Nf8 25. Rg3 Kh8 26. Qd1 Nh6 27. Qd3 Be6 28. Ne2
Bf7 29. Rh3 Bg6 30. Ng3 Rad8 31. Qc3 Ng8 32. Rf3 Qb6 33. Rh4 $6 Rd7 34. f5 $2
Bf7 35. Ne2 Rde7 36. Nf4 h6 37. Rg4 Ra8 38. Rfg3 Be8 39. Rh4 Nd7 {[%mdl 32832]
[#]Critical Position Ne6 or Ng6?} 40. Ng6+ $2 (40. Ne6 $1 {once again should
be the way to go, and White can start to look for the final blow such as Nxg7.}
Ne5 (40... Rxe6 41. fxe6 Ne5 42. Rf4 Rd8 43. Nf5 $18) (40... Nc5 41. Nxg7 Rxg7
42. Rxh6+ Nxh6 43. Qxf6 Qc7 44. Qxh6+ Kg8 45. Ng4 $18) 41. c5 $1 dxc5 42. Nc4
$1 Qa6 (42... Nxc4 43. Rxg7 $3 Rxg7 44. Rxh6+ $8 Nxh6 45. Qxf6 $18) 43. Kg1
Nxc4 44. Rxg7 $1 Rxg7 45. Rxh6+ $1 Nxh6 46. Qxf6 {#2.}) 40... Bxg6 $8 $11 41.
fxg6 Qc5 42. Qd2 Re5 $2 (42... Ne5 $142 $11) 43. Nf5 $1 {My plan when playing
Ng6 was simple: put all the pieces on h6 and sac the knight. Too bad the rook
got in the way...} Rxf5 $1 44. exf5 Re8 {Diagram [#]} 45. h3 $1 {Avoiding many
annoying back-rank tricks. Although White is up an exchange, a3 is falling,
and the bishop on c2 isn't much of a bishop. The knights can start to dominate
the position if White's not careful} (45. b4 axb4 46. axb4 Qe5 47. Kg1 $16 (47.
Re4 $4 Qa1+ $19)) 45... Qxa3 46. Rd4 Ne5 47. Kh2 Rd8 48. Re3 $2 {Here I missed
the last easy win, a neat simplifying tactic} (48. b4 $1 Qxb4 49. Qxb4 axb4 50.
c5 $18) 48... Qc5 49. Re1 Ne7 50. Rh4 {And here we agreed on a draw, partially
due to the respect I had for my experienced opponent. Nevertheless, the lesson
that can be taken from this game is summed up by a Nigel Short quote:  If your
opponent offers you a draw (or a 3-fold repetition!) figure out why he thinks
he's worse!} Ng8 51. Rd4 (51. Rd1 $1 d5 52. Qd4 Qd6 53. Kh1 a4 (53... Qb8 54.
Qd2 (54. c5 Nd7 55. b4 axb4 56. Qxb4 Qa7 57. Bb3 Nxc5 $13) 54... b6 $16) 54.
cxd5 axb3 55. Bxb3 c5 56. Qa4 {With more chances to win than to draw.}) 51...
Ne7 52. Rh4 Ng8 53. Rd4 Ne7 54. Rh4 1/2-1/2

[Event "2016 SPFGI"]
[Site "St. Louis"]
[Date "2016.07.27"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Giblon, Rebecca"]
[Black "Cao, Claire"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C06"]
[WhiteElo "1987"]
[BlackElo "1813"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,93,24,25,43,33,36,33,-9,-7,-7,18,30,28,24,-1,2,-4,4,14,36,36,33,9,24,
-20,5,12,20,13,39,-21,19,-4,51,57,78,51,60,38,57,-87,-86,-177,-78,-98,-98,-119,
-51,-114,-30,-82,-72,-58,23,9,36,17,17,9,17,24,18,18,2,-70,-101,-74,-99,-99,
-50,-54,-52,-66,-60,-60,-57,-44,-89,-186,17,0,73,0,8,0,271,192,625,653,29995,
29996,29997,29998,29999,-30000]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3
c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ngf3 cxd4 8. cxd4 f6 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. O-O Bd6 11. Re1 O-O 12.
b3 Bd7 13. Bb2 Qb6 14. Rc1 Rac8 15. Bb1 Rce8 16. Qe2 Bc8 17. Qe3 Rf7 18. Ng5
Rfe7 19. Ndf3 h6 20. Bg6 hxg5 21. Bxe8 Rxe8 22. Qxg5 Rf8 23. Qh4 Nh7 24. Rc2
Rf4 25. Qh3 Qd8 26. Ne5 Nxe5 27. dxe5 Bb4 28. Rec1 Bd7 29. Qe3 Re4 30. Qxa7 Bc6
31. Bd4 Qh4 32. a3 Rxd4 33. axb4 Rxb4 34. Rc3 Rg4 35. Qb8+ Nf8 36. Rf3 Qe7 37.
h3 Rg5 38. g4 d4 39. Rf4 d3 40. Rd1 Qc5 41. b4 Qe7 42. Rxd3 {[%mdl 33088] [#]
Critical Position White threatens both Rd8 and Rxf8+. Can Black do anything
about it?} Bd5 $4 {Game-losing, allowing the rook to penetrate on the a-file
instead. Black does have a way to save the game, and if you're desperate
enough you might find it:} (42... Bd7 $2 43. Rdf3 $18 ({or} 43. Qxf8+ {
simplifying to a winning endgame.})) (42... Be8 $2 43. Rd8 Bf7 44. Rc4 $18 {
bringing another major to the back rank.}) (42... Rf5 $8 {the only hope: it
not only creates chaos, it equalizes:} 43. gxf5 Qg5+ $8 44. Rg4 $8 Qc1+ 45. Kh2
Qh1+ 46. Kg3 exf5 $8 (46... Qg2+ $2 47. Kh4 Qxf2+ 48. Rdg3 $8 $18) 47. Rc4 $8 (
47. Rd8 $2 Qf3+ 48. Kh4 Qxf2+ 49. Rg3 Qf4+ 50. Rg4 fxg4 $19 {defending f8.})
47... Qg1+ 48. Kh4 Qxf2+ {The White K can't step on a light square without
losing the Rd3.} 49. Kg5 (49. Kh5 $2 Qe2+ $19) 49... Qg2+ 50. Kf4 (50. Kxf5 $2
Qg6+ $19) 50... Qf2+ 51. Kg5 Qg2+ $11) 43. Ra3 $1 ({or} 43. Rc3 Bc6 44. b5 Qe8
45. Qxe8 Bxe8 46. Rc8 $18) 43... Rg6 44. Ra8 b5 45. Qxf8+ Qxf8 46. Rfxf8+ Kh7
47. Rh8# 1-0

[Event "2016 Calgary International"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2016.07.30"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Preotu, Razvan"]
[Black "Popilski, Gil"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2452"]
[BlackElo "2542"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2016.07.27"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,57,33,33,43,60,91,53,63,43,35,34,84,28,55,42,49,35,36,31,19,21,33,28,
18,11,19,19,14,20,16,18,18,-64,-48,-48,-47,-41,-37,-53,-27,-24,-8,-19,-18,-9,
17,13,8,8,59,60,37,26,100,183,429,596,607,614]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e6 7. g4 Be7 8. Bg2 Nfd7 9. Be3 O-O 10. Qd2 Nc6 11.
O-O-O Nde5 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. b3 d5 14. Kb1 Rb8 15. Ka1 Bb4 16. Qe1 Qf6 17. Bd2
Nf3 18. Bxf3 Qxf3 19. Rg1 Qf6 20. g5 Qe7 21. Na4 Rd8 22. Bc3 d4 23. Bxb4 Rxb4
24. c3 dxc3 25. Qxc3 Rxe4 26. Qxc6 {[%mdl 33088] [#] Critical Position Black's
Re4 is hanging and White threatens Nb6 winning the B. Can Black defend?} Re2 $2
{Trying to set up some counterplay against the White king, but it doesn't work.
} (26... f5 $1 {was forced, defending e4 and making room for the king.} 27. Qc5
$1 (27. gxf6 $2 Qxf6+ 28. Nb2 Red4 $8 29. Rxd4 Qxd4 $8 30. Rd1 Qf6 31. Rxd8+
Qxd8 $11) (27. Nb6 $2 Bb7 $8 {Qxb7 doesn't work now that ...f5 avoids the back
rank mate.} 28. Rxd8+ Qxd8 29. Qxb7 Qd4+ 30. Kb1 Qd3+ $11) 27... Qf8 28. Qc7
Re8 (28... Red4 $2 29. Rxd4 $8 Rxd4 30. Nb6 Rd8 31. Rc1 $18 {smothering the B
before he even gets out of bed.}) 29. Rd2 Re7 30. Qc6 $1 (30. Qc3 Re8 31. Rgd1
$16) 30... Bb7 31. Qb6 {(threat: Rd8)} Bd5 32. Nc3 $18 {White will win at
least a couple of pawns.}) 27. Nc3 $1 $18 (27. Nb6 $2 Rf8 $8 $11 28. Nxc8 $2
Qa3 $19 {this is Black's idea behind ...Re2.}) 27... Rxf2 28. Rxd8+ Qxd8 29.
Rd1 {Black can't guard the back rank and stop Qc7 then Rd8 winning material.}
1-0

[Event "2016 Commonwealth Ch."]
[Site "Waskaduwa"]
[Date "2016.08.04"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Pujari, Rucha"]
[Black "Thavandiran, Shiyam"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E16"]
[WhiteElo "2137"]
[BlackElo "2344"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2016.08.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventCountry "SRI"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,80,29,16,47,-23,0,4,40,43,64,61,61,41,20,36,36,35,26,28,40,18,32,28,
27,-7,31,22,25,3,37,16,26,29,23,16,42,46,38,47,64,65,76,84,52,70,70,69,69,0,37,
21,34,68,83,86,84,56,29,0,113,-6,17,0,0,0,0,0,-98,-730,-730,-731,-731,-731,
-744,-29993,-29994,-29995,-29996,-29997,-29998,-29999,-30000]} 1. d4 e6 2. c4
Nf6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 c5 5. Bxb4 cxb4 6. g3 b6 7. Bg2 Bb7 8. O-O O-O 9. Nbd2
Qc7 10. Rc1 d6 11. Qb3 a5 12. h3 Na6 13. Nh4 Rac8 14. f4 Bxg2 15. Nxg2 e5 16.
e3 Rfe8 17. Qd3 Nb8 18. g4 exd4 19. exd4 d5 20. g5 Ne4 21. Ne3 Nxd2 22. Nxd5
Qd7 23. Qxd2 Qxh3 24. Rf2 Nd7 25. Rh2 Qe6 26. b3 b5 27. Qd3 g6 28. Qh3 {[#]} h5
$8 (28... Qxh3 29. Rxh3 Re2 30. c5 $18) 29. gxh6 f5 30. Qg2 Kh7 31. Rh3 Nf6 32.
Nxf6+ $6 (32. Re3 $142 Ne4 33. Rxe4 $3 fxe4 34. f5 $11 Qf7 $8 (34... Qxf5 $4
35. Rf1 $18) 35. fxg6+ Qxg6 36. Qxg6+ Kxg6 37. Kf2 $11) 32... Qxf6 {[%mdl
33088] [#] Critical Position White is up a pawn, but Black is attacking d4 
(with check) and has the only open file. What to do...} 33. Qb7+ $4 (33. d5 $2
Re4 $19) (33. Qf2 $142 $15) 33... Re7 $8 $19 {Only move to win! One hard thing
to see in the diagram position is that White's K is more vulnerable than
Black's: that Ph6 keeps out the white pieces, but the other white pawns a AWOL.
} (33... Kh8 $2 34. Qg7+ Qxg7 35. hxg7+ Kxg7 36. Rd3 $13) 34. Qxc8 ({White
can't escape now without handing Black a winning counter attack on the central
pawns, after which White's loose K gives Black a winning initiative. e.g.} 34.
Qd5 bxc4 35. bxc4 Rcc7 $1 36. Rd1 Rcd7 37. Qc5 Re4 $19 {wins a pawn and breaks
through.}) 34... Qxd4+ 35. Kh1 Qe4+ $8 36. Kg1 {[#]} Qxf4 $1 {Makes way for
the Re7 while gaining an essential tempo on the Rc1. If the Rc1 was on b1,
then White could defend and win with Qc6... but it isn't, so she loses.} 37.
Rc2 (37. Rd1 Qg4+ $19 {fork.}) (37. Rf1 Qg4+ $8 38. Kh2 (38. Kf2 Re2#) 38...
Re2+ $19) 37... Re1+ $8 38. Kg2 Qf1+ 39. Kg3 Re3+ 40. Kh4 Qf4# 0-1

[Event "Almonte Open"]
[Site "Almonte"]
[Date "2016.08.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Demchenko, Svitlana"]
[Black "Zhou, Qiyu"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E43"]
[WhiteElo "2031"]
[BlackElo "2320"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. e3 Bb7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O d5 8. a3
Be7 9. b3 Nbd7 10. Bb2 Rc8 11. cxd5 exd5 12. b4 c5 13. bxc5 bxc5 14. Rc1 c4 15.
Ne5 Qa5 16. Bf3 Bd6 17. Nxd7 Nxd7 18. e4 dxe4 19. Bxe4 Rb8 20. Qc2 Nf6 21. Bxb7
Rxb7 {[%mdl 32832] Diagram [#]Critical Position White had just pushed e3-e4
and after the exchanges following ...dxe4 both sides are left with isolated
pawns. What should White play now: a) Rfd1 (supporting d4) b) Nb1 (attacking
c4 and defending a3 in anticipation of ...Rfb8) c) something else?} 22. Nb1 $2
(22. Rfd1 {is also bad for the same reason as the game line.} Bxh2+ $3 (22...
Rb3 $1 $17) 23. Kxh2 Qh5+ 24. Kg1 Ng4 25. g3 Qh2+ 26. Kf1 Re8 $19) ({
"Something else" is best. Either defending with} 22. g3 $1 {or thinning the
attacking hoard with 22.d5 are both better.}) 22... Bxh2+ $3 $19 23. Kxh2 Qh5+
(23... Ng4+ $5 24. Kg3 $8 Rb6 $8 {also gives Black a huge attack.} 25. Bc3 (25.
f3 Ne3 $8 26. Qf2 Qg5+ 27. Kh2 Rh6+ 28. Kg1 Qf4 $19) 25... Qd5 $1 26. f3 Ne3
27. Qe4 Qg5+ 28. Kf2 Re6 $8 $19) 24. Kg1 (24. Kg3 Qg4+ {transposes to the game,
but Black also has the spectacular} (24... Rxb2 $3 25. Qxb2 g5 $1 (25... Ne4+
26. Kf4 Re8 $19) 26. Rfe1 (26. f3 Qh4#) (26. Qb7 Qh4+ 27. Kf3 Qg4+ 28. Ke3 Re8+
29. Kd2 Qxd4+ 30. Kc2 Re2+ {mates too.}) 26... Qh4+ 27. Kf3 Qg4+ 28. Ke3 Qe4+
29. Kd2 Qd3#)) 24... Ng4 25. Rfe1 Qh2+ 26. Kf1 Qh1+ 27. Ke2 Qxg2 {[#] For the
B Black has two pawns and killing initiative.} 28. Kd2 (28. Rf1 Re8+ 29. Kd2
Nxf2 $19 {and there's no good defence to the threats of ...Qg5# and ...Ne4+.})
28... Qxf2+ 29. Re2 Qf4+ $1 30. Ke1 Ne3 $1 31. Qc3 (31. Qd2 $2 Qf1#) 31... Re8
32. Nd2 (32. Ba1 Qf3 $1 $19 (32... Rb3 $19)) 32... Qg3+ {White would have to
give back more than she has just to postpone mate. An alert and accurate
attack by Black.} 0-1

[Event "CWCC Zonal 2016"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2016.09.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Wang, Constance"]
[Black "Matras Clement, Agnieszka"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2033"]
[BlackElo "2308"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,103,23,28,28,28,12,16,18,10,6,15,19,10,23,7,17,-20,-16,-14,-1,-3,0,-3,
-3,-3,-8,0,15,17,23,-8,-18,20,53,26,75,57,36,32,34,8,8,3,109,45,43,45,50,-15,
-15,-32,-27,-24,-21,-31,0,0,73,105,105,103,103,103,105,147,200,189,204,198,192,
42,89,46,46,46,46,18,34,20,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,-28,18,32,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,
0,0,0]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 d6
8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Ng5 Rf8 12. Nf3 Nd7 13. Nbd2 Na5 14. Bc2 c5
15. Nf1 cxd4 16. cxd4 Bf6 17. Ne3 g6 18. Ng4 Bg7 19. Bh6 Rc8 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21.
Qd2 f6 22. Rad1 Kh8 23. dxe5 Nxe5 24. Ngxe5 dxe5 25. Qh6 Qe7 26. Re2 Rfd8 27.
Red2 {[%mdl 33088] [#]Critical Position ...Rxd2 or ...Nc4} Nc4 $4 (27... Rxd2
$142 {Eliminating White's battery on the d-file frees up her Q and R.} 28. Qxd2
$1 (28. Rxd2 $2 Nc4 29. Nh4 Qf7 $17) 28... Nc4 $15 29. Qd7 Qxd7 30. Rxd7 Nxb2
31. Ne1 $8 $15) 28. Nh4 $8 $18 Kg8 $1 ({But after} 28... Qe8 $2 {could
transpose into the game, but here White has better:} 29. Nf5 $3 {threatening
mate on g7 and Black can resign now, or after} (29. Rxd8 Rxd8 30. Rxd8 Qxd8 31.
Nxg6+ $18) 29... gxf5 30. Qxf6+ $18 {forking d8.}) 29. Nxg6 $8 Qe8 (29... hxg6
30. Qxg6+ Kf8 31. Qh6+ Kg8 32. Rd3 $18) 30. Rxd8 Rxd8 31. Rxd8 Qxd8 32. Nh4 {
[#]} Nxb2 $5 (32... Bc8 {is objectively better, but doesn't require White to
find any difficult moves to keep her advantage.}) 33. Nf5 Qf8 34. Bb3+ $1 Nc4
35. Qh4 $2 (35. Qc1 $3 {taking the Q out of the attacking zone is a really
hard move to see, but the threat on c4 gives White time to reset:} Qc5 (35...
Bxe4 $4 {loses the B after} 36. Bxc4+ bxc4 37. Qxc4+ $18) 36. Qd1 $1 $18 {
threatening both Qg4 and Qd7.}) 35... Bc8 36. Ng3 Qd8 37. Nh5 Kf7 38. Qg3 Qf8
$8 39. Bd1 Qh6 40. Qd3 Qd2 41. Qf3 Qg5 42. Ng3 Be6 $11 {Black's minors are now
both doing something and the position is equal.} 43. Nf5 Nd2 44. Nd6+ Kg6 45.
Qd3 Nc4 46. Nxc4 Bxc4 47. Qc2 h5 48. Bf3 Kh6 49. Kh2 Qf4+ 50. Kg1 Qg5 51. Kh2
Qf4+ 52. Kg1 1/2-1/2

[Event "RA Fall Open"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2016.09.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Sambuev, Bator"]
[Black "Gordon, David"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D94"]
[WhiteElo "2619"]
[BlackElo "2311"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,122,33,33,46,29,35,-10,28,27,9,9,57,35,37,18,18,8,17,9,17,1,75,65,66,
37,55,55,45,67,55,42,34,40,44,28,107,109,137,160,156,177,164,164,186,136,153,
146,163,160,170,136,144,168,152,154,158,177,172,170,170,154,172,183,175,158,
179,164,199,187,219,224,230,162,157,112,118,-90,-104,-321,-335,-335,-335,-324,
-337,-368,-340,-382,-311,-373,-277,-277,-302,-330,-352,-364,-363,-448,-470,
-472,-466,-474,-493,-579,-633,-704,-659,-659,-696,-765,-806,-847,-712,-786,
-641,-1759,-1759,-1329,-2393,-28080,-28206,-29969,-1500,-1500,-777]} 1. e4 d5
2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. d4 cxd5 5. Nc3 g6 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. Be2 dxc4 8. Bxc4 O-O 9.
O-O Bg4 10. Re1 Nbd7 11. Bb3 Nb6 12. Bg5 Rc8 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Qd7 15. Re2
h6 16. Bf4 Rfd8 17. Rae1 Nbd5 18. Be5 e6 19. Bxf6 Nxf6 20. Rxe6 Re8 21. R6e5 a6
22. a4 b5 23. axb5 axb5 24. R1e3 Rb8 25. Nd5 Nxd5 26. Qxd5 Red8 27. Re8+ Qxe8
28. Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. Qxf7+ Kh7 30. Bc2 Re1+ 31. Kh2 Rb6 32. f3 Re2 33. Qc7 Rf6
34. h4 h5 35. b4 Kh6 36. Qc5 Bf8 37. Qg5+ Kg7 {[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical
Position Where should the Bc2 go?} 38. Be4 $4 (38. Bd1 $4 Bd6+ 39. Kg1 Re1+ $19
{and the B drops.}) (38. Bb3 $142 Bd6+ $8 39. Kg1 Rb2 40. Qd5 $8 Kh6 $1 {
and computers prefer White, but Black has perpetual threats, and either side
could lose this OTB.}) (38. Bd3 $142 $1 Bd6+ 39. Kg1 $8 $16 (39. Kh3 $4 Rxf3+
$8 $19 40. gxf3 Rh2#)) 38... Bd6+ $8 $19 39. Kg1 (39. Kh3 Re1 $8 40. g3 Rg1 $8
41. f4 (41. d5 Rxg3+ $19 {Black should have no problem converting the exchange
up ending.}) 41... Bxf4 $8 $19) 39... Re1+ $8 {Black wins a piece.} 40. Kf2
Rxe4 $19 41. Qd5 Rxh4 42. Ke3 Bxb4 43. Qxb5 Bf8 44. Qe5 Rhf4 45. Qc7+ Rf7 46.
Qe5+ R4f6 47. Kd3 Kh7 48. Qd5 Bg7 {[#] White's pawns aren't going anywhere,
Black's K is safe in his little fortress, and his pieces are about to run riot.
} 49. Qd8 Rf4 50. d5 R7f5 51. g4 {Desperation.} Rxf3+ 52. Ke2 Rf2+ 53. Kd3
R5f3+ 54. Ke4 Rf4+ 55. Ke3 Bd4+ 56. Kd3 Rxg4 57. d6 Rf3+ 58. Ke2 Re3+ 59. Kd2
Rg2+ 60. Kd1 Rd3+ 61. Ke1 Bg7 0-1

[Event "RA Fall Open"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2016.09.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Gordon, David"]
[Black "Valdizon, Armando"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2311"]
[BlackElo "2171"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,58,37,11,26,7,56,-3,-4,-5,0,-1,-8,-36,-37,-20,0,-4,26,17,15,16,19,10,
21,-117,-140,-126,-100,-151,-151,-199,-126,-46,-48,-48,-34,-257,-209,-261,-261,
-303,-271,-306,-239,-352,-279,-409,-393,-482,-492,-500,-498,-498,-581,-598,
-582,-1724,-2226,-29997,-663]} 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3. e4 dxe4 4. d5 Nf6 5. Nc3
a6 6. a4 g6 7. Bc4 Bg7 8. Nge2 Nbd7 9. d6 e5 10. Bg5 h6 11. Nd5 O-O 12. h4 $5 {
[%mdl 32832] [#] Diagram [#]Critical Position White has just played h2-h4, a
tactic nicknamed "the fishingpole" -- the piece on g5 is the bait, the pawn
that takes on g5 is the hook, and the open h-file is the line to reel in the
"fish".  Can Black take on g5?  If not now, when?} Nb6 $1 (12... hxg5 $2 13.
Ne7+ $8 $18 Kh8 14. hxg5+ Nh7 {Analysis Diagram [#]} (14... Nh5 15. Rxh5+ gxh5
16. Ng3 $18 {and Black has to give back too much to prevent Qxh5 mating:}) 15.
Ng3 $1 (15. Kd2 $2 {opening a path for Qh1 looks crushing, but Black has a
hard-to-see move which saves him:} Ndf6 $8 {this hop is the key resource in
many lines: it adds a defender to h7, decoys the g5-pawn, and opens a
counterattack on d6.} 16. Kc1 $1 $13 (16. gxf6 Qxd6+ $2 (16... Bxf6 $1 $13) 17.
Kc3 $1 Qxf6 $8 18. Qg1 e3 $1 19. Kb3 $1 $16)) (15. Rxh7+ $2 Kxh7 16. Qd5 $13 (
16. Kd2 $4 Nf6 $1 17. gxf6 Qxd6+ $19) 16... Nf6 $8 $13) (15. Qd5 $1 {is a
better way to get the Q to the h-file.} Nb6 16. Qxe4 Nxc4 (16... Qxd6 17. Rxh7+
$18) 17. Rxh7+ $18 {#2}) 15... Nb6 16. Rxh7+ Kxh7 17. Ke2 $8 $18 Bg4+ 18. f3
exf3+ 19. gxf3 Bh5 20. Qh1 $18) 13. Ne7+ (13. Nxf6+ {concedes Black a
comfortable plus, with no active chances for White:} Bxf6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. Ba2
Be6 $15) (13. Nxb6 {also gives up the attack} Qxb6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nc3 (15.
d7 $2 Qb4+ 16. c3 Qxc4 17. dxc8=Q Raxc8 $19) 15... Rd8 $15) 13... Kh7 $1 (13...
Kh8 {is not losing, so long as Black doesn't take on g5 anytime soon:} 14. Ba2
hxg5 $4 (14... Bg4 $142 $1 15. Qd2 $1 $40) 15. hxg5+ Nh7 (15... Nh5 16. Ng3 $18
) 16. Ng3 $18 {with the slow but deadly threats of Nxe4, Qf3-g3-h4, and also
Ke2 (clearing the route to the h-file) then Rxh7+.}) 14. Ba2 Bg4 $8 (14... hxg5
$4 15. hxg5+ Nh5 16. Ng3 $18) 15. Qd2 $1 {[#]} (15. Bxf6 $2 Bxf6 16. h5 (16. f3
$2 exf3 17. Ng3 f2+ $19) 16... Bxe7 17. dxe7 Qxe7 18. hxg6+ fxg6 19. Qd2 h5 $8
$19) 15... hxg5 $2 (15... Nc8 $142 $15) (15... Bxe2 $142 16. Kxe2 Qd7 $15) 16.
hxg5+ Nh5 $8 17. Ng3 $1 (17. Rh4 $1 {is also strong:} e3 $1 (17... Nc8 18. Rxg4
Nxd6 19. O-O-O $13) (17... Qd7 18. Ng3 $1 Nc8 (18... e3 19. Qxe3 Qxd6 20. f3
$18) 19. Nxe4 $8 Nxe7 $1 20. dxe7 $16) (17... Be6 $2 18. g4 $18) 18. fxe3 $8
Qd7 19. Ng3 $13) 17... Nc8 $8 {[%mdl 64] Getting rid of the bone on d6 that's
been choking him for so long. [#]  Critical Position White to play and... win
or survive?} 18. Nxh5 $4 (18. f3 $6 exf3 $8 19. Nxh5 $8 Bxh5 $8 (19... fxg2 20.
Nf6#) 20. Qd3 $8 (20. g4 $2 Nxd6 21. gxh5 Qxe7 22. hxg6+ Kxg6 $8 $19) 20...
Nxe7 $1 (20... fxg2 $4 21. Rxh5+ $18) 21. Rxh5+ Kg8 22. dxe7 Qxd3 $1 (22...
Qxe7 $4 23. Qxg6 $18) 23. exf8=Q+ $15 {Black will have a clear material plus
after an intermediate ...fxg2 before taking on h5, but the opposite Bs may
give White some chances.}) (18. Nxe4 $1 Nxe7 (18... Nxd6 $4 19. Qxd6 $18) 19.
dxe7 Qxd2+ (19... Qxe7 20. f3 $13 {and Black doesn't have time to save both
the Bg4 and the Nh5.}) 20. Kxd2 Rfe8 21. Nf6+ $5 {leads to a fascinatingly
sharp ending:} (21. f3 $142 $1 $14 {and g4 gets the piece back.}) 21... Bxf6
22. gxf6 Kg8 $1 {defends f7 and unpins the N, threatening ...Nxf6, so [#]} 23.
Rxh5 $8 gxh5 $1 {keeps the B from getting trapped and opens the f6 pawn to
attack from the side.  Black is up a R for a P, but computers show that this
position is on a knife edge. Black would be clearly winning here if he could
play ...a5 then ...Ra6, but it requires accuracy to get at the f6 pawn without
conceding too much:} 24. Bc4 $1 {Otherwise ...Be6 forces off White's B.} Be6 (
24... a5 $2 25. Ra3 $1 $16 {heading for g3.}) 25. Bd3 $1 (25. Be2 $2 Kh7 26.
Bxh5 Kh6 $8 $19) 25... c4 26. Be4 {Threatening Rh1 winning!} a5 $8 27. Rh1 Bg4
$8 28. f3 Ra6 $8 $19) 18... gxh5 $19 (18... Bxh5 $4 19. Rxh5+ $3 (19. g4 $14)
19... gxh5 20. Qe2 Qxd6 21. Qxh5+ Bh6 22. Rd1 $1 Qxe7 (22... Qb6 23. Bxf7 Nxe7
24. Rd7 $18) 23. Qxh6+ Kg8 24. Ke2 $18) 19. f3 Nxd6 $8 $19 (19... exf3 $4 20.
Qd3+ Kh8 21. gxf3 $18) 20. fxg4 Qxe7 21. O-O-O Rad8 (21... Rfd8 $142 $1 {
looks bad since it weakens f7, but it starts an escape route for the K through
f8.} 22. Rdf1 c4 $19) 22. Rxh5+ $1 (22. gxh5 $4 Nc4 {hits Qd2 and threatens ...
Qxg5+, killing White's advanced pawns.} 23. g6+ fxg6 24. hxg6+ Kxg6 $19) 22...
Kg8 {[#]} 23. g6 (23. Rdh1 $1 {forces Black to play very accurately.} Rfe8 $8 (
23... c4 $2 24. g3 $8 $13 {threatening Qh2}) (23... Nc4 $2 24. Qe1 $18 {
threatening Qh4 and Bxc4.}) 24. g6 (24. g3 Qd7 25. Qh2 Kf8 $8 $19) 24... Qf6 $8
(24... c4 $4 25. Rh8+ $1 Bxh8 26. Rxh8+ $18 {#3.}) 25. gxf7+ Nxf7 $19 {White
is running out of tricks, but Black still has to play accurately.}) 23... c4
$19 24. Rdh1 fxg6 25. Rh7 b5 $1 {shuts out the B, leaving Black with two extra
functioning pieces.} 26. axb5 axb5 27. Qd5+ Qf7 28. Qc5 Qf4+ $1 29. Kb1 Nb7 $5
(29... Qf1+ $142 $1 30. Rxf1 Rxf1#) 0-1

[Event "CWCC Zonal 2016"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2016.09.25"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Tan, Kylie"]
[Black "Matras Clement, Agnieszka"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "1671"]
[BlackElo "2308"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,46,28,12,12,12,16,8,11,21,10,10,4,10,24,-14,-7,-33,-7,-11,-11,-11,18,
20,46,25,24,-22,-38,-66,-57,-272,-294,-285,-288,-302,-293,-426,-434,-876,-881,
-29995,-29996,-29999,-29996,-29997,-29998,-29999,-30000]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Bb3 a6 8. Nbd2 Ba7 9. Re1 Ng4 10.
Re2 Kh8 11. h3 Nh6 12. Nf1 f5 13. Re1 Qf6 14. N1h2 $2 Qg6 {[%mdl 32832] [#]
Critical Position Black has a lot of pressure, what should White do?} 15. Nh4
$4 (15. Bxh6 $6 gxh6 $1 {with a continuing attack.} (15... Qxh6 $15)) (15. exf5
Bxf5 {and Black threatens ...Bxh3 and ...Bxd3, and} 16. d4 (16. Nh4 $2 Qg3 $19
{is like the game.}) 16... Bxh3 17. Nh4 Qf6 $8 $19) (15. Bd5 $5 f4 $1 (15...
fxe4 $140 $2 16. Bxe4 $8 $13) 16. Kf1 $1 Bd7 {is still more more fun for Black,
but it's not a rout.}) 15... Qg3 $8 $19 {Forking h4 and f2.} 16. N4f3 Bxf2+ 17.
Kh1 Bxe1 18. Nxe1 fxe4 19. dxe4 Bxh3 $1 {Forcing open the second rank is the
quickest win.} 20. gxh3 Rf2 21. Bf4 exf4 $6 {Did someone miss a mate-in-one...?
} 22. Nhf3 Rf1+ 23. Ng1 Rxg1# 0-1

[Event "Millionaire Chess Open"]
[Site "Atlantic City"]
[Date "2016.10.09"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Shimanov, Aleksandr"]
[Black "Hambleton, Aman"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A47"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2436"]
[Annotator "Aman Hambleton"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2016.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,130,33,19,23,20,29,29,27,45,50,29,49,31,35,32,32,18,37,32,27,30,51,48,
53,41,46,31,51,44,42,8,42,-9,24,21,38,18,21,12,21,0,0,-7,-28,-32,-32,-32,-31,
-48,-37,-27,-18,-18,-3,-72,-43,-43,-53,20,80,94,79,95,80,72,74,83,81,87,140,
140,126,-178,-199,-221,-221,-136,-204,-211,-213,-206,-216,-218,-218,-218,-226,
-224,-232,-238,-265,-325,-264,-791,-439,-456,-393,-384,-369,-369,-132,-337,
-337,-348,-344,-364,-358,-358,-306,-355,-300,-368,-345,-345,-358,-404,-388,
-431,-270,-340,-357,-372,-153,-1313,-1393,-1393,-1208,-29991,-1313,-1598,-2616,
-29985,-961]} 1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Be7 6. h3 cxd4 7.
exd4 b6 8. c3 Bb7 9. Bd3 O-O 10. O-O Re8 11. Re1 d6 12. Bh2 Rc8 13. a4 Bf8 14.
Nc4 h6 15. Bf1 Qd7 16. Nfd2 Red8 17. Bg3 Be7 18. Qb3 Na5 19. Nxa5 bxa5 20. Qb5
Qc7 21. Rac1 Bc6 22. Qc4 Nh5 23. Bh2 Bg5 24. Rc2 Qb7 25. Qa2 Nf4 26. f3 e5 27.
dxe5 dxe5 28. Nc4 e4 29. fxe4 Bxe4 30. Rf2 Nd3 31. Bxd3 Rxd3 32. Nd6 Rxd6 33.
Bxd6 Bd5 34. Qb1 Bh4 35. g3 Qd7 $5 {[%mdl 32832] Diagram [#] Critical Position
Both players have hanging Bs; what should White do?} 36. Bf4 $4 {My opponent
played too quickly; and surprisingly White is dead lost after this move.} ({
editor - Better than the game move was} 36. gxh4 $2 {which keeps the game
going after} Qxh3 $8 $11 37. Re4 $5 (37. Rh2 Qg4+ $8 38. Kf2 Qf3+ $11 {with a
repetition.}) 37... Rd8 $8 38. Rh2 (38. Bh2 $4 Bxe4 39. Qxe4 Rd1+ $19) 38...
Qf3 $8 39. Ree2 Qg4+ $8 (39... Rxd6 $4 40. Re8#) 40. Kf2 Qf3+ $8 41. Ke1 $5 Bc4
$1 $13) (36. Qd3 $8 $18 {Defending g3 and attacking Bd5.} Qxd6 37. gxh4 $18 {
by no means an easy conversion ahead, but White is definitely winning.}) (36.
Be5) 36... Bxg3 $8 $19 (36... Qxh3 $4 37. Rh2 $8 $18) 37. Bxg3 Qxh3 38. Bh2
Qg4+ 39. Kf1 Bc4+ 40. Ree2 Re8 {[#]} 41. Qc2 (41. Qe1 Rxe2 42. Rxe2 Qf3+ 43.
Qf2 Bxe2+ 44. Ke1 Qxf2+ 45. Kxf2 Bd1 {With 3 connected passed pawns the
opposite B endgame should be easily winning.}) (41. Qd1 Bxe2+ 42. Rxe2 Qf3+ 43.
Ke1 Qh1+ 44. Kd2 Rd8+ $19) 41... Rxe2 42. Rxe2 Qf3+ 43. Ke1 Qh1+ 44. Kd2 Bxe2
45. Bb8 Bg4 46. Qb3 Qg2+ 47. Ke3 h5 48. Qb5 Qf3+ 49. Kd4 h4 50. Qxa5 Qf6+ 51.
Be5 Qf2+ 52. Kc4 Be6+ 53. Kd3 h3 54. Qd8+ Kh7 55. Qb8 f6 56. Bg3 Qf3+ 57. Kd4
Qd1+ 58. Ke3 Qxa4 59. Qd6 Bf5 60. Qd5 Qd7 61. Qa8 Qd3+ 62. Kf2 Qd2+ 63. Kf1
Qc1+ 64. Be1 Qf4+ 65. Bf2 h2 0-1

[Event "2016 Continental"]
[Site "Colima"]
[Date "2016.11.10"]
[Round "6.3"]
[White "Martinez, Ayelen"]
[Black "Zhou, Qiyu"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2238"]
[BlackElo "2312"]
[Annotator "MacKinnon / Upper"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,60,27,13,29,20,16,7,39,-10,-10,-1,20,10,10,7,28,-21,-10,-8,26,-14,-14,
-6,6,17,11,17,24,24,38,35,39,42,45,48,38,38,83,49,109,100,136,99,172,21,52,52,
136,114,114,114,139,139,192,136,222,222,221,0,0,0,0]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4
Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. a4 c6 16. Bg5 Bg7 17.
Qd2 Qc7 18. Bh6 Bh8 19. Nf5 Rad8 20. axb5 axb5 21. Ra7 d5 22. Qg5 dxe4 23. Bb3
Nb6 24. Nxe5 Nfd5 25. Ng4 Qb8 26. Rea1 Nc4 27. Qh4 f6 28. Nfe3 Ncxe3 {[%mdl
32832] [#] What two things did White overlook after 29.Nxf6+?} 29. Nxf6+ $4 {
Playing for mate, but any of the three recaptures on e3 leaves White with a
winning advantage.} Bxf6 30. Qxf6 Nf5 $8 {Defending the mate on g7, saving the
hanging piece on e3, and threatening to chop the attacker on h6. White
resigned.} (30... Nf5 $8 {[#]  Analysis Diagram White is down a piece for a
pawn, but the exposed Black King and the terrible Bb7 give White big
compensation. In fact, there is actually a forced draw here after:} 31. Bf4 $1
{or Bxd5 first, and Black would do best to go for the draw after ...Qxf4:} (31.
Bxd5+ cxd5 32. Bf4 $11) 31... Qc8 (31... Qxf4 32. Rxb7 Rf8 33. Bxd5+ cxd5 34.
Qe6+ Kh8 35. Raa7 Qc1+ $11 {with a repetition.}) 32. Be5 Rxe5 $13 33. dxe5 Rf8
34. Bxd5+ cxd5 35. Qb6 Rf7 $8 (35... Bc6 $2 36. Rc7 $18) 36. Kh2 $13 {major
prophylaxis against ...d4 and ...e3 followed by ...Qc2.} (36. e6 $5 $13)) 0-1

[Event "Pere Noel"]
[Site "Montreal"]
[Date "2016.12.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Beaulieu, Eric"]
[Black "LeSiège, Alexandre"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D22"]
[WhiteElo "2202"]
[BlackElo "2578"]
[Annotator "Alexandre Le Siège"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2016.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,86,27,27,14,14,28,6,15,20,68,53,53,31,37,12,39,61,38,52,31,37,37,7,11,
18,23,21,18,27,59,43,54,58,58,42,52,65,71,16,25,-57,-48,-39,-44,-70,-60,-66,
-83,-122,-136,-133,-137,-131,-118,-137,-114,-109,-134,-146,-109,-123,-123,-135,
-130,-240,-264,-266,-267,-275,-281,-292,-297,-299,-299,-297,-265,-257,-272,
-267,-270,-240,-270,-353,-193,-372,-378,-447,-467]} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4
dxc4 4. e3 Bg4 5. Bxc4 e6 6. O-O a6 7. b3 c5 8. dxc5 Nc6 9. Ba3 Ne4 10. Nbd2
Bxc5 11. Bb2 Nxd2 12. Qxd2 Qxd2 13. Nxd2 O-O 14. Ne4 Ba7 15. Ng3 h5 16. h3 h4
17. Ne4 Bh5 18. Rfc1 Rfd8 $5 {[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position} 19. Bxa6 $6 {
Tell you the truth, I missed both 19. Bxa6 and 19. Bf6. I was so concentrated
on creating chances to avoid the draw that I forgot that my opponent had
serious threats. I was mainly analysing 19. Bf1 and 19. Ba3.  Eric was more
attuned to the truth of the position than me and took a long time deciding
between the two very tempting options 19. Bxa6 and 19. Bf6. He correctly
assessed that the latter would give me nice compensation, but didn't calculate
deeply enough the game's continuation.} (19. Bf6 $1 {was still indeed the best
move} gxf6 20. Nxf6+ Kf8 21. Nxh5 Bb8 $1 22. Bf1 Be5 23. Rab1 Rd2 24. a4 Rad8 {
with decent compensation since I will swap the knight coming to f4.}) 19...
Bxe3 $1 {Before Eric played 19.Bxa6?! I had already worked out the winning
continuation that happened in the game. I went from fearing the move once I
saw it to actually hoping for it.} (19... Nb4 $2 20. Bxb7 Rab8 21. Nc5 $1 $16 {
and the hanging bishop on h5 saves White.}) 20. Bxb7 $2 {Played a tempo.
Perhaps Eric should have recalculated the whole line before committing to it
-- what an extra move can do for a player's vision! It was still not too late
to bail out with:} (20. fxe3 Rxa6 21. Nc5 Ra7 22. Nxb7 Rd2 $11) 20... Bxc1 21.
Bxc1 (21. Rxc1 Rxa2) 21... Rd1+ 22. Kh2 {[#]} Rb8 23. Bxc6 Rc8 $8 {Oops, Black
regains a piece! My opponent clearly made some kind of inexperienced tactical
mistake. When you have a rook pinned on the first rank, this should be a
warning sign to calculate more deeply than usual since some unexpected tactics
often occur in those circumstances.} 24. Bb5 Rcxc1 $19 25. Rxc1 Rxc1 26. a4 {
The two connected passed pawns look a little scary, but I am in time to stop
them.} Bd1 27. b4 Bc2 $1 28. Nd2 (28. Nc5 Rb1 29. Na6 Be4 $19 {White can't
move.}) 28... Rd1 29. Nc4 Be4 $1 30. f3 Bd5 31. Ne5 Rd4 {The simplest. I just
had to make sure I was in time to stop the pawn after the bishop trade.} 32.
Nd3 Bc4 33. Bxc4 Rxc4 34. b5 Rxa4 35. b6 Ra1 36. b7 Rb1 37. Nc5 {White is
pinning his hopes on some kind of geometry; the f8, e5 and f6 squares are all
mined. However, after Black's next, White will be left only with K moves.} Rb2
$1 {The cleanest, White is deprived of g4.} 38. Kg1 Kh7 39. Kf1 Kg6 40. Ke1 Kf5
41. Kd1 e5 42. Kc1 Rb6 {The rook creates an impenetrable barrier, allowing the
Black K to mop up the kingside pawns.} 43. Kd2 Kf4 {The critical moment of the
game was very strange. It seems that 19.Bxa6 should have worked under normal
circumstances, but for some concrete reasons it didn't.} 0-1

[Event "PRO Chess League"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.01.18"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Preotu, Razvan"]
[Black "LeSiège, Alexandre"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2512"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "team (rapid)"]
[EventCountry "NET"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Toronto Dragons"]
[BlackTeam "Montreal Chessbrahs"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
a4 c5 16. d5 c4 17. Bg5 Nc5 18. Qd2 Be7 19. Be3 Nfd7 20. Nh2 h5 21. Rf1 Bf6 22.
f4 exf4 23. Rxf4 Be5 24. Raf1 Bxf4 25. Bxf4 {[#] [#]Critical Position ...h4 or
...Qe7} h4 $2 {Natural, since it undermines e4, but it lets White bring one
more piece into the attack with...} (25... Qe7 $142 {when White has some
compensaiton in dark-square control.}) 26. Ng4 $3 $40 hxg3 27. Bxd6 $1 {
White is down a R for a pawn, but Black is busted. The immediate threat is
Nh6+ then takes on f7.} ({White's dark square attack is so strong that even} 
27. Bxg3 {wins!}) 27... f6 (27... Qh4 $5 {lets the Q defend, but it's not
enough:} 28. Bxc5 $1 (28. Nh6+ {shows another attacking idea:} Kh8 29. Bxg3 $1
Qxg3 30. Nxf7+ Kg8 31. Qh6 $18 {and Black has to give up the Q to prevent mate
on h8.}) 28... Nxc5 29. Nh6+ Kh8 30. Qd4+ Kh7 31. Rxf7+ Kxh6 32. Qg7+ Kh5 (
32... Kg5 33. Rf5#) 33. Bd1+ $18 {mating.}) 28. Qh6 Re7 29. e5 (29. Nxf6+ Nxf6
30. Rxf6 $18) 29... Rh7 30. Qxg6+ Rg7 31. Nh6+ Kh8 32. Qh5 Qe8 33. Nf7+ Kg8 34.
Nh6+ Kh8 35. Qh4 $1 $18 Nd3 36. Bxd3 cxd3 37. exf6 (37. e6 $1 Rh7 38. Rxf6 $1 (
38. exd7 $4 Qe3+ 39. Kh1 Rxh6 $19) 38... Nxf6 39. Qxf6+ Rg7 40. Qh4 $1 (40.
Nf7+ Kg8 41. Be5 {wins more slowly.}) 40... Rh7 41. Be5+ $18 {#2}) 37... Rh7 {
[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position} 38. f7 $4 {The only mistake... but it
could have turned a brilliancy into a loss.} (38. Qd4 $8 $18 {e.g.} Rf7 (38...
Rxh6 39. f7+ $18) 39. Nxf7+ Qxf7 40. Rf4 $1 Qxd5 41. Rh4+ Kg8 42. Qg4+ Kf7 (
42... Qg5 43. Qe6#) 43. Rh7+ Kxf6 44. Be7+ Ke5 45. Rh5#) 38... Qd8 $4 {Luckily
for White, Black got fixated on trading Qs.} (38... Qe3+ $142 39. Kh1 Qxh6 $8
$19) 39. Qd4+ Rg7 40. f8=Q+ Qxf8 41. Bxf8 {attack2mateU won on time} 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-B 79th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Lu, Shanglei"]
[Black "Hansen, Eric"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A00"]
[WhiteElo "2612"]
[BlackElo "2603"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2017.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nc3 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nxe4 Nf6 4. Nxf6+ exf6 5. d4 Bd6 6. Bd3 O-O 7. c3 Re8+
8. Ne2 c5 9. Be3 Nd7 10. Qc2 g6 11. O-O-O Qc7 12. Qd2 c4 13. Bb1 Nb6 {[%mdl
32768] [#]} 14. h4 $2 {Thematic, but apparently the losing move.} ({White had
to prevent Black's next move with} 14. d5 $1 $15) 14... Nd5 $1 {Attacking Be3
and supporting ...f5-f4 when Black has material-winning pressure on the e-file.
} 15. h5 Bg4 $1 16. Rh4 f5 {[%mdl 32832]} 17. Rdh1 {[#]Critical Position} Re7
$1 $19 {Simply doubling on the e-file, with the bonus of protecting along the
7th.} (17... Bxe2 $2 18. hxg6 $8 (18. Qxe2 $2 g5 $1 $19 (18... f4 $4 19. hxg6
$1 fxe3 20. Rxh7 $18)) 18... Nxe3 (18... fxg6 $2 19. Rxh7 $16) 19. fxe3 fxg6 (
19... hxg6 20. Qxe2 Bf4 21. R4h3 $16) 20. Rxh7 $1 Qxh7 21. Rxh7 Kxh7 22. Qxe2
Bf4 23. Qxc4 $16) (17... Be7 $5 {is also strong, but less straight forward:}
18. hxg6 (18. Bg5 Bxg5 19. Qxg5 Rxe2 20. hxg6 fxg6 21. Rxg4 fxg4 22. Qxd5+ Qf7
$19) 18... Bxh4 19. gxf7+ Qxf7 20. Rxh4 Nxe3 $19) 18. Bc2 (18. f3 {doesn't
save White, since Black has both the simple} Bxh5 $19 ({and the ruthless} 18...
Rxe3 19. fxg4 Rxe2 20. Qxe2 Bf4+ 21. Kd1 Ne3+ $19)) 18... Rae8 19. Ba4 {
[#] Black could have prevented this with ...b5 on the previous move, but there
was no need as he has a crushing continuation:} Rxe3 {Not the only winning
move, but the most forcing.} (19... Nxe3 20. Bxe8 Nxg2 $19) 20. hxg6 (20. fxe3
Rxe3 {with enough material and threats on e2 and the c1-f4 diagonal.}) 20...
fxg6 0-1

[Event "Hart House Reading Week Open"]
[Site "Toronto"]
[Date "2017.02.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Hua, Eugene"]
[Black "Issani, Nameer"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2303"]
[BlackElo "2205"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,105,16,-14,-21,-39,-32,-44,-44,-27,-19,-11,-19,-8,-13,-11,-3,1,-3,-7,
6,-3,-23,15,45,41,42,17,2,6,0,-11,-20,-71,-56,-60,-10,-14,9,-1,-4,-1,2,-36,4,
-11,22,-74,-71,-106,-95,-67,-67,-81,-121,-121,-62,-62,-71,-132,40,-52,-29,-66,
2,-71,-14,0,0,-41,0,-132,-156,-156,-194,-410,-305,-319,-319,-328,-271,-116,0,0,
0,0,0,0,0,0,159,206,236,281,291,302,302,345,313,400,418,463,517,530,675,675,
675,611]} 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. Nc3 Bc5 5. Nf3 d6 6. d3 a6 7. a3 O-O
8. O-O h6 9. h3 Be6 10. b4 Ba7 11. Bb2 Nh5 12. e3 f5 13. b5 axb5 14. cxb5 Na5
15. Kh2 Nf6 16. d4 e4 17. Nd2 d5 18. a4 c6 19. Ba3 Rf7 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. Nb3
Nxb3 22. Qxb3 g5 23. Rfb1 f4 24. Bc5 Bb8 25. exf4 gxf4 26. Nxe4 Nxe4 (26... Nh5
$1 27. Qd1 Nxg3 $1 28. Nxg3 fxg3+ 29. fxg3 Bxg3+ $8 $19) 27. Bxe4 fxg3+ 28.
fxg3 Rg7 $1 {[%mdl 32833] [#]Critical Position Black is down a pawn but is
threatening g3 and has four pieces pointed at the White K. Tactically, both
LSBs might come off the board (if Black chooses) and White's Q is currently
forced to keep the pin on the d5-pawn.} 29. Rg1 $2 (29. Ra3 $8 {a
preposterous-looking defensive move, but the best available, and keeps the
game alive.} Bxg3+ (29... Rxg3 $4 30. Qxb8 $8 Rxb8 31. Rxg3+ $8 $18) (29... Bc7
30. Bg2 $1) 30. Qxg3 Rxg3 31. Rxg3+ Kh8 $8 $13 {Materially, Black is ahead,
but his exposed K and White's active pieces make it a game which would likely
end in any number of possible blunders; e.g.} (31... Kf7 $2 32. Rf1+ $18 {
wins the Q for a R.}) 32. Bg2 (32. Bd3 Rb8 $4 33. Be7 $18) 32... Qc7 (32... Rb8
$2 33. Re1 Qd7 34. a5 $8 Ra8 35. Re5 Rxa5 36. Rh5 Kh7 37. Bf8 $18) (32... Rxa4
$4 33. Rb7 $18) 33. Bb6 $8 (33. Re1 $4 Rg8 34. Ree3 Rxg3 35. Rxg3 h5 36. h4 Qf4
$19) 33... Qd6 34. Bc5 $1 $11) 29... Qc8 $2 {Defends the Be6 and so threatens .
..dxe4.} (29... Qh4 $4 30. Qxb8+ $18) (29... Qc7 30. Bc2 $1 $16 {threatens Qe3
(forking e6 and h6) and with White's Ra1 coming to the f-file, now White will
have more pieces pointed at the Black K than vice versa.}) (29... Qg5 $1 {
threatens ...Bxh3 then ...Qg4.} 30. Raf1 $8 {threatens Rf8#.} Bc7 $17 {defends
f8 and renews the threat to h3.}) (29... Bc7 $3 $19 {puts the B on a safe
square so that ...Qh4 is a killing threat. The game might end like this:} 30.
Bd3 Qh4 31. Bf1 Rb8 $8 32. Qc3 Bxh3 33. Bxh3 Rb2+ $1 34. Qxb2 Bxg3+ 35. Kg2
Qe4+ 36. Kf1 Qf3+ 37. Qf2 Qxf2#) 30. Bf3 Bxh3 $15 31. Qe3 Bf5 32. Rg2 Qd8 33.
Kg1 $1 {Getting off h2 means no check from Black's DSB and no h-file pin after
Qxh6.} Bh3 34. Qxh6 Bxg2 {[#]} 35. Qe6+ $2 (35. Bxg2 $2 Qd7 $8 $19 (35... Bxg3
36. Qxc6 $13)) (35. Bg4 $3 Rxg4 36. Qe6+ $13 Kh8 37. Qxg4 Be4 38. Rf1 $1 {
threatening Rf8 and Rf7.} Bxg3 $8 39. Qxg3 Qg8 $8 $11) 35... Kh8 $19 36. Bxg2 (
36. Kxg2 Rxg3+ 37. Kf1 Ra7 $19 (37... Rxf3+ $4 38. Ke2 $11)) 36... Bxg3 37. Rf1
Qh4 38. Rf6 Bf4 39. Kf1 Rxg2 $4 (39... Rb8 $19 {or ...Rb7 for a winning
counter attack.}) 40. Kxg2 $11 Rg8+ 41. Rg6 $8 Qh2+ 42. Kf3 Qh5+ 43. Rg4 Qh1+
44. Kxf4 {[#]} Qf1+ $4 (44... Qh2+ $8 $11 45. Ke3 Qh3+ $8 46. Kf2 Rxg4 (46...
Qxg4 $4 47. Qh6#) 47. Qf6+ Kh7 48. Qf5+ $8 {and White has a perpetual.}) 45.
Ke5 $18 Qe2+ 46. Kf6 $8 (46. Kd6 $2 Rd8+ 47. Kc7 (47. Ke7 Re8+ $19) 47... Qxe6
48. Rh4+ Kg7 49. Kxd8 Qf6+ 50. Be7 $13) 46... Qf3+ 47. Qf5 $8 Qxg4 48. Qxg4 $8
Rxg4 49. a5 Rg2 50. a6 Rf2+ 51. Ke6 Kg7 52. a7 Ra2 53. Kd7 1-0

[Event "Carnival"]
[Site "Quebec"]
[Date "2017.02.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Poulin, Mathieu"]
[Black "Sambuev, Bator"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E42"]
[WhiteElo "2165"]
[BlackElo "2584"]
[Annotator "Bator Sambuev"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,56,16,28,28,6,6,6,26,28,27,27,7,31,27,13,5,-5,20,13,13,-67,6,14,5,-16,
-31,-31,29,13,24,14,58,58,93,66,66,35,43,-98,-170,-155,-123,-140,-138,-156,
-173,-221,-161,-207,-198,-204,-138,-260,-258,-567,-575,-582,-611]} 1. d4 Nf6 2.
c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Nge2 b6 6. a3 Ba5 7. Rb1 Na6 8. f3 O-O 9. e4 d5
10. cxd5 exd5 11. e5 Ne8 12. Ng3 Nec7 13. Be3 f5 14. f4 Ne6 15. Nge2 Rb8 $3 {
"allows me to reach the main goal: to blow up the centre! It took more than 20
minutes to find this move." - Sambuev} 16. g3 b5 17. Kf2 b4 18. axb4 Rxb4 {
[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position} 19. Bg2 $4 {And now the decisive mistake.}
({editor -} 19. dxc5 $1 {is the saving move, because} d4 {does not win a piece
after} ({Instead of ...d4, Black should try} 19... Naxc5 20. Nxd5 (20. Qxd5 $4
Ne4+ $1 21. Kg2 Nxc3 22. Qxd8 Bb7+ $19 {Black will be up a piece with both
White's Rs hanging.}) 20... Ne4+ 21. Kg1 $15 {Black is still down a pawn, but
White's development is woeful.}) 20. Nxd4 Nxd4 21. Na2 $8 {and the Rb4 has no
safe square.}) 19... cxd4 20. Nxd4 Rxd4 21. Bxd4 Nxd4 $19 {Black has a B and N
for the RP, and the rest is simple.} 22. Nxd5 Be6 23. b4 (23. Qxd4 Bb6 $19 {
and both the N and Q are pinned.}) 23... Bb6 24. Ne3 Nc7 25. Qd3 Rf7 26. Rhd1
Rd7 27. Kf1 Ndb5 28. Qxd7 Bxd7 {For some reason my opponent made another
several moves, but let's say he resigned here.} 0-1

[Event "PRO Chess League"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.03.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Preotu, Razvan"]
[Black "Kumar, Nikhil"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2076"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "team (rapid)"]
[EventCountry "NET"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Toronto Dragons"]
[BlackTeam "Miami Cheaters"]

{[%evp 0,58,22,22,71,71,68,75,69,50,45,31,32,34,61,10,23,59,-36,-30,-26,-14,9,
43,-53,-30,-7,3,-5,-71,-103,-149,-145,-191,-194,-212,-257,-250,-204,-246,-244,
-242,-264,-225,-225,-469,-472,-803,-385,-396,-430,-430,-441,-452,-447,-454,
-461,-463,-454,-467,-471]} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Ne7 6.
O-O c5 7. c4 Nbc6 8. dxc5 d4 9. Qb3 Qd7 10. Rd1 Ng6 {[#]} 11. Be3 ({It has
been years since the Caro could be considered a safe refuge from
computer-driven opening prep. Here's an example:} 11. Nc3 $142 f6 12. exf6 gxf6
13. Nd5 $5 Kf7 $1 (13... exd5 $4 14. cxd5 Nce5 15. Bb5 $18) 14. g4 $1 Bxg4 15.
Ng5+ $8 fxg5 $8 16. Bxg4 $8 Nce5 $1 17. Bxg5 $1 Bxc5 $1 (17... Nxg4 $2 18. Qf3+
$18) 18. Nf6 (18. Qg3 $142) 18... Qc6 $1 $11 19. Bh5 $8 Kg7 20. Qg3 Raf8 21.
Re1 Rxf6 22. Rxe5 Rf7 23. Bxg6 hxg6 24. Bf4 Be7 25. Re2 Qxc4 26. Rae1 d3 $13 {
(1-0, 45) Vachier Lagrave,M (2757)-Ding,L (2732) Wijk aan Zee, 2015.}) 11...
Bxc5 12. Qb5 b6 13. Nxd4 Bxd4 14. Bxd4 Rd8 15. Nc3 $8 a6 $15 {[#]} 16. Qxa6 $2
(16. Qa4 $8 $13 b5 (16... Nxd4 17. Rxd4 $8 Qxa4 18. Rxd8+ Kxd8 19. Nxa4 $11) (
16... a5) 17. Qxa6 $1 (17. cxb5 $2 Nxd4 $19) 17... Nxd4 18. Nxb5 Nxe2+ 19. Kf1
Ng3+ $1 (19... Bd3 $2 20. Nd6+ Ke7 21. Rxd3 $18) 20. Ke1 $8 (20. hxg3 $2 Bd3+
$8 21. Kg1 Nxe5 $19 {(½-½, 31) Zhang,C (2156)-Kumar,N (2014) Indianapolis,
2016.}) 20... Bd3 $8 21. Nd6+ Ke7 (21... Kf8 22. Rxd3 Nxe5 23. Rd2 Nf5 24. Rad1
$18) 22. Rxd3 Nxe5 23. Nf5+ Nxf5 24. Rxd7+ Rxd7 $13) 16... Nxd4 $19 17. Bf1 {
[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position Can Black castle, or does it drop a piece?}
(17. Kf1 Nf4 $1 $19) 17... O-O $1 {...Bc2 is also good.} 18. Nb5 {Seems to win
the piece back, but because it undefends the Rd1...} Nf3+ $8 $19 19. gxf3 Qxd1
20. Rxd1 Rxd1 21. Nc3 Re1 22. c5 {Opening the diagonal for the Q stops ...Bd3
and defends f1.} (22. Ne4 {hopes to defend f1} Bh3 23. Ng3 h5 $19) (22. Kg2 {
unpins, but loses to a more complex attack:} Nf4+ 23. Kg3 g5 $1 $19 24. c5 (24.
Bg2 Rg1 {and mate next.}) 24... Nh5+ 25. Kg2 Bd3 $19 26. Bxd3 (26. Qxd3 Nf4+
$19) 26... Nf4+ 27. Kg3 Rg1#) 22... Bh3 23. cxb6 Bxf1 24. Qxf1 Rxf1+ 25. Kxf1
Rb8 26. b4 Rxb6 27. b5 Nxe5 28. Ke2 Nc4 29. Kd3 Na3 {Bhonda won by resignation.
But see sidebar.  Toronto lost this match by one point. But after this match,
Toronto captain Glenn Giffin was notified by chesss.com that Toronto would
advance because a Miami player had violated chess.com's "fair play" rules.
Miami protested, and their disqualification was overturned.  Nikhil Khumar's
chess.com account shows no games in the five years after this match -- perhaps
a sign that he has been banned by chess.com for cheating -- but his game
scores were allowed to stand, allowing Miami to advance to the next round of
the playoffs.  Suspicious people might think it relevant the chess.com
ambassador GM Hikaru Nakamura was a member of the Miami team, and would have
been eliminated from the PRO League play-offs if any of his teammates had been
caught and identified as a cheater.  Another delightful mystery. 
Coincidentally, in the last few months of 2016, just before this game was
played, Nikhil Kumar's FIDE rating shot up from 2000 to 2479. Suspicions of
OTB cheating were aroused, and his FIDE rating spent 2017 dropping the
mid-2200s.  ------------------------------ discussion and links to games: 
https://forum.chesstalk.com/forum/
chesstalk-canada-s-chess-discussion-board-go-to-www-strategygames-ca-for-your-c
hesstalk-canada-s-chess-discussion-board-go-to-www-strategygames-ca-for-your-ch
esstalk-canada-s-chess-discussion-board-go-to-www-strategygames-ca-for-your-che
sstalk-canada-s-chess-discussion-board-go-to-www-strategygames-ca-for-your-ches
stalk-canada-s-chess-discussion-board-go-to-www-strategygames-ca-for-your-chess
talk-canada-s-chess-discussion-board-go-to-www-strategygames-ca-for-your-chess-
alk-canada-s-chess-discussion-board-go-to-www-strategygames-ca-for-your-chess-n
lk-canada-s-chess-discussion-board-go-to-www-strategygames-ca-for-your-chess-ne
k-canada-s-chess-discussion-board-go-to-www-strategygames-ca-for-your-chess-nee
-canada-s-chess-discussion-board-go-to-www-strategygames-ca-for-your-chess-need
canada-s-chess-discussion-board-go-to-www-strategygames-ca-for-your-chess-needs
anada-s-chess-discussion-board-go-to-www-strategygames-ca-for-your-chess-needs/
15927-toronto-dragons?p=167999#post167999} 0-1

[Event "Blackpool Chess Conference"]
[Site "Blackpool"]
[Date "2017.03.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Zhou, Qiyu"]
[Black "Fallowfield, Jeremy R"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2287"]
[BlackElo "2069"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2017.03.12"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,61,16,14,51,40,69,49,49,37,37,31,56,28,30,37,30,25,28,32,25,-16,-6,4,
-4,-2,-4,26,30,27,41,21,21,21,83,63,80,54,54,28,69,50,90,56,78,50,70,73,87,119,
103,101,216,220,313,325,379,370,377,377,29993,29994,29995,29996]} 1. e4 c5 2.
Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. h3 Be7 9. Qf3
Nbd7 10. g4 h6 11. O-O-O b5 12. Qg2 b4 13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. exd5 a5 15. f4 a4 16.
Nd2 b3 17. axb3 axb3 18. Nxb3 exf4 19. Bxf4 O-O 20. Bd3 Nc5 21. Nxc5 $8 {
[%mdl 32832] [#]Critical Position Is White winning a piece after 21...dxc5 22.
d6?} Ra1+ $2 {This does force White's K to the center, but because Black has
to spend a tempo recapturing on c5, checking on a1 has the effect of trading
Black's well-developed Ra8 for White's undeveloped Rh1.} ({After} 21... dxc5 $1
{Black may have been worried about} 22. d6 {which looks like it wins the Be7,
since} Bxd6 ({But Black has clear improvments in this line:} 22... Bxd6 $1 23.
Bxd6 Ra1+ 24. Kd2 Rxd1+ {and on either recapture the Bd3 is pinned to the K,
so Black can safely play ....Qxd6, after which material is equal, but White's
K is more exposed than Black's.}) ({In fact, 22.d6 is a mistake because Black
has even better} 22... c4 $3 $17 23. dxe7 (23. Bxc4 Ra1+ $8 24. Kd2 Bxd6 25.
Rxa1 Bxf4+ 26. Ke1 Re8+ 27. Be2 (27. Kf1 Ne4 $19) 27... Ne4 {with a winning
check coming from either d2, or a5 or g3 or h4.}) 23... Qxe7 {White is up a
piece, but has to give it back immediately with c2-c3 or will get destroyed by
...c3.} 24. c3 $1 (24. Bxc4 Ra1+ 25. Kd2 {Black regains at least a piece with
a huge attack with} Qb4+ $19 ({or} 25... Ne4+ $19)) (24. Qe2 Ra1+ 25. Kd2 Qb4+
$8 $19 {followed soon by ...Re8+ snagging the Q.}) (24. Be2 c3 $1 25. bxc3 Ne4
$19) 24... cxd3 25. Rxd3 Ne4 $1 $17) 23. Bxd6 Qxd6 $2 24. Bh7+ $18 {wins the Q
for White.}) 22. Kd2 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Qa5+ (23... dxc5 24. c4 $5 $14) 24. Ke2
Qxc5 {[#] White is up a pawn with the B-pair, and although her K is in the
center, it is her opponent's K that is in danger. White plays the rest
forcefully and accurately.} 25. Be3 $1 Qb4 $6 ({Of course not} 25... Qxd5 $4
26. Bh7+ $18) (25... Qc7 $142 {coordinating with the kingside.}) 26. g5 $1 hxg5
27. Qxg5 {And Black has to give up a piece to avoid getting mated.} Qb7 (27...
Re8 28. Rg1 g6 29. Bxg6 Nxd5 30. Bh7+ $18) 28. Rg1 Ne8 {and White has a choice
of wins, e.g.} 29. Qh5 Nf6 30. Qh6 g6 31. Bxg6 1-0

[Event "2017 CCCSA IM Norm"]
[Site "Charlotte"]
[Date "2017.03.30"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kleinman, Michael"]
[Black "Vigorito, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E57"]
[WhiteElo "2289"]
[BlackElo "2370"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,61,33,24,83,80,80,59,64,0,0,3,11,-2,25,12,22,-85,37,20,20,14,12,-1,-8,
5,-7,-8,0,-21,-13,24,-24,-27,-22,-42,6,6,38,40,44,43,27,22,107,72,329,151,144,
99,240,280,336,196,110,149,147,167,203,194,1789,2120,29979,1409]} 1. e4 c6 2.
d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 dxc4 7. Bxc4 h6 8. Bh4 e6 9. Nf3
Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. a3 b6 12. Qd3 Bb7 13. Rfe1 Rc8 14. Bb3 Nh5 15. Bg3 Bf6 16.
Bc2 g6 17. Rxe6 $1 {This works only because ...h6 has weakened g6.} Nxg3 18.
hxg3 Bg7 19. Re4 Ne7 20. Rf4 Qc7 21. Re1 Rcd8 22. Ne5 Nc6 $2 23. Qc4 $16 {
Good, but not nearly the best.} (23. Nxf7 $3 $18 {this second strike on the
light squares would end the game:} Rxf7 (23... Rxd4 24. Qxg6 $18 {is mating.})
24. Bb3 Ne5 25. Rxe5 Bxe5 (25... Qxe5 26. Qxg6 $18) 26. Qxg6+ $18 {with total
ownership of the light squares.}) 23... Qe7 24. Bxg6 Bxe5 25. dxe5 Nxe5 {
[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position} 26. Rxe5 $4 {Giving away most of White's
advantage.} (26. Bxf7+ $1 Kh8 (26... Rxf7 $2 27. Rxe5 $18) (26... Qxf7 27. Rxe5
Qxc4 28. Rxc4 {and White is up two pawns with a much safer K.}) 27. Qe2 Rxf7
28. Rxf7 Qxf7 29. Qxe5+ $18 {also with an extra two pawns and huge initiative.}
) (26. Rxf7 $3 {putting yet a third piece en prise to the N would have been a
worthy finish:} Nxc4 27. Rexe7 Rfe8 (27... Rxf7 28. Bxf7+ Kf8 29. Rxb7 $18) 28.
Rg7+ Kh8 29. Rh7+ Kg8 30. Reg7+ Kf8 31. Rxb7 $18) 26... Qxe5 27. Rxf7 Bd5 $8
28. Nxd5 {[#]} Qxd5 $4 (28... Rxf7 $8 29. Bxf7+ Kxf7 $14 {and there are no
particularly useful discovered checks, though White's extra pawns and
protected K give him the easier game.}) 29. Qc7 $1 $18 Rfe8 30. Rg7+ Kf8 31.
Rh7 1-0

[Event "RACC RR"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2017.04.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Upper, John"]
[Black "Zhou, Qiyu"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A27"]
[WhiteElo "2142"]
[BlackElo "2331"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,81,24,-11,-18,-15,-15,-23,46,50,58,47,43,45,42,-6,48,69,78,71,79,67,
62,67,67,48,40,61,48,24,49,47,26,17,36,-35,-90,-57,-11,-26,0,-22,6,-23,55,9,26,
19,10,0,43,4,31,2,46,-9,38,18,85,80,56,55,288,292,378,60,99,69,253,290,415,440,
444,173,281,150,213,307,162,198,198,97,446,449]} 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. e3 Bc5
4. Nf3 d6 5. d4 exd4 6. exd4 Bb6 7. b4 a5 8. b5 Nce7 9. Na4 Ba7 10. Bb2 $6 Nf6
11. Bd3 O-O 12. h3 Ng6 13. O-O Nf4 14. Qd2 N6h5 15. Rfe1 Qf6 16. Be4 Bf5 17.
Bxf5 Qxf5 18. Re3 Qg6 19. Ne1 d5 $2 20. c5 Qg5 21. Rd1 f5 22. b6 cxb6 23. cxb6
Bb8 24. Ba3 Rc8 25. Nc5 Qg6 26. Qb2 Rc6 27. Nd7 Bd6 28. Rb1 Rac8 29. Bxd6 Rxd6
30. Nc5 Qg5 $2 (30... Rcc6 $142) 31. Qb5 $1 $18 h6 32. Kh2 (32. Nxb7 $142 Rg6
33. Nd6 $3) 32... Rg6 {[%mdl 33089] [#]  Critical Position} 33. g3 $4 {Not
threatening the N (because of ....Qg1#), but blocking the attack on g2.} (33.
Qd7 $142 $1 Nxg2 (33... Rf8 34. Qxb7 Nxg2 $2 35. Qxd5+ $18 {and adding a
defender to g2.}) (33... Rd8 34. Qe7 $18 {forces off the Qs before mopping up
the black pawns.}) 34. Qxc8+ (34. Qxd5+ $18 {is simpler.}) 34... Kh7 35. Ne6
Rxe6 36. Qxe6 Nxe1 37. Rbxe1 Nf4 {threatening mate and the Q, but} 38. Rg1 $18
{and White easily wins the exchange up ending because of the b-pawns.}) (33.
Re8+ $142 {one of the main points of Qb5, but here I missed} Rxe8 34. Qxe8+ Kh7
35. Nd7 $1 $18 {I completely missed the N fork on f8.}) 33... Kh7 $2 {
Eliminates some of White's tactics, but not all.  FWIW, both sides were in
time trouble, but there are still an embarrassing number of "?"s here.} (33...
Nxh3 $8 $11 {I don't think I analyzed this at all. Based on her later moves,
Black saw it too late.} 34. Kxh3 $6 {shows Black's point} (34. Nf3 Qg4 $8 $11
35. Re8+ (35. Ne5 Nxf2 $8 36. Qd7 $1 $13 Qh3+ 37. Kg1 Rxg3+ 38. Rxg3 Qxg3+ 39.
Kf1 Qh3+ {and Black should be able to force a draw.}) 35... Kh7 $8 (35... Rxe8
$4 36. Qxe8+ Kh7 37. Ne5 $18 ({or} 37. Nd7 $18)) 36. Ne5 $8 Qxd4 $8 37. Rf1 (
37. Ncd3 Nxf2 38. Nxg6 $11 {with a crazy-looking mess the computer shows is
equal:} Ng4+ 39. Kh3 Rc2 $1 40. Nf8+ Kg8 41. Ng6+ Kh7 42. Nf8+ $11)) 34... Qg4+
$1 (34... f4 $2 35. Qd7 $8 $11) 35. Kg2 $8 (35. Kh2 $2 f4 $8 {with a winning
attack.}) 35... f4 $40 36. Rf3 $8) 34. Nf3 $1 {Now the Q has to run and so the
Nf4 is hanging.} Qd8 35. Ne5 (35. gxf4 {also wins.}) 35... Nxh3 $5 36. Nxg6 (
36. Kxh3 $142 {was both much simpler and objectively better.}) 36... Nxf2 {
[#] White is up a R but Black threatens both ...Ng4+ and ...Kxg6.} 37. Ne5 $4 {
Makes the N safe and stops the fork on g4, but allows Black into the game.} (
37. Rf1 $4 Ng4+ $19) (37. Re8 $2 Qxe8 38. Qxe8 Rxe8 39. Ne5 Re7 $13) (37. Rf3
$142 $18) (37. Kg2 $142 Ng4 38. Re6 $18) (37. Ne6 $142 Ng4+ 38. Kg1 Qd6 39. Qd7
$3 {that woud have been fun to play.} Qxd7 40. Nef8+ Kg8 41. Nxd7 Rd8 (41...
Nxe3 42. Ne7+ $18) 42. Re7 $18) 37... Qg5 $4 (37... f4 $8 $11 {Black is down a
R but gets it all back after} 38. gxf4 (38. Rg1 fxe3 39. Qb1+ $1 Kg8 40. Qf5
$13) (38. Qd7 $11 {bails out.}) 38... Qh4+ 39. Kg1 Nxf4 $13) 38. Qe2 $1 $18 f4
39. Qxf2 (39. gxf4 Qxf4+ (39... Qh4+ 40. Kg1 $8 $18) 40. Kg2 Qxd4 41. Qxh5 $1
Qxe3 42. Qf5+ $18 {and takes on c8 with check on this or the next move.}) 39...
fxe3 40. Qg2 Rf8 $2 41. Ne6 1-0

[Event "Canadian Zonal"]
[Site "Montreal"]
[Date "2017.06.28"]
[Round "3"]
[White "LeSiège, Alexandre"]
[Black "Noritsyn, Nikolay"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2525"]
[BlackElo "2473"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2017.06.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 b5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 Bb7 6. Nbd2 Be7 7. e4 c5 8. Re1
Nc6 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. a3 O-O 11. Ne4 Qb6 12. Bd2 c4 13. dxc4 bxc4 14. Rb1 Rad8
15. Qc1 e5 16. Nc3 Bc5 17. Ne4 Rfe8 18. Nxc5 Qxc5 19. b4 Qd6 20. b5 Nd4 21.
Nxd4 exd4 22. Ba5 Rc8 23. Qd2 Qxa3 24. Red1 d3 25. Ra1 {[%mdl 32769] [#]
Critical Position Complicated: choose between ...Qb2 and ...Qc5.} Qb2 $2 {
Making the Q safe and forking c2 and b5 is obviously a candidate move, but
it's not the best.} (25... Qc5 $1 {hitting f2 and so threatening ...Re2.} 26.
cxd3 c3 $8 27. Qc2 Qxb5 $15 (27... h5 $5 {to soften up White's kingside when
there can be tactics with ...Ne3.})) 26. cxd3 $2 (26. Bxd5 $8 $16 Re2 $1 {
leads to a forcing line where White's scattered pieces can somehow look out
for each other and stop Black's passers:} (26... Bxd5 $2 27. Bc3 $8 Qxb5 28.
Ra5 $1 Qc6 29. Qg5 $18 {threatening mate on g7 and the Bd5.}) 27. Bxb7 (27. Qg5
{leads to a whole course in tactics:} Qd4 $1 {forking f2 and d5.} 28. Bxf7+ {
Desperado.} Kxf7 29. Qh5+ $8 {Fork.} Kg8 30. Qxe2 {using the pin to the
undefended Qd4,} Qd5 $8 {in-between move, defending the Q with a mate threat}
31. f3 $8 dxe2 32. Rxd5 Bxd5 33. Kf2 $14 {White is nominally better in the R
and opposite B ending.}) 27... Rxd2 28. Bxd2 {looks nightmarish for White, but
there's no way to make those passers go:} dxc2 (28... Rb8 29. Bc6 Qxc2 30. Be3
c3 31. Be4 $1 Rd8 32. b6 $1 $18) 29. Bxc8 cxd1=Q+ 30. Rxd1 Qxb5 $16 (30... Qc2
31. Bg4 $18)) 26... c3 $8 27. Qxb2 (27. Bxc3 Qxc3 28. Qxc3 Nxc3 29. Bxb7 Nxd1 {
This woud be excellent for White, but the obvious} 30. Bxc8 {loses an exchange
to} Re1+ 31. Kg2 Ne3+ $19) 27... cxb2 28. Rab1 Rc2 {It's over: Black has a
protected passed pawn on the 2nd and his Rs have the only open files.} 29. Bf1
Rec8 $19 30. Bh3 R8c5 31. Re1 g6 32. Bd7 Nc3 33. Bxc3 R5xc3 34. Bc6 Rc1 $1 {
Bonus exclam for style.} 0-1

[Event "Canadian Zonal"]
[Site "Montreal"]
[Date "2017.06.28"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Oussedik, Elias"]
[Black "Hambleton, Aman"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E16"]
[WhiteElo "2163"]
[BlackElo "2471"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2017.06.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,68,22,19,39,-20,-10,-6,37,9,16,18,82,52,32,47,7,-24,-7,9,35,-12,-48,
-23,-10,-41,-15,-18,-21,-27,-25,-17,-17,-22,-25,-24,-36,-36,-15,-39,-52,-48,
-53,-58,-40,-41,-57,-47,-41,-41,-37,-40,-40,-37,37,-65,-65,-20,-20,-30,-26,-21,
-21,-1,-17,-172,-183,-445,-433,-444,-451]} 1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3
Bb7 5. Bg2 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. Re1 O-O 8. Ne5 Bxg2 9. Kxg2 d5 10. Qc2 c5 11. dxc5
bxc5 12. Nd2 Qb6 13. Ndf3 Nfd7 14. Nxd7 Nxd7 15. cxd5 exd5 16. Rd1 Qb7 17. Bf4
Rfe8 18. Rac1 Rac8 19. b3 h6 20. Qd3 g5 21. Bd2 d4 22. Kg1 Rc6 23. h3 Rce6 24.
Re1 Qd5 25. b4 cxb4 26. Bxb4 h5 27. Qc4 Qxc4 28. Rxc4 g4 29. hxg4 hxg4 {
[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position White has played cautiously but carefully
enough to reach an endgame with material equallity but where his pieces are a
little uncoordinated.  Can White now play Nxd4?} 30. Nxd4 $1 {Yes, but the
tactics are very tricky.} (30. Nh2 $2 Rxe2 31. Rxe2 Rxe2 32. Nxg4 d3 $17) 30...
Re4 $1 {Pinning the Nd4 to the R is the only move to pose any difficulties for
White.} 31. e3 $8 {Defending the N but weakening f3.} (31. Rd1 $2 Nb6 $1 $19
32. f3 $5 {the trickiest} gxf3 $8 33. exf3 Nxc4 34. fxe4 Rd8 $8 {Incredibly,
White can't escape the d-file pin for less than an exchange!} 35. Bc5 (35. Bc3
Na3 $1 {and N goes to c2 or b5.}) 35... Rd7 {defending a7 and threatening ...
Nb2-a4 to remove the B guarding the Nd4.} (35... Nb6 {also works by
threatening ...Na4 and ...Rd7.}) 36. Kf2 (36. Rc1 Bxd4+ {with check!} 37. Bxd4
Rxd4 {and the R defends the N.}) 36... Nb2 37. Rd2 Na4 38. Bxa7 Rxa7 $19) 31...
Ne5 {Hitting the R and setting up forks on f3 and d3.} 32. Rcc1 $4 (32. Rc7 $2
Nd3 $1 33. Rb1 Bxd4 $1 34. exd4 Rb8 35. a3 a5 36. Rd1 axb4 $8 37. Rxd3 Re1+ $1
{controlling the promotion rank with tempo} 38. Kg2 b3 $19) (32. Rc3 $2 Nf3+ $1
33. Nxf3 Rxb4 {and White is hanging on c3 and f3, and} 34. Nd4 {fails to
either capture on d4, exploiting the pin on the e-file.}) (32. Rc2 $8 Nd3 ({
The Bb4 defends e1, otherwise Black would win with} 32... Rxd4 $5 33. exd4 Nf3+
34. Kf1 Nxe1 35. Bxe1 Bxd4 $11) 33. Rb1 $8 Rb8 34. a3 $8 Bxd4 (34... a5 $2 35.
Nc6 $14) 35. exd4 a5 36. Rd1 $8 $11) 32... Nd3 {Wins a whole piece.} 33. Bc3
Nxe1 34. Bxe1 (34. Rxe1 Bxd4 35. Bxd4 Rxd4 $19 {is the same winning tactic as
the game.}) 34... Bxd4 0-1

[Event "Canadian Zonal"]
[Site "Montreal"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Oussedik, Elias"]
[Black "Itkin, David"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2163"]
[BlackElo "2181"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2017.06.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Nf3 exd5
9. cxd5 Re8 10. Bd3 c4 11. Bc2 b5 12. a3 Nbd7 13. O-O h6 14. Be3 Ne5 15. Nxe5
Rxe5 16. Re1 Re8 17. Bd4 a6 18. e5 dxe5 $11 19. Bxe5 Bb7 20. Qd4 {[#]} Rxe5 $3
$13 {Nice! Even without the center pawns, Benoni dark-square play is worth a
lot.} 21. Qxe5 Nxd5 22. Qg3 Nxc3 23. bxc3 Qd2 24. Rac1 Rc8 $1 {Preventing Qc7.
Not just a good move, but good judgment: Black played a positional exchange
sac, and his comp won't go away if he plays slowly.} 25. Bb1 Qb2 26. h4 h5 {
A reluctant Benoni has turned into a positionally and materially unbalanced
mess: Black is collecting on the queenside, but White has serious threats on
the kingside.} 27. Qg5 {Defending the Rc1 and preparing Re7.} (27. Bxg6 $1 fxg6
28. Qxg6 Rf8 $1 {threatening f2.} 29. Rc2 $8 Qxa3 $8 $13 {preventing Re7, with
an exciting mess. For instance, White's most obvious try} 30. Rce2 $2 {
actually loses to} Qc5 $1 {attacking f2 and going to f5 to save the K.} 31. Re7
Qxf2+ $8 32. Kh2 Qxh4+ {draws, or gains time on the increment.} 33. Kg1 Qf2+
34. Kh2 Qxg2+ $1 $19 {forcing off the Qs for a winning endgame.}) 27... Qxa3 $2
{[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position} (27... Rf8 $3 {indirectly guards against
Bxg6 since ...fxg6 will create a double attack on f2, and} 28. Re7 {loses to}
Bf6 $1 29. Qxf6 Qxc1+ 30. Kh2 Bxg2 $1) 28. Re7 $4 {Wins against every defence..
..} (28. Bxg6 $142 $8 fxg6 29. Re7 $18 Ba8 (29... Qd6 30. Rxb7 $18) (29... Bc6
30. Rce1 $8 Qxc3 31. Qxg6 $18) (29... Bh6 {doesn't work here because with the
f7 pawn gone} 30. Qxg6+ {is possible and winning.}) 30. Rce1 $18 (30. Rd1 $18))
{... except one:} 28... Bh6 $8 $19 {Not just the only move to win, but the
only move that doesn't lose. The Q can't protect both Rs.} (28... Bf6 $2 29.
Qxf6 Qxc1+ 30. Kh2 {If Black's B was on d5 or R on f8 this would be winning
for Black, but here f7 is insufficiently defended and it is +-.} Rf8 (30... Bd5
31. Bxg6 $1 $18) 31. Bxg6 $8 $18) 29. Qxh6 (29. Qg3 $4 {is much worse} Qxc1+
30. Kh2 Bf4 $19) (29. Qf6 $4 Qxc1+ 30. Kh2 Bf4+ $1 {and White has to give up
the Q to stop mate.}) 29... Qxe7 30. Kf1 Re8 {[#] Threatening ...Qxh4 winning
a pawn with mate on h1.} 31. Kg1 (31. g3 $2 {leads to a familiar pattern} Qe2+
32. Kg1 Qe1+ 33. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 34. Kh2 Rh1#) (31. Bxg6 fxg6 32. Qxg6+ Kf8 33. Qxh5
(33. Qh6+ Qg7 $19) 33... Qe4 $19 {there's no perpetual and Black's attack is
faster than White's kingside passers.}) 31... Qe6 {The price to sac on g6 just
went up.} (31... Qxh4 $4 32. Bxg6 fxg6 $8 33. Qxg6+ Kf8 34. Qh6+ $8 $11) 32.
Qf4 Qe5 33. Qh6 Qd5 34. f3 Re2 35. Kf1 (35. Bxg6 Rxg2+ $19) 35... Qd2 36. Qxd2
Rxd2 37. Bc2 Kf8 38. Ke1 Rxg2 0-1

[Event "CAN-op"]
[Site "Sault Ste Marie"]
[Date "2017.07.07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Preotu, Razvan"]
[Black "Itkin, David"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2633"]
[BlackElo "2357"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,78,22,22,71,68,69,69,77,45,45,39,71,65,36,68,38,-2,-15,-26,-20,-17,
-15,-2,-20,-24,-24,-24,-23,-27,-23,-23,-21,-24,-10,-3,-6,-34,-5,-13,-26,-9,-1,
-1,-24,-24,-7,-19,-12,-24,-23,-32,-39,-32,-31,-39,-33,-51,-27,-39,-17,-64,-42,
-42,-38,-42,-42,-63,-109,-236,-228,-222,-217,-225,-216,-217,-120,-790,-1133,
-29991,-1219]} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. Be3 cxd4 7.
Nxd4 Ne7 8. c4 Nbc6 9. Nc3 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Nc6 12. Bb5 Be7 $15 13.
O-O O-O 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. f4 c5 16. Be3 Qb8 17. Qe2 c4 18. Rfe1 Rd8 19. Rad1
Qb4 20. Rxd8+ Bxd8 21. Rd1 Bd3 22. Qf3 Rc8 23. Rd2 Qb8 24. Qd1 Ba5 25. Qa4 Bb6
26. Bf2 Bxf2+ 27. Rxf2 Qb6 28. Qd7 Rf8 29. g3 Rd8 30. Qe7 Bf5 $19 31. Kg2 Qc6+
32. Kg1 Qb6 33. Kg2 h6 34. h3 Rd3 35. Re2 Qc6+ 36. Kh2 Qf3 37. Rg2 {[%mdl
32832] [#]Critical Position Black's pieces surround White's K, all he needs is
a move that makes the house of cards collapse.} Kh7 $3 {Not the only winning
move, but the one that gets to the heart of the position: spending a tempo 
(and seemingly giving up a pawn) to prevent a back-rank check deprives White
of his only defences!} (37... Bxh3 $2 {doesn't win when the White Q can get
back to h4:} 38. Kxh3 g5 $1 (38... Qh5+ $4 39. Qh4 $18 {a variation which
shows why the white Q has to be able to move to h4.}) 39. Kh2 Qh5+ 40. Kg1 Rd1+
{Black can and should force a perpetual.}) (37... Rxc3 $2 {doesn't work where
there's a back rank check:} 38. bxc3 Be4 39. Qd8+ Kh7 40. Qd2 Qf1 $14 {
Exchanges on g2 leave White's K in charge in a winning KP ending. This
variation shows that the white Q has to be able to get back to defend g2/h1.
Seeing that the white Q has two jobs explains why ...Kh7 is such a good move.})
38. g4 (38. Qxa7 Bxh3 $1 $19) (38. Qxf7 {(or a3, or some other "pass" move)}
Rxc3 39. bxc3 Be4 $19 {and there's no stopping mate on g2 or h1.}) 38... Qxf4+
39. Kg1 Be4 {The big upset of round 1 at the 2017 Canadian Open.} 0-1

[Event "2017 CYCC - U18"]
[Site "Sault Ste. Marie"]
[Date "2017.07.08"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Petersen, Caleb"]
[Black "Doknjas, John"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2281"]
[BlackElo "2107"]
[Annotator "John Doknjas"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2016.07.11"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nge2 Bg7 8. Ng3
O-O 9. Be2 Re8 10. h4 h5 11. Bg5 Nbd7 12. O-O a6 13. a4 Qc7 14. Qd2 c4 15. Bh6
Bh8 16. Rae1 Ne5 17. Be3 Nfg4 18. Bd4 Qe7 19. Bxg4 Nxg4 20. f3 Ne5 21. f4 Ng4
22. Bxh8 Qxh4 23. Rf3 Qh2+ 24. Kf1 Kxh8 25. Qd4+ Kg8 26. Qxc4 h4 27. Nge2 {
[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position} h3 $3 {A startling move! I found this idea
by seeing two tactical themes, and then just needing a way to use them
together. The two tactical ideas are:  1) ...Ne3+, forking the King and Queen.
If only Rf3 wasn't there...  2) The second idea is shown in the following
variation, where I can win the exchnage but my Queen gets trapped:} (27... Qh1+
$2 28. Ng1 Nh2+ 29. Kf2 Nxf3 30. Nxf3 {I have won the exchange, but my Queen
is trapped.}) 28. gxh3 (28. Rxh3 $2 {Now the first tactical idea comes into
play:} Qxh3 $1 29. gxh3 Ne3+ 30. Kf2 Nxc4 $19 {White is down a Rook for a pawn.
}) 28... Qh1+ ({editor - Black's move is both winning and human, but the
computer finds an even stronger, though way more complex, way to win:} 28...
Nf2 $3 29. Rc1 (29. Rxf2 $2 Bxh3+ {mates.}) 29... Bxh3+ 30. Ke1 Nxe4 $1 31.
Nxe4 Qh1+ 32. Kf2 (32. Kd2 Qxf3 33. Nf6+ Kf8 34. Nxe8 Rxe8 35. Rc3 $19 {
Black is up only a pawn, but computers rate it as +5.}) 32... Qg2+ 33. Ke3 Rac8
$1 (33... Bf5 $19) 34. Qd3 Rxc1 35. Nxc1 Bf5 $19 {Pro Tip: if your opponent
plays like this, ask the TD to bring a metal detector.}) 29. Ng1 Nh2+ 30. Kf2 {
Obviously better than 30.Ke2:} (30. Ke2 Nxf3 31. Nxf3 Qg2+ $19) 30... Nxf3 31.
Nxf3 Qxh3 {[#] The point of playing 27...h3 - the Queen is able to escape.} 32.
Rg1 {A good move, trying to get counterplay against the Black King.} ({editor -
} 32. f5 $1 {is better, with the same idea as Rg1, but forcing Black to find
some only moves to keep the advantage:} Bxf5 $8 (32... gxf5 $2 33. Rg1+ Kf8 34.
e5 $1 Qh6 $8 $13) 33. exf5 Rxe1 $8 34. Nxe1 Qxf5+ {and White might be able to
trick his way out of it.}) 32... Bg4 {Not relinquishing my attack. It would
have been a mistake to release my pressure and just be content with the extra
exchange - White still has dangerous attacking ideas.} 33. Rg3 Qh5 {The Queen
is safe on this square, and it prepares to invade White's camp after the
f3-Knight is captured.} 34. Qc7 $2 {Going for counterplay, but this move
allows Black to end things quickly.} (34. Qf1 {Defending the White King, and
preparing to start counterplay on the Kingside against Black's King.}) 34...
Bxf3 35. Rxf3 Qh2+ {b2 will fall, and White's King lacks a proper defence.} 36.
Ke3 Qxb2 37. Rf2 Qb4 {Threatening 38. ..Rac8. If White's Knight moves from c3,
then e4 drops and it is over.} 38. Ne2 Qxe4+ 39. Kd2 Rac8 0-1

[Event "CAN-op"]
[Site "Sault Ste Marie"]
[Date "2017.07.13"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Hambleton, Aman"]
[Black "Vovk, Andrey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2522"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Ne2 Nc6 3. Nbc3 Nf6 4. g3 d6 5. Bg2 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. d4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bd7 9. Nde2 O-O 10. h3 Ne5 11. a4 Qa5 12. b3 b5 13. Be3 bxa4 14. Nxa4 Qc7
15. c4 Rfb8 16. Ra3 Nc6 17. Nac3 a6 18. Qd2 Qc8 19. Kh2 Rb7 20. f4 Rab8 21. Qd1
Bg4 22. f5 Bxe2 23. Nxe2 Nd7 24. fxg6 hxg6 25. e5 Ndxe5 26. Nf4 a5 27. Nd5 a4
28. Rxa4 Rxb3 29. Bg5 {[%mdl 32832] [#]Critical Position What happens after 31.
..Rb1?} Bf8 {Black keeps a huge advantage after this, but it misses and
immediate KO:} (29... Rb1 $142 $1 {wins} 30. Bc1 (30. Qe2 R8b2 $19) (30. Qxb1
Rxb1 31. Rxb1 Qf5 $19 {Black's Q forks g5 and b1.}) 30... Bh6 31. Qc2 Bxc1 32.
Rxc1 R8b2 $1 33. Qxb1 (33. Qd1 Rxc1 34. Qxc1 Nf3+ $3 $19 {as in the mainline.})
33... Nf3+ $1 34. Kh1 Qxh3+ $1 35. Bxh3 Rh2#) 30. c5 dxc5 (30... Rb1 $142 $1)
31. Rh4 $1 {[#]  Critical Position What happens after 31...Rb1?} Rd3 $2 ({
Better is ...Qd7, but I'll leave it to you to figure out why.} 31... Rb1 {
doesn't win for Black anymore, but the refutation is not at all obvious:} 32.
Bf6 $8 {threatening mate on h8} (32. Qa4 $2 Rxf1 33. Bxf1 Nf3+ $19) (32. Qe2
Rxf1 33. Qxf1 Qf5 $19) 32... Bg7 $8 (32... Rxd1 $4 33. Rh8#) (32... exf6 $4 33.
Nxf6+ Kg7 34. Rh7#) 33. Bxg7 Rxd1 34. Nf6+ $8 Kxg7 $8 (34... exf6 35. Bxf6 {
and there's no defence to Rh8#.}) 35. Rh7+ Kf8 36. Rh8+ Kg7 37. Rh7+ $8 $11)
32. Qc1 $2 (32. Bf6 {draws, as in the variations above after 31...Rb1.}) 32...
Nd7 $4 (32... Rd4 $142 {to trade the Rh4 while also defending the 4th rank and
keeping the Ne5 where it defends f7.}) (32... Bg7 $142 33. Nxe7+ Nxe7 34. Bxe7
Qd7 35. Qxc5 Rd2 $19 {with a winning attack.}) 33. Qf4 $1 $18 Nce5 {[%mdl 192]
[#]Critical Position Does White have anything better than Bxe7?} 34. Nxe7+ $2 {
Another mistake in a head-spinning position.} (34. Bxe7 $5 Rxd5 $1 35. Bxd5 $16
) (34. Bf6 $3 $18 {this wins, but only if you see the follow up} Nxf6 (34...
Bg7 35. Nxe7+ $18) 35. Qxf6 $8 {would be a wonderful move to play against
anyone, but especially so against a 2600+ GM} Bg7 (35... exf6 36. Nxf6+ Kg7 37.
Rh7#) 36. Nxe7+ Kf8 37. Nxg6+ (37. Rh8+ {also forces mate.}) 37... Kg8 (37...
Nxg6 38. Qxf7#) 38. Rh8+ $1 Bxh8 39. Qxh8#) 34... Bxe7 35. Bxe7 Rb2 $2 {
This creates some terrific threats for Black, but if White can walk a
tightrope of only moves he'll end up with a winning position.} (35... Rd4 $1
$15) 36. Qh6 $8 {[#]  Critical Position What happens if ...Rxg2?} Rxg2+ $1 {
A good try, which forces White to play precisely.} 37. Kh1 $8 (37. Kxg2 $2 Qa8+
$8 38. Kh2 Qa2+ $8 39. Kh1 Qd5+ $8 40. Kh2 Rd2+ $19) 37... Rg1+ 38. Kxg1 $8 (
38. Rxg1 $4 Qb7+ 39. Rg2 (39. Kh2 Nf3+ $19) 39... Rd1+ 40. Kh2 Nf3#) 38...
Rxg3+ 39. Kh2 $1 Rxh3+ 40. Kxh3 $8 (40. Rxh3 $4 Ng4+ $19) 40... Nf6+ {That's a
check!} 41. Kg2 $1 {Five precise moves by the K -- and the time control
passed! -- and White is safe.} Nh5 (41... Qb7+ 42. Kg1 $18) 42. Bf6 $1 (42.
Rxh5 $4 Qg4+ $11) 42... Qc6+ 43. Kg1 $1 Nf3+ 44. Rxf3 $8 {Getting out of check
and defending the Bf6. Black has no more checks and no way to stop mate on h8
or g7.} 1-0

[Event "Barcelona Sants Open"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2017.08.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Blomqvist, Erik"]
[Black "Kleinman, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B11"]
[WhiteElo "2526"]
[BlackElo "2340"]
[Annotator "Michael Kleinman"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2017.08.18"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,58,28,24,87,71,51,47,113,71,105,81,111,98,113,81,60,47,44,29,21,16,13,
14,27,25,7,2,19,20,22,17,14,3,6,-2,-6,4,0,0,0,-35,-26,-24,-24,-25,-26,-60,-39,
-30,-51,-66,-74,-73,0,-382,-375,-1200,-1750,-29991,-29992]} 1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5
3. Nc3 a6 4. d4 Bg4 5. h3 Bh5 6. Bd3 e6 7. e5 c5 8. g4 Bg6 9. Bxg6 hxg6 10. Ne2
cxd4 {This move is important. If White is able to play c3, we would basically
transpose to Short-Khalifman (2001), where Short won a very nice game by
putting his king on g2, knight to f4, and advanced the h-pawn.} 11. Nexd4 Nc6
12. c3 Nge7 13. Kf1 Qc7 14. Kg2 Rc8 15. Be3 Nxd4 16. Bxd4 Nc6 17. Qe2 Nxd4 18.
cxd4 Be7 19. Qe3 Qb6 20. Rab1 Rc2 21. Qd3 Qc7 22. Qe3 Qb6 23. a4 $2 (23. Qd3
$142 $11) 23... Kd7 24. b3 Rhc8 25. Qf4 Qb4 (25... g5 $1 {would have basically
won on the spot.} 26. Qxf7 Rf8 27. Qg6 Rc3 $1 $19 {Somehow, I didn't consider
this move as I wanted to keep the rook on the second rank. I played ...Qb4 so
that ...Qc3 would be possible after 26. Qxf7.}) 26. h4 Re2 {[%mdl 32832] [#]
Critical Position Qxf7, Rhd1, or ....?} 27. Qxf7 $4 (27. Rhd1 $2 Re4 28. Qg3
Rc3 $19 {try to find a move for White.}) (27. Rhe1 $1 {is necessary, so that ..
.Re4 is not possible. Play might continue} Rxe1 28. Nxe1 Ke8 (28... Bxh4 $2 29.
g5 $16) 29. Nd3 Qb6 $15) 27... Rf8 28. Qxg6 Rxf2+ $8 {editor - Only move to
win, and what White must have missed. The Q and R will force mate.} 29. Kxf2
Qd2+ 0-1

[Event "Calgary Int."]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2018.08.17"]
[Round "6.3"]
[White "Chiku-Ratte, Olivier-Kenta"]
[Black "Hambleton, Aman"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E16"]
[WhiteElo "2311"]
[BlackElo "2497"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2018.08.14"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,78,28,22,22,5,5,7,32,14,11,14,79,56,39,36,51,42,38,40,31,14,11,13,15,
8,7,21,18,37,36,36,14,-96,-93,-101,-90,-183,-164,-161,-191,-186,-207,-253,-259,
-253,-190,-190,-205,-245,-240,-308,-248,-295,-307,-304,-334,-330,-341,-330,
-341,-326,-342,-341,-341,-348,-359,-394,-408,-395,-451,-541,-529,-529,-512,
-546,-540,-862,-728,-1140,-1166]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2
g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Nxe4 Bxe4 9. Bg5 f6 10. Bd2 O-O 11. Bc3 {[#] Black
could equalize with ...f6-f7!, but that's not legal.} f5 12. Rc1 Nc6 (12... d6
13. c5 $5) 13. d5 $1 Bxc3 14. Rxc3 exd5 15. cxd5 Nb4 (15... Ne7 16. Ng5 $16 (
16. d6 $16) 16... Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Nc8 18. Qc1 $16) 16. Qb3 $2 {[%mdl 32832]
Natural, but Black has a clever tactic to get the advantage. [#]  Critical
Position} (16. Rc4 $142 a5 (16... Nxd5 17. Rxe4 fxe4 18. Qxd5+ $18 {with check.
}) 17. a3 Na6 18. b4 $1 $16 {Black's N is on a bad circuit and his K is
exposed.}) 16... Nxd5 $8 $15 (16... Na6 17. d6+ Kh8 (17... Kg7 18. dxc7 Nxc7
19. Rd1 d5 20. Nd4 Bxg2 21. Rxc7+ $18) 18. dxc7 Nxc7 19. Ne5 Bxg2 20. Kxg2) 17.
Ne1 (17. Rd1 c6 $8 $17) (17. Ng5 $2 Qxg5 18. Bxe4 fxe4 $19 {and the Nd5 is
defended.}) (17. Nd2 {doesn't let the N attack d5, so} Bxg2 18. Kxg2 c6 $17)
17... Rf7 $8 $17 {Unpinning the N means ...Nxc3 is now a threat. Everything
else leaves White with a big edge.} (17... Bxg2 $2 18. Nxg2 c6 19. Ne3 $16 {
White gets the pawn back with a much safer K, more active pieces, and a better
structure.}) 18. f3 $6 {After this Black has to find a few "only moves", after
which White is objectively lost.} (18. Rc1 Bxg2 19. Nxg2 c6 $17) 18... Nxc3 $8
19. fxe4 Nxe2+ $8 20. Kh1 Nd4 21. Qc3 c5 $1 22. exf5 Rxf5 23. Rxf5 {[#]} gxf5
$8 {White can get the exchange back at any time, but he's two pawns down, so
that just transposes into a losing ending.} (23... Nxf5 $4 24. Bd5+ $8 Kf8 25.
Qh8+ Ke7 26. Qe5+ $11 {is a perpetual.}) 24. Bd5+ Kg7 25. Qe3 (25. Bxa8 Qxa8+
26. Kg1 Qe4 $19 {Black is up two pawns and has better pieces.}) 25... d6 26.
Nd3 (26. Bxa8 Qxa8+ 27. Kg1 Qe4 $19) 26... Rc8 27. Nf4 Qe8 28. Ne6+ Kh8 $1 (
28... Kf6 $4 29. Qg5+ Ke5 30. Qe3+ Kxd5 31. Nc7+ $13) (28... Nxe6 $19) 29. Qc3
Qb5 {Mate threat on f1.} 30. Bc4 Qc6+ 31. Kg1 Qe4 32. Ng5 Qe7 33. h4 Re8 34.
Kf2 d5 35. Bf1 f4 $1 36. gxf4 h6 $1 37. Nf3 Qe4 38. Bg2 Qxf4 39. Kf1 Re3 0-1

[Event "RA December Open"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2018.12.07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Upper, John"]
[Black "Sambuev, Bator"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2212"]
[BlackElo "2569"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,58,28,-22,-15,-15,-15,-29,66,7,50,51,45,10,-2,-5,-4,-4,-8,-18,-9,-18,
4,-12,10,0,11,-2,2,2,30,-1,25,9,10,-7,-6,-8,-5,-17,-24,-27,-18,-28,-18,-22,-23,
-40,-56,-396,-409,-407,-407,-407,-407,-448,-456,-460,-433,-448,-448]} 1. c4 e5
2. Nc3 Nc6 3. e3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. d4 d6 6. dxe5 Nxe5 7. Nxe5 Bxe5 8. Bd2 Ne7 9.
Be2 O-O 10. O-O Nf5 11. Rc1 c6 12. b3 Re8 13. g3 h5 14. Bf3 h4 {Black is
struggling manfully for complications, while White is blithely coasting within
sight of equality. This may or may not be a recommendation for White's opening.
} 15. Ne2 $11 hxg3 16. hxg3 Ng7 17. Nf4 (17. Kg2 $142 {preparing to use the
h-file, here or on any of the next few moves...}) 17... Ne6 18. Nxe6 Bxe6 19.
Bc3 Qf6 20. Bxe5 dxe5 21. Qe2 (21. Bg4 $142 $15) 21... a5 22. Rfd1 Kg7 23. Bg4
$2 Rh8 $1 {[%mdl 40960] [#]Critical Position White to play and lose.} 24. Kg2
$4 {Worse late rather than never.} (24. Bxe6 $142 Qxe6 25. e4 Qh3 26. Qf3 g5
27. Qg2 (27. Rd6 $2 Qh2+ 28. Kf1 Qh1+ 29. Ke2 Qxc1 30. Qf6+ Kg8 $19) 27... Qg4
28. f3 Qe6 $19 {Material is equal, but Black is ready to double on the h-file..
.} 29. Kf2 a4 $1 $19 {... or break in on the a-file.} (29... Rh3)) 24... Bxg4
25. Qxg4 Rh2+ $8 $19 26. Kxh2 Qxf2+ 27. Kh3 Rh8+ 28. Qh4 Rxh4+ 29. gxh4 Qxe3+ {
Whatever was going through my head during this game wass more like ear worms
and amyloid plaques than chess ideas.} 0-1

[Event "GAMMA Reykjavik Open"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2019.04.08"]
[Round "1.26"]
[White "Abrahams, Daniel"]
[Black "Kanarek, Marcel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A38"]
[WhiteElo "2143"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,81,32,2,46,47,47,1,1,11,15,8,29,26,37,6,6,3,16,20,24,5,19,16,27,20,28,
16,34,30,50,74,67,-5,-7,-7,-2,-12,39,42,24,20,28,28,25,17,13,26,29,27,37,93,
103,46,96,109,155,141,148,84,155,72,73,72,85,88,81,88,88,90,659,717,1074,1410,
1564,1207,1299,1349,1401,1401,29993,29994,29997,29998]} 1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3.
g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nf3 d6 6. O-O c5 7. a3 Nc6 8. Rb1 a5 9. d3 Bd7 10. Bg5 h6
11. Bd2 Ne8 12. Ne1 Nc7 13. Nc2 a4 14. Ne3 Na5 15. Nxa4 Nxc4 16. dxc4 Bxa4 17.
Qc1 Bc6 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. cxd5 h5 20. f4 Nb5 21. e3 Qd7 22. Qc2 Rfc8 23. f5 g5
24. Qd1 g4 25. h3 c4 26. hxg4 hxg4 27. Qxg4 c3 28. bxc3 Nxc3 29. Rb3 Ra4 30.
Qh5 Ne4 31. Bxe4 Rxe4 32. Rfb1 Qa4 33. Rxb7 Qxa3 34. Rb8 Rec4 {[%mdl 32848] [#]
Critical Position} 35. f6 $8 $18 {Threatening the B (obviously), and also
prying open the seventh rank.} exf6 (35... Bxf6 $2 36. Rxc8+ Rxc8 37. Qg4+ $18
{forks the K and R.}) 36. R1b7 $8 Qa1+ (36... R4c7 {defends f7 and c8, but not
for long: but because of the pins White can take either rook and still have a
double attack on f7!}) 37. Kf2 f5 {Defending the Bg7 from a1.} 38. Qxf7+ Kh8 {
[#]} 39. Rb1 $1 {Not the only winning move, bue very nice use of the whole
board: White threatens both the Q and Rh1, returning to its starting square
with mate.} Rxb8 40. Rxb8+ Kh7 41. Qxf5+ {With a discovered mate next.   This
was Daniel's second excellent start in Reykjavik: in 2014 he drew in round 1
with 2700 rated Li Chao. Eventually Daniel will get a Black in round 1 at
Reykjavik, but until then, he has a round 1 TPR there of 2802!} 1-0

[Event "CAN-ch"]
[Site "Kingston CAN"]
[Date "2019.04.21"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Noritsyn, Nikolay"]
[Black "Samsonkin, Artiom"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2489"]
[BlackElo "2424"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2019.04.18"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,65,21,10,41,59,77,58,63,30,45,29,70,42,70,38,73,56,61,50,50,41,20,29,
32,32,37,32,53,22,9,25,35,49,35,39,39,39,32,42,42,53,64,0,-7,-19,-21,-173,9,15,
73,9,30,0,0,0,65,331,457,548,638,673,696,696,886,905,1040,1040]} 1. e4 c5 2.
Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 g6 7. g4 h5 8. g5 Nfd7 9. f4 Bg7
10. f5 Nc6 11. Be3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Be5 13. Qd2 b5 14. O-O-O Bb7 15. Rhf1 Qc7 16.
Kb1 Rc8 17. Bxe5 Nxe5 18. f6 b4 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. exd5 O-O 21. Rc1 a5 22. Rf4 {
[#]A Very Sicilian middlegame: White is all over the kingside while Black has
play on the c-file and against White's mechanically isolated d5-pawn.  Can
White get enough play if Black goes ....Qb7 to follow up with ...Rc5 and ...
Rfc8.} Qb7 {This is a perfectly reasonable move -- c2 is well defended, so
Black gives up the battery while the Q keeps an eye on d5 (stopping Bd3) and
unblocks the Rc8 to allow ...Rc5 and ...Rfc8 -- but being on b7 leaves the Q
one move slower to get to the kingside...} (22... Rfe8 $142 $13) (22... Qb6
$142 $15) (22... Qd7 $142 $15 23. Bxh5 $2 gxh5 24. Qe2 Ng6 25. Qxh5 Nxf4 26.
Qh6 exf6 27. gxf6 Qg4 $19) (22... Qa7 $142 $17 {prepares ...Rc5 while keeping
the Q on a more active diagonal, guarding g1 in critical lines.} 23. Bxh5 $2
gxh5 24. Qe2 Ng6 25. Qxh5 {[#] Don't play the Sicilian if you don't enjoy this:
Analysis Diagram} Rxc2 $8 $19 (25... Nxf4 {Is the only other move that doesn't
lose:} 26. Qh6 exf6 27. gxf6 Ne6 $13 {can White play for zugzwang!?}) 26. Qh6 (
26. Rxc2 Nxf4 27. Qh6 exf6 28. gxf6 Qg1+ 29. Rc1 Qg6+ $19 {saving the K and
the N.}) 26... Rxc1+ 27. Kxc1 Qe3+ 28. Kd1 exf6 29. gxf6 Qg1+ {defends} (29...
Qd3+ $1 {attacks}) 30. Kd2 Nxf4 $19) 23. Bxh5 $1 {[%mdl 33088] White's
advanced pawns look menacing, but how to make progress without this? [#] 
Critical Position Black has an incredible defence after ...gxh5; can you find
it?} Rc5 $2 (23... gxh5 $1 {is critical, and shoud draw with best play, but it
is very very hard to see how Black can defend g7 against Qh5-h6, especially
since the normal ways to defend g7 (...Qf8 or ...Qg6, or eliminating the
f6-pawn) are clearly not possible. The key in several of these lines is that
Black can defend back along the g-file after exchanging pawns on f6.} 24. Qe2
Ng6 (24... Ng4 $2 25. h3 $18) 25. Qxh5 $8 (25. Rf5 $2 Qd7 $8 26. Rcf1 Qc7 {
hitting c2} 27. R1f2 (27. R5f2 {keeps c2 and the back rank defended, but} Qc4
$1 28. Qxh5 exf6 $8 29. gxf6 Qh4 $8 $19) 27... Rfe8 28. Qxh5 a4 29. Qh6 exf6
$19 {stops mate and threatens ...Re1.}) 25... Nxf4 26. Qh6 {Analysis Diagram 
[#]} Nh5 $8 {that this move -- which is the only way to prevent Qg7# -- could
do more than postpone mate by a move is probably the hardest part to see.} 27.
Qxh5 $8 Qxd5 28. Qh6 $8 (28. Rg1 Qd2 $19 {hits c2 and prevents g5-g6.}) 28...
exf6 $8 29. g6 $8 (29. gxf6 $4 Qg2 $19 {defends the whole g-file and wins.})
29... fxg6 30. Qxg6+ $11 {and White can and should force a draw.} Kh8 31. Qh6+
(31. Rg1 $4 Qg8 $19) 31... Kg8 32. Qg6+ $11 (32. Rg1+ $6 Kf7 33. Qg7+ Ke6 34.
Re1+ Qe5 $8 $15)) 24. Be2 $1 Qxd5 25. Qe3 $1 {[#]Materially, trading Black's
h-pawn for White's d-pawn is equal, but the open h-file and terrible
dark-squares around the Black K spell doom so long as White keeps the major
pieces on.} Qe6 (25... Nc6 26. Bd3 (26. Rg1 Qe6 27. Qf2 exf6 28. gxf6 Re8 (
28... Rc8 $2 29. Bg4 $16) 29. Rxg6+ fxg6 30. f7+ $14) 26... Qxg5 (26... Qe5 27.
Qg3 Qxg5 28. Rg4 Qxf6 29. Bxg6 $18) 27. Rg1 Re5 (27... Qh6 28. fxe7 Re8 29.
Bxg6 $18) 28. Qf2 Qh6 29. Rfg4 $18 {once again, threatening Bxg6.}) (25... Nc4
26. Bxc4 Rxc4 27. Rxc4 Qxc4 28. fxe7 $8 $19) (25... exf6 26. gxf6 Nd7 {
attacking f6} 27. Bg4 $8 Ne5 28. Bh3 $18 {and attack on the h-file.}) 26. Qg3
$1 exf6 27. gxf6 $8 Nc4 {So Black can defend the h-file with ...Rh5.} 28. Bd3 {
[#] There's no good defence to Bxg6.} Na3+ (28... Ne5 29. Qh4 $18) (28... Qe3
29. Bxc4 $18 {wins a piece.}) (28... g5 29. Qh4 $3 {mates with bonus style
points.}) 29. bxa3 bxa3 30. Bxg6 $1 Rb8+ 31. Ka1 Kf8 (31... Qe5+ 32. c3 Rxc3
33. Bh7+ {and mate next.}) 32. Bh7 Ke8 33. Re4 1-0

[Event "Quebec op"]
[Site "Longueuil"]
[Date "2019.07.23"]
[Round "5.16"]
[White "Guipi Bopala, Prince Eric jr"]
[Black "Saha, Ananda"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A47"]
[WhiteElo "1619"]
[BlackElo "2059"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2019.07.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,52,28,22,34,39,27,27,50,43,73,70,80,58,58,37,34,31,31,22,31,20,22,15,
14,-25,18,-7,6,12,22,-17,-22,-13,-24,-3,-21,-211,-291,-269,-196,-196,-192,-192,
-224,-213,-394,-379,-260,-773,-772,-773,-812,-933,-835]} 1. d4 e6 2. Bf4 Nf6 3.
e3 b6 4. Nf3 Nh5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. c3 Bb7 8. Bd3 f5 9. Nbd2 O-O 10.
O-O d6 11. e4 Nf4 12. Bc2 Nd7 13. exf5 exf5 14. Re1 Qf6 15. Nf1 g5 $1 16. Ne3
$2 g4 $1 17. Nd2 Qg5 18. Ndf1 {[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position} Bxg2 $1 {
Best.} ({Building up also works:} 18... Rae8 19. Qd2 Nf6 $19 {just more slowly.
}) 19. Bxf5 (19. Nxg2 $2 Nh3+ 20. Kh1 Nxf2+ $19) 19... Bf3 20. Qb3+ (20. Qc2
Nh3#) 20... Kh8 21. Ng3 (21. Bxd7 Nh3#) 21... Nf6 22. Bc2 Nh3+ 23. Kf1 Qf4 24.
Re2 Bxe2+ 25. Kxe2 Qxf2+ 26. Kd3 Nf4+ 0-1

[Event "Ontario Jr Championship"]
[Site "Mississauga"]
[Date "2020.01.18"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Ajith, Aayush"]
[Black "Papneja, Arul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D33"]
[WhiteElo "1862"]
[BlackElo "1879"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. g3 Nc6 7. Bg2 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bc5 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. O-O O-O 11. Qc2 Bb6 12. b3 Re8 {[%mdl 64] [#]
Critical Position:  Should White go Na4 to fight for c5, or develop the Rs
with Rfd1, Bb2 and Rac1?} 13. Rd1 $4 (13. Na4 $142 {is slightly better for
White according to Stockfish 11, but equal according to SF15 and Leela.} Bd7
$11 {Aronian,L (2775)-Carlsen, M (2872) Moscow, 2019 (0-1, 41).}) 13... Bg4 $2
$15 (13... Bxf2+ $3 $19 {[%mdl 32832] At least since version 11, Stockfish
instantly picks this as the winner. Leela had more trouble: two year old
versions of it didn't rate it among its top three lines, but the current
version finds it after a few seconds. The important thing to see is that after}
14. Kxf2 Qb6+ $1 {is winning for Black.} 15. e3 (15. Kf1 Ng4 $19) (15. Kf3 Bg4+
16. Kf4 Qc7+ {is mating too.}) 15... Rxe3 $1 16. Bxe3 (16. Na4 Ng4+ $19) 16...
Ng4+ $19) (13... Ng4 $1 {was older Leela's top choice, and it's also good for
a winning advantage:} 14. e3 Qf6 15. Qb2 (15. Bb2 Qh6 $1 $19 {and ...Nxf2.}) {
and now either ...Qh6 or} 15... Ne5 {followed by ...Bg4 and something landing
on f3.} (15... Bc7 $5 {threatening ...Be5})) 14. Rd2 (14. Bf3 $5 {allows Black
to turn d5 into a passed pawn, but keeps the K safe and covers e4.}) 14... Qe7
(14... d4 $5 $15) (14... Qc8 {keeps Black's options open: ...Bf5, ...h5, ...
Bh3.}) 15. Bb2 Rad8 16. Na4 $2 (16. e3 $142 Qe6 $15) 16... Bxf2+ $1 $19 17.
Kxf2 Qe3+ 18. Kf1 Ne4 $8 19. Bxe4 dxe4 $8 {There's no good defence to the two
threats of ...Bh3+ and ...Rxd2.} (19... dxe4 20. Rxd8 (20. Qc3 $2 Bh3+ 21. Ke1
Qg1#) 20... Bh3+ $19 ({or} 20... Rxd8 21. Kg2 Rd2 $19) 21. Ke1 Qg1+ 22. Kd2
Rxd8+ 23. Qd3) 0-1

[Event "Gibraltar Challengers A"]
[Site "Gibraltar"]
[Date "2020.01.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Piasetski, Leon"]
[Black "Royset, Pal"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2219"]
[BlackElo "2151"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2020.01.22"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e3 d6 6. Nge2 h5 7. h3 Nf6 8. d4 Bd7
9. d5 Nb8 10. e4 h4 11. g4 Nh7 12. f4 $5 a5 13. Be3 Na6 14. Qd2 Nc5 15. O-O-O {
[#]} b6 16. Rhf1 Qe7 17. Rf2 exf4 18. Bxf4 O-O 19. Nd4 Rae8 20. Re2 Bf6 21. Nf3
g5 22. Bh2 Ba4 23. Rde1 Bb3 $1 24. e5 dxe5 25. Bxe5 $6 {[%mdl 34880] [#]
Critical Position A King's English has turned into a tactics contest.
Calculate away!} Bxa2 $1 {Makes the B safe and threatens ...Nb3+.} (25... Bxc4
$2 26. Bxf6 $18) (25... Bxe5 $2 26. Rxe5 $1 (26. Nxe5 Bxa2 $8 $13) 26... Qd8
27. Ne4 $1 $16 {getting rid of the Nc5 and swinging to the kingside.}) 26. Nd4
$5 {The most obvious move -- defends b3 and so threatens Nxa2 -- but not the
only one:} (26. Nxa2 $4 Nb3+ $19) (26. Kc2 $5 $13) (26. Bxf6 $1 Qxe2 (26...
Qxf6 27. Rxe8 Nb3+ $8 28. Kc2 Nxd2 29. Nxd2 $8 $14 {there's no way to save the
Ba2, but the black Q could be dangerous.}) 27. Rxe2 (27. Qxe2 Rxe2 28. Rxe2
Bxc4 $8 $13) 27... Nb3+ 28. Kc2 Nxd2 29. Rxd2 Nxf6 30. Nxa2 Ne4 31. Nd4 $5 (31.
Re2 f5 $132) 31... Nxd2 32. Kxd2 $14 {with a very strange material imbalance
where White's minors look to have the more promising future than Black's Rs.})
{[#]} 26... Bxc4 $4 (26... Bxe5 $2 27. Rxe5 $18) (26... Qxe5 $8 {The critical
move.} 27. Rxe5 Rxe5 $8 28. Rxe5 (28. Nxa2 $4 Rxe1+ 29. Qxe1 Nd3+ $19) 28...
Bxe5 $13 {Threatening both ...Bf4 and ...Bxd4 followed by ...Nb3+.} 29. Kd1 (
29. Nxa2 $4 Bf4 $19) (29. Nce2 Bxc4 $15) 29... Bxc4 $1 $13 {For the Q, Black
has RBPP and good squares for the minor pieces, but an overextended kingside.})
27. Bxf6 $8 $18 Qxf6 28. Rxe8 {[#]} Nd3+ (28... Qxd4 29. Qxd4 Nb3+ 30. Kd1 Nxd4
31. R1e7 $18 {Material is about equal, but now White starts to collect.}) 29.
Kb1 $8 (29. Kd1 $4 Qxd4 30. Rxf8+ (30. R8e4 Nf2+ $19) 30... Kxf8 31. Re2 Bb3+
$19) 29... Qxd4 30. R8e4 $1 Qc5 31. Rxc4 $1 Qxc4 32. Bf1 $1 Qf4 33. Qxd3 $18 {
[#] White is up a piece for two pawns, but Black's majorities on both sides of
the board have already been stopped.} Nf6 34. Bg2 Nd7 35. Qe3 Qxe3 36. Rxe3 Rd8
37. Nb5 Kf8 38. Nxc7 Nc5 39. Nb5 f6 40. d6 Rc8 41. Nc7 0-1

[Event "Gibraltar Challengers A"]
[Site "Gibraltar"]
[Date "2020.01.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Bengherabi, Khalil"]
[Black "Piasetski, Leon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2106"]
[BlackElo "2219"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2020.01.22"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,84,22,22,37,37,37,37,37,17,75,41,39,46,48,54,55,52,52,39,67,63,63,50,
30,33,42,34,41,35,33,30,22,37,29,29,17,10,48,9,5,6,0,-32,-49,-50,-68,-42,-49,
-62,-37,-124,-163,-163,-189,-196,-196,-256,-243,-243,-263,-488,-314,-321,-344,
-384,-329,-295,-325,-409,-440,-558,-634,-710,-731,-970,-389,-1127,-360,-368,
-366,-794,-821,-2087,-2396,-29981,-29984]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Be7 7. Qg4 g6 8. Nc3 d6 9. Qe2 Nd7 10. O-O Ne5 11.
Be3 Nf6 12. f4 Nxd3 13. cxd3 O-O 14. Na4 b5 15. Nb6 Rb8 16. Nxc8 Rxc8 17. Rfc1
Qd7 18. Bd4 b4 19. Rc4 Rxc4 20. dxc4 Qc6 21. Nd2 (21. e5 $142) 21... e5 $1 $15
22. fxe5 dxe5 23. Bf2 Rd8 24. Re1 (24. h3 Nh5 $15) 24... Bc5 {[%mdl 32832] [#]
Critical Position Nf3, b3, or something else?} 25. Nf3 $4 (25. Bxc5 $1 Qxc5+
26. Kh1 Nh5 $1 $15) (25. b3 $2 Bxf2+ 26. Kxf2 (26. Qxf2 Ng4 27. Qe2 Qc5+ $19)
26... Qc5+ (26... Rxd2 $4 27. Qxd2 Nxe4+ 28. Rxe4 Qxe4 29. c5 $13) 27. Kf1 (27.
Qe3 $2 Ng4+) 27... Ng4 28. Qxg4 Rxd2 29. Re2 Rd1+ 30. Re1 Rxe1+ 31. Kxe1 Qg1+
32. Ke2 Qb1 $19 {Black mops up the queenside.}) 25... Ng4 $8 $19 26. Bxc5 Qxc5+
27. Kf1 (27. Kh1 Nf2+ 28. Kg1 Nxe4+ 29. Kf1 f5 $19) 27... Rd3 $8 $19 {
Exploiting the fact that the Q must defend f2 and threatening ...Ne3 and a
deadly discovered check.} 28. Rc1 {[#]} Re3 $1 (28... Ne3+ 29. Ke1 (29. Kf2
Ng4+ 30. Kg3 Re3 $19) 29... Nxg2+ 30. Qxg2 Qe3+ $19) 29. Qd2 (29. Qc2 Rxf3+ {
and fork on e3.}) 29... Rxe4 30. Re1 Ne3+ 31. Rxe3 Rxe3 32. b3 e4 33. Ne5 Kg7
34. Ng4 {[#]} Qf5+ $8 35. Kg1 Rd3 $8 $19 36. Qh6+ Kg8 37. h3 f6 38. Qh4 g5 39.
Nh6+ (39. Qe1 Kg7 $19) 39... Kf8 40. Qh5 Qd7 41. Qe2 Rd1+ 42. Kh2 Qd6+ 0-1

[Event "Gibraltar Chess Festival: Masters"]
[Site "Gibraltar"]
[Date "2020.01.29"]
[Round "9.30"]
[White "Panjwani, Raja"]
[Black "Muzychuk, Anna"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2444"]
[BlackElo "2539"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. a3 Bc5 7. Nb3 Bb6 8. c5
Bc7 9. g3 O-O 10. Bg2 b6 11. O-O Be5 12. a4 Rb8 13. Be3 Ng4 14. Bd2 bxc5 15.
Nxc5 Rxb2 16. Nd3 Rb8 17. Bxc6 Bxc3 18. Bxc3 dxc6 19. h3 Nf6 20. Be5 Ra8 21.
Qc2 Qe7 22. Rfd1 Rd8 23. Qc5 $1 {[%mdl 33024] [#] Critical Position White has
sac'ed a pawn for a lead in development, dark square control, and pressure on
the c-pawn. Find Black's best defence.} (23. Qxc6 $14) 23... Qe8 $2 (23... Qb7
$2 {is a straightforward way to try to hold the Pc6, but} 24. Rab1 $1 Qa6 25.
Nb4 $18 {wins the Q or mates.}) (23... Qf8 $6 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Qxc6 $16) (
23... Qxc5 $6 {this line shows White's main ideas:} 24. Nxc5 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Kf8
$8 (25... Nd5 {blocking the d-file is dead lost after} 26. e4 f6 27. exd5 fxe5
28. d6 $18) 26. Rd8+ Ke7 27. Rh8 $14 {it looks like Black can escape with} Bb7
$2 {but actually White wins with the decoy check} 28. Bd6+ $3 {when the Bb7
falls with check leaving the Ra8 undefended.}) (23... Kf8 $142 24. Bc7 $5 {
Attacking the R and blocking the defence of b7.} Qxc5 $8 (24... Rd7 $2 25. Qxc6
$18 {wins an exchange.}) 25. Nxc5 Rxd1+ 26. Rxd1 Nd5 27. Bd6+ Ke8 28. Rd4 $1
$14) (23... Rd7 $142 24. Qxe7 (24. Qxc6 Bb7 $13) 24... Rxe7 25. Bxf6 $5 ({
or simply} 25. Rac1 $14 {to recover the pawn with more active pieces.}) 25...
gxf6 26. Nc5 $14 {when the bind is worth at least a pawn.}) 24. Bxf6 $8 $18
gxf6 25. Nf4 $8 {Now c5 isn't the only critically weak dark square on Black's
side of the board.} Ba6 (25... Qf8 26. Qxc6 Rb8 27. Nh5 Bb7 28. Nxf6+ Kg7 29.
Qc3 $18) 26. Nh5 Kh8 27. Nxf6 Qf8 28. Qe5 $1 {[#] White owns the dark squares.}
h6 (28... Qg7 29. Rxd8+ Rxd8 30. Rb1 h6 31. Rb8 Bc8 32. g4 $18 {and it's
nearly zugzwang.}) (28... Kg7 29. Ne8+ Kg8 30. Qg5+ Kh8 31. Qf6+ Kg8 32. Rxd8
$18 {is an extra R.}) 29. Ne8+ $1 f6 (29... Kh7 30. Nc7 $18 {forking a8 and a6
was the point of the flashy Ne8.}) 30. Nxf6 Qg7 31. Rxd8+ Rxd8 32. Rb1 Qg5 33.
Qxe6 Qg6 34. Rb4 Bxe2 35. Qe7 Rc8 36. Rb7 Bd3 {Defending mate on h7.} 37. Qe5 {
there's no good defence to Nh5/e8 then Rg7.} 1-0

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.12.17"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hambleton, Aman"]
[Black "FGHSMN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[EventType "blitz"]
[EventCountry "NET"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,57,24,27,24,27,23,27,47,42,40,17,15,22,22,4,13,22,33,12,19,15,17,24,
17,20,8,20,16,18,14,39,1,20,16,15,17,32,41,2,20,30,61,67,52,47,105,-74,-78,267,
349,404,419,441,664,686,682,29986,29999,-30000] An online 3+0 chess.com blitz
game between GM Aman Hambleton (KNVB) and Indian IM Harishankkar.} 1. d4 Nf6 2.
Bf4 e6 3. e3 c5 4. c3 d5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. Bg3 O-O 8. Bd3 Qe7 9. Ne5
Bxe5 10. dxe5 Nd7 11. Nf3 b6 12. O-O Bb7 13. e4 d4 14. cxd4 cxd4 15. a3 Nc5 16.
b4 Nxd3 17. Qxd3 a6 18. Rfd1 Qd7 19. h4 Rfd8 20. h5 h6 21. Bh4 Re8 22. Nxd4
Rac8 {[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position From a 3+0 online game.} 23. Qg3 $3 {
Aman spent 53 seconds (in a 3|0 game) on this move!  SF15 needs to get to 28
ply before finding it.} (23. Nxc6 Qxc6 24. f3 $16 {with a safe extra pawn and
a much better B is good, but no points for this "low T" line.}) 23... Nxd4 24.
Rxd4 $1 (24. Bf6 $4 Ne2+ $19) 24... Qxd4 25. Bf6 $1 Qxa1+ 26. Kh2 {[#] Yep,
it's a double R sac, and Black is toast.} g5 (26... Qxe5 27. Bxe5 f6 28. Bxf6
$18 {and Black still has no safe squares on the 7th to defend g7.}) 27. hxg6
Kf8 28. gxf7 Kxf7 29. Qg7# {https://www.twitch.tv/chessbrah} 1-0

[Event "Rated Blitz game"]
[Site "lichess.org"]
[Date "2021.02.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Plotkin, Mark"]
[Black "BarryAllenFlash, JoeB"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2572"]
[BlackElo "2432"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[EventType "blitz"]
[EventCountry "NET"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Bd3 Bd6
8. Bg5 b6 9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Bb5+ c6 11. Bd3 Qc7 12. O-O O-O-O 13. c4 h6 14. Bxf6
gxf6 15. a4 c5 16. b4 Rhg8 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. b5 Bxh2+ 19. Kh1 Be5 20. a5 $2 {
Typical blitz error: ...Bh2-e5 wasn't only a retreat.} Bxa1 21. Rxa1 Qf4 22.
Ne1 Qe5 23. Qa2 Rxd3 $1 24. a6 {[%mdl 32896] [#] Critical Position Black is up
a R and has more than one way to win; find the best.} (24. Nxd3 Qh5+ 25. Kg1
Rxg2+ 26. Kf1 Rg1+ 27. Kxg1 Qh1#) 24... Rh3+ $1 (24... Qxe1+ $1 {transposes.})
25. Kg1 Qxe1+ $1 (25... Rxg2+ 26. Nxg2 Bf3 $19 {is #2.}) 26. Rxe1 Rxg2+ 27. Kf1
Bf3 $1 {White resigns.} 0-1

[Event "American WC Qualification"]
[Site "tornelo.com"]
[Date "2021.05.26"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bacallao, Yusnel"]
[Black "Sambuev, Bator"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A84"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2514"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,76,22,32,15,-6,-6,4,44,42,56,57,69,53,87,65,58,58,76,60,76,75,70,48,
33,23,23,9,40,22,27,-9,-1,-12,-20,-19,6,7,-13,-9,-6,-20,31,-6,36,13,19,-9,10,
-10,-19,-5,37,-22,-43,66,46,-141,-314,-275,-275,-275,-275,-379,-421,-724,-724,
-730,-729,-743,-753,-755,-762,-861,-799,-820,-852,-867,-898]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Bd6 5. Bd3 f5 6. Qc2 Nh6 7. Nge2 O-O 8. Bd2 Kh8 9. h3 Qe7 10.
a3 Nd7 11. c5 Bc7 12. f4 Nf6 13. g4 Ne4 14. g5 Ng8 $5 15. Ng1 Bd7 16. Nxe4 fxe4
{[#]} 17. Be2 $8 {Would you believe Bf1 loses?} (17. Bf1 $4 Qxg5 $3 18. fxg5
Bg3+ $19 {and the Rs invade on the f-file.}) 17... Be8 18. h4 Bg6 19. Nh3 Qe8
20. Qd1 (20. h5 Bxh5 21. Bxh5 Qxh5 22. Nf2 Qf3 23. Kf1 $13 {The threat to trap
the Q with Rh3 forces Black to sac to save the Q.}) 20... Ne7 21. Nf2 Bf5 22.
Rh2 Qb8 23. Rc1 {[#] There are still 16 pawns on the board, and they make a
wall between White and Black. I'd expect the game would now revolve around
pawn breaks -- which it does -- but the variations below show how powerful
piece sacs can be.} b6 {Black wants to peel apart White's dark pawn V, and the
Qb8 attacks in both directions.} 24. cxb6 axb6 $17 25. Ng4 (25. h5 c5 26. Bc3
$2 Bxf4 $8 $19) 25... Bxg4 $2 (25... c5 $142 26. dxc5 (26. Bc3 Bxf4 $19) 26...
d4 $1 $19) 26. Bxg4 c5 27. h5 (27. Bxe6 cxd4 $2 (27... Ng6 $142 28. h5 Nxf4 $1
$19) 28. h5 $8 dxe3 29. Bc3 Bxf4 (29... Rxf4 30. h6 Be5 31. hxg7+ Kxg7 (31...
Bxg7 32. Rxh7+ $18) 32. Rxh7+ $1 Kf8 33. Qh5 $18) 30. h6 $18 Be5 (30... Bxh2
31. hxg7#) 31. hxg7+ Kxg7 32. Rxh7+ $18 {#2}) 27... Nf5 $1 {[%mdl 34896] [#]
Critical Position Attack the kingside with h6, break the center with dxc5, or
bail with Bxf5?} 28. h6 $4 (28. dxc5 $2 Nxe3 $8 $19 (28... bxc5 $2 29. Bxf5 (
29. Rxc5 $4 Nxe3 $19) 29... Rxf5 30. Rxc5 Rxg5 $1 $13) 29. Bxe3 Bxf4 30. Rh3
Bxe3 31. Rxe3 Qf4 32. Qe2 d4 $19 {skewers the Rc1.}) (28. Bxf5 Rxf5 $8 (28...
exf5 $4 29. dxc5 $18) 29. dxc5 Rxg5 $13) 28... Nxe3 $8 $19 29. Bxe3 Bxf4 $8 30.
hxg7+ Kxg7 {[#]} 31. Rxh7+ {Desperate. White gets checks but Black defends
cooly.} (31. Rh3 Bxe3 32. Rxe3 Qf4 33. Qe2 cxd4 $19 {as above, the pawns crash
through and White can't save his Rs.}) 31... Kxh7 32. Bf5+ Rxf5 33. Qh5+ Kg7
34. Qh6+ Kf7 $8 35. g6+ Kf6 36. Qh4+ (36. g7+ $4 Bxh6) 36... Bg5 37. Bxg5+ Rxg5
38. Ke2 Qg3 {Black's K will be safe on d6 and the white K is a sitting duck.}
0-1

[Event "Chess Festival Innsbruck Group A 5th"]
[Site "Innsbruck, Austria"]
[Date "2021.08.26"]
[Round "7.4"]
[White "Ivanov, Mike"]
[Black "Schwabeneder, Florian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2195"]
[BlackElo "2440"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "155"]
[EventDate "2021.08.21"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nf6 5. Be2 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7.
Rd1 O-O 8. h3 Nc6 9. Qe3 Be6 {[#]} 10. c4 (10. Nc3 Qc8 11. a3 Na5 12. Nd4 Bc4
13. Bf3 Nc6 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. e5 $6 dxe5 16. Qc5 Bd5 $15 {(½-½, 33) Carlsen,
M (2862)-Svidler,P (2723) chess24.com, 2020.}) 10... Qb6 11. Nc3 Nd7 12. Nd5
Qxe3 13. Bxe3 Rfc8 $11 (13... Nc5 14. e5 $5 Nxe5 15. Nxe7+ Kh8 16. Rxd6 b6 $2 (
16... Na4 $142 $132) 17. Nxe5 $1 Bxe5 18. Bd4 $16 Bxd4 19. Rxd4 Rae8 20. Nc6
Bxh3 21. Bf3 $8 $18 {(½-½, 53) Zvjaginsev,V (2614)-Vitiugov,N (2715) Moscow,
2021.}) 14. Nd4 Bxd4 15. Bxd4 Nxd4 16. Rxd4 Kf8 17. b3 a5 18. Nc3 Nb6 19. Nd5
Nd7 20. Nc3 Nc5 21. Rc1 Bd7 22. Rcd1 Bc6 23. Bg4 Rcb8 24. h4 {[%mdl 32768] [#]
Critical Position A typical queenless middlegame in the Maroczy: DSBs have
been traded and there are no open files for the Rs. What should Black do:
activate with ...b5 or block with ...h5?} b5 $2 {Strategically good, but
tactically bad.} (24... h5 $142 {or ...Na6 keeps things even.}) (24... Ne6 $6
25. Bxe6 fxe6 26. a4 $14 {Black's B has nothing to do, but it's hard to see
how White can make much progress without freeing it.}) (24... a4 $2 25. b4 Bd7
(25... Ne6 26. Bxe6 fxe6 27. b5 $14 {and White can go after the a-pawn with
Rb1-b4.}) 26. e5 $1 (26. bxc5 $2 Bxg4 27. f3 dxc5 $11) 26... Bxg4 27. Rxg4 $16
{White breaks through in the center.}) 25. cxb5 Bxb5 {[%mdl 2048] [#]} 26. e5
$1 {Without this, Black can retreat the B and hope for queenside pressure with
...a4. But Black can't take on e5 without losing a piece, and after exd6 White
wins the d-pawn and activates both Rs in the process.} Be8 $1 (26... dxe5 $4
27. Rd5 $18 {winning is a piece.}) 27. exd6 exd6 28. Bf3 $1 {Gains a tempo and
weakens Black's back rank while putting the B on a safe square so any later ...
R4 won't skewer h4,} Ra7 29. Rxd6 a4 30. bxa4 Bxa4 $2 {This allows White to
force simplifications, killing all potential counterplay.} (30... Nxa4 31. Ne4
$14 {White's up a pawn with more active pieces, but it might not be enough.})
31. Rd8+ $1 Rxd8 32. Rxd8+ Ke7 {[#]} 33. Ra8 $1 $18 {Forcing off Black's R
kills any counterplay and leaves White with a much easier to convert advantage.
} Rxa8 34. Bxa8 Bd7 35. Kf1 h6 36. Ke2 g5 37. hxg5 hxg5 38. Ke3 f5 39. Kd4 Kd6
40. Bd5 Be8 41. g3 Bd7 42. a3 Be8 43. Nd1 Bc6 44. Bxc6 Ne6+ 45. Kc4 Kxc6 46.
Nc3 {[#]} Nf8 47. Nb5 f4 48. Nd4+ Kd6 49. gxf4 gxf4 50. a4 Nd7 51. a5 Kc7 52.
Ne6+ Kc6 53. Nxf4 Ne5+ 54. Kb4 $8 Kb7 55. Kb5 Nf3 56. Ne6 Ka7 57. a6 Nh4 58.
Nd4 Ng6 59. Nc6+ Ka8 {[#]} 60. Kc4 {playing to defend the a-pawn from behind
with the N, and winning on the kingside with the KP vs N.  Black finds a
clever stalemate resource to make Mike's job harder.} Nf4 61. Nb4 Ng6 62. Kd5
Ne7+ {[#]} 63. Ke4 (63. Ke5 $4 Nc6+ $1 $11 {since} 64. Nxc6 {is stalemate.})
63... Nc6 $5 64. Nd3 Ka7 65. Kd5 Kb6 66. Kd6 Nd4 67. Nb4 Nf3 68. Kd5 Ka7 69.
Ke4 Ng5+ 70. Ke3 Nf7 71. f4 Nd6 72. Kd4 Kb6 73. Ke5 Nc4+ 74. Ke6 Kb5 75. a7 Nb6
76. Nd5 Na8 77. Kd6 Ka6 78. Nc7+ $1 {Finally getting rid of the N that's been
such a pest for 30 moves!} 1-0

[Event "Chess.com Rapid Wk1 Swiss"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2022.02.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Hakobyan, Aram"]
[Black "Hansen, Eric"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A01"]
[WhiteElo "2601"]
[BlackElo "2606"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2022.02.12"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NET"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nf3 e4 5. Nd4 Bc5 6. Nf5 O-O 7. e3 {[#]} d6 $5
{[%mdl 4]} ({Far more common is} 7... d5 {which has been played by Nakamura
and So and Svidler:} 8. cxd5 Nb4 $11 (8... Nxd5 $4 9. Qg4 {#3}) 9. Ng3 Nbxd5
10. Qc2 $11) 8. Ng3 Re8 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Nc3 Qh4 (10... Bf5 $4 11. Nd5 $18) 11.
Be2 f5 12. O-O Be6 13. d4 exd3 14. Bxd3 g6 15. Nce2 $6 Ne5 $15 16. h3 $1 (16.
Bc2 $2 Ng4 17. h3 Nxf2 $1 18. Rxf2 $8 (18. Kxf2 $2 f4 $19) 18... Bxe3 $17)
16... a5 17. Bc2 Bf7 18. Qd2 {[%mdl 32832] [#]Critical Position} a4 $1 {
Avoiding the flashy mistake and continuing to press for queenside squares.} ({
Of course you saw ...Qxh3; but did you see that it gives up Black's advantage?
} 18... Qxh3 $2 {flashy, but not good:} 19. gxh3 Nf3+ 20. Kg2 Nxd2 21. Rfd1 Ne4
(21... Bb4 $2 22. a3 $16 {remember this tactic later.}) 22. Nxe4 fxe4 23. Ng3
$13 {White gets the pawn back and Black will have trouble keeping the B pair.})
19. Rae1 $4 {Possibly a mouseslip.} (19. Rad1 $142 {defending the Qd2 prevents
the ...Qxh3 tactic.}) (19. b4 $2 Bb6 $17 {and c4 is gone}) ({If Black were
Alekhine, then there would be the obligatory comment about "playing on both
sides of the board", because that's what 18...a4 does: it makes ...Qxh3 a real
threat! If White were to pass then:} 19. Z0 Qxh3 $1 20. gxh3 Nf3+ 21. Kg2 Nxd2
22. Rfd1 {as above, but now} axb3 $1 {gaining a tempo on the B as well as
eliminating the a2 pawn so Black (if necessary) can safely defend the Nd2 with
...Bb4.} 23. axb3 Rxa1 24. Rxa1 d5 $1 25. Rd1 Bb4 $19 {Black's up a pawn and
his Bs are perpetrating.}) 19... axb3 20. axb3 {[#]} Qxh3 $1 {Now this is
crushing. It wins a pawn, but the real point is to remove the defender of g4,
making ...Ng4 a winning threat.} 21. b4 $5 {White tries to confuse things, but
Eric keeps his wits.} (21. gxh3 {saves the K, but after} Nf3+ 22. Kg2 Nxd2 {
we see the difference from 18...Qxh3: the Rf1 can't move with tempo, so Black
has time to bring the Ra8 into the attack.} 23. Rg1 Ra2 $19 {Black is up a
pawn and the white queenside is collapsing.}) 21... Qh4 $1 22. Bxf5 $5 (22.
bxc5 Ng4 {mates.}) 22... Nxc4 $1 23. Qc3 Ra3 24. Qc1 Bxb4 25. Rd1 Bc5 26. Bd7
Rexe3 $1 0-1

[Event "Airthings Masters Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2022.02.21"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Hansen, Eric"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C99"]
[WhiteElo "2865"]
[BlackElo "2606"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2022.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. Nb3 a5 15.
Be3 a4 16. Nbd2 Nb4 17. Bb1 {[#]} Bd7 (17... a3 18. Qb3 Qa5 19. bxa3 Qxa3 20.
dxe5 dxe5 21. Nxe5 $14 {(½-½, 63) Dominguez Perez,L (2736)-Harikrishna,P 
(2740) Linares, 2015.}) 18. a3 Nc6 19. Qe2 (19. Bd3 Na5 20. Qe2 Qb8 21. Rec1
Re8 22. Rab1 exd4 $6 23. Nxd4 b4 (23... d5 24. Bxb5 $14) 24. Bb5 b3 25. Bxd7
Nxd7 26. Nb5 $14 (26. Nf5 $1) 26... Nc5 27. Nxd6 Bxd6 28. Bxc5 $14 {(1-0, 40)
Leko,P (2665)-Adams,M (2715) Tilburg, 1998.}) 19... Qb7 20. Bd3 Rab8 (20...
Rfe8 21. Rac1 Rab8 22. dxe5 dxe5 23. Nb1 Bd8 (23... b4 $11) 24. Rc5 b4 25. Rb5
Qa8 {(1-0, 42) Karpov,A (2720)-Hort,V (2590) Luzern Ol., 1982.}) 21. Rec1 $6
exd4 $11 22. Nxd4 Ne5 23. Bc2 Rfe8 24. Re1 h6 25. Rad1 Bf8 26. Bb1 b4 27. f4
Ng6 28. Bd3 bxa3 29. bxa3 Qb2 {[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position White is
fantastically centralized, but Black has just played the annoying ...Qb2.} 30.
Rb1 $2 (30. Ra1 $2 Nxf4 $19) (30. Nc2 {defends a3, but Black has several moves,
including} Bb5 {so that if} 31. Rb1 Qxc2 $8 $11) 30... Nxf4 $3 $17 (30... Qxa3
$6 31. Nb5 $13) 31. Qf1 Qc3 $8 {Both white pieces attacking Nf4 are busy
defending other white pieces.} 32. Bb5 Ng6 (32... N4d5 $142 $3 {but who is
going to look at such a wild move when they already have the World Champ on
the ropes?}) 33. Bxa4 $4 {Carlsen's head had melted, and he resigned here.*   
* but did not accuse Eric of cheating.} (33. Bxd7 $142 Nxd7 $17 {and White
might get lucky.}) 0-1

[Event "CAN-ch"]
[Site "Kingston"]
[Date "2022.04.13"]
[Round "1.7"]
[White "Rodrigue Lemieux, Shawn"]
[Black "Barron, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2342"]
[BlackElo "2108"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2022.04.13"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,99,22,22,22,18,18,10,23,3,9,3,14,14,22,9,16,6,25,-10,3,-9,10,-5,10,
-20,16,-33,-28,-22,-14,-46,-53,-31,-30,-29,-29,-52,-73,-51,-10,-93,-95,-90,-71,
-65,-73,-73,-79,-75,-75,-71,-70,-71,-60,-60,-60,-61,-61,-61,-61,-61,-61,-60,
-57,-58,-53,-64,-59,-82,-49,-49,-42,-90,-83,-144,-33,-15,-15,-22,0,0,72,-25,0,
0,0,0,49,49,49,120,177,211,266,265,265,372,504,520,520,528]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. O-O O-O 8. a4 b4 9. a5 d6 {[#]}
10. Nbd2 (10. h3 Be6 11. Nbd2 Rb8 12. Nc4 Ne7 13. Ng5 Bd7 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Nxe3
Ng6 $11 {(1-0, 69) Nakamura,H (2754)-Caruana,F (2819) Paris (blitz), 2019.})
10... h6 11. h3 Rb8 12. Re1 g5 13. Nh2 Be6 14. Bc4 Qc8 15. Ndf1 Bxc4 16. dxc4
Qe6 17. Qd3 Nh5 18. Ne3 Nf4 19. Qd1 Ne7 {[%mdl 32832] [#]  Critical Position
Can White stabilize the kingside with g3 ...Nf4-moves then Kg2?} 20. g3 $2 (20.
Nd5 $142 $13) 20... Nxh3+ $1 {White may have counted on the thought that the
Nh3 would get trapped. But there are two problems in this line for White...} ({
In fact, the Nf4 isn't really hanging, since after} 20... Kh8 $1 {White would
get smashed if he takes it:} 21. gxf4 $6 gxf4 22. Nd5 (22. Neg4 h5 $19) 22...
Rg8+ 23. Kh1 Nxd5 24. cxd5 Qxh3 25. Qf3 (25. Rg1 Bxf2 $1 $19) 25... Qh4 26. Rf1
Rg5 $18) 21. Kg2 f5 $5 ({The first problem for White is here:} 21... Nxf2 $142
$1 22. Kxf2 Qh3 $8 $19 {two pawns for the N and ...f5 bringing the R into the
attack and Black is winning.}) 22. Kxh3 f4+ 23. Qg4 {[#] Blocking the check
with a counter-attack on the Q. This is probably the tactic White counted on
to save the piece. It does save the piece, but Black's pawn mass is full
compensation.} (23. Neg4 $2 h5 {or ...Bxf2 both win.}) (23. Kg2 fxe3 24. Bxe3
$15) 23... Qxg4+ 24. Nexg4 h5 $8 25. Nh6+ Kh7 26. gxf4 gxf4 $1 ({The computer
prefers the very inhuman} 26... exf4 $5 {which I'm sure most humans would
barely consider, as it seems to promise White open lines for both his B and
Re1.}) (26... Kxh6 27. fxg5+ Kg6 28. Be3 $15) 27. Nf5 Nxf5 28. exf5 Bxf2 $17
29. Re2 Bc5 30. Bd2 ({There's no bailing out with} 30. Bxf4 exf4 31. Re7+ Kg8
32. Rxc7 b3 33. c3 Rf7 $19) 30... Rxf5 31. Rf1 Rg8 32. Be1 Rfg5 33. Nf3 Rg4 {
[#]} 34. Nd2 (34. c3 bxc3 (34... b3 $15) 35. Bxc3 Rg3+ 36. Kh2 Rb8 $1 {aiming
to trade Bs and attack the queenside pawns.}) 34... Rg1 35. Rxg1 Rxg1 36. Kh2
Rg4 37. Ne4 {threatening to fork on f6 or trade the Bc5, which would leave
Black without a crucial piece to support the pawns.} f3 $6 (37... Bg1+ $142 {
saving the B with tempo.} 38. Kh3 Kg6 39. Rg2 Kf5 $19) 38. Nf6+ Kg6 39. Nxg4
hxg4 40. Rd2 e4 $2 {[#]} (40... Kg5 $142 41. Bg3 Kf5 $13) 41. Bh4 $4 (41. Kg3
$8 e3 42. Rd1 $1 (42. Rd5 $4 c6 43. Rd1 Kg5 44. Rd3 d5 $1 (44... f2 45. Bxf2
exf2 46. Kg2 $11) 45. cxd5 (45. Kh2 d4 $19) 45... Bd6#) (42. Rh2 f2 43. Bxf2
exf2 44. Kg2 Bd4 $11) 42... Kf5 43. Rd5+ Kf6 44. Kxg4 f2 45. Bxf2 exf2 46. Rf5+
$11) 41... e3 $4 (41... c6 $19 {prevents Rd5+ and so allows the Black K to
advance, it also prepares ...d5 and ...Bd6+.} 42. Be7 e3 43. Rxd6+ Kf7 (43...
Bxd6+ 44. Bxd6 b3 $3 {freeing d3 for the Black K.} (44... Kf5 $4 45. Bxb4 $11)
45. cxb3 (45. Bc5 e2 46. Bf2 bxc2 $19) 45... Kf5 46. Kg3 Ke4 $19) 44. Re6 Bxe7
45. Rxe3 Bd6+ $19) 42. Rd5 $1 {[%mdl 4160] [#]} e2 $4 (42... f2 $4 43. Kg2 {
and Black loses the light squares.}) (42... c6 43. Rg5+ Kh6 44. Rxg4 e2 45. Re4
$8 $18) (42... Kh6 $8 $11 43. Kg3 (43. Rg5 $4 f2 44. Kg2 e2 $19) 43... e2 44.
Kxg4 f2 45. Rh5+ Kg6 46. Rg5+ Kf7 (46... Kh6 $11) 47. Rf5+ Ke8 48. Rxf2 $8 e1=Q
49. Rf8+ Kxf8 50. Bxe1 $11) 43. Rg5+ $8 $18 Kh6 44. Rxc5 $8 (44. Rxg4 f2 $19)
44... dxc5 45. Kg1 $8 Kh5 46. Bg3 $8 Kg5 47. Kf2 $8 c6 48. Ke3 Kf5 49. b3 $22
Kg5 50. Ke4 1-0

[Event "CAN-ch"]
[Site "Kingston"]
[Date "2022.04.14"]
[Round "2.6"]
[White "MacKinnon, Keith"]
[Black "Rodrigue Lemieux, Shawn"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D48"]
[WhiteElo "2198"]
[BlackElo "2342"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2022.04.13"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 dxc4 7. Bxc4 a6 $5 (
7... c5 8. d4 $11 {is very drawish.}) 8. d4 b5 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. Rc1 Nbd7 11. O-O
c5 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. Bb1 Qb6 14. Ne5 Rfd8 15. Qc2 b4 16. Ne2 Be4 17. Qc4 Bxb1
18. Rxb1 Nfe4 {[%mdl 32832] [#]Critical Position Is Black threatening ...Nd2,
and if so, what should White do about it?} 19. Rfd1 $2 {The answer was "no":
the move ...Nd2 was not an immanent threat, since White saves the exchange
with threats against the Black K. But White's last move makes ...Nd2 a winner 
(because it weakens f2, allowing a ...Nd3 fork in some lines). In other words:
wrong rook.} (19. Rbc1 $142 Nd2 20. Qg4 Bf8 (20... Nxf1 $4 21. Nc4 $18 {
threatening mate on g7 and the Q on b6.}) 21. Nf4 $1 (21. Rfd1 $11) 21... Nxf1
22. Nh5 $8 Ne4 $8 23. Qxe4 $8 $14) (19. Rbd1 $142 Nd2 {[#] Analysis Diagram
There are some neat tactics at the end of this line:} 20. Qg4 $5 (20. Qf4 f6
21. Rxd2 Rxd2 22. Nc4 Qd8 23. Nxd2 Qxd2 24. Qc7 $13) 20... Nxf1 21. Rxd8+ $8
Rxd8 22. Nc4 {threatening mate and the Q.} (22. Kxf1 $4 Rd1#) 22... f6 (22...
Bf8 23. Nxb6 Rd1 24. Nc3 $8 {more or less transposes, but ...f6 helps Black a
little bit in the endgame.}) 23. Nxb6 Rd1 {[%mdl 32832] [#]  Critical Position
Black threatens both discovered mate and ...Ne3+ winning the Q.} 24. Nc3 $8 Re1
$8 (24... Nxe3+ $4 25. Qxd1 $18) 25. Qe2 $1 ({or} 25. Qd1 {also trades Q for R,
but leaves the Nd1 on a worse square.}) 25... Rxe2 26. Nxe2 Nd2 $11) 19... Nd2
$1 20. Qf4 (20. Qg4 $2 Nxb1 $8 $19 {and the threat of mate on d1 prevents Nc4.}
) 20... f6 $8 21. Rxd2 $8 (21. Nc4 $2 Nxb1 $19 {ditto.}) 21... Rxd2 $17 22. Nc4
{[#]} Rad8 $4 (22... Qd8 $8 $17 23. Nxd2 (23. Nd4 $2 e5 $19) 23... Qxd2 24. Qc4
(24. Qf3 Rd8 25. Nd4 Bf8 $1 {stepping out of Nc6 and preparing ...e5 and ...
Nd3.}) (24. Qc7 Qxe2 25. Qxe7 Nd3 $19 {White would be fine here if his Rb1 was
on f1.}) 24... Nd3 $19 {with a double attack on d2 and b2, and White's active
Q is good for only a couple of checks.}) (22... Rxb2 23. Rxb2 $11) 23. Bd4 $4 {
Interfering with the Rs stops the back rank mate, so White wins back the
exchange, but there was a better way.} ({Obviously not} 23. Nxb6 $4 Rd1+ 24.
Rxd1 Rxd1#) (23. Nd4 $142 Rxb2 $1 24. Rxb2 Qb7 $13 (24... Nd3 $2 25. Qg4 $1 $16
(25. Nxb6 $2 Nxf4 $13)) (24... e5 $6 25. Qg4 $14)) 23... Qb5 $1 (23... R2xd4 $4
{gives up more than the exchange since} 24. exd4 $18 {leaves the Q and N
attacked.}) (23... e5 $2 24. Qg4 (24. Qf3 $5) 24... Qe6 (24... R2xd4 $6) 25.
Qxe6+ Nxe6 26. Nxd2 $11) 24. Nxd2 Qxe2 $19 {Unlike the line with 23.Nd4,
Black's Q is very active here.} 25. Qc7 Rd7 26. Qc8+ Rd8 27. Qc7 Rd7 28. Qc8+
Kf7 29. Nf1 {[#]} Rxd4 $1 ({The computer prefers keeping the exchange with} 
29... Rd8 30. Qc6 Nd3 31. Qf3 Qxa2 $19 {but it's easy to see why Black
wouldn't want to let White's R get active after} 32. Ra1 Qxb3 33. Rxa6 $19) 30.
exd4 Nd3 31. d5 $5 {The computer hates this -- rating Qc4 as clearly best, but
still losing -- but White is busted no matter what, and this at least forces
Black to be wary.} Qxf2+ 32. Kh1 exd5 $8 (32... Qd4 $2 33. Qxe6+ Kf8 34. Qe3
Qxd5 $13 {Black has a pawn for the exchange, and threatens ...Bc5 and ...Nf2+
with play against the K.}) 33. Qh3 Qc2 $1 34. Qh5+ Kf8 $8 (34... g6 $4 35.
Qxh7+ Ke6 36. Qg8+ $11) 35. Ra1 {There's no perpetual after Qxd5.} Nf2+ 36. Kg1
Qc5 {[#]} 37. g3 {Avoiding the smothered mate:} (37. Ng3 $4 Nh3+ 38. Kh1 Qg1+
39. Rxg1 Nf2#) 37... Qd4 38. Re1 {Makes the R semi-safe and guards against ...
Qe4+.} Ng4+ 39. Kh1 Qf2 40. Rc1 (40. Qxg4 Qxe1 {porlongs the game but is
obviously hopeless.}) 40... Qf3+ 41. Kg1 Bc5+ (41... Bc5+ 42. Rxc5 Qf2+ 43. Kh1
Qxf1#) 0-1

[Event "CAN-ch"]
[Site "Kingston"]
[Date "2022.04.14"]
[Round "2.21"]
[White "Baylon, Glenda"]
[Black "Ouellet, Maili Jade"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "1858"]
[BlackElo "2179"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2022.04.13"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 8192][%evp 0,112,28,28,28,-3,6,12,17,13,7,15,25,23,39,23,45,31,19,25,29,
6,37,-50,21,-186,-26,-39,38,28,25,30,35,30,180,167,224,224,253,255,260,262,271,
174,188,200,182,51,69,98,245,216,283,243,256,158,157,144,199,106,134,132,147,
171,168,297,337,371,356,429,433,452,457,446,444,587,702,259,254,233,197,391,
391,88,40,81,80,83,110,86,86,84,121,86,103,0,36,0,0,-183,-77,-345,-405,-421,
-310,-320,-422,-422,-1212,-1337,-1459,-29973,-29982,-29983,-29984]} 1. d4 d5 2.
c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 Nbd7 7. O-O c5 8. b3 b6 9. Bb2 Bb7
10. Re1 Ne4 11. Ne5 f5 {[%mdl 32768] [#] Critical Position Black's best piece
is the Ne4. What happens if White kicks it with 12.f3?} 12. f3 $4 {Natural,
but really bad. A well-hidden problem with this move is that Black's Q and DSB
-- which seem out of the game -- can suddenly attack the newly weakend dark
squares around the white K.} (12. Nxd7 $142 Qxd7 $11) (12. cxd5 $142 $6 cxd4
13. exd4 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Nxc3 15. Bxc3 Qxd5 16. Bf1 Rac8 $15) 12... Nxe5 $2 $15 {
Misses a chance at a big advantage. A good reminder of how positions with so
many possible captures can fool even very strong players.} (12... cxd4 $142 13.
exd4 (13. fxe4 dxc3 14. Bxc3 Nxe5 15. Bxe5 dxe4 $19 {Black is up a pawn and
White's structure stinks.}) (13. Nxd7 dxc3 $8 14. Nxf8 cxb2 15. Nxe6 Qd6 (15...
bxa1=Q $4 16. Qxa1 $18 {White threatens mate on g7 and the Qd8.}) 16. Rb1 Nc3
$19) 13... Nxe5 14. dxe5 Bc5+ 15. Kf1 Qh4 $19 {Black has mercilessly exploited
the dark-square weaknesses created by 12.f3.}) 13. dxe5 Ng5 $2 {Black, who
outrates her opponent by a lot, avoids simplifications; but now White plays a
series of strong moves.} (13... Nxc3 14. Bxc3 d4 $15) ({Here's an unusual idea:
} 13... d4 $5 14. Nxe4 fxe4 15. fxe4 Bh4 16. g3 Qg5 $1 17. Qe2 $8 dxe3 18. Qxe3
Rad8 {Black is nominally down a pawn, but has the active pieces.}) 14. cxd5 $1
exd5 15. Qc2 $1 {[#]} g6 $2 {Those long diagonals spell death for the black K.}
(15... d4 $142 16. Nb5 $14) 16. Rad1 $1 $18 {Threatening Nxd5 then Bc4.} Ne6 {
Blocks the c4-g8 diagonal, but White just inverts the move order.} 17. Bc4 $1
dxc4 $5 18. Rxd8 Raxd8 19. bxc4 $18 {[#] Black doesn't have nearly enough
material for the QP, and White steadily converts her advantage...} f4 20. e4
Nd4 21. Qc1 Bh4 22. Rd1 Ba6 23. Kh1 (23. Rxd4 Rxd4 24. Nd5 Rxc4 25. Qd2 $18)
23... Bxc4 24. Nd5 Bxa2 25. Bxd4 cxd4 26. Qb2 Bc4 27. Rxd4 b5 28. Nf6+ Kg7 29.
Rd7+ Rxd7 30. Nxd7 Re8 31. Qa1 (31. g3 $1) 31... Re7 32. e6+ Kh6 33. Qe5 Bxe6
34. Qxf4+ Bg5 35. Qf8+ Kh5 36. Nf6+ Bxf6 37. Qxf6 Re8 38. g3 Kh6 39. g4 b4 40.
g5+ Kh5 {[%mdl 32832] [#]} 41. f4 $4 {White's first bad move since 12.f3, but
it's a doozy, changing a long forced mate into a razor-edged calculation
contest.} (41. Kg2 $142 $1 {is #12 if Black thows away all her pieces; more
realistically:} b3 42. Kg3 h6 (42... b2 43. Qf4 b1=Q 44. Qh4#) 43. h4 b2 44.
Qf4 b1=Q 45. Qg4+ Bxg4 46. fxg4#) 41... Bh3 $1 $16 42. Qd4 $8 $16 (42. e5 $6
Rc8 $1 $11 43. Kg1 b3 44. Qf7 b2 45. Qxh7+ Kg4 46. Qd7+ Kh4 $8 (46... Kxf4 $4
47. Qd4+ Kxg5 48. Qe3+ $8 Kg4 49. Qg3+ Kf5 50. Qxh3+ Kxe5 51. Qe3+ $8 {and a
second-rank check forks the Pb2.}) 47. Qh7+ $11) 42... Rc8 $1 43. Qd1+ $2 $14 (
43. Kg1 $8 $18) 43... Bg4 (43... Kh4 $5) 44. Qb3 a5 45. h3 $1 Be2 $2 (45...
Rc1+ $8 46. Kh2 Bd1 47. Qe3 Rc3 $13) 46. Qe3 $1 $18 Rc2 {[%mdl 41024] [#]
Critical Position} 47. Qa7 $4 {Threatening Qxh7# and stopping Black's a-pawn:
what more could you hope to find in time pressure?} (47. f5 $8 $18 a4 48. f6 $8
a3 49. f7 a2 50. Qa7 (50. f8=Q $6 {should win, but it's a lot more work:} a1=Q+
51. Qg1 Qxg1+ (51... Rc1 $4 52. Qh6#) 52. Kxg1 Kxg5 53. Qxb4 $18) 50... Rc1+
51. Kg2 a1=Q 52. Qxa1 Rxa1 53. f8=Q Kxg5 54. Qc5+ {and Qf2+ or Qe3+ wins the B.
}) (47. e5 a4 $8 48. Qa7 $8 (48. e6 b3 49. Qa7) 48... Bf3+ 49. Kg1 Kh4 50. Qxa4
Rb2 51. Qa1 $8 Re2 $11) 47... Bf3+ $11 (47... Kh4 $5 48. Kg1 (48. Qf2+ Kxh3 49.
Qe3+ Kg4 50. f5 Bf3+ 51. Kg1 a4 52. f6 a3 53. f7 a2 54. Qa7 (54. Qxf3+ $6 Kxf3
55. f8=Q+ {is precarious, but the computer says White can hold on with all the
available checks.}) 54... Rc1+ 55. Kf2 a1=Q 56. Qxa1 Rxa1 57. f8=Q $11) 48...
Bf3 49. f5 {creating a passed pawn and opening a diagonal to g3 for checks} (
49. Qxa5 $4 Kg3 $19 50. Qa1 Rg2+ 51. Kf1 Be2+ $19) 49... b3 (49... Kg3 $4 50.
Qb8+ $8 Kxh3 51. f6 $8 Rg2+ 52. Kf1 Rh2 53. Qxh2+ $1 $18) (49... Kxh3 50. Qxh7+
$4 Kg3 $19) 50. f6 b2 51. Qb8 Rc1+ (51... Rg2+ $5 52. Kf1 Kxh3 $8 53. f7 Bxe4
$1 54. Qb3+ $5 Kh2 $8 55. f8=Q b1=Q+ 56. Qxb1 Bxb1 $11) 52. Kf2 b1=Q 53. Qg3+
Kh5 54. Qxf3+ Kxg5 {and White has a choice of perpetuals:} 55. h4+ (55. Qg3+
Kxf6 56. Qd6+ $11) 55... Kxh4 56. Qg3+ Kh5 57. Qh2+ Kg5 58. Qe5+ $11) 48. Kg1
Kh4 {[#]} 49. Qe3 $4 (49. Qxh7+ $4 {literally forces Black to make the winning
move:} Kg3 $19) (49. f5 $8 {As above: advancing a passer, and opening a
diagonal for checks to g3.} b3 (49... Kg3 $4 50. Qb8+ $18 Kxh3 51. f6 {as
above.}) 50. f6 b2 51. Qb8 $8 Rc1+ 52. Kf2 b1=Q 53. Qf4+ $11) 49... Kg3 $8 $19
50. Kf1 (50. Qe1+ Kxh3 51. Qf1+ Rg2+ 52. Kh1 Kg3 $19) 50... b3 51. Qe1+ (51.
Qxb3 Rc1+ 52. Qd1 Rxd1#) 51... Kxh3 52. Qb1 a4 53. e5 Be4 54. Qe1 b2 55. e6
Bd3+ 56. Kg1 Rc1 {This was the closest MJ came to losing during her 9-0 win in
the 2022 Canadian Women's Zonal.} 0-1

[Event "CAN-ch"]
[Site "Kingston"]
[Date "2022.04.14"]
[Round "3.7"]
[White "Nicula, Marius"]
[Black "Chiku-Ratte, Olivier-Kenta"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2186"]
[BlackElo "2364"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2022.04.13"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 b5 3. Bg2 Bb7 4. d4 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Bxf6 8.
Qd3 {[%mdl 32832] [#]Critical Position ...a6, ...b4, or ...00?} O-O $4 {
[%mdl 8196] Maybe expecting 9.Qxb5? Ba6 =/+} ({Actually, Qxb5 isn't much of a
threat, e.g.} 8... g6 9. Qxb5 $2 Ba6 {and Black trades the b-pawn for White's
e-pawn.}) (8... b4 $6 {just gives White a hook and makes it easier to find
squares for the Ns; e.g.} 9. a3 a5 10. Nbd2 c5 $5 11. dxc5 Bxb2 $2 (11... Na6
$1) 12. Nc4 $1 $16) (8... a6 $142 9. c3 {and Nbd2 and a later a4. White has an
easy game, and Black's B pair won't last after White moves the Nf3.}) 9. Ng5 $1
$18 {A stock tactic in g3 vs b6 openings.} (9. Qxb5 $2 Ba6 $15) 9... Bxg5 10.
Bxb7 Nc6 11. Bxa8 Qxa8 $18 {White is up a full exchange and gave Black
absolutely no chances.} 12. c3 Qb7 13. Nd2 d5 14. f4 Be7 15. e4 $18 dxe4 16.
Qxe4 Qb6 17. Nf3 Bf6 18. Rf2 Ne7 19. a4 b4 20. Ne5 Rd8 21. a5 Qb5 22. a6 c6 23.
Qd3 Qb6 24. Ng4 Nd5 25. Ne3 bxc3 26. Nxd5 Rxd5 27. bxc3 c5 28. Rb1 Qc6 29. Rb8+
Bd8 30. Qb5 Qxb5 31. Rxb5 Bb6 32. Ra2 cxd4 33. Rxb6 d3 34. Rb8+ Kh7 35. Rd2 1-0

[Event "CAN-ch"]
[Site "Kingston"]
[Date "2022.04.15"]
[Round "4.21"]
[White "Demchenko, Svitlana"]
[Black "Ouellet, Maili Jade"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B10"]
[WhiteElo "2079"]
[BlackElo "2179"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2022.04.13"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 8192][%evp 0,114,41,13,65,50,67,36,29,17,17,17,34,5,-1,-4,1,10,2,-13,
-13,-12,-22,-28,-6,0,16,17,0,-15,-11,10,62,5,61,0,14,-19,-4,-30,-22,-23,-15,
-38,10,9,133,125,148,1,4,22,22,18,34,-11,12,15,38,37,75,56,46,46,100,2,-8,0,0,
-11,-11,-123,-11,-31,-38,-67,-53,-44,-58,-54,-35,-46,19,11,29,0,-1,-22,32,34,
32,32,58,45,94,-12,0,-136,-150,-168,-135,-331,-327,-327,-330,-487,-543,-575,
-588,-588,-326,-586,-713,-1031,-952,-2141,-1851]} 1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5
cxd5 4. Ne5 Nf6 5. d4 g6 6. Bd3 (6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Be2 $5 $14 {keeps the Q
looking up the d-file, so that if ...Nc6xe5 the d5-pawn hangs.}) 6... Bg7 7. c3
O-O 8. O-O Nc6 {[#]} 9. f4 {Supports the Ne5, but permanently concedes e4 and
prevents pieces from using f4.} (9. Qe2 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Nd7 11. Bf4 (11. f4)) (9.
Re1 Nxe5 $1 (9... Bf5 10. Bxf5 gxf5 11. Bf4 e6 12. Nd2 Ne7 13. Bg5 $14 {
1-0 (39) Karjakin,S (2752)-Jobava,B (2603) Chess.com INT 2020}) 10. dxe5 Ng4
11. Bf4 (11. e6 $6 Bxe6 12. Rxe6 Nxf2 $1 $15) 11... Qc7 (11... f6 12. exf6 Nxf2
$1 $15 {N}) 12. Qf3 Nxe5 13. Qxd5 Rd8 14. Bxe5 Rxd5 15. Bxc7 Rxd3 $15 {(0-1,
55) Diamant,A (2547)-Tari,A (2635) PRO League (rapid), 2020.} 16. Na3) 9... Bf5
$1 10. Bxf5 gxf5 11. Nd2 e6 {[#]  Black has an unassailable outpost on e4 and
the Bc1's best hope is to go to h4 and trade itself, which is why Black's
broken pawn structure is nothing to complain about. But imagine White gets
outposts on f6 and g7. 1-0, right?} 12. Rf3 (12. Ndf3 Ne4 13. Be3 Kh8 14. Qe1
Nxe5 15. fxe5 Rg8 16. Kh1 {[#]Analysis Diagram} f6 $11 {This concedes an
outpost on e5, but gets Black more kingside space, and opens the 7th rank for
defence of h7, and with the N embedded on e4 there is no way the "half open"
e-file can be used by White's majors to attack e6.} 17. Bf4 fxe5 18. Nxe5 Qe7
19. Rf3 Bf6 20. Rh3 $14 Bg5 21. Qe3 Bxf4 22. Qxf4 Rg5 23. Qh4 Rag8 $11 24. Rg1
Qg7 (24... Rg4 $4 {does not set up a smothered mate:} 25. Nxg4 Qxh4 26. Rxh4 {
the Ng4 stops the smothered mate} Rxg4 27. g3 $8 $18) 25. Qf4 Rg4 $2 26. Nxg4
fxg4 27. Re3 Rf8 28. Rxe4 $8 dxe4 $4 (28... Rxf4 29. Rxf4 $14) 29. Qxe4 g3 30.
Re1 gxh2 31. Qxe6 Rf6 32. Qc8+ Rf8 33. Re8 Kg8 {(1-0, 33) Boskovic,D (2453)
-Abdrlauf,E (2338) Chess.com Titled Tuesday, 2021.}) 12... Ne7 13. Rh3 Ng6 14.
Nf1 Qc7 15. Ng3 Rfe8 16. Be3 (16. Nh5 Ne4 $11) 16... Rac8 17. Qe2 Nf8 18. Kh1 (
18. Nh5 Ne4 19. Nxg7 Kxg7 20. Qh5 f6 $15) 18... Re7 19. Rg1 Ne4 20. Nh5 {
[#] Threatening Nxg7 then g4, opening the g-file with a tempo on the K.} f6 $1
{Kicks the Ne5 and puts the R and Q in touch with g7 and h7.} 21. Nd3 Ng6 22.
g4 Nd6 $6 (22... Qc4 $142 23. gxf5 exf5 {Black gets worse pawns but play on
the e-file.}) (22... fxg4 23. Qxg4 f5 24. Qg2 $16) 23. g5 $1 $16 {[#] Black
has a choice of evils.} fxg5 $5 {gives Whit a chance to go wrong.} (23... Ne4
24. gxf6 Bxf6 25. Ne5 $16) 24. Rxg5 $2 (24. fxg5 $142 $18 {blocks the g-file,
but threatening Nf6+ and freeing f4 are more than worth it.}) 24... Ne4 25. Rg2
Qc4 26. a3 Rf8 27. Bf2 Rff7 28. Qe1 Kf8 $1 29. Bh4 Rc7 30. Ne5 Bxe5 31. fxe5
Ke8 32. Bf6 {Please take me! Almost everything Black has is out of the B's
reach on light squares.} Kd7 $1 33. Rf3 Kc6 34. h4 b6 {[%mdl 32832] [#]
Critical Position What happens if ...Ng7?} 35. Ng7 $4 {Threatens Nxe6, winning.
} (35. Bg5 $142 $11) 35... Nf8 $2 $11 {Misses a winning chance.} (35... Rxg7
$142 $19 36. Bxg7 Rxg7 37. h5 {The pin seems to simply cost Black a piece.
This must be what both players saw -- and misevaluated. In fact, Black is
better here, both tactically and positionally.} Nh4 (37... Nxe5 $5 {might be
better, it is certainly more complicated:} 38. dxe5 Rg5 $1 39. Rh3 f4 $1 $19) (
{Black's position is good enough that she can give the Ng6 for a P and still
be more than fine:} 37... Qa4 $5 38. hxg6 hxg6 $17 {and the Ne4 and two passed
pawns are more than enough comp for the exchange.}) 38. Qxh4 (38. Rxg7 Nxf3 $19
) 38... Rxg2 39. Kxg2 Qe2+ 40. Rf2 Nxf2 41. Qxf2 Qxh5 $1 $17) 36. h5 Kb7 37.
Qh4 Qa4 38. Rf1 Qc6 39. h6 {[#] White has secured outposts on f6 and g7...} Ka6
{... but the black K is on the other edge of the board.} (39... Ng6 $5 40. Rxg6
$2 hxg6 41. h7 Rf8 42. h8=Q (42. Rf3 Rh8 {and the Ng7 can't move without
allowing ...Rxh7-+.}) 42... Rxh8 43. Qxh8 Ng3+ $19) 40. Rf3 Qd7 41. Nh5 Qa4 42.
Rf1 Qb5 43. Rfg1 Qd3 44. Nf4 Qf3 45. Kh2 Rc8 46. Bg7 {[#] It looks like White
has been trying to duplicate a similar maneuver from a 2015 Anand-Carlsen game,
where Carlsen used his B to block the defence of White's a2 pawn. Unlike that
game, here the center is closed, making the h7 pawn safer.} Rc6 $6 (46... Ng6
$5 {This looks insane: giving White a pawn and making the h6 pawn unstoppable.
But if Black can trade the Nf4 then she has such a strong attack that White's
h-pawn is barely enough to stay in the game.} 47. Nxg6 (47. Rxg6 $5 hxg6 48.
Nxe6 f4 49. Ng5 (49. Bf6 $5) (49. h7 Rf5 $1 $19) 49... Nxg5 50. Rxg5 Qe4 51.
Bf6 {The computer prefers Black, but only if you can find this:} Rg8 $3 {
defending g6 and preparing ...Rh7, so} 52. h7 f3 $8 $19 {trading Qs to win
White's h-pawn!}) 47... hxg6 48. Rxg6 Nd2 $1 $132 {for example, if White just
pushes Black wins:} 49. h7 $2 f4 $1 50. h8=Q Rxh8 $8 51. Qxh8 {the most
testing.} (51. Bxh8 Qe2+ 52. R6g2 Nf3+ 53. Kh1 (53. Kh3 Qe3 $19) 53... Qe4 $1
$19 {threatening everything and ...Rh7.}) 51... Rf5 $8 52. R6g5 Rxg5 53. Rxg5
Qf1 $1 54. Rg2 {Only good defence to ...Nf3#.} ({Chasing the K doesn't help} 
54. Qc8+ Ka5 55. b4+ Ka4 56. Qd7+ Kb3 {and White still hasn't dealt with his K
and the Pf4.}) 54... Nf3+ 55. Kh3 Ne1 $19) 47. Rc2 $2 (47. Bxf8 $1 {clears the
g-file and gets rid of a defender of e6 and h7, at the small cost of a
redundant dark square attacker.} Rxf8 48. Rg7 $16 Nd2 $5 (48... Nxc3 $2 {
is nothing:} 49. bxc3 Rxc3 50. Qg3 $18) 49. Rxh7 $2 (49. R1g2 $142 $1 $16)
49... Rcc8 50. Rgg7 Rh8 {amazingly, Black has enough counterplay for equality!}
) 47... Nd7 48. Nh5 $2 {The N was well placed where it was -- attacking d6,
defending many squares, and blocking the f5 pawn -- and risks being stranded
here. The notes to move 46 show just how much play Black gets by pushing ...f4
that it's worth sacing the h7 pawn. Here, White gives up f4 for free.} (48.
Rcc1 $142 {to play Rcf1, kicking out the Q and freeing the white Q from
defending the N.}) (48. Rcg2 {looks natural, but what can White do with the
g-file?}) 48... f4 $1 {[#] Black siezes her chance: stranding the Nh5 and
creating threats to the white K.} 49. Qg4 $4 (49. Qh3 $142 {is White's only
good move. It actually does force off the Qs, but critically improves the
white K's position.} Qxh3+ $1 (49... Qe3 $2 50. Qxe3 fxe3 51. Re2 Rf2+ 52. Rg2
$16) 50. Kxh3 Rf5 51. Kh4 $8 $15) 49... Qd3 $1 $19 (49... Qxg4 $2 50. Rxg4 f3
51. Kg1 $11) 50. Qe2 (50. Rcc1 {saves the R and controls the back rank, but
after} f3 {Black's QR and advanced pawn are too much to cope with; e.g.} 51.
Rgf1 (51. Ng3 $2 Qd2+ $19 {and a N fork on f2.}) (51. Rgd1 Qe2+ $19) 51... Rf5
$1 {Threatening ...Rxh5+, which deflects the Q from defending g2, so ...Qe2-g2
will be mate.} 52. Nf6 Qd2+ 53. Kh3 (53. Kg1 Rg5 $19) 53... Ng5+ $19) 50...
Qxe2+ 51. Rxe2 {[#]} Rf5 $1 $19 {This does more than win the pawn that White
has to give up to save the Nh5.} 52. Nf6 Ndxf6 53. exf6 f3 $1 {Attacking g2
completes the mating net: Black is threatening the Re2 and ...Rh5 mate!} 54.
Rxe4 (54. Rc2 $4 Rh5#) 54... dxe4 55. f7 Rxf7 56. Kg3 e3 57. Be5 f2 0-1

[Event "CAN-ch"]
[Site "Kingston"]
[Date "2022.04.15"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Dorrance, Adam"]
[Black "Zhang, Yuanchen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2260"]
[BlackElo "2330"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2022.04.13"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,56,19,31,14,-14,-11,-21,-23,-23,-7,-13,-2,9,7,-36,-26,-13,6,16,31,7,
37,29,40,32,40,28,57,21,18,16,19,0,0,-42,114,37,28,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,
0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Ne5 Bc6 7.
Nxc6 Nxc6 8. e3 Qd7 9. O-O O-O-O 10. Qe2 Nd5 11. Qxc4 h5 12. Nc3 h4 13. Bd2 {
[#] This does not look like the kind of position most Catalan players are
hoping for after move 3.g3.} hxg3 (13... f5 14. Rac1 g5 $1 15. e4 $6 Nb6 $17
16. Qd3 hxg3 17. fxg3 $6 {Analysis Diagram [#]} Ne5 $1 $19 (17... Bc5 $2 18.
Nb5 $1 $13 Bxd4+ 19. Nxd4 Qxd4+ 20. Qxd4 Nxd4 21. Rf2 $11 {(0-1, 40) Xu,X 
(2571)-Erigaisi,A (2681) Chess.com Rapid, 2022.}) 18. Qe2 (18. Qe3 Nbc4 $19 (
18... Ng4 $19)) 18... Qxd4+ 19. Be3 Qxe3+ $3 $19 20. Qxe3 Ng4 21. Qxg5 Bc5+ $19
{Black's B wins a R or two by attacking the dark squares.}) 14. hxg3 f5 15.
Rfc1 g5 16. Qa4 Kb8 17. Rab1 (17. Nxd5 $142 exd5 18. Rc2 $13) 17... Bd6 $5 $146
(17... Nb6 $142 $17) (17... Bg7 18. b4 Nxc3 $2 19. Bxc3 (19. Rxc3 $142 $18)
19... Ne7 20. b5 Nd5 $15 {(0-1, 36) Lou,Y (2484)-Li,Y (2435) Tianjin, 2018.})
18. Nxd5 exd5 19. Bxd5 f4 {[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position [hard] Attack
with Qb5, defend with exf4, or something else?} ({That the computer likes} 
19... Bxg3 $5 20. Bxc6 $8 $13 {gives some idea of Black's attacking chances in
this line.}) 20. Qb5 $4 {This looks like a clean winner: the N can't go
anywhere safe, and if it stays where it is White wins it with R takes. But...}
(20. exf4 $142 gxf4 21. Qb3 $8 fxg3 22. Bxc6 $8 gxf2+ 23. Kf1 $8 Qc8 $8 $13 {
White is up a piece, but SF15 rates it as slightly better for Black. White's
main problem is that Black's f2 pawn is the only thing that is keeping him
from getting mated, but if it stays there then ...Rh2 and ...Rg8 will win.
White's main defence is to give the piece back with Qxb7 before Black's
counterattack wins.}) (20. Qb3 $142 $5 {Analysis Diagram [#]  Black could step
out of the pin on the b-file with ...Ka8, but who could resist this:} Bb4 $3 {
Fantastic tactics! Blocking the pin on b7 while creating a double attack on
the Bd5. The main point is that it seems to simply lose a piece to} 21. Bxc6 $2
{but now Black actually wins with} (21. Bxb4 $142 Qxd5 $11 (21... Qg4 $5 $13))
21... bxc6 $8 22. Qxb4+ Ka8 $1 {After which White is up a piece, but gets
mated on his hopelessly weak light squares, e.g.} 23. Qc4 $1 (23. gxf4 Qg4+ {
and ...Rh1#.}) (23. Kf1 f3 $19 {and ...Rh1 again.}) (23. exf4 Qd5 24. Kf1 Qf3 {
and mates.}) 23... f3 $8 24. Qxc6+ ({White has no time to plug the h-file with
Bxg5-h4:} 24. e4 Rh1+ $1 $19) 24... Qxc6 25. Rxc6 Rd7 $1 $19 {and doubles Rs
to mate on the h-file.}) 20... fxg3 $1 ({The computer move} 20... a6 $3 {
apparently also wins after} 21. Qb3 ({or} 21. Bxc6 Rh1+ $1 {now that the LSB
has been lured into a pin on c6!}) 21... Ka7 $1) 21. Bxc6 {White wins the
piece, but} Rh1+ $3 $19 {[#] This position was being shown full screen on the
DGT projector, and a lot of players in the hall turned to were watching it,
rather than their own games. It's much trickier than it looks.} 22. Kg2 {[#]} (
{The Bc6 is pinned to the Q, so} 22. Bxh1 $2 Qxb5 $19) (22. Kxh1 {shows a
standard mating pattern:} Qh3+ 23. Kg1 Qh2+ 24. Kf1 Qxf2#) 22... Qh3+ $2 {
Second best, but only good enough for a draw.} (22... Rh2+ $8 $19 23. Kf1 $1 {
Analysis Diagram [#]  the best try, and probably what stumped Black} ({The
other K runs lose trivially:} 23. Kg1 $2 gxf2+ $1 24. Kf1 Qh3+ 25. Ke2 f1=Q#) (
23. Kf3 $2 Rxf2+ 24. Ke4 Qh7+ 25. Kd5 Rf5+ $19 {leaves Black up a QP for RB,
but with a monster pawn on g3.}) 23... Qc8 $3 $19 {A move that retreats to
defend in the middle of an attack is something Tal would find, but thinking
this might be Black's best move would be enough for most players to stop
calcuating this variation on the grounds that "White must have some way out".
In fact, despite the fact that the Q retreat is purely defensive, White has no
way to cope with Black's second rook joining a winning attack from f8 or h8.
For example:} ({The direct attacking continuations do not win:} 23... g2+ $4
24. Ke2 $18 g1=N+ $5 (24... Qg4+ $2 25. Bf3 $18) 25. Rxg1 Qxc6 26. Qxc6 bxc6
27. Rxg5 $18 {with two extra passed pawns.}) (23... Qh3+ $2 24. Ke2 $8 Rxf2+
25. Kd3 $8 Qc8 $1 (25... Qf5+ $2 26. Qxf5 Rxf5 27. Be4 $18 {with an extra
piece.}) 26. Be4 $18) (23... Rxf2+ $2 24. Kg1 Qc8 $8 25. Be1 $15 {is clearly
worse than the main line.}) 24. Bg2 (24. fxg3 $2 Rxd2 $19 {regains the piece
with more open lines to attack.}) (24. Be1 gxf2 25. Bxf2 Bg3 $1 $19) 24... Rdh8
$1 {threatening ...Rxg2+ then ...Qh3.} 25. Qd5 Rxg2 $1 26. Qxg2 (26. Kxg2 Qh3+
27. Kf3 Qh5+ $8 $19 {wins now.} 28. Ke4 Qh7+ 29. Kf3 Rf8+ 30. Ke2 Rxf2+ 31. Kd1
Qd3 32. Qg8+ Bf8 $19 {#2}) 26... Rh2 $1 $19 {White might bail to a materially
equalish ending with fxg3, but his exposed K and Black's g-pawn mean 0-1.}) 23.
Kf3 Qh5+ $8 24. Ke4 $8 (24. Kg2 $4 Rh2+ $19) 24... Qh7+ 25. Kd5 $1 (25. Kf3 $4
Rf8+ {forces mate.}) 25... Qf7+ 26. Ke4 Qh7+ 27. Kd5 Qf7+ 28. Ke4 Qh7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "CAN-ch"]
[Site "Kingston"]
[Date "2022.04.17"]
[Round "8.3"]
[White "Dukic, Zachary"]
[Black "Sambuev, Bator"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C16"]
[WhiteElo "2226"]
[BlackElo "2502"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2022.04.13"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 32773][%evp 0,85,19,38,30,45,34,45,33,32,83,18,63,45,44,51,81,34,47,15,
23,23,31,-44,-44,-24,-17,-3,41,33,40,20,10,6,9,41,35,6,6,-4,22,19,63,63,57,55,
50,55,67,71,94,77,111,97,151,149,149,50,46,53,89,78,50,8,67,67,67,67,67,-49,
242,206,223,249,291,211,509,540,1050,29984,29991,29984,29985,29986,29987,29988,
29989,1687]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 b6 {[#] Not nearly as popular
as the mainline Winawer with ...c5, but it's been played recently a few times
with success by US GM Jeffrey Xiong, and is a reasonable way to try to get
White out of book and into a maneuvering game. One point is to play ...Ba6,
trading the bad French LSB for White's good LSB.} 5. h4 (5. a3 Bf8 6. Bb5+ c6
7. Ba4 Ba6 8. Nce2 $1 $16 h5 $5 {(½-½, 39) Tari,A (2654)-Carlsen,M (2864)
chess24 Rapid, 2022.}) 5... Qd7 (5... Ba6 6. Bxa6 Nxa6 7. a3 Bf8 8. h5 {
continuing with The Plan (see below).}) 6. h5 h6 7. Qg4 Bf8 8. b4 $1 {[#]
Using tactics to clamp on the queenside.} Ne7 (8... Bxb4 $2 9. Qxg7 Bxc3+ 10.
Bd2 Bxa1 11. Qxh8 {and Black cannot defend the Ng8, leaving White with a
winning initiative, e.g.} Bxd4 (11... Kf8 12. Bxh6+ $18) 12. Qxg8+ Ke7 13. Nf3
Nc6 14. Nxd4 Nxd4 15. Bxh6 $18) (8... a6 9. a3 $6 {a waste, since Black is
going ...c5 in all lines.} (9. Nf3 $142) 9... Ne7 10. Bd3 c5 $1 11. bxc5 bxc5
12. dxc5 Qc7 13. Nf3 Nd7 14. O-O Nxc5 15. Na4 Nxd3 16. cxd3 f5 $6 17. Qf4 d4
18. Bd2 Nd5 19. Qxd4 Bb7 20. Rfc1 $18 {(1-0, 30) Sheng,J (2453)-Hevia Alejano,
C (2467) Pan-Am Ch. (online rapid), 2021}) 9. b5 $6 {This gives Black
something to nibble on, and a bit more space. Here's an online game between
titled Canadians where White follows a similar Alpha Zero-approved strategy in
the main game -- The Plan -- which is proving an existential threat to the
French: e5, h5-h6, then either smashing the kingside with f4-f5 or g4-g5 or a
minor piece sac (or both).} (9. Nf3 $142 Nbc6 10. a3 Bb7 11. Qf4 {hitting f7
makes Black pay in pawn structure if he wants to castle long.} g5 12. hxg6 Nxg6
13. Qe3 O-O-O 14. Bd3 Kb8 15. Ne2 $16 {Heading for h5. I don't see a
constructive plan for Black.} Nce7 16. Ng3 {Analysis Diagram [#]} f5 $2 ({
SF15 chooses} 16... h5 $142 $5 17. Rxh5 Nf5 {giving up a pawn to avoid the
bind.}) 17. exf6 Nf5 18. Nxf5 exf5 19. Ne5 $18 Nxe5 20. dxe5 d4 21. Qh3 $1 $18
Qd5 22. Qxf5 Qxg2 23. Rf1 h5 24. Bf4 h4 25. e6 {It's a race!} h3 26. e7 Bxe7
27. fxe7 Rde8 28. Qd7 h2 29. Qxc7+ Ka8 30. O-O-O $1 {Still possible!} h1=Q 31.
Rxh1 Rxh1 32. Qd8+ $1 Bc8 33. Qxe8 Rxd1+ 34. Kxd1 Qg1+ {White can block the
checks with a B, so there's no perp.} 35. Ke2 Qg4+ 36. Ke1 Qe6+ 37. Kd2 Kb7 38.
Qd8 {(1-0, 38) Preotu,R (2445)-Yang,K (2481) Chess.com Rapid Qualifier, 2022})
9... a6 $1 10. Nf3 axb5 11. Nxb5 {[#]} Ba6 (11... Nf5 $5 {looks like it steps
into a tempo loss with an upcoming, g4, but it guards d6 and so allows Black
to go ...c6 without allowing a crushing Nd6+.}) 12. a4 Nf5 $1 ({I would be
tempted to bail with} 12... Bxb5 13. Bxb5 Qxb5 14. axb5 Rxa1 15. O-O Ra5 {
When Black has enough material for the Q, and a compact structure... but
nothing to do: SF15 says White is completely crushing here with Nh4 and f4-f5.
Even if we ignore Black's undeveloped kingside, it's pathetic how little
Black's minors can do.}) 13. Rb1 {[#]} Nc6 (13... c6 $5 {Playing to trade the
LSBs looks like an obvious improvment. Here the top engines have preposterous
Alpha Zero-like suggestions: ignore it!!} {Stockfish 15 goes:} 14. Bd2 $5 (14.
Bd3 $5 {is Leela's top choice, also scored at 0.00.}) 14... cxb5 15. axb5 Bb7
16. Bd3 {simply giving up the piece for a giant space advantage!? At 30 ply,
SF15 says... 0.00. It is this sort of eval from the top Neural Net engines --
it is about equal when White is a piece down but with loads of room for
improvement -- that has convinced top players that White's kingside space
advantage may be too big for Black to concede by playing these French lines.})
14. Qf4 Na5 15. g4 Ne7 16. Rh3 g5 17. Qf6 Rh7 {[#] White has followed the
computer-approved strategy which is proving an existential threat to the
French: e5, h5, then either smashing the kingside with f4-f5 or g4-g5 or a
minor piece sac (or both). The rest looks like White is in total control, but
in the complications both sides exchange game changing blunders.} (17... Rg8 $2
18. Bxg5 $1 $16 Bg7 (18... hxg5 19. Nxg5 $16) 19. Qxe7+ $16) 18. Nxg5 $1 hxg5
19. Bxg5 Ng8 (19... O-O-O 20. Bd3 $18) 20. Qf4 Be7 (20... Bh6 21. Bd3 $18) 21.
Bd3 Rh8 {[#]} 22. h6 $16 {...h7 isn't quite the threat it appears.} (22. Rf3
$142 $18 {and Black is cracked:} Bxg5 (22... O-O-O 23. Nd6+ $1 $18) (22... Bf8
23. Bg6 $18) 23. Qxg5 Kf8 24. Bg6 Nh6 25. Qf6 Kg8 26. g5 $18) 22... Bxb5 (22...
Nc4 $5 23. h7 {trapping the N, but} O-O-O $1 24. hxg8=Q Rdxg8 25. Rxh8 Rxh8 26.
Ke2 Bxg5 27. Qxg5 {White has a nice space advantage, but there is a very long
way to go to turn this into a full point.}) 23. Bxb5 c6 24. Bd3 Qd8 25. Bxe7
Nxe7 26. Qf6 Rf8 27. h7 Kd7 28. Qg7 c5 {[#]} 29. c3 ({It's totally unnatural
to think of trading the B which fights for the kinside light squares, but SF15
shows that it's strong:} 29. Bb5+ $142 $1 {aiming to double Rs on the f-file.}
Nac6 30. Rf3 Qe8 31. Rf6 Kc7 32. Rb3 $18) 29... cxd4 30. cxd4 Nc4 31. Rf3 Qe8 {
[%mdl 96] [#] So far White has been in total control -- following a good
strategy which has left Black in an objectively lost position -- but in the
time-trouble complications both sides exchange game-changing blunders.} 32.
Bxc4 $4 {Incredibly, trading off Black's only active piece and winning a pawn
actually gives away most of White's advantage! Question: Can you see how Black
might get counterplay now in a way that was impossible before?} ({Continuing
to press the kingside wins:} 32. g5 Rxa4 33. g6 $18) 32... dxc4 33. Rxb6 {[#]}
Kc7 $4 (33... Rxa4 $4 34. Rd6+ Kc7 35. Rxe6 $18) (33... Rb8 $8 $11 {It seems
ludicrous that Black might get enough play on the queenside to make up for
that Ph7, but it's true!} 34. Rxb8 (34. Ra6 Rb1+ $8 35. Ke2 Qb8 $1 $11 36. Rd6+
{the rest are all "only moves"} Kc7 37. Rxf7 Qb2+ 38. Kf3 Rg1 39. Rxf8 Qc3+ $11
{with a perpetual}) (34. Rd6+ Kc7 $132 {with serious counterplay via ...Rb1+
and ...Qxa4.}) 34... Qxb8 35. Rxf7 Rxf7 36. Qxf7 c3 {[#] Analysis Diagram} 37.
Ke2 $1 {A crazy-hard-to-find move, but logical: Black has no moves to improve,
and White needs to play d5 for tempi on the K, and should first pepare his own
K to get closer to the Pc3 in anticipation of ...Qxe5+.} c2 38. d5 $8 $11 {
A challenging place for a calculation exercise.  SPOILER: Black gets enough
checks to draw, and so does White.}) 34. Rb5 $4 {This could have cost the game.
} (34. Rd6 $4 Qxa4 $19 {Black has a mating attack.}) (34. a5 $8 $18 {defends
the R and keeps attacking along the 6th.} Rb8 (34... Rxa5 {undefends Rf8,} 35.
Rxe6 $8 $18) (34... Ng6 35. d5 $1 exd5 (35... Rxa5 36. Rxe6 $18) 36. Rxg6 $18)
35. h8=Q Rxh8 36. Rxf7 $18) 34... Ng6 $4 {This makes perfect sense: it defends
h8 and the Rf8 and so frees the Ra8 to attack the a-pawn.   Black misses his
chance and doesn't get another.  Answer: the key is that ...dxc4 opens the
long diagonal and d-file pressure on d4, as in variations here.} (34... Rxa4 $1
{creates a deadly counter attack.} 35. Rc5+ (35. Kf1 Ra1+ 36. Kg2 Ng6 $8 $19 {
threatening ...Qxb5 and ...Nh4+.}) (35. Rb1 Qa8 36. Rh3 Qg2 $19) 35... Kb6 36.
Kf1 (36. Rc3 Qa8 $19) 36... Qa8 37. Kg2 Ng6 38. Kg3 Ra1 $19) 35. Rc5+ {[#]} Kd7
$6 (35... Kb6 $142 {forces White to find more hard moves} 36. Rxc4 Rc8 $1 37.
Rxc8 $8 (37. Rfc3 $2 Rxc4 38. Rxc4 Qa8 $1 $11) 37... Qxc8 38. Qh6 $8 $16 {
defending c1. Now if Black's Q leaves the back rank, Qxf8 will win; otherwise
White is ready to swing the Q and R over to the queenside to attack the
exposed K.} (38. Rxf7 $2 Qc1+ {is a perp.}) (38. Kd2 $2 {stops the ...Qc1+ but
exposes the K on the d-file, so} Rd8 $1 $36 {and White is in trouble.})) 36.
Rxc4 Ra7 (36... Rc8 37. Rxc8 Kxc8 38. Rf6 $18 {Black has no way out of the
bind.... and White does have four P for a N which is doing nothing but
guarding h8.}) 37. Rfc3 ({Or} 37. Rf6 {threatening RxN.} Nh8 38. d5 $18) 37...
Qa8 38. Rc6 $1 $18 {Blocks the long diagonal.} Nh8 {[#] Black's whole army has
been pushed to the edge of the board, with the king his most centralized piece.
} (38... Qxc6 {extends the game, but shouldn't change the outcome.} 39. Rxc6
Kxc6 40. Qxf8 $18) 39. d5 $1 {Power chess to open lines for the majors!} exd5
40. e6+ $1 (40. Qf6 {is faster, but both mate.}) 40... Ke7 41. Qg5+ f6 42. Qg7+
Nf7 $19 43. exf7 (43. h8=Q $1 {is faster and prettier, but they both force
mate.}) (43. exf7 Rxf7 44. Rc7+ {wins the Rf7, and White still has the monster
on h7.}) 1-0

[Event "CAN-ch"]
[Site "Kingston"]
[Date "2022.04.17"]
[Round "8.24"]
[White "Botez, Alexandra"]
[Black "D'Souza, Carina"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2020"]
[BlackElo "1466"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2022.04.13"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,43,41,14,16,27,24,2,33,39,30,-5,2,-1,13,9,17,49,35,48,48,54,59,26,33,
52,70,69,50,10,55,49,113,145,315,315,358,358,369,379,787,773,29997,29998,29999,
-30000]} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c6 4. Nbd2 Nf6 5. g3 Nbd7 6. Bg2 Bd6 7. Qc2
Qe7 8. O-O O-O 9. e4 {This is too direct for an advantage... if Black reacts
correctly.} (9. Re1 $142 {lines up the R with the Q to reduce Black's freedom
in the center and  prepares e4.}) 9... dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Qxe4 {[#]} Nf6 $2
{Developing the N to a natural square while gaining time on the Q is natural,
but poor. Here, Black's pieces can free themselves with ..e5, which becomes
impossible once this N stops fighting for e5.} (11... e5 $142 $1 {[#] Black
threatens ...f5!, owning the center and sending White's pieces scrambling.
White has to be careful to equalize:} 12. dxe5 (12. Re1 $6 f5 $1 13. Qc2 e4 $1
$15) (12. Bg5 f6 $1 {and after the B moves, ...f5=/+}) 12... Nxe5 $13 13. Ng5
g6 $1 (13... f5 $5)) 12. Qh4 c5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. Rd1 Rd8 15. Bg5 Bd7 16. Ne5 {
[%mdl 33088] [#] Critical Position ...Be8 to preserve the B pair, or ...h6
moving a pawn in front of the K?} Be8 $4 (16... h6 $142 17. Bxf6 gxf6 {[#]
looks bad, as White can simply win a pawn:} 18. Nxd7 (18. Ng4 f5 19. Nf6+ (19.
Nxh6+ $2 {strands the N.}) 19... Kg7 $11) (18. Nd3 $1 f5 $2 19. Nxc5 Qxc5 20.
Rd4 {with a winning pin on the d-file.}) 18... Rxd7 19. Rxd7 Qxd7 {but after}
20. Qxf6 ({or} 20. Qxh6 Qd4 $1) 20... Qd2 {Black has full compensation in what
may well boil down to an opposite B ending.}) 17. Ng4 $8 $18 Bd4 18. Rxd4 $1 {
Other moves -- Be4, Rd2 -- also win, but this is the cleanest.} Rxd4 19. Bxf6
$1 gxf6 20. Nxf6+ Kg7 (20... Qxf6 {is the onlly way to prevent mate.}) 21. Qg5+
Kh8 22. Qg8# 1-0

[Event "CAN-ch"]
[Site "Kingston"]
[Date "2022.04.18"]
[Round "9.7"]
[White "Plotkin, Mark"]
[Black "Clyde, Jordan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2354"]
[BlackElo "2088"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2022.04.13"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 32768][%evp 0,65,19,31,54,61,77,90,90,48,67,67,51,55,45,19,14,22,11,6,
60,-86,20,20,20,13,1,1,7,6,192,193,193,193,177,175,248,182,177,184,162,169,193,
163,229,118,127,196,204,218,223,218,246,77,87,0,52,258,266,167,635,29988,29989,
29990,29991,1599,1814,1981]} 1. d4 d6 2. e4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. f4 c6 5. Nf3 d5 6.
e5 h5 {[#]  This position is more commonly reached by a Caro Kann (1...c6) or
Modern (1...g6) move order, when Black gets ...d7-d5 in one move. The closed
center may mitigate the tempo loss if White plays slowly. Black typically
continues with ...Bg4 and ...Nh6. White could cross that plan here with 7.h3,
but Mark is more ambitious.} 7. Ng5 $5 $146 {Prevents the B for N trade after .
..Bg4, and also starts to create threats to Black's light square pawn chain.}
Nh6 (7... Bg4 $5 8. Qd2 {and White can get some time back later by attacking
the B with h4 and (maybe) g4.}) 8. Be3 Qb6 9. Na4 Qb4+ 10. Nc3 $6 {White
really wanted to give the b-pawn.} (10. c3 $142) 10... Qb6 (10... Qxb2 $142 11.
Na4 Qa3 12. c3 {protecting the N and threatening to win the Q with Bc1. But
Black has two ways out:} b5 $1 $17 {saves the Q and wins c3.} (12... e6 {
frees e7 for the Q.})) 11. Qd2 Qxb2 12. Rb1 Qa3 13. Bd3 Qa5 14. O-O {[%mdl
33088] [#] Critical Position White is down a pawn but much further ahead in
development. In many continuations White crashes through with sacs on the
light squares, the most thematic of which is e5-e6. What should Black do?} e6
$4 {Black has several plausible defensive choices, including this game-losing
blunder.} (14... Bf5 $2 15. Rxb7 Bxd3 (15... e6 16. Nb5 $18 {as in the game.})
16. Qxd3 Nd7 (16... Qa6 $4 17. Rxb8+ $18) 17. Bd2 Qd8 18. e6 $18) (14... Nf5
$142 15. h3 $5 {not necessary, but an amusing and strong provocation} (15. Bxf5
Bxf5 $5 16. Rxb7 Nd7 $14 {Black has returned the pawn to almost catch up in
development.}) 15... Nxe3 $2 (15... h4 $142 16. Rb3 $32) 16. Qxe3 Qxc3 {
gives White another way to show how to attack} 17. Nxf7 $1 O-O (17... Kxf7 $2
18. Bxg6+ $18) 18. Rb3 Qa5 19. Bxg6 $18 {e.g.} Rxf7 20. Bxf7+ Kxf7 21. f5 $18 {
Black has three minors for the R, but his buried queenside pieces will be no
match for White's swarming majors.}) (14... b6 $142 {defends the Q and the
b-pawn and prepares Bf5; e.g.} 15. Kh1 Bf5 16. Bxf5 $2 Nxf5 $1 17. e6 {is the
obvious kind of continutation that Black might have feared, but after} f6 $1 {
Black is close to winning; e.g.} 18. Nf7 Rg8 $19 {and White's minors are out
of moves, and Black threatens to win the Nf7 with ...Na6-c7xe6.}) ({The real
question about} 14... b6 {(or most other moves) is whether Black can allow} 15.
e6 $5 Bxe6 (15... f5 $6 16. h3 Na6 {going after e6} 17. Nf3 $1 Nc7 (17... c5
18. Rb5) 18. Ne5 Bxe5 19. fxe5 Ng8 (19... Nxe6 $2 20. Bxh6 Rxh6 21. Qxh6 Qxc3
22. Qxg6+ Kd7 23. Bxf5 $18) 20. Qe1 {with threats like Bd2 and Qg3. Here, and
in other lines, the Qa5 is a long-term liability.}) 16. Nxe6 (16. Bxg6 Bg4 $13)
16... fxe6 17. Bxg6+ Kd7 18. Bxh5 Na6 $13 {material is equal, Black has a
solid clump of center pawns and will get some pressure on the half-open
kingside files.}) 15. Nce4 $1 $18 {This tactic was impossible while the e7
pawn defended d6; now it's winning.} (15. Nb5 $1 {works as well.}) 15... Qxd2 (
15... Qc7 16. Nd6+ Ke7 {[#]  Analysis Diagram Black is playing without his
Queenside pieces and without any hope of counterplay, so White has more than
one way to win; here's the most brutal:} 17. Ndxf7 $1 Nxf7 18. Bxg6 Nh6 (18...
Nxg5 19. fxg5 Rf8 20. Rxf8 Kxf8 21. Qf2+ Kg8 22. Qh4 $18) 19. f5 Nxf5 (19...
exf5 20. Nh7 $3 Ng4 21. Bg5+ $18) 20. Bxf5 (20. Nf7 Rf8 21. Bg5+ Kd7 22. Rxf5
$18) 20... exf5 21. e6 Bxe6 22. Rbe1 $18) 16. Nd6+ $8 Ke7 17. Bxd2 a5 (17... b5
18. Bb4 $18) (17... f6 18. Nxc8+ Rxc8 19. Rxb7+ $18) 18. Nxb7 Bxb7 19. Rxb7+
Nd7 20. Rfb1 {[#]} Rhc8 (20... Rhb8 21. Rxb8 Rxb8 22. Rxb8 Nxb8 23. Bxa5 $18 {
Black has solved his queenside development problems, but his kingside pieces
will be no match for the a-pawn; e.g.} Nf5 24. Bc7 $1 {chasing the N from the
a-file before trading the Bd3} Nd7 25. Bxf5 exf5 26. a4 $18) 21. Bc1 $1 (21.
Be1 {heading to h4 is also strong.}) 21... Ke8 22. Nxe6 ({or} 22. Nxf7 Nxf7 23.
Bxg6 Rcb8 24. Bxh5 $18) 22... fxe6 23. Bxg6+ Ke7 $1 ({weaker is} 23... Kd8 {
when} 24. f5 {creates threats with Bg5+.}) 24. Ba3+ Kd8 25. Bd6 {[#] Q: What
is White's immediate threat?} c5 ({A: Rxd7+.} 25... Bf8 $2 26. Rxd7+ Kxd7 27.
Rb7+ {and there's no ...Kc6 escape.}) 26. dxc5 Bf8 27. f5 $1 {White continues
his masterclass in initiative play.} Bxd6 28. cxd6 Nf8 29. fxe6 $1 Nxg6 30. e7+
Ke8 (30... Nxe7 31. dxe7+ Ke8 32. Rf1 Nf7 33. e6 {mates.}) 31. d7+ Kf7 32.
e8=Q+ (32. d8=Q $1 {is faster, but doesn't continue with checks, which may
have been a factor in time trouble.}) 32... Rxe8 33. d8=Q+ $1 1-0

[Event "Oslo Esports Cup"]
[Site "Oslo"]
[Date "2022.04.24"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Hansen, Eric"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2606"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2022.04.22"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,128,18,16,27,-16,36,35,47,2,10,12,13,-17,8,-28,-25,-18,-19,-12,3,-12,
-21,-12,-4,-18,-7,1,7,8,30,3,26,31,14,8,32,35,51,21,37,49,72,0,0,0,-17,-52,-44,
-77,-84,-93,-57,-95,-18,-35,-35,-16,-34,-19,0,0,0,-11,6,-39,-23,-112,-99,-108,
-66,-39,-48,-75,-99,-154,-88,-87,-76,-76,14,0,162,-82,-77,-86,-123,-118,-112,
-82,-103,-245,-315,-359,-326,-384,-346,-346,-295,-376,-368,-422,-484,-373,-320,
-377,-329,-392,-405,-380,-407,-407,-323,-466,-472,-29967,-355,-451,-451,-458,
-394,-29981,-425,-385,-385,-397,-419,-1009,-1259,-1272,-1259]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4
g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. e3 O-O 5. Be2 c5 6. dxc5 Na6 7. Nc3 Nxc5 8. O-O d6 9. Nd4 Bd7
10. b3 Rc8 11. Bb2 a6 12. h3 Qc7 13. Rc1 Qb8 14. b4 Ne6 15. Nb3 b5 16. cxb5
axb5 17. Qd3 Nc7 18. a3 Rfd8 19. Rfd1 d5 20. Nc5 Bc6 21. Nb3 e5 22. Bf1 Nfe8
23. Na5 Ba8 24. Nb1 Nd6 25. Nd2 Nc4 26. Qb1 Ne6 27. Naxc4 bxc4 28. e4 dxe4 29.
Nxc4 Nd4 30. Ne3 f5 31. Rxc8 Qxc8 32. Nc4 Qe6 33. Na5 Bd5 34. b5 Ra8 35. Bc3 f4
36. Re1 Rc8 37. b6 $1 $11 Rxc3 38. b7 $8 Bxb7 39. Qxb7 {[%mdl 32832] [#]
Critical Position What happens if ...e3?} e3 40. fxe3 $8 (40. Qb4 $2 {
threatens Qxc3 and Qxd4, but} exf2+ 41. Kxf2 Rc2+ 42. Kg1 Qc8 $19 {getting out
of both Qxd4 and Bc4. Black is up a pawn with a safer K.}) 40... fxe3 $4 (40...
Nc2 $8 $11 41. Rc1 $1 fxe3 42. Qb2 e4 $8 $11 43. Rxc2 Rxc2 44. Qxc2 e2 $8 45.
Qxe2 Qb6+ $11 {forking the K and N.}) {[#]} 41. Rxe3 $4 (41. Qb4 $1 $18 e2 (
41... Rc2 42. Bc4 $18 {leaves White up an exchange and the e3 passer under
control.}) 42. Qxc3 exf1=Q+ 43. Kxf1 $8 $18 {White's up an exchange and
everything is defended.}) 41... Rc1 $1 (41... Rxe3 $4 42. Bc4 $18 {skewers the
Q.}) 42. Qb2 $2 (42. Nb3 $142 $11) 42... Qc8 $8 $19 43. Nb3 Rc2 $8 44. Qb1 Nf5
$8 45. Rd3 e4 $1 $19 {[#] White would be perfectly OK if his h3 pawn was on f2.
But here, White's loose K and Black's passer leave him dead lost. e.g.} 46. Rd5
(46. Rd8+ {forces off the Rs, but leaves White dead on the dark squares:} Qxd8
47. Qxc2 Qb6+ $8 48. Kh2 (48. Qc5 Bd4+ $19) 48... Be5+ $18) 46... Bh6 47. Rxf5
gxf5 48. Qd1 Kh8 49. Kh1 Rc3 50. a4 Qb8 51. Bb5 Bg7 52. Nc1 h6 53. Ne2 Ra3 54.
Qd7 Ra1+ 55. Ng1 Qe5 56. Qc8+ Kh7 57. Bc4 h5 58. h4 Qf6 59. g3 Qe5 60. Kg2 f4
61. gxf4 Qxf4 62. Qg8+ Kh6 63. Be2 Ra3 64. Qe6+ Bf6 0-1

[Event "Oslo Esports Cup"]
[Site "Oslo"]
[Date "2022.04.27"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Hansen, Eric"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B40"]
[WhiteElo "2606"]
[BlackElo "2864"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2022.04.22"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,93,24,11,51,37,37,25,14,15,8,1,-3,8,8,-2,-2,5,-7,0,2,-17,3,-12,-12,
-11,0,-7,-7,-10,-11,-34,-25,-62,-104,-101,-104,-117,-101,-105,-48,-76,-18,-39,
-55,-57,-22,-23,7,-23,-19,-19,-20,-21,-5,0,5,5,-4,0,5,8,12,12,140,21,19,26,0,0,
0,0,-6,-6,0,-6,-6,-6,31,0,0,-94,-59,-59,-59,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. e4 c5 2.
Nf3 e6 3. g3 d5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. O-O Nf6 7. d4 Be7 8. dxc5 Bxc5 {[#]}
9. Nc3 (9. a3 O-O 10. b4 Bb6 11. Bb2 Ne4 12. Nc3 Be6 13. Na4 Bc7 14. Nd4 Re8
15. c4 $16 Ne5 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Nc3 $18 {(1-0, 41) Nakamura,H 
(2736)-Zubov,A (2601) Moscow World Blitz Ch, 2019.}) 9... O-O 10. Bg5 Be6 (
10... d4 11. Ne4 Be7 12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Ne1 Bf5 15. Nd3 Ne5 16.
Nxe5 Qxe5 17. Re1 Qc5 18. Be4 Bxe4 19. Rxe4 $11 {(½-½, 30) Hansen,E (2577)
-So,W (2701) Calgary, 2013.}) 11. Nd2 Bd4 12. Nb3 Bxc3 13. bxc3 h6 14. Be3 Rc8
15. a4 Re8 16. h3 Ne4 17. Bd4 Bf5 18. Re1 Nxd4 19. cxd4 Nc3 20. Qd2 Rxe1+ 21.
Rxe1 Nxa4 22. Qb4 Nb6 23. Nc5 $44 Bxc2 24. Nxb7 Qf6 25. Nc5 Bf5 $15 26. Re5 Kh7
27. Bf1 Bg6 28. h4 Rxc5 $5 29. Qxc5 Nd7 30. Qxd5 Nxe5 31. dxe5 $8 $11 Qb6 $2 {
[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position What do you do about Magnus Carlsen's
outside passed pawn?} (31... Qf5 $142 $11) 32. Bd3 $6 {Good enough to draw,
but misses an excellent opportunity.} (32. Qd6 $2 Qb1 (32... Qxd6 $4 33. exd6
Bf5 34. Bb5 $18) 33. Qa6 Qe1 $13) ({A: Ignore it and create an advanced passed
pawn of your own with:} 32. h5 $142 $1 $16 Bf5 $1 {Definitely the best defence,
though the odd ...Bc2 is similar.} (32... Bb1 $2 33. Qxf7 $18 {and push the
e-pawn.}) (32... Bxh5 33. e6 {this is the main point of h5: it deflects the B
to gain a tempo to create an advanced passer.} Bg6 (33... Qxe6 {drags it out,
but there's no doubt about the result after} 34. Qxh5 $18) 34. e7 f6 35. Bd3
$18) 33. Qxf7 Qb1 $8 (33... Qe6 $2 34. Bc4 $8 $18) 34. Kh2 $1 {avoids ...Bd3-+
and threatens Bc4+-.} Be4 $8 {makes the B safe and pins the Bf1 to mate on h1.}
35. Qc4 $1 $16 {White is safely coordinated and has the more advanced passer
and safer K.}) 32... Bxd3 33. Qxd3+ Kg8 34. Qd7 Qb1+ 35. Kg2 Qe4+ 36. Kg1 Qe1+
37. Kg2 Qe4+ 38. Kg1 Qa8 39. f4 a5 40. f5 Qf3 41. e6 {[#]} Qxg3+ (41... Qxf5
42. Qe8+ Kh7 43. Qxf7 $11 {and Black has a variety of checks which draw.}) 42.
Kf1 Qf3+ 43. Ke1 Qe3+ 44. Kd1 Qf3+ 45. Ke1 Qe3+ 46. Kd1 Qf3+ 47. Ke1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chess.com Rapid Wk14 Swiss"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2022.05.14"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Hansen, Eric"]
[Black "Yang, Kaiqi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2606"]
[BlackElo "2481"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2022.05.14"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NET"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,49,24,-11,-4,-11,-11,6,6,-21,1,-7,-8,-16,-2,-29,-5,3,-3,-16,-9,4,26,
25,53,53,102,48,54,43,83,83,78,43,97,93,104,109,109,127,106,131,171,286,260,
284,341,362,833,864,1107,1186]} 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 Nf6 4. b3 c5 5. Bb2
Nc6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bb5 Be7 8. O-O O-O {[#]} 9. h3 $5 {[%mdl 4]} (9. d4 {
is more common, but Black seems fine after} Bg4 10. dxc5 Ne4 $1) 9... h6 $146
10. d4 Ne4 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. Nc3 Be6 13. Bd3 f5 14. Ne2 Qe8 15. Rc1 Bb6 16. Nf4
Rd8 {[#]} 17. Bb5 $1 {Moving for the third time to return to its previous
square! If you're fixated on Black's IQP you'll be surprised by how strong
move this move is. Obviously, White threatens to win a pawn by taking twice on
c6; less obviously, White can now change the pawn structure in a way that
leaves Black with hanging pawns which White's minors and Rc1 are well placed
to fight against.} g5 18. Nxe6 Qxe6 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Nd4 {[#]} Qf7 ({Black
can save the c6-pawn, but it is at best temporary:} 20... Bxd4 21. Qxd4 {
looks like death on the dark squares. Black can avoid mate, but cannot save
the the c-pawn, after which the d-pawn is a target.} Rd7 {Defends g7 and a7.}
22. f3 c5 (22... Ng3 23. Rfe1 Nh5 24. Rc5 f4 25. Qc3 $18) 23. Qh8+ Kf7 24. Qg7+
Ke8 25. Qe5 $8 Qxe5 26. Bxe5 $18 {Black's loose pawns fall.}) 21. Nxc6 $18 Rde8
22. Ne5 Qb7 {[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position Find the most stylish win.} 23.
Rc6 $3 {White has other ways to win, but this is both the most incisive, and
the prettiest, as it seems to hang a piece:} Rxe5 24. Rg6+ $1 (24. Rxb6 $18)
24... Kh7 (24... Kf7 25. Qh5 {threatening Rxb6+.} Ke7 26. Rg7+) 25. Qh5 $1 1-0

[Event "CYCC U14 w"]
[Site "Hamilton CAN"]
[Date "2022.07.08"]
[Round "2.5"]
[White "Chen, Rachel"]
[Black "Ruchinskaya, Valerie"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B38"]
[WhiteElo "1945"]
[BlackElo "1612"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2022.07.08"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nc3 O-O 8.
Be2 d6 9. O-O Bd7 10. Qd2 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bc6 12. f3 a5 13. b3 Nd7 14. Be3 $1 Nc5
15. Rab1 Qb6 16. Rfc1 Rfc8 17. Rc2 Qc7 18. Bf1 Rf8 19. a3 f5 $2 20. exf5 Rxf5
21. b4 axb4 22. axb4 Na4 {[#] This is a picture of what White wants in a
Maroczy: the queenside pawn advance kicks Black's minors from their few viable
squares, and the opening of the c-file and diagonals pointing to the Black K
spell 1-0.} 23. Nd5 $1 (23. Nb5 $1 Bxb5 24. cxb5 Qd8 (24... Qd7 25. Rbc1 $18)
25. Bd3 Rf8 26. Be4 $18) 23... Bxd5 24. cxd5 Qd7 25. Rbc1 $18 Bb2 26. Rxb2 $1
Nxb2 27. Qxb2 Rc8 28. Rc3 Rxc3 29. Qxc3 Rf8 30. Bh6 Rf7 {[#]} 31. b5 $1 {
[%cal Gb5b6,Gc3c7] threatening b6 then Qc7.} Qd8 32. Kh1 {Getting out ot check
again threatens b6, since ...Qxb6 is not check White would have Qc8+ mating.
Pushing the h-pawn is also strong.} e5 {Desperately trying to activate the R.}
33. dxe6 Rc7 34. Bc4 $1 d5 35. Qd4 $1 {Saves the B by pinning the d-pawn.} Qe7
(35... Rxc4 36. Qg7#) 36. Bxd5 {[%mdl 32832] The Bh6 guards c1. [#] Critical
Position White has an overwhelming position, but what is White's immediate
threat?} Rc2 (36... Rc8 {was the only move to prevent the upcoming combo, but
Black remains hopelessly tied down.}) 37. Qg7+ $1 (37. Qg7+ $8 Qxg7 38. e7+ {
and e8=R+ mates.}) 1-0

[Event "Olympiad"]
[Site "Chennai, India"]
[Date "2022.08.03"]
[Round "6.18"]
[White "Deac, Bogdan Daniel"]
[Black "Hansen, Eric"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D40"]
[WhiteElo "2692"]
[BlackElo "2606"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Romania"]
[BlackTeam "Canada"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ROU"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CAN"]

{[%mdl 8192]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 c5 5. e3 {Eric spent 36
minutes on his next four moves.} a6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. g3 {[#] Black has a big
choice here: push ...c4 or play into an IQP. Both are fine, though ...c4 may
push White out of the more familiar IQP patterns.} Nc6 (7... c4 $5 8. Bg2 ({
White has no immediate way to exploit Black's advanced c-pawn:} 8. b3 b5 $11 9.
a4 $2 b4 $19) (8. a4 Bb4 $15) 8... Bb4 9. Qa4+ (9. Bd2 O-O 10. Ne5 Nc6 11. O-O
Re8 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. b3 a5 14. bxc4 Ba6 $1 15. Qc2 Bxc4 16. Rfb1 Bxc3 17. Bxc3
Ne4 $11 {(0-1, 35) Artemiev,V (2704)-Carlsen,M (2847) chess24.com (rapid),
2021.}) 9... Nc6 10. Ne5 O-O 11. Nxc6 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 bxc6 $15 13. O-O (13. Qxc6
$6 Qa5 $1 14. Bd2 Bf5 $17) 13... Bf5 14. Ba3 Re8 15. Qxc6 Re6 16. Qa4 h5 $1 $17
17. h3 Bd3 $1 18. Rfc1 Ne4 $19 19. Qd1 Qg5 20. Qe1 Rae8 {With huge pressure
that far outweighs the single pawn; (0-1, 41) Keymer,V (2693)-Carlsen,M (2861)
chess24.com (rapid), 2022.}) 8. Bg2 Bd6 9. O-O ({Here's a game showing how
Black slowly neutralized White's pressure on the IQP:} 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. O-O O-O
11. b3 Be6 12. Bb2 Qe7 13. Rc1 Rac8 14. Qd3 Rfd8 15. Ne2 Ba3 16. Qb1 Ne4 17.
Qa1 Bg4 18. Ned4 Bxf3 19. Nxf3 Bxb2 20. Qxb2 Nb4 $11 {(½-½, 39) Kramnik,V 
(2793)-Sadler,M (2646) London, 2013.}) 9... O-O 10. b3 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Bg4 (11...
Be5 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Bb2 Bb7 (13... h5 $5 {SF15}) 14. Qc2 Rc8 15. Rfd1 Nd7 16.
Na4 Qf6 17. Rac1 Bxb2 18. Qxb2 Qxb2 19. Nxb2 f5 20. Nc4 $1 $16 {(1-0, 39)
Ringoir,T (2527)-Arribas Lopez,A (2480) Charlotte, 2018.}) 12. Qd2 Nxd4 13.
Qxd4 Re8 {[#]} 14. Nxd5 $1 {The only testing move, which nets White two pawns
for an exchange.} (14. Bb2 Be5 15. Qd3 d4 $11) 14... Be5 15. Nxf6+ Qxf6 16.
Qxg4 Bxa1 17. Bxb7 Ra7 18. Bd5 Bb2 {Eliminating the B pair.} 19. Qa4 Rd8 20. e4
{[#]} Bxc1 (20... Rc8 {doesn't concede the c-file, but leaving White the B
pair is asking for trouble; e.g.} 21. Be3 Rac7 22. Bc4 $14 Bd4 $4 23. Bxd4 Rxc4
(23... Qxd4 24. Bxf7+ $18) 24. Qxc4 $18) 21. Rxc1 $14 g6 22. Qa5 Kg7 23. Kg2
$14 Rd6 24. Rc7 Rd7 25. Rc8 $14 {[%mdl 41024] Black has no open files for his
Rs, while White has two pawns and a B for the exchange and long-term play
creating a passer by pushing the a and b-pawns. [#] Critical Position
Stablilze with ...h5, or centralize with ...Qd4 or ...Qe5?} Qe5 $4 {Not a safe
square; Black's position was more precarious than it seemed.} (25... h5 $142
26. h4 $14) (25... Qd4 $142 26. a4 f5 (26... Rd6 $5 {creating the possiblity
of bailing out with ...Rxd5!?}) 27. h4 $1 fxe4 $2 28. Rg8+ Kh6 29. Be6 $18) 26.
Rg8+ $3 $18 {Forces the K into the open, and suddenly a maneuvering game turns
into a king hunt!} Kf6 (26... Kxg8 $2 27. Bxf7+ Rxf7 28. Qxe5 $18 {the Rs are
no match for the Q and extra pawns.}) (26... Kh6 27. Qd2+ g5 (27... Qg5 28. Qc3
Rxd5 29. Qg7+ Kh5 30. Qxh7+ $18) 28. Qe3 $18 {and h4 or g4.} (28. f4 $4 Qxe4+
$19)) 27. Qb6+ Ke7 (27... Qd6 28. Qe3 $18 {and Qf3 or Qh6.}) 28. Qc5+ Kf6 (
28... Qd6 29. Qc8 Kf6 (29... Rd8 $2 30. Rxd8 Qxd8 31. Qc5+ $18) 30. Qc3+ Ke7 (
30... Qe5 31. Qf3+ $18) 31. Qg7 {hits f7 and f8.} Qf6 32. Qf8#) 29. f4 $1 Qb2+
30. Kf3 1-0

[Event "Olympiad"]
[Site "Chennai, India"]
[Date "2022.08.06"]
[Round "8.12"]
[White "Hansen, Eric"]
[Black "Yilmaz, Mustafa"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2606"]
[BlackElo "2634"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Canada"]
[BlackTeam "Turkey"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CAN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "TUR"]

{[%evp 0,106,24,13,44,51,78,55,69,61,57,48,48,-13,-2,-25,-2,-1,9,-1,-1,-1,8,-2,
20,15,36,17,32,-30,20,-6,-8,-28,4,0,16,16,16,23,16,-2,31,3,27,-7,0,-7,-7,-17,
-17,65,67,57,21,12,119,114,114,123,111,131,139,145,145,145,145,129,119,138,99,
126,145,145,149,148,148,157,151,158,152,139,143,133,133,146,123,118,128,125,
207,205,216,214,248,248,251,221,258,287,368,385,385,385,385,385,385,547,547]} 
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. O-O a6 5. Bxd7+ Bxd7 6. c3 Nf6 7. Re1 {
[#] This opening might look like White wants to bore Black to death, but there
are pawn sacs for initiative here if White wants, and White plays the early
middlegame in gambit style.} e6 ({Here's another pawn sac for White:} 7... Bc6
8. d4 Bxe4 9. Bg5 $13 Bg6 10. d5 Qd7 11. Nbd2 O-O-O 12. b4 $14 {(0-1, 48)
Dubov,D (2702)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2784) chess24 rapid, 2021.}) 8. d4 Be7 $5 9.
dxc5 dxc5 10. e5 Nd5 11. c4 Nb4 {[#]} 12. a3 (12. Qe2 Bc6 (12... g5 $5) 13. Rd1
Qc7 14. Nc3 O-O 15. Ne1 Be8 16. Bf4 h6 17. Ne4 $14 b5 18. Qg4 Kh8 19. Qh3 (19.
Nf6 $1 $16) 19... Bc6 20. Nd6 $1 bxc4 21. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 $2 22. Qxh6+ Kg8 23.
Rac1 $1 Bd5 24. Rc3 Nd3 25. Nxd3 Bxd6 26. Nf4 {(1-0, 26) Martinez Alcantara,J 
(2591)-Yilmaz,M (2634) Chess.com, 2022.}) 12... Nc6 13. Nc3 Na5 14. Bf4 {[#]}
Bc6 ({Black has made five moves the Na5 -- which started on g8 -- and now} 
14... Nxc4 $5 {would be the logical continuation after, but Black seems to
have had second thoughts about taking the pawn for time. Taking is playable,
but here's one example of the risks:} 15. Qe2 b5 (15... Bb5 $4 16. a4 $18) 16.
Rad1 $32 {e.g.} Qc7 $2 17. Nd5 $3 $16 exd5 18. e6 Bd6 (18... Qxf4 19. exd7+ $18
) 19. exd7+ Kxd7 20. Rxd5 Rae8 21. Bxd6 Nxd6 22. Ne5+ $16) 15. Qe2 Qb6 16. Ne4
Bxe4 17. Qxe4 {[#]} Rd8 (17... Qxb2 $2 18. Bd2 $8 $18 Qb6 19. Rab1 Qc7 20. Bxa5
Qxa5 21. Rxb7 $18 {if Black guards against Qc6 White just doubles Rs and is
effectively up a R.}) 18. Rab1 Nc6 19. Be3 Qb3 20. Qg4 Kf8 (20... O-O $2 21.
Bh6 {is a free exchange.}) 21. h4 h6 22. h5 Rg8 23. Rec1 Qd3 {[%mdl 32832] [#]
Critical Position White's rooks are lined up for b2-b4; is that worth it as a
pawn sac?} 24. b4 $1 cxb4 $2 {24.b2-b4 was a genuine pawn sac, but not this
way.} (24... Qxa3 $142 25. bxc5 Rd7 26. Rd1 (26. Qe4 $1) 26... Rxd1+ 27. Rxd1
Bxc5 28. Bxc5+ Qxc5 29. Rd7 $16 {Black is up a pawn, but his Rg8 isn't in the
game and his Nc6 can't move without hanging the R; e.g.} Nxe5 30. Nxe5 Qxe5 31.
Rd8+ $18) (24... g5 $142 $1 {If White doesn't take Black has ...Kg7,
connecting the Rs.} 25. b5 (25. hxg6 Rxg6 $132) 25... axb5 26. Rxb5 (26. cxb5
Nd4 {not possible when Black has played ...cxb4.} 27. Bxd4 cxd4 28. a4 $13)
26... Kg7 27. Rxb7 Rb8 $13) 25. axb4 {[%cal Gb4b5]} Nxb4 {Bad, but best.} (
25... Bxb4 26. Rxb4 Nxb4 27. Bc5+ $18 {exploits the Kf8.}) 26. Nd4 $1 $16 {
[#] Prevents the Q from escaping to d7, adds support to d1 and threatens Rd1
then Nxe6+, overloading the Be7. None of this was possible when Black had a
pawn on c5.} g5 (26... Qa3 {Gets the Q out of the way and defends the N, but
the Black K has too few defeneders of the light squares, so:} 27. Nxe6+ $1 (27.
Rd1 $1 {is less direct but at least as strong.}) 27... fxe6 28. Qxe6 {the
immediate threat is Qf5+ then e6, but even without a minor piece to attack the
light squares, White would have a hard time playing a move that doesn't make a
serious threat; e.g.} Rh8 {making space on g8 for the K.} 29. Bb6 Re8 30. Re1
$18 {and R up and over to the f-file.} Nc2 {stops Re3} 31. Re4 Bg5 {stops Re4}
32. Qd5 Rc8 {stops Bc5+} 33. Qxb7 $18 Re8 {saves the R} 34. Qd5 {threatening
Bc5 again and ready to advance the c-pawn.}) 27. Rd1 $8 $18 Qxc4 28. Rxb4 $8 {
Deflecting the Q from e6 or the B from d8.} Qxb4 29. Nxe6+ $8 $18 fxe6 30.
Rxd8+ $8 {The Be7 is overloaded.} Kf7 (30... Kg7 $2 31. Rxg8+ Kxg8 32. Qxe6+
$18) 31. Qf3+ $8 Kg7 32. Rd7 {Threatening Qf6 mating.} Rf8 $8 {[#]} 33. Qxb7 $6
{Gets a pawn back and keeps some initiative, but gives up most of White's
advantage.} (33. Qd1 $142 {has two threats: Qd6 and Qc2/d3 to g6.} Kh8 (33...
Rf7 34. Qd3 Rf5 35. Qd6 $1 $18) 34. Qc2 Rf5 35. Qc7 $18) 33... Rf7 $1 34. Qxa6
Qb1+ 35. Qf1 $1 (35. Kh2 Qf5 $8 $14) 35... Qxf1+ 36. Kxf1 Kf8 $8 37. g4 Bb4 38.
Rd8+ Kg7 39. Re8 Re7 40. Rb8 Bc3 41. Rb5 Rd7 42. Ke2 Bd4 43. Bc1 Rc7 {[#]} 44.
Bd2 (44. Ba3 $142 $1 {A really tough move to play, allowing Black's R into the
backfield.} Rc2+ (44... Rc3 $2 45. Rb7+ Kg8 46. Bd6 $18) 45. Kd3 Rc3+ 46. Kxd4
Rxa3 47. Rb7+ Kg8 48. Kc5 $18 {wins the e6-pawn and promotes e5.}) 44... Rc5 $2
(44... Rc4 $142 {creating threats along the 4th rank; e.g.} 45. Rb7+ (45. f4
gxf4 46. Bxf4 Bc5 47. Rb7+ Kg8 48. Bxh6 Rxg4 $11) 45... Kg8 46. f4 gxf4 47.
Bxf4 Bxe5 48. Bxh6 (48. Bxe5 Re4+ $11) 48... Rxg4 $11) 45. Rb7+ $8 $18 Kg8 46.
f4 $1 gxf4 47. Bxf4 Bxe5 48. Bxh6 Bf6 {[#]} 49. g5 $1 Rxg5 (49... Bxg5 50. Rg7+
Kh8 51. Rxg5 Rxg5 52. Bxg5 $18 {the B covers the promotion corner.}) 50. Bxg5
Bxg5 51. Kf3 Bd2 52. Ke4 Bc3 53. Kf4 Kf8 1-0

[Event "Quebec op"]
[Site "Laval"]
[Date "2022.09.05"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Perez Rodriguez, Luis Manuel"]
[Black "Sambuev, Bator"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C08"]
[WhiteElo "2335"]
[BlackElo "2436"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2022.09.01"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,82,20,17,41,49,47,43,14,34,62,34,11,14,11,18,18,8,8,14,14,15,14,2,-6,
2,6,14,42,12,13,-13,46,46,47,33,42,13,21,11,43,18,56,43,43,29,74,15,4,7,8,0,0,
6,16,0,-1,0,0,6,4,-22,-26,-48,-41,-37,-35,-26,-37,-24,-19,-43,-31,-56,-52,-180,
-176,-158,-199,-180,-192,-194,-190,-177,-214]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4.
exd5 exd5 5. Ngf3 Nf6 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Bxd7+ Nbxd7 8. O-O Be7 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10.
Re1 O-O 11. Nf1 Re8 12. Be3 a5 13. Bd4 a4 14. Ne3 a3 15. Nf5 Bf8 16. Rxe8 Nxe8
17. bxa3 Ne6 18. Rb1 Rxa3 19. Rxb7 Rxa2 20. Be5 f6 21. Rb8 Qd7 22. Bg3 N8c7 23.
h4 Na6 24. Ra8 Nb4 25. Rxa2 Nxa2 26. Qa1 Nb4 27. c3 Nc6 28. Qa8 Kf7 29. Qa2 Bc5
30. Qd2 h5 31. Ne1 g6 32. Ne3 Bxe3 $11 33. Qxe3 Ne7 34. Nd3 Nf5 35. Qf3 Qb5 36.
Nb4 $2 (36. Qd1 $142 $11) 36... d4 $1 $17 37. Qd5 $2 {[%mdl 36928] [#]
Critical Position Find Black's forced win.} (37. Nd5 d3 $19) 37... Qxd5 $8 38.
Nxd5 Nxg3 $8 (38... d3 39. Kf1 $8 $11) 39. fxg3 Nc7 $3 $19 {The only winning
move: deflecting the N from defending against ...dxc3, which also moves "the
square" out of range of the white king.} 40. Nf4 (40. c4 Nxd5 41. cxd5 $19 {
Black wins the d5-pawn and the game.} f5) (40. Nxc7 dxc3 $8 $19 {the N and K
can't catch the P.}) 40... dxc3 41. Kf2 Nd5 0-1

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Mamaia"]
[Date "2022.09.10"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Rodrigue Lemieux, Shawn"]
[Black "Juhasz, Agoston"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2451"]
[BlackElo "2324"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2022.09.06"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Qe3 g6 6. h3 Bg7 7. Bc4 Nf6 8. O-O
O-O 9. Rd1 b6 10. Nc3 Bb7 {[#]} 11. Qg5 $146 (11. Qf4 Rc8 12. Bb3 Na5 $1 13.
Qh4 Rc5 (13... Rxc3 $5) 14. Bg5 Qa8 15. Re1 Re8 16. Rad1 Nxb3 17. cxb3 $15 {
Demchenko,A (2654)-Vokhidov,S (2536) Chess.com, 2022 (½-½, 65)}) (11. e5 $5
Ne8 12. e6 f5 $13) 11... Qc7 12. Qh4 Nb4 13. Bb3 Na6 14. Bh6 Nc5 15. Bd5 Rad8
16. Ng5 Nh5 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. b4 $5 {[#]} Nd7 $2 (18... Ne6 $142 19. Nxe6+ (19.
Nb5 Qd7 $8 20. Bxb7 (20. Bxe6 Qxb5 $8 $15) 20... Nxg5 $11 (20... Qxb7 $5 $11))
(19. Bxb7 Nxg5 $11) (19. Bxe6 $2 Qxc3 $15) 19... fxe6 20. Bxe6 $2 (20. Nb5 $142
Qd7 $8 $11) 20... Qxc3 21. Qxe7+ Kh6 $1 22. Qxb7 (22. g4 Qf6 $19) 22... Qf6 $8
$19) 19. Nb5 $1 Qb8 {[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position White has flung his
pieces forward, but they're a bit loose, and Black threatens ...h6 then ...Nf6
consolidating with targets. What should White do?} 20. Bxf7 $5 {Bold, and not
at all bad, but not the best.} (20. Bxb7 $142 Qxb7 21. Ne6+ $3 fxe6 22. Qxe7+
Kh6 $8 (22... Kh8 23. Nxd6 $18) 23. Nxd6 $14 (23. Rxd6 $2 Rfe8 24. Qh4 g5 $1
$19)) (20. Nd4 $142 $5 Rde8 (20... h6 $4 21. Nge6+ fxe6 22. Nxe6+ Kh8 23. Bxb7
Qxb7 24. Nxd8 Rxd8 25. Rxd6 $1 $18) 21. Nf5+ $3 gxf5 $8 (21... Kg8 22. Nh6+)
22. Qxh5 Nf6 23. Qh4 h6 (23... e6 $2 24. Rd3 $18) 24. Rd3 $1 hxg5 25. Rg3 Nh7
26. Rxg5+ Nxg5 27. Qxg5+ Kh7 {White is down a R, but can force a draw or (the
computer's choice!) play for more with:} 28. Re1 $1) 20... h6 $8 (20... Rxf7 $2
21. Ne6+ Kg8 22. Nxd8 Qxd8 23. Nxd6 $1 $18) 21. Bxg6 Kxg6 $8 22. Ne6 $1 Ndf6 $8
(22... Nhf6 $2 23. Qg3+ Kf7 24. Qg7+ Kxe6 25. Nd4+ Ke5 26. Qg3+ $18 {is mating.
}) 23. Nbd4 {[#] Black has defended perfectly so far, but now blunders.} Bxe4
$4 (23... Rg8 $13) 24. Re1 $8 $18 Qb7 (24... d5 25. Nc6 $18) 25. Re3 $1 Kh7 (
25... Bxg2 26. Rg3+ $1 Nxg3 $2 27. Qxg3+ {#4}) 26. Rae1 $1 {Piling up on the B
and lining up a fork on e7.} Rg8 (26... d5 27. Nxd8 Rxd8 28. f3 $18) 27. Nxd8 {
[#]} Rxd8 (27... Rxg2+ 28. Kf1 $18) 28. Rxe4 Nxe4 29. Rxe4 {All that for just
a pawn? No: Black is shattered.} Nf6 30. Nf5 (30. Nf5 Ng8 31. Rxe7+ $18 (31.
Re6 $1 {mates.})) 1-0

[Event "Calgary International"]
[Site "Calgary"]
[Date "2022.09.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Dukic, Zachary"]
[Black "Panchanathan, Magesh"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2218"]
[BlackElo "2470"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2022.09.??"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3
O-O 9. Nc3 Nb8 (9... h6 10. Be3 Re8 11. h3 Bf8 12. a4 $6 b4 $1 13. Nd5 Na5 $13
{(½-½, 37) Navara,D (2681)-Wojtaszek,R (2696) chess24.com, 2022.}) 10. Ne2 h6
11. Ng3 {[#]} c5 $146 (11... Re8 12. c3 Bf8 13. Re1 Nbd7 14. d4 Bb7 15. Bc2 $14
{(½-½, 41) Movsesian,S (2629)-Caruana,F (2828) Chess.com, 2019.}) 12. c3 Nc6
13. h3 Re8 14. d4 Bf8 15. d5 Ne7 16. Nh2 Ng6 17. Bc2 c4 18. Ng4 Nf4 19. Nxf6+
Qxf6 20. Nh5 $1 Qh4 21. Bxf4 $8 exf4 22. Qf3 g6 23. Nxf4 Bg7 24. Ne2 Bd7 25.
Nd4 a5 26. Qd1 (26. Rad1 b4 27. Qe2 $16) 26... Qf4 27. Ne2 Qg5 28. f4 Qh4 29.
Qd2 b4 30. Rae1 Rab8 31. axb4 axb4 32. cxb4 Bxb2 33. Rb1 Bg7 34. Nd4 Ra8 35.
Nc6 {[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position A closed Lopez has turned into a
Benoni... so Black should sac something, right? What happens if Black plays ...
Bxh3!?} Bxh3 $5 {Extremely tempting, but not the best.} (35... Ra3 $142 36. Qe1
$1 Qxe1 $14) 36. Qf2 $1 {White is happy to give the h-pawn to secure his K:
the well-supported passed b-pawn should win any endgame.} (36. Rf3 $6 {also
concedes the pawn, but Black is still kicking after} Bg4) (36. gxh3 $4 {
loses if Black plays a string of only moves which bring both Rs into the
attack:} Ra3 $8 $19 37. Rf2 Rea8 $8 (37... Rxh3 $2 38. Rh2 Qg4+ 39. Kh1 Ra8 $11
{Black has a perpetual in his pocket.}) 38. Rh2 Rg3+ $8 39. Kh1 Raa3 $8 $19 {
and takes on h3.}) 36... Qh5 $4 (36... Qxf2+ $8 37. Rxf2 $16 {and b4-b5.}) 37.
gxh3 Ra3 38. Bd1 $1 $18 {[#] White has a tempo to bring the B to defend.} Qxh3
39. Bf3 $8 $18 Rea8 40. Qg2 Qh4 41. Qh2 Qf6 42. b5 Ra2 43. Qg3 Qc3 44. b6 Bd4+
45. Kh1 Bxb6 46. Rxb6 Ra1 47. Rbb1 Rxb1 48. Rxb1 Qe3 49. Re1 1-0

[Event "National Capital Open"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2022.11.06"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Sambuev, Bator"]
[Black "Xu, Daniel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E99"]
[WhiteElo "2515"]
[BlackElo "2299"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Be3 f5 11. f3 f4 12. Bf2 g5 13. b4 Nf6 14. c5 Ng6 15. a4 Rf7
16. c6 b6 17. a5 Rb8 18. axb6 axb6 19. g4 fxg3 20. hxg3 h5 21. Qd2 Bh6 22. Ng2
Rg7 23. Kh2 {[#]} Bh3 $3 {Threatening ...Bxg2, then ...Nf4+ or ...Nh4+.} 24.
Rh1 (24. Kxh3 $4 g4+ $19) 24... Kh7 25. Kg1 Qg8 $2 {[%mdl 32832] This allows a
very hard-to-see resource.  [#]Critical Position Can White take on h3?} (25...
Bxg2 26. Kxg2 Nh4+ 27. Kf1 g4 $13) 26. Qe1 $2 ({A: taking on h3 looks like a
blunder, but White gets fantastic play against Black's boxed-in K.} 26. Rxh3
$142 $1 g4 {The double-attack on the Q and R may be where both players stopped
calculating, but there's more here:} 27. Qxh6+ $3 Kxh6 28. fxg4 $18 {[#]
Analysis Diagram White has two Bs and a pawn for the Q; but Black's clumsy
pieces and exposed K mean he will have to give up more. The immediate threat
is winning a N with g5+ then Be3+.} h4 (28... Ne7 29. Be3+ Kh7 (29... Kg6 30.
g5 $1 Nh7 $2 31. Bxh5#) 30. Rf1 $8 Rg6 (30... Nxg4 31. Rxh5+ Kg6 32. Bxg4 $18)
31. g5 $1 Ne8 (31... Rxg5 32. Rxf6 $18) 32. Rxh5+ Kg7 33. Nh4 $18) (28... Rh7
29. g5+ Kxg5 30. Be3+ Nf4 31. gxf4+ $18) (28... Nxg4 29. Bxg4 Nf4 30. Nxf4 $8
Rxg4 31. Rxh5+ Kg7 32. Ne6+ Kg6 33. Rh3 $18 {three pieces are definitely
better than the Q here, for example:} Ra8 34. Rf1 $1 Ra3 35. Be3 $1 Rxc3 36.
Rh6#) 29. Be3+ Kh7 30. Rf1 Rf7 31. Nxh4 Nxh4 32. Rxh4+ Kg7 (32... Kg6 33. g5
Nh7 34. Bh5+ $18) 33. Bh6+ Kh8 (33... Kg6 34. g5 $18) 34. g5 (34. Bf8+ $4 Nh7
$13) 34... Nh7 35. Rxf7 Qxf7 36. Bh5 {Black has no safe squares on the f-file!}
Qe7 37. Bg4 $18 {and Bf5 or Be6.}) 26... g4 $1 $13 27. fxg4 Bxg4 28. Bxg4 Nxg4
29. Rxh5 Rf8 $8 {[#]} 30. Ra2 (30. Be3 Nxe3 31. Qxe3 Nf4 $8 32. Rxh6+ $8 Kxh6
33. Kf2 $8 Rg5 $13 (33... Rxg3 $4 34. Rh1+ $18)) 30... Rf3 31. Rf5 Rd3 $13 32.
Ne2 Ne7 $1 33. Qb1 $8 (33. Nh4 Nxf5 34. Nxf5 Rf7 35. Ra7 Qg6 $18) 33... Nxf5
34. Qxd3 Ne7 {[#]} 35. Nh4 Qf7 36. Nc3 Qh5 37. Be1 $2 Be3+ $19 38. Kh1 (38. Kf1
Ng6 $19) 38... Ng6 39. Qf1 Nxh4 $19 40. gxh4 (40. Qh3 Nh6 $1 41. Qxh4 (41. g4)
(41. gxh4 Rg1+ 42. Kh2 Ng4+ $19) 41... Qf3+ 42. Rg2 Qf1+ $19) 40... Rf7 $1 41.
Qh3 Bf2 $1 42. Bd2 {[%mdl 32832] [#]Critical Position Can Black play ...Bxh4,
or does it alllow Be1 saving White?} (42. Bxf2 Nxf2+ 43. Rxf2 Rxf2 44. Qd7+ Rf7
$19) 42... Bxh4 $1 (42... Qxh4 $4 43. Qxh4+ Bxh4 44. Kg2 $16) 43. Be1 Rf1+ $8
$19 {Forking the K and B deflects the Q.} 44. Qxf1 Bxe1+ 45. Kg1 Bxc3 $19 {
Black has two minors for the R and a strong attack, so White must trade queens.
} 46. Qf5+ Qxf5 47. exf5 Nf6 $1 {[#] So Nxd5 will defend his only weakness on
c7.} 48. b5 Nxd5 49. Kg2 e4 50. Ra4 Bb4 51. Ra8 Kg7 52. Re8 e3 53. Kf3 Bd2 54.
Rc8 Kf6 55. Rf8+ Ke5 56. Rf7 Kd4 57. f6 Ke5 $1 58. Ke2 Ke6 59. Rh7 Kxf6 60. Kf3
Ke5 61. Ke2 Kd4 62. Rh4+ Kc3 63. Rg4 Kc2 0-1

[Event "Fall 2022 GM/IM Norm Invitational"]
[Site "ChessStream"]
[Date "2022.11.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Sethuraman, Sandeep"]
[Black "Gedajlovic, Max"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2371"]
[BlackElo "2317"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 8192]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d6 5. f3 $6 c5 $1 {The
standard counter in QP openings when White gets ambitious with f3 and e4.} 6.
dxc5 Bxc5 7. Nh3 Nc6 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 Qa5 10. O-O-O {[#]} Bd7 $6 (10... Nb4 $1
{and Black's minors dance on the center squares White hoped to own:} 11. Qa4+ (
11. Qb3 Be3+ 12. Kb1 Qf5+ $19) (11. Qb1 $2 Be3+ $19) (11. Qd2 Nxa2+ $19) 11...
Qxa4 12. Nxa4 Be3+ $1 13. Kb1 e5 {threat ...Bf5+} 14. g4 h5 15. Bg5 Bxg5 16.
Nxg5 hxg4 $19) 11. Bf2 Rc8 (11... d5 $1) 12. Kb1 d5 13. Bxc5 Qxc5 14. cxd5 exd5
15. e4 dxe4 16. fxe4 (16. Nxe4 Qxc2+ 17. Kxc2 Nxe4 18. fxe4 Bxh3 19. gxh3 Ke7
$17) 16... O-O {Black has more development and a better pawn structure and a
slightly safer K.} 17. Qf2 Qa5 18. Nf4 {[%mdl 32832] [#] What's better: ...
Nxe4 or ...Nb4? (tricky)} Nxe4 $6 {[%mdl 512]} (18... Nb4 $142 19. a3 Rxc3 $8
20. bxc3 {I'd bet both of them saw this, but the following tactics are very
unusual:} Nxe4 $8 21. Qb2 Nc2 22. Rxd7 (22. Qxc2 Nxc3+ 23. Kb2 Nxd1+ 24. Qxd1
Rd8 25. Nd3 Be6 $19) 22... Nxa3+ 23. Kc1 Qf5 24. Qxa3 Qxd7 25. Bd3 (25. Nd3 Rc8
$19) 25... Nf2 $8 26. Bh7+ $1 Kxh7 27. Qxf8 Qf5 $19 {White's R and N are both
hanging, so Black will come out ahead in material, but White's K is also
fatally exposed.}) 19. Nxe4 $8 Bf5 20. Qe1 $4 (20. Bd3 $8 Nb4 $8 (20... Rfd8 $2
21. Qe1 $1 $18 Nb4 22. a3 $8 $18) 21. Nc3 $8 Rxc3 $6 (21... Rc4 $5 $15) (21...
Rfd8 $15) 22. bxc3 {the Q defends a2} Nxd3 23. Nxd3 Rd8 $13) 20... Rfe8 $17 (
20... Qa4 $142 $1 $19 21. Bd3 Nb4 $8 22. Nc3 Rxc3 23. Qxc3 (23. bxc3 Bxd3+ {
and Q mates on c2.}) 23... Qxa2+ 24. Kc1 Nxd3+ 25. Nxd3 Rc8 $19) 21. Bd3 Qe5
22. Rf1 Bxe4 23. Bxe4 Qxe4+ 24. Qxe4 Rxe4 {[#]} 25. Rd3 (25. Rd7 Ne5 $1 26.
Rxb7 {leads to a neat winning sequence based on the overloaded Rf1, which must
defend the N and the back rank:} Nc4 $19 {threat ...Nd2 fork} 27. Rd7 (27. Rf2
Nd2+ 28. Rxd2 Re1+ $19) 27... Ne3 28. Rf2 (28. Re1 Rxf4 29. Rxe3 $2 Rf1+ {mates
}) 28... Ng4 29. Rf1 Nxh2 {and the back-rank mate threats win a piece!}) 25...
Rd8 $5 {Converting the pawn advantage should be easier if White has no chance
to coordinate his Rs, so Black is happier to trade one pair...} 26. Rg3 {
... than White.} Ne5 27. Rc3 (27. Nh5 Rg4) 27... Nc4 28. Kc1 Nd2 $1 29. Rd1
Rxf4 30. Rxd2 {[#]} Rf1+ $1 {30...Rxd2 is not the same: it allows White to
insert Rc8+ before taking on d2, and so his K can come up to c3, instead of
being cut off on the back rank.} (30... Rxd2 31. Rc8+ Kh7 32. Kxd2 Rf2+ 33. Kc3
Rxg2 $19 {it's still a win, but it's better technique to keep every advantage,
even in a winning position.}) 31. Kc2 Rxd2+ 32. Kxd2 Rf2+ {[%mdl 4096]} 33. Kc1
Rxg2 34. Rc8+ Kh7 35. Rc7 f5 36. Rxb7 Kg6 37. Rxa7 f4 38. Kd1 Rxb2 39. h4 Rh2
40. a4 Rxh4 41. a5 Rh2 42. a6 Ra2 $1 {[#] The rest is completely unnecessary.}
43. Ra8 Kh5 44. a7 g5 45. Ke1 g4 46. Kf1 f3 47. Ke1 g3 48. Rf8 Ra1+ (48... g2 {
is faster, FWIW.}) 49. Kd2 g2 50. Rg8 f2 51. a8=Q Rxa8 52. Rxa8 f1=Q 53. Ra5+
Kg6 54. Rc5 Qf2+ {I can't imagine a good reason White played on here.} 55. Kd3
Qxc5 56. Ke4 Qf5+ 57. Kd4 g1=B+ $5 {Playing with his food.} 58. Kc4 Qe4+ 59.
Kc3 Bd4+ 60. Kc4 Be5+ 61. Kc5 Qd4+ 62. Kb5 h5 $1 63. Kc6 h4 64. Kb5 h3 65. Kc6
h2 66. Kb7 h1=R $1 67. Kc6 Rc1+ 68. Kb7 Qb2+ {There are still stalemate
possibilities... perhaps Black overstepped the time limit here?} 0-1

[Event "Maplewood"]
[Site "Waterloo"]
[Date "2022.11.18"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Rodrigue Lemieux, Shawn"]
[Black "Bosiocic, Marin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2465"]
[BlackElo "2536"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. b3 f6 6. O-O Ne7 7. Re1 Ng6 8.
Ba3 e5 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Na4 d6 11. c3 Bg4 12. h3 Be6 13. d4 Qc8 14. dxc5 d5 $8
$36 {[%mdl 32768] Shutting the B and N on the a-file. [#] Critical Position
Take on d5 or stabilize with Qc2?} 15. Qc2 $2 {[%mdl 32960] After removing a
defender from the Nf3 White quickly succumbs to a precisely executed caveman
attack. Even with best play Black has more than enough compensation for the
pawn in White's sad-looking queenside minors.} (15. exd5 $142 cxd5 (15... Bxd5
$44) 16. b4 Nf4 $6 (16... O-O $142 $15) 17. Bc1 $14 {[#] Analysis Diagram} Nxg2
$5 {This is still good, but here it doesn't win like it did in the game,
because after:} 18. Kxg2 Bxh3+ 19. Kh1 $8 Qg4 {the Qd1 defends Nf3, so this is
not the double threat (mate on g2 or taking the Nf3) it was in the game. Here,
White escapes with:} 20. Rg1 Qh5 $2 (20... Qe4 $142 21. Rg3 Bg4 $14) 21. Nh2 $8
$18 {this is why the K retreated to h1: to block and coordinate with Nh2.})
15... Nf4 $17 16. Bc1 $6 {Immediately threatening to take the N forces Black
to be accurate, but he is.} (16. Re3 $142 {Defends Nf3 and allows Ne1,
guarding g2 if necessary..} O-O $17 17. Nb2 $140 $2 Bxh3 $1 $19) (16. Nh2 $142
dxe4 17. Rxe4 (17. Qxe4 $2 Bd5 {g2 falls.}) (17. Re3 $2 f5 {Black's center
rules.}) 17... Bf5 $17 {White will have a pawn for the exchange, but it's not
enough.} (17... Bd5 $2 18. Rxf4 $1 $15 {followed by c4 and White's a long way
from lost.})) (16. b4) 16... Nxg2 $8 $19 (16... Bxh3 $4 17. Bxf4 $18) 17. Kxg2
Bxh3+ 18. Kh2 Qg4 19. Rg1 {[#]} Qh5 $8 (19... Qxf3 $2 20. Rg3 Qxe4 21. Qxe4
dxe4 22. Rxh3 $14) 20. Rg3 Bf5+ $8 $19 (20... Bg4+ 21. Kg2 f5 $1 22. Nxe5 Bh4
$15) 21. Kg1 (21. Kg2 {guards h3, but loses after} Bxe4 22. Qe2 g5 $8 $19 (
22... f5 23. Rh3 Qg4+ 24. Rg3 h5 $3 $15 {is another bonkers computer
continuation.}) 23. Kg1 (23. Rh3 Qg6) 23... f5 $1 24. Bxg5 f4 $19) 21... Bxe4 {
Forks Qc2 and Nf3.} 22. Qe2 f5 $1 {There's no good defence to ...f4, removing
the guard on f3. Probably Shawn's worst loss of 2022, or maybe of 2012-2022.}
0-1

[Event "NA U20 Championship"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2022.12.03"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Montes Orozco, Miguel Angel"]
[Black "Hua, Eugene"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E18"]
[WhiteElo "2068"]
[BlackElo "2268"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[EventType "game"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 8192]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7.
Nc3 Ne4 8. Bd2 Nxd2 9. Qxd2 d6 10. Qc2 g6 11. Rad1 Nd7 12. e4 Bf6 {[#]} 13. e5
Bg7 14. Rfe1 a6 15. Qb3 Qc8 16. exd6 cxd6 17. d5 e5 18. Bh3 Qc7 19. Bxd7 Qxd7
20. Qxb6 Rab8 21. Qe3 Rbc8 22. b3 f5 23. Qe2 (23. Ng5 $1) 23... Rce8 24. Ng5 e4
25. Qc2 Bf6 26. Ne6 Rf7 27. Qd2 Bc8 28. Ne2 Qe7 29. h4 Be5 30. N2d4 Bxe6 31.
Nxe6 {[#]} f4 32. Rxe4 $1 fxg3 33. fxg3 Bxg3 34. Qg5 $1 Qa7+ (34... Qxg5 35.
hxg5 Bf2+ 36. Kg2 Bb6 37. Rf1 $18) 35. c5 Bf2+ 36. Kg2 $1 dxc5 37. Rf1 (37. h5
Rf5 38. Qg4 Rxh5 39. Kxf2 $18) 37... Bd4 38. Rxf7 Qxf7 39. Rf4 Qd7 (39... Be3
40. Rxf7 Bxg5 41. Rg7+ Kh8 42. hxg5 Rxe6 43. Rxh7+ $18) 40. Rf3 Qb5 $2 (40...
Qd6 $16) 41. Qd2 (41. Qf4 $1 $18) 41... Qd7 42. Qf4 Bg7 43. h5 $1 Qe7 44. Qg4
g5 45. Qf5 Qd7 46. Qxg5 Kh8 47. Rg3 Ba1 48. Rf3 Qb5 (48... Rg8 $4 49. Qxg8+
Kxg8 50. Rf8#) 49. Rf2 Qd3 {[%mdl 41024] [#] Critical Position: Time trouble.
Both Kings exposed. A perfect recipee for chess nightmares.} 50. Kh2 $2 (50. h6
$8 $18 c4 $2 {shows White's threat:} (50... Qe4+ 51. Kg1 Qe5 {saves the K, but}
(51... Bd4 $2 52. Qg7+ $1 $18 {as in the main variation.}) 52. Qxe5+ Bxe5 53.
Rf5 $18 {is a hopeless endgame.}) (50... Rg8 $2 51. Qxg8+ Kxg8 52. Rf8#) (50...
Qg6 51. Qxg6 hxg6 52. Ng5 $1 $18 ({even} 52. d6 $18)) 51. Qg7+ Bxg7 52. hxg7+
Kg8 53. Rf8+ Rxf8 54. gxf8=R#) 50... Qe4 $8 51. Rf5 (51. h6 Be5+ $8 52. Kg1
Qe1+ 53. Rf1 Qc3 $14) 51... Qc2+ $8 $11 52. Kg3 Qd3+ 53. Rf3 Qd1 $1 54. h6 Qg1+
$8 {[#]} 55. Kf4 (55. Kh4 Qh2+ 56. Kg4 $8 (56. Rh3 $4 Qf2+ $8 57. Qg3 (57. Rg3
Bf6 $19) 57... Bf6+ 58. Kh5 Qf5+ $19) 56... Qg2+ $11) 55... Qh2+ $4 (55... Qc1+
$11) (55... Qe1 $11) 56. Ke3 $8 $18 (56. Ke4 Qc2+ $11) 56... Qd6 (56... Bd4+
57. Kd3 $18 Qe5 58. Qxe5+ Bxe5 59. Nxc5 $18) 57. Kf2 $2 (57. Rf6 $142 Rg8 58.
Qg7+ $8 $18) 57... Rg8 $8 58. Qh5 $1 c4 $2 (58... Qb8 59. Ng5 Rg6 60. Kf1 $18)
59. bxc4 (59. Ng5 $8 $18 Bd4+ 60. Kf1 $8) 59... Qb6+ 60. Re3 Qb2+ 61. Re2 Qf6+
62. Ke3 $2 (62. Qf3 $11) 62... Qc3+ $1 63. Kf4 Qxc4+ $17 (63... Qg3+ $142 64.
Ke4 (64. Kf5 Rg6 $8 $19) 64... Rg4+ $19) 64. Re4 Qf1+ 65. Qf3 Qg1 $1 66. Re2
Qg6 67. Qh3 Qf6+ 68. Qf5 Qh4+ 69. Ke3 Rg3+ 70. Kd2 Qb4+ 71. Kd1 Rg1+ 0-1

[Event "NA U20 Championship"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2022.12.04"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Stearman, Josiah P"]
[Black "Hua, Eugene"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2386"]
[BlackElo "2264"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[EventType "game"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. b3 b6 7. Bb2 Bb7 8. Be2
Nbd7 9. O-O Ne4 10. Nxe4 dxe4 11. Nd2 {[#]} c5 ({Here's an example of how the
best players of 125 years ago struggled with timing the pawn breaks:} 11... f5
12. f3 Bg5 13. f4 Bf6 14. Rf2 (14. b4 $142 $11) 14... c5 15. Nf1 Qc7 16. Qd2
Rad8 17. g4 $2 cxd4 $1 18. exd4 (18. Bxd4 $2 e5 $19) 18... Nb8 $2 (18... e5
$142 $3 $17) 19. gxf5 $2 Bxd4 $1 20. Bxd4 Nc6 21. Bxb6 axb6 22. Qe3 Nd4 (22...
exf5 $19) 23. Rd1 (23. fxe6 $5 Nc2 24. Qc3 Nxa1 25. f5 $1 $17) 23... Nxe2+ $6 (
23... Nxf5 $142 $1) 24. Qxe2 exf5 25. Ne3 $15 {(½-½, 50) Lasker,E-Pillsbury,
H St Petersburg, 1896.}) 12. Qc2 cxd4 13. exd4 $6 {This gives Black simple and
strong play: push the kingisde majority until it hits something. White may
have wanted to avoid the more sterile option, but objectively better was} (13.
Bxd4 $142 $11) 13... f5 14. Qc3 Bg5 15. Ba3 (15. f3 {and if} e3 16. f4 $8 exd2
17. fxg5 Qxg5 18. Qg3 $11 {and the d-pawn is doomed.}) 15... Rf6 (15... Rf7 {
is a bit more flexible: allowing the Bg4 to retreat while still able to get
behind the g-pawn.}) 16. f4 Bh4 {[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position What
happens after g3?} 17. Rfd1 {[%mdl 64]} (17. g3 $5 {This doesn't win the B,
but it allows White to force Black to give up an exchange... after which Black
has more than enough compensation.} Rg6 18. Bh5 $6 {this looks good, but Black
has a complex but forced route to a significant advantage:} Bf6 $1 {creates a
series of tactics based on ...Bxd4 forking the K and Q:} (18... Rh6 19. Be2 Bf6
$15 {is Black's simpler response.}) (18... Nc5 19. Bxg6 Bf6 {transposes}) 19.
Bxg6 (19. Bd6 {helps defend d4, but after} Rh6 $15 {White has no extra
material but has weakened the long diagonal to h1.}) 19... Nc5 $1 20. Bb2 Nd3 {
threatening to take on b2 then on d4} 21. Nf3 $1 hxg6 (21... Nxb2 22. Ne5 $8
$11) 22. Ne5 $8 Bxe5 23. fxe5 $8 (23. dxe5 $2 Qc7 $19 {(or ...g5!?) and White
has no open file for his exchange, and the black K is safe while the white K
is in mortal peril.}) 23... b5 $1 $15 {fighting for d5 and/or pressure on the
center pawns; and it's hard to imagine the white B ever doing more than
guarding d4.}) 17... g5 18. Bd6 Rg6 19. Nf1 Rc8 {[#]} 20. Qb4 $2 (20. Ne3 $142
$15 Nf8 21. Be5 gxf4 22. Bxf4 Bg5 {is similar to the game, but with the white
Q and N both doing better defensive duties.}) 20... a5 $1 $19 21. Qa3 ({
Other Q moves are no better:} 21. Qc3 Nf6 22. Be5 gxf4 23. Bxf4 Nd5 24. Qd2 e3
$1 $19 {opening the attack on g2.}) (21. Qd2 e3 $1 22. Nxe3 Nf6 23. Be5 Ne4 24.
Qc1 Bf2+ 25. Kf1 (25. Kh1 $2 Ng3+ $19 {#2}) 25... gxf4 $1 26. Bxf4 Qh4 $19 {
attacking the Bf4 and threating (among other things) ...Be1 and ...Qf2#.})
21... gxf4 22. Bxf4 Bg5 23. Bd6 f4 24. Bh5 Rg7 25. Bg4 Qf6 {[#] Two pawn
breaks open the c and g-files and White gets mated.} 26. d5 {Blocks the Bb7
but opens the c-file. This isn't good for White, but nothing is.} exd5 27. cxd5
f3 {All three of Black's majors are better than White's.} 28. gxf3 (28. Bg3 {
hopes to keep the g-file closed, but Black can just trade away the defenders:}
fxg2 29. Kxg2 Rc2+ 30. Kg1 Bf4 $19) 28... h5 {Wins the Bg4. Black also had the
fancy:} (28... Qxf3 $1 29. Bxf3 Be3+ 30. Kh1 $8 Rg1#) 29. Bg3 (29. Bxh5 Be3+ {
and ...Rg1#.}) 29... hxg4 30. fxe4 Qf3 31. Qd6 Rc2 32. Qe6+ Kh8 33. Qe8+ Kh7
34. Qh5+ Kg8 35. Qe8+ Nf8 {Very smooth play by Black, making the most of the
opportunities afforded by exd4.} 0-1

[Event "NA U20 Championship"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2022.12.06"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Tolentino, Patrick Angelo"]
[Black "Mendoza, Algol Jorajuria"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2036"]
[BlackElo "2115"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[EventType "game"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,87,28,29,46,35,77,58,55,44,40,24,36,13,60,49,97,89,78,68,56,45,64,43,
46,28,72,36,45,43,23,3,22,13,43,37,75,75,148,150,164,278,242,175,175,7,7,7,139,
139,152,162,365,108,108,117,144,158,158,160,160,166,166,170,179,186,190,177,
177,166,170,177,174,170,170,170,170,136,243,262,382,289,375,273,311,321,432,
477,477,1075]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. f3 e6 7.
Be3 h5 $5 8. Qd2 a6 9. O-O-O Bd7 {[#]} 10. Kb1 (10. Qe1 Qc7 11. Bd3 Ne5 12. Kb1
b5 $13 13. f4 Nxd3 14. cxd3 b4 15. Nce2 Qb7 $15 {Black can push on the
queenside before deciding what to do about his own king; (0-1. 29) Cornette,D 
(2462)-Jumabayev,R (2605) Douglas, 2018.}) 10... Qc7 11. Nb3 (11. Nxc6 Bxc6 12.
Ne2 d5 13. e5 Nd7 $15 (13... Qxe5 $4 14. Bf4 $18 {after this the Q has to
scurry almost all the way off the board.} Qf5 15. Nd4 Qh7 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Qc3
c5 18. Bd3 Qg8 19. Qb3 $18 {and there's nothing guarding the queenside.}) 14.
f4 g5 $2 (14... Nc5 15. Nd4 Be7 16. g3 $14 {"would have been normal play." -
John Shaw, Playing 1.e4, Quality Chess, 2018.}) 15. f5 Nc5 16. fxe6 fxe6 17.
Bxc5 Bxc5 18. Qxg5 $16 {Cheparinov,I (2687)-Al Modiahki,M (2556) Sochi FIDE GP
2008 (12) 1/2-1/2}) 11... b5 12. Bf4 (12. Bxb5 $5 axb5 13. Nxb5 Qb8 14. Nxd6+
$13) 12... b4 13. Ne2 e5 14. Bg5 a5 15. Nbc1 Be6 16. Ng3 h4 (16... Rb8 $1 {
stops Bb5, which is strong in many lines we see below.}) 17. Nf5 Bxf5 18. exf5
{[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position With the possible exception of the pawns
on f5 and h4, this looks like a Najdorf with no kingside development. If it
were White to play, Bxf6 then Qd5 and Bc4 would create a crushing bind on the
light squares. Can Black do anything about this?} Nd4 $4 {Stops Bb5, which is
annoying in so many lines, but this is a surprisingly bad move -- going from
slightly worse to lost -- the kind of one-move inaccuracy that is so costly in
many Sicilians.} (18... d5 $2 19. Bb5 $1 $16 ({White could throw the game away
like this:} 19. Bxf6 $2 gxf6 $11 20. Qxd5 $4 Rd8 $19)) (18... Be7 $142 19. Bb5
$14 {when the computer suggests 19...Kf8, since none of Black's aggressive
options help.} Rb8 (19... a4 $2 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Qd5 $18) 20. Ba4 $1 $16 {
is a neat way to stop Black's pawns.}) 19. Nb3 $8 {Immediately challenging the
Nd4. If White were to wait even one move Black's attack on c2 would allow a
tactical solution:} (19. h3 $2 Be7 20. Nb3 Ne4 $1 $17 {overloading the Qd2.})
19... Nxf5 (19... Nxb3 20. Bb5+ Nd7 21. cxb3 $18) 20. Bb5+ Nd7 {[%mdl 644] [#]
White is fully developed and the Black K is stuck in the center. Does White
have more than one way to open the center?} 21. f4 $1 {Good (and strong) but
there's a less obvious way to break the center open which is at least as
strong:} (21. Rhe1 $1 Be7 (21... f6 22. Qd5 {hits a8 and e6.}) 22. Rxe5 $3 $18)
21... a4 22. fxe5 axb3 {Threatening ...Qxc2+.} 23. cxb3 $1 Qa7 (23... Qa5 24.
Ba4 $1 {anyway, though the computer prefers} (24. a4 $3 {for reasons I'll
leave to the curious and dilligent.})) 24. Ba4 f6 {[#]} 25. Rhe1 $1 {White has
more than one way to win, but bonus points for the "quiet" move.} fxg5 {[#]} (
25... Kd8 26. exd6 fxg5 27. Qxg5+ $18) 26. exd6+ {White cashes in.} (26. Qxg5
$1 {tortures Black, who has no good moves, by not giving him a forced move.})
26... Kf7 (26... Kd8 27. Qxg5+ $18) 27. Qd5+ Kg6 28. Bxd7 Qxd7 {[#]} 29. Re6+
Kh7 30. Qxf5+ Kg8 31. Qd5 $8 $18 Ra5 $1 32. Qxa5 Qxe6 33. d7 Qe4+ 34. Ka1 Be7
35. d8=Q+ Bxd8 36. Qxd8+ Kh7 37. Qxg5 Rf8 {[#]} 38. a4 $6 (38. Qh5+ $142 Kg8
39. Qc5 {threatens to trade Qs and coordinates with the R, and} Qxg2 40. Qc4+
Rf7 (40... Kh7 41. Qxh4+ {wins both h and b-pawns.}) 41. Rd8+ Kh7 42. Qxh4+ Kg6
43. Rd6+ $18 {forces off all the pieces.}) 38... Rf5 $2 (38... bxa3 $142 {
gives much better perpetual chances, for example} 39. Qh5+ $2 Kg8 40. bxa3 Rf1
$3 $11) 39. Qd2 g5 40. h3 Kg6 41. Re1 Qf4 42. Qd3 g4 43. hxg4 Qxg4 44. Rf1 1-0

[Event "RA December Open"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2022.12.10"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sambuev, Bator"]
[Black "Dukic, Zachary"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2508"]
[BlackElo "2399"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8.
Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O b6 $5 {10... b6 is a previously rare but currently
popular line in the Grunfeld.} 11. Qd2 ({If} 11. dxc5 Qc7 $1 {and Black has
loads of compensation playing against White's ragged queenside.}) 11... Bb7 {
[#] Here, White typically plays a R to the middle to support the pawns, but
Bator risks a sharper line where Black lets White have a serious attack in
return for wrecking White's center.} 12. Bh6 $5 {Trading the DSB both weakens
Black's kingsid and reduces his pressure on the center. The computer doesn't
recommend this line, but doesn't rate it much worse than the more usual moves,
and humans don't defend nearly as well as computers, so a reasonable practical
choice.} Bxh6 $1 {Inviting the Q to h6 gives White very dangerous attacking
chances, but it's the principled move, and it makes it clear that Black thinks
White should have kept his pieces supporting his center.* . . . *another
possiblity is that Black is a tightrope-dancing lunatic with a death wish; but
that's not the Zach I remember.} 13. Qxh6 cxd4 {[#]} 14. f4 (14. Rad1 $5 Na5 $2
(14... Ne5 $142 15. Nxd4 $1 $13 {If you play this line you should study this
position.}) 15. Rd3 $1 $18 {[#]  Analysis Diagram Black needs to chuck pieces
to avoid mate.} Bc8 (15... Bxe4 16. Rh3 g5 17. Qxg5+ Kh8 18. Qe5+ $18 {wins
the B before going back to mate on h7.}) (15... Qc8 $5 {hoping to take R on h3
and B on c4, but} 16. Nxd4 $1 Qxc4 17. Nf5 $1 $18 {shows another attacking
motif.}) 16. Bd5 $1 Rb8 17. Nxd4 (17. Nf4 $1) 17... e6 18. Bb3 $4 {Sure, it's
a blitz game, but a titled player ought to remember the reason he played the R
lift and see that ...e6 blocks the Bc8.} (18. Rh3 $142 $18) 18... Qf6 $14 {
(0-1, 31) Czerw,D (2386)-Gallego Alcaraz,A (2499) Chess.com Titled Tuesday,
2022.}) 14... Qd6 $1 {To scurry over to g7 before White can play Rf3-h3.} 15.
e5 {Gaining time and stopping Qf5, but opening the long diagonal for the Bb7 
(if Black survives long enough for that to matter).} Qc5 $1 {[#]} 16. f5 $2 {
Threatening f6 and mate on g7.} (16. cxd4 {Also fails if Black finds lines
where ...Bxg2+ enables Black to force off the Qs with a check; e.g.} Qxc4 17.
f5 Nxd4 18. f6 exf6 19. exf6 Ne6 $19 (19... Nxe2+ $1 20. Kh1 Bxg2+ 21. Kxg2
Qg4+ 22. Kf2 Qf4+ $19) 20. Nf4 Qd4+ 21. Kh1 Qxf6 22. Nh5 Bxg2+ $1 {(...Qxa1
wins, but not as cleanly.)} 23. Kxg2 Qg5+ $18) ({We are looking at a caveman
attack, so who else do we find playing this but GM Simon WIlliams:} 16. Rf3
$142 $8 Bc8 $1 {[#]  Analysis Diagram ...Bc8 prevents Rh3 and mate on h7, as
we saw in the game above.} 17. Ng3 $2 (17. Bd3 $8 dxc3+ 18. Kh1 c2 (18... Be6
$2 19. f5 $1 $18 {Interfering with the defence of h3.}) 19. e6 (19. f5 $2 Qxe5
$8 $19 {and the Q saves the game from g7,}) 19... Bxe6 20. f5 Bxf5 21. Bxf5 $13
) 17... dxc3+ $2 (17... Qxc4 $142 18. Nh5 gxh5 19. Rg3+ Bg4 $8 20. Qxh5 Kh8 $19
{Black can defend g7 with ...Rg8, and h7 with ...Qd3.}) 18. Kh1 Qxc4 19. f5 $8
Nxe5 $8 20. Rf4 Ng4 $3 {It must have been fun to find and play this move!} 21.
Qxf8+ $8 (21. Qg5 Qc6 22. Qxg4 Bb7 $19) 21... Kxf8 22. Rxc4 gxf5 23. Rxc3 $15 {
(½-½, 42) Williams,S (2515)-Melkumyan,H (2649) London, 2012.}) 16... dxc3+ (
16... d3+ {is also good, and similar to the game after:} 17. Kh1 Nxe5 $8 $19 (
17... dxe2 $4 18. f6 $18)) 17. Kh1 Nxe5 $8 {Removing White's support for f5-f6
and defending g6.} 18. fxg6 {[#]} hxg6 $8 (18... Nxg6 19. Bxf7+ Rxf7 20. Rxf7
Kxf7 21. Qxh7+ $13 {with a wild position where my computer Overlords inform me
that White has enough play to draw, but not more; e.g.} Kf6 22. Rf1+ Kg5 23.
h4+ Nxh4 24. Nf4 $8 Bxg2+ $5 25. Kh2 $8 $11 (25. Nxg2 $4 Ng6 $8 $19)) 19. Bb3
Rad8 20. Nf4 Rd2 $1 {The two Ns are playing the starring roles in saving their
Ks.} 21. Rae1 (21. Nxg6 $4 Bxg2#) 21... Rf2 $6 22. h3 {[#]} Rxf1+ $6 {Black is
still winning after this, but trading an attacker (which ties the Nf4 to
defending g2) and conceding the f-file greatly reduces the margin for error.} (
22... c2 $142 23. Nxg6 (23. Rxf2 Qxf2 24. Rxe5 $2 c1=Q+ {#4}) 23... Bxg2+ $8
$19 24. Kh2 Bxf1+ 25. Kg3 (25. Kh1 Rh2+ $1 {#2}) 25... Rg2+ $18) 23. Rxf1 {
[%mdl 33088] [#] Critical Position Does Black have anything better than ...Qd6
or ...Qc6?} Qd6 $4 ({Shows some of White's threats:} 23... Rd8 $4 24. Nxg6 Nxg6
25. Bxf7#) (23... c2 $4 24. Ne6 $18) (23... Qd4 $4 {allows Ne6, but also
invites} 24. Qxf8+ Kxf8 25. Ne6+ $18) (23... Qc6 $2 {Defends g6, hits g2, and
supports the c-pawn -- all good things, not good enough to win!} 24. Rf2 $8 $13
{covering g2 and c2.} (24. Bd5 $4 Qb5 $8 25. Nxg6 (25. Bxf7+ Rxf7 $19) 25...
Qxf1+ 26. Kh2 Qf6 $8 27. Qxf8+ Kh7 $19) 24... Rd8 25. Nh5 $8 gxh5 26. Qg5+ $8
Kf8 (26... Ng6 $2 27. Bxf7+ Kh7 $8 $13) (26... Qg6 $4 27. Bxf7+ $18) 27. Qxe5
e6 $1 $13) (23... Qe3 $8 $19 {simply pinning the N to the undefended Q stops
both Nxg6 and Ne6; and without being able to move the N the Rf1 is also
blocked, leaving White only his Q and B to make threats.} {If White unpins with
} 24. Qh4 {there are no more Qxg6 perpetuals, so Black has a choice of ways to
consolidate, including ...e6 or ...Be4, among other options. Of course, it's
anything but simple to find this "simple" defence when you've been calculating
dense tactics for 3+ hours.} ({There are no perpetuals or deflections:} 24.
Bxf7+ Rxf7 $8 $19) (24. Rf3 Bxf3 $1 $19) 24... e6 25. Re1 Qd4 $1 $19 {simplest}
(25... Nf3 $5)) 24. Ne6 $8 {Ouch. White threatens Qg7# and if ...fxe6 Rxg8#
exploits the newly created pin on f7.} 1-0

[Event "RA December Open"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2022.12.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Han, Johnathan"]
[Black "Rodrigue Lemieux, Shawn"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2250"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,57,20,15,24,26,14,12,12,12,-10,-3,-4,1,0,0,0,-7,0,17,-13,4,13,26,21,
13,33,17,21,40,26,-1,30,-2,103,103,84,84,116,84,8,-117,-176,-257,-223,-156,
-144,-169,-198,-392,-324,-395,-395,-397,-395,-920,-950,-1498,-1544,-29999]} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8. c4
Ba6 9. Nd2 g6 10. Nf3 Qb4+ 11. Kd1 {[#]} Ne7 $1 {This is Black's best-scoring
move, but it is almost unmentioned in older opening books since it didn't get
played regularly until Kramnik won with it in 2017 (below). One point is to
get the N to d4.} ({The older main line goes:} 11... Nb6 12. b3 Bg7 13. Qd2
Qxd2+ 14. Bxd2 {when Black has several decent-scoring lines.}) 12. Kc2 $5 $146
{White keeps the Qs on and aims for a kingside attack, which seems like a
promising idea, given the weaker dark squares over there and Black's Ba6 and
Qb4 are not so well placed. White's queen sacs in the variations at move 18
show some of the crazy winning tactics when Black goes ...00. The only
question is whether Black can force open the center, when White might regret
leaving Black's Q on.} (12. Qc2 c5 $1 13. Bd3 Bg7 14. Re1 O-O 15. Qb3 Nc6 16.
Bd2 Qb6 $1 $15 {(0-1, 32) Jones,G (2668)-Kramnik,V (2803) Isle of Man, 2017.})
12... Bg7 13. b3 O-O 14. Bb2 c5 15. h4 Rfe8 16. h5 Nc6 17. hxg6 hxg6 {[%mdl
32832] [#] Critical Position Black is ready to break in the center with ...d6
or ...d5 and the White Q is a target. Should White go Qe4, or Bc3, or
something else?} 18. Qe4 $6 {[%mdl 576] This stops ...d6, which would hang the
N, but White's c4 pawn is still pinned...} (18. Bc3 $142 $11 Qa3 19. Bb2 Qa5 ({
Black can't avoid the draw with} 19... Nb4+ $4 20. Kd1 Qa5 21. Ng5 $1 $18 f6
22. exf6 $3 Rxe2 23. Bxe2 $18) 20. Bc3 $11 Nb4+ $2 (20... Qb6 21. Qd2 $13) 21.
Kb2 Qb6 (21... d6 22. a3 $18) 22. Ng5 $1 $18 {and Qf3.}) (18. Qe3 $142 $1 {
prepares to bring the Q to the attack (via f4) without giving Black the tempo
he gets after Qe4. A very hard-to-see point is that Black is not yet ready to
break in the center: ...d5 obviously just loses the pawn to cxd5, less
obviously ...d6 allows White some tactics to set up a very strong attack.} d6
$2 {[#] This is the critical move -- exploiting the pin to break in the center
-- but it allows White a spectacular sac and a strong attack:} 19. e6 $3 Rxe6 (
19... fxe6 20. Bxg7 $18) 20. Bxg7 $1 (20. Rh8+ $4 {might work in blitz, hoping
for ...Kxh8 Qh6+ and mate, but} Bxh8 $8 $19) 20... Kxg7 $8 (20... Rxe3 $2 21.
Bf6 $1 $18 {is the big tactic behind e6: Black now has to give back to Q on c3
to prevent mate.}) 21. Qh6+ Kf6 {White has a draw in hand, but should play for
more with:} 22. Qh4+ Kg7 23. Bd3 {connecting the Rs and preparing Qf4 
(attacking f7 and defending d2), with threats like Rh7+ and Ng5. Black will
probably have to bail out with ...Nd4+ as a pawn sac, leaving White with equal
material and a strong initiative which SF15 rates as +2.}) 18... d5 $3 (18...
Bb7 {is worse, since} 19. Qf4 {gets out of the discovered attack and threatens
e5-e6 (trading Black's last kingside defender) while Black is no closer to
opening the center.}) 19. Qxd5 $2 ({The c4 pawn is still pinned to the Q, so} 
19. cxd5 $4 Qxe4+ $19) (19. Qh4 $142 dxc4 $40 20. Bxc4 Bxc4 21. Qxc4 Qxc4+ 22.
bxc4 Nb4+ $1 {and Black's initiative should count for something.} (22... Nxe5
$6 {lets White excape to a drawable RP ending.}) 23. Kb3 Nd3 $15) 19... Bb7 $17
{[#]} 20. Bc3 $6 (20. a3 Qb6 $40 (20... Nd4+ $4 21. Qxd4 $18)) (20. Qd3 Rad8
21. Qc3 Qxc3+ 22. Bxc3 Nb4+ {and the e-pawn falls with Black keeping a huge
lead in development.}) (20. Qd2 Qxd2+ 21. Kxd2 Rad8+) 20... Qa3 $1 $19 21. Qd2
Rad8 (21... Nb4+) 22. Qf4 Nb4+ $1 23. Bxb4 cxb4 {[#]} 24. Ng5 (24. Rh7 $5 Kxh7
(24... Bxf3 $19 {is simpler, and obvious.}) 25. Ng5+ Kh8 $8 26. Bd3 Rd7 $8 $19)
24... Rd7 25. Qc1 (25. e6 $2 Qb2#) 25... Rxe5 26. Qxa3 bxa3 27. Nf3 {[#] Black
finds very nice finish.} Be4+ 28. Kc1 Rh5 $1 29. Rxh5 (29. Rxh5 Bb2#) 0-1

[Event "RA December Open"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2022.12.11"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rodrigue Lemieux, Shawn"]
[Black "Liang, Jason"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2316"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,101,19,38,40,41,41,18,39,-5,26,11,33,26,17,23,11,-4,1,-13,-9,-25,8,18,
18,22,37,37,65,36,52,57,54,47,90,-1,36,22,28,2,7,11,10,0,-3,-5,-13,-55,-85,-64,
-65,-132,-65,-51,-75,-75,-22,-95,-34,-45,-49,-55,148,401,232,220,259,259,259,
251,304,243,243,228,241,242,242,278,301,127,140,157,154,123,92,116,192,203,203,
196,215,207,281,315,310,326,324,330,354,359,1188,1271,1271,1206]} 1. e4 c5 2.
Nf3 e6 3. d3 Nc6 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 O-O 8. c3 Bd7 9. a3 Rc8
10. b4 a6 11. bxc5 dxc5 {[#]} 12. e5 $1 Nd5 (12... Ne8 13. Nbd2 Na5 14. c4 Bc6
15. Qe2 Qd7 16. Bb2 Rd8 17. Bc3 b6 18. Bxa5 bxa5 19. Bf1 $6 (19. Reb1 $142 Qxd3
20. Qxd3 Rxd3 21. Ne1 Rxd2 22. Bxc6 $16) 19... Nc7 20. Rab1 Na8 $14 {(0-1, 37)
Nun,J (2306)-Hasangatin,R (2497) Pardubice, 2018.}) 13. c4 $1 Nc7 14. Nc3 Na5
15. Ne4 Bc6 16. Bd2 {[#]} Na8 (16... Bxe4 17. Rxe4 Nc6 {gives up the B pair,
but makes better use of the Ns.}) 17. a4 (17. Nh4 {is Stockfish's Fischer-like
preference.} Bxh4 $6 18. gxh4 Bxe4 (18... Qxh4 $4 19. Bg5 $18) 19. Bxe4 Nc6 20.
Qh5 g6 21. Qg4 $16 {with a terrific kingside initiative, whether or not Black
takes on e5.}) 17... Bxe4 (17... Qxd3 $5 18. Bf1 $1 Qd8 19. Qb1 $1 $14 {
White's down a pawn but Black still has two Ns he can't move.}) 18. Rxe4 Qxd3
19. Ne1 Qd8 20. Ra3 Qc7 21. Qh5 Nc6 22. Nf3 $44 {[#] White is down a pawn, but
has a lot of pieces hovering around Black's K, and that Na8 is no bargain. The
next few variations show some of White's sac opportunities.} Rfd8 23. Ng5 Bxg5
$8 24. Bxg5 Rd4 $1 {[#]} 25. Rxd4 $6 {The passed d-pawn gives Black
game-saving tactics in many lines. White doesn't mind ...Rxe4 since Bxe4 adds
to the attack, so an alternative -- the computer's top choice crazily hard for
a human to even consider when so focused on kingside tactics, is to improve
the queenside just a little with Rb3 or a5; e.g.} (25. a5 $5 Rxe4 (25... Nxe5
$2 26. Bf4 $8 $18) (25... Nxa5 $2 26. Bf6 $18) 26. Bxe4 g6 (26... Qxe5 $4 27.
Qxh7+ Kf8 28. Qh8#) 27. Qh4 Qxe5 28. Bf6 (28. Rf3 $40) 28... Qh5 $8 29. Qf4 $16
) 25... cxd4 (25... Nxd4 26. Bf6 $5 gxf6 27. exf6 $13) 26. Be4 (26. Bf6 $5 Ne7
$1 27. g4 $1 $13) 26... g6 27. Qh4 {[%mdl 128]} Qxe5 {[#]} 28. Bxc6 bxc6 29.
Bf6 Qd6 {[%mdl 8256]} (29... Qf5 $1 30. Kg2 (30. g4 Qb1+ 31. Kg2 Qe4+ 32. Rf3
h5 $13) 30... d3 31. Rxd3 Qxd3 32. Qh6 Qe4+ 33. Kg1 Qe1+ $11) 30. Rf3 {[%mdl
33088] [#] Critical Position White has a lot of pressure on Black's kingside
dark squares, but Black has two more pawns and one of them is a passed pawn.
Should Black go ...d3 or ...Nc7 or ...e5 or ...c5?} e5 $4 (30... c5 $4 {
loses the same way as ...e5.}) (30... Nc7 $4 {aiming for e8 is too slow:} 31.
g4 $1 $18) (30... d3 $8 {This concedes the d-pawn (if White wants it) but is
the only way to counter White's crushing attack.} 31. g4 $5 {leads to a long
string of only moves from both sides:} ({White can take d3 immediately,
deflecting the Q from the kingside dark squares, but Black has a perp:} 31.
Rxd3 Qxd3 32. Qh6 Qb1+ $8 33. Kg2 Qe4+ 34. f3 Qc2+ $11) (31. Qh6 {forces Black
to undefend the d-pawn.} Qf8 32. Qxf8+ (32. Qf4 $5 Nb6 33. Rxd3 Nxa4 {feels
like a three-result game, but the computer perfers White.}) 32... Kxf8 33. a5
$1 $11 {White wins the d-pawn and the d-file gives White enough comp.}) 31...
h5 $8 32. Qg5 $8 (32. gxh5 $2 d2 $19 33. hxg6 d1=Q+ 34. Kg2 Qxf3+ $8 35. Kxf3
Qd3+ {and either ...Qxg6+ or ...Qxc4+ wins.}) 32... d2 33. Qh6 d1=Q+ $8 34. Kg2
Qxf3+ $8 35. Kxf3 Qd1+ 36. Kg2 $8 Qxg4+ $11 {with a perpetual.}) 31. g4 $8 $18
{Black must have missed this. White threatens Qxh7+, Rh3-Rh8#, and the only
way to avoid mate is for the K to run while shedding pawns to the attackers.}
Kf8 $1 32. Qxh7 Ke8 33. Bxe5 $1 {[%mdl 512]} Qe6 (33... Qxe5 34. Rxf7 {will
mate.}) 34. Qg8+ Ke7 35. Rxf7+ {[%mdl 512]} Qxf7 36. Qxc8 {[#]} d3 (36... Qxc4
37. Qxa8 d3 38. Qa7+ Ke6 39. Qe3 Qxg4+ 40. Bg3+ $18) 37. Qxc6 Qe6 38. Qb7+ $1 {
Exchanging on d7 leaves the black King further back.} Qd7 39. Qxd7+ (39. Qxa8
d2 $19) 39... Kxd7 {[%mdl 4096]} 40. Kf1 $18 {[#] Now White is up two pawns,
has the d3 passer under control, and can create an outside passer on the
kingside.} Nb6 41. c5 $1 (41. a5 $6 Nxc4 42. Bc3 g5 {is winning too, but more
trouble than necessary.}) 41... Nxa4 42. Bd4 Kc6 43. h4 Kd5 44. Be3 Nc3 45. h5
gxh5 46. gxh5 Ne4 47. h6 Nf6 48. Ke1 a5 49. Kd2 Kc4 50. c6 Ne4+ 51. Kc1 1-0

[Event "RA December Open"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2022.12.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Rodrigue Lemieux, Shawn"]
[Black "Jaferian, Koosha"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2316"]
[BlackElo "2351"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[SourceTitle "Chess Canada Tactiosauru"]
[Source "CFC/John Upper"]
[SourceDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1][%evp 0,59,24,14,77,77,63,45,45,30,30,23,31,19,34,3,7,7,11,4,4,11,21,
-1,44,5,19,20,32,26,78,44,44,25,97,93,105,103,106,108,146,133,236,232,328,330,
320,329,331,295,288,295,304,304,306,310,325,287,388,381,429,367]} 1. e4 c6 2.
d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Qc7 6. h3 g6 7. Qc2 {[#]} Bg7 (7... f6 $1 {
, aiming for ...e5, looks like the kind of mistake that leads to quick
checkmates from old instructional books; but has been played successfully by
Lenderman and Howell, who beat Aronian with it in a serious game. After
Black's more normal moves (Bg7, Nf6, 00) he has trouble generating any play.})
8. Nf3 Nf6 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 Bd7 11. Bg5 {[#]} Rfc8 {Threatens ...Nb4,
trading the N for the Bd3. Using this rook makes some sense if Black is going
to play a minority attack by pushing the the a- and b-pawns; using the other R
makes more sense if Black plans to go for ...f6 and ...e5.} (11... e6 12. Nbd2
Rfc8 13. Qc1 Be8 14. Nf1 Na5 15. N1h2 Nc4 16. Bxf6 $5 Bxf6 17. g4 $1 b5 18. g5
$1 Bg7 19. Ng4 $16 {with a huge initiative against the dark squares; (1-0, 40)
Koykka,P (2399)-Ronka,E (2270) Helsinki, 2019.}) (11... Rae8 12. Na3 $5 h6 13.
Bxf6 (13. Bh4 $6 {going for Bg3 fails to} Nh5 $1 $15 {covering g3, enabling ...
e5, and possibly going ...Nf4.}) 13... Bxf6 14. Qd2 Kg7 15. Nc2 $13 {(½-½,
55) Nihal,S (2646)-Niemann,H (2656) Jermuk, 2022.}) 12. a3 {Stops ...Nb4 and
also useful vs a minority attack.} a6 13. Nbd2 e6 14. Nb3 Be8 15. Qe2 Nd7 {
[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position Black would like to play ...f6, then ...Bf7
when he might centralize his Rs and push in the center. What are the tactics
after, say 16.Rad1 f6 17.Qxe6+?} 16. h4 {This natural move is also tricky,
since it does more than just begin to pry apart the fianchetto.} ({After
something like} 16. Rad1 f6 17. Qxe6+ $5 {the tactics are mostly only moves:} (
17. Bc1 Bf7 $11) 17... Bf7 $8 {with a double attack on Qe6 and Bg5; but White
escapes with} 18. Bf4 $8 Nce5 $1 {defending Qc7 and trapping the Qe6, but...} (
18... Qxf4 $2 19. Qxd7 $16 {with an extra pawn and targets.}) 19. Qg4 $8 {
escapes to a defended square and exploits the pin on the Ne5} Nxg4 (19... h5 $2
20. Qg3 $18) 20. Bxc7 Nxf2 $11) 16... f6 $2 {Surprisingly, White's pawn move
on the h-file turns the tactics in the center of the board upside-down, and
this is now a clear mistake.} (16... e5 $142 $14 17. dxe5 Ncxe5 $1 {(so the
other N can go to c5 or f6) Black has an IQP, but White's Ns are not well
placed to attack it.}) 17. Qxe6+ $1 Bf7 {[#] White has two hanging pieces, but.
..} 18. Bf4 $8 {saves them both with a defelction.} Qxf4 ({The difference made
by 16.h4 is that after} 18... Nce5 {White can save the Q with} 19. Qh3 $1 {
and now} Nxf3+ 20. Qxf3 Qb6 21. Bc2 $18 {White is up a clear pawn with a
better structure and more active Bs.}) 19. Qxd7 f5 $5 {[#] Trying to trap the
Q with ...Rc7.} 20. Nc5 $1 (20. Qxb7 $2 Rab8 21. Qxa6 Ra8 $11 {as White would
have to give the Nb3 to escape the perpetual on the Q.}) 20... Nd8 (20... Rc7
21. Ne6 $18 {would be the second time White saved the attacked Q by making a
counterattack with a minor.}) 21. Ng5 (21. Re7 Bf8 22. Rae1 $1 $18) 21... Rc7 {
[%mdl 32832] [#] Critical Position Find something better than Qa4.} 22. Re8+ $1
(22. Qe8+ $5 {is show-offy,} Bxe8 (22... Bf8 23. Nxf7 Rxf7 24. Bc2 $18 {
not only is Black badly tangled, White threatens Bb3xd5.}) 23. Rxe8+ Bf8 24.
Rxf8+ Kxf8 25. Nce6+ $18) 22... Bf8 (22... Bxe8 23. Qxe8+ Bf8 24. Qxf8+ $1 {
wins with the same fork as in the game.}) 23. Rxf8+ $1 Kxf8 24. Qxd8+ ({or} 24.
Qxf7+) 24... Rxd8 25. Nce6+ Bxe6 26. Nxe6+ {[#] Yep, got 'em all!} Kf7 27. Nxf4
Rd6 28. Re1 h6 29. Re5 Rcd7 30. Nxd5 $1 {Capturing loses a whole piece after
Bc4.} 1-0

