1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. d4 d5 4. Nc3 e6 Annotator C. S. Howell writes: "This gives Black a cramped game and, in my opinion, is inferior to 4... dxc4 " when today's "book" line goes 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 (6. Ne5!?) 6... e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O and White has recovered his pawn, though the battle still rages over the e4-square. 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 The Cambridge Springs Defense, popularized in the 1904 tournament in that Pennsylvania resort town. 7. cxd5 The safest line for White. Not 7. Bd3? dxc4! 8. Bxc4 Ne4!-/+ Stronger may be 7. Nd2 Bb4 8. Qc2 7... exd5?! Much better is 7... Nxd5 8. Qd2 Bb4 9. Rc1 O-O= 8. Bd3 Ne4 9. O-O Ndf6 9... Nxc3?! 10. bxc3 ( Howell also suggests 10. Qe1 Bb4?! 11. a3+/=) 10... Qxc3 11. e4 (11. Qe2!?~/= Howell) 11... dxe4 (11... h6 12. Bh4!? g5 13. Bg3~/=) 12. Bxe4 Bd6 13. d5 (13. Qb1!?) 13... c5 14. Rc1~/= 10. Bxf6! Nxc3?! Better 10... Nxf6 though, as Howell suggests, White would then be able to centralize his knight with 11. Ne5 (also possible is 11. a3 Bd6 12. b4+/= or the similar) (11. Re1 Bb4 12. Qc2 O-O 13. a3 Bd6 14. b4+/= and Black has the two Bishops to compensate for White's space advantage on the queenside.) 11. bxc3 gxf6 Now Black's pawns are permanently damaged--just the kind of long-term target that Capablanca liked to gain out of the opening. In compensation, Black controls e5, has an open g-file, and the two Bishops. But as Howell points out, "doubled and isolated pawns...lose more often than open files win." 12. Qc2 Bd6 13. Bf5!? Trying to gain the f5 square for his Queen, from which he can exploit Black's doubled pawns. 13... Be6 14. Rab1 Qc7 15. Bxe6!? Trading one advantage for another. Now White opens the position favorably for his pieces while Black's pawns at e6 and f6 remain weak. 15... fxe6 16. e4 O-O-O Howell notes that castling queenside is "Dangerous, of course, in view of the open b-file, but Black's game is shaky and his evident intention is to try for a King's side attack, utilizing his own open Knight file. Unfortunately White has both the center and the initiative and, as will be seen, his attack proceeds so rapidly [that] Black has not time to counter-attack." 17. c4! Bf4?! Howell writes: "...this loses time and takes the B away from the defence of the K. However, Black may have wanted to prevent the posting of a white R on c1 or, forseeing e5, to be sure to keep the White Knight out of g5. A better resistance might have been madewith" 17... dxc4 18. Qxc4 Qf7 19. e5 ( perhaps better 19. Rb3! Bc7 20. Rfb1 Bb6 21. a4->) 19... Bc7 20. Rb3 Rd5! 21. Rfb1 Bb6~~ 18. Rb3 The Rook clears the way for its partner to double on the b-file while also gaining maximum mobility along the third rank. 18... dxc4 19. Qxc4 Qf7 20. Rfb1 Rd7 21. e5 Cutting off the Bishop's retreat so that the Black King is denuded of defenders. 21... fxe5 22. dxe5 Rhd8? Howell writes: "This looks like an oversight but probably was not. Black is in danger of being slowly but surely strangled to death and, therefore, plays desperately to exchange a piece or so in hopes of relieving the pressure." 22... Rc7 23. Ne1!? (23. g3 Rg8 24. Kh1 Bh6 25. Nd4+/-) (23. a4) 23... Bxe5 24. Qc5 Qg7 25. Nf3 Rg8 26. g3 Bf6 27. Qxa7-> 23. Qxc6+! Kb8 23... bxc6?? 24. Rb8+ Kc7 25. R1b7# 24. g3 Rd1+ 25. Kg2 The natural 25. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 26. Kg2 gives Black an extra tempo. 25... Rxb1 26. Rxb1 Rd5 27. Qc3 Not 27. gxf4? Qg6+ 28. Kh3 Qxb1 and White must try for a perpetual check with 29. Qe8+ Kc7 30. Qe7+ Kc6 31. Qxe6+ Kc5 32. Qc8+ Kb6 33. Qe6+= 27... Qf5 27... >= Bh6 28. Qb4! b5 29. Nh4 a5 30. Qxb5+! Simplification combined with material gain completes the game. "Of course, if 30...Rxb5 31.Rxb5+ K moves 32. Nxf5. A good example of the champion's direct and forceful play against a cramped defence" writes Howell. 1-0 [C.S. Howell / M. J. Goeller / Fritz / Junior]

I got the better of Ted the last time that we played in the Club Championship where he had an ill-advised Bishop sacrifice in a c3 Sicilian opening. In this game, White gains some initiative in the opening, gives it back, and Black repeatedly passes on ways to end the game quickly

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qe7?! loses the way in the opening, and Ted gains the initiative 5... Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Bc4 a much better response than what was played in the game... 6. Nf5!? White may be trying too hard here to prove Black's last move an error. Better is simply 6. Nc3! and Black's Queen will eventually feel misplaced. 6... Nxd4 7. Bxd4 Nf6 8. Bc4 O-O 9. O-O Bxd4 10. Qxd4 d6 11. Rae1 Re8 12. f4+/= Goeller 6... Qxe4 7. Nxg7+ Kf8 8. Nc3 8. Nd2 Qe5 9. Nc4 is recommended by Fritz (Demetrick)...but Black has 9... Bb4+! 10. c3 Bxc3+! 11. bxc3 Qxc3+ 12. Bd2 Qxg7 and it is unlikely that White has compensation for his two pawns. Goeller 8... Qe5 9. Nh5 interestingly, this position felt worse while playing the game at this point - Black's King is not in a good spot - Fritz analyzes as =+ Demetrick 9... Bxe3 10. fxe3 Qxe3+ 11. Be2 Nge7 Better 11... Nd4! 12. Rf1 d6 and it is hard for White to avoid exchanges that will make Black's extra pawn tell. Goeller 12. Rf1?! White has to play more aggressively to get compensation: 12. Nf6!? or 12. Nb5 Qe5 (12... Rg8!? 13. Qd3!+/=) 13. Qd2~/= 12... Rg8 12... Nd4! 13. Rf3?! Qg1+ 14. Bf1 d6 trying to get more pieces into the fray 14... Rxg2 and it gets a little crazy with.. 15. Rxf7+ Kxf7 16. Qf3+ Ke8 17. Nf6+ Kd8 18. Qxg2 14... Qxh2!? 14... Ne5!? 15. Nf6 Rg7?! a little too passive.. 15... Rxg2! 16. Qd3 Ne5 16... Qxh2 16... Rg6 17. Nxh7+ Rxh7?= 17... Ke8-+ and everything seems to hang for White 18. Qxh7 Nxf3+ 19. gxf3 Qe3+ 20. Ne2 20. Be2 much better... 20... Ng6 21. Kf1 Be6 22. Re1 20... Qxf3 20... Ng6! 21. O-O-O! Bg4 22. Re1? 22. Qh6+! Kg8 (22... Ke8? 23. Qh8++-) 23. h3 (23. Nf4?? Qxd1#) 23... Bh5 24. Nc3 makes Black's king very uncomfortable. 22... Ng8?! 22... Qe3+! 23. Kb1 (23. Kd1 Ng6-+) 23... Ng6-/+ and White cannot unravel his pieces. Goeller 23. Kb1? Qf2!-+ 24. Rc1 Re8? fails again to win the game... 24... Bxe2! 25. Bxe2 Qxe2 26. Rg1 what I feared in this variation... but Black sidesteps the attack with 26... Ke7! 27. a3 Nf6 Demetrick 25. Nc3 25. Ng3 supporting the Bishop 25... Re1 26. b3 Rxc1+ 27. Kxc1 25... Re1 26. Qd3 Rxc1+?! here I think in retrospect that the idea is to maintain the tension, but I decided to go into the endgame a pawn up 26... Bf5!! 27. Kxc1 Qe1+ 28. Nd1 Qxd1+ 29. Qxd1 Bxd1 30. Kxd1 c5 setting the pawns on the dark squares 31. c4 b6 32. a4 Ke7 33. Kd2 Ke6 34. Bg2 Ne7 35. Kd3 Ke5 36. h4 Kf5 36... Ng6! 37. h5?? Nf4+-+ 37. h5 Kg5 38. Bf3 f5 keeping the King out.. 39. Ke3 Ng8 40. b3 Nf6 41. h6 Kxh6 42. Kf4 Kg6 43. Ke3 Nd7 44. Bc6 Ne5 0-1

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. f3 Bg7 7. Be3 O-O 8. Qd2 Re8 This is very slow. More common is 8...Nc6 which has the same effect of preventing 9.Bh6 exchanging off the Bishops. 9. O-O-O Nc6 10. g4 Bd7 11. h4 Rc8 12. h5 Ne5 13. hxg6 fxg6 14. Bh6 Bh8 15. Qh2 Nc4 16. Bg5 Nxb2 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Qxh7+ Kf8 19. Qxg6 Rxc3 20. Rh7 Wow! That's a strong move. How does Black avoid mate? 20... Rxc2+ 21. Nxc2 Ah! White can simply decline the Rook and play 21.Kb1!! and there is nothing that Black can do about mate at f7. 21... Be6 22. Bb5 Nxd1 23. Bxe8 Qxe8 24. Qxe8+ Kxe8 25. Kxd1 Bxa2 26. Kd2 White is still a little better, having the exchange for a pawn and a potentially winning passed pawn on the kingside. 26... a5 27. Rh5 a4 28. Rb5 White starts to go wrong. It was best to activate his own pawns and keep his Rook on the kingside with f4 and g5. 28... Bb3 29. Rxb7 Bb2 30. Ke3 Bc1+ 31. Kd3 d5 32. exd5 Bxd5 33. Rb8+ Kf7 34. Nd4 a3 35. Rb6 a2 36. Nc2 Bxf3 37. Kd4 Bxg4 38. Ra6 Be6 39. Nb4 A blunder. White should still hold the draw with best play, though it wil be hard. 39... a1=Q+ 40. Rxa1 Bb2+ 0-1

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O a6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. f3 Qc7 11. Bb3 Na5 12. Rhe1 b5 13. Nd5 Nxb3+ 14. axb3 exd5 15. exd5 Kf8 16. Bh6 Ng8 17. Rxe7 Nxe7 18. Qg5 gxh6 19. Qxh6+ Kg8 20. Re1 Qd8 21. Ne6 fxe6 22. dxe6 Nf5 23. Qh3 Qg5+ 24. Kb1 Re8 25. exd7 Rxe1+ 26. Ka2 Kf7 0-1

1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 This move wastes time, since White can easily play 3.d4 without this extra support. The move also makes it difficult to defend the e-pawn comfortably, as we shall see. Most of my games go 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bg4 = 3... Nf6 4. Qe2 Bg4 5. g3 The Bishop needs to develop, but this move weakens the support of the Knight at f3 and hands Black the initiative. 5... d5 Mike almost played 6.e5? Nxe5! 6. exd5 Qxd5 7. Bg2 O-O-O 8. d4 e5 9. c4 A blunder, but White is in trouble. 9... Qa5+ Black can also win a pawn by 9...Nxd4!? but this is stronger. 10. Bd2 Bb4 11. d5 e4 I wanted to open the e-file, but likely 11....Nd4! is even stronger. 12. O-O Nd4 Easier is simply 12...exf3. Now White loses his Queen but gets some tricky tactics against my king. 13. Nxd4 Bxe2 14. Bxb4 Qxb4 15. Nxe2 Qxb2 16. Nbc3 Qb4 17. Nb5 Qxc4 18. Ned4 Qxd5 19. Nxa7+ Kb8 20. Nab5 c6 21. Nxc6+ Qxc6 22. a4 Rd2 23. Rac1 Qb6 24. Nc3 e3 25. Rb1 exf2+ 26. Kh1 Rb2 27. a5 Qb3 28. Rxb2 Qxb2 29. Na4 Qb4 30. Nb6 Qxa5 31. Rb1 Qe1+ 0-1

1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6 A rather typical position arising from the Nimzovich Defense. 3. a3?! Bg4 Black is now relatively equal. White really gains next to nothing from his pawn push, since no Black piece is kept out of b4. 4. d3 e6 5. Be2 Nf6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6?! Willingly surrendering the two Bishops is not a good idea in this relatively open position. 7... Qxf6 8. c3 O-O-O 9. b4?! 9. d4!? 9... d5 "The best way to meet an attack on the wing is in the center." 10. exd5 10. b5? dxe4 11. bxc6 exf3 12. cxb7+ Kb8 13. Bxf3 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Qg6-/+ 10... exd5 11. b5 11. d4 11... Ne5 12. Nd4 12. Nxe5 Qxe5 13. d4 Qe6 14. h3 Bh5 15. Kf1 12... Bxe2 13. Qxe2 Bc5! 14. O-O 14. Nb3? Bxf2+! 15. Qxf2?? Nxd3+-+ This appears to win a pawn fairly easily. But keeping material on theboard to organize a kingside attack was probably a stronger option, especially given Black's lead in development. 14... Bxd4 14... Rhe8! 15. Nb3 Qh4!? 16. h3 Bd6 17. d4 Ng6|^ 15. cxd4 Ng6 16. Qb2?! 16. Qg4+ Kb8 17. Nc3 h5-/+ 16... Nf4 17. a4 Nxd3 18. Qc3 Nf4 19. Kh1 Ne2 20. Qd3 20. Qh3+ Kb8 21. Nc3 20... Qxd4 21. Qxd4 Nxd4 22. Nc3 Nb3 With the idea of inviting the Rook to abandon the back rank while repositioning the Knight to support a pawn push tod3 and beyond. 23. Ra3 Nc5 24. Rd1 d4 25. Na2 Rhe8 26. a5? d3 27. b6? d2! 28. Re3 axb6 29. axb6 Nd3 30. h3? Nxf2+ 31. Kh2? Rxe3 32. Rf1 Re1 32... d1=Q 33. Rxd1 Rxd1 34. g4 Ne4! mates more quickly. 33. Rxf2 d1=Q 34. g4 Qd6+ 35. Kg2 Qc6+ 36. Kg3 Rg1+ 37. Kh4 g5+ 38. Kh5 Qg6# 0-1

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. d3 d5 4. Bg5 d4 5. Ne4 Nxe4 6. Qa4+ Bd7 7. Bxd8 Bxa4 8. dxe4 Bb4# 0-1

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 c5 3. c4? cxd4! 4. Nf3() e5 5. Nbd2 5. Nxe5 Qa5+ 5... Nc6 6. Ne4?? Nxe4! 0-1

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2 b6 9. Rd1 Ba6 10. b3 Nbd7 11. Bf4 Rc8 12. Nc3 Qe8 13. e4 dxc4 14. h3 Bb4 15. Re1 h6 16. bxc4 Bxc4 17. a3 Be7 18. Nd2 Ba6 19. Qa4 Bd3 20. Re3 Bb5 21. Nxb5 cxb5 22. Qxa7 g5 23. Bc7 Ra8 24. Qb7 Qc8 25. Qxc8 Raxc8 26. Be5 Nxe5 27. dxe5 Nd7 28. Nf3 Rc5 29. Rb3 Nxe5 30. Nxe5 Rxe5 31. Rab1 Rd8 32. Rxb5 Rxb5 33. Rxb5 Bc5 34. Rb3 Rd2 35. Rf3 Ra2 36. Bf1 Bxa3 37. Bc4 Ra1+ 38. Kg2 Bc5 39. Rc3 Re1 40. Kf3 Kg7 41. Rc2 h5 42. Rd2 Rc1 43. Be2 Kf6 44. Kg2 h4 45. gxh4 gxh4 46. Rd7 Rc2 47. Kf1 Kg6 48. e5 Rb2 49. f4 Rb4 50. Bd3+ f5 51. exf6+ Kxf6 52. f5 exf5 53. Rh7 Rf4+ 54. Ke2 Rf2+ 55. Ke1 Rf3 56. Bf1 Kg5 57. Rh5+ Kxh5 58. Be2 Kg5 59. Bxf3 Kf4 60. Bc6 Kg3 61. Bd7 f4 0-1

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. g3 Be7 6. Bg2 Ngf6 7. Nxf6+ Bxf6 8. Nf3 O-O 9. O-O Rb8 10. c3 b6 11. Qa4 a5 12. Bf4 Bb7 13. Rad1 Qc8 14. Rfe1 Rd8 15. h4 Ra8 16. c4 Nf8 17. Be5 Bxe5 18. Nxe5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Qb7+ 20. Kg1 Ng6 21. Nc6 Re8 22. d5 Nf8 23. Qb5 exd5 24. cxd5 Kh8 25. Rxe8 Rxe8 26. Nxa5 Qc8 27. Nc4 Qg4 28. Qxe8 Qxd1+ 29. Kh2 Kg8 30. Ne5 Qxd5 31. Nc6 1-0

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 c6 5. Nf3 Bf5 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bd2 Bb4 8. a3 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 Qc7 10. Qe2 Nf6 11. Ne5 Nbd7 12. g4!? Be4 13. O-O-O? 13. f3 Bd5 14. Bd3 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Nd7= 13... Bxh1 14. Nxf7!? White's brilliant but flawed conception is revealed. 14... Bd5? Castling wins but it is tough to spot, since it almost seems like an illegal move. But so long as the King can safely pass over f8 amd g8, castling is allowed, as even GM Auerbach once famously forgot in a major tournament game. 14... O-O! 15. Bxd5 cxd5?? Still winning is 15... O-O!-/+ 15... Nxd5 16. Qxe6+ Kf8 17. Nxh8+/- 16. Qxe6+ Kf8 17. Bb4+ 1-0

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Bg5 d6 4... c5!? 5. Nf3 O-O?! 5... h6!= 6. Qd2

6... Re8 7. Bh6 Bh8 8. h3 8. e4!+/= 8... Nbd7 9. e3 e5=

10. Be2 exd4 11. exd4 Nb6 12. O-O Bf5 13. Bd3 Qd7 14. Ng5? 14. Rae1 Bxd3 15. Qxd3 Na4 16. Nd1!+/= 14... Re7 14... d5! 15. c5 Nc4 16. Bxf5 Qxf5 17. Qc1 b6 18. b3 Na5 19. Qd2 Nc6=/+ 15. Rfe1 Rae8

16. Bxf5 Qxf5 17. b3 d5!? 18. c5 Nc8 19. Rxe7 Nxe7

20. Re1 Qd7 21. g4 Nc6 21... b6 22. Re3?! Re7 22... Ne4! 23. Ne2 Qe8 24. b4 Ne4!=/+ Diagram # 25. Nxe4 Rxe4?! 25... dxe4! 26. Rxe4?! Qxe4 27. Nc3 Qe6 28. Nb5 Qd7 29. Qe3 a6 30. Nxc7

30... Bxd4 31. Qe8+ Qxe8 32. Nxe8 Nxb4-+ and despite his pawn advantage, Black lost in time pressure...but failed to record the remainder of the game, as did his opponent. 1-0 [Joseph Demetrick]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Nxd7 This move is considered somewhat inaccurate since the Knight belongs at c6. Better 4... Qxd7 5. c4 This Maroczy bind method has fallen out of favor. Normally, White plays for activity by >= 5. O-O Ngf6 6. Qe2 e6 (6... g6 7. c3 Bg7 8. d4+/=) 7. b3 Be7 8. Bb2 O-O 9. c4+/= 5... Ngf6 6. Nc3 g6 A solid idea to grab the dark squares. The alternatives were 6... e6 6... Ne5!? 7. d4 cxd4 7... Bg7!? 8. Nxd4 Bg7 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Nc5= 10... Ne5 11. b3 (11. Qb3 Nfg4) 11... Nc6 12. Rc1+/= 11. f3 Qc8?! 11... >= Rc8 12. b3 12. Rc1+/= 12... Ne6 13. Qd2 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Qc6 15. Rac1 Rfd8 16. Rfd1 b6 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Nd5!+/- Qc5+ Black has inaccurately exchanged off his best pieces -- especially his Knights -- and now has the worse of it, especially since his Bishop has no good retreat. 19. Kh1 Kg7 20. Nxf6 Kxf6 Black's King is actually safe enough here. White might have done better to keep the Knight and build up an attack by f4 and b4, with potential pawnbreaks. 21. Qc3+ 21. Qh6 Qg5!= 21... Qe5 22. Rd4 This is an interesting maneuver, putting the Rook in front of the Queen. But a more direct attacking method was 22. Qe3 Kg7 23. f4+/= 22... Kg7 23. Qd3 Rdc8 24. Rd5 Qf4 25. Rf1 Rc7 26. g3 Qf6 27. f4 Rc5 28. e5! Qe6 29. f5? This is the right idea, but the timing is off. The simplest method was to go into a slightly better ending with 29. Rxc5 bxc5 (29... dxc5 30. Rd1+/=) 30. exd6 Qxd6 31. Qxd6 exd6 32. Rd1+/= But if he wants to try for an attack, he needs to first prepare it with 29. Qe4! Rac8 (29... dxe5?? 30. Rxc5) 30. f5! gxf5 31. Rxf5-> 29... Rxd5! 30. f6+ The best try. 30. cxd5 Qxe5=/+ 30... Kg8?! Black had a clear advantage after 30... exf6! 31. exf6+ Qxf6!! 31. cxd5? Necessary was 31. Qxd5 Qxd5+ 32. cxd5 exf6 33. exf6 Rc8 34. Re1 h5 35. h4~~ 31... Qxe5 32. fxe7 Qxe7-/+ Black is up a clear pawn, and despite the heavy pieces should have good winning chances. 33. Qc4 f5 34. Rc1 Re8 35. Rc2 Qe4+ 36. Qxe4 fxe4-/+ Black has managed to swap Queens and create a strong passed pawn, bringing him closer to victory. 37. Kg2 Kf7 38. Kf2 The alternative, to try to keep the Black king out, was 38. Rf2+ Kg7 39. Rf4 , also putting the Rook in a relatively inactive post, but Black still wins by 39... Re5 threatening to drive back the Rook by g5 40. h4 e3 41. Kf1 Rf5 simplifying things(or 41... Rxd5-+) 42. Ke2 Rxf4 43. gxf4 Kh6 44. Kxe3 Kh5-+ 38... Kf6 39. Rc7! White plays actively, creating the most trouble for his opponent. 39... h5?! Not 39... Re7? 40. Rxe7 Kxe7 41. Ke3+/= Necessary might have been 39... Ke5! 40. Rxh7 Kd4!! 41. Ke2 Rc8! 42. Kd1 Kd3 43. Re7 Rh8 44. h4 g5! which is certainly the quickest win, as Fritz points out. The King and Rook position in this variation are reminiscent of Capablanca-Tartakower, New York 1924--a game that repays careful study. 39... a5?! 40. Rxh7 Ke5 41. Rg7 Rf8+ 42. Ke2 Rf3 43. Rxg6 is similar to the game. 40. Rxa7 Ke5 41. Rb7 Kxd5! Black's choice to play a sharp ending where both sides have connected passed pawns is almost certainly correct. 41... Rc8!? 42. Rxb6 Rc2+ 43. Ke3 Rxa2 44. Rb4 Rxh2 45. Rxe4+ Kxd5-/+ leads to a difficult position from which to win. 42. Rxb6 Kc5 43. Rb7 d5 44. Rc7+? this forces the king to where it wants to go and removes the Rook from its best post to support his own pawns' advance while keeping options for checks on the Black king. Black still has a long haul after 44. Ke2! Kd4 45. Rb4+! Kc3 46. Rb6 Ra8 (46... g5 47. Rd6 Kd4 48. Ra6) 47. Ke3 Rxa2 48. Rd6 Ra5 49. Rxg6 Kxb3 50. Rc6 Ra1!-+ 44... Kd4 45. Ke2 Re6 A bit too defensive. Better 45... Ra8! 46. a4 Rb8!-+ picks off one of White's pair of passers -- another consequence of the faulty check at move 44. 46. b4? 46. Ra7! Repairs the earlier mistake. 46... Ra6! 47. Rc2 Ra4 48. Rb2 Black must now win a pawn. If 48. b5 Rb4-+ 48... Kc3!-+ 49. Rb3+ Kc4 50. Rb2 Rxb4 51. Rc2+ Kd4 52. Kd2 Rc4 53. Rb2 Rc3 54. Rb4+ Rc4 55. Rb2 e3+ 56. Ke2 Ke4 57. a3 d4 58. Rb8 Rc2+ 59. Kd1 Kd3 Or 59... d3 60. Re8+ Kf3 61. Rf8+ Kg2 62. a4 e2+ 63. Ke1 Rc1+ 64. Kd2 e1=Q+ 65. Kxd3 Qc3+-+ 60. Rb3+ Rc3 61. Rxc3+ Kxc3 Or 61... dxc3 62. a4 e2+ 63. Ke1 c2 62. a4 Kb4 A good and safe way to finish the game, especially if the clock is ticking down. But Black could have played for style points with 62... Kd3! 63. a5 (White can only avoid what follows by 63. Ke1 e2 64. Kf2 Kd2-+) 63... e2+ 64. Ke1 Ke3 65. a6 d3 66. a7 d2# 0-1

1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bg4 5. Be2 e6 6. O-O Be7 7. a3?! This seems to have little to do with the position. In a later game, Joe played 7. Be3 d5= Best was 7. d5! exd5 8. exd5 Bxf3 (8... Ne5? 9. Nxe5+/-) (8... Nb8 9. Nd4+/=) 9. Bxf3 Ne5 10. Be2!+/= 7... O-O 8. b4 A logical follow-up to the previous move, but now the light squares become weak. 8... d5 9. exd5 9. e5 Ne4!= 9... exd5 10. Ne5 Bxe2 11. Nxc6!? 11. Nxe2 Re8 12. b5 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Ne4= 11... Bxd1 12. Nxd8 Rfxd8! 13. Rxd1 h6 14. Bf4 c6 15. Re1 Re8 The position looks completely equal, but looks can be deceiving. Scott retains a slight plus due to White's weak light squares, his potentially over-extended Queenside, and his worse Bishop (since White's pawns are on dark). 16. Re2 Bf8! Best to swap the Rooks before attacking the Queenside. 17. Rae1 Rxe2! 18. Rxe2 Necessary was 18. Nxe2 a5! 19. c3 Ne4 (19... axb4 20. axb4 Ne4 21. f3 Nd6 22. Bxd6 Bxd6 23. g3 Ra3) 20. f3 Nd6 21. Bxd6 Bxd6 22. g3 Kf8 23. Kf2 b6 24. h3 axb4 25. axb4=/+ though Black still has an edge. 18... a5!-/+ This move wins a pawn. 19. b5 Bxa3 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. Na4 Ra7 22. Re1 Ne4 23. Ra1 Bb4 24. f3 Nc3 25. Nc5?? A blunder, but Black was winning even against best play: 25. Kf2 Nxa4 26. Rxa4 Re7!-/+ 25... Ne2+! Forking King and Bishop to win a piece. 26. Kf2 Nxf4 27. g3 Bxc5 28. dxc5 Ne6 29. Ke3 a4 30. Ra3 Kf8 31. Kd3 Ke7 32. Kc3 Nxc5 33. Kb4 Kd6 34. f4 d4 35. Kc4 Ne6 36. Kb4 c5+ 37. Kc4 f5 38. Kd3 Kd5 39. c4+ dxc3 40. Kxc3 Nd4 41. Kd2 c4 42. Kd1 Nb5 43. Ra1 c3 44. Kc2 Kc4 45. Kc1 a3 46. Kc2 Nd4+ 0-1

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 d6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. a3 dxe5 8. dxe5 e6 9. Bd3 Qc7 10. Qe2? 10. O-O Bd7 11. Re1= 10... Bd7? Mutual blindness occurs twice in this game. Black misses a winning shot: 10... Nd4!! 11. Qd1 (11. Nxd4 Qxc1+ 12. Qd1 Qxb2-+) 11... Nxf3+ 12. gxf3 Qxe5+-+ with an extra pawn and the better game as well. 11. O-O Be7 12. Bd2 O-O 13. Nc3 Nxc3 14. Bxc3+/= Na5? 15. Bxa5 Qxa5 16. Qe4 Winning a pawn, but stronger is 16. Bxh7+! Kxh7 17. Qd3+ Kg8 18. Qxd7+- which wins a pawn with the better position. 16... g6 17. Qxb7 Qd5!? 18. Qxd5 exd5 19. Rac1 Rfc8 20. b4 Bf8 21. Nd4 White can win the battle for the c-file with 21. Ba6! 21... Bh6! Gaining the c-file and provoking White's next move. 22. f4? White is still much better after 22. Rxc8+ Rxc8 23. f4+/- 22... Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Bxf4 24. Rc7 Ba4 25. Nf3= 1/2-1/2

1. e4 c5 2. c4!? This is actually a fairly respectable system, which is especially good for younger players to try as a way of reaching middlegames without having to know a lot of theory. Though White surrenders the dark squares, he gains a grip on the light. 2... Nc6 3. Nf3 d6 4. b3 More typical is development by g3, Bg2, d3, Nc3 and Be3. 4... Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 More logical are 5... g6 and 5... Bg4 to control the dark squares more firmly. 6. Be2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. d3 d5 9. exd5 exd5 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Qxd5=/+ Now White simply has weak dark squares and a weak and backward d-pawn. 12. Ba3 Bf6! 13. Rc1 b6 14. Rc2 Bf5 Putting pressure on d3. A good alternative is 14... Bb7! and the long diagonal is bound to cause White trouble. 15. Bb2 Bxb2 16. Rxb2 Rad8 Piling on d3. 17. Rd2 Rfe8 18. Nh4 Nd4 19. Nxf5 Qxf5 20. Bg4 Qe5 21. h3 g6 White is under a lot of pressure but defending as best he can--until the following move: 22. f3?? Qe3+! 23. Rdf2 h5 Black snags the Bishop. 24. Qd2 Qxd2 25. Rxd2 hxg4 26. hxg4 Re2 27. Rxe2 Nxe2+ 28. Kh2 Rxd3 28... Kg7! 29. g3[] Rxd3 29. f4 Kg7 30. f5 f6 31. Re1 Re3 32. g3 Kh6 33. Kh3 Rxg3+?! 33... Nf4+!-+ 34. Kh4? 34. Kh2 Re3-+ 34... g5# 0-1 [Joseph Demetrick]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 Bf5?+/= a mistake.. 4... Bg4 5. Bxc4 e6 6. h3 Bh5 7. Nc3 Nbd7 8. O-O Bd6= 4... e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O= 5. Bxc4 e6 5... Ne4!? 6. Nbd2 Nd6!? 6. Qb3 Be4? Compounding the previous mistake. Black probably shouldn't sacrifice the pawn with 6... Nbd7!? 7. Qxb7 c5 (7... Be4 8. Qb3 Fritz 7: 8... Bxf3 9. gxf3 c5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Rg1 Rb8 12. Qd3 Ne5 13. Qxd8+ Rxd8 14. Bb5+ Ke7 15. Ke2+/=) Relatively best is 6... b6 7. Nbd2 c5 8. Nh4!?+/= 7. Nc3 Bc6 Black has already made 3 moves with the light-squared Bishop - just so that it can be traded off... Not a good opening sign.. 8. Ne5! Be7 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Qb7 Nbd7 11. Qxc6 O-O 12. O-O Nb6 13. Bb3 Qd6 trying to reconnect the pawns.. 14. Qxd6 cxd6 15. Bd2 d5 Steve said that this was a definitive mistake for Black, and that Black should try for counterplay... 15... Rab8! 16. Rfc1 Rfc8 17. f3 takes away squares from the knight 17... Nfd7 18. Ne2 Kf8 19. Rxc8+ Rxc8 20. Rc1 Nc4 21. Bxc4 dxc4 22. b3 Nb6 23. Ba5 cxb3 24. Rxc8+ Nxc8 25. axb3 Nb6 25... Bd6 26. Nc3 Ne7 27. Nb5 Bb8 28. Bc7 Bxc7 29. Nxc7+/- 26. e4 Ke8 27. Kf2 Kd7 28. Ke3 Kc6 29. Nc3 Bd6 30. h3 f6 not a good plan as Black puts the pawns on the dark squares 31. Kd3 g5?? 32. g4 fixes the weakness 32... h6 33. Bxb6 now the Bishop is worth eliminating the Knight - Black's last source for counterplay.. 33... Kxb6 34. Kc4 a6 35. d5 e5 36. b4 Kc7 37. Na4 1-0

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4?! 4. Nc3!? The book move is 4. Qe2+/= 4... Nxc3 5. dxc3 Bc5 5... Qe7 6. Qe2 d6 7. Nf3 Qxe2+ 8. Bxe2 Nc6= 6. Bc4 O-O 7. O-O d6 8. Nf3 Bg4 9. h3 Bh5+/= 9... Bd7 10. Bg5 Qc8 11. Re1+/= 10. Qd5 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Nc6 12. Bd3 d5 13. Qh5 g6 14. Qh6 Qf6 14... Be7 15. Bg5 Qg7 16. Qh4 Qe5 17. Rae1 Qd6 18. b4 Bb6 19. b5 Ne5??+- loses the Knight 19... f6 20. Bh6 Ne5 21. Bxf8 Rxf8+/- loses the exchange, but has counterplay.. 20. Be7 Qe6 21. Bf6 Nf3+ 22. gxf3 1-0 [Joe Demetrick]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 Nc6 6. Nf3 d6 7. Bc4 Nb6 8. Bxf7+? Typical of Ted's disdain for material over attack. See his game against Kernighan for an even more dramatic example. Here the sacrifice is simply unsound, though it takes a lot of proving. 8... Kxf7 9. Ng5+ Or 9. e6+!? Bxe6 (9... Kg8 10. d5) 10. Ng5+ Kf6 11. Nxe6 Kxe6 12. d5+ Nxd5 13. Qg4+ Kf7 14. Qh5+ g6 15. Qxd5+ e6 16. Qb3 9... Kg8 10. Qf3 Qe8 11. e6 g6 12. d5 Ne5 12... Nb4!-+ 13. Qe4 Qb5 14. Nc3 Qd3 15. Qf4 Qxc3+! Simplifying the position for an easy win. 16. Kd1!? Giving up a second piece is typical of Ted's style. 16. bxc3 Nd3+ 17. Ke2 Nxf4+ 18. Bxf4 Nxd5-+ 16... Qd3+ 17. Bd2 Nxd5 18. Qa4 Nf6-+ 18... Nc4 19. Ke1 Qxd2+ 20. Kf1 Nce3+ 21. Kg1 19. Rc1 Bxe6 20. Nxe6 Bh6 21. f4 Ne4 22. Qc2 Nf2+ 23. Ke1 Qxc2 24. Rxc2 Ned3+ 25. Ke2 Nxh1 26. Kxd3 Nf2+ 27. Ke2 Ne4 28. Bb4 Kf7 29. Nd4 Rhc8 30. Rxc8 Rxc8 31. g3 Bg7 32. Ke3 Bxd4+ 33. Kxd4 Nf6 34. h4 h5 35. a4 Rc2 36. Bc3 Rg2 37. Be1 Rxb2 0-1 [Joseph Demetrick]