Scarborough Chess Congress (Foundation)

64squaresofpain View Profile

Only Chess

01 Nov '18 20:14

64squaresofpain
The drunk knight
Stuck on g1
Joined
02 Sep '12
Moves
59229
01 Nov '18 20:14
Greetings players and fellow patzers 🙂

I had continued success last weekend over-the-board, this time in Scarborough.

I won 5 games out of 5, picking up a cheque for £500
however people are accusing me of being a shark...

Whilst my grade is still low, I am making the most of it by entering the lower sections of these tournaments.
Things will become more difficult in January after my grade goes up.

-------------------

I will share three of the games in full, rounds 3, 4 and 5.

Rounds 1 and 2 were nervy blunder fests, both of which I was lucky to win.

From Game 1, after Rf7+ Black (me) has just played Re7

My opponent had to play Rxe7+, anything else lost the Knight...
...he played Ra1-f1, met by Rxg7+ 0-1

Game 2, I had missed tactic after tactic, each one dropping a pawn.
Against a better opponent I may have resigned, but anything can happen at this level.

Here I am White, currently 2 pawns down and just played Nd1-f2

I have a discovered attack on the Bishop.
Here, Bc3 or even Ra8 are both fine and Black should win.

Instead, he played f5... dropping the Bishop on a1.
More mistakes followed and the central pawns were soon taken, 1-0.

Round 3 to follow.
64squaresofpain
The drunk knight
Stuck on g1
Joined
02 Sep '12
Moves
59229
01 Nov '18 21:00
Game 3 - Brian Bonnyman (ECF 92) vs Zak Tomlinson (ECF 105)

An old opening that I used frequently on this site some years ago, which I'd not seen for a little while, is played against me.
My opponent makes an unsound Bishop sacrifice and later on another error seals his fate.

EVENT Scarborough Congress Foundation"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.10.27"] [Round "3"] [White "Brian Bonnyman"] [Black "Zak Tomlinson"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteELO "?"] [BlackELO "?
Invert Board PGN Headers Comments
[Event "Scarborough Congress Foundation"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.10.27"] [Round "3"] [White "Brian Bonnyman"] [Black "Zak Tomlinson"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteELO "?"] [BlackELO "?"] {Scarborough Congress - Foundation Round 3} 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 {Bishop's opening, I went through a stage playing this but have since dismissed it, so was refreshing to see again} 2... Nf6 3. d3 c6 {Letting my intentions known quickly: attack the centre} 4. Bb3 d5 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Bg5 {Although this doesn't drop any material by force, moves like h3 or exd5 were better} 6... dxe4 {Now 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.dxe4 is best} 7. Bxf7+ {? Nice idea, if Kxf7 then Nxe5+ picks up the Bishop on g4, however} 7... Ke7 {Now White has 2 pieces hanging, something has to be given up} 8. dxe4 {The other option being to retreat the Bishop, which the computer finds better} 8... Qxd1+ 9. Kxd1 Kxf7 10. Nbd2 Nbd7 11. h3 Bxf3+ 12. gxf3 Bc5 13. Ke2 h6 14. Bh4 Rhf8 15. Nf1 Kg8 16. Ng3 {? White has now trapped their own Bishop} 16... g5 17. Rhg1 Kh7 18. Nf5 gxh4 19. Rg7+ Kh8 20. Rg6 Rf7 21. Rxh6+ Rh7 22. Rxh4 {White has managed to create a passed pawn, but being 2 pieces down is too much} 22... Rxh4 23. Nxh4 Rg8 24. Nf5 Rg2 25. Rf1 Rh2 26. h4 Nh5 27. Rd1 Nf4+ 28. Kd2 Rxf2+ 29. Kc1 Ne2+ 30. Kb1 Rxf3 {Rxd7 falls to a back-rank mate} 31. a3 Nf6 32. Rd8+ Kh7 33. Rb8 Nxe4 34. Rxb7+ Kg6 {White resigns 0-1} 0-1

Out of 76 entrants, surprisingly, only three of us had 3/3 after the 3rd round.
I end up playing both the other two, in rounds 4 and 5.
64squaresofpain
The drunk knight
Stuck on g1
Joined
02 Sep '12
Moves
59229
01 Nov '18 22:27
Game 4 - Kiat Huang (ECF 110) vs Zak Tomlinson (ECF 105)

This was probably the toughest game in the tournament for me, an interesting one,
both of us spent an hour after the game discussing it with a computer and a player from the open section.

The game starts quiet and progresses logically until a slight error from White occurs,
before making a very committal decision which fires the game open.

EVENT Scarborough Congress Foundation"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.10.28"] [Round "4"] [White "Kiat Huang"] [Black "Zak Tomlinson"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteELO "?"] [BlackELO "?
Invert Board PGN Headers Comments
[Event "Scarborough Congress Foundation"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.10.28"] [Round "4"] [White "Kiat Huang"] [Black "Zak Tomlinson"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteELO "?"] [BlackELO "?"] {Scarborough Congress - Foundation Round 4} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 {Reti, King's Indian Attack} 3. Bg2 d5 {I prefer this instead of the common symmetrical Bg7} 4. O-O Bg7 5. d3 O-O 6. c3 {d3 and c3 have allowed Black a slight lead} 6... c5 7. Bf4 Nc6 8. d4 {White admits to losing tempo} 8... b6 9. Na3 a6 10. Ne5 Bb7 11. Re1 e6 {I was looking at playing Nd7, so needed this first} 12. Nxc6 {My opponent said he didn't like my Knight, but I insisted his Knight on e5 was better than mine} 12... Bxc6 {Now an idea we both missed was Nc4} 13. e3 {Black can now force a Knight for Bishop exchange and look to upset White's structure} 13... Nh5 14. Be5 {? Accepting doubled pawns was considered best} 14... f6 {Qg4 is now a possibility for White, looking for Qxe6+ and pick up the loose Bishop} 15. g4 {? This changes the game completely} 15... fxe5 16. gxh5 Qh4 {White had missed this move... three different weak spots are now hit} 17. Qe2 Qxh5 {? The computer prefers taking on d4, however I didn't like the possibility of exposing the e6 pawn so I grabbed h5} 18. Qxh5 {With the Queens off, my plan was to lock down one side of the board and have all the attack down the opened f and g files} 18... gxh5 19. Nc2 e4 20. b4 c4 {My opponent didn't mind this, I have almost shut my own Bishop from the game} 21. Kf1 Rf6 22. Ke2 Raf8 23. Rf1 h4 {This was to prepare Be8 and Bh5} 24. Bh3 Be8 25. Bg4 {That's that plan foiled} 25... h5 26. Bh3 Bg6 {New plan: to play Bf5 then get to Bg4 and Bf3} 27. Ne1 Bf5 28. Bxf5 Rxf5 29. f4 {For some reason I didn't expect this, but felt the pawn had to be taken to avoid a complete lock down and allowing White drawing chances} 29... exf3+ 30. Rxf3 {White wants to trade a Rook, but this is not advisable when still being a pawn down, Nxf3 was probably better} 30... Kh7 {Computer preferred Rg5} 31. Rxf5 Rxf5 {Now Nf3 and the game starts to look even} 32. h3 {? This creates a weakness} 32... Rg5 33. Kf2 Rg3 34. Nf3 {Now Rxh3 falls to Ng5+} 34... Bf6 35. Rh1 Kg6 {This light square diagonal looks tasty for my King} 36. Rg1 Kf5 {No need to take, if Rxg3 hxg3 Kxg3 I get to sneak behind enemy lines} 37. Rxg3 hxg3+ 38. Ke2 {My opponent understands this and so tries to defend, realising trading the last Rook was possibly a mistake} 38... h4 {Just to allow the Bishop to manoeuvre elsewhere if needed} 39. Nd2 a5 {Trying to create an alternative opening} 40. a3 Bg5 41. Kf3 a4 {Fixing the pawn on a3, anticipating e4+} 42. Ke2 Kg6 {? A waiting move, however e5 was best} 43. Kf3 g2 {e5 was still technically best, although this is still good for Black} 44. Kxg2 Bxe3 45. Nb1 {All but ends the game, but even the computer's best move Nf3 scores heavily in favour for Black} 45... Kf5 46. Kf3 Bc1 47. Kf2 Ke4 48. Ke2 Bh6 49. Nd2+ Bxd2 50. Kxd2 Kf3 51. Ke1 Kg3 52. Kf1 Kxh3 53. Kf2 Kg4 54. Kg2 Kf4 55. Kh3 Ke3 56. Kxh4 Kd3 {White resigns 0-1} 0-1

The other fellow on 3/3 also won, somehow by timeout.
(we have 110 minutes plus a 10sec increment per move, so this was surprising)

We co-leaders would face each other in the final round.
64squaresofpain
The drunk knight
Stuck on g1
Joined
02 Sep '12
Moves
59229
01 Nov '18 23:38
Game 5 - Zak Tomlinson (ECF 105) vs David Summerland (ECF 103)

This player plays fast, never spending more than a minute on a move,
which made me understand how his previous opponent managed to lose on time.

Before the game, he joked with the table next to us that we should all agree to a draw
so that me and him could tie 1st on 4.5pts, where nobody else could catch us.

I smiled and nodded, but really I would be playing for the win... it's in my nature.

EVENT Scarborough Congress Foundation"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.10.28"] [Round "5"] [White "Zak Tomlinson"] [Black "David Summerland"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteELO "?"] [BlackELO "?
Invert Board PGN Headers Comments
[Event "Scarborough Congress Foundation"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.10.28"] [Round "5"] [White "Zak Tomlinson"] [Black "David Summerland"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteELO "?"] [BlackELO "?"] {Scarborough Congress - Foundation Round 5} 1. e4 d5 {Scandinavian defence} 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qe5+ {The so-called "Patzer variation"} 4. Qe2 {Be2 is considered best but I don't mind the early lead in tempo so trade Queens then see what happens} 4... Qxe2+ 5. Bxe2 c6 {? don't neglect piece development} 6. Nf3 e6 7. b3 Be7 8. Bb2 Bf6 {? 1-to-4 piece development after 8 moves is not good opening strategy} 9. O-O-O Nd7 10. Ne4 Bxb2+ 11. Kxb2 Ke7 12. d4 Ngf6 13. Nc3 {Why help Black untangle with Nxf6?} 13... a5 14. a4 b6 15. Ne5 {Threatening Nxc6} 15... Ba6 {?? Bb7 or Nxe5 at least doesn't drop a pawn} 16. Bxa6 Rxa6 {My opponent actually offered a draw on this move, I said I'd think about it} 17. Nxc6+ {Which I did, for about 20 seconds before playing on} 17... Kd6 {Now the move I missed was Na7, which would have been a nice way to keep the pawn} 18. Ne5 Nxe5 19. dxe5+ {? Nb5+ first before taking the Knight was better, again keeping the pawn} 19... Kxe5 20. Rhe1+ Kf5 21. h3 Raa8 22. Rd6 Rab8 23. g4+ Kg5 24. Re5+ Kh4 {I spent a while on this move, my opponent already had over 30 mins on me} 25. Rd3 {With the idea of Ne4 next, looking to dislodge the Knight and deliver mate on h5} 25... h5 {?? Getting a Rook to d8 was better, this move is near fatal} 26. g5 {The point being that White has Rg3 threatening Re4 mate, Black needs to give the Knight up} 26... Ng4 {This move surprised me, but then what else?} 27. hxg4 Kxg4 {? Blood is in the water, this is now already forced mate, it's just finding it} 28. Rd4+ Kf3 29. Re3+ Kxf2 {Kg2 instead leads to similar results} 30. Rdd3 {Nd1 led to a quicker mate (3 moves) but I just couldn't see it at the board} 30... Rbd8 {My opponent offers a draw, perhaps half-jokingly but half-hoping I couldn't find mate} 31. Ne4+ Kg2 32. Rg3+ Kh2 33. Rh3+ Kg2 34. Rdg3+ Kf1 35. Rh2 h4 36. Rf2+ {It's mate next move, Black resigned 1-0} 1-0

My opponent was clearly not prepared for a battle and wanted an early draw,
which only reflects in the result.
I believe that if you are coming to the board with the intention of drawing then you are not playing in the spirit of the game.

-------------------------

So, not many lessons to be learned from this tournament I'm afraid, other than the usual suspects.
i.e. piece development, protect pawns, castle early etc.

Here's the final results cross-table for those interested:
http://chess-results.com/tnr377124.aspx?lan=1&art=4
(they spelt both my names wrong... and my rating is wrong)

As usual, I hope this was either useful or entertaining for you in some way!

My next tournament will be in Preston, once again in the lower section.
Details and online entry below:
http://congress.popmalc.org.uk/congress/36/home

Until next time, cheers all.
Zak
greenpawn34
e4
Joined
06 May '08
Moves
42492
02 Nov '18 00:55
Hi 64squaresofpain,

Well done and £500 is a good pay day.

You did the right thing by playing where you were graded.
Too many times I've seen players entering sections above their grade
hoping for 'interesting games' and just getting hammered.
Marinkatomb
wotagr8game
tbc
Joined
18 Feb '04
Moves
61941
02 Nov '18 15:19
Wow, that is a huge prize for that section! Congrats
64squaresofpain
The drunk knight
Stuck on g1
Joined
02 Sep '12
Moves
59229
02 Nov '18 18:04
Thanks guys.

To be honest, I don't ever expect to win that sort of prize money in a competition ever again,
but you never know, lightning could strike twice.
sonhouse
Fast and Curious
slatington, pa, usa
Joined
28 Dec '04
Moves
53223
02 Nov '18 20:20
@64squaresofpain said
Thanks guys.

To be honest, I don't ever expect to win that sort of prize money in a competition ever again,
but you never know, lightning could strike twice.
Congratulation! So in USCF talk, 105 is around 1700?
64squaresofpain
The drunk knight
Stuck on g1
Joined
02 Sep '12
Moves
59229
04 Nov '18 19:06
@sonhouse said
Congratulation! So in USCF talk, 105 is around 1700?
I'm not even sure if it's that much, think I remember seeing a formula for rating conversion.

ECF to USCF is, I believe, rating x 8 + 700

so 105 x 8 + 700 = 1540

This year though, I've had a draw vs a 150 player (would be 1900 USCF) and beaten a 132 (1756 USCF)

I'm not sure how accurate or trustworthy this formula is, but it's only a rough guide.
I doubt it's actually used for any events.

Only Chess Forum

Scarborough Chess Congress (Foundation)