SPOT ON CHESS… puzzle for today, Saturday the 27th of May, 2023.

I will give the game score for my Correspondence Chess Game down below so SPOILER ALERT! Look at it after you tackle today’s puzzle. Wishing everyone the best Memorial Day weekend that they can manage - stay healthy and be well. ~ S

[Event "ICC correspondence"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2023.03.28"][Round "-"]
[White "Coach Sean"][Black "Coach Pranav"]
[Result "1-0"][ICCResult "Black resigns"]
[Opening "Giuoco Piano"]
[ECO "C54"][NIC "IG.02"]
[Time "16:25:28"][PlyCount "39"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Bb3 Be6 8. Bc2 O-O 9. Nf1 Ng4 10. Ne3 f5 11. O-O fxe4 12. dxe4 Ne7 13. Ng5 Nxe3 14. Bxe3 Bf7 15. Nxf7 Rxf7 16. Bxc5 dxc5 17. Bb3 Qf8 18. Qf3 c6 19. Be6 g6 20. Qf6 {Black resigns} 1-0

I have four puzzles for your solving pleasure today…

Magnus Carlsen took 1st place at the SUPERBET BLITZ tournament - a very nice tournament win indeed. Our first two puzzles are “easy”, puzzle three “easy-intermediate” and puzzle four “intermediate”. Happy solving chess sleuths!

THE GAMES:

Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs Anish Giri

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 e6 4. e4 c5 5. d5 d6 6. Bd3 Bg7 7. Ne2 Nbd7 8. O-O Ne5 9. Nec3 exd5 10. cxd5 Nxd3 11. Qxd3 O-O 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 g5 14. Bf2 Nh5 15. Nd2 Nf4 16. Qc2 b5 17. Nxb5 Rb8 18. a4 a6 19. Nc3 Rxb2 20. Qxb2 Bxc3 21. Qa2 Bxa1 22. Qxa1 a5 23. Be3 Ba6 24. Rb1 Bd3 25. Rb7 Ba6 26. Rb3 Nd3 27. Nf1 Nb4 28. Ng3 Bc8 29. Nh5 f6 30. Bd2 Nc2 31. Qb2 Nd4 32. Rb6 Qe8 33. Ng3 Qxa4 34. Bc3 Rd8 35. Ne2 f5 36. Bxd4 cxd4 37. Qxd4 Qxd4+ 38. Nxd4 fxe4 39. fxe4 Kf7 40. Kf2 a4 41. Ke3 a3 42. Rb3 Bd7 43. Rxa3 Rb8 44. Ra7 Ke8 45. Kd2 Rb2+ 46. Nc2 h5 47. Kc3 Rb1 48. Ne3 Rc1+ 49. Kd4 Kd8 50. e5 dxe5+ 51. Kxe5 Re1 52. Kd6 Rxe3 53. Rxd7+ Ke8 54. Rg7 g4 55. Rg5 Re2 56. Re5+ Resigns 1-0

Krill Shevchenko vs Levon Aronian

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Qc2 c6 9. b3 b6 10. Nc3 Ba6 11. e4 dxc4 12. Rfe1 Qc8 13. h4 Re8 14. Bh3 Qb7 15. Rad1 Rac8 16. Qb1 Bb4 17. bxc4 Bxc3 18. Bxc3 Bxc4 19. Bb2 Qa6 20. Ne5 Red8 21. Nxc4 Qxc4 22. Bf1 Qb4 23. Re3 Qf8 24. a4 c5 25. Ba3 Rc7 26. Rc1 Rb8 27. Bb5 Qc8 28. Rec3 h6 29. Qd3 Ra8 30. Ba6 Qd8 31. Bb5 Rac8 32. dxc5 Nxc5 33. Qxd8+ Rxd8 34. Bxc5 Rxc5 35. Rxc5 bxc5 36. e5 Ne4 37. Bc6 Nd2 38. Rxc5 Rc8 39. Kg2 g5 40. hxg5 hxg5 41. Rc2 Kg7 42. Kh3 Nf3 43. Be4 Rxc2 44. Bxc2 Nxe5 45. f4 gxf4 46. gxf4 Nc6 47. Kg3 a5 48. Be4 Nb4 49. Kf2 Nd5 50. Kg3 Kf6 51. Kf3 Ke7 52. Bc2 Kd6 53. Bb3 Kc5 54. Ke4 Kb4 55. Bc2 f6 56. Bd3 Nc3+ 57. Kd4 Nxa4 58. f5 e5+ 59. Kd5 e4 60. Bf1 Nc5 61. Resigns 0-1

Wesley So vs Anish Giri

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 a6 6. Be2 Ngf6 7. O-O e5 8. Qe3 Nc5 9. Nc3 Be7 10. a4 O-O 11. Nd2 Ng4 12. Bxg4 Bxg4 13. h3 Be6 14. b3 Rc8 15. Bb2 f5 16. Rfd1 f4 17. Qe2 Qe8 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. exd5 Qg6 20. b4 Nxa4 21. Rxa4 Rxc2 22. Bc1 f3 23. Qf1 Bh4 24. g3 Bxg3 25. fxg3 e4 26. Ra3 Qxg3+ 27. Kh1 Rfc8 28. Qg1 Rxc1 29. Ra1 Qxh3+ 30. Qh2 Qxh2+ 31. Kxh2 Rxa1 32. Rxa1 Rc2 0-1

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs Bogdan-Daniel Deac

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. O-O a5 7. Re1 Ba7 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. Nf1 Ne7 10. h3 c6 11. Bb3 Ng6 12. Ng3 Re8 13. d4 h6 14. Bc2 b5 15. Be3 c5 16. Qd2 Kh7 17. Rad1 cxd4 18. cxd4 Qc7 19. Nf5 Bxf5 20. exf5 Nf8 21. a4 e4 22. Nh2 Qb7 23. Ng4 N8d7 24. Bb3 d5 25. Rc1 Bb8 26. Qe2 b4 27. Nxf6+ Nxf6 28. Rc5 Bd6 29. Qb5 Qe7 30. Rc6 Reb8 31. Qe2 Qd7 32. Rec1 Rc8 33. Qc2 Rg8 34. Kf1 Ra7 35. g4 g6 36. fxg6+ fxg6 37. Rc8 Rg7 38. Qc6 Qe6 39. Rd8 Rgd7 40. Qc8 Kg7 41. Rc6 Qe7 42. Rh8 g5 43. Bxd5 Rdc7 44. Rg8+ Nxg8 45. Qxg8+ Kf6 46. h4! Resigns 1-0

SOLUTION
46. h4 Rxc6
( 46... Qg7 47. Qe6# )
( 46... Qf8 47. Bxg5+ hxg5 48. Qxg5# )
( 46... Qh7 47. Bxg5+ hxg5 48. Qxg5# )
47. hxg5+ hxg5 48. Qxg5#

Congratulations to SuperBet Rapid Winner GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda!

He topped a field consisting of Magnus Carlsen, Levon Aronian, Anish Giri, Wesley So, Richard Rapport, MVL, Bogdan-Daniel Deac, Kirill Shevchenko and Radoslaw Wojtasze. The event is being held in Warsaw Poland. Two puzzles from the two games given down below…. Next up: The Superbet Blitz Tournament!

SuperBet Rapid Play & Blitz Games from today’s video:

Wojtaszek, Radoslaw vs Carlsen, Magnus
1. d4 b5 2. e4 Bb7 3. Bd3 Nf6 4. Nd2 c5 5. c3 cxd4 6. cxd4 e6 7. Ngf3 Nc6 8. O-O a6 9. Re1 Be7 10. d5 exd5 11. e5 Nh5 12. Nb3 g6 13. Bh6 Rg8 14. Be3 Ng7 15. Nc5 Qc7 16. Rc1 Ne6 17. Nxb7 Qxb7 18. Bf1 Bb4 19. Re2 Ne7 20. Rec2 Nf5 21. Bg5 Be7 22. Bf6 Nfg7 23. Qd3 Bxf6 24. exf6 Nh5 25. Qc3 Rd8 26. a3 Qb8 27. g3 g5 28. Re1 g4 29. Nd4 Rg5 30. Bd3 Re5 31. Nf5 Rxe1+ 32. Qxe1 Nxf6 33. Qb4 d6 34. Qc3 Nd7 35. Qh8+ Ndf8 36. Qf6 Ng6 37. Re2 Qc7 38. Ng7+ 1-0

So, Wesley vs Deac, Bogdan-Daniel
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. Nbd2 a5 7. O-O O-O 8. h3 h6 9. Bb5 Bd7 10. Re1 Re8 11. Nf1 Nb8 12. Bc4 b5 13. Bb3 a4 14. Bc2 Bb6 15. d4 c5 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Ne3 c4 18. Nd5 Bc5 19. Be3 Bxe3 20. Nxe3 Na6 21. b4 cxb3 22. axb3 Nc5 23. bxa4 Nxa4 24. Nd5 Nxd5 25. Qxd5 Qc7 26. Nxe5 Qxe5 27. Qxd7 Rad8 28. Qa7 Nxc3 29. Bb3 Qe7 30. e5 Nd5 31. Qxe7 Nxe7 32. Ra7 Ra8 33. Rea1 Rxa7 34. Rxa7 g5 35. g3 Kg7 36. Rb7 f6 37. Bd1 Kg6 38. Bc2+ Kf7 39. Bd1 Kg6 40. exf6 Kxf6 41. Rb6+ Kg7 42. Re6 Kf7 43. Rxh6 Rd8 44. Bb3+ Kg7 45. Rb6 Nf5 46. Rxb5 Nd4 47. Rxg5+ Kf6 48. Rd5 1-0

Thanks for watching and we’ll see you later on down the timeline! ~ S

Sharjah Chess Masters International keeps producing chess gems!

Two puzzles today taken from the games given below. Please visit Mark Crowther’s “TWIC” (The Week In Chess) for comprehensive global chess news, event coverage and, most importantly, GAMES! There is also the organizer’s excellent website at:
https://shjchessmasters.com/
While TWIC can be accessed at:
https://theweekinchess.com/

Today’s Games:

Manuel Petrosyan vs Alexandr Predke 1-0

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Nc3 a5 6. O-O d6 7. Be3 Bxe3 8. fxe3 O-O 9. d4 Bg4 10. Qd3 Nd7 11. a3 Bh5 12. Bb3 Kh8 13. Rf2 g5 14. Nd2 Bg6 15. Nf1 Nf6 16. Ng3 Ng4 17. Rd2 Ne7 18. Rf1 c6 19. Qe2 Qc8 20. Qf3 Ng8 21. Nf5 Bxf5 22. exf5 N8f6 23. h3 exd4 24. hxg4 dxc3 25. Rxd6 Ne8 26. Rh6 Qd8 27. f6 cxb2 28. Qf5 Nxf6 29. Rxf6 a4 30. Rh6
Black Resigns 1 - 0

Sanan Sjugirov vs Wenjun Ju 1-0

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. O-O Nd7 7. h3 O-O 8. Be3 Bd6 9. Nfd2 Nc5 10. Nc4 Ne6 11. a4 f6 12. Nc3 b6 13. Ne2 c5 14. Kh1 Bd7 15. b3 a6 16. Bd2 b5 17. Ne3 g6 18. axb5 axb5 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Nd5 f5 21. f3 f4 22. b4 Qa3 23. bxc5 Bxc5 24. c3 Bd6 25. d4 Bc6 26. Bc1 Qa8 27. Qb3 Kh8 28. Nb4 Bd7 29. dxe5 Bxe5 30. Nd3 Bg7 31. Nexf4 c5 32. Nxe6 c4 33. Qb4 Bxe6 34. Nf4 Bd7 35. Be3 Rf7 36. Nd5 Bc6 37. Qc5 Bxd5 38. exd5 Rf5 39. Rd1 Qa4 40. Re1 Qa8 41. Bd4 Rxd5 42. Qa7 1 - 0

Have a good one ~ S

The Gymnasium of the Mind is always open for business!

Three challenging puzzles to test your chess skills! Black to move… 20 seconds video time. As always if you need more time then pause the video and come back to check solutions once you are ready.

Happy solving and crush’em! ~ S

6th Sharjah Masters International Tournament
Pay attention to the games from THE 6th Sharjah Chess Masters International tournament being held in the United Arab Emirates, in the federated Emirate of Sharjah. So many GMs competing in this event and with a time control of Game in 90 minutes with 30 seconds increment per move one would expect some quality “Chess Art”.
Time Controls matter and what about the impact of the atomization of the consumer of chess events in a fast food society? In Sharjah a game that could go three hours plus the half minute increment per move made in that game you can have a game that goes for quite some time. 60 move game would be a 4 hour game… though in truth this is much quicker than the standard tournament time controls of the 1990’s when I first started playing tournament chess. Back then you could have a game go 7 hours! 40 moves in 120 minutes, 20 moves in 60 minutes, Sudden Death in 30 minutes. That’s per player. Without delay or increment, then the digital clocks came on the scene and that wrinkle was added. Before that games could go even longer because of something called an “Adjournment”… and before that more reflection time per move. So what we have here is an actual measure of society’s mutation into a fast food society… where as we have progressed technologically and culturally since the early 1500’s as our chess time controls have sped up. But that is a topic for a different time. Making time for the games of the 6th Sharjah Masters International can help you improve your own chess game.

Thanks for tuning in & please find Ray Robson’s chess Art down below. Peace be unto you and yours. ~ S.
Robson, Ray vs Iskandarov
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 O-O 6. Be3 a6 7. Nf3 c6 8. Bd3 b5 9. O-O Nbd7 10. e5 Ne8 11. exd6 exd6 12. c5 Ndf6 13. Qd2 Be6 14. cxd6 Nxd6 15. Bh6 Rc8 16. Rfe1 Re8 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Rac1 Qb6 19. Qf4 Rcd8 20. Re5 Bc4 21. Bb1 Bd5 22. Nxd5 cxd5 23. b3 Rc8 24. Rxe8 Rxe8 25. Ne5 Nfe4 26. Bxe4 dxe4 27. Rc5 Nf5 28. g4 Nh6 29. Qxe4 Qa5 30. Kg2 Re7 31. Qc2 Qb6 32. Qc3 Qd6 33. Nf3 f6 34. Rc6 Qf4 35. Qc1 Qe4 36. Qc2 Qf4 37. Qc5 Rd7 38. Qc1 Qe4 39. Qc2 Qf4 40. Qe2 Nf7 41. Qe3 Qb8 42. Rxa6 Ng5 43. Rc6 Qb7 44. Rc3 Ne4 45. Rc2 b4 46. Rc4 Nc3 47. Qe6 Nd5 48. Qc6 Qa7 49. Rc5 Nf4+ 50. Kg3 Ne2+ 51. Kg2 Nf4+ 52. Kg3 Ne2+ 53. Kh2 Rf7 54. Qe4 Nc3 55. Qc2 Re7 56. Kg2 Re2 57. Qc1 Qb8 58. g5 fxg5 59. Kf1 Qe8 60. Nxg5 Qf8 61. f3 Qe7 62. Ne4 Qf7 63. Rxc3 Rxe4 64. Rc7 Re7 65. Rxe7 Qxe7 66. Qc5 Qh4 67. Qe5+ Kg8 68. Kg2 Qh6 69. Qe8+ Kg7 70. Qe7+ Kg8 71. Qe8+ Kg7 72. Qe5+ Kg8 73. f4 Qf8 74. Qd5+ Kg7 75. Kg3 Qc8 76. Qe5+ Kg8 77. d5 Qc3+ 78. Kg4 h6 79. d6 Qd2 80. Qe6+ Kg7 81. Qe7+ Kg8 82. Qe6+ Kg7 83. Qd7+ Kg8 84. Qc8+ Kg7 85. Qb7+ Kf8 86. Qb8+ Kg7 87. Qa7+ Kf8 88. Qa8+ Kg7 89. Qb7+ Kf8 90. Qc8+ Kg7 91. Qd7+ Kg8 92. Qe8+ Kg7 93. Qe5+ Kf7 94. f5 Qg2+ 95. Kf4 g5+ 96. Ke3 Qxh3+ 97. Kf2 Qh4+ 98. Ke2 Qg4+ 99. Kd3 Qf3+ 100. Kc4 Qc6+ 101. Kxb4 Qb6+ 102. Kc3 Qc6+ 103. Kd4 Qb6+ 104. Qc5 1-0

The game…

How can I not share such an outstanding tactical slugfest such as the game between Mr Azarov and Indjic? The game will be reviewed here in full as a guided chess movie tour. I will point out some major tactical landmarks and you can pull out a board and play over the moves on your own time to give this game the proper attention it deserves. You will also sharpen your tactics as well! I give the game in full, for the second time, down below:

Azarov, Sergei vs Indjic, Aleksandar
6th Sharjah Masters 2023

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 Qc7 7. O-O f6 8. c4 cxd4 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Bb5 fxe5 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Nxe5 Nf6 13. Re1 Bb4 14. Bd2 Bd6 15. Ba5 Qxa5 16. Nc4+ Qxe1+ 17. Qxe1+ Be7 18. Nd6+ Kf8 19. Qe5 Ng4 20. Qg3 h5 21. Qf3+ Bf6 22. Nd2 Ne5 23. Qb3 Kg8 24. Re1 Kh7 25. f4 Ng4 26. Qd3+ Kg8 27. Nf3 Rh6 28. Qb3 Rd8 29. Ne4 Be7 30. Nxd4 Rg6 31. h3 Nh6 32. Nf2 Bd6 33. Qc2 Rf6 34. Nd3 Nf5 35. Nf3 Ng3 36. Nfe5 Bf5 37. Qa4 c5 38. Qxa7 Bxd3 39. Nxd3 c4 40. Qa5 Rc8 41. Qxd5+ Kh7 42. Ne5 h4 43. Nd7 Rh6 44. Ne5 Bb4 45. Qb7 Bc5+ 46. Kh2 Rf8 47. Nf7 Rg6 48. Qd5 Bf2 49. Rd1 Rf6 50. Ng5+ Kh8 51. Qxc4 Rxf4 52. Qxf4 Nf1+ 53. Rxf1 Rxf4 54. Kh1 g6 55. a4 Rf5 56. Ne4 Bd4 57. Rxf5 gxf5 58. Nc3 Kg7 59. a5 Kf7 60. Nb5 1-0

Have a great day and you keep doing you! ~ S

Three Puzzles courtesy of GM Sergei Azarov

Different format today… a little less defined in terms of how much time is given per “tactic” and a little more explanation of how we arrived at the puzzle position. Enjoy!

Azarov, Sergei vs Indjic, Aleksandar
6th Sharjah Masters 2023

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 Qc7 7. O-O f6 8. c4 cxd4 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Bb5 fxe5 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Nxe5 Nf6 13. Re1 Bb4 14. Bd2 Bd6 15. Ba5 Qxa5 16. Nc4+ Qxe1+ 17. Qxe1+ Be7 18. Nd6+ Kf8 19. Qe5 Ng4 20. Qg3 h5 21. Qf3+ Bf6 22. Nd2 Ne5 23. Qb3 Kg8 24. Re1 Kh7 25. f4 Ng4 26. Qd3+ Kg8 27. Nf3 Rh6 28. Qb3 Rd8 29. Ne4 Be7 30. Nxd4 Rg6 31. h3 Nh6 32. Nf2 Bd6 33. Qc2 Rf6 34. Nd3 Nf5 35. Nf3 Ng3 36. Nfe5 Bf5 37. Qa4 c5 38. Qxa7 Bxd3 39. Nxd3 c4 40. Qa5 Rc8 41. Qxd5+ Kh7 42. Ne5 h4 43. Nd7 Rh6 44. Ne5 Bb4 45. Qb7 Bc5+ 46. Kh2 Rf8 47. Nf7 Rg6 48. Qd5 Bf2 49. Rd1 Rf6 50. Ng5+ Kh8 51. Qxc4 Rxf4 52. Qxf4 Nf1+ 53. Rxf1 Rxf4 54. Kh1 g6 55. a4 Rf5 56. Ne4 Bd4 57. Rxf5 gxf5 58. Nc3 Kg7 59. a5 Kf7 60. Nb5

Yours in chess ~ S

Three for the weekend!

Two rated “easy” and one rated as “difficult”. Get your thinking caps on and enjoy’em! If you need more thinking time than allowed during the video please feel free to pause the play and give yourself some additional time. Happy solution hunting solvers!

Have a good one ~ S

Two puzzles to grow on…

One rated “Easy” the other “Difficult”. As these ratings are relative you may end up not agreeing with the “value” assigned to either or both of them but as long as you enjoyed them then that is what counts! With that - Enjoy!

Have a good one ~ S

Welcome Solvers!

I have some puzzles for you today! Three to grow on. Tackle’em and enjoy!

Have a great hump day! ~ S

The only way to get out of a rut is to play…

After the grueling World Championship Match played between Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia and Ding Loren of China both players were understandably exhausted. But due to contractual obligations both players were committed and played immediately in the recently concluded SUPERBET tournament where both performed poorly. Both players were so worn out from their match that they even lost some games during the same round! In the End Ding Liren regained some composure and won his game against a Mr Deac in the 9th and Final round. Hopefully he and Mr Nepomniachtchi can rest up before their next respective events.

Enjoy all four of today’s puzzles and may you play your best moves at and away from the chessboard. Always! ~ S

Hello Solvers!

Two puzzles for and no chess movies today. Some nice tactics all the same so good luck and enjoy. Have a great week everyone!

Always play the best moves in the game of life! ~ Sean

Welcome!

Todays Spot On Chess Puzzles only features one puzzle and it’s about an endgame win. In a clearly winning Endgame how to proceed and cut down on your opponent’s “Cheapo chances”? Well we study tactics not only to be able to set them up but to avoid falling into them as well! Fundamentally chess is a straight up competitive fight. And in all disciplines the better your technique is the better you will do.

Enjoy ~ S

Congratulations American GrandMaster Samuel Sevian: the winner of the “4th STEPAN AVAGYAN MEMORIAL”!

We have three puzzles today - a Ding loss and two from young master Samuel Sevian and then a chess movie of one of Sam’s wins from this category 16 (level) tournament. SPOILER ALERT: Two games given below. Enjoy!

GAMES:

Giri,A vs Ding Liren
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 d6 7. c3 a5 8. Nbd2 Ba7 9. a4 O-O 10. h3 g5 11. Nxg5 hxg5 12. Bxg5 Kg7 13. Qf3 Be6 14. Nf1 Rh8 15. Ne3 Qe7 16. O-O-O Rag8 17. Rhf1 Nb8 18. d4 exd4 19. cxd4 Nbd7 20. e5 dxe5 21. d5 Qb4 22. Qe2 Bxh3 23. gxh3 Kf8 24. h4 Bd4 25. Rxd4 exd4 26. Nf5 Rxg5 27. hxg5 Ne5 28. Bb5 Nfg4 29. Kb1 Kg8 30. Nh6+ Nxh6 31. Qxe5 Ng4 32. Qxc7 Kg7 33. g6 Rf8 34. gxf7 d3 35. Rg1 Rxf7 36. Qc3+ 1-0

Sevian, Samuel vs Nguyen, Thai Dai Van
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Rd1 Bc6 10. Bf4 b5 11. Nc3 b4 12. Nb1 Bd5 13. Nbd2 b3 14. Qb1 Nbd7 15. e4 Bb7 16. Ne5 Nh5 17. Be3 f5 18. Nexc4 f4 19. gxf4 Bb4 20. Qd3 Nxf4 21. Bxf4 Rxf4 22. Qxb3 Qe7 23. Ne3 Raf8 24. f3 a5 25. Nc2 c5 26. Nxb4 axb4 27. Qe3 Qg5 28. Rac1 cxd4 29. Qxd4 Ne5 30. Rc5 Bd5 31. Kh1 Rh4 32. Qg1 Nd3 33. Nf1 Nxc5 34. Qxc5 Rd8 35. exd5 b3 36. dxe6 Qxc5 37. Rxd8+ 1-0

LINKS:
OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
http://jermuk-round.chessacademy.am/

“The Week In Chess” by Mark Crowther
https://theweekinchess.com/

Wishing you and yours all the best in Freedom, Health and Happiness! ~ S

Computer Chess,
It’s everywhere: On your phone, tablet, computer or even in a dedicated chess tabletop chess set. It’s a wonderful way to sharpen your chess,
In today’s game I take a look at recent struggle that played out between yours truly and the JSBach Chess Program on the ICC. Takeaways from that game include:
* Don’t move the same piece too many times out in the opening
* Move your Queen out early and you may lose her in a hurry. At the very least you will lose time as your opponent develops minor pieces attacking your Queen.
* Be very careful about allowing the e-file to open up in 1. e4 and …e5 openings
* Check every arm of your octopi
* Invite as many of your pieces as you can to the “party” - make sure you have enough attackers!

I hope you enjoy today’s tactics and chess movie. Have a great weekend everyone ~ Sean

Sometimes we all need a break from chess…

NOT! But a little time away to work on your game and for the playing of training matches is most definitely necessary from time to time. After the most recent round at the SUPERBET CLASSIC both Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren lost their respective games. Traveling to this event hot on the heels of their epic World Chess Championship Match has left them both drained. Never a good thing to wear one’s self out - No matter what you are doing. Today we briefly look over Ian Nepomniachtchi’s loss to Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. The two puzzles are meant to break down the tactic pointed out during the chess movie with the final position of the game being a Bonus Round Tactical Puzzle.

SPOILER ALERT: Game Moves Given down below!

Happy Friday and have a most excellent weekend one and all ~ S.

Nepomniachtchi, Ian versus Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime SUPERBET CLASSIC
1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Na3 a6 7. Nc4 Nbd7 8. a4 b6 9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O cxd4 11. Qxd4 Bc5 12. Qh4 Qe4 13. Qxe4 Nxe4 14. Nfd2 Nef6 15. Nb3 Be7 16. Bf4 Bd5 17. Rfd1 O-O 18. Nbd2 Rfc8 19. Ne3 Bc6 20. Ndc4 a5 21. Nd6 Bxd6 22. Bxd6 Nc5 23. Bb5 Nb7 24. Ba3 Rc7 25. f3 Rac8 26. Rd2 h6 27. Rad1 Bxb5 28. axb5 Kh7 29. Kf2 g5 30. h4 Kg6 31. hxg5 hxg5 32. g4 Rh8 33. Kg3 Rcc8 34. c4 Rh7 35. Bd6 Nd7 36. b3 f6 37. Ba3 Ne5 38. Bb2 Rch8 39. Kf2 Nc5 40. Bxe5 fxe5 41. Rd6 Rh2+ 42. Kg1 Rh1+ 43. Kf2 R1h2+ 44. Kg1 e4 45. Nf1 Rb2 46. Rxb6 exf3 47. Rd2 Rb1 48. Rc6 Rxf1+ 49. Kxf1 Rh1+ 50. Kf2 Ne4+ 51. Kxf3 Nxd2+ 52. Ke3 Nxb3 53. b6 Rh3+ 54. Kf2 Rh8 55. Rxe6+ Kf7 56. Re5 a4 57. Rb5 Ke6 58. Ke3 a3 0-1

Terrific game to cover today - Arjun versus Gukesh from the 28th edition of Sigeman & Co Grandmaster Chess Tournament.

The Puzzles are from the game and my hope was to help break down the overall game winning combination by breaking it up into easily consumed bits of tactical information. You can only improve as a chess player by playing over this game! Which I now give down below: SPOILER ALERT! Play over it after you do the Puzzles!

Wishing you and yours all the best in Health and Happiness - Peace Out! ~ S

Erigaisi, Arjun vs Gukesh, D
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O Nd4 6. Nxd4 Bxd4 7. c3 Bb6 8. Ba4 O-O 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 d6 11. h3 g5 12. Bg3 c6 13. Nd2 Be6 14. Bc2 Re8 15. Kh1 Bc7 16. d4 b5 17. a4 a5 18. Re1 Rb8 19. axb5 cxb5 20. Nf1 b4 21. Ba4 Rf8 22. Rc1 bxc3 23. bxc3 exd4 24. cxd4 Rb4 25. d5 Bc8 26. Qc2 Bb6 27. e5 dxe5 28. Bxe5 Bd4 29. Bxd4 Rxd4 30. Bb3 Nxd5 31. Qc6 Nf4 32. Qxh6 Bf5 33. Rc6 Rd3 34. Re5 Rxb3 35. Rxf5 f6 36. Rxf4 gxf4 37. Qg6+ Kh8 38. Rc5 1-0

Welcome back!

Another visit to the fine Oregon City Chess Club this past Sunday. Got in 5 games with three different people and met the potential future of chess in young Kindermeister Chess Champion Bowhan. Terrific club!
If you have a local chess club and you have some spare time head on down and get in some games. If you don’t have a club in your town/part of the city/area then start one up if so inclined! You’ll be doing something healthy - keeping your mind active and making friends. Some of the most interesting and best people I know just happen to be chess players!

Thanks for tuning in - Wishing you all the best in life. Pick the lifestyle that results in the healthiest most “winningist” variation of yourself! ~ S

Hello again!
Hope you had a great weekend and we’re free to do as you so pleased! Today we have three tactical puzzles to grow on… some chess thrills and chess spills! I hope you enjoy today’s chess shenanigans!

Have a great rest of your week and get out there and roll the bones! ~ S

Welcome back!

Some more chess puzzle fun for everyone today - challenging or warm up puzzles to get your day moving along. Hope you enjoy them. Good chess skill, show lots of will and good chess luck! Look at Forcing Moves!

Have a good one ~ S

Four fine puzzles and a quick game in the form of a chess movie! Hope you enjoy today’s selection - happy solving! Feel free to leave your solutions in the comments section down below. Thanks again for watching, wishing you and yours all the best in this life - S.

Three to grow on and a game to boot! Enjoy sharpening your tactics and may you play with much skill and good chess luck in your upcoming games! Have a great weekend! ~ S

Three more puzzles for you today! Remember to check your line pieces, every arm of the “octopi” and to check your forcing moves! Good skill and good chess luck to you as Pal Benko used to say!

Make your best moves - at every opportunity, each and every day! ~ S

Three entertaining chess puzzles for you today plus a brief Oregon City Chess Club Photo Gallery! Brian, Karl, and Greg run a fine chess club so for those of you who are local to Oregon City or located in the Pacific Northwest. This chess club is one of your go to chess scenes. Add to your Sunday chess adventures with a visit to the Lucky lab off of Hawthorne in Portland Oregon for the PORTLAND CHESS MEET-UP and you have yourself a nice day full of chess! Say Hello to Geoff Kenway if you stop in at his club!

Make it a great day - carpe diem! ~ S