R3 Dellota vs Sol Cruz

MERALCO vs ASKALs
MERALCO, Pasig City
R3 G/25
White: Ronnie Dellota
Black: Rhal Sol Cruz


1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6
This move is perfectly playable. However, one should first develop on the side where he will castle, thus 2... Nf6 as played by Wold Champions:
a) Anand of India
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1018673
b) Kramnik of Russia
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1565719
c) Topalov of Bulgaria
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1292559


3.d3 d6 4.Nc3 Na5! 5.Bb3 Nxb3 6.axb3 Nf6 7.h3 d5
[7... Be7]
The first principle of opening play is rapid development of all the pieces. Yusupov in Build Up Your Chess


8.Bg5

After 8.Bg5

8... dxe4
Before making the exchange which will open a file, it is always wise to ask what advantage this will give us. If none, then it is better to put off the exchange until further preparations have been made. Euwe & Kramer in The Middlegame


[8... d4]
The time to secure the advantage of a powerful pawn center is in the opening. Reinfeld in The Complete Chess Player


If we wish to gain a noticeable advantage in space, we must have a firm control over the center, we must break the opponent's resistance there and drive his pieces from there. Kotov in Think Like a Grandmaster


9.Nxe4 Be7
Achieving a sound pawn structure is very important. The future course of the game often depends on the pawn structure. You should avoid unnecessary weaknesses (e.g. doubled pawns or backward pawns). Yusupov in Build Up Your Chess


10.Nxf6 Bxf6 11.Be3 a6
[11... O-O or 11... Bd7 or 11... Qd6]

12.Nf3 O-O 13.O-O Re8 14.Nd2

After 14.Nd2

14... Bg5
[14... Bd7 or 14... Be6]
You try to identify the least active piece, the worst piece, in your own camp, and you look for a way to activate it. Kosikov in Elements of Chess Strategy


15.Ne4 Bxe3
Avoid trades that increase the activity of your opponent's pieces. Weeramantry & Eusebi in Best Lessons of a Chess Coach


16.fxe3 f6  
The pawns in front of the castled K should not be touched unless absolutely necessary, and at least one piece should remain on guard. Reshevsky in The Art of Positional Play


[16... Qe7]
It is a good policy to assign the defense to a threat to an inactive piece. Lasker in Manual of Chess


17.Qh5 Be6! 18.Nc5 Bf7
Do not let enemy pieces remain in your territory unchallenged. Weeramantry & Eusebi in Best Lessons of a Chess Coach


19.Qg4 Qd5 20.Nd7?? Kh8!
In general, it's a good idea to break pins as soon as possible. Evans in The 10 Most Common Chess Mistakes


21.Nxf6 gxf6 22.Rxf6 Rg8!
Aim your pieces at the weak squares surrounding the enemy K. Shipman in Portable Chess Coach


23.Qe2

After 23.Qe2

23... Bh5?
[23... Rxg2+!!! 24.Qxg2 Rg8 -+]
Even a slight weakening of the pawn position round your opponent's castled K creates conditions for striking the decisive blow. Suetin in Soviet Chess Strategy


Search for the combination which brings home your advantage. Lasker in Manual of Chess


24.Qf2 Bg6?
[24... Rxg2+ -+]

25.Rf1 Re8 26.Qe2 Bh5 27.Qd2

After 27.Qd2

27... e4??
Avoid impulsive behavior and snap judgments. A single hasty move can lose a game you spent hours trying to win. Shipman in Portable Chess Coach


[27... Rxg2+ -+]
If you are not aware of the point of your attack, you are vulnerable. Blackaby & Blackaby in Experiencing God


28.R6f5 +- Qd7 29.Rxh5 Qg7


Result: 1/2 - 1/2