NM Nelson Villanueva

 











HERNANDEZ CUP
Simul Play
MERALCO, Pasig City

1 e4 c6 
The c6 move creates a set-up known as the CARO-KANN DEFENSE, named after Caro of Berlin and Kann of Vienna. 

2 Nf3 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 Nxe4
MANUAL OF CHESS, "Get the knights into action before both bishops are developed."

This is the TWO KNIGHTS ATTACK (ECO B10). It is popular among World Champions such as Lasker, Smyslov, Tal, Petrosian, Fischer and Karpov. However, Fischer, who played in the MERALCO-sponsored the Beat Bobby Fischer Series in the 1960's, believed in it the most as evidenced by his games vs: Addison in USA 1957, Cardoso in Portoroz IZT 1958, Portisch and Barcza in Stockholm IZT 1962, and Panov in Skopje 1967.

4 ... Bf5 5 Ng3 Bg6 6 Be2 Nf6 7 O-O
THE CHESS PLAYER'S HANDBOOK, "It is mostly advisable to castle the K early in the game, and to do so on the K's side, because he is less subject to an attack, and better able to repel one on that side than the other."

Castling is like a man building a house who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when flood arose, the river burst against the house but could not shake it, because it had been well built.

7 ... e6 8 d4
THE IDEAS BEHIND THE CHESS OPENINGS, "Always try to maintain at least one pawn in the center."


8 ... Be7 9 Bg5
LOGICAL CHESS, "In the opening, a B is best placed for attack when it controls a diagonal passing through the center or when it pins a hostile N and renders it immobile."


9 ... O-O 10 c3 Nbd7 11 Ne5 Nxe5 12 dxe5 Nd7 13 Bxe7 Qxe7 14 Qd6 Qxd6 15 exd6











15 ... Rfd8 16 Rad1 Nb6 17 b3
RYBKA, "17 c4!? must definitely be considered."


17 ... Nc8 18 Bd3 Rxd6 19 Bxg6 hxg6 20 Rxd6 Nxd6 21 Rd1
MASTERING THE CHESS OPENINGS, "R's like to have open files, preferably ones that extend vertically as far as possible into the enemy camp."

21 ... Nb5 22 c4 Nc7?? 23 Rd7
LOGICAL CHESS, "The posting of a R on the 7th rank, in the middle game or the ending, is a tremendous positional advantage."


23 ... Rc8 24 Ne4! Ne8











25 Ng5??
RYBKA, "25 Rxb7 +-"


25 ... b5 26 Nxf7 bxc4 27 bxc4 Rb8 28 h3

[1/2-1/2]











Rhal's active pieces and better pawn structure prompted NM Villanueva to offer a draw which he quickly accepted. This is his first draw against a titled player!

RYBKA evaluates this position as winning for W; +1.64.

There are two players who won their games; Danny Degollado, 2006 E-Day Simul Winner vs now-GM Wesley So, and Jonas Santiago, 2008 Aguila Memorial Cup Champion. Two other junior players drew their games; Justin Lim and Earl Cabugao.