JR vs SR

Training

W: SOL CRUZ, Rhal Jr.

B: SOL CRUZ, Rolly

Result: 1/2-1/2

3.c3

The Alapin Variation is Rhal's prepared line against the Sicilian Defense. And the 1.e4-2.Nf3-3.c3 move order was personally recommended by International Master Rico Mascarinas. We met IM Rico in Jakarta last November 2009.

16.Ne6

Better is 16.g3 Ng6 17.Ne6 fxe6 18.Qxg4

16... Nxf2??

The correct move is 16... fxe6=.

20.Ne2

Better is 20.Qa4 Qg4 21.Qxa7 +-

22.Qf3

Better is 22.Nf5 g6 23.Qg4 Qa4 24.Ne7+ +-

24.Rg1

Better is 24.Rac1 h6+-

NCR PALARO 2010 ELEMENTARY BOYS RESULTS

MELWYN Kenneth Baltazar of F.G.Calderon Integrated School score 6.5 points in seven games to dominate the 2010 National Capital Region Palarong Pambansa Tournament Elementary Boys Division held February 11-19,2010 at the Aurora Quezon Elementary School,San Andres,Manila . Baltazar defeated reigning Philippine under-12 age group champion Paulo Bersamina in the final round. Before that he trounced 2007national-under 10 champion Jerad Docena of Pasay City in the six round, Homel Cunanan of Taguig in the fourth round and former national under-8 age group champion John Fleer Donguines of Pasig in the 3rd round.


NCR PALARO 2010 CHESS ELEMENTARY BOYS FINAL RESULTS


Player's Name Division W D L TOTAL Tie-break

1st BALTAZAR,MELWYN KENNETH - MANILA 6.5 pts
2nd MEJIA,GIOVANNI - MANDALUYONG 6.0

3rd DOCENA,JERAD - PASAY 5.5
4th CUNANAN,HOMEL ARISTOTLE - TAGUIG-PATEROS 5.0 20
5th BERSAMINA,PAULO - PASAY CITY 5.0 19.5
6th DONGUINES,JOHN FLEER - PASIG 5.0 18.5
7th DE LEON,HAINCE PATRICK - MARIKINA 4.0 20.5
8th MAGPILY,JOHN MICHAEL - MAKATI 4.0 19.5
9th GERALDINO,CYREY - TAGUIG-PATEROS 4.0 18.5
10th RABASTO,MARK ALLEN - PARANAQUE 4.0 17.5

11. DE JESUS,EDER JR - MALABON-NAVOTAS 4.0 17
12. TONGUIA,PAUL ANDRICK - LAS PINAS 4.0 17
13. CORNELIA,MARK ANTHONY - CALOOCAN 4.0 15.5
14. VERGARA,SUDAMA KRISHNA - PARANAQUE 3.5 20.5
15. TRIBIANA,KARL SERAFIN - CALOOCAN 3.5 19
16. LUCHINA,CHRISTIAN DAVID - MANILA 3.5 17
17. SOL CRUZ,RAUL JR - MANDALUYONG 3.5 16 18. SABINAY,JONAS - VALENZUELA 3.5 15
19. ABUZO,CHARLES DANIEL - VALENZUELA 3.0 17.5
20. LANTING,MIKE GABRIEL - MUNTINLUPA 3.0 23
21. MACAPAGAL,KIANJOO - PASIG 3.0 23
22. CAJIPE,MARLOU - QUEZON 3.0 15
23. GONZALES,JULIUS - MARIKINA 2.5 20.5
24. NICOLAS,JET RYAN - MUNTINLUPA 2.5 18
25. DATU,JOHN VASSILY - SAN JUAN 2.5 13.5
26. GARING,ALDREN - MALABON-NAVOTAS 2.5 13
27. DELA COSTA,RAYMOND - MAKATI 2.0 15
28. MONTANCES,TROY GAIL - QUEZON 2.0 14.5
29. NICDAO,PRINCE PHILIP - SAN JUAN 1.0
30. ROXAS,MARTINJOHN MIGUEL - LAS PINAS 0
http://blog.chess.com/manfrommanila/2010-national-capital-region-palarong-pambansa-chess-tournament-kenneth-rules-elementary-boys-divis2

Manila’s Baltazar tops NCR

Manila’s Baltazar tops NCR Palaro Chess | ABS-CBN News Online Beta

BRONZE: PALARONG NCR

R7 Sol Cruz vs Garing

Palarong NCR

Manila City, Philippines
R7 G/60

W: SOL CRUZ, Rhal Jr

B: GARING, Aldren

Result: 1/2-1/2

4.Be2

Better is to continue w/ the Four Knights Scotch: 4.d4

7.Bg5

Rybka recommends 7.d4.

Plan a pawn break

Ward in Improve Your Opening Play

9.Bh6

We destroy a defender by exchanging.

Nimzovich in My System

23.Raf1

You should then endeavor to double your Rs, that is, to place them one before the other on the same file.

Nimzovich in My System

24.R4f2

Do not retreat a developed piece w/o good reason.

Weeramantry & Eusebi in Best Lessons of a Chess Coach

Rybka recommends the ff:

a) 24.d4+-

In order to obtain its full working force, a B must be provided w/ open diagonals.

Pachman in Modern Chess Strategy

b) 24.Qb2+-

One of the most frequent and most dangerous forms of attack is the pin.

Tarrasch in The Game of Chess

29.Qxd4+

A Q trade not only ends the prospect of middle game shocks, such as enemy counter-attacks, it considerably increases the ways of converting an edge in the endgame.

Soltis in Turning Advantage into Victory

32.a4

The goal of endgame procedures is generally the promotion of a passed pawn.

Reinfeld in The Complete Chess Player

38.Rexe5

Rybka recommends the ff:

a) 38.a6 Ra3 39.Rexe5 Rxa6 40.Re1

b) 38.Ra1 Rb7 39.a6 Ra7 40.Kf2

c) 38.Rd6+ Ke7 39.Rb6

41.Rf2?

41.Rd5, supporting the a-pawn.

R5 Sol Cuz vs Sabinay

Palarong NCR

Manila
Round 5

W: SOL CRUZ, Rhal Jr - Mandaluyong City

B: SABINAY, Jonas - Valenzuela City

Result: 1-0

4.d4

This is the 4 Knights Scotch Variation, Rhal's prepared line when playing the White pieces.

7.e5

Attacking is not just winning material; play to disrupt your opponent's development.

Weeramantry & Eusebi in Best Lessons of a Chess Coach

8.Bc4

Bs should be developed to active diagonals during opening play.

Capablanca in Chess Fundamentals

14.Qf4

A Q trade not only ends the prospect of middle gam shocks such as enemy counter-attacks, it considerably increases the ways of converting an edge in the endgame.

Soltis in Turning Advantage into Victory

23.Rd7

The ideal which lies at the root of every operation in a file is the ultimate penetration by waay of this file into the enemy's game, that is, to say to our 7th or 8th rank.

Nimzovich in My System

29.Kf2

In the ending, don't forget to bring your K closer to the center.

Kotov in Think Like a Grandmaster

R2: Sol Cruz vs De Leon

Palarong NCR R2

Manila

W: SOL CRUZ, Rhal Jr. (Mandaluyong)

B: DE LEON, Haince (Marikina)

Rhal lost in the endgame.

Result: 0-1

PALARONG NCR R2

MEJIA CONTINUES RAMPAGE IN NCR PALARONG PAMBANSA CHESS
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

TOP favorite Giovanni “Gio” Mejia is fast turning the National Capital Region (NCR) Palarong Pambansa Chess qualification tournament into his own private playground.

Mejia, grade 7 pupil of La Salle Greenhills (LSGH) in San Juan hurdled another major obstacle in his title-retention bid, beating John Magpily, a grade 5 student of Maximo Elementary School in Makati in a keenly-watched encounter in the second round yesterday being held at the Aurora Quezon Elementary School, Quirino Avenue in Manila.

Mejia, who opened the tournament with victory over fellow LSGH bet Rhal Sol Cruz Jr., played superbly and aggressively with white and clinched the win in 30 moves of Sicilian Skirmish. Mejia, who teaming up Paulo Bersamina for NCR team to capture the silver medal in the last year’s Tacloban Palarong Pambansa sacrificed his knight in h6 square to launch a strong attack in the king’s side for a win.

“Turning point ng nag sacrifice ako ng knight sa h6 square at hindi na mapigilan ang atake. Well coordinated kasi y’ung mga major pieces ko,” said Mejia.

The second win in a row enabled Mejia to raise his score to two points and create a seven-way tie for first places that include Melwynn Kenneth Baltazar of Manila, Jerad Docena of Pasay, Homel Cunanan of Taguig-Pateros, John Doguines of Pasig, Eder De Jesus of Malabon-Navotas and Paul Tonquia of Paranaque in this 7-round Swiss-system tournament featuring the country’s future World class players in the Elementary boys’ divisions.

Marist School Marikina’s top bets Haince Patrick de Leon and Julius Gonzales toppled their respective rivals to raise their total 1.5 points. De Leon edged Sol Cruz Jr. after 63 moves of another Sicilian encounter while Gonzales prevailed over Mark Rabasto after 50 moves of Philidors defense. Reigning RP 12 and under champion Paulo Bersamina of Pasay bounced back in contention after beating Kenjio Macapagal of Pasig after 55 moves of King's Indian defense for 1 point.

In the High School Boys category, LSGH ace Alfonso “Trio” Ramos failed to convert his slight advantage after losing to Pasay’s Kevin Arquero after 30 moves of Caro-Kann Fantasy. With the win, Arquero scored perfect 2 points, the same output of Ronald Barcelon of Caloocan, David Mojar of Muntinlupa and Rowel Roque of Valenzuela.

Meanwhile, former ASEAN Age group representative Maria Ysabelle Joyce Semillano of Muntinlupa beat Lyn Shane Fetizanan of Marikina after 31 moves of Caro-Kann defense to stamped her class in the Elementary girls' divisions for her 2 straight wins. Christine Laz of Quezon City , on the other hand defeated Arvie Lozano of Mandaluyong City after 43 moves of Sicilian defense to led the High School girls' category with 2 wins.

Palarong Pambansa Champion

Palarong NCR
Elementary Division Round 1
Aurora Quezon Elementary School, Manila
W: SOL CRUZ, Rhal [Mandaluyong City]
B: MEJIA,Gio [Mandaluyong City]
Sicilian Alapin

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.d4
This position has been played by World Champions such as:
a) Euwe of Netherlands
 http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1042651
b) Tal of Latvia
 http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1040515
c) Kramnik of Russia
 http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1085938
d) Ponomariov of Ukraine
 http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1345141

5... Bg4 6.Be2 Nf6 7.h3 Bh5 8.O-O
[8.c4 - 9.c5]

8...e6

9.Bf4
[9.Be3]
a) Deep Blue vs Kasparov in Philadelphia 1996
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1070874
b) Sevillano vs Zavadsky in Las Vegas 2006
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1421835

9... Rd8 10.dxc5 
[10.Be3]
Always try to maintain at least one pawn in the center.
Fine in The Ideas Behind the Chess Openings

10... Qxd1 11.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 12.Bxd1 Bc5 13.Nbd2 Ke7
The position is just equal. Black may have the better chances due to the d-file which he will occupy but he does not have an entry point to take advantage of it. White should anticipate this plan and should try to neutralize it.
GM Villamayor

14.Nb3 
[14.Ba4 - 15.Re1]
You try to identify the least active piece, the worst piece, in your own camp, and you find a way to activate it.
Kosikov in Elements of Chess Strategy

14... Bb6

15.g4
This maybe weakening. It would be better to develop and improve the pieces especially Bd1 and Ra1.
GM Villamayor

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

[15.Nbd2, 15.Ne5, or 15.Nfd2]

15... Bg6 16.Kg2
Again, not realizing Black's plan. One should always ask himself what his opponent is up to.
GM Villamayor

What is the purpose of this move? And always remember that in the endgame, the K must go to the center and not away from it.
NM Carag

[16.Ne5 or 16.Nfd2]

16... Rd8 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 Ne4

19.Bd4
[19.Bxg7 or 19.Bf3]

19... Bxd4 20.Nxd4
[20.cxd4]

20... e5 21.Nf3
The d2 square is Black's key entry point for the R. White should have guarded it earlier.
GM Villamayor

[21.Nb3]

21... f6 22.Bc2 Nc5 23.Bxg6 hxg6 24.Kf1 Nd3 25.b3 Nf4 26.h4 Rd3 -+

Result 0-1

PALARONG NCR R1

RAMOS, MEJIA WINS OPENER IN NCR-PALARONG PAMBANSA CHESS
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

ALFONSO “Trio” Ramos and Giovanni “Gio” Mejia lived up to expectations by hurdling their respective rivals at the start of the National Capital Region (NCR) Palarong Pambansa Chess qualification tournament yesterday at the Aurora Quezon Elementary School, Quirino Avenue in Manila.

Ramos, a second year high school student of La Salle Greenhills (LSGH) defeated John Lawrence Principe of Isaac Lopez Integrated School after 16 moves of King’s Pawn Game using the black pieces to lead the march of the favorite in the seven round Swiss-system format in the High School boy’s divisions.

“Hope mahawakan ko ang momentum,” said Ramos, who helped the LSGH Chess Team into over-all championships’ trophy in the this year's PRADA and Xavier Inter-Scholastics Chess Team Tournament.

Justin Pe settled a draw with fellow Xavier mainstay Menin Ledesma after 21 moves of a Russian Game.

Mejia, meantime, the last year’s NCR Palarong Pambansa champion, edged fellow LSGH bet Rhal Sol Cruz Jr. after 26 moves of Sicilian defense using the black pieces to opened his title retention-bid in the Elementary boy’s divisions.

“Maganda ang nilaro ni Rhal, nagkamali lamang siya ng bandang huli, may draw pa sana,” said grade 7 pupil Mejia.

Other notable winners in the Elementary boy’s divisions that includes Jerad Docena of Pasay City, Melwyn Kenneth Baltazar of Manila and Homel Cunanan of Taguig City.

Marist Marikina top player Haince Patrick de Leon settled a draw over Mark Lao.

Sharing the limelight is Arvie Lozano who defeated fellow Rizal Technological University (RTU) ace Aira Infante after 33 moves of Caro-Kann defense using the black pieces in the High School girl’s divisions as well San Juan’s top player Maria Perla Datu prevailed over Jullien Franzen Mercado.

Shanice Dawn Cleofe of Pleasant Hills, on the other hand bested Maria Nina Vergara after 51 moves of King’s Pawn Game using the white pieces in the Elementary girl’s divisions.

The top two finishers (High School boy’s and girls, Elementary boy’s and girls) after the four-day qualifying tournament supervised by Chess Arbiters Association of the Philippines (CAAP) headed by it’s president Rey Colitoy and official Raul Cruz will represent the National Capital Region (NCR) in the 53rd edition of Palarong Pambansa slated on April 11 to 17 in Tarlac province.

Silver: VALENTINE CUP

After the Valentine Workshop on middle game conducted by Grandmaster Bong Villamayor, a mini-tourney (30-30 rapid) was held among the participants and supervised by NM Ed Agagon. This was the third in the series of workshops which started last December. And the results are:

Champion - Jerome Saltorio
Silver - Rhal Sol Cruz, Jr
Bronze - JC Andan

R5 Saltorio vs Sol Cruz

Valentine's Cup
MERALCO, Pasig City
R5 G/25
White: Jerome Saltorio
Black: Rhal Sol Cruz
Italian Game


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7
Hungarian Defense

4.O-O Nf6 5.Nc3 O-O
One of the most important guidelines in chess is to protect your K from harm.
Watson in Mastering the Chess Openings 

6.d3 d6 7.h3 Be6
[7... Na5 8.Bb3 Nxb3]
Bs are most often favored over Ns because of the great difference in mobility.
Reshevsky in The Art of Positional Play
 8.Bxe6 fxe6 9.Ng5 Qd7 10.f4 h6
[10... exf4]


11.Nf3 exf4 12.Bxf4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Rxf4 14.Nh2

14... Raf8
[14... Rxf1+ -+]


15.Rxf4 Rxf4 16.Qd2 Rf8 17.Rf1 Rxf1 18.Nxf1 Qe8 19.Qe3 Qg6 20.Nfd2 Bf6
[20... d5 - 21... Bg5]


21.c3 Qf5
[21... Be7]


22.Nf3 e5 23.g4 Qe6 24.b3 b6 25.g5 Be7 26.Kh2 Qg6
[26... d5]


27.h4 d5 28.Ng3 hxg5 29.hxg5 Bd6 30.Nh4 Qh7 31.Nf5

32... g6
[32... Qh5]


33.Nh6+ Kf8 34.dxe4


Result: 1/2-1/2

R4: Sol Cruz vs Andan

Valentine's Cup

MERALCO, Pasig City

W: SOL CRUZ, Rhal Jr. - La Salle

B: ANDAN, JC - Ateneo

Round 4, 30-30 Minutes

Result: 1-0

4.d3=

Better, according to Rybka (15s) are 4.exf5 Bxf5 5.d4 or 4.Bc4 Nc6 5.d3 Na5 6.Bxg8

10.Nd2

Better is 10.Nh4 f4 11.Bxe6+ Qxe6 12.gxf4

Spot a weak square, or group of such squares, in the opponent's position, preferably in the center or near his K.

Better Chess for Average Players

17.f5

In order to obtain its full working force, a B must be provided w/ open diagonals.

Pachman in Modern Chess Strategy

24.Nf3?

24.Bd4 Ne5 25.Bxe5 dxe5 26.Nf3+-

NM Ewin Carag

Today's session, which is part of the preparation for the Palarong NCR, covered the French Defense. This is the last session w/ NM Carag, Head Coach of La Salle Green Hills where Rhal plays for the Grade School Team.

The special training is La Salle's contribution for Rhal's preparation and was made possible through the support of Bro. Roli Dizon and Vic Lahoz.

FM CASTELLANO

This is Rhal's 3rd session w/ FM Chris and the training focuses on the middle game particularly on exchanging.

NM Ricky Merano

This is Rhal's first session with NM Ricky who has trained now-GMs Bong Villamayor and John Paul Gomez. The training focuses on Rhal's handling of the opening, particularly the Ruy Lopez and the Hungarian Defense. Rhal's games vs Gio Mejia in Jakarta and vs Stephen Pangilinan in Xavier were analyzed. Then they played a game of Ruy:

W: NM MERANO, Ricky
B: SOL CRUZ, Rhal Jr.
MERALCO, Pasig City


Result: 1-0

6... Bc5
The position is Tiviakov vs Ponomariov in WCh 2001, Svidler vs Anand in Amber 2006, Adams vs Shirov in WCh 2007.

14... Nf4
Do not trade active pieces for inactive pieces.
Best Lessons of a Chess Coach

Rybka: 14... d5!? 15.exd5 Nxd5

16... g5
One of the most common weaknesses occurs when an ill-advised pawn move is made in front of the K.
The Modern Art of Attack

NM Agagon

Training Game
White "NM AGAGON, Ed"
Black "SOL CRUZ, Rhal Jr"
ECO "C55"

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Be7 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. a3 Be6
{It is always dangerous to let the adversary's KB stand on the direct line, which attacks your f pawn; and, when your d pawn cannot close that direction, it is necessary to oppose him by your QB, and take his B for every other piece, as soon as an occasion offers. - Analysis of the Game of Chess}

7. Bxe6 fxe6 8. c3 O-O 9. Qb3 Qc8 10. Bg5 b6
{Pawns are at their strongest in their initial positions, and the golden rule is: Don't move a pawn until you are forced to. - The Right Way to Play Chess.}

11. Nbd2 Kh8
{In all cases, it is well to unpin the piece in question as quickly as possible, not only to give it back its freedom of
action, but also to liberate the masked piece. - The Middle Game in Chess}

12. d4 exd4 13. cxd4 Qd7 14. Rac1 Na5 15. Qa2 c5
{Plan a pawn break. - Ward in Improve Your Opening Play}

16. Be3 Ng4 17. Rfe1 Nxe3 18. Rxe3 cxd4
{18... Rac8 The Rs are best placed on the four center files, particularly if any should be open. - The Right Way to Play Chess}

19. Nxd4 Bg5 {19... Rac8} 20. Rd3 Bxd2 {20... Rac8=} 21. Rxd2 e5
{In the disposition of the pawns w/c forms the skeleton of the position, we must, as the game progresses, take care, as far as possible, that no pawn becomes backward, especially if it is in a file open to the opponent, for a backward pawn in an open file constitutes a grave positional weakness. - Tarrasch in The Game of Chess [21... Rac8]}

22. Nf5 Nb7 {22... Rac8} 23. Rcd1 $16 Rf6 24. b4 Rxf5 {24... g6} 25. exf5
Qxf5 26. Qd5 Qd7 {26... Rb8} 27. Qxe5 


1-0