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