5th Gold: 2nd MERALCO Kiddies

NM Efren Bagamasbad

MERALCO Summer Workshop
12-Board Simul Match

W: SOL CRUZ, Rhal Jr.

B: NM BAGAMASBAD, Efren

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c3

Always try to maintain at least one pawn in the center.
Fine in Ideas Behind the Chess Openings

This is the Caro Kann Defense, Exchange Variation, Rubinstein Line. It was recommended by NM Erwin Carag when Rhal was preparing for the Palarong NCR 2010. It is a rare line used in Fischer vs Petrosian in USSR vs The Rest of the World 1970.

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044326
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1250539
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1504423
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1587234

4... Nc6 5.Bd3 g6 6.Nf3

The first principle of opening play is rapid development of all the pieces.
Yusupov in Build Up Your Chess

6... Bg4 7.h3
Do not let enemy pieces remain in your territory unchallenged.
Weeramantry and Eusebi in Best Lessons of a Chess Coach

7... Bxf3 8.Qxf3 Bg7 9.Be3
In order to obtain its full working force, a B must be provided with open diagonals.
Pachman in Modern Chess Strategy

[9.Bf4]

9... e6 10.O-O

Nothing is more important that safeguarding your K by castling early, within the first dozen of moves, if possible.

Evans in The 10 Most Common Chess Mistakes

10... Nge7 11.Nd2 O-O 12.Rfe1

A R placed on the central files, commanding open or semi-open lines, contributes strongly to center control.
Heisman in Elements of Positional Evaluation

12... a6 13.Nf1
You should try to identify the least active piece, the worst piece, in your camp, and you look for a way to activate it.
Kosikov in Elements of Chess Strategy

[13.Bf4 or 13.Qg3 - 14.Nf3]

13... Nc8 14.Rac1
[14.Bf4 or 14.Qg3]

14... Nd6 15.Ng3
[15.Bf4 or Nd2 or Rb1 or Qg3 or Bd2]

15... b5 16.b3

Pawns are at their strongest in their initial positions, and the golden rule is: Don't move a pawn until you are forced to.

Pritchard in The Right Way to Play Chess

[16.Bf4]

16... Rc8 17.Bf4! Qd7 18.Rc2
[18.Qe2 - 19.Qd2]

18... b4

19.Bxa6??
[19.Qe3]

19... bxc3
Fortunately, NM Efren "did not notice" the winning continuation 19... Nxd4 -+.

20.Bxc8 Nxc8

21.Be3
[21.Qxc3 +-]

21... Nxd4 22.Bxd4 Bxd4 23.Ne2 Bg7 24.Nxc3 Nd6 25.Rec1 Qa7 26.Qf4 Nf5 27.Qa4
A Q trade not only ends the prospect of middlegame shocks, such as enemy counterattacks, it considerably increases the ways of converting an edge in the endgame.
Soltis in Turning Advantage into Victory

27... Qb8 28.Qb5 Qd6 29.Ne2 Qe5 30.Rc8 Nd6 31.Rxf8+
Simplification is desirable if we have superiority in material.
Nimzovich in My System

31... Bxf8 32.Qd3 Ne4 33.f3

Rhal's offered a draw and the NM accepted. However, 33.Ng3 is "+-".

Result: 1/2-1/2

PACE Kiddies Results

1st Leg KIDDIES CHAMPIONSHIP

Chief Arbiter : NA Boyet Tardecilla
Arbiter : Boy Tabirao, Hermie Medina
Town : Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence, Proj.6, QC
Rating-Ø : 1424
Date : 2010/04/17
Rank after round 5

Rank Name Rtg FED Pts BH.
1 DOCENA Jerad 1954 PHI 4½ 15
2 LAGULA McDominique 2039 PHI 4 16
3 VILLANUEVA Jerome 0 PHI 4 15½
4 ALFONSO Jeremiah 1890 PHI 3½ 15
5 MEDINA Vince Angelo 1898 PHI 3½ 13½
6 BALINGIT Hans Christian 0 PHI 3½ 13½
7 CASTRO Jose Carlo 1727 PHI 3½ 12½
8 YANZON Mervince 0 PHI 3 11
9 SOL CRUZ Rhal 0 PHI 3 11
10 CORPIN Justin 0 PHI 2½ 14½
11 VILLA Enrica 0 PHI 2½ 13½
12 MANANSALA Michael 1752 PHI 2½ 12½
13 EVANGELISTA Paul Robert 1847 PHI 2 15½
14 BUDUAN Camila 0 PHI 2 13
15 DE VERA Bill John 0 PHI 2 12½
16 MANGUNI Jasper 0 PHI 2 11
17 DOCENA Jesca 0 PHI 2 10
18 GALLARDO Chelsea 0 PHI 1 11½
19 LIRAZAN Jr 0 PHI 1 10½
20 BALDOVIA Avel Louise 0 PHI 1 10
21 DE VERA George Vincent 0 PHI 0 9

Program Swiss-Manager developed and copyright © by DI.Heinz Herzog, 1230 Vienna Joh.Teufelg.39-47/7/9,
Mail:heinz.herzog@swiss-manager.at,homepage http://swiss-manager.at, User:DIPL.ING.HEINZ HERZOG, 2007/02/16

R6 Docena vs Sol Cruz

PACE Kiddies

PACE HQ, Quezon City

R6 16-Under G/25
W: Docena, Jesca

B: Sol Cruz, Rhal Jr.
Scotch Game C47

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 exd4 4 Nxd4

4... Nf6
This targets the e-pawn, and so forces some sort of concession. Understanding the Chess Openings

The alternative 4... Bc5 is the Classical Variation.
a) Timman vs Karpov 1988

b) Kasparov vs Short in World Championship 1993
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1070683
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1070672
c) Polgar vs Xie in World Championship 1996
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1110697
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1110698

Malaniuk has experimented with reasonable results with 4... Bb4+ 5 c3 (5 Nc3 would be met by 5... Qh4) 5... Be7. 101 Chess Opening Surprises

4... Bb4+ 5 c3 Bc5 is also popular at top level - Black provokes c3 to prevent the White N from developing naturally on this square, without having to resort to ... Qf6. Understanding the Chess Openings 

5 Nc3 - Four Knights Variation

[5 Nxc6]
a) Kasparov vs Karpov in World Championship 1990
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1067287
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1067288
b) Kasparov vs Anand in World Championship 1995
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1018636
c) Radjabov vs Kasparov in Linares 2004

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1277596

d) So vs Sargissian in Tata Steel 2011

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/nph-chesspgn?text=1&gid=1604429

5... Bb4 6 Nxc6 bxc6 7 Bd3

7... Bxc3
The main line is 7... d5 8 exd5 cxd5 9 O-O O-O 10 Bg5 as played by Steinitz vs Zukertort in the first World Championship Match in 1886.
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1132647

8 bxc3 O-O 9 O-O d5 10 Bg5 dxe4 11 Bxf6 Qxf6 12 Bxe4 Qxc3 13 Rb1 Be6 14 Rb7 Rfc8 [14... Rfb8] 15 Qd3 Qxd3
A Q trade not only ends the prospect of middlegame shocks such as enemy counterattacks, it considerably increases the ways of converting an edge in the endgame. Turning Advantage into Victory 

16 cxd3 Bxa2 17 Ra1 Bd5
If you are one or two pawns ahead, exchange pieces but not pawns. Basic Chess Endings

18 Bxd5 cxd5 19 Rbxa7 Rxa7
Do not let enemy pieces remain in your territory. Best Lessons of a Chess Coach
 
20 Rxa7

20... Kf8
Advance the K to the center of the board or towards the passed pawn, or pawns that are susceptible to being attacked. Chess Fundamentals

21 Kf1 Ke7 22 Ke2 Ke6 23 Ke3 Kd6 24 Kd4 c5 25 Kc3 Rc7 26 Rxc7?? Kxc7 27 d4? cxd4+ -+ 28 Kxd4 Kd6 29 f4 f6 30 f5 g6 31 g4 g5 32 h3 h6 33 Kd3 Ke5 34 Ke3 d4 35 Kd3 Kd5 36 Ke2 Ke4 37 Kd2 d3 38 Ke1 Ke3 39 Kd1 d2 40 Kc2 Ke2

Result: 0-1

R5 UAAP Bd 1 Jr Champion

PACE Kiddies
Quezon City
R5 16-U G/25 Elimination Leg
W: Rhal Sol Cruz
B: Paul Robert Evangelista
C47 Scotch Four Knights


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4
This the favorite of Wesley So:
a) Li Chao in Singapore 2006
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1531304
b) David Howell in Yerevan 2007
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1475498
c) Sasha Kaplan in Yerevan 2007
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1476451
d) Tu in Phu Quoc Zonal 2007


4... exd4 5.Nxd4
The Belgrade Gambit, 5.Nd5, causes Black no real difficulties after 5... Be7 6 Bf4 d6 7 Nxd4 O-O. Collins in Understanding the Chess Openings

Tal vs Averbach in Riga 1954
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1139223


5... Bc5
Although far from new, the move 5... Nxe4 will take many players by surprise. Burgess in 101 Chess Opening Surprises


[5... Bb4]
a) Steinitz vs Zukertort in World Championship 1886
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1132647
b) Nimzovich vs Spielmann in Hamburg 1910
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1130722


6.Nxc6
[6.Be3]
The first principle of opening play is rapid development of all the pieces. Yusupov in Build Up Your Chess


6... bxc6 7.Bd3
Maroczy-Gruber in Gyor 1924.
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1094346


7... d5 8.exd5 cxd5 9.O-O O-O 10.Bg5
Nilsson-Tarrasch in London 1927.
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/nph-chesspgn?text=1&gid=1281723


10... c6 11.Qf3 Be7 12.Rae1 Re8 13.h3 Be6 14.Re2
[14.Ne2]


14... h6 15.Bh4
[15.Bf4]


15... Qb6 16.b3 Qb4

17.Nd5??
You can't afford any lapses in concentration from first move to last. Evans in The 10 Most Common Chess Mistakes


[17.Bg3]


17... Bxd5 -+ 


Result: 0-1

R2 Shell Grand Finals Champion

PACE Kiddies U16
Quezen City, Philippines
R2 Elimination Leg 16-Under G/25

W: Sol Cruz, Rhal

B: Alfonso, Jeremiah
ECO B50 Sicilian Defense


1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2 g6
Anand-Gelfand in World Championship 1997
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1018822


5.d3 Bg7 6.O-O Nc6 7.Be3 Qc7 8.Nbd2 O-O 9.Re1 b6 10.Nf1?
Don't lose time by moving the same piece twice. Evans in The 10 Most Common Chess Mistakes


[10.Qc2 or 10.Rc1]
The first principle of opening play is rapid development of all the pieces. Yusupov in Build Up Your Chess


10... d5

11.exd5?
Be careful about initiating pawn trades that release your opponent's pieces and give him more space. Weeramantry & Eusebi in Best Lessons of a Chess Coach


11... Nxd5 12.Qd2?
No B should be exchanged for a N unless it yields a clear benefit. Moskalenko in Revolutionized Your Chess


12... Nxe3 13.Nxe3 Bb7 14.Rad1 Rad8 15.Qc2
In general, it's a good idea to break pins as soon as possible. Evans in The 10 Most Common Chess Mistakes


15... Qf4

16.Qb3
[16.Nd2 - 17.Bf3]
Improving the position of your pieces is one of the most important positional operations. Yusupov in Build Up Your Chess


16... e6 17.Qc4 Qxc4 18.Nxc4 Rd7 19.Rd2?
[19.Bf1]


19... Rfd8 20.Red1?
[20.Rc2]


20... Ba6 21.Ne3 Bh6 22.Kf1 e5 23.b3?
[23.h4 - 24.Ng4]


23... f5 24.Ke1
[24.h4]


24... Kf8 25.c4?
[25.h4]


25... Nd4

26.Rb2?
[26.Nxe5]
 
26... Bg7 27.Nxd4 cxd4 28.Nd5 e4 29.dxe4??
[29.Rbd2 or 29.f3]


29... d3 -+


Result: 0-1

R1 Tan vs Sol Cruz

Pope John Paul II Workshop

MERALCO, Pasig City
R1 G/25
White "TAN, Josh"
Black "SOL CRUZ, Rhal Jr"
Ruy Lopez C68


1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6
Exchange Variation

4... dxc6 5. d4 exd4 6. O-O Bd6 7. c3 dxc3 8. Nxc3 Ne7 9. e5
{Post your pieces centrally, so long as you can do so safely, without inviting the advance of the pawn-rollers. My System}

9... Bc5 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 $15 11. Bg5 {Diagram #} Ke8
{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. Bxe7 Kxe7 $17 13. Rfd1 Be6 14. a3 Rhd8
{Don't let your opponent control open files with his Rs. - A Collection of Chess Wisdom}

15. Ne4 Bb6 16. b4 Rxd1+
{Simplification is desirable if we have superiority in material. My System}

17. Rxd1 Rd8 18. Rxd8 Kxd8 19. a4 Ba7 20. Neg5 h6 21. Nxe6+ fxe6 22. Nh4 {Diagram #} b5 23. axb5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} cxb5 24. Kf1 Bd4 25. Ng6 c5 26. bxc5 Bxc5 27. Ke2 a5
{The goal of endgame procedures is generally the promotion of a passed pawn. The Complete Chess
Player}

Result: 0-1

NM Michael Gotel

8th MERALCO Summer Workshop
Simul Play
W: Rhal Sol Cruz
B: NM Michael Gotel
Sicilian Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Be2 Nc6 5. d3 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. Bg5 h6 8. Be3 O-O 9. Nbd2 [9 h3 - to prevent Ng4] 9... Ng4 10. d4 Nxe3 11. fxe3 a6 12. Qe1 b5 13. a3 e5 14. d5 Ne7 15. c4 f5

D16
16. Nh4
[16 cxb5 axb5 17 Bxb5]

16... Kh7 17. Qg3 [17 exf5 gxf5 18 e4] 17... Bf6 18. exf5 gxf5 19. Bh5 Rg8 20.


Qf2 Rg7 21. Ne4
 

 
Result: 0-1

R4 NBS Champion

National Book Store
Robinson Galleria, Pasig City
R4 16-Under G/25
W: Justin Corpin
B: Rhal Sol Cruz

1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 e6 3 Bf4 Nf6 4 h3 Nbd7 5 e3 Be7 6 Be2 b6 7 O-O Bb7 8 Nbd2 O-O 9 Rc1 c5 10 c3 Rc8 11 Qa4 a6 12 Ne5 b5 13 Qb3 c4 14 Qc2 Nxe5 15 Bxe5 Bd6 16 Nf3 Bxe5 17 Nxe5 Nd7 18 Nf3 h6 19 Rfe1 Nf6 20 Ne5 Nd7

Result: 1-0

R1 FEU Jr Tamarraw

National Book Store Kiddies
R1 15 Under Division
White: Rhal Sol Cruz
Black: Jose Castro
Sicilian Defense


1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2 Bd7
a) Timman-Kramnik in Dortmund 1999
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1009867
b) Adams-Kasparov in Wijk aan Zee 2000
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1005699
c) Kasimdzhanov-Sutovsky in Pune 2004
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1305839
d) Morozevich-Topalov in Morelia-Linares 2007
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1452554


5.d3 Nc6 6.O-O g6 7.Be3
Rybka tags this as a novelty!


7... Bg7 8.Qd2 O-O

9.Bh6
[9.Na3]


9... Qb6 10.Bxg7 Kxg7 11.h3
Refrain from pushing any R-pawn merely to prevent B attacking N or pinning, as it is called. Mason in The Art of Chess


11... c4 12.Na3
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


12... cxd3 13.Bxd3 Rac8

14.Rfe1
[14.Nc4]
Centralizing the N is a small strategic victory in itself. Marovic in Secrets of Positional Chess


14... Rfd8 15.Rab1
[15.Nc4]


15... Ne5 16.Nxe5
[16.Nd4]


16... dxe5 17.Qe3
[17.Rbd1]
In the middlegame, seize the open files and command them with your Rs. Chernev in Logical Chess Move by Move


17... Qxe3 18.Rxe3 Be6 19.Ra1
[19.c4]


19... Nh5 20.Kf1
[20.Bf1 or 20.c4]


20... Nf4 21.Bc2 Rd2

22.Ke1??
[22.b3]


22... Rxc2 -+


Result: 0-1

1st MERALCO Summer Workshop

Alice Cooper once sang School's out for summer! The closing of the classrooms was replaced by the opening of the chess sets and books as MERALCO Chess Club launched the 1st Summer Chess Workshop for dependents or children of MERALCO employees.

NM Erwin Carag, Head Coach of La Salle Green Hills, was recalled to conduct his second set in this hot summer vacation as drought starts to hit various parts of the Philippines. For the record, this was the 5th consecutive workshops in as many months starting in Dec 2009 with GM Bong Villamayor.

The topic was from the book Best Lessons of a Chess Coach - Chapter: Strike While the N is Hot and it features the Sicilian Grand Prix.

After the morning lecture by NM Carag, a tournament among the 11 participants followed and was supervised by NM Ed Agagon. Rhal managed 2.5 points for a tie for 4th to 5th place. The top 3 were JC Andan, Jonalyn Abajon, and Josh Tan.