G1 NM Cabellon

ASKAL Summer Workshop
MERALCO Chess Club
Pasig City, Philippines
Day 1 Clock Simul [60-60 minutes]
White: NM Gerry Cabellon
Black: Rhal Sol Cruz

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 e6 4.Bg2 Nbd7 5.O-O Be7 6.b3 O-O 7.Bb2 b6 8.c4 Bb7 9.Nc3 c5 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Rc1 Rc8 12.Na4 Re8 13.dxc5 Nxc5 14.NxNc5 BxNc5 15.Nd4 Qe7
[15... Qg5 and if 16.Qd3 Nf4 -+]
Looking for a way to attack enemy pieces should come at the start of the hunt for candidates.
Soltis in How to Choose a Chess Move

16.BxNd5
[16.e3 - Houdini]

16... BxBd5 17.Nf5 exNf5 18.QxBd5 Qxe2 19.Rb1 Qe4 20.Qd2
[20.Qxe4]

20... Rcd8
[20... Red8 -+ 21.Qe1 Qxe1 22.Rfxe1 Rd2]
One of the most important ways of obtaining superiority is the penetration of pieces into the enemy position; the resulting superiority can be in actual material or merely crippling of the working power of the opposing pieces.
Pachman in Modern Chess Strategy

21.Qg5 Bd4
[21... Bf8 22.Rbe1 Qxe1 23.Rxe1 Rxe1+ ]

22.BxBd4 QxBd4

Result: 1/2 - 1/2

Workshop with NM Giri Cabellon

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

R1 Mata vs Sol Cruz

Darryl Mata

MERALCO vs ASKALs

Lopez Bldg, Pasig City
R1 G/25
White: Darryl Mata
Black: Rhal Sol Cruz
English Opening


1.Nf3 Nc6 2.c4 e5 3.d3 d6 4.g3 Be6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Bg2 Bg7 7.O-O Nge7 8.e4
According to the Houdini Chess Engine, the opening has transposed from Reti to English Botvinnik System.
www.cruxis.com/chess/houdini.htm


8... O-O 9.Be3

After 9.Be3

9... f5
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


[9... Nd4]
Post your pieces centrally, so long as you can do so safely, without inviting the advance of the pawn-rollers. Nimzovich in My System


[9... Bg4]
One of the most frequent and dangerous forms of attack is the pin. Tarrasch in The Game of Chess


10.Ng5 Qd7?
[10... Bd7]
No B should be exchanged for a N unless it yields a clear benefit. Moskalenko in Revolutionize Your Chess


11.Nxe6! Qxe6 12.exf5 
In order to obtain its full working force, a B must be provided with open diagonals. Pachman in Modern Chess Strategy


After 12.exf5

12... gxf5??
Avoid impulsive behavior and snap judgment. Shipman in Portable Chess Coach


[12... Qxf5]


13.Qd2 
[13.Bd5 +-]


13.. Qg6 14.f4 e4?
[14... Rfe8, 14... a6, or 14... Rad8]


15.dxe4 +-   


Result: 1-0

MERALCO vs ASKALs



R1 Darryl Mata (1-0) Rhal Sol Cruz



R2 Rhal Sol Cruz (1-0) Karl Clarito



R3 Ronnie Dellota (1/2-1/2) Rhal Sol Cruz



NM Gerry Cabellon

Chess for Caritas
Meralco Simul
Pasig City, Phl
White: NM Gerry Cabellon
Black: Rhal Sol Cruz, Board 3


1.c4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3
This is simply called the Three Knights System of the English Opening and has been recently played by:
a) Tomashevsky vs Nguyen in Biel 2010
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1587310
b) Andreikin vs Nepomniachtchi in World Blitz Championship 2010
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1599992


3... d6 4.e3 g6
The fianchetto set-up is Rhal's fall-back plan whenever he meets an opening he does not know. NM Cabellon essayed the English Opening and Rhal is one with the legendary Efren Bata Reyes who said in the San Miguel Beer TV commercial, "Mahina tayo sa inglisan, eh."


5.d4 exd4 6.Nxd4 Nge7
The pawn formation that results from the opening is the principal determinant of the further course of the game.
Reshevsky in The Art of Positional Play


7.Be2 Bg7 8.O-O O-O 9.Re1 Re8 10.Nxc6 Nxc6 11.Qd2

After 11.Qd2

11... b6

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


[11... Bf5 12.Nd5 Ne5 13.f3 c6 14.Nf4]


12.b3 Bb7 13.Bb2 Ne5 14.Nd5

After 14.Nd5

14... Bxd5?
No B should be exchanged for a N unless it yields a clear benefit.
Moskalenko in Revolutionize Your Chess


[14... c6]
Do not let enemy pieces remain in your territory unchallenged.
Weeramantry & Eusebi in Best Lessons of a Chess Coach


15.Qxd5 Qe7 16.Qd2 Rad8
Develop your R to the same file that your opponent develops his Q.
Heisman in Elements of Positional Evaluation


17.Rad1 Qf6 18.Ba1 Qe7 19.a4 a5 20.h3 Nc6
The position is equal based on Rybka's evaluation and it is interesting to note that Rhal's last move is the program's #1 choice.


Result: 1/2-1/2

Chess for Caritas