1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
The Ruy Lopez Opening was Rhal's baptism of fire in formal chess competition - 2007 Meralco Employees Day Simul by Asia's First GM Eugene Torre.
3... a6 4. Bxc6
The Exchange Variation was made famous by World Champion Bobby Fischer; Fischer vs Gligoric, Fischer vs Unzicker, Fischer vs Portisch, among others.
Rhal has been exchanged several times with 3 Wins (Abo, Tan and Pastor), 1 Draw (Constantius), and 2 Losses (Escutin and Corpin).
4... dxc6 5.O-O Bd6
Rhal has previously played this move vs another Leonardo - Constantius of Indonesia in the ASEAN Primary Sport Olympiad 2010 (1/2-1/2), and that game was reviewed with IM Dimakiling and NM Cabellon.
6. d4 exd4 7. Qxd4 f6 8. Nc3
Often played is 8. Be3, Constantius played 8. Re1 but 8. Nc3, though a logical developing move, is rare.
Bonner vs Rumens 1978
Vagle vs Ignat, Korinthos 2001
8... Ne7 9. Be3 Be6 10. Rad1 O-O
One of the most important guidelines in chess is to protect your K from harm. Watson in Mastering the Chess Openings
11. h3 Ng6 12.Qd2 Qe7 13. Nd4 f5 14. Bg5 Qd7 15. Nxe6 Qxe6 16. Rde1 Qe5
Rhal missed a win with 16... f4 -+ 17 Ne2 Be5 18 h4 f3 19 Ng3 Qg4 20 Re3 fxg2 21 Kxg2 h6 22 h4 Qxg5 23 hxg6 Bf4. But this is not so easy to see.
17. f4 Qc5+ 18. Kh1 h6!
Rhal has trapped the B.
19. exf5 Qxf5 20. g4 Qf7 21. Bxh6 gxh6 22. f5 Nf4??
With around 5 minutes left on his clock, Rhal blundered. 22... Ne5 is the correct move.
A common error by novices is to exchange B and N for the opponent’s R and pawn. Harding in Better Chess for Average Players
25. Rd1 Rad8
In balanced positions, when neither side has any direct threats or concrete plan, it is necessary either to relocate your worst placed piece to its best square, or to exchange it off. Beliavsky and Mikhalchishin in Secrets of Chess Intuition
28. Qe5
[28. Qxh6 +-]
FM Leo is also short of time, not only vs Rhal but also in other boards.
28... Rd5
[28... Qd5=]
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
If your position is basically passive, you must meet threats as best you can, concentrating on exchanging as much as possible. Reinfeld in The Complete Chess Player
Result: 1/2-1/2
This is Rhal's 9th draw against a master:
ReplyDelete1 NM Villanueva
2 NM Vasquez
3 GM Antonio
4 NM Maga
5 NM Bagamasbad
6 GM Torre
7 NM Cabellon
8 FM Bersamina
9 FM Carlos
But only in simul games.
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