R5 Sol Cruz vs Rubis

Shell National Youth Championship
Southern Tagalog Leg
Kiddies Division G/25
Batangas City

R2 Sol Cruz vs Aquino

St. Bernadette Memorial Cup
Meralco, Pasig City
R2 G/45'
W: Rhal Sol Cruz - La Salle Greenhills
B: Paul Aquino - Mataas na Paaralang N. Gonsalez



Result: 1/2-1/2

GM Ronald Dableo

Training Simul G/60 Meralco Center, Pasig City Rhal Sol Cruz vs GM Dableo

MERALCO Training Simul G/60
Pasig City

White: Rhal Sol Cruz, Board 7

Black: GM Ronald Dableo

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 exd5 4 Bd3
The Exchange Variation of the French Defense.

4... c5 5 dxc5

The c3 pawn move transposes to a Sicilian Alapin-like formation:

Deep Thought vs Kasparov 1989

Karpov vs Polgar 1994

Anand vs Malisauskas 1994

Antonio vs Langer 2005

5... Bxc5 6 Nf3 Ne7

6... Nf6 - Spassky vs Bronstein 1981

6... Nf6 - Zuniga vs Vladimirov 1986

6... Nf6 - Rabiega vs Vallejo-Pons 2012

7 O-O O-O

One of the most important guidelines in chess is to protect your K from harm. Watson in Mastering the Chess Openings

8 b3? 

In the openings, whenever possible, pieces should be moved in preference to pawns. Capablanca in Chess Fundamentals

8... Nbc6 9 Ba3 

It is useful to exchange the opponent's strongest pieces. Popov in Chess Lessons

9... Bxa3 10 Nxa3 a6 11 c3 f6 12 Nc2 

Ns are short-range pieces, you should avoid placing them on edges of the board. Moskalenko in Revolutionize Your Chess

12... Ne5 13 Ncd4 

Take especially good care of the square in front of the isolated d-pawn - firmly control it with your pieces, placing a minor piece of your own there if necessary. Baburin in Winning Pawn Structures

3... Bd7 14 Qc2 g6 15 Rfe1

15... Qc7 16 Rac1 

Develop your R to the same file that your opponent develops his Q. Heisman in Elements of Positional Evaluation

16... Kg7 17 Qd2

[17 Nxe5! fxe5 18 Qe2 e4 19 f3 with advantage]

17... N7c6 18 Be2 Rae8 19 Nxc6 bxc6 20 Nxe5 fxe5 21 Bxa6 Rf6 22 Bf1 e4 23 c4 

We exchange in order to seize or open a file or diagonal without loss of time. Nimzovich in My System

23... Qe5 24 cxd5 cxd5 25 Qc3 

Winning is 25 a4.

The goal of endgame procedures is generally the promotion of a passed pawn. Reinfeld in The Complete Chess Player

25... d4 26 Qg3 Qf5 27 b4! Re7 28 Rc5! 

If the opponent is tied up, but your immediate threats aren't sufficient to win, bring another piece or pawn into the attack, or improve your position in other ways; then exchange into a favorable endgame. Harding in Better Chess for Average Players

28... Qe6 29 Bc4! 

And another!

29... Qb6 30 a3 Bf5 31 Re5

Simplification is desirable if we have superiority in material. Nimzovich in My System

31... Rd7 32 Re8! 

As a means of attacking the K, control of the 8th rank where the Q or R might check the K becomes often the object of combination. Lasker in Manual of Chess

32... Rd8 33 Re7+ +-

Rhal is winning against a grandmaster!!! 

33... Kh8 34 Qh4 

[34 R1xe4 Bxe4 35 Qh4 g5 36 Qxe4 Rg6 37 Qe5+ Qf6 38 Qc7+-]

34... g5 35 Qxg5 Bg6 36 Qe5
The pin looks good but better are 36 R1xe4, 36 Re6, or Qh6.
 
36... d3 37 Rf1 Rdf8 38 Re6 Qd8 39 Re7
Rhal has only 5 minutes left on his clock. The winning move is the natural follow-up to the Q-pin which is 39 g4.

39... Qb6 40 Re6 Qd8  41 Re7 Qb6 42 Re6

Rhal settled for a draw by repetition of moves due to time trouble.

Result: 1/2-1/2

R4 Sol Cruz vs Saltorio

St Martin de Porres Cup
Meralco, Pasig City

Training with JR Gumila

Training Game
MERALCO, Pasig City
Game 2, G/25minutes
White: Rhal Sol Cruz
Black: Narsico Gumila



Result: 0-1

R3 Purevdorj of Mongolia

Asian Youth Chess Championship
Olongapo City, Philippines
14-Under R3 Standard G/90
White: Raul Sol Cruz Jr [Philippines]
Black: Tegshee Purevdorj [Mongolia]
French Defense C01


1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5  - Exchange Variation
This variation is Rhal's "re cibo quo" to the French and has billed 2W-3L a priori; Javier (0-1) in NBS 2010, Minguez (0-1) in PACE 2010, Clarito (1-0, 1-0) and Forcado (0-1) in MERALCO 2011.

3... exd5 4.Bd3
Another opening that a lot of club players consider boring but which Kasparov used to beat Korchnoi and Bareev. Not much theory needed for this one and certainly not a drawing line if one of the players wants to fight. After 3... exd5 it's worth considering 4 Qf3 or 4 Nc3 if you want something different. Openings for Club Player at ChessCafe.com
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1001649 http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1003434
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1094306
Or:
4.Nf3 Nf6: Kasparov vs Korchnoi in Tilburg 1991
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1070560
4.Nf3 Bg4: Kasparov vs Short in Tilburg 1991
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1070562
4.Nf3 Bd6: Shirov vs Gurevich in Eurotel 2002
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1250524

4... Nc6 5.c3 Bd6 6.Ne2   
a) Maroczy vs Spielmann
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1094401
b) Tal vs Korchnoi
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1081036
c) Blatny vs Karpov
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1069093

6... h6 7.O-O Nf6 8.Nd2 O-O 9.h3
Unnecessary pawn advances often help the attack by weakening squares and opening lines. Better Chess for Average Players

9... Re8 10.Nf3 Ne4
Centralizing a N is a small strategic victory in itself. Secrets of Positional Chess

11.Re1 Qf6

12.Bxe4?  
[12.Ng3] 
One of  the most frequent and most dangerous forms of attack is the pin. The Game of Chess

12... dxe4 13.Nd2?? [13 Nh2 Qg6 14 Nf4] 13...Qg6 [13... Bxh3!!] 14.Kh1 e3
 

15.fxe3? [15.Ng1 exd2 16 Rxe8+] 15... Rxe3 16.Ng1 Qg3 17.Ndf3 Rxe1 18.Qxe1 Qxe1 19.Nxe1 Bf5 20.Nef3 Re8 21.Bd2 Bg3 22.Be1
Exchanging off key attacking pieces is a common defensive idea. 50 Essential Chess Lessons

22... Bxe1 23.Rxe1 Rxe1 24.Nxe1 Bb1

25.a3 [25 a4 Na5 26 b4 Nc4 27 Ne2] 25... Na5 26.Ne2 [26 a4] 26... Nc4 27.b3 Nxa3 28.c4 Nc2 29.Nxc2 [29 Nf3] 29... Bxc2 30.Nc1 a6 31.Kg1 g5 32.Kf2 f5 33.g3 h5 34.Kf3 [34 Ke3] 34... Kf7

35.h4? [35 Ke3] 35... Kg6 -+ 36.hxg5 Kxg5 37.d5 b6 38.Kg2? [38 Ke3] 38... h4 39.gxh4+ Kxh4 40.Kf3 Kg5 41.Kg3?? f4+ 42.Kf2 Kg4 43.Kg2 f3+ 44.Kf2 Kf4 45.Kf1 Kg3 46.Kg1 f2+ 47.Kf1 Kf3 48.d6 cxd6 49.c5 bxc5 50.b4 cxb4 51.Ne2 Ke3 Result: 0-1

R1 Sol Cruz vs Clarito

ASKALs vs Meralco
Pasig City
R1 G/25



Result: 1-0

R3 Shell Batangas 2nd Placer

UST Kiddies 
Pasig City, Philippines
G/30 Round 3
White: Felipe Magdalaga (1650)
Black: Rhal Sol Cruz (1631)

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5 e6 4. e4
This transposes into the French Defense.

4... Be7
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.
Znosko-Borovsky in The Middlegame in Chess

In theory, placing the B at e7 is called the Classical Variation while playing it at b4 is the MacCutcheon Variation. But Rhal knows nothing of these lines.

5. Bxf6 
The popular continuation is 5. e5:
a) Capablanca-Reti in New York 1924
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1102127
b) Anand-Morozevich in Nice 2008
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1488136
c) So-Prusikin in Bad Wiesse 2006
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1462501

5... Bxf6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. e5 Be7 8. Bd3 b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. a3 Qd7 11. Rc1 O-O-O
Where the Ks are castled on opposite sides, opening up lines with a pawn advance againt the enemy K is the principal strategy.
Giddins in 50 Essential Chess Lessons

12. Qe2 Kb8 13. Ba6

13... h5
A spearhead of pawns, supported by pieces, advancing on a K position stands an infinitely greater chance of success than an attack by pieces alone.
Pritchard in The Right Way to Play Chess

However, better is g5, with the added aim of driving the N away.

14. Bxb7 Kxb7 15. Nd1 g5! 16. Qd3? g4! 17. Nd2

17... Bg5
Lasker Principle: When you see a good move, look for a better one.

Better here is f6!.
Undermining is one of the most effective ways of fighting against a pawn center. Properly timed, undermining can weaken the opponent's central position and sharply change the character of the game.
Alburt & Palatnik in Chess Strategy for the Tournament Player

18. Ne3 f5 19. f4 gxf3 20. Nxf3 Rdg8
[20... Bh6 or 20... Bf4]
No B should be exchanged for a N unless it yields a clear benefit.
Moskalenko in Revolutionize Your Chess

21. c4

21... Qg7?
[21... Bxe3+ or 21... dxc4]

22. Rf2?
[22. Nxg5 +-]

22... f4?
[22... dxc4]

23. Nf1? Bh6??
[23... Ne7]

24. b4? Ne7! 25. c5 Qh7 26. Qc3 Rc8 27. a4 h4 28. h3 Nf5 29. a5 Ng3?
[29... b5]

30. axb6 cxb6 31. Qa3 Ra8?? 32. Ra2 +-

Result: 1-0

R2 Sol Cruz vs Minguez

PACE Kiddies 
R2 16-Under
W: Sol Cruz
B: Minguez
French Defense


1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 exd5 4 c3 Nf6 5 Bd3 Bd6 6 Nf3 O-O 7 O-O h6 8 h3 c6 9 Be3 Qc7 10 Re1 Re8 11 Nbd2 Be6 12 Nf1 Nbd7 13 Qd2 Ne4 14 Qc2 f5 15 Bxe4 fxe4 16 N3d2 Nf6 17 Rad1 Rac8 18 b3 Qd7 19 c4 b6 20 Qb2 Nh5 21 Nb1 dxc4 22 bxc4 Bxc4


Result: 0-1

Sol Cruz vs Ende

[Event "Araw ng Kalayaan Cup"]

[Site "Antipolo"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sol Cruz, Rhal Jr."]
[Black "Ende, Kenneth"]
[ECO "B22"]


1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. c3 c5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. dxc5 Be6 8. g3 h6 9. Bg2 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Nbd2 Qd7 12. Qc2 Bh3 13. Rfe1 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Ne4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Qxe4 f5 17. Qc4+ Kh8 18. Rad1 Qc7 19. Nd4 Ne5 20. Qe2 Bxc5 21. Nf3 Bxe3 22. Qxe3 Ng4 23. Qe2 Qc6 24. h3 Nf6 25. Qe6 Qb5 26. Qb3 Qxb3 27. axb3 f4 28. Re7 fxg3 29. fxg3 b6 30. c4 a5 31. Ne5 Kg8 32. Ng6 1/2-1/2

R2: Sol Cruz vs Javier

National Book Store Kiddies 
R2 15-Under G/25
W: Sol Cruz
B: Javier
French Defense

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 exd5 4 c3 c5 5 Nf3 Be6 6 Be2 Nf6 7 Bg5 Nbd7 8 Ne5 Be7 9 Bb5 O-O 10 Nxd7 Nxd7 11 Bxe7 Qxe7 12 O-O cxd4 13 Qxd4 Qc5 14 Qxc5 Nxc5 15 Nd2 a6 16 Be2 Na4 17 Rfe1 b5 18 Rab1 Bf5 19 Rbc1 Nxb2 20 Rf1 Bd3 21 Bxd3 Nxd3 22 Rcd1 Nb2 23 Rde1 Rfe8 24 Nf3 Na4 25 Rxe8+ Rxe8 26 Rd1 Nxc3 27 Rd3 Nxa2 28 Rxd5 h6

Result: 0-1

GM VILLAMAYOR

The nth training session w/ GM Villamayor, who is currently annotating Filipino boy wonder GM Wesley So in Corus Group B for chessdom.com, centered on the construction of Rhal's opening repertoire - the FRENCH DEFENSE, specifically against it and Rhal chose the EXCHANGE VARIATION with c4 line.

White Black
1.e4 e6
2.d4 d5
3.exd5 is the Exchange Variation.
GM Bong, "This is a practical choice as it avoids the complications of the more popular variations such as Advanced, Winnawer and Classical which needs a lot of studies and is not yet suited for Rhal's level."

3.... exd5

4.c4 is the line chosen by Rhal.
GM Bong, "This is another aggressive sideline in this position. White aims to create tension in the center and make open lines for his pieces."

4.... Nf6 is Black's normal response.

5.Nc3 Be7 or Bb4
6.Nf3
GM Bong, "Develop the N's first and f3 and c3 for White are the best squares for them while the B's place depends on how Black will develop."

6.... O-O
7.Bd3
GM Bong, "White's priority is to develop his K-side pieces to prepare immediate castling."

7.... c6
8.Bg5 Bg4
9.Rfe1
GM Bong, "At this point, White has free development and should complete his development based on Black's plan."

And by checking up the chess game database, the c4 line has been played by the legendary Rubinstein, Marshall, Tartakower, and Tarrasch.

Sol Cruz vs NM Maga

FRENCH DEFENSE, EXCHANGE VARIATION
W: Rhal SOL CRUZ, Jr.
B: NM MAGA
Result: 0-1

Sol Cruz vs Travero

[SHELL CEBU LEG]

[SM City, Cebu]

[W: Rhal SOL CRUZ]
[B: Jesi TRAVERO]
[R7 BD48]
[August 16, 2009]
[1-0]