Best Grade School Player

Aguila Memorial CupMERALCO, Pasig City
W: Junior SOL CRUZ

B: Lawrence KIMO

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Nf6
COMMON SENSE IN CHESS, "Bring your N's out before developing the B's, especially the QB."


4 Bc4
In theory, this is the ITALIAN VARIATION (on Bc4) of the FOUR KNIGHTS' GAME.

4 ... Bb4 5 Ng5?
THE 10 MOST COMMON CHESS MISTAKES, "Don't lose time by moving the same piece twice."


5 ... O-O













6 BxP
BETTER CHESS FOR AVERAGE PLAYERS, "A common error by novices is to exchange B & N for the opponent's R & P."


6... RxB 7 NxR KxN 8 b3? d5 -+ 9 exd5
MY SYSTEM, "A center pawn should always be taken if this can be done without too great danger."


9 ... Nxd5 10 NxN QxN





















11 Bb2? Bf5 12 Qe2? Rd8 13 O-O
MASTERING THE CHESS OPENINGS, "One of the most important guidelines in chess is to protect your K from harm."



13 ... Qxd2 14 Qh5+
THE RIGHT WAY TO PLAY CHESS, "If in a bad position in the middle game, the retention of the Q will at least offer chances of a perpetual in the ending, for a lone Q can often force the draw in this manner."

14 ... Bg6 15 Qf3+ Kg8 16 Rad1
THE GAME OF CHESS, "The ideal to be aimed at is attack with development or defense with development."

16 … Qf4?? 17 RxR+ = NxR






















18 Rd1??
RYBKA recommends 18 Qd5+ !? Nf7 19 Qxb7=; retention of the Q.

18 ... Ne6?? 19 QxQ NxQ? 20 Bxd5 Ne2+ 21 Kh1 Bxc2 22 Rd8+
MY SYSTEM, "The ideal which lies at the root of every operation in a file is the ultimate penetration by way of this file into the enemy's game, that is to say to our 7th or 8th rank.



22 ... Bf8??




















23 Bxc7! +-
But stronger, as recommended by RYBKA, is 23 Rd2; simultaneous attack of unprotected pieces.
23 ... Nc3 24 Bd6!
THE GAME OF CHESS, "One of the most frequent and most dangerous forms of attack is the pin."


24 ... Kf7 25 RxB+ Ke6
W is an exchange up; R & B vs N & B.


26 Bc5 b6 27 Bb4 NxP 28 Bd2!
TURNING ADVANTAGE INTO VICTORY, "As your opponent finds his pieces squeezed further and further, he begins to accept defeat."

28 ... BxP 29 Re8+? Kd7 30 Rh8 Bc2 31 f4 Ke6 32 g4 Nb4??? 33 BxN +-




















W is already a full R ahead. But according to some GMs, the hardest thing to win is winning a won game.
33 ... a5 34 Re8+?? Kf6 35 Be7+??
RYBKA recommends 35 Bc3+ followed by 36 Rb8 +-

35 ... Kf7 36 Rc8 Be4+ 37 Kg1 KxB





















White loses his B as his Plan A of going for the mate faltered.


38 h3?
RYBKA suggests 38 Rb8 +-; R's behind the passed pawn.

38 ... Kd6 39 Rd8+ Kc5 40 Rc8+
RYBKA recommends 40 Kf2, "to set the K in motion, and strive to reach the center of the board."

40 ... Kb5 41 f5?? a4 42 Rc7 g6?? 43 f6! +-
THE COMPLETE CHESS PLAYER, "For the possibility of queening can reduce any number of enemy pieces to virtual immobility in the feverish effort to prevent the pawn's promotion."

43 ... Bd5 44 f7 BxP 45 RxB a3 46 h4? a2




















47 Ra7
TARRASCH FORMULA : The R’s proper place is behind the passed pawn, whether it be his own or an enemy.


47 … Kb4 48 Rxa2 b5 49 h5 Kb3 50 Rh2 g5 51 Kf2 b4 52 Ke3 Kc3 53 Ke4 b3 54 Kf5 h6 55 Kg6 b2 56 RxP KxR 57 Kxh6 [1-0].

AGUILA MEMORIAL CUP

Edson Gonzales

Junior vs Edson GONZALES
Aguila Memorial Cup
MERALCO, Pasig City
August 2, 2008

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Bc5 4 Bc4 Nf6












Better Chess, "Your aim in the opening should be to get your pieces into play as quickly as possible, so that they can cooperate with one another, rather than getting into each other's way, and assist the more important plan of conquering territory and gaining space."

5 Ng5
The Game of Chess, 'The knight is chiefly useful for attack, and must therefore be advanced as far as possible into, or at least against the enemy camp, but not in the OPENING."

5 … O-O 6 BxP+ RxB 7 NxR KxR
Steinitz Theory: In the beginning of the game, ignore the search for combinations, abstain from violent moves, aim for small advantages, accumulate them, and only after having attained these ends search for the combination.

8 b3 d6 9 Bb2
Logical Chess, “A bishop is utilized to greatest effect in controlling an important diagonal or in pinning an enemy piece.”

9 … Bg4 10 f3
Best Lessons of a Chess Coach, “Pawns are an asset when they can drive your opponent’s pieces back or control key squares.”

10 … Bh5 11 g4












Modern Art of Attack, “Another method of assaulting the orthodox castled position consists of a mass pawn advance.”

11 Bg6 12 g5? Nh5 13 Qe2?
Chess Player's Handbook, "It is not good to play the Queen out into the game at the beginning, because she can be attacked by inferior pieces, and is compelled to retire with the loss of many moves."

13 ... Nd4 14 Qd1 QxP 15 Nd5 Qh4+












The Ten Most Common Chess Mistakes, “Nothing is more important than safeguarding your King by castling early, within the first dozen moves if possible.”

16 Kf1 Qh3+ 17 Ke1 NxP+ 18 Ke2 Qg2+ 19 Kd3 Nf4+ 20 Kc3?













Best Lessons of a Chess Coach, “Do not let enemy pieces remain in your territory unchallenged.”

A worthy challenge is 20 NxN followed by Qe2.

20 … Bd4+ 21 Kb4 NxN 22 PxN a5+ 23 Ka4 Qg4+ 24 c4 Qd7# [0-1].
Kasparov Teaches Chess, "By remaining in the center, the King may be lured to the very center of the board by sacrifices and then disaster becomes imminent."

Teddy Santiago

Aguila Memorial Cup
MERALCO, Pasig City
W: Junior SOL CRUZ
B: Teddy SANTIAGO


1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Nf6
Manual of Chess, “Get the knights into action before both bishops are developed.”


4 b3 a6 5 Bb2 Bc5 6 Bc4























The Game of Chess, “The whole art of the Opening consists in bringing into action pieces which are at first shut in, in freeing pieces by a very few pawn moves, and in getting them favorable positions and that as quickly as possible.”


6 … O-O 7 Qe2 b5 8 Bd5 NxB






















9 PxN?
Avoiding a doubled pawn through NxN may be better. This also centralizes the N and threatens the c7 pawn.


9 … Nd4 10 NxN BxN 11 O-O-O?


Diag 3


The Art of Chess, “Beware of castling when your adversary has, or can force, an open file bearing on your castled King.”


11 … Bb7 12 Qe4?
The Ideas Behind The Chess Openings, “Do not bring your Queen out early.”


12 … d6 13 Qg4 b4 14 Ne4???


Diag 4


14 … BxB
An f5 pawn push wins a piece.


15 KxB BxP?
Well, Black is happy with a pawn advantage.


16 Ng5 Qf6 17 Qh5 h6


Diag 5


18 Nf3?
Manual of Chess, "Search for the combination which brings home your advantage.”


That combination starts with 18 h4 and if 18 … PxN, the knock-out 19 Qh8 wins the game.


18 … e4+ 19 c3 PxN 20 QxB PxP 21 QxNP a5 22 Qg3?


Diag 6


The Chess Player’s Handbook, “It is usually good play to get command of an open file, that is to say, a file which is occupied by no other man, by stationing a Rook at one end of it.”


The e-file is the best station for Rook.


22 … Rae8! 23 Rhg1 Re2! 24 Rg2 c5 25 Rdg1???


Diag 7


Learn from Your Chess Mistakes, “It is therefore vital, when your opponent has moved, not only to see and understand what his intention is but also to check again for a reoccurring tactical concept.”


25 … RxP+ 26 Kc1 PxP


Diag 8


27 QxP+?
Modern Art of Attack, “The attack against an opposite castled opponent can focus on the creation and efficient use of an open file.”


Placing the Q to e3 will allow the doubled Rooks work more efficiently, and if Black continues with the natural looking 27 … d5, then 28 RxP+ Kh8 29 R1g6 and Black will choose between the lesser evil; 29 … PxR leads to mate on 30 QxRP+ or 29 … QxR leads to a lost endgame on 30 RxQ KxR 31 QxP+ and 31 QxR.


However, the ensuing exchange of Queen simplifies the game for Black.


27 … QxQ 28 RxQ+ Kh8 29 a4 d5 30 f4 d4 31 f5 d6 32 R7g2 RxR 33 RxR Re8 34 Rg1 Re2 35 h4 Ra2 36 Kb1 Rb2+ 37 Ka1 RxP 38 Ka2 Rb2+ 39 Ka1 d2 40 h5 Rb4 41 Rd1 c2 42 RxP c1=Q+ 43 Ka2

[0-1].

MOVING THE SAME PIECE TWICE

The 10 Most Common Chess Mistakes
Larry Evans

Don't lose time by moving the same piece twice.


CHESS FUNDAMENTALS
Jose Raul Capablanca

Before development has been completed, no piece should be moved more than once, unless it is essential in order to obtain material advantage or to secure freedom of action.

LSGH PRADA-PAYA SELECTION

The 7th RANK

W: Junior SOL CRUZ
B: Earl CABUGAO
LSGH PRADA-PAYA Selection Round 8
Mandaluyong City

1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 d6 3 Nf3 Nc6 CHESS FUNDAMENTALS, “Bring out N's before bringing out B's.”

This position appeared in Ghaem Maghami vs Mark Paragua in Asian Championship, Cebu 2007 which ended with an early draw.

4 b3
RYBKA's top 3 recommendations are 4 Bc4, 4 Bb5 and 4 d4.

4 ... Bd7 5 Bb2 Nf6 6 Qe2?
THE CHESS PLAYER'S HANDBOOK, “It is not good to play the Q out into the game at the beginning, because she can be attacked by inferior pieces, and is compelled to retire with the loss of many moves.”

6 … Bg4 7 O-O-O
MASTERING THE CHESS OPENINGS, “One of the most important guidelines in chess is to protect your K from harm.”

7 … Nd4 8 Qd3 e6 9 h3 Bh5 10 g4
MANUAL OF CHESS, “The more space you dominate, the less space for the opponent in which to move his pieces about, the more restricted the number of moves with which he may threaten you or guard himself against your threats.”

10 … Bg6 11 NxN c5xN 12 Qxd4 Be7 13 g5 Nd7 14 Nb5? e5 15 Qc3? a6??
















16 Nc7+
MANUAL OF CHESS, "Search for the combination which brings home your advantage.”

16 … Kf8 17 NxR QxR 18 f4 Bxe4 19 Rg1 Bd8 20 fxe5
THE COMPLETE CHESS PLAYER, "Pawn exchanges result in attacking lines."

20 ... dxe5 21 Bc4
THINK LIKE A GRANDMASTER, "When weak pawns stand on open lines, then the lines facilitate the concentration of piece pressure on these weaknesses."

21 ... Bb6 22 Rgf1 Bg6 23 Ba3+ Bc5 24 BxB NxB 25 Qxe5 Nd7? 26 Qd6+ Ke8
















27 Rde1+
BEST LESSONS OF A CHESS COACH, "To strengthen an attack, bring in a new piece, preferably with a check."

27 ... Kd8 28 Qe7+ MY SYSTEM, "The ideal which lies at the root of every operation in a file is the ultimate penetration by way of this file into the enemy's game, that is to say to our 7th or 8th rank."
 28 ... Kc7 29 Bxf7 BxB 30 RxB Rd8 31 Rxg7 Qa7 32 Re6? Qg1+ 33 Re1 Qd4 34 c3 Qd3 35 Re3 Qf1+ 36 Re1 Qd3 37 Qe3 Qf5 38 Qe4? Qxh3 39 Qc4+ Kb8 40 Qf4+ Ka8??? 41 Qf2? h5 42 Qe3 Qg4 43 Qd4 QxQ 44 PxQ Ka7 45 Rde7 Nb6 47 Rxb7+ Ka8 48 Ra7+ Kb8 49 Rab7+ Kc8 50 Rgc7# [1-0].

LSGH: OPEN FILE

W: Junior SOL CRUZ

B: Tim DELA CRUZ

LSGH PRADA-PAYA Selection Round 4

Mandaluyong City

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3

CHESS FUNDAMENTALS,“Bring out N's before bringing out B's.”

3 … Bb4 4 b3

THE IDEAS BEHIND THE CHESS OPENINGS, "Most promising for White, if Black persists in avoiding the Four Knights', is 4 Bb5, so that on 4 ... Nge7 (of course 4 ... Nf6 is possible); d4! exd4 6 Nxd4 gives him the better center position."

4... Nf6 5 Bb2

TEACH YOURSELF BETTER CHESS, "B's are best deployed on the longest diagonals - the ones from corner to corner."

5 … O-O 6 d3 d6 7 Qd2? Bg4 8 O-O-O

MASTERING THE CHESS OPENINGS, "One of the most important guidelines in chess is to protect your K from harm."

8 … BxNf3 9 g2xBf3 BxNc3 10 QxBc3 Nd4 11 f4! Re8 12 fxe5 dxe5 13 Rg1

MODERN ART OF ATTACK, "The attack against an opposite castled opponent can focus on the creation and efficient use of an open file."

13 … Rc8 14 Qd2??

RYBKA recommends 14 f4, to keep up the pressure.

14 ... c5

15 Qh6

THE GAME OF CHESS, "One of the most frequent and most dangerous forms of attack is the pin."

15 … g6

THE COMPLETE CHESS PLAYER, "So long as the pawn in front of K remains unmoved, it is relatively difficult to work up a convincing attack; but let one of these lowly pawns advance a step, and very often the whole castled position totters on the brink of disaster."

16 Bh3 Rc6 17 Kb1 Nf3 18 Rg3 Nxh2

19 Bf5?

RYBKA recommends 19 Rh1 +-; bringing another piece into action and trapping the N.

19 ... Kh8 20 QxNh2 gxBf5 21 Rh1 f4 22 Rh3

RYBKA: 22 Rg5 +- and White has it in the bag.

22 ... Kg8

23 Rg1+ Kh8 24 Rh6 Rg8 25 c3?

RYBKA: 25 Bxe5 secures the point.

25 ... RxR 26 QxR Qf8 27 Qh2 Ng4

28 RxP+Kg8 29 Rh8+ Kg7 30 Qh7+ Kf6 31 RxQ Rc7 32 d4 b6 33 QPxP NxP 34 Qh8+ Ke6 35 Re8+ Re7 36 c4 Ng6 37 Qf6+ Kd7 38 RxR NxR 39 Qxf7 a6 40 Bf6 Kd6 [1-0].

LSGH: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

LSGH PRADA/PAYA Selection Tourney
Mandaluyong City
R3 G/25
White: Luke de Leon
Black: Junior Sol Cruz
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Nf6
MANUAL OF CHESS, "Get the N's into action before both B's are developed."

4 Bb5 Bc5
This is called the FOUR KNIGHTS' GAME - SPANISH VARIATION (on Bb5) - CLASSICAL LINE (on Bc5). These moves were played by SUPER GRANDMASTERS, old and young alike; Paulsen vs Morphy in USA 1857, Janowsky vs Lasker in Cambridge Springs 1904, Nimzovich vs Rubinstein in San Sebastian 1912, Short vs Adams in England 1991 and Svidler vs Vallejo in Leon 2004.

5 BxN QPxB 6 NxP?













6 ... Bd6?

CHESS FUNDAMENTALS, "Before development has been completed, no piece should be moved more than once, unless it is essential in order to obtain a material advantage or secure freedom of action."7 Nc4 b6?? 8 d3? Bb7?? 9 Bg5? Qd7?? 10 e5 h6! 11 PxN PxP?? 12 BxP Rg8



THE CHESS PLAYER'S HANDBOOK, "It is usually good play to get command of an open file, that is to say, a file which is occupied by no other man, by stationing a Rook at one end of it."
13 O-O Be7? 14 Re1 O-O-O!
KASPAROV TEACHES CHESS, "By remaining in the center, the King may be lured to the very center of the board by sacrifices and then disaster becomes imminent."

15 RxB














15 ... Qh3!!!

TURNING ADVANTAGE INTO VICTORY, "Look for exceptions. Look for the most unusual moves in the most varied positions."


16 Ne3 c5! 17 Ne2?? RxP+!!! 18 NxR QxN#
[0-1]
SECRETS OF PRACTICAL CHESS, "The main factor governing the success of an attack on the enemy King is whether you can bring more attacking pieces to bear on his King position than he can muster for defense."

PORTABLE CHESS COACH, "Look for threats, especially checks."
RYBKA's gives 6 ... Bxf2+ 7 KxB Qd4+ 8 Kf1 QxNe5, regaining the pawn, the B (for N), and depriving W of castling.

LSGH: KNIGHT IN A SHINING ARMOR

W: Junior SOL CRUZ
B: Nikko DIONISIO

LSGH PRADA-PAYA Selection Round 2

Mandaluyong City

1e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Nf6

CHESS FUNDAMENTALS, “Bring out N's before bringing the B's."

Super-GM Wesley So has a pair of excellent wins with this opening, against Kaplan and Howell in the World Championship Under 20 2007.

4 b3

THE IDEAS BEHIND THE CHESS OPENINGS, "White must threaten something early, for otherwise Black will be able to counter with ... d5 or develop all his pieces without any trouble. So 4 Bb5."

4 ... d5 5 PxP

MY SYSTEM, "A center pawn should always be taken if this can be done without too great danger.”

5 … NxP 6 Bb2

LOGICAL CHESS, “A bishop is utilized to greatest effect in controlling an important diagonal or in pinning an enemy piece.”

6 … Nf4 7 g3

BEST LESSONS OF A CHESS COACH, “Do not let enemy pieces remain in your territory unchallenged.”

7 … Ng6 8 Qe2 Bf5 9 O-O-O

MASTERING THE CHESS OPENINGS, “One of the most important guidelines in chess is to protect your K from harm.”

9 … Nf4??? 10 PxN

THE 10 MOST COMMON MISTAKES IN CHESS, “Skill, in fact, might be defined as the ability to exploit the other guy’s mistake.”

10 … Be7 11 PxP Qd7 12 Bg2 Bg6 13 Kb1 Qf5 14 d3 O-O-O 15 Qe4 Qd7 16 Qe2 Nb4 17 d4? Qf5? 18 Nh4??? Qe6??? 19 NxB RPxN 20 d5 Qa6? 21 QxQ NxQ 22 Nb5 Rh5 23 NxP+ Kb8 24 Nb5 RxKP??? 25 BxR Rd7

As Batman said in The Dark Knight, “Time to move in.”

26 d6 Bh4 27 PxP+ Kc8 28 Na7# [1-0].

FAST & FURIOUS

W: Ise NUESTRO
B: Junior SOL CRUZ
LSGH PRADA-PAYA Selection R1
Mandaluyong City

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6
MANUAL OF CHESS, "Get the N's into action before both B's are developed."

3 Bb5 Nf6 4 Nc3This is the SPANISH VARIATION of the FOUR KNIGHTS' GAME. This exact position occurred in the game World Champion Boris Spassky vs Eugene Torre, Dubai Olympiad 1986 (1/2-1/2) and in Alexy Kim vs Eugene Torre, Asian Individual Championship, Cebu 2007 (0-1) where Torre sacrificed his Q on the 20th move.
4 ... b6
The theoretical lines are 4 ... Bb4 - Symmetrical Variation and were Torre's continuation in both games, 4 ... Bc5 - Classical, and 4 ... Nd4 - Rubinstein.

5 BxN d7xB 6 Nxe5 Bc5
LOGICAL CHESS, "On this excellent square, the B commands an important diagonal, exerts pressure on the center and attacks a weak pawn."

7 Nxc6 Qd6! 8 Nxa7??? RxN -+Masters used to say on such an advantage, a N for 2 pawns, that the rest is just a matter of technique. But for these kids, the familiar phrase is GAME OVER.

9 O-O O-O
MASTERING THE CHESS OPENINGS, "One of the most important guidelines in chess is to protect your K from harm."

10 d3 Qe5? 11 Be3 Bd6













12 Bd4??? QxP#
[0-1]THE TEN MOST COMMON CHESS MISTAKES, "Skill, in fact, might be defined as the ability to exploit the other guy's mistake."

BEST LESSONS of a CHESS COACH

by Sunil Weeramantry & Ed Eusebi

An innovative book on game-winning strategy for players at the intermediate level. Every truth about chess must be coached in context, and the book's interactive teacher-student dialogue does just that. The master player and nationally recognized teacher Sunil Weeramantry brings the fundamentals of strategy and tactics to life and teaches players at all levels how to think like a master during a chess game.

Note: These are actual classroom lectures that were given by NSCF Executive Director Sunil Weeramantry.

Review by the National Scholastic Chess Foundation
www.nscfchess.org

KUNG FU PANDA SIMUL

NM Marlon Bernardino

MERALCO Chess Club Simul
Lopez Bldg, Pasig City
W: Junior SOL CRUZ
B: NM Marlon BERNARDINO

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3
World Champion Emanuel Lasker in Manual of Chess, named as one of the best five chess books of all time by The Wall Street Journal, "Get the knights into action before both bishops are developed."

 3 ... Bb4 4 Bc4 Nf6 
FOUR KNIGHTS' GAME - ITALIAN VARIATION, on account of Bc4.

5 Ng5
World Champion Jose Raul Capablanca in Chess Fundamentals, considered to be one of the best primers ever for beginning to intermediate chess players, "Before development has been completed, no piece should be moved more than once, unless it is essential in order to obtain material advantage or secure freedom of action."

5 ... O-O
THE IDEAS BEHIND THE CHESS OPENINGS, 'Castle as soon as possible, preferably on the King's side."

6 BxP RxB 7 NxR KxN

8 b3 d6 9 Bb2
Chess Fundamentals, "Placed on the long diagonal, the bishop is posted for its maximum potential control of the central squares as well as eyeing the opposite wing of the enemy's camp."

9 ... Bg4 10 f3 Bh5 11 Qe2 Kf8 12 O-O-O
World Champion Garry Kasparov in Kasparov Teaches Chess, "Beginners and those with insufficient experience should castle at the earliest opportunity. By remaining in the center, the King may be lured to the very center of the board and then disaster becomes imminent."

12 ... a5 13 g4 Bf7 15 g5
Modern Art of Attack,"Another method of assaulting the orthodox castled position consists of a mass pawn advance."

14 ... BxN 15 PxB
The 10 Most Common Chess Mistakes,"Doubled pawns create a semi-open file to work on, but as a rule they should be avoided."

15 ... Nh5 16 Qb5?

















16 ... QxP+ 17 Rd2? Rb8 18 b4
The Complete Chess Player, "So long as the Pawns in front of the King remain unmoved, it is relatively difficult to work up a convincing attack; but let one of these "lowly" Pawns advance a step, and very often the whole castled position totters on the brink of disaster."

18 ... PxP 19 PxP BxP 20 h4 Qe3 21 Rg1??
Portable Chess Coach, "Losing is not synonymous with failure. On the contrary, losing is a natural part of the process of becoming a stronger player."


Secrets of Practical Chess revealed,"The main factor governing the success of an attack on the enemy King is whether you can bring more attacking pieces to bear on his King position than he can muster for the defense."

This "secret" is similar to the parable in the Gospel of Luke, "Or what king would go and wage war against another king without first sitting down to determine if, with ten thousand troops, he can take someone advancing towards him with twenty thousand troops?"

MERALCO vs LA SALLE