G1 IM Oliver Barbosa

Training Game #1
White IM Oliver Barbosa
Black Rhal Sol Cruz
Q's Gambit

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 Nbd7 6.O-O O-O 7.Qc2 b6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bf4 c5 10.Nc3 a6 11.Rfd1 Bb7 12.dxc5 Nxc5 13.Nd4 Ne6 14.e3 Nxf4 15.gxf4 Rc8 16.Qb3 Bc5 17.Rd2 Rc7 18.Rad1 Rd7
[18... Qd7 19.h3 b5 20.Nde2 Qc8]

19.Nf3

19... Qa8
[19... d4 20.Nxd4 Qa8 21.Bxb7 Qxb7]

20.Ne5 Rd6 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.Bxd5 Bxd5 23.Rxd5 Rxd5 24.Rxd5 Qe8 25.Qxb6 f6 26.Qe6

Training with IM Barbosa

Forcado vs Sol Cruz

ASKALs Workshop
Q's Gambit R1
White: Ian Forcado
Black: Rhal Sol Cruz
ECO D60 Q's Gambit Declined


1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 O-O
a) Steinitz vs Lasker, World Championship 1894
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1132680
b) Lasker vs Steinitz, World Championship 1897
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1012498
c) Lasker vs Capablanca, World Championship 1921
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1241504
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1241495
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1241498
d) Capablanca vs Alekhine, World Championship 1927
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1012507
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1012498


7.Bd3 b6
[7... dxc4 or 7... h6]


8.O-O Bb7 9.b3 c5 10.Rc1 Rc8 11.Re1 h6 12.Bf4 a6
[12... cxd4]


13.e4? cxd4
[13... dxc4 14.Bxc4 cxd4]


14.Nxd4??

14... dxe4?
[14... dxc4 15.Bxc4 e5 -+]


15.Bb1?? e5 -+ 16.Bxh6 gxh6?
[16... exd4]

17.Nf5 Kh7?
[17... Nc5 -+]


18.Qd2 Ng4?
[18... Ng8]

19.Qe2 Rg8


20.h3? Ngf6 21.Qe3? Rg5
[21... Qf8 -+]


22.Nxh6 Rh5?
[22... Rg6 -+]

23.Nxf7 Qg8 24.Nxe4 Nxe4 25.Bxe4 Bxe4 26.Qxe4

26... Kg7??
[26... Qg6 +-]


27.Qg4 Kxf7 28.Qxh5 Qg6 29.Qf3 Qf6 30.Qd5 Qe6 31.Rcd1 Qxd5 32.Rxd5 Rc5 33.Rxd7


Result: 1-0

G4 NM Cabellon

ASKAL Summer Workshop
MERALCO Chess Club
Pasig City, Philippines
Day 3 Q's Gambit Clock Simul [90-60 minutes]
White: NM Gerry Cabellon
Black: Rhal Sol Cruz

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.Nc3 Be7 6.e3 O-O

7.cxd5
This is the Exchange Variation. It was played in Petrosian vs Spassky in World Championship 1969.

Other moves are:
7.   c5 - Steinitz vs Lasker in World Championship 1894
7. Rc1 - Capablanca vs Lasker in World Championship 1921 and Alekhine vs Capablanca in World Championship 1927.

7... exd5 8.Bd3

8... b6
[8... c6]

9.O-O Bb7 10.Rc1 c5 11.Bb1
Petrosian continued with 11.Bf5 against Spassky. But Bb1 is not a bad move, it was played in Hruby vs Gunsberg, Pillsbury vs Schlecter, Tarrasch vs Schlecter, Tarrasch vs Burn, to name few.

11... Rc8
[11... Ne4 12.Bf4 Rc8 13.Qe2 f5]

12.dxc5 bxc5 13.Qe2 Qb6! 14.Rfd1 Rfe8
[14... h6 15.Bf4 Bd6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6]

15.Na4 Qa5 16.b3 Ba6 17.Qd2 Qxd2 18.Rxd2

18... Bb7
[18... c4 19.bxc4 Rxc4 20.Rxc4 dxc4]

19.Bf5 Rc7 20.Bf4 Rc6 21.Rde2 g6! 22.Bh3 Bc8
[22... c4]

23.Bg3

23... Nb6??
[23... Ra6]

24.Nxc5
[24.Nd4 +-]

24... Bxh3 25.gxh3 Rec8 26.b4 Na4??
[26... Nc4]

27.Nd4 +-

G3 NM Cabellon

ASKAL Summer Workshop
Day 2 Sicilian Najdorf
Simul Match
White: NM Giri Cabellon
Black: Rhal Sol Cruz
Time Control: 75' - 60'

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6
The strategy behind 5... a6 is to prepare for Q-side play while keeping maximum flexibility.
De Firmian in Modern Chess Openings

a) Adams vs Kasparov, Linares 2005
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1333302
b) Karjakin vs Anand, Corus 2006
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1385670
c) Nisipeanu vs Topalov, Dresden Olympiad 2008
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1521598

6 Be2 - Classical Variation
White simply wants to develop naturally before starting to play actively.
Djuric, K       & Pantaleoni in Chess Opening Essentials

a) Unzicker vs Fischer, Varna Olympiad 1962
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1008416
b) Yurtaev vs Carlsen, Aeroflot 2004
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1274827

 6... e6 7 O-O Be7 8 Be3 O-O 9 f4 Nbd7 10 f5 e5
[10... Ne5]

11 Nb3 b5 12 Bf3 Bb7 13 a3 Rac8 14 Qe1

14... Nc5
[14... Nb6]

15 Nxc5 dxc5 16 Rd1 Qc7
You must try to react to a pin as soon as possible, or even try to avoid being pinned.
Yusupov in Build Up Your Chess

17 g4 Rfd8
Fight for possesion of open files.
Heisman in Element of Positional Evaluation

18 g5
diag18

18... Nd7
[18... Rxd1 19.Qxd1 Rd8]
We exchange in order to seize or open a file or diagonal.
Nimzovich in My System
19 f6 Bf8 20 Bg4
[20 fxg7 +-]

20... g6 21 Qg3 Rb8 22 Bxd7 Rxd7 23 Rxd7 Qxd7 24 Rd1 Qc7
[24... Qe6 or 24... Qe8]

25 Nd5 Bxd5 26 Rxd5 Bd6 27 Qf2 c4 28 c3
diag28

28... Kf8??
[28... Re8-Re6]

29 Rxd6+-

Result: 1-0

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

People's Tonight: Xavier Champs

7th Gold: Xavier Inter-Scholastic

People's: AZKALs upstage MERALCO

R4 Dellota vs Sol Cruz

MERALCO vs ASKALs
R4 G/25
White: Ronnie Dellota
Black: Rhal Sol Cruz



Result: 1-0

R2 Mallari vs Sol Cruz

MERALCO vs ASKALs
R2 G/25
White: Bong Mallari
Black: Rhal Sol Cruz
C50 Italian Game


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7
The Hungarian Defence is a solid opening system used by World Champions Max Euwe, Vasily Smyslov and Tigran Petrosian;
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1042807
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1126725
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1080880
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1106205
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1528234
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1106507


This defense was recommended by the late NM Andrew Vasquez, Rhal's first professional coach, in 2009.


4.d4 d6
This is the main line and was recommended by GM Bong to Rhal during their training sessions in 2010.


5.h3 Nf6 6.Nc3 O-O 7.O-O

a) Paoli vs Cardoso, Reggio Emilia 1970
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1379339
b) Lane vs Dimakiling, Kuala Lumpur 2007
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1547124


7... a6?
Pawn moves are only admissible in the development stage when they either help to occupy the center, or stand in connection with its occupation; that is to say a pawn move which protects its own or attacks the enemy center. Nimzovich in My System


[7... Nxe4 8.Nxe4 d5 9.Bxd5 Qxd5]
Spot a weak square, or group of squares, in the opponent's position, preferably in the center or near his K. Harding in Better Chess for Average Players


8.Bg5 b5 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Bd5 Bb7 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.a3 Rb8 13.Qe2

After 13.Qe2

13... Qe7?
[13... Nd4 14.Qd3 c6 15.Ba2 Qe7]
Post your pieces centrally, so long as you can do so safely, without inviting the advance of the pawn-rollers. Nimzovich in My System


14.Rfd1 Na5?
Ns are short-range pieces, you should avoid placing them on edges of the board. Moskalenko in Revolutionize Your Chess


15.b4 Nc6 16.Rd3

After 16.Rd3

16... Na7??
[16... Rfd8 17.Rad1 Rd6 or 16... Rbd8]
In the middlegame, seize the open files and command them with your Rs. Chernev in Logical Chess Move by Move


17.Bxb7! Rxb7 18.Nd5 Qe6 19.Nxf6+ Qxf6 20.Rd7
Rs are very dangerous when they reach the 7th rank. Capablanca in Chess Fundamentals

After 20.Rd7

20... Rd8?
[20... Nc8 21.Rad1 Nb6 22.R7d3 Nc4 23.Rd7 Nb6 24.R7d3]

21.Qd3! Rbb8 22.Rd1 +-


Result: 1-0

R1 Sol Cruz vs Clarito

ASKALs vs Meralco
Pasig City
R1 G/25



Result: 1-0

MERALCO vs ASKALs

Bulgar: Salibanda Simul