R3 Sol Cruz vs Forcado

Ruy Lopez Workshop

MERALCO, Pasig City

W: Rhal Sol Cruz

B: Ian Forcado

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Bxc6 dxc6 5 O-O Qd6 6 Nc3 Bg4 7 d3 f6 8 Be3 O-O-O 9 Qe2 Qd7 10 Rb1 h5 11 a4 b6 12 b4 Kb7 13 b5 cxb5 14 axb5 a5 15 Na4 Bxf3 16 Qxf3 Qg4 17 Qxg4 hxg4 18 Rb3 Bb6 19 c4 Ra8 20 c5 bxc5 21 Nxc5+ Bxc5 22 Bxc5 Nh6 23 b6 c6 24 Ra1 a4 25 Rba3 Ra6 26 Rxa4 Rha8 27 Rxa6 Rxa6 28 Rxa6 Kxa6

29 Kf1

[29 Bf8 +-]

29... Nf7 30 Bf8

Result: 1-0

R2 Sol Cruz vs Cobsilen

1 e4 e 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Bxc6 dxc6 5 O-O Qd6 6 d3 f6 7 h3 Be6 8 Be3 O-O-O 9 Nbd2 Qd7 10 Qe2 Ne7 11 a4

11... g5 12 Nh2 h5 13 b4 Ng6 14 Rfb1 b6 15 Nc4 [15 Nb3] 15... Kb7 16 Na3? [16 Qe1] 16... g4 17 b5? cxb5-+ 18 axb5 a5 19 Nc4 Bd6

20 Nxd6+ cxd6

21 Bxb6 Kxb6 22 Qe3+ Kb7 23 Rxa5 Ra8 24 Ra6 Qc7 25 b6 Qc5 26 Qxc5 dxc5 27 Rxa8

Result: 0-1

R1 Corpin vs Sol Cruz

Ruy Lopez Workshop
MERALCO, Pasig City
W: Justin David Corpin
B: Rhal Sol Cruz


1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Bxc6 dxc6 5 O-O
This was Fischer's way of reinvigorating the Exchange Variation.

5... Qd6
5... Qxd6!? is one of Black's best options - after 6 Na3! b5 (6... Be6 7 Qe2 f6 is also possible) 7 c3 c5 8 Nc2 White plans both a4 and d4, and so has a tiny edge. Understanding the Chess Openings

5... Bg4. This is the most radical move and the one that was originally thought to be the most serious problem with 5 O-O. Mastering the Chess Openings  

7 Nc3 Be6 7 Ng5 f6?
[7... Be7]

8 Nxe6 Qxe6 9 d3 O-O-O 10 Be3 Bd6 11 Qe2 Ne7 12 f4 

12... exf4
We exchange in order to occupy or open a line without loss of time. My System13 Bxf4 Ng6



[13... h5]
A spearhead of pawns, supported by pieces, advancing on a K ay to Play Chess
 
14 Bxd6 Qxd6 15 Kh1 Kb8 [15... h5] 16 Rf2 Rhe8 [16... h5] 17 Raf1 Qb4 18 Nd1 Qd4 19 b3
 
D19
19... Re7?
 
20 Ne3 Rde8?? 21 Nf5 +-

Result: 1-0

Bomba: Sol Cruz Memorial

Results: 5th Casiano Sol Cruz Memorial Cup

R5 Sol Cruz vs Andan

5th Casiano Sol Cruz Memorial Cup
MERALCO, Pasig City
R5 G/25
W: Rhal Sol Cruz
B: JC Andan

R4 Corpin vs Sol Cruz

5th Casiano Sol Cruz Memorial Cup
MERALCO, Pasig City
R4 G/25
W: Justin Corpin
B: Rhal Sol Cruz



Result: 1-0, Time Forfeit

R3 Letran Knight

5th Casiano Sol Cruz Memorial Cup
MERALCO, Pasig City
R3 G/25
White: Rhal Sol Cruz
Black: Kerby Acoba
ECO B50 Sicilian Defense


1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4
[6.cxd4 - 7.Nc3]


6... Nxd4 7.Qxd4
[7.cxd4 - 8.Nc3 - 9,Bb5+]


7... Qxd4 8.cxd4 Nf6 9.Bb5+
[9.Nc3]


9... Bd7 10.Bxd7+ Kxd7 11.Be3


11... e6 12.Nc3 Bb4 13.a3 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Rac8 15.Rc1 Ne4 16.Bd2
[16.c4]


16... Rc4 17.f3 Nd6 18.Rb1 Rhc8 19.Ke2 Ra4 20.Rb3 b6 21.Ra1 Nf5 22.Rb4


22... Ra5 23.a4 Ne7 24.Rb5 Nc6 25.Kd3 Rb8 26.c4 a6

27.Rxa5
[27.Rb2 Rh5 28.Rab1]


27... bxa5 28.d5


28... exd5 29.cxd5 Nb4+ 30.Bxb4
[30.Kc4]


30... axb4 31.Rb1 Kd6 32.Kc4 a5


Result: 0-1 

R2 Cusi vs Sol Cruz

5th Casiano Sol Cruz Memorial Cup
MERALCO, Pasig City
R2 Bd6 G/25
White Daniel Cusi
Black Rhal Sol Cruz
C50 Hungarian Defense


1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Be7 4 c3 Nf6 5 Qc2 d6 6 d4 O-O 7 Be3 Ng4 8 Bd2 Nf6 9 h3 a6
Every pawn move is to be regarded as a loss of time, unless it helps to build or support the center or attack the enemy's center. Capablanca in Chess Fundamentals


10 Be3 b5 11 Bb3 Bb7 12 Nbd2 exd4 13 Nxd4 Nxd4 14 Bxd4??
[14 cxd4]

14... c5 15 Be3 c4 -+


Result: 0-1

5th Casiano Sol Cruz Memorial Cup

G4 IM Oliver Dimakiling

Training Game

Pasig City, Philippines

White: Rhal Sol Cruz

Black: IM Oliver Dimakiling

Sicilian Defense B50

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2 e6 5.O-O Be7 6.h3 

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
The common line is 6 Qc2.

6... O-O 7.d3 Nbd7 8.Be3 Qc7 9.Nbd2 b6 10.d4

It is extremely important to get two pawns together on the fourth rank whenever feasible. This controls a lot of space, not only in front but also in the back of the pawns. Weeramantry and Eusebi in Best Lessons of a Chess Coach

10... Bb7 11.Bd3 Rfe8 12.Rc1 

In the opening, shift the Rs toward the center, on files likely to be opened. - Chernev in Logical Chess Move by Move

12... Bf8 13.Re1 Rac8 14.Qe2? Qb8 15.Bf4 e5 16.Bh2 h6 17.d5 g6 18.Nf1 Bg7 19.g4 a6? 20.c4? Nh7 21.Ng3 Ndf8 22.Rf1 Rc7 23.Nh4? Bc8 24.Ng2 Bd7 25.f4 b5 26.b3

[26.f5]

26... Rb7 27.f5! g5 28.Nh5 f6

29.Rf2?

[29.Nxg7 +-]

It s not a move, even the best move, that you must seek, but a realizable plan. Znovsko-Borovsky in How Not to Play Chess

We destroy a defender by exchanging. Nimzovich in My System

29... b4 30.Rcf1? a5 31.h4? a4 32.Qe3? Qc7 33.Bg3? Ra8 34.Bc2? Rba7 35.Rd2? axb3= 36.Bxb3

36... Ba4 37.Rb2 Nd7 38.Bf2 Nb6 39.Qd3 Nf8 40.hxg5 hxg5 41.Qh3 Bxb3 42.axb3 Ra3

43.Rfb1??

Before deciding what to do, you should also try to spot any tactical threats or combinations that may be in the air for you or your adversary. Harding in Better Chess for Average Players

[43.Ne3 to protect c4.]

43... Nxc4

Rhal cannot capture the N because of the pin on his Q.

Result: 0-1

G3 IM Oliver Dimakiling

Training Game

Pasig City, Philippines

White: Rhal Sol Cruz

Black: IM Oliver Dimakiling

Sicilian Defense B50

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2
The move 4.d4 is the Three Pawns Gambit [See comments below].

4... Nc6 5.d3 g6 6.O-O Bg7 7.h3 O-O 8.Be3 Rb8 9.Nbd2 b5 10.d4 b4

11.dxc5 bxc3 12.bxc3 dxc5 13.Qa4 Bd7

14.Bb5

[14.Qa3]

14... Qc7

[14... Nd4]

15.Nb3?

[15.Rab1]

15... a6 16.Bxc6 Bxc6 17.Qa5 Qxa5 18.Nxa5 Bxe4 19.Bxc5

[19.c4]

19... Bxf3 20.gxf3 Rb5

21.Bxe7?? Rxa5 -+

Result: 0-1

G2 IM Oliver Dimakiling

Training Game

White Rhal Sol Cruz

Black IM Dimakiling

McDonald's, Pasig City

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 d5 8.exd5 cxd5 9.Bd2

[9.O-O O-O 10.Bg5 c6 11.Qf3 Be7 12.h3 h6 13.Bf4 Bd6 14.Rad1]

 

9... O-O 10.O-O Bg4 11.Be2 Bf5 12.Bf3 c6 13.Ne2 Bd6 14.Nd4 Bd7 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bh4 Rb8 17.Rb1 c5 18.Ne2 d4 19.Bg3 Bxg3 20.Nxg3 Qa5 21.a3 Be6 22.b3 Rfd8 23.Ne4

[23.Qd3 or 23.Ra1]

 

23... Nd5

 

d24

 

24.Qd2

[24.Re1]

 

24... Qxd2 25.Nxd2 Nc3 26.Rb2?

[26.Ra1]

 

26... c4 27.b4?? f5

[27... Nb5 -+]

 

28.Re1 Bf7 29.Be2?? Nxe2 30.Rxe2 c3 -+

G1 IM Oliver Dimakiling

Training Game

White: IM Oliver Dimakiling

Black: Rhal Sol Cruz

McDonald's, Pasig City

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
This is the problem with answering e4 with e5, White can dictate the opening; Ruy Lopez as in this game, Italian with 3 Bc4, Scotch with 3 d4 and even Vienna with 2 Nc3.

3... a6
This is the choice of grandmasters. However, this leads to a complicated game which is way above Rhal's level.

4.Ba4
White has the option to go for the Exchange Variation that was popularized by World Champion Bobby Fischer.

4... Nf6
The main line.

5.O-O Be7
The main line. But Black can also play 5... Nxe4 or 5... b5.

6.Re1 b5
The main line.

7.Bb3 O-O
One of the most important guidelines in chess is to protect your K from harm. Watson in Mastering the Chess Openings

The main line is 7... d6.

8.c3 d5
The Marshall Attack which debuted in Capablanca vs Marshall, Manhattan 1918.

9.exd5 Nxd5 10.d4
The main line is 10. Nxe5. IM Dimakiling has chosen a minor line played by Nisipeanu and Navara.

10... exd4 11.h3
The usual move is 11.cxd4. Rhal is taken off the book.

11... Bb7
A similar formation for Black is Navara vs Werle, Corus B 2009

12.cxd4 Qd7 13.Nc3 Bb4??

14.Nxd5

[14.Bxd5 Bxc3 15.Bxc6 +-]

14... Bxe1 15.Nxe1 Na5 16.Ne3 Nxb3 17.axb3 Rfd8 18.d5

[18.N3c2]

18... Bxd5 19.Nxd5 Qxd5 20.Qxd5 Rxd5 21.Be3 Kf8 22.b4 Ke8 23.Nc2 Kd7 24.Kf1 Kc6 25.Ke2 Kb7 26.Bc5 Rad8 27.Be3 R8d7 28.Rc1 Re7

[28... Rd3]

29.Ne1 Rd4 30.Nd3 Rd5 31.Nc5 Kb6 32.Ra1 +- 

Training with IM Dimakiling

Results: ASKALs Cup

R4 Cobsilen vs Sol Cruz

ASKALs Cup
Pasig City, Philippines
R4 G/45
White "Cobsilen"
Black "Sol Cruz"


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.Nc3 d6 9.h3 Na5 10.Be3 Bb7 11.Qd2 c5 12.Bd5
 

 
12... Bxd5
[12... b4! 13.Na4 Nxd5 14.exd5 Bxd5]
 
13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Nb7 15.Rfe1 Qd7 16.b3 Bf6 17.Rab1


17... Rfe8
[17... b4 - 18... e4 - 19... Bc3 -+]


18.c4 b4!

19.Qc2 g6
[19... a5]


20.Nd2 Bg7 21.f4 exf4 22.Bxf4 Bd4 23.Kh1 Qf5 24.Bg3 Qg5 25.Bh2 Qh4 26.Nf3 Qf2! 27.Rxe8 Rxe8 28.Nxd4 Qxd4 29.Bg1 Qe5! 30.Bf2 Qe2 31.Rb2 Qxc2


32.Rxc2 Nd8 33.Bg3 Nb7 34.Rd2 Re3 35.Bf2 Re7 36.Kg1 Kf8


37.Bg3 Ke8 38.Kf2 Kd7 39.Bh4 Re5 40.g4 f5 41.Bf6 Re8 42.gxf5

 
42... gxf5
[42... Rf8!]
 
43.Bh4 Re5 44.Kg2 h5 45.Bg3
 
Result: 1-0
 

R3 Sol Cruz vs Moje

ASKALs Cup

MERALCO, Pasig City

W: Sol Cruz

B: Moje

Sicilian Defense

Result: 0-1

R1 Margarito vs Sol Cruz

ASKALs Cup
MERALCO, Pasig City
R1 G/45



Result: 1-0

G2 IM Oliver Barbosa

White: Rhal Sol Cruz
Black: IM Oliver Barbosa
Caro-Kann Defense

1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 - Exchange Variation
A nice simple line used by Bobby Fischer, Bent Larsen and Eduard Rozentalis; you don't need to know many variations, just play through a few nice games. The pawn structure is the same as in a Queen's Gambit Declined Exchange Variation so it's quite good to play this with White if you play QGD with Black; just one kind of position to understand. 
Openings for Club Player at ChessCafe.com

3... cxd5 4 Bd3 Nc6 5 c3 Qc7 6 Nf3 Bg4 7 Be3 
This is a passive move and just made the valuable B function as a big pawn. 7 Bg5 is better.

7... e6 8 Nbd2 Bd6 9 O-O? 
With the IM's B and Q alignment plus the pin on the Q, castling loses a pawn.

9... Nge7 
But the IM gives Rhal a chance and heads on to the middlegame; 9... Bxh2+.

10 Qc2 h6 11 h3 Bf5

12 b3
[12 Rac1]


12... O-O
Either 12... Nb4 or 12... Bxd3 gives Black the advantage.


13 Nh4??
[13 Qb1 or 13 a3]


13... Bxd3
The IM is simply playing along, 13... Nb4 wins.


14 Qxd3 Rac8 15 c4 dxc4 16 bxc4 Rfd8 17 Nhf3 Nf5 18 Nb3
[18 Qe4]


18... Nb4 -+ 
Finally, IM Barbosa steps on the gas.

19 Qd2 Qxc4 20 Rac1 Qb5 21 Rxc8 Rxc8 22 Rc1 Rd8 23 Nc5 Nd5 24 Qe1 Bxc5 25 Rxc5 Qa4 0-1