January 5, 2012
The holidays are always a tough time at work (I work in retail), so after Christmas I decided I needed a break. With this in mind, I signed up for the North American Open for a mini vacation. I had low expectations as I was mostly just there to relax and forget about work.
The first day was very tough for me as I hadn't slept the night before due to work, and therefore was operating off of zero sleep and some dangerous energy drinks (not recommended!). My first round opponent didn't show up and so I recieved a gift point, and although I was happy for the free point I was sad to not play a game. I love chess and wanted a fight. In my second round my opponent blundered a piece in a winning position, and I was able to swindle a point from him. In the third round that day I had White and played the Smith Morra Gambit! Very suprising as I had promised myself that I was going to give up this bad opening -- in Malibu I gave it up and played only the main lines against the Sicilian with great results. Back in Vegas, though, my opponent didn't take advantage of my poor opening choice, played some innacuracies, and allowed me to take a winning attack. The game was finished with a stunning rook sacrafice, and I finished off the first day with 3/3.
The second day I woke up early, ate breakfast, and met a random chess player with whom I immedietly made friends. We hung out for three or four hours, talked about chess, our home towns, and Igor Ivanov, and I showed him a few famous games I had memorized. All and all a great morning. In my fourth round I met my match with Ruiz -- my tormentor for the tournament. Throughout the whole game, he held a winning position. I tried to create some counterplay, but to no avail. At the very end, however, he stumbled into a draw... which I missed!! I subsequently lost the game. After this hard-fought loss I began to set a furious pace in order to try and catch up to my tormentor. That night I played my fifth round and destroyed my opponent with an Evans Gambit in just twelve moves! My game was the first to finish that round. Also, Ruiz, in his own game, stumbled into a draw from another winning position. This time his opponent did not let him off the hook and I was therefore able to cut the lead to a mere half point.
The final day of the tournament I again woke up early and sadly had no one to hang out with, so I studied my books until the round started. In the sixth round I destroyed my opponent in a Marshall Attack of sorts in a mere twelve moves! Although this time my opponent valliantly fought on to the bitter end (kudos to him!) it was to no avail as he was never close to being in the game. Ruiz, not wanting to allow me (or anyone else) to cut the lead any more, defeated his opponent -- securing the first board for himself in the final round.
Before the seventh round I talked to Ruiz and asked if he was going to share the point and his money with his opponent. He laughed at the mere thought of the notion and said "No, I have to win!" I wish I had his strength. I was paired with Igor in the final round and after making a few moves I offered him a grandmaster draw, which was met with a refusal! Suprised by this turn of events I began to slow down my play and tried to make the best moves. A couple of moves later my opponent offered me the draw, which I accepted, giving me a share of second place and an opportunity to go see the new Mission Impossible movie with Enoch while I waited for the round to finish. Ruiz, true to his word, fought valliantly and was rewarded with another win and clear first place!
Many of the Utah players did very well too. Alex Gustufsson was ahead of me in the tournament at one point and picked up 50 rating points! Kayden played very strong in the Open section and very strong in the blitz tournament the last day, playing on the top board in the final round for the blitz. It's always great to see Utah players at the Open.
The following is my forth round game against my tormentor Ruiz!
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. 0-0 d6 6. c3 0-0 7. Bb3 b5 8. Re1 Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. Nbd2 Bg4? losing the thread. Be6! is better.
11. h3 Bh5? wasn't too late to say I was wrong and play Be6
12. Nf1 Ne8, sad move but forced, otherwise the White knight goes to g3 then the other to h4 but ...Nd7 was the lesser evil
13. Ng3 Bg6 14. d4 Qd7 15. b3 Rc8 16. d5! with White locking the center it makes his kingside attack stronger
16. ...c4 17. b4 Nb7 18. h4! Nf6 19. Nh2! h6 20. h5 Bh7 21. Nhf1 a5 I have nothing else I sadly cannot stop Ne3 to Nf5
22 a3 Ra8 23. Rb1 Rfb8 24. Ne3 axb4 25. axb4 Rb7 26. Nef5 Bf8? this leaves the f6 knight weak
27. Qf3 Rba8? blundering a pawn
28. Nxh6+! gxh6 29. Qxf6 Bg7 30. Qf3 Ra2 31. Bd1 Rf8? I wanted to play f5 but this plan is easily stopped.
32. Nf5! Bxf5 33. Qxf5 Rfa8 sadly this rook must go back to its original square
34. g3! beautiful plan to bring the White rook to the h file
Nd8 35. Kg2 Qe7 36. Rh1 Qb7 37. Rh4 Qe7 38. Rg4 Kh8 39. Be3 R8a3 40. Rc1 Rb2 41. Bf3 Raa2 42. Qc8 Bf6 43. Rf1 Bg7 44. Rh1 Bf6 45. Rf1 Bg7 I offered a draw here, but it was refused. It's tough for White to make progress because of my strong rooks on the second.
46. Rxg7! this is one way to make progress!
46. ...Kxg7 47. Qg4+!? Rh1 immediatly is better.
47. ...Kh7! 48. Qf5+ Kg7 49. Rh1 Qf6! 50. Qd7 Rc2! these rooks are destined for miracles!
51. Rh4?? stumbling into a draw! Rc1 was still winning with Rxc1 Bxc1 Rc2 Be3 Rxc3 Qxb5! and White's bishops are stronger
51. ...Rxc3! 52. Rg4+ Kh7! 53. Rg6 if Qe8 then Qh8 and Qd7 Qf6 with perpetual.
53. ...Qxg6??? A blackout! I was so concerned with my opponent's threats that I miss my own. Rxf2+ leads to a draw! Kxf2 Rc2+ Ke1 Qxf3 and because of my mate threats Black has to play perpetual with Rh6+ and Rg6+)
54. hxg6 Kxg6 55. Qxd8 Rxe3 56. Qg8+ Kf6 57. Bh5 Ke7 58. Qxf7 Kd8 59. Bg4 Black resigns
1 - 0
Bryon Doyle, right
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