IM Wesley SO vs JC ANDAN

18-Board Simul Play
MERALCO, Pasig City

1 e4 e5 2 Bc4
In opening theory, this is known as the BISHOP'S OPENING, a favorite of the young master.

De Firmian in MODERN CHESS OPENINGS, "The Bishop's Opening is an attempt to delay developing the King's N and retain the option of moving the f-pawn forward."

2 ... Nf6
World Champion Jose Raul Capablanca in CHESS FUNDAMENTALS, "The beginner would do well to remember this, bring out N's before bringing out B's."

JC's reply was the unanimous choice in the 1999 World Championship in Las Vegas; Benjamin vs Nielsen, Kudrin vs Sokolov, Short vs Fridman, Movsesian vs Akopian and Zubarev vs Stefansson. It was here in Las Vegas that Filipino GM Joey Antonio qualified and got past R1.

3 d3 Bc5
Nunn in SECRETS OF PRACTICAL CHESS, "A B is at its best in an open position with a fluid pawn structure."

4 Nc3
ccording to Chessgames.com, this position has a 40% winning record for White and 0nly 27% for Black. However, 4 Nge2 gives the highest winning percentage for White at 60% and only 40% for Black.

4 ... 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 K may be lured to the very center of the board by sacrifices and then disaster becomes imminent."

In the Dubai Open 2006, Farou El Taher played 4 ... d6 which Wesley sniped with a B sac on the 12th move.

5 f4 Nc6
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."

6 Nf3 exf4 7 Bxf4 d6 8 Na4 Bb6 9 Nxb6 axb6 10 O-O Bd7 11 Bg5

11 ... Rc8? 12 Qe1 Qe7 13 Qh4 h6 14 Bxf6 Qxf6 15 Qxf6 gxf6 16 Nh4 Kg7 17 Rf2 Be6 18 Bb3 Bxb3 19 a2xB +- Rfe8 20 Nf5+ Kg6 21 Raf1 Re6 22 Rf3 Ne5 23 Rg3+ Ng4 24 RxN+ Kh7 25 Rg7+ [1-0]