NM BAGAMASBAD vs SOL CRUZ

W: NM Efren BAGAMASBAD
B: Rolly SOL CRUZ
MACE Cup Simul Board 1

1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3
The NM is going for the English Opening, a sort of Sicilian for White, with an extra move.

3... d5
In chess, as in war, it is important to know your strengths and weaknesses. Mahina tayo sa inglisan kaya I declined the English and aimed for the Q's Gambit instead.

4 e3 c6
I am setting-up for the Slav, a solid set-up for Black which is suited to my style of play.

5 d4 Nbd7
By simply applying the N's before B's principle, the opening has transposed to a Q's Gambit Declined - Semi-Slav Defense. This move was played in 5,665 out of 6,326 games.

6 Qc2
This is the STOLTZ VARIATION [ECO D45]. It is second in popularity [with 2,485 games] to the MERAN VARIATION, 6 Bd3 [with 2,963 games]. My encounters with this variation were against NM Nico Alisangco in the Aguilar Cup in February 2009 and NM Roland Perez in the 3rd Sol Cruz Memorial Cup in May 2009.

In the historic Ribli vs Torre Candidates Match 1983 in Alicante, the Hungarian continued with 6 Bd3 and won the game and the match as well. But our legendary Pinoy GM has 1 W and 1 D against the Meran of two World Champions; Petrosian vs Torre in Moscow 1981 (1/2-1/2) and Smyslov vs Torre in Bugojno 1984 (0-1).

6... Bd6
This is the vox populi, played in 2,204 out of 2,485 games.

7 Be2
The four most popular lines are 7 Bd3 with 585 games, 7 Be2 with 540, 7 b3 with 432, and 7 g4 with 406.

If I am to rely on the Semi-Slav, I must also be prepared for 7 g4, named the Shabalov Attack; Kasparov vs Nielsen in Reykjavic 2004, Morozevich vs Kramnik in Tal Memorial 2008, Kasimdzhanov vs Akopian in Elista Grand Prix 2008, Carlsen vs Anand in Linares 2009

7... O-O 8 O-O b6

Preparing for a Q-side fianchetto as played by World Champions; Shneider vs Kramnik in Alekhine Memorial 1992 and Ftacknik vs Khalifman in Padubice 1994, and Ivanchuk vs Anand in World Blitz 2007.

The main line is the pawn capture 8... dxc4; Karpov vs Anand in Brussels 1991, Kamsky vs Anand in Tilburg 1991, Vyzmanavin vs Kramnik in Moscow 1992, Van Wely vs Kramnik in Monaco 1998, Ljubojevic vs Topalov in Monte Carlo 2000, Ljubojevic vs Kramnik in Monaco 2001, and Carlsen vs Anand in Monaco 2007.

The mysterious R move, 8... Re8, is also popular among World Champions; Hjartarson vs Tal in Reykjavic 1988, Huebner vs Kasparov in Koln Match 1992, Giorgadze vs Kramnik in Manila Olympiad 1992, Grivas vs Kramnik in Dortmund 1992, Tukmakov vs Topalov in Mesa 1992, Ioseliani vs Smyslov in Womens-Veterans 1994, Zvjaginsev vs Kramnik in Moscow Olympiad 1994, Karpov vs Kamsky in World Championship 1996, Huebner vs Kramnik in Frankfurt 1996 .

The liquidation of the center pawns to maximize the power of the fianchetto has also been tried by a pair of World Champions; Gurevich vs Khalifman in Biel IZT 1983 and Karpov vs Kasparov in Linares 1991.

9 e4 dxe4 10 Nxe4 NxN 11 QxN Bb7
Up to this position is the Shneider vs Kramnik and Ftacknik vs Khalifman games.

12 Bf4
Shneider continued with 12 Bd3 while Ftacknik opted for 12 Rd1.

12... Nf6 = 13 Qe3 Ng4 14 Qd2 c5

D14
This is said to be the last "book move" and has been played in Onischuk vs Zvjaginsev in Hoogovens 1995 and Shneider vs Zvjaginsev in Yugoslavian championship 1995.

I do not actually know these games, as Clint Eastwood said in The Outlaw Josey Wales, "I was lucky in the order."

15 h3 Nf6 = 16 Rfd1 PxP 17 BxB QxB 18 QxP QxQ 19 RxQ Rad8 20 Rad1 RxR 21 RxR

THINK LIKE A GRANDMASTER, "Exchange Q's and leave a R and 2 or 3 pieces on the board."

21... h6
RYBKA rates my move as very slightly favoring W (+0.36). Better is 21... Rc8 = 22 Ne5 Kf8 23 f4 Ke7 24 Bd3 Rc7 25 Kf2 h6 26 g3 g5 27 Ke3 Nh5 28 h4 f6.

22 Ne5 g6 23 f3 Rc8 24 Kf2 Kf8 25 Nd7+ Ke7 26 NxN KxN 27 Rd7 Rb8 28 Ke3 a5 29 g4 Bc6 30 Rc7 Ba8 31 h4 g5 32 PXP PXP 33 f4 PXP+ 34 KXP Rg8 35 c5 PXP = 36 RXP a4 = 37 g5+ Kg6 38 Bd3+ f5 39 Ra5 Rh8
RYBKA: 39... Rd8=

40 BXP+ PXB 41 Ra6+ Kg7 42 KXP Rf8+ 43 Ke5 Re8+ 44 Kd4 Re4+ 45 Kc3 Bd5 = 46 a3 Bb3 [1/2-1/2].

Guided by Bobby Ang's Chess Piece column in Business World titled CHINESE HORDE; "I am going to play 40 strong moves and if you also play 40 strong moves, then we have a draw.", and I did, the 3rd against a National Master!!!