FM Carlos vs Sol Cruz

1st Training Simul for MVP Olympics
Meralco, Pasig City
White "FM Carlos, Leo"
Black "Sol Cruz, Rolly"
ECO "C02"


1. e4 c5
I am playing for a win, thus the Sicilian Defense, the defense of champions.


2. c3 e6
Faced with the Sicilian Alapin, which has become my opening lately on account of my son, I realized that I have nothing in particular prepared against it. It turned out that the main responses are 2... Nf6: Lautier vs Polgar in 1993, and 2... d5: Deep Blue vs Kasparov in 1996.


3. d4 d5
I did not exchange on d4 because I don't want his N go to c3.


4. e5
The opening has transposed into the French Defense Advance Variation. This is my pet defense in the good old days.


The logic behind this move for White is that it claims space on the kingside and cramps the development of Black's pieces.
Watson in Mastering the Chess Openings


4... Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 
This is the modern way of handling this variation, putting pressure on both d4 and b2.
Collins in Understanding the Chess Openings


6. Be2
De Firmian in Modern Chess Openings identifies this position as one of the
main lines in the Advance Variation.


6... Nge7
With the center pawns locked, my goal is to castle as soon as possible, especially against a FIDE Master.


The popular continuation is 6.... cxd4 7 cxd4 and the N goes h6-f5 as in Nunn vs Schmittdiel in Dortmund 1991. And if 7... Nh6 8 Bxh6? Qxb2 with advantage for B per Nunn's Chess Openings.


7. Na3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Nf5
Centralizing the N is a small strategic victory in itself.
Marovic in Secrets of Positional Chess


9. Nc2 Be7
Benjamin vs Bareev in Munich 1994 continued with 9... Bb4+ 10 Kf1 Be7 11
h4 with slight advantage for W. And in the games of Shirov and Gurevich, Bd7 is played ahead of Be7 with an option for Q-side castling.


10. O-O O-O
Nothing is more important than safeguarding your K by castling early,
within the first dozen moves, if possible.
Evans in The 10 Most Common Chess Mistakes


11. Bd3 Bd7
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


12. Rb1 Rac8
The Rs are best placed on the four center files, particularly if any should
be open.
Pritchard in The Right Way to Play Chess


13. b4 Qd8 14. g4
I was surprised by this move!


14... Nh4
When attacking the K, try to find moves that will force your opponent to
advance pawns or exchange key defenders, and avoid threats that can be
simply parried by bringing over a new defender.
Harding in Better Chess for Average Players


15. Be3 Nxf3+ 16. Qxf3 Bg5 17. Rfc1 Bxe3 18. Qxe3 Qh4
First break up the position, then you penetrate with the Q.
Weeramantry and Eusebi in Best Lessons of a Chess Coach


As Batman said in The Dark Knight, “Time to move in.”


19. Be2 f5
The opening of new lines will favor the player with the better-developed game; his more mobile forces will be the first to occupy such lines.
Reinfeld in The Complete Chess Player


20. Qg3 Qxg3+
Don’t complicate. Exchange Qs and leave a R and 2 or 3 minor pieces on the
board.
Kotov in Think Like a Grandmaster


21. hxg3 Ne7 22. Ne3 fxg4 23. Bxg4 Nc6? 24. Rd1
But FM Leo, due to time trouble in other boards, did not see that 24. Nxd4 wins a pawn.


24... Ne7 25. Rdc1 g6 1/2-1/2
With 3 minutes left on FM Leo's clock and 6 minutes for me, I offered a
draw since I do not see a winning plan and reckon that I cannot outplay him
in time scramble.