1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Bf4 Bg4 7. Qb3 Qd7 8. Nd2 e6 9. Ngf3 Bxf3 10. Nxf3 Bd6 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12. O-O O-O 13. Rae1 Nd7 14. Qc2 h6 15. Qe2 a6 16. a4 Qf4 17. g3 Qc7 18. Ne5 Ncxe5 19. dxe5 Rad8 20. Qe3 Qb6 21. Qxb6 Nxb6 22. b3

22. a5 Nc4 23. Bxc4 dxc4 24. Rd1 Rd5 25. Rxd5 22... Nd7 23. f4 g6 24. Rf3 h5 25. Bc2 Kg7 26. h3 Rh8 27. Kg2 Nb8 28. Rd1 Rc8 29. Rdd3 Nc6 30. Bd1 Rc7 31. g4?! hxg4 32. hxg4 g5!

33. Rde3 gxf4 34. Rxf4 Rh4 35. Be2 Rc8 36. Bf1 a5 37. Bb5 37. Kg3 was the position I had in mind, but at the last minute I decided I had to get rid of the pesky knight. 37... Ne7 38. Ref3 Rf8 39. Bd3 Nc6 40. Re3? 40. Kg3 Rh1 41. Re3 40... Rfh8 41. Be2??

In time pressure now with seconds left and now black is able to break through. 41. Bf1 Rh2+ 42. Kg3 Rb2 41... Rh2+ 42. Kf1 Rh1+ 43. Kg2 R8h2+ 44. Kg3 Rh3+ winning a piece. 0-1 [Shabazz D.]

Perez is a WFM from Columbia, South America.

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. f4 a6 4. d3 Nc6 5. g3 d6 6. Bg2 g6 7. Nh3 Bg7 8. Be3 Nge7 9. O-O O-O 10. Qd2 Nd4 11. Rae1 f5 12. Nd1 Qc7 13. c3 Ndc6 14. Ng5 h6 15. Nf3 Bd7 16. e5 Nd5 16... Rad8 17. exd6 Qxd6 18. Bf2 Kh7 19. Ne3! b5 20. Nc2 20. Nxd5 exd5 21. d4 c4 22. Ne5 20... Rac8 21. d4 cxd4 22. Ncxd4 Na5 23. Ne5 Nc4 24. Qe2 24. Nxc4 bxc4 (24... Rxc4?? 25. Rxe6!) 25. Re2 24... Nxe5 25. fxe5 Qc7 26. Bxd5 exd5 27. Qf3 27. e6 Rce8 and I eventually round the pawn up. 27... Bxe5 28. Qxd5 Rce8 29. Qg2 Bc8 30. Qc6 Qxc6 30... Qf7 31. Nf3 Bb8 32. Bd4 Bb7 33. Qc5 31. Nxc6 Bd6 32. Bd4 Bb7 33. Ne5 Re7 33... Be4 34. Nd7 34. Nd3 Rfe8 35. Rxe7+ Rxe7 36. Re1 Rxe1+ 37. Nxe1 Be4 37... f4!? 38. Ng2 g5 I thought I was better here and I had more time, but it slowly melted away. 39. Ne3 f4 40. gxf4 Bxf4 40... gxf4 41. Ng2 Kg6 42. Kf2 Bd5 43. a3 Kf5 41. Ng4 Kg6 42. h3 h5 I missed 42... Bb1! 43. a3 Bc1 44. b4 Bxa3 43. Ne3 Kf7 44. Kf2 Ke6 45. a3 h4

Zeitnot. Also missing 45... g4! 46. hxg4 h4 47. Nf1 h3 48. Kg1 a5 49. b3 a4 50. bxa4 bxa4 51. Bc5 Bd3 is still a draw despite the fact that white will soon have to sacrifice the knight for h-pawn. The a-pawn is headed the opposite color of bishop. 46. b3 Bd6 47. a4 bxa4 48. bxa4 Bc6 49. a5 Bf4 Missed the manuever 49... Bg3+ 50. Ke2 Bc7! 51. Bb6 Bxb6 52. axb6 Kd6 53. Ng4 Kc5 54. Nf2 a5 55. Kd3 a4 56. Kc2 Kxb6 57. Kd3 a3 58. Kc2 Bd5 50. c4 Be4 51. Ke2 Kd6 52. Ng4 Ke6 52... Bg2 53. Nf2 Kc6 54. Bf6 Kd6 55. Nd3 Bg3 56. Bxg5 Bxh3 57. Bf4+ Bxf4 58. Nxf4 Be6 53. Ne3 Kd7 53... Bxe3 54. Ng4 Kc6 We both had about 30 seconds left. 1/2-1/2 [Shabazz D.]

Thomas is originally from Jamaica, but did not play organized chess there.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Re1 Nf6 5... e5 6. b4 6. c3 O-O 7. d4 d5 8. e5 Ne4 9. h3 f6 10. exf6 Bxf6 11. Be3?! 11. Bh6 11... Bf5 Interesting sacrifice, but a bit ambitious. 11... Qb6 12. Qb3 c4 13. Qa4 Bd7 14. Bxc6 Bxc6 15. Qa3 12. dxc5 e5

Looks like black has compensation. 13. Nbd2 d4?? Now his position falls apart. 14. Bh6 Nxd2 15. Qxd2 dxc3 16. Qxc3 e4 16... Re8 17. Rad1 17. Qb3+ Kh8 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Rad1 Qb8 20. Bxf8 Qxf8 20... Qxb3 21. axb3 exf3 22. Bh6 fxg2 23. Rd6 Bxb2 21. Nd4 Rb8 21... Qxc5 22. Nxf5 Qxf5 22. Qa3 Qg7 23. Nxc6 Rc8 24. Rd6 Bxb2 25. Qa5 Bd7 25... Bc3 26. Rd8+ 26. Red1 Be8 27. Rd8 Rxd8 28. Qxd8 Better is 28. Rxd8 28... Qg8 29. Ne7 Qf8 30. c6 Bf6 31. Rd7 Kg7 32. Rxa7 e3 33. fxe3

Houdini saw this crazy computer variation... 33. Nd5+! Kh6 34. Nxf6 e2? (34... exf2+ 35. Kf1) 35. Ng8+ (35. Ng4+ Kh5 36. Rxh7+ Qh6 37. Rxh6#) 35... Qxg8 (35... Kh5 36. g4#) 36. Qh4# 33... Kh8 34. Ra8 Bxe7 35. Qxe8 35. Qxe8 Kg8 36. Qxf8+ Bxf8 37. c7 1-0 [Shabazz D.]

1. d4 c5 2. e3 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Bd3 b6 5. Qe2 Bb7 6. Nbd2 Qc7 6... Nc6 7. dxc5 (7. c3 Be7) 7... Bxc5 7. O-O a6? 8. c3 d5 9. e4 dxe4 9... Nc6 10. e5 Nd7 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 10... Nbd7 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. Nxc5 Nxc5 13. Bc2 11. Bxe4 Bxe4 12. Qxe4 Qc6 13. d5

13... Qxd5 14. Qxd5 exd5 15. Re1+ Be7 16. Bf4 Nc6 17. Ne5 Nd8 Too passive. 17... Nxe5 18. Bxe5 f6 19. Bd6 Ra7 20. Rad1 Kf7 21. Rxe7+ Rxe7 22. Bxe7 Kxe7 23. Rxd5 Rd8 24. Rxd8 Kxd8= 18. Rad1 Ne6 19. Bg3 Rd8 19... d4 20. cxd4 cxd4 21. Nc6 20. Nc6 Rd7 21. Nb8

A move I missed... not because of the pawn. I knew I would have to return a pawn, but there were other issues. 21... Rd8 22. Nxa6 O-O 23. Nc7! Nxc7 23... d4 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. cxd4 Rxd4 26. Rxd4 cxd4 27. Rxe6 d3 28. Re1 Bf6 29. Rb1 d2 30. Rd1 Ra8 31. Rxd2 Rxa2 32. Kf1 Rxb2 33. Rxb2 Bxb2 24. Rxe7 Ne6 25. Kf1! Stopping my tricks. 25. Rb7 d4 26. Rxb6?? dxc3 25... Ra8 26. a3 d4 26... Rfd8 27. Rb7 Ra6 28. Bc7 Nxc7 29. Rxc7 g6 was the fortress I had planned when playing Ra8, but for some reason I played d4 to try to activate the knight. 27. cxd4 Nxd4 27... cxd4 28. Rb7 Ra6 29. Bc7 b5 30. Bg3 Ra5 31. Bd6 Rc8 32. Bb4 Raa8 33. Rxb5 Rc2 34. b3 28. Rb7 b5 29. Bd6 Now it's finished. 29... Rfc8 30. Bxc5 Rxc5 31. Rxd4

I need to find a fortress or get rid of at least one queenside pawn for the book draw. 31... Re8? Now I go downhill fast. 31... Rc1+ 32. Ke2 Rc2+ 33. Rd2 Re8+ 34. Kd1 Rc5 35. Rdd7 Rf5 36. f3 g6 37. h3 h5 38. Ra7 Kg7 39. Kd2 h4 40. Rdb7 Rd8+ 41. Kc2 Rc8+ is the right method!! 32. g3 Rc1+ 32... h5 33. Rf4 f6 (33... Rf8 34. Rb4) 34. Rd4 Kh7 35. Rdd7 Rg8 36. b4 Rf5 32... g5 33. Rdd7 33. Kg2 Rc2 34. Rxb5 g6 Too late to make luft now. One move late. 35. Rf4 Ree2 36. b4 1-0 [Shabazz D.]

1. c4 One of the friendliest players I've met. We analyzed afterwards and he took copious notes. 1... c5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 e6 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4 a6 9. Rd1 Tony was trying to following Carlsen's treatment of this English. I saw that game, but did not remember the details. However, Tony's move order seemed a bit off. 9. Bf4 d6 9... d6 10. Qf4 10. b3 Nc6 11. Qf4 Qc7 12. Ba3 Ne5 13. Rac1 O-O 14. h3 10... Nbd7 11. e4 11. Ng5 Bxg2 12. Kxg2 O-O 13. Nge4 Ne8 14. b3 Rc8 15. Ba3 Nc5 16. Qf3 Qc7 17. Rd2 Nxe4 18. Qxe4 b5 19. Rc1 Nf6 20. Qf3 bxc4 21. bxc4 Rfd8 22. Rcd1 h6 23. Rd4 Ne8 24. Ne4 f5 25. Nd2 Nf6 26. Rd3 Ng4 27. Rb3 Rd7 28. Rdb1 Ne5 29. Qb7 Qc6+ 30. Qxc6 Rxc6 31. Rb6 Bd8 32. Rxc6 Nxc6 33. h4 Kf7 34. e3 g6 35. Kf1 Na5 1/2-1/2 Radovanovic,J (2355)-Kalod,R (2486)/Pardubice 2007/CBM 119 ext 11... Qc7 12. b3

12... b5 13. Ba3 Ne5 14. c5

14. Qd2 bxc4 15. Bxd6 Bxd6 16. Qxd6 Qxd6 17. Rxd6 Nxf3+ 18. Bxf3 cxb3 19. Rb6= 14... Ng6! Looked at 14... Nh5 15. Qd2 dxc5 (Couldn't try 15... Nxf3+ 16. Bxf3 and knight on h5 hangs.) 16. Nxe5! when 16... b4 (16... Qxe5 loses to 17. Qd7+) 17. Bb2 bxc3 18. Qxc3 is horrible for black. 15. cxd6 Nxf4?! Didn't seriously consider 15... Qxc3 but should have. 16. dxc7 Bxa3 17. gxf4 Bb2 18. Rd8+ Ke7 19. e5!

Trickery. I can't move the knight. 19... Bxa1 19... Nh5 20. Rad1 Rhxd8 21. cxd8=Q+ Rxd8 22. Rxd8 Kxd8 23. Ne2 and white survives. 19... Nd7 20. Nd4 (20. Rd1 Raxd8 21. cxd8=Q+ Rxd8 22. Rd3 white survives.) 20... Bxg2 21. Rxh8 Rxh8 22. Kxg2 Rc8 since(22... Bxa1 23. Nc6+ Ke8 24. c8=R#) 23. Nc6+ Ke8 24. Ne4 Rxc7 25. Rb1 and white survives. 20. Nd4

20... Raxd8 20... Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Raxd8 (21... Bxc3?? 22. Nc6#) 22. Nc6+ (22. exf6+ Kxf6 (22... Kd7 23. cxd8=Q+ Rxd8 24. Nce2 Bxd4 25. Nxd4 gxf6) ) 22... Kd7 23. cxd8=Q+ Rxd8 24. Nxd8 Kxd8 21. Bxb7 Rxd4 22. exf6+ gxf6 23. Ne2 Rg8+ 24. Ng3 24. Kf1 Rd1# 24. Kh1 Rd1+ 25. Ng1 Rdxg1# 24... Kd7 0-1 [Shabazz D.]

Nickolas Moore is a young and talented scholastic player. He seemed a bit impatient and was moving quickly during the game.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 Trying to "move order" him. 3... Nc6 3... a6 leads to normal lines. 4. Bb5 It worked! Now he will not obtain his usual Sicilian venom, which I play myself. 4... Nge7 5. O-O Qc7 6. Re1 Nd4 7. a4 a6 8. Bc4 Nec6 9. d3 Bd6 10. h3 Nxf3+ 11. Qxf3 Ne5 12. Qe2 A move I did not seriously consider, but was analyzed by Houdini is 12. Qg3!? Nxc4 13. Qxg7 Be5 14. Nd5! Wow. I had Nd5 in mind, but didn't consider this line. 14... Qa5 15. Nf6+ Bxf6 16. Qxf6 Qxe1+ 17. Kh2 Nd2 18. Qxh8+ Ke7 I considered 12. Qe3 b6 13. f4 Nxc4 14. dxc4 O-O 15. e5 Be7 12... Nxc4 13. dxc4 Be5 14. Bd2 I considered 14. Nd5!? exd5 15. exd5 d6 16. f4 f6 but didn't think I could get enough play. 14... b6 15. Ra3!?

A move drawn on inspiration from IM Emory Tate. I have seen these type of rook lifts or "rovers" many times. In fact, Emory has a variation named after him which goes 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. a4!? a5 5. Ra3!!? The idea in the game is novel in that it is more active here for attacking purposes or for the idea actually executed in the game. I thought 28 minutes on 15. f4!? Bxf4 (I was unclear that after 15... Bxc3! 16. Bxc3 Qxf4 17. Rf1 (Better is 17. Qh5! O-O 18. Be5 seems like coffee house chess but is actually very strong.) 17... Qg5 I didn't believe I would have enough so I abandoned the line.) 16. Nd5!? Bh2+ (16... exd5 17. exd5+ Be5 18. Qxe5+ Qxe5 19. Rxe5+ Kd8 20. Rae1 Bb7 21. Re7 Rf8 22. Bc3) 17. Kh1 15... O-O 16. Qg4?! A bit too superficial. 16. a5 bxa5 17. Nd1 a4 18. Rxa4 Bb7 19. Bc3 Bh2+ 20. Kh1 f5 16... Bb7 I considered him playing 16... d5 but after 17. exd5 exd5 I had 18. Qf3! 17. a5 f5 17... bxa5 18. Ne2 (18. Nd1 a4) 18... Bxb2 19. Bxa5 (19. Rg3 f5 20. exf5 exf5 21. Qh5 Rae8) 19... Qc6 20. Rb3 Be5 21. f4 Bc7 22. Bc3 not sure I have enough for the pawn. 18. exf5 Rxf5 18... exf5 19. axb6 19. axb6 Now I try to trick him. 19... Qxb6 20. Rb3 20. Na4!? Qd6 21. Rxe5 Qxe5 22. Bc3 I didn't see 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. Rxe5 but not sure it is enough. 20... Qc6?? 20... Qc7 was forced. I looked at 21. Nd5 but didn't like 21... Bxd5 22. cxd5 Raf8 21. Nd5

21... exd5 21... Bf6 22. Rg3 g6 23. Nxf6+ Rxf6 24. Bc3 Rf5 25. Qh4 Raf8 26. Qh6 R8f6 (26... R8f7 27. Rxg6+!) 27. Bxf6 Rxf6 22. Qxf5 dxc4 Hitting the rook and threatening mate, but there is an easy solution. 23. Rxb7 Qxb7 24. Qxe5 d5 25. Qd6 For a flash moment I considered 25. Bh6! but didn't take the chance. 25... Rf8 26. Qxc5 Lazy. Much better and consistent with my original plan was 26. Re7! After 26... Qxb2 27. Qe6+ Kh8 28. Re8 is done. 26... Qxb2 27. Qxd5+ Kh8 28. Qxc4 1-0 [Shabazz D.]