Locked In

Last weekend I finished a 7-round classical tournament with 90+30 time control. I was the 6th seed, but I had high expectations. Generally I like to skip the first games, as they aren't that interesting, or entertaining, however this time that wasn't the case. In fact every game was either interesting, or entertaining (or both)

Game 1 — Flexing my calculations

For the first game I got paired with the Black pieces against a 300 points lower-rater opponent. He started the game with 1.e4 and I already have an important decision to make — which opening should I choose? I didn't want to play the Sicilian, as the Alapin is a very popular response at this level, and in some lines its hard to generate play. I was thinking about the Nimzowitsch, but ultimately settled on the Scandinavian, as I wasn't a fan of 2.Nc3 3.Nf3 possibility.

Out of the opening we got a typical position from sidelines in the Scandinavian. Black has no problems out of the opening, so will begin pushing for initiative. A very common plan in those positions is g5-g4 supported by either h6, or Rg8, but in this case I evaluated h5-h4 to be more dangerous. My opponent quickly complicated matters with 12.Ne5!? which could've paid off had my opponent found 16.Qxa6!!, instead I was the one to sacrifice my queen for a swift victory.

Game 2 — Another sacrifice!?

Another game, another opening choice dilema. This time with White. I've played this opponent several times in the Centre Game always getting good positions, but I was worried that he might've done his homework. My other option was the Vienna. Since I couldn't choose myself, I asked my friend (who was also playing) what should I do, and he told me to stay with what works.

A completely unnecessary complication with 20.f6?? leaves me in an endgame down a pawn. My opponent offered me a draw which I accepted, but funilly enough, the position remains around balance, completely playable for White.

But imagine tho

Game 3 — Opponent's turn to sac

In Round 3 I got paired against a 1900, just like me! But this time I wasn't the one to do something crazy...

We got a chill Alapin position, where I quickly went wrong with 9...Qe8?. It would be a good move If I could move 3 times in a row, but for whatever reason they didn't let me. My opponent quickly complicated matters with 13.dxe5!? and I missed a simple refutation 14...Qxe4!

You can try to figure out White's best move in the arrising position. My opponent went for 15.Bxc5, which is wrong.

It's difficult to say what was my opponent's decisive mistake, as the advantage just grew and grew. That marks the end of Day 2.

Game 4 — Miniature

I knew my opponent plays the French, but I had no idea what should I play against it. Although I'm familiar with many lines, none of them are exactly what I like. In the end I chose the Nimzowitsch System, as online I get good positions out of it, but struggle to convert, which shouldn't be a problem in classical.

The biggest advantage of the Nimozwitsch System is it makes French players uncomfortable, as they can't put pressure on the centre, they have to either capture on d4, then defend it, or allow dxc5, where e5 will be always nicely defended, so Black will struggle to get their French plans going.

After this game I'm sitting at 3.5/4, so I'll be playing someone strong. Bad news is I just had White.

Game 5 — Familiar Opponent

At the start of the year I faced a certain IM, who was (and still is) my highest-rated opponent ever in a rated game. That time I managed to win with Black! This time I'm playing Black again, is there any chance I can score at least half a point again?

As always, a provocative opening on my side. Sadly this time it didn't lead to an interesting position, in fact, quite the opposite. In the resulting endgame I should have no problems, as for the lack of development I fully compensate with space advantage. But it got trickier than it seems. If you want to see whether you are as strong as an IM, try finding a move for White, that allows for some winning chances. Remember, I'm only 1991, he HAS to win.

13.e4!! the only way for White to pose any problems. The point is simple — I can't castle queenside. This forces me to play for Rd8 trying to trade some pieces before White wins back the pawn on e4. The pawn sacrifice worked, as White had some winning chances, but luckily missed them. Now I can meet 24.Bxe4 with Bxe4 and after 25.Rxe4 Rh7 26.Rd8+ Kg7 27.Rd7+ Kg6 28.Rxh7 Kxh7 29.Rd7+ Kg6 30.Rxa7 I have Rd4–Rf4, so I'm fine. It's over... right? Well, try to figure out how to put more pressure on me with the White pieces.

24.f3! when I thought it's over he finds another way to keep play on the board. But a very interesting defensive move 25...Ke7 is enough to hold the position. After that with some active defence I'm able to secure the draw!

Game 6 — Opening disaster

Sadly another French. Similarly to Round 4, I had time to see that my opponent plays 1...e6, but again couldn't figure out what should I play. I settled on the same weapon as in the previous game, but this time it backfired.

My opponent punished my inaccurate 7.Nbd2 with f6! and I'm not in time to win back the d4-pawn due to constant e5-push threat. I saw I can just accept I'm worse after 13.Bg5, but I found a different interesting idea to pose problems for my opponent.

13.b3!? surprisingly difficult to refute. Luckily for me my opponent miscalculated with 14...e5?? allowing me to even out the material and leaving Black with a horrible structure, which I was able to convert into a win. That puts me on 5.5/6, the same amount as the IM, who took an early draw with the GM, who I get to face in the last round! And since he had double White, I get White against him.

Game 7 — Grandmaster

I've actually beaten this player before, but in rapid. If you are interested, I of course wrote a blog about this. Last time we met (in another rapid game) I was Black and was able to secure a draw in a pretty intense game. So I had some hopes going into this round.

Out of prep I got a position I'm familiar with, so I was able to put a lot of pressure on the board and on the clock. The position is pretty difficult for Black, his queenside attack hasn't yet started, so he has to look for counterplay in the centre, or try to trade off my attackers.

But who cares about slowly building the attack, if I can push all the pawns forward and pray. Thankfully my prayers were listened to and I won a really nice game. This is my first win over a grandmaster in classical! Let's talk about my overall result.

Standings

I got 2nd place behind the IM, both on 6/7, but losing first place on Cut Buchholz by half a point. Had one of my opponents score half a point more I'd take the first place prize home, as the other tiebreak would be in my favor. I gained 54 FIDE, which combined with +8 from the weekend before puts me at 2053 — my new peak. My performance rating was 2335, but what's more important is my polish rating performance, where I got a norm for the highest title awarded by polish chess federation. Now I'm on 23 undefeated classical games streak!

That's not all! Since it took me so long to write this post, I played another 5-round weekend event, where I went 5/5, gaining 24 FIDE, putting me at 2077 and pushing my undefeated streak to 28 consecutive games! The best part is in 2 weeks I'll be playing in B Group U2000 in some strong tournament, while outrating ~40% of Group A players.

That's all I have for you today! Here's the study link and the standings.