Tri-State Championship XXIV Recap

This past Sunday, played in the U1800 Section of the Tri-State Championship XXIV in Bryant Park, NYC. This was my third OTB tournament, and once again all three of my opponents were under 13 years of age.

Early Take-aways

1. I was able to recognize when I reached a critical position, and saw the best move, but went with something timid (and losing).
2. Twice I thew away the game by sacking a bishop on f7 when there was no attack and no winning combination. I needed to stop and look for a better move, ANYTHING other than wasting that bishop.
3. Whenever your opponent castles, check if it's an illegal move!

But First: Practice Game

The night before the event, I had a practice game with my son - G25/d5. We reached this position, black to move after 9. Qe2

I thought for several minutes and then blundered with 9. ... Qd5. I HAD seen what the engine recommends: 9. ... Qh4+! The only correct move. But I didn't trust my own calculation to make it.

He played in the U1000 section and finished 10th with 2.5/4. Not bad!

Game 1 vs. Wu

My first opponent was 1366 USCF but no older than 8. He used a USCF "Beginner" scoresheet (I suspect he's still learning to write the alphabet in between memorizing opening lines).

I played the Evans Gambit, and everything was going to plan... until I inexplicably decided to play 8.Bxf7+. I have no idea what I was thinking, maybe I saw an "attack" but really I just threw away the game.

NOTE: this game stops at move 13 on Lichess because my opponent Castled Illegally. Yes, after I forced his king to move with the Bishop "sac" he played Ke8 and a few moves later .. O-O. Due to my own inexperience, I didn't catch this. I don't think this was "cheating" as I Ben Finegold has joked in his lectures that Scholastic players do this all the time (they forget rules).

In any case, as one would expect I lost this game down material.

So... next OTB tournament, when I make a move that prevents my opponent from ever castling, I am going to make a note of it on my scoresheet. I.e. write O-O then circle it and draw an "X" over it. Never again!

Game 2 vs. Liang

My opponent actually played King's Gambit! Not wanting to suffer the Muzio Gambit (I had too many quick losses in online rapid vs it), I played the Falkbeer counter gambit, got a late game tactic (king/rook skewer) and held to a draw after 60 moves.

After 45.h3 I had (per the engine) a completely winning endgame. However, I'm only on Chapter 2 of Bruce Pandolfini's Endgame Course, so the best I could do was the draw - under tremendous time pressure.

Still, this was my first non-loss against a higher rated opponent.

Game 3 vs. Bhattacharjee

Another higher-rated opponent. As my practice game the night before, I recognized when I had reached a critical position after my opponent's 9...Be6

I saw the overwhelmingly best move: 10. exd5 and yet... I again didn't trust my own calculation. I have yet to make moves that are clearly the best moves but don't "win outright" and so opt for a weaker (often blundering) alternative.

The alternative line: 10...Nxd5 11.Nxd5 Bxd5 12. c4Bxe3+ 13. Qxe3 ends in equal material but engine +5 given that bishop on d5 is a goner.

After this mistake, I again threw away my bishop for nothing with 12. Bxg7?? when even 12. Be5 at least kept me in the game (2.exd5 cxd4 13.dxe6 Qe8 was best but I didn't see it during the game).

Finally, we reached a critical position where trading Queens was obvious...but instead I calculated poorly and blundered in to a trivial checkmate.

After 18. ... Rg8?? the happy continuation is 19. Rxd5 Rxg3 19.Rxd8+ Rxd8 20 .hxg3± - but I didn't see it. I simply forgot that my I could recapture the rook and thought I would be down material!

Final thoughts: I think my openings are...fine for my level. Tactics puzzles, endgame fundamentals and calculation, should be my focus.

And some more practice OTB slow chess games where I record my moves.