Old Fort Bay Invitational 2019 part 2

My next game was against a young talent, Nathan Smith. He was just 13 when we played, though his birthday was later in the week. I'm always nervous about playing young people, because often their ratings don't reflect their actual playing strength. They can be inconsistent, but sometimes they show their power. Just watch how, despite one opening inaccuracy, Nathan basically outplays me through most of the game.

photo by Gurth Smith

Smith,Nathan (1603) - Cross,Ted (1998) [B33]
Old Fort Bay Invitational Nassau (5), 24.02.2019

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Nd5 
After the recent world championship match, I wonder if we should call this the Caruana variation? It has been around a long time, but it was the first time I recall seeing it in the title match.
7...Nxd5 8.Qxd5? 
Here Nathan shows that he didn't know the opening line, which of course is to take with the pawn. This move gives black some tempi, though I managed to not follow up correctly and squandered anything it gave me.
8...a6 9.Na3 Be6 10.Qd1 Be7? 
And just like that, with one normal-looking move, I lose my edge and we're back at equality. The move the computer likes isn't a natural one to find, so I'm not surprised I didn't see it. [10...Qh4 11.Bd3 d5 12.exd5 Bxd5 13.0-0 Be7 14.Be3 Rd8 15.f3 Nb4-/+]
11.Bc4 Qd7?! 
There are a lot of minor inaccuracies in this game, due to us being humans in a difficult position for humans to understand. [>=11...0-0]
12.Be3 0-0 13.0-0 b5 14.Bd5 Rac8?! 
This inaccuracy changes the evaluation from a minuscule black edge to a small white one. I don't really understand the computer's preference for Bf6. I assume it is to allow the knight to come back to e7, but the rook would still need to move from a8 first. [>=14...Bf6]
15.c4! 
This move was the first moment when I began to worry that I was letting the position slip away from equality.
15...b4?! 
My response is normally fairly typical in this opening, but the computer didn't like it this time. [15...Bxd5 16.cxd5 Nb8 17.Nc2 f5 18.exf5 Rxf5+/=]
16.Nc2 a5 17.Bb6?! 
Now the computer dislikes one of Nathan's moves. [>=17.Qd3+/=]
17...Bd8 
[17...Rb8! 18.Be3= (18.Bxc6?? Qxc6 19.Bxa5 Qxc4-/+) ]
18.Bxd8 Rcxd8?! 
As I said, a lot of tiny inaccuracies, but that is common in such complex positions. You'll generally see that the computer lines are not at all intuitive. [>=18...Bxd5 19.Qxd5 Rfxd8 20.Qd2 Nb8 21.b3 Qb7 22.Rae1 Na6+/=]
19.Ne3?! 
[>=19.b3+/=]
19...Ne7?! 
This one, though, is one I should have seen and played. The d4 square is crying out for a knight. [>=19...Nd4]
20.Bxe6?! 
[>=20.b3]
20...fxe6 21.Rc1 Qc6 22.Qg4 Rf6 23.Qg5 
A clever move. It threatens Knight to g4 and my rook can't go back to protect the knight on e7 because of knight to h6.
23...Qb7?! 
[23...h6 24.Qg4 Ng6=]
24.c5 Rg6 25.Qh4 d5? 
I saw the perpetual attack on his queen with the rook and briefly considered going for it. But I needed to win this game badly, so it was worth it to risk losing. I certainly wasn't happy allowing that passed c pawn though, but there was no other way to play on for a win. [25...Rh6 26.Qg5 Rg6=]
26.exd5?
Luckily neither of us saw the following tactic to win a pawn. [26.Ng4! Qc7 27.Nxe5+/-]
26...exd5 27.Nf5 Nc6 28.Nd6 Qe7?! 
I can honestly say I don't comprehend the computer's preference of Qa6. [>=28...Qa6 29.f3 Rf8=]
29.Qxe7 Nxe7 30.Rfd1 
[>=30.Rfe1 Re6 31.f4 Nc6 32.Rcd1 d4+/=]
30...d4?! 
Here the computer suggestion is a logical one, but I just didn't see it. [>=30...Re6 31.f3 g6=]
31.Kh1?! 
[>=31.Re1 Nc6 32.Re4 Re6 33.f4 Rf8 34.fxe5+/=]
31...Nd5?! 
Yep, I knew that Nc6 was the more rational move...if I was content to just draw the game. My move offers more tactical possibilities, which is what I needed to try to win. [31...Nc6=]
32.Nb7 Rf8 33.Rd2 a4 34.c6? 
I didn't fully grasp that this was a mistake at the time. [>=34.g3=]
34...Rc8 
And here is why. Actually, I saw the move Nc3 but gave it only a cursory look. It looked fascinating, but I assumed there was a flaw I was overlooking and I didn't want to risk losing when I had a solid continuation. Still, it would have been fun to have played Nc3. [34...Nc3!! 35.Na5 (35.bxc3? bxc3 36.Rdd1 Rxc6 37.Na5 Rc7-+) 35...Nxa2 36.Rc5 e4! 37.h3 (37.Rxd4? e3 38.f3 Re6 39.Rd1 e2 40.Re1 b3-+) 37...d3 38.Kh2 Re6=/+]
35.Rc5?? 
I expected Na5, which seems to peter out to a drawn endgame. Poor Nathan overlooked his back rank weakness. [35.Na5 Rd6 36.Rc5 Ne7 37.g3 Nxc6 38.b3 a3 39.Kg2 Kf7 40.Nxc6 Rcxc6 41.Rxe5 d3 42.Kf3 Rc2 43.Ke3 Rb2=]
35...Rgxc6 36.Rdc2 Rxc5 
My move is fine and completely winning, but the computer likes it's more clever move. [36...d3!]
37.Rxc5 Rxc5 38.Nxc5 a3 39.Nd3 e4 0-1


What a relief to survive that one! The first weekend finished well for me with three wins and a draw. But now there came three of the highest-rated opponents in a row.

My next opponent is one I dread playing. I call him a grinder, because he never goes down easily. It's always a protracted battle. He had a dreadful tournament result this time, but my game against him showed his mettle and I had to really struggle to pull it out.

Cross,Ted (1998) - Cox,Valentine (1872) [B23]
Old Fort Bay Invitational Nassau (6), 27.02.2019

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bb5 a6 
I don't think a6 can be very good. White wants to trade the bishop for the knight at some point anyway, and the pawn being on a6 doesn't typically add anything for black in the types of positions that follow, so I think it is a wasted tempo.
6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.0-0 e6 8.d3 Ne7 9.Qe1 0-0 10.Qh4 f5 11.Be3 b6 12.Rae1 
While my move isn't that bad, the rook is more at home on d1 instead. [>=12.Rad1]
12...Ra7! 
I give this move an exclamation point because this rook basically holds black's position together throughout most of my attack. I kept ruing that it was there.
13.Kh1 Bd7 14.Rg1 Nc8 15.Qf2 
[>=15.Qg3 c4 16.exf5 exf5 17.Rd1+/-]
15...Nd6 16.e5 Nb5 17.Ne2 
I was so intent on attacking on the kingside that I didn't really even look at queenside possibilities, to be honest. [17.Na4! Rb7 18.c4 Nc7 19.b4+-]
17...Nc7 18.b4 
Though I had to play this queenside move, because it simply wins a pawn.
18...Nd5 19.bxc5 Nxe3 20.Qxe3 b5 21.g4!? 
I was in attack mode, so forget about queenside moves! [>=21.a4+-]
21...fxg4? 
This mistake gives white a basically winning game. [21...Be8 22.a4 a5 23.c4 bxc4 24.dxc4 Rb7 25.gxf5 exf5 26.Rd1 Qe7 27.Rd6+-]
22.Rxg4 Qa5 23.Reg1 
I decided to simply abandon the queenside and go all-in on my kingside attack. I knew that if I failed I would probably lose, unless I could come up with a perpetual.
23...Qxa2 24.h4? 
My move changes the evaluation from 'winning' to merely a strong white edge. [24.Ng5! Rf5 25.R4g2+-]
24...Be8 25.Ned4 Qd5 26.Kh2?! 
I so wanted to get my king out of the pin that I missed a lovely tactical sequence. [26.h5! Qxc5 27.hxg6 hxg6 28.Ng5 Qd5+ 29.Kh2 Re7 30.Qh3+-]
26...Qxc5 27.h5 Rd7 28.c3?? 
I made a bad mistake here, going from nearly winning to equality. [28.Qe4 Qd5 29.Qxd5 exd5 30.hxg6 hxg6 31.Ne6 Rf5 32.Rh4 Re7 33.Nfd4 Rf8 (33...Rh5 34.Rxh5 gxh5 35.f5+-; 33...Rff7 34.Rxg6+-) 34.Nxf8+-]
28...Qd5? 
Luckily Cox didn't go in for taking the pawn. [28...Qxc3 29.hxg6 h6 30.Qe4 Re7 31.R4g2 c5 32.Nxe6 Rxe6 33.Qd5 Kh8 34.Qxe6 Qxd3 35.Qg4 Qe4= 36.Re1 Qxf4+ 37.Qxf4 Rxf4 38.Kg3 Rf5 39.e6 c4 40.Ra2 Bxg6 41.Nh4 Rg5+ 42.Kh3 Bh5 43.e7 Be8 44.Rxa6 Kg8 45.Rf1 Re5 46.Kg3 Rxe7 47.Nf5 Rb7 48.Ra8 Be5+ 49.Kg4 Rb8 50.Ra7 Kh8 51.Nxh6 Bg7 52.Nf5 Bf8 53.Kf4=]
29.hxg6?? 
Another big mistake for me, though it certainly looked fine over the board. The computer's idea of Qe2 to support a c4 push is very clever and hard to see. [29.Qe2! Rb7 (29...c5? 30.c4! Qa8 31.Nxe6+-) 30.hxg6 h6 31.c4 bxc4 32.dxc4 Qd7 33.Rd1 c5 34.Nb5 Qe7 35.Nd6 Rb4 36.Qe3+/=]
29...Bxg6? 
Cox plays the natural move, but he had the unusual h5 push, which leads to equality. [29...h5! 30.R4g2 c5 31.Ne2 Qxd3 32.Qf2 Qc4 (32...Qd5 33.Qg3=) 33.Qh4 Bh6 34.Ng5 Bxg5 35.Qxg5 Rg7 36.Qxh5=]
30.Ng5 Bf5 31.Rh4! c5 [31...h6 32.Ne4 Kh8 33.Qg3 c5 34.Nxf5 exf5 35.Nf6 Rxf6 36.exf6 Bf8 37.Qg6 Qf7 38.Qxf5+-] 32.Nxf5 Rxf5 33.Nxh7! 
Once I got in Nxh7 I finally felt like I was winning.
33...Kf7 34.Qg3 
I like my move a lot, and it's much easier to see than the computer's suggestion. [34.Ng5+ Ke8 35.Ne4 Bf8 36.Rg3 b4 37.cxb4+-]
34...Ke8 35.Nf6+ Rxf6 36.exf6 Bf8 37.Qg6+ Rf7 
It was over anyway, but this move allows me to finish quickly with a cute tactical sequence. [37...Kd8 38.Rh8 Qd6 39.Qe4 Kc7 40.Rgg8+-]
38.Rh7 Qd7 39.Re1 b4 40.Rxf7 1-0

It was a relief to get by Cox successfully and move to 4.5 out of 5. Now I had a Saturday ahead of me with two really tough opponents.

Old Fort Bay Invitational 2019 part 1

Recently the only chess I have been playing is the annual Old Fort Bay Invitational, since it is the best organized tournament I have ever seen. I had won the first two iterations, and the organizers promised I could keep the big trophy if I could win it a third time. Would I be able to?

Cross,Ted (1998) - Whyms,Chappell (1557) [B19]
Old Fort Bay Invitational Nassau (2), 23.02.2019

1.e4 c6 
I have always liked facing the Caro-Kann, as I seem to do well against it for some reason.
2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 e6 10.Bf4 Qa5+ 11.Bd2 Bb4
This was the first new move for me. I had always seen black play the queen back to c7. This move seems like a loss of time to me.
12.c3 Be7 13.0-0
Perhaps my choice to castle kingside is a bit odd, with the weakening due to the pawn on h4. The computer prefers some rather strange-looking moves that I don't think a human would play, especially the Nh5 move. [13.c4 Qc7 14.Nh5 0-0-0 15.Bc3 Kb8 16.0-0-0 Ngf6 17.Nxf6 Bxf6=]
13...Ngf6 14.Rfe1 0-0 15.Nf5
This was a dangerous choice. I probably should have opted to keep more material on the board and play for complications over the long term. I suspected Chappell would choose to go into the endgame. It was dangerous because I get only the barest of advantages--a pawn majority on the queenside and a bishop against a knight. That's not necessarily enough to win, and I really needed to win this game to kick off the event.
15... Qxf5 16.Qxf5 exf5 17.Rxe7 Rfe8 18.Rae1 Rxe7 19.Rxe7 Re8 20.Rxe8+ Nxe8 
So this was pretty much forced, and here is the endgame I mentioned. Not so simple to win.
21.Kf1 Kf8 22.Ke2 Ke7 23.Bf4 Nef6 24.Ne5 Ke6 
I was happy he didn't play the knight to d5, as I felt that made it harder. [24...Nd5 25.Bh2+/=]
25.Nxd7 Nxd7 26.Kd3 h5 27.c4 a6 28.g3 b5 29.b3 a5? 
Black's queenside pawn expansion is wrong and makes my job much easier. Better was for him to sit back and force me to develop a plan.
30.Bc7 
I didn't notice the quicker idea here of d5+, but it's not a big deal since the plan I did see works fine. [30.d5+! cxd5 31.cxb5+-]
30...a4 31.bxa4 bxa4 32.Kc3 Nf6 33.f3 
Better was to go straight after the a pawn, but I hadn't wanted to give black any counterplay at all if I could help it. [>=33.Kb4 Ne4 34.Kxa4 Nxf2 35.Ka5 Kd7 36.Kb6 Nd1 37.c5 Nc3 38.Kb7 g5 (38...Nxa2 39.Ba5 Nc1 40.d5+-) 39.hxg5 Nd5 40.Bd6 f4 41.Bxf4+-]
33...Ne8? 
It's hard to see this line, but here was black's shot at making a win difficult for me. [33...Nh7! 34.Kb4 g5 35.Kxa4 Kd7 36.Bb8 f4 37.Kb4 Kc8 38.Bd6 Kd7 39.c5 fxg3 40.Bxg3 gxh4 41.Bxh4 Kc8 42.a4 Nf8 43.d5 cxd5 44.c6 Ne6 45.Bg3 h4 46.Bxh4 Kc7 47.Kb5 Nd4+ 48.Kc5 Ne6+ 49.Kxd5 Nf4+ 50.Ke4 Ng6 51.Bg5 Kxc6 52.Kf5 Nf8 53.Be7 Nd7 54.Ke4 Nb6 55.a5 Nd7 56.Bb4+/=]
34.Bf4 g6 35.Kb4 f6 36.Kxa4 Kd7 37.Kb4 Ng7 38.d5 cxd5 39.cxd5 Ne8 40.Kc5 Nc7 41.Bxc7 Kxc7 42.f4 1-0

It's always good to start well in any chess event! This goes especially so when I had what I consider my toughest test in the very next round. Black against the sole Fide Master of the Bahamas is never going to be easy. Below is a pic of me playing Carver in round 2.

photo by Gurth Smith

Moncur,FM Cecil (1826) - Cross,Ted (1998) [D87]
Old Fort Bay Invitational Nassau (3), 23.02.2019

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 
I haven't played the Gruenfeld in many years, and even back then I only played it a couple of times. I chose it this time to avoid Carver's preparation, plus I liked the line he played in the Olympiad this year and thought it could give me a tiny edge or at least a type of equality that I felt was playable for me. I liked the idea of having done computer prep in the line while Carver wouldn't have had the same opportunity.
4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.h4 
This was the line Carver played in the Olympiad, and I liked all the lines I saw in my preparation.
10...cxd4 11.cxd4 Qa5+ 12.Kf1 h5 
This was my deviation from the game Carver played in the Olympiad.
13.Qb3?! 
The computer never showed me this move, so I had to assume it wasn't the best.
13...Qb4?! 
However, I failed to fully understand the reason why it wasn't great. I did briefly look at moving the queen back to threaten knight to a5, but it felt wrong to me somehow. But it was correct. [13...Qd8 14.Qd1 Na5 15.Bd3=]
14.Rd1 Qxb3 15.Bxb3 Na5 16.Bd5? 
This was a waste of time that just gives black some free development. [16.Ba4 Nc4 17.Bc1 a6 18.f3 b5 19.Bb3 Bd7=]
16...e6 17.Bb3 Nxb3 18.axb3 Rd8 
Not a bad move, but not the best either. The rook really wants to be on c8, so it was best to develop the bishop first. [>=18...Bd7 19.f3 Rfc8 20.Kf2 a5 21.Rd2 b5=/+]
19.f3 Bd7 20.Kf2 a5 21.Bg5 Rdc8 22.Rc1 b5 23.Rxc8+ Rxc8 24.Rc1 Rxc1 
The computer says I could have had a significant advantage here with [24...a4 25.Rxc8+ Bxc8 26.Bc1 Ba6 27.b4 f5 28.g3 Bb7 29.Ke3-/+]
25.Bxc1 Kf8 
And again here with [25...a4 26.bxa4 bxa4 27.Ke3 Bf8 28.Nc3 Be7 29.g3 f6-/+]
26.Ke1 Ke7 27.Kd1 Bc6 28.Kc2 b4 29.Be3 Kd6 30.Kd2 Bb5=/+ 
I offered the draw because I knew the advantage I had was very minimal here, and I didn't see any clear plan to actually win the game without taking risks I wasn't prepared to take. Getting by my most feared opponent as black with a draw was completely acceptable to me.
1/2-1/2

What a fascinating game round 3 turned out to be!

Cross,Ted (1998) - Karelina,Polina (1678) [C54]
Old Fort Bay Invitational Nassau (4), 24.02.2019

1.e4 e5 
Already we see something new. Polina has always played the Pirc, so I suspected she had opted to book up on lines she had seen in my database games. I just didn't know which lines yet.
2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 
But now I knew! The Giuoco Piano. See, my database games all show me playing the ultrasolid 7. Bd2 line, because that is what I have taken to playing over the last thirty years.
4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 
So I threw Polina a curveball by playing this crazy line that I used to play more than thirty years ago. I knew she may not have looked at the lines, and playing a highly tactical variation with no prior knowledge is dangerous. I have to give her credit for how well she did.
7...Nxe4 8.0-0 Nxc3?! 
Now this is a known mistake. The reason I gave up playing this line is because after the correct 8...Bxc3, there is a long line where black ends up better. [>=8...Bxc3 9.d5 Bf6 10.Re1 Ne7 11.Rxe4 d6 with a wild game that if played perfectly should favor black in the end.]
9.bxc3 Bxc3? 
Here is the first true mistake, though. Black could still gain close to equality with [9...d5 10.cxb4 dxc4 11.Re1+ Ne7 12.Qa4+ Bd7 13.b5 0-0 14.Qxc4=]
10.Qb3 
I was aware that Ba3 immediately is considered to be even stronger, but I simply couldn't remember all the lines, so I chose the line that still wins and is generally easier to remember. [10.Ba3! d5 a) 10...d6 11.Rc1 Ba5 (11...Bb4 12.Bxb4 Nxb4 13.Qe1+ Qe7 14.Qxb4+-) 12.Qa4 Bd7 (12...a6 13.Bd5+-; 12...0-0 13.d5+-) 13.d5 Ne5 14.Qxa5 Nxf3+ 15.gxf3 0-0 16.Kh1+-; b) 10...Bxa1 11.Re1+ Ne7 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Rxe7+ Kxe7 14.Qxa1+-; 11.Bb5 Bxa1 12.Re1+ Be6 13.Qc2 Qd7 (13...Qf6 14.Bxc6+ Kd8 15.Bxb7 Rb8 16.Bxd5+-) 14.Ne5 Bxd4 15.Nxd7 Kxd7 16.Rc1+-]
10...Bxd4 
A good choice by Polina. Taking the rook leads to quick disaster, plus I had more trouble remembering the complicated lines in this variation. [10...Bxa1 11.Bxf7+ Kf8 12.Bg5 Ne7 13.Ne5 Bxd4 14.Bg6 d5 15.Qf3+ Bf5 16.Bxf5 Bxe5 17.Be6+ Bf6 18.Bxf6+-]
11.Bxf7+ Kf8 12.Bg5?! 
See what thirty years will do to your memory. I just couldn't recall the lines. White should win easily here, but instead I made it much harder than it needed to be. [12.Bh5 d5 (12...g6 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Qb4+ Kf7 15.Qxd4 gxh5 16.Bb2 Rg8 17.Qd5+ Kg6 18.Rae1+-) 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Qb4+ Qd6 15.Qxd4+-]
12...Bf6 13.Rae1 Ne7 14.Re2?! 
My slight inaccuracies don't throw away the win, luckily, but they do make it progressively harder. [14.Bh5 d5 15.Re3 Ng6 16.Rfe1 Bd7 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Nh4 Ne5 19.Rxe5 fxe5 20.Qf3+ Kg7 21.Qg3+ Kf8 22.Re3 e4 23.Qf4+ Ke7 24.Qe5+ Be6 25.Bg4 Qd7 26.Bxe6 Qxe6 27.Nf5+ Kd7 28.Qg7++-]
14...d5 15.Rfe1? 
Now I make a real mistake that turns this into a difficult endgame. I didn't think I had the time to play what the computer says is the right move. [15.Bh5+-]
15...Kxf7 16.Bxf6?! 
I missed that taking with the rook on e7 right away would lead to a better version of the endgame. [16.Rxe7+! Qxe7 17.Rxe7+ Kxe7 18.Qxd5 Re8 19.h3+/-]
16...gxf6 17.Rxe7+ Qxe7 18.Rxe7+ Kxe7 19.Qxd5 c6 20.Qe4+ Kf7 21.h3 Be6 22.Qf4 
I hit upon the correct plan!
22...Rad8? 
This mistake makes my job a bit easier. [22...Rhg8 23.Qc7+ Ke8 24.Nd4 Bd7 25.Qxb7 Rc8+-]
23.Ng5+ Ke7 24.Qb4+ 
I know that Polina saw the knight check on g5, but I believe she missed this follow up.
24...Rd6 
Avoiding giving up the exchange doesn't help. [24...Kd7 25.Qxb7+ Kd6 26.Ne4+ Ke5 27.f3 Rhf8 28.Qc7+ Kf5 29.Qxh7++-] 
25.Ne4 Rhd8 26.Nxd6 Rxd6 27.Qxb7+ Rd7 28.Qxc6 Bxa2 29.Qe4+ Kd8 30.Qa8+ 
I didn't notice the simplicity of Qf3 here. Black is amazingly helpless. [>=30.Qf3] My line was fine but takes more time.
30...Ke7 31.Qh8 Bb1 32.Qg7+ Ke6 33.Qg4+ Bf5 34.Qc4+ Kd6 35.g4 Be6 36.Qb4+ Kd5 37.f4 Rc7 38.f5 Bc8 39.Qa5+ Kd6 40.Kf2 Bd7 41.Ke3 Bc6 42.Kd4 Bg2 43.h4 
I'm winning anyway, but what an amazing move there was here! [43.g5!! fxg5 44.Qa2]
43...Bf1 44.Qd5+ Ke7 45.Qe6+ Kd8 46.Qxf6+ Kc8 47.Qe6+ Kb7 48.f6 1-0

Not recalling my old lines was worrisome, and Polina played very well, so it was great to grind it out successfully.

Old Fort Bay Invitational 2018 part 4

The next game ended up not really being a game. I was playing black against a player who was doing well in the event, having gone undefeated through the first eight rounds. I knew if I pushed I could probably win, but was it worth the effort when I could seal up first place without really risking anything? It was the third round of the day also. Two games in a day is tiring, but three is exhausting. I figured it could be better for the next day to get some rest.

Hanna Jr.,Philip (1699) - Cross,Ted (1991) [C10]
Old Fort Bay Invitational Nassau (9), 10.03.2018

1.e4 e6 
I almost never player the French, having done so just once previously, but I wanted to avoid any preparation on his part.
2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Bd3 c5 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bg5 Qb6?! [10...b6 11.Qe2 Bb7 12.Rad1 Qc7 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Be4 Rfd8 15.Bxb7 Qxb7=]
Up to his last move I had looked at all this in my preparation, but here I forgot the proper move and got it mixed up with a different line. I figured I hadn't played correctly, so I took this moment to offer the draw.
1/2-1/2


I knew I would push for a win in the next game, since it was my last with white. My opponent was the current Bahamas national champion, so he wouldn't be easy to beat.

Cross,Ted (1991) - Small,Byron (1712) [C55]
Old Fort Bay Invitational Nassau (10), 11.03.2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Be7 5.0-0 d6 6.h3 Na5 7.Bb3 Nxb3 8.axb3 h6 9.Re1 0-0 10.d4 exd4 11.Qxd4 a6 12.Nc3 c6 13.Bf4 Be6 14.Re2 d5 
I really dislike these types of positions. I find it difficult to come up with a good plan. It's hard to win these kinds of games...you have to be really patient and wait for your opponent to blunder, or perhaps even take risks in order to play for a win.
15.Rae1?! 
[15.exd5 Nxd5 16.Nxd5=]
15...Re8 
[>=15...c5 16.Qd1 d4 17.Rd2 Qb6 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 Nxd5=/+]
16.exd5 cxd5 17.Ne5 Rc8 18.Nd3 Qd7 19.Bh2 Bf5 20.Nf4?! 
[20.Bg3=]
20...Bd6?! 
[>=20...Bc5 21.Qd2 Rxe2 22.Rxe2 d4 23.Na2 Ne4 24.Qe1 Bd6 25.Nd3=/+]
21.Nfxd5 Bxh2+?! 
[>=21...Nxd5 22.Nxd5 Rxe2 23.Rxe2 Rxc2 24.Rxc2 Bxc2 25.Nf6+ gxf6 26.Bxd6=]
22.Kxh2 Nxd5 23.Nxd5 Rxe2 24.Rxe2 Re8 25.Rxe8+ Qxe8 26.c4 Qe4 27.Qxe4 Bxe4 
Okay, so I come to an endgame up a pawn, but it isn't so simple to actually win it.
28.Ne3 f5 29.f3 Bd3 30.g3 Kf7 31.b4 Ke6 32.f4 g5 33.Kg2 gxf4 34.gxf4 Kf6 35.Kg3 Kf7 36.c5 Ke6 37.Kf3 Kf7 38.h4 h5? 
I breathed a sigh of relief here. I needed to bring my king over to the queen side if I wanted to make progress, but I was afraid to do so while he had a path with his king through h5 to attack my kingside pawns. With this mistake he sealed off that route and freed up my king to roam.
39.Kf2 Ke6 40.Ke1 Be4 41.Kd2 Kd7 42.Kc3 Kc6 43.Kd4 
[43.Nc4!? Kd5 44.Nd6+-]
43...Kb5 44.Kc3? 
[44.Nc4 Kxb4 45.Nd6 Bc2 46.Nxb7 Kb5 47.Nd6+ Kc6 48.b4+-]
44...b6 45.Nc4?? 
I struggled to see the tactics correctly here, and this mistake could have cost me the win. [45.Kd4! Kxb4 (45...bxc5+ 46.bxc5 Kc6 47.Ke5 Kxc5 48.Nxf5+-) 46.cxb6 Ka5 47.Nxf5 Bf3 48.Kc5+-]
45...bxc5 46.Nd6+ Kc6 47.Nxe4 fxe4 48.bxc5 Kxc5 49.f5 Kd5 50.f6 Ke6 51.Kd4 Kxf6 52.Kxe4 Ke6?? 
All of this was pretty much forced, and here he could have drawn with the simple a5.[52...a5=] 
53.Kf4 Kf6 54.b4 Kg6 55.Ke5 Kg7 56.Kf5 Kh6 57.Kf6 Kh7 58.Kg5 Kg7 59.Kxh5 Kh7 60.Kg5 Kg7 61.Kf5 1-0

So, I was fortunate to get that last necessary victory and I knew I had first place sealed up now. So the only question in the final round was whether my opponent would want to fight it out or not, because I didn't need to.

Gibson,Franklyn (1900) - Cross,Ted (1991) [A36]
Old Fort Bay Invitational Nassau (11), 11.03.2018

1.c4 g6 2.g3 Bg7 3.Bg2 c5 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.d3 Nf6 6.e4 d6 7.Nge2 0-0 8.0-0 e5 9.h3 Nd4 10.f4 Ne8 1/2-1/2

And so that wrapped it up. I scored an undefeated eight points from ten and won first place for the second year in a row.

Old Fort Bay Invitational 2018 part 3

This next game made me nervous for the same reason as my third round game--having beaten top rivals I now had to face one of the lower-ranked opponents, and that always feels like a trap game (as the third round ended up being). I steeled myself to play as solidly as possible.

Cross,Ted (1991) - Whyms,Chappell (1616) [B48]
Old Fort Bay Invitational Nassau (6), 07.03.2018

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qc7 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be3 a6 7.a3 Nf6 8.Be2 Nxd4 9.Bxd4 b5?! 
He chose a variation that I was unfamiliar with, so it's lucky for me that he erred first. [9...d6] 
10.0-0? 
Although my move isn't bad, per se, it allows black equality in a position where I could have taken a strong advantage. [>=10.e5 Nd5 11.Nxd5 exd5 12.Qd2 Bc5 13.0-0-0 Bb7 14.Rhe1+/-] 
10...Bd6 11.g3 Bb7 12.Bf3 
My move is fine. The computer's suggestion only leads to a slight advantage anyway. [12.Bxb5 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Bxe4 14.Ba4 0-0 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qd4+ Be5 17.Qxe4 Bxb2 18.Rab1 Qe5 19.Qxe5+ Bxe5 20.Bxd7+/=] 
12...Be5 13.Bg2 Rc8 14.Rc1 0-0 15.f4 Bxd4+ 16.Qxd4 d5 17.e5 Nd7 18.Ne2 Qb6 19.Rfd1 Rc7 20.c3 Rfc8 21.Kf2 a5 22.Qxb6 Nxb6 23.Nd4 Ba6 24.Bf1 Nc4?! 
[>=24...Rb8] 
25.Rc2 
I missed the ideas behind b3. [25.b3! Nb6 (25...Nxa3 26.Ra1+-) 26.a4 Kf8 27.axb5 Bb7 28.Ra1 Rxc3 29.Rxa5+-] 
25...a4 26.Bxc4 
The computer doesn't like my move, but I think it underestimates how bad the black bishop becomes, trapped behind its wall of pawns.
26...Rxc4 
Black definitely makes it worse with this move. [26...dxc4 27.Rcd2+/-; 26...bxc4 27.g4+/=] 
27.Ke3 Kf8 28.g4 Ke7 29.f5 Rb8? 
Now white is flat-out winning. [29...exf5 30.gxf5 Re8 31.Rf2 Bc8 32.Kd2+/-] 
30.Rf2 Rcc8 31.fxe6 fxe6 32.Rdf1 b4 33.Rf7+ Ke8 
It's lost either way. [33...Kd8 34.Nxe6+ Ke8 35.Nxg7+ Kd8 36.R1f6] 
34.Rf8+ 1-0

It was a relief to get by the 'trap game' intact! The next game was also a bit of a potential trap game, though against a stronger player. I had beaten him twice last year in this event, but I knew I would have to be accurate to do so again.

Joseph,Elton (1811) - Cross,Ted (1991) [A00]
Old Fort Bay Invitational Nassau (7), 10.03.2018

1.g3 g6 2.Bg2 Bg7 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.b3
Well, he sure chose an unusual opening variation against me!
4... d5 5.e3 c5 6.Bb2 0-0 7.Nge2 e5 8.0-0 Nc6 9.d4 
It feels like a reversed King's Indian, and I'm not a KID player at all.
9...cxd4 10.exd4 exd4 
I originally meant to play the correct move, e4, but then I thought I saw a tactic that wasn't quite there. [>=10...e4 11.Qd2 Re8 12.Rfe1 Bg4-/+]
11.Nxd4 Nxd4 12.Qxd4 Ne4 13.Qd3 Bf5 14.Na4 Nxf2? 
It could have turned out well for me had I seen this absurdly long computer line. [14...Bxb2 15.Nxb2 Qf6 16.Na4 Ng5 17.Qxd5 Rad8 18.Qc5 Nh3+ 19.Kh1 Rd2 20.Nc3 Rfd8 21.Rae1 Rxc2 22.Nd5 Rxc5 23.Nxf6+ Kg7 24.g4 Bd3 25.Ne4 Bxf1 26.Bxf1 Nxf2+ 27.Nxf2 Rc2-/+]
15.Qxd5 Nh3+ 16.Kh1 Qxd5 17.Bxd5 Bxb2 
[17...Rad8 18.Bxb7 Rd2 (18...Bxc2 19.Bg2 Ng5 20.Kg1=) 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.c4 Re8 21.Rae1 Rxe1 22.Rxe1 Rxa2~~]
18.Nxb2 Bxc2 19.Rac1 Bf5 20.Bxb7 Rae8 21.Bf3?! 
It would have been all equal if not for this error. [21.Rce1=]
21...Ng5 22.g4 Nxf3 
[22...Bc8!-/+]
23.gxf5 Re2 
[23...Nxh2! 24.Rf4 Re2 25.Nd3 g5-/+]
24.Rxf3 Rxb2 25.fxg6 fxg6? 
I simply hallucinated here, totally missing that his other rook could hit me and win a pawn with check. [25...hxg6 26.a4 Rd8-/+]
26.Rxf8+ Kxf8 27.Rc8+ Kg7 28.Rc7+ Kh6 29.Rxa7 Kg5 30.h4+?? 
White makes a terrible mistake. [30.Rxh7 Rxa2 31.b4 Rb2 32.Rb7 Kf4 33.Kg1 g5 34.b5 Kf3 35.Rf7+ Ke4 36.Rb7 Kf3=]
30...Kg4? 
But I was so demoralized over what I had done on move 25 that I spent exactly zero time on my response and immediately played Kg4. White offered a draw and I accepted without even asking him to show his move. [30...Kxh4 31.Kg1 (31.Rxh7+ Kg3-+) 31...h5-+]
1/2-1/2

So, my pattern in this event so far was to play well against my biggest rivals and then play fairly poorly against the tail enders. Well, I had one of my biggest rivals ahead in the next round, so it wouldn't be so bad if that pattern held up for now!

Kendrick had 'stolen' the national championship away from me last year, and he was the only player in the Bahamas with a plus score against me, so needless to say, I was nervous.

Cross,Ted (1991) - Knowles,Kendrick (1827) [B35]
Old Fort Bay Invitational Nassau (8), 10.03.2018

1.e4 g6 
He had played the Center Counter each time with black previously.
2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.Nf3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.f3 0-0 8.Bc4 Qa5 9.Qd2 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Qb4 
When he played this move, I thought I had messed up and was in trouble. It took me quite a long time to realize that I was fine.
11.Qd3 Qxb2?? 
Lucky for me he didn't see that the pawn was poisoned. [11...d5 12.Bxd5 Nxd5 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.exd5 Bf5 15.Qd2 Qxb2 16.Rb1 Qa3 17.g4 Bd7 18.Rxb7 Rac8 19.Qd4+ Kg8 20.Kd2 Rfd8~/=]
12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.Bxb2 Bxb2 14.Rb1 Nf4 15.Qd2 Be5 16.0-0 d6 17.g3 Nh5 18.f4 Bf6 19.f5 g5 20.a4 h6 21.a5 Ng7 22.Rb3 Ne8 23.Rfb1 Kg7 24.Bd5 Be5 25.Bxb7 Bxb7 26.Rxb7 Nf6 27.Qd3 Rac8 28.R1b3 a6 29.Rxe7 Rc5 30.Rbb7 Rxa5 31.Qb3 d5 32.Rxe5 1-0

It is rarely easy to beat Kendrick, so it was nice to have one turn my way quickly. And this victory put me in the driver's seat for winning the event with 6 points out of 7 games (there was a bye for each person in the event due to the number of players).

Old Fort Bay Invitational 2018 part 2

So, having begun the event by beating two of my toughest opponents, I now got to play white against the lowest-rated player in the event. I typically have no trouble beating 1400-level players, so this was a sobering experience. I didn't take her lightly, since I was nervous about messing up, but the truth is that she chose a terrific line to play against me, since it isn't one I like or know well, and she also played very well.

Cross,Ted (1991) - Johnson,Daijah (1441) [B32]
Old Fort Bay Invitational Nassau (4), 04.03.2018

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 a6 7.N5c3 Nf6 8.Bg5?! 
See, already I show that I don't know this position. My move takes it from a standard minimal white edge to a tiny black edge. [8.Be2] 
8...Be7 9.Na3?! 
And I follow up my last poor move by overlooking a tactical idea. Lucky for me she didn't see it either.
9...0-0 
[9...Nxe4! 10.Bxe7 Nxc3 11.Bxd8 Nxd1 12.Rxd1 Kxd8 13.Rxd6+ Ke7 14.Rd2=/+] 
10.Nc2?! 
I spent a lot of this opening making substandard moves! Not a good plan against a lower-rated opponent that I really need to beat. [>=10.Bxf6 Bxf6=] 
10...Be6 
Again the Ne4 tactic was available and again we both missed it. [10...Nxe4! 11.Bxe7 Nxc3 12.Bxd8 Nxd1 13.Bc7 Nxb2 14.Bxd6 Rd8 15.c5-/+] 
11.Ne3?! 
My fourth poor move in a row. [11.Bd3=] 
11...h6 
[11...Nxe4 12.Bxe7 Nxc3 13.Qxd6 Nxe7 14.Qxd8 Rfxd8 15.bxc3-/+] 
12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Ncd5 Bxd5 14.exd5?! 
Another bad move gives black a solid edge. [>=14.Nxd5 Qa5+ 15.Qd2=] 
14...Nd4 15.Nc2?? 
I was simply oblivious to the Qa5 tactics, though I saw them right as I took my hand off the knight, and I knew I was in trouble and would be lucky not to lose the game. [15.Bd3 Qa5+ 16.Qd2 Qxd2+ 17.Kxd2=/+] 
15...Nxc2+? 
What  huge relief! I felt like I had a new lease on life. [15...Qa5+ 16.b4 Nxc2+ 17.Qxc2 Qxb4+ 18.Qd2 a5-+] 
16.Qxc2 Rc8 
This slight inaccuracy on her part drops her advantage from significant to a small one. [>=16...e4 17.Rb1 Rc8 18.Be2 Qa5+ 19.Qd2 Qxa2 20.0-0-/+] 
17.Bd3?! 
[17.Be2=/+] 
17...b5 18.0-0 g6?! 
[18...e4 19.Be2 Qa5-/+] 
19.Qe2 bxc4 20.Bxc4 a5 21.Rac1 Bg7 22.Bb5 Qb6 23.a4 Rc5 24.Bc6 e4 25.Qxe4 Qxb2 26.Rxc5 dxc5 27.d6 Qe5 28.d7 
I still had my chances to win this game, but it involved playing highly accurate move orders, which given how poorly I had been playing so far was not something very likely to happen. [>=28.Qxe5 Bxe5 29.d7 Rb8 30.Bb5 Bf6 31.Re1 Kg7 32.Re8 Rd8 33.Kf1 c4 34.Ke2 h5 35.f4 Kh6 36.g3 c3 37.Kd3 g5 38.Re4 gxf4 39.Rxf4 Kg7 40.Rf5 h4 41.g4 Rh8 42.h3 Kg6 43.Kc2 Kg7 44.g5 Bd8 45.Kxc3+-] 
28...Qxe4 29.Bxe4 Bf6 30.Bc6 c4 31.Rc1 
And once again another long computer line that supposedly wins for me. [31.Re1 c3 32.Bb5 Rd8 33.Kf1 h5 34.Re8+ Kg7 35.Ke2 Kh6 36.Kd3 Kg5 37.g3 h4 38.Re4 hxg3 39.fxg3 Kh6 40.Rc4 Kg7 41.h4 Kf8 42.Ke4 Ke7 43.Kd5 Kf8 44.Kd6 Be7+ 45.Kc7 Bf6 46.g4+-]
31...Rb8 32.Bb5 c3 33.Kf1 
And again. [33.Re1 Kg7 34.Re8 Rd8 35.Re4 Rb8 36.Rc4 Rd8 37.g3 g5 38.Kg2 Kg6 39.g4 h5 40.h3 hxg4 41.hxg4 Kg7 42.Kf3 Rh8 43.Ke2 Rd8 44.Rc8 Kf8 45.Kd3 Ke7 46.Ke4 Ke6 47.Rc6+ Ke7 48.Rc5 Ke6 49.Rc8 Ke7 50.Kf5+-] 
33...Kf8 34.Ke2 
And one final time before it turns into a dead draw. [34.Re1 Be7 35.Re2 g5 36.g4 Rd8 37.Ke1 Bf6 38.h3 Kg8 39.Re8+ Kg7 40.Ke2 h5 41.Kd3 Kg6 42.Kc2 Kh6 43.Re4 Kg6 44.Rc4 hxg4 45.hxg4 Kg7 46.Rc8 Rh8 47.Kb3 Rd8 48.f3 Kf8 49.Kc4 Ke7 50.Kd5 Bg7 51.Ke4 Bf6 52.Kf5 Bg7 53.Rc4 Bh8 54.Kxg5+-] 
34...Ke7 35.Kd3 Rb6 36.Re1+ Re6 37.Rxe6+ Kxe6 38.Bc4+ Ke7 39.d8Q+ Kxd8 40.Bxf7 g5 41.Bb3 Kc7 42.Kc4 Kc6 43.Bc2 Be5 44.Be4+ Kb6 45.h3 h5 46.g3 h4 47.gxh4 gxh4 48.Kd5 Bg7 49.f4 Kc7 50.Ke6 Kb6 51.f5 Kc5 52.f6 Bf8 53.Bc2 Kb4 54.Kd5 Ka3 55.Kc4 Kb2 56.Kd3 Bd6 57.Bd1 1/2-1/2

On the one hand, it was a relief to not lose this after playing so terribly, but it was also a big let down to draw against the lowest player in the field, and one so many rating points lower than me. I was  hoping to start regaining lost rating points, and this dealt a crushing blow to that hope.

After this stinging rebuke, my reward was to have black against the Bahamas' best player, FM Cecil 'Carver' Moncur. I had lost with black each time I had played him in the past, so I was feeling determined but not very confident.

Moncur,FM Cecil (1901) - Cross,Ted (1991) [A88]
Old Fort Bay Invitational Nassau (5), 04.03.2018

1.d4 f5 
I changed up the opening, having played a Queen's Gambit each of the first two times I had played black against Carver.
2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.b3 0-0 6.Bb2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.c4 a5 9.Nc3 Qc7 10.Rc1 Na6 11.d5 e5 
Nothing wrong with my move. Nc5 is just another good alternative. [11...Nc5]
12.dxe6 Bxe6 13.Ng5 Bc8 14.e3 h6 15.Nf3 Nc5 16.Nh4 g5 17.Nf3 Nfe4 
While there may be nothing technically wrong with white's plan over the past few moves, I was happy that he allowed me to expand on the kingside. Yes, it could turn out badly for me as it weakens my king's position, yet this attack against the kingside often represents black's only real chance to play for a win in this opening, barring white allowing a tactic along the long bishop diagonal.
18.Qc2 Nxc3 19.Bxc3 Ne4 [19...Bxc3 20.Qxc3 Qg7 21.Qd2 Rf6 22.Nd4 f4 23.exf4 gxf4 24.Kh1 fxg3 25.fxg3 Bd7+/=] 20.Bxg7 Qxg7 
This next phase of the game revolves around black trying not to lose the weak d6 pawn while trying to find a way to play f4.
21.Rfd1 Bd7 22.Nd4 Rae8 23.Ne2 Rf6 24.Nc3 Nc5 25.Rd4?! 
White falters at last, and I'm proud that I realized it and played correctly. [25.a3+/=]
25...f4! 

26.exf4 gxf4 27.Qd1 
White makes things worse by placing his queen on the back rank with his king. [>=27.Qd2 f3 28.Bf1 Qe7 (28...Qg5) 29.Rd1 Kg7 30.Qb2 (30.Rxd6? Qxd6 31.Qxd6 Rxd6 32.Rxd6 Re1 33.Rd1 Rxd1 34.Nxd1 Bf5 35.h4 Bc2 36.Nc3 Kf6=/+) 30...Bf5 31.a3 Qe5=
; 27.Rxf4? Rxf4 28.gxf4 Bh3 29.f3 Nd3!]
27...f3 
[27...fxg3 28.hxg3 Ref8 29.Rc2=]
28.Bh1?? 
But here is the move that lost the game for white. He was hoping to collect the pawn on f3, but his bishop simply had to come to f1 to stop the coming tactics. [28.Bf1 Qg5 29.h4 Qe5 30.Qd2=]
28...Rfe6 29.Ne4 Nxe4 30.Bxf3 Nxg3! 
My move is definitely the human move and is just fine. The computer tactics just make my mind whirl. [30...Ng5 31.Rd3 Qb2 32.Kf1 Rf6 33.g4 Bxg4-+]
31.Rg4 Re1+ 32.Kg2 Bxg4 33.Qxd6 Bxf3+ 34.Kxf3 Rf8+ 35.Kg2 0-1

This was the best feeling, finally getting a win with black against my main rival. I now sat in first place with three and a half from four, with just the one blip of a draw that I should never have given up. I finished the first weekend quite happy with my performance.

Old Fort Bay Invitational 2018 part 1

2017 saw the first edition of a new invitational chess tournament in The Bahamas. It was an honor to be invited, and an even nicer honor to win that inaugural event. They changed the name for the second edition this year, now calling it the Old Fort Bay Invitational, Old Fort Bay being the nice neighborhood community that is hosting the event. Last year the event was a double round-robin with the best six players in The Bahamas, and I won with seven wins and three losses. This year it was changed to a single round-robin with eleven players, so still ten rounds, but only facing each player once. It's nerve-wracking to try to repeat a victory, since it's never something that is going to be easy. Ironically, my first round opponent this year was my final round opponent last year.

Cross,Ted (1991) - Karelina,Polina (1809) [B07]
Old Fort Bay Invitational Nassau (1), 03.03.2018

1.e4 d6 
No surprise, she has played the Pirc with black each time I have played her.
2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c6 4.f4
I changed my opening from my previous three games against her, having played f3 in those games and going for f4 this time.
4... Qa5 5.Bd3 e5 6.Nf3 exd4 7.Nxd4 g6 8.Be3 Bg7 9.h3 Nbd7 10.a3 Qc7 11.Qf3 Nc5 12.0-0-0 b5?? 
She overlooked a tactic that I'm very familiar with in similar Sicilian positions.
13.Bxb5
My move is fine, though apparent it's even stronger to play [13.Ndxb5 cxb5 14.Nxb5 Qa5 15.Bxc5 dxc5 16.e5+-]
13...Bd7
She tried to decline the tactic, but she failed to notice that this move did nothing to prevent it. I was just as surprised as she was that I could go ahead and capture the second pawn.
 14.Bxc6 
I like my move better, but the computer prefers [14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 Nd5 16.Nxc6 Nxc3 17.bxc3+-]
14...Bxc6 15.Ndb5 Bxb5 16.Nxb5 Qc6 17.Nxd6+ Ke7 18.e5 
While the computer likes another line better, it isn't an easy for for a human to understand, while my line is simple. [18.Bxc5 Qxc5 19.Qb3 Rhf8 20.Qb7+ Ke6 21.f5+ Ke5 22.Rhf1+-]
18...Qxf3 19.exf6+ Bxf6 20.gxf3 Ne6 21.f5 Ng5 22.f4 Nf3 23.Bc5 Bg7 24.Rhf1 Nh4 25.Rfe1+ 1-0


Polina is a talented young player and never easy to play against, so it was a relief to get this early win to start off the event. The second round wasn't going to get any easier, though. I had to play against Valentine Cox, who took second place last year. To win against him is always a long grind, and I had to have the black pieces against him.

Cox,Valentine (1856) - Cross,Ted (1991) [B45]
Old Fort Bay Invitational Nassau (2), 03.03.2018

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6
I don't play the e6 Sicilian, but I was concerned about his preparation and decided to take the game into unprepared waters early.
 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Be3 a6 8.Nd4 Qc7 9.Nb3 b5 10.a3 Be7 11.Be2 0-0 12.0-0 Bb7 
I don't know this opening variation very well, so I was making it up as I went along and hoping that my opponent was in the same boat. [12...Ne5=/+] 
13.f4 Rfd8 14.Bf3 Bf8 15.Qd2 d5 16.Qf2? 
How lucky I was that he faltered first...and that I saw it! Because I nearly didn't see it. I kept looking at all the lines where his bishop comes to b6 and I thought I was in trouble. Then I finally noticed the tactics that made d4 work for me. [16.e5 d4 17.exf6 dxe3 18.Qxe3 gxf6=] 

16...d4! 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Kh1 
And the move worked due to the skewer available against white's king and queen. [18.Bxd4 Rxd4 19.Qxd4 Bc5] 
18...Nxf3 19.gxf3 
[19.Bb6?! Qxf4 20.g3 Nxe4 21.gxf4 Nxf2+ 22.Rxf2 Rd7-+] 
19...Rd7 20.Rg1 Rc8 21.Qh4 Ne8 22.Rg3 Qd8 23.Qh5 Rxc3!? 
Okay, so there was no need to make it harder by giving back the exchange, but I was getting nervous and thought this would make my life easier. [23...g6-+] 
24.bxc3 Rd1+ 25.Rg1 Rxa1 26.Rxa1 g6?!
All right, I didn't see the line that the computer likes here, and frankly I'm not sure how many humans would have seen it all. [26...f5! 27.exf5 Nf6 28.Qh3 Qc7 29.Bd2 exf5 30.Qg3 Bxa3-+] 
27.Qg4 Bg7 28.Qg1 Bxc3 
All these f5 lines that the computer likes didn't appeal to me at the time, since they felt weakening. [>=28...f5 29.Bb6 Qc8 30.Rd1 fxe4-+] 
29.Rd1 Qa8?! 
The computer's preferred line here is, well, very computerish. [29...Qc7 30.Bb6 Qc6 31.Rd8 Bf6 32.Rb8 Be7-+] 
30.Rd3 Ba5 
And again the computer suggests a line that I can't imagine a human playing. [>=30...Bf6 31.Bb6 Qb8 32.Qe3 h6-+] 
31.Qd1? 
The fact that the computer suggestions are all fairly incomprehensible to me shows just how hard this position was to judge by human players. [31.Qg5 Bc6 32.Qc5-/+] 
31...Nf6 
The computer just loves the f5 moves. [>=31...f5 32.Kg1 fxe4 33.Rd7 exf3 34.Re7 Nf6-+] 
32.f5? exf5 33.Rd6 Bxe4 34.Kg2 Ng4 35.Bg1 Bc6 
[>=35...Bc7 36.Rd2 Bb7-+] 
36.Kg3 Bc7 37.fxg4 Bh1 
I wish I had seen the Bd5 idea. It is so elegant. [37...Bd5!] 

38.Kh4 Bf3? 
My move isn't really that bad. It's just that the h6 move traps the white king nicely. [38...h6 39.Be3 Qg2 40.Rd2 g5+ 41.Bxg5 hxg5+ 42.Kxg5 Qe4-+] 
39.Qd4 Bxd6? 
Again, my move doesn't throw anything away, but there is a stronger move in [39...Qf8] 
40.Qxd6 Bxg4?! 
[40...h6-+] 
41.Be3 
[41.Bd4 h6 42.Qf6 g5+ 43.Kg3 Qf3#] 
41...Qe8 42.Bf2 Be2?! 
[42...h6 43.Kg3 Qe2 44.Qd3 f4+ 45.Kg2 Qe6-+] 
43.Kg5 Qf8 44.Qf6 h6+ 45.Kh4 g5+ 46.Kh3 Bg4+ 
I overlooked the shorter forced mate, but my move was easily winning as well. [46...Bf1+ 47.Kg3 Qb8+ 48.Kf3 Qf4#] 
47.Kg2 Qa8+ 0-1

I was so happy. Having started the event against two of my strongest competitors, I went 2-0. Successfully putting such powerful opponents in the rearview mirror is a huge relief. Now I just had to keep up the pressure against the rest of the field.

Nassau Cup Invitational 2017 part 4

So after racing to a lead in the tournament after the first half, I began to falter and lost two in a row. I was still in first place, but I needed to turn things around quick. Now I was facing FM Carver Moncur, who had beaten me in round 4.

Critical match-up with trophy behind us

Cross,Ted (1995) - Moncur,FM Cecil (1876) [B23]
Nassau Cup Invitational 2017 Nassau (9), 12.03.2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 
Not sure why I chose the Sicilian Grand Prix attack, except that I'm sure I wanted to get out of any special preparation Carver had done.
3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bb5 Nd4 6.0-0 Nxb5 7.Nxb5 d5 8.exd5 a6 9.Nc3 Nf6 10.d4 Nxd5 11.dxc5 Nxc3 12.Qxd8+ Kxd8 13.bxc3 Bxc3 14.Rb1 Kc7 15.Rb3 Bg7 
There hasn't been much to say because this has all been theory, headed toward an interesting endgame that I had studied previously. The question was could I remember it all?
16.Bd2 Rb8? 
[16...Be6 17.Ba5+ Kc6 18.Rb6+ Kxc5 19.Nd2 Rhd8 (19...Rhc8? 20.Rd1 Bf5 21.c3 Bc2 22.Rc1 Bf5 23.h3 h5 24.c4+-) 20.Rd1 Rd4~~ 21.c4 Bxc4 22.Rxb7 Rc8 23.Rc1 Kc6 24.Rxe7 Bf8 25.Re3 Kb5 26.Nb3 Rd5=/+]
17.Ba5+ 
GM Renier Gonzalez was analyzing the game afterward and preferred [17.Rb6!?]

Me with GM Renier Gonzalez

17...Kc6 18.Rb6+ Kxc5 19.Rd1?? 
Here is where I mixed up my line. I knew about Nd2 but played too quickly, and the instant I played it I saw that Bg4 ruins it for me. I got truly lucky that my opponent had a moment of blindness next move. [19.Nd2 Bg4 20.Nb3+ Kd5 21.c4+ Ke4 22.Re1+ Kd3 23.Rxe7 Rhe8 24.Rxf7 Bc3 25.h3 Bf5 26.g4 Re1+ 27.Kf2 Re2+ 28.Kg3 Re3+ 29.Kh4 Be6 30.Nc5++-]
19...Bc3?? 
Wow, what a mistake to make just when could have grabbed the advantage. [19...Bg4 20.Rb3 b5-/+]
20.Bxc3 Kxb6 21.Bxh8 f6 22.Rd8 Kc7 23.Rg8 b5 24.Rg7 Kd6 25.Rxh7 Bf5 26.Nd4 Be4 27.Rh3 e5?? 
He overlooked the skewer of his king and rook. [27...Kd5 28.c3 b4 29.Ne2 Bf5 30.Rh7 a5 31.Kf2 Rc8 32.h3 bxc3 33.g4 Bd3 34.Nc1 Be4 35.Bg7 c2 36.g5 Ke6 37.gxf6 exf6 38.Rh8 Rc4 39.Rf8 Bf5 40.Ke3 Rc3+ 41.Kd2 Rxh3 42.Rxf6+ Ke7 43.Ra6 Rf3 44.Rxa5 Rxf4 45.Kc3 g5 46.Bh6 Rf3+ 47.Kb2 g4 48.Ne2+-]
28.Bxf6 exf4 29.Ra3 Rb6 30.Bg5 [30.Bd8] 30...Ke5 31.c3 Rd6 32.Ne2 Rd1+ 33.Kf2 f3 34.gxf3 Bb7 35.Rb3 Bd5 36.Ra3 Bb7 37.Be3 Rh1 38.Bf4+ Kf5 39.Ng3+ 1-0

It felt good not just to get back on track but to beat the toughest opponent. Now I just needed to finish off the tournament well. There was only one person who could catch me, if I lost.

Karelina,Polina (1681) - Cross,Ted (1995) [B25]
Nassau Cup Invitational 2017 Nassau (10), 12.03.2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6 6.f4 e6 
The second Sicilian Grand Prix in a row! I knew Polina played it, so this is what I prepared for.
7.Nf3 Nge7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Be3 b6 10.Qd2 d5 
This was all preparation for me. Her next move was new, so I suddenly had to think.
11.Nd1 dxe4 
I have a tendency to simplify too often. [11...d4 12.Bf2 e5=/+]
12.dxe4 Qxd2 13.Bxd2 Bb7 
[13...Ba6 14.Re1 e5=]
14.e5 Rad8 15.a3?
You'll see over the next few moves that the same tactic was available over and over again, and both of us missed it each time. [15.Rf2=]
15...Rd7?! 
[15...Nxe5! 16.fxe5 Bxf3-+]
16.Nc3? 
[16.Re1]
16...a6? 
[16...Nxe5 17.Nxe5 Bxe5 18.fxe5 Bxg2 19.Rf2 Bc6-/+]
17.Ne4? 
[17.Be3=]
17...Nd4!? 
[17...Nxe5! 18.Nxe5 Bxe5 19.fxe5 Bxe4 20.Bxe4 Rxd2-/+]
18.Nxd4 Bxe4? 
[>=18...Rxd4 19.Nf6+ Bxf6 20.exf6 Rxd2 21.Bxb7 Nf5 22.Bxa6 Rxc2 23.Rf2 Rxf2 24.Kxf2 Nd6=/+]
19.Nxe6?? 
Lucky for me that Polina didn't see how to keep me from winning the piece. [19.Bxe4 Rxd4 20.Bd3 Rd7+/=]
19...fxe6 
The computer likes Bg2 better, but I could see my line led to a fairly easy win. [19...Bxg2 20.Nxf8 Rxd2 21.Rad1 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Bf3-+]
20.Bxe4 Rxd2 21.Bd3 b5 
[21...g5! 22.fxg5 Rxf1+ 23.Rxf1 Bxe5 24.Re1 Bd4+-+]
22.b3 Rc8 [22...g5] 23.a4 c4 24.bxc4 bxc4 25.Be4 Nd5 26.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 
[26...c3-+]
27.Rxd1 Nc3 28.Re1 Nxe4 29.Rxe4 Bf8 30.Rd4? Bc5 0-1
It felt so good to win both games on the final day and take first place with 7/10.

With GM Gonzalez and the sponsor Mr. Lindroth