[Event "Check Point"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.3.4"] [Round "4"] [White "Yoni Offek"] [Black "Alon Alapi"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteELO "?"] [BlackELO "?"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. f3 O-O 8. Bc4 Qb6 9. Nxc6 Qxe3+ 10. Qe2 Qxe2+ 11. Nxe2 bxc6 12. O-O-O d5 13. exd5 cxd5 14. Bb3 Rb8 15. Nd4 Bf5 16. Nc6 Rb7 17. g4 Be6 18. h4 Rc8 19. Nd4 Bxg4 20. fxg4 Nxg4 21. Bxd5 Rd7 22. Nc6 e6 23. Bf3 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Rc7 25. Nxa7 Ne5 26. Rd8+ Bf8 27. Nc8 Nxf3 0-1

[Event "Check Point"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.3.4"] [Round "4"] [White "Yoni Offek"] [Black "Alon Alapi"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteELO "?"] [BlackELO "?"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. f3 O-O 8. Bc4 Qb6 9. Nxc6 Qxe3+ 10. Qe2 Qxe2+ 11. Nxe2 bxc6 12. O-O-O d5 13. exd5 cxd5 14. Bb3 Rb8 15. Nd4 Bf5 16. Nc6 Rb7 17. g4 Be6 18. h4 Rc8 19. Nd4 Bxg4 20. fxg4 Nxg4 21. Bxd5 Rd7 22. Nc6 e6 23. Bf3 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Rc7 25. Nxa7 Ne5 26. Rd8+ Bf8 27. Nc8 Nxf3 0-1

[Event "Live Chess"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2015.03.09"] [White "jamjoshjord"] [Black "z0dd"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1191"] [BlackElo "1214"] [TimeControl "2|1"] [Termination "z0dd won by checkmate"] 1.e4 c5 2.d3 Nc6 3.c3 g6 4.Qf3 Bg7 5.h3 e6 6.Be2 Nge7 7.Qg3 O-O 8.Nf3 d6 9.Nbd2 f5 10.Nc4 fxe4 11.dxe4 d5 12.exd5 exd5 13.Ne3 b6 14.Bd2 Bb7 15.O-O-O d4 16.cxd4 cxd4 17.Nc4 Rc8 18.Nd6 Rc7 19.Nxb7 Rxb7 20.Bb4 Rc7 21.Bxe7 Qxe7 22.Kb1 Nb4 23.Rc1 Qe4+ 24.Ka1 Nc2+ 25.Kb1 Na3+ 26.Ka1 Qb1+ 27.Rxb1 Nc2# 0-1

[Site "chessdrive.com"] [Date "March 9, 2015"] [White "ASEF ÖZHAN"] [Black "bluechess"] 1. e4 d5 2. e5 e6 3. f4 Nh6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. d4 b6 6. Bd3 Nb4 7. Bb5+ c6 8. Ba4 Ba6 9. a3 Qc7 10. axb4 Bxb4+ 11. c3 Be7 12. Bc2 c5 13. Rxa6 cxd4 14. Ba4+ Kf8 15. Nxd4 Nf5 16. O-O Nxd4 17. Qxd4 Bc5 18. Be3 Bxd4 19. Bxd4 Qc4 20. f5 Qxa6 21. fxe6 f6 22. Bc6 Ke7 23. exf6+ gxf6 24. Bxf6+ Kxe6 25. Bxh8 Rxh8 26. Re1+ Kd6 27. Bxd5 Kxd5 28. Nd2 Qc8 29. c4+ Kc5 30. Ne4+ Kb4 31. b3 Re8 32. Kf2 Qf5+ 33. Kg3 Rg8+ 34. Kh4 Qg4# 0-1

[Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.03.08"] [Round "?"] [White "Grossmann, Ryszard"] [Black "Kumala, Aleksander"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A25"] [PlyCount "90"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 Bc5 5. e3 d6 6. Nge2 Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. O-O Qd7 9. d3 O-O 10. Kh2 Ne8 11. g4 Bg6 12. d4 exd4 13. exd4 Bb6 14. Nd5 f5 15. Nxb6 axb6 16. g5 Bh5 17. f3 d5 18. b3 dxc4 19. bxc4 Nd6 20. c5 Nc8 21. Nf4 Bf7 22. d5 N6e7 23. d6 cxd6 24. cxb6 Nxb6 25. Bb2 Nc4 26. Bc3 Nc6 27. Nd5 f4 28. Re1 Qf5 29. Ne7+ Nxe7 30. Rxe7 Ne3 31. Qxd6 Qxg5 32. Rxe3 fxe3 33. f4 Qg6 34. Qd4 Rfe8 35. Rg1 Rxa2 36. Kh1 Qg3 37. Be1 Rf2 38. Bxf2 exf2 39. Rf1 Re1 40. Qd8+ Be8 41. Qd5+ Kh8 42. Qc4 Rxf1+ 43. Qxf1 Bc6 44. Bxc6 bxc6 45. f5 c5 0-1

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. e3 e6 4. d4 Be7 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. O-O cxd4 7. exd4 Bb4 8. Bd2 O-O 9. a3 Bxc3 10. Bxc3 Nd5 11. Bd2 f5 12. b4 Re8 13. b5 Nb8 14. a4 Qe7 15. a5 h5 16. Bg5 Qd6 17. h4 g6 18. Ne5 Nc3 19. Qe1 Nxb5 20. Bxb5 a6 21. Bxd7 Nxd7 22. Nxd7 Bxd7 23. Qd2 Bb5 24. Rfe1 b6 25. Re5 bxa5 26. Rxa5 Bc6 27. c4 Rf8 28. f4 Kh8 29. d5 Bd7 30. g3 Qb6+ 31. Kf1 Qb1+ 32. Ke2 Qg1 33. Qc3 Qg2+ 34. Kd1 Kg8 35. dxe6 Bc6 36. e7 Rfe8 37. Re6 Bf3+ 38. Kc1 Kh7 39. c5 Bg4 40. c6 Qg1+ 41. Kc2 Qd1+ 42. Kb2 Reb8+ 43. Ka3 Re8 44. c7 Qd7 45. Rc6 Qc8 46. Qf6 Rxe7 47. Qxe7+ Kh8 48. Rd5 Qb7 49. Rd8+ Rxd8 50. Qxd8+ Kh7 51. c8=Q Qxc8 52. Rxc8 Kg7 53. Rc7#

[Event "Foxwoods op 05th"] [Site "Connecticut"] [Date "2003.04.17"] [Round "1"] [White "Bartholomew, J."] [Black "Shabalov, Alexander"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B32"] [WhiteElo "2300"] [BlackElo "2592"] [Annotator "John Bartholomew"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2003.04.17"] [EventType "swiss"] [EventRounds "7"] [EventCountry "USA"] {I was 16 years old at the time of this game. It is significant to me because GM Shabalov had won the US Championship just a few months prior and was playing some really powerful chess.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 {The Kalashnikov, in which Black postpones the development of his kingside knight. "Kalashnikov" also refers to the Russian-made assault rifle, the AK-47. Very fitting for Shabalov's "shoot-em-up" style of play!} 5. Nb5 d6 6. N1c3 {With this move I indicate my willingness to transpose to a Sveshnikov Sicilian, a close relative of the Kalash.} (6. c4 {is an attempt to 'punish' Black for delaying ...Ng8-f6. It's not without consequence, though: White would chronically weaken the d4 square.}) 6... a6 7. Na3 b5 ({Rotella instead advocates} 7... Be7 {.}) 8. Nd5 Nce7 $5 {Continuing the delaying tactics.} ( 8... Nf6 9. Bg5 {is a main-line Sveshnikov.}) (8... Nge7 {is actually the most popular move.}) 9. c4 Nxd5 10. cxd5 {I knew this was thought to be harmless, but I was aiming for a clear-cut position with a fixed pawn structure.} ({The combative} 10. exd5 {is theoretically superior, with messy play.}) 10... Be7 ( 10... f5 $5 {is more Shaba-style, e.g.} 11. exf5 Bxf5 12. Bd3 Qd7 13. Nc2 Nf6 14. O-O Be7 15. Nb4 $5 {(heading for c6)} O-O 16. Nc6 (16. f3 $5 $14) 16... Bd8 $6 (16... Rae8 $13) 17. a4 $1 $14 {Diamant,A (2506)-Lopez,M (2275)/Mar del Plata ARG 2009}) 11. Bd3 Nf6 12. Nc2 Bg4 $6 {Black often plays this to provoke f2-f3, but I'm suspicious of the idea. White's bishop secures a comfortable home on e3 where it won't be bothered by ...Nf6-g4.} (12... O-O 13. O-O Bd7 { seems better to me, though I still prefer White's space advantage.}) 13. f3 Bd7 14. Be3 O-O 15. O-O $14 {White has a slight but stable advantage.} a5 $6 {The beginning of Black's problems. White already holds the edge on the queenside, so Black should refrain from weakening pawn moves.} 16. b4 $5 {Fixing the structure once more. I wanted to blockade and lay siege to the b5 pawn, ala Nimzowitsch.} ({It's also very promising to play} 16. Na3 {i.e.} Rb8 (16... b4 17. Nc4 {works out well for White.}) 17. Qe2 Qe8 18. Rac1 {and Black is tied down.}) 16... Nh5 17. g3 g6 18. Qe2 Bg5 19. Bf2 $1 {Keeping the bishop for now. } (19. f4 $6 {is premature. After} exf4 20. gxf4 Bf6 21. Rab1 Re8 $132 {White risks overextending himself.}) ({I also wasn't happy with} 19. Bxb5 Bxe3+ 20. Nxe3 axb4 21. Bxd7 Qxd7 {with simplifications favorable to Black.}) 19... Rb8 20. Rab1 $6 {My next few moves are objectively incorrect.} ({More forceful is} 20. a4 $1 bxa4 21. b5) 20... a4 21. Na3 ({Perhaps} 21. Ne3 $5 {is better, intending to double rooks on the c-file.}) 21... Qe8 22. Be3 Bd8 $2 {Shabalov may have been hoping to keep the game complicated with time pressure approaching.} ({However, the simple} 22... Bxe3+ 23. Qxe3 f5 {gives Black counterplay.}) 23. Bh6 $1 {Back on track. Black is unexpectedly forced backwards.} Ng7 24. f4 Bh3 $6 25. Rfe1 $1 {Anticipating Black's next move.} f5 {Black doesn't have much else, as the b-pawn is hanging.} ({He could mark time with} 25... Bd7 {, but} 26. fxe5 dxe5 (26... Qxe5 27. Bxb5 $16) 27. Be3 {is clearly better for White.}) 26. exf5 ({The immediate} 26. Bxb5 {is also good.}) 26... gxf5 $2 ({Black can try to sac an exchange with} 26... Bb6+ 27. Kh1 Nxf5 {, but following} 28. Bxf5 $1 (28. Bxf8 $2 {is less accurate because of} Qxf8 29. Bxf5 Qxf5 $1 $132) 28... Bxf5 (28... Rxf5 29. g4 $1) 29. Bxf8 Qxf8 30. Rbc1 (30. fxe5 $6 Bxb1 31. Rxb1 dxe5 32. Nxb5 Rc8 $1 {isn't as clear.}) 30... exf4 31. gxf4 Qf7 32. Qf3 {White should convert his advantage in spite of Black's bishops.}) ({Relatively best is} 26... Bxf5 {, though Black remains under pressure:} 27. Rbd1 $1) 27. fxe5 Bg4 28. Qg2 dxe5 29. Be3 $1 {A nice regrouping. The transfer of the bishop to c5 puts Black on the brink of defeat.} Qh5 {Abandoning the b5 and e5 weaklings and pinning all his hopes on a kingside attack.} 30. Bc5 Rf7 31. Bxb5 (31. Rxe5 $16) 31... f4 32. Bc4 Bf3 33. Be2 $2 {I remember being very proud of this move, but it could have cost me!} (33. Rxe5 $1 {completely neutralizes Black's initiative.} Qxe5 34. Qxf3 fxg3 35. Qxg3 (35. d6 {is good too.}) 35... Qxg3+ 36. hxg3 $16) 33... fxg3 ({ After} 33... e4 $1 {the position is a complete mess.}) 34. hxg3 Qg4 $2 {Now Black loses.} ({Again,} 34... e4 $1 $13) 35. Nc4 $1 {The forgotten knight returns to the game with decisive effect. Black can't protect e5.} e4 (35... Bxg2 36. Bxg4 Bxd5 37. Nxe5 $18) 36. Ne5 Qf5 37. Nxf7 Qxf7 (37... Bxg2 38. Nh6+ $18 {would have completed the knight's tour from a3 to h6!}) 38. Bxf3 exf3 39. Qf2 Bg5 40. Rf1 {Time was no longer a factor, so Black resigned. Despite a few innacuracies, I still like the way I played this game.} 1-0

[Date "2015.03.04"] [Round "4"] [White "Yoni Offek"] [Black "Alon Alapi"] [Result "0-1"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. f3 O-O 8. Bc4 Qb6 9. Nxc6 Qxe3 10. Qe2 Qxe2 11. Nxe2 bxc6 12. O-O-O d5 13. exd5 cxd5 14. Bb3 Rb8 15. Nd4 Bf5 16. Nc6 Rb7 17. g4 Be6 18. h4 Rc8 19. Nd4 Bxg4 20. fxg4 Nxg4 21. Bxd5 Rd7 22. Nc6 e6 23. Bf3 Rxd1 24. Rxd1 Rc7 25. Nxa7 Ne5 26. Rd8 Bf8 27. Nc8 Nxf3 0-1

[Date "2015.03.03"] [Round "4"] [White "Matan Suissa"] [Black "Erez Berkner"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nd5 Ba5 5. b4 Bxb4 6. Nxb4 Nxb4 7. Nxe5 Qe7 8. Bb2 f6 9. Qh5 g6 10. Nxg6 Qxe4 11. Qe2 Nxc2 12. Kd1 Qxe2 13. Bxe2 Nxa1 14. Nxh8 Kf8 15. Bc4 d5 16. Bxd5 Ne7 17. Ba3 Bf5 18. Re1 Kg7 19. Rxe7 Kxh8 20. Bxb7 Rg8 21. g3 Rg7 22. Re8 Rg8 23. Rxg8 Kxg8 24. g4 Bxg4 25. Kc1 Bf5 26. Bb2 Nc2 27. Bxf6 Kf7 28. Bc3 c5 29. d3 Bxd3 30. Kd2 Bg6 31. f3 Ke6 32. Be4 Nb4 33. Bxb4 cxb4 34. Bxg6 hxg6 35. Kd3 Kd5 36. h4 a5 37. f4 a4 38. f5 gxf5 39. h5 b3 40. axb3 a3 41. Kc2 Ke6 42. b4 f4 43. h6 Kf7 44. b5 f3 45. h7 Kg7 46. b6 f2 47. b7 f1=Q 48. b8=Q Qf5 49. Kb3 Qh3 50. Ka2 Kxh7 51. Qb7 Kg6 52. Qb6 Kf7 53. Qb3 Qxb3 54. Kxb3 1/2-1/2

[Date "2015.03.03"] [Round "4"] [White "Matan Suissa"] [Black "Erez Berkner"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nd5 Ba5 5. b4 Bxb4 6. Nxb4 Nxb4 7. Nxe5 Qe7 8. Bb2 f6 9. Qh5 g6 10. Nxg6 Qxe4 11. Qe2 Nxc2 12. Kd1 Qxe2 13. Bxe2 Nxa1 14. Nxh8 Kf8 15. Bc4 d5 16. Bxd5 Ne7 17. Ba3 Bf5 18. Re1 Kg7 19. Rxe7 Kxh8 20. Bxb7 Rg8 21. g3 Rg7 22. Re8 Rg8 23. Rxg8 Kxg8 24. g4 Bxg4 25. Kc1 Bf5 26. Bb2 Nc2 27. Bxf6 Kf7 28. Bc3 c5 29. d3 Bxd3 30. Kd2 Bg6 31. f3 Ke6 32. Be4 Nb4 33. Bxb4 cxb4 34. Bxg6 hxg6 35. Kd3 Kd5 36. h4 a5 37. f4 a4 38. f5 gxf5 39. h5 b3 40. axb3 a3 41. Kc2 Ke6 42. b4 f4 43. h6 Kf7 44. b5 f3 45. h7 Kg7 46. b6 f2 47. b7 f1=Q 48. b8=Q Qf5 49. Kb3 Qh3 50. Ka2 Kxh7 51. Qb7 Kg6 52. Qb6 Kf7 53. Qb3 Qxb3 54. Kxb3 1/2-1/2