The 2300 Game

I crossed the 2300 barrier this weekend at the 2015 Bill Wright St. Louis Open. It was a very enjoyable trip thanks to my travel companions, GM Vladimir Georgiev and NM Gopal Menon. Apart from the fun we had, the tournament was also a success. Georgiev tied for first, Gopal came in a half point behind, and I broke through to 2303 a half point behind the Gopalinja.

It was a strange tournament. First, I blundered an exchange against GM Corrales Jiminez only to have him blunder one back at a much worse moment. So, I won when I should have lost. Then I sacrificed a rook and bishop against GM Ramirez for a very fancy almost-mate that there happened to be a way out of. Then I had a very nice, probably winning position against IM Kannappan which I spoiled miserably at a key moment with a simple time-pressure mistake.

But I finished the final round with a very nice win. The game with NM Claudio Abud was interesting and very original. I am particularly proud of the move 15. ...Ng4! as this was really the only way to keep an edge, and not an easy move to see at first.

Here is the "money game" with light notes. The match which pushed me over the 2300 barrier at long last!

[Event: Bill Wright St. Louis Open]
[Date 2015.04.19]
[Round 5]
[White Abud, Claudio (2224)]
[Black Karagianis, Petros (2303)]
[Result 0-1]


1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 a5 4. Bb2 axb4 

I felt black had a slight edge already.

5. Nxd4 e5 6. Nf3 e4 7. Nd4 Nf6 

7. ...Be7! was strongest, intending an immediate re-positioning to f6. I didn't even consider Be7, in fact perhaps playing 7. ...Nf6 a bit too quickly.

8.a3 bxa3 

At first I thought 8. a3 was a blunder, isn't the knight on d4 hanging at some point? But actually 8. a3(!?) is Houdini's number one move! Sort of a shock. But I was enjoying the game greatly at this point - very original, unique play. Exactly what you are looking for in the final round.

9. Qb3! Be7 

I also considered 9. ...Na6 but thought my theme should be to castle quickly and try to play in the center.

10. Nxa3 O-O 11. Nac2?! 

The a3 knight is bad, but shouldn't white try to castle?

11. ...Na6 12. Ne3 Nc5 13. Qc2 Rxa1+ 14. Bxa1 Re8 15. g3 

Now, at long last, white tries to castle. But perhaps I can be just in time to start some mischief...

15. ...Ng4!!

The only move to keep the advantage, in my opinion. The idea here is I will answer almost every move white plays with 16. ...Bf6. Things can get really bad in some cases, for example: 16. Nxg4? Bxg4 17. Bg2 Bf6  or 16. Ndf5 Bf6!

 16. Bg2 Bf6 17. Qc3 

White is magically holding the position. Here, I missed the strongest idea. 17. ...Ne6! is in fact quite good. The point is that after the forced 18. Nxg4 Bxd4 19. Qc1 Bxa1 20. Qxa1 Nd4! is surprisingly annoying.

17. ...Nd3+?!

But, no guts no glory. I want that "3".

 18. exd3 c5 

Apparently white can actualy defend nicely here with the cold-blooded 19. Qc1. A very hard move to find at the board.

19. Nxg4 Bxd4 20. Qc1 Bxg4 21. O-O Be2 22. Bxe4

A very reasonable practical decision. White will try to hold with an anchored bishop against a rook.

22. ...Bxf1 23. Qxf1 Bxa1 24. Qxa1 b6 25. Qa7 Re7 26. Qa6 g6 27. Kf1 Kg7 28. h4 h5 29. Qb5 Qd6 30. Qa6 Qe6 31. Kg2 Qf6 32. Qb5 Ra7

Now the black rook can penetrate with serious effect.

33. Bd5 Ra2 34. Qe8 Rxd2 35. Qe3 Rb2 36. Be4 Rb3 37. Qc1 Qe5 38. Qc2 Rb2 

I fiddled around for awhile trying to find the best setup. I think the queen should go to d4, but I was worried about pressure on f7.

39. Qc1 Ra2 40. Qb1 Qb2 

But now it is a technical win.

41. Qe1 Qd2 42. Qf1 Qe2 43. Qg1 Kg8

So that I can move the rook without Qa1+.

 44. Bd5 Rd2 45. Bf3 Qxd3 46. Qe1 Qd7 47. Bd5 Rxd5 48. cxd5 Qxd5+ 49. Kg1 Qe6

White resigned, and I had to contain myself. Instead of confetti falling from the rafters, I had to be contented with a handshake from Georgiev and his curt reminder: "You see, chocolate."

Vlad Georgiev says the secret to chess success is having a Coca-Cola in a can and chocolate during the game. We spent 40 minutes looking for coke in the can but all the local grocer - Straub's - had was bottles. Georgiev walked back to the St. Louis Chess Club dejected in his failed attemp only to find a mini fridge in the playing hall stocked full of canned coke products.