Mike Shpan Final Round

Mundwiler - Atem 0-1

White was in big trouble for a long time until James went pawn grubbing with 47...Nxf5.
But it was still tricky for White. As severe time trouble neared, White blundered.

Les and James ended up sharing first place with 5-1

Greenberg - Schulz 0-1

14. Nd2 can't be correct (I think Nxe5 is required), but Black somewhat returned the favour by not playing 16...Nxc5. White eventually stepped into a mate in a roughly equal position.

Kwiatek - Fromme 0-1

In the position below


Black played the startling 11...Bxa3 ! Move of the night !
After 12. Rxa3 Nb4 Black will end up material ! Black went on to win.

Schulz and Fromme finished 3rd-4th with 4.5 points.

Kong - Kaptsan 0-1
Perhaps a historic moment in recent Manitoba chess - I don't think Aron has ever played anyone 70 years younger than him ! But the burning question is, how old is Costales ?

Hanrahan - Oberton 0-1
White initiated a dubious combination that led to an interesting material imbalance. From then on both players played well, but White eventually lost on time. Nigel has some commentary at his Exclam ! blog.

Rutter - Campbell 1-0
Black left his e5 pawn en prise, which was the beginning of the end.

Green, Jim - Wasserman, Arie 0-1
White lost the thread in the endgame and got his Rook locked in on the queenside. White is lost after 35. d5. Note that after the game's 36. Rc3, a quick end could be obtained by 36...Rxc3 37. bc3 b4 ! and White's king is too far away to prevent a queen.

Kernetsky - Trueman 1-0
Due to a forfeit and a bye, neither player had an opponent. So they decided to have a game !

Swift- Weirda 0-1

I observed some of this game; it looked interesting. Unfortunately, I could not reconstruct it from the scoresheet

Grand Prix Final Round

Group A
No games. Boron wins the tourney, Sam Lipnowski second, Jay Khedkar third.

Group B

Van Wyk - Lauritson 0-1 Lauritom win tourney with 5.0 - Van Wyk second with 4.5

White had a large advantage after 22...Re6. Black looks to be overloaded.

23. Nc4 should win decisive material. Eventually Black untangled himself, but the game ended abruptly om move 39 perhaps because of White flagging ? Does anybody know ?

Pottinger - Silva 0-1

White lost a knight early.

Group C

Booth - Wiebe 0-1

Did White miss a mate in two starting with 17. Qxg6 +, or is the game score wrong ?
After that Black defended well and won.
So Wiebe won the tourney with an undefeated 4 wins and 2 draws. Weixi Liu was second with 4 points.

Gannon - Liu - DRAW

White held a definitive advantage when a draw was agreed.

Group D

Magnusson - Gibbons 1-0

Lorne likes to toy with his opponents before giving away the point. He could have won this group.

Green, Aaron - Gibson 1-0
White converted the large advantage he obtained in the opening, and also won the tourney with 4.5. Magnusson was second with 4.

Mike Shpan Memorial Round 5

Les is more (likely to win the tournament than any one else !)

Fromme- Les Mundwiler 0-1

I must confess that originally I didn't know what was going on in this game. 25 moves and White's queenside is still undeveloped.

The turning point may have come after 25...Bf5

White played 26. Ne1, but 26. a5 is very interesting with variations where White is probably not worse.
28...Re6! is a nice move, "sacrificing" a knight, to build a mating net, and/or win the exchange. Nice finish by Les.

Schulz - Kaptsan 1-0

Kaptsan trotted out the Blumenfeld gambit, but never got counterplay.

Atem - Jim Green 0-1

I didn't like the maneuovre 18...Nd3 and 19..Nc5, trading a good knight for a knight on the rim, and ending up with weak c and b pawns.

Greenberg - Kernetsky 1-0

White converted his space advantage into material gain.

Crawford - Kong 0-1

They shoot horses, don't they ? White's knight on the rim had no way back.

Wood - Hanrahan 0-1

When I looked at this game, I liked 25. h5+, followed by Qf5+ and Bxh6. See the Exclam ! blog for full notes from Nigel. White had an absolutely won game, but couldn't find 30. Rf7. One of those games where the winner did nothing and won !

Campbell - Trueman 1-0

They shoot horses don't they, part 2. Francis dropped a knight.

Leor Wasserman - John Weirda 0-1

Grand Prix Round 5

Group A
Sam Lipnowski - Khedkar 1-0

Black had to play 21...g6 to stop the f5 push. After that came e6 and Black's pieces were too far from his king to provide support.

Group B
Van Wyk- Pottinger 1-0

Black castled queenside into impending trouble. White had an interesting shot 17. Ba7+! which concludes things a bit quicker, but it didn't matter in the end.

Group C
Lui- Weibe 0-1

Several of us analyzed the position below and other earlier alternatives and concluded that Weixi had blundered with 9. Nxb5.

However, the real blunder may have come later...after 10...axb5

White played 11. Bxb5+ , but after 11...Qxb5, 12. Rxa8 Bb4+ wins big material.

11. Rxa8 holds, but in our analysis we thought it was very uncomfortable for White.

Gannon - Booth 1-0

It looked like Black was making progress in the knights and pawns ending, but found his king cut off from White's passer and ended up one tempo short.

Group D

Gibson - Gibbons 1-0

Lorne snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. But if truth be told, 2...f6 and 4...Bc5 deserved to be punished earlier.

Aaron Green - Magnusson

The ending was played well by Saul to gain the full point.

Chess book auction

ChessManitoba Fall 2007 Silent Auction

The Manitoba Chess Association received a donation of numerous chess books and chess publications from a local chess fan.

To allow the local chess community to have a fair chance to purchase any of the items, we have decided to implement a Silent Auction format. The items will be auctioned over the next 4 weeks at the Grand Prix finals and concurrent Mike Shpan Memorial tournament. There are 36 player playing in these events, who are present to bid on these items. In addition, internet bids will be accepted by emailing chessmanitoba@gmail.com

Each week a new batch of items will be offered.

Week 3 items listed...closing date Tuesday, December 4

See a list of items and other details.

November Chess Round 4

Another roundup of hi-lights and observations

Grand Prix - Group A

Khedkar - Boron 0-1

I thought I (Boron) had played a blunder free game, but my illusions were shattered when I looked at it yesterday.

I was setting up the possibility of a discovered attack on the knight, but after 33. Qe8,


I didn't play the obvious 33...Nf6, which just wins the knight Don't ask me why, I must have had a hallucination. I played 33...Re7 instead. Jay replied 34. Qc6. I in turn played the howler, 34...Qd4 ?? which fails to 35. Qc2+ followed by 36. Nc6 winning an exchange. Jay was very short of time however and did not see it and played 35. Qd6. I shortly won the b pawn and White eventually ran out of time.

Grand Prix - Group B

Pottinger - Lauritson 0-1

Black got a terrific position out of the opening and was piling on the pressure. Carl resisted and after 19...Rc4 had an interesting move available.


20. Qe7+ ,however it is objectively not much better than the move played, 20. Qb3.
White lost a piece after 24. Qb3 (Qd1 apparently holds..covering the rook and also threatening Ra1.) and soon the game.

Silva - Van Wyk 0-1

Black declined a shot to win a pawn 15...Bxh2+ 16. Kxh2 Qc7+.
Black eventually won the a pawn and a classic extra outside passer endgame arose that still gives White a chance to draw. Position after 44. ... Rb2+.

White played 43. Kd3 and after ...Rxf2
White has a challenge to draw. If 43. Kf3, Black has to exhibit a lot of technique to win.

Grand Prix - Section C

Booth- Liu 0-1
25. g4 was the last mistake, 25. Kg1 may hold some chances for drawing.

Wiebe - Gannon 1-0
Black got into early opening problems and never recovered.

Grand Prix - Section D
Magnusson -Gibson 1-0
Black missed a chance to gain an advantage with 17...Nxb3 or 17...Bxc3.

Lorne Gibbons - Aaron Green 0-1
Nimzovich talked about jumping off squares (I'll replace this with his terminology when I find my copy of 'My System"). Check out the e3 square in this game.

Mike Shpan Memorial

Mundwiler - Schulz 1-0

I think Black should have exchanged bishops on d4 on his terms instead of allowing White to exchange on c5. 22...Qh6 looks strange and is in fact a blunder. After Les' 24. Qf5 it's all over.

Fromme - Greenberg 1-0
I think the strategic error here was Blacktrading his knight for the bad bishop on e2, although if followed up with 24...Qe8 instead of 24...Qc8, there are some interesting tactical possibilities.

Kaptsan - Hanrahan 1-0

I thought this game had drawn written all over it, but Black started to drift with 21...Ba8. I would think that taking possession of the e-file was mandatory. White soon after played Re7 and won.

Rutter - Atem 0-1

My computer engine was screaming for White to play d5 on moves 9 to 14 and then it was too late as Black played it ! The position eventually bust open in Black's favour and

After 29...Nxc3
Blair missed a big chance with the zwichenzug (in-between move) 30. Rf1 (no exclam) and White wins easily. Instead Blair played Qxc3 and fell into a mating net.

Kwiatek - Kong 1-0

Very nice combination by Jordan. See Exclam ! site for full details.

Jim Green-Kernetsky DRAW

The King's Indian Attack didn't. Both players proved they have seen this before.

Oberton - Swift 1-0
Arie Wasserman - Campbell DRAW
Wood-Trueman 1-0
Wierda-Letain 0-1
Rating upset of the night. White imprisoned his own rook on b4 and Cory grabbed it free.

Leor Wasserman - Crawford 0-1

Black had a large endgame advantage, but it dissipated to the point where Leor could
draw with 56.Bxf5

November Round 3

Grand Prix Group A

Boron- Khedkar 1-0
Black had a crushing position, when White decided to bail out, going down an exchange, but avoiding immediate danger. Jay gave back the exchange for a pawn, but White now had good drawing chances. Later, Jay blundered an exchange and resigned, although White has some work to do in the final position.

Grand Prix Group B

Lauritson - Pottinger 1-0
Black dropped the exchange and had no chances for counterplay after swapping queens.

Van Wyk - Silva 1-0
Black self-pinned his knight was was indefensible.

Grand Prix Group C

Gannon - Wiebe DRAW
Black was up a passed b pawn , but was reluctant to push it forward until it was too late.
White eventually infiltrated deep into the Black position and after move 56 ...


Missed the win with 57. Qf6+. He played 57. Qa8+ Qc8 58. Qa5+ Ke7, but did not play Nc7+ and Nxb5. Perhaps time trouble was a factor.

Liu - Booth 1-0
Looked like an interesting endgame, but the game score fails me at move 18. If either player reads this please submit the game score to Alex Nikouline.

Grand Prix Group D

Gibson - Magnusson 0-1
The players took turns winning pieces.

Aaron Green - Lorne Gibbons DRAW
If the game score is correct (there are some moves missing), White is winning.

Mike Shpan Memorial
Schulz - Fromme DRAW
In the final position, it looks like White has chances for a win. Perhaps time was a factor.

Kong - Mundwiler 0-1
These players went 37 consecutive move pairs in the middlegame without any captures. Black finally broke through (although the computer prefers 67. ...e4) just as White lost on time.

Greenberg - Green DRAW
Last mistake Draws !

Oberton - Kwiatek 0-1
27. h3 appears to hold for White, see Nigel's Exclam! blog for more commentary.

Campbell - Lior Wasserman 1-0
Gary won a pawn and won the rook endgame

Atem - Swift 1-0
James exploited weak squares around Black's king.

Arie Wasserman - Kaptsan 0-1

Hanrahan - Crawford 1-0

Mike Shpan Memorial - Round Two

Kaptsan - Greenberg 0-1
Aron hung a knight. Harley recounted the old chess maxim, "It is better to be lucky than good."

Kwiatek - Schulz 0-1

While not an outright mistake, 12. f4 does not make a good impression in the long run. Black exploited the weak squares around White's king.

Mundwiler - Arie Wasserman 1-0

The position was dynamically equal until Arie cut off his Q with 18...f6. The Q was trapped a few moves later.

Jim Green - Oberton DRAW

The computer identifies the interesting try 15...c4, with 16.dc4 Nc3 or 16. Nd2 c3

Swift - Kong 0-1
I can not make sense of the game score after move 12.

Fromme - Kernetsky 1-0

Black got one of those French positions where anything White does, wins.

Rutter- Wood 1-0

White rejected 8. Qxb7 which looks winning. Much later Black gave up an exchange and White won.

Leor Wasserman - Hanrahan 0-1

Very even game until White lost tempii with 29. Re3, 30. Ree1 which gavel Nigel a chance to win a pawn. Soon after he won a second pawn and the endgame.

Letain - Atem 0-1

The computer finds an interesting shot with 12.Bxf6, but realistically that is too deep for most players. Cory later lost a piece and the game.

Wierda - Trueman 0-1

John self-trapped his Bishop and lost.

Crawford - Campbell

Even game until Black blundered an exchange 1-0

November Round 2

Grand Prix Group A
Khedkar - Sam Lipnowski 0-1
Black won on time - According to the gamescore, White is winning easily.
Either the game score is incorrect, or Black played a move like 33...h5 knowing White only had seconds left.

Grand Prix Group B
Pottinger - Van Wyk DRAW
When I left the U, I thought Carl had a clear edge, despite the opposite colour bishops.

After 30...g5

I like the idea the of exchanging on g5 and ending up with two passers. The key in this type of position for White is not to exchange rooks. However, the rooks were exchanged on f4 and Joseph held the draw.

Silva - Lauritson 0- 1

White missed a golden opportunity after 15...Be7 (it was on d6)
When White moves the queen, there will be a discovered attack on the black queen.
Where to move the queen?


Silva played 16. Qc3 which is harmless, and Black can play Qc7.
What move would have taken that square away ? 16. Qe5 wins material. If 16...Qe8 or Bd7 then 17. Bb5... note that the Knight on f6 is pinned as there is a mate on g7.

Later, Black untangled his pieces, and with 29. Rxd5 White needlessly sacrificed a full rook.

Grand Prix Group C
Wiebe - Liu DRAW

I was quite impressed(I was standing by the board when it was played) with Black's move after 20. Nxa5

20...Be2 !

In the resultant R and P ending, Black had all the chances but missed the winning move below


36...Rd1+ 37. Kc5 Kd2 38.Kd4 c5+! 39. bc5 Kc2+ mating !

Grand Prix Group D

Magnusson - Aaron Green 0-1

Saul lost a pawn early, but could have won it back with 25. Bxb6, but perhaps saw ghosts after 25...Rc2, however 26. Bf2 holds. Soon after Aaron simplified to a winning R and P ending.

"Tank" Gibbons - Fred Gibson 0-1

Lorne won a piece early but gave back that material and more later.

Shpan memorial comments tomorrow.