Panzar at the Swedish Championships 2008

[Panzar75]

(There will be a total of 7 games so I figured I'll make a new post on this.)

So... back at the hotel after a looooooooooong day. Did I mention it was a long day?

We had to register in person between 09.00 and 12.30. We were there in good time at about 10.30. Looked around, played some blitz in the analysis room and waited for the opening ceremony at 14.00.

Turned out they made some big errors in the group settings so they started the top groups and made classes Master, one, two and three wait while they sorted it out. After half an hour or so they started the master group. Another half hour class one (but neglected to tell anyone outside the big hall after telling the groups to wait in the analysis hall).

After a mere two hours and a half I could finally start playing at about 16.30 (This is a total of 7 hour games, you do the math as to when we could expect to be back at the hotel.) There are three of us from my club that play in class 3 and of course they managed to pair me and one of the others in the same group with another player from the neighbouring club as well.

Not the best of settings and the game wasn't that much more fun either. I'm a bit clueless in the english opening and usually play the way I did.

GAME 1

White: T.L
Rating: 1548

Black: J.P (alias Panzar, that's me)
Rating: 1652

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 0-0 6. 0-0 Nc6 7. d3 d6 8. a3 a6 9. Rb1 Bd7 10. Bd2 Re8 11. Re1 {draw offered} 1/2-1/2 {draw by agreement}

I had a hard time figuring out what to do. I tried to get some inbalances in the position but he seemed to insist on copying what I did. At his draw offer I had used an hour while he had used about 10-15 minutes. Being less than happy about the opening and considering the time and my drowsyness from waiting all day I decided to accept his draw offer.

I haven't used an engine and only looked briefly at it. I would probably have played Nd4 had the game continued. I'm to tired to think anymore about this game tonight.

 

[Narz]

Not a very thrilling start but perhaps recounting it in your mind tonight will help you sleep.

You're undefeated so far! Keep up the good work. No seriously, hope you have some more exciting matches (the excitement of victory) next round(s).

 

[Panzar75]

I promise to play with more vigor today. Early draw offers are now off the table. 4 hours and 30 minutes to next game starts. (If they are on time this time around.)

 

[Narz]

Good luck man!

 

[Panzar75]

Back from the second days play. I said I would play for the win and I think you'll agree that's what I did.

Game 2

White: J.P (aka. Panzar, that's me)
Rating: 1652

Black: R.B
Rating: 1373

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nxf7 Kxf7 5. d4 Be7 6. Bc4+ Be6 7. Bxe6+ Kxe6 8. 0-0 Nbd7 9. Nc3 c5 10. Qe2 Kf7 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. f4 g6 13. e5 Nh5 14. f5 gxf5 15. Qxh5+ Kg7 16. Bh6+ Kg8 17. Qxf5 Qe8 18. Rf4 Qg6 19. Rg4 Qxg4 20. Qxg4 Kf7 21. Qg7+ Ke6 22. exd6 Bxd6 23. Re1+ Be5 24. Qxe5+ Kd7 25. Rd1+ {black resigns} 1-0

I made some comments but accedentally pressed back on the browser and it disappeared. I don't really want to write it again so just imagine I made really clever comments here.

Basically I did think about 8. Qf3 and 11. e5 but failed to make those moves for some reason. His g6 is really bad and gxf5 obviously horrible. First time I play this opening (cochrane gambit) and I didn't quite remember what moves belonged in what exact line. Fortunately he self imploded.

 

[Narz]

Nice work Panz. Looks like 11. e5 would have been even more crushing!

I don't know about that opening though. I don't think it's very sound (with solid play from black). But certainly led to a positive conclusion that time around.

GL, next round!

 

[Panzar75]

The opening was sound enough for Topalov to use it against Kramnik at Linares and get a draw. I think it will do for me as well when I get the hang of it. I will at least try it out a few more times.

Today I'll face the other guy from my club. Not an ideal pairing but what can you do. I am the highest rated player in this group which is both good and annoying at times since I cannot really afford to lose any games. In fact, I will need a 6/7 score or win the group to qualify for class two next year. And I already conceded a draw.

Three hours to next game. See you later.

 

[Panzar75]

Had you asked me before the tournament what three openings I would like to avoid if possible my answer would have been the english opening, the petrov and the exchange french.

The first game featured the english, the second the petrov and guss what opening I got today?

Game 3

White: R.C
Rating: 1428

Black: J.P (aka Panzar, that's me)
Rating: 1652

1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 c6 9. 0-0-0 0-0 10. Bd3 Nbd7 11. Rde1 Re8 12. g4 Nf8 13. h4 N6d7 14. Bxe7 Rxe7 15. g5 Qe8 16. Re2 Rxe2 17. Nxe2 Qe7 18. Ng3 g6 19. c3 Re8 20. Kd2 b5 21. Qe2 Ne6 22. Re1 Rd8 23. f4 Qd6 24. f5 Nxg5 25. hxg5 Qxg3 26. Qe7 Qc7 27. fxg6 hxg6 28. Rf1 Rf8 29. Bxg6 fxg6 30. Rxf8+ {black resigns} 1-0

So, this was against the guy from my club. His first point so far. I had no clue what to do pretty much the whole game. Sadly I apparently missed a win in the very end with 29. Qh2+ which I during the game didn't consider to be that special. With about 15 minutes left on the clock before the timcontrol at move 40 I should really have seen that taking with the pawn just lost and tried the queen check anyway. But I guess I suck at this game.

Tomorrow I face the other guy from the neighboring club. More hardache to follow I'm sure.

 

[Narz]

Sorry for your loss. I'll check out the game later. I hope you get more agreeable openings for now on.

 

[Panzar75]

This is where the unfair losing streak continues.

Game 4

White: J.P (aka Panzar, that's me)
Rating 1652

Black: T.L
Rating: 1519

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. h3 e5 6. d3 Dd6 7. 0-0 Be7 8. b3 Bd7 9. Nbd2 b5 10. Bb2 Bf6 11. Nh2 h5 12. Qe2 g5 13. f3 Ne7 14. Rf2 Ng6 15. Qf1 Nf4 16. Nb1 Bd8 17. Nc3 Bb6 18. Ne2 Nxe2+ 19. Qxe2 c4 20. dxc4 Bxf2+ 21. Kxf2 Qc5+ 22. Qe3 Qxe3+ 23. Kxe3 f6 24. c5 Be6 25. a4 Ke7 26. a5 Rhd8 27. Nf1 Rd7 28. Ke2 g4 29. fxg4 hxg4 30. h4 g3 31. Nxg3 Rg8 32. Nf5 Bxf5 33. exf5 Rxg2+ 34. Kf3 Rxc2 35. Bxe5 fxe5 36. Rg1 Kf6 37. Rg6+ Kxf5 38. Rg5+ Kf6 39. Ke3 Rcd2 40. Ke4 R7d4+ {white resigns} 0-1

I wanted to play 12. f4 and spent like 10-15 minutes trying to make it work. But since I am tactically challenged I couldn't see that it worked after all. The reason I didn't resign earlier was his time; one minute for the last 13 moves or so.

He kept his king in the center and pushed pawns all over the board. Apparently a recipie for success.

Today I face the highest rated player beside myself. There is still a mathematical chance to win the group but at this point I am more concerned about avoiding last place. (I am currently second to last.)

 

[Narz]

Sorry man. Get your spirits up & turn it around!

 

[Panzar75]

Game 5

White: K.M
Rating: 1631

Black: J.P (aka Panzar, that's me)
Rating: 1652

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. dxc5 Bxc5 5. Qg4 Kf8 6. h4 Nc6 7. Nf3 Qb6 8. Qg3 Nge7 9. Bd3 Nb4 10. 0-0 Nxd3 11. cxd3 Nf5 12. Qf4 Nd4 13. Nxd4 Bxd4 14. Nc3 Bd7 15. Ne2 Bxb2 16. Rb1 Bxc1 17. Rfc1 Qa6 18. Rc7 Ke8 19. Rbxb7 Rd8 20. Nd4 Qa4 21. Rxa7 Qd1+ 22. Kh2 f6 23. exf6 gxf6 24. Nxe6 {black resigns} 1-0

I guess my plan didn't work out so well. I thought he would have more problems with b2, I simply missed his Rfc1 move and there was no recovery possible.

The lowest rated guy (1299 I think it was) with no points until now won today (against my round 4 opponent) and I face him in the last round. So there is a real chance that I end up last in the group. Not what I had hoped for really.

 

[Narz]

Shoot Panzar.

Well, try beat your last opponent soundly! GL!

 

[Panzar75]

I'm not sure I was even trying today.

Game 6

White: R.S
Rating: 1463

Black: Some loser guy called Panzar
Rating: like 1100 but somehow inflated to 1652

1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. d4 c5 6. Bb5 a6 7. Bxd7+ Bxd7 8. 0-0 Nc6 9. Re1 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Bc5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Qg4 Bf8 13. Bg5 f6 14. exf6 gxf6 15. Qh5+ Ke7 16. Bxf6+ {black resigns} 1-0

I was really happy with the opening but like an idiot I missed that I cannot castle after Qg4. With like 90 minutes left on the clock the game is already bad. Normally I might have found something to play on with but I was already planning on resigning as soon as the clock hit 15.00 to go to the room where they analyzed the games from the GM-group. So I simply made some random moves and resigned when the clock hit 15.00. I would have resigned even earlier but I thought it might be rude. Also, he spent like an hour on move 15 for some reason so I thought he might find some way to complicate things even if pretty much everything wins.

Last round tomorrow. I face the lowest rated guy with 1 point so far. I have 1,5 points. I will need a draw to avoid last place. We'll see what mistakes I manage to make this time. I feel it might be time for a big one, perhaps a "oups, was my queen en prise?" type error.

 

[Narz]

Sounds like you're psyching yourself out. Hope you finish as your old self!

 

[Panzar75]

I don't know what to say. During my 25ish years of playing chess I have never once had a good or even decent tournament. I seem to lose 500 rating points as soon as I am in a competition of some sort. Fortunately this time my opponent kept making small errors until I couldn't help but win the game.

Game 7

White: J.P (that's me)
Rating: 1652(-500=1152, sounds about right)

Black: J.A
Rating: 1299

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. Bc4 c6 5. d3 Nf6 6. Bd2 Qc7 7. d4 Bf5 8. Nf3 Nbd7 9. h3 Ne4 10. Ng5 Nxg5 11. Bxg5 Nb6 12. Bd3 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 e6 14. 0-0-0 Nd5 15. Nxd5 cxd5 16. Qb5+ Qc6 17. Qxc6+ bxc6 18. Bf4 c5 19. dxc5 Bxc5 20. Be3 Be7 21. Rd3 0-0 22. Rb3 a5 23. a4 Rfc8 24. Rd1 Rc4 25. Rb7 Bc5 26. Bxc5 Rxc5 27. b3 Rac8 28. Rd2 Rc3 29. Kb2 R3c5 30. Rb5 Rxb5 31. axb5 Rb8 32. c4 dxc4 33. bxc4 Kf8 34. Kb3 Ke7 35. Ka4 Rc8 36. Kb3 h6 37. Ra2 Ra8 38. c5 Kd7 39. Ka4 Kc7 40. Rd2 g6 41. Rd6 h5 42. Ra6 Rd8 43. Ra7+ Kb8 44. Rxf7 Rd2 45. Kxa5 e5 46. Kb6 Rd8 47. c6 Rc8 48. Re7 g5 49. Rxe5 g4 50. Rxh5 gxh3 51. Rxh3 {black resigns} 1-0

I know 5. d4 is the normal move but I figured I'd try a solid approach with d3. Problem was that at move 7 I couldn't figure out what to do. What I wanted was Nf3 Bg4 h3 Bh5 g4 Bg6 Ne5 but now I needed the pawn on d4. I couldn't find a better move and thought I had enough development to afford a loss of a tempo.

10. Nxe4 Bxe4 11. Bxf7+ Kxf7 12. Ng5+ is something I missed despite looking at Bxf7 pretty much constantly.

36. Kxa4 probably works. I thought during the game that it probably works. But I couldn't quite see how to get the win so I decided not to risk it.

http://www.schacksm2008.se/res/res_iiiv1.asp shows my crosstable on the top. 2,5 points brought me the second to last place. I'm not even going to think about what that did to my rating. Guess this will be the first rating period where I lose points.

 

[Narz]

I figured you'd win the last game. I got a center-counter game that I should've won too but I drew.