2019 MT Championship Games
Round 1: Strickland – McPherron 1/2 – 1/2
Round 1: Sneeden – Hobbs 0-1
Round 1: Duke – Skovron 1/2 – 1/2
Round 2: Skovron – Strickland 1/2 – 1/2
Round 2: Hobbs – Duke 1-0
Round 2: McPherron – Sneeden 1-0
Round 3: Duke – Strickland 0-1
Round 3: McPherron – Hobbs 1-0
Round 3: Sneeden – Skovron 0-1
Round 4: Strickland – Sneeden 1/2 – 1/2
Round 4: Duke – McPherron 1/2 – 1/2
Round 4: Hobbs – Skovron 0-1
Round 5: Hobbs – Strickland 0-1
Round 5: Skovron – McPherron 0-1
Wilton Strickland
Dorje McPherron
Montana State Championship1
May 18, 2019 – Bozeman
1.d4Nf62.e3c53.Bd3g64.c3Qc75.Nf3d56.Nbd2Bg77.O-OO-O8.Re1Bf59.e4I decided to make things happen now, rather than postponing and allowing him to strengthen his position.9…Nxe410.Nxe4dxe411.Bxe4Bxe412.Rxe4cxd413.cxd4I thought about this re-capture for a long time, vacillating between using my pawn or my knight. I chose the pawn despite having isolated it, not only because the alternative provides him with a pin and tempo, but also because I know that isolanis are often unavoidable in this system.13…e614.Bf4Developing the bishop, liberating the other rook, and gaining tempo.14…Qd815.Qd2Nd716.Bh6By forcing a bishop trade I can weaken his king and strengthen my isolani on d4.16…Rc817.Bxg7Kxg718.Rh4Here we go! I decide to attack his king even though I can’t see all the way through to the end.18…h5To prevent my queen from delivering check on h6.19.g4This is somewhat risky, but necessary given the path I’ve already chosen, plus it eliminates the danger of a back-row mate.19…Nf620.gxh5Nxh521.Kh1Another risky move that allows a pin on the knight, but necessary for developing the other rook.21…Qd522.Qe3Rc2A standard invasive move. I knew this was likely but was willing to allow it because it buys me tempo to keep attacking his king.23.Rg1Pinning his pawn on g6 and teeing up possible threats based on that.23…Rh824.Rg5After the game, Dorje admitted that he hadn’t seen this move.24…Qc625.Rc5Rxc526.dxc5My strategy has borne fruit, as his strong rook has vanished along with my weak isolani.26…Nf627.Rxh8Kxh828.Kg1Qd5½–½
Dustin Sneeden
Richard Hobbs
Montana State Championship1
May 18, 2019 – Bozeman
1.Nf3Nf62.c4g63.e3Bg74.Nc3O-O5.Be2d66.d4Nbd77.e4c68.O-Oe59.d5Nc510.Nd2a511.a4Ne812.Nb3Nxb313.Qxb3Kh814.f4exf415.Bxf4Bd4+16.Kh1Bd717.Rad1c518.Bh6Ng719.Bf3Be520.Nb5Qh421.Bxg7+Kxg722.g3Bxg323.Qc2Be524.Rd2Bxb525.axb5b626.Rg2Ra727.Rg4Qe728.Qg2a429.Rb1a330.bxa3Rxa331.Qe2Rfa832.Rc1Bd433.Rd1Qf634.Rg3Ra235.Rd2Ra1+36.Kg2Qh437.Rxd4cxd438.Qd3R8a2+39.Be2Qf640.Rf3Qe541.Rf2Ra342.Qd2Qxe4+43.Bf3Qe344.Qb4Qg5+0–1
David Duke
Jim Skovron
Montana State Championship1
May 18, 2019 – Bozeman
1.d4Nf62.Bf4e63.Nf3d54.Nbd2c55.e3Be76.c3O-O7.h3b68.Bd3Ba69.Qe2Bxd310.Qxd3Nc611.Ne5Rc812.O-OBd613.Nxc6Rxc614.Bg5h615.Bxf6Qxf616.e4cxd417.cxd4dxe418.Qb5Rfc819.Nxe4Qxd420.Nxd6Qxd621.Rad1Qf422.Rd8+Rxd823.Qxc6Qd624.Qb7Rd725.Qa8+Kh726.Rc1Qd227.Qe4+f528.Qc2Kg629.Kf1Kf630.Qc3+e531.a3Ke632.Qc8e433.Qe8+Kf634.Rc6+Rd635.Qd8+Ke636.Qg8+Kf637.Qf8+Ke638.Qe8+Kf639.Qd8+Ke6½–½
James Skovron
Wilton Strickland
Montana State Championship2
May 18, 2019 – Bozeman
1.Nf3Nf62.d4g63.Bf4Bg74.Nc3O-O5.e4d66.Qd2Nc67.Bh6e58.Bxg7Kxg79.dxe5dxe510.O-O-OQxd2+11.Rxd2Bg412.Ne1Rad813.Rxd8Rxd8I like my position very much, as I am far more developed. Somehow, I still manage to mess it up.14.f3Be615.Nd3Bc416.Nc5Bxf117.Rxf1b618.Nd3Ne8I decide to re-position this knight so that my pawn on f7 can move up and support the pawn on e5, liberating my other knight.19.Rd1f620.Ne2Nd621.b3Nd4??Terrible move that loses a pawn. My only explanation is that I considered other moves and found problems with them, choosing this as an alternative without analyzing it thoroughly.22.Nxd4exd423.Nf4Now he’s threatening both my pawn on d4 and a fork on e5. I have to lose the pawn.23…Kf724.Rxd4Nb725.c3Rxd4I have great confidence in my abilities with a knight, so I decide to trade off the rooks even though I’m a pawn down. My abilities were put to an even tougher test in short order.26.cxd4Ke7??I touched the king and immediately saw I had no good moves with it. But rules are rules, and touching the king obligates me to move it if possible. So now I have to lose another pawn.27.Nd5+Kd628.Nxf6Here is where most players would likely resign, but I’m not like most players.28…h529.Kd2Nd830.f4Ne631.Ke3c632.h4Ke733.Nh7Nc7My knight has to get active and start making threats, which will be easier on the queenside.34.Ng5Nb535.Nf3Nc336.Ne5Nxa237.Nxc6+Kd638.Nxa7Now I’m THREE pawns down. This only motivates me more.38…Nc139.Nc8+Kc740.Nxb6He figures he can give up the knight in exchange for four pawns, three of them passed. Big mistake.40…Kxb641.f5gxf542.exf5Kc6Forced. If I capture his pawn on b3, the pawn on f5 advances and cannot be prevented from queening.43.Kf4Nxb344.Kg5Nxd4He’s allowing me to snap up these pawns because of the (soon to be) three connected passed pawns.45.f6Kd646.Kxh5Ke647.Kg5?I’m not sure why he moved here rather than g6, which looks devastating. Never look a gift horse in the mouth.47…Kf748.h5Ne6+49.Kf5Nd4+50.Ke4Ne651.Ke5Ng552.g4Nh7He can’t push his pawn to g5, as it would be unguarded.53.Kf5Nxf654.h6Nxg4A final sacrifice that ensures his last pawn will never evolve into a queen.½–½
Richard Hobbs
David Duke
Montana State Championship2
May 18, 2019 – Bozeman
1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.c3e54.Bb5Nge75.O-Oa66.Bxc6Nxc67.d4exd48.cxd4cxd49.Nxd4Be710.Nf5O-O11.Qg4Bf612.Bh6Ne513.Qg3Ng614.Bc1d515.Rd1Bxf516.exf5Ne717.Qd3Qc818.Nc3Rd819.Bf4d420.Na4Qxf521.Qxf5Nxf522.Nb6Ne723.Bc7Nd524.Nxa8Rxa825.Bd6Rd826.Bc5Nf427.Kf1d328.Rd2b529.Rad1Rc830.Be3Nd531.Rxd3Nxe3+32.fxe3h633.b3a534.Rd5Rb835.e4Bc336.Rd8+Rxd837.Rxd8+Kh738.Rb81–0
Dorje McPherron
Dustin Sneeden
Montana State Championship2
May 18, 2019 – Bozeman
1.d4Nf62.c4e63.Nc3Bb44.e3d55.cxd5exd56.Bd3O-O7.a3Bxc3+8.bxc3c59.Ne2Nc610.O-ORe811.Ng3Ne412.Qc2f513.Bb2c414.Be2Na515.Rad1Bd716.Nh5Qg517.Nf4Bc618.Bf3Nb319.Bxe4fxe420.f3Ba421.Qf2Qf522.fxe4Qxe423.Rde1Bd724.a4Bxa425.Ba3Bc626.Bd6a527.Be5Qf528.Qg3Rxe529.dxe5Qxe530.Ng6Qxg331.Ne7+Kh832.hxg3a433.Re2Nc534.Ref2g635.Nxc6bxc636.Rf8+Rxf837.Rxf8+Kg738.Ra8Ne439.Rxa4Nxc340.Ra7+Kh641.Rc7Nd142.e4dxe443.Rxc6Nb244.Rc5Kg745.Kf2Kf646.Ke2Ke647.Ke3Kd648.Rc8c349.Kxe4Na450.Kd4h551.Rc4Nb652.Rxc3Nd553.Ra3Ne754.Ra5Kd755.Ke5Ke856.Ke61–0
David Duke
Wilton Strickland
Montana State Championship3
May 18, 2019 – Bozeman
1.c4Nf62.Nc3g63.Nf3Bg74.g3O-O5.Bg2d66.O-Oe57.d3Nc68.Nd5Nxd59.cxd5Ne710.Ne1c611.dxc6Nxc612.Bd2d513.Rc1Be614.a3Qd7There is no way he can avoid a trade of the light-square bishops now, since his rook is frozen on f1 and can’t dodge the impending pin.15.Nf3Bh316.e3Bxg217.Kxg2e4Attacking the knight while also opening up an attack by my dark-square bishop.18.Ne1Bxb219.Rb1Bxa3I now have two connected passed pawn.20.Bc3Clever. He’s threatening to capture my pawn on e4, which at I cannot re-capture because the defending pawn on d5 will be pinned to my queen.20…Bd6This blocks my queen and frees up the defending pawn on d5.21.Qb3Be522.d4Bg723.Nc2He could have captured my pawn on b7, but apparently he does not want to trade queens and leave me with another passed pawn.23…Rfb8Rooks go behind passed pawns, elementary.24.Rfc1Bf8A preemptive move that blunts his ability to defend the queenside with his knight and bishop.25.Rb2b526.Nb4Nxb427.Bxb4Bxb428.Qxb4I am perfectly happy to trade down, as my connected passed pawns are virtually unstoppable.28…a529.Qb3b430.Rc5a4If he takes the pawn on d5 with his rook, my queen slides to e6 and pins the rook to his queen (while it’s still under attack). He would have to lose serious material after that. If he takes the pawn on d5 with his queen, we exchange queens while my passed pawns have an even easier time advancing.31.Qa2b332.Qa3Qb733.Rc1Qb434.Ra1Qxa335.Rxa3He’s blockaded the pawns for now, but it’s ultimately futile.35…Kf836.f3f5Not wanting to let him liberate his pawns or open any more files.37.f4Ke738.Kf2Rc839.h3Rc2+40.Rxc2bxc241.Rc3a342.Rxc2a20–1
Dorje McPherron
Richard Hobbs
2019 MT Championship3
May 18, 2019 – Bozeman
1.d4Nf62.c4e63.Nc3d54.cxd5exd55.Bg5Nbd76.e3Be77.Bd3c68.Nge2h69.Bh4Ne410.Bxe7Qxe711.O-ONdf612.Qc2O-O13.Rae1Bd714.f3Nxc315.Nxc3c516.dxc5Qxc517.Ne4Nxe418.Bxe4Qxc219.Bxc2Rac820.Rf2Rfe821.Bb3Bc622.Rd2Kf823.Kf2Red824.Red1Ke725.Ke1Rd726.Bxd5Bxd527.Rxd5Rxd528.Rxd5Rc229.Rd2Rc1+30.Ke2Rh131.h3Rc132.e4Ke633.Ke3g534.Kf2Rc535.g3f536.Ke3Rb537.Rc2h538.f4fxe439.Kxe4Rb4+40.Kf3gxf441.gxf4b642.b3Rd443.Ke3Rd744.Rc6+Kf745.Rh6Re7+46.Kf3Kg747.Rxh5Kg648.Re5Rc749.h4Kf650.h5Rc151.Ke4Re1+52.Kd5Rd1+53.Kc6Rd454.h6Rxf455.Rh5Kg656.h7Rf6+57.Kd51–0
Dustin Sneeden
Jim Skovron
2019 Montana Championship3
May 18, 2019 – Bozeman
1.Nf3d62.c4g63.d4Nf64.Nc3Bg75.e4O-O6.Be2e57.d5Ne88.Bg5Bf69.Bxf6Qxf610.O-OQg711.b4f512.Rc1f413.c5g514.cxd6Nxd615.Nd2Nd716.Na4Nf617.Rc2Rf718.f3g419.fxg4Bxg420.Nf3Nfxe421.Nxe5Bxe2moves for 22. missing from scoresheet?22.Qc1Raf823.Nxf7Qd4+24.Kh1Bd325.Qd1Nxf726.Qg4+Nfg527.Nc5Bxf128.Nxe4Bxg2+29.Qxg2Qxe430.Qxe4Nxe431.Rxc7f332.Rc2Rd833.Rc7Rxd534.h4Rd1+35.Kh2f20–1
Wilton Strickland
Dustin Sneeden
MT Championship4
May 19, 2019 – Bozeman
1.d4Nf62.e3g63.Bd3Bg74.Nf3d65.Nbd2O-O6.e4e57.c3Nbd78.O-Ob69.dxe5dxe510.Qe2Re811.Bc4h612.Rd1Qe713.Ba6I decide to trade bishops because my pawn on e4 will soon be subject to multiple attacks, and removing that bishop makes life a little easier.13…Bxa614.Qxa6Nc515.Qe2Rad816.Rf1To avoid losing the pawn on e4. If my rook stayed on d1, the resulting exchanges would decoy my queen away from defending that pawn.16…Rd717.Ne1Red818.f3Nh519.Nb3Nf420.Bxf4exf421.Rf2Things have become very uncomfortable, and now I need to pull out all the stops to prevent a rook invasion.21…a522.Nxc5Qxc523.Kf1Unpinning the rook on f2 so it can help defend my home turf.23…Bf624.g3fxg325.hxg3Qg5Attacking the pawn on g3 while also supporting an invasion on d2.26.Rg2Rd227.f4This loses a pawn, but once again I am confident in my endgame abilities and view the absence of queens as a definite advantage for me.27…Rxe228.fxg5Rxg229.Nxg2Bxg530.Re1Rd331.Kf2Be732.Nf4Bc5+33.Kg2Rd2+34.Re2Rd735.Nd5Kg736.b4axb437.cxb4Bd438.Rd2Be539.Rc2f5Nice move by him. Now I’m forced to lose another pawn.40.Kf3fxe4+41.Kxe4Bxg342.a4Preparing to create a passed pawn on the a file.42…c5?A blunder that gives me much stronger chances.43.Nxb6Re7+44.Kf3Bb845.bxc5Now we’re even in material, and I have an advanced passed pawn supported by a rook. Though my pawns are now split, it was worth it for the advance.45…h546.c6h447.Nd5Rf7+48.Kg4Ra749.Rc4Bc750.Nxc7Rxc7This game is in the bag. All I have to do is push my a-pawn, and he must lose his rook along with the game.51.Kxh4??My worst move of the whole tournament, one that robbed me of the state championship (and proved that I don’t deserve it this year). The heat of the moment made me seize material on the belief that the game was a win no matter what.51…Kf6With this one extra tempo, his king is now close enough to my pawns to avoid defeat.52.a5Ke653.a6Kd654.Ra4Ra7Only I could mess up a great position like this and have to settle for a draw. Perhaps the universe demanded recompense for the amazing draw I pulled off in the second round.½–½
David Duke
Dorje McPherron
2019 MT Closed4
May 19, 2019 – Bozeman
1.c4e52.Nc3Bb43.Nd5Be74.g3Nf65.Bg2Nxd56.cxd5c67.dxc6bxc68.d4exd49.Nf3d510.Nxd4O-O11.O-Oc512.Nb5Bb713.Nc3Na614.Nxd5Nb415.Nxe7+Qxe716.Bxb7Qxb717.Be3Rac818.Qb3c419.Qa4Nd520.Bd4c321.bxc3Nxc322.Bxc3Rxc323.Rfc1Qb224.Rcb1Qa325.Qxa3Rxa326.Rb3Ra427.a3g628.Rb4Rxb429.axb4Rb830.Rxa7Rxb431.e3Kg732.h4h533.Kg2Kf634.Kf3Rb2½–½
Richard Hobbs
Jim Skovron
2019 MT Championship4
May 19, 2019 – Bozeman
1.e4e62.d4d53.e5c54.c3Qb65.Nf3Nc66.Bd3Bd77.O-Ocxd48.cxd4Nxd49.Nbd2Nxf3+10.Nxf3Bb511.Be3Bc512.Nd4Bxd413.Bxd4Qc614.Bxb5Qxb515.Rc1Nh616.Bc5b617.Ba3Kd718.Qd2Rhc819.Qg5Nf520.Qh5Nh621.Qg5Nf522.g4h623.Qf4g624.gxf5gxf525.Qb4Rg8+26.Kh1Qxb427.Bxb4Rac828.Rxc8Kxc829.Rc1+Kd730.Bd6Rc831.Rxc8Kxc832.Bf8h533.Kg2Kd734.Kh3Kc635.Kh4d436.Bb4Kd537.f4Ke438.Kg5h439.Kxh4Kxf440.Bd2+Kxe541.Kg3Kf642.h4e543.h5Kg744.b4b545.Kf3f646.Bc1f447.Bd2f548.Be1Kh649.Bh4d350.Bf6e4+51.Kf2Kxh552.Bd4a6Resigns0–1
Richard Hobbs
Wilton Strickland
MT Championship5
May 19, 2019 – Bozeman
1.e4b6I love the Owen defense for a variety of reasons, not least of which is that it forces my opponents to start analyzing right away.2.Nc3Bb73.d4e64.Bd3Nf65.Nge2c56.O-Ocxd47.Nxd4Nc68.Nf3d6I don’t want him to advance his pawn to e5.9.Bg5Be710.Qe2O-O11.a3Nd712.Bf4Nde513.Nxe5dxe5I don’t mind doubling these pawns because they help offset attacks down the f file. Little did I know that just such an attack was coming and would be quite powerful.14.Be3Bg515.f4Bxf416.Bxf4exf417.Rxf4e5Although this creates a weak square for me on d5, it clogs up his bishop and prevents it from attacking the important pawn on h7.18.Rf2Nd419.Qh5Now I’m feeling some heat, as he attacks my pawn on e5 and has all of his pieces poised to attack as well.19…Qd620.Raf1He’s attacking the f7 pawn three times, while it’s defended only twice.20…Ne6?!I play a game of chicken by daring him to take the pawn on f7, whereupon my knight will leap to f4 and create some problems for him.21.g3He blinks and decides to guard f4, so now I have to protect my pawn on f7.21…g6Unsavory, but in my view necessary.22.Qh6Qd4I did this to pin his rook on f2, since it was poised to invade on f6.23.h4Ng724.Kh2Nh5This is to slow his pawn advance and defend f6. If he attacks the knight by pushing the pawn to g4, my knight can occupy f4.25.Nb5Qc5I’m desperate to guard c4 and prevent his bishop from getting onto that diagonal, which would devastate my king’s safety.26.b4Qc627.a4a628.Na3Bc8To use my bishop in the defense of f7.29.Nc4Qc730.Ne3Be631.Nf5Bxf532.exf5e4!I saw this golden opportunity and immediately pounced on it. I have attacked his bishop while opening a dangerous attack on his pawn at g3. If he takes my pawn with his bishop and abandons the defense of the rook on f1, I believe I have a win (or at least a crushing attack).33.fxg6Clever. He’s threatening mate on h7, so I have to step on the gas now.33…Qxg3+34.Kh1hxg6I capture with this pawn rather than the pawn on f7, since that would gift him a smorgasbord of checks.35.Rg2Qh3+36.Kg1Ng3The noose is tightening, and he knows he will have to lose a serious amount of material.37.Bxe4Qh1+38.Kf2Nxe4+He has no good moves, as one of his rooks must fall now. Amazing how things can turn around so fast.0–1
James Skovron
Dorje McPherron
2019 MT Closed \[analyzed\]5
May 19, 2019 – Bozeman
Annotated by Fritz16 Full Analysis 20sec
1.Nf3d52.d4Nf63.Bf4c54.e3Nc65.c3cxd46.exd4Bg47.Be2e68.Nbd2Bd69.Bxd6Qxd610.h3The position is equal.10…Bh511.Ne511.O-O=keeps the balance.11…Nxe5∓12.dxe5Qxe513.g4Bg614.Qa4+Nd715.Nf3Qe416.Qd4O-O17.Rd1Rfd818.Qd2Better is18.Qxe4Bxe419.O-O18…Ne519.Qe3Nxf3+19…Nc4⌓20.Bxc4Qxc420.Qxf320.Bxf3∓Qc421.a320…Qa4↑Black has strong initiative.21.Bd321.O-O∓21…Qxa222.O-O22.Rb1⌓22…Bxd3−+23.Qxd3Qc424.Qe3b525.Rd4Qc526.Rfd1a527.Rc1a428.Qe2a329.b4Qc6Threatens to win with …a2.30.Qa2e531.Rdd1Qc432.Rc2Qxa233.Rxa2d434.cxd4Rxd435.Rxd4exd4Endgame KR-KR36.Kf1Kf837.Ke2Ra438.Kd3Rxb438…g5⌓39.Ra1Ke739.Rxa3Ke7Black should play39…g5−+40.Ke4h640.Ra640.Ra7+∓keeps fighting.40…Ke641.Rb740…g541.Ke441.Rh6∓was necessary.41…f641…Rb2−+42.Kxd4Rxf242.Ra7+∓Ke643.Ra6+43.Rxh7∓might work better.43…Rb244.f443…Kf7−+44.Kf5d345.Ra2?(Guessed White’s move here – it did not prevent mate.)45.Rxf6+−+Ke746.Re6+Kd747.Re145…Rf4#Accuracy: White = 27%, Black = 53%.0–1